Rescuers search through debris following an earthquake in Pescara Del Tronto, 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/Andrew Medichini)
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use.

This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it.
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.
The iconic peaks of the Rocky Mountains embody a particular wildness, a disdain for the manicured and curated experiences of the modern world. Rocky Mountain Bicycles namesake mountain range holds a special place in our heart. We knew this year that we were overdue for a return to our roots - our bedrock.

This was my first time riding with Florian Nicolai, and it's easy to see what makes him one of the top EWS racers in the world. He's got natural speed and an eye for ultra creative lines on the trail. We had an incredible time, and I hope that my next trip back to the Rockies isn't too far away. - Thomas Vanderham

I was in a window seat, jetting west across the mountains of British Columbia. I stared out at the grandeur of sun tinted snowy crags and knew that what separated my adopted home in Edmonton from the native soil of Vancouver was a massive rock formation called the Rocky Mountains. I thought about naming our new company after these peaks. - Grayson Bain, one of the original founders of Rocky Mountain Bicycles, 1981.

"Growing up in Edmonton, the Rockies represented the epitome of rugged, large scale terrain,'' says Thomas Vanderham. ''My trips to the Rockies have been few and far between since I left the prairies, so the opportunity to spend time in Fernie on the new Slayer was one I looked forward to all year. It did not disappoint - panoramic views, huge descents, impeccable trail building, and a tight-knit mountain bike community.''Elk Valley locals tell a story about William Fernie, who asked a Ktunaxa chief about the black coal rocks hanging on the necklace of the chiefs daughter. The chief showed him the source of the coal on the condition that Mr. Fernie married his daughter, but the prospector backed out of the agreement. The chief then cursed the entire valley, and it would suffer a series of fires, floods, and mining disasters at the turn of the century.The supposed curse was lifted by Chief Ambrose Gravelle of the Ktunaxa Nation on August 15th, 1964. However, if you look at Mount Hosmer on summer evenings, you can sometimes make out a shadow of the chiefs daughter standing beside the ''ghost rider'' on his horse.The jagged summits of the Three Sisters peaks that overlook the Elk Valley are massive beds of sloping marine limestone, called the Palliser Formation. Most mountains are younger than what theyre built on, but Fernies craggy peaks are literally upside down. 360 million years ago the area that would become the Elk Valley was much further south, close to the equator, and the Pacific Ocean was only 80km to the west.Dinosaurs roamed the land and earthquakes shook as the tectonic plates smashed into each other, fracturing massive pieces of stone along huge thrust faults. 180 million years ago, the old limestone sea floor was pushed upwards along those thrust faults and over the younger stone - turning the mountains upside down.

The trails in the Rockies are so different from France, or anywhere else I've ridden on the Enduro World Series. The day we rode in the alpine was special. Riding raw freeride trails with Thomas right behind gave me a little pressure, but the views were beautiful and it was so much fun. It was an amazing experience, and I hope to return one day soon! - Florian Nicolai

''I was excited to have the opportunity to work on this project. The first day I couldnt believe I was riding with Thomas Vanderham - hes a legend to me, and I love watching his signature style and whips,'' EWS racer Florian Nicolai said of his time with the Canadian freeride icon. ''This was also the first time I rode the finished product of the Slayer, but it only took me one run to get used to it. It surprised me how good it is for different trails and terrain.''The scale of the Rockies is sobering. From geological upheavals to megatons of rock carving the landscape as glaciers advanced and retreated, the forces that have shaped these mountains are almost unimaginable. This place has a unique way of making humans feel insignificant and reminding us that todays landscape is just an impermanent snapshot in the earths geological history. Its an honour to explore this terrain, its stone and loam, on two wheels.
2016 EPT Barcelona Main Event Day 3: Anthony Chimkovitch in the Lead

August 25, 2016 Yori Epskamp Senior Content Manager

Day 3 of the record-breaking 2016 PokerStars.es EPT Season 13 Barcelona 5,300 Main Event started off with 294 players who were already in the money when play resumed. Due to the new payout structure, the bubble broke late on Day 2, guaranteeing the remaining players at least 5,630. With the min cash in the bag, everyone in Casino Barcelona had set their sights on the life-changing first price of 1,122,800.

After five levels, it was Belgium's Anthony Chimkovitch who bagged the overall chip lead with 1,825,000. On his way to the chip lead, Chimkovitch eliminated Chance Kornuth in spectacular fashion. Kornuth made a move with his pair of queens. Chimkovitch, however, held a pair of kings and knocked out the American high roller in one of the biggest pots of the day.

The day was fast-paced right from the start. With no pay jumps in sight, players busted in quick fashion. Marko Neumann, Martin Acre Llobrera, Ilari Sahamies, and Day 2 leader Ognyan Dimov were among the first to fall. Mike McDonald, who received the EPT 12 Platinum Player of the Year award yesterday, saw his run in the Main Event come to an end when his pair of nines were no good against Vasili Firsau's pair of aces.

Connor Drinan, Govert Metaal, Leo Margets, Kitty Kuo, Harrison Gimbel, Sam Chartier, Kimmo Kurko, Gleb Tremzin, Darryll Fish, and Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody all failed to make Day 4 as well.

Long time Norwegian professional and former EPT champion Andreas Hoivold saw his Main Event come to an abrupt end in a huge pot versus Marco Caza. Hoivoid's pair and flush draw couldn't get there against Caza's top two pair, skyrocketing Caza to the top of the standings. Caza finished the day in second place, bagging 1,520,000.

Besides Chimkovitch and Caza, a total of 98 players made their way to Day 4. Team PokerStars' last standing man is none other than Jason Mercier who sat at the feature table for a long time. Mercier bagged 1,006,000, making him a dangerous threat going forward.

A lot of other notables still have a shot at the seven-figure price, including Nuno Capucho (1,375,000), Adam Owen (857,000), Bryn Kenney (728,000), 2016 November Niner Vojtech Ruzicka (680,000), Sam Grafton (650,000), Byron Kaverman (442,000), Georgios ZIsimopoulos (438,000), Jason Koon (424,000), Mark Roovers (392,000), and Eugene Katchalov (215,000)

Action resumes tomorrow at 12 pm noon local time when a maximum of five levels of 90 minutes each will be played. The full end of day chip counts and Day 4 redraw will be published as soon as the PokerNews live reporting team receives them.

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.

Sharelines Anthony Chimkovitch Bags Chiplead After Day 3 of the 2016 EPT 13 Barcelona Main Event
The coroner's office said a man who was involved in a shootout with New Orleans police and Louisiana State Police troopers Sunday died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, reports WDSU.

Orleans Parish Coroner Jeffrey Rouse released his findings Tuesday on the autopsy into the death of Bernie Porche, 37. He died Sunday during a shootout in the Seventh Ward that also left a state trooper injured with a gunshot wound.

Porche was identified as the suspect who ran out of a vehicle that police said was stolen from the Fifth District. Porche was with two other men, who have not been located since Sunday's shooting.

Police said Porche shot a state trooper when he was tracked down in the 1900 block of Hope Street. The trooper returned fire after he was shot, but Porche got away.

New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison said Porche was found by a group of police officers and state troopers at Law and New Orleans streets. Porche opened fire, and the officers returned fire, striking him, police said.

Rouse said Porche was shot three times. Dash camera video from patrol vehicles showed the suspect fired his weapon at officers as he ran. The officers returned fire from a distance, Rouse said.

Rouse said autopsy evidence led him to determine that the fatal gunshot, the third wound, is consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He said the wound entered the right side of Porche's head and exited on the left.

Porche's death has been initially classified as a suicide. He said the video evidence and the autopsy evidence is consistent with a self-inflicted wound.
Officer Wade Irwin (Photo: San Diego PD)

After 25 days in a hospital, San Diego police Officer Wade Irwin, who took a bullet to the neck in a shootout that left his partner dead, was greeted by fellow officers and taken home Saturday. When he arrived, his 19-month-old daughter raced across the lawn and into his open arms, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Irwin, 32, underwent multiple surgeries, and spent most of his time in the intensive care unit, prompting his wife to take a leave of absence to be near him. The nine-year veteran will now continue his recovery at home. The officer's number one goal is to get back work, said family spokesman and Fraternal Order of Police Attorney Jim Cunningham.

"He is a very special person," Cunningham said. "This guy is one of the most courageous, steadfast peace officers I've ever met in my life."

Jesse Gomez, 53, is accused of shooting Irwin and his partner Officer Jonathan De Guzman, who was still in the patrol vehicle with his seatbelt on when he was killed. Irwin called for assistance, provided a description of the suspect, turned on his body camera, and shot at the suspect, all after being shot in the throat, Cunningham said.

Community members rallied around Irwin and his family in the wake of the shooting. Two fundraising pages to help support them have raised nearly $48,000.
Canton Police Department K-9 Jethro was shot and killed in January by Kelontre D. Barefield. (Photo: Canton PD via Facebook)

The man who fatally shot Canton, OH, police dog Jethro has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Kelontre D. Barefield, 23, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges related to Jethro's death and several other counts stemming from four earlier burglaries and an unrelated aggravated robbery, CantonRep.com reports.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin G. Farmer called Barefield's actions "intolerable" and said they violated "the safety and security of this county and the people sworn to protect it" as she sentenced him to a combined 45-year prison term that covers both pending cases.

In January, Barefield broke into the Fishers Foods on Harrison Avenue SW, shot Jethro three times and exchanged gunfire with two officers, during which he was shot in the ankle. The police dog died the following day.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

In the click bait age, its tempting for media outlets to sacrifice accuracy and objectivity for clicks and shares on social media. Fudging some numbers and framing a story in a misleading way is poor journalism, sure, but it may just get the most attention.

Thats what The Associated Press was up to in their new report about the number of Clinton Foundation donors Hillary Clinton met with as secretary of state.

It all started with this tweet on Tuesday night:

BREAKING: AP analysis: More than half those who met Clinton as Cabinet secretary gave money to Clinton Foundation.  The Associated Press (@AP) August 23, 2016

In the story itself, the AP reported: 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, according to a review of State Department calendars released so far to The Associated Press.

The sample size of 154 meetings is ridiculous if you think about it for more than 10 seconds.

As the leader of the State Department, Clinton met with thousands of people. Instead of emphasizing that in their reporting, the AP cherry-picked a limited number of meetings to give off the impression that a majority of her interactions were with Clinton Foundation donors.

That simply isnt the truth.

Even if we do examine the meetings the AP reported on, there was still nothing near scandalous to be found.

As Matthew Yglesias of Vox wrote today, The State Department is a big operation. So is the Clinton Foundation. The AP put a lot of work into this project. And it couldnt come up with anything that looks worse than helping a Nobel Prize winner, raising money to finance AIDS education, and doing an introduction for the chair of the Kennedy Center.

The media has every right to examine the Clinton Foundations work, but they should do it in a way that is driven by facts, not the need to make noise and get clicks.

Perhaps they can talk about how a majority of people around the world getting AIDS medications received them from the Clinton Foundation. Thats an actual statistic, too, not a cherry-picked number meant to drive a media narrative.

Ultimately, the APs bombshell report did what it intended to do, which was create controversy and get people talking, but it was irresponsible and sloppy. The reporting was incomplete at best and intentionally misleading at worst.

But at the end of the day, it found no wrongdoing on the part of Hillary Clinton or her familys charitable organization  even if that wasnt in the headline.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Hillary Clinton phoned into AC360 on Wednesday night and wasted no time in demolishing Donald Trumps new favorite talking point  that she is a bigot.

When Anderson Cooper asked her about it, Clinton laughed off the ridiculous attack and explained to voters, specifically those in the minority community, just how phony the Republican nominees recent minority outreach is.

Video:

Hillary Clinton responds to Donald Trump calling her a bigot by saying Trump is taking a hate movement mainstream https://t.co/8ilwBAhFQ8  CNN (@CNN) August 25, 2016

Clinton said:

He is taking a hate movement mainstream; hes brought it into his campaign. Hes bringing it to our communities and our country. Someone who has questioned the citizenship of the first African-American president; who has courted white supremacists; who has been sued for housing discrimination against communities of color; whos attacked a judge for his Mexican heritage and promised a mass deportation force, is someone who is very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia. I will have more to say about this tomorrow when I give a speech in Reno.

Donald Trumps record when it comes to minority voters  whether its his comments throughout the course of this campaign or his actions during his business career  is very clear.

All Clinton had to do was rattle off a list of things the Republican nominee has actually said and done  no exaggeration necessary. He may spend the next 75 days pivoting, but the Democratic nominee will make sure voters dont forget who Trump really is.

Clinton will likely address this and many other aspects of Trumps disturbing campaign in a major speech in Nevada on Thursday.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Its not a guarantee that Democrats will reclaim control of the U.S. Senate in November, but a new forecast by The New York Times Upshot shows the odds are in their favor.

According to the forecast, which is updated on a daily basis, Democrats now have a 60 percent chance of winning back the Senate this fall.

Included within this 60 percent is a 17 percent chance that the Senate ends up evenly split with a Democratic vice president providing the tie-breaking vote, the report reads.

Given the Upshots forecast that Hillary Clinton has a near-90 percent chance of beating Donald Trump in November, it would only take 50 seats for Democrats to gain control of the chamber, with potential Vice President Tim Kaine acting as the tie-breaking vote.

The Democrats need to win five seats among the 11 most competitive races, according to the report. Ten of these seats are held by Republicans, and one by a Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, who is retiring.

As I wrote earlier this month, recent polls in these 11 key battlegrounds indicate that many Democratic Senate candidates are beating or closely competing with their Republican rivals  from Illinois and Wisconsin to Indiana and Pennsylvania

Though the map was likely to favor Democrats regardless of who each partys nominee was, some of this years closest races may be shaped by the candidates at the top of the ticket.

Given the unprecedented unpopularity of the Republican nominee and his dismal polling numbers in critical states, the down-ballot impact could hurt Republicans and push some of these close Senate races toward the Democrats.

According to RealClearPolitics, 47 seats currently lean or are safely in the Democratic column, meaning they would need to pick off just three more to have control of the chamber under President Hillary Clinton.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

You have probably heard the term alt-right by now. The Trump hiring of Breitbarts Steve Bannon has really brought them to attention. Alt-right stands for alternative right, and is so a bit of a misnomer, as theyre not really a viable alternative in any place anyone but crazy white people want to live. You know, like the Third Reich.

It is the political ideology that claims white identity is under attack, that on twitter, taunts progressives and establishment conservatives alike, calling one sh*tlibs and the other, c*ckservatives. Yes. Theyre angry. Theyre white. And they have rallied around Trump.

It is in the news that Hillary Clinton is about to take the offensive against Donald Trumps association with this diffuse group of extremists. Breitbart says Some  mostly Establishment types  insist its little more than a vehicle for the worst dregs of human society: anti-Semites, white supremacists, and other members of the Stormfront set. Theyre wrong.

Actually theyre right. And Fox News mealy-mouthed and disingenuous defense of the alt-right shows they know it.

That Fox News has now aligned itself with the alt-right is really not a reach given Foxs past behavior. Theyre responsible for bringing these extremists into the spotlight in the first place, after all, and bringing their fringe hate-mongering into the mainstream.

On Fox News Americas Newsroom, Doug McKelway, took issue with Ben Shapiros characterization of the alt-right as white-supremacist and Anti-Semite. Watch courtesy of Media Matters for America:

MARTHA MACCALLUM: Donald Trumps rise in the political arena propelling the term alt-right into the national spotlight. The alt-right movement, a small off-shoot of the GOP, known for its rejection of multiculturalism and distrust of immigration and immigrants. While most Republican leaders have distanced themselves, some of Trumps actions have empowered members of the movement. While Hillary Clinton, expected to attack Trump in a speech over his quote, disturbing alt-right political philosophy. Doug McKelway unravels all of this for us in Washington. So what is exactly is the alt-right? Is it described accurately there or not?



DOUG MCKELWAY: Well, you know, it depends on who you ask, Martha. The mainstream media is fond of portraying the alt-right as a mob of unruly, racist, bigoted, sexist, uneducated white males who have been unleashed and feel empowered by Donald Trumps rejection of political correctness. This is the behavior you often see portrayed in videos published by mainstream media showing violence and bigoted behavior outside of Trump rallies perpetrated by Trump supporters. Mainstream media outlets are much less inclined to feature videos that portray violence directed at Trump supporters. But even many conservatives reject the alt-right, such as former Breitbart editor-at-large Ben Shapiro, who resigned from that publication in part because of his former employers alliance with the alt-right.



[BEGIN VIDEO]



BEN SHAPIRO: The alt-right issort of a nationalist, populist movement that is shot through with white supremacism and  and anti-Semitism, and you can see it in the Breitbart comment sections.



[END VIDEO]



MCKELWAY: But the alt-right is much more than that, another branch of it reflected in the activism of people like Milo Yiannopoulos, a flamboyant, openly gay conservative activist who writes for Breitbart and who goes about college speaking tours, ruthlessly savaging the lefts obsession with micro-aggressions and safe spaces  things of that sort. He gets under their skin, Martha.



MACCALUM: He sure does. So how do they come up with these tactics? Whats the background here, Doug?



MCKELWAY: Well, the alt-right is using the same tactics that the left has used for generations now, basically fighting fire with fire. That is a big part of it, its demonstrated in something that Mike Rowe  you might know him, the popular host of the Dirty Jobs show  something that he posted on Facebook recently. Its okay to poke fun as Trump supporters as uneducated white men, he says, but Rowe asks rhetorically  and Im quoting here  If the media didnt care about the lack of college among black men supporting Obama, why do they care so much about the lack of college among white men supporting Trump? Moreover when exactly did a lack of college education become synonymous with a lack of education? Rowe notes that tradesmen, mechanics, welders, carpenters make up a part of the Trump base, and they are hardly without education. They are highly skilled.

Whatever their actual level of education, the highly educated line is a canard. Many Nazis also had university degrees. This did not stop them from gunning down innocent men, women, and children, or gassing them. Being educated doesnt mean youre not a monster.

The claim that the alt-right is using left wing tactics is nothing short of hilarious. Nothing more need be said, because blame-shifting. Pointing and laughing is enough. We all know what the facts are and its not like an alt-righter is going to learn anything from reading something they reject before they see it.

When Dylan Matthews wrote a post in April about the alt-right at Vox saying, The alt-right is more than warmed-over white supremacy. Its that, but way way weirder, the Daily Stormers Andrew Anglin called it Intensified Jewing and responded with a line that tells you all you need to know about this crowd:



So, the liberal/SJW/Communist Jew outlet Vox has an article up this week on the Alt-Right by Dylan Matthews entitled The alt-right is more than warmed-over white supremacy. Its that, but way way weirder.

I just want to point out, in passing, that the Daily Stormer (The worlds most visited alt-right website) bears more than a passing resemblance to Julius Streichers The Stormer (Der Sturmer), to which Breitbart was compared the other day.

Sorry kids, dont want to be compared to Nazis, dont act like them.

Fox News has gone way, way past putting lipstick on a pig here.

The truth hurts.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Rachel Maddows interview with Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was a disaster for Trump as Maddow pushed for details on policy and Conways performance proved that Trumps latest campaign reboot is a fraud.

Maddow asked Conway if Trump has ever apologized to Judge Curiel. Conways answer was, I dont know. Conway retreated to Trumps use of the vague word regret. Maddow followed up and said, but there has been no apology. Maddow turned to the Trumps remarks about the Khan family and asked if Trump has apologized to the Khan family directly. Conway answered, I dont know. Trumps campaign manager talked about her own personal feeling about the Khan family.

Rachel Maddow highlighted the fact that Trumps behavior like getting into a fight with a Gold Star family is shockingly personal. Maddow asked about Trumps Muslim ban, and Conway did more dancing. Maddow got Conway to admit that the Trump campaign no longer supports banning all Muslims. The MFSNBC host did something rare that isnt often seen in mainstream interviews. She pressed for details.

Maddow said that if Trump wanted the controversies to end, he is the one that has to end them by telling the American people exactly what he means. Rachel Maddow told Trumps campaign manager that the candidate created these controversies, and he has to clean them up. Maddow broke up the false equivalency pushed by the Trump campaign that Clinton not holding press conferences is the same as Trump planning to ban Muslims.

The Trump campaigns latest reboot just ran into a buzzsaw named Rachel Maddow.

The MSNBC host pointed out that Trumps extreme vetting of immigrants was rejected by the Supreme Court in the past. Kellyanne Conway said that Trump is talking about four issues a week, and Maddow replied, but Trumps positions have to make sense.

Maddow called out Trump for wasting donors money in Mississippi. She asked why was he there? Conway answered, He wanted to hold a rally in Mississippi.

Rachel Maddow asked Conway if the Clinton Foundation is so bad, why did Trump donate to it? Conway responded by admitting that the Clinton Foundation does some good work. The subject turned to Trump not releasing his tax returns and asked why should this audit out only apply to him? Conway said that voters dont need to see his tax returns.

Maddow used Trumps attack on Hillary Clintons health to ask if Trump should release a full health record. Conways answer, Perhaps. Trumps campaign manager highlighted how vigorous Trump is for a man his age.

Rachel Maddow led Conway into torching the entire Trump reboot by simply asking intelligent questions. It wasnt pretty, and Rachel Maddow just doomed Trumps reboot to total failure.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

The business community is not impressed with Donald Trump, and seem to be desperately looking for the nearest exit. Today they fret that Donald Trump will cause a global recession. This isnt a one-off, given that previous reports have also suggested dark economic outcomes from a Trump presidency.

The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States could lead to chaos in markets and increased policy uncertainty that tip the world into recession, according to Citigroup Inc., Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Explaining that William Buiter has been warning of a global recession for nearly a year, though he previously saw a deceleration in Chinese growth as the proximate cause, Bloomberg quotes Buiters current theory on Trump:

A Trump victory in particular could prolong and perhaps exacerbate policy uncertainty and deliver a shock (though perhaps short-lived) to financial markets, writes a team led by Chief Economist Willem Buiter. Tightening financial conditions and further rises in uncertainty could trigger a significant slowdown in U.S., but also global growth.

Reports showing that the economy would weaken significantly under Trumps policies arent new.

In June, a Moodys analysis warned that during Trumps first term we would reduce employment by 3.5 million jobs and a heavy recession would hit the nation.

The Wall Street Journal wrote up the Moodys analysis and reported additionally that the tax plan wouldnt help:

Mr. Trumps tax plan would lower tax rates across the board and limit some deductions. The Tax Policy Center, a project of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, said the plan would cut federal revenues by $9.5 trillion, while the Tax Foundation, a think tank that favors lower taxes, said the plan would cost $10 trillion over a decade, even after assuming higher economic growth.

In June, a Forbes opinion column tried desperately to make the case that while the reports on Trumps economic policies were bad, it didnt matter. Sure, the outcome is still bad, but not as bad as the reports claim, the author Tim Worstall posited, because presidents dont get everything their way with budgets.

The outcome still is not good for the simple reason that parts of those economic plans are not good, Worstall wrote. Shrug, thats what happens with bad economic policy. But those outcomes are nowhere near as bad as is being generally bandied about when people make the incorrect assumption that Trump would get what he asked for.

Still, this is not a great campaign slogan: A Trump presidency will be bad, but dont worry, Congress will stop him from making it a total disaster!

On August 17, Citigroups William Lee suggested that the odds of a recession would be much higher under Trump. Speaking to CNBCs Power Lunch, Lee said, All of his trade policies may not only cause the lowering of our imports but it could cause retaliation on the part of our exporters and so that could contract trade. We think that would be the source of a recession sooner than later under Trump.

The real point here is that Donald Trumps economic policies are just as bad as his border policy and his banning Muslims policies.

Its just that people are used to Republican tax plans doing the opposite of what they claim, so its no shock that Trumps plan would cost trillions in lost revenues and even with alleged growth factored in, would cost $10 trillion over a decade. So much for trickle down. Again.

Thats a lot of money to spend to reduce employment by 3.5 million and cause a global recession. We already tried this version of Making America Great Again and it was a horrifying failure that put the full burden of the mistake on the backs of the middle class and poor.

Thanks, but no thanks to Trickle Down Trump style.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

It is an interesting convergence, that just as Trump hires Steve Bannon, the alt-right head of Breitbart, to win him the White House, he issues a phony appeal to minorities to support him. There is nothing that says anti-minority like the white supremacist alt-right. Today, in Reno, Nevada, Hillary Clinton is calling him out.

Observers can claim this is a stroke by Clinton to nail Trump mid-pivot, but Trumps association with these people is nothing new, and unlike what the right says about Clinton, these charges are not unfounded. Even Fox News doesnt pretend the alt-right doesnt love Trump. They focus instead on, if youll pardon use of the term, whitewashing the alt-right.

Fox News yesterday joined Breitbart launched into a defense of the alt-right, but CNNs Brian Stelter points out that the passion on these fringe websites, fringier than Breitbart, does sometimes come across as sexist, racist, and antisemitic.

BRIAN STELTER: Breitbart dot com, the website chaired by Steve Bannon, has proudly led the charge. Last month, Bannon told Mother Jones we are the platform for the alt-right. Now Bannon is the Trump campaign CEO, and Clinton is seizing on the connection, calling the alt-right disturbing and extreme. So what is it, exactly?



[]



This video blogger says the movement, which started online several years ago, is about ethnic nationalism, race  specifically the sense that white identity is under assault in America, fuels the alt-right, which stands opposed to both progressive and mainstream conservative thought. Supporters say theyre not racist or divisive, but that is what critics charge.



[]



Trump is a favorite of the mostly young, mostly white men who identify as alt-right.



[]



Nativism and even racial separatism are themes of at-right websites that embrace Trump, but some of the loudest adherents say they are just being provocative. Milo Yiannopoulos has become a face of the movement through social media stunts, though he has been banned from Twitter. He is cheering on Trump.



MILO YIANNOPOULOS: He represents the best hope we have of smashing political correctness apart, of breaking open, you know, all of the taboos, the stuff youre not supposed to say allowing real debate to be had again.



STELTER: Some of his supporters of this mostly online movement say theyre bringing new energy, new passion to a party that needs it. But that passion on these fringe websites, fringier than Breitbart, does sometimes come across as sexist, racist, and antisemitic, and Jim, Im sure thats what Clinton will bring up tomorrow.

Philip Bump at The Washington Posts The Fix calls the alt-right the worst of the Web. Bump points out too that Anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim and otherwise explicit images riddle the online alt-right.

Just this morning Fox News Doug McKelway wrote at that the Alt right conservative movement embraces the Trump campaign. McKelway objects to the Clinton campaign speaking of the alt-right as

[E]mbracing extremism and presenting a divisive and dystopian view of America which should concern all Americans, regardless of party.

Ann Coutler blames the alt-right on multiculturalism, which sounds a great deal like a National Socialist excuse, and this is no mere coincidence. If the term did not exist yet in the 30s, the animus was very real.

I brought you the example of The Daily Stormer yesterday, which has nearly the same name as the Nazi-era The Stormer (and is about as anti-Jewish but without the creepy cartoons). The Daily Stormer claims to be the most visited alt-right site, and it echoes a Nazi propaganda rag in more than its name.

Hillary Clinton has every reason to criticize Trumps relationship with these people when she speaks in Reno, Nevada today. Mainstreamed Nazism? In the United States?

Yes. Even McKelway admits,

Some Jewish conservatives who have criticized Trump  Fox News contributor and National Review columnist Jonah Goldberg among them  have been targeted by the alt right with hate mail and tweets that use holocaust imagery.

McElway doesnt seem concerned by the Nazi imagery of websites like The Daily Stormer or the rampant anti-Semitism and racism exhibited not only on these fringe websites but by Trump supporters at his rallies; he wouldnt admit to it in any case.

You cant make excuses for this kind of sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic behavior.

People like Jared Taylor, editor of the non-profit American Renaissance, whom McKelway profiles, can claim they are not white supremacist and dont even know what that means, but when Taylor says

The idea that America is just a nation up for grabs, that whoever can get here owns the place. No. We think that the United States has an identity and that the people who are extended from the founding stock have a right to resist dispossession.

Or tweets this:

Blacks are more prone to crime. They have higher levels of testosterone than whites, as well as the following: https://t.co/X6X3AzwW75  Jared Taylor (@jartaylor) July 15, 2016

You get the idea Taylor knows pretty damn well what it means. And practices it. And so does Donald Trump.

H/t to reader NathanDerby for pointing me to Taylors tweet
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

This column has referenced the William Shakespeare quote from Romeo and Juliet, A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, on more than one occasion to demonstrate that a label cannot conceal what something is at its core. By now a few Americans likely comprehend that Donald J. Trump is inherently racist towards people of color, but no matter how sweet the relabeling of his campaign message, he is still inherently racist.

In an attempt to trick African Americans into believing the television celebrity is really on their side and uniquely equipped to solve all their woes, the Donald is in the midst of a minority outreach to the African American community; even after anointing an avowed white nationalist as his campaigns CEO. The truth is that Trumps minority outreach is a ploy to solidify his racist bona fides with the white supremacist sect and attempt to soften the glaring racism among non-committed white voters and hes doing it by insulting Black Americans. As New York Times columnists Charles Blow and Washington Posts Eugene Washington said, Trumps outreach is to solely to white people, not African Americans.

In fact, Mr. Blow was very straightforward and very correct in describing Trumps dog-whistle racism labeled a minority outreach. He said:

It is the most insidious kind of bigotrythe kind that says I will knock you down while I pretend to pick you up. Im not talking to you [Black person]; Im talking to the [white guy] behind you over your shoulder. Its the kind of bigotry that says Im urinating on you and telling you to dance in the rain. This is an insult to all people of color, both black, Hispanic, and otherwise, because he is using us as pawns to get to you [white people]. You do not get an out. Know the guy was a bigot yesterday. Hes a bigot today. He will be a bigot tomorrow, and if you vote for him, youre voting for a bigot. Thats it.

Blow was also right in saying that there are no African Americans taking Trumps minority outreach seriously: the only people taking it seriously are white people. One might add that those most taking it seriously are white people ensconced in main stream media.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson concurred with Charles Blow and was only a tad less blunt. Robinson said for one thing that if Trump was sincere about an outreach to Black voters, he would not have turned down numerous invitations to speak to African American voters directly. Instead, Trumps phony outreach has included speaking only to white voters.

Robinson rightly assessed Trumps real motive as telling white people that Look, I care about African Americans too, in my own totally inappropriate, insulting and condescending way. I care about them, so Im not really a racist and therefore you can vote for me. However, it doesnt take a genius to comprehend that everything Trump is saying in his outreach message is a monumental insult to Blacks, fallacious to a new level, and a nod to white supremacists that their hero agrees with everything bad white racists believe about African Americans.

The gist of Trumps outreach speeches to African Americans, those delivered solely to groups of white people is: Youre stupid, your schools suck, you live in poverty, youre lazy, youre inherently violent, and your communities are a breeding ground for your miserable worthless lives; So what the Hell do you have to lose?

Trump is likely too engrossed in, or convinced by, his own sophistry to comprehend that African Americans are well aware of his racist history and devotion to the Republican policies and agendas that have destroyed their jobs, underfunded their schools, and rewarded police that gun them down with malice. They are also cognizant of the fact that while Trump is reaching out to African Americans as a demonstration that his is not a racist, he appointed a white nationalist hero to run his campaign and regularly shares memes from white supremacists on his social media accounts.

Say for a minute that Donald Trump does not have a racist history or is not dependent on white supremacists and nationalists as a solid base; he does not offer even one policy recommendation or agenda to assist the people he claims are suffering and desperately need help that only Donald Trump can provide. Instead, he proffers precisely the same Republican policies that destroys jobs, rewards wealth, puts more guns on the streets, and keeps inner city schools underfunded. Contrast Trumps typically Republican proposals with former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons proposals that address all of the issues plaguing not just African Americans, but all minorities and white working Americans.

It is little wonder African Americans are not enamored with a racist, bigoted, and fascist television celebrity named Donald Trump and why he will never earn their support no matter the phony outreach of a typical Republican who, as Charles Blow said was urinating on them and telling them to dance in the rain. It doesnt matter how much outreach Trump makes to African Americans, or how often his campaign claims he is not a racist because he is talking about minorities; a racist by any other name still smells like a stinking racist and nothing Donald Trump can possibly do will change the fact he, like his base and establishment Republicans, is a racist.
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.
25  2021 - 200     

        !

     . (     )

   2023        

  ,  Cookies        .          cookies.




Dear Dave: I think it is so important for workers to feel safe and secure at their place of work. The people I manage do not discuss any safety concerns with me, but I think they will work better and can focus on their work if safety is not an issue. Ideas?  T

Dear T: I think your points are on the mark. In light of recent and past incidents of accidents and workplace violence, I believe every worker is concerned about safety, whether they share it or not. It is challenging enough for workers to do their job and especially difficult if they live in fear.

I also think workplace safety comes in many forms: physical safety, psychological safety and even safety in being able to express beliefs, ideas and concerns openly and honestly without fear of retaliation by management or coworkers. When we remove safety as a concern, people can just focus on doing their work and advancing their career.

Safety is everyone's responsibility and a "culture of safety" must be developed. The entire workforce  from upper management to the temporary worker  must recognize and believe worker safety is a mission of the company and it is being actively embraced and carried out on a daily basis.

I believe people like doing business with principled companies and safety is a top principle. It is good business and also the right thing to do. A safe and healthy work environment provides lower costs, increased productivity and higher employee morale. Safe and healthy work environments attract and retain great employees who just want to do their job and not be constantly on guard for some threatening and damaging event to take place.

ADVERTISEMENT

Physical safety

A safe and nonthreatening physical working environment is crucial for creating a constructive overall work environment. Whether it is workplace violence prevention planning, mechanical safety practices or toxic chemical handling, employees expect and deserve protection and training.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the watchdog group that inspects and sets standards for workplace safety. Their emphasis is helping companies assess work conditions, come up with sustainable plans and programs for increasing and maximizing safety and training employees in how to work safely within an all-inclusive safe environment.

There are five systemic elements every effective program should have: leadership and employee participation and idea sharing, analysis of the current state of health and safety, health and safety problem remediation, safety and health training and education and ongoing program assessment. Management should evaluate the workplace for common safety problems and also get a grasp for what could go wrong  especially any catastrophic events that could occur.

Every company is different and each safety and health program should be tailored to fit the company  to blend with its unique operations and culture. Involvement breeds ownership and I believe safety planning and practices will be followed more closely if employees feel they had a hand in the planning and implementation  that it is theirs and not just forced on them.

Psychological safety

Employee satisfaction is driven by many things  employees want to do what they do best, be autonomous and grow as individuals, and be rewarded for doing good work. Employees also want to know they are more than robots and they are able to use their brains. In addition, every employee wants to feel their job makes a difference and they will not be chastised or ridiculed for  thinking.

To accomplish this, the work environment must be "safe for thinking." I understand there are standard practices and methods that must be followed, but managers, please, allow your employees a chance to come up with ideas that will help  even in small ways.

ADVERTISEMENT

Remember that a healthy, efficient, safe and positive work environment is a big part of the organizational culture, and like I said, can have a big bearing on its ability to attract the right kind of talent and retain the good employees you have.
SAN FRANCISCO  Global messaging service WhatsApp says it will start sharing the phone numbers of its users with Facebook, its parent company. That means WhatsApp users could soon start seeing more targeted ads and Facebook friend suggestions on Facebook based on WhatsApp information  although not on the messaging service itself.

The move is a subtle but significant shift for WhatsApp, used by more than 1 billion people around the world. When it was acquired by Facebook for an eye-popping $21.8 billion two years ago, executives promised privacy would be safeguarded.

"This is a strong-arm tactic on the part of Facebook," said Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy in Washington, D.C. "They continue on a campaign on to run roughshod on our privacy rights."

WhatsApp is giving users a limited time to opt out of sharing their information with Facebook, although they must take the extra step of unchecking a box to do so. It also says Facebook won't post phone numbers online or give them out to anyone.

But the giant social network has been looking for ways to make money from WhatsApp since it bought the service two years ago. At the same time, Facebook has pledged not to interfere with a longstanding promise by WhatsApp's co-founders to respect users' privacy and keep ads off its messaging platform.

ADVERTISEMENT

WhatsApp on Thursday offered a glimpse of its plans for turning on the money spigot, releasing new documents that describe the company's privacy policy and the terms of service that users must agree to follow. The documents are the first revision of those policies since 2012, before Facebook acquired WhatsApp.

One change follows through on previous hints by WhatsApp executives, who have said they're exploring ways for businesses to communicate with customers on WhatsApp. That could include using WhatsApp to provide receipts, confirm a reservation or update the status of a delivery.

Companies could also send marketing offers or messages about sales to individual customers, according to the new documents, which note that users will be able to control or block such messages. WhatsApp says it will continue to bar traditional display ads from its service.

"We do not want you to have a spammy experience," the company tells users in a summary of the new policies.

Another change is potentially more controversial: WhatsApp says it will begin "coordinating" accounts with Facebook by sharing WhatsApp users' mobile phone numbers and device information, such as the type of operating system and other smartphone characteristics. The company says Facebook will employ the phone number internally to better identify WhatsApp users on Facebook, so it can make friend suggestions or show targeted advertising.

The ads would come through a Facebook program called "Custom Audiences," which lets a business upload lists of customers and phone numbers or other contact information the business has collected from warranty cards or other sources. Facebook matches the list to users with the same information and shows them ads. Facebook says it doesn't give out users' information to advertisers.

WhatsApp phone numbers are valuable to Facebook. While the social network already has many phone numbers, it doesn't require users to provide them, and doesn't always have the most current number for everyone on Facebook. But anyone on WhatsApp must provide a current phone number because that's how WhatsApp knows where to deliver messages.

The coordination of accounts may draw fire from privacy advocates. WhatsApp has long promised not to employ user data for advertising. Its acquisition by Facebook two years ago sparked complaints from activists who worried the new owner would start mining WhatsApp accounts. Though both companies pledged WhatsApp would operate separately from its parent, the Federal Trade Commission warned them publicly, in a 2014 letter, against changing how they employ WhatsApp user data without users' consent.

ADVERTISEMENT

WhatsApp says current users have up to 30 days to accept the new policy terms or stop using the service. Once they accept, they have 30 more days to opt out of sharing with Facebook.

Privacy groups have praised WhatsApp for building powerful encryption into its services, making it impossible for the company or anyone else to read users' messages. WhatsApp promises that encryption will remain, so neither WhatsApp nor Facebook would be able to use message content for advertising purposes.

But privacy activists also criticized the 30-day window to opt out.

"Very few people opt out, it should be an informed opt in," Chester said. "No data should be used unless people are informed honestly about how it's going to be used."
Being a godparent is rooted in the formation of a lifelong relationship. Another name for the role of godparent is baptismal sponsor. There are many ways to live out this calling even if you haven't given it much thought for a while.

Perhaps you were designated the role of godparent decades ago, and now that infant is an adult. Don't worry. Your role as a baptismal sponsor is a permanent commitment, so it's never too late to approach it with intentionality. Even if you're not an official godparent or you're part of a faith tradition that doesn't identify godparents, there still are opportunities every day to participate in the faith development of the children, teens and adults in your life.

I became a godparent earlier this month. I had the honor of serving as one of the baptismal sponsors for the daughter of some good friends. I've participated in many baptisms in a pastoral capacity but never as a sponsor. It was a very moving experience, and I feel grateful beyond measure.

The designation of godparent first hit the scene somewhere around the second century. Initially baptismal sponsors always were the parents of the person being baptized, but about 813 A.D. and the Council of Munich, it was discerned that godparents needed to be adults other than parents. Baptismal sponsors were identified as adults who were willing to make a commitment to support the faith development of the person being baptized.

At some points in history and within some Christian traditions, the role of godparent was not only a commitment to support the child being baptized but also to take responsibility for the child if anything were to happen to the parents. The custody of children is no longer related to baptismal sponsorship in most cases.

ADVERTISEMENT

Each denomination has its own baptismal practices. Some traditions have dedications instead of baptisms. In many traditions, sponsors and parents/guardians make the following sorts of commitments to the child being baptized:

 To nurture the individual in the Christian faith.

 To place the Bible in his/her hands.

 To nurture him/her in faith and prayer.

 To invite him/her to be part of a family of faith.

 To support and pray for the individual.

More than anything else, the primary commitment that a godparent makes during baptism is a promise to support the person being baptized. It's an invitation into a relationship: lifelong, supportive and prayerful.

Being a godparent isn't about seeing how often you can mention God in casual conversation. It isn't about gifting the child Bibles and religious jewelry. And you certainly don't have to be a spiritual whiz with a vast trove of memorized scripture in order to qualify.

ADVERTISEMENT

Being a baptismal sponsor is about building a relationship in such a way that the individual being baptized recognizes you as a safe, loving, unconditionally supportive presence. This is true at every age: 2 or 10 or 33 or 50. No matter the age your godchild is today, you still get to be a safe, loving, unconditionally supportive presence. It's never too late.

Ways to be an intentional godparent: Send a piece of mail, schedule a special visit, go out for ice cream or see a cool documentary together. If the individual is now old enough for sports, ask for a copy of the schedule and make it to a game or two. If the individual is in college, ask for a copy of the syllabus to a favorite class so you can follow along. If your godchild is now an adult, find some common ground and check in a few times a year to talk about dolphins or baking or coin-collecting  whatever your adult godchild finds most life-giving.

The building of a relationship can begin at any point. Conversations about faith and spirituality will happen along the way.

As a priceless bonus, something miraculous is sure to occur. Just as you bless the life of your godchild, your godchild undoubtedly will bless your life as well. Thanks be to the Author of Relationship!
There was a very proud king named Nebuchadnezzar. He looked out over his kingdom with great joy.

"I did it," he proclaimed. "By my own hands, I have built this great kingdom." All of this arrogance got him in great trouble with God.

But God, who is kind and loving, sent the king a prophet named Daniel. Daniel brought a message from God, warning the king he was about to have a great fall.

King Nebuchadnezzar was given an opportunity to change his prideful thinking and acknowledge that God is sovereign.

All he had to do was humble himself and say, "It is by the grace of God I have done these things." He was asked to acknowledge his need for God and that no man could have built a kingdom like he had on his own.

ADVERTISEMENT

The king's heart was hard. He said no to God. His pride stood as a wall, preventing him from seeing the truth.

So it happened just as God had said. The king had a great fall and lost his mind. The poor man lived as an animal for seven years. Oooh. Let's not go into detail about those seven years of hell on earth. Rather, look at the goodness of God.

In spite of this king's rebellion toward God, he was granted mercy. At the end of seven years, the king saw the error of his ways and acknowledged God was real.

Instead of arrogant, he became humble and grateful. Mercy triumphed over judgment, and King Nebuchadnezzar had his kingdom restored.

So what is the moral of the story? What wisdom can we gain from this example?

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge you are the Sovereign King of heaven and earth. We know and understand that you can bring down kings and lift them up.

We know and understand that you are good, kind and merciful. Thank you!

ADVERTISEMENT

We ask you to be actively involved in our government, and we need you. Thank you for good and Godly leaders. Amen.

"First of all, I admonish you that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men. For kings and all who are in positions of authority that we may live a peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."  1 Timothy 2:1-2.
It's hard to believe, but summer is racing to a close. As much as I love the Minnesota State Fair, it signals the end of summer as far as I'm concerned. Kids are going back to school, and even though summer doesn't officially end until Sept. 22, it's just not the same once we get past Labor Day.

There's still plenty of summer in the Rochester evening sky as far as the constellations go. One of my favorites is Hercules the Hero. It's certainly not one of brightest constellations, but I love the celestial hero's classic story. Hercules is supposed to outline the figure of a mighty hero in Greek mythology, but to me looks more like a giant fancy handwritten capital "H" (for Hercules) hanging diagonally in the high southwestern sky.

As soon as it's dark enough, after 8:30 p.m., start looking for a very bright star nearly overhead. That's the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Lyre. About 15 to 20 degrees to the lower right of Vega in the high southwestern sky (or about two of your fist-widths at arm's length), look for four moderately bright stars that form a trapezoid. You should be able to see them unless there's really a lot of light pollution from where you're observing. That trapezoid is in the center of Hercules right about where you'd join to two sides of the "H."

The most significant part of Hercules is on the upper right hand side of the trapezoid. That's where you'll find one of the great celestial treasures of the sky any time of the year. It's a must-see object with any size telescope, the amazing great Hercules cluster. You can even see it with the naked eye if you're stargazing in the dark countryside. Look for a faint smudge. It's an even better sight with a good pair of binoculars, or even better, a telescope, with which you'll see a really gorgeous spherical cluster of very old stars, known as a globular cluster. This is the best one in our skies.

Astronomers figure it's about 25,000 light-years away, which equals about 145,000 trillion miles away. There may be up to a million stars crammed in area a little over 800 trillion miles wide. Through even a moderate telescope you can see some individual stars at the edge. As with all telescopic objects, though, look at the cluster for extended periods of time through the eyepiece of your scope to let your eyes get use to the darkness of the field.

ADVERTISEMENT

At my stargazing programs this time of year, it's one of the best treasures I love showing off to the folks through my larger scopes. The Hercules cluster is one of many globular clusters that form a halo around our Milky Way galaxy. Astronomers don't know exactly how they form, but globular clusters are definitely part of our galaxy's evolution.

In Greek mythology, Hercules was a mighty muscle man. For the most of his life he also had a huge heart, except for brief and awful episode. Young Hercules, a teenager, fell in love with the beautiful but conniving Princess Megara. They were foolishly married soon after they met, and the honeymoon didn't last very long. Arguments quickly broke out. Hercules felt that there was nothing he could do to please Megara. She picked and picked at Hercules until he blew his stack and temporally lost his sanity. With his mighty hand, he choked Princess Megara and all her attendants.

Immediately after the massacre, Hercules came to his senses and realized the extent of horrible deeds. He was beyond sick with guilt and shame and turned himself in, leaving his fate to Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae and Megara's father. The wise and extremely compassionate king was totally devastated with the loss of his daughter, but accepted that his son-in-law was truly sorry for his crime and temporary loss of sanity. Nonetheless, Hercules had to be punished, so Eurystheus assigned Hercules to 12 incredibly difficult labors that he had to perform to atone for his crime.

One of his labors was to slay Leo the Lion, the king of all beasts. Using all his strength and brains, Hercules slayed the monster lion and went on to complete all his other labors, like taking on a nine-headed snake and stealing cattle from a monster.

Zeus, the king of the gods, and all his buddies on Mount Olympus rewarded Hercules at the time of his death for all his great work by placing his body in the heavens as the constellation we see through the summer and early fall. They didn't want Hercules to receive full honors, though, because of his murder conviction, so they hung his body upside down.

Celestial hugging

Early this week, check the very close conjunction during evening twilight between Jupiter and Venus in the very low western sky, just above the horizon.
A Chatfield man made his initial appearance Tuesday in Olmsted County District Court, where he's been accused of inappropriately touching a victim under age 16.

Stanley LeRoy Fieseler, 65, faces one count each of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Both are felonies. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Sept. 20.

The investigation began July 8 with a report to Olmsted County Child Protection. A detective spoke with the victim, whose gender was not identified in the criminal complaint. The victim said Fieseler had touched his or her "intimate parts" over clothing on three occasions, the criminal complaint says, including twice in one day.

The victim felt "bad and horrible" as a result of the contact, court documents say, and told a relative about it. The relative called Fieseler and told him to stop touching the child. According to the complaint, the victim could hear Fieseler's phone conversation and heard him apologize and promise not to do it again.

If convicted, the second-degree count carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both. The fourth-degree charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both.
CORMORANT  The four-legged mayor of a northwestern Minnesota village greets voters like a true politician.

Duke, a 9-year-old Great Pyrenees, won a third one-year term as honorary mayor of Cormorant Township on Saturday.

The big, shaggy white dog overwhelmingly was re-elected at the sixth annual Cormorant Daze Festival. Anyone could pay a dollar and cast a vote.

Cormorant resident Karen Nelson said Duke "greets everyone" who comes to the village of about 20 people nestled among lakes about 180 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Nelson said the canine mayor also is popular with children. She said Duke "can have 10 kids on him, and he don't care."

ADVERTISEMENT

Duke first was elected in a write-in vote in 2014.
A judge has ruled that a proposal to put a $15 an hour minimum wage to Minneapolis voters should go on the ballot this fall, setting the stage for a historic vote.

Hennepin County Judge Susan Robiner issued her opinion Monday, saying that a proposed charter amendment that would eventually raise the city's minimum wage to $15 must be included on the November ballot voters. The political arena  and not the courts  is likely the appropriate forum for sorting out the wage issues, she said.

The ruling comes after supporters submitted a petition with thousands of signatures to the City Council. The city attorney issued a legal opinion against it, and the council declined to approve it for a citywide vote earlier this month.

The city held that wage regulations weren't appropriate for a charter amendment, and that the charter doesn't allow direct proposals for another form of regulation  regular city ordinances.

Minneapolis employment attorney Paul Lukas, who represents supporters of the measure, hailed the decision.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It's not an easy path, but it's the one we had to take and that's sort of the position of the clients, is that the City Council, you know, would have in our opinion, been bogged down forever," Lukas said. "Special interests get involved, and what you end up having is you end up having very small groups of special interests slowing down or stopping something that everybody wants."

A spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said it is not clear yet if the city will appeal.

John Stanoch, interim head of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, said his organization is urging the city to appeal the ruling, and quickly. Ballot language has to be finalized by Friday.

"We know this will impact many of our members and be a significant issue for many of them," Stanoch said. "Our concern from a policy perspective has been if you increase minimum wage hourly for some employees, do others find themselves in a situation where they have reduced hours or jobs that are eliminated in order to allow businesses to absorb the cost of a minimum wage increase?"

Advocates for the $15 minimum wage said gradually hiking the rate  starting with $10 an hour next year, moving to $15 by 2020  is a way to fight poverty and racial disparity.

Mike Griffin, field director for Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, said advocates plan to launch a large grassroots campaign in coming weeks.

"We're planning on talking to tens of thousands of voters several times over the next two months," Griffin said. "Last week we released polling information that said about 68 percent of Minneapolis voters will vote yes on a ballot initiative. That's a good place to start."

In a separate ruling, Judge Robiner dismissed a petition to place a charter amendment to require police carry liability insurance on the November ballot. The proposal would raise premiums for officers who are repeatedly sued for misconduct.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The idea is for personal responsibility for the officers," said Dave Bicking, chair of the Committee for Professional Policing. "Right now, if an officer conducts misconduct and is sued, the city just pays and the officer has no consequences for i  this would provide consequences for those officers who can't follow police policy and the law."

Bicking said members of his group are not surprised by the judge's decision, but believe that Minneapolis voters should be allowed to weigh in on the proposal.

"We have a responsibility to the 15,000 people who signed our petition," Bicking said. "And we have a responsibility to the people out there who are being beat up, and worse, by Minneapolis police officers."

The group plans to file an emergency appeal to the judge's decision sometime in the next few days.
The 13-story mixed use building on Second Street Southwest proposed by developer Alatus would be a precedent setting project for Rochester, the city's Planning and Zoning Commission agreed. But when it came to the commission's recommendation on the development, the commissioners had to agree to disagree.

The commission at a Wednesday night meeting could not come to a consensus and in the end agreed to forward the development proposal on to the Rochester City Council with no recommendation. Actions that would have recommended approval, and denial, of the project each failed on 3-3 votes.

Alatus proposed the residential and commercial development on Second Street Southwest between 14th and 15th avenues southwest. The developers had delayed a planning commission hearing to make changes to the project, hoping to appease residents in the Folwell neighborhood and present a more amenable development.

The development impressed the commission members but the crux of the decision was building's height. A city-approved Second Street Corridor Plan envisioned buildings on Second Street at a maximum height of six stories; draft Destination Medical Center Design Guidelines gave a similar recommendation and the approved DMC Development Plan called for a six-story height limit outside the downtown area.

"I can't just throw those (plans) away as much as I like the way the project looks and all the things it does well," commission member Wade Goodenberger said.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I think there is a lot to commend about the project," Michael Walters, commission chairman, said. "But I have a very real problem with the height impacts."

Other commission members acknowledged the challenge of accommodating a 13-story development that abuts a residential neighborhood but said the benefits of the building's quality design and attention to urban development guidelines went far enough to mitigate the height impacts.

"We're looking toward a developer to raise the bar and to bring to us a new level of design in this city that we maybe haven't seen before, and setting a precedent in a positive way in terms of what we expect in design quality," commission member Lindsey Meek said.

Neighbors and members of the public who offered comments during a public hearing were also divided, though a majority expressed concerns with the building's height and its effects on traffic in neighboring areas.

"If this project goes through, it's the beginning of the end of the Folwell neighborhood," Dan Butterfass said. "It creates and exacerbates an already enormous traffic problem."

Another resident to comment was Andy Masterpole, an architect who contributed significantly to the creation of the Second Street Corridor Plan. Though the plan called for six-story building height in the corridor, Masterpole said the Alatus developers had taken many positive steps to make the height of the building acceptable.

"The height doesn't bother me because to me it's all about what happens at the street level," Masterpole said. "If you have an active street scape, an active building face  which this building does on almost all sides  and you have the proper area for pedestrians to walk comfortably, and then a location for trees to grow big with proper soils, then it could be higher. They seem to have addressed the scale as much as possible."

Chris Osmundson, a senior development associate with Alatus, said the project was slightly outside what has been considered for the Second Street Corridor but also a development of the quality that would be precedent setting. He also pointed to the modifications to the design the developer had proposed.

ADVERTISEMENT

Changes to the development included: removing contract parking from the design and reducing overall parking stalls from 883 to 560; changing the proposed height of the town house portion of the project from four stories to three; revising and increasing setbacks from the project; restricting traffic on 15th Avenue Southwest to stop vehicles traveling south into the neighborhood; and installing a temporary traffic signal at 15th Avenue and Second Street.

The project would not construct the road rearrangement described in the city's Official Street Map 19, city planning staff confirmed.

The city council will be next to review Alatus' restricted development preliminary plan. If the council gives its approval, a final plan application will be reviewed in future public hearings at the planning commission and city council.

The project proposes to construct 347 residential units in apartments and town homes and provide about 20,000 square feet of commercial space on the Second Street frontage.
"We only build a bridge every 75 years in Winona, so if you want to participate in a bridge opening, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Winona Mayor Mark Peterson.

Starting around 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Winona and the Minnesota Department of Transportation will host a ceremony to open the new Minnesota Highway 43 bridge -- officially bridge No. 85851 -- from Winona to Latsch Island. The bridge will be part of a two-bridge system, eventually increasing the crossing from two lanes to four lanes, once the 1942-era Winona Bridge is rehabilitated.

Peterson certainly understands the importance of history. As executive director of the Winona County Historical Society during the day, Peterson said the celebration of the new bridge marks a turning point for Winona.

Judy Bodway, a member of the bridge celebration committee, said the city is pulling out all the stops to showcase the new bridge. The Winona High School marching band will play. A procession from the middle of the bridge to the base at Winona Street will feature dignitaries including U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz. Organizers are still hopeful Lt. Gov. Tina Smith can make it.

"We're going to have the presentation of the colors by the American Legion and the VFW," she said. "We're going to have a time capsule in the bridge, and all the contents will be displayed."

ADVERTISEMENT

And don't forget the ribbon cutting. Peterson said special souvenirs will be available to commemorate the event.

As for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Peterson said the city has invited people who were present at the ribbon cutting in 1942 for bridge No. 5900 to have a rare twice-in-a-lifetime experience. "We've heard from those people that being there was a strong memory in their lives," Peterson said. "I'm pretty sure there will be some people there from 1942."

After the ribbon cutting, the bridge will be open only to foot traffic for about two hours before cars start being let across. Just one lane will be opened initially as part of MnDOT's plans. Traffic will run on both bridges for a few months until bridge No. 5900 is closed this fall in anticipation of work being done to rehabilitate it.

Peterson said the public will want to take a stroll on the new bridge to enjoy the view. "Right now we have a 4-foot wide walkway hanging off our old bridge," the mayor said. "Now we'll have a 12-foot pedestrian and bike path with the overlooks."
Where might one go to find a movingly heart-warming event? One reliable opportunity comes each year at the peace lantern floating in Silver Lake.

Supplying the social aspect are the generations arriving: grandparents welcoming grandchildren, parents, neighbors and community leaders.

Together, each creates their gift of a handmade lantern messaging peace to set afloat in the lake. The sense of community is tangible.

Again this year the words of each speaker found responses in the minds and hearts of all.

Every year since 1985, which was the 40th anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima, lanterns of peace have encouraged peace among all nations of our one world.

ADVERTISEMENT

The creative initiator of Rochester's peace lantern floating is Lucille Kuhl. Lucille received encouragement from the Sisters of St. Francis, and together with Pax Christi Peace Movement and the Southeastern Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, they have successfully continues this annual celebration of peace.

Other contributors are Sister Iria Miller; Sister Ann Redig; Dr. and Mrs. Allen Hoffman; musician Don McManimon and his wife, Valerie; Mayor Ardell Brede; dancer Ronnie Oliveto; St. Francis School second-grade teacher Robin Erickson and her students; Peace UCC Church; and Junko Maruta.

This year, all who attended were inspired by the inclusive peace message of the major speaker, Dr. Paul Scanlon.

2017's peace lantern floating awaits.

Robert R. Schroeder

Rochester

Robert R. Schroeder

Rochester
As a growing number of communities rush to ban granny pods, we're hoping it doesn't end the conversations.

Minnesota cities and counties have until Sept. 1 to decide whether they are going to opt out of new state legislation that allows installation of temporary structures designed to serve as temporary health-care dwellings for family members or other loved ones in need of added care, but potentially without the resources for other options.

It's understandable that cities and counties want to gain some control on the topic. As Rochester City Council President Randy Staver noted last week, "It's not that we are not supporting of these sorts of accessory development. It's just that we'd like to have control at the local level so that we can deploy this sort of housing or accessory development on terms that make sense for Rochester."

The council first addressed the issue without comment on Aug. 1, when a request to create an opt-out ordinance was added to the consent agenda after the meeting's public comment period was passed. Staff was instructed to proceed without comment from the council.

While the city council received an ordinance without public comments before its presentation, Olmsted County Commissioners held a Aug. 9 informational meeting on the topic, inviting staff and community members to weigh in.

ADVERTISEMENT

Both bodies eventually decided to join other communities in opting out of the new state legislation, but it's good to hear they are willing to revisit the issue of granny pods.

"I think there is a place for them in in Rochester, and I want to find ways to adopt them sooner, rather than later," Rochester City Council member Michael Wojcik said last week.

Dave Dunn, assistant planning director of Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department, echoed potential support if staff concerns can be addressed. "Certainly this is a great concept, and I think we want to support different housing for our vulnerable population," he told Olmsted County commissioners Tuesday. "It's just some of the technicalities in this legislation really didn't make it feel like it's something we could support."

We understand apprehensions voiced by staff regarding the state legislation. It leaves much open to interpretation and fails to address safety and implementation concerns.

However, the potential for temporarily expanding livable space for an ailing loved one is priceless for families already in tight quarters without the financial means to afford care outside of the home. Providing a temporary private space near their homes, in many cases, would be better than leaving ailing parents or friends in their homes without ready access to a helping hand in case of a fall or other dire circumstance.

Granted, there is potential for abuse of the units, but with a one-year limit before review, it seems like abuse could be controlled rather easily. If the structure is being used improperly, the city or county can have it removed.

However, if the structure is being used as intended, it greatly increases the quality of life for the person needing it, as well as the sense of connection to the family who provides it. It ultimately has the potential for making the city a great place to live and strengthening community connections that are sorely needed.

The discussion of granny pods should not be over. It should be just beginning. City councils and county boards should be addressing options, and staff should be preparing lists of questions and concerns that can be shared with state lawmakers in an effort to make the new state legislation acceptable to more communities throughout the state.

ADVERTISEMENT

The legislation taking effect on Sept. 1 has good intentions. Now, it simply needs improved implementation.
An appeal filed with the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals related to the conviction of a drug offender was dismissed Wednesday due to lack of jurisdiction.

On March 31, Francisco Arias appealed his conviction for mailing methamphetamine into Guam.

His sentencing date had been scheduled for May 12 in the District Court of Guam. However, the hearing was ordered vacated by Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan Jr. in light of the notice of appeal.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

Arias was convicted of drug charges on Nov. 5, 2014, for his involvement in a ring that mailed methamphetamine to Guam from the U.S. mainland. A total of 12 defendants were arrested as part of the drug smuggling ring. However, only three of the 12 went to trial. The rest of the accused entered plea agreements.

Arias was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering and unlawful use of the mail to facilitate the conspiracy to distribute meth.

Arias could face life in prison, according to the pre-sentencing reports.

According to the indictment, Arias conspired to distribute, deliver and transfer more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from 2010 to March 1, 2014.

Court records state that Arias sent parcels containing methamphetamine from Nevada to Guam. He allegedly received payment from co-conspirators through Western Union wire transfers, cash deposits at First Hawaiian Bank and cash sent from Guam.

Most recently, Arias was named as the sender of meth from Las Vegas to Guam to a former Civil Defense officer who pleaded guilty in federal court on May 4 to conspiracy to distribute meth before Manibusan. The plea agreement was filed in the District Court on May 3.

Ricky Sanchez, 39, was indicted March 16. He resigned from Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense on April 22, according to a GHS/OCD spokeswoman.

According to court documents, between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2014, Sanchez was in contact with Arias, who was to send a package to Guam Homeland Security but it was intercepted in Las Vegas. Also, the address to GHS was incorrectly marked on the package.

A second package was sent by Arias, to GHS at the correct address. A GHS officer signed for it. The officer was going to return the package to the post office but encountered Sanchez while on his way. Sanchez told the officer he would take care of the package. One week later, Sanchez approached the officer with an envelope containing money, which the officer refused.

On March 24, a postal inspector interviewed Sanchez and received authorization to search his cell phone. The contact information of Arias was in the phone.

Sanchez admitted he was supposed to receive a package containing methamphetamine but he said he could not remember who he was supposed to give it to. He said he expected to receive $500 to $1,000 for receiving the package.
A whale and a calf are loaded aboard a factory ship, the Nisshin Maru. The sign above the slipway reads, "Legal research under the ICRW." Australia released this photo to challenge that claim. Courtesy of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, CC BY-SA 3.0

For access to the original image and license, go to: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18861082
In a telephone interview with Jake Tapper on CNN last night, Hillary Clinton addressed her meetings with Clinton Foundation donors as Secretary of State. She explained: I know there is a lot of smoke, and there is no fire. This AP report? Put it in context. This excludes nearly 2,000 meetings I had with world leaders, plus countless other meetings with U.S. government officials when I was secretary of state. It looked at a small portion of my time, she said in a telephone interview.

Clintons statement represents the Clinton campaigns talking point on the Associated Press report by Stephen Braun and Eileen Sullivan. Its a pathetic talking point. One doesnt need to be a genius to see through it. The AP has nevertheless issued a statement responding to the Clinton campaigns talking point:

[The AP] focused on Mrs. Clintons meetings and calls involving people outside government who were not federal employees or foreign diplomats, because meeting with U.S. or foreign government officials would inherently have been part of her job as secretary of state. We focused on Mrs. Clintons meetings and calls involving those people outside her duties as secretary of state whom she chose to include in her busy schedule.

Yeah, I noticed that. The statement also provides useful background to the Braun/Sullivan story:

The Associated Press reporting relied on publicly available data provided by the State Department about Hillary Clintons meetings, phone calls and emails, cross-referenced against donor information provided by the Clinton Foundation and its related charities on its websites. As AP wrote, our reporting was based on Mrs. Clintons calendars covering the entirety of her tenure as secretary of state and on more detailed schedules of meetings and phone calls covering roughly half that period. AP first requested Mrs. Clintons calendars and schedules in 2010 and again in 2013 but was unsuccessful. AP then sued the State Department in federal court to obtain the schedules it has received so far. AP expects to receive the remaining files before Election Day and will continue to examine them and report on their contents.

Via T. Becket Adams/Washington Examiner.
Most readers, Im pretty sure, recall that in the summer of 2009, after the dubious election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranians began an uprising. They hoped for support of some kind from the United States. That that support didnt come.

Instead, as Eli Lake reminds us, President Obama publicly downplayed the prospect of real change, saying that the candidates whom hundreds of thousands of Iranians were risking their lives to support did not represent fundamental change.

Contrast that with his laughable claim that the election of the puppet Rouhani years later showed that Iran had changed to the point where we should end sanctions as part of a nuclear deal.

Behind the scenes, Obama overruled advisers who wanted to do what America had done at similar transitions from dictatorship to democracy, and signal Americas support. He ordered the CIA to sever contacts it had with the green movements supporters  this according to a new book, The Iran Wars, by the Wall Street Journals Jay Solomon, which Lake discusses.

Obamas approach to Irans green revolution stands in marked contrast to how the U.S. has reacted to other democratic uprisings. Lakes points out:

The State Department, for example, ran a program in 2000 through the U.S. embassy in Hungary to train Serbian activists in nonviolent resistance against their dictator, Slobodan Milosevic. Milosevic, too, accused his opposition of being pawns of the U.S. government. But in the end his people forced the dictator from power. Similarly, when Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze met with popular protests in 2003 after rigged elections, George W. Bush dispatched James Baker to urge him to step down peacefully, which he did. Even the Obama administration provided diplomatic and moral support for popular uprisings in Egypt in 2011 and Ukraine in 2014.

Egypts Mubarak was Americas staunchest ally in the Middle East other than Israel. Iran was (and is) our biggest enemy. Yet, Obama supported the overthrow of Mubarak but not the mullahs.

It has been clear to me for years that Obama failed to back the green revolution because he wanted to negotiate with the Iranian regime. Lake thinks so too:

Obama from the beginning of his presidency tried to turn the countrys ruling clerics from foes to friends. It was an obsession. And even though the president would impose severe sanctions on the countrys economy at the end of his first term and beginning of his second, from the start of his presidency, Obama made it clear the U.S. did not seek regime change for Iran.

(Emphasis added)

How much of an obsession?

As Solomon reports, Obama ended U.S. programs to document Iranian human rights abuses. He wrote personal letters to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assuring him the U.S. was not trying to overthrow him. Obama repeatedly stressed his respect for the regime in his statements marking Irans annual Nowruz celebration.

Obamas obsession with dealing with the mullahs seems to have spilled over into his feckless Syria policy:

When he walked away from his red line against Syrias use of chemical weapons in 2013, Solomon reports, both U.S. and Iranian officials had told him that nuclear negotiations would be halted if he intervened against Bashar al-Assad.

This was only the beginning of Obamas disregard for his own red lines. As nuclear negotiations proceeded, the president and his Secretary of State demolished one red line after another. Lake provides the details, most of which we presented at or around the time of the deal.

What is the outcome?

The Revolutionary Guard continues to develop increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, including ballistic missiles inscribed with threats against Israel on their nose cones, Solomon writes in the books concluding chapter. Khamenei and other revolutionary leaders, meanwhile, fine-tune their rhetorical attacks against the United States, seeming to need the American threat to justify their existence.

Iran is also a key player in Iraq and Syria. It is the leading power in the Middle East and might well become the dominant one.

Would things have gone differently is the U.S. had backed the 2009 uprising? Well never know. Regime change might well have been a long shot, but its rewards would have been massive.

And the risk? Negligible, even if one likes the nuclear deal.

Theres no reason to believe that, in 2015, Iran would have turned down the super-generous nuclear deal Obama offered because of Americas stance in 2009. Either the deal is in Irans interests or it isnt. If it is, the mullahs were always going to snap it up.

It is and they did  unfortunately for the U.S. and the Middle East.
The nine commercial banks suspended from inter-bank foreign exchange market operations on Monday failed to remit crude oil sales revenues from oil blocks operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and its joint venture (JV) partners, PREMIUM TIMES investigations revealed.

The NPDC is the upstream oil industry subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

Further findings showed some of the banks were indicted for refusing to transfer funds in some in domiciliary accounts belonging to some government ministries, departments and agencies, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), despite governments directives.

Some of the oil blocks include those previously vacated by Shell Petroleum Development Company. They also include eight whose ownership were irregularly approved by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

They are OMLs 4, 38 and 41 allocated to Atlantic Energy and Septa Energy; OML 42 to Neconde Energy and Kulcyzk Oil; OML 40 to Elcrest E&P Nigeria Limited and Band Oil and Gas; OML 34 to Niger Delta Western and Petrolin; OML 30 to Shoreline and Heritage Oil, and OML 26 to First Hydrocarbon Nigeria and Afren.

Payments for the leases are still subjects of controversies years after they were awarded, with the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) asking for the review and probe of their allocations.

The NEITI noted in its recent annual audit report although total valuation for the eight oil acreages by the Department of Petroleum Resources was about $3.4 billion, NNPC paid only $100 million, out of about $1.85 billion it offered.

Investigations revealed that NPDC in August 2013 opened domiciliary accounts in various commercial banks for JV oil revenues from the sale of crude oil produced from the oil fields.

For instance, the NPDC-ND Western (OML 34) Joint Venture Crude Oil Transportation Revenue Account No.1006074884, and NPDC-OML 40 Crude Oil Sales Revenue Account No. 3610059553 were opened in Keystone Bank in August 2013 and March 2014 respectively.

Similar accounts were opened with Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Access Bank, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), United Bank for Africa (UBA), First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Heritage Bank, Skye Bank, Sterling Bank and Fidelity Bank for the various JV operations.

In September 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari directed all government MDAs to close all public sector accounts in commercial banks and transfer, through the treasury single account (TSA), their balances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The balance in OML 40 Crude Oil Sales Revenue Account in Keystone bank as at 2015 was about $30.12 million, the least of the balances in the banks.

On Monday, FBN was sanctioned for withholding about $469 million; UBA $530 million; FCMB $125 million; Heritage $85 million; Keystone $139 million; Skye $221 million, Diamond $287 million; Sterling $269 million and Fidelity $209 million.

Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Tokunbo Martins, however said on Wednesday, the suspension on UBA had been lifted following the return of all outstanding unremitted NNPC/NLNG) foreign currency in its possession.

PREMIUM TIMES investigations showed NPDC management and the various banks ignored the presidential directives last year to remit revenues in its JV revenue accounts to the TSA account.

A source close to NPDC in Benin City, where the company has its operational base, said the affected commercial banks refused to heed the presidential directives, because some NPDC top officials struck a deal with them.

The source, who asked for his identity not to be revealed as he was not allowed to speak officially on the issue, said the deal was for the banks to do business with the foreign exchange balances in those accounts and make about one per cent interest returns every month to the officials.

But, NNPC Spokesperson, Garbadeen Mohammed, denied the allegation, saying no official of any arm of corporation was complicit in any deal with any of the affected banks.

The directive for banks to release public sector funds in their possession to TSA account has been on for a long time. It was after all efforts to get the banks to comply failed that NNPC management decided to write officially to the Presidency to complain against their refusal to remit the monies as directed.

It was after the letter the CBN was directed to intervene and ensure the banks full compliance.That is how the CBN came to the equation. That is why the issue now has been between CBN and the banks. NNPCs role in the matter could be seen simply as that of a whistleblower, Mr. Mohammed said.

But, some of the banks in public statements after the CBN sanction denied deliberately engaging in any illegal act of concealment, saying the accounts were operated in line with regulatory requirements.

The banks had tripartite documented discussions with CBN and NNPC on the need for domestic retention of those balances, said FBN in a statement on Wednesday.
Some banks on Wednesday clarified their positions on their suspension from the foreign exchange market transaction by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over alleged non-remittance of the NNPC dollar deposits.

The affected banks expressed their stance in statements and e-mails to customers on Wednesday in Lagos.

The banks who reacted include FirstBank Ltd., Fidelity, Keystone, Diamond and Heritage.

FirstBank in a statement said that the referenced NNPC dollar accounts were fully disclosed to the CBN.

It said the accounts were being operated in line with the regulatory requirements.

The bank also said that tripartite documented discussions had been ongoing between the CBN, NNPC and the bank on the need for domestic retention of those balances.

It said it was part of measures to ameliorate challenges posed by the lack of FX availability, and customers inability to source FX to fund their trade finance obligations to the bank.

The bank reassured all its stakeholders that the issue was not a function of concealment or willful non-compliance by the bank.

We are confident in our ability to meet and honour all our obligations as at when due and are currently in talks with the CBN and other relevant bodies and are positive of an amicable resolution soonest, the bank said.

Also, Fidelity Bank said it had repaid over 288 million dollars of those funds in line with the advised repayment schedule.

We will like to clarify that these deposits were duly reported to the CBN by Fidelity Bank in line with the extant TSA requirements contrary to the erroneous view in certain media reports that the funds were concealed from the regulators.

At the commencement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in 2015, Fidelity bank advised NNPC and the regulators with a schedule of repayment for the NNPC/NLNG dividend dollar deposits.

Please note that you can continue to operate your domiciliary account with Fidelity and this development will not affect your deposits/loans (local and foreign currency), remittances, transactional services and electronic banking services.

Although the market condition remains quite challenging, we will continue to honour our obligations and operate with the highest level of corporate governance, the bank said.

The bank said in the interim that it was engaging with the other eight banks involved, stakeholders and the regulators to resolve the issue quickly and ensure its return to the FX market.

Keystone Bank, also in a statement signed by its management, said it had engaged in efforts that were geared towards very timely resolution.

It said the bank understood the importance of sourcing foreign exchange for its customers needs to support economic growth.

The bank said the development did not adversely affect customers existing transactions with it except that there would be constraints in establishing new letters of credit until the issue was resolved.

In its own reaction, Diamond Bank reassured its customers of enhanced quality service delivery and commitment to meet its banking obligations despite the ban.

The bank said as a financial institution built on a foundation of sound corporate governance, full disclosure of the outstanding TSA funds were made to the CBN.

We are currently engaging with relevant stakeholders, with the support of the Regulator, to resolve this industry-wide issue quickly, the bank said in a statement.

Our primary responsibility is to our customers. This development does not affect customers own deposits, both local and those in foreign currency.

It also means that services such as payments  local and international, will go through as normal whenever our customers need to make them. Remittance service will continue as normal and customers can transact anywhere in the world, any time of the day, on their mobile application or internet banking.

Meanwhile, Heritage Bank said that the CBNs announcement of temporary suspension was a systemic challenge to the banking industry that cut across most banks.

It said the bank would continue to treat forex transfer, remittance from domiciliary accounts, establishment of non-valid for FX form Ms and establishment of Letter of Credit (LoC) on the banks offshore lines.

The CBN had on Tuesday barred the banks from the foreign exchange market.

The banks were United Bank for Africa (UBA), 530 million dollars and First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), 469 million dollars.

Others are Diamond Bank Plc, 287 million dollars; Sterling Bank Plc, 269 million dollars; Sky Bank Plc, 221 million dollars; Fidelity Bank 209 million dollars; Keystone Bank, 139 million dollars; First City Monument Bank (FCMB), 125 million dollars and Heritage Bank, 85 million dollars.

UBA readmitted to FOREX market

Meanwhile, CBN has re-admitted UBA Plc into the Foreign Exchange Market effective from Thursday (today).

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Banking Supervision, Tokunbo Martins, in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to it, UBA had returned all outstanding unremitted Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NNPC/NLNG) foreign currency in its possession.

Further to the directive of the CBN to all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to return all outstanding unremitted NNPC/NLNG foreign currency, this is to confirm that UBA has remitted all outstanding NNPC/NLNG deposits in its possession to NNPCs Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the CBN.

(NAN)
Authorities in the Indian state of Gujarat should credibly investigate the murder of journalist Kishore Dave and swiftly bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Mr. Dave, Junagadh bureau chief for the regional daily Jai Hind, was found dead in his office on August 22, according to press reports.

Police told The Times of India that he had been stabbed repeatedly in the chest at around 9 p.m. Press reports said his news assistant informed police of the attack.

Mr. Daves family members said the journalists coverage of a sexual harassment allegations involving a local politician, Ratilal Suraj, may have motivated the attack.

Mr. Suraj, who has ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), denied the familys accusations, including allegations his son was the perpetrator of the attack, according to news reports.

A police official cited in local reports said that personal enmity may have motivated the attack.

On Wednesday, police arrested three suspects identified as Firoz Kasambhai Hala, Sanjay Rama Rathod, and Arif Alam Saiyed for alleged involvement in Daves murder, news reports said.

Police Inspector M M Makwana said Mr. Dave was involved in a transport business with the accused and that Dave was murdered in a dispute over money, the reports said.

Mr. Makwana, the police inspector, told reporters the three suspects were apprehended based on CCTV footage that captured them riding motorcycles near Mr. Daves office around the time of the crime.

Reports said there were no surveillance cameras in Mr. Daves office.

The broadcaster NDTV, citing senior police officer Nilesh Jajadiya, reported that the three had confessed to the crime, and that they had burnt Mr. Daves blood-soaked clothes.

Police also said they had recovered pieces of Mr. Daves broken mobile phone from the accused. CPJ was unable to confirm that the suspects had confessed to the crime.

While we are encouraged by the initial swift arrest of suspects in the murder of Kishore Dave, we encourage police to consider his journalistic work as a possible motive, and remind authorities that justice will not be served until all those involved are convicted, said Shawn Crispin, CPJs senior Southeast Asia representative.

Few of those who attack or kill journalists in India are brought to justice, according to CPJ research. Of the 11 murders of journalists CPJ has confirmed as work-related in the last decade in India, all have been carried out with complete impunity.

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey on Wednesday and said his government was helping a Turkish team prepare a formal extradition request for Fethullah Gulen, the preacher Ankara blames for plotting the July 15 coup attempt.

Mr. Gulen, a Turkish Islamic cleric, who lives in the U.S. since 1999, denies the charges.

He was a long-time ally of the current Turkish government but they have fallen out in recent years.

We have no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm to an ally, but we need to meet the legal standard requirement under our law, Biden said at a press conference alongside Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara.

Mr. Biden stressed that only a court can extradite the Turkish born Islamic cleric, based on evidence.

Following a later meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Biden again explained that the U.S. would follow its judicial process because it had no desire to harbour a terrorist.

He previously commented that he wished Mr. Gulen were not in the U.S.

Mr. Erdogan, meanwhile, said Mr. Gulen should be taken into pre-trial detention and held until a trial.

U.S. officials have said that so far Turkey has not supplied any evidence that Mr. Gulen was involved in the coup and only filed documents on alleged crimes unrelated to the failed putsch.

Mr. Biden staunchly and repeatedly condemned the coup and also insisted, at times sounding angry, that the U.S. had no hand in plotting it, rebuffing conspiracy theories making the rounds in Turkey.

The vice president spoke of unwavering support for Turkey.

Ankara wants Mr. Gulen immediately, raising tensions between the allies.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Yildirim both said they did not accept a new Kurdish entity on Turkeys border inside Syria.

Turkey has launched a new operation inside Syria, aimed at Islamic State and the Syrian Kurdish forces who have been the key U.S. ally on the ground until now in the war against Islamic State.

(dpa/NAN)
A Nigerian senator who replaced a deceased lawmaker barely 10 months to the expiration of the Seventh Assembly under David Mark, received full four-year pay for accommodation and furniture, the governments audit report has shown.

The 2014 audit report said the lawmaker was overpaid by nearly N8 million.

The report released this year, had earlier been submitted to the National Assembly, but its full details recently became public.

It contains shocking revelations of how state resources were squandered on bogus spending, and how officials, in many cases, arbitrarily spent billions of naira without explanations.

A Senator who was elected to replace a deceased Senator, in the month of September 2014, 10 (ten) months to the expiration of the 7th Senate was found to have been paid full Accommodation and Furniture Allowance (of Four Years), the report disclosed.

According to the report, N10, 132,000.00 (Ten million, one hundred and thirty-two 229 thousand naira) was paid to the Senator, instead of N2, 533,000.00 (Two million, five hundred and thirty-three thousand naira) which represented his actual entitlement for one year.

While there was no mention of the name of the lawmaker in the report, senate records show that Shem Zagbayi, Niger East, was the only lawmaker sworn in in September 2014  the period referenced by the audit report.

Mr. Zagbayi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was elected as replacement for Dahiru Kuta, who died in June 2014.

The audit report shows that Mr. Zagbayi was overpaid by the David Mark-led Senate by N7.6 million.

The report demanded the amount be recovered and paid back to government.

Although the audit report said the overpaid Senator had 10 months to serve, records show Mr. Zagbayi actually served for just seven months, as a court later ruled that his election was fraudulent in the first place.

On March 11, 2015, the Minna, Niger State, division of the Court of Appeal, sacked Mr. Zagbayi about three months to the end of the Seventh Senate.

The court affirmed an earlier ruling of a Tribunal which cited malpractices and non-compliance with relevant laws, and granted victory to the All Progressives Congress candidate, David Umaru.

Mr. Umaru who was sworn in April 1, 2015. He later returned to the eighth senate, and is currently the chairman of the committee on judiciary and human rights.

It was not immediately clear if Mr. Umaru, like Mr. Zagbayi, was paid for four years instead of the barely two months he had to serve in the Seventh Assembly.

Mr. Umaru did not answer calls or reply to messages from PREMIUM TIMES.

There is no evidence, also, that Mr. Zagbayi made any refunds to the government. He too could not be reached for comments.

Mr. Mark, who authorized the humongous pay for Mr. Zagbayi, could not also be reached, for comments.

His spokesperson, Paul Mumeh, did not answer calls placed to him.
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Thursday said he had been contacted to intervene in the Niger Delta crisis, and appealed to the government to respond positively.

Mr. Soyinka, who did not clarify his role, lashed out at the Nigerian media, accusing them of extreme invention and distortion of facts.

At a press conference in Lagos, Mr. Soyinka said he would no longer be speaking to the local media over issues concerning Nigerias efforts to end militancy in the Niger Delta.

News reports had quoted Mr. Soyinka as saying that the services of international mediators would be sought to mediate between the Nigerian government and militants to resolve the Niger Delta crisis.

Mr. Soyinka had met with President Muhammadu Buhari on August 11, and when approached by journalists afterwards, he said they had discussed national and international matters, general matters, thats all.

He, however, promised to schedule a press conference later to give further details about the meeting.

But on Thursday, Mr. Soyinka said he would rather discuss a Lebanese-Nigerian partnership involving his Wole Soyinka Foundation.

I know that when I was  to use the press expression  ambushed at the Villa the other day, I did say that I would answer questions about my visit to the Villa at a press conference that Id already planned, which was this one as a matter of fact, Mr. Soyinka began in a room filled with reporters of major Nigerian news outlets.

But I always fulfill my word, and so Im going to speak very briefly about that visitation. And what I have to say about it is that today is not the day for talking about that visitation.

And the real reason is this, let me tell you media, the real reason is that I had a meeting in London in the House of Lords. The meeting was not about the main subject that took me to Aso Rock which is the problem with, among other things, the problem we have in the Delta.

But I used that opportunity to meet a certain number of international figures, parliamentarians, royal heads, etcetera, to pass on a message internationally to prospective interveners to whats happening in the Delta at the request of some of the militant groups here.

Mr. Soyinka said that meeting in London was reported in the media and was badly distorted.

Let me make a plea, its bad enough distorting whatever happens, events, statements on certain subjects, bad enough. But on an issue like the insurgency in Nigeria, the Delta in particular, we are on very very delicate grounds and the media has a huge role to play in that, he said.

And the immediate role people like me must demand of the media is accuracy. There can be no invention in this kind of situation. There can be no adumbration, there can be no extrapolation, not even second guessing. You have got to be accurate. Otherwise, theres a loss of confidence and therefore a lack of solution. People must be confident that what they say to you is what you translate and transmit to those to whom you are sent.

It was not the first time Mr. Soyinka would criticise the Nigerian press.

Last May, during events marking Mr. Buharis one year in office, Mr. Soyinka described a media report quoting him as declaring his support for the president as a disgusting forgery.

On Thursday, he said media reports that he was part of an international group mediating between the Nigerian government and the Niger Delta militants was an extreme invention.

You cannot publish a statement to me saying Im a part of an international group when the international group is not even in existence, theres no international intervention group which has been formed, he said.

I think to go further and attribute to me a statement that the international group has already contacted Buhari, what kind of extreme invention is that? How can a group who does not exist meet with the Head of State? And how could I, who just happened to be meeting with the Head of State, say that the two entities have met when one of them does not exist?

So please I implore you, media, in fact, Ive taken a decision not to speak about the Delta situation publicly; just to carry on any assignment which I feel I can carry out on behalf of a resolution.

I will not be talking to the press any longer, because I cannot spend my time correcting falsehood. Im not responsible for the falsehood, and that burden should not be placed on my head.

Respond positively to militants

Mr. Soyinka, however, appealed to the Nigerian government to hold positive negotiations with the Niger Delta militants in order to solve the crisis in the region

I wish to make an appeal publicly to the government, and please report me accurately, to respond positively to the outrage from the militant groups, he said.

That is the request which has been made by some of the groups who got me into this interventionist role in the first place. At the moment they feel that the government of President Buhari is not seriously responding to their own outrage. And I wish to make a personal appeal to the government to respond positively and let us see where it ends us.

But Im not part of any international group, I was approached personally and Ive been responding personally to some of these groups just as I did when President Jonathan was in power and MEND was the umbrella group of the insurgents.

So I make that appeal once more to the government, please respond to the efforts of these militant groups to arrive at a holistic and comprehensive solution.

Please dont attribute to me things I never said.
Relatives of the abducted Chibok girls have accused the Nigerian government of abandoning their daughters to suffer in captivity, and have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he cannot rescue the girls.

The relatives spoke on Thursday in Abuja after they were stopped by security operatives from reaching the Aso Rock presidential villa to see the president.

The protest march, the second in the week, was organized by the BringBackOurGirls group.

Relatives of the missing girls said the president neglected them after repeated unfulfilled promises.

The girls were abducted by extremist sect, Boko Haram, since April 14, 2014.

Enoch Mark, father of two of the girls, said President Buhari had failed the Chibok people who voted for him in 2015 with the hope that he would ensure the return of the girls.

Many Chibok parents voted you because we believed that you would ensure the return of our daughters. You promised us that you are a military man and that you cannot lie. You said the war will not be over until the girls are back, Mr. Mark said.

Now we hear shouts of victory. And you turn around and say you do not know how to get out daughters. Former President Sani Abacha told us that no country can fight war for up to 24 hours without its government knowing about it. If the president lacks intelligence to bring back the girls let him resign.

We have men who can do the job. There is nothing that Nigeria does not have. What is stopping the president from giving the orders? he queried.

The mother of Dorcas Yakubu, the girl who spoke in the recent Boko Haram video, said the Federal Government should exchange detained terrorists for her daughter if the government has no better option.

Because it is obvious that no serious effort has been done to ensure the rescue of our daughters, otherwise we would have heard some good news. she said.

Mrs. Yakubu said the security operatives preventing her and the other members of the #BringBackOurGirls group from reaching the president were stopping her from fulfilling the request of her daughter.

My daughter pleaded with me to try and see the president personally and talk to him regarding the rescue of the Chibok girls. They named her Maida. I named my daughter, Dorcas, but they changed her name, she said.

Mrs. Yakubu called on the first lady, Aisha Buhari, to do her best to assist mothers like her.

Hauwa Abama, another mother of one of the abducted children, said the government was responsible for her ordeal.

Government is the one that has taken my daughter from me, she said.

Other relatives, Rhoda Ishaku, whose only sister, Zara, has been with her captures for over two years, and Martha Enoch, wife of Enoch Mark, called on the government to put an end to the silence and return their children.

Mrs. Enoch said her husband suffered a heart attack as a result of the trauma they have been through.
The Police on Wednesday confirmed the release of Ibrahim Ismail, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, who was abducted from his residence on Tuesday.

The Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, Aliyu Usman, made the confirmation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Mr. Usman, an assistant superintendent of police, said the lawmaker was released on Wednesday evening and had since reunited with his family.

The lawmaker, who represents Tudun Wada constituency in the state Assembly, was abducted at his residence in Abapka area of Kaduna metropolis.

The police spokesman did not however say whether ransom was paid before Mr. Ismails release of if any of the kidnappers was arrested.

Mr. Usman assured residents of police commitment to protecting lives and property, and urged them to volunteer information on the movement of criminals, to make the society safe.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari warmly congratulates eminent academic and former federal minister, Prof. Tamunoemi Sokari David-West as he turns 80 years on August 26, 2016.

On this special birthday anniversary, President Buhari recalls, with fond memories, his long term relationship with the elder statesman, when he served as Minister of Petroleum between 1984 and 1985.

The President commends Prof. David-Wests steadfastness and forthrightness on issues of good governance, democracy, human rights and the unity of Nigeria, especially when some seem to easily give up on the project of building one great nation.

President Buhari assures the octogenarian that his place in Nigerias history is guaranteed for the statesmanship, fearlessness, intellectual depth, resourcefulness and versatility that he brought into public discourse.

The President prays that the almighty God will continue to grant the former minister good health and more fruitful years of service to his fatherland.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media& Publicity)

August 25th, 2016
President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the Christian community in celebrating the 80th birthday of Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Coffie Mbang.

President Buhari congratulated Mr. Mbang, and members of his family, as he clocks the milestone age in good health and a rich legacy of a life lived in the service of God, his nation and humanity.

As a former Prelate of the Methodist Church and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the President believes the legacy of the former prelate of always working towards reconciliation, reconstruction and revival in all leadership positions, aptly captures the central message of the Bible, which is love, the president said in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari assured the former Prelate that his efforts in pursuing unity in the body of Christ and the country will always be remembered by posterity, especially in co-chairing Nigerias Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), a government body responsible for the promotion of inter-faith dialogue.

The president also commended the courage of Mr. Mbang in always speaking out against tyranny, corruption and social ills like immorality, cultism and drug abuse in the country.

He prayed that the almighty God will grant Mr. Mbang good health and more years of service to his fatherland.
The #BringBackOurGirls group (BBOG) will on Thursday (today) march on Nigerias presidential villa in continuation of their campaign of pressuring the Nigerian government to step up effort to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from their dormitory in Chibok, Borno State.

In a notice sent to PREMIUM TIMES via a text message on Wednesday night, organisers said the rally would commence at 8:30 am from the Unity Fountain Abuja, venue of the groups daily sit-outs.

Security operatives had on Monday prevented the campaigners from advancing to the presidential villa, where they had planned to engage President Muhammadu Buhari on talks regarding the abducted girls and other issues of national importance.

The group had demanded, among other things, that Mr. Buhari address the nation on the state of the Chibok girls against the backdrop of what it described as unsatisfactory response of government to a video released on August 14 by the extremist Boko Haram sect.

Boko Haram abducted the girls on April 14, 2014, sparking a global outrage and campaign for their rescue.

As a way of fast-tracking the rescue of the girls, the #BBOG is asking the government to choose between three options: military action, negotiation with the abductors and a combination of the first and second option.

It also wants the government to hasten the trial of persons accused of diverting funds meant for buying arms for the military and address allegations of corruption in Internally Displaced Persons camps across the country.
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state on Wednesday vowed that all those implicated in the killing of eight persons in Talata Mafara local government area would be exposed and prosecuted.

Mr. Yari, who condemned the unrest, dismissed social media reports that Christians were killed, saying that seven out of the eight persons that lost their lives during the incident were Muslims.

The governor spoke in Abuja while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said though no arrest had been made, security officials had intensified investigation into the incident with a view to apprehending all those involved in the religious unrest.

As at the time I left Zamfara, no arrest yet, immediately the incident happened, the school authority shut down the school, he said.

The police and the DSS are carrying out their investigations and soon there will be arrests.

The government will not take this lightly; people should not take laws into their hands.

If you say the punishment for who abuses the Prophet should be killed and you now killed innocent people.

By the way, there is a government in place, there are laws and there are courts where Islamic laws are practised in Zamfara.

So, why should someone take laws into his hands?

So, definitely all the culprits will be brought to book.

(NAN)
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday declined hearing of a case filed by Abdulmumini Jibrin, seeking to stop his planned suspension by the Speaker of House of representative Yakubu Dogara.

The judge, Okon Abang, held that due to the limited time, the court would not be able to hear and deliver ruling in the matter before the expiration of the vacation.

Mr. Abang said it was proper for the court to return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Court to reassign the case to another judge after vacation.

Mr. Jibrins counsel, Abdulhamid Mohammed, had told the court that the case was slated for hearing.

Mr. Mohammed said he had served the defendants in the suit as earlier directed by the court at the last sitting.

He said the third defendant filed memoranda of appearance on behalf of their clients and a notice of preliminary objection to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

He also informed the court that the plaintiff had filed a counter affidavit against their objection.

The defence counsel, Kalu Onuaha, told the court that he filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

Mr. Abang, however, insisted that he could not take arguments and deliver bench ruling on the matter during vacation.

He said it was better for the matter to be assigned to any judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division after vacation.

The Clerk of House of representative, Yusuf Lasun, Alhassan Doguwa, Leo Ogor, Herman Hembe and Umar Bago were also named as defendants in the suit.

The others are Zakari Mohammed, Chike Okafor, Dan Asuquo, Jagaba Adams, Yakubu Jika and Nkem Abonta.
Hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, who blocked highways early Thursday to protest against poor feeding in their camps, have ended their demonstration.

They IDPs suspended their protest after the government disbanded its committee responsible for feeding the protesters.

The angry IDPs, mostly women and children had earlier mounted barricades of stones, sticks and tires which caused massive traffic jam along the Kano-Maiduguri highway which is the main entry point into the city.

The IDPs, who defied all pleas and entreaties from soldiers and police officials, insisted they would only remove the barricades and vacate the highway if the government supplied their food and attended to their other demands.

We are being treated like slaves here in the camp, said Zakari Modu, a 32-year-old man from Marte. We are only given a bag of rice to be shared among 15 people and that is to last for a month. Every three days the feeding committee will come and make tea and give each household just a cup to share. This is inhuman and we felt we deserve better treatment.

The IDPs said they were now better informed on the happenings of government.

They said they had been monitoring the news via radio receivers recently distributed to them by a new radio house that opened office in Maiduguri and they have details of all food allocation to Borno State.

So how could they tell us there is no food, asked Maimuna Bukar, a mother of four. Each time the governor is to visit the camp they would rush down here to make things appear normal and no problems; but if the governor leaves we are left on our own. So we are tired of these cheating and wickedness.

We are not fighting with government; all we want is food to feed our family. If they cant give us food, let them let us go back to our villages instead of being left to be killed by hunger here, she said.

The women, who had demonstrated their will to fight for their rights, sat on the floor daring anyone not pleased with their stance to force them to leave.

After about three hours, the state deputy governor, Usman Durkwa, accompanied by the state police commissioner, Demian Chukwu, arrived the scene to plead with the angry IDPs.

Having consulted with some leaders of the IDPs, the deputy governor announced that the camp feeding committee whom they had severally accused of mismanaging the feeding system, had been disbanded.

We want to assure you that governments foremost interest is to see that all of you are well taken care of; but since you are not happy with the conduct of the committee, we have hereby disbanded the committee and henceforth we shall supply you with food items directly to cook for your selves. There is no more kitchen feeding in the committee; we are now going to allow household feeding for you, said the deputy governor.

The deputy governor also announced to the cheer of the IDPs that a truck of grains and other food items would be deployed to the camp before he left the premises.

With that announcement and assurances, the IDPs immediately vacated the highways.

Speaking to journalists, the deputy governor said their grievance is that they are not satisfied with the central feeding system, and they have mentioned their problems to us which we felt they have a point, and we have decided to disband the central feeding system to allow them now cook their own food. We have ordered that a truck of grains should be supplied to the camp and we are happy that they have lawfully returned to the camp.

The IDPs have warned that henceforth they would not sit idle and lament in their camp again.

This is just the beginning, anytime we noticed someone somewhere is shortchanging us or we are being made to suffer, we will come to the streets and show them our strength via peaceful protest, said Adam Mallum.
President Muhammadu Buhari will attend the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya from August 27-28, 2016, his office said Thursday.

The summit, co-organised by the Government of Japan, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Union and the World Bank, will focus on promoting structural economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation; promoting resilient health system for quality life and promoting social stability for shared prosperity.

During the conference, President Buhari will participate in plenary sessions on TICAD in alignment with African Development, the Dialogue with the Private Sector as well as the Global Launch of the Second Africa Human Development Report.

The president will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

No fewer than 35 African leaders are expected at the two-day high level summit which will also be attended by leading private sector companies from Japan. This will be the first time TICAD is being held in Africa since its inception in 1993.

Nigeria has played a prominent role at the forum aimed at forging international partnerships for Africas transformation and prosperity through economic growth, agriculture and social stability.
Monarchs from Delta State on Thursday gave six conditions for the Federal Government to achieve and sustain the peace in the region.

Williston Okirika, Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, read out the conditions on behalf of the chiefs when they visited the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe kachikwu, on Thursday.

 We wish to state here that as a matter of urgency, the Federal Government should appoint or constitute a Federal Government Dialogue Team.

 Release of 10 innocent school children arrested by the Nigerian Army on May 28th in Oporoza and others in detention on trumped up charges.

 Return of the Golden Sword, being the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu traditional institution, he said.

Other conditions he said, included return of the three traditional council speed boats in custody of the Nigerian army.

He added there must be cessation of hostilities perpetrated by the military in the Niger Delta Region.

 Equally important, the Federal Government should make a categorical statement about the opening of the Maritime University- Okerenkoko, Delta, for academic activities in 2016 /2017 session, he said.

He assured that the monarchs would continue to support every effort that would help bring peace and sanity in the region.

Responding, Mr. Kachikwu commended the monarchs for the visit and said that restoring peace in the region was imperative.

He said the ceasefire announced by the Niger Delta Avengers was a welcome development, adding that every effort must be made to sustain it.

He said it was unfortunate that after the announcement it was heard that pipeline in Nembe community was vandalised and the country lost about 150 barrels of oil and a high quantity of gas.

 This inability to stay steadfast creates military intervention because government cannot sit down and watch production go down.

 The president has shown a lot of patience and believed that engaging the communities is the best model.

 You should continue to reach out to others to ensure total ceasefire because as production goes down, it affects both states in tackling the financial burdens, he said.

Mr. Kachikwu said the Federal Government had spent about 40 billion dollars in on the region in the last 10 years.

He said there was need for the money to be applied in the proper way to ensure development.

He urged the people and royal fathers to ensure that monies were channeled in the proper way for the region.

He said the government was ready to always support a positive course for the region as it had lost 50 per cent of its revenue to drop in oil price and worsen by militants operations.

Presently, production has reduced from 1.6 million barrel per day to 1.4 million; may translate to 60 per cent down in revenue generation.

 The people that pay the biggest price for militancy is the Niger Delta, time has come to engage in solid dialogue and everybody has a role to play.

 Ceasefire must stay to enable the military stop interference, we must find positive way to solve the problem of the region, he said (NAN)
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Olusola Oyewole, on Thursday said his ordeal in the hands of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the uprising caused by the students, was politically motivated.

Mr. Oyewole and the institutions bursar, Moses Ilesanmi, were recently invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for questioning based on allegations of corruption levelled against them.

He said he did not deserve what he was going through, and that

he was sure of being vindicated in the end.

Mr. Oyewole, who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, urged agitating labour unions and students of the institution to keep the peace.

Its just that there may be some vested, external interest in what happened. Our students are naturally peaceful students, they are not used to that type of activities but for some external influences which we suspect, he said.

I have tried my best for the system; weve had this type of experience in this university, when its getting to the end of tenure of the vice chancellor. But by Gods grace, well get over it.

We have tried to improve the quality of our research in this university. Weve empowered the staff and the students internationally. The students population has grown tremendously really and weve ensured that proper academic activities take place in the university system.

Mr. Oyewole said he had improved the rating of the university, empowered its staff and students and therefore did not deserve to be removed without tenable reasons.

On the EFCC invitation, he said he did not want to comment on the case since the charges levelled against him were under investigation, adding that he believes that the agency will do proper investigation.

The embattled VC said the suspension of three staff of the institution followed due process and that the decision was in accordance with the university regulations.

He explained that the university management had always been alive to its responsibility of securing the lives and properties of staff and students.

He said the university planned to convene a meeting with the landlords of the off campus hostels where some FUNAAB students reside with a view to addressing the current security challenges in the communities.

Meanwhile, the university management has set up a committee to look into the remote and immediate causes of the recent protest by students which led to the destruction of properties.

The institution in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emi Alawode, on Thursday also said it had extended the closure of the institution indefinitely, explaining that the decision was aimed at preventing future occurrence of such unrest.

Students are also enjoined to ignore any payment directives through the social media, as currently being circulated, the statement said.

It also explained that the decision to constitute the panel was taken at the Special Senate meeting of the university held on Monday to assist staff and students in providing additional security and to further support the initiatives of both federal and state government.


Pobierz zdjecie Przeczytaj o zasadach pobierania zdjec Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite (photo by Andrzej Hrechorowicz / KPRP) (1)

Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite met in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Thursday to talk about regional security and other issues.

The presidents of Poland and Lithuania met on the side-lines of a two-day forum of Three Seas (the Baltic, Adriatic and Black seas) countries. May be of interest to you President Andrzej Duda in Dubrovnik

President Andrzej Duda told reporters afterwards that he and Dalia Grybauskaite had discussed the protection of the Suwalki Gap, a narrow piece of land connecting the two NATO member states Poland and Lithuania and bordering on Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region.

"We agreed that this site has strategic value, and that when planning any logistics related to the operation of Polish and Lithuanian armed forces, also in connection with the presence of allied forces, this strategic aspect should be taken into account", President Andrzej Duda said. May be of interest to you Three Seas initiative countries sign joint declaration

In mid-August Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the US Army commander in Europe, announced that the US-led battalion that NATO plans to send to Poland would deploy in April, while the rotating presence of a US armoured brigade combat team would probably begin in February.

At a NATO summit in Warsaw in early July, the allies decided to strengthen NATO's eastern flank with four battalion groups of 1,000 soldiers each in Poland and the Baltic States.

"Poland and Lithuania are determined to bring about the implementation of the NATO summit decisions", presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski told reporters, adding that the two heads of state had also discussed the presence of US troops in Poland. They agreed that it was important for the whole region, he said.

Both countries attach great importance to coordinating the positions of the Visegrad Group, the Baltic States and Nordic countries on reforming the European Union. "It is important that this part of Europe put forward proposals that will shape the EU after Brexit", Krzysztof Szczerski said.

He added that President Andrzej Duda had also mentioned issues related to the Polish minority in Lithuania, including education.

"A discussion was held on energy connections between the Baltic States and Poland", Krzysztof Szczerski also said. (PAP)
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
ATLANTIC CITY  Local leaders vented anxieties and pitched strategies to stop a state takeover Thursday during a state Legislative Black Caucus hearing.

More than 20 speakers including city officials, religious leaders and community activists addressed five caucus members at Second Baptist Church. The event, co-sponsored by the Atlantic City branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, drew about 100 people and lasted four hours.

By hearings end, Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, had a long list of suggestions that included a class action lawsuit against the state and getting federal lawmakers involved.

This is a civil rights issue that needs to be addressed, Rice said. Its Atlantic City today and those in other school districts and other cities tomorrow.

Atlantic City needs 'unpleasant' actions to fix finances, adviser says ATLANTIC CITY -- A lot of unpleasant actions will likely be needed to fix this citys fina

Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, D-Essex, Passaic, said after the hearing that she believes we need to talk to the NAACP legal defense fund and the American Civil Liberties Union" about a lawsuit.

We have a track record that whenever we have come to our litigating allies for help, weve been successful in those cases, she said. I think it will be that way with some of these issues in Atlantic City.

The city has until Nov. 3 to submit a five-year fiscal recovery plan to the state. If the plan is rejected, the state can assume the local governments major decision making powers for five years.

On Thursday, many questioned the constitutionality and intentions of the state takeover bill that passed in May. Some speakers described the bill as a race issue, given the citys large black population. The majority of the citys elected officials are black.

On behalf of the taxpayers of Atlantic City, we believe it is a total violation of our civil rights to come in, remove our mayor from his responsibility, remove our council people from their responsibility, and then order us like were on a farm, said Bishop Robert Hargrove, president of the Fellowship of Churches.

Linda Steele, a member of the Atlantic City NAACPs executive board, said the takeover is a black issue, to some extent, because the wagons are circling and theyre coming back to regain what they gave up a long time ago.

They want Atlantic City because they know that there is still hope here, she added.

Councilman Kaleem Shabazz hinted the citys fiscal plan could be rejected even if it achieves fiscal stability.

The only way our plan, in my opinion, will not be accepted will be if theres political interference, Shabazz said.

Local politics was interjected into the hearing on a number of occasions.

Council President Marty Small criticized South Jersey lawmakers who supported the takeover bill and council members who are being obstructionists trying to gift wrap the city to the state.

Council recently split 4-4-1 on dissolving the Municipal Utilities Authority, putting the city at risk on defaulting on state loan terms.

Im asking the community to hold the other half of city council accountable and have them do the right thing, Small said.

One member of the other half, Councilman Frank Gilliam, said council is not split but officials need to put our petty egos aside. He said no one is elected to just go along with something without privy or knowledge about it.

If you ever look at Frank Gilliam and ask would you vote for him again? I would say never vote for me again if Im just going to rubber-stamp something and not have you in my best interest,'" Gilliam said.

Toward the end, Charles Goodman, of the Atlantic City NAACP, was frustrated with all the political speeches.

This was no political rally, I thought, Goodman said. Youre going to give them all the time to explain their reason for why they didnt vote, or why they did vote and how they vote. We didnt come here to hear that.

Contact: 609-272-7215

Twitter @_Hetrick
A New Jersey school board president is accused of sharing child pornography.

NJ.com reports that Phillip C. Heiney, 67, is accused of possessing disturbing videos of prepubescent girls being sexual abused by adult males, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

Heiney is the president of the Dunellen Board of Education in Middlesex County

He is also accused of making the videos available to others on peer-to-peer file sharing networks, authorities said.

"It's appalling that a man who leads his local school board and holds himself out as being concerned about young students would allegedly participate in the depraved sexual exploitation of innocent children by viewing and distributing child pornography online," state Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in a statement. "Anyone who would commit such crimes belongs in prison, not in our schools."

An attorney for Heiney declined to comment on the allegations, NJ.com reported.

Authorities say State Police detectives who investigate child abuse online became aware of Heiney while monitoring file-sharing services for illicit images. An investigator allegedly downloaded two videos depicting the rape of young girls from a shared folder tied to Heiney's IP address, authorities said.
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
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
ATLANTIC CITY  As casinos look to expand internet gambling, Golden Nugget Atlantic City hopes to bring the personal nature of table games to online gaming.

This month, the Marina District casino launched the countrys first live online dealer games. Players can now play blackjack, roulette and Dragon Bonus Baccarat table games with live dealers from computers or smartphones.

Officials hope it will draw more traditional gamblers online.

Despite the struggles of some brick-and-mortar casinos, internet gaming operations continue to show robust growth for Atlantic City operators.

Resorts to host PokerStars event ATLANTIC CITY  PokerStars, the Internet poker brand owned by the Canadian firm Amaya, will 

Through July, Golden Nuggets internet gaming revenue totaled more than $22.4 million, ranking second in the city behind Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

This is very popular in Europe and Costa Rica, said Dennis Gallagher, director of customer service and payments for online gaming at the casino. This adds that trust element where you have a real person as opposed to an imaginary computer in the background determining if they win or lose.

The casino partnered with Ezugi NJ to build a studio featuring flat-screen televisions and cameras inside the facility to recreate the in-person gaming experience. The casino did not disclose the costs.

So far, the feedback that we have been getting is that its this cool new element to gambling, Gallagher said. People are now able to feel like they are at the property with the dealer, but in the comfort of your own home or the beach.

With the new technology, dealers interact with players in real time, Gallagher said.

This is the closest thing that you can get to being in a real casino, he said.

The online games are offered from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week.

We are excited to be the first domestic online gaming operator to bring Live Dealer to the U.S., said Tilman J. Fertitta, chairman and CEO for Gold Nugget.

In July, internet gaming revenue continued to show the highest percentage of revenue growth in the industry, totaling $17.4 million in July compared with $12.5 million a year ago, a nearly 39 percent increase.

Taj workers look to Caesars for new jobs ATLANTIC CITY  A line formed at the entrance to the grand ballroom in Ballys Wednesday mor

With the largest selection of online slots and now Online Live Dealer, GoldenNuggetCasino.com is more than ever the destination of choice for New Jersey online players, said Thomas Winter, vice president of online gaming at Golden Nugget. Online Live Dealer creates true convergence between the casino floor at Golden Nugget Atlantic City and our online casino, which will appeal to the more traditional casino players who have yet to enjoy online real-money gaming.

Contact: 609-272-7046

Twitter @ACPressHuba
Children and teenagers in the world's developed countries have a more than 50 percent chance of living past 100. By the early 2100s, in other words, "being a centenarian will no longer be a rarity. In fact, it will be the norm."

That's from Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott's book, "The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity," which has gotten a lot of well-deserved attention this summer for its thoughtfully optimistic take on careers and lives in a world full of old people.

Gratton and Scott's core idea is that we'll have to move on from the three-stage life of education, career and retirement to four- and five-stage trajectories with multiple (if often related) careers of differing intensities, with time off for recharging and retraining in between, before finally easing into retirement in our late 80s.

The book can be a bit jargony in spots, but the concepts really do resonate. Still, it's hard to read the book - or just think about the consequences of 100-year lifespans - without some dread.

The most obvious worry is how to finance retirement. I've occasionally defended old-style pension plans as more efficient and fair than employee-managed replacements, but in the world Gratton and Scott describe they really don't make much sense. People trying to manage several career transitions are better off with an account that they can tap from time to time, then keep building up into their 80s, than a pension that kicks in at a preset age. And pension systems that offer a guaranteed income from age 60 or 65 or even 70 are simply going to go broke without major changes as 100-year-olds become the norm.

Which brings me to the other big worry. Gratton and Scott are both professors (she's a psychologist who teaches "management practice," he's an economist) at the highly rated London Business School, and developed the ideas in the book while teaching them to students there - a pretty rarefied group. As Gratton and Scott put it:

"One of the audiences for whom this book was written are those who benefit from high levels of education and income and possess some market power in the workplace with their employer and an array of choices and options. Not everyone will be so fortunate."

Not to mention that those with high levels of education and income are much more likely to live past 100 than other folks. And while in most of the world such life-expectancy inequality is on the decline, in the U.S. it has been increasing since at least 2001.

So while raising the retirement age for pensions makes obvious sense as lifespans grow longer, it also obviously shortchanges those who don't live as long. And while transitioning from career to career over six decades of working life sounds like great fun for London Business School graduates (Yay! We don't have to spend our whole lives as management consultants!), less-educated workers in low-wage jobs may see it as switching from one form of drudgery to another - "the blight of endless work," Gratton and Scott call it. Even worse than endless work might be endless idleness, as technological and economic change wipes out certain job categories and those who can't find work sit at home watching TV.

Gratton and Scott have some ideas for addressing these issues, mainly along the lines of governments should do something. Pension systems could be retained for those with low incomes even as they're dismantled for the rest. Investments in education and health care could reduce lifespan disparities. Income supplements could enable low-wage workers to slow down or take time off for "recharging and re-creating."

But no, this isn't going to be easy. All the challenges that rising economic inequality already poses for developed countries are just going to get more challenging as most people start living past 100.

Justin Fox is a Bloomberg View columnist writing about business.
The epidemic of abuse of opioid drugs and heroin has led to many overdoses, too many of them fatal. As a result, the antidote - naloxone, brand name Narcan - that quickly and effectively counters those drugs is carried by first responders and regular pharmacies.

Something that can easily, cheaply and at almost no risk save a life sounds like it should be part of any medical kit where there's a chance it might be needed. The state Board of Education in May told schools that naloxone should be "included in district emergency response procedures." The Overdose Prevention Act already provides immunity from liability actions to those administering the antidote in an emergency.

Nearly a year before that, the National Association of School Nurses recommended that opioid overdose response be part of school preparedness. It noted that nearly a quarter of teens reported misusing prescription drugs, and that 2.2 million youths ages 12 to 17 were using illegal drugs in a 2013 federal survey.

Despite all this, plenty of schools are delaying or even resisting preparations to save a youngster from an overdose.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, has a cure for that. He will introduce a bill in the next session to require naloxone to be part of every school's emergency response procedures and school nurses to be given primary responsibility for administering the antidote.

Various unconvincing arguments have been offered why schools need not or might not want to carry naloxone.

One is that police and fire responders are nearby, so a quicker response isn't needed - which obviously could not be true in all circumstances.

Another is that reducing the risk of a fatal overdose makes continued use of illegal drugs more likely, a view offered by the governor of Maine in his veto of naloxone programs. This pretends that drug addiction isn't addiction.

Others worry about the cost and training required for schools to have and use naloxone.

Here's some good news - there doesn't need to be any cost or training.

In January, a company that makes a nasal spray version of naloxone - Adapt Pharma - said it would offer the antidote to U.S. high schools free through their state departments of education. New Jersey already meets the requirement of immunity from liability for those who administer it.

And as the company says, the nasal spray requires no special training. It's just a nasal spray. Any nurse could easily administer it, and they should already know the signs that someone is experiencing an opioid overdose.

So let's get the requirement into law. But schools shouldn't wait until then - and possibly miss the chance to save a youngster's life.

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.




The earthquake that shook central Italy on Wednesday killed at least 120 people and injured more than 360, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.

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, 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 km 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 53 of the dead were in Amatrice alone and about 150 people were still unaccounted for.

"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."

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."
THUNDER BAY, Ontario, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Official Portal of the World Conference on Online Learning

Toronto, Canada - October 2017

Contact North | Contact Nord, the organizer and host of the 27th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference, launches the official portal for the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning to be held in Toronto, Canada from October 17-19, 2017.

The theme of the World Conference on Online Learning is Teaching in the Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning with the program focused on five tracks:

1. Emerging Pedagogies and Designs for Online Learning

2. Expanding Access, Openness and Flexibility

3. Changing Models of Assessment

4. New Delivery Tools and Resources for Learning

5. Re-Designing Institutional Business Models

Visit the bilingual portal - http://www.onlinelearning2017.ca and http://www.apprentissageenligne2017.ca - for information including:

"Contact North | Contact Nord is honoured to be the organizer and host of the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning," stated Paul Taillefer, Chair, Board of Directors, Contact North | Contact Nord. "The hosting of this world conference in Ontario recognizes the global leadership of the province of Ontario in the field of online, open and flexible learning. Ontario's online learning sector includes 24 public colleges, 22 public universities and 12 leading online learning networks and providers, including e-Campus Ontario, OntarioLearn, Independent Learning Centre, ACE Distance, Deaf Learn Now, F@D le service de formation a distance pour adultes de l'Ontario, Good Learning Anywhere, The LearningHUB, e-Channel, Consortium d'apprentissage virtuel de langue francaise de l'Ontario (CAVLFO), Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA), Contact North I Contact Nord".

"We look forward to welcoming 2,000 delegates from around the world to Toronto to expand boundaries and explore new frontiers of teaching, learning and skills development during this three-day World Conference on Online Learning," noted Maxim Jean-Louis, President - Chief Executive Officer, Contact North | Contact Nord and Chair of the Organizing Committee for the World Conference on Online Learning. "Our goal is to engage the world's higher education community with a stimulating program on how we re-think teaching and learning in a digital age. The conference will feature 300 plenaries, practical workshops, interactive panels, hand-on demonstrations, academic paper presentations, next generation innovation, new educational technologies, latest online learning platforms, software and solutions."

The World Conference on Online Learning takes place at the Sheraton Toronto Centre Hotel from October 17 - 19, 2017. Visit the conference portal regularly for the latest information.

The 26th ICDE World Conference was organized and hosted by the University of South Africa in October 2015.

About Contact North | Contact Nord

Contact North | Contact Nord is Ontario's distance education and training network serving more than 600 small, rural, remote, Indigenous and Francophone communities across the province through its 112 local online learning centres.

Contact North I Contact Nord partners with Ontario's 24 public colleges, 22 public universities, over 250 public literacy and essential skills and training providers and the government of Ontario to provide local access to education and training opportunities.

Its three portals provide an online learning virtual hub to Ontario students, prospective students, faculty and instructors averaging more than 500,000 unique visits a year: studyonline.ca, teachonline.ca and e-Channel.

Since it was established in 1986, Contact North  Contact Nord has generated and supported more than 466,000 registrations.

Contact North | Contact Nord is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and is funded by the Government of Ontario.

Visit http://www.contactnorth.ca.

About the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)

The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) is the leading global membership organization for open, distance, flexible and online education, including e-learning, and draws its membership from institutions, educational authorities, commercial actors, and individuals.

ICDE has consultative partner status with UNESCO and shares UNESCO's key value - the universal right to education for all. ICDE further derives its position from the unique knowledge and experience of its members throughout the world in the development and use of new methodologies and emerging technologies.

ICDE was founded in 1938 in Canada as the International Council for Correspondence Education and today has members from over 60 countries worldwide.

ICDE's Permanent Secretariat is in Oslo, Norway, and has been hosted by this country on a permanent basis since 1988. ICDE is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and by membership fees.

About ICDE

Enabling change to technology enhanced quality education across the globe.

Advocating for access, equity and quality learning through online, open and flexible learning.

A dynamic platform for cooperation on innovation and development, featuring key regional actors and leading experts.

Access to thousands of higher education institutions, networks and systems.

A key partner for UNESCO.

Part-funded by the Government of Norway .

Visit http://www.icde.org.

Heather Campbell, Communications Coordinator, +1-855-345-5035, heather@contactnorth.ca

SOURCE Contact North
AMSTERDAM, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan and initiator Sander Groet opened Europe's highest swings on the observation deck of A'DAM Tower, opposite Amsterdam Central Station. This unique attraction is part of A'DAM LOOKOUT.

Over the Edge

Over the Edge is a swing with a total of four seats situated at a height of almost 100 meters. Experience what it's like to have Amsterdam under your feet, while swinging back and forth across the edge of the A'DAM Tower. Secured by restraints, visitors can swing across the edge of the watchtower at great height. The swings are hydraulically driven, with the possibility to pump along. A challenge for daredevils and thrill seekers! Enjoy an unparalleled view of the city, while the adrenaline courses through your veins.

A'DAM Tower

The A'DAM Tower is the former Shell Tower on the north bank of the IJ, opposite Amsterdam Central Station. Several restaurants, a club and a hotel are housed in the tower as well as the offices of companies within the music industry. A'DAM LOOKOUT is located on the top two floors of the A'DAM tower with an indoor and outdoor observation deck with a stunning 360 degree view of the city.

Since opening last May, A'DAM LOOKOUT has already attracted more than 100,000 visitors.

A'DAM LOOKOUT is open daily from 10:00 until 22:00. Tickets cost

 12.50. Visitors who want to swing need a separate ticket for 'Over the Edge'. This attraction is still free until September 1st.

After that, a ride on the swing will cost  5.

Video: https://vimeo.com/179319425

More information: http://www.adamlookout.com

Contact:

Pauline Goedhart

press@adamlookout.nl / +31-(0)6-41844002



SOURCE A'DAM LOOKOUT
LONDON, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

With technology continuing to be the driver for change across all industries, the finance industry has been comparatively slower in its adoption, with technological improvements being incremental rather than radical. There are however, two major technological advances to hit Finance: Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence.

In light of this and in preparation for the RPA & Artificial Intelligence Summit, the Shared Services & Outsourcing Network (SSON) has created an industry report 'RPA & AI Analysis: The Finance Industry' highlighting the current pressure on finance institutions to embrace technology and empower their workforce through these new technologies, with RPA being at the forefront of the discussion.

Copies of the report are fully downloadable from the event website here, at no cost. A copy can also be requested via email at enquire@iqpc.co.uk

The RPA & Artificial Intelligence Summit, taking place in London in on the 30th November - 2nd December, will unite the needs of the 250,000-strong SSON and PEX Network communities to bring together those furthest along the maturity curve in automated and intelligent service innovation. The event will provide answers around how RPA technology can be configurable with cognitive capabilities, how it could lead to cost reductions, improved performance and enhanced real-time decision making.

For the full programme, event details and registration information about the RPA & Artificial Intelligence Summit on http://www.rpaandaisummit.com, phone +44(0)207-368-9809 or email enquire@iqpc.co.uk

Media contact: Veronica Araujo, +44(0)20-7368-9748, veronica.araujo@iqpc.co.uk or visit http://www.rpaandaisummit.com

SOURCE SSON
DUBLIN, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Indonesia Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" report to their offering.

The tire market in Indonesia is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% during forecast period on account of expanding passenger car fleet, continuing infrastructure growth and large scale construction activities being undertaken in the country.

Indonesia is one of the major economies of the ASEAN region. Backed by government initiatives and rapid infrastructure developments, tire market in Indonesia is anticipated to grow at a robust pace over the next five years. Further, on account of favorable trading environment and easy availability of raw materials, an increasing number of automobile OEMs are establishing their manufacturing / assembling plants in the country, which is positively influencing the country's tire market.

Few of the major global tire brands operating in Indonesia include Toyota, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Honda, Nissan, Volvo, BMW, General Motors, Audi, Renault, Mazda and Isuzu. In 2014, the Government of Indonesia revised the luxury tax on "Low Cost Green Car (LCGC)" and "Low Emission Carbon (LEC) Vehicles" to promote environment friendly vehicles in the country. Under this program, automobile manufacturers are encouraged to invest in the country to produce more efficient, safer and technologically advanced vehicles. These initiatives are expected to positively influence the country's tire market over the next five years.

In 2015, tire market in Indonesia was dominated by the replacement tire segment, which grabbed around two-thirds of the market share. Moreover, two-wheeler tire segment grabbed a major share in Indonesia tire market in 2015, and the trend is expected to continue over the next five years as well.

Companies Mentioned:

PT Bridgestone Tire Indonesia

PT Elangperdana Tyre Industry

PT Gajah Tunggal TBK

PT Goodyear Indonesia TBK

PT Hankook Tire Indonesia

PT Michelin Indonesia

PT Multistrada Arah Sarana

PT Sumi Rubber Indonesia

PT Suryaraya Rubberindo Industries

Yokohama Rubber Company Limited

Key Topics Covered:

1. Product Overview

2. Research Methodology

3. Analyst View

4. Indonesia Tire Market Outlook

5. Indonesia Two-Wheeler (2W) Tire Market Outlook

6. Indonesia Passenger Car (PC) Tire Market Outlook

7. Indonesia Light Truck Tire Market Outlook

8. Indonesia Heavy Truck Tire Market Outlook

9. Indonesia Off-The-Road (OTR) Tire Market Outlook

10. Indonesia Medium Truck Tire Market Outlook

11. Indonesia Bus Tire Market Outlook

12. Supply Chain Analysis

13. Import-Export Analysis

14. Market Dynamics

15. Market Trends & Developments

16. Policy & Regulatory Landscape

17. Indonesia Economic Profile

18. Competitive Landscape

19. Strategic Recommendations

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/l52386/indonesia_tire

Related Topics: Automotive Tires

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
BIELEFELD, Germany, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

NTT DATA has launched stage 2 of the AMO Global One Team Initiative to foster collaboration, integration, and innovation-sharing among the various NTT DATA Group companies.

In the next five years, NTT DATA, parent group of itelligence AG, expects more than 33% growth in its global outsourcing business .

The acquisition of BIT.Group underlines the growth strategy in the cloud business

NTT DATA and itelligence are investing strongly in promoting and enhancing a global strategy for outsourcing services. A major part of this is the growing Application Management Outsourcing (AMO) business. By 2020, AMO is intended to account for more than a third of NTT DATA's overall outsourcing business.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400938 )



The AMO Global One Team Initiative has the mission of translating the global group vision and strategy into business success for the operating companies. The global AMO management team involves more than 100 managers from the various companies of the NTT DATA Group, with the objectives of significantly growing its outsourcing business and further increasing its market position as a leading player in this business segment. These include Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services at itelligence and co-chair of the AMO Global One Team.

According to Kaz Nishihata, Director & Executive Vice President, Global Business Sector, NTT DATA Corporation: "The NTT DATA Group has emerged as a global powerhouse in the enterprise applications and entire IT outsourcing area. Application Management Outsourcing (AMO), as a key pillar of IT outsourcing, is important for us to further expand our role as a global leader in IT innovation, such as cloud business. Development of AMO business will aid in creating new customers and in supporting our long-term relationships with our customers. Furthermore, it will act as a cornerstone for NTT DATA to become a trusted advisor for our clients to manage their IT requirements, including the digital transformation."

itelligence AG is one of the main drivers of this AMO Global One Team Initiative, especially in NTT DATA's global SAP business. As a global SAP hub of the NTT DATA Group and with a booming AMO business, itelligence supports international corporations.

Norbert Rotter, CEO of itelligence AG: "The initiative supports our strategic focus on Global Managed Services for SAP solutions, particularly in the upper mid-market segment and for multinational clients. The recent acquisition of BIT.group has further enhanced our expertise in the area of Application Management Services and Cloud Services."

The acquisition of BIT.Group on June 20, 2016, was another strategic element in the expansion of global services relating to SAP Cloud and Managed Services. Established in 2004, BIT.Group stands out as a provider of an innovative service portfolio for national and international customers.

Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services at itelligence and co-chair of the AMO Global One Team, adds: "The collaboration with our NTT and NTT DATA sister companies in the area of Application Management and Cloud Services helps us to accelerate our portfolio innovation, to become even more professional in delivery methodology and to cover countries where we don't have our own subsidiaries. We use that to further increase our efficiency, scalability and value proposition for our customers."

Since 2011, the annual growth rate for NTT DATA's AMO business has been 15.7%, which is significantly more than the non-outsourcing business. After several years of implementing an intensive merger and acquisitions strategy to rapidly extend the company's capabilities and worldwide presence, NTT DATA has become one of the strongest partners for CIOs thanks to its comprehensive offering with a glocal (global reach with a local focus) approach.

With more than 80,000 employees, 26,000 of whom are engaged in AMO business, NTT DATA has locations in more than 40 countries around the globe. The company has become a strong player in the outsourcing and managed services market based on its ability to provide tailor-made and high-quality solutions to its clients. It combines its local presence and talent that understands country, industry and client specifics and leverages agility and responsiveness with the power of global capabilities and long-established market experience, while also relying on scalable and cost-efficient global delivery capabilities. For example, the company's worldwide network of 36 AMO centers for application management solutions, spread across America, EMEA and APAC, enables NTT DATA to act as both a close partner for its local customers and a global service provider for multinational companies.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a leading IT services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in Tokyo, with business operations in over 40 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment, combining global reach with local knowledge to provide premier professional services varying from consulting and systems development to outsourcing. For more information, visit http://www.nttdata.com.

About itelligence

itelligence is one of the leading international full-service providers of solutions in support of SAP solutions, employing about 5,400 highly qualified employees in 24 countries. As a frequently awarded SAP partner, among others global value-added reseller, SAP Certified in Cloud Services, SAP-Certified Provider of Hosting Services for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and SAP Platinum Partner, itelligence realizes complex projects in the SAP solution-based environment worldwide. The company's services in support of SAP solutions range from consulting and licensing to application management services and hosting services to proprietary industry-specific SAP. In 2015, itelligence generated total sales of EUR 696.2 million.

Head of Corporate Public Relations

Silvia Dicke

Tel: +49(0)521-91448-107

Fax: +49(0)521-91445-201

silvia.dicke@itelligence.de



itelligence AG

Konigsbreede 1

33605 Bielefeld, Germany

http://www.itelligencegroup.com



SOURCE itelligence AG
DUBLIN, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Lithuania Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" report to their offering.

The tire market in Lithuania is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 9% during 2016-2021

The vehicle fleet of the country is dominated by passenger car segment, followed by the commercial vehicle segment. As a result, the passenger car tire segment held a major volume share in the country's tire market in 2015 and its dominance is anticipated to continue during the forecast period as well.

Anticipated expansion in the country's vehicle fleet coupled with rising disposable income, increasing urbanization and growing infrastructure sector are expected to positively influence tire market in Lithuania over the next five years. As of 2015, Lithuania's tire market was entirely import driven as no tire manufacturing facility was being operating in the country.

Region wise, Vilnius County is the largest demand generator for tire in the country, followed Kaunas, Klaipeda, iauliai and Paneveys counties. In 2015, these five counties cumulatively accounted for more than three-fourths of the tire sales in the country. Leading global tire companies operating in Lithuania include Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone, among others.

Lithuania Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021 discusses the following aspects of tire market in Lithuania:

Lithuania Tire Market Size, Share & Forecast

Segmental Analysis - Passenger Car Tires, Medium and Heavy Commercial Tires, Light Commercial Vehicle Tires, OTR Tires & Two Wheeler Tires

Policy & Regulatory Landscape

Changing Market Trends and Emerging Opportunities

Competitive Landscape and Strategic Recommendations

Market Trends & Developments

Increasing Focus on Public Transportation

Increasing Penetration of Chinese Brand Tires

Growth in Domestic Retread Tire Market

Tire Import Scenario from Major Countries

Impelling Demand for All Season Tires

Companies Mentioned

Belshina Open Joint Stock Company

Bridgestone Baltic SIA

Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin

Continental Aktiengesellschaft

Goodyear Dunlop Tires Baltic OU

Hankook Tire Company Ltd.

Nokian Tyres plc

Pirelli & C. S.p.A.

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd

Yokohama Denmark A/S

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/98jz87/lithuania_tire

Related Topics: Automotive Tires

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
SHANGHAI, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Music China, known as one of the most reputable musical instruments fairs in the world, will be held on October 26-29, 2016 in Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Music China was launched in 2002 and it is organized by China Music Instrument Association (CMIA), INTEX Shanghai Co. Ltd. and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. This year, Music China will feature nearly 1,900 domestic and foreign exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. A huge range of western and Chinese traditional musical instruments will be on display across ten halls and 112,000 square metres of exhibition space.

To meet the substantial business growth, famous established brands, such as Bluethner, Buffet, Casio, D'Addario, ESP, Fazioli, Fender, GEWA, Hsinghai, Laney, Line 6, Ludwig, Marshall, Orange, Pearl River, Roland, Samick, Schimmel, Selmer, Shanghai No.1 National Musical Instruments Factory, Steinway, Tama, Taylor, Yamaha and Zildjian have confirmed to attend Music China 2016 for a breakthrough in their market.

To keep visitors with the industry pace, Music China offers a variety of forums and seminars. NAMM CMIA Industry Forum focuses on hot issues and future development trends of the industry. This year, a brand-new issue on "Promote community music making, expand adult music making" will be discussed. A highly-recommended activity for professional visitors is "Dealers Training Courses", where you have the chance to listen to advice that could grow your business. Several technical symposiums will also be held during the show, you will get the latest innovation topics like MIDI, piano tuning and so forth.

Music China also plays a significant role in culture and education development. Global Forum on Chinese Traditional Music demonstrates the essence of Chinese traditional music. Violin Master Workshop is an on-site workshop where you can enjoy remarkable violin-making skills. In Educational Programme, education organizations will present their brand-new teaching models. Global Jazz Masters Salon is a great opportunity to admire the charm of Jazz music.

For more details about Music China 2016, please refer to our website www.musicchina-expo.com. Free entry is available if signed up before Oct. 8th. We look forward to seeing you in Shanghai.

Contacts:

Miss Arlene Zhu / Miss Lisa Sha

+86-21-6295-5609 / +86-21-6295-3159

zhuliwen@intex-sh.com / shaling@intex-sh.com

Related Links

http://www.musicchina-expo.com



SOURCE INTEX Shanghai Co., Ltd.
STOCKHOLM, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Polystar, a leading supplier of Network and Customer Analytics, Network Monitoring and Test solutions to the telecoms industry, today announced that KALIX, which empowers an entirely new way of creating a data-driven customer-centric environment, has been honoured with a Gold Stevie Award.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130226/595502 )



Nominated for its success in realising the potential of data analytics for telecoms operators, KALIX has been selected as a Gold Stevie Award winner in the Best New Product of the year category for software-based mobile operations management solutions.

KALIX, which had its global launch in February 2016, is an innovative addition to Polystar's portfolio and provides a completely unified real-time view of networks, services and customers. It enables Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to obtain greater value from network data in a more agile way.

"KALIX represents a radical "new approach" to Telco analytics, which empowers CSPs to "make better sense" of the "data captured from their networks", - commented IBA's award judges. It makes data available for all - democratising telco analytics for business and technical teams alike. This is a critical development, driven by the need to access and make sense of data, support increased service diversity, and to deliver the best experience to all users. In essence, as the judges remarked, KALIX results in the conversion of "data into insight" for CSPs.

"KALIX has been created to empower an entirely new way of delivering the data-driven environment that CSPs need to make more sense of their networks, address key challenges in their markets, and become more agile," commented Inna Ott, Director of Marketing at Polystar. "Winning a Gold Stevie Award is clear indication of industry recognition for the innovation that is at the core of KALIX. We are honoured and delighted to have won this prestigious award."

This innovation enables all stakeholders to ask and answer questions about data. KALIX has already been shown to have a direct positive impact on customer experience by reducing the time taken to solve customer issues. In particular, the judges noted a "truly exemplary" focus on customer service and the "great success" already achieved. KALIX has been chosen by several operators in the first six months since launch. It has produced many positive results and has been shown to reduce customer churn in live networks.

Not only is KALIX an outstanding new addition to the Polystar portfolio, it is also, in the judges' words, an "innovative concept" and "among the best of such solutions" that will unlock value and insight through continuous evolution and customisation to meet specific CSPs' requirements. The "reduced time to action and other benefits" make Polystar a "great candidate for Best New Product", while the approach is recognised as being likely to create new "opportunities". The award follows Polystar's success in winning other prestigious international awards.

Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

About Polystar

Polystar enables Communications Service Providers to achieve excellence in CEM, Big Data Analytics, Service Assurance, Network Monitoring and High Performance Testing. We help CSPs to simplify their CEM strategies and drive operational efficiency through real-time network analytics. Polystar's real-time Network and Customer Insights uncover a goldmine of data, which yields indispensable analytics to CSPs. Polystar is recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in Sweden. Since Polystar's foundation in Stockholm in 1983, we have experienced continuous and sustainable growth, and evolved to a global presence, serving our customers in over 50 countries.

For more information, please visit http://www.polystar.com

Polystar Media Contact

Inna Ott

Director of Marketing

Phone: +46 8 50 600 600

Email: inna.ott@polystar.com





About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.







SOURCE Polystar
The world population would hit the 10 billion mark in 2053 if the assumptions underlying PRB's 2050 projections are applied to subsequent years.

"Despite declines in fertility rates around the world, we expect population gains to remain strong enough to take us toward a global population of 10 billion," said Jeffrey Jordan, president and CEO of PRB. "Significant regional differences remain, though. For example very low birth rates in Europe will mean population declines there while Africa's population is expected to double."

PRB's projections show Africa's population will reach 2.5 billion by 2050, while the number of people in the Americas will rise by only 223 million to 1.2 billion. Asia will gain about 900 million to 5.3 billion, while Europe registers a decline from 740 million to 728 million. Oceania (which includes Australia and New Zealand) would rise from 40 million to 66 million.

PRB's widely referenced Data Sheet (www.worldpopdata.org) has been produced annually since 1962. This year's edition provides the latest data on 19 key population, health, and environment indicators for the world, major regions, and more than 200 countries. PRB also added six indicators and analytical graphics that explore the balance between providing for human needs and sustainably managing the natural resources on which people depend.

The Data Sheet's midcentury population projections indicate that:

The combined population of the world's least developed countries in the world will double by 2050 to 1.9 billion. There are 48 least developed countries, based on United Nations criteria, most of which are in Africa .

by 2050 to 1.9 billion. There are 48 least developed countries, based on United Nations criteria, most of which are in . The population in 29 countries will more than double. Nearly all of these countries are in Africa . In Niger , the country with the highest birth rate, the population will more than triple.

Nearly all of these countries are in . In , the country with the highest birth rate, the population will more than triple. Forty-two countries will register population declines. These countries are scattered throughout Asia , Latin America , and Europe . Some European countries will post significant declines, such as Romania , which is projected to have a population of 14 million in 2050, down from 20 million today.

These countries are scattered throughout , , and . Some European countries will post significant declines, such as , which is projected to have a population of 14 million in 2050, down from 20 million today. The population of the United States will be 398 million, up 23 percent from 324 million today.

According to the Data Sheet's estimates of current population:

Over 25 percent of the world's population is under 15 years old. The figure is 41 percent in least developed countries and 16 percent in more developed countries.

The figure is 41 percent in least developed countries and 16 percent in more developed countries. Japan has the oldest population profile , with over a quarter of its citizens older than 65. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are at the other end of the spectrum, with each having only 1 percent over 65.

, with over a quarter of its citizens older than 65. and the are at the other end of the spectrum, with each having only 1 percent over 65. The top ten fertility rates in the world are in sub-Saharan African countries , with nearly all above 6 children per woman, and one topping seven. In Europe . The average is 1.6.

, with nearly all above 6 children per woman, and one topping seven. In . The average is 1.6. The fertility rate in the United States is 1.8 children per woman, down from 1.9 in 2014 . "Replacement" fertility in the United States --that is, the rate at which the population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, excluding the effects of migrationis 2.1 children per woman.

. "Replacement" fertility in --that is, the rate at which the population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, excluding the effects of migrationis 2.1 children per woman. Thirty-three countries in Europe and Asia already have more people over age 65 than under 15.

Human Needs, Sustainable Resources

As part of this year's Data Sheet theme, "Human Needs and Sustainable Resources," PRB compiled statistics that speak to the environmental and resource aspects of human development. The Data Sheet included measures of carbon emissions (related to climate change), access to electricity, power from renewable energy resources, how much land countries have set aside for protection, and population per square kilometer of arable land. A few key figures include:

Globally, there was a 60 percent increase in annual carbon emissions between 1992 and 2013 , to 9.8 billion tons. China posted the largest increase by volume over this period, from 735 million metric tons to 2.8 billion metric tonswhich was also the largest amount of any country in 2013.

, to 9.8 billion tons. posted the largest increase by volume over this period, from 735 million metric tons to 2.8 billion metric tonswhich was also the largest amount of any country in 2013. Forty-three countries reduced their carbon emissions over the same period . The largest reduction by volume was in Ukraine , where carbon emissions declined by 98 million tons to 74 million tons.

. The largest reduction by volume was in , where carbon emissions declined by 98 million tons to 74 million tons. Eighteen percent of the world's energy comes from renewable sources, which include hydroelectric power.

which include hydroelectric power. There is an average of 526 people per square kilometer of arable land. The number is 238 in more developed countries and 697 in less developed countries.

PRB informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment, and empowers them to use that information to advance the well-being of current and future generations. The World Population Data Sheet is one of many PRB informational products that make evidence-based knowledge easily accessible to the general public and a range of policy stakeholders. Find out more at www.prb.org.

Contact: Peter Goldstein, datasheet@prb.org, tel: 1.202.939-5407

Related Links

http://www.prb.org



SOURCE Population Reference Bureau
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.

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."

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.

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.
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) reported today earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2016 of US$141.6 million (US$0.54 per ADR), a decrease from US$154.9 million (US$0.59 per ADR) for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Gross Margin reached US$260.5 million (29.6% of revenues) for the six months ended June 30, 2016, lower than US$295.2 million (33.9% of revenues) recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Revenues totaled US$881.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, representing an increase of 1.1% compared to US$871.8 million reported for the six months ended June 30, 2015.

The Company also announced earnings for the second quarter of 2016, reporting net income of US$83.1 million (US$0.32 per ADR) compared to US$83.2 million (US$0.32 per ADR) for the second quarter of 2015. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2016 reached US$146.9 million; lower than the US$164.6 million recorded for the second quarter of 2015. Revenues totaled US$489.6 million, an increase of approximately 1.1% compared to the second quarter of 2015, when revenues amounted to US$484.2 million.

SQM's Chief Executive Officer, Patricio de Solminihac, stated, "During the first half of 2016 we saw higher volumes of potassium chloride, iodine, lithium and specialty plant nutrients. These higher sales volumes were in line with our expectations as were the market trends in general: higher prices in lithium, the continued downward trend in iodine prices and lower average prices of potassium products."

"In the fertilizer markets, potassium chloride sales volumes for the first six months of 2016 were up over 14% when compared to the same period last year. We expect the sales volumes for 2016 to be at least 20% stronger than the sales volumes that we saw last year. Following the closure of potassium chloride contracts between other potash producers and China, we have seen some slight price recovery recently, and hope that this trend will continue during the remainder of 2016."

"Pricing in the specialty plant nutrition business line has been more stable than in the potassium chloride and potassium sulfate business line, but we did see a slight decrease of almost 4% during the first half of the year, mainly as a result of lower potassium chloride prices. These lower prices were mostly offset by higher sales volumes, specifically related to our water soluble products, a market where we still expect to see market growth during 2016."

"Our sales volumes of iodine continue to grow, as proof, in the second quarter we reported the strongest sales volumes we have seen in years. However, we do not expect the downward price pressure to soften in the near future."

He went on to say, "We continue to believe in the solar salts market, but due to some delays in concentrated solar power plant projects, it is estimated that solar salt sales volumes during 2016 will not reach the 70,000MT that we had originally anticipated. We believe that the majority of these sales volumes will be delayed."

Mr. de Solminihac concluded by saying, "The lithium market continues to demand more supply from major players. In response to this need, our sales volumes grew over 30% during the first half of this year when compared with 2015. We expect our sales volumes will surpass our original expectations, and we could see sales volumes increase over 25% when compared to sales volumes seen last year. These higher volumes will be further emphasized by the higher prices of both lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. In other lithium news, we continue to move forward with our partner Lithium Americas on the feasibility study related to the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project in Argentina. We are pleased to announce that we now expect production capacity could reach 50,000MT. This capacity will be brought to the market in two stages of 25,000MT each, and as originally planned, we are anticipating that construction will begin during the first half of 2017."

About SQM

SQM is an integrated producer and distributor of specialty plant nutrients, iodine, lithium, potassium-related fertilizers and industrial chemicals. Its products are based on the development of high quality natural resources that allow the Company to be a leader in costs, supported by a specialized international network with sales in over 110 countries. SQM's development strategy aims to maintain and strengthen the Company's position in each of its businesses.

The leadership strategy is based on the Company's competitive advantages and on the sustainable growth of the different markets in which it participates. SQM's main competitive advantages in its different businesses include:

Low production costs based on vast and high quality natural resources;

Know-how and its own technological developments in its various production processes;

Logistics infrastructure and high production levels that allow SQM to have low distribution costs;

High market share in all its core products;

International sales network with offices in 20 countries and sales in over 110 countries;

Synergies from the production of multiple products that are obtained from the same two natural resources;

Continuous new product development according to the specific needs of its different customers;

Conservative and solid financial position.

For further information, contact:

Gerardo Illanes 56-2-24252022 / gerardo.illanes@sqm.com

Kelly O'Brien 56-2-24252074 / kelly.obrien@sqm.com

For media inquiries, contact:



Carolina Garcia Huidobro / carolina.g.huidobro@sqm.com

Alvaro Cifuentes / Alvaro.cifuentes@sqm.com

Tamara Rebolledo / Tamara.rebolledo@sqm.com (Northern Region)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make concerning the Company's business outlook, future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are estimates that reflect the best judgment of SQM management based on currently available information. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by SQM with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to SQM on the date hereof and SQM assumes no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Related Links

http://www.sqm.com



SOURCE Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM)
ASCHHEIM, Germany, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Wirecard Bank AG cooperates with airberlin's frequent flyer program topbonus to issue credit cards for the Austrian market

topbonus member can collect one award and one status mile with each Euro spent on the credit card

The Wirecard Group is now collaborating with topbonus, the frequent flyer program of airberlin. The deal includes a MasterCard credit card for topbonus participants in Austria. With the airberlin & NIKI MasterCard, customers can collect one award and status mile for each Euro spent on the credit card. Users can easily redeem these miles for flights with airberlin and NIKI or for additional rewards, starting with as little as 7,500 award miles.

In this collaboration Wirecard Bank AG is the issuer of the airberlin & NIKI MasterCard, which also contains a range of insurances, covering travel accident, baggage delay, delayed departure, hospital benefits, medical expenses and travel cancellation coverage. topbonus participants will be able to track their expenses using a dedicated webinterface that is integrated by Wirecard and optimized for PC, tablets and smartphones.

"Together with the Wirecard Bank AG, we offer our Austrian customers a credit card, with which they can earn miles with each payment. As we are distributing one status mile per one Euro spent, we set us apart from our competitors, because many of them release status miles only for flights. In addition, the suspension of the expiry of the award miles is another strong benefit for our members," said Anton Lill, Managing Director at topbonus.

Based on collected status miles, travelers can reach different frequent flyer status' such as Classic, Silver, Gold and Platinum. In addition, the topbonus shop offers non-frequent flyers with smaller mile budgets a wide range of rewards. Once a customer hits 2,000 miles, they will have a large selection of travel accessories, electronic, sports, leisure items and much more to choose from.

Alexander von Knoop, Executive Board Member at Wirecard Bank said, "We are pleased that we can issue the airberlin & NIKI MasterCard with topbonus in Austria. With the new credit card for the Austrian market, we have created an attractive product that bring many advantages for our customers."

Interested topbonus members can order the airberlin & NIKI MasterCard easily via http://www.airberlin.com/mastercard and thereby secure 3,000 miles for the application.

About Wirecard:

Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on twitter @wirecard.

About Wirecard Bank:

With Wirecard Bank the Wirecard Group provides beside innovative technology even banking services: From payment transactions to card-based payout solutions. As a Principal Member of Visa and MasterCard, Wirecard Bank is a leading international acquirer.

Wirecard media contact:

Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363

E-Mail: jana.tilz@wirecard.com



About topbonus:

topbonus is Germany's second largest frequent flyer program and has received multiple awards as one of the leading customer loyalty programs with more than 4.2 million members. With 25 partner airlines and around 200 renowned partner companies, and by using the airberlin Visa card and by booking via the topbonus hotel platform members collect topbonus miles that can be redeemed worldwide. The collaboration with the American Express Membership Rewards, DeutschlandCard and SHELL Clubsmart programmes means participants can convert points from those programmes into topbonus award miles. Award miles can be redeemed for award flights, further exclusive benefits, or online at the topbonus shop. If members don't have enough award miles to purchase a flight, they can now make a payment in the amount of the difference. Thanks to the partnership with Etihad Airways, Atalia and other Etihad Airways Partners along with oneworld membership, holders of a topbonus status card have worldwide access to the 700 Premium airport lounges. Together, airberlin and Etihad Airways offer their guests 228 destinations in 84 countries. Approximately 1,000 destinations are available across the oneworld network. As the operator of airberlin's frequent flyer program, topbonus Ltd. has a close association with the airline. http://www.airberlin.com/topbonus

topbonus media contact:

topbonus Ltd. Zweigniederlassung Berlin

Tobias Spaeing

E-Mail: presse@topbonus.de

Tel.: +49-30-3434-1531





SOURCE Wirecard AG
- After breaking ground in 2014, Young Living's Northern Lights Farm in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, is officially open to the public -

LEHI, Utah, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Young Living Essential Oils, the world leader in essential oils, announced the grand opening of its Northern Lights Farm in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. In conjunction with its Canadian convention, Young Living held its first Farm Day at Northern Lights, welcoming members from both Young Living and the surrounding community to attend a celebration and tour the farm.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/323110LOGO

"I am proud to officially open the gates and invite visitors to experience our Seed to Seal process firsthand at our Northern Lights farm," said D. Gary Young, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Young Living. "As one of my greatest passions and achievements, I'm honored to share Northern Lights with our members and the local community, who have supported this endeavor from day one."

The beautiful Fort Nelson location offers rich soil and plentiful water resources and is abundant with black spruce trees, from which the fragrant Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil is produced, a key ingredient in some of the popular Young Living essential oil blends such as Valor II, Peace & Calming II, and Shutran.

Today, Young Living celebrates the farm's official grand opening and welcomes visitors, after two years of ambitious efforts to build out the farm and distillery. In addition to a state-of-the-art distillery, the farm houses a conference and education center, with future plans to add a visitor center, spa, and lodge. Last year, the farm produced 6,300 liters of Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil.

"It is an exciting moment for Gary to share his vision of Fort Nelson with all of the visitors attending the Grand Opening," said Mary Young, Young Living Chief Executive Officer. "Members are watching the Seed to Seal process in awe here in the beautiful Canadian Rockies."

For more information about the Northern Lights Farm or any of Young Living's farms around the world, visit www.seedtoseal.com.

About Young Living Essential Oils

Young Living Essential Oils, LC, is the world leader in essential oils, with a strict Seed to Seal process to produce pure essential oil products for every individual, family, and lifestyle. This process ensures that all products are genuine, free of synthetic chemicals, and pure. This commitment stems from the company's 20 years of stewardship toward the earth and its people. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com.

Media Contact:

Jamie Kaneko

Sr. Public Relations Manager

801.221.7128

jkaneko@youngliving.com

Related Links

http://www.youngliving.com



SOURCE Young Living Essential Oils, LC
BEIJING, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The year of 2016 marks the 10th anniversary for Worldway's successful promotion of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program in China. Over the past 10 years, Worldway has been pursuing the best quality of service and credible management of business. The Worldway team handpicks premium projects for investors and successfully helps tens of thousands of Chinese investors immigrate to the US, thus establishing itself as one of the leading investment immigration institutions.

Remarkable Achievements Made by 10 years' EB-5 Practice

Worldway has promoted over 55 projects with a total investment of over 11.8 billion US dollars. We have provided services for more than 4,000 families. Among these projects, 42 projects received I-526 approval, 24 projects received I-829 approval and 20 projects received repayment or dividends.

Good Reputation Earned with 10 years Dedicated Services

Worldway has a well-developed customer service network and aperiodically hosts salons on US taxation, financial services, living issues and educational matters for its customers. Worldway also assists investors with landing and settlement services. In 2015, Worldway set up a customer service center in Southern California to provide landing and investment services to help Chinese investors better plan their investments and lives in the US.

A Trustworthy Brand -- 10 years Cooperation

Worldway has established friendly cooperation with hundreds of regional centers and has acted as the leading agent or the general agent for dozens of regional centers. Worldway has also cooperated well with real estate agencies, investment institutions, financial institutions and PEs making it a real leader among EB-5 investment immigration institutions.

Worldway has been pursuing the best quality of service and credible management of business to help more families move to US successfully. Worldway has now selected many prime projects with excellent qualities in terms of pre-approvals, job creation, repayment and other aspects. These projects are among the top choices for investors to deal with potential policy changes in September 30, 2016.

For any inquiries, please feel free to contact us at our L.A. service center +1-626-522-6522 or our China 24hr hotline +86-400-0909-899. For more information, please visit our official website at: http://www.worldwayhk.com

SOURCE Worldwayhk

Related Links

http://www.worldwayhk.com


CARY, N.C., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Critical Thinking Co. (CTC), a life sciences-focused sales consulting, education, and development firm, and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) have worked closely with a leading biotherapeutics company to raise the bar for clinical aptitude of medical sales representatives in neuromuscular medicine. Upon review of a comprehensive training program CTC created for Grifols, AANEM prepared an exam to assess and recognize clinical expertise in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) of healthcare providers, as well as industry representatives. The assessment was proctored May 26, 2016. Of the more than 38 industry representatives assessed, 94% passed the exam.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160822/400201LOGO

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry has pulled back on deployment of representatives considerably since 2006: the number of representatives in the field has shrunk from over 100,000 to less than 65,000. While many companies are rethinking the use of representatives for promotion of their products, CTC's aforementioned training program enabled one of their clients to take a different path based on the following challenges to the status quo:

What if you could solve the issue of low-quality, low-impact contact between physicians and representatives offering a more clinically astute representative?

What if you could train the representatives to demonstrate a level of recognized clinical decision support within a specific disease state on par with that of a first-year fellow?

What if you focused representatives on problem solving with customers based upon targeted patient identification and treatment goals, instead of simply providing product information?

What if the representatives were equipped and prepared  even trained  to agree with a provider in cases where a different treatment option was the best choice for a patient, based on available data?

CTC partnered with the biotherapeutics company and a number of practicing clinicians to equip an entire sales force to understand the clinical process leading to successful identification and care of patients with CIDP. The program armed the participants with the expertise needed to fully evaluate a (virtual) patient from presentation and diagnosis to treatment follow-up and to defend treatment decisions before academic experts in their therapeutic area. The rigorous training program prepared participants to think critically using a blended-learning format of interactive eLearning modules and review and discussion with medical specialists. Medical professionals and thought leaders on the disease state helped CTC to assemble and vet the training materials.

"The reason [AANEM] decided to partner with [Grifols] on this initiative was because of the quality of the CIDP [materials]," said national sales director who spearheaded the initiative within his company.

AANEM supports the development of clinical knowledge in non-physicians and hopes to improve this knowledge  as well as patient care  with the offering of this exam.

"AANEM is excited to help pharmaceutical representatives, other allied health professionals, and physicians improve their knowledge of CIDP through a self-assessment examination," said AANEM Executive Director Shirlyn Adkins. "By educating these groups about the most up-to-date information on diagnosis and treatment, AANEM hopes it will assist physicians in identifying patients with CIDP earlier in the course of the disease. AANEM's mission is to improve the lives of patients with muscle and nerve disorder. We appreciate Grifols' support of this project to help improve the care of patients."

About Critical Thinking Company, Inc.

Critical Thinking Co. is a full-service sales consulting and training firm based in Cary, North Carolina, near the Research Triangle Park. Founded in 2002, our sweet spot is helping biopharmaceutical companies develop effective sales representatives and build successful brands.

About AANEM

The American Association of Neuromuscular & ElectrodiagnosticMedicine (AANEM) is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of neuromuscular (NM), musculoskeletal, and electrodiagnostic(EDX) medicine.

Related Images

image1.jpg

image2.png

Related Links

CTC Website

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Critical Thinking Co. & AANEM

Related Links

http://www.criticalthinkingco.com


"The Yeti story is especially personal to me, if it's even possible to get personal with an elusive hairy monster!" says Gates, who also serves as an executive producer. "There have been so many firsthand accounts of the Yeti, and several years ago, I had my own encounter. I discovered an unusual set of footprints high in the Himalayas. It was an incredible and confounding find; we cast the print and donated it to the Yeti museum at Disney's Animal Kingdom, where it's now on display. The experience has never left me, and now I'm heading back into the mountains to determine what exactly left those tracks."

Relying on his wit, instinct, expert negotiation tactics and the latest stealth photo and video gadgets, Gates embarks on a high-altitude quest for evidence across the Himalayas. From the hidden caves of Nepal's backcountry and the iconic slopes of Everest base camp to Bhutan's mountainside monasteries and isolated forests, Gates joins renowned researchers, historians, mountaineers and local experts as he tracks Yeti sightings in hopes of finding the mysterious creature.

Want more Yeti? Head to TravelChannel.com for "Expedition Unknown: Hunt for the Yeti" show extras including behind-the-scenes photos, Yeti facts, on-location videos and travel tips from Josh Gates. Follow @TravelChannel and #ExpeditionUnknown for more exclusive content and updates. Follow host Josh Gates on Twitter: @joshuagates and on Instagram: @gatesygram.

"Expedition Unknown: Hunt for the Yeti" Teaser: https://youtu.be/jbspKOiIBSg

ABOUT TRAVEL CHANNEL

For virtual and active travelers who want to go on a thrilling quest; taste other cultures; enjoy the mystery of the unexplored; get a dose of epic adventure or a splash of wacky fun; there is no better daily escape than Travel Channel. Reaching more than 89 million U.S. cable homes, Travel Channel is the world's leading travel media brand. Fans also can visit Travel Channel for more information or interact with other fans through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Travel Channel is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., which also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

Follow us on Twitter: @TravelChannelPR

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401331

SOURCE Travel Channel

Related Links

http://www.travelchannel.com


AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH), a leading provider of high quality single-family rental homes ("the Company"), today posted the revised "Home Price Appreciation Factor" and "Home Price Appreciation Amount" through June 30, 2016, as those terms are defined in the final prospectuses for the Company's 5% Series A, 5% Series B and 5.5% Series C Participating Preferred Shares (NYSE: AMHPRA, AMHPRB and AMHPRC). The computations of these amounts are based on the results of the House Price Index of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, known as the Quarterly Purchase-Only Index, or POI, specifically the non-seasonally adjusted "Purchase-Only Index" for the "100 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas" as of June 30, 2016, which was released August 24, 2016.

Based on the weighting among our top 20 markets established under the terms of our 5% Series A and 5% Series B Participating Preferred Shares, cumulative home price appreciation for the period from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2016 was 22.22%, resulting in a Home Price Appreciation Factor of 11.11%. The Home Price Appreciation Amount on our 5% Series A and 5% Series B Participating Preferred Shares through June 30, 2016 was $2.778.

Additionally, based on the weighting among our top 20 markets established under the terms of our 5.5% Series C Participating Preferred Shares, cumulative home price appreciation for the period from December 31, 2013 to June 30, 2016 was 19.03%, resulting in a Home Price Appreciation Factor of 9.52%. The Home Price Appreciation Amount on our 5.5% Series C Participating Preferred Shares through June 30, 2016 was $2.379.

The computation of these amounts appears at the end of this press release and has also been posted to the "For Investors" page of the Company's website (www.americanhomes4rent.com). The Company anticipates announcing the next update to these amounts in approximately three months.

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of June 30, 2016, we owned 48,038 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements relate to beliefs, expectations or intentions and similar statements concerning matters that are not of historical fact and are generally accompanied by words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "potential," "plan," "goal" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Examples of forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the anticipated timing of the next update of the Home Price Appreciation Amount. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company's management considers these expectations to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to conform to actual results or changes in its expectations, unless required by applicable law. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general, see the "Risk Factors" disclosed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

American Homes 4 Rent

Investor Relations

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

Measurement of Aggregate HPA Amount Per 5% Series A and 5% Series B Participating Preferred Share (1) June 30, 2016































June 30, 2013 June 30, 2016

Metropolitan Statistical Area Relative

Weighting

Applied in

Determining

HPA Actual POI

Value (2) Assigned

Baseline

Value Actual

POI

Value POI

Value

Relative

to Jun

30, 2013

Baseline

Dallas  Plano  Irving, TX 4.754% 194.12 100 252.84 30.25%

Fort Worth  Arlington, TX 4.754% 180.86 100 226.75 25.37%

Indianapolis, IN 8.880% 164.50 100 189.41 15.14%

Greater Chicago Area, IL 7.679% 182.20 100 203.54 11.71%

Atlanta, GA 7.545% 174.20 100 222.80 27.90%

Nashville, TN 6.390% 230.70 100 293.32 27.14%

Houston, TX 6.312% 241.20 100 287.83 19.33%

Cincinnati, OH 6.119% 166.30 100 189.75 14.10%

Salt Lake City, UT 5.495% 323.90 100 383.39 18.37%

Tampa, FL 5.361% 209.60 100 272.00 29.77%

Charlotte, NC 5.354% 186.80 100 222.29 19.00%

Phoenix, AZ 5.270% 232.50 100 294.38 26.62%

Jacksonville, FL 4.776% 211.70 100 265.70 25.51%

Las Vegas, NV 4.371% 133.30 100 185.91 39.47%

Raleigh, NC 4.040% 197.10 100 235.27 19.37%

Columbus, OH 3.167% 178.90 100 210.68 17.76%

Orlando, FL 3.036% 180.00 100 231.94 28.86%

Tucson, AZ 1.867% 206.70 100 242.55 17.34%

Greensboro, NC 1.789% 161.00 100 174.94 8.66%

Austin, TX 1.550% 316.10 100 411.49 30.18%

San Antonio, TX 1.490% 226.50 100 268.22 18.42%















Cumulative HPA



0.00%

22.22%















HPA Factor (50% Cumulative HPA)



0.00%

11.11%















HPA Amount







$ 2.778







(1) The Actual POI Value and HPA Amount for each quarter since the issuance of the 5% Series A and 5% Series B Participating Preferred Shares are available on the Company's website on the "For Investors" page. (2) Actual POI Value as of June 30, 2013 represents the value as published in the POI for each market as of October 18, 2013 and will remain constant for purposes of calculating the HPA Amount, notwithstanding any subsequent revisions by the FHFA.

Measurement of Aggregate HPA Amount Per 5.5% Series C Participating Preferred Share June 30, 2016

















December 31, 2013 June 30, 2016 Metropolitan Statistical Area Relative

Weighting

Applied in

Determining

HPA Actual POI

Value (1) Assigned

Baseline

Value Actual

POI

Value POI

Value

Relative

to Dec

31, 2013

Baseline Dallas  Plano  Irving, TX 4.754% 198.79 100 252.84 27.19% Fort Worth  Arlington, TX 4.754% 186.40 100 226.75 21.65% Indianapolis, IN 8.880% 165.40 100 189.41 14.52% Greater Chicago Area, IL 7.679% 185.58 100 203.54 9.68% Atlanta, GA 7.545% 179.66 100 222.80 24.01% Nashville, TN 6.390% 237.75 100 293.32 23.37% Houston, TX 6.312% 251.00 100 287.83 14.67% Cincinnati, OH 6.119% 166.16 100 189.75 14.20% Salt Lake City, UT 5.495% 323.59 100 383.39 18.48% Tampa, FL 5.361% 218.28 100 272.00 24.61% Charlotte, NC 5.354% 193.47 100 222.29 14.90% Phoenix, AZ 5.270% 247.72 100 294.38 18.84% Jacksonville, FL 4.776% 216.03 100 265.70 22.99% Las Vegas, NV 4.371% 149.08 100 185.91 24.70% Raleigh, NC 4.040% 198.65 100 235.27 18.43% Columbus, OH 3.167% 180.44 100 210.68 16.76% Orlando, FL 3.036% 181.11 100 231.94 28.07% Tucson, AZ 1.867% 216.99 100 242.55 11.78% Greensboro, NC 1.789% 157.21 100 174.94 11.28% Austin, TX 1.550% 317.68 100 411.49 29.53% San Antonio, TX 1.490% 227.56 100 268.22 17.87%











Cumulative HPA



0.00%

19.03%











HPA Factor (50% Cumulative HPA)



0.00%

9.52%











HPA Amount







$ 2.379





(1) Actual POI Value as of December 31, 2013 represents the value as published in the POI for each market as of April 1, 2014 and will remain constant for purposes of calculating the HPA Amount, notwithstanding any subsequent revisions by the FHFA.

SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent

Related Links

https://www.americanhomes4rent.com


WARREN, Mich., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- It's time to celebrate! The Midwest's number one furniture and mattress retailer is introducing Art Van PureSleep and its unique diagnostic sleep test to the Monroe community with a new 4,000-square-foot showroom located at 1295 Steward Road.

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, with a ribbon cutting featuring remarks from Art Van PureSleep leadership, including Manager Jonathan John and Regional Manager John Albrecht, a complimentary continental breakfast, giveaways, a tour of the store and opportunity to take the diagnostic test, which scientifically matches individuals to the right sleep materials for their body. Members of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce will attend, along with numerous local business leaders.

"We all know that a great night's sleep is a crucial part of a healthy and happy life," said David Van Elslander, president of Art Van PureSleep. "By bringing our Art Van PureSleep brand and special diagnostic test to the Monroe community, we hope to pair local families with the right mattresses, pillows and bedding essentials for better sleep and better lives."

Art Van PureSleep carries the most trusted brands in the sleep industry, including Sealy, Beautyrest, Bedgear, Stearns & Foster, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, iComfort, Sleep to Live, King Koil, Reverie and PureTech powered by 37.5 technology.

About Art Van Furniture

Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates more than 100 stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, and Art Van Furniture franchise locations, as well as a full service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150130/172502LOGO

SOURCE Art Van Furniture

Related Links

http://www.artvan.com


Tokyo said it will pay W100 million to each of the 46 surviving sex slaves in Korea and W20 million to the heirs of each of the 199 who have died (US$1=W1,121). This is the first time that Tokyo has announced individual compensation for survivors of the World War II atrocity.

The Japanese Cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved a plan to pay 1 billion yen into a foundation supporting Korean victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery.

The money will be given to the foundation, which was established by the Korean government under an agreement with Tokyo.

"The foundation will contact the women and their families to determine exact numbers of recipients and pay an adequate amount based on what the governments of Korea and Japan agreed," a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

The money will be used to cover the medical costs of the survivors and reimburse the funeral costs of those who have died or to provide scholarships for their descendants. Besides individual compensation the foundation will also support to projects aiding the victims. Both governments will monitor the spending.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida explained the latest steps to Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in a meeting Wednesday afternoon and asked Seoul to move a statue of a sex slave in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

Yun did not expressly respond to the request but answered that Seoul will "diligently" abide by the terms of the agreement.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global artificial pancreas device system (APDS) market is expected to reach USD 390 million by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising occurrence of diabetes, increasing incidence of adverse effects due to improper insulin administration, and the growing interest of industry participants in the development of innovative treatments are some vital impact rendering drivers.

Grand View Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/Grand View Research_ Inc_)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 )

As of 2014, the Centers for Disease Control stated that about 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. alone are suffering from type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, the development of sedentary lifestyles among teenagers is propelling the probability of disease development globally.

Hence, the economic burden weighing over the healthcare system due to the rising incidence of diabetes has led to an increase in the research activities and funding by government bodies across the globe. Furthermore, the introduction of information technology and its numerous applications within the healthcare industry is expected to act as boon for the APDS market.

For instance, the GlucoSitter Software used for tracking the glucose level and insulin administration in case of hypoglycemic conditions received the CE mark in 2015 at the annual conference of the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes. The software was the first of its kind to receive regulatory approval and will be commercially available through the company DreaMed Diabetes Ltd.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Artificial Pancreas Device System (APDS) Market Analysis by Type (Threshold Suspended Device System, Control to Range (CTR) System, Control to Target (CTT) System), and Segment Forecasts To 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/artificial-pancreas-device-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

On the basis of the device type, the market has been segmented into threshold suspended device, Control to Range (CTR) System, and Control to Target (CTT) System. As of 2015, the threshold suspended device segment is expected to hold majority of the share. Medtronic's currently available, MiniMed 530G is based on this technology. However, over the forecast period, the CTT and CTR based systems are predicted to gain popularity owing to the higher automation and improved management of the disease, limiting the incidence of severe conditions among patients.

North America is expected to dominate the APDS market over the forecast period owing to the large pool of patients suffering from type 1 diabetes within the region. Furthermore, the continuous R&D activities directed towards an increasingly automated, permanent management & monitoring system for diabetes and government programs supporting research initiatives through funds and expertise is anticipated to help boost the market growth.

is expected to dominate the APDS market over the forecast period owing to the large pool of patients suffering from type 1 diabetes within the region. Furthermore, the continuous R&D activities directed towards an increasingly automated, permanent management & monitoring system for diabetes and government programs supporting research initiatives through funds and expertise is anticipated to help boost the market growth. Along with North America , Europe is also anticipated to witness lucrative growth. Faster regulatory approvals and routine involvement of the region in conducting timely clinical trials of upcoming products are the vital impact rendering drivers. For instance, the project [email protected] was initiated by the European Union and was completed in October 2015 . This project was focused on the development of a combined device capable of administering insulin and monitoring the glucose level of the patient by use of a single catheter.

, is also anticipated to witness lucrative growth. Faster regulatory approvals and routine involvement of the region in conducting timely clinical trials of upcoming products are the vital impact rendering drivers. For instance, the project [email protected] was initiated by the European Union and was completed in . This project was focused on the development of a combined device capable of administering insulin and monitoring the glucose level of the patient by use of a single catheter. However, Asia Pacific is predicted to witness the fastest growth, attributable to the presence of about 60.0% of the global population suffering from diabetes in this region. This number is expected to rise over the forecast period owing to the changing lifestyles of the younger population and the growing genetic predisposition amongst the newer generations to developing diabetes, over the past few decades.

is predicted to witness the fastest growth, attributable to the presence of about 60.0% of the global population suffering from diabetes in this region. This number is expected to rise over the forecast period owing to the changing lifestyles of the younger population and the growing genetic predisposition amongst the newer generations to developing diabetes, over the past few decades. Major industry players include Medtronic, Pancreum, Inc., TypeZero Technologies, LLC, Beta Bionics, Johnson & Johnson (Animas Corporation), and others. In July 2016 , Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. announced a collaboration with TypeZero Technologies, LLC to obtain the licensing rights for their technology. As per this collaboration, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. intends to incorporate the artificial pancreas technology, developed by TypeZero Technologies, LLC, into their product t:slim Insulin Pump.

Grand View Research has segmented the global APDS market on the basis of device, type, and region.

Global Artificial Pancreas Device System Market by Device Type (USD Million), 2013 - 2024 Threshold Suspended Device System CTR System CTT System

Artificial Pancreas Device System Market by Region (USD Million), 2013 - 2024 North America U.S. Canada Europe UK Germany Asia Pacific Japan China Latin America Brazil Mexico MEA South Africa



Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Enteric Disease Testing Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/enteric-disease-testing-market



Coagulation Analyzers Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/coagulation-analyzers-market



Theranostics Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/theranostics-market



Pressure Relief Device Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/pressure-relief-device-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Read Our Blogs - ni2014.org, grandviewresearch.com/blogs/healthcare

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com



SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
VALENCIA, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bioness, Inc., the leading provider of cutting edge, clinically supported rehabilitation therapies, today announced that the Vector Gait and Safety System has received an expanded Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification to accommodate up to 500lbs. (227kgs.) of patient weight capacity. This expanded certification enables Bioness to provide therapeutic support to a broader patient population and support weight loss and bariatric clinics aiding in the recovery of neurologic and orthopedic patients.

The patient benefits of walking post surgical or therapeutic intervention are well documented and if a patient can quickly return to their feet, they can lower the risk of complications and increase the rate of recovery. Traditionally used in the physical therapy and rehabilitation environments, the Vector Gait and Safety System helps increase patient mobility while preventing falls and injury. The Vector has been used at many leading clinical sites across the United States and European Union for more than three (3) years.

"Neuroworx has been utilizing the Vector since August of 2015 for neuro-rehabilitative physical therapy. It provides an unparalleled opportunity for the nervous system to respond to real-life, over ground challenges," stated Jan Black, PT, MSPT Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Neuroworx. "Once the patients learn they are in a safe environment, it gives them the freedom and confidence to perform activities that would be difficult to duplicate otherwise. This translates into greater progress and more complex neurological functional ability. The system is easy to use and allows creative treatment options. It is an extraordinary tool for our clinicians."

"We are proud to offer our industry leading Vector Gait and Safety System technology to a larger audience of clinical experts," shared Todd Cushman, President and CEO of Bioness. "By demonstrating its versatility to accommodate an expanded patient population we are well-suited to continue our market leading position by bringing the highest quality of technology into the hands of the very best clinical experts."

In 2013, Vector was the first dynamic body weight support system to offer 400lb capacity and is once again the first to offer 500lb capacity, a 25% increase, thus improving access to those most in need and adding a level of protection to the healthcare professional tasked with treating them. The Vector Outcome Measures Module also enables clinicians to run, record and document standardized tests to measure patient outcomes within the Vector software interface. Objectively quantifying patient progress allows healthcare providers to meet the increasing demands of the value-based reimbursement requirements.

About Bioness Inc.

Bioness is the leading provider of innovative technologies helping people regain mobility and independence. Bioness rehabilitation technologies include external and implantable neuromodulation systems, robotic systems, and software-based therapy solutions providing functional and therapeutic benefits for individuals affected by pain, central nervous system disorders, and orthopedic injuries.

Bioness markets its technologies directly to individuals with neurological conditions and to healthcare professionals including interventional physicians, physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians), neurologists, and all rehabilitation therapy disciplines. Bioness' technologies are offered at over 80% of the leading US rehabilitation hospitals, including the largest inpatient hospital network, HealthSouth, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Individual results vary. Consult with a qualified physician to determine if this product is right for you. Contraindications, adverse reactions and precautions are available online at www.bioness.com

Vector Gait & Safety System, Bioness and the Bioness Logo are trademarks of Bioness Inc. www.bioness.com | www.bionessvector.com | Rx only (for applicable products)

Bioness Contact:

Next Step Communications

[email protected]

781.326.1741

SOURCE Bioness, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.bioness.com


HOUSTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BMC, the global leader in IT solutions for the digital enterprise, today revealed a comprehensive agenda for the third annual BMC Engage conference, the largest gathering of BMC users, focused on innovations for digital business, customer success stories, and an exciting track and showcase for developers. BMC Engage 2016 will take place September 6-9 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

"BMC Engage is where business leaders come together to discuss their challenges, successes, and lessons learned from digital transformation," said Robin Purohit, group president, Enterprise Solutions Organization at BMC. "The digital imperative is clear: go digital or go extinct. Gartner predicted that 25 percent of businesses will have lost competitive ranking due to digital incompetence by 2017. Our mission is to equip our worldwide customers with the innovations and solutions they need to start the digital transformation journey, stay on course, and be successful in digital business."

BMC Engage features keynotes that address this urgent call to action from both a digital business and digital innovation perspective:

Bob Beauchamp , BMC chairman and CEO, will communicate his vision for digital business

, BMC chairman and CEO, will communicate his vision for digital business Robin Purohit , group president, Enterprise Solutions Organization at BMC, will lead a general session about the product innovation at BMC driving digital transformation

, group president, Enterprise Solutions Organization at BMC, will lead a general session about the product innovation at BMC driving digital transformation David Rowan , Wired UK Editor-in-Chief, will outline "New Rules of Business: How Technology is Changing the World"

, Wired UK Editor-in-Chief, will outline "New Rules of Business: How Technology is Changing the World" Sandra Ng , Group Vice President at IDC, will define "Digital IT: From Productivity to Profitability"

An astounding lineup of more than 80 BMC customers and partners will also share key insights and lessons learned about how to fast track digital business using BMC's end-to-end portfolio of Digital Enterprise Management solutions. Last year at Engage 2015, BMC introduced DEM, an integrated set of digital enterprise management IT solutions designed to accelerate digital transformation and help companies innovate faster.

At BMC Engage 2016, the company will outline key DEM initiatives that companies should invest in, and customers will cover a broad range of IT Innovation and digital business topics including:

British Sky Broadcasting will discuss how it's using Workload Automation to meet the expectations of both customers and its employees

The U.S. Department of Justice will detail how it is digitizing its service desk to empower both its customers and support staff

Nuance Healthcare Solutions will describe how it is improving the customer experience and driving operations efficiency with far-reaching service management

IKEA will share challenges, mistakes, and other best practices from its successful migrations to BMC's TrueSight Operations solutions for improved performance

Duke Energy will outline its streamlined approach to application mapping using BMC Discovery

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will present a case study about how it identified the need for a private cloud to enable a more highly-efficient IT request management environment

Cerner will offer a case study about how to implement client- and service-oriented reporting and taking a business-aware approach to capacity management

Buchanan Technologies will provide a spotlight on Remedy Smart Reporting, providing real-world best practices, access to the product roadmap, and tips on how to drive internal adoption

BMC is making great strides in enabling digital innovation by developers, with a track for Cloud and DevOps focused on supporting next-generation digital services by removing obstacles to create a reliable, agile infrastructure. In the new digital economy, developers must be freed from mundane tasks and burdensome processes to focus on innovation. This track covers advances in cloud management and DevOps that help enterprises accelerate innovation, control complexity, and simplify compliance.

BMC is also kicking off Engage 2016 with the BMC Innovator Bus Ride, where 40 developers from across the world will ride and code from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. While on the bus, they will get exclusive sneak-peak preview and early access to BMC innovations that will be shared at Engage. They will also get hands-on experience building custom applications as well as the opportunity to interact with BMC engineers and product managers. Upon arrival at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, they will have the opportunity to continue coding at the Developer Lounge, part of the IT Innovation Zone featuring over 75 demonstrations and more than 100 BMC ecosystem partners and sponsors. They will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite app while learning more about BMC's Developer Portal and Developer Community.

Now in its third year, BMC Engage brings together thousands of customers and partners to discuss the most compelling trends that are changing the way people work and how companies innovate. Packed with expert keynotes and 300 sessions led by IT leaders from the most innovative companies in the world, BMC Engage also features 55 Hands-On Labs throughout the week featuring technical presentations by BMC experts and customers.

To understand the digital transformation journey, disruptive factors driving it, and how to accelerate digital business, visit www.bmc.com.

About BMC

BMC is a global leader in innovative software solutions that enable businesses to transform into digital enterprises for the ultimate competitive advantage. Our Digital Enterprise Management solutions are designed to make digital business fast, seamless, and optimized from mainframe to mobile to cloud and beyond. BMC digital IT transforms 82 percent of the Fortune 500 and serves more than 10,000 customers worldwide.

BMC  Bring IT to Life

BMC, BMC Software, the BMC logo, and the BMC Software logo are the exclusive properties of BMC Software Inc., are registered or pending registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other BMC trademarks, service marks, and logos may be registered or pending registration in the U.S. or in other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2016 BMC Software, Inc.

Editorial contacts:

Brad Shewmake

BMC

D: 408.546.7236

M: 858.735.8748

[email protected]

Jenn Zimmer

Eastwick

D: 415.820.4175

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160111/320997LOGO

SOURCE BMC

Related Links

http://www.bmc.com


TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Teachers looking to instill a love of reading in their students are getting strong support from Microsoft, thanks to a new collaboration between the tech giant and the rapidly-growing Booktrack. Booktrack is a reading technology platform that synchronizes movie-style soundtracks of music and ambient audio (no spoken words) to eBooks and Audiobooks, creating an immersive reading experience that has been proven to increase comprehension by 17%, retention by 30%, and reading satisfaction by 35% in students.*

Booktrack Classroom helps forward-thinking educators ignite a passion for reading and creative writing in their students by employing a modern approach to teaching in a new and innovative way. Students can choose from a large selection of books or write their own, easily add a soundtrack, and then publish their booktracked story for their classmates to read. Additionally, with Booktrack students can rediscover reading - from the classics, young adult, kids, and other favorite genres - there is a book for everyone. Today Booktrack is used in over 15,000 classrooms, and was voted a top three education website by American Association of School Librarians.

Booktrack has implemented Microsoft's single sign-on technology, and will provide integration with Microsoft Office 365 for the Booktrack Classroom platform. Currently, 110 million students and teachers are using Office 365 at school and in the home.

"We're so thrilled to be collaborating with Microsoft, in particular because of their commitment to empowering educators with effective technology," said Paul Cameron, CEO of Booktrack. "We've been in talks with them for close to a year and through this time we've come to recognize the great synergies between our two companies in terms of our common focus on education."

The integration will also make Booktrack Classroom accessible to the nearly 1.5 million educators from 235 countries who are members of the Microsoft Educator Network. This reach will build awareness of the platform to young families through students and teachers.

"We're very excited about Booktrack Classroom's integration Office 365 given its proven retention and comprehension track record," said Rob Howard, Director of Ecosystem, Microsoft. "This immersive reading experience will bring new reading and learning benefits to students everywhere."

For more information, or to try Booktrack and Booktrack Classroom, visit booktrack.com / booktrackclassroom.com

About Booktrack

Booktrack (www.booktrack.com), is an industry leading global technology company that synchronizes movie-style soundtracks and ambient audio to eBooks and Audiobooks. Music, ambient audio, and sound effects are automatically paced to an individual's reading speed and synchronized to complement and enhance the story while a person reads. Nearly 3.5 million readers and writers worldwide enjoy instant access to thousands of stories, while authors and publishers can easily create their own Booktrack titles by matching their stories to an extensive library of over 26,000 free-to-use music and ambient audio tracks. Booktrack offers over 16,000 titles in 40 different languages, across all genres of reading. Backed by investors including Valar Ventures (Peter Thiel) and Weta Digital, Booktrack is a disruptive force in the publishing and audio world, equivalent to how the introduction of sound transformed the experience of film forever. The Booktrack application is available from www.booktrack.com and in the Apple App Store, Google Play and Google Chrome Stores. Booktrack has 26 staff across offices in San Francisco, Toronto, and Auckland.

University studies by NYU and Auckland University

SOURCE Booktrack

Related Links

http://booktrack.com


DETROIT, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketing communications agency Campbell Ewald today announced that it has been named agency of record for CARFAX, the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry, following a competitive review.

Campbell Ewald's scope of work for CARFAX includes brand and product positioning, creative strategy and direction and the creation of a comprehensive Consumer Experience Journey Map.

The news comes after Campbell Ewald was recently selected as the new creative agency for IHOP.

"With automotive shopping being an overwhelming and intimidating process for some consumers, our work will showcase the ease, reliability and range of services available from CARFAX," said Kevin Wertz, CEO of Campbell Ewald. "With more than a century of experience working with the auto industry, and our proven expertise in the purchase journey of today's consumers, we know this partnership will be an exciting one for both Campbell Ewald and CARFAX."

Campbell Ewald will work with CARFAX to evolve the brand by raising awareness as the company continues to expand its portfolio of product offerings. The agency will continue to leverage the brand's iconic CAR FOX, which was created in 2009.

"We have been working hard to develop new products that help people buy, sell and own their cars with more confidence," said Dick Raines, president of CARFAX. "We were very impressed by Campbell Ewald's work helping other companies better understand the needs of their customers. We're excited about working with Campbell Ewald to let consumers know about all the new ways we can help with their used cars."

About Carfax

Carfax, a unit of IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), is the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and continues to develop innovative services  like Carfax Used Car Listings and myCarfax  that make it easier to buy, sell and own a used car. The company maintains a database comprising over 15 billion vehicle history records from more than 92,000 sources worldwide. Get a free Carfax Vehicle History Report from dealers with every used car for sale on Carfax.com or look for Carfax Advantage dealers in your area and say 'Show Me the Carfax'. Based in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is the leading global source of information, insight and analytics in the automotive industry and other critical areas that shape today's business landscape.

About Campbell Ewald

Campbell Ewald is a U.S.-based full service, fully integrated advertising and marketing communications agency. The agency provides both traditional and specialized capabilities including advertising; insights and strategic planning; integrated content strategy and development; digital; social, DM/CRM, retail and experiential marketing; and media planning and buying. With offices in Detroit, Los Angeles and New York, Campbell Ewald has been recognized by the Warc 100 as one of the 2016 top 10 agencies in North America, and its work on behalf of clients has been honored by, among others, the Cannes International Advertising Festival, the Effies, the One Show, the AAF Mosaic Awards, the ECHO Awards and ADWEEK.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160601/374469LOGO

SOURCE Campbell Ewald

Related Links

http://www.c-e.com


At the show, Canon will display its latest imageRUNNER ADVANCE multifunction systems ready to support the demanding needs of a busy firm. Universal Login Manager comes standard on all the latest imageRUNNER ADVANCE models 2 , helping firms to better manage print and document costs by controlling employees' access and usage. These new models also include support for mobile print workflows, and firms using the Worldox document management system can leverage the optional Scan to Worldox MEAP application to automate document scanning. Canon will also be showcasing a new imageFORMULA production document scanner add-on accessory called Scan Kiosk Networked Scan Station Expansion Pack 3 . This expansion pack can convert compatible existing production document scanners 4 into high-speed, network-attached dedicated scanning devices for uniFLOW environments 5 .

Business Intelligence

A view of a firm's utilization and performance metrics can help with operational efficiency. Solutions with integrated metrics capture and reporting capabilities can help firms with their business intelligence strategy, and can provide quantitative insight into the value of workflows and asset usage essential to firm productivity. These analytics may be particularly helpful for firms needing to forecast project costs for cases with alternative fee arrangements.

Canon's broad portfolio of solutions helpful for the legal sector, including the new imageRUNNER ADVANCE C5500 multifunction systems, with advanced authentication, metrics capture and reporting capabilities, can help calculate costs, increasing the potential to drive profitability with operational efficiency. uniFLOW can help firms by capturing costs associated with billable activities such as print and copy and assign charges to the appropriate customer or project. The same data collected for cost recovery can also contribute to more extensive trend analysis and forecasting to help firms build their cost management and profit improvement strategy.

Process Management

Managing the complexities of integrated print, copy and scan is often a manual, time-consuming process, but Canon's uniFLOW solution offers integration with many commonly used document management systems to help automate this process. For broad workflow capabilities, uniFLOW extends its print, copy tracking and user authentication features to support integration, document capture and workflow processing capabilities with various third-party document management solutions such as iManage Work, OpenText, SharePoint and Box. 6 Legal professionals using the Worldox document management system can leverage the optional Scan to Worldox MEAP application to automate scanning documents with FollowMe favorites personalization features from imageRUNNER ADVANCE devices, as well as select imageFORMULA document scanners7 that can send documents to Worldox wirelessly on the same network with the touch of a button.

In addition to Worldox scanning capabilities, imageFORMULA document scanners offer industry standard ISIS/TWAIN drivers to integrate smoothly with various third-party applications, including Evernote and Google Docs6. These models can also handle legal-sized documents with ease, providing Bates stamping and other functions helpful to legal firms when sharing information in electronic format.

Mobile Productivity

With an increasing number of employees participating in the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, legal professionals require solutions to help control access to sensitive data. For firms seeking security features and control over printing from mobile devices, Canon offers the uniFLOW Mobile Printing application. This powerful uniFLOW application integrates mobile device printing into a firm's overall output management solution, enabling them to enact control over which users can submit document output from compatible mobile devices, while also requiring user authentication to print. The latest imageRUNNER ADVANCE models2 can provide firms with additional flexibility to allow them to help maximize productivity. Upon authentication at the MFP, users can access My ADVANCE features to create a personalized experience tailored to each legal professional's preference, offering them a customized interface displaying many frequently used functions, allowing them to move virtually seamlessly from device to device.

Firms often need to quickly upload documents to various court systems across the country. For the legal professional on-the-go, Canon offers the sleek imageFORMULA Scan-tini Mobile Document Scanner, a powerful, lightweight device that conveniently fits on a desktop or in a briefcase. This imageFORMULA model can also wirelessly8 scan documents to compatible mobile devices using the Canon CaptureOnTouch mobile app9.

Information Governance

Firms are entrusted with clients' highly sensitive information, making access to confidential information a top priority. In order to help limit access to customer's sensitive information, the latest imageRUNNER ADVANCE models** feature a set of standard and optional security features10. As part of the third generation of imageRUNNER ADVANCE systems, these MFPs include a standard Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Encryption function with FIPS140-2 validation which, when activated, automatically encrypts data stored on the main unit's HDD, thereby helping to restrict access to the customer's data.

Additionally, user access can also be controlled when using the Scan Kiosk combined with uniFLOW5 for select imageFORMULA production document scanners4. The uniFLOW interface displayed on a user-friendly touchscreen display will allow legal professionals to identify themselves through various login methods including optional card scanning. Upon authentication at the MFP, specific workflow settings can be linked to a user for personalized scan settings.

Canon Business Process Services (CBPS) will also spotlight how its technology, services and consulting expertise can help legal professionals. This includes helping to meet the challenges associated with legal document review via CBPS' CaseData cloud-based discovery platform. CaseData offers document review and processing capabilities, analytics, reporting and production features. CBPS can also assist firms in implementing a digital intake center that enables law firms and corporate legal departments to leverage document imaging, indexing and other services to help reduce a backlog of active, paper-based files; helping to improve access to information and minimize paper usage.

For more information about Canon U.S.A., visit https://www.usa.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) markets. With approximately $31 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2015 and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2016. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Availability, prices and specifications are subject to change without notice.

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

1 2015 ILTA Technology Survey

2 Applicable to imageRUNNER ADVANCE multifunction systems announced by Canon U.S.A. on/after February 2016

3 Currently expected to be available in the late fall of 2016. Pricing, specifications and availability subject to change without notice.

4 Scan Kiosk Networked Scan Station Expansion Pack is compatible with Canon imageFORMULA DR-G1100, DR-G1130, and DR-X10C production document scanners. These listed scanners are sold separately and not included with the Scan Kiosk. Not all scanner options, both hardware and software are supported depending on the capture software integrated with the Scan Kiosk. For more information visit, usa.canon.com/imageFORMULAScanners.

5 uniFLOW software and licenses are sold separately and not included with the Scan Kiosk.

6 Subscription to a third-party cloud service required. Subject to third-party cloud service providers' terms and conditions.

7 For more information regarding imageFORMULA scanners compatibility with Worldox, visit https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/list/scanners/.

8 Wireless scanning requires a working network with wireless 802.11 b/g/n capability. Wireless performance may vary based on terrain and distance between the scanner and wireless network clients.

9 Requires Canon CaptureOnTouch mobile application. CaptureOnTouch Mobile works with iOS 4.3 or later, Android 2.3.3 or later. CaptureOnTouch Mobile is available at the App Store or Google Store.

10 Canon offers security features that can help your business. Many variables can impact the security of your devices and data. Canon does not warrant that the use of its features will prevent malicious attacks, or prevent misuse of devices or data or other security issues. Nothing herein should be construed as legal counsel or regulatory advice concerning customers' compliance with laws related to privacy and security. Customers must have their own qualified counsel determine the feasibility of a particular solution as it relates to regulatory and statutory compliance.

Some security settings may affect device functionality or performance. You may want to test these settings before deploying them in your environment to ensure you understand their effects.

Canon U.S.A. website:

http://www.usa.canon.com

For sales information/customer support:

1-800-OK-CANON

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401287

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160119/323578LOGO

SOURCE Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Related Links

http://www.usa.canon.com


WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) announced that legendary actors Cicely Tyson, Richard Roundtree, and music icon Dionne Warwick will accept awards for their lifetime achievements in the arts during the 20th Annual Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts. The awards ceremony, which will take place Sept. 14 at the Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW in Washington, D.C. from 8:00 p.m.  10:30 p.m., is organized in cooperation with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses Visual and Performance Arts Scholarship program. This event will mark the start of the CBCF's 46th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), one of the nation's leading public policy conferences.

"With a lifetime of entertaining and educating us, this year's honorees have also distinguished themselves as remarkable leaders and passionate advocates for the arts and arts education," said CBCF president and CEO A. Shuanise Washington. "Their outstanding contributions and continuing commitment to the arts make them ideal to help elevate the visibility of the CBC Spouses Visual and Performance Arts Scholarship Program. The awards are conferred on artists whose legacy includes not only extraordinary works but a commitment to cultivating future generations of artists."

Since 1996, the Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts has raised funds to support the CBC Spouses Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship Fund. Twenty scholarships are awarded annually to highly qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees in the arts, based on their creative talent, academic excellence, financial need and community service. Two of this year's scholarship recipients, vocalist Lindsey Reynolds, and Justin Syas, a pianist, will perform during the event.

"We have supported arts education for 20 years through the Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts, during a time when arts education has decreased in many schools," said Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, a CBC Spouse and chair of the Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts. "We will continue to highlight the contributions of great artists while raising money to support aspiring scholarship recipients as it reinforces the importance of art and its impact in our communities."

The sponsors for this year's Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts include Union Pacific Corporation, as the title sponsor, Heineken USA, ASPiRE and UP TV.

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 year's 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.



To register for the ALC, visit www.cbcfinc.org/alc. 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/CBCFInc

Google: google.com/+CBCFInc

Youtube: youtube.com/user/CBCFInc

CONTACT

Shrita Hernandez

202.263.2800

[email protected]



Averyl Bailey

202.263.2812



Muriel Cooper

202.263.2812

SOURCE Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.

Related Links

www.cbcfinc.org


PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children with a history of food allergy have a high risk of developing asthma and allergic rhinitis during childhood as well. The risk increases with the number of food allergies a child might have, say researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in a new study recently published in BMC Pediatrics.

"Eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis are among the most common childhood medical conditions in the U.S.," said lead researcher David A. Hill, MD, PhD, an allergy and immunology fellow with an interest in food allergy. "Disease rates for these conditions seem to be changing, prompting a need for more information and surveillance." Compared with previous reports, this study found higher rates of asthma and lower rates of eczema, a skin inflammation.

In Philadelphia, asthma rates are among the highest in the nation, affecting one in five children. In this study, the researchers found an asthma prevalence rate of 21.8 percent.

The study is a retrospective analysis of the electronic health records of more than one million urban and suburban children in the CHOP Care Network from 2001 to 2015. The researchers divided the records into two cohorts: a closed-birth cohort of 29,662 children, followed continuously for their first five years of life, and a cross-sectional cohort of 333,200 children and adolescents, followed for at least 12 months. The patients were 48 percent white and 40 percent black.

While prior studies have suggested patients with food allergies are at increased risk of developing asthma, those analyses were small and limited. This study is the largest to date to examine the characteristics of healthcare provider-diagnosed eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis and food allergy in a pediatric primary care population.

In the closed-birth cohort, the incidence of at least one food allergy between birth and age five was 8 percent, with the peak age of diagnosis between 12 and 17 months of age. The overall prevalence of at least one food allergy for the large cross-sectional cohort was 6.7 percent, in line with previously published rates. However, allergies to specific foods diverged from previous patterns. Allergies to peanut, milk, shellfish and soy were proportionately higher in the study population, while wheat allergy was proportionately rarer, and sesame allergy was higher than previously appreciated.

The researchers said that further studies should examine whether the food allergy patterns they found are comparable to those found in other geographical areas.

Overall, children with existing food allergy were at increased risk of developing asthma and allergic rhinitis. "For patients with an established diagnosis of food allergy, 35 percent went on to develop asthma; and patients with multiple food allergies were at increased risk of developing asthma as compared to those with a single food allergy," said senior author Jonathan Spergel, MD, PhD, chief of the division of Allergy and Immunology and the holder of the Stuart Starr Chair of Pediatrics at CHOP. "Similarly, 35 percent of patients with food allergy went on to develop allergic rhinitis." These asthma and allergic rhinitis rates in children with food allergy were roughly double the rates found in the general population.

"Of the major food allergens, allergy to peanut, milk and egg significantly predisposed children to asthma and allergic rhinitis," added Hill.

"Using provider-based diagnosis data provided important information often lacking in existing studies," added Spergel. "We found different disease rates than previously reported, and our research provides key data to shape future efforts aimed at prevention, diagnosis and management of these common pediatric conditions."

The American Academy of Pediatrics Resident Research Award, CHOP's Food Allergy Research Fund and Fare Education and Research, Inc. supported this research.

David A. Hill et al, "The epidemiologic characteristics of healthcare provider-diagnosed eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy in children: a retrospective cohort," BMC Pediatrics, published online Aug. 20, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.11.1186/s12887-016-0673-z

About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

Contact: Joey McCool Ryan

(267) 426-6070 [email protected]

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


KASILOF, Alaska, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Christina Freden, BSN, RN, CLNC, FNE, is recognized by Continental Who's Who among Pinnacle Professionals in the field of Consulting. Christina is the Owner of Freden Legal Nurse Consulting.

Possessing over twenty years of experience, Christina created her own legal nurse consulting business in 2013. As a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, she assists the attorney to navigate the complex world of medical records. While the attorney is the legal expert, Christina is the expert on the healthcare system and its inner workings.

With that being said, her areas of expertise include discovery review, forensic nurse examinations, medical malpractice, personal injury and catastrophic injury, research, liability, wrongful death, preparing interrogatories and much more.

Recognized as a VIP Woman of The Year from the National Association of Professional Women, Christina remains an active member of the International Association of Forensics, American Nurses Association, Alaska Nursing Association and Phi Beta Kappa.

Throughout the course of her educational career, Christina earned her BSN from the University of Phoenix.

For more information, please visit www.fredenlegalnurse.com

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


"Every hour Custodian Pincus is charging $1,400 - money is coming out of our members' bonuses, benefits, and the growth of the company they have worked so hard to build. When comparing the previous fees, it's hard to understand why the court has appointed a custodian who charges a thousand dollars more per hour than other custodians," said Chris Coffey, campaign manager for Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware. "The more that everyday Delawareans are exposed to the facts of this case, the more the actions of this court do not add up  and it's our members and their families who are paying the price."

Previously, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware has applauded the efforts of one of their founding members, Timothy Holland, who filed a lawsuit, in his capacity as a private citizen, in the United States District Court Southern District of New York against Andre Bouchard and Robert Pincus. The lawsuit, filed on July 25th, seeks "declaratory judgment against [a] judicial officer for due process and First Amendment violations." The First Amendment violations include, but are not limited to, a court order, which allowed for Pincus to obtain and search all employee private communication devices without regard to whether they would be subject to Delaware Jurisdiction and the search of TransPerfect's email server for communication related to Holland and Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware.

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware, a group made up of more than 1,900 members including employees of the global translation services company TransPerfect, as well as concerned Delaware residents, business executive and others, formed in April of 2016 to focused on raising awareness with Delaware residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders, to ensure they understand the consequences the Court's ruling would have on the state and its underlying economy. The multifaceted campaign includes mailers, newspaper ads, field, lobbying, and more.

For more information on Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware visit DelawareForBusiness.org.

Contact:

Julijana Englander (Tusk Strategies) 347-675-7423; [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401335-INFO

SOURCE Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
South Korea, China, and Japan agreed to hold a trilateral summit in Tokyo by the end of this year. The annual event has been hosted by the three countries in rotation since 2008.

The last was in Seoul in November, and now it is Japan's turn.

President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Japan for the first time since they were sworn in four and five years ago.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement after a meeting with his South Korean and Chinese counterparts in Tokyo on Wednesday.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ClearPath Action Fund is endorsing GOP Reps. Jeff Denham, Erik Paulsen and Ryan Costello to help them build on their conservative clean energy agendas in the next Congress.

"Congressmen Denham, Paulsen and Costello get it," ClearPath Action Fund Founder and CEO Jay Faison said. "They understand you can be a proud conservative by supporting sensible federal clean energy research and policies that spur both proven technologies and the future of advanced energy."

Denham has backed energy innovation research, including increased funding for the Department of Energy's ARPA-E research program. He has supported legislation expanding development of clean energy on public land and federal research into the usefulness of small-scale hydro facilities. His 10th congressional district in California can also be a prime example of the potential for further expansion of clean hydropower.

In his four terms representing portions of Minnesota's Twin Cities region, Paulsen has consistently backed bills spurring clean energy and efficiency, including lifting barriers hindering small businesses from entering clean energy industries.

Costello has co-sponsored legislation to boost technologies capturing carbon emissions from power plants. He has backed increased ARPA-E funding and advanced energy research at the Department of Defense. Costello also showcased independence in representing his Philadelphia-area district as an original supporter of a House GOP resolution calling on Congress to support "economically viable" solutions to climate change and as a member of a bipartisan caucus seeking sensible climate action.

ClearPath Action Fund will tout all three House Republicans in respective six-figure campaigns, which will be run by Anthro and featured on many digital networks, including Facebook, Google, Twitter, SpotX and 4info. The innovative campaigns will leverage a sophisticated microtargeting strategy to identify persuadable clean energy voters. The extent of the campaigns will be based on identifying the most cost-efficient means of impacting these voters by determining the cost-per-vote through a test-design methodology.

For more information, visit JeffForCleanEnergy.com, ErikForCleanEnergy.com and RyanForCleanEnergy.com

About ClearPath Action Fund

ClearPath Action Fund is dedicated to building support for political leaders that believe in conservative clean energy solutions through market-based principles that capitalize on innovation. For more information, visit ClearPathActionFund.org.

Paid for by ClearPath Action, Inc. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. ClearPathActionFund.org

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160229/338381LOGO

SOURCE ClearPath Action Fund

Related Links

http://www.ClearPathActionFund.org


CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Care one of the nation's leading medical cannabis companies, announced today that it will open its first Illinois dispensary in Chicago to qualifying patients on September 6th, 2016. Located in Jefferson Park at 4758 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the company will celebrate this opening today with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10:30am and an open house event at 3pm.

Columbia Care will host a three-day open house, where members of the community are welcome to take a tour and meet the staff prior to the dispensary's opening on September 6th at 1pm. All qualified patients who visit the dispensary during the open house (August 25th-27th) can pre-register for this facility and will be eligible to receive an exclusive voucher to use for their first purchase.

"We are proud and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Illinois program, serve the patients of the Chicagoland area and to be welcomed to Jefferson Park as a member of the community," said Columbia Care's Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Vita. "We look forward to offering compassionate and safe care, as well as access to our wide assortment of medical-grade cannabis products."

"Our dispensary represents an important milestone for Columbia Care that was made possible by the support from the Governor, the legislature, IDPFR, IDPH, the City of Chicago, Alderman Arena and our neighbors," Mr. Vita said. "Opening in the Illinois, New York and Massachusetts markets over the past several months is a remarkable accomplishment. The Columbia Care team is proud to see its hard work come to fruition."

Columbia Care's expansion into Chicago follows the Company's opening of Boston's first and only medical marijuana dispensary earlier this month, and positions Columbia Care as a leader operating in the nation's largest cities, including New York, Washington, D.C. and Phoenix.

Consistent with the company's national, medically-focused operating model, Columbia Care's Chicago dispensary was designed with patient comfort and safety in mind. The facility will be staffed by a dedicated team trained to provide the highest level of professionalism, compassion, confidentiality and respect for patients and their conditions. The dispensary is accessible by train via the Blue line and UP-NW line to the Jefferson Park Transit Center, and by bus via the 46 or 81 routes to the cross streets of Lawrence and Milwaukee Avenue, and the 56 route to the cross streets of Milwaukee Avenue and Giddings St. All aspects of safety and security will be provided by professionals with law enforcement backgrounds utilizing industry-leading security measures.

To access state-licensed facilities, patients must be deemed eligible by a certified physician and undergo a fingerprint background check, which Columbia Care will help facilitate on-site upon request. Patients must be registered with the State through the Department of Public Health at a dispensary of their choice, but following Columbia Care's Chicago facility's official opening on September 6th, existing registrants can easily transfer to the facility by completing a medical cannabis dispensary election form available through the IDPH or on Columbia Care's website at http://col-careil.com/transfer-columbia-care/. Beginning September 6th, registered patients may visit our Chicago facility from 1pm to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Patients are encouraged to visit Columbia Care online at www.col-careil.com, www.col-care.com or call 312-948-9082 with any questions.

As is the case at all Columbia Care facilities nationwide, a variety of product formats and formulations will be available for purchase, including cured leaf from numerous strains, infused edible products and concentrates. Columbia Care expects to expand this offering by the end of Q1 2017 to include a dosable line of sub-lingual tinctures, concentrates for vaporization and orally ingested capsules.

In order to serve patients at the facility's opening, products offered in Columbia Care's Chicago dispensary will be supplied by trusted third-party growers based exclusively in Illinois. All products will undergo independent batch testing to ensure the highest levels of purity. Columbia Care expects it will begin supplying the Chicago dispensary with additional products grown at its own cultivation facility in Aurora, Illinois in 2017.

For more information on the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, including information on how to register, please visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis.

About Columbia Care LLC

Columbia Care is one of the nation's largest and most experienced manufacturers and providers of medical cannabis products and services. The company is licensed in highly selective and regulated jurisdictions and has completed more than 300,000 successful patient interactions since its inception. Founded by two former Goldman Sachs executives, and working in collaboration with some of the most renowned and innovative teaching hospitals and medical centers in the country, Columbia Care is a patient-centered healthcare company setting the standards for compassion, professionalism, quality, caring, and innovation for a burgeoning new industry.

For more information on Columbia Care, please visit www.col-care.com.

SOURCE Columbia Care

Related Links

http://www.col-care.com


Official Portal of the World Conference on Online Learning

Toronto, Canada - October 2017

THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Contact North | Contact Nord, the organizer and host of the 27th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference, launches the official portal for the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age  Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning to be held in Toronto, Canada from October 17-19, 2017.

The theme of the World Conference on Online Learning is Teaching in the Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning with the program focused on five tracks:

1. Emerging Pedagogies and Designs for Online Learning

2. Expanding Access, Openness and Flexibility

3. Changing Models of Assessment

4. New Delivery Tools and Resources for Learning

5. Re-Designing Institutional Business Models

Visit the bilingual portal  www.onlinelearning2017.ca and www.apprentissageenligne2017.ca  for information including:

"Contact North | Contact Nord is honoured to be the organizer and host of the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age  Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning," stated Paul Taillefer, Chair, Board of Directors, Contact North | Contact Nord. "The hosting of this world conference in Ontario recognizes the global leadership of the province of Ontario in the field of online, open and flexible learning. Ontario's online learning sector includes 24 public colleges, 22 public universities and 12 leading online learning networks and providers, including e-Campus Ontario, OntarioLearn, Independent Learning Centre, ACE Distance, Deaf Learn Now, [email protected] le service de formation a distance pour adultes de l'Ontario, Good Learning Anywhere, The LearningHUB, e-Channel, Consortium d'apprentissage virtuel de langue francaise de l'Ontario (CAVLFO), Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA), Contact North I Contact Nord".

"We look forward to welcoming 2,000 delegates from around the world to Toronto to expand boundaries and explore new frontiers of teaching, learning and skills development during this three-day World Conference on Online Learning," noted Maxim Jean-Louis, President  Chief Executive Officer, Contact North | Contact Nord and Chair of the Organizing Committee for the World Conference on Online Learning. "Our goal is to engage the world's higher education community with a stimulating program on how we re-think teaching and learning in a digital age. The conference will feature 300 plenaries, practical workshops, interactive panels, hand-on demonstrations, academic paper presentations, next generation innovation, new educational technologies, latest online learning platforms, software and solutions."

The World Conference on Online Learning takes place at the Sheraton Toronto Centre Hotel from October 17  19, 2017. Visit the conference portal regularly for the latest information.

The 26th ICDE World Conference was organized and hosted by the University of South Africa in October 2015.

About Contact North | Contact Nord

Contact North | Contact Nord is Ontario's distance education and training network serving more than 600 small, rural, remote, Indigenous and Francophone communities across the province through its 112 local online learning centres.

Contact North I Contact Nord partners with Ontario's 24 public colleges, 22 public universities, over 250 public literacy and essential skills and training providers and the government of Ontario to provide local access to education and training opportunities.

Its three portals provide an online learning virtual hub to Ontario students, prospective students, faculty and instructors averaging more than 500,000 unique visits a year: studyonline.ca, teachonline.ca and e-Channel.

Since it was established in 1986, Contact North  Contact Nord has generated and supported more than 466,000 registrations.

Contact North | Contact Nord is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and is funded by the Government of Ontario.

Visit www.contactnorth.ca.

About the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)

The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) is the leading global membership organization for open, distance, flexible and online education, including e-learning, and draws its membership from institutions, educational authorities, commercial actors, and individuals.

ICDE has consultative partner status with UNESCO and shares UNESCO's key value  the universal right to education for all. ICDE further derives its position from the unique knowledge and experience of its members throughout the world in the development and use of new methodologies and emerging technologies.

ICDE was founded in 1938 in Canada as the International Council for Correspondence Education and today has members from over 60 countries worldwide.

ICDE's Permanent Secretariat is in Oslo, Norway, and has been hosted by this country on a permanent basis since 1988. ICDE is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and by membership fees.

About ICDE

Enabling change to technology enhanced quality education across the globe.

Advocating for access, equity and quality learning through online, open and flexible learning.

A dynamic platform for cooperation on innovation and development, featuring key regional actors and leading experts.

Access to thousands of higher education institutions, networks and systems.

A key partner for UNESCO.

Part-funded by the Government of Norway .

Visit www.icde.org.

SOURCE Contact North

Related Links

contactnorth.ca


COLLEGEDALE, Tenn., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, the Casper Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was awarded a grant from McKee Foods Corporation to help continue moving the Casper downtown public plaza forward. The grant is part of a McKee Foods initiative called OH!  the Outdoor Happiness movement. McKee Foods is working with every state in the country to discover how each and every person can find their own Outdoor Happiness! They will contribute to 50 projects in 50 states over a five-year period, providing $1 million plus to the cause.

Casper DDA accepts donation from McKee Foods -- OH! - the Outdoor Happiness movement. Pictured left to right: Kevin Hawley, CEO; Brandon Daigle, Chairman; Brettnee Tromble, Treasurer. For more information, please contact Kevin Hawley, CEO of the Downtown Development Authority at (307) 235-6710 or [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400968

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400967

"We've been working with people in various communities to identify needs and select where we can be of greatest value. The project in Casper is an example of our commitment to this cause," said Chris McKee, executive vice president of Marketing & Sales at McKee Foods. "Getting people outside and happy is what the OH!  the Outdoor Happiness movement is all about."

According to Kevin Hawley, DDA Executive Director, "A common sight will be smiling children laughing and playing while exploring the many features and amenities, including a free splash park. Other common sights will include engaged families enjoying quality time together during one of the many free movie nights hosted in the plaza or during an outdoor skating experience in the winter season. Additional activities will include concerts, festivals, farmer's markets, fundraisers and other family-friendly community events. Casper is a community that has been made great not by our wondrous surroundings or natural resources but by the people who live here. David Street Station is a hub for Casper, a place where we can come together with our friends, neighbors, family and even strangers to celebrate our amazing community."

DDA Board Chairman, Brandon Daigle, said, "This grant is another step in the right direction as we work to bring David Street Station online by this time next year. It still hasn't sunk in that McKee Foods, a company that does international business and is located 1,500 miles away, recognizes the benefits of this project and believes in our community to this level  it's just amazing. The board, staff and community supporters of David Street Station are honored and humbled to have been selected as the recipient for the state of Wyoming and will make McKee Foods proud!"

People interested in learning more about the movement can visit OutdoorHappinessMovement.com to hear about upcoming projects across the U.S. Visitors to the site can also make a pledge to go outside, have fun and find what makes them happy.

For more information, please contact Kevin Hawley, CEO of the Downtown Development Authority at (307) 235-6710 or Email.

About OH!  the Outdoor Happiness movement:

McKee Foods is committed to helping communities across the country enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle by partnering with organizations that make public greenways, trails and parks available. We believe that these green spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activity that ultimately lead to a fun and active lifestyle. McKee Foods, owned and operated by the McKee family, has committed to donate more than $1 million over the next five years in an initiative called OH!  the Outdoor Happiness movement. The OH! movement represents a long-standing tradition in the McKee family in that since 2009, it has given more than $2.8 million to support the creation and preservation of parks, greenways and other outdoor spaces. For more information, or to join McKee Foods in its mission to get the country outside, please visit OutdoorHappinessMovement.com.

About McKee Foods:

McKee Foods, a family bakery with annual sales of about $1.4 billion, is a privately-held company based in Collegedale, Tenn. The McKee Foods story began during the height of the Great Depression when founder O.D. McKee began selling 5-cent snack cakes from the back of his car. Soon after, he and his wife, Ruth, bought a small bakery on Main Street in Chattanooga, Tenn., using the family car as collateral. Today, the company employs more than 5,750 people in Collegedale, Tenn.; Gentry, Ark.; Stuarts Draft, Va.; and Kingman, Ariz. It creates and produces Little Debbie baked goods, Drake's cakes, Sunbelt Bakery snacks and cereals, Heartland brands and Fieldstone Bakery food products. Visit mckeefoods.com for more information.

Media contact for McKee Foods:

Mike Gloekler, 423-238-7111, Ext. 22440

Email

SOURCE McKee Foods

Related Links

http://www.mckeefoods.com


Dr. Kanade, a U.A. and Helen Whitaker University Professor of Robotics and Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon will provide technical guidance to DENSO engineers on image recognition and machine learning, and will also speak at lectures and seminars organized by DENSO for a variety of purposes, such as recruiting, relationship building, etc. These activities will be held mostly in Japan.

Dr. Kanade and DENSO have worked together from 2002-2009 on a joint research of image recognition technology. In addition, he has been a lecturer of DENSO's high talent program organized by DENSO E&TS Training Center.

DENSO expects to use artificial intelligence technology in more areas of its business. Currently, it uses machine learning in its sensing technologies and applies them to its sensing products.

DENSO has developed technologies and products to help create a society free from road traffic accidents. Based on its accumulated technologies, DENSO will continue to contribute to building a safe and secure automotive society for all people around the world, not just for drivers and pedestrians.

About Dr. Kanade:

Dr. Kanade works in multiple areas of robotics: computer vision, multi-media, manipulators, autonomous mobile robots, medical robotics and sensors. He has written more than 400 technical papers and reports in these areas, and holds more than 20 patents. He has been the principal investigator of more than a dozen major vision and robotics projects at Carnegie Mellon.

Profile of Professor Takeo Kanade

Professor Takeo Kanade received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Kyoto University in 1974. After serving as Assistant Professor at Kyoto University , he became a senior research engineer at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University . At the Robotics Institute, he was appointed to Associate Professor and to Professor, and then he served as the Director from 1992 to 2001. In 2006, Professor Kanade established the Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLT) and became its Director.

received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from in 1974. After serving as Assistant Professor at , he became a senior research engineer at the Robotics Institute of . At the Robotics Institute, he was appointed to Associate Professor and to Professor, and then he served as the Director from 1992 to 2001. In 2006, Professor Kanade established the Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLT) and became its Director. From 2001 to 2009, he also served as the Director of the Digital Human Research Center (DHRC) at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan . Currently, he is a Special Fellow of DHRC.

. Currently, he is a Special Fellow of DHRC. Foreign member of the National Academy of Engineering

Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Science

Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Association of Artificial Intelligence, Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE), and Robotics Society of Japan

Special Adviser to the Advanced Integrated Intelligence Platform Project (AIP) administered by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Awards

NEC C&C Award, Joseph Engelberger Award, Japan Robot Association (JARA) Award, Japan Society of Artificial Intelligence (JSAI) Career Achievement Award, Otto Franc Award, Marr Prize Award, Benjamin Franklin Institute Medal and Bower Award, IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV) Azriel Rosenfeld Lifetime Achievement Award Okawa Prize from the Okawa Foundation for Information and Telecommunications, IEEE Robots and Automation Society Pioneer Award, Kyoto Prize

About DENSO Corporation

DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 150,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, totaled US$40.2 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 8.8 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.globaldenso.com, or visit our media website at www.globaldenso.com/en/newsreleases/media-center/

About DENSO in North America:

In North America, DENSO employs more than 23,000 people at 30 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 25 are manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 15,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama and Arkansas. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaled US$9.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. For more information, go to www.densocorp-na.com.

Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DENSOinNorthAmerica

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140521/90198

SOURCE DENSO Corporation

Related Links

http://www.densocorp-na.com


SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Michael Klaschka, a specialist in the placement of professional liability insurance for the financial services and technology industries, has joined the firm's Financial Risk Solutions Practice.

Klaschka will be based in EPIC's New York City office and report to Pete Garvey, President of EPIC.

Klaschka joins EPIC from Integro Insurance Brokers, where he was a Managing Principal and the Leader of both their National and New York Management Risk Practices, responsible for providing professional liability risk consulting and insurance solutions to financial institutions, hedge funds, private equity, family office, technology and complex risks across the country.

Prior to this, Klaschka also worked for Marsh & McLennan where he was Senior Vice President and team leader of Marsh's New York E&O Center of Excellence, West Coast Financial Institutions, Errors and Omissions and Directors' and Officers' Practice Team Leader. Klaschka began his insurance career as a Financial Analyst for Heritage Financial Group/Mass Mutual and later as the Financial Institutions Regional Underwriting Manager at American International Group.

"We are very excited to have a broker of Mike's caliber join our team," said Pete Garvey. "His background and experience, professional liability insurance expertise and strong leadership and consulting skills will materially contribute to the service excellence we deliver to EPIC clients, particularly those in the financial services and technology industries."

Klaschka is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He also holds Professional Director Certification

From the American College of Corporate Directors, a public company director education and credentialing organization.

Michael Klaschka can be reached at:

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

295 Madison Avenue- 38th Floor, New York, New York 10017

[email protected]

646-452-4031 - office

About EPIC:

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients.

With more than $200 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Supported by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit www.epicbrokers.com

*PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0825-Klaschka-300dpi.jpg

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Dave Hock

650.295.4608

[email protected]

Nicole Conley

408.295.4309 x104

[email protected]

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

Related Links

http://www.epicbrokers.com


CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This fall, Erikson Institute is launching a pilot project featuring the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a tool that will help communities measure how young children are developing and ultimately advocate for more effective early childhood policies, systems and funding. The EDI has been used for decades throughout Canada and Australia. This will be the first time it is used in Illinois.

Supported by an $800,000 grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the EDI will describe how children are developing before they start school. Results are reported at a population level rather than by each child, and look at children wholistically across multiple developmental domains including physical health, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication skills. Importantly, no data is ever reported on individual children or teachers.

Participating communities and school districts can use the data to develop action plans to improve the development of young children, including school readiness. This is accomplished using data that is displayed on geographic maps that showdown to the neighborhood levelwhich factors may be affecting the development of young children. For example, in northwest Canada, EDI data showed children in small communities were more likely to face developmental challenges than in larger ones. Officials quickly launched three speech and cognitive development pilot programs in response. In Ontario, a city received $525,000 in government funding after EDI data showed that 25 percent of its kindergarten students were vulnerable in physical health and well-being.

"When communities are equipped with timely, actionable and understandable data about their children, they can collaborate, focus their efforts and, ultimately, improve the likelihood their youngsters begin school fully prepared to succeed," said David D. Hiller, president and CEO of the McCormick Foundation. "Erikson's groundbreaking Early Development Instrument pilot project does just that, and the McCormick Foundation is pleased to support innovative ideas such as this that improve child outcomes."

The McCormick Foundation has long supported organizations that are committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens, including in early childhood.

"This initiative is designed to 'shift the curve' for all children by really giving communities a precise understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their children as they start school," said Geoffrey A. Nagle, Ph. D., Erikson's president and CEO. "Our effort draws from Erikson's mission-driven work to ensure a future in which all children have equitable opportunities to reach their potential."

Erikson will issue a request for participation to communities and school districts across Illinois to participate in the pilot, and will provide support throughout the process. Learn more here.

The EDI has also been implemented in approximately 55 communities throughout the United States by the Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities at University of California, Los Angeles.

Media Contact:

Kate Schott

312.893.7160

[email protected]

SOURCE Erikson Institute

Related Links

http://www.erikson.edu


LAKEPORT, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspired by a 24-year-long relationship between RE/MAX and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Evonne makes a difference in her community as a REALTOR Miracle Agent. The RE/MAX Month of Miracles in August is a time for celebrating that commitment  and the year-round efforts to raise funds and awareness for UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, the CMN Hospital closest to Lake County.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401148

Evonne Landwehr With RE/MAX Full Spectrum Inspires Lake County Homebuyers and Sellers to Participate in Month of Miracles

Evonne is participating in the RE/MAX Month of Miracles celebration by donating a percentage of earned commissions on every property sold, and designating each residential and commercial property listed as a Miracle Home or Miracle Property. RE/MAX Miracle Agents, Offices and Teams are dedicated supporters who participate in the Miracle Home program and pledge to make a donation to their local CMN Hospital after each closed property sale. Together, RE/MAX Miracle Agents, and Lake County homebuyers and sellers can make more miracles happen at and help fund life-saving care.

"The Miracle Home program is a simple yet impactful way to help support the children in our rural community who might need the services of a Children's Miracle Network Hospital," said Evonne, of RE/MAX Full Spectrum. "Sixty-two children enter a CMN Hospital for treatment every minute, so it's vital that I show my support for the kids."

Homebuyers and sellers are also able to show their support by requesting that their home be a Miracle Home. Miracle Homes and commercial Miracle Properties are identifiable by a rider on top of RE/MAX yard signs. Many homes on remax.com are flagged as Miracle Homes with a CMN Hospitals balloon icon. Evonne's current Miracle Homes can be found at her website: www.elandwehr.remaxagent.com.

RE/MAX Affiliates across the U.S. and Canada have raised more than $147 million for 170 member hospitals throughout North America. Their support of CMN Hospitals has helped fund advanced medical equipment, healthcare services and charitable care.

For more information about the Miracle Home or Miracle Property programs or would like to speak to Evonne about participation in the program please email [email protected] or call 707-533-9933.

About RE/MAX Full Spectrum:

RE/MAX Full Spectrum is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with offices in Ukiah, Healdsburg, and Santa Rosa, California. Founded in 1995, the brokerage has 68 Realtors and specializes in residential and commercial real estate. RE/MAX Full Spectrum is a proud supporter of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and many other charities, and is located at 338 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448. To learn more, please visit www.fullspectrumproperties.com.

About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity's Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children's hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

Contact: Evonne Landwehr, REALTOR

707-533-9933

[email protected]

Related Images

image1.jpg

image2.jpg

Related Links

Facebook

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE RE/MAX Full Spectrum

Related Links

http://www.fullspectrumproperties.com


CommonSpot CMS Content Management System Support and Training

Microsoft SQL Server and Enterprise Database Administration Support

Adobe ColdFusion Programming and Development Support

Amazon Web Services (AWS Cloud) Support and Windows and IIS Web Server Support

Google Search Appliance Support

Front-End Standard Web Technologies Support: includes working with HTML, JavaScript, JQuery, NodeJS, CSS, and other front-end tools.

"The National Park Service websites have seen an increase in traffic every year since our team first implemented the CommonSpot CMS within their environment. Individual NPS.gov websites now receive over one billion page views each year. "David Gallerizzo USMCR (Ret.) CEO of Fig Leaf Software said. "Mobile devices in particular have fundamentally changed the way citizens interact with their National Parks. To that end our team worked very hard this past year implementing the newly designed mobile first version of NPS.gov. We're very excited to be able to continue working with the National Park Service in the coming years."

Read the case study: www.figleaf.com/project/national-park-service/

About Fig Leaf Software: Fig Leaf Software is an award winning digital agency, solutions integrator and certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in inbound marketing, web and mobile design, development and web professional training. Fig Leaf is strategically partnered with HubSpot (HUBS), Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG), Adobe (ADBE), Progress Sitefinity (PRGS), Acquia, EPiServer, Ektron, PaperThin, and Sencha. Visit: www.figleaf.com/about

For more information, please contact Bret Peters, Chief Marketing Officer, at 202-797-7711 x109 or email at [email protected].

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400878

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160815/398120LOGO

SOURCE Fig Leaf Software

Related Links

http://www.figleaf.com


RENO, Nev., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Flirtey and Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited (Domino's) announced they have partnered on the first commercial pizza-by-drone delivery model. The two companies exhibited the first stage of their partnership with a demonstration of pizza delivery by drone in Auckland, New Zealand on August 25th 2016. The successful demonstration was also attended by the Civil Aviation Authority and Minister of Transport Simon Bridges.

The Flirtey drone conducted an autonomous flight to deliver a hot Domino's pizza, showcasing the scalable drone delivery technology developed by Flirtey. The demonstration was conducted under Civil Aviation Rules Part 101 and marks a final step in Flirtey's approval process, following which the partnership will expand with flights to customer homes later this year from a select New Zealand store.

Beyond demonstrating Flirtey's leading drone delivery service and safety technology, the delivery also utilized state-of-the-art packaging that retained the temperature and taste of the freshly cooked pizza during the delivery.

Flirtey's autonomous technology will allow the system to scale rapidly for a delivery- based business like Domino's, which recently opened its 100th store in New Zealand. Domino's Pizza Enterprises operates more than 2,000 stores in seven markets; New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan and Germany.

Domino's has repeatedly invested in new delivery technology, including DRU, the Domino's Robotic Unit, a land-based delivery robot. With the announcement of today's new partnership with Flirtey's air- based drone delivery service, Flirtey and Domino's are demonstrating an ongoing commitment to innovative delivery methods for their customers.

"Launching the first commercial drone delivery service in the world is a landmark achievement for Flirtey and Domino's, soon you will be able to order a Flirtey to deliver your pizza on-demand," said Matt Sweeny, CEO of Flirtey. "New Zealand has the most forward-thinking aviation regulations in the world, and with the new U.S. drone regulations taking effect on Aug. 29, Flirtey is uniquely positioned to bring the same revolutionary Flirtey drone delivery service to partners within the United States."

The Flirtey drone delivery service is another example of Domino's pushing the boundaries to deliver pizzas to customers and an extension of being at the forefront of innovation.

"Partnering with Flirtey to revolutionize the delivery experience is an achievement that will set our company apart in the minds of customers and change the way delivery is conducted around the world," said Group CEO and Managing Director Don Meij of Domino's Pizza Enterprises. "Domino's customers can expect the freshest and fastest pizza delivery service at the same quality they have come to expect from us thanks to Flirtey's industry-leading technology."

The Flirtey delivery drone is constructed from carbon fibre, aluminium and 3D printed components. It is a lightweight, autonomous and electrically driven unmanned aerial vehicle. It lowers its cargo via tether and has built- in safety features such as low battery return to safe location and auto-return home in case of low GPS signal or communication loss. The personal, on-demand delivery service developed by Flirtey, using proprietary software and hardware, represents a new age of delivery for a new generation of consumer.

This partnership with Domino's follows Flirtey's recently signed partnership with 7-Eleven to deliver over-the-counter medicine and convenience goods in the U.S. Flirtey has also reached agreement with Samantha Sharif, former CEO at Aviation New Zealand, to join its New Zealand board to help drive rapid growth of operations. In addition, Flirtey is actively hiring drone operators and engineers in both the United States and New Zealand to help Flirtey reinvent the food delivery, medicine delivery, and online retail delivery industries.

Photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n77nc0iw0si1q33/AABl1ryHILYqjI1gzEc02h_Pa?dl=0

About Flirtey:

Flirtey is the premier independent drone delivery service, with a mission to create the fastest, most efficient and customer-centric delivery service in the world. The U.S.-based startup has worked with NASA, the University of Nevada, Reno, The New Jersey Test Site and Virginia Tech to create the leading technology and logistics systems for a mass-market drone delivery network. Flirtey has conducted several historic drone delivery flights in the past year  including their most recent Federal Aviation Administration-approved delivery of hot and cold food items from a store to a customer's home in Nevada. Flirtey was also the first company to conduct an FAA-approved delivery in the U.S., the first to perform a fully autonomous drone delivery to a home in the U.S. and the first to conduct ship-to-shore drone delivery through a collaboration with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Flirtey's landmark achievements have been recognized by the Smithsonian Institution for display at its Air and Space Museum, which accepted a Flirtey drone to join other iconic American aircraft, including the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Wright Flyer, on display at the museum. Learn more at www.flirtey.com.

About Domino's Pizza Enterprises:

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited is the master franchisor for the Domino's Pizza brand in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Japan and Germany. Across these seven markets, DPE and its franchisees operate over 2,000 stores. For more information on Domino's please visit www.dominos.co.nz, www.dominos.com.au or dominosinvestors.com.au.

SOURCE Flirtey

Related Links

http://www.flirtey.com


North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile in waters off its east coast on Wednesday, which flew about 500 km before landing in Japan's air identification zone, the longest flight yet by a North Korean SLBM. Fired at a lower angle the missile could have flown more than 1,000 km, according to South Korean military officials. South Korean and U.S. military officials estimated it would take considerable time before the North can actually deploy such missiles, but now they believe they could be ready by the end of this year.

North Korea has conducted back-to-back test launches of ballistic missiles and succeeded in most of them. It has boasted about its ability to strike Okinawa, Japan and even the U.S. territory of Guam and threatened ports in Busan and Ulsan, aiming to cripple the offloading of crucial U.S. military supplies in the event of a war. The last remaining threat the North had up its sleeve was an SLBM, and now it has become a reality.

An SLBM poses an entirely new level of threat. North Korean submarines could sneak into South Korean waters and fire a missile that would render existing defenses useless. The U.S. and Japan now fall under the threat of North Korean SLBMs, which could trigger major changes to the security environment here. The biggest problem is that South Korean anti-submarine warfare is no good, as demonstrated during the sinking of the Navy corvette Cheonan in 2010. If the North decides to launch an SLBM instead of a torpedo, it is not difficult to imagine the damage. There have been calls for some time to come up with measures to deal with such a North Korean threat but no actual progress.

The only way is to strengthen Seoul's missile defense. At present, the only means at its disposal is the U.S.' Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery. If more THAAD are needed, there should be no hesitation. Seoul must also speed up development of its own missile defense system in order to create more layers of protection. From a long-term perspective, South Korea needs to acquire nuclear-powered submarines that can operate continuously underwater for months so that they can constantly track and monitor North Korean subs. The nimbys here must stop placing top priority on protecting the monetary value of their land and allow the THAAD batteries to be deployed in any area where they are needed. Read this article in Korean
"We are excited to present keynote speakers at the MD&M Minneapolis event that brings an unrivaled insight to what's important to the industry now, and in the future," said Stephen Corrick, Senior Vice President of the Advanced Manufacturing Portfolio, UBM. "Minnesota is a medtech hub with investments in health technology up 75% since 2012.* UBM's Advanced Manufacturing event in this region is dedicated to the continued growth of the industry, locally and across the U.S., with unmatched content, education, and strategies that can be employed the minute they return to the office."

David Rutherford, Former Navy SEAL Combat Paramedic, September 22, 9:00-9:45 a.m.

Rutherford's experience comes from eight years of honorable service as a Navy SEAL combat paramedic. Rutherford has been involved in thousands of operations all over the world including the Middle East and South East Asia. Following his time with the SEALs, Rutherford served as an International Training Expert for the U.S. Government and one of the country's largest private security companies.

Rutherford's presentation, Stories From the Battlefield, Lessons for Life and Design, pulls from his experience with the Navy SEALs and is designed to inspire and teach lessons on success in any environment. Rutherford will discuss lessons learned from his experience providing treatment on the battlefield and how that knowledge can be applied to create success in the medical device arena.

Scott Nelson, CEO and CTO, Reuleaux Technology, September 21, 9:00-9:45 a.m.

Nelson has led entrepreneurial business growth and product development for the last 25 years and continues to help companies with strategy and leveraging the Internet of Things as the CEO and CTO of Reuleaux Technology.



Nelson's presentation, Digital Health Design-You Can't Just Make Technology Work, You Have To Make It Matter, will cover how digital health is about design that makes products matter and how Internet of Things technology such as connected homes and cars is revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare.

See the full keynote lineup here: http://mdmminn.mddionline.com/keynotes-mdm

MD&M is the leading source for innovative design, inspired content and the unparalleled industry education needed to create and develop the next generation of medical devices and equipment. The expo and conference are a forum to access the latest products, materials, technologies, suppliers and ideas required for each stage of the product development cycle. MD&M Minneapolis runs concurrently with UBM's Advanced Manufacturing portfolio that includes ESC Minneapolis, MinnPack, Design & Manufacturing Minneapolis, Automation Technology Expo (ATX) Minneapolis, and PLASTEC Minneapolis.

Click here to register for MD&M Minneapolis Conference and take advantage of early bird discounts though August 26

Click here to request a media pass

Follow us on social: @AdvMfgExpos @MDM_Events

*According to Medical Alley Association

About Advanced Manufacturing Expos & Conferences

UBM's Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is the leading B-to-B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3 trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the advanced manufacturing market and leverage our proprietary 1.3 million name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is organized by UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc (UBM.L), an Events First marketing and communication services business. For more information, visit ubmamericas.com.

About UBM Americas

UBM Americas, a part of UBM plc, is the largest business-to-business events and trade show organizer in the U.S. Through a range of aligned interactive physical and digital environments, UBM Americas increases business effectiveness for both customers and audiences by cultivating meaningful experiences, knowledge and connections. UBM Americas has offices spanning North and South America, and serves a variety of specialist industries with dedicated events and marketing services covering everything from fashion, tech and life sciences to advanced manufacturing, cruise shipping, specialty chemicals, powersports and automotive, concrete, hospitality, cargo transportation and more. For more information, visit: www.ubmamericas.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401174

SOURCE UBM Americas
AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Foods Group (FFG), a restaurant concept incubator and accelerator company based in American Fork, Utah, announced it has completed the placement of over $35 million of growth capital to fund their expanding operations. The company has raised funds from various commercial and alternative sources including $18 million from Opus Bank, $12 million from Red Bridge Capital and over $7 million from other private capital providers. The funds will be used to expand FFG's business operations and relationships across multiple brands by utilizing its established operating processes, expertise, systems and relationships to accelerate the growth of emerging restaurant brands and concepts.

"We have proven, with the Kneaders Bakery and Cafe brand, that we can accelerate restaurant concepts profitability through our platform," said Andrew K. Smith, Four Foods Group Chief Executive Officer. "We provide the requisite receipe for success, including providing resources for growth, management and all back office functions."

FFG has built and opened 43 Kneaders Bakery & Cafe restaurants throughout the Western United States with five additional units currently in development. The company is projected to surpass over $100 million in revenue in 2016, a number that recently placed them on the Inc. 5000 list for the fifth consecutive year.

FFG has established teams for in-house real estate, development and construction, facility management and set-up, operations, human resources, recruiting, hiring and training, payroll and benefits administration, IT support, marketing, financial oversight, accounting and investment financing. FFG provides capital in addition to the support services for the business to grow while allowing the operating partner to maintain significant equity in the business as revenue increases.

"We do something unique in the restaurant business by bringing a platform of tools and years of business operations and financial experience that enable our restauranteur partners to grow rapidly, while mitigating the usual pitfalls associated with meaningful expansion," said Smith.

Dale Cheney, Senior Managing Director, Head of Opus' Merchant Banking Division added, "We are enthusiastic to partner with a very talented executive in Andrew K. Smith, and we look forward to supporting Andrew and all of the dedicated FFG executives and employees in realizing their aspiring vision for the company."

Shane Peery, Managing Director of Red Bridge Capital added, "The expertise and process that the FFG real estate and development team have in place makes them a good partner for this credit facility. We look forward to working with FFG as they continue developing new restaurant brands and are excited to expand our long-standing relationship with them."

"Our success with the Kneaders brand is a combination of our systems and a wonderful brand concept," continued Smith. "We are now ready to partner with additional restaurant concepts that can benefit from our proven process. Having access to this additional capital will fuel new growth."

An important element of FFG's strategy is to attract brands and restauranteurs who don't have the full suite of operating systems or financial backing necessary to truly accelerate a restaurant business. FFG intends to marry these needs with the entrepreneurial spirit and desire for ownership that undercapitalized would-be restauranteurs often possess.

"When a restaurant operating company like FFG and an entrepreneur both wake up in the morning thinking about the business the same way -- like owners -- great things happen for everyone," said Smith. "It's a winning formula."

To learn more about FFG's approach to restaurant operation and acceleration, visit www.fourfoodsgroup.com.

About Four Foods Group

Four Foods Group (FFG) is a restaurant development, investment and management company with 43 restaurant locations and additional sites in development or under construction. FFG has ranked among Inc. magazine's 500/5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America for five consecutive years, and as a Fast 50 company for 5 years running. The company currently employs over 1,800 employees in multiple states, with more than 100 at their corporate offices in American Fork, Utah. Their restaurants rank among the Technomic Top 150 Fast Casual Restaurants.

SOURCE Four Foods Group

Related Links

http://www.fourfoodsgroup.com


DIAMOND BAR, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FutureNet today announces that it has been awarded a supplier contract by HealthTrust for medical coding services.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401330LOGO

FutureNet has been providing medical records services and technology for more than 20 years and provides visibility to cost, quality, turnaround time and other key performance indicators (KPIs) for its medical transcription, coding and billing services. The company is already an approved medical transcription services provider for HealthTrust and is currently recognized as Best in KLAS for transcription services and software by healthcare research firm KLAS.[1]

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with HPG into the coding services market," noted Wayne Wu, Ph.D., vice president and COO of FutureNet. "As the industry recovers from the ICD-10 transition, it's important to reevaluate the overall business metrics that determine coding process success. Our combined coding service and technology offerings deliver notable cost savings while maintaining or improving on the KPI targets of the clients we serve. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work with HealthTrust members and assist them in achieving their coding service process goals."

About FutureNet:

FutureNet Technologies Corporation provides medical transcription, coding and billing services supported by proprietary cloud-based SaaS technology. Founded in 1996, the company's SSAE 16/SOC 2 audited Stage 2 certified EHR products are used to support their service offerings in hundreds of hospitals and other healthcare organizations nationwide. Ranked Best in KLAS for transcription services and software in 2015/2016, the company is headquartered in Diamond Bar, CA, and is privately owned. For more information on FutureNet's products and services, please visit www.fnehr.com, email [email protected], or call 800.200.5440.

ABOUT HEALTHTRUST

HealthTrust (HealthTrust Purchasing Group, L.P.) is committed to strengthening provider performance and clinical excellence through an aligned membership model and the delivery of total spend management advisory solutions that leverage our operator experience, scale and innovation. HealthTrust (www.healthtrustpg.com) serves over 1,400 acute care facilities and more than 22,600 other locations, including ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, long-term care and alternate care sites. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, HealthTrust is closely integrated with Parallon Business Solutions, LLC (www.parallon.com), a leading provider of healthcare business and operational services, including revenue cycle management and technology solutions. On Twitter @healthtrustpg.

Media Contact

Dale Kivi, MBA

VP Business Development

FutureNet

804.339.9017

[email protected]

[1] See http://www.klasresearch.com/best-in-klas-winners

Related Links

Company Website

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE FutureNet Technologies Corporation

Related Links

http://www.fnehr.com


MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) plans to webcast two September investor presentations.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2016, the company will present at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference. The presentation and webcast are scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

General Mills also plans to announce fiscal 2017 first-quarter results on Wednesday, September 21, 2016. A press release will be issued that morning, followed by a webcast conference call for interested investors beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

These webcasts will be available on General Mills' corporate website at www.generalmills.com.

General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2016 worldwide sales of US $17.6 billion, including the company's US $1.0 billion proportionate share of joint-venture net sales.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130218/MM61906LOGO

SOURCE General Mills, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.general mills.com


OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, employees at Golden State Lumber in Newark, Calif., designated Teamsters Local 853 as their bargaining representative by a 3-1 margin.

The 26-person unit which includes all drivers, load builders, yard men, saw operators, forklift operators, lumber handlers, lumber shippers and receivers chose Local 853 despite the meetings held by management in attempts to convince them otherwise.

"The employees at Golden State Lumber recognized that our great organization represents the needs of working people and that Local 853 has a history of aggressive representation," said Rodney Smith, organizer with Local 853.

Smith said Golden State Lumber operates organized, as well as unrepresented facilities in Northern California.

"The company did not charge any less for their products in an unrepresented yard, but put the additional profits in its pocket, rather than compensating those doing the work. The employees in Newark have been doing the same work as those in the unionized yards. They deserve the same compensation," Smith said.

"What sealed the deal for our guys was when customers came in to pick up lumber and said joining the union was the best choice for their future. I'm glad we voted for Local 853 and look forward to a better future as Teamsters," said Nick Guinea, a driver at Golden State Lumber.

"Local 853 has made organizing in construction and related industries a priority since the merger of the two small construction locals into Local 853 in the late 1990's. That merger has given us much more strength when it comes to organizing in that field," said Rome Aloise, International Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 853.

Negotiations are expected to begin in early September.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 624-6911

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO

SOURCE Teamsters Local 853

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


MIAMI, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MasTec CEO Jose R. Mas has confirmed his participation as the keynote speaker at the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund's annual Success Stories Luncheon on Tuesday, September 27 at the Treetop Ballroom in Jungle Island.

"I am very happy and grateful to share this event with such a special organization. HBIF has created, and continues to create, invaluable support to help entrepreneurs in the Hispanic community succeed," says Jose R. Mas.

Jose R. Mas leads MasTec, one of the most prestigious and diversified companies in the U.S., as well as one of the leading providers of infrastructure services in the country. MasTec currently has more than 18,000 employees and more than 400 locations across the U.S. In 2015 they reported $4.2 billion in revenue.

"It's a real honor to count on the presence of Jose R. Mas so that he can share his own life story, which will surely be an inspiration for those beginning to realize their dream of entrepreneurship and having their own business," says Myrna Sonora, vice president of HBIF in South Florida. "Mr. Mas is a leading Hispanic entrepreneur whom we should all want to hear, and our event is a unique opportunity to do so."

The Success Stories Luncheon recognizes three of HBIF's clients who have demonstrated success as entrepreneurs. With over 400 expected attendees, HBIF brings together the business community of South Florida to celebrate Hispanic entrepreneurship. Funds raised through the event help provide consulting and grants for technical assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs. These include business plans, marketing, website development and legal assistance, among others.

Event sponsors: AT&T, Bank of America, Walmart, 1 First Bank, UDT, JP Morgan Chase, T&G Constructors and Telemundo.

For more information about the 2016 Success Stories Luncheon or to purchase a table, please call 786-329-5830 or visit www.hbifflorida.org.

About HBIF

The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. (HBIF) is the leading Hispanic nonprofit economic development organization in Florida specializing in providing free and bilingual business development to entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business. Since 1991, HBIF has promoted the Hispanic entrepreneur, offering programs and creating partnerships to advance economic development and foster job creation. HBIF is headquartered in Orlando and has offices in Miami, Kissimmee and Tampa. For more information, visit www.HBIFFlorida.org.

Media contact:

Myrna Sonora, 786-329-5830, [email protected]

SOURCE Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Inc. (HBIF)

Related Links

http://www.hbifflorida.org


The newly named Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility and Engineering Annex serves as a complementary resource to area facilities such as the Department of Energy's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. Dr. Vaidya and his student teams are already heavily engaged in projects and interactions with many of the industry partners in attendance at the event including Volkswagen, Magnum Venus Products, Alcoa, Techmer PM, Gamma 2, Resource Fiber, Minifibers and Local Motors. Leaders from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, East Tennessee Economic Council, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce also attended the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Organizational partners expressed gratitude for the strategic thinking and expected future impact of the efforts. The use of advanced composites and innovative manufacturing techniques have growing importance in the nation's economy.

"This facility will provide experiential learning for next generation engineers - undergraduate and graduate students in a real-world manufacturing setting. Our team of researchers and students are exploring the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing," said Dr. Vaidya. Dr. Craig Blue, IACMI's Chief Executive Officer concurred, "The work being done in this facility by Dr. Vaidya and his team is nothing short of amazing. By adapting manufacturing processes to reflect newly commercialized clean energy manufacturing solutions and training the workforce of the future, this team is enabling national impact."

Although the building itself is not new to campus, the newly acquired equipment has expanded facility capabilities allowing Dr. Vaidya's team to conduct research on a real-world, industrial scale. The finished facility should be a structure stop for many tours to The University of Tennessee, IACMI-The Composites Institute and many STEM and recruitment activities in the region. The newly named facility will serve to continually provide experiential learning for students and industry engagement and forms a bridge in advanced composites manufacturing between The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

About IACMI-The Composites Institute: The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments working together to benefit the nation's energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and co-investing to accelerate development and commercial deployment of advanced composites. CCS is a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. The national institute is supported by a $70 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office and over $180 million committed from IACMI's partners. Find out more at IACMI.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401480

SOURCE IACMI-The Composites Institute

Related Links

http://www.IACMI.org


ARMONK, N.Y., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today named the first five winners of the company's new IBM Health Corps grants, providing $2.5 million worth of public health-related pro bono consulting by some of IBM's most talented employees around the world over the next six months.

The first projects aim to increase the availability of chemotherapy medicines in sub Saharan Africa; better track and control Zika, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases in Taiwan and Panama; foster more informed community health interventions in the Southeast United States; and increase access to diagnostic radiology in underserved countries.



Health Corps is IBM's latest example of pro bono consulting and technology services within the company's portfolio of problem solving initiatives. The program deploys cross-disciplinary teams of five to six top performing IBM employees -- all of whom spend one month in preparation -- to spend three weeks with civil sector and not-for-profit health organizations worldwide. While on location, the teams draw upon IBM's capabilities in data analytics, cognitive and cloud computing, mobile app development, Internet of Things, weather and health consulting to design strategies that help communities improve a given aspect of public health. The goal is to address disparities in healthcare access, improve services and increase impact.



After reviewing the entries of over 100 applicant organizations, IBM chose the following projects to support. The first, with the American Cancer Society, is scheduled to commence in September 2016:



American Cancer Society (ACS) - Currently, very few cancer patients in sub Saharan Africa receive chemotherapy, correlating with significantly lower cancer survival rates than in developed countries. IBM could provide support for the creation of a chemotherapy-forecasting tool that may allow ACS, ministries of health in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, and other global health partners to increase the availability and lower the cost of cancer treatments. Better data and predictive analytics in a chemotherapy forecasting tool may more precisely anticipate local needs and improve price negotiations with medicine suppliers.



Duke Health and Duke Center for Community & Population Health Improvement - Residents in greater Durham, North Carolina in the U.S. are committed to improving health for everyone in their community. IBM will work with Duke Health to establish a framework for an analytics platform that will help stakeholders from health, business, public, and other sectors share their health improvement efforts with each other and measure the impact of their efforts on community health.



Gorgas Memorial Institute, Panama - Panama has seen recent Zika and Chikungunya outbreaks, as well as the re-emergence of dengue fever, but lacks a real-time surveillance system for relaying timely information from field investigators to researchers, health officials and policy makers. IBM will design a mobile application to enable public health field investigators to collect and immediately send geo-located information on disease outbreaks and mosquito breeding sites to the Ministry of Health. This will likely facilitate more rapid and effective decision-making for infectious disease control.



RAD-AID - According to the World Health Organization, nearly half the world has little or no radiology services, contributing to challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, and for prenatal care. IBM Health Corps will work with RAD-AID, a not-for-profit that provides medical imaging services and support for developing countries including Laos, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Ghana. IBM will recommend a framework for increasing digital radiology capacity in RAD-AID's partner countries, including secure cloud-based storage of radiological scans. This will enable doctors to compare a patient's medical images over time, making more accurate and effective tracking and diagnosing of medical conditions more likely.



Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Dengue fever outbreaks have surged in Taiwan in the past two years and are expected to worsen in the coming years, according to the Taiwan CDC. IBM Health Corps will apply predictive analytics to identify regions at greater risk and help the Taiwan CDC to set priorities for dengue vaccination and mosquito control. IBM's model may use data from death registries, weather observations, climate projections, socio-economic studies and health insurance claims. This approach might also be used to track other mosquito borne diseases.

IBM had already completed three pilot Health Corps engagements before today's grants announcement. They provided proof of concept for the potential effectiveness of such projects. One of these was with Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C., one of the nation's largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, which provides healthcare to more than 100,000 Washington, D.C. residents in underserved neighborhoods. Unity wanted to integrate behavioral health into its primary care practices to boost quality of care, increase provider satisfaction and competence and reduce long-term costs. After receiving input from IBM Health Corps, Unity began piloting this integrated model at several of its sites. In less than one month of beginning the pilots, three behavioral health consultants have conducted over 100 patient encounters, offering more efficient access to mental health care on the same day that primary care is provided.

Additionally, during the Health Corps three-week engagement with Unity, IBM demonstrated the potential of Internet of Things technology to more accurately track patient and staff movement in the clinics, and provide different methods of scheduling patient appointments. These demonstrations showed how technology can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of care, while enabling staff to have even greater focus on patient care.

More information about these IBM Health Corps engagements, as well as more background about the goals of the program, can be found at ibmhealthcorps.org . For more information about IBM's philanthropic efforts, please visit www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility and www.citizenIBM.com, or follow @CitizenIBM on Twitter.



Following are statements from IBM and recipients of IBM Health Corps grants:



"Globally, the public health community is on the brink of eliminating some of the most pressing health disparities of our day. We've heard from our partners that access to data, analytics, and cognitive computing is key to closing the gap. By contributing our IBM experts and technology to partner with these five visionary organizations, we believe that together we can transform health in our communities and across the world."





Jen Crozier

Vice President of Global Citizenship Initiatives

IBM



"Deepening our understanding of health disparities, and the factors that drive them, is a central objective of the Duke Center for Community and Population Health Improvement. We are eager to work with IBM's Health Corps on this project. Mapping current population health interventions will ultimately allow us to identify gaps, realize efficiencies and better define measured steps relevant sectors and stakeholders can take to improve population health."



Dr. Eugene Washington

Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University and President and CEO

Duke University Health System





"Our partnership with IBM Health Corps will create a powerful information-sharing pipeline between field investigators and policy makers to control Zika and other infectious diseases. As new health threats emerge, we will be ready to act."



Nestor Sosa, MD, FACP

Director General

Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies



"RAD-AID and IBM Health Corps are collaborating to bridge the digital divide for addressing global health care disparities, in which radiology and medical imaging represent the leading edge of international health IT in developing countries, and RAD-AID is pleased to launch this initiative with IBM for bringing high technology health solutions to the medically underserved in low-resource regions via collaborative advancement of international radiology data architectures, medical image management and cognitive computing."



Daniel J. Mollura, MD

President and CEO

RAD-AID International



"We are excited about this collaboration opportunity with IBM Health Corps on this dengue modeling project, which could improve the capacity across Taiwan, Southeast Asia and beyond to tackle the burden of dengue. As dengue control is one of our top priorities this year, Taiwan CDC has already invested a tremendous amount of resources in dengue prevention and control, especially our surveillance system. With its expertise in data analytics and population health capabilities, IBM's support will definitely accelerate our work and potentially help close the gap in global disease detection and in fighting against the threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases."



Jen-Hsiang Chuang, MD, PhD

Deputy Director General

Taiwan Centers for Disease Control

Contact(s) information

Angie Hu

IBM Media Relations

914-499-6532

[email protected]

Ari Fishkind

IBM Media Relations

1 (914) 499-6420

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO

SOURCE IBM

Related Links

http://www.ibm.com


WATERBURY, Conn., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IC Bus today announced it will complete an order of 149 CE Series school buses by Durham School Services, powered by the Power Solutions International (PSI) 8.8-liter LP propane engine. The new buses will serve the community and families of Waterbury Public Schools in Connecticut.

"IC Bus is honored to partner with Durham School Services in providing Waterbury Public Schools environmentally friendly, reliable and safe transportation," said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager, IC Bus. "To date, this order represents the single largest deployment of propane-powered school buses in the state of Connecticut and demonstrates our customers' continued confidence in our products."

Purpose-built for the school bus industry, the CE Series with PSI propane engine is designed to provide diesel-like performance with higher torque at lower engine speeds. The high torque-low speed design greatly benefits stop-and-start applications to allow immediate acceleration after stops and greater hill climbing capability. This not only improves startability and gradability, but also eliminates excessive noise, heat and vibration associated with constant engine revving. Minimal revving reduces engine wear, oil usage and maintenance, while increasing durability and efficiency.

The buses are being built at the IC Bus assembly plant in Tulsa, Okla. Deliveries began in June 2016 and will be complete this summer in time for back-to-school transportation needs in the 2016-2017 school year.

"We strive to be environmentally friendly and work hard to earn high scores for our 'green fleet' efforts," said Steve Schmuck, VP of Durham School Services operations, East. "Propane is an option in that evolution. We are pleased to have partnered with IC Bus as these new buses will help improve the Waterbury community environmentally, while getting our students to school safely, on time and ready to learn."

About Durham School Services

Durham School Services, Stock Transportation, Petermann Bus and National Express Transit, make up National Express, headquartered in Warrenville, Ill. As a leader in transit and student transportation, National Express is committed to exceptional safety, outstanding customer service and positive employee relations. Our North American companies operate 23,000 buses and serve over 500 clients in 36 states and four provinces.

About IC Bus

IC Bus, LLC of Lisle, Ill., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navistar, Inc. (NYSE: NAV). The nation's largest integrated manufacturer of school buses, IC Bus is a global leader in passenger protection, chassis design, engines and ergonomics. The company is also a producer of commercial buses. All IC Bus buses are sold, serviced and supported through a renowned dealer network that offers an integrated customer program encompassing parts, training and service. Additional information is available at www.icbus.com.

About Navistar

Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, proprietary diesel engines, and IC Bus brand school and commercial buses. An affiliate also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com.

* All marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160729/394143LOGO

SOURCE IC Bus
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IDdriven, Inc. (OTCQB: IDDR), developer of the new breed of Identity and Access Management solutions, today announced it has partnered with Tobania, a market leading Belgium-based enterprise tech consulting firm with an impressive Fortune 500 client list and a 2016 sales forecast of about $70 million.

Today's news follows last month's announcement that the Company has partnered with PATECCO, a Germany-based enterprise consulting firm and channel partner that specializes in the Identity and Access Management ("IAM") sector of enterprise IT security solutions. Tobania brings to four, the total number of enterprise tech consultant / channel partners that IDdriven has engaged in the past few weeks. In June, the Company announced it had engaged the Washington State-based Oxford Computer Group on the west coast, and Virginia-based Zeva, Inc. on the east coast.

The recent addition of two top-tier European enterprise technology consulting groups provides IDdriven with a robust sales footprint for market penetration throughout the US and Europe. In addition to its Sacramento, California corporate headquarters, IDdriven has a wholly owned European subsidiary based in The Netherlands, the heart of the European Union ("EU"), enabling the Company to do business seamlessly across the US and EU.

The Company anticipates engaging one or more additional channel partners in the US in the months ahead to fulfil specific industry or corporate sectors, or to saturate certain regions.

Tobania: Powerhouse Brussels-based Enterprise IT Consulting Firm

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, (also headquarters to the EU Government), Tobania is a major enterprise IT consulting firm described as an "all-around (systems) integrator." It has an Infrastructure and Security Solution Division, and over 300 employees, 600 active consultants, more than 450 customers and a 2016 revenue forecast of about USD$70 million as well as four other regional offices around Belgium. Clients include BNP Paribas Fortis, Deutsche Bank, ING, Proximus (global telecom); KBC (bank with 16,000 employees worldwide); Johnson&Johnson, Boston Scientific, Volvo, Siemens, AGFA, Fujicolor, Honda and many others.

Tobania reports, "Organizations are feeling the need to keep their IT infrastructure up to date, while the popularity of Bring-Your-Own-Device policies is presenting your IT team with brand new security and cloud computing challenges."

Commenting on its new channel partner relationship with IDdriven, Tobania Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, Lode Peeters, said, "Tobania is implementing the IDdriven IAM solution for Tobania and our hundreds of employees and consultants. I know of no stronger endorsement. It is the next generation of IAM solutions, intuitive with a simple user interface, flexible with on-premises and/or cloud-based installation and highly cost effective.

"Because the solution scales efficiently, and enables easy plug & play installation for companies needing basic functionality as well as offering in-depth customizable features for large companies desiring a sophisticated systems integration, we see an enormous opportunity to roll out the IDdriven solution across Europe to enterprises large and small," Mr. Peeters added.

Arend Verweij, IDdriven Chief Executive Officer, said, "The relationship between a software-as-a-service ("SaaS") developer, and a channel partner requires collaboration and a shared commitment to best serve the customers and their end-users (or 'identities'). Tobania is known for setting the highest possible standards for customer service. We are thrilled to partner with Tobania who, along with PATECCO, represent IDdriven across the European marketplace in different ways that complement each other to ensure blanket coverage."

About Tobania

At Tobania, we want to help our customers to find their way in turning innovation into business success. We do this by stimulating the transformation to digital management and helping customers to increase productivity among sales people, employees, managers, and others.



As a partner in technology we listen carefully to our customers as we guide them through the transformation processes and we provide the right people and solutions for this digital transformation. Tobania's experts know how to get the most out of digital output and how to design the right processes to meet the needs and goals of each customer.

As the only Belgian 'one-stop-shop' for application development (local or on-site) based on both Microsoft and 'open source' technologies, Tobania offers great business potential. We can also rely on strong partnerships with leading technology companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle, so we have considerable strength in the area of innovation (https://www.tobania.be/).

About IDdriven, Inc.

IDdriven is at the forefront of the new breed of Identity Management and Access Governance solutions. Taking the complexity and upfront costs out of implementation, IDdriven is trusted to protect a company's most vulnerable assets. Founded in 2013, IDdriven is headquartered in Sacramento, California. To learn more, visit: www.IDdriven.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclosure

This news release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond IDdriven's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) commercialization of our software programs, (ii) development and protection of our intellectual property, (iii) industry competition, (iv) we may need to raise capital to meet business requirements. More detailed information about IDdriven and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. IDdriven assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact

E: [email protected]

T: 415.226.7773

SOURCE IDdriven, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.IDdriven.com


CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Illinois Institute of Technology officially broke ground today on its first new academic facility in 40 years with the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship. The Kaplan Institute will serve as a one-of-a-kind hub for invention at Illinois Tech, preparing students for the development of meaningful technology innovations that solve complex problems.

Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship at Illinois Tech

Illinois Tech alumnus and long-time member of the university's Board of Trustees, Ed Kaplan, provided a gift of $11 million to designate the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship on the university's campus. As a Mechanical Engineering graduate and co-founder of Zebra Technologies, the global leader in bar code technology, Kaplan embodies the spirit of tech entrepreneurship encouraged at the new innovation center, and with his legacy, the space will provide the infrastructure and programming support to foster tech innovation.

"Tech innovation is about making things that solve real, meaningful problems," said Ed Kaplan. "The Kaplan Institute, through its design and focus on collaboration, will prepare our students to develop meaningful technology innovations by learning how to work together to solve complex problems. This is not just a building; it's a place where forward-looking, world-class architecture will intersect with a hands-on, STEM-based integrated curriculum."

Noted Chicago architect and Illinois Institute of Technology professor John Ronan of John Ronan Architects leads the design of the Kaplan Institute. The building will feature technologically advanced building materials, systems and sustainable processes, including a dynamic facade of ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) foil cushions on the second floor to vary the amount of solar energy entering the building  the first use of its kind in Chicago.

"The building is an idea factory  a place of creative collision between students and faculty across disciplines," said John Ronan. "Unlike any classroom building on campus, the Kaplan Institute will be open, flexible and light-filled, designed to encourage unexpected encounters and information exchange across departments; a creative environment where ideas lead to meaningful innovation."

The Kaplan Institute will sit in the heart of Illinois Tech's iconic campus, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, to attract students and faculty from all directions. The Kaplan Institute's design complements the Mies legacy and features dynamic spaces for Illinois Tech's various project-based, hands-on undergraduate interdisciplinary courses.

"The Kaplan Institute will nurture the advancement of creative ideas, foster interdisciplinary and external collaboration, and create a culture that enables innovation and tech entrepreneurship to flourish," said Illinois Institute of Technology President Alan W. Cramb. "It will attract students who will learn to convert their creative ideas into significant, viable innovations. They will become the leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs of the future."

At today's groundbreaking, Illinois Tech President Alan W. Cramb, donors, faculty, staff, students and alumni were joined by key local officials for the community ceremony including City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of the 1st Congressional District of Illinois, U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis of the 7th Congressional District of Illinois and Alderman of the 3rd Ward Pat Dowell. The groundbreaking marks the beginning of the construction phase for the future 70,000-square-foot innovation center, which will be located north of Hermann Hall. The Kaplan Institute is the first academic building to be added to the Illinois Tech main campus since the Stuart Building in 1971.

"Chicago is a global hub for technology and innovation thanks to great academic institutions like Illinois Tech," Mayor Emanuel said. "Today's ground breaking on the new Kaplan Institute will help keep Chicago at the forefront of innovation and create new economic opportunities that will reach every corner of the city for years to come."

Construction for the new innovation center is expected to ramp up by March 2017, with anticipated completion by late 2018. The innovation center will enhance Illinois Tech's existing hands-on active learning programming which includes the IPRO initiative, The Leadership Academy, Entrepreneurship Academy, Jules Knapp Entrepreneurship Center, Idea Shop and the Chicago Public Schools STEM outreach program Opt4STEM.

A virtual tour and narrative of the Kaplan Institute is available on Vamonde, a free app available at iTunes. Launched by Anijo Mathew, an associate professor at Illinois Tech Institute of Design, Vamonde is an example of the innovation the Kaplan Institute will foster.

ABOUT ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as Illinois Tech, is a private, technology-focused, research university, located in Chicago, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law. One of 21 institutions that comprise the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU), Illinois Tech offers exceptional preparation for professions that require technological sophistication, an innovative mindset, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401325

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151210/294933LOGO

SOURCE Illinois Institute of Technology

Related Links

http://www.iit.edu/


DAVIE, Fla., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bankers Healthcare Group, the leading provider of financial solutions for healthcare professionals, jumped 61 spots on Inc. magazine's prestigious annual Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies, earning its highest ranking in six years. With remarkable three-year growth of 177%, Bankers Healthcare Group came in at #2096. This year marks the tenth time BHG has made the list since its debut at #5 in 2005.

"Bankers Healthcare Group is filled with passionate, purposeful people who work hard to make our company a success," said Bankers Healthcare Group President Bob Castro. "Our growth is a testament to our employees' dedication to creating and delivering the most innovative financial solutions for the healthcare community."

The 2016 Inc. 5000 represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segmentindependent small businesses. Companies on the list will be honored at the annual Inc. 5000 event Oct. 18-20 in San Antonio, Texas.

"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 greatusually from scratch. That's one of the hardest things to do in business, as every company founder knows. But without it, free enterprise fails."

Inc. 5000 Methodology

The 2016 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2012 to 2015. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2012. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of Dec. 31, 2015.

About Bankers Healthcare Group

Since 2001, Bankers Healthcare Group has been committed to providing hassle-free financial solutions to healthcare professionals, including working capital loans, credit cards and insurance services. BHG has provided more than $2 billion in funding to thousands of satisfied customers nationwide. Inc. has recognized the company 11 times for growth and job creation. For more information, visit www.bhg-inc.com.

Media contact:

Bankers Healthcare Group

Danielle Gerhart

[email protected]

315.930.3142

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150323/183766LOGO

SOURCE Bankers Healthcare Group

Related Links

http://www.bhg-inc.com


SALEM, N.H., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. magazine today ranked On Call International NO. 4754 on its 35th annual Inc. 5000. This marks the fourth time the company has been named to the list, which is one of the most prestigious rankings of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segment its independent small businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Domino's Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000.

"Making the Inc. 5000 for the fourth year in a row, based upon our 2015 year-end revenue, is an achievement that we take tremendous pride in," said Mike Kelly, CEO, On Call International. "Our company continues to grow and maintain our standing as an innovative leader in the travel risk management space. The unpredictable world we live in means that our dedicated employees must work harder than they ever have to provide unparalleled services to businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and leisure travelers. This is a testament to their work ethic and commitment."

The 2016 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 23) is the most competitive crop in the list's history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 433%. The Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue is $200 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 640,000 jobs over the past three years, or about 8% of all jobs created in the entire economy during that period. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

"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."

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring all the companies on the list will be held from October 18 through 20, in San Antonio, TX. Speakers include some of the greatest entrepreneurs of this and past generations, such as best-selling author and strategist Tony Robbins, SoulCycle co-founders Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, Cornerstone OnDemand founder, president and CEO Adam Miller, Marvell Technology Group director and co-founder Weili Dai, and New Belgium Brewing co-founder and executive chair, Kim Jordan.

On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management services for over two decades, protecting millions of travelers, their families and their organizations. We live in an increasingly unpredictable and volatile world, and travel health and security risks have become increasingly commonplace. On Call International is fully equipped to handle these risks  from complex medical crises and security emergencies to common issues such as missed flights and lost passports. Whether the situation stems from political unrest, terrorist attacks, major natural disasters or global disease outbreaks, On Call International has been entrusted with the health and safety of travelers in some of the most unpredictable environments on earth, and managed nearly 34,400 cases in 2015 alone.

For more information about On Call International:

Dave Heffernan

617-779-1839

[email protected]

More about Inc. and the Inc. 500|5000

Methodology

The 2016 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2012 to 2015. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2012. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2015. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2012 is $100,000; the minimum for 2015 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media:

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. Winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 15,000,000 today. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation's most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. The event also offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.

For more information on Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.

For more information on Inc., contact:

Inc. Media

Drew Kerr

212-849-8250

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150904/263921LOGO

SOURCE On Call International
COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless customers living in urban areas experience the highest number of overall network problems and have lower tolerance of those problems, according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance StudySMVolume 2, released today. The finding underscores the importance of continued investment by carriers in urban areas as the use of 4G LTE compatible smartphones grows and customers expect faster data speeds.

Now in its 14th year, the semiannual study is based on 10 problem areas of the customer experience: dropped calls; calls not connected; audio issues; failed/late voicemails; lost calls; text transmission failures; late text message notifications; Web/app connection errors; slow downloads/apps; and email connection errors. Network performance issues are measured as problems per 100 (PP100) connections, with a lower score reflecting fewer problems and higher overall performance.

According to the study, customers living in urban areas experience the highest number of overall network problems, at 15 PP100 vs. 12 PP100 among those living in rural areas and 10 PP100 among those living in suburban areas. The high level of problems in urban locales exists across all network problem areas. For example, customers living in urban areas experience more calling problems than those living in rural or suburban areas (19 PP100 vs. 13 PP100, respectively); messaging problems (8 PP100 vs. 5 PP100); and data problems (20 PP100 vs. 15 PP100).

Also contributing to the high incidence level is that urban areas have a much higher proportion of younger wireless subscribers. The overall number of network quality problems is 17 PP100 among customers 18-34 years old vs. 10 PP100 among those 35 years and older. Younger customers experience higher rates of problems because they are heavy users of their devices. For example, customers 18-34 received, on average, 39 text messages during the previous 48 hours vs. 14 text messages among those 35 years and older. Similarly, customers 18-34 connected to an app on their phone 15 times, on average, during the previous 48 hours vs. seven times among those 35 and older.

"Enhancing network performance to ensure customers consistently experience a high-quality connectionespecially those living in urban areascan substantially improve loyalty for wireless carriers," said Kirk Parsons, senior director and technology, media & telecom practice leader at J.D. Power. "This can be accomplished by improving bandwidth efficiency, data connection speeds and reliability. To retain customers, carriers need to proactively expand and upgrade networks to align with the latest generation of services and devices, particularly those that rely on data speed and consistent connections, such as broadband devices."

This holds true knowing that urban customers are especially likely to defect when they experience a high number of network problems. More than one-third (37%) of customers in urban areas who experience overall network problems at a higher incidence than 12 PP100 say they "definitely will" switch carriers in the next 12 months, compared with 17% among suburban customers and 21% among rural customers.

Following are some other key findings of the 2016 Vol. 2 Study:

Overall Wireless Network Quality Remains Steady : Overall wireless network quality problem incidence is 12 PP100, which is on par with the incidence measured six months ago in the 2016 Vol. 1 Study.

: Overall wireless network quality problem incidence is 12 PP100, which is on par with the incidence measured six months ago in the 2016 Vol. 1 Study. Data Quality Varies by Device: On average, wireless customers experience the highest number of data quality problems when using a mobile broadband device (30 PP100), followed by a tablet (19 PP100) and phone (11 PP100).

On average, wireless customers experience the highest number of data quality problems when using a mobile broadband device (30 PP100), followed by a tablet (19 PP100) and phone (11 PP100). Incidence of 4G-Enabled Devices Increasing: More than eight in 10 (81%) smartphone owners indicate using a 4G-enabled device, compared with 59% just two years ago.

More than eight in 10 (81%) smartphone owners indicate using a 4G-enabled device, compared with 59% just two years ago. Customers Becoming Less Tolerant: Nearly one-fourth (24%) of customers who experienced overall network problems at an incidence of more than 12 PP100 say they "definitely will" switch carriers vs. 21% last volume.

Study Rankings

Metropolitan service areas with the fewest network quality problems (8 PP100 each) are Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; and Hartford, Conn. San Jose, Calif., has the highest number of reported network quality problems at 23 PP100.

Verizon Wireless ranks highest in five of the six regions, with typically lower PP100 scores than the regional averages in call quality, messaging quality and data quality. U.S. Cellular, absent from the study since 2014, ranks highest in the North Central region and excels in most network problem areas, especially call quality and data quality.

The 2016 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance StudyVolume 2 is based on responses from 43,300 wireless customers. Carrier performance is examined in six geographic regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, North Central, Southwest and West. In addition to evaluating the network quality experienced by customers with wireless phones, the study also measures the network performance of tablets and mobile broadband devices. The study was fielded January through June 2016.

Study Rankings

J.D. Power 2016 Wireless Network Quality StudyVolume 2

Northeast Region Problems per 100 (PP100) Mobile Connections







Overall Index Scores



JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings Verizon Wireless 10

5 Northeast Average 13

3 Sprint 15

2 T-Mobile 16

2 AT&T 17

2















Mid-Atlantic Region Problems per 100 (PP100) Mobile Connections







Overall Index Scores



JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings Verizon Wireless 8

5 Mid-Atlantic Average 11

3 AT&T 13

2 Sprint 13

2 T-Mobile 14

2







Southeast Region Problems per 100 (PP100) Mobile Connections







Overall Index Scores



JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings Verizon Wireless 8

5 Southeast Average 11

3 Sprint 12

3 AT&T 13

2 T-Mobile 15

2





North Central Region Problems per 100 (PP100) Mobile Connections







Overall Index Scores



JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings U.S. Cellular 7

5 Verizon Wireless 8

4 North Central Average 10

3 Sprint 11

3 AT&T 12

2 T-Mobile 13

2







Southwest Region Problems per 100 (PP100) Mobile Connections







Overall Index Scores



JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings Verizon Wireless 9

5 Sprint 11

4 Southwest Average 12

3 AT&T 13

3 T-Mobile 15

2







West Region Problems per 100 (PP100) Mobile Connections







Overall Index Scores



JDPower.com Power Circle Ratings Verizon Wireless 10

5 Sprint 13

3 West Average 13

3 T-Mobile 14

3 AT&T 17

2







Power Circle Ratings Legend 5  Among the best 4  Better than most 3  About average 2  The rest

Award-Eligible Carriers Included in the Study Company Business Leader U.S. Company Location AT&T Glenn Lurie Atlanta, Ga. Sprint Marcelo Claure Overland Park, Kan. T-Mobile John Legere Bellevue, Wash. U.S. Cellular Kenneth R. Meyers Chicago, Ill. Verizon Wireless John Stratton New York, N.Y.

Media Relations Contact

Geno Effler; J.D. Power; Costa Mesa, Calif.; 714-621-6224; [email protected]

About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/about-us/press-release-info

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130605/LA26502LOGO

SOURCE J.D. Power

Related Links

http://www.jdpower.com


FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- InfoComm International, the trade association representing the commercial audiovisual industry worldwide, has announced the summit program for InfoComm India, set for Sept. 12-14, 2016 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, in Mumbai. The InfoComm India Summit's three days of sessions will focus on key issues in the pro-AV industry, with headlining speakers talking smart-city design and planning and cyber security.

Marking its fourth year, InfoComm India 2016 will feature an exhibition of more than 200 leading pro-AV companies, as well as the InfoComm India Summit where experts share emerging trends and in-depth market insights.

Dr. Uma Maheswaran, CEO of Surbana Jurong Consultants (South Asia and Middle East), will discuss the challenges India faces with its smart-city mission. Surbana Jurong Consultants has worked on consulting, design/build, and facilities management projects in 229 cities spanning 47 countries and completed 72 projects across 11 states in India. The firm is also involved in the master-planning of Andhra Pradesh's New Capital City. Dr. Maheswaran's session is a chance for attendees to learn how this development could potentially be a model for other smart cities.

Dr. Madan Oberoi, Director for Cyber Innovation and Outreach at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, will speak on the need for recalibrating the law enforcement strategy to counter evolving cyber threats. With digital and information technology playing an increasingly important role in business, India, host to some of the world's biggest IT service companies, is seen as a growth frontier in a perilous online environment. India's vulnerability to cybercrimes has attracted both the public and private sector to take a hard look at implementing policies, laws and learn from global best practices to keep "Digital India" safe and secured.

The Summit program provides a forum for AV professionals to update their knowledge on the latest technology and market trends, from designing for visual environments to understanding the impact of the Internet of Things. To help institutional end-users better understand how AV technology can help their businesses, the program also features sessions designed specifically for the IT, education, defense and live-events industries.

"InfoComm India is the only event in India that brings together all the key stakeholders in the AV market  global manufacturers, their channel partners, and institutional end-users from the entire spectrum of industries that can benefit from AV technology," said Richard Tan, Executive Director of InfoCommAsia, which produces the InfoComm India show. "We're pleased to welcome so many renowned speakers from all over the world to lead our sessions and share their knowledge and experience."

Asia Pacific comprises 36.5 percent of the global professional audiovisual market, according to InfoComm's 2014 Market Definition and Strategy Study. The World Bank is forecasting India's economy to grow 7.5 percent in 2016. With increased growth in the years to follow, India's economy is the peak of the world's fastest-growing economies.

"India presents an immense opportunity to develop an incomparable pro-AV and information communications technology infrastructure for decades to come," said David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. "In the last few years, InfoComm has taken big steps to support the AV industry in the Asia-Pacific market as we've seen the economy surge. InfoComm now has many resources in the region, including association staff, live courses, roundtable events, CTS exams and more."

During InfoComm India, attendees can visit the InfoComm booth for in-person, one-on-one professional development consultations. At the end of the consultation, participants will receive a tailored plan of training opportunities not only from InfoComm, but also from others sources inside and outside the AV industry, including courses devoted to information technology and networking, as well as business management. Many of the education sources that are part of InfoComm's offering deliver free and low-cost training.

In addition, the Women of InfoComm Network (WIN) council will hold its first event in India on Sept. 13 during InfoComm India. WIN provides women with a supportive environment to discuss their profession and educational resources to help advance their skills. The event will include prominent women within the AV industry discussing their experiences.

"The Indian AV market is growing very fast, yet there are very few women in technical and senior management positions," said Betsy Jaffe. Senior Vice President of Member Services, InfoComm International. "WIN will be working in India to encourage women to join the AV workforce; and for women in the industry, we'll provide resources and support to help them succeed in their careers."

To learn more about InfoComm India and to register, visit www.infocomm-india.com. Admission to both the trade show and Summit sessions are free.

About InfoComm International

InfoComm International is the global trade association representing the commercial audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, InfoComm has more than 5,000 members, representing over 70,000 AV professionals worldwide, including manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end users and multimedia professionals from more than 80 countries. InfoComm International is the leading resource for AV standards, market research and news. Its training, certification and education programs set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. InfoComm International is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers in the Western Hemisphere. InfoComm also produces trade shows in China, Europe, India, Latin America and the Middle East. Additional information is available at infocomm.org.

PRESS CONTACT:

Krystle Murphy, Communications Manager, InfoComm International

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1.703.279.6366

SOURCE InfoComm International

Related Links

http://www.infocomm.org


SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, LONDON, BEIJING and TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inneractive has been anointed as a Silver winner in the 'Fastest Growing Company of the Year' category in the Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, the only independent global business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts.

"2016 has been an incredible year of growth for us so it's an enormous honor to be included in the 'Fastest Growing Company' category by the Best in Biz Awards International this year," said Offer Yehudai, President of Inneractive. "This recognition builds upon the momentum of a milestone year for us as we join forces with RNTS Fyber, experience triple digit growth and expand our footprint further afield with expansion into the Chinese marketall while continuing to provide the most advanced technologies to mobile publishers globally."

Inneractive is a leading independent mobile ad exchange focused on powering native and video ads. Inneractive's mission is to empower mobile publishers to realize their properties' full potential by providing powerful technologies for the buying and selling of mobile ads.

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.

"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 Gamer's Intuition. "While choosing a winner is always a pleasant but never easy task, it all comes down to evaluating functionality and originality. I'm looking forward to returning and seeing what innovative products and services will stand out next year."

For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, visit: http://intl.bestinbizawards.com/intl-2016-winners.

About Inneractive

Inneractive is an independent global mobile ad exchange focused on powering native and video ads. The company's mission is to empower mobile publishers to maximize the full potential of their properties by providing powerful technologies for buying and selling mobile ads. The Inneractive programmatic platform is comprised of a mobile Supply Side Platform (SSP) and an Ad Exchange that combine RTB with native and video ad solutions. Inneractive was recently named a Deloitte Technology Fast500 Company, EMEA and a Deloitte Israel 2015 Technology Fast50 winner. Inneractive is headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in San Francisco, New York, London and Beijing. Inneractive was recently acquired by RNTS Media, based in Germany, parent company of Fyber.

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.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Inneractive
PARIS, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 24, Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi reiterated that it is imperative to hold an international probe into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran and to bring its perpetrators to justice.

The President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran made the call during a tour of an exhibition in Paris Municipality 2nd District displaying photos of the massacred political prisoners.

Mr. Jacques Boutault, mayor of Paris's 2nd District, Jean Francois Legaret, mayor of Paris's 1st District, and a number of French personalities including Rama Yade, former Minister of Human Rights took part and addressed the exhibition. Former Columbian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt also spoke at the event.

Paris Municipality 2nd District issued a statement on the exhibition and the visit that read in part:

"This exhibition especially commemorates the sad anniversary of the massacre of some 30,000 political prisoners during the summer of 1988 in Iran. This terrible episode in modern history is now back on the front burner with the revelation a few days ago of an audiotape recounting conversations that occurred at the highest level with those directly responsible for the killings.

While condemning the crimes of the previous era, Jacques Boutault, mayor of the 2nd district, said it was urgent to pressure the Iranian regime to stop executions in Iran, and to condition relations with that country on significant improvement in respect for human rights, including at the end of the death penalty. Jacques Boutault believes the waves of executions that occurred in recent months in Iran are an extension of the 1988 massacre.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, paid tribute to the heroes and heroines of the French Resistance and victims of the Nazi occupation.

She said the exhibition reflected the arrests, torture and executions of prisoners. She denounced the conspiracy of silence that hung over these crimes, calling it a painful silence for the Iranian people and especially the thousands of families who lost loved ones in the massacre. She urged the international community, including the UN, to bring Iran's ruling mullahs to justice.

Throughout the exhibition, witnesses of the crimes, particularly former political prisoners, shared their painful experiences with visitors. They also relayed stories about the courage and steadfastness of the Iranian Resistance.

Jacques Boutault said: "Our borough today commemorates the liberation of Paris, which ended four years of occupation by Nazi Germany. If European countries were able to sustain the end to the dictatorship, it is because they have the ability to remember the past so it would not be repeated. This unspeakable episode in Iranian history would only result in continuation of what is unspeakable. That is why the town hall of the 2nd District is honored to host this exhibition and listen to the witnesses of this inhuman episode in Iranian history. "

SOURCE Iran News Update
BOSTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- John B. Manning of Manion Gaynor & Manning LLP (MG+M) will serve as co-chair of Perrin Conferences' Asbestos Litigation Conference: A National Overview & Outlook taking place September 12-14, 2016, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. This annual conference assembles leaders in U.S. asbestos litigation, including many of the most prominent plaintiff and defense attorneys, jurists, in-house counsel, insurance professionals, risk managers, and scientific and medical experts. The conference is expected to draw over 700 attendees. It is John's eighth consecutive year as conference co-chair.

Perrin Conferences, an acclaimed leader in joint plaintiff/defendant litigation conferences, offers comprehensive and specialized continuing legal education in an atmosphere of learning, networking and sharing. The National Asbestos Litigation Conference program provides attendees a deeper understanding of the trends currently driving asbestos litigation and the impact these trends may have on future cases. This year's forum promises to exceed its outstanding reputation by hosting numerous balanced panels, presentations, and demonstrations. For the first time the conference program will also contain a mock trial featuring a female plaintiff diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos-contaminated talc products.



Perrin Conferences sets the standard in the professional education industry as the place to learn, network and do business. Registration includes private access to course materials, all networking events and cocktail receptions. The registration fee is $1395; group discounts are also available. All in-house counsel and insurance professionals receive complimentary registration.

To register for Perrin Conference's National Asbestos Litigation Conference, or for further information, please contact Lynnsey Perrin ([email protected]).



CLE and CE Adjuster Credits Available.

View Conference Agenda

About Perrin Conferences

As the leading national provider of joint plaintiff/defendant litigation conferences, Perrin Conferences offers comprehensive and specialized continuing legal education (CE/CLE) in an atmosphere of learning, networking and sharing. The company's conferences attract influential leaders and foremost talent in the legal industry to discuss current topics in litigation through mock trials, presentations, and webinars, setting the standard in professional litigation education and networking. Follow the latest news from Perrin Conferences here and on Twitter @PerrinConf. For more information on the company and upcoming events, please visit perrinconferences.com.

About Manion Gaynor & Manning LLP

Manion Gaynor & Manning LLP provides innovative, aggressive representation for clients facing high-stakes litigation. We are the law firm of choice for numerous Fortune 500 companies and some of the most iconic brands in American business. We serve as National Coordinating Counsel, National Trial Counsel, Regional Counsel, and Local Counsel for manufacturers, service providers, suppliers, professionals, premises owners, food services companies and retailers. With the requisite infrastructure to handle the most complex cases, the firm defends toxic tort and environmental litigation actions in all 50 states. Find us at mgmlaw.com.

CONTACT: C.R. McLeod, 302-504-6581, [email protected]

SOURCE Manion Gaynor & Manning LLP

Related Links

http://mgmlaw.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- While there are many positive factors driving the in vitro diagnostics market, according to Kalorama Information, marketers will want to be keep their eye on certain challenges as well. Overcoming them could be a key to revenue growth, says the market research firm with an specialty in IVD. The finding was made in Kalorama Information's latest report, The Worldwide Market for In Vitro Diagnostic Tests, 10th Edition.

Though the IVD market is expected to be boosted by new innovations and an increased recognition of personalized medicine techniques, there's a catch-up period that testmakers will hit between the innovation and acceptance.

"The commercialization of sophisticated new IVD products and technologies comes as a double edged sword," said Shara Rosen, author of the report. "Many of these new devices and technologies are expected to carry a high price tag and the payment infrastructure in most countries has not evolved to cover many of the newer approaches to patient management."

The result, the report said as is often the case, is that technology is far ahead of healthcare regulations and reimbursement plans. The onus is therefore on manufacturers to prove their new intervention is not only effective but also supplies a cost effective treatment alternative. They cannot assume manufacturers will be delighted with each new innovation. Proof, proof and more proof, the report says, is the way to a successful test product.

The report also said that the increasing cost of providing healthcare services to an aging population, a rise in admissions and a trend to reduce length of stay are shifting the focus of care from the hospital to the home. But the home setting is not a natural one for test companies used to selling products to be used in hospitals are clinics. However, few studies to evaluate the cost effectiveness of home telemedicine have been published and payment schedules for home care are still in the planning stages. Liability issues are also a concern with products used outside of the hospital or clinic.

Slow European growth in recent years is also troubling. As the report finds that an essentially flat IVD market in Europe expected for the next few years. This is a challenge, as the report finds that the European IVD market is one-quarter of the entire world opportunity. Maximizing emerging market sales will be an important strategy for IVD companies to counter the flatness of a such a significant market, but they will face competition in these markets as well.

The report, The Worldwide Market for In Vitro Diagnostic Tests, is a comprehensive look at the IVD industry and all of its segments. The report has detailed market estimates of clinical chemistry, molecular, microbiology and tissue diagnostic markets, as well as others. The report is global in scope and can be found at: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Worldwide-Vitro-Diagnostic-10206771/.

Please link any media or news references to our reports or data to http://www.kaloramainformation.com/.

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog at www.kaloramainformation.com.

Contact:

Bruce Carlson

(212) 807-2622

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150831/262422LOGO

SOURCE Kalorama Information

Related Links

http://www.KaloramaInformation.com


"With the trend of drinking vinegars on the rise, we aim to drive innovation and find more ways to help consumers live healthier lives with the best ingredients," said Bill Moses, CEO and co-founder of KeVita. "KeVita's sparkling tonics are a trifecta of functionality with cleansing apple cider vinegar, the natural digestive support of probiotics, and deliciously functional ingredients, like turmeric and ginseng, making them the ultimate functional value on the market."

An age-old elixir, apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy dating back to 400 B.C. With a recent resurgence amongst health-seeking consumers, KeVita has transformed the taste and use, bringing the first sparkling drinking vinegars to the modern marketplace. All three flavors of the collection are handcrafted with apple cider vinegar, KeVita's proprietary water kefir culture, 4 billion colony forming units (CFU's) of live probiotics, 100% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, and only 25 calories per 8-ounce serving. The new offerings are all functionally enhanced with delicious ingredients: antioxidant meyer lemon, immunity-boosting ginseng, and highly nutritious elderberry. The new flavors include:

Meyer Lemon Cleansing Tonic: A deep hit of sweet and tangy citrus

A deep hit of sweet and tangy citrus Ginseng Mandarin Cleansing Tonic: Zesty orange with a pleasant herbal finish

Zesty orange with a pleasant herbal finish Elderberry Cleansing Tonic: A jammy and juicy infusion

Joining an existing lineup of flavors, including Turmeric Ginger, Chili Ginger Lime and Cinnamon, the new flavors now total up six SKUs in the KeVita Tonic line.

KeVita uses only the purest possible ingredients and pairs age-old techniques with modern technology to provide the best quality, flavor, and functionality in the market. Each bottle is USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, non-dairy, vegan and kosher.

To learn more about KeVita, visit KeVita.com and follow us @KeVitaDrinks on Instagram, Facebook andTwitter.

About KeVita

KeVita is the leader in fermented probiotic beverages, making natural digestive and immune health refreshingly accessible. With 3 unique product lines with at least 4 billion live cultures in every bottle, each of the over two dozen flavors of Sparkling Probiotic Drink, Master Brew Kombucha and Cleansing Probiotic Tonic are certified organic, non-GMO, low calorie, gluten-free and vegan. Handcrafted since 2009, KeVita has grown from a farm stand in Ojai, California to over 20,000 retail locations across North America. KeVita uses only the purest possible ingredients and pairs age-old techniques with modern technology to provide the best quality, flavor, and functionality in the market. This commitment to quality continues through their advocacy for rigorous testing and transparency in fermented beverage labeling. Learn more about what's inside KeVita's pure and powerful promise at KeVita.com.

Media Contact

Rabeeah Patail

Harmonica

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401546

SOURCE KeVita
NEW DELHI, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

KPMG in India and global e-learning organisation InterActive have today announced a joint initiative to deliver online accountancy and finance programmes to students and professionals in India. This project paves the way for the creation of KPMG in India & InterActive, providing finance and accountancy professionals with the skills and qualifications sought by global employers.

The first programme to be offered under the initiative will be online training which prepares participants for the globally recognised Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification. The programme is designed to deliver a learning model through which students can access online lectures broadcast live from InterActive's studios, along with a series of masterclasses from KPMG in India. InterActive is an award-winning online education organisation and a part of international educational provider Global University Systems.

Students will be able to benefit from the support and guidance of experienced KPMG in India accountants, who can contextualise theory with real-life application and provide relevant insights into the Indian accounting industry.

Alongside tuition and training sessions, the KPMG in India & InterActive suite includes live Q&A sessions, marked mock exams, a course library, online study materials, and access to a global community of students online.

Vitaly Klopot, chief operating officer at InterActive, said: "We believe online education has the potential to change lives. Through KPMG in India & InterActive's distance learning tools, future accountants and finance professionals will be given the opportunity to secure highly sought-after qualifications and advance their careers to the next level.

"Research shows that the ACCA qualification is one of the most recommended of its kind for professional accountants, so we are delighted to be working with KPMG in India to deliver this programme and look forward to increasing the number of ACCA-qualified professionals in India."

According to Mr Klopot, the alliance is likely to make the courses more accessible and affordable for India's growing community of aspiring accountants.

"KPMG in India will bring a professional insight into employability and help contextualise theoretical and practical principles at both local and global levels," added Mr Klopot.

Andrew Malley, Global University Systems' director of strategic international development, remarked: "This new initiative addresses a very contemporary issue in global education. By joining forces with KPMG in India, we bring a vital industry input into what is normally an academically driven subject area. If students want an established accountancy education on a distinct platform, then KPMG in India & InterActive is possibly the best in the market."

Gaurav Vohra, Partner - Accounting Advisory Services, KPMG in India, added: "KPMG in India is excited at the opportunity to provide one of the industry leading mentorship and skills training programmes for online ACCA students in cooperation with InterActive.

"Having been an established arm of KPMG International since 1993, KPMG in India will bring the best levels of expertise and insight to this initiative, and we look forward to supporting India's next generation of future accountancy and finance professionals."

Tuition fees will start at INR5,600 for ACCA Foundation level papers, up to INR20,000 for the more advanced levels.

The first KPMG in India and InterActive programme will go live in August 2016. For more details, please visit: http://india.studyinteractive.org/kpmginteractive2

In an added development, KPMG in India & InterActive will also cooperate with ACCA X, part of ACCA Global, to support online tuition for ACCA foundation level examinations for accountancy trainees across India.

Notes to Editors

About InterActive

With more than 100 courses and 12,000 students worldwide, InterActive is a recruitment partner for academic institutions, working alongside universities in the U.K., the U.S., and Europe to make their courses available to global markets. InterActive is part of Global University Systems, an international education group.

For more details, please visit: http://studyinteractive.org/

About KPMG in India

KPMG in India, a professional services firm, is the Indian member firm of KPMG International and was established in September 1993. KPMG has offices across India in Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Noida, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. KPMG strives to provide rapid, performance-based, industry-focused and technology-enabled services, which reflects a shared knowledge of global and local industries and our experience of the Indian business environment.

For more details, please visit: https://home.kpmg.com/in/en/home.html

SOURCE InterActive
NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- KraneShares is proud to announce that the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (ticker: KWEB) was awarded a five star Morningstar rating for its three-year performance1. As of 7/31/2016, KWEB ranked #1 out of 24 exchange traded funds (ETFs) within the China Region category based on the risk-adjusted returns for the three-year period.

About Morningstar's rating methodology

For each fund with at least a three-year history, Morningstar calculates their rating based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance and rewards consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars.

KWEB was rated against 24 U.S.-domiciled China Region ETFs over the last three years. With respect to these China Region funds, KWEB received a Morningstar rating of 5 stars for the three-year period. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Rise of the Chinese Consumer

"We believe KWEB's five-star rating is a testament to the rise of the Chinese consumer, and the long-term trend of ecommerce growth in China," said Jonathan Krane, CEO of KraneShares. "Over the past three years KWEB was not only the #1 China Region ETF according to Morningstar, it also outperformed the S&P 500 index over the same time period2."

China is undergoing a fundamental change in the composition of its economy. In 2012 China's services sector became a greater percentage of GDP than its industrial sector3. Along with this change, retail sales have increased steadily. Total Chinese retail sales reached $4.6 trillion in 2015, an increase of 10.7% year over year4. Chinese retail websites sold $589.61 billion worth of goods in 2015, an increase of 33.3%5.

Meanwhile, compared to the United States, internet adoption in China has plenty of room to grow. Even though China has over twice as many total internet users than the United States, as of the end of 2015 the percent of its population who have access to the internet was only 51%, compared to 88% in the U.S.6

"The average three-year revenue growth rates of Chinese internet companies, like Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent are often twice that of U.S. internet companies7. At the same time we believe Chinese internet companies are trading at attractive valuations with average price to equity ratios that are half that of their U.S. counterparts7," said Brendan Ahern, Chief Investment Officer at KraneShares. "When you look at the great names that KWEB holds, factor in their impressive revenue growth rates, then take into account how reasonably priced we believe they currently are, we think holding KWEB makes a lot of sense."

1 For each fund with at least a three year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance (including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receives 2 stars and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five- and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar Ratings metrics. The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF was rated against 24 U.S.-domiciled China Region funds over the last three years. With respect to these China Region funds, the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF received a Morningstar Rating of 5 stars for the three year period. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.



2 Data from Bloomberg as of 7/31/2016



3 Data from Bloomberg as of 12/31/2015



4 The National Bureau of Statistics of China "Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods in December 2015" 1/20/2016



5 Frank Tong, "China's online retail sales grow a third to $589 billion in 2015" Internetretailer.com. 1/27/2016



6 Internet Live Stats "Internet Users by Country (2015)" accessed 8/22/2016



7 Data from Bloomberg as of 6/30/2016. Based on comparison of top 10 holdings of KWEB compared to comparable U.S. businesses. Listed holdings weight in KWEB as of 6/30/2016: Alibaba: 9.69%, Baidu: 8.16%, Tencent: 10.97%. The Fund's holdings are subject to change.

Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Funds' prospectus, which may be obtained by visiting www.kraneshares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its stated objectives. The Funds focus their investments primarily with Chinese issuers and issuers with economic ties to China. The Funds are subject to political, social or economic instability within China which may cause decline in value. Fluctuations in currency of foreign countries may have an adverse effect to domestic currency values. Emerging markets involve heightened risk related to the same factors as well as increase volatility and lower trading volume. Current and future holdings are subject to risk.

The KraneShares ETFs are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Company (SIDCO), 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456, which is not affiliated with Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, the Investment Adviser for the Fund.

SOURCE Krane Funds Advisors, LLC

Related Links

http://kraneshares.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LabFinder.com, a convenient online platform for patients to schedule their laboratory and radiology tests and access test results, has announced Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology is now a subscriber to the service, expanding its existing service of providing a digital healthcare solution to patients in the New York Metro area. With the addition of Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology Center, LabFinder.com adds to the growth of its radiology testing center network.

"Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology has been providing Manhattan with accurate and timely test results since they first opened their doors, and by welcoming them as our latest subscriber, together we are continuing on our path towards improving the quality of healthcare that patients receive, one appointment at a time," said Dr. Robert Segal, Co-Founder of LabFinder.com.

LabFinder.com helps subscribing labs attract and engage potential patients, increase patient appointments and doctor leads, and build revenue. In addition, subscribing labs are able to reduce no-shows and scale day-to-day testing, as well as increase both doctor and patient loyalty for labs, with secure online access and HIPAA compliant document storage for all test results.

"Subscribing to LabFinder.com will help our staff at Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology remain a leader in providing the Manhattan community with a wide range of imaging services in a private practice setting. We want to go the extra mile for our patients and by subscribing to LabFinder.com, we are able to maintain a high level of quality care," said Todd Minken, M.D.

Quickly expanding with the addition of Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology, LabFinder.com continues to grow and work towards its goal of modernizing the medical professional community by uniting patients, doctors and labs. For more information, please visit www.LabFinder.com.

About LabFinder: LabFinder.com, founded in New York City, is a convenient online platform for patients to schedule their laboratory and radiology tests and access test results. LabFinder.com is working to modernize the medical professional community by uniting patients, doctors, labs and radiology centers and envisions a day when patients will feel at ease ordering their own medical tests. The LabFinder.com team is passionate about improving the patient, doctor and lab relationship, reducing patient expenses and providing better patient care through patient empowerment and giving patients more control over their medical test results. The mission of LabFinder.com is to make patients' health a priority by making it easier to find the right lab or radiology center, reducing out-of-network costs and putting control of health in the patients' hands. www.labfinder.com

About Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology: Chelsea Diagnostic Radiology, formerly DRA, has been a leader in Manhattan in providing a wide range of comprehensive diagnostic imaging services in a private practice setting including Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Angiography, Computed Tomography, Mammography, Ultrasonography, Bone Densitometry (DEXA), and X-Ray. www.cdradiology.org

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160711/388553LOGO

SOURCE LabFinder.com

Related Links

http://www.labfinder.com


WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered, the nation's premier tax and employee benefits specialty law firm, is pleased to announce that Lawrence M. ("Larry") Axelrod has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate tax group, effective August 1, 2016. Mr. Axelrod, who most recently served as Special Counsel to the IRS Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate), joins the Ivins corporate tax group and will lead the firm's consolidated return and M&A tax practices.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401104

"We are thrilled to have a professional of Larry's caliber join our corporate and M&A tax team  there are very few attorneys of his sophistication and knowledge in the complex corporate tax matters space," said Ivins Managing Partner Eric Fox. "While the firm has always been a leader in corporate tax, when Bob [Wellen] was tapped last year to lead corporate tax at the IRS we recognized a clear need to find a compelling successor to lead our corporate and M&A tax practice. Larry not only fills that gap, but also brings with him unparalleled expertise gained through high-level government service."

"Larry is simply unmatched in his expertise in corporate, M&A and consolidated return tax matters," commented Ivins partner, Jeff Moeller. "His extensive, specialized knowledge in this complicated area, coupled with his intimate knowledge of the Washington tax landscape, complement the strengths and skills of the Ivins business tax team and provide a meaningful benefit to our large domestic and multinational clients."

Throughout his career, Mr. Axelrod has demonstrated exceptional talent in numerous areas of federal income taxation, with a particular emphasis on M&A, internal restructuring, spin-off, debt versus equity, and consolidated return matters. At the IRS, Mr. Axelrod drafted and supervised the promulgation of corporate tax regulations and similar guidance, and worked with taxpayers seeking private letter rulings on vexing corporate tax issues. Prior to the IRS, he served for more than 20 years as a partner in Deloitte Tax's Washington National Tax office, where he advised clients and other Deloitte offices around the world on the most challenging corporate tax questions.

Mr. Axelrod is author of Consolidated Tax Returns, a leading treatise on consolidated returns published by Thompson Reuters. In addition, he has authored numerous articles on consolidated return tax issues including The Supreme Court, Consolidated Returns, and 10-Year Carrybacks, which was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 8-1 decision in favor of the firm's client in United Dominion Industries, Inc. v. U.S., 532 U.S. 822 (2001). Mr. Axelrod is a regular speaker at American Bar Association Taxation Section meetings and corporate tax panels presented by the Practising Law Institute. He also is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law School, where he teaches a consolidated returns course in the Master of Law in Taxation program. He earned an LL.M from Georgetown, a J.D. from the USC School of Law, and a B.A. from SUNY at Stony Brook.

As to why Mr. Axelrod chose Ivins, he said, "Earlier in my career  when I was doing M&A corporate tax planning at a Big Four accounting firm  a client once asked me to recommend a law firm for a second opinion; I recommended Ivins without hesitation, because I knew that the tax advice would be creative, solid and the best available anywhere." He continued, "to now have the opportunity to join that firm, and lead the corporate and M&A tax practices that Bob Wellen once led, is truly an honor."

The arrival of Mr. Axelrod continues Ivins' expansion of its tax-related legal services teams. Earlier this year, tax controversy partner James Brown rejoined the firm's tax controversy practice, following the firm's addition of legendary tax legislative, regulatory and policy services expert Hank Gutman.

Ivins, Phillips & Barker, Chartered, is a specialty law firm devoted exclusively to tax and employee benefits, with offices in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. Ivins specializes in representing Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 clients in corporate tax and employee benefits matters, and has developed an extraordinary number of senior-level tax executives in U.S. government service. For more information about Ivins, please visit our website at www.ipbtax.com.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Ivins, Phillips & Barker

Related Links

http://www.ipbtax.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The organization 9/11 Day is calling upon the principal nominees for president, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, and Jill Stein, to suspend all campaign activity on Sunday, September 11, 2016, in observance of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. 9/11 Day is a non-profit that successfully led the effort to establish September 11 as a federally-recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

9/11 Day delivered letters of request to each campaign headquarters yesterday. The letters were signed by the co-founders of 9/11 Day, family members who lost loved ones on 9/11, and leaders of 9/11 support groups. Copies of these letters are also being sent to the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee, asking each to request that all state and local candidates across the country suspend their political campaigns on 9/11/16 as well. The text of the letter can be found below.

The "No Campaigning on 9/11 Pledge" is part of 9/11 Day's mission to promote unity, empathy and service for the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

A growing list of individuals across the country are voicing their support for the letter of request through a Change.org petition launched by 9/11 Day board member Alice Hoagland. Ms. Hoagland, who lost her son Mark Bingham in the crash of hijacked Flight 93, made a personal appeal to the presidential candidates to cease campaigning on September 11. The petition already has nearly 25,000 signatures.

"9/11 helped us realize in an instant how insignificant our differences really are in comparison to our common goodness as human beings and our shared sense of compassion for those in need," said Alice Hoagland. "It hardly mattered what political party we supported, or whether we came from a Red State or Blue State. At that moment, we were all human beings, and it is important that we find a way to keep that spirit of unity alive."

Rather than engaging in regular campaign activity, 9/11 Day suggested that political candidates take the day to engage in personal expressions of service, and to speak to others in nonpartisan terms about the importance of remembrance on 9/11, and the value of all Americans helping those most in need.

"Americans everywhere wish to observe 9/11 in the same spirit of national unity, prayer and service that brought our country together in the immediate aftermath of the attacks," said David Paine, president and co-founder of 9/11 Day.

Added Jay Winuk, 9/11 Day co-founder, whose brother Glenn J. Winuk perished in the line of duty in the 9/11 attacks: "Presidential and other candidates have 364 other days of the year to voice their policies and positions, and trade barbs. We respectfully ask that on this one day, each election cycle, they use their voices to spread the word about the importance of service to honor our first responders and those who were lost. They can set a strong example for our nation by engaging in service-oriented activities. The focus here should be on bringing people together, not apart, and cherishing our common humanity as a nation."



Join the conversation with #911day and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. All media requests should be directed to 9/[email protected].

The nonprofit 9/11 Day, (also known as MyGoodDeed) was founded in 2002 to encourage Americans and others to observe the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a day of unity, service and remembrance, in honor of the 9/11 victims, volunteers and rescue and recovery workers. Last year, nearly 30 million Americans observed the day by volunteering, supporting charities and performing simple good deeds. For more information, visit www.911day.org.

Please see below for the full text of the letter.

August 24, 2016

DELIVERED TO:

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton

Governor Gary Johnson

Dr. Jill Stein

Mr. Donald Trump

Dear Secretary Clinton, Governor Johnson, Dr. Stein and Mr. Trump:

Our nonprofit organization, MyGoodDeed, founded and annually organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance (http://911day.org), established in 2009 under bipartisan federal law and by Presidential Proclamation. Since passage of this important legislation, 9/11 Day has grown to become the nation's largest annual day of charitable engagement, with tens of millions of Americans engaging in charitable service and good deeds in observance of 9/11 each year.

In observance of the upcoming 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we are again respectfully requesting that all of the principal candidates running for President of the United States, as well as members of Congress running for office, dispense with normal campaign activity on that day , including ceasing to run campaign advertisements , to enable the 9/11 community and the nation to solemnly and peacefully pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, rescue and recovery workers, and those who rose to defend our nation after 9/11. Americans everywhere wish to observe 9/11 in the same spirit of national unity, prayer and service that brought our country together in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Please see our national petition, already signed by nearly 25,000 people, supporting this request, at http://bit.ly/nocampaign911.

As you may know, we issued similar requests of the major candidates running for president in 2008 and 2012, and all voluntarily complied, as have many candidates running for other offices. Here's a link to one of the stories about our request from 2012: http://nyti.ms/2bjVLer

Rather than running campaign ads, making traditional campaign statements, and sending out political messages over social media we ask that you and your staffs dedicate time on 9/11 to remembrance and prayer, and participating in charitable service events and activities in support of the federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

We further request that you urge other members of your respective political parties to honor this one-day moratorium on political campaigning as well.

We hope to announce by September 6 that all of the principal presidential campaigns have jointly agreed to this important request.

Sincerely and with gratitude,

David Paine Jay S. Winuk President/Co-Founder Executive Vice President/Co-Founder 9/11 Day/MyGoodDeed 9/11 Day/MyGoodDeed

Brother of Glenn J. Winuk CO-SIGNERS :

Alice Hoagland Liz and Stephen Alderman Director Co-Founders 9/11 Day/MyGoodDeed Peter C. Alderman Foundation Mother of Mark Bingham Parents of Peter Alderman



Cindy McGinty MaryEllen Salamone, PT, JD Director Chairman, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement 9/11 Day/MyGoodDeed Wife of John Salamone Wife of Michael McGinty





Edie Lutnick

President

Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund

Sister of Gary Lutnick





Christie M. Coombs

Director

Mass Military Heroes Fund

Wife of Jeff Coombs



Other signatures pending. Petition signatures found at http://bit.ly/nocampaign911

SOURCE 9/11 Day

Related Links

https://911day.org


CHESTERFIELD, United Kingdom, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company's request for a Fast Track designation for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Synacthen Depot in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Synacthen Depot is a depot formulation of Synacthen (tetracosactide), a synthetic 24 amino acid melanocortin receptor agonist. Synacthen Depot is approved and marketed outside of the U.S. for certain autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, but has never been approved for use in patients in the U.S.

"We are pleased with the FDA's determination that our IND application for use of Synacthen Depot in treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy meets the agency's established criteria for a Fast Track designation, and are happy to report the first patients have been dosed in the initial phase 1 trial," said Steven Romano, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. "DMD is a devastating disease for which there are few effective treatment options, and Mallinckrodt believes Synacthen Depot may have potential to offer physicians and patients a new alternative."

The agency's Fast Track designation is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose is to get important new drugs to the patient earlier. Fast Track addresses a broad range of serious conditions1.

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

DMD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It is one of nine types of muscular dystrophy.

DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. The disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls. Symptoms include muscle weakness, which can begin as early as age 3, first affecting the muscles of the hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulders, and later the skeletal (voluntary) muscles in the arms, legs and trunk.2

About Mallinckrodt

Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products and therapies, as well as nuclear imaging products. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and hemostasis products; and central nervous system drugs. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines; its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing; and the Nuclear Imaging segment includes nuclear imaging agents. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com .

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

Coleman N. Lannum, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO

314-654-6649

[email protected]

Daniel J. Speciale, CPA

Director, Investor Relations

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Media

Rhonda Sciarra

Senior Communications Manager

314-654-8618

[email protected]

Meredith Fischer

Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs

314-654-3318

[email protected]

1 http://www.fda.gov/ForPatients/Approvals/Fast/ucm405399.htm

2 https://www.mda.org/disease/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy (Accessed August 21, 2016)

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/167103LOGO

SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

Related Links

http://www.mallinckrodt.com


BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McGlinchey Stafford, a national law firm with offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana, has launched the Flood Law Blog, www.floodlawblog.com, a new legal resource for businesses affected by recent flooding.

Thousands of companies operating in Louisiana have been affected by the catastrophic storms and flooding of August 2016. These companies have been impacted in many ways, including by flood water damages and by interruption in their day-to-day commerce. This natural disaster will inevitably lead to a sharp rise in legal questions, activities, and disputes as these businesses attempt to navigate the recovery process.

McGlinchey Stafford, which created the Hurricane Law Blog after Hurricane Katrina as a free service to help guide the business community through that disaster's resulting legal thicket, is now similarly publishing the Flood Law Blog with the goal of assisting companies with their recovery challenges arising from the 2016 flood.

The Flood Law Blog seeks to offer the business community a central repository for information about flood-related legislation, litigation, and regulatory issues affecting companies that operate or conduct business in the flood-impacted regions. As recovery efforts progress throughout these areas, the Flood Law Blog aims to offer readers current news, forward-looking articles, opinion, and commentary concerning legal issues of interest to the business community in their rebuilding efforts.

"We always strive to provide unprecedented legal services to our clients, and right now countless businesses throughout Louisiana seek to find answers on post-flood legal issues," said Rudy Aguilar, Managing Member of McGlinchey Stafford. "We hope that this new free resource will help both our clients and the broader business community on their path to recovery."

ABOUT MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD

McGlinchey Stafford is a full-service law firm providing innovative legal counsel to business clients nationwide. Guiding clients wherever business and law intersect, McGlinchey Stafford's 200 attorneys are based in 13 offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington, DC. To learn more about McGlinchey Stafford, visit www.mcglinchey.com.

SOURCE McGlinchey Stafford PLLC

Related Links

http://www.mcglinchey.com


"Literacy is critical for future academic success and success in life, and students deserve literacy materials that directly address their particular needs," said Dr. Shawn Mahoney, chief academic officer of McGraw-Hill Education's K-12 group. "Wonders 2017 allows instructors to deliver high-quality literacy instruction to a more diverse range of students than ever before, and help to ensure that all students are equipped to reach their full potential."

New features in Wonders include the innovative Dashboard, which makes student data instantly available and easily actionable for teachers, offering powerful real-time recommendations for grouping students, re-teaching and differentiating instruction with a single click. Administrators can track progress towards mastery of individual skills and standards at the school, class or individual level. The new Wonders suite also offers Inquiry Space, for students in grades 3-6 to learn and practice researching, developing ideas, writing, and presenting finished work to their peers.

Across all Wonders 2017 solutions, a variety of research-based print and digital resources provide unmatched support for building strong literacy foundations, accessing complex texts, engaging in collaborative conversations, and writing in response to primary sources. Each solution features engaging multimedia resources, and a powerful data dashboard helps educators provide purposeful, personalized instruction and support for each student in real-time.

Quotes from educators about Wonders:

"I feel that my students are lucky to be exposed to Wonders. It makes a world of difference. The online piece has made my job easier and allowed me to become a better teacher."

Todd Kimmel, Principal, Philadelphia, PA

"Wonders digital content is off the charts. It's fantastic. You have so many digital resources to choose from."

Cari Lamperski, 5th Grade Teacher, Belleville, FL

"Wonders includes the right combination of teacher-guided instruction, technology-based activities, and guided practice to allow each student to use the gifts he/she has to understand the concepts."

James Orichosky, Principal, Wingate PA

Comprehensive support for ELD and bilingual literacy

Reaffirming McGraw-Hill Education's commitment to English Language Development (ELD) and bilingual literacy, every feature of the Wonders 2017 core program is also reflected in Wonders for English Learners and Maravillas, allowing students to accelerate their progress. Further, the full curriculums for each of the Wonders programs run parallel to each other, ensuring that all students have equity of access to the same core content and subject-area knowledge.

"We have long sought to achieve the same high quality across all of our learning solutions  regardless of whether those solutions are designed for core, ELD or bilingual-literacy applications  and the alignment built into the Wonders 2017 suite exemplifies that commitment," Mahoney said.

McGraw-Hill Education has recently made similar efforts to realign other leading learning solutions to better support English Language Learners. Earlier this year, the company launched a new version of StudySync, a comprehensive blended ELA/ELD program, specifically designed for English Language Learners in grades 6-12. Each lesson in StudySync's Core ELA with ELL program contains resources to scaffold instruction for three levels of English learners, with a variety of sentence frames, graphic organizers, glossaries and other tools for use in whole-group, small-group or one-on-one instruction  all designed to help English learners master grade level content.

For more information about McGraw-Hill Education's full suite of Wonders solutions, visit: www.mhreadingwonders.com. For more information about McGraw-Hill Education's StudySync, visit: http://www.studysync.com/.

About McGraw-Hill Education

McGraw-Hill Education is a learning science company that delivers personalized learning experiences that help students, parents, educators and professionals drive results. McGraw-Hill Education has offices across North America, India, China, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions available in nearly 60 languages. Visit us at mheducation.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Contact:

Tiffany Eckelberg

McGraw-Hill Education

(646) 766-2434

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401081

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Education

Related Links

http://www.mheducation.com


MIAMI, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine have matched the $250,000 donation made recently by Carnival Cruise Line and parent company Carnival Corporation to aid organizations assisting victims of the Louisiana floods. The additional $250,000 donation was made through the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation and raises the total contribution from Carnival Cruise-related organizations to half-a-million dollars.

Recipients of the $500,000 total gift include the American Red Cross, Louisiana Association of United Ways and Save the Children.

"Recognizing the tremendous magnitude of this disaster and the Carnival organization's long-standing partnership with the state of Louisiana, Madeleine and I felt strongly in our desire to provide additional support to organizations aiding in the flood relief efforts," said Micky Arison.

The American Red Cross is sheltering thousands of residents displaced by the flooding in southern Louisiana and delivering food, relief supplies and emotional support to flood victims. Donations to the Louisiana Association of United Ways will be dispersed among regional United Way organizations in communities affected by the floods to support long-term needs. Save the Children has deployed an emergency response team to Louisiana and is focused on meeting the critical needs of flood-affected children and families and moving forward will be working to restore services essential to children's well-being.

In addition to the total $500,000 donation, Carnival Cruise Line is encouraging guests sailing on its two New Orleans-based cruise ships, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Dream, to donate when they check in for their cruise. Carnival employees are also being encouraged to donate.

About Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line" with 25 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The company's newest ship, the 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon, is construction and set to debut in 2018.

SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line

Related Links

http://www.carnivalcorp.com


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: [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
VANCOUVER, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Mogo Finance Technology Inc. (TSX: GO) ("Mogo"), today announced it will be presenting at the 18th Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference, sponsored by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC. The conference is being held on September 11-13, 2016, at Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City.

Greg Feller, President and CFO of Mogo, will provide an overview of the Company's business during the live presentation and will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to attend the conference. Mogo's participation at the Rodman & Renshaw conference is part of its broader effort to increase investor awareness in the United States.

Mogo Finance Technology Inc. Presentation

Date: Monday September 12, 2016

Time: 5:05  5:30 PM (Eastern Time)

Location: Rutherford (4th Floor); Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City

If you are an institutional investor, and would like to attend the Company's presentation, please click on the following link (www.rodmanevents.com) to register for the Rodman & Renshaw conference. Once your registration is confirmed, you will be prompted to log into the conference website to request a one-on-one meeting with Mogo.

About Mogo Finance Technology Inc.

Mogo (TSX: GO)a Vancouver-based financial technology companyoffers Canadians a more convenient and engaging digital banking experience with its free MogoAccount. With an account sign-up in under three minutes, users get instant access to three innovative products: Canada's first free credit score available with free monthly updates, a free spending account with no monthly fee, and an instant pre-approval on a personal loanall with no impact to their credit score. Mogo is quickly becoming the new face of banking as it grows its member base faster than any of the top six banks in Canada. To learn more about Mogoreferred to as the potential "Uber of finance" by CNBC, Toronto Star, and othersvisit mogo.ca, or download the mobile app, available now on the Apple Store.

Disclaimer

Equifax is a registered trademark of Equifax Canada Co. used here under license. Free credit score is provided by Equifax and is only available to MogoAccount holders that have passed identity verification. The Equifax credit score is based on Equifax's proprietary model and may not be the same score used by third parties to assess your creditworthiness. The provision of this score to you is intended for your own educational use. Third parties will take into consideration other information in addition to a credit score when evaluating your creditworthiness.

SOURCE Mogo Finance Technology Inc.

Related Links

http://mogo.ca


Created by the Commission in November 2009 to advise MTC on transportation policies in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Policy Advisory Council incorporates diverse perspectives relating to the environment, the economy and social equity. The Council advises MTC on a range of topics, including:

Regional planning efforts linking transportation, housing and land-use plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

Public transit productivity improvements; and

Pursuit of new revenues to support a transportation system that better serves all Bay Area residents.

"The Commission wants and needs to hear various viewpoints when making transportation policy and investment decisions," said MTC Chair Dave Cortese. "Incorporating different perspectives enhances our decision-making process."

Applications for the four vacancies will be accepted through September 9, 2016. No specific educational background is needed for most seats  just a background in the specific application category, and an interest in transportation and how it affects residents in the nine Bay Area counties. Experience working on public policy issues or community-related issues is desirable. Appointed advisors are expected to attend monthly meetings at MTC's offices in San Francisco and will serve through the term ending in July 2017. While positions are voluntary, advisors do receive a small stipend for their attendance at certain meetings.

MTC's appointing Commissioners will review the applications, and the full Commission is scheduled to approve the selections in October. The selected applicants will attend their first meeting on November 9, 2016. To apply for a vacant position or to learn more about the Policy Advisory Council, visit http://mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc/what-mtc/mtc-organization/policy-advisory-council or call 415.778.6706.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132756

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Related Links

http://www.mtc.ca.gov


SHELTON, Conn., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NNVC) (the "Company"), a global leader in nanomedicines that is developing biomimetic anti-viral drugs reports that Honorable U.S. Senator Chris Murphy visited the Company's new campus in Shelton, CT, on Wednesday, August 24th, 2016.

"NanoViricides is exactly the type of innovative company that is driving job creation throughout greater New Haven and the Naugatuck Valley," said Senator Murphy, adding, "I was incredibly impressed by the company and enjoyed hearing from employees during my town hall about how I can best help them and other bioscience entrepreneurs cut through red tape. I know the success of our state's economy is reliant on innovative companies like NanoViricides that tap into the strengths of our state's workforce and educational institutions, and I'll be bringing what I learned from today's visit back to Congress."

Murphy joined co-founder Dr. Anil Diwan for a tour of the facility and then hosted a town hall with the company's thirty employees. Two years ago, NanoViricides, Inc., expanded to their new Shelton lab space from a smaller West Haven facility and added nearly twenty new employees, including at the affiliated companies. NanoViricides, Inc., is currently working on anti-viral drugs to treat a number of diseases, including Zika, H1N1, influenza, and Ebola, as well as a skin cream for treating shingles.

"We really appreciate Senator Murphy for visiting us and for wanting to learn about NanoViricides, Inc. We are excited about the future opportunities with our highly-effective nanotechnology, and we're happy to know the Senator is excited as well," said Dr. Diwan, President and Chairman of the Company.

A press release by the Senator's press office covering the visit can be found at http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/archives/entry/murphy_tours_shelton_nanotech_company/. The quotations herein are reproduced from the same.

The Company can leverage its progress in developing a broad-spectrum drug candidate against dengue viruses to rapidly develop a clinically viable drug candidate against the Zika virus, reported Dr. Diwan to the Senator. He added that the Dengue project has become a low priority project for the Company due to its strategic focus on the HerpeCide project, and that further work towards finding a drug candidate against Zika virus, its pre-clinical development, and later clinical trials could only be undertaken if external non-dilutive funding becomes available.

Dr. Diwan also reported that the Company is diligently working on identifying final development candidates in its HerpeCide program. The Company believes that its drug candidates against shingles, herpes cold sores, genital herpes, and ocular herpes keratitis represent the best opportunities to enter human clinical trials in the very near future. The Company is presently conducting studies to determine the best candidates in each of these indications to take forward into IND-enabling development and further into human clinical trials (IND = Investigational New Drug), for licensure globally. He also discussed the Company's other programs including the FluCide and HIVCide programs. In the FluCide program, the Company has developed what may be the world's first orally available nanomedicine against a virus.

Dr. Diwan explained the Company's "nanoviricide" platform technology to the Senator. Antibodies bind to a virus particle only with two points each. Then the antibody-virus complex must be handled by the human immune system. The human immune system is generally dysfunctional when a viral infection becomes severe, because the viruses are intelligent nanomachines that have developed many ways of disrupting the immune function. In addition, viruses, especially RNA viruses, change rapidly to develop resistance against antibodies, and even cocktails of antibodies, making them ineffective in the field. This has happened many times, most notably during the Ebola epidemic of 2014. In contrast, a nanoviricide displays a multitude of the same site to which the virus binds in order to gain access to a cell. Further, the nanoviricide wraps around and strips the virus, thus rendering it incapable of infecting a cell, without requiring the patient's immune system to be fully functional. Thus, the nanoviricide platform is a step beyond antibodies. A virus would not readily mutate away from the nanoviricide drug, and if it does so, it would become less effective in causing an infection as well, provided the ligands are properly designed to mimic the cellular receptor of the virus.

Dr. Diwan stressed that finding a clinically viable drug candidate against the Zika virus could take as little as three to six months, leveraging upon the Company's broad-spectrum dengue drug development work, if a virus-binding ligand from our anti-dengue library works against the Zika virus. Dr. Diwan further reported that the Company has acquired several Zika virus strains in its BSL-2 certified virology laboratory, and that Dr. Brian Friedrich, the Company's Virologist, has already developed the cell culture assays that can help determine if a ligand is active against the Zika virus. Dr. Friedrich has performed drug screening of hundreds of candidates against several viruses including alphaviruses, bunyaviruses, and filoviruses (namely, Ebola and Marburg), to discover potential therapeutics, while he was at United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). Brian has also worked extensively on Flaviviruses, specifically West Nile Virus, while at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Dengue viruses as well as the Zika virus belong to the Flavivirus family.

The Company has previously said that in its HerpeCide program, it is currently developing drugs against four different herpesviral disease indications, namely, (i) "Cold sores" caused by Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1), (ii) Shingles caused by re-awakening of the chickenpox virus (Varicella Zoster Virus, VZV), (iii) Ocular herpes keratitis which is caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2, and (iv) "Genital ulcers" caused by HSV-2. All of these drugs are being developed as topical treatments.

The Company has previously identified a drug candidate that demonstrated substantially complete protection to mice lethally infected with HSV-1 H129 neurotropic strain that produces zosteriform disease in the animals. while in the same study, only 58% of acyclovir treated mice survived. The study was repeated at a different facility with similar results.

About NanoViricides :

NanoViricides, Inc. (www.nanoviricides.com) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. The Company is developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by NanoViricides, Inc. are "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. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of principle in pre-clinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and effective; successful development of our product candidates; our ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance of our products.

Contact:

NanoViricides, Inc.

Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH "[email protected]"

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150107/167444LOGO

SOURCE NanoViricides, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nanoviricides.com


EGERSUND, Norway, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Navico  the world's largest manufacturer of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree brands  announced today that on August 18, 2016 the International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled yet again that Garmin DownVu scanning sonar products may not be imported into the United States, because they violate Navico's patents for DownScan Imaging technology. This latest ruling confirms that Garmin has been improperly circumventing the ITC's December 2015 exclusion order. The ITC issued a modified exclusion order clarifying the scope of infringing DownVu products that are barred from importation. The order has already been distributed to the United States Customs and Border Protection agency, and its requirements are effective immediately.

This ruling vindicates Navico's assertion that Garmin's DownVu product offerings violate Navico's sonar patents and the ITC's orders. Additionally, the ITC's Cease and Desist Orders remain active, barring Garmin and its distributors from selling or aiding others in the sale of these products. The ITC's orders will block the import, sale and promotion of current DownVu products, including the Striker, echoMAP and GPSMAP products sold with their respective transducers. Garmin's violations of the ITC's orders open the door to potential civil penalties.

"We are pleased that the ITC once again has ruled in our favor. It's clear from the rulings that Garmin's DownVu products from the start have infringed our patents, and it surprises me that a company claiming to respect other companies' intellectual property would improperly circumvent the ITC's orders by importing and selling these products in the U.S. market," said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. "We have offered a license for DownScan Imaging technology to all major manufacturers in the market, but in this and every other matter of patent infringement, we will continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property and innovations."

Claims by Garmin regarding a "design around" solution are subject to ITC approval in order to confirm that the alternative design does not likewise violate Navico's patents. In the new ruling, the ITC specifically noted that Garmin has not sought review of any alleged "design around." As such, Garmin's so-called "tilted" transducer used in its current DownVu products is also deemed to infringe Navico's patents. Under the ITC's orders, these products may not be imported or sold unless Garmin can obtain a certification of non-infringement.

Furthermore, the ITC's orders prevent Garmin from offering any incentive or other form of compensation to any distributor or re-seller relating to the distribution, sale and marketing of improperly imported DownVu products.

The International Trade Commission is an independent governmental agency in Washington, DC responsible for addressing patent infringement disputes relating to goods that are manufactured abroad and imported into the United States. Garmin's DownVu products are manufactured and imported from Taiwan.

For more information on the Navico brands, please visit www.lowrance.com, www.simrad-yachting.com, pro.simrad-yachting.com, www.bandg.com and www.gofreemarine.com. To find out more about the Navico Group of companies, visit www.navico.com.

About Navico: A privately held, international corporation, Navico is currently the world's largest marine electronics company, and is the parent company to leading marine electronics brands: Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree. Navico has approximately 1,500 employees globally and distribution in more than 100 countries worldwide. www.navico.com

SOURCE Navico

Related Links

http://navico.com


STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Waters North America and its disaster relief partners, AmeriCares, Feeding America and Gleaning For the World, are delivering more than 475,000 bottles of water to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where a catastrophic flood has displaced thousands of people. Twenty-two truckloads, carrying 21,600 bottles each of Ozarka Brand 100% Natural Spring Water, are being dispatched to disaster relief sites and food banks.

An estimated 60,000 homes have been damaged, while schools and businesses have been shut down for days. The current flooding in Louisiana is the worst natural disaster to strike the United States since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, according to the Red Cross.

Deliveries are currently underway to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, the Salvation Army of Baton Rouge, and the Healing Place Church and will continue over the next several weeks.

"Clean, safe water is always one of the most critical needs during an emergency," said AmeriCares Director of Emergency Response Kate Dischino. "Working with Nestle Waters North America, we are ensuring families in Louisiana have one less worry as they begin to recover."

"Feeding America is grateful to Nestle for helping to support our member food banks that are affected by this devastating flood," said Matt Knott, President of Feeding America. "Nestle's contribution is critical for the many Louisianans who struggle with hunger in communities impacted by this crisis."

"We appreciate working closely with Nestle to ship critical supplies to victims of the Louisiana flooding," stated Ron Davidson, Gleaning For The World President. "We have been able to partner together in order to efficiently help the hurting families in a timely manner."

"Providing much-needed water to the people of Baton Rouge and the surrounding area is a job we take very seriously," said Tim Brown, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Nestle Waters North America. "At this time of upheaval for so many, we are proud to work with AmeriCares, Feeding America and Gleaning For the World to make a difference for the residents of the Baton Rouge area affected by this flood."



Those interested in aiding relief efforts can support the work of AmeriCares, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana and Gleaning For the World. To get in contact with or to seek assistance at a disaster relief site, please call or visit the following websites:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana

(504) 734-1322

www.no-hunger.org

Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank

(225) 359-9940

http://brfoodbank.org/

The Healing Place Church

(225) 753-2273

http://healingplacechurch.org/disaster-relief/

About Nestle Waters North America

Nestle Waters North America provides people with an unrivaled portfolio of bottled waters for healthy hydration. Brands such as Nestle Pure Life, Ozarka, Perrier and S.Pellegrino have driven Nestle Waters North America to be the third largest non-alcoholic beverage company by volume in the U.S. Based in Stamford, Connecticut with about 8,000 employees nationwide, Nestle Waters is committed to reducing its environmental footprint across its operations. The company is also committed to creating shared value and being a good neighbor in the 140 communities where it operates in the United States.

About Ozarka Brand 100% Natural Spring Water

A brand rooted in Texas for 100 years, the Ozarka Spring Water Company officially began in 1905. Today, Ozarka Brand 100% Natural Spring Water comes exclusively from sources in Texas and is bottled in Texas. Many people enjoy its great taste and consider Ozarka their home-grown, local brand. In 1987, Ozarka joined Nestle Waters North America, which is the largest bottled water company in the United States, offering many of the nation's most popular regional brands.



About AmeriCares

AmeriCares is an emergency response and global health organization committed to saving lives and building healthier futures for people in crisis in the United States and around the world. Every day, AmeriCares puts critically needed medicines and supplies in the hands of frontline health workers and develops innovative, sustainable health improvements in their communities. For more information, visit www.americares.org.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, they provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people it serves; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

About Gleaning For The World

Gleaning For The World, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 humanitarian aid organization that places lifesaving supplies worldwide with an emphasis on responding to disasters in the United States. Consistently recognized by Forbes Magazine as "The Most Efficient Large Charity in America," Gleaning is often the first organization on the scene to help people dealing with natural and man-made disasters around the world. The Virginia-based organization also provides on-going solutions to those struggling with severe poverty in 75 countries.

For more information, contact:

Christopher Rieck

Director of Media Relations

203-629-7243

[email protected]

SOURCE Nestle Waters North America

Related Links

http://www.nestle-watersna.com/en


MIAMI, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Next Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: NXGH) (the "Company") today announces that it has signed a definitive Agreement with InsightPOS, LLC ("POS"), for distribution, market development and revenue sharing in a new, exciting cash register Interactive Point Of Sale (POS) system.

InsightPOS is a State of the Art "Super Functional Point Of Sale" that has received great attention due to its sleek, modern, efficient design and amazing combination of tools that make the retail experience friendlier, quicker and better both for the shopper and for store management.

InsightPOS provides the ability for each retail store to offer financial services, product, store inventory management, increase store revenue organically by adding financial service solutions in a manner few have imagined possible. Insight POS can replace the entire cash register, inventory and management system.

NXGH has secured financing to provide and install each terminal at no cost to qualified retail establishments, including training. The revenues generated by system utilization should maintain the system at no cost to each retailer. Interested retailers should visit the websitehttp://www.signuppos.com to sign up and request more information on the system and on how they can obtain it free.

NXGH will market major brand services along with its own branded services, such as STI Mobile and Tel3 Long Distance -Pinless Provider. NEXTCALA and AIM Prepaid Visa, Gift Cards , Bill Pay, and reward cards will also be available through the system truly creating the number one offering in the "Fintech POS" category.

NXGH currently has exclusive rights to a database of approx. 8,800 active retail stores that sell prepaid telecommunications products and any of the NXGH products, with the InsightPOS system, will be able to augment their offerings to include International Cellular Top-ups, Utility payments and financial services never seen before. "The InsightPOS and NXGH deal, reinforces our collective goal as becoming the US's largest Latino based financial network," said Michael De Prado NXGH's President and COO "With this and our other unique contracts and partners, we are well on our way to achieve having the first US based Latin demographic focused financial network, giving those tens of millions of individuals that are hardworking, unbanked, underserved the access, respect and financial services they deserve." added De Prado.

We are pleased to announce this robust agreement, which will provide NXGH with its own advanced Cash Register POS system that will enhance the sales efforts of retail stores and provide more services and benefits to consumers. We know that in today's market, developing a direct relationship with consumers is the key to long term success and profitability," said Arik Maimon, NXGH's CEO. "With this agreement, NXGH is taking a major step forward to realize its vision of providing financial, lifestyle and telecommunications solutions to consumers.", added Maimon.

About Us: NXGH is a corporation headquartered in Miami, Florida, which, through its operating subsidiaries, engages in the business of using proprietary technology and certain licensed technology to provide innovative mobile banking, mobility, and telecommunications solutions to underserved, unbanked, and emerging markets. NXGH's principal executive offices are located at 1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2200, Miami, Florida 33131, and its telephone number at that location is (800) 611-3622. NXGH's web address is http://www.nextgroupholdings.com.

For press or partnership inquiries to InsightPOS contact [email protected]

THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS", AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 27A OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED. STATEMENTS IN THIS NEWS RELEASE, WHICH ARE NOT PURELY HISTORICAL, ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INCLUDE ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE. EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN, MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS THAT ARE PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY, OR THAT INCLUDE SUCH WORDS AS"ESTIMATE", "ANTICIPATE", "BELIEVE", "PLAN" OR "EXPECT" OR SIMILAR STATEMENTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE INCLUDE STATEMENTS RELATING TO OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY.

Contact:

NEXT Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: NXGH)

Telephone: +1-800-611-3622

[email protected]



SOURCE Next Group Holdings, Inc.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexteer Automotive, a global leader in intuitive motion control, today opened its new World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The strategically located headquarters provides a strong platform for increased industry presence and expanded reach for skilled talent.

To commemorate the event, Nexteer held a grand opening ceremony attended by domestic and foreign government dignitaries, customers, suppliers and industry partners. The event highlighted the company's global growth and its dedication to innovation not only in its steering and driveline systems, but also in how employees work on a daily basis. It also previewed the headquarters' application of numerous collaborative technologies to increase operational efficiency and create a seamless global workflow.

"Since the acquisition five years ago, we have established Nexteer as neither a Chinese company, nor an American company. We see ourselves as a model global company with deep roots in the global automotive industry," said Guibin Zhao, chairman, executive board director and chief executive officer, Nexteer Automotive, during the event. "Because we are a global company, we have made a deliberate choice to setup our new smart home among our customers, peers and thought-leaders in the heart of the global automotive industry right here in the State of Michigan in Oakland County and in the City of Auburn Hills."

The facility houses all corporate functions that are global and strategic in nature. The headquarters' team broadens its industry involvement through its proximity to customers, suppliers and industry partners. In addition to its geographic location, the new facility features collaborative tools to enable real-time collaboration among team members located around the world.

"In Auburn Hills, we are afforded an enhanced strategic opportunity with our customers and partners. We've engrained ourselves in industry discussions and look forward to taking on an even greater role in shaping the future of mobility," said Mike Richardson, senior vice president, executive board director and chief strategy officer, Nexteer Automotive.

Part of Nexteer's active role in embracing future mobility technology is rooted in its commitment to Michigan. In addition to its Auburn Hills World Headquarters, Nexteer operates a Global Technology Center in Saginaw, Michigan. This engineering center is focused on the company's core technology advancement and global support of its regional product teams. Saginaw is also home to Nexteer's North America Division administration and U.S. manufacturing. Since 2010, Nexteer has invested nearly $500 million in its Michigan production facilities and currently employs a Michigan workforce of over 5,000.

The 52,000-square-foot headquarters houses 150 Nexteer employees and features a full-service cafe, ergonomic workspaces, recycled and renewable building materials, high-efficiency HVAC and lighting systems. In addition to advanced collaboration tools, the facility showcases digital signage with interactive company information and current news, weather and traffic reports.

ABOUT NEXTEER

Nexteer Automotive  A Leader in Intuitive Motion Control  is a multi-billion dollar global steering and driveline business delivering electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steering columns, driveline systems as well as advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous technologies for original equipment manufacturers. The company's global workforce of over 13,000 serves more than 50 customers in every major region of the world. The company has 21 manufacturing plants, five regional engineering centers and 11 customer service centers strategically located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive's customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, PSA Group, Toyota, and VW, as well as automakers in India and China. www.nexteer.com

SOURCE Nexteer Automotive

Related Links

http://www.nexteer.com


FELTHAM, England, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nomad Foods Limited ("Nomad Foods" or the "Company") (NYSE: NOMD), today issues the following trading update for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2016.

Reported Results

Nomad Foods is presenting as reported consolidated operating results and financial information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

Highlights for the three months ended June 30, 2016

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was 455.9 million, resulting in a 7.3 million loss after tax, which includes exceptional items of 55.1 million.

was 455.9 million, resulting in a 7.3 million loss after tax, which includes exceptional items of 55.1 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2015 , revenue was 102.8 million, resulting in a loss after tax of 396.6 million, primarily resulting from exceptional non-cash charges related to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount of 349.0 million.

, revenue was 102.8 million, resulting in a loss after tax of 396.6 million, primarily resulting from exceptional non-cash charges related to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount of 349.0 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2016 , loss per share was 0.04 compared to a loss per share of 4.41 in the three months ended June 30, 2015 .

Highlights for the six months ended June 30, 2016

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was 1,003.0 million, resulting in a 34.9 million profit after tax, which includes exceptional items of 78.2 million.

was 1,003.0 million, resulting in a 34.9 million profit after tax, which includes exceptional items of 78.2 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2015 , revenue was 102.8 million, resulting in a loss after tax of 541.0 million, primarily resulting from exceptional non-cash charges related to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount of 492.6 million.

, revenue was 102.8 million, resulting in a loss after tax of 541.0 million, primarily resulting from exceptional non-cash charges related to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount of 492.6 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 , earnings per share was 0.19 compared to a loss per share of 7.73 in the six months ended June 30, 2015 .

As Adjusted and Pro Forma As Adjusted Results

Highlights for the three months ended June 30, 2016

Nomad Foods is presenting As Adjusted financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2016. As Adjusted financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2016 includes the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period, adjusted for share based payment charges, exceptional items and non-cash foreign currency translation charges/gains.

For comparative purposes, Nomad Foods is presenting Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2015. Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2015 includes the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period, which includes the results of Iglo Foods Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries (the "Iglo Group") from June 1, 2015 and (i) the reported results of the Iglo Group for the two months ended May 31, 2015; and (ii) the consolidated carve out results of Findus Sverige AB and its subsidiaries (the "Findus Group") for the three months ended June 30, 2015. The Pro Forma As Adjusted results have been normalised for transaction-related items, exceptional items, foreign currency translation charges/gains and taxation.

Please see the non-IFRS reconciliation tables attached hereto and the schedules accompanying this release for an explanation and reconciliation of the As Adjusted and Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information to the reported results of Nomad Foods.

Financial Information  in millions, except per share data Reported/As Adjusted

for the three months

ended June 30, 2016 Pro Forma As

Adjusted for the

three months ended June 30, 2015 Difference % Revenue 455.9 488.0 (32.1) (6.6%) Gross profit 139.6 148.4 (8.8) (5.9%) Gross profit margin 30.6% 30.4% 0.2% 0.7% Adjusted EBITDA 77.9 72.9 5.0 6.9% Adjusted EBITDA margin 17.1% 14.9% 2.2% 14.8% Adjusted profit for the period 35.4 31.6 3.8 12.0% Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share 0.19 0.18 0.01 5.6%

Revenue was down 32.1 million or 6.6%, year-on-year. Adjusting for currency impacts of 12.5 million and the exit from Russia of 1.6 million, the like for like decline was 3.8% - a 2.3% improvement on the rate of decline in the first quarter of 2016. As has been the case in the past few quarters, the decline in sales was driven by the Company's three largest markets, namely the UK, Italy and to a lesser extent Germany , although each of these markets again showed reduced rates of decline year-on-year compared to the prior quarter.

of 1.6 million, the like for like decline was 3.8% - a 2.3% improvement on the rate of decline in the first quarter of 2016. As has been the case in the past few quarters, the decline in sales was driven by the Company's three largest markets, namely the UK, and to a lesser extent , although each of these markets again showed reduced rates of decline year-on-year compared to the prior quarter. Gross Profit declined 8.8 million compared to the Pro Forma As Adjusted Gross Profit, driven primarily by lower sales volumes and product mix partially offset by favourable pricing impacts.

Gross Profit Margin improved by 0.2% compared to the Pro Forma As Adjusted Gross Profit Margin, driven by favourable pricing impacts, improved trade terms management and a reduction in input costs.

As Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2016 improved by 5.0 million to 77.9 million, representing 17.1% of revenues. This was due to the reduction in Gross Profit as discussed above, offset by 12.1 million lower advertising and promotion ("A&P") investment as the Company re-phased advertising spend to align with the anticipated launch of the new advertising in the second half of the year and 2.1 million lower year-on-year indirect costs as a result of synergy realisation and benefits from the Company's lean reorganisation programme.

improved by 5.0 million to 77.9 million, representing 17.1% of revenues. This was due to the reduction in Gross Profit as discussed above, offset by 12.1 million lower advertising and promotion ("A&P") investment as the Company re-phased advertising spend to align with the anticipated launch of the new advertising in the second half of the year and 2.1 million lower year-on-year indirect costs as a result of synergy realisation and benefits from the Company's lean reorganisation programme. As Adjusted Earnings per Share increased by 1 Euro cent year-on-year, due to the increase in As Adjusted Profit for the period.

Highlights for the six months ended June 30, 2016

Nomad Foods is presenting As Adjusted financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2016. As Adjusted financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2016 includes the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period, adjusted for share based payment charges, exceptional items and non-cash foreign currency translation charges/gains.

For comparative purposes, Nomad Foods is presenting Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2015. Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2015 includes the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period, which includes the results of the Iglo Group from June 1, 2015 and (i) the reported results of the Iglo Group for the five months ended May 31, 2015; and (ii) the consolidated carve out results of the Findus Group for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The Pro Forma As Adjusted results have been normalised for the differential in trading days (excluding the additional day for the leap year in 2016) between year-on-year periods, transaction-related items, exceptional items, foreign currency translation charges/gains and taxation.

Please see the non-IFRS reconciliation tables attached hereto and the schedules accompanying this release for an explanation and reconciliation of the As Adjusted and Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information to the reported results of Nomad Foods.

Financial Information  in millions, except per share data Reported/As Adjusted

for the six months

ended June 30, 2016 Pro Forma As

Adjusted for the six months ended June 30, 2015 Difference % Revenue 1,003.0 1,058.8 (55.8) (5.3%) Gross profit 307.1 327.1 (20.0) (6.1%) Gross profit margin 30.6% 30.9% (0.3%) (1.0%) Adjusted EBITDA 177.7 178.5 (0.8) (0.4%) Adjusted EBITDA margin 17.7% 16.9% 0.8% 4.7% Adjusted profit for the period 88.4 89.8 (1.4) (1.6%) Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share 0.48 0.50 (0.02) (4.0%)

Revenue was down 55.8 million or 5.3%, year-on-year. Adjusting for currency impacts of 18.1 million, the exit from Russia of 2.5 million, an additional trading day in the three months ended March 31, 2016 due to the leap year of (9.5) million and the business acquisition of La Cocinera in Spain of (8.3) million, the like for like decline was 5.0%. As has been the case in the past few quarters, the decline in sales was driven by the Company's three largest markets, namely the UK, Italy and Germany , although each of these markets showed a reduced rate of decline year-on-year compared to the second half of 2015.

of 2.5 million, an additional trading day in the three months ended due to the of (9.5) million and the business acquisition of La Cocinera in of (8.3) million, the like for like decline was 5.0%. As has been the case in the past few quarters, the decline in sales was driven by the Company's three largest markets, namely the UK, and , although each of these markets showed a reduced rate of decline year-on-year compared to the second half of 2015. Gross Profit declined 20.0 million compared to the Pro Forma As Adjusted Gross Profit, driven primarily by lower sales volumes.

Gross Profit Margin declined by 0.3% compared to the Pro Forma As Adjusted Gross Profit Margin, driven by an adverse mix and the dilutive effect of the La Cocinera acquisition, partly offset by favourable pricing, improved trade terms management and a reduction in input costs.

As Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2016 decreased by 0.8 million to 177.7 million, representing 17.7% of revenues. This was due to the reduction in Gross Profit discussed above, offset by 15.0 million lower A&P investment as the Company re-phased advertising spend to align with the anticipated launch of the new advertising in the second half of the year and 3.8 million lower year-on-year indirect costs as a result of synergy realisation and benefits from the Company's lean reorganisation programme.

decreased by 0.8 million to 177.7 million, representing 17.7% of revenues. This was due to the reduction in Gross Profit discussed above, offset by 15.0 million lower A&P investment as the Company re-phased advertising spend to align with the anticipated launch of the new advertising in the second half of the year and 3.8 million lower year-on-year indirect costs as a result of synergy realisation and benefits from the Company's lean reorganisation programme. As Adjusted Earnings per Share decreased by 2 Euro cents year-on-year, due to the decrease in As Adjusted Profit for the period.

Management Comments

Stefan Descheemaeker, Nomad Foods' Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We managed to successfully slow the rate of sales decline for the third successive quarter amidst challenging market conditions and have now halved the rate of decline since the trough in the three months ended September 30, 2015. We have maintained margins and cash generation consistent with our internal outlook. As we continue to implement our strategy and our actions start to reach the market place through the balance of the year, I am encouraged by our progressive quarterly improvement to the top line trend. We are highly confident of delivering our forecast synergies from combining the Findus and Iglo businesses and I am pleased with our progress to date on both integration and footprint consolidation. We remain committed to long-term value creation and I am encouraged with the team spirit being displayed during this turnaround phase."

Noam Gottesman, Nomad Foods' Co-Chairman and Founder, commented, "We believe that Stefan and the whole Nomad Foods team have identified the correct strategy and are making the right decisions. There are encouraging indicators in "Must Win Battles" and we are pleased with our progress to date. Our immediate priority remains stabilizing our top line and further improving our strong foundation to support long-term value creation."

Conference Call

A conference call with members of the executive management team will be held to discuss the results with additional comments and details.

The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday, August 25, 2016. To participate on the live call listeners in North America may dial 888-819-8038 and international listeners may dial 913-312-6670.

Additionally, there will be a presentation to accompany the conference call and the call is being webcast and both can be accessed at Nomad Foods' website at www.nomadfoods.com under Investor Relations. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company website for two weeks following the event and can be accessed by listeners in North America by dialing 877-870-5176 and by international listeners by dialing 858-384-5517; the replay pin number is 8709528.

As Adjusted and Pro Forma As Adjusted Financial Information

As Adjusted financial information presented in this press release is based on the historical financial statements of Nomad Foods. Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information presented in this press release is based on the historical financial statements of Nomad Foods, as well as the historical financial statements of the Iglo Group and the Findus Group and has been prepared to reflect the acquisition of both the Iglo Group and the Findus Group and the changes in the financing structure associated with the acquisition of both Groups. As Adjusted and Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of Nomad Foods included in this press release.

The As Adjusted and Pro Forma adjustments presented herein are based upon certain assumptions that Nomad Foods believes to be reasonable. As Adjusted and Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the combined financial position or results of operations that would have been realized had the acquisition of the Iglo Group or the Findus Group occurred on an earlier date, nor is it meant to be indicative of any anticipated combined financial position or future results of operations that the combined group will experience. The Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information was not prepared in accordance with the SEC's rules and standards relating to pro forma financial information and does not reflect the cost of any integration or benefits from the acquisition of the Iglo Group and Findus Group that may be derived in the future.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Nomad Foods also utilizes certain additional key performance indicators described below. Nomad Foods believe these indicators provide an important alternative measure with which to monitor and evaluate the Company's ongoing financial results, as well as to reflect its acquisitions. Nomad Foods' calculation of EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA margin, As Adjusted profit, As Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share, revenue adjusted for certain items, Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information and As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax may be different from the calculations used by other companies and comparability may therefore be limited. EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA margin, As Adjusted profit, As Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share, revenue adjusted for certain items, Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information and As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax are non-IFRS measures and you should not consider them an alternative or substitute for Profit or Loss after tax as a measure of operating performance.

EBITDA is Profit/Loss before tax for the period before net financing costs, depreciation and amortization. As Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted to remove the impact of share based payment charges, exceptional items, charges relating to the Founders Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount, charges relating to the redemption of warrants and other similar items. Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA is As Adjusted EBITDA further adjusted to add the results of the Iglo Group and Findus Group to the reported results of Nomad Foods for periods when the Iglo Group and the Findus Group, respectively, were not owned by Nomad Foods. As Adjusted Operating cash flow before tax is As Adjusted EBITDA adjusted for working capital movement, movements in employee benefits and provisions and capital expenditures.

We believe EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA and As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax are useful indicators and can assist securities analysts, investors and other parties to perform their own evaluations. Accordingly, the information has been disclosed to permit a more complete and comprehensive analysis of our operating performance. EBITDA and similar measures are used by different companies for different purposes and are often calculated in ways that reflect the individual needs and circumstances of these companies. You should exercise caution in comparing EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA and As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax with similarly titled measures of other companies. EBITDA, As Adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA and As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax are not measures of liquidity or performance calculated in accordance with IFRS and should be viewed as a supplement to, not a substitute for, our results of operations presented in accordance with IFRS.

About Nomad Foods Limited

Nomad Foods (NYSE: NOMD) is a leading frozen foods company building a global portfolio of best-in-class food companies and brands within the frozen category and across the broader food sector. Nomad Foods produces, markets and distributes brands in 17 countries and has the leading market share in Western Europe. The Company's portfolio of leading frozen food brands includes Birds Eye, Iglo, and Findus. More information on Nomad Foods Limited is available at http://www.nomadfoods.com.

Nomad Foods Limited As Reported Statement of Profit or Loss (unaudited) Three months ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015



Three months ended June 30, 2016  millions Three months ended June 30, 2015  millions Revenue 455.9 102.8 Cost of sales (316.3) (95.9) Gross profit 139.6 6.9 Other operating expenses (74.8) (19.2) Charge related to Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount - (348.6) Exceptional items (55.1) (20.9) Operating profit/(loss) 9.7 (381.8) Finance income 3.6 0.9 Finance costs (21.5) (15.0) Net financing costs (17.9) (14.1) Loss before tax (8.2) (395.9) Taxation 0.9 (0.7) Loss for the period attributable to Parent Company (7.3) (396.6)











Basic and diluted loss per share



Loss for the period in  millions (7.3) (396.6) Weighted average shares outstanding 183,570,821 89,935,672 Basic and diluted loss per share in  (0.04) (4.41)







Nomad Foods Limited As Reported Statement of Profit or Loss (unaudited) Six months ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2015



Six months ended June 30, 2016  millions Six months ended June 30, 2015  millions Revenue 1,003.0 102.8 Cost of sales (695.9) (95.9) Gross profit 307.1 6.9 Other operating expenses (154.8) (19.4) Charge related to Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount - (492.2) Exceptional items (78.2) (21.5) Operating profit/(loss) 74.1 (526.2) Finance income 19.2 0.9 Finance costs (42.8) (15.0) Net financing costs (23.6) (14.1) Profit/(loss) before tax 50.5 (540.3) Taxation (15.6) (0.7) Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to Parent Company 34.9 (541.0)











Basic earnings/(loss) per share



Profit/(loss) for the period in  millions 34.9 (541.0) Weighted average shares outstanding 183,348,069 69,980,337 Basic earnings/(loss) per share in  0.19 (7.73)











Diluted earnings/(loss) per share



Profit/(loss) for the period in  millions 34.9 (541.0) Weighted average shares outstanding 183,380,256 69,980,337 Diluted earnings/(loss) per share in  0.19 (7.73)

Nomad Foods Limited As Reported Statement of Financial Position As at June 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015 (audited)





As at June 30, 2016  millions As at December 31, 2015  millions

Non-current assets





Goodwill 1,688.7 1,676.8

Intangibles 1,726.9 1,729.6

Property, plant and equipment 300.1 318.2

Other receivables 0.3 -

Deferred tax assets 58.6 60.6

Total non-current assets 3,774.6 3,785.2









Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents 505.6 618.7

Inventories 285.6 319.6

Trade and other receivables 113.7 118.7

Indemnification assets 61.3 77.8

Capitalized borrowing costs 5.0 5.0

Derivative financial instruments 5.5 4.7

Total current assets 976.7 1,144.5

Total assets 4,751.3 4,929.7









Current liabilities





Bank overdrafts 232.0 432.6

Derivative financial instruments 3.6 1.4

Current tax payable 114.7 97.7

Trade and other payables 404.3 422.3

Provisions 108.8 86.7

Total current liabilities 863.4 1,040.7









Non-current liabilities





Loans and borrowings 1,457.8 1,491.1

Employee benefits 213.7 168.9

Trade and other payables 1.4 1.6

Deferred tax liabilities 326.3 339.3

Total non-current liabilities 1,999.2 2,000.9

Total liabilities 2,862.6 3,041.6









Net assets 1,888.7 1,888.1









Equity attributable to equity holders





Share capital - -

Capital reserve 1,800.5 1,762.4

Share based compensation reserve 0.7 0.1

Founder Preferred Share Dividend reserve 493.4 531.5

Translation reserve 80.7 84.5

Cash flow hedging reserve 2.2 1.1

Accumulated deficit (488.8) (491.5)

Total equity 1,888.7 1,888.1

Nomad Foods Limited As Reported Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the six months ended June 30, 2015





For the six months ended

June 30, 2016  millions For the six months ended

June 30, 2015  millions

Cash flows from operating activities Profit/(loss) for the period 34.9 (541.0)

Reconciliation of profit/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:





Exceptional items 78.2 21.5

Non-cash charge related to Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount and Warranty Redemption Amount - 492.2

Non-cash fair value purchase price adjustment of inventory - 26.0

Share based payment expense 0.6 -

Depreciation and amortization 24.8 2.7

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 0.2 -

Finance costs 42.8 15.0

Finance income (19.2) (0.9)

Taxation 15.6 0.7

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital, provisions and exceptional items 177.9 16.2

Decrease/(increase) in inventories 25.2 (4.1)

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables (3.7) 24.7

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables (8.3) 22.7

(Decrease)/increase in employee benefits and other provisions (2.0) 0.4

Cash generated from operations before tax and exceptional items 189.1 59.9

Cash flows relating to exceptional items (32.0) (73.0)

Tax paid (5.4) (1.4)

Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities 151.7 (14.5)









Cash flows from investing activities





Purchase of Iglo, net of cash acquired - (682.1)

Contingent consideration for purchase of Frudesa brand (8.0) -

Purchase of property, plant and equipment (12.2) (1.6)

Purchase of intangibles (0.1) -

Purchase of portfolio investments - (320.6)

Redemption of portfolio investments - 178.3

Net cash used in investing activities (20.3) (826.0)









Cash flows from financing activities





Proceeds from issuance of Ordinary Shares - 1,014.2

Repayment of loan principal - (490.0)

Net payment of finance leases (0.4) -

Payment of financing fees - (5.4)

Interest paid (35.5) (11.5)

Interest received 4.6 0.1

Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities (31.3) 507.4









Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 100.1 (333.1)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 186.1 402.2

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations (12.6) 60.1

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period(a) 273.6 129.2









(a) Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank of 505.6 million less bank overdrafts of 232.0 million (June 30, 2015: cash at bank of 608.0 million less bank overdrafts of 478.8 million).

Nomad Foods Limited As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions, except per share data)

The following table reconciles As Adjusted financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2016 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period.

As Adjusted Statement of Profit or Loss (unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016

 in millions, except per share data As reported for the

three months ended

June 30, 2016 Adjustments

As Adjusted for the

three months ended

June 30, 2016









Revenue 455.9 -

455.9 Cost of sales (316.3) -

(316.3) Gross profit 139.6 -

139.6 Other operating expenses (74.8) 0.4 (a) (74.4) Exceptional items (55.1) 55.1 (b) - Operating profit 9.7 55.5

65.2 Finance income 3.6 (1.3)

2.3 Finance costs (21.5) -

(21.5) Net financing costs (17.9) (1.3) (c) (19.2) (Loss)/profit before tax (8.2) 54.2

46.0 Taxation 0.9 (11.5) (d) (10.6) (Loss)/profit for the period (7.3) 42.7

35.4









Weighted average shares outstanding - basic(e) 183,570,821



183,570,821 Basic (loss)/earnings per share (0.04)



0.19









Weighted average shares outstanding  diluted(f) 183,570,821



183,600,409 Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (0.04)



0.19









(a) Adjustment to add back share based payment charge. (b) Adjustment to add back exceptional items which management believes do not have a continuing impact. See table 'EBITDA and As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) three months ended June 30, 2016' for a detailed list of exceptional items. (c) Adjustment to eliminate (1.3) million of non-cash foreign exchange translation gains. (d) Adjustment to reflect the tax impact of the above at the applicable tax rate for each exceptional item, determined by the nature of the item and the jurisdiction in which it arises. (e) Basic weighted average shares outstanding includes the 2015 Non-Executive Directors Restricted Stock Award shares from the date of vesting. (f) Diluted weighted average shares outstanding has been adjusted by the dilutive impact of the 2015 and 2016 Non-Executive Directors Restricted Stock Awards.

Nomad Foods Limited As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions)



The following table reconciles EBITDA and As Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2016 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period.

EBITDA and As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, 2016



 in millions As reported for the

three months

ended June 30,

2016



Loss before tax (8.2)



Net financing costs 17.9



Depreciation 11.0



Amortization 1.7



EBITDA 22.4











Exceptional items:





Transactions related costs 0.7 (a)

Costs related to management incentive plans 0.7 (b)

Investigation of strategic opportunities 1.6 (c)

Supply chain reconfiguration 39.7 (d)

Other restructuring costs (0.9) (e)

Integration costs 8.3 (f)

Remeasurement of indemnification assets 5.0 (g)









Other Adjustments:





Share based payment charge 0.4 (h)









As Adjusted EBITDA(I) 77.9











Working capital movement 20.2



Decrease in employee benefits and other provisions (0.7)



Capital expenditure (6.5)



As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax 90.9



(a) Elimination of costs incurred in relation to completed acquisitions. (b) Adjustment to eliminate long term management incentive scheme costs from prior ownership. (c) Elimination of costs incurred in relation to investigation of strategic opportunities for the combined group following acquisition by the Company and other items considered non-recurring. (d) Elimination of supply chain reconfiguration costs, namely the closure of the Bjuv factory. (e) Elimination of other restructuring costs associated with operating locations. (f) Elimination of costs recognized by Nomad Foods relating to the integration of the Findus Group. (g) Adjustment to reflect the remeasurement of the indemnification assets recognized on the acquisition of the Findus Group, which is capped at the value of shares held in escrow at the share price as at June 30, 2016. (h) Elimination of share payment charge relating to the Nomad Foods 2015 Long Term Incentive Plan (i) As Adjusted EBITDA margin 17.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2016 is calculated by dividing As Adjusted EBITDA by As Adjusted revenue.

Nomad Foods Limited Pro Forma As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions, except per share data)

The following table reconciles Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2015 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period.

Pro Forma As Adjusted Statement of Profit or Loss (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, 2015

 in millions, except per share data As reported for

the three

months ended

June 30, 2015 Add Iglo

Group

unaudited

results for the

two months

ended May 31,

2015 Add Findus

Group unaudited

results for the

three months

ended June 30,

2015 Combined Adjustments

Combined

Pro Forma

As Adjusted

for the three

months

ended June

30, 2015

Revenue 102.8 242.8 150.6 496.2 (8.2) (a) 488.0

Cost of sales (95.9) (159.4) (116.3) (371.6) 32.0 (b) (339.6)

Gross profit 6.9 83.4 34.3 124.6 23.8

148.4

Other operating expenses (19.2) (46.7) (24.2) (90.1) 1.5 (c) (88.6)

Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount (348.6) - - (348.6) 348.6 (d) -

Exceptional items (20.9) (63.7) 3.3 (81.3) 81.3 (e) -

Operating (loss)/profit (381.8) (27.0) 13.4 (395.4) 455.2

59.8

Finance income 0.9 1.6 1.2 3.7 (2.1)

1.6

Finance costs (15.0) (48.0) (4.3) (67.3) 46.9

(20.4)

Net financing costs (14.1) (46.4) (3.1) (63.6) 44.8 (f) (18.8)

(Loss)/profit before tax (395.9) (73.4) 10.3 (459.0) 500.0

41.0

Taxation (0.7) (48.4) (2.9) (52.0) 42.6 (g) (9.4)

(Loss)/profit for the period (396.6) (121.8) 7.4 (511.0) 542.6

31.6



















Weighted average shares outstanding  basic and diluted(h) 89,935,672









179,342,960

Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share (4.41)









0.18





















(a) Adjustments to (i) decrease revenue by (8.1) million for the differential in trading days between year-on-year periods, (ii) eliminate a 0.1 million credit from intercompany trade between the Findus Group and Iglo Group for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and (iii) reflect accounting policy alignment between Findus Group and Nomad Foods policies to reclassify (0.2) million of advertising and promotion expenses from other operating expenses for the Findus Group three month period. (b) Adjustments to (i) decrease cost of sales by 5.1 million for the differential in trading days between year-on-year periods, (ii) add back 26.0 million non-cash charge related to the increase in inventory fair value recorded as part of the Iglo Group's purchase price accounting (PPA); (iii) increase depreciation expense by (0.4) million net to reflect the Iglo and Findus PPA adjustments to the fair value of property, plant and equipment, (iv) eliminate (0.1) million of intercompany trade between the Findus Group and Iglo Group for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and (v) reverse a 1.4 million non-cash Iglo acquisition accounting adjustment relating to the discontinuation of hedge accounting on acquired derivatives. (c) Adjustments to (i) reflect (0.6) million incremental amortization on the increase in the fair value uplift of brands and customer lists recorded as part of the Findus acquisition PPA (there was no increase in the value of definite life intangible assets as part of the Iglo Group PPA); (ii) reflect a reduction of 0.2 million of amortization based on the fair valuation of intangible assets acquired with the Iglo Group; (iii) eliminate a 1.7 million Findus prior ownership corporate charge; and (iv) reflect accounting policy alignment between the Findus Group and Nomad Foods policies to reclassify 0.2 million of advertising and promotion expenses to revenue and increasing expense by (nil) million, net, relating to the capitalization of new product development costs of 0.3 million and related amortization of (0.3) million. (d) Adjustment to add back a Nomad Foods 348.6 million non-cash charge relating to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount. (e) Adjustment to add back exceptional items, which management believes are not representative of the Company's operations. See table 'Pro Forma EBITDA and Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) three months ended June 30, 2015' for a detailed list of exceptional items. (f) Adjustment of 26.3 million to restate net financing costs to reflect the new debt structure put in place with the Iglo Acquisition and the financing of the Findus Acquisition and to eliminate 18.5 million of non-cash foreign exchange translation charges. (g) Adjustment to reflect the tax impact of the above at the applicable tax rate for each exceptional item, determined by the nature of the item and the jurisdiction in which it arises. (h) Pro Forma As Adjusted weighted average shares assumes all shares issued in connection with the acquisitions or for which the proceeds were used to complete acquisitions were issued as of January 1, 2015. All other adjustments for weighting are based on actual issuance date.

Nomad Foods Limited Pro Forma As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions)

















The following table reconciles Pro Forma EBITDA and Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2015 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period.











Pro Forma EBITDA and Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, 2015

















 in millions As reported for the

three months

ended June 30,

2015 Add Iglo Group

unaudited as

reported for the

two months ended

May 31, 2015 Add Findus

Group unaudited

results for the

three months

ended June 30,

2015

Combined Pro

Forma As

Adjusted for the

three months

ended June 30,

2015 (Loss)/profit before tax (395.9) (73.4) 10.3

(459.0) Net financing costs 14.1 46.4 3.1

63.6 Depreciation 2.5 5.0 3.9

11.4 Amortization 0.2 0.5 0.6

1.3 EBITDA (379.1) (21.5) 17.9

(382.7)











Exceptional items:









Transactions related costs 20.9 3.8 - (a) 24.7 Purchase price adjustments to intangible assets - 55.0 - (b) 55.0 Costs related to management incentive plans - 2.8 - (c) 2.8 Investigation of strategic opportunities - 1.5 - (d) 1.5 Cisterna fire net costs - 0.6 - (e) 0.6 Restructuring costs - - 6.5 (f) 6.5 Gain on purchase of La Cocinera - - (9.8) (g) (9.8)











Other Adjustments:









Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption(h)







348.6 Iglo(i)







24.4 Findus(j)







1.3











Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA(k)







72.9













(a) Elimination of costs incurred in relation to completed and potential acquisitions. (b) Elimination of charges at the Iglo Group level related to the purchase price exercise on the acquisition of the Iglo Group. At the Nomad Foods level, this adjustment is recognized within goodwill, but at the Iglo Group level it is reported within profit or loss. (c) Adjustment to eliminate long term management incentive scheme costs from prior ownership. (d) Adjustment to add back strategic review costs incurred at Iglo Group under prior ownership which are considered non-recurring. (e) Elimination of incremental operational costs incurred as a result of a fire in August 2014 in the Iglo Group's Italian production facility which produces Findus branded stock for sale in Italy. This is shown net of insurance income received from insurance claims. (f) Add back of restructuring costs incurred by the Findus Group in relation to various countries. (g) Adjustment to eliminate bargain purchase gain recognized by the Findus Group on the April 2015 acquisition of La Cocinera in the three months ended June 30, 2015. (h) Adjustment to eliminate a 348.6 million non-cash charge related to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount. (i) Adjustments to (i) decrease EBITDA by (3.0) million for the differential in trading days between year-on-year periods, (ii) add back 26.0 million non-cash charge related to the increase in inventory fair value recorded as part of the Iglo Group's purchase price accounting (PPA) and (iii) eliminate a 1.4 million non-cash acquisition accounting adjustment relating to the discontinuation of hedge accounting on acquired derivatives. (j) Adjustments to reflect accounting policy alignments between Findus Group and Nomad Foods policies; specifically expensing (0.4) million of capitalized new product development costs and internal labor costs and eliminating a 1.7 million prior ownership corporate charge. (k) Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA margin 14.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 is calculated by dividing Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA by Combined Pro Forma As Adjusted revenue.

Nomad Foods Limited As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions, except per share data)

The following table reconciles As Adjusted financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2016 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period.

As Adjusted Statement of Profit or Loss (unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2016  in millions, except per share data As reported for the six months ended June 30, 2016 Adjustments

As Adjusted for the six months ended June 30, 2016









Revenue 1,003.0 -

1,003.0 Cost of sales (695.9) -

(695.9) Gross profit 307.1 -

307.1 Other operating expenses (154.8) 0.6 (a) (154.2) Exceptional items (78.2) 78.2 (b) - Operating profit 74.1 78.8

152.9 Finance income 19.2 (14.5)

4.7 Finance costs (42.8) -

(42.8) Net financing costs (23.6) (14.5) (c) (38.1) Profit before tax 50.5 64.3

114.8 Taxation (15.6) (10.8) (d) (26.4) Profit for the period 34.9 53.5

88.4









Weighted average shares outstanding - basic(e) 183,348,069



183,348,069 Basic earnings per share 0.19



0.48









Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted(f) 183,380,256



183,380,256 Diluted earnings per share 0.19



0.48











(a) Adjustment to add back share based payment charge. (b) Adjustment to add back exceptional items which management believes do not have a continuing impact. See table 'EBITDA and As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) six months ended June 30, 2016' for a detailed list of exceptional items. (c) Adjustment to eliminate (14.5) million of non-cash foreign exchange translation gains. (d) Adjustment to reflect the tax impact of the above at the applicable tax rate for each exceptional item, determined by the nature of the item and the jurisdiction in which it arises. (e) Basic weighted average shares outstanding includes shares issued as a dividend against Founder Preferred Shares in January 2016 and 2015 Non-Executive Restricted Stock Award shares from date of vesting. (f) Diluted weighted average shares outstanding has been adjusted by the dilutive impact of the 2015 and 2016 Non-Executive Restricted Stock Awards.

Nomad Foods Limited As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions)

The following table reconciles EBITDA and As Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2016 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period:

EBITDA and As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2016



 in millions As reported for the

six months ended

June 30, 2016



Profit before tax 50.5



Net financing costs 23.6



Depreciation 21.5



Amortization 3.3



EBITDA 98.9











Exceptional items:





Transactions related costs 1.7 (a)

Costs related to management incentive plans 1.9 (b)

Investigation of strategic opportunities 5.4 (c)

Cisterna fire costs 0.3 (d)

Supply chain reconfiguration 39.7 (e)

Other restructuring costs (0.9) (f)

Integration costs 12.5 (g)

Remeasurement of indemnification assets 17.6 (h)









Other Adjustments:





Share based payment charge 0.6 (i)









As Adjusted EBITDA(j) 177.7











Working capital movement 13.2



Increase in employee benefits and other provisions (2.0)



Capital expenditure (12.3)



As Adjusted operating cash flow before tax 176.6



(a) Elimination of costs incurred in relation to completed acquisitions. (b) Adjustment to eliminate long term management incentive scheme costs from prior ownership. (c) Elimination of costs incurred in relation to investigation of strategic opportunities for the combined group following acquisition by the Company and other items considered non-recurring. (d) Adjustment to add back incremental costs incurred as a result of an August 2014 fire in the Iglo Group's Italian production facility. (e) Elimination of supply chain reconfiguration costs, namely the closure of the Bjuv factory. (f) Elimination of other restructuring costs associated with operating locations. (g) Elimination of costs recognized by Nomad Foods relating to the integration of the Findus Group. (h) Adjustment to reflect the remeasurement of the indemnification assets recognized on the acquisition of the Findus Group, which is capped at the value of shares held in escrow at the share price as at June 30, 2016. (i) Elimination of share payment charge relating to the Nomad Foods 2015 Long Term Incentive Plan (j) As Adjusted EBITDA margin 17.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2016 is calculated by dividing As Adjusted EBITDA by As Adjusted revenue.

Nomad Foods Limited Pro Forma As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions, except per share data)

The following table reconciles Pro Forma As Adjusted financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2015 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period:

Pro Forma As Adjusted Statement of Profit or Loss (unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2015



 in millions, except per share data As reported for

the six months

ended June 30,

2015 Add Iglo

Group

unaudited

results for the

five months

ended May 31,

2015 Add Findus

Group

unaudited

results for the

six months

ended June 30,

2015 Combined Adjustments

Combined Pro

Forma As

Adjusted for the

six months

ended June 30,

2015

Revenue 102.8 640.3 310.3 1,053.4 5.4 (a) 1,058.8

Cost of sales (95.9) (417.9) (240.5) (754.3) 22.6 (b) (731.7)

Gross profit 6.9 222.4 69.8 299.1 28.0

327.1

Other operating expenses (19.4) (109.5) (47.2) (176.1) 3.1 (c) (173.0)

Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount (492.2) - - (492.2) 492.2 (d) -

Exceptional items (21.5) (84.3) 1.2 (104.6) 104.6 (e) -

Operating (loss)/profit (526.2) 28.6 23.8 (473.8) 627.9

154.1

Finance income 0.9 2.0 3.3 6.2 (3.0)

3.2

Finance costs (15.0) (117.7) (13.8) (146.5) 105.7

(40.8)

Net financing costs (14.1) (115.7) (10.5) (140.3) 102.7 (f) (37.6)

(Loss)/profit before tax (540.3) (87.1) 13.3 (614.1) 730.6

116.5

Taxation (0.7) (40.9) (3.8) (45.4) 18.7 (g) (26.7)

(Loss)/profit for the period (541.0) (128.0) 9.5 (659.5) 749.3

89.8



















Weighted average shares outstanding  basic and diluted(h) 69,980,337









179,315,200

Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share (7.73)









0.50



































(a) Adjustments to (i) increase revenue by 6.6 million for the differential in trading days between year-on-year periods, (ii) eliminate (0.4) million of intercompany trade between the Findus Group and Iglo Group for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and (iii) reflect accounting policy alignment between Findus Group and Nomad Food policies to reclassify (0.8) million of advertising and promotion expenses from other operating expenses for the Findus Group six month period. (b) Adjustments to (i) increase cost of sales by (4.2) million for the differential in trading days between year-on-year periods, (ii) increase depreciation expense by (1.0) million net to reflect purchase price accounting (PPA) adjustments to the fair value of property, plant and equipment, (iii) eliminate 0.4 million of intercompany trade between the Findus Group and Iglo Group for the six months ended June 30, 2015, (iv) add back 26.0 million non-cash charge related to the increase in inventory fair value recorded as part of the Iglo Group's purchase price accounting (PPA) and (v) reverse a 1.4 million non-cash Iglo acquisition accounting adjustment relating to the discontinuation of hedge accounting on acquired derivatives. (c) Adjustments to (i) reflect (1.1) million incremental amortization on the increase in the fair value uplift of brands and customer lists recorded as part of the Findus acquisition PPA (there was no increase in the value of definite life intangible assets as part of the Iglo Group PPA); (ii) reflect a reduction of 0.5 million of amortization based on the fair valuation of intangible assets acquired with the Iglo Group; (iii) eliminate a 3.1 million Findus prior ownership corporate charge; and, (iv) reflect accounting policy alignment between Findus Group and Nomad Foods policies to reclassify 0.7 million of advertising and promotion expenses to revenue and increase expense by (0.1) million, net, relating to the capitalization of new product development costs and related amortization. (d) Adjustment to add back a Nomad Foods 492.2 million non-cash charge relating to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount. (e) Adjustment to add back exceptional items, which management believes do not have a continuing impact. See table 'Pro Forma EBITDA and Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) six months ended June 30, 2015' for a detailed list of exceptional items. (f) Adjustment of 67.8 million to restate net financing costs to reflect the new debt structure put in place with the Iglo Acquisition and the financing of the Findus Acquisition and to eliminate 34.9 million of non-cash foreign exchange translation charges. (g) Adjustment to reflect the tax impact of the above at the applicable tax rate for each exceptional item, determined by the nature of the item and the jurisdiction in which it arises. (h) Pro Forma As Adjusted weighted average shares assumes all shares issued in connection with the acquisitions or for which the proceeds were used to complete acquisitions were issued as of January 1, 2015. All other adjustments for weighting are based on actual issuance date.

Nomad Foods Limited Pro Forma As Adjusted Financial Information (In  millions)

The following table reconciles Pro Forma EBITDA and Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2015 to the reported results of Nomad Foods for such period:

Pro Forma EBITDA and Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA (unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2015













 in millions As reported

for the six

months ended

June 30, 2015 Add Iglo

Group

unaudited as

reported for

the five

months ended

May 31, 2015 Add Findus

Group

unaudited

results for the

six months

ended June

30, 2015

Combined

Pro Forma

As Adjusted

for the six

months ended

June 30, 2015 (Loss)/profit before tax (540.3) (87.1) 13.3

(614.1) Net financing costs 14.1 115.7 10.5

140.3 Depreciation 2.5 11.3 7.3

21.1 Amortization 0.2 1.2 1.0

2.4 EBITDA (523.5) 41.1 32.1

(450.3)











Exceptional items:









Transactions related costs 21.5 3.8 - (a) 25.3 Purchase price adjustments to intangible assets - 55.0 - (b) 55.0 Costs related to management incentive plans - 22.9 - (c) 22.9 Investigation of strategic opportunities - 1.3 - (d) 1.3 Cisterna fire net costs - 1.3 - (e) 1.3 Restructuring costs - - 7.7 (f) 7.7 Gain on purchase of La Cocinera - - (9.8) (g) (9.8)











Other costs - - 0.9 (h) 0.9











Other Adjustments:









Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption(i)







492.2 Iglo(j)







29.8 Findus(k)







2.2











Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA(l)







178.5













(a) Elimination of costs incurred in relation to completed and potential acquisitions. (b) Elimination of charges at the Iglo Group level related to the purchase price exercise on the acquisition of the Iglo Group. At the Nomad Foods level, this adjustment is recognized within goodwill, but at the Iglo Group level it is reported within profit or loss. (c) Adjustment to eliminate long term management incentive scheme costs from prior ownership. (d) Adjustment to add back strategic review costs incurred at Iglo Group under prior ownership considered non-recurring. (e) Elimination of incremental operational costs incurred as a result of a fire in August 2014 in the Iglo Group's Italian production facility which produces Findus branded stock for sale in Italy. This is shown net of insurance income received from insurance claims. (f) Add back of restructuring costs incurred by the Findus Group in relation to various countries. (g) Adjustment to eliminate bargain purchase gain recognized by the Findus Group on the April 2015 acquisition of La Cocinera in the three months ended June 30, 2015. (h) Elimination of other costs recognized by the Findus Group, mainly relating to an emissions permit penalty. (i) Adjustment to eliminate a 492.2 million non-cash charge related to the Founder Preferred Shares Annual Dividend Amount & Warrant Redemption Amount. (j) Adjustments to (i) increase EBITDA by 2.4 million for the differential in trading days between year on year periods, (ii) add back 26.0 million non-cash charge related to the increase in inventory fair value recorded as part of the Iglo Group's purchase price accounting (PPA) and (iii) eliminate a 1.4 million non-cash acquisition accounting adjustment relating to the discontinuation of hedge accounting on acquired derivatives. (k) Adjustments to reflect accounting policy alignments between Findus Group and Nomad Foods policies; specifically (i) expensing (0.9) million of capitalized new product development costs and internal labor costs and (ii) eliminating a 3.1 million prior ownership corporate charge. (l) Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA margin 16.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2015 is calculated by dividing Pro Forma As Adjusted EBITDA by Combined Pro Forma As Adjusted revenue.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements which are based on the Company's expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts, including expectations regarding (i) the Company's ability to expand its presence in the frozen foods market; (ii) the success of the Company's strategic initiatives; (iii) completion of successful acquisitions in the same and adjacent categories; (iv) the future operating and financial performance of the Company; (v) synergies from combining the Findus and Iglo businesses and (vi) the success of the unified Findus brand. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including (i) economic conditions, competition and other risks that may affect the Company's future performance; (ii) the risk that securities markets will react negatively to actions by the Company; (iii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits to the Company of strategic opportunities; (iv) the successful completion of strategic acquisitions; (v) changes in applicable laws or regulations; and (vi) the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's public filings and any other public disclosures by the Company. Given these risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No Offer or Solicitation

This release and referenced conference call is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or an invitation to subscribe for, purchase or exchange, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this press release in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

SOURCE Nomad Foods Limited

Related Links

http://www.nomadfoods.com


To put this staggering number into perspective, that's more attendance than the Indianapolis 500, Super Bowl and NASCAR Daytona race combined. That's six times the fans as a packed OSU Horseshoe during the same October schedule.

The AAQHC hosts activities for all ages, including the largest intercollegiate and Junior Horse Judging contest with more than 60 teams participating. The AAQHC awards nearly $3 million in cash and prizes with more than 21,000 horse show entries.

Dr. Scott Myers, Executive Director of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association discusses the importance of keeping the world class event in central Ohio. "The AAQHC is reliant on central Ohio businesses to be a positive force to continue the success of the event in future years."

With the evolution of technology and urbanization in our country, one may not realize that the equine industry is a booming business. The direct impact of the horse industry results in more than $39 billion of direct economic impact, pushing beyond an estimated $102 billion when the multiplier effect is considered by industry suppliers and employees nationwide. Via travel, dining, shopping, general expenditures and more, The AAQHC commands more than $250 million (more than $10 million per day) generated towards the Columbus area economy during 25 day event each October.

In comparison, the Ohio State Fair, which is consistently ranked in the top 10 state fairs by USA Today and Travel Channel respectively, has more than 30% higher attendance than AAQHC yet only a third of the state economic lift. (Ohio State Fair = $68.5 million versus All American Quarter Horse Congress = $250 million)

Exploring what makes the AAQHC such a globally recognized phenomenon in the equine industry becomes all the more perplexing when you realize two more amazing statistics.

Only eight full-time employees manage, organize and facilitate the entire event and organization from a rural community within Union county . Every October hundreds of temporary staff follow the well-orchestrated plan of complete customer service and entertainment experience by this small team located within Richwood , Ohio. (pop. 2,213 as of 2013). All sales, processing and cash flow for this massive global event is managed by a local community bank with six locations in central Ohio , Richwood Bank.

Dr. Scott Myers discusses the small town partnership success of global impact. "Our history and strategic vision are similar. Genuine commitment and dedication to our customers and the industries we serve and love."

So why choose a local community bank to service the Ohio Quarter Horse Association (OQHA) and events all year round when your economic impact is even larger than the LeBron effect? Dr. Myers responds with solid reasoning.

"We are neighbors with very similar, parallel foundations. We humbly serve our communities and state proudly. We both are perceived as 'smaller entities' all the while making a large impact at local, state, national levels and beyond. We both have the technology growth to stand as leaders in any geographic location yet choose to stay rooted firmly within our history."

Chad Hoffman, the CEO and President of Richwood Bank concurs while expanding on Dr. Myers' comments. "We appreciate the long partnership we've continuously earned with the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. Our values are very complimentary as we both strive to make our services memorable for each other. We've joined together as partners to create the best solutions possible for our shared consumers so they may have exceeded service, not only in October but all year, every year."

Dr. Myers explains that many people assume you need a large, corporate bank to have the tools or resources to maintain a $250 million dollar impact. It is just not so when you dedicate resources to the evolving task of banking.

"When you have more than 650,000 customers, innovative banking services are is essential for success  especially in the heart of a top 35 marketing area of more than a million households. We choose Richwood Bank because they support our goals and we always receive the best customer service possible. Our patrons assume we have a global banking partner, but in reality we have something better. Richwood Bank wants us to succeed like we do and act as an extended arm to our team."

Hoffman affirms while explaining the allied motivation. "Maybe it's the same goals for our community and state. We both want to make Ohio proud of the advancements we've made while remaining personable to our clients. We want everyone to understand that you can have the best technology and personalized relationships without choosing one over the other. It is truly possible to have both. That's when the synergy occurs. That's why we've been here with OQHA every step of the way."

OQHA's accomplishments over the past 50 years have been innovatively blending the horse industry and Ohio community ties to create a top notch event. By continuing the partnership with Richwood Bank, OQHA and the AAQHC plans to grow even more in the next 50 years.

Tickets are available now. Learn more about American Quarter Horse Association, All American Quarter Horse Congress, Ohio Quarter Horse Association or Richwood Bank.

Media Contact:

Heather Wirtz

1-740-9432317

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401229

SOURCE Richwood Bank

Related Links

http://www.richwoodbank.com


LONDON, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

New poll of students and parents reveals financial challenges facing UK students during the first term

Over half (51%) of students spend their student maintenance loan before the end of the first term

Over two thirds (68%) of students admitted to needing financial support from their parents

One in three students expect to "never" pay off their student loan

A quarter of parents (25%) have never spoken to their children about managing their finances at university

As students across the UK are primed to start the university year, new research from the Institute of Inertia -a partnership between the University of Sheffield and comparethemarket.com - has revealed the extent of their spending habits, with a staggering one in ten (11%) set to spend their student loan (the equivalent of 2700*) within the first two weeks of term; more than half (51%) to spend it all before the end of term; and a quarter (28%) to fall into their overdraft.

The new survey polled students and parents of students currently at university and found that, despite the appearance of their bank balance by the end of the term, students are surprisingly self-assured when it comes to their financial management skills.

In fact, 89% stated that they feel confident when it comes to managing their student loan, which they receive three times a year (once a term) to cover their living costs. However, a large majority of students said that the lump sum student loan deposit wasn't the ideal format, with four in five (80%) stating that they would rather receive this payment in smaller instalments throughout the term.

To counter any lack of financial management, the same poll reveals that students are relying on family ties to help get them through tight times during the term, with two thirds (68%) turning to the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' for financial support.

While this parental financial support might provide temporary relief to stretched students, the difficulty many are having with managing their finances - resulting in a range of subsequent financial issues - could stem from a lack of basic money skills. While a quarter (25%) of parents admitted to never having spoken to their children about managing their finances before going to university, over half (55%) stated that their child/children would benefit from expert financial guidance before going to university.

Dr Thomas Webb, a social psychologist at the University of Sheffield and Chair of the Institute of Inertia, said:

"This research clearly points to the challenges that students encounter when managing their finances whilst at university, with more than half of students spending their loan before the end of term. This finding likely attests to the often-cited 'gap' between peoples' good intentions - in this instance, to make their money last - and action.

"However, the survey also points to the need for strategies to support students, with University often the first time that they gain financial independence. The Student Loans Company's policy of providing the loan to students for the first term in one lump sum - rather than in instalments, which four fifths of students said they would prefer - no doubt contributes to the difficulties that students face in making their money last."

When it comes to sensible student spending habits, parents are optimistic that "studying comes first", with more parents believing that their child spends their student loan on books (34%), rather than booze (31%).

However, over a quarter (29%) of parents across the UK believe that their children have lied to them about what they are spending their student loan on (just 19% of students admitted to lying to their parents). Highlighting a difference in opinions between the heads of the household, almost a third (32%) of dads thought that their child/children had lied to them about their university spending, compared to a quarter (26%) of mums.

Looking beyond university, the survey also found that students are more pessimistic than their parents about being able to pay off their student loan; one in three (29%) thought that they would "never" pay off their student loan - a possibility that just 12% of parents agreed with.

Jody Baker, Head of Money at comparethemarket.com, comments:

"For many new students, their first student loan deposit is likely to be the most money they have received at one time and while a majority say they feel confident managing their finances, their bank balances at the end of the term or the need to rely on the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' state otherwise. What's more worrying is that parents think that their children would benefit from financial advice yet many aren't leading conversations in this area - a small move that could make a big difference to how money is managed during term time."

For more information on top tips for students please visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com/inertia/

Notes to Editors:

* This is based on a maintenance loan of 2,714 provided by the UK government per term for a student carrying out full time higher education, living away from home, with an average household income of 27,500 - stated by the ONS here as the average household disposable income in the financial year of 2015.

METHODOLOGY

All data is sourced from comparethemarket.com.

Data relating to student spending is sourced from YouGov, August 2016. The total sample size for the student poll was 1,002 university students, and the fieldwork was carried out between 2nd - 8th August 2016.

The total sample size for the parents poll was 1,030 parents of student currently at university. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd - 10th August 2016.

About the Institute of Inertia

The Institute of Inertia, a partnership between comparethemarket.com and the University of Sheffield, launched in 2015 and looks at the psychology behind financial inertia to help consumers save wasted time and money.

The Institute of Inertia is a network of experts and academics led by The University of Sheffield's Dr Thomas Webb, a specialist in consumer behaviour. A programme of qualitative and quantitative research tranches inform the Institute of Inertia to help shape and test potential solutions to drive behavioural change.

For more information on the Institute of Inertia, please visit http://www.Instituteofinertia.org

About comparethemarket.com

 comparethemarket.com was launched in 2006 and has grown rapidly over the past nine years to become one of the UK's leading price comparison websites.

 comparethemarket.com provides customers with an easy way to make the right choice for them on a wide range of products including motor, home, life, travel and pet insurance as well as utilities and money products such as, credit cards and loans.

 comparethemarket.com actively works with its brand partners to help provide great services to customers.

comparethemarket.com is a trading name of BISL Limited. BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Address: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. Registered in England number 3231094

SOURCE comparethemarket.com
NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced TGR Financial, Inc (OTCQX: TGRF), the holding company of First Florida Integrity Bank headquartered in Naples, Florida, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. TGR Financial upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

TGR Financial begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "TGRF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

"We are pleased to welcome TGR Financial to OTCQX," said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. "Trading on OTCQX will enable TGR Financial to maximize the benefits of being publicly-traded by allowing its shareholders to unlock the full value of their shares in the public market and providing transparency into its news and financial disclosure. We look forward to supporting TGR Financial as it continues to serve the citizens and businesses in its communities."

"TGR Financial is excited to begin trading on the OTCQX market. Participation in this distinguished market provides us access to a broader marketplace where we can disseminate financial information in a transparent and cost effective manner. This provides us greater levels of liquidity for our dedicated shareholder base," stated Gary L. Tice, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TGR Financial, Inc.

Raymond James Financial serves as TGR Financial's Corporate Broker on OTCQX.

Organized in Naples, Florida, in 2011, TGR Financial, Inc. is the holding company for First Florida Integrity Bank with assets exceeding $1.2 billion. First Florida Integrity Bank is the largest community bank headquartered in the highly desirable Naples  Marco Island MSA. The bank provides a full range of banking services to individual and corporate customers located throughout Southwest Florida. Banking services are provided by highly experienced banking professionals, mobile delivery channels and strategically located banking offices. For more information about the Company visit www.ffibank.com.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com

OTC Link ATS is operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and SEC regulated ATS.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.otcmarkets.com


STAFFORD, Texas, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Chicago has chosen POSsible POS' award-winning software and hardware as its point of sales solution. To learn more about POSsible POS' point of sales quick service and drive-thru solutions, visit www.possiblepos.com.

Sheldon Friedman, owner of several Chicago-based Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen stores, piloted the POSsible POS system at his Round Lake Beach location. The Popeyes at Round Lake Beach produces high volumes of transactions during its lunch rush. They were able to serve the large crowds faster and more efficiently with the POSsible POS system. It has worked so well that Friedman signed an agreement to deploy the system at all of his other locations.

"We are very excited about our partnership with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in Chicago," said Chris Woodard, Vice President of Operations of POSsible POS. "This franchise requires a platform that is efficient, accurate and improves the profitability of their business; our customized, user-friendly POS solution does just that."

About POSsible POS Inc.

Headquartered in Stafford, Texas, POSsible POS Inc. is a leading developer of innovative POS software and hardware solutions for the restaurant, hospitality and retail industries. Since inception, POSsible has industry standards by partnering with the industry's best technology providers and developing a proprietary Restaurant Pro software to address the unique restaurant business challenges. With an intuitive user interface, robust operations management and customizable reporting capabilities, businesses can maximize their operations productivity and provide the ideal customer experience.

About Popeyes

The Popeyes brand was founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1972 and is the world's second largest quick-service chicken chain concept (based on the number of units). Within the QSR industry, Popeyes distinguishes itself with a unique "New Orleans" style menu that features spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp and other seafood, as well as jambalaya, red beans and rice and other regional items. Popeyes is a highly differentiated QSR brand with a passion for its Louisiana heritage and flavorful authentic food.

Media Contact:

Justine Hernandez, Marketing Manager, POSsible POS, (800) 767-9585, [email protected]

SOURCE POSsible POS Inc.

Related Links

http://www.possiblepos.com


IRVING, Texas, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Prospanica announced the winners of the highly anticipated Brillante awards, the first awards given under the organization's new name. Founded in 1988 as the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, the organization nurtured Hispanic students in their efforts to obtain MBA degrees. Twenty-eight years later, many of those original students have risen to executive leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations and corporate boards. Prospanica strives to empower all Hispanic business professionals to achieve their full educational, economic and social potential as it seeks to become the leading catalyst for Hispanic achievement.

This year's Brillante Awards reflect that change. The awards will be presented at the 2016 Prospanica Conference & Career Expo during the Brillante Gala, an event emceed by Liliana Gil Valleta. An award-winning entrepreneur, World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, and TV media contributor, Lili brings a multi-faceted perspective on leadership to the Brillante Gala. Past winners will be on hand to present the award to this year's recipients, and this ceremonial handoff will be celebrated in grand fashion by salsa legend Tito Rojas.

To further underscore that change, Prospanica will also award the Founder's Award for the first time in several years. This is the highest award the organization offers, given to individuals who distinguish themselves through lifetime achievements and contributions to the Hispanic community. In this way, a powerful example of lifelong leadership will be highlighted to a roomful of rising stars.

Founder's Award: Linda Alvarado

Ms. Alvarado is a trailblazer for others to follow as exemplified through her entrepreneurial endeavors in her own construction company, as a co-owner of the Colorado Rockies and through leadership roles on various corporate boards. An advocate for small businesses and advancement of Hispanics in Corporate America, Ms. Alvarado is not only raising the standard among Hispanic professionals but helping others to achieve success alongside her.

Brillante Award for Corporate Excellence: Comcast-NBCUniversal

Comcast NBCUniversal has proven to be an outstanding corporate partner to Prospanica for many years.

It continues to demonstrate a commitment to recruiting and advancing the careers of top Hispanic talent around the country.

Brillante Award for Educational Excellence: University of Central Florida

During the past 10 years, UCF Career Services has supported Prospanica by promoting the organization to UCF students and alumni. Its belief in Prospanica's vision has led to the establishment of the UCF student chapter.

Brillante Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence: Sonia Clayton

Sonia is known as "The Oracle of the Hispanic Business Woman in America," as quoted by US congressmen and senators, and she is also a Harvard Business School Strategic Negotiator. Her educational foundation provides scholarships so students can complete their education and reach their goals in life.

Brillante Award for Member Excellence: Janet Simms

Janet was one of the founding members of the New Jersey Prospanica Chapter and also held the position of Chapter President from 2012-2014. Her leadership and commitment are considered a template for establishing and maintaining a successful Prospanica chapter.

Brillante Award for Community Excellence: Dr. Laura Murillo

Dr. Murillo's focus on community and business stretches far beyond her current role as President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She serves on numerous boards and is involved in many community organizations. She is truly a role model in the Hispanic community.

"The Brillante Awards are an excellent example of the dedication required by this caliber of leadership. When we celebrate those leaders who have made large scale impacts, we highlight the power and possibilities for the next generation," said Thomas Savino, CEO of Prospanica.

About Prospanica

Founded in 1988 as NSHMBA (National Society of Hispanic MBAs) to advocate for Hispanic graduate level education, Prospanica, is the non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Hispanics to achieve their full educational, economic, and social potential. With more than 45 Professional and University chapters nationwide, including Puerto Rico, Prospanica helps professionals and partners build on connections and career development to fortify the Hispanic workforce. Prospanica's national conference and career expo is a 4-day event that brings together thousands of recruiters and hiring managers from Fortune 500 companies to build connections between Hispanic talent and recruiting opportunities. Attendees will also benefit from professional development, on-site career management services, and networking events. Prospanica's Corporate Advisory Board is a major supporter of this event and includes the companies: Abbott, Accenture, American Airlines, Bank of America, BASF, Cigna, Dell, Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil, Ford Motor Company, GSK, Intel Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Nationwide, Paychex, Pepsi Co, Pitney Bowes, United Health Group, United Technologies Corporation, Wells Fargo, The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, Rutgers Business School, The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, and The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business. For more information visit www.prospanicaconference.org

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160211/332340LOGO

SOURCE Prospanica

Related Links

http://www.nshmba.org


PHOENIX, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PsychArmor Institute and TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced today the launch of the TriWest Healthcare Alliance School for Health Care Providers, a suite of free online courses taught by nationally-recognized subject matter experts to prepare community health care providers to effectively deliver care to service members, veterans and their families.

With more than a dozen courses available to health care providers nationally, at no cost, the school provides critical insight into military and veteran culture and the latest research, treatment plans and trends on veteran-specific issues. For example, there is a specific course on "Suicide in the Military," with specific subject areas on behavioral health needs in this critical area. This course reviews the scope of the issue, statistics and risk factors, and explains interventions on how behavioral health professionals can address the problem with a veteran client.

More information can be found at: http://www.psycharmor.org/, by clicking on "TriWest School for Healthcare Providers," and choosing "Suicide in the Military."

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released a report highlighting that, in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.

"There is a great need for community health care providers to continue their educational opportunities on military culture and the unique experiences and challenges of the veteran population," said Marjorie Morrison, CEO and founder of PsychArmor. "Our team is honored to partner with TriWest to provide this tool to help health care providers maximize the effectiveness of their treatment plans. The knowledge and insight within the courses is critical for civilian health care providers to connect with military and veteran patients."

Courses within the school range from "Building a Military and Veteran Practice" to "Post Deployment Issues," and address a myriad of cultural issues within the community, such as substance use and barriers to treatment. Additionally, the school provides a course on connecting with VA for providers interested in becoming a community-based provider for VA's Veterans Choice Program (http://www.va.gov/opa/choiceact/).

The school, funded by TriWest Healthcare Alliance, includes free continuing education credit for modules in several disciplines.

"TriWest is humbled to be offered this unique opportunity to leverage our company's experience within the veteran, military and health care provider community to address veteran-specific issues and provide the best community care to this deserving population," said Dr. Frank Maguire, Chief Medical Officer of TriWest Healthcare Alliance and a 26-year Navy Veteran. "It is our distinct privilege to work collectively with PsychArmor on this important mission to ensure our community providers have the opportunity to gain valuable skills and insight in working with our nation's veterans."

Health care providers who take the courses will also have access to PsychArmor's "Helping You Help Veterans" Support Center; staffed by behavioral health professionals who are prepared to answer questions a provider may have about service members and veterans.

About PsychArmor:

PsychArmor is the only national institute of its kind, dedicated to bridging the civilian-military divide through free online education and a support center staffed with mental health experts.

PsychArmor recruits nationally recognized subject matter experts to create and deliver online courses about issues relevant to the military and veteran communities. Self-paced courses are delivered within six schools geared toward military culture, health care providers, employers, educators, volunteers, caregivers and families; providing critical resources to all Americans who work with, live with, and care about veterans.

About TriWest:

TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves our nation's heroes as the partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in administering the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) and Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) program. TriWest has been On a Mission to Serve America's military families and Veterans since 1996 delivering award-winning customer service and providing access to high-quality health care. The company's official website is http://www.triwest.com/.

*LOGOS:

(1) Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0825-TriWest-300dpi.jpg

(2) Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0825-PsychArmor-300dpi.jpg

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE TriWest Healthcare Alliance

Related Links

http://www.triwest.com


'Don't Buy Into Puppy Mills' is comprised of three 30-second films and one long-form film, all produced by Rokkan, that illustrate children's imaginative responses to the question: "Where do puppies come from?" The optimistic and creative answers from children are beautifully animated in the films, exaggerating common misconceptions about how most puppies are brought into the world. As the films continue, the animations transform to reveal the devastating realities of where most puppies who are sold online and in pet stores actually come from. In addition to bringing these images to life, the animations are intended to maximize the impact of the 'Don't Buy Into Puppy Mills' message and encourage higher audience engagement.

"Throughout the organization's long history, we have mounted a number of campaigns to raise awareness of the horror of puppy mills," said John Goodwin, senior director of the stop puppy mills campaign at The HSUS. "We've had great success in many of our previous efforts, but the fact remains that mills are still operating thanks to support from well-intentioned but unsuspecting buyers. This latest campaign aims to chip away at the puppy mill facade and stress that where your puppy comes from matters." The campaign focuses on two of the most deceptive outlets for puppy mills: puppy-selling websites and pet stores. These venues don't allow the buyer a chance to see where the puppy was raised before making a purchase, often helping to conceal inhumane conditions.

Similar to the 'Same Day Pups' campaign that Rokkan and The HSUS launched in 2015, this latest work was made possible through a generous grant from Maddie's Fund, a family foundation created in 1994 by Workday co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Additional elements of the 'Don't Buy Into Puppy Mills' campaign include paid social activations, banner content that will run through official HSUS channels, and a site redesign for DontBuyIntoPuppyMills.com. Rokkan's media team also led buying and planning efforts for the campaign, which will run through the end of October 2016.

On the strategy behind the work, Sean Miller, Rokkan's Chief Strategy Officer, said, "Consumers have become hyper-aware of where their food and clothes come from, but what about their pets? It's pretty hard to believe that most dog purchasers don't know that they're buying from puppy mills. Puppy love blinds us from the truth. By asking this one question, we hope to spur people to think more critically about where puppies really come from."

Regarding the campaign creative concept, Brian Carley, Rokkan's Global Chief Creative Officer, added, "Ask a child a simple question and you'll get answers that are unfiltered, strange and beautiful. These are the kind of answers we all wish were true. With these films, we take our viewers on a journey that's fantastical and silly, but it also makes it easier to tell the actual origin story that is cruel and hard to swallow."

To find more information and take action against puppy mills by signing The Puppy Pledge, please visit DontBuyIntoPuppyMills.com.

About The Humane Society of The United States

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization, rated most effective by our peers. For 60 years, we have celebrated the protection of all animals and confronted all forms of cruelty. We are the nation's largest provider of hands-on services for animals, caring for more than 100,000 animals each year, and we prevent cruelty to millions more through our advocacy campaigns. Read more about our 60 years of transformational change for animals and people. HumaneSociety.org

Subscribe to Wayne Pacelle's blog, A Humane Nation. Follow The HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter.

About Rokkan

Rokkan, a partner for brave change, takes its name from the Japanese word for "the sixth sense," bringing intuition to research and strategy to help brands create data-driven and highly creative storytelling, social engagement, customer experience and e-commerce. Founded in 2000, Rokkan has grown from a three-person startup into an innovation outlier within the Publicis Groupe. With offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Singapore, Rokkan leverages a unique and nimble approach that blends strategy, storytelling, and technology for outstanding results. Clients include American Express, Cadillac, Hallmark, JetBlue Airways, Purina Nestle, Samsung and Veuve Clicquot.

For more information visit www.rokkan.com, or follow us at @Rokkan, on FB and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Amelia Vereb

SweeneyVesty

[email protected]

212-226-5105

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydhrQNE-QE0

SOURCE Rokkan

Related Links

http://rokkan.com


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CoventBridge Group Ltd  the full service surveillance and investigative firm formed in March this year following the merger of GlobalOptions and ICS Merrill - has made its second UK acquisition in just six months.

R-ISC Investigation & Surveillance Company Ltd [R-ISC], headquartered in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester has been acquired by CoventBridge Group Ltd. Founded by Sam Greer in 2007, R-ISC has an award winning reputation for industry leading surveillance services, enjoying high customer satisfaction and retention. The R-ISC team of accredited professionals joins the CoventBridge Surveillance Division, where Mr. Greer will have executive responsibilities.

Dave Merrill, CoventBridge Group CEO concludes: "In just six months and via our first two acquisitions, we have assembled the most experienced leadership team in the UK investigation industry. The acquisition of R-ISC demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the UK and European market and the enrichment of our offerings. Our focus to acquire further complimentary businesses and deliver additional services to our customers continues. I am pleased to welcome Sam and his team to the CoventBridge UK operation."

Video documentation provides the best evidence available to identify fabricated or exaggerated claims, malingering claimants, or fraudulent activity. Clients can assign surveillance cases to CoventBridge online through its secure website 24/7. Prior to initiating surveillance, investigators establish the most effective action plan and timing of the operation. As skilled experts, they are able to defeat the vigilance of the most educated claimants; ethically obtaining video evidence whilst never violating an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy. Case summaries and video footage are electronically submitted to the secure case management platform after each day of surveillance; keeping clients fully informed throughout the case and prior to provision of the final report and video evidence via the platform.

Sam Greer said: "I am delighted to become part of the CoventBridge Group and head up the UK Surveillance Division. With our combined proven operational capabilities and the company's advanced case management and evidence delivery platform, we create the benchmark by which we believe all our peers will come to be measured."

CoventBridge is backed by the London based Harwood Capital LLP, part of the Harwood Capital Management Group, with 973 million funds under management at 31 December 2015.

Editors notes:

About CoventBridge Group

CoventBridge Group is a full service investigation company providing: Surveillance, SIU and Compliance, Claims Investigation, Counter-Fraud Programs, Desktop Investigations, Social Media, Record Retrieval, Canvasses and Vendor Management programs. With offices in the U.K. and U.S. the company provides top tier data privacy and security practices, deploys robust case management technology customized to clients' needs and delivers worldwide coverage via its 1000 employees and affiliates worldwide.

CoventBridge is the only HIPAA and SOC2-T2 compliant agency in the world.

www.coventbridge.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160310/343045LOGO

SOURCE CoventBridge Group

Related Links

http://www.coventbridge.com


LONDON, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The following documents (the "Documents") are available for viewing:

Prospectus Supplement dated 24 August 2016

Shell International Finance B.V. unaudited interim financial statements for the six month period ended 30 June 2016

The Documents must be read in conjunction with the Information Memorandum dated 9 August 2016 relating to the Programme. The Information Memorandum constitutes a base prospectus for the purposes of Article 5.4 of Directive 2003/71/EC as amended. Full information on Shell International Finance B.V. and Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE: RDS.A) (NYSE: RDS.B) is only available on the basis of the Information Memorandum.

The Documents are available for viewing at the 'Financial Reporting' section of Shell's website. To view the Documents, please paste the following URLs into the address bar of your browser.

Shell International Finance B.V. unaudited interim financial statements for the six month period ended 30 June 2016

http://www.shell.com/global/aboutshell/investor/financial-information/shell-international-finance.html

Prospectus Supplement dated 24 August 2016

http://www.shell.com/investors/financial-reporting/euro-medium-term-note-programme.html

Other content available on Shell's website and the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on Shell's website is not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this announcement.

The Documents have also been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm.

DISCLAIMER - INTENDED ADDRESSEES

Please note that the information contained in the Information Memorandum may be addressed to and/or targeted at persons who are residents of particular countries (specified in the Information Memorandum) only and is not intended for use and should not be relied upon by any person outside these countries and/or to whom the offer contained in the Information Memorandum is not addressed. Prior to relying on the information contained in the Information Memorandum, you must ascertain from the Information Memorandum whether or not you are part of the intended addressees of the information contained therein.

This publication does not constitute an offering of the securities described in the Information Memorandum for sale in the United States. This is not for distribution in the United States. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under any relevant securities laws of any state of the United States and are subject to U.S. tax law requirements. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States.

Your right to access this service is conditional upon complying with the above requirement.

Enquiries:



Shell Media Relations

International, UK, European Press: +44(0)207-934-5550



Shell Investor Relations

Europe: + 31(0)70-377-3996



SOURCE Shell International Finance BV and Royal Dutch Shell plc.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nevada -- it's become ground zero for the solar industry, with its intense levels of sunshine; iconic solar projects, such as the Mandalay Bay Convention Center's 8.3-megawatt rooftop installation; and equally intense policy debates over net energy metering and rate reform.

So it's no coincidence that Solar Power International (SPI) has returned to Las Vegas this year, Sept. 12-15. Cosponsored by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), the event will provide journalists of all stripes  print, broadcast or digital -- with a range of compelling story opportunities, and access to top industry experts and thought leaders.

Check out the SEIA-SEPA video on the top 5 reasons to attend SPI here.

Event highlights  and potential story hooks -- include:

Opening session with industry visionary David Crane : The former CEO of NRG and now Senior Operating Executive at Pegasus Capital Advisors, will share his views on the present status and future of the industry in conversation with Steve Malnight , Senior Vice President at Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Also on the agenda, a second conversation with Nat Kreamer , President and CEO of Spruce, and Jeffrey Ball , scholar-in-residence at Stanford University's Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance.

The former CEO of NRG and now Senior Operating Executive at Pegasus Capital Advisors, will share his views on the present status and future of the industry in conversation with , Senior Vice President at Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Also on the agenda, a second conversation with , President and CEO of Spruce, and , scholar-in-residence at Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. Net metering in Nevada and across the nation: Two back-to-back workshops at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sept. 13 will explore the net metering debates in Nevada and New York , and how they fit into larger discussions of rate reform and the role of utilities in a smart, distributed grid.

Two back-to-back workshops at and on will explore the net metering debates in and , and how they fit into larger discussions of rate reform and the role of utilities in a smart, distributed grid. Solar plus storage and beyond: More than 600 companies and other exhibitors will be on the tradeshow floor this year, including two storage pavilions, a smart home pavilion -- featuring a net-zero Arc House -- and a working microgrid that will power SPI's outdoor demonstration area.

More than 600 companies and other exhibitors will be on the tradeshow floor this year, including two storage pavilions, a smart home pavilion -- featuring a net-zero Arc House -- and a working microgrid that will power SPI's outdoor demonstration area. The state of the U.S. solar industry: A press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 14 , led by SEIA, will provide journalists with an update on the state of the American solar industry including brand new deployment numbers, state rankings and policy updates. Meanwhile, SEPA's Solar Power Player Awards, on Tuesday, Sept. 13 , will put the spotlight on some of the most innovative projects and programs utilities and their tech partners have developed to get ever more solar on the grid.

A press conference on , led by SEIA, will provide journalists with an update on the state of the American solar industry including brand new deployment numbers, state rankings and policy updates. Meanwhile, SEPA's Solar Power Player Awards, on , will put the spotlight on some of the most innovative projects and programs utilities and their tech partners have developed to get ever more solar on the grid. The international solar market: SPI has become part of the U.S. Commerce Department's International Buyers Program, signifying the importance of the solar industry for international trade. About 500 delegates representing more than 25 countries -- from the Bahamas and Bangladesh to Uzbekistan and Zambia -- will be at the event, looking for new technologies, project partners and investment opportunities.

"For journalists who cover energy issues, SPI is a can't-miss event," said Tom Kimbis, SEIA's interim president. "Our industry is at an inflection point where we are experiencing unprecedented growth and facing new challenges tied to that growth. I think even those familiar with our ascent will be surprised by some of the revelations from Vegas in a few weeks."

"The message this year is that SPI isn't only about solar," said Julia Hamm, SEPA President and CEO. "The industry is now an integral part of the energy sector transformation toward more distributed resources and a distributed grid, and the range of companies and speakers headed for Las Vegas reflect that growth. We've got smart stories about new business models, utility-solar industry partnerships, and solutions that benefit both customers and the grid."

Working media can apply for conference accreditation online here. A press room with interview space will be available at the event.

About SEIA:



Celebrating its 42nd anniversary in 2016, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

About SEPA:

The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is an educational nonprofit working to facilitate the utility industry's transition to a clean energy future through education, research and collaboration. SEPA offers a range of research initiatives and resources, as well as conferences, educational events and professional networking opportunities. SEPA is co-founder and co-sponsor of Solar Power International and winner of the Keystone Policy Center's 2016 Leadership in Energy Award. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.

About SPI:

Solar Power International (SPI) is the largest solar trade show in North America. SPI focuses on creating an environment that fosters the exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise for furthering solar energy development in the United States. SPI is powered by SEPA and SEIA, and unlike other solar industry events, all proceeds support the expansion of the U.S. solar energy market through SEIA's and SEPA's year-round research and education activities, as well as SEIA's advocacy efforts. Visit solarpowerinternational.com for more information.

SOURCE Solar Energy Industries Association

Related Links

http://www.seia.org


LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's is helping kick-start your little pupil's year with a wholesome breakfast. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, participating restaurants will offer free breakfast from 6:30-9:30 a.m. to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. In Southern California, students can enjoy any breakfast muffin sandwich, apple slices or Yoplait Go-Gurt low-fat strawberry yogurt, and milk. Students younger than 13 years of age are required to be accompanied by a parent/adult to redeem this offer at participating McDonald's restaurants. Offer may vary throughout the state and only one breakfast is allowed per student.

"There are a lot of changes taking place at McDonald's, but one thing that's never changed is our commitment to the well-being of children," said Paul Tulaphorn, McDonald's owner/operator and president of the McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC). "We are proud to offer a great-tasting, free breakfast with fresh, healthy ingredients for the fifth year."

Earlier this month, McDonald's announced a number of changes across the menu as the company continues to evolve. One included removing artificial preservative from omelet-style eggs served on certain breakfast sandwiches. For nutrition/ingredient information and additional details about McDonald's full line of breakfast choices, visit www.McDonalds.com.

What: Back-to-School Free Breakfast for K-8th grade students

When: Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 6:30  9:30 a.m.

Where: Participating McDonald's restaurants

About McDonald's of Southern California

MOASC is comprised of more than 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Learn more at mcdonaldssocal.com and follow us on Twitter: @McDonalds_SoCal

About McDonald's USA

McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

Contact: Southern California:

L. CaCera Richmond

Porter Novelli

(310) 754-4808

[email protected]

SOURCE McDonald's of Southern California

Related Links

http://www.mcdonalds.com


"Community college should be a steppingstone to a bachelor's degree for every academically qualified student who wants one," Levy said. "Many community college students have proven themselves to be outstanding scholars and we want to help some of the most talented afford the costs of attending our nation's finest colleges and universities."

A review panel of university admissions professionals and faculty will judge scholarship applicants based on their achievements and academic ability, financial need, persistence, leadership and service to others. A total of 55 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships will be awarded in the spring.

To be eligible for the scholarship a student must be attending community college or have graduated from a community college since 2012. A student must also have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better and demonstrate significant unmet financial need. In addition, scholarship applicants must plan to enroll in a full-time baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university in fall 2017.

Additional details of the application process are available at the foundation's website.

More than 800 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars have received nearly $33 million in scholarship assistance since 2002. A Cooke Foundation study found that the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars routinely do better at elite four-year institutions than many students who started as freshmen.

Community college students are more likely than students at four-year schools to come from families with low and moderate incomes. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 50 percent of community college students had annual family incomes of less than $30,000 and 67 percent had family incomes of less than $50,000 in 2011-2012.

Cooke Scholarships fund the costs of attending college not covered by other financial aid, plus academic advising, stipends for internships, study abroad, and opportunities to network with other Cooke Scholars and alumni. In addition, after earning a bachelor's degree, Cooke Scholars are eligible to compete for a scholarship for graduate school worth up to $50,000 a year for up to four years.

Past recipients of the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship have excelled and earned degrees from prestigious public and private higher education institutions including: the University of California campuses at Berkeley and Los Angeles; Cornell, Columbia, Brown, Yale, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania in the Ivy League; and the University of Oxford.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. It offers the largest scholarships in the U.S., comprehensive counseling and other support services to students from 8th grade to graduate school. Since 2000 it has awarded about $147 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 students and $90 million in grants to organizations that serve outstanding low-income students. www.jkcf.org

Media Contact: David Egner

202-779-1743

[email protected]

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks7R1Wm6w4E

SOURCE Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Related Links

http://www.jkcf.org


TAIPEI, Taiwan, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TaiGen Biotechnology Company, Limited ("TaiGen") today announced that they have signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Productos Cientificos S.A. de C.V. ("PC"), a leading Mexican pharmaceutical company, to develop and commercialize Taigexyn (nemonoxacin) in Latin America. Taigexyn is a novel antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections including those caused by drug-resistant bacteria. Under the terms of the agreement, PC will be responsible for the development, registration and commercialization of Taigexyn in the territory and assume all associated costs. The territory includes Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador. In exchange for the exclusive rights, TaiGen will receive an upfront payment and is eligible for additional regulatory and commercial milestones in the future. PC will purchase Taigexyn at a pre-negotiated price from TaiGen for its commercialization in the territory.

QFB. Juan Angeles Uribe, CEO of PC, said, "Taigexyn is a significant step for the company that allows us to enter in the antibiotics market with a novel drug which has fully demonstrated through several different PI, PII and PIII clinical studies its safety and efficacy. Latin-American pharmaceutical markets are eager to have such important developments to improve people's health and we are very proud to be part of that improvement along with TaiGen."

Dr. Ming-Chu Hsu, President and Chief Executive Officer of TaiGen, said, "We are interested in PC because we share the same innovative vision for Taigexyn. The pharmaceutical market in Latin-America is forecast by IMS Health to grow at 9-12% from 2016-2020 and will outpace the 3-6% growth in the developed markets such as US, EU and Japan[i]. By partnering with PC, TaiGen will be able to tap into this high growth market with Taigexyn where the need for such a novel antibiotic to treat drug-resistant infection is very high."

[i] Global Use of Medicines in 2020, IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics

About Taigexyn

Taigexyn is a novel non-fluorinated quinolone available in both oral and intravenous formulations. TaiGen has completed multi-national and multi-center trials of Taigexyn in oral and intravenous forms. The oral formulation of Taigexyn have received market approval in Taiwan and mainland China shown activity against drug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and quinolone-resistant MRSA as well as quinolone-resistant Streptococcus pneumonia. Taigexyn is marketed in mainland China by Zhejiang Medicine Co. through an exclusive marketing and manufacturing licensing agreement. TaiGen also partnered the exclusive rights in the Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Turkey to R-Pharm of Russia. In addition to the oral formulation, TaiGen is planning to file for market approval of the intravenous formulation in China in the second half of 2016.

In the US, TaiGen have completed two Phase 2 studies, one in CAP and the other in diabetic foot infections (DFI). In December 2013, the US FDA granted Taigexyn Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations for CAP and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). TaiGen owns the worldwide patent portfolio of Taigexyn that protects composition, use, and processes until 2029.

About Productos Cientificos S.A. de C.V.

Productos Cientificos S.A. de C.V. is a leading privately held Mexican pharmaceutical company with more than 75 years in the Latin-American markets. Part of Carnot Group, the company have its own subsidiaries on the most important Latin-American markets such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Peru, and covers all Latin-American territory through this affiliates and other partners. Its main therapeutic areas are Gastroenterology, Womens Health, Pediatrics and Respiratory.

About TaiGen Biotechnology

TaiGen Biotechnology is a leading research-based and product-driven biotechnology company in Taiwan with a wholly-owned subsidiary in Beijing, China. In addition to Taigexyn, TaiGen has two other in-house discovered NCEs in clinical development under IND with US FDA: TG-0054, a chemokine receptor antagonist for stem cell transplantation and chemosensitization, and TG-2349, a HCV protease inhibitor for treatment of chronic hepatitis infection. Both TG-0054 and TG-2349 are currently in Phase 2 clinical development.

TaiGen Contact:

Peter W. Tsao, PhD, Vice President Corporate Development

Tel: +886-2-8177-7072

Productos Cientificos Contact:

Javier Mestre, Business Development Director

Tel: +52-5488-7000

SOURCE TaiGen Biotechnology

Related Links

http://www.taigenbiotech.com


The sponsorship will be the first NASCAR involvement for Tanger Outlets. Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., Tanger Factory Outlet Centers operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, 43 upscale outlet shopping centers located coast to coast in 21 states and Canada. More than 185 million shoppers visit the Tanger Outlet Centers annually.

"Tanger Outlets is known for its competitive spirit and partnerships with winning brands," said Steven B. Tanger, president and chief executive officer of Tanger Outlets. "The Furniture Row Racing team sponsorship allows us to team up with another best in class NASCAR brand and support Martin Truex Jr.'s efforts to reach Richmond's Victory Lane."

Truex, who already has clinched a Chase berth, said he is proud to be the first NASCAR driver with the Tanger Outlets sponsorship.

"I take a great deal of pride that Tanger Outlets has chosen our Furniture Row Racing team for its first sponsorship venture in NASCAR," said Truex. "It's an honor to have a successful, high profile company be part of our team. The Tanger Outlets company has been a winning business story for decades and having its name on our car will give us even more incentive to get to Richmond's Victory Lane."



About Tanger:

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), is a publicly-traded REIT headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that presently operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 43 upscale outlet shopping centers and one additional center currently under construction. Tanger's operating properties are located in 21 states coast to coast and in Canada, totaling approximately 14.7 million square feet, leased to over 3,100 stores which are operated by more than 490 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 35 years of experience in the outlet industry. Tanger Outlet Centers continue to attract more than 185 million shoppers annually. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com.

About Furniture Row

Furniture Row is the owner and sponsor of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team. Furniture Row, headquartered in Denver, Colo., operates more than 330 stores in 30 states making it one of America's largest, family-owned and operated specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. Visit http://www.FurnitureRow.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401482

SOURCE Tanger Outlets

Related Links

http://www.tangeroutlets.com


From Dog Bone Park , a sprawling open space for homebuyers' furry friends to run free and explore in Denver, to luxurious built-in pet washing spas that make paw and fur cleanup hassle-free, Taylor Morrison has pets covered. Homebuyers and pets alike will find that Taylor Morrison's pet-friendly amenities make life easier for not only the smallest of residents, but for their owners too.

"We know pets hold a special place in our homebuyers' hearts, and that was the impetus for ensuring we had amenities to help make not only the care of pets easier, but to provide pets with amenities that keep them active and healthy," said Graham Hughes, chief customer officer at Taylor Morrison.

For playdates, dog walking services, on-site grooming and outdoor activities, look no further than Taylor Morrison's forthcoming doggie lifestyle concierges to be located inside the resort-style Esplanade communities in Florida. Additionally, within the Esplanade communities, pets will be able to treat themselves to a custom fresh watering hole to quench their thirst after a brisk walk or game of catch. And, pet health and wellness seminars will be held onsite to ensure residents stay updated on the best pet care practices for their pooches.

The builder's newest community in Chicago, Tallgrass, includes a doggie shower for easy at-home pet pampering in its Kingston model. A similar pet-washing station is available at Heritage at Vizcaya in Austin, where 55-plus homebuyers can keep their pets looking their best after a stroll on the community's hike and bike trails.

In Houston, Taylor Morrison's Bevington model at Meridiana features an optional built-in pet washing station and a miniature dog house that mimics the model home. Across town, the builder's 55-plus community, Bonterra, will soon unveil a new dog park, dubbed the Bark Park, perfect for an afternoon walk.

At Fulshear, Texas' Cross Creek Ranch, where both Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes build, a nearly one-acre dog park called Canine Commons offers separate dog runs for large and small breeds. After a fun afternoon in the sun, Canine Commons offers a wash-down area as well as drinking fountains and picnic areas.

Two of Darling Homes' newest communities in Dallas, Lakeside DFW and Spicewood at Craig Ranch, offer both built-in doggie bathing stations while Spicewood also includes the K-9 Corral Dog Park.

Dog Bone Park is the latest amenity at Terrain in Denver, where Taylor Morrison currently builds. In California, Cottages at St. Cloud is less than a mile from Oceanside's new 465-acre El Corazon Park, where dog owners can stroll, walk and run with their pets.

Lastly, several communities feature wooded areas and walking trails for adventure-seeking pets who like to explore nature. Perfect to take an early morning walk together or spending an afternoon in the sun, these trails are a great way for homebuyers to enjoy some relaxation outside with their pets.

About Taylor Morrison

Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE:TMHC) is a leading national homebuilder and developer that was recently recognized as America's Most Trusted Home Builder for 2016 by Lifestory Research. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, we operate under two well-established brands, Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes. We serve a wide array of consumer groups from coast to coast, including first-time, move-up, luxury, and 55 plus buyers. In Texas, Darling Homes builds communities with a focus on individuality and custom detail while delivering on the Taylor Morrison standard of excellence.

For more information about Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes please visit www.taylormorrison.com or www.darlinghomes.com.

Contacts:

Sasha Quintana MWWPR

[email protected]

(213) 405-3789

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBQDfQGN_TY&feature=youtu.be

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150422/200427LOGO

SOURCE Taylor Morrison

Related Links

http://www.taylormorrison.com


ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- School teachers from Florida and other states are invited to attend a workshop on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida (Rooms W2224 G&H in the west concourse of the center). STEMbugs, a workshop for primary and secondary school educators, will show teachers how to develop new lesson plans involving the use of insects in the classroom as teaching tools.

Topics will include:

The biology and behavior of mosquitoes, and what students can do to prevent Zika and other diseases that are transmitted by them.

How to incorporate insects into lesson plans and curriculums.

Citizen science projects involving bees and other beneficial pollinators.

STEMbugs attendees will receive:

A plenary talk on the importance and ease of using insects in the classroom as biological models.

Participation in two one-hour educational sessions on using insects in the classroom as hands-on learning projects.

A certificate of attendance that shows four hours of CEU education.

A boxed lunch with a dynamic speaker on a topic of current national interest with an entomological theme.

Excellent guidance on taking your "lessons learned" back to the classroom and into the hands of your children.

To register, go to https://entsoc.wufoo.com/forms/stembugs-2016.

For more information, visit http://www.entfdn.org/pr_workshop.html or contact Chris Stelzig at [email protected] or 301-731-4535, ext 3012.

Spaces are limited to the first 150 participants.

The STEMbugs workshop is sponsored by the Entomological Foundation, which exists to develop the next generation of entomologists by hosting projects and events designed to help educators and parents foster a child's natural curiosity about the world around them. For more information, visit http://www.entfdn.org.

STEMbugs will be held in conjunction with the 2016 International Congress of Entomology, the largest gathering of insect scientists in history. ICE 2016 will be held September 25-30, 2016 in Orlando, and will feature thousands of presentations. Topics will include Zika and other arboviruses, citrus greening disease, integrated pest management, science communication, insects as food and feed (entomophagy), arthropod genomics, and many more. For more information about ICE 2016, visit http://ice2016orlando.org.

SOURCE Entomological Society of America
NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Kennel Club (AKC), the world's largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce the second round of the AKC Paw of Courage award recipients, to show appreciation for the many sacrifices that working dogs make while serving and protecting our country. This award specifically recognizes the extraordinary sacrifices of dogs who have been severely injured or killed in the line of duty.

"These canine heroes have proven to be fearless and devoted," said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. "They continuously put their lives on the line without hesitation and each of these dogs has made a significant sacrifice in the line of duty to protect us. They have truly touched the lives of many and we are proud to honor them with the AKC Paw of Courage as a symbol of our gratitude."

Any working dog is eligible to receive the AKC Paw of Courage; the award is not specific to purebred dogs. Recipients of the award, or their former human partner, will receive a 2016 AKC Paw of Courage medal along with a certificate. In addition, the recipients will receive a photo and profile on akc.org.

The second round of 2016 AKC Paw of Courage recipients are:

K9 Officer Nicky : of Las Vegas Metro Police Department, NV

K9 Nicky was an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department in Nevada. He had been part of the department for over five years when he was shot and killed while responding to an incident with his handler, Sergeant Eric Kearns. The suspect was walking through a neighborhood reportedly shooting at people randomly. He had murdered two innocent people and was threatening the rest of the neighborhood. Nicky was deployed as officers attempted to take the subject into custody. During the course of apprehending the suspect, a firefight ensued between the suspect and the police and Nicky was killed during the shootout.

At the time of his tragic death, Nicky had only been back on duty for a little over a month after recovering from a previous incident where he was severely wounded. Nicky was deployed to apprehend a suspect who had been barricaded for over 12 hours. He quickly engaged the suspect who was armed with a machete and viciously attacked K9 Officer Nicky. He was rushed to the emergency vet where he underwent surgery to repair the machete wounds to his face, chest and paws. Nicky made a quick recovery and was anxious to get back to work, returning to full duty just 3 weeks after the incident. Sergeant Kearns says that even with scars on his face, it was clear that Nicky was happy to be back at work. During his career, Nicky had 99 apprehensions of suspects who had committed various crimes including burglary, robbery and murder.

Even as a puppy, Nicky's potential was clear. He began his training in KNVP, the royal Dutch Police Dog Training program where he titled as a PH1 with honors. Nicky was a courageous, strong and driven K9 Officer. He enjoyed his work tremendously whether he was right in the action, searching for and apprehending suspects or just driving around with Sergeant Kearns, patrolling the streets of Las Vegas. K9 Nicky was a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect. Nicky is deeply missed by Sergeant Eric Kearns as well as the entire Las Vegas Metro Police Department.

K9 Officer Aren : of Port Authority of Allegheny County Police Department, PA

K9 Aren, a five-year-old German Shepherd Dog of the Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania, was stabbed to death during an apprehension this past January. K9 Aren, along with his handler Officer Brian O'Malley and other officers, had engaged a subject in a foot pursuit following an incident at the Wilkinsburg transit station. K9 Aren located the subject and was released to attempt an apprehension. The subject stabbed and killed K9 Aren before being fatally shot by the officers on scene.

Aren was trained in patrol tactics, and explosive detection as well as SWAT K9 operations. He assisted in numerous arrests throughout the transit system as well as performing daily explosive sweeps. K9 Aren was a treasured K9 Officer and will always be remembered by the Port Authority Police of Allegheny County as well as his partner, Officer O'Malley.

K9 Officer Jethro : of Canton Police Department, OH

Jethro was an AKC registered German Shepherd Dog of the Canton Police Department in Ohio. In January 2016, Jethro and his handler Officer Ryan Davis, responded to an alarm at a grocery store. As the pair entered the warehouse area, Jethro quickly picked up on the presence of a person and went to investigate. The subject was located and when he continued to disobey officers' commands, Jethro was deployed. The subject opened fire, shooting Jethro multiple times before fleeing on foot. The suspect was later apprehended a short distance away. Jethro was rushed to the Stark County Veterinary Emergency Clinic where he eventually succumbed to his wounds

Jethro was brought home at 8 weeks of age as a family pet with the intent of possibly becoming a working dog. In November of 2014 Officer Davis' first partner retired and Jethro had been screened and had begun his official schooling to become Davis' next partner. Officer Davis and Jethro handled hundreds of calls together including alarms, trouble calls and burglaries. Officer Davis describes Jethro as a giant gentle beast. He says Jethro was "a 105 lb lap dog who could apprehend a criminal and then turn around and play with neighborhood kids." He says that Jethro was "loyal to the end" and will be missed terribly.

K9 Officer Patrick : of Washington State Patrol, WA

Patrick was a three year old German Shepherd Dog of the Washington State Patrol in Washington. This past April, Trooper Mike Allan and his K9 partner, Patrick, participated in explosive detection training at the AMTRAK Seattle Sounder Station. During the training, Patrick screened two ferry loads of cars for explosives at Coleman Ferry Terminal. After conducting his work, Trooper Allan saw Patrick was in distress and rushed him to a vet. Patrick was suffering from tangled intestines and immediately underwent emergency surgery in attempt to save his life. The surgery was not successful and Patrick had to be euthanized later that night.

Trooper Allan and K9 Patrick started their career together at Lackland Airforce Base in Texas in October 2015. In December 2015, Patrick and Trooper Allan became a certified K9 explosive team and served the citizens of Washington faithfully. Trooper Mike Allan and all members of the Homeland Security Division are mourning the loss of the courageous and loyal K9 Officer Patrick.

K9 Officer Tryko : of Doraville Police Department, GA

K9 Tryko is a 12-year-old German Shepherd Dog of the Doraville Police Department in Georgia. He began his career as a police dog for the City of Doraville in 2006, and is now in his 10th year of service. This past April, K9 Tryko and his handler, Officer Jason Deyette, were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Taskforce in a search for a man wanted for numerous felonies across multiple counties. Tryko located the suspect hiding in a house and was stabbed in the mouth as he moved in to apprehend him. He lost a great deal of blood and sustained a number of punctures and lacerations to his tongue and mouth. Tryko healed and returned to full duty in about a month. Since returning to work after his injury, he has already had a number of apprehensions.

Tryko is trained in patrol work as well as narcotics detection. Over his exceptionally long career, he has been responsible for approximately 700 suspect apprehensions and 600 drug seizures; being directly involved in recovering nearly one million dollars in drug money. Tryko has met hundreds of children at schools, churches and community functions during K9 demonstrations. He has also been called upon to assist many federal agencies including FBI, DEA, ICE, and the US Marshalls Service. In 2014, K9 Tryko was able to track, locate and apprehend a suspect who had shot and wounded two DeKalb County police officers a few hours prior. To Officer Deyette and the Doraville Police Department, K9 Tryko is considered a legend. According to the department, he is one of a kind and a truly special police dog. The sacrifices that he has made throughout his career are truly appreciated.

For downloadable images of the recipients, click HERE.

About the American Kennel Club

Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization, which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Become a fan of the American Kennel Club on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers.

SOURCE American Kennel Club

Related Links

http://www.akc.org


ATLANTA, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The five finalists for the 2016 Atlanta Metro Export Challenge were announced today as part of the JPMorgan Chase-powered grant program designed to help small and medium-sized businesses begin or expand their exporting programs. Narrowed down from a pool of 14 semifinalists, these five companies will be part of a public voting phase, which began on Aug. 22 and ends on Sept. 14. The top three finalists to emerge will move on to a final judging phase and compete to receive a combined $35,000 in additional grants to further increase their export strategies.

Part of an initial group of 38 companies which had each received a $5000 reimbursement grant in January, the five finalists were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of executives from export assistance agencies and local exporting companies after participating in a "Shark Tank" style semifinals competition. To become one of the top five, each semifinalist presented on how they had leveraged the initial grant to increase their exports. They also showcased their exportable product or service and shared a business plan detailing how they will use the additional grant funds. Through a combination of the judges' decisions and a public voting phase, the top three contenders will receive $20,000 (1st Place), $10,000 (2nd Place) and $5,000 (3rd Place).

"Despite the pressure of presenting in front of our panel of judges, the pool of 14 semi-finalists truly distinguished themselves," said Jorge Fernandez, vice president of global commerce at Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC). "While all of these companies are producing innovative products and services that will undoubtedly help drive business growth by increasing international sales and growing our metro Atlanta exports, five of these companies were exceptional."

The five finalists selected by the judging panel include:

AdEdge Water Technologies  AdEdge Water Technologies specializes in everything from design, development, fabrication, and supply of water treatment solutions. AdEdge recently expanded into Gwinnett County, and with the additional grant money, the company will continue to work in places such as India, providing American technologies at local prices.

Aventure Aviation  Aventure Aviation is a global and leading aftermarket aviation parts supplier. As part of their export plan, Aventure Aviation intends to expand their business and brand into China and Ireland.

DDM Systems  Founded in 2012 in the labs of Georgia Tech, DDM specializes in 3D printing materials used to make jet engines. The startup will use the additional grant money to increase awareness of its patented technology and expand into European markets.

Pure Air Filtration  Pure Air Filtration is a manufacturer based in Norcross, specializing in filtration technologies and services that protect sensitive electronics for companies, purify air at sewage plants, and capture toxic gases, including urban exhaust fumes. With the additional grant money, it hopes to increase its European brand awareness.

United Sciences  United Sciences is a manufacturer based in Atlanta providing precision 3D scanning technologies and services. They have started a program that allows customers to have their ears scanned and fitted with unique earbuds. With the additional grant money, United Sciences will create more engagement with overseas customers.

"To further our region's economic growth, it's important that we help local companies of all sizes learn to compete globally. We are proud to support the MEP Challenge, which showcases innovative businesses and supports them in their quests to grow internationally," said David Balos, head of commercial banking for Chase in Atlanta and market leader for JPMorgan Chase locally."

This competition is one initiative being used to increase global trade in the region and the state, which is critical for spurring economic growth. The Atlanta MEP is being implemented by the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the City of Atlanta, working in partnership with several other regional and local economic development agencies as well as public and private organizations. The MEP is a product of Atlanta's participation in the Global Cities Initiative ("GCI"), a joint project of The Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase that aims to help leaders in U.S. metropolitan areas reorient their economics toward greater engagement in world markets.

To cast a vote for one of these progressive companies, visit atlantaexportportal.com.

About the Metro Atlanta Chamber

The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) serves as a catalyst for a more prosperous and vibrant region. To advance economic growth and improve metro Atlanta's quality of place, MAC is focused on starting, growing and recruiting companies to the 29-county metro Atlanta region. The Chamber is also focused on growing the region's innovation economy by promoting and strengthening connections to drive Atlanta's innovation and entrepreneurial culture. MAC is committed to being an active voice for the business community, serving as an advocate for a competitive business climate and telling Atlanta's story. For more information, visit www.metroatlantachamber.com.

SOURCE The Metro Atlanta Chamber

Related Links

http://www.metroatlantachamber.com


LONDON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the bandwidth limitations of their traditional voice-centric LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks, public safety agencies are keen to leverage commercial cellular network technology to support their growing broadband application needs. Considering its thriving ecosystem, spectrum flexibility and performance metrics, LTE has emerged as the leading candidate for public safety mobile broadband networks. In addition, with the recent approval of the MCPTT (Mission Critical Push to Talk) voice standard as part of 3GPP Release 13, LTE has also become an attractive substitute for providing LMR-like voice services.



The Qatar Ministry of Interior made headlines when it deployed a private 800 MHz LTE network in 2012. Since then, numerous public safety LTE networks have sprung up across the globe, including the UAE, China, Laos, Turkey and Kenya. Several early adopter LTE deployments are also operational in the United States, as part of the planned FirstNet nationwide public safety broadband network. While most initial public safety LTE investments are limited to small-scale networks, nationwide rollouts in the United States and South Korea are expected to trigger significant large-scale investments throughout the globe.



The European market is largely dominated by MVNO arrangements, such as the UK Home Office's ESN (Emergency Services Network) program that will use EE's commercial LTE network to deliver prioritized mission critical voice and data services for the UK's public safety agencies. As part of the program, EE is enhancing its existing network with additional sites, satellite backhaul and a dedicated mobile core for first responders, among other investments.



Driven by the thriving ecosystem, SNS Research estimates that annual investments on public safety LTE infrastructure will reach $600 Million by the end of 2016. The market, which includes base stations (eNBs), mobile core and transport networking gear, is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 33% over the next four years. By 2020, these infrastructure investments will be complemented by over 4.4 Million LTE device shipments, including smartphones, rugged handheld terminals and vehicular routers.



The "Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market: 2016  2030  Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" report presents an in-depth assessment of the global public safety LTE market, besides touching upon the wider LMR and mobile broadband industries. In addition to covering the business case, challenges, technology, spectrum allocation, industry roadmap, value chain, deployment case studies, vendor products, strategies, standardization initiatives and applications ecosystem for public safety LTE, the report also presents comprehensive forecasts for mobile broadband, LMR and public safety LTE subscriptions from 2016 till 2030. Also covered are public safety LTE service revenues, over both private and commercial networks. In addition, the report presents revenue forecasts for public safety LTE infrastructure, devices, integration services and management solutions.



The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report, as well as a list and associated details of over 90 global public safety LTE network commitments (as of Q2'2016).



Topics Covered

The report covers the following topics:

- Business case for public safety LTE and mobile broadband services, including key benefits and challenges

- Technology, economics, trends, commercial commitments and deployment case studies

- List of public safety LTE engagements worldwide

- Public safety LTE infrastructure, devices and applications

- Industry roadmap, value chain and standardization initiatives

- Spectrum allocation, deployment models and funding strategies

- Profiles and strategies of over 260 ecosystem players including public safety system integrators and LTE infrastructure/device OEMs

- TCO analysis of private and commercial public safety LTE deployments

- Military and tactical LTE deployments

- Public safety LTE base station (eNB) form factor analysis

- Exclusive interview transcripts from 5 key ecosystem players: Ericsson, Airbus Defence and Space, Sepura, Aricent and Parallel Wireless

- Strategic recommendations for vendors, system integrators, public safety agencies and mobile operators

- Market analysis and forecasts from 2016 till 2030





Forecast Segmentation

Market forecasts are provided for each of the following submarkets and their subcategories:



Public Safety LTE Infrastructure

Submarkets

- RAN (Radio Access Network)

- EPC (Evolved Packet Core) and Policy

- Mobile Backhaul and Transport

RAN Base Station (eNB) Mobility Categories

- Fixed Base Stations

- Transportable Base Stations

RAN Base Station (eNB) Cell Size Categories

- Macrocells

- Small Cells

Transportable RAN Base Station (eNB) Form Factor Categories

- NIB (Network-in-a-Box)

- VNS (Vehicle Network System)

- SOW (System-on-Wheels)

- Airborne Platforms



Public Safety LTE Management & Integration Solutions

Submarkets

- Network Integration & Testing

- Device Management & User Services

- Managed Services, Operations & Maintenance

- Cybersecurity



Public Safety LTE Devices

Submarkets

- Private LTE

- Commercial LTE

Form Factor Categories

- Smartphones & Handportable Terminals

- Vehicle Mount Routers & Terminals

- Tablets & Notebook PCs

- USB Dongles & Others



Public Safety LTE Subscriptions & Service Revenue

Submarkets

- Private LTE

- Commercial LTE



Public Safety User Subscriptions over Private Mobile Broadband

Submarkets

- Private LTE

- Private WiMAX



Public Safety User Subscriptions over Commercial Mobile Broadband

Submarkets

- 3G

- WiMAX

- LTE

- 5G & Beyond



LMR Subscriptions

Submarkets

- Analog

- DMR

- dPMR, NXDN & PDT

- P25

- TETRA

- Tetrapol

- Others



LMR Data Subscriptions

Submarkets

- P25 - Phase 1

- P25 - Phase 2

- TETRA

- TEDS

- Tetrapol

- Others



Public Safety LTE Applications

Submarkets

- Video Applications

- GIS, AVLS and Mapping

- Mobile VPN Access & Security

- CAD (Computer Aided Dispatching)

- Remote Database Access

- Telemetry and Remote Diagnostics

- Bulk Multimedia/Data Transfers

- PTT & Voice over LTE

- Situational Awareness Applications



Regional Segmentation

- Asia Pacific

- Eastern Europe

- Latin & Central America

- Middle East & Africa

- North America

- Western Europe



Key Questions Answered

The report provides answers to the following key questions:

- How big is the public safety LTE opportunity?

- What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?

- How is the ecosystem evolving by segment and region?

- What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?

- Which regions and submarkets will see the highest percentage of growth?

- How does standardization impact the adoption of LTE for public safety applications?

- When will MCPTT and proximity services see large scale proliferation?

- What is the status of private LTE rollouts and public safety MVNO offerings across the globe?

- What opportunities exist for commercial mobile operators and MVNOs in the public safety LTE market?

- Is there a market for 400 MHz LTE networks?

- What are the prospects of tactical, vehicle-mounted and airborne LTE eNB platforms?

- How can public safety agencies leverage unused spectrum resources to fund private LTE networks?

- What strategies should system integrators and vendors adopt to remain competitive?



Key Findings

The report has the following key findings:

- SNS Research estimates that annual investments on public safety LTE infrastructure will reach $600 Million by the end of 2016. The market, which includes base stations (eNBs), mobile core and transport networking gear, is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 33% over the next four years.

- By 2020, these infrastructure investments will be complemented by over 4.4 Million LTE device shipments, including smartphones, rugged handheld terminals and vehicular routers.

- Following the Qatar Ministry of Interior's private 800 MHz LTE network deployment in 2012, multiple private LTE rollouts are underway by security forces throughout the oil rich GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region, including the Abu Dhabi and Dubai police forces.

- Driven by nationwide public safety LTE network rollouts in the United States and South Korea, the North America and Asia Pacific regions will account for nearly 70% of all public safety LTE investments over the next four years.

- Almost all major LMR industry players are leveraging partnerships with established LTE infrastructure OEMs such as Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei and Samsung, to offer end-to-end LTE solutions.

- Consolidation efforts are continuing to take place throughout the industry, particularly among the largest LTE infrastructure OEMs and public safety system integrators.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3047360/



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


BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the press are invited to join U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and the Honorable Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), today as they tour the flood-impacted areas in Livingston, Ascension, and East Baton Rouge parishes.

At 1:45pm CST today, Senator Vitter and Administrator Contreras-Sweet will host a Media Availability outside of Mason's Grill, located at 13556 Jefferson Hwy in Baton Rouge.

Chairman Vitter also spoke with Julian Castro, Secretary of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last night, and Secretary Castro will be joining Vitter and Administrator Contreras-Sweet for a portion of the day. Additionally, members of Louisiana's Congressional Delegation will join Vitter and the SBA Administrator at various events throughout the day.

WHEN: Thursday, August 25th

WHERE:





9:30 a.m. Business Recovery Center Visit - East Baton Rouge Parish



Louisiana State Archives



3851 Essen Lane Baton Rouge







10:45 a.m. Tour of Ascension Parish Damage



The Venue - 262 W State St, Baton Rouge







1:45 p.m. Press Availability



Mason's Grill, 13556 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge







2:00  2:45 p.m. Tour of Denham Springs damage



with Mayor Gerard Landry and Parish President Layton Ricks



Old Town Hall, 115 Mattie St. in Denham Springs







3:45 p.m. Disaster Assistance Roundtable with Walker Mayor Rick Ramsey



Livingston Business Recovery Center



Southeastern Louisiana University Literacy



and Technology Center



9261 Florida Blvd., Room 119, Walker





HOW: Media can RSVP to [email protected] or [email protected], phone: (817) 627-4654. Please pass along any logistical accommodation requests.

About the Small Business Administration:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov

Contact: Terry Sutherland (202) 205-6919

Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

Advisory Number: MA16-47

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/DC65875LOGO

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov


GREENWICH, Conn., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The pace and breadth of digital transformation is having a profound impact on customer behavior, business models, and the competitive landscape. The courageous leadership that's required to navigate these unchartered waters will be the overarching theme of the 2016 Greenwich CIO Executive Leadership Summit to be held on September 22, 2016. The summit will be produced by HMG Strategy, LLC, in association partnership with the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the Society for Information Management (FWSIM), and held at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.

"Digital disruption is a call to arms for CIOs," said Hunter Muller, HMG Strategy's President & CEO. "To enable the business to compete and succeed in the digital age, CIOs need to embrace a bold new mindset to drive innovative approaches to doing business in the 21st century economy."

The Greenwich summit will open with a gripping executive keynote given by Don Tapscott, the world's leading authority on the digital age. Tapscott, who recently co-authored Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World, will describe how blockchain technologies are poised to transform the world of business. This includes how blockchain will revolutionize financial services music, and other industries and the profound implications it holds for IT strategy, architecture, and leadership.

Other spellbinding topics at the Greenwich conference will include digital interviews with Silicon Valley's top venture capital executives that highlight innovation and disruption trends that IT leaders need to know; the leadership traits that enabled former CIOs to step into CXO roles; an executive interview with Sean Lennon, SVP & Global CIO of Allergan, Plc, on the keys to leading in unprecedented times; future trends that will impact the enterprise; top challenges for enterprise security today and into the future; the new range of performance capabilities needed to lead in a world of accelerated change; best practices for designing a flexible enterprise architecture; the future role of the digital technology leader; and a closing executive keynote by David Pogue, Founder of Yahoo Tech, regarding how disruptive technologies such as augmented reality and the Internet of Things will have a profound impact on society in coming years.

Other esteemed speakers participating at the Greenwich summit will include Don Anderson, SVP & CIO, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Snehal Antani, CTO, Splunk; Koby Avital, CTO, Priceline.com; Shawn Banerji, Managing Director, Global Technology Officers Practice, Russell Reynolds Associates; Linda Betz, CISO, Travelers; Vic Bhagat, Sr. VP & Global CIO, Verizon Enterprise Solutions; Susan Certoma, President, Enterprise Engineering Inc.; Mike Dauber, General Partner, Amplify Partners; Mario DiNatale, CIO, Spectrum Virtual; Anil Earla, Head of Information and Data Analytics, Global IS, Visa Inc., Ursuline Foley, Corporate CIO & Enterprise Enablement Strategy, XL Catlin; Hugo Fueglein, Managing Director, Diversified Search; John Hill, EVP & COO, Virtustream; John Iannarelli, Former Senior Executive Advisor, FBI; Rhona Kannon, Director of Recruiting, CyberCoders; Beverly Lieberman, President, Halbrecht Lieberman Associates; Matthew McCormack, CSO, EMC; Tom McCurley, CIO, Crane Co.; Ken Murdoch, VP/CIO of IT and Building Operations, Save the Children; Dan O'Brien, Assistant Special Agent in Charge  Division Compliance Officer, FBI; Joseph Puglisi, VP, IT, Nice-Pak Products, Inc.; Meerah Rajavel, CIO, Qlik IT; Julieta Ross, CTO, M&T Bank; Richard Ross, VP IT, Atlas Air; Bernadette Rotolo, Group VP, Global Head of Solutions Delivery Management, Adecco Group; Stephen Spagnuolo, Managing Director, ZRG Partners, LLC; Nabeel Youakim, Vice President, Product Management & Strategic Partners  Windows Application Delivery, Citrix Systems; Dr. Robert Zandoli, Global CISO, BUNGE LTD.; and Michael Zanga, CAO/CIO, Royal Bank of Scotland.

Partners for the summit will include Apptio, CenturyLink, Citrix, Neudesic, Pure Storage, ServiceNow, and Virtustream. Supporting partners include CloudVelox and Delphix. Association partners include FWSIM and WITI. Alliance partners include Amplify Partners, Greylock Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Strategic Partners include Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, Korn Ferry, Russell Reynolds Associates, and Spencer Stuart. The Research partner for this year's summit series is Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

About HMG Strategy



HMG Strategy is the world's foremost provider of pioneering networking events and thought leadership to support the 360-degree needs of the CIO/IT leader. Our regional CIO Executive Leadership Series, newsletters, authored books, and Research and Resource Center (RRC) deliver proprietary research on leadership, innovation, transformation, and career ascent. The HMG Strategy global network of over 200,000 senior IT executives, industry experts and world-class thought leaders is the strongest, most trusted network of executives. Additionally, our partnerships with the world's leading search firms provide vital insights into the evolving role of the CIO.

The HMG Strategy CIO Executive Leadership Series offers a completely unique experience for IT executives to gain the latest insights and best practices for driving increased business value through the use of IT, and build invaluable relationships with peers and industry experts. HMG Strategy CIO Executive Leadership Summits were given the distinction by CIO.com as one of "Ten Must-Attend Conferences in 2015." HMG Strategy has a growing expanse of thought leadership housed on their open digital platform known as the 'Research & Resource Center.' The company's 'Transformational CIO Blog' was recently recognized by CDW's BizTech Magazine as one of "50 Must-Read IT Blogs 2015."

For more information please visit our website at www.hmgstrategy.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401332LOGO

SOURCE HMG Strategy

Related Links

http://www.hmgstrategy.com


ATLANTA, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Triad Advisors, Inc. today announced that Head Investment Partners has transitioned to Triad's broker-dealer and hybrid multi-custodial registered investment advisory (RIA) platform. Head Investment Partners, an independent financial advisory firm, brings approximately $190 million in total fee-based advisory and brokerage assets, as of June 1, 2016. Triad Advisors is a leading independent broker-dealer supporting independent hybrid financial advisory practices and registered investment advisory (RIA) firms, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS).

Head Investment Partners will affiliate with Triad through Triad Hybrid Solutions, a specialized RIA entity serving independent financial advisors seeking the flexibility they would enjoy in having their own RIA while taking advantage of the benefits of Triad's extensive compliance and regulatory support, as well as support in areas such as technology, marketing and practice management. In addition, through Triad Hybrid Solutions, Head Investment Partners will receive the benefits of affiliation with Triad's broker-dealer platform.

Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Head Investment Partners serves the multi-generational wealth management needs of affluent families, business owners, corporate executives and professionals across the United States. The firm also provides investment management services for corporate accounts and insurance companies. Founded by Daniel Head, a 35-year veteran of the financial services industry, the firm has a total of four advisors and two support professionals, including Barbara Million, Vice President, Senior Financial Planner and Private Wealth Advisor, Steven Witt and Brian Dickey.

Michael C. Bryan, CEO of Triad Hybrid Solutions and Senior Vice President, Advisory Services, for Triad Advisors, said, "We are proud that Head Investment Partners has joined the Triad family and chosen to align with Triad Hybrid Solutions. Over the years, Head Investment Partners has established an exceptional reputation serving high-net-worth clients, especially throughout the Southeast, and we are eager to assist them in their mission to grow their firm and enhance the quality of the high-level services they offer their clients."

Employing a largely fee-based business model, Head Investment Partners creates customized portfolios for each individual client, based on their needs and financial goals. The firm's active wealth management approach, based on the core tenets of "plan, protect and grow," places a principal emphasis on the management of risk and volatility. Its open-architecture investment management platform draws upon the talents of its team as well as the strategies of the finest institutional managers in the world.

Daniel Head, Founder and Managing Director of Head Investment Partners, said, "We are delighted to transition to Triad Advisors and align with Triad Hybrid Solutions. This strategic move will enable us to greatly improve our client service by freeing us to choose for ourselves best-in-class technology that optimally serves our clients' needs, and to provide open-architecture investment solutions that fulfill our risk-averse investment philosophy and reflect our own analytical skills, without being subjected to the pressures imposed by a corporate parent. This transition will also free us to add additional advisors and new offices, as part of our longer-term growth strategy."

About Head Investment Partners

Based in Knoxville, TN, Head Investment Partners serves the multi-generational wealth management needs of affluent families, business owners, corporate executives and professionals. Its team of four advisors and two professional support staff members maintains a 20-year tradition of excellence in helping with portfolio construction, investment risk management, estate preservation and transition strategies as well as business succession planning. Recognizing that every client relationship is unique, Head Investment Partners constructs customized portfolios and asset allocation strategies to meet individual needs and goals, designed to reduce volatility and achieve superior risk-adjusted returns.

About Triad Advisors

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Triad Advisors, Inc. is a national, independent broker-dealer and multi-custodial SEC-Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) that is an early pioneer and continued leader in the Hybrid RIA marketplace. The company provides a comprehensive platform of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management solutions. Recognized as one of the most successful and fastest-growing independent broker-dealers in the industry (including being named the leading broker-dealer for Hybrid RIAs seven years in a row by Investment Advisor magazine), Triad Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS). For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com.

Media Contact:

Matthew Griffes / Joseph Kuo

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 652 6520 ext 103 / 424 652 6520 ext 101

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Triad Advisors, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.triad-advisors.com


LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 10, armed soldiers raided a multi-day youth event and detained 60 men, women and children. The event featured a nonreligious, nonpolitical program focused on moral and educational efforts to serve the Yemeni community. Roughly half of the attendees were Baha'is. Organized by the Yemeni Baha'i community and held at the Jud Organization building in Sana'a, the event was sponsored by the Nida Foundation for Human Development.

The soldiers who carried out the raid were part of the National Security Agency. Event attendees described the raid as an attack on the headquarters of a militant group about to undertake a coup and harsh treatment was reported. Of the 60 people detained or arrested, 38 were male and 22 were female; several of them were children between the ages of 10 to 15.

Later that evening, girls under the age of 18 were released. On the following day, August 11, all but three of the remaining women were released on bail; two men were also released. On August 16, 11 more individuals were released. As of today, 23 men and three women remain in prison.

This incident signals an escalation in the targeting of Baha'is in Yemen. Prior to the raid, a single Baha'i, Mr. Hamed bin Haydara, was the only Baha'i in detention in Yemen. He has been imprisoned since December of 2013 and has been subjected to torture, abuse and denied any semblance of due process or a fair trial.

Concern for the 23 remaining detainees is still high. They were targeted for no other reason than their religion, and they continue to be held without charge. Past experiences, including that of Mr. bin Haydara, suggests that if these individuals are not quickly released, they will be subject to a protracted and baseless court case and the ever-present threat of abusive treatment in the National Security Agency prison.

Several individuals and groups have already spoken out against the arrests and detention of these 60 people last week, including Arwa Uthman, a human rights activist and the former Minister of Culture; Abdul-Bari Taher, a journalist; the Secularists for Peace Movement; and the Quranis.

For additional information, please contact the U.S. Baha'i Office of Public Affairs at (202) 833-8990.

SOURCE U.S. Bahai Office of Public Affairs
Announced earlier in August, Viveport is The Global App Store and destination for VR experiences featuring a broad range of immersive content across education, design, art, social, video, music, sports, health, fashion, travel, news, shopping, creativity tools, and more. Viveport's mission is to democratize access to the world's most diverse selection of immersive experiences and grow the VR ecosystem by empowering developers to reach and engage a fast-growing global audience.

"The Viveport developer community is driving innovation by creating inspiring experiences; enriching customers' everyday lives in virtual reality. The VDAs are an important way in empowering developers to define the future of VR," said Rikard Steiber, SVP of Viveport.

Titles published on Viveport from today may be eligible for consideration, subject to the acceptance of the terms and conditions of the contest. Five nominees will be selected per category based on customer engagement and the VR experience. All nominees are winners and a soon-to-be announced jury will decide the final prize winners in early 2017.

"I am thrilled to see how Viveport is passionate about creating success for developers," said Gil Baron, CEO and Co-Founder, Visionary VR. "The Viveport Developer Awards is an excellent opportunity for developers like us to feel appreciated, and benefit from the global marketing and promotion."

The Viveport Developer Beta and Community also opened today for developers and content creators around the world. Viveport is already available in China and will roll-out to all customers later this Fall enabling them to discover, create, connect, watch, and shop for the things they love and need in VR. The Viveport developer community now has the opportunity to:

Get a First Look:

Viveport developers will receive first access to the updated features enabling them to fine-tune their apps and experiences.

Have a Voice:

Developers can directly share their feedback to help shape Viveport in the new community forums. These community discussions will directly influence the platform development and become a part of the journey to democratize VR.

Be Informed:

Developers will receive regular announcements of new features, as well as new promotional and monetization opportunities.

Reach VR Customers in China :

Since April, Viveport developers are distributing their apps and experiences to the world's largest customer base of VR fans.

"The Viveport Community already includes over 7,000 registered developers and we cannot wait to showcase and celebrate their creations through the Viveport Developer Awards," added Steiber.

Registered developers can find out more about the Viveport beta and the VDAs at http://community.viveport.com, and new developers can sign up and get whitelisted for the Beta at http://developer.viveport.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401236LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401237LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401238LOGO

SOURCE Viveport

Related Links

http://community.viveport.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloudwords, project management software for global marketing and a Marketo integrated LaunchPoint partner, will present a live webinar featuring Microsoft. Microsoft will share how the company transformed its global marketing strategy using Marketo and Cloudwords to speed time to market for global campaigns and localized content. The webinar, "Global Best Practices: Microsoft's Marketing Transformation to Reach 86 Countries in 22 Languages," will take place on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 10:00am PDT / 1:00pm EDT. To register, visit http://hubs.ly/H045rdh0.

Today's marketers must meet growing customer expectations for more personalized, relevant and informative content that supports their purchasing decisions. The challenge global marketers face is how to meet that demand for audiences worldwide. Companies require automated global marketing systems and strategies that deliver dynamic, localized content across multiple channels with speed and scale. In this webinar, Charles Eichenbaum, Director of Marketing Technology at Microsoft, and Mike Colombo, Chief Marketing Officer at Cloudwords, will share best practices for global marketers, including:

Microsoft's approach to delivering 9 global campaigns with 400 localized assets in 22 languages to 86 countries

Practical lessons learned to help marketers implement a content localization strategy to reach global markets more efficiently

Tips to easily scale email campaigns in multiple languages using existing resources

For more information and to register for the webinar, visit: http://hubs.ly/H045rdh0

About Cloudwords

Cloudwords unleashes powerful project management capabilities to speed time to market for global campaigns and localized content at scale. By connecting marketing systems and automating project workflow, Cloudwords eliminates time-consuming tasks and delivers unprecedented visibility into the localization process. With Cloudwords, marketers realize the global value of their marketing technology stack, enabling the delivery of more personalized content, in more languages, to more customers at a speed and quality impossible to achieve with manual processes. Visit www.cloudwords.com to learn how global brands like Amazon Web Services, CA Technologies, McDonald's, Marketo and Iron Mountain use Cloudwords. Headquartered in San Francisco, Cloudwords is backed by Storm Ventures, UMC Capital and Marc Benioff, founder of salesforce.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151209/294863LOGO

SOURCE Cloudwords

Related Links

http://www.cloudwords.com


In the U.S., 1 in 5 kids face hunger, causing children to have less energy to focus, engage, learn and grow. These difficult challenges can lead to long-term effects such as grade repetition, health problems and developmental impairments. Together, Feeding America and Welch's Fruit Snacks share the belief that no child should face food insecurity.

"We're proud to partner with Feeding America, an organization that champions causes we have long been committed to, particularly, serving the children and families in our communities," said Michael G. Rosenberg, President & CEO of The Promotion In Motion Companies Inc. "It is unacceptable that 1 in 5 children in the U.S. worry about their next meal. We are grateful for the opportunity to help bridge this gap."

"Support from partners like Welch's Fruit Snacks is vital in helping the Feeding America network serve 46 million Americans, including 12 million children, across the country," said Nancy Curby, Interim Senior Vice President of Development at Feeding America. "Not only will this partnership with Welch's Fruit Snacks bring awareness of the effects of child hunger in America, it will make a real impact in providing food for children who need it."

For more information on Welch's Fruit Snacks and the partnership with Feeding America, visit www.FillTheLunchbox.com and www.WelchsFruitSnacks.com.

Valid in the United States Only. Valid on submissions from 8/1/2016 to 10/31/2016; Terms apply. Full Terms and Conditions can be found at www.fillthelunchbox.com. By texting LUNCH to 811811 you consent to receive up to 10 automated text messages to the number you provided from Snipp Interactive by Customer. Your consent to the above is not required to make a purchase. Msg & Data Rates May Apply.

* $1 helps provide 11 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks

Welch's Fruit Snacks is manufactured and marketed by the Promotion In Motion Companies Inc. "Welch's" and the "Family Farmer Owned" banner are registered trademarks of Welch Foods, Inc., A Cooperative, used under license.

About The Promotion In Motion Companies

The Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc. (PIM) is one of North America's premier makers of fruit snacks, fruit rolls, confections and other snack food products. Ranked as #54 on Candy Industry Magazine's "Global Top 100" confectionery companies in the world, PIM has also been named as one of the fastest growing Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies in the U.S. by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) for 2015, the third time in four years the company has achieved this milestone. PIM is also ranked by both Crain's New York Business as one of the 100 largest privately owned companies, as well as by NJBIZ as one of the state's 50 largest privately held employers.

Millions of times each day, consumers enjoy PIM's array of beloved brands including: Welch's Fruit Snacks, Welch's Fruit 'n Yogurt Snacks, Go Organically Fruit Snacks (under its Farmer's Choice label), Juicefuls Juice Filled Fruit Snacks, Sun-Maid Milk Chocolate Raisins, My M&M'S Brand Chocolate Candies, Toggi Fine European Chocolate Wafers, Tuxedos Chocolate Almonds, Sour Jacks Sour Candies, Nuclear Sqworms Sour Neon Gummi Worms, Original Gummi Factory Brand Gummi Candies, and more. Its subsidiaries and affiliates include Promotion In Motion Canada, Inc., Grupo de Alimentacion Promocion en Mocion Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo de Alimentacion Promotion In Motion Iberica, S.L., Promotion In Motion UK, Ltd., Farmer's Choice Food Brands and PIM Brands LLC. For additional information, please visit www.promotioninmotion.com.

About Feeding America 

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, the organization provides food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people they serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit Feeding America on www.feedingamerica.org, Facebook or on Twitter.

 http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/impact-of-hunger/child-hunger

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400940

SOURCE The Promotion In Motion Companies

Related Links

http://www.promotioninmotion.com


"Bill is an innovative leader with a proven track record of success in a highly competitive and regulated industry," said Munson. "His more than 20 years of health care experience and deep commitment to helping people get the care and services they need made him the right choice for our team and our members."

"I look forward to building upon WellCare's strong market reputation as the largest Medicaid managed care organization in Kentucky," said Jones. "This is an exciting opportunity to work with a very talented and dedicated team in partnership with the state, providers and community-based organizations to enhance quality and access to care for Kentuckians."

Most recently, Jones was vice president, payment integrity and government business operations for Highmark, Inc. While in this position, he led a team of more than 600 associates responsible for the company's Medicare Advantage, Exchange and Medigap product lines. Before that, as the chief operating officer for CalOptima in Orange, California, he served approximately 750,000 Medicaid and Medicare members. Jones also held leadership roles at Amerigroup Corporation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Des Moines, Iowa.

Jones has a master's of business administration from Duke University and a bachelor's of social science degree from Mercyhurst College.

As of June 30, 2016, WellCare serves approximately 445,000 Medicaid members, 8,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 20,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how we care for Kentuckians, watch Brandi's story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. WellCare serves approximately 3.8 million members nationwide as of June 30, 2016. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400898

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150701/227667LOGO

SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.wellcare.com


PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Westchester, a Chubb company, has expanded the availability of its wholesale property, casualty and specialty small business insurance coverages to the following new industries:

Restaurants

Retail businesses

Lessor's risk only

Concessionaires and caterers

Fitness centers

Personal improvement/enrichment schools

"Westchester's diversification into these new markets brings our deep underwriting expertise to bear for a broader range of small business exposures and fills a need in the wholesale marketplace for tailored property, casualty and specialty insurance to address the industry-specific risks these firms face," said David Charlton, Executive Vice President, Westchester Binding Authority. "As the small business insurance marketplace continues to evolve, Westchester will continue to seek new ways to support our wholesale producers with one-stop, industry-leading insurance solutions for all their clients' needs."

The new markets supported by Westchester's dedicated Binding division include:

Retail Businesses  Adds nine new eligible classes to Westchester's existing retail business coverage and includes the ability to add professional liability for specific classes.

 Adds nine new eligible classes to Westchester's existing retail business coverage and includes the ability to add professional liability for specific classes. Restaurants  Covers restaurants ranging from full service to take-out with up to $6 million in annual sales.

 Covers restaurants ranging from full service to take-out with up to in annual sales. Concessionaires and Caterers  Covers off-premises caterer and concessionaire operations ranging from kiosks to indoor/outdoor food vendors, as well as seasonal exposures such as pumpkin or Christmas tree lots. Business owners have the option of adding Westchester's Micro Concessionaire/Caterer Endorsement, which includes coverage for small equipment, carts and kiosks, subject to limits.

 Covers off-premises caterer and concessionaire operations ranging from kiosks to indoor/outdoor food vendors, as well as seasonal exposures such as pumpkin or Christmas tree lots. Business owners have the option of adding Westchester's Micro Concessionaire/Caterer Endorsement, which includes coverage for small equipment, carts and kiosks, subject to limits. Fitness Centers  Covers traditional fitness centers, yoga/Pilates studios, CrossFit studios, and circuit training operations with up to $6 million in annual sales. Includes coverage for staffed personal trainers and on-premises child-sitting services.

 Covers traditional fitness centers, yoga/Pilates studios, CrossFit studios, and circuit training operations with up to in annual sales. Includes coverage for staffed personal trainers and on-premises child-sitting services. Personal Improvement/Enrichment Schools  Covers over 30 different types of schools including art/dance/music instruction, personal trainers and tutors.

 Covers over 30 different types of schools including art/dance/music instruction, personal trainers and tutors. Lessor's Risk  Includes coverage for lessors with restaurant tenants with commercial cooking exposures, as well as tenants with public or private parking exposures.

Property and casualty coverage solutions for all classes of small business feature protection for real property, contents only, equipment breakdown, incidental inland marine, hired/non-owned, employee benefits, liquor liability, and product liability insurance. Specialty coverages are also available including professional liability, employment practices liability, cyber liability, and abuse and molestation liability. Quotes are available in minutes via the cutting edge Westchester Solutions Fast TrackSM, the company's award-winning online quote/issue small business underwriting platform.

The above coverages may not be available in all locations. Products mentioned in this press release are summaries only; please refer to the policy for terms and conditions.

About Westchester, a Chubb company

Westchester, a Chubb company, is one of the largest and most diverse excess and surplus lines commercial property and casualty insurance companies in the United States. Focused on the wholesale distribution channel, Westchester provides innovative specialty products for property, specialty casualty, environmental, professional risk, inland marine, product recall, small business, binding, and programs. The business is further distinguished by exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence and superior claims handling expertise. Westchester is a Chubb company. Additional information on Westchester can be found at www.westchester.com.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: new.chubb.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160121/324916LOGO

SOURCE Chubb
Talks with Manila at early date expected

2016-08-25 09:53

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 that talks on the South China Sea dispute are likely within a year.

Speaking to reporters 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 Reuters.

Ties between Beijing and Manila suffered after the Philippines, under its former leadership, initiated an arbitration against China.

The ruling issued in July by the Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, which China called biased and illegal, has harmed bilateral ties and put pressure on Duterte.

"We welcome Duterte's remarks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

He said China has always been committed to solving disputes over the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation with the countries directly related, including the Philippines, in order to maintain regional peace and stability.

"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," Lus aid.

"China expects that bilateral talks between the two sides could be conducted at an early date," he added.

Jia Duqiang, a researcher of Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the new Philippine president has taken a series of steps to adjust his policy toward China, including former Philippine president Fidel Ramos' recent visit to Hong Kong.

"Duterte's remarks show that Manila wants to break the current deadlock over the South China Sea, and this is also what China wishes to see," Jia said.

Chen Qinghong, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Duterte has realized that the previous government's confrontational policy toward China cannot be continued.

"The bilateral relations between China and the Philippines are moving in a good direction," he said.
New Delhi, Aug 21 : President Pranab Mukherjee will be on a three-day visit, beginning on Monday, to West Bengal, it was announced here on Sunday.

The President will inaugurate a CII-IIEST conference on 'Enabling Make in India through Industry Academia Innovation Platform' in Kolkata on the first day of his visit to his home state.

He will also attend a function, 'The Legacy to Humanity: Celebrating 150 years of Homeopathy', on the same day, an official statement issued here said.

On August 23, President Mukherjee will launch in Kolkata Akashvani Kendra 'Moitree' service in Bangla for listeners in Bangladesh and attend 125th anniversary celebrations of 'Bangiya Sahitya Parisad', it said.

He is scheduled to inaugurate a new building of Bharat Chamber of Commerce and address the first foundation day of Bandhan Bank in Kolkata on the same day.

On the last of his visit to the state, the President will inaugurate a Food Park at Jangipur in Murshidabad district, and will attend a convocation of Management Development Institute-Murshidabad before returning to New Delhi.
Seoul, Aug 23 : The first case of cholera in the last 15-years has detected in South Korea, health authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

A 59-year-old man from Gwangju city, about 270 km (168 miles) south of Seoul, was diagnosed with the deadly disease that kills thousands of people each year globally, in the hospital, the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) said in a statement.

There's no record of the patient having travelled abroad recently, so the spread of the bacterial disease is contained within the country, said the statement.

South Korean health authorities are probing the case to decipher whether it originated due to ingestion of local or imported food and water.

The disease was eradicated from the country in the last decade and a half, since its outbreak in 2001 which affected 162 people.

Cholera, an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, causes vomiting and severe dehydration which if untreated has a 50 per cent mortality rate.

Cholera is endemic in 50 countries and each year there are between 1.4 and 4.3 million cases in the world, out of which around 142,000 people die from the disease.

It is estimated that more than 1 billion people in the world are at risk of contracting the disease and the best way to prevent the disease is to have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation something that is lacking in many developing countries.
Bengaluru/New Delhi, Aug 23 : Kannada actor-turned-politician Ramya on Tuesday defended her comments praising the people of Pakistan, even as a private complaint was filed accusing her of sedition.

"BJP's been slapping sedition charges against any body and everybody so I'm really not surprised... I just said that I disagree with (Defence Minister) Manohar Parikkar sir's comment that Pakistan is hell, Pakistan is certainly not hell... they are very hospitable people... that's all I said," the former Congress MP told India Today news channel.

Responding to a question asked at a programme in her former constituency Mandya about her recent visit to Pakistan as part of a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) delegation of young lawmakers, Ramya had said that she doesn't agree with Parikkar's view that going to Pakistan is same as "going to hell" and the Pakistani people are nice.

Following her comments, a complaint has been filed against her for sedition by a Karnataka lawyer named K. Vittal Gowda, who has also called for boycott of her movies.

Asked whether she would apologise for her comments, Ramya said: "No, not at all... you know I'm not a person who has an ego, I don't mind apologising for whatever reasons, but in this particular instance, I don't think I would apologise. I think everybody in this country is entitled to free speech, I think that's how a democratic country should function."

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of hypocrisy, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif for his oath-taking ceremony and later went to the neighbouring country.

A court at Somwarpet in Karnataka's Kodagu district has admitted a private complaint charging Ramya with "sedition" for praising Pakistanis, a Congress spokesman said in Bengaluru.

Admitting the complaint on Monday, Judicial Magistrate First Class Shyam Prasad posted the case for hearing to August 27.

"An advocate (Vittal Gowda) filed the complaint on Monday accusing Ramya of insulting Indians by saying at a convention in Mandya on Sunday that she found the people of Pakistan good and loveable and that Pakistan was not a hell," the spokesman told IANS.

Gowda petitioned the court to direct police to book Ramya for sedition for "disturbing" peace in the state as she has insulted Indians by praising Pakistanis.

Defending Ramya, state Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao told reporters in Bengaluru that she was only sharing her experiences in Pakistan and did not say anything against Indians or India.

"She has not made any controversial statement but only shared her feelings and experiences of her visit to Pakistan in her personal capacity as a lawyer," he said.
Seoul, Aug 24 : 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.
Agartala, Aug 24 : The Tripura government on Wednesday barred public meetings and rallies in Agartala and re-imposed prohibitory orders in state capital to ensure normalcy and peace, an official said.

These measures come after Tuesday's ethnic clashes in which at least 24 persons were injured and 15 vehicles, including two-wheelers, were damaged. The mob also set fire to a some shops and vehicles.

"The prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC has been re-imposed in Agartala. All kinds of public meetings and rallies have been disallowed," police spokesman Uttam Bhowmik said.

He said the situation was normal in the city, though personnel of the paramilitary forces, Tripura State Rifles and the police were deployed in large numbers across Agartala as a precautionary measure.

The attendance in government offices, banks, schools and other places was less than normal on Wednesday.

A senior police official, insisting on anonymity, said all 74 police stations across the state have been put on alert and security personnel directed to remain vigilant.

Top police officials are closely monitoring the situation.

At least 24 people, including five policemen, were injured, a few of them seriously, in Agartala after activists of a tribal party -- Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) -- attacked civilians, traders and vehicles indiscriminately without provocation on Tuesday.

The situation turned violent around noon on Tuesday as hundreds of tribals owing allegiance to the IPFT took out a rally and attacked passersby, including women.

This triggered retaliation by people of other communities, turning the situation volatile on ethnic lines.

The injured, including policemen, have been shifted to hospitals.

Around 3,000 IPFT tribal activists and their supporters, including a large numbers of women, were left stranded here till early Wednesday in the wake of Tuesday's violence.

Police and district administration officials arranged to send them to their homes in different parts of the state.

The state government has urged the people to maintain peace and not to fall prey to any rumours.

The IPFT has been agitating for the creation of a separate state, carved out by upgrading the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council area. Tribals constitute a third of Tripura's four million population.

The IPFT's demand was rejected by almost all political parties, including ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

The CPI-M has accused the opposition parties, especially the Trinamool Congress (TMC), of disturbing peace in Tripura. The opposition, however, blamed the Left Front government for "mishandling" Tuesday's situation.

The TMC had planned a "peace rally" on Wednesday but cancelled it.

"We will not fall prey to the conspiracy of the ruling parties. We have cancelled the rally as the government did not give us permission," Trinamool leader Ashish Saha told reporters.
Damascus, Aug 25 : The Turkey-backed Syrian rebels captured the city of Jarablus in northern Syria on Wednesday, dislodging the Islamic State (IS) from their last stronghold on the Syrian-Turkish borders, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian rebels backed by Turkish tanks and special forces, as well as air cover by the US-led anti-terror coalition, stormed Jarablus, after crossing into that border city from Turkey at dawn Wednesday, Xinhua quoted the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the Syrian rebels captured the city without mentionable resistance from the IS, which had withdrawn most of its fighters from the city, days before the Wednesday campaign.

The Observatory said the IS sent fighters from the city to the northern city of Bab in Aleppo and the al-Raqqa province.

The rebels are not combing the city, as IS sleeping cells are still hiding in that area, the last IS foothold on the borders with Turkey.

With Jarablus now out of hands, the IS lost all routes toward the Turkish borders, but still had access to border towns between Syria and Iraq.
Washington, Aug 25 : US President Barack Obama on Wednesday offered his "deepest" condolences to the people of Italy after a devastating earthquake struck central Italy overnight.

The death toll in the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that rocked the Italian city of Rieti on Wednesday rose to 120, Xinhua quoted Italy's civil protection agency.

In a telephone talk with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Obama saluted the quick action of first responders and volunteers who have been working to save lives, said a statement issued by the White House.

Reaffirming the "strong bonds of friendship" between the US and Italy, Obama underscored that the US stands ready to provide any assistance needed during this difficult time, said the statement.
New Delhi : Title: Amma; Jayalalithaa's journey from Movie Star to Political Queen; Author: Vaasanthi; Publisher: Juggernaut; Pages: 175; Price: Rs 299 When she entered Tamil cinema, she was another struggling actress. But luck - and the legendary MGR's blessings - were on her side. Once she was recognized as a cine star, Jayalalithaa plunged into politics - with just one benefactor in the whole of Tamil Nadu. And after MGR died, she emerged out of his shadows to consolidate herself in a male domain and became the first woman chief minister of Tamil Nadu, that too a Brahmin woman at the helm of a Dravidian party!

This is probably the most exhaustive life story of Jayalalithaa ever published, at least in English. For one who doesn't allow intrusions into her private life, weaving together the biography would not have been easy for Vaasanthi, an accomplished Tamil writer and author. But vital gaps remain.

Vaasanthi first met Jayalalithaa in 1984 in Delhi, where the former lived and where the latter had found a place after MGR put her in the Rajya Sabha. "The first thing that struck me was her simple and elegant attire and the fact that she wore no make-up. One could hardly believe that she had once been the most sought after glamour queen of the South Indian film world."

Yet, here was a young woman who was sure of herself, even if that confidence in part came from her controversial proximity to MGR, the demi God.

Having lost her father at a very young age, Ammu - as she was then known - was raised by her mother, an actress in her own right. And although studious and with dreams of becoming a doctor or lawyer, destiny took her to the film world anyway. Her 'arangetram' took place when she was barely 12 - the chief guest being Shivaji Ganesan, the most talented actor then.

Her first movie was "Aayiraththil Oruvan" with MGR. It was a runaway success. MGR and Jayalalithaa would soon become the most popular pair - he in his early 50s and she in her teens. And producer R.M. Veerappan or RMV, the film producer, was determined to break this relationship. Jayalalithaa's reel-to-real story had begun.

Vaasanthi takes readers along the numerous ups and downs Jayalalithaa faced - and overcame - as she made her switch to politics, her envy vis-A -vis MGR's wife Janaki, her early years as a speaker, MGR's love-hate relationship with her, the humiliation she bore after MGR died, how Janaki conceded that Jayalalithaa was the true inheritor of the MGR legacy, and how finally Jayalalithaa emerged as the undisputed queen of the AIADMK as well as Tamil Nadu politics.

It has not been a bed of roses even after reaching the top. Charges of corruption and nepotism have constantly pursued her. She has been accused of being intolerant of criticism. And though many credit her with administrative acumen, the quality was missing when unprecedented floods ravaged Chennai. A once shy girl, who complained about the "looks" men gave her when she went to film studios, eventually saw male politicians fall at her feet!

But Vaasanthi feels Amma doesn't realize how Tamil Nadu has changed since she first entered politics, how there is a huge social churning going on among the youth, and how new voices are rising in Tamil Nadu against the two main Dravidian parties. Jayalalithaa may have returned to power in a most unexpected manner in 2016 but she has many more hurdles to cross.
Kabul, Aug 25 : Twelve people were killed in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, a spokesman for the Chief of Kabul Police told CNN on Thursday.

Seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed in the attack on the American University campus, Basir Mujahid, the spokesman said.

Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC.

Police searched the American University of Afghanistan early Thursday about 10 hours after the assault began and killed two of the attackers who stormed the campus with guns and explosives.

The gunmen detonated explosives and fired guns, witnesses said, causing some students and faculty to flee. Others hid inside buildings, a senior State Department official told CNN.

No group has claimed responsibility.

Police described the attack, which began at about 7 p.m., as "complex". Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers, the BBC said.

One of those trapped inside the university for several hours was Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, who tweeted his experience and pleaded for help.

Student Ahmad Mukhtar told the BBC that he was 100m away from the university's main entrance on his way home when he heard "six or 10" shots and a "huge" blast.

The explosion created so much light that it momentarily lit up the surrounding area, he said.

"I climbed a six-metre wall to escape," Ahmad said.

Other trapped students and staff tweeted or posted on Facebook their desperate pleas for help.

The attack comes two weeks after two university staff - one American, one Australian - were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

The school opened in 2006. It's the only private, nonprofit coed university in the country and has about 1,700 full- and part-time students, CNN reported.
Painters' village on the canvas as slowdown bites

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-08-25 09:19

An oil painter works on a still life painting as her daughter sits on her lap at an art gallery in Dafen village, Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [Photo by Xu Yuanchang/China Daily]

Qiu Jiwen has worked as an artist in Dafen village for more than two years. For years, the village, in the southern city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, was one of the world's largest producers and exporters of oil paintings.

Although Dafen's arts-related output was worth 4.3 billion yuan ($646 million) last year, a rise of 3.6 percent from 2014, things are changing.

The combination of an uncertain global economy, China's slowing growth and rising domestic competition has seen demand plummet among regular customers, such as hotels, conference centers and private collectors, and resulted in spiraling sales.

Although his monthly outgoings are usually about 4,000 yuan, last month, Qiu earned just 2,000 yuan, far from enough to cover his basic living costs.

The 30-something pays 1,300 yuan a month to rent a one-bedroom apartment, where he lives with his 1-year-old daughter, and spends about 1,200 yuan a month on food, excluding baby milk powder. He makes his paintings in a small space in the village that he rents for 1,000 yuan a month.

"A monthly budget of 4,000 yuan is very small, and I am unable to feed my family on such a low income," he said.

Qiu is one of thousands of painters in Dafen being affected by falling demand, both domestically and internationally. According to official statistics, the village is home to more than 1,200 art galleries and 60 oil painting enterprises, while more than 8,000 people are engaged in the local painting industry.

"Business has declined a lot since the start of the year," said Wei Haihan, 37, who runs a painting workshop and a factory in the village. "Now, we only make 50 percent or even less than we made last year."

Another painter, who only gave his surname as Huang, said he had not received an order for two months.

A worker arranges oil paintings at an art gallery in Dafen. [Photo by Xu Yuanchang/China Daily]

Oil paintings are a luxury rather than a necessity, and the industry has been one of the first to be affected by the macroeconomic environment, while the impact of slowing economic growth is evident.

"As economic growth softens, construction of properties and hotels also slows, which directly affects demand for paintings. Meanwhile, rising competition from other markets, such as Xiamen in Fujian province, and Vietnam, has also diverted some business from the village," said Liu Yajing, director of Dafen's management office.

According to Wei, hotels were once major clients. "Sometimes an order from a hotel could reach 1 million yuan or more. But now, in Dongguan city, Guangdong, where a lot of orders came from, a number of hotels have closed following a crackdown on prostitution, while in other cities across the country, the economic contraction has slowed the construction of new hotels."

Since the government's anti-corruption drive was launched in 2013, the loss of orders from officials, once a powerful consumer group, has also contributed to the decline, he added.

The development of oil painting in Dafen can be traced back to the late 1980s, when a dealer from Hong Kong first brought the business to the village. He employed art students and painters to produce and sell works, mostly reproductions of masterpieces by famous Western artists such as Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso.

As the number of painters rose, the village gradually developed into a globally renowned production base for oil paintings, at one point accounting for more than 70 percent of the global market share for art.

In the past, Dafen's painters relied heavily on overseas sales, with exports accounting for up to 80 percent of total sales. However, the 2008 global financial crisis dealt a major, long-lasting blow to their business. Government data show that sales of oil paintings fell more than 50 percent to 180 million yuan in 2008 from 340 million in 2006. A previous report by local media said that in the first half of 2012, exports fell 52.3 percent from the same period a year earlier.

To adapt to the change, the artists focused their attention on the domestic market, and now about 50 percent of sales are made in China.

"Business from the domestic market began to rise considerably from 2010, when we were still struggling to recover from the global financial crisis. That helped offset our losses, but now, the domestic performance is getting worse. We don't know how tomorrow will turn out," said Zhang Minxin, who has lived in Dafen for 12 years.

Luan Liyin, head of the Dafen Fine Art Industry Association, said that as the market changes, the key for survival for the artists and the village lies in innovation and integration with other industries.

Originality is key

"The era when painters relied on replicating Western masterpieces is gone. People now have higher demands for art, and that requires painters to create original works," Luan said.

"Meanwhile, Dafen should integrate the culture, tourism and internet industries to develop art derivatives to extend the art industry chain. In this way, it could achieve a transformation, upgrade and make development sustainable."

An increasing number of Dafen painters have already realized the need for change and are making efforts to adapt to the new environment. The village now hosts more than 200 painters producing original artworks, and it's estimated that more than 60 percent of Dafen's art dealers have opened internet marketing platforms to seek online-to-offline development.

"The government is also providing support to help upgrade the industry by improving the infrastructure and offering training to painters. Dafen is set to be transformed into a high-end art market with renewed economic vitality," said Liu, from the Dafen management office.

Related:

Is it a manhole cover or ancient coin?

Hezhe ethnic dance drama Wusuli Chuan Ge shines in Beijing
New Delhi : Innovation worries us. At one level, many perceive it as a threat to their jobs and, in fact, to their way of thinking and behaving. It challenges what they are used to. At another and more profound level, there is genuine fear of failure. After all, not all innovations succeed. Indeed, most fail. A combination of these factors is often the cause why governments and institutions are usually averse to innovation and thus change.

Today, disruptive change has become a buzzword that CEOs and politicians have incorporated into their vocabulary and feel compelled to use, as if not doing so would project them as not being futuristic. We are literally badgered to "think different". Indeed, the pressure has become so oppressive that many have started to complain of change-fatigue which has come, in fact, as a big relief to the naysayers of innovation.

Can we truly afford to shun innovation?

To answer that question, we first need to decode or understand what innovation really is. In my view, innovation is not restricted to the searching for a better idea or thinking outside the box. It is, in fact, that next big step that makes all the difference! Innovation is figuring out how something can be done better. It is the leap from idea to execution. Google, for instance, is a great idea because it exists and works. In other words, unless innovation makes the transition to becoming a compelling business proposition, it remains only an attempt at trying to be different.

According to data, the average life span of most companies is around 20 years. This is because they stick with what they know -- the tried and tested. They refuse to learn how to see through the fog and what pitfalls lie ahead. In corporate culture, competition is the biggest pitfall that companies have to cope with. Companies fail because they refuse to embrace change and redefine themselves.

This is not restricted to business enterprises alone. Indeed, as Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson demonstrated in their seminal book, even nations fail. They point to Joseph Schumpeter's "creative disruption" as the key to survival and success. Countries survive and thrive because they learn to change and to adapt.

Today, India stands at the crossroads of either a transformative upliftment or an abysmal downslide. The route opted for will determine the future for generations to come. The choice is a no-brainer but it entails tough decisions and a clear departure from past practice.

One of India's great failures has been the lack of investment on R&D as a percentage of GDP, which stands at 0.63 compared, for instance, to Israel, which is 2.61. The telling point is that Israel has a population of eight million people compared to India's one billion plus. Further, Israel has 12 Nobel laureates, including several others of Jewish descent in various parts of the world. This is a telling statistic because it is reflective of the low priority India gives to research.

Take China by contrast, which is often referred to as a country in a perpetual state of innovation. Shenzhen, for instance, was a factory city churning out cheap goods for the world. Today, it has pushed boundaries and is home to global giants. It is expanding further and hopes to soon emerge as the gateway to 5G and the Internet of Things. Chengdu is, similarly, another powerful story where the interface of science and technology drives the passion for innovation. Indeed, as many have documented, China's economic story is built around innovation.

But the China innovation map has started to extend beyond its borders, as Beijing starts to tap into international researchers. A week ago, China agreed to take its flagship TORCH programme, which is credited with generating 10 per cent of its industrial output and 16 per cent of its export value to the first TORCH technology precinct outside China. The partnership is with the University of New South Wales and exposes UNSW to a funding pool estimated at $40 billion. It is this hunger that constantly seeks new partners and ideas to fuel the innovation flame that will spur the Chinese economy.

For India to take advantage of its current growth trajectory and address the myriad developmental challenges that are holding its take-off hostage, it needs to embrace the innovation challenge. This requires unwavering political will and commitment.

At the same time, it is critical to recognize that ideas need to be monetized. For this, corporate venture capital is a pathway. Incubators or hatcheries need to be set up with corporate sector funding and government support, which funnel and encourage innovation. Unless new ideas and new ways of doing things become part of our DNA, we face another lost opportunity.

[Amit Dasgupta, a former Indian diplomat, is the India country director for the University of New South Wales. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amit.dasgupta@unsw.edu.au)
Maner/Danapur (Bihar), Aug 25 : Coping with hunger and homelessness in flood-hit Bihar is a task in itself but for women, there is an additional embarrassing chore -- relieving themselves in the open.

Doing so in the open was manageable while they were in the comfort zone of their villages, but not so at the three relief camps the state government has opened here. Neither is the situation any better for those who have stayed back as they have had to shift to rooftops and other higher ground, where privacy is at a premium.

"Women have suffered more than men since we had to flee our villages in the diara (riverine area). Where does a woman go to relieve herself," asked Aarti, a woman in her 50s.

Like thousands of other people, she and her family are now staying in one of the three relief camps in Maner in Patna district, a place famous for the tomb of a Muslim saint.

Aarti's village is not far from Maner.

However, there are thousands of people who have refused to abandon their homes in dozens of villages in flood-hit Maner. They are living on roof-tops or have found some other high ground.

"Whichever cranny a flood-hit family has been forced into, a woman faces a big problem. Where does she go to answer the call of nature," asked Nikhil Anand, a social activist in Maner.

"Imagine the plight of women who are pregnant and those with new-born children," he added.

Mahender Yadav, an activist working among flood victims, said: "Flood-hit women face more problems. They have to swallow their dignity to find some place on the crowded embankment or nearby. There is no other place as there is water all around."

An item much sought after by such women is polythene sheets or bags which they wrap around themselves and stand in the water to relieve themselves, he said.

"Even polythene sheets are in short supply as the authorities have failed to provide them," Yadav said.

Ranjeev, a water expert, said the authorities have failed to plan to provide makeshift toilets, even on embankments, for women in flood-hit areas.

Munia Devi, in her early 40s and a resident of Nayatola village near Maner, said: "Poor women like us are without any help when floods submerge our villages. It is our fate. No one can imagine what we have been going through."

Surender Rai, a father of two young daughters, said, "Women have no choice but to close their eyes and minds to this situation."

Rai is a resident of Mahavir tola near Maner. His family has not left the village, but the women are in as difficult a situation as those in the relief camps.

Lakhni Devi, a middle-aged woman who, along with her family, has taken shelter at Daldev Inter School in Danapur, also in Patna district, said women are real sufferers in times of floods.

"There is one toilet but it is closed; we have to relieve ourselves nearby, ignoring the shame (of doing so)," she said.

Madhumita Kumari, a teenaged schoolgirl, echoed her. "I have been living here for the past few days. In our village, at least there is safety even in the open. Certainly not here."

The river Ganga and its tributaries, like the Sone and the Punpun, have been flowing above the danger mark in Patna and neighbouring districts for about a week, affecting over one million people.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered the district officials to provide relief and rescue on a priority basis to people living in inundated areas.

The floods have so far claimed 19 lives in Bihar.

Over a dozen teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts.

(Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in)
New Delhi, Aug 25 : In order to give Indian students a better opportunity to pursue higher studies at Australian universities, an education fair is being held here by the International Development Program (IDP), a leading placement service.

The fair started on August 21 and will continue till September 8. It has invited 37 Australian universities to provide an opportunity to students to assess their prospects at studying in the southern continent, a statement from the IDP said on Wednesday.

"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," said Piyush Kumar, Country Director of IDP India.

"(In all) 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," Kumar added.

"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 the world's Top 400 Times Higher Education Rankings," noted Kumar.

Apart from meeting the representatives of these universities, students can also discuss the likelihood of their securing scholarships and fee waivers with them. IDP has advised the students to bring along their educational certificates.
Canberra, Aug 25 : A 29-year-old man has been charged with murder as an alleged infatuation with a British woman emerged focus of a police investigation into her stabbing death at an Australian backpackers hostel.

French-Algerian man Smail Ayad had met Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, just days earlier as her roommate at the hostel in Home Hill, where he was arrested on Tuesday for stabbing her, the Guardian reported.

Ayad allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" -- God is greatest in Arabic -- during the attack, in which two men who came to Ayliffe-Chung's aid were wounded, including a British man with critical injuries.

However, detective superintendent Ray Rohweder said on Thursday there was "no indication whatsoever that any radicalisation or any political motives existed to cause him to attack the people that he did".

Ayad faces a charge of murdering Ayliffe-Chung and one of the attempted murder of Briton Tom Jackson.

He also faces a serious animal cruelty charge over the fatal wounding of a dog and charges allegedly relating to serious assaults on 12 police officers following his arrest.

He will appear in Townsville magistrates court on Friday by videolink.

Ayad's assaults in custody include biting one officer. Police used a stun gun and capsicum spray to subdue him in the Townsville watchhouse. Rohweder said this arrangement was agreed to by Ayad's legal representatives.

Rohweder said Ayad, who had consular assistance from the French government, had declined to be interviewed by the police before being charged.

Jackson's father was due to arrive from Britain to visit his critically injured son in Townsville hospital on Thursday night who remained "very ill", according to Rohweder.

He also said a toxicology test result on Ayad was not yet available but police, who were examining whether mental health or drugs misuse issues were factors in the incident, said he had smoked cannabis on the night of the attacks.

Body cameras worn by police recorded him again uttering "Allahu Akbar" when he was arrested at Shelley's Backpackers, but French nationals who witnessed the incident have told police Ayad's shouted speech that was incoherent and nonsensical.

Ayad, who had been in Australia on a temporary visa since March, allegedly told fellow hostel guests he planned to marry Ayliffe-Chung in the days before the attack.

The alleged attack was witnessed by up to 30 onlookers, some of whom are understood to have recorded the incident on their mobile phone cameras.

Ayliffe-Chung's mother paid tribute to her from England, describing her as an "amazing, adventurous and sassy" daughter.

Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire in Britain, was days into a three-month stint doing casual labour on farms in the area -- a condition by which working holiday makers can extend their visit to Australia.

Queensland police had sought the involvement of the Australian federal police in the investigation in response to Ayad's alleged cries of "Allahu Akbar".
New Delhi, Aug 25 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday condoled the death of A.R. Kidwai, a former parliamentarian and Governor.

Extending his condolences to Kidwai's son Monis Kidwai, the President said: "I am sad to learn about the passing away of A.R. Kidwai, an esteemed colleague and a dear friend of long years."

"A freedom fighter, distinguished parliamentarian and administrator, Kidwai served the nation in various capacities, including as the Governor of Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Rajasthan," he said.

"In his death, the nation has lost an eminent leader whose services to the nation will always be remembered."

Kidwai, who is survived by two sons and four daughters, passed away on Wednesday at a hospital here after a brief illness. He was 96.
New Delhi, Aug 25 : Countering Rahul Gandhi's stand on Nathuram Godse killing Mahatma Gandhi, the BJP on Thursday asked the Congress Vice-President if he can be blamed for the crimes committed by Congressmen.

Citing the murder cases of Bhanwari Devi in Rajasthan and Naina Sahani in Delhi in which Congress leaders were involved, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Srikant Sharma said going by Rahul's logic, he can be blamed for the above-mentioned crimes.

"What Rahul Gandhi would like to be called? A murderer," Sharma said talking to IANS.

Convicted for Bhanwari Devi's murder, former Rajasthan minister and Congress leader Mahipal Maderna is serving a jail term while Congress leader Sushil Sharma is serving life imprisonment for his wife Naina Sahani's murder, known as the infamous Delhi tandoor case.

Gandhi said on Thursday that he stands by his comments on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and would never stop fighting its "hateful and divisive agenda".

"I will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said," Rahul said in a tweet.

On August 24, Rahul Gandhi's counsel told the Supreme Court that the Congress leader had not blamed the RSS as an institution for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but the people associated with it.

Hitting back at Rahul, Sharma said: "Rahul knew he cannot speak a lie in the court; so he has again started spreading lies about the RSS outside the court. He was dragged to the court in this matter but still he is not ready to make amends."

Sharma suggested that Rahul learn lessons from history.

"Neither (the then Prime Ministers) Indira Gandhi nor Rajiv Gandhi could harm the RSS. Even Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh ruled the country for 10 years but they could not harm it. Where is Rahul Gandhi?" he said.
New Delhi, Aug 25 : Seven months into his term as India's High Commissioner to UK, Navtej Sarna is being asked to move to Washington as the country's next ambassador, as the US prepares for a presidential transition, well-informed sources said.

Sarna's name was discussed and cleared at the highest level, these sources told IANS.

He will take over from Arun Kumar Singh who retires by month-end. Both Sarna and Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington's closest allies.

Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002.

Before moving to London, Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting last October of the India-Africa Forum Summit that was attended by a record number of 53 African countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally very happy with the organisation of the Summit and had congratulated External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for it.

It is clear Modi wanted someone in Washington he was confident would be able to steer the multi-faceted India-US relations into a new phase with a new administration.

Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu.

Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' that was released last year. He was a big hit in London's literary circles and had also become, in a short span, a popular figure in the Indian community in the UK.
Islamabad, Aug 25 : Pakistan has asked Afghanistan to restrain India from using its soil against Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.

"Such cooperation should not be to the detriment of Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement.

The statement on the India-Afghanistan nexus comes two days after a report saying New Delhi will deliver more arms to Kabul to help it fight militants.

India has provided over $2 billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan in more than a decade.

New Delhi has also been assisting Kabul in building its war-ravaged buildings and heritage sites.

India assisted in building the Afghan Parliament complex as well as in restoring the Stor Palace in Kabul. These were jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on December 25 last year and August 21 respectively.

New Delhi in December last year announced the supply of four military helicopters in India's first transfer of lethal equipments to Afghanistan since the hardline Taliban movement was toppled.

At a corps commanders' conference on August 9, top Pakistan army officers said the terrorist threat was transforming because of a growing nexus between hostile actors in the neighbourhood and facilitators within the country.
New Delhi, Aug 25 : President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Bihar on August 27 to address the first convocation of Nalanda University, a Rashtrapati Bhawan release said on Thursday.

Mukherjee will also lay the foundation stone of Nalanda University's campus at Rajgir.

He will grace a function to commemorate two billion meals served by the Akshaya Patra Foundation in Bangalore on the same day.

The President will also address the 24th annual convocation of National Law School of India University in Bangalore on August 28.
Dispur, Aug 25 : Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said economic activities in the northeast will get a boost with the frequent air connectivity between the region and other parts of the country.

His remarks came as Spice Jet is set to launch new daily flights connecting Silchar with Kolkata, Guwahati and Guwahati with Aizawl from October 4.

"The decision to enhance air connectivity between northeast and other parts of the country will serve as a fillip to the tourism potential of Assam and other northeastern States," said Sonowal while expressing gratitude to the airline.

Commenting on this development, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha said: "Feeder routes (or a hub and spoke model) can connect the citizens of many smaller cities nationally and globally. A key pillar of the New Civil Aviation policy is the enhancement of regional connectivity."

With travelling from or to Barak Valley difficult, the increased frequency of air flights, will help people, especially students and patients, experience hassle-free movement in and around the region.

"Increasing air sorties in the region will also bolster economic development of the region," said Sonowal adding other airlines should increase the frequency of their air services in Assam and the northeast.
Foreigners invited to experience local life

From:Shanghai Daily | 2016-08-24 17:10

A new scheme aims to give foreigners an up close and personal look at ordinary life in Shanghai.



The Linfen Sub-district in downtown Jingan District is inviting expats and foreign tourists to visit its neighborhoods, community recreation center, schools, kindergartens and seniors homes while strolling along a 2-kilometer sightseeing route on Yangquan Road called the Happiness Trail.

English-speaking volunteers, most of them students from local universities, will serve as guides, and residents will serve meals and chat with their foreign guests, said Gu Haibin, the sub-district official in charge of the project, adding that they can also stay overnight in peoples apartments.

Wed like to offer an opportunity for foreigners to take a close look at the lives of ordinary Shanghai residents, something they have not been exposed to before, said Yang Chao, Party secretary of the sub-district.

Cheng Shuchu, a retired teacher who lives in a three-bedroom apartment, is among the more than 40 residents offering home-stay experiences for foreign guests.

I can show guests my photo albums, which contain many pictures of old Shanghai, while my wife cooks delicious Chinese dishes for them, Cheng said.

The project makes me feel fulfilled after retirement. I derive great satisfaction from sharing traditional Chinese culture with our foreign friends.

As an added bonus for guests, Chengs neighbors will come by and perform a traditional Yueju opera.

Another resident offering home-stays, Zhu Yuzhen, a retired shirt factory director, will make decorative embroidered sachets containing aromatic medicinal herbs to present to foreign guests.

Eight residents, including Zhu have been chosen to demonstrate traditional skills, such as calligraphy, for foreign guests, Gu said.

The experience includes performances by elementary school students, a traditional tea ceremony, a Peking Opera and a flower arrangement demonstration at a local recreation center.

We want to create a microcosm of Shanghai life, a journey from local residents childhood lifestyle to their twilight years, Yang said.

Visitors will also be taken to visit seniors at the sub-district hospital and the citys first hospice for the elderly.

The seniors have said they would welcome visitors and look forward to chatting with them, Gu said.

People wishing to take the tour can call Stella Shao, a sub-district official in charge of reservations on 0086-18116020919.
Chandigarh, Aug 25 : A religious leader of the Jain community will on Friday address the Haryana assembly here, state Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said on Thursday.

Sharma said famous Jain Muni, Tarun Sagar Ji Maharaj, will deliver 'Kadve Pravachan' at the Vidhan Sabha complex on the first day of the assembly's monsoon session which starts on Friday.

This was unanimously decided at an all-party meeting held here recently, Sharma said.

"I had requested him to address assembly members. The 'Kadve Pravachan' programme will be held at Vidhan Sabha at 3 p.m. in which Chief Minister Manohar Lal, all ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and other MLAs will be present," Sharma said.

Haryana has a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government since October 2014.
New Delhi, Aug 25 : Two persons have been arrested here for assaulting and robbing a Kenyan woman here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Thursday.

"There was a news report that a Kenyan lady was victim of assault and robbery on 22 Aug. We called for a report from Delhi Police," she said in a series of tweets.

"A case under S.394/34 IPC was registered and both the accused have been arrested by Delhi Police.

"We call for an immediate and detailed report from State Governments/UTs in all cases affecting foreign nationals in India," she posted.
Hyderabad, Aug 25 : The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, an umbrella body of students' groups at University of Hyderabad, has condemned the report by a one-man judicial commission that research scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide early this year, was not a Dalit.

The JAC alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) influenced the panel to save central ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya.

It was reacting to media reports that the commission in its report declared Rohith as non-Dalit and also exonerated Vice-Chancellor Podile Apparao.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development on January 28 had appointed former judge of the Allahabad High Court A. K. Roopanwal to investigate the circumstances that led to Rohith's suicide.

The JAC termed the report the political manoeuvring by BJP to deny Justice for Rohith and four other Dalit Research Scholars who were harassed, discriminated and socially boycotted by the vice chancellor to show his allegiance to Irani and Dattatreya.

The JAC said the panel's conclusion that Rohith was not a Dalit was shocking as district magistrate of Guntur had declared Athat he belonged to Mala, a scheduled caste. It claimed that the commission exceeded its mandate.

The commission did not permit Dalit research scholars to present their version of the incidents that led to their harassment on the ground that the mandate of the commission is only to inquire into Rohith's suicide.

The JAC pointed out that National Commission for Scheduled Castes had approved the report of the Guntur district magistrate on the caste confirmation of Rohith and directed the police to proceed under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
Islamabad, Aug 26 : Pakistani security forces on Thursday launched combing operations after an attack on American University in Kabul, in which 12 people were killed, based on mobile phone numbers that were used during the attack.

Pakistan Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif, told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani through telephone that "Pakistani soil would not be allowed to be used for any type of terrorism in Afghanistan."

According to the army's information wing, Raheel Sharif condemned terrorists' attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul and expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families, Xinhua reported.

He said Afghan authorities have shared three mobile telephone numbers allegedly used during the university attack who were on contact with the attackers.

"It may be mentioned here that based on these three Afghan cell numbers provided by Afghan authorities, Pakistan Army carried out a combing operation in suspected area closer to Pak-Afghan border to verify presence of miscreants," Raheel Sharif informed Ghani.

He told the Afghan leader that the outcome of the operation so far has been shared with Afghan authorities, adding further technical evaluation of the cellphone numbers, all Afghan, is being carried out.

For his part, Ghani called for "serious and practical measures against the terrorists," according to the president's office, while the Pakistan army chief assured Ghani of all-out cooperation on availability of further information from Afghanistan.
A shortage of bricks is a contributing factor in rising house prices in the UK over the past decade with new research suggesting 1.4 billion are needed to meet demand.

With demand for new homes growing it means that the number of bricks, the most used traditional building material in the UK, cannot keep up with development, according to research from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr).

The UKs construction sector would require a total of 1.4 billion bricks in order to resolve the housing shortage in the UK, the equivalent of the total amount which would be needed to build all the houses in Leicestershire.

The research report says that between 2006 and 2016, the growing UK population triggered exponential growth in demand, and has now outgrown the number of houses being built. Given that in 2016 the average UK home is made up of 5,180 bricks, resolving the housing shortage of 264,000 units would require 1.4 billion bricks.



While house prices are impacted by numerous macroeconomic factors, they are fundamentally driven by the supply and demand of housing units. The shortage of homes has led to sharp house price appreciation and prevented many prospective buyers from getting on to the property ladder.



The 1.4 billion bricks deficit could in theory build several of the UKs famous landmarks several times over including 740 Big Bens, 40 Tower Bridges, 3,090 Manchester Town Halls, 4,540 Warwick Castles and 5,830 Conwy Castles.



There are concerns that the impact of Brexit could significantly worsen the issue. In 2015 some 85% of all imported clay and cement which are primary brick components, came from the European Union and the report suggests that depending on how trade negotiations develop, Brexit could have a considerable impact on supply.



It also explains that the UKs brick stock steadily declined between 2008 and 2013 and only partially recovered in 2014 and 2015. Two thirds of small and medium sized construction businesses faced a two month wait for new brick orders last year, with almost a quarter waiting for up to four months and 16% waiting six to eight months.

This can partially be explained by the slowdown in building following the recession, it adds, but even although new homes are becoming smaller there are still not enough bricks. Over the past 100 years, the size of the average UK home has shrunk significantly. In the 1920s the average dwelling was 153 square meters and now it is approximately half the size at 83 square meter, meaning homes have shrunk by 46% in the last century.

This is partly a result of the fact families are generally smaller, so require less space, however the decrease can also be explained by financial restrictions. As house prices have risen by 45% over the past 10 years house buyers have been forced to settle for smaller properties.



Indeed, in the last decade the average UK home has shrunk by9% or 228 bricks. In 2006, the average UK home was 91 square meters in size and required a total of 5,408 bricks. Now, as the size of homes have reduced, the average new home requires 5,180 bricks but there still are not enough to meet demand to fill the housing deficit.



We all know that the massive lack of supply in housing is an issue that needs resolving urgently. As well as freeing up more land to ensure we can build the right sort of houses in the right places, its crucial we have the right materials and skills to do so, said Mark Hayward, NAEA managing director.

It seems a simple consideration but the fact that we dont have enough bricks to meet demand has a very real effect and holds up the process from beginning to end. Were concerned that the impact of the EU referendum means this problem could get worse as we rely on the import of brick components from the EU and of course many of our skilled labourers come from there too, he added.

The report also says that alongside the shortage of bricks, a skills shortage in the UK has also restricted house building as construction based jobs are decreasing in popularity. This is a result of house building slowing down during the recession, prompting workers to find alternative careers, and many choosing not to return when the market recovered.

It suggests that the recent vote to leave the EU may impose greater restrictions on foreign workers coming into the UK, which could also compromise the UKs ability to build homes. Additionally, fewer young people are obtaining the training necessary to fill roles in the field so trade bodies are now calling for government incentives to make construction apprenticeships more attractive.



The UK housing market is in crisis, with young buyers unable to get on the ladder, and families continuing to live in houses theyve outgrown for longer than traditionally they would have had to. Houses may be getting smaller but we are needing to build more of them than ever so ultimately our needs for bricks is greater than before, Hayward explained.

We need investment in the sector to boost production, and house building needs an image overhaul, to become a more attractive career prospect for school leavers and graduates. Until this is addressed, we might as well resign ourselves to a life time of astronomical prices and falling levels of home ownership, he concluded.
The time was right to expand the Jacksonville engineering department due to the market demand for structural precast right now. Steve Brock, Senior Vice President, Engineering

Gate Precast Co. has strengthened its Southeast Region Engineering Department by filling two essential positions  Mukarim Syed PE has been hired as a new engineering manager and Lucas Suarez EIT as a new EIT (Engineer in Training).

An accomplished, seasoned and detail-oriented structural engineer, Syed has 18 years of experience in managing and delivering multi-million-dollar precast projects, as well as a track record of providing effective engineering and project management solutions.

The time was right to expand the Jacksonville engineering department due to the market demand for structural precast right now, said Steve Brock, Gates senior vice president, engineering. The Jacksonville office already had a strong nucleus of BIM and drafting personnel. These additions increase Gates design staff to now include (30) structural engineers. Mukarim and Lucas came available at the right time and we expect them to be a perfect fit for our team.

Tom Newton, vice president, operations, said the engineering additions will enable Gate to have more control over the design process. With this additional engineering capacity, we can better respond to our customers needs, particularly during the pre-construction phase of projects, Newton added. The vast majority of our work is from repeat customers who are confident the design assistance/collaboration approach offered by our in-house engineers, drafters and project managers will help maximize the performance, value and quality of the projects from early schematic phase to final Owner occupancy.

By augmenting its engineering staff, Gate will have the talent necessary for completing a growing number of projects across the region. The companys portfolio of current and recent projects is impressive, and includes the following projects: Collegetown Parking Garage, Tallahassee, FL; UCF Global Expansion Parking Garage, Orlando, FL; Flagler College Parking Garage, St. Augustine, FL; and Downtown Urban PS8 Parking Garage, Orlando, FL.

Gate Precast Co.s Jacksonville plant provides prestressed concrete products for bridges, parking garages, total precast dormitories, stadiums and building structures throughout Florida. The company manufactures bridge girders, piling, double tees, columns, beams, wall panels and hollow core slabs in its 85-acre facility.

More About Gate:

Gate Precast Company is a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum Company, a privately-held diversified corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. Gate Precast has become one of the largest and most diversified precast concrete producers in the United States, with eight manufacturing facilities, and is known for its design-assist collaboration with design teams. Annually, the company is recognized as a top subcontractor by Engineering News-Record Magazine and wins Best-in-Class PCI Design Awards for a wide range of projects. For more information, please visit http://www.gateprecast.com.
Providing meaningful employment to people who are severely sight impaired has a special place for me

PDQ Manufacturing of Leola, Pennsylvania has been selected as an AbilityOne Enterprise Partner by the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) to offer a full line of door and security hardware assembled by people who are blind.

The products are available for purchase through the AbilityOne Programa federal government program that creates jobs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. All of the products carry the PDQ/SKILCRAFT co-brand, which stands for quality products made by people who are blind. SKILCRAFT is a registered trademark owned and licensed by NIB, the nations largest employment resource for people who are blind.

Under the new partnership, PDQ supplies components, and the finished products are assembled by people who are blind employed by VisionCorps of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. VisionCorps is an NIB-associated non-profit agency dedicated to provide employment for people who are blind or have other disabilities. VisionCorps has been producing sub-assemblies for PDQ over the last several years. Expanding to fulfill increasing demand, these products will be finished in VisionCorps newly renovated Philadelphia location, which deploys ISO 9002 processes, and PDQs strict quality-assurance system.

The 90 PDQ/Skilcraft co-branded door hardware products, each having been assigned National Stock Numbers (NSNs), are ANSI/BHMA Certified to Grade 1 standards and carry a listing with Underwriters Laboratories. They include mortise locks, cylindrical locks, exit devices, door closers, and stand-alone electronic keypad locks. These products have been added to the federal government AbilityOne Procurement List, which includes a broad offering of mandatory-source products and services used by federal agencies. Products identified on the AbilityOne Procurement List are mandatory source purchases for federal agencies and contractors performing services at federally controlled and managed facilities. This would include new construction and major renovation projects, and MRO repair-replacement needs.

As a mandatory use product under the AbilityOne program, FAR 52.208-9 Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources of Supply or Services, provides the regulatory framework requiring contracting officers to manage full compliance. As noted in the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, for Fiscal Year 2015, the Department of Defense spent over $2.3 billion through the AbilityOne program.

We are very excited about being a part of this program and are fully committed to seeing it grow to its fullest potential said Bill Tell, Founder-President and CEO of PDQ. Providing meaningful employment to people who are severely sight impaired has a special place for me."

Door hardware products like these have never before been available through the AbilityOne program, so this is truly groundbreaking, said Cheryl Colella-Gehrke, PDQs Director of Business Development. Ive been involved in the AbilityOne program for over 15 years and I feel blessed with this special opportunity to help provide jobs to people who are blind in the Philadelphia area.

Collella-Gehrke is PDQs contact person for all information, requests and applications related to the AbilityOne program. She may be reached at (717) 656-4281 or cherylgehrke(at)pdqlocks(dot)com.

Seventy percent of people who are blind or vision-impaired are not employed, said Dennis Steiner, VisionCorps CEO and President. At VisionCorps, we are proud to partner with manufacturers like PDQ in hopes of changing that statistic. Were excited to start producing yet another quality product and creating more jobs for people who might otherwise be unable to work.

Having been selected by NIB as their AbilityOne Enterprise Partner for door hardware, PDQ has assembled a team to work directly with federal agencies such as the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), General Services Administration (GSA), Veterans Administration and Army Corps of Engineers. They will consult and advise procurement officers and contract administrators to inform them of this recent addition of these door hardware products to the Procurement List, and how to maintain regulatory compliance. In addition, they will also coordinate regulatory compliance with general contractors, architectural firms, specification writers and facility maintenance contractors. This team is headed by Colella-Gehrke and by Gerald Wilcox, PDQs newly appointed Vice President.

I am very excited to be a part of this ground floor opportunity, said Wilcox. Using my years of experience in the construction products industry will contribute to this venture exceeding our most optimistic forecasts.

About PDQ Manufacturing

Family owned and managed for over 33 years, PDQ has maintained its commitment to remain independent as a market leader, introducing cutting edge, innovative products and setting the

standard for service, quality and value. Based in central Pennsylvania, PDQ serves its customers with a world class offering of in-house engineered and manufacturing commercial-grade mortise locks, cylindrical locks, door closers, exit devices, flat goods, stand-alone electronic locks and electronic access control devices. Were one of the few remaining door hardware manufacturers still family that offers that personal touch and independence that the larger, multi-national corporate conglomerates have difficultly matching. And that family spirit is what were able to relate to when serving our many, still family owned distributers, said Bill Tell, Founder, President and CEO of PDQ Manufacturing. Built to exceed industry standards, PDQs products offer an exceptional value, quality, visual appeal and long service life, backed by the best warranty in the industry. Typical delivery is 1-3 days, with distribution centers in Kansas City, Mo., Auburn, Wash., and Salt Lake City, Utah.

About VisionCorps

VisionCorps serves 2,000 individuals who are blind or vision impaired in Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks and Chester counties, as well as the Philadelphia region, through rehabilitation services and/or employment opportunities. VisionCorps also houses the Steinman Eye Clinic, providing diagnostic eye care services at a need-based minimal charge.
2016 DCWAF Check Presentation Today, we honor our supporters, recognize those who have gone above and beyond, and most importantly award funding to the great organizations that are on the front lines for the children of our community.

This week, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), recognized as one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator Magazine, donated a record breaking $2.66 million to 14 local charities serving children in need in Northwest Florida. The private check presentation ceremony was held at the WaterColor LakeHouse, marking the Foundations largest charitable distribution to date.

DCWAF has donated more than $13 million to non-profit organizations since its inception in 2005. This years results are a $360,000 increase over the $2.3 million donated last year.

Today is the day in the world of our Foundation, said John Russell, President of DCWAF. Today we honor our supporters, recognize those who have gone above and beyond, and most importantly award funding to the great organizations that are on the front lines for the children of our community.

In addition to funding the 14 local charities, DCWAF has created the DCWAF Childrens Fund, which represents the funds set aside for any of the DCWAF charities that have an emergency need.

DCWAF identified a need to prepare for the future, so we created a safety net for our charities that may have an emergency need outside our normal contributions, said John Russell, president of DCWAF. It is our hope to continue to grow this fund as an insurance policy for our charities over the coming years.

The 2016 recipients of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation include:

AMIKids Emerald Coast received $125,000 to fund one Mental Health Counseling Academic Interventionist for high-risk youth. Funding will allow facilities the purchase of a new, safe bus for students to be transported to and from school.



Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast received $200,000 to allow double the amount of students from last year (200 children across four counties) to attend programming for one full year. The programming is designed to provide unique opportunities to learn, grow and to recognize youth for their achievements in an effort to steer youth clear of personal failure.



Children in Crisis received $225,000 to fund the facilitation of housing for abused, neglected and abandoned children. The Opportunity Home, Sue Sues Cottage, YaYas Home, and the Travis Tringas Home provide stability, shelter, house parents, food, clothing and necessary items to help children live a healthy lifestyle.



Children's Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) received $200,000 to fund and serve underinsured and uninsured children in need of dental care. These funds will allow for two hygienists on the Mobile Dental Clinic, and one full-time dentist and support staff at the CVHN Dental Clinic to assist with children in need of dental and medical care. In addition, they will be able to purchase new detail supplies and cover the maintenance and repairs of their equipment.



Emerald Coast Autism Center received $200,000 to fund scholarships and their capital campaign, a new facility to serve children on the autism spectrum. The new NWFSC Campus Facility will allow Emerald Coast Autism Center to increase their capacity levels, serving up to 130 students.



Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center received $300,000 to aid in construction costs for the new Walton County facility, a child-friendly atmosphere to provide counseling, family services, and facilitation of investigations for child abuse and neglect.



Food For Thought Outreach received $175,000 to provide nutritious meals for school-aged children on weekends, holidays and summer break.



Habitat for Humanity of Walton County received $180,000 to fully fund the building of two new homes for families with children in Walton County.



Homelessness & Housing Alliance received $20,000 for long-term solutions to homelessness.



Opportunity Place received $75,000 for immediate housing for homeless children and their families.



Pathways for Change received $200,000 for comprehensive addiction treatment programs including men's residential treatment and operations for the family center.



Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast received $225,000 to fund the expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which will provide a larger nursery to accommodate a 10-bed Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the future.



Shelter House of Northwest Florida received $155,000 to fund support groups, counseling and advocacy for youth ages 6 months to 17 years, touched by domestic violence. Funding will also support their Youth Prevention Program, Therapists for children, supplies such as school snacks and diapers, tutoring materials, community outings, and the Youth Community Action Team.



The Arc of the Emerald Coast received $200,000 to support Early Intervention and Family Education Program at the Early Intervention Center for children living with disabilities.

Youth Village received $125,000 to fund capital campaign purchase of land and facility construction along with afterschool programming for more than 40 low-income children along the Emerald Coast.



DCWAF Children's Fund received $55,000 that will serve as a contingency fund for charity partners and will be used as a safety net to serve children in need in the event of an emergency. DCWAF has realized a long held dream to create a fund for future needs. The DCWAF Children's Fund is cash held in a separate account available to any of the DCWAF charities who have an emergency need.



The dates for next years Destin Charity Wine Auction Weekend, the Foundations signature fundraising event, are set for April 28-30, 2017. Learn more at http://www.DCWAF.org.

###

About Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation connects wine enthusiasts to raise money to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Founded in 2005, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) has donated more than $13 Million to Northwest Florida charities through hosting world class wine and culinary events. These funds have impacted the lives of over 75,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. DCWAF is recognized as one of the nations Top 10 Charity Wine Auction in the U.S. by Wine Spectator Magazine for the last four consecutive years.

Learn More at DCWAF.org or facebook.com/DCWAF.
Uniquely positioned to fill the need for diverse manufacturing businesses, oneConnect, addresses specific gaps the fourth industrial revolution is bound to bring about for complex multi-tiered, multi-facility operations. Past News Releases RSS

EOne Infotech is proud to present its latest offering  oneConnect. EOne Infotechs proprietary IoT solution, oneConnect, effectively connects manufacturing production, processes and people with the ERP architecture to obtain production efficiency, lower operational cost and promote overall business profitability.

Since 2004 we have taken pride in providing innovative solutions for our clients, and working closely with JD Edwards to create value-add solutions for many companies in a multitude of sectors across North America. Recognizing the stupendous transformation taking place across industries globally, and especially in the manufacturing sector, we partnered with several vendors in the IoT ecosystem to develop the proprietary IoT solution  oneConnect. Uniquely positioned to fill the need for diverse manufacturing businesses, oneConnect, addresses specific gaps the fourth industrial revolution is bound to bring about for complex multi-tiered, multi-facility operations. The returns for our enterprise clients is anticipated to be multi-fold, said Ameeya Mehta, Managing Partner at EOne Infotech.

With oneConnect, EOne Infotech now offers a highly modular and flexible connectivity solution for clients, which can be easily configured for the unique needs of their specific business models. oneConnect provides extraordinary results for multiple sub-segments of the Manufacturing Industry, including but not limited to 1) Pharma & Life Sciences, 2) Food & Beverage, 3) Industrial & Electrical Equipment, 4) Transportation & Automotive, 5) Consumer Packaged Goods.

Few of the key capabilities provided by oneConnect for all enterprises are:

Predictive Maintenance and Capacity Planning - Detect anomalies and identify outliers that may be an early indicator of issues in device production or deployment. Prevent unplanned system downtime or disruption of production schedule. This is done by fixing possible breaks before the failure occurs for reduced wastage and consumption, thereby optimizing asset and resource utilization.

Plant, Warehouse and Field Operations Management - Assimilate raw data from every node, which allows analyzing and developing patterns for improved and accurate prediction of machine behavior. Customized KPIs, benchmarks and user-friendly dashboards make timely and relevant information easily accessible.

Real-time and Automated Problem Resolution - Remotely monitor equipment conditions and operating parameters to automatically trigger alerts. Transparency and communication across complex chains of command, empowers quicker decision-making and go-to-market strategy.

We launched oneConnect earlier this year at COLLABORATE and recently presented the second iteration of the IoT design at INFOCUS. The reception for oneConnect has been tremendously positive and we are very grateful to our partners for the support. We are excited to continue to be strategic partners in our clients success stories  enabling improved performance and customer relationships, and helping achieve higher revenue growth, adds Alexandra Struben, Business Development Manager at EOne Infotech.

To schedule a demo, please email oneconnect(at)eoneinfotech(dot)com
Benzer Pharmacy, the nations fastest growing independent pharmacy has announced its partnership with Bliss Healthcare Services.

Bliss Healthcare Services is established with a not for profit mission and keeps tight collaboration with institutions and agencies to improve the quality and the amount of services offered to clients without increasing the financial burden.

The purpose of the partnership is to conveniently offer 340B drugs to vulnerable patient populations throughout the United States.

Benzer Pharmacy has recently joined the 340B community and is excited to sign a contract with Bliss Healthcare Services.

The pharmacy vision is to maintain a compliant 340B program with the aim of creating opportunities for savings. Choosing the right 340B partner is one of Benzers priorities.

We are thrilled to share our success in meeting our mission and goals to provide quality services to our customers. Says Ryan Geoghagan, 340B Solutions Manager at Benzer Pharmacy.

Participating in a 340B program offers many benefits for contract pharmacies, including increased store traffic, better access to discounted medications and improved healthcare for patients. Our goal is to become the preferred contracted pharmacy to all the covered entities within this geographical area. Ryan adds.

Benzer Pharmacy located at 717 West Lancaster Rd. Orlando, FL 32809 will be accepting 340B prescriptions starting September 1, 2016, while Benzer Pharmacy located at 202 South Ave Ste A. Vivian, LA 71082 will soon be signing a second contract with SunRx.

In addition, Benzer Pharmacy is working on a third contract with Community Aids Network (CAN) that has locations across the state of Florida.

340B program provides an opportunity for community pharmacies to provide additional access to specific patients who are in need of discounted prescription drugs. The program also gives the community pharmacy an opportunity to add a revenue stream to its existing business model and enables it to become further involved with patient care.

340B is a U.S Federal Government program that requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible health care organizations/covered entities at significantly reduced prices.

For more information, contact: 340b(at)benzerpharmacy(dot)com

###

ABOUT BENZER PHARMACY

Benzer Pharmacy is a chain of independent retail pharmacies that specializes in specialty drugs and also focuses on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases, including Hepatitis, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Dermatological conditions and Gastrointestinal Disorders (GI). The first Benzer Pharmacy opened in the year 2009 and there are now over 60 locations throughout Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

ACCREDITATIONS



2016: Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) accreditation for Specialty Pharmacy

2015: PCAB compounding accreditation with Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)

ACCOLADES



Florida Fast 50 (2016) - Tampa Bays Fastest Growing Companies.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year, (2016) - Benzer Pharmacy CEO was a Florida Finalist.

CFO of the Year Awards (2016): Finalist Large company category.

Chain Drug Review (2016: Rank 54 out of 100 in the Top 100 Chains by Pharmacy Count

Inc. 5000 (2015): Rank 1500 - Fastest growing private company in America.

Florida Fast 100 (2015): Rank 39 out of 100  Fastest growing private companies in Florida

TBBJ 200 (2015): Rank 67 out of 200 - Tampa Bays largest private companies

All Benzer Pharmacy medications require a doctor's prescription. For more information: http://www.benzerpharmacy.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenzerPharmacy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benzerpharmacy
Jon Mills, AIA / LEED AP BD+C and Principal at LPA, has been promoted to the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO). In this role, Mills will be responsible for coordinating the work of the various studio directors and the firms overall business group. This COO role will partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer role in managing the company business operations at a corporate level. Additionally, Mills will continue his responsibilities as the Studio Director for Education in Irvine.

Jon's well-rounded knowledge of the business of architecture developed over his nearly 30-year career and his passion for great design make him a perfect choice for the COO position here at LPA, says LPA President, Dan Heinfeld, FAIA.

Mills leadership at LPA has spanned more than 28 years, during which he has directed many of LPAs significant projects. These opportunities have leveraged a broad spectrum of specialized experience in the design of corporate, developer, retail, religious, civic and most recently, educational facilities. His projects have been honored with numerous awards for architectural services and educational design.

It is a privilege to be given this opportunity to continue collaborating with our exceptional business leaders at LPA, states newly appointed COO Jon Mills, AIA. Coordination of our efforts as we innovate and focus on providing exemplary service to our clients is the foundation of our sustainable business practice.

Educational projects have been a career focus and passion for Mills. He enjoys the integrated design process in building consensus among the stakeholders in education: schools, educators, students, parents, governmental agencies and the broader community.

In addition to Mills professional commitment to education, he also volunteers time to mentor high school students through his participation on the Board of Directors for the ACE Mentor Program. This national non-profit service organization facilitates after-school mentoring of students towards careers in architecture, construction and engineering. Mills focuses his outreach efforts within the Los Angeles and Orange County region. In addition to his mentoring activities, he works through the ACE Board to raise funds in support of student scholarships as a reward for those pursuing a secondary education.

Mills received his professional degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California. Since graduating in 1985, he returned to his alma mater as a visiting lecturer and instructor of sustainability-related courses for both the undergraduate and graduate schools of the USC School of Architecture. Mills support of the School has been further enhanced with his volunteer role on the Executive Committee for the USC Architectural Guild Board of Directors and as a past President of the USC Architectural Guild. Jon also currently serves on the Board of Governors for the USC Alumni Association, and recently received the Widney Alumni House Award in recognition of his outstanding alumni volunteer efforts.

LPA CEO, Robert Kupper, AIA, expresses, The Board thanks Jon for accepting this expanded role and responsibility in keeping with his demonstrated commitment and competence.

About LPA

Founded in 1965, LPA has more than 350 employees with offices in San Antonio and Irvine, Sacramento, San Diego and San Jose, California. The firm provides services in architecture, sustainability, planning, interior design, landscape architecture, engineering and graphics. With a proven commitment to integrated sustainable design, LPA designs facilities that span from K-12 schools, colleges and universities to corporate, healthcare and civic establishments. More than 700 major design awards attest to LPAs commitment to design excellence. For more information, visit http://www.lpainc.com.
State-of-the-art Automated Border Control composes the Easy Airport Eng. Ricardo Cerri, CTO at Puerta del Sur: The new procedure will have a huge impact in streamlining passenger journey. We are expecting a reduction of transaction times per person in migratory procedures to drop around 65%."

Puerta del Sur S.A. and the National Direction of Migration of Uruguay have been developing together a significant transformation of their Border Control Procedures, in the scope of SISCA, a comprehensive program that analyzes, develops and makes use of the best technologies and procedures to control and secure airport facilities, verify travelers and cargo, as well as facilitate passengers along their airport journey.

Travel document readers and finger print scanners were introduced in 2014 into manual document control procedures for arriving and departing travelers. Last week, a very significant milestone was reached for SISCA and for Puerta del Sur: the inauguration of the state-of-the-art integrated Border Control solution. Integrating both Automated and manual Border Control, the solution was designed and implemented by Vision-Box. With proven Automated Border Control solutions in more than 70 airports in all continents, the company was the selected partner to ensure the main goals were accomplished: improve security in border processing and transforming the travelers experience.

Carrasco International Airport is the first Entry/Exit point of the country to implement Automated Border Control. This is a breakthrough in the reliability of security checks and in the optimization of operations, but also in passenger experience, offering an agile, quick, convenient border crossing process. Hence the campaign name Easy Airport.

A robust bank of Vision-Box vb i-match eGates is now operational at Arrivals offering a full self-service experience and ensuring passport authentication, background checks and biometric passenger verification.

The system compares the facial image stored in the chip of the passengers passport against the live captured image, all according to the highest quality and security international standards, making sure that the traveler has a valid document and is the genuine owner of the document. After this first step is successfully accomplished, the traveler will be asked to select his/her flight through a user-friendly display available at the eGate.

According to Eng. Ricardo Cerri, CTO at Puerta del Sur, The new procedure will have a huge impact in streamlining passenger journey at the airport, especially with the reduction of waiting times. We are expecting a reduction of transaction times per person in migratory procedures to drop around 65%, which is a direct benefit to the user of Easy Airport, but also for the users of manual booths, which will also be relieved from congestion. We are very happy to be able to offer our travelers more convenience, agility and efficiency while contributing in securing the border control in Uruguay.

In reference to the official inauguration of the new Automated eGates, the Minister of Interior, Mr Eduardo Bonomi, underlined that (the eGates) give the country safety and swiftness. Safety because passengers cannot skip the identification process bearing their Uruguayan ID or passport, which compares immediately and accurately against unforgeable data. And swiftness because now a process that usually takes longer, with this solution is quite faster.

Also subject to a modernization process, manned control booths have been endowed with new touchpoints to optimize processes: vb AIC desktops (Automated Immigration Control) are being used to assist Border Guards in identifying passengers. The traveler simply presents his face and fingerprints to the desktop, to be respectively matched with the travel document and the Immigration backend system in order to be correctly identified.

Vision-Box implemented a state-of-the-art Border Control solution capable to address the challenge of improving security and operational efficiencies on the whole, while simultaneously putting in place quick, convenient traveler identification procedures at the airport. Therefore, both ABC eGates and vb AIC desktops are integrated into a robust software suite for real-time management of the whole security infrastructure as well as interface with watch lists such as Interpol.

This platform is ready to support the current and future stages of SISCA. While the basis for privacy-responsible data exchange between all travel stakeholders, corner stone for SISCA, have already been assured, this future-proof platform is ready to serve forthcoming expansion goals of the airport: it is expected that an End-to-End Passenger Flow system based on a single biometric token is implemented covering most of the passenger identification touch-points as well as vb orchestra, a passenger-centric and comprehensive common-use based suite for airport, airlines, and governments managed services, with rich, flexible intelligence tools for informed decision-making and data-driven airport management.

Jean-Francois Lennon, Vice-President for Global Business Development & Sales of Vision-Box already foresees that aligned with the vision of Corporacion America, the airport itself and the country, this solution is expected to grow even further towards a completely self-service integrated passenger experience, processing all passengers arriving or departing, connecting all entry and exit touch points.
SaveInCloud perfectly complements the Jelastic Cloud Union, allowing customers to experience high availability, robust performance, full automation and intuitive UI

Jelastic, the leading Cloud Platform for DevOps with Docker container support announced SaveInCloud as their new partner from Paraguay.

This alliance aimed to provide an intuitive, cost-effective and flexible platform for developers in LATAM. From now on, SaveInCloud customers can set up their Java, PHP, Ruby, Node.js, .NET or Python environments in seconds and save up to 70%, paying only for resources in use.

By partnering with SaveInCloud, Jelastic provides a powerful platform with an extensive set of features for DevOps. SaveInCloud perfectly complements the Jelastic Cloud Union, allowing customers to experience high availability, robust performance, full automation and intuitive UI, commented Ruslan Synytsky, Jelastic CEO.

IP Company, parent company of SaveInCloud is located in Latin America and provides internet services since 1998. The company has 3 highly-efficient data centers in Latin America and Canada, and hosts more than 10k domains.

This partnership helps us to offer a progressive hosting services for LATAM DevOps, enabling low latency due to available locally data servers, proficient technical support and high-level of performance. We expect to provide the ultimate PaaS for local developers. In the nearest time we also plan to provide SaveInCloud within more LATAM countries, said Fabio Vieira, SaveInCloud CEO and founder.

Chief benefits, provided by SaveInCloud platform:



Low latency for LATAM Users

100% SSD disks in infrastructure

Dell Servers

.NET and MSSQL Nodes support

Spanish/Portuguese localization and technical support

Customers have an opportunity to try SaveInCloud hosting powered by Jelastic for free to admit the benefits of fully automated DevOps platform with advanced orchestration of containers.

About Jelastic

Jelastic is a DevOps PaaS and CaaS for business that can be deployed on bare metal hardware or any IaaS. The platform provides certified containers for Java, PHP, Ruby, Node.js, Python and .NET and the ability to use custom Docker containers. Jelastic offers agile deployment models without coding to proprietary APIs, flexible automatic scaling for stateless and stateful applications, collaboration, access control, monitoring, backup and disaster recovery, built-in billing and business analytics tools, while driving down TCO with high density and hardware utilization. For more information, visit us at http://www.jelastic.com

About SaveInCloud

The SaveInCloud is a hosting provider company focused on Cloud solutions in Latin America.

Headquartered in Asuncion, Paraguay, it has the advanced infrastructure, that provides high quality services with technical support in Spanish, Portuguese or English to all customers and ensures superior efficiency and security. The SaveInCloud infrastructure is located in LATAM data centers, providing the highest redundancy in all systems - from the air conditioning to the networks that helps to meet the highest demands of company`s clients.

http://saveincloud.com
Breeze Digital Signage for Android We believe our Breeze Digital Signage players for Android provide the perfect balance for the majority of digital signage installs that scale from small to large installations.

On the heels of the spring introduction of Keywest Technologys 2nd generation Breeze Digital Signage cloud software, the company made a significant commitment to offering the latest media hardware available for Android. The new media players expand the Breeze HTML5-powered system with the ability to playout 4K Ultra-HD and input Full-HD 1080P simultaneously while infusing real-time aggregated media playlists, which makes Breeze Digital Signage very dynamic, to say the least.

According to Koytt Nichols, company president and director of R&D, the Android technology is an attractive alternative to either dated players or system-on-a-chip (SoC) displays.

We believe our Breeze Digital Signage players for Android provide the perfect balance for the majority of digital signage installs that scale from small to large installations. We are offering a viable and attractive alternative to so-called display ecosystems that can leave you feeling locked in by limiting your options in the areas of cost, size, performance, and flexibility. With our approach, integrators are free to use the type of display that best suits the installation instead of trying to fit the display to the installation.

The Breeze players for Android come in two models. The 301 is optimized for 4K Ultra-HD playout at 3840 x 2160 resolution via the certified HDMI 2.0 standard. It also supports a 1080P HDMI input for picture-in-picture (PiP) capability with enough processing power to decode multiple videos simultaneously. All of this provides a stunning big-screen experience, making it an appropriate choice for large venue video walls, advanced techorating, or larger-than-life experiences. The HDMI input also supports HDCP for secure playback of encrypted digital programming in environments where mixed media is desired for the overall ambiance. The 202 model is optimized for Full-HD (1080P) playout and supports two HDMI outputs that play identical content, making it convenient to distribute the signal in a multi-sign environment.

Both models come equipped with advanced features giving Internet-of-Things (IoT) capability that includes built-in BLE Beacon, GigiLAN and WLAN connections, and a programmable RS-232 port. All of this is in addition to handy installation features, such as a built-in chassis lock, mounting tabs, and a fanless design. Furthermore, the industrial grade players are housed in super-slim chassis that are designed for 24/7 operation.

Interested parties and system integrators are encouraged to contact Keywest Technology (800-331-2019) for a free demonstration. Breeze Digital Signage is sold and distributed through Keywests network of professional AV and IT resellers.

About Keywest Technology

Keywest Technology is an authentic developer of digital signage technology and a full-service provider offering solutions from simple playback to large multi-sign and interactive networks. Keywest builds marketing communication systems with a holistic approach that includes key software technologies, creative design, system design, and comprehensive network-managed services. Based in Lenexa, Kansas, the company is dedicated to making business communication as enjoyable as a day at the beach. For more information, visit http://www.KeywestTechnology.com.
We wanted to create an experience that would resonate with a wide-range of audience members, so what better theme than our shared love for the state of Maryland?

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra, headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, announces a partnership with Flying Dog Brewery of Frederick, Maryland to present Classics and Crabs, a one-of-a-kind event to celebrate all things Maryland. During this unique event on Saturday, September 17, 2016, ticketholders will enjoy an outdoor beer festival, a concert held inside the historic Maryland Theatre, and all-you-can-eat crabs and buffet presented under the stars on South Potomac Street.

We wanted to create an experience that would resonate with a wide-range of audience members, so what better theme than our shared love for the state of Maryland? says Michael Harp, Director of Marketing & Public Relations for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Our orchestra is very proud of our Maryland heritage, so we tried to identify event partners who shared that same level of state pride. Flying Dog Brewery was a clear choice in that category.

Erin Weston, Senior Director of Communications for Flying Dog, explains the partnership, We view craft beer as an art form unlike any other and are committed to supporting all types of creative expression in our local community. Our sense of Maryland pride runs deep, so this event immediately appealed to us.

Classics & Crabs will kick off at 3 PM in the courtyard of Maryland Theatre with samples from several unique brews, including the Maryland-inspired, Dead Rise OLD BAY Summer Ale. After entering the theatre at 5 PM, guests will enjoy a new take on classical music from the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and Time for Three, a guest artist who often describes themselves as a classically trained garage band. The concert will feature music from Grammy-nominated composer Chris Brubeck as well as Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.

Following the concert, guests will spill out onto South Potomac Street at 7PM to indulge in all-you-can-eat crabs and a buffet of local Maryland favorites. Additional Flying Dog beers will be available for purchase along the street, and the Maryland Theatre concession stand will be open for assorted wines and light beer. For more information and tickets, visit marylandsymphony.org.

About Maryland Symphony Orchestra:

Founded in 1982, Maryland Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 35th season as the areas premier professional orchestra. Under the musical direction of Maestra Elizabeth Schulze, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to providing musical performances that educate and entertain, while enhancing the cultural environment of Western Maryland and the surrounding region. Learn more: http://www.marylandsymphony.org

About Flying Dog Brewery:

As one of the fastest-growing regional craft breweries in the mid-Atlantic, Flying Dog has been brewing world-class beer that pushes the confines of traditional styles for 25 years. Flying Dog attracts everyone from craft beer connoisseurs to those just catching the wave with up to 20 styles available at any given time and its Gonzo ties to writer Hunter S. Thompson and artist Ralph Steadman. Named the Mid-Size Craft Brewery of the Year at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival (the highest honor for its size in the United States), recent accolades for Flying Dog include its Pale Ale ranked as the #1 American Pale Ale in the U.S. by The New York Times. For more information, please visit http://www.flyingdogbrewery.com.
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall by Dewey Nicks

Los Angeles City College Foundation has received a $10.1 million gift from The Herb Alpert Foundation, creating an endowment that forever transforms the music department and the lives of the talented music students who study at Los Angeles City College (LACC). The gift is the largest ever given to a community college in Southern California.

The gift provides music majors at LACC tuitionfree attendance, additional private lessons and further financial aid to enable them to succeed in their community college experience. This support extends to all music majors, whether enrolled in the twoyear certificate programs or in the applied music major program that prepares students for pursuing a 4year music degree. It allows for significant student growth over the coming years and builds on the Foundations longstanding financial support to LACC which has exceeded $500,000.

I love that LACC has helped so many low income students who have financial challenges but have a strong commitment to education and to selfimprovement, said Herb Alpert.

The Herb Alpert Foundations new gift highlights the important role that the music department plays within LACC. Besides fully funding the cost of tuition and private lessons for every student that is a musicmajor at LACC, it enhances the departments ability to offer opportunities for nonmusic majors as well. Approximately 4,000 students take some type of music courses at LACC every year.

The Herb Alpert Foundations two core areas of funding are the Arts, and Compassion and WellBeing, and this gift to LACC beautifully marries those two priorities, said Rona Sebastian, President of the Herb Alpert Foundation. It supports those music students dedicated to pursuing advancement in this artistic discipline, and it provides an often underserved, diverse student population with a fair, just and compassionate opportunity to afford the costs of a higher education.

The vast majority of our students are from underserved communities and faced with enormous financial challenges as they strive to attain their academic and career goals, said Robert Schwartz, executive director of the Los Angeles City College Foundation. This generous gift from the Herb Alpert Foundation allows these talented students to focus on their studies while pursuing their individual pathways towards successful careers in the music industry.

LACC, one of the nine community colleges within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), provides the largest selection of performing arts classes and majors among the LACCD campuses. Forty percent of the music students within the district study at LACC. In 1946, LACC became the first college in the U.S. to offer a major in jazz.

LACC mission statement:

The mission of the Los Angeles City College Foundation is to develop philanthropic support to assist the College in providing accessible educational programs that assure academic and vocational excellence for the students of Los Angeles City College, and that enrich the cultural, economic, and civic life of Los Angeles.

About The Herb Alpert Foundation:

The Herb Alpert Foundation, a nonprofit, private foundation established in the 1980s, makes significant annual contributions to a range of programs in the Arts and in Compassion and WellBeing. Its funding is directed toward projects in which Herb and Lani Alpert and Foundation President Rona Sebastian play an active role. (Please note: the Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.)

See extraordinary short film on the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts.
It is a privilege to be included in the Forbes ranking of America's Top 200 Wealth Advisors. No one achieves such a humbling honor alone

Judith McGee, L.H.D., C.F.P. , and Chair/CEO of McGee Wealth Management selected as one of Forbes 2016 list of Americas Top Wealth Advisors.

It is a privilege to be included in the Forbes ranking of Americas Top 200 Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research. No one achieves such a humbling honor alone. I want to express my gratitude to my partner, D. Linette Dobbins, and the McGee Wealth Management team for their part in helping me attain this recognition. We are blessed by the clients who trust our firm as their financial advisors, says Judith McGee.

The Forbes ranking of Americans Top Wealth Advisors is developed by SHOOK Research and is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue, trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

This esteemed accolade follows an impressive list of honors Judith McGee has received throughout her notable career. As one of the first females to receive a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation in the Portland area.

Throughout her career, Judiths passion has been to share her years of experience and financial insight with her clients, with whom she builds strong, lasting relationships based on mutual trust. As an ardent consumer finance advocate, her approach has always been consumer oriented and global in focus, specializing in investment management, retirement and estate planning, succession planning, and strategic philanthropy.

Judith McGee is frequently recognized as one of the nations top wealth managers by leading industry publications. Among them, Barrons magazine has named McGee to its list of Top 1,200 Wealth Advisors1in the U.S. every year since 2009 and has ranked her as Oregons top advisor. Financial Times listed her on their list of Top 400 Nationally in 20142, and in 2015, Judith was inducted into Research Magazines Advisor Hall of Fame3.

McGee Wealth Management is a fee based advisory wealth management firm integrating financial services with holistic planning, consulting, and asset management. With the exemplary credentialed staff, comprehensive services, and philanthropic recognition, McGee Wealth Management believes their Making Life a Richer Experience motto exemplifies their stellar client relationships, built on trust and collaboration, with a strong focus on the financial needs of multi-generational families.

McGee Wealth Managements key team members include Judith McGee, L.H.D., C.F.P., ChFC, CEO/Chairwoman (MWM) & Co-Branch manager (RJFS), D. Linette Dobbins, CFP, President/CCO (MWM), Co-Branch Manager (RJFS), and Jennifer Currin Gutridge, CFP, Executive Vice President (MWM) and Financial Advisor (RJFS). 12455 SW 68th Ave. Portland, Oregon 97223. 503-597-2222. Visit http://www.McGeeWM.com for more information. For media requests contact Diane Dennis with Inspired Media at info(at)inspiredmc.com.

McGee Wealth Management is an independent firm. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. The awards are bestowed by independent third party organizations not affiliated with Raymond James.

Any opinions are those of Judith McGee and not necessarily those of Raymond James.

1. Ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated by the firms and the quality of the advisors practices.

2. based on six broad factors and calculates a score for each CPF professional. Areas considered include advisor assets under management, asset growth, years of experience, industry certification, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority compliance records and online accessibility

3. Candidates who pass rigorous screens for this award have served a minimum of 20 years in the industry, have acquired substantial assets under management, have demonstrated superior client service and have earned recognition from their peers and the broader community for the honor they reflect on their profession.
From consumer electronics to enterprise computing, an impressive collection of new speech solutions has become available during the past 12 months.

Speech Technology magazine, the leading provider of speech technology news and analysis, announced the recipients of its 2016 Speech Industry Awards in its Fall 2016 issue. The 10th annual Speech Industry Awards recognize the creativity and notable achievements of vendors, client companies, and individuals during the past year.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our annual Speech Industry Awards, notes David Myron, Speech Technology magazines editorial director. And, after 10 years, the industry is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to technological innovation, he adds. From consumer electronics to enterprise computing, an impressive collection of new speech solutions has become available during the past 12 months.

Some of the innovations recognized in this years Speech Industry Awards include deep neural networks for IVRs, personalized voices for disabled children, cognitive computing coupled with speech technology, and voice-triggered technology for consumer electronics and the Internet of Things.

In total, 20 companies and individuals were honored in the awards issue, which recognize key influencers (Luminaries), major innovators (Star Performers), and impressive deployments (Implementation Awards).

The editors of Speech Technology magazine selected this years award winners based on their industry contributions during the past 12 months. The winners are listed below:

The magazine honored four individuals as 2016 Speech Luminaries:



Kate Dilligan, Executive Vice President, KnuVerse

Lars-Erik Larsson, CEO, Acapela Group

Alex Lebrun, Facebook Ms Teacher, Facebook

Todd Mozer, CEO, Sensory

Speech Technology magazine honored 12 companies as 2016 Star Performers:

1. [24]7

2. Acapela Group

3. Amazon

4. Aspect

5. IBM Watson

6. Interactions

7. NICE

8. Nuance Communications

9. Sensory

10. SoundHound

11. Verint

12. VoiceBox Technologies

Lastly, the magazine named four Implementation Award recipients:

Comcast, a home-grown solution

Encore Capital Group, a CallMiner implementation

Florida Hospital, a Nuance Communications deployment

Open English, a CallMiner implementation

An expanded version of the results have been published in the Fall 2016 issue of Speech Technology magazineavailable in print and online at http://www.speechtechmag.com/Archives/ArchiveIssue.aspx?IssueID=6380.

About Speech Technology Magazine

Speech Technology magazine is recognized worldwide as the leading source of news, information, and analysis for the speech technology industry. The magazine also administers and hosts the annual SpeechTEK conference. Each of these properties is designed to serve the buyers, builders, and implementers of speech technology. For more information about the magazine, its editorial calendar, or speech technology in general, please visit us on the web at SpeechTechMag.com. For more information about the SpeechTEK conference, visit SpeechTEK.com. SpeechTechMag.com, SpeechTEK.com, and Speech Technology magazine are properties of Information Today, Inc.

About SpeechTEK

Launched in 1995, the SpeechTEK Conference (http://www.SpeechTEK.com) is recognized worldwide as the industrys premier event focusing on products, services, applications, solutions, and innovations using speech technologies. The trade show and educational conference attract a global network of speech technology providers and enterprise customers who are developing and implementing speech solutions.

About Information Today

Information Today, Inc. (infotoday.com), is a leading publisher and conference organizer in the field of technology and technology applications in todays enterprise. In addition to producing the CRM Evolution, SpeechTEK, and Customer Service Experience conferences, Information Today, Inc. also publishes CRM magazine, Speech Technology magazine, and their corresponding websites (destinationCRM.com and speechtechmag.com). The company also publishes SmartCustomerService.com, Streaming Media magazine, KMWorld magazine, Database Trends and Applications magazine, and EContent magazine.
Kayaking near Palos Verdes, CA - (Photo:Kevin Gilligan) I believe the term 'Chicken Of The Sea' is a death penalty to these fish.

Andrew G. Szabo is no stranger to adventure or long distance challenges. In the past 12 years he crossed the Sahara 15 times as director of the legendary, 6000 mile Budapest-Bamako Rally. This September he sets out on a long distance, solo kayak trip from Manhattan Beach to Tijuana.

First it was just a mid-life crisis related personal challenge, then it turned into something bigger and more meaningful, said the 47 year old internet and real estate entrepreneur. Unethical tuna fishing is not only pushing certain species of tuna to the verge of extinction, but is destroying various ocean eco-systems, added the amateur sea kayaker.

Szabo began training in early May after dropping the idea of walking the coast line to Mexico. After teaming up with Greenpeace's #ChangeYourTuna campaign, Szabo was amazed how little we know about the tuna fish we eat and how much damage we can cause to our oceans by choosing the wrong brand. I believe the term 'Chicken Of The Sea' is a death penalty to these fish. They are not farm animals. They can only be fished in a sustainable fashion, added the kayaker. On his website ArcoirisExplorer.org he even lists the ocean friendly brands of tuna that are approved by environmentalists.

I'm excited about being involved with a charity where we don't have to ask our friends and family for donations. Here, everybody can do their part by changing their tuna, added the enthusiastic kayaker.

The 11 day, 150 mile expedition along the Souther California coastline will set out from Manhattan Beach on September 4th, 2016 and is expected to end atTijuana's Plaza Monumental on September 15th. On his websites Szabo encourages all those who care about our oceans to join him by kayaks, canoes, SUPs, surf boards for any length of the trip.

The planned route of the expedition and where you can join:

Sep 4- Manhattan Beach to Portuguese Bend

Sep 5- Portuguese Bend to Seal Beach

Sep 6- Seal Beach- Newport Beach

Sep 7- Newport Beach  Laguna Beach

Sep 8- Laguna Beach- San Celmente

Sep 9- San Celmente- San Onofre

Sept 10- San Onofre- Oceanside

Sept 11- Oceanside-Batiquitos Lagoon

Sept 12- Batiquitos Lagoon- Torrey Pines Beach

Sep 13- Torrey Pines Beach- Bonita Cove

Sep 14- Bonita Cove-San Diego

Sept 15- San Diego - Tijuana

For additional information and dates visit: ArcoirisExplorer.org
The 9/11 Bible is on display at the September 11th Memorial Museum Religion and forgiveness are both 'dangerous medicines'. Too little can harm. Too much can kill.

Like The DaVinci Code, the story travels around the world to speculate on the mystery of this Bible, now on display at the September 11th Memorial Museum. Did it belong to Donna, an ex-minister who was banished from her church on September 10th for following the Golden Rule instead of church rules?

The search for answers takes this historical novel to 1968 in the Bahamas, where Martin Luther King visited shortly before his murder. Two college girls on spring break are shocked by Dr. Kings death and a warning: Religion and forgiveness are dangerous medicines. Too little can harm. Too much can kill. They turn to folk music, plus insights from psychology and spirituality, to address issues that are still important today: prejudice, war, same-sex marriage and income inequality.

Meanwhile, a graduate student on a pilgrimage to Israel flees the holiest part of the land, then is stunned by a revelation at a sidewalk cafe in Tel Aviv. Returning to Buffalo, the three meet, form a folk-music trio, and begin a lifelong journey to find more love that climaxes at the Twin Towers.

It is written by Dr. Tom DeLoughry whose programs and stories have been honored with national awards, including AARPs Social Impact Award for creating a simple mind-body-spirit program for seniors, adults and teens of any faith, or no faith. Advance sales of the novel are available until September 30th at http://www.LHHnovel.com.

A free online magazine, "From Hate to Hope", edited by Dr. DeLoughry, will launch concurrently with the novel this fall. It will provide in-depth articles that build on the well-researched insights from psychology and spirituality that are infused in the story.. Readers will be invited to create more paths from hate to hope by sharing their stories and suggestions through the magazines social media platform

Religion and forgiveness can heal hate," says Dr. DeLoughry, but they are both 'dangerous medicines.' Too little can harm. Too much can kill.

Religion helps when it teaches the Golden Rule," he continues, "a code of compassion held in common by people of all major faiths. Religion harms, and sometimes kills, when it judges and condemns.

Forgiveness heals by curing stress blindness, a tendency to see the negative when we are angry or afraid. Forgiveness harms when acceptance isnt balanced by assertiveness, justice or strength.

"I wrote the novel because I wanted to explore how my characters and I can forgive ourselves, others and God.

"I also wrote 'Love, Hate and Hope' because, as the 15th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, I believe our country is in greater danger from the fear of terrorism than we are from terrorism itself. 'Stress blindness' has impaired our decision making, causing us to focus too exclusively on the terror threat. For example, as my characters learn, the tragedy and horror of 4,000 American deaths from terrorism over the past 12 years is dwarfed by the 400,000 deaths from gun violence and three million deaths from medical errors during the same time period."

For additional background information about the 9/11 Bible and the Golden Rule as a code of compassion taught by Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other faiths, journalists and bloggers can visit http://www.LoveHateAndHope.info
InterDevs expertise with local governments was key in our decision to partner with them for comprehensive guidance, implementation and support, said City of Tucker City Manager, Tami Hanlin.

InterDev, an Atlanta-area provider of information technology and security services, today announced it has been selected as the managed information technology (IT) and geographic information system (GIS) provider for the newly incorporated City of Tucker, Georgia. Through the agreement, InterDev will provide the expertise and resources to architect, deploy, maintain, secure, and provide 24/7 support for the municipalitys IT systems. For the citys GIS platform, InterDev will plan, build, and maintain a best-practices GIS environment, an interactive web site and a user-friendly web viewer, and provide secure, hosted access through its cloud-based GIS solution.

InterDevs expertise with local governments was key in our decision to partner with them for comprehensive guidance, implementation and support, said City of Tucker City Manager, Tami Hanlin. We were especially impressed with their successful efforts to build out IT infrastructure and services for new cities and to orchestrate municipal GIS startups.

In addition to providing trained and certified support staff, InterDev will assign a dedicated IT manager to direct the efforts of the InterDev team. The agreement also includes best-in-class IT monitoring and problem resolution technologies as well as an audited support ticketing system to provide the most robust solution available. InterDev will provide specified auxiliary services, including management and monitoring of all technology contractors.

In the current landscape, all municipalitiesand especially new citiesmust evaluate and choose their technology partners and solutions very carefully, said Hanlin. Because of InterDevs experience working with municipalities on a broad range of concernsfrom security to disaster recovery and high availability, we are confident in our selection.

The agreement with City of Tucker will follow a public-private partnership (PPP) model similar to that of numerous other Atlanta municipalities that have contracted with InterDev. Through these partnerships, InterDev strives to become an integral part of the Citys team and its culture, actively working to protect and secure city facilities, enhance the quality of service for all departments, and optimize spending through careful project planning and execution.

Since 2006, numerous new cities have incorporated in Metro Atlanta and InterDev has partnered with all of them in some capacity, said InterDev Director of Government Services Ashley Smith. Building a municipal operation is a unique and complex task, and we appreciate the confidence that City of Tucker has placed in us. We look forward to working with them, engineering and managing reliable, secure and resilient IT and GIS platforms to support a new and growing municipal operation.

About City of Tucker

Located in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. Tucker was originally settled in the 1820s and later developed as a railroad community. In a November 2015 referendum, by a 3 to 1 margin (73.94 percent), voters approved incorporating Tucker as a city. In March 2016, Tucker residents elected the citys first mayor and city council.

About InterDev

InterDev provides Managed IT and Security Services to businesses and municipalities throughout Georgia, South Carolina, and Illinois. In addition to managing and hosting IT operations for its valued clients, InterDev also provides leading edge IT security solutions  based on technologies from Barracuda Networks, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Extreme Networks and Dell SecureWorks  as well as telecommunications consulting including VoIP and circuit solutions. For more information, visit http://www.interdev.com.

Media Contact:

Angela McMahon

Michael Mackenzie Communications

404-543-9636
Fr. Peter Vasko, ofm, President of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land The Christian exodus is a crisis that does not just effect the Christians in the Holy Land. It effects every Christian in the world today.

Departing from Jerusalem, Fr. Peter Vasko, OFM travels twice a year back to the United States in hopes of raising awareness and support for the marginalized Christians in the Holy Land.

Fr. Vasko hails from New York and entered the religious life with the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1987.

Having spent over 20 years as the President of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land (FFHL) and living in the Holy Land, Fr. Vasko understands and sees the struggles Christians face in the Holy Land everyday.

"Our mission is to do more than just provide basic necessities to Christians in the Holy Land; it is to give them hope for a future in the land where they were born," said Fr. Vasko. The Christian exodus is a crisis that does not just effect the Christians in the Holy Land. It effects every Christian in the world today.

Fr. Vasko will arrive for his next FFHL Apostolate trip on Sept. 1st spending three days in New York and then moving on to Columbus, Ohio.

His eight-week-long trip will include benefit dinners in Ohio, Fla., Texas and La. He will also be leading a one-day retreat with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Arizona. Others stops for Fr. Vasko will include Washington, D.C., Calif., S.C., Ill. and Ind. He will be meeting with FFHL supports and volunteers in these states.

It is our duty as Franciscans in the Holy Land to give voice to the Christians living in the place where Jesus was born, lived and died, Fr. Vasko remarked. It is in the trips to the United States that we can educate and inform American Catholics about the crisis in the Holy Land.

In addition to the presentations, benefit dinners and meetings with FFHL supporters, Fr. Vasko will be conducting a meeting of the FFHL Board of Trustees in Springfield, IL on Oct. 8. The FFHL currently has Trustees from across the U.S., including notables such as EWTN personality Raymond Arroyo, Most Rev. Christophe Pierre, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who serve the Foundation in various capacities.

During his trip, Fr. Vasko will visit more than a dozen cities from coast-to-coast to tell people about the work of the FFHL and to give a first-hand account of the crisis in the Holy Land and Middle East. His personal account of daily life in these places will reach many. His journey will conclude in New York from where he will depart for the Holy Land on Oct 19.

To learn more about Fr. Peters Fall Apostolate visit, to schedule an in-person or phone interview or learn more about the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, contact Breanna Holder via email at media(at)ffhl(dot)org or by phone at 1-855-372-0580. For additional information, visit the FFHL online Press Room.
Tinika Dow, Director of Human Resources, joined the agency in January 2016 to further develop the employee on-boarding process and staffing needs. Tinika Dow comes with a wealth of experience within the Home Care industry as well as Human Resources, having spent the last four years working in home care. Before that she worked as a nursing assistant for six years at various hospitals in the DC metro area.

Angela Lubega was promoted to Director of Staffing in January 2016. She has been with Georgetown Home Care, first as a caregiver then staffing coordinator, for the past three and a half years. Angela is extremely talented at her job and will continue to add to the growth and high quality execution to Georgetown Home Care.

Catherine Miller was hired in August 2016 as the Director of Community Relations. Catherine joins Georgetown Home Care with a highly applicable knowledge in relationship building and cultivation. She has worked as a commercial real estate salesperson and lower school educator for the past 30 years in the DC metro area and looks forward to continuing her career serving those in need.

Zelda Ferguson was hired in August 2016 as a Scheduling Coordinator. Zelda started her career in the finance world working in banks for several years. However, once she made the transition to home care she knew she had found her niche. Zelda brings applicable knowledge relating to services and systems for staffing needs.

Hannah Upchurch started with Georgetown Home Care in June 2015 as a receptionist. She was recently promoted to Client Associate and continues to add quality and passion to the Georgetown Home Care team.

About Georgetown Home Care

Georgetown Home Care is the premier non-medical home care agency with offices in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Its mission is to ensure a better quality of life for elderly clients and their families by providing dependable and affordable care. Georgetown Home Care is a locally-owned and operated company and is passionate about serving seniors and those in need with hourly and live-in home care services. The agency does not discriminate by color, race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Contact:

Jessica Salgado

jessicasalgado(at)georgetownhomecare(dot)com

3301 New Mexico Avenue

Suite 214

Washington, DC 20016

Ph: 202.333.3400

###
Andrews Federals Oma George, Chief Retail Officer and Henson Ridge Branch Manager, Jasmine Lyle, present a check to Turner Elementary School Principal, Eric Bethel to purchase school uniforms.

Andrews Federal Credit Union recently donated $1,000 to purchase school uniforms for children in need at Anita J. Turner Elementary School in Washington, DC.

Turner is located in a challenging neighborhood in the Congress Heights section of the nations capital. Ninety-nine percent of its students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch.

We take extreme pride in supporting our community, said Jasmine Lyle, Henson Ridge Branch Manager. We love to see each student start their year off looking great, and with great confidence.

About Andrews Federal Credit Union

Andrews Federal Credit Union was founded in 1948 to serve the needs of military and civilian personnel by providing a vast array of financial products and services. With over $1 billion in assets, Andrews Federal has grown to serve more than 113,000 members in the District of Columbia, Joint Base Andrews (MD), Springfield, Virginia (VA), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ), and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, the Credit Union serves as a financial partner with many select employee groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey.

To learn more about Andrews Federal Credit Union and its community involvement, or to become a member, call 800.487.5500 or visit http://www.andrewsfcu.org.
SelectAccount is proud to announce it is a Strategic Alliance Partner of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, National Labor Office (NLO) to provide market leading medical spending accounts solutions including HSA, FSA, HRA, VEBA and WalletDoc consumer resources to organized labor. Strategic Alliance Partners undergo extensive due diligence including review of financials, market leadership in the services offered and impact on members lives.

Working hand in hand with organized labor, the NLO continually seeks innovative relationships to improve their members health and lower their costs. Serving 36 independent Blue Cross Blue Shield companies and representing over 17 million unionized workers, the NLO ensures that Blue Cross and Blue Shield products and services meet working families health care needs.

Through its strategic alliances, the NLO is committed to delivering its hard-working members the best health care services in the market today, and we are proud to join the ranks of some of the most respected organizations in the country as part of that offering said David Cantu, Chief Marketing Officer at SelectAccount. SelectAccounts commitment to providing its account holders best-in-class account options and consumerism tools empowering them to take control of their health and finances goes hand-in-hand with the goals of the NLO. This focus allows working families the ability to make knowledgeable decisions about their health care, and most importantly save money.

About SelectAccount

SelectAccount has been driving innovation in medical spending administration for over 25 years. By offering a full suite of tax-advantaged solutions HSA, HRA, FSA, VEBA, transportation and dependent care accounts  as well as WalletDoc consumer tools, SelectAccount is positioned to meet clients changing needs as they plan for upcoming health care expenditures. SelectAccount is one of the leading medical spending administrators in the country, serving over 450,000 account holders and managing nearly a billion dollars in consumer medical account savings assets. SelectAccount is integrated with numerous partner data exchange connections, serving over 8,500 employers with account holders in all 50 states. MII Life, Inc., d.b.a. SelectAccount has been approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a non-bank HSA Trustee. SelectAccount is headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota with locations across the country. Visit http://www.SelectAccount.com to learn more.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for 107 million members  one in three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit http://www.BCBS.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog for up-to-date information about BCBSA.
The sessions from Plumbline Consulting and Progressus Software will expose an entirely new group of partners to Dynamics NAV, and current Dynamics NAV partners to an under-served professional services market opportunity.

Progressus Software announced today it will be a Silver Sponsor at the NAV Directions North America Conference in Phoenix, AZ. Plumbline Consulting, the premier resource for Microsoft Dynamics Partners and ISVs, is the creator of Progressus Software.

Progressus Software is a next-generation professional services automation (PSA) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, which is mobile-enabled and architected for the intelligent cloud. The software solution adds advanced accounting and project management capabilities to the financial management and basic project management functionalities of Microsoft Dynamics, especially Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Plumbline is excited to sponsor this valuable event. The sessions from Plumbline Consulting and Progressus Software will expose an entirely new group of partners to Dynamics NAV, and current Dynamics NAV partners to an under-served professional services market opportunity, said Joseph Longo, President of Plumbline Consulting.

NAV Directions North America is an annual conference for implementers, technical experts, developers and partners of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. NAV Directions 2016 will take place in Phoenix, AZ at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass from September 25  28.

In addition to the Silver Sponsorship, Progressus will present or assist with nine different sessions in a special track of presentations designed for Partners who are New to NAV. Sessions in the New to NAV and Progressus tracks include training, marketing and sales assistance for Progressus Partners as well as technical and consulting information for Progressus and the Professional Services market. The full agenda for all tracks and sessions at NAV Directions can be found at http://www.navdirections.com/agenda/2016-sep-25/all-sessions/.

More information about Progressus Software and the Progressus Partner Program can be found at http://www.progressussoftware.com.

About Plumbline Consulting

The Plumbline Consulting team has over 30 years history in implementing project-based ERP solutions. Plumbline provides software engineering and consulting services for Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics Channel Partners and Microsoft Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). Plumbline offers software development, application support, technology and business process consulting, with a focus on delivering excellence and building lasting relationships. Plumbline also provides Dynamics SL (formerly known as Solomon Software) Product Management, Development and Support services for Microsoft Corporation. The company is headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. More information about Plumbline Consulting can be found at http://www.plumblineconsulting.com.
One of Greater Cincinnatis top attractions, BB Riverboats, will be leaving their home port to make their first downriver Fall Tour of River Cities, October 19-23, 2016. The beautiful Belle of Cincinnati will travel to Henderson, KY, Owensboro, KY, and Tell City, IN offering lunch, brunch, dinner, and sightseeing cruises!

The flagship of BB Riverboats, the Belle of Cincinnati is a majestic and ornate beauty. Cruise in ultimate comfort and luxury surrounded by a lavish Victorian decor appointed with sumptuous details. Each of the three climate-controlled decks include a full bar, dance floor and elevator for fun on every level. The fourth deck is open-air, perfect for watching the scenery roll by or taking a romantic moonlit stroll. In addition to the cruises for the general public, the Belle will be available for private parties for groups ranging in size from 50-750 passengers.

The cruise schedule by city is as follows:

October 19: Henderson, KY

(Cruises board at Henderson Public Landing)

Lunch boarding at 11; sailing from 12-2 PM

Dinner boarding at 6:30; sailing from 7:30-9:30 PM

October 21-22: Owensboro, KY

(Cruises board at English Park)

Lunch boarding at 11; sailing from 12-2 PM

Sightseeing boarding at 3; sailing from 3:30-5 PM

Dinner boarding at 6:30; sailing from 7:30-9:30 PM

October 23: Tell City, IN

(Cruises board at Sunset Park)

Brunch boarding at 11; sailing from 12-2 PM

Sightseeing boarding at 3: sailing from 3:30-5 PM

Dinner boarding at 6:30; sailing from 7:30-9:30 PM

Prices are $23 adults/$14 children for Sightseeing; $40 Adults/$25 children for Lunch/Brunch; and $55 adults/$32 children for Dinner. Reservations are required. Call 800/261-8586 or visit http://www.bbriverboats.com to make reservations and for more information.
York Central School District

In an effort to strengthen their safety and emergency preparedness, the York Central School District of the state of New York implemented the Rapid Responder technology platform district wide this past school year.

Previously, the school district logged safety drills manually into paper log books without reviewing the drill performance, statistical trends or evaluating the challenges each school faced and how to make the drills more meaningful and efficient.

It wasnt until the York Central School District started using Rapid Responder to track and analyze their actual drill performance over time (including fire, lock-out, lockdown and other safety drills), that the school district started to see a positive change in their safety drills performance and efficiency.

With Rapid Responder we are using a living record and a tool we can utilize to analyze our performance, gather feedback and improve on for our safety drills for both students and staff, said Dr. Daniel Murray, Superintendent of the York Central School District.

With the utilization of Rapid Responder, school administration was able to identify a problem at one of the sites. There was a door in which the hardware was on the wrong side, preventing students from using the door. The school administration was able to reroute the staff and students to a new exit, creating a safer path for those classes in case of an emergency.

Rapid Responder tracks and retains all safety drills and accompanying statistics. This allows our schools and other facilities utilizing the software to analyze the data, compare and contrast against similar sites and improve their performance to enhance the safety on their campus. Rapid Responder brings new insights, preparation and tools to schools and other facilities for their emergency and safety plans.

The continuity of the system makes it efficient for our team to use. Having all the data in one place, with easy access no matter where you are, allows our team to gain knowledge they need to make accurate and fast decisions, stated Dr. Murray. In case of an emergency, our staff can access the critical information from any computer or mobile device with the correct credentials. We can even download and store an encrypted file of the schools emergency plan on a thumb drive. The staff no longer needed to run to the office and search through a 3-ring binder. The vital information is just clicks away.

Rapid Responder assists school administration to update their emergency plans quickly and efficiently. As a web based software, the cloud based technology platform allows school administrators access to each section of the emergency plan and update as needed for their individual circumstances. Schools can also use the system to work and coordinate with their local first responders to evaluate and inform them of their emergency plans.

Our software allows facilities to save emergency plans for a number of emergencies and situations, stated Tobey Bryant, CEO of Prepared Response. Rapid Responder allows the response time to be faster and more effective in crisis situations.

The York Central School District learned how to maximize and leverage the Rapid Responder software through their safety drills. We see much potential with this software. As we continue to use this software, we will be getting more staff involved, tapping into additional features and improving the safety and emergency preparedness of our schools, continued Dr. Murray. We will be using the Rapid Responder software to develop our emergency plans throughout our district, saving us countless hours and valuable resources.

About Prepared Response

Prepared Response, Inc. develops crisis management planning and response software that enable police, fire, and other emergency responders to save lives and mitigate property damage. The Rapid Responder software allows first responders to instantly access more than 380 site-specific data points, including tactical plans, floor plans, satellite and geospatial imagery, interior and exterior photos, staging areas, hazardous materials locations, utility shutoffs, and evacuation routes. The privately held company, head-quartered in Kirkland, Washington, was formed in September 2000.

Rapid Responder is used by over 1,200 public safety agencies nationwide, Rapid Responder is certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the SAFETY Act and endorsed by the National Sheriffs Association. Rapid Responder protects more than 16,000 facilities and is currently deployed in educational facilities, public buildings, critical infrastructure, and private facilities across the United States.

To learn more about Prepared Response and Rapid Responder, please visit http://www.preparedresponse.com.

For more information, please contact the following:

Prepared Response, Inc.

Tobey Bryant

CEO

tbryant(at)preparedresponse(dot)com

206.315.9664

Tyler Platts

Marketing Manager

tplatts(at)preparedresponse(dot)com

206.315.9665

York Central School District

Dr. Daniel Murray

Superintendent of Schools

dpmurray(at)yorkcsd(dot)org

585.243.1730
Couture designs by fashion designer Anna Trzebinski will return to the runway this year at the Western Design Conference Opening Preview Party on Sept. 8 in Jackson Hole. Every one of these pieces has a story to tell, says WDC Executive Director Allison Merritt.

Chairs sporting leather as buttery as a favorite saddle, tables telegraphing their burled tree provenance, painstakingly stitched handmade boots, and swirls of fringe on the runway: the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale in Jackson Hole offers the premier roundup of the best of Western-inspired museum-quality handcrafted functional artwork in the world.

Returning to Jackson, Wyoming, the four-day event, September 8-11, 2016, features an outstanding lineup of 130 juried artisans displaying one-of-a-kind creations, as well as an all-new Designer Show House and a shoppers dream, Retail Row. The event kicks off Sept. 8 with a glam Opening Preview Party and Fashion Show.

Executive Director of the Western Design Conference, Allison Merritt was recently interviewed in Western Art & Architecture about what it takes to bring so many artisans of fashion, furniture and accessories from across the country together under one roof. Speaking of the work showcased at the event, Merritt says, Every one of these pieces has a story to tell. They are uniquely made from unique artists and I imagine they will become heirlooms for some people who will pass these things down from one generation to the next. She adds, I love being a part of that.

Originally designed to spread the traditions of Western design and create a platform for artisans to share their constantly evolving craft, the Western Design Conference (WDC) has grown tremendously since its beginning in 1992. Now in its 24th year, the leading celebration and exhibition of Western furniture, fashion and accessories brings thousands of design enthusiasts and collectors to the town of Jackson each September. A hugely popular signature event of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, the four-day WDC is held at the Snow King Events Center.

The Western Design Conferences Thursday night Opening Preview Party is one of Jacksons most anticipated nights of the year for locals and tourists alike. Artists are on hand so guests can mingle, learning the stories and techniques behind the work. WDC Gala guests also have the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind auction items and view models presenting couture at the live runway fashion show. Local culinary cuisine and signature cocktails are available throughout the evening with six featured stations by local favorite Cafe Genevieve.

Friday through Sunday, Sept. 9-11, the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale will continue from 10 a.m.  5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $15/day, available online or at the door. Back by popular demand, the Designer Show House returns to the WDC with a new rustic contemporary look. The life-size six-room house will be constructed directly on the WDC Exhibit + Sale floor at Snow King Center and includes interiors created by nationally known designers Agnes Bourne and Christopher Kennedy. Also returning this year, Retail Row gets its own wing dedicated to an enormous variety of vendors and goods from boots to decor to fashion and jewelry.

About the Western Design Conference:

The 24th annual Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale is a four-day, multimillion-dollar event that brings together craftspeople, collectors, interior designers, architects and fashion designers with a love of the West. The Western Design Conference was founded 24 years ago in Cody, Wyo., as a way to promote contemporary artists working in historical American craft methods. The WDC moved to Jackson in 2007. Allison Merritt, who purchased the WDC in 2014, after seven years acting as event manager, continues the strong commitment to Western arts in Wyoming while expanding the reach of the show. From documented American craft to home design to couture fashion, the show encompasses all aspects of the best of Western design. Additional information on the WDC, including schedules and tickets, is available at http://www.westerndesignconference.com and on Facebook and Twitter @WesternDesign.

Contact: Amy Stark, Word PR + Marketing, amy(at)wordprmarketing(dot)com, 307.734.5335
Door of Clubs unlocks a way for us, the University Relations team at Symantec, to have interactions with members and leadership of all types of diversity clubs that are relevant on campus.

With some of Silicon Valleys giants reporting slow progress when it comes to hiring diverse talent, and HR leaders publicly recognizing that the challenge is not the availability of diverse talent but how to create access to it, Door of Clubs is unveiling a new platform, which enables organizations to easily connect with and recruit diverse and technical student talent that is returning to university clubs across the country for the upcoming school year.

After launching in 2015 as a solution to the antiquated career services and campus recruiting models, Door of Clubs has spent the last year developing its Diverse Talent Identification Platform (DTIP). Door of Clubs DTIP provides recruiters an online dashboard to easily search for, identify and engage specific types of diverse student talent based on Gender, Minority Groups, Club Name, School, Major, Year of Graduation, Location, Skills, etc. They can then manage the relationships they form with clubs and strong candidates from underrepresented groups through one central point on the Door of Clubs platform. This creates a diverse talent pipeline, while eliminating the need for more expensive and less effective diversity initiatives.

As companies try to address diversity at the top with inclusion executive hires and hundreds of millions of dollars, many are missing that the root of the homogenous workplace problem must be solved from the bottom-up, said Door of Clubs CEO, Pranam Lipinski. Targeted college recruitment of diverse students has proven to be one of the most successful methods for bringing historically underrepresented minority groups into organizations and ultimately management positions. Door of Clubs now enables campus recruiters and hiring managers to manage this targeted campus recruitment in one dashboard so they can successfully address workplace diversity and lay a solid foundation for a more productive workforce.

Companies have long known that engaging with student clubs is one of the best ways to attract diverse talent, said Nell Heisner, Director of Talent Acquisition at Fuze, a leader in voice, video and collaboration. However, until now, theres never been a way to make connections and build personal relationships with this talent at scale. Through Door of Clubs we've been able to establish relationships with amazing talent in a fraction of the time and cost it would normally take.

Specially, the new platform enables campus recruiters and hiring managers to:



Connect Across Many Student Clubs: Recruiters can now identify and connect with diverse talent across hundreds of different clubs at a time. Filter club members by gender, minority groups, graduation year etc. and then simultaneously message all matches across different clubs.

Monitor Campus Recruiting Engagement in Real-time: Analyze student interest by schools, clubs, skills and majors in real-time to adapt on-campus recruiting focus on the fly.

Prompt Interest in Opportunities in a Non-invasive Format: Identified student talent is notified of recruiter interest within normal use of the Door of Clubs platform. Students are prompted to reply if interested before the internship or entry-level position opening expires.

Given limited time and resources and a highly competitive university recruiting environment, it can be challenging for companies to build relationships with a broad range of student organizations, said Tina Randhawa, senior manager, global staffing at Symantec. Door of Clubs unlocks a way for us, the University Relations team, to have interactions with members and leadership of all types of diversity clubs that are relevant on campus. The platform makes it easy for us to connect to a broader range of students  expanding our brand and opportunities to an audience that we may not have reached otherwise.

In return, student clubs can raise money through the platform by inviting their members to receive job opportunities from top companies. More than 500 clubs from over 140 universities are currently on the Door of Clubs platform, including Carnegie Mellon National Society of Black Engineers, Notre Dame Society of Women Engineers, Caltech Robotics Team, Harvard Computer Society, Boston College Women in Business and many more. In the spring semester alone, over three thousand connections were made with some of the 300,000 young women and minority club members that are majoring in STEM fields across the country.

Sign up is free for university clubs, while companies can either opt for a semester-long subscription or choose from two more robust subscription options that unlock additional features.

About Door of Clubs

Based in Boston, Door of Clubs is a student club fundraising tool and campus recruiting platform. Its solution enables student clubs to form meaningful connections with companies for fundraising and career opportunities. Door of Clubs is used by leading companies as a solution to identify and engage diverse and technical student talent. The company is currently backed by Russ Campanello, HR EVP at iRobot and others. For more information visit http://www.doorofclubs.com.
Valvoline Instant Oil Change will be donating a portion of their revenue and selling wrist bands to raise money for the Ellicott City flood relief. In lieu of the horrific flooding that has occurred in Ellicott City Maryland, Valvoline Instant Oil Change will be donating proceeds to United Way Ellicott City Flood Victims Fund.

If customers show a flyer or mention Ellicott Citys flood relief from August 21st to September 3rd, Valvoline Instant Oil Change will donate $5.00 to the fund and receive one #ECStrong / #VIOC-HelpingEC wrist band. While supplies last, customers can purchase an additional wristband for $5.00 where 100% of that money will go directly to the fund.

Participating Locations:

Annapolis, 1922 West Street

Bowie, 16505 Ballpark Road

Brooklyn Park, 5515 Ritchie Hwy.

Edgewater, 57 Mayo Road

Ellicott City, 4215 Montgomery Road

Glen Burnie, 7391 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd.

Laurel, 8301 Spruce Hill

Middle River, 1324 Martin Blvd.

About Valvoline Instant Oil Change

Valvoline, a brand of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil. With approximately 900 locations throughout the United States, Valvoline Instant Oil Change is a leader in serving the quick-lube market, and is looking for franchisee partners to establish a presence for the brand in markets across the country.

About Henley Enterprises, Inc.

Henley Enterprises, Inc. opened the first franchised Valvoline Instant Oil Change service center in 1989. CEO and co-founder Don Smith developed the company specifically to operate Valvoline Instant Oil Change facilities under franchise agreements with Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchising, Inc., a subsidiary of Kentucky-based Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH). As of September 2014, the Henley Companies operate over 200 VIOC franchise locations spread among the following states: California, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
Folio and parent company Access Intelligence announced today the launch of VerticalFeed, a custom editorial video service that now gives trade associations, nonprofits and advocacy groups a highly efficient and creative way to increase community engagement.

VerticalFeed is a subscription news service providing short custom news feeds for associations with the goal of informing and engaging their audiences. The VerticalFeed team of multimedia specialists handle the entire creative and production process, making for a seamless experience for resource-strapped media departments.

Were excited and eager to show associations how VerticalFeed can niche their news, increase time on-site by readers, and even allow their media department to become a profit center, notes Tim Hermes, founder and publisher of VerticalFeed. Its the ultimate solution for those with nascent video strategies who dont have the resources to deliver high-quality video programs on their own.

VerticalFeed is an editorial service of Folio, the premier brand serving media professionals and covering the trends in the media business, through the annual Folio: Show, Eddie & Ozzie Awards, Association Summit and foliomag.com.

With video being the leading source of traffic and engagement for media brands, VerticalFeed is a smart solution for our media community, said Don Pazour, president and CEO of Access Intelligence. We are very optimistic about videos power to inform and VerticalFeeds ability to truly help our partners get there.

VerticalFeed is now part of Access Intelligences Media/Communications Group, led by Diane Schwartz, senior vice president. The groups other brands include PR News, AdMonsters, Cynopsis, Folio, min, Cablefax, Studio Daily, The Social Shake-Up, and sister brands Chief Marketer, Multichannel Merchant, Event Marketer and others.

The launch marks Access Intelligence's continued investment in innovative digital solutions for business executives. Over the past several years, Access Intelligence completed acquisitions in the media/marketing and healthcare sectors, including that of The Social Shake-Up, AdMonsters, LeadsCon, Red7 Media, OR Manager and Cynopsis Media.

To speak with Tim Hermes or the Folio executive team, please e-mail tim(at)verticalfeed(dot)net.

About Access Intelligence

Access Intelligence, a portfolio company of Veronis Suhler Stevenson, is a b-to-b media and information company headquartered in Rockville, Md., serving the media, PR, cable, healthcare management, defense, chemical engineering, satellite and aviation markets. Leading brands include PR News, AdMonsters, Cynopsis, Cablefax, Folio:, Event Marketer, LeadsCon, Chief Marketer, Media Industry Newsletter, Defense Daily Network, AviationToday, Studio Daily, Power, Via Satellite and Exchange Monitor. Market-leading shows include LeadsCon, AdMonsters OPS and Publisher Summits, The Folio: Show, Experiential Marketing Summit, SATELLITE 2017, OR Manager, LDC Gas Forums, Clean Gulf, ELECTRIC POWER, and Western Power Summit.

About Folio

Serving media professionals worldwide, Folio: is the go-to resource online and face-to-face for real-world media business strategies and tactics. It hosts the largest industry trade show, The Folio: Show, which will be held Nov. 1-2 in NYC. It also recognizes excellence in Editorial and Design with the largest recognition program, the Eddie & Ozzie Awards. Other Folio: products include Folio: Magazine, The Association Summit and the premier website, foliomag.com.

About Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS)

Veronis Suhler Stevenson is a leading private investment firm that invests in the information, business services, healthcare IT, education, media and marketing industries in North America and Europe. VSS provides capital for buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings and strategic acquisitions to middle market companies and management teams with the goal of building companies organically and through a focused add-on acquisition program. VSS makes privately-negotiated investments across the capital structure and has the ability to invest in situations requiring control or non-control equity, mezzanine securities and structured equity securities.
PHAB is honored to award national accreditation to the Cherokee Nation  the first Tribal health department in the country to achieve this designation.

In keeping with their mission to improve the conditions in which their communities can be healthy, another 16 governmental public health departments have achieved five-year accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). With this weeks decisions, the transformational benefits of being served by a PHAB-accredited health department now reach more than 170 million people, or 55 percent of the U.S. population. Todays announcement also heralds the attainment of another historic mile marker with the accreditation of the first Tribal public health department in the nation.

PHAB, the non-profit, non-governmental organization that administers the national public health accreditation program, aims to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nations state, Tribal, local, and territorial public health departments.

"With these decisions, PHAB has now accredited 150 health departments and one integrated local public health department system, collectively covering more than half the U.S. population, said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. These health departments were so interested in ensuring a high quality of public health services that they put their work out for peer review against national standards, and were found to be in conformity. Thats government at its finest.

Marking another crucial milestone for the national accreditation program, the Cherokee Nation this week became the first Tribal public health department in the United States to achieve accreditation through PHAB.

PHAB is honored to award national accreditation to Cherokee Nation  the first Tribal health department in the country to achieve this designation, Dr. Bender said. Cherokee Nation has set an outstanding example for other Tribes across the country in achieving national public health department accreditation. Their commitment to the members of their Tribes and the people they serve is well-represented by their hard work.

At Cherokee Nation Health Services in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, staff see the achievement of national accreditation as an affirmation of the crucial role of public health in their communities and as a demonstration of their serious commitment to both improving health and delivering quality public health services to all.

Achieving accreditation is important to Tribes, as we must focus on the strengths we possess in our communities for solving problems and improving the health status of our People, said Lisa Pivec, MS, Senior Director of Public Health for Cherokee Nation. We must focus on prevention, protection, and promotion of our resources and our Elders. Accreditation helps us examine our public health practices and improve the quality of the services we have been entrusted with to deliver to our communities. In exploring and embracing the PHAB standards we can both learn new strategies while sharing those customs that make each of our Tribes great.

The 16 health departments accredited by PHAB this week range in size from the Waushara County Health Department in Wautoma, WI, which serves a population of 24,500, to Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments in Lawrenceville, Georgia, which serves more than 1 million people. Several large city health departments also achieved national accreditation this week, including Minneapolis Health Department, which provides public health services to a population of nearly 400,000.

"The Minneapolis Health Department is delighted to have received accreditation from PHAB," said Commissioner of Health Gretchen Musicant, MPH. "Our accreditation site visit was an affirmation of our community engagement and our commitment to cultural competency across the agency  key strengths for serving our urban population. The process has helped formalize best practices within our agency. We look forward to being part of the cohort of accredited agencies  continuing to improve the quality of our services to the community."

According to a report published in the August 12, 2016 edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the benefits of PHABs national accreditation program are far-reaching. The report, Evaluating the Impact of National Public Health Department Accreditation  United States, 2016, draws from surveys of accredited health departments conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago and finds that the overwhelming majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that accreditation stimulated quality and performance improvement opportunities within the health department, allowed the health department to better identify strengths and weaknesses, helped the health department document the capacity to deliver the three core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Public Health Services, stimulated greater accountability and transparency within the health department, and improved the management processes used by the leadership team in the health department, among other benefits. Read the full report here.

PHAB awarded five-year accreditation status on August 17, 2016 to:



Benton-Franklin Health District, Kennewick, Washington

Bloomington Public Health/Public Health Alliance of Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield; Bloomington, Minn.

Cherokee Nation Health Services, Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Dakota County Public Health Department, West St. Paul, Minnesota

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments, Lawrenceville, Georgia

La Crosse County Health Department, La Crosse, Wisconsin

Lake County General Health District, Painesville, Ohio

Lorain County General Health District, Elyria, Ohio

Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, Louisville, Kentucky

Minneapolis Health Department, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mohave County Department of Public Health, Kingman, Arizona

Portland Public Health Division, Portland, Maine

Prince William Health District, Manassas, Virginia

Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, St. Paul, Minnesota

Waushara County Health Department, Wautoma, Wisconsin

Williamson County and Cities Health District, Georgetown, Texas

For more information, contact Teddi Nicolaus at (703) 778-4549, ext. 118, or email tnicolaus(at)phaboard(dot)org.

Learn more about PHAB and accreditation at http://www.phaboard.org.

###

About the Public Health Accreditation Board

PHAB was created to serve as the national public health accrediting body and is jointly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The development of national public health accreditation has involved, and is supported by, public health leaders and practitioners from the national, tribal, state, local, and territorial levels. Learn more about PHAB or click here to sign up for the PHAB e-newsletter.
Everybody loves weekends, but Dominican expats love them even more, because of the great weekend promotion LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com has launched: 100% bonus on every top up sent to Viva mobiles on Saturdays and Sundays, starting August 26th until September 18th.

The offer is valid for all top ups above $5 and the promotional bonus can be used for Viva networks only. So, all Dominican expats who want to help their families or friends back home or just make them a nice surprise can benefit from the promotion and send a higher top up for the same price.

The top ups are sent through the Mobile Recharge service, a service customers can use to recharge phones anywhere in the world. The process is fast and secure and the credit reaches its destination instantly. Besides Viva, the operators available for top ups to Dominican Republic are Claro, Orange, Tricom, and Moun.

In addition to the Mobile Recharge service, LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com also offers the Voice Credit product that enables international calls to any country in the world. The rates for international calls to the Dominican Republic are as low as 2.5 /min for landlines and 7.9 /min for mobiles.

The Voice Credit service offered by LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com can be used from:



any phone, through the use of access numbers,

from any computer, through the Web Call application or

from any smartphone, as LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com offers a free app, for both iOS and Android devices, called KeepCalling.

The mission of LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com is to bring people together, no matter the distance, because no distance is too long if people stay connected. Thats why all the services the website offers are a great solution for keeping a close relationship with everyone still living back home in the Dominican Republic. This is mainly due to:



the customer-focused approach, based on safe and easy to use services

the frequent special offers: bonuses on international top ups or discounts on international calls

the great Customer Service available 24/7, both in English and Spanish.

About LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com

LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com is an interactive website designed by KeepCalling, a global telecommunications company registered in 2002 in USA. Presently, KeepCalling provides its services to hundreds of thousands of consumers and businesses worldwide, with a focus on customer satisfaction. KeepCalling has been listed by Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA for 5 consecutive years. In 2015 the company registered a revenue increase of over 200% from 2011 to 2014.
J. Patrick Hickey, Esq. is a partner with Raffaele Puppio where he heads the firms litigation department. 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.

Raffaele Puppio partner J. Patrick Hickey recently spoke to law students at Drexel Universitys 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.

Hickeys 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 bachelors 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.
My success as an educator is a testament to the mission of Milton Hershey School, our amazing students, and the opportunities afforded to me in the service of children from families of lower income, said Dr. Jaunine Fouche.

Milton Hershey School science curriculum supervisor Dr. Jaunine Fouche has been named one of the recipients of the 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) by President Obama.

We are proud of Dr. Fouche and her work which inspired her selection as a Presidential Award recipient, said MHS President Pete Gurt 85. She has remained focused and dedicated in her efforts to develop exceptional science instruction that meets the individual needs of our students and prepares them for postsecondary success. Dr. Fouche demonstrates a clear commitment to excellence in her field and at our school.

The award recognizes kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from across the country who develop and implement a high-quality instructional program that is informed by content knowledge and enhances student learning. It is the highest honor a mathematics or science teacher may receive for exemplary teaching in the United States.

Dr. Fouche is one of only 213 award recipients who received the award this year after being selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians and educators. Recipients represent educators from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools and the U.S. territories.

Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

My success as an educator is a testament to the mission of Milton Hershey School, our amazing students, and the opportunities afforded to me in the service of children from families of lower income, said Dr. Fouche. I believe in empowering students and providing a top-notch education that, when paired with STEAM and innovation opportunities, harnesses their restless curiosity to solve local and global challenges. Through this award, I hope to further the growing innovation dialog and inspire our students.

As a Presidential Award recipient, Dr. Fouche will attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities in Washington, D.C. on Sept.8.

The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The program was established by Congress in 1983. Since that time, more than 4,500 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.

More information about MHS and its science curriculum can be found at mhskids.org.

# # #

ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL

Milton Hershey School is one of the worlds best private schools, offering a top-notch education and positive home life to children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade from families of lower income at no charge.
Bookstr Logo Its an incredibly exciting time to be at Bookstr right now.

Bookstr Inc. is thrilled to announce that Patrick Noonan has joined their team as Sales Director. Patrick is a technology industry veteran who has spent the last 5 years in various technology roles with two separate companies. He started his career in the investment banking industry in 2006 after graduating from Northeastern University.

As the Sales Director, Patrick will be in charge of planning and managing the sales of the site, developing and preparing sales pitches, campaigns, and sponsorships to clients, advancing relationships with media agencies and buyers, developing a sales strategy for the soon-to-be launched Bookstr app, monthly reports on sales, and representing the company at industry events. For all additional contact please reach out to Pat@bookstr.com.

A statement from Patrick Noonan: Its an incredibly exciting time to be at Bookstr right now. The strength of the business  and the continued growth we are experiencing within our user base and social channels  makes us the largest independent book discovery site. The team Sarah has assembled has an extensive amount of experience and the necessary leadership skills to help guide the business to the next stage of our growth, nationally and internationally. I look forward to lead Sales and Business Development Efforts with Bookstr and to help the company grow."

A statement from Sarah Hill, CEO of Bookstr: Pat comes in with a ton of energy and excitement for our product. He is more than capable and qualified to do the job. I can't wait to see what he does for our sales and for our company.

About Bookstr Inc. : Bookstr is a new multimedia website and app from the people formerly known as The Reading Room. With Bookstr, you can explore all things books in two different ways. On the app, readers can scout out their next read, share photos and quotes from your favorite books, and join a wide network of book clubs covering everything from Thai poetry to feminist sci-fi. On the website, you can read up on news, articles and essays on the newest book trends, view entertaining videos and podcasts, and exchange recommendations with others. Bookstr takes a look at literature, comics, poetry and publishing with a playful, examining eye in order to get good books off the shelves and into your hands.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Quarter Reverse

The United States Mint joined the National Park Service (NPS) today to celebrate the release of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program coin honoring Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. The ceremony coincided with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NPS on this day in 1916.

This coin serves to memorialize the 26th President for his enduring contributions to the conservation of our nation's resources, especially those found here in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, said Rhett Jeppson, United States Mint Principal Deputy Director.

The ceremony, held at the parks Painted Canyon Visitor Center, included remarks by U.S. Senator John Hoeven; U.S. Congressman Kevin Cramer; NPS Deputy Regional Director Patricia Trap; Shirley Meyer, Western Area Director for U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp; Theodore Roosevelt National Park Superintendent Wendy Ross; and historian Clay Jenkinson.

Additional event highlights included a coin forum hosted by the United States Mint on the evening before the ceremony and a coin exchange that followed the ceremony. Those who attended the event were among the first in the nation to purchase $10 rolls of newly minted Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarters.

Collectible bags and rolls of Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarters will be available for purchase directly from the Mint beginning on August 29, 2016. Orders will be accepted via the bureaus online catalog at http://catalog.usmint.gov/coin-programs/america-the-beautiful-quarters-program/ or by telephone at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

The NPS has held stewardship of America's national parks since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation creating the agency. It oversees more than 400 sites covering approximately 84 million acres in the United States and its territories. In addition to national parks, the NPS system includes monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, as well as the White House.

The United States Mint was created by Congress in 1792 and became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. It is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins. The Mint's numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarter is the 34th release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program, a 12-year initiative to honor 56 national parks and other national sites authorized by Public Law 110-456. Each year, the public will see five new national sites depicted on the reverses (tails sides) of the America the Beautiful Quarters. The Mint is issuing these quarters in the order in which the national sites were officially established.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:



View b-roll of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarter at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waoxhb77BY8&index=2&list=PLoycqRjxZI6Y5A9igJnCtTuDMZhVoyM_9.



View an interview with Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarter sculptor-engraver Phebe Hemphill at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v--czi0uk-o&list=PLoycqRjxZI6Y5A9igJnCtTuDMZhVoyM_9.

Find a digital image of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park quarter at http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?action=photo#AmericaTheBeautiful.

Learn more about Theodore Roosevelt National Park at https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm.

Learn more about the United States Mint and the America the Beautiful Quarters Program at http://www.usmint.gov/.

Additional Contact Information:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Amy McCann

701-623-4730 x1416

amy_mccann(at)nps(dot)gov

# # #

United States Mint  Connecting America through Coins
Best Dental SEO Firms

10 Best SEO recently highlighted DDS Rank as the August 2016 winner of its Best Dental SEO award. Additional winners in this category are Comrade and Netmark.

10 Best SEO is a respected authority site that compiles a list of the top dental SEO companies throughout the world. Using qualitative and quantitative ranking factors, this compilation site has developed a new monthly award to recognize the top three company leaders within the dental SEO industry.

The recipients of the August 2016 Best Dental SEO Business Awards have provided remarkable customer service and innovative SEO solutions to corporations, start-ups and individuals. Each of the recipients has serviced their clients at the highest levels.

DDS Rank is being recognized as the top recipient for Best Dental SEO Awards. The second-place honor is being awarded to Comrade, while Netmark is being honored in the third-place position. These dental SEO companies help dentists connect with clients that need dental services.

Headquartered in Lincoln, Maine, DDS Rank's primary mission is to help dentists get ranked on search engines. A premier dental SEO firm, DDS Rank partners with dental businesses to develop internet dental marketing strategies, organic SEO ranking results, pay-per-click campaign management and Google map rankings. This company provides services for general practitioners, orthodontists and periodontists.

Comrade Web Agency, which also made the list of best dental SEO businesses, partners with clients to revolutionize their brands and get marketing results. Services that are provided by this top web design firm include local SEO, web design, growth driven design strategies, online marketing, mobile apps development and inbound marketing. Comrade Web Agency has provided services for top companies including Schaumburg Dental Studio, RNM Recruiting, JB Training, Cumulus Funding, Chicago Sweat Lodge, College Applications Guides and Downtown Pet Supply. Comrade Web Agency is located in Chicago, Illinois.

Netmark is a boutique digital marketing firm that has locations in Idaho, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. When it comes to the area of best dental SEO, Netmark specializes in content marketing, reputation management, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, social media marketing, UX design, website design and website maintenance. For almost 10 years, Netmark has helped companies get found on the internet through innovative digital marketing strategies. Netmark has received positive media attention from Google News, CBS, Yahoo! News, Website Magazine, PRWeb and Clutch.

These top dental SEO companies were selected according to the highest criteria and professional standards. Ranking factors include web reputation, social media reach, online branding, client research, traffic, SEO rankings and proprietary analytics.

For more details about the winners, visit http://www.10bestseo.com.
FUSIONWRX - Activation & Engagement Agency "The ideas and execution capture the energy and positivity of LiveWell and their [FUSIONWRX] commitment to our efforts has been so valuable stated William L. Scheyer, President of Skyward NKY

FUSIONWRX achieved two Bronze Bulldog Reporter Not-for-Profit Awards. These accolades were attained as part of FUSIONWRXs partnership with the media marketing coalition for LiveWell NKY, a Skyward initiative. The categories awarded are Best New Member/Volunteer Campaign and Best Campaign Under $10,000 Budget.

FUSIONWRX was tasked with assisting LiveWell NKY with recruiting and exciting community leaders to attend an educational meeting. FUSIONWRX developed a strategic campaign with multiple touch points that would result in lively, cheerful, personalized interactions meant to influence attendees to become a Coalition Chairperson for the LiveWell NKY movement. The event was held at Brighton Center in Newport, KY, a location known for its local ties to the community. FUSIONWRX created the strategic campaign to include direct mailers, LiveWell NKY branded signage, decor and gifts with the goal to generate enthusiasm about the initiative.

The ideas and execution capture the energy and positivity of LiveWell and their [FUSIONWRX] commitment to our efforts has been so valuable stated William L. Scheyer, President of Skyward NKY.

Livewell NKy is an initiative that strives to improve the health of over 20,000 community members across the Northern Kentucky region in the next 5 years. Livewell's mission is to reduce smoking, improve healthy eating and encourage more exercise through changes in policy and environment in communities, worksites and faith-based organizations. LiveWell is a signature strategy of skyward's myNKy plan, which focuses on four goals designed to work together to create economic prosperity and civic progress across Northern Kentucky.

FUSIONWRX volunteered time to the LiveWell NKY initiative as a means to give back to the community. Offering strategy, planning and activation, FUSIONWRX generated programs geared to motivate the audience to participate.

Being a Northern Kentucky company we thought it only fitting that we offer our talents, experience and expertise to help improve the overall movement, said Sion Williams, Director of New Business Development for FUSIONWRX.

The Bulldog Reporter Not-for-Profit PR Awards are an annual competition honoring top marketing and public relations campaigns across the nation. Across 29 categories this competition celebrates public relations, public affairs, public information and corporate communications excellence along with the ability to achieve extraordinary visibility and engagement and influence opinion. These are the only US-based PR awards to be judged exclusively by working and award-winning journalists from National Geographic Traveler, The Washington Post, USA Today, Forbes, and Philanthropy Magazine. This years field of judges even included a Pulitzer Prize winner.

These Bulldog Reporter awards are shared by FUSIONWRX with Skyward, LiveWell NKY and the entire marketing coalition; all these partners are to be honored for their work.

###

About Bulldog Reporter - BulldogReporter.com

Bulldog Reporter is the leader in media intelligence, supplying news, analysis and high-level training content to public relations and corporate communications professionals with the mission of helping these practitioners achieve superior competitive performance. Bulldog Reporter presents industry awards competitionsthe Bulldog Awardswhich recognize excellence in multiple categories, including corporate social responsibility, media relations, digital and social marketing, not-for-profit and overall outstanding professional performance. http://www.BulldogReporter.com

About LiveWell NKY - LiveWellNKY.org

LiveWell NKY provides a common framework, necessary support and inspiration for all of us to join together in the movement towards better health. LiveWell will provide technical assistance throughout the change process, including web-based technology, customized marketing and sector specific health education to communities, workplaces, schools and faith-based organizations. Organizations are awarded bronze/silver/gold status based on their implementation of policies and environmental changes that drive improved health. Individuals can also take the pledge to become LiveWell ambassadors and find the tools, resources and support to change behavior and lead healthier lifestyles.

To learn more about the LiveWell NKY initiative: http://www.LiveWellNKY.org

About FUSIONWRX  FUSIONWRX.com FUSIONWRX is a marketing activation, client engagement and public relations agency that helps brands connect with their clients, delivering the right message via the right channels at the right time. For businesses that have solidified their brand, crafted their message and know their target audience, the question becomes, Now What? and that is where FUSIONWRX takes action. We evoke passion and excitement that motivates your audience to act. FUSIONWRX is a division of Flottman Company. Learn more at http://www.FUSIONWRX.com
Trents experience elevates our consulting operations and our ability to continue with Magnas unprecedented consulting growth. He will continue to provide Magnas award-winning trial consulting services both west of the Mississippi and nationwide.

Magna Legal Services, the largest company in the nation providing a full suite of in-house services in Jury Research, Litigation Graphics, Language Services, Trial Presentation and Court Reporting, announced today that Trent Kelso has joined the firm as a Senior Litigation Consultant for its southwest and west coast operations. Trent will be based out of Magnas Dallas, Texas office.

Trent brings to Magna more than 17 years of experience as a litigation/jury consultant. He has consulted on numerous civil litigation consulting matters, including antitrust, professional malpractice, intellectual property, product liability and personal injury. Trent has conducted focus groups, mock trials, overseen venue surveys and witness preparation training has provided jury selection assistance with trial teams nationwide.

Prior to joining Magna, Trent held leadership roles with other consulting firms as well as was the principle of his own firm, Kelso Trial Consulting Ltd.

Trents experience elevates our consulting operations and our ability to continue with Magnas unprecedented consulting growth. He will continue to provide Magnas award-winning trial consulting services both west of the Mississippi and nationwide, said Mark Calzaretta, Director of Litigation Consulting.

Trent holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from San Diego State University and a Masters degree in Psychology from The Claremont Graduate School. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to juror behavior and trial strategy at industry conferences such as the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.

About Magna:

As an end-to-end service provider, Magna provides strategic advantages to clients by offering legal support services at every stage of legal proceedings. Magnas mission is to ensure that all legal support needs are delivered in a high quality, reliable and responsive manner. Magna Legal Services is the countrys only company providing a full suite of jury research, litigation graphics and court reporting with end-to-end legal support services to law firms, corporations and governmental agencies from its 19 offices in 13 states throughout the nation. For more information on Magnas services, visit http://www.magnals.com.

#TrialConsultant #WitnessPrep #TrialPresentation #BeGreaterThan #MagnaLegalServices
OVC Lawyer Marketing based in Downers Grove, IL wins 2016 Communicator Award OVC Online Marketing for Lawyers, based in Downers Grove, Illinois, has been chosen for a 2016 Communicator Award honoring creative excellence.

OVC Online Marketing for Lawyers is proud to announce that the company is a recipient of a 2016 Communicator Award. OVC was selected from a pool of over 6,000 entries from across the world.

The Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program highlighting creative excellence for communications professionals. The annual competition honors the best of the best in the areas of advertising, public relations, corporate communications, print, video, interactive media, and audio. All entries are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), which is dedicated to embracing the evolving nature of interactive media.

President Greg Wildman founded OVC Online Marketing for Lawyers after successfully working for many years as a legal marketing specialist. He brings nearly 20 years of experience to the company, which includes over 60 digital marketing specialists. To date, the OVC team has launched over 500 websites for law firms nationwide. OVC prides itself on helping law firms reach new levels of success through digital media initiatives. In addition to website development, OVC is known for its large menu of innovative and successful digital marketing services for law firms and attorneys.

The award-winning creative team at OVC is comprised of qualified web developers, graphic designers, digital marketing specialists, SEO specialists, professional attorney writers, and paralegals. The OVC team works diligently to launch dozens of eye-catching and effective attorney websites each month. The company also handles pay per click advertising (PPC), reputation management, social media management, press release distribution, blog writing, click to chat services, professional photography, and video production. In 2015, OVC became an official Google Partner, which gives the company access to special training opportunities, and cutting-edge industry updates and research.

I am proud of the entire OVC team for earning this honor. I think this award reflects the unwavering effort our dedicated and creative team puts forth on a daily basis, says OVC President Greg Wildman.

For more information regarding OVC Online Marketing for Lawyers, please visit http://www.ovclawyermarketing.com or call 630-635-8000 today to speak with a qualified legal marketing professional.
If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity.

PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move.
Ron Rash has become established as a representative of Southern Literature, although after more than two decades writing poetry, stories, and novels, he transcends the notion of a southern writer. Rashs works have embraced a universal humanism and naturalism: his characters are both sustained by and compromised by the unpredictable natural world.

In his latest novel, The Risen (Ecco, Sept.), the narrator, Eugene, while fishing with his brother during the summer of 1969, sees a naked teenaged girl with flowing red hair in the creek, the vision of her so fleeting that he wonders if hes seen a mermaid. Visiting from Florida, Ligeia is no mermaid, but she is an exotic and free-spirited creature who introduces the boys to the excitement of the 60s, experiences they keep secret from their small town, and the watchful eyes of their controlling grandfather.

Ligeia vanishes, as does the close relationship between the brothers as they move into adulthood. When her body surfaces 46 years later, so do the memories of that summer.

The mystery is central to this plot, and like many of Rashs novels, the story is driven by suspense. But just under the surface, there are difficult questions involving poverty, child neglect sanctioned by religion, and abuse authorized by a self-righteous class system. These are challenging themes, and yet, there is nothing forced in Rash. His prose is clean and without affectation.

Describing fishing: When a rod tip trembled, one of us got out to reel in what tugged the line. Often it was a knottyhead or catfish, but if a trout we gilled it onto our metal stringer. And when Eugenes brother would lift the string of fish from the cooling waters: Through a gap in the canopy, the declining sun brightened the stringers silver sheen, flared the red slashes on the trouts flanks.

During our conversation on the eve of Rashs trip to France for an Eco-Literature convention, where the theme was Enchantment, he tells me that One thing thats important for me in my work is to remind people that there is a natural world. Its very easy to think we are not connected to it anymore, but we are, whether we want to be or not.

His easy reverence is in direct opposition to the rendering of the natural world in TV and film as a creepy, possibly demonic, adversaryor at the very least a place to be wary if you wander too far without an iPhone. Its amazing, Rash says. When anyone goes out in the woods in a movie, you know something horrible is going to happen.

While there is danger to irresponsible humans, and the body count can be intense in some of Rashs more tragic works, often the most profoundly felt loss is that of a formerly protected, or undisturbed natural resource.

Family folklore, passed down from his older relatives, gave Rash the idea that the world is fundamentally enigmatic. I want the world to be mysterious, I dont want to know everything, he says. One of my great delights is when an animal, that is allegedly extinct, fools people. Jaguars have recently come back into the United States; I love those moments when the natural world surprises us, and reminds us maybe we dont know as much as we think we do.

To hear him describe childhood summers on his grandmothers farm near the Blue Ridge Parkway in N.C., its clear why hes a celebrated voice among the eco-engaged. I was like Huck Finn, he says. My grandmother would let me go, let me wander. It was a gift. I was not afraid. I just reveled in it. The connections I made with the natural world stayed with me.

Rash is aware that writing about the south brings the possibility, as he has said, of being softly dismissed as just a southern writer. Southern writing, he says, is like any writing. Its either good or it isnt. It either transcends the region, or it doesnt. The best writers from the south transcend the south. Ultimately Faulkners goal is not to show how exotic the south is. He has deeper concerns, and certainly Flannery OConnor did too.

That doesnt mean the south is not Rashs territory. His collection of poems entitled Eureka Mill, based on the mill where his grandparents and parents worked, draws attention to the suffering and loss of humanity that rural southerners felt (and feel) when they leave the farm for the mill. Narratives of southern exploitation are seamlessly woven into the poems, as in The Stretch-Out, when a girl of seventeen is exhausted from a brutal day at the mill, and miscarries a child during the night. She explains, I cried but cried quietly/ and let the bed sheets clot and stain, so that my man and me might save/ what strength a full nights sleep might give/ I closed my eyes and slept again.

Constructions like my man and me, exhibit Rashs ear for speech patterns. His stories are known for capturing the voice of a region, but, rendering that voice universally, so that it rings true to any ear, takes a great deal of care and modulation. To Rash, Richard Price is one of the best at translating regional voices onto the page. In many ways I feel a much deeper connection to him than other writers in the United States, Rash says. Hes trying to capture the patois of New York cops and young people in the city, and at the same time, he is working toward the universal. People wouldnt think that, because of what I write, I would connect with Richard Price, but I feel a real kinship with him.

As exhibited in Eureka Mill and other collections, his finely honed craftsmanship is most salient in his poetry, which has a casual, addictive appeal. Often compared to Seamus Heaney, the association is especially apt considering the Celtic musical, oral, and folkways ties running deeply through the Appalachians. Palimpsest and layered possession are intrinsic realities for rural North Carolinians. Plowing a field in The Vanquished from this years Poems: New and Selected turns up pottery and arrowheads/ bone-shards that spilled across rows/ like kindling, a once-presence/ keen as the light of dead stars.

By situating himself as the faithful observer of the natural world, Rash makes land, and landscape, available to readers. His dramatizations arent driven by sentimentality, but rather complex dilemmas usually centered on a question of land exploitation, or the exploitation of former land-workers, like those stuck in North Carolinas Eureka Mill, fleeced of their land and sense of purpose. With his latest novel, Rash again creates an irresistible conceit that transcends the South. But, of course, the importance of the South is undeniable.
Masamune Shirow. Kodansha, 19891997

The social ambiguities of artificial intelligence are explored through the cases of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetic human and member of the counter-terrorist division of Japans intelligence department. Larger philosophical themes of politics and technology are prodded as Kusanagi and her team track down hackers and other rogue elements, such as a renegade AI known as the Puppetmaster. Kusanagi's adventures continued in Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface and Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human Error Processor. An animated feature (adapted from portions of the original manga) was released in 1995, and has since become an influential anime classic. A sequel, Innocence, followed in 2004, as well as Stand Alone Complex, a TV series with its own movies and OVAs. A new take on the franchise, known as Arise - Alternative Architecture, began in 2013 with a manga, OVA, and subsequent TV series. A live action Hollywood adaptation is slated for 2017.
-- What: Quad City Theatre Workshop's "Inheritors."

-- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (plus Sept. 2-3), and 3 p.m. Sunday (plus Sept. 4).

-- Where: 1730 Wilkes Ave., Davenport.

-- Admission: "Pay what it's worth"; for more information, call 563-650-2396 or visit qctheatreworkshop.org.

Aaron Randolph III is pretty much a genius, a theatrical quadruple threat.

The Davenport man is an accomplished playwright, composer, director and actor. Mr. Randolph brings three of those skills to bear in a deeply moving, thought-provoking adaptation of "Inheritors," now playing at the QC Theatre Workshop.

The original three-hour plus, family drama -- spanning three generations and 50 years -- was penned in 1921 by Davenport native Susan Glaspell. Winner of the 1931 Pulitzer Prize for drama, she wrote more than 50 short stories, nine novels, 14 plays and one biography, and is credited with discovering and supporting playwright Eugene O'Neill.

Mr. Randolph, of Davenport, deserves some sort of prize for his brilliant, affecting adaptation of "Inheritors," editing and reorganizing it down to a swift 90 minutes -- but losing none of Ms. Glaspell's power, poetry and passion.

"Inheritors" -- named for what we gain from those before us and what we leave for those after -- tells of the erosion of fundamental rights, especially free speech, at a time when nationalism was prevalent in U.S. society, according to QCTW.

At the story's center is college student Madeline Morton (played by Jessica Denney), who must choose whether to defy her family and heritage in order to stand up for her beliefs. As her saga is explored, "Inheritors" addresses individuality, conformity, immigration and racism, and feels shockingly contemporary now. Intolerance and bigotry apparently are timeless.

Ms. Denney, as the progressive and idealistic Madeline, gives a fiery, inspiring performance, standing up for the rights of those marginalized and dispossessed. The bedrock values of freedom, equality and democracy on which America was founded should apply to everyone, Madeline persuasively argues.

Mr. Randolph (here stage director and writer of incidental music, as well as adaptor) takes a fresh look at "Inheritors" by interweaving the story and characters from the 1880s, with the 1920s plot and people (those times and settings alternate back and forth). Aside from Ms. Denney and Michael Carron (as her cynical, world-weary father), all the other actors in the terrific cast play more than one part.

The parallel tracks, which dramatically rumble toward important resolutions, begin where Madeline's grandfather, Silas Morton, wants to donate land to start Morton College. The unnamed Iowa city (along the Mississippi) wants to buy it from him, to accommodate growth.

Silas' father was friends with the Sauk warrior Black Hawk, and like the Native Americans, he loves the land and says he doesn't own it. He says "it's giving itself away." Because of the American settlers' killing and taking of Native American lands, Silas -- movingly portrayed by Mike Schulz -- says we are obligated to give something back.

Representing those resistant to change, his mother and a friend try to convince him to hold on to the hill property. In the modern setting, Mr. Schulz plays the college's Professor Holden, who shares Madeline's modern, independent views. They are upset with the fact a classmate was expelled and has been held in prison for two years for being a "conscientious objector" to World War I.

Madeline and Holden also support two Hindu students, who protest British oppression in India, and seek Indian independence. Jeremy Mahr plays a conservative state legislator who threatens to withhold school funds if it doesn't expel the Hindus, and Brant Peitersen is a banker, an immigrant's son, who doesn't want the students at Morton.

Susan Perrin-Sallak is Silas' mother who aided and fed settlers as they came west, and as Madeline's aunt, she can't understand the young, spirited upstart. About to turn 21, the student delivers a wise moral, that we've forgotten who we are and where we came from. "We think it's just us, just now," Madeline says, still so true in today's polarized society -- and many people's fear of immigrants.

America is a nation built, sustained and inhabited by immigrants. Our diversity of culture, creed, race and thought is what gives us our strength, not weakness, the play says. "Inheritors" truly gets you thinking what our ancestors made for us, and the need to leave a legacy for future generations.

Mr. Randolph's final scene -- merging past and present -- is magically effective. His serene, comforting music adds extra weight and meaning to the profound decisions taking place.

The wonderful cast includes Jordan McGinnis and Abby Van Gerpen. The beautiful, large set (designed by Emma Brutman) features a warm, wood-paneled library with raised stage at rear, and a more rustic area closer to the audience, with platforms.
Ordinarily one would expect a U.S. senator who is among the most vulnerable incumbents to be especially careful of what he says with less than two months before voters go to the polls.

But given Illinois Mark Kirk politically unhealthy penchant for creating he-said-what? moments, we cant say we were surprised that he likened President Obama to a drug dealer in a session last week with the Springfield State Journal Register editorial board.

The suburban Chicago Republican has been a prodigious source of eyebrow-raising ammunition for the Democratic Party-sponsored tumblr account $#*% My Senator Says, which was created to promote his opponent, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Schaumburg.

It already has been an ugly campaign and is likely to get even uglier as Nov. 8 nears.

The thing is, unlike a few of his other gaffes -- inexplicably calling a fellow senator and former GOP presidential candidate a bro with no ho, for example -- the senator had a point to make, depending on where one stands on the Obama administrations $400 million cash payment to Iran, which Sen. Kirk and many others say represents paying ransom for the release of three American prisoners. The Obama administrations disputes that, saying the money is part of a long-ago negotiated settlement of Irans frozen assets. The money was Irans anyway, they say; the release was merely timed in order to leverage the prisoners release.

Even many who agree with the senators conclusions regarding the administrations dealings with Iran were dismayed by his choice of words before the editorial board, according to the SJR report:

We cant have the president of the United States acting like the drug dealer in chief, Kirk said, giving clean packs of money to a ... state sponsor of terror. Those 500-euro notes will pop up across the Middle East. ... Were going to see problems in multiple (countries) because of that money given to them.

If the metaphor was deliberate, we cant imagine who Sen. Kirk was seeking to court. If his target was Illinois independents and moderate Democrats, for example, probably missed his mark.

In fact, we suspect that some of the points Sen. Kirk earned among such voters by meeting with the presidents supreme court nominee, Merrick Garland, as well as his rejection of GOP presidential nominee, Donald Trump, will trumped by such criticism of the president among those voters who twice went solidly for hometown-favorite son, President Obama.

The most unfortunate thing about Sen. Kirks ill-advised analogy is that it creates one more distraction from the kind of issues- and ideas-based campaign Illinoisans desperately need as we continue to cede economic ground and population to our neighboring states.

And make no mistake, it is having an impact on the campaign. And were not just talking about the incessant pleas for campaign donations which turn up in our emails whenever someone says something intemperate or controversial.

Take Rep. Duckworths appearance before the City Club in Chicago. It had been billed as a major economic policy address. Though she reportedly did detail her views on such things as her reasons for opposing the administrations Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, the substance of the speech took a backseat to her own remarks criticizing the incumbents rhetoric.

How could anyone have expected otherwise when a challenger suggests a sitting U.S. senator is unhinged.

Sigh. Voters deserve more and better. There is yet time to give it to them, but with the race so very close and campaign war chests growing, they must brace for more of the same.
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!
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
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 month's 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. Iran's pre-revolutionary political scene, like Turkey's 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 Iran's 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 Turkey's divinely sanctioned leader.

Turkey faces the same precipice today with Erdogan emerging as Turkey's divinely sanctioned leader.

Khomeini's 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 Turkey's secular state and to imprison thousands of opponents. They include a wide swath of the civil service; indeed, it's 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 country's 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 president's grab for absolute power.

It's also worth considering how the Iranian revolution led to the elimination of all the country's 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 Iran's undisputed religious, political, and military leader. His successor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, likes to see Iran's 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 Iran's post-revolutionary constitution and legal system.

Turkey's 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, Erdogan's 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 Erdogan's power grab.

Finally, it's 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 country's educational institutions. Iran's current supreme leader has always been particularly eager to rid the country's 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 Iran's 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 Turkey's 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.

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 Turkey's 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 Erdogan's 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 Khomeini's 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 Washington's 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. Iran's tragedy began in 1979; Turkey has now started its own perilous journey.

Alireza Nader is a senior international policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Policy 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.
How do we open the professional doors that are rarely, or never, open to women of color who aspire to be leaders in West Michigan? Two fellows from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Shannon Cohen and Pat Sosa VerDuin, aim to break down these barriers and dismantle racism with data from a new survey of women of color in Kent and Ottawa Counties.

This post is part of Rapid Growth's

I was taughtno, correction: it was

Relentless and resolved, I did everything I was taught to do. I studied Japanese at my Detroit high school, grew increasingly fluent and went to live for several months in Japan at the age of 16. I went to college and graduated with advanced degreesboth times in the top 1 percent of my class. I received honors and awards, worked with excellence, served in my community, and acted with integrity. There were doors that parted, doors that budged, but there were many doors that never opened. I quickly realized that there were some doors, floors, and spaces of mobility, influence, and access where education, talent, and work ethic werent the right keys. These doors, systems, and institutions had skeleton keys, secret handshakes, and invisible levers that I would later find were relationally accessed by special invitation and invitation connected with hue of skin, heritage, gender, and cultural fit.

I am a Gen X leader that has lived, worked, and served in Grand Rapids for 16 years. I have seen our community evolve in its willingness to dialogue openly about the intersectionality of race, gender, and leadership and its connection to access, mobility, voice, place, and presence. However, in many spaces, conversations regarding root causes to such inequities remain surface.

I, along with my friend and colleague, Pat Sosa VerDuin, have embarked upon a third year research project in conjunction with our W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellowship entitled,

Local data is replete with numeric accounting of racial and gender gaps and disparities. Data exists underscoring the business case for diversity in a creative class and knowledge-driven economy. But we dont have stories like those of the women we are talking to. Local quantitative data is missing its bed partnerqualitative data. There is an absence of documented qualitative data that reveal the implicit or explicit ways in which systems, policies, and modalities foster invisible walls, ceilings, and floors that restrict access, stifle voice, impair contribution, and constrict the movement of women of color in leadership. These narratives are critical for any true community or organizational conversation committed to rethinking talent attraction, retention, promotion, and employee engagement.

Existing local data is also missing the story of what we as a community lose when women of color are not authentically engaged or retained in executive leadership. Modern scholarship about mindful leadership, authentic leadership, and what it takes to lead is reflected in the stories of women engaged in this work. This project speaks to the strength, resilience, talent, and ambidextrous nature of women of color. This asset-based collection of qualitative data from emerging and existing women of color in leadership reveals their ability to thrive under pressure, bounce back from adversity, and problem solve in non-linear, non-traditional ways to achieve measurable outcomes and deliver results. There is a direct correlation between skills needed for executive leadership and the skill set of women of color afforded as a result of their lived experience, heritage, and ancestry.

Inquiring minds have asked: What will you do with the research? We envision the wisdom shared by women engaged in this study serving as a catalyst for the reform of systems, processes, networks, and workplace culture in West Michigan. This work will partner with other important work already underway in our communities to foster authentic leadership possibilities where women of color are invited, retained, and empowered to be transformative in the marketplace, increasing their numbers as leaders in all sectors. Ultimately, we hope this project will reframe popular narratives to include previously marginalized voices. Numeric data isnt enough. Quantitative data must be married to qualitative data that captures the voices of those who daily serve, work, and live at the intersection of race, gender, and leadership.

Our goal is to engage 500 women of color in this project. If you are a woman of color, age 30 to 60, live and/or work in Kent or Ottawa County, and currently occupy or aspire to mid/executive management opportunities in the public, private, or nonprofit sector, please take the survey

There is great vulnerability and risk for women of color bringing this level of honesty and disclosure into community spaces. Yet, for the first time we have central cities in both counties with women holding mayoral office, both communities have more organizations than ever before with equity and inclusion as focal areas, and we are witnessing the outflow of significant grant dollars to cities like Grand Rapids to analyze, address, and dismantle systemic racism. Now is the time to continue forging together as a community to have real talk conversations about the root causes of documented disparities and full engagement in generating and implementing sustainable solutions.

Final note: In Spring 2017, Shannon and Pat will complete phase one of this work by partnering with several community partners to host public community forums to share research results and recommendations.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhancements in 4KTV sets are increasing their market appeal, but manufacturers are struggling to choose between the two new standards Dolby Vision and HDR10, says ABI Research.





In a study note, 4K and HEVC Device and Service Uptake, the analyst notes that HDR10 has the support of more manufacturers than its rival, being able to allow firmware updates given it is an open standard. Yet it observes that this situation may change in the months ahead, as a number of content creators, including HBO, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and Universal, support Dolby Vision.The winner in the HDR10 and Dolby Vision competition is not yet clear, explained Khin Sandi Lynn, industry analyst at ABI Research. Dolby Vision currently supports higher light output levels than HDR10 and is better suited to adjust to different manufacturers displays. But its downside is that, unlike HDR10, the standard requires built-in hardware, more costly IP licensing, and involves a certification process for licensing. 4K and HEVC Device and Service Uptake puts forward the view that one possible scenario is that Dolby Vision becomes the format for streaming film and video-on-demand (VOD) delivery, while HDR10 primarily supports live event and broadcast channels. It does not expect consumers viewing content from a service supporting Dolby Vision on a non-supported TV set will receive HDR signals. Instead, it believes that such TV will use colour up-sampling technologies to simulate the HDR brightness and saturation.Setting aside the fight between standards, some markets with less pervasive broadband deployments, like India, will need to perform infrastructure upgrades to support necessary bandwidth for 4K video service delivery, concludes Lynn. This will further help to increase the 4KTV adoption in the Asia Pacific region in which currently only 5% of TV households own 4K sets.
Happy days for leading European broadcast group RTL which has returned strong first-half yearly results which have raised the companys full-year EBITA outlook.





For the six months ended 30 June 2016, RTL posted revenue of 2.878 billion, up 3.2% year on-year, and an 8.6% rise in EBITA to 580 million. The results were driven mainly by higher revenue from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6, RTL Nederland and RTL Groups rapidly growing digital businesses whose revenues rocketed by 20.5% year on year to 264 million. Looking at individual business units , RTL Group estimates that the net TV advertising markets were up in all markets in which the Group is active, with the exception of Hungary. For the full year, RTL Group continues to expect that TV advertising revenue will be geared towards the first half of the year.The very strong performance in the first half of 2016 confirmed once again the sustainable success of RTL Groups portfolio and growth strategy, said Anke Schaferkordt and Guillaume de Posch, co-chief executive officers of RTL Group in a joint statement. While we focus our M&A investments on content and digital, our broadcasting businesses continue to generate strong audience figures and high cash flows. Our biggest profit centre, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, is going from strength to strength and has succeeded in generating higher first-half EBITA for seven consecutive years.
Russian Supreme Court upholds sentence for Hizb ut-Tahrir recruiter

MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia has upheld ruling of a lower court for Fanis Gaynutdinov, who was sentenced to six years in penal colony for participating in activity of terrorist organization, RAPSI learned on Thursday from the courts press-service.

According to investigators, Gaynutdinov was helping extremist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir with their activities in the Samara Region. Gaynutdinov has already been in prison for participating in activity of terrorist organization. However, after his release he started recruiting new proponents of radical Islam.

Hizb ut-Tahrir (the Party of Islamic Liberation), founded in Jerusalem in 1953, is banned in several Arab and Central Asian countries. Russia's Supreme Court banned the group from operating on the territory of the country in 2003, describing it as a terrorist organization.

Hizb ut-Tahrir members are regularly arrested by the police across Russia, mainly in big cities in central Russia, the Volga region and Siberia. Also, there are many supporters in Crimea, which rejoined Russia in 2014.
Crimeas appeal against ruling in dispute with Cypriot firm set for Sep.13

MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI)  The Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals will consider an appeal lodged by the State Council of Crimea against a ruling ordering the republics Finance Ministry to pay over 18.3 million hryvnias (in rubles at the Bank of Russia exchange rate current at the date of payment) to Cypriot company DRGN Ltd, on September 13, according to court records.

Crimea sold the bonds in 2011 to finance a solid municipal waste treatment project in Simferopol and the Simferopol Region. The plaintiff borrowed over 25,000 bonds in January 2013.

In April 2015, DRGN Ltd turned to court demanding that Russias Finance Ministry pay the debt on a local domestic bond loan of 1.142 million Euros and interest for using the funds as accrued by the date of the court ruling. The republics State Council, the Council of Ministers and the Finance Ministry of Crimea were named as co-defendants in the case.

The Moscow Commercial Court in July granted in part a lawsuit filed by DRGN Ltd against Crimean authorities. The court ruled that the proper defendant in this case is Republic of Crimea represented by its Finance Ministry; thats why the court dismissed claims against other defendants.

Moreover, the court held that the sum of recovery should be converted into rubles but not into Euros as the plaintiff had asked because the case was considered under Russian law.

Crimean authorities appealed the ruling.

Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov announced earlier that the Crimean authorities had appealed to the Federal Security Service (FSB) to investigate the sale of the 2011 bond and the involved companies.

Aksyonov claimed to know who provided the funds and why. He said that Nikolai Skorik, Crimeas Finance Minister from 2010 to 2013, transferred the money to banks in Odessa that were affiliated with his friends where the interest on the money accrued.

Aksyonov added that a decision in the case would be made after the investigation is complete, but Crimea is not responsible for the debt because the money has not returned to the republic.
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.
Turkey sent troops into Syria yesterday. This caused Russia to declare its unhappiness with Turkey. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey yesterday. The atmosphere may not have been loving, but it was cordial, with none of the venom that had been visible since the coup attempt. The Russians have agreed that to halt operations from Iran's Hamedan air base, but might return at some point. There is some sort of political battle raging in Iran over giving the Russians permission to use Hamedan in the first place. All of these apparently distinct threads tie together into a single, geopolitical story.
Picture this: A foreign power invades California tomorrow and officially annexes it a few weeks later. The invaders have stolen nearly 5 percent of our nations landmass, including some of its most beautiful coastlines, resource-rich lands, and strategically important territory.

If you were Ukrainian, youd have no trouble imagining this bleak scenario. This is pretty much what happened in 2014. In February that year, Russia illegally invaded the Crimean peninsula, organized a sham referendum in early March, and officially annexed the strategic region a couple of weeks later.

In annexing the peninsula, Russia seized over four percent of Ukraines territory, more than halved its coastline, and laid claim to the natural resources thought to lie off its shores, beneath the Black Sea. The theft had strategic value as well, and that value is why nations have fought over Crimea for centuries.

How the West reacts moving forward will depend on whether or not its leaders swallow (or at least pretend to accept) two pernicious myths propagated by the Kremlins disinformation machine.

Myth #1 insists that Crimea is Russian, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin simply took back what rightfully belonged to Russia. This is simply not true.

Crimeas history is long and complex. It was under the control of the Crimean Khanate, a part of the Ottoman Empire, longer than it has been under Russian or Soviet control.

In more recent times, Nikita Khrushchev transferred the Crimean Oblast then under the control of the Russian Soviet Federation of Socialist Republics to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1954.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the new Russian Federation recognized Ukraines borders as including Crimea in subsequent post-Cold-War agreements.

As Mark Kramer, director of Cold War Studies at Harvard University, writes:

"The Russian Federation expressly accepted Ukraines 1991 borders both in the December 1991 Belovezhskaya Pushcha accords (the agreements that precipitated and codified the dissolution of the Soviet Union) and in the December 1994 Budapest Memorandum that finalized Ukraines status as a non-nuclear weapons state."

Myth #2 holds that Crimeans freely voted to join Russia. This is also false.

Russia orchestrated a bogus referendum in March 2014 on the question of whether Crimea should leave Ukraine and join Russia.

Russian troops took over Crimeas parliament, the Supreme Council of Crimea, in early March. In a closed session of Parliament that excluded many lawmakers opposed to breaking away from Ukraine, a new pro-Russian prime minister was installed, and a referendum was decided upon.

Even putting aside the fact that Crimeas legally elected Parliament was usurped and a puppet leader installed, Ukraines Constitution requires any changes to the countrys territory be put to a referendum of all Ukrainians. That never happened.

In March 2014, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled the referendum illegal. The referendum was also widely condemned as illegal by President Obama, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

But this did not deter Moscow. The vote was held quickly, under occupation by the Russian military, and without impartial election observers. The results were never in doubt.

Nearly all of Crimeas Tatars and native Ukrainians -- collectively making up 38 percent of the population -- boycotted the vote. Yet somehow, Russia claimed an 83 percent turnout, with 97 percent of votes cast in favor of joining Russia.

A more accurate reading of Crimean attitudes toward Russia at the time of the invasion can be found in a May 2013 survey by Baltic Surveys/Gallup. Taken a year before the referendum, this poll found that only 23 percent of Crimeans believed the region should be part of Russia.

The supposed referendum was a sham, a useful piece of theater designed to make Russias naked land grab appear as though it was merely Putin answering to popular will. Russia continues to attempt to persuade the West that opposing its aggression in Crimea is no longer worth the effort. But it is.

In July, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stated the United States has said consistently that we do not and we will not recognize Russias attempted annexation. And our sanctions that apply to the issue of Crimea will stay in place until, ultimately, that issue is resolved.

He is right. Western policymakers must not treat Russias annexation of Crimea as a fait accompli. Rather, they must forcefully decline to accept Russias aggression in Ukraine and continue to impose costs on Putin for his illegal actions.

The next U.S. administration must be clear on this point as well.
After the results of the Brexit referendum, many EU governments and officials went out of their way to emphasize that the vote did not herald the end of the European Union and could even make it stronger. For these officials, presenting the vote as an oddity is essential to preserving the bloc. After all, if the Brexit is not an exception, then it could become an example for other countries to follow. The specter of the British precedent will shape relations between the bloc and the United Kingdom for years to come, throughout the negotiations process and afterward.

By now, it is clear that London is trying to delay its formal discussions to leave the European Union for as long as possible. Two months after the vote, the British government still faces conflicting pressure from the country's "leave" and "remain" camps as it tries to develop a strategy for exit negotiations, tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2017. The European Union, meanwhile, has dilemmas of its own with which to contend. The bloc's political heavyweights, Germany and France, will each hold general elections in 2017, and Italy may well join them if a referendum on constitutional reforms fails before the end of the year, precipitating the fall of the government. Dealing with domestic opposition parties that want their own versions of the Brexit referendum, Berlin, Paris and Rome want to send their voters the message that the costs of leaving the European Union outweigh the benefits. At the same time, Europe's main political players understand that prolonged uncertainty will hurt the Continent's fragile economic recovery. An agreement, therefore, is inevitable, even if negotiations could continue well into the next decade.

null

Breaking the Mold

For economic and political reasons, the United Kingdom and the European Union want to keep close ties post-Brexit. In or out of the Continental bloc, the United Kingdom is and will be a major European power. Moreover, the European Union is a significant trading partner for the United Kingdom, accounting for roughly 44 percent of its exports and about 53 percent of its imports. But without concrete guidelines for a member country's withdrawal from the European Union, the process will come down to politics. None of the three existing frameworks for relations between the European Union and countries outside it  the "Norwegian" or "Swiss" models or a free trade agreement  satisfies the parties involved.

Under the Norwegian model, Britain could preserve its membership in the European Economic Area, which allows the free movement of goods, services, people and capital within the EU internal market. To do this, London would have to join Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Such an arrangement would offer many of the advantages of EU membership without requiring the United Kingdom to participate in the EU Common Agriculture and Fisheries policies or prohibiting it from signing free trade agreements with outside countries. Adopting the Norwegian model would avoid new tariffs between the United Kingdom and the EU internal market, thereby reducing short-term economic disruption. It would probably also enable the United Kingdom to maintain the passporting rights that allow financial institutions operating there to sell their services to other countries in the internal market without having to request individual authorizations. Furthermore, it would ease concerns in Scotland and Northern Ireland  where a majority of people voted to stay in the European Union  by mitigating the economic and political consequences of the Brexit and avoiding the reintroduction of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The solution is not perfect, though. Membership in the internal market would entail accepting EU workers, a sticking point for those "leave" supporters who hoped that a Brexit would reduce immigration. The Norwegian model would not resolve Britain's desire to regain its sovereignty, either. Despite not having a say on EU policy, EFTA members are nonetheless required to contribute to certain parts of the EU budget. As an EFTA member, London would once again be forced to accept rules that it cannot influence while chipping in to a budget that it cannot reform. Though this may be an acceptable compromise for a country with a small economy such as Norway, it probably would not work for a global power like the United Kingdom.

Then there is the Swiss alternative. The Alpine nation is not a member of the European Economic Area, but it has access to some parts of the internal market through multiple bilateral agreements. The problem is that Switzerland's relationship with the European Union took decades to build, and the country still must accept EU workers and keep up with EU regulations it does not influence. Swiss banks also do not have passporting rights, and most of them keep large operations in London to do business with the internal market.

The third option would perhaps be the most functional for the United Kingdom. A free trade agreement with the European Union would address many of the Brexit campaign's most important issues, giving the United Kingdom full control of its immigration policy and greater control of its foreign policy, eliminating its financial contributions to EU structures, and restoring full parliamentary sovereignty. But negotiating free trade agreements tends to be a lengthy undertaking. The European Union's free trade agreement with South Korea, for example, took a decade to hash out. In the meantime, trade between the European Union and United Kingdom could suffer, since both parties would have to reintroduce tariffs only to lift them again once an agreement is reached. To avoid this complication, some have proposed that the United Kingdom should temporarily join the EFTA to keep up the status quo during free trade agreement discussions. But joining the EFTA could relieve the pressure on the United Kingdom and the European Union alike to go through with negotiating a free trade agreement, an irksome prospect for the Brexiteers.

In addition, free trade agreements are easier to negotiate for goods than they are for services. When the European Union and Canada reached a free trade agreement, for instance, they agreed to lift all tariffs on industrial and fisheries products. But they did not liberalize many services, including financial services, and the agreement, which has not yet been ratified, did not involve passporting rights. For a services economy such as the United Kingdom's, this is no small drawback.

Migration Versus Market

Meanwhile, the European Union has its own concerns in the Brexit discussions. The free movement of people within the European Union has become a hot-button issue for Euroskeptic parties across the Continent, many of which are lobbying for Brexit-type referendums in their own countries. Consequently, the European Union is wary of granting the United Kingdom full membership in the internal market while also allowing it to reject EU workers, lest it set a precedent. Finding a balance between market access and migration will be a priority for the European Union in negotiating the Brexit.

Though the European Union has negotiated over similar issues with other countries in the past, each case differs significantly from that of the United Kingdom. When Liechtenstein joined the European Economic Area in 1995, it was authorized to introduce an immigration quota system, reviewed every five years, to prevent massive migration from overwhelming its tiny population (36,000) and territory (160 square kilometers, about 60 square miles). By comparison, the United Kingdom is a high-profile case that everyone on the Continent will watch closely, and EU members will be less inclined to make the same kinds of concessions to London.

Switzerland offers a more likely model. In 2014, the Swiss voted to introduce a quota on EU migrants. Since then, Brussels has threatened to end cooperation with Switzerland in multiple areas, including research projects with Swiss universities (trade agreements on electricity and financial services have already been frozen). If Switzerland were to reach a compromise with the European Union on the free movement of workers and access to the EU market, it could provide an example for the United Kingdom to follow in discussing the same issue. But here, too, the United Kingdom diverges from the established pattern. Some Swiss politicians are suggesting a second referendum to overturn the 2014 quota vote, an unlikely turn of events for the United Kingdom's Brexit.

A Tailor-Made Agreement

The final settlement between the European Union and the United Kingdom will probably not be a rehashing of existing models. Germany's European affairs minister recently admitted that, given its size and relevance, Britain could achieve a "special status" in its relationship with the European Union. In this respect, time may even be on London's side. Negotiations will probably far exceed the two-year period established by EU rules, and as Euroskepticism continues to grow in Europe, limiting the free movement of EU workers will gradually become less of a taboo topic in the Continental bloc.

Eventually, the United Kingdom and European Union will reach an ad hoc agreement, shaped by national economic interests on each side of the negotiating table. Because France and Germany hope to attract financial companies relocating some of their operations from London, they may be less inclined to preserve the United Kingdom's passporting rights. The Swedish government also recently warned that the United Kingdom's suggestion to entice investors by reducing corporate taxes could complicate its negotiations with the European Union. On the other hand, countries with strong economic links to the United Kingdom, such as Ireland, will advocate for the broadest possible deal with London. British officials, in turn, will try to resist subordination to EU decisions as much as possible.

Throughout the negotiations, the question of whether the United Kingdom is indeed an exception or the symptom of a broader trend will remain unresolved. The European Union is unlikely to lose any other members in the immediate future; opinion polls show that though support for the bloc has decreased over the past decade, most citizens in most EU member states want to stay in it. But once the Brexit has been settled, the Continental bloc will have a framework to handle future withdrawals. What's more, the final agreement may show EU members that bespoke arrangements are possible, even for rebellious countries.

In the face of this new reality, some countries may threaten to hold their own referendums to exact concessions from the European Union. Nations with larger economies may be more assured of getting a good deal upon withdrawing than are smaller members that depend on EU subsidies and investment. The issues on the table will also be different, with some countries focusing on migration and others making demands related to the eurozone, EU rules on deficit and debt, or the repatriation of powers to national parliaments. Regardless, the main danger for the European Union is that the Brexit  from the demands that preceded the referendum to the settlement that will follow it  will no longer be an aberration but a precedent that others can use to their advantage.
Property details:

ESCAPE TO GODS COUNTRY AND OWN A PEICE OF PARADISE IN THE NORTH MAINE WOODS. This Huge 60+/- acre tract of recreational and hunting land is located in Ashland Maine a Prestine and rural small town with the feel of the way life used to be. Moose, deer, and bears roam this land which makes this area a perfect place for hunting. The adjacent land owner is the town of Ashland which owns thousands of acres right beside this lot. You have 1200' plus of water frontage on Alder Brook which is loaded wit...

Price: $ 1,025 Seller State of Residence: Maine Property Address: Ashland of off route 227 State/Province: Maine Type: Recreational, Acreage Zoning: Mixed Zip/Postal Code: 04732 Location: 047**, Ashland, Maine

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby 04732
Property details:

**RIVER FRONT LOT WITH 150 FEET ALONG THE RIVER THAT FLOWS INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.LOW OPENING BID ~ SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENTSPhotos show actual lot and photos of the beautiful river, (no dwelling is included in this ad - build or bring your own). Country Harbour Estates is located on Country Harbour River in Guysborough County in Nova Scotia, Canada.The river flows into County Harbour, one of the deepest ice free harbours on the east coast of North America with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean ...

Price: $ 500 Property Address: Country Harbor Estates #20 Guysborough Nova Scotia Seller State of Residence: Florida State/Province: Nova Scotia City: Guysborough County Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: No restrictions Location: 334**, Palm Beach, Florida

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby No restrictions
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
,



We're sorry, this article is not currently available
The workers, atop a 6-metre-high stage, were pouring in pumpable concrete to make the slab when the supporting pipes underneath gave away.
A University of Georgia student was hit by a bus, an off-campus rape was reported to police, a truck driver pulled a gun on a man at a stop light and police respond to gunman at Chuck E. Cheese's all between Sept. 5 and 9.
The actions of a single gunman, which took the lives of 49 people in an Orlando gay nightclub around 2 a.m. June 12, left the country in a state of shock. Among those who were disheartened by the tragic event, were members of the Islamic community in Athens.
Nery and Miguel Cruz, at front, at Cinders Pizza with staff Sean Jones, left, Robin Halmhofer and Kelley Reilly

SHARE Greek salad Greek pizza

By Marc Beauchamp

Redding mobile veterinarian Miguel Cruz knows and loves good pizza. A native of Puerto Rico he spent most of his adult life in New Jersey.

When he moved to Redding from back East to start his four-wheel practice he missed great pizza. He once had pizza shipped overnight from DeLorenzos in Trenton.

His favorite pizza place in Redding? Cinders Wood Fired Pizza, hands down.

He and his wife, Nery, dine at the downtown pizzeria at least twice a month. She usually has the classic thin-crust Margherita, he favors the Meat Lover with pepperoni, Italian sausage and bacon.

If this (Cinders) were in New Jersey I wouldnt hesitate to go, he said. Its the best (pizza) Ive had in California by far. I know its going to be good.

Theyre consistent, added Nery Cruz. The couples been regulars since Aaron and Cyndel Rushton opened the restaurant in 2012. We feel like family. ... We can talk to the chef, said Miguel Cruz.

Thats the prettiest pizza Ive ever seen, my wife said when my Greek pizza arrived, with its spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives.

Staffer Sean Jones told me the most popular pizzas are the Spicy Hawaiian, the chicken bacon, the BBQ chicken (his favorite) and the Margherita.

The Rushtons favor fresh local ingredients: Cinders housemade cold-proof dough is made from flour from Moores Flour Mill in Redding and produce is sourced from suppliers in California and Oregon.

Cinders also serves wine and beer, including a craft brew from Fall River Brewing. Check out its Facebook page for more pictures of pizzas.

Cinders earns 4.5 out of 5 stars on Yelp.com.

Im told that Cinders plans to expand its current space in Market Square (behind the Sandwichery) and begin offering wings, desserts and beer on tap.

How much does Nery Cruz like Cinders? Last year she had her birthday party there. The guys made me a raspberry and chocolate pizza, she said, smiling.

go now 

Cinders Wood Fired Pizza

Address: 1415 Market St., Redding

Phone: 605-0665

Hours: Monday  Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Closed Sundays

Website: www.cinderspizza.com

Social media: Facebook

Owners: Aaron and Cyndel Rushton

Established: 2012

Sample menu items:

Margherita pizza $8

Spicy Hawaiian $9

Meat lover $10

Chicken bacon $10

Greek $10

Caesar salad (small) $5
Photo courtesy of photocrossaction.com

SHARE

By Jon Lewis

Shasta Dam is many things: the keystone of the massive Central Valley Project, the ninth tallest dam in the United States and the creator of the largest reservoir in California. On Saturday night, it will become one more thing: a race course.

The 2-mile Moonlight Madness race returns to the dam for the seventh straight year, offering runners (and walkers) a chance to compete atop the concrete edifice while enjoying the cool evening air.

The evening race across the dam was a popular event in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but then it fell by the wayside. John Luaces, an avid runner who competed for Shasta College from 1986-88, revived Moonlight Madness in 2009.

It was something I enjoyed in the 80s so I thought Id bring it back, said Luaces, the race director. Other runners apparently missed the race too, as evident by the more than 300 competitors who turned out for the race in the last two years.

As far as being a competitive runner, I liked it because it was flat and fast, and it was at night so it was cooler. Plus its nice to race over the dam and be near the water. And sometimes you can catch the moon just right, Luaces said.

Luaces business, Midnite Racing, organizes the race as part of the companys Sunset Through the Trees series. Midnite Racings other series is the Frosty Fun Run races held earlier in the year.

At 2 miles in length, Moonlight Madness becomes more family friendly and open to walkers and joggers, similar to the popular Turkey Trot, and runners of all ages.

There will be a DJ and flashing lights at the finish line and the first 300 to arrive will receive an LED arm band and glow sticks. Shirts are guaranteed for those who pre-registered but extras will be available for most who register between 6:45 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Luaces said.

The race begins at 8:15 p.m. in the visitors center parking lot.

go now 

What: 2-mile Moonlight Madness race

Where: Shasta Dam visitors center

When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday

More info: www.midniteracing.net
SHARE

A former San Jose councilman who stood behind pension reforms that were at the center of a bitter legal and political battle is coming to Redding next month to talk about unfunded liabilities.

Pete Constant will be the main speaker at a Sept. 8 community forum organized by Redding Councilman Gary Cadd, who is making the city's pension liabilities one of the main themes of his re-election bid this fall.

Constant, a former police officer, is now at the think tank, Reason Foundation based in Los Angeles, and is part of a team working on pension reform nationwide. The team is analyzing the state of the California Public Employees' Retirement System. The study surveys 1 percent of the 1,500 agencies that are part of CalPERS. Redding is one of the 15 cities selected for the analysis.

The entire project, which looks at big and small agencies, will be complete in about a year. Redding's piece, however is almost done.

What Constant said he has found, so far, really is no different than what other communities are experiencing around the state and around the country.

"In the big picture, it is a math problem. But there is a political and legislative problem," he said of debates at the state level. "Redding doesn't have control over the (Legislature). So you are really at the mercy of what they do."

All told, Redding's unfunded pension liabilities approached $215 million about a year ago, according to its comprehensive annual financial report for 2015.

Cadd said he has been meaning to bring the Reason Foundation for quite some time. About a year ago, he met the organizer of Transparent California, the public-employee-pay website hosted by the think tank, Nevada Policy Research Institute. The two got to talking about pensions and put him in touch with Constant.

More recently, Cadd brought Vint Stevenson on board to secure the Shasta County Veterans Hall for the presentation. Stevenson, a downtown business owner, headed the Downtown Redding Business Association before it went dormant.

The presentation will last about 90 minutes, setting aside time at the end to take questions from the audience. Cadd said the talk will be recorded for those who cannot attend. But he is hopeful his peers on the City Council and city staff will be there.

To prevent a Brown Act violation, Cadd said he will have no speaking role. Rather he will be another member of the audience. Cadd said Brown Act violations occur at public forums where three council members are gathered and one of them speaks.

City Manager Kurt Starman was unsure whether he would attend the presentation. He said he had not discussed the event with Cadd and had reservations about campaign-related activities.

"I refrain from participating in campaign-related events in order to remain as impartial as possible," he said in an email.

Nonetheless, the topic is a serious one for all California agencies and the state, Starman said.

San Jose voters approved pension reforms in 2012. After a legal fight, provisions limiting pension benefits for new hires survived intact, Constant said. The Silicon Valley city and unions came to a settlement and agreed to more modest reforms, which the voters will be asked to approve in November.

Budget cuts and the pension reforms led to hundreds of layoffs, early retirements and resignations in the police force, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Starman highlighted the city's efforts since 2010 to tackle its pension liabilities. At the top of that list is the voter-approved Measure A, which got city employees to pay a portion of their retirement plans.

He also noted less-generous retirement benefits for those hired after Jan. 1, 2013, the city's increased contributions to pay down its unfunded liabilities and employee contributions ranging from 7 percent to 12 percent toward pensions.

Cadd, known for his inherent distrust toward local government, said Constant's visit is notable because he comes with no attachments to the city.

He spoke with respect about the actuarian John Bartel of Bartel Associates in San Mateo but cast doubt on his reports to the city.

"When the city of Redding orders a report on actuarial issues, John puts them together the way the city has asked for them. In other words, his employer is the city of Redding," Cadd said.

Constant said the foundation recently helped push for public safety pension reforms in Arizona.

"For the residents who have not engaged or are aware of what is going on with the city and they see the change or reduction in services, this will help explain why," Constant said of his upcoming talk. "I think it will be eye-opening for people to see it."

If you go

What: Community forum on Reddings public pension obligations

When: 6 p.m., Sept. 8

Where: Shasta County Veterans Hall, 1605 Yuba St.

About the meeting: Councilman Gary Cadd brings Pete Constant, the former San Jose councilman who pushed for a pension reform measure, to review Reddings unfunded liability. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.
In this March 10, 2015, file photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks at the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Legislative Conference and Presidential Forum in Washington. Sanders is encouraging his supporters to join his Our Revolution grassroots movement. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

SHARE

By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight

Bernie Sanders' supporters aren't backing down just yet.

Instead, they've revamped themselves as followers of a new movement led by the Vermont senator called Our Revolution, a group that according to its website, aims to "revitalize American democracy, empower progressive leaders and elevate the political consciousness."

Here in Shasta County, a little more than 40 people gathered at Redding's United Public Employees of California building Wednesday evening for a watch party that was broadcast live on Sanders' website and marked the official launch of the movement.

"This is a call to action, to continue the revolution," said Chris Mitchell, the Redding event organizer. "We're working at a grassroots level to get people into office and to promote our issues."

And the issues are many  single-payer health care, free state college tuition, decreasing the prison population, job training, and more action on climate change, are a few of the issues the new group is working on at a grassroots level, Mitchell said.

Sanders was a clear choice against Hillary Clinton in the North State. According to the Statement of Vote report found on the California Secretary of State's website, Sanders won more votes than Clinton in Butte, Glenn, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties.

And although the senator has already dropped out of the race and has endorsed Clinton for president, it didn't deter attendees from showing their support for Sanders and his new movement.

"I know that I support Bernie Sanders because I know he's at least trying something good. That's why I'm here," said Salman Hendershot, 38, of Redding.

On the live stream, Sanders thanked his supporters and went over his campaign, and the momentum it created, before he formally announced the new nonprofit, Our Revolution. The nonprofit will involve working with people at the grassroots level who want to make a difference locally, whether that involves joining a local school board, running for city councils, or advocating environmental, health, labor, or gender-based issues.

It's a message that Mitchell is taking very seriously locally. She said their steering committee will meet early September, and they'll decide what candidates and propositions they want to support.

Shelly Godfroy, 60, of Redding said the Sanders campaign was the first time she invested and educated herself about the issues at hand and causes that mattered to her most, such as climate change, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and overhauling Citizens United. And after listening to Sanders speak, she felt encouraged to take action.

"I'm very pulled," she said. "I'm going to look at what we can do."
Andreas Fuhrmann/Record Searchlight

The Bureau of Reclamation releases more water Thursday down the Trinity River in Lewiston because of ich disease in the Klamath River.

SHARE

By Damon Arthur of the Redding Record Searchlight

To prevent an outbreak of a deadly fish-killing disease, federal officials plan to begin tripling the amount of water flowing out of Lewiston Dam and into the Trinity River.

Starting Thursday, the amount of water coming out of Lewiston Dam will increase from 450 cubic-feet per second to about 1,300 cfs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam.

The Trinity River flows into the Klamath River and the higher flows in the Trinity are meant to aid salmon and trout in the Klamath.

Federal officials and others are worried about an outbreak of a disease called ich, which spreads among fish crowded into slow-moving pools of warm water in the river. The higher flows from the Trinity are supposed to flush out the lower Klamath with cooler water and reduce crowding among the fish.

A small number of fish have become infected in "extremely warm water" in the Klamath, said Michael Belchik, a senior fisheries biologist for the Yurok Tribe, which is based on the Klamath River.

An ich outbreak in 2002 killed some 35,000 salmon and steelhead trout in the river.

"We take this threat to our fish very seriously, and we're looking at every option to protect our fish," said Thomas P. O'Rourke, Yurok Tribe chairman. "We don't want to go through another catastrophe like the fish kill in 2002, and we will do anything we can to avoid that outcome this year."

The Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team, which monitors fish fitness in the river, rated danger in the stream on Wednesday at "yellow" because of unfavorable physical and chemical conditions in the stream.

There are four "levels of readiness," for the river, starting at green, the lowest level and best conditions for fish. Levels increase to yellow, orange and red, which means a fish kill is imminent or underway, according to the team's website.

During the past several years of warm summer weather and drought, the higher releases from Lewiston Dam have been an annual event in August and September.

This year's higher flows, which could go as high as 3,500 cfs, are expected to last until late September.

David Coxey, general manager of the Bella Vista Water District in Redding, said sending more water down the Trinity River means there will be less water for cities and agriculture in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.

Nearly all the municipal water districts in the Redding area get water through the bureau.

"It's disheartening how our supply reliability continues to erode," Coxey said.

There is also less hydropower generated when more water is sent down the Trinity River, Coxey said.

Water is shipped via large pipes from Lewiston Lake to Whiskeytown Lake, where it is used to also generate power at the Carr Powerhouse. The water is then shipped by pipe again from Whiskeytown to Keswick Reservoir, where power is generated again at the Spring Creek Powerhouse.

Higher flows into the Trinity and Klamath rivers also ultimately mean less water flowing into the Sacramento River to aid endangered winter-run chinook salmon that spawn in the river in Redding, Coxey said.

"This is a discouraging decision that further hurts the salmon over here," he said.
SHARE

As California moves closer to launching a retirement savings program for workers at companies that don't offer retirement plans of their own, some Wall Street firms are trying to hit the pause button. Their warnings are overblown, however, and state officials should keep moving forward.

The Secure Choice savings program would create individual retirement accounts for up to roughly 7 million workers in California at companies with five or more employees that do not offer a pension, 401(k) plan or similar retirement benefits. Workers would initially contribute 3 percent of their wages, and a state board could gradually increase the rate to 8 percent. Their IRAs would stay with them if they changed jobs, and they could opt out at any time (even at the beginning). As with other IRAs, they could face a tax penalty if they tapped the money before they retired.

Most of those eligible for the program would be low- to moderate-wage workers, given that employers with higher pay scales typically have their own retirement plans. And so the savings a worker would accumulate through Secure Choice would probably be modest  assuming a 5 percent annual return, a $50 monthly contribution would build up to about $42,000 after 30 years. But when added to Social Security benefits, the money would help keep more retirees out of poverty and off public support. More than 1 in 5 California seniors lives in poverty, according to the Census Bureau's Supplemental Poverty Measure  the worst rate in the country. And the ranks of the impoverished retirees in California have grown dramatically over the last 15 years, according to the Sacramento Bee.

The Legislature set the wheels in motion in 2012 when it approved a bill by Sens. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Darryl Steinberg (D-Sacramento) creating a board to evaluate the feasibility of the Secure Choice program. Aided by a consultant, the board analyzed whether the program could sustain itself without posing any risk to the taxpayers (as required by state law).

The board agreed in March that Secure Choice could work as intended, with no liability or cost to the taxpayers. The U.S. Labor Department has issued a tentative rule setting guidelines for state-run programs such as Secure Choice, and the Treasury Department has said the IRAs offered through the program would qualify for the same tax benefits as other IRAs. Since then, the Senate has approved a bill by De Leon to start implementing the program Jan. 1, on the condition that it complies with the Labor Department's final guidelines and other federal requirements. Eligible employees would be phased in over time, starting with those at the largest employers.

In a letter this month to Brown, the mutual funds' trade group  the Investment Company Institute  warned that the Secure Choice program posed a number of risks and carried "substantial unforeseen costs." These include the possibilities that the program will not comply with the federal law governing employer-sponsored plans, that the Secure Choice board will be subject to onerous and costly federal regulations that apply to investment advisers and that taxpayers will have to bail out the program if it doesn't live up to the promise it makes to savers.

Yet De Leon's bill and the 2012 law that envisioned the Secure Choice program include a number of safeguards against these and other pitfalls. For example, if the program doesn't qualify for an exemption from the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, it won't launch. Nor can it legally offer plans for which taxpayers might be held liable, unless the board goes back to the Legislature and gets permission.

It's understandable why the Investment Company Institute would want to protect its members from having to compete with state governments. But the Secure Choice board is a potential customer, not a would-be rival. Rather than managing retirement investments itself, the board will put that work out for bid by mutual fund companies and other investment firms that already have that expertise. Left to their own devices, those companies have failed to reach millions of Californians. That's why the state should step in and help push more workers to save for their retirement.

This is an edited version of an editorial originally published in the Los Angeles Times.
SHARE

Trail-watch program comes to Redding

Look out Sacramento River Trail. Trail watch is about to kick off in Redding.

Friends of the Redding Trails in partnership with city officials will hold an orientation at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Redding City Hall's community room, 777 Cypress Ave.

Volunteers will learn how to schedule trail-watch shifts online and find out how the program will work over the next few months.

The program is open to anyone who uses the trail on foot, bike or skateboard.

To sign up for the trail watch, visit the Community Services Department online at http://bit.ly/2918Glc.

Redding candidates forum scheduled

Redding voters will have a chance next month to hear from the four candidates running for Redding City Council.

Viva Downtown Redding and the League of Women Voters of the Redding Area have scheduled a candidate forum from 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Cascade Theatre, 1731 Market St.

Participants are incumbent Gary Cadd and challengers Adam McElvain, Lea Tate and Julie Winter. The four are competing for two seats.

Man faces trial in kidnapping attempt

A 55-year-old Redding man accused of trying to kidnap two boys selling rocks on the side of the road earlier this month will stand trial, according to the Shasta County District Attorney's Office.

A jury trial will begin Oct. 18 after Shasta County Superior Court Judge Cara Beatty on Tuesday ordered Keith Brian Henry to stand trial on two counts of attempted kidnapping, prosecutors said.

Police said they were called to a home in the 1800 block of Kenyon Drive in Redding shortly before 11:30 a.m. Aug. 7 after a witness reported a man tried to lure two boys into his car with flowers and candy.

The two 8-year-old boys were selling rocks in front of their home when a man, later identified as Keith Henry, stopped and bought some rocks, police said.

Henry returned later and tried to lure the boys into his car, but an adult intervened. Henry left in his vehicle, a red BMW, police said.

Law enforcement in the area were alerted to be on the lookout for Henry and his car. Henry was arrested later the same day in Shasta Lake, and a witness to the incident identified Henry as the suspect, police said.

Henry has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He remains in custody at the Shasta County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Residents evacuate in Hawkinsville fire

A fire that started about 3 p.m. Wednesday grew to 400 acres through the evening and forced residents to evacuate the Hawkinsville area two miles north of Yreka, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

The Grade Fire also forced the closure of Highway 263, Cal Fire said. The blaze was 5 percent contained at 10 p.m. Wednesday. The fire was threatening more than 150 structures.

An evacuation advisory was issued for homes north of North Street in Yreka.

Crew, neighbors halt vegetation fire

Firefighters extinguished a half-acre vegetation fire Wednesday afternoon at the corner of Ona and Jordan lanes in north Redding.

Some structures in the area were threatened, according to scanner reports.

The fire was reported just before 3 p.m. south of Keswick Dam Road and west of Lake Boulevard, and burned along a trail behind the residences.

Crews contained the fire about 3:20 p.m.

Neighbors quickly gathered hoses to water down lawns and dampen the ground to fend off the fire.

Arson-caused fire burns in Humboldt

A 440-acre forest fire that's been burning in Humboldt County since Monday was 8 percent contained Wednesday morning, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports.

Investigators say the fire was caused by arson.

The Tully Fire is located off Highway 169 and Martin's Ferry road, northwest of Weitchpec. Highway 169 is closed between Martin's Ferry Bridge and McKinnon Hill Road, Cal Fire says.

One structure has been destroyed and 30 others are threatened. Residents in the fire area are under evacuation orders.

Six air tankers and six helicopters are working the fire along with 780 personnel and 61 fire engines.

Sixteen bulldozers and 14 water tenders are assigned to the blaze.

Cal Fire says the fire is burning heavy timber, slash and brush, with the greatest intensity in one area that hasn't burned in more than 30 years.
On set filming "The Other Boleyn Girl," Natalie Portman was cold. Co-star Scarlett Johansson noticed Portman's chills and asked why she hadn't said something.

"And I was like, 'I don't know, I didn't want to be a problem,' and she was like, 'Say you're cold!' And it was good to have someone point it out to me that I even had a hard time making a very reasonable complaint about my own discomfort," Portman said. "And I do connect that with my gender even though of course not all women are like that. I'm sure there are men who are like that too, but it did feel connected somehow to being a woman, that I wasn't always comfortable just saying exactly what I needed and wanted."

Advertisement

Portman's reticence persisted when she stepped into the role of director for the film "A Tale of Love and Darkness," out Friday. She found it difficult to express what she was envisioning or tell people what she wanted. She got over it quickly, but it's an experience from her directorial debut that stands out in her mind. Portman attributes the scarcity of female directors in Hollywood to society's lack of comfort with women expressing their desires, but she hopes that's starting to change.

"Girls of today are growing up in a different environment. They have Lena Dunham on TV, writing, directing, producing, starring," the 35-year-old said. "So many wonderful other role models, too, that it's part of their environment, but it's still not 100 percent there. We're still seeing such a difference in how many women go to graduate school versus how many women are actually practicing in some professional careers."

Advertisement

"A Tale of Love and Darkness" has been an enduring labor of love for Portman. She adapted Amos Oz's 2002 autobiography and spent years trying to get it made. Set in the years bridging Mandatory Palestine and the establishment of independent Israel, it's a story both of a nation and of a familya young boy's relationship with his very unhappy mother, Fania (played by Portman).

"It is Oz's words and ideas," Portman said. "I think it's one of his great abilities as a political figure also, is to see nations as individuals and that individual psychology. That psychology of an entire group of people can be compared to the psychology of an individual."

In the movie, the people of Israel have to grapple with the reality that their new country isn't the paradise they imagined it would be, while Fania sinks into depression upon realizing that her life isn't what she had dreamed it would be. Oz turned the story of his mother into a parable representing what an entire nation experienced.

Portman sees this as a key difference between psychologically healthy and unhealthy peoplesome can process that reality and dreams are different, and some despair over the dissonance. "A fulfilled dream is a disappointing dream" is a line toward the end of the film that Portman said she doesn't fully agree with. Directing "A Tale of Love and Darkness" is a dream that she's had since she originally read the book over a decade ago.

"I would modify Oz's words for myselfI don't find fulfilled dreams disappointing, I just find them different from your expectations, for better or worse. Sometimes it's not even a qualitative difference, it's just different, like something you couldn't expect if you haven't experienced it yet," Portman said. "So [directing] was definitely a different experience than I expected. Some things were easier than I expected, some things were harder than I expected, some things were more fun than I expected, some things were not as fun as I expected. It was a much harder path than I thought it would be. But it was fulfilling in unexpected ways too. I'd say that a fulfilled dream is just different than anything you could ever dream."

A conflict-free promised land for the people of Israel and Palestine is still a dream, tempered by a complex reality. In recent years, left-leaning Americansincluding many in Hollywoodhave moved away from supporting Israel to sympathizing with Palestine. But choosing sides doesn't seem particularly productive for Portman, whose ties to the situation run deep because she was born in Israel and has become something of beacon of Jewish identity among celebrities.

"I think it's a really complicated situation, and it's made me consider a lot of questions ethically and just on a human empathetic level that I wouldn't have considered if I wasn't from [Israel]," she said. "Ultimately, I think we need to get out of a sides situation and move toward what stops being a tragedy for everyone because we've been stuck in a cycle that basically is hurting individuals all the time. And if we start looking at people as individuals rather than as members of teams then maybe we'll find a way forward that is better for everybody, hopefully."

Her heritage is part of what intrigued Portman about Oz's book. The stories in it felt familiar to her, echoing memories her grandparents had shared with her as a girl. She insisted it be kept in Hebrew, even though that made things more difficult for her.

Advertisement

"All of these refugees coming from different countries came to Israel and then all started speaking Hebrew, which had not been a spoken language in hundreds of years, so they were essentially speaking a biblical language all of a sudden," Portman said. "It is almost a character in the film and in my mind nearly impossible to do without."

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Portman said she is "exceedingly dorky" about language, something that shows up in the film, which is almost obsessed with etymology (it might be the only thing Fania has in common with her husband). She famously chose to study psychology at Harvard University, remarking, "I'd rather be smart than a movie star."

Portman's accomplishments include an Academy Award and multiple Golden Globes. Her devotion to acting has led her to dance training for a year to play a ballerina in "Black Swan" and perfect her Hebrew for this film. But as she began to promote "A Tale of Love and Darkness," the media sometimes chose one title over actor or director"working mom Natalie Portman."

It's the kind of thing that gives you pause, wondering how many times you've read "working dad Brad Pitt" in a headline.

"It's definitely something that I love in my life and am proud of, but I do get upset by the different labeling like you're talking about," Portman said. "I will always get the question about what it is to be a mother and what that means to me, and I do not think that men experience that to the same degree at all. And it certainly would not be in their job description headline. But it is important too, being a parentI keep trying to say 'being a parent' because I think it should apply to both men and womenI feel like in my family, being a parent does apply in a similar way to me and my husband.

"It's a really big topic among everyone I know who both has children and works, both male and female," she continued. "How you balance it, how do you do your best at bothit's a big question when you care about being a parent. It just feels really unbalanced, the way that women are asked about it so much more than men. I wish men were asked it more rather than women asked about it less because I do find it a very interesting topic of conversation."

Advertisement

The discrepancy is something she's uncomfortable with, but Portman has no problem pointing it out. Not after sitting in the director's chair.

@lchval | laurenchval@redeyechicago.com
GST will make it easier for governments to spend more, says T C A Srinivasa Raghavan.

Image: A labourer pushes a handcart loaded with sacks containing tea packets, towards a supply truck at a wholesale market in Kolkata; Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing. Thus spake the French Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert in the 17th century.

Colbert served as the finance minister for King Louis XIV of France for almost two decades, from 1665 to 1683, and hugely improved the state of French finances. France was almost bankrupt when he took over. His taxation policies also improved the state of French manufacturing. His method was issuing edicts. There was none of the democracy nonsense back then. What Colbert wanted, Colbert took.

His greatest achievement was almost the exact equivalent of the Arun-Palaniappan (two Indian finance ministers who have worked hard for the passage of the bill; one incumbent and the other former, Arun Jaitley and Palaniappan Chidambaram, respectively) goods and services tax (GST) that we will have soon. Annoyed that different provinces in France imposed different taxes and that he could do nothing about it, he more or less equalised them. One France, one tax, one market.

But paradoxically, despite the fillip this gave to the economy, Colbert's taxes left the people poorer than before. The reason: the huge unproductive expenditure on wars incurred by Louis who fought three major wars and countless minor ones. In other words, what Colbert earned, the king spent. The more the king spent, the more Colbert had to earn. And the more he earned, the more the king spent. The geese hissed, until Colbert said in exasperation that the trick lay in fooling the goose that it wasn't being plucked. Fat chance.

Tax and spend

Colbert also went after 'black' money mainly by taxing moneylenders. That greatly endeared him to his boss who hated people who didn't pay taxes.

After the fashion of the day, Colbert was also a great believer in what is now called 'crony capitalism'. The deal was simple: you pay the taxes, and in return I will give you a monopoly. Colbert died in 1683 from kidney stones, and in great pain. Apart from his boss and family, no one else felt very sad. He had plucked too many poor geese who possibly hissed with joy.

Within a few years, things were back to where they had been. Not just the people, the State also reverted to its usual state of near-bankruptcy. This happened because revenue policy -- rates and coverage -- was run by a Royal Council. It was something like the GST council now being proposed by Arun paaji.

That council had just one aim: to increase revenues for the king. How the money was spent was not its business. And the king had but one aim: to waste the money.

And, therein lay the problem, of the ever-increasing hissing from the geese, which were not inclined to subscribe to Colbert's view that "it is simply, and solely, the abundance of money within a state, which makes the difference in its grandeur and power." Why only of the State, they asked angrily. How about us?

Spend and waste

But, war is not the only way of wasting money. Democracy is, too. In fact, democracy is a permanent licence.

As I had pointed out some weeks ago, the combination of democracy and Keynesian economics has given a free hand to politicians to waste money. They have been aided by liberal do-gooders in this noble endeavour.

When P Chidambaram started expanding the ambit of service tax in 2005, it was to fund Sonia Gandhi's political scheme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. As a waste of money goes, there is hardly any parallel to it. He also wrote off farmer loans amounting to several thousands of crores. But, Anna, the farmers are no better off today as you keep pointing out in your columns. Many politicians are, though.

Then, there is the structure of our government's expenditure, in the name of the people and the poor. It will ensure that the GST will not be the solution to India's problems that it is being made out to be. Far from it.

Almost two-thirds of government revenue is spent on three things: the salaries and pensions of government employees; subsidies for food and fertiliser; and interest on past debt incurred to pay salaries, pensions and subsidies. The GST will make it easier for governments to spend more on these things. So, you can expect more expenditure under these heads. Democracy is like that only.

When he became prime minister, Narendra Modi appointed an expenditure commission to deal with this problem. Some months ago, it submitted some sort of a draft report.

Nothing further has been heard about it since then. Nor will anything be. So, lie back and enjoy the 30 per cent income tax, 18 per cent GST and 15 per cent sundry taxes.

Or, hiss when some fool of an economist announces that India is poorly taxed.
Online pharmacy player Portea, which has reportedly raised $46.5 million in two rounds, has been blacklisted for one year for revoking an offer.

Premier tech school IIT Bombay on Thursday blacklisted nine companies including startups like Portea Medical and Chinese firm Johnson Electric from placements for one year as a penalty for a variety of violations like, revoking the offers to some of its graduates.

The action follows a controversy over a host of companies, majorly startups finding the going tough, either revoking the offer letters or delaying joining dates which have impacted students.

Online pharmacy player Portea, which has reportedly raised $46.5 million in two rounds, has been blacklisted for one year for revoking an offer, the school said in an official statement.

Similarly, the NCR-based Peppertap that was into grocery sales, has also been penalised for revoking offers.

Johnson Electric of China has also been penalised for revoking offers.

Others who faced action for revoking offers include GPSK and Cashcare Technologies, the statement said.

For delaying the joining dates of the selected candidates, consulting companies IndusInsight, and the Houston-based American company LexInnova have been barred from placements for a year, it said.

A company named LeGarde Burnett Group was also blacklisted for both revoking an offer and after it was found "fake" with no proper office address, it said.

Another company Mera Hunar was found to have come up with a different name and hired students for another startup, which attracted the penal action of one year.

It can be noted that since IITs have a centralized placement panel called the All IITs Placement Committee and in all likelihood, the action by IIT-Bombay will automatically bar the startups from approaching any of the IITs in the country for placements next year.
Only 10,059 tourists have visited the state this month compared to around 90,000 in July

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.

Falling headlong 80 per cent (approximately) occupancy was reported in July. Vivanta by Taj, Dal View, and The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar, have seen occupancy plummet to under 8 per cent, significantly lower than last month 7 per cent was the occupancy rate of the Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar, in July as compared to 60-70 currently Rs 6,000 a night is the cost of a room now. Rooms cost Rs 12,000 a night in an upscale four-star hotel earlier Producers of many big and medium Bollywood films have shifted location to Himachal Pradesh

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.

With scheduled leisure trips getting cancelled or postponed hoteliers are being forced to sell rooms at half the usual rate. Rooms that cost Rs 12,000 a night in an upscale four-star hotel earlier are now available for around Rs 6,000 a night.

While house boats on the Dal Lake wear a deserted look, sources say most popular luxury hotels, which were booked till September, are witnessing mass cancellations following the spate of violence.

Godfrey Pereira, head (holiday products) at Via.com, said, In Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism season goes on till August. But since last month, we have seen disturbances. Compared to a monthly average of 50 packages for the state in the May-June period, we have not seen any bookings this month. Bookings made earlier have all been cancelled.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Board, nearly 90,000 tourists flocked to the state in July, leading to packed house boats on the Dal Lake. However, with the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani, there has been a massive clampdown on free movement by security forces, with just 10,059 tourists visiting the state so far this month.

Due to the current scenario, our occupancy rate at R K Sarovar Portico, Srinagar, has come down to 6 per cent. Before this we were doing 59 per cent a month and 81 per cent (year-to-date), said a spokesperson of Sarovar Hotels.



This has also led to producers of many big and medium Bollywood films shifting the location to Himachal Pradesh for filming their movies, said the secretary of J&K Tourism on Saturday.

Likewise, some tourists have opted to holiday in Himachal Pradesh and other neighbouring destinations. A number of film shooting crews are also in Ladakh this season. Against 35,978 tourists in July 2015, 47,647 visited Leh in July 2016, including 10,657 foreign tourists.

Until February, the J&K tourism board said it was expecting a record number of tourists this year. In 2015, the state saw total arrivals of around 1.2 million, of which about 1 per cent were foreigners.

Photograph: Reuters
The idea that technology and startups with newer business models will not disrupt traditional businesses has been thrown out the window.

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 startup funds, others are tracking disruptive technologies in their own sectors with clearance from their boards to sink money into startups if needed.

Majority of Indian companies track startups today, right from FinTech to retail.

The idea that technology and startups with newer business models will not disrupt traditional businesses has been thrown out the window.

Moreover, as these companies find it harder to attract the best technology talent, theyre being forced to nurture and back startups.

Corporate activity in the startup space is growing and we are seeing more of them become aware. Whether it is older corporates or large corporates, theyve now understood that they have to keep a watch in their own sectors for startups that are disruptive, said Neha Singh, co-founder at research firm Tracxn.

While the setting up of dedicated startup funds by corporates is not common, several large traditional companies are looking at other ways to contribute to the startup wave and reap benefits.



Partnerships, accelerators and incubators are becoming more common in corporate India.

Taking a cue from large global companies such as Microsoft, Walmart and others, Indian corporates are helping foster innovation in the hope to get their hands on disruptive technologies.



Reliance has tied up with Microsoft Accelerator to start GenNext Hub, an accelerator for startups with the lure of getting to work with Reliance Group and even raise capital.

Other large corporate houses such as the Tata Group invests in startups through its financial services arm Tata Capital that runs a sector agnostic venture capital fund.



The money going into this fund is raised from external sources unlike in the case of Infosys and Wipro, who have set aside $500 million and $100 million respectively.

Tech Mahindra and Mindtree have started startup garages within their existing organisation structure that allows employees to work on disruptive technologies that might not have an immediate business impact, with some ideas even being backed by capital.

L&T Infotech has sought permission from its board to start investing in startups.

According to Singh, there are four broad ways Indian companies are looking at the startup sector today: Track startups in their space and forge partnerships; setup accelerators and incubators to nurture startups, funding and acquiring startups in order to become future ready and setup a dedicated fund to actively make bets on new-age companies.

The final method, which is the most advanced and intensive, also has the fewest number of corporates looking taking it up.

However, there is certainly value that is being brought by corporates starting accelerators and incubators, and as their exposure in the space matures more companies are expected to have dedicated funds for startups.

Tracxn, which tracks the startup industry and provides funding insights to corporates says its currently working with the likes of Reliance Industries Limited, Aditya Birla Group, Times Internet and Flipkart, advising them on various fronts.

So far, IT giants such as Infosys and Wipro have been the most proactive in creating funds for startups, largely due to the fast changing technology market.

The products and services offered by such companies are becoming irrelevant at a faster pace and to keep up with latest advances theyre being forced to tap startups.

Then theres the aspect of a talent crisis within Indian IT companies for which is why theyre looking to nurture companies and get access to the latest technologies, according to Haresh Chawla, partner at India Value Fund.

The smartest technology talent now prefers to join startups and the only way to keep on the cutting edge of both technology and the explosive wealth creation taking place is to invest or incubate these businesses (startups), says Chawla.

The success rate of corporate accelerator programs is entirely dependent on how they are run and if they can strike the right balance between control and independence to allow great talent and ideas to flourish as compared to pure play VC firms.

Large Indian conglomerates stay away

While the interest of large Indian corporations in backing startups is definitely growing, some believe its better these companies stay out.

With no expertise and a mis-conception of being able to successfully spin off investments into new business unit, the participation of large corporates could hurt the startup sector.

Indian companies have this self confidence that they can do everything. Youll see that Tata goes out and makes a multi-billion dollar deal, but also ensures that it invests $100,000 in a startup. This is what I dont get and I think that India has to mature, says Harminder Sahni, managing director at Wazir Advisors.

Sahni adds that globally, large companies such as General Motors and Walmart do invest in startups, but only if they find a certain technology relevant to their own business.

In India however, investments are being fueled with the intent of breaking into new market segments, with the entire focus today being on getting access to the online sales channel.

Aditya Birla, a textiles-to-telecom conglomerate, launched its own online marketplace abof.com in order to compete with the likes of startups such as Myntra, rather than partnering with them.

The sense behind the move is that Aditya Birla too wants to ride the e-commerce wave, but in doing so the company is moving far away from its core.

While the interest of large Indian corporates in startups will grow, they should look at investing in technology that is relevant to them says Sahni.

Large companies should stop looking at startup investments as hedging their bets and treat them more as value enhancers.

TRIGGERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
IMAGE: A man escapes a water-logged village in Bihar. Photograph: PTI Photo.

Let Bihar be damned under its contradictions of having gone dry and then having been submerged under a flood. After all, it is a godforsaken land, having lost its promise of overcoming its problems, says Mohammad Sajjad.

Paradoxes and ironies seem to abound in Bihar. The Nitish Kumar-led administration, in its previous tenures (2005-13 in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party) was criticised heavily for raising revenue from the liquor trade. The revenue went up from Rs 350 crore in 2004-05 to over Rs 3,700 crore in 2014-15.

In the resource-starved state, liquor shops mushroomed across Bihar hinterlands. Further, this arrangement strengthened the liquor dealers position. The principal opposition then was the Rashtriya Janata Dal which was critical of the policy.

In the incumbent tenure of Nitish-led administration in Bihar (since 2015), the RJD is the dominant (and aggressive/hegemonic too) ally.

One of the important (and by now controversial, too) steps taken by this regime is to ban liquor. The Bihar government had the banned sale and consumption of country and spiced liquor in rural areas. but had allowed the sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor in towns and cities. Subsequently, even this selective exemption was done away with. The Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act has restricted the manufacture, transport, sale and consumption of liquor in Bihar and with effective implementation the state was declared dry.

However, what is turning out to be too irksome is the penal provisions in the act which are stringent, as there is a large fine as well as a large jail sentence for anyone caught violating the law. Even more criticism is due for the provisions to penalise even the members of the family and neighbourhood.

Notwithstanding the initial misgivings and outcry, it was claimed by the officials like Patna Divisional Commissioner Anand Kishore that prohibition as well as proactive policing have contributed to a decrease in crime rates in Bihar. The total crime rate in Bihar has reduced by 27 per cent in April. Crimes such as murder, rape, domestic violence, atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and riots have reduced, and that that the number of road accidents have also reduced since the ban.

Further, the National Family Health Survey report claimed that the ban and its strict enforcement brought a positive impact upon the lives of the women in Bihar; that as many as 46 per cent of women were facing violence after their partner consumed alcohol; that the drunken husbands used to beat up their wives after coming back from work in the evening. The money which was used for consuming alcohol now reached the hands of the wives who could use it to support their childs education or provide them food and clothing.

The rural women, particularly from poor and lower middle class backgrounds, are said to be still happy with this ban, and they didnt take it as a draconian one, so long as excessive intrusion by ban enforcement agencies was not there. Now, this is increasingly becoming problematic even for those segments that were quite happy with the ban. This is where the Nitish regime needs to realise that the draconian aspects of the liquor ban laws should be dropped, sooner than later.

IMAGE: Liquor stores mushroomed across Bihar before the alcohol ban was imposed. Photograph: Reuters.

This contradictory and divided response in our times asks us to revisit the history of the non-cooperation movement in Bihar, 1920-22. One of the most rigorous of the recent researches on Bihar is by Lata Singh (2009), Popular Translations of Nationalism: Bihar, 1920-22, which demonstrates that there was a strong protest in Bihar, despite the fact that the liquor boycott was not a part of the official programme of the Congress when the non-cooperation movement started, but once this programme gained momentum, the Congress encouraged it.the brunt of taxation of drink was borne by the lower classes.

Her evidence further elaborates that this specific issue of liquor boycott enjoyed the support of even those segments of the Indian population who were otherwise opposed to the non-cooperation movement. The liquor dealers were emerging as the great landowners. Most of the poor peasants and tribals lands were passing to them. Moreover, as the liquor dealers estates became larger, they became more rapacious. They maintained their own strongmen to coerce the poor and landless into labouring in their fields for minimal payment. Any protest by the peasants was suppressed with the help of the local police. The nationalists, while appealing for prohibition, put forward the argument that drinking was a vice and the government had no right to derive revenue from it.

Almost a century later, this narrative of colonial Bihar can be quite instructive for our times. The liquor dealers of 2005-15 minted money and observers say how this segment emerged as the major support base of the BJP in the 2014 elections. Part of the reason for the outrage against the liquor ban laws is this. The responsible sections of media need to take this significant aspect into account, as much as the Nitish regime would be well-advised to review the draconian aspects of the legislation.

Even while the media was articulating the state of affairs in Bihar as dry, this wretched state is now reeling under the recurrent catastrophe of river-flood, even while the rainfall is 15 per cent less than the usual. However, the larger section of the media is not shouting as much against this recurrence of flood and persistence of neglect by successive Union governments. Even the traditional ruling elites of Bihar, most of who were first with the Congress, and are now with the BJP, preferred to protest least on this aspect.

Thus, till date, Bihar continues to be Indias internal colony, as coined by the great socialist thinker Sachidanand Sinha, who is in his 90s and lives in his ancestral village in Muzaffarpur.

The magnitude of the flood impact can be gauged by the fact that the flood-prone area in Bihar went up to 68 lakh hectares in 1994 from 25 lakh hectares in 1954. In November 1937, the then minister Syed Mahmood (1889-1971), in the provincial ministry of the Congress in Bihar, had convened a conference in Patna to discuss the flood problems of Bihar. This probably was the first initiative of a popular provincial government in the state. The governor, Hallet, in his inaugural address discussed the flood problems of Bihar only to downplay the enormity of the problem and said that the problem was not that acute as has been made out to be.

Eventually, Syed Mahmood also authored a book, A Plan of Provincial Reconstruction [of Bihar, 1939]. With a foreword by Rajendra Prasad, this book ran into many editions. Now this valuable book is scarcely available beyond the Khuda Bakhsh Library of Patna, which is suggestive of our concern about Bihars economic facelift.

A noted flood expert on Bihar, Dinesh Kumar Mishras interventions and research publications remain as much neglected by the policy elites as they always have been. Another scholar, Praveen Singh, argues that the colonial dispensation in north Bihar believed that the rivers of the flood plains needed to be controlled. The zamindar became the pivot around which the implementation of these flood control efforts revolved. Along with the railways and roads, the uncontrolled manner in which many zamindary embankments were built led to deterioration in the flood situation.

"By the 1930s, there was a strong view among engineers that rivers should not be controlled and embankments should be removed wherever possible. However, in contrast to the new official technical doctrine on flood control, a slew of powerful social and economic interests argued for retaining the protected areas through embankments.

Shockingly, despite these adverse experiences, the post-Independence regime in Bihar went ahead with the same kind of embankment policy. Why? Understandably, to let the elites make money, through corruption, from these gigantic projects, so much so that till the 1980s, even the low-ranking employees such as the overseers (subsequently called with a rather more dignified designation of junior engineers) in the irrigation departments of the Bihar government were counted among the richest government employees, not to say of the contractors who became money-bags of the politicians, preferably of their own castes.

Many of these hegemons went on to become legislators themselves. These wise-men of yesteryear came out with the congenitally flawed scheme of making canals the basin of which were lower than the fields to be irrigated. Thus, these canals, in many cases, hardly served the purpose, except filling in the coffers of the politician-engineer-contractor nexus.

What about the academic researches addressing these issues? Well, the universities were busy taking over the colleges founded by the landlord politicians who recruited only their caste-men on teaching and non-teaching positions, before handing these colleges over to the government. This was an arrangement wherein there was the practice of almost cent per cent reservation of jobs for the specific caste. These very beneficiaries later scornfully, disdainfully and vehemently critiqued the Mandal Commission on the plea that it was implemented at the altar of meritocracy.

Notwithstanding the adverse impacts of embankment projects, why did the Union government not fund dams which may have provided with hydro-electricity, engendering industrialisation in Bihar along the Nepal border, besides irrigation facilities to the peasantry? One guess could be that unlike the Narmada dam projects in Gujarat, in Bihar the displacements brought about by the dams, could have been wreaked upon the upper caste elites too. And unlike the tribals, these elites are not expendable human beings, to be subjected to forced displacements.

Given the transformation in the character of the media in our times, therefore, we can hardly expect that there would be loud-voiced prime time discussions on television news channels with development experts on the panel. The common people pretending to be educated and informed ones have greater passions reserved for cow protection, ghar wapsi and love jihad.

In such cynical times, who has got the time to think about Bihar's flood devastation!

Let Bihar be damned under its contradictions of having gone dry and then having been submerged under a flood, which is a recurrent phenomena. After all it is a godforsaken land, having lost its promise of overcoming its problems, isnt it?

Mohammad Sajjad teaches Modern Indian History at the Aligarh Muslim University, and has published two books: Muslim Politics in Bihar: Changing Contours (Routledge, 2014) and Contesting Colonialism & Separatism: Muzaffarpur (Primus 2014).
The RSS does not mind playing politics with religion-based census data despite knowing well that it is completely flawed, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Hindus are dying, wrote Punjab Hindu Sabha leader U N Mukherjee in 1909.

Mukherjees argument was that Muslims were polygamous and hence produce more children and breed faster than the Hindu community.

Mukherjee was living in pre-Partition India where he felt Hindus would soon become a minority.

More than 100 years later, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat was blowing the same trumpet when he said in Agra, Which law says the population of Hindus should not rise? What is stopping them when the population of others is rising?

Note: Do I need to identify the "others" he is referring to? He was harping on his pet bogey, the Muslims.

But is what he said -- that "the population of others is rising" -- a fact?

Bhagwats statement was based, no doubt, on the census figures. In 1951 it put the Hindus at 84.1 per cent of India's population, which dropped to 79.80 per cent in the 2011 census.

In the same period, the Muslim population rose from 9.8 per cent to 14.23 per cent.

If the two communities keep up this rate of decline/growth, then in another 345 years for Muslim population will stand at 49.23 per cent while Hindus will be 44.23 pc.

But this scenario will be achieved only if the Hindu population drops by 4.30 per cent every 60 years and the Muslim population grows by 4.43 per cent every 60 years.

However, there is a catch here which many people seem to have missed out on.

In the last decade, both Hindu and Muslim populations stopped growing as fast: while the Muslim population grew by 0.8 per cent, the Hindu population declined by 2.15 pc during 2001-11.

Now if you go by this trend, then it will take the year 2461 for Muslims to grow to 50.23 per cent of India's population, that is another 445 years.

However, you can argue that if the Hindu population decreases by 2.15 per cent every decade, then it will only take 135 years for them to fall below the 50 per cent mark. In 2151 India will have 48.25 pc of Hindus.

In this period, if the Muslim population grows by the same percentage as in the last decade, 0.8 pc, then in the year 2151 the Muslim population will only be at 25.43 per cent of Indias population. Together, the two communities will only add up to 73.68 per cent of the population.

So who will then constitute the rest of the population, amounting to 26.32 pc? After all, according to the same census figures, the population of Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi communities were all falling by some percentage points.

So what is the truth behind the population bogey?

The answer is, India has a flawed way of compiling population statistics.

The truth about Hindu and Muslim populations in the future can only be analysed by statisticians who will have to calculate various aspects like birth/death rates of Hindus vis a vis birth/death rates of Muslims and extrapolate all the available data.

But then, who is interested in finding out the truth at a time when myth is fact and fact is myth?

Nobody wants to seek out honest answers, and people only go by perceptions rather than leaving such things to the experts.

The history of census data has always created a controversy. The British knew this when they first introduced India's population census in 1871.

By providing religion-wise statistics, the British put the fear of the Hindu majority in Muslim minds and thus was sown the seeds of Partition.

In the 1871 census, the Hindu population was 73 per cent and that of Muslims was 21 per cent. More here. (external link).

Muslims were only 21 per cent of the total population in 1871 in spite of Bhagwats supporters believing that 800 years of Muslim saw saw mass conversions to Islam.

The British cleverly utilised the census data for their divide-and-rule policy. Not only did they put out religion-wise breakup, subsequently they started releasing the breakup of Hindus according to caste.

They knew very well that caste divided Indians more than anything else. No wonder, after the last official caste data was released by the British government in 1931, independent India has not released this data.

But the data has been available with successive governments, including the present one, all of who realise its explosive potential.

However, the RSS does not mind playing politics with religion-based census data despite knowing well that it is completely flawed.

But, then, its aim is not statistical accuracy but to spread Muslim phobia in the Hindu voter's mind.

Image: Devotees take a dip in the Godavari river during the Kumbh Mela in Nashik on September 13 last year. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters.
If I keep quiet just because its convenient then I negate all that my parents stand for.

If I allow these voices to smother me Ill be doing disservice to other fearless voices in politics.

IMAGE: The case against Ramya will be heard on Saturday. Photograph: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for IRC

On Tuesday, Kannada actress-turned-politician Ramya was in the eye of a storm after a lawyer filed a complaint in a court seeking action on sedition and other charges against her for insulting Indian patriots by her remark that Pakistan is not hell.

Two days later, the young politician seems unfazed about the complaint and tells Subhash K Jha that she would return to the neighbouring country to foster peace.

You have been accused of sedition for saying Pakistan is not hell. Arent we displaying new levels of intolerance?

Yes, all hell has broken loose (laughs). A lawyer has filed a complaint and he cited Section 124 A which is the section that deals with sedition. It remains to be seen if the court accepts his complaint. But yes, you are right this is a new level of intolerance. This is a gross misuse of an old outdated law that is completely not required in a democratic country.

Do you think this case should be a cause to look at sedition laws?

I think we seriously need to look at the sedition law. Either we should seriously modify it or do away with it. Otherwise I wont be the last person to be harassed in this way, let me tell you that.

Do you think there is a political conspiracy behind this?

It seems so, because a copy of the complaint went to the media first. How did that happen? The lawyer wanted the media to know about how anti-national I am (laughs). The Bharatiya Janata Party has been up in arms against all those who are opposed to their ideology.

Right-wing extremists are the only section supporting the sedition allegation against me. By and large, people -- online and offline -- have supported me. Even individuals from the BJP have supported me.

But the good thing is, this is what democracy is aboutdiscussion, dissension Hopefully there will be an amendment in some of the archaic laws that allow individuals to slap outrageous charges. That is the positive takeaway from this controversy.

But it cant be so positive for you and your family?

I was coming to that. For the person at the receiving end, there is no positive takeaway. This is the price of freedom in a country like India. I think we should be just happy that we have the freedom to say anything about anybody and get away with it.

Our national leaders fought to get us freedom and this is how we are misusing it. This is not how you uphold the principles that our founding fathers laid their lives for.

Luckily most people have been very supportive.

And the media?

The local Karnataka television channels have been unnecessarily sensationalising the issue and putting out headlines like Ramya Supports Pakistan. We cant blame them. There are 20 competitive news channels in Karnataka. I am better off than Kanhaiya Kumar. They put out an entire morphed video against him to prove he was seditious.

Do you think celebrities are targeted for being celebrities?

I think so. Earlier, film actors were not supposed to be taken seriously. And they never spoke out, let alone take a stance on political issues. Now when actors like us do participate in politics some people cant handle it. Weve very politically active actors.

So many female actors like Jayalalithaa, Nagma, Khushboo, Radhika from the south have made a mark in politics. And I love Jaya Bachchan. She is so vocal and passionate in Parliament.

To digress a bit, what got you interested in politics?

I was always interested in working for the betterment of our country.

But most politicians are not interested in the betterment of our country?

(Laughs) Then maybe I am not a politician. We should look for another way to describe people like me and my mother (Congress member Ranjitha).

My father (entrepreneur R T Narayan) was not a part of politics but he had friends from every political party. I saw politicians and politics from close quarters. My dad would make me read newspaper articles on the welfare of the nation when I was a child. I grew up caring about out country. I do care. Is it okay to do that?

Today in 2016, we have Dalits being oppressed, people getting killed for eating beef. Even a girl drinking beer in a pub is reason for violence. Homosexuals are illegal in our country. There is a so much that needs to change. If I keep quiet just because its convenient then I negate all that my parents stand for.

How did you join the Congress?

I never asked for a party position. The Congress asked me to join them. I remain a happy and faithful soldier of the party.

Even when the Congress is at its lowest ebb? Are you not tempted to join other parties?

Not at all! The only party that brings the country together is the pluralistic and inclusive ideology of the Congress. After the low, will come the high. This is not the end. People in India are emotional but intelligent. They will bring the Congress back.

Our defence minister saying Pakistan is akin to hell.

Is this a responsible statement to make for a man appointed to protect and defend our country at a time when hostility with our neighbours is at an all-time high?

What took you to Pakistan?

The SAARC young parliamentarians conference was held in Islamabad. And thats when I found Pakistanis are just like us. We look like siblings.

Are we supposed to say all Pakistanis are monsters?

It seems like it. But I wont. And I wont apologise, come what may. Ive the freedom to talk peace with our neighbours. I dont think I should allow myself to be bullied into submission. The ranters probably think its easy to bully me since I am a woman. But I wont succumb. If I allow these voices to smother me Ill be doing disservice to other fearless voices in politics.

But sedition?

It takes courage to not be shouted down. Its just so much easier to say what people want to hear. Thats what politicians do during elections. And they continue to do it for five years. In a subverted way it is a compliment to be called seditious if you talk of cross-border peace. (Mahatma) Gandhiji, (Jawaharlal) Nehruji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak they were all slapped with sedition. So I am in august company.

Are you still single?

Yes, and I am so happy. And before you ask, I am not doing any films right now. Ive a release coming up in September which I completed two years ago.

Will you go back to Pakistan?

To foster peace and engaged in dialogues? Yes. Definitely.
Vinay Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in the December 2012 gang rape case of a paramedic, allegedly tried to commit suicide in Tihar Jail, prison officials said on Thursday.

Sharma tried to hang himself from an iron grill of his cell using a cloth around 9.30 pm on Wednesday night. He was caught in the act by a Tamil Nadu special police personnel on duty who stopped him.

He was later taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

Sharma had consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants before trying to commit suicide, according to jail sources.

Sharma was suffering from depression and was on medication, the sources said.

A 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and gang-raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. She later died in a Singapore Hospital.

Four convicts -- Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta were sentenced to death in the case.

Prime accused Ram Singh was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were subsequently abated.

The juvenile accused in the case was convicted and sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reformation home. He was released from the observation home in December last year.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar immediately ordered the navy chief to personally inquire into what this meant for maritime security, reports Ajai Shukla.

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 Indias newest submarines, the Scorpene.

A short while earlier, The Australian, a Melbourne-based daily, had broken the news that 22,400 pages of detailed documents relating to Indias Scorpene submarines had been leaked, apparently from the French shipbuilder DCNS, which is the vendor for Indias six Scorpenes.

The report says: The DCNS documents detail the most sensitive combat capabilities of Indias new $3-billion submarine fleet and would provide an intelligence bonanza if obtained by Indias strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China.

Each page of the documents, available on The Australians website, is annotated in red with the stamp: Restricted Scorpene India.

Parrikar says, upon learning about the leak, he ordered the navy chief to personally inquire into what this meant for the security of the Scorpene fleet.

Asked whether a formal inquiry was under way, Parrikar replied: Let him (the navy chief) first find out all the details. That is a sort of inquiry, directly asking a navy chief to find out and identify what is (the problem).

The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists, said a defence ministry release on Wednesday morning.

Asked whether DCNS was in breach of confidentiality clauses, Parrikar said: What I understand is that there is a hacking (from DCNS). We will find out all those things maybe in a couple of days we will be able to tell you.

It appears that the source of the leak is from overseas and not in India, says the defence ministry release.

Industry sources say the timing of the leak is significant, with DCNS having won a $50-billion tender in April to design a new submarine fleet for Australia, beating German and Japanese rivals. There is speculation that rivals might be scuttling DCNSs bid by painting it as unreliable.

Even so, the Indian Navy is seriously concerned about the leak. The Australian says the leaked data includes details of the Indian Scorpenes stealth capabilities, frequencies for intelligence gathering, noise levels of the submarines at various speeds, diving depths, range and endurance, magnetic, electro-magnetic and infra-red data, specifications of the torpedo system, propeller noise specifications and radiated noise levels when the submarine surfaces. This includes sensitive capabilities that an enemy would find useful in formulating combat tactics.

The first of Indias six Scorpene submarines, a diesel-electric vessel named INS Kalvari, is currently undergoing sea trials off Mumbai. Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, which is building six vessels with technology transferred from DCNS, expects the Kalvari to be commissioned into the navy by year-end. Over the next three years, the remaining five Scorpenes will be commissioned and enter active service.

Parrikar says he hopes key information might have been firewalled from the DCNS leaks by being confined to MDL.

Arun Kumar Singh, vice-admiral (retired) and a submarine veteran, explains that much of the information in the leaked pages would be commercial information relating to the Scorpenes operating characteristics, that DCNS would legitimately share with any navy that expressed interest in buying the Scorpene.

An operational disaster, however, would be the leakage of information relating to the sound that the Scorpene radiates into the water; or revealing the maximum depth to which the vessel can dive and fire weapons from, says Singh.

A submarines audio signature is like a fingerprint. It is unique, and allows sensors like those in maritime reconnaissance aircraft to identify individual submarines, from a bank of signatures that navies maintain.

INS Kalvari has not yet done its noise ranging trials, which would pinpoint its audio fingerprint. Until these trials are completed, there is little possibility of it falling into the wrong hands.

Scorpene submarines are operated by Malaysia and Chile, while Brazil will also operate them from 2018. The Indian Scorpene is slightly longer, which would make its audio and magnetic signatures slightly different.

Interestingly, the leak would also be carefully scrutinised by Pakistan, which has bought three submarines from DCNS, the Agosta 90B class. There are several commonalities between the Scorpene and the Agosta 90B, although the latter incorporates the more sophisticated air independent propulsion.

Image: An employee looks 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. Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
We all know that Textiles Minister Smriti Irani worked at McDonalds before she became famous playing the role of Tulsi Virani on the serial Kyunki Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi.

However, many dont know that she had applied to Jet Airways as a cabin crew member but was rejected.

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.

At her witty best, the television actress-turned-politician also said that thanks to that rejection, she got 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, 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.
Jawaharlal Nehru University student Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old fellow student in the university hostel, was on Thursday remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a Delhi court.

A magisterial court at Patiala House courts complex sent Ratan to jail after Delhi Police decided not to seek his custody.

The court also directed jail authorities to provide him proper medical facilities after he submitted that he was suffering from heart ailment.

Ratan, accused of raping a first-year Ph.D student on August 20, had surrendered before the police on Wednesday night, hours after the victim recorded her statement before a magistrate.

The victim in her complaint at Vasant Kunj (North) police station had said she had posted on her Facebook that she wanted to watch a movie and had asked if anyone had its CD.

Ratan apparently messaged her saying he had a copy. Later, he picked her up on August 20 on the pretext of giving her the CD and took her to Brahamputra hostel, where he stayed. There he allegedly offered her a spiked drink and raped her.

Ratan, an activist of Left wing students' organisation All India Students Association, was expelled from the association after being accused of rape.
The former UK Independence Party leader, who was behind UKs Brexit, shook hands with the Republican candidate before telling a cheering audience how he wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump alleged that the eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed American safety and undermined its freedom and independence.

Eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed our safety and undermined our freedom and independence, he said at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi on Wednesday.

Our jobs have moved overseas, Islamic terrorism has spread within our shores and an open border has crushed low-income workers and threatened our security.

The issues we face here in America are similar to the issues faced in Britain during their referendum on membership in the European Union. This is the movement known as Brexit, Trump, 70, said as he continued to lash out at the policies of outgoing US President Barack Obama and his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, 68.

Trump alleged that Clinton has been on the wrong side of history in every major decision she has ever made and got this one wrong too.

Now, Hillary wants to surrender America to globalism. She wants a country without borders. She wants trade deals written for the benefit of foreign corporations. She wants a government that ignores the will of the people.

She wants to sell out American security to the Clinton Foundation for a pile of cash. It is hard to tell where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins.

According to the AP, more than half the meetings she took as Secretary of State from outside government were with Foundation Donors. Hillary Clinton doesnt believe in America First. She believes in Donors First, Trump alleged.

Trump said that Clinton would rather give a job to a refugee from overseas than to an unemployed American Veteran.

The job of a public official is to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. Not illegal immigrants, not foreign nationals seeking entry, but the people living here lawfully today  including millions of African-American and Hispanic citizens, he said.

Trump said his focus will always be on the well-being of the more than 300 million American citizens who call this country home.

I will fight for their security, I will fight for their jobs, I will fight for their families. One American Nation. Hillary Clinton has betrayed her duty to the people. November 8th is our chance to re-declare American Independence, he said.

Trump introduced Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party on the state.

I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election... I will say this. If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. In fact, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me, Farage told Trump supporters.

In his speech, he drew comparisons between Brexit and the US presidential election.

He urged people to defeat pollsters, the media and the Washington establishment.

I think you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign. I come to you from the UK with a message of hope and a message of optimism. It's a message that says if the little people, if the real people, if the ordinary, decent people are prepared to stand up and fight for what they believe in, we can overcome the big banks, Farage added.

Its time for America to recapture its destiny. Our government, our leaders, and our media have lost touch with the people. You need no better evidence of that than the fact that the media ignores the plight of Americans who have lost their children to illegal immigrants, but spends day after day pushing for amnesty for those here in violation of the law, Trump said.

Trump alleged that the Obama-Clinton foreign policy has unleashed Islamic State, destabilised the Middle East and put the nation of Iran -- which chants Death to America -- in a dominant position of regional power and, in fact, aspiring to be a dominant world power.

This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness. But Hillary Clintons legacy doesnt have to be Americas legacy.

We are going to end the era of nation-building and create a new foreign policy  joined by our partners in the Middle East -- that is focused on destroying IS. We will extend the hand of friendship to any nation that will work with us in good faith on this vital mission, Trump said.

I have a message for the terrorists trying to kill our citizens: we will find you, we will destroy you, and we will win. This is not only a military fight, but we will also require cyberwarfare and financial warfare. It is also an ideological fight. We will confront directly the hateful ideology of Radical Islam -- and promote American values, and American culture, and Americas system of government, Trump added.

Image: Nigel Farage joining Donald Trump is one of the rarest occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed a public election rally in the US canvassing for one of the presidential candidates. Photograph: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Navtej Sarna may move across the pond as India's ambassador to the United States.

Arun Kumar Singh, India's ambassador to US, will retire from the Indian Foreign Service in September. Sarna's name has reportedly been finalised to succeed him.

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha may replace Sarna in the UK.

Sarna, an IFS diplomat of the 1980 batch, served as Secretary, West, at the ministry of external affairs before he was posted to London in January.

Sarna, 59, is also among the MEA's longest serving spokespersons, having held the post between 2002 and 2008.

He is likely to take up his new assignment in the midst of America's presidential election campaign.

Sarna has written several fiction and non-fiction books, the most recent being Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Lifereleased last year. He was also India's ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012.

For two years from August 2012, Sarna served as additional secretary in charge of international organisations at the MEA.

Sarna has served in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington, DC.

In his 35-year diplomatic career, Sinha has served in India's diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America.
Australia's The Australian newspaper on Thursday uploaded a fresh tranche of leaked documents relating to information about operating instructions of underwater warfare system of the six Scorpene submarines which are being built in India by French firm DCNS.

However, a top defence analyst allayed fears that it could compromise the security of the strategically important combat vessels.

Like in the previous case, the newspaper has blacked out all details which it felt would compromise India's security interests.

However, the new set of documents, with Indian Navy insignia on it and marked "Restricted Scorpene India", gives details about the sonar system of the submarines which is used to gather intelligence underwater.

It talks about a wide range of technical specifications of the sonars and at what degree and frequency it will function.

The documents detail the "Operating Instruction Manual", which talks about how to select a target for weapon firing, weapon configuration selection, among others.

Though the Navy has not yet officially reacted to the release of new documents, sources maintained that it does not compromise national security.

They said the same information about a submarine was on "many naval defence websites".

"On the face of it, these documents are basic operating manual. You buy any goods from the market, it will come with an operating manual," defence analyst Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies told PTI.

If the question is if tonight's revelation has made our submarines vulnerable, "then the answer is no", he said.

"It is more like basic operating instructions for the user," he said.

The paper said it has been told that the secret data was removed from DCNS by a former sub-contractor in 2011 and taken to a private company in Southeast Asia before being passed on to a branch of that company in a second Southeast Asian nation.

A disk containing the data filed was then posted in regular mail to a company in Australia.

DCNS is focusing its investigation on former employees and sub-contractors involved in the project. At this stage it is not thought that the leak came from India.

IMAGE: Employees stand in front of the Indian Navy's first Scorpene submarine before being undocked from Mazagon Docks Ltd, a naval vessel ship-building yard, in Mumbai. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters
The Mazagon Dock Limited, where the Scorpene submarines are being built, said on Friday that the data leak did not take place from its end and that it was assisting the Navy in the probe.

A day after the data leak on the capabilities of six highly-advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai -- in collaboration with a French company -- came to light, an MDL official said there were stringent norms at MDL on data security.

It needs to be verified if the leaked documents are authentic, the official said, reacting to reports of the massive data leak.

MDL head Rear Admiral Rahul Shrawat was not available for comments.

French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project.

The MDL is scheduled to deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy early next year and the remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020.

According to media reports, the documents running into 22,400 pages detail the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday ordered the Navy Chief 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 had said.

IMAGE: Indian Navy's Scorpene submarine INS Kalvari being escorted by tugboats as it arrives at Mazagon Docks Ltd in Mumbai. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters
The death toll from the powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck central Italy on Wednesday has climbed to at least 247.

Fabrizio Curcio, head of Italys civil protection agency, revised the death toll after Prime Minister Matteo Renzi earlier gave a toll of 120 dead and 368 injured.

IMAGE: A man is rescued alive from the ruins following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters

Rescuers were working through the night to pull survivors from the rubble and wont slow down, Curcio told public broadcaster Rai.

The quake also left a trail of destruction across several mountain villages packed with holidaymakers.

Renzi said the disaster had caused a pain without limits, and insisted 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.

IMAGE: A general view of Pescara del Tronto town destroyed by the earthquake. Photograph: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

The earthquake flattened the town of Amatrice, where the mayor said residents were buried under debris and the town isnt here anymore. The town traces back centuries, to the Roman era.

Tourist Eve Read described what she felt.

My husband and I woke up, being shaken from side to side in the bedand probably continued for 6 or 7 seconds after we had woken up, Read said.

Read and her family were not hurt, but their vacation home did suffer some damage, including a collapsed ceiling.

10-year-old pulled from rubble after spending 17 hours trapped upside

IMAGE: A man walks through rubble following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

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.

IMAGE: Rescuers walk through rubble following the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

One rescuer could be heard saying: You can hear something under here. Quiet, quiet. He then urged the child to wriggle free one rescue worker said: Come on, Giulia, come on, Giulia. ... Watch your head.

Cheers broke out when she was pulled out.

Chefs rally to help Italy quake victims

IMAGE: People cover themselves with blankets as they prepare to spend the night in the open following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

Chefs in Italy and around the world are using their talents, and Amatrice's signature dish, to help raise money for earthquake victims.

Before Wednesdays devastating, 6.2 magnitude earthquake, the Italian town was best known for spaghetti all Amatriciana, a tomato-based sauce that traditionally includes pork jowl, olive oil, white wine, chili and pecorino cheese.

More than 600 restaurants are putting the pasta dish on their menus and have pledged to donate 2 (Rs 151) from each sale to the Italian Red Cross.

Art experts fear serious damage to historic Italian buildings

IMAGE: A statue of the Virgin Lady stands outside a destroyed niche following an earthquake at Pescara del Tronto, central Italy. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters

Art experts fear numerous historic Italian buildings and their contents were damaged in Wednesdays earthquake, across a region where almost every hilltop town and village has beautiful churches and monuments.

The Dutch classicist David Rijser, an expert on the culture of Abruzzo, said there had been damage to the central regions many churches, funeral monuments and museums. It has been a true drama, there is a lot that has been lost, he told Dutch radio.

IMAGE: escuers clear debris while searching for victims in damaged buildings in Arquata del Tronto, Italy. Photograph: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Some of the greatest destruction was in Amatrice, which was voted one of Italys most beautiful towns last year and is celebrated for its Cento Chiese, 100 churches filled with frescoes, mosaics and sculptures.

Half the facade of the 15th-century church of Sant Agostino has collapsed, taking with it the beautiful rose window. The courtyard of one of the towns Renaissance palaces has been turned into a temporary morgue.

The town clock in the 16th-century bell tower remains frozen at just after 3.36 am, the moment the earthquake struck.
Heres a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.

A man, dressed as Vasudev carries a child dressed as Lord Krishna, as he enacts a scene from Krishnas life during Janmashtami festival in Agra. Photograph: PTI

A police man throws a tear gas shell towards protesters to disperse them during clashes in Srinagar. Photograph: PTI

Journalists hold placards during a protest outside the Gandhi Ashram against Journalist Kishore Daves murder in Ahmedabad. Photograph: PTI

Villagers burn five motor bikes of the thieves who were stealing fish at Mattavara near Chikmagalur in Karnataka. Photograph: PTI

School children walk on bamboo bridge over Sukri river that was costructed by the villagers near Jaram village in Latehar. Photograph: PTI

Pakistan occupied Kashmir refugees shout slogans during a protest for their various demands in Jammu. Photograph: PTI

UP BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya and other party workers face police water cannons during a protest in front of Vidhan Bhawan in Lucknow. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI
During a joint press conference with the Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the home minister also said that there is no future for India without Kashmir.

As the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir continued for the 48th day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said an alternative to pellet guns will be proposed within a few days in the wake of widespread criticism of the crowd-control device that has left thousands of people in the Valley blinded.

Declaring there is no future for India without Kashmir, Singh again invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayees policy of Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat (Kashmirs pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy) again to signal that the National Democratic Alliance government was ready for dialogue with anyone.

We want to shape future of India. If future of Kashmir is not shaped, future of India cannot be shaped too, Singh, with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by his side, told reporters on the second day of his visit to Kashmir -- his second in one month -- as part of the Centres outreach to people of Kashmir.

Singh said an expert committee set up by the home minister and mandated to look for an alternative to pellet guns is expected to give its report in two-three days.

Replying to a question on use of pellet guns against violent protesters, the home minister said as promised during his last visit to Kashmir Valley, he has constituted an expert committee which would submit its report within two months.

It is just one month and report of that committee will come within two-three days. Within few days, we will give an alternative to pellet guns.

In 2010, it was said pellet gun is a non lethal weapon which can cause least damage but now we feel that there should be some alternate to this, he said.

The home minister signalled that the NDA government was ready for dialogue.

I will only say that we are willing to talk to anyone within the ambit of Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat, he said, avoiding a direct reply when asked whether the government was willing to talk to Hurriyat.

The home minister said young children and youths, who should have taken pen or laptops, have picked up stones to pelt on security forces.

Who are these people, who has given them permission to take up stones. Can they guarantee to shape their (youths) future. We see future of Kashmiri children linked to the future of Indian children.

I appeal to Kashmiri people to identify those who are trying to create such a situation in the Valley. Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India cannot exist, he said.

The home minister said the security forces were told to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with people, who have been protesting in different parts of the KashmirValley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

Security personnel told to exercise restraint and they are exercising maximum restraint and also bearing the brunt of protesters and as a result 4,500 security personnel have been injured so far.

I would also like to appeal to everyone not to forget the role of security personnel during the floods in Kashmir (in 2014), he said.

The home minister said those misguided youths who are picking up stones should be counselled.

If some misguided youths are picking stones then such youths must be counselled. Children are children. We cannot think of separating the future of Kashmir with the future of India, he said.

Singh said the government has identified those elements who are trying to mislead some of our youths in Kashmir.

He appealed to those people, who are misleading the youths in Kashmir, not to play with the future of the children of the Valley.

Singh said an all-party delegation will soon visit Jammu and Kashmir to interact with cross sections of people and the chief minister has been told to make arrangements for the same.

Replying to a question on the central governments understanding of the prevailing situation in Kashmir, the home minister said, Do not question our understanding of the situation. We are trying to find a solution.

He said the central government will soon appoint a nodal officer to help Kashmiris in distress living in other parts of the country.

Singh said more than 20 delegations and about 300 people met him during the two-day visit and all of them conveyed to him that they all want peace in Kashmir. We are also sad over the situation in the Valley.

The chief minister said 95 per cent people of Jammu and Kashmir want a peaceful solution through dialogue and just five per cent are derailing the whole process.

Ninety-five per cent people of the state dont want violence, they want peace. We have to reach out to them, she said.

Mehbooba said no solution can be found from stone pelting and attacking security camps.

The chief minister said focus of the central government and political parties should be those 95 per cent Kashmiris who do not want to create trouble, who do not want to attack establishment for vested interests.

Let us differentiate between those people who want peaceful resolution through dialogue, reconciliation and those who train poor children to pelt stones on roads and camps.

I hope focus should be those people who want reconciliation and within the ambit of Insaniyat, like Vajpayee had said. People who create trouble will be dealt as per law. They will not be allowed to make life hell for majority here, she said.

Mehbooba said Kashmiri youths are being used by some elements as shields to attack army camps as they want our children to suffer.

The chief minister also said that the situation in 2016 cant compared with that of 2010 as then it was triggered following an alleged fake encounter and an alleged rape while this was the unrest began after killing of three militants.

The home minister said whenever a Kashmiri youth or a security personnel is killed, the entire country suffers that pain.

Can we not pull out Kashmir from such situation ? I would like to appeal every one - every brother and sister of Kashmir to not play with the future of Kashmiri youth, he said.

In 2010, it was said pellet gun is a non lethal weapon which can cause least damage but now we feel that there should be some alternate to this, Singh said.

Replying to questions, he said the Centre wanted to bring an All Party Delegation to Kashmir in the coming days.

I have told (Chief Minister) Mehbooba Mufti about it and asked her to make arrangements so that the delegation can meet the people here, Singh said.

The Union home minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was concerned about the situation in Kashmir and had expressed his pain recently.

He is constantly in touch with me over the situation in Kashmir, Singh said.

Singh said the youth of Kashmir should have books and pens in their hands, instead of stones. Who is forcing them to take stones in their hands? Will they guarantee their future?

Asserting that the government was concerned about the Kashmiri youth, he said, We see future of Kashmiri youth like we see the future of youth elsewhere in India.

Singh said it was the duty of citizens of the country to protect and respect the people of Kashmir who might be studying or working in other parts of the country. Kashmiris have to be treated as our family members, he said.

He said there was a need to identify the trouble mongers and also counselling the misguided youth against taking to violence.

He said the Centre wanted to see the killings in Kashmir come to an end and sought cooperation from people from all walks in this regard.

We want the killings to stop. Who would not want it to stop? he asked.

Asked if the Centre was treating Kashmir as a social problem instead of a political issue, Singh said, Do not question our understanding of the situation. We understand it in right perspective and are trying to find a solution.

In response to another question, the home minister said there was no need for creating unnecessary controversy about deployment of the Border Security Force in place of the Central Reserve Police Force in the city.

(These) forces have been deployed in the past as well. We should not look for any indications in it, he added.

Singh was responding to a question whether the BSF had been brought in to discipline the CRPF which was accused of harassing people.

The home minister reiterated that the Centre wanted to develop Kashmir and that Bharatiya Janata Partys Agenda of Alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party would be adhered to.

We are committed to the Agenda of Alliance. We want to develop Kashmir. The chief minister has announced recruitment of 10,000 SPOs.

We will be recruiting one battalion of central armed paramilitary force, he added.

Image: Family members stand beside an injured man as he lies in a hospital bed after clashes with the police. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters
A day after Rahul Gandhi told the Supreme Court that he never blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as an institution for killing Mahatma Gandhi but persons associated with it, RSS ideologue M G Vaidya on Thursday said that the Congress vice president must explain in what sense the assassins were associated with the organisation.

"If he now says the RSS was not involved, but the people who were involved in Gandhijis murder were RSS-affiliates, then he must come clean on his statement that in what sense they were associated with the RSS and what was their position and credential in the organisation, said the RSS patriarch.

"He is twisting it now. He must show his generosity by offering apology for his statement and should accept before the court that what he had said was wrong, the former RSS spokesperson and ideologue said.

Stating that somebody might have been associated with the RSS prior to Gandhijis murder, Vaidya sought to know from Rahul if the assassin was still a part of the organisation when Gandhiji was murdered?

Leave aside some official post; whether he (the assassin) was even an ordinary activist of the RSS, he (Rahul) must come out clean on these things, he stated.

The fact is that he has made a mistake, which he should accept with generosity and should apologise for that, Vaidya added.

When told that Rahul had refused to apologise, Vaidya said, If thats the case, why did he take so much time to clarify his statement? If he apologises, it will enhance his stature in peoples eyes. A person who is holding such an important post of Congress vice president should be generous, at least.

Following Rahuls submission, 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.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress vice president, cited the affidavit filed before the Bombay high court, saying he had only accused certain people of the RSS and not the organisation as the killer of Mahatma Gandhi.

In his complaint, RSS Bhiwandi secretary Rajesh Mahadev Kunte alleged that Rahul told in an election rally in Sonale on March 6 last year that the RSS people killed Gandhiji.

He alleged that the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of the RSS through his speech.

The case is pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtras Thane district.
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 on Tuesday.

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 Jonathan 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.

IMAGE: The writer and producer, who co-authored the successful BBC series 'Yes, Prime Minister' died "peacefully" on Sunday evening surrounded by his wife and family. Photograph: UKTV
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.
UN will support Colombia's 'drive to build a future in peace,' says Ban as historic talks conclude

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN will support Colombia's 'drive to build a future in peace,' says Ban as historic talks conclude, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57bea9e440e.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.

24 August 2016 - Congratulating the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia  People's Army (FARC-EP) on reaching a deal to end more than 50 years of conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged the ongoing support of the United Nations system to the two sides as they muster the equally determined and exemplary effort that will be required to implement the agreements.

A statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson recalled that four years ago, the Colombian Government of and the FARC-EP set out to resolve through dialogue one of the world's oldest armed conflicts. Today, the statement continued, they announced the end of the negotiations and will deliver to the Colombian people the results of their discussions.

Since 2012, the parties have been in talks hosted in Havana, Cuba. Throughout the discussions, negotiators have reached agreement on key issues such as political participation, land rights, illicit drugs and victims' rights and transitional justice. Among other developments, the Government and the FARC-EP announced in May an agreement to release and reintegrate child soldiers from the opposition force. The parties also announced the establishment of a gender sub-commission to bolster the voice of women in the peace process.

In June, the Secretary-General travelled to Havana, where he witnessed the bilateral signing of a ceasefire and the laying down of arms and noted that the peace process validates the perseverance of all those around the world who work to end violent conflict not through the destruction of the adversary, but through the patient search for compromise.

In the statement issued today, Mr. Ban warmly congratulated President Juan Manuel Santos, FARC-EP leader Timoleon Jimenez and their negotiating teams in Havana for their hard work and patience in reaching this stage in the process. The UN chief also congratulated the many Colombian organizations and citizens who have contributed to the talks with their proposals and encouragement.

The Secretary-General also commended the guarantors, Cuba and Norway, and accompanying countries Chile and Venezuela, for their unfailing support to the talks.

Now that the negotiations have concluded, an equally determined and exemplary effort will be required to implement the agreements, Mr. Ban underscored in the statement, calling upon the international community to lend its full support to Colombia at this new and critical stage of the peace process.

The United Nations will strive to continue and intensify the support it has given to peace efforts over the years through its agencies, funds, and programmes, and the UN Mission in Colombia, which is mandated to verify the ceasefire and the laying down of arms, said the statement.

We will stand with Colombia in its drive to build a future in peace, it concluded.
UN envoy encouraged by preparations for upcoming Palestinian local elections

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN envoy encouraged by preparations for upcoming Palestinian local elections, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beaae440e.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.

24 August 2016 - United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Piper today said he is encouraged by preparations for the early October poll across the occupied West Bank and Gaza - the first such concurrent elections in a decade - and appealed to all Palestinian parties to stick to the agreed code of conduct and to refrain from actions that could undermine the process.

According to a statement from the Office of the Special Coordinator (UNSCO), Mr. Piper me today with the Chairman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Hanna Nasir to discuss the latest preparations for the upcoming local council elections scheduled to take place on 8 October.

"I am encouraged by the efforts of the CEC and the dedication of its staff in preparing for this important election which is to be carried out across the State of Palestine. It will be the first concurrent poll in the occupied West Bank and Gaza since 2006," he said.

He went on to welcome last month's signing of the electoral code of conduct by the various Palestinian political parties, and he encouraged all concerned to adhere to it. Conducting the local elections in line with established international standards can contribute to advancing Palestinian reconciliation based on Palestine Liberation organization (PLO) principles, he added.

"This would be vital for establishing a democratic, unified Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution. However, the lack of party unity or any attempt to influence the outcome of the elections, including through intimidation, threats, violence or coercion during the election campaign, risks widening divisions and undermining the Palestinian national cause," he said, stressing: "I urge all parties to refrain from actions that could undermine the integrity of the process."
UN rights experts call on Bangladesh to annul death sentence against opposition member

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights experts call on Bangladesh to annul death sentence against opposition member, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beac1e40c.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.

24 August 2016 - Amid reports that the trial of Mir Quasem Ali, a senior opposition member, and its appeal processes were marred with irregularities and failed to meet international fair trial and due process standards, a group of United Nations human rights experts have urged the Government of Bangladesh to annul the death sentence imposed upon him, and to re-try him in compliance with international standards.

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, they said in a news release issued yesterday by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The experts' request comes as the Supreme Court prepares to review Mr. Ali's case on 24 August.

He was sentenced to death in 2014 by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Independence War. The decision was confirmed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 8 March 2016.

The death penalty is the most severe form of punishment, they stressed. 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.

In the news release, the experts recalled that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found in 2012 that Mr. Ali's deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and in breach of articles 9 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 Mr. 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 Mr. Ali's son and part of his legal defence team, Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, was abducted from his home on 9 August by Bangladeshi security forces, two weeks before his father's 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 Mr. Quasem, they said.

The news release further added that the UN human rights experts have on several occasions expressed alarm regarding serious violations of fair trial and due process guarantees in the judicial proceedings before the ICT that were reported to them.

The ICT is a special domestic court with the jurisdiction to try and punish any person accused of committing atrocities, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country. It has sentenced 17 individuals to death for crimes committed during the Independence war.

In the past three years, five of those convicted by the ICT have been executed.

The experts voicing their concern include:

Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.
Myanmar: Kofi Annan to head Commission on Rakhine state

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Myanmar: Kofi Annan to head Commission on Rakhine state, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beae314.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 establishment of a high-level commission headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is a welcome step towards addressing the human rights situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, Amnesty International said today.

"Today's announcement is a sign that Myanmar's authorities are taking the situation in Rakhine state seriously. 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," said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International's Director for South East Asia and the Pacific.

Rakhine state on the western coast of Myanmar is home to many minority groups that have faced decades of human rights violations and abuses, in particular, the persecuted Rohingya minority. The situation there has deteriorated markedly since 2012, when clashes between different groups sparked waves of violence, culminating in scores of deaths, destruction of property and mass displacement.

"The commission should investigate decades of discrimination against minorities in Rakhine state, ensure accountability, recommend reparations, and lead efforts at reconciliation," said Rafendi Djamin.

The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, described by state media as a national body, appears to be the most credible and independent attempt yet to address longstanding human rights violations in Rakhine state, with former UN Secretary Kofi Annan and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi steering the effort.

The commission is composed of three international members and six from Myanmar, including representatives from the Buddhist and Muslim communities.

"The inclusion of international members should highlight how the situation goes beyond Myanmar's borders. But the commission would have benefited from the presence of Myanmar's other ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Rohingya," said Rafendi Djamin.

The Rohingya, who predominantly live in Rakhine State, have faced decades of institutionalized discrimination and denial of their rights. The state's other minorities also face discrimination, including ethnic Rakhine, Kaman Muslims, and Christian and Hindu communities.

Little is currently known about the commission's mandate beyond the announcement's broad focus on conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, institution building and development in Rakhine state. It is due to submit a report on its findings to the government after one year.

"For the commission to be truly effective, it must ensure an independent, impartial and thorough investigation of human rights violations in Rakhine State. Only when the facts have been established can Myanmar move towards accountability and dismantling the systemic discrimination that Rohingyas face," said Rafendi Djamin.

"However, a commission isn't needed to take immediate steps to restore rights and dignity to the Rohingya and other Muslims in Rakhine State. 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."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Nauru: Australia's shame and a warning for Europe

Publisher Amnesty International Author Anna Neistat Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Nauru: Australia's shame and a warning for Europe, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beae974.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.

"I have lumps in my breasts, in my throat, and in my uterus"  Halimeh spoke softly, but as she quickly uttered these words, I noticed an immense sadness in her dark brown eyes. We were sitting on the rocks near the ocean, wary of wild dogs barking nearby, and melting in the scorching heat of this remote Pacific island. I could feel her fear, so common for any woman in her 30s who checks her breasts in the morning and knows something isn't right.

Halimeh fled Iran three years ago, after she said several of her friends got executed there, because they converted to Christianity, something that she wanted to do as well. She aimed for Australiaa country where she was hoping to find peace and freedom from religious persecution.



Instead, after a gruelling journey through Malaysia and Indonesia, a dangerous ocean crossing on a smuggler's boat, and six months in immigration detention on Australia's Christmas Island, she got sent to Naurua tiny, remote island state where Australia has been for years banishing asylum seekers trying to reach its shores.



Like many people around the world, I was repulsed by the sheer scale and inhumanity of the abuses and neglect documented in the Guardian's recent "Nauru Files" expose.



But for me the leaks struck a particular chord since I had only last month witnessed these patterns of horrendous abuse with my own eyes. It brought back the thoughts about Halimeh and the other 57 people I interviewed during the week I spent on the island. Women, men and children with personal stories to make even the most emotionless readers shudder; people who fled wars, who lost family members and friends, who were tortured by repressive regimes, and who are now stuck on Nauru, in anguish and despair about their future.



More than 1,200 women, men and children from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Afghanistan, spent months or years in appalling conditions in a detention camp funded by Australia. They lived in crowded, mouldy tents, where guards conducted regular, prison-like searches, and limited their showers to two minutes, before forcing them out.



With no prospect of leaving this impoverished island  which is smaller than many airports I have travelled through  these hundreds of people are effectively facing a future of indefinite, arbitrary detention. As a result, they are breaking down physically and emotionally. Although I've worked in most of the conflict zones around the world over the last 15 years, I have never seen such high rates of mental trauma, self-harm, and suicide attemptsamong children as well as adults.



Health problems are simply not being addressedI spoke with people who suffered several heart attacks, major complications from diabetes, kidney diseases, untreated broken bones, and infections. In most cases, they only got blood tests and Panadol.



Halimeh told me that in 2014 she was sent to Melbourne, and spent four months there, between an immigration detention camp and a hospital. "My doctor said I need surgery for my breasts," she said, her gaze fixated on the ocean in front of us. "He said I cannot go back [to Nauru], but the immigration decided to bring me back anyway." Her condition continued to deteriorate  in 2015 they sent her to Papua New Guinea for an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, confirmed some of her medical problems and sent her back to Nauru again.



Now the lumps are growing and she has a worrisome discharge from her breastsbut Australia is denying her treatment or even a proper check-up.



As unthinkable and inhumane as it sounds, this neglect appears to be part of the strategy. Australian politicians have been adamant that they will never allow the refugees sent to Nauru to settle in Australia. "I feel they keep us as hostages" Halimeh said. "They make us suffer as an example to others who might think of fleeing to Australia."

What's worse, as remote as Nauru is, it's actually much closer than one might thinkright-wing European politicians have been touting the "Australian model" of offshore asylum processing as a solution to the European refugee "crisis". Under the same pretext of "saving lives," European countries are already closing borders, striking deals with states, such as Turkey, that cannot offer refugees adequate protection, and outsourcing their responsibilities.



The latest detailed exposure of what this "Australian model" is like in reality, which has received extensive coverage in Europe, is significant. For hundreds of refugees in Australia's offshore prisons, it brings renewed hope that Australia will finally fulfil its international obligations and allow them to settle in a place where they can get the assistance they need and the protection they deserve.



For Halimeh, it means she might still get vital surgery and treatment before it's too late. And for any European state contemplating similar measures, it is a clear warning of just how wrong things go when fear and populist agendas are allowed to trample core humanitarian values and the international right to seek asylum.

TAKE ACTION!

Demand the Australian Government ends the secret abuse in Nauru

This piece originally appeared in The Guardian.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Mozambique: Opposition Group Raids Hospitals

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Mozambique: Opposition Group Raids Hospitals, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beaf3e4.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.

Armed men linked to Mozambique's main opposition party, the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), have raided at least two hospitals and two health clinics over the past month. The attacks on the medical facilities, which involved looting medicine and supplies and destroying medical equipment, threaten access to health care for tens of thousands of people in remote areas of the country.

"RENAMO's attacks on hospitals and health clinics are threatening the health of thousands people in Mozambique," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "RENAMO's leadership needs to call off these attacks on health facilities immediately."

In the most recent attack, on August 12, 2016, about a dozen gunmen who identified themselves as RENAMO entered the town of Morrumbala, in the central province of Zambezia, at about 4 a.m., several witnesses and local authorities told Human Rights Watch. The men first raided a police station, freeing about 23 men detained there, and then looted the local district hospital.

A nurse who was there said that the men opened fire at the building. "I was in the emergency room when they fired gunshots through the windows," he said. "We were hiding beneath chairs, bedsanything we could find."

The nurse and two Zambezia-based reporters who arrived at the hospital just after the attack said that the gunmen had looted medicine from the facility's main pharmacy.

On July 30, a group of armed men who identified themselves as RENAMO entered the village of Mopeia, in Zambezia province, at about 3 a.m., two local residents said.

The armed men first raided the house of a local official of the governing FRELIMO party, who is the chief nurse at the local Centro 8 de Marco health clinic. When they did not find him, they went to the clinic. A doctor who visited the clinic the following day said the gunmen burned patients' medical records and stole vaccines, syringes, and medicines. The clinic stores essential medicines, including antiretroviral medicines for HIV/AIDS patients, for a population of over 8,000 people, he said.

The armed men then went to Mopeia's main hospital, about eight kilometers from the clinic. A nurse at the hospital said that she saw about 15 men in dark green uniforms enter the main ward in the early morning, most of them armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles. They entered the ward where patients were sleeping, threatened patients and medical staff, ordering them to leave the hospital, and carried away medicines, serum bags, bed sheets, and mosquito nets. The nurse said none of the patients or medical staff were hurt.

Together, Mopeia district hospital and Mopeia village clinic serve over 100,000 people, local health authorities said.

On July 31, about a dozen armed men who identified themselves as RENAMO raided the village of Maiaca, Maua district, in the northern province of Niassa. The administrator of Maua, Joao Manguinje, told Human Rights Watch that the gunmen attacked the local health clinic and the police station. They took five kits of HIV tests, four boxes of syringes, and over 600 vials of penicillin, he said.

Manguinje also alleged that on July 24, RENAMO gunmen had raided the health clinic in the nearby village of Muapula, where they stole, among other things, five obstetric kits, over 200 tetanus vaccines, and over 300 vials of penicillin. Human Rights Watch was not able to verify this attack.

Mozambican authorities say that RENAMO gunmen have carried out similar attacks on health clinics over the past month in Sofala, Manica, and Tete provinces, in central Mozambique, but Human Rights Watch was not able to verify those reports.

The RENAMO party, which has offices in the capital, Maputo, has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the attacks. However, the party leader, Afonso Dhalkama, who is believed to be hiding in the Gorongosa bush, in the central province of Sofala, told the Mozambican private television station, STV, on August 5 that he had given orders to attack some areas of Zambezia province. He did not specify the targets or mention medical facilities.

Dhlakama said the attacks were a "military strategy" aimed at dispersing government soldiers who are surrounding RENAMO positions in Gorongosa bush, about 200 kilometers south of the villages that were attacked. Several districts of Tete, Zambezia, Manica, Sofala, and Niassa provinces have had recent armed clashes between government forces and Renamo fighters.

"RENAMO's raids on medical facilities seem part of a repugnant strategy to damage health facilities and loot medicines," Bekele said. "What they are succeeding in doing is to deny crucial health services to Mozambicans who need them."

Background Information

After the 1992 peace agreement that ended Mozambique's 16-year civil war, RENAMO leader Afonso Dhlakama was allowed to keep a 300-man private armed guard. Successive failures to integrate other RENAMO fighters into the national army and civilian life have encouraged former fighters to join the private guards and to camp in old RENAMO training grounds. RENAMO, a political party that currently holds 89 seats in parliament, is now believed to have an armed force of more than double what it was permitted.

Over the past four years, tension has increased between RENAMO and the governing party, FRELIMO, including an increase in armed attacks by RENAMO and counterattacks by the government. The parties signed a new peace agreement in 2014, but RENAMO says the government has failed to integrate RENAMO fighters into the national army and police in accordance with the agreement. The government says RENAMO has refused to hand over a list of its militia to be integrated into the security forces because it wants to use them as leverage for political negotiations. FRELIMO won elections in October 2014, but RENAMO says it wants to govern the six provinces in which it claims it received more votes.

In February 2016, Human Rights Watch documented abuses committed by government forces in Tete province, where RENAMO enjoys support among the population, including alleged summary executions and sexual violence. At least 6,000 people fled the area for neighboring Malawi. The Malawi office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says that most of these people have now returned home, following assurances of safety by the Mozambican government.

In May, Mozambican and international media reported the discovery of several unidentified bodies near Gorongoza, between the provinces of Manica and Sofala. Human Rights Watch called on the Mozambican authorities to investigate the gravesite thoroughly, to identify the victims, and to hold perpetrators to account. The government says it launched an investigation in June, but it has not yet announced any findings.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Iraqi Kurdistan: Kurdish Journalist Abducted, Killed

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraqi Kurdistan: Kurdish Journalist Abducted, Killed, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beafc34.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.

An Iraqi Kurdish journalist who had been threatened by security services was abducted and found dead on August 13, 2016. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) should ensure a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the killing of Wedad Hussein Ali, 28, who was allegedly affiliated with the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Witnesses described his apparent kidnapping by unknown assailants, who claimed to be Kurdish security forces, following repeated interrogations by the KRG's Asayish political police forces over the past 12 months about his writings critical of Kurdish authorities.

"The KRG should provide serious answers about how it came to be that this journalist was kidnapped and killed in broad daylight, following repeated interrogations by Asayish forces," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "He is one of dozens of journalists in KRG territory who have been killed, beaten, detained, or harassed."

In 2015, the METRO Center to Defend the Rights of Journalists, a Kurdistan journalism rights advocacy group, documented 145 cases of attacks on journalists that year including arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and unlawful killing. In 2011, following large public protests in the region, journalists faced attacks and threats, including from the security forces. In March 2011, Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 20 journalists, who said that security forces and their proxies routinely threatened, arbitrarily arrested, beat, and harassed journalists, and confiscated and destroyed their equipment.

Tariq Hussein Ali, 40, told Human Rights Watch that his brother Wedad was an accredited journalist for the pro-PKK RojNews, and also worked in the cultural office of the Dohuk governorate, part of Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

Two of Wedad Hussein Ali's friends told Human Rights Watch that he had spent time in PKK camps two years ago, though not as a fighter. Over the last months, Asayish officers had taken Wedad in for questioning three times about his role supporting the PKK and his work as a journalist.

One of his friends said he saw a text message with a death threat on Wedad's phone. Wedad told him the threat came from a man who he believed worked for Parastin, intelligence forces for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, one of the governing parties in the region.

Tariq Hussein Ali said that his brother told him in July that the Asayish had detained him and ordered him either to leave the paper or provide intelligence from inside the publication. "Otherwise we will stop you," his brother said they threatened. Tariq Hussein Ali said his brother said he had been beaten and that his ribs and shoulders were covered in dark bruises and he could not walk for 10 days after the interrogation.

Wedad ignored their threats and continued his work, his brother said, including publishing articles and Facebook posts alleging corruption within the KRG. He also wrote Facebook posts criticizing Kurdistan Democratic Party forces for abandoning the Yezidi community when the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, took over the area where they lived, killing and abducting thousands of Yezidis. Another friend said that the journalist had told him that he was in danger if he stayed in the Dohuk area.

On August 13, at 8:45 a.m., Wedad Hussein Ali dropped another brother, Sardar, 35, at the construction site where he worked near a marketplace in the Malta neighborhood of Dohuk. Sardar Hussein Ali said that 15 minutes later, he saw large crowds gathering and police cars arriving at the marketplace. He saw his brother's empty car in the middle of the road.

A police officer told him that unidentified men had detained his brother. Another man told him he saw two unmarked cars cut off his brother's car, and that three men inside had dragged his brother out, hooded him, forced him into one of the cars at gunpoint, and drove off in the direction of the highway. The witness said the men told Wedad they were security forces, arresting him because he had "an accident with children." The witness said he noted the make and license numbers of both cars.

Sardar Hussein Ali said that police officers took him and the witness to the police station, questioned them and another brother, Darban, who joined them, and promised to view footage from security cameras in the shop the witness had left before the abduction. The witness later posted the details of what he had seen on Facebook, a screenshot of which Human Rights Watch reviewed. The post began with, "After I post this, maybe someone will find my body in the city street." Four days later the witness took down the post. The Hussein Ali family said that since then his profile has been inactive and they have tried unsuccessfully to contact him.

At about 10:45 a.m., as the brothers were driving home, Darban Hussein Ali said, a policeman he knows called him to say that someone from his family was at the Azadi Hospital in Dohuk. The family went to the hospital and found Wedad's body in the morgue. He said they asked the investigative judge in the hospital how the body got there and were told that police from Semmel, a city west of Dohuk, found it dumped on the side of the road.

Photographs of Wedad's body, taken by his family at the morgue, that Human Rights Watch reviewed, show lacerations, abrasions, and contusions of the head, torso, and extremities. The pattern of bruising and lesions suggests they may have been caused by a blunt long cylindrical object, such as a bat or baton, a doctor who reviewed the photos said. The KRG should provide serious answers about how it came to be that this journalist was kidnapped and killed in broad daylight, following repeated interrogations by Asayish forces. He is one of dozens of journalists in KRG territory who have been killed, beaten, detained, or harassed.

A senior Semmel police officer told Human Rights Watch on August 18 that they were looking into the case but had no update on the progress of the investigation.

At least two other journalists have been murdered in the KRI. Kawa Garmiani, from the town of Kalar, was shot dead on December 5, 2013, after threatening to expose corruption. Garmiani's lawyer said that in 2014, a court sentenced Twana Khalifa, who was allegedly affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party, to death for Garmiani's murder, but an appellate court reduced the sentence to life in prison. Soran Mama Hama, a journalist in Kirkuk, was killed on July 21, 2008, after receiving threats about a report he planned to publish on alleged police complicity in the city's sex work. No one has been arrested for his death.

A number of journalists, including Sherwan Sherwan and Sabah al-Atrushi, are facing prosecution for their reporting. Isa Barzani, a retired fighter for the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces, whose Facebook posts were critical of President Masoud Barzani, was arrested on August 4, 2015, by the Parastin and held for six months, then released and barred from travelling outside the KRI.

The KRG should establish an independent investigation into Wedad Hussein Ali's death, particularly in light of the implication of Kurdish security forces. Police should immediately release the video showing his kidnapping, as well as the report of the police who allegedly found his body.

"The authorities' failure to prevent attacks on journalists not only denies them justice, but has a chilling effect on what they can report," Whitson said. "The authorities should show they are actively and aggressively hunting for the culprits of this crime, and not just promising yet another bottomless investigation."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Burma: Ensure Women's Role in Peace Talks

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Burma: Ensure Women's Role in Peace Talks, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beb0564.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.

Burma's government and ethnic armed groups should ensure that women meaningfully participate in efforts to end the country's longstanding armed conflicts, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The government should also make women's rights a priority as Burma continues its political transition. In late August 2016, the National League for Democracy-led government that was elected in November 2015, and various armed groups will meet at the "Panglong 21st Century Peace Conference" to begin talks.

The 18-page report, "'A Gentleman's Agreement': Women's Participation in Burma's Peace Negotiations and Political Transition," examines women's participation in peace efforts in Burma and the devastating impacts of the country's wars on women. Women have been almost entirely absent from nearly four years of peace negotiations to end the fighting in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi heads the National League for Democracy, and a few other women hold leadership positions in groups involved in these negotiations, but there have been only 10 women among 195 senior delegates in 8 major peace efforts since 2012.

"Women in Burma are entitled to a meaningful and comprehensive role in determining their country's future," said Sarah Taylor, women's rights advocate at Human Rights Watch. "Burma's women have long endured abuses but have worked hard to advance human rights. Their voices should now be front and center."

In May 2016, Human Rights Watch spoke with more than 25 Burmese women's rights activists, armed group representatives, ceasefire monitors, and foreign diplomats. Women's groups reported that government officials and leaders of non-state armed groups have long treated women with disdain or as "spoilers" when they pressed for the inclusion of women's rights in talks. One leading women's rights activist said "tea break advocacy" during breaks in meetings  has often been the only space for women to influence delegates in ongoing negotiations.

Women in Burma need a greater role in the peace process not only because they suffer many of the consequences of the conflicts, but also because their participation can help ensure that a full range of human rights concerns are addressed in any peace agreement, Human Rights Watch said. This is crucial for obtaining a long and durable peace.

Burmese civilians have been victims of abuses during armed conflict since Burma's independence in 1948. Fighting between government forces and ethnic armed groups has surged on and off in recent years, and ceasefire agreements have unraveled.

In addition to including women as full partners in peace talks, the new government should abolish or revise laws enacted by the previous administration that curtail the rights of women and criminal laws that provide inadequate protection to women, Human Rights Watch said. There is no specific law criminalizing violence against women at home or sexual harassment in the workplace, nor does current law allow women to seek protection from the state, including restraining orders on violent men.

International human rights law and the principles contained in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace, and security oblige governments to take steps to remove discrimination against women in public life, and to respect their right to take part in public affairs. Such action should set the standard for the essential role of women in Burma in preventing and ending armed conflicts. This includes peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction.

"Burma's government and military and ethnic armed groups should all commit to promoting respect for women's rights," Taylor said. "These parties can start at the upcoming Panglong Peace Conference by ensuring that women have a prominent place at the negotiating table."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Thailand: Insurgents Target Civilians in South

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Thailand: Insurgents Target Civilians in South, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beb0e24.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.

Separatist insurgents in Thailand's southern border provinces have committed an apparent series of bombings against civilians that may amount to crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said today.

Insurgents detonated two bombs on August 23, 2016, following multiple bomb and arson attacks on August 11 and 12. At about 10:40 p.m. on August 23, a bomb detonated at Southern View Hotel in downtown Pattani province. The explosion caused no casualties but drove panicked people to run to a nearby carpark. A second, larger bomb hidden in a hospital ambulance about 40 to 50 meters away exploded at about 11 p.m. One woman, Oraphan Sriuenhat, who worked at a food shop in front of the hotel, was killed. At least 30 people in the heavily populated area were injured. The hotel, shops, and homes were damaged by the blast.

"The renewed bombings by Thailand's separatists show incredible depravity towards civilians," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Such attacks are war crimes, but the apparent planning behind them suggests crimes against humanity."

The recent bombings used methods of attack long employed by armed separatist groups in predominantly ethnic Malay Muslim areas of southern Thailand, Human Rights Watch said. A police investigation also found evidence strongly suggesting that separatist groups were responsible for a string of explosions and arson attacks in seven tourist towns on August 11 and 12, that killed 4 civilians and wounded 35 others. Taken together, these attacks indicate a deliberate plan to attack and kill civilians that amount to crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said.

Crimes against humanity consist of specific criminal acts committed on a widespread or systematic basis as part of an "attack on a civilian population," meaning there is some degree of planning or policy to commit the crimes. Such acts include murder and "other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health." International law protects "any" civilian population from attack, and there is no requirement that the victims are linked to any particular side of an armed conflict.

Liability for crimes against humanity is not limited to those who carry out the acts, but also includes those who order, assist, or are otherwise complicit in the crimes. Under the principle of command responsibility, government or armed group leaders can be held criminally responsible for crimes committed by their subordinates when they knew or should have known that such crimes were being committed, but failed to take reasonable measures to stop them.

Since the escalation of their armed attacks in January 2004, insurgents from the loose network of the BRN-Coordinate (Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Coordinate) separatist group have committed numerous violations of the laws of war. Of the more than 6,000 people killed in the ongoing conflict, about 90 percent have been civilians from the populations of ethnic Thai Buddhists and ethnic Malay Muslims in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla.

Although the insurgents have suffered major setbacks from recent government security sweeps, they still maintain a presence in hundreds of ethnic Malay Muslim villages. To recruit new members and justify acts of violence, insurgents point to abusive, heavy-handed tactics by government security forces.

However, there is no legal justification or acceptable rationale to claims by insurgents that attacks on civilians are legitimate because the targets are part of the Thai Buddhist state or because their interpretation of Islamic law permits such attacks. The laws of war, applicable to the armed conflict in Thailand's southern border provinces, strictly prohibit attacks on civilians and civilian structures not being used for military purposes. Individuals who either order or deliberately carry out such attacks are responsible for war crimes, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch also remains deeply concerned by violations of international human rights law and the laws of war by Thai government security forces and militias. Killings, enforced disappearances, and torture cannot be justified as reprisals for insurgent attacks on the Thai Buddhist population and security personnel. This situation has been reinforced by an entrenched culture of impunity for human rights violations by officials in the southern border provinces. The government has yet to successfully prosecute any officials for human rights abuses against ethnic Malay Muslims alleged to be involved in the insurgency.

"The Thai government needs to respond to these brutal attacks by upholding the rule of law, ending abuses by its own security forces, and addressing long-held grievances in the ethnic Malay Muslim community," Adams said. "If the government continues to shield its troops from criminal responsibility, it will only add fuel to the flames of extremist violence."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Turkmenistan: Berlin Should Urge End to 'Disappearances'

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Turkmenistan: Berlin Should Urge End to 'Disappearances', 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beb1454.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.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel should press President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan to end enforced disappearances and address other serious human rights problems in the country. President Berdymukhamedov is scheduled to meet Chancellor Merkel and other leading officials in Berlin on August 29, 2016, to discuss economic ties and other issues.

Turkmenistan is one of the world's most closed and repressive countries. The government tolerates no dissent, tightly controls all media, and arbitrarily bans people from leaving the country. It also refuses to reveal to family and loved ones the fate and whereabouts of dozens of people who were tried and imprisoned in the early 2000s.

"This is one of those rare opportunities for a world leader to stand up for those in Turkmenistan who cannot engage their own government," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Chancellor Merkel should not miss this opportunity to speak directly and forcefully about the need to end repression in Turkmenistan."

Dozens of people, most of whom were arrested in the late 1990s and early 2000s, have simply disappeared into the Turkmen prison system. Families of the disappeared have had no official information about the fate, whereabouts, or health of their loved ones since their arrest and trial. These include former Foreign Minister Boris Shikhmuradov, his brother Konstantin, and a former Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ambassador, Batyr Berdiev. In 2014, the United Nations Human Rights Committee recognized Shikhmuradov as a victim of an enforced disappearance and stated that the Turkmen government must release him.

The international Prove They Are Alive! campaign, initiated by human rights groups including Human Rights Watch, has documented how, in a form of collective punishment, the authorities have arrested the relatives of several of the disappeared prisoners, had them fired from jobs, confiscated their property, or denied them permission to travel abroad.

Enforced disappearances constitute one of the gravest human rights violations, and are strictly prohibited in all circumstances. The victims include not only those forcibly disappeared, but also their families and loved ones, who are subjected to anguish not knowing the fate of the disappeared. In certain contexts, enforced disappearances can also amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. The fate of those forcibly disappeared in detention should be immediately clarified, and they should be released.

In addition to those forcibly disappeared, in 2015, Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, a freelance correspondent for the Turkmen language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was tried and imprisoned on bogus drug charges, and the government forced three other Radio Liberty correspondents to cease working for the service. In December, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions recognized Nepeskuliev as a victim of arbitrary detention, punished for having peacefully exercised his right to freedom of expression.

"Chancellor Merkel should urge Berdymukhamedov to free Nepeskuliev," Williamson said. "He's in jail merely for doing what correspondents everywhere do  trying to share information about what's happening in his country."

A new draft constitution under consideration in Turkmenistan does not limit the number of presidential terms in office and lifts presidential age limits, thus allowing President Berdymukhamedov to remain in power for life. The draft fails to ban censorship and uphold the right to distribute information, and contains no guarantee of freedom of movement to travel abroad. The German government should urge the Turkmen leadership not to adopt the constitution until it has been reviewed by an international expert body such as the Council of Europe's Venice Commission or Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The Turkmen government blacklists from foreign travel various groups of people, including students leaving for study abroad, activists, relatives of exiled dissidents, and others whom it suspects of disloyalty. The foreign travel ban is arbitrary, a form of collective punishment, and is used as a tool for political retaliation, Human Rights Watch said.

"During the communist era many people in East Germany were similarly banned from leaving the country, so this practice should resonate with Chancellor Merkel," Williamson said. "People inside and outside Turkmenistan are counting on her to tell Berdymukhamedov that this practice should end."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
The way home: Rebuilding peace in Central African Republic

Publisher IRIN Author Katerina Vittozzi Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as IRIN, The way home: Rebuilding peace in Central African Republic, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beb1b44.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 house where Bertrand Dodoffo was born and raised is now a pile of rubble and brick. But, if you look closely, you can still see a white plastic rosary and a metal crucifix hanging off a nail on what was the wall of Bertrand's bedroom.

Since he was a little boy, Bertrand, now 41, had wanted to be a priest. He was training at a Catholic seminary in the capital, Bangui, and living in his parents' compound to save money.

He had managed to keep going with his studies when conflict broke out in Central African Republic in 2009. In December 2013, when fresh violence erupted in Bangui, he had been close to finishing.

His daily lessons weren't far from home. The biggest local church, Notre Dame de Fatima, is next to his family's compound. A wall, about three metres high, is the only thing that separates the church grounds from Bertrand's place.

On 9 December 2013, scaling that wall was Bertrand's only means of escape as violence tore through his neighbourhood.

For nearly three years now, the Fatima church has been Bertrand's home. During the peak of the violence between the Seleka - a coalition of mostly Muslim insurgent groups from the north of the country - and local vigilante groups known as the anti-Balaka, religious sites across the country became improvised boltholes for people fleeing the indiscriminate killings, rapes, and looting.

Camp organiser Innocent Gbawito told IRIN that when people first started coming, around 6,000 men, women, and children were crammed into the church grounds. "You couldn't drive a car into the gate," he recalled. "The yard was crammed with people."

In the beginning, international relief agencies like the Danish Refugee Council provided materials to make emergency shelters, food items, and basic sanitation kits. But now, nearly three years on, regular supplies have stopped. "People here are hungry," Gbawito said.

According to the UN's emergency aid coordination body, OCHA, more than 800,000 Central Africans have still not returned home. Around half that number live outside CAR in neighbouring countries. The rest are in camps for internally displaced persons, or in the homes of family and friends.

Bertrand wants to leave the church but, with no home to go to, he's going to need help. "If the government, along with NGOs, can do something to rebuild their homes then people will be able to leave," he told IRIN. "But if that doesn't happen, well, you can see, that's why people stay in camps."

The government, along with partners like the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, is working to try and re-house the displaced. UNHCR said that as of 6 August, it had helped nearly 900 people from six camps across the capital to return home.

But that's just a drop in the ocean, with OCHA estimating there are more than 400,000 IDPs still waiting to return.

For now, government re-homing targets seem overly optimistic. "The good intentions are there," noted an official at the largest IDP camp in the capital. "But the means aren't there."

The EU's Bekou Fund has pledged more than 11 million euros for urban rehabilitation to help rebuild homes in destroyed communities. But the government is still looking for more money, as are international relief agencies for a range of humanitarian projects. UNICEF says its education projects have so far only been 20 percent funded.

The lack of money is slowing down efforts. Minister of Social Affairs and Reintegration Virginie Mbaikoua told IRIN the government aims to have the majority of IDPs in Bangui home by the end of September.

"But that date might change," she admitted. "We are asking donors to help us so that these people can go home."

It's a Wednesday morning in central Bangui, and 38-year old Wilfred Makosso is beginning his journey back home, to the PK12 district of the capital.

Makosso fled his neighbourhood in December 2013. He sought refuge in the compound of a church, Saint Charles Lwanga, with around 200 other people. With the support of UNHCR, the church camp has now been closed. At a small ceremony, each household gets a sack containing some essentials: sleeping mats, plastic sheets, jerry cans, a bucket, blankets, and kitchen pots and pans.

"Security is coming back, little by little, to our neighbourhood," said Makosso. "Life in the church camp was terrible. So we decided it was better to leave." He's planning to live with his parents for the timebeing. "At home, we can do better," he said. "People can go farm, go to the market and trade."

The government and relief agencies admit that people won't go home until they feel safe. In June 2016, deadly attacks by militia groups in the northwestern province of Ngaoundaye forced thousands more from their homes and into neighbouring Chad.

In a review of his first 100 days in office, CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera said the country remained "in danger", with rebel groups still in control of many regions outside the capital.

It's been more than a year since armed groups signed a peace and disarmament agreement at the Forum de Bangui. But the government-led official disarmament, demobilisation, and reconciliation process has still not started.

In the interim, the UN mission in the CAR, MINUSCA, has piloted what it's called pre-DDR. In return for handing in their weapons, ex-combatants are eligible for paid community service. The UN has committed around $6 million to the project and says more than 3,000 people have signed on.

But the UN stresses that pre-DDR is only a temporary measure. "Full DDR is the responsibility of the government," said MINUSCA spokesman Vladimir Monteiro.

In an interview with local media on 1 August 2016, Touadera said he wanted to start formal DDR discussions with armed groups by the end of August. But full funding for that DDR process is yet to be secured. The regional community, CEMAC, has pledged around 6 million euros but more money is needed. A further European donor meeting is scheduled for November in Brussels.

However, some communities are tired of waiting for the official DDR process to begin. In an area of the capital called Ngaragba, a cilivian-led "peace cell" is building bridges in the community and getting former fighters to give up their arms.

The peace cell is made up of community leaders from all faiths, backgrounds, and sexes. Supported by NGO Conciliation Resources, it aims to promote community cohesion through dialogue.

Godefroy Kassai is the group's secretary. "We've worked a lot with children in the neighbourhood, trying to sensitise them," Kassai told IRIN. "One day we heard a little boy say he wanted to kill any Muslims that came back. So we realised we had to start with the kids."

Around 300 Muslim residents fled this area during the peak of the conflict. The majority had been living peacefully in the area but still their homes were destroyed, their lives threatened. Some have now returned, including local Imam Idriss Koyakomzio.

Today, he is part of the peace cell leadership. Koyakomzio's mosque was destroyed during the fighting. It was rebuilt last year, thanks to donations from local churches coordinated by the peace cell.

But Ngaragba isn't totally free from weapons nor a potential return to violence. Herve Yombo led the anti-Balaka group in the neighbourhood.

Yombo is 41 and was working in a quarry outside the capital when he heard his hometown was being attacked. "I had to get a self-defence group together. And together we pushed the Seleka out of our neighbourhood," he told IRIN.

Yombo says he surrendered his gun to the local mayor's office as soon as he felt his neighbourhood was secure. He's also now part of the community peace cell.

"There are people who committed crimes who are scared to come back or hand in their weapons because of what they've done," Yombo told IRIN. "But some of them are holding on for the DDR."

Yombo said people are expecting around one million Central African francs each, the equivalent of nearly $2,000, if they give up their weapons. However, no official sum has been revealed.

It's late afternoon and Bertrand is back at the Fatima church camp, catching up with a few fellow residents.

He's been out in the town centre all day, looking for work.

"I'm trying to find something in a school," he explained. "I did some of my training in Kenya and I speak some English, so maybe I can teach that."

Bertrand had wanted to travel again but his passport was destroyed along with his home.

"All I had is gone, but what can I do?" he asked. "I just have to stay optimistic. And hope someone can help."
Safeguarding the Rights of Syrian Citizens

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Sonia al-Ali Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Safeguarding the Rights of Syrian Citizens, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57beb3494.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.

When Anas Arbo from the village of Jarjanaz in Idlib's countryside bought a plot of land, he went to the Free Syrian Lawyers Association (FSLA) in Maarat al-Numan to register his property.

"I registered the sale and purchase contract at the FSLA documentation centre to protect my rights of ownership, which is particularly important in the prevailing difficult circumstances," the 39 year-old told Damascus Bureau.

The Maarat al-Numan documentation centre is one of many offices established by the FSLA in opposition-held towns and cities to ensure that the rights of the public are upheld.

The centres were founded after the Syrian government set up numerous checkpoints around public institutes, including civil and land registries, which led to the arrest of many opposition members attempting to visit these offices.

"Many people stopped going to government offices out of fear of arbitrary arrest at checkpoints," Rami al-Numan, head of public relations at Idlib's documentation centre, told Damascus Bureau.

"This prompted a group of us who work as lawyers and legal experts to establish the civil documentation project," the 42 year-old added.

According to Numan, FSLA civil documentation centres maintain updated records to safeguard citizens' rights from the day they are born to the day they die.

These offices deal with contracts including sale, purchase and lease. They also deal with administrative matters related to civil and family affairs such as documenting births, deaths, marriages, divorces, separations and guardianship.

Numan said that maintaining updated records, data and statistics were essential to measuring population growth and density, and planning for social development.

Idlib governorate is served by four documentation centres located in Maarat al-Numan, Jabal al-Zawiya, Saraqib and Idlib city centre. Three to five lawyers work at each centre.

"Certificates issued for individuals by documentation centres are as good as ID cards in liberated areas," Misbah al-Hasun, governor of Maarat al-Numan, told Damascus Bureau.

"Booklets containing details of members of a family can also be issued by these centres, but passports can only be issued by immigration offices which are governed by the regime," the 50 year-old added.

The FSLA is funded by a number of organisations supporting governance, the rule of law and empowering civil administrations. All services provided by its documentation centres are free of charge.

"We digitise records so that we can easily access accurate information related to quotas, properties and shares. We are also in the process of organising land registries and ensuring that all records are maintained properly," said Mustafa Gharib, who works at the Maarat al-Numan documentation centre.

Ownership disputes are referred to sharia courts. Once a case is settled and a party is declared the rightful owner, their property is registered at a documentation centre.

The FSLA recently launched a public awareness campaign entitles Document Your Right to raise public awareness about its services.

"All our lawyers strive to achieve one goal, which is to serve the general public," al-Numan told Damascus Bureau.

"Our only hope is that when these difficult times the people of our country are living are over, their rights will have been protected allowing them a brighter future."

Sonia al-Ali is the pseudonym of a Damascus Bureau contributor from Maarat al-Numan. The 33 year-old holds a BA in Arabic Literature and works as a teacher. She is married with four children.

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
On the Verge of Peace: Colombia Reaches Final Agreement with the FARC

Publisher International Crisis Group (ICG) Publication Date 25 August 2016 Citation / Document Symbol CAT/C/MCO/QPR/6 Cite as International Crisis Group (ICG), On the Verge of Peace: Colombia Reaches Final Agreement with the FARC, 25 August 2016, CAT/C/MCO/QPR/6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57becacf4.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 comprehensive Colombia peace deal faces major challenges, including a 2 October plebiscite, disarmament and UN verification. But after four years of talks in Cuba, Colombians have passed a new landmark in the long search for an end to 52 years of armed conflict.

Crisis Group welcomes the 24 August announcement in Havana that Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have reached a final peace agreement. This is a landmark in the long search for an end to 52 years of armed conflict. After two failed attempts at negotiating peace with the largest guerrilla group over three decades, exhaustive and painstaking talks behind closed doors have led to a final agreement that aims to remedy the cause of the conflict, provide redress for its victims, and ensure that the FARC can eventually become part of the country's democratic system.

The deal is the fruit of four years of talks in Cuba, including agreements on comprehensive rural reform; strengthening guarantees for political opposition; major reforms to drug policy and coca crop substitution; a truth commission; a special judicial apparatus to hear cases of the most serious human rights violations committed in the conflict; FARC's reincorporation into civilian life; and seats for FARC in the Congress, among other issues. A special UN mission is already deploying to monitor and verify the weapons abandonment process, bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

The final points negotiated included FARC's participation in the political system and reintegration into civilian life. It will contest the 2018 congressional elections and be guaranteed a small number of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives. Until then, FARC can choose three civilians as non-voting representatives in the Senate and three in the House.

While the accord is cause for celebration, major challenges remain in the six to nine months ahead as Colombia transitions from war to peace. The most immediate is the 2 October plebiscite, when citizens will vote on the package, with the result binding on President Juan Manuel Santos. Low approval ratings and discontent with aspects of government performance dog him, while the opposition led by popular ex-President Alvaro Uribe, has targeted its campaign at the most controversial aspects of the peace deal: that convicted FARC members may avoid jail, although those most responsible for the most serious crimes still will face deprivation of liberty for several years, and guaranteed seats in Congress. The opposition also argues that it would renegotiate the deal to achieve better terms, which is generally considered to be unrealistic.

Approval of the deal is far from a given. Proponents will have to argue simply and effectively and separate the merits of peace from the perceptions of government performance. The government has already begun to educate the public about the content of the accords. The FARC also has a role. It must start to gather its forces and destroy some weapons before the vote. Expressing remorse for its worst abuses against civilians, such as kidnapping and extortion, would go a long way toward convincing voters that it will fulfil the agreements in good faith.

FARC began to move off a war footing last year with an informal ceasefire, but its full transition will begin with the weapons abandonment process, set to last six months from the official signing of the agreements in late September. A detailed timeline, UN mission verification and clear protocols indicate the process has a robust framework. In light of the extermination campaign that met the FARC's efforts to join the political system in the 1980s, however, concerns will focus on the security of fighters who leave the 23 cantonment and eight smaller sites where the guerrillas will concentrate. Efficient, flexible application of the security protocols will be essential. Security of the communities FARC formerly controlled will also be fundamental. These often have a hostile relationship with army, and the presence of illegal economic activities, above all coca cultivation and mining, will tempt other armed groups to seize vacated territory.

One such armed group could be the National Liberation Army (ELN), the second-largest guerrilla force, with an estimated 1,800 combatants and a strong presence in border areas with Venezuela. The government and ELN announced separate peace talks in March but have yet to convene the first round and are locked in a stalemate. Monitoring and verifying a cessation of hostilities in a context of ELN and other armed groups is sure to be a main challenge in the immediate post-conflict era.

FARC will also have to maintain internal cohesion during the transition to guarantee it can fulfil its side of the agreements, including stopping all forms of violence against the armed forces and civilians. Risk of dissident and divided units breaking away has been confirmed by events in the FARC's First Front, which operates in the south-east province of Guaviare and has stated that one of its factions will not take part in the peace process. There is strong evidence that other FARC units are divided. Attacks have already been attributed to them, and in some areas, fighters have joined the ELN.

The government also has the challenge of creating goodwill, both in areas long affected by violence and state abandonment, and also in zones expected to host cantonments. State legitimacy in many of these places is close to nil. The government must begin a sustained dialogue as it implements projects to stabilise territory and reintroduce its authority.

Finally, the UN mission tasked with monitoring and verifying arms abandonment, ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is essential for both the parties and society to trust that the deal will be fulfilled. Managing the expectations of local communities while remaining within its limited mandate will be challenging. Collecting and channelling reliable information from and through a plethora of national and international actors will be difficult. And as it resolves disputes over possible violations, it will be under pressure to take sides, especially against the FARC. To make informed decisions, it will need to consult with delegates from the guarantor nations, Norway and Cuba. The international community, especially but not only the U.S. and European Union, will on occasion need to publicly support its tough decisions during a turbulent period.

Crisis Group will analyse these and other challenges in the critical months ahead. But in light of the historic declaration in Havana, it is worth recalling that Colombia has faced and withstood bigger challenges in the past half century of armed conflict.

Bogota/Brussels
What you need to know about Powerball and the $825 million jackpot
Proprietary  according to Merriam-Webster: 'one that possesses, owns or holds exclusive right to something.'

See what I did there? 'According to Merriam-Webster.' I gave proper credit because that's where I found that specific definition for the word 'proprietary.'

Whether it's intellectual property rights or artistic property rights, the fact is that things that fall under the proprietary umbrella are not free to everyone.

I remember my first week at The Bakersfield Californian, my first full-time newspaper job after graduating from Cal State Fullerton.

Though I was a member of the features team, the night cops reporter got chickenpox and as the newbie, I got to cover night cops.

Keep in mind, I had never listened to a police scanner before taking the Bakersfield job. Let me tell you, listening to the scanner requires attention and the ability to recognize when the dispatcher is talking about something newsworthy.

On this night, I heard 'shooting' and 'multiple bodies,' but that was all I caught  no location. I went to the night editor and told him what I'd heard. He suggested I call the sheriff's office to get all the information.

This particular dispatcher had no love for the media and didn't want to tell me what was going on. I basically begged her, telling her I was new and wasn't used to listening to the scanner.

I didn't cry, but I was willing to do so if necessary. Honestly, I can't remember if she finally gave me the information or if I had to call the sheriff at home.

Either way, I got the info and headed out to distant farmland at the southeast edge of Kern County  a county about the size of the Big Country. This was before the days of GPS.

I finally found the spot and saw a bullet-riddled car with blood splashed all around the interior under glaring portable spot lights. I also found I had missed the news conference. Luckily, a couple of radio reporters took pity on me and gave me the details.

I rushed back to the newsroom and cranked it out by the 11 p.m. deadline. It ended up as the top story, above the fold. Not bad for my first week on the job.

As I drove to work the next day, I heard a radio report about the shooting. I smiled and thought, 'That's my story.' Until I realized it was actually my story from the newspaper, word for word. And no mention of the fact that I wrote the story or that they pulled it from The Bakersfield Californian.

Fuming, I headed immediately to the assistant managing editor and told her about it. Calls were made to the newspaper's attorney's and they took it from there.

Why was I so mad about hearing the words I'd written on the radio? Because they were my words that I sweated over and worked at and rewrote.

Because my words were stolen. They belonged to TBC.

Because taking a story and using it without credit or permission is stealing.

Many newspapers are vigilant about pursuing legal action when it comes to proprietary information.

Unfortunately, it's something that happens more often than it should here  especially with photographs.

Our photographers find photos that they've shot ending up painted by local artists and sold for profit. The photographers battle to keep artists from co-opting their work. The photographers spend hours every day covering assignments and finding the perfect subject to tell the visual story. And they're really good at it, producing thousands of photos every year, many more than are seen in print. So it's not surprising that local artists want to capture those moments with paint and canvas.

One local artist even uses a painting of a photo that ran in the Reporter-News on business cards.

While anyone can buy a photograph that's run in the newspaper, that doesn't mean the newspaper has given permission for that photo to be reproduced and sold for profit.

Asking for permission doesn't take a huge effort and not only is it smart, it's simply common courtesy.
THURSDAY

Square dance workshop

TYE  A-Team will conduct a square dancing workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Dance

COLORADO CITY  The Mitchell County Senior Citizen Dance will be 7-10 p.m. at the Colorado City Civic Center, 157 E. Second St. Admission is $5. Participants are asked to bring a covered dish.

'King o' the Moon'

A production of 'King o' the Moon' will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military.

Benefit jam

SWEETWATER  Mike and the Last Call Band will present a benefit jam, open to all area musicians, from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at VFW Post 2479 in Sweetwater. Admission is $5. Proceeds will go to the VFW post.

Other ...

Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300.

Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092.

Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Blood drive, 1-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, Cross Plains.

Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center.

Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St.

Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575.

Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

FRIDAY

Mental health symposium

Mental Health of America of Abilene will conduct its second mental health symposium from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 1674 Pine St. Continuing education units will be available. To register, go to AbileneMHA.org or call 325-673-2300.

Musical

COTTONWOOD  The Cottonwood Country Musical will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Community Center. A supper will be served from 5-7 p.m.

'After Zoey'

A production of the musical 'After Zoey' will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in Fulks Theatre at Abilene Christian University. Tickets are $15.

'King o' the Moon'

A production of 'King o' the Moon' will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military.

Dance

OPLIN  A dance featuring Muddy Creek will be 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the Oplin Community Center. Admission is $5. Information: www.grandoleoplin.com.

Other ...

Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Texas Oncology, 1957 Antilley Road.

Abilene Chinese Corner, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Abilene Christian University library. lld09a@acu.edu.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

SATURDAY

Car show

The second annual Cooper High School Band Car Show will be presented from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the high school. The Cooper Band will perform at 11 a.m. Registration is $20, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Proceeds will go to the band.

Musical

OLD GLORY  The Old Glory Musical will begin at 6 p.m. at the Old Glory Community Center. Concessions will open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 940-989-2966 or 940-989-2816.

Movie at the Mockingbird Library

A free showing of a classic animated film will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane.

'After Zoey'

A production of the musical 'After Zoey' will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in Fulks Theatre at Abilene Christian University. Tickets are $15.

'King o' the Moon'

A production of 'King o' the Moon' will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Abilene Community Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military.

Other ...

Overeaters Anonymous, 10 a.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 10 a.m. to noon, 2043 N. Second St.

SUNDAY

Volunteers sought

Zion Lutheran Church, River of Life Church and Global Samaritan Resources, in partnership with the Children's Hunger Fund, are seeking volunteers to assist with packing approximately 2,000 packages of food from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 2801 Antilley Road. For more information, email shuerta@childrenshungerfund.org. Monetary donations will also be accepted at www.Childrenshungerfund.org/OneHeartOneCity.

'After Zoey'

A production of the musical 'After Zoey' will be presented at 2 p.m. in Fulks Theatre at Abilene Christian University. Tickets are $15.

Fantasy pool tour

The Abilene Preservation League will conduct its Hidden Fantasy Pool Tour, featuring backyard landscapes around Abilene, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. For tickets, call 325-668-9436 or 325-665-3717.
Cooper crushes Lubbock High, clinches playoff berth

Cougars jump on Westerners for 30 first-quarter points en route to setting up showdown with Abilene Wylie for piece of District 2-5A Division I title
Broadwind Towers plans to expand its Abilene plant by 30 percent with financial help from the Development Corporation of Abilene.

The DCOA board unanimously voted Wednesday to provide incentives for the expansion in the amount of $715,000, which is 10 percent of the company's $7.2 million cost for the expansion.

The Abilene City Council must approve the expenditure, as well, before the agreement becomes final. The council will discuss the agreement Thursday in closed session before a possible vote.

As part of the agreement, Broadwind Towers must retain 85 percent of its current 170 employees, according to the resolution.

Additionally, if this agreement goes into effect, the existing one will be rescinded and the unused balance of $771,771 will go back to the DCOA, said Kent Sharp, chief executive officer of the DCOA.

'The plant employs approximately 170 people with an annual average payroll of more than $7.3 million and an average annual wage of $43,626,' Sharp said.

Over the next 10 years, the company is expected to generate an estimated $1.4 billion in economic output, contributing about $3 million in local taxes, he said.

The expanded operation is expected to produce roughly $1.6 million in taxes and fees for the city of Abilene throughout the next decade, according to the DCOA.

Broadwind Towers, a subsidiary of Broadwind Energy, manufactures wind towers and monopoles for on- and offshore wind energy. It has been operating in Abilene since 2008, located at the Five Points Business Park.

Broadwind Energy, founded in 2003, is based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. In addition to Abilene, it has plants in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Manitowoc.

The monopoles are the base that supports the power nacelle at the top where the turbine sits. Broadwind plans to double its pole production capacity by adding a second paint preparation and paint booth. That will push the final assembly to a new third structure that will be built adjacent to the existing plant.

Broadwind recently secured additional contracts for monopole production, which prompted the proposed expansion.
The Transportation Security Administration had a record-breaking week for the number of firearms found in carry-on bags nationwide, according to the organization's blog, with this year's number on track to supplant last year's already elevated total.

But the trend hasn't hit Abilene Regional Airport, according to statistics from the TSA, and Don Green, the city's director of transportation services, said it seems Texas' concealed handgun and open carry laws 'haven't had an impact on gun discovery incidents' here.

According to the TSA, the last firearm found at Abilene's airport was in 2015, with one before that in 2014. In 2012 and 2013, none were discovered, while there was only one in 2011.

That's paltry compared with larger airports, and not following present statistics nationwide

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Abilene's major hub, has seen totals rise each year, from 57 firearms uncovered in 2011 to 153 in 2015. Its total as of the end of July was 105 so far this year.

Through the end of July, TSA officers have discovered a total of 1,827 firearms in carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints this year. The weeks of Aug. 5-11 and 12-18 were both record-breaking, with 78 firearms discovered in the former, 81 in the latter.

A total of 2,653 firearms were discovered in carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country in 2015, according to the TSA, averaging more than seven firearms per day. Of those, 2,198  83 percent  were loaded.

The former figure represents a 20 percent increase in firearm discoveries from 2014's total of 2,212.

'When a gun is found in carry-on luggage or an undeclared/improperly packed gun in checked baggage, TSA notifies Abilene Police Department,' Green said. 'Airport staff is typically not involved in a response, other than we're made aware of the situation.'

The police take possession of the firearm and determine whether there will be criminal charges, said Carrie Harmon, a TSA regional public affairs manager.

The TSA has the authority to levy a civil penalty of up to $11,000 against a passenger who brings a firearm to the checkpoint, Harmon said. The average penalty for a loaded firearm is $3,000; the average for an unloaded gun is $1,500.

Firearms are allowed in checked bags if unloaded, declared to the airline, and properly packed in a locked, hard-sided container, Harmon said.

It's difficult to pinpoint why the number of firearms discovered is rising, said Ken Jenkins, a Dallas-based aviation crisis consultant.

Harmon said most people involved say they 'forgot' the gun was present, and Jenkins agreed that a majority of cases likely stem from absent-mindedness.

Other incidents may involve simple ignorance of the rules, he said.

'Many people don't take the time to research, and maybe they decide at the last minute, 'I'm going to carry on the bag instead of checking the bag,'' he said.

An increasing number of open carry or concealed licenses also likely carries weight, he said.

'And I have a feeling there's probably a small element out there that are trying to push it to see what they can get through,' Jenkins said, though the 'good thing is the TSA is catching them.'

That said, although the number of guns being found per week may seem small, each represents an opportunity, no matter how minuscule, for terrorist activity on a plane, he said.

'How many are they missing is my question,' Jenkins said.
South Korea and the United States on Monday began regular annual joint military exercises, including operations near the North Korea border.

The communist dictatorship has responded with characteristically bellicose threats. Broadcasts promise to turn the U.S., including Washington D.C., into a 'heap of ashes' by means of a 'preemptive nuclear strike' if North Korea sovereignty is threatened. The regime also has tested a submarine launched missile.

China has joined in denouncing the exercises. State news agency Xinhua declared 'muscle-flexing' threatens 'peace and stability in Northeast Asia.' This occurs in the context of an escalating arms race throughout Asia, while Beijing's relatively hardline government pursues territorial expansion.

In July, a panel of five judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled unanimously against China and in favor of the Philippines. The case was brought by the Philippines in 2013, regarding maritime authority of nations and Beijing's expanding claims in the South China Sea. China's government has bitterly condemned the decision.

In early May, North Korea held a noteworthy communist party congress. Tight total control of the choreographed show was self-evident. The last such party congress was held in 1980. Dictator Kim Jong-un wore a business suit for the political production, a departure from the usual uniform.

Kim publicly acknowledged economic challenges, a remarkable understatement which nonetheless was long overdue. North Korea by any reasonable measure is a failed state, the economy on life support from China, Russia and global black market income, held together by the military and the brutal clique at the top.

North Korea has been acting erratically for years. In 2013, the regime announced a 'state of war' with South Korea and threatened nuclear attack. Pyongyang abruptly abrogated the 1953 armistice agreement ending the Korean War, and cut the military 'hot line' communications link with the south.

During this same period, Pyongyang temporarily prevented South Korean workers from entering the Kaesong Industrial Region, located six miles north of the DMZ separating the two nations. In February, South Korea shut down the operation, to protest Pyongyang provocations. The region had been an important source of hard currency.

In March 2010, a North Korea torpedo sank the South Korean ship Cheonan. In the same vicinity in November of that year, North Korean artillery bombarded South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island.

In late February 2012, North Korea agreed yet again to cease their on-again, off-again nuclear program in joint announcements coordinated with the U.S. That accord was soon abandoned.

North Korea has conducted rudimentary nuclear weapons tests along with testing missiles. Two intermediate range missiles were fired in June. One failed, the other flew a limited trajectory. Pyongyang has carried out at least four other missile tests this year. There is no evidence of capacity to strike the U.S. directly, but the effort is threatening to Japan as well as South Korea.

The activity clearly violates United Nations resolutions. In early March, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2270, which significantly strengthens sanctions on North Korea. These include bans on importing coal and minerals, and restrictions on cargo ships and financial transactions.

In July, the U.S. and South Korea decided jointly to deploy the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system, resulting in strong protests from China. Beijing, which has supported UN sanctions, may move somewhat closer to traditional communist ally Pyongyang.

North Korea's moribund economy is the fundamental, unavoidable strategic challenge. The days of Korea communism are numbered.

Email Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen, Distinguished Professor at Carthage College, at acyr@carthage.edu
Let's talk about former GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Rick Perry, and their crisscross attitudes toward eventual nominee Donald Trump.

Perry was against Trump, but now he's for him. Cruz said he was a fan of Trump, but definitely isn't now.

Maybe that has something to do with Perry having a higher favorability than Cruz in a recent poll in Texas.

Some history:

Cruz won the Republican primary in 2012 to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison by upsetting then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in 2012, in a runoff. He easily won the general election and went to Washington.

His arrogant, aggressive obstruction tactics quickly made him the least-liked senator by Democrats  and Republicans. And it was obvious he was more interested in running for president than being a senator.

On March 23, 2015, he became the first to announce for the GOP nomination, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Perry announced June 4, in a broiling hangar in Addison, against a backdrop of a C-130 cargo planes similar to those he'd piloted in the Air Force.

On June 16, Trump announced his candidacy  referring to Mexican illegal immigrants as drug smugglers, criminals and rapists. He called the nation's leaders 'stupid' and 'losers,' and bragged about his wealth, smarts and business success.

Univision and NBC canceled the Miss USA pageant he owned over the Mexican comments. Macy's dropped his line of suits and ties.

But the outlandish Trump totally stole the spotlight from presumed favorite Jeb Bush's announcement the day before.

Cruz chose to buddy up to Trump, praising him during most of 2015  hoping to inherit Trump's avid supporters when Trump eventually dropped out.

Perry, however, became the first GOP contender to call out Trump, after Trump on July 18 questioned Arizona Sen. John McCain's hero status despite five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Four days later, before the Opportunity and Freedom PAC forum in Washington, D.C., Perry likened Trump to a dangerous political disease.

'He is without substance when one scratches below the surface. He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as Trumpism: A toxic mix of demagoguery and mean-spiritedness and nonsense that will lead the Republican Party to perdition if pursued,' Perry charged.

'Let no one be mistaken  Donald Trump's candidacy is a cancer on conservatism, and it must be clearly diagnosed, excised and discarded.'

The same day, on Fox's Hannity show, Cruz praised Trump.

'He's bold and brash, and he's willing to speak the truth. And he's taking on the Washington cartel,' Cruz said. 'I've been proud to defend him for focusing on illegal immigration.'

As it turned out, Perry was the first to quit the race  due to inability to raise campaign funds after his 'Oops!' run for the 2012 nomination. He suspended his candidacy Sept. 11

As late as Dec. 11, Cruz was still complimenting Trump, referring to him in a tweet as 'terrific.'

Come 2016, things began to go south in the Cruz-Trump bromance.

Perry endorsed Cruz on Jan. 24, and began actively stumping for him.

In March, Trump started calling Cruz 'Lyin' Ted,' accusing Cruz of fraud after campaign workers during the Jan. 30 Iowa caucuses reportedly spread a rumor that fellow candidate Ben Carson was quitting the race.

Then, Trump's troops circulated on social media an unflattering picture of Cruz's wife. Heidi.

That was followed by Trump talking up on Fox News a newspaper article that said Cruz's dad, Rafael, was with Lee Harvey Oswald days before Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

The accusation, based on a report in the sensationalist National Enquirer, owned by a Trump cohort, finally did it for Cruz. On May 3, the day he finished the Indiana primary well behind Trump, he told the press Trump was an incurable pathological liar and narcissist.

Three days later, with Cruz out of the race, Perry endorsed Trump

At the Republican National Convention in late July, Trump allowed Cruz to make a prime-time speech. At its close, when Cruz told delegates to 'vote your conscience' rather than endorsing Trump, he was resoundingly booed.

Questioned about his non-endorsement at a Texas delegation breakfast the next morning, Cruz said, 'I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father.' More boos.

A Public Policy Polling survey released Aug. 17 showed Cruz pretty safe for re-election in 2018  unless Perry were to run. The poll showed Perry with 46 percent to Cruz's 37 percent, with 18 percent undecided.

Perry's shown no interest in the senate  so far. But he still obviously wants another political job. We'll see what happens when the presidential dust clears after November.

Email Dave McNeely at davemcneely111@gmail.com.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

This just in...
Features

It's so much more than just a "truly f**ked up ride".
Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi have detained an activist who tried to run as an independent candidate in elections to his local Peoples Congress.

Yang Wei, also known as Yang Tingjian, was detained by police in Jiangxis Zixi county after he tried to fill out an application for candidacy in forthcoming elections to his local legislative body in Hecheng township, his father told RFA.

He said Yang Weis bid for candidacy was initially blocked by the township government, so he tried to submit it at the county level.

He went to the township to pick up a form to register his candidacy, but they refused to give him one, Yang Weis father said. They summoned him to the police station at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and then they took him to the detention center at around midnight.

We received notification at around 9 a.m. today that he is being held for 10 days administrative detention, he said.

Administrative sentences of up to 10 days can be handed down by police to perceived troublemakers without the need for a trial.

This was a verbal notification; they said they had given the formal notification to [my son], Yang said.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party has warned that there is "no such thing" as an independent candidate in elections, and that anyone hoping to stand for elections this year to the People's Congress will first have to clear "due legal procedures.

This means candidates must be approved by local party officials who usually ensure that anyone lacking their support doesn't win, often by tampering with physical ballot boxes, paying for extra votes, or simply by having those who try to run detained.

Token democratic parties

China will elect more than 2 million lawmakers at the county and township levels across the country to local-level People's Congresses in more than 2,000 counties and 30,000 townships over the next few months.

Opposition parties are banned in China, with the exception of a token group of "democratic parties" which never oppose or criticize the government. Anyone trying to set one up is likely to face a lengthy jail term.

Yang said his son had been under round-the-clock surveillance since he tried to register for the poll.

Officials from the township government had been monitoring and following him 24 hours a day for the past few days, he said. He had wanted to stand in the township Peoples Congress elections.

I think they were trying to provoke him, to pressure him into losing his cool, so that they could arrest him, Yang said. They really didnt want Yang Wei to run in the elections.

Disrupting the election process

Gansu-based rights activist Qu Mingxue said he had been formally arrested on suspicion of disrupting the process of an election after he tried to stand in June elections to the Yongjing county Peoples Congress, although the case against him was later dropped and he was released.

[Yang Wei] is an admirable young man who voiced the aspirations of young Chinese people for democracy and freedom, Qu said.

He went to collect an election registration form  and got into a dispute with them, and they put him under 10 days administrative detention, he said.

Qu said Chinese citizens have the right to stand as candidates in elections under the countrys constitution.

Last year, authorities in the central Chinese province of Hubei also briefly detained grassroots election expert and former independent People's Congress deputy Yao Lifa after he discussed independent candidacy with his followers on the popular chat room app QQ.

In 1998, Yao became the first independent delegate to be elected to a municipal seat in a local People's Congress, campaigning for poverty alleviation and the rights of local people. However, he was shunted aside five years later and has been harassed ever since.

Yao, who inspired a national movement to field independent candidates in this year's government controlled People's Congress elections, reported torture and starvation during earlier periods in detention.

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
A recent visit by a top ruling Chinese Communist Party official from Shanghai for talks on city-to-city ties has sparked political worries in democratically ruled Taiwan over what is a highly unequal relationship with its powerful neighbor.



Sha Hailin, who heads the Shanghai United Front Work department charged with bringing minority and outsider groups into the partys ideological fold, was met with angry public protests in Taiwan this week, amid fears that too cozy a relationship with Beijing could undermine the islands democratic way of life.



Get lost, Sha Hailin! read one placard outside the venues where the meetings were held.



No to United Front! Communist bandits, get lost! protesters chanted, using an insult dating back to the civil war era of 1946-1949.



Politicians and protesters also took issue with Sha's reception by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je.



Ko Wen-je is a traitor to Taiwan! some protesters shouted, while politicians argued that Ko shouldnt have thrown a welcome banquet for Sha, who they said wasnt highly ranked enough to be treated on equal terms.



"Such forums should be attended by the mayors of both cities, pro-independence lawmaker Chou Ni-an of the Taiwan Solidarity Union party told journalists.



Therefore if [Ko] meets with a United Front Work department official, it would be on an unequal footing, he said. "This is wrong. We don't need to endorse China's United Front Work.



Mutual praise



Ko was meanwhile praised by Sha at the end of his trip, which came as Beijing failed to pressure President Tsai Ing-wen into endorsing the One China policy, which accepts that Taiwan is a province of a divided China.



Ko told journalists: We understand and respect the support for certain policies on the Chinese mainland, but at the same time, we hope that the mainland will support and understand democracy and freedom in Taiwan.



Right now, Taiwan enjoys democracy, freedom, openness, and diversity. That is our overall situation, he said.



But Lai Chung-chiang, who heads a civic group set up to limit cross-straits pacts with China, said Kos attempts to cozy up to Beijing were unwelcome.



We completely reject this idea that Ko Wen-je has expressed, that everything will just keep running normally [if we allow closer ties with Beijing], Lai said.



The United Front project will fail here, Lai told RFA. Taiwan is a democratic country, and we do not welcome United Front department chiefs here right now.



Sha denied any covert agenda to his trip, saying that cross-straits ties wouldnt be easy.



China's Taiwan Affairs Office announced it had suspended official contacts with Taipei earlier this year, after Tsai declined to endorse the One China policy consensus hashed out in 1992 talks with the then Kuomintang (KMT) government of Taiwan.



Pressure at home



Meanwhile, Tsai is coming under growing domestic political pressure after 100 days at the helm.



Her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which swept to power earlier this year amid fears of growing Chinese influence over Taiwan under her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou, still has a staunchly pro-independence wing, in spite of repeated warnings from Beijing that it will use military force to reunify Taiwan, should it move towards formal statehood.



As if to underline the sense of threat from the Chinese Communist Party, which has never ruled the island, Taiwan on Thursday launched its annual series of live-fire military drills, the first since Tsai came to power.



The war games are intended to simulate incoming attacks from China, the biggest threat to Taiwan's security, and Tsai on Thursday ordered the military to keep updating its defense strategy.



"Some of the challenges faced by our army come from external structural limitations, others are because our performance isn't good enough," she told troops at the Pingtung county army base after watching fighter jets and tanks fire live rounds.



She also pledged to update the militarys equipment, following a series of gaffes including the misfiring of an anti-aircraft carrier missile towards China last month.



The United States last year announced a U.S.$1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the first in four years, to counter the 1,500 missiles China has aimed at the island.



Support for self-rule



Beijing has said it is willing to deal with any party in Taiwan, as long as they recognize both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and don't allow the island to move towards independence.



Repeated polls have shown that many of Taiwan's 23 million residents identify as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, and that there is broad political support for de facto self-rule, if not formal independence.



Taiwan has been governed separately from mainland China throughout an occupation by Japan (1895-1945) and since 1949.



Tsai, 59, is an academic-turned-politician who taught international trade law for 16 years, and who has served both as trade negotiator and mainland affairs adviser to successive Taiwan governments.



She mentioned the One China policy in her inauguration speech, but has stopped short of endorsing it.



Taiwans former governing party, the Kuomintang (KMT), had seen itself as the legitimate ruler of a post-1911 Republic of China that was temporarily relocated to Taiwan after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists in 1949.



In theory at least, it also laid claim to the whole of mainland China and the independent country of Mongolia, based on the borders of the old Republic.



But Tsai won a landslide victory on a DPP platform that affirms the island's separate identity from mainland China.



Reported by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFAs Mandarin Service, and by Ho Shan and Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




Myanmar President Htin Kyaw (second, R) visits the ancient city of Bagan to survey earthquake damage to centuries-old Buddhist pagodas, Aug. 25, 2016.

Myanmars President Htin Kyaw visited the ancient city of Bagan on Thursday to survey earthquake damage to the centuries-old Buddhist pagodas that are one of the Southeast Asian countrys main tourist draws, urging local officials to carry out repair work systematically.

About 200 of the towns pagodas in its famous archaeological zone suffered damage when a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Wednesday near the town of Chauk, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Bagan in central Myanmars Magway region.

Though police and soldiers cordoned off the affected areas of the zone, Htin Kyaw said officials should quickly reopen places with undamaged pagodas for religious pilgrims and tourists to continue visiting.

When we have to repair and preserve damaged pagodas, it should be done in a systematic way by taking time, Htin Kyaw said during a meeting with officials at the Bagan Archaeological Museum, adding that the restoration work should be done in a manner that preserves the structures ancient heritage.

Htin Kyaw met with minister for religious and cultural affairs Thura Aung Ko and Mandalay region chief minister Zaw Myint Maung in Bagan.

Zaw Myint Maung told him that the damaged pagodas would be repaired by local restorers and administrators working in collaboration with experts from the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO.

The last major earthquake to hit Bagan was a 6.5-magnitude temblor that occurred on July 8, 1975, killing two people and injuring 15 others. It severely damaged more than half of the areas pagodas and temples and toppled the notable Buphaya Pagoda, which broke apart and fell into the Irrawaddy River.

Restoration work was carried out on many of the damaged pagodas in the 1990s when a military junta ruled Myanmar, but was criticized by art historians and preservationists worldwide for its use of modern materials and scant adherence to original architectural styles.

Today roughly 2,200 temples and pagodas remain, many of which were built between the 10th and 13th centuries.

Time to change the system

Sun Oo, an architect and member of the Bagan Management Plan Organizing Committee who has been conducting a survey of the towns architectural heritage, told the Myanmar Times in June that more than 600 of Bagans pagodas have been ruined by faulty renovation work, resulting in artificial replicas.

Its time to change the system of putting conservation work out to tender, he was quoted as saying.

The Bagan branch of the Ministry of Culture's Archaeology and National Museum Department oversees the maintenance of the religious structures for which tenders are awarded for restoration work.

The masons hired by the tender-winning companies do not have the required skills, Sun Oo was quoted as saying. There are not enough masons qualified to do preservation work on valuable ancient architecture.

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 1996, Myanmar officials put in an initial application for the Bagan archeological site and pagodas to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the bids are said to have been rejected because of poor management strategies and improper restoration work.

Reported by Myo Zaw Ko and Kyaw Htun Naing for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Local authorities in a county in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region have forced Muslim Uyghur farmers, government workers, teachers, and the unemployed to participate in a mass event where they had to dress in traditional Chinese garb and perform tai chi, RFAs Uyghur Service has learned.

Uyghurs from the 25 towns in Yarkand (in Chinese, Shache) county of Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture performed in a so-called 10 Thousand People national anthem and tai chi event on Aug. 18 at 12 Mukam Square in Yarkand, local sources said.

Tai chi is a centuries-old form of Chinese martial art that promotes serenity and inner peace through a series of slow, flowing body motions.

Many of the men and women, who had to dress in white and pink Chinese tunics and trousers for the event, came from the towns of Awatbazar, Beshkent, and Misha Yarkand, they said.

The purpose of the forced performance was to foster the Chinese nations valuable traditions and spread patriotic education among the residents of Yarkand county, according to Tianshannet, a regional government news website.

The Sing the National Anthem and Perform Tai Chi event is held to raise the Yarkand peoples patriotic sentiments, said Wang Yongji, Yarkands communist party chief, according to the report.

We published everything [about the event] on the website clearly, said an official from Yarkand countys propaganda office, who declined to give his name. I cannot tell you anything more about this.

Others interviewed by RFA were also reluctant to discuss the event.

People who do not have jobs and government workers participated at once in this event, said a young Uyghur woman from Yarkand country who declined to give her name. Private business owners were not called in.

The event lasted about four or five days and had about 20,000 participants, she said.

I can tell you this much, she said. It might not be good to talk much about it. Please ask other people.

Push to assimilate

Ilshat Hasan, president of the Washington-based Uyghur American Association, criticized the event as another attempt by China to weaken Uyghur ethnic and cultural identity and force Han Chinese identity on the predominantly Muslim ethnic minority.

This Sing the National Anthem and Perform Tai Chi event is another indication of Chinas push to assimilate Uyghurs into Chinese culture and terminate their ethnic identity, he told RFA. Tai chi is typical of Chinese culture. It has no connection to Uyghur culture whatsoever.

In this event Uyghurs were dressed as traditional Chinese, indicating that China is getting more extreme in their push to assimilate Uyghurs, he said.

In April 2015, Chinese authorities forced Uyghur imams in Kashgar to dance in the towns main square and female teachers had to pledge not to teach Islam to children, according to a report in Pakistans Express Tribune.

The imams were also forced to tell children that prayer was harmful for the soul and to chant slogans in support of the state over religion and declare that our income comes from the Chinese Communist Party, not from Allah, the report said.

Xinjiang has been an autonomous region of China since 1955, though Beijing continues to crack down on its Uyghur inhabitants to prevent what it calls the three evils of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism there.

Rights groups accuse Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people.

But experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur separatists, and that domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012.

Reported by Irade for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A court in Yerevan has granted bail to a leading member of the opposition Heritage party, who was charged in connection with a recent rally.

The court on August 25 ordered Hovsep Khurshudian to pay 1 million drams (about $2,100) before being freed pending his trial.

Khurshudian was arrested on July 29 along with two other leading members of the party and an opposition activist on charges of organizing mass disturbances during public protests on that day and remanded in pretrial detention earlier this month.

Last week, Armen Martirosian, the deputy chairman of the Heritage party, and a member of an opposition faction in Yerevans Municipal Assembly, David Sanasarian, were also released on bail.

A day earlier, the Heritage party announced it was pulling out of local elections scheduled for later this year because of the arrests of its leading members.


Russia says it will work with the United States on a response after a UN investigation concluded that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical weapons attacks.

"We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening, preventing such things from happening even in the fog of war," Russias UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on August 25.

An investigative panel set up by the UN Security Council said in a report that forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, a Russian ally, used chlorine gas in at least two attacks and that Islamic State militants carried out an attack using mustard gas.

The White House and its NATO allies vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Describing the report as "very thorough," Churkin said he and his U.S. counterpart, Samantha Power, had agreed to work together to follow up on the findings, which he said were "not as simple as that."

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS
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."


A U.S. jury has convicted a Russian man on charges related to a massive computer hack into American businesses to steal credit-card information.



The jury in Seattle federal court found Roman Seleznev guilty on 38 charges on August 25, including hacking and wire fraud. He faces up to 34 years in prison.



Federal prosecutors accused Seleznev of making millions by hacking into businesses and restaurants and selling credit card and other data on underground Internet forums.



Defense lawyers argued that prosecutors failed to make a solid link between the hacks and Seleznev, and they challenged the evidence taken from his laptop computer.



Seleznevs arrest in 2014 in the Maldives by U.S. agents prompted an outcry in Russia, with the Foreign Ministry criticizing the detention as illegal and issuing a warning to all Russians to beware of potential U.S. detention.



He is the son of Valery Seleznev, an outspoken member of Russia's lower house of parliament and outspoken critic of U.S. policies.

With reporting by AP
Uzbekistan has claimed a disputed part of the border with Kyrgyzstan as "Uzbek territory," adding that four Kyrgyz citizens detained there "were illegally present in Uzbekistan."

Uzbek media reports quoted an Interior Ministry statement on August 25 as saying that the detained Kyrgyz men had been taken into custody and would be dealt with in accordance with Uzbek law.

Uzbekistan has claimed the Unkur-Too mountain, which is located in disputed territory along the border between the two Central Asian nations.

Kyrgyz authorities said on August 24 that negotiations are under way with officials in Uzbekistan to secure the release of four Kyrgyz nationals being held at the Yangi-Kurgan district police station in Uzbekistan.

The tensions prompted Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev on August 24 to ask his government to review international border agreements signed by previous administrations.

Kyrgyz officials said the four men were detained on August 22 by the Uzbek police officers deployed by helicopters to Ungar-Too, the site of a Kyrgyz radio and television transmitter at Kerben where the men work.

About 300 kilometers of the 1,000-kilometer-long Kyrgyz-Uzbek border have remained in dispute since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said the United States believes the Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline project involving Russia is a "fundamentally bad deal for Europe.

"To lock in great reliance on Russia will fundamentally destabilize Ukraine," Biden said on August 25 during a visit to Stockholm, adding that Europe needs diverse sources of gas."

Last year, Russia's Gazprom and its European partners agreed the project to build a second pipeline under the Baltic Sea to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.

"No country should be able to use energy as a weapon. No country should be able to use energy to coerce policies or actions from other nations," Biden said, in a veiled reference to Russia, which has on several occasions cut off gas supplies to Ukraine amid disputes.

The European Union has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas.

The bloc gets one-third of its gas from Russia and some eastern members are almost entirely reliant on Moscow for energy.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
Finnish police authorities said they arrested an Iraqi man on suspicion of taking part in a 2014 mass killing of Iraqi soldiers by Islamic State militants.

As many as 1,700 mostly Shi'ite Muslim soldiers were killed after they attempted to flee the former U.S. military base, Camp Speicher, when it was overrun by IS in 2014.

The 24-year-old Iraqi, who was not identified, was likely a member of IS at the time, Finnish police said on August 24.

The man entered Finland in August 2015. Authorities did not say whether the man sought asylum. Most of the 32,500 people who sought asylum in Finland last year came from Iraq.

Finnish police are also investigating two other Iraqi men for possibly participating in the shooting of 11 unarmed prisoners at Camp Speicher, in an incident filmed by IS.

Iraq hanged 36 militants on August 21 over the mass killing at the base near Tikrit in northern Iraq.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Mohammad Nayeb-Zehi was among the hundreds of worshippers who gathered on September 30 at the Great Mosalla, a religious site in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, for Friday Prayers.

Just hours later, the 16-year-old's family learned he was dead.

Nayeb-Zehi was among the scores of people gunned down by security forces in a brutal crackdown following anti-government protests in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to the country's Baluch minority.

"He was a simple laborer and not political," Nayeb-Zehi's brother, Ahmad, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in a telephone interview from Zahedan, adding that his sibling had been shot in the heart. "We're in pain, and we cannot accept it."

The crackdown in Zahedan came amid weeks-long nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died on September 16, days after she was detained by Iran's morality police.

In Sistan-Baluchistan, public anger at the authorities escalated amid reports that a 15-year-old Baluch girl had been raped by a police official in the province's southern port city of Chabahar.

The violence erupted soon after protesters gathered outside a police station near the central mosque in Zahedan. Members of the crowd chanted anti-government slogans, and some threw rocks. Security forces responded with deadly force by firing on the crowd from the station, according to witnesses.

Security forces also raided the central mosque and the nearby Great Mosalla and opened fire on worshippers using live ammunition, rights groups said, adding that many were shot in the head, heart, neck, or torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously wound.

At least 94 people were killed and 350 wounded on that day, referred to as "Bloody Friday," according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. At least 13 minors were among those killed, including Nayeb-Zehi.

The victims were overwhelmingly Baluch -- a mostly Sunni ethnic group that has long faced disproportionate discrimination at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

"He was martyred inside the Mosalla while holding his prayer mat," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

Nayeb-Zehi's family first visited Zahedan's Khatam al-Anbia hospital, hoping he was among the wounded. They later found his body in a seminary at the Great Mosalla.

"We entered a room there and saw about 10 bodies," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. "[Mohammad] was among them."

He said the authorities prevented the family from filming the scene. "I told them this has to be documented, it has to be published by international media," he said, adding that footage later emerged on social media showing the gruesome scene at the seminary.

The family refused to send Nayeb-Zehi's body to the morgue. Instead, his body lay in the living room for around 24 hours before he was buried.

"We said he was martyred and there was no need for an autopsy," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

The authorities accused Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, of attacking the police station. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States and has previously claimed deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchistan targeting Iranian security forces.

But local and independent sources have rejected the authorities' claims.

The authorities have also reported a much lower number of fatalities, announcing that only 19 people, including several members of the security forces, were killed.

Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi said the authorities were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the people" by claiming "terrorists" were involved.

He said he witnessed a military helicopter shooting at civilians near the Great Mosalla. "I haven't even seen such scenes in Hollywood movies," he said. "A helicopter was shooting at people. A lady was shot in front of my eyes."

RFE/RL could not verify his account. But activists have accused security forces of shooting at protestors from helicopters.

"I don't know what the intention of this crime was," he said. "Our only demand from the establishment is for the murderers of our [family members] to be punished."

The killings have led to widespread anger in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran's poorest provinces.

Anti-establishment protests have been reported in Zahedan since the crackdown, including on October 14 and October 21, when protesters took to the streets after Friday Prayers and chanted "Death to the dictator."

During his Friday Prayers sermon on October 21, influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the September 30 killings.

"We are surprised by the silence of the high-ranking officials," he said in his sermon, which was posted on his website.

"Scores were killed here without any reason. I don't have the exact number. Some have reported 90, some say less, some say more," Ismaeelzahi added.

He also said people will not be satisfied until "those who killed the people" are brought to justice.

The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center said the events of September 30 amounted to "a massacre of protesters by security forces."

"The government's total denial of responsibility for the massacring of citizens by its security apparatus is consistent with similar past denials and is evidence that internal calls for investigation of such crimes are insufficient," said the rights group, which documents human rights violations in Iran.
Pakistans largest city Karachi has elected as mayor a politician who is currently in jail on sedition and terrorism charges.

Waseem Akhtar, a former minister and lawmaker from the powerful Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), won the poll with 196 of the 294 votes cast by the city's municipal authorities.

Akhtar was arrested in July and accused of ordering a bloody crackdown on riots in 2007 when he was serving as provincial home minister. He was later arrested on sedition and terrorism charges.

Politicians can govern from prison under Pakistani law, although it is still unclear how Akhtar would run the city behind bars. He is not expected to be released by the courts before he takes his oath of office, which is likely to be on August 30.

Speaking at a press conference on August 25, Akhtar said he would ask the chief minister of Sindh Province to "give me an office" in prison. He said he would "look after the local affairs via video link."

His lawyer, Mahfooz Yar Khan, told reporters Akhtar would run Karachi via video link for the whole five-year term of office if necessary.

Akhtar's poll victory on August 24 came a day after authorities charged Altaf Hussain, the self-exiled leader of the MQM, with treason for inciting violence.

Crowds of MQM workers attacked the ARY News television office on August 22, firing shots and smashing the premises after a speech by Hussain. The workers later clashed with police outside, leaving one person dead.

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 RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and AFP


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 lawyer of a jailed Tajik opposition politician has been detained, his relatives say.

Jamshed Yorov's relatives told RFE/RL that the lawyer was detained on August 22 on suspicion of disclosing a closed-door Supreme Court ruling on members of the banned opposition Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).

Yorov represented Muhammadali Hayit, the deputy chairman of the IRPT, at a closed-door trial held earlier this summer.

On August 23, Hayit's relatives said that the politician's wife and 17-year-old son had gone missing after several men in civilian clothes took them from their home in Dushanbe.

Hayit and another party deputy, Saidumar Husaini, were sentenced to life in prison in June.

A court in Dushanbe found them and several other members of the party guilty of conspiring with former Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda in a supposed armed bid to seize power in September 2015.

The IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who now lives in exile, has rejected the accusations.
ON MY MIND

At first glance, the recordings Ukrainian prosecutors released this week apparently depicting Kremlin aide Sergei Glazyev giving instructions on organizing unrest in eastern and southern Ukraine don't appear to tell us anything we don't already know.

It's no shocker that the Kremlin was behind the unrest that led to the conflict in the Donbas. But, as Andreas Umland of the Institute for Euro-Atlantic ooperation in Kyiv has noted in comments featured earlier this week, the recordings actually do much more.

While few doubted that the armed conflict in the Donbas, which began in April 2014, was instigated by the Kremlin, it was unclear the extent to which the hand of Moscow was present in the so-called "Russian Spring" -- the unarmed uprisings in February and March that preceded the war.

What the Glazyev recordings clearly show is that the Kremlin clearly orchestrated that as well, stirring up -- or attempting to stir up -- unrest, not only in Donetsk and Luhansk, but in Odesa and Kharkiv as well.

Prior to the Glazyev recordings, it was perfectly reasonable to assume that the so-called Russian Spring was a grassroots movement that Moscow simply piggybacked on.

Now we know (assuming the recordings are authentic -- and their authenticity hasn't been seriously challenged) that the Russian Spring was orchestrated and financed by the Kremlin.

IN THE NEWS

Vladimir Putin has ordered the largest inspection of the Russian armed forces' combat readiness in 18 months.

A court in Moscow has seized the assets of Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of Russia's anti-doping laboratory, after he publicly detailed a vast state-sponsored system to help Russian athletes improve their performance.

Recessions in Russia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and other emerging markets hit by low commodity prices is helping to push the world's youth unemployment rate up, the International Labor Organization reported.

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.

A man who took four people hostage inside a Citibank branch in downtown Moscow surrendered peacefully a few hours later.

Russia has expressed deep concern at Turkey's military operation in northern Syria, hours after Turkish tanks advanced into an area held by the Islamic State group.

A Moscow court has sentenced Aleksandr Potkin, the leader of the banned "Russians" nationalist movement, to 7 1/2 years in prison on extremism and money laundering charges.

WHAT I'M READING

Russia's Iran Gambit

Writing in Slon.ru, Moscow-based foreign affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov unpacks the controversy surrounding Russia's use of an Iranian air base in the conflict in Syria.

"The strange story of how Russia rapidly deployed its bombers to an Iranian Air Force base to increase the intensity of its airstrikes in Syria, and then abandoned the mission a week later at the request of Moscow's 'Iranian partners,' raises serious questions about Russia's foreign policy-making process, inter-agency coordination, and the role of propaganda support," Frolov writes.

"What was conceived as a geopolitical gambit to restore Russia's position in the Middle East and benefit for the military operation in Syria turned into a diplomatic embarrassment that raised tensions with Iran and the United States and failed in its military goals. The reason for this was a counterproductive pursuit of geopolitical status and the primitive use of propaganda."

Fighting The Wrong Enemy

Political commentator Fyodor Krasheninnikov has a piece in Vedomosti arguing that, while Russian liberals and the West were focused on a resurgent Communist Party in the 1990s, it is now clear that the real threat came from ex-KGB officers embedded in the bureaucracy.

"Who would then have believed that the true restorers of everything bad that was in the Soviet political and economic system would come to power not from below, from some kind of 'left-wing' party or movement but from behind the scenes of the 'democratic' powers that be themselves?" Krasheninnikov writes.

The New Kremlinologists

Anders Aslund, a senior fellow at The Atlantic Council, has a piece in The American Interest arguing that we need Kremlinology to make a serious comeback.

"The increasing opacity of Russian politics has opened a window of opportunity for Kremlinology to make a comeback. Many people ridicule the field of study as little more than reading tea leaves, but it can be a helpful analytical tool when done properly," Aslund writes.

Ukraine's Media

Marta Dyczok, a history professor at Western Ontario University, has a piece on the website E-International Relations on Ukraine's media after 25 years of independence.

"If one steps back and looks at things from a quarter century perspective, one would see that despite the problems, so much has changed that the place is hardly recognizable from what it was like in 1991. This is very noticeable in the media sector," Dyczok writes.

Long Live Administrative Resources

Sergei Orlov has a piece up on Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Open Wall web portal on how the Kremlin plans to use its administrative resources to the fullest to get the results it wants in next month's parliamentary elections.

"In search of additional legitimacy, and fearful of a new Bolotnaya, the regime is promoting its latest Duma campaign under the banner of honesty and openness. It sounds voter-friendly enough. But on closer inspection, the changes are cosmetic. No one is seriously thinking of scrapping administrative resources just yet," Orlov writes.

Private Armies In Syria

RBK has a lengthy report on how Russia is using private armies in the Syrian conflict. According to the report, the cost of Russian mercenaries in Syria is roughly 10 billion rubles (approximately $154 million).

And Some Quick-Hit Analysis

The Financial Times has a video on its YouTube channel featuring it's commentary editor Frederick Studemann discussing the recent Kremlin shake-up and the rising tensions in Ukraine with Andrew Monaghan, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, and Neil Buckley the FT's Eastern Europe editor
The White House and its NATO allies vowed to hold Syria and the Islamic State accountable for chemical weapons attacks documented by a United Nations investigation.

"It is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said following press reports revealing details of the UN's investigative report on August 24.

"The United States will work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, including through the United Nations Security Council," he said.

"We urge all UN member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort."

The UN investigation established that President Bashar al-Assad's forces carried out at least two chemical attacks in Syria and that IS militants used mustard gas as a weapon.

The investigation determined that Syrian government helicopters dropped chlorine on the towns of Talmenes on April 21, 2014, and Sarmin on March 16, 2015.

The investigations also determined that the IS "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 province on August 21, 2015.

While UN investigators were able to identify the perpetrators of three chemical attacks carried out in 2014 and 2015, they were unable to draw conclusions in another six cases. They said they will continue investigating those cases.

Price said the findings "present yet another opportunity for all nations to speak with one voice to address these heinous crimes and to make it clear that the use of chemical weapons is intolerable."

His statement sent a veiled message to Russia, which worked with the United States in 2013 to try to eliminate Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons and has backed Syria in its five-year war against rebel forces.

President Barack Obama recently warned Russia it faces international rebuke if it continues to make common cause with Syria's brutal regime.

Russia and Syria did not immediately respond to the UN report.

Russia and China in the past have fended off moves by the United States, Britain, and France to impose UN Security Council sanctions on Syria.

The 15-member Security Council is due to discuss the report on August 30.

"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 UN Samantha Power."We strongly urge all states to support strong and swift action."

France and Britain also said they will push for UN action.

"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," said France's UN Ambassador Alexis Lamek.

"The use of these weapons is abhorrent and we unequivocally condemn those who unleash them," British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said. "This council must stand ready to demonstrate a robust response to this report."

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa


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.
Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading.
A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man believed responsible for a series of bank robberies in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

Adam S. Lee, special agent in charge of the Richmond Division of the FBI, described the suspect as a white male, 30 to 50 years old, with brown hair, a medium build and a light complexion. He is believed to be responsible for the following robberies:

March 19, 2015; BB&T in the 2000 block of S. Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester.

April 28, 2015; MVB Bank in the 80 block of Somerset Boulevard in Charles Town, W.Va.

Aug. 7, 2015; BB&T in the 2000 block of S. Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester.

Aug. 17, 2015; BB&T in the 90 block of Souder Road in Brunswick, Md.

Aug. 25, 2015; MVB Bank in the 80 block of Somerset Boulevard in Charles Town, W.Va.

Sept. 16, 2015; First United Bank & Trust in the 7700 block of Winchester Ave. in Inwood, W.Va.

Oct. 16, 2015; Union Bank and Trust in the 1000 block of Millwood Pike in Winchester.

Dec. 23, 2015; BB&T in the 90 block of Souder Road in Brunswick, Md.

Jan. 7; MVB in the 700 block of Foxcroft Avenue in Martinsburg, W.Va.

Two vehicles are suspected to have been used in the robberies: a dark blue, older-model Pontiac and a silver, four-door Ford F-150 pickup truck from the late 1990s to early 2000s.

The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. He has displayed both black and silver handguns and a sawed-off shotgun during the robberies.
Richmond Police are searching for two men involved in a shooting in mid-July on West Broad Street.

Jerric D. Norris, also known as Double J or Little J, 20, of Chesterfield, is wanted on charges of attempted murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Another man, whom police have identified but have not released his identity yet, is also wanted in connection with the crime.

Around 2:42 a.m. on July 16, officers responded to the call of a person shot in the 1100 block of West Broad Street. When they arrived, officers found an adult male lying in the street suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The man was taken to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Virginia Commonwealth University Police assisted during the preliminary phase of the investigation by responding to the crime scene, interviewing witnesses and helping the Richmond Police Department detectives identify three of the suspects.

There have been three arrests made in this case already.

D-Vonn A. Reaux, 20, of the 3700 block of Lucky Lee Cres North in Chesterfield County, turned himself in at the Richmond Police Headquarters on July 26. Reaux faces charges of attempted murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Kiante M. Smith, 20, of the 7000 block of Meadowburn Drive in Chesterfield County, turned himself in at the Second Precinct on July 30. Smith is charged with attempted murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Montrell Graves, 22, of the 2600 block of Perdue Springs Drive in Chesterfield County, turned himself in at Police Headquarters on August 15. Smith is charged with attempted murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Norris, who police are still searching for, is described as a black male, 5 11 tall, weighs about 230 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Norris is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him is asked to call police immediately.

Anyone with any information about this case or the whereabouts of these suspects is asked to call Major Crimes Sergeant Claude Picard at (804) 646-4060 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.
A Guatemalan man who purchased airplanes in Virginia for the international trafficking of tons of cocaine was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison Thursday morning.

Fernando Chang Monroy, 37, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on board an aircraft registered in the U.S. The twin-engine, turbo-prop airplanes were used to transport more than a ton of cocaine from an airfield in Venezuela to Honduras.

As far as I can tell, its the biggest drug case that has ever come before a Richmond court, said Erik S. Siebert, an assistant U.S. attorney, told U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

I will concede the defendant is not at the top of the food chain at all, Siebert added. But he was dealing with them.

The government sought a 21-year, 11-month prison term, at the low end of the federal sentencing guidelines, citing Chang Monroys lack of a criminal record and his decision not to fight extradition from Guatemala and to plead guilty. That allowed authorities to not reveal confidential sources or methods used in the case.

Hudson told Chang Monroy, I do find that you are a significant player in a major conspiracy to import huge amounts of cocaine into the United States. ... Its a disturbingly serious offense.

When he was arrested in Guatemala City last year, Chang Monroy was armed with two handguns. Speaking through an interpreter Thursday morning, the father of three told Hudson: From the moment I was arrested, I knew that I had been wrong, I wanted to accept my guilt.

I am very sorry because I hurt so many people with drugs (that entered) the United States, said Chang Monroy, who also apologized to his family and to Hudson moments before he was sentenced.

Earlier, one of Chang Monroys lawyers, Dennis N. Urbano of Miami, unsuccessfully sought a sentence below the guidelines. Urbano argued that his client did not play an organizing or leadership role in the conspiracy, but rather served as a broker or middleman.

My client has done everything right that he absolutely could to show remorse, Urbano said.

The two Beechcraft King Airs were purchased somewhere in the federal Eastern District of Virginia. Chang Monroy admitted that the first one was sold to a Honduran drug trafficking organization for a percentage of the profit from 1,000 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard it in 2013, from Venezuela to Honduras.

The second airplane was sold to a Colombian drug trafficking organization. In 2014, it was flown to Venezuela 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.

In pleading guilty, Chang Monroy also admitted to finding pilots and altering one of the aircraft to facilitate the smuggling. He also arranged for the safe passage of the aircraft through Venezuelan air space via corrupt radar operators.

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.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS and FBI, as well as police in Hanover County, Chesterfield County and Richmond, and the Virginia State Police.
A Henrico County jury on Thursday convicted a man of killing his 81-year-old grandmother and recommended that he serve life in prison.

After more than two hours of deliberation, the 12-member jury found Ricardo Green, 46, guilty of the first-degree murder of Bertha Bernice Pannell. The judge accepted the jurys recommendation of a life sentence.

She had been beaten to death with a pair of tan Timberland boots, according to the prosecution.

Green denied killing Pannell. He testified Thursday that another man did it.

I loved my grandma, he told the jury. It was beyond the love of a grandmother. She was more of a mother.

Pannell was given custody of Green when he was 12, and she again took him in recently after he was released from prison. Green is a nine-time felon with convictions including aggravated malicious wounding, grand larceny, forgery and attempting to elude. Also stemming from the murder case, he has pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, driving after being declared a habitual offender, and eluding.

Green testified that on Dec. 29, Greens birthday and the day his grandmother died, he left the home he shared with her in the 3900 block of East Chatham Drive in Henrico County around 1:30 p.m. in hope of finding money to pay a man whom he owed about $1,000. Green said he left the man, whom Green described as of the dark world of the streets and armed, sitting on his grandmothers porch while he took her car.

Green said that when he arrived back home, he found his grandmother lifeless and slumped on her bed. He said he tried to help her, but to no avail, so he then changed from the blood-soaked Timberland boots to a different pair, and raced away from the scene with bad intentions for the man he said killed her.

A neighbor, who testified Wednesday during the two-day trial, told police she had seen Green speeding away from the home around 3 p.m. Police located Green hours later. When they attempted to pull him over, Green led police on a chase that ended in a crash on Staples Mill Road.

The final witness for the prosecution was homicide detective Matthew Rosser, who questioned Green at VCU Medical Center after the crash.

In the 15-minute session, which Rosser recorded and was played for the jury, Green makes no mention of the other man. Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Matthew Ackley told the jury during closing arguments that Greens testimony Thursday was the first mention of another suspect.

Rosser didnt immediately ask about Pannells death, but rather asked about Greens whereabouts earlier in the day. Eyewitnesses said they saw Green at Pannells home throughout the day.

Your grandmas dead. You know that, right? Rosser asked in the recording.

What? Green said.

When asked about Greens reaction to the news, Rosser told the jury that he showed no outward or obvious reaction.

Several times in the recording, Green denied killing his grandmother. Greens attorney, Jeffrey L. Everhart, said his client sounded sincere, but the jury didnt buy it.

The jurors agreed with the prosecutions theory that, at some point, Green and his grandmother fought. Maybe it was over drugs Pannell had found, or that she wanted him out of her home or money, but nonetheless, Green brutally beat his grandmother to death, the jury found.

Doris Wingfield said her sister, whom she called Bernice, is missed.

She would never turn you away, Wingfield said. She was always giving. (Her death) has taken a lot away from us.

The two spoke on the phone every night.

Now I have no one to talk to, she said.
The day before he allegedly killed a man in a secluded, wooded part of western Hanover County, Justin Mason texted his ex-girlfriend and mother of two of his children that he needed a chopper  a slang word commonly associated with an AK-47 or, more generally, a gun.

I want a chopper so I can go straighten things, Mason texted his ex-girlfriend, Lashae Harrison, prosecutors said on the second day of his murder trial.

Can this be the last shuffle you get in? Harrison responded, according to text message transcripts read aloud by Hanover sheriffs investigator Matt League in Circuit Court on Wednesday.

The texts could be an important factor in the case, because no DNA evidence ties Mason to the crime scene or victim.

League was one of several witnesses who testified over seven hours during the second day of Masons trial as prosecutors unfurled their case against the 26-year-old accused of killing Craig Michael Bates near his home in the 1500 block of Mickie Town Road.

Mason is charged with first-degree murder and a related firearms charge in the June 27, 2015, slaying.

It remains unclear how Bates, 30, and Mason knew each other. None of the evidence tested by a forensic scientist turned up DNA connecting Mason to Bates killing, nor was the handgun that fired the fatal bullet into Bates torso recovered.

Instead, prosecutors on Wednesday relied on the text messages; video surveillance footage from two convenience stores showing Bates and Mason together in the hours before Bates death; records showing cellphones that belonged to Mason pinged off towers near the crime scene; and testimony from an inmate at Pamunkey Regional Jail who said Mason admitted to the killing.

After the prosecution rested its case and the defense called the forensic scientist as its only witness, defense attorney Bobbi Graves unsuccessfully asked Judge Patricia Kelly to dismiss the charges against her client.

Outside the presence of the jury, prosecutor Shari Skipper argued that Mason was killed during a robbery. He had withdrawn $745 a day before his death and his cellphone and other personal items were missing after he died.

But Graves said no evidence whatsoever indicated Bates was robbed and that the surveillance footage  one captured at a 7-Eleven on Jefferson Davis Highway in Richmond around 4:45 a.m. and the other at an Exxon Mobile convenience store in Oilville near Bates home around 6:30 a.m.  did not show Bates in duress.

Graves tried, at each turn, to convey different ways events leading up to Bates death could be interpreted.

When it came to the text messages that prosecutors said Mason exchanged with Harrison, Graves pressed League during cross-examination: Can you specifically state that the word chopper in there means an AK-47 or another type of assault rifle or a motorcycle or a helicopter?

League said he was confident in his interpretation.

Based off the messages that I read, there is a long series of messages that indicate somebody is preparing for what I believe to be a fight, he said. Based on common sense, my trained experience and my life experience, bringing a motorcycle or a helicopter to a fight wouldnt make common sense.

Using a prepaid phone that prosecutors said was purchased just after midnight on June 27, 2015, Mason called Harrison around 40 times in the few hours after Bates died. Harrison also entered an address about a quarter of a mile from the crime scene into Google maps that morning.

Shane Stevens, an inmate who said he met Mason when they were both being held in Pamunkey and testified in order to receive consideration on pending charges, said Mason made comments during several conversations in late 2015 that indicated he committed the crime.

Appearing in inmate garb, Stevens said Mason once told him he ditched the body near the Louisa-Hanover county line.
Deputies arrived and, after talking with Bejar-Garcia and the woman, arrested Bejar-Garcia on a misdemeanor indecent exposure charge. Bejar-Garcia later claimed that he never saw the woman and was simply on his way to use the bathroom.
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.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Thursday dismissed calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate overlap between Hillary Clintons State Department and the Clinton Foundation.

Responding to a callers question during a radio appearance on Richmonds WRVA, McAuliffe said FBI Director James B. Comey was very clear in announcing the results of a lengthy investigation into Clintons use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state, a probe that resulted in no criminal charges.

They made the decision. Lets move on, said McAuliffe, a longtime friend of the Democratic presidential candidate and chairman of her 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Id like to see Donald Trump release his taxes.

Though Clinton was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the email probe, Trump and other Republicans called this week for an independent investigation into whether donors to the Clinton Foundation were granted special access to the State Department. The Clinton campaign has pushed back against the allegation, but the foundation has said it will stop accepting donations from corporations and foreign interests if Clinton becomes president.

McAuliffe, a former Clinton Global Initiative board member who is under an FBI investigation believed to focus on possible foreign lobbying, quickly moved past the foundation question.

I want to talk as much about Virginia issues as I can today, McAuliffe said before weighing in further on Trump, and on Clintons commanding lead in Virginia.

McAuliffe questioned whether Trumps recent attempts at outreach to African-Americans  in which Trump has characterized black communities as severely troubled because of Democratic policies  is an endearing message to win votes.

The implication is: Your life sucks, McAuliffe said.

McAuliffe said he doesnt believe Clintons lead in Virginia is as big as some recent polls have suggested, but he marveled at the possibility that Virginia may have moved from purple to blue.
Donald Trump has been making a direct appeal to African-Americans. His racially inclusive message makes his white audiences feel good. Yesterday he was slated to campaign in Jackson, Miss., a black-majority city and a capital of the blues. Trump will be able to claim a success if he breaks into double figures among the black electorate.

The GOPs poor showing among African-Americans is not his fault alone. The Party of Lincoln has betrayed its founding principles of free soil, free labor and free men. If Trump and other Republicans want to set the stage for a Republican revival among blacks and other minorities, there are numerous things they can do. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out key enforcement provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Trump could promise to re-enact the sections to meet constitutional scruple. Although Republican legislators voted to extend the Voting Rights Act, they have not done anything to meet the courts supreme challenge. If Eric Cantor were speaker of the House, we suspect he would have pushed his party to act. His participation in commemorations of the Selma to Montgomery march projected a racial empathy not always visible among the GOPs leadership and base.

Trump often complains about a rigged election. He pre-emptively has denounced the 2016 results as illegitimate but has said nothing about Republican attempts to suppress the minority vote. Racial gerrymandering has not received his attention, either. Trump and Republicans seldom praise Barack Obama. They could cite his speeches while visiting Africa as examples of presidential leadership. Obamas memorial address at a Charleston church attacked by a white racist ranked among the great presidential moments of the past 50 years. He reached theological heights, and Trump could say so.
Today marks the 100th anniversary of our National Park Service.

The promise of Americas best idea was simple but unprecedented: Protect and preserve our treasured landscapes for all the public to enjoy, in the form of national parks.

Virginias Shenandoah National Park was one of the first parks formed in the East and its enjoyed by more than a million visitors each year. I cherish my memories of hiking Old Rag for the first time as a young kid with my family, marveling in the epic rock scramble.

Today its impossible to imagine the American landscape without the likes of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Shenandoah national parks.

From Virginias battlefields and other historic sites preserved by the National Park Service, from Great Falls National Park to Assateague National Seashore, our parks provide recreation for Virginians and out-of-state visitors. They shelter our drinking water supplies and protect valuable wildlife habitat. The endangered Shenandoah salamander is only found living on the highest elevation peaks within Shenandoahs boundaries.

These national treasures arent just needed respites from the hustle and bustle; theyre good for us! Spending time outdoors makes us healthier. More outdoor exposure can lower stress levels; protect against problems like heart disease, diabetes and obesity; and reduce symptoms of ADHD.

Our economy benefits from our parks, too. Every year local and regional public park agencies across the country generate close to $100 billion and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. In 2015, Virginias national parks generated more than $980 million in visitor spending. And locally, Richmond National Battlefield Park created $14.2 million in economic output in 2015, according to a recent National Park Service analysis.

But after 100 years, many of the challenges the National Park Service was created to address remain.

Toxic uranium mines threaten the doorstep of the Grand Canyon. The oil and gas industry has tried to drill right outside the Everglades. In Virginia, our parks have been underfunded with long maintenance backlogs. And some in Congress are pushing to sell or transfer our parks to the highest bidder, and prevent new parks from being created.

Since 2005, the services budget has been cut by half a billion dollars  leading to long-term staff losses, closed facilities, and the growth of the $11.3 billion backlog for deferred regular maintenance. Facility and maintenance needs in Virginia total roughly $816 million, including $90 million in deferred maintenance at Shenandoah National Park and nearly $13 million in deferred maintenance at Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Theres no better time than the 100th anniversary of our national park system to redouble our efforts to protect our countrys most spectacular natural areas. Our top priorities include:

(1) Protecting the Grand Canyon from the threat of nearby uranium mining by encouraging President Obama to designate 1.7 million acres around the park a new Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.

(2) Keeping public lands in public hands by urging Virginias congressional delegation to stand up against attempts to auction off our public lands to the highest bidder.

(3) Getting the National Park Service the support it needs. When Congress returns from its long summer recess, well be urging at least $1 billion in funding to address the substantial maintenance backlog, including the millions of dollars needed to protect Virginias treasured parks, trails and recreation areas for the next 100 years.

We hope more Americans than ever visit our parks to celebrate. Working together  as citizens, as environmental advocates, and as political leaders  we will also do all we can to protect our parks, trails and recreation areas for the next 100 years.

Happy birthday, National Park Service! See you on the trail!
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.
A longtime federal prosecutor known for his work on an extensive opioid abuse probe that produced more than 200 convictions officially jumped into the lieutenant governors race Thursday.

Gene Rossi of Alexandria is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2017 state race. Hes the second Democratic contender to declare his candidacy.

I will be a strong voice for justice, he said in a campaign announcement . Im passionate about how our state government can better serve its citizens in many areas. I have seen firsthand what works  and what doesnt.

Rossi, 60, retired in July after 27 years with the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorneys Office. He talked to The Washington Post earlier this month about his intent to run for lieutenant governor but Thursday marked his formal campaign kickoff.

Justin Fairfax, a former prosecutor who ran for attorney general in 2013, launched his candidacy for lieutenant governor earlier this year and others are said to be considering a run.

The candidates are jockeying for a chance to replace current Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a doctor and Democrat whos running for governor in the 2017 races.

The lieutenant governorship is a part-time job. Its duties include casting tie-breaking votes in the Virginia Senate.

On the Republican side, contenders whove announced their candidacy for Virginias No. 2 job include Del. Glenn Davis of Virginia Beach, state Sen. Bryce Reeves of Spotsylvania County and state Sen. Jill Vogel of Fauquier County.

Rossi, who worked on more than 100 trials throughout his career, also teaches constitutional law at George Mason University and is a trial instructor at Harvard Law School.

As a prosecutor, he worked on cases that emerged from a lengthy investigation  dubbed Operation Cotton Candy  into illegal distribution of pain medication in Northern Virginia.

One of the highest-profile cases was that of a prominent McLean doctor who prosecutors said was running a pill mill and who is the subject of a new documentary film, Dr. Feelgood.

The doctor was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2005, but later granted a new trial and sentenced to a reduced term of less than five years.

Rossi was also part of the team that prosecuted a recent cash-smuggling case against an African Union general.

The general, former Guinea president Sekouba Konate, was charged with trying to bring money into the U.S. without declaring it. Konate pleaded guilty in December and was later fined.

Rossi, in his campaign announcement, also noted that he was part of a rehabilitation-focused drug court program launched in eastern Virginia.

I believe in second chances, he said in an interview. I think we should be, not tough on crime, but we should be smart on crime. You can be firm and fair, but youve got to be smart.

That is why Im a strong proponent of criminal justice reform and voting rights restoration, he added. In the last 20, 30 years, weve been blindly adhering to the tough-on-crime moniker. Its time that we become smart, firm and compassionate.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Thursday dismissed calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate overlap between Hillary Clintons tenure in the State Department and the Clinton Foundation.

Responding to a callers question during a radio appearance on Richmonds WRVA, McAuliffe said FBI Director James Comey was very clear in announcing the results of a lengthy investigation into Clintons use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state, a probe that resulted in no criminal charges.

They made the decision. Lets move on, said McAuliffe, a longtime friend of the Democratic presidential candidate and chairman of her 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Id like to see Donald Trump release his taxes.

Though Clinton was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the email probe, Trump and other Republicans called this week for an independent investigation into whether donors to the Clinton Foundation were granted special access to the State Department. The Clinton campaign has pushed back against the allegation, but the foundation has said it will stop accepting donations from corporations and foreign interests if Clinton becomes president.

McAuliffe, a former Clinton Global Initiative board member who is under an FBI investigation believed to focus on possible foreign lobbying, quickly moved past the foundation question.

I want to talk as much about Virginia issues as I can today, McAuliffe said before weighing in further on Trump and Clintons commanding lead in Virginia polling.

McAuliffe questioned whether Trumps recent attempts at outreach to African-Americans  in which Trump has characterized black communities as severely troubled because of Democratic policies  is an endearing message to win votes.

The implication is: Your life sucks, McAuliffe said.

McAuliffe said he doesnt believe Clintons lead in Virginia is as big as some recent polls have suggested, but he marveled at the possibility that Virginia may have moved from purple to blue.

Unfortunately, for our media companies in Virginia, theyve pulled all of the advertising were so far up, McAuliffe said. This is amazing. Here we are, a true swing state. And think of it: Virginia is now taken off the table as competitive.
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
I SEE we have Messrs' Hoyle, Derby, Fletcher and now Sylvester of many parties having a dig at the Platts without referring to a single fact in their excellent letters or offering a credible alternative solution. Its like the political fantasists within the Westminster bubble is spreading to the critics.



This leadership contest where a stooge has been put up to contest the leadership is phoney as no vacancy really exists. Those 171 MPs involved in this squalid plotting and coup are showing contempt to their members and voters, the largest membership in European politics thanks to Corbyn offering a different politics to the status quo. He offers hope whilst many sadly only offers more of the same dire policies with austerity, cuts to welfare, tuition fees, tax avoidance, low pay, agency exploitation of the unwaged, embracing TTIP  whilst sucking up to the whims of the bankers, press barons and Corporates.



The political class, establishment and media barons know the threat to their cosy lives and are colluding to say you 99 per cent get back in your box and we the one per cent will continue to tell you what you are having!



Parties are competing for each others voters by offering similar policies rather than instead reach out to the 50pc of people who do not vote because they have lost all trust and confidence in politicians because they all pee in the same pot or do not vote because they have been excluded, been on the receiving end of the swingeing cuts or feel alienated as many of them suffer in poverty. They should be represented by a strong Labour Party with socialist values standing up for them. Corbyn and those MPs that have stayed loyal to the people get it and are offering a welcome change with an alternative politics.



Meanwhile in his parallel universe or bunker, Labour's disloyal deputy and plotter in chief, Tom Watson, would be prepared to sacrifice dozens of Labour seats to see off the democratic left in the Party. This intervention by Tom is the worst, but far from the only, error of judgement he has been involved in over the last few years. His evidence on far left infiltration of Labour is the dodgiest dossier produced since Alistair Campbell left Downing Street or Tony Blairs claims of WMD in Iraq. He has advocated one measure after another to marginalise the members participation in the party's life. He was one of the moving spirits behind the plan to exclude 130,000 members from voting in the leadership election, and in getting that exclusion enforced by the judges who were also Blairs cronies. Justice can be bought! Watson has backed the complete shut-down of party meetings over the summer, stifling debate and democracy by giving credence to media allegations of bullying and bad behaviour which are sustained b

y any evidence at all. He voted for hiking the registered supporters fee to 25 and narrowing the window of application to just 48 hours, moves which make sense only if one is trying to minimise participation and involvement.



The euphoria when Tony Blair defeated the Tories soon evaporated as he continued Margaret Thatchers economic policies of prioritising the banks and ignoring our manufacturing and working-class communities. Now, under the Tories, austerity is being brutally applied and the most vulnerable are being clobbered  whilst investment and manufacturing have continued to plummet. We have the scourge of casualisation and zero hour contracts with rising insecurity to millions.



Jeremy Corbyn is the only major national party political leader who grasps this key issue and the need for a radical change of direction from neo-liberalism. That is what makes his re-election as Labour leader so important  Jeremy Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell understand that the productivity problems the UK faces are a product of a chronic lack of long-term investment, and that the reversal of this is now what is needed to deliver both sustainable growth and social justice following the EU referendum result.



This is shown in Jeremys ten pledges to rebuild and transform Britain in his campaign to be re-elected Labour leader. He commits to full employment and an economy that works for all. His plan commits to creating a million good-quality jobs, all across the regions and nations of Britain, and seeks to guarantee a decent job for all.



He commits to new investment spending of 500 billion in infrastructure, manufacturing and new industries backed up by a publicly owned national investment bank.



It is my strong and long-held belief that what holds back Britain's economy is a lack of investment, both public and private, which is now running at its lowest level since World War II.



Nearly all economists now agree that investment is not just the most important factor in economic growth, but outweighs all others put together.



I want all our kids, grandkids and communities to have the same opportunities we had.



We need a real alternative economic strategy. I firmly believe Jeremy Corbyn is the best chance to achieve that and take Labour back to Downing Street to transform Britain. Its time to Unite, keep Corbyn and take the fight to the Tories.



Ged Dempsey, Wath upon Dearne
THE establishment has come to the aid of the 172 rebel MPs in their battle for control of the Labour Party.



Last week saw the most cynically, overt, move yet, in the defence of New Labour and the Blairite careerists against Jeremy Corbyn and the membership, for the control of Labour. After an initial High Court ruling that re-enfranchised the voting rights of 140,000 new members and affiliates of the Labour Party  largely seen as Corbyn supporters  their voting rights were again trashed by another High Court judge, who it turns out, is an intimate friend of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. It also turns out that he was employed by New Labour in the past to get legal decisions passed favourably to yours truly: notably, no enquiry into the war on Iraq.



Try and remember folks, that this is not North Korea, or a Banana republic we are talking about; it is Britain 2016, and the election of the leader of the opposition, who we hope, will form a challenge to the government and their policies: largely known as democracy.



Why is there such a clamour? Why is there such a panic in the upper echelons of our society to preserve the power, the privilege, and the position, of these 172 MPs? After, all I keep reading that Labour has no chance of winning the next election whilst Corbyn is leader; so whats the problem, why are they worried? I can offer a few reasonable thoughts.



Firstly, the next election will take place after another four years of austerity. We can, if we tie the strings together, see the beginnings of the end of: the NHS, free education, care for the elderly, the sick and infirm, and the end of the welfare state per se. In Rotherham, as has been highlighted in this very paper, cuts are beginning to take their toll in the above services. Redundancies and unemployment will become the norm.



Our steelworks will most likely be gone. The unions and local MPs offer nothing in the way of a fight to retain them. Corbyn wants to safeguard them through nationalisation, but this is not supported by Healey or the unions. Coupled with that, the Tories want a free trade deal with China, which will see our under invested steel industry competing with the trading giant.



So, to sum it all up, in four years time, are the working class going to vote True Labour, or Tory.



The choice, as they say, will be yours.
TWINS celebrating a delightful dozen high-end grades between them were among thousands of happy students with the warm glow of a job well done after opening their GCSE results this week.



Kyle and Ellie Cotton from Dinnington High School both secured six A* or A grades in their exams.



St Pius X Catholic High School pupil Pawel Salaciak, who joined in Year 7 with very little English after coming from Poland, achieved the best results of all Rotherham students, gaining 15 GCSEs with 12 at A*/A grades.

For a breakdown of the top performers at all schools, click here.



A spokesman for St Pius said: We are obviously delighted with the results of all of our students who deserve recognition for their hard work. However, we do feel Pawel is of particular note.



At Maltby Academy, students scored record GCSE and BTEC results, with 74 per cent achieving the key measure of 5A* to C including English and maths  an almost ten per cent increase on 2015.



Top of the class was Kate Harrison, with 11 A*s and one A, while Matthew Claxton (eight A*s and three As), Bethany Hunt (eight A*s and three As) Daniel Hunt (eight A*s and two As), Alisha Yakub (7 A*s and four As), Georgie Chambers (six A*s and three As), Danielle Hosier (three A*s, six As and one B) and Bryonie Hunt (four A*s two Distinction*s and one B) were also among the best-performing students.



Principal Rachel Nash said: Both students and staff have worked exceptionally hard and deserve every success. Well done to all!



With the highest number of A* and A grades, many more students are looking to go on to study in our Sixth Form,



Overall, 88 per cent achieved an A* to C grade in English and 76 per cent did so in maths grades A*-C.



Wales High School head Pepe DiIasio praised students superb results, with more than half of students achieving at least one A* or A and almost every student achieved at least 5 passes."



Overall performance remained above the national average, which fell slightly this year, with two out of every three pupils achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths and 97 per cent securing at least five A* to G grades including English and maths.



Daniel Scobbies ten A*s and one A was the best set of results, closely

followed by Joseph Gill and Georgia Mason (both scored eight A*s and three As), while Daniel and Joseph were among the top nine per cent of further maths candidates and achieved an A**



Communications officer Paul Milligan added: Our teachers are particularly delighted with the success of Ellie Fisher, who only joined the school during Year 11, and went on to achieve seven grades at either A* or A.

Rotherham sisters Megan and Lauren Tolley were celebrating a bumper haul of A-grades at both GCSE and A-level respectively.



Sheffeld High School for Girls student Megan notched up 11 A*s at GCSE, a week after Lauren achieved As in Geography and ICT A-levels last week.

Dinnington High Schools outstanding student was Courtney Briggs, with nine A* or As.



Other teenagers with top marks included Ellie Stones (eight A*s or As), Charlotte Hopwood, Heather Porter and Ellie Walker (seven A*s or As), plus twins Kyle and Ellie Cotton and classmates Sam Andrew, Caitlin Barton, Matthew Goold and Lauren Hinchcliffe (with six A*s each).



The school achieved 64 per cent pass rate in the English Baccalaureate and 52 per cent achieved A* to C in both English and Maths.



Dinnington is holding a Post-16 open afternoon from 3pm to 5pm on September 22 with a free BBQ for potential A level students.



At Brinsworth Emily Horst collected 6 x A* and 3 x A, as well as an outstanding performance award in Further Maths. And at Aston both Alexander Kitson and Laura Messenger gained 12 x A* and one grade A each.



Council officials said they would not be making comparisons with last results as schools were no longer being measured on the five A* to C score.



Instead, a measure called Progress 8 will track how pupils have progressed during their secondary education.



Schools are releasing figures for the the percentage of pupils who gained an A*- C in both their English and maths GCSEs and a council spokeswoman said early indications showed Rotherham had higher than average results, which may be confirmed later in the year.



Cllr Gordon Watson, the councils deputy leader, said: Congratulations to all the students who have worked so hard to achieve these results. They are a credit to the teachers, parents and of course themselves.



Further changes are expected to results again next year, when students will not receive their GCSE grade in the form of a letter, such as A, B or C, for

English language, English literature or maths. Instead, they will receive a numbered grade, from one to nine, with nine the highest. Other subjects will follow in later years.



For a two-page photo special, see this weeks Advertiser.
Debmarine Namibias new offshore diamond exploration vessel is now in the final phase of construction after its arrival in Cape Town, South Africa last week from Norway.

De Beers Marine project head Michael Curtis was quoted by Mining Weekly as saying that the sampling system and treatment plant, built in large modules in the Port of Cape Town, would now be lifted onto the vessel using a 750 t crane.

The 113-m-long offshore SS Nujoma would be delivered and commissioned in Namibias Atlantic 1 diamond mining licence area early next year.

Debmarine Namibia is satisfied with the progress of the project to date. It is a good position to be in on this large investment, with the project currently being two months ahead of schedule and cost forecasts looking favourable, said Debmarine Namibia chief executive Otto Shikongo.

The new vessel, which is expected to have a 40-year lifespan, would join a fleet of five other diamond mining vessels in the Atlantic 1 mining licence area, according to Mining Weekly.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Indias Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia told the exporting community recently that exemptions and incentives, which were being given for promoting exports would go away once the GST was in place.

At a session organised by EEPC, FIEO and GJEPC Teaotia said, Exemptions and incentives will go away once the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented. GST and exemptions do not go hand-in-hand. The commerce department is not involved with the GST legislation. We will give our inputs to the finance department before everything gets finalized.

To tackle the global slowdown, the Indian government was making efforts to create a conducive environment for making countrys exports competitive. Programmes like Make in India, Skill India, Digital India were efforts to increase competitiveness of Indian exports, she said.

Regarding SEZs, she said that the government was committed to this sector. We will align our policies in tune with the GST. Our interest and concern is to protect the export sector and SEZ is important for the countrys economic landscape, she said.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




Gem International Resources said its operating partner, Global Gems International, has started the initial work programme at the Dala project in Lunda Sul, Angola.

It said Global Gems had commenced the evaluation and production of diamonds from high priority areas highlighted as favorable for hosting alluvial diamond deposits on the 3,000 sq. km Dala alluvial mining licence.

Dala was an early stage project with potential for the discovery of both alluvial and kimberlite deposits.

The company and Global Gems International have started the initial field and technical programmes to prioritise startup areas for alluvial gravel testing, it said.

This includes establishment of a camp logistics base in Saurimo, as well as procurement of mining, diamond production and infrastructure equipment.

Gem said more than 30 high priority areas had been identified where there are classic trap sites in active drainages and accumulations of river gravels preserved in old meanders and terraces.

Meanwhile, the company was in the process of reviewing an extensive database of information for both alluvial and kimberlite exploration by a previous operator at Dala with the objective of acquiring this information to assist the current work.

With data for over 900 alluvial sample sites and extensive information from kimberlite exploration this database will speed up the ability to prioritise initial work areas.

It is known that at least 5 new kimberlite pipes were located at Dala and numerous other untested kimberlite targets are known to be present, it said.

The alluvial diamonds currently being mined there are likely to have sources in diamond bearing kimberlites on the Dala Licence.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




A 118 feet high Flag Mast has been installed in the premises of Bharat Diamond Bourse. The Indian National Flag admeasuring 30 X 20 was ceremoniously hoisted at the hands of Shri. Kirtibhai Doshi, the most senior diamond merchant in Mumbai and Smt. Amrita Devendra Fadanvis, wife of chief Minister of Maharashtra state Shri Devendra Fadnavis.Having taken inspiration from the Prime Ministers appeal to hoist the Indian Tricolour on all the private and public sector buildings and educational institutes; Shri. Kirit Bhansali, one of the prominent member of the Bourse Managing Committee took the initiative and got this august project materialized in shortest possible time.Shri. Anoop Mehta, President of Bharat Diamond Bourse, Shri. Bharat Shah, President of Mumbai Diamond Merchants Association; and Shri.Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman of The Gems and Jewelry Export Promotion Counsel were present at the occasion. All the members of the Management Committee of the Bourse and prominent diamond traders in Mumbai had also turned up in large number.Shri Anoop Mehta said, Installation of the Indian national flag at BDB is a moment of pride to all of us. As the Indian ricolor signifies unity, strength, peace and growth of the country, BDB signifies rich culture of Indian craftsmanship in the Indian gems and jewelry sector that has established itself globally.Shri Praveenshankar Pandya said, It is a proud moment to all of us at BDB. The waving flag symbolizes a feeling of pride, gratitude and honesty amongst the BDB members.Bharat Diamond Bourse is a conglomerate of 2500 diamond traders that occupies a 20 acre plot and 1.18 million sq. ft. built up area. The Bourse is instrumental in fetching sizable amount of foreign exchange to India and also a major employment generator. 50000 to 60000 people visit the Bourse daily. The Bourse is the largest diamond market in world and proudly calls itself as Diamond Centre of the World.
Business confidence from Germany is due on Thursday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.45 am ET, the French statistical office Insee releases manufacturing confidence survey results. Economists forecast the indicator to remain unchanged at 103 in August.

At 3.00 am ET, Spain's INE is scheduled to issue final GDP and producer prices for July.

In the meantime, the National Institute of Economic Research is set to publish Sweden's economic tendency survey results for August. The economic tendency index is forecast to rise to 102.6 in August from 102.2 in July.

At 3.15 am ET, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office releases industrial production data for the second quarter. Production had increased 1 percent annually in the first quarter.

At 3.30 am ET, Statistics Sweden is slated to issue producer prices and unemployment data. The jobless rate is forecast to drop to 5.9 percent in July from 7.6 percent in June.

At 4.00 am ET, Germany's Ifo confidence data is due. The business confidence index is seen rising to 108.5 in August from 108.3 in July.

At 6.00 am ET, the Confederation of British Industry is scheduled to publish Distributive Trades data for August. The retail sales balance is forecast to drop to 0 from -14 percent in July.

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.
Novartis (NVS) announced the Phase III EXPAND study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral, once-daily, BAF312 or siponimod in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis or SPMS, met its primary endpoint of a reduction in the risk of disability progression, compared with placebo. The EXPAND study represents the largest randomized, controlled study in SPMS to date.

Top line results of the EXPAND study, including primary and key secondary endpoints, will be presented as a late breaking oral abstract at the 32(nd) Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), September 17(th), in London, UK.

Novartis noted that it will complete full analyses of the data and evaluate next steps in consultation with authorities.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Finland's retail sales declined in July from a year ago, preliminary figures from Statistics Finland showed Thursday.

Retail sales fell 1.5 percent year-over-year in July. Similarly, the price-adjusted volume of retail sales decreased by 0.7 percent.

In daily consumer goods trade, sales slid by 1.3 percent and the sales volume by 1.5 percent in July from the corresponding period of the previous year.

The statistical office will publish final sales data on September 15.

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.
Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX.L) reported profit before tax of 60 million pounds for the half year ended 30 June 2016 compared to 48 million pounds, last year. The Group reported a loss before tax attributable to owners of 10 million pounds compared to profit of 79 million pounds. Profit per share was 0.2 pence compared to 22.7 pence.

First-half net premiums written increased to 424 million pounds from 387 million pounds. Total revenue, net of reinsurance payable, was 4.91 billion pounds compared to 806 million pounds.

The Board has declared an interim dividend for the first six months of 2016 of 26.7 pence per share which is scheduled to be paid on 3 October 2016 and is in line with the 2015 interim and final dividends. Following completion of the AXA acquisition, the Board expects to increase the 2016 final dividend by 5% to 28.0 pence per share. This would increase the dividend per share to 56.0 pence on an annualised basis.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Editors Pick

Oil major Exxon Mobil Corp. reported Friday a profit for the third quarter that soared from last year, reflecting sharply higher upstream and energy product earnings. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter topped analysts' expectations, while quarterly revenues missed them.

Seattle, Washington-based Amazon.com Services LLC is recalling Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chairs, citing fall and injury risks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The recall involves about 11,400 units of the Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chair.

Shares of Swiss Re AG were losing around 3 percent in the morning trading in Switzerland after the reinsurer reported Friday a net loss in its third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2022. The results were hurt mainly by weakness in Property & Casualty Reinsurance or P&C Re segment. Going ahead, the company still expects it is unlikely to reach its Group ROE target of 10 percent in 2022.
Spain's producer prices continued to decline in July, the statistical office INE said Thursday.

Producer prices decreased 4.6 percent year-on-year in July, following a 4.5 percent drop in June.

Excluding energy, producer prices fell 0.5 percent, slower than the 0.7 percent decrease in previous month.

On a monthly basis, producer prices remained flat in July versus a 2 percent increase in June.

Consumer goods prices edged up 0.1 percent annually and capital goods prices moved up 0.6 percent. Prices of intermediate goods prices dropped 1.7 percent.

Energy prices logged a sharp decline of 15.6 percent in July.

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.
Sweden's producer prices continued to decline in July, though at a slower pace than in the previous month, figures from Statistics Sweden showed Thursday.

The producer price index fell 1.1 percent year-over-year in July, following a 1.9 percent decrease in June. The measure has been falling since July 2015.

On a monthly basis, producer prices dropped 0.3 percent from June, when it rose by 1.5 percent.

Import prices dipped 3.7 percent annually and by 0.6 percent monthly in June.

Prices for domestic supply, combining domestic and import , slid 1.8 percent yearly and decreased 0.4 percent from the preceding month.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Berry Plastics Group, Inc. (BERY) and AEP Industries Inc. (AEPI) Thursday announced a definitive merger agreement under which Berry will acquire AEP in a cash and stock transaction worth $765 million, including AEP's net debt.

The deal is expected to be accretive to Berry's adjusted net income and adjusted free cash flow by more than 10 percent, after expected synergies. On a pro forma basis, Berry's four quarters ended June 2016 adjusted free cash flow would increase by approximately $85 million to $560 million. The transaction will be deleveraging to Berry's balance sheet after synergies.

As per the agreement, each AEP shareholder can elect to receive either $110 in cash or 2.5011 shares of Berry common stock per AEP share in the transaction, subject to an overall 50/50 proration to ensure that 50 percent of the total outstanding AEP shares are exchanged for the cash consideration. Upon closing, AEP shareholders will own approximately 5 percent of Berry on a fully diluted basis.

Based on Wednesday's closing price of Berry's stock, the blended value of the merger consideration represented $109.12 per AEP share.

Montvale, New Jersey based AEP is a leading manufacturer of flexible plastic packaging films in North America. It operates 14 manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada and has approximately 2,600 employees.

Jon Rich, chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics said, "AEP, together with Berry's Engineered Materials Division, creates an impressive packaging film producer serving the North American market. This unique combination offers the opportunity for significant value creation for Berry and AEP shareholders alike, as we realize procurement and operating cost savings across the two organizations."

Berry expects to realize cost synergies of $50 million or more annually and to realize these cost savings through procurement initiatives, operational improvements, sharing of best practices, improved asset utilization, and logistics optimization across the combined plant network.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the December 2016 quarter.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
AEP Industries Inc. (AEPI) announced Thursday morning that it has agreed to be acquired by Berry Plastics Group (BERY) for $765 million in a cash and stock deal.

AEP Industries has gapped open dramatically higher this morning and is now up 32.33 at $109.30 on above average volume. The stock has vaulted to a new high for the year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton sought to defend her family's charitable foundation in an interview on Wednesday, dismissing Republican rival Donald's Trump's attacks on the Clinton Foundation as "ridiculous."

Clinton called into CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" to deny allegations the Clinton Foundation was involved in a "pay-to-play" scheme while she was Secretary of State.

"What Trump has said is ridiculous," Clinton said during the phone interview. "My work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces."

"I made policy decisions based on what I thought was right to keep Americans safe and to protect U.S. interests abroad," she added. "No wild political attacks by Donald Trump is going to change that."

Clinton argued that more is known about the foundation than is known about Trump's wealth, his , or his tax returns.

The Democratic nominee was also critical of an Associated Press report that claimed more than half the people outside the government who met with Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the Clint Foundation.

Clinton argued that the AP looked at only a small portion of her time and called it "absurd" that her meetings with individuals such as Elie Wiesel, Melinda Gates or Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus were due to connections with the foundation instead of their status as highly respected global leaders

The allegations of corruption could continue to be a headache for Clinton, however, with several major newspapers and Republican politicians calling for the Clinton Foundation to be shut down.

Trump has also called for the foundation to be shut down and said the scandal requires an expedited investigation by a Special Prosecutor. The billionaire-turned-politician previously donated to the organization.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is well behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, according to a new Quinnipiac University National poll released on Thursday.

The survey of likely voters found Clinton with a significant 51 percent to 41 percent lead over Trump, with Clinton benefiting from strong support among women and non-white voters.

Clinton has a 24-point lead over Trump among women, while Trump has just a 6-point advantage among men. The former Secretary of State's lead among non-white voters is also much wider than Trump's lead among white voters.

When third party candidates are added to the mixed, Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to 45 percent to 38 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 10 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 4 percent.

"We are starting to hear the faint rumblings of a Hillary Clinton landslide as her 10-point lead is further proof that Donald Trump is in a downward spiral as the clock ticks," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"Trump's missteps, stumbles and gaffes seem to outweigh Clinton's shaky trust status and perceived shady dealings," he added. "Wow, is there any light at the end of this dark and depressing chapter in American ?"

Both Trump and Clinton have negative favorability ratings, and a notable 37 percent of likely voters said they would consider voting for a third party candidate.

The poll also found that minorities of Trump and Clinton supporters are voting "for" their preferred candidate, with the votes mainly seen as against the opponent.

Sixty-four percent of Trump supporters say they are voting mainly anti-Clinton, while 47 percent of Clinton supporters are mainly anti-Trump.

The survey of 1,498 likely voters was conducted August 18th through 24th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

(Photo: Michael Vadon)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
By SA Commercial Prop News

An unidentified woman unsuccessfully tries to stop a bulldozer from demolishing her home in Lenasia.



The Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing has appealed for co-operation in its efforts to resolve the matter of the illegal sale of land in Lenasia South.

On Thursday 8th November, the housing department of the Gauteng province began demolishing homes that it said were constructed on illegally sold land, despite efforts by protesters to stop the demolitions.

Detailing the events that unfolded leading up to the demolition of the illegally built houses in Lenasia South, the Gauteng Provincial Government said in a statement on Monday that to date, 10 cases were investigated by the Hawks in the illegal sale of land -- seven suspects were arrested, five cases were currently on trial and two have been withdrawn pending further investigations.



"We are also pursuing three other cases. We call upon the community to co-operate with us in order to make more arrests," said the department in a statement.



Official demolitions of houses that have been illegally built in the area started last week Thursday and to date, the department has demolished 51 structures. The department said all 113 structures earmarked for demolition were currently not occupied by any household or family.



On Friday, 9 November 2012, the illegal occupants approached the Gauteng South High Court for an urgent court interdict to stop the department from continuing with the demolition process.



"The application was dismissed with costs. Therefore, the court order still stands," said the department.



The Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing appointed audit firm George Fivaz to investigate irregularities in the provision of houses in the province. Fivaz tabled a report of findings to the department in 2002.



The report had various recommendations and all the affected pieces of land in Lenasia were part of the report. The department said it was now implementing the recommendations.



In February 2007, several developers were implicated for the illegal sale of land. The implicated included Richard Zikhali and his wife Hlengiwe Ximba, as well as Michael Madogola.



Ximba has since entered into a plea bargain with the State and was sentenced to six-year imprisonment, with a three-year suspended sentence. Zikhali and Madogola will be going on trial during the first week of December 2012.



Hilda Sikhute is out on bail and is attending trial; while Muziwamandla Poto, also known as Radebe by locals, and Elizabeth Masinya are out on bail.



"One of the primary suspects has been cited in all these illegal activities and a case of fraud was opened against Durban Baloyi, who is a former developer for the Department in December 2010. He was arrested and released on bail.



"The case was withdrawn in court to allow the Hawks to complete the investigations," said the statement.



Sifiso Handsome Ditau, an official from the City of Johannesburg, is out on bail and a disciplinary case is underway.



The department said investigations into the illegal sale of land in the Johannesburg South area, including Lenasia, Ennerdale and Lawley, were first conducted as far back as 2006.



"Illegal sale of land occurred and the department instituted an investigation. A forensic investigation was undertaken immediately to establish all the facts. The report was submitted to the Head of the Department for consideration and implementation in early 2010," it said, adding that consultation processes with all affected parties did occur.



The report findings



The department said the forensic report established that illegal sale of land indeed took place. Furthermore, it also found that:



- Different transactions and costs were paid for various pieces of land and stands;

- Documents were acquired illegally, including title deeds and deeds of sale that were concluded;

- Unknown people were in a process of developing departmental vacant stands which are situated amongst developed stands;

- Constructions which were stopped were continuing, despite interventions by the department;

- Municipal services were illegally connected;

- Where developments were taking place, the stands were being fenced;

- Further investigations by the department also revealed that stands were illegally sold or occupied and occupants were already constructing houses.



"In Lenasia, at the time, investigations revealed that 678 stands were illegally occupied. In Ennerdale and Lawley, an estimated number of 1 000 stands were affected," said the department.



This figure has been rising due to the continuation of illegal construction of houses, despite the department's actions to stop the process.



The department said it had exhausted all the court processes at its disposal.



In September 2010, there was an interim court order prohibiting the department from evicting and demolishing the illegal properties in Lenasia Ext 13 and Lenasia South Ext 4 and Ennerdale.



The applicants were also interdicted from further erecting and constructing structures on the properties belonging to the department until a final order was issued.



While the department adhered to the interim order, the applicants continued to erect structures and invade government-owned stands, ignoring the legal process.



The department then proceeded to open several cases of contempt of court against the illegal occupiers in December 2010 and 13 builders were arrested on site for violating the interim court order.



Mediation process



In March 2011, the court also ordered that the matter be referred for mediation for the illegal occupiers to explain how they acquired the properties.



Of the 164 illegal occupants, only 11 illegal occupiers responded, and only three illegal occupants were found to have applied to be on the Demand Database (Housing Waiting List) of the Department;



"Mediation failed mainly because the illegal occupiers did not co-operate. After the failure of mediation, the department approached the court to seek a final order," said the department.



On 29 September 2011, the department was granted an order by the South Gauteng High Court.



The order stated that:



- Applicants whose names appeared on Annexure MM2 to the notice of the motion were ordered to vacate those stands identified next to their names on Annexure MM2;

- Applicants who had erected structures on their stands were ordered to remove or demolish the structures within 30 days of service of the order;

- In the event of failure to remove or demolish within the time period, the respondents would have the right to do so.



This order affected the 163 illegal occupants. The order, however, did not provide for the department to provide alternative accommodation, given the financial status of the illegal occupants.

"It is also clear that the illegal occupants were ordered to remove or demolish their structures within 30 days, failing which, the department had the right to remove or demolish those structures," noted the department.



Consultation process



Throughout the entire process, the department said it convened a number of meetings with the affected parties in order to find a solution to the matter.



On 13 November 2009, a consultation process took place through the PCO Office, which included the former MEC Lekgoro and ward councilors.



On 29 May 2012, the People against Illegal Land Invasion, a group representing legal property owners in Lenasia, marched to the Office of the Premier to table a memorandum that demanded firm action from the government to have the illegal occupiers evicted.



Other consultations also were also convened with all the critical stakeholders that were based at the Lenasia PCO Office.



The department's position



The department on Monday said it was dealing decisively with acts of corruption and those found to be in collusion with syndicates, including those who are building illegal structures.



"[We are] are acting for the most vulnerable and working in the spirit of human rights and now we want to protect them. Any private development will be supported by government using various government subsidy instruments, including people that are earning between R3 500 - R15 000," it said.



The Lenasia case is not the only one the department was dealing with in Gauteng.



It said it would not be deterred from dealing with any criminal elements that were involved in illegal sale of government land.



"In terms of various acts and prescripts, there are legal documents that people should have in their procession.



"The court order confirmed the department's position as the Gauteng government that they will not tolerate land invasions from any sector of society, regardless of the economic status of the people involved.



"We further advise the communities to take a lesson from this judgement and be aware that there are fraudsters who are posing as the department's agents and selling land at very cheap prices to unsuspecting members of the public.



"If land is being sold to you, first verify ownership of the property with the Registrar of Deeds before paying or occupying the land," it said.



The department is responsible for managing and developing Gauteng's vacant land portfolio for the creation of human settlements. A total of 3 400 land parcels have been analysed and audited on the Departmental Land Register.



A total of 11 cases of land invasions were reported and action taken against those responsible. A total of 964 were randomly inspected for safeguarding purposes.



In the current financial year, the department had set aside R150 million to acquire land parcels to benefit eight housing projects on the land that is well located for development of human settlements. The driving consideration when the department acquires such parcels of land is that they must be closer to economic opportunities where people can easily have access to jobs.



"Our people should resist the temptation of illegally occupying land... The illegal occupation of land is a crime that affects the taxpayers directly," the department said.



On average, the department spends R200 to R8 000 per month for an illegally acquired stand. The money is paid to the municipality, and this excludes illegal connection, costs of water and electricity.



The department spends more than R300 000 per annum on these illegal properties.
Here's where to get a pumpkin in central Kansas for fall

Local farms are preparing for the upcoming pumpkin harvest. Here's where to go pumpkin picking in the greater Salina area.
A deaf man shot to death by a North Carolina state trooper after a chase was scared of police after several misunderstandings with officers, his brother said Wednesday.

Standing beside a memorial where his brother died near the family's home, Sam Harris said police are all too often inaccessible to deaf people, relating his own story about how he ended up with a gun in his face because he, too, is deaf and couldn't follow the officer's shouted orders.

Daniel Kevin Harris "had times where because of the inaccessibility with police, there were misunderstandings that led to him being afraid of the police," his brother said through an interpreter near a large picture of Harris with "Police Brutality Domestic Terrorism" written underneath.

Daniel Harris had arrests in several states on minor charges, including three for resisting police officers. But those charges in 2010 in Florida and 2008 in Denver were dropped. He pleaded guilty to interfering with or resisting police in Watertown, Connecticut, in 2010. Details of the arrests were not available.

Sam Harris cut short a prearranged interview with The Associated Press after a reporter asked for more information about the police confrontations and if that was what made him more afraid of officers, walking away and motioning for his interpreter to come with him back to the family home.

Authorities have released few details about the shooting, including why Trooper Jermaine Saunders fired at the end of the 10-mile chase that started about 6:15 p.m. Aug. 18 when Harris did not pull over as Saunders, with blue lights on, tried to stop him for speeding on Interstate 485 near Charlotte.

The Highway Patrol's last statement Tuesday asked for patience as the investigation unfolds.

Saunders, 28, has been placed on administrative leave. Authorities said Wednesday he is black and he became a trooper about two years ago. Harris, 29, was white.

Harris' family said he was unarmed. The State Bureau of Investigation has not said whether any weapon was found on or near Harris.

Harris loved to play with his 3-year-old son, and his nieces and nephews, his brother said. Sam Harris said his brother also enjoyed the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game and was eager to get home the night because he had mail saying he had won an important contest.

The family is raising funds for Harris' funeral and plans to use any extra money to begin a foundation to help educate police officers on interacting with the hearing impaired and calling for a computerized system to alert officers they are dealing with a deaf driver.

"My brother is going to be a hero," Sam Harris said. "This is what is going to change the system."

-AP
No matter how hard weve been trying to dismiss from our minds this protracted standoff between the government and the marginalized residents of Sogi, we cannot.

That abhorrent fracas will just not go away.

Instead, it is remaining so resolute in the mind where it is refusing to move away so that naturally, the befuddling question is: Why?

The answer is simple enough.

Its because this countrys Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is insisting on evicting the residents of Sogi from that swampy spot on the Mulinuu Peninsula, and yet that is where theyve been living all their lives.

This is to say that spot, to them, is home.

Incidentally, Tuilaepa made that decision of his quite clear in the story published in the Samoa Observer on 21 August 2016, titled: Govt. stands firm in village dispute.

In it, he is quoted as having said, the government will not change its mind about relocating the residents of Sogi, and yet, without a doubt in our minds, the residents hes referring to are Samoan citizens, just as he is.

This is to say most of them  if not all of them - are the descendants of the original settlers of Sogi who have been living on that very spot even before the beginning of the Second World War, in July 1914.

Now whether he likes it or not, we are talking here about 98 years of memory that are most likely to be obliterated completely from the mind, starting the moment Tuilaepas eviction order is carried out.

And that, once again, brings us down to this countrys Constitution, its Supreme Law that is, Section 13(d)which instructs: All citizens of Samoa shall have the right to move freely throughout Samoa, and to reside in any part thereof.

Now the pestering questions are: Why are the residents of Sogi, who are Samoan citizens, being denied this freedom?

Indeed, what terrible crime have they committed so that they are now being punished with eviction, and as if to ensure the pain would bite even deeper still, they are also to be relocated to a place theyd never set foot on, during their entire lives?

That is what we want to know.

Incidentally, weve been told the government corporation, the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C.), has been directed by Cabinet to deal with the Sogi fiasco, from now on.

As for Tuilaepa, the reports say he has made it clear he would not be drawn into the dispute at this point, other than assuring us that the governments decision is final.

Still, what kind of final is he talking about now? Is that a threat to be wary of?

Said Tuilaepa: The matter concerning the Sogi residents is now with the Samoa Land Corporation.

He also said: The governments decision to remove the residents from Sogi still stands.

Fine.

In fact, S.L.Cs general manager, Ulugia Petelo Kavesi, seems to know exactly what Tuilaepa wants done.

Having insisted that Tuilaepas decision had not changed, Ulugia told the Sunday Samoan all that his office was working on, was to ensure the residents are relocated in a peaceful manner.

Wonderful!

And as for those who did not know, he revealed that many residents have already accepted the offer to relocate to Falelauniu, but only a few families at Sogi are still rejecting the offer.

Splendid!

Ulugia also revealed: There are residents who have their own opinions on the matter, but then the government has already made their decision and that is, they must relocated.

Brilliant!

Asked if it was likely that some residents would be forcefully evicted, Ulugia said not a chance. In other words, every eviction will be carried out peacefully.

How peaceful?

How can an eviction, which is the forceful removal of a person  or persons  from their homes, be made peaceful?

Explained Ulugia: For now, the government is not in a position to force them off the land.

Wonderful!

He said: We are still giving them the chance to leave peacefully, even though the deadline given to them to relocate has passed.

What are deadlines meant to do anyway? In a free country, are they necessary?

Ulugia went on to defend the governments decision to ask the residents to move, saying there was more than enough land at Falelauniu for them to develop, and purchase for themselves.

He said: We are still giving them time to move to Falelauniu. There is no deadline given to them at this stage.

I want to reiterate that the governments decision to relocate them is in order for them to have a better life. Thats what the government is looking at for the residents.

Thank you Ulugia!

And as for rumours about developments the government is planning at the area, Ulugia said: I have no knowledge on that issue so I have no comment to make.

Fine.

As for Sogi resident, Aiga Tokuma, 69, she had something to say.

She said every time the idea she could be evicted with her family from their home came up, she felt being betrayed by the government.

I just think the governments plan to relocate us to another area so that they could further their developments, is really sad.

She also said: Weve seen many foreign businessmen visiting this area almost every day.

This is new. Back in the old days, we hardly saw any of them on our land, but it seems like theyre here to see where theyre going to build.

They came one day and told me that they want to look around. I knew from that time that theyre planning to build something here.

What might that something be anyway?

Now it looks as if the problem here is that Tuilaepa is not telling the public what is afoot.

In other words, what exactly is he planning to do at Sogi which requires the eviction and relocation of those who have been living there all their lives, has got to be made public.

Otherwise, why doesnt the government just throw away that which it is holding back, and then proceed to play the Nazi trick on these defiant, hard-headed people?

The way we see it, all that the government should do is bring around the cattle trucks, herd all those defiant people on board them, and then drive away to the rubbish dump at Tafaigata where a big hole will have already been dug anyway, and by that time those running the show will have already known what they are supposed to do next.

Now that should do the trick, dont you think?

Well, the Nazi did it to six million Jews, and it worked.

And here in this peaceful, laid-back paradise we all love to call home, we cannot see why that little trick would not work.

It will. Trust me.

What about you?

Tell the rest what youre thinking anyway.
Le Ulupoao Ata Maiai

The plight of the folks in Sogi village is an humanitarian case and should conjure up questions of domestic and international consequence.

After many generations, the Sogi villagers have been forced by the Samoa Land Corporation (owned by the Samoan government) to leave or face eviction from their homes. From the colonial times up to the present, the residents of Sogi village lived an existence subjected to insecurity and merciless threat.

They lived on freehold land firstly alienated by the Germans and subsequently inherited by the NZ colonial administration, and the Samoan Government. This is a unique human experience in this country yet its correctness -or otherwise- must be judged by its own merits. The Government of Samoa is capable of doing just that.

The story of the folks in Sogi village is about a race of people, facing old and new dynamics of human displacement due to circumstances beyond their control.

They are socially dislocated, granted by their own desire in the beginning of their story, by wanting new opportunities overseas. The opportunities presented themselves for green pasture away from home and the migration from the Solomon Islands and elsewhere in Melanesia to Western Samoa started in the early 1900's.

They found work in the Samoan companies owned by German, and British colonial expatriates; and the New Zealand and the Western Samoa governments. All told, the ancestors of the present generation of Sogi villagers existed in conditions of neo-slavery.

They toiled their lives away all in employment to advance the commercial interests of the Samoan nation. And they were poor because their wages were meagre but as human beings they were "rich" in Christian faith..

Sogi is not a" Mulifanua" nor a "Vaitele" where the out-reach of the " blackbirding" trade and the human trafficking trade made its mark. Sogi is original in every sense of the word, created by Melanesian and Polynesian identities. Before Sogi, the turf therein was a part of the Vaimoso village. So the present generation of Sogi residents rightly have emotional, psychological, cultural and spiritual attachment to the land, once the showcase of marine biodiversity in the virgin mangrove swamp. They call it home, their birth-place.

They have as an ethnic group organised, accepted and practised a polity, considered unique to its survival in Samoa. The Matais, Pulenuu, and the Pastor formed the organised basis of its social order and governance.

Sogi residents went on to contribute to our society as medical doctors, lawyers, top civil servants, medal-winning athletes in international sporting tournaments, pastors, business-men and so on.

Sogi village is no different from the adventurous stories that led to the founding of many coastal villages in Samoa. The stories dated the Lapita- pottery- settlements in Mulifanua and Manono; and through the ages marked by Tongan, Fijian, and European invasion of our shores. The Sogi villagers came by boats many decades later like those Pacific Islanders.

The notion that a genocide is happening at Sogi village is a moot point. Mind you, it might be a misguided point but certainly the massive displacement of Sogi villagers by socio-economic forces of urbanisation taking place is morally questionable.

An example of massive displacement of peoples both internally and externally due to wars and economic decisions are happening in Europe.

The member states of the United Nations including Great Britain, Germany, New Zealand and Samoa have signed or ratified International Treaties on the questions against " massive displacement of people", " Racism"," Discrimination" and other human problems.

Are racial overtones present in the profound workings in the turn of events in Sogi? Common knowledge attests to the racially-charged attitudes of Samoan and foreigners towards Sogi in this country. O le "meauli", a warped mentality, testify to a racist Samoan. And that fabric of racist thought runs through the historical experiences of the folks in Sogi village.

Granted, the present government inherited the problems in Sogi; nevertheless, it is not too late to take another look at the humanitarian situation in this question.

The Government of Samoa should gift the area of land involved in this dispute to the traditional residents of Sogi village. And, if you will, take into account the idealogical spiel attached to the comparison between the Berlin Wall and Sogi village in Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa's recent editorial. The wall at Sogi is of course a symbol of a troubled past which lingers on and tests our national conscience.

It is the divide between concrete and nature. It is a shameful past full of controversial behaviour involving our Samoan ancestors and the colonial expatriates that speak to us for redemption. Then, it was the" international era" when Western Samoa was the colony of the Germans, the British and the New Zealanders.

Finally, the international community should under the ageis of the U.N.D.P. extend appropriate/grant assistance to the people of Sogi village to protect them from the challenges presented by Climate Change. They are entitled to such protection. It is never too late to say sorry in a meaningful tangible manner to the folks at Sogi village.
Recently a report was launched that shows that there is hardship in Samoa and for one family at Siumu they are the living proof.

Sixty two year old mother and grandmother Faatolu Seigafo of Siumu told the Samoa Observer yesterday that life in the rural area is not as easy as the life in town.

When we talk about poverty we refer to money because money is everything and so life is hard when it comes to money, she said.

With our family we have only one working person and that is my son who is employed at the Sinalei Resort.

His pay helps us to pay for one of his brothers children and then we have church commitment and as well as the village commitments.

However, with the village commitment we can afford but as for church and school that is where we suffer.

I have three grandchildren who are attending school at the moment and they all need money for registration and then, we have their lunch to worry about and then school activities that also requires us parents to fork out money for their tausala.

Its very hard because sometimes I would complain to the teachers that not all families are rich but they are demanding money for this and that but they dont know how hard it is for other families to survive.

Ms. Seigafo said that not only with school but also with the churches as well.

I know that this problem doesnt happen in just one village but it happens in all the villages and to everyone else.

Sometime I think that we are more worried about how we are going to give to the church but at the end we suffer because we dont know how we are going to feed our families.

That is the problem that the government doesnt know about the life here in the rural, commitment is everywhere and all those commitment it requires us to give money.

Ask about what she thinks the government should do, Ms. Seigafo said they (government) should really come up with ways to help the villages in the rural areas.

This is hardship here not in the town area, she said.

We should be able to be treated the same way as people in Apia are being treated but it seems like they (government) are more focusing on the development of Apia rather than focusing on us too.

We need help in any way, we are not telling them to give us money for free we are basically asking them to provide more opportunities for our children to work so they can look after our family.

That is what we are asking for is help give opportunities for the young ones because they are the ones who are looking after our family.

We know that the cost of living is sky rocketing but that is how it is, but at least help the people of Samoa first before you consider helping others.
There have been many claims that there is no poverty in Samoa but our eyes will always tell a different story to what our ears hear.

We have child vendors everywhere; beggars on the street and if one takes time to drive in the rural areas you will notice that there are definitely people living under that poverty line.

One lady in particular from Poutasi and Falealili is finding the village standard of living just a little bit too difficult to handle.

Barely getting by every day, Nive Tulaga has found herself caretaking for her elderly mother and putting her five children in school all with what she earns selling crops from her small plantation.

Life in the rural villages is hard, she told the Samoa Observer.

I am currently unemployed because I was asked to come here and look after the family but now Im trying to find another job to help out with everything here at home.

We need money to help with everyday life; I have a sibling in Apia who works but they need to support their own family but for us we are struggling.

We just got our childrens school bills and its pretty expensive especially with the School C and S.S.L.C. bills.

Aside from not being able to earn any decent money, Mrs. Tulaga also claims that the cost of living is too high and the goods at shops are getting more and more expensive.

The cost of living is too high nowadays, she said.

If you dont have work then your children wont eat simple as that; right now we are living on our plantation and that is also our source of money.

There is so many things to do here in the rural villages and we dont know where we can find the money to do them all.

But what can be done to help those who are struggling?

Mrs. Tulaga offers a solution for Samoas Government.

They (the government) should find new ways of creating employment for people in the rural villages, she said.

I applied for a job at T.A.T.T.E. and they said for me to wait and I have been waiting; Im just grateful for the flea market which I have been using to sell my goods.

I also worked at Seafood but the pay was not enough to support the family; I am currently the caretaker of my mother.

Its just not easy taking care of someone when you dont have enough money; When we get faalifu then that is what we feed my mother; if we get just a bit of money then we make something nicer for her; and if we just have tea then thats all we can provide her.
An elderly couple has spoken up about how the government is still ignoring their cry for help to rebuild their home that was destroyed by Cyclone Evans in 2012.

Sale and Leata Petersen said that they are tired of waiting.

The whole front part of our house has gone thanks to Cyclone Evan, said Mr. Petersen.

We were only left with just the back of our house and that is what we have been using from 2012 till now.

We have been contacting the government officials who are dealing with these kind of problems but they told us to be patient, they are working on it.

From 2012 till now 2016, and look at the condition of our home? Still no improvement and up until now, all the government is telling us is to be patient.

Mrs. Petersen said they have been patient for four years now and it seems like their cry for help is being ignored by the government.

We see that there have been some nice buildings going up that cost millions of tala and when we ask other people they say they were built by the government, she said.

Our home is not going to cost them $50,000 tala and yet we have been waiting for four years.

Mrs. Petersen went on to say that they know life is hard but the government couldve at least provided them a straight answer to what is happening with the rebuilding of their home.

They (government) should not only be focusing on the development in the town area, but they should be looking at ways to help us who are in the rural areas as well, she said.

We are also part of the community and we are also citizens of this country too.

We have children overseas who are helping us out but the damage to our home was not done by any of us, it was a natural disaster that caused this so I believe that they should be able to help us as soon as possible.

Our home is not safe anymore and I assure you that when another cyclone hits us we will have no more home and thats how dangerous it is to continue living in here.

Even this part of the house that we are in, we only use it in the morning but no one sleeps here at night because as you can see the poles are not straight and it is not safe for us to stay in it.

With that in mind, Mrs. Petersen said at the moment they are just waiting for the day their home falls apart.

We dont know what else to do. We dont know who to go to now because we have been everywhere but we still receive the same answer; that we have to be patient and wait, she said.

I think no matter how much we complain and say this and that, they (government) are not going to do anything so we have given up because for four years we have been crying for help and yet nothing is being done.

We dont see any progress with our home.

The elderly couple said that they understand life is hard but the government should really make an effort in support the families who are living in the rural areas.

The government kept saying that there is no hardship in Samoa but thats because they are living in the town area where everything has been upgraded, said Mr. Petersen.

They should come here to the rural areas. This is where the hardship occurs because most families here depend on their plantation to survive.

It is very hard to get by each and every day if we have a faalifu and koko Samoa for the day that is more than enough for us to survive on and that happens to all other families here in the rural area.

Government has no idea how hard it is for us to get by each and every day. But thats how life is and I guess we will never know when our home will be done.

We will just depend on God to help us get by every day.
The Congregational Church of Jesus Christ in Apia was full yesterday with hundreds of people who gathered to farewell the man known as one of Samoas National Heroes.

The life of the former Commissioner of the Fire and Emergency Service Authority (F.E.S.A), Seve Tony Hill was celebrated yesterday during his final service.

Seve went to our Heavenly Father after his battle with cancer on the 16th of August at the Middlemore Hospital in New Zealand.

He was 60-years old.

At his final service yesterday, Seve was described by his nieces as a unique, simple, loving, and a great inspiration to them all.

His son Raymond Hill remembered his dad as a person who was passionate about making Samoa safe. My dad was one of a kind, said Raymond.

He taught us about how to live life properly through the things he did and how he lived his life.

We became volunteers at a very young age, he said.

We were not fire-fighters, but we looked after the trucks and helped him out with his work.

Seve was also a loving and helpful person, said Raymond.

He never turned his back on anyone, and I have never heard him say No to whoever needed help.

Seves wife, Monette Hill said her husband was a hard-working and simple man.

I am sad because we can no longer hear Tonys voice, said Mrs. Hill.

We never needed an alarm clock, because we had the loudest alarm clock and that was Tony.

He would always say that time waits for no man.

Seve had a big heart and passion for Samoas Fire and Emergency Service and for keeping Samoa safe, said Mrs Hill.

He always used to say that his responsibility was to save the properties and lives of the people of Samoa.

Tony never knew the meaning of the words, No, Cant and Impossible. Only the words Yes, Can, Possible and Simple.

Tony was an inspiration and was the greatest teacher of all.

Mrs. Hill also said that her husband was a man of faith and courage. Even during his last days.

Mrs. Hill said, "Seve was ready to go and be with Jesus."

She recalled the time when the doctors informed them that there was nothing more they could do about his condition.

He told me he was ready, she said. But when the children arrived, they asked him to wait and spend some time with them.

And he did, said Mrs. Hill.

However, on the 16th of August, the children told him that he could now go and be with our Heavenly Father. So he said goodbye to everyone and asked me to thank everyone who prayed for him and send them his love.

Reverend Fiti Aloalii also remembered the spiritual life of Seve Tony Hill as one of the dedicated, hard-working and committed deacons of their congregation.

He made reference to 2 Samuel 3:38, Know ye not that there is a great man fallen this day in Israel?

Such words are appropriate for this day, said Reverend Fiti.

Seve had been a deacon in this congregation for so many years. Not only that, but he always had time to participate in many other church activities we had and offered his time whenever it was needed.

He recalled the time when they were building the new parish hall in 1994.

All the people that worked with him helped out with the work without any pay, because of Seve.

He had a big heart and he was such a wonderful man.

Moreover, Reverend Fiti remembered the time when the former Head of State of Samoa Malietoa Tanumafili II, passed away and Seve built a special vehicle to carry his coffin.

Also, many pastors in Apia are enjoying free water supply of Vaitele spring water from Seves water business.

He always did his best in all that he did. He was never selfish and he served and loved God to the best of his ability, and he also loved Gods people.

He was a man of God and a humble person. And he fought a good battle, because he hung onto faith even during his final days.

Seve Tony Hill was born on February 20, 1956 to his parents, Raymond Hill and Lina Lefu in Auckland New Zealand.

He married Monette Meredith-Hill in 1987, and they have six children, three boys and three girls.

He proudly served Samoa as a fire-fighter for over 20 years. He brought the Fire and Rescue Service to Samoa, built the first ever Fire and Emergency Service Facility in Samoa located in Apia and Faleata.
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
Fairfax, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/25/2016 -- MSS Software, an industry leader in barcode solutions, based in Virginia, has announced an expansion in their barcode equipment rental service.



MSS Software already maintains, according to information available on their website, one of the industry's largest barcode equipment rental and leasing programs available. Their established rental and leasing programs are primarily for barcode Scanners and Readers, and the company has a stock of more than 1,000 of these readers, scanners and mobile devices available for rent. Beyond their stock of equipment, MSS Software frequently works with companies, who seek barcode solutions beyond their currently available equipment.



The company details the flexibility of their rental programs with a variety of terms and agreements. Their short-term weekly and monthly leasing programs include wireless, batch, bluetooth, inventory scanners, attendance tracking scanners, trade show and lead retrieval scanners. With these short-term and monthly leasing programs, MSS Software hopes to provide this barcode equipment as a more affordable option to businesses who need barcode equipment for temporary or occasional use and would otherwise have to purchase the equipment outright.



MSS Software also provides extensive information on the variety of rental equipment they offer. One item they offer for lease and rent is a Barcode Reader. Barcode readers are simple, handheld mobile devices that read barcodes and also serve as a portable mobile computer with internet or cellular access.



MSS Software carries models of barcode readers from most major manufacturers such as Zebra, Honeywell and Intermec and also provides the barcode software itself and works with customers unfamiliar with barcode operations. Their experts are able to match a customer's barcode needs with the necessary barcode application software; often, according to MSS, they are able to pre-load rented and leased devices with the necessary software to minimize or eliminate potential difficulties.



Barcode scanners are also available for rent and/or lease according to MSS Software. These scanners attach to computers using USB or Bluetooth, scanning barcodes and sending the data right into the computer.



The barcode equipment company offers customers the ability to rent portable barcode printers. These printers are used by customers who need to create physical barcode labels in real-time. The mobile printers have the capacity to print labels, tickets and receipts as well.



MSS Software's rental and leasing programs lend themselves well to trade shows. Since many businesses only sell physical products at certain times during the year, like a trade show, or generate large volumes of sales or leads at trade shows, their rental and lease programs appear relevant to these businesses. MSS Software provides rentals of Tradeshow Scanner equipment which allows exhibitors to automatically track the leads they generate.



About MSS Software

In addition to their rental program, MSS Software provides a variety of other barcode solutions to customers and also provides tablets and wireless networks for increased convenience in dealing with barcodes. MSS delivers profound data collection solutions such as asset tracking, attendance tracking and inventory tracking. Each of these processes is potentially made more efficient and accurate with the equipment and software available from MSS Software. For more information on their products and services, details can be found at http://www.mss-software.com/rentals.php or otherwise contact them using the information provided below.



Contact:

MSS Software

Address: 10394 Democracy Lane, Fairfax, VA 22030

Phone: 1.800.428.6643

Email: sales@mss-software.com

Website: www.mss-software.com
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/25/2016 -- This Labor Day Weekend the Ghost Doctors will be leading groups of courageous apprentice ghost hunters through the endless wings, hallways and galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in search of ghostly spirits. After their brave recruits have received a crash course in the fundamentals of ghost hunting 101, they'll be drilled in the proper use of different electronic ghost hunting equipment as well as how to detect and even photograph signs of paranormal activity.



The Ghost Doctors (aka Dr. Pete and Dr. Stew) well known paranormal investigators and licensed NYC tour guides have been exploring the Met like a scene out of an Indiana Jones movie in their quest to find its ghostly inhabitants. And it seems that they have unearthed some strange goings-on within the walls of this enormously imposing museum.



"We have been exploring the Met for quite some time and have uncovered signs of some strange and at times bizarre paranormal phenomena," says Dr.Pete. "And these Labor Day Weekend's ghost hunts should be really exciting, considering this museum has the largest collection of priceless and ancient artifacts in the world."



And with a bit of luck, some ghostly spirits who are celebrating this long holiday weekend may just want to check out those enchanted pieces of art they had their eyes on and the Ghost Doctors and their bands of hunters will be hiding in the wings to catch a glimpse.



About Ghost Doctors

Ghost Doctors (http://www.ghostdoctors.com), is the premier ghost hunting tour in NYC that actually allows participants to experience "real" ghost hunts. Their ghosts hunts are suited for public, private and corporate events.
[MANILA] Several countries are in a race to make the first large-scale rollout of new tuberculosis drugs designed for young children.



The drugs are not exactly new but a reformulation and an improvement over existing ones and specially target children  with the right dosage and added flavour to make it tolerable to take.

With the right dosage for kids, health outcomes would improve. Rajendra Radav, WHO

Mari Toni Aumentado, who spoke about her familys experience with TB treatment at a TB forum on 19 August in Manila, says that she and three of her kids are now undergoing treatment for TB. She says it is quite a chore to prepare the medicine and cut them into pieces for childrens dosage. It also tastes awful, making it doubly hard to convince her kids to take them daily. Experts say this interrupted, erratic and inadequate TB therapy fuel the development of drug-resistant TB.



But upon learning during the conference of the new TB drugs, which is a reformulation from single-dose combination for adults to correct fixed-dose combination for kids, Aumentado is already looking forward to its nationwide rollout in the Philippines possibly around January 2017.



The Philippines will be among the early adaptors of the new formulation, says Steve Graham, a professor of international child health at the University of Melbourne and a senior consultant for child lung health at The Union, a non-profit based in France which aims to control TB, HIV, asthma, and tobacco and lung diseases.



Other countries in the region which he said are also preparing for the anticipated introduction of the new drugs, include Cambodia, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea, along with African countries Kenya and Tanzania.



Rajendra Radav, country medical officer at the WHO Philippines office, says too many kids with TB are not being treated. Globally each year, one million children get sick with TB and about 140,000 deaths per year, which could be higher since he suspects many of the acute anemia deaths in kids are actually due to TB.



And those that get treated are treated with medicines and dosage intended for adults that negatively affect outcomes, he adds. With the right dosage for kids, health outcomes would improve.



Graham says countries that have expressed interest in the TB drugs for kids are currently working on the policies and guidelines for procurement, distribution, detection, diagnosis and other issues.



Rosalind Vianzon, a division chief at the Department of Health, notes that in the Philippines, the challenges include capacitating those who will deliver the services and ensuring there is enough budget to guarantee continuous supply, since one of the complaints of mothers like Aumentado is the lack of TB medicines even though she lives in the capital city.

[Another] main challenge is allocation [and] making sure that medicines are available particularly in rural areas, Vianzon adds.The new drugs were developed by the non-profit US-based TB Alliance and drug firm Macleods Pharmaceuticals with funding from the Geneva-based UNITAID.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets South-East Asia & Pacific desk.
The tropical activity in the Atlantic is at its hottest peak starting from mid-August to mid-October. Over the past 10 days, there were already two storms that developed. The first storm was named Fiona that moved peacefully across the central Atlantic and dissipated earlier this week.

On Monday, the seventh tropical depression of the summer formed off the west coast of Africa which rapidly became a tropical storm named as Gaston. Experts expect Gaston to remain as a hurricane for a couple of days but will not harm anyone as it moves on the open waters of the Atlantic just east of Bermuda.

Officials report that neither of these storms is to be worried about for the United States but there is another strong tropical wave, Invest 99-L as per report of Naples News, entering the Eastern Caribbean that people should be wary of. The National Hurricane Center believes that this tropical wave has 80 percent chance of turning into a tropical storm later this week and will move across central and eastern Bahamas.

Luckily, a very advanced computer model is now being used by the facility to track and provide solutions to these potential threats. Also, their most reliable models expect another hurricane to hit the Gulf of Mexico and a storm to hit the Southeastern United States. And some tropical waves seemed to remain as is.

With any expected development or not, officials remind people that the storm will bring gusty winds and heavy downpours to many areas in the Caribbean, from Puerto Rico and Hispaniola till it reaches the Bahamas. They expect the rain to reach Florida by Sunday.

It may be too early to forecast anything specific, by anyone interested in visiting the Gulf of Mexico and the Southeast coast of the United States should take note of these warnings. The CNN is continuously updating their report about this tropical waves and storms to inform Americans and tourists.
IFA is set to happen on the first week of September and Huawei claims that it will surprise everyone at the event by sending out teasers of what could be an introduction to an entirely new line of products.

Ubergizmo.com reported that Huawei is going to launch a new sub-brand at the IFA 2016. The report indicated that Huawei executive, Kevin Ho saying that the upcoming brand is going to bring mid-range smartphones to the market. Huawei is apparently already lining up its products up for showcase. Huawei ranks third in the world as top smartphone manufacturer and the leader in the Chinese market.

Rumors about Huawei's surprises for the IFA have been going around for a while, and the company has finally confirmed that it will take part in the Sept.1 event. Tech Times reported that the official teaser will give more details about the company's gadgets at 10:30 a.m. CEST (Central European Summer Time), meaning 4:30 a.m. EST and 1:30 a.m. PST, respectively.

Huawei is very bold in its marketing campaign and made use of "Defy Expectations" as their slogan for their upcoming product launch. Kevin Ho, who is also the president of Handset Product Line, confirmed earlier this year that the company aims to use its time at IFA to release a new sub-brand. There have also been reports that the company would apparently introduce a new smartphone geared primarily towards women, the Nova brand.

Meanwhile, yugatech.com reported that the new Huawei line could be the IFA star since this is the only one in the books. Also, knowing how much the company loves to surprise its consumers, there is a great chance that fans will be getting something extra during IFA from the smartphone maker. The company has also kept mum about the rumored release of the second generation Huawei Smartwatches and Mate, and since the rumors about it is scarce, there might be a chance that the company would wait for another event to launch the gadgets.

So far this is the latest about Huawei's participation in the upcoming IFA event, so stay tuned to find out more details about what the manufacturer has in store.
Terrorist attacks in France have left the country feeling vulnerable, which is why many are trying to put barriers that could minimize the sparks of outrage that could come from the majority of the population.

Liberty, Equality, Hypocrisy.



What does all the supposedly "progressive" culture and civilization of France... https://t.co/HR70SMglrR  SUMSA (@SUMSAsydney) August 25, 2016

With this in mind, Cannes mayor David Lisnard banned full-body swimsuits known as "burkinis" from the beach, saying that they were as "symbol of Islamic extremism" and may spark rage, as France had been targeted several times of Islamist attacks.

Unfortunately, this ruling caused a Muslim Frenchwoman to be fined on the beach for wearing her hijab. BBC pointed out that the woman was not wearing a burkini, but a tunic and leggings, with her hijab covering only her hair. The woman, identified only as Siam, said that she did not intend to bathe - she just wanted to dip her feet in the water.

Siam recalled that she was approached by police officers who told her she had to wear a proper attire at the beach, suggesting that she could remain if she rearranged her scarf as a headband instead. She refused to do so and was fined 11 (about 12.45), which reports suggest that she would contest. While the whole incident was ongoing, a crowd was also said to have gathered near her and the police, some of them shouting "Go home!"

In a report by the Daily Mail, Siam was quoted to have said, "'Today we are not allowed on the beach. Tomorrow, the street? Tomorrow, we'll be forbidden from practicing our religion at all?"

Not everyone agreed with the clothing ban, though. A wealthy Frenchman, Rachid Nekkaz, who was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges from American immigrants said that he will pay any fine incurred by these women for wearing their outfit of choice. He shared with CNN, "I decided to pay for all the fines of women who wear the burkini in order to guarantee their freedom of wearing these clothes, and most of all, to neutralize the application on the ground of this oppressive and unfair law."
Genealogical files moving to Darlington

BY ARDIE ARVIDSON

HARTSVILLE - The Old Darlington District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society Inc. in Hartsville (ODDC) has lost the home for its extensive collection of historical information. The chapter, started in June 1997, has called the old Depot building on Fourth Street home for nearly 20 years but was given notice this summer it would have to move. The building has been sold.

The new owners are Cross Roads Development LLC.

I hate to see it happen, but at this time it is necessary, said Johnny Andrews, vice president of ODDC and editor of their quarterly publication The Darlington Flag. He is also a member of Hartsville city council.

We could see the handwriting on the wall, he said

According to Andrews, ODDC found out in June that there was a bid on the building.

We leased the building from the city of Hartsville for $1 a year, Andrews said.

For a while now, members have been packing and preparing to move boxes of historical documents, old maps and photographs.

Andrew said the city did not have another available building suitable for their purpose. They also looked at the old Food Lion building, Butler complex and other places without any luck. When their search didnt produce any prospects, he asked Lynn Lee, president of ODDC, if they should approach the Historical Commission in Darlington about taking the collection and she agreed.

ODDC recently reached an agreement with the Historical Commission in Darlington to take most of their collection as a permanent loan.

Their collection includes thousands of family surname files including an extensive collection of African-American funeral programs from the Hartsville community, a series of Civil War letters from Alexander F. Byrd (Co. E, 6th SC Volunteers) to his wife, an estimated 2,500 books covering South Carolina history and genealogy as well as history and genealogy from across the Southeastern United States, an extensive collection of microfilm and microfiche, maps, Carson Steens Hartsville Oral History Collection, the Skinner family collection of thousands of genealogical files from all areas of South Carolina, Jeannine W. Talwar Genealogical Collection, Carrie Lee Kalber, Beaufort County family history of the Erwin, Lawton and Allied families and the Jill King Lyles  Welsh Neck Baptist Association records from 1730s to 1990s, and many others.

He said the Historical Commission is getting a great collection.

We are honored to be the new repository for the ODDC's extensive collection, said Brian E. Gandy, director of the Darlington County Historical Commission, located in Darlington at 204 Hewitt Street. The significance of their collection is staggering, considering they were such a small organization. It goes to show the capacity of dedicated historians and genealogists when given the opportunity to allow their work to produce fruit. It is for that reason that I am most excited that the collection is being kept intact. It will serve as a memorial to the life work of many dedicated members of the ODDC.

Andrews said everything moved quickly once the ODDC board and the Historical Commission board agreed on the move.

He said a plus for relocating their materials to the Historical Commission is that they have climate controlled space and steady hours of operation. Andrews said ODDC had a difficult time in recent years getting volunteers to keep the building open.

One drawback, however, is that the Historical Commission is not open on weekends.

We are aware of the constraints of our facility's weekly business hours, Gandy said. It is unfortunate that we do not have the staff or resources to operate on weekends. In an attempt to address these concerns, we are working diligently to index and publicize the materials that we have in our collections. We want our citizens and fellow researchers to have complete access to our records. We now have our web page up and running (https://sites.google.com/a/darcosc.net/commission/) and will be adding more indexes and material listings as time allows. Our idea is simple. We will present our holdings as fully as possible and work with our patrons to accommodate their needs. Through our website, patrons are able to submit online request. We evaluate the availability of source material and send them an invoice for the services. Surprisingly, we have a lot of patrons that use this service. Our goal is to give opportunity for people to reconnect with their history.

Lee and Andrews said the ODDC will still exist and meet. There are about 100 members, many from out of state, Andrews said.

Both agreed they will now have more time to devote to other projects like helping the city of Hartsville with the preservation of the old Marion Avenue Cemetery (next to the old Lincoln Village apartments), dating back to 1904.

Weve documented a lot of the graves next to Lincoln village, Andrews said.

More workshops are planned, too. The next one will be on Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. on preservation of old documents and photographs. It will be held at the Historical Commission.
FLORENCE, S.C.  A Florence physician was arrested on Monday, Aug. 22, on charges of bank fraud and filing a false police report.

Lloyd Charles Miller Jr., a doctor employed with First Choice Healthcare in Florence, filed a report with the Florence Police Department stating that his bank account was compromised, according to Lt. Mike Brandt.

Miller, 62, alleged that a large sum of money was missing from his account, so he informed his bank of the of the loss and was refunded the money, according to Brandt. Brandt would not disclose the exact amount of money Miller claimed to have lost.

An investigation followed and detectives discovered that Miller had "made the transactions he had claimed were fraudulent."

Miller was arrested at 10:38 a.m. on Monday and released less than three hours later on personal recognizance bonds. Miller could not be reached for comment on this incident.
As I watched the Hillary Clinton Convention, I wondered how she's going to do all the things she has promised.

With the country so far in debt, we have mortgaged our national forests to the communists. We have sold our pork industry to the same. The Egg & I has been sold to the Japanese. Foreign investors are buying up our farmland like hot cakes, but corn prices are at a 52-year low.

Our farm machinery is at record high prices. Taxes are unreasonable. According to statistics, we are killing each other like flies. I think we are facing even bigger troubles in the future.

If you, your son or daughter was on the battlefield with only what was in his/her hands, would you want a commander in chief back in her office giving away our nation's secrets, you or your child's location, to the enemy? In comes a mortar shell with a direct hit, and there are not enough body parts to be sent home, with only the explanation, lost in battle.

There are others who came home with injuries so severe that it's almost like taking care of a newborn baby.

As you go to the polls to vote in November, think about what is happening to our country. Think of the leaders of the past several years. What have they done (or not done), in their elected offices, to make things so bad?

Voting is one of the few privileges we have left as citizens of the United States of America.

Please go to the polls and vote in November.

ALEXANDER PAUL

Darlington
Reading through some Old Testament prophets, and then Carl Sandburgs Four Preludes on Playthings in the Wind, I am convinced: we need a miracle!

It's not for Donald Trump that we need this. Flying in the face of political correctness (Clarence Page calls it bad manners) he has made his case. He calls for a shift in trade agreements that only vested economists can reject; calls for law and order and rebuilding the overworked and underequipped military; a moratorium on alien invasions. And he has listed a pool of possible Supreme Court justices who actually support the Constitution.

But we need a miracle for Vanishing America.

The big crunch came with the Democrat Convention. And what a diverse gathering it was! The open borders crowd, complete with flags; promiscuity groups touting progress; a group of enlisted sitters to replace the Sanders people who walked out; a strong Muslim element. And a contingent that was often rowdy, the group that sent welcomed representatives to the White House, and by now is fomenting destructive anti-police violence in Milwaukee.

The staggering national debt; aliens over our southern border, plus the vetted individuals from Syria; radical Islamic terrorism; ninety million American adults out of the work force, all went unmentioned in the proceedings that the media labeled optimistic.

Almost obliterated from the proceedings were patriotism and faith. The American flag was totally absent on the first day of the convention, and a decorated American hero could not be heard over a protesting element in the crowd. And in a rare appeal to faith, the lady asked for a moment of silence for fallen police officers, a silence that was nullified by those of another persuasion.

From this the Anti-Trump became fashionable. Feminists want a woman, any woman (except maybe Thatcher or Maier). Handy protest groups like moveon.org find Trump-bashing cool, still longing for the fun their grandparents had in the Vietnam rallies. Also the condescending, often sanctimonious, Cult of Political Correctness, where elitism is a virtue!

But the most disgusting part of this parade is the Republican establishment. Millions of Republican voters chose a candidate, and this crowd thumbs their noses at them. Indeed, they have done very well in surrendering to Obama without a fight, so theyd rather not have a Trump who will put up a fight.

So we need a miracle, a revelation from the hidden bag of deceits that will be so powerful it cannot be ignored (as in the Iran ransom, cooking the books on ISIS and Department of Injustice halting investigation on Clinton Foundation) by New York Times, CBS and The Morning News.

Such a miracle could finally give a voice to the overlooked: border patrol agents with smugglers in their sights, only to be told to stand down; coal miners; rural areas where thousands of migrants have been dumped (not in Chappaqua); police shot at and maligned for risking their lives; people who use Genesis as a definition of marriage, and take Leviticus 17 and Romans I as mandate. And those who see Dirty Harry as the answer, rather than a devious Pollyanna protected by a fawning media.

Yes, we should pray for a miracle. Eight more years of the Alinsky-Obama-Clinton scourge, and we go the way of the Lost Continent.

Warning: avoid reading the Sandburg sermon.

ROY HAYMOND

Centenary
#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...
Ask yourself a simple question: Who do you trust?

An advertiser or a user who posted a review?

A politician or your friend who might lose her job?

A company spokesperson or an employee you met at a bar?

Since 2001 Edelman has been compiling an annual Trust Barometer to track the level of reported trust in official information sources. Distressingly, though not surprisingly, most people dont trust official sources of information.

However, there is one source of information from inside your company that people do trust  employees. When it comes to issues of crisis handling, environmental practices, safety standards and even financial earnings, people trust employees more than senior executives  put simply, theyd rather hear from the guy in the boiler suit than the guy in the three-piece suit.

Advertising agencies already know this and ads almost invariably feature consumers and/or employees rather than senior executives. A recent advertisement for Airbus works because it features a diverse group of employees rather than the ceo. Sure, we know its scripted and at some level we wonder if maybe were actually watching actors, but at first glance we kind of trust what theyre saying.

The fact is, people are more likely to believe your seafarers than your appointed spokesperson  a scary thought, since every company eventually faces employee complaints and theres virtually nothing you can do to stop these complaints ending up on line. With a good communications strategy you can manage these confrontations, but the company usually starts from a position of disadvantage.

If you tell your employees not to post anything about work online, then your most loyal, responsible employees wont, but this leaves the employees most likely to cause problems as the only public employee faces of your company.

If you have happy employees and you treat them well (and if youre reading this then Im guessing you do) then you want them online, because theyre your best ambassadors, your best advertising and your best recruitment tool  and its free!

Of course, there are risks. We can tell you countless stories of seafarers posting stupid content that embarrassed their company, but the best way to manage this risk is to ensure that for every embarrassing post there are 100 positive posts from your happy employees.

Some shipping companies are already encouraging online activity, sharing employee posts and even running companywide photo competitions. However, most companies seem to be hoping that if they tell their seafarers to turn off their phones, then social media will just pass them by  its not working.

Let your employees brag about the great company they work for. Encourage them to talk about the opportunities theyve received, free them to share their company pride, but if youre going to take my advice, then make sure that you have a common-sense social media policy in place and backed up with training, because, while photos of the staff party are great, photos from the after party arent what you want online.

Contributed by Dustin Eno, coo & crisis response manager, Navigate Response
The move by Shenzhen port follows other Chinese ports in the Yantze River Delta such as Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong, which are required to comply with the countrys own Emission Control Area (ECA) since 1 April 2016.

Recently local authorities in Shenzhen made a similar decision and intend to adopt higher requirement on using low sulphur content fuel (not exceeding 0.5%) during ships berthing at Shenzhen port from 1 October 2016, Huatai Insurance said in a note on 23 August.

According to the information we obtained, in Pearl River Delta ECA, only at Shenzhen port such requirement will be implemented in advance, namely, from 1 October 2016; whilst at other key ports within Pearl River Delta ECA, such requirement will still be implemented from 1 January 2017 as per original schedule of China MSA (Maritime Safety Administration), the note stated.

As advised by Shenzhen MSA, they are now working out details on these requirements and plan to issue a formal notice in the end of this month.

Shenzhen port has 10 berths that are equipped with shoreside power, or cold-ironing facilities, which ships can plug onto for electricity power and do away with the consumption of bunker fuel.

Internationally, the IMO is mulling a global sulphur content cap of 0.5% by 2020 or 2025, subject to a review in 2018. At present, a cap of 3.5% is being enforced.
The Norway-based global maritime agency will staff the Alexandria office 24/7 with agents it says boast an intimate knowledge of the workings of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and how ship owners/operators can best benefit from a rebate system it describes as stringent, yet generous.

Seatrade Maritime News has unveiled two toll sweeteners offered to VLCCs recently as the SCA looks to recoup the $8bn cost of a new 72km Suez Canal widening project inaugurated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in August 2015.

The discounts are a response to increased competition from the newly expanded Panama Canal and to coax back vessels which have otherwise veered away from the Suez and its tolls by sailing the long way around the Cape of Good Hope.



Related content

New Suez Canal toll could save VLCCs $70,000 as authority looks to boost traffic

Suez Canal offers second toll sweetener to VLCC operators

Suez Canal revenue up 4% despite slowing trade

WSS says the widened Suez Canal, designed to double daily traffic and increase annual revenue to more than $13bn by 2023, has cut vessel waiting times from 11 to three hours.



SCA rebates typically range between 5% and 35% dependant on an array of route and cargo variables. The biggest savings of up to 65% are available to container vessels trading between ports south of Norfolk, Virginia in the US and ports lying to the east of Port Kelang, Malaysia, WSS says.

However, Steffen Langlete, WSSs Ship Agency product manager, says the incentives often go unclaimed due to the complex SCA system which is calculated on a case-by-case basis and also subject to factors such as freight rates, hire rates and bunker prices.

WSS cites the example of a recent client with a 38,000 dwt general cargo vessel which it helped cut $50,000 from the original $180,000 transit fee.



Loading in Huelva, Spain and discharging in Fangscheng, China, this considerable rebate could have, and often does go, unclaimed by customers unable or unaware of the paperwork and timings required by the SCA, Langlete said.



This is a great scheme with huge potential benefits but if shippers forget to apply at the right time, or fail to submit the correct papers, their rebates may not be forthcoming and, in an era of tight margins and pressure on costs, this can be a heavy price to pay.

Its hard to stay on top of everything and thats why weve created this expert team. Its a service that meets a genuine market need and will greatly assist all our customers passing through this fundamentally important trading channel.

The team matches a WSS transit team working the Panama Canal with similar, already established relationships with port authorities and security companies, WSS says.

WSS has more than 30 years of experience in the Suez Canal focused on helping clients with slot bookings, pilotage, bunkering and husbandry services. Its new Alexandria transit team will work in tandem with 200 agents employed across seven offices in Egypt, including 260km to the west at Port Said, the Mediterranean mouth of the Suez Canal, and at Port Suez at the Red Sea end of the newly expanded canal.



WSS is part of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, a network of 4,500 marine professionals servicing 2,200 ports in 125 countries.
Algerian immigrant, Houda Diaconescu. Photo by Nick Hagen.

1. Acclimation: Helping immigrants adjust to a new identity

Coming to a foreign land, especially if the arrival takes place amidst traumatic circumstances, presents many challenges. Finding a community of individuals with similar backgrounds, who have been through similar transitions before and can help with practical and emotional support, is crucial for immigrants to adapt.

Dr. Sook Wilkinson has witnessed this challenge firsthand as a clinical psychologist and faced it personally when she immigrated to America from South Korea in 1970. She also recently

"You get cut off from everything that's familiar to you and lose the identity you had before," says Dr. Wilkinson.

In many close-knit immigrant communities, seeking the help of an outsider is not considered an option. And few doctors speak their native language.

"First generation immigrants would only come to me when they couldn't go on any longer," she says. "In many communities, seeing a psychologist for treatment is not looked upon favorably."

As a result, much of the work of helping immigrants transition to life in America falls on nonprofits and volunteers.

As outreach coordinator for

Almost always, they are.

"They're determined," says Fouty. "It takes three years just to go through the process, to be given that refugee status and brought into U.S. through the State Department. So when they do get here, they work hard to knock everything off that checklist."

Samaritas also checks in with those they help and finds that self-sufficiency often extends far into the future.

"Within two years, we usually find all our clients are off government assistance and dependent for themselves," says Fouty. "They have a very high success rate as far as getting employed and maintaining a job."

2. Learning English: Helping immigrants navigate their new country

The practicalities of life don't just halt while you're trying to understand yourself and your new country. The vast majority of immigrants still have to learn English, often from scratch. And without English, navigating the bureaucratic labyrinths of getting a green card, driver's license, or any other legal necessity are impossible to do alone. Even simple tasks like grocery shopping and filling out a job application become daunting.

"If you do not speak the language, you cannot be independent," says Diaconescu. "It doesn't matter how much money you have or how nice your car is. If you can't speak the language, you can't do even basic things."

Unfortunately, this is one of our region's greatest unaddressed needs for immigrants. Wayne State University offers an intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) course, but it's prohibitively expensive for most.

ACCESS, and other organizations like it, offers ESL classes. Some libraries and public schools have recognized this need, too. Diaconescu took advantage of

But these services are often not enough.

"There's definitely a shortage of ESL classes," says Sauve. "Sometimes it's because of a mismatch with when and where it's available and lack of transit. In general, classes are almost always full."

Models exist in other cities for how municipalities can assist. In 1998, Boston created the Office for New Bostonians (now the

3. Civic Engagement: Helping immigrants become a part of the community

A major task of Welcoming Michigan is improving relations between immigrants and established citizens through "welcoming" events and meetups. The goal is to reduce bias and make immigrants feel more accepted.

Sauve cites many examples of the kind of goodwill these events can engender, like when Morse Elementary School in Troy, partnering with Samaritas, organized a welcoming day for two refugee families relocating to the area. Attendees brought food for a potluck, had the families tell their stories of coming to America, and collected money to help them get started. It brought everyone in the community closer together.

"The Mayor and Superintendent and a lot of city officials were there. Lots of family and students," says Fouty. "It was a great opportunity for us to inform more people and tell stories. When you hear about what folks go through and what it's like to move to a place where you don't have to worry about personal safety anymore, it's transforming."

"It's definitely a challenge to provide services to people who aren't used to receiving them," says Mayor Michael Taylor of Sterling Heights. "It's a challenge to communicate with them, inform them about our regulations and ordinances. We're doing everything we can to figure out new ways to reach these populations."

Sauve says Sterling Heights, and Macomb County generally, has been proactive by investing in remote video interpretation for people of limited English proficiency.

But many immigrants feel disconnected from the political process, in part because there aren't a proportional number of leaders that represent them. To take one metric as an example,

Eric Chau, who immigrated from Hong Kong to Metro Detroit when he was 12, is working to counteract this disparity. He became a board member for the

Eric Chau. Photo by Nick Hagen

Chau majored in civil engineering at the University of Michigan, but left that field as he got older and more confident. He eventually worked his way up to become the first Asian branch manager for Wells Fargo, then started his own financial services business.

While Chau leads his own company, he finds that the Asian American community, in general, lacks leadership.

"I think the challenge is getting younger professionals involved," says Chau. "Making sure there's help available to advance their careers, to make connections, and let them know that we're here."

He also gives talks and mentors young Asian professionals in leadership skills and advancing their career. He's helping put together an event in October through the B3 (build, believe, breakthrough) Program for professional development and peer networking among Asian Americans.

"For us to really have a say, we need to make sure we are heard," says Chau.

This piece is part of a solutions journalism series on Metro Detroit's regional issues, conducted in partnership with Metro Matters and guided by our Emerging Leaders Board

When Houda Diaconescu immigrated to Dearborn from Algeria in 2001, she didn't speak any English."I couldn't even say 'Hi, my name is Houda,'" she recalls.Diaconescu, trained as an engineer but unable to find work in Algeria, wanted to continue her education in America. But those plans never came to fruition. Between acclimating to a new culture, learning English, and becoming a mother, life was challenging enough. She eventually relocated to Sterling Heights and became a special education teacher."The main reason I came here was to get a Master's. Unfortunately, that never happened," she says. "But I'm working, making a living, surviving."Diaconescu's story is like so many who have immigrated to Metro Detroit in search of something better, whether it's security, financial prosperity, or education. The challenges she faced: learning English, acclimating to a new culture and engaging in the community are universal to newcomers, no matter their country of origin.First-generation immigrants are some of the most successful people in America. More often than not, they enter the job market and provide jobs for others as entrepreneurs at a higher rate than their native-born counterparts. And that's despite the many inherent disadvantages they face as newcomers.Steve Tobocman has been making the case for the economic impact of immigrants since starting Global Detroit in 2009. That year, he authored a 164-page report that assessed how immigrants contribute to the region's economy.In their report, Global Detroit put forth a set of strategies Metro Detroit's governments, businesses, and institutions can take to better secure immigrants' prosperityand leverage them as an asset.Many of these strategies entail greater governmental support. To properly mobilize and address the various needs of immigrants, the report recommends the creation of a Mayor's Office of Global Affairs, which could work alongside many of the preexisting institutions currently doing the work of supporting immigrants.In 2014, Detroit launched the Immigration Task Force "to support existing and future immigrant communities." While their work is still just beginning, earlier this year they announced that the city will offer municipal IDs for people who can't get a driver's license. The IDs will enable users to access city services, open a bank account, get a library card, and do many other basic and necessary things they couldn't previously."The immigrant community has made significant contributions and been a strong point in the economy in Southeast Michigan," says Tobocman. "We have a unique opportunity to revitalize a depopulated, struggling city and a regional economy very much in transition into a new knowledged-based economy. Immigrants have been at the forefront in making those contributions in ways that produce benefits for everyone along the economic ladder."Indeed, immigrants can be a stabilizing force in neighborhoods."During the Great Recession, Little Baghdad was one area that was booming," says Welcoming Michigan senior program coordinator Christine Sauve. "There were vacant commercial properties everywhere, but that area was flourishing. Immigrants have real effects on the vibrancy of a community."Tobocman argues that immigrants can also help revive struggling regions through an infusion of people that bring their own vibrant culture while growing the tax base."No American city has rebounded its population without immigration growth," he says.Helping immigrants to be successful is critical to making sure that vibrancy is sustained in Metro Detroit. Here're three areas where governments and community organizations are stepping in. co-edited a book of essays written by Asian immigrants to Michigan, many of whom describe another issue in the transition to a foreign land. Samaritas , a social ministry affiliated with the Lutheran church, one of Pastor Ken Fouty's primary duties is refugee resettlement. He helps newcomers during an intense 90-day resettlement period when they must have their kids enrolled in school, get social security cards, medical assessment, state identification, start looking for a job, and more. The goal is to have them be self-sufficient at the end of those 90 days.plays a similar role for Dearborn's Arab American immigrant population. Their eight locations offer a range of services for employment, entrepreneurship, STD screenings and other medical services. They also offer classes on cultural competency, citizenship, digital literacy, and much more. Livonia Public School's ESL classes for adults, attending almost every weekday when she first arrived. She now speaks fluent English, and even tutors other immigrants. Office Immigrant Advancement ) and one of its duties is increasing ESL options and capacities, reducing waitlists, and maintaining a directory of institutions and companies that offer classes (currently, 56 locations). naturalized citizens vote at a lower percentage , 10 percent or greater, than their native counterparts. And while there are some notable second generation politicians in Michigan, like Rashida Tlaib, an Arab-American member of Michigan's House of Representatives, and Raquel Castaneda-Lopez, the first Latina voted to Detroit's City Council, first generation politicians are rare. Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote of Michigan to increase political awareness amongst immigrants.This work is funded by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan . You can view other pieces in this series here
It's almost time for the public to get a look at Western Michigan University's new Valley Dining Center where there will be nine restaurant-style venues open to students and the entire community.The new Valley Dining Center was designed to serve as the anchor for the Goldsworth Valley campus neighborhood. The area is home to the majority of WMU's first-year students.It is across the street from and has a view overlooking Goldsworth Valley Pond, was built to surpass LEED silver specifications.Although all WMU dining centers are open to all campus and community guests, WMU officials say the Valley Dining Center is expected to be a particularly popular destination because of its variety of daily dining choices, attractive surroundings, and ample seating options.Food is prepared in front of the guests in a series of micro-restaurants on the second floor of the facility. Each micro-restaurant has its own menu, associated seating area, decor, and theme.Each micro-restaurant has a unique name associated with the cuisine offered: Traditions, Cilantro's, Pastaria, Pacific Plate, Blazin' Bronco, Fresh Creations, My Pantry and Sweet Sensations.My Pantry will serve the growing number of students with food allergies and special nutritional needs. The controlled, allergen-free zone will serve individually prepared selections that are gluten-free, and nut- and peanut-free.Other fare includes Asian cuisine, home-style classics, pizza or pasta choices, Latin dishes, deli sandwiches and wraps, breakfast fare, a classic grill menu, a salad bar that includes cut fresh fruit selections, and a full dessert station that will specialize in crepes and smores."We've paid close attention to student needs and the qualities they've told us they want to see where they live and dine," says Dr. Diane Anderson, vice president for student affairs. "And then we went even further and tried to anticipate their future wishes, meet campus dining trends and provide the kind of gathering space that makes students proud to be a Bronco and a WMU campus resident."She says, "That 'wow' factor we've built into the Valley Dining Center is an important part of attracting and retaining students and helping them build memories that will stay with them for years to come."The Valley Dining Center ribbon cutting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 1. The ceremony to include university officials, architects and builders, students and the broader community will be followed by self-guided tours until 6 p.m.Source: Cheryl Roland, Western Michigan University
Sue Edwards has been named Vice President, Branch Manager, and Steve Piper has become Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer at the First National Bank of Michigan 's downtown Kalamazoo location.With more than 29 years of experience in retail banking, Sue Edwards brings extensive knowledge and award-winning customer service skills to the bank, says Larry Lueth, CEO. We are happy to have Sue join our team and take our exceptional customer service to next level.He has similar praise for Piper.Starting as a part-time teller during college and advancing through the banking ranks to become Chief Credit Officer makes Steve an incredible asset, said Lueth. Steve understands the West Michigan market and brings extensive experience and knowledge to our Credit Department and as a bank executive.Source: First National Bank of Michigan
Andy wont tell you his last name. He prefers anonymity. The focus, he says, should be on Earth First. Earth, always, first.You know, Im a pretty normal guy, Andy says. I work a day job. Ive always been a nature loverI grew up around the Kalamazoo River. When an oil spill happenedthat was my wake-up call.Andy is referring to the oil spill in 2010, when an oil pipeline operated by Enbridge burst, resulting in the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history. Thirty-five miles of the Kalamazoo River were closed for a clean-up that lasted years. About 300 acres of wetlands alongside the river were destroyed, much of it during the clean-up process, Andy says.By 2014, Andy was ready to do his part. He founded Fen Valley Earth First!, or FVEF!, a local group branching from the international movement, Earth First!The Earth First! movement grew as a grassroots effort from the point where most environmental groups leave offnot shying away from protest and civil disobedience when the occasion arises.The Fen in Fen Valley Earth First! refers to the prairie fens, or wetlands, of southern Michigan.The wetlands are a crucial part of Michigan ecology, Andy says. Our wetlands are one of the most damaged ecological systems by agriculture. When people talk about loving nature, they tend to think of tree huggers, but we are based in the Kalamazoo River Valley, and the focus of FVEF! is on the Kalamazoo River watershed.Andy likens the wetlands to kidneys, filtering and cleaning the water systems of the Earth, recharging groundwater aquifers. Because so much of Michigan area is covered by wetlands, they tend to be more protected in this state than in others. Michigan wetlands are home to nearly 1,200 native plant species.About three-quarters of Michigan wetlands have been destroyed since European settlement, Andy says. Thats a decline of roughly 11 million acres down to 3 million.As Andy tells it, he was sitting around with a group of friends, kindred spirits in their love for the Earth, talking about what they could do. They wanted to do more. Fen Valley Earth First! was born from a desire to make a difference in eco-defense, beginning with efforts to do something about industrial projects that cause serious damage to the ecology of Michigan.Membership depends on participation, he says. Were a small group, eight to 12, maybe more during events. When we feel it is necessary to take action, we use every tool in the toolbox. Petitions, blocking construction, whatever is most effective without intentionally doing harm to any living species.Fen Valley Earth First! offers two-hour workshops prior to making protests, discussing what one might expect.We discuss legal issues, how to interact with the media, define our goals and strategies and tactics, Andy says. We want people to understand the risks. Prepare bail money in case you get arrested. Earth First! is not afraid of controversy.A recent protest took the shape of an open letter to Attorney General of Michigan, Bill Schuette (R). The letter begins:The tar sands oil spill that shocked the continent, and ignited contention over shutting down another pipeline. As the clean-up efforts on the Kalamazoo River continued to be proven full of fraud and insufficient, the concern for a potential crude disaster in the Straits of Mackinac grew. Enbridge, the company facing controversy, has continued to delay, omit, and lie about the details of their 63 year old Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinaw, as well as their ability to respond to a potential spill.Andy says, The amount of negligence to the Great Lakes Basin is alarming. The Line 5 pipeline must be shut down now, and it shouldnt be reopened until it has been investigated and repaired. Its days are numbered before there is another oil spill.The letter, he says, has not been acknowledged by the Attorney General.Fen Valley Earth First! is equally dismayed at the recent appointment by Governor Snyder of former BP America Executive Heidi Grether to be the next director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).Her experience is to woo people away from controversy, not address it, he says.For Fen Valley Earth First!, taking on a controversial situation usually begins with a process of identify and agitate. The group is now at work creating a detailed map of the Kalamazoo River Valley watershed that will show all major industrial projects and sources of contamination. The map will then be used to raise public awareness of the present threats to the wetlands and river valley.It will include large farms with the runoff of pesticides, pipeline crossings, and the like, Andy says. People need to understand that we have already passed our tipping point . As of August 8 this year, we have exceeded our resource consumption for 2016 of what the earth can restore. This is the earliest date that we have used up our resources for the year. You cant have a gallon of water, take a teaspoon out of it every day, and never put anything back.Fen Valley Earth First! encourages a new way of thinking about the future of our economy that is based on an understanding of these limited resources. Whereas the general line of thought has long been based on a growth economyalways bigger, always more, always expandingFVEF! wants people to understand that it is long past time for us to think instead of a sustainable economy.Either we do that voluntarily, or we crash, Andy says. This is not an individual issue. Its a collective issue that requires collective action. We need to abandon 'hope for change' and develop intentions to make change happen. Having hope is displacing power away from ourselves; with strong intentions, we can act to create change.To learn more about Fen Valley Earth First! or to find out how to get involved, visit here Zinta Aistars is creative director for Z Word, LLC . She also hosts the weekly radio show about books and writers, Between the Lines, at WMUK 102.1 FM
There has been no federal precedent on corporal punishment in schools since 1977 in the case of Ingraham v. Wright where is was concluded that school officials may discipline students at their discretion when on campus. States have control over whether they allow physical punishment in schools, but those that do allow it tend to have vague accompanying guidelines.

In the schools that actually documented their corporal punishment adminstration, black students received it twice as often as white students -- 10% compared to 5%.

The data also shows that black students disproportionately receive physical discipline as opposed to white students. Black students make up 22% of enrollment in schools using corporal punishment, and make up 38% of the population that receives this form of punishment. White students make up 60% of the population in schools using corporal punishment and only 50% of those that receive it.

Nineteen states still allow corporal punishment in public schools -- although parental permission is often required -- including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. The recent federal civil rights data shows that corporal punishment is still used in some states where it's currently banned.

More than 109,000 U.S. students received some form of corporal punishment in 2013-14, including paddling and swatting, reports Education Week. After analyzing the most recent federal civil rights data , they found that more than 4,000 schools in 21 states across the country are still using corporal punishment as a form of discipline.

Getting in trouble at school conjures images of teachers yelling, perhaps detention -- at worst being suspended for a few days. But in thousands of schools across the country, teachers and principals are still using physical punishment as a form of discipline.

Utah doesn't allow physical punishment without a parent's specific written permission, while Texas does unless the parent has written a letter prohibiting physical discipline on their child. Maryland bans corporal punishment altogether but does not specify what constitutes as corporal punishment, and Alabama allows it but also has no specific guidelines as to what corporal punishment means.

Due to the lack of regulations and lack of training on how to administer physical punishment, in schools that allow it, paddlings can be given for incidents that range from tardiness to fighting. The paddle size can range, as can the number of swats given.

"I've been doing this a long time and I don't know that I've ever seen anyone offer training," Superintendent Daryl Scoggin of Tate County, Miss. told Education Week. "I had it done to me, and so I knew what I needed to do. I guess it's more that you learn by watching ... We don't practice on dummies or anything like that."

RELATED: Good Cop, Bad Cop Doesn't Work With Kids

Although it's not banned nationally, the Federal Head Start Program prohibits the use of corporal punishment among early education grantees, which why they have since terminated a $6.4 million grant funding the Head Start program in Prince George's County, Md. After conducting a review, officials found several instances of corporal punishment and humiliation tactics used in the program, including a 3 year old who was forced to mop up his own urine in front of the class.

The review also discovered instances where staff made children hold heavy objects above their head for an extended period of time. The local D.C. Fox affiliate, Fox 5, first reported these incidents in which one young girl told them that an assistant teacher "wanted me to hold boxes in the air. I couldn't breathe. When (the teacher) came in, she made me hold more books, my arms melted. I cried because my arms hurt so much."

In April of this year, a video surfaced showing an Atlanta elementary school principal paddling a 5-year-old boy and telling his mother that if she tried to stop him he would suspend the boy and have her arrested. Although corporal punishment in schools is allowed in Georgia, the Jasper County School district released a statement saying that when physical punishment is administered in their schools, it's with parental consent. The parent in this incident clearly didn't give permission, which prompted the district to launch an investigation.

RELATED: What is Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

Despite evidence from social science research that corporal punishment negatively impacts children, it continues to be practiced in the United States, primarily in the South. David Finkelhor, head of the Crimes against Children Research Center and Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, told NBC News he believes physical punishment still occurs because of traditions of American southern culture, like a strict approach to the law and adherence to teachings of the Bible.

Proponents of corporal punishment argue that it works as a disciplinary tool in moderation, but Finkelhor thinks that notion is misguided, considering non-physical discipline has been shown to work just as well. "My analogy is that if you have two medicines, and one of them you have to be very careful about where you administer it and worry about side effects and negative outcomes, and the other is just as effective, it's a no-brainer which one you should use," he told NBC News.

At this time, the Education Department has not barred the practice of corporal punishment, but a number of national education, healthcare and child welfare groups have publicly come out against it.
"The presence in the inscription of the name Uni suggests the text has a religious character," he added.

"Cleaning at a restoration center in Florence has allowed better visibility of the inscribed signs, making it possible to identify a larger sequence of letters and words," Adriano Maggiani, a former professor at the University of Venice and one of the scholars working to decipher the inscription, told Discovery News.

The 6th century B.C. slab is heavily abraded and chipped and contains text, written right to left, of more than 120 characters. It is divided into words by means of three vertically aligned dots.

It was found embedded in the foundations of a stone temple.

Weighing about 500 pounds and nearly four feet tall by two feet wide, the sandstone slab, or stele, was discovered some months ago during the final stages of two decades of digging at Poggio Colla, some 22 miles miles north-east of Florence in the Mugello Valley.

Written in the puzzling Etruscan language, the stone bears the name of Uni, the supreme goddess of the Etruscan pantheon -- basically the equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera and the Roman Juno.

The name of a powerful goddess of fertility has emerged from a 2,500-year-old inscribed slab, revealing what might be the longest Etruscan inscription on stone.

Maggiani also identified the name Tinia, the Etruscan supreme deity, equivalent to ancient Greece's Zeus or Rome's Jupiter.

However, it appears the sanctuary was dedicated only to Uni, Tinia's female consort.

"It is my understanding that the structure of the line that includes both names has bearing on the matter," archaeologist Gregory Warden, professor emeritus at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and co-director of the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project, told Discovery News.

He stressed that this is a preliminary reading and further research is necessary.

"Etruscan sanctuaries are often dedicated to more than one deity. And we have possible indications that the cult may have changed in nature. As always, you answer one question but raise many more," Warden added.

Indications that Uni was worshipped at the site comes from the location of the stone's discovery.

"The center of worship was an underground fissure that was ritually treated after the destruction of the temple," Warden said.

RELATED: Chianti Wine Ancestor Found

The ritual included placing a temple block in front of the fissure, along with a gold ring and a textile embroidered with gold.

"Underground cults of this type were often associated with female divinities," Warden said.

The abundance of weaving tools and a stunning deposit of gold jewelry discovered in previous excavations, already implied that the patron divinity was female. Four years ago, a unique scene of a goddess giving birth was found on a small fragment from a ceramic vessel.

It was the earliest scene of childbirth in western European art and again pointed to an Etruscan fertility goddess.

Recognizing beyond doubt the deity to which the sanctuary was dedicated would be a unique discovery as very few Etruscan sanctuaries can be conclusively identified.

Considered one of the most religious cultures of the ancient world, the Etruscans began to flourish around 900 B.C., and dominated much of Italy for five centuries.

Known for their art, agriculture, fine metalworking and commerce, they became absorbed into the Roman empire by 300-100 B.C.

RELATED: Ancient Images of a Mother Giving Birth Found

Since their puzzling, non-Indo-European language was virtually extinguished (they left no literature to document their society), the Etruscans have long been considered one of antiquity's great enigmas.

Much of what we know about them comes from their cemeteries. Only the short funerary inscriptions and the richly decorated tombs they left behind have provided clues to reconstruct their history.

Poggio Colla is one of the few sites offering insight into Etruscan life in a non-funerary context. The site spans most of Etruscan history from the seventh to the second century B.C., "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," Warden said.

Besides being possibly the longest Etruscan inscription on stone, it is also one of the three longest sacred texts to date.

"We stand a chance of learning something new about Etruscan morphology and syntax, which, for me as a linguist, is the most exciting possibility," Rex Wallace, professor of classics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who is also studying the stele, told Discovery News.

The finding will be announced in detail at an exhibit in Florence on Aug. 27 and in a forthcoming paper in the scholarly journal Etruscan Studies.
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]

RELATED: Weird Fears: Things That Don't Go Bump in the Night

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.

WATCH: Fire Eating - The Basics!
For the discerning conspiracy theorist, the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility -- or HAARP -- is ground zero for massive and sinister government secrets. The confusing news? It's holding an open house this weekend.

Ostensibly, HAARP is a federal atmospheric research project based out of an Air Force facility near Gakona, Alaska. But dark rumors have swirled around the project since it opened in the 1990s. Specifically, HAARP -- funded in part by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) -- has been suspected of housing a top-secret weather control weapon.

RELATED: Mystery of Bizarre Radar Echoes Solved, 50 Years Later

Or maybe a mind control system. It's also been accused of causing several airliner crashes and the 2003 destruction of the space shuttle Columbia. Oh, and storms, droughts, floods and chronic fatigue syndrome. In 2010, the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez claimed that HAARP triggered the Haiti earthquake. Click around online and you can find plenty of detailed accounts of nefarious activities and hidden agendas. Be forewarned: It's a never-ending rabbit hole of weirdness.

Calmer assessments from official sources and skeptic groups suggest that the HAARP project was much less ambitious, and in any case the federal program was officially shut down last year. The Alaskan facility, however, was given to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for continuing research purposes. At least, that's what they want you to believe.

The new owners of the HAARP facility are holding an open house this weekend in hopes of finally dispelling all the wild rumors. The remote research station's most conspicuous feature is the Ionospheric Research Instrument -- pictured above -- a high-powered radio frequency transmitter array designed to manipulate energy in the ionosphere. Visitors to this weekend's event will be able to tour the transmitter array, which has traditionally been the focus of the conspiracy theories.

RELATED: Why the Malaysian Jet Crash Sparks Conspiracies

"We hope that people will be able to see the actual science of it," said Sue Mitchell, spokesperson for UAF's Geophysical Institute, in an interview the Alaska Dispatch News. "We hope to show people that it is not capable of mind control and not capable of weather control and all the other things it's been accused of."

Visitors can also tour the research station's other facilities and check out some of the unmanned aerial vehicles used for atmospheric research. The HAARP station is a 240-mile drive from Fairbanks and roughly 198 miles from Anchorage. Refreshments will be served.

WATCH VIDEO: Conspiracy Theories: Why We Believe
The Dutch government will hold a "roundtable discussion" on Oct. 13 about whether to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel-powered cars completely by 2025, according to the Independent, a British newspaper.

In April, the legislative body's lower chamber, the House of Representatives, passed legislation that would bring an end to the automotive use of the carbon-based fuels by that date. The measure still faces a vote in the Dutch Senate, but Dutch House member Jan Vos, the architect of the legislation, told Yale Climate Connection that he thinks it is likely to become law.

RELATED: Should US Copy Dutch Defenses Against Flooding?

"We need to phase out CO2 emissions and we need to change our pattern of using fossil fuels if we want to save the Earth," Vos said.

Richard Smokers, an advisor to the Dutch renewable energy technology company TNO, told the Independent that the Dutch government, which has struggled to meet existing European Union air quality standards, sees the move as a way to catch up. The Dutch have "formulated ambitions to improve air quality beyond these standards," he said.

But implementing the ban won't necessarily be easy. Vos sees the affordability of electric vehicles, despite sales surging in the Netherlands this year, as a key hurdle for the nation to overcome.

RELATED: Are Electric Cars Better for the Environment?

"Transportation with your own car shouldn't be something that only rich people can afford," he told Yale Climate Connection.

The Dutch might consider following the lead of Norway, another European country which has been moving aggressively to reduce its fleet of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. That nation has encouraged the purchase by electric vehicles by exempting them from most taxes. That reduces the sticker price by a third, according to the Independent WATCH VIDEO: Flying Cars: Best Or Worst Idea Ever?
Photo: A reconstruction by palaeoartist Peter Schouten shows Microleo attenboroughi prowling along the branches of rainforest trees in search of prey. Credit: Peter Schouten A new marsupial lion fossil from Down Under is now the recognized runt in its family and carries the name of a famous naturalist.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) documented the new genus and species, Microleo attenboroughi, based upon a partial skull and teeth found in the fossil-fertile Riversleigh World Heritage area in northwest Queensland, Australia. The specimen dates to about 19 million years ago, the scientists say, during the early Miocene, when northern Australia was wet, mild and rainforest-like.

RELATED: Tiny Ancestor of All Modern Carnivores Found

Despite the "lion" in its name, the creature only weighed about 21 ounces (600 grams) and was more like a possum than a king of the jungle.

In fact, say the UNSW researchers, who have published their findings in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica, the tiny animal was the smallest in the marsupial lion family (Thylacoleonidae), whose top cat was the small-lion-sized Thylacoleo carnifex.

"Microleo attenboroughi would have been more like the cute, but still feisty, kitten of the family," said the study's lead author Anna Gillespie in a statement.

The name Microleo attenboroughi is a nod to its small "micro" size and also a tip of the hat to famed British naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who has championed the Riversleigh World Heritage Area.
When new Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was campaigning for the office earlier this year, he promised voters a radically aggressive get-tough approach to crime. He wasn't kidding. Laura Ling has the story in today's DNews dispatch.

In the three months following Duterte's election, more than 1,900 suspected drug dealers and other alleged criminals in the Philippines have been killed by police or vigilantes. Those killed are often left on the streets with cardboard signs naming their alleged crimes, mostly drug related.

All of this is taking place under the tacit approval of Duterte, who has publicly encouraged citizens to kill drug dealers -- and even drug users -- rather than call the police. The police themselves, meanwhile, are accused of torturing suspects and maintaining secret prisons.

RELATED: What Is Abu Sayyaf and What Do They Want In The Philippines?

The Philippines has suffered from a widespread drug problem for many years now. The most problematic illegal drug is a variant of crystal methamphetamine called "shabu," which is trafficked by Chinese criminal syndicates. According to a United Nations report, the Philippines represents the largest market for shabu in all of East Asia.

The United Nations recently called on Duterte to put an immediate stop to the aggressive law-and-order campaign, and human rights groups like Amnesty International have strongly condemned the extrajudicial killings.

Opponents insist that the drug epidemic cannot be solved by punishing the street-level dealers and users. Instead, the federal government should be providing rehabilitation programs for addicts and cracking down on the Chinese syndicates instead.

Change is unlikely, however. In response to international criticism, Duterte recently threatened to simply quit the U.N. And his aggressive campaign is hugely popular among voters. According to one recent survey, an incredible 91 percent of Philippine residents support Duterte and his policies.

-- Glenn McDonald

Learn More:

BBC: Philippines war on drugs: '1,900 killed' amid crackdown

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: World Drug Report 2011



Wall Street Journal: Philippine President Duterte's Crime-Fighting Tactics Come Under Fire

The Guardian: Kill drug dealers and I'll give you a medal, says Philippines president




For Emil Bostrom and Jonatan Shaya, living independently in Helsinki has not been an easy accomplishment. Emil, aged 24 and a kindergarten teacher, struggled to find housing because of the high cost of rent and not enough apartments.

"Basically, I was homeless; not on the street, but homeless," said Emil.

According to The Global Property Guide, Helsinki is the 16th most-expensive city in the world to rent an apartment in - even more expensive than New York.

RELATED: Is South Korea Failing Its Elderly?

Emil and Jonatan, who is 19 and a pastry chef student, were among 300 applicants for a new housing program called "A Home That Fits," which provides people under 25cheap housing in a senior's home for a year. Each young resident must spend at least three to five hours in the company of the elders each week, socializing and conversing.

It's not the first program of its kind. In the Netherlands, a program offers free accommodation to college students in order to encourage social interaction with elders. With so many cities across the globe facing an increase in demand, the project may be spread further.

So far, the Helsinki's program has been off to a successful start and Emil and Jonatan are thoroughly enjoying their new homes and new neighbors.

"Because I work with children, and I have friends that are my age and then with elderly, I get to basically see the whole spectrum of ages in Finland," said Emil. "Through that, I can understand the Finnish culture better and just life, I guess. It's cool that I can get to know people of all ages."

Watch the video at the top to get the whole story.

Watch More: Why This 100-Year Old Man Won't Stop Running
Press Release

August 25, 2016 Legarda Calls for Convergence Among Gov't Agencies to Boost Micro Enterprises Senator Loren Legarda today called for convergence among government agencies that have programs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to make sure that the government is able to provide assistance to as many individuals and communities as possible. In a briefing by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, lauded the agency for targeting those at the "bottom of the pyramid" and for its intention to revive and mainstream the One Town One Product (OTOP) Program. She also said that they should work with other agencies of government that also have programs for MSMEs. "Several government agencies have micro enterprise programs and we have a number of laws that support MSMEs and provide livelihood opportunities. These agencies should work together to ensure that these programs reach the most number of people and benefit those who really need support from government," said Legarda. Aside from DTI, other agencies that have programs on livelihood and MSMEs are the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among others. These agencies are also crucial in the implementation of the Magna Carta for MSMEs, Barangay Kabuhayan Law, and Go Negosyo Act, among other laws on micro enterprises. "Under the Barangay Kabuhayan Law, TESDA undertakes livelihood and skills training for 4th, 5th and 6th class municipalities. Other agencies will give the necessary funding and technical support, while DTI will help develop and market the products," said Legarda. "We have to utilize the available resources in the country and vigorously implement our laws. We need to boost the MSME industry because it is a major driver of our economy. Thru micro enterprises, we are able to provide more opportunities for livelihood to more people, especially the underserved, marginalized, and vulnerable," Legarda concluded.
Koko: Senate hails Ensign Angga for winning award

at British Royal Navy College

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today filed a Senate Resolution congratulating and commending Philippine Navy Ensign Maycee Angga for receiving the best international student award at the Britannia Royal Navy College (BRNC) in Darmouth, United Kindgom.

The Senate has on several occasions lauded the exemplary achievement of the country's uniformed personnel in the military service, led by Olympic Games silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippine Air Force, who finally ended the country's 20-years medal drought in the quadrennial Games.

"Ensign Angga's achievement exemplifies the determination and commitment of all our uniformed personnel in bringing honor and recognition to the country through their outstanding achievements in their respective fields," said Pimentel.

He said such distinct feat by Ensign Angga represented the Filipino's formidable courage and innate talent in the pursuit of excellence, and strong conviction to achieve a higher goal even in the presence of equally able contenders from other nations in the world.

"I hope her story will inspire another generation," he added.

In his Senate Resolution No. 109, Pimentel said that Ensign Angga, who hails from Orion, Bataan, emerged as the first Philippine naval officer to attend and complete the gruelling course at the BRNC and the first female naval officer to be given the distinguished award.

The Senate, he said, is also citing Ensign Angga for being the lone female officer among the international cadets from Albania, the Bahamas, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, the United Emirates, and Ukraine, who graduated along with cadets of the United Kingdom.
Press Release

August 25, 2016 TRANSCRIPT OF SEN. GRACE POE'S OPENING STATEMENT

Public Hearing of the Committee on Public Services Good morning. Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. The hearing will now come to order. This is the second joint public hearing of the Committee on Public Services, the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, and the Committee on Finance. I would like to acknowledge the presence of my colleagues... Our public hearings are conducted in consideration of measures that propose to give emergency powers to the President to effectively address the transportation and traffic crisis. In our first hearing, we said that before we decide to give emergency powers or craft any solution to solve the transport and traffic crisis, we need to fully understand the problems and issues. These problems must be clearly and specifically identified, so that the powers to be granted shall likewise be FOI-compliant; fiscally-res ponsible; defined, detailed, and with deadlines - to which the DOTr fully agreed thru the Secretary. Thus, in our last hearing conducted on Aug 10, 2016, we asked the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the Chair of the MMDA to give us an overview of the state of our land and air transport system. We learned that Metro Manila has a land area of 636 square kilometers, and therefore, the ideal road network should be around 8,200 kilometers. However, our current road network is only at 5,220 kilometers. This means that we lack around 3,000 kilometers of roads, which is roughly the distance between Manila to Tokyo. We also learned that EDSA has a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per direction per hour. But in July 27, the MMDA recorded 7,500 vehicles per direction per hour in EDSA which amounts to an excess of 1,500 vehicles per direction per hour. Dahil kaunti at makikitid ang ating mga daan, at dahil marami na masyado tayong mga sasakyan, hindi nakakagulat na talagang malala ang trapiko sa Metro Manila. But beyond these statistics, how does traffic affect the quality of life of an ordinary commuter? The former Secretary of DOTC, when being asked about the traffic situation, said, "Hindi naman siguro ito fatal." Hindi niya siguro naisip na may health expenses related to pollution ang traffic. Isipin na lang natin, ang kalbaryo ng commuter ay nagsisimula sa madaling araw, at minsan ay nagtatapos ng hating gabi. Kulang sa tulog, nalilipasan ng gutom, nagpipigil pumunta sa banyo, nasisinghot ang usok, nakatayo o nakaupo nang napakatagal sa byahe dahil sa trapik. Hindi man yan fatal, siguradong iikli naman ang buhay mo. Plus, it is also fatal to the economy. The recent JICA study which pegged it at 2.4B is actually now, from the Secretary, is now P3B losses a day to traffic. And when government imposes so-called solutions to the problems, it seems as though no consideration or thought was given as to how this would impact our commuters. Kung dati mga opisyales lamang ng gobyerno an gating inimbitahan at ibang oeprators ngayon naman po nandito naman mismong mga commuters at mga nagpapatakbo rin ng ating mga public utility vehicles, mga tinatawag din nilang oppressed sa ating sitwasyon. Atty. Carlos, of the MMDA, said that one of the initial steps taken to decongest traffic in Metro Manila, was to prohibit provincial buses from plying the major streets, such as EDSA. In particular, provincial buses coming from Cavite and Batangas, were made to load and unload at the temporary Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal located at Uniwide Mall in Paranaque, and operated by MMDA. However, as I found out, the terminal is a living hell for commuters who need to go home to Cavite or Batangas. Hindi maayos ang pagkakagawa, at ngayon, napabayaan na ng gobyerno. Sa aking pagtingin, ang dumi-dumi ng paligid, napakadilim, halos walang mdaanan ang iba nating kababayan dahil sa mga nakabalandra dun sa ibang walkways sa baba. Gumagawa sila ng mga sarili nilang mga makeshift na hagdan para mas may madaling access. Ang cross walk sa mga major intersections, hindi po nakamarka. There is not enough room for the buses to maneuver and commuters complain that it takes a long time for the buses to leave kahit na puno na ito ng pasahero dahil naghihintay pa na mag-standing room only minsan sa mga bus. I would like to show you a video of the area. (Video Southwest terminal inspection shown) Nakakaawa kung araw-araw dito kayo dapat mag-abang ng bus para pumasok sa trabaho at yan din ang dadatnan mo. Nakadumi, ang hirap daanan ng lugar, kailangan nakabota ka pa minsan sa sobrang putik. Madilim. Nalaman ko may banyo, tatlong stalls, kaya lang 150 meters ka pa sa banyo, naamoy mo na. May waiting area na parang sa airport terminal, maganda naman, pero nakakandado dahil sira ang aircon. Ito po ang kauna-unahahan nating bus terminal sa Metro Manila. Yan ang sitwasyon sa atin bansa na ang ekonomiya ay lumalago na. Kaya talagang hindi ko maintidihan bakit napabayaan ng ganito ang terminal na ito. Yesterday, nag-privilege speech si Sen. Zubiri at ang mga binaggit nya ay innovative solutions sa traffic congestion. Ito rin ay interesting because I filed a bill on creating bike-friendly communities and road-sharing programs. Ito naman ay isang aspeto rin ng ating mga commuter na hindi naman lahat ay sasakyan ang ginagamit. If the emergency powers are being sought in the name of the people, then it is proper that we ask the people what changes they want to see. Most often, transport plans fail, not because they are not good enough, but they suffer from the fatal handicap of not consulting people on the ground. Yan po ang sitwasyon ng ating mga kababayan kaya naman yung ibang provincial buses ayaw na ring tumigil dun. Nung nakatayo nga rin po kami sa footbridge, nakita namin ang mga provincial buses, tuloy tuloy na lang, hindi na tumitigil, diretso na rin sa EDSA. We have invited experts who will, hopefully, give us a more objective, data-driven analysis of the transport and traffic situation, as well as possible solutions. We also welcome representatives from DOTr and MMDA, HPG and NEDA who can immediately respond to issues raised in the course of our hearing.?? Now, I would like to acknowledge the presence of our resource persons...
Press Release

August 25, 2016 POE: PUBLIC INTEREST HIGH ON AGENDA IN EMERGENCY POWERS Public interest should be upheld and recognized to push plans to resolve the traffic crisis in the metropolis, Senator Grace Poe said today, as lack of public consultations with stakeholders would spell failure of state projects. "If the emergency powers are being sought in the name of the people, then it is proper that we ask the people what changes they want to see. Most often, transport plans fail, not because they are not good enough, but because they suffer from the fatal handicap of not consulting people on the ground," Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, said during the resumption of the public hearing on the emergency powers sought by the President to solve traffic. For one, Poe referred to the interim Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal at the shuttered Uniwide Mall in Paranaque City, saying that although millions of public money have been spent, conditions of its facilities were decrepit and the terminal itself was "a living hell for commuters." "Hindi maayos ang pagkakagawa, at ngayon, napabayaan na ng gobyerno. Sa aking pagtingin, ang dumi-dumi ng paligid, napakadilim, halos walang madaanan ang iba nating kababayan dahil sa mga nakabalandra doon sa ibang walkways sa baba. Gumagawa sila ng mga sarili nilang mga makeshift na hagdan para mas may madaling access. Ang cross walk sa mga major intersections, hindi po nakamarka," said Poe during the hearing. According to Poe, there is not enough room for the buses to maneuver and commuters complain that it takes a long time for the buses to leave. "Nakakaawa kung araw-araw dito kayo dapat mag-abang ng bus para pumasok sa trabaho at 'yan din ang dadatnan mo (pauwi). Napakadumi, ang hirap daanan ng lugar, kailangan nakabota ka pa minsan sa sobrang putik. Madilim. Nalaman ko may banyo, tatlong stalls, kaya lang 150 meters ka pa sa banyo, naamoy mo na. May waiting area na parang sa airport terminal, maganda naman, pero nakakandado dahil sira ang aircon. Ito po ang kauna-unahahan nating bus terminal sa Metro Manila. 'Yan ang sitwasyon sa ating bansa na ang ekonomiya ay lumalago na. Kaya talagang hindi ko maintidihan bakit napabayaan ng ganito ang terminal na ito," she narrated. Poe has invited stakeholders to the hearing--urban planning experts, public utility vehicle operators, trucking organizations and commuter groups--to hear their proposals. The senator said government must be careful in planning and should not waste funds in trying to find solutions to current problems absent any consultation. Poe asked the Department of Transportation to submit to the committee before the next hearing a list of specific projects that the agency needs to accomplish in solving traffic, including timelines of start and completion of the project, possible cost, modes of procurement and a "wishlist" of emergency powers needed to complete a project. # Also sharing with you a link to the video presented by Sen. Grace Poe on the decrepit condition of the Southwest terminal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlG5-7_LBsU&feature=youtu.be
Press Release

August 25, 2016 POE BLASTS MMDA FOR FAILURE TO IMPROVE SOUTHWEST TERMINAL Senator Grace Poe today chided the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on the filthy conditions of the different transport terminals, putting in peril the safety and health of thousands of daily commuters. At the resumption of the hearing on proposals to grant emergency powers to the President in solving traffic woes, Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, cited in particular the interim Southwest Integrated Transport Terminal located in Paranaque City, which did little or no help at all in alleviating the plight of commuters. "Papasok ka sa trabaho, pagpasok mo sa trabaho, pagdating mo sa opisina, ang baho mo na at ang dumi na ng sapatos mo. Paano naman gaganahan ang ating mga kababayan na magtrabaho niyan? Yung banyo, malayo pa lang ay naaamoy na," Poe told MMDA officials led by its general manager Thomas Orbos. The MMDA is in charge for the upkeep of the Southwest Terminal. Orbos committed to visit the terminal himself to address Poe's concerns and will update lawmakers on the action plan of the agency in the next hearing. The government pays P1.2 million in monthly fees for the space rental of the Southwest Terminal, which Poe said is "utterly depressing" due to the inhumane conditions of its facilities. Poe took to task the MMDA to provide solutions to her firsthand observations about the terminal. During her visit to the terminal last Tuesday, Poe noted that the terminal was filled with garbage, dark even in broad daylight, lacks enough space for buses to maneuver, and with unhygienic facilities. The walkway leading to the terminal was also littered with human waste. Poe announced that she will invite local government officials for next week's hearing to know the impact on their constituencies of the emergency powers. "We have to set a deadline and scope," emphasized Poe, as she noted that "traffic crisis affects all sectors and the economy."
The federal government is wrong as a matter of law and public policy to reject San Franciscos plan to reserve 40 percent of subsidized units for neighborhood residents, City Attorney Dennis Herrera told federal housing officials Thursday.

The citys neighborhood preference policy is an attempt to stem the exodus of African Americans and members of other minority groups from neighborhoods that are rapidly gentrifying. The Board of Supervisors approved it in December after months of debate on how to ensure that new affordable housing units would be available to people who live in the neighborhoods where the developments are being built.

The plan seeks to set aside 40 percent of all new subsidized units for qualified people already living in the supervisorial district in which the development is being built or within a half mile of the project.

But the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the policy earlier this month on the grounds that it violates the 1968 Fair Housing Act and could perpetuate segregation.

Supporters of the plan hoped it would help African Americans improve their odds in selection lotteries for below-market units in market-rate developments and fully subsidized projects. Just 4.7 percent of privately developed subsidized units built from 2008 to 2014 went to African Americans, whose share of the citys population has fallen from 13.7 percent in 1970 to 5.7 percent today.

The federal decision would mean that neighborhood residents wouldnt get preferential selection for the Willie B. Kennedy development at Turk and Webster streets in the Western Addition, a 98-unit senior housing development set to open this fall. HUD bankrolled the development with $15.2 million and will provide rent subsidies to residents, which could be jeopardized if the citys sticks to its preference plan.

Herreras letter to HUD officials lays out the legal and policy rationale for neighborhood preference. However, Herrera did not threaten legal action to halt leasing at the Willie B. Kennedy development, as called for by the Rev. Amos Brown, the president of the local NAACP.

Herrera wrote that neighborhood preference is consistent with the goals of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a civil rights law written decades ago to protect minorities from discrimination. Here, the city is trying to stem displacement of existing residents and communities, many of whom are members of a protected class and have suffered years of discrimination.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

He also rejected HUDs assertion that giving preference to neighborhood residents would perpetuate segregation. Instead, he wrote, the citys policy would do just the opposite  maintain diversity in neighborhoods such as the Western Addition.

Without it, Herrera said, the opportunity for residents to remain in their own neighborhood will be out of reach for those who are most at risk of displacement.

A group of city officials, including Olson Lee, who heads the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development, will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to try to persuade HUD officials to change their position on neighborhood preference.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Jose Canseco: Bash Brother, mixed martial artist, financial advisor.

A truly stunning Wall Street Journal story Thursday details how actual, real, non-fictional stockbrokers and financial advisors are taking advice from Jose Canseco.

"I remember thinking at the time that he was kind of bang on with what was happening" one financial advisor interviewed for the story said. "... Jose Canseco is schooling us all right now."

Oh god, the financial markets really are screwed. Get ready to leave society and move into the woods.

According to the story, Canseco has developed a "cult following" for his contrarian  but often accurate  viewpoints about the global financial market. He's "correctly predicted a rally in gold when many analysts were bearish," anticipated the UK voting to leave the European Union and called the subsequent economic downturn after Brexit came to pass.

But some have doubts about the muscular messiah.

"He's either honed up on his finance skills or has a ghostwriter," one skeptic told the WSJ. "... It definitely has an odor behind it."

Not so, says Canseco's manager Jose Melendez. "Not many know how smart he is," Melendez advised the WSJ via email. Canseco refused to comment without financial compensation. There's some of that famous business acumen in action.

When Mr. Canseco is not advising the stockbrokers of Twitter, he's busy accidentally shooting himself while cleaning guns, occasionally playing baseball and getting his car burglarized in the parking lot of a Pittsburg Hampton Inn.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Beset by accusations that his neighborly social network had become a breeding ground for race-based fear-mongering, the head of Nextdoor rolled out new features Wednesday that he said will combat the problem.

We know its not the last bit of work we have to do, but its a pretty significant milestone, Chief Executive Officer Nirav Tolia told a roomful of reporters at the companys headquarters on Market Street in San Francisco, hours after the changes were implemented in 110,000 neighborhoods across the country.

Tolia said that Nextdoor is the first social media company to deal with racism head-on by changing aspects of its product, at the risk of alienating some users. He said thats a risk the company is willing to take.

Nextdoor, a get-to-know-your-neighbors network meant to be the kind of place where people can advertise garage sales or find babysitters, came under fire last year after Oakland residents and civic leaders said it was being used to spread bias. Roughly a fifth of Oakland households use Nextdoor, and many consider it a go-to forum for information on crime and safety. As a result, many posts warn about suspicious people in a neighborhood, often identifying them solely by race.

Stunned by the onslaught of warnings about African American men in hoodies or dark-skinned people driving by in cars, residents in the citys Dimond and Glenview neighborhoods formed a social media watchdog group, Neighbors for Racial Justice, which began pressing city officials and Nextdoor to address the problem. The group found an audience in City Councilwoman Annie Campbell Washington, who met with executives from Nextdoor several times and encouraged them to make reforms.

Their campaign also caught the attention of Tolia, who is a second-generation Indian American from Odessa, Texas. Tolia said he could easily be one of the dark-skinned people described on the site.

After studying the issue, he concluded that two kinds of racial profiling occur on Nextdoor.

The first kind is, you look out your window, see someone breaking into a car, and all you see about them is theyre dark-skinned  so you post, Dark-skinned man breaking into someones car, Tolia said.

The second kind is more nuanced: Mexican American man walking down the street, baggy pants, about 5-foot-6, long hair, looking around suspiciously at homes.

In that case, he said, theres a full description of the individual, but the person does not appear to be doing anything wrong. Additionally, the person writing the post attached an ethnicity to the person being described, presumably without knowing that persons actual ethnicity.

So in our world, that is also considered profiling, Tolia said.

Nextdoor says it will discourage both types of profiling with new pop-up screens that appear whenever someone posts in its crime and safety forums, prompting users to give at least two details besides the race or ethnicity of the person they are describing  such as what type of hair the person has, or what type of shoes he or she is wearing.

Other pop-ups ask users to consider whether the action they are describing would be suspicious if race were taken out of the equation.

The company has also begun empathy trainings for Nextdoor leads  the volunteers who start individual Nextdoor networks in their neighborhoods and who are empowered to delete abusive posts.

The point of the trainings, which started with three face-to-face sessions in Oakland but will be offered online in other cities, is to help define racial profiling so that moderators know what to look out for, Tolia said.

Campbell Washington said she is thrilled by the changes.

I believe this is pioneering work that Nextdoor has been willing to do, the councilwoman said, adding that she hopes the new features will inspire other social networks that are struggling with this issue.

The features are already reshaping the content on Nextdoor. In test-runs of thousands of posts, Tolia said that while the company saw a 75 percent reduction in posts that it characterized as racially biased, it also saw a 50 percent abandonment rate  meaning half of the participants ditched their posts midway through writing them, because they didnt have enough information to fill all the check boxes in the pop-up windows.

Not every Nextdoor user has embraced the new features. Campbell Washington said she has fielded complaints from neighbors who worried the site would muzzle their voices. She said those complaints sometimes lead to productive dialogue.

We got a call from a neighbor who said he had gone on Nextdoor to post in the crime and safety (section), and because of the changes he was unable to make his post, (given that) he only knew the persons race, Campbell Washington said.

But he wasnt calling to complain, she added. He was calling to ask for more police presence in the neighborhood. There had been an increase in break-ins, and he realized from the site that he wanted the police to be there, but he wasnt asking them to look for anyone in particular.

Audrey Esquivel, a resident of Oaklands Glenview neighborhood and member of Neighbors for Racial Justice, said that she, too, was encouraged by the social networks reforms, and that she hopes the new features will teach people to be more conscientious, in general, about their own implicit biases.

Ive realized that even though people are no longer legally allowed to segregate, theres still unwritten social segregation, and it gets reflected on social media, Esquivel said.

Yet she is cautious about celebrating Nextdoors new features too early.

They say racial profiling dropped by 75 percent, and Im like, OK, what does that really mean? she asked.

Tolia, similarly, said he was hesitant to tout the product changes as an all-out victory over one of the most complex and thorny issues facing society.

Our new (posting process) resulted in a 75 percent reduction of racial-profiling incidents on the site  we want it to be 100 percent, he said.

Even so, hes now confident that tech companies can participate in an ongoing societal conversation about race.

We dont believe members of Nextdoor are racist, Tolia said. But well-meaning neighbors can post things in such a way that there can be dire consequences.

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
The federal government is wrong as a matter of law and public policy to reject San Franciscos plan to reserve 40 percent of subsidized units for neighborhood residents, City Attorney Dennis Herrera told federal housing officials Thursday.

The citys neighborhood preference policy is an attempt to stem the exodus of African Americans and members of other minority groups from neighborhoods that are rapidly gentrifying. The Board of Supervisors approved it in December after months of debate on how to ensure that new affordable housing units would be available to people who live in the neighborhoods where the developments are being built.

The plan seeks to set aside 40 percent of all new subsidized units for qualified people already living in the supervisorial district in which the development is being built or within a half mile of the project.

But the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the policy earlier this month on the grounds that it violates the 1968 Fair Housing Act and could perpetuate segregation.

Supporters of the plan hoped it would help African Americans improve their odds in selection lotteries for below-market units in market-rate developments and fully subsidized projects. Just 4.7 percent of privately developed subsidized units built from 2008 to 2014 went to African Americans, whose share of the citys population has fallen from 13.7 percent in 1970 to 5.7 percent today.

The federal decision would mean that neighborhood residents wouldnt get preferential selection for the Willie B. Kennedy development at Turk and Webster streets in the Western Addition, a 98-unit senior housing development set to open this fall. HUD bankrolled the development with $15.2 million and will provide rent subsidies to residents, which could be jeopardized if the citys sticks to its preference plan.

Herreras letter to HUD officials lays out the legal and policy rationale for neighborhood preference. However, Herrera did not threaten legal action to halt leasing at the Willie B. Kennedy development, as called for by the Rev. Amos Brown, the president of the local NAACP.

Herrera wrote that neighborhood preference is consistent with the goals of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a civil rights law written decades ago to protect minorities from discrimination. Here, the city is trying to stem displacement of existing residents and communities, many of whom are members of a protected class and have suffered years of discrimination.

He also rejected HUDs assertion that giving preference to neighborhood residents would perpetuate segregation. Instead, he wrote, the citys policy would do just the opposite  maintain diversity in neighborhoods such as the Western Addition.

Without it, Herrera said, the opportunity for residents to remain in their own neighborhood will be out of reach for those who are most at risk of displacement.

A group of city officials, including Olson Lee, who heads the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development, will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to try to persuade HUD officials to change their position on neighborhood preference.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen
A cold blast of reality

A lawsuit that accused Starbucks of misrepresenting the sizes of its cold drinks was dismissed with a written tongue-lashing by U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson. Plaintiff Alexander Forouzesh claimed Starbucks deceptively listed the sizes of drinks as the total liquid volume of the drink and ice, not just the beverage itself, but Anderson said a reasonable consumer would know that the stated ounces for an iced drink contain, well, 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.

Kindle Reading Fund starts

As part of a program to encourage reading around the world, Amazon is donating thousands of Kindles to Worldreader, a nonprofit that helps support global literacy. Amazon said in a blog post Wednesday that its program will also work with schools, libraries, nonprofits and the National PTA on a variety of efforts to promote reading.

YouTube hits the real world

Some YouTube stars who try to make a decent living through ads and merchandise sales will soon get a boost from a brick-and-mortar store in London. PSFK reported that the Creator Store will be on the YouTube Space premises in Londons Kings Cross Station, and will not take commission from any sales made. All the profit will be going to the creators of the merchandise themselves.

The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing
A search for a would-be kidnapper was launched by San Francisco police after a 13-year-old boy told officers a chubby man with bloodshot eyes tried to snatch him at a Muni platform in the citys Silver Terrace neighborhood.

The boy had just gotten off a Muni streetcar at Palou Avenue and Third Street at 6 p.m. Wednesday when the assailant rushed up to him and grabbed his right arm, police said. The man asked the boy if he wanted to make some money and started to take him away, but then let the child go when he noticed someone watching the incident unfold.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

San Francisco police are asking for the publics help in capturing four robbers who beat up a cab driver, and zapped him in the neck with a stun gun, forcing him to flee for his life on foot.

Police released dash-cam video Thursday of the assailants, two men and two women, in the cabbies car and asked anyone who recognizes them to contact detectives immediately.

The vicious attack occurred on Aug. 2 after the robbers hailed the cab at Market and Mason streets just after 4 a.m., said Officer Carlos Manfredi, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department. The robbers asked the 41-year-old cabbie to drive them to Third Street and then to Texas Street in Potrero Hill.

One of them told the driver, I dont have my money. Its in the house, said Manfredi, adding that the man handed the driver a cell phone as collateral while he and the others got out of the taxi.

Moments later, one of the assailants returned and without warning zapped the driver in the neck with a stun gun, Manfredi said.

The cabbie jumped from the drivers seat to the passenger seat, but a second male suspect opened the passenger-side door and punched the cabbie multiple times, police said.

The driver managed to get away and escape on foot. He fled for his own survival, Manfredi said.

Additional footage from the dash-cam video released Thursday afternoon shows one attacker zapping the cabbing with the stun-gun the other opening the passenger door and punching the victim.

Manfredi said the two suspects rummaged through the cab and took the drivers backpack, cell phone and wallet.

The driver suffered minor injuries in the incident, but declined treatment from paramedics.

Anyone who recognizes the robbers can call San Francisco Police at (415) 575-4444.

Bill Hutchinson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bhutchinson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @bill_hutchinson
A woman in her 50s suffered a broken nose and will require surgery after a stranger stopped her on a San Francisco street and punched her repeatedly in face and head for no apparent reason, authorities said Wednesday as they released security video of the unprovoked assault.

The attacker remained on the loose Wednesday and police officials are asking for the publics help in catching him.

It kind of happened really quickly, said Officer Giselle Talkoff, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Police Department. She was merely out for a walk and a stranger came up and just attacked.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 San Francisco Police Department / / Show More Show Less 2 of 3 San Francisco Police Department / / Show More Show Less 3 of 3





The victim of the beating had left Lafayette Park in the Pacific Heights neighborhood about 7:45 p.m. Saturday when a man in his 40s or 50s approached her from behind on the 2000 block of Washington Street.

Surveillance video released by the San Francisco Police Department showed the woman walking down the sidewalk and turning back to look at the man jogging toward her and wearing a dark hoodie. Without warning, he grabbed her by the arm and punched her in the face. He continued hitting her numerous times as he dragged her to the ground. The attack went on until the woman was rendered motionless on the sidewalk.

Her nose was broken in several places and she will need surgery, police said.

The victim, whose name was not released, did not speak to her attacker, but the assailant, a complete stranger, might have asked her to apologize for something before the attack, said Talkoff. It was possible the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Talkoff said.

The womans attacker ran east on Washington Street and vanished after turning south on Gough Street.

The victim was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect can call San Francisco Police at (415) 575-4444.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno
A photo of a state trooper bathing an adorable smiling baby in a sink is melting hearts across the Internet and showing a softer, more human side of police work.

West Virginia Senior Trooper D.C. Graham was on the job with his colleague Trooper B.R. Wood when they arrested a woman for Driving Under the Influence on Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. near their headquarters in Princeton.

In the backseat of the woman's car, they found a 1-year-old baby covered in vomit, feces and urine strapped in a car seat.

The officers brought the baby back to headquarters, and Graham bathed the child in soapy water in the detachment break room.

"As a father myself, I couldn't let it sit in its own urine and feces and vomit," said Graham told WVNS-TV. "So I went ahead and drew a bath in the sink of the detachment and was able to clean him up a little bit and get him feeling a little bit better."

First Lieutenant M.T. Baylous, who oversees public affairs for the West Virginia State Police, says the officers' actions aren't anything out-of-the ordinary. "I think these officers' actions are typical here in West Virginia," Baylous says. "Our superintendent Colonel Smithers regularly encourages our troopers to serve in their community as well as protect. He really puts an emphasis on the serving part."

The child has been placed with a legal guardian under the supervision of Child Protective Services. The mother, whose name isn't being released, faces a charge of a DUI with a minor, carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
JACKSON, Miss.  Republican nominee Donald Trump is linking his movement to take back the country to Britains surprising vote to leave the European Union.

The architect of the withdrawal campaign, known as Brexit, joined the GOP presidential nominee on stage during a rally late Wednesday in Jackson, Miss.

If I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me, said Nigel Farage, the outgoing leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party.

You have a fantastic opportunity here, he told members of the audience. You can go out, you can beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, you can beat Washington, and youll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain.'

Only moments before, Farage had denounced President Obama for urging the British, before the June 23 referendum, to reaffirm their commitment to the European Union, and said he would not try to influence the American election.

Farage helped propel his party from the political fringe to power broker. Over the past few years, it has won over large numbers of voters from other parties by appealing to concerns about globalization and large-scale immigration.

Farage, who had pushed for the June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union, stepped down as party leader shortly after his side won.

He was the subject of controversy in the hours after the vote, when he stepped back one of the key leave pledges that Britain should use the $460 million a week it sends to the EU to fund the National Health Service instead. Asked if he could guarantee that amound a week would go to health care, Farage answered: No, I cant.

Trump said that Farages appearance was an honor and that the nations working people will take control again.

The billionaire businessman noted the leave side trailed in opinion polls heading into the referendum, and Farage suggested that U.S. voters who might be keeping their personal views silent on the White House race will flock to Trump and propel him to victory.

Trump did support the leave moment, but only in the final days before the vote, after acknowledging earlier that he didnt know much about the referendum.

I was very supportive of their right to do it and take control of their own future like exactly what were going to be voting for on Nov. 8. November is our chance to redeclare American independence, he said at the rally.

Farage predicted that Trumps campaign would smash the establishment, prompting polite applause from rally-goers.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

At what age can children be trusted to be left alone at home? That answer varies by state (and by the child), but a Maryland mom found out that in the state of Delaware, ages 8 and 9 is not old enough.

Susan Terrillion, 55, was arrested last week for the grievous crime of leaving her 8- and 9-year-old kids alone at their vacation rental in Rehoboth Beach, Del., while she went out to pick up food, according to a report by the News Journal.

Police were called to the rental by a neighbor, who reported that the kids were home alone. The neighbor saw the kids when their dogs ran into the road in front of his car. This (extremely) helpful neighbor helped wrangle the dogs when he learned the kids were alone.

Then he called the local police.

When Terrillion returned 45 minutes later she was arrested and charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of her children, police stated. The children and the dogs were not injured.

Terrillion was released on $500 unsecured bail and no further details were released on the case.

The comments section of the story was flooded with outrage ... over the mother's arrest. Plenty of people on Facebook chimed in with stories of being latchkey kids at that age to "When I was 7, I rode public transportation to school and walked home."

Others not-so-kindly told the "Good Samaritan" to mind their own business.

As parenting website Scary Mommy points out, there is no federal law that governs over what age children can legally be left at home alone. States determine that age on their own and the standards vary wildly from either no age limit to 14 years old being the age of choice.

For the state of Delaware, there is no minimum age restriction, but the state's website does say it will investigate reports of children 12 and under who are left alone.

If this case is as straightforward as it sounds, what's the lesson learned here? We're not sure either, but maybe next time, bring the kids along for the ride to pick up food.

Or, order delivery if you have nosy neighbors. Just a thought.
A two-star Army general who was relieved from a key European post in May led a double life swapping sex partners at swingers parties, according to documents obtained by USA Today.

Maj. General David Haight, an Army Ranger, decorated combat veteran, married man and father of four, rose through the ranks to run operations and plans at U.S. European Command in Germany. But as he was being promoted to increasingly important jobs he was having an affair with a government employee, Jennifer Armstrong, 49.

Armstrong told USA Today that the 11-year romance began in Iraq after she sent a flirtatious email to the general. While working as a contractor handling the remains of soldiers killed in combat, she had spotted Haight on a base and was impressed with his "terrific smile." After a while, Haight responded to the email, and a torrid love affair followed.

Eventually the couple became involved in the swinger lifestyle, having sex with multiple partners at clubs, hotels and at Armstrong's home.

Emails cited in the Army inspector general's report obtained by USA Today after a Freedom of Information Act request referred to the couple's sexual exploits, including Haight asking about the availability of another woman for a hookup. The report showed that Haight and Armstrong exchanged explicit emails about sex.

"I love hearing about women who like and giggle about (oral sex)," Haight wrote in a September 2012 email.

The pair visited clubs in Baltimore, near the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., and in Tampa and Atlanta, according to Armstrong.

The Army got wind of Haight's extramarital affairs in 2015 after receiving anonymous tips.

Haight was recalled from his high-level job devising strategies to confront Russian aggression in Europe because his secret life left him susceptible to blackmail and espionage, according to inspector general documents. He was given a temporary desk job and ordered to terminate all contact with Armstrong.

A letter of reprimand virtually ended his 30-year career. A board investigation will determine if he is to be demoted to the rank of colonel, which would reduce his retirement pay by thousands of dollars per year.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Happy birthday to the National Park Service!

On Aug. 25, 1916, the keepers of America's great natural spaces were created when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that gave the organization the responsibility "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."

National parks have been called America's greatest idea. Through the NPS, expanses of the country have been preserved, protected and funded so that America's incredible natural beauty can always persist.

Bay Area residents are lucky to have several national parks in their backyard. There's Alcatraz, Fort Point, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and, further afield, beautiful Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park was first protected in 1864 and gained fame in the early 1900s after naturalist John Muir toured the park with President Theodore Roosevelt.

To see more amazing historical images of Yosemite from this era, see the gallery above.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP)  Bill Carpenter has a big need for a tiny product. The Atlanta architect ordered 40 pre-fabricated tiny houses from Hattiesburg architect James Polk.

Carpenter wants to sell the $40,000 houses for use in a community in his home city.

"We have two clients that are interested in doing an arts-residential community in Atlanta  Tiny House Atlanta," he said. "There's a real interest in minimalist living and simplifying people's lives. I think there's also an interest in sustainability."

Polk opened a tiny house company in Prentiss in March. Tiny House Life Space also manufactures tiny sheds. Though the company is relatively new, Polk has been in the tiny house business for awhile.

"I began designing tiny houses in 1990, when they weren't very popular at all," he said. "I went around to a lot of trailer manufacturers and showed them drawings and they weren't much interested at all.

"They told me, 'We're doing triple-wides right now, and if we could put a triple-wide on top of a triple-wide, we'd do that.'"

But Polk said he has customers who are interested now.

"I think a lot of people because of the economy are downsizing," he said. "A tiny house might work for a retiree or a college graduate who might not want to get into a big mortgage. If it's on wheels, you're not tied into one geographic location. If you're someone who can live in a smaller space, it's a very viable option."

According to TheTinyLife.com, the tiny house movement is a description for the architectural and social trend that advocates living simply in a small home. A residential structure under 500 feet is generally considered a tiny home. Some tiny homes are as small as 80-square-feet. Tiny homes generally sell for between $25,000 and $75,000.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, architect Marianne Cusato developed Katrina Cottages, that started at 308 square feet. They were an alternative to FEMA trailers. Cusato's website says, in 2006, Congress appropriated $400 million for an alternative housing pilot project based on the Katrina Cottages. Mississippi has delivered 2,800 cottages inspired by the Katrina Cottages to people who lost their homes in the storm. Louisiana has completed construction of 500 units featuring designs from the Katrina Cottage series. Cusato now sells the building plans for the cottages and has received interest in her designs from other developers.

During the financial crisis of 2007-08, the tiny house movement attracted more attention, though the National Association of Realtors says overall it still represents only 1 percent of real estate transactions.

Restoringsimple.com says tiny houses are most popular in California, Colorado, Texas, Wisconsin and Florida. They have received nationwide media play, with shows on several cable networks, including HGTV and FYI.

Polk is hoping to capture local interest by displaying one of his tiny sheds in Hattiesburg outside the craft and gift store Art Cetera on U.S. 98.

The 6-foot by 6-foot shed has a red door, a couple windows and a window box filled with pink flowers. It sells for $3,950.

"This is designed to look great sitting beside your patio," Polk said. "It could be a playhouse or a writing shed. We have a larger model (6 feet by 8 feet) that could go on your property in the woods that could be a tiny little cabin."

Polk said he chose Prentiss as the site for his company because it used to support 500 manufacturing jobs that have since disappeared. He's got a five-year lease on an old automobile parts factory and he expects to eventually employ 120 workers. About 10 people are on staff now.

They're just manufacturing their first tiny house on wheels. It should be ready in about a week.

Polk hopes to take advantage of the Port of Gulfport to target an international market for his prefabricated tiny homes. He also makes custom-built tiny homes for buyers close by.

Carpenter said his clients in Atlanta should be happy with the tiny homes.

"They're very nice, well-made and planned out," he said. "We try to open up the interior. Four hundred square feet will feel more like 1,000 square feet when you introduce glass and large, optical doors."

Polk thinks the market for tiny homes will only grow.

"People are turning to tiny homes to grab geographic and financial independence," he said. "This is a choice that you would make if you aspire to live a simple lifestyle."

___

Information from: The Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com
1 India floods: Heavy monsoon rains have ended two successive drought years in India with the Ganges River and its tributaries rising above the danger level, triggering evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from flooded homes in north and eastern India, an official said Wednesday. Drowning, electrocution or injuries from collapsed houses have killed at least 175 people, mainly in West Bengal, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states this season, said Rakesh Ranjan, a National Disaster Response Force official. Lightning has killed 57 people in Bihar state.

2 Knife attack: 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 near Townsville 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 said. Officers were trying to determine whether the man had been motivated by extremism, or something else.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

In the 25 years Collier Gwin has been dealing in high-value artifacts from antiquity, Bay Area abstract expressionist paintings and everything in between, he had never been burglarized.

But that all changed this month when some crook darted into his San Francisco shop, grabbed several pieces, including vases from ancient Greece, and vanished.

The 65-year-old art dealer is now hoping the pilfered loot turns up undamaged and can be returned to his museum-like gallery in Jackson Square.

It was shocking. My collection was violated, Gwin said Thursday at his store, Foster-Gwin Art & Antiques. Its really sad. These are such unique items.

The plundered pickings include three vessels from ancient Greece and two intricately decorated early 19th century Japanese work boxes.

The antiques altogether were selling for a combined $54,100, a value Gwin said will be covered by his insurance  after he pays a sizable deductible  but the one-of-a-kind pieces can never be replaced.

I was in disbelief when they were taken, he said.

Gwin has always been meticulous about protecting his collection of fine art that he carefully displays around his store on Hotaling Place, an alleyway in the historic neighborhood in the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid.

Visitors must press a buzzer to be let in before they can peruse the array of ancient art, Romantic-era furniture, and large canvases of abstract expressionist paintings done by prominent Bay Area artists.

But in recent months, Jackson Square, one of the citys oldest and most historic neighborhoods, has been going through a renaissance. High-end restaurants and boutiques have been popping up, and owners of legacy businesses like Gwin have been renovating their shops.

It was in the chaos of subcontractors coming and going, often into the late night between Aug. 8 and 11, that the thief struck. The front door had been left unlocked, and eyes were momentarily off the collection.

Whoever it was, Gwin said, darted into the shop and probably grabbed the first few smaller items he or she could sneak into a bag and skedaddled.

By the time Gwin realized hed been hit, it was too late. No suspect has been identified, and the only security camera nearby missed the heist, police said.

The most valuable of the relics is an amphora, a ceramic container, from Corinth that is decorated with panthers, a goat, a swan, a bull and a lion. The vase dates from 625 to 600 B.C.  200 years before Socrates began laying the foundation for Western philosophy  and was selling for $24,000.

Another of the swiped artifacts was a two-handled, black ancient Greek cup known as a kantharos. It is decorated with the red figures of a nude youth, a bejeweled woman holding a fan and Eros, the Greek god of love. That item, which came from the Italian region of Apulia, dated to roughly 330 B.C.  around the time Alexander the Great was conquering the known world  and is valued at $16,500.

The crook also snagged an 8-inch vessel from the Greek island of Rhodes that dates to the sixth century B.C. worth $5,500.

Finally, the burglar got two wooden Japanese work boxes from the Regency period dating between 1810 and 1830 that were worth $4,200 and $3,900 respectively.

Knowing the pieces are unique, Gwin reported them to the Art Loss Register, an international database of stolen or missing art and antiques that dealers consult to know if theyre presented with hot items.

In the weeks since the crime, Gwin has made his peace with the violation and shifted to looking at the future. Hes excited about what he calls the new vitality thats cropping up around the neighborhood.

Were still very positive, he said. But we are getting new security.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call San Francisco police at (415) 575-4444.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
The controversial Julian Assange strikes again.

The WikiLeaks co-founder told Fox News' Megyn Kelly that his team is working around the clock to "release thousands of pages of material" from the Hillary Clinton campaign before Election Day in November.

"It's a variety of different types of documents and different types of institutions that are associated with the election campaign, some quite unexpected angles that are, you know, quite interesting, some even entertaining," Assange shared from an undisclosed location in a televised interview.

He added, "I think it's significant. You know, it depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."

More for you Private lives are exposed as WikiLeaks spills its secrets

Assange said he could not provide a date for the leak, but assured his audience the material would be released before Nov. 8.

Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London ever since 2012 when Swedish prosecutors sought to question him over sexual assault allegations.

Last month, Assange posted more than 19,000 emails from Democratic party officials on WikiLeaks, including several that showed DNC officials deriding Clinton's former rival Sen. Bernie Sanders.
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.
As production gears up for the long-awaited Blade Runner sequel, little tidbits of information are starting to leak out.

We already know that most of the headline cast have been selected, the latest addition being (ugh) Jared Leto. However, a report surfaced online from Iceland Monitor that gives us another piece of insight into the film. It's been confirmed that Johan Johansson will be in charge of scoring duties for the film.

Vangelis' synth-driven soundtrack for the first Blade Runner has been widely hailed as one of the great film scores ever made, so Johansson's got a LOT to live up to. Johansson's already done scoring for director Denis Villeneuve in the past, having worked with him on Sicario and Prisoners. Outside of this, Johansson received an Oscar nomination for his work on The Theory of Everything and the aforementioned Sicario.

Here's a quick taste of his work on Sicario.

Via Iceland Monitor
Toby Talbot/Associated Press

Stanford University announced a new student alcohol policy Monday. The new rules prohibit serving hard liquor at on-campus undergraduate parties; they do not ban beer or wine at on-campus parties. University spokeswoman Lisa Ann Lapin assured me that the goal of the new policy is to curb binge drinking. And: It is not a response to Brock Turner in any way, shape or form.

Turner, now 21, is the student convicted for the 2015 sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman too inebriated to consent to sex. Amid outcries against his light sentence  six months in jail, of which hell likely serve only three  Turner vowed to speak out against the college campus drinking culture and the sexual promiscuity that goes along with that. That rhetoric grated prosecutors who had cited evidence Turner smoked marijuana and drank alcohol before he enrolled. In a statement at sentencing, the victim said: I dont see headlines that read, Brock Turner, Guilty of drinking too much and the sexual promiscuity that goes along with that.
In the hinterlands of Northern California at a string of three lakes, you can find a pristine lake in the wilderness to match your level of fitness and ambition  no matter your physical condition, from wheelchair hiker to X-Games-style trekker.

Taylor Lake in the little-known Russian Wilderness is one of the few wheelchair hiker-accessible wilderness lakes anywhere. It is also a great destination for those recovering from an injury, a first trip for those looking to get back into shape, and also for youngsters and seniors who yearn for a gem of a lake without facing a physical test.

For the more ambitious, Hogan Lake awaits farther up the trail. Beyond that, Big Blue Lake requires an off-trail trek with a 1,000-foot climb.

Three lakes, three levels of physical exertion, but pristine destinations one and all.

By comparison, the hike to find similar wilderness lakes in the Sierra Nevada can require long, grueling backpacking trips  often with climbs of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. And then, for most lakes along the John Muir Trail, for instance, youre unlikely to have the sites to yourself.

The opposite is true in the Russian Wilderness. We ventured in Sunday, and after passing four people on their way out, saw no one else.

Instead of extreme physical exertion, the toll is paid with a long drive that will either wipe you out or free you from all cares. Some people have a relaxed mind-set and enjoy long drives; others are wired too tight and cant handle them.

Each of the lakes has backpack-style campsites. Unlike the high Sierra, you can have a campfire, as you get a free permit from the Forest Service and then camp at sites with established fire rings. For car camping, a few developed Forest Service campgrounds with drive-in sites are available in the area. The nearest town with lodging is Etna.

That accomplished, this is what awaits:

Taylor Lake

To reach the trailhead, the short spur road (sections are made of dirt) is passable for cars. A parking spot is set aside for those with wheelchairs, and a restroom with a clean, chemical toilet is wheelchair-accessible. It is 0.4 of a mile on a dirt path with a 100-foot climb to the foot of the lake. Wheelchair hikers are urged to use wide wheels, and a safety assist may be needed at one rocky spot. The trip is short enough that you can carry in a kayak, raft or float tube and then paddle around the lake and fish for trout. Campsites and the best boating access are on the left side of the lake. Elevation: 6,400 feet.

Hogan Lake

Just before you reach the foot of Taylor Lake, there is a signed cutoff (posted on a tree) for Hogan Lake. It leads you down and across a gully, then picks up a trail that leads up the right side of Taylor Lake. The route quickly climbs over the course of a mile to a ridge at 7,000 feet, crosses the divide, and then sails down the other side 1,000 feet. As you near the lake, you cross a meadow and the trail disintegrates into a mosaic of faint routes. The lake is emerald green and nestled against a high back wall, with trout jumping at dragonflies. 7.4-mile round trip from parking. Elevation: 5,950 feet.

Big Blue Lake

To reach Big Blue, you must be confident in reading landscapes, sure-footed on rocks and comfortable without a trail. From the foot of Hogan, trace your way around the lake to the left. A short distance up slope, you will see a drainage track (now dry) that rises nearly 1,000 feet to an outlet at the rim. This is the route. At times there is a faint trail, and in spots some trail cairns. You will not see Big Blue until the very end of the climb, when it emerges all at once: Its pristine beauty is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Cobalt water contrasts against stark rock walls that rise high against the sky. Experienced trekkers will find it is possible, by following the tree lines, to circle the bowl and also climb the notches in the ridge, best done counterclockwise (we have done this). Elevation: 6,800 feet.

Tom Stienstra is the outdoors writer for The Chronicle. His newest book is the 10th edition of Moon California Hiking. Tom Stienstras Outdoor Report can be heard Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9) at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. E-mail: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom

If you want to go

Where: Taylor Lake Trailhead.

Location: In Russian Wilderness near Etna Summit in remote Northern California.

Payoffs: Taylor, Hogan and Big Blue lakes.

Trail rules: Hikers, dogs, horses and wheelchairs permitted. No mountain bikes. Do not take dogs off trail.

Cost/permits: Parking, access free. No permits are required for day use. For overnight use, a campfire permit (free) is required for campfires and stoves and available at Salmon/Scott River Ranger District in Fort Jones (Siskiyou County).

Maps: A free trail sheet is available at the Forest Service district office; a map of Klamath National Forest costs $9 at district office, or by mail (plus $1 shipping), www.fs.fed.us/recreation/nationalforeststore; topographic contour map available from U.S. Geological Survey, ask for Eaton Peak (remapped in 2015), $15, https://store.usgs.gov  click on maps.

Facilities: Information billboard, wheelchair-accessible restroom, parking near trailhead signed for wheelchair hikers.

Contact: Klamath National Forest, Salmon/Scott River Ranger District, 11263 N. Highway 3, Fort Jones; (530) 468-5351; www.fs.usda.gov/klamath.

How to get there

Note: This suggested route passes by the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District in Fort Jones to facilitate obtaining maps, information and a campfire permit. Other more scenic backcountry two-lane routes are available out of Redding/Weaverville in Shasta County, Gazelle in Siskiyou County and Eureka/Arcata in Humboldt County.

To north state: From San Francisco, take Interstate 80 east for 55 miles to Vacaville and Interstate 505 (get in the right lane). Bear right on I-505 and drive 34 miles to Interstate 5. Merge onto I-5 and drive 220 miles to Yreka and exit 773 for Highway 3/Yreka-Fort Jones-Etna.

To Forest Service office: On I-5 in Yreka, take exit 773 to the stop sign. Turn left and drive a short distance to a lighted intersection with South Main Street/Highway 3. Turn left and drive 15.4 miles (into Fort Jones, just past Scott River Road) to the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District on the right.

To Taylor Lake Trailhead: From the Forest Service office, turn right (south) on Highway 3 and drive 11 miles to Etna and then continue 0.5 of a mile to Main Street. Turn right on Main Street and drive (through town) 10.6 miles up the grade (which becomes Etna-Somes Bar Road) to Etna Summit (Pacific Crest Trailhead on left) and continue 0.3 of a mile (down the other side) to a signed turnoff on the left to Taylor Lake. Turn left and drive 2.3 miles (road turns to dirt, then asphalt on the climb, then dirt with small rocks; passable for 2-wheel-drive) to parking for Taylor Lake Trailhead.

Distances: 12 miles from Etna, 41 miles from Yreka, 88 miles from Weaverville, 133 miles from Arcata, 294 miles from Sacramento, 296 miles from Vacaville, 329 miles from Concord, 346 miles from San Rafael, 349 miles from San Francisco, 382 miles from San Jose.

Great wheelchair- accessible trips

San Francisco: Bay Trail, Marina Green to Crissy Field

Marin: Redwood Creek Trail, Muir Woods National Monument

Marin: Abbotts Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore

East Bay hills: Nimitz Way, Tilden Regional Park

East Bay: Alameda Creek Regional Trail (paved south side), Isherwood/Quarry Lakes

Peninsula: Sawyer Camp Recreation Trail (south end), Crystal Springs Reservoir

Peninsula: Redwood Trail, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve

Santa Cruz Mountains: Redwood Loop Nature Trail, Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Mendocino: Lake Cleone Trail, MacKerricher State Park

Yosemite: Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park

Sierra Nevada: Sierra Discovery Trail, Bowman Lakes Recreation Area, Tahoe National Forest
RENO  In a harsh, biting speech Thursday, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton charged that Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia and is helping a radical fringe of hate groups take over the Republican Party.

The GOP presidential candidate is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters, Clinton said in a speech at Truckee Meadows Community College. If he doesnt respect all Americans, he cant serve all Americans.

Even before Clinton spoke, Trump was hitting back.

Clinton paints decent Americans as racists, Trump said at a campaign event Thursday in New Hampshire. Clinton isnt just attacking me, shes attacking all of the decent people of all backgrounds  doesnt matter  of all backgrounds who support this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime movement.

He later tweeted his review of Clintons 30-minute Reno address: Hillary Clintons short speech is pandering to the worst instincts in our society. She should be ashamed of herself!

Clinton didnt shy away from painting many of Trumps backers  and his campaign staff  as bigots longing for a time long past.

She ridiculed Trumps new campaign director, Stephen Bannon, for his leadership of the conservative Breitbart.com website, and pointed to headlines on the site like Would You Rather Your Child Have Feminism or Cancer? and Hoist It High and Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims a Glorious Heritage.

Clinton also slammed the website for its connection with the alt-right, which she painted as an emerging racist ideology.

The alt-right, made up in good part of the white male audience Trump has been courting since he entered the race for president, views itself as the new voice of the true conservatives, an alternative to what adherents see as the unsuccessful, politically correct stances of both progressives and traditional GOP conservatives.

But groups on the left and the right see a far more ominous message behind the alt-rights call for the new national direction, a regular feature of Trumps campaign speeches.

Writing in April for the Southern Poverty Law Centers Hatewatch column, Stephen Piggott called the alt-right a loose set of far-right ideologies at the core of which is a belief that white identity is under attack through policies prioritizing multiculturalism, political correctness and social justice.

On the other side, conservative publications like the National Review, already part of the never Trump crowd, warn of what they call the alt-rights racism and moral rot.

For Clinton, Thursdays sortie against the alt-right crowd was aimed less at Trumps true-believer faithful than at the Republicans and independents still on the political fence, disinclined to get behind the former first lady but uneasy about Trump and the company he keeps.

When Trump suggested in a speech last week that black voters should back him because, What the hell do you have to lose? it was widely seen as less about grabbing support from a heavily Democratic  and strongly anti-Trump  minority group than about trying to show college-educated Republicans, who have been moving toward Clinton, that he was no bigot.

Clintons none-too-veiled response Thursday: Oh yes you are.

Clintons speech was something almost never heard in American politics, especially in a presidential race. Slamming an opponent as someone with a long history of racial discrimination, who promoted the racist lie that President Obama isnt really an American citizen, who retweets white supremacists online and whose campaign has been a steady stream of bigotry isnt what Americans are used to hearing from someone who seeks to be their countrys leader.

Its the highest level of rhetoric, and I dont speak that way, said Naomi Duerr, a Reno city councilwoman. But in this case, people need to know exactly who Donald Trump is and what he represents.

There was less concern from the enthusiastic Clinton supporters in the crowd. The Democrats speech may have been hard-hitting, said Wendell Newman of Reno, but it was exactly the response needed to what has been going on.

For Clinton, whose campaign staff had been touting Thursdays speech for days, it was a dramatic response to what she said were very different political times.

Theres always been a paranoid fringe in our politics, steeped in racial resentment, she said. But its never had the nominee of a major party stoking it, encouraging it and giving it a national megaphone. Until now.

Republican officials argued that Clintons attack on Trumps alt-right supporters was little more than a ploy to move media attention away from the clamor over her use of a private email system during her years as secretary of state and new concerns about the access wealthy donors to the charitable Clinton Foundation may have had with the State Department.

Hillary Clintons had a bad week, and her visit to Nevada is an attempt to distract people from her record, said Sara Sendek, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman in Nevada. Shes facing a lot of problems.

For many of the people there for Clintons speech, though, Thursday was a typical day of partisan political activity, no less and, just as important, no more.

As the slow-moving line of Clinton supporters waiting to get into the speech wound its way through the campus, about a dozen Trump backers stood on a lawn, waving hand-printed signs and chanting, Hill, no, Were not with her and Pay to play, thats the Clinton way.

The back-and-forth was mostly respectful and good-natured, said John Ryan of Reno, a former student and one of the organizers.

Wed shout out Emails! and theyd yell back, Taxes! Ryan said, a reference to Trumps refusal to release his tax returns.

Everyone was pretty relaxed, he said. After all, were all Americans here.

The mellow feeling didnt extend to all of Trumps supporters. At the freeway off-ramp leading to the campus, a parked white van sported a huge sign: Trump the bitch.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
KABUL  An attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended after at least 10 people were killed and dozens were wounded, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the dead included seven students, two police officers and a security guard.

Most of the dead were killed by gun shots near the windows of their classrooms, Sediqqi said.

At least 37 people had been wounded, he said, including seven police officers.

The attack began before 7 p.m. Wednesday with a suicide car bomb attack at the university entrance that breached the walls and enabled terrorists to enter the campus, he said.

They were armed with grenades and automatic weapons. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours until police killed the two assailants around 3.30 am, he said.

More than 150 students who had been trapped in university buildings were rescued by special police units.

Earlier, the Kabul police chief, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, said one foreign teacher was among the wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university on the edge of Kabul. It was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

University authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.

Dejan Panic, the program director at Kabuls 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.

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 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 house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces.

The Pentagon said U.S. 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 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 U.S. State Department condemned what it called an attack on the future of Afghanistan.

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.
PYONGYANG, North Korea  North Korea marked its Military First holiday on Thursday with mass dancing, outdoor concerts and boasts of a successful  and potentially game-changing  submarine-launched ballistic-missile test it hopes will serve as a warning to Washington and Seoul to stop holding joint military exercises Pyongyang sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

Television news broadcasts and the front pages of morning newspapers Thursday showed images of the launch, conducted in the early hours the day before. The test, which brought immediate condemnation from the United States and North Koreas neighbors, sent a Pukguksong missile soaring from a submerged position off the Norths port city of Sinpo. It flew an estimated 310 miles toward the seas around Japan, the longest distance North Korea has yet achieved in a submarine launch.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was shown smiling and hugging officials after watching the test from an observation deck. He was quoted by state media as calling it the success of all successes.

Launching long-range ballistic missiles from submarines is stealthier than land launching. Having that capability could significantly strengthen North Koreas ability to conduct strikes on U.S. positions in South Korea, and possibly on U.S. bases in Japan as well.

The North has attempted two such launches before, but neither was seen as successful by outside experts.

As the news of the missile test was broadcast on a large screen outside Pyongyangs main train station Thursday, dozens of people stood in the rain to watch.

This shows that our national defense strength has reached a new level, said Choe Kum Chol, a 42-year-old factory worker. We are a nuclear power and everything is ready, so we have nothing to fear.

The test came as the U.S. and South Korea are conducting their annual, 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises south of the Demilitarized Zone.

Though North Korea has protested such exercises for decades, prompting regular spikes in tensions on the divided peninsula, it has been particularly alarmed by reports that the maneuvers have recently started to include training for an invasion of the North and precision strikes, or beheading operations, against its top leaders.

North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons development programs have brought it heavy international sanctions, but it says they are justified because of the threat posed by the U.S. and South Korea.

They are not military exercises, but war preparations to invade our country, said Kim Kyong Ik, a 44-year-old Pyongyang resident. Our country is getting more prosperous and they dont like that, so they are stepping up their moves to stifle us.

He said South Korea should wake up and kick the Americans out.

Washington and Seoul say the military exercises North Korea opposes are defensive actions.

North Korea is one of the most militarized countries in the world, with a million-man army in a nation of only 25 million people.
When you think of the name Kalashnikov, you think of one thing: cute T-shirts. So it makes total sense that the company that also happens to manufacture one of the world's most famous assault rifles has opened a boutique store at Moscow's largest airport, with replica AK-47s you can take home to the kids.

The upscale-looking store opened last week in the train terminal that connects to Sheremetyevo International Airport, and it sells a lot more than fake guns, including "I (heart) AK" T-shirts, camouflage coats, bags, and wallets. But yeah, also those plastic AKs retailing for about $540, plus fake pistols and ammunition.
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.
Gloomy Budget News

State states day-to-day operations reserve

and lawmakers are scrambling to figure out how to plug a $654 million budget hole before a special session.

Martinez' Poll Numbers Hit New Low

Gov. Susana Martinez

. New Mexico Political Reports new poll shows Republicans still approve of her job performance, but overall the gov's ranking is down to to 43 percent.

PRC Orders Gives PNM Another Chance

If the Public Service Company wants to bring its share of the Palo Verde nuclear plant into electric rates here,

that they failed to include during the original case hearing and give regulators access to a data modeling program, according to an order issued by commissioners Wednesday.

School Grades

Santa Fe Schools are still struggling to make the grade with

. But the latest round of scores show 10 local schools got a better grade this year. The state bases grades on scores on a number of standardized tests, improvement from prior years as a school and among individual students, classroom practices that use proven teaching methods and student attendance. A number of bonus points that can be secured through parent involvement, extracurricular offerings and reducing truancy.

About Face

A day after rejecting an expensive tax incentive package, Utah officials are reversing direction and

with Facebook to build its new data processing center outside Salt Lake City. The social media giant is also considering building it in Los Lunas, where officials there have already approved incentives worth more than a billion over time.

Grants Police Officer Busted

New Mexico State Police arrested Grants Police Sgt. Roshern C. McKinney, 33, and his girlfriend Wednesday in Albuquerque on marijuana distribution, conspiracy and felony embezzlement charges. McKinney is accused of

to the departments evidence locker room and embezzling $750.

Sci-Fi Escape

While most people consider moving to Canada or New Zealand if the Cheeto-colored candidate wins the White House, you might dream about zipping a few trillion miles through space. Scientists have

with mild temperatures orbiting the next closest sun to ours.

Santa Fe Reporter
The fledgling sheep milk industry has been given a $12.6 million boost with government funding for a Primary Growth Partnership project with Spring Sheep Milk Co.

The Sheep - Horizon Three programme aims to develop "a market driven, end-to-end value chain generating annual revenues of between $200 million and $700 million by 2030," according to a joint statement. The Crown's contribution, via the Ministry for Primary Industries, amounts to 40 percent of the programme, while Spring Sheep will put in $18.8 million over its six-year life.

Spring Sheep is half owned by state-owned Landcorp, while chief executive Scottie Chapman owns the rest through agri-business marketer and investor SLC Ventures. In March it reported its first season of production from its flock of 4,000 East Friesian ewes on the Wairakei Estate farm near Taupo about 60,000 700 gram cans.

The global sheep milk market has been estimated at US$8 billion at the farmgate, equating to just 2 percent of the market for cow's milk. Demand is growing in Asia in particular, where it is favoured for its digestibility, flavour and nutritional value, Chapman said. To reach $700 million by 2030 New Zealand will need "up to 55 farms managed by farmers with specific sheep milk expertise".

"The current farming model in New Zealand won't achieve this, which is why this joint investment between ourselves and MPI is so critical," he said.

The PGP includes establishing a research farm to look at improving the genetics of sheep and to develop farming and environmental systems. MPI and Spring Sheep are currently negotiating a contract to formalise the programme.

In March, Chapman said he was embarking on a promotional tour of Asia, taking a selection of the company's potential products including whole milk powder, probiotic powder, calcium tablets, sheep milk tablets and gelato through trade shows across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

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


Australasian biotech company Living Cell Technologies plans to treat patients for Parkinsons disease under a medical tourism model if its clinical trial under way in Auckland succeeds next year.

The phase 11b clinical trial of 18 patients is underway at the University of Auckland and Mercy Hospital on its regenerative cell therapy NTCELL, which would be the worlds first disease-modifying treatment for Parkinsons.

Results are expected mid-next year from the escalating dosage clinical trial which is being carried out in three legs and requires consent from the Data Safety Monitoring board at the end of each 26-week period after the cells are implanted.

Living Cell chief executive Ken Taylor said if the second trial proves successful, the company will apply for provisional consent that would speed up approval for treatments for severe illnesses that speed up approval to treat paying patients in New Zealand next year, including patients brought in from other countries.

Medical centres of excellence that attract paying patients from other countries are common overseas, he said.

It would be quite good when launching it to keep tight management on it to make sure implementation is being done properly, Taylor said.

The next step on from medical tourism under its business strategy is scaling up the GMP manufacturing process, developing NTCELL for other central nervous system diseases such as Huntingtons and Alzheimer's, and expanding its use worldwide.

Living Cells operations are based in New Zealand and its listed on the ASX and US stock exchanges.

It reported a narrowed annual loss this week of A$3 million for the year ended June 30 from A$7 million the prior year.

It was founded in New Zealand in 1999 to develop a regenerative cell therapy that involves transplanting cells from Auckland Island pigs into humans. The initial target was type 1 diabetes, which is now being pursued by its joint venture company, Diatranz Otsuka Ltd (DOL).

In 2014 DOL licensed Living Cells other 50 percent partner, Japanese-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, to use DIABCELL in the US and Japan and last year DOL decided to carry out research in the US in order to meet strict Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules, rather than in New Zealand. It is now consulting with seven full and part-time employees about closing its Invercargill pig facility and with the Southern Heirloom Breeds Trust about rehoming the 30 pigs.

DOL has completed Phase 1 and 2 trials of DIABCELL in New Zealand, Russia, and Argentina and general manager Shaun Wynyard said it is still some years away before the product will be brought to market.

As part of its commercialisation plans, Living Cell secured supply of its lead product NTCELL by paying A$580,000 for plant and equipment and pathogen-free pigs now held at a North Island pig breeding facility. Taylor said it has sufficient supply of NTCELL as Parkinsons requires fewer cells than the diabetes treatment.

Living Cells smaller loss was mainly due to a markedly reduced share of joint venture losses as the carrying value of the investment has been reduced to zero. The companys share of unrecognised losses through the joint venture is A$3.5 million.

It still has plenty of cash in hand - A$5.3 million compared to A$5.1 million the year before, following a A$3.7 million fund-raising through private placements and a share purchase plan, partially offset by clinical trial and operating costs.

Research and development costs increased to A$2.36 million from A$1.77 million the prior year after completion of the first clinical trial and the start of the second, along with maintaining the pig herd.

Grant income more than doubled during the year to A$592,000 from A$228,000 after gaining a three-year Callaghan Innovation research and development grant.

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


New Zealand's insolvency practitioners look likely to face a new licensing regime after a report to Commerce Minister Paul Goldsmith found that gaps in existing rules enable dishonesty and incompetence.

The public has until Oct. 7 to make submissions on a review of insolvency law, which Goldsmith says is primarily to find what the minimum level of entry should be for the specialists tasked with winding down companies.

The Insolvency Working Group, set up in November, recommended improvements to the law, finding "too many providers of insolvency services fall well short of the standards of integrity and skill that the New Zealand public is entitled to expect" by overcharging or failing to protect the interests of creditors. The group identified two primary causes: it was too easy for people to become an insolvency practitioner; and there was a lack of accountability for poor behaviour.

Goldsmith said there was "evidence of a problem" where practitioners had a history of dishonesty, were too friendly to directors at the expense of creditors, and there was an inability to hold them to account. However, he couldn't say how widespread those issues were.

"The primary question I'm keen to get feedback on is around that trade-off of how high you go in terms of regulating entry and maintaining good competition and efficiency within the industry," Goldsmith told BusinessDesk. "We've got a good framework here that we can work with, but I do want to test it from that point of view in terms of efficiency and competition. That's why I'm going out publicly."

The working group was tasked with investigating where there are problems with the voluntary liquidation of companies, including the use of phoenix firms where assets are transferred to a near-identical entity to dodge liabilities, and whether that's confined to the building sector or is a broader problem.

The group recommended introducing co-regulation of insolvency practitioners with accredited bodies to license the sector and make sure people meet minimum standards. It also recommended removing some procedural issues around the High Court's powers to enforce a liquidator's duties or remove them from office.

Legislation introduced by former Commerce Minister Simon Power would have installed a negative licensing regime for insolvency practitioners, meaning only those practitioners who fell short of the expected standards would have attracted the regulator's attention. The 2010 bill's regulatory impact statement preferred the negative licensing regime as the most cost-effective response for a small industry, though said it might not be as effective as the more expensive mandatory licensing option.

The working group mooted a funding model where professional bodies paid fees to meet the cost of being an accredited firm, which would then be paid fees and levies by practitioners. Firms providing insolvency services would also pay fees for practice reviews, and practitioners would pay levies to meet costs of operating a register.

Goldsmith said once that consultation has been completed he plans to write a "pretty substantial" supplementary order paper for the bill, which is currently at the committee stage.

The working group is chaired by former Deloitte partner Graeme Mitchell and includes Chapman Tripp partner Michael Arthur, lawyer Crispin Vinnell of law firm Anthony Harper, KPMG director Vivian Fatupaito, PwC director John Fisk, Debtworks executive director David Young, and Official Assignee representative Guy Caro.

The group is also looking at whether voidable transactions can be reformed, including whether the law can be changed to aid the recovery of lost funds in Ponzi schemes, with a second report expected later this year, which Goldsmith said would be responded to separately.

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


E-commerce software seller SLI Systems narrowed its annual loss, reflecting cost containment during a restructuring following the loss of three major customers.

The Christchurch-based company posted a $162,000 loss for the year to June 30, from a $7.55 million loss in the previous year, it said in a statement. Revenue increased to $35 million from $28.1 million, but the key metric for the company's future success - annualised recurring revenues - fell to $31.2 million from $34.6 million after two major customers became insolvent and another took its e-commerce functions in-house.

As a result, the company's customer retention rate by value fell to 84 percent from 87 percent the year before, although gross margin on sales improved to 77 percent from 74 percent.

The strength of the New Zealand dollar against both the US dollar and the British pound also saw ARR fall 10 percent on a reported currency basis, with those two markets responsible for 64 percent and 21 percent of sales respectively.

After a change of chief executive and the appointment of three new senior executives, "SLI has put in place new business processes and organisational structures to lift the performance of the business for the long term," chairman Greg Cross said. The company remained top-ranked by the Internet Retailer website as "most chosen SaaS (software-as-a-service) search provider to the USA's top 1,000 online retailers", of whom 83 are SLI customers.

The restructuring would lead to an "appropriate growth trajectory" and "prevent the unfavourable performance events that have weighed on ARR in recent periods," said Cross, who forecast "a return to growth in ARR in the current financial year".

By conserving cash during the sales downturn, the company had achieved a temporary net cash inflow for the year of $1.18 million, compared with a $5.81 million outflow the previous year.

"We expect net cash outflows in the coming year as we return to a growth trajectory," he said. SLI shares closed yesterday at 80 cents and have risen 2.6 percent since the start of the year, having listed in May 2013 at $1.15 and trading as high as $2.85 a share in January 2014. The company is not yet paying dividends.

New customers won in the period include the Australian department store David Jones and UK stationery retailer WH Smith in the UK.

Chief executive Chris Brennan said SLI was "shifting our marketing to be far more focused and our sales model more aligned to with contemporary sales models in SaaS businesses, driving toward more efficiencies and more typical economic metrics".

At balance date, the company held cash balances of $6.8 million, which directors said were sufficient to meet its growth plans.

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


Ngatata Love's lawyer in his fraud case wound up the defence by accusing a key witness of being a "bare-faced" liar and saying the high-profile Maori elder was "used" by his "partner" Lorraine Skiffington.

Skiffington and Shaan Stevens, a consultant who worked closely with the pair, were to blame for the situation the Crown says was fraud committed by Love, the former chairman of the Wellington Tenths Trust.

In the High Court in Wellington today, Colin Carruthers QC delivered the closing defence submissions for Love, who is charged with obtaining significant sums by deception, or alternately obtaining a secret commission.

After presenting high profile New Zealanders to vouch for Love, who has a knighthood and a doctorate, Carruthers summed up today by saying the Crown's case was "a completely unacceptable proposition which flies in the face of a lifetime of service."

The Crown says Love signed an agreement in late 2006 with Auckland property developers Redwood Group and Equinox Group to ensure they could lease land owned by the Wellington Tenths Trust. Part of that deal was a $3 million service fee, of which $1.5 million was paid through Pipitea Street Development Limited (PSDL), a company owned by his companion Lorraine Skiffington, soon after the lease was signed, without the trusts knowledge. That money is said to have been used to repay a property loan on a Plimmerton house he and Skiffington co-owned, with a second payment due later.

Carruthers today told the judge in the judge-only case to look carefully at the involvement of Stevens, another director of PSDL, "whose fingerprints and footprints are all over the documents in the negotiations, and it is clear from the evidence he was engaged right from the start of the negotiations until the end of the agreement to lease."

Carruthers said Stevens had told a "barefaced lie" in saying that his only involvement at PSDL was to make payments, and that he had not met with the developers and had been told that was being handled by Love and Skiffington.

"There's no alternative but to a finding his evidence is not credible," Carruthers said. "If you look at the Burton & Co file it is peppered with references to Mr Stevens' involvement at meetings and in correspondence and Mr Stevens' negotiations."

Love's lawyer also pointed the finger at Skiffington, who has been granted a permanent stay of charges due to ill health, saying she had used Love to promote her own position and had used Love's name in correspondence and dealings. Carruthers said there hadn't been a partnership relationship between the two, and the financial arrangements they had for the Moana Rd property mortgage showed this.

Carruthers said Love didn't have control or oversight of the bank accounts which the money for the mortgage payment was placed in, but Skiffington and Stevens did. The purchase of the Moana Rd property was Skiffington's initiative, as she was selling her house in Khandallah and documents presented show it was her application, he said.

"The reason for his involvement is the transaction was to be 100 percent financed and needed support so the bank would be satisfied it had some access to proper resources," Carruthers said. "The transaction had its origins with Mr Stevens and Ms Skiffington. There's no basis for a connection between the purchase and the services agreement as far as the defendant is concerned."

Justice Graham Lang will deliver his verdict next Thursday.

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


Former Treaty negotiator Ngatata Love was fully aware of and approved a $1.5 million payment from a land developer into a trust controlled by his partner, Lorraine Skiffington, which is at the heart of his fraud trial, the Crown says.

In the High Court in Wellington prosecutor Grant Burston today delivered his closing submissions of the Crown's case against Love, who is charged with obtaining significant sums by deception, or alternately obtaining a secret commission.

The Crown says Love signed an agreement in late 2006 with Auckland property developers Redwood Group and Equinox Group to ensure they could lease land owned by the Wellington Tenths Trust, which he chaired. Part of that deal was a $3 million service fee, of which $1.5 million was paid through Pipitea Street Development Limited (PSDL), a company owned by his companion Lorraine Skiffington, soon after the lease was signed, without the trusts knowledge. That money is said to have been used to repay a property loan on a Plimmerton house he and Skiffington co-owned, with a second payment due later.

Burston said the evidence - including emails, minutes of board meetings, emails sent by Skiffington, and bank documents - showed Love had knowledge of what was going on and that it was only by using Love's name and standing in the community that Love and Skiffington were able to channel the service fees into a personal trust rather than to the Tenths Trust as the developers intended. He pointed to testimony from Shaan Stevens, another PSDL director, as evidence of Love's knowledge.

"Particularly with regard to the money transfers from which he benefited, Ms Skiffington must have been acting on Dr Love's instructions or with his authority," Burston said. "Mr Steven's account was that Dr Love was 'directing traffic' in the negotiations with the developers. There was no challenge to his evidence about Dr Love's general role.

"It would be remarkable, the Crown submits, that Ms Skiffington was not acting with Dr Love's knowledge and authority. The Crown case has accepted it was Dr Love's position of influence that was being exploited in order to get the benefit of payments. It cannot be the case that what happened with the fruit of that influence went on without Dr Love's knowledge and approval."

Burston said Love had neglected his obligations to the Tenths Trust by not disclosing the $3 million agreed payment from the developers, and the services payment had been deliberately left off lease documents seen by the trust. In 2010, Skiffington demanded documents be returned by the trust's lawyers when she realised they included details of the payment, Burston said.

The Crown Prosecutor disputed Love's testimony that the Moana Rd purchase was Skiffington's alone and that his name had only been on the mortgage to help initially. The real estate agent who showed them the house had shown Love around separately and told the court that Love had mentioned a possible earlier settlement, consistent with the Crown's case that Love and Skiffington had bought the house together as a couple, Burston said.

"The mortgage was paid down with the lump sum payments that Ms Skiffington obtained through PSDL," Burston said. "That was set up as a device to take that premium by Dr Love. He did know what he was doing. The record of what Dr Love said is consistent with him being a joint owner."

Colin Carruthers, Love's QC, will sum up the defence case this afternoon.

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


Description

Join glassybaby for a stop on our east coast color tour. glassybaby love to explore, and we will be traveling the east coast for the month of August with a series of shops from Maine to New York.

glassybaby are one-of-a-kind handblown glass votives and drinkers, in 400 rich colors with a unique name and story, created by artisans in Berkeley, CA and Seattle, WA. glassybaby was founded in 2001 by three-time cancer survivor Lee Rhodes. During her chemo treatments, Lee met patients who could not afford basic needs such as bus fare, childcare or groceries. When she founded glassybaby, it was with a core mission of helping to alleviate these struggles. To date, glassybaby has donated over $5 million to more than 400 nonprofit organizations to help people, animals, and the planet heal.

10% of each glassybaby sold will be donated to the glassybaby white light fund.

For more information, email roadshows@glassybaby.com.
BENGALURU: Highly sensitive details of documents, detailing the secret combat capabilities of six submarines being built in Mumbai, have been leaked. So crucial for India's security, the Scorpene-class submarines that French shipbuilder DCNS designed, has triggered an investigation on the Indian Navy. It is said that one of the world's largest defense projects has been compromised and could prove to a windfall for countrys rivals such as Pakistan, China, etc.

The leak of more than 22,000 pages lists the combat capabilities and other vital information regarding Scorpene submarine. The leaking will cause to trigger off countries that operate a variant of the Scorpene, or have ordered the submarine, including Malaysia, Chile and Brazil, reported The Australian newspaper.

The first of its class, deal of six Scorpene-class submarines are worth 3.5 Bn US dollars and had hardly begun its sea trials in the Mumbai. They are so silent underwater that, if not impossible, it is extremely difficult to detect. But the leak tells allsonar capabilities, noise generation, and combat system details they are armed with.

"This came to my knowledge at 12 midnight, it is a case of hacking," says Manohar Parrikar, Defense Minister of India said on Wednesday. "The first step is to identify if it's related to us, and anyway it's not (at) all a 100% leak," he added.

Navy sources of India said that the leak has took place "outside India", they are confident about the fact that the documents appeared to be in different configurations than what was finalized for India, and strongly implied that "the damage does not seem to be substantial" even as analysts suggested it as incorrect.

Ship maker DCNS have initiated the inquiry from their end. The French national security authorities are investigating the size, seriousness and cause of the leak, which DCNS suggests, could be a part of "an economic war" with competitors.

DCNS, whose two-third is owned by the French government, will be designing 12 new submarines for Australia; deal is worth 50 bn US dollars, and the leak might compromise the security of classified data on the submarines, as per the report. Though, the documents released do not contain any details of the vessel being designed for the Australian fleet.

Multiple and independent controls exist within DCNS to prevent unauthorized access to data. In the case of India, DCNS design is built by a local company; its not the controller of technical data. However, 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, DCNS was quoted as saying by The Daily.

Read Also:

Indian-Origin Scientist Designs Chip That Detects 'Hardware' Viruses

Govt Inks MoUs With Firms To Enhance Quality Of Job Services
NEW DELHI: US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will arrive here next week to attend the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD).



During her India visit, from August 29 to 31, she will also attend the US-India CEO Forum, a statement of the US Department of Commerce said.

"Secretary Pritzker will co-chair the S&CD with US Secretary of State John Kerry, India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman," it said.



In January 2015, US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to elevate the existing US-India "Strategic Dialogue" to the "Strategic and Commercial Dialogue" to reflect the growing significance of the economic relationship between the two countries.



This is the first time the S&CD will be held in India.



"Secretary 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 statement said.



The CEO Forum brings together CEOs and government representatives from both the 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.



"While in New Delhi, Secretary Pritzker will also meet with Indian entrepreneurs and participate in an event celebrating US-India cooperation on travel and tourism," it said.



In June 2016, Obama and Modi had announced that the United States and India will be Travel and Tourism Partner Countries in 2017.

Read Also: India, U.S. Discuss Consular Cooperation During Natural Disasters

Myanmar President To Visit India
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After being in the real estate business for many years, there was an expense Anthony Bernardez always found himself shelling out: the cost for professional cleaning of a home or apartment before it's rented or sold.

"In the real estate industry, I would constantly go into houses that were dirty and such a mess with a bad presentation," said Bernardez.

Being on the "hiring end" of cleaning businesses for more than 15 years, Bernardez decided to team up with his wife of eight years, Diana Fieros, to launch a cleaning company.

"My wife and I started to do side cleaning jobs to get homes ready for open houses and rentals before people came to see them. We realized we could do this as a business," said Bernardez, who also is broker/owner of Island Wide Realty, Elm Park.

"We wanted to build a business we could leave as a legacy to our family and Staten Islanders. With motivation, hard work and a desire to succeed, we figured great things could happen," he added.

So in June, the husband/wife team started Surf Side Cleaning -- named for the couple's home community of South Beach.

PARTNERS IN LIFE AND BUSINESS

Bernardez said the couple works as a team in and out of the office.

Bernardez handles the financial and marketing aspects, while Fieros handles "hands-on work outside the office" and management responsibilities, he explained.

"It's great working together," said Bernardez. "Diana is very aggressive. She's very motivated and a hard worker. She really takes pride in her work."

A family-run business, Bernardez said he meets all potential clients himself.

"I'll go to a house and take measurements, and give a free estimate to the homeowner," he said.

SERVICES OFFERED

Surf Side Cleaning provides a host of services, including: Floor and window cleaning; disinfecting; cleaning desk and counters; trash removal, floor buffing and waxing; rug shampooing; cleaning of outside windows; dusting; bulk and rubbish clean-outs, and discounted maintenance programs.

"Our goal is to provide cleaning services to residential and commercial clients; service tenants, home owners, Realtors, investors, builders and property owners," said Bernardez.

"We can clean a whole residential development on a regular basis or an individual home. ... I also have a team to do bulk clean-outs," he added.

SURF SIDE CLEANING AT A GLANCE



Address: 981 Bay Street, Rosebank

Contact: (718) 447-2100

New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners. If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com.

FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK.
Borough Hall

The flagpole atop Borough Hall in St. George has been sans an American flag since around Memorial Day and a slow government process is delaying its return. The view from Stuyvesant Place. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - How many city employees does it take to raise an American flag on a public building?

It's not the beginning of a joke but rather one of a litany of questions asked when seeking answers to the question: Where did the flag at Borough Hall go?

Since around Memorial Day, the stately building in St. George across from the ferry terminal has been without a flag atop the building. There are smaller American flags at both entrances, one on Richmond Terrace and one on Stuyvesant Place.

Borough President James Oddo has highlighted the "hurdles," as he put them, that must be overcome before something as seemingly simple as replacing an American flag can happen.

A bare flagpole stands erect on top of the building, tall enough and typically waving a large enough flag to be seen from both the front and back of the structure.

To get that flag replaced, the BP has found it's much more complicated than meets the eye.

Noticing its absence around Memorial Day, Oddo was told by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) that the flagpole needs to be replaced.

After being told the pole would be replaced in June, that work order was canceled because the crane required to do the job would have to sit on top of a sidewalk that had Con Edison vaults below -- "too risky to position heavy equipment there," Oddo wrote recently on Facebook, documenting the tale of woe of replacing the flag.

Once a better spot for the crane is found, another hurdle could present itself: the roof may not be structurally sound enough to hold a new pole. Other locations have had this issue. If that's the case here, the roof would have to be opened up, beams would have to be repaired or replaced, and a section of the roof would have to be replaced.

"You can't make this stuff up," Oddo wrote. "The story doesn't end there, oh, no."

The BP was later informed that a new contractor was needed for the work -- a minority or women-owned company would be required to do the job for under $35,000.

If they can't find that type of vendor, DCAS would request bids for the job, a process that takes upward of four months.

"So some day, by the dawn's early light, we will see the Stars and Stripes flying once again over Borough Hall," Oddo wrote. "But apparently, not anytime soon."

He noted that "real efforts are being made to correct the situation."

But Oddo is telling the story to "illustrate the kinds of hurdles we must clear, every day, on so many other matters -- matters that impact the lives of Staten Islanders to a much, much greater extent."

Asked about the flagpole saga, a DCAS spokesperson said, "DCAS has been working hard with the borough president's office both to replace the flag pole, and also on a short-term solution to project images of the American Flag on the exterior of the building."

For the time being, the small flags that greet visitors and building employees at the doorway will have to do.
AX022_01B2_9.JPG

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A video capturing a woman's reaction to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's remarks calling out rival Hillary Clinton as a bigot, is getting a lot of attention on social media.

"Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future," Trump said during a rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday

"She doesn't care what her policies have done to your communities," he continued. "She has no remorse. She's going to do nothing for Hispanics and African-Americans."

The unidentified woman standing directly behind Trump in the crowd at a campaign rally, made a shocked face and rolled her eyes as the candidate delivered his comments.

Watch woman's reaction to Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton a 'bigot' https://t.co/oPbgukEF0R https://t.co/pcj9oalXAh  CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) August 25, 2016

Clinton dismissed Trump's comments and accused him of "peddling" hate speech.

"He is taking a hate movement mainstream," the former U.S. secretary of state said.

"He is taking a hate movement mainstream. He has brought it into his campaign." Hillary to @andersoncooper on Trump  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 25, 2016

It's not the first time Trump has accused Clinton and the Democrats of taking minority voters for granted.

On Friday he made a pitch for black voters: "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?"
Your history, our history, Staten Island's history: take a look back at the way The Rock once was through the eye of a camera's lens.

Our historic photos take a walk down Memory Lane -- and down Hylan Boulevard and Bay Street and Richmond Avenue.

Each week enjoy a visual exploration of a different Staten Island community.

Up this week: Randall Manor.

ABOUT RANDALL MANOR

Named for Capt. Robert R. Randall, who bequeathed his fortune to build Sailors' Snug Harbor for retired seamen.
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
The offensive was spearheaded by Turkey, which sent tanks, troops and warplanes into Syria for the first time in the country's 5-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.
Best Canadian Blog

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

About Kate

Why this blog?

Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked.

This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me."

(goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated!



Katewerk Art

Support SDA

I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts.



Reconnaissance Man

Economics for the Disinterested

...a fast-paced polar

bear attack thriller!



Want lies?

Hire a regular consultant.

Want truth?

Hire an asshole.



Weather Shop

Click to inquire about rates.

Dow Jones

What They Say About SDA

"Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert

"I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick

Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick

"The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle

"Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group

I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs

"You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella

"Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky

Intelliweather

Seismic Map

Comments Policy

Read this

Best Of SDA

Hide The Decline

The Bottle Genie

(ClimateGate links)

You Might Be A Liberal

Uncrossing The Line

Bob Fife: Knuckledragger

A Modest Proposal (NP)

Settled Science Series

Y2Kyoto Series

SDA: Reader Occupation Survey

Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop

Flakes On A Plane

All Your Weather Are Belong To Us

Song Of The Sled

The Raise A Flag Debacle

(Now on Youtube!)

(.mwv Video)

Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl

Trudeaupiate

Kleptocrat Jeans

Child Labour

I Concede

Small Dead Feminist

Protein Hoser: THK Interview

The Werewolf Extinction

Dear Laura (VRWC)

We Wait

Blogging The Oscars

Jackson Converts To Islam

Just Shut The HELL Up

Manipulating Condi

Gay Equality Rights


System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948

/var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f022a678)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f03de368)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f022a678)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f03de368)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f022a7f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f03de368)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f03de368)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612ea6bb220)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0229660)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f0229660)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Maryanne Gore of Project Lighting has been named the ACT Business Woman of the Year.

The winner of the Young Business Woman of the Year was Fiona Fonti from The Rehabilitation Specialists.

Young Business Woman of the Year winner Fiona Fonti from The Rehabilitation Specialists.

Elise Apolloni from Capital Chemist Wanniassa won the Outstanding Community Spirit award.

The best new business winner was Julie Okely, owner of Dilkara Essence of Australia .
A Lyons woman has been fined $200 and banned from owning animals for life after RSPCA inspectors found an insect-infested dog dying in her backyard.

When asked why she had not taken the pomeranian-cross to a vet, the woman shrugged and said, "it's just an animal", the ACT Magistrates Court heard.

The owner of this pomeranian-cross was given a lifetime ban on animal ownership. Credit:RSPCA ACT

The inspectors seized the dog, which they found lying prone, unable to get up, emaciated, and its skin crawling with ants and flies. It smelled, had dental disease, multiple organ disease and renal failure.

The dog was euthanised almost immediately back at the RSPCA.
Refugees living in Canberra will be more likely to achieve permanent residency after the ACT gained approval to be included in the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa scheme.

The SHEV scheme is a regional program that lets people who came to Australia illegally to work and study in regional parts of the country, but was previously only available in Tasmania and parts of NSW.

Canberra is saying yes to welcoming refugees for longer. Credit:Jay Cronan

Until now, refugees could only have temporary protection visas, which does not let refugees who work or study in a designated area apply for other visa types, like work, family or permanent protection visas.

SHEV-holders can stay in Australia for five years, while those with a temporary protection visas could only stay for three years.
Bears of Hope founder Amanda Bowles lost her son Jesse and received a stuffed teddy bear during her hospital stay. Credit:Geoff Jones "When I first found the article I was just shaking and crying," Ritchie messaged. Only months before releasing the balloon she had lost another baby, a son Alex. "To think of all the things that had to happen to get this balloon to Karen  she really has made such a big difference in my life. All of a sudden Lucy and Alex are real for my family and friends again and I cannot thank her enough for this." Three women, all mothers, connected by air currents and a love for our children. *****

Every day in Australia there are 402 miscarriages, six babies are stillborn, and three will die before they've reached their first birthday. One in four pregnancies will end up in a loss of some kind. "It's the most horrendous thing in the world, having to come home from a maternity hospital without your baby in your arms," says Ritchie. "I've miscarried two other times, they were classified as early miscarriages, but once you see a heartbeat it's a big milestone, you start to plan. "It's not just a life you lose, it's a lifetime." Both Ritchie and Carter hope that this tangled story might reach other mothers who have lost their babies during pregnancy, hope that it lets them know there are support networks for those grieving a child they'll never know.

"People end up feeling so alone," says Carter. "No one says anything, no one acknowledges your loss, no one talks about the baby ... people have said all sorts of things to us that have caught us off guard. But we want people to acknowledge her, say her name." Carter, 29, and her husband Steve, 35, had been trying for a year to fall pregnant and were overjoyed when the test came back positive. When the 12-week scan came back clear they announced their pregnancy "to the world". But the 15-week scans revealed Grace had a severe heart deformity, "where basically she only had half a heart, she was a very sick baby, there were a lot of issues", says Carter and they lost her at 19 weeks. Carter's grief came on in a wave she never expected.

"I had days where I didn't think I would get through to the end of the day," she says. "I didn't know how I was going to wake up the next day and physically get out of bed." Ritchie, 38, knows what that pain is like. "It can be heartbreaking. You don't get to talk about your baby, you don't get to share them, talking about the whole thing makes people so uncomfortable. "My mother wondered why we decided to hold a funeral for Lucy and then Alex. But as soon as I heard about the process involved in a cremation, how they'd just 'take them out the back' in a pine box, I said, stop, stop, I don't need to hear anymore. I said she's coming through the front door with the nicest coffin and we're having flowers."

At Lucy's funeral Ritchie just sat and sobbed for half an hour, she read Alex a story. For her funeral, the Carters made Grace an angel gown out of Bonnie's wedding dress and Steve's wedding tie. Both women have found solace through the support group Bears of Hope, set up by two other mothers who connected over the loss of their children. In 2006 Amanda Bowles lost her son Jesse and received a stuffed teddy bear during her hospital stay. Toni Tattis lost seven babies over three years, five through miscarriages and identical twins who were born at 26 weeks and died not long after. Tattis started donating bears at a handful of Sydney hospitals as a way of honouring each of her babies. "When I connected with Toni it provided such comfort to me," says Bowles. "It reduced the isolation that I was feeling, the idea that I was the only person trying to handle this." Long before the instant connection of Facebook and social media, Bowles and Tattis realised the importance of putting women in touch with other. In the 10 years since, Bears of Hope has become a registered charity, has just moved into purpose-built office space in Castle Hill in Sydney, complete with consulting rooms for bereavement support staff. The organisation holds regular workshops and support groups in Sydney. Support for interstate families is offered via email and Skype. A Canberra support group will meet for the first time on September 6.

The fundraising efforts of Bears of Hope, and those who support it, focus in part on making sure hospitals are supplied with cuddle cots. These cooling units are inserted in cots to enable parents to spend time with their babies after delivery, slowing the deterioration rate once they've left the womb. "When I had Lucy," says Ritchie, "there wasn't one so they had to put her in the fridge and then bring her back in to us. With Alex, we used one and we were able to have those last few hours with him, it made a world of difference." Cuddle cots cost upwards of $4000. There are currently a dozen or so cots in Sydney. There are two in Canberra, one at Calvary Hospital and one at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, according to an ACT Health spokesperson. It is the aim to get one into every hospital in Australia. ****

Ritchie and her family came to Canberra on something of a whim that June weekend. They had planned a holiday to Fiji but after losing Alex it didn't seem right. All four family members released a balloon from the Medina Apartments in Braddon about 4.30pm. "I'd like to think Lucy and Alex were with us all that day. Just the idea that you got my balloon, the only one with enough information on it to make sense of this all, is like a little miracle," Ritchie says, her voice catching. "If you'd found Scarlett's, it was basically just a yellow balloon coloured in with a black Sharpie texta, none of this would have happened." And she laughs at the idea of her angel babies keeping an eye out for mothers everywhere. The Bears of Hope Canberra Support Group will begin on September 6. Griffith Neighbourhood Hall, Stuart Street, Griffith. 6.30pm. RSVP to support@bearsofhope.org.au and include Canberra Support Group in the subject line.
Flight Centre Travel Group, the nation's biggest listed travel agency, said on Thursday its annual profit fell 4.7 per cent as the price war between the big airlines ate at its margins and computer upgrades and underperformance in India and Asia weighed on its earnings.

The company's net profit for the year to June 30 was $244.6 million, lower than last year's $256.6 million result. The result was below an average forecast of $249 million from eight analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Flight Centre founder Graham Turner is battling "challenging" headwinds.

In May, the company warned that its pre-tax profit would likely fall, citing elections in the United States and Australia and the then-pending Brexit vote in the United Kingdom as dampeners on business travel.

The company said conditions "remain volatile in some markets" such as the UK and the US, where demand has been dented by travel warnings for regions affected by the Zika Virus and the instability in Europe.
I have been in the Indonesian city of Surabaya this week. I have written before about the incredible growth of our nearest neighbour. It's a country of more than 250 million people with the 17th biggest economy in the world and a growth rate that means it will soon overtake Australia.

We do well as the 13th biggest, but Indonesia is matching much of Asia and transforming the wealth of the world. It's a story of hard work and people being free to look after their business for the benefit of future generations.

The contrast between the Asian and the Australian approach commenced last Sunday as I left in a private aircraft because of the tight schedule of the trip.

Our first landing was in Broome which has been a convenient exit point for Asia for me. Our customs officials have always been friendly and accommodating.
Australia's corporate watchdog has rejected an attempt by 170 real estate agents to band together and collectively bargain for better ad rates on the dominant real estate websites and print publications owned by News Corp and Fairfax.

A group of 170 real estate agents ranging from individual agents to large franchise groups applied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to be allowed to collectively bargain with, and boycott, the country's two largest property advertising websites and newspapers.

REA Group owns realestate.com.au. Credit:Realestate.com.au

The agents applied for bargaining authorisation under the banner of the Property Media Group, but the ACCC issued a draft determination rejecting the proposal on Thursday.

News Corp controls large chunks of revenue and digital advertising rates via its dominant market position in REA Group's realestate.com.au.
Australian supermarkets are in a "race to the bottom", according to department store David Jones, which is positioning itself to take over the top end of the grocery market.

The retailer revealed more about its food plans on Thursday while announcing strong profits from its department store business.

David Jones wants a "reasonable sized and profitable" grocery business in Australia in three years. Credit:Gary Medlicott

Sales growth saw David Jones' profit surge 21 per cent to $168 million, which lifts to $202 million including sales at Country Road concession stores and private label products.

Sales in the year to June 26 beat the market to rise 8.4 per cent and same-store sales grew 7 per cent, pushing revenue up to $2.15 billion.
Hundreds of workers at Carlton and United's biggest brewery walked off on Thursday, and have raised the threat of further strikes against the beer giant.

Production lines came to a halt for three hours as the Abbotsford brewery's production and distribution workers attended a stop-work meeting in condemnation of the company's "trashing of Australian jobs", union officials said.

The feud between management and workers over temporary labour-hire workers at CUB's Abbotsford brewery is becoming increasingly hostile. Credit:Andrew De La Rue

The meeting also voiced concerns that the "inexperienced" temporary labour-hire staff, brought in to replace the brewery's recently sacked maintenance crew, are jeopardising site safety. Workers are warning of "escalating action" that could threaten beer supplies to bars and bottle shops if the former staff are not reinstated.

It comes as the brewery's sacked maintenance crew continues picketing outside the gates of the plant. The dispute has gone on for 10 weeks since 55 workers lost their jobs and refused to reapply for the positions on inferior pay and conditions with a new contractor.
There's a fight Down Under over manuka honey, the so-called superfood famed for its antibacterial qualities. On one side, New Zealand beehive owners say they should have exclusive rights to the manuka name. On the other, Australian producers say the manuka tree that gives the sticky stuff its name is an Aussie native and their honey is just as super as its Kiwi cousin.

Manuka honey is a favourite of celebrities like Novak Djokovic and Kourtney Kardashian. More importantly for the honey industry, the product is in high demand in China, where middle-class shoppers suspicious of locally-made food are willing to pay a lot for honey from clean countries. New Zealand-based Comvita, one of the world's top producers of manuka honey, this week reported 15-month profit of NZ$18.5 million ($17.7 million) on sales of NZ$231 million, about half of which went to Chinese consumers.

As a result, there's a lot of money at stake over the manuka name. The honey is made by bees that pollenate the Leptospermum scoparium, a shrub-like tree that goes by many names, including Tea Tree, Red Damask and Manuka.

Leptospermum scoparium grows in both New Zealand and Australia. While the Kiwi variety gets most of the attention, Aussie beekeepers say their honey is legitimate manuka, too. The dominant Australian brand, Capilano Honey, boasts on its website that it sells three types of manuka-low, medium and high strength-all made from 100 per cent pure Australian manuka honey sourced from Leptospermum.
"I myself have never wanted foreign interference in our domestic affairs," former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad told me in late June. "But domestic means of redress have been closed."

Since then there's been much debate on whether the current Prime Minister Najib Razak's position is safe, and how much longer he can hold on before the cluster of problems now assembled around him ends his political career.

Scandal-ridden: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Credit:AP

This is an important question, not only for Malaysia but for Australia. Analysts in Asia continue to argue that Najib is unassailable, because of the structures of his ruling party, UMNO, and the Malaysian bureaucracy.His former mentor now chief opponent, Mahathir largely concurs. "The AG [Attorney-General] will not take up the case against him in the court," he told me. "The AG simply brushes aside all reports, just like 1MDB," the state development fund that the US Department of Justice is now investigating under its "kleptocracy asset recovery initiative".

Nevertheless, Justice Department documents have named Najib's step-son Riza Aziz, financier Low Taek Jho (or Jho Low), his associate Eric Tan, along with two government officials in Abu Dhabi. The Justice Department believes that $US3.5 billion was siphoned out of the fund, of which it claims that $1 billion was laundered through the purchase of US-based assets or "dissipated" through lavish lifestyle expenses.
On April 30, 1941, a Jewish man here in Amsterdam wrote a desperate letter to an American friend, pleading for help emigrating to the United States.

"USA is the only country we could go to," he wrote. "It is for the sake of the children, mainly."

Anne Frank: a victim of anti-refugee hysteria.

A volunteer found that plea for help in 2005 when she was sorting old World War II refugee files in New York City. It looked like countless other files, until she saw the children's names.

"Oh my God," she said, "this is the Anne Frank file."
In an article in Women's Weekly she was described as the eight-year-old girl who beat adults playing Bach. Alongside a picture of her hands poised above the piano keyboard the caption stated: "Hands have a full octave stretch. Janette uses them with decision, yet keeps them relaxed."

As a smiling young women seven years later she graced the cover of The ABC Weekly, the journal of radio programs published by the national broadcaster.

Jan Hamilton with her class of musicians.

Janette ("Jan") Elizabeth Hamilton, an exceptional musician, and a true community stalwart, was born in Waverley, Sydney, on November 25, 1940 to Ethel (nee Akhurst) and Bob Hamilton and grand-daughter to Gertude and Frederick Akhurst of Thirroul, on the NSW south coast. Through her life she excelled in her musical achievements, overcame significant personal challenges and was a true enthusiast for everything she addressed.

Hamilton had great passion for all forms of art, for nature and history, as well as for the many people with whom she engaged.
movie Red Dragon (2002)

ONE, 8.30pm

Thomas Harris' extraordinarily scary novel, Red Dragon, was first and quite brilliantly filmed by Michael Mann as Manhunter in 1986. It stars William Petersen as a former detective brought back to track down a serial killer with the aid of a (misspelt) Dr Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox). After Anthony Hopkins assumed the Lecter mantle in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs, Cox and Manhunter largely faded from memory  so faded, in fact, that Manhunter's producer had the idea to get director Brett Ratner to remake Manhunter with Hopkins as Lecter, and with a totally miscast Edward Norton as the ex-detective. Of all Hollywood's uncalled for remakes, this may be the most puzzling, not the least because Lecter's age goes from 64 to 53 then back to 63, if the three Hopkins-Lecter films are viewed in story order. Yet again, Hollywood's desire to exploit anything it can, without sensitivity or rationality, has turned a classic into dross. Scott Murray

pay When Sharks Attack

Nat Geo Wild, 9.30pm

Jaws might have given moviegoers the impression that Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was teeming with great whites but, historically speaking, shark sightings in the area were rare and attacks almost unheard of. That changed in 2012 when great whites suddenly began attacking holidaymakers. Why? This episode of When Sharks Attack floats various hypotheses and promptly scuttles most of them, leaving the viewer with no clear answer. Are the attacks the result of the parasitic crustacean [ Ommatokoita elongata damaging the sharks' eyes so they can't see what they're attacking? No, because Ommatokoita elongata hasn't been found on great whites. Is it pharmaceutical antibiotics in the water affecting the sharks' ability to find prey? No, because Cape Cod levels of antibiotics aren't high enough. Such red herrings are at least educational and so less irritating than the series' tendency to build up accounts of non-fatal shark attacks as if someone died. Brad Newsome

Marie Bach Hansen stars as Signe in The Legacy.

The Legacy

SBS, 10.30pm

The Danish title for this show, Arvingerne, makes more sense  it translates literally as "the heirs"  and that is the heart of what The Legacy is about; the impact of inheritance on familial relationships, and the inextricable ties that come only with kin. At the end of the last series, Emil (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard) was thrown in jail after being caught smoking a spliff in Thailand and Signe (Marie Bach Hansen) was named sole heir to her artist mother Veronika's inheritance. Series two begins a year later, where a naming ceremony for baby Melody is being held at Veronika's estate, with the hippie flourishes you would expect from this bohemian family. Mother Isa (Josephine Park) appears to be suffering from post-natal depression, and has transferred godmother duties from Gro (Trine Dyrholm) to Signe (a move not destined to increase Signe's popularity). Emil is still battling to be freed from prison, while Gro desperately tries to raise funds to help him. Forget Facebooking on your iPad while trying to watch this  the subtitles require your undivided attention, but a few minutes in you barely notice they're speaking Danish, so utterly engrossing is the slowly unfolding drama. Apparently, the third series will be the last  the creators know not to stretch the narrative beyond its limits  but in the meantime, there are plenty of secrets and lies to be revealed, and some genuine shocks, as in tonight's final scene. Annabel Ross

Chicago Fire

Seven, 10.30pm

Jesse Spencer is having a baby! Well, his Chicago Fire character, Matthew Casey is, with paramedic partner Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund). It's news that the Firehouse 51 crew can't keep to themselves, but in the meantime, Casey has more pressing fish to fry  mainly his conviction that Nesbitt (Eric Mabius) is involved in a sex trafficking ring. Implausible and often outright silly  see pretty much every storyline involving the bar, Molly's  Chicago Fire is best enjoyed when it is not taken too seriously and appreciated for what it is  eye candy. Annabel Ross
China's new ambassador has called for more "political mutual trust" with Australia and for the two countries to resist "protectionism" in an apparent reference to the recent rejection of Chinese bids for power infrastructure.

In his first public speech since arriving in May, Cheng Jingye has also issued a coded call for Australian acceptance of Beijing's hardline position in the South China Sea, calling on the two countries to "respect each other's core interests".

Cheng Jingye, China's new ambassador to Australia,with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in August. Credit:Chinese Embassy

Mr Cheng told an audience of Australian officials and foreign diplomats at the Chinese embassy in Canberra that the two countries had a "shared destiny" but that the relationship needed to be kept on track.

He was speaking amid ongoing tension over Beijing's island-building in the South China Sea and after the Turnbull government's decision to block, on national security grounds, bids by a Chinese state-owned firm and a Hong Kong-based company for Sydney's Ausgrid power distribution network.
A group of consumer advocates has warned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that a proposed new banking tribunal could deliver worse outcomes and bigger delays, creating confusion about legal options for customers.

First proposed by a group of Coalition backbench MPs campaigning against perceived "banking bastardry", Mr Turnbull said last week the government would consider the proposed body while Treasurer Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce have also flagged support.

The idea, floated by Nationals senator John Williams and Queensland MP Warren Entsch, comes as Labor pursues the government over its plans for a royal commission into Australia's banking and financial sector.

In a letter to Mr Turnbull, senior ministers, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, independent senator Nick Xenophon, and four consumer and financial advocacy groups said the tribunal would not address the causes of dissatisfaction with the big banks.
Australia could be headed towards an unprecedented trillion-dollar debt burden over the next decade, which would see the nation's triple-A credit rating downgraded, and the economy pushed into recession, Treasurer Scott Morrison has warned.

But the opposition has hit back, with leader Bill Shorten describing government members as "first-class whingers and bunglers", who spend too much time criticising their opponents and not enough time finding answers to problems.

Stepping up the pressure on the opposition and Senate crossbench to pass tough saving measures, beginning with an unspecified $6.5 billion omnibus bill, the federal Treasurer told a Bloomberg function in Sydney that business as usual was a recipe for financial and economic decline.

He said a change from the current direction needed to begin immediately.
A judgment ordering One Nation senator Rod Culleton and his wife to pay a former Wesfarmers director more than $200,000 in damages was upheld on Thursday, as a new challenge to his eligibility to sit in Parliament was launched by a former business partner.

The judgement relates to a December 2009 deal the Culletons inked with Dick Lester's Balwyn Nominees for land near Williams in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region so the couple could expand their oat farming operation.

Rod Culleton, Senate candidate for WA.

The Culletons agreed to buy most of the property, named Rathgar, for $13.2 million and lease the remainder for one year for $500,000 excluding GST.

But when the first rent instalment was due less than three months later, Senator Culleton told Mr Lester he had cashflow problems and the deal was terminated within a fortnight.
Australia's former deputy prime minister, Tim Fischer, has proposed what is surely a world-first plan for shooting down the gun-loving US Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump: a "massacre tax" on US gun exports.

In doing so, Mr Fischer has also come out all guns blazing against what he calls the "lethal poison" flowing to Australia from US weapons manufacturers with the assistance of the American gun lobby and what he calls dysfunctional and corrupted US policies.

Mr Fischer's suggestion?

If Mr Trump becomes president and makes good on his threat to welch on free trade agreements and to take America out of the World Trade Organisation, the international community should slap a massive tariff on all guns and ammunition produced and exported from the US.
Lena Dunham and Jemima Kirke have been photographed in a campaign for body positive New Zealand lingerie brand, Lonely.

The Girls actors are the latest women to join the brand's campaign, Lonely Girls, a series of unretouched images of women of varying shapes and sizes wearing lingerie sets in unremarkable locations.

Jemima Kirke (right) and Lena Dunham pose for the Lonely Girls Project. Credit:Zara Mirkin/Instagram/lonelylingerie

"Lonely Girls is our ongoing journal series featuring candid portraits of inspiring women in their own spaces wearing Lonely, their way," the brand's website describes the project.

The pictures of Dunham, 30, and Kirke, 31, feature the pair in a small apartment in Brooklyn, New York, like a slightly better styled version of their characters' digs on the show.
While I am lucky that most remarks were about how cute he is (they still are), I did get some interesting ones. Once, an older black woman (based on her accent, she was from the Caribbean) told me that I was "lucky to have a white baby." I was gobsmacked. Why was I lucky? Were white people going to accept me more if I had a "white" baby? Did that make me special? Then I was annoyed. What made her think that her comment was okay to say out loud? Another time, an older woman went on a tirade about me and my son in another language. Her son apologised profusely, and I shrugged it off, but it hurt.

I quickly learned, though, that the wider world didn't always respond the same way. I braced myself for comments every time we went out in public. People were constantly surprised to learn he was mine. I took him out with my white best friend (my son's godmother) in the afternoons, and everyone directed their questions about him to her. She'd just point to me. Their faces went from confidence to extreme confusion as they tried to figure out how he could have come out of me. I smiled brightly as they recovered and continued fawning over my cute baby.

I figured that as the days passed he'd get darker. Boy was I wrong. I posted a picture of him on Instagram and a friend commented, "He's so white!" Sure, I was a little disappointed that he looked so little like me, but he was my son, half black and half white, and I didn't care that the latter showed more strongly than the former.

When I found out I was pregnant, I had a clear vision of the little boy I would be raising. I saw a toddler with a big curly afro and light brown skin. We thought that with a black mother and a white father, he'd look something like Heidi Klum and Seal's kids. When they placed the screaming little baby on my chest he was purple, but a few hours later, he was as white as his dad. All Heidi, no Seal.

When black people look at us, I watch them try to figure out our relationship. They seldom make eye contact with me, but I know they're looking. When my son calls me "Mummy" or we do something that reveals our relationship, I see the realisation in their eyes. Often they become cloudy with questions and judgment, but they never say a word. I know what some of them are thinking, especially the women. They consider me a traitor. But my son's whiteness does not quantify my blackness. Having a child with a white man doesn't make me or my son any less black.

As if I could forget that we are black. Shortly before my son's first birthday, a video went viral. In it, Eric Garner, a black man, was savagely placed in a chokehold and subsequently suffocated by a white police officer. The incident happened a few blocks away from where we live. A few weeks later, a young black man named Michael Brown was killed in Missouri. During the news coverage, I learned that the killing occurred in Ferguson, the town where my boyfriend had lived since he was a kid and where his parents had just moved from.

After the tensions died down in Ferguson, we went for a visit so my son could meet his grandparents. In Missouri, I was painfully aware of my blackness and felt a constant need to be on the defense. When my boyfriend's parents and I took my son out, I looked like the odd man out, especially in the suburbs. My boyfriend's dad drove us through Ferguson to show me all of the damage that had been done by the protests. He made a few uncomfortable off-color remarks that I tried to laugh off. As we drove, I felt an odd sense of solidarity but also heartbreak. It's one thing to see it on television, but seeing it in person made it so real.

An incident in 2015 solidified things for me. We had just gotten off the bus in my neighbourhood and were halfway across the crosswalk, my son in his stroller, when I saw a police car approaching. The lights weren't flashing and there was no siren, so I continued to cross. But the car continued to slowly pull into the crosswalk. It finally stopped mere inches from the stroller. I turned to the car to look the officers in the eyes and noticed both were female. I was shocked that two women would have no problem nearly running over another woman pushing a stroller. When I posted the incident on Facebook, I had friends try to defend the cops. But this is the same police precinct that had murdered Eric Garner in broad daylight, so I saw the truth.

My son doesn't realise yet that he and I don't look alike. To him, I'm just Mummy. But I have to prepare him for the world that he will inhabit. Even though he doesn't look black, he is black. In our house, Black Lives Matter is more than just a hashtag; it is our reality. Since having a child, I have become more outspoken about the issues black people face. I want to show my son that being black is something to celebrate, even if it's a side of him that many can't see. Philando Castile could have been his uncle; Tamir Rice could have been his cousin; Sandra Bland, his aunt. His blackness is just as much a part of him as his whiteness.
A jury has convicted an Atlanta truck driver accused of pouring boiling water over two gay men as the couple slept in February.

The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes on Wednesday before finding Martin Blackwell guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault, according to the Associated Press.

Martin Blackwell is led out of a courtroom after being found guilty. Credit:AP

Blackwell was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The 48-year-old wasn't charged with a hate crime because Georgia is one of five states that doesn't have a hate crime statute. An FBI spokesman said federal investigators are considering whether to charge Blackwell with a federal hate crime.
Index investments, those that track or mirror the returns of a certain market, are proving popular with investors.

However, unless investors are careful they could end up in an index investment that produces returns very different to the market in which they thought they were tracking.

Emerging markets can rewards investors for taking risks. Credit:AP

Index investments are popular because "active" fund managers, those who pick investments in a particular market, find it hard to outperform the market and justify their fees. Also driving the trend to indexing is the advent of low-cost exchange traded funds (ETFs).

They are listed on the Australian sharemarket and track not just sharemarkets here and overseas, but all types of markets, including the prices of commodities.
A group of fire-fighters who were attempting to put out a house fire on Sydney's Northern Beaches were allegedly confronted by an axe-wielding man, who is believed to be a resident of the burning home.

Police say the fire-fighters were called to a burning house on Alexander Road in Whale Beach around 2am on Thursday morning, where they began trying to extinguish the fire.

They were then allegedly confronted by the man, causing them to back-off and call police. Police arrived soon after and arrested the man, taking him to Chatswood Police Station.

"Despite renewed efforts, the weatherboard house was destroyed," NSW Police said in a statement.
Firefighters who were called to a house on Sydney's northern beaches overnight were allegedly confronted by the resident who threatened them with an axe as they tried to save his burning property, police say.

The firefighters were forced to retreat and could not save the weatherboard house in Whale Beach, following an incident police described as "very strange".

A NSW Police spokesman said Fire & Rescue NSW firefighters were called to the house on Alexander Road just after 2am on Friday to reports that the house was alight.

The firefighters arrived and began to hose down the single-storey house, when the 56-year-old resident allegedly emerged and ran towards them with the axe.
A $600 million Gold Coast hotel development on the Southport Spit that has generated considerable public interest for more than 12 months will finally be debated by the Gold Coast City planning committee next month.

It is likely to come to Gold Coast's City planning committee meeting on September 13.

Sunland's The Mariner twin towers development proposal for the Southport Spit.

Developers Sunland has proposed The Mariner, two 44-storey towers on the Mariner's Cove site on a parcel of land where there is a three-storey ceiling height.

Sunland lodged its plans for the sculptured twin 44-storey towers, designed by prominent architect Dame Zaha Hadid, with Gold Coast City Council in June 2015.
The British man fighting for his life after a horrific attack at a north Queensland hostel has been named a "hero" by friends after he tried to save slain backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung.

Investigations continue into the attack at Home Hill Backpackers, also known as Shelley's Backpackers, that took the life of 21-year-old English tourist Mia Ayliffe-Chung and left Thomas Jackson, 30, in a critical condition at Townsville Hospital.

Mr Jackson, from Cheshire, had been at the hostel late on Tuesday night when Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman, allegedly stabbed and killed 21-year-old English tourist Ms Ayliffe-Chung, in front of about 30 witnesses.

It is understood Mr Jackson was stabbed several times while trying to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
Police have serious concerns for a British backpacker critically injured trying to stave off a fatal stabbing attack in Queensland's north, as his family rushes from the other side of the world to be by his side.

Investigations continue into the shocking attack that took the life of 21-year-old English tourist Mia Ayliffe-Chung and left fellow Brit Thomas Jackson fighting for his life in Townsville Hospital.

A 29-year-old Frenchman, named as Smail Ayad, allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" as he stabbed the two tourists, a 46-year-old Australian man and killed that man's dog on Tuesday night.

Police said the suspect resisted being moved from Townsville Hospital to the watchhouse overnight, but it wasn't clear whether any officers were injured.
French man Smail Ayad, charged with the murder of a backpacker stabbed to death at a Queensland hostel, will face Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday via video link as police hold concerns for public safety.

Mr Ayad, 29, is accused of murdering British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung at Home Hill Backpackers on Tuesday night and critically injuring another British man Tom Jackson.

He is also accused of injuring an unidentified local man and killing a dog.

He faces one charge of murder, two charges of attempted murder and one charge of serious animal cruelty.
A father who uncovered video footage of police allegedly assaulting his teenage son was "instrumental" in prosecutors overruling police top brass to pursue them for perjury, a court has heard.

Leading Senior Constables Dennis Gundrill and Simon Mareangareu were involved in an altercation with two 17-year-old boys outside a Vermont convenience store on Christmas morning in 2014.

Senior Constable Simon Mareangareu (left) and Senior Constable Dennis Gundrill Credit:Eddie Jim

One of the boys filmed the other being allegedly assaulted on his mobile phone. The footage was deleted within hours of the incident.

The father of one of the boys paid an IT consultant to retrieve the footage, prompting an internal police investigation into the matter. The video is understood to have captured one of the officers allegedly yelling "Let's get rid of that video".
Victoria's child-protection agency has been breaching the privacy of traumatised children and foster carers across the state for more than a decade and quietly paying them off or upgrading security at their homes if they find out about it.

Fairfax Media last month exposed a series of major security breaches out of the Department of Health and Human Services, with an investigation finding the protected addresses of at-risk children had recently been given to dangerous parents on numerous occasions.

A Fairfax Media investigation found the protected addresses of at-risk children had been given to dangerous parents. Credit:Nic Walker

Now, it can be revealed that privacy violations by child services date back more than 10 years. The leaks have been traced to several child-protection offices in three of the four Victorian divisions of the department.
Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle has said he will no longer accept donations from property developers, while announcing an environmentalist and a former adviser to Julia Gillard as key members of his election team.

"Team Doyle" took more than $40,000 in campaign donations from property developers, including Brady Group and Central Equity, it was revealed after the 2012 election.

Robert Doyle with his ticket for this year's Melbourne City Council elections (l-r): Sue Stanley, Kevin Louey, Beverley Pinder-Mortimer, Hope Wei, Susan Riley, Arron Wood, Nicholas Reece and Tessa Sullivan.

But this time Cr Doyle has promised he will not take cash from property heavyweights, after he and his team were forced to abstain from more than a dozen council votes this term because of donations posing a conflict of interest.

"I want this to be clean and clear  and [developer donations] not to be an issue in this election campaign," Cr Doyle said.
Parking officers in Melbourne's city centre have stopped issuing motorists with tickets as part of dispute with management over pay and conditions.

The ban on issuing parking tickets will only occur on Thursday, although it may be repeated.

City of Melbourne parking inspectors could be thin on the ground on Thursday. Credit:Craig Abraham

Some council parking officers are still issuing tickets, although most are not.

The ban on fining motorists is part of a series of industrial bans the Australian Services Union is planning as part of its battle with Town Hall.
The strain on Victorian prisons continues to build, with prisoner numbers rising by more than 100 in two months.

And the number of prisoners on remand - who are yet to be convicted of any crime - continues to rise, this week hitting 30 per cent.

Unconvicted prisoners, those on remand, make up one third of Victoria's prison population.

Corrections Victoria operations manager Rod Wise told a "smart justice" forum on Thursday that on Tuesday, there were 6640 prisoners in Victoria, compared with about 6500 in June. The growth was almost entirely made up of prisoners on remand, he said.

In the 2015-16 financial year, almost 80 per cent of the 9800 prisoners who entered Victorian jails went in there unconvicted of any crime. They may have been convicted later.
A teenage girl was sexually assaulted at a concert by US pop star Selena Gomez in Melbourne.

The girl was allegedly assaulted by a man during the concert at Margaret Court Arena on Saturday, August 6.

The man police wish to speak to over the alleged assault at the Selena Gomez concert.

Police are investigating whether the man targeted other concertgoers that night, or if he struck again on the following night.

He is described as being about 162 centimetres tall, with a medium build, brown short, wavy hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.
In Melbourne, two little girls are asleep in their bunks. The sisters are safe now, in their foster home, where they're being cared for the way children should be. Outside, motion detector lighting lays in wait above their bedroom window. Security cameras are trained on their suburban street. Deadlocks have been installed on all the external doors of their home.

These new security measures, the girls' foster parents hope, will deter their father from doing what he has threatened: come to the house. If they don't, if he does sneak up at night, the cameras might catch a glimpse of him. This could help in any future criminal prosecution, the carers are told - a fact that gives them no comfort at all.

Safeguarding vulnerable children by retrofitting security or throwing cash at foster carers isn't good enough. Credit:Nic Walker

This family has been living in fear since Victoria's child protection agency breached their privacy by giving the father, a violent criminal, their address. He was handed a document containing the exact location of the children who were meant to be safe once they were taken away from him due to abuse and neglect.
Two people have died on Victoria's roads within 24 hours.

A person died after a car and a truck crashed in Victoria's north, at the intersection of Murray Valley Highway and Waaia-Bearii Road in Yalca, just before 10.30am on Thursday.

The driver in the car died at the scene. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

It comes just a day after an 87-year-old Mansfield man died after losing control of his Holden station wagon on a bend, while travelling south on Mansfield-Woods Point Road in Macs Cove.

The driver was airlifted to Melbourne but died later that evening, while an 83-year-old Mansfield woman was airlifted to a Wangaratta hospital with serious injuries.
They are free libraries open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no late fees, no library cards and no need to return the books. And they will soon be arriving in the City of Vincent.

The "Little Free Library" concept is simple  give a book to get a book. The small standalone boxes sit on the verge of willing participants and allow anybody to get involved as part of the gift-sharing economy.

A free library open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no late fee's, no library cards and no need to return the books. Credit:Theresa Youngs-Lachmund

The concept originated in the United States in 2009 as a unique solution to the problem of people not being able to easily access free books. Unlike Australia, public libraries are not free to use in

the states but easier access to books hasn't stopped the vergeside concept from taking flight down under.

The City of Vincent has awarded community group, Transition Town Mt Hawthorn a grant to build another ten Little Free Seed and Book Libraries by August 2017. The group will commence sourcing locations and building the new stands in October.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder's chances of becoming Liberal leader are "dead" and he is on the verge of getting stripped off his portfolios, according to a high-ranking Liberal insider.

The leadership tensions within the Liberal Party bubbled to the surface again after a ReachTEL poll commissioned by a number of prominent Perth businessmen, including John Poynton, found the Coalition would get smashed in the March election.

Colin Barnett is under pressure following the resignation of Dean Nalder (inset).

The private poll, which involved nearly 11,000 people, revealed the Liberal Party could lose as many as 10 seats and Premier Colin Barnett was on the nose with the electorate.

The business heavyweights behind the poll are keen for Mr Nalder to lead the party, but a Liberal source said the Transport Minister had shot himself in the foot for being part of a "pro-active spill" to roll the Premier.
City of Fremantle councillors have voted to scrap the port town's popular Australia Day fireworks event from 2017 after deeming the celebration culturally insensitive.

The council will instead host a family-friendly event to celebrate being Australian on a different date yet to be finalised.

The decision to cancel the fireworks was passed, nine votes to two, during a council meeting on Wednesday night.

"There has been a growing movement that January 26 is increasingly becoming a day that is 'not for all Australians'," Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said.
A Perth teenager who admitted to organising an out-of-control party at a vacant house and arranging a man to reconnect the power to a property has told WAtoday she is sorry for her actions.

Rebecca Ah Hong pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday to organising a wild party at a Yokine address on June 17 and procuring a man to trespass and reconnect the power to another residence in Mirrabooka on June 24, where another out-of-control party was held.

Rebecca Ah Hong, has admitted to helping organise out-of-control parties at vacant houses in Perth. Credit:Heather McNeill

The 18-year-old Ballajura woman had her matter adjourned until October 21, as one of her offences, fraudulent appropriation of power, is an indictable offence and must be heard in the Perth District Court.

During her first court appearance in July, Ah Hong told WAtoday she was sorry and regretted her actions.
Paris: The French government has warned that the burkini ban must not lead to the "stigmatisation" of Muslims, as outrage grew around the world over photos of armed police apparently making a woman remove some of her clothing on the beach in Nice.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve made the warning after he held emergency talks with French Muslim leaders, who demanded he meet them amid the furore over the photos of the woman removing her tunic, watched by four policemen.

"The implementation of secularism, and the option of adopting such decrees [banning burkinis] must not lead to stigmatisation or the creation of hostility between French people," Mr Cazeneuve said after the meeting.
New Zealand: A Czech tourist has spent weeks in a remote hut after her tramping partner fell to his death nearly a month ago, police say.

The two trampers were reported overdue on Wednesday and a search and rescue helicopter found the woman at a warden's hut on the Fiordland National Park Great Walk on New Zealand's South Island.

Police said the woman's partner fell down a steep slope on July 28, four days after they started their 32-kilometre tramp.

"She managed to reach him. However, it's believed he died not long after," Inspector Olaf Jensen said.
Pavlina Pizova spent a month inside the hut. Credit:New Zealand Police "But the recovery team headed out first thing this morning and will be making every possible attempt to complete the recovery today, conditions permitting," he said. Family and friends in Europe raised concerns for the pair on Facebook, and police tracked their car to the Glenorchy end of the track, near Queenstown. Killed: Czech tramper Ondrej Petr. Kennett said the couple arrived in New Zealand on February 29 on a working holiday visa with potential jobs organised on a farm near Dunedin.

They set out on the Routeburn Track on July 26, despite being warned off by Department of Conservation (DOC) staff, and according to Kennett, they had no tent or locator beacon and told no-one of their plans. The start of the Routeburn Track in Fiordland National Park. Credit:Dave Nicoll After one freezing night outside and disoriented in heavy fog and strong winds with snow falling, the pair slipped five to seven metres down a steep slope, the man falling further. He became trapped between vegetation and rocks. Pizova heard him gasping for breath in his last moments. The woman decided to stay put because of the injuries and the snow. Credit:Iain McGregor

"She tried everything she could but she was totally exhausted," Kennett said. "It was impossible [to free him]." The warden's hut at Lake Mackenzie on the Routeburn Track. Unable to move her partner, the woman spent two sleepless nights outside, her possessions stuffed into her sleeping bag for warmth, Kennett said. She would wiggle her fingers and toes to try and keep them warm. She tried for two days to reach a campsite in the distance, but foggy, snowy conditions hampered her efforts. The snow was chest-deep in some places.

Lake McKenzie Hut and surrounding area on the Routeburn track near Queenstown where a woman was living for weeks after her partner died. Credit:Iain McGregor On the fourth day she reached the camp and broke into a warden's hut through a window to find food, gas and firewood. There was a radio too, but the English operating instructions were indecipherable to her. Her numbed fingers had turned white and her feet swelled drastically when she removed her boots. It was days before she could put them on again. After she recovered, the woman fashioned snow shoes from sticks but was unable to walk out through the deep snow. "She made several attempts to get out but was always stopped by her physical and mental condition," Kennett said. "She was devastated by the loss of her partner."

There were enough ashes from a fire for the woman to write an "H" for help in the snow in the hope of attracting a rescuer's eye. It was a month before, on Wednesday, they finally arrived. On Sunday, Kennett had noticed social media messages from concerned friends and family of the pair in the Czech Republic. They sent the consul the photos and car registration details that helped searchers track the couple to the Routeburn. The woman was doing "really well" but wanted to return home as soon as possible, Kennett said. Her family knew she was safe. Jensen said the woman was "relieved" to see the helicopter crew that picked her up. She was taken to hospital as a precaution and was understandably upset, but otherwise in good health, he said. "It very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported."

A search and rescue helicopter crew was unable to recover the man's body last night. Police hoped to retrieve it this morning, weather permitting. Jensen said the man's death was not considered suspicious and would be investigated by the coroner. DOC Te Anau operations manager Greg Lind said the fact no-one noticed the woman was no surprise. "It would be only highly-skilled alpine people that should be attempting to use the Routeburn in winter time. "The fact that nobody was up there is certainly not unusual  if she was waiting for rescue from another party coming through she would have been very lucky."

Lind said there would have been a "reasonable degree" of tinned food and other items left in the hut by the wardens, whose season finished in April. "There's plenty of bedding, if she managed to get the fire going it would have been a reasonable location to be in." He said he hoped the incident would serve as a reminder to tramper's to take extra precautions. "The message is being ignored or overlooked by people and they are getting themselves into a right pickle. "People are making judgement calls about their own experiences and ability and often they are getting caught out."

WEATHER WARNINGS MetService issued daily snowfall warnings for the area in the nine days from July 24  the day the couple set out from Glenorchy. The forecaster has issued four more since. There was large snowfall about three weeks ago. Trampers said during the time the woman was trapped, the track was covered in up to one metre of snow either side of the remote Lake Mackenzie hut where the woman was holed up. DOC had warned trampers of an avalanche risk for those entering the Great Walks track from The Divide. Heavy snow made the Harris Saddle treacherous for those heading in from Glenorchy.

Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club president Richard Forbes was in the Routeburn on a club trip last weekend. DOC advised them not to go to Lake Mackenzie Hut because of the snow and avalanche risk. They went to the Falls Hut from the Glenorchy end instead. "You've got an alpine section [on the way] where it's more exposed." "If no-one's been in there because of the snow, I can see how it could happen." 'SHE DID THE RIGHT THING'

Barry Walker, also on the club trip, said the snow was a metre deep on the Falls Hutt side of Harris Saddle "and no doubt at the Howden end too". "She was not likely to get out in her state . . . she did the right thing and stayed put, never expecting no-one would turn up, I expect. "Their mistake was going beyond the saddle, no doubt, as conditions were severe. [It's] easy to stray off-track as markers [were] buried in places," Walker said. Dunedin man Stuart Eaton walked part of the Routeburn from August 12 to 14 and said the snow was thick. His group went from Glenorchy, stayed at Falls Hut, then went back the same way.

"No-one went over the [Harris Saddle] pass that weekend we were up there. There was avalanche danger on the pass so we went no further than Lake Harris." "I'd say the snow was about a metre in depth at the top of the track." 'DOESN'T MAKE SENSE' Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club spokesman Ian Sime said although the track was officially closed, people tramped the track through winter. "People can leave food at huts, so there can be stuff there. Water wouldn't be a trouble. You'd be able to thaw [snow]."

Sime had "never" heard of this happening before. "It's unbelievable". Had the couple filled in the intentions book, a search would have started weeks ago. ONE OF THE 'GREAT WALKS' The track follows the Routeburn Gorge, along the Routeburn River, and usually takes trampers three days to complete. There is no cellphone coverage.

It is one of New Zealand's Great Walks and is popular in summer especially, with huts and campsites being booked out months in advance. Temperatures at MetService's closest station, Milford Airport, ranged from -3 degrees Celsius to 15C in the last 30 days, but a forecaster said temperatures on the Routeburn track would be cooler. In a statement, the Mountain Safety Council said even the most experienced trampers had accidents. "Unfortunately, a moment's complacency can sometimes have fatal consequences. "We'd like to remind all trampers, particularly those intending to be out for significant time periods of time, that it's important to make sure they have left an intentions form."
Washington: Four of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels "harassed" a US warship on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz, a US defence 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 US 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.
Days before North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, successfully tested a ballistic missile that he said could hit parts of the continental United States, his reclusive regime unveiled another technical triumph: a Netflix-like streaming service.

Called Manbang, the service delivers on-demand videos to televisions through a set-top box, Korean Central Television said in a report last week.

In the report, a narrator says that Manbang is further proof of North Korea's "socialist cultural power," which will allow its people to watch their country "make a leap forward every day, every hour."

Very few of the country's roughly 25 million citizens are permitted to access the actual internet. Content that can be streamed is largely restricted to state-run television and propaganda-filled movies.
The widow of slain Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa has spoken of her shock over the sudden loss of her husband of 31 years and her anxiety about paying her son's university fees.

Ketut Arsini, an elementary school teacher in Jimbaran, first heard of Mr Sudarsa's grisly death while attending a flag-raising ceremony on Indonesian Independence Day on August 17.

"I was in disbelief when I heard the news. He was happy, healthy, why would he suddenly die on the job?" she told Fairfax Media.

It was not until a colleague of her husband's showed Ms Arsini the photos of Mr Sudarsa's bloodied body sprawled on the beach that the ghastly truth began to sink in.
Byron Bay woman Sara Connor told her boyfriend a "bad cop" pushed her to the ground and lay on top of her on Kuta beach in Bali, according to the boyfriend's lawyer.

Ms Connor and her British DJ boyfriend David Taylor have been declared suspects in the alleged murder of Balinese police officer Wayan Sudarsa, whose bloodied corpse was found on the sand near a smashed Bintang beer bottle on August 17.

Mr Taylor's laywer, Haposan Sihombing, told Fairfax Media his client had been interrogated from 2pm to 7pm on Saturday. He had not admitted to committing the murder.

Mr Haposan said Mr Taylor had been asked 35 questions. Mr Taylor said he and Ms Connor had a date on the beach at Kuta.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Employees of the Windward Islands Bank and Student Support Services cleared their offices on Wednesday morning around 9:15am when the fire alarm in the Windward Islands Bank (WIB) went off.

Police and fire trucks responded to the scene while the workers of the bank and those in the building next to the bank rushed out of their offices fearing that there might have been a fire in the bank.

On the scene, the firemen and police checked the building to see if there was any smoke or fire that caused the alarm to go off.

Fire Officer Antonio Gibbs said they were called the police who told them that there was a fire at the bank, Officer Gibbs said upon checking it turned out that the smoke detector located on the roof of the building was damaged and that caused it to go off. The fire officer made clear that there was no fire or smoke in the bank when they checked the building. He said the damaged smoke detector was immediately replaced by the bank's security. Officer Gibbs urged members of the public to call the fire department directly at their number 919 and not the police. He said calling the police caused a delay, therefore, businesses and residents must call the fire department in order for them to dispatch faster.

Shortly after that, the employees of the bank returned to work along with those from the Student Support office that is located next door.
POINTE BLANCHE:--- The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) recently announced the winners of the 2016 FCCA Foundation Children's Essay Competition.

First place in the gold senior division was Jacinth Hunkins (15) from St. Maarten, a student of St. Maarten Academy, and Janae Elisha Rodriquez from Belize were first place in the junior division.

Port St. Maarten Management would like to congratulate Jacinth Hunkins for her placement as first place and wishes her much success with her studies for the new 2016-2017 school year.

The first-place winners and their schools will receive $3,000 academic scholarships, and the winners and a chaperone will be invited to accept their prizes at the FCCA Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show Opening Ceremony in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, September 26.

The competition invites students from schools around the Caribbean and Latin America to submit essays and then awards the students and schools to help further their education. In total, this year's contest will provide nearly $20,000 to the participating students and their schools.

This year's essay contest attracted entries from 21 countries, who wrote what they would want to see and do in their destination as a cruise passenger. All the essays showcased the students' excellence in writing, as well as knowledge of their destination and the ability to entice the FCCA readers to experience new things.

First, the second and third place was awarded to participants from the junior division, consisting of students between nine- and 12-years-old, and the senior division, featuring students between 13 and s16.

Second place in the junior division was Danny Kish from the Cayman Islands, and Hailey Morris from St. Kitts earned the honors in the senior division. Second-place winners and their schools will receive $1,500 scholarships.

Third place in the junior division was Jordan Fleming from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Alanis Matos Pla from Puerto Rico took bronze in the senior division. Third-place winners and their schools will receive $1,000 scholarships.

To reward all the students and schools for their great efforts, all other finalists and their schools will receive $200 scholarships.

The FCCA Foundation provides a tangible mechanism for the cruise industry to fund a range of humanitarian causes in Caribbean and Latin American destinations.

Since its establishment in 1993, the Foundation has benefited thousands of citizens by providing funding and countless hours to causes and charities throughout the regions. In addition to assisting deserving institutions like charities and hospitals and aiding during crises like natural disasters, the Foundation executes annual projects, including the Holiday Gift Project, which delivers thousands of presents and smiles to underprivileged children during the holiday season, and poster and essay competitions to award students and schools.
Sea Port Products Corp scallops sold to restaurants in CA, HI, NV

Scallops sold by Sea Port Products Corp have been voluntarily recalled after being linked to a Hepatitis A.

Scallops sold to restaurants in California, Hawaii, and Nevada have been voluntarily recalled by Sea Port Products Corp after at least 206 people became sick with hepatitis A.

The US Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are assisting the Hawaii Department of Health in an ongoing investigation. The cases were first reported by the state of Hawaii on August 17.

Of those who contracted hepatitis A, 51 have been hospitalized. All of the cases involve adults, and they are all linked to the handling of raw scallops.

The scallops were not for sale in stores, but they were supplied to restaurants and other commercial groups. The FDA is working with Sea Port Products Corp to make sure the products are pulled off shelves, according to the FDA website.

The scallops under scrutiny were produced on November 23 and 24, 2015.

The federal agencies and the Hawaiian Department of Health told Sea Port Products on August 17 that tests had confirmed their scallops were positive for hepatitis A, and that they were the source of the outbreak.

The FDA suggests customers who would like to order scallops in the states where the recall is in effect should ask the restaurant where the scallops came from.

The FDA has an information line that will answer any question about food safety: 1-888-SAFEFOOD. Its open Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET

------------------------

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. The disease is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene.

Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and acute liver failure, which is often fatal.

The incubation period of hepatitis A is usually 1428 days.

Hepatitis A symptoms are more severe in older children and adults.

Symptoms of hepatitis A range from mild to severe, and can include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-coloured urine and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

Adults have signs and symptoms of illness more often than children. The severity of disease and fatal outcomes are higher in older age groups. Infected children under 6 years of age do not usually experience noticeable symptoms, and only 10% develop jaundice. Among older children and adults, infection usually causes more severe symptoms, with jaundice occurring in more than 70% of cases. Hepatitis A sometimes relapses, so the person who just recovered falls sick again with another acute episode. This is, however, followed by recovery.
In sustaining demur, Judge holds that a reasonable person would expect a drink with ice to be diluted

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a lawsuit saying that Starbucks to see use its customers by putting ice in their drinks instead of products.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court in June, alleged that Starbucks' iced drinks "contain significantly less product than advertised."

Judge Percy Anderson dismissed the suit as ridiculous, saying even a kid knows better.

"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," he wrote in his Aug. 19 opinion.

The judge also pointed out that Starbucks uses clear cups for cold drinks, making it easy for customers to see how much ice they are getting.

Moreover, Starbucks never explicitly states on menus or signs that a given drink size contains a specified amount of liquid, according to the judge.

After the suit was filed, Starbucks said customers who are unhappy with their drink can always ask the barista for a new one. They can also ask for light ice or extra ice when placing their order.

In other Starbucks news, A tornado touched down in Howard County, Indiana, Wednesday and leveled a Starbucks coffee shop.

"We're relieved to report that all employees and customers in the store are safe," said Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges, adding that no injuries had been reported. "Our heartfelt concern goes out to those affected by this," he said.

Governor of Indiana Mike Pence, who is also Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's running mate, told reporters on his campaign charter plane that he was not aware of any deaths or serious injuries. The plane is headed back to Indianapolis.

"I'll be traveling on the emergency operations center for a full briefing, and we'll have more information for you at that time," Pence said. "The storm system has not left the state of Indiana yet, so this is a real-time event were monitoring very closely"

Pence praised first responders in Indiana before stating his intentions to stay in the state while the damage is assessed.
No fan of Donald Trump, Assange really hates Hillary Clinton. Release may come on eve of 3d debate

Julian Assange Claims to have the goods on Hillary, and is planning an election surprise.

He lives in exile in an embassy in London and considers himself a journalist, while the Obama administration and many Americans consider him to be a traitor.

Appearing on Megyn Kelly's Fox News program, WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange said on Wednesday that he planned to release "significant" information linked to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Asked if the data could be a game-changer in the election, he said "I think it's significant. You know, it depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."

WikiLeaks released files in July of audio recordings taken from the emails of the Democratic National Committee. These were obtained by hacking its servers. That release, during the Democratic National Convention where Clinton was officially named the party's presidential nominee, was the second batch in a series that deeply rattled the Democratic party, and ultimately forced DNC chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to step down--which Assange seemed to brag about tonight.

Kelly speculated that the timing of the dump would be just before Clinton's third debate with Donald Trump. Everyone would be tuned in then and it would do the most damage to Clinton, she said, referring to the Obama administration's hunt for Assange. It was led by then Secretary of State Clinton.

On 4 July 2016, WikiLeaks tweeted a link to a trove of emails sent or received by then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton published on their website. The leak contained 1258 emails sent from Clinton's personal mail server which were selected in terms of their relevance to the Iraq War and were apparently timed to precede the release of the UK government's Iraq Inquiry report.

On 22 July 2016, WikiLeaks released approximately 20,000 emails and 8,000 files sent from or received by Democratic National Committee (DNC) personnel. Some of the emails contained personal information of donors, including home addresses and Social Security numbers. Other emails appeared to present ways to undercut Bernie Sanders and showed apparent favoritism towards Clinton.

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit group of journalists that publishes secret information, news leaks, and steals or appropriates classified media from anonymous sources.

Julian Assange Claims to have the goods on Hillary, and is planning an election surprise.

Its website, initiated in 2006 in Iceland by the organization Sunshine Press, claimed a database of more than 1.2 million documents within a year of its launch.

Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist, is generally described as its founder, editor-in-chief, and director. Kristinn Hrafnsson, Joseph Farrell, and Sarah Harrison are the only other publicly known and acknowledged associates of Julian Assange. Hrafnsson is also a member of Sunshine Press Productions along with Assange, Ingi Ragnar Ingason, and Gavin MacFadyen.

The group has released a number of significant documents that have become front-page news items. Early releases included documentation of equipment expenditures and holdings in the Afghanistan war and a report informing a corruption investigation
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.
Thinks that homework as a teaching tool, is overrated. Many educators agree

Brandy Young, a second-grade teacher in Godley Independent School District just outside Dallas-Fort Worth, sent a letter to parents promising that she will not assign homework to students this year. Her letter has been shared more than 68,500 times on Facebook in one week, indicating that this is indeed a national issue.

Brandy Young, a second-grade teacher in Godley Independent School District just outside Dallas-Fort Worth, sent home a letter to parents promising that she will not assign homework to students this year.

Her letter has been shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook in one week, indicating that this is indeed a national issue.

"After much research this summer, I am trying something new," Mrs. Young wrote. "Homework will only consist of work that your student did not finish during the school day. There will be no formally assigned homework this year.

"Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance. 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."

"This is so awesome as it demonstrates how many parents and teachers would support this kind of policy! Especially for kids in Elementary school," one mom excitedly wrote. "It prioritizes family time and youth activity! I feel 8 hrs a day in school for kids this age is enough.

Samantha Gallagher, the parent who posted it online, wrote that it "just goes to show how universal this subject is!"

"We're happy that at the end of a long school day she'll get to come home and unwind and be a kid ... go outside to play, make new friends, spend more time as a family," Gallagher told CBS News.

Young has been teaching in Godly for about eight years, according to her biography on the school district's website. She lives with her husband and her young son in Joshua, a small city south of Fort Worth, the site said.

"My family revolves around a love of God, sports, and hunting," she wrote in her bio. "I love to travel, shop, make crafts, go out to eat and spend time with the people I love."A teacher in the Dallas-Fort Worth region isn't the only one who doesn't assign homework. An Austin area teacher hasn't doled out homework to his students for the past two years.

"Kids love it and my test scores have been great!" said Patrick Hinson, who teaches Advanced Placement Biology and is the student council sponsor at the high-performing Lake Travis High School.

As the majority of students across the country routinely are assigned homework, such no-homework policies appear rare. The North Texas teacher's letter to parents last week saying she would not be assigning homework to her second graders went viral.

Teacher Brandy Young said in her letter that research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance. She asked her parents that in place of the time spent on school assignments at home, that they spend their evenings eating dinner as a family, reading together, playing outside and getting their child to bed early. The note, which was posted by a parent on Facebook, had more than 74,000 shares by this week.

Brandy Young, a second-grade teacher in Godley Independent School District just outside Dallas-Fort Worth, sent a letter to parents promising that she will not assign homework to students this year. Her letter has been shared more than 68,500 times on Facebook in one week, indicating that this is indeed a national issue.

Parent Samantha Gallagher said in her post her daughter is "loving her new teacher already!"

Hinson told the American-Statesman by phone that his son spent two hours on homework as a fourth-and-fifth grader. "There's no family time," he said.

Hinson, a 14-year teaching veteran, said he examined his homework policy after looking at the schedules of his students, who were taking other AP courses, were participating in school clubs and extracurricular activities and working part-time jobs. He said students are much busier than when he was in school.

"If I can take one thing off their plate and keep them learning," then why not, he said.

His strategy appears to be working for his 11th and 12th grade students: "My kids ended up enjoying class more and performance was better. AP scores went up."
USS Squall fires three shots; ship was only 200 meters away

USS Squall (PC-7) is the seventh Cyclone class patrol (coastal) ship. Squall was laid down 17 February 1993 by Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana and launched 28 August 1993. She was commissioned by the United States Navy 4 July 1994. In 2013, Squall shifted homeport to Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

US Officials confirmed that the USS Squall fired three warning shots at an Iranian Revolution Guard small boat only 200 yards away. Charging at a US Navy ship can only be regarded as a provocation in maritime terms; an invitation to shoot missiles. The incident happened Thursday, at 11:45 am PST.

The vessels were probably revolutionary Guard vessels. Whereas the regular military defends Iran's borders and maintains internal order, according to the Iranian constitution, the Revolutionary Guard is intended to protect the country's Islamic system. The Revolutionary Guards state that their role in protecting the Islamic system is preventing foreign interference as well as coups by the military or "deviant movements".

USS Squall (PC-7) is the seventh Cyclone class patrol (coastal) ship. She was commissioned by the United States Navy 4 July 1994. In 2013, Squall shifted homeport to Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

The Revolutionary Guards have roughly 125,000 military personnel including ground, aerospace and naval forces. Its naval forces are now the primary forces tasked with operational control of the Persian Gulf. It also controls the paramilitary Basij militia which has about 90,000 active personnel. Its media arm is Sepah News.

It can fairly be said that the Revolutionary Guards operates independently, and therefore has its own foreign policy which is stridently anti US.

Since its origin as an ideologically driven militia, the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution has taken an ever more assertive role in virtually every aspect of Iranian society. Its expanded social, political, military, and economic role under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration-especially during the 2009 presidential election and post-election suppression of protest-has led many analysts to argue that its political power has surpassed even that of the Shia Clerics

A revolutionary guards vessel

In a separate incident, 4 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, a 500 foot long Arleigh Burke class Destroyer--a very large surface ship.

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.
Fracking laws complicate recovering 264 billion barrels of American reserves, for no reason

From www.Calbuzz.com. Citizen fears about hydraulic fracturing, a drilling procedure used to pry oil and gas from rock deep underground, have made "fracking" a political question in California.

Oil imports could soon be a thing of the past.

That's the main takeaway from a new report from Nordic consulting firm Rystad. Researchers estimated the total recoverable oil reserves still buried under American soil. The final figure is astonishing: 264 billion barrels -- more than any other nation in the world.

Unlocking these reserves would generate tremendous benefits for the economy and move America towards full energy independence. Yet the White House has repeatedly stood in the way. Time and again, this administration has tried to smother our businesses with excessive regulations.

Consider fracking. The Rystad report found half of this country's recoverable oil can only be accessed through this drilling technique, which involves pumping a high-pressure mixture of sand and water into rock formations to loosen up embedded oil and gas. While fracking has existed since the 1940s, recent advances allow producers to access previously unreachable reserves.

In 2015, the Interior Department issued strict fracking controls on federal and Indian lands, accounting for five percent of domestic oil production. These rules, grounded in scientifically specious concern about the technique's environmental effects, significantly slowed energy development in these areas. Fortunately, a federal judge recently struck down these controls as exceeding Interior's authority.

These anti-fracking measures are just the start. In April, the White House imposed a requirement on offshore drilling, demanding that producers hire outside organizations to conduct safety exams.

This mandate was redundant. Offshore drilling operations have taken dramatic strides to improve safety, including hundreds of new rules and the creation of a central industry association to share best practices.

This offshore requirement ratcheted up the cost of drilling operations for no discernible safety gain.

A few months later, the Environmental Production Agency unveiled regulations governing methane emissions generated by oil wells. These rules had minimal environmental benefit, but will cost producers over half a billion dollars over the next decade.

The White House isn't an ally of the energy industry. Its regulatory aggression suppresses sector growth and undercuts the American economy.

The costs of this crusade aren't purely economic -- they're also geopolitical.

Exploding domestic production has allowed our country to wean itself off oil sourced abroad. Since 2005, oil imports dropped by 27 percent. Last year, only one-fourth of oil consumed came from foreign countries -- the lowest level since Nixon's administration. So the United States consumes significantly less oil from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and other hostile regimes.

Many foreign countries are eager to buy U.S. oil. Last year, Congress lifted the decades-old ban on oil exports and international sales surged. Just this April, the United States exported 17.7 million barrels -- the highest monthly total ever.

The bulk of those exports went to European and Asian allies that previously relied on Russian imports to meet their energy needs. The Kremlin used its energy dominance to force other countries to capitulate to its aggression in the Ukraine and elsewhere. Our allies are now much less vulnerable to such intimidation.

The Obama administration's suppression of domestic oil industry growth slows our oil exports. That hampers this geopolitically advantageous migration away from oil sourced from dangerous regimes. And it costs good jobs here at home.

Citizen fears about hydraulic fracturing, a drilling procedure used to pry oil and gas from rock deep underground, have made "fracking" a political question in California.

The energy industry has transformed the American economy. As this new report makes clear, our country is well-positioned to reap the economic and geopolitical benefits of a domestic oil boom for years to come -- but only if the White House gets out of the way.

Dan Kish is a senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research.

-------

Disclaimer: Although the IAR presents itself as an objective science-based institute, many reports and watchdog organizations have disputed this, citing funding from oil industry companies and describing IAR's work as ignoring science. The institute is considered by many to be a front group for the fossil fuel industry. The Institute for Energy Research has a political arm, the American Energy Alliance, and it has been reported that both the IEA and the AEA are partially funded by the Koch brothers and their donor network.
Computer Power Institute  Career Path in Website Development

Posted by Publisher Networking

Computer Power Institute (CPI) provides Australias most respected and affordable online IT diplomas in Web Development, Information Technology, Networking and Software Development.

To ensure maximum flexibility, CPI enables students to study its IT courses online, via their e-Campus or physically on campus in Melbourne. Or students can create a blended study plan incorporating both options. Computer Powers online courses are available Australia wide.

Each of the IT Certification Training Courses on offer is developed in conjunction with the industry to ensure students develop the knowledge and skills that employers are seeking. The course curriculum is also reviewed regularly to ensure they remain in touch with current industry demands.

These courses suit individuals with little or no occupational experience through to those people currently holding senior roles in the industry.

With a strong focus on job placement, Computer Powers IT courses  such as the Diploma of Website Development  includes employment preparation and a group project to better prepare students for their future careers.

Diploma of Website Development  ICT50615

This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to design, build and manage websites as an independent web developer or as part of a team.

Students are able to complete their diplomas in 16 months with the flexibility online learning provides. Studying 25 hours per week on average (100 hours per month) should enable students to successful gain a qualification. All assessments must be completed within the 27-month time limit.

Upon successfully completing this program, our students will receive the nationally endorsed Diploma of Website Development.

Throughout the course, students are also given the opportunity to gain the following industry certifications:

* Microsoft Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 (70-480)

* Microsoft Developing ASP.NET MVC 4 Web Applications (70-486)

* Microsoft Developing Windows Azure and Web Services (70-487)

By completing an online Diploma of Website Development, students will be well placed to pursue a range of roles within the industry, such as web developer, web programmer, webmaster, web administrator, online diploma in it networking and IT support.

Working in web development is exciting, offers great job satisfaction and offers a secure career pathway, flexibility and compensation. Website Developers can work in design (front-end) and coding (back-end) or both.

Since CPI began, over 35,000 students have graduated, and with the support of CPIs Job Placement service, around 93% of students have successfully gained employment.

At CPI, a dedicated team of Career Consultants, Instructors, Student Services Team and Placement Consultants are committed to helping students achieve their goals.

By working individually with students throughout the duration of their courses, students receive expert career guidance and personal mentoring to ensure they remain on track and can easily transition into a job.

Computer Power Diplomas are also an alternate pathway into a University Degree. Students receive one year of credit for their completed Diploma, allowing them to transfer into the second year of a three year Bachelor Degree.

If youre considering studying a Diploma of Website Development or another IT course, visit www.computerpower.edu.au, or chat to a CPI Career Consultant who can help you determine which course will help you achieve your full potential.
ClearCare Announces $60 Million Investment Led by Battery Ventures to Fuel Growth

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (Marketwired)  08/24/16  ClearCare, a leading software platform for home care agencies, today announced a $60 million growth-equity investment led by global investment firm Battery Ventures. The company also announced that noted technologist Bala Krishna (Balki) Nakshatrala, former vice president of engineering at Mastercard, has joined ClearCare as VP of engineering.

ClearCares software is used by agencies which provide patients daily care inside their homes, including basic services such as preparing meals, bathing and dressing, and assisting with mobility, among others. The company will use the investment to invest in its core platform and explore new strategic partnerships.

ClearCares cloud-based platform helps agencies attract and retain customers, schedule and deliver care, and optimize their back offices. The companys end-to-end platform delivers these solutions through innovative tools that include point-of-care tracking, integrated payments, family portals and quality of care monitoring. ClearCare serves four of the largest five national home-care enterprises, representing roughly 250,000 caregivers and 150,000 seniors under care.

Increasingly, seniors and people who need assistance with daily activities are opting to stay in the comfort of their own homes. And this trend will only multiply as the senior population expands with the aging baby-boomer generation, said Geoff Nudd, founder and CEO of ClearCare. We are excited to partner with Battery Ventures as we aggressively pursue new opportunities to grow our market leadership. Batterys expertise in the home care market makes the firm an ideal partner for this next step in our growth story.

As part of the financing, Battery Ventures General Partner Chelsea Stoner and Battery Vice President Duncan Gills will join ClearCares board.

Stoner has deep expertise in the software and healthcare-technology markets. Previously, Stoner served on the boards of Brightree, a provider of cloud-based software and services for the post-acute healthcare industry, which was acquired by ResMed in February for $800 million dollars, and Data Innovations, a provider of software for medical laboratories that was acquired by Roper Industries in February 2015. She also currently sits on the board of WebPT, a Web-based, electronic medical record (EMR) solution for physical, occupational and speech therapists; Avalara, which sells cloud-based, sales-tax software; and Intacct, the cloud-based ERP provider.

Geoff and his team have built an end-to-end software platform that allows agencies to efficiently deliver care at home, said Stoner. We look forward to partnering with ClearCare as the company continues to innovate and make the delivery of low cost, home based care easier.

ClearCare Online is a cloud-based home care software platform supporting private-duty home care companies for efficient, cost-effective aging at home. ClearCares web and mobile platform helps home care agencies operate efficiently, scale services and improve the quality and documentation of care on behalf of their patients.

Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area and Israel. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at and find a full list of Batterys portfolio companies .

Derek Jones

Vice President of Marketing

ClearCare

800-449-0645 x1674

Rebecca Buckman

Vice President of Communications and Content

Battery Ventures

650-292-2077
Trend Micro 1H Security Roundup Report Showcases Evolution of Ransomware and BEC Scams

Posted by Publisher Hardware

HONG KONG, CHINA  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  As Trend Micro , 2016 has proven to be a year of online extortion through various malicious attack methods. (TYO: 4704) (TSE: 4704), a global leader in security software and solutions, today published its security roundup report, , which analyzes the trends in attacks and vulnerabilities seen throughout the first half of this year. The report provides extensive data surrounding the rise and impact of attacks, such as a 172 percent increase in and $3 billion in losses due to (BEC) scams so far in 2016, as well as nearly 500 vulnerabilities in a variety of products.

Ransomware is capable of crippling organizations who face it, and the cybercriminals spearheading these attacks are creatively evolving on a continuous basis to keep enterprises guessing, said Myla Pilao, Director of TrendLabs, Trend Micro. It has dominated the threat landscape so far in 2016, causing immense losses to businesses across multiple industries. Enterprises must adopt multi-layered security solutions to optimally combat these threats that could attempt to penetrate corporate networks at any time.

The following report findings highlight trends from the first half of 2016:

The occurrence of ransomware families nearly doubled, with an increase of 172 percent, in the first half of 2016 compared to 2015, further establishing ransomware as a prevalent and pervasive threat. Variants are designed to attack all levels of the network.

The FBI listed more than 22,000 victims in 2016 to date, with more than US $3 billion in losses. Trend Micro has found that the U.S. is the most targeted country for these attacks.

The declining use of Angler EK can be attributed to the arrest of 50 cybercriminals. As such, other EKs have taken its place, including new players like Rig and Sundown.

Trend Micro and the ZDI reported several significant browser and kernel vulnerabilities, which were identified during the competition.

Both private and public sectors fell victim to data breaches in the first half of the year, including Myspace and Verizon, several hospitals and government entities.

FastPoS came equipped with efficient credit card theft capabilities, affecting small to medium businesses across the globe, including some in the U.S. FighterPoS also made its debut, showing worm-like qualities that allowed cross-network infection.

Shellshock exploits increased in the first half of the year, despite available patches, with thousands of new exploits seen each month. This is another example of the benefit to virtual patching, which provides faster protection to enterprise networks when vulnerabilities surface.

Trojans like QAKBOT increased their attacks following the arrest of the creators of DYRE. This variant goes after crucial information including banking credentials, browsing habits and other sensitive user data.

In total, 79 new ransomware families were identified in the first six months of the year, which surpasses the total number of new families found in all of 2015. Both new and old variants caused a total of US $209 million in monetary losses to enterprises. Ransomware attacks found in the first half of 2016, like BEC scams, originated from emails 58 percent of the time.

Research shows both growth and evolution in vulnerabilities and exploit kits (EKs), as well. Angler was found to steadily decrease in use, while other EKs, like Neutrino, filled the void. New vulnerabilities and ransomware were added to keep EKs up to date and effective. Unpatched software continues to provide additional opportunities for attackers to infect networks via EKs.

In the first half of 2016, Trend Micro discovered 473 vulnerabilities in a variety of products, with 28 coming from Adobe Flash and 108 from Advantechs Web Access, demonstrating the full capabilities of the companys research teams.

While its unfortunate for us, cybercriminals are resilient and flexible when it comes to altering an attack method each time we find a patch or solution, said Ms Pilao. This creates massive problems for enterprises and individuals alike since the threats change as often as solutions are provided. It bodes well for businesses to anticipate being targeted and to prepare accordingly, implementing the latest security solutions, virtual patching and employee education to mitigate risks from all angles.

For the complete report, please visit: .

Image

Ms Myla Pilao, Director of TrendLabs, Trend Micro, analyzes the trends in attacks and vulnerabilities seen throughout the first half of 2016 when announcing the Trend Micro security roundup report for 2016 1H

Company Logo

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cyber security solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud environments, networks, and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 5,000 employees in over 50 countries and the worlds most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro enables users to enjoy their digital lives safely. For more information, visit .

Image Available:
MetroNet Delivers Hosted Workspaces to Customers Powered by CloudJumper nWorkSpace Platform

GARNER, NC  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  , a Workspace as a Service (WaaS) platform innovator for agile business IT, today announced that , a customer-focused company that provides cutting-edge fiber optic communication services, has joined with CloudJumper to become an authorized WaaS solution delivery partner. Through the partnership, MetroNet will now offer customers Office 365, hosted Quickbooks services, and hosted workspace solutions, based on the CloudJumper nWorkSpace platform.

MetroNet joins CloudJumper in a strategic move to expand its revenue channels with cloud-based computing services. These services are implemented using the CloudJumper platform, allowing MetroNet to deliver complete hosted workspaces, including desktops, applications, and data to small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Indiana and surrounding areas. Leveraging the CloudJumper Cloud Application Catalog, MetroNet is capable of delivering and supporting more than 2,000 applications in the cloud, which are accessible on any device, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

MetroNet customers are increasingly interested in migrating IT to the cloud and CloudJumper provides a quick onramp into cloud computing without the cost or complexity of managing and maintaining the required infrastructure, said Kevin Stelmach, general manager for MetroNet. As the only comprehensive solution of its kind to integrate software, cloud infrastructure, services and support, we have found nWorkSpace to be very complementary to our portfolio. MetroNet customers have responded favorably to the new solution which is now generally available.

With growth forecasts for WaaS projected to be in the double digits over the next several years(1), now is the opportune time to engage with customers on the value of hosted workspaces, said Max Pruger, chief sales officer, CloudJumper. As a quality provider of fiber-optic based services for many years, MetroNet is well respected in the region. We look forward to supporting their efforts.

To learn more about CloudJumper and the companys Workspace as a Service platform for MSPs and telcos, please contact the company at 844.645.6789 or visit .

.@MetroNetInc Delivers Hosted Workspaces to Customers Powered by @CloudJumperWaaS nWorkSpace Platform   #WaaS #cloud

Contact CloudJumper today to schedule a product demonstration at:

Follow CloudJumper on Twitter at:

Visit CloudJumper at:

Founded in 2016, CloudJumper is a workspace as a service (WaaS) platform innovator for the agile business. It launches itself from the platform its sister company, nGenx built over more than 16 years as a cloud pioneer, taking its new Workspace as a Service solution to a greater height with its concurrent user model. Many of the key personnel from nGenx have also made the transition to CloudJumper. CloudJumper built its concurrent WaaS model working with strategic partners such as Microsoft, Intuit, Google, and others. Head and shoulders above the competition, the CloudJumper concurrent WaaS model provides the industrys most robust cloud desktop and provides a unique cost-savings option that focuses on both named and simultaneous users. CloudJumper markets its solutions through both white label and agency programs supported by the CloudJumper control panel, a single pane-of-glass provisioning system that allows partners and enterprise customers complete control over their IT environments. For more information, visit About .

MetroNet, through two affiliated companies Metro Fibernet, LLC and CMN-RUS, Inc., is a cutting-edge communications service provider, delivering the latest in fiber television technology, high-speed Internet, and local and long distance phone service over a 100% fiber optic network. Headquartered in Evansville, Ind. and serving more than 25 communities in Indiana and Illinois, MetroNet provides fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) technology to homes and businesses within its footprint giving its customers state-of-the art quality, speed and reliability.

(1) Transparency Research, Growth of Global WaaS Market Shifts into High Gear with Expanding Enterprise Mobility, Expected to Reach US$18.37 billion by 2022,

Joe Austin

The Ventana Group

512-531-9119

Mindy Wingert

MetroNet

844-684-0215
VGambling Inc. Partners With Income Access

ST. MARYS, ANTIGUA  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  VGambling Inc. (OTCQB: GMBL) (or the Company), a licensed next generation online gambling company offering eSports betting, has announced an agreement with Income Access, a technology and digital marketing company serving the global iGaming industry. Under the agreement, VGambling will integrate Income Access award-winning affiliate management platform and Ad Serving tool to manage the operators forthcoming affiliate programme.

Scheduled to officially launch in Q4 2016, the will allow players to wager online on a wide range of international eSports, or competitive video gaming, tournaments broadcast on Twitch.tv, YouTube, HitBox.tv, Azubu.tv and other online platforms. These professional and amateur eSports tournaments involve leading video games such as Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, World of Tanks, and Candy Crush Saga among many others.

As part of the companys player acquisition strategy, VGambling will also launch an affiliate programme in Q4 2016. The programme will be powered by , which has won eGaming Reviews B2B Award for Affiliate Software for the last four years in a row. The integration includes Income Access , which will allow VGambling to target their ad campaigns according to players geo-location, device, language and a range of other criteria.

We are excited to be working with Income Access, whose affiliate management softwares reputation is unparalleled in the iGaming industry, and for VGambling to become a licensed partner of the company, said Grant Johnson, CEO of VGambling. We are confident that affiliates will be as excited as we are when they discover that well be using the Income Access platform to manage our affiliate programme.

The integration of the VGambling affiliate programme with the Income Access software is scheduled to be completed within the next eight weeks. Once the integration is complete, the affiliate programme will launch simultaneously.

eSports betting is a rapidly growing iGaming vertical with huge financial potential, so were delighted to partner with VGambling, a pioneering brand in this space, said Nicky Senyard, founder and CEO of Income Access. We look forward to developing a long-term relationship with VGambling and supporting the brands player acquisition via the affiliate marketing channel.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and with offices in Vancouver, the UK and Australia, is a technology and digital marketing agency servicing the global gaming market, including traditional iGaming, social gaming, land-based casinos and online trading (Forex, Binary Options). Through award-winning software and a partnership-centric approach, Income Access delivers comprehensive data and strategic insight on performance marketing campaigns across all acquisition channels. As part of continual software and service innovation, Income Access supplies proprietary Ad Serving technology, mobile tracking and a digital marketing service portfolio including SEO, paid search, social media, web design and content marketing. Income Access is a leading provider of affiliate marketing services, leveraging its affiliate network comprising over 25,000 affiliates across all gaming verticals.

Income Access partners include: Betfred, Gala Interactive, Coral, Sportingbet, Sky Betting & Gaming, PMU, Jackpotjoy, Stan James, Bet Victor, Twin Spires, PKR and Pinnacle. Recent expansion into the US market has seen the addition of New Jerseys Betfair Casino and The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa.

Contact Information

Income Access Press Room

+1-514-849-8595

Website:

Email:

For more information on VGamblings software partnership with Income Access, please .

VGambling Inc. is a next generation online gambling company. VGambling intends to offer users from around the world, excluding the United States, the ability to play and wager on multi-player video games and e-Sports events for real money in our licensed and secure environment. VGambling has entered into a Betting Gaming Platform Software Agreement with Swiss Interactive Software GmbH to provide wagering platform software and the Company has an agreement with CAMS, LLC to provide global electronic payment and risk management solutions. VGambling is led by a team of industry and technical experts from the online gambling and video game industries, e-Sports, marketing, legal and financial professionals. The Company maintains offices in St. Marys, Antigua and Barbuda. VGambling is currently developing several play money websites and the real money wagering website . VGamblings common stock is listed on the OTCQB under the symbol GMBL. For more information, please see

Contact Information

Grant Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

Tel. +1-905-580-2978

Email:

Website:
Glassdoor Partners With Cloud Investor Battery Ventures to Reveal the 50 Highest-Rated Private Cloud Computing Companies To Work For

BOSTON, MA and MILL VALLEY, CA  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  Battery Ventures, a global investment firm that backs cloud companies, and , the worlds most transparent jobs and recruiting marketplace, have partnered to reveal the . As more critical tech infrastructure systems and software are delivered through the cloud, these companies represent those where employees report the highest levels of satisfaction at work, according to employee feedback shared on Glassdoor.

The highest ranked companies  all larger, privately held firms with 200 or more employees  deliver a broad range of business services, from team-collaboration software to IT automation to technology that helps companies recruit new employees, design better products and bolster cybersecurity. The report also includes data on whether employees approve or disapprove of their companies CEOs and gauges their view on how their companys business will perform in the next six months (though these additional data points did not impact the overall company ratings or rankings).

This list provides a window into which private, business-focused cloud companies are generating the most excitement among employees  one key proxy for company health, and part of the broader business trend we see today around transparency on the Internet, said Neeraj Agrawal, a Battery general partner who specializes in cloud investing. We look forward to tracking these standouts as they mature and to watching smaller, up-and-coming cloud startups make the list in future years. Agrawal also serves on the board of Glassdoor.

Agrawal called cloud computing one of the mega-trends in the technology ecosystem and a key driver for technology M&A in recent years. And with only a fraction of all software now delivered via the cloud, the cloud market is poised to grow significantly, he said.

For reporting simplicity, the company ratings below are rounded to the nearest tenth of a point, though actual calculations extend beyond the thousandth to determine rank. The ratings are based on a five-point scale, with 1.0 denoting very dissatisfied, 3.0 indicating OK and 5.0 signaling very satisfied.

The 50 Highest Rated Private Cloud Computing Companies To Work For are:

Employees at these highly rated companies commonly mention in online reviews that they enjoy working for mission-driven companies with strong and unique company cultures; employers that embrace and promote transparency; and companies with experienced senior leadership teams who regularly and clearly communicate with employees.

(T)he biggest perk of Asana is the company culture. From top to bottom, there is a strong focus on keeping employees engaged and empowered. Employees are treated with a level of trust that I havent seen at any other company.  (San Francisco, CA)

Glassdoor currently holds millions of workplace reviews, ratings and insights shared by employees anonymously on approximately 580,000 companies around the world. Currently, the average company rating on Glassdoor is 3.3(1). When an employee submits a company review on Glassdoor, he or she is asked to give their opinion on some of the best reasons to work for their employer (pros), any downsides (cons), and is encouraged to provide advice to management. Employees are also asked to rate how satisfied they are with their employer overall, among several other workplace attributes employees can rate and review.

This report identifies private cloud computing companies that are highest rated on Glassdoor, based on company ratings shared by employees. To be considered, a private cloud company must have received at least 30 company reviews on Glassdoor as of 8/2/16. The report tracks private cloud companies that, according to data from research service are based in the U.S., have a B2B business model, 200 or more employees (as of 7/15/16), and have raised funding over the past three years (on or after 7/1/13). A companys CEO approval rating and positive business outlook rating  indicating the percentage of employees who believe their employers business will get better in the next six months  was not taken into account to determine rank or overall company rating, though we display these added data points for additional insight and perspective into each of these companies.

*By a company name, denotes a Battery investment. For a full list of all Battery investments and exits, please click .

*Next to CEO approval rating or positive business outlook rating denotes the data is based on less than 30 ratings.

Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area and Israel. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at and find a full list of Batterys portfolio companies .

is the most transparent jobs and recruiting marketplace that is changing how people search for jobs and how companies recruit top talent. Glassdoor combines free and anonymous reviews, ratings and salary content with job listings to help job seekers find the best jobs and address critical questions that come up during the job search, application, interview and negotiation phases of employment. For , Glassdoor offers , and employer branding solutions to help attract high-quality candidates at a fraction of the cost of other channels. In addition, Glassdoor operates one of the most popular job apps on and platforms. Launched in 2008, Glassdoor has raised approximately $200 million from Google Capital, Tiger Global, Benchmark, Battery Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures, DAG Ventures, Dragoneer Investment Group, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and others.

(c) 2016 Glassdoor, Inc. Glassdoor is a registered trademark of Glassdoor, Inc.

(1) Glassdoor Internal Data, July 2016

Battery Ventures:

Megan Dyer Maxwell

GMK Communications for Battery

Glassdoor:

Scott Dobroski
HumanaVitality, Medtronic, Samsung, and Walmart to Keynote Parks Associates Third-Annual Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers

DALLAS, TX  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  Parks Associates today confirmed the and a special interactive session on managing healthcare experiences for the third-annual , August 30  September 1 at the Omni Hotel in San Diego. Executives from CentraCare Health, HumanaVitality, Medtronic, Samsung, and Walmart will provide attendees with in-depth analysis on the implications of the connected healthcare revolution and discuss business strategies and case studies emerging from the consumerization of healthcare.

Adoption of connected health or wellness devices has reached a new height in 2016, and so have mobile health apps, said , Senior Research Director, Parks Associates. At Connected Health Summit, we will present research that shows the transformational impact of connected health solutions on the U.S. health system and hear from key industry leaders on the consumer usage and technology innovations that are part of the IoT phenomenon.

Over 300 executives will attend the event at the , including device makers and distributors, healthcare providers, insurance and health institutions, software and app developers, telecom and broadband service providers, technology enablers, brands and merchants, and mobile infrastructure providers. Parks Associates analysts will moderate all sessions and present the firms new digital health research. is as follows:

Wednesday, August 31

9:45 a.m.  Annette Bruls, President, Diabetes Service and Solutions, , will present the opening keynote She will discuss ways to effectively address the diabetes epidemic, including holistic solutions that improve outcomes and reduce costs.

4:00 p.m.  Alex Hurd, Senior Director, Product Development, Growth and Payer Innovation  Health & Wellness, , will present the keynote He will address how technology companies and retailers can collaborate to turn a trip to the grocery store into the beginning of a customers journey to improving their health.

Thursday, September 1

9:45 a.m.  Dr. David Rhew, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Healthcare and Fitness, , will present the morning keynote Rhew will explore the latest trends in connected digital devices and wearables that are engaging and empowering patients to take a proactive role in managing their health.

11:45 a.m.  Stuart Slutzky, Chief, Product Innovation, , will present the final keynote He will discuss market trends on employer wellness programs and ways to improve employee engagement and outcomes for these programs.

With new advances in patient-driven technologies from smartphone apps to secure, easy-to-use wearable devices, healthcare providers are increasingly better able to treat, monitor, and communicate with patients of all ages. Whether in clinical settings, in their homes, or wherever their lives take them, patients can continue to do more of the things that are most important to them while improving their overall quality of care and personal independence, said , Chief Medical Officer and Head of Healthcare and Fitness at Samsung Electronics America. Im really looking forward to addressing the ways were working with partners to deploy new, revolutionary technologies and solutions that have proven to boost health outcomes and overall patient satisfaction.

Connected Health Summit will also include a fireside chat with Kelly Macken-Marble, VP, Amulatory Care, CentraCare Health, at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31. will cover a range of topics about managing patient experience in and out of healthcare facilities.

In this age of consumerism, the ability to engage with patients and the community when, where, and how they want to engage with us is becoming increasingly important and a foundation for population health organizations, said , VP, Amulatory Care, CentraCare Health.

is open, and media are invited to secure press passes. For more information visit, . Follow the conference on Twitter at @CONN_Health_Smt and #CONNHealth16.

To schedule a meeting with an analyst or speaker, contact Holly Sprague at , 720.987.6614.

Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers analyzes the role of innovative connected health solutions in driving changes in consumer behaviors as well as healthcare systems, insurers, and hospital networks. The event focuses on four areas of consumer health, which require active consumer participation to be successful: remote health monitoring for accountable care, consumer-centric wellness and fitness solutions, independent living technologies and services, and innovative convenience care models.

The event will take place August 30  September 1, 2016, at the Omni Hotel in San Diego, CA. Parks Associates is accepting submissions for speakers for the event.

For more information on Parks Associates research or Connected Health Summit, visit . To schedule an interview or to request specific research data, please contact Holly Sprague at .

Holly Sprague

Parks Associates

720.987.6614
Transcontinental Inc.: Release of Third Quarter 2016 Results and Conference Call

MONTREAL, QUEBEC  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  On Thursday, September 8, 2016, Transcontinental Inc. (TSX: TCL.A)(TSX: TCL.B) will release its third quarter 2016 results and host a conference call for the financial community at 4:15 PM. The conference call will be broadcast live (audio only) on the Investors homepage of the Corporations Internet site at , and will be archived for 30 days. The financial results will be made public in a press release that will be issued on the newswire prior to the conference call as well as in the Managements Discussion and Analysis that will be posted on the Corporations website.

The following is the conference call calendar for the 2016 fiscal year, for your information:

Contacts:

Jennifer F. McCaughey

Vice President, Communications

Telephone: 514 954-4000
Google, Walgreens, Sears, IBM, The U.S. Federal Reserve, Capital One, PayPal, Discover, FIS Global, Android Pay, Hewlett Packard, Urban Airship, Vantiv, ZooZ, AP Technology, WorldPay, and Davis, Wright, Tremaine LLP Executives to Convene in Chicago for th

CHICAGO, IL  (Marketwired)  08/25/16  (), today released its final for the upcoming 2016 taking place August 29  31, 2016, in Chicago, IL.

The Mobile Payments Conference provides unfettered access to the Worlds foremost leaders from banking and financial services; retail; technology; mobile computing; cybersecurity and data privacy; customer experience and loyalty; engagement and marketing; payments and commerce. Attendees benefit from the MPCs intimate setting, which allows them to interact with the individuals directly responsible for the continuing advancements in payments technology, consumer adoption, and aligning industry with governments and regulatory bodies worldwide.

Keynotes and executive panels will address the most pressing issues facing all touch-points of the mobile payments ecosystem, such as real-time payments, consumer privacy, network, platform and service provider selection, omni-channel engagement, loyalty programs and integration, encryption, compliance and security considerations, as well as the emergence of blockchain, host card emulation (HCE) and near field communications (NFC).

Tim Spenny, vice president, GfK Financial Services, noted that, Mobile payments have the potential to transform retail as a key enabler for positive consumer experiences. Despite the inherent advantages, adoption is still very low as only 3 percent of consumer transactions are executed as mobile payments.

The biggest challenge facing the industry is perception. To overcome public concerns relating to privacy and security, retailers must address those fears and educate their customers as to the many safeguards and protections currently in place, as well as the convenience, speed, and significant added value. Until retailers embrace how mobile payments can differentiate them from competitors, reinforce customer loyalty and growth their business, adoption will stagnate.

I look forward to joining several of the most esteemed financial, technology and retail executives at this years Mobile Payments Conference, a critical forum that helps push this metamorphic technology forward.

According to the World Economic Forum, Blockchain technology will form one of the foundations of next-generation financial services infrastructure. Mobile Payments Conference organizers are offering Blockchain Training to attendees on August 29, 2016. The training session will empower executives with the knowledge to leverage this powerful technology today, and insight to the banking, regulatory and financial factors influencing its evolution. Attendees will learn blockchains foundational elements and leave with an understanding of how the technology works and its various platforms.

Blockchain stands at the precipice of transforming a wide range of industries, said Nitin Gaur, director of IBM Blockchain Labs and MPC speaker. Work must be done to bridge the gap between what current blockchain fabrics can do and how it can evolve to meet business demands.

The 2016 Mobile Payments Conference in Chicago is where industry leaders gather to separate fact from fiction, said Marla Ellerman, Mobile Payments Conference executive director and publisher of Mobile Marketing & Technology. This years conference will examine the many new mobile commerce platforms, services, solutions, and standards that continue to enter this exploding market.

Chester Ritchie, senior sales and marketing executive with Zooz, added, The Mobile Payments Conference is one of my favorite events to attend every year. The venue offers great insights and speakers not found elsewhere. I always learn about new innovations at the Mobile Payments Conference.

For the latest Mobile Payments Conference news, updates and information, please visit , or follow the event on Twitter at .

The Mobile Payments Conference () is the industrys leading mobile commerce event, which convenes executives across the globe from all parts of the mobile commerce ecosystem. 2016 marks the ninth Mobile Payments Conference that Mobile Marketing & Technology will produce. For additional information, please visit .

Mobile Marketing and Technology is an online publication and community dedicated to educating Marketing, Sales, IT Professionals, and Executives about the latest mobile phone technologies for marketing and communication.

Mostafa Razzak

JMRConnect

202.904-2048
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






























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
Composite image showing a diagram of the stars Proxima Centauri, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B with the Milky Way and ESOs 3.6-meter telescope at La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Over the past two decades, astronomers have discovered more than 3,200 exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. They've found gas giants; rocky, Earth-like planets; and "Tatooine"-like planets with two suns. They've detected alien worlds as far as 13,000 light-years away from Earth. But until now, scientists had missed an Earth-size, possibly even habitable, planet that was, at least cosmically speaking, right under our noses.

Astronomers announced today (Aug. 24) that they've discovered an alien planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf just over 4 light-years away that is the nearest star to the sun. So why did it take scientists so long to introduce us to our neighbor?

It's not because they weren't trying. [Proxima b: Closest Earth-Like Planet Discovery in Pictures]

"I was looking exactly for this," said Michael Endl, an astronomer at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin.

Endl, who was part of the discovery team, previously led a seven-year campaign in the early 2000s to look for planets with similar masses to Earth's in the so-called habitable zone around Proxima Centauri using the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope in Chile. Back then, he found nothing.

"We could have found everything from two to three Earth masses in the habitable zone," Endl told Space.com. The newfound alien planet at just 1.3 Earth masses flew right under his radar (or telescope).

As the nearest star to the sun, Proxima Centauri seemed like a good place to look for exoplanets, which scientists now know are abundant. But until now, campaigns like Endl's had turned up empty-handed.

The new planet, known as Proxima b, was so elusive because it is a relatively small world that orbits a small star one that's too dim to be seen from Earth with the unaided eye. Finding this alien world required a dedicated, intensive campaign to detect its very faint signal.

"For 10 years, we had the technical ability to detect this planet," said Guillem Anglada-Escude, an astronomer at Queen Mary University of London who led the discovery team. "It's not a matter of refinement or technology here."

Finding a little wobble

Planets can exert a gravitational tug on their parent star as they orbit, causing the star to wobble around a center of mass. Astronomers can measure this wobble because of a phenomenon known as the Doppler effect, which describes the change in frequency of a wave as its source moves toward or away from an observer.

Police radar speed guns use this effect to detect how fast a car is moving. Astronomers can do something similar by aiming their telescopes to measure the light of a star, Endl explained. When a star is moving toward us, its light appears shifted toward the blue end of the spectrum, and when it's moving away from us, the light appears red-shifted.

Even a planet as small as Proxima b causes its parent star to wobble ever so faintly. But the tiny change in the star's velocity is close to the limit of what can be detected with today's astronomical instruments.

Proxima b orbits its parent star every 11.2 Earth days. During that cycle, Proxima Centauri wobbles accordingly, moving toward Earth at about 3 mph (5 km/h) which is about the speed most people walk and then away from Earth at the same speed.

Anglada-Escudehad noticed the faint signal of this 11-day cycle during a previous campaign to observe Proxima Centauri in 2013.

But at the time, the data were not conclusive enough to say that Proxima Centauri had a planet. There's generally lot of other noise in this type of data, Endl said. The signal could, for example, come from the star itself, which is quite active and experiences frequent flares. [Alien World 'Proxima b' Around Nearest Star Could Be Earth-Like (Video)]

'Pale red dot'

To rule out these possibilities, Anglada-Escudethen launched a systematic search involving 30 other scientists, dubbed the "Pale Red Dot" campaign. The name plays off of Carl Sagan's famous "pale blue dot," the phrase he used to describe the tiny blue Earth as it appeared in an iconic photo of the solar system taken on Feb. 14, 1990, by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft on its trek toward interstellar space. By contrast, a planet in the glow of Proxima Centauri would be bathed in red light.

Anglada-Escudeand his colleagues went hunting for an exoplanet around Proxima Centauri from January 18 to March 30 of this year at the ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile. The team's primary tool was the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher instrument, or HARPS, which normally would be useless at detecting a Doppler signal in a star as faint as a red dwarf. But the survey worked for Proxima Centauri because the star is so close to Earth, Anglada-Escudeexplained.

From their observations, the researchers gleaned that the mass of the alien world is roughly the same as Earth's and that the planet lies in the habitable zone, meaning it just might have the right conditions for life. They still have more work to do to confirm whether this planet actually has an atmosphere or water on its surface features that would make it more Earth-like.

It might be possible to conduct further observations of Proxima b using other exoplanet-detecting methods, such as looking to see if it "transits" in front of its parent star from Earth's perspective.

"Now that we know the planet, we can predict when it's most likely to be in front of its star," Anglada-Escudesaid. "If that happens, that would be huge."

This technique had been attempted at Proxima Centauri before, without any luck. Indeed, discovery team members said there's just a 1.5 percent chance that Proxima b transits. If it is a transiting planet, however, scientists should be able to measure the spectrum of starlight as it filters through the atmosphere of Proxima b, which could contain crucial clues about the planet's chemical makeup.

"The excitement comes from the fact that we have a potentially habitable world," Endl said. "And the proximity of the star will allow us to do much more detailed follow-up observations of this planet."

Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter @meganigannon. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
The Valles Marineris canyon network on Mars is home to Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL), or dark streaks that may contain liquid water. RSL are indicated with blue dots.

Dark streaks identified in dozens of locations on the surface of Mars appear to hold water, but not very much, according to an analysis of data from NASA's Mars Odyssey mission.

The dark streaks are called recurring slope lineae (RSL), and last year, scientists presented new evidence suggesting that these streaks contain liquid water  albeit very, very salty water called brine. The new work shows that these RSL cannot contain more water than the driest deserts on Earth, which makes it unlikely that water is streaming down these hillsides.

In an attempt to determine the water content of the RSL, researchers turned to Mars Odyssey's Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), and looked at the temperature of the planet's surface from orbit. [Flowing Water on Mars: The Discovery in Pictures]]

"When water is present in the spaces between particles of soil or grains of sand, it affects how quickly a patch of ground heats up during the day and cools off at night," NASA officials said in a statement. The depth to which the water saturates the soil also influences how quickly the surface changes temperature, according to NASA.

The researchers studied the RSL on the walls of craters within the Valles Marineris canyon on Mars. They looked at several years' worth of surface-temperature measurements by THEMIS, to figure out the water concentration in the soil.

The researchers found that the upper limit of the water content was about 3 percent by weight  about the same concentration of water as in the surface material of the Atacama Desert in Chile and the Antarctic Dry Valleys, which are two of the driest places in the world.

The findings presented in 2015 showed evidence of "hydrated salts" (or brines) at the surface where the dark streaks are located.

"Our findings are consistent with the presence of hydrated salts, because you can have hydrated salt without having enough for the water to start filling pore spaces between particles," said Christopher Edwards, a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northern Arizona University and one of the study's authors. "Salts can become hydrated by pulling water vapor from the atmosphere, with no need for an underground source of the water."

The dark streaks have been identified at dozens of sites on the Martian surface. The dark regions typically appear in the Martian spring and summer, and fade away in the fall and winter.

"Some type of water-related activity at the uphill end still might be a factor in triggering RSL, but the darkness of the ground is not associated with large amounts of water, either liquid or frozen," Edwards said. "Totally dry mechanisms for explaining RSL should not be ruled out."

The findings appear online in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

You can follow Space.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Original story on Space.com.
NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, commander of Expedition 48, took this photo of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument from his vantage point aboard the International Space Station.

America's national parks offer some of the most incredible views of beautiful landscapes here on Earth  so imagine what these spectacular scenes look like from space.

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, commander of Expedition 48, has a unique vantage point of Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), where he has captured many photos of the deep trails of the Grand Canyon in Arizona; the high peak of Denali (also known as Mount McKinley) in Alaska; and the dry, barren landscapes of Death Valley in California.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, Williams has been sharing his photos from the ISS and his memories of visiting America's national parks as a child. Williams recorded this awesome video showing his view of national parks from space as part of that celebration. You can see all of his space portraits of U.S. national parks here.

"Many of the large-scale parks are easily seen from the space station  their rugged beauty and unspoiled terrains reveal a geographical landscape as diverse as America itself," Williams said in his video. "And the smaller parks, often unseen from space, are every bit as significant and crucial to the overall landscape and timescale of American history and culture."

Williams' love for national parks began when he was a child. His father was a high school history teacher and seasonal park ranger for the National Park Service. Every summer, his family would move from Wisconsin to Wyoming, where is dad serviced Devils Tower National Monument.

This gave Williams and his family the opportunity to travel to many national parks, including the Badlands of South Dakota; Montana's Glacier National Park; and Yellowstone, the world's first national park. And now, as a NASA astronaut, Williams gets to explore the same national parks from space.

This is a composite image of the Grand Canyon, taken by astronaut Jeff Williams from the International Space Station. The image captures the entire 277-mile-long (446 kilometers) stretch of the canyon system. (Image credit: NASA)

From the space station, Williams has had the opportunity to photograph Denali National Park; the extensive Grand Canyon network, which is 18 miles (29 kilometers) wide, 1 mile (1.6 km) deep and 277 miles (446 km) long; and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington, where the iconic volcano erupted in 1980.

"The National Park system reveals some of the very best that America has to offer and reflects the democracy under which it was developed," Williams said. "In many ways, it is the centerpiece of Americana. From its inception 100 years ago, the National Park Service has grown from one park, poorly funded and threatened by other interests, to a vast system of protected national parks, monuments, seashores, wildlife preserves, recreational areas and historical sites spanning over 84 million acres [340,000 square kilometers]."

See more

The National Park Service was founded 100 years ago, on Aug. 25, 1916. Since its creation, the service has protected and preserved the country's natural beauty.

"As an astronaut, one of my favorite efforts supported by the National Park Service is the night skies initiative, which focuses on preserving areas within the national parks that are devoid of artificial light, so that people may appreciate and learn about the miraculous cosmos surrounding us."

The ISS orbits Earth about every 90 minutes, which means that the space station goes around the planet about 16 times each day, giving Williams a unique opportunity to capture America's national parks. Some other parks Williams has photographed from space include the Everglades in Florida, Crater Lake in Oregon and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
- By Holly LaFon





The All-Cap Investment Committee initiated a position in Sweden-based Ericsson (ERIC) . The company is the global leader in wireless infrastructure, with 40% of the world's mobile traffic running through its networks.





Ericsson's shares have suffered due to concerns about demand weakness in North America and Japan. Additionally, in Europe and elsewhere, the rise of lower-cost Chinese competitors has presented a challenge for the company, and margins have been volatile due to its use of loss-making contracts to gain market share. Investors have also expressed longer-term concerns about technology risk. As wireless technology has been shifting toward an all-Internet Protocol architecture, Ericsson has been heavily investing in next-generation technologies and it is unclear whether these investments will generate adequate returns. Lastly, the company has a large exposure to the wireless access layer segment, a portion of the communications equipment market which may face a risk of commoditization as network architecture shifts.









We believe these concerns have been more than reflected in Ericsson's share price. Demand ups and downs can be expected, in our opinion, as the company operates in a mature industry subject to volatile revenue streams. While recent margins have been mediocre, we believe this has been due to a temporary shift in product mix. In addition, Ericsson has launched a cost-restructuring program to further increase its efficiency. A margin recovery could be a catalyst to drive renewed investor interest in the shares.





We have factored technology risk into our assessment of the company's intrinsic value estimate and believe Ericsson maintains strong intellectual property in wireless technology. The company remains a global leader in managed services, a key growth area in the industry where Ericsson has an edge due to its ability to offer end-to-end solutions. These factors combine to make Ericsson an attractive investment opportunity to us.

Story continues

From Brandes International Small Cap second quarter 2016 commentary.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






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. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.
Following weather disasters, roads are often flooded or covered by landslides and unpaved roads are often muddied, making them unpassable.

Many places also lack emergency escape routes. In Africa, there are only 65 kilometers (41 miles) of paved roads per 100,000 residents, compared to 832 kilometers in Europe. Those countries that have few alternative routes fared poorly in this category of the World Risk Index.

Flooding in Thailand in 2011, for example, also affected the airport in Bangkok, but there were plenty of other means available for transporting relief aid into the country than just airplanes. But that wasn't the case in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake. The country's only international airport was too small to handle the aid deliveries necessary to cope with the devastation. Large parts of the country's road network had been destroyed, meaning deliveries couldn't get to where they were needed.

The Dangers in Rapidly Growing Cities

The index only considers risks associated with natural disasters and a country's ability to cope with natural events like earthquakes and flooding. That is why countries like Saudi Arabia (third best at 169th) and Egypt (158) have a better ranking than Switzerland (155), Austria (135) or Britain (131).

Switzerland, just like the Rhineland in Germany, could be shaken by a strong earthquake. Central Europe, meanwhile, is at risk of powerful storms. Insurance companies presume around 100 billion euros in damage and many dead in forecasting such events.

Residents of rapidly-growing cities are particularly exposed to significant natural disaster risks. Illegal and unplanned housing, for example, reduce the effectiveness of early warning systems and make it more difficult to respond to natural disasters.

Experts propose a number of precautionary measures -- especially when it comes to larger buildings such as hospitals, schools, hotels and commercial buildings. The larger rooms on the ground floors of such structures support the floors above and even mild temblors could cause them to collapse.

Large new buildings like schools should also be convertible into emergency shelters when powerful storms strike, such as in Bangladesh. Furthermore, roads should also be able to function as drainage canals after a typhoon, as is the case with some roads in Japan and Malaysia.

In a recent analysis, the World Bank also pointed to another inexpensive means of reducing potential harm during natural disasters: Changing laws to strengthen ownership rights. If people are certain of their ownership, according to the argument, they are likely to do more to maintain it.

Warning systems also need to be improved. The report notes that it's often in the final kilometers that efforts to protect those in danger fail. Even when countries are able to sound the warning alarm thanks to electronic early warning systems, they often fall flat because the warnings are not passed on at the local level in towns and villages.
A Micro lion named after Sir David Attenborough has caught the worlds attention. A group of researchers recently found a species of marsupial lion that they called a Micro lion. The animal lived around 18 million years ago.

The paleontologists at the University of New South Wales in Australia found the fossil of the tiny animal at the Riversleigh World Heritage fossil site in Queensland, Australia. The study was published in the online journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

According to the experts, the Micro lion is about the size of a squirrel. It is worth noting that the Micro lions are not linked to modern lions; they are related to marsupials such as koalas.

Paleontologists used the name lion as a reference to the ancient hunters as dangerous carnivores just like modern-day lions. Researcher Anna Gillespie said in a news release:

Microleo shared these northern Miocene rain forests with two larger species of marsupial lion, one cat-sized and the other dog-sized. Although it is possible they competed with one other, the size differences probably means they each specialized on a different size range of prey.

The Paleontologists decided to name the Micro lion after Sir David Attenborough, a famous and beloved English broadcaster and naturalist. Attenborough is viewed as a national treasure in Britain for launching Life on Earth in 1979, which became a benchmark of quality in wildlife film-making. Here is a brief bio of Sir Attenborough:

He is best known for writing and presenting the nine Life series, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, which collectively form a comprehensive survey of animal and plant life on the planet. He is also a former senior manager at the BBC, having served as controller of BBC Two and director of programming for BBC Television in the 1960s and 1970s. Attenboroughs contribution to broadcasting and wildlife film-making has brought him international recognition. He has been called the great communicator, the peerless educator and the greatest broadcaster of our time. His programmes are often cited as an example of what public service broadcasting should be, even by critics of the BBC, and have influenced a generation of wildlife film-makers.

Gillespie said in a news release:

Microleo attenboroughi would have been more like the cute, but still feisty kitten of the family.It was not lion-size or even bob-cat-size. Weighing only about 600 grams, it was more like a ringtail possum in size.

The expert revealed why the Micro lion Sir was named after David Attenborough:

From micro meaning small (Greek) and leo meaning lion (Latin). The species name honors Sir David Attenborough for his dedication and enthusiasm in promoting the natural history of the world and the palaeontological treasures of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in particular.

The Micro lion named after Sir David Attenborough is the ninth and the smallest marsupial lion species found at the site.

Correction: this article previously stated that the micro lion was 5 feet long, 2 feet tall, and could rip through prey with its jaws. This was an error. This description fits the Thylacoleo carnifex, the first marsupial lion species that experts identified. It was discovered in 1858 and fully described in 1999.
Jacob Alexander, an ex-Comverse chief executive, has finally returned to America after years of being a fugitive. In 2006, while under investigation for backdating stock options, the Israeli-American businessman took a pre-planned annual vacation to Israel with his family and never returned to New York.

While in his native country, he transferred 40 million dollars from his personal U.S. bank account to his personal bank account in Israel. From Israel, he flew to Germany and later moved to Namibia, a nation, which has no extradition treaty with the US.

The founder of Comverse Technology and his family have been living the high life thanks to the promises and countless donations he made to the government. The mogul is considered as a criminal by authorities at the United States Department of Justice. They slapped him with a long list of charges including conspiracy to commit various types of fraud (including securities fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud), as well as with related offenses, all relating to the timing of Comverses stock option grants.

However, in Namibia, he is a real model citizen and philanthropist. The Namibian government described him as follows:

Alexander is very passionate about the country and its people; Alexander has promised to boost academic interest in science and technology in Namibia by establishing an annual scholarship for primary and secondary level students.

He appeared in court numerous times in the African nation and always found a way to come out as a free man. This freedom came a steep cost and here is why:

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.

On Wednesday, with an army of lawyers by his side, Alexander stepped in a New York courtroom to face the music. The former chief executive officer of Comverse Technology Inc pleaded guilty to securities fraud, one single count. He had faced 35 of them. His lawyers fought for his release on a $25 million bond pending his December 16 sentencing. However, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis said no, and called Alexander a flight risk. Garaufis explained:

His intelligence and his guile are a clear indication that he cannot be trusted.

According to court documents:

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 apologized for his actions by saying:

I deeply regret having participated in this conduct.

One of Alexanders attorneys said he returned:

so he would have this nightmare behind him. Alexanders effective exile forced him to attended his parents funerals by Skype.

Alexander faces up to 10 years in prison. William Sorin, Comverses general counsel, and David Kreinberg, who had the role of finance chief in the company also faced the judge. Sorin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison. Kreinberg was spared prison after pleading guilty.
Nairobi, 24 August 2016 (SPS) - The Minister of State, Advisor to the President, Mr. Bachir Mustafa, met yesterday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, with Kenyan Foreign Minister, Ms. Amina Mohamed, in. his role as Special Envoy of the President of the Republic.

During this meeting, the Special Envoy of the President delivered a letter to the Kenyan Minister sent to the President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, from his Saharawi counterpart Brahim Gali.

The meeting, attended by the Ambassador of SADR in Kenya, Mr. Abbah Almed, also represented a chance for Mr. Mustafa Sayed to explain the latest developments on the conflict in Western Sahara, emphasizing the Moroccan maneuvers to affect the good position enjoyed by the Saharawi Republic on the African continent.

For her part, the Kenyan Foreign Minister Ms. Amina Mohamed, reaffirmed "the firm position of her country in support of the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination according to international law and the resolutions and decisions of the African Union" expressing "the Kenyan desire to reach soonly a fair and transparent solution that guarantees the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and freedom." (SPS)

125/090/TRA
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

The first dedicated Pedego Electric Bikes dealer in Connecticut has opened in South Norwalk, offering free test rides for those considering a purchase to save some sweat on the commute or extend workouts or trail rides beyond their accustomed cruising ranges.

Mike and Jen Heslin decided to open Pedego SoNo after his brother recommended he try it, which the Heslins did while visiting Rhode Island. Hearing that the stores owner had sold two models to a South Norwalk restaurant for use in deliveries, Mike Heslin said that gave him confidence there would be other takers if he opened his own storefront locally.

Like other electric bikes, Pedego models are designed to give a powered boost for riders while pedaling, or allow them to take a break as they motor the bike along. A spent battery takes anywhere from two to six hours to recharge. As an additional selling point, Pedego has designed USB ports to allow riders to recharge mobile devices while en route.

The first time I hit the throttle, I was like, whoa,  Jen Heslin said. We rode for two hours straight and (we) didnt even feel it. We knew we were working and exercising, but we could have gone another two hours easily.

It is the first time either has owned a retail establishment. Jen Heslin is a professor at Norwalk Community College teaching early childhood education, and Mike has worked in sales for Jan-Pro.

Initially considering locations in Westport and Fairfield, Mike Heslin said the SoNo location came out on top at the urging of Don DiCostanzo, the CEO of California-based Pedego. During a drive through the area, DiCostanzo was impressed by SoNos charm and the proximity to the Maritime Aquarium, among

other factors.

This is where you want to be, Heslin recalled DiConstanzo saying when they got a look at the Water Street location, citing the tourist location, character, right size, right price, the water. SoNo had an added draw in being a relatively easy commute from East Norwalk, where the Heslins live  a commute they undertake many days on their Pedego Electric Bikes, they add.

Mike Heslin said the couple investigated other models, but kept returning to the Pedego largely for its design features. The popularity of electric bikes is gathering momentum, with the Wilton-based Cannondale division of Dorel Industries selling its own models in the Contro-E and Mavaro Performance bikes.

Dealers who tried the new Mavaro full suspension mountain e-bike said previously that they would never ride an e-bike, but after testing it, many came back ... saying they were surprisingly impressed, said Dorel CEO Martin Schwartz during a conference call.

On its website, Pedego Electric Bikes lists prices ranging from $2,300 for a basic model to nearly $4,000 for a super cruiser version; the company also makes folding, mountain trail and tandem bike models, as well as the Stretch Cargo Bike that can double as delivery vehicles. Pedego SoNo also rents bikes and is sponsoring periodic bike tours, having undertaken the first trip on Wednesday evening with a ride to Calf Pasture Beach and the surrounding area. The store has scheduled a free group ride for Thursday, Sept. 1, when it marks its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

I dont really want to be like a normal bike shop where you go in and they have a thousand bikes to choose from, Mike Heslin said. I just want to home in on what I think is the best choice.

Staff writer Chris Bosak contributed to this report.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-354-1047; www.twitter.com/casoulman
STAMFORD-For the first time in several years, a Stamford man was issued a ticket for driving a boat while drunk after the elderly skipper literally fell into the drink while docking.

Police were called to the city-owned Czescik Marina Friday afternoon for a man who fell off his boat and was in danger of drowning, police report said.

With lights and sirens activated, police got there and found that dock master Ed Moon had tried to help Ralph Morrell, 72, out of the water but was unable to pull him out because Morrell was three sheets to the wind, a police report said.

Stamford firefighters and medics were first to get there and and pulled Morrell out of the water.

Lt. Diedrich Hohn, who conducts most of the driving while under the influence investigations was called to the marina to figure out whether Morrell would get a ticket for driving drunk on the water.

Morrell admitted that he had been drinking all day and was pretty tipsy when he fell over the side, a police report says.

Hohn noted that the keys were in the ignition and the engine was running when firefighters arrived and there was an empty beer can in the cup holder, a police report of the incident states.

With no one else in the boat, Morrell, was brought onto dry land for 20 minutes to get rid of his sea legs and acclimated to land before he miserably failed each of the three field sobriety tests, a police report said.

Police said that Morrell reeked of alcohol and was having trouble standing and had extremely bloodshot eyes.

Morrell blew a .17 on the breathalizer, which is a little more than two times the legal drinking while driving limit of .08.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental protection was notified of his arrest and his boating license was confiscated and sent to DEEP.

He was charged with boating while intoxicated and reckless operation of a vessel while under the influence of alcohol.

Police say this is the only drunk boating ticket that has been issued in Stamford for several years.

jnickerson@scni.com;
I was recently at Gatwick Airport, where I came across an advert for one of the airlines that fly from there. Europe, it proclaimed in large bold letters, is closer than you think. Yes, I thought: actually, were in it. Not long ago we used to refer to the Continent, as in the old joke: Harwich for the Continent, Frinton for the incontinent, but now it seems we dont think of ourselves as a part of Europe at all.

Yet as Boris Johnson so wisely said in his speech on June 24 after the EU referendum, We cannot turn our backs on Europe. We are part of Europe, our children and our grandchildren will continue to have a wonderful future as Europeans. The European Union is not the same as Europe, though many people seem to think it is.

Over the past few years I have been researching and writing a history of Europe in the 19th century, from the Battle of Waterloo to the outbreak of the First World War, and it has struck me that throughout this era, when politicians were wont to boast from time to time of Britains splendid isolation, the UK was in fact closely bound into the rest of Europe.

In 1938, on the eve of the Second World War, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain referred to Czechoslovakia as a far-off country of which we know nothing. Such an attitude would have struck the average Briton in the 19th century as strange. This was, after all, the first age of tourism, after the French Revolution had put an end to the aristocratic Grand Tour. While Grand Tourists stuck to classical sites, mainly in Italy, the middle-class tourist took in Central Europe, Germany and the Habsburg Empire.

British public opinion closely followed political events on the Continent. When the Italian radical Giuseppe Garibaldi visited Britain in the 1850s he was not only feted as a hero but even had a biscuit named after him. Even more remarkably, Lajos Kossuth, forced to flee after the crushing of the Hungarian independence movement by Habsburg armies in 1840, attracted vast crowds when he arrived in Britain to deliver impassioned speeches in an antiquated English learned mostly from reading Shakespeare.

All this reflected the fact that liberalism on the Continent was thought to be following in the wake of its more advanced and successful counterpart in Britain: the Italians and Hungarians were trying to become more British, and so became heroes to British public opinion.

The great movements of liberal social reform, such as feminism, were not just British  though nobody outside the UK followed the radical and sometimes violent campaign of the English suffragettes  they were international

The great movements of liberal social reform, such as feminism, were not just British  though nobody outside the UK followed the radical and sometimes violent campaign of the English suffragettes  they were international. German, French or Czech women who fought for the right to vote thought of themselves as part of a wider struggle.

Radical terrorist movements also spanned the Continent, with Italian revolutionary Felice Orsini ordering bombs from Sheffield to blow up Emperor Napoleon III of France (he did not succeed) and a Russian anarchist holed up in London in the siege of Sidney Street in 1911, or so it is thought: terrorist violence, after all, is nothing new.

English novelists such as Charles Dickens had their work translated into dozens of other European languages and acted as an inspiration to writers such as Dostoevsky, but the same process operated in reverse, with for example the novels of the now largely forgotten Swedish writer Fredrika Bremer appearing in English through the 1840s and 1850s to acclaim.

Religion, too, was thought of in European, even global terms. While struggles over the hard line laid down by Pope Pius IX in his Syllabus of Errors were fought over by liberal Catholics and in many countries while Protestants in Britain borrowed a great deal from their counterparts in Germany and Switzerland.

Politically, too, 19th-century Britain was part of a much wider system of diplomacy generally known as the Concert of Europe. In the 1820s Foreign Secretary Lord Castlereagh might have condemned the Holy Alliance devised by Tsar Alexander I of Russia as a piece of sublime mysticism and nonsense but Britain took part in conferences and congresses all the same, playing a part in settling issues such as the independence of Belgium from the Netherlands, or Greece from the Ottoman Empire.

In mid-century the Concert broke down, shattered first by the 1848 revolutions and then by the aggressive and successful campaigns for Italian unification led by Piedmont, and German unification by Prussia under Bismarck. But it pulled itself together after 1870 and lasted almost up to the First World War. It was the British who took the lead in bringing together the Balkan nations in the London Conference of 1912-13, at a point when Russia, France and Austria had begun taking sides in the conflict.

A year later a similar set of circumstances led to the outbreak of the First World War and the breakdown of the Concert for a generation or more.

We cant stop being part of Europe, so we ought to embrace it and do our best to help shape it

The example of European cultural, intellectual and political co-operation in the 19th century is one, surely, to follow in the 21st, whatever the fate of Britains relations with the EU. We cant stop being part of Europe, so we ought to embrace it and do our best to help shape it, as the Victorians did. Claims by the Remain camp that the EU has kept the peace since the end of the Second World War dont stand up to scrutiny  its Nato, not the EU, that has done that.

But the lesson we need to learn from the 19th century is that if we want to prosper economically, enjoy a rich and diverse cultural life and preserve our traditional respect for human rights, tolerance and respect for minorities  all legacies of the French Revolution and the shared history of 19th-century European liberalism  then Brexit must be managed carefully. We are an integral part of European civilisation.
C redit should go to the Mayor for his Homes for Londoners plan [Letters, August 24]. Londons housing crisis is above ideology and will only be solved by all sectors working together.

In creating Homes for Londoners, Sadiq Khan recognises that private, public and housing association sectors working together all have something to contribute to deliver the numbers of homes we need and maximise their affordability.

If central government is serious about devolution, it should get rid of the restrictions on what the Mayor or local authorities can do with their land. It is nonsensical that the Mayor has full budget responsibility for the billions that Transport for London spends but cannot dispose of land without following various rules.

I would rather be judging our politicians on their ability to deliver the homes London needs  and giving them the flexibility to do so  than their prowess at squeezing every pound out of land deals.

Ian Fletcher, director of policy (real estate), British Property Federation

Sadiq Khans plan to sell off land below market price so that more housing can be built may sound like a good idea in theory, but in practice it is not. In London the price of housing has little to with the actual cost of building. The price of a house is dictated by the fact that demand is sky high while supply is limited. This means the selling price of a house is typically about three times higher than the cost of building it.

If TfL sells land to a developer at below market price the developer can still sell the houses at the going market rate, allowing it to make an extra profit. Was this what Khan meant when he promised to be business-friendly?

Nic Ferriday

It was with horror that I read that the Mayor is proposing to sell off public land to property developers at a discount. Is this the same man who repeatedly said throughout his election campaign that, through Homes for Londoners, all public land would be diverted to maximise the number of homes that would be built and rented out to Londoners at an affordable level?

Terry McGrenera, The House Party

More housebuilding will never solve Londons housing crisis  there are other measures that are required too. In particular, the Mayor and his deputy for housing, James Murray, need to look at making more effective use of the Citys existing stock. Increased levies on empty properties should be considered, as Murray suggests, but so too should taxes on second homes.

Recently, in British Columbia, Canada, they introduced a 15 per cent tax for foreign purchasers of property in the province. Shouldnt we look at that as well?

Roger Jarman

Burkini ban will not make anyone safer

Naturally security is a growing global concern which should be at the forefront of everything else. However, after French police ordered a woman to remove her burkini [Online, August 24], targeting Muslim women and publicly humiliating them is not the solution.

Created with Muslim women in mind, the burkini is an all-in-one, convenient swimsuit. Many non-Muslim women who feel uncomfortable wearing more revealing forms of swimwear have worn one.

For clarity, a burkini is neither the swimwear equivalent of a burqa, nor is it an Islamic item of clothing. There are no instructions in the Holy Koran or Islamic teachings about it  it is a modern-day innovation, which complies with the health and safety regulations of public swimming pools. It does not replace the burqa, which Muslim women wear on a day-to-day basis.

The best way to deal with security and extremism is to educate and work with communities, so that people can become aware of security concerns and co-operate to pave the way for peace and harmony.

Navida Sayed

Labour MPs must rally for Corbyn

As 640,000 Labour members prepare to vote, lets bear in mind that the disunity within the party is only among its MPs, while the majority of the party members favour Jeremy Corbyn.

Even if Owen Smith were to succeed there is no guarantee that he could unite the party and win the next election. We also have to consider the possibility that voters may decide to vote against their Labour MPs for causing the split. It is not too late for these MPs get behind the leader.

Constantine Louis

Kirsten Downer [Letters, August 23] asks Labour voters whether we want a leader who has tried to force his rival off the ballot paper. The question should instead be: Do we want a leader?, to which the answer is obviously yes. Is Jeremy Corbyn a leader? Clearly not.

Craig Alexander

Women do casual misogyny too

I was glad to see your article quoting Lucinda Coxon talking about TV crime dramas casual misogyny [August 23]. It is something that has bothered me for some time.

However, what is at least as bad, if not worse, is the plethora of women authors of crime novels who write graphically about women who are the victims of sadistic, violent crime. Interestingly, I know women who would describe themselves as feminists who not only lap up these books but recommend them to other women. I long ago decided to boycott such novels.

Ruth Muller

Corbyn is right on our dire trains

Jeremy Corbyn is right to call attention to the current state of rail services. I dont know about the intercity routes except that they are vastly more expensive than flying, but commuter routes are always packed, with passengers being crammed in.

If we spent half the money we spent on the wars in Syria or Iraq on railways, we would have more than enough to improve them.

Richard Robinson
T his summer, Westfield is offering readers the chance to win the ultimate getaway.

You could win a trip for two to Barbados, including 7 nights accommodation at a four star hotel and return flights from Gatwick Airport with British Airways.

To enter visit westfield.com/stratfordcity/summer/competition

Terms & Conditions: Promotion closes at 23:59 on 4 September 2016. 18+. Open to UK residents only. There is one prize of a holiday for two to Barbados including 7 nights accommodation at a 4 star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, return flights with British Airways in economy class (to and from London Gatwick). Travel to and from London Gatwick and any additional expense incurred are not included and are the responsibility of the winner. The winner must have a valid passport and the prize must be booked by 30 March 2017 and redeemed by 30 September 2017. Blackout dates apply. The winner will be the first entry selected at random after the closing date and will be notified by Westfield on or around 19 September 2016. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. Only one online entry per person. Please read full terms & conditions at https://uk.westfield.com/terms-and-conditions/barbados-competition before entering. Promoter: Westfield Europe Ltd.
I t might be hard to imagine goat meat becoming as popular as beef or chicken, but a host of top chefs will be ensuring it gets some time in the spotlight this October when they help bring a month-long celebration of the meat to the capital.

Goatober, which will run throughout October, will see a host of restaurants including Hix and Shotgun each give a goat dish pride of place on their menus.

To launch the goat fest, The Jugged Hare in Barbican will also host a dinner consisting of six dishes cooked by six different chefs. Each one will have goat as its main ingredient.

Included will be curried goat chop with rock samphire pakora, made by Jamie Guy from Hix Oyster & Chop House, and Devon kid tartare and fried oyster by Gill Meller from River Cottage.

Tickets for the event, on October 5, cost 85 and include wine paired to each dish. There will also be a silent auction on the night with proceeds going to Action Against Hunger.

James Whetlor from Cabrito Goat Meat is the man behind the event, deciding to bring it to the capital after having seen Goatober prove a success in the US. Aside from the obvious business benefits to him, he has a genuine love of goat meat.

30 must-try dishes in London restaurants 1 /41 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants Bone marrow on toast with parsley salad at St John Not only has this dish kicked off countless wonderful meals over the course of St Johns 25 years, but it also gets credit for putting British cooking back on the global culinary map. Roasted bone marrow, coaxed out onto toast, cut perfectly with salad of parsley, shallots and capers. A nose-to-tail revolution, and utterly divine. Whole turbot at Brat Tomos Parrys talents with a turbot first came to feverish acclaim at Mayfair restaurant Kitty Fishers, but they are now the star attraction at his Michelin-starred solo spot. This whole fish  grilled Basque-style, over hot coals and in a specially designed cage  softens as if it has melted, and is basted at the table in an emulsion made with its own juices. Benjamin McMahon Marinara at 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Superlatives should be used in moderation  but heck it, this might just be Londons best pizza. This under-the-radar London iteration of a Naples pizzeria serves an unrivalled marinara: just tomato sauce, oil, garlic and oregano. No need for any more  with a sauce this good and a base so fine and perfectly charred, you can stop mourning your cancelled Italian holiday at first bite. Luciano Furia Clay pot baked pork and crab glass noodles at Kiln When we say Kiln is one of the hottest spots in town, we mean it  hang over the counter at the Thai barbecue and youre not far out of range for the odd flame. Baking in the heart of the swirling heat is this must order: shimmering glass noodles, coated with a silky sauce enriched with fatty slicks of Tamworth pork belly and improbably unctuous crab meat. Lamb chops, Melabes Perhaps because its quietly tucked in among its unassuming neighbours down on the wrong end of High Street Kensington, Melabes is often overlooked by Londons food lovers. An unwarranted shame, as this partly Middle Eastern, partly Mediterranean set-up is really very good; it is somewhere to pick and choose from bits and pieces, and put a meal together yourself. The lamb chops, which come all smokey and burnished from the grill, are perfect; pink as a Vegas sign inside, but the fat all soft and dripping and delicious. A must, whatever the order. Steak tartare imperial at Bob Bob Ricard Theres Press For Champagne buttons, lobster in your mac and cheese and anything that stays still long enough gets gilded  there is no point in going small at Bob Bob Ricard. Steak tartare is a luxurious pick at the best of times, but the Imperial upgrade here comes with a dollop of caviar  even without the finishing touch, the tartare itself is one of the best in the capital. Bacon naan at Dishoom Londoners spent decades believing bacon in a bap with some ketchup (or brown sauce, but lets not have that argument now) couldnt be beaten  and then Dishoom came along. This breakfast sandwich fills a fresh naan with bacon, a slathering of cream cheese, a luxurious tomato and chilli chutney, coriander and an oozing fried egg if you feel so inclined. Hangover be gone. Cacio e pepe at Padella Five years ago, you would have thought anyone queuing for pasta in London to have lost their minds  this dish changed that. The starlet of Padellas much coveted is this plate of pici  hand-rolled fat worms of eggless pasta  with a mirror-shine sauce of parmesan cheese and pasta. Simple but unrivalled  and itll set you back just 6. Jamon croquetas at Barrafina A dish like this should be elusive  it is far too easy to eat seven portions of croquetas in a single sitting, which is why we presume Barrafina makes you queue. Very sensible. As the crunchy coating gives way to the oozing centre, enriched with the flavour of Spanish jamon (the best ham in the business), were already planning our next visit. Biang biang noodles at Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles There are oodles of noodles in the capital, but Guirong Weis triumphant take is one of the finest. First finding followers at her north London restaurant Xian Impression (soon to reopen for dine-in, but not yet), the dish of has inspired a whole spin-off restaurant in Spitalfields. Thick, hand-pulled, chewy noodles soak up all the spice and zing of the special sauce they swim in  very special indeed. Souffle Suissesse, Le Gavroche Le Gavroche  the street urchin  is perhaps not for everyone. It is a Mayfair time machine, a reminder of how things were done once upon a time. Fortunately, it happens that how things were once done was very well indeed, and lunch or supper here is a masterclass in traditional French luxury (and often, happily, includes very large glasses of wine). Staff make the place, anyone who has been gently teased by the twins pretending to be each other will know. A tendency towards the old ways does mean the cooking offers little in the way of evolution or revolution, but new, after all, isnt always better. Michel Roux Jrs cheese souffle, baked on double cream, stuns, so overwhelmingly tasty, utter decadence that clings to the taste buds. Buttermilk Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Around the Cluck / 12:51 James Cochran found his signature dish early on, but its good it should stay with him for the rest of his career. While he has chops, and can do more beyond, theres something special in the way he works with his chicken; hotly spiced, gorgeously crispy, beautifully soft on the inside. A long-standing favourite and, though 12:51 cant operate as it did before, there are tables at his new project Around the Cluck, which is operating out of the same site. Breakfast at Hawksmoor Guildhall Your Full English is not full in comparison to the Hawksmoor breakfast at the steak connoisseurs Guildhall restaurant. The mind-boggling two-person spread swaps bacon rashers for an entire smoked chop, serves its bubble and squeak with short rib, puts trotter meat into its baked beans, and adds grilled bone marrow to all the usual trimmings. Cauliflower shawarma at Berber & Q Its not often that the main event at a barbecue restaurant is the veg, but Berber & Q have achieved just that. The cauliflower shawarma here is cooked on their flaming grill until softened and charred, before being doused liberally in tahini, pomegranate molasses, coriander, pomegranate seeds and a scattering of dried rose petals. BBQ Butter Chicken Wings at Brigadiers Brigadiers is a bold, boisterous sort of place: a labyrinthine City dining room, packed to the rafters with beer and Indian food that is indisputably gutsy. But arguably its finest moment comes in one of its smallest packages  these chicken wings may be diminutive, but are mightily spiced, deftly charred and dripping with ghee-fuelled succulence. Beef brisket bun at Smokestak David Carters Shoreditch restaurant occupies itself by giving the entirety of Kansas City a run for its money on a daily basis. The star turn at this lauded barbecue restaurant is its beef brisket bun  the meat is soft and juicy, riddled with its fats in the centre, while charred and treacle-like on the outside, paired perfectly with pickled chillies. To remember it is to salivate, we assure you. Snails, LEscargot LEscargot is one of Sohos old aristocrats and in its grand, beret red dining room there is always a mischievous sense of fun  perhaps because it is still such a smart, suited, chandeliered place, and people are often drinking themselves rather silly. The clue to good eating is in the name; the snails come still clinging to their shells and submerged in their butter and parsley sauce. Dive in; you will emerge stinking gloriously of garlic. It wont matter a jot; roll on the red wine and settle in for a long, comforting night. Confit potatoes at Quality Chop House Yes, there are some high quality chops on offer at this 150-year-old Clerkenwell restaurant but blimey, leave room for the chips. Fine slices of potato are stacked into architecturally sound wedges, and confited until shatteringly crispy on the outside and devastatingly soft in the centre. They have been much imitated in recent years, but never bettered. Smoked eel sandwich at Quo Vadis Jeremy Lee cooks many things to a legendary level at Quo Vadis  his pies could so easily have also made this list  but he gets the nod here for his unrivalled take on the fancy sandwich. Smoked eel, horseradish cream and Dijon mustard, served with red onion pickle  a combination so popular Lee says he nearly ran out of eel on post-lockdown reopening. Classic bao at Bao London has buns in abundance, but we still bow down to the fluffy superiority of Bao. The Taiwanese restaurant has become a cross-town favourite, thanks to its pleasingly pert rice buns (they are genuinely very pert, no crassness intended) and carefully considered fillings. The classic order comes filled with braised pork, fermented veg, coriander and a dusting of peanut powder. Carol Sachs Potato and roe, Core by Clare Smyth Clare Smyth has a knack that must infuriate other chefs; she is able to take the simplest of ingredients  say, a single carrot and a smattering of lamb mince  do something devilish with it and charge rather a lot for it; so good are the results, though, that few mind. Smyths sorcery is perhaps best witnessed with her signature, the potato and roe. It is simply a potato on a plate in a little sauce, but then it is also perhaps the best potato dish in the world; it has this wonderful salty richness, a certain seaside intenseness. It is glorious; so too is the smoked chicken that tends to come as an amuse bouche. Youll be treated here. Omelette Arnold Bennett Dont worry, no Arnolds were harmed in the making of this dish. Alongside impeccable service and an arguably perfect dining room, you could add another highlight to your breakfast at The Wolseley by ordering this creamy, haddock-filled dish, named for the writer who inspired its creation while staying at the Savoy. Fish pie, J Sheekey Long an actors favourite, J Sheekeys glamour has never lost its lustre. Its kept its regulars and charmed newcomers with a menu that plays the greatest hits of fine dining favourites. Seafood is Sheekeys thing; simply done sole is beautiful here, crab comes three ways, brill brushed in butter has a meatiness thats beyond satisfying. The fish pie is famous though, and rightly so; beneath the flaking pastry is a sea of cream, mustard and white wine, in it bobbing cod, haddock and salmon. It is simple but never fails; it does on its own for lunch, but is a failsafe at supper, too. John Carey The Ari Gold at Patty & Bun Theres a cheeseburger on every high street in the capital  but not all of them are created equal. Patty & Bun has got the classic combination down to a tee with its curiously named Ari Gold burger: a fat, 35-day aged patty is served medium rare, and topped with gooey American cheese, smokey house mayo and tangy pickled red onions. Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung Few dishes in the capital have been known to cause queues of four hours. Thats exactly what the world-famous xiao long bao dumplings did when top Taiwanese restaurant group Din Tai Fung first opened in Covent Garden. An intricately folded out layer (made by chefs trained for at least 18 months) gives way to succulent meat and a broth you could take on by the bowlful. Pig's trotter, the French House Upstairs in the Soho local, Neil Borthwick is quietly running one of the areas best kitchens. He orders in particularly good oysters, does brilliant things with brill and with his pigs trotter, has a dish that is rich and fatty, but with a beautiful salty cut that makes it madly moreish. The menu tends to change often upstairs in the French, but have this if its on. That little dining room is somewhere to go in early for lunch and stay until late, eventually spilling down into the pub below, to drink pints  they do pints now, not just halfs  all while merrily reliving the joys upstairs. Peter Clark Dover sole with crab butter at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill There are so many delights at Bentleys, its tricky to pick a single one. This could so easily have been a plate of rigorously sourced oysters, the fish pie, the decadent Royal seafood platter (pictured). It is however, the Dover sole that wins. A sublime piece of fish always, expertly cooked without fail  choose it either filleted with beautiful crab butter, or grilled and whole for a simple pleasure. Over in the City, Corrigan does similarly brilliant things with lobster at Daffodil Mulligan. Ragu, Lina Stores Sohos Lina Stores  the pasta bar, not the longstanding Italian deli it comes from  is the sort of restaurant one longs for; small, fun, friendly, not too pricey. They do small plates of near perfect pasta; their ragu, whether lamb or veal, is a gem. A good ragu is hard to find  too often theres too little meat, or meat not cooked for long enough  but here, they spend the time over it, cooking slowly, carefully. No restaurant can compare with a Nonna, but Lina gets gratifyingly close. Porterhouse steak, the Guinea Grill London is not short of steakhouses, but the Guinea does not number among them. A pub  a proper one  it is tucked down a Mayfair sidestreet, away from everything and yet still perpetually busy. Besides the small bar is a dining room that looks much as it must have done when the likes of Sinatra was in (or Bette Midler, or Kylie, or Regan, or, or, or), where theyve served prime Aberdeen Angus cooked on a smoking hot grill. The Guinea is all about having a good time  pints, red wine, brandies, the lot  but they cook beautifully, and their handling of a good piece of beef is second to none. Puree de pommes de terre, Le Comptoir Robuchon The late Joel Robuchon may have been the most decorated chef of his and perhaps any other era, but his signature stayed humble  mashed potato. Until youve had it, it is hard to believe it could be quite so good; mash, after all, is mash. No matter the scepticism, it will always surprise; it is almost silly that so little could taste of so much. A side, it will match almost everything on the menu; of which, the lamb with aubergine on the menu of classics is extraordinarily good.

He said: As an ex-chef myself, theres nothing that delights me more than seeing top chefs prepping our goat in imaginative, inspired and delicious ways... Britain is finally waking up to what the rest of the world has known for some time; goat meat is delicious!

Goat meat is also healthy. It is lower in fat than beef or pork, has twice as much iron as beef and is rich in potassium.

Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
T he Truscott Arms was the kind of pub you would move house to have as your local. This light-filled Maida Vale boozer consistently ranked in the UKs top 50 gastropubs, with a seductive menu of London gin-cured salmon and award-winning Sunday roasts. Beer came from local breweries and there was a 200-strong wine list curated by affable publican Andrew Fishwick. Sounds like the perfect place, right? Bet you cant wait to book your table. But sorry  The Truscott Arms is closed for good.

On August 4, Fishwick and his wife, Mary-Jane, abruptly shut the Truscotts doors. Their landlord, Gibraltar-based holding company Heage Holdings Ltd, had increased the rent from 75,000 a year to 250,000 and were demanding more than 300,000 in backdated rent. The Fishwicks had been fighting the proposed rent hike but eventually accepted it. Fishwick says: Sixty-two people were left unemployed.

The Truscott Arms closure comes in the middle of a shift in Londons pub scene, one that is bound up with the housing crisis.

James Watson, co-founder of campaign group Protect Pubs, says: Over the past decade in London, viable and well-patronised pubs have been targeted by developers because the buildings the pubs occupy and the land on which they sit is worth substantially more when put to an alternative use such as residential or retail. Although Fishwick cant be sure, he suspects this could be the Truscotts fate. I cant see any other business being able to pay the increased rates, so it looks destined to be turned into residential property.

Particularly in London, developers snap up pubs, explains Watson. Theyll often operate via offshore tax havens. Any legitimate pub operator cant outbid these developers because theyre run by hedge funds whose ultimate aim is to convert into luxury flats, which bring in the highest return.

Increasing rent to the market rate is a legitimate move. A spokesperson for Heage Holdings says: After an independent expert [was] appointed, but before the formal rent review was concluded, Truscott Arms agreed the rent at 250,000 per annum as at the relevant review date. The tenant was represented by a rent review surveyor and was presumably satisfied that this figure represented the market rental value for the premises at the relevant rent review date. Heage Holdings adds that the lease is still continuing and the issue of future use is a matter for the tenant.

Local favourite: the pub was considered one of the best in London / Arfa/Griffiths Photographers

Fishwick says that he has paid up until September 25 (at the old rate). However an invoice for 312,000 in backdated rent and the fact the rent has increased from 75,000 to 250,000 has made the business untenable. As we are unable to pay that amount and unwilling to pay the increased rent we will have no choice but to hand back the keys.

Consultancy Planning for Pubs discusses the tactics some landlords use in changing ownership and tenants: A rent hike, a list of repairs as long as your arm, asbestos surveys, fire- compliance surveys  all expensive. The end result is that all the legal and consultants bills can turn a profitable pub into an unprofitable one, which the developer can claim unviable and apply for consent for other uses.

Its hard for pubs to outbid developers because theyre run by hedge funds aiming to convert them into luxury flats

Even before the rent rise, Fishwick says he had a no-fun relationship with his landlord  in June 2015, he says, Heage Holdings requested a review of Truscott Armss status as an asset of community value (ACV)  which requires any landlord wanting to sell an ACV-listed pub to give the community six months to buy it  and successfully had the pubs status revoked. The Maida Vale community rallied and the pub was re-admitted as an ACV in November 2015. Three months later, Fishwick incurred that rent rise and backdated rent. Now he imagines that the pubs ACV status will slow them down, not stop them from converting the property.

Admittedly, London desperately needs more flats. Henry Pryor, property expert and self-confessed rampant capitalist, admits that developers enthusiasm means they grab too readily for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but insists the evidence is clear: no matter what the nostalgic view of pubs, we need new houses.

Nick Gibson  despite being the devoted publican of Islingtons Drapers Arms, which has itself had to battle his landlord over a proposed change of use, on the grounds that it was not sustainable as a pub  agrees. Unfortunately for him, financial forecasters say that spending in pubs is set to go down, more so than for restaurants. Gibson explains: Now there are so many alternatives to the pub that there needs to be a rightsizing of the industry. More flats and homes is a public good, essential for the continued vibrancy of London.

A prudent tenant should know when their rent review is due, otherwise theyll get a nasty shock

But so, surely, is a pub like The Truscott Arms. The hardest part about this is that were a victim of our own success, Fishwick says. If no one had been coming to the pub, then we would have understood that we were a failed businesses. But we failed because we were an award-winning pub doing 500 covers every Sunday.

Their very success was one of the reasons their landlord used to justify that rent rise. But several have queried quite how The Truscott Arms could have accrued so much backdated rent  the money demanded, given an increase from 75,000 a year to 250,000, means that the rent increase must have taken effect nearly two years ago.

On the lookout for something new: publicans Andrew and Mary-Jane Fishwick

This all perfectly legal on the part of the landlord. Ian Mackenzie, chartered surveyor at Mackenzie Associates, says: A rent review can be backdated to the review date, as the landlord doesnt have to initiate the review at that time. He suggests that a prudent tenant should know when their rent review is due, and initiate the review. Otherwise theyll get a nasty shock when it eventually comes up.

That seems to have been the case with the Truscott. That backdated rent means that the rent review was due in December 2014, but Fishwick says he was not aware of it until February of this year.

There has also been incredulity about the rent rise. Granted, rents are increasing, but Russell Norman, founder of the Polpo restaurant group, says landlords are careful to word rent reviews as upwards only.

He explains: One of our landlords recently increased the rent on a small restaurant of ours from 85,000 to 170,000 a year. We negotiated a little and got it down a few quid but it effectively means the site is now trading neutrally.

All landlords, he says, use the same criteria  market value. So if someone agrees to pay 120 per square foot on the same street as you, the landlord can point to that property and say, thats the market value now, you have to pay the same.

Yet Fishwick says pubs in the area surrounding the Truscott pay around 110,000, which he would have been able to stretch to. Unfortunately, Fishwick claims, Heage Holdings used the York & Albany, Gordon Ramsays Camden restaurant, as a comparator for market value. The York & Albany also functions as a hotel and pays 640,000 rent a year.

Perhaps most painful of all, Fishwick was close to buying the freehold to The Truscott Arms, with backing from a private equity firm, for 4.185 million. After Brexit, the fund got the jitters and put a hold on its investments.

But theres no need to start sobbing into your pint yet. Changes are afoot. Wandsworth has just become the first local authority in Britain to seek to formally protect its pubs from redevelopment by removing permitted development rights from 120 Wandsworth pubs, in a council initiative spearheaded by deputy council leader Jonathan Cook. This means they cant be demolished or converted without permission from the council.

And Fishwick? You get the feeling the perma-jolly publican will bounce back. Hed been exploring other sites for expansion of The Truscott Arms before the disaster, hopefully with freeholders who appreciate the value of a freshly poured pint.

@franklymccoy

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
T om Wolfe has always believed in saturation reporting, getting out there among the people you are writing about, whether in fiction or non-fiction. In his manifesto for the novel, Stalking the Billion-Footed Beast, he disdained novelists who never left their studies, contrasting them with Zola who, to write Germinal, literally descended into the coal mines.

Wolfe, though, is now 85 and wrestling the rude beast, the material is no longer possible quite as it was in the past. Instead he has produced this energetic piece of dramatised intellectual history, surveying attempts to explain the origins of language itself.

The book is a love letter to what he values most  both those who get out there in the field and find things out for themselves rather than merely theorise, and speech itself, the human superpower, as he calls it. Speech is not one of mans several unique attributes  speech is the attribute of all attributes!

Earlier this year, while surfing the net, he came across an article by heavyweight evolutionists, including the biggest name in linguistics, Noam Chomsky, admitting that the origins of language remain as mysterious as ever  giving up, throwing in the towel, folding, crapping out, says Wolfe scornfully, never at a loss for a run of words saying the same thing three or four times, himself. So he dived into the story, resulting in this brief polemic.

The first part describes the apparently simultaneous discovery of the origin of species by natural selection by Alfred Russell Wallace and Charles Darwin  Wallace, not Darwin, being the hero of Wolfes version of the tale. While sick with malaria in Malaysia, where he was studying the flora and fauna at first-hand  no more than an impoverished flycatcher shipping back specimens for the well-to-do safely at home  Wallace wrote a 20-plus-page manuscript entitled On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type but chose to send it off not to a scholarly publication but direct to Darwin himself, much mocked here by Wolfe as the epitome of a British gentleman.

Darwin received it in June 1858 and, says Wolfe choicely, freaked out In 20 pages this man Wallace had forestalled his lifes work  his entire lifes work! Wolfe loves italics, exclamations, dashes.

While Wallace remained out of touch in Asia, his paper was read to the Linnean Society in October of that year  preceded by two rival, speedily produced abstracts by Darwin (alphabetical priority, you see).

A year later, Darwin published The Origin of Species. So Wallaces independent formulation of the theory of evolution has ever-after been downgraded (well-known though this story may be).

Wolfe gives the yarn his full treatment, down to onomatopoeic presentation of Darwins dyspepsia: sudden, uncontrollable and every sort of pain in his distended belly and bowels, every known belch, retch, heave, gas-pass, watery rush, and loathsome gush, plus foul wind erupting from one end of his digestive tract and foul sounds eructing grrrrekkk from the other, he says with relish. As if he was there.

But if evolution was ever to be a total explanation, Darwin had a problem: the existence of language and culture. Wolfe ridicules Darwins contention in The Descent of Man (1871) that the early origins of language, moral sense, abstract thought, art, music, religion, self-consciousness could be found in animals. He relied too much on observing his own dog, he scoffs.

More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics  the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review

And then he turns to his real target, bugbear ideologue Noam Chomsky. In the mid-1950s Chomsky, still in his twenties, established dominion over the whole field of linguistics with his theory of a language organ, deep structure and universal grammar. These were transcendent eternal universals and required no mucky fieldwork  and 10 years later Chomsky started using his academic authority in radical politics, Wolfe contemptuously records. Chomskys empire lasted until 2005 when another flycatcher  the key word in the book  brought him down.

A certain Daniel L Everett published an essay called Cultural Constraints on Grammar and Cognition in Piraha, smashing the universality of Chomskys claims. Everett, once a convinced Chomskyian himself, had spent years living with the Piraha, a small tribe of 300 or so people deep in the Amazon basin, learning their language. They spoke only in the present tense and had little conception of the past or future or numbers or colours. They happily defied the whole idea of universal grammar since theirs so clearly came from their culture, not a pre-existing template.

So Everett, who began his work as a Christian missionary, had wrestled with the beast. He was a flycatcher par excellence. Wolfe is thrilled by him and it is the best thing about his book that he will win Everett himself more readers.

In 2008 Everett published a marvellous memoir of his time among the Piraha called Dont Sleep, There Are Snakes, which Wolfe liberally quotes, followed in 2012 by Language: The Cultural Tool (both published here by Profile Books). By 2014 Chomsky and his allies were in retreat, beginning a paper admitting: The evolution of the faculty of language largely remains an enigma.

Rejoicing that language comes out of human culture after all, Wolfe suddenly decides that speech is best understood as a mnemonic system  one that has enabled Homo Sapiens to take control of the entire world, a veritable nuclear weapon.

Perhaps this mnemonic explanation is not quite total or sufficient either? Darwin is not so easily dispatched, dyspeptic or not. But Wolfes closing paean to words, to speech, and only speech, can serve as his ultimate credo as a writer. Speech is what man pays homage to in every moment he can imagine, he declares, these being the last words of what may be his own last book.
' Our society is chasing unattainable standards of beauty, declares Karen Elson. Staying young is supposedly the most coveted thing. I actually think the opposite  I mean look at women like Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon women getting older, all the life experience they have  that is beauty to me.

After 20 years in the fashion industry  with countless magazine covers, campaigns and an album (not to mention a marriage, divorce and two kids) under her belt  Elson has life experience by the bucket-load. And although at 37 she could pass for 27, its hardly surprising to find her bemoaning identikit aesthetics. Ever since she was propelled to fame in the late 1990s after appearing in clownish make-up, shot by Steven Meisel on the cover of Italian Vogue, she has been an icon of unconventional beauty. Her otherworldliness draws you in, siren-like.

Growing up in Oldham, however, the daughter of a joiner and a dinner lady, she was teased for her gawky frame and pale skin  the features which made her remarkable as a model. She was scouted at 16, and on her 18th birthday, Meisel persuaded her to shave her eyebrows and dye her brown hair red. It was the days when you could play in fashion.

Two decades on and shes as in demand as ever. Shes the face of mytheresa.com (who have chosen her as their 13th mytheresa.com Woman, part of a series celebrating strong women), and she opened the Versace couture show in July. Todays industry, she says, is a million miles from the one she started in: We didnt have Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat Our lives werent as documented. Shes full of respect for the current crop of Insta-models: People diss them because theyre rising up through social media, but that is just part of their generation  and they work really hard.

A strong work ethic is clearly important to Elson. In her early modelling days she spent her free time teaching herself guitar and writing songs. For years, she kept them to herself. It wasnt until her (now ex) husband, musician Jack White (whom she met while shooting the video for The White Stripes Blue Orchid) encouraged her that she thought about recording an album.

MARNI knit, 830, skirt, 1,660, and pumps, 570, at mytheresa.com

Elsons debut, The Ghost Who Walks won rave reviews. Yet she finds performing petrifying: Im usually terrified Its one thing twirling around and having a great time on a photo shoot but its another thing getting on stage and singing because it means baring my actual self.

White and Elson announced their separation in 2011, seemingly amicably (they even threw a divorce party) and she says she still listens to his music. The couples children, Scarlett Teresa, 10 and Henry Lee, eight, live with her in Nashville, where shes been based ever since her marriage. My life has changed massively after becoming a mother  its not all about me any more. My kids put me in my place all the time. Her contentment with her new existence is clear: When I get off the plane and come home to Nashville, I feel like me.

Karen Elson: in pictures 1 /6 Karen Elson: in pictures MARNI blouse, 790, and skirt, 750, at mytheresa.com MARNI dress, 2,000, and sleeves, 580, at mytheresa.com MARNI coat, 1,830, and knit, 580, at mytheresa.com MARNI coat, 1,630, and boots, 1,000, at mytheresa.com MARNI knit, 830, skirt, 1,660, and pumps, 570, at mytheresa.com

Next year she hopes to release her second album: Im very excited. It took me a while to get it done  I need to be in the right head space to reveal myself. She still adores fashion, but says her dress sense has mellowed with age. Still, asked who her style icon is, her answer is unequivocal: Helena Bonham Carter  her style is so individual, so personal. Ultimately, though, its family thats her everything: All this is wonderful but if it all fell by the sidelines, and I had my family and friends, I wouldnt need anything else.

Karen Elson launches as the 13th mytheresa.com Woman, dressed exclusively in Marni, on 7 September (mytheresa.com)
J ustice is an ancient concept, one which requires few updates. Concepts are insulated from the rapid pace of technology. On the other hand, access to it could be improved by innovation.

Certainly, this is the standpoint of the founders of CrowdJustice, a website that invites users to crowdfund their legal fees.

Simply submit the details of your case and an advisor will contact you to help you frame the argument and make your story compelling. From there, it works like a normal crowd-funding page: set a target amount and make your case, and the team at CrowdJustice will try to help you get it in front of the right people. If its successful, 93.5 per cent of the funds raised will go towards your fees. Five per cent go to the platform, and 1.4 per cent (with an extra 20p charge) goes to payment processor fees.

Its consistent with the clicktivism movement that has grown at velocity in the last few years: providing users with the tools and formal framework to make a noise. Its a crowd-funding platform for public interest cases that benefit communities, says CEO Julia Salasky (pictured below) who founded the site in May last year and now employs six people at offices in Aldgate East.

CrowdJustice provides access to funding and leverages power for people who care about issues to make sure they are heard. Petitions arent enough.

Who is using it? The National Aids Trust is currently crowdfunding to ensure that the NHS has the power to commission preventative medicine against HIV (PrEP): at the time of writing, nine people have raised more than 3,000 towards a target of 5000, and it has 28 days to go. A Peoples Challenge to the government on Article 50, which would activate Brexit, has raised more than 48,000 towards a target of 50,000, and has been supported by almost 1300 people. It also has four weeks left; success looks likely. A notable past success includes a case in which a small community group petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the law of joint enterprise. One staff member tells me that Passing Clouds, a nightclub in Dalston, intends to use the platform to fight eviction from its building. Its for people who felt disenfranchised, Salasky says.

The best apps for Londoners 1 /16 The best apps for Londoners Zip car Join, reserve, unlock and drive  it really is that simple. The capitals preferred car clubs app gives 24/7 access to cars and vans in your neighbourhood and lets you extend or cancel reservations on the go. Free Uncover Sick of being stuck on waiting lists? You need Uncover, which redistributes cancelled reservations at some of the capitals top restaurants, including The River Cafe and Nobu. Not for planning freaks, though  tables typically become free at 40 minutes notice. Free Uber So popular its become a verb, this private driver service has revolutionised travel in the capital. Its speedy and affordable, making it a welcome alternative to the night bus. Free Santander Cycles Launched this summer, the official app for Boris fifth child can be used to search for nearby docking stations and check bike availability. Theres also a journey planner featuring easy, moderate and fast routes to satisfy all cycling tribes. Free Plume Air Report This new app has been downloaded by 3,000 Londoners. Sensors gathering air pollution data submit updates every hour, resulting in a scale that ranges from fresh to extremely polluted. Free Nightcapp Heres an app that will have booze hounds raising their glasses. NightCapp is a map that pinpoints more than 1,500 London watering holes that stay open past 11.30pm. It also shows users when a bar is about to close by highlighting it in orange. Better get moving. Free Money Dashboard An award-winning budget planner, this helps you keep track of personal spending across multiple accounts, pay off credit cards and even makes suggestions on how to manage your finances better. Free Her Promising to introduce women to a lesbian that hasnt slept with any of your friends, this revamped dating app includes queer-themed news and blogs, upcoming event notices and an improved algorithm-matching system. Free FoodMood This new startup, which reckons its Tinder for food, pledges to narrow down your choice of lunchbreak destinations. Hit yum or yuk on photos of dishes in your area. Juvenile, but strangely addictive. Free Daily Yoga This offers more than 50 yoga sessions, as well as a database of 500 yoga poses. Suitable for all levels, programmes include yoga aimed at specific areas of the body and weight loss. Namaste to that. Free Coffee Meets Bagel Billed as the anti-Tinder, this new kid on the block delivers just a single match to users once a day. Coffee Meets Bagel uses Facebook profile information to recommend suitors based on friends of friends. Neither coffee nor bagels are included. Free. Bristlr Do you have a beard? Perhaps youd like to stroke one on a regular basis? This can be arranged. Unlike other dating apps, Bristlr is unashamedly all about hooking up the hairy with the hairless. Theres even a beard-rating option for aficionados. Free

Salasky has a legal background: she was a commercial litigator at Linklaters, though left to do something I felt had more impact. Subsequently, she worked at the UN, doing a lot of negotiations around tech. I realised I could have more impact building something. It struck me that the time was right for something like CrowdJustice.

It is: partly, as the technology is available, partly because the public has a taste for activism, and partly because of deep cuts to legal aid. Over the past five to ten years it has been increasingly difficult for people to access the legal system, Salasky says. This seems a fair solution.

Follow Phoebe Luckhurst on Twitter: @phoebeluckhurst
I t doesnt happen very often here in Britain, but this week temperatures will soar into the 30s in the south, so theres no better time to pack your beach bag and escape from Londons burning to pavements to sunny Brighton.

And what better way to enjoy the sun, than with a G&T in-hand?

The seaside city might be famous for its pebbled seafront and cheerful promenade, but it also boasts a brilliant mix of cafes, bars and colourful outdoor spots in which to enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle, even if only for a day.

From late-night drinking spots to family-friend terraces, weve rounded up the cream of the crop of Brightons best outdoor spaces, where you can work on your tan while you soak up the late-summer vibes.

All you have to worry about is not spilling your drink on your summer whites.

Click through our gallery above for Brightons best alfresco spots.

Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle
M ore than 50,000 people including top record labels and DJs have signed a petition in less than 24 hours to "save" iconic nightclub Fabric.

Last Monday, it was revealed the venue will be shut for four weeks while Islington Council reviews its licence, which was suspended after two drug-related deaths.

Police launched an investigation after the two 18-year-olds died in separate incidents in the space of weeks. The club has since announced a review of security.

But more than 50,000 people have so far shown their support by signing an online petition set up by resident DJ and promoter at the Farringdon club, Jacob Hansen.

The petition  called Save Londons nightlife. Stop the closure of Fabric  was set up on Wednesday night and by the following morning, just 13 hours later, it had hit its original target of 35,000.

Mr Hansen, whose DJ name is Jacob Husley, told the Standard: "I'm overwhelmed by the positive response, but not surprised.

"There is so much love for Fabric in the UK and across the globe, it shows how important and respected it is, and this is just the beginning.

"Today is very manic, with a lot of emails but I'm also enjoying it because it feels like everyone is coming together to send a strong message. Every signature and share helps no matter who it is."

Top DJs and musicians including Groove Armada, DJ Zinc, Rob da Bank and Fatboy Slim have tweeted their support as well as labels Island Records and Virgin EMI Records.

Scotland Yard initially asked to temporarily suspend the iconic venues licence after two young men died, pending a review by Islington council to decide its long term future.

It followed the news an 18-year-old had died in hospital after falling ill at the club at 2am on June 25.

Another 18-year-old collapsed outside the 2,500-capacity club on August 6 at 8.20am, dying 40 minutes later in hospital.

Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric, told the Standard today: "The safety of our customers is always our first priority and we are deeply saddened by the recent, tragic events.

We have always worked with the police and the London Borough of Islington to adopt the most effective techniques to reduce drug-related harm and crime and we are currently independently reviewing all our processes to improve them further.

After 17 years at the forefront of the UK dance music scene, fabric is incredibly grateful for all the support it has received from all over the world resulting in almost 50,000 people signing the petition. It means so much to us that so many people continue to see fabric as a key part of Londons world class nightlife and a significant contributor to its night time economy.

We hope the decision on September 6 will mean that fabric can continue to operate as a destination for music fans as well as a safe and well managed venue.

In a statement on August 23, the nightclub management said they were carrying out a review of the lessons we can learn.

"Since we opened our doors in 1999, we have always worked closely with the police and the licensing authority in adopting the most effective known techniques to reduce harm and prevent drug-related crime on our premises and we continue to look at new ways we can improve our processes.

The venue said it has a zero tolerance to drugs and a system in place with the police to log and hand over confiscated drugs.

We recognise that illegal drugs are a particular issue in the clubbing sphere which many venues like ours have challenges in addressing, the statement said.

The club said it is "reviewing procedures" and hopes to work with the police and council to stay open.

Fabric itself is supporting the petition, which is set to be delivered to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Islington council.

Jacob Hansen, the petition creator, wrote on the Change.org page that closing the club would be an incredibly short-sighted response to the complex problem of drug use.

He said: "[Fabric] is like a big family. This is the ethos thats at the core of club culture and Fabrics operations.

"Fabric do their best to keep their customers safe and protect them from drugs and adopt a zero drugs policy.

Closing a venue such as Fabric would be an incredibly short-sighted response to a complex problem.

Lets all come together to ask Sadiq Khan, our new Mayor of London, who won our support on his pledges to save Londons Night Time Economy and Islington Borough council, to support our campaign.

Lets ask them to back Fabrics future and the rest of our citys clubs as icons of Londons incredible music scene and pledge to work together with him to make our clubs safer while also protecting our night time economy.

Commenting on the petition, Jonathan Pigrem said: "London once had a world class club scene. How much more culture must we lose to bankers and developers."

Another supporter, Michael Fitzpatrick, called Fabric "the most important club in London". He said: "They have an amazing team which is one of the most professional I've ever encountered working within music and night life industries."

Fabrics licence will be reviewed by the council on September 6.

In a statement last week, Islington council said: "After two recent drug-related deaths, the Metropolitan Police applied for an interim suspension of Fabrics licence.

Fabric agreed not to contest this application, and a licensing sub-committee has today suspended Fabrics licence. This will be followed by a review of Fabrics licence within 28 days.
P olice seized a terrifying haul of weapons after up to 30 youths joined a mass street brawl.

Thugs wielding machetes and knives fled officers after the fight in Hackney last night.

Shocked witnesses called police at about 11pm after seeing the clashes near Mabley Green park in Wick Road.

But when officers arrived at the scene up to 30 youths dropped their weapons and ran off.

An extensive search of the area was carried out and at least six huge knives and machetes were discovered, police said.

Police discovered the weapons in Wick Road (@MPSHackney / Twitter ) / @MPSHackney / Twitter

The weapons found included a two large kitchen knives, two machete-style knives with sheaths and an enormous blade covered in a skull pattern.

One man was later arrested by officers on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon, police said.

No one was injured in the brawl.

A spokesman for Hackney police, who shared a photo of the weapons on Twitter, said: Several proactive stops were later carried out resulting in one male being arrested for possession of a knife.

Officers tweeted: We've recovered several weapons tonight after youths were fighting in #E9 area. Great work @MetTaskforce @MPSHackney.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call police on 101.

Did you see the incident? Call the news desk on 02036152500 or email news@standard.co.uk.
P olice have charged a 29-year-old Frenchman with the murder of a British backpacker at a hostel in Australia.

Smail Ayad is accused of killing Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, who was stabbed to death at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night.

Queensland Police Service said the possibility that he had an unrequited romantic interest or an "obsession" with Miss Ayliffe-Chung, who was from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was a line of inquiry.

A 30-year-old British man police named as Tom Jackson remains in hospital with critical head injuries and a 46-year-old local man received non-life threatening injuries in the alleged attack.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung was staying at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, near Townsville, when she was stabbed to death

A dog was also killed in the incident.

Ayad is due to appear at Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and twelve counts of serious assault.

Police said in a statement: "It will be alleged that as the man was being transported from the hospital to the watch house around 5.45pm, he assaulted two officers and resisted violently and police have had to use a Taser and capsicum spray on the man."

Ms Ayliffe-Chung was from Wirksworth, Derbyshire / Facebook

Superintendent Ray Rohweder of Queensland Police said there was an indication that Ayad had taken cannabis on Tuesday evening and police confirmed he had shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the alleged attack.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung's mother Rosie Ayliffe paid tribute to her in a statement, saying she was an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit".

Mr Jackson was injured trying to help Miss Ayliffe-Chung.

Police described his actions as "selfless".

Another British backpacker was injured and is in hospital being treated for damage to both ankles.

The man charged will appear by videolink in court on Friday morning as there were a "number of concerns in relation to both officer and public safety", Mr Rohweder said at a press conference.

The 12 serious assaults he has been charged with are in relation to 12 separate police officers, he said.

The suspect has had access to legal representation and the French consulate and he declined to be interviewed.

Police confirmed that they had no indication that radicalisation or political motives were involved in the attack.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung's post-mortem examination found her cause of death to be multiple stab wounds.

Mr Jackson remains "very ill" and his father was due at the hospital.
A Chinese man suspected of playing an instrumental role in smuggling migrants into the UK has been arrested today in a dawn raid on his Kent home.

Chen Canjian, 43, was detained by officers from the National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police, who were acting on a European Arrest Warrant.

Chen - who used the aliases of Jian Chen, Jian Ding and Chen Can Jian and went by the nickname of The Bald - is suspected of smuggling migrants into countries including the UK and France.

He was wanted as part of a criminal group based in France, and previously lived in the Ile de France region of the country.

He is alleged to have procured false documents for Chinese migrants seeking to travel to the UK, and his mobile phone number was allegedly found in the contacts of several suspected migrants arrested in France.

According to French authorities, Chen would receive payment from the China-based families of those using his services.

Following his arrest, Chen appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody until his next hearing on September 2.

NCA regional Operations Manager, Graham Roberts, said: Chen is suspected of making substantial amounts of money from smuggling people across borders, and was therefore a target of the UKs Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce."
A top trauma doctor at one of Londons busiest hospitals begged for an end to knife violence after a spate of stabbings on one of the hottest days of the year.

At least three people were stabbed yesterday as the capital sweltered in 30C heat.

Tom Konig, a trauma surgeon at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel said medics were confronted by a wave of knife crime victims during the hot weather yesterday.

The former British Army surgeon and air ambulance doctor wrote on Twitter: Wednesday night on the hottest day of the year and it's #stab stab stab in the resuscitation room of the Royal London hospital. Please stop.

His message was re-tweeted scores of times as well-wishers praised medical staff who treat the victims of knife crime.

Two teenagers were found with stab injuries after a fight broke out in Holloway yesterday evening.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to Fairmead Road, close to Holloway Prison, just before 7.30pm where two 19-year-old men were found with knife wounds.

One of the teenagers injuries was described as non-life-threatening.

The second mans condition is not currently known but both were taken to hospital.

A police spokeswoman said no one had been arrested over the attack.

Another man was rushed to the trauma centre at the hospital after being knifed in Haringey.

London Ambulance crews were called to Pulford Road at around 8.30pm after the victim was found with stab wounds.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning a murder probe was launched after a 25-year-old man was stabbed in a north London townhouse before collapsing in a pool of blood on a pavement in Wood Green.

The doctors tweet came after violence which erupted across the capital in July on what was previously hailed as the hottest day of the year.

Chaotic scenes ensued when a water fight in Hyde Park spiralled into a riot.

Stamford Hill Rave 1 /6 Stamford Hill Rave A squad of elite police officers are pelted with missiles as they move hundreds of revellers from an illegal block party in north London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday July 20, 2016. @Jackarysagna Police officers moving hundreds of revellers from an illegal block party in north London. @999London Police at the scene of an illegal block party in Stamford Hill. @999London Residents blamed a "select few" for violence in Stamford Hill. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday July 20, 2016. @Jackarysagna Residents said youths originally gather to "drink and have a water fight" on the hottest day of the year. PRESS ASSOCIATION @Jackarysagna

Four people, including a police officer, were stabbed as close to 4,000 people gathered on the banks of the Serpentine.

On the same evening two 16-year-old boys were stabbed in Burgess Park, south London, and a nearby supermarket ransacked at an end-of-term water fight.

Police were also pelted with missiles when they moved in to close down an illegal rave on an east London estate. Some officers suffered minor injuries and three police vans were damaged.

Police officers have shared shocking images of knives on Twitter over the past week as weapon-sweeps took place across the capital before Bank Holiday events including Notting Hill Carnival.

Some 400 people were arrested last year and an 18-year-old boy was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after being stabbed.
P olice are investigating two shootings just hours apart in south London last night.

Major roads were closed as police launched an investigation after gunshots were heard in New Cross and Vauxhall.

Eyewitnesses described hearing "loud pops" on New Cross Road shortly after 8pm, before police descended on the high street and closed it off.

A bystander 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.

Footage of shooting in New Cross

"[It] happened very quick then he ran off.

Shots: Car damage apparently caused by the gunfire / Twitter/@Hengcredible

"[It was] just right outside [bookmakers] Coral and the car was on the other side.

"Think I heard about four or five shots. That was the scary part."

Less than three hours later officers were called again to reports of gunfire on Tyers Street in Vauxhall, five miles away.

During a sweep of the scene, police found evidence a gun had been fired in the area.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said there was nothing to suggest a link between the shootings at this stage but officers retained an open mind about motives in both incidents.

There have been no reported injuries in either case, he added.

Contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.
A police officer was injured during "chaos" as a mass brawl broke out in south-west London.

Officers were called to reports of a fight involving up to 15 people in Kingston in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Three people were arrested following the large-scale disturbance in Clarence Street which is believed to have involved two groups.

PC Paul Foley was sent as back-up and ended up having his hand broken when an arrested man kicked out at him after he was taken to Kingston Hospital for treatment before being booked into custody.

The officer used his hands to protect his face but suffered broken bones and torn ligaments when he was struck with a kick.

Kingston Police said the officer now faces weeks in a cast as he recovers after he was called to help deal with the "chaos".

Acting Superintendent Gary Taylor said: When I found out about his injury I quickly challenged him to a left handed press up competition but sadly he declined.

However, on a serious note I would like to commend his bravery and commitment in keeping Kingston and his colleagues safe. We all wish him a speedy recovery."
A violinist spoke of her devastation today after her 300-year-old instrument was taken from a train just a week before she is due to play in the Proms.

Jane Gordon, 37, accidentally left her violin on an overhead luggage rack as she travelled home from Waterloo station after a rehearsal this week.

CCTV footage shows that the violin, believed to be worth tens of thousands of pounds, remained there for three hours before being removed by a passenger at Queenstown Road station, according to British Transport Police.

Ms Gordon, an award-winning Royal Academy of Music graduate, today appealed for its return. She said it was much loved and that she was desperate to be reunited with it.

Heartbroken: Jane Gordon has launched a Twitter campaign for her violin to be returned

She told the Standard: When I realised it had gone my heart was just racing. It is like losing a member of your family or losing your voice. The bond you have with an instrument is incredibly personal and central to my career.

Ms Gordon said she was prepared to offer 500 for any information leading to its return.

She has been lent an instrument to practise on ahead of her performances on September 4 and 9 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at the Royal Albert Hall.

She said: I would like the violin back  I am due to play in the Proms concerts next week. I have had it for about four years and its like a member of my family, and the sound it makes is like a human voice.

It is old and holds a lot of sentimental value. I am willing to offer a reward for the instrument if it is found. Please return it safely.

Ms Gordon is a renowned soloist in the Rautio Piano Trio, and a specialist in performances of Baroque music on historical instruments.

CCTV footage shows a passenger taking the violin from the train at Queenstown Road station

The violin is described as a Maggini in a black case with a label reading Gewa on the outside. There is an external pouch which contains a blank envelope with strings inside, labelled La Folia. The violin also has a distinctive wooden chin rest. There are four bows, two of them Baroque, and a pouch at the end of the case containing asthma medication.

The incident took place on Monday evening as Ms Gordon headed to St Margarets station.

Detective Constable Anthony Steaman, from BTP, said: I am keen to speak to the two people in the CCTV images as I believe they may have vital information that could help with the investigation. Anyone with any information should contact British Transport Police as soon as possible. I would urge anyone who may have the instrument to hand it into their local police station.

Last month, Krysia Osostowicz, 56, a friend of Ms Gordon, had her 200,000 violin snatched when she put it down as she was unlocking her bike outside Brixton station. She retrieved it after a woman tried to pawn it for 50.

In 2010, London-based musician Min-Jin Kyms 1.2 million Stradivarius violin was taken from a cafe at Euston station. Thieves tried to sell it for 100 and it was eventually found in the Midlands. In 2011, John Maughan, then 30, was jailed for four and a half years at Blackfriars crown court for the theft. Two teenage boys were also sentenced for their involvement.
A teenager who stabbed two men with a hunting knife during last month's violence at Hyde Park is facing jail after admitting a string of offences.

Joshua Clements, 18, of Foxglove Street, Acton, appeared at the Old Bailey today, after he was snared when a police officer recognised his face.

On the evening of July 19, Clements attacked two 19-year-old men with a hunting knife in two separate incidents, causing both victims serious injuries.

Clements attacked one of his victims inside Hyde Park, stabbing him in the abdomen, then knifed his the second victim in the chest and both arms in an assault that happened close to the parks perimeter, beside Cumberland Gate.

Dangerous weapon: Joshua Clements attacked his victims with a hunting knife / Metropolitan Police

Both men sustained serious injuries but are recovering well, police say.

Following the attacks, an investigation was launched by detectives from the Mets Homicide and Major Crime Command.

Clements had attempted to disguise his identity by wearing a face mask covered in a camouflage pattern, but officers were able to trace his movements on CCTV.

Police circulated an image of Clements face without his mask on, and he was recognised by a police constable attached to a west London gangs unit.

Clements was arrested on 27 July and a weapon seized from his home was forensically linked to one of his crimes.

Evading police: Joshua Clements had disguised his face with a mask / Metropolitan Police

Today, the teenager admitted to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of carrying an offensive weapon, two counts of handling stolen goods and one count of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Thousands of people had gathered in Hyde Park to enjoy one of the hottest days of the year but unfortunately amongst them were individuals determined to commit serious crimes.

Clements is a violent individual who targeted two innocent people, thinking he could evade justice.

"His victims sustained very serious injuries and I am pleased that the overwhelming evidence against him has persuaded him to plead guilty to these offences."

Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date.
P olice seized another huge knife in Islington this morning just days after a deadly "zombie killer" blade was discovered.

The terrifying serrated blade was found by a caretaker dumped in a bush in Tomlins Walk, near Finsbury Park.

Officers in Islington said they arrived at the scene, on the Andover Estate, and will carry out forensic tests and intelligence checks to see whether the knife is linked to any other crimes in the area.

Two days ago the same police team found a man on the Mayville Estate, near Shacklewell, allegedly carrying a fearsome machete-style "zombie killer" knife.

One man was arrested by officers on suspicion of possessing the outlawed knife and for suspected drug offences.

Just last week new legislation came into force banning the particular "zombie" weapons as part of a government crackdown - with sellers of the blades set to face jail terms if they are caught.

Anyone caught making or selling the weapons could face up to four years in prison.

The knives can often be up to two feet in length and are becoming increasingly popular with teenage gang members.

Available online for as little as 10, the weapons are often advertised as collectors items.

Islington police are urging people to be vigilant and and to report any suspicious activity.
L ondoners were today braced for travel chaos this weekend as millions of Brits prepared to set off for their Bank Holiday getaway destinations.

Airports will be busy, with Heathrow expecting more than 440,000 passengers to depart over the last long weekend before Christmas.

Gatwick is preparing for 311,000 outgoing passengers, with 103,000 due to fly from Stansted.

Ports and the Channel Tunnel are also expected to be in high demand.

Motorists have been warned they face "carmageddon" on the roads around the capital as huge numbers of cars take to the busiest routes such as the M25, M27, M5 and M6.

An estimated 5.1 million people are expected to head on a break within the UK, according to national tourism agency VisitEngland.

This is expected to generate around 1.3 billion for the UK economy.

And travel organisation Abta estimated that two million Britons will head abroad from Friday to Monday.

Britain has been basking in temperatures of 32C (86F) this week, although more unsettled conditions are expected over the weekend.

Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "This weekend is the traditional curtain closer for the peak summer months and it is always a very busy weekend for travel, with millions taking advantage of the long weekend to head off overseas.

"With the roads predicted to be extremely busy, holidaymakers should make sure that they leave plenty of time to get to their port of departure."
T he five men who drowned in the sea at Camber Sands were Londoners enjoying a day out at the beach, it emerged today.

The group, believed to be in their late teens and early 20s, had travelled to the popular holiday spot from the capital yesterday to enjoy the hottest day of the year.

It comes after speculation that the group may have been migrants after witnesses suggested they were pulled out of the sea fully-clothed.

One of the victims was named today as Nitharsan Ravi, 22. His father, speaking from the family home in Woolwich, fought back tears as he told how the family were too upset to talk.

A friend of his son, Jackson Bosco, wrote on Facebook: Cant believe to hear the news that you were one of the boys at #Cambersands. You were truly a good person with a good heart. You are going to be missed on this earth.

Victim: Nitharsan Ravi was named as one of the five men who died

A friend of the group, Thujee Jey, tweeted: Why did God take 5 lives at once. RIP Nitharsan, Kuru, Kobi, Kenny and Indhusan. Cant believe you are all gone. She added: RIP Kuru Anna ... I cant believe this.

When going to the beach please dont go too deep.. Lives are too precious to be lost due to silly actions.

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly of Sussex Police said: We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day. We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area. These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day.

A rescue helicopter during the operation at Camber Sands / @Tashka4 /PA Wire

He said officers were in touch with the mens families, adding: This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them, he said.

There were dramatic scenes at the beach near Rye, East Sussex, as rescuers attempted to revive the men among an estimated 30,000 holidaymakers as the temperature hit 33.9C.

The first three of the group were pulled ashore after being spotted floating in the sea yesterday afternoon around 2:10pm. The bodies of two more men were discovered lying dead on the beach as the tide receded six hours later at around 8pm last night.

Police presence: Camber Sands after the discovery of the bodies / @Tashka4 /PA

A helicopter search continued into the early hours today after reports of a sixth man apparently spotted floating on the tide. But police today confirmed there are no ongoing searches.

Witnesses told of the desperate efforts of coastguards and paramedics to revive the men.

Emma Rivers, who lives in Kent, was in the sea with her young nephew as the drama unfolded.

She said: The helicopters were circling and my nephew was pretending to shark spot.

Scene: The distressing incident happened at Camber Sands / James Beeson

He noticed a black spot in the sea and we stared at it for a while. We watched it bob up and down and get closer, only to realise we were looking at a body. It was very distressing.

The helicopters then began to search where we were looking but we could no longer see it. There was something on the persons back but we dont know what it was.

Hannah Chatfield, from Coulsdon in Surrey, said: We were on the beach when someone was pulled out, and about half an hour later a woman came up shouting saying there were more people in water.

The lifeguards were busy with the person they had already dragged out so me and about seven other people, including a lifeguard, all ran down to the water.

We swam over to him and dragged him up on to the sand. I think he was in his 30s. Then the medics started doing CPR on him and the others and that went on for quite a while but in the end I think they had to give up.

Medics used windbreaks to shield their work as the mens bodies were placed on stretchers and loaded into ambulances to be driven away.

Bizarrely, the police issued a statement ruling out jellyfish as a cause of the tragedy, saying: In no way is this jellyfish related.

There were reports today that the men were of Sri Lankan descent.

Last month, 19-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Silva Da Cruz died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Camber Sands.

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.
T hree of the men who died in the sea at Camber Sands were trying to save their stricken friends, a brother of one of the victims said.

All five, from London, were killed by the sea despite the friends desperate efforts to save their pals in tragic scenes on one of the hottest days of the year.

They have been named as Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, brothers Kobi and Ken Nathan and Kurushanth Srithavarajah.

Clutching her brother's T-shirt, Mr Ravi's sister Mayura sobbed as she remembered how he always looked out for her.

The 17-year-old said the family felt anger that the stretch of beach where they died had not been blocked off following the death of Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, at Camber Sands, Rye, East Sussex, last month.

Tragic loss: Nitharsan Ravi

She said: "Now it's been blocked. Why didn't they do it before? They could have saved five other lives."

Mr Ravi's younger brother, Ajirthan, 19, said: "There wasn't any lifeguards cruising around.

"Because they would have quickly noticed these boys drowning, and could have at least saved their lives."

A rescue helicopter during the operation at Camber Sands / @Tashka4 /PA Wire

He said his brother had died after trying to rescue two of his friends who had become trapped underneath the water.

He said: "Ken and Inthushan got stuck in water.

"So what they do is the three boys try to save them."

Police presence: Camber Sands after the discovery of the bodies / @Tashka4 /PA

He said attempts failed and Kurushanth was brought out first and declared dead straight away.

"My bro and Kobi had heartbeats and managed to survive for a few minutes but after first aid they couldn't recover."

Both died within 15 minutes after being pulled from the water, he said.

The bodies of Ken Nathan and Inthushan Sri were discovered later that evening, he said, adding that he thought they had got their legs caught in the "slippery mud" and sand on the sea bottom.

More than 50 relatives and friends of Mr Ravi shared their grief in the family's living room, spilling out onto the street outside.

Mr Ravi's mother's cousin Mira Lawrence, from Plumstead, said: "We can save more people in future. We don't want to lose more people like how we lost in our family, it shouldn't happen to anyone.

"What if it's little kids, families? It's just more devastation."

An online petition started a month ago to campaign for lifeguards at Camber has reached more than 3,600 signatures. Local resident Emily Van Eyssen, 44, said the need for lifeguards was long overdue.

A spokesman for Rother District Council said that, despite there being no lifeguards, there were summer patrols to advise people of potential dangers.

"While it's very upsetting to see two similar, tragic incidents this summer, over the years these kind of incidents are extremely rare and on a fine day around 25,000 people use the beach safely," he said.

"Although it's too early to draw any conclusions from this latest incident, in recent years we have seen a change in the make-up of visitors to Camber, including more people from outside the area who are not familiar with the sea and the dangers it can pose."

Charles Bosco, 27, from west London, said he had known Mr Ravi since the age of 10, and described him as a "fun, bubbly guy".

He added: "He is a lovely guy who cares for his family. He is a social guy. Every time I saw him he would immediately come and talk to me."

In tribute to Mr Sriskantharasa, Ranu Kumar wrote on Facebook: "Was one of the best genuine, one of my closest cousins in UK."

Mayu Mayuran, a Sri Lankan who told the Press Association he was related to Mr Sriskantharasa, wrote: "We miss you Inthushan - rest in peace."

The five men had gone to the coast for a day trip, according to Sussex Police, as investigations continued into what caused their deaths.

Additional reporting by PA
T wo students were today celebrating 21 A* grades between them at a London secondary school which opened seven years ago.

Alaa Lafta and Nadia Ezbakh nervously opened their result papers this morning at King Solomon Academy in Marylebone, off Edgware Road.

Alaa scooped 11 A* grades while Nadia received 10 A*s and an A after enduring sleepless nights over their results. Both girls, 16, now want to study maths and sciences at A-level at the school.

Alaa said: I was hoping for A*s and As, so Im more than relieved, as well as happy that the stress is over. I need to go home and sleep now. The stress and the wait was the worst thing. I didnt sleep at all last night. It was last-minute panic, but I wanted to scream out when I saw the results.

Students in London receive their GCSE results - London Live

Nadia, of Ealing, said she was shocked by her grades despite being predicted to get top marks by her teachers. She said: I didnt think Id get these grades because I found the exams challenging. Im going to study biology, chemistry, Spanish and maths at sixth form.

Celebrating: 16-year-old Nadia Ezbakh celebrates 10 A*s in her GCSE results at the King Solomon Academy in north London. / Chris Gorman.

Principal Max Haimendorf said the results showed the school was on an upward trajectory. He said: Weve just had our first kids going off to university. We are special because we serve an area of economic deprivation, but despite that our mission is to make it possible for every child to go to university and be successful. We are really happy with the results and of all the exam results 75 per cent were B grades and above.

Milod Sadaty, 16, from Paddington, joined the school in year seven and achieved two A*s, seven As and two B grades.

After arriving at school at 8am, he said: It was nice to see all my hard work pay off and all the hours of revision were worth it. My family will be proud of me and excited. I wanted to make them proud as well as getting the good grades for myself.

A budding Olympian at the school was among those celebrating their results. Zina Oukhaled, 16, was the 2014 and 2015 Great Britain taekwondo champion in her age group and has balanced her studies with training with stars such as Jade Jones.

She said her hard work had paid off after receiving 2 A* grades, four As and three Bs. She has now set her sights on a place at university and, perhaps, a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Zina, of Paddington, said: I was overwhelmed by the results. My family were very proud of me and we will go out for a meal to celebrate. I dont know about the next Olympics, but the future is open for me now.
A n inquest into the death of a man who was found dead on moorland in Greater Manchester after travelling north from Ealing has been adjourned after police failed to make progress in the case.

A court heard today that "extensive" inquiries are ongoing to uncover the identity of the man, who was found dead on Saddleworth Moor more than eight months ago.

The body of the man, who was aged between 65 and 75, was discovered by a cyclist on December 12 near a hill known as Indian's Head, an outcrop near the top of Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham.

The man's body was lying on the ground, and he was fully clothed, but had no wallet, mobile phone or other identification was on his person - only three train tickets, including a return to London Euston, and 130 in 10 notes.

The man remains unidentified despite numerous public appeals, which have included CCTV footage of his last known movements.

The day before his body was found, the man had travelled by train from London to Manchester, starting his journey at Ealing Broadway.

He was captured on camera at the west London station just after 9am on December 11, and was next picked up by CCTV at 9.50am at Euston, where he paid for an 81 return ticket to Manchester Piccadilly in cash.

He arrived in Manchester at 12.07pm, where he spent 53 minutes wandering around the train station before heading into the city centre.

He later went into The Clarence pub in Greenfield, Saddleworth, about 13 miles north of the city centre, at about 4.30pm.

The man asked the landlord the way to "the top of the mountain", and a motorist later spotted him near to where he was found the next day.

The driver said the man was making his way up the hill in the dark, and was about three quarters of the way to the summit.

Today, HM Coroner for Manchester North, Simon Nelson, held a pre-inquest review into the death of the "unknown male".

Mr Nelson said he was conscious that the anniversary of the man's death was approaching and it was his wish to complete proceedings before then but said that "sadly" he would have to adjourn the inquest for six weeks to await a further progress report from police.

At a brief hearing in Heywood, Mr Nelson said he had received regular updates from Greater Manchester Police as to their ongoing probe.

He said: "These inquiries are fairly extensive both within this country and beyond. I do not want to at this stage to go into the detail of the outcome of any particular strands but suffice to say these inquiries have not as of today provided an indication as to who the deceased is."

It has been revealed that the mystery man had strychnine in his system - a highly toxic substance used in rat poision.

Police have also said he had a 10cm metal plate inserted into his left leg between 2001 and last year, with medical experts advising that the operation would have taken place in Pakistan.

A container of medicine found on the mystery man has also been linked to Pakistan.

A number of theories about the man's identity have already been discounted, including speculation that he was a survivor of a 1949 plane crash near Indian's Head that killed 24 people, who may have made a fateful pilgrimage to the site.

A man from Northern Ireland also contacted police to say the released image of the mystery man bore a resemblance to his father who had gone missing more than 20 years ago, but DNA checks also ruled him out.

Police describe the mystery man as white, of slim build, with a receding hairline with grey hair to the side and back. He had a large nose, which may have been previously broken, and was clean shaven.

He wore a brown heavy jacket, blue jumper, white long-sleeve shirt, blue corduroy trousers and black slip-on shoes when he made his fateful journey.
A n upmarket London bar changed its name after it was branded deeply offensive by black rights activists.

The specialist rum bar was due to open on Duke Street, Marylebone, next month under the name 'The Plantation.

However, campaigners demanded management company The Breakfast Group call the Cuban-inspired business something different amid claims the original name was grossly insensitive to millions of Africans who died through slavery.

A spokesman for Black Activists Against Cuts said: Plantations were places where people suffered and died, where Africans suffered unimaginable violence and terror at the hands of their slave masters.

Imagine if you can how African people would feel having to work at this venue much less eat at it?

They added that the company would not name one of their venues 'Concentration Camp', in a reference to the plight of Holocaust victims.

'Grossly insensitive': Hundreds of people have signed a petition forcing the new bar to be opened under a different name / change.org

The groups bosses apologised and have now agreed to call the bar Burlock after a type of twine used during rum importation.

A spokesman said they had been alerted to sensitivities surrounding the name and that staff had liaised closely with the areas African community over the issue.

A petition launched by BARAC UK demanded the name was changed and has been signed by hundreds of people.

It read: Africans were literally worked to death working sugar cane to make sugar and rum for their slave masters and colonial rulers.

To therefore name a restaurant selling rum The Plantation is grossly insensitive and constitutes grave offence to the African descent communities in London and elsewhere.

Burlock is due to open on September 2 and will stock 200 different types of rum.

Signature cocktails include Marys Pickled, Grasshopper Deluxe and Daiquiris made with sugar that has been hand-pressed on-site.

The bar also claimed that in order to be mindful of the hardships surrounding global sugar cane farming, it will donate 1 from the sale of each Grasshopper Deluxe to human rights organisations.

A spokesman said: The management of Burlock will be renaming the venue previously titled The Plantation, following feedback that there are negative connotations associated with the original name.

We are sorry for any offence caused which was entirely unintentional.

Burlock will be a bar specialising in regional rums from Cuba and the Caribbean, championing independent producers with a multi ethnic and accessible approach.
W omen wearing hijabs hit out at Frances oppressive ban on burkinis in a protest at the countrys embassy in London.

Scores of activists joined the Wear What You Want demonstration after Muslim women faced a clampdown amid a State of Emergency in France after a series of terror attacks.

Both Muslim and non-Muslim women donned burkinis, bikinis and swimsuits to sit on a makeshift beach outside the embassy in Knightsbridge today.

The demo was held in a bid to force the French government to repeal the "oppressive" law, under which women on beaches have been ordered to remove religious clothing by armed police.

Protesters outside the French embassy

Organiser India Thorgood told the Standard that images of the woman surrounded by gun-toting officers in Nice "struck a chord" with women across the globe.

The 25-year-old said: "When I saw those images in France it really struck a chord with me, especially as it was armed men telling a woman to undress. "I wanted to do something to show solidarity.

A protester outside the French embassy in Knightsbridge

"Woman should be free to wear what they want."

Nabila Fowles-Gutierrze wore a Burkini for the protest and branded the ban on the full-body swimsuits "an ugly turn of events".

She added: "I'm here to support women.

Protesters hit out at the ban in some French towns and cities

"A Burkini is convenient because I don't have to wear a headscarf but, as it should be, I'll only wear one if I feel like it, other times I'll wear a scarf and long trousers.

"What women wear isn't affecting anyone."

Londoner Muinat Adeyemo, 25, donned a headscarf for the protest.

She told how she had been prompted to attend after a Portuguese waiter joked that she could remove her hijab as she holidayed with girlfriends.

She said: "I was really hot and fanning myself when he said: 'you know you can take that off'.

Protesters in Knightsbridge

"There was no malice but he pulled my scarf and that was crossing a line.

"It makes me really happy to see Muslim and non-Muslim women here supporting this."

Organisers have also called for others to show solidarity by sharing beach selfies on Twitter.

Protesters in Knightsbridge

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 by several towns will come before Frances highest administrative court 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.
S adiq Khan today condemned Frances burkini ban as he travelled to Paris to discuss community integration with the citys mayor.

The Mayor waded into the row after pictures emerged of French armed police apparently fining a woman in a headscarf on a beach in Nice.

Frances supreme court of appeal was today preparing to rule on the burkini ban in several cities and towns.

Mr Khan told the Standard: Im quite firm on this. I dont think anyone should tell women what they can and cant wear. Full stop. Its as simple as that.

Burkini protest outside French embassy

Warm embrace: Sadiq Khan and Anne Hidalgo / Jonathan Brady/PA

I dont think its right. Im not saying were perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we dont simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it.

Frances highest administrative court, the Council of State, will today examine a request by the French Human Rights League to scrap the burkini bans amid fears Muslims are being increasingly stigmatised.

Judges in Nice this week insisted that the ban was necessary, appropriate and proportionate following the deaths of 86 people in a lorry attack in the city claimed by Islamic State.

They said the burkini was liable to offend the religious convictions or non-convictions of other users on the beach.

But critics point to the fact that 30 Muslims were among the dead in Nice, and that the attack had absolutely nothing to do with swimwear whatsoever.

Mr Khan confirmed that integration and diversity would be high on the agenda during his talks today with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who he suggested was keen to learn from Londons experience.

Things dont happen overnight, its about shared values and integration. Well be talking about how we can use the levers weve got to change attitudes, he said.

Row: Burkinis have been banned on some French beaches / AFP/Getty Images

The Mayor said it was crucial to scotch the school of thought that it was not possible to have Western liberal values and be a mainstream Muslim.

Mr Khan said of Ms Hidalgo: I know she was impressed on her last visit by the impact that somebody that looks like me, and belongs to the faith I do, might have on some of her constituents.

Both capital cities faced the problem of people inspired by Daesh or the so-called Islamic State who believed in a clash of civilisations, he said, adding that US presidential contender Donald Trump was playing into that hand as well.

But he added: Weve got to make sure that we dont inadvertently give the impression of being complacent or arrogant because things arent perfect in London. If we want to do integration better, we cant stand still.

The two mayors will also discuss security, with Mr Khan pledging the Met Police would work even closer with their French counterparts to fight extremism and radicalisation than they currently do.

London and Paris share common security interests. Were both home to some of the best specialist police units in the world. If by working closer together we can make even the smallest improvements to our capabilities on either side then its something weve got to do, he said.

He said London was already learning more about preventing lorry attacks as a result of the Nice attacks, and more bollards would be used at this weekends Notting Hill Carnival.

Mr Khan will visit the Paris Plage on the banks of the Seine, part of the citys drive to improve air quality. The two mayors will also discuss Brexit and jobs.
N igel Farage won over a crowd of 10,000 Donald Trump supporters with a raucous speech alongside the Republican Presidential candidate, telling Americans anything is possible.

The audience at the campaign rally lapped up the address by the outgoing UKIP leader who was introduced by Mr Trump as the man behind Brexit.

Mr Farage mocked David Cameron and President Obama for backing Remain and said that June 23 - the day of the Brexit vote - was Britains Independence Day.

He urged Mr Trumps supporters to stand up to the establishment and take back control with a peoples army- just like Britain had.

Support: Donald Trump greets Nigel Farage on stage / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The extraordinary sight of Mr Farage on stage with Mr Trump was the first time a British politician has ever addressed a Republican Presidential rally.

Mr Farage shook Mr Trumps hand and grinned broadly after being invited on stage by the billionaire real estate mogul.

Mr Trump said it was a great honour to hear Mr Farage speak.

He described him as a man who led brilliantly the United Kingdom Independence Party and won despite all odds, despite horrible name calling, despite so many obstacles.

In his 10 minute speech Mr Farage said that, like the Brexit campaign, all the polls and experts were predicting that Mr Trump will lose - but they were wrong.

Mr Farage said: I come to you from the United Kingdom with a message of hope and a message of optimism.

If the little people, if the real people, if the ordinary decent people are prepared to stand up and fight for what they believe in, we can overcome the big banks, we can overcome the multinationals - and we did it.

The crowd booed when Mr Farage mentioned Mr Cameron as then our Prime Minister - but they cheered when he added: But no longer!

Rally: Nigel Farage addressed a crowd of 10,000 people / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The audience clapped when Mr Farage attacked Mr Obama for having talked down to us (Britain).

He said that the President treated us as if we were nothing and patronised one of the oldest functioning democracies in the world.

Bearing that in mind Mr Farage said he could not possibly tell you how to vote in this election, prompting shouts of Trump! Trump! Trump! from the audience.

Mr Farage wrapped up by saying that American had a fantastic opportunity with Novembers election.

He said: And youll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain. We had our own peoples army or ordinary citizens

If you want change, you better get your walking boots on, you better get out their campaigning, and, remember, anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment.

He stopped short of endorsing Mr Trump but said that if he were an American, he would not vote for Mrs Clinton even if you paid me.

Loading....

Mr Trump heaped praised on the Brexit campaign and said that it was movement which addressed similar issues to those affecting America.

He said: They voted to break away from rule by large corporations and media executives who believe in a world without borders.

They voted to reclaim control over immigration, over their economy, over their government.

Working people and the great people of the UK took control of their destiny.

Mr Trump also once again turned his fire on Mrs Clinton and called her a bigot who will do nothing for African Americans and Hispanic people should she win the election.

He made no mention of his immigration plan; in recent days the campaign he has suggested that he may soften his proposal to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants in America.

Last night in an interview with CNN Mrs Clinton said that Mr Trump was taking his hatefulness mainstream and dismissed his comments as ridiculous.
A truck driver who poured boiling water over a sleeping gay couple in a homophobic attack has been jailed for 40 years.

Martin Blackwell, a 48-year-old from Atlanta in the US, was sentenced after a jury found him guilty on Wednesday.

Victims Anthony Gooden and Marquez Tolbert, who had been dating for about six weeks, were sleeping on a mattress in Mr Goodens mums living room when the attack happened.

Long-haul trucker Blackwell stayed at the house whenever he passed through and after seeing the two men sleeping, went to the kitchen, boiled a saucepan of water and poured it over the men.

Victim Mr Gooden, who had told his family he was gay just hours before the attack, was left needing skin grafts after more 60 per cent of his body was badly burnt and he was put in a medical coma.

Mr Tolbert must wear special compression clothing for 23 hours a day for the next two years and has weekly counselling sessions.

Blackwell denied the eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault but was convicted on Wednesday, the Washington Post reported.

Mr Tolbert told the court it was the most unimaginable pain in my entire life.

Justice: Victim Marquez Tolbert, right, sits with his mother Jaya Tolbert and his grandfather Johnny Tolbert as he listens to the verdict. / AP/John Bazemore

Recalling the aftermath of the attack, he said: Im wondering why Im in so much pain. Im wondering why Im wet. I dont understand whats going on.

According to a police report, Blackwell told officers: They were stuck together like two hot dogs  so I poured a little hot water on them and helped them out. Theyll be alright. It was just a little hot water.

Blackwell was not charged with a hate crime because Georgia is one of Americas five states which do not recognise it. Investigators are considering whether to charge him with a federal hate crime, an FBI spokesman told Reuters.

A Gofundme page has been set up to raise money for Mr Tolbert's medical bills and has so far raised over $71,372.
T wo 90-year-old Second World War veterans parachuted into a French field where one of them was shot down by the Luftwaffe 72 years ago.

Wearing bright red jumpsuits and goggles, Fred Glover and Edward Ted Pieri hurtled hundreds of feet to the ground in tandem jumps at the Merville Battery in northern France on Saturday.

The fortified German bunker was the site of fierce fighting during the 1944 Normandy landings  and Mr Glovers glider came down in a nearby orchard after being hit over the battlefield by anti-aircraft fire seven decades ago.

But not content with just the one nonagenarian plunge, the pair each embarked on a second jump on Thursday, leaping from a plane above the Old Sarum airfield in Salisbury to raise money for the London Taxi Benevolent Association For War Disabled, also known as the Taxi Charity.

Ted Pieri lands safely after the jump / PA

Speaking before the jumps, Mr Glover said he was "not at all nervous" and "really looking forward" to jumping with the Red Devils parachute display team.

He added: "I've been returning to visit the area since the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1994 and I have lots of friends in Normandy, they're a good crowd... I've been going for so many years now that some of the toddlers I've met are now grown up with families of their own."

D-Day veteran Fred Glover / PA

Mr Pieri, from Kent, joined the 1st Airborne Division in 1943 while Mr Glover was a member of 6th Airborne "A Company".

The jumps helped raise money for next year's charity D-Day trip to Normandy, which is aiming to take around 150 veterans and 80 black cabs to Normandy for four nights, according to a committee member.

The London Taxi Benevolent Association For War Disabled was set up in 1947 in Fulham and relies on donations and volunteer London taxi drivers to provide their cabs and time for free.

Mr Pieri said: "I've been on a number of outings with the charity including a trip to Arnhem last year. At each event I have had a different taxi driver who hosted and looked after me throughout.

"Each showed a wonderful professional attitude and they go out of their way to do as much as they can. They do this in their own time, they are very special people."
P oles have overtaken Indians to become the largest foreign-born contingent in Britain as net migration continues at near record levels, official figures revealed today.

The Office for National Statistics said that 831,000 Polish-born people were living in Britain at the end of 2015. That is a rise of 41,000 in a year, and means that Poles now account for nearly one in 10 of the countrys 8.6 million foreign-born residents.

The surge in Polish arrivals meant that 795,000 Indian-born residents, for many years the largest overseas group in Britain, were pushed into second place.

The next most common foreign contingents nationwide were from Pakistan, Ireland, Germany and Romania  with a total rise to 220,000  although in London, Indians still head the overseas league table.

Loading....

Todays population figures came as other statistics showed that net migration totalled 327,000 in the year to the end of March.

That is 9,000 lower than the record figure recorded a year earlier and also slightly below the 333,000 tally for 2015 announced shortly before the EU referendum.

The new migration total was made up of 633,000 arrivals from overseas last year, balanced against the 306,000 people who emigrated from this country during the same period.

Loading....

Immigration from within the EU, at 268,000, was slightly lower than the inflow of 282,000 from countries outside the EU, but is still the second highest total ever recorded for European arrivals.

One reason is a record number of migrants from Romania and Bulgaria, which together accounted for an inflow of 69,000 people, a record annual high for those from the two countries.

The number of births to women born outside the UK has also reached the highest level on record, accounting for 27 per cent of babies born last year.

Polish women accounted for the largest number of births. In the last five years, more than 210,000 babies have been born to eastern European mothers living in the UK.

The statistics will add to the pressure on Theresa May to reduce net migration, following the Brexit vote in which immigration was a key issue for a significant number of voters.

Nicola White, head of migration statistics at the ONS, said todays figures did not cover the period after the referendum and showed a broadly flat trend of net migration continuing close to record levels.

The influx of Romanians and Bulgarians has also reached a new high, although thats offset by falls in non-EU immigration and from other central and eastern European countries, she said.

Work remains the main reason for migration, followed by study, which has seen a significant fall in the number of people coming to the UK for education.

On the record number of Poles, she said: The number of Polish-born citizens living in the UK has continued to increase since Poland joined the EU and the number of UK residents born in Poland was eight times higher in 2015 compared with 2004.

Loading....

Todays figures also show that 5.6 million people  1 in 12 people or 8.7 per cent of the population  who are living in Britain is a foreign citizen.

They comprise 3.2 million EU nationals and 2.4 million citizens of countries outside the European Union. In London, 37 per cent of residents were born abroad.
A t least three Britons have died in the earthquake that rocked central Italy yesterday morning.

Three British Citizens are among those killed in Amatrice, an official from the town has confirmed.

At least 250 people have died after the grade 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck in the region of Umbria in the early hours, an area popular with summer tourists.

Search: Rescuers have been working tirelessly to pull people trapped in the rubble. / AP

The worst affected areas were the towns of Amatrice, Arquata, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in the mountainous area 65 miles north-east of Rome.

An official from the town of Amatrice told the BBC that three Brits had died, although the Foreign Office has not yet confirmed the deaths of any British nationals.

Italy earthquake - At least 120 dead after 6.2 magnitude quake

British Embassy staff are in the region providing consular support, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said additional staff had been sent to assist.

The UK government has already offered to help with the recovery effort, as about 5,000 rescue workers are combing the rubble for survivors.

Mr Johnson said: "My deepest sympathies are with the Italian people and everyone affected by the terrible earthquake that struck central Italy.

"The British government has offered any assistance that we can to help with the recovery effort and I have spoken with Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni to express my condolences personally."

The rescue effort has been hampered by hundreds of aftershocks, including a magnitude 4.3 strong tremor that hit this afternoon.

Rescue workers and firefighters are using heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, and their bare hands to comb the wreckage for survivors.

Lorenzo Botti, a rescue team spokesman said: "We will work relentlessly until the last person is found, and make sure no one is trapped."
A Czech tourist was found holed up in a hut in the New Zealand wilderness nearly a month after her partner died while out trekking in the country.

The woman was discovered by police next to Lake McKenzie along the Routeburn Track on the countrys South Island on Wednesday.

She told officers she had taken shelter in the hut after her partner died four days into their backpacking hike along the trail in Fiordland National Park on July 28.

The man fell down a deep slope and, although she climbed down to help him, he died shortly afterwards. The woman then managed to find shelter in a remote, unlocked warden's hut.

The New Zealand Herald reported the woman was interviewed by police for five hours in hospital last night.

She was said to be ecstatic after being found and in good health, but still distressed by her partners death.

Police are now searching for her partner's body, believed to be around 2km from where the woman was found inside the hut.

The couple, believed to be in their late 20s or early 30s, had been in New Zealand since January for work and travel, police said.
P rotesters are set to descend on Londons French embassy today as part of a wear what you want demonstration over a ban on 'burkinis' on the countrys beaches.

Outraged activists have organised the demo after being left disgusted to hear of armed police telling women what they are allowed to wear and making them undress in public.

A Facebook site set up to advertise the protest invites women to march on the embassy in Knightsbridge.

It reads: Come along to the French embassy and wear what you want - burkinis, bikinis, anything goes. Bring beach gear: beach umbrellas, towels, bat and ball, boules....

Burkini protest outside French embassy

Join us at the French embassy to show solidarity with French Muslim women and to call for the repeal of this oppressive law by the French Government.

Organisers have also called for others to show solidarity by sharing beach selfies on Twitter.

It comes after images emerged of police officers with guns surrounding a woman wearing a headscarf on a beach in Nice and ordering her to remove.

A second woman also told how she was fined 11 for wearing a hijab on the coast in Cannes  before being subject to racist abuse by crowds of locals.

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 by several towns will come before Frances highest administrative court today 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.
A woman has died after falling 40ft from a zip line on a Go Ape course in America.

Tina Werner, 59, fell from a platform along the course in Lums Pond State Park, Delaware, at about 1.40pm yesterday.

Her daughter Melissa Slater said her mother had wanted to tick zip lining off her "bucket list".

Visitors to the Go Ape experience complete a two to three hour course through a forest canopy, which involves suspended obstacles, "Tarzan swings", and zip lines.

It is not yet clear how Ms Werner fell from the platform, with local media reporting that the accident is still under investigation by park officials and state police.

Go Ape: Tina Werner fell 40ft from a platform

Paramedics treated Ms Werner after she fell, and performed CPR at the scene before rushing her to hospital, but she later died from her injuries.

Paying tribute to her mother on Facebook, Ms Slater said: "My mom died completing her bucket list, zip lining in Newark...

"This is truly the hardest situation that I have ever faced. I ask for you prayers for my family."

Chris Swallow, director of Go Ape, said: "The Go Ape team is deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends and in particular to those who were on the course with her at the time.

"We will of course be cooperating with the authorities with regard to this incident.

"It would be inappropriate to comment or speculate on the circumstances of this incident until all of the investigations are completed."

The course was closed following the incident, with no information available as to when it would reopen.
D wayne The Rock Johnson has topped this years Forbes list of highest-earning actors.

The professional wrestler-turned-actor made an impressive $64.5 million in the last year alone, more than doubling his 2015 earnings.

Johnson, 44, was paid upfront fees for Hollywood film Central Intelligence and Fast 8, as well as the forthcoming Baywatch film.

Jackie Chan is still at second place on the list, having upped his annual earnings from $50 to $61 million, having acted, produced or invested in a number of Chinese films this year.

Matt Damon, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp make up the rest of the top five, while stars including Bradd Pitt, Vin Diesel and Ben Affleck are all in the top 10.

Robert Downey Jr, who was the worlds highest-earning actor 2015, is in eighth place this year, with his earnings dropping significantly from $80 to $33 million.

Other actors in the top 20 include Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Pratt, Adam Sandler, Mark Wahlberg and Will Smith.

Harrison Ford is the only returnee on the ranking, thanks to his huge payday from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

There is a noticeable and significant pay gap between actors and actresses in Hollywood again this year, as female chart-topper Jennifer Lawrence only earned 72% of Johnsons $64 million.

While 18 actors on this years list earned over 20 million, only four female stars earned over the same amount.

Loading....
L ily Allen has revealed that she narrowly missed the Italian earthquake that killed over 200 people.

The British pop star was on holiday with her family in Umbria this week but had to cut the trip short to fly home for a funeral.

Reassuring concerned fans on Twitter, Allen confirmed that her family who remained in Italy were all safe and well.

Yes my family are all in Umbria, but they are fine. Thank you for your concern, she wrote on Wednesday.

Had to leave my family holiday in Umbria early to come home for a funeral. Such sad scenes but feeling blessed that my lot are all ok x, she added.

Thank you everyone for all your concerned tweets.

The 31-year-old was thought to have been enjoying a break in central Italy with her two daughters Ethel, four and Marnie, three.

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit in the early hours of Wednesday 65 miles north-east of Rome.

Dozens of people are still thought to be trapped in the rubble in towns including Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto in the mountainous region of central Italy.

On Thursday morning, authorities confirmed that there had been 190 deaths in the Rieti province and 57 in the Ascoli Piceno province.


R obin Thicke and Pharrell Williams are contesting the verdict in the Blurred Lines copyright case.

The stars are set to appeal against a court ruling which gave Marvin Gayes estate 50% of the song royalties in March 2015.

Gayes estate sued over similarities between Blurred Lines and 1977 song Got To Give It Up, claiming that the feel and the sound of the song had been copied.

After a two-year long legal battle, a federal jury ruled that the Gaye estate should be awarded $7.4 million in damages and royalties.

Thicke, Williams and T.I have now filed a lawsuit at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a bid to have the ruling overturned.

The lawsuit states: What happened was a cascade of legal errors, warranting this courts reversal or new trial.

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.

It continues: 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 Marvin Gaye estate have recently filed a lawsuit against British musician Ed Sheeran.

Heirs of the composer for Marvin Gayes Lets Get It On are claiming that Sheerans chart-topping song Thinking Out Loud copies core elements of the 1973 classic.


T he Great British Bake Off returned to TV with an average audience of 10.4 million  a million more than watched last years opener.

A peak audience of 11.2 million tuned in last night to watch the return of Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry, right, hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins and the latest batch of baking enthusiasts.

The 2015 series, which was eventually won by Nadiya Hussain, launched with an average audience of 9.3 million.

Hussain hung on to more than four million of last nights viewers who stayed with BBC1 to watch her new show The Chronicles of Nadiya, shown immediately after the opening episode.

Her two-part series follows the Luton-based baker as she retraces her familys roots in Bangladesh and its culinary traditions.

Bake Off, which started out on BBC2 before moving to a primetime slot on BBC1, has become one of the corporations biggest hits.

The format has been sold to more than 20 countries including Italy and Israel but China has refused to make its own version - for fear of encouraging obesity.

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

BBC executive Kate Phillips said her attempts to market it to the Chinese had been met with a steely response that we dont have formats that make you fat.

Ms Phillips said different nations had put their own twist on the show, with the losing baker in the Danish version forced to jump into a lake fully clothed.

The Great British Bake Off 2016: Launch Trailer

The Italian version sees the bakers cooking cakes requested by their loved ones, while the German version recently included a stag party themed episode with bakers asked to decorate their cakes with bondage imagery.

Ms Phillips said: Mary would have had a s*** fit if shed seen it.
E astEnders is bringing a classic character back to the Square next month.

Colin Russell, played by Lord Michael Cashman, made headlines and history back in 1986 when he joined the soap as its first gay character.

His relationship with Barry Clark led to the first gay kiss on primetime television, and the first in a British Soap Opera.

It was a real joy, indeed a privilege, to return to my old home of Albert Square, he says.

30 years ago I started an amazing journey. An amazing journey, which incredibly helped to change the country, and certainly its attitude to lesbian gay and bisexual people. 

After leaving the soap in 1989, Lord Michael Cashman went on to co-found the charity Stonewall, and serve as its founding chairman. Cashman credits his experience on EastEnders for guiding him towards politics.

The Mitchell family in EastEnders 1 /40 The Mitchell family in EastEnders My Boys Ross Kemp (Grant Mitchell) Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell) Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell) BBC The Ghost of Pat Batcher Peggy Mitchell (left) (played by Barbara Windsor) and Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement), as beloved EastEnders' character Peggy said goodbye to Albert Square for the final time, taking her own life in a heartbreaking scene BBC Grant and Phil Grant Mitchell (left) (Ross Kemp) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Peggy Mitchell's sons, as the beloved EastEnders' character said goodbye to Albert Square for the final time, taking her own life in a heartbreaking scene BBC Frank and Peggy Peggy Mitchell played by Barbara Windsor receives a lift from husband to be Frank Butcher played by Mike Reid (2nd left), during a photocall outside the Queen Victoria pub at London's Elstree studios, Tuesday March 30, 1999, where their on-screen wedding reception was filmed. The bride and groom were joined by fellow actors (left to right) Pam St Clement, Ross Kemp, Steve McFadden, Shaun Williamson, and Tony Caunter. BBC Ice Cream Van Pat and Peggy have a laugh in an Ice Cream Van BBC Sam Mitchell returns Actress Danniella Westbrook in Albert Square on the set of EastEnders BBC Queen Vic Fire Peggy calls his bluff but Phil strikes a match and throws it to the floor BBC Phil Mitchell shooting EastEnders hardman Phil Mitchell lying face down after being shot in the chest BBC Archie and Peggy Archie Mitchell and Peggy Mitchell BBC Grant's bad move Grant Mitchell sets fire to the Queen Vic for the insurance money, but didn't realise Sharon (LETITIA DEAN) and Roly the poodle were inside BBC Family photo Michael Higgs pictured as Andy Hunter, with Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell and Barbara Windsor as Peggy BBC Mitchell brothers arrival The Mitchell brothers Grant and Phil arrive in the square BBC Eviction emotions The Mitchell family evicted from The Queen Vic BBC Londoners Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell and Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell BBC Wedding cake Grant Mitchell and Sharon Watts in 1991 BBC Pub life Sharon Watts and Peggy Mitchell with Alfie Moon and Chrissie Watts BBC Kiss and tell Kathy Mitchell and Grant Mitchell BBC Slap Peggy slaps Chrissie Watts who tumbles into an open grave BBC Mother-son talk Peggy tells Phil to drink after he gets angry that she didn't tell him about the debt BBC Scarlet woman Peggy tries to have a go at Pat for wearing red to Frank's funeral BBC Walford drama Pauline Fowler slaps Peggy over Martin Fowler's fruit and veg stall BBC Family bonds Peggy walks with sons Grant and Phil to prove the Mitchell's are as strong as ever BBC New star A young Jack Ryder as Jamie Mitchell BBC Landlady Peggy poses outside her pub BBC Bad boy Grant Mitchell on the set of Albert Square Daily Mail Lady of the square Peggy Mitchell next to the Albert Square street sign BBC Raise a glass Peggy Mitchell at the Queen Vic BBC Trio Grant and Peggy Mitchell with Tiffany BBC Throwback A young Grant Mitchell outside the Queen Vic BBC Icon Peggy Mitchell will wave goodbye to Albert Square BBC

While we arent sure of the details of Colins return, it is supposed to raise a big question for Dot.

The exquisite joy of having my scenes with the incredible Dame' June Brown was a bonus beyond anything else.

Well find out more when Colin returns for two episodes next month, after 27 years away from Albert Square.
Countries & Areas

Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe
This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for:

Enter Search Term(s):

Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL.

Thank you for visiting state.gov.
An untrue rumor that litter boxes are being placed in schools for students who dress up in furry costumes and identify as cats has made its way to two North Carolina school districts  despite the claim being easily debunked. After hearing chatter about litter boxes inside schools, an employee at North Lincoln High School in Lincolnton decided to put the rumor to rest. There is nobody ...
Thursday, 25 August 2016 00:07:01 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo

Brazilian pellet producer Samarco, a 50/50 JV between Vale and BHP Billiton, was fined BRL 1 million by Brazil s environment authority, Ibama, for omitting in a companys official document the existence of a temporary mud and waste deposit at an expositions park in the city of Barra Longa in the state of Minas Gerais.





Barra Longa was one of the cities affected by the Mariana disaster, which killed 19 people in November last year.





According to Ibama, Samarco said it didnt have a mud and waste deposit area in the city, however, the Brazilian authority found out that the pellets producer had some 35,000 cubic-meters of waste deposited in the citys expositions park, which were removed from the affected areas. With rains, the waste can go the rivers.





Samarco said it received the notification and added the waste deposited in expositions park was the solution the company found for helping cleanup the city.





As of now, all Samarcos environment licenses for its Germano complex are provisionally suspended. A Minas Gerais judge said Samarco cant operate with the same licenses it had before the disaster.


Thursday, 25 August 2016 15:05:57 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

According to the monthly sectoral confidence survey released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), the confidence index* for the construction sector in Turkey , which stood at 83 points in July this year, decreased by 4.2 percent month on month in August to 79.4 points.

According to the indices based on individual questions asked of Turkish construction sector enterprise executives who own private businesses with 10 or more employees, in August this year the confidence index for construction activities recorded in the latest three months, which stood at 96 points in July, decreased by 5.4 percent to 90.9 points.

In August, the current overall order books sub-index decreased by five percent to 64.4 points, while the sub-index for total employment expectations over the next three months moved down by 3.7 percent to 94.4 points, both compared to the previous month.

Meanwhile, in August of the current year, executives' expectations for sales prices in the next three months fell by 1.5 percent month on month to 104.7 points.

* Sectoral confidence index values range between zero and 200. When the index is above 100 it indicates an optimistic outlook about the current and the future period of the sector, when it is below 100 it points to a pessimistic outlook.
Thursday, 25 August 2016 15:01:08 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

Demand for domestic production merchant bar in Turkey, which is expected to revive after next month's Feast of Sacrifice holiday, has failed to improve over the past month and is still at low levels as buyers in the local Turkish merchant bar market are concluding deals only in line with their needs. Due to the weak demand conditions, domestic merchant bar prices in the Turkish market have declined by an average of $20/mt compared to the price levels recorded on July 27.



Domestic merchant bar prices in the Turkish market depending on size, thickness and region are at the following levels:

Equal Angle Prices:

Region Prices (TRY/mt) Price change (TRY/mt) 28.07.2016 Denizli Region (30-100 mm) 1,320-1,330 ($449-384/mt)  20 Karabuk Region (30-100mm) 1,280-1,300 ($435-442/mt)  20 Iskenderun Region (30-100 mm) 1,245-1,275 ($423-434/mt)  20 Izmir Region (30-100 mm) 1,290-1,300 ($439-442/mt)  20

Flat Bar Prices:

Region Prices (TRY/mt) Price change (TRY/mt) 28.07.2016 Denizli Region (30-100 mm) 1,350-1,360 ($459-463/mt)  20 Karabuk Region (30-100mm) 1,310-1,330 ($446-452/mt)  20 Iskenderun Region (30-100 mm) 1,275-1,305 ($434-444/mt)  20 Izmir Region (30-100 mm) 1,320-1,330 ($449-452/mt)  20

NPI-NPU Prices:

Region Prices (TRY/mt) Price change (TRY/mt) 28.07.2016 Denizli Region (30-100 mm) 1,320-1,330 ($449-384/mt)  20 Karabuk Region (30-100 mm) 1,280-1,300 ($435-442/mt)  20 Iskenderun Region (30-100 mm) 1,245-1,275 ($423-434/mt)  20 Izmir Region (30-50 mm) 1,290-1,300 ($439-442/mt)  20

All prices are ex-works, on actual weight basis, for September delivery and excluding VAT.



It should be considered that offers below the prices ranges in question may be available, depending on the buyer and on the method of payment.



$1 = TRY 2.94
Thursday, 25 August 2016 10:14:08 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

According to market sources, ex- US offers to Taiwan for HMS I/II 80:20 scrap are currently at $225-227/mt CFR.
Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage, the British politician who led the Brexit movement  which culminated in a June vote to remove the UK from the European Union  joined Donald Trump at a rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday night.

The appearance, an apparent effort to draw connections between the Brexit and Trump's candidacy in the US, was an extension of the GOP presidential nominee's "America First" platform.

At the rally, Farage recounted the story of how Britain voted to leave the European Union.

"You have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign," Farage told the crowd.

"You can go out and beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, you can beat Washington, and you'll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain," he added.

Trump has run on an antiestablishment platform that is widely thought to be geared toward nationalist voters  much like the strategy that helped inspire the Brexit movement.

"Anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment," Farage said.

Though Farage stopped short of endorsing Trump for president, he did suggest what he would do if he were an American voter.

"I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me," he said. "In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me."

NOW WATCH: DATA SCIENTIST: There's an easy way to tell if one of Trump's tweets came from him or his campaign





More From Business Insider


Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (440) Jan 2014 (544) Feb 2014 (475) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (441) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (579) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (921) Nov 2015 (801) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (946) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sep 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (683)
Romania continues to remain an active supporter of finding a solution to the Transnistrian conflict, said on Thursday Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, after the meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Pavel Filip.

"We encourage the resumption of discussion in the 5+2 format. This is where I believe it is important for the Republic of Moldova to set, the Government to set very clearly its objectives and we hope that (...) in a very pragmatic approach, solutions be found. (...) Romania continues to remain an active supporter of finding solutions for this conflict. I believe many things depend on the pragmatic approach that the parties take in this discussion," said Prime Minister Ciolos, in a joint press conference with his Moldovan counterpart Pavel Filip, in Chisinau, when asked how he sees a resolve to the Transnistrian conflict.

The Moldovan Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, catalogued the maintaining of peace in this region as "an accomplishment". "If we speak of the Transnistrian conflict (...), from my point of view, it is an accomplishment that peace in the region is maintained. (...) It is very important that we managed this year, after a very lengthy break, to resume negotiations in the 5+2 format. On this dimension, the Republic of Moldova is very active, there are many issues on the agenda and our approach is to go first on issues that touch on the comfort of the citizen regardless if this citizen lives on the left bank or the right bank of the Nistru river," said Filip.

He also stated that there is "a limit" over which the Republic of Moldova cannot pass in regards to the statehood and integrity of the country. "Our vision is to find ultimately a formula, to grant a status to this region by which the Republic of Moldova remain an integral state and this formula (...) be a viable one. We are grateful to Germany, who is holding the OSCE presidency this year and, maybe, due to this fact, we have advanced and had several meetings in different formats," he added. Furthermore, the Moldovan PM mentioned that he has also discussed with the Romanian PM matters pertaining to the security developments in the regional environment.

"We have exchanged opinions also on the topic of security developments in the regional environment. We share (...) the vision of a region of peace and democracy, in which truth trumps propaganda, and the force of principles and of international law is more important than brute force," Pavel Filip also stated.

Agerpres
ST. LOUIS  Two days into a civil trial in St. Louis over allegations that Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. was behind a former grain broker's scheme that gouged millions from dozens of Missouri farmers, the company reached a confidential settlement with its accusers.

The broker, Cathy Gieseker, was sentenced in 2010 to nine years in federal prison for bilking 179 farmers of more than $27 million. She claimed to have a special deal with ADM that let her broker corn and soybean crops for premium prices and pay the farmers a higher yield later. Prosecutors described it as a classic Ponzi scheme; a federal judge nicknamed her the "Midwest Madoff."

About 160 farmers were plaintiffs in the lawsuit that sought to hold ADM responsible, claiming its management knew about and instructed Gieseker's scheme.

The trial was set to go for three weeks but Circuit Judge Rex Burlison sent jurors home Thursday after announcing the confidential settlement. The farmers' lawyer, Grant L. Davis, said, "This case was filed in 2011 and we have been fighting for the farmers' rights since that time. We're happy there has been a resolution offered to the farmers."

An ADM spokeswoman sent a statement acknowledging the settlement and admitting no wrongdoing.
PARIS  A botched attempt to break into the iPhone of an Arab activist using hitherto unknown espionage software has trigged a global upgrade of Apple's mobile operating system, researchers said Thursday.

The spyware took advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in Apple's mobile operating system to take complete control of iPhone devices, according to reports published Thursday by the San Francisco-based Lookout smartphone security company and internet watchdog group Citizen Lab. Both reports fingered the NSO Group, an Israeli company with a reputation for flying under the radar, as the author of the spyware.

"The threat actor has never been caught before," said Mike Murray, a researcher with Lookout, describing the program as "the most sophisticated spyware package we have seen in the market."

The reports issued by Lookout and Citizen Lab  based at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs  outlined how an iPhone could be completely compromised with the tap of a finger, a trick so coveted in the world of cyberespionage that in November a spyware broker said it had paid a $1 million dollar bounty to programmers who'd found a way to do it. Such a compromise would give hackers full control over the phone, allowing them to eavesdrop on calls, harvest messages, activate cameras and microphones and drain the device of its personal data.

Arie van Deursen, a professor of software engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said both reports were credible and disturbing. Forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski described the malicious program as a "serious piece of spyware."

Apple said in a statement that it fixed the vulnerability immediately after learning about it, but the security hole may have gone unpatched had it not been for the wariness of an embattled human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahmed Mansoor, a well-known human rights defender, first alerted Citizen Lab to the spyware after receiving an unusual text message on Aug. 10. Promising to reveal details about torture in the United Arab Emirates' prisons, the unknown sender included a suspicious-looking link at the bottom of the message.

Mansoor wasn't convinced. Not only had he been imprisoned, beaten, robbed and had his passport confiscated by the authorities over the years, Mansoor had also repeatedly found himself in the crosshairs of electronic eavesdropping operations. In fact Mansoor already had the dubious distinction of having weathered attacks from two separate brands of commercial spyware. And when he shared the suspicious text with Citizen Lab researcher Bill Marczak, they realized he'd been targeted by a third.

Marczak, who'd already been looking into the NSO Group, said he and fellow-researcher John Scott-Railton turned to Lookout for help picking apart the malicious program, a process which Murray compared to "defusing a bomb."

"It is amazing the level they've gone through to avoid detection," he said of the software's makers. "They have a hair-trigger self-destruct."

Working feverishly over a two-week period, the researchers found that Mansoor had been targeted by an unusually sophisticated piece of software which likely cost a small fortune to arm.

"Ahmed Mansoor is a million-dollar human rights defender," Scott-Railton said.

In a statement which stopped short of acknowledging that the spyware was its own, the NSO Group said its mission was to provide "authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime."

The company said it had no knowledge of any particular incidents. It said it would not make any further comment.

The apparent discovery of Israeli-made spyware being used to target a dissident in the United Arab Emirates raises awkward questions for both countries. The use of Israeli technology to police its own citizens is an uncomfortable strategy for an Arab country with no formal diplomatic ties to the Jewish state. And Israeli complicity in a cyberattack on an Arab dissident would seem to run counter to the country's self-description as a bastion of democracy in the Middle East.

Authorities in both countries did not return calls seeking comment.

Attorney Eitay Mack, who advocates for more transparency in Israeli arms exports, said his country's exports of surveillance software were not closely policed.

"Surveillance is not considered a lethal weapon," Mack said. And Israeli regulations "don't take into consideration human rights or that it would be used by a government to oppress dissidents."

He noted that Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated ties with Arab Gulf states. Netanyahu in 2014 urged Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join him in the war on terrorism.

"Israel is looking for allies," Mack said. "And when Israel finds allies, it does not ask too many questions."

Cheslow reported from Herzliya, Israel. Jon Gambrell and Fay Abuelgasim in Ajman contributed to this report.
Price increases on lifesaving EpiPens have parents outraged  but the CEO of the company that makes them said no one's more frustrated than she, pointing to other players in an "outdated" health-care system.

"The system incentivizes higher prices," Mylan (MYL) CEO Heather Bresch told CNBC's " Squawk Box " on Thursday.

The price of EpiPens, a lifesaving medication and delivery system for people with severe allergies, has increased more than 400 percent in the past decade.

The price hikes have gotten national scrutiny. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton called the increases "outrageous," saying they put "profits ahead of patients." Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has written Mylan asking how EpiPen's prices were determined.

"No one's more frustrated than me," Bresch said . "My frustration is, the list price is $608. There is a system. I laid out that there are four or five hands that the product touches, and companies that it goes through before it ever gets to that patient at the counter. Everyone should be frustrated. I'm hoping that this is an inflection point for this country."

Mylan responded on Thursday by expanding already existing programs for patients who are facing higher out-of-pocket costs.

The company is reducing the cost of EpiPens to some consumers through the use of a savings card that will cover up to $300 for the EpiPen 2-Pak. Eligible patients who were previously paying the full price for the EpiPen will have their out-of-pocket cost cut by 50 percent. Mylan also is doubling the eligibility for its patient assistance program.

But Bresch said to do that, she had to go "around the system," and that drug list prices were only part of the problem causing a health-care crisis in the U.S.

"Congress and the leaders of this country need to quit putting their toe in this topic and really fix this  we have an outdated system," Bresch said. "The patient is paying twice."



Story continues

She also called on patients to "get engaged" with their health care.



"People don't understand their coverage  and how could they? It's complicated," she said. "This isn't a Mylan issue. This is a health-care issue."

Bresch is the daughter of Sen. Joe Manchin , D.-W.Va.

On Thursday, Manchin said, "I am aware of the questions my colleagues and many parents are asking and frankly I share their concerns about the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs."

"Today I heard Mylan's initial response, and I am sure Mylan will have a more comprehensive and formal response to those questions," Manchin said. "I look forward to reviewing their response in detail and working with my colleagues and all interested parties to lower the price of prescription drugs and to continue to improve our health care system."

CNBC also reached out to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D.-Minn., for comment. Klobuchar has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate price increases at Mylan.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued a statement Thursday that called Mylan's new discount "meager" and noted it came only after "widespread bipartisan criticism."



It is "the same tactic used by drug companies across the industry to distract from their exorbitant price increases, as our investigation has shown repeatedly," Cummings said. "Nobody is buying this PR move anymore. Mylan should not offer after-the-fact discounts only for a select few  it should reverse its massive price increases across the board immediately."

Cummings said he has requested that the oversight committee hold a hearing in September to determine exactly how and why this company drastically raised EpiPen's prices.



Grassley will be on CNBC to discuss the issue at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Watch the full interview with Mylan CEO Heather Bresch here.





More From CNBC


Kea Wilsons first novel is probably one of the only literary debuts indebted to Cannibal Holocaust.

For a perplexed interviewer, Wilson explains that Cannibal is worse than a B-movie: more like a D, but a shock classic that used found documentary footage long before The Blair Witch Project.

In 1980, the movie was convincing enough that its Italian director was interrogated about whether cast members were actually killed or tortured.

Often haunting the Moolah Theatres midnight schlock shows, Wilson, 29, says shes always been a huge horror fan.

By day, though, shes Left Bank Books events coordinator and the first of her 2013 MFA class to publish a novel.

With We Eat Our Own, Wilson incorporates some of the real-life story and issues concerning Cannibal Holocaust, including official questioning of the director and nervous, mediocre actors making a mysterious film in the thick, isolated Amazon jungle. Local tribesmen are used as unlucky extras, and the one American, who has no way to call home, is kept in the dark about his role.

And as one actor notices, The road to the town has fences, but theyre low enough for something well muscled and wild to leap right over.

The novel, though, takes a literary approach to fear and violence. An unnamed main characters sections are written in second person (the back of your throat tastes briny and dry), and Wilson clearly wants to explore themes of violence and colonialism. Shell even argue that horror films can delve into some of the same territory.

The boundaries between drama and horror arent always clear, she says. Horror films can speak to societal anxieties in a way were not allow to say out loud.

But the blood volume is much lower in her novel, intended to draw more than genre readers. Picked up by Scribner, We Eat Our Own goes on sale Sept. 6. Shell talk about it that night at Left Bank Books.

Wilson counts as a strong influence novelist Kathryn Davis, a mentor while she worked toward her master of fine arts degree at Washington University. Wilson, who grew up in Michigan and Ohio, felt honored to be admitted to the St. Louis program, which, she says, is like getting into Harvards law school.

She and her boyfriend have settled in the area, and she likes writing in the morning before work, finding the environment of a bookstore a great complement to writing. Wilson also teaches classes as an instructor at her alma mater.

Although the book hasnt yet gone on sale, film rights are being negotiated. If made, it would be a film based on a book based on a film that pretended to be a documentary. Or something like that.
The Little Sisters of the Poor announced Wednesday that they will be leaving the nursing home facility they have run for 147 years in Old North St. Louis.

They no longer have enough nuns to staff the residence, at 3225 North Florissant Avenue, said Gabe Jones, a spokesman for the St. Louis Archdiocese. He said the Little Sisters of the Poor hopes the nursing home can continue to operate under a new owner.

We must acknowledge our limitations. The decision is due to a diminishing number of vocations and less active Little Sisters, said Mother Maria Christine Lynch of the Little Sisters Chicago province. It is essential to our mission that the sisters share closely in the lives of those we serve. The residents deserve the best that each of us can give them.

Eight nuns work and live there. Because of their age, some of the eight cant do as much as they once did  and the Little Sisters say they dont think they can fulfill their mission, Jones said. They help a lay staff of 125 people care for 88 elderly, poor residents and an additional 20 or so people who come for social events at the residence each day.

Augustyn Arbuzow, 71, who is known as Augie around the building, has called the North Florissant facility home for the last three years.

When I first came here for orientation, as soon as I seen this place, I said, Wow, Arbuzow said. I couldnt believe this place: the treatment, the care, everything.

He said he had noticed in recent weeks that the amount of work needed to keep the facility going was starting to be too much for the few sisters remaining.

Clayton Capital Partners, an investment banking firm, is working with the Little Sisters on the transition as they seek new owners and management.

The sisters said they arent sure how long the process of handing over the building to a new entity will take but said they expect to be in the final stages of passing on the facility early next year.

We are eternally grateful for the support and love we received during our many years in St. Louis, local Superior Mother Gonzague Castro said in a prepared statement. We love the city nearly as much as we love the people we work with and care for.

She said she hopes the residence can continue and even thrive under new ownership, with a larger staff who can both care for the residents as well as serve as administrators.

Castro said Wednesday the sisters arent sure where they will go next, only that God is a God of surprises and they will go where they are called.

The Little Sisters of the Poor have 181 homes worldwide and 27, including the St. Louis home, across the U.S.

The early days

On May 1, 1869, seven nuns from the Little Sisters of the Poor left France and arrived in St. Louis to begin their mission of caring for elderly poor residents of the city. They set up temporary quarters in downtown St. Louis, near what is now Ninth Street and Washington Avenue. Two days later, the first person moved in.

They soon outgrew their quarters and bought a home at North Florissant Avenue and Hebert Street. They added a wing and chapel a few years later. By 1900, the home was serving 276 elderly residents. They built a new home on that spot in 1969, and they have been in that home since 1971. It was remodeled in 1993 to include an ice cream parlor, library and improved dining area. A year later, to mark the Little Sisters 125 years in St. Louis, they expanded again, adding 15 apartments.

The director of the Office of Consecrated Life at the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Sister Marysia Weber, said the Little Sisters of the Poor have had a profound impact on St. Louis through their commitment to service.

Weber said she clearly remembers first meeting the Little Sisters and noted how they would take a van to the homes of elderly people and help them move their belongings.

The amount of effort they put in  is very moving to me. she said. This is family for them. They really embrace the residents and the employees as family.

Weber said she especially remembers the sisters going out on the city streets every day asking for donations, fruits, vegetables, anything to bring back to the community.

Castro said the sisters used to often visit City Hall to ask for donations, but with dwindling numbers, they cant do that any more. However, the Little Sisters still visit parishes to ask for contributions.

A decline in sisters

There are 85 religious communities in the city, 57 of which are women religious, according to the Archdiocese. There are more than 720 priests, brothers and sisters in the city.

But the number of women in the U.S. who join religious orders has been steadily declining since the mid-1960s, research shows.

In the 1960s, there were 180,000 sisters and nuns across the country. Today there are 48,000. In 2015, about 100 women professed final vows and 200 entered religious life.

The increase in sisters in the 60s expanded the number of ministries, including international efforts, said Sister Carleen Reck, of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Reck is part of a wave of women religious who are winding down their work in education, parish ministry, social justice arenas and health care.

Thankful for service

Arbuzow moved to St. Louis from New Jersey about four years ago.

I was raised in Brooklyn. You know the one in New York, not the one here, he said with a chuckle, his skin wrinkling around his eyes as he smiled.

He said the first place he moved wasnt good for him. But when he moved to the Little Sisters of the Poor facility, it was like being in heaven.

His face brightens when talking about the treatment he has received, showing off the buildings amenities and listing his volunteer duties around the building, namely helping in the kitchen and on the front desk, and occasionally walking a residents dog.

In his room, a few stuffed animals sit perched on the railings on either side of the door and a heart-shaped welcome sign on the door greets guests.

Thinking about the building being under new management fills Arbuzow with sadness, he said.

Im trying not to get depressed, Arbuzow said. And hoping things will work out somehow.

Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.
The Little Sisters of the Poor announced Wednesday that they will be leaving the nursing home facility they have run for 147 years in Old North St. Louis.

They no longer have enough nuns to staff the residence, at 3225 North Florissant Avenue, said Gabe Jones, a spokesman for the St. Louis Archdiocese. He said the Little Sisters of the Poor hopes the nursing home can continue to operate under a new owner.

Currently, eight nuns work and live there. Because of their age, some of the eight can't do as much as they once did  and the Little Sisters says it doesn't think it can fulfill its mission, Jones said. They help a lay staff of 125 people care for 88 elderly, poor residents; about another 20 or so people come for social events at the residence each day.

Clayton Capital Partners, an investment banking firm, is working with the Little Sisters on the transition as they seek new owners and management.

"We are eternally grateful for the support and love we received during our many years in St. Louis," local Superior Mother Gonzague Castro said in a prepared statement. "We love the city nearly as much as we love the people we work with and care for."

She said she hopes the residence "can continue and even thrive under new ownership, with a larger staff who can both care for the residents as well as serve as administrators."

On May 1, 1869, seven nuns from the Little Sisters of the Poor left France and arrived in St. Louis to begin their mission of caring for elderly poor residents of the city. They set up temporary quarters in downtown St. Louis, near what is now Ninth Street and Washington Avenue. Two days later, the first person moved in.

They soon outgrew their quarters and bought a home at North Florissant Avenue and Hebert Street. They added a wing and chapel a few years later. By 1900, the home was serving 276 elderly residents. They built a new home on that spot in 1969, and they have been in that home since 1971. It was remodeled in 1993 to include an ice cream parlor and library and an improved dining area. A year later, to mark the Little Sisters' 125 years in St. Louis, they expanded some more, adding 15 apartments.
A woman prays during a mass at the Polish community church in the west London suburb of Ealing (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen) (AFP/File)

London (AFP) - Poland is the most common foreign country of birth for people living in Britain, overtaking India, according to official estimates released Thursday.

An estimated 831,000 Polish-born people lived in Britain in 2015, said the Office for National Statistics -- a more than 13-fold increase on the 69,000 residents in 2004, when Poland joined the EU and its nationals gained the right to live and work in Britain.

There were an estimated 795,000 UK residents born in India, which had been the most common country of birth outside Britain for the previous 11 years.

"Traditionally the UK's relationship with Ireland and the former colonies have been key factors in shaping its migrant population," said Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.

"What we can see from current data is that in recent years the EU has played a similar role."

In 2015, the five most common countries of birth for UK residents born outside Britain were: Poland (831,000); India (795,000); Pakistan (503,000); Republic of Ireland (382,000), and Germany (286,000).

The number of non-UK born residents rose by 63 percent from 3.3 million in 2004 to 8.6 million in 2015. They now constitute 13.3 percent of the population.

The highest level was in London, where some 37 percent of people were born outside Britain. In the London boroughs of Brent and Newham, the figure was 54 percent, the highest in the country.

In 2015, Polish was the most common non-British nationality, with an estimated 916,000 residents, up by 847,000 from 2004. Poland has been the largest non-British population since 2007.

In 2015, the five most common non-British nationalities for UK residents were: Poland (916,000); India (362,000); Republic of Ireland (332,000); Romania (233,000), and Portugal (219,000).

- Net migration at 327,000 -

Meanwhile, net migration to Britain -- the difference between the numbers arriving and leaving -- stood at an estimated 327,000 in the year to March.

Story continues

It marks a slight fall on the previous 12 months but is the third highest on record.

Immigration was estimated at 633,000, one of the highest recorded levels.

Immigration was a key issue in the June referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, in which 52 percent voted to leave the bloc.

The Conservative government was elected on a manifesto pledge to get net migration below 100,000.

"The referendum result demonstrated public concern about the scale of immigration. It simply cannot be allowed to continue," said Andrew Green of campaign group Migration Watch UK.

Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: "There is no doubt there is far more to do."

Reducing immigration would be a priority in Britain's EU exit negotiations, he added.

Separate figures also showed that more than a quarter (27.5 percent) of live births in England and Wales last year were to women born outside Britain -- the highest level on record.
COLLINSVILLE  Police are looking for suspects caught on surveillance video stealing $50,000 worth of rims and tires from cars at a local car dealership early Friday.

Cameras caught a red Chevrolet pickup truck and an early 2000s model Ford van parked on the lot of a business next door to Laura Buick GMC around the time of the apparent theft between 1:45 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

The occupants of the cars walked over to the dealership and stole the rims and tires from 10 GMC Yukon Denali SUVs, police say. The vehicles were seriously damaged during the theft.

Detectives believe the suspects are also responsible for other thefts in Illinois and Missouri.

Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of the vehicles used in the thefts to call the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-2131, ext. 5291 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
JEFFERSON CITY  U.S. Army officials quickly torpedoed the use of training material at Fort Leonard Wood that depicted Hillary Clinton as an example of an insider threat.

News of the hasty removal came after Army officials determined the PowerPoint slide featuring Clinton had been created at the sprawling Missouri military base for use in the training of soldiers there.

Lt. Col. Christina Kretchman, a spokeswoman for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, told Stars and Stripes that this particular presentation had not been reviewed or approved by the units leadership, and does not reflect the position of the Army.

The Army Times reported it was removed from the presentation promptly.

Along with Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee for president, the slide featured retired U.S. Gen. David Petraeus as potential threats. Others included in the material included Maj. Nidal Hasan, who shot and killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, and Edward Snowden, who leaked classified National Security Agency surveillance information in 2013.

The presentation, which had been in use for over a year as Clinton has grappled with investigations into her use of a private email server while serving as Secretary of State, was part of a session on how to secure classified materials and improve safety.
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.
Can we be assured that the plant will not pollute our land or water supply so that we are not discovering something decades later like so many areas in Missouri?
My 10 years of holding public office has taught me to expect surprises. However, I was completely surprised  actually shocked  to learn that a Cole County prosecutor had suggested Id been the victim of the group of clergy protesters known as the Medicaid 23.

When the protesters began their chants in the Senate gallery, I was on the floor filibustering a separate but similar attack on working people. The truth is, prosecution of the protesters was nothing more than the latest politically motivated smokescreen aimed at preventing what they, I and so many other Missourians are fighting for: Medicaid expansion across our state.

This initiative was the crux of the protests of those 23 clergy members who went on trial. Their involvement shows the basic moral issue involved with any policy, plan or law that affects health care for our poor. Extremists have subjected people they serve to sickness and even death because of an ideological opposition to Obamacare. And the actions of the Medicaid 23 highlight the inherent moral problems with that obstruction.

However, equal attention, I think, should be given to the morality also inherent in any policy, plan or law that has an economic impact on citizens. Jobs provide a critical societal anchor because work provides the means for a quality existence. The Republican majoritys refusal to expand Medicaid has cost our state tens of thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in economic development and untold numbers of societal benefits that work provides.

The numbers are clear. A February 2013 study by Families USA titled Missouris Economy will Benefit from Expanding Medicaid predicted our state would receive $1.6 billion in new federal Medicaid funds if expansion passed the next year. Those funds would have created 16,400 new jobs across all sectors of Missouris economy. Thats a full 0.43 percent increase in our states workforce at a time when we are sorely in need of new jobs.

That growth wasnt limited to the health care sector. In fact, the study explained that, because of the multiplier effect, many industries stood to benefit. The increased federal funding and jobs created are projected to increase economic activity in Missouri by nearly $2 billion in 2016, the study concluded.

Instead, here we are two years later. An opportunity to put more than 16,000 Missourians to work  wasted. The chance to grow our states moribund economy by nearly $2 billion  squandered. Both replaced by the termination of hundreds of local hospital jobs due to shortfalls in funding.

When the Legislature convenes in January, we must end this economic and moral malpractice. The real victims here are the thousands of Missourians penalized with sicker lives and fewer jobs created by political pettiness  no matter what a misguided prosecutor might claim.

So, please join me, the Medicaid 23 and our entire coalition of business groups, community organizations and activists fighting for Medicaid expansion as we intensify our efforts in the months ahead.

Its time for our state to show basic benevolence. Its time for our legislators to exhibit simple economic sense. Its time to expand Medicaid.
Updated Sunday:

The Missouri Department of Transportation Twitter account said at 12:13 p.m. that Interstate 44 and Grand are now open in all directions.

Previously:

ST. LOUIS  A number of road closures this weekend will make access to events such as Cardinals games and the Festival of Nations challenging for drivers.

The Missouri Department of Transportation announced Thursday that construction crews will close all lanes of Interstate 44 at 8 p.m. Friday between Jefferson and Vandeventer avenues. The ramp from Vandeventer to eastbound I-44 and the ramps from Lafayette and Jefferson avenues to westbound I-44 will also close at that time.

The agency has advised drivers to use Vandeventer, Chouteau and Jefferson as alternate streets to avoid the road closure.

Also on Friday, Grand Boulevard will be closed in both directions beginning at 7 p.m. South Grand will be blocked at Lafayette, and westbound I-44 and North Grand will be closed at the eastbound ramps of I-44. Drivers can use Gravois instead.

People interested in visiting the Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park can use a few alternative routes including the Arsenal Street exit on Interstate 55 and the Kingshighway exit on Highway 40 (Interstate 64).

In spite of wide-ranging highway construction challenges, Festival of Nations will open again even bigger and better, the International Institute said in a news release Thursday.

Festival organizers are expecting more than 100,000 people at the event. Organizers have also created a map to help direct visitors to the festivals location.

The highway closures are expected to end by 5 a.m. Monday, but ramps on the east side of the I-44 bridge over Grand will be closed for two more weeks.

Weather could cause delays in construction. For additional information, visit the Missouri Department of Transportation website, modot.org.
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.
wealthy

You might think the Panama Papers leak would cause the ultrarich to seek more transparent tax havens.

Not so, according to Jordan Greenaway, a consultant based in London who caters to the ultrawealthy.

Instead, they are going further underground, seeking walled-up havens such as the Marshall Islands, Lebanon, and Antigua, Greenaway, who works for the PR agency Right Angles, told Business Insider.

The Panama Papers leak around Mossack Fonseca, a law firm that helped politicians and businesspeople hide their money, has increased anxiety among the rich over being exposed, Greenaway told New York reporters in a meeting last week.

"The Panama Papers sent them to the ground," he said.

As of 2012, the world's richest people held as much as $32 trillion in offshore tax havens, according to research by the Tax Justice Network.

Meanwhile, there's a general concern among professionals that more enforcement is to come. Deloitte, a consultant, found in a survey that most professionals expect increased global enforcement of financial crime after the Panama Papers.

Part of the shift to more secretive havens is a result of other tax havens becoming more transparent, which the rich aren't happy about, Greenaway said.

For instance, Guernsey, an island tax haven off the coast of France, said earlier this year that it supports moves to improve transparency following the Panama Papers fallout. Other tax havens haven't caught on, meaning they are attracting those who would rather stay secretive, Greenaway said.

Other factors are also at play. Financial advisers to the rich have an inherent interest in putting their clients' money in legally complicated structures, he said.

Emotions also play a role.

"That anxiety is even more intense with inherited wealth," Greenaway told Business Insider. "The whole concept of having to provide details on their finances is alien to them."

"It will take more scandals to shift their behavior," he added.

Story continues

Still, recent leaks have caused the rich to take more cautious steps. Emails, for instance, are becoming less common, said Paul Blanchard, Greenaway's colleague who runs Right Angles. They're talking deals over the phone rather than in writing, he said.

"There's a Luddite move," Blanchard said.

NOW WATCH: Theres a glaring security problem with those new credit card chips





More From Business Insider


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


Matson, Inc. (NYSE: MATX) announced that its subsidiary, Matson Navigation Company, Inc., a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, has signed a contract with General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), to build two new combination container and roll-on/roll-off ("Con-Ro") vessels for its Hawaii fleet at a contract price of $511 million for both vessels with deliveries scheduled for the end of 2019 and mid-year 2020.

Matson is calling these vessels the Kanaloa Class in honor of the ocean deity revered in the native Hawaiian culture and will name each of the new vessels after predecessor ships from its 134-year history. The first vessel will be named Lurline, the sixth Matson vessel to carry that name, while the second vessel will be its fifth named Matsonia.

The Kanaloa Class vessels will be built on a 3,500 TEU vessel platform, which is 265 meters long, 34.9 meters wide (beam), with a deep draft of 11.5 meters and enclosed garage space for up to 800 vehicles. In addition, the new vessels will have state-of-the-art green technology features, including a fuel efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, fresh water ballast systems and dual-fuel engines, meaning that they will be able to operate at speeds up to 23 knots on either conventional fuel oils or liquefied natural gas ("LNG") with some adaptation for LNG. These advancements are important to Hawaii as a means to reduce fuel consumption, and will result in significant emissions reductions over time.

The two Kanaloa Class ships will replace three diesel powered vessels in active service, which will be moved to reserve status. With delivery of the Kanaloa Class ships, along with its two new Aloha Class ships, Matson will have completed the renewal of its Hawaii fleet, allowing it to retire its seven older steamship vessels that will no longer comply with environmental regulations in 2020 without substantial modification.

The larger capacity of the Aloha Class and Kanaloa Class vessels will allow Matson to return to an optimal nine-ship fleet deployment in Hawaii, increasing efficiency and lowering operating costs. The Kanaloa Class vessels are expected to be more fuel efficient than the ships they will replace and will add rolling stock carrying capacity while lowering operating, repair and maintenance, and dry-docking costs.

"This vessel order underscores Matson's long-standing commitment to serve Hawaii with the largest, most reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly fleet for the long-term," said Matt Cox, president and CEO. "The Kanaloa Class ships will be built specifically to meet Hawaii's freight demands while reducing our environmental impact and improving our efficiency for decades to come."

Matson expects to finance the Kanaloa Class vessels primarily through cash flows from operations, borrowing available under the Company's unsecured revolving credit facility and additional debt financings, which could include U.S. Government guaranteed vessel finance bonds (Title XI).
ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ON) has agreed to sell its Ignition IGBT business in order to settle FTC charges that its proposed $2.4 billion acquisition of Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCS) is anticompetitive.

According to the complaint, the merged company would have a combined share of over 60 percent in the worldwide market for Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors specifically designed and calibrated for automotive ignition systems, or Ignition IGBTs. Without a divestiture, it is likely that the proposed merger would substantially lessen competition in the worldwide market for Ignition IGBTs, resulting in higher prices and reduced innovation.

Ignition IGBTs are semiconductors that function as solid-state electronic switches in the ignition systems of automotive internal combustion engines. They have to meet the demanding performance requirements and harsh environment of an automotive ignition system.

Phoenix-based ON and Fairchild, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, both develop, manufacture, and market a wide range of semiconductors. They are each others closest competitors for Ignition IGBTs sold to automotive suppliers, who then incorporate Ignition IGBTs into the ignition systems that they sell to automakers.

The proposed consent order, preserves competition by requiring ON to divest its Ignition IGBT business to Chicago-based manufacturer Littelfuse, Inc. within 10 days of the close of the transaction. The divestiture will include design files and intellectual property that Littelfuse needs to manufacture ONs Ignition IGBTs. ON must also facilitate the transfer of its customer relationships to Littelfuse, and supply Ignition IGBTs for Littlefuse to sell to customers while Littelfuse sets up its manufacturing operations.

Further details about the consent agreement  which includes an asset maintenance order and allows the Commission to appoint a monitor  are set forth in the analysis to aid public comment for this matter.

The Commission vote to issue the complaint and accept the proposed consent order for public comment was 3-0. The FTC will publish the consent agreement package in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through September 26, 2016, after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. Comments can be filed electronically or in paper form by following the instructions in the Supplementary Information section of the Federal Register notice.

NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has reason to believe that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of up to $40,000 per day.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about how competition benefits consumers or file an antitrust complaint. Like the FTC on Facebook (link is external), follow us on Twitter (link is external), read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
By Steve Scherer and Gabriele Pileri

AMATRICE, Italy (Reuters) - The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy climbed to 250 on Thursday as rescue teams scoured mounds of rubble for a second day in towns and villages flattened by the natural disaster.

The 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome early on Wednesday as people slept, destroying hundreds of homes.

Dozens of emergency workers with sniffer dogs clambered over piles of debris trying to find anyone still trapped, while cranes removed huge slabs of fallen masonry and trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes.

"People like myself have lost everything, but at the same time the fact that we have survived means we have to move forward one minute at a time," said Alessandra Cioni, 45, who managed to crawl out of her crumpled house after the quake.

"We have been saved, not like half the people in this place who have lost their lives," she said, breaking down in tears.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi promised to rebuild the shattered houses and said he would renew efforts to bolster Italy's flimsy defenses against earthquakes that regularly batter the country.

"We want those communities to have the chance of a future and not just memories," he told reporters in Rome.

A violent aftershock on Thursday afternoon sent rescuers fleeing as stones fell from the already severely damaged bell tower of the 15th century church of St. Augustine in Amatrice.

The jolt, which struck fear and panic in survivors, detached the church's facade, leaving it leaning dangerously over the main street where the emergency services were working under blue skies and a hot summer sun.

Almost 200 of the victims died in Amatrice, which is famed for a local pasta dish and was full of holidaymakers ahead of its 50th annual food festival, set for this weekend.

It was unclear how many visitors were in the area on Wednesday, making it hard to track the number of deaths.

"We need to know firstly the exact number of people who are missing before we can say what work is waiting for us," said fire department spokesperson Luca Cari.

"We will obviously move forward without interruption until we are sure there is no one left."

Five Romanians, one Spaniard, one Canadian and a number of other foreigners, some of them care-givers for the elderly, were believed to be among the dead, officials said.

NEGLIGENCE

Aerial video taken by drones showed swathes of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, completely flattened.

The nearby towns of Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli fared little better, leaving thousands of people homeless. The Civil Protection Department has sent up tents for survivors, which risk being their homes for many weeks.

Italy has a poor record of rebuilding after quakes. About 8,300 people who were forced to leave their houses after a deadly earthquake in L'Aquila in 2009 are still living in temporary accommodation.

Renzi declined to predict when the homeless might be rehoused, but said it was his government's top priority. "This is not about setting challenges and making promises. We need the pace of a marathon runner," he said.

About 365 people injured in Wednesday's quake were hospitalized, the Civil Protection said, noting that about 5,000 people, including police, firefighters, soldiers and volunteers, were involved in post-quake operations.

As night fell on Thursday, rescuers said they had pulled 215 people from the rubble, but as the hours passed only bodies were recovered, including many children who had been spending their summer holidays in the region.

Two young boys and their parents died in the nearby town of Accumoli when the church bell tower crashed through their roof. Magistrates opened an investigation into whether there had been any negligence in recent restoration work.

Another investigation was opened into why Amatrice's school had collapsed, despite the fact it had only opened in 2012 and was meant to have been earthquake-proof.

Most of the buildings in the area were built hundreds of years ago, helping to explain the widespread destruction. Cultural Minister Dario Franceschini said all 293 culturally important sites, many of them churches, had either collapsed or been seriously damaged.

Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. Almost 30 people died in earthquakes in northern Italy in 2012 while more than 300 died in a quake in the L'Aquila disaster.

"We are the best in the world when it comes to managing emergencies, but that is not enough," Renzi said.

"We need to change our mentality. We need a new model of development, but also of prevention. ...Everyone says this after these events, but now is the moment for all of Italy, working together, to take a leap forward."

(Additional reporting by Antonella Cinelli, Giulia Segreti and Roberto Mignucci; Writing by Philip Pullella and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Louise Ireland)
SINGAPORE -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Adyen today announced its continued commitment to businesses in the region with the expansion and move to a new Singapore office. The office in Singapore will remain as a regional headquarters for the payment solutions company as it increases its presence in Asia Pacific.

Located in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District, the close to 500 square meters office space will provide modern end-to-end payment infrastructure for leading global companies. Adyen has been empowering businesses such as Cathay Pacific, Daniel Wellington and Spotify with the ability to accept a variety of payment methods from consumers in Asia Pacific, including local and alternative payment methods.

"Asia Pacific is the most active e-commerce market in the world and Adyen sees enormous potential to enable e-commerce and omni-channel businesses in this region," said Warren Hayashi, President, Asia Pacific at Adyen. "We are excited to provide merchants in the region a seamless mobile payment experience to their customers whether in-app or on the mobile web. With the rich data created through our platform, merchants can deepen their understanding of cross-channel customer behaviour, develop their business beyond local shores and grow their revenue accordingly."

Adyen currently has three offices in the region, including Shanghai and Sydney. The expansion in Singapore is a result of Adyen's continued momentum and commitment to the region. In 2015, Adyen announced that it processed US$50 billion in transaction volume, up from US$25 billion, and achieved revenue of US$350 million, a growth of more than 100 percent over 2014. The company has been profitable since 2011, and its rapid growth and enormous potential across both point of sale and online payments globally has attracted investment from across the world. Most recently, it was valued at US$2.3 billion following an investment from Iconiq Capital, which followed a US$250 million investment round in December 2014 from General Atlantic, Felicis Ventures, Temasek, and Index Ventures.

Adyen began operations in its new premises in August 2016.

Please find images of Adyen's new office here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r91ppx82e2xicxg/AABsrM4WdcogonxIHYO_uAfsa?dl=0

Image Adyen expands its presence in Asia Pacific with new, larger premises in Singapore to serve customers in the region http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/5401

Company Logo http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/5400

About Adyen Adyen is a technology company that provides businesses with a single solution to accept payments anywhere in the world. The only provider of a modern end-to-end infrastructure connecting merchants directly to Visa, MasterCard, and 250 other payment methods globally, Adyen delivers frictionless payments across online, mobile, and in-store. Headquartered in Amsterdam and San Francisco, with offices across North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific, Adyen serves more than 4,500 businesses, including 7 of the 10 largest U.S. Internet companies, and 3 of the top 5 global apparel brands. Customers include Uber, Netflix, Spotify, Dropbox, Evernote, Booking.com, Yelp, Vodafone, Superdry, Mango, Crocs, O'Neill, SoundCloud, KLM and JustFab.

Press Contacts Wei Wei Chua Email Contact +65 9833 2654 Melissa Jaswal Email Contact +65 9837 3746 Pui-San Wong Adyen Email Contact +65 3158 5065

Source: Adyen
-- K-12 students return to online public school August 29 --

SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- North Bay-area students are powering up their computers and heading back to school this fall in the comfort of their own home, having chosen to attend the full-time, tuition-free, online public school, California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma (CAVA @ Sonoma). Students will begin their 2016-2017 school year on August 29 as the program marks its 14th year of operation in the state.

CAVA @ Sonoma, which is open to students in grades K through 12, is one of 10 independent charter schools in California that offer students in grades K12 a unique learning experience.

Students who enroll at CAVA @ Sonoma use the K12 online curriculum and follow an academic program that includes web-based lessons and age-appropriate instructional materials  books, videos, CDs and other hands-on tools and resources  shipped directly to each students home. (Common household materials and office supplies such as printer ink and paper are not provided.) Instruction, guidance and support are provided by California-credentialed teachers who interact with students and parents via email, web-based classrooms, online discussions, phone and face-to-face meetings.

The innovative curriculum and technology, combined with a strong partnership between families and teachers, creates an opportunity for teachers to focus on each students academic needs, and gives a growing number of students a powerful educational option to reach their true potential.

Families enroll in CAVA @ Sonoma for a wide variety of reasons. Some students are advanced learners, motivated to increase their knowledge beyond the basic course offerings, while others are athletes or performers looking to balance a full schedule.

"The students that enroll in CAVA @ Sonoma seek a personalized learning experience that enables them to excel and explore their own learning style," said Kimberly Odom, Director of Special Education. "Each student receives quality instruction and support in a one-on-one setting as they grow throughout the year."

CAVA @ Sonoma is accepting enrollments for this fall. To learn more about enrollment requirements visit http://cava.k12.com/ and find in-person or online information sessions at http://cava.k12.com/events-calendar.html.

About California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma

California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are residents of Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. California-credentialed teachers deliver lessons in an online classroom platform provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN). CAVA @ Sonoma provides opportunities for advanced learners, and prepares students to be college and career ready at graduation. Learn more at http://cava.k12.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825006361/en/

Team Soapbox

Anne Heavey, 206-528-2550

[email protected]

Source: California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma
Santa Rosa, California (PRWEB) August 25, 2016

i2i Population Health, a national leader of population health management technology, will partner with Community Health Centers of Arkansas (CHCA) to provide population health management solutions to 11 Community Health Center organizations with a combined total of 76 locations serving 172,000 patients.

"Giving providers the tools they need to support population health and quality reporting is the mission of i2i," says Justin Neece, president. "We're pleased to have CHCA leverage the grant they acquired to enhance their PHM strategy across the entire state."

i2i will provide a population health management platform and develop metric reports to help CHCA with its quality improvement efforts. Previously, the centers had attempted to use a variety of electronic health record platforms without success.

"We are very pleased with our partnership with i2i and know this will give our Community Health Centers an excellent resource to access valuable data," says Mary Leath, chief executive officer CHCA. "Having this real-time data will allow us to better serve our patients, understanding their needs and addressing those needs in the most effective, patient-centered manner possible. Partnering with i2i on a platform that works across Electronic Health Record systems will enable our Centers to continue to improve health outcomes and develop strategies that can help us achieve our mission of zero health disparity for all Arkansans."

i2i was selected based on their rich history with Community Health Centers around the country and their dedication to getting the job done. CHCA was impressed with i2i's problem solving abilities and being able to fix any issues efficiently. The two entities will begin working to launch the population health management platform beginning August 15, 2016. Funding for the i2i platform comes from grants CHC AR received from the Health Resources and Services Administration and its Health Center Controlled Networks technical assistance grant program.

About i2i Systems

A KLAS Leader in the delivery of actionable population health, i2i Systems' integrated Population Health Management and Analytics solutions have proudly served healthcare organizations for more than 16 years. The company offers a depth of experience gained from over 2,500 U.S. healthcare delivery sites across 35 states supporting 20 million lives. With i2i, healthcare providers optimize the clinical, financial and operational success of physician group practices, community health centers, health center controlled networks, hospitals, health plans and integrated delivery networks. i2i's flagship product, i2iTracks, is 2014 PCMH NCQA pre-validated to ignite real-time, proactive care management. i2i Population Health's big-data platform, PopIQ, delivers a cloud-based comparative analytics toolset to leverage multiple customers' data sets and provide cross-population views into global population health management.

To learn more visit https://www.i2ipophealth.com/.

About Community Health Centers of Arkansas

Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc. (CHCA), Arkansas' Primary Care Association is a nonprofit organization which strives to ensure 100 percent access and zero disparities through promoting and facilitating shared resources, collaborative partnerships, and by providing technical assistance, training, and resources to positively impact the expansion of affordable, quality, comprehensive healthcare services in and among Arkansas communities. CHCA works to advocate and publicize the unique interests and contributions of the 11 nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers referred to as Community Health Centers (CHCs) and their more than nearly 100 service sites.

To learn more visit http://www.chc-ar.org.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/08/prweb13637811.htm
-- California Virtual Academy students return to online public school August 29--

SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Students at California Virtual Academy @ Sutter (CAVA @ Sutter), an accredited, full-time, online public charter school, will begin their 2016-2017 school year on August 29 as the program marks its 14th year of operation in the state.

CAVA @ Sutter is open to students in grades K through 12. Families enroll in CAVA @ Sutter for a wide variety of reasons. Some students are advanced learners, motivated to increase their knowledge beyond the basic course offerings, while others are athletes or performers looking to balance a full schedule. Innovative curriculum and technology combined with a strong partnership between families and teachers makes it possible to focus on each student's unique academic needs, and gives a growing number of Sacramento-area students a powerful educational option to reach their true potential.

"The students that enroll in CAVA @ Sutter seek a personalized learning experience that enables them to excel and explore their own learning style," said Kimberly Odom, Director of Special Education. "Each student receives quality instruction and support in a one-on-one setting as they grow throughout the year."

CAVA @ Sutter students attend school from the safety of home, where they can focus on their studies without distractions or peer pressure and with the help of state-certified teachers and caring counselors. The daily structure and lessons are provided through a stimulating online school environment where students are able to interact with their peers.

Students follow an academic program that includes engaging web-based lessons along with age-appropriate instructional materials  books, videos, CDs and other hands-on tools and resources  which are shipped directly to each student's home. (Common household items and office supplies such as printer ink and paper are not provided.) The program offers opportunities for advancement in STEM education. College- or career-minded students can choose from a broad range of profession-focused courses in order to gain a competitive edge for the future.

CAVA @ Sutter teachers are state-credentialed and are prepared to provide instruction, guidance and support through an online setting. Teachers interact with students and parents via email, web-based classrooms, online discussions, phone and face-to-face meetings.

CAVA @ Sutter is accepting enrollments for this fall. To learn more about enrollment requirements visit http://cava.k12.com/ and find an in-person or online information session at http://cava.k12.com/events-calendar.html.

About California Virtual Academy @ Sutter

California Virtual Academy @ Sutter is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are residents of Butte, Colusa, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, and Yolo counties. California-credentialed teachers deliver lessons in an online classroom platform provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN). CAVA @ Sutter provides opportunities for advanced learners, and prepares students to be college and career ready at graduation. Learn more at http://cava.k12.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825006359/en/

Team Soapbox

Anne Heavey, 206-528-2550

[email protected]

Source: California Virtual Academy @ Sutter
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - China's ambassador told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that their countries should fight protectionism together during a meeting a week after two Chinese firms were blocked from buying a stake in Australia's biggest power grid, broadcaster ABC reported on Thursday.

Ambassador Cheng Jingye met Turnbull on Monday, ahead of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in early September, according to a notice on the embassy's website posted on Thursday.

"It is our hope that both sides would work together to stand for trade and investment facilitation and liberalization and against protectionism of all manifestations," Cheng said in a speech at the Chinese embassy, the ABC reported.

The Chinese envoy said he hoped that the two countries could build on momentum generated by last year's Free Trade Agreement, while acknowledging that both countries do hold some political differences, according to the report.

"It is natural that the two countries may disagree on some issues," he said, according to the ABC.

Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison last week officially rejected bids by two Chinese companies in the A$10-billion ($7.67-billion) sale of Ausgrid, after they failed to overcome security concerns.

The decision has caused a rift between Australia and its biggest trading partner. China has accused Australia of bowing to protectionist sentiment in blocking the bid for Ausgrid, as well as an earlier one by a China-led consortium to buy cattle company Kidman & Co.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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.

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)
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Trevor Hunnicutt

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors trimmed risk assets before a gathering of central bankers on Friday, pulling $6.4 billion from U.S.-based stock funds in a course-reversal during the week ended Aug. 24, data from Lipper showed on Thursday.

The outflows, which came a week after cash poured into stock funds for the first time in five weeks, are the last data showing U.S. fund investors' behavior before Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen speaks at an annual central bankers' conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Yellen is expected to shed light on whether an interest-rate hike is likely in 2016, a move that could force a reevaluation of assets, such as corporate bonds and emerging market stocks, which have performed well this year.

"Everybody's keeping their eyes on Jackson Hole," said Tom Roseen, head of research services for Thomson Reuters Lipper.

"People are waiting for the catalyst" to drive the market one way or another, Roseen said.

Domestic stock funds posted $4.5 billion in outflows during the week, while funds focused on international shares posted $1.8 billion in outflows, the data showed.

Largely actively managed equity mutual funds posted $4.1 billion in withdrawals, while mostly passive equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) sank by $2.3 billion during the week.

In both cases the result adds to woes for stock funds, which have netted assets in just six of the last 34 weeks tracked by Lipper.

Another sign of the focus on the Fed: investors added $299 million to "loan participation funds," marking the first time that category has taken in money for four weeks straight since April 2014. The funds offer yields that increase as rates rise.

Emerging markets continued to be popular bets, with stock funds targeting that asset class taking in $620 million for their eighth consecutive week of net new cash. Bond funds focused on the developing markets added $222 million and their tenth straight week of inflows.

Yield-starved investors have turned to those markets for potentially greater returns.

European stock funds' outflows accelerated to $1.2 billion, their largest since the week ended July 6. The funds have now posted outflows for the past 12 weeks, according to Lipper.

Taxable bond funds in the United States remained a popular place for investors searching for relative safety and higher yields. Those funds took in $2.7 billion during the week, their third straight week of inflows, the data showed.

The following is a broad breakdown of the flows for the week, including ETFs:

Sector Flow Chg Pct of Assets($ Count

($ blns) Assets blns)

All Equity Funds -6.351 -0.12 5,380.693 12,014

Domestic Equities -4.519 -0.12 3,815.437 8,551

Non-Domestic Equities -1.832 -0.12 1,565.256 3,463

All Taxable Bond Funds 2.739 0.12 2,332.916 6,054

All Money Market Funds 20.911 0.89 2,368.789 1,080

All Municipal Bond Funds 0.801 0.21 386.398 1,411

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Daniel Bases and James Dalgleish)
TALLINN (Reuters) - The 27 countries that will remain in the European Union after Britain leaves must listen to each other carefully and avoid rushing into policy decisions, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.

"This is a phase of listening, of understanding and learning from one another so that we can really understand and develop a new balance within the European Union of 27 members that will remain," Merkel, speaking at a joint news conference in Tallin with Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas.

"If you do it wrong from the beginning and you don't listen,  and act just for the sake of acting - then you can make many mistakes," the conservative German leader said, underscoring that the upcoming EU summit in Bratislava was about setting an agenda for the future, not making any firm decisions.

She said it was important for larger and more economically powerful countries like Germany to understand how smaller EU members viewed the situation after Britain's June 23 vote to leave the bloc. "We have to consider what are our priorities are going to be and where we want to continue our efforts."Merkel reiterated that Britain must invoke Article 50, triggering the procedure for exiting the EU, before the remaining EU members can respond with their ideas on how to shape the future relationship between Britain and the EU.

The German chancellor said she remained calm about the likely timetable for Britain to take that next step, noting that remaining EU members had enough to do at the moment thinking about their post-Brexit future.

A UK government spokesman last week said British Prime Minister Theresa May will not begin formal divorce talks before the end of the year.

"We have enough to do among the 27 (remaining countries) looking at the questions about the future, so that we can afford to let Britain take the time it wants to clarify how it wants to shape the future relationship," Merkel said.

Merkel is meeting 15 other European heads of state this week to prepare the groundwork for a Sept. 16 summit in Bratislava aimed at shoring up the battered bloc.

The German leader also said she saw no fundamental obstacles to setting up joint military units with Estonia, much as Germany has already done with other countries, including France.

But the disparate sizes of the two militaries meant such an endeavor might require the participation of other countries besides Estonia, she said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Andreas Rinke; Editing by Caroline Copley/Richard Balmforth)
(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)
The Whirlpool logo is seen outside their appliance manufacturing plant in Cleveland, Tennessee August 21, 2013. Picture taken August 21, 2013. REUTERS/Chris Berry

(Reuters) - Whirlpool Corp (NYSE: WHR), the world's largest maker of home appliances, is recalling 15,200 Whirlpool brand microwaves due to a fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday.

The formation of internal sparks when the product was being used could ignite a plastic component, posing a fire hazard, the CPSC said. (http://bit.ly/2bS7Qbw)

Whirlpool has so far received reports of five incidents, including one home fire, two fires involving the surrounding cabinet, one report of smoke and one report of a burning odor, the CPSC said.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Report on Form 6-K dated August 25, 2016

(Commission File No. 1-15024)

____________________

Novartis AG

(Name of Registrant)

Lichtstrasse 35

4056 Basel

Switzerland

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

____________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F: x Form 40-F: o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):

Yes: o No: x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):

Yes: o No: x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes: o No: x

Novartis announces positive phase III results showing efficacy of BAF312 in patients with secondary progressive MS

 The Phase III EXPAND study of BAF312 (siponimod) in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) met its primary endpoint of reducing the risk of three-month confirmed disability progression versus placebo

 There are currently very limited treatment options for SPMS, a form of MS associated with gradual worsening of symptoms and accumulation of disability, independent of relapses

 EXPAND is the largest study ever conducted in SPMS, and is part of Novartis' ongoing leadership and commitment to people with MS

Basel, August 25, 2016 - Novartis today announced the Phase III EXPAND study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of oral, once-daily, BAF312 (siponimod) in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), met its primary endpoint of a reduction in the risk of disability progression, compared with placebo. The EXPAND study represents the largest randomized, controlled study in SPMS to date.[1]

"SPMS is a particularly disabling form of MS, and there is a need for effective treatment options to help delay disability progression in those living with the condition," said Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer for Novartis. "The positive EXPAND data are encouraging for a disease with such a high unmet need. We look forward to sharing the results at the upcoming ECTRIMS congress, and thank all of the study participants and investigators."

Topline results of the EXPAND study, including primary and key secondary endpoints, will be presented as a late breaking oral abstract at the 32 nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), September 17 th , in London, UK. Novartis will complete full analyses of the data and evaluate next steps in consultation with health authorities.

About the EXPAND study

The EXPAND study is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III study, comparing the efficacy and safety of BAF312 versus placebo in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).[2] The EXPAND study is the largest randomized, controlled study in SPMS to date.[1] The study included 1,651 people with SPMS from 31 countries. Patients were randomized to receive either 2mg BAF312 or placebo in a 2:1 ratio respectively.[2]

The primary endpoint of the study was an improvement in the time to three-month confirmed disability progression, as measured by the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), versus placebo.[2] Secondary endpoints included delay in the time to six-month confirmed disability progression versus placebo, the time to confirmed worsening of at least 20% from baseline in the timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW), T2 lesion volume, annualized relapse rate (ARR), and the safety and tolerability of BAF312 in people with SPMS.[2]

About BAF312 (siponimod)

BAF312 (siponimod) is a selective modulator of specific types of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor.[3] The S1P receptor is commonly found on the surface of specific cells residing in the central nervous system (CNS), that are responsible for causing CNS damage that drives loss of function in secondary progressive MS (SPMS).[3] BAF312 enters the brain and by binding to these specific receptors, may prevent the activation of these harmful cells, helping to reduce loss of physical and cognitive function associated with SPMS.[3]-[6]

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord through inflammation and tissue loss.[7] There are three types of MS: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). The evolution of MS results in an increasing loss of both physical and cognitive (e.g. memory) function.[8] This has a substantial negative impact on the approximately 2.3 million people worldwide affected by MS.[9]

About Novartis in Multiple Sclerosis

The Novartis multiple sclerosis (MS) portfolio includes Gilenya  (fingolimod, an S1P modulator), which is indicated for relapsing forms of MS and is also in development for pediatric MS. Extavia  (interferon beta-1b for subcutaneous injection) is approved in the US for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. In Europe, Extavia is approved to treat people with relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS (SPMS) with active disease and people who have had a single clinical event suggestive of MS.

In addition to BAF312 (siponimod) in development in SPMS, investigational compounds include ofatumumab (OMB157), a fully human monoclonal antibody in development for relapsing MS. Ofatumumab targets CD20, and is expected to begin phase III pivotal studies in the second half of 2016.

In the US, the Sandoz Division of Novartis markets Glatopa  (glatiramer acetate injection) 20mg/mL, the first generic version of Teva's Copaxone  * 20mg.

Disclaimer

The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "currently," "ongoing," "commitment," "look forward," "upcoming," "will," "in development," "investigational," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals for BAF312, potential new indications or labeling for ofatumumab, or regarding potential future revenues from BAF312, ofatumumab, Gilenya, Extavia, Glatopa 20mg, or any of the other products and investigational compounds in the Novartis MS portfolio. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that BAF312 will be submitted or approved for sale in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that ofatumumab will be submitted or approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that BAF312, ofatumumab, Gilenya, Extavia, Glatopa 20mg, or any of the other products and investigational compounds in the Novartis MS portfolio will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding BAF312, ofatumumab, Gilenya, Extavia, Glatopa 20mg, and the other products and investigational compounds in the Novartis MS portfolio could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact [email protected]

*Copaxone  is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

References

[1] Kappos L et al. Baseline Subgroup Characteristics of EXPAND: A Phase 3 Study of Siponimod (BAF312) for the Treatment of Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (P3.084). Neurology. 2016; 86(16):suppl. P3.084

[2] ClinicalTrials.gov. Exploring the Efficacy and Safety of Siponimod in Patients With Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (EXPAND). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01665144?term=BAF312+expand&rank=1 (link is external). Last accessed July 2016.

[3] Gergely P et al. The selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator BAF312 redirects lymphocyte distribution and has species-specific effects on heart rate. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 167(5): 1035-47.

[4] Aslanis V, Faller T, Van de Kerkhof E, Schubart A, Wallstrom E, Beyerbach A. Siponimod (BAF312) (and/or its metabolites) penetrates into the CNS and distributes to white matter areas. Mult Scler J 2012; 18(10(suppl)): P792.

[5] Brana C et al. Immunohistochemical detection of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 and 5 in human multiple sclerosis lesions. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2014; 40(5): 564-78.

[6] Tavares A, Barret B, Alagille D, et al. Brain distribution of MS565, an imaging analogue of siponimod (BAF312), in non-human primates. Neurology 2014; 82(10 (Suppl)): P1.168.

[7] PubMed Health. Multiple Sclerosis. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0024311/ (link is external). Last accessed July 2016.

[8] National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Ms Symptoms. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms (link is external). Last accessed July 2016.

[9] Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. Atlas of MS 2013. http://www.msif.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Atlas-of-MS.pdf (link is external). Last accessed July 2016.

# # #

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: [email protected]

Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) [email protected] Angela Fiorin Novartis Global Pharma Communications + 41 61 324 8631 (direct) + 41 79 752 6955 (mobile) [email protected]

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: [email protected]

Central North America Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Richard Pulik +1 212 830 2448 Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Sloan Pavsner +1 212 830 2417 Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425 Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188

Media release (PDF): http://hugin.info/134323/R/2037163/759025.pdf

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.
TOAs filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2016

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE TO



Tender Offer Statement Under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Cnova N.V.

(Name of Subject Company [Issuer])

Casino, Guichard-Perrachon

(Name of Filing Persons)

Ordinary Shares, Par Value 0.05 Per Share

(Title of Class of Securities)

N20947102

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

1, Esplanade de France, BP 306

42008 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2  France

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Telephone Number, Including Area Code: +33 4 77 45 31 31

Pascal Rivet

Casino, Guichard-Perrachon

1 Esplanade de France, BP 306

42008 Saint-Etienne Cedex 2  France

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Adam O. Emmerich, Esq.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, NY 10019

(212) 403-1000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)

Calculation of Filing Fee

This filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a potential tender offer by Casino, Guichard-Perrachon ("Purchaser") for all of the outstanding ordinary shares, par value 0.05 per share of Cnova N.V. (the "Company").

On August 23, Purchaser, the Company, Via Varejo S.A. and Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao filed a Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3, which included, among other things, a preliminary shareholders' circular and a preliminary supplemental information statement containing information related to the potential offer.

The exhibit attached to this filing contains additional information about the potential offer.

THIS COMMUNICATION AND THE EXHIBIT ATTACHED HERETO ARE NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES. INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO READ PURCHASER'S TENDER OFFER STATEMENT IF AND WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

The potential tender offer for the Company's outstanding ordinary shares described in the exhibit to this filing has not commenced and may never commence. If and when the offer is commenced, Purchaser will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and the Company will timely file a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9, with respect to the offer. Purchaser and the Company intend to mail these documents to the shareholders of the Company. Any tender offer statement (including any offer to purchase, any related letter of transmittal and other offer documents) and the solicitation/recommendation statement will contain important information that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to any tender offer. Those materials, as amended from time to time, will be made available to the Company's shareholders at no expense to them at www.cnova.com. In addition, any tender offer materials and other documents that Purchaser may file with the SEC will be made available to all shareholders of the Company free of charge at www.groupe-casino.fr. All of those materials (and all other offer documents filed with the SEC) will be available at no charge on the SEC's website: www.sec.gov. Documents may also be obtained from the Company upon written request to the Investor Relations Department, WTC Schiphol Airport, Tower D, 7th Floor, Schiphol Boulevard 273, 1118 BH Schiphol, The Netherlands, telephone number +31 20 795 06 71.
One venture capital firm said it would fund visas for immigrant founders in explicit opposition to Donald Trump .

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.

"Donald Trump's anti-immigration statements are diametrically opposed to the core values of entrepreneurship," CRV's post said.



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.
Jacob Wohl appeared on Fox Business Network shortly after the KTLA story

Teenage hedge fund manager Jacob Wohl  nicknamed Wohl of Wall Street  had his first run-in with a regulator.

The National Futures Association (NFA)  a self-regulator for the US futures market  has issued a complaint against the 18-year-old and his (now former) firm, NeX Capital Management, alleging they failed to cooperate with the regulator in its attempted examination of the fund.

Back in June, the NFA tried to conduct an unannounced examination into Wohls NeX Capital, according to the NFA complaint. The NFA said its team showed up at an address listed for NeX that turned out to be a residence. The NFA said its team knocked on the door, but there was no response. They also didnt receive a response to phone calls or an email they sent to Wohl that same day, according to the complaint. They visited the residence the following day, and even stopped by two more addresses, including his parents home, to attempt their examination.

At the time, Wohls father, David Wohl, sent the NFA an email accusing them of stalking and harassing his son, the complaint said. The email from his father went on to say he had had filed a formal complaint with the Los Angeles Police Department. He threatened to take out a permanent restraining order against the regulator, according to the email cited in the NFA complaint.

The NFAs complaint said it was abundantly clear Wohl and NeX werent going to cooperate.

But thats only the regulators side of the story.

Yahoo Finance reached out to Jacob Wohl for comment. His father, David Wohl, called us back instead.

Regulatory thuggery

In a telephone call with Yahoo Finance, Wohls father, David, who has practiced as a criminal defense lawyer for 27 years, gave a different version of events. He called the NFAs complaint frivolous and not professionally written.

He also said that two, maybe three guys showed up not dressed like professionals, wearing polo shirts and cargo shorts or something like theyre heading to the beach and ambushed Wohl by pounding on his door with no notice.

Story continues

Wohls father said his son lives in Hollywood Hills, a hilly area. He said that the NFA team members climbed up the hill adjacent to the home and were peeking in the window like stalkers.

Wohl said his son called him at the time and let him know what was going on. His son told him they were tampering with his mailbox. His son called the Los Angeles Police Department and filed a complaint.

Hes got surveillance video of this. I let them know that, his father said.

The elder Wohl, who practices law but not on behalf of Jacobs company NeX, said he let his son know that the activity was not legal or in conformance with California law.

If you want to send a subpoena you can do that. Im not going to tolerate this regulatory thuggery, which is what they were displaying, in any way shape or form, David Wohl said, adding, This is the type of behavior that causes outrage toward the government  Are you kidding me? You guys just get the hell of his property. You send a letter or a subpoena. You do not ambush and stalk my son.

He later added it was completely outrageous and completely intolerable.

In Jacobs case, Im his dad, I know how ethical and honest he is. Hes a brilliant, brilliant kid. The dad side of me, doesnt want him to be bullied and harassed. If you want to do something, legally, and you want documents, you dont go to someones house and tamper with their mailbox, climb on a hill, pounding with no notice  youd think were a third world  its a Chicago regulatory agency!

We reached out to NFA for comment and received this response: NFA does not comment on pending enforcement matters.

From jock to stocks



Wohl first garnered attention in March 2015 when he was featured on local news channel KTLA as a high school jock-turned-hedge fund manager. At the time, he had been running Wohl Capital Management  which used a value investing stock picking approach  for about four months, according to the report.

Then a junior at Santiago High School in Corona, California, Wohl told the news channel that he was running the money of his friends parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, as well as funds from some of his teachers. He said he had around 20 investors.

Shortly after, he made an appearance on a biotech stock panel on Fox Business Network.

In late 2015, he shifted trading strategies, taking a quantitative approach and applying for membership with the NFA in December for his new fund NeX Capital, the regulators website shows.

NeX Capital was registered on February 19, 2016. A few months later, NeX would withdraw its membership after the NFA attempted to examine the fund.

According to the regulatory complaint, dated August 19, the NFA came across Wohl after reading an article posted by value investing site ValueWalk entitled High School Jock Turned Hedge Fund Trader  Is Regulatory Trouble Ahead? The NFA said it came across the article as part of its internet surveillance program.

In April 2016, the NFA said it received promotional material that a potential customer had been provided. The material, according to the NFA complaint, included charts that reflected substantial returns for a trading program offered by NeX Capital. Afterwards, the NFA said it reviewed NeX Capitals website, social media accounts, and YouTube videos and found them to be unbalanced in their presentation of profit potential and risk of loss.

At Least 20% Annual Returns

Yahoo Finance also obtained a promotional document NeX Capital sent out in the form of a slide deck presentation dated January 2016. In the presentation, NeX said its a company that executes a specialized quantitative strategy within a niche market with a high degree of edge over other traders. The document also claimed that NeX expects to deliver at least a 20% annual return to investors, while taking on less risk than common market benchmarks such as the S&P500.

Annotation by Yahoo Finance

The slide deck said investors could withdraw their capital with a 45-day notice at no penalty. They could also view account statements on a daily basis.

In the terms of service section, NeX said it had a target AUM of $250 million. It also said it had a minimum investment of $250,000. The fund also said it would charge a 2.2% management fee with lower fees available for accounts over $5 million, and a 17% performance fee.

In the team section of the document, Wohls bio said that he had 10 years trading experience (including many different asset classes, a deep understanding of financial technology, 5 years of programming experience (C++, Python, Java, VBA, R), experience designing original trading strategies and risk-management systems, and Series 3 Certified.

Annotated by Yahoo Finance

An investor loses money

In its request for information from futures commission merchants, the NFA found that there were two trading accounts controlled by Wohl. One was under the name of Wohl Capital and the other under the name Michelle Wohl, Jacobs mom. These accounts had $260,000 in deposits, trading gains of $36,000 and $296,000 in withdrawals. They were open between April 2015 and October 2015, the complaint said.

The NFAs complaint said it also received a complaint from a man named David Diedrich who claimed that Wohl refused to pay him back his investment and purported trading gains. According to the NFA, Diedrich claimed that Wohl asked him to invest in NeX Capital in December 2015, two months before his NFA registration as a commodity-trading-advisor (CTA) had been approved approved.

Diedrich also told the NFA that he made three deposits totaling $75,000 between March and October 2015. He also made a $35,000 wire transfer on October 16, 2015, more than week after Wohl Capitals trading account was closed.

On December 14, 2015, Diedrich said, he received an account statement from Wohl that showed his investment was valued at $89,500. Diedrich requested several times that his investment and trading gains be returned, the complaint said.

In early February 2016, Diedrich received a check for just over $44,000, which was less than the $89,500 in the December 2015 statement, and less than his $75,000 initial investment.

The complaint noted that Wohl said the difference was due to losses. The complaint also said that Wohls trading account appeared to have made, not lost, money.

Wohls father told Yahoo that this example was not pertinent to the NFAs investigation.

That was completely resolved, David Wohl said, pointing out that one client complained, its been resolved, and there have been no other complaints.

Wohls father also added that his sons profits went up and down.

Hes a smart guy. Above all, hes honest and hes ethical. Hes watched the Wolf of Wall Street  hes taken that as everything he doesnt want to be Hes the anti-Wolf of Wall Street and Im really proud of him for that.

The attempted NFA examination

Wohls father said that the NFA wanted to conduct a review. He said they had asked for documents and that Jacob believes he sent all the documents.

Ive been practicing law for 27 years. Ive defended people. Its criminal. What they did was criminal. They believed that they were entitled to more. Their response was to ambush him at home and do what they did, the elder Wohl said. That should scare anyone.

The NFA said it commenced an unannounced exam on June 20, 2016. The regulator said NeX Capitals address was a residential home. No one answered the door when they arrived, and various listed telephone numbers also went unanswered, according to the NFA. The team also emailed Wohl.

The NFA returned to the residence the following day. Again, there was no answer at the door, according to the regulator. The team did see a person on the second floor appearing to take photos or a video. A member of the team left a business card in Wohls mailbox, the complaint said.

The team then went to another address listed in NeX Capital documents only to find that it was the empty business school at La Sierra University.

They went to another address, Wohls parents house, in Corona, California. They said a boy answered the door and didnt know where Jacob Wohl was.

David Wohl told Yahoo Finance that it was his 16-year-old son who answered the door. The elder Wohl also pointed out that their home in Corona, California is about 60 miles away from Jacobs house.

About 20 minutes later, the NFA received a telephone call from Jacobs father David Wohl.

According to the NFA, David Wohl threatened legal action against the regulator and said he planned to contact the Los Angeles Police Department. David Wohl also told the team to stay away or else, the complaint said.

When they came to my house and started trying to interrogate my son, thats where the line was permanently crossed, David Wohl told Yahoo Finance, adding, that he warned them he would have law enforcement involved. He called the NFA a typical out-of-control regulatory agency that are offended Jacob wouldnt comply with their every demand.

The NFA team sent Wohl and NeX another email reminding them that theyre obligated to cooperate with the examination under NFA Compliance Rule 2-5.

The rule states: Each Member and Associate shall cooperate promptly and fully with NFA in any NFA investigation, inquiry, audit, examination or proceeding regarding compliance with NFA requirements or any NFA disciplinary or arbitration proceeding. Each Member and Associate shall comply with any order issued by the Executive Committee, the Membership Committee, the Business Conduct Committee, the Appeals Committee or any NFA hearing or arbitration panel.

An hour later, David Wohl emailed the NFA that NeX had withdrawn its NFA membership and the NFA didnt have jurisdiction.

The timeline of when Jacob Wohl and NeX withdrew the membership is murky. Wohls father told Yahoo Finance it was before the NFA showed up to conduct its examination. NFA records show that the membership was officially with drawn on July 25, a month after the attempted exam.

Screen Shot 2016-08-24 at 1.22.43 PM

In the email that David Wohl had sent the NFA, he wrote that they had been stalking and harassing Jacob and our family repeatedly, at our homes and demanding a meeting thats not going to take place under any circumstances.

David Wohl also wrote that he had initiated a formal complaint with the LAPD, and they are now investigating this matter and that he would also seek a permanent restraining order in court, the violation of which could result in criminal penalties.

The NFA noted in its complaint that its abundantly clear that Jacob Wohl and NeX Capital had no intention of cooperating with its examination. Theyre now asking him and his fund to issue a written answer in 30 days.

Wohls latest venture

Wohls latest venture is Montgomery Assets, which is described on its website as a leading global asset management firm.

The companys website lists global locations including Beverly Hills, Dallas, Dubai, New York Chicago, Hong one, Geneva, Silicon Valley, all of which appear to be virtual offices.

When asked about the latest venture and why he stopped running NeX, Wohls father said his son has been shifting, pivoting from business to business, expanding and diversifying.

He didnt feel like being a member of NFA pertained to primary focus. Nothing more than that.

He added that Jacob has nothing but a bright future and that hes really proud of him.



Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance.

Read more:

Why Leon Cooperman is warning young people to avoid the asset management business

These 6 characteristics will make a young person successful on Wall Street

Heres what millennials want in a Wall Street job

A hedge fund manager gave some blunt advice to a bunch of 9th grade boys
The Electronic Monitoring of Offenders Bill, currently being debated in Parliament, will do nothing to stop offenders breaching monitoring conditions, says New Zealand First Corrections Spokesperson Mahesh Bindra.

There have been over 15,500 breaches of monitoring under the National governments watch.

The changes proposed in this bill do not invoke confidence that there will not be another murder by an offender who is able to move outside his designated area, as occurred when Auckland Filipino woman Blessie Gotingco was killed.

Failing to address inadequate monitoring with the need for mandatory communication and liaison between Corrections and the police continues to put New Zealanders at risk.

The real reason this government is pushing aside community safety with this bill is to manipulate practice by stealth to keep prisoner numbers down.

As far as New Zealand First is concerned, the safety of our people is paramount and the Electronic Monitoring Bill is of no use and must be binned, says Mr Bindra.

SOURCE: Office of Mahesh Bindra

Mahesh Bindra
Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner welcomes the passing of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill.

The Blind Foundation wanted the Act repealed because it caused confusion by incorrectly suggesting that the Foundation is a statutory body. This Bill emphasises the Foundations status as completely independent from Parliament, says Nicky.

While the Bill is straightforward, it plays an important roll in the Blind Foundations ambition to modernise its structure by removing the redundant Royal New Zealand of the Blind Act, which is no longer required since the Foundation became an incorporated society in 2002.

The repeal of the Act continues the Foundations rich history of adapting to the changing needs of society, from its beginnings over 125 years ago as a school for blind children, to todays multi-faceted organisation which offers a range of services and support. One of the best known roles of the Blind Foundation is breeding and training guide dogs.

I look forward to the Blind Foundation continuing its excellent work to empower and support people who are blind or have low vision to lead independent lives and reach their full potential. I also wish to thank my parliamentary colleagues for their unanimous support in passing this Bill."

Source: Office of Nicky Wagner.
Social Development Minister Anne Tolleys claims that her Governments work with sole parents is her biggest success are in tatters after a major increase in homelessness amongst that group, says Labours Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni.

Anne Tolley is seriously out of touch with the reality for struggling families. Shes claimed her Governments work with sole parents as her biggest success, but new figures from the University of Otago show a 36% increase in the rate of homelessness amongst sole parents since 2006.

Whats even more alarming about these figures is they show that 52% of homeless people in New Zealand are either in study or working. The Government is so focused on getting people off the benefit, that they are ignoring what happens after that.

Not only is the Government failing to address the housing crisis, they are continuing to bury their heads in the sand by not even acknowledging the results of independent research like this report from the University of Otago.

For a Minister who likes to claim that children are the focus of her efforts, she is presiding over a massive increase in the number of homeless children.

The rising levels of inequality and homelessness under National are unacceptable and unlike this Government, Labour is committed to understanding and addressing these issues, Carmel Sepuloni says.

SOURCE: Office of Carmel Sepuloni
With just over a week to go preparation is underway for seven days of runway shows, inspiring talks, glamorous dinners and exclusive unveilings on board the iconic ocean liner Queen Mary 2. The crossing will leave Southampton on the 1st September arriving in to New York on the 8thSeptember at the beginning of New York Fashion Week 2016.



Pioneering British Designer Dame Zandra Rhodes CBE, known for dressing some of the worlds best-known style icons including Freddie Mercury and former Cunard passenger Elizabeth Taylor, will showcase her latest collection on board Queen Mary 2.

The celebrated fashion designer will also be joined by highly respected fashion historian and style commentator Colin McDowell MBE and New York Fashion Week Founder Fern Mallis for a series of inspirational talks during the voyage.



Passengers will attend exclusive first look runway shows featuring collections from the worlds most famous fashion college, the Royal College of Arts 2016 graduates who are taking an artistic focus on everything from Anthroposophy to science and technology to cultural heritage. As well as embracing new design talents, the first ever fashion show at sea will introduce emerging new faces from of one Londons revolutionary modelling agencies, Storm.



Following a recent remastering in the region of 90 million, Queen Mary 2 marks 176 years of heritage, echoing the height of British elegance and luxury associated with Cunards iconic fleet. Cunards Transatlantic Fashion Week will provide a rare and exclusive experience for guests set within an art deco inspired interior.



Dame Zandra Rhodes CBE commented: Cunards Transatlantic Fashion Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the world of fashion in an iconic and timeless venue. Im incredibly excited to showcase my work alongside some amazing up and coming designers from the Royal College of Art  it is so important to encourage new talent and what a fabulous environment to launch what are sure to be some very bright futures in the world of fashion!



Angus Struthers, Director, Cunard said: We are delighted to host Transatlantic Fashion Week on board, especially as it follows the recent remastering of Queen Mary 2. This crossing will be the first of its kind offering guests a unique chance to meet and dine with some of the most celebrated names in the fashion industry.

"Queen Mary 2 has always been synonymous with glamour and style so inviting fashion royalty onboard is an exciting move for Cunard and one we expect to carry into the future.
Highlighted by a terrific roster of fresh-to-the-market, blue-chip automobiles, the two-day event bore witness to the top two sales of this years Monterey auction week and established multiple new auction benchmarks. Illustrating the powerful partnership and international reach of RM and Sothebys, bidders represented 27 countries.

One of the most exciting auction moments of the weekend came when the 1956 Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type, XKD 501, roared onto the stage before a packed audience during the Friday sale session. The first D-Type supplied by Jaguar to a privateer team, XKD 501 was sold new to the famed Scottish racing team, Ecurie Ecosse, who campaigned it to victory at the grueling 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Offered in Monterey following almost two decades in one of Americas leading collections, the coveted Jaguar was the subject of an intense and passionate 15-minute bidding contest between four determined collectors before selling for a final $21.78 million. The impressive result not only ranks the car as the most valuable vehicle sold during this years Monterey auctions, but represents a world record price for any British car sold at auction, eclipsing the previous record by more than $7 million.

The sale of the legendary D-Type was closely followed on Friday by an American legend: CSX 2000, the very first Shelby Cobra. One of the most anticipated lots of this years Monterey weekand indeed, offered in recent memorythe iconic Shelby was constructed and kept from new by Carroll Shelby and never left his care.

Offered in Monterey by the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust, it entered the auction room on Friday (driven by Carroll Shelbys grandson, Aaron Shelby) to a sea of camera flashes and loud applause, before climbing to a strong $13.75 milliona new benchmark for an American car at auction.

This years Monterey auction once again reinforced the notion that if you offer some of the most special and unique motor cars in the world, on the global stage at RMs flagship event during the Pebble Beach weekend, anything can happen and records will be broken, says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sothebys West Coast Division.

The depth of interest and enthusiasm for quality automobiles and the collector car hobby as a whole, remains at an all-time high. Both of our sale sessions attracted standing-room-only audiences, complemented by high volumes of telephone bidders. As our results show, collectors remain willing to pay a premium for exceptional vehicles, specifically those exhibiting fantastic restorations, those offered fresh-to-the-market, and those presenting once in a generation ownership opportunities.

Beyond the auction excitement, RM Auto Restoration once again enjoyed great success on the show field at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, providing a wonderful finale to an exciting weekend for the RM group of companies. All three cars expertly prepared by the RM team for the event were judged Best in Class, including: Judge Joseph and Margie Cassinis 1931 Stutz DV-32 LeBaron Convertible Victoria; Jim Pattersons 1958 BMW 507 Series II Convertible; and the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Gangloff Coupe from the Rare Wheels Collection. In addition, the Cassinis Stutz was awarded Most Elegant Car on tour and shortlisted as a runner up to Best of Show.

From California to London, England, RM Sothebys continues its 2016 calendar of events with its 10th anniversary sale in the British capital in September. The official auction of the UKs Concours of Elegance, the sale will shine a spotlight on an eclectic group of more than 80 automobiles.
With global brokerage brands (such as IYC, Y.CO, Burgess, Fraser Yachts, Camper & Nicholsons, Ocean Independence, Northrop & Johnson and Blue Water) bringing an estimated 92 brokers and rising, the yachting display of vessels already cruising the waters is already set to mark a significant second year.

Lord of the Seas

The 58 metre superyacht Lord of the Seas is a contemporarily styled charter yacht launched in 2012. Her large beam of 10 metres provides a huge amount of space on board while the ALFA Marine naval architecture provides complete comfort underway. The Altunbas-designed interior provides a sophisticated surrounding of rich woods and elegantly styled, Asian inspired furniture to complete the homely, peaceful and escapist atmosphere on board. Perfect for a relaxing voyage across the waters of Eastern Europe.

Seagull II

Seagull II is an idyllic reflection of elegance underway, with a classically styled exterior expertly brought up to the luxury standards of today. This 54 metre motor yacht was custom built in 1952 by the Croatian Uljanik Shipyard; however, in 2009 she was completely refitted by Waterline Ltd. and can now accommodate up to twelve guests in complete and distinguished luxury.

JoyMe

Phillip Zepter Yachts built the 49.91 metre JoyMe in 2011, an outstanding superyacht with a striking red and striped yellow hull, cutting-edge futuristic superstructure and graphics covering the lateral walkway. A matter of individual style on the outside, JoyMe is a revelation of on board living within. Large exterior areas provide the spaces for a yacht built to entertain larger numbers, while the interior continues the creative trend with wall graphics, art icon-inspired cabins carrying thematic styling throughout.

Reve dOr

The 46 metre Reve dOr superyacht made its way to the waters of Italy in 2011, and offers 10 guests on board complete comfort with a sophisticated Studio Massari interior. The third in the Sanlorenzo 46 Steel range, Reve dOr is a vessel styled for absolute comfort and experience on board, with large exterior spaces and solid engineering for longer stays or crossings.

Daima

The 42.50m Daima yacht is a picture of Turkish elegance, with open sails driving the classically styled deep red hull through the water thanks to styling by Karatas Yacht Design and construction expertise by Arkin Pruva Yachts in 2009. Daima has won every race in the Bodrum Cup, and offers the chance for up to ten guests to cruise the water in both style and comfort.

Riana

The 41 metre Riana may have been launched in 2007, but her spirit echoes a more elegant time of sailing excellence. The lifestyle under sail is surrounded by every inch of luxury, whether youre enjoying high winds of the Caribbean winter season for the thrill of the race, or floating off the coastal doldrums of the East Mediterranean for a summer escape. The exterior spaces on deck are unparalleled, offering the perfect chance to entertain, while her interior provides a rich and sophisticated style to retire in comfort.

Parvati

Custom built in 1975 by CRN, Parvati underwent a full refit in 2014 and today stands as a superyacht with a classic style and a perfect chance for 11 guests to take the ocean, surrounded by every comfort possible. This is a majorly updated superyacht which has benefitted from exquisite taste and commitment to keeping Parvati once of the most meticulously maintained yachts on the water.

These are just seven of the luxury yachts that will be welcoming guests on board throughout the MYBA Pop-Up Superyacht Show (September 2-4). Other names in the fleet include Novela, Lady Sunshine, Pida, Imagine, Serenity, Clouds, Blue Eyes, Kirke, Naseem, Rebecca V, Silver, Saladus, Annabell II and Golden Osprey.

With a constantly evolving list of yachts set to dock in Porto Montenegro, the second MYBA Pop-Up Superyacht Show is showcasing the best of sales and charter in Eastern Europe and already showing signs of growing success.

Click here to register for the Porto Montenegro Pop-Up Show
Ana Huete was on holiday with her Italian boyfriend, who escaped. Malaga firefighters and their rescue dogs are already at work in the disaster zone

Villagers in Illica, central Italy, on the day of the earthquake. :: AFP Malagas provincial dog rescue squad leaves quickly for Italy A dog rescue team run by Malaga provinces fire brigades association, Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos (CPB), set off immediately on Wednesday for the disaster zone in central Italy. The group, made up of two firefighters and three dogs - Blaky, Mara and Lula, all female Belgian Malinois, started working in the village of Accumoli before moving on to Amatrice in the central Italian province of Rieti. This is a voluntary mission in the firemens free time and under the auspices of Spains EPDR disaster relief charity. The CPB is keeping people informed of their progress over its Twitter account. This is not the first time that CPB dogs have travelled to disaster zones, having seen service in the Philippines, Ecuador and Nepal.

The Spanish foreign office has confirmed that a young woman from Granada province was killed in Wednesdays Italian earthquake, according to a close family member of the victim.

Ana Huete, 27, lived in Granada, where she ran a pizza restaurant with her Italian boyfriend. Both had recently set up home together in the citys Albaicin and had been together for about four years, reports said.

Ana was apparently on holiday in Italy, visiting her partners relatives and was staying in the village of Illica in the earthquake area. Her boyfriend survived and identified her body. He had been on the first floor of the property at the time the quake hit while Ana was downstairs.

Anas family were due to travel today (Friday)to Italy, relatives told the newspaper Ideal. The family were said to be disappointed that, despite good consular assistance, they would have to pay for repatriating their daughters body to Spain at such a distressing time.

Message of Spanish support

Spains King Felipe has sent a message of condolence to the Italian people. In it he said that he shared the pain of Italians and sent his deepest sympathy as well as that of the government and the Spanish people.

Over 250 people have died in the quake.
Glen Paul Beecher.JPG

Glen Paul Beecher

(Provided)

This photo shows a vehicle similar to the gray 2008 Honda Civic Beecher was last seen driving. The car has Florida license plates numbered WT15Q.

UPDATE: Police canceled the missing person alert for Glen Paul Beecher. It was not clear why the alert was canceled.

HAMBURG, N.Y. -- Police are searching for a "vulnerable" missing man who left his Erie County home Wednesday afternoon and did not return.

Glen Paul Beecher, 61, of Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg, was reported missing after he drove away from his home around 4 p.m., according to an alert issued Thursday by the state Missing Persons Clearinghouse.

Beecher has aphasia and is deaf and mute, said the state. According to the state, he communicates through written notes.

"He may be lost or confused and in need of medical attention," said the state.

The state provided the following description of Beecher and what he was last seen wearing:

5 foot 9 inches

170 pounds

Brown eyes

Tan baseball cap

Gray Florida State Seminoles T-shirt and tan shorts

Beecher left his home in a gray 2008 Honda Civic with Florida license plates numbered WT15Q.

The missing person alert for Beecher was issued in Western New York, Central New York and the Finger Lakes.

The state asked anyone with information to call (716) 649-3800 or 911.
Melvin.jpg

Steven J. Melvin

(New York State Police)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - An East Syracuse man was arrested on his way to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old girl for a sexual encounter, New York State Police said.

Steven J. Melvin, 55, of 5017 James Street, East Syracuse, was arrested Wednesday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, forcible touching, unlawfully dealing with a minor and attempted disseminating indecent material to a child.

Police said they began investigating Melvin after a girl's mother called them claiming Melvin gave her daughter alcohol and forcibly touched her in a sexual manner on Aug. 20 while at a DeWitt residence. Police then conducted an online, undercover operation which led to the arrest.

Melvin was arraigned in Salina and is now held in the Onondaga County Justice Center. Police said the victim was offered services through the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A vote on a rental inspection law was delayed again Monday, thanks, in part, to a recently generated debate about lead paint. Despite claims to the contrary, however, the law would have little to no impact on the city's lead paint problem.

The law would require inspections on single and two-family rentals citywide. Its sponsor and a city lawyer said it was never intended to address lead paint concerns.

"Everybody in Syracuse is well aware there's a lead issue because of the aging housing stock," said Meghan McLees Craner, a city attorney. "To address that, we will need much more comprehensive legislation and efforts from the city and the county. [This law] does not begin to touch the lead paint issue."

So why are we even talking about lead?

A recent letter to the editor in The Post-Standard by Mike Stanton, president of the Southeast University Neighborhood Association, argued the registry law could lower lead poisoning rates in Syracuse. A similar law in Rochester dramatically reduced that city's lead problem.

The letter prompted discussion among advocates and councilors at a subsequent committee meeting. A lawyer for Syracuse landlords sent a letter to councilors regarding the lead issue. A Common Council vote on the law was delayed this week, in part, because a councilor wanted more information on lead abatement.

There's just one problem: City inspectors aren't certified to screen for lead, nor do they have the necessary equipment to do so. Lead testing is done by Onondaga County.

"It's not the intent of the law," Craner said. "It's not like all of a sudden this gives us the ability to test for lead."

The law's sponsor, Councilor Khalid Bey, had hoped for a vote this Monday. He's been working on legislation for four years, he said, and it's been on the council agenda since June.

Monday, however, the vote was postponed another two weeks. Bey said the recently introduced lead issue is a stall tactic that's distracting from the law's intent. Lead isn't mentioned in the legislation and was not the motivating factor behind it, he said.

"Some councilors didn't bother to read the material," Bey said. "I'm holding out for one vote. I'm probably one vote shy of this thing passing."

That swing vote, Bey said, is Councilor Joe Nicoletti.

Nicoletti remains on the fence. He said he's asked for two things: Written proof that the law will "pass muster" if landlords sue, and a plan for how inspectors would work with the county to handle lead inspections.

After hearing Nicoletti's conditions, Bey reiterated that the law was not intended to inspect for lead.

The law would require biennial inspections for all one- and two-family rental properties. There are more than 9,000 such properties in Syracuse. Craner, the attorney, said inspectors could check for chipped paint, which is often a sign of lead, but would not equate to a lead inspection.
To the Editor:

Donald Trump continues to expand upon the groups of people who he has denigrated including Mexicans, Blacks, Muslims, women, the parents of a soldier killed at war, disabled people, and threatening to punish women who have abortions. He has also stated that he's not sure the problem with using a nuclear weapon, supports extreme forms of torture, and most importantly has acted in a manner that shows him to be extraordinarily reckless and unaccountable to anyone. One has to wonder how our congressman, Rep. John Katko, a Republican, has refused to condemn him and commit to voting for his opponent. Republican Rep. Richard Hanna of New York did so; Maine Sen. Susan Collins committed to not vote for Trump; more and more of Katko's Republican colleagues are joining this choir. So why isn't Katko?

Katko has gone to great lengths to prevent the opening of air travel to Cuba for alleged concerns about terrorists entering the country through Cuba. But, as evidenced by the distribution of Ku Klux Klan fliers in our neighborhoods and the recent arson of the home of a black firefighter in a suburb of Buffalo, the greatest danger we face from terrorists in the United States is from home-grown white supremacists.

A quote attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says, "To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it." Yet Katko has refused to take a stand against his party's standard-bearer, who is feeding so much hatred. It is a silence that I cannot condone and I must speak out against. There's no doubt that Colleen Deacon would do better representing us in Congress and I will vote for her and support her campaign. We are stronger together.

Jonah Minkoff-Zern

Syracuse
(Adds details, background)

By Narottam Medhora

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Popular messaging service WhatsApp said it would start sharing users' phone numbers with parent Facebook Inc, marking a notable shift in its stance on privacy.

When Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014, founder Jan Koum vowed to protect data of its users, saying the deal would not affect its privacy policy.

The change in policy, WhatsApp's first since the deal, will allow for more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations on Facebook, according to a WhatsApp blog post.

WhatsApp, however, sought to reassure users by saying that it would not sell, share, or give users' phone numbers to advertisers.

The company also maintained that messages on the service were encrypted by default and that it would not allow banner advertisements from third parties.

"Our belief in the value of private communications is unshakeable," WhatsApp said in the post.

Koum had outlined his approach to privacy in a blog post after the deal with Facebook, drawing on his own experiences of growing up in Ukraine during the Soviet era.

Some users, however, were not convinced by the shift in WhatsApp's stance.

"Phone numbers?!? No! That's absolutely NOT OKAY. I might need to delete Facebook, people. NOT kidding," Twitter user Mindy McAdams wrote.

WhatsApp said users could choose not to share account information with Facebook. (http://bit.ly/2biXHVy)

The shared data will also help WhatsApp track information about how often people use its services and tackle spam on the service, it said on Thursday.

WhatsApp, which is has more than 1 billion users, will also explore ways for businesses to send messages using its platform over the next several months, it said. (http://bit.ly/1fi1n5j)

WhatsApp dropped its $1 token fee for some of its users earlier this year and said it was experimenting making businesses pay to reach their customers through the service.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
This page no longer exists or may have been moved.If you believe this is a mistake please email
This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon!

Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page?
The site of a double fatal stabbing in the 19000 block of Southeast Kokomo Lane in south Martin County. (FILE PHOTO)

By Laurie K. Blandford of TCPalm

MARTIN COUNTY  Austin Harrouff, who's been hospitalized since Aug. 15, when he was accused of fatally attacking a local couple, likely won't leave the hospital or be arrested this week.

The 19-year-old remained stable but in critical condition Thursday at St. Marys Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where hes been since the attack on John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, at the couples home on Southeast Kokomo Lane near Jupiter and Tequesta.

Martin County Sheriffs detectives havent been able to interview Harrouff about the attack because he has been under sedation, officials said. After hes cleared to leave, Harrouff will be arrested on first-degree murder and other charges, Sheriff William Snyder has said.

Harrouff had surgery last week on his right hand because he almost cut off his thumb during the attack, said Snyder.

Harrouff has had symptoms associated with ingesting a caustic chemical from the couples garage, Snyder said. Its unknown at what point during the attack Harrouff drank the corrosive fluid.

Sheriffs officials have deferred all questions about Harrouffs specific medical status to his father, Wade Harrouff, who declined to comment.

According to a The Associated Press report, the younger Harrouff has a malfunctioning liver, fluid in his lungs and a bleeding esophagus. He had an MRI on Wednesday.

At the scene of the attack on Aug. 15, Harrouff made a statement that deputies wouldnt find any drugs in him, Snyder said. No common street drugs  marijuana, cocaine or opioids  were found in Harrouffs blood at the hospital, and detectives are waiting for toxicology results from the FBI to see whether chemicals found in flakka were in his system at the time of the attack.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, flakka is a synthetic cathinone drug  a stimulant that increases alertness, attention and energy. Its a white or pink, foul-smelling crystal that can be eaten, snorted, injected, or vaporized in an e-cigarette or similar device. It can be addictive. It can cause a condition called excited delirium involving paranoia and hallucinations that can lead to violent aggression and self-injury. It can also dangerously raise body temperature and lead to kidney damage or kidney failure.

During the attack, Harrouff is accused of biting Stevens in the face and abdomen, officials said.

Sheriffs officials said there is no dash-cam or body-cam footage of the incident.
By Paul Ivice, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers

FORT PIERCE  A 10th-grade history teacher at St. Lucie West Centennial High School who resigned in May before his arrest on suspicion of sending a lewd photo on the internet to a former student has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Daniel Tyler Morgan, 30, of Jupiter, was indicted on one slightly different charge: using the internet to persuade, induce or entice a child to engage in prohibited sexual activity.

The indictment was handed up by the grand jury Aug. 18 and had been temporarily sealed until it was announced Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

If convicted on the federal charge, Morgan faces up to life in prison with a statutory minimum 10-year sentence.

The maximum combined penalty for the two charges Morgan faced in state court  transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic device; and use of computer to seduce, solicit, lure or entice child, both third-degree felonies  was 10 years in prison.

Morgan's attorney, Barbara Kibbey Wagner of Stuart, said she was disappointed that prosecutors sought the federal indictment, which she described as "overreaching and excessive," noting that several other teachers accused of actual sexual conduct were prosecuted in state court.

Wagner said she thought she was close to resolving the case with state prosecutors when the case was moved to federal court.

State prosecutors declined to comment on why the case was moved to federal court, referring all questions to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

At Morgan's initial appearance Wednesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Lynch Jr., Homeland Security agent Brian Ray described Morgan as a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Lynch said the charge Morgan faces normally does not allow for a defendant to be released on bond.

He is scheduled for arraignment at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 31. He has been held in the St. Lucie County Jail since shortly after his arrest May 19 in Palm Beach County by the U.S. Marshal Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Court documents show a concerned citizen reported on May 13 to St. Lucie County School District authorities that Morgan, a history teacher at Centennial High School, had been sending inappropriate messages over the internet to a 17-year-old female student at the school.

Port St. Lucie Police detectives reviewed the Snapchat account of the victim, and found several correspondences between Morgan and the student.

At some point during the Snapchat interaction between the two, Morgan sent the student a lewd photograph. Detectives then made contact with Morgan and verified that he had used Snapchat and had communicated via the application with the student for several months.

Morgan submitted his resignation, effective immediately, to the school district shortly after his arrest, said Kerry Padrick, the school district's chief communications officer.
SHARE

Ryan Ambrosino, 29, 900 block of King Orange Drive, Fort Pierce; warrant for termination of pretrial supervision, possession of morphine.

Michael Becraft, 47, 5000 block of Kilarney Avenue, Fort Pierce; warrant for hold, for Florida Commission on Offender Review, retaking conditional release; sexual battery/injury not likely, habitual offender; adult sex with 16-17-year-old, habitual offender.

Brian Brown, 23, 1500 block of Southwest Byron Street, Port St. Lucie; battery on a person 65 or older.

Michael Brown, 30, 600 block of South 13th Street, Fort Pierce; warrant for sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver cocaine.

Richard Lunsford, 33, no street address, Fort Pierce; warrants for burglary of a petty theft, burglary of a conveyance.

Christopher Parris, 25, 100 block of Southwest Ewing Avenue, Port St. Lucie; out-of-county warrant, Seminole County, violation of probation, sale of marijuana.

Eric Lully, 36, 1200 block of Avenue I, Fort Pierce; possession of cocaine; sale of cocaine.

Eric Bazzarre, 52, Panama City; warrant for grand theft.

Ashlyn Salomon, 25, 2900 block of Avenue D, Fort Pierce; homicide  second-degree murder, dangerous, depraved without meditation.
Algae blankets the water along the St. Lucie River on July 3 at Rio Nature Park in Stuart. (HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

SHARE

By Lucas Daprile of TCPalm

Social media weighed in on the cause of algae blooms in a Twitter chat Thursday hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The chat focused on reducing nitrogen and phosphorous, which contribute to toxic algae blooms.

Users from as far away as South Africa shared stories, opinions and possible solutions.
Water from Lake Okeechobee passes through the St. Lucie Lock and Dam near Stuart on Thursday, a low-volume day in the Army Corps of Engineers' current pulse release schedule. (ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS WEBCAM)

SHARE

By Tyler Treadway of TCPalm

The Army Corps of Engineers plans to keep Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River at the current rate  an average of 420 million gallons a day  for the next week, but also plans to keep the option of an increase open.

Tropical activity in the Caribbean could lead to heavy rain in South Florida over the coming days, said Candida Bronson, the corps' acting operations chief for Florida. "With that in mind, we will continue releases at current rates with the understanding we may need to adjust flows depending on what happens with the weather over the next few days."

The corps announced the decision Thursday as a tropical wave off the Dominican Republic moved toward southeast Florida, expected to bring rain and gusty winds to the Treasure Coast starting Sunday.

The corps also will continue releasing water from the lake in "pulses" designed to mimic the natural flow of water through the river after heavy rains: Increasing discharges Saturday and Sunday, decreasing flows Monday and Tuesday and sending no lake water though the St. Lucie Lock and Dam on Wednesday and Thursday.

Lake O's elevation Thursday morning was 14 feet 8 1/8 inches, not quite an inch lower than a week before.

Under current conditions, the corps is authorized to discharge up to 750 million gallons of water a day to the St. Lucie. In June, the corps was sending more than 1 billion gallons of water a day to the river.

Since discharges began Jan. 30, more than 175 billion gallons of lake water have been dumped in the St. Lucie, causing widespread toxic algae blooms in June and July. Green slicks of algae can still be seen scattered through the river and throughout the C-44 Canal connecting Lake O and the river.
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.'"
FILE PHOTO Sen. Marco Rubio visited the Treasure Coast earlier this year to examine the algae pollution in the St. Lucie River.

SHARE

By Ledyard King, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON  GOP Sen. Marco Rubio's biggest roadblock to re-election might not be a Democrat.

It might be Republican Donald Trump.

While presidential candidates usually breathe wind into the sails of down-ballot candidates, analysts say Trump could be a drag on Rubio's chances of winning a second term in November.

The billionaire's approval rating falls considerably beneath the senator's in numerous Florida surveys. And while recent polls have Rubio up several points on likely Democratic opponent Patrick Murphy, Trump trails Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by a similar margin in a state considered key to control of both the White House and the Senate.

Florida's Senate primaries will take place on Tuesday. Rubio is expected to defeat Manatee County developer Carlos Beruff in the GOP contest, and Murphy is expected to defeat Orlando Congressman Alan Grayson to win the Democratic nomination.

Trump trounced Rubio in Florida's presidential primary March 15 after the two exchanged personal attacks on the campaign trail.

Rubio called Trump a "con man" who couldn't be trusted, and Trump disparaged his rival as "little Marco" and a "dishonest lightweight."

Rubio has since decided to back Trump while still emphasizing their many disagreements on policy. And Trump has gotten behind Rubio's decision to break his earlier pledge not to run for re-election.

A Monmouth University poll released last week found nearly two-thirds of Florida voters are unaware Rubio has backed Trump for president. Of those who are aware, seven of 10 said Rubio's support for the real estate mogul makes them less likely to back the senator for re-election.

"Republican incumbents who have distanced themselves from Trump appear to be doing better than those who haven't," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, pointing to Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. "That could potentially be a problem in a tight race for Marco Rubio."

Tallahassee lobbyist Brian Ballard, who recently raised money for Rubio and is Trump's finance chairman in Florida, doesn't view Trump as an obstacle for the senator.

"Marco has his own brand that appeals to a broad swath of Florida voters," he said. "I think he's working hard, running his own campaign and smartly positioning himself as his own candidate. He's telling people to vote for Trump but he's also talking about why the Senate matters, why he matters, and I think it will resonate."

Florida is a mix of positives and negatives for Trump.

He lives there part time, has numerous real estate projects and is friendly with Gov. Rick Scott. But his controversial comments about Hispanics have alienated large segments of a key voting bloc in the state. And his bombastic treatment of presidential rivals, including Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left some Sunshine State Republicans fuming.

Many have made peace with Trump. The chairs of county Republican parties across the state have endorsed him. Party activists and GOP donors generally have gotten behind him to varying degrees, united in a mission to defeat Clinton.

Still, some Rubio backers harbor doubts about Trump.

Maurice Mandeville, a Satellite Beach Republican who gave Rubio $250 three days after he announced his re-election bid in June, isn't completely sold on the real estate mogul  at least yet.

"I'm getting there," said the Air Force veteran and retired computer technician for the city of Vero Beach. "I don't want to see Clinton win anything (but) I'm a little leery of what Trump has been doing. He's like a loose cannon. You never know when his gun is going to go off in the wrong direction."

John Lillich, a Rubio donor from Palm City, said Republicans waffling on Trump need to get on board quickly.

"They better start getting some enthusiasm or they're going to blow this election," he said.

Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the nonpartisan Rothenberg and Gonzales Political Report, said recently that Trump's presence on the ballot "could be an anvil around (Rubio's) neck."

It's hard to measure exactly how much danger Trump's presence at the top of the GOP ticket poses for Rubio.

Conservative Hispanics in Miami-Dade who form a key GOP pillar aren't expected to abandon a native, Cuban-American son they've supported in the past simply because the presidential nominee has made inflammatory comments about Latinos.

In the March 15 presidential primary, Trump won 66 of 67 counties, sending Rubio out of the race. Rubio's lone bright spot was Miami-Dade, where he won 63 percent of the vote.

On the other hand, Rubio could suffer backlash from Trump backers unhappy that he hasn't fully embraced the nominee.

Beruff, Rubio's primary opponent and an ardent Trump backer, has slammed the senator for his "tap dance" on the presidential nominee. But Rubio is so far ahead of Beruff in polls, he hasn't had to worry about any ill will Republican voters might harbor for his muted backing of Trump.

Tamping down his support for Trump would serve Rubio well in the November election, Murray said. That's why the Monmouth University pollster expects Democrats will make a big deal of it after Labor Day.

"The fact that most voters don't know that Rubio said he supports Donald Trump is something that Murphy can use in a general election," Murray said. "There is some definite potential there that could be a drag on Rubio."

Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com; Twitter: @ledgeking
Indian River Shores (right) as seen from Google Earth.

SHARE

By Janet Begley, Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers

INDIAN RIVER SHORES  Does maintaining a 5-foot pathway for beach access decrease the value of a 5-acre parcel owned by the town?

That's what Indian River Shores Town Council wants to know before it decides whether to keep public access if the land adjacent to State Road A1A is sold for development.

The town recently rezoned the land for multifamily development, which includes condominiums and town homes, and it was appraised at $7.7 million, but the council has yet to say it's for sale.

"Based on the $7.7 million appraisal, a 5-foot path would be worth about $70,000," said Councilman Michael Ochsner. "But as a practical matter, I don't think if the property was 5 feet narrower, I don't think it would change the price."

The property, which the town got in a 1993 land swap with Indian River County, is adjacent to the county Tracking Station Park.

Vice Mayor Gerard Weick on Thursday maintained his position it is too early to make any decision about maintaining public access through the property, which has become overgrown with Brazilian pepper trees and native grasses.

"If we come to a time when there's going to be a sale, then we can decide," Weick said.

Mayor Brian Barefoot agreed it might be premature to discuss the pathway, but agreed it would be in the town's best interests to find out if the pathway affects the property's value.

"I think we need to keep our options open, with the understanding that we'll work with the community about this," Barefoot said. "It's not broken now, residents have access and until we decide what we're going to do, we have to remember this is an asset for the entire community, not just the folks in southern Indian River Shores."

Barefoot asked Town Manager Rob Stabe to ask the appraiser if a 5-foot pathway, on either the north or south side of the property, decreases its value. He also asked Ochsner to draft a motion the council can consider about how to best preserve beach access.

"I think we all sort of agree that we don't want to do anything we'll want to regret in the future," Barefoot said.
William Shaw, 78, of Palm City flew the Army One helicopter for four different presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon after the program began in 1958. Shaw flew helicopters in Vietnam as well during two tours from 1962 to 1963 and 1967 to 1968. He left the Army as a major. (FILE PHOTO)

William Shaw was the least likely of men to become a witness to history.

A coal miner from northeastern Pennsylvania, Shaw became a presidential helicopter pilot in 1958. During his 15-year stint as a pilot on Army One, Army Maj. Shaw transported four presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Richard Nixon.

He ferried President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy the day before the president was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963.

Maj. Shaw, a Palm City resident, died Saturday following a two-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 85.

I had the privilege of profiling Maj. Shaw in a Dec. 23, 2009, column. I still recall the pride on his face as he gave me a tour of his study, which was lined with photographs and memorabilia from his service to four of our nation's presidents.

Each photo contained a story  and the retired major was an exceptional storyteller.

Shaw, who also served in Korea and Vietnam, was an American hero. He will receive a military burial at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 2, at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth. (Go to Martinfuneralhomecrematory.com/obituaries to read more about local funeral arrangements.)

Thank you, Maj. Shaw, for your service to our country.
2000 - 2022   24 .-   .       focus-news.net,                 () .                  24 .                 24      .       .       24 .
A blue-green algae warning sign near Lake Okeechobee is seen Aug. 9. (LEAH VOSS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

SHARE

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is proving it's possible to have your hand out and point a finger at the same time.

In early July, as green waves of algae were cresting upon our shores, Scott asked the federal government for help. He wrote to President Obama, requesting a federal emergency declaration.

But in that same letter, he blamed the federal government for causing the algae problem in the first place, saying the feds had reneged on a responsibility to maintain the dike around Lake Okeechobee.

Nevermind that the Army Corps of Engineers has never committed to holding more water in the lake even if the dike is fixed. It was the feds, Scott insisted, who put Florida in a vulnerable position. Now, he said, it was the feds' responsibility to fix things.

Perhaps predictably, federal officials didn't take kindly to being scolded, and less than two weeks later the Federal Emergency Management Agency turned down the request, asserting that Florida has "robust capability to respond to emergencies and disasters."

As FEMA spokesman Rafael Lamaitre pointed out, Scott himself has boasted that state revenue is up by $1.3 billion this year. So Florida has enough money to take care of its own problems.

Scott decided he wasn't going to take "no" for an answer, and appealed this denial.

That's good and proper. Our region is still reeling from the algae crisis, and will be for some time; this is indeed a disaster, and federal aid, in whatever form, could be a boon.

Unfortunately, Scott once again decided he would attempt to catch flies with vinegar instead of honey.

His Aug. 14 appeal letter again cited "the failure by the federal government to maintain and repair" the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake O as the cause of the emergency.

FEMA "incorrectly" blamed Florida for not demonstrating a need for a federal emergency declaration, Scott wrote. And as the Army Corps does not seem to have money to repair the dike up to "modern construction standards," Scott wrote, an emergency declaration is a necessity.

Scott's attempts to blame and shame the federal government are disingenuous and counterproductive. A certain humility ought to accompany a plea for help, shouldn't it?

Perhaps this is pure political posturing by a governor who wants to show his toughness in dealing with Washington.

And let's not let the feds completely off the hook: perhaps the Democratic administration was loathe to lavish help on a Republican governor who's made clear his distaste for D.C.

But none of this does a thing for those who have seen their businesses  their lives  impacted by the algae crisis.

Moreover, Scott's continued insistence that fixing the dike will fix the problem is alarming. He knows  or should know  that this simply isn't the case; Army Corps officials have said only that the rehab project will allow the corps to operate the dike with less risk. It won't automatically allow for lake levels to rise, resulting in a reduction in discharges.

So is Gov. Scott serious about getting federal help for our algae problem, or is this all a charade?

If he is serous, he might refrain from lambasting those he's asking for assistance. His requests could be more collaborative and less accusatory.

There's no guarantee this would change minds at FEMA.

But it certainly can't fall any flatter than Scott's petulant demands already have.
An environmental disaster has been brewing for years in South Florida, recently drawing international attention and local outrage with a community outcry of 'Buy the land and send the water south!'

Scientists, environmentalists, politicians and celebrities have expressed outrage over the devastation Lake Okeechobee releases are having on Florida's fragile ecosystem,

Not to mention the killing of numerous marinelife, plant life and disrupting clean drinking water supplies.

One such grassroots organization attempting to make a difference by putting pressure on Tallahassee is Bull Sugar, (bullsugar.org).

Founder Kenny Hinkle Jr. is a self-described military brat whose father, Lt. Colonel Hinkle, served in the Army Special Forces for 25 years and taught ROTC at Jupiter High School for 19 years.

His family resided in many places from Alaska to Israel, but put down permanent roots in south Florida many years ago.

looming environmental crisis & nothing ever changed

An avid fisherman and waterman, Kenny Hinkle Jr., along with a few close friends were concerned about the water issues in 2013, prompting a collection of citizens (self-named the River Warriors) to attend Congressman Patrick Murphy's hearing on the lake discharges in Washington D.C.

A large contingency of congressmen and senators also attended, showing their support for the looming environmental crisis, yet ultimately nothing ever changed.

The following year, working with Chris Mahoney and Kenan Siegal, the trio formed BullSugar.org.

'We knew it wasn't a science, engineering or hydrology problem, we knew it was political and so created bullsugar.org, southern slang for bs and plays on sugar and their corruption and how they own the politicians both on a state and federal level.

'We want to fix the plumbing problem for eight million Floridians,' Hinkle Jr. said.

'We want to stop the discharges and send clean water to the Everglades where they need the water. We want to stop the damaging Lake Okeechobee discharges from going east to the St. Lucie River and west to the Caloosahatchee River.

'We need to get that fresh water south.'

water was never intended to go east or west

According to bullsugar.org, land south of Lake Okeechobee should be purchased in order for the water to flow as nature intended and slowly filtrate.

However, when lake levels get too high, officials fear a breach of the dike and release fresh water east through the C44 canal and into the St. Lucie and west into the Caloosahatchee estuaries.

Hinkle Jr. said the water was never intended to go east or west.

'It has always flowed south,' he said.

'Fresh water is going to kill a salt water estuary. If you put 180 billion gallons of clean water into a salt water estuary, you are going to kill the sea grasses, the oysters and all the marine life that depend on those grasses.'

With the releases came the devastating algae bloom, which according to Hinkle Jr., began in Lake Okeechobee.

'It started out as fresh water but as the temperatures warmed up in the lake, the lake started to have this massive bloom due to the phosphorous and nitrogen that comes off farms into Lake Okeechobee, which in turn feeds the bloom. When they released all this water from the lake, it just pumped right down the C44 canal. It is also coming into Lake Worth through the C51 canal.'

Now or Never - glades Declaration created

Bullsugar.org has taken the approach of going directly to the politicians, in hopes the public will vote in those politicians concerned with the environment and conversely vote out those who are opposed.

Working in tandem and with the support of the Sierra Club, Everglades Trust, Everglades Foundation and Captains for Clean Water, the Now or Neverglades Declaration was created.

Hinkle Jr. said the Water Management District doesn't want to discuss purchasing land until 2021 'conveniently right after the contract with U.S. Sugar runs out.

'Army Corps said they are willing to move up discussion, yet the Chief of South Florida Water Management replied it would be harmful to move up the schedule and disrupt anything they already have planned. It's ironic that the Governing Board of South Florida Water Management District are all hand-picked by Gov. Rick Scott - they were not elected.'

LITMUS TEST ...

The Now or Neverglades Declaration is a litmus test.

With major corporations (including Patagonia, Erin Brokovich, Costa, Yo-zuri, Orvis, Nautilus, FL Sport Fisherman), hundreds of scientists, and over 25,000 citizens, this declaration is gaining ground.

Locally, Amy Lane is leading the charge in conjunction with bullsugar.org.

This mother of three small children has a degree in Social Ecology and has led previous campaigns for clean water worldwide.

Lane says she is honored to be working alongside Hinkle Jr, Sierra Club, Everglades Trust, Everglades Foundation and Captains for Clean Water  and wants to get 'Palm Beach County on board because it's now being sent through the C51 canal and that affects our drinking water,' she said.

'That's 8 million people in South Florida being affected by these discharges and their drinking water. Without clean water we are causing cancer related diseases in our community, which is evidenced by the document showing cancer clusters in south Florida.'

See http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/06/04/cancer-clusters-in-florida-the-silence-of-the-state/.

social media campaign ...

Lane began a social media campaign, Palm Beach County Clean Water Defenders, dedicated to educating people of the current issues being faced by the Lake Okeechobee discharges.

She has been petitioning local council members of Jupiter to sign the Now or Neverglades Declaration, as other towns across Florida have done.

To date, only three members have supported sending the water south.

'It's very discouraging to see that our Mayor (Todd Wodraska) and Vice Mayor (Ilan Kaufer) have not signed. However, the declaration has been signed by Jim Kuretski, Wayne Posner and Ron Delaney,' she said.

According to Hinkle Jr., 'The politics behind this are that politicians are afraid to say 'buy the land' because U.S. Sugar is a powerful lobby that owns the land.

'They can make or break a person's political career.'

Lane is encouraging everyone to educate themselves on this issue, which is not solely a Martin County or Lee County problem.

'Just because it isn't in our backyard and we don't see the blue/green algae, people tend to think it's not our problem. The scariest thing about it coming here is because it's not seen - people don't know that it's affecting our ground water via the water tables. I urge everyone to read the document showing where the cancer clusters are in South Florida. One in three Floridians depend on the Everglades for their drinking water.'

political problem requires a political solution

Both Hinkle Jr. and Lane say this is a political problem that requires a political solution, and they encourage everyone to act now.

'We need politicians to get on board or get out of the way and we need people to VOTE.'

The Now or Neverglades Declaration can be signed at bullsugar.org.

It states:

'I support the 200-plus Everglades scientists who believe that increased storage, treatment and conveyance of water south of Lake Okeechobee is essential to stop the damaging discharges to the coastal estuaries; to restore the flow of clean, fresh water to Everglades National Park, Florida Bay and the Florida Keys; to improve the health of Lake Okeechobee; and to protect the drinking water for 8 million Floridians living in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

'Using Amendment 1 and other funds, we must identify and secure land south of the lake without delay, before development in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) or other uncertainties condemn our waters to irrevocable destruction.'

Three nationally vital estuaries are in long-term collapse due to the damming, diking and draining of the River of Grass. The Herbert Hoover Dike that contains Lake Okeechobee prevents fresh water from following its historic path southward through the Everglades.

reservoir constantly at risk of overflow

Today, Lake Okeechobee is treated as an impounding reservoir constantly at risk of overflow.

To manage lake levels, too much untreated fresh water is discharged into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. Consequently, the lack of fresh water flow through the Everglades makes Florida Bay, the largest contiguous seagrass meadow in the world and crown jewel of Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, too salty.

The resulting salinity imbalances in all three estuaries cause seagrass die-offs, dangerous algal blooms, multi-year ecosystem collapse and economic hardship.

FYI ...

Florida's $9.7 billion fishing industry (129,000 jobs), $10.4 billion boating industry (83,000 jobs) and $89.1 billion tourism industry (1.1 million jobs) need healthy estuaries.

Additionally, sending water south would improve the water supply for 8 million people (one in three Floridians) by reducing the threat of saltwater intrusion into drinking wells and the Everglades.

The solution to all these problems is stated simply in a petition signed by 207 respected Everglades scientists on March 12, 2015:

'As a scientist working in the Everglades, it is my scientific opinion that increased storage and treatment of fresh water south of Lake Okeechobee, and additional flow from the lake southward, is essential to restoring the Everglades, Florida Bay, and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.'

Estimates of land required are approximately 15 percent of the EAA, neither eliminating farming nor harming Glades communities. This amount is less than half of the acreage that U.S. Sugar has offered to sell to the State of Florida, in an agreement that remains in effect until October 11, 2020.

best option to reduce the damaging releases

Water storage, treatment and conveyance in the EAA is said to be the best option to reduce the damaging releases to the St Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries, and to improve the water flow south.

Especially considering the recent devastation to the coastal estuaries and ongoing massive seagrass die-off in Everglades National Park, planning for EAA projects must be expedited and given top priority over planning for other new Everglades restoration projects.

We can't keep kicking the can down the road. The costs and risks of further delay are staggering.

Development plans in the EAA threaten to change the region, permanently severing the link between Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay.

The science is settled.

The money is available  thanks to 75 percent of Floridians who, in 2014, voted for Amendment 1.

Identify and secure the land.

It's now or never.
The location and potential formation area for a tropical wave at 2 p.m. Thursday. (NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER)

By Elliott Jones of TCPalm

TODAY'S DEVELOPMENTS

8 p.m.: The disorganized, broad area of low pressure that is a tropical wave northwest of Puerto Rico could carry a last-minute sucker punch for South Florida, catching people off guard this weekend, emergency management officials said.

Forecasters may not know until Saturday whether the low-key wave will become a tropical depression, or more  when it is just 200 miles off the Treasure Coast and South Florida.

Its heading west, toward Florida, at about 15 to 20 mph, as it has been for a few days. The chance of it becoming a tropical cyclone has decreased slightly  to 60 percent in five days. But along the way, it could pick up fuel from the warm 90-degree waters around the Bahamas.

Be prepared, Indian River County Emergency Management Director Etta LoPresti said Thursday, after a conference call with the National Hurricane Center and emergency management officials, schools and others.

So far, no weather warnings have been posted in Florida.

The tropical waves first effects could be felt late Saturday going into Sunday. If the wave stays on its current course, toward the Gulf of Mexico, it could produce heavy rain here into Monday and Tuesday, which is primary election day. The tropical waves strongest rains and gusty winds are on its south side, forecasters said.

Election officials in the three counties are urging the public to consider voting early, which goes on at selected locations through Saturday. Weather permitting, Martin County plans also to be open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., said Elections Supervisor Vicki Davis.

School districts are monitoring the storm and officials will make public announcements if schools need to be closed at the start of the week. A decision whether to close schools may not be made until the weekend.

As the Treasure Coast waits, LoPresti said the public should heed the advice to fill up cars with gasoline and review family preparedness plans. Mosquito control agencies such as Indian River County Mosquito Control expect the rain will mean more mosquitoes. We expect to send out airplanes and fog trucks in the aftermath, said director Douglas Carlson.

1:55 p.m.:

Advisory from the National Hurricance Center: The broad area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave is moving westward at 15 to 20 mph through the southeastern Bahamas.

Satellite wind data and reports from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft this morning indicate the system still lacks a closed circulation, and the strongest winds likely have decreased to below tropical storm strength. In addition, shower and thunderstorm activity has become significantly less organized during the past 24 hours.

Although upper-level winds are not conducive for significant development during the next day or so, they could become a little more favorable over the weekend or early next week when the wave is expected to approach southern Florida or the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Regardless of development, heavy rains, with the potential to cause flash floods and mudslides, are likely over Hispaniola today. This system could produce gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall over portions of the Bahamas during the next day or two. Interests in South Florida and the Florida Keys should monitor the progress of this disturbance since it is possible that some impacts, at a minimum heavy rains and gusty winds, will occur beginning this weekend.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...40 percent

* Formation chance through 5 days...high...70 percent

11:52 a.m.:

9:03 a.m.:

#NOAA43 is on the way back home after finding a poorly organized #invest99l  NOAAHurricaneHunters (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 25, 2016

8:23 a.m.: The Treasure Coast can expect to get about 7 inches of rain through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Prediction Center. Amounts could increase depending on the tropical wave that could come across southeast Florida this weekend, forecasters said. Current forecasts call for rain chances varying from 60 to 70 percent from Saturday through Tuesday.

8 a.m.

8AM: Disturbance has 80% chance of development over next 5 days. Residents should monitor closely and be prepared. pic.twitter.com/pbg0pZ9lOS  NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) August 25, 2016

7:54 a.m.: The Martin County School District plans to decide Friday whether to put storm shutters on schools. A decision about whether schools will be closed could be made during the weekend, said spokesman Jamie Penn Adcock.

TROPICAL WAVE: INVEST 99L

MORE | Live satellite view of tropical wave

As of the 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave is passing through the southeastern Bahamas at 15 to 20 mph.

Formation chance through 48 hours: 40 percent.

Formation chance through 5 days: 70 percent.

EARLIER STORY

A broad tropical wave off the Dominican Republic early Thursday continues on a westward path toward southeast Florida and is expected to bring rains and gusty winds to the Treasure Coast starting Sunday, according to forecasters.

MORE | Live satellite view of the Atlantic

Storm conditions could last through Monday.

The wave remains a disorganized area of storms. However, the National Hurricane Center, at 2 a.m. Thursday, cautioned that it has an 80 percent chance of strengthening into a tropical storm during the next two days.

By then, it will be approaching the Bahamas and warm waters that could aid its development. Florida is about 200 miles from the central Bahamas.

The tropical wave continues to have some gale force winds.

It is expected to cross Florida and enter the Gulf of Mexico. The actual path depends on whether it strengthens and develops rotating winds, giving forecasters a better idea of what it may do. The current forecast shows it potentially affecting an area from the Treasure Coast south to Cuba.

So far, no weather warnings have been posted in Florida.

The National Hurricane Center advises Florida residents to continue monitoring the storm's progress. Treasure Coast emergency management officials suggest that people check their hurricane supplies.

MORE INFORMATION
Radar image of tropical wave AUg. 25, 2016, 8 a.m.

By Staff Report

CANCELLATIONS

Friday's Port St. Lucie Coffee With the Council has been canceled due to the potential tropical weather threat this weekend.

SCHOOLS

School districts on the Treasure Coast are monitoring the progress of the tropical wave to see whether it will have any effect on school operations. So far, no decision has been made. The districts said the public will be notified if there is a change.

The Martin County School District plans to decide Friday whether to put storm shutters on schools. A decision about whether schools will be closed could be made during the weekend, said spokesman Jamie Penn Adcock.

VOTING

Treasure Coast election supervisors are urging people to vote early because the approaching tropical wave may bring inclement weather on election day.

"We are in the active mode in getting people to get out and vote early," said Vicki Davis, Martin County supervisor of elections.

People may vote early at selected locations through Saturday in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties.

If weather permits, the Elections Center in Martin County will be open on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for voting.

As of Thursday morning, election offices aren't seeing an upswing in early voting.
SUBMITTED TO YOURNEWS Juliet, top right corner, is surrounded by her two-week-old babies.

SHARE

By Shaun Kelly, YourNews contributor

PALM CITY  As the area's only open access shelter for domestic animals, the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast houses dogs, cats, bunnies and other small critters including hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets and the like. This is the story of Romeo and Juliet and contains some valuable lessons about responsible pet ownership.

Romeo and Juliet, two guinea pigs, were surrendered to the HSTC in early June with three nursing babies in tow and Juliet expecting another large litter, judging from her size at the time. This is another instance where the wonderful foster volunteers become an invaluable resource. Critter foster mom extraordinaire, Tracie Harris, stepped in and took over the care of expectant Juliet while Romeo and the other kids were cared for at the shelter and placed for adoption.

After a couple of anxious weeks on baby watch, Tracie acted as midwife and helped Juliet deliver six healthy babies, in rapid succession, on Father's Day. They all thrived, and as of this writing four of Juliet's new babies are still available for adoption, as are her three older babies, Zoot, Kermit and Fozzie.

While this is a cute story, the moral of the story is please adopt, don't shop and never take on a male and female guinea pig together or add an opposite sex guinea pig as a companion to one you already have.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Intel last week announced the acquisition of startup Nervana, in a bid to enhance the companys capabilities in artificial intelligence and deep learning.

Nervana jumped out of the gate at its 2014 launch with a robust platform for deep learning, a framework called Nervana Neon, and the Nervana Engine  a groundbreaking ASIC chip scheduled for introduction by the first quarter of 2017.

Nervanas IP and expertise in accelerating deep learning algorithms will expand Intels capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence, according to Diane Bryant, general manager of Intels Data Center Group.

We will apply Nervanas software expertise to further optimize the Intel Math Kernel Library and its integration into industry standard frameworks, she said.

The Nervana Engine and its silicon expertise will advance Intels AI portfolio, added Bryant, enhancing the deep learning performance and lowering the total cost of ownserhip of its Intel Xeon and Intel Xeon Phi processors.

Rapid Advance

Nervana has developed a unique capability to process data more quickly across various environments, ranging from open source to highly customized computing systems, observed Jeff Kaplan, managing director of ThinkStrategies.

Like in many M&A situations, Intels acquisition is aimed at quickly obtaining technological innovations, along with the talented team that developed the new solution, he told the E-Commerce Times.

That talent pool includes Nervana CEO Naveen Rao, a former Qualcomm researcher with a PhD from Brown University, and CTO Amir Khosrowshahi, among others. The firm has raised more than US$28 million in funding from investors.

Nervana earlier this year introduced its Nervana Cloud platform, which the company has described as 10 times faster than competing AI cloud platforms. It allows organizations of various sizes to build and deploy deep learning solutions without having to make large investments in machine learning or data teams.

Nervana Cloud customers include Blue River Technologies, which uses agricultural robots along with the Nervana Cloud to boost crop yields, and Paradigm, an oil and gas software developer that uses the cloud platform to help identify subsurface faults embedded in 3D seismic images.

The new Nervana Engine chip will be able to handle a high level of data at speeds that its competitors cannot match, according to the company, through incorporation of a new technology called high bandwidth memory, which combines 32 GB of on-chip storage with memory access speeds of 8 terabits per second.

Intel Lagging

Intel doesnt have much of a machine learning business at the moment, so it needed to acquire Nervana in order to catch up with the competition in the segment, said Paul Teich, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

They have invested in software, including some open source work, he told the E-Commerce Times, but anyone doing AI and machine learning R&D or deploying deep learning at scale will use hardware accelerators.

Nvidias GPUs are currently the most favored accelerators in the business, which has to rankle Intel, Teich said.

Xeon Phi simply didnt move in the right direction. This is reminiscent of Intel putting a lot of investment into a new Itanium 64-bit architecture instead of adding 64-bit instructions to their X86 cores, which AMD eventually did for them, he pointed out.

Deep learning takes a fundamentally different approach than big or little x86 cores, explained Teich. Intels software folks saw deep learning coming, but their silicon architecture and design teams did not.
Researchers at Citizen Lab, a team that investigates surveillance technology, and Lookout Inc. claim that a little-known Israeli startup exploited unknown flaws in iOS to help foreign governments spy on their citizens.

As The Wall Street Journal points out, the surveillance software in question came from NSO Group Technologies Ltd. which is known to sell to governments. Researchers first became aware of the software earlier this month through a link sent to a human-rights activist in the United Arab Emirates.

The software, dubbed Pegasus, reportedly takes advantage of three flaws in iOS. Once installed, it acts as a surveillance device and can log messages, track movement and siphon personal data.

Apple on Thursday said it was made aware of the vulnerabilities and fixed them immediately, issuing an emergency patch (version 9.3.5) which you can download here.

Lookout VP of Security Research Mike Murray told the Journal that this is the most professional piece of spyware he has ever seen, adding that it operates in a way as to not attract suspicion. By that, he means that it doesn't drain a device's battery quickly and only transmits larger loads of data when on Wi-Fi.

A spokesperson for NSO told the Journal that they had no knowledge of the case involving the human-rights activist, adding that its mission is to help make the world a safer place by providing authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime.
Although there are therapies to treat melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, no full remedy is currently available for the life-threatening disease.

A breakthrough made by Israeli scientists, however, has uncovered how this form of skin cancer spreads to other organs in the body, a discovery that may revolutionize the treatment of the disease.

In a study published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, scientists from the Tel Aviv University in Israel examined pathology samples of early melanoma from patients before the disease entered into the invasive stage.

They found that before melanoma spreads to other organs, the tumor sends out tiny vesicles, small cysts or blisters that contain molecules of microRNA. The vesicles induce changes in the dermis of the skin to prepare it to receive the cancer cells and transport them further.

"To our surprise we found changes in the morphology of the dermis  the inner layer of the skin  that had never before been reported," study researcher Carmit Levy said.

After unveiling the mechanism, the researchers went on to look for substances that can intervene with and stop the process at the earliest stages.

They found two chemicals: the SB202190, which inhibits the delivery of the vesicles from the tumor to the dermis, and the U0126, which blocks the morphological changes in the inner layer of the skin even after the vesicles have arrived.

With their capacity to stop the processes involved in the spread of melanoma, the chemical substances show promise as drug candidates for treating the condition. Levy said their finding is an important step that can pave the way for the development of a full remedy for the disease.

"Since the first interaction of melanoma cells with blood vessels occurs in the dermis, our data suggest an opportunity to block melanoma invasion by preventing the formation of the dermal tumor niche," the researchers wrote in their study, which was published online on Aug. 22.

Survival rates are relatively high if melanoma is caught in its early stages but it is often fatal once it has spread. Levy explained that the threat of the disease is not in the initial tumor that appears on the skin but in the metastasis when the tumor cells set off to colonize the vital organs of the body, such as the brain, liver, lungs and bones.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma kills one person every 52 minutes and diagnosed cases have been rising over the past three decades.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Exfoliating soaps, toothpastes, body washes and similar other products that use microbeads may help keep your teeth and skin clean, but they can be harmful.

The tiny pieces of plastic may appear harmless, but the threat they pose to the environment and the food chain was deemed concerning enough that last year, the United States passed a law that bans products containing microbeads.

The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, which President Barack Obama signed in December 2015, will restrict production of cosmetic products that contain plastic microbeads in 2017.

The tiny pieces of plastic do not dissolve. They are also very small that they do not get filtered by wastewater treatment plants, so they enter bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and oceans, where they can be mistaken as food by marine animals such as turtles and fishes.

Aquatic animals that feed on these plastic pieces may suffer from health problems, stop eating or even die of starvation when the microbeads get lodged in their stomach or intestines. The presence of microbeads in these animals' body can also impact the food chain.

A 2013 study also found that harmful pollutants such as DDT also stick to the beads when they pass through pipes.

Phasing out beads in cosmetic products that are used in the United States may help reduce microbead pollution, but this is not enough since the use of products containing microbeads in other parts of the globe continues to pose threats to the environment.

Members of Britain's Parliament want to do something about this, so they call not just for a national ban on products that contain microbeads, but they are also calling for a worldwide ban.

"Trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world's oceans, lakes and estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain," said Environmental Audit Committee chairwoman Mary Creagh. "A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean."

Creagh said that the voluntary approach by cosmetic companies to phase out microbeads would not be enough as she calls for a full legal ban of the plastic.

Greenpeace is among the environmental organizations that welcomed the development.

"It seems like everyone is now in agreement with what seems really obvious  adding tiny bits of plastic to products that go straight down the drain, past sewage filtration systems and out to our rivers and seas to be eaten by wildlife is not such a good idea," the organization said in a statement.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX is set to transfer its operations on refurbished Falcon rockets to a new facility in Port Canaveral, Florida, an official from the port announced on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

John Murray, chief executive officer of Port Canaveral, said the California-based aerospace company intends to lease a 52,000-square-foot building in the north side of the port, which had served as a facility for Spacehab (now Astrotech Corporation). It is also planning to construct a second facility on a vacant land located across the first building.

The new buildings will serve as a hub for the processing of refurbished rockets and other functions for SpaceX.

"We're happy to announce that they're onboard," Murray said.

"It's good for the port, it's good for the community, and it's a high-visibility project. So we're really excited about that."

SpaceX is expected to submit a formal agreement to Port Canaveral commissioners as early as September in order to receive approval for the lease.

Murray said the aerospace company plans to move into the former Spacehab facility through a temporary property-use permit from the port. This would allow its engineers to assess whether the building is suitable for its refurbished rockets operations.

John Taylor, a spokesman for SpaceX, said that they are pleased to receive a permit for temporary use of the Port Canaveral facility. They will use this opportunity to find out whether it can fully support the company's business in Florida on a longer-term basis.

SpaceX has operated from two launch pads located at the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The company is now looking for a new facility where it can process its used rocket boosters.

Last week, SpaceX successfully landed one of its Falcon 9 rockets on a floating droneship following a launch of a Japanese-owned communications satellite.

The event marked the fourth time SpaceX was able to nail a landing at sea. It is also the eighth successful launch the company has made in 2016 and the sixth overall Falcon 9 booster it was able to recover since the start of its reusable rocket program.

Reducing Space Launch Costs

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk plans to make space travel more cost-effective by developing reusable rockets.

Most of the space launches that have been done so far involved the use of rockets that were either destroyed or unrecovered after blast off. This meant that space companies had to make new components each time a new launch is set, resulting in higher costs.

According to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, such a revolutionary technology could help reduce costs for launches by as much as 30 percent.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are understaffed in their teams that monitor the huge number of accounts featuring extremist content, and UK lawmakers are addressing this issue.

The lawmakers have branded the situation as "alarming" and filed a report chastising the corporations, which they claim are "hiding behind their supranational legal status to pass the parcel of responsibility." They argue that the tech companies refuse to take action even when specific cases are damaging to their brands.

The report, which was filed by the Home Affairs Committee appointed by the House of Commons, points out that the reputation of the companies as responsible actors will crumble if they do not address the issues that make the platforms a cyber-version of the Wild West.

The report highlights that among the social media platforms, Twitter stands out as it has repeatedly failed to weed out extremist content and report it to law enforcement agencies. The lawmakers also point out that the UK is one of the countries most threatened by radicalization and terror spreading via the internet.

The committee acknowledges that between 2015 and 2016 Twitter suspended 125,000 global accounts that were connected to terrorism, but it estimates that this is only a "drop in the ocean." In February, the social media said that unfortunately no tech company is able to devise a "magic algorithm" that can help identify terrorist actions and content on the internet.

Twitter explained that it has north of a hundred employees who are manually perusing posts related to extremism to make its platform a palatable experience. They decide whether to remove the content or to pull the plug on the respective account. Google and Facebook refrained from providing details about the numbers of their "censors."

Several reports surfaced lately about terror groups such as the Islamic State group (ISIS), which is using social media for communications, recruitment and propaganda.

"Its forums, message boards and social media platforms are the lifeblood of Daesh and other terrorist groups," notes Keith Vaz, a Parliament member and chairman of the committee. He goes on to say that the modern front line is the internet.

A recommendation from the lawmakers is that social networking enterprises cooperate closer with the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU), which is a specially designated unit inside the Metro Police.

The committee also suggests that the CTIRU get revamped into a state-of-the-art, central operational hub. In the lawmakers' vision, the unit should work 24/7 to locate threats in order to share pertinent information with different security agencies and officers of the law.

The leader of policy at Facebook UK, Simon Milner, underlines that his company has a zero tolerance policy on terrorism. He explains that Facebook deals "swiftly and robustly" with reports that unveil terrorist content. He goes on to detail that as soon as his employees find evidence of extremist materials, they delete both the content and associated account.

YouTube representatives have affirmed that content that incites to violence is removed, and it also makes a point of killing accounts run by terrorist groups.

In May this year, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Google signed a deal to keep closer tabs on online hate speech from European Union users who use their platforms. The reviewing process takes 24 hours and the reported content might be brought down if it proves to fall in one of the blacklisted areas.

Some companies are facing lawsuits in the U.S. due to the terrorist content from their webpages.

Probably the most famous such legal action was filed by the father of a victim of the Paris terror attack in November. The plaintiff argues that Facebook, Google and Twitter knowingly allowed ISIS to use their platforms as a way to disseminate extremist propaganda, recruit new fighters and raise money for its operations.

A number of proposals came from the UK MPs, such as transforming communities into better communication hubs. The Muslim Council of Britain was urged to do all it can to expose and remove those who spill extremist propaganda in the community of believers, leading to intolerance, hate speech or terrorist actions.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google's Android OS is very popular now with over 83 per cent of market share, across the globe. The operating system's open source architecture has been helpful in making it the most accepted mobile OS amongst smartphone brands and consumers.

Sometimes, this open source architecture has also allowed brands to play around with the OS by not following the standard guidelines. This ends up in poor user experience and security issues on the user end. Thus, it becomes quite challenging to spread awareness about the true Android experience. In-fact, Google has its very own qualification structure, which is known as a CTS certification, which most brands fail to follow, thereby creating a number of issues.

Here are a couple of challenges in the Android Ecosystem:

1. Fragmentation of Devices:

According to Android guidelines, only a certain set of screen resolutions and hardware specifications can provide the best user experience. However, a few brands tend to miss out these basic guidelines and thus end up in giving an unstable user experience.

2. Regular Software Updates:

Google suggests every smartphone manufacturer to provide regular software updates for every device for at least 18 months, to make sure, users get the latest Android experience. This also includes security patches and bug fixes. However, only a few companies actually follow this, again ending up in giving an unstable user experience.

3. User Experience:

As per the standards set by Google, a company should customize Android in a proper way, making sure that, Android is not taking away from the original path. But, thanks to its open nature, a lot of manufacturers are now coming up with unnecessary modifications, which are not as per Google's recommendations and thus, causing serious problems for end users.

4. Bloatware:

Pre-installed apps which come with most of the Android devices, apart from Google apps, are known as bloatware. These are actually not required by most users. Yet, they remain in the system and users would not be able to remove them. These bloatware also consume a lot of memory and space, which again is not going to give users a good experience.

5. Lags And Crashes:

Most of the Android users have complains about the performance, such as lags and crashes. These are because of the improper testing of the software. Most of the smartphone makers end up in not running the CTS (Compatibility Test Suite) on the software before delivering it to the customers as this consumes time and a lot of resources, again creating an unfriendly user experience for the end users.

----

Disclaimer: The author is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hyve Mobility. All views expressed here are personal and the Editorial of Techtree.com need not necessarily subscribe to any of it.

Android, Software Updates, Security patches, Bloatware, performance lags
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
BBC director of content Charlotte Moore has unveiled a slate of new drama commissions for BBC1 at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Actress Thandie Newton is to guest star in the fourth series of Jed Mercurios hit drama Line of Duty when it moves to BBC1 next year, produced by World Productions. Filming starts in Belfast next month.



Also from World Productions and Jed Mercurio is Bodyguard, a new six-part drama series. Created and written by Mercurio, Bodyguard is a contemporary thriller featuring the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch (RaSP) of Londons Metropolitan Police Service.

BBC1 has also greenlit an adaptation of young adult novel Noughts and Crosses.



Malorie Blackmans story of first love in a dangerous, adrenalized fictional dystopia is to be adapted by Levi David Addai with Matthew Graham and produced by Mammoth Screen.

Meanwhile, Red Production is making new Scottish drama Trust Me  an original character-led thriller written by Dan Sefton.

The four part drama series set in Edinburgh tells the story of Cathy, a hardworking and skilled nurse, who, having lost her job for whistleblowing, is forced to take drastic measures to provide for her daughter.



Also on the drama slate is The Split  a new original drama series from Bafta winning writer Abi Morgan (River, Suffragette, The Hour) and Bafta winning executive producer Jane Featherstone (Broadchurch, River, Humans), produced by Sister Pictures.



The Split examines the fast paced circuit of high-powered female divorce lawyers through the lens of three sisters  Hannah, Nina and the youngest, Rose. Hannah and Nina are leading divorce and family law lawyers working for rival firms, whilst Rose is still searching for her place in life.



Share this story
Senior TV industry figures have reacted disdainfully to Vice CEO Shane Smiths call in his MacTaggart lecture for broadcasters to air more meaningful content for younger audiences.



In his speech, Smith said that TV and digital brands must give millenials meaningful content rather than vapid and vacuous shit if they are to survive in a highly volatile marketplace.

He also said the media has to hand it over to the kids  to allow young people to shoot, cut and host content aimed at them.

Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt said: It was a rather extraordinary speech. She described it as the best defense of public service broadcasting I have ever heard, saying PSBs produced the kind of programming he was calling for day in day out.

ITV director of television Kevin Lygo hit out more directly. Im trying not to use the word odious he said.

BBC director of content Charlotte Moore suggested that Smiths speech might be pertinent for the US but less so for the UK market. In America it still feels like making that kind of content is really radical and really revolutionary. Networks do not show films about climate change or about women. That is why it is so important for us that we continue to value what we need to do here.

Skys managing director of content Gary Davey agreed that broadcasters all have encourage more young people to be active in the creative process. But he said UK broadcasters are already commissioning much of the content Smith advocated in his speech. There is an awful lot of that kind of content in this country, and we have a fantastic diversity of channel types and programme typeswe are effectively servicing lots of target groups. So I think he kind of missed the point. We are already doing it.

C5 director of programming Ben Frow was sceptical about Smiths call to hand over content creation to the kids. Frow said: We have done really well with 16-34s and I love encouraging young talent. But I am not going to hand over my entire budget to a load of kids and say Channel 5 is in your hands. It would be an absolute disaster.

Share this story
Lantern shops on Lac Long Quan Street in District 11 ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on September 15 this year. The business had it best days in the 1990s. Then came the invasion of electronic plastic lanterns made in China. Only a few of hundreds of the original families have stayed with the craft. Photos: Phuong Dong/VnExpress

But following news reports of toxic chemicals being found in Chinese plastic toys in recent years, Vietnamese paper lanterns have made a strong comeback.

One maker said the business was very bad until around three years ago. This year the family has received big orders and everyone in the family has to stay busy.

"Three generations of my family have been making these lanterns, Nguyen Manh Tung told news website VnExpress.

Nguyen Huu Phuc, Tungs 17-year-old son who is attending a local high school, helps paint the lanterns, a task he has done for around six years. Helping my family also helps preserve some beautiful traditional values.

The lanterns cost between VND14,000 and VND120,000 (US$0.6-5.4) a piece, depending on sizes.

A frame in the making. One artist said they use fine bamboo from the nearby Binh Phuoc Province.

A butterfly lantern gets the final touch.

Colorful rabbits and butterflies, being aired for the paint to dry.

Thu, owner of a lantern business, said insiders are happy about strong sales these days. But they are also worried about the high costs, which make traditional handicraft products less competitive than mass-produced toys.

Each lantern brings less than VND7,000 ($0.3) of profit, according to insiders.
Signage for Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. is displayed outside the company's headquarters building in Tokyo, Japan, on July 17, 2015. Photo credit: Bloomberg

Japanese insurer Tokio Marine Holdings plans to add agricultural, auto and life insurance policies to its offerings in Vietnam, the Nikkei Asian Review reported Thursday.

The Tokyo-based company will develop the agricultural insurance, which is not yet available in Vietnam, with a Vietnamese university, the newspaper said.

It said the government plans to cooperate with the firm in order to stabilize farm operations. Based on data and analysis on the effects of rainfall levels and temperature on crop yields, policyholders will receive payments when certain conditions are met.

For autos, Tokio Marine reportedly will work with Vietnamese dealerships affiliated with Japanese automakers to sell insurance to drivers when they buy new cars.

The company will also develop life insurance with Bao Viet Holdings, a local giant whose sales network spans 90,000 locations in Vietnam.

In May Tokio Marine raised its stake in Bao Viet Tokio Marine Insurance Co., a non-life insurance joint venture with Bao Viet, by 2 percent to 51 percent.

"With the middle-class population growing in Vietnam, demand for insurance policies will accelerate," Tokio Marines President Tsuyoshi Nagano said, as quoted by Nikkei. "We plan to make the Tokio Marine brand take root in Vietnam over the long term."

Official figures showed Vietnam now has 17 insurance companies, five of which -- AIA, Bao Viet, Dai-ichi, Manulife and Prudential -- controlled more than 75 percent of the market.

The Association of Vietnamese Insurers forecast the local insurance market to grow 20 percent this year.
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. ESO/M. Kornmesser/Handout via 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.

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. ESO/M. Kornmesser/Handout via Reuters.

"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.
The room at the judicial verdict enforcement agency in Vinh town from where more than 100 kilograms of seized ivory were stolen October 9. PHOTO: TUOI TRE



Police in the north-central province of Nghe An have arrested four people working for the judgment-enforcement departments, including in Vinh town, for allegedly stealing more than 100 kilograms of ivory seized from traffickers last year.

The town police arrested Pham Huy Minh, 39, an enforcement official, Thursday, after earlier taking in Dinh Thi Tra Giang, 32, cashier and storekeeper, Dang Ngoc The, 33, an office staff, and Ta Duc Anh, 36, a security guard.

The Vinh People's Court had seized 209 kilograms of ivory and kept them at the town's enforcement department pending an auction, but more than 100 kg, worth about VND4.5 billion (US$213,270), were stolen October 9.

Tran Van Son, finance director at the Vinh People's Committee, which has been entrusted with carrying out the auction, told news website VnExpress that wildlife protection organizations had asked to stop the auction since the tusks came from endangered elephants.

The committee had stored the ivory at the Department of Judgment Enforcement since it does not have enough space elsewhere, he said.

If the tusks, worth around VND7 billion ($332,010) are not auctioned, the court has to decide what to do with them, he added.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court Wednesday confirmed the death sentence for a Vietnamese-Australian for drug smuggling after a reinvestigation determined the drug amount was too big to commute the sentence.

Pham Trung Dung, 39, was arrested at Tan Son Nhat Airport in May 2013 when checking in for a flight to Sydney after customs officers suspected he had drugs in his luggage.

He was sentenced to death in April 2014 after police identified the powder as more than four kilograms of heroin.

The Supreme Peoples Court later ordered authorities to weigh the heroin afresh, and it turned out there were nearly 3.6 kilograms.

The judges ruled Wednesday that it was a huge amount that poses a threat to society.

Dung said he was in Vietnam for a family vacation and a local had asked him to carry the drug to Australia for a fee of US$30,500.

Vietnam has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty.

The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.
A district police chief in Ho Chi Minh City has been removed and transferred to the city police department for wrongfully launching a criminal investigation of a coffee shop owner, while his subordinates and a prosecutor have been censured.

Colonel Nguyen Van Quy was Tuesday removed as head of the Binh Chanh District police while Major Nguyen Hoang Tuan was removed as deputy head of the economic crimes unit and Captain Le Canh Tuan received a strong warning.

All three officers were suspended in April after a media expose of their wrongful action against Nguyen Van Tan, owner of the Xin Chao cafe in Binh Chanh Dist.

Nguyen Van Tan, owner of the Xin Chao coffee shop in Binh Chanh Dist.

According to media reports, Quy had proposed a charge of "doing business illegally" against Tan without sufficient basis.

District prosecutors agreed to pursue the case and indicted Tan in March this year.

A trial was scheduled for April, but was canceled after the case attracted media attention.

The prosecutor who issued the indictment was also censured.

City Party chief Dinh La Thang has promised to "review and regulate the police organization of the entire city."
The highest prosecutors office has arrested a senior official for auctioning a private resort in Hoi An after its owner refused to continue bribing him.

Pham Van Tuan, 52, head of Hoi An Municipal Civil Verdict Enforcement Agency was accused of taking tens of millions of dong in bribes from Nguyen Lam Huy.

Huy currently serves as the director of Tan Dong An Company, which owns the River Beach Resort.

He decided to auction the resort on July 8, after his demand for VND1 billion (US$47,000) in April was rejected.

Huy reportedly bribed Tuan because he wanted to delay a 2012 verdict that ordered him to pay back a VND67 billion 2009 loan from the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam.

According to the verdict, Huy had to pay the bank more than VND96 billion, including interest, due to a loan he secured by mortgaging his resort.

Preliminary investigation found that after the verdict was issued in 2012, Huy met Tuan at his home several times to ask him to propose a delay and interest reduction with the bank.

Tuan ordered Huy to pay tens of millions of dong per month to get him to defer enforcing the verdict. He also said that he was the only one who had the right to decide whether to auction the resort.

Huy agreed to pay the bribes because he wanted to continue operating the resort to generate enough money to cover his debt.

In April, Tuan demanded VND1 billion but Huy refused.

After Tuan held an auction and sold the resort on July 8, Huy filed a lawsuit against him.

The auction attracted complaints from shareholders who said it violated a recent deferral negotiated with BIDV.
Hua Thi C being handed over to Vietnamese border guards. Photo credit: Huu Viet/Tuoi Tre

A 24-year-old Vietnamese woman was repatriated Tuesday after being trafficked to China two weeks earlier.

The woman, identified only as Hua Thi C of Hai Phong, had moved to Quang Ninh Province with an unidentified man who promised to get her a well-paying job.

Her family tried to contact her but was unable to for several days, and feared she might have been smuggled to China.

On August 10 they reported her missing to the border guard in Mong Cai.

C, who had indeed been trafficked to China, managed to escape and took refuge with a Chinese family in Guangxis Dongfeng city.

The kindly family reported to the Chinese border guard, who then coordinated with their Vietnamese counterparts to send her back home.
Hanoi has decided to allow restaurants and bars in the downtown Hoan Kiem District to stay open through 2 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, easing a midnight curfew that has somewhat diminished the city's thriving nightlife.

Officials said at a meeting Wednesday that the new hours will take effect from the beginning of September, and may be applied to weekdays after the trial phase.

The businesses will have to follow regulations including age limits and noise levels.

Currently all restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and karaoke parlors in Hanoi have to close at midnight though bars and clubs at top-tier hotels and resorts are allowed to stay up until 2 a.m.

Nguyen Duc Chung, Hanoi's chairman, said certain bars have been breaking the midnight curfew, so giving them two extra legal hours will facilitate management and make sure tourists are properly served.

Chung alluded to a possible extension to the midnight curfew at a national tourism conference earlier this month, saying that many foreigners consider the night life in Hanoi a specialty, and the city should offer more of it.

Many tourists in the capital, as well as Ho Chi Minh City, have complained about the lack of night activities, with some saying they have nothing to do other than drink beer on sidewalks.

Hanoi, a 1,000-year-old city, has become a popular travel destination. It has been named the best value destination by TripAdvisor for three years.

The city received around 3.3 million foreign visitors last year and hopes to get 5.7 million by 2020.
Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 24, 2016.

Afghan security forces killed two gunmen who attacked the American University in Kabul, police said early on Thursday, ending an assault on the compound that killed at least one person and sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic.

The attack at around 6:30 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET) 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 pupils were working.

Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded.

"The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team. More details will be announced soon."

A wounded man lies inside an ambulance following an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 24, 2016.

Information on casualties remained uncertain, but the Afghan Public health Ministry said one guard was killed and at least 21 people were wounded, six critically. No foreigners were reported among the wounded.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Reuters earlier on Thursday that security forces had rescued around 500 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan's elite.

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," he said.

Ahmad Mukhtar, who also fled, said the gunmen had got into the university buildings despite security measures including armed guards and watchtowers.

Afghan policemen stand guard at the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 24, 2016.

"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 destabilizing 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.

A wounded man lies inside an ambulance following an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 24, 2016.

Taliban insurgents control large swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.
Students walk toward a police vehicle after they were rescued from the site of an attack at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 25, 2016.

Twelve people, including seven students, were killed in an attack on the American University in Kabul that sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic, police said early on Thursday, before the assault ended when two gunmen were shot dead.

The attack began at around 6:30 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday 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 pupils were working.

Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed during the attack, the second incident involving the university this month.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded.

"The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team."

The Afghan Public Health Ministry said no foreigners were reported among the wounded.

Students walk toward a police vehicle after they were rescued from the site of an attack at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 25, 2016.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, told Reuters that police had evacuated between 700 and 750 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan's elite.

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," he said.

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 destabilizing Afghanistan 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.

Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan August 24, 2016.

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 swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.
Indonesia's new Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong is seen before taking the oath at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia August 12, 2015.

Direct investment in Indonesian firms from foreign and domestic sources is expected to grow more slowly this year, the country's investment board chief said on Tuesday, noting that Southeast Asia's largest economy had lost out to Vietnam in the regional competition to attract funds.

Thomas Lembong, chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), said total direct investment from both foreign and local investors will likely grow 12-14 percent annually in 2016, excluding investment in banking, oil and gas sectors. That compares with 17.8 percent growth in such investment in 2015.

Last year, foreign direct investment into Indonesia was $29.3 billion, while locals invested 179.5 trillion rupiah ($13.58 billion), according to the board's data. The sectors that received the most funds were transportation, telecommunications, electric power and mining.

"We have to admit there is a regional trend where Vietnam ... has worked hard in the past 8 to 9 years to be an investment magnet and it is reaping the results now. Indonesia must catch up," Lembong told a press conference at the palace, after a limited cabinet meeting with President Joko Widodo.

The economy posted its strongest growth in 2 1/2 years in the second quarter, at 5.18 percent. But the government announced a $10 billion spending cut this month, that forced the central bank on Friday to trim its growth forecast this year to 4.9-5.3 percent.

Widodo, whose five year term ends in 2019, has prioritized improving Indonesia's investment climate. He has already streamlined some regulations and opened up dozens of sectors to foreign funds in a move that he described as a "big bang" liberalization.

To get more investors this year, Indonesia will review and drop more regulations that have hindered investment, said Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Jakarta will also monitor and improve the efficiency of permit handling in 10 provinces where Indonesia received the most investment, Lembong added.
The USS Nitze, a Guided Missile Destroyer is greeted by the spray of a fireboat to kick off Fleet Week in New York Harbor, May 24, 2006. Fleet Week will run through May 30, featuring extensive naval and military display for the public.

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.

It remains to be seen whether these actions were carried out by rogue Revolutionary Guard commanders or sanctioned by senior officials in Tehran, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"For four decades the Revolutionary Guard have been told that America is the greatest threat to the Islamic Revolution," said Sadjadpour. "This institutional culture hasnt changed after the nuclear deal," he added.

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.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Sunchon Chemical Complex in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on August 13, 2016.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test-fire of a submarine-launched ballistic missile and declared it "the greatest success" that put the country in the "front rank" of nuclear military powers, official media reported on Thursday.

North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Wednesday which flew about 500 km (300 miles). The South Korean government and experts said the launch showed technical progress in the North's SLBM program.

"A test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile was successfully conducted under the guidance of supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Kim Jong Un," the North's official KCNA news agency said.

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," KCNA said.

"He noted with pride that the results of the test-fire proved in actuality that the DPRK joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability."

The Sinpo South Shipyard in North Korea, home port of the GORAE-class submarine, is seen in a commercial satellite image released by Airbus Defense & Space and 38 North taken August 22, 2016. In the image, a heavy-lift construction crane is positioned directly over the missile launch tube located in the submarine's conning tower. Image taken August 22, 2016. Airbus Defense & Space and 38 North/Handout via Reuters.

DPRK is the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The KCNA report did not give the date of the missile launch as it customarily omits reference to the time and location of the country's leader's activities.

The test showed the solid-fuel missile's control and guidance system as well as the atmospheric re-entry of the warhead all met operational requirements, KCNA said.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries said the missile was fired from near the North's coastal city of Sinpo, where a submarine base is located, toward Japan. Japan said the missile reached its air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the first time by a North Korean missile.
"The UKs actions in Libya were part of an ill-conceived intervention, the results of which are still playing out today."
A roadside bomb killed an American soldier Tuesday near the capital of Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province, following the first major US deployment to the southern city since foreign forces withdrew in 2014.

The blast, which occurred during an anti-Taliban operation, left another American and six Afghan soldiers wounded, the US-led NATO coalition said.

The casualties came just a day after NATO announced the deployment of around 100 US troops to Lashkar Gah to help head off a potential Taliban takeover of Helmand's capital as fighting intensifies.

"One US service member died as a result of wounds sustained during operations near Lashkar Gah in Helmand," NATO said in a statement.

"The service member was killed conducting train, advise, assist activities with Afghan counterparts under NATO authorities when their patrol triggered an improvised explosive device."

The Pentagon said the troop's identity would be released after family were notified.

It marks the first American combat fatality in the country since January, when a US soldier was killed while conducting a mission with Afghan special forces in Helmand's Marjah district.

"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," US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a statement.

NATO said the soldier was not part of the new deployment to Lashkar Gah, which the coalition has called a "temporary effort" to train and advise local forces.

There are currently around 700 US troops in Helmand as part of a similar counter-insurgency training mission, NATO said.

Battle for Helmand province.

Fighting has recently escalated in the opium-growing province, with insurgents coming within a few kilometres of Lashkar Gah -- raising fears the city is at risk of falling.

'Serious' Taliban offensive

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.

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.

"This is a big effort by the Taliban. It's probably the most serious push we've seen of the (fighting) season," said NATO spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland.

But coalition forces have insisted that neither Kunduz nor Lashkar Gah are at risk of falling to the insurgents.

NATO officially ended its combat mission in December 2014, but US forces were granted greater powers in June to strike at the insurgents as President Barack Obama vowed a more aggressive campaign.

The US intervention in Helmand has fuelled the perception that foreign powers are increasingly being drawn back into the conflict as Afghan forces struggle to rein in the Taliban.

The fighting in Helmand comes as Afghan troops are stretched on several other battlefronts across Afghanistan -- including the eastern province of Nangarhar, where the Islamic State group is making inroads.
Heads up to prevent injury from falls Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. I also enjoy my walk because each day at...

Signs that point to the best time for retirement Ive been thinking a lot about retirement lately. One of our amazing staff members, who has been with Senior Concerns for the last 13 years, retired last month. It just doesnt seem real. I always thought of Dana as young. Certainly not the person to...

Rethinking the mandatory retirement age How old is too old for working at a job? Last week a news story hit my inbox and it really got me to thinking about age and retirement. The article noted that Target Corp. abandoned its mandatory retirement age of 65 for its CEO,...

Tips to promoting a healthy nights sleep for children Question: Help, please. My daughter is almost 2 years old and has been an easy child to put into her own bed. Yet in the past few weeks she is purposefully stretching out the bedtime routine longer and longer. She wants more: more stories, more...
Metro Council members' attempts to stall or force a vote on police residency became so convoluted Wednesday night that at times the parish's elected officials did not appear to know what they were doing or whether it was legal.

Votes were held when the ordinance sponsor was out of the room, council members went back and forth over the procedure for delaying the item for various lengths of time, and an objection was raised to holding the vote after the council members go up for reelection in the fall.

At one point, Councilman Ryan Heck leaned over to Mayor Pro Tem Chandler Loupe, who presides over Metro Council meetings.

"Do you understand what (councilman Buddy Amoroso is) trying to say?" Heck asked, to which Loupe replied only with an exasperated sigh.

Ultimately the item was deferred for an unusual 45 days and will be taken up again Oct. 12.

Following the shooting of Alton Sterling by a Baton Rouge police officer, Councilwoman Chauna Banks-Daniel tried to introduce an ordinance that would require all new hires at the police department to live within city limits.

However, the next meeting occurred shortly after the shooting of six police officers, three of whom died, and a coalition of Metro Council members blocked the item from being introduced. When the issue reemerged last month, there was a lengthy debate among the public and the council members, who ran out the clock on the meeting to force a delay by default.

+18 Time runs out on BPRD residency vote; Metro Council pledges reworked ordinance The Metro Council let the clock run out Wednesday on a major proposed change to the Baton Ro

The item was automatically deferred while council members were considering a motion to defer the item for 30 days, so Wednesday's meeting began with a call for a vote to kick the can down the road into September. Six of the 10 members present voted to do so, but they missed reaching the critical seven votes required to pass the substitute motion.

Faced with the possibility of a vote on the issue itself, Councilwoman Tara Wicker successfully lobbied that the item be pushed to later in the meeting because Banks-Daniel, the sponsor, had been absent when the vote was taken.

When she and fellow tardy councilman Trae Welch arrived, the item was revived, but its supporters tried to delay the vote again first by 30 days, which had already been denied, then by 90 days, to prevent the Metro Council from actually voting on whether new police hires should live in the city.

Councilman John Delgado objected to a three-month proposal, saying his colleagues should vote before November, when most are seeking re-election.

After some back and forth on their remaining options, Amoroso agreed to advance a vote for a 45-day suspension, saying that since the last council meeting he's been more worried about making sure his constituents have had food to eat instead of poring over policing studies.

The item passed on a split vote, with Welch and Banks-Daniel joining Donna Collins-Lewis, Erika Green, LaMont Cole, Amoroso and Wicker, who had previously supported the 30-day deferral. Heck had supported deferral but abstained when it came to 45 days, and Scott Wilson, Loupe, Joel Boe and Delgado voted against further delay both times.
A Baton Rouge man was sentenced to five years in federal prison Wednesday for his role in a multistate enterprise that trafficked heroin disguised as more expensive oxycodone pills.

Daryl Walker, 42, pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession with intent to distribute 6,000 heroin pills and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

Baton Rouge man pleads guilty to having 6,000 heroin pills, is part of larger trafficking probe, U.S. attorney says A Baton Rouge man pleaded guilty this week to federal charges stemming from a major drug tra

Federal prosecutors placed the value of the pills at $180,000.

"I made a mistake and tried to make some quick money," Walker told Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson at his sentencing hearing Wednesday. "I'm pretty much at rock-bottom right now. There are no more mistakes coming in my life."

Walker's attorney, James Spokes, told the judge that Walker is a family man who was employed when he got mixed up in the heroin case.

Jackson noted that Walker's last conviction was 17 years ago.

"You are the kind of man who doesn't have to sell drugs," the judge to Jackson, describing him as intelligent.

Walker, also known as "Shy" and "Chi," was one of 11 men indicted by a Baton Rouge federal grand jury last fall. Eight of the men are from Louisiana, and three are from California. Seven of the defendants have pleaded guilty.

Seven of 11 people accused in major California-to-Baton Rouge heroin pipeline have admitted to their role in the operation A California man admitted this week in federal court that he transported more than 30,000 he

The drug trafficking operation sent heroin from Mexico to California, where it was pressed into pills and shipped to Baton Rouge, then distributed to midlevel drug dealers before being sold in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes, federal authorities have said.

Eleven people, eight from Louisiana, indicted in heroin pipeline between California and Baton Rouge area Eight men from Louisiana and three from California were indicted by a federal grand jury fol

Some 35,000 heroin pills with a street value of more than $1 million were involved in the case, according to those officials.
As Louisiana flood victims work to navigate the assistance that is becoming available to them, FEMA crews are working neighborhoods, disaster recovery centers are opening and officials repeatedly have directed them to disasterassistance.gov, where they can apply online.

Chris Smith, director of FEMA Individual Assistance Division, has been in Louisiana this week, surveying flood-affected areas and spreading the word about programs that people may be eligible for that will aid them in the recovery process.

About 120,000 households have registered for individual assistance from FEMA to date, and the federal agency has authorized more than $130 million in payments so far.

Smith said he expects that figure will grow as people get past their immediate recovery needs and prepare for more long-range plans.

He said already the state has processed many applications that have been submitted online.

"This was more profound than some of the other recent disasters," he said. "It's been a good thing for survivors. It gives them an immediate entry into the system."

This week, as disaster recovery centers began to open, people sought out assistance in person  often experiencing long lines as they began to chart their way though assistance application.

On Monday, about 100 people were in various stages of the process at the New Hope Baptist Church complex in north Baton Rouge.

Donnie Langford rented a house on Antioch Road in south Baton Rouge. Floodwaters from Claycut Bayou started rising Saturday afternoon. By nightfall, he had driven to high ground with three dogs in his pickup truck.

He lost all of his possessions and as a renter did not have flood insurance. He had been at the New Hope Church about four hours and was sitting at his fourth station, waiting to talk to an agent about a SBA loan.

SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet to visit Baton Rouge on Thursday Maria Contreras-Sweet, administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be in Louisi

I might get some FEMA money, they said. But they wanted me to also fill out the paperwork for a loan too, Langford said.

Smith said that when people seek FEMA aid several factors are considered, including income level, housing impact and other immediate needs. The individual assessments, which in many cases include in-person property inspections, help determine what people are eligible for on a case-by-case basis.

SBA opening business recovery centers The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened five Business Recovery Centers to help com

FEMA also works to direct people to groups that offer other forms of assistance, he said.

Some are being referred to the Small Business Administration application process for low-interest loans for homeowners and business owners, particularly if their income level is outside the eligibility criteria for other programs. To date, the number of SBA referrals has been about 15,000 of the more than 100,000 applicants, Smith said.

"That's telling me that a small percentage of folks are being referred automatically to SBA and we are taking on a larger portion of the population to get them started on this," he said.

He said that much of the request for assistance to date has been for housing repairs. Rental assistance has also been one of the top components.

"There is substantial damage, but as far as our program is going and the criteria that we have set, it certainly looks like the repair money is jumpstarting," Smith said.

The Advocate's analysis of payouts in high-profile disasters found that although a federal disaster aid program can provide as much as $33,000 per household, grants typically were a fraction of that amount, averaging $8,000 or less.

Smith said that the cap has had little impact so far.

"I don't get a sense right now that we are getting a large percentage of folks that are hitting that cap," he said. "That's telling me that while in many areas the damages are severe, there is also insurance that is covering needs or the needs are not there."
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.
Social media helped connect area flood victims to family members and rescuers while the waters rose, but some insurance industry members say online chatter has been the source of bad information about what homeowner's policies cover.

For example, Facebook posts by Baton Rouge resident Kendra Trahan described how she was told that her State Farm homeowner's policy covered her flood damage because the water came out of the storm drains before flooding the house. The original post has been shared more than 3,000 times, as hopeful Facebook members advised flood victims to check with their insurance agents.

However, Jeff Albright, chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana, said coverage for sewer and drain backup doesn't work like that.

If a sewer down the street backed up, and a person ended up with 2 feet of water in the house, that damage isn't covered, he said.

Sewer and drain coverage only kicks in if the water comes up through the policyholder's tub, toilet, shower  any source within the house. A fair number of homeowner's policies include sewer and drain coverage, but that policy rider covers far less damage than the value of a house.

"So you might have $250,000 coverage on your house, but the backup of sewer and drain is only covered up to $10,000," Albright said. "If you got 2 or 3 feet of water in your house, this is not going to restore your home."

Trahan said she made the original online post after speaking to a State Farm claims handler. She told Trahan the flooding was covered by the drain backup. But a State Farm claims adjuster later told Trahan that it didn't sound like the flood damage would be eligible. Trahan and her husband examined their policy and discovered to their disappointment that the flooding had to come from inside the house.

"I told her exactly what happened. We watched it come out of the storm drain outside in the street, and go up the street and up to our house and all. I told her exactly, and she said, 'Oh, well you're covered for that under this,'" Trahan said. "And so we were all excited ... and we were hoping to help a lot of other people, too. But I think it's a no-go."

The adjuster is still coming out, but Trahan isn't hopeful.

According to State Farm, backup of sewer or drain coverage is not included in a standard homeowner's policy. The policyholder can pay to add that coverage, but the amount of protection can vary by policy. Homeowners should contact their agent for more information.

As far as Facebook posts go, State Farm isn't commenting.

"Rumors and things, that's not something that I'm really focused on. I think the most important thing is making sure that we're accessible, as we are, to our customers to answer questions directly," State Farm spokesman Roszell Gadson said.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said because many insurance companies allow policyholders to add sewer and drain backup coverage, it's possible that people bought it.

"I think the great majority will not have it," he said.

As of Sunday, State Farm had received about 7,260 homeowner's claims. The company did not know how many were water-sewer drain backup claims.

Flooding leaves behind damaged houses and cars It's still too early to tell how many cars, trucks and houses in the Baton Rouge area were d

Terri Forsman, flood risk coordinator with Louisiana Companies in Baton Rouge, said people in her office have talked about social media posts that said the flooding would be covered by sewer and drain backup riders.

"I hope for a lot of people that is the case. I'm going to tell you I don't think that's the case," Forsman said.

Louisiana Companies hasn't handled any claims for that.

Typically the sewer backs up through the tub and the toilet, she said. The flooding that devastated the area was definitely rising water.
Canberra friends have remembered Patricia "Trish" Riggs as a "dedicated and devoted mother" after her husband was charged with her murder in Queensland this week, nearly 15 years after she went missing.

Mrs Riggs went to Griffith Primary, Telopea Park School and Narrabundah College.

Patricia Riggs was 34 when she died in 2001.

She was just 17 when she married Edmund Ian Riggs, who on Wednesday was charged with her murder after skeletal remains were found in the family backyard in Queensland.

Much of Mrs Riggs' married life was spent in Canberra. She worked as a swimming instructor and was involved with the local home birth association. She and her husband had four children.
Speaking shortly after landing from a long flight from his hometown of Saskatoon in Canada, he said he relished the chance to meet more readers and learn about Australia's writing landscape.

The High Mountains of Portugal is a meditation on grief, split into three short stories.

The best-selling author of the Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi is in town this week as one of the stars of the inaugural Canberra Writers Festival, with the capital his first stop on a tour to promote his latest book.

The father of four young children said reading was of the utmost importance, particularly for people in positions of power.

"We live in a literate society, so if you're at the top of it, it strikes me you have to read," he said.

"A police chief, the head of a hospital, the head of a corporation, a prime minister - to me they should read because I don't know how else you can know the human condition. Otherwise you only know of your own tight little life.

"I'm not saying a book a week, but you have to have a book by your bedside table that makes you be someone else every night for at least 20 minutes before you fall asleep. That's enough. It's like a vaccination."

Martel has form when it comes to prescribing such self-help: he spent four whole years, from 2007-2011, trying to convince then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to read more books.
Canberra Liberal candidate and former radio host Mark Parton has been "trolled" online over a 2014 tweet in which he said "Canberra always does better under Labor".

The tweet referred to federal Labor, and was made in the context of a discussion on public service job cuts.

Mark Parton: Contesting preselection for the Liberals in Brindabella. Credit:Jay Cronan

He was replying to a jibe from former ACT Labor secretary Elias Hallaj, who wrote "Mark & the Liberals will never concede #Canberra always does better under Labor".

Mr Parton, then the breakfast presenter for 2CC, replied: "I do believe you are correct. Canberra always does better under Labor. No argument here."
While Police and Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell refrained from saying the ACT's firefighters are "crying wolf", his response to Wednesday's call for an additional 100 of them to be employed over the next four years can be read that way.

Members of the United Firefighters Union, many of whom still have vivid memories of what happened here 13 years ago, have launched a campaign targeting what they see as a lack of readiness to meet a similar challenge. The union wants people to quiz ACT election candidates on their stance on the issue.

Veteran Canberra fire fighters Commander Stephen Gibbs, left, and Station Officer Sam Evans at the launch of the United Firefighters Union Rescue Canberra's Future campaign. Credit:David Ellery

Mr Corbell, not unsurprisingly, gave himself and his government a pass mark on the way they have handled ACT Fire and Rescue and the ACT Rural Fire Service in recent years.

He lists as achievements the construction of new training and helicopter facilities, the replacement of vehicles, the construction of three new fire stations and an expansion of the Remote Area Firefighting Team.
I have a message for our Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and everyone who wants to condemn him in this month that we celebrated Homelessness Prevention Week in NSW. That is: guard against the constant drip of the media that would cheat you out of your humanity.

Sometimes I've been involved with something that has included a politician and I've been astonished by the venom which is poured upon them by social media in the aftermath. You may hold them in contempt sometimes, but politicians are often, I believe wrongly, on the receiving end of undue criticism.

Malcolm Turnbull gives $5 to a homeless man in Melbourne. Credit:Tracey Nearmy

Once Labor Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek made a wonderful gift to me by speaking at an event for which she had to sacrifice her time with next to nothing to gain for herself. After the event, social media was deluged with comments assuming the worst and lowest of motives.

It was wrong and a judgment not against Tanya but against our culture that is losing the possibility of seeing anything positive.
The primary reason our lawmakers must redouble their efforts to stop foreign bribery by Australian companies is as simple as it is profound; it increases the poverty and misery of some of the world's poorest people. It is a crime with moral, economic and political dimensions. Not only does it harm vulnerable people and enrich corrupt reprobates, it besmirches Australia's image and commercial credibility.

So, the latest revelations of dubious offshore behaviour, including allegations of outright criminality, should trigger widespread concern, even outrage. A joint investigation by Fairfax Media and the ABC's 7.30 program has uncovered evidence of offshore bribery of politicians and their cronies by an Australian company. Internal documents  which are now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police  from Perth-based miner Sundance Resources indicate it bribed the leader of the Republic of the Congo to win an iron ore project.

Not a good look.

And a separate Fairfax Media probe has discovered evidence, also now in the hands of the AFP, that offshore staff of the Snowy Mountains Engineering Company allegedly bribed officials to secure a sewerage project in Sri Lanka and, in partnership with a Canadian company, a power plant project in Bangladesh. This case, too, reaches to the very top of government; company emails reveal Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and one of his advisers allegedly demanded a political "donation" to be paid by the company when Mr Sirisena was a cabinet minister.

These are not isolated instances. Over the past decade, investigations by Fairfax Media and others have revealed allegations of foreign bribery by Australian companies including Tabcorp, BHB Billiton, Leighton Holdings, Sinclair Knight Merz, Worley Parsons, Lifese, Tenix, Thiess and Securency. The scandals are taking a toll  Australia has in recent years tumbled from seventh to 13th on the widely watched and respected Transparency International corruption perception index. Our findings buttress the case for stronger protection of whistleblowers. We reject the self-serving notion that Australian companies are merely complying with other nations' business cultures. Not only is that a morally bereft defence, it ignores Australian law against foreign bribery.
A 31-year-old Indigenous man has died in police custody in a Darwin jail, the second Aboriginal death in custody in Australia in as many months.

Northern Territory Police advised the man was found dead in his cell at the Darwin Correctional Centre early on Thursday. There was no evidence of foul play and it is understood he took his own life.

A spokesman for the NT Department of Correctional Services later confirmed the man was Indigenous and was being held on remand, awaiting trial. The department would not release the man's name or any further details.

"The body of the low security remand prisoner was discovered by correctional officers in his jail cell just before 6.30 this morning," the department said in a statement. "Correctional officers attempted to revive the prisoner but he did not respond to their resuscitation attempts."
A man who fatally stabbed his wife 56 times with a pair of scissors because "she did not obey the rule of marriage" has been sentenced to a maximum of 21 years' jail.

Mokhtar Hosseiniamraei, 34, will be eligible for release in 2030 after he serves a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months for the stabbing murder of Sydney hairdresser Leila Alavi.

In his sentencing remarks in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Robert Allan Hulme said Ms Alavi was "brutally killed" and her "dying moments must have been utterly terrifying".

"He killed his estranged wife in the most callous and brutal circumstances and in the context of a history of personal violence and threats to kill her. He was not deterred by being subject to an AVO," Justice Hulme said.
The man accused of killing British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung was Tasered and sprayed with pepper spray after lashing out at police and biting an officer.

Townsville Regional Crime Co-ordinator Ray Rohweder said Smail Ayad became violent against officers as they drove him from hospital to the Townsville Police Station, where he was expected to be formally questioned on Thursday.

He said it took half a dozen officers to subdue the man, who was Tasered and sprayed with pepper spray.

"As a result of that police received some injuries including cuts and abrasions but also a bite to the leg," he said.
Slain British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung hated having to leave the Gold Coast to work on farms in Queensland's rural north, according to her former Australian boyfriend Jamison Stead.

"She didn't initially want to go but we told her it would be an adventure and experience, so she saw the bright side in the opportunity," he told Fairfax Media.

She changed her mind because she wanted to extend her one-year visa in Australia, he said.

She often spoke about her dream to remain in Australia long-term and explore the country.
A British father has completed a desperate dash to Australia as his son clings to life and the man who allegedly tried to kill him in a fatal backpacker hostel attack prepares to face court.

Les Jackson flew into Townsville late Thursday night and was expected to head straight for the hospital to visit his critically injured son, Thomas, who had been in intensive care since an alleged stabbing attack on Tuesday night sent shockwaves across the world.

He declined to speak to media as he left the north Queensland city's airport with a police escort about 10.45pm.

Frenchman Smail Ayad, 29, is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court via video link on Friday morning, charged with the murder of 21-year-old British woman Mia Ayliffe-Chung and the attempted murder of Mr Jackson and the 46-year-old Australian, Grant Scholz.
Nic Naitanui has offered to meet the child at the centre of the Book Week blackface scandal.

In a message posted to Twitter on Friday, the Eagles star responded to the furore with kindness and tolerance, saying he would "love to meet the little champion reader".

The boy's Perth-based mother posted a photo on Facebook on Thursday of her son dressed up as Naitanui, with a black wig and his skin painted brown.

The big Eagle said it was the wrong thing to do - but education, not condemnation, was the answer.
For the first time, Independent Schools Victoria will next month host a seminar for principals and teachers examining why young people are driven to watch porn. It will also discuss the impact of pornography on relationships, and give teachers skills to discuss pornography with young people.

For the first time, Independent Schools Victoria will run a seminar on porn for principals and teachers.

It's a topic that makes parents squirm, and they avoid discussing it with their children. And according to experts, it's having a devastating impact on young men and their attitudes towards women.

It follows a spate of recent incidents where male students circulated offensive and graphic photos of females online.

A now former St Michael's Grammar student is being investigated by police over circulating naked photos of his female classmates, and last month, Brighton Grammar expelled two senior students who set up an Instagram account featuring photos of young girls and invited people to vote for the "slut of the year". A website which posted explicit photos of Australian schoolgirls is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police and was taken down last week.

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green said schools needed to consider some confronting questions about pornography.

"It's clear that schools face a complex challenge in addressing an entrenched society-wide problem - the fact that some men and boys still engage in totally unacceptable and abusive behaviour towards women and girls," she said.

Ms Green said the seminar had been planned months ago, but was timely in light of recent incidents. "There's an emerging concern that this behaviour is influenced by access to pornography that portrays women in demeaning and degrading ways," she said.
Prague: Czech police detained an unidentified local man who attempted to breach the motorcade of German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier Thursday, a police spokesman said.

Neither Merkel, nor anyone else was affected by the attempt, police spokesman Josef Bocan said by phone. The man was still being questioned by police, he added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Credit:Bloomberg

The attempt took place before 2pm on Thursday as her motorcade headed from Prague's international airport to the city center, Bocan said. Police found no weapons in the car but there were some items, including cobblestones, in the vehicle, he said.

Merkel's chief spokesman, Steffen Seibert, didn't respond to phone calls or a text message inquiring about the incident.
Jackson, Mississippi: Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage appeared on stage at a rally with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in this ruby-red state and said that if he were a US citizen, he "wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me".

Mr Trump summoned Mr Farage on stage in the middle of his Wednesday night appearance, shook his hand and surrendered the microphone to him.

Mr Farage said he would not actually endorse Trump because he did not want to repeat what he called US President Barack Obama's meddling in British affairs when Mr Obama urged Britons to vote to stay in the EU.

"I cannot possibly tell you how you should vote in this election. But you know I get it, I get it. I'm hearing you. But I will say this, if I was an American citizen I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me," Mr Farage said.
The commander of one of the agencies involved in the search for survivors says efforts could be called off on Thursday night local time.

Giovanni Coviello, the regional commander of the Forest Rangers, told the BBC that rescuers were continuing to dig through the rubble with their bare hands.

However, after resuing several children more than 17 hours after the earthquake, they were quickly losing hope of finding anyone else.

"I think they [any survivors] can survive for 12 or 15 hours more, but at the end of this [Thursday] afternoon we'll declare to stop the search," Mr Coviello said.

"Because we will not have a probability to find people alive."
Washington: 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 by the Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act.

"I try to block those out, but it is kinda hard to forget,'' Johnson told his care provider, according to the documents.
Exhausted rescue workers, their faces white with dust, continued to comb the rubble of earthquake-hit Italian villages as dawn broke on Thursday.

But more than a day since the 6.2-magnitude quake hit this mountainous region north-east of Rome, killing at least 247 people, most of those they found had perished in their collapsed homes.

Four communities were hardest hit: Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto. The ancient stone villages crumbled, burying their sleeping occupants.

There were still rare stories of survival as the search continued into the evening and throughout the night, under floodlights, with bare hands, chain saws, shovels and bulldozers.
Washington: Quite clever, actually - as GOP candidate Donald Trump frightens the pants off his most ardent supporters by backing away from his insistent plan to deport 12 million undocumented migrants "on day one", his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton set out on Thursday to make Trump a prisoner of the policy madness that has powered his campaign.

Successfully refocusing the campaign agenda, after days in which her controversial emails and the Clinton Foundation have been the focus, Clinton launched a blistering attack on Trump who, she argued, had facilitated a white nationalist takeover of the Republican Party, infusing it with "an emerging racist ideology".

It was a powerful attack, built in part on Trump's appointment of a new campaign chief executive - Steve Bannon, who until last week ran the hard-right Breitbart News, which Bannon has boasted is a platform for the so-called alt-right movement.

Clinton: "The de facto merger between Breitbart and the Trump campaign represents a landmark achievement for the alt-right - a fringe element has effectively taken over the Republican Party."
GAIKINDO Indonesia Auto Show (GIIAS 2016)







GAIKINDO Indonesia Auto Show (GIIAS 2016) Is the Window to the Growth of the Indonesian Automotive Industry

JAKARTA, Aug, 24 2016; The international automotive event, GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2016 has taken place since August 11-21 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), BSD, Serpong. Through this World Class Auto Show Series, GAIKINDO (The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries) encourages the Indonesian automotive industry and all its visitors to adopt an eco-friendly driving style and to use green technology, according to this year's theme, namely "Green Technology for a Better Future". GIIAS 2016 aims to strengthen Indonesia's position in the automotive sector worldwide through an international automotive exhibition. This exhibition is the only exhibition in Indonesia that is fully endorsed by OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles), the international umbrella organization for the world's automotive exhibition.

The GIIAS 2016 was concluded last week at 21/8, with a recorded number of visitors of 456,517 people. The highest number of visitors was recorded on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, with a total of 62,067 people.

Rizwan Alamsjah, the Chairman of the GIIAS 2016 Organizing Committee stated his exhiliration for the success of the GIIAS 2016. "We are very grateful that GIIAS can impress hundreds of thousands of people to come and visit GIIAS again this year. We really hope that GIIAS can be the window to the growth and the development of the Indonesian automotive industry".

Until the exhibition was concluded on Sunday (21/8) evening, there are a recorded sales of 20,384 units of cars from 25 brands, with a total value of transaction of Rp. 6.155.013.582.300,-. These achievement has exceeded last year's visitors and transaction that recorded 451,645 visitors and sales total of 19,380 car units valued at Rp. 5.7 trillion.

Romi, the CEO of Seven Events expressed his gratitude for the success of the GIIAS, and the smooth-running of the event. "This event will not succeed without the support and coordination from all parties involved, including GAIKINDO, the Ministry of Industry who has provided enormous support, the authorized brand holders and other supporting industries who participated in the exhibition, as well as the visitors and media who have covered this event. We really hope to be able to give an even better show at the GIIAS 2017 which will be held on August 10-20, 2017 next year".

See you at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2017.

About GAIKINDO Indonesia International AUTO SHOW (GIIAS)

GAIKINDO hosted the very first Indonesian Autoshow in 1986. In 2006 the exhibition reached a new level, becoming an international-scale exhibition endorsed by OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles), and changing its name to Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS), and in 2009 moved to a larger venue in Jakarta International Expo - Kemayoran.

In 2015 a new chapter began, as the GAIKINDO Indonesia International AUTO SHOW (GIIAS), now the largest in Southeast Asia, held at the spacious Indonesia Convention Exhibition - Bumi Serpong Damai (ICE - BSD), a new destination of the MICE industry in Indonesia. GIIAS 2016 will occupy 96,557 sqm, providing maximum convenience for visitors, transportation systems for easy access, and a series of shows that are both entertaining and educational. For more information, please visit www.indonesiaautoshow.com.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
For Dogs, its Trick and Treat Its almost Halloween, a great time to teach your dog a trick and give him a treat. Most trainers are fans of trick training. Its not as silly as it...

Muzzle is not a bad word If you see a dog in a muzzle, you immediately think the dog is aggressive. Right? Well, this is not always true. Unfortunately, seeing a dog in a muzzle carries...
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway on their wedding day (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Its hard to believe, but 2001 was a whole 15 years ago! Fifteen years ago today, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway married Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby in Oslos cathedral. Heres a look at some of the jewels worn by the bride and her royal guests.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Photo: All Over Press Norway/Getty Images)

Mette-Marit wore a bandeau of diamond daisies with her wedding ensemble. The tiara  an antique piece that was made around a century ago  was a gift from her new in-laws, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. It isnt a family heirloom, though; it was apparently purchased specifically for Mette-Marit.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Photo: All Over Press Norway/Getty Images)

I love when we get these kinds of images of the back of tiaras  this one is a really good view of the way that the tiara is positioned in Mette-Marits hair.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Mette-Marit kept the rest of her jewels to a minimum: small diamond stud earrings, silver-toned necklace with a tiny diamond pendant, plus (of course) her engagement and wedding rings.

Queen Sonja (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

For her sons big day, Queen Sonja of Norway wore one of the most important sets of jewelry in the Norwegian royal vaults: the emerald parure, which dates to the early nineteenth century. (Soapbox moment: its really a shame that, when worn with the countrys highest chivalric order, the emeralds look like Christmas decorations. Sign.)

Princess Martha Louise (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Princess Martha Louise, the grooms elder sister, wore a modern suite of jewelry with her own tiara, which she was given by her grandfather, King Olav V, as an eighteenth-birthday present.

The kings sisters were both present at the wedding as well. Princess Ragnhild, who has since passed away, wore the tiara of diamond and pearl circles set in platinum, which was made by Boucheron. It was a legacy from her grandmother, Princess Ingeborg of Sweden (who was born a princess of Denmark). Unlike the grand diamond tiara from Queen Maud, which returned to the Norwegian royal family, the Boucheron tiara stayed with Ragnhilds descendants after her death.

Ragnhilds younger sister, Princess Astrid, wore her elaborate diamond and turquoise circlet, which originally belonged to Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom. She paired the tiara with other diamond and turquoise gems.

Queen Silvia (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

The Swedish royal family turned out in force for the wedding. Queen Silvia wore the diamond tiara that once belonged to Queen Sofia of Sweden (and which is often called the nine-prong tiara). She paired the tiara with other diamond jewels, including a riviere with a pendant and diamond earrings.

Crown Princess Victoria (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore a tiara that has since become her signature piece: the Baden Fringe. (You can tell that this was one of Victorias early appearances in the tiara, because the base of the piece is still wrapped in gray velvet, as it was often worn by the late Princess Lilian.) Also of note: her diamond earrings, which are the pair taken from the stomacher that belonged to Queen Josefina.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden wore the sparkler that would eventually become her own bridal diadem: the Modern Fringe Tiara. She also used one of the familys diamond bow brooches to secure her order sash.

One more member of the extended Swedish royal family was present and wearing a tiara: Princess Kristine Bernadotte, wife of Prince Carl Bernadotte, who was the youngest son of Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden. If youre doing your royal genealogy math, youll note that Carl was, therefore, the brother of Crown Princess Martha of Sweden and the uncle of King Harald V of Norway. (He died two years later, in 2003.) His wife, Kristine (who died in 2014), is pictured above on the right (with Flemming and Ruth Rosenborg). She wears a small diamond tiara with arches; you can see a slightly better view of it over here.

Countess Ruth of Rosenborg wore the turquoise star tiara that was given to her mother-in-law, Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, as a wedding present by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. (Ruth has sadly also since died, as has her husband, Count Flemming.)

Queen Margrethe II (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

The only female guest at the wedding from the main line of the Danish royal family was Queen Margrethe II. She wore the Baden Palmette Tiara, pairing it with other diamond jewels. On her right hand, you get a glimpse of her unique diamond engagement ring.

Margrethes younger sister, Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, was present at the wedding, as was her entire family. Like Margrethe, she wore a tiara that she had recently inherited from her mother, the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark: Queen Sofias Star and Pearl Tiara. She also wore diamond earrings that belonged to Ingrid and some of the diamond stars from the collection of Queen Victoria of Sweden (Ingrids grandmother). Benediktes necklace is a part of the sautoir that belonged to Queen Alexandrine of Denmark.

Benediktes elder daughter, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, borrowed Benediktes Floral Birthday Tiara. She wore it with a seed pearl choker necklace. Bjarne Steen Jensens book claims that the necklace was one of Queen Ingrids christening gifts, given to her by her Swedish grandparents, King Gustaf V and Queen Victoria.

The tiara worn by Princess Nathalie, Benediktes younger daughter, is a bit of a mystery. Good close-up photos dont seem to be available of the piece, so making a certain identification is difficult. I tend to agree with those who think that this is Princess Dagmars Floral Tiara, which Nathalie would have borrowed from her aunt, Queen Margrethe.

Queen Anne-Marie (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

The youngest of the trio of Danish royal sisters, Queen Anne-Marie, was also at the wedding. Like her sisters, she also wore a tiara that she had recently inherited from Queen Ingrid: the Khedive of Egypt Tiara, which is also the familys wedding tiara. Anne-Marie is also wearing an aquamarine pendant that belonged to Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, plus a square aquamarine and diamond brooch that was a gift from a Greek shipping magnate. Also, note that her bracelets are also taken from the sautoir that belonged to Queen Alexandrine.

Princess Alexia (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Anne-Maries elder daughter, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, attended the wedding with her new husband, Carlos. Alexia wore the diamond tiara that many believe is her own personal property, possibly a coming-of-age gift from her parents. She wore her diamond drop earrings at her own wedding two years previously.

The Countess of Wessex (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

From Britain, the Countess of Wessex wore her own diamond wedding tiara to this wedding. Shes also wearing a pearl and diamond necklace given to her by her husband, Prince Edward, as a first-anniversary present.

Queen Paola was the female representative from the royal family of Belgium. (Mathilde was expecting a baby and did not make the trip.) Paola wore the diamond art deco bandeau that belonged to Queen Elisabeth, plus her diamond half-moon earrings and her convertible diamond necklace. Her order sash is secured by a crescent-shaped brooch.

Queen Maxima (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Shes the Queen of the Netherlands today, but in August 2001, Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti was still the fiancee of a prince. However, she did wear a tiara to this wedding: the diamond base of the Antique Pearl Tiara. Also notable among her jewels: the familys diamond and gray pearl brooch and her engagement ring.

Princess Laurentien (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands wore the familys Ears of Wheat Tiara with glittering diamond (and ruby?) earrings.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (whose husband, Grand Duke Henri, had been enthroned only a year earlier) wore the familys diamond and pearl choker tiara by Chaumet. She also wore a diamond necklace and diamond and pearl earrings.

Maria Teresas mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte, wore one of the tiaras that she donned during her own wedding celebrations: the Belgian Scroll Tiara.

One more royal lady from Luxembourg was at this wedding: Princess Sibilla, the wife of Prince Guillaume. She wore her beautiful (and convertible!) diamond art deco tiara with other diamond (and ruby?) jewels.

Queen Sofia (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Lets round out this jewel roundup with one more queen: Queen Sofia of Spain, who attended the wedding in the lovely Spanish Floral Tiara, pairing it with diamond jewels (including a diamond bow brooch).

Note: This is an updated and expanded version of an earlier post.
The recent price hike for lifesaving EpiPens is a nightmare for the people who need them and now cant afford them. But one of Donald Trumps top backers is hoping those EpiPens can become a financial bonanza. Hes bet hundreds of millions of dollars on the company that makes them.

As a result, hes connected to a headline-nabbing controversy that involves a storied hedge fund, a powerful pharmaceutical company, andnaturallyboth presidential candidates. As if 2016 wasnt interesting enough.

John Paulson is a billionaire, and he manages the Paulson & Co. hedge fund. Hes a generous supporter of Republican politicianshe gave a cool $500,000 to the Republican Governors Association in 2014, for instanceand hes one of the most powerful hedge fund guys to jump on the Trump Train. In June, he joined Trump at a $50,000-per-seat fundraiser at New Yorks tony Le Cirque restaurant.

And a sizable chunk of Paulsons cash is tied up in EpiPens. His hedge fund is a major investor in Mylan, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures them and raised their price by about 450 percent over the last 8 years, according to financial news site TheStreet. Paulsons hedge fund owns 4.33 percent of Mylans shares, as Morningstar.com shows; only four entities own a greater percentage of the companys shares.

As far as Paulsons portfolio goes, Mylan is a very big deal. Seeking Alpha notes that those Mylan shares are his single largest holding, comprising 10.14 percent of his funds investments.

Paulsons fund has been feeling a bit of pain lately. The investor may have become a Wall Street legend when he shorted the housing market before the collapse and made $15 billion for his hedge fund. That move has been called the greatest trade in history. But more recently, Paulsons fund has fallen on comparatively hard times. Bloomberg reported on May 6 that its five biggest holdings lost him more than $2.3 billion in 2016.

That brings us to Mylan, which is the funds biggest holding. Paulson bought 7 million shares in the company in April of 2015, according to filings that FirstWord Pharma highlighted. That took his investment in the firm from 15 million shares to the 22 million shares he currently holds.

So far, its been a lousy bet. Mylan shares are down more than 40 percent since their April 2015 highs. And the companys decision to dramatically ratchet up prices for EpiPenslifesaving medication that parents of children with severe allergies have to buy every yearhas, in the short run, only driven the companys valuation further down. But in the long term, it could help offset some of the struggles Paulsons firm has faced.

Some activists pushing for stricter regulations on Wall Street believe Paulson may be more than a passenger on Mylans wild stock market ride. They say hedge funds like Paulsons sometimes pressure the companies in which they invest to take drastic measures to rapidly increase profitsor else.

The activist investor class is very well known on Wall Street and is very well known among corporate executives, said Mike Kink, the executive director of the labor-backed Strong Economy for All Coalition. When your CFO walks into your office and tells you John Paulson has just taken a billion-dollar stake in your company, its like lighting a 400 degree fire under your desk chair. You know that there is someone looking over your shoulder.

Sometimes, he said, this means pharmaceutical companies jack up drug prices to boost profits and please investors. Last year, his organization analyzed 25 recent and substantial drug-price hikes. Their conclusion: In 20 of those cases, hedge funds, private equity investors, or other wealthy speculators were involved.

Out of the 25 drugs with the fastest-rising prices over the past two years, 20 are owned or have been acquired by firms with significant activity from hedge fund, private equity, or venture capital firms during the relevant time period, they wrote.

Kink said investments from hedge funds like Paulsons can make CEOs fear for their jobsthey sense that if their profits arent high enough, the fund will try to get them fired. Sometimes, fund managers write lengthy public letters berating CEOs for not making their companies sufficiently profitable. Other times, though, just increasing their holdings makes CEOs jittery.

Merely by making the investment, you send a signal to the CEO that should spike their heart rate and start them scurrying towards a path towards short-term profits, Kink said. It is no secret what these guys do.

A public relations representative for Paulson & Co. didnt provide on-the-record comment for this story, and Mylan didnt return multiple requests for comment.

Six years ago, Paulsons fund reported a significant increase in its Mylan holdings. GuruFocus.com reported that he increased his investment in the firm by 163.85 percent, hitting 30 million shares on June 30, 2010. Since then, the cost of an EpiPen 2-pack has gone from about $100 to more than $600, as NBC News detailed. Prices vary depending on what kind of insurance purchasers have and where they get the EpiPens. Tracy Bush, whose son has severe allergies, told NBC that she paid $220.99 for an EpiPen in 2010, and that this year, the price before insurance for the device was $1,118.08. NBC noted that Mylan has also raised prices on a host of other medications.

The price hike has generated universally negative news coverage, along with scores of critical headlines. But TheStreet concluded that the headlines wont hurt Mylans stock prices in the long run. They cited CitiGroup analysis that found pharmaceutical companies like Mylan can be risky bets, given higher risk inherent in some of these companies to drug pricing headlines. But TheStreet said that shouldnt necessarily deter potential investors; the site rates Mylan stock as a BUYthanks in part to its growing profit margins.

Paulson isnt the only Trump-loving billionaire whose hedge fund has invested in companies that jack up the prices of lifesaving drugs. Robert Mercer, who is co-CEO of the Renaissance Technologies hedge fund, is a major Trump booster who has growing clout within the campaign. Last March, his fund bet on a biopharmaceutical company called Gilead Sciences, shelling out about $88 million to make the company 0.21 percent of its overall portfolio, according to filings that Market Realist highlighted. The fund bet bigger in the final quarter of 2015, as hedge fund site Insider Monkey noted, increasing its holdings in the company by a whopping 727 percent.

In a write-up on the hedge fund, Motley Fool noted that the profitability of Gileads two Hepatitis C drugs make it appealing for investors. Those drugs are very expensiveso pricey, in fact, that Hillary Clinton singled them out on the campaign trail as evidence of corporate greed.

It is so expensive that a lot of Americans are being left out, she said last week, as The Hill reported. And you know what really is upsetting about this is that drug company sells that same drug all over the world at a much lower price to everybody else.

More recently, Clinton ripped Mylan for its EpiPen pricing. In a statement, she called the pricing outrageous and called for the company to lower it. That statement didnt note that Mylan is also a Clinton Foundation donor. The Trump camp, however, pointed that out to The Wall Street Journal and called for the foundation to return the contributions it received from the company, if Hillary Clinton is as outraged as she claims.

So Republicans arent the only ones wrapped up in the drug-pricing controversy. Heather Bresch, the CEO of Mylan, is the daughter of West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. She gave herself a raise after hiking the EpiPen prices, and a host of her dads colleagues have now called on her to explain herself. Price gouging, it seems, can be a bipartisan affair.
White nationalists started fundraising off of Hillary Clintons speech bashing them and the alt-right before she even delivered it.

Word about Hillarys attack on the Alt Right has obviously gone out to her supporters in the Main Stream Media, white-supremacist website VDare blasted out to its readers, asking for money. We need your help to fight [her McCarthyism] off.

All across the alt-right this week, its proponents were bristling with excitement. The far-right political movementdefined largely by racial resentments, anti-Semitism, nationalistic giddiness, Nazi internet memes, and enthusiastic support for Donald Trumps stand against political correctness and immigrantsis now achieving all the attention and free publicity it has long craved from beyond the margins of polite society.

I think it is great, William Johnson, leader of the white-nationalist American Freedom Party and actual former Trump delegate, emailed The Daily Beast. Our positions are just, moral and proper, so, if they are discussed openly then eventually we will persuade the hearts and minds of the public. She is doing the nation a great service by addressing usregardless of what she says.

Last week, Stephen K. Bannon, head of the alt-right-loving and relentlessly pro-Trump Breitbart News, officially assumed power as CEO of the Trump presidential campaign. The alt right rejoiced at the newsBannon had previously bragged to Mother Jones magazine that Breitbart now serves as the platform for the alt-right.

On Thursday, Hillary Clinton tried her hand at throwing the national spotlight on the alt-right.

Its like nothing weve heard before from a nominee for president of the United States from two of our major parties, Clinton told the crowd at a rally in Reno, Nevada. He is taking hate groups mainstream, and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party.

This is not conservatism as we have known it these are racist ideas, race-baiting ideas, she said, name-checking the alt-right as the paranoid fringe and racist. The de facto merger between Breitbart and the Trump campaign represents a landmark achievement for [the alt-right] which has effectively taken over the Republican Party.

The speech, which was announced on Tuesday, aimed to draw yet more focus to Trumps hire of Bannon, and the Trump camps embrace of the disturbing alt-right political philosophy, according to the Clinton campaign.

This alt-right brand is embracing extremism and presenting a divisive and dystopian view of America which should concern all Americans, regardless of party, the campaign continued. (Clinton herself described it as part of a hate movement.)

For Trump, Clintons speech on Thursday afternoon was nothing more than yet another instance of the oldest play in the Democratic playbook, smearing Republican voters as racists. For Team Hillary, this was yet another chance for them to try to damage Trump by inextricably tying him to a crew of trolls, writers, and activists deemed far too bigoted and toxic.

For leading voices of the alt-right, however, Clinton had just handed them all the free publicity they could have possibly ever wantedshe legitimized them, she made them more notorious and more mainstream. She was helping to finally make alt-right a household term, not just a fringe, reactionary sliver of 4chan, or Reddit, or Stormfront.

In fact, champions of the alt-right would love it if Clinton delivered more of these speeches and knocked them even more.

When your movement is going to be mentioned by name by the presidential candidate leading in the polls, you can safely say that weve made it, Richard Spencer, who runs a white-nationalist think tank called the National Policy Institute, told The Wall Street Journal. Our fundamental obstacle was people having no idea who we are.

Other prominent figures of the extreme-right movement found themselves annoyed at Clintons high-profile condemnation of the alt-right.

This is a subject on which I suspect she is in the most profound ignorance, said Jared Taylor, American Renaissance founder and white-nationalist thought leader. (He advocates for voluntary racial segregation and believes African Americans are genetically predisposed to crime, for instance.) This is a typical leftist attempt to discredit Trump because of his supporters, like me. Its the idea of saying, Look at this loathsome insect wo supports Donald Trump, well, Donald Trump must be a loathsome insect, too! This is a game only the left tries to play against the right.

Similarly, VDARE.com editor Peter Brimelow seemed unimpressed with Clintons censure, telling The Daily Beast, Well, I think George Soros will be pleased!

I think shes a dogmatic leftist who lives in a bubble and thinks yelling RACIST is a compelling argument, Brimelow said. Maybe [this speech] will rile up her base, [and] Id rather have her yelling at us than lynching some poor police officer.

Thursdays speech was hardly the first time the Clinton campaign leaped at the opportunity to call out the alt-right, Trump, and Breitbart, all in the same breath. Last week, after Bannons new gig was announced, Team Hillary immediately invited reporters on a conference call so that campaign manager Robby Mook could chastise Trump for turning his campaign over to someone whos best known for running a so-called news site that peddles divisive, at times racist, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

And now, the alt-right has more ears, eyeballs, and media attention on it than ever before.

Numerous news outlets, from The Washington Post to CBS News, have been forced to publish primers and explainers on the movement for their millions of readers. For at least the next few days, cable-news bookers will scramble to schedule interviews with its leaders. And with the blessing of Donald Trump, the alt-right has seized power within the GOPand the Democratic presidential nominee is reinforcing the idea that the insurgent far-right faction has remade the Republican Party in its own ethno-nationalist image.

If it were up to the movements leadership and activists, Clinton would denounce them every week.

Whatever she says will backfire on her for sure, Johnson said. If she says: Alt right is groovy! then her base will reject her. If she condemns us, then it publicizes us and legitimizes us in the eyes of the anti-globalists.

with additional reporting by Gideon Resnick
Donald Trumps immigration planwell, at least the one he has this weekcalls for banning thousands of people, including translators who risked their lives working alongside U.S. troops, and who still face the very real risk of death for assisting Americans.

We will have to temporarily suspend immigration from some of the most dangerous and volatile regions in the world that have a history of exporting terrorism, Trump said in a recent speech in Youngstown, Ohio.

Trump has not laid out a complete list of countries that will require a suspension in immigration, followed by so-called extreme vetting of immigrants. But according to various interviews he has given, Iraq and Syria would be on it.

Among the countless immigrants Trump would keep out are some 58,000 Iraqis and their dependents who worked in various capacities with the American military, diplomats, NGOs, and media organizations, and are awaiting approval to come to the United States, according to a 2015 State Department report.

Trump has tried to cast these people as potential terrorists. But Ryan Crocker, a veteran diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, sees them as heroes.

I dont see Iraqi interpreters as some kind of refugee. I see them as fellow veterans, Crocker told The Daily Beast. They fought with us and they are in jeopardy as a result. Somehow to categorize incredibly courageous and selfless individuals as an enemy is just a betrayal of what we stand for as a people.

Those who worked with American forces continue to face the threat of violence in Iraq. Ahmed, who asked to use a pseudonym because some of his family remain in that country, worked as an interpreter with the American military and eventually received a visa to come to the United States.

Iraqi militias and armed groups would probably pay money to identify interpreters who have worked with American forces, he told The Daily Beast. Most of those interpreters, when they worked, they didnt really consider religion as part of their job. They worked based on whats wrong and right, and decided to be on the side of the right these people dont deserve to be left abandoned.

Scott Cooper, a 20-year Marine Corps veteran with five tours in Afghanistan who works at the advocacy group Human Rights First, said that whether Trump favors a ban by nationality or his original ban of all Muslims, the result is harmful to our national security, to our reputation internationally I cant fathom anyone from either party who is respected and thoughtful proposing such wholesale bans of citizens from certain countries, or wholesale bans against Muslims, dozens and dozens of whom Ive served alongside.

Trumps national security plans come as the Senate has dropped the reauthorization of Afghan interpreter visas from its annual defense policy legislation, something that will need to be addressed in the fall, if Congress chooses to do so at all.

The signal all this sends, whether it be a failure to reauthorize a certain piece or a ban on certain nationalities, sends a chilling signal all around the world about what you can expect when you help Americans. And next time when we have a contingency, its going to be a little harder to get help, Crocker said, comparing the ban on nationalities to the Chinese Exclusion Act of the late 19th century, calling it morally, in precisely that category.

Trump campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, did not respond to a request for comment, and the American Legion stressed that it did not have a national position on visas for interpreters.

But as Trump prepares remarks for his speech to the vets at the American Legion national convention next week, he would do well to keep in mind their commitment to the foreign allies theyve worked with.

Veterans are overwhelmingly supportive of [their interpreters]. And they overwhelmingly support the program that allows Iraqi interpreters to apply for immigration to the United States, said Cooper, who runs an initiative at Human Rights First that focuses on refugees who are endangered due to work with the American military. On both sides of the aisle, theyre absolutely passionate about [this].

with additional reporting by Alexa Corse.
Stanford Universitys ban on possession of large containers of liquor on campuspart of a larger effort to reduce alcohol-related sexual violence at the universitywas swiftly condemned by victims advocates as a failure to properly address campus sexual assault.

But the bigger question is whether the ban will effectively reduce liquor consumption and its attendant high-risk behaviors at Stanford at all.

The new policy prohibits undergraduate students, including those over the age of 21, from possessing alcohol in 750 ml containers or largerthe standard size of a bottle of vodka or whiskey.

Stanford has been strategizing ways to address alcohol misuse on campus since last March, several months before Brock Turner, the Stanford swimmer, was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman outside a fraternity.

In a letter to students at the time, school president John Hennessy noted that roughly 100,000 college students around the country experience alcohol-related sexual violence every year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Stanford said the new ban is an attempt to meaningfully change the campus culture around alcohol. Many elite universities have mandated similar policies in recent years, either banning or restricting possession of alcohol on campuseswith mixed results.

Last March, roughly seven months after Dartmouth College officially banned hard alcohol on campus, a survey conducted by the school newspaper found that a vast majority of students85 percent of 1,745 survey participantscontinued to consume hard alcohol despite the ban.

Hard liquor has been banned at Colby College in Maine since 2010, and at nearby Bates and Bowdoin Colleges since 2001 and 1999, respectively. Both schools have reported reduced numbers of alcohol-related hospital visits since the bans were implemented.

But its unlikely that those reductions resulted from the hard alcohol bans alone. At Dartmouth, for instance, the number of alcohol-related trips to the local hospital dropped from 80 in 2011 to 31 in 2014before the liquor ban was implemented.

In 2001, Harvards College Alcohol Studya survey of 2,252 students at 19 schools with alcohol bans and 9,051 students at 76 schools without bansfound that students at colleges where all alcoholic beverages were banned were 30 percent less likely to be heavy episodic drinkers and more likely to abstain altogether.

But among students who didnt abstain, extreme drinking and alcohol-related problems were equally common at colleges with and without bans.

In the broader culture, experts disagree on whether banning or restricting access to alcohol and drugs reduces consumption.

Prohibition in the U.S. between 1920 and 1933 resulted in a 15-20 percent decline in the amount of alcohol consumednot a significant effect, said Jeffrey Miron, director of economic studies at the Cato Institute and an expert in the economics of illegal drugs.

Looking at a host of examples where a state or a country has tried to outlaw drugs or alcohol or even prostitution and gambling, theres some evidence that consumption of the good was moderately reduced, Miron said. But people continue to buy and sell the good in some kind of underground market.

He noted that Stanfords ban will likely not deter students from consuming hard alcohol on campus. Indeed, theres no ban on hoarding smaller bottles of liquor. Any resourceful college kid who wants to drink hard alcohol will find a way.

We understand why campuses are concerned about this because theyre supposed to be trying to follow the law, and there are of course excesses of drinking on campuses, he said. But this ban isnt going to fix those problems.

Kate Carey, one of the lead authors on a new study (PDF) on alcohol intervention at Greek organizations and a professor of behavioral and social sciences at Brown University, said that the ban may well be effective.

Stanford is implementing a policy which, in general, is a very effective way to reach lots of people and to potentially shape health behaviors, she said. Its an overall risk-management approach with the philosophy that if you reduce risks in that environment than any individuals of that environment, regardless of their personal risks, will be interacting in a safer social and physical environment.
Your reputation is amazing. I will not let you down, Republican nominee Donald Trump told InfoWars radio host Alex Joneswho believes the Sandy Hook shooting was staged by the governmentin a December appearance on his show.

Eight months later, Hillary Clinton reminded a crowd in Reno, Nevada, that Jones, a friend of former Trump adviser Roger Stone and a major booster of his campaign, is not only a conspiracy peddler whose site frequently purports that Clinton is near death and sells snake-oil pills and bulk survival food for the end times, but that he also believes the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary were planted by the government in a longtail effort to take away Americans guns.

Clintons speech was an effort to force Trump to disavow the innumerable fringe groups that have fully embraced his campaignor face the consequences of aligning with leaders like Jones, who once told his InfoWars viewership that government programs are producing people with gills and humanoids crossed with fish.

Over the course of her Thursday afternoon speech, Clinton tied Trump to the paranoid fringeincluding white supremacists hes retweeted, like the user @WhiteGenocideTM, or stalled in disavowing, like David Duke.

His latest paranoid fever dream is about my health. All I can say is: Donald, dream on, Clinton said in a speech largely aimed at branding Trump as a vessel that has given voice to white nationalism as a form of rejection of the establishment powers that be.

This is what happens when you treat the National Enquirer like gospel, she added.

Its what happens when you listen to the radio host Alex Jones, who claims that 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombings were inside jobs. He said the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre were child actors and no one was actually killed there.

The entire speech, delivered during a week in which Clinton has been dogged by reports of an untoward relationship between the Clinton Foundation during her term as secretary of state, served as a kind of news-cycle engulfing scorched-earth diatribe that somehow managed to do what every Republican in the primary was unable to accomplish: Make Trump appear as a destructive anomaly, and not a symptom of the GOP.

Clinton has been unabashed in her quest to embrace Republicans who find Trumps dalliances with white supremacists and conspiracy theories emblematic of a cancer within their ranksessentially, for better or worse, drawing in a number of major figures in former President George W. Bushs cabinet. And in this speech, Clinton even used Speaker of the House Paul Ryans words against the candidate he is supposedly backing, a kind of Jedi mind trick meant to shame the very people who have given the former reality television star a pass over the last year.

The man who today is the standard bearer of the Republican Party said a federal judge was incapable of doing his job solely because of his heritage, Clinton said of Trumps infamous fight with Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is at the head of an ongoing lawsuit against his scam operation Trump University.

Even the Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, described that as the textbook definition of a racist comment. To this day, hes never apologized to Judge Curiel, she said. But for Trump, thats just par for the course.

This is the summation of a message Clinton craftily drafted during the Democratic National Convention and has continued throughout the summer, as Trump flailed wildly from one controversy to the next. That message? Its OK if youre a Republican to point your finger at the partys standard-bearer, to condemn white supremacists that Trump excites, andeven as a Republicanto vote for Hillary Clinton.

In a pre-emptive maneuver before Clintons afternoon speech, Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Thursday morning that Clinton would call them racists for backing his candidacy.

The news reports are that Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and the millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racists, Trump said. Its the oldest play in the Democratic playbook. When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument. Its the last refuge of the discredited politician. They keep going back to this same well, but the well has run dry.

But Clintons message did not monolithically cast all of Trumps supporters as racists, but rather aimed to show off how his words and actions have given voice to white supremacists who have come out of the woodwork just for this one candidatea man that the fringe sees as its last chance for a white civilization to thrive.

Ive said everything that Donald Trump is saying and more, former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke told The Daily Beast last month before he announced his Senate run. I think Trump is riding a wave of anti-establishment feeling that Ive been nurturing for 25 years.

Unabashed support for a presidential candidate by a KKK grand wizard is not normaleven despite a year of sheer abnormality in American politics, and Clinton wanted to assure the American public that this is not the status quo.

Its not often a white nationalist ends up as a delegate for a Republican candidate, or makes robocalls on his behalf. Its not usual that a major party candidate indulges fringe theories like they emerged from historical texts. Its not a frequent occurrence for former and current KKK members to praise a voice in mainstream American politics.

This is what Trump has wroughtand is now attempting to put back in the bottle. And he only has 74 days left to do it.

Theres no other Donald Trump, Clinton concluded. This is it.

The truth is, shes probably right.
Donald Trump is, contrary to the imagination of his attorney Michael You Cant Rape Your Spouse Cohen, down in virtually every presidential poll. So on Sundays edition of Last Week Tonight, the inimitable John Oliver proposed that Trump should save himself the embarrassment of agonizing defeat and drop out, further explaining to the American people that the entire candidacy was a mere stunt to expose the flaws in the system.

And on Wednesday night, Late Nights Seth Meyers, who gave the Donald one of the greatest dressings-down of his life during the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner, not only echoed Olivers plea, but went one step further.

Earlier this summer, it became clear to us that it might actually be possible that Donald Trump does not actually want to be president, and that might explain why hes behaving so erratically on the campaign trail, said Meyers. So we here at the show made him an offer: if he dropped out of the race, NBC would give him a 13-episode scripted series where he would play the President of the United States. This is a fictional show where he would get all the trappings of the presidency and none of the responsibility.

Of course, Trump previously hosted the reality series The Apprentice on NBC, a D-list extravaganza that breathed relevancy into people like Gary Busey and Stephen Baldwin, and a show that NBC honcho Bob Greenblatt recently said consistently ran LAST in its time period, before describing the bloated real estate heir as demented, corrosive, and toxic. Trump was eventually let go from NBC after demonizing Mexicans during his presidential announcement speech, so Meyers offered him a return to the Peacock for $410,000 a yearmore than the $400,000 annual salary that POTUS makes.

Now, NBC has in no way approved of this show, joked Meyers. But unfortunately, as of today, Donald Trump has not accepted our deal. So I decided to do some reading on how to get a deal done, and I picked up this book right here [The Art of the Deal] from one of those guys in New York who sells books on the sidewalk, and what I realized after reading it is that leverage is key in a negotiation, and I realized that right now I have all the leverage.

He continued: On that note, I would like to say directly to Donald Trump: We are now decreasing our original offer. If you drop out right now, NBC will only offer you a 6-episode series for $200,000 where you would play the vice president toand I know you wont like thisPresident Chris Christie. Im sorry, Donald, he added. It breaks my heart. It breaks my heart. But you shouldve taken the offer last month.

Donald, the ball is in your court.
Mike Judge is always 10 years ahead of the cultural zeitgeist. Its his cross to bear.

He moved to Silicon Valley in 1987 to work for a startup, a decade before the dot-com bubble; he released Office Space in 1999, only for it to become a cult classic a decade later; and his 2006 film Idiocracy, depicting a future America overrun by morons and lorded over by an ex-wrestler, seems timelier than ever.

Its surreal, he told The Daily Beast of these Trumpian times. I didnt want Idiocracy to get popular by the world getting stupider faster. I guess I was 450 years off! But yeah, its a tad bit scary!

Fortunately, hes had far more luck in the TV arenahelming the animated classics Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, and recently wrapping up the third season of his hit HBO series Silicon Valley. The show, a hilarious send-up of the tech world, is up for a whopping 6 Emmy Awards this year including Outstanding Comedy Series.

When we were doing Silicon Valley I thought, man, we might be five years too late, he says. So maybe thats how I should operate from now ondo it if I think its 5-10 years too late. It is nice to have something be a hit right away.

The Daily Beast spoke to Judge about his critically acclaimed series, the real-life Silicon Valley, Peter Thiels crusade against Gawker, and much more.

Must be nice to have Silicon Valley be appreciated while its on the air. I feel like so many of your movies, from Office Space to Idiocracy, are only fully appreciated years later.

[Laughs] Its nice! Its been really great. Ive had other stuff do well but its been a while. I think Ive enjoyed seeing this do well maybe more than Ive enjoyed anything doing well in my career for a long timeexcept maybe the Beavis and Butthead movie. I always operate best when Im motivated out of the fear of something being horrible. Thats usually the best motivation: Having my name on it and thinking, Oh my god, this could be horrible and it has my name on it!

Lets talk about Season 3 of Silicon Valley. Where the hell did you come up with the idea of the dead elephant? Was that inspired by a real-life story?

We had a whole other plotline involving the story of Erlichs demise and a big expose on greedy tech jerks that became a big story, and she was going to sell the book rights to it. That was going to be the scoop. We were having trouble making it work and struggling with it in the writers room, and then Dan OKeefe just pitched, What if that elephant dies and they have to cover it up? It also came before Harambe.

[Laughs] Yeah, it came out before Harambe, too. In Season 3 you had the tech blog Code/Rag, which though it seemed to be named after Re/Code, struck me as more inspired by Gawker or Valleywag due to its snark.

With the tech blogs, some are more sensationalistic than others, so we were saying that in our universe this is our version of Gawker or Valleywagthe more tabloid-style ones. So many of the tech blogs have their tongues so far up the tech companies asses, so its nice to see an honest satirizing of it all in Silicon Valley.

A lot of them are owned by VCs! From when we first pitched it and it got green-lit, I saw this opportunity and could hardly wait to get in there and make fun of Silicon Valley. There was so much, and it hadnt been done. The movie Social Network I likedit wasnt satire, but a true storyand it was encouraging to me because I felt they did a really good job and I believed those people were engineers (which Hollywood usually doesnt get right, in my opinion).

The Social Network really inspired Silicon Valley? Well, Id wanted to do something about a tech billionaire as early as 2000, so Id wanted to do something in this area for a very long time. John [Altschuler] and Dave [Krinsky], who I co-created the show with, we had talked about [the movie] as a soap opera like Dallas or Falcon Crestbut instead of oil or wine money it was tech money, and a comedy. With Social Network, I watched that and got a little inspired by just the drama of itthat people programming computers, if done right, can actually be compelling. In the 90s, they kept trying to make computers sexy in all these movies, like The Net, and I felt they always missed the mark. But Social Network really got it right.

Silicon Valley couldnt have come around at a better time. We are living out Revenge of the Nerds, where the geek shall inherit the earth.

Its really true, and I think its affected social behavior, in a way. I get the feeling that nerds and straight-A students dont get their asses kicked the way they used to in high school. I get that feeling. You also, in L.A., see really, really good-looking people constantly talking about what big nerds they are in a fake, self-deprecating way. It seems to be related to how much money and power there is now with people in the tech world. At the same time, theres also this troubling communication deficit due to tech. A lot of people are walking around now with no concept of how to interface with people in real life.

Its jumped up a whole other level. When I walk around Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue you can just see all these people hunting Pokemonbecause I guess theres a lot of water Pokemon by the pier. I dont know I dont have the app. What are your thoughts on Pokemon-Go? I mean, my daughter got it immediately and I have some friends who play it. I get why its so popular. If I had more time on my hands I would probably download it and play with it, but I think it will spawn a whole new wave of games like that. Its the very beginning of something that will get much bigger. We explored invented reality and visited some AR and VR companies, and yeah, theres a whole new wave coming of this stuff. And we might do some of it on the show. Something Pokemon-Go inspired, too? No, not necessarily. Just the whole VR world thats blowing up right now. Well explore that.

What about the whole Peter Thiel vs. Gawker mess? That seems like a gift for you guys on Silicon Valley. So ripe for satire.

Well, weve kind of done a little of that with Gavin buying that blog. But its crazythe material just keeps coming. You know, [Thiel] didnt do anything illegal, its just interesting to see I find the whole behavior of billionaires as just funny to me. Theyre all

Very thin-skinned.

Yeah. From the get-go on the show, its billionaires with big egos, or even better, billionaires who are really sensitive. Its really interesting. I dont know the whole story, but what they did to [Thiel] was pretty unethical and uncool. Theyre not really good people, it seems like.

You need to have Peter Thiel cameo on Silicon Valley.

Yeah, I mean weve talked with him. I have met him and weve talked about that but it hasnt happened yet. But theres basically Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk thats kind of it and maybe Peter Thiel now, as far as people recognizing who these guys actually are.

The vindictiveness of the tech billionaire seems to be an overarching theme here, from The Social Networks Zuckerberg to Peter Thiel.

Yeah. Not everybody, but I think a lot of us are capable of being pettywe just dont have billions of dollars to back it up. Thats why its fun to watch from the sidelines. Also, I find it funny how a lot of these guys have the desire to build, like, a private island out in the ocean where you dont have to deal with the governmentand going to Mars. You can look it up, but theres this thing called The Last Resortwhich is a doomsday resort where, when the nuclear holocaust goes down, the billionaires will have a place to go. All of this stuff I think is really funny. Have you heard any criticism from Silicon Valley about the show? Ive heard Zuckerberg is a big fan and occasionally wears Pied Piper shirts to the office.

Yeah, I heard that too. I havent met him but Thomas [Middleditch] and I think Kumail [Nanjiani] have met him. But yeah, Sergey [Brin] and Larry [Page]the Google founderswore T-shirts from our show when they did the Ice Bucket Challenge online.But have you heard any feedback, positive and negative, from Silicon Valley bigwigs?Oh, yeah. Well, Marc Andreessen was live-tweeting during the show. Weve met witha lot of them are very privatebut Dick Costolo from Twitter actually came on as a consultant after he left Twitter last summer and was with us for several weeks. Weve actually gotten a lot of love from them. Drew Houston and the Winklevoss twins were on our show, and its been overwhelmingly positive.What about Zuckerberg? Any feedback?Not directly, no. Ive just heard from mutual people we know that he likes it and Ive seen a picture of him in a Pied Piper T-shirt. We tried to get him to do a cameo but were told that he doesnt do that. I think it would be great to get a cameo like that. Now I guess people might recognize Peter Thiel, too.

What are your thoughts on the state of MTV? The networks been shoveling shit for so long, but with the new MTV Classic it seems theyve finally begun to realize that their brand is in crisis.

Theyve had an identity crisis going back to when I first started doing the show there. They were already concerned because people werent watching music videos as much as they used to. When Judy McGrath was in chargeI always liked Judybut her struggle was always keeping it about the music, because she was all about the music. They did a lot of great stuff back then, I liked it in the 90s. Except the MTV Classic channel, from what Ive seen, plays just the Beavis and Butthead episodes from 2011. I hope theyll start to play the older ones. We cant put the music videos on DVDs or anywhere for fans because the bands only cleared them for the MTV channel, so in order to put them out you have to clear the music, the people, the bands, etc. Its just impossible.

Have you thought about revisiting Beavis and Butthead? I think itd go over like gangbusters.

It comes up every now and then. I think to do it again now, because we kind of did it again in 2011 and it did really well, but I think wed have to find some new way to do it. It would be fun to bring it back in some way and keep it alive, but I was glad to see that theyre doing this MTV Classic. Ive watched it a little bit and its a nice little flashback.
Holly Sanchez wasnt expecting anything monumental to happen when she asked her Twitter followers to donate pads and tampons to homeless shelters.

I didnt think that a tweet would go very far, Sanchez told The Daily Beast, adding with a laugh, It usually doesnt in my tweeting experience.

So the Chicago-based law student was surprised and very excited when U by Kotex contacted her to spearhead its Power to the Period donation drive, which runs through Sept. 30. So far, participants in this national drive have given more than 165,000 menstrual pads, tampons, and other period products to homeless shelters nationwide.

Despite recent media attention on the struggles faced by homeless women who have their periods, most people still dont think to include a box of pads or tampons when donating to their local shelter. These products remain, as the Los Angeles Times recently reported, among the most requested items at food pantries and homeless shelters.

And yet, according to a Harris poll that U by Kotex commissioned for the donation drive, a mere 6 percent of respondents had ever donated period products to a homeless shelter. Three times as many said they had donated other toiletries.

Sanchez first learned about that discrepancy while working at a womens shelter.

I was really surprised to find that out feminine hygiene products were the biggest request that we had and that it wasnt being filled, she recalled.

Left without access to period products, homeless women and girls often have to improvise. One 25-year-old woman told Vice that she had to go to a McDonalds and roll a tissue up and use it as a sanitary towel. Four other women recently told Cosmopolitan that they had to steal tampons, ask strangers for help, substitute paper towels for pads, and even use T-shirts as makeshift rags. And even when shelters do have products available, they are sometimes rationed due to a lack of supply.

Dealing with my period when I was homeless was one of the most embarrassing things, because sanitary napkins were very limited at the shelters andsometimes they would only give you one to three, one woman told Cosmo.

According to Sanchez, the main reason people dont donate period products is a simple one: People just dont think about it.

For those of us who can afford to buy these products every month, for those of us who dont struggle to provide this for ourselves, its not something that we think about other people needing, even though its a monthly occurrence for so many people, she said.

Cassidy, a 16-year-old participant in the Power to the Period drive, didnt realize that other girls might have problems getting pads until she met a crying girl in her high school bathroom.

I asked her if she needed anything and she said she started her period and was using wads of toilet paper as pads because she was staying with her mom in the shelter and that they had no pads there and her mom didnt work or have extra money, she wrote.

I was stunned, she continued. It had never occurred to me that all females do not have the necessary products when they have their periods.

So far, U by Kotex told The Daily Beast, Cassidy and almost 45,000 other participants have signed up to donate on the DoSomething.org page for the Power to the Period donation drive. And while everyone is encouraged to give wherever they can, U by Kotex is offering a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship to those who sign up for the drive. The brand is also promising to donate 75 cases of period products to each shelter selected by the top five competitors in about 20 sub-competitions.

As Jennifer Weiss-Wolf noted in The New York Times last year, there have been a variety of homegrown projects and partnerships around the country to encourage donations of period products to homeless shelters. Distributing Dignity, for example, partners with shelters and service providers in nine states, including California, New York, and Florida.

But according to Maahika Srinivasan, the campaign lead at DoSomething.org, Power to the Period is the first national drive for period products. The brand has also tapped Ingrid Nilsen, a popular YouTuber with more than 4,000,000 subscribers, to appear in a PSA for the donation drive.

Sanchez hopes that its enough to draw national attention to the issueand that the attention wont fade after the drive is over.

I hope that people donate a box or more for this drive but then continue to do that throughout their lives, she told The Daily Beast. Obviously this drive will end at the end of September, but these issues and this need wont.
Donald Trump may say hes  much better for the gays , but one of his most prominent backers tried to make support for gay conversion therapy an official part of the Republican Party platform.

Remnants of the effortled by Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, according to three sources who were thereremain: Some of the Republican Partys most ardent supporters are aghast at what they see as a hidden dog whistle in their official platform that implies support for the harmful and widely condemned practice used to try to change an individuals sexual orientation.

And even as the Republican presidential nominee has expressed support for LGBT rights , the issue continues to be a wound within the party that some in the partys right wing will not let heal.

It shows that there are segmentsIm sure a minority segment in the partythat want to overstep the bounds of the rules of government, politics, and the Constitution and reinforce this backward, harmful, damaging practice, which has demonstrated to lead LGBT individuals to become suicidal and kill themselves, Rachel Hoff, the first openly LGBT member of the Republican platform committee, told The Daily Beast.

Republican Party bigwigs gathered in Cleveland last month to debate their partys official policiesand away from the television cameras in an obscure subcommittee , included a watered-down allusion to a method that has been condemned by leading psychiatric and counseling organizations as potentially harmful.

Avoid any treatments that claim to be able to change a persons sexual orientation, or treatment ideas that see homosexuality as a sickness, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises, for example. Five states and the District of Columbia ban the practice.

Tony Perkinsthe president of the socially conservative Family Research Council and the receipient of a recent $100,000 pledge from Trumprose on July 11 to read aloud a long proposal that suggested parents had the right to send their minor children to gay conversion therapy, three individuals present in the subcommittee room told The Daily Beast.

Annie Dickerson, a Republican platform committee member from New York who is supportive of LGBT rights, immediately spoke up and called the proposal outrageous.

Perkins, who was a Republican platform committee member from Louisiana, then huddled with concerned Republican National Committee officials who appeared concerned about the topic.

When the proposal resurfaced for reconsiderationwithout any specific mention to what kind of therapy Perkins originally referred toit was eventually passed and is included in the Republican Party platform as follows: We support the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children.

Theres no reference to LGBT peopleor attempts to convert them. But the fact that the section is even in the Republican platform presents an outrage to pro-LGBT Republicans, who charge that even with the words omission, everyone knows that the language refers to conversion therapy, since it is what Perkins actually mentioned in his verbal remarks.

It went from explicit to implicit recognition, saving face for Perkins and giving him, at least, a dog whistle to his community, Dickerson told The Daily Beast.

I dont know any other therapy that is controversial that we would want to assert parental control over, Hoff asserted, although she was not present at the subcommittee meeting.

Despite the eyewitness accounts and contemporaneous tweets on the proposal by Times Zeke Miller, Perkins now insists he never discussed the topic of conversion therapy.

In the discussion of the amendment, there was no mention of conversion therapy, and the therapy was a part of the overall amendment that addressed medical treatment and abortion. Whether intentional or not, reports have been misleading in portraying this as being all about homosexuality when it was an issue of parental rights, Perkins told The Daily Beast. I am satisfied with the current language in the platform.

Perkins did not respond to a question about whether he had the original text of his proposal, or whether he in fact supports gay conversion therapy.

There is no available written record of the event. The Republican National Committee did not respond to a question about whether minutes were available but previously indicated that records for GOP platform subcommittee meetings were either discarded after the proceedings or not available for public review.

But even the perception among Republicans that the GOP platform includes a wink and a nudge in favor of conversion therapy may be enough to alienate voters. Indeed, it even alienates Republicans on the platform committee.

I would be disgusted if that was proposed, said Jessie Law, a Republican platform committee member who did not sit on the relevant subcommittee. The nature of the platform committee is that people who want to pontificate about the platform tend to be social conservatives.

Giovanni Cicione, another Republican platform committee member who was not present during Perkinss remarks, said that most people he knows consider it very odd and bizarre that were not having enough conversations about conversion therapy.

Pro-LGBT Republicans said the party needs to move past these sorts of issues to focus on broader topics of wide relevance to voters, rather than social conservative flashpoints.

We need to focus on whats really important: We need to keep our message in line of the priorities of the American people, with the priorities of Republican voters, and get these distractions out of the platform, Hoff said.

with additional reporting by Alexa Corse.
Like many aristocratic couples of their generation, my paternal grandfather, the writer Christopher Sykes, and his wife, Camilla, nee Russell, had separate bedrooms.

Camilla was a famous beauty in her youth and when I knew her, in her 70s, she still proudly asserted her right to look fabulous. Her room at their substantial house in a small Dorset villagewhere they had moved in 1952, having no further use for the city after the king diedwas an Aladdins cave of jewelry, powders, perfume, pills, shoes, and foreign clothing piled high on elegant mother of pearl-inlaid tables and overflowing from lacquered chests of drawers.

She entertained visitors, including her husband, on an upholstered love seat, a sofa that resembled two armchairs joined together but facing each other, thereby forcing you to stare straight into her eyes when sitting on it.

Christopher, a writer who was famous for his love of what in 1980s England was still considered to be an eccentric French pastry, a mysterious thing called a croissantvast quantities of which were bought at a specialist baker in London and frozen; not for nothing did we call him Fat Grandpahad a separate bedroom lined with his beloved history books.

He would sometimes emerge from here in the evenings wearing a glamorous silk dressing gown. His own room was tidy and very, very male. He couldnt have borne to be surrounded by Camillas fripperies. They both had separate dressing rooms as well.

The separate bedrooms were a simple acknowledgement of the fact that, although married, they liked their own space too.

However, I think even they would have drawn the line at the living arrangements of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, who have spent the past five years of their life living in separate wings of the 11th-century Arundel Castle after their relationship hit a rough patch. Georgina stayed in the more homey west wing, long the family home, while Edward decamped several hundred yards to the more Spartan east wing, which had been used to house staff in days gone by.

Happily, the duke has now moved back into the west wing, rejoining his wifethe queen, a close friend, is said by the Mail on Sunday to be delighted at the rapprochementalthough after all those years of enjoying their own space, it would be a fair bet that they are still sleeping in separate bedrooms.

For the Norfolks, their dispersal around Arundel Castle was a way to live separate lives while avoiding the trauma of divorce, which they refused to consider for both practical and religious reasons. The Norfolks are among the most senior lay Catholics in the otherwise largely Protestant United Kingdom.

They nobly refused an invitation to the royal wedding of William and Kate, as they did not wish to hypocritically sit next to each other.

However, the banishment of ones partner (or their own voluntary exile) to a dower house or distant section of the building is by no means a foible unique to the Northumberlands. It is a well-documented part of upper class British life.

A similar situation developed in the case of an Irish aristocrat I know. In this case the wife remained in the big house while the husband, who suffered from severe depression, moved into the gate lodge at the bottom of the drive.

What are we supposed to do? the chatelaine told me when explaining the developments a few years ago. Theres no sense getting divorced, or there will be nothing left for the kids.

She started an affair with a musician quite openly and encouraged her husband to do something similar. He did not, and has since died. Out of the tragedy, a glimmer of salvation is that the estate has been successfully preserved for her children.

The sheer size of most stately homes allows for troubled marriages to be given time and space to healor not healwithout outsiders being any the wiser.

And the tradition of separate bedrooms for the master and mistress of the house provides a useful cover behind which to hide marital breakdown. While not as completely standard as some reports suggest, separate rooms were certainly very common before World War II in any sizable house, even when the relationship was untroubled.

Marie Stopes, writing in 1918, advised provision of a single bed in a nearby dressing room for when either of the partners desires solitude.

The custom has even made its way into fiction: In Downton Abbey, occasional references are made to the fact that Lord Grantham has his own room, even though he usually sleeps in Coras bed.

The queen and Prince Philip observed the habit of sleeping in separate roomsa fact that was only made public after an intruder broke into the queens bedroom in the most shocking security lapse at Buckingham Palace on record.

The break-in was said to have been facilitated by the fact that the queen insists on sleeping with the windows openPhilip prefers the windows closed, hence his desire for his own room.

Prince Charles and Camilla have separate bedrooms at Highgrove, Charless house, but Camilla goes one step further and has kept her own family house, which predates her marriage to Charles and to which Charles is not, as a rule, invited. Its very much her place, say sources.

There is evidence that, as many of the middle classes now occupy houses of comparable size to small manor houses, they are starting to emulate this aristocratic habit. According to one survey, some 9 percent of married (or partnered) British couples now sleep in separate rooms. In Japan, the figure is 28 percent.

My grandparents would certainly have approved.
Syria continues to develop chemical weapons it is supposed to have destroyed, and to use chlorine gas it agreed not to use on the battlefield. This, according to reports from United Nations agencies that have been leaked in recent days by Obama administration officials and were confirmed in part by public statements from U.S. officials on Wednesday and Thursday.

It is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people, said a statement from U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price. (Chlorine was the first gas used in the trenches of World War I. When it mixes with the moisture in human eyes and lungs, it turns to acid with potentially fatal effects.)

Also very disturbing is the conclusion in the same report that the so-called Islamic State has used sulfur mustard gas, which causes skin and lungs to blister painfully, or fatally.

These leaks and statements are part of an administration effort to put pressure on President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian backers before an Aug. 30 meeting by the U.N. Security Council to look at the issue of chemical weapons in Syria, a U.S. intelligence official told The Daily Beast.

Why now? According to this official, the answer goes back to 2014, when the Assad regime was accused of repeated chlorine attacks, and the world shrugged its shoulders.

We werent getting enough political oomph when the chlorine attacks first came to light. So we figured the best option was to work through the slow UN process, get the Russians to a place where theyre cornered diplomatically, the intelligence official said.

Plus, the official added, finger pointing by the United States alone wouldnt be nearly as effective as collective action.

You know the way the Russians treat anything Syria-related, the official said. If we bring it forward, the Russians would reject it out of hand. So we helped OPCW [the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons] uncover it on its own."

In fact, the timing is politically problematic for President Barack Obama, and potentially for his favored successor, Hillary Clinton, since she is so closely identified with his administration.

We are looking at the third anniversary of Obamas Great Syria Failure, as many of his critics see it: the debacle in which he drew a red line against the Syrian regimes use of chemical weapons, and the regime stepped right across it, killing more than a 1,000 men, women, and children with sarin nerve gas on Aug. 21, 2013, in a Damascus suburb called Ghouta.

Days and then weeks of evident confusion followed, as Britains House of Commons bailed out of the planned multinational force bent on retribution, then Obama backtracked on plans to launch punitive attacks and put the issue before a pusillanimous Congress.

It was clear the American people had no stomach for a new Middle East war, and unclear just what the limited, tailored airstrikes planned by the administration might accomplish. Some American allies, notably the Saudis and the French, hoped those raids would open the door to an American intervention that could end the war, but that was never the administrations plan.

In the event, the red line seemed to be fading away completely, along with Obamas credibility, until, of all people, Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped in and pulled Obamas chestnuts out of the fire.

At Moscows direction Assad agreed to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, and fessed up to the extensive program and arsenal he previously had denied he had.

An inspection regime was pulled together, and over the course of the next year all those weapons, manufacturing facilities and precursor chemicals that Damascus admitted to having were collected and destroyed.

But, as The Daily Beast reported in May 2014, there were strong suspicions that Assad had some elements of a chemical weapons program, and some chemical weapons, he hadnt put on his declared inventory.

Privately, among officials at the OPCW in The Hague there was a common judgment that the vast majority of Assads chemical stockpile was indeed eliminated, but he might have kept enough of the sophisticated nerve agents to sow terror and buy time if he had to make a last-ditch stand. The feeling was that no certainty could be had that all the weapons were gone unless and until Assad is gone, but reasoning such as that, so close to the flawed rationale used for the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003, was not something anyone wanted to say publicly.

Still, we are looking at a situation today where the Obama administration has to confront the fact that its diplomatic coup of three years ago wasnt so successful as it would like to claim.

A 75-page document attributed to the director general of the OPCW, Ahmet Uzumcu, has been seen in part by reporters for Foreign Policy, who published an article about in on Tuesday. According to the summary they read, most of 122 chemical samples taken at multiple locations in Syria indicate potentially undeclared chemical weapons-related activities. Moreover, the summary said many of Syrias explanations are not scientifically or technically plausible, and  the presence of several undeclared chemical warfare agents is still to be clarified.

In a statement on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, only too aware of critiques aimed at the Obama administrations policies toward Syria, noted that Three years after the horrendous chemical weapons attack in the opposition held town of Ghouta, the international community must act to hold accountable those who act in defiance of such fundamental international norms as the prohibition of chemical weapons.

When anyonefrom any government or from any terrorist groupso flagrantly violates the global ban on chemical weapons use without consequences, it sends the signal that impunity reigns and it gravely weakens the counter-proliferation regime from which all of us benefit, she said.

It is essential that the members of the Security Council come together to ensure consequences for those who have used chemical weapons in Syria, Power declared.

But while that was possible, in fact, in 2013, the chances of such action now are slim to none. Since then, confrontations over Russias actions in Ukraine have poisoned the relationship, and its been almost a year now since Putin committed Russian air power to the defense of the Assad government.

Whatever proof there is of Assads duplicity, it is not likely to sway Russian policy. And regardless of U.S. strategizing, leaks and statements, without Putin on board, no significant measure sanctioning will pass the Security Council.

Perhaps they can all get together to opposed the use of mustard gas by ISIS.

Perhaps.
At a time when French police are patrolling beaches for non-"secular" swimwear, Canada has decided to allow its most iconic police officersthe Mountiesto wear the hijab.

Female Muslim officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Policethose Canadian cops on horsesmay now choose to wear a hijab instead of the Mounties' traditional Stetson hat, thanks to a change in uniform policy announced last week.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a progressive and inclusive police service that values and respects persons of all cultural and religious backgrounds, a spokesperson for Canadas public safety minister, Ralph Goodale, told CBC.

The RCMP has included women since the 1970s, and allowed officers to wear turbans since 1990, following a lawsuit by a male Sikh recruit.
Donald Trumps inner circle resembles nothing so much as a Bond villain casting call. Theres the exiled Paul Manafort, steely-eyed, hair-dyed, and bathing in blood money. His replacement Steve Bannon is ruler of the alt-right trolls, fanning the flames from his fortified Hollywood villa, known as the Breitbart Embassy. Off in the wings sit Roger Ailes and Roger Stone, the O.G. dirty tricksters, unrepentant Nixonistas still running the positive polarization play almost five decades later.

But before they can get Trump TV on the air, theres an election left to lose. And so theres still time to import reinforcements into their rogues gallery.

Enter Nigel Farage, the beer-swilling leader of the anti-immigrant, ethno-nationalist U.K. Independence Party, known as UKIP. These are the folks who gave us Brexit, the thunderbolt vote that yanked the Brits from the European Union in reaction to anxiety about Muslim immigration and globalization, spurring the center-right Prime Minister David Cameron to resign. Trade Britain First for America First and you get a clear sense of the continuity between conservative populists on both sides of the pond.

But while Farage hilariously declared during the Republican convention in Cleveland that some of Trumps comments are a bit out there, hes now gone full Trump, appearing alongside Con Man Donald at a rally in Mississippi Tuesday night, where he offered hope to Trump Poll Truthers by describing his epic and unexpected rout of the establishment in the Brexit vote. In yet another sign of how weird 2016 has become, Southerners cheered wildly while being lectured in a British accent.

But theres a dark logic behind Farages embrace of Trump, and Trumps reciprocal bizarre Twitter boast They will soon be calling me MR. BREXIT!

Keep in mind that Trump is not a conservative in any philosophical or policy sense. As the RNC and Speaker Paul Ryan have painfully learned, he isnt even really a Republican. Trumps new campaign CEO Steve Bannon has been in the habit of calling GOP congressional leadership cunts while offering this sage advice to his paid propagandists: Let the grassroots turn on the hate because thats the ONLY thing that will make them do their duty.

Trumps rise has exposed the absurdity of our view of politics as a contest that can be divided neatly into two warring liberal and conservative camps, under the Democratic and Republican banners. Much of the frustration with our divided, dysfunctional government can be traced to the fact that American politics right now has all the disadvantages of a parliamentary system without any of the advantages. We are so fragmented that the winner of an election is not empowered to implement his or her agenda.

Trump is not the leader of the Republican Party as much as he is the leader of our very own UKIP  a reactionary entho-nationalist party propelled by conservative populists who want to take their country back. They have little to nothing in common with the policies of George W. Bush, which helps account for why so many of his cabinet members are refusing to support the GOP nominee.

To extend the metaphor, the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democrats are the Labour Party of Jeremy Corbin, inspired by a radical liberal activist who believes that capitalism is the prime culprit in our society. Some of Sanders hardcore supporters have now logically drifted to Dr. Jill Steins Green Party.

That leaves Hillary Clinton somewhere in the middle, representing the governing partythe equivalent of David Camerons Tories and those remaining Blairites in this equationa broad coalition that spans the center-left and an increasing number on the center-right, those vaunted Republicans for Hillary. Led by a self-described pragmatic progressive national security hawk who bolstered her claim to the center by tapping Tim Kaine as her VP, for the moment at least the Democrats are the party of liberal ends achieved by moderate means, with an unfashionable tinge of global elitism baked in the cake.

Certainly, there will be some #NeverTrump-ers on the center-right who will cast a purposeful protest vote for Evan McMullin, and others who naturally gravitate to the Libertarian Party led by Gary Johnson and Bill Weld. But the likelihood that third-party candidates will break out of their customary 1% statuseven if they are denied the opportunity to debate on the same stage as Trump and Clintonis a sign of deeper fissures that cannot be ignored.

Donald Trump is a symptom of the problem, not its cause. Those Republicans hoping that this election cycle can be dismissed as a bad dream are missing their own culpability in shrinking their base through RINO hunt purges and the elevation of hyper-partisan, smash-and-grab media outlets like Breitbart, which now essentially runs their nominees campaign. Partisan media now controls the party.

Even if Hillary Clinton wins this election in a landslide, it is likely to be a negative wavea rejection of Trump rather than a full embrace of her persona and policies. This will only increase Hillarys obligation to solidify the center by continuing to reach out to the reasonable edge of the opposition, which will infuriate the increasingly influential activist wing of her own party. But thats exactly what will be necessary if she hopes to take a big electoral win and make it a realigning election.

The easy thing for Republicans to do after this election will be to paper over their deep divisions with the united purpose of opposing everything Hillary Clinton does. But the Trump/UKIP wing of the party holds the balance of power in their base, even if Main Street Republicans recognize that it is kryptonite to a general electorate. Because if Trump indeed decides to save face after losing big in November by translating his support into a far-right media empire, those divisive intra-party pressures aint going away.

In the long run, our political alliances will need to be reshuffled. When a plurality of Americans identify as independent, its a sign of market failure in our polarized two-party system. The fact is that reformers on the center-left and the center-right have far more in common with each other than they do with the extremes of their own parties. Likewise, the populists on the reactionary right and radical left share anxieties driven by the dislocation created by globalization, but coalitions need to be based on more than a common set of resentments.

Heres whats clear in this surreal and often sinister election: We have one party attracted to divisive demagogues while the other at least seems interested in governing.
Ellen Page and Ian Daniel are at the home of an Orlando man named Eddie.

Its been five days since his friends Juan Guerrero and Christopher Andrew Leinonen were killed during a friends 21st birthday party at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, two of the 49 people killed during the worst incident of violence against LGBT people in United States history, and the deadliest terrorist attack in the country since 9/11.

Eddie is straightening his tie and getting ready to attend Juan and Drews funeral. The boyfriends will be mourned together.

I already did my crying in the morning, Eddie tells Page and Daniel, the hosts of Vicelands Emmy-nominated docuseries Gaycation. Im feeling strong. Im feeling very hopeful. I went to the viewing yesterday. Its very hard to see the body of someone you love in a casket.

Page cuts in to make sure hes not late for the services. When they catch up with him at his house later that day hes fixing that tie again, this time because hes is heading to the wedding of his two gay friends.

In the span of an hour, bookended with Eddies story, we have relived fear, grieved loss, re-examined hatred and bravery, explored the idea of hope, and, coming full circle, celebrated the kind of love that abounded from the men and women who were reveling at Pulse that night.

Its ambitious breadth pulled off by Gaycation Presents: Orlando, a special episode of the series that aired Wednesday night on Viceland, in which the Oscar-nominated actress and LGBT activist and her filmmaker best friend traveled to the community in the aftermath of the mass shooting to parcel out portraits of grief, pride, and maybe even lessons learned.

Two and a half months after the June 12 massacre, Gaycation is one of two docuseries (following MTVs excellent True Life earlier this month) doing the admirable work of ensuring that the victims stories and the conversations the tragedy sparked remain in the spotlight after a fleeting news cycle has potentially moved on.

Over the course of the special, Page and Daniel interview Angel Santiago, a survivor of the shooting while hes still in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds. Two women shed light on the essential role the nightclub and its patrons served for members of the community who had been shunned by their own families. A vigil is visited, as well as one of the areas only LGBT-friendly churches.

Through it all, Page and Daniel wear their emotions on their sleeve: heartbreak, fear, anger, confusion, extreme empathy. Its an unorthodox style of reporting a documentary, but its a crucial and effective one in this case.

Activist Nancy Rosado, who works for the nonprofit Mision Boricua, remembers the chaos at the hospital the morning after the shooting, with families crowded around trying to find out if their loved ones were among the victims being treated, or, worse, deceased.

When a hospital worker read out the names of those being treatedall Latino names, read before their Latino familiesthe pronunciations were so mangled that the families couldnt understand, heightening their worry and confusion.

When you have to stand in a puddle of someones blood to fight for your people, you realize how marginalized you really are, Rosado says, choking back tears. Page begins full-on weeping, and the three eventually envelop each other a long group hug, sobbing.

Page and Daniel are effective because they are conduits for the audience, who are both voyeuristically curious about what the experience of living through this tragedy has been like for this community but also still experiencing heightened emotions about its scope.

For the people they are interviewing, theres something about them that radiates compassion and an open hearta friendly ear for a message that needs to be heard, and for people to feel comfortable enough to share it.

Angel Santiago recalls the night of the massacre in harrowing detail, from dancing with his friend Jeff to hearing the gunshots to hiding from the shooter in the handicap stall of the bathroom. We were all very quiet in there, everyone was, Shh shh he says. And thats when in our bathroom the shots started coming at us through the stall wall.

Santiago got shot in his foot and his knee. Jeff was shot in the collarbone and was bleeding profusely. Little by little, Santiago managed to army crawl his way out into the hallway, where a member of the SWAT team shouted at him to put his hands up. When he replied that he couldnt stand because hes been shot, he was instructed to drag himself over, after which to SWAT men quickly dragged him out of the club and into an ambulance.

Jeff also survived.

Several people have said to me that I was brave, I was strong, Santiago said. I guess I was strong. But in terms of bravery, I was scared.

He talked about growing up religious, and trying desperately to convince himself he wasnt gay. That it took him until he was 26 to accept his sexuality. That when he gave an interview on TV after Pulse, in which he had to admit he was a gay man, it was something he could never imagine having done five years before. This whole event awoke something in him.

Im no longer ashamed of who I am, he says, getting choked up. As a matter of fact, Im proud.

The rawness of these emotions is key in telegraphing to viewers the pain of a tragedy like this, from all different facets. But the special wisely steers clear of victim exploitation or tragedy porn. Stories like Santiagos are effective, and as captivating as they are hard to watch. But equally valuable in the special are segments devoted to the conversation the shooting started.

The scramble to find out who the shooter was is revisited: his motive, whether he was attached to a terrorist group, whether he was gay and closeted.

In one dark night, the Pulse shooter brought to light some of Americas most divisive issues: intolerance for the LGBTQ community, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and gun violence, Page says. We may never know of his motives, or if his loathing was for himself or others. But the tragic outcome has left 49 dead and forced Orlando to grieve and process hate.

Theres Fahad, who moved to Orlando from Pakistan after his family disapproved of his sexuality. He is no longer a devout Muslim, but he worries how having a Muslim name might affect his life in Orlando. Had he been at Pulse during the shooting, he admits, he wouldve been considered a suspect.

People need to understand that it wasnt a religion that pulled the trigger that day. It was more of an ideology. An ideology of hate, he says. The ideology could come from anywhere, that has nothing to do with any religion. Its ignorance, intolerance, and when you just cannot respond to somebody, you bring in religion.

Then theres Patty Sheehan, the first openly gay commissioner in Orlando, who shepherded Page and Daniel around the makeshift memorials that were erected outside the hospital where the victims were shuttled and the city council building.

Visibly moved by the gestures on display at the memorials, she hopes theres a deeper action taking place. You cant just say the murders wrong, she said. You have to say all the discrimination, all the hatred, everything that happens is wrong. She and Page break down in tears again.

The special ends with Page and Daniel exploring the idea of the gay bar as a safe space, a place of refuge and acceptance for the community.

The sacredness of that haven has been violated, its role as a space for freedom and celebration tarnished. For any gay person who has not just internalized what happened at Pulse, but who also has now been subjected to bag and security checks when entering their favorite neighborhood gay bar in the months since, this is a painful truth.

Still, when Page and Daniel make their way to Parliament House, Orlandos oldest gay bar, the encounter a dance floor teeming with the LGBTQ community, even though its been just days since the attack.

In this moment, under the dim light, it becomes clear, Page said. We are not just dancing together. We are standing together.
Can-do says Harviestoun Brewery

British craft brewer, Harviestoun, is to offer the option of three of its top beer brands in cans. The expansion follows the firm's most successful year to date.

Schiehallion (4.8% ABV) lager and golden ale Bitter and Twisted (4.2% ABV) are the first to enter the new format, adding to the brewery's existing offering of cask, keg and bottle (500ml & 330ml).

The range has secured Scottish listings in 80 Tesco stores and 95 Sainsburys stores and is expected to roll out UK-wide in the coming months.

The first batch of 41,500 cans will arrive into stores today, retailing in four 330ml can packs with an RRP of 6.

Growing international demand in Europe, North America and China coupled with distribution deals with Majestic Wines, Gleneagles Hotel and D&D London has seen turnover increase by 50% since 2013.

Production has also doubled, increasing capacity to the equivalent of 4.5 million pints a year.

Recent investment of 400,000 in new equipment has supported the growth in production and the creation of 7 new job roles has taken the firm's staff count to 21.

Toby Knowles, MD of Harviestoun Brewery toasted the expansion, saying: For over 30 years, Harviestoun has been driven by a desire to pioneer and innovate.

Our canning program is a symbol of our commitment to asking what next for craft beer? and creating an unforgettable drinking experience for beer lovers in the UK and beyond.

The last 12 months have been an incredibly exciting period of growth for Harviestoun. During this time we have never lost sight of our commitment to consistency, flavour and quality, which is why we believe Harviestoun continues to grow in popularity.

So whether cask, keg, bottle or can, we are confident our award-winning core range, renowned for drinkability and innovation, will be enjoyed in ways as individual as the people who drink them.

25 August 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor
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.
June 23, 1983 - August 16, 2016

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." --G.K. Chesterton

During the First World War, an English poet and soldier named Wilfred Ownwho watched his very young comrades die following exposure to chemical weaponsquestioned the long-held belief that "it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country." However, he failed to recognize the equally tragic loss that occurs when those of us who do live long enough to become veterans then suffer every day for it, agonizing in private and personal silences that stretch for a lifetime after the service we render to our country.

My name is Matthew Douglas, and although I loved my roles as a husband, father, friend and family man, I died Tuesday, August 16, 2016, after losing the longest battle of my life, with PTSD acquired during my servicetwo tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistanas an infantryman for the 101st Airborne Division. At the time of my death, I was 33 years old.

I was born on June 23, 1983, in Grand Island, Nebraska, where I would spend most of my childhood and adolescence. My parents were Scott Douglas and Lorraine "Lori" Kreider, and while I did spend two years with them in Colorado when I was very young, I moved back to Nebraska to live with my mom and brother and sister when I was four years old (after my parents divorced); we used to call ourselves "the four pack" since we were tightly knit and thought of ourselves only as a single unit. My brother and sister are: Jason Lee Douglas and Cassandra Kay Douglas-Papp. As a young man, I participated in Big Brothers, Big Sisters and was mentored by my good friend, Ron Woijeski, who mentored me by taking me fishing, birdwatching and on excursions to his family farm. These trips helped me to develop a love of nature. Around this time, I also realized my love for horses as I spent time with my Grandpa Jack and Grandma Betty Coatney at Altoona Racetrack where Grandpa worked as a Thoroughbred trainer. There, he taught me about patience, communication and building trust with other people and animals. These lessons were especially invaluable to me after age fifteen, when I decided to adopt a retired racing Greyhound named Makeup Eyes; we were together for seven years, and since she came into my life, I have always owned a dog, including my most recent canine companion, Tank, who helped me deal with my anxiety and complications related to PTSD.

When I was 17, my mom's job took our family to Burley, Idaho, where I enjoyed outdoor living and improved upon my skills as an avid hunter and fisherman. Additionally, I worked hard to develop my talent for drawing and especially loved pencil sketches; I also tinkered on cars with my brother, Jason (when we weren't busy getting on each other's nerves, as brothers and best friends often do). I graduated from Burley Senior High School with a single goal in mind: I wanted to join the Army. While my mom was nervous during our discussions surrounding my becoming a soldier, she was also supportive, but she was more than a little mad when I returned home after a weekend of fun in Boise to tell her that I had already joined up. Still, she hugged me tightly as I left for Boot Camp, then moved on to my post in Georgia where I received training as a sniper. She continued praying for me, our family and our country through the events of 9-11 and my subsequent deployment to Monsol, Iraq, where I spent a year before returning home to Texas. Later, I returned to Iraq for another tour, this time to Ramadi. There, our movements were greatly restricted, so I was on base a lot; care packages from home kept me focused during this time. Even so, after two tours, I had received wounds to my knees, back and hipas well as the unseen scars every soldier carries with him after combatso I took an early discharge to return home in 2007 and received a Purple Heart.

By then, my life had changed dramatically after I had married my first love, Nicole, and she gave birth to our daughter, Emma, who has had my heart with her for 8 years now. With Emma, I shared my love of country music, as well as my devotion to the Pittsburg Steelers. Eventually, Nicole and I parted ways, and I met the love of my life, Brittany Hunter, as we both worked together for Cognizant Technologies, with my position being that of Building Manager and head of Security Staff. (Incidentally, I loved my job and away from work, I continued to hunt and fish, as well as to study karate at Montoya's Shorin Kempo Karate Jitsu in BryanI was blessed to meet many friends, wherever I went.) Together, Brittany and I have five beautiful and vibrant children, including: my stepson Shawn Lapaglia, my daughter Emma, our son Jack Douglas, our daughter Riley Douglas and our newest addition, Gunner Douglas. It was with Brittany that I truly learned the meaning of love, loyalty, devotion and sacrifice as I worked to provide for the family with which God had blessed me. In being a dad, my favorite moments came both on big occasions, such as the days my children were born, and on smaller ones, like the time we went to Legoland in Grapevine together. Over time, I have learned that any day spent with the people you love is a good day, and keeping a sense of humor is the secret to a happy life.

I know that sometimes, tough guys don't say much about such tender things as faith and family, but for me, life was built on both. Since I wasn't able to spend much time with my dad while growing up, I was determined to be the father I had always wanted. With PTSD, I struggled with the demands of daily life as a family man, even though I loved Brittany and our kids with every beat of my heart, with every breath I took. Despite the demons I foughtand maybe because of themI know that God lives, that I am also one of His sons and that He knows my heart. I've carried a Bible into combat with me, and during dark days, I've often taken comfort in it; I trust that the messages shared in it are true and that God's promisesespecially to those that love Himare sure. I have found peace and comfort in my Savior Jesus Christ, who rose to live again, and through Him, I know that I will too. He is the Friend in whom I have trusted most, and I have tried to love others as He loves me.

Missing me now are my wife Brittany, our daughters, Emma and Riley, and our sons Shawn, Jack and Gunner; my mom, Lori Krieder, my brother, Jason and my sisters, Cassie and Stasha. I am also survived by my grandmother, Betty Coatney, my grandparents, Louise and Bob Young, Aunt Cheryl Werre, Uncle Dennis Werre, cousins Dennise and Michael Werre, Aunt Susan Hansen, Uncle Jeff Hansen, cousins Jordan and Brody Hansen, Uncle Samuel Coatney, Candice Coatney, and my cousins, Calina and Tristan. My father, Scott, and my Grandpa Jackfor whom my son is namedwere here to meet me; we look forward to getting to know each other, once again.

Come join my family in celebrating my life (Steelers and Camo Gear Preferred!) on Saturday, August 27, 2016, at Hillier Funeral Home in College Station beginning at 2pm. The celebration will continue with a receptionincluding my favorite: steak & potatoes..and instead of sending flowers, spend that money on helping others. I recommend Brazos Valley Cares at brazosvalleycares.org.

I have a tribute page at www.hillierfuneralhome.com where you can share some of your favorite memories with my family.
July 16, 1926 - August 22, 2016

Davis A. Fahlquist, a beloved husband, father, friend, and professor at Texas A&M University, a geophysicist and a groundbreaking researcher, has died in Bryan, Texas.

He celebrated his 90th birthday with family and close friends in July. Davis lived in Bryan with the love of his life of 29 years, Phyllis Fahlquist.

A private funeral service will be held. A celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date.

Davis was hired by TAMU in 1963 as the lone professor of geophysics in the Geology Department, then later had a joint appointment in the Oceanography and Geophysics Departments. In 1979, he became Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Geosciences, where he was highly regarded for his compassion toward students.

He always enjoyed teaching and was a winner of a TAMU Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in 1992.

He taught at TAMU until 1996, when given emeritus status.

Before coming to TAMU, Davis spent an important part of his career at sea, mapping the geologic formations that lie beneath the ocean floor as a geophysicist with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts.

He became fascinated with geophysics in the early 1950's, just as academic research and the military needs of the Cold War were propelling intense interest in mapping the seabed of the oceans, and of more interest to Fahlquist, the rock formations beneath the seabed.

It was a revolution in the understanding of how the earth is formed, and he was excited to be involved.

Davis was to be the Chief Scientist of a research cruise when his research tools and vessel were confiscated by the US Navy to search for the downed Thresher submarine. Don, his son, remembers being at the christening ceremony for Alvin, the famous deep sea diving submersible. His daughter, Lynne, remembers meeting Jacques Cousteau at the dedication of the TAMU Oceanography and Meteorolgy Building; Fahlquist had known Mr. Cousteau many years earlier.

Later in life he talked fondly of ocean expeditions to the Mediterranean Sea where explosives were thrown overboard, the echoes from the bottom providing images previously impossible to obtain. The techniques the researchers developed proved valuable not just to the Navy and academia, but also for commercial uses such as oil drilling.

Davis was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 16, 1926, the son of Dorothy Were Armstrong and Frank Edwin Fahlquist. When he was young, his father was a civil engineer and geologist on large reservoir projects in the U.S. and abroad; which no doubt fueled Davis' interest in the earth sciences.

When World War II began, Davis enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and was sent to the Pacific Theater. He was stationed in Hollandia, New Guinea, where he used his skills to repair machinery in preparation for the U.S. invasion of Japan. Decades later, he remembered his emotions when it was announced that an atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima, ending the war. "It meant I would live," he said.

Davis went to Brown University on the GI bill, earning a bachelor's degree in physics (1950), and earned his PhD in geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1963).

Davis married Shirley Sanborn in 1952 and they had 5 children: Donald, Lynne, Scott, Lisa and Leigh. Shirley died unexpectedly in 1968. Davis raised his 5 children as a single parent, with the support of many wonderful friends in Bryan-College Station.

Davis married the second love of his life, Phyllis (Carmel) Mendelson, in 1986 and counted her three children, Michael, Joan and Susan, as his own.

Davis was also a humanitarian. He was a strong advocate for minority and women's rights. Upon moving to the south at the time of segregation, he selected the only family doctor in town who would treat African Americans. He worked to improve minority recruitment at TAMU. And he was a member of the League of Women Voters for many years.

A kind and modest man with lifelong friends, he loved talking with his children and grandchildren, including them in his love of travel and a lifelong interest in the natural world.

Davis is preceeded in death by brother Earl (Jane), first wife Shirley, and grandson Ryan.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Phyllis Fahlquist, his children Don (Barbara), Lynne (John McCulloch), Scott (Soly), Lisa, (Tommy Lukens), and Leigh (Tara), Michael Mendelson, Joan Mendelson (Dan Stober), and Susan Fogal (Tim); grandchildren Daniel (Brandy), Laura (Jayson Smith), Dena (Ted Kircher), Erin and Caelin Lukens, Anna, Adam, Kate (Rob Tuck), Andrew and Rachel Stober, Benjamin and Adam Fogal; and great-grandchildren Ryan Smith, and Alex and Zoe Tuck.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to local charities such as Brazos Valley Food Bank, local animal shelter or Unitarian Universalist Church of Brazos Valley.

Share memories of Davis at www.hillierfuneralhome.com
As Ronald Reagan said, 'trust but verify' Trump's claims

About a quarter-century ago, The Eagle ran an article about an area nudist camp. The accompanying photo showed the bare upper back of a mother with her young daughter. There was nothing remotely revealing or sexual. The photo and article unleashed a firestorm of comments which ended one Sunday with a full page of letters.

The top of that page had a box with letters from two pastors. One raged that the photograph was a sign of loose morals and the impending doom of the country. The other wrote that he had forgotten his reading glasses but was thrilled to see a beautiful picture of the Madonna with child. I knew whose church I wanted to attend.

The stark contrast between the Republican and Democratic presidential conventions reminded me of that photograph. The darkness, the fear and the near-hate promulgated by Republican speakers contrasted sharply with the optimistic, inclusive Democratic tone. The past few weeks of campaigning have not changed my impression of those made-for-television spectacles. Contrast the implications of "I alone can fix this" with "stronger together."

Possibly the most disturbing of Donald Trump's flip-flops is his failure to release his tax returns. He claims to emulate Richard Nixon and campaign as a "law and order" candidate. Trump should instead emulate Nixon and every other major presidential candidate since then and release his tax returns as he promised to do. Even his much vilified opponent, Hillary Clinton, has released her returns back to 1977.

As Ronald Reagan proclaimed, "Trust, but verify."

By refusing to release his returns to verify his financial claims, Trump gives us no reason to trust him. Instead of trust, we wonder, quite reasonably, what is he hiding.

JONATHAN COOPERSMITH

College Station

Schedule of Munson Avenue repairs shows poor planning

Why was it necessary to tear up Munson Avenue between Francis Drive and Lincoln Avenue months before the actual resurfacing was going to be done? This shows poor planning and an utter disregard for the taxpaying public.

BRIAN HANSON

College Station
What we know so far about alleged Iowa serial killer Donald Studey
The Soviet Union officially fell on Dec. 25, 1991, but before its collapse, the country was highly focused on science and technology discoveries.

Now, nearly 25 years later, some of the Soviet Union's sites that were of great importance to technological progress have become abandoned, places frozen in time that have lost their significance.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

STRATFORD  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 Construction 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.

More News Stratford man dies in Westport construction accident

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.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

NORWALK  The Harbor Management Commission isnt giving up on its battle to keep contaminants from running off the Yankee Doodle Bridge.

The bridge carries Interstate 95 over the Norwalk Harbor and is home to 92 bridge deck drains, many of which dump water directly into the harbor.

To the commissions dismay, the Connecticut Department of Transportation planned $30 million overhaul of the bridge wont change that. As such, the commission plans to assemble evidence for the DOT to consider.

If the DOT was not agreeable and we had to argue with them about the source of the contamination and the sediment, we thought we could do an evaluation of the pollutants that come off automobiles, said Geoffrey Steadman, planning consultant for the commission. We could say, theres X amount of these pollutants that are generated each year on the I-95 bridge with the 150,000 cars that go over it daily.

The commission initially planned to launch a $6,000 study that would have included a computer model analysis of pollutants entering the river from the bridge. After discussion at City Hall on Wednesday evening, the commission reduced the scope to identifying and analyzing best practices used elsewhere.

For example, offset deck drains and raised scuppers may be incorporated into bridge decks to effectively collect and convey runoff from small to mid-sized bridge projects. Swales, detention basins and sand filters can be used near bridge abutments, according to a report commissioned by the Transportation Research Board.

Steadman said the commission plans to engage Thomas Hart, principal investigator for the commissions recent analysis of water quality data in the Norwalk River and watershed, in the forthcoming study.

The first part is to identify the types of pollutants that are generated by automobiles, Steadman said.

The commission believes those pollutants include oil, gasoline, asbestos, chromium, copper, nickel, rubber, zinc and lead.

In December, Mayor Harry W. Rilling wrote the DOT, urging the agency to support the harbor commissions effort to incorporate improved stormwater management practices into the bridge overhaul. He said contaminated sediment beneath the bridge added substantially to the cost of the federal dredging of the harbor in 2005.

The citys cost-share for disposal of this materials was over $200,000, Rilling wrote. At that time, CT DOT officials told the Mayors Office and Harbor Management Commission that they would be better able to address bridge-related storm water issues at such time as the bridge might be repaired.

That time is now, according to Norwalk officials.

DOT has planned a $30 million overhaul of the 911-foot, seven-span steel, multi-girder structure that was built in 1958 and is currently rated in fair to poor condition. The project is slated to begin in February 2017, according to the state agency.

Theodore H. Nezames, manager of bridges in DOTs Bureau of Engineering and Construction, responded to Rilling in a letter dated March 15.

The Department reviewed the documents from the 2005 dredging and does not conclude that drainage from the bridge was a significant contributor to the contamination contained in the sediment, Nezames wrote. The contamination included PCBs and metals. Vehicle emissions and roadway oils and grease are not typical sources of documented contamination.

Nezames continued that deck drainage configurations are not typically altered in bridge rehabilitation projects because the drainage is designed based on the existing deck slopes and profiles.

For this bridge, a retrofit to outlet all drainage at grade at either end of the bridge would require multiple or large diameter pipes placed on a relatively shallow pitch within the existing superstructure framework, Nezames wrote. The shallow pitch would make the drainage pipes prone to clogging and could result in dangerous travel conditions.

Norwalk officials on Wednesday evening expressed frustration with that stance. Peter M. Johnson, Norwalk Shellfish Commission chairman, found it difficult to believe solutions cannot be found.

All were talking is runoff from a bridge, Johnson said. Its not rocket science.

Harbor Commissioner Jan Schaefer asked if it might be too late to get the state to rethink the project.

If theyve finished with the design, doesnt that make it a moot point? Schaefer asked.

Steadman said it is not to late to present the DOT with different ideas as the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection must issue a permit for the bridge overall to begin. Input by the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission is part of that process, he said.

Its not to cast blame on the DOT but to help initiate a solution to address these things, Steadman said. Maybe they cant do anything, or maybe its not cost-effective, but they should at least go through the exercise.
NORWALK  The resume of Norwalks new director of management and budgets spans half the globe.

Lunda Paul Asmanis was educated in Africa, Europe and the U.S. Since 2000, he has worked in public finance in Kansas.

On Tuesday evening, he was introduced to the Norwalk Common Council as the citys new budget director.

Thanks for the opportunity, Asmani said. I have a passion for public finance, as Bob has mentioned. Ive been doing this work for 15 years. The previous organization I worked with is similar. I served as an assistant city manager for budget and finance and I oversaw public finance, budgeting, investments, accounts payable.

Asmani received a bachelors degree in urban planning and economics from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (1997), and a masters degree in public administration from Wichita State University (2001), according to his resume.

He didnt stop there, said Robert O. Barron, Norwalks director of finance. He actually returned for two more graduate certificates in public finance and economic development. So we not only hope to use his skills and abilities in the management and budgets office, but weve got that Plan of Conservation and Development thats due every 10 years, and I think Lunda is going to give us a great deal of insight on that.

Barron said he first met Asmani while participating in an Advanced Government Finance Institute event in Wisconsin in 2011.

When I saw his name come across, I was really thrilled, said Barron, referring to the resumes received for the position. So were thrilled that he accepted and hes on board.

The director of management and budgets works in the Department of Finance at City Hall and is responsible for helping prepare the city's annual operating budget, and reviewing revenues and expenditures line-by-line.

Barron said the position has been vacant about 11 months. Barron held the position under Thomas S. Hamilton, who was appointed chief financial officer for the Norwalk Board of Education late last summer. Hamilton had been the citys finance director.

Mayor Harry W. Rilling invited Asmanis wife, who works as an elementary school principal in Kansas, to apply for a position with the Norwalk Board of Education.

Be sure to send her resume to Dr. Adamowski, said Rilling, referring to Superintendent of Schools Steven Adamowski. Im sure there will be a place for her.
A fisherman in the Philippines found what is possibly the world's largest natural pearl, and he's kept it hidden under his bed for more than 10 years.

The pearl's existence was recently made known to the rest of the world, when the man allowed the city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan to display it.

According to local news site Palawan News, the massive pearl weighs 75 pounds and measures over 2 feet long and 1 foot wide  much larger than the current record holder, which weighs in at (a now lightweight) 14 pounds. That pearl, known as the Pearl of Lao Tzu, was also found in Palawan, in 1939.

HANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images

The fisherman discovered the pearl when the anchor on his boat got caught on a giant clam over a decade ago. The local tourism board is currently inviting gemologists to the island to help prove the pearl's authenticity. The pearl, if real, is said to have a possible value of over $100 million, the Guardian reported.

The pearl came into the hands of the tourism office when the fisherman entrusted the heavy item to his aunt, Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao, during a move. Maggay-Amurao, a tourism officer, then asked the fisherman's permission to display the pearl in their city hall, she told the Guardian.

As for why the fisherman kept the pearl hidden, Maggay-Amurao said that he didn't know its value. He instead kept it under his bed as a good luck charm: one of the largest, most expensive good luck charms, that is.

More Information d See More Collapse

"He said every time he goes out for fishing he will touch the pearl," Maggay-Amurao said.
On Tuesday of this week, the second-largest class in the history of Wyoming Catholic College arrived on campus, most of them with their parents. The new students are a wonderful-looking group, enthusiastic and full of spirit. After a week of preparation, they leave this weekend for the twenty-one-day trip into the Wind River Mountains that is a signature of our program.

When I welcomed the freshmen and parents on Tuesday afternoon, I reminded them of the four conditions of hope that Thomas Aquinas cites: what is hoped-for must be something in the future, not something already possessed; it must be something good; it must be arduous and difficult to attain; and it must be possible, since no one seriously hopes for impossible things. These conditions apply to the whole education they are undertaking, not just to their initiation in the wilderness. In its difficulty, it will require of them all they have, but, of course, what they have will expand in capacity the more they learn.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the long game in education, and I am reminded this week of the personal hope we have for each student who submits to the curriculum at Wyoming Catholic Collegethat it will not expend itself in the first few months or years after graduation. We want it to continue to unfold, decade by decade, continuing to enlarge the former students perspectives as his or her experience deepens.

Our hope for this education is also more than personal because it addresses the problems of the culture in ways that establish a better framework of thought and re-center the world morally. We despair if we think that the situation of our times is irreversible and that nothing better can come. Perhaps we need to think in terms of centuries. In The New Atlantis, written 400 years ago, Francis Bacon conceived of technological accomplishments that are only now being realized; in this and other works, he laid the philosophical groundwork for much of what has happened since in the sciences. Doing so required amending the religious assumptions that people had and overturning the philosophical authority of Aristotle. Perhaps intentionally, perhaps not, his thought and that of other early moderns paved the way for the curious blend of materialism and neo-Gnosticism in the world we now inhabit.

The best of contemporary Catholic thought does not simply reject the modern world, but incorporates what is best in modernity (who would want to give up modern medicine?) and harmonizes it with deeply traditional understandings in new and appealing ways. When T.S. Eliot wrote The Waste Land in 1922, he galvanized the literary world; he was at the very cutting-edge of the modernist movementa poetry that was fragmentary, gnomic, full of obscure allusions. Everyone of importance read it, and it was only gradually that Eliots poem began to appear as a profound, prophetic attempt to recover spiritual meaning and restore the lost tradition. Like Bacon, but with a different emphasis, he thought toward the future. By now, almost a century later, it is possible to see The Waste Land as one of the great conservative classics of the 20th century. After the devastations of Marx, Darwin, Nietzsche, and Freud, Eliots career as a poet turned many minds back toward Christian orthodoxy.

Catholic colleges need to take Eliots cue about making the oldest things new. Our task is to make the essential freshness of the tradition appear. Those in the culture who now drift into excesses and errors because of prevailing opinion should be able to see the haleness of the perennial alternative. By their fruits shall you know them. What we teach, what we live, must be a clear alternative to the distress that accompanies the loss of the good of the intellect and the growing misery that follows the pursuit of self-gratification.

This is truly educations long game: How it is that we begin to change the culture itself back toward spiritual spaciousness and possibility. This is where our true efforts need to be directed. We need to undertake the effort of thought with real hope. Although it is arduous and although its full achievement lies in the future, this effort is the greatest good we can bring about as a college. And it must be possible, as our tradition itself reminds us. Dante had Virgil as his guide in the Divine Comedyand why? To remind him that a poet could write a poem as great as the Aeneid: Virgil had done it. The great books we read and the Church that continues to sustain us after 2000 years give us more than enough reason for hope.

Books on the topic of this essay may be found in The Imaginative Conservative Bookstore. Republished with gracious permission from Wyoming Catholic Colleges Weekly Bulletin (July 2016).
The weather forecast is good news for the Nebraska State Fair.

Executive Director Joseph McDermott expects temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees throughout the 11-day fair, which will open on Friday.

The weather gods are looking down on us at this point, he said. Theyre smiling, and were smiling.

In the near future, the only serious concern is Friday, when rain is a good possibility. The chance of rain on Friday evening is 70 percent, said Jeff Kelley of the National Weather Service in Hastings. Its too early to tell if the rain will be steady or intermittent.

In other words, people who attend Friday nights Thomas Rhett outdoor concert might want to bring something to cover themselves.

McDermott, though, points out that the forecast calls for a rain event, rather than severe weather. If a storm rolls through, it would just cause a delay. Rain doesnt cancel concerts very often, he said.

The official National Weather Service forecast extends only seven days, so its tough to give specifics, Kelley said.

But he knows the fair will start out mostly cloudy and cool.

Friday and Saturday are going to be pretty unsettled, especially Friday into Friday night, he said. Fridays high will be in the lower 70s. Scattered showers on Friday, probably in the evening, might be accompanied by a rumble of thunder or two, he said.

By Saturday, it looks like we are going to start to dry out, Kelley said. Temperatures should reach the lower 80s that day. Once we get past Friday and Saturday, theres going to be a warming trend through the following week.

Kelley expects highs in the middle to upper 80s Monday through Sept. 2, which is about normal for this time of year. Nighttime lows next week will be in the lower 60s.

The chance of rain next week is actually pretty low, Kelley said. But we cant rule out an isolated thunderstorm popping up one or two days through the balance of the fair.

Grand Island/Hall County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service will both have people on the grounds during the fair. If threatening weather approaches, they will let fair administrators know.

The fair also has a 52-page emergency action plan, which is updated every year. That plan tells fair employees how to react in the event of an emergency.

We do have the ability to make a groundswide announcement, McDermott said.

If severe weather approaches, fairgoers are encouraged to go into one of the buildings. Wash racks in the livestock barns, where animals are cleaned, are a safe area. Theyre large, theyre very open, and theyre surrounded by concrete, McDermott said.

For the Nebraska State Fair, first and foremost, safetys the top priority for the fairgoer, said Chris Kircher of Omaha, chairman of the State Fair Board.

The fair, Kircher said, is very lucky to have some great resources right on the grounds, including the National Weather Service, Nebraska State Patrol and the emergency management team.

When heat gets to be a problem, Midwest Medical Transport is ready to respond, McDermott said. The private ambulance service will have multiple ambulances on the grounds, as well as carts.

Fire Station 1, right next to the fairgrounds, can also respond to medical emergencies.

When temperatures climb, fairgoers are encouraged to drink water. McDermott also pointed out, All of our buildings are air-conditioned. So they can go into those.

Rain during the fair can be a problem because most of the parking is on dirt. Two local companies are at the ready if the fair needs mulch or rocks.

In 2014, when rains were extensive, the parking lots actually held up pretty well, except for the northwest lot, he said.

Thats actually city property, so were limited as to what we can do, McDermott said. In that case, we brought in rock, and we filled in the holes, and we got through it. So it was not a problem.

The fair also has rock and mulch stockpiles of its own, Maintenance Director Scott Yound said.

On extremely hot, dry days, water trucks are sent out to moisten the roads to keep dust down, Yound said.

When it comes to hot weather or rain, the heat is definitely worse for livestock, Livestock Superintendent Bill Angell said.

On hot days, owners just try to keep the animals cool, either with fans or spraying them down with water.

Swine especially have difficulties on hot days, Angell said. On hot, humid days, owners need to get pigs off trailers as quickly as possible.

Last year, the fair was pretty lucky in the weather department, Kircher said.

But for an event that runs a week and a half, Mother Nature will be heard one way or another.

Its certainly going to be a factor over the course of (11) days, Kircher said.
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.
Madison County States Attorney candidate Ron Williams is calling on County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan to allow Veterans Assistance Commission Superintendent Brad Lavite back into the County Administration Building.

Lavite was barred from entering the building after law enforcement officials notified the county that Lavite potentially posed a threat to the safety of county employees and the public, according to a news release from the county.

The county has attempted to resolve the issue by asking the court to submit the issue to mediation.

On Friday, Williams issued a press release seeking to have the ban lifted and allowing Lavite to get to his office on the first floor of the Administration Building.

Williams is running against Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons in the November general election.

In addition to criticizing Dunstan, Williams called on Gibbons, as the countys legal counsel, to advise Dunstan that discriminating against a disabled and decorated combat veteran is opening up the county taxpayers to significant financial liability.

Everyday that Dunstan denys (denies) Lavite an opportunity to go back to work is another day Madison County veterans are impacted and the potential penalties for this decision increases, Williams said. I know first hand that the stress of combat is a lifelong condition that impacts people differently. We owe it to our combat veterans to get them the help they need and support them as their careers move them in another path away from the military.

Two weeks ago a lawyer representing Lavite filed a civil rights case in Federal Court asking that he be allowed to return to work. Lavite recently received a legal victory in the appellate court moving another case against the county forward in circuit court.

Dunstan and Gibbons each issued statements accusing Williams of using Lavites medical condition to gain publicity for his campaign.

There has been bipartisan support on the County Board for how the issue has been handled, Dunstan said.

Everyone at Madison County respects Mr. Lavite and all the veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our safety and the freedoms of all Americans, Dunstan said in the statement. However, we would be remiss in our duty to our employees and the public if we were to permit Mr. Lavite to return to the Administration Building without assurances from a doctor who has examined him and the video of the most recent event involving Mr. Lavite, and subsequently certifies that Mr. Lavite is not a safety risk and is fit to return to work.

Gibbons characterized Williams criticism as political grandstanding and said it interferes with efforts to resolve a serious matter of public concern.

In my judgment, no responsible States Attorney would suggest that the county should ignore direct knowledge - in this case a police car video showing a threat to murder a police officer - of a very serious and violent incident involving an individual that works in the county building.

The current issue hinges on a March 2015 incident in which Lavite had a mental breakdown that was captured by a police dash camera. Lavites doctors have attributed the breakdown to post-traumatic stress disorder. He is a 17-year Army veteran who has earned a Combat Action Badge, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and two National Defense Service medals, among others.

While the county provides the VAC with an office it does not manage its functions and the agency is not actually a part of county government.

Attorney John Gilbert has been representing the county in this issue. In a recently-filed Motion for Order to Refer Parties to Mediation, Gilbert wrote that he has been seeking assurances that its employees and visitors to the Administration Building are not at risk.

Williams has spent 32 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a colonel. He was a graduate of USMA at West Point and spent two tours in Vietnam where he received three bronze stars and he recently published a book about his experience in Vietnam called We Were Winning When I Left.
Hundreds of students packed Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Goshen Lounge in the Morris University Center on Wednesday, Aug. 24 for the annual Merchants Fair and Dairy Queen ice cream social.

Chancellor Dr. Randy Pembrook and City of Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton participated in the event that demonstrated the strong relationship between SIUE and the surrounding community.
The Edwardsville Parks & Recreation Department would like to invite all seniors (55 and older) to join us on guided tours of the Illinois Amish Countryside.

On Tuesday, October 18, the group will get a buggy shop tour. We will enjoy, a delicious home cooked meal in an Amish home. The countryside tour will include a stop at Beachys Bulk Foods to stock up on homemade products.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Sade Bimantara (The Jakarta Post) Canberra  Thu, August 25, 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.



Findings from an August 2016 survey conducted by the Australia-Indonesia Center (AIC) seems to confirm that the feeling is mutual. Indeed, 87 percent of the 2103 Indonesians interviewed had a positive perception of Australia (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 18).



But curiously, the AIC-sponsored poll shows that 47 percent of Australians view Indonesia unfavorably. On the favorability scale, Indonesia lags behind India, the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Japan.



The AIC conducted its Australian part of the survey in October to November 2015 and the Indonesian data collection took place in May and June 2016. Lowy, meanwhile, conducted its phone survey to 1,202 Australian adults between February and March 2016.



The Lowy result suggests an improvement in the Australian public perception toward Indonesia. Did a significant event happen during the period between the two polls: between November 2015 and February 2016 that might explain the unfavorable perception result of the AIC poll?



Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Jakarta and went blusukan (impromptu visit) with President Joko Jokowi Widodo to Tanah Abang market in November 2015. The foreign and defense ministers of Australia and Indonesia held their annual meeting in Sydney in December.



In January, terrorists killed four people in attacks near the Sarinah shopping center in Jakarta. In those months, Indonesia unveiled a number of economic reform packages to lower taxes, ease the process of doing business and simplify investment procedures.



Those events, while important, were not something that would drastically sway the Australian public perception toward Indonesia. So there must be another explanation for the negative view of Indonesia in the AICs findings.



Upon studying the methodology of the AIC survey, a number of issues emerge. First, the data collection processes were different. While the Indonesian respondents were interviewed face-to-face, the Australian ones answered the questions online.



This discrepancy is no small matter. With face-to-face, the data collector can more accurately screen the respondents, see verbal and non-verbal cues, ensure that the interviewee keeps their focus and completes the survey. For Indonesians accustomed to friendly faces and language, a pleasant and engaging interviewer would be better received than the anonymity of a cold emotionless computer screen. Perhaps collecting the Australian samples with face-to-face interview would yield a different result.



Second, the Indonesian survey was conducted in 10 major cities of Indonesia, while the Australian online survey in all states and territories. Indonesian cities are urban centers of information. The average person has at least a mobile or smart phone, a motor vehicle, access to television and the internet. The respondents would have likely heard about Australia from the news, social media or other sources. No respondents from rural or the eastern part of Indonesia were surveyed. The Australian respondents are likely a mix of urban and rural residents with varying exposure to news about Indonesia.



Third, the number of samples for the surveys in Australia was about 2,000 respondents to represent 25 million Australians. The number of Indonesian respondents was also about 2,000 but they represent 250 million people. Perhaps a more proportional number of interviewees relative to the total population might yield a different result.



And fourth, the data collection dates in Australia was in different period of time to the collection of data from Indonesia. The respondents would have been exposed to different set of news that may have distinctly influenced their responses.



According to the AIC, the intention of the research was to begin a discussion on improving the Australia-Indonesia relationship. This is a good objective that all stakeholders need to support. However, one must be cautious when drawing conclusions of that recent AIC survey, especially about Australias perception of Indonesia.



One result that consistently appears from many surveys is the unfamiliarity of Australians regarding Indonesia. Outside of Bali, not many are familiar with Indonesia. A Lowy poll in 2013 and 2015 showed that only one third believed Indonesia is a democracy.



Similarly, the AIC survey showed that although awareness of Indonesia as a neighbor is high, but the understanding about Indonesia by Australians is low.



One key factor would be to keep building a resilient relationship including by establishing more Australia centers in Indonesia. In Australia, it would be helpful to have wider news coverage of Indonesia beyond the usual headlines.

***

The writer is spokesperson for the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Australia. The opinions expressed are his own.

---------------

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 Jakarta Post)  Thu, August 25, 2016

One would not burn down their house to catch a mouse, and it would be wise for the political factions at the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD) to take note of this in their endeavor to reinstate the now-defunct state policy guidelines (GBHN).

The factions concern that the country has progressed from one administration to another without an overarching goal is pretty legitimate. In the period following the fall of president Soeharto in 1998, one president after the other appeared to have simply muddled through, and once their terms expired there was little that they could claim as their major achievements.

In fact, policies of an outgoing president could easily be repudiated by his or her successor. One president wanted to have thousands of friends and zero enemies in international politics while another wanted to have friends that could benefit the country. One administration wanted to open the domestic market to imported goods while another wanted to erect trade barriers. Policies in the country have been swinging from one extreme to the other.

Without a doubt, the country needs a grand strategy that could in the long run be used as guidance for every administration on how to do the job.

For this problem, the factions at the House, spearheaded by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), have offered a sweeping proposal. Since a president cannot draft his own GBHN, they propose that the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), comprising 560 House members and 132 DPD members, be given the authority to draw up the guidelines.

And to ensure that each sitting president implements the guidelines, the MPR should be given the power as the highest-lawmaking institution to which the president must answer, effectively reviving the old system of government that came to an end thanks to political reforms.

We may finally be able to catch the mouse, having firm guidelines for the president, but only after burning down the whole house, surrendering the peoples right to elect a president and giving it to the MPR, if not oligarchs. Countries have either a presidential or a parliamentary system and in the past decade we have been served relatively well by the presidential system.

The early 1950s was legitimately one of the freest moments in the countrys democracy, but a revolving door of prime ministers stunted the countrys growth and years of chaos led to a growing authoritarianism that ended up with a regime change in 1965. Soon after, the MPR was abused by a strongman to maintain his grip on power. We do not want a repeat of that, do we?

There are also risks that the joint MPR session will open the door wide for a renewal of old political agendas, such as the DPD demanding legislative power that the Constitution gives exclusively to the DPR and Muslim-based parties reviving their dream of formalizing Islam in Indonesian politics.

Such possibilities cannot be discounted, therefore political maturity of each MPR member is imperative so as not to derail our hard-earned democracy.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Gatot Soepriyanto Melbourne  Thu, August 25, 2016

In the latest move to revamp the tax system in Indonesia, the government is considering setting up tax haven areas to entice home money that was stashed abroad.

The idea was initiated by former finance minister Bambang Brodjonegoro who believed that the distinct region could facilitate the investment of funds repatriated through the ongoing tax clemency program.

Recently, the proposal was also endorsed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo. In his speech during the tax amnesty program conference in Semarang recently, he said that Indonesia had the capacity to develop a tax haven jurisdiction on one or two islands in a bid to be a more tax attractive country.

Echoing the Presidents assertion, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan further cited the Bintan and Rempang islands as the possible areas to be designated as low tax regions.

Establishing a tax haven jurisdiction within a country  tax literature often calls it a domestic tax haven  is not a new concept.

The United States, for example, despite having one of the highest corporate income taxes in the world (35 percent at the federal level), also has four states without a corporate income tax: Nevada, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.

Furthermore, the state of Delaware provides similar domestic tax havens because of its lack of reporting requirements, lack of ownership records and ample tax facilities that could help corporations convert taxable income into tax exempt income.

Comparable to the US, Malaysia developed Labuan Island into a domestic tax haven back in 1990 and has been renowned for its role in the niche market of offshore Islamic banking.

It comes with no surprise, however, that both countries are ranked third and 18th in the 2015 Financial Secrecy Index issued by the Tax Justice Network  which indicates their high financial secrecy and extensive tax haven activities.

Back to the discussion on the governments proposal to set up a domestic tax haven, I feel that the move is a bad idea and could hamper the development of Indonesias tax reform plan. There are at least three arguments to support my view.

First, establishing a domestic tax haven area will send a wrong message to taxpayers, especially in the midst of the current tax amnesty program. As often discussed, the success of a tax pardon program in the long run is contingent on the ability of the government to detect and prosecute any taxpayers (the stick) who still do not meet their tax obligations.

Such tougher measures are important, in order to create a sense of justice and equality for the honest taxpayers after the government grants clemency (the carrot) to the avoiders.

By setting up a domestic tax haven, it could create a signal that the government is unwilling to draw a hard line against the tax dodgers, as a tax haven will provide a leeway for corporations and rich individuals to escape their tax obligations.

Even worse, it could also suggest that the government is promoting tax avoidance practices in Indonesia.

This leads to my second point of argument against a domestic tax haven: The proposal is unpopular in the current climate of global fight against tax evasion and tax havens.

In the aftermath of a global financial crisis, many countries and global institutions started to question the role of tax haven jurisdictions in concealing massive amounts of wealth around the globe.

In recent years, this global movement  led by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  has gained some significant traction, which culminated with more than 98 countries and jurisdictions joining the OECDs Convention of Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The convention requires an exchange of information open to all countries, thus ensuring that developing countries would benefit from the new more transparent environment.

Surely, Indonesias domestic tax haven proposal will be considered contradictory in the course of global efforts to end offshore financial secrecy and abusive tax havens.

Such an untenable position could be problematic, especially if Indonesia needs to negotiate a trade deal or economic cooperation with other countries.

Finally, as often documented by various reports, tax havens serve no useful economic purpose, limit the capacity of a country to raise revenues through taxation and distort the global economy.

Worryingly, without clear directions, strong regulation and strict supervision, the creation of Indonesias domestic tax havens could provide a safe passage for the proceeds of political corruption, fraud schemes and other criminal activities such as money laundering, the global drug trade, trafficking and terrorism.

As such, it could contribute to the spread of globalized crimes and facilitate the theft of public funds by corrupt members of the elite.

Moreover, as the domestic tax haven facilitates rich people avoiding their tax obligations, it could leave a major social scar in the form of inequality.

This is possible as the government may compensate the tax revenue loss by increasing the taxes on taxpayers who are less wealthy and less knowledgeable about taking advantage of tax havens.

Overall, despite a substantial pressure on government to improve its tax revenue outlay, establishing a domestic tax haven is clearly not a sound option to support the sustainable tax system in the future, given the arguments that I discussed above.

__________________________________

The writer, a senior faculty member of the Accounting and Finance Department of BINUS University, is currently pursuing a PhD in Monash University, Australia. His research interest is about corporate tax avoidance and financial statement fraud.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Teresa Cerojano (Associated Press) Manila  Thu, August 25, 2016

A Filipino fisherman in western Palawan island has found possibly the world's biggest pearl, which he had hidden under a bed for more than 10 years as a lucky charm, a tourism official said Thursday.

Aileen Amurao, Puerto Princesa city's tourism officer and the fisherman's relative, said Thursday the man gave her the 34-kilogram (75-pound) pearl that's 2.2 feet (67 centimeters) long and 1 foot (30 centimeters) wide last month for safekeeping because he was moving to a new place.

Amurao said the pearl was sitting on a bench in her home for weeks until she found time to check the internet, and she was shocked to learn that it could be the world's biggest.

The fisherman, his father and brothers found the irregular-shaped pearl inside a giant clam that stuck to their boat's anchor when they sought refuge from a squall on a reef, Amurao said.

The family hid the pearl in a bag under a bed, rubbing it with their hands before going out to sea in the belief it would bring them luck, she said.

The fisherman did not want to be identified, she said.

In this photo provided by Puerto Princesa Tourism Office, shows residents look at the giant pearl measuring 30cm wide (1ft), 67cm long (2.2ft) and weighing 34kg (75lb) on display in the lobby of the Puerto Princesa City Hall in Puerto Princesa city, Palawan province in southwestern Philippines Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Puerto Princesa Tourism Officer Aileen Amurao said the giant pearl was found by a relative fisherman ten years ago and entrusted to her for safekeeping and eventually to the mayor of the city. The still-to-be-authenticated find is said to be the largest in the world and would likely be valued in excess of US$100 million.(PPTO, via AP/Herald Hugo)

(Read also: Consider these tips to enjoy your trip to the fullest)

She said that she, the fisherman and his family decided to turn over the pearl to the city mayor, who had it displayed in a glass case in Puerto Princesa's city hall to attract tourists. The fisherman will receive a still-unspecified reward from the local government, Amurao said, adding that he never intended to sell it.

Experts from the University of the Philippines have expressed interest in inspecting the pearl, but she said no date has been set for their visit.

It would not be the first time giant pearls have been found off Palawan.

A 9-kilogram (20-pound) pearl, called Pearl of the King, was found in Palawan in 1939, and is on display in a hotel at the central island resort of Boracay. Local media have reported that fishermen had recovered other huge pearls in the province, including one reportedly weighing 24.75 kilograms (54 pounds).

The Guinness World Records lists a 718.50 carat baroque abalone pearl as the biggest of its kind, measuring 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in length, 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) wide and 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) thick.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Hello Sehat (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

When it comes to cancer survival, there are no guarantees. But doctors have more success detecting and treating some types of cancers than others. The most important key to survival is early detection. This means you need to get screened regularly.

Some experts avoid using the word curable, because you can never be sure that cancer will go away for good after treatment. They prefer using the word "remission," meaning cancer free but there's a chance the disease can return. But in general, a person who stays cancer-free for five years after a diagnosis has better odds of survival.

That benchmark doesn't mean you cant die from cancer or even that you don't still have it in your body, but it is a good sign.

Here are five cancers where there's stronger hope for survival.

Prostate Cancer

People cancer-free for five years after diagnosis : 98.9 percent.

What makes it treatable?

Many prostate tumors grow slowly or not at all. When that happens, they aren't harmful enough to need treatment. Many men with these types of tumors can live for years without problems. They often die of something other than their cancer.

What makes it less treatable?

When cancer spreads (called metastatic cancer), it's much harder to treat. A small percentage of prostate cancers can move quickly to distant parts of the body. When that happens, just 28 percent of men live five years after they are diagnosed. The good news is that doctors usually catch most prostate cancers early before they spread.

Does screening help?

There are two main ways to check for prostate cancer. One is the digital rectal exam, when your doctor checks inside your bottom with a gloved finger. The second is a blood test called the PSA test, which measures levels of a protein that is often higher in men with prostate cancer. PSA can go up for reasons other than prostate cancer, so some medical groups say men who have a normal risk for the disease shouldn't get the test.

Talk with your doctor about whether you need testing. Always let them know if you notice any problems like trouble peeing or blood in your pee. These could be symptoms of cancer or other prostate problems.

Thyroid Cancer

People cancer-free for five years after diagnosis : 97.9 percent

What makes it treatable?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that makes hormones your body needs to burn calories, control your heartbeat and more. The most common type of thyroid cancer, papillary, grows slowly. Even when tumors are large or start to grow into other nearby tissues, doctors often can treat and even cure this disease with surgery that removes the gland. After surgery, people take medicine to replace the hormones the thyroid makes. Doctors are also finding thyroid cancers earlier than ever before, which makes them easier to get rid of.

When is it less treatable?

A type of the disease called anaplastic thyroid cancer has a 5-year survival rate of only 7 percent, but it's very rare.

Does screening help?

There are no recommended screening tests for thyroid cancer. Most people find out they have a tumor when they (or a doctor) feel lumps or swelling in their neck. Sometimes a doctor spots the problem when you get an ultrasound for another reason. Definitely tell your doctor if you feel a lump in your neck or if you have any symptoms such as trouble breathing or swallowing.

Testicular Cancer

People cancer-free for five years after diagnosis : 95.3 percent

What makes it treatable?

In its early stages (when the tumor has not spread to other body parts), doctors can cure this cancer with surgery to remove one or both testicles that have a tumor. If a man has only one testicle removed (which is the norm), the other will make enough hormones for him to have sex and father children. For later-stage cancers, surgery and radiation or chemotherapy often work well. Doctors credit the chemo drug cisplatin, introduced in the 1970s, with major boosts in survival rates for advanced testicular cancer.

What makes it less treatable?

There are treatments that work well even for advanced testicular cancer. The 5-year survival rate for this type of tumor is 73 percent, still pretty high for a cancer in the late stages.

Does screening help?

There are no screening tests for testicular cancer. Men should see their doctor if they feel a lump in a testicle, or if one becomes larger than the other. These could be early signs of a tumor.

(Read also: 9 signs of lung cancer not to ignore)

Melanoma

People cancer-free for five years after diagnosis : 91.5 pecent

What makes it treatable?

You can usually spot melanoma skin cancer with the naked eye while it is still in its early stages. If it hasn't spread beyond the surface of the skin, doctors can remove it with surgery.

What makes it less treatable?

If you don't catch it early, melanoma is much more likely than other skin cancers to spread to other body parts. Once it goes beyond the skin's surface, its hard to treat. Only 15-20 percent of people who find melanomas after they have spread to other body parts will still be alive five years after their diagnosis.

Does screening help?

Yes. You can check your skin for large, dark, oddly shaped, or raised blotches. It's especially important to check your back and your scalp, scrotum, and in between your toes. It's harder to see melanomas in these places. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any of these changes. He can tell you if the spot is normal or not. Get screened regularly by a dermatologist if you have a higher risk for melanoma, like if you have had it before or if it runs in your family.

Breast Cancer

People cancer-free for five years after diagnosis : 89.4 percent

What makes it treatable?

Modern medicine has made great strides in the treatment of breast cancer. Doctors today know more about how to find and treat it. We also understand the condition much better than ever before. For instance, we now know that breast cancer is not one disease but many. Researchers have come up with different medications to treat specific types.

What makes it less treatable?

Breast cancer caught early is easier to treat and cure than after it starts to spread. Some types of the disease are also more treatable than others. For example, a breast tumor that is "estrogen receptor positive" will benefit from drugs that lower estrogen levels. On the other hand, "triple negative" breast cancers tend to be more aggressive and don't benefit from targeted treatments.

Does screening help?

Yes. Studies have found that regular mammograms can help you live longer. But medical groups have different guidelines on who should get them. Some recommend screening tests every other year starting at age 50 if you have a normal risk for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening tests starting at age 40. (kes)

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 Teressa Warianto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, August 24 2016

True vision: In a world where gadgets are rarely out of reach, constantly processing information from smartphones can take a toll on our eyes. (Courtesy of zeiss.com)

With almost 200 years of experience under its belt, Zeiss optics has always strived to create a clearer world for our eyes. Now its working in the digital world to create lenses for the digital individual.

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 Fedina S. Sundaryani and Ina Parlina, Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25 2016

Malaysia-based budget carrier Air Asia is considering further expanding flight services to Indonesias emerging tourist destinations to take advantage of the governments commitment to boosting tourism.



The plan was unveiled by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes following a meeting with President Joko Jokowi Widodo in Jakarta on Wednesday. However, Fernandes declined to disclose the four to five new areas the company was considering flying to.



I mean obviously all the new places we are looking at we think can be some way different with Bali, some like Bandung, some like Bali. Your country has so much to offer, he said, adding that the regions being considered spanned the country.



The airline would not only fly to areas with natural attractions such as beaches, but also to destinations with potential in ecotourism, shopping and culture, he said. If you look at Yogya, thats not a beach. Thats fantastic history and culture. We have been studying all the places that we think can make the next Bandung or the next Bali, he said.



The airline supports the governments program to place tourism among five strategic sectors to be developed under Jokowis administration. The country has also set a goal of attracting 20 million foreign tourists by 2019, double the figure it saw last year.



The government is developing 10 emerging destinations across the country to reduce reliance on Bali, which still serves as the countrys main tourist gateway at present.



The new destinations include Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, Lake Toba in North Sumatra and Morotai in North Maluku.



AirAsias Indonesian subsidiary, Indonesia AirAsia (IAA), is also considering opening international routes such as from Kuala Lumpur to Bandung, West Java, as it would become the first local airline to do so.



Fernandes has repeatedly said on previous occasions that Indonesia is more than Bali.



We believe that we can add almost 6 million tourists to the country as what we committed to the president. That could bring in about US$39 billion in terms of economic wealth to Indonesia, he said.



Jokowi and Fernandes also discussed the capital structure of local airlines and the possibility of relaxing several regulations including the ownership of airline operators.



Fernandes previously stated that the foreign ownership cap of 49 percent set by the government had become a barrier for airlines like AirAsia in investing more in the country.



Meanwhile, AirAsia is not the only carrier planning to spread its wings in the archipelago.



The low-cost arm of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, plans to expand to Jayapura, Papua, this year, which would be its first destination in eastern Indonesia.



We are looking at the possibility of transiting in either Makassar, South Sulawesi or Surabaya, East Java, Citilink president director Albert Burhan said.



The service, which is expected to run daily from Jakarta to Jayapura, is set to begin in October.



Citilink also cited its interest in operating charter flights from Manado in North Sulawesi to Morotai, to meet demand from Chinese tourists.



Transportation Ministry director general Suprasetyo said the government was committed to improving infrastructure in tourist areas, especially in the 10 emerging destinations. It aims to allocate Rp 199.65 billion ($15 million) next year to improve airports in 11 locations.



He also said the ministry would not mind handing over airports in tourist areas to state airport operator Angkasa Pura (AP) if necessary for better development, as seen in the case of Silangit Airport in North Sumatra, near Lake Toba.



If its ready to be operated commercially, go ahead, 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 Ahmad Junaidi (The Jakarta Post) Ambon  Thu, August 25, 2016

Ambon, Maluku

Life in the inter-religious program for Muslims and Christians teachers and students has helped heal trauma that still exists in Ambon, Maluku, after religious and communal conflicts that claimed thousands of lives from 1999 to 2004.

"We build peace here through life in the program, starting with the involvement of teachers," said Heny L. Likliwatil, a teacher from state junior high school SMP Negeri 9, on the second day of the International Conference on Inclusive Religious Education held in partnership between the Netherlands and Indonesia in Ambon on Thursday.

The program, which started in 2013, Heny said Muslims teachers from SMP Negeri 4 would stay at residences of Christian teachers from SMP Negeri 9, and vice versa, in an effort to rebuild mutual understanding.

SMP Negeri 4 teacher Muhammad Yusuf Laga said the program was being continued by involving students.

"When we announced the program, almost all the parents disagreed," Yusuf said.

He said after joining the program, the students even asked to stay longer and participate in the program again.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25 2016

Automotive manufacturer Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) aims to increase local industrial content (TKDN) within its cars to 100 percent by 2019 amid the governments call to promote domestic goods and services in the country.



ADM, the local subsidiary of Japanese auto maker Daihatsu Motor Company, recently launched two new types of low-cost green cars (LCGC), the Toyota Calya and Daihatsu Sigra, each with 94 percent local content.



ADM, however, aspires to reach an even higher local content level. We expect to gradually increase the TKDN of all our cars to 100 percent by 2019, said ADM president director Sudirman Maman Rusdi at the companys plant in Karawang on Wednesday.



Currently, we cant afford to do that as some of the components are domestically really expensive, particularly for the transmission system.



The government has encouraged foreign investors to partner with domestic businesses to increase the TKDN of goods and services, including cars and smartphones. TKDN includes the use of local material, workers and working tools in the production phase.



Low carbon emission (LCE) vehicles with a minimum of 80 percent local content will be given several incentives, including a cut in the luxury tax (PPnBM).



This year, ADM aims to produce around 450,000 cars, up from 420,000 cars in 2015. The company has collaborated with 254 first-tier suppliers and 1,270 second-tier suppliers nationwide, 111 of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).



At least 900,000 workers are involved in its car production. It will involve more local workers and SMEs to increase its TKDN over the next three years.



Sudirman said the company was trying to increase the capacity of its human resources by sending 50 of its engineers to be trained in Japan. Some engineers have already left for Japan and some will travel there over the coming years.



Major expansions in the domestic steel industry are expected to help fulfill ADMs ambition to push local content higher.



Krakatau Nippon Steel Sumikin, a joint venture between state-owned steel producer Krakatau Steel and Japanese steel producer Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation, has started the construction of a US$460 million hot strip mill in Cilegon, Banten.



Completion is scheduled for early 2019 and by then, the mill will add 1.5 million tons to Krakatau Steels current annual production of 3.15 million tons.



Demand for steel products from the national auto industry is estimated at around 1 million tons a year, with hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil each making up 50 percent of the demand.



The government has imposed antidumping measures on imported steel products to protect local producers. However, the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) is demanding that an exemption be put in place for steel products used in car manufacturing due to a lack of supplies from local steel makers.



Many car manufacturers still import certain steel products from overseas to keep their production costs low, Gaikindo chairman Jongkie Sugiarto said. (vps)

---------------

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 (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

Automotive manufacturer Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) aims to increase local industrial content (TKDN) within its cars to 100 percent by 2019 amid the governments call to promote domestic goods and services in the country.

ADM, the local subsidiary of Japanese auto maker Daihatsu Motor Company, recently launched two new types of low-cost green cars (LCGC), the Toyota Calya and Daihatsu Sigra, each with 94 percent local content.

ADM, however, aspires to reach an even higher local content level. We expect to gradually increase the TKDN of all our cars to 100 percent by 2019, said ADM president director Sudirman Maman Rusdi at the companys plant in Karawang on Wednesday.

Currently, we cant afford to do that as some of the components are domestically really expensive, particularly for the transmission system.

The government has encouraged foreign investors to partner with domestic businesses to increase the TKDN of goods and services, including cars and smartphones. TKDN includes the use of local material, workers and working tools in the production phase.

Low carbon emission (LCE) vehicles with a minimum of 80 percent local content will be given several incentives, including a cut in the luxury tax (PPnBM).

This year, ADM aims to produce around 450,000 cars, up from 420,000 cars in 2015. The company has collaborated with 254 first-tier suppliers and 1,270 second-tier suppliers nationwide, 111 of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

At least 900,000 workers are involved in its car production. It will involve more local workers and SMEs to increase its TKDN over the next three years.

Sudirman said the company was trying to increase the capacity of its human resources by sending 50 of its engineers to be trained in Japan. Some engineers have already left for Japan and some will travel there over the coming years.

Major expansions in the domestic steel industry are expected to help fulfill ADMs ambition to push local content higher.

Krakatau Nippon Steel Sumikin, a joint venture between state-owned steel producer Krakatau Steel and Japanese steel producer Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation, has started the construction of a US$460 million hot strip mill in Cilegon, Banten.

Completion is scheduled for early 2019 and by then, the mill will add 1.5 million tons to Krakatau Steels current annual production of 3.15 million tons.

Demand for steel products from the national auto industry is estimated at around 1 million tons a year, with hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled coil each making up 50 percent of the demand.

The government has imposed antidumping measures on imported steel products to protect local producers. However, the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) is demanding that an exemption be put in place for steel products used in car manufacturing due to a lack of supplies from local steel makers.

Many car manufacturers still import certain steel products from overseas to keep their production costs low, Gaikindo chairman Jongkie Sugiarto said. (vps)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Christopher Lingle (The Jakarta Post) Shanghai, China  Thu, August 25 2016

Beijing has irredentist claims on all its borders and over all the waters that wash onto its shores. Indeed, it claims about 80 percent of the South China Sea (SCS), including the Spratlys and Paracels that are on a broad plateau up to 1,600 kilometer from Chinas eastern coastline.

For its part, the Peoples Republic of China insists on a sacred duty to recover and reunify what it perceives as lost territories.

Besides Taiwan, it claims Zhang Nan or Southern Tibet as is its name for Indias state of Arunachal Pradesh.

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 Elaine Ganley (Associated Press) Paris  Thu, August 25, 2016

Beneath the clash over how to dress, or undress, on the beaches of France simmers an issue that for decades has divided the nation, and grown more complex in this time of terrorism.

At least a dozen towns have banned body-covering burkini swimwear favored by some Muslim women, the latest skirmish in a long-running duel between some members of France's large Muslim population and the secular establishment.

The burkini will finish in the closet at summer's end, but the refueled debate over the French principle of "laicite," or secularism, is unlikely to go away. And Muslims who feel they lost ground over an issue as shifting as the sand aren't likely to forget.

The July 14 truck attack in Nice that killed 86 and the July 26 murder of a priest saying Mass in northwest France appear to have lowered the bar of fear, and tolerance.

A 22-year-old French Muslim woman living in Marseille was accosted while shopping in a grocery store with her mother by several people who had seen her on a TV news show explaining why she wears a burkini to the beach.

"'You aren't at home here. Go home. This is fundamentalism,'" she said the group told her, recounting the event to The Associated Press, which chose not to identify her by name for her own protection.

The incident reflects just how threatening the subject of head-to-toe swimwear has become, and stoked the debate on secularism  still volatile more than a century after the 1905 law on separation of church and state that established it as a principle of the French Republic.

Then, it was enacted to bring peace to tumultuous relations with the Roman Catholic clergy. Today, enshrined in the constitution, secularism is still being defined, debated and clarified by politicians and experts. An Observatory of Secularism, attached to the prime minister, was created in 2007 and discerns an annual prize.

Some Muslims and non-Muslims alike maintain that the purpose of secularism is being thwarted and the principle transformed into an instrument to regulate the behavior of Muslims.

"Islamophobia is a new way to say I'm a patriot and that's the way I'll defend my country against you people who cannot integrate," said Rim-Sarah Alouane, an expert on Muslim issues at the University of Toulouse. Politicians, she said, "are actually making sure the population does not integrate. They are making Muslims feel like that they cannot be French."

With an estimated 5 million Muslims, France has the largest such population in Western Europe and is increasingly in search of ways to reign in traditions that clash with French culture and root out extremism.

France also has an unusually high number of atheists, which is another reason why secularism is a major issue.

The beach bans push the legal envelope on two national laws that amount to dress codes  no headscarves in classrooms and no face-covering veils in streets, passed in 2004 and 2010, respectively.

In neighboring Belgium, a law banning face-covering veils went into force in 2011. There is a push by some conservative politicians in Germany to ban face-covering veils in German public schools, courts and while driving, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said it's not a security issue.

France, steeped in its religious disputes with Catholics, its colonial past in Muslim North Africa and the secularist tradition that wrung peace from violence puts weight on Muslim garb that critics say is excessive.

Some point with concern to a statement by the man expected to head a foundation to better control foreign influence on French Muslims, former minister Jean-Pierre Chevenement, who counseled in a recent interview with Le Parisien daily for "discretion (for Muslims) in public spaces in these difficult times."

The burkini bans cite as reasons the observance of secularism, risks to public order and, sometimes directly, security, underscoring how sensibilities have quickened with France in a state of emergency living under what Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said is an "extremely high" terror threat.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls, backing the bans, said that burkinis are a sign of danger.

"The burkini isn't a new line of bathing suit, a style," Valls said in an interview last week with La Provence newspaper serving the cities of southern France. "It's the translation of a political project, counter-society, notably founded on the servitude of the woman."

The intransigence of Valls  who has said he would like to see a law banning headscarves in university classrooms  reflects worries by some that Islam is slowing gnawing at the fabric of French society, a theme once monopolized by the far-right National Front.

A swim day reserved for women at a private pool was canceled before the beach bans by the southern town of Pennes-Mirabeau because those to attend could don burkinis if they wished. Now, a driving school opening in the Beaujolais region, with a separate room for women to learn the driving code, is causing a local ruckus.

"The scale of the disaster" is much larger than the burkini issue, said Leyla Dakhli, an Arab history professor studying Muslim women's issues.

"We are seeing an accumulation" of diktats to regulate the behavior of Muslims. "They don't need to isolate themselves," she said, because this deprives women in traditional garb of opportunities to integrate.

"There is an anguish that is developing and that is crystalizing ... We need to have leaders who can calm things," she said.

A "Little Handbook for a Calm Laicite" was being published this week for use, the subtitle reads, by "teachers, students and their parents."

The handbook, whose main author is leading secularism expert Jean Bauberot, is needed, because secularism has gone astray, said one of four teachers contributing.

"We see a complete turnaround of secularism from 1905 to 2004," when the law banning headscarves and other ostentatious religions symbols from classrooms was passed, said Paul Guillibert, who worked for years as a philosophy teacher in a working-class Paris suburb with a high Muslim population.

The law was conceived to guarantee freedom of conscience and religion, a "secularism of compromise" that does not discriminate between citizens, Guillibert said.

"They have changed the definition" into one that makes public spaces "neutral," he said. And "it's rather clear there is (now) a form of Islamophobic instrumentalization of secularism."

He noted the national focus on students who refused to honor a minute of silence following the January 2015 newsroom massacre at the satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo  about 200 instances with 40 reported to police, the media said at the time.

Dialogue rather than sanctions can help resolve such problems, Guillibert said.

"But we have transformed secularism into an instrument of combat," he said.

Angela Charlton and Nadine Achoui-Lesage contributed to this report.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Thu, August 25 2016

After six years of waiting, Suwito, an oil palm businessman from North Labuhan Batu regency, North Sumatra, finally left his house on Wednesday to go on the haj.

His happiness was multiplied as he was accompanied by his wives.

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 Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

Once hailed as an urban traffic panacea, the train system in Greater Jakarta has become less popular among commuters amid worsening services.



A victim of its own fame, the train system accommodates about a million passengers every day, many of whom suffer through rush hour.



Aliah, a 51-year-old resident of Depok, quit taking the train after growing tired of jostling with other train passengers on her way to work.



During rush hour, I was always crushed by the crowd inside the train car and at one point I just had enough. So since 2014 my husband has been driving me to my office in Central Jakarta, said Aliah, who had been a regular train commuter for nine years.



A 23-year-old Tangerang resident, Bramaseta Janottama, said he had given up taking the train primarily because of frequent delays that caused him to be late to work in South Jakarta.



Now I always leave earlier with my car or Go-Jek. Even though I incur higher expenses, at least I get to the office on time, said Bramaseta, a research executive.



Bramaseta and Aliah are two of many daily commuters from Greater Jakarta who have stopped taking with train and opted the more convenient transportation, their private vehicles.



A rapid growth of passengers and frequent train delays to and from Greater Jakarta are two main problems that have yet to be handled by PT KAI Commuter Jabodetabek (PT KCJ), the train operator that manages passengers from Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.



According to KCJ data, the company currently transports an average of 885,642 passengers every day, a 40 percent hike from 2015 when it disembarked approximately 705,556 passengers every day.



KCJs total passengers in a year grew from 121 million in 2011 to 257.5 million in 2015, an extraordinary increase of 112 percent in a course of only four years.



The ceaseless growth of KCJ passengers exemplifies an increase of suburbanites working in Jakarta. The increase, however, may overwhelm the company as the trains provided seem inadequate to transport the passengers.



KCJs assistant communication manager, Adli Hakim Nasution, told The Jakarta Post that the problems derived from a lack of KCJ-dedicated railways, which hindered the company from adding more embarkations to its schedule.



Many railways are used by more than one operator, so we have to compromise with them, he said on Wednesday, citing the Manggarai-Bekasi line as among those problematic.



KCJ is making new schedules that may be implemented as soon as December, Adli said.



Adli continued that at present, the best the company could do was add more train cars to accommodate more passengers.



KCJ currently operates about 764 train cars on a daily basis. KCJ imported last month 30 secondhand train cars from Japan, with another 30 to follow next October. Those train cars will undergo feasibility studies by the Transportation Ministry before commencing operation.



However, the addition of the train cars may still not accommodate KCJs current figure of daily passengers.



That is the best we can do for now, while hoping the city administration eases regulations,Adli said.



The Jakarta administration has been working to handle the citys severe traffic congestion in recent years, such as by encouraging residents to opt for public transportation instead of private vehicles. The administration has also issued supporting regulations, including the soon-to-be implemented electronic road pricing system and odd-even policy, which has been on a trial run on the citys main roads since July 27. (adt/sha)

_________________________________



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  Thu, August 25, 2016

The Jakarta Corruption Courts panel of judges has sentenced Supreme Court official Andri Tristianto Sutrisna to nine years in prison for accepting bribes and gratuities.

[...] The defendant is proven guilty of committing corruption crimes collectively, presiding judge Jhon Halasan Butarbutar said as quoted by Kompas as he read out the courts ruling on Thursday.

The panel of judges also ordered Andri to pay Rp 500 million (US$37,686) or face an additional six months in prison.

Jhon said the defendants deeds did not support the governments corruption eradication programs. His acts had also tainted the image of a state institution, namely the Supreme Court. Andri was proven to have accepted Rp 400 million in bribes.

The bribes were provided to Andri in the hope that he could postpone the delivery of a copy of an appeal ruling on Ichsan Suaidis corruption case, relating to the Labuhan Haji Port construction project in East Lombok.

With the postponement, it was hoped the Supreme Courts appeal ruling would not be executed by prosecutors, giving the suspect more time to prepare a second case review request.

It was Ichsans lawyer, Awang Lazuardi Embat, who first contacted Andri and asked for information on the progress of his clients appeal request in court. Awang then asked Andri to delay the delivery of Ichsans appeal ruling document to prosecutors.

Andri was also accused of accepting Rp 500 million in gratuities from Asep Ruhiat, a lawyer in Pekanbaru, Riau, and Rp 50 million from several other parties relating to the submission of appeal and case review requests for their clients to the court. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25 2016

Former city councillor M. Sanusi stood trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday for his alleged role in a high-profile bribery case centering on the deliberation of a draft bylaw pertaining to the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project.

The Gerindra Party politician, who is also the brother of City Council deputy speaker M. Taufik, stands accused of accepting Rp 2 billion (US$150,642) in bribes from developer PT Agung Podomoro Land (APL), which had been granted the reclamation projects.

In addition to the bribery charges, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors also accuse Sanusi of money laundering. The KPK alleges that the councillor laundered Rp 45 billion of illegally obtained money.

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 Haeril Halim and Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Makassar  Thu, August 25, 2016

Amriadi, a 30-year-old resident of Ujungpero village in Wajo, South Sulawesi, said he did not scrutinize PT Aulad Amin Tours a haj travel agency in Makassar, when it said it would fly his wife, Rosdiana, 30, to Mecca without waiting,

He said he had no reason to doubt the travel agency, which promised to take her to Mecca through the Philippines, because last year his relatives went the same way and they all arrived home again safe and sound.

Rosdiana is among the 177 haj pilgrims currently being detained in Manila for using illegally obtained haj passports to go to Mecca. They were arrested at Manila International Airport on Friday after they failed to speak the local language.

Rosidiana registered in January and almost immediately secured a slot to fly in August, a shorter time than waiting for a place in Indonesias quota, which takes decades.

In May, she was brought to the Philippines by Aulad to arrange the haj documents, said the husband, adding that on Aug. 16 his wife, along with 60 other pilgrims from Wajo, went to Makassar to catch a flight to Jakarta on the following day. From Jakarta the pilgrims flew to the Philippines.

Amriadi said he thought that using a Philippine haj passport was legal. He paid Rp 135 million (US$10,169) for the trip, which was more than the Rp 35 million charged for a regular haj trip by the Indonesian government.

Tahir, 26, a resident of Ajangale subdistrict in Bone regency, also in South Sulawesi, revealed that his father Nurdin Palla had also fallen victim to the Aulad Amin agency and Nurdin is now locked up in the Philippines. Nurdin had the same reasons as Amriadi to trust Aulad.

My father is already 50 and he was interested in the travel agents offer. We did not know if it is illegal, Tahir said.

South Sulawesi has the longest waiting list for the haj compare to other provinces. Data from the Religious Affairs Ministry shows that people registering for the haj this year will not get their turn until 2055.

Not only travel agencies have been taking advantage of the situation. A middleman from the Philippines, identified as Syekh Rasyidi, also went directly to South Sulawesi to offer unaware residents, especially in Barru regency, a quick way to the holy land through the Philippines.

The Philippines has about 2,000 left-over haj quota places this year. Syndicates in the country work with travel agents and networks in Indonesia to recruit interested and unaware pilgrims.

The National Police had identified seven travel agencies, one of them being Aulad Amin, that brought the 177 people to the Philippines. It remains unclear how many Indonesian had arrived in Mecca using such travel agencies that were not licensed to organize haj trips.

Rasyidi was said to operate his business in Barru. He only asked people to submit two copies of IDs as the main requirement. The fee was around Rp 110 million and Rp 130 million, said Barru resident Mahmud.

Rasyidi, who visited Barru three times since last year, offered flexibility to pilgrims, such as by allowing them to pay Rp 50 million in a down payment, while the remainder could be paid after arriving in the Philippines.

He stayed at my house. He offered people the Philippine package by saying that the country had 8,000 haj quota places, but only 6,000 of them were used. So, there are 2,000 seats left that he said he could offer to local people [in Barru], Mahmud said.

Last year, Rasyidi flew 20 people to Mecca via the Philippines. Dozens of the detained 177 pilgrims were recruited by Rasyidi.

Following the Manila arrest, the Religious Affairs Ministry launched an audit to find out whether 269 haj travel agents and 693 umrah (minor haj) travel agents also bought quota places from the Philippines.

The National Police sent a team to Manila to collect testimony from the 177 pilgrims in its investigation into the seven unlicensed travel agents over possible fraud.

 Margareth S. Aritonang contributed to the article from Jakarta
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Haeril Halim and Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Makassar  Thu, August 25 2016

Amriadi, a 30-year-old resident of Ujungpero village in Wajo, South Sulawesi, said he did not scrutinize PT Aulad Amin Tours a haj travel agency in Makassar, when it said it would fly his wife, Rosdiana, 30, to Mecca without waiting,

He said he had no reason to doubt the travel agency, which promised to take her to Mecca through the Philippines, because last year his relatives went the same way and they all arrived home again safe and sound.

Rosdiana is among the 177 haj pilgrims currently being detained in Manila for using illegally obtained haj passports to go to Mecca. They were arrested at Manila International Airport on Friday after they failed to speak the local language.

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  Thu, August 25, 2016

The House of Representatives is likely to reject the Indonesian Militarys (TNI) request to redefine the concept of terrorism in the draft revision of the 2003 Terrorism Law, a lawmaker said on Thursday.

United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Arsul Sani said the TNI had requested that terrorism no longer be considered a crime, so that it could get involved in counterterrorism measures.

He said the request could not be fulfilled because the majority of political factions in the Houses special committee for the deliberation of the law revision wanted the TNIs roles in counterterrorism operations only within a provision of assistance.

"We cannot grant the TNIs request for full authority in counterterrorism. Its request for the House to define that terrorism is not a crime also can't be granted because what we are discussing now is a law revision, not a new bill," said Arsul, who is also a member of the committee.

Arsul said the House might grant the TNI the authority to get involved in the handling of terrorist attacks that could not be addressed by the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism unit alone, such as airplane or vessel hijacking by terrorists on Indonesian soil.

However, he said, the leading force of counterterrorism operations would remain in the hands of the National Police, as stipulated by prevailing laws.

Article 7 of the 2004 TNI Law states that the TNI can be involved into non-military operations, including antiterrorism operations based on a political decision from the President and the Houses approval. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Sragen  Thu, August 25 2016

Tens of thousands of fish in fishing cages in the Kedungombo Resevoir in Sumberlawang, Sragen, Central Java, have died in the past two days, apparently due to extreme weather.

Fisherman Daryono Gundul confirmed that 15 to 25 tons of fish died in the past few days, leaving the fishermen with millions of rupiah in financial losses.

Each fisherman may have suffered [losses of] millions of rupiah depending on the differences in the number of dead fish, he added.

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  Thu, August 25, 2016

The government is optimistic the 1 million houses program will be significantly accelerated after the issuance of the 13th economic policy package, to alleviate the housing backlog from 13.5 million units in 2014 to 6.8 million in 2019.

This year, 400,000 houses have been built in the country. State-owned lender Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) built 220,000 of them, followed by the property developers (91,000 houses), central government (71,000), local administration (68,046) and ministries (16,923).

"Indeed, there has been a slowdown due to the regulations. But after the policy package was announced, and it was promised that it would be issued within 10 days, it will accelerated," Public Works and Public Housing Ministry director general of housing Syarif Burhanuddin said on Thursday in Jakarta.

To further accelerate the program, the government is assigning a team consisting of personnel from BTN, state-owned housing developer Perumnas and government-backed mortgage program, the Housing Savings Advisory Board for Civil Servants (Bapertarum-PNS), to address the land problem.

"We will solve the issue for civil servants first because, according to Bapertarum, about 960,000 Indonesian civil servants are yet to have a house," he said.

The government is removing six licenses in the property sector through the 13th economic policy package, as part of efforts to provide mass-scale low-cost housing for low-income people. Among the permits are the location permit that currently takes 60 days to complete and the special approval for flood anticipation system, which takes up to 60 days. (ags)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara has decided to scrap the bureaucratic procedures among government institutions to ensure swift action in blocking the spread of radical websites on the Internet.

Officials from the National Police, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) could now just call the ministry's staff to block terrorism-related websites or dissemination of radical teachings via social media platforms without informing the minister.

"Terrorists never tell us about when or where they will launch an attack and therefore we cannot have bureaucratic procedures, we must get out from fixed systems [to prevent terrorism]," Rudiantara told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

He explained swift action was needed since radical content was abundantly spreading on social media and distributed privately among members of radical groups, adding that if the law enforcers were to cling onto bureaucratic procedures in blocking radical content, the actions taken to prevent radicalism would be slow and not very effective.

He asserted that the coordination between the National Police, BNPT, and BIN was of great importance to assist the government in addressing the dissemination of radical and terrorism-related content online. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Eva Kusuma Sundari said Thursday the party's executive board would discuss mounting public rejection of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama with chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"We will surely discuss it at the party's executive board plenary meeting with party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri," Eva told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The PDI-P remains undecided about a candidate for next years Jakarta gubernatorial election. The executive board is also studying public preferences for candidates.

Although Megawati has the prerogative to choose the partys candidate, she will consider public preferences and party members suggestion, Eva said.

On Thursday, dozens of people from the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC), the Urban Poor Network (JMRK) and the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Alliance (KNTI), demonstrated in front of the PDI-P Central Jakarta office to demand that the party not back Ahok in the election. They claimed that they had suffered from Ahok's policies, especially forced evictions.

"We don't want the PDI-P to support a governor who regularly evicts people. It's our duty to remind the PDI-P not to support the wrong person," Gugun Muhammad of the UPC said as quoted by kompas.com.

The previous week, 38 activists from the Urban Kampung Forum delivered a letter to Megawati and President Joko Jokowi Widodo. They requested that the PDI-P not support Ahok, claiming his policies contradicted PDI-P ideology to be the party of the little people". They also claimed that Ahok favored corporations, as evident in the Jakarta Bay reclamation projects. (evi)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina recorded a more than twofold increase in net profit during the first half of the year after tightening its belt.

Pertamina finance director Arief Budiman said the company booked US$1.83 billion net profits in the first half, up 221 percent from $57 million in the same period last year, thanks to efficiency measures.

Compared to other oil and gas companies, we had higher growth," he said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Arief further explained that Pertamina recorded $3.28 billion in operational profit in the first half, up 110 percent from $1.56 billion in the same period last year.

Despite the increased profits, Pertamina recorded a sharp decline in revenue during the first half due to persistently low global oil prices.

Arief explained that the company posted $17.19 billion in revenue in the first half, down 21 percent from $21.79 billion in the same period last year.

Pertamina president director Dwi Soetjipto acknowledged that stubbornly low global oil prices had affected revenues and net profits of not only Pertamina but also of other oil and gas companies.

"From January to March, the price remained low, but increased in the following three months. It has impacted revenues and net profits of all oil and gas companies," Dwi said. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

The National Awakening Party (PKB) officially endorsed businessman Sandiaga Uno of the Gerindra Party as a gubernatorial candidate in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election in a declaration in Cakung, East Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon.



Sandiaga made a speech at the declaration event, during which he vowed to improve peoples welfare in the city. He promised to improve the prosperity of the poor, to lower staple food prices and to create more jobs for young people.



I want to say thank you to the PKB Jakarta branch, which will back me in the election. We want to increase peoples welfare and lead the city with humanity, Sandiaga told the audience at the event.



Meanwhile, PKB Jakarta head Hasbiallah Ilyas commented that Sandiaga was the most capable among the Jakarta gubernatorial candidates. Sandiaga struggles for humanistic values in leading the city instead of violent actions, he said.



We want a governor who will improve slum areas without evictions, Hasbiallah said at the declaration.



The PKB has six seats in the City Council, while Gerindra has 15. If the two parties join to endorse Sandiaga, they must form a coalition with other political parties to meet the minimum 22 seats required to be eligible to nominate a candidate for the election.



Last month, Gerindra officially nominated Sandiaga as its governor candidate during the partys national meeting at the house of its chairman, Prabowo Subianto, in Bogor, West Java. He was appointed based on the party chairman's consideration. (rez/evi)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25 2016

State-run plantations firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara III (PTPN III) is facing a Herculean task to keep its business afloat after suffering from deep losses since its appointment as a holding company.



It became a holding company in October 2014 and now manages 13 state-owned plantation firms.



In the first six months of 2016, it already reported a net loss of Rp 823.43 billion (US$62.14 million) that was deeper than the Rp 529.95 billion net loss it posted last year.



Our losses were mostly caused by sluggish productivity in our oil palm and rubber plantations, PTPN III president director Elia Massa Manik said in a briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday.



Elia attributed the sluggish productivity to mature oil palm trees, low commodity prices and mismanagement, especially on rubber plantations.



PTPN IIIs plantations are dominated by oil palm trees that cover 57.5 percent of the area, followed by rubber trees that cover 19.53 percent and other plants that take up the remaining parts.



Data from the company show that its production is still below that of private firms.



It produced around 18.2 tons of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per hectare, lower than the average figure of between 24 tons and 25 tons of FFB per hectare in plantations owned by private companies.



Meanwhile, low productivity is not the only problem the company is dealing with right now. PTPN III is also facing mounting debts and legal disputes that are gnawing into its business.



Total bank loans amounted to Rp 33.24 trillion as of June, while the legal disputes revolve around land claimed by locals.



Elia said that PTPN IIIs new management had laid out strategic plans to take to reverse the situation. One measure is to restructure Rp 25 trillion of its debt.



It is also considering making a fresh money injection into a number of its subsidiaries that have been suffering a financial hemorrhage for many years, namely PTPN II, VIII, IX, XI, XIII and XIV.



In a bid to increase productivity, it has allocated Rp 3 trillion to replant about 40 percent of its oil palm plantations  most of which are located within the areas controlled by PTPN II and XIII  that produce low quality fruits.



When completed, the replanted areas are expected to produce an additional 20 tons of FFB.



Its strategic plans also include an attempt to penetrate the downstream palm oil industry by investing Rp 585 billion to build a cooking-oil plant in the Sei Mangkei special economy zone (KEK) in North

Sumatra.



Construction of the facility will commence next month and is expected to last until April 2017. The plant will have an annual production capacity of about 600,000 tons of cooking oil.



Elia said PTPN III was seeking more plots of land for sugarcane plantations, as well, to improve the companys sugar industry, one of its biggest ventures.



It is currently in talks with the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry so that it can obtain 100 hectares of land from state-owned forestry firm Perhutani.



We have to improve communications with external parties, such as the SOE Ministry and banks, to make our efforts effectively bear fruit, Elia said.



The holding company currently has combined assets of Rp 117 trillion, making it one of the largest state-owned enterprises in terms of assets.



Meanwhile, Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) secretary-general Togar Sitanggang told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the palm oil industry was expecting a slight recovery in the remaining months of the year, as the peak of the harvest season in the September to October period would increase productivity.



Bloomberg earlier reported that palm oil shipments from Indonesia, the worlds largest producer, probably rose to the highest level in three months in July after buyers from China to India boosted purchases.



Chinas appetite for palm oil is set to recover ahead of its major mid-autumn festival. (mos)

---------------

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 Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

The holding company of 14 state-owned agriculture firms, PTPN III, has announced a plan to restructure Rp 25 trillion (US$1.88 billion) of debts or 75 percent of its total outstanding liabilities worth Rp 33.24 trillion.

The debts came from four state-owned lenders namely BRI, Mandiri, BNI, and BTN, and the negotiations would start next month, said PTPN III president director Elia Massa Manik.

Elia, who has been heading the company since April, said the company also tried to boost productivity by replanting and down streaming. He recently negotiated with state-owned forestry firm Perhutani to open 100,000 hectares for sugarcane plantations on Perhutani's land in Lampung, South Sumatra.

Meanwhile, our cooking oil factory with a capacity of 600,000 metric tons, and total investments of Rp 585 billion in Sei Mangkei [North Sumatra] is also under construction and will resume operation in 2018," he told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Elia is preparing the debt restructuring and the performance tweak as it booked Rp 36.21 trillion in sales last year, with a total loss of Rp 613 billion, despite its gigantic assets totaling Rp 109.72 trillion.

"After debt restructuring and a productivity boost, our third strategy will be operational improvement. We will restructure our talent pool, revitalize the factories, and implement SAP [System Application and Product] in data processing next year," he said. (ags)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru  Thu, August 25, 2016

Residents and the police were involved in a clash at the headquarters of the Meranti Islands Police in Selat Panjang after a civil servant, Apri Adi Pratama, 24, died in custody Thursday morning.

Angry residents went to the police headquarters because of a rumor that Adi died after being tortured by the police. The clash caused tension in the area and halted activities.

A few hours before his death, Adi allegedly argued with an officer from the Meranti Islands Polices drug unit, Brig. Adil S. Tambunan, 31, in the parking lot of the Furama Hotel in Selat Panjang. Police said that according to witnesses, Adi was jealous and became angry at Adil for taking a woman to the hotel.

After Adil was stabbed to death in the Furama Hotel parking lot, police said Adi fled to Mekar Sari village in Merbau district.

The police said they arrested Adi at about 3 a.m., but only after they shot him in the legs as he tried to escape.

Meranti Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Asep Iskandar told the gathered residents that Adi tried to escape despite a warning shot. But we promise to investigate his death and to punish police officers who are proven to be the cause of his death, Asep said.

Aseps statement did not appease the anger of hundreds of residents who marched to the police headquarters where an anti-riot squad awaited them. Residents threw rocks and pieces of wood at the police, who threw tear gas grenades back at them.

Riau Police afterwards deployed 50 personnel to guard Meranti Islands.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25 2016

Oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco is seeking to reduce its stake in the Cilacap refinery project in Central Java, leaving its Indonesian partner Pertamina to absorb the difference.



Saudi Aramcos intent was conveyed by interim Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Luhut Pandjaitan on Wednesday.



What has happened with the Cilacap project is that it [Saudi Aramco] has asked to decrease its share to 35 percent from 45 percent. I dont know why, Luhut said, adding that the reason could be entirely finance-related.



Saudi Aramco currently has a 45 percent share in the US$5.5 billion project, while state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina controls the remaining 55 percent.



The share reduction may mean that Pertamina will bear a heavier financial burden for the project, but Luhut said Pertamina was financially capable of handling the burden.



Although the two firms signed a heads of agreement last November, a joint venture agreement is expected to be officially signed during the visit of King Salman in October this year.



The upgraded Cilacap refinery is expected to be operational in 2022 with an increased production capacity of 370,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) from 340,000 bopd.



Luhut said that the government would try to convince Saudi Aramco to speed up construction, so that the Cilacap facility will be operational by 2021.



The Cilacap project is part of Pertaminas Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP). Under the master plan, Pertamina is set to build several new refineries, including refineries in Bontang, East Kalimantan, and Tuban, East Java.



It is also set to upgrade three existing refineries in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Dumai in Riau, and Balongan in West Java.



When all new construction work and upgrades are completed, the refineries will produce a combined output of 2.3 million bopd by 2025 from less than 1 million bopd at the moment.



National oil demand continues to increase annually and reached 1.6 million bopd by the end of last year. However, the countrys refineries are only capable of producing around 800,000 bopd.



This has made the country dependent on imports and the master plan is expected to reduce that dependence.



Saudi Aramco has expressed interest in upgrading the Dumai and Balongan refineries, but has yet to take concrete steps in that direction. Each upgrade will cost around $5 billion.



Apart from the refinery projects, the government plans to offer Saudi Arabia several other projects to invest in.



Luhut said the Saudis were interested in developing 2x500 megawatt (MW) steam-fueled power plants in Sumatra and in partnering with Pertamina to supply jet fuel at the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.



Pertamina spokesperson Wianda Pusponegoro said Saudi Aramco had not officially expressed its intention to lower its share in the Cilacap project, but added that Pertamina was enthusiastic about the possibility of selling jet fuel at the King Fahd airport.



We are ready to work together with Saudi Aramco to supply jet fuel at the King Fahd airport, she said.



Reuters reported that Saudi Aramco declined to comment on matters relating to the Cilacap refinery.

---------------

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
TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.

Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

The Jakarta Corruption Court is set to rule on the graft case implicating Supreme Court official Andri Tristianto Sutrisna on Thursday, Kompas.com has reported.

Andri has been charged with accepting bribes and gratuities in exchange for a favorable ruling in a Supreme Court case.

Earlier, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors demanded that corruption court judges sentence Andri to 13 years in prison. The prosecutor team said Andris deeds ran contrary to the governments corruption eradication programs and damaged the publics trust in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court.

They further said Andris acts had destroyed the hopes of justice seekers and, therefore, there was no any reason for the government to forgive the defendant and impose a sentence that was not in accordance with his illicit behavior.

According to KPK prosecutors, Andri received Rp 400 million (US$ 30165.92) in bribes to postpone the delivery of the copy of an appeal ruling document relating to Ichsan Suaidis involvement in a corruption case centering on the Labuhan Haji Port construction project in East Lombok

With the postponement, it was hoped the Supreme Courts appeal ruling would not be executed by prosecutors, giving the suspect more time to prepare a second case review request.

Apart from the bribery, Andri is also accused of receiving Rp 500 million in gratuities from Asep Ruhiat, a lawyer in Pekanbaru, Riau. Asep allegedly gave the money so Andri would help him handle several appeals and second case review requests submitted to the Supreme Court.

Prosecutors said Andri also received Rp 50 million from several other parties who had filed appeals and second case review requests with the court. (ebf)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

The governments tax amnesty bullets seem to be hitting the wrong targets as most people participating in the program so far are small taxpayers, not those who keep assets worth billions of dollars overseas.

Setyo Utomo, head of the extension and dissemination section at the Tanah Abang 1 tax office in Central Jakarta, said his office held recently held a number of events to promote the tax amnesty program. But it was ordinary people who flocked to the events, not the wealthy or business owners as expected.

Setyo acknowledged that he was surprised small taxpayers actively visited the tax office to seek information about the program. Theyre busy asking what the tax amnesty is. What if they dont join the program? he said on Tuesday.

Although the government seems to be missing its primary target  wealthy Indonesians who keep their funds offshore  Setyo said the high participation of ordinary people was encouraging because it would widen the countrys tax base, resulting in more tax payments in the end.

Yulianingsih, head of the Palmerah tax office in West Jakarta, said the 40 to 50 application letters for the amnesty program submitted to her office were mostly from individual taxpayers. Her office has so far received penalty or compensation payments of about Rp 8 billion (US$602,568).

Most of the participants, she added, were private employees and owners of businesses in the area.

The scheme offers tax pardons for Indonesians who declare and repatriate their assets in exchange for relatively low penalty rates between 2 percent and 10 percent from July to next March. The program aims to attract billions of dollars of funds kept overseas by rich Indonesians.

As of Wednesday evening, repatriated assets had reached Rp 1.94 trillion, far from the governments projection of Rp 1 quadrillion. The total declared and repatriated assets stood at Rp 59.5 trillion while penalty payments amounted to Rp 1.18 trillion, just 0.7 percent of the Rp 165 trillion target.

Finance Ministry data revealed that as of last week, 75.3 percent of participants were individual taxpayers whose declared assets were worth Rp 6.4 billion on average.

Tax offices in West Jakarta, North Jakarta and North Sumatra have received the most applications.

Tax officials earlier expected that tax offices in the affluent areas of South and Central Jakarta would receive more amnesty applications.

Big taxpayers were probably still calculating the value of their assets and preparing documents needed for the program, according to the Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis (CITA) executive director Yustinus Prastowo. They could also be waiting for certainty around investment procedures and instruments, especially for investments in the real sector.

Up until today we dont know yet what projects are offered by the government to be invested in, he said Wednesday. He also noted that small taxpayers seemed to be more active in the tax amnesty program.

The key is the data the government owns, he said. It can push big taxpayers to join the program using the data.

The government, including President Joko Jokowi Widodo, has said it holds data of Indonesians taxpayers with money overseas and has urged them to declare the assets. The data was available to three pairs of eyes only  those of the President, the finance minister and tax office head  Jokowi said when he launched the program on July 1.

Taxation Director General Ken Dwijugiasteadi, however, on Monday denied having such data. Thus, the success of the program has so far relied on small taxpayers willingness to participate.

A 52-year-old man who did not wish to be named said he decided to take part in the program after a dissemination event at the Jakarta International Expo venue in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, which was also attended by the President.

I joined it because this is my chance to help the government, he said, while waiting for documents to be verified at the Palmerah tax office.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

Forensic toxicologist I Made Agus Gelgel Wirasuta testified in a trial against defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso on Thursday, assuring that Wayan Mirna Salihin died because of cyanide poisoning.

"Cyanide will have an irritative and corrosive effect. It will also have a burning taste," Gelgel told the judges at the Central Jakarta District Court, adding that according to his examination, Mirna might have consumed 12.8 milligram to 27.2 milligram of cyanide.

Previously, Boon Juwita, alias Hani, and Olivier cafe manager Devi Siagian claimed to have had tasted Mirna's coffee leftovers where a burning sensation was felt on their tongues.

Meanwhile, according to police's forensic laboratory, Mirna's gastric pH was 5.5 or almost neutral. Normally, human pH levels range from 1 to 3. Her stomach was also found to be irritated and had been eroded from the corrosive substance.

Gelgel said cyanide dissolved easily, almost leaving no traces as initially the case with Mirna as she was not examined directly after her death. Cyanide could dissolve into gas, acid, and carbon monoxide, which was why in her liver, doctors in the beginning could not find thiocyanate or other substances that indicated Mirna had been poisoned.

He also assured that cyanide had killed Mirna after she drank the Vietnamese coffee. If she was poisoned before coming to the cafe, she likely would not have made it to the cafe, at all, Gelgel said.

However, Jessica's lawyer Otto Hasibuan stressed that Gelgel did not know for sure that Mirna passed away from cyanide poisoning as his examination was based on police reports. Mirna's blood was also not examined. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

A Kerta Jaya train serving the Jakarta-Surabaya route caught fire near Tanjung Priok station in North Jakarta on Thursday. Fortunately, there were no passengers inside when the incident occurred.

North Jakarta Fire Department head Nasriadi said a railway operator cleaning service worker encountered the fire at 1 p.m. The fire was caused by an electricity error in the generator set, he added.

The fire started in a restaurant car of the train, where the generator set was placed, said Nasriadi as reported by kompas.com.

Indra Irawan, the worker who encountered the fire, told Nasriadi that the train was moving from the direction of Senen station in Central Jakarta when he saw the fire.

Eight fire trucks were sent to the scene and managed to extinguished the fire in less than an hour. (bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (Associated Press) London  Thu, August 25, 2016

The ongoing violence in Syria has taken years off of people's life expectancy, according to a new analysis published in the journal Lancet on Wednesday.

Since the Arab uprising began in 2010, about six years have been shaved off of men's life expectancy in Syria while women have lost about five years.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, researchers found that the lives of people in Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt were about three months shorter than expected, according to the newstudy based on health data from 22 countries.

"Recent conflicts have shattered the basic (health) infrastructure in a number of countries," said Ali Mokdad at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, who led the research. "Millions of people are facing dire water shortages and poor sanitation that will lead to disease outbreaks."

Mokdad and his colleagues warned the ongoing violence could reverse health advances made in the Middle East during the past two decades and that Syria could fall behind Africa in their attempts to reduce child deaths.

Researchers found that heart disease was the top killer and said there had been a spike in mental health problems and injuries linked to the trauma of war.

"We should be more alert to emerging disasters," wrote Riyadh K. Lafta of the Mustansiriya Medical School in Baghdad, Iraq in an accompanying commentary. Lafta warned future emergencies might arise from the "new sophisticated weaponry used in conflict." (ags)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Gatot Soepriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Melbourne  Thu, August 25 2016

In the latest move to revamp the tax system in Indonesia, the government is considering setting up tax haven areas to entice home money that was stashed abroad.

The idea was initiated by former finance minister Bambang Brodjonegoro who believed that the distinct region could facilitate the investment of funds repatriated through the ongoing tax clemency program.

Recently, the proposal was also endorsed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo. In his speech during the tax amnesty program conference in Semarang recently, he said that Indonesia had the capacity to develop a tax haven jurisdiction on one or two islands in a bid to be a more tax attractive country.

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  Fri, August 26, 2016

State-owned publicly listed steel company PT Krakatau Steel aims to reduce its net losses to US$51 million by the end of 2016 from the $87.54 million in losses recorded in the first half of the year.

The company reduced its net losses from $134.93 million during the first half of 2015 after it increased production and sales.

"Our total sales in the first half reached 1.17 million tons, increasing 39.59 percent compared to last year's first half," president director Sukandar said at a shareholders meeting on Thursday.

The company hopes to persuade the government to use Indonesian-made steel in national projects, especially the steel bars for concrete construction, he said.

This year, the company succeeded in booking an operating profit of $26.69 million although the company recorded a loss in its bottom line. Sukendar said the loss came from the companys unprofitable subsidiaries. (evi)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) (Associated Press) Pyongyang, North Korea  Fri, August 26, 2016

North Korea marked its "Military First" holiday on Thursday with mass dancing, outdoor concerts and boasts of a successful  and potentially game-changing  submarine-launched ballistic missile test it hopes will serve as a warning to Washington and Seoul to stop holding joint military exercises Pyongyang sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

Television news broadcasts and the front pages of morning newspapers Thursday showed images of the launch, conducted in the early hours the day before. The test, which brought immediate condemnation from the United States and North Korea's neighbors, sent a "Pukguksong" missile soaring from a submerged position off the North's port city of Sinpo. It flew an estimated 500 kilometers (310 miles) toward the seas around Japan, the longest distance North Korea has yet achieved in a submarine launch.

Kim was shown smiling and hugging officials after watching the test from an observation deck. He was quoted by state media as calling it the "success of all successes."

Launching long-range ballistic missiles from submarines is stealthier than land launching. Having that capability could significantly strengthen North Korea's ability to conduct strikes on US positions in South Korea, and possibly on US bases in Japan as well.

The North has attempted two such launches before, but neither was seen as successful by outside experts.

As the news of the missile test was broadcast on a large screen outside Pyongyang's main train station Thursday, dozens of people stood in the rain to watch.

"This shows that our national defense strength has reached a new level," said Choe Kum Chol, a 42-year-old factory worker. "We are a nuclear power and everything is ready, so we have nothing to fear."

The test came as the US and South Korea are conducting their annual, 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises south of the Demilitarized Zone.

Though North Korea has protested such exercises for decades, prompting regular spikes in tensions on the divided peninsula, it has been particularly alarmed by reports that the maneuvers have recently started to include training for an invasion of the North and precision strikes, or "beheading operations," against its top leaders.

North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons development programs have brought heavy international sanctions down on its head, but it says they are justified because of the threat posed by the US and South Korea.

"They are not military exercises, but war preparations to invade our country," said Kim Kyong Ik, a 44-year-old Pyongyang resident. "Our country is getting more prosperous and they don't like that, so they are stepping up their moves to stifle us."

He said South Korea should "wake up and kick the Americans out."

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.

Malaysian counselor Johan Ariff Abd Razak, whose country holds the council presidency, said Thursday the United States circulated a draft statement to members and China asked for more time to consider it.

Peter Wilson, Britain's deputy UN ambassador, said this was the fourth missile launch where "something has not been agreed" to by the Security Council in response. "We want to see a press statement agreed," he said.

Diplomats say China, which has close ties to North Korea, has blocked council action or insisted on changes in previous proposed texts that were unacceptable to other members.

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a statement that the US 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 UN Security Council resolutions.

South Korea's military condemned the launch but acknowledged it was an improvement over previous tests of similar missiles.

Washington and Seoul say the military exercises North Korea opposes are defensive in nature.

Thursday marks the anniversary of the "Military First" policy initiated by Kim Jong Un's father, the late Kim Jong Il, and the priority position the military continues to enjoy in North Korea was on full display.

Mass dancing demonstrations  a holiday staple in North Korea  were to be held on Kim Il Sung Square and other places around the country. Though the atmosphere in Pyongyang was more festive than tense, convoys carrying troops to various gatherings have been speeding through the broad avenues of the capital all week.

Television air time has been dominated by military footage even more than usual, with soldiers seen advancing through chest-deep mud, braving ice-covered lakes and staging fight scenes featuring taekwondo moves atop a moving train.

North Korea is one of the most militarized countries in the world, with a million-man army in a nation of only 25 million people.

Military service is mandatory  along with being long and arduous  and maintaining such a large number of troops is a major draw on the North's very limited economic resources. Its nuclear program is also costly, especially given the sanctions that result.

North Korean strategists believe that developing nuclear weapons and a reliable arsenal of long-range missiles is necessary and, in the end, a more cost-effective means of keeping Washington at bay and the ruling regime secure than maintaining a large conventional army.

Despite the price they pay in sanctions, officials sometimes cite the example of Libya, and the killing of strongman Moammar Gadhafi, as what happens to leaders who cave in to international pressure to give up their nuclear ambitions.

North Koreans are also quick to point out that, although their country has received military assistance in the past from the Soviet Union and China, which helped it stave off the US during the 1950-53 Korean War, it no longer has any foreign troops based on its soil.

There are about 28,000 US troops based in South Korea, and tens of thousands more in Japan, including the U.S. 7th Fleet and two major fighter bases that could be used as staging areas for attacks on the North if hostilities broke out.(bbn)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Tarra Quismundo (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) MANILA  Thu, August 25, 2016

Chinas ambassador to the Philippines has vowed to cooperate in the Philippines war against drugs.

China has offered to conduct joint operations with Philippine authorities against Chinese gangs allegedly involved in illegal drugs in the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said on Wednesday.

In a meeting of the Senate committee on foreign relations, Yasay said he had called Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua on Monday for a dialogue on the involvement of Chinese citizens in the local drug trade.

I had asked him about his clarifications explaining this matter, and he had indicated even  that he was going to come up, or China was going to come up, with a joint operation with our law enforcement agencies in this regard, he said under questioning by Sen. Richard Gordon.

He said he would heed Gordons call for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to send China a note verbale to formally seek Beijings explanation on the supply of drugs in the Philippines from China.

I have directed the formalization of your request, and we are sending a note verbale to precisely pursue this on a more aggressive note, Yasay said.

In his letter to the DFA on Tuesday, Gordon asked Yasay to send a vigorous note verbale to China to raise a level of dialogue and cooperation, requesting a more robust task force to combat activities of Chinese drug lords.

Gordon proposed the creation of a joint task force to identify patterns of passengers who might be carrying contraband from China to the Philippines, and to gather collective intelligence.

The two sides should also initiate capacity-building initiatives  against the transnational trafficking of drugs.

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa earlier said almost all illegal drugs in the Philippines, whether finished products or raw materials, came from China.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Hyung-Jin Kim (Associated Press) Seoul  Thu, August 25, 2016

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 Korea's 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 Korea's nuclear and missile threats are not imaginary threats any longer, but they're now becoming real threats," South Korean President Park Geun-hye said of the launch. "Those threats are coming closer each moment."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday called the missile test the "success of all successes," according to the official state news agency KNCA. Kim said the launch effectively arms the country with fully-equipped nuclear attack capability and puts the U.S. mainland within its striking distance.

The United Nations Security Council was holding emergency closed consultations on the launch late Wednesday afternoon at the request of the United States and Japan.

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.

"The U.S. commitment to the defense of our allies including the Republic of Korea and Japan in the face of these threats remains ironclad," she said.

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 launch of the presumed KN-11 missile into the Sea of Japan.

Its 500-kilometer (310-mile) flight puts all 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 Korea's Sinpo-class submarines, which can move about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) underwater at a time, said analyst Kim Dong-yub at Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

According to KCNA, Kim watched from an observation post as North Korean officials and scientists conducted the test-firing, which the agency said was carried out without "any adverse impact" on neighboring countries.

The KCNA paraphrased Kim as saying that the successful test proved that North Korea has joined the "front rank" of military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability.

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 doesn't 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 U.S. said it and Japan have requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the missile launch.

The Foreign Ministry of China, North Korea's last major ally, called for all sides to avoid actions that increase tensions.

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 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. (ags)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 25, 2016

An annual travel fair initiated by Singapore Airlines and Bank Central Asia (BCA) is set to return for the fifth time in Gandaria City shopping mall in South Jakarta from Aug. 26 to 28.

There will be bargain prices for various destinations, the airline's public relations Glory Henriette told kompas.com, adding that Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Europe and the US would be among the places featured at the event.

(Read also: Govt eyes more Chinese tourists, promotes tourism in Shanghai)

As usual, the travel fair will offer discounts for flights, up to three-fold in cash back and other gimmicks including additional KrisFlyer Miles, Changi Dollar vouchers and opportunity to experience a virtual reality tour of Universal Studios Halloween Horror Night.

Meanwhile, BCA credit card holders can use their card to get a 0 percent installment during the event. Visitors can also participate in a social media photo competition to win miniature planes of Singapore Airlines. (kes)
Police have charged a 29-year-old man with murder following the death of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung in Queensland, Australia.

The Queensland Police Service said he had been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault.

Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was attacked at the Shelleys Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night. She suffered multiple stab wounds.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung and her cat Leo (Mykah Powell/PA)

The Queensland Police Service previously confirmed the man they had arrested was Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman.

A 30-year-old British man police named as Tom Jackson remains in hospital with critical head injuries and a 46-year-old local man received non-life threatening injuries. Jackson was injured trying to help Ayliffe-Chung. Police described his actions as selfless.

Another British backpacker was injured and is in hospital being treated for damage to both ankles.

Police said the man charged would appear at Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday. A statement said: It will be alleged that as the man was being transported from the hospital to the watch house around 5.45pm, he assaulted two officers and resisted violently and police have had to use a Taser and capsicum spray on the man.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder of Queensland Police had previously said the possibility that Ayad had an unrequited romantic interest or an obsession with Ayliffe-Chung was a line of inquiry.

He also said there was an indication that Ayad had taken cannabis on Tuesday evening and police confirmed he had shouted Allahu Akbar during the alleged attack.

Rosie Ayliffe paid tribute to her daughter in a statement, saying she was an amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit.

Visited Ayr and #HomeHill with consular staff to meet local police and UK nationals. Deep sympathy to all affected. pic.twitter.com/GCLM7bk7e6  Menna Rawlings (@MennaRawlings) August 25, 2016

British High Commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings is in Home Hill to provide support to Britons involved in the attack.
If you listen carefully on the sunny streets of Kent, you might just feel your toes starting to tap and your hips beginning to wiggle. Like the carefree earworms theyre breeding, Get Inuit are crawling into the lugholes of just about anybody attending festivals this year.

Go on, front-man, Jamie Glass, urges, Say it. Daring to speak the title of their latest single Teriyaki aloud, it slips off the tongue and finishes with a smile. Didnt that feel nice? he asks.

All zapping guitar and angular vocals slapping into a bad mood baby, Ive got 99 problems, the rollicking riffs are unforgiving through the two minute burst.

A track about both internal and external battles that I have daily with morality. The twenty-something year old writer explains, It's about knowing what type of person I want to be but also being aware that I'll innately never be that person no matter how hard I try.

Despite having zero relation to the Japanese cuisine, Teriyaki sizzles as a sing-along anthem with a glaze of attitude. Half arsey with reality, the other really not giving a fuck.

It heartily slots into a steady growing back catalogue, all written and produced by the collective (brothers James and Rob Simpson, alongside Oliver Nunn). Unashamed to enjoy a strange title, the blessings of witty Pro-procrastinator and quirky Cutie Pie, Im Bloated have never been intentional in fact, Jamie confesses, I never really think about it. It tends to just come into fruition early on and we stick with it. Deciding Its probably out of laziness!

Their debut EP, 001, became indie Twitters worst kept secret. The awkwardly amiable Dress Of Bubblewrap would find lead place on a Valentines mixtape.

Cutesy vocals lushly deliver the line Drop me a line next time you slip, Ill make you a dress of bubblewrap, after his crush breaks her hip in front of the whole town.

Gushing their own studio as a home to build tracks, together the band have a combined chasm of musical taste that always helps create our sound. But I think there is a core middle ground that we all agree on.

The Luge Lessons EP quickly followed spinning the cotton-candy pop into something much more sticky with the jubilantly breezy I Am The Hot Air and shimmering On and On.

Insistent that the charm is all a ruse! its hard to fall for Jamies claims ofI'm horrible! especially after pleads of not contacting his ex-girlfriends for evidence.

Riding the surf-pop waves, the band meet some rough waters. Facing them head on to trudge through garage grunge, the sun continually hits their backs.

Having always enjoyed wordplay, the Southerners quick wit lyricism is formed from delightful catchphrases two left feet and innocent views of coping with death, to failing relationships with lovers and friends I wanna be your stick in the mud.

Its fun to write that way, he explains, A lot of our songs are about depression or self-loathing, and using colourful terminology was always my way of being able to mask gloomy topics. A step up from ripping off My Love by Westlife for a gifted track to his mum as a kid.

Given the band were named after a joke of a pun (get into it, get it?), the boys are keen not to take themselves too seriously.

Unashamedly, we are a pop band, they happily admit, though that doesnt put off a raucous live show. A regular on this years festival circuit, despite having never really considered ourselves a live band, Jamie beams, I cant help but hopelessly imitate a T-Rex with my bad posture when playing.

Putting it down to his bad posture, its shrugged off with the kids like it!

With an album pencilled in supposedly for some point this year, false hope is served up in a dish.

Ill let you know the track listing, hows that for a secret!? Alls well, until its answered, Theres two tracks, 'Teriyaki', and a 40 minute Avant Garde piece involving toothbrushes.

Though this isnt completely unbelievable from Get Inuit, all joking aside its discovered that we have a couple of really nice slower songs for the album.

With James producing the songs and having great influence on the recorded sound, and Oliver as a constant reminder to put as much power as humanely possible into each section; Jamie and Rob work copious hours on the harmonies  an important part of the band.

Attention is bought to one track called The Mapping of Dandruff that has been sat on for a while. Confessing that its sister tracks leave me quite emotionally drained Jamie hopes it has an effect on the listener.

Yes, Get Inuit could be considered a rock band. But a Blackpool rock. Hard on the exterior, with a surprising, but refreshing peppermint hit and a gooey middle that melts on the tongue. The hyper-active quartet quickly become a sweet favourite.
If youre caught in possession of cannabis in Hampshire, youre more likely to be charged than if caught in Cambridgeshire due to inconsistent policing regarding the drug across the country.

Earlier this year official police figures showed arrests for cannabis had dropped 46% in the UK, with one force that no longer targets cannabis users saying at the time their officers are now freed up to do more important work.

Now a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Sun has shown just one in four people caught with cannabis receive charges, while more than 40% will get off with a warning.

(ROSIE HALLAM/PA)

Kathy Gyngell, of the Centre for Policy Studies, 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.

The Suns data suggests there were 471,202 cases of cannabis possession between 2011 and 2015, with 27% being charged, 41% getting warnings and 22% receiving a caution or fixed penalty notice.

Last year, the police and crime commissioners for Derbyshire and Durham said their officers will no longer target people growing cannabis for personal use, while a number of police forces spoken to by The Sun said they continue to uphold the law.
Tentang Situs Slot Online Resmi MGS88 Nama Situs  MGS88 Minimal Deposit  Rp. 10.000,- (Sepuluh Ribu Rupiah) Proses Deposit   2 Menit Metode Deposit  Bank Transfer,  Pulsa,  E-Wallet Judi Online Terbaik  Slot Online,  Judi Bola,  Casino Online,  Togel Online,  Tembak Ikan Provider Slot Gacor Mudah Maxwin  Pragmatic Play,  PGSoft,  MicroGaming,  Habanero Slot Gacor Gampang Menang  Gates of Olympus,  Sweet Bonanza,  Wild West Gold,  Starlight Princess Win Rate 98%

RTP Live Slot Gacor Tertinggi Hari Ini Terbaru Terlengkap

Selamat datang di halaman RTP live dan informasi soal slot gacor hari ini dari situs MGS88 yang setiap hari selalu update. Berdasarkan RTP Live MGS88, Anda bisa mendapatkan informasi tentang slot online yang saat ini yang sedang Gacor atau onfire dengan persentase yang terbukti akurat, ini bisa menjadi rekomendasi anda sebelum memilih permainan slot online di situs MGS88. Cek RTP Slot sekarang juga bosku

Klik Provider Slot Untuk Mengetahui RTP Slot Secara Real Time

Selamat datang bagi kalian yang sedang mencari situs RTP Live terlengkap dan terkini hari ini. Sangat sesuai jika Anda mengunjungi website MGS88 RTP live untuk informasi tentang permainan slot yang lagi gacor dengan slot RTP yang terupdate. Persentase kemenangan yang kami berikan tentunya diambil dengan data yang sangat valid dan hanya untuk permainan slot yang tersedia di situs MGS88. RTP yang tersedia juga akan selalu diperbarui setiap hari berdasarkan level kemenangan yang diberikan kepada member kami.

Memang sih untuk bermain slot itu tergantung hoki dari setiap pemain, Namun RTP live atau bocoran slot dari yang kami sediakan ini adalah data autentik dari banyaknya pemain yang telah bermain dan mencapai kemenangan tinggi. Sederhananya, kalau banyak pemain yang menang di dalam 1 permainan slot, karena itu permainan slot tersebut akan mempunyai persentase RTP yang sangat tinggi.

Namun kami tegaskan sekali lagi, ini bukan sebuah paksaan kami situs MGS88 untuk anda bermain di game slot yang mana. Ini bisa dijadikan sebagai referensi atau tolok ukur, boleh dicoba kalau anda mempunyai feel yang kuat dalam memainkan permainan game slot. Anda dapat mengakses kapan saja dan di mana saja selama anda siap bermain. Jangan ragu untuk bertanya ya seputar pola putaran terhadap kami, sebab kami juga menyediakannya loh.

Apa itu RTP Live?

RTP Live ialah informasi mengenai persentase tertinggi saat ini dari hasil RTP Live dengan bocoran kemenangan pemain saat ini. RTP Live merupakan singkatan dari Return To Play atau bisa juga diartikan sebagai Return to Player. Karena itu, para pemain slot sekarang jika ingin mengetahui seberapa besar kemenangannya, bisa dengan memainkan permainan yang akan dimainkannya dan bisa untung dengan mudah dan tentunya maksimal.

Apa itu RTP Slot?

RTP Slot juga dikenal sebagai return to player atau pengembalian ke Pemain. RTP slot ialah persentase dari nilai pengembalian semua uang yang dipertaruhkan pemain dari waktu ke waktu. Dengan kata lain, RTP juga dianggap sebagai salah satu fitur slot yang mengembalikan uang pemain saat pemain kalah.

Persentase digunakan untuk menghitung RTP dalam permainan slot. Misalnya, jika slot memiliki RTP 97%, itu berarti untuk setiap 100.000 koin yang hilang di slot, slot dapat mengembalikan 97.000. Jika Anda mengetahui RTP sebuah permainan slot, Anda dapat memutuskan permainan slot mana yang akan dimainkan tanpa kerugian besar.

Apakah Angka Persentase RTP Slot Itu Penting?

Biasanya pemain slot itu tidak memperhatikan RTP dalam permainan yang akan dimainkan, biasanya setelah anda mengisi saldo utama anda akan langsung buru-buru memainkannya. Yang terakhir 90-96% mempengaruhi jumlah kemenangan. Semakin tinggi jumlah RTP yang digunakan, semakin luas peluang untuk mendapatkan keuntungan.

Akan namun itu segala tak secara 100% menjamin kemenangan kau dalam bermain, RTP itu cuma sebagai kalkulasi pengeluaran anda saja selama bermain slot.Dengan adanya RTP, kau dapat mengerjakan pengaturan atas uang yang akan kau pertaruhkan nanti pada ketika bermain.Untuk itu pada ketika kau bermain slot dan telah mengalami banyak kekalahan di satu permainan, direkomendasikan kau pindah ke permainan slot lainnya yang RTP nya lebih tinggi dari permainan yang tadi kau mainkan.

Keuntungan Menggunakan Bocoran RTP Slot Hari Ini

Situs MGS88 Akan dengan senang hati akan beberapa keuntungan yang didapatkan jika anda bermain slot dengan menggunakan RTP Live yang telah disediakan. Berikut Keuntungannya :

Peluang Kemenangan Meningkat Tentu saja, saat bermain slot online, menang adalah hal yang paling penting. Di sinilah RTP berperan sebagai metode atau metode baru yang akan membantu Anda memilih permainan slot persentase tinggi. Mendapat variasi dalam Memainkan Game Slot Pastinya banyak pemain slot online yang hanya memainkan 3-5 permainan slot saja. Namun dengan RTP Live slot akan memberikan banyak game slot lain yang bisa anda coba. Tentunya semua permainan slot memiliki potensi kemenangan yang besar, jadi jangan hanya mengandalkan beberapa permainan saja. Menambah Pengalaman Dalam Bermain Slot Keuntungan terakhir adalah Anda tentu saja menambah pengalaman dan keahlian dalam permainan slot online. Dengan berbagai macam permainan slot yang dimainkan, Anda pasti mengetahui karakteristik dari setiap permainan slot yang Anda mainkan. Akibatnya, Anda pasti bisa dianggap sebagai pemain slot yang andal, yang pasti akan meningkatkan peluang Anda untuk menang besar menggunakan RTP.

Daftar 8 Situs Dengan RTP Slot Live Tertinggi Hari Ini

Ada banyak penyedia mesin slot online di internet. Tetapi tidak semuanya memiliki peluang tinggi atau RTP Live Slot yang sangat tinggi. Tapi jangan khawatir, berikut ini adalah situs slot gacor yang akan memberikan bocoran slot dengan RTP Live Tertinggi:

RTP Live Slot Pragmatic Play (RTP Slot 97.85%) RTP Live Slot PG Soft (RTP Live 96.15%) RTP Live Slot Habanero (RTP Slot 95.89%) RTP Live Slot CQ9 (RTP Live 98.83%) RTP Live Slot Spade Gaming (RTP Live 94.99%) RTP Live Slot Micro Gaming (RTP Slot 95.39%) RTP Slot Live Top Trend Gaming (RTP Live 96.14%) RTP Slot Live JOKER123 (RTP Live 97.45%)

Itulah Daftar 8 Provider Slot Gacor dengan RTP Live teratas diatas tentunya kami analisa terlebih dahulu. Anda bisa membuktikannya langsung dengan mengklik banner atau meprovider game slot yang sudah tersedia di atas. Saran kami yaitu Anda harus memainkan semua penyedia slot di atas untuk mencapai peluang kemenangan terbaik.

Daftar Slot RTP Live Tertinggi Sering Kasih Jackpot

Selain mempertimbangkan RTP Slot Gacor yang ada, sebenarnya ada banyak faktor penting untuk menang dalam permainan judi online. Sebab ada banyak game yang memiliki fitur dan mekanisme unik dan bisa membantu anda meraih Jackpot yang sangat besar.

Berikut ini akan kami ulas daftar 5 game slot paling populer karena sering memberikan jackpot:

RTP Live Gates of Olympus Gates of Olympus adalah game slot teraneh dan terbaik di Indonesia. Karena permainan mesin slot ini paling populer karena kakek Zeus dapat mengizinkan pengganda x500. Selain itu, fitur dan mekanik Gates of Olympus juga sangat menguntungkan untuk memenangkan Grand Jackpot. Secara teoritis, RTP slot langsung Gates of Olympus bernilai 96,50%, yang berarti peluang Anda untuk memenangkan MaxWin cukup tinggi. RTP live Sweet Bonanza Sweet Bonanza adalah permainan slot terpopuler kedua. Game slot bertema buah dan permen yang lezat ini sepertinya akan menarik banyak perhatian karena tergolong slot gacor yang mudah menang. Secara teoritis, slot Sweet Bonanza RTP bernilai 96,48%, yang berarti peluang Anda cukup tinggi untuk memenangkan jackpot. RTP Live Wild West Gold Wild West Gold adalah permainan slot bertema koboi yang juga populer di kalangan penggemar konspirasi. Permainan slot Wild West Gold sendiri kerap menawarkan kejutan jackpot bagi para pemainnya. Selain itu, nilai RTP Live Slot menunjukkan indeks tertinggi hari ini, yang berarti sangat layak dan sangat direkomendasikan. RTP Live Starlight Princess Slot Starlight Princess ini memiliki gaya dan fitur yang mirip dengan Gates of Olympus. Perbedaannya hanya pada desain dan karakter gamenya saja, karena memiliki fitur dan mekanik yang sama tentunya RTP slot teoritis pada game slot ini sama yaitu 96,50%. RTP Live Cash Elevator Mungkin sebagian dari Anda baru mengenal slot Cash Elevator. Namun dari data benchmark yang diungkap, ternyata banyak sekali yang menikmati permainan slot ini. Dengan fitur dan mekanisme unik seperti Lift up and down asli, slot ini juga memiliki slot RTP Live dasar 96,64% yang juga memiliki mekanisme yang sangat menguntungkan untuk memperlancar tingkat kemenangan besar.

Bocoran Jam Main Slot Gacor Hari Ini

Dalam bermain permainan slot online itu tidak bisa dilakukan dengan sembarangan yah. Jadi, Jika anda bermain pada waktu tertentu seperti yang akan kita bahas sesaat lagi, ada kemungkinan anda untuk mendapatkan kemenangan lebih tinggi. Jam RTP Slot Gacor merupakan bocoran jam main slot yang akan memberikan anda kapan waktu yang pas dalam bermain game slot.

Tentu saja seluruh provider slot online memiliki jam tertentu dalam memberikan peluang kepada para pemainnya untuk mendapatkan kemenangan. Disini kami akan memberikan anda Bocoran Jam Slot Gacor yang Paling Akurat Hari ini:

Jam Slot Gacor Pragmatic Play 02:30 WIB - Jam 05:25 WIB Jam Slot Gacor Habanero 14:26 WIB - Jam 17:38 WIB Jam Slot Gacor CQ9 00:45 WIB - Jam 05:53 WIB Jam Slot Gacor PG SOFT 14:25 WIB - Jam 17:35 WIB Jam Slot Gacor Joker123 17:41 WIB - Jam 20:42 WIB Jam Slot Gacor Microgaming 22:30 WIB - Jam 00:35 WIB

MGS88: Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Pay4D Resmi dan Terpercaya

MGS88 adalah situs game slot online Gacor terbaru yang bermitra dengan Pay4D, Pay4D sendiri merupakan daftar situs game slot online terpercaya dengan berbagai macam permainan judi yang mudah dimenangkan seperti Game Bola, Casino Online, Slot Pay4D, Tembak Ikan dan Pay4D Online Permainan togel seperti Singapura, Hongkong, Sydney dan lain-lain. Tujuan utama kami adalah menjadi situs judi online Pay4D yang menyediakan layanan judi online terbaik di Indonesia.

Kami juga salah satu situs resmi PAY4D di Indonesia yang pasti akan membayarkan semua kemenangan kepada semua member kami, karena kepercayaan dari semua member kami adalah prioritas utama kami sebagai mesin slot 4d Asia terbaik di Asia, khususnya di Indonesia.

Dalam melakukan sistem transaksi sistem simpanan dapat dilakukan dengan mudah melalui mobile banking dan electronic banking berupa bank BCA, BSI, BRI, BNI, Cimb Niaga, Permata dan Mandiri. Selain itu, transaksi e-wallet juga tersedia melalui Dana, Gopay, LinkAja dan Ovo serta dapat digunakan untuk pulsa tanpa dipotong.

Untuk mempermudah dan kenyamanan dalam melakukan registrasi atau melakukan setiap transaksi, MGS88 menyediakan layanan live chat dan Whatsapp terhubung langsung dengan customer service online 24 jam.

Mengenal Istilah Dalam RTP SLOT

Di slot RTP Live Anda akan melihat berbagai fitur yang mungkin tidak Anda pahami masing-masing. Namun jangan khawatir, disini sebagai situs slot gacor MGS88 kami akan memberikan penjelasan lengkap mengenai tentang istilah yang ada di RTP SLOT dibawah ini.
A hundred years ago, Muslims were furious over an immigration bill whose origins lay with advocacy by a headstrong and loudmouthed Republican in the White House.The anti-immigration bill offended the Ottoman Empire, the rotting Caliphate of Islam soon to be defeated at the hands of America and the West, by banning the entry of all polygamists, or persons who admit their belief in the practice of polygamy.This, as was pointed out at the time, would prohibit the entry of the entire Mohammedan world into the United States.And indeed it would.The battle had begun earlier when President Theodore Roosevelt had declared in his State of the Union address back in 1906 that Congress needed to have the power to deal radically and efficiently with polygamy. The Immigration Act of 1907, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt, had banned polygamists, or persons who admit their belief in the practice of polygamy.It was the last part that was most significant because it made clear what had only been implied.The Immigration Act of 1891 had merely banned polygamists. The newest law banned anyone who believed in the practice of polygamy. That group included every faithful believing Muslim.The Ottoman Empires representatives argued that their immigrants believed in the practice of polygamy, but wouldnt actually take more than one wife. This argument echoes the current contention that Muslim immigrants may believe in a Jihad against non-Muslims without actually engaging in terrorism. That type of argument proved far less convincing to Americans than it does today.These amazing facts, uncovered by @rushetteny reveal part of the long controversial history of battles over Islamic migration into America.Muslim immigration was still slight at the time and bans on polygamy had not been created to deliberately target them, but the Muslim practice of an act repulsive to most Americans even back then pitted their cries of discrimination and victimhood against the values of the nation. The Immigration Act of 1907 had been meant to select only those immigrants who would make good Americans.And Muslims would not.mo
After big hack attack, police chase European gang

BANGKOK: Police have sought Interpols assistance in tracking down an eastern European gang suspected of stealing more than B12 million in cash from ATMs while looking into the possibility the gang had local help.

crimepolice

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 25 August 2016, 09:36AM

An employee posts out-of-service notices on Government Savings Bank ATMs shut down after criminals stole more than B12 million from the banks malware-infected automatic teller machines in six provinces. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

The gang hacked into ATMs using malware to trigger cash withdrawals in early July. The attack came to light on Tuesday (Aug 23) when the state-run Government Savings Bank (GSB) shut down half of its ATMs.

GSB has reported that 21 ATMs in six provinces  Phuket, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Bangkok  were compromised and reconfigured to release millions of baht in cash.

Gen Panya Mamen, who is supervising the investigation, said Thai authorities have sent alerts to Interpol after finding some members of the gang had fled the country.

He said investigators have evidence implicating five eastern Europeans in the operation and will seek warrants for their arrests. The suspects, who entered Thailand several times, are allegedly linked to a gang found to have cleaned out ATMs in Taiwan, also in July this year.

We have key information such as the vehicles they used and the places they stayed. Some have fled the country but we believe others remain, he said.

He said authorities are also investigating if Thais had a hand in the cash thefts that, according to GSB, have not targeted customers deposits.

He said the Central Investigation Bureau, the Immigration Bureau, and the Office of Police Forensic Science are acting as support units in the investigation.

According to Gen Panya, the thefts took place between July 7 and 30  the same time as the ATMs in Taiwan were hacked, when the suspects used malware programs to tamper with the ATMs and withdrew almost B100 million from several machines.

The GSB found out about the thefts of its ATM machines early this month and lodged a complaint with police. He said the attacks on GSB are also similar to a 2014 cash heist in Malaysia.

Some GSB ATMs dispensed more than one million baht while others dispensed tens of thousands of baht depending on how much was left, Gen Panya said. He said police will discuss the attacks with state agencies tomorrow (Aug 26).

Boonson Jenchaimahakoon, senior executive vice-president of GSB, said ATM manufacturers have updated their security software to guard against hacking but the hacking technique is new.

According to Mr Boonson, the hackers must have understood the inner working of ATMs and to do so they need a machine to study.

However, previously it was impossible to buy an ATM because the makers would not sell to anyone but banks.

He said the curbs on sales changed in some foreign countries where cash dispensers, known as white label ATMs, were sold to independent operators which are not major financial institutions.

Mr Boonson said the GSBs ATMs were singled out partly because they were located in isolated areas as part of the banks policy to expand banking services.

He said the bank is considering leasing ATMs to minimise risks.

GSB president Chartchai Payuhanaveechai said the manufacturer of the ATMs targeted for the thefts is working on software programs to enhance security. The task will take one or two weeks.

The bank has shut down ATMs made by this firm until they are secure.

He said investigators have not ruled out an inside job even though evidence points to foreign criminal gangs.

Representatives of the GSB met yesterday (Aug 24) with investigators but declined to discuss the meeting.

Somnuek Puangpornpitak, a cyber security specialist at Mahasarakham University, criticised the GSB for having lax security, saying hacking attacks on ATMs which turn them into virtual jackpot machines spewing cash are not new.

He said other commercial banks using this type of ATM adopt proper defence measures.

However, he said this kind of attack does not affect bank customer deposits but is designed to tamper with ATMs and their cash dispensing function.

He suggested the banking industry form a working group to monitor cyber crimes to ensure their systems are not exposed to criminal activity.

Vites Techangam, vice-president of Krungthai Bank, said the bank, which also uses this type of ATM, has invested heavily in security.

He said security software programs are installed to detect and prevent attacks. The banking industry, ATM manufacturers and software developers are working on the problem, he said.

Read original story here.
At least 18 dead as Italy struck by powerful quake

ITALY: A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake devastated mountain villages in central Italy today, leaving at least 18 people dead and many more unaccounted for.

disastersdeath

By AFP

Wednesday 24 August 2016, 02:55PM

Rescuers and residents clear debris in search for victims in damaged homes after a strong earthquake hit Amatrice, Italy this morning (Aug 24). Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Dozens of buildings collapsed in communities close to the epicentre of the quake in a remote area straddling the regions of Umbria, Marche and Lazio.

Deaths were reported in the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto as residents and emergency services scrambled frantically to rescue people trapped beneath the ruins of houses reduced to piles of masonry.

It was Italys most powerful earthquake since 2009, when more than 300 people died in and around the city of Aquila, just to the south of where todays quake struck.

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, said Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi.

Half the village has disappeared.

Fabrizio Curcio, the head of Italys civil protection service, classed the quake as severe. The shocks were strong enough to wake residents of central Rome, some 150 kilometres away.

The first two confirmed victims were an elderly couple whose home collapsed in Pescara del Tronto, a hamlet near Arquata in the Marche region.

Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata, said Pescara was one of two or three hamlets that have just completely disintegrated.

Another two people died and a family of four including two young children were trapped, feared dead, in their collapsed house in Accumoli, according to its mayor Stefano Petrucci.

We have a tragedy here, said Petrucci. There are people under the ruins, it is not a good situation.

A resident of the 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.

Amatrice, where the local authorities confirmed five deaths, was packed with visitors at the peak of the summer season when the quake struck, destroying the hilltop villages main street.

Mayor Pirozzi 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.

The first quake struck shortly after 3.30am (8:30am Thai time), according to the United States Geological Survey, and a 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later.

USGSs 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.

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.
Italy quake toll at 159 as rescuers race to find survivors

ITALY: A powerful earthquake shook central Italy yesterday (Aug 24), leaving at least 159 people dead and a trail of destruction across several mountain villages packed with holidaymakers. With 368 people injured, some critically, officials warned.

deathdisasters

By AFP

Thursday 25 August 2016, 09:03AM

Firemen and rescuers search destroyed buildings in Amatrice, central Italy following yesterdays quake. Photo: Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were preparing to work through the night in the hope of plucking more survivors from the ruins.

The rescue efforts wont slow down during the night, the head of the civil protection agency Fabrizio Curcio told public broadcaster Rai, giving an updated toll of 159 dead.

He did not say how many people were still thought to be missing.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier said at least 120 people were killed in the earthquake. This is not a final toll, he had warned after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

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.

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 said 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.

Premier Renzi said it was too early to consider 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 today (Aug 25).

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.

The tremors were strong enough to be felt 150 kilometres 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 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 that claims to be 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 (8:36 Thai time).

Three minutes later the clock on the villages 13th-century tower stopped.

The first quake measured 6.2, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

It measured 6.0 according to Italian monitors, who put the depth at only four kilometres. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later.

Italy is vulnerable to earthquakes.

The 2009 tremor 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 shallowness 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.
Phuket Imam shooters provided useful information, say police

PHUKET: The two suspects charged with the attempted assassination of a Phuket Imam earlier this month have provided police with useful information, but police have yet to reveal a motive for the attack.

policecrime

By Chanida Summast

Thursday 25 August 2016, 09:28AM

Wisuth Yokyong, 23, and Thanachai Chunthong, 24, have been discharged from hospital and are being detained while awaiting trial. Photos: Eakkapop Thongtub

The two suspects charged with the gun attack on Phuket Imam Weerachart Kahapana have provided useful information, say police. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Weerachart Kahapana, Imam of Baan Bangpae Mosque in Pa Khlok, came under attack at 7:45pm on August 4, when two men on a motorbike rode alongside his car while he was driving home and opened fire.

Imam Weerachart was shot once in the abdomen. His three-years-old son, who was sitting on the back seat, was unharmed.

The two suspects  Wisuth Yokyong, 23, and Thanachai Chunthong, 24  were later apprehended when they were brought to hospital for injuries sustained while trying to make their getaway. (See story here.)

The two suspects have been discharged from Vachira Phuket Hospital and are being held at Phuket Provincial Court awaiting trail, Phuket City Police Chief Col Kamol Orisi told The Phuket News.

Col Kamol declined to reveal the suspects account of the shooting. The evidence collected at the scene and testimony from witnesses are confidential to our investigation. I cannot reveal any further details because it is still under investigation, he said.

However, he added, But during questioning, they gave us a lot of useful information in this case.

Col Kamol confirmed that Wisuth and Thanachai have been charged with attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying a firearm in a public place without a permit.

Imam Weerachart also has been discharged from Vachira Hospital. He is safe and well. We cannot disclose any information that we discussed with him either, Col Kamol said.
Phuket man nabbed with over a kilo of marijuana

PHUKET: A 28-year-old Phuket man was arrested in Wichit yesterday (Aug 24) when he was found to be in possession of over a kilo of marijuana. Police said they had been monitoring the mans activities for a number of weeks.

crimedrugspolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 25 August 2016, 05:36PM

Police found 1.32kg of marijuana stored in the fridge. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Anti-narcotics police led by Phuket City Polices Maj Rittichai Chumchuy arrested Mr Nopparut Tongsaereekul at a rented house on Wirat Hongyok Rd in Wichit at 4:30pm yesterday when he was found in possession of six packs of marijuana totalling 1.34kg.

According to the police report, after anti-narcotics police learned that Nopparat had been selling drugs to teenagers and dealers in Wichit and nearby areas undercover were sent to monitor his activities.

The officers learned that Nopparat used the rented home as a place for users to take drugs and to sell drugs. Then at 3:30pm yesterday police received a tip-off from undercover officers that Nopparat had marijuana in his possession and that he was waiting to distribute it to his clients.

A team of police arrived at the home and conducted a search where they found a bag containing three packs of marijuana totalling 1.32kg in the fridge, they also found another three packs totalling 20.83 grammes in the kitchen.

During the raid police also seized from Nopparat drug taking paraphernalia.

In the police report it states that Nopparat told police that he bought the marijuana from a man in Bangkok named only as Ann (real name unknown) via a Facebook page.

He said he ordered had ordered the drug many times from Ann, and that prior to his arrest he had bought two kilos which was sent to his rented home on Aug 16.

Nopparat was taken to Wichit Police Station where he is facing the charge of possession of Category 5 drug with intent to sell.
Phuket motorists urged to drive with caution following heavy rain

PHUKET: Motorists are being urged to drive with caution following yesterdays (Aug 24) and todays (Aug 25) heavy downpours, with more rain being predicted through to next Tuesday (Aug 30).

weathertransport

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 25 August 2016, 11:52AM

Flooding has affected isolated areas on the island this morning with traffic being backed since 5am this morning on Thepkassattri Rd southbound in Srisoonthorn after minor flooding occurred in front of Moo Baan Eua Arthorn.

The area in front of Thai Wassadu on Thepkassattri Rd was also affected by floods earlier this morning, but the water is now reported to drained away.

According to the weekly weather forecast provided by the Thai Meteorological Department, Phuket this week will see fair to heavy widespread rain from today through Aug 30 with waves predicted to reach heights of up to three metres.

Meanwhile, Phuket City Municipality today posted an announcement on their Facebook page advising residents to be extra careful because some areas have been affected by the amount of rainfall.

Officials are being sent to affected areas to monitor and check that water is draining away as it should. Police are also being sent to the worst affected areas to direct traffic.

Residents in need of assistance should call the Municipality hot line 1132 or the office of disaster prevention on 076 211-111 ext 199.
Phuket taxi drivers get their way, no reduction in fares

PHUKET: Officials from the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) have bowed down to the demands of local taxi drivers and agreed not to reduce taxi fares on the island. The Phuket News learned of the decision from the Director of the PLTO today (Aug 25).

tourismtransport

By The Phuket News

Thursday 25 August 2016, 03:40PM

Director of the Phuket Land Transportation Office Sommai Sutkhao. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PLTO director Sommai Sutkhao told The Phuket News, I had a meeting with relevant officials and representatives from local transport associations to discuss reducing taxi fares last month. However, the idea was dismissed by them immediately.

The reason they gave for not wanting to reduce the fares was because they use a queuing system in the areas in which they work. They said if the prices were reduced this system would not work, he said.

Mr Sommmai explained that he understands that the cost of living in Phuket is too high, however, he said that if fares were reduced it would affect many peoples livelihoods.

We can only ask the drivers to treat customers fairly and we have requested that if people travel less than 4 kilometres they should consider charging cheaper fares. The representatives said they would discuss this with their drivers and send a letter of confirmation back to my office with their decision, he said.

So far have not receive such letters, but for the time being we have asked them to treat customers fairly by not charge a high price.

We continue to receive complaints from people about fares in Phuket being high, but most of the complaints we received via our call centre lack information about the taxi that serviced them, so officials can not proceed with further action.

If you have complaint against public transport drivers, please get their licence plate number so we know who to call, he added.

Mr Sommmai also confirmed that taxi fares on the island will not increase if the Transport Ministry approves a 5 per cent increase rate this year.

We will use the fares set out by the Provincial Office on December 25, 2012,  he said.

Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck said the Transport Ministry is considering approving a 5% increase on taxi fares this year, on Aug 15.

In 2014, the ministry agreed to raise taxi fares by 13%. However, it only granted an 8% increase, holding back the rest until drivers could prove they had improved their services. (See story here.)

The PLTO considered lowering the islands taxi fares following a video of a Thai speaking westerner complaining about the cost of a taxi on the island going viral.

The video clip was initially uploaded by Facebook user, Jack Brown on the afternoon of June 18 and by the next morning it had amassed more than 105,000 views and 11,000 Likes. (See story here.)
11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals

high-school-sports
Violence at Nebraskas prisons appears to be getting worse, a key state lawmaker said Thursday, a day after an assault by inmates left nine Lincoln Correctional Center staff members in the hospital.

My overall concern is that its escalating, said Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings, who heads the Legislatures Judiciary Committee along with a special committee investigating problems within the state Corrections Department.

Wednesdays incident started when a group of inmates refused to leave an isolated yard on the prison grounds and return to their cells shortly after 6 p.m., said prison spokeswoman Tammy Kluver. One inmate hit a staffer and others followed, assaulting several corrections officers and caseworkers before being restrained.

About a dozen inmates have been identified so far, Kluver said.

Ambulances took six staff members to the hospital; three others were transported by fellow prison employees.

All nine had returned home from the hospital Wednesday night.

One female staffer suffered a pretty good cut to her head that they ended up stapling, Kluver said. She described the other injuries as cuts, swollen faces and sore backs.

Still, she said, staff did a remarkable job bringing the situation under control before the prison systems emergency response team even arrived. Pepper spray was used to disperse the inmates at one point, and some staff might have been exposed, she said.

The prison is now under lockdown, the inmates involved are in a segregated area and investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol are reviewing footage of the incident and working to determine if other inmates were involved.

Kluver confirmed that investigators are looking into whether an inmate triggered the violence because he was upset about being transferred to another prison.

The medium/maximum security prison, near Pioneers Park at 3216 W. Van Dorn St., is designed to hold 308 adult male inmates but Wednesday night had 506 in custody. The prison was fully staffed at the time of the incident, said Dawn-Renee Smith, department spokeswoman.

Overcrowding and understaffing issues at Nebraska prisons have been well-documented in recent years. Kluver couldnt immediately provide staffing numbers for Lincoln Correctional Center.

State Sen. Colby Coash, whose Lincoln district includes the prison, said he was told late Wednesday that all hell (was) breaking loose there.

Its time to start listening to the line staff about what they need. They are the ones getting hurt, Coash said. The ones I talk to dont feel listened to.

The Legislatures special investigative committee will quiz Corrections Director Scott Frakes about prison staffing issues during a public hearing Aug. 31. Wednesdays violence will undoubtedly come up.

A spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts said late Wednesday that Ricketts had been briefed on the situation and will work with Frakes to determine what action needs to be taken to stabilize the environment at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

Ricketts canceled a town hall meeting scheduled in Lexington on Thursday to meet with Frakes and corrections staff, the governors office said.

Its getting frustrating because this just happens more and more and more, said Mike Marvin, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, the union which represents corrections officers and other state workers.

Over the weekend, an inmate wrapped his arms around a staffers neck at Lincoln Correctional Center, causing injury. The previous weekend, staff used pepper spray to subdue an inmate after he began punching a caseworker in the head.

Earlier this month, an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary punched a corrections officer in the face then hit two other officers who intervened. That incident, on Aug. 9, came a week after a tower guard at the penitentiary fired a warning shot to disperse inmates who had converged on staff and refused to leave the yard.

The department seems to have no plan for how to deal with the escalating violence of the inmates, Marvin said.

Such incidents have a physical impact on those involved, but the mental toll can affect every corrections staffer, he said.

You see your friend go down and then you start wondering, is it going to happen to me? Marvin said. I just dont think that these people are getting the mental support that they need.

The Corrections Department did provide counselors at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution following a Mothers Day riot there in 2015. That incident left two inmates dead and resulted in extensive reviews of safety and staffing within the state prison system.

By then, Nebraskas correctional system was already under scrutiny because of prison overcrowding and hundreds of inmates who were released early because of mistakes in calculating their sentences.

Lincoln Correctional Center has been without a permanent on-site leader since former Warden Mario Peart was reassigned, then retired following the June 10 escape of two convicted sex offenders. Fred Britten was named interim warden in Pearts place.

Lincolns new fire chief said Thursday that Lincoln Fire & Rescue will refine its process for responding to assaults at correctional facilities following Wednesdays incident.

Rescue crews couldnt immediately get onto the prison grounds while waiting for some level of security, Lincoln Fire and Rescue Chief Micheal Despain said.

The first unit reached the scene within 3 minutes of the initial call, but its unknown how long it took for crews to reach the assault victims, he said.

Five out of six of the citys ambulances responded to the prison with 11 fire units, Despain said.

Despain said LFR doesnt respond to all staff assaults at prison facilities. It depends on the injuries and sometimes victims are treated in-house, he said.
PESCARA DEL TRONTO, Italy  Hundreds of strong aftershocks shook earthquake-ravaged villages in the mountains of central Italy on Thursday, with rescue teams dodging falling debris and bleary-eyed survivors still holding out hope that loved ones might be found beneath the rubble.

The provisional death toll seesawed overnight  the fatality count dipping slightly, then standing at 250 as of a news briefing Thursday afternoon  as Italian officials tried to reconcile casualty reports from remote areas hard hit in Wednesday mornings powerful temblor. More than 360 were injured.

The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, struck a string of mountain towns and villages about 85 miles northeast of Rome, reducing hundreds of structures  some of them historic buildings that had stood for centuries  to rubble and dust.

The quakes capricious power could be seen everywhere: one home left standing while another fell, often depending on the building standards used.

One survivor, Bruno Filotei, rushed out of his own home when the quake hit  just in time to see his mothers house across the street collapse, killing her.

My house was new.  Thats the difference, he said, distraught.

As the cloying white dust kicked up by the temblor began to settle, the first round of expected finger-pointing began. Prosecutors in Rieti province on Thursday launched an investigation of culpable disaster in quake preparations, Italys Ansa news agency reported.

The countrys last major earthquake, which hit in 2009 about 50 miles south of the current quake zone, killed 300 people and set off angry recriminations over unsafe building procedures and other safety lapses.

With floodlights illuminating the jagged shadows of toppled buildings, rescuers worked through the first full night Wednesday, urgently calling for quiet when they detected any sign of life.

In the quake zones main town, Amatrice, one young girl around 8 was pulled out alive Wednesday night after spending at least 16 hours under the rubble. And in the wrecked nearby hamlet of Pescara del Tronto, a trapped 4-year-old girl named Giorgia also was saved after night fell Wednesday. She was still clinging to the body of her dead older sister when she was freed.

By the next day, the work had become a grim routine of digging out the dead. Even so, rescuers vowed to press ahead with their efforts. We want to believe there are still people alive under there, fireman Danilo Dionisi said Thursday. We are still hunting  hoping there will be more Giorgias.

Officials vowed that rescue efforts would continue for as long as there was even a glimmer of hope for anyone trapped. Search and rescue operations will continue until all activities have been exhausted, the civil protection department said in a statement. After the previous big quake, people survived for up to 72 hours while trapped.

Pescara del Tronto, once one of the regions most beautiful spots, bore the full brunt of the quakes fury, with nearly four dozen inhabitants killed as fallen homes sent masonry cascading down steep, narrow streets. The village, flanked by fragrant fig trees, was transformed into little more than a dusty scar in the greenery, patrolled by soldiers and sifted through by firefighters.

Local landmarks were rendered unrecognizable. This was once a road, I think, a volunteer in Pescara del Tronto said, studying the rubble like an archaeologist. In the town of Accumoli, a venerable church steeple toppled onto an adjacent home, killing a family of four.

Roughly 1,200 people spent the night in emergency shelters, Italian authorities said, and many other others camped out in cars or vans, too frightened to go indoors.

I havent slept much because I was really afraid, a 70-year-old villager, Arturo Onesi, told the Reuters news agency. Onesi, from the devastated town of Arquata del Tronto, spent the night in a tent encampment.
Burn victim Anthony Gooden gets help with his injured hand during a break in a trial for Martin Blackwell in Atlanta, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Blackwell is accused of pouring hot water on Gooden and his friend as they slept. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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)
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts in the infamous Nirbhaya gang-rape of 2012, attempted suicide in Tihar jail.

Sharma tried hanging himself after consuming pills, a report said.

He was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in the national capital.

Ram Singh, the main accused in the case, had committed suicide by hanging himself in the jail in 2013.

On the night of December 16, 2012, Ram Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, Mukesh and a juvenile had gang-raped a girl in a bus and beaten up her 28-year-old male friend, who was with her.

While the girl succumbed to her injuries on December 29, 2012 at a Singapore hospital, the victim's friend, suffered grievous injuries in the incident.

The juvenile accused was on August 31, 2013 convicted and sentenced to three years in a reformation home, while four others were handed down death penalty.
If an elusive monsoon has triggered protest by Karnataka farmers in the Cauvery basin, fear of losing the Samba crop across nine lakh acres in the delta made a group of Tamil Nadu farmers rush to meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

Siddaramaiah, who gave a patient hearing to the farmer leaders from the neighbouring state, apprised them of the distress situation that has resulted in poor storage in the reservoirs.

The chief minister has called a meeting of floor leaders and district incharge ministers of the aggrieved districts in the Cauvery delta on August 27 to discuss the distress situation in the basin.

"Karnataka is under distress due to rainfall deficit and we have no water to provide to our farmers who have already carried out sowing. In fact, we have asked others not to sow as there is dearth of drinking water. It has become difficult even to release the allocated quota of water as per the distress sharing formula," said Siddaramaiah, while speaking to the delegation of Tamil Nadu farmers, led by ex-MP Ramalingam.

The chief minister, however, assured the delegation that water would be released once the monsoon picked up and the reservoirs were replenished. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has ordered to file a petition in the Supreme Court to get the state's share of water.

In a memorandum submitted to the Karnataka chief minister, the farmer leaders representing the farmers' association of Tamil Nadu, raised concerns over the delay in opening the Mettur dam on the due date (first week of June).

"A few decades back, we could cultivate three cropsKuruvai and Thaladi (short-term) and Samba (long-term). But, due to delay in discharges from Mettur, we are able to grow only Kuruvai and Samba. However, the last few years we have lost even the Kuruvai crop as the Mettur dam was opened very late. (It was opened on September 6 in 2002, October 7 in 2003, August 14 in 2004, August 4 in 2005, September 17 in 2012, August 2 in 2013, August 10 in 2014 and August 9 in 2015. This year too, no water has been discharged from Mettur dam due to poor storage. Successive failure of crops has made livelihood an issue. We urge you to save the Samba crops across the nine lakh acres by ensuring release of water at the earliest," they stated.
A tribal man, along with his 12-year-old daughter, on Wednesday walked around 10km 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 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 60km 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 50km 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.
Twelve people were killed in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, a spokesman for the Chief of Kabul Police told CNN on Thursday.

Seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed in the attack on the American University campus, Basir Mujahid, the spokesman said.

Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC.

Police searched the American University of Afghanistan early Thursday about 10 hours after the assault began and killed two of the attackers who stormed the campus with guns and explosives.

The gunmen detonated explosives and fired guns, witnesses said, causing some students and faculty to flee. Others hid inside buildings, a senior State Department official told CNN.

No group has claimed responsibility.

Police described the attack, which began at about 7 p.m., as "complex". Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers, the BBC said.

One of those trapped inside the university for several hours was Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, who tweeted his experience and pleaded for help.

Student Ahmad Mukhtar told the BBC that he was 100m away from the university's main entrance on his way home when he heard "six or 10" shots and a "huge" blast.

The explosion created so much light that it momentarily lit up the surrounding area, he said.

"I climbed a six-metre wall to escape," Ahmad said.

Other trapped students and staff tweeted or posted on Facebook their desperate pleas for help.

The attack comes two weeks after two university staff - one American, one Australian - were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

The school opened in 2006. It's the only private, nonprofit coed university in the country and has about 1,700 full- and part-time students, CNN reported.
[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

When your children wake up in the morning, do they jump out of bed excited about the school day ahead? When you walk through your childrens schools, do you notice joyful students, happy teachers and interactive lessons? If not, its time to seriously consider moving your family to Rochester, NY.

Derech HaTorah is Rochesters Torah elementary school. Its the school that leaves visitors wishing they lived in Rochester. Its the school that makes parents whisper a silent tefilla of thanks when they think about how their children spend their days. Its the school where you hear laughter and joy in the halls. Its the school that focuses on skills and has the communitys Rosh HaYeshiva marveling at the level of the talmidim.

Its the school where secular studies are taken seriously and students ace regents exams in 7th and 8th grade. Its the school where bullying is never tolerated. Its the school that you wish you could have attended as a child. When children grow up in a warm environment where they are loved and appreciated, they thrive and usually become very productive, successful adults.

When childrens talents are recognized and encouraged, they explore and develop them and creatively contribute to klal Yisrael. When childrens learning styles are met and they experience success in academics, their potential is limitless. When children live out-of-town, they are excited about life and new experiences and are eager to make new friends. When children attend Derech HaTorah of Rochester, they are treasured, challenged and eager to learn.

Intrigued? Dont take our word for it. Call a friend in Rochester and youll get an even better testimonial. Or, best of all, come for a Shabbos  with your family
Israel Sci-Tech Schools, the largest independent network of science and technology educational institutions in Israel, will convene an international conference on Nov. 29 here that will focus on correcting global deficiencies in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

Nobel Laurate Prof. Dan Shechtman, of the Technion  Israel Institute of Technology, and venture capital leader Aaron Mankovski, managing general partner at Pitango and a graduate of Israel Sci-Tech Schools, are co-chairman of the conference.

The confab will bring together international business, high tech and education leaders to address the need for STEM education to evolve from teaching the basics of mathematics and science, to now also include a greater focus on art, design and innovation. Participants will present the latest methodologies and breakthroughs necessary to prepare todays elementary, secondary and junior college students for the ever evolving global workforce. The conference will address the growing mismatch between skills learned in the classroom and its application in the workforce. The disparity between the two is particularly large in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries such as Israel.

In order to continue to fuel the growth of high tech corporations, we must be training students for the future in that industry. Today, that includes a broader curriculum of art, design and innovation, in addition to the basic skills. We are looking forward to hosting this upcoming conference to see the best in practice in this area worldwide, said Israel Sci-Tech Schools Director General Zvi Peleg. Our I-STEAM curriculum has made a huge impact on our students and provides them with the tools they need in order to be successful at their careers in todays competitive global workforce.

Participants in the conference will see technology projects developed by Israel Sci-Tech School students, In addition, much emphasis will be placed on the role of municipal officers in supporting meaningful education programs, and implementing cutting edge curriculums.

Those interested in participating in the conference can get more information on the website.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has recently made harsh comments against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his administration. Barak maintains that Netanyahu has destroyed the security of the State of Israel.

Those comments were met with responses from the Prime Ministers Office and others.

In comments to chareidi correspondents on Tuesday, 19 Menachem Av, PM Netanyahu stated knows one knows what Barak is taking about.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu added that Barak of all people should not criticize the government, labeling him the worst Prime Minister in Israels history.

Former MK & Mossad Intelligence Agency Director Danny Yatom spoke with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), addressing media reports that Barak plans a political comeback. He also expressed his surprise and disappointment at PM Netanyahu labeling Barak the worst Prime Minister ever, adding it is not the way a serving PM should address another.

Yatom explained I am not Baraks spokesman but his friend but I personally heard Barak announce at a recent assembly that he is not interested in a comeback and I hope he changes his mind, adding he is shocked to hear a sitting Prime Minister refer to a colleague in such a derogatory fashion and I am not certain such a tone suggests he is cool and calm.

Yatom added he is pain and upset over the comments made by PM Netanyahu, stating his used cheap Hebrew and lowered himself to a place a Prime Minister must avoid.

Galei Tzahal:

I understand the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee Avi Dichter wishes to invite to address the committee but Barak declines.

Yatom:

I can tell you it was Barak who pulled Israel out of Lebanon after 21 years in that country. He was an IDF Chief of Staff and was able to get passed the apocalyptic predictions from the intelligence community and got Israel out of Lebanon.

Galei Tzahal:

So why then is he unwilling to appear before the committee?

Yatom:

This is not the norm but it is possible that Dichter, whom I known well, might succumb to political pressure say that after hearing Barak that his words are not suited for the committee to hear. In order to prevent this enormous political pressure on Dichter, Barak is using the political forum to get his message out.

Galei Tzahal:

Yes, but speaking publicly, none of us know what Barak is speaking about.

Yatom:

I understand and this is why he must address the Intelligence Subcommittee, and he is ready and willing to do this and this is a move I too support since the members of this committee must hear what Barak has to say.

Yatom also served as head of Prime Minister Ehud Baraks Chief of Staff and security advisor from 1999 to 2001.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Beit Chabad in Assaf HaRofeh Hospital in Rishon LTzion is running a summer camp experience for children who are admitted to day admissions area of the hospital. The program includes drawing, singing, dancing, and workshops, including one on eating healthy, which is run by a health professional under Chabad supervision.

Rabbi Mendy Beckerman explains This is just a part of our year-long activities in the hospital as it is important to give special attention to the children who receive clinic in the day-admissions unit.

The day admission unit treats all kinds of patients, including those with difficult illnesses that are treated on an outpatient basis.

Rabbi Beckerman explains it is especially important now, during bein hazmanim, when the children often lack an organized framework providing day-to-day activities.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Israel Tourism Ministry recently launched its first major TV advertising campaign in India to promote incoming tourism to Israel, under the slogan: On most vacations, you take a trip. But in Israel, you take a journey. The visual elements of the campaign underline the unique and moving vacation experience that Israel has to offer  a rich mix of history, culture and a vibrant, contemporary lifestyle. The Tourism Ministry has tripled its marketing budget this year for the Indian market, one of the major emerging markets for incoming tourism to Israel.

The two-month campaign, with an investment of NIS 6 million, features a TV commercial, as well as advertisements and marketing content in leading travel and consumer print media, with a significant presence across social media. The TV campaign complements other marketing activity in social and digital media, travel trade promotions (such as the recent Road Show in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai attended by 800 Indian travel agents) and hosting opinion-formers and decision-makers in Israel.

These include, among others, the hosting of Bollywood star and fashion icon Sonam Kapoor in May 2016, which included a photo-shoot on location in Israel for the June-July 2016 cover of Harpers Bazaar Bride India magazine and a documentary film about her visit. Other recent influential Indian opinion-formers hosted this year by the Israel Tourism Ministry include Indian journalist and author Aditi Mathur Kumar and Bollywood producer Tanuj Garg on a scouting mission for future productions.

In February 2015, the Travel Agents Federation of India held its annual conference in Jerusalem for the first time, and in March 2016, members of the Maharashtra Tour Operators Association visited Israel, exposing Israels varied tourism product to hundreds of travel trade professionals. Over 70% of Indians base their travel destination choice on the recommendation of their travel agent.

As part of the ongoing work of the Israel Tourism Ministry to adapt the tourism infrastructure to meet the needs of tourists from Asia in general and India in particular, the ministry hosted four Indian celebrity chefs in November 2015, who gave culinary workshops to hotel and restaurant chefs. Hotels in Israel are already offering Indian cuisine to their guests.

The Israel Government Tourist Office in Mumbai, which was officially opened last year by Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevi, is headed by Hassan Madah.

Background:

Approximately 40,000 tourists visited Israel from India during 2015 (up 13% on 2014), and about 25,000 in Jan-July 2016 (up 6% on the same period last year). The Ministry of Tourism has set a target of 100,000 visitors from India by 2018, focusing its activity on attracting those tourists from the growing sector of middle-class Indians looking for vacation destinations far from their home country, as well as incentive and conference -related travel (MICE). This, in addition to the classic Indian Christian pilgrim tourism market.

The average tourist to Israel spends $2,208 on services in the country on a 10.3 average night stay. The Indian traveler spends $2,385 on an average stay of just 7.5 nights. 79% are first-time visitors to Israel. (Source: IMOT tourist satisfaction survey, Jan-June 2015).

El Al currently has three direct weekly flights in the summer and five in the winter months from Tel Aviv to Mumbai and the Tourism Ministry is in discussions with Indian airlines to increase seat capacity and thereby reduce prices by bringing Indian carriers into the route.

About 20 million Indians traveled overseas on vacation in 2015. This number is expected to double by 2020 to around 40-50 million. Israel is a potential choice destination for a growing sector of the market  Indians, who are mostly young, financially secure and looking for something extra and unique beyond favored destinations such as the United States and Europe.

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin stated, Breaking into the large Asian market  in particular China and India  is one of the main objectives set by the Tourism Ministry. The experiential campaign that we have launched in India has been adapted to the particular characteristics and taste of the Indian market. This is in addition to the innovative campaigns that we are launching in China. I am sure that the significant marketing activity we are doing in China and India will lead to an increase in the numbers of incoming tourists from these destinations.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Thirty-five large, uncontained wildfires are burning in the West, and firefighters are making initial attacks on another 112 new fires trying to prevent them from getting big.

Firefighters in the region mostly faced continued windy, dry conditions Wednesday that have fanned flames that destroyed buildings and forced evacuations in California, Washington, Idaho and elsewhere.

Late last week the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, upped what it calls the National Preparedness Level to 4, one shy of the highest level, as competition for limited firefighting resources increased.

Heres a look at the major wildfires in the West:

CALIFORNIA

A wildfire that has destroyed 45 homes on Californias central coast continues to grow, and more residents are being warned to get ready to evacuate.

Cal Fire said Wednesday that the 10-day-old blaze has charred nearly 64 square miles of dry brush and timber. The fire is 39 percent surrounded after being stuck at 35 percent for several days.

At least 2,400 people are under evacuation orders in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. Additional evacuation warnings were issued Wednesday.

Cal Fires Rich Eagan says flames are more than 2 miles from Hearst Castle, which remains closed but is no longer threatened.

A fire burning for a month north of Big Sur grew again to 135 square miles. Hundreds of homes remain threatened by the fire in rugged wilderness coast along Highway 1. It is 60 percent contained.

IDAHO

A fast-moving rangeland wildfire in eastern Idaho expanded to nearly 70 square miles Wednesday, forcing evacuations, threatening a windfarm and burning habitat needed by sage grouse, a federally protected bird.

The Bonneville County Sheriffs Office says evacuations are in place, with up to 70 buildings along U.S. Highway 26 threatened.

Officials say the human-caused fire reported Sunday about 7 miles east of Idaho Falls is making wind-driven runs to the north and east.

Officials say high winds are again predicted Wednesday along with low humidity.

In central Idaho, a 160-square-mile wildfire in a remote, mountainous area continues to defy containment and burn through timbered slopes that are difficult for firefighters to reach.

MONTANA

Cooler weather has slowed Montanas largest wildfire, though 45 homes are still evacuated and 130 more are on alert.

The fire northeast of Thompson Falls had burned 33 square miles as of Wednesday morning.

Fire officials say crews have made progress in securing fire lines and protecting structures. The weather was cooperating again Wednesday with lighter winds and higher relative humidity forecast.

Minimal fire activity is also being reported from a fire burning west of Lakeside.

About 75 homes and other structures are within a half-mile of the fires perimeter. No evacuations have been ordered.

NEVADA

Officials in Las Vegas are blaming poor air quality and a smoky haze in southern Nevada on wildfires in coastal and mountain areas of California.

A Clark County Department of Air Quality advisory issued Wednesday cites smoke and ozone from fires burning hundreds of miles to the northwest. The advisory remains in effect through Thursday.

UTAH

Firefighters in northern Utah are working to contain a growing wildfire near a ski resort thats now crossed the border into southern Idaho.

Fire spokeswoman Sierra Hellstrom said Wednesday that wind and high temperatures Tuesday afternoon had pushed the fire to 1.4 square miles.

Its burning about 23 miles northwest of Logan, and about one-fourth of a mile from the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort, which was on pre-evacuation notice this week.

Hellstrom says no buildings are imminently threatened at the resort.

WASHINGTON

Favorable weather conditions helped crews make progress Wednesday against a series of wildfires in Eastern Washington that have burned at least 18 homes this week.

A fire burning on the Spokane Indian Reservation was 30 percent contained. That fire covered more than 27 square miles and had destroyed at least 13 homes on the reservation, said Jamie Sijohn, a spokeswoman for the tribe.

The devastating fire jumped the Spokane River from Lincoln County onto the Spokane reservation in three separate locations, Sijohn said.

It roared toward the town of Wellpinit, forcing the evacuation of the entire town on Sunday. But that order has since been lifted, Sijohn said.

Meanwhile, a fire near the town of Davenport in Lincoln County covered 6.5 square miles, and was 20 percent contained.

Another fire south of Spokane, in the Valleyford area, was 50 percent contained. It had burned more than 10 square miles and destroyed at least five homes, officials said. Mandatory evacuations ended on that fire on Tuesday night.

WYOMING

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 Yellowstones South Entrance was shut down, so visitors coming from the south through Wyoming had to take a detour into Idaho.

But firefighters hope cooler weather slows the flames over the next couple of days.

(AP)
Hillary Clinton is sidestepping new questions about nearly 15,000 recently discovered emails or her familys charitable foundation  a stay-the-course strategy sure to be tested in the sprint to Election Day.

Clinton has no immediate plans  in an interview or a news conference  to explain the FBIs discovery of another batch of emails or personally clarify how her administration would wall off the organization founded by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, if shes elected president.

Instead, her top campaign officials and allies are playing defense, arguing that the foundation has helped millions of people around the globe while Trumps business interests carry their own blind spots.

Hillary Clinton doesnt have a conflict of interest on charitable work  thats all it is, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in an interview Wednesday with MSNBCs Morning Joe. We need to look a lot more closely at Donald Trump.

The Clinton campaign figures 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 Clintons post-presidential legacy.

Clinton leads Trump in national and state polls, leaving many of her aides and supporters to conclude that addressing the issue isnt 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 spokesman Brian Fallon said the AP report relied on pretty flawed methodology and said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday that Clinton was being held to a different standard than other politicians with charitable work.

It is only now because she is running for president that the work of the Clinton foundation is being tarred, Fallon said. 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 dont vote for her.

The former secretary of state addressed questions about her use of a private server only in passing this week, joking with late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel on Monday that, My emails are so boring, she said. Weve already released, I dont know, 30,000 plus, so whats a few more?

Clinton is not expected to discuss the issue during a Thursday speech in Reno, Nevada, which will be focused on attacking 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 Im 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 Romneys presidential campaigns.

Bill Clinton announced that next months 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 wifes first presidential debate in New York.

(AP)
Jerusalem Councilman Aryeh King sent a sharply worded letter to his chareidi colleagues serving on the Jerusalem Council in which he has harsh words for Degel Hatorah party leader Moshe Gafne, who last week attacked the chareidi advisors to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav; basically hanging them out to dry.

King, a member of the dati leumi community and Eretz Yisrael activist speaks of Gafnes incitement vis-a-vis the mayoral advisors. He explains I am no longer able to remain silent, explaining that about ten days ago members of the city council warned of how Kedushas Shabbos was being trampled and the absence of tranquility between the different sectors in Independence Park and Kiryat Yovel. At that time he laments, the chareidi voices in Jerusalem and Knesset remained silent and he questions how this was permitted to pass quietly and now there is a storm.

He adds that while he backs Gafnes criticism regarding mayoral advisors, he does not understand why Gafne remains silent while the mayor and his backers are turning Yerushalayim into a secular city chas vsholom. King adds that instead of an attack from all fronts to protect Shabbos in Yerushalayim, there are those who prefer to send an SMS or WhatsApp message and in an extreme case, even an email as a symbolic effort on behalf of Shabbos. This is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover the nakedness of those too afraid to come out openly and say what has to be said, King exclaims.

He added everyone is aware of those who are involved in deal-making and securing funds for a talmid torah or a particular neighborhood and then remain silent and roll their eyes as the city continues to trample the holiness of the city and Shabbos Kodesh.

King emphasizes his willingness to work with anyone from the Shomer Shabbos camp regardless of affiliation towards preserving Kedushas Yerushalayim and Shabbos, calling for cooperation from the dati leumi and chareidi parties alike and to become increasingly active in combating ongoing efforts to amend the Shabbos status quo in favor of secularism. He laments that during his 33 months serving on the council the level of Shabbos and kedusha in the city has waned measurably and this is visible to all and it is time to awaken before it is too late.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Chairman of the Binyamin Regional Council district in Shomron, Avi Roeh, representing some 40 communities, tells the Knesset Channel that he feels the construction freeze is the result of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus fears of the United States of European Union, explaining he and his colleagues are disappointed and dissatisfied regarding housing approvals in yishuvim.

Roeh is less than impressed with the first year and a half of the current administration and its policy preventing construction in communities throughout Yehuda and Shomron. We have a good right-wing government but we expected the message out in the streets would be a more definitive one added Roeh.

In a related matter, the Jewish community of Hebron is concerned over mounting pressure from the United States opposing Jewish construction in the city, a reality they feel it nothing less than discriminatory. The Jewish community calls on the US to halt its discriminatory policy immediately, as well as calling on the Government of Israel to give the green light for continued Jewish sector construction in the holy city.

Community leaders add the historical realities of Hebron are such that one cannot deny the Jewish roots to the holy city and the Jewish Peoples right to live and build in the city.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Following the announcement that Brussels Airlines has stopped distributing Israeli halva on flights because it is manufactured in the Shomron, MK (Bayit Yehudi) Nissim Slomiansky is calling for a boycott of Brussels Airlines.

Slomiansky, who chairs the Knesset Law Committee, feels the airlines decision to acquiesce to pro-Palestinian pressure should be met with a Jewish boycott. A boycott should be met with a boycott he exclaims, calling on the general public to follow his call.

One of the owners of Achva halva, Yaakov Malach, told Ynet it is interesting for in fact, the factory employs many Palestinians, Israeli Arabs and Jews from inside and over the Green Line and everyone works in a harmonious atmosphere. He appears perplexed over the airlines decision despite the ideal dual-existence existing in the factory. He added he is pleased that Brussels Airlines is a small company and he hopes other airlines will not follow suit.

He concludes We will learn to live with those who do not wish to buy from us any longer. Even with all the boycotts in Europe, when people try the product and realize how good it is they buy it anyway. When they see our product in a supermarket they buy it. The fact is that 20% of our turnover is export and sold for a competitive price.

Slomiansky explains 100-gram vanilla halva bars were removed from the airlines dessert menu after Palestinian activists complained of using a product manufactured in the occupied West Bank. The airline responded by removing the product, explaining that it is compelled to offer products that please all.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced the cable car that will bring visitors to the Old City will pass over Silwan. Speaking with Likud activists, he displayed the projected route of the cable car. He explained that by traveling over Silwan, it will show who is actually running the city.

The original plan called for four stops; near the Tachanah Rishonah, the Kahn Theater, the Kedem facility in Silwan that is run by the Elad NGO and near the Seven Arches Hotel on Har HaZeisim to the area near Lions Gate.

In the video uploaded last week to the mayors Facebook page he is seen addressing the Likud activists and the planned Silwan cable car stop. By design, the Kedem station is the most important in the project as it will connect to cable cars from three directions  Har HaZeisim, Gat Shmanim (Gethsemane) and Breikhat Shiloach (City of David).

The mayor spoke of the economic and tourist aspects of the project as well as the ideological goals. He spoke of the archaeological effort associated with the project to reveal the stairs of Shiloach to Har Habayis and the rehabilitation plan for the future. I want both Jews and non-Jews to be able to recreate this experience. Anyone wishing to take a dip (Breikhat Shiloach) and go up towards Har Habayis, anyone doing this will know exactly who is baal habayis of the city the mayor added.

Barkat added, When we get to that experience (tour of historic Jewish sites), even the leftists get totally confused because they understand that it is real and our connections to Jerusalem are eternal. This experience will also produce a means of transport.

He boasts how it will permit traveling from Ancient Holy Jerusalem without a vehicle, without a bus and what you are seeing today is how Jerusalem will look tomorrow he told his audience. Barkat is confident this will bring 10 million tourists who will visit these sites, permitting them to do so but this cannot be accomplished without the infrastructure of the cable system, light rail, fast rail, hotels and more.

The mayor actually announced his cable car plan back in 2013, and it has been delayed. He adds other advantages is that it will reduce the number of buses and cars and thereby emissions, adding that when probed two years ago, the price tag for the project was NIS 125 million.

Despite his optimism, there is no doubt there is a political aspect and this is where the objections are going to be audible to all since most of the route of the cable car is over the so-called Green Line and in proximity to Har Habayis, Har Tzion and Har HaZeisim. One can be certain the PA (Palestinian Authority) will be first in line to bring a case against the cable car to the international community.

In an official statement from City Hall, no mention is made of the mayors statement that the cable car will show who runs the city, stating The mayors vision for the cable car connecting the centers relevant to the three religions of the Old City Basin is currently being formulated by professions and when the plan is actually mature, it will be discussed in the relevant committees. The cable car project is part of a comprehensive transportation network that includes the light rail and mass transit system that will enable fast, secure, efficient and environmentally friendly transport and accommodate millions of visitors annually.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
One would imagine that after 70 plus years in the post Holocaust era, there would little to left to restore, or preserve of Jewish remains in Europe. However, that is not so. A project that has been in the process for several years is about to be completed. The last remaining wall of the Shul in Liska was preserved and reinforced complemented by the construction of a corresponding wall that on the site where the entrance stood also delineating the exact of the footprint of the original Shul.

Nestled in the picturesque Tokay wine region of Hungary is a small town called Liska (Olaszliszka), that barely merits a mention on the current Hungarian map but looms large when the history of Chasidic life in Hungary is studied.

Shul interior facing the mizrach

Liska was a focal point where Chasidus was disseminated by Rav Tzvi Hersh of Liska in the 100 years preceding World War II.

Although as was customary in pre-war Europe, most towns that boasted a Chassidic Rebbe had a Shul under the auspices of the kehilla and a Bais Medresh where the Rebbe traditionally davened. What is unique about this particular Shul in Liska that it was personally built by Rav Tzvi Hersh of Liska for the Kehilla in the last years of his life and it successively graced multiple generations of Liska Rebbes.

Unfortunately, the Shul has ceased to be utilized when Hungarian Jews were deported in June 1944 until the end of the War when Jews actually returned to Liska where it again functioned as somewhat as a Kehilla until after 1956, when the majority of Hungarian Jews immigrated abroad yet. This chapter lasted until the mid-1960s when Reb Oizer Dov Roth write to the previous Liska Rebbe, Rav Yoizef Friedlander ZTL that due to this declining health he is leaving Liska and moving into an old age home in Budapest regretfully informing him that he will be unable to maintain the shul.

Footprint and last remaining wall of the original Shul in Liska in its restored state

Sadly, those years were the height of communist control was at its peak and due to a combination of reasons including local hoodlums, government indifference the Shul was systematically destroyed and by the late 1970s only the mizrach Vant was left standing where it remained in its sad state.

Fast Forward to 2012. That was the year that the Wallenberg Commission established by Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group and son of the Liska Rebbe spearheaded an effort to commemorate the heroism of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg who was credited with directly and indirectly saving 100,000 Hungarian Jewish lives in the waning months of World War II, a project that that culminated when the United States Congress posthumously awarded Wallenberg with the Congressional Gold Medal. During the Wallenberg project, Mr. Friedlander interacted with the Hungarian Embassys Congressional liaison, Ms. Anna Stumpf Smith- Lacey and raised the status of the Shul in Liska and stressed the importance of preserving it.

The sad state of the shul in Liska was always on my mind but my father, the Liska Rebbe; however, he adamantly instructed me not to engage in a project that would require Jewish communal funds for the preservation of the Shul in Liska, holding the opinion that this is a responsibility of the Hungarian government as the Shul was an officially recognized Kehila, and expressed his displeasure about the vast sums of communal monies that is spent on acquiring or restoring communal properties in Hungary that remains unused.  highlighted Mr. Friedlander.

In Hungary, Orthodoxy enjoyed official status when it broke away from reform (Neolog) a chapter in history that Rav Tzvi Hersh of Liska played a dominant role.

The interior footprint of the Shul looking at the newly constructed entrance wall

Eventually a funding opportunity to preserve the Shul was proposed as a joint venture by the Hungarian Government and the European Union to mark the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Jewrys deportations to Auschwitz with a mission of preserving Jewish heritage sites across Hungary.

During the planning process we raised concerns regarding overseeing such a sensitive project from afar explained Mr. Friedlander. In response, the Hungarian Consul General Karoly Dan in NY visited the current Liska Rebbe offering his assistance and suggested to have Chabad in Hungary (which is governmentally recognized as a kehilla) and not by the Neolog (reform) to oversee the preservation project.

Liska Rebbe at the site of the last remaining wall of the Shul in Liska in a state of disrepair

Indeed, the restoration and preservation of the Shul in Liska was executed with commitment and perfection by Chabad Rabbi Slomo Koves on behalf of the Liska Kehilla and will immortalize this revered name in Chasidic culture from time immemorial regarded as one of the most prominent Hungarian Chasidic courts.

Indeed, I would like to express my hakaros hatov to Rabbi Slomo Koves for representing the interest of the Liska Kehiliah here in the United States as well as descendants of the various Liska Rebbes as well as countless families worldwide who trace their roots and heritage to Liska concluded Mr. Friedlander.

Newly constructed entrance wall

Mr. Friedlander also expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Liska Chassidic community to Ms. Anna Stumpf Smith-Lacey for initiating the process that led to the eventual restoration of the shul.

Commemorative plaque delineating the various Liska Rebbes who served in Liska
A Jewish man and his six children who were touring London fell victim to anti-Semitism in that country. Shouts of Go back to Israhell where directed at them as the father held his frightened children. The incident was captured on camera.

The 32-year-old dad was trying to keep the children calm, including a three-year-old. He was also caring for his nine-week-old as the children began crying, clearly terrified. The oldest child is 10.

The assailant was described as a black male with dreadlocks, who shouted obscenities as the family too. He also yelled Dont come here but go back to Stamford Hill. You are not welcome here!

The incident was published by some local media as well as the twitter account of Shomrim N.E. London.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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.

According to the Blum-commissioned poll of 400 registered 1st District voters between Aug. 14-16, he has an 18 point positive job approval rating (44 percent approve, 26 disapprove).

However, Vernon campaign manager Michelle Gajewski expects that when voters learn more about Blums voting record that approval rating could change.

Congressman Blum has voted to slash Social Security, increase health care costs for seniors and to keep giving special tax breaks for corporations shipping jobs overseas, Gajewski said. When you vote against Iowas middle class, you dont get voted back to Congress.

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. Brett Loyd of the Polling Co. called it notable that Blum has reached the 50 percent benchmark this early in the race. He concluded with less than three months until the Nov. 8 election, Blum is poised to earn re-election.

The poll, based on telephone interviews  70 percent landline and 30 percent cellphones, has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.
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.
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.
Celebrity-favourite footwear brand Jimmy Choo has posted rising profits and said it expects a weaker pound in the wake of Brexit to further boost revenues and profits.

The luxury shoes and accessories firm, popular with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Sandra Bullock, said that because only 9.5 per cent of its global revenues are in pounds compared to a larger 28 per cent of operating costs, a weaker sterling will lead to a reported upside in business performance at a revenue and profit level.

The comment came as Jimmy Choo posted a 43 per cent rise in operating profits for the six months to the end of June to 25.3million boosted by a weak pound, as well as growth in China and in its men's coillection.

Luxury appetite: Jimmy Choo said it saw impressive growth in China, which has been a tough market for its competitors recently

However, the group also saw higher financing costs in the first half, and if those were included, its pretax profit for the first half dropped to 6.6million, down from 20.1million a year earlier.

While being well-known for its skyscraper heels, Jimmy Choo's mens line and handbags have also been doing well.

The group said its men's collections now account for 8 per cent of net revenue and it expects this proportion to grow 'well into double digits'.

The luxury firm also saw impressive growth in China, despite other luxury brands having experienced a slowdown in sales in the region, and continued strong sales in Japan, which helped its global revenues to rise by 9.2 per cent to 173.1million in the first half.

Jimmy Choo, which has become famous thanks to TV series Sex & the City, has been less affected than other luxury brands by the slowdown in China as it is still reasonably new to the country.

Chief executive Pierre Denis said: 'These results represent an excellent performance in the period, with growth and margin expansion leading to improved earnings, further enhancing the brand's track record of delivery in all market conditions.

'This is combined with strong underlying cash flow conversion leading to further positive steps on deleveraging.'

He added: We have made a good start to the second half and we remain optimistic about our prospects both for this year and for our performance in the future,'

Shares in FTSE 250-listed Jimmy Choo, which floated at 140p a share on the London stock market in October last year, were up 5 per cent, or 6p to 124p in morning trading.

Looking good: Jimmy Choo expects its mens line to continue to grow

Jimmy Choo, which operates 10 own-brand stores in the UK, said weaker sales to tourists in Europe and the UK partly offset growth in the area, which was otherwise boosted by domestic demand.

The group said: Whilst tourist spending on luxury has declined overall in Europe due to the impact of geopolitical events since the end of 2015, our global brand strength has limited the impact, as we continue to see an outperformance compared to other luxury brands with key tourist nationalities.'

However the brand continues to struggle in the US, where sales were down 3.4 per cent.

There has been softer luxury demand in the USA generally, compounded by a drop in sales to international tourists, the company said.

The group said it continued to expand, with planned joined ventures in South Korea and the Middle East.

Jimmy Choo was founded in 1996 by Tamara Mellon and Malaysian bespoke cobbler Jimmy Choo. After a series of private equity owners Mellon and Choo left the business. Choos niece Sandra Choi is now the brands creative director.
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.
The Great British Bake Off is the TV phenomenon that prompted the nation to fall back in love with baking.

Every season, millions watch with baited breath for soggy bottoms, icing meltdowns and a coveted thumbs up from judge Mary Berry.

And this renewed passion for cooking hasn't gone unnoticed by Britain's entrepreneurial-minded start-ups. Here we meet three start-ups making a tasty profit out of Britain's love of home baking and sweet treats.

Lucky few: The GBBO contestants have been selected out of thousands of passionate bakers

BakedIn - High class baking kits with Michel Roux's seal of approval

BakedIn was created by three IBM colleagues in Winchester - Anna Bridgen, 29, Elaina Mickelburgh, 25, and Joseph Munns, 37.

Joe and Anna used to lift-share to work, and got to talking about starting their own business. They shared their plans with Elaina, who joined them to get the idea off the ground.

Joe says:'I've been a big fan of recipe kit boxes such as Gousto for some time, and we noticed there wasn't much out there for people that wanted the same kind of experience but for baking.

'Our kits are all about the baking from scratch experience. By keeping the ingredients separate we can offer recipes that just aren't possible with an all in one mix, and you still get all the satisfaction that comes with baking from scratch.

Initially the business was a pet project on evenings and weekends. But as the kits grew in popularity, the BakedIn team wanted to take it to the next level.

Seal of approval: Michel Roux (r) personally approves BakedIn's Baking Club recipes

In 2013, they wrote a formal business plan and approached the government-backed Start Up Loans Company, which lent them 10,000 to get off the ground.

This allowed Joe to quit his job and run the business full time. BakedIn now has 10 employees and stockists as far afield as Malaysia.

Customers can bake a brownie, cookie or sticky toffee cake in a mug in just a couple of minutes. But the team says it is their high quality ingredients that place them a notch above standard cake mixes, including Belgian chocolate, ground Madagascan vanilla and British sugar.

Sweet treats: BakedIn customers can make individual mug desserts or whole cakes

Joe was put in touch with famed French chef Michel Roux through one of the shareholders. He now approves their recipes, which Joe describes as 'an honour'.

Joe says: 'We have a subscription service called the Baking Club where we produce a monthly kit with a unique recipe approved by Michel Roux to send out to our customers. We keep the recipe a surprise until they land on subscribers' doorsteps, and it's a great way to learn and try out new recipes.'

The entrepreneur credits the Bake Off with helping revitalise home baking.

'Baking has always been a popular activity in the UK, but if you look at sales trends for home baking there is a definite correlation with the rise in popularity of the Bake Off. We love the show here at BakedIn and are really excited about the new series!'

Career change: IT workers Anna, Joe and Elaina (l-r) took the plunge to start their own firm

BakedIn's baking kits are now stocked at Lakeland, Ocado, Wholefoods, Amazon Selfridges and Center Parcs, as well as a number of small independent stores.

The Baking kits sell for between 7 and 15, and the mug baking mixes are priced between 1.25 and 5. Last year the business had a turnover of just over 200,000, and this year its target 500,000.

And who do they think is going to win the Great British Bake Off 2016?

Joe says: 'The office favourite is Andrew, we are particularly taken by his baguette concord!'

The Northern Dough Co - fourth generation husband and wife baking team make their student dreams a reality

Baking bond: Amy and Chris with GBBO judge Paul Hollywood at the Liverpool Food Festival

Chris and Amy Cheadle originally met as hard-up university students and discussed plenty of different ideas for their own business.

But it could have been a sense of destiny that led to the couple going into the food industry, as Chris' great grandfather created a bakery business in Bolton many years ago, spanning high street bakeries.

This was passed down the family to Chris's granddad, and then to his father and uncle who made artisan bread products for the food services sector.

Bright idea: 'There was a gap in the market for people who wanted to create pizzas at home'

After graduating, Chris and Amy both took jobs in large companies. But they often used the pizza dough produced at the bakery for pizza parties with friends, leading them to realise that there was a gap in the market for ready made dough.

They started their frozen pizza dough company in 2011, shortly after their wedding, and their products are now sold in Waitrose, Ocado and Wholefoods.

Previously, high-quality pizza dough had only been supplied to restaurants but the couple created The Northern Dough Co to bring it to the supermarket shelf.

Amy says: 'There was a clear gap in the market for people who wanted to create restaurant quality pizzas at home but who lacked the time and baking knowledge to make the dough.

'Jane's family baking history should stand her in good stead'

'People love making their own pizza so we get them to the fun part quicker - the rolling and topping!'

The Northern Dough Co team were involved with UK Trade and Investment's Growth Accelerator mentors as part of the Government's Business Is Great initiative. They provided advice and helped the business concentrate on growth.

The company was also awarded an innovation grant to develop new products.

Chris quit his job in 2011 to go full time. Today, the pair work out of their home office in Preston, and are aiming to turn over 400,000 by the end of this financial year.

They say the Great British Bake Off has helped people to look at baking as a pleasure, rather than a chore.

Amy says: 'We've seen people returning the the kitchen to spend time cooking as a leisure activity. People write to us daily with pictures of them enjoying making pizzas with their families, it's definitely a group activity and all ages get stuck in.'

And who are they tipping to win GBBO this year?

'It's a tough one, they all look like great contenders but Jane's family history of bakers should stand her in good stead, whereas Selasi's Ghanian roots should make for some fantastic flavours - whoever wins we'll be glued to every episode!'

KupKase - the artisan cake business started by a BBC radio producer

Kalista Clarke: 'I had the chance to create the life I want - it's not easy but it's exhilarating'

Kalista Clarke worked as a BBC radio producer for 12 years before indulging her passion for cake-making full time.

She says: 'My radio career began when I was fresh out of university. I went straight into BBC Radio 1 then onto BBC Radio 1Xtra where I worked on programmes including shows for MistaJam, Trevor Nelson, Sarah Jane Crawford, and Tim Westwood.

Wedding wonder: A KupKase cake

'I met many stars at the top of their game regularly working in radio, but those guys touched me the most because I saw them come from little scraps of promise to global prominence and it got me thinking "am I living my dream?"'

The entrepreneur had always loved baking, but work commitments meant her hobby had been pushed to one side.

Kalista went to Start-Up Loans, which lent her a 9,900 to get started.

She says: 'The funding they provided was a real catalyst, giving me much needed access to finance to start things off. I'm very grateful to have had the chance to create exactly the life I want  it's not easy but its exhilarating.'

KupKase makes high quality artisan cakes, which can be found online and at festivals and food markets. Kalista also bakes for weddings and birthdays and gets the occasional celebrity commission - including a giant four foot by four foot cake for grime artist Stormzy as a present from Adidas.

Celebrity following: Adidas asked Kalista to make a cake for grime artist Stormzy (pictured)

Her creations are also sold in-store at Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, and on Notonthehighstreet.com.

Kalista says the baking itself has been a breeze.

'Cash flow is everything in business and hand-in-hand with that is marketing. Staying on top of those two aspects are a large part of the job - making cake is the easy bit!

'My dad gave me some words of wisdom when I got my first proper customer, he said, youre not in business until you get repeat business! For me, thats been a great lesson, which is why I really appreciate it when people come back to KupKase.'

Delicious designs: Kalista wants to make sure her cakes taste as good as they look

Her secret, she says, is that her bakes taste as good as they look.

'The business tagline is Not Just A Pretty Cake, simply because it can be the prettiest looking thing in the world, but if it doesnt taste great then that doesnt count for much.'

Next step: Kalista is setting up a cake agency

She now leads a team of eight based in London and Brighton and has ambitious plans. Her next step is to create the UK's first cake agency.

'I was inspired by the notion that other artists - makeup artists, photographers, nail technicians, for example all have management and training to help guide and build their careers.

'No one is dedicated to cake stylists and I thought this would be a great way of blending my passion with the skills I gained as a producer all those years at the BBC.'

And who does she think will nab the coveted Bake Off trophy this year?

'I'm not falling down that rabbit hole  its way too soon call! I've learnt from the Bake Off you're only as good as your last bake, so I couldn't say.
CEDAR RAPIDS | With students returning to K-12 schools and college campuses, Iowa 1st District challenger Monica Vernon stressed the importance of investing in workforce development and job training Thursday while touring a labor union apprenticeship training center.

This is just as important, the Cedar Rapids Democrat said while visiting Iron Workers Local 89 apprentice training center in southwest Cedar Rapids.

A four year degree is not the only route to a successful career, she said while touring the training center with Democratic U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel of Florida, Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Cheri Bustos of Illinois. We need to be doing everything we can to ensure Iowans are prepared for high-skill, good paying jobs.

Journeyman iron worker Steve Coleson, who is a part-time instructor in the program that trained him 10 years ago, told Vernon apprentice iron workers start at $17.15 an hour with benefits doubling that.

Journeymen iron workers can make $45,000 a year and superintendents can bring down six-figure salaries, he said.

Local 29 started the Joint Apprenticeship and Training program in 1965. It trains students in the skills necessary to work in all aspects of ironworking. The three-year program combines classroom instruction with paid, training-level employment. Nineteen students will begin the program Monday.

According to the White House, about 87 percent of apprentices nationwide are employed after completing their programs, with an average starting wage above $50,000.

The union takes that message to high schools whenever it can to tell students that college is not the only route to a good job, Coleson said. Its not uncommon, he added, for students in the apprenticeship training to have some college education, sometimes a four-year degree.

I talk to moms whose kids are in college who are thinking it might not be for them that they say they wish they had considered the full range of career options, Vernon said.

The training is especially important across the 20-county northeast Iowa 1st District because were builders here, were makers, innovators, Vernon said.

When we talk about creating jobs in this region, we need trained skilled workers, so programs that help with these training programs and help people get access to them will be very important, she said.

The Local 89 program gets a grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority of about $15,000 a year, Kady Dozier of Local 89 said.

Iowa has tripled state funds to support apprenticeship across key industries, according to the White House. It is one of 14 states to increase the number of apprentices in their state by over 20 percent.
Germany's economy has been hit by Britain's vote to leave the EU, according to a key survey of business confidence as experts said firms had 'fallen into a summer slump'.

And there is more bad news on the horizon for Angel Merkel, with analysts forecasting weaker growth for Germany's economy in 2017.

But while the German economy suffers a wobble, there was further evidence today that the British economy is bouncing back from its short post-Brexit slump.

Retailers reported their strongest sales in six months this month - recovering the initial slump seen after the Brexit vote and sending the UK's high street booming.

No wonder the German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured) was so desperate to stop the British voting for Brexit - its economy has been directly hit by the historic vote. But back in Britain, retailers reported their strongest sales in six months this month - recovering the initial slump seen after the Brexit vote and sending the UK's high street booming

Business groups said British shoppers were shrugging off fears of leaving the EU and helped by the warm weather, were flocking to the high street.

The Confederation of British Industry said its retail sales volume index rose to +9 - its highest since February and a massive increase from -14 in July.

The worrying news for Germany's economy reveals why so many top German business, financial and political figures - including Chancellor Angela Merkel - campaigned so vigorously for Britain to stay in the EU.

Economists said German businesses had 'suddenly woken up to Brexit reality'.

The influential Ifo economic institute's closely-watched index fell to 106.2 in August from its July level of 108.3, reaching its lowest point since December 2014.

Last week it emerged that the employment rate reached a record 74.5 per cent in the three months leading up to the June 23 vote

It also emerged that the UK's net wealth hit 8.8trillion last year - with the average household worth a whopping 378,000

Analysts surveyed by Factset had been expecting a slight rise to 108.5.

'The German economy has fallen into a summer slump,' Ifo president Clemens Fuest said in a statement, noting that all sectors surveyed except construction had reported a drop in the index.

August's sharp drop contrasts with a smaller decline in July, when German business surprised forecasters by appearing to shrug off anxiety over Britain's late-June vote to quit the EU.

It paints a contrasting picture compared to Britain's economy, with today's retail figures from the CBI delivering further evidence of the economy defying predictions of economic chaos after June's dramatic Brexit vote.

Last week it emerged that the employment rate reached a record 74.5 per cent in the three months leading up to the June 23 vote.

And it also emerged that the UK's net wealth hit 8.8trillion last year - with the average household worth a whopping 378,000.

The latest house prices data showed the industry defying warnings of a housing market crash after Brexit, with shares rising in housebuilding firms.

A key business confidence survey revealed the German economy had 'fallen into a summer slump' since Britain voted to leave the EU (the European Parliament pictured above)

Persimmon rose 4.3 per cent as it reported a jump in reservations by buyers of new homes over the past two months despite some surveys suggesting the so-called Brexit vote could cool the housing market.

Germany's Ifo's headline figure is produced from two figures representing companies' feelings on the current business environment and the outlook for the next six months.

The sub-index measuring current business fell to 112.8, two points below its July level.

Confidence in the future outlook also took a two-point blow, falling to 100.1 from 102.1 in July.

Manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers all reported falling confidence in August.

Chemical and electrical firms were among the gloomiest in industry, Ifo chief Fuest said, while food and beverage firms were the least positive among retailers.

But one bright spot was construction, where firms had a more optimistic view of the coming months even as their view of current business clouded over.

Germany's DAX stock market index of 30 leading firms had fallen 1.36 per cent by 0900 GMT on Thursday as investors absorbed the news, with every single blue-chip firm's shares losing value.

'Today's Ifo suggests that German businesses have suddenly woken up to Brexit reality,' economist Carsten Brzeski at ING Diba bank said, noting that the index often takes time to respond to global events.

While Germany's run of good economic news has so far been sustained by high government spending on refugees and strong appetites for consumption among households, investment remains weak, he went on.

'There is a risk that the Ifo will fall further,' warned Stephen Brown of Capital Economics, noting that the boosts to German firms from low oil prices and a weakening euro are fading.

While confidence is stronger than it was in February, when fears of a slowdown in China sent ripples around the world, it still points to a slowdown in German economic growth in 2017, Brown said.
MASON CITY  Mason City Family YMCA has closed its pool for precautionary measures.

Executive Director Liz Conley said the public health department contacted the YMCA to let them know a person with Crypto had swam in the pool.

We did it as a precautionary measure, Conley said of the closure. No sickness has come from our pool.

When the YMCA first heard Crypto  a microscopic parasite causing a diarrheal disease  was spreading locally, it upped its chlorine levels.

The parasite is most commonly spread through water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but can also be transmitted through soil, food or surfaces contaminated by fecal matter from infected humans.

Conley said the pool has been superchlorinated in an effort to reopen Friday.

The Mason City Aquatic Center was also closed for the cleaning method last week after public health officials said infected patrons visited the pool.

At least 30 cases have been reported in Cerro Gordo County, according to Jennifer Stiles, an infectious disease nurse for Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health.

Were seeing more cases every day, she said, noting its possible theres more cases than have been reported.

The CDC says Crypto can survive outside the body for long periods of time and is tolerant to disinfection.

Sickness begins within two to 10 days after being infected, but some people may not have symptoms. The CDC says the most common symptom is watery diarrhea, but people may also have stomach cramps, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever or weight loss.

Symptoms can last one to two weeks, and can come and go for up to 30 days.

If someone suspects they or their child may have Crypto, Stiles said its important to contact a healthcare provider to be tested. Children who have Crypto should stay home from day care or school until they have been diarrhea-free for 24 hours.

The prescription drug nitazoxanide is often used to treat parasite-induced diarrhea, according to the CDC, but a health care provider should determine the best method of treatment. People with diarrhea should drink ample fluids to prevent dehydration.

To prevent the disease from spreading, people should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before preparing or eating food; using the toilet; changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; and before and after caring for someone who is ill with diarrhea. People who are ill should not prepare food.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should not be used, as the CDC says they do not effectively kill the parasite.

Crypto is resistant to bleach, so Stiles recommends using hydrogen peroxide to clean surfaces.
Addressing fire safety Living in San Diego County, the threat of fires is constant, that is why I have made fire safety one...

Supporting animals As a trained Project Wildlife Native Songbird Rehabilitator, my experience raising orphaned and injured songbirds and returning them to the...
CHARLES CITY | A Charles City woman was found guilty Thursday of one of the two sexual assault charges leveled against her.

Brittany Rae Beek, 27, was found guilty of a single count of felony third-degree sexual abuse.

The jury found her not guilty of a second charge, also third-degree sexual abuse.

Beek was accused by police of committing sex acts against the will of two female minors in May in Charles City.

The jury deliberated about four hours before returning a verdict, an official said.

 Molly Montag
MASON CITY  A Mason City man accused of rupturing another persons eardrum during an assault faces criminal charges.

Rudy Huerta, 18, was arrested Tuesday for a charge of felony willful injury.

He and two others attacked someone about 10:30 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of North Delaware Avenue in Mason City, according to court documents.

The three aggressors hit the victim, a Mason City man, until he fell down and then kicked him several times while witnesses attempted to pull them away, documents said.

Police say the victim complained of hearing loss at the scene and was later found to have suffered a perforated, or ruptured, eardrum.

The victim and Huerta knew each other, police say. Huertas next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.

The case was still under investigation Wednesday afternoon.

 Molly Montag
CLEAR LAKE  Clear Creek Elementary students were welcomed back to school Thursday by their new principal, who is a familiar face in the district.

Now in her 22nd year with Clear Lake Schools, Sally Dueseberg is overseeing the elementary school and Sunset View Preschool. She says shes eager to continue making connections with kids and family.

Duesenberg said she and her staff  many of whom are new this year  have been working together to start the school year in a positive way.

We want to be welcoming to the kids, and want them to be excited to be there, she said.

Duesenberg initially worked as a paraprofessional for five years before her sons fourth-grade teacher inspired her to grow her career.

She was watching me interacting with kids, and encouraged me to go back to school and become a teacher, Duesenberg said.

Influenced by an uncle with special needs, Duesenberg pursued special education and taught in the middle school for nine years. She later worked as a student and family services coordinator for seven years before assuming her current role.

Im very grateful I get to call Clear Creek and Sunset my home base, Duesenberg said. We have such a positive group of people here who love kids and want to support them any way they can.

As principal, shes responsible for meeting student and teacher needs. This year Duesenberg says educators are working to enhance literacy learning and collaborate with special education teachers, as well as continue the schools foundation in PBIS.

Also known as Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, the program sets school-wide expectations for conduct so students do better academically and display fewer problem behaviors. Those who miss expectations are offered re-teaching opportunities.

Duesenberg succeeds Mike Barkley, who retired.
Graveside services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, at Memorial Park Cemetery, with the Rev. Steve Hansen of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association.
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

By Gina Martinez

Three Flushing karaoke bars have sued the NYPD for $300 million, claiming they were singled out during a bribery scandal involving officers from the 109th Precinct.

The three karaoke barsForbidden City, Home Run KTV and 360 Loungecontend in their lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court that they were harassed by officers in the 109th Precinct as part of an NYPD effort to prevent them from cooperating with a criminal investigation of police officers.

The suit claims that as Asian businesses they were intimidated and subjected to racial discrimination. The suit also says that as a result of the harassment they suffered emotional distress and loss of income. The bars are seeking $300 million in damages.

In December 2015, Detective Yatyu Yam and Lt. Robert Sung were charged with accepting money from Flushing karaoke bar owners for allegedly tipping them off whenever narcotics or vice units were planning police raids, the Queens district attorney said.

The owners of Club JJNY and Club Joyful in Flushing allegedly paid Yam $2,000 per month over the course of three years for protection, according to the criminal complaint filed by the DA.

Yam and Sung were charged with taking bribes and being rewarded for official misconduct, while Sung was also charged with obstruction, according to the DAs office.

They were scheduled to go to trial in September.

The 2015 arrest of Yam and Sung came after two years of investigations during which several officers from the 109th Precinct were looked into. The incident was labeled the Karaoke Bar Protection Scandal. Of the 23 other officers investigated over the course of two years, including two captains and three sergeants, none have been indicted so far, the suit said.

In the suit, the bars claim that since 2014 multiple Business Inspections by police led to the arrest of employees and patrons, disrupting business and scaring off customers. During these random inspections, the officers would ask employees and patrons about the any illegal activity. The owners claim that officials took video equipment following the inspections so no evidence of the raids remained..

As a result of the inspections and officers constant presence, customers, particularly in the Asian community, stopped coming to the targeted businesses, according to the suit. Officers would enter the businesses under the guise of an inspection although there were no violations and stay for hours on end, according to the suit. Undercover officers would stop and frisk Asian patrons in the establishments without any legal basis, the suit claims.

In the lawsuit, the owners claim that Police Commissioner William J. Bratton targeted their businesses using the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau and other federal, state, and local government agencies. They claim they and other witnesses were intimidated into not cooperating with the criminal investigation into the officers involved in the Karaoke Bar Protection scandal in order to protect his legacy as commissioner. The suit claims Bratton engaged in similar tactics during the Dirty 30 scandal in the early 1990s, in which over 30 officers were arrested for stealing drug money from Dominicans and other people of color in Manhattan.

The bars are being represented by Manhattan lawyer Eric Sanders.

Here, we have all of this legislative reform regarding police corruption in New York City, yet the public still suffers, he said. In this matter, no one knows the depth of the police corruption in the Karaoke Bar Protection Scandal. Certainly, my clients feel the mayor, police commissioner and district attorney are simply waiting for everything to blow over and then close the criminal case, handling everything within the NYPD as in other police scandals.
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

By Bill Parry

For more than two months union leaders have been setting up giant inflatable rats along the perimeter of the 5Pointz Towers construction site in Long Island City, protesting developer Jerry Wolkoffs use of non-union labor. On Tuesday, reinforcements arrived as several hundred steamfitters, plumbers, carpenters and concrete workers flooded Jackson Avenue and Davis Street for a full-throated lunchtime rally alongside another inflatable called Greedy the Pig.

During the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure in 2013 for a rezoning variance, Wolkoffs G & M Realty agreed to several major community givebacks, including a commitment to build and staff the site using 100 percent union labor, so that he could construct an additional 400 units at the former home of the world famous 5Pointz graffiti mecca.

In addition to the union provision, Wolkoff agreed to increase the number of affordable apartments and add more space for artists in order to receive the special permit that allowed him to build bigger than the area zoning laws allowed.

Speaker after speaker charged Wolkoff with reneging on that deal, including Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building Trades Council of Greater New York, who offered the developer a Project Labor Agreement. Wolkoff would not sign the pact, but gave his word and shook hands on the deal, LaBarbera said.

He gave his commitment that this job was going to be a Building Trades job and he went back on his word, he lied to everyone, LaBarbera thundered in an expletive-filled speech. I come from the school that when you give your word, its better than a signed contract. This man was in my office, shook my hand and promised this would be a union project.

LaBarbera then read from a letter to Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), signed by Wolkoff announcing his intention to engage contractors which employ individuals represented by labor unions and promising 800 good-paying construction jobs and 200 full-time jobs after construction was completed. Van Bramer endorsed the issuance of the variance based on the promises in that letter from Wolkoff.

Jerry Wolkoff lied to me, Jerry Wolkoff lied to Gary, Jerry Wolkoff lied to every single New Yorker, Van Bramer told the roaring crowd. I will never believe another word you ever say nor will I ever approve any future project you want to build in my district or this city.

Wolkoff claims he never lied and that he would not sign the labor agreement LaBarbera offered because it would have cost him 25 percent to 30 percent more to build his 47- and 41-story 5Pointz towers. He also shrugged off Van Bramers threat to block any more of his projects in the city.

Look, Ive got nothing against Jimmy. Hes a good union guy, but the contract they offered me wouldve cost me $20 million more to build. Wolkoff said. He wouldnt do it and Im not doing it. I am not anti-union, but people should wake up and understand the world has changed. The unions might control the politicians, but they dont control the world anymore. There are other people out there who are non-union. What, they dont have a right to work?

Council of Carpenters representative Michael Donnelly, who has been protesting at the site for 10 weeks, called on the City Council to revoke the variance and stop the project although Van Bramer said it cant be reversed, but we can address all of the violations here.

LaBarbera also threatened to warn Wolkoffs investors and insurance companies.

Were going to get word to his lenders that theyre dealing with a guy whose word means nothing, he said. Maybe theyll think twice about lending him money.

LaBarbera finished by thanking the 5Pointz artists for taking part in the protest. In November 2013, Wolkoff ordered workers to whitewash the estimated 350 murals of graffiti art on the warehouse complexs exterior walls as a first step towards its demolition.

5Pointz curator Jonathan Meres Cohen and spokeswoman Marie Cecil Flaguel stood alongside a hand-painted canvas that said 5Pointz Artists Support Unions.

I told you so, is all Meres would say following the rally. Cecil Flaguel explained the two had warned anyone that would listen that Wolkoff could not be trusted, and they were ignored during the ULURP proceedings.

Its good to see so many brothers and sisters come here and the union leaders have their say, but now they have to take action, she said. Weve known hes a liar for 11 years. Three years later and promises are broken on the union jobs. What will Wolkoff renege on next, the affordable housing? Were surely not holding our breath on the art space hes promised. We warned Councilman Van Bramer and Borough President Helen Marshall that he shouldnt be trusted. Sometimes being right doesnt feel so good.
By Steve Barnes

Tucked away on a side street in Long Island City, just steps away from the 39th Avenue stop on the Q and N trains, is a unique museum that both explores the development of some of contemporary arts major figures and encapsulates the vision of its founder, Emily Fisher Landau.

Converted from a parachute factory into a clean, elegant art-viewing space by British architect Max Gordon, The Fisher Landau Center for Art, at 38-27 30th St., has been open to the public since 2004 and in that time has presented a wide variety of exhibitions that take advantage of Landaus 1500-work collection.

The latest of those exhibitions, Intuitive Progression, opened Aug. 18 and will be on view until Nov. 28. Comprised of 75 works from 20 artists, the show includes such figures as Agnes Martin, Edward Ruscha, Susan Rothenberg and Jasper Johns. With such a stellar cast of characters, it is a pleasant surprise to find that the exhibit containing their works tells such a clear and compelling story.

Starting with the building blocks of artistic imagery, Intuitive Progressions illustrates how nothing is simple when it is put into the hands of a real artist. That notion can be clearly seen in one of the works at the entrance to the show, Canadian artist Joseph Amars Lillian, Miriam, Hannah, Anne, Farah. A line of five 30-inch-square paintings in progressively darkening shades of greenish tan, the piece has an unexpected sense of movement and energy. According to Nicholas Arbatsky, the centers director as well as the curator of this show, the artist says the paintings should be considered portraits. The ability of each part of the work to convey a distinct personality and mood justifies that claim.

Many of the artists in the show explore the power of straight lines, grids, basic shapes and written language. But each of them takes those elements and turns them into highly personal individual statements.

A lot of those statements have a light-hearted, engaging side. Richard Artschwagers formica-on-wood sculptures of books have a cartoonish buoyancy that is matched by Donald Baechlers Arithmetic, an image of a human head built from numbers. By making the word diptych the subject of a painting that is on one wood panel, Ricci Albenda delivers a sly joke while also encouraging us to question the truth and meaning of language.

Other works take the motifs that are at the center of the show and turn them to darker, more serious ends. Susan Rothenbergs Double Bones is an otherworldly image that looks as if its an animal skeleton, and Kiki Smiths sculpture The Sitter brings issues of violence against women powerfully to the foreground.

But perhaps most interesting in this exhibit is the way it shows artists changing and progressing. One example is found in the other two Rothenberg paintings on display. Done 11 years after Double Bones, Mezzo Fist #1 and Mezzo Fist #2 use the same colors and ghostly style of the earlier painting, but achieve their effect in a more muted way. Another is Terry Winters, whose densely patterned circular shapes start with the nearly monochromatic Unititled from 1983 and transform into the psychedelic shade of 2011s Tessellation Figures.

Arbatsky says that the idea of looking at an artists career as a work in progress was very important to Landau as she was putting her collection together. Mrs. Landau was interested in how an artists work progresses over time, he said. Often, she would buy a work from an artist early in his or her career, and then purchase later works. In addition to the artists on display in Intuitive Progression, her collection includes work by Richard Prince, Jenny Holzer and Cy Twombly, all of whose works have graced the walls of the center.

But Landaus scope as a collector goes beyond the building in Long Island City that bears her name. In May 2010, she made a pledge of 417 artworks by nearly 100 artists to the Whitney Museum of American Art, ensuring that her vision and the artists she champions will reach an even wider audience.

The mission of expanding and connecting with a wider audience is a big part of the centers focus as well. Dean MacGregor, the Fisher Landaus outreach coordinator, will be leading tours of the exhibit, and is expecting a broad range of community residentsparticularly studentsto take advantage of them. Tours can be scheduled by calling (718) 937-0727 or by emailing dean@ flcar t.org .

Intuitive Progression is not the only reason to visit the center, either. Up through Nov. 28 is Timothy Greenfield-Sanders The Women List. Showing on the centers ground floor, its 50 portraits of accomplished women include actresses (Bette Davis, Kim Cattrall, Isabella Rossellini) and Supreme Court justices (Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg) as well as writers, artists and athletes. Plus, the PBS film in which 15 of those women tell their stories is also on view.

And another ambitious show is opening on Thursday. Language as Representation focuses on artists who make words the visual focus of their art. With such heavy hitters as Richard Prince, Edward Ruscha, Barbara Kruger and John Baldessari, it is just one more example of the centers impressive holdings and the incisive skill with which those holdings are used to teach audiences about the history of art from 1960 through the present.

The Fisher Landau Center for Art is open from Thursday through Monday from 12 pm to 5 pm.
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

By Patrick Donachie

The race to succeed U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Melville) has taken several twists, including three candidates from different political parties who joined forces on Saturday to criticize Republican state Sen. Jack Martins (D-Mineola) in his attempt to postpone the general election date after a federal court mandated a Republican primary date in October.

The candidates are running to succeed Israel in representing the 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties, Bay Terrace, Whitestone, Glen Oaks and Floral Park.

Former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, the Democratic nominee for the seat, held a news conference with Libertarian candidate Michael McDermott and Republican candidate Philip Pidot Sunday at the Greenvale Townhouse Diner in Greenvale, L.I., to speak about Martins. He is petitioning in federal court to move the general election date from Nov. 8 to Dec. 6 in order to accommodate the new primary ordered between him and Pidot Oct. 6.

Jack Martins has unsuccessfully attempted to eliminate each and every opponent who has filed signatures to qualify for the ballot in the 3rd Congressional District, Suozzi said. Jack Martins needs to stop wasting everyones time and millions of taxpayer dollars and instead tell us what he is really about.

The Martins campaign contends that the delay is necessary in order to comply with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, which requires that states supply overseas service members with ballots 45 days prior to an election. The Oct. 6 primary would leave 32 days before the general election.

Nassau residents threw Tom Suozzi out of office because of his history of bad decisions, playing politics with the militarys right to vote is just the latest example that he hasnt changed, Martins said in a statement.

The legal maneuvering between Pidot and Martins in an attempt to determine whether a Republican primary should be held has spanned multiple months and state and federal court. Martins initially challenged the validity of many of Pidots signatures. The State Supreme Court decided in late June that Pidot qualified for the ballot, but due to the proximity to the June 28 primary date Pidot could not be put on the ballot. Pidot accused Martins of trying to subvert the voting process, while Martins countered that the Pidot campaign had dragged its feet in challenging court decisions.

On Aug. 17, a federal court ruled that a Republican primary would be held Oct. 6, prior to the November general election. Martins opponents accused him of trying to avoid an election date that would leave him running on the Republican ticket at the same time as Donald Trump.

What is Jack Martins so afraid of? McDermott asked. It is obvious that cowardly Jack Martins doesnt want to be on a ballot with Donald Trump, even though one minute he is a strong Trump supporter and the next he is trying to distance himself from Trump.

Martins contends that the 50 days between the Oct. 6 Republican primary and his proposed Dec. 6 primary will give the New York State Board of Elections ample time to supply service members with ballots.

A spokesman for New York State Board of Elections said it would reserve comment on the situation, due to the pending litigation.
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

By Mark Hallum

State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing) faced off against S.J. Jung in a Tuesday night debate which raised tough questions about nail salons, government ethics, public transportation, housing and education.

The two candidates are both fighting to win the Democratic primary in the 16th District, which covers an area from Woodside to Bayside and much of Flushing. Asian Pacific Americans Voice, a civic engagement group, hosted the debate in the auditorium of the Queens Library in Flushing at 41-17 Main St., and employed the help of MSNBC and NBC reporter Richard Lui to moderate.

Stavisky is the first woman elected to state Senate from Queens and has a background as a high school teacher. She has been elected to office seven times since 1999. Jung is a community activist originally from South Korea who was formerly the president of the MinKwon Center, which specializes in community organizing and advocating for Asian immigrant communities.

The issue of campaign finance reform to keep the wealthy from leveraging the political system in their favor was raised by Susan Lerner, executive director of the New York chapter of Common Cause.

Stavisky said she supported legislation to close the LLC loophole, which would eliminate the likelihood of candidates using cash flow from personal enterprise to fund political pursuits, and punishing campaign finance violations with pension forfeiture. She also said there should be limits on contribution amounts as well as caps on spending.

Lui followed up to Staviskys response by questioning an $18,500 contribution he claimed Stavisky accepted from Forest Hills Plaza College. She responded by saying her record on public higher education was exemplary. She referenced honors and awards she has received from SUNY and CUNY for her support of schools in Queens.

The accusation that appeared in the paper was outrageous, Stavisky said, denying she had any knowledge of the contribution. Theyve asked me to do absolutely nothing except be an advocate for education.

Jung said a lawmaker cannot not have a dual interest in both money and legislation, and comprehensive reform would be the only antidote to ethical woes afflicting city and state elections.

A little patchwork here, a little patchwork there, will not work. We need comprehensive campaign finance reform, Jung said. For example, we need to adapt the public matching fund system that we have right here in the city so that a poor insurgent candidates like me can jump into the race.

Jung firmly denied he had ever accepted contributions from former business associates, and said his stand could be reinforced by his financial disclosure statements.

He went to say that although challengers are often able to make it into public office, once there they begin to benefit from the system and do not advocate for change.

Jung said the public matching fund system could be extended to the state level by reducing tax breaks for private developers, which he contended would create about $7 billion in public funds, where only $25 million is needed for a matching fund system at the state level.

Charles Yoon,executive director of the Korean American League of Civic Action, raised the issue of dry cleaner and nail salon employment practice and recent legislation designed to protect worker from dangerous chemicals and fumes.

Jung took the side of the issue which defends business owners, as a business owner himself.

Small businesses create two-thirds of private sector jobs, Jung said. While we protect workers rights we need to find a way to promote small business.

Stavisky said while employers should not be driven out of business, workers health should be a high priority. According to the senator, an attempt to change the way dry cleaning employers operate needs to be addressed through education, which explains how certain chemicals can be dangerous to staff.

Candidates shared their views on communities in Queens under-served by public transportation resulting in packed subways and buses as well as crowded streets.

Lui asked the candidates how often the two take public transportation, Stavisky said it had been two years since she had last used her MetroCard, while Jung said he uses the bus almost every day.
OSAGE  Ronald Rand, one of his friends and a DCI agent took the stand during the third day of the Hampton mans first-degree murder trial.

Rand, 52, said he and girlfriend Michelle Key, 51, had broken up in November and reconciled a week before she was killed. He said Key had cheated on him.

At first I couldnt forgive her for being with John, Rand said. She broke my heart.

The two had been drinking, smoking marijuana on top of prescription medications the weekend they reconciled  the weekend of the shooting.

Rand said he had no plans to kill her and that he had much better plans, which he said involved cuddling and making love.

While testifying, Rand laughed several times as he recalled how Key couldnt cook or work the television remote.

When asked about the shooting, Rand said he wanted to show her how to use the gun because they were going to go shooting once they sobered up.

He said he had the gun pointing down and when she grabbed to take the gun, it went off.

Rand said he only remembered bits and pieces after the gun went off.

Upon cross-examination, Rand said he didnt remember the gun going off and didnt remember anything from the recordings shown Wednesday.

The state asked if Rand could show the jury how he held the gun using the actual shotgun.

Both the attorney and Rand put on gloves to handle the gun. Rand picked it up a short time before the defense objected.

The defense objected to evidence being used as a prop and the potential for the gun to be pointed at the jury.

Judge DeDra Schroeder sent the jury out of the room to discuss it with the attorneys. Schroeder decided the gun could be used if it was not pointed at the jury, among other requirements.

When the jury was brought back and questioning resumed, Rand became emotional and refused to touch the gun.

I refuse to hold that weapon that killed my old lady, Rand said. He proceeded to use his cane instead.

Jason Awe, Rands friend, received a call from Rand the day Key was shot in Hampton.

Awe called the police but did not mention Key had been shot.

I knew the second that he talked that something was wrong, Awe said.

Awe called dispatch and was told by an officer to call him back before going into the house, according to the testimony. He arrived at Rands Hampton residence without calling the officer back.

Upon arrival, Awe said he saw Rand with his head in Keys lap and neither were moving. Awes voice wavered when he talked about finding Keys body. He said he shouted Rands name and neither moved. He attempted to lift Rands head and received no response.

When Rand did respond, Awe said he was apologizing to Key with statements similar to Im sorry, baby.

Later, Awe moved the shotgun from the living room to the garage shortly after arrival.

Michael Roehrkasse, a special agent with Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, was questioned by the prosecution about data on Rands cellphone and Facebook page.

The jury was later shown Facebook posts alluding to Keys infidelity and mental homicide.

Rand, who was fidgety at times throughout the morning and was shushed several times by his attorneys, made posts talking about staying with one person and being sad about a break-up. He referenced faithfulness in relationships.

Rand, 52, also posted on Facebook about mental homicide and that a doctor said it was all right as long as he didnt act on it. The post was made one month before Keys death.

He said he was working on mental homicide but at least its not genocide.

The jury also saw several photos of Rand with his shotgun in the months leading up to the murder.

The state rested its case at noon after Roehrkasses cross-examination. The defense moved for an acquittal, saying that he state had no produced enough evidence to prove that the murder was premeditated. The motion was denied.

Due to pre-trial publicity, Rands trial was moved from Franklin to Mitchell County.

The jury will reconvene Friday at 9 a.m. for closing statements.
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

By Patrick Donachie

With chants calling to make America great again, Republican candidates and members of the citys Pakistani Christian community crowded into the basement hall of the Bellerose Jewish Center Saturday evening to celebrate their endorsement of Donald Trump for president.

Michael Faulkner, a 2017 candidate for mayor on the GOP line, spoke about how potently the evening illustrated the city in which it occurred.

This room, this gathering, this meeting could take place only in New York, he said during the meeting held at the center at 254-14 Union Turnpike. Because only in New York could you have a temple, a rabbi that would allow a Pakistani Christian group to have a Republican gathering and meeting in their hall. Its amazing.

Several Republican candidates for local office sat at a table near the stage. Each candidate took a few minutes to introduce himself and encourage the audience members to volunteer and vote for Republicans in the upcoming primary and general elections.

Many speakers and audience members spoke affirmatively of how Trump had pledged to protect and promote Christianity throughout the country.

This is a great meeting, William Shahzad, one of the meetings attendees, said. He wants to bring Christian values back.

Christians are one of the largest religious minorities in the majority-Muslim Pakistan, totaling about 1.6 percent of the population, primarily a mix of Roman Catholic and Protestant. According to Tariq Rehmat, the United Pakistani Christian Community leader, the Pakistani Christian population is often allied with Republicans and said Trump would protect their religious liberty.

In the last year Christian churches in Pakistan were bombed in the predominantly Muslim country.

We are supporting Trump because we need America back, Rehmat said. Without Trump we are considered third-class citizens.

Trump secured the nomination to be the Republican candidate for president earlier this year and will face Hillary Clinton in the general election in November. His views on immigration and a proposal to ban Muslim immigration have generated controversy.

Rehmat, who organized the event with his team, concluded the evening by officially expressing the groups endorsement for the candidate, along with a slide show presentation of Pakistani Christians currently serving in the armed forces and the New York Police Department and a rousing, concluding call of Our Trump is coming, our Trump is coming. Rehmat called Trump the candidate for Christian values and said that a new day is rising and a new dawn is breaking.

Other GOP candidates at the event included Mark Cipola, running against state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), and Alan Zwirn, who is running to fill the Assembly seat being vacated by Philip Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park.) .

Rehmat said Trump and his campaign were bringing new people from his community into the political fold, including people who previously voted for Democrats.

Ive seen Democrats who want to work for Donald Trump because they say only Donald Trump can solve these problems and save America, he said. We love America. We live for America.
The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy rose to 247 on Thursday amid fears many more corpses would be found in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Rescuers sifted through collapsed masonry in the search for survivors, but their grim mission was clouded by uncertainty about exactly how many people had been staying in communities closest to the epicentre of Wednesday\s quake.

Hundreds of people spent the night sleeping in their cars, in hastily-assembled tents or as guests of families in nearby areas less affected by the quake.

Monica, a survivor from the tourist town of Amatrice, told of her numbed response when a 4.5-magnitude aftershock rattled the area just after 5.00 a.m. (0300 GMT).

"We are sleeping in the car and there were shocks all night. When the biggest one came, the car started moving and shaking.

"But what have we got to lose now? We have lost our house. So many friends and family are dead. We have lost everything, even our fear," she told AGI news agency.

The damage to smaller, more remote hamlets has left their very existence in doubt in an area that has suffered decades of depopulation and already has numerous "ghost" villages.

"If we don\t get help, l\Arquata is finished," said Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata del Tronto, which accounted for 57 of the confirmed deaths to date.

Petrucci said it was impossible to say exactly how many people were in the 13 hamlets comprising his community when the disaster struck.

"Here in the winter, the village is practically uninhabited but the population doubles or triples when people come back to their family houses in the summer," he said.

In Pescara del Tronto, which was virtually razed by the quake, there only four permanently resident families.

But Petrucci said there could have been up to 300 people there on Wednesday.

Some may have fled back to Rome, the mayor said, appealing for them to get in touch. "Otherwise we could be trying to dig out ruins where there is no-one," he said.

Measuring 6.0-6.2 magnitude, the quake\s epicentre was near the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, occurring at the shallow depth of four kilometres (2.5 miles), according to monitors.

But it was only the latest in a long string of killer quakes in the central Apennines, part of the mountainous "spine" that runs down Italy. Records dating back seven centuries attest to tens of thousands of deaths.

The Civil Protection agency which is coordinating the rescue effort said that in addition to the dead, 264 people had suffered injuries serious enough to be hospitalised. Several of them are in a critical state.

Although firemen and volunteers on the ground were pessimistic about the chance of finding any more survivors, several of them recalled that the last survivor of a 2009 in nearby L\Aquila was pulled from the rubble some 72 hours after it struck.

"The operation continued throughout the night and obviously there will be no let-up until it is absolutely clear that there is no possibility of finding any more people in the ruins," said Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the Civil Protection agency\s emergency unit.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was chairing an emergency cabinet meeting which he said would put in place the first plans for reconstruction.

"The objective is to rebuild and start again," he said.

An inquest was also underway into how such a thinly-populated area could have suffered such heavy casualties, given the lessons of recent history.

Seven years ago, the L\Aquila disaster, in which 300 people died, exposed how ill-equipped many of Italy\s centuries-old buildings are to cope with an earthquake.

"As geologists we have been saying for years that we are very far away in Italy from having a culture of prevention," said Francesco Peduto, president of the Council of Italian Geologists.

After the L\Aquila quake, the Civil Protection agency made almost a billion euros available for upgrading buildings in seismically-vulnerable areas.

But the take-up of grants has been low, largely because of the cumbersome application process, according to critics.

One building which was supposed to have been quake-proofed was the Romolo Capranica school in Amatrice, which completely collapsed on Wednesday just four years after a 700,000-euro upgrade.

That was in sharp contrast to the oldest building in the town, the 13th-century Civic Tower, which was still standing Thursday, despite having been shaken sufficiently to detach its bell from its fastenings.

SOURCE: AFP
At least 10 more Turkish tanks on Thursday crossed the border into Syria a day after pro-Ankara Syrian opposition fighters ousted jihadists from the town of Jarabulus in a lightning operation.

The tanks were set to join those which had crossed the frontier on Wednesday in the so-called Operation Euphrates Shield, which Turkey says aims at ridding the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and Kurdish militia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the offensive had expelled IS from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, and pro-Ankara rebels reported the jihadists had retreated south to the town of Al-Bab.

The new contingent of tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis, throwing up a cloud of dust in their wake before crossing the border, an AFP photographer said.

They were then followed by around 10 armoured vehicles.

The operation, the most ambitious launched by Turkey during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, has seen Turkish special forces deployed on the ground and jet fighters striking IS targets.

They are supporting a ground offensive by hundreds of Syrian rebels who on Wednesday marched into Jarabulus and a neighbouring village after meeting little resistance.

"Syrian opposition (fighters) settled in Jarabulus and have started to take control of the villages and towns," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Haberturk television in an interview.

It was not immediately clear if the deployment of the new tanks on Thursday was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.

But a Turkish official said on Wednesday that Ankara would "continue operations until we are convinced that imminent threats against the country\s national security have been neutralised."

The official emphasised that the Syrian rebels were leading the way with "Turkey\s main role to facilitate (the) advances."

The well-connected columnist of the Hurriyet daily, Abdulkadir Selvi, said the aims of the operation included creating a security zone free of "terror groups" and limiting the advances of Kurdish militia.

He said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the offensive but this number could rise to 15,000.

The Hurriyet daily, citing military sources, said 100 IS militants had been killed in the offensive. It is not possible to independently verify the toll.

State-run news agency Anadolu said one rebel fighter was killed but the Turkish armed forces sustained no losses.

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres (miles) south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013.

But Erdogan had also emphasised that the offensive was also aimed at People\s Protection Units (YPG) Kurdish militia who have also been active in the area.

Turkey sees the YPG as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Ankara\s hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

But US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates after recent advances.

"They cannot, will not and under no circumstances (will) get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period," said Biden.

With the operation fully coordinated with the United States, US A-10s and F-16s warplane also hit IS targets in Syria in support of the Turkish offensive, a US official said.

Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS but hardened its line in the wake of a string of attacks  the latest a weekend bombing on a Kurdish wedding in the city of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children.

The Jarabulus operation proceeded at lightning speed with the town captured from IS just 14 hours after it was launched.

The speed of the advance stood in stark contrast to the long, grinding battles it had taken for Kurdish forces to recapture towns from IS in northern Syria, such as Kobane and Manbij.

Turkish media said that the jihadists showed little resistance and published pictures showing that the rebel fighters even had time to take selfies along the way.

The apparent efficiency of the operation also marked a major boost for the Turkish army whose reputation had been badly tarnished by the failed July 15 coup against Erdogan staged by rogue elements in the armed forces.

SOURCE: AFP
SHEFFIELD  After 20 visits to the doctor for her sick son, Heather Tollefson knew something was wrong.

Over the winter she grew frustrated as her son, Landon, now 3, battled continual ear infections. He had fevers when he wasnt sick. He was constantly on antibiotics.

Doctors told her it was a normal part of childhood.

I wasnt having it anymore, said Tollefson, 27, of Sheffield.

On April 27, when his leg was turning a swollen purple, she and her husband, Jerry, took him back to the doctor. He was rushed by ambulance to Iowa City.

At the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, doctors examined a growth on Landons groin and diagnosed him with acute myeloid leukemia.

After doctors had told Tollefson years earlier it would be difficult to conceive a child because of a thyroid condition, the diagnosis was especially difficult.

Its a shock, she said. You just kinda go numb and you wonder if your child is going to die.

The next day Landon started the first of three rounds of chemotherapy.

For her happy-go-lucky son, who loves dinosaurs, superheroes and playing outdoors, she has been amazed by his resilience as he undergoes painful cancer treatments.

He doesnt cry, hes just so brave, Tollefson said. He does what he needs to do. Hes a survivor.

When Landons Sheffield day care owner, Lori Sanders, 50, heard the news, it brought back painful memories of her nephew who had died of cancer at age 12 after a three-year battle.

It was kinda like deja vu for me, Sanders said. Landon is just a baby.

Now, Sanders is helping to organize a fundraiser with Heather Tollefsons mother, Tammy Sorensen, at West Fork High School 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18.

It will feature a meal, silent and live auctions, a magician, games and a bouncy house. There will also be information on how to become a bone marrow donor, Sanders said.

For now, Tollefson said they continue to wait as Landon has 0.002 percent of the cancer left in his body.

We wont know for a couple more weeks if its gone or not, she said.

He is scheduled to undergo a bone marrow transplant Oct. 13.

On Wednesday, Landon celebrated his birthday at the hospital. Nurses brought gifts, decorations and a cookie cake, Tollefson said that day via a text message.

She ordered a lemon poppyseed muffin cake from the local Hy-Vee  since his chemotherapy began, the muffins have been one of his favorite foods, she said.

This will probably be the hardest thing he ever does, Tollefson said.

He is just so strong and so brave. I always knew that about Landon, she said. This just tops the cake.

<&rdpEm>Editors note: A previous online version of this article included an incorrect age for the death of Lori Sanders nephew. He was 12. The Globe Gazette apologizes for the error.</&rdpEm>
A powerful earthquake that struck central Italy on Wednesday has left at least 120 people dead, the country\s civil protection unit said.

Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the unit\s emergency department, announced the new toll at a press conference in Rome as rescue efforts continued in the mountain villages devastated by the quake.

The toll was likely to rise as crews reached 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 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."

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 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 planned to head to the zone later 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 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, said the provisional toll was 73 dead, several hundred injured and thousands in need of temporary housing, though it stressed the numbers were fluid.

The center 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 center 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 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 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 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. Italy\s national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti\s hospital.

But just a few kilometers 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 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. The town, which still hasn\t bounced back fully, sent emergency teams Wednesday to help with the rescue.

"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. 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," lamented 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 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 (105 miles) northeast of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (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 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 pilgrims in St. Peter\s Square to recite the rosary with him.
The United Nations called on Thursday for the creation of an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations in war-torn Yemen.

In a new report, the UN laid out a long line of allegations of grave human rights abuses by all sides in Yemen\s bloody conflict, which has left nearly 4,000 civilians dead.

"Civilians in Yemen have suffered unbearably over the years from the effects of a number of simultaneous and overlapping armed conflicts," UN rights chief Zeid Ra\ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

"And they continue to suffer, absent any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity," he said.

"Such a manifestly protracted unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community," he insisted, demanding the creation of "an international, independent investigative body".

The report listed numerous attacks on residential areas, market places, hospitals and schools, pointing out that in several cases investigators were "unable to identify the presence of possible military objectives."

It also condemned targeted killings  including of at least six journalists  the use of cluster bombs, landmines, and sniper attacks, and the rampant use of child soldiers.

As of August 23, an estimated 3,799 civilians had been killed and 6,711 injured since a Saudi-led Arab coalition began air raids in March last year in support Yemen\s internationally recognised government and President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The government is battling Iran-backed Huthi rebels and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have seized control of large parts of the impoverished country since 2014 and still control swathes of territory including the capital Sanaa.

The World Health Organization says more than 6,600 people have died in all, counting combattants, while more than 33,000 have been injured.

Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition were suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths, while attacks by groups affiliated with the rebels were blamed for around a quarter of the deaths, Thursday\s report said.

Islamic State group jihadists, Al-Qaeda and a range of other actors accounted for the remainder, it said.

Millions of people across the country lack food, clean water and adequate healthcare.

The UN rights office warned Thursday that some 7.6 million people, including three million women and children, were suffering from malnutrition, while at least three million had fled their homes.

At least 559 children were recruited to man checkpoints or to fight in the country between July 2015 and May 2016, it added.

Most of the recruitment allegedly took place in and around Sanaa, mainly by the popular committees affiliated with the Huthi rebels, the report said.

At least 620 children have been killed and 758 maimed since July last year.

In the face of such horrors, Yemen\s government set up a national commission of inquiry last September, but the UN said it had been unable to conduct an effective investigation.

Noting "the gravity of allegations" and "the challenges faced by the national commission of inquiry", the report urged the creation of "an international, independent investigative body to carry out comprehensive investigations."

"The international community  has a legal and moral duty to take urgent steps to alleviate the appalling levels of human despair," the UN rights office said.

SOURCE: AFP
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.
A former Graham Junior High instructional aide was sentenced late Tuesday afternoon on several charges of sexual assault of a child.

Allison Amber Oliver pleaded guilty to all three counts Monday in a Stephens County courtroom. A jury set her punishment as 10 years in prison suspended for 10 years community supervision on each charge with the terms to run concurrently.

Judge Jerry Ray, who presided over the case, also added 180 days in Stephens County Jail and 720 hours of community service as a condition of the probation.

The case was moved to Breckenridge on a change of venue request by Oliver and was tried by Chuck Smith, who acted as a special prosecutor after the Young County district attorney recused herself on a conflict of interest.

According to the arrest affidavits:

A total of 11,939 phone calls and text messages were recorded between Oliver and the then-eighth grade student.

After rumors of a nude photograph of Oliver being passed around by male students, Graham ISD opened an investigation into a possible improper relationship between an educator and a student.

The victim had admitted to his mother and Graham High School Principal Joe Gordy that he had sex with Oliver on two separate occasion.

During a forensic interview at a child advocacy center in Graham on Oct. 15, the student said he was being interviewed because he and Oliver had sex and she got in trouble for it.

He said he went to Oliver's house during the summer of 2015 to hang out with her children and Oliver started 'being weird' around him.

The student said he and Oliver first had sex a few days before the end of school in May.

He said he called Oliver to see if he could hang out with her children, but they weren't there when he arrived.

She told him they were going to pick them up but instead drove him to a secluded location where they had sex in the back seat of her SUV.

He claimed he and Oliver continued to exchange text messages where she started telling him she liked him more and more and that in one message she said he loved him.

The second sexual encounter occurred around August when he went over to Oliver's house knowing her children were not home.

He took a friend with him and sent the friend away after Oliver said she wanted to 'do it' again. They drove to the same location as the first time and had sex.

The student said he began feeling ill and told her he couldn't 'do it' anymore for some unknown reason.

That night, he sent her a text message telling her how horrible he was feeling and how he never wanted to go over to her house again and didn't want to talk or text with her anymore. He said she replied to the text by telling him how when he turned 18, she wanted to 'run away' with him.

The victim said one of his friends apparently told Oliver if she didn't send him pictures of her nude, then he was going to tell adults about the relationship.
A Nocona man died earlier Wednesday week in an officer-involved shooting in an unincorporated town in western Cooke County.

Bobby Lyn Buck, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene in Myra around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Nocona Police Chief Kent Holcomb said Buck was the suspect in the theft of a car that was stolen from Nocona Cemetery on Aug. 2 while the owner was visiting his wife's grave site.

Holcomb said that vehicle was recovered Monday night when Buck stole a second vehicle from a woman at the Family Dollar store in Nocona. Buck reportedly told the woman to give him the car or he would kill her.

That vehicle apparently was used later in the high speed chase that began Tuesday night.

The Gainesville Daily Register reported Cooke County Sheriff's Office was requested by the Saint Jo Police Department to assist with a pursuit crossing from Montague County in to Cooke County around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The shooting occurred before deputies were able to engage in any activity, Sheriff Terry Gilbert told the Daily Register.

Judge Carroll Johnson, Cooke County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace, was called to the scene after the preliminary investigation was completed by the Texas Rangers, who were called in to investigate the incident.

'As far as the Justice of the Peace, my only function is determine the cause of death,' Johnson said. 'The rest is police activity.'

Buck, who was driving a 'full-size Ford SUV,' turned down a dead-end road in Myra and was cornered by the pursuing officer. Johnson said the SUV had front-end damage and that he was told Buck had apparently driven through fences trying to flee from officers.

The officer was able to pull his vehicle behind the SUV and trap Buck, Johnson was told.

'When the police officer got out of the vehicle to apprehend him, I heard that he put the vehicle in reverse and might have hit the police officer,' Johnson said, noting that the details couldn't be confirmed until the DPS report was complete. At some point, Buck was shot several times.

'When I got there, they had not moved him out of the vehicle,' Johnson said. 'I counted somewhere between three and five bullet holes in the left arm and torso when I peered in to the vehicle.'

The body was sent to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner for an autopsy. Johnson said he was waiting for their report to determine a cause of death.

Buck had an active warrant for an aggravated robbery at the time of his death. The robbery occurred on July 28  again at the Family Dollar  when Buck allegedly made threats to a store manager while holding a knife.

A records check revealed Buck has a lengthy criminal history, including several evading arrest or detention charges with the most recent being earlier this year.
A cohort of open government activists are urging members of Congress to revise a proposed Department of Defense law that could keep vast portions of military documents secret from the public.

The activists, including the National Press Club and the American Civil Liberties Union, assert in a letter sent Wednesday to members of the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services that some provisions of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act would act as an 'unnecessary' restriction of public access to military documents.

One of the four recipients of the letter was Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon), who chairs the House Committee on Armed Services. Thornberry had not returned a message for comment as of Thursday morning.

The NDAA lists budget appropriations for the Department of Defense each fiscal year but also includes provisions regarding how the military operates. The Senate's version of the 2017 Act includes a provision that would shield from public disclosure unclassified 'information on military tactics, techniques and procedures,' which may currently be considered public.

Most military records  along with other federal documents  can be requested by the media and the public at large through the Freedom of Information Act. The act, commonly referred to as FOIA, also lists the types of documents that may be exempted from disclosure, such as some classified military records or documents whose release could threaten national security.

For the most part, though, federal agencies are urged to treat records requests through FOIA with a 'presumption of openness,' President Barack Obama has said.

Open government activists argue in their letter that the authorization act's new provision could create an overly broad exemption from FOIA rules, effectively allowing to the Pentagon to keep secret vast swaths of records that previously were available to the public.

'The DoD's proposed language concerning the impact of release on operations is so broad that it could allow DoD to withhold almost any classified document at all related to Defense Department operations and could be used to justify concealing just about any material DoD creates,' the letter says.

Activists say the proposed change could allow the military to hide documents showing the military's handling of sex assault complaints, oversight of contractors and its drone program, for example.

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-El Paso), who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told the El Paso Times on Thursday that broadening FOIA exemptions for DoD records would decrease military accountability.

'I'm convinced that this country will make better decisions about how we use our armed forces, and when we put our service members' lives on the line, when the public is better informed and more engaged,' O'Rourke said. 'That depends on accurate, informed reporting and analysis, which in turn is dependent on access to the information that shapes our national security policy.'

The provision comes at a crucial crossroads for FOIA, a law that has been derided in Congress and the public for allowing federal agencies to withhold records, make requesters wait years for information and pay huge sums of money to get requested records.

Obama signed into law this year the FOIA Improvement Act of 2015, which aimed to reform the law. Activists assert that the DoD request to keep unclassified documents secret 'ignores the new reforms to FOIA and allows DoD to excuse itself from the hard-fought and necessary reforms passed just a few months ago by this Congress.'

The El Paso Times contributed to this report.
Lil Pike and Rider seniors enjoy dominant 56-7 victory over Plainview

Rider's 56-7 victory against Plainview on Friday was a senior showcase, which included a touchdown for one of the team's most endearing characters.
Timbuktu, located in Mali, is a classic idiom for nowhere. However, the great caravan city the southern Sahara was  and still is  a cultural somewhere rich in Arab, Berber and sub-Saharan African historical structures and cultural artifacts.

In 2012, the al-Qaida-aligned Islamic terrorist group, Ansar Dine, intentionally attacked Timbuktu's historic trove. Its thugs intentionally destroyed or vandalized 60 tombs. In late June and early July, the thugs severely damaged Timbuktu's acclaimed Sidi Yahia mosque  yes, radical Islamists damaging a mosque. Several tombs were shrine-mausoleums dating back to the 14th century. Malians, who are overwhelmingly Muslims, treasured the shrines as grand community history.

In 2013, a French-led military force drove the terrorists from Timbuktu. Investigators verified the damage. The Sidi Yahia mosque was a shamble. Nine of the historic mausoleums were rubble.

On August 22, 2016, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, the terrorist who directed the destruction of the shrines and the mosque, pleaded guilty in the International Criminal Court to the charge of destroying cultural heritage sites (cultural property). ICC evidence included video showing al-Mahdi commanding attacks then bragging about the intentional devastation. He will serve 11 years in prison.

Legal scholars believe al-Mahdi's prosecution was the first time an international court treated destruction of a cultural site as a war crime. It was certainly the specific, narrowly drawn charge confronting the defendant. Several World War 2-era war criminals facing murder, rape and other typical war crimes charges had also destroyed cultural sites, but their destruction was not the critical legal charge.

Radical Islamists aren't the first to pursue cultural destruction, but in our era they are its foremost practitioners. They regard pre-Islamic historical artifacts, particularly those with religious significance, as legitimate targets for obliteration. One of the most hideous examples occurred in March 2001, when Afghani Taliban commander Mullah Omar ordered his fighters to dynamite and machine-gun Afghanistan's 6th Century AD Bamiyan Buddhas. The giant Buddhas were a UNESCO World Heritage Site but that lofty status provided no protection. Taliban ideologues damned the statues as idols, vile relics from the benighted pre-Islamic era.

ISIS has taken pride in destroying cultural sites in eastern Syria and northern Iraq. Extolling the new Caliphate requires erasing the past. Within its territory any structure ISIS clerics deem non-Islamic or heretical may be targeted for destruction. The site destruction in Palmyra and Nineveh may be the most notorious examples.

Destruction and vandalization also demonstrates the unquestioned power of the conqueror. Radical Islamists believe the conqueror who brings the true religion has the right to erase the false gods. Infidel history just doesn't rate, so non-Islamic sites and shrines are destroyed or vandalized. They also perceive some historical artifacts, even if they are clearly Muslim, as political threats if they reflect local or regional identities. That may have been the reason al-Mahdi targeted the Sidi Yahia mosque.

Is al-Mahdi's conviction a precedent that will help restrain the intentional targeting of cultural sites? It could be  though whether it restrains the nihilistic tendencies of ISIS commanders remains to be seen.

To serve as a useful tool over time the charge must strictly focus on intentionality, and intentionality must be documented and proven. Prosecutors in the al-Mahdi case focused on intent and had incontrovertible evidence of intent. They didn't rely on opinions and theories to get him to plead guilty. Broadening the charge to include incidental destruction (for example, the destruction of a church in an artillery barrage directed at an enemy position) would make it a political joke and render it meaningless. No court ruling or legal concept will end warfare and no criminal charge will stop war's destructiveness.

Austin Bay is a commentator on National Public Radio's 'Morning Edition,' covering foreign affairs but often addressing issues in Texas that have a national interest.
It's time for artists, quilters, canners, bakers and others with arts and crafts skills to prepare their entries for the 2016 Texas-Oklahoma Fair competition.

Registration for exhibit items will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept 12 at MPEC in Wichita Falls. The registration fee is $2.

Entries in needlework, painting/fine art, photography and arts and crafts must have been created over the last year, and quilts in the past 5 years. Produce entries should be freshly harvested. Preserved food, baked goods and candies will be judged based on appearance.

There is a high school senior (2015-16) fine art contest for a $500 scholarship. For more information, call 940-228-5837 or 940-767-6610.

For guidelines, prospective contestants can visit founderlionsclub.com or joetomwhite.com for more descriptions of the categories.

Judging begins at 7 p.m. Sept 12. The 'People's Choice' award will be determined at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17. All entries must be picked up 8-10 p.m. on Sept. 17; contestants are required to have a receipt for their entry.

For more information on T-O Fair competition categories and rules, contact Jo Ann Cermin at 940-228-5837, 715-501-8029 or acermin@sw.rr.com.
MUSIC

Florida-Georgia Line is going into the whiskey business. But the popular country-pop pair won't be quitting their day jobs to peddle booze. The duo, which has charted smash singles like "Cruise" and "Get Your Shine On" since forming five years ago, are in the process of distributing Old Camp whiskey, which should be out in the fall. In the meantime, FGL will release their new album, "Dig Your Roots," on Aug. 26 and have another hit single ("H.O.L.Y.") and a tour to complete. Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three and Kane Brown will open the show when FGL comes to Saratoga Springs this week. 7 p.m. Sunday. $30-$78.75. Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. 800-745-3000; http://www.spac.org
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Texas has its fair share of glorified horror stories.

From the Texas Chainsaw massacre to The Donkey Lady to La Llorona, there are not many urban legends that Texans havent heard.

But perhaps the real terror lies within the hundreds of small towns that are scattered throughout the Lone Star State.

RELATED: 12 eerie Texas ghost towns to visit this summer

Social website OnlyInYourState.com listed 12 scary houses in Texas that could be haunted earlier this month, and we decided to build on that by introducing other nightmare-inducing abandoned homes across the state.

While it is unknown if evil spirits actually haunt these houses, the abandonments are located on or near some pretty creepy properties.

For example, Ranger, a small town in North Texas  which has numerous abandoned homes that are photographed by Flickr users  was once seen as a hub for members of the Ku Klux Klan.

RELATED: Drone footage shows the creepiness of an abandoned West Texas water park

On the other hand, a school in Indian Gap that has been abandoned for over 50 years stands near a historic cemetery.

No matter the case, these fear-provoking homes are as eerie as they come and the perfect gateway to the upcoming Halloween season.

Click through the slideshow to view photos of abandoned homes across Texas.

rsalinas@mysa.com

Twitter: @RebeccaLSalinas
Troy

The Emma Willard School in Troy has reached a settlement with a former student who said the private boarding school shipped her away after she reported being raped by a teacher in 1998.

The student, Kat Sullivan, and the school have agreed not to discuss the terms of the agreement, which they describe as private and confidential, according to a joint statement issued Wednesday evening by Sullivan's attorney, Roderick MacLeish.

"Kat is relieved that this settlement can allow her to begin focusing on personal healing and agrees that meaningful efforts were made towards resolution by both parties," MacLeish said in the statement.

The agreement was reached through a mediation process led by Paul Finn, of Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, who has settled many sexual abuse cases, including Boston's notorious clergy sex-abuse scandal. Both Sullivan and school officials selected Finn to head the process.

"It is so important to our board and the school that we support Kat in her journey forward," said Elisabeth LeFort, chair of the school board of trustees, in the statement. "Today's resolution is a foundation for the healing of our community. We commit to building on the lessons learned to engender a culture of safety and openness for all Emma girls."

Sullivan's story reverberated across the Emma Willard community this summer, after she publicly revealed for the first time in June that her former history teacher had bound and gagged her in his apartment and then sodomized her when she was 18.

She had become involved with the teacher prior to the incident, she told the Times Union, adding that in retrospect, she felt she had been preyed upon. The teacher's behavior grew increasingly aggressive throughout their relationship, she said, and culminated with the violent attack just before spring break.

Worse, she said, is that after reporting the alleged crime to then-Head of School Robin Robertson, she was given the options of withdrawing or being expelled, and put on a bus to New Orleans, where a friend of hers was staying. Attempts to reach Robertson this summer have been unsuccessful.

Emma Willard officials confirmed in June that they had recently received two separate reports of sexual abuse against former students that would have occurred in the 1970s and 1990s. So far, they have declined to provide further details about the reports, citing an external investigation by the law firm Pepper Hamilton LLP that is underway. According to a July 30 post on the school website, Emma Willard hired the firm in 2014 to investigate two prior sexual abuse cases from the 1970s.

"There have been a lot of alums who feel I've drug our alma mater through the mud, and that was not my intention," said Sullivan, now 37 and living in Orlando. "That was never my intention. My intention was to remove the stigma from being a rape victim. There are so many people who make the personal choice not to be known publicly, and I respect that. But I felt it was important to recognize my past in a way that could bring forth change."

Since going public with the alleged crime, Sullivan says she has become inspired to serve as an advocate for other victims.

In particular, she said she was heartened by the swift response from Emma Willard alumnae, who formed a Facebook group titled "EWS Alums Against Sexual Assault" and wrote a letter to the school with recommendations for better handling allegations of sexual assault and misconduct in the future. The group today boasts more than 1,200 members.

School officials said last month that they would form a special task force to review all policies and protocols for handling sexual misconduct by faculty and staff, though they added that these had "certainly been updated since 1998."

bbump@timesunion.com  518-454-5387  @bethanybump
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)  Maybe Bruce Springsteen is the hardest working man in show business.

Bruce and the boys are back in the swamps of Jersey, and they're in no rush to get off the stage.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform their second show at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. It comes after they performed a 35-song set for 3 hours and 52 minutes on Tuesday.

A Springsteen fan website, Backstreets.com, says that was Springsteen's longest U.S. show.

The Boss' longest show was 4 hours and 6 minutes in Helsinki, Finland, in 2012.

The New Jersey shows mark a return to the U.S. after Springsteen, 66, and the band spent three months performing in Europe on their River Tour 2016, which kicked off in January.

They are performing in seven U.S. cities, including East Rutherford, before ending the tour on Sept. 14.
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 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 159 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 62 miles northeast of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto, some 15 miles 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.

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."

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.

Pope Francis skipped his traditional catechism instead invited the thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square to recite the rosary. He also sent a squad from the Vatican's fire department to help with the rescue.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

If you've ever needed an excuse to visit such food destinations as King Arthur Flour and Ben & Jerry's in Vermont, or the Culinary Institute of America or Millbrook Vineyards in the Hudson Valley, the fall foliage season could be it.

Not only will you pass through some of the finest scenery the Northeast has on offer, but you'll find everything from cooking tools and ice cream to cheese and wine when you arrive.

I've compiled a list of potential destinations for the autumn months. Some might be a bit challenging to visit after winter settles in, so now is the time to act.

Here we go:

More Information 518 Life Magazine Eric Anderson's travel column appears each month in 518Life, the Times Union's free monthly magazine offering an insider look at the Capital Region. Pick up the September issue at Price Chopper or Hannaford. And for more great travel advice, look for the October issue of 518Life and a Sept. 22 special section in the Times Union called 518Life Destinations. See More Collapse

The village of Woodstock in eastern Vermont certainly has its attractions, but a short distance beyond, in Norwich, is the headquarters of King Arthur Flour. The Baker's Store offers a wide range of kitchen tools, cookbooks and all kinds of ingredients, including its well-known flour. Or take a class at the Baking Education Center. There's a cafe and, of course, a bakery. More details: kingarthurflour.com/visit

If you still have room for dessert, head over to Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury, Vt., for a factory tour and ice cream tasting. The half-hour tour, offered seven days a week except on major holidays, is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. More details: benjerry.com/about-us/factory-tours

Ready for the cheese course? Then stop at the Cabot Creamery Visitor Center in Cabot, Vt. The center is open daily through October, although you're advised to call ahead to check that cheese is being made that day. Tour admission is $3, with children under 12 admitted free. More details: cabotcheese.coop/cabot-visitor-center-tours

If you'd prefer cheesecake, there's a place in Washington County you should visit. It's the New Skete Monasteries, near Cambridge, not far from the border with Vermont. The nuns of New Skete are known for their rich cheesecakes, and the gift shop also offers jams, fruitcake, pancake mix and cheese spreads. You can also order items from their online store. More details: newskete.org/gift-shops.html

Back in Vermont, you'll find the Kitchen Store at J.K. Adams, which produces cutting and carving boards at its on-site factory just off Route 30 in Dorset, Vt. The store carries its cutting and carving boards, but also a wide range of kitchen equipment and tools. More information: jkadams.com/the-kitchen-store

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter.

Another destination that combines food with ever-changing scenery is the Saratoga and North Creek Railway. This summer, it introduced something called the Pullman Table, featuring meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The kitchen is right on the train. It also offers meals on its regularly scheduled trips between Saratoga Springs and North Creek. The trains follow the Hudson River for much of their trip. Details: thepullmantable.com/saratoga-north-creek-railway

Meanwhile, heading south through the Hudson Valley from the Capital Region, you'll come to Hyde Park in Dutchess County and the Culinary Institute of America. This school offers campus tours, classes and several restaurants where students demonstrate their skills. More details: ciachef.edu/visiting-cia-new-york

Also in Dutchess County, near the charming town of Millbrook, is Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, with a selection of chardonnay, Riesling, pinot noir and cabernet wines. A grill offers light fare, and the winery is open for tours and tastings. Details: millbrookwine.com

A fine place to wind up this tour is in the Schoharie Valley. There you'll find the Carrot Barn at Schoharie Valley Farms, a short distance off Interstate 88 in Schoharie. The rolling countryside is especially attractive in autumn, which is also harvest season. More details: schoharievalleyfarms.com
Albany County Legislator Joanne Cunningham would not have gotten involved in politics if not for her mother.

"She grew up in an era where everyone got married and had a family," the Delmar Democrat says. "She did what every mom did at the time: stay home with her six kids."

But then both of her parents got involved in local politics  her dad ran for office and her mom became the Democratic chairwoman of New Hartford in Oneida County, traveling to the 1976 Democratic convention as a delegate for Jimmy Carter. Cunningham and her friends, pre-teens at the time, spent Saturdays campaigning with her parents. And when those friends turned 18, her mom drove them to the board of elections to register them as Democrats.

To this day, campaigning is something Cunningham still loves. "I spent a lot of time going door to door and meeting people, talking to people," she says. She remembers the tune she and a childhood friend made up for her dad, sung to the tune of "Row Row Row Your Boat" ("Vote vote vote for Earl"). "For me, that was kind of the fun part."

More Information Women in Politics is a four-part series exploring the lack of female representation at all levels of politics and what keeps them away, through a sampling of 30 women who hold public office. Part 1: Will there be a Hillary Clinton effect for women in politics? - Hillary Clinton has already made history, even if she doesn't become president. But why do we still see underrepresentation of women in elected office at most levels? Part 2: Gender remains a political issue - War stories. Women talk about how they're viewed on the campaign trail and beyond. Part 3: It's not easy to shatter glass ceiling - How does the culture change when women get elected? Women find quest to transform legislative assemblies takes time. Part 4: Making politics attractive again - The obstacles to women's political participation are many. But how do we get women to run? Find interviews with all 30 women who hold elected office, as well as videos and interactive graphics at timesunion.com/womenpolitics. Women in Politics, a four-part series exploring the lack of female representation at all levels of politics and what keeps them away, was born out of a feature on women in politics that first appeared in the September/October edition of Women@Work magazine, which also featured U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on the cover. Women@Work is a bi-monthly magazine, a network of more than 1,400 working women in the Capital Region and a movement, which seeks to highlight issues facing women in business, in the community and at home and offers insight and inspiration for overcoming the challenges. Join us today at tuwomenatwork.com. See More Collapse

Cunningham speculates that if her mother had been born just a couple of decades later, "she would be the CEO of an organization," she says. "She would be running for office. She would be traveling to D.C. and lobbying on behalf of a cause."

Cunningham's mother died last year after a 13-year struggle with Alzheimer's. She never saw her daughter run for office. When Cunningham and her daughters watched Hillary Clinton accept the Democratic nomination for president, it was an emotional moment for Cunningham. Her mother had been "a huge, huge Hillary fan."

"I couldn't help but feel like my mother, from wherever she is, was experiencing this great moment," Cunningham says.

We talked to 30 women politicians in New York at all levels of government about what the political climate looks like in 2016, the year the United States might elect its first-ever woman president. We talked to first-term school board members, county legislators, women who are the first of their gender to hold roles in the Democratic conference or to represent their senate district, and we talked to women who've served at the national level.

We wanted to find out why it's taken so long for a woman to come this close to the White House. How has the number of women in politics changed over the decades? What deters women from entering politics, and how are they perceived once they get there? Why are women's voices essential to a well-functioning democracy? And where do we go from here?

This is the first in a four-part series that responds to those questions, which don't always have clear or satisfying answers. But we hope that by raising them, and letting women speak for themselves and their experiences, we might come closer to figuring out why it took 240 years for this moment, and also why the U.S. ranks so far behind the rest of the world: The first woman head of government ever elected was Sirimavo Bandaranaike, of what's now known as Sri Lanka, in 1960. Benazir Bhutto twice served as prime minister of Pakistan. Margaret Thatcher became prime minister of the U.K. in 1979. And just last month, Theresa May became the U.K.'s second woman prime minister.

Women hold about 20 percent of the seats in U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. That's lower than the global legislative average, which is about 22.8 percent, according to data compiled by the United Nations. (Rwanda has the highest number of women parliamentarians worldwide. Women there have won 63.8 percent of seats in the lower house of parliament.)

In terms of representation of women in the state legislature, New York stands at number 20 nationwide, says Dina Refki, director of the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society at the University at Albany. That's about 26 percent of legislative seats occupied by women. She says that's an improvement. In 1974, we were 36th.

So things are moving but not quite at warp speed. There were modest gains in the 1970s "largely because of the women's movement," according to Zoe Oxley, political science professor at Union College. And after 1992, a historic number of women were elected to Congress. That was following the Anita Hill hearings, in which a former law clerk (Hill) had accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexually harassing her. "This image of this panel of men questioning a woman about sexual harassment angered a number of women and encouraged a number of women to run for office to right what they saw as a wrong," Oxley says. Then, she says, that number leveled off in the 2000s.

"One factor was pretty clear: the increased focus on terrorism and national security following the 9/11 attacks," Oxley says. "There's still somewhat of a voter perception that men are better than women in national security issues."

Which might translate to leadership in general.

"We still have really deeply embedded stereotypes about women and leadership," Refki says. As a culture, we believe "that women are somehow not fit for leadership, that they don't have skills or qualifications to be leaders."

She adds that research shows perception persists that women aren't "competent" enough to "make decisions that impact people and that they do not have problem-solving skills that would qualify them to be critical leaders."

"Politics is still the domain of men," Refki says. "These perceptions are so very much entrenched in our psyche."

Historically, men and women have largely been relegated to separate spheres: the public and the private. Women are suited for leadership in the home; men, outside the home. "That's an unconscious bias that not just men have but women have, too," Refki says.

The women politicians we talked to largely agreed that that private-sphere obligation can be a major deterrent to entering political life.

"There are times when my kids have walked home in the rain. More times than I care to count," says Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, who's devoted her career to politics. "In general, women hesitate more than men, partly because it's all-consuming and it's a difficult thing to manage. For me, it's a seven-day-a-week job. It's a 24/7 job. It can be extremely difficult."

"I went to the Assembly when my youngest was 15, and I was getting divorced," says New York State Senator Betty Little. "If he was younger, I wouldn't have gone to Albany. It's difficult for women to be away from home like that. They have responsibilities at home  parents and a husband to take care of. And that burden falls on women more than men."

Studies show that women are still primary caretakers at home  even as women now make up half of the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' annual Time Use Survey showed in 2014 that the percentages of men and women who are involved in household activities  defined as housework, cooking, cleaning up after cooking, and generally taking care of the household  has hardly moved since 2003, when the bureau began tracking Americans' day-to-day activities. Eleven years earlier, 63 percent of men reported doing some household activity, while 84 percent of women did. In 2014, the numbers were almost the same, according to a report by Bloomberg: 65 percent for men and 83 percent for women.

And politics, even at a local level, is time-consuming. "It's very demanding of your personal time," says Leesa Perazzo, president of the Schenectady City Council. "I hold a full-time job at Proctors and my City Council job is part time. It is not uncommon for me to be out of the house five nights a week until 8:30 or 9 o'clock."

"I could not have run and worked full time," says Cynthia Doran, who serves on the Rensselaer County Legislature. "It seems that women have to juggle things differently, and I do believe that's a reason why many don't get involved."

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter.

Fundraising is difficult, too. For all genders, actually. But Albany County Legislator Alison McLean Lane points out women are starting at a disadvantage: "Women, in general, do not make as much money as men. But to think [women] go out every single night, which takes away time from your family, and raise money is very challenging."

Oxley also points out that "women's fundraising networks aren't as automatically set up as men's are on average, in part because of men's professional backgrounds." She adds that community social networks "are still tilted toward men's involvement, so you may be a lawyer in a small city and you get asked to serve on some boards at a higher rate than women or maybe women get asked but because of family obligations she has to turn them down." Those can be important initial fundraising networks.

"I think fundraising has historically been tougher for women running for elected office," says New York State Sen. Liz Krueger. She says campaign-finance reform could help balance the scales and get more women in office.

"I'm a big believer in low-donor matching fund models of campaign finance," she says. That's when donations are matched by public funds in order to level the playing field for candidates who may not have as much money as their opponents. "I think it draws in [women] and equalizes the playing field for all kinds of candidates. I think it disproportionately helps women because women have historically had a harder time raising the money. So I think it's a real one-two punch. If we move toward campaign finance reform, we would see more women running."

Cecilia Tkaczyk was on the Duanesburg school board in 2012 when she decided to run for state Senate in the newly created 46th District. She went to her husband, shocked him with the news she was going to run, and asked him how much money he was going to give her. "There was a long pause. He said, 'How much money do you need?' And I said, 'I don't know. A lot."

Tkaczyk was motivated by deep cuts in her school budget and others in the district  concerns many others shared. She raised $253,937; George Amedore outspent her 3-1. Tkaczyk won the race by 18 votes. She lost to Amedore in 2014. The two candidates spent $6.8 million that year.

Campaigning, in addition to being expensive and time-consuming, can also be brutal. Entering the political (public) sphere can mean scrutiny of women's homes, lives and looks. Lane describes campaign literature drawn up by her opponent that depicted her as a ball and chain. ("I was stunned by that piece of literature," Lane says.)

Another thing we heard in our interviews was that women, thanks to those unconscious biases about gender, simply don't see themselves as leaders. Almost every woman we talked to was asked to run for office  in some cases, asked several times. That trend is so pervasive that U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has supported an emerging campaign  #SheShouldRun  which encourages people to nominate women or men for office by filling out a form on sheshouldrun.org.

"Most women will tell you not only did they have to be asked, they had to be asked many times, because women have a natural tendency to think of everybody else as being more qualified to do the job than they are," says state Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. "For women, you have to ask and you have to ask multiple times."

With Clinton's nomination, it's possible more women could see themselves in politics, too. "Hillary Clinton making history as the first woman to secure a major party endorsement for president," says Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, "that ought to send a message to women that it's doable."

Matthew Hamilton, Leigh Hornbeck, Michaela Kilgallen and Jennifer Gish contributed to this report.

bsnyder@timesunion.com  518-454-5884  @BriannaLSnyder  http://facebook.com/briannaleighsnyder
Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guardshortly after 5am this Thursday morning, following a report to Nenagh Gardai of calls for help heard coming in off the lake, that woke sailors camping at Lough Derg Yacht Club.

As volunteer crew assembled, they were informed by Gardai, who were at the lifeboat station, that a cruiser was seen to leave the public harbour close to the time the calls for help were heard.

The lifeboat launched at 5.18am with helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Owen Cavanagh on board. Winds were light, southeasterly. Visibility was poor with fog and it just before dawn.

The Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team based at Shannon, were on standby should they be required.

The lifeboat set a route south, in the direction from which the calls were heard, and using a search light quickly located a cruiser at anchor close to the navigation channel, south of the Corrakeen Islands, outside Dromineer Bay.

The lifeboat crew roused the passengers on board and made them check that everyone was accounted for on board. The passengers said they may have been making some noise as they left the harbour earlier, and would be continuing their passage south at daybreak.

The lifeboat reported their findings to Valentia Coast Guard, and, advised that the cruisers companion boat was moored in Dromineer Harbour, would check that they had no difficulties.

Once it was established neither vessel was missing a passenger, the lifeboat returned to station.

Brian Hanly, deputy launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat, advised boat users to respect the water, enjoy the lake, but ensure one person remains fully in command of your boat at all times.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 6.10am
Pat Shortt will star in the TV3's three-part drama 'Smalltown' which airs from Thursday, September 1st at 10pm.

Although better known for his work on the comedy circuit Shortt features in 'Smalltown' as a struggling farmer in this highly-anticipated drama.

'Smalltown' takes a sobering look at Ireland which will address issues like emigration, rural decline and generational divide. Indeed, the subject matter of the three-part drama is sure to resonate with many readers of the Tipperary Star.

In 'Smalltown' Pat Shortt plays a married farmer who has two sons, but he also has to cope with his wife's serious illness and the fact that his oldest son has been forced to emigrate only to then, suddenly, return home.

In 2007 Shortt was magnificent in his portrayal of Josie in 'Garage' (directed by Lenny Abrahamson) and now the Tipperary man has returned to top form in 'Smalltown' - here Pat's performance represents the beating heart of the series, playing a rural farmer struggling to contend with a life that is slowly, but surely falling apart.

The 48-year-old Shortt stars in the three-part drama alongside Charlie Kelly, Pauline ODriscoll, Stephen OLeary, Sean Fox, Rose OLoughlin, Ewen Macintosh, Saffron Hocking, Muiris Crowley, Kieran Boland and Jade OConnor.

The series has been written and directed by Kerry man Gerard Barrett who has been acclaimed as one of Ireland's best new film-makers. Barrett won widespread praise for his debut 'Pilgrim Hill' and followed up that piece of work with 'Glassland' which featured Jack Reynor and Toni Collette.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner Gerard Barrett explained how critically important the casting of Pat Shortt in 'Smalltown' was: Pat was the only person I ever wanted for that role. I think he recognised the world that I created. Its his world, its where he comes from. This character, I think, is the closest hes ever played, in my opinion, to where he comes from. He knows these people. He was phenomenal.

Smalltown will premier on TV3 on Thursday, September 1st at 10pm.
[August 25, 2016] AIC to Launch New All-flash VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node Solutions at VMworld in Las Vegas

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AIC will demonstrate its new all-flash VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node Solution at VMworld 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas beginning August 28, 2016. The new line of all-flash array hardware is built with memory and solid-state disks (SSDs) from Micron along with SAS host bus adapters from ATTO. Businesses are generating, collecting and storing ever-increasing amounts of data and IT professionals are being tasked with simplifying how they manage this information. Fast access to data is challenging, especially when you rely on spinning disks. To that end, AIC's new solution takes advantage of solid-state disks. The Micron SSDs are fully optimized for VMware Virtual SAN. Organizations looking to maximize their workload performance will want to either integrate the solution into their existing VMware cluster or to build a new cluster using a minimum of three nodes. The solution from AIC comes in two versions, both supporting 12 processor cores. The SDS-V110 is available with 64 GB and 128 GB RAM options, while the SDS-V224 comes in 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB RAM options. End users get 10 hot-swap drive bays in the SDS-V110 and 24 bays in the SDS-V224. Raw storage ranges from 720 GB to 5.76 TB in the SDS-V100 and climbs to 2.64 B to 21.12 TB in the SDS-V224.



AIC is using Micron's SSDs because there is no waste capacity. The Micron M510DC 600GB user capacity cache SSD is sized so it precisely matches the 600 GB recommendation from VMware. This is more cost-effective than paying for and deploying an 800 GB SSD cache and wasting 200 GB. AIC also chose to partner with ATTO for its host bus adapter. The result is lowered latency and data transfers as much as 22% faster than with standard drivers.

AIC developed its VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node solution for small-to-medium businesses that require optimized storage in a virtualized environment. The solution is also suitable for current VMware vSphere users who must refresh servers or are challenged to lower the cost of their storage. "We ensured that our customers will achieve a quicker path to revenue by branding these white-box, Ready-to-go solutions," said CT Sun, AIC's Chief Architect. "Adoption is hassle-free because we have tested the configurations for interoperability." Representatives of the news media and other interested parties are invited to observe AIC's live demonstration of the new all-flash VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node solution at booth number 640 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. About AIC: AIC is a leading provider of both standard OTS (off-the-shelf) and OEM/ODM server and storage solutions. With expert in-house design, manufacturing and validation capabilities, AIC's broad selection of products are highly flexible and configurable to any form factor, standard or custom. AIC leads the industry with nearly 20 years of experience in mechanical, electronic, system-level engineering as well as a dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction. Headquartered in Taiwan, AIC has offices and operations throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. VMware, VMware vSphere, VMware Virtual SAN and VMworld are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Media Contact: Flora Huang

909-895-8989

Email Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401098

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401096 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aic-to-launch-new-all-flash-vmware-virtual-san-ready-node-solutions-at-vmworld-in-las-vegas-300318099.html SOURCE AIC

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] California Virtual Academy @ San Joaquin Begins 2016-17 School Year

Students attending California Virtual Academy @ San Joaquin (CAVA @ San Joaquin), the full-time, online public charter school for students in grades K-12, mark the start of the school year on August 29 simply by turning on their computer. The virtual school program enters its 14th year of operation in the state. CAVA @ San Joaquin is one of 10 independent charter schools in California that uses the K12 online curriculum to offer students in grades K-12 a unique learning experience. The online, flexible school setting creates a comfortable, unique environment for each student. CAVA @ San Joaquin helps students discover their individual learning style by allowing qualified students to enroll in college courses for credit and get a head start on their college education. Lessons come to life with a rich mixture of on- and offline teaching tools, including interactive animations, award-winning printed books with beautiful illustrations and narrative, original CD and videos, and materials for hands-on experiments which are delivered to students. (Common household and office supplies such as printer ink and paper are not provided.)



In addition to the lively and varied course offerings, students have the opportunity to participate in social clubs, field trips and regular gatherings where they can interact face-to-face. CAVA @ San Joaquin provides programming for students at each grade level. "The students that enroll in CAVA @ San Joaquin seek a personalized learning experience that enables them to excel and explore their own learning style," said Kimberly Odom, Director of Special Education. "Each student receives quality instruction and support in a one-on-one setting as they grow throughout the year."

The CAVA @ San Joaquin teachers are California-credentialed and provide instruction, guidance and support, and interact with students and parents via email, web-based classrooms, online discussions, phone and face-to-face meetings. CAVA @ San Joaquin is accepting enrollments for this fall. To learn more about enrollment requirements, visit http://cava.k12.com/ and find an in-person or online information session at http://cava.k12.com/events-calendar.html About California Virtual Academy @ San Joaquin California Virtual Academy @ San Joaquin is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are residents of Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. California-credentialed teachers deliver lessons in an online classroom platform provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN). CAVA @ San Joaquin provides opportunities for advanced learners, and prepares students to be college and career ready at graduation. Learn more at http://cava.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825006007/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] California Virtual Academy @ San Mateo Celebrates New School Year

Many area students in grades K-12 will skip the bus, classroom and lunch room hustle as they start school this fall, having chosen to attend the full-time, tuition-free, online public school, California Virtual Academy @ San Mateo (CAVA @ San Mateo). Students will begin their 2016-2017 school year on August 29 as the program marks its 14th year of operation in the state. CAVA @ San Mateo is one of 10 independent charter schools in California that use the K12 online curriculum to offer students in grades K-12 a unique learning experience. Attending school online provides students with access to innovative curriculum and creates an opportunity for students to have an individualized academic experience and personal connection with their teachers. Families enroll in CAVA @ San Mateo for a wide variety of reasons. Some students are advanced learners, motivated to increase their knowledge beyond the basic course offerings, while others ae athletes or performers looking to balance a full schedule. Regardless the reason, online school provides the support students and families seek.



"The students that enroll in CAVA @ San Mateo seek a personalized learning experience that enables them to excel and explore their own learning style," said Kimberly Odom, Director of Special Education. "Each student receives quality instruction and support in a one-on-one setting as they grow throughout the year." Teachers for CAVA @ San Mateo are California-credentialed and provide instruction, guidance and support, and interact with students and parents via email, web-based classrooms, online discussions, phone and face-to-face meetings.

CAVA @ San Mateo is accepting enrollments for this fall. To learn more about enrollment requirements visit http://cava.k12.com/ and find an in-person or online information session at http://cava.k12.com/events-calendar.html. About California Virtual Academy @ San Mateo California Virtual Academy @ San Mateo is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are residents of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. California-credentialed teachers deliver lessons in an online classroom platform provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) with a combination of engaging online and offline coursework-including a wide variety of books, CDs, videos, and hands-on materials delivered to the student that make learning come alive. Common household and office supplies such as printer ink and paper are not provided. CAVA @ San Mateo provides opportunities for advanced learners, and prepares students to be college and career ready at graduation. Learn more at http://cava.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825006339/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
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.
[August 25, 2016] California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma Welcomes Students Back to School

North Bay-area students are powering up their computers and heading back to school this fall in the comfort of their own home, having chosen to attend the full-time, tuition-free, online public school, California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma (CAVA @ Sonoma). Students will begin their 2016-2017 school year on August 29 as the program marks its 14th year of operation in the state. CAVA @ Sonoma, which is open to students in grades K through 12, is one of 10 independent charter schools in California that offer students in grades K-12 a unique learning experience. Students who enroll at CAVA @ Sonoma use the K12 online curriculum and follow an academic program that includes web-based lessons and age-appropriate instructional materials - books, videos, CDs and other hands-on tools and resources - shipped directly to each student's home. (Common household materials and office supplies such as printer ink and paper are not provided.) Instruction, guidance and support ar provided by California-credentialed teachers who interact with students and parents via email, web-based classrooms, online discussions, phone and face-to-face meetings.



The innovative curriculum and technology, combined with a strong partnership between families and teachers, creates an opportunity for teachers to focus on each student's academic needs, and gives a growing number of students a powerful educational option to reach their true potential. Families enroll in CAVA @ Sonoma for a wide variety of reasons. Some students are advanced learners, motivated to increase their knowledge beyond the basic course offerings, while others are athletes or performers looking to balance a full schedule.

"The students that enroll in CAVA @ Sonoma seek a personalized learning experience that enables them to excel and explore their own learning style," said Kimberly Odom, Director of Special Education. "Each student receives quality instruction and support in a one-on-one setting as they grow throughout the year." CAVA @ Sonoma is accepting enrollments for this fall. To learn more about enrollment requirements visit http://cava.k12.com/ and find in-person or online information sessions at http://cava.k12.com/events-calendar.html. About California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma California Virtual Academy @ Sonoma is a tuition-free, online public school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are residents of Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. California-credentialed teachers deliver lessons in an online classroom platform provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN). CAVA @ Sonoma provides opportunities for advanced learners, and prepares students to be college and career ready at graduation. Learn more at http://cava.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825006361/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016] China Leads Global Fintech Investments, Accenture Finds

Investments in Asia-Pacific financial technology (fintech) ventures, primarily in China, reached $9.62 billion as of July 31, more than twice the $4.26 billion invested in the region in all of 2015, according to Accenture (News - Alert) (NYSE:ACN) analysis of CB Insights data. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005978/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Investments in Asia-Pacific have eclipsed North America, which as of July 31 garnered $4.58 billion in fintech investments; and also tops Europe, which attracted $1.85 billion in the same period. However, deal volume remains higher in North America and Europe, as the Asia-Pacific increase is due to big investments in a few select fintech companies in China. There have been 192 deals in Asia-Pacific so far this year, as compared with 509 in North America and 230 in Europe. In fact, the top 10 investments in Asia-Pacific fintech ventures occurred in China and Hong Kong, accounting for 90 percent of overall Asia-Pacific investments and valued at $8.75 billion. In total, China and Hong Kong fintech ventures have attracted $9 billion in investments so far in 2016. "China's established companies, rather than nascent startups, are at the forefront of the fintech trend in the region," said Beat Monnerat, Accenture senior managing director, Financial Services Asia-Pacific. "Fintech companies with major backers such as Alibaba and JD.com are focussed on providing positive end-to-end customer experiences, which includes payments and lending. This is transforming China's financial services industry and is consistent with the global 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' (News - Alert), which is bringing innovation from non-traditional competitors to the financial services industry."



Ant Financial Services Group, the financial-services affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding that operates China's online-payments platform Alipay, closed a $4.5 billion fundraising round in April. Ping An-backed Lufax, which has started using the name Lu.com, completed a $1.2 billion round of fundraising in January. In that same month, China's second largest e-commerce company, JD.com, raised $1 billion in new funding for its consumer finance subsidiary, JD Finance. In recent years, major Alibaba affiliates and China's biggest social network company, Tencent, have also invested in other smaller startups, such as Fenqile, a micro-loan site which literally means "happy instalments," Qufenqi, an electronics retailer that lets buyers pay in monthly instalments, and India's One97 Communications, a mobile internet company whose Paytm is its flagship brand.

"The fintech trend in China continues to skew toward online payments and lending, including peer-to-peer (P2P), which is creating market-share dilution for banks," said Albert Chan, managing director financial services China, Accenture. "China's banks, whether building their own competitive platforms or not, should consider investing in collaborative fintech ventures in order to remain competitive." About Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions - underpinned by the world's largest delivery network - Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 375,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824005978/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Discover Bank Receives Top Honors from Department of Defense for Military Work-at-Home Program

Discover Bank recently received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's (ESGR) 2016 Pro Patria award in Delaware and was recognized as a national semifinalist for the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for the company's military work-at-home program. Discover's award-winning program, now in its fourth year, provides training, resources and job opportunities for military personnel and their family members seeking careers within the financial services industry. In addition to training, Discover supplies each new employee with the proper equipment and installation support to ensure a successful working environment from home. "It's an honor to be recognized for our work-at-home program," said Jim Roszkowski, president of Discover Bank. "We are committed to providing military veterans and their families with flexible and rewarding job opportunities." The Pro Patria award is presented annually by each ESGR State Committee to one small, one large and one public sector employer in their state or territory. Recipients of the award have demonstrated the greatest support to National Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership practices, including adopting pesonnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the Guard and Reserve. It is the highest level award that may be bestowed by an ESGR State Committee.



The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense. Initial nominations for both awards come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed at the organization.

For more information about the ESGR awards, please visit www.esgr.mil. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005099/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Esri Maps NOAA's National Water Model

Smart mapping leader Esri today released a robust collection of web maps that display NOAA forecast streamflow data for the continental United States. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005409/en/ Smart mapping leader Esri today released a robust collection of web maps that display NOAA forecast streamflow data for the continental United States. (Photo: Business Wire) Esri's multiscale web map applications allow users to view forecast water flows in real time at high resolution. The maps weave NOAA's recently released National Water Model data and Esri's ArcGIS functionality to provide interactive views of current and future water system behaviors.



Esri maps the flow of water along 2.7 million stream segments in the US river network. These data-rich maps improve NOAA's ability to meet the needs of emergency responders, reservoir operators, ecosystem professionals, and floodplain managers by providing detailed information that can anticipate flood and drought conditions. National Weather Service data populates the interactive maps with hourly updates and forecasts for up to 10 days. "In collaboration with our academic partners, the Esri team supported the development process leading up to the launch of the National Water Model," said Edward Clark, director, Geo-Intelligence Division, National Water Center, NOAA. "We share a common vision for the value that high-resolution water prediction brings to the nation."

Esri's new maps enable users to access a large amount of complex data quickly and easily. Although 10-day, midrange forecasts contain more than 200 million records and short-term forecasts require hourly data refresh, Esri maps automatically integrate and synthesize NOAA data so that users have the real-time information they need at the click of a button. "These attractive, accessible maps are part of our commitment to improving water awareness-a commitment we made at the White House Water Summit earlier this year," said Esri president Jack Dangermond. "ArcGIS provides a visually engaging way to communicate complex scientific information simply so that anyone can understand it." Esri plans to continue its investment in water prediction and analysis by releasing an open-source toolkit later this year that will enable ArcGIS users to analyze data and create custom maps from water model records. About Esri

Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. As the market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 350,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news. Copyright  2016 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, GIS by Esri, Story Map Journal, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005409/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Navico: ITC Bolsters Ban on Garmin DownVu Products

EGERSUND, Norway, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Navico  the world's largest manufacturer of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree brands  announced today that on August 18, 2016 the International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled yet again that Garmin DownVu scanning sonar products may not be imported into the United States, because they violate Navico's patents for DownScan Imaging technology. This latest ruling confirms that Garmin has been improperly circumventing the ITC's December 2015 exclusion order. The ITC issued a modified exclusion order clarifying the scope of infringing DownVu products that are barred from importation. The order has already been distributed to the United States Customs and Border Protection agency, and its requirements are effective immediately. This ruling vindicates Navico's assertion that Garmin's DownVu product offerings violate Navico's sonar patents and the ITC's orders. Additionally, the ITC's Cease and Desist Orders remain active, barring Garmin and its distributors from selling or aiding others in the sale of these products. The ITC's orders will block the import, sale and promotion of current DownVu products, including the Striker, echoMAP and GPSMAP products sold with their respective transducers. Garmin's violations of the ITC's orders open the door to potential civil penalties. "We are pleased that the ITC once again has ruled in our favor. It's clear from the rulings that Garmin's DownVu products from the start have infringed our patents, and it surpises me that a company claiming to respect other companies' intellectual property would improperly circumvent the ITC's orders by importing and selling these products in the U.S. market," said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. "We have offered a license for DownScan Imaging technology to all major manufacturers in the market, but in this and every other matter of patent infringement, we will continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property and innovations."



Claims by Garmin regarding a "design around" solution are subject to ITC approval in order to confirm that the alternative design does not likewise violate Navico's patents. In the new ruling, the ITC specifically noted that Garmin has not sought review of any alleged "design around." As such, Garmin's so-called "tilted" transducer used in its current DownVu products is also deemed to infringe Navico's patents. Under the ITC's orders, these products may not be imported or sold unless Garmin can obtain a certification of non-infringement. Furthermore, the ITC's orders prevent Garmin from offering any incentive or other form of compensation to any distributor or re-seller relating to the distribution, sale and marketing of improperly imported DownVu products.

The International Trade Commission is an independent governmental agency in Washington, DC responsible for addressing patent infringement disputes relating to goods that are manufactured abroad and imported into the United States. Garmin's DownVu products are manufactured and imported from Taiwan. For more information on the Navico brands, please visit www.lowrance.com, www.simrad-yachting.com, pro.simrad-yachting.com, www.bandg.com and www.gofreemarine.com. To find out more about the Navico Group of companies, visit www.navico.com. About Navico: A privately held, international corporation, Navico is currently the world's largest marine electronics company, and is the parent company to leading marine electronics brands: Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree. Navico has approximately 1,500 employees globally and distribution in more than 100 countries worldwide. www.navico.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/navico-itc-bolsters-ban-on-garmin-downvu-products-300317866.html SOURCE Navico

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Rapid DNA System by IntegenX a Key Factor in the Arrest of a Murder Suspect in South Carolina Case

IntegenX's RapidHIT System assisted in the identification of a murder suspect in Richland County, South Carolina. On Saturday July 2nd, 2016, Richland County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) investigators responded to reports of a gun-related homicide. While no suspect could be immediately identified, investigators collected evidence at the crime scene containing biological material. The DNA from the biological material was analyzed at the RCSD Crime Lab to generate a DNA profile. However, the DNA profile that was generated did not produce a match in the state's existing DNA database of convicted offenders and arrestees, yielding no immediate suspects. On August 3rd, 2016, a suspect in the murder case was identified through an eyewitness report, and subsequently brought in for questioning. The suspect provided a DNA sample from a cheek swab, which was processed by RCSD on the RapidHIT System, providing a full DNA profile in less than two hours, while the suspect was still in custody. Although the suspect had denied being at the scene of the murder, his rapid DNA profile linked him to the evidence discovered at the crime scene. The ability to rapidly and easily generate a DNA profile in less than two hoursfrom a cheek swab sample provided the Sheriff's Department with another tool in the identification of criminal suspects.



"With Rapid DNA, we were able to help detectives place the suspect at the scene of the murder, which turned out to be the missing link in the investigation," said Dr. Gray Amick, Director of the RCSD Forensics Lab. "Before we had this capability, even a rush case using our manual DNA technology could take up to several days to generate a DNA profile, which might have given the suspect an opportunity to post bail, and further put the community at risk." Commenting on this most recent use of Rapid DNA, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said, "The Department has a history of bringing in advanced forensic technologies to help our investigators solve crimes more quickly. Rapid DNA saves time for our detectives, which translates to a cost savings while helping us stop potential repeat offenders, before they're able to cause further harm."

"We're most grateful that our product could, once again, make a difference in the safety of a community," stated Robert Schueren, President and CEO of IntegenX. "This case, as well as the numerous Rapid DNA samples from the RapidHIT System that have been uploaded into national databases highlight our continued commitment to Rapid DNA." IntegenX, headquartered in Pleasanton, California, is the market leader of Rapid human DNA identification technology. IntegenX technology platforms integrate advanced fluidics, optics, and biochemistry capabilities to produce sample-to-answer products for DNA-based human identity testing for forensics and law enforcement applications. For more information, please visit www.integenx.com. IntegenX, the IntegenX logo, and RapidHIT are the registered trademarks of IntegenX Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005104/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016] BIOX announces result of special meeting of shareholders

TSX symbol: BX TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - BIOX Corporation ("BIOX" or the "Company") (TSX: BX), a renewable energy company that owns and operates biodiesel production facilities, today announced the voting results from its special meeting of the shareholders of the Company held August 24, 2016 (the "Meeting"). Shareholders voted in favour of the sole item of business before the Meeting, being the approval of the warrants and, on exercise thereof, the issuance of up to 4,400,000 underlying common shares in the capital of BIOX to Clearwater Fine Foods Inc., MBHD Holdings Ltd. and Dicot Holdings Limited. The warrants were issued in connection with the recent financing for the acquisition of the Houston biodiesel production facility, as part of the Company's joint venture in World Energy BIOX Biofuels LLC ("WEBB"), which is described below. BIOX's interest in the Houston facility represents a 2.5X increase in its potential production capacity over the production of its original Hamilton facility, subject to the commissioning of the Houston plant and anticipated production therefrom prior to the end of calendar 2016. Full details of the resolution are set out in the Management Information Circular dated July 25, 2016, which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). BIOX appreciates the support of its shareholders for its growth plans and wishes to thank all of the attendees of the Meeting. Acquisitions BIOX acquired, or participated in the acquisition of, two biodiesel production facilities during the three months ended June 30, 2016, expanding its capacity from 67 million litres to 287.5 million litres of owned capacity (458 million litres of gross capacity including the joint venture). These two acquisitions demonstrate BIOX's ability to execute on its growth strategies through increasing the volume of biodiesel it produces, controls and distributes in strategic locations throughout North America. Sombra facility On June 17, 2016, the Company acquired a 50 million litre nameplate capacity biodiesel facility in Sombra, Ontario, for US$4.5 million. The Sombra facility is located on a 21-acre facility near Sarnia, Ontario with excellent logistics, including on site rail. Originally constructed in 2009, the facility has not achieved nameplate capacity due to working capital and market challenges, and is currently not in production. The Company will expend an additional C$5.0 million over the nextten months on upgrades to the facility that will improve the facility's efficiency and enable the use of a broader range of feedstock, specifically lower carbon intensity feedstocks, such as animal fats and recycled cooking oils. The Company expects the facility to be in production in advance of the 2017 blend season in Ontario, during the second quarter of calendar 2017.



Houston facility In June 2016, BIOX invested with World Energy, an Advanced Biofuels supplier based in Boston, in a 50/50 joint venture to form WEBB for the purposes of the acquisition of the Houston facility. Each of BIOX and World Energy committed US$10 million cash to the joint venture. BIOX has joint control with World Energy in the joint venture and holds a 50% ownership interest.

On June 30, 2016, WEBB acquired a 341 million litre (90 million U.S. gallon) nameplate capacity biodiesel facility in Houston, Texas. The Houston facility, formerly known as Green Earth Fuels, is strategically located on site within the Kinder Morgan Liquids terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. The Houston facility is the third largest biodiesel production facility in North America. The facility is performing commissioning of the plant and WEBB expects to be in production prior to the end of calendar 2016. About BIOX Corporation BIOX is a renewable energy company that owns 287.5 million litres of nameplate biodiesel production capacity at plants located in southern Ontario and Houston, Texas. BIOX has an innovative, proprietary and patented production process that is capable of producing the highest quality, renewable, clean burning and biodegradable biodiesel fuel utilizing a variety of feedstocks - from pure seed oils to animal fats to recovered vegetable oils with no change to the production process. BIOX's high quality biodiesel fuel meets North American (ASTM D-6751) quality standards. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking" statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, objectives or achievements of BIOX, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, objectives or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements relate to, among other things, the Company's proposed expenditures on the Sombra facility over the next ten months, the capacity of and anticipated upgrades to the Sombra facility and the timing thereof, the timeline for the Sombra facility commencing production, the capacity of and anticipated upgrades to the World Energy BIOX Biofuels facility and the timing thereof, and the timeline for the World Energy BIOX Biofuels facility commencing production. These statements reflect BIOX's current views regarding future events and operating performance, are based on information currently available to BIOX, and speak only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such performance or results will be achieved. Those assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, the fact that BIOX's results of operations and business outlook are highly dependent on a mix of legislation and producer payment programs and tax credits and upon commodity prices, which are subject to significant volatility and uncertainty. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BIOX to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including factors described in this press release and those discussed in BIOX's publicly available disclosure documents, as filed by BIOX on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) except as updated herein. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this press release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Unless required by applicable securities law, BIOX does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. To the extent any forward-looking statements herein constitute financial outlook, they were approved by management as of the date hereof and have been included to provide an understanding with respect to BIOX's financial performance and are subject to the same risks and assumptions referred to herein. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which these forward-looking statements are based will occur and readers are cautioned that any financial outlook information contained in this news release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein. SOURCE BIOX Corporation

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016]

Impartner Takes Bronze Medal in Best in Biz Awards - Named Best New Product of the Year for Enterprises

SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global pure-play SaaS Partner Relationship Management (PRM) leader Impartner has been named a bronze winner in the Best New Product of the YearEnterprise category in the Best in Biz Awards 2016 International. Impartner was recognized for its flagship product, Impartner PRM, and the ability of its highly engineered yet simple-to-use Velocity onboarding process to have companies up and running with a new Partner Portal in as few as 30 daysimmediately transforming their ability to drive more revenue through their indirect channel. Winners were chosen from entrants spanning multiple industries and more than 30 countries and were judged by an international panel from top-tier news, business, finance and technology publications and media outlets.

"Companies in almost every sector have begun to recognize the transformative power of the indirect channel as a means of quickly and efficiently accelerating their revenue, and Impartner PRM provides the entire toolset for managing that indirect channel," said Dave R Taylor, Impartner chief marketing officer. "It's incredibly exciting to have PRM technology and our solution stand out in such an impressive range of entrants for the value it delivers to companies looking to truly harness the power of their partner networks and accelerate the performance of their channel operations."

The Best New Product of the Year Best in Biz Award is the latest in a string of nearly a dozen national and international awards Impartner has received in recent months, making Impartner PRM the most highly awarded channel management solution in the market. Awards include:







To learn more about Impartner PRM and how it can help companies be up and running with a new PRM and a world-class partner portal in as few as 30 days, click here.

About Impartner

With nearly two decades of experience in accelerating indirect sales, Impartner delivers the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solution, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. The largest pure-play PRM vendor in the world, Impartner provides the industry's only out-of-the-box solution that can deploy an enterprise-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, multi-award winning, three-step Velocity onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883.

Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Contact:

Kerry Desberg

Impartner

425-231-9529

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401122

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150821/260238LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impartner-takes-bronze-medal-in-best-in-biz-awards---named-best-new-product-of-the-year-for-enterprises-300317971.html

SOURCE Impartner
[August 24, 2016] Hondros College of Business To Host Hondros Homecoming: Alumni & Networking Event

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, hppy 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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hondros-college-of-business-to-host-hondros-homecoming-alumni--networking-event-300317997.html SOURCE Hondros College of Business

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016] Inneractive Continues Winning Streak Garnering a Silver in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International

SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, LONDON, BEIJING and TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inneractive has been anointed as a Silver winner in the 'Fastest Growing Company of the Year' category in the Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, the only independent global business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts. "2016 has been an incredible year of growth for us so it's an enormous honor to be included in the 'Fastest Growing Company' category by the Best in Biz Awards International this year," said Offer Yehudai, President of Inneractive. "This recognition builds upon the momentum of a milestone year for us as we join forces with RNTS Fyber, experience triple digit growth and expand our footprint further afield with expansion into the Chinese marketall while continuing to provide the most advanced technologies to mobile publishers globally." Inneractive is a leading independent mobile ad exchange focused on powering native and video ads. Inneractive's mission is to empower mobile publishers to realize their properties' full potential by providing powerful technologies for the buying and selling of mobile ads. 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 experiene and expertise of an influential group of global opinion makers to determine award winners.



"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 Gamer's Intuition. "While choosing a winner is always a pleasant but never easy task, it all comes down to evaluating functionality and originality. I'm looking forward to returning and seeing what innovative products and services will stand out next year." For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, visit: http://intl.bestinbizawards.com/intl-2016-winners.

About Inneractive Inneractive is an independent global mobile ad exchange focused on powering native and video ads. The company's mission is to empower mobile publishers to maximize the full potential of their properties by providing powerful technologies for buying and selling mobile ads. The Inneractive programmatic platform is comprised of a mobile Supply Side Platform (SSP) and an Ad Exchange that combine RTB with native and video ad solutions. Inneractive was recently named a Deloitte Technology Fast500 Company, EMEA and a Deloitte Israel 2015 Technology Fast50 winner. Inneractive is headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in San Francisco, New York, London and Beijing. Inneractive was recently acquired by RNTS Media, based in Germany, parent company of Fyber. 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. Contact: [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inneractive-continues-winning-streak-garnering-a-silver-in-best-in-biz-awards-2016-international-300317880.html SOURCE Inneractive

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016] Riverside approves leading CaliforniaFIRST PACE clean energy financing program for local homeowners

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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/riverside-approves-leading-californiafirst-pace-clean-energy-financing-program-for-local-homeowners-300318025.html SOURCE Renew Financial

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016] AdAsia Holdings Launches CastingAsia, an Influencer Marketing Platform

SINGAPORE, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AdAsia Holdings, creator of the AdAsia Digital Platform, has announced today the launch of CastingAsia, an influencer marketing platform available across Asia. CastingAsia will be integrated into the growing AdAsia Digital Platform portfolio, allowing marketers to develop, manage, and monitor influencer marketing campaigns alongside desktop, mobile, and video programmatic capabilities, bought through the AdAsia Ad Network, AdAsia Video Network, premium inventory and other ad exchanges. Common issues influencer marketers face today include: sifting through disparate influencer information silos, taking a scattergun approach to influencer recruitment and spending too much time on influencer management. CastingAsia looks to address these issues by automatically analyzing influencer data to find the right match for brands. Marketers can also develop scalable influencer marketing campaigns, managed through a central point or in individual markets. Key features of CastingAsia include - Recruitment: Use of influencer and campaign data to recommend the right influencers for specific campaign objectives Search, filter and group influencers based on their needs Integrate current influencers and build multiple influencer networks based on specific campaign objectives

Management and communication: Manage content rights for influencer-generated content Deliver communications to influencers through platform messaging

Monitoring and reporting: Track and measure an influencer's engagements, conversations, and campaign performance on a macro and micro level

Other key features include: readily accessible influencer data and follower demographics, and a content management repository. Marketers can also seamlessly include well-performing influencers into their video advertising efforts through AdAsia Video Production and place the video ads across the AdAsia Video Network. This allows for consolidated management, reporting, and tracking of budget expenditure on various marketing initiatives, through a single platform. Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder, AdAsia Holdings, said: "This move allows marketers to streamline their marketing efforts further through the AdAsia Digital Platform, and is yet another step towards developing a single platform that solves the needs of a modern marketer." "With the number of eyeballs on mobile devices and cross-device social media usage in this region, brand storytelling has never been easier. This makes influencer marketing highly relevant in Asia, and marketers should explore opportunities of tying influencer marketing with programmatic advertising," he said. AdAsia consultants are also available, to guide marketers with their influencer marketing campaigns and usage of the platform. The CastingAsia platform will be made available to clients today. About AdAsia Holdings Pte. Ltd. AdAsia Holdings is one of the fastest growing advertising companies in Asia -- launched in April 2016 by Kosuke Sogo. AdAsia Holdings aims to enhance marketers' prowess through a single platform, and aims to become the number one advertising company in Asia. AdAsia Holdings is a strong believer in localized support, and has offices in Singapore and Bangkok, with plans to further expand into Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan by 2016, India, Malaysia and Philippines in 2017, and mainland China in 2018. About AdAsia Digital Platform AdAsia Digital Platform is an integrated advertising platform capable of managing functions of programmatic buying and reporting, influencer marketing and video production in a single platform. Advertising agencies, marketers and advertisers can serve their ads on multiple DSPs, advertising networks, AdAsia Video Network, and AdAsia Ad Network - an advertising network for Southeast Asia's various local premium media and publishers. Media Contact:







Chris Lu PR Associate [email protected] +65 9221 0608 / +65 6809 2111

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160824/8521605361

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160506/8521602925logo

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] China Comservice Announces 2016 Interim Results

HONG KONG, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --







HIGHLIGHTS: - Overall operating results continued to grow rapidly, with accelerated growth in total revenues and net profit, and significant increase in free cash flow. Total revenues were RMB42,176 million, up by 12.3%.

Profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was RMB1,386 million, up by 9.1%.

Free cash flow was RMB2,385 million, representing a significant increase as compared with the amount of RMB151 million in the same period last year. - Gross profit margin and net profit margin were 12.8% and 3.3%, respectively.

Financial Highlights (unaudited) For the six months ended 30 June 2015 2016 Change Revenues (RMB million) 37,563 42,176 +12.3% Gross Profit (RMB million) 5,176 5,392 +4.2% Gross Profit Margin (%) 13.8% 12.8% -1.0pp Profit Attributable to Equity Shareholders

("Net Profit") (RMB million) 1,271 1,386 +9.1% Net Profit Margin (%) 3.4% 3.3% -0.1pp Free Cash Flow (RMB million) 151 2,385 +1,479.5% Basic Earnings per Share (RMB) 0.184 0.200 +9.1% China Communications Services Corporation Limited ("China Comservice" or the "Company"), and its subsidiaries (the "Group") (HKSE code: 552), today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016. During the first half of 2016, the Group sustained sound growth momentum in the domestic telecommunications operator market, achieved breakthroughs in the domestic non-operator market and resumed growth in the overseas market. As a result, the Group achieved total revenues of RMB42,176 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 12.3%. The cost of revenues was RMB36,784 million, up by 13.6% compared to that of last year. As a result of the decrease in service charges and increase in labour-related cost, the gross profit was RMB5,392 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, while the gross profit margin was 12.8%, representing a year-on-year decrease of 1 percentage point. The Group's continuous control in selling, general and administrative expenses was effective and such expenses were RMB4,137 million, accounting for 9.8% of the total revenues and representing a year-on-year decrease of 0.7 percentage point. Profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company was RMB1,386 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 9.1%, with a noticeable increase in the growth rate as compared with the same period last year[1]. The net profit margin was 3.3%, remained at a similar level as compared to the corresponding period last year, and the basic earnings per share amounted to RMB0.200. The Group adhered to the "value-driven" appraisal principle and delivered remarkable results in the management of working capital. As a result, turnover days of accounts receivable were 124 days, achieving a year-on-year decrease of 16 days. Free cash flow[2] amounted to RMB2,385 million, representing a significant growth as compared to the corresponding period last year[3]. Mr. Sun Kangmin, Chairman of China Comservice commented, "During the first half of 2016, the Group upheld the management philosophy of 'innovation and transformation, seeking steady yet progressive growth and efficient development'. Against the backdrop of the macro-economic downturn and the decrease in service charges, the Group endured the unfavourable impact and captured opportunities in the domestic telecommunications operator market whilst persisting in the development of the 'Two New Markets'[4], resulting in an accelerated growth in revenue and net profit. The quality of our business development continued to improve as reflected in the continuous optimization in revenue structure of business and customer, decrease in accounts receivable turnover days and remarkable increase in free cash flow. Meanwhile, the Group enhanced corporate vitality through steady promotion of deepened reforms and active innovation of its system and mechanism, thus creating favourable conditions for future development." Enhancement in Development Quality During the first half of 2016, the Group's telecommunications infrastructure ("TIS") services was the main driver to the growth of its operating results. Coupled with the healthy growth of both the "core businesses"[5] of business process outsourcing ("BPO") services and the applications, content and other ("ACO") services, as well as the effective management of the products distribution business[6], the Group continued to optimize its overall revenue structure. While capturing the opportunities arising from the 4G construction and capacity expansion of fiber optic broadband of domestic telecommunications operators and the enlarged construction scale of the Tower Company[7], the group also vigorously explored the demand for construction of informatization projects from domestic non-operator customers and overseas customers. Revenue from TIS services amounted to RMB21,687 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 20.3% and accounting for 51.4% of the total revenues. Among that, the revenue of TIS services from domestic telecommunications operators and overseas customers recorded a year-on-year growth of 13.9% and 21.0%, respectively, whereas the revenue of TIS services from domestic non-operator customers achieved a significant growth of 53.2% compared to the previous year. Revenue from BPO services amounted to RMB16,144 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 0.6% and accounting for 38.3% of the total revenues. Among that, revenue from management of infrastructure for information technology ("Network Maintenance") secured a rapid year-on-year growth of 14.2%. After integration and cultivation, the group's supply chain business[6] grew favourably and recorded a year-on-year revenue growth of 23.9%, whereas revenue from products distribution business decreased significantly by 20.2% under the proactive control of the Group. The Group grasped the demand for informatization construction of the customers, and revenue from ACO services amounted to RMB4,345 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 24.5%, representing a significant increase in the growth rate as compared with the same period last year[8] and accounting for 10.3% of the total revenues. Achieved Remarkable Results in Customer Development During the first half of 2016, the Group leveraged on both "CAPEX and OPEX-driven" businesses[9] as the dual growth drivers to accelerate the development of domestic telecommunications operator market, and recorded a steady increase in its overall market share. Revenue from such market amounted to RMB27,240 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 14.4% and accounting for 64.6% of the total revenues. Among that, revenue from China Telecom was RMB16,435 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.7% and accounting for 39.0% of the total revenues. Besides, the Group thoroughly expanded the domestic telecommunications operator market other than China Telecom by strengthening high-end marketing, capturing good opportunities arising from the strategic cooperation between China Telecom and China Unicom and capitalizing on the preferential treatment and non-competition arrangements with the Tower Company. As a result, revenue from domestic telecommunications operator customers other than China Telecom amounted to RMB10,805 million, representing a significant increase of 35.9% as compared with the same period last year, and accounting for 25.6% of the total revenues, an increase of 4.4 percentage points compared to that of last year. Among that, revenue from the Tower Company achieved the fastest year-on-year growth and was the biggest contributor to incremental revenue among the domestic telecommunications operators. Revenue from China Unicom also recorded a significant growth over the same period last year. During the first half of 2016, the Group's revenue from the domestic non-operator market was RMB12,784 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.0% and accounting for 30.3% of the total revenues. In particular, revenue from TIS services and ACO services recorded a year-on-year increase of 53.2% and 22.6%, respectively, constituting the main revenue growth drivers for the domestic non-operator market. With a focus on key sectors including government, energy, transportation and internet, the Group continued to achieve breakthroughs in construction for data centre, low voltage communication projects and urban communication pipelines relocation, and the internal synergistic development and promotion of the six major group-level products[10] also achieved substantial progress. The Group adhered to its "value-driven" development philosophy and enhanced its risk awareness amid the current economic conditions, and exercised more stringent selection and control on the expansion of products distribution business during the first half of this year. Revenue from such business in the domestic non-operator market recorded a year-on-year decrease of 31.8%. During the first half of 2016, the overseas business of the Group resumed steady development and realized a revenue of RMB2,152 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 35.9% and accounting for 5.1% of the total revenues, which reversed the downward trend of revenue in the last two years. The group closely followed the national "Belt and Road" Initiative and the "10 Major Plans of Sino-African Cooperation", and proactively promoted its "China-Africa Partnership Program in Trans Africa Information Superhighway" Project, which has been identified as a key project of the relevant ministry of the PRC government in 2016. In addition, the Group has entered into a letter of intent for multilateral cooperation with domestic financial institutions, equipment vendors and the governments and operators of African countries for such project. During the first half of this year, the Group has been steadily pushing forward the implementation of turnkey projects such as national fiber cable backbone network project (Phase III) in Tanzania and proactively utilizing financial instruments such as accounts receivable factoring to facilitate the settlement of overseas projects and avoid operational risks. Prospects Mr. Sun Kangmin, Chairman of China Comservice said, "Although the Group achieved encouraging operating results during the first half of 2016, the Group is clearly aware that the Company is still confronted with challenges amid the bumpy recovery in global economy and the 'New Normal' of China's economy. Under such circumstances, the Company must stay vigilant and make innovative breakthroughs for long-term and sustainable development." "By capturing the opportunities arising from various national strategies such as 'Cyberpower', "Broadband China" and 'Internet+', the Group will focus on the development of both 'CAPEX and OPEX driven' businesses in the domestic telecommunications operator market and pursue revenue growth from businesses driven by OPEX spending of operators. Leveraging on the opportunities arising from strategic cooperation between China Telecom and China Unicom as well as the preferential treatment and non-competition arrangements between the Group and the Tower Company, the Group will strive to further enlarge our market share and maintain our leading position in the domestic telecommunications operator market. Benefited from the favourable opportunities arising from the vigorous promotion of the national policies of 'Supply-side Structural Reform', 'SOE Reform', 'Made in China 2025' and development of information economics, the Group will focus on the informatization demand from customers in sectors including government, energy, transportation and information security, and continue to expand the Group's business scale in the domestic non-operator market. The Group will also continue to promote group-level products such as 'Smart City', 'Smart Security', 'Smart Industrial Park' and 'Intelligent Building', and accelerate the development of new products to further enhance its business value. Meanwhile, the Group will closely monitor the implementation of the 'Belt and Road' Initiative and the overseas informatization demand. By leveraging the opportunities arising from the Group's 'China-Africa Partnership Program in Trans Africa Information Superhighway' Project, the favourable conditions in its overseas synergistic operation and aiming at breakthrough in 'EPC+' projects, the Group will focus on project implementation, with a view to expanding our business scale in overseas market. Meanwhile, the Group will vigorously develop cross-sector business according to different characteristics of the three key business segments and the changes in market demand. The Group will also strengthen business innovation and actively promote innovations in service, product and management, so as to enhance its core competence and provide better support for integrated intelligent information service in the future as well as creating higher returns for shareholders through better quality of development." [1] In the first half of 2015, profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company recorded a year-on-year growth of 2.7%.

[2] Free cash flow = Profit for the year + Depreciation and amortization - Changes in working capital - Capital expenditure

[3] In the first half of 2015, the Group's free cash flow was RMB151 million.

[4] Two New Markets refer to domestic non-operator market and overseas market.

[5] Core businesses of BPO services include management of infrastructure for information technology, general facilities management and supply chain.

[6] Since 2016, the Group sub-divided the former distribution business under the BPO services into supply chain business and products distribution business. For ease of comparison, the historical data of these two businesses have been segregated accordingly.

[7] The full name of the Tower Company is China Tower Corporation Limited.

[8] In the first half of 2015, revenue from ACO services recorded a year-on-year growth of 3.3%.

[9] CAPEX and OPEX refer to the capital expenditure and operating expenditure of domestic telecommunications operators, respectively.

[10] Six major group-level products include smart city, smart security, smart industrial park, intelligent building, cloud computing services and e-certification. About China Comservice China Comservice is a leading service provider in the PRC for integrated support services in the informatization sector. The Company offers telecommunications infrastructure services spanning from design, construction to project supervision and management; business process outsourcing services spanning from management of infrastructure for information technologies, general facilities management, supply chain and products distribution business; applications, content and other services spanning from system integration, software development and system support to value-added service, etc. The Company's major customers include three domestic telecommunications operators and the Tower Company, domestic non-operator customers including government agencies, industrial customers and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as overseas customers. Its controlling shareholder is China Telecommunications Corporation, and besides, China Mobile Communications Corporation, China United Network Communications Group Company Limited and China National Postal and Telecommunications Appliances Corporation are also shareholders of the Company. In 2016, the Company was honored the "Best CEO" Award and again awarded "Best CFO" and "Best Investor Relations" in the 6th Asian Excellence Recognition Awards by Corporate Governance Asia, a renowned journal on corporate governance in Asia. The Group was ranked 71st by FORTUNE China in its "2016 FORTUNE China 500". For further information, please browse the Company's website at: www.chinaccs.com.hk For press enquiries: China Communications Services Corporation Limited

Investor Relations Department

Mr. Terence Chung

Ms. Callis Cheng

Tel: (852) 3699 0000

Fax: (852) 3699 0120

Email: [email protected] Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to us and our operations and prospects that are based on current beliefs and assumptions as well as information currently available to us. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "plans", "prospects", "going forward" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our business, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and various assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may diverge significantly from the forward-looking statement. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements other than our on-going disclosure obligations pursuant to the Hong Kong Listing Rules or other requirements of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] itelligence AG and NTT DATA Boost Application Management Outsourcing Business

BIELEFELD, Germany, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NTT DATA has launched stage 2 of the AMO Global One Team Initiative to foster collaboration, integration, and innovation-sharing among the various NTT DATA Group companies.

In the next five years, NTT DATA, parent group of itelligence AG, expects more than 33% growth in its global outsourcing business .

The acquisition of BIT.Group underlines the growth strategy in the cloud business NTT DATA and itelligence are investing strongly in promoting and enhancing a global strategy for outsourcing services. A major part of this is the growing Application Management Outsourcing (AMO) business. By 2020, AMO is intended to account for more than a third of NTT DATA's overall outsourcing business. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400938 )

The AMO Global One Team Initiative has the mission of translating the global group vision and strategy into business success for the operating companies. The global AMO management team involves more than 100 managers from the various companies of the NTT DATA Group, with the objectives of significantly growing its outsourcing business and further increasing its market position as a leading player in this business segment. These include Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services at itelligence and co-chair of the AMO Global One Team. According to Kaz Nishihata, Director & Executive Vice President, Global Business Sector, NTT DATA Corporation: "The NTT DATA Group has emerged as a global powerhouse in the enterprise applications and entire IT outsourcing area. Application Management Outsourcing (AMO), as a key pillar of IT outsourcing, is important for us to further expand our role as a global leader in IT innovation, such as cloud business. Development of AMO business will aid in creating new customers and in supporting our long-term relationships with our customers. Furthermore, it will act as a cornerstone for NTT DATA to become a trusted advisor for our clients to manage their IT requirements, including the digital transformation." itelligence AG is one of he main drivers of this AMO Global One Team Initiative, especially in NTT DATA's global SAP business. As a global SAP hub of the NTT DATA Group and with a booming AMO business, itelligence supports international corporations.



Norbert Rotter, CEO of itelligence AG: "The initiative supports our strategic focus on Global Managed Services for SAP solutions, particularly in the upper mid-market segment and for multinational clients. The recent acquisition of BIT.group has further enhanced our expertise in the area of Application Management Services and Cloud Services." The acquisition of BIT.Group on June 20, 2016, was another strategic element in the expansion of global services relating to SAP Cloud and Managed Services. Established in 2004, BIT.Group stands out as a provider of an innovative service portfolio for national and international customers.

Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services at itelligence and co-chair of the AMO Global One Team, adds: "The collaboration with our NTT and NTT DATA sister companies in the area of Application Management and Cloud Services helps us to accelerate our portfolio innovation, to become even more professional in delivery methodology and to cover countries where we don't have our own subsidiaries. We use that to further increase our efficiency, scalability and value proposition for our customers." Since 2011, the annual growth rate for NTT DATA's AMO business has been 15.7%, which is significantly more than the non-outsourcing business. After several years of implementing an intensive merger and acquisitions strategy to rapidly extend the company's capabilities and worldwide presence, NTT DATA has become one of the strongest partners for CIOs thanks to its comprehensive offering with a glocal (global reach with a local focus) approach. With more than 80,000 employees, 26,000 of whom are engaged in AMO business, NTT DATA has locations in more than 40 countries around the globe. The company has become a strong player in the outsourcing and managed services market based on its ability to provide tailor-made and high-quality solutions to its clients. It combines its local presence and talent that understands country, industry and client specifics and leverages agility and responsiveness with the power of global capabilities and long-established market experience, while also relying on scalable and cost-efficient global delivery capabilities. For example, the company's worldwide network of 36 AMO centers for application management solutions, spread across America, EMEA and APAC, enables NTT DATA to act as both a close partner for its local customers and a global service provider for multinational companies. About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a leading IT services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in Tokyo, with business operations in over 40 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment, combining global reach with local knowledge to provide premier professional services varying from consulting and systems development to outsourcing. For more information, visit http://www.nttdata.com. About itelligence itelligence is one of the leading international full-service providers of solutions in support of SAP solutions, employing about 5,400 highly qualified employees in 24 countries. As a frequently awarded SAP partner, among others global value-added reseller, SAP Certified in Cloud Services, SAP-Certified Provider of Hosting Services for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and SAP Platinum Partner, itelligence realizes complex projects in the SAP solution-based environment worldwide. The company's services in support of SAP solutions range from consulting and licensing to application management services and hosting services to proprietary industry-specific SAP. In 2015, itelligence generated total sales of EUR 696.2 million. Head of Corporate Public Relations

Silvia Dicke

Tel: +49(0)521-91448-107

Fax: +49(0)521-91445-201

[email protected]



itelligence AG

Konigsbreede 1

33605 Bielefeld, Germany

http://www.itelligencegroup.com



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Innotribe and Innovate Finance Launch Global FinTech Hubs Federation Initiative

SINGAPORE, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Innotribe, SWIFT's innovation arm, and Innovate Finance, the independent membership organisation for global FinTech, today announced the launch of the Global FinTech Hubs Federation (GFHF) to help foster innovation across the world's financial services industry. To date, more than 20 countries - including Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, to name a few - are participating in the GFHF, with more countries expected to join in the coming months. As an independent and inclusive global network of FinTech hubs, GFHF aims to fulfil the need within the international FinTech community to create a truly cross border and open platform that brings together established and emerging FinTech hubs. The GFHF will provide a global voice and global stage for FinTech hubs, with participants gaining an influential point of engagement with international stakeholders and like-minded organisations from across the world. It will also facilitate access to key international events including Sibos and the Innovate Finance Global Summit, as well as accessing events hosted by GFHF participants. The idea behind the initiative emerged from Sibos 2015, where Innotribe dedicated a session of its four day programme to the rise of FinTech hubs globally. With the increasing number of FinTech hubs over the last few years, every city wants to become the FinTech capital of the world. There is a strong battle for talent, startups and investment by economic financial centres. Based on original research commissioned by Innotribe, the session compared eight FinTech hubs: Brussels, London, Luxembourg, New York, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Switzerland, and Sydney -- giving them the platform to share their activities and ambitions. "As the FinTech sector develops globally, it has never been as important to encourage discussion and collaboration within the financial industry," said Fabian Vandenreydt, Global Head of Securities Markets, Innotribe and The SWIFT Institute at SWIFT. "Being one of the premier global innovation platforms, SWIFT Innotribe looks forward to foster a bigger and stronger FinTech ecosystem through this initiative, bringing its expertise and leveraging its network for th benefit of the banking and startup communities."



The discussions continued during Innovate Finance's Global Summit earlier this year, where Innotribe and Innovate Finance saw an opportunity for the financial industry to engage collaboratively to accelerate the pace of financial innovation through a brand new initiative: the GFHF. Lawrence Wintermeyer, CEO of Innovate Finance said: "Coordination and cross border dialogue between emerging FinTech startups, established FinTech companies, financial institutions and policy makers remains key for long term success of our sector. The launch of the GFHF will provide a platform for global FinTech players and hubs to share knowledge and build an inclusive community network that will help accelerate the growth and influence of global FinTech and help shape a better financial services future."

GFHF is open to participants that nurture the development of FinTech ecosystem in their region and abroad. The federation aims to democratically support global engagement, best practices and standardise knowledge across the sector, as well as build bridges and support member FinTech hubs. Following the launch of the GFHF, different FinTech hubs will be invited to Sibos again this year, as a follow-up to Innotribe's FinTech benchmark session in Singapore in 2015. The event will be organised in Geneva, from 26-29 September 2016. FinTech hubs are essential to create the right dynamic, approach and support to FinTech within the financial industry, and Sibos is the perfect occasion to deepen collaboration and debate. The federation will also publish its inaugural report later this year. This report will establish the 2016 baseline for over 20 emerging and established FinTech hubs and will be developed in collaboration with Deloitte. For more information about the federation, download the flyer or visit the new website: thegfhf.org About Innotribe Launched in 2009, Innotribe was created to identify the emerging technologies and innovative trends surrounding the financial services industry and generate discussions on their potential impact moving forward. Benefitting from SWIFT's central position, Innotribe provides a platform to the global financial community to understand the dynamics behind technology changes and to help focus on the opportunities for transformation rather than the threats to current market practices. For more information, please visit www.innotribe.com or follow us on Twitter: @innotribe and Linkedin: Innotribe. About Innovate Finance Innovate Finance is an independent membership association that represents the UK's global FinTech community. Founded in 2014 with the backing of the City of London and Canary Wharf Group, Innovate Finance is a not-for-profit that aims to accelerate the country's leading position in the global financial services sector by directly supporting the next era of technology-led financial services innovators, whether they be a young startup or an established industry player. The goal is to create a single point of access across the sectors to help foster enabling policies, regulation, talent development, business growth opportunities and investment in the UK - and, most importantly, to create a global finance sector that offers services that are more sustainable, more inclusive and better for everyone. For more information, please visit www.innovatefinance.com or follow us on Twitter: @innfin and LinkedIn: Innovate Finance Contacts: Innotribe

Cognito

[email protected]

+44 (0) 20 7426 9400 Innovate Finance

Georgia Hanias, Global Head of Communications

[email protected]

+44 (0) 7769706352

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Meet Sensei's Officers at the College of Law Practice's 2016 Futures Conference

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sensei President, Sharon Nelson and Vice President, John Simek are eagerly anticipating their visit to the College of Law Practice Management's 2016 Future Conference. The conference will be held in Kansas City on September 15-16. This conference will help attendees better understand what legal services will look like 10 years out  in 2026. Sharon is already a Fellow of the college and she is on the faculty of the conference. John will be inducted as a Fellow at the conference. Sharon will be speaking at the conference  don't miss it! See more information here.



The College of Law Practice Management was formed in 1994 to honor and recognize distinguished law practice management professionals, to set standards of achievement for others in the profession, and to fund and assist projects that enhance the highest quality of law practice management. The College and its Fellows inspire excellence and innovation in law practice management by: Honoring extraordinary achievement

Developing, exchanging and disseminating knowledge

Stimulating innovation in the delivery of legal services ABOUT SENSEI ENTERPRISES, INC.

Sensei Enterprises, Inc. is a nationally known digital forensics, information security and information technology company. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, Sensei combines legal expertise with high-level technical certifications to serve the technology needs of the legal and corporate communities. To learn more about the company, please visit www.senseient.com.

For more information about this release, call Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President of Sensei Enterprises, at 703-359-0700. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meet-senseis-officers-at-the-college-of-law-practices-2016-futures-conference-300317821.html SOURCE Sensei Enterprises, Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Actifio to Showcase Industry-Leading Copy Data Virtualization Platform at VMworld 2016

BOSTON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Actifio, the copy data virtualization company, today announced the company will be exhibiting at VMworld 2016, taking place August 28  September 1, 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company will be in booth # 440, showcasing and providing demonstrations of the enterprise-grade Actifio copy data management platform to convention attendees. Actifio virtualizes the data that's the lifeblood of businesses in more than 30 countries around the world. Its Virtual Data Pipeline technology enables businesses to manage, access, and protect their data faster, more efficiently, and more simply by decoupling data from physical storage, much the same way a hypervisor decouples compute from physical servers. To accelerate toward hybrid cloud architectures, build higher quality applications faster, and improve business resiliency and availability, Actifio is the first and only enterprise class copy data virtualization platform. To fulfill its core mission, Actifio offers deep integration into VMware's cloud suite, giving joint customers the premier data virtualization platforms for superior management and interoperability, increased resiliency, and cloud mobility. These integrations extend the power of virtualization from compute and networks to storage, delivering an application-centric data management model that breaks the bonds of legacy infrastructure. "VMworld is one of the largest virtualization evets in the world and we are thrilled to get our platform into the hands of some of the most forward-thinking professionals in the industry," said Ash Ashutosh, CEO and Founder, Actifio. "Actifio is one of the leaders in advanced VMware copy data virtualization integration, providing the best-in-class performance, scalability, reliability and manageability for VMware environments at-scale."



The company will also be hosting their 5th annual vFlipCup event, one of the largest community events at the show, on August 29. All proceeds from the event go to Awakenings, an organization dedicated to serving the homeless and disadvantaged youth of Clark County. To schedule a demo of the Actifio platform at VMworld, go here: http://bit.ly/2bjE5k2

To register to attend Actifio's vFlipCup event, visit: http://bit.ly/2bq59jS About Actifio

Actifio virtualizes the data that's the lifeblood of businesses in more than 30 countries around the world. Its Virtual Data Pipeline  technology enables businesses to manage, access, and protect their data faster, more efficiently, and more simply by decoupling data from physical storage, much the same way a hypervisor decouples compute from physical servers. To accelerate toward hybrid cloud architectures, build higher quality applications faster, and improve business resiliency and availability, Actifio is the first and only enterprise class copy data virtualization platform. For more visit Actifio.com, or follow us on Twitter @Actifio. Media Contact:

Callum Gibson Durr

Bite for Actifio

[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160107/320093LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/actifio-to-showcase-industry-leading-copy-data-virtualization-platform-at-vmworld-2016-300318014.html SOURCE Actifio

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Boomsourcing Honored by Utah Business Magazine as one of Utah's 50 Fastest Growing Companies

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The 50 fastest-growing companies in Utah were honored at an annual awards luncheon last Thursday on August 18th by Utah Business Magazine. Companies were selected and ranked based on financial data submitted to an independent accountant for analysis. This is the first year that Boomsourcing applied for the list, debuting at no. 45. "We were thrilled and honored when we found out we would be on the list," Jacob Munns, CEO of Boomsourcing said. "Being honored along with such incredible other companies that I admire is pivotal for Boomsourcing and its employees," added Munns. Boomsourcing works behind the scenes to help high growth companies excel and scale smarter through their Perfect Pitch Technology platform and conact centers based in Utah, Mexico, and the Philippines. Boomsourcing helps companies generate and manage millions of conversations that range from new leads, customer satisfaction, support, and renewal services.



"With all the growth happening in Utah and amongst tech companies overall, we have found that as these companies grow, they need trusted partners to help them scale smarter. Boomsourcing is a trusted partner for other growth companies because of our global team, unique capabilities, and proprietary Perfect Pitch Technology, which has in turned fueled our rapid growth," said Munns. About Boomsouring

Boomsourcing helps companies grow their customer base, manage customer care, and streamline back office operations. Boomsourcing has generated more than 100,000,000 minutes of conversation time for their clients, using a combination of both human representatives, and a proprietary software called Perfect Pitch. Boomsourcing (originally called Teleserve) has offices in Utah, the Philippines, and Mexico. Media contact:

James Jarman

Email

385-252-9033 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boomsourcing-honored-by-utah-business-magazine-as-one-of-utahs-50-fastest-growing-companies-300318214.html SOURCE Boomsourcing

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] LiqTech And Kailong High Technology Have Entered Into A Binding Letter Of Intent To Produce And Sell Silicon Carbide Filters In China

WUXI, China, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LiqTech International, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LIQT), a clean technology company that manufactures and markets highly specialized filtration products and systems, and Kailong High Technology Co. Ltd. announced today that they have entered into a letter of intent to establish a diesel particulate filter company in China. The agreement includes a technology transfer fee of $1.5 million, which is payable upon achievement of certain milestones, and a royalty of $2.25 per liter of diesel particulate filters ("DPF"), which could generate $2.25 million in royalty revenue in 2018 and $4.5 million in royalty revenue in 2019 if the joint venture company achieves Kailong's projections. Kailong believes the market potential for high quality emission control systems is significant in China and together with LiqTech could scale to a capacity of 2 million liters in Silicon Carbide DPF to serve the Chinese and international market. The New China 6 standard for diesel vehicle emissions will likely put China on the forefront of emission standards in the world creating the need for better DPF in China. LiqTech will own 30% of the company and invest $4 million in the joint venture company over a 2-year period. Kailong will invest a minimum of $2.5 million in LiqTech, conditional to Chinese government approval. In the event that government approval is not obtained, the letter of intent will terminate. In addition, the letter of intent is conditional on execution of definitive agreements. Zang Zhicheng, Chairman of Kailong, stated, "In the past 15 years, Kailong has established a strong business platform in China for Selective Catalytic Reduction ("SCR") Systems for the diesel vehicle industry. We have been planning to enter into Silicon Carbide ("SIC") production and have had serious discussions with companies in Italy, Japan and South Korea. We have ultimately chosen LiqTech as our partner because of its leadership in SIC technology and its extensive knowledge in working with SIC. We believe that not only for the near term opportunity, but also for the future development of industry leading technology, LiqTech is the right partner. Kailong and LiqTech intend to work closely in sharing Kailong's experience in China and LiqTech's experience in SIC in developing the DPF market in China." Mr. Aldo Petersen, Chairman of LiqTech, noted, "LiqTech has a long history in the DPF Market. The DPF market in China has been in development for a number of years and we are very impressed by the strong focus that the Chinese Government has on Emission Standards. We believe that the DPF market in China will develop rapidly over the next several years, but to be successful, LiqTech believes te right partner is necessary. We believe we have found that partner in Kailong and are very optimistic about the long-term future of the new company. It will take 12-18 months to establish the new facility, but with our current capacity, LiqTech can service Kailong until the new company can service the DPF market in China."



About Kailong High Technology Co. Ltd Kailong High Tech was founded in 2001 and is located in Wuxi, the well-known southern city with three-thousand year history. Kailong is a high tech enterprise providing research and development, production, sales and after-sales service and is the leading unit of the diesel SCR exhaust gas post processing working group of the National Internal Combustion Engine Standardization Technology Committee.

Kailong develops and produces high-tech products for vehicles and off-road diesel engines, including SCR exhaust post processing systems, diesel particulate filters (DPF), CNG/LNG/LPG postprocessors, exhaust treatment devices for tunnel/industrial stoves, vehicle exhaust heating systems, engine smart temperature-control-cooling systems, centralized lubrication systems for passenger-carrying chassis and eddy current retarders. The company also provides system solutions satisfying the discharge standard of European VI for customers. In addition to its headquarters, the company also owns Kailong Institute of Technology, Kailong Lanfeng New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Kailong Baodun Power Technology Co., Ltd., Changan Branch and Wuxi Kairui Sensor Technology Co., Ltd. The total investment is RMB 550 million Yuan with more than 1,300 employees. The company owns 15 accessory centres including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Dongbei, Weichai and 218 special maintenance service stations. Recently, the company established cooperative relationships with numerous customers including Weichai, Yuchai, Xichai, Shangchai, Deutz, Cursor, Jiangxi Isuzu Motors, Nanjing IVECO, Yunnei, Quanchai and Shangyihong. About LiqTech International LiqTech International, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is a clean technology company that for more than a decade has developed and provided state-of-the-art technologies for gas and liquid purification using ceramic silicon carbide filters, particularly highly specialized filters for the control of soot exhaust particles from diesel engines and for liquid filtration. Using nanotechnology, LiqTech develops products using proprietary silicon carbide technology. LiqTech's products are based on unique silicon carbide membranes, which facilitate new applications and improve existing technologies. In particular, LiqTech Systems A/S (www.provital.dk), the Company's subsidiary, has developed a new standard of water filtration technology to meet the ever-increasing demand for higher water quality. By incorporating LiqTech's SiC liquid membrane technology with its longstanding systems design experience and capabilities it offers solutions to the most difficult water pollution problem. For more information, please visit www.liqtech.com

Follow LiqTech on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/liqtech-international

Follow LiqTech on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiqTech Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in the our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release. CONTACT: LiqTech International

Aldo Petersen, Chairman,

+45 2390 0000, [email protected]

Sune Mathiesen, CEO

+45 5197 0908, [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liqtech-and-kailong-high-technology-have-entered-into-a-binding-letter-of-intent-to-produce-and-sell-silicon-carbide-filters-in-china-300318219.html SOURCE LiqTech International, Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Smart Strategies to Maximize Media Tours and Results

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking for ways to secure editorially placed media for brand campaigns, start building broadcast buzz and maximize exposure? A Satellite Media Tour (SMT) is an optimal way to give campaigns reach with TV and radio placements at local and national media outlets. With strategic planning, an SMT can go beyond the studio and drive results across, social, paid, owned and earned media channels. Beyond Broadcast: Extending the Reach of Your Media Tour & Maximizing Results discusses:

How to create TV and radio buzz for your campaign

Complementing your tour with targeted placements Showcasing in owned channels and internal communication

Assessing results and ROI



Download the full article to learn tips to extend the value of an SMT and help drive campaign results.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire, a Cision company, is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms and distribution that marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers leverage to engage key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry over 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- and then distribute and measure results. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire powers the stories of organizations around the world. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.



Cision is a leading global media intelligence company, serving the complete workflow of today's communication professionals. Contact:

Stacey Miller

(301) 683-6038

[email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401269

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160621/381858LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-strategies-to-maximize-media-tours-and-results-300318243.html SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
It was a beautiful Monday on the farm in Red Bud, Illinois, 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.

 By the Chicago Tribune, a Tribune News Service newspaper
[August 25, 2016] DHgate.com to Launch Distribution Warehouse in England For E-Cigs

BEIJING, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- China's largest B2B focused cross-border e-commerce platform DHgate.com announces the launch of an overseas product distribution warehouse in Manchester, England and a focus on e-cigarettes and vapes in the British market, with an omni channel strategy that will allow for speedy delivery of the world's most popular e-cigarette brands to local retailers and consumers in response to the high demand in the UK, which was a contributing factor to the "leave" vote winning, and now signifies that the UK in the future will potentially not have to comply with the restrictions and opposition to e-cigarettes and vapes posed by the EU, which according to Live Science, have lower levels of some of the toxic substances and carcinogens than found in cigarette smoke. DHGATE E-CIG SUPPLIERS ARE THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY The market demand for e-cigs and vapes in the UK is a great opportunity for DHgate.com to supply British merchants with the world's most popular brands, all of which come from China, which makes Chinese manufacturers the global authority on e-cigarettes. Euromonitor states that 95% of e-cigarettes worldwide are produced in Shenzhen, China; and that, there are 2,600,000 e-cigarette and vape users in the UK' and that worldwide, the market for these goods have reached the $6 billion mark, and analysts predict that if legislation remains as is, the vaping sector could grow to $50 Billion by 2030.



E-CIG ISSUE HELPED FUEL BREXIT A report by E-cigarette Direct states that 89% of surveyed e-cig users in the UK said their vote to stay or leave the EU would be influenced by the regulations the EU had introduced on electronic cigarettes, while 77% were concerned about EU plans to introduce taxes on e-cigs.

Earlier in the summer the European commission vowed to monitor the market for e-cigs and vapes, and mandate that all EU member economies report all developments related to e-cigarettes. In addition the EU previously attempted to medicalize e-cigarettes and have threatened controls on nicotine strength, limits on liquid capacity, bans on flavour and refillable devices, and an e-cigarette tax. ABOUT DHGATE DHgate.com is the first to market and the biggest transactional cross-border B2B e-commerce marketplace in China, aiming to provide global buyers with quality products at competitive prices. Founded in 2004, DHgate.com has approximately 12 million global buyers from 230 countries and regions, with 1.4 million global sellers offering 40 million products. DHgate.com's business enables buyers to directly access global manufacturers of the world's top brands with rich product selections. DHgate.com is an all-in-one platform with integrated services for international logistics, cross-border payments, internet financing, etc. DHgate.com's US, UK, Spain, and UAE product distribution warehouses allow for 24 hour delivery and convenient product returns & refunds, bringing great convenience to buyers at http://www.dhgate.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dhgatecom-to-launch-distribution-warehouse-in-england-for-e-cigs-300318191.html SOURCE DHgate.com

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Innovation Experts Fill Curriculum Gap for Tomorrow's Creatives

CINCINNATI, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Studies suggest that up to 95 percent of today's employers give hiring preference to college graduates with skills to innovate, yet most colleges and universities haven't developed a specific innovation curriculum, leaving recent graduates and young professionals without formal tools that drive corporate growth. Innovation experts and authors Drew Boyd and Jacob Goldenberg are filling the collegiate gap in innovation curriculum by bringing their C-suite go-to method of Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) directly to computers and tablets. The SIT method, now used by Johnson & Johnson, GE, Procter & Gamble, SAP, and Philips, and many others was introduced in their book, Inside the Box: A Proven System of Creativity for Breakthrough Results . Now their new web-based idea generation application, Innovate! Inside the Box, is ready to use in classroom and business settings. Innovate! uses technology to bring to life the idea generation tools illustrated throughout the text, serving as a tech companion to Inside the Box. The web program is a comprehensive suite of thinking tools and principles. It was designed for students and young professionals, but is ideal for anyone seeking business solutions  even to the toughest problems. "My experience with Fortune 100 executives inspired the development of this tool. Executives are hungry for all levels of their leadership to organize their thinking around tomorrow's solutions," Boyd said. "Innovate! takes the pressure off of being creative by doing the hard work for the user. This web program brings a worldwide innovation method to life and empowers anyone to come up with incredible ideas." Developing a companion app to their book was the natural next step, particularly for college students and new professionals who rely on technology for organizing their work. The web program allows the user to start with an existing product or service and then walks the user through five Systematic Inventive Thinking techniques, resulting in new, fresh solutions. University students who tested Innovate! in beta form were pleased with its usefulness. "The tool acts like a wizard with notes, guides, prompts and dialog boxes. No need to use a notebook or post-it. You'll go through the process of breaking down your proposed object into components to get to your idea," said Sutanu Majumdar, a University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business 2016 MBA candidate. "It's a great tool if you are looking for a rapid process of generating, collecting and evaluating ideas. Once you have your solution, you can share it with your team through the app or on Twitter and Facebook." For those who have yet to read Inside the Box, the SIT method uses five techniques that evolved through research that examined thousands of innovative products, demonstrating that creativity is teachable and accessible to anyone. SIT refutes the traditional view of creativity, which is typically considered as thinking "outside the box" to find big ideas. Based on their experience, both Boyd and Goldenberg insist that anyone can be creative when they practice the SIT method. The web app is available at drewboyd.com. The intro price is $12 for an annual subscription. Customers can share their ideas they have generated using Innovate! Inside the Box via email or social media using the hashtag #InnovateInsidetheBox. About Drew Boyd

Drew Boyd is widely recognized as one of the foremost global experts, trainers and thought leaders in corporate innovation methods and is known for his "Inside the Box" method. In his roles as CEO and leadership advisor on creativity and innovation, international public speaker and award-winning author  Boyd guides teams, global businesses and governments to deliver breakthrough results. He is also an award-winning professor at the University of Cincinnati, overseeing the master of science in marketing program and serving as an associate professor of marketing and innovation. Boyd is a 30-year industry veteran, including 17 years with Johnson & Johnson in marketing, mergers and acquisitions, and international development. He has worked with companies such as Macy's, Toyota and Proctor & Gamble and has been featured in numerous business publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Industry Week, Psychology Today and Strategy+Business. About Jacob Goldenberg

Jacob Goldenberg is a marketing professor at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya and a visiting professor at Columbia University. He studies creativity, new product development, innovation, market complexity, and the effects of social networks. His research on SIT has been featured in leading scholarly journals such as the Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, Management Science, Journal of Marketing, Nature Physics and Science. His work has been featured in a variety of popular media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe.







Contact: Libby Schreiner

513-271-7222, ext. 15

Wordsworth Communications

[email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovation-experts-fill-curriculum-gap-for-tomorrows-creatives-300318053.html SOURCE Drew Boyd

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] Internet of Things Thought Leaders to Keynote Penton's IoT Emerge Event

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Penton's IoT Emerge, a new event that targets the opportunities and challenges posed by IoT devices, platforms and services, presented by the IoT Institute, today announced Internet of Things (IoT) thought leaders will keynote Penton's IoT Emerge event, which takes place at McCormick Center in Chicago, November 24, 2016. Braughnwynn "Bibi" Jackson, Event Director, Penton said, "Our event will bring the leading minds in the IoT industry together. These influencers will share pressing business challenges and how they are helping to shape the world of IoT." The IoT Emerge conference program will focus on four key areas: Industrial IoT, IoT Engineering, Smart Buildings & Energy and IoT Security. Event keynotes include: Futurist, inventor, and noted hacker, Pablos Holman will present "Hacking the Future" on Wednesday November 2 . Holman has a unique view on hacking. He believes learning can come from breaking technology as well as building it. He also thinks using a hacker's mindset could be the key to coming up with solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. Holman helped create the world's smallest PC; 3D printers at Makerbot; spaceships with Jeff Bezos ; artificial intelligence agent systems; and the Hackerbot, a Wi-Fi seeking robot. Today, he is working on futuristic invention projects at the Intellectual Ventures Laboratory.

will present "Hacking the Future" on . Holman has a unique view on hacking. He believes learning can come from breaking technology as well as building it. He also thinks using a hacker's mindset could be the key to coming up with solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. Holman helped create the world's smallest PC; 3D printers at Makerbot; spaceships with ; artificial intelligence agent systems; and the Hackerbot, a Wi-Fi seeking robot. Today, he is working on futuristic invention projects at the Intellectual Ventures Laboratory. An executive with a successful track record of large scale, complex projects, Eric Williams leads Avnet Inc.'s global IoT strategy and is responsible for designing, developing and driving Avnet's full breadth of IoT offerings leveraging Avnet's expansive expertise, scale and scope. He will present a keynote on Wednesday, November 2 . Williams has served in a number of executive leadership positions in the technology industry and most recently was a strategic advisor for CABA Technology and Moons, Inc. Previously he was with Arrow Electronics, Inc., Support Net Inc. and Bell Industries., Inc.

leads Avnet Inc.'s global IoT strategy and is responsible for designing, developing and driving Avnet's full breadth of IoT offerings leveraging Avnet's expansive expertise, scale and scope. He will present a keynote on . Williams has served in a number of executive leadership positions in the technology industry and most recently was a strategic advisor for CABA Technology and Moons, Inc. Previously he was with Arrow Electronics, Inc., Support Net Inc. and Bell Industries., Inc. Author, lecturer and business leader Timothy C.K. Chou will present the keynote "Towards a Precision Planet" on Thursday, November 3 . Chou is focused on several new ventures in applications, middleware, machine learning and security for he IoT as an investor and the Chairman of the Alchemist Accelerator. He recently published a new book entitled: Precision: Principals, Practices and Solutions for the Internet of Things . During his presentation, Chou will discuss how developing economies such as Latin America , Southeast Asia and Africa need infrastructure: power, water, agriculture, transportation, construction, healthcare and telecommunications. He'll provide a simple framework for IoT; the three business model implications to enterprises that build machines; and the benefits of those precision machines on the fundamental infrastructure for the planet.

will present the keynote "Towards a Precision Planet" on . Chou is focused on several new ventures in applications, middleware, machine learning and security for he IoT as an investor and the Chairman of the Alchemist Accelerator. He recently published a new book entitled: . During his presentation, Chou will discuss how developing economies such as , and need infrastructure: power, water, agriculture, transportation, construction, healthcare and telecommunications. He'll provide a simple framework for IoT; the three business model implications to enterprises that build machines; and the benefits of those precision machines on the fundamental infrastructure for the planet. Internationally recognized expert on technology, relationships, and the power of influence, Tamara McCleary is the CEO of Thulium, an agency creating powerful brand narratives and dynamic content for maximum impact reaching targeted audiences on social media in the B2B and B2C space, will present a keynote on Thursday, November 3 . McCleary is ranked by Klear in the Top 1% of global Social Media Influencers, by Onalytica as a global Top 100 IoT Influencer, Top 50 Big Data, AI, Blockchain and Digital Transformation Influencer, and by LeadTail as the 3rd most retweeted person by CMO's.



click here to view the agenda. IoT Emerge will be held in tandem with IWCE's Critical LTE Communications Forum and co-located with Empowering Customers & Citiesand SmartGig Chicago.

Three registration options are available to attend IoT Emerge, The Energy Times' Empowering Customers & Cities, and SmartGig Chicago, click here for details. Early registration ends August 28, 2016. To register to attend IWCE's Critical LTE Communications Forum, click here. IoT Emerge is collaborating closely with the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) and its IoT Council, as well as leading industry thought leaders such as the Industrial Internet Consortium, the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), the CMO Council and the Business Performance Innovation Network (BPI). Media interested in obtaining media credentials to attend IoT Emerge, contact Bibi Jackson at [email protected]. To learn about exhibiting & sponsorship opportunities, contact Amanda Buehner at [email protected]. Stay connected with Penton IoT Institute on Twitter @IoTiPenton, Facebook: IoT Institute and LinkedIn Group: The IoT Institute. To sign up for the IoT Institute weekly IoTi Informer newsletter, visit: www.ioti.com. About Penton's IoT Institute

Penton's IoT Institute is an online community and live events franchise focused on practical B2B applications in the rapidly growing world of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT Institute provides actionable case studies, insights, research, and e-learning on the industrial and cultural phenomenon that's changing the shape of business and cities today. The IoT Institute's mission is to enable cross-industry and cross-job function learning to drive business performance. ABOUT PENTON

Penton is an innovative information services company that empowers nearly 20 million business decision makers in markets that drive more than 12 trillion dollars in purchases each year. Our products inform with rich industry insights and workflow tools; engage through dynamic events, education and networking; and advance business with powerful marketing services programs. Penton is the way smart businesses buy, sell and grow. Headquartered in New York, Penton is privately owned by MidOcean Partners and Wasserstein & Co., LP. For more information, visit http://www.penton.com or follow us on Twitter @PentonNow. MEDIA CONTACT

Bibi Jackson

Penton IoT

[email protected]

(510) 423-0345 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401160LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/internet-of-things-thought-leaders-to-keynote-pentons-iot-emerge-event-300318157.html SOURCE Penton

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] RASTRAC and Magellan Announce Partnership to Expand Hours of Service Compliance

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RASTRAC, a leader in the GPS tracking and fleet management industry, and Magellan, a leader in GPS navigation devices, formally announced today a preferred partnership to provide GPS fleet tracking with Hours of Service (HOS) compliance through an electronic logging device (ELD). Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400689LOGO The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued HOS regulations which were aimed at managing the working hours of anyone who operates a commercial motor vehicle in the United States. Since 1938, these were all recorded in paper logs manually and were practically impossible to verify. In 2015, FMCSA added the Final Rule, which requires the use of an ELD which will monitor engine hours, vehicle movement, miles driven, and location information. All paper logs are to be transitioned to ELDs no later than December 18, 2017. With the new RASTRAC and Magellan partnership, they are able to assist the approximately three million drivers that will be impacted by this new law. As Randy Safford, Director of Subscription Sales at RASTRAC states, "With RASTRAC's 23 years of supplying GPS tracking, and Magellan's 30 years of supplying GPS Navigation services, we will form a team with over 50 years of experience providing fleet managment solutions to the trucking industry."



For more information, visit RASTRAC on the web at www.rastrac.com, and Magellan at www.magellangps.com. ABOUT RASTRAC: RASTRAC (www.rastrac.com) is a leading GPS fleet tracking and remote asset management solution for companies of all sizes. Founded in 1993, RASTRAC has provided vehicle tracking solutions to companies all over the world to help them reduce their operating expenses. The GPS fleet tracking and remote asset management solutions offered can help reduce unnecessary costs on everything from excess fuel usage to costly vehicle breakdowns, and more. RASTRAC offers GPS tracking and fleet management solutions for mobile applications, as well as installed devices inside vehicles or assets.

ABOUT MAGELLAN: Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, MiTAC Digital Corporation, manufacturer of the Magellan (www.magellangps.com) brand of portable GPS navigation devices, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation. Magellan, the industry leader for innovative GPS navigation devices since 1986, globally markets award-winning products in multiple categories including auto, RV, commercial, outdoor, fitness and mobile. Continuing its spirit of innovation, Magellan is developing new cloud-based technologies, wearables, OEM, and B-to-B solutions to meet the changing needs of today's consumers. Related Images image1.png image2.png Related Links RASTRAC Magellan 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/rastrac-and-magellan-announce-partnership-to-expand-hours-of-service-compliance-300317374.html SOURCE RASTRAC

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Tom Kimbis

"The message this year is that SPI isn't only about solar," said Julia Hamm, SEPA President and CEO. "The industry is now an integral part of the energy sector transformation toward more distributed resources and a distributed grid, and the range of companies and speakers headed for Las Vegas reflect that growth. We've got smart stories about new business models, utility-solar industry partnerships, and solutions that benefit both customers and the grid."

Working media can apply for conference accreditation online here. A press room with interview space will be available at the event.

About SEIA:



Celebrating its 42nd anniversary in 2016, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

About SEPA:

The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is an educational nonprofit working to facilitate the utility industry's transition to a clean energy future through education, research and collaboration. SEPA offers a range of research initiatives and resources, as well as conferences, educational events and professional networking opportunities. SEPA is co-founder and co-sponsor of Solar Power International and winner of the Keystone Policy Center's 2016 Leadership in Energy Award. For more information, visit www.sepapower.org.

About SPI:

Solar Power International (SPI) is the largest solar trade show in North America. SPI focuses on creating an environment that fosters the exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise for furthering solar energy development in the United States. SPI is powered by SEPA and SEIA, and unlike other solar industry events, all proceeds support the expansion of the U.S. solar energy market through SEIA's and SEPA's year-round research and education activities, as well as SEIA's advocacy efforts. Visit solarpowerinternational.com for more information.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solar-power-international-to-light-up-las-vegas-sept-12-15-300318425.html

SOURCE Solar Energy Industries Association
Eight years after the death of Dr. Richard Grossman, a legal fight over his $18-million estate is just now getting underway. His sons allege the burn treatment pioneer was duped into writing them out of the will by his wife and her attorney.



https://www.toacorn.com/articles/opening-statements-heard-in-grossman-estate-civil-litigation/
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 Foods

Tyson 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.
CLEARWATER, Fla., Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Commonwealth Capital Corp. announced today that Henry Abbott, currently President and Portfolio Director of Commonwealth has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and President of Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. Henry Abbott has been with Commonwealth for 18 years and serves as President of Commonwealth and Commonwealth Income & Growth Fund, Inc., and as a Director of Commonwealth and its affiliates. Mr. Abbott is a registered principal of the Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. and has been elected Chairman of the Board of Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. During his tenure with Commonwealth, Mr. Abbott has worked diligently to build relationships with the broker/dealer community, attending and speaking at broker conferences/industry conferences and Commonwealth Due Diligence conferences. He is recognized as very knowledgeable in the equipment leasing and securities industry. Mr. Abbott has been a control person of Commonwealth Capital Securities for six years.



Prior to Commonwealth, Mr. Abbott was active in the commercial lending industry, working primarily on asset-backed transactions for more than 30 years. Mr. Abbott graduated from St. Johns University. He was a founding partner of Westwood Capital LLC in New York, a Senior Vice President for IBJ Schroeder Leasing Corporation and managed a group specializing in the provision of operating lease finance programs in the high technology sector. Mr. Abbott brings extensive knowledge and experience in leasing and a history of managing over $1.5 billion of secured transactions. He is a member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, and the Investment Program Association. Mr. Abbott holds his FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses.

Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott, CEO of Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. has resigned her positions as CEO, Chief Compliance Officer and President of Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp., but will retain her positions as Chairman, Owner & CEO of Commonwealth Capital Corp.

James Pruett, currently Senior Vice President of Compliance has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer for Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. James Pruett is responsible for management of regulatory policies and procedures, assisting in compliance internal audit, associate regulatory filings. Mr. Pruett assists in the management of shareholder records and updates and is Secretary to the Board of Directors for Commonwealth Capital Corp. Additionally, Mr. Pruett has been elected as a Director of the Board of Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. Mr. Pruett holds his FINRA Series 39, 22 and 63 licenses.

Lynn Whatley, currently Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Office and Sr. Controller of Commonwealth and its affiliates, has also been elected as a Director of the Board of Commonwealth Capital Securities Corp. Mrs. Whatley currently holds her FINRA Series 39, 22 and 63 licenses.

Founded in 1978, Commonwealth Capital Corp. has negotiated, priced, and structured more than $1.5 billion of equipment leases to companies nationwide. The company focuses on equipment that represents a niche market which Commonwealth has been operating since inception. Commonwealths policy of short-term leases often end with renewal or outright purchase by the lessees of the equipment. From its headquarters in Florida, Commonwealth has grown steadily over the years, with a focus on lessee credit and investor service. To date, Commonwealth has offered 30 investment programs to thousands of investors. The Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has certified Commonwealth as a woman-owned business.

Commonwealths management team consists of men and women with backgrounds in many facets of the leasing and securities industries including acquisitions, finance, portfolio management, residual value forecasting, asset remarketing, due diligence and compliance. This team, possessing a combined 100+ years of experience, manages the entire lease acquisition, operation and liquidation process.
Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) (Handelsbanken) har idag salt samtliga sina A -aktier, totalt 29 367 821 A-aktier i AB Industrivarden (publ) (Industrivarden), motsvarande 6,8 procent av kapitalet och 10,3 procent av rosterna. Priset uppgick till 153,25 kronor per aktie (Transaktionen). Aktierna har forvarvats av svenska och internationella institutionella investerare. Transaktionen innebar en realisationsvinst for Handelsbanken om cirka SEK 750 miljoner, vilken kommer ha en positiv paverkan pa Handelsbankens resultat for det tredje kvartalet 2016. Forsaljningen innebar ingen okning av Handelsbankens egna kapital eftersom aktierna klassificerats som AFS-tillgang och har upptagits till marknadsvarde i bankens redovisning. Som en effekt av Transaktionen kommer Handelsbankens riskexponeringsbelopp att minska och darmed fa en positiv effekt pa Handelsbankens karnprimarkapitalrelation med cirka 0,6 procentenheter. Morgan Stanley och Handelsbanken Capital Markets har varit engagerade som Joint Bookrunners i Transaktionen For ytterligare information kontakta: Ulf Riese, Chief Financial Officer, + 46 8 22 92 20 Mikael Hallaker, Head of Investor Relations, + 46 8 701 29 95, + 46 70  266 29 95 Johan Wallqvist, Presschef, + 46 8  701 10 00, + 46 72  206 34 50 Denna information ar sadan information som Handelsbanken ar skyldig att offentliggora enligt EU:s marknadsmissbruksforordning och lagen om vardepappersmarknaden. Informationen lamnades, genom ovanstaende kontaktpersons forsorg, for offentliggorande den 25 augusti 2016 klockan 07.30 CET. For mer information om Handelsbanken hanvisas till: www.handelsbanken.se IMPORTANT NOTICE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL, OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, ANY SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THERE WILL NOT BE A PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SHARES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES OR INVESTMENTS FOR SALE OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES OR INVESTMENTS IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN THAT WOULD PERMIT AN OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES OR POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ACTION FOR THAT PURPOSE IS REQUIRED. PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ARE REQUIRED TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION. IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA") WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE (EACH, A "RELEVANT MEMBER STATE"), THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER IF MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IS DIRECTED EXCLUSIVELY AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"). FOR THESE PURPOSES, THE EXPRESSION "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE" MEANS DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, INCLUDING THE 2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE, TO THE EXTENT IMPLEMENTED IN A RELEVANT MEMBER STATE), AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN THE RELEVANT MEMBER STATE AND THE EXPRESSION "2010 PD AMENDING DIRECTIVE" MEANS DIRECTIVE 2010/73/EU. IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DIRECTED EXCLUSIVELY AT QUALIFIED INVESTORS (I) WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") OR (II) WHO FALL WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER, AND (III) TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED. IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION, THE MANAGERS AND ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES ACTING AS AN INVESTOR FOR THEIR OWN ACCOUNT MAY TAKE UP AS A PRINCIPAL POSITION ANY SHARES AND IN THAT CAPACITY MAY RETAIN, PURCHASE OR SELL FOR THEIR OWN ACCOUNT SUCH SHARES. IN ADDITION THE MANAGERS OR THEIR AFFILIATES MAY ENTER INTO FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS AND SWAPS WITH INVESTORS IN CONNECTION WITH WHICH THE MANAGERS (OR THEIR AFFILIATES) MAY FROM TIME TO TIME ACQUIRE, HOLD OR DISPOSE OF SHARES. THE MANAGERS DO NOT INTEND TO DISCLOSE THE EXTENT OF ANY SUCH INVESTMENT OR TRANSACTIONS OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY LEGAL OR REGULATORY OBLIGATION TO DO SO. NO GUARANTEE CAN BE MADE THAT ANY SECURITIES WILL BE SOLD PURSUANT TO THE TRANSACTION. THE MANAGERS ARE ACTING ON BEHALF OF HANDELSBANKEN AND NO ONE ELSE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION AND WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO ANY OTHER PERSON FOR PROVIDING THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO CLIENTS OF THE MANAGERS OR FOR PROVIDING ADVICE IN RELATION TO THE TRANSACTION. Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this communication may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as believe, expect, anticipate, intend, may, plan, estimate, will, should, could, aim or might, or, in each case, their negative, or similar expressions. The forward -looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that they will materialize or prove to be correct. Because these statements are based on assumptions or estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, the actual results or outcome could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements in this presentation are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or any obligation to update or revise the statements in this presentation to reflect subsequent events. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this document. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review, update, confirm, or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise in relation to the content of this communication.
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
Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
California heavy music veterans Deftones have announced they are set to return to Australia for a run of national headline shows this November, to be joined by none other than homegrown progressive favourites Karnivool.

Deftones recently celebrated their first ever Australia No. 1 album when they unveiled the critically hailed Gore last month. The album has been acclaimed as a unique triumph of the alternative metal genre.

Meanwhile, the bands live chops have never been better. They are currently in the midst of a massive world tour and their upcoming Australian shows will no doubt be packed with all the songs fans know and love them for.

We recently caught up with bassist Sergio Vega to talk about how he and the band crafted the sound of Gore and how they recreate it on the live stage, as well as discussing the guitar gear he simply couldnt live without.

Back To Basics

Well, if I was forced to tour in just a small van or car, Id need a bass for sure, right? Thats just assumed. Id take either a Fender Jaguar or a Fender Bass VI, I could deal with either. My rig would honestly just consist of an Orange combo amp and a Fractal Audio Axe-FX and a MIDI controller. I use a beefier version of that for playing in general, so Id just shrink that down.

Evolution

The previous album was basically the same rig, the only thing I switched up on was using the OB1 amp heads by Orange. Before that I was messing around with a lot of different heads from like Orange amps to reissues of classic amps. But Ive been using the Axe-FX for a while now. Stephen and I got those on tour some years back.

Hitting The Studio

I think my rig is about 99.9 percent the same when shifting between the studio and the live stage, honestly. The beauty of using the Fractal Audio thing is that its a small unit but a really powerful unit. I have one at home, I have it with my band, and when youre making patches and doing things, working on them and developing them at home, youre getting a fairly accurate sense of what youre gonna get in the studio and its the same for live performance.

So the only real difference is that live you have to condense things. When youre in the studio you have a little more room to play with routing things and going through different cabinets and things like that, as well as having a lot of individual patches per song. So what I started doing was reducing them in the studio as well so that when we play live it was the same patches as in the studio.

Back In The Day

My first bass? I cant even remember what brand it was. But I guess my first one when I really started putting together rigs and stuff was a Rickenbacker 4001. Before I could really own an amp, we would rehearse at hourly practice places that had their own amps and then when I played shows I would rent amps, until I was actually able to buy an amp and store it in a place. Living in Manhattan and that, I didnt really have a place to store gear, so I started with the Rickenbacker and then rent like an Ampeg SVT or something.

Inspiration

What I think happens I know for me that coming from the hardcore scene, youre inspired by the wave of kids that came before you and they sort of become what you aspire to have. So once you get to a certain point you start to experiment a lot more on your own and hang out at music shops or you make friends and you start trying out pedals and stuff.

I come from a background where the people around me were super effects-heavy and big on pedals, but the basic pedals I had were basic pedals and basic pickups, so I was inspired like the Cro-Mags and Bad Brains and British bands like Discharge, so I was drawn to distorted bass sounds and playing with a pick.

Getting Weird

The weirdest thing I have pedal-wise right now is a Blue Sky pedal, its a sick little reverb pedal I have that I like using when I record stuff at home and its by Strymon. Its the Blue Sky reverberator. Its pretty awesome. Its not weird so much as the fact that its shimmery and awesome and you can use it for settings that can give you sort of My Bloody Valentine-style guitar and thats probably the coolest pedal Ive got in my rig.

See Deftones do their thing live on Australian stages when they embark on their national tour with Karnivool this November  check below for dates and details!

Deftones Australian Tour Dates

Tuesday, 8th November 2016

Metro City, Perth (18+)

Tickets: Megatix | Oztix | 1300 762 545

Thursday, 10th November 2016

Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (All Ages)

Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100

Friday, 11th November 2016

Festival Hall, Melbourne (All Ages)

Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100

Saturday, 12th November 2016

Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (All Ages)

Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849

Sunday, 13th November 2016

Riverstage, Brisbane (All Ages)

Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. (OTCBB:HCTI) is pleased to announce that after several years of development, Comex a division of PPG Industries Inc. (see About PPG below) has created a new coatings product utilizing Hybrids zero isocyanate Polyurethane technology. The product was recently launched in the Mexican market and is now sold in PPG-Comex stores in Mexico. PPG-Comex developed and launched the product in an effort to bring more environmentally friendly green products to customers without compromising on performance. The coating product has been reported to work exceptionally well and was found to perform better than competitors products on both durability and coating properties. We are very excited to be working in partnership with PPG-Comex the worlds largest industrial coatings company, said Joseph Kristul President and CEO, this is yet another example of the commercial value of Hybrids unique technology.



Later this year, PPG-Comex will also be launching a second coating product based on Hybrids zero isocyanate Polyurethane technology.

This product launch demonstrates the strong desire and ability for companies to develop their own products using Hybrids zero isocyanate Green Polyurethane Hardener as a raw material. It also demonstrates a strong market demand for Green Polyurethane by some of the largest coatings companies in the world. Hybrids end goal is for numerous companies to develop multiple products based on Hybrids zero isocyanate Green Polyurethane Hardener as legislation for isocyanates eventually becomes more restrictive, thereby allowing Hybrid to deeply and broadly penetrate the coatings market not only as a finished goods supplier, but also as a raw materials supplier. Hybrid is and continues to be the only supplier in the world of zero isocyanate polyurethane hardener and zero isocyanate polyurethane based finished goods.

This press release was first issued on May 5, 2016

Hybrids patented technology is the only formulation in the world today that produces polyurethane without the use of any isocyanates in the entire production process.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, and other risks. Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. expectations.

About PPG

PPG is an American Fortune 500 company and global supplier of paints, coatings, specialty materials, chemicals, glass, and fiberglass. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG operates in more than 70 countries around the globe. By revenue it is the largest coatings company in the world with $15B for 2015. PPG has 47,000 employees worldwide and trades under the symbol PPG on the NYSE with a $27B market cap. PPG acquired Comex in 2014 for $2.3B. Comex has 4,000 retail locations, 5,000 employees and $1B in revenues.

About Hybrid Coating Technologies

Hybrid Coating Technologies (HCT) is a San Francisco-based innovator focused on improving the quality and safety of foams, coatings, and adhesives for industrial and commercial customers around the world. We are the exclusive licensee of Green Polyurethane foam, coatings, and adhesives  the worlds first-ever patent protected polyurethane-based foam, coatings, and adhesive products that eliminate toxic isocyanates from the entire production process (licensed by Nanotech Industries, Inc.) and the 2015 recipient of the Presidential Green Chemistry Award.

The Problem of Conventional Foams/Coatings/Paint and Isocyanates

Conventional polyurethane (PU) paint and coatings have many disadvantages: they are porous, permeable and maintain poor hydrolytic stability. This makes the material highly vulnerable to environmental degradation and ultimately leads to their chemical decomposition, especially when in contact with water. Conventional PU foams such as spray foam insulation are applied via a spraying mechanism that sends toxic isocyanates in the air  exposing workers to the dangers of toxic isocyanates. Strict and costly health & safety measures have to be implemented in the manufacture and application of conventional polyurethane due to the toxicity of isocyanates. This is why regulatory bodies around the world are now looking toward phasing out the use of isocyanates.

Since conventional polyurethanes contain isocyanates, very strict health and safety measures related to their use must be taken. In addition, special measures for the preparation of fillers for paints and coatings must be taken since isocyanates are very sensitive to moisture. Both of these issues lead to a highly regulated and costly working environment. On the other hand, it is not necessary to address any of these issues with Green PolyurethaneTM since no isocyanates are used at any stage of the production or application process  making it hundreds of times less toxic than conventional PU.

Current global trends toward more environmentally sound products and new legislative restrictions on the use of hazardous materials and their chemical by-products pose formidable obstacles to conventional polyurethane manufacturers. Governmental health agencies and workers unions are beginning to actively speak out and regulate against the dangers of isocyanates in the workplace.



The Green Polyurethane Solution

Green Polyurethane (also referred to as HNIPU - hybrid non-isocyanate polyurethane) is a hybrid material that combines the high chemical resistance properties of epoxy and advanced durability and wear resistance properties of polyurethane, making it the perfect coating application for sanitary, high traffic and corrosive surface areas. As a hybrid material with superior properties, Green Polyurethane  can be applied in one or two coatings, providing a welcome cost-saving substitute to currently used multi-layered coating applications. Its safety features allow it to be applied without the interruption of business due to public exposure, creating an additional 30-60% savings on application costs for customers. As a foam, Green Polyurethane provides high R values up to 6.0, energy savings up to 30% and improved tensile strength over conventional foam without using dangerous isocyanates.

Recent Anti-Isocyanate Regulatory Pressure

US EPA MDI Action Plan: The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is taking progressive action to regulate and potentially ban isocyanates and has mentioned Hybrids technology as an alternative to toxic polyurethane in its MDI Action Plan against isocyanates (see page 4 Figovsky and Shapovalov) http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/tdi.pdf.

OSHA National Emphasis Program: On June 25, 2013 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the US Department of Labor, initiated a National Emphasis Program to protect workers from the serious health effects from occupational exposure to isocyanates. Isocyanates are found in polyurethane based products. According to OSHA, "Workers exposed to isocyanates can suffer debilitating health problems for months or even years after exposure which could result in death."

Californias Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on March 13, 2014 selected isocyanates and two others substances from a list of 1,100 toxic components that it will focus on with the goal of potentially banning them altogether within the next two years. The announcement is part of a bigger effort to educate consumers and manufacturers about product safety under the Green-Chemistry Law, which went into effect in California last year. Under the law, the agency has jurisdiction to ban these products altogether after following proper protocol. That process includes workshops, a public comment period and requiring manufacturers that want to sell these products in California to determine whether it would be feasible to use safer ingredients

The US EPA on January 8, 2015 announced that it was taking action to protect consumers from new uses and imports of harmful isocyanates in polyurethane. The EPAs proposed action, a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), would require manufacturers (including importers) to notify the EPA at least 90 days before starting or resuming new uses of isocyanates in polyurethane based consumer products. The EPA would then have the opportunity to evaluate the intended use of and if necessary, to take action to prohibit or limit all products containing over one tenth of one percent of the chemical including imported products that make their way into the United States.
Our photographer Christine Lee headed down to 170 Russell to catch a ripping set from post-hardcore champs Pierce The Veil, supported by Canadians Silverstein, Beartooth from the U.S., and Melbourne outfit Storm The Sky.

We interviewed the band ahead of their Australian tour about the long, challenging road to releasing their new record, Misadventures.
Sydney surf punks Forest Hall have dropped their latest single Triple D off their upcoming debut EP.

The latest offering from Mislav Belobrajdics (Hedge Fund) new project is tailor-made to groove along to. Its the Beach Boys with attitude, fitting perfectly into the new wave of excellent punk music  Skegss, FIDLAR, Dune Rats  emerging lately.

You can catch Forest Hall supporting The Domestics tonight at The Union, ahead of their Triple D launch on September 2nd at Vic On The Park, supported by West Lead Company.
Its been almost 30 years since the Pixies changed the course of alternative music and six years since they last visited Australian shores, but theyre now set to return as part of their Head Carrier world tour.

Considered one of the most influential and important bands of the alt-rock movement, the Pixies have one of the most celebrated discographies in rock music and have influenced everyone from Radiohead and PJ Harvey to Nirvana.

The band previously visited Down Under to headline 2007s inaugural V Festival and played 13 incredible shows during their sold-out Doolittle tour in 2010, which saw them playing the iconic album to crowds in full.

This trek will see the band, together with new bassist Paz Lenchantin (Zwan, A Perfect Circle), touring up the East Coast to celebrate the release of their forthcoming new album, the eagerly anticipated Head Carrier.

Pixies Australian Tour Dates

Tickets on sale 10am Friday, 2nd September 20116

Thursday, 2nd March 2017

Riverstage, Brisbane

Saturday, 4th March 2017

Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne

Tuesday, 7th March 2017

Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
The Big Music Quiz made its debut on Australian television this week. Based on a French series of the same name and format, the show brought together various celebrities and quizzed them about music.

Its kind of like Spicks & Specks, only without the likability of Adam Hills, Myf Warhurst, and Alan Brough. Instead, weve got Darren McMullen, best known for his stint hosting The Voice.

The first review of The Big Music Quiz has just made its way out into the interwebs and the verdict is well, not good. For one thing, the show cops it for being a pale, charmless imitation of Spicks & Specks.

The vibe for The Big Music Quiz is a cross between those late night, cheap as chips, dial-in shows the networks tried around the turn of the century and a pub quiz when everyones had their fifth wine cooler, writes Bernard Zuel in the Yass Tribune.

The Big Music Quiz tries to nail the formula that made Spicks & Specks a success and continues to make RockWiz a much-loved Saturday night staple for so many Australians, but falls flat.

This is mostly due to the fact that instead of relying on the chemistry between hosts and panelists and unique segments, the show just goes for maximum fun appeal by making everything big, loud, and over the top.

Get an answer right? Get up and dance with a beaming smile that says my cheque from Channel 7 has been cashed already and who will be watching anyway? Got an answer wrong? Get up and dance with a sad face that says my cheque from Channel 7 has been cashed already but Ive got a sneaky feeling my agent cant keep this out of the resume, Zuel writes.

The problem is though when you start at the pain threshold of hysteria, your audience is going to tire long before the hour is up. Yes, an hour. Thats a very long time to spend without gags in a packed, day-glo pub with the Shoutiest. Shouty. People. Ever.

Whilst the ratings arent out yet (and they may be spectacular for all we know), The Big Music Quiz looks like another limp attempt by TV producers to recreate a successful overseas show whilst totally disregarding all the cultural nuances that make it work in a given market.

Kind of like when they took Rove over to America to try and do the UKs The Big Fat Quiz of the Year  ugh.
Melbournes Amarillo are set to release their debut album Eyes Still Fixed on October 1st, and have released new single Congratulations in anticipation.

The Melbourne groups new track is a gorgeous mix of country instrumentation and perfectly-crafted pop sensibilities, anchored by passionate vocals. Produced by frontman Nick OMaras cousin, Shane OMara (Rebeccas Empire, Snout), Congratulations is a dreamy journey.

Since the release of their debut self-titled EP, the group have been impressing fans around Australia, and newest single Congratulations proves the band are in no way finished with the live stage. In anticipation of their album Eyes Still Fixed, which releases on October 1st, the group will be heading out on a run of east coast shows  dates below.

AMARILLO TOUR DATES

Wednesday, September 21st

Newtown Social Club, Newtown, NSW

Tickets newtownsocialclub.com

Friday, September 23rd

Marmook & Poom Pooms Cafe & Bar,Maitland, NSW

Tickets www.facebook.com/marmooks

Saturday, October 8th

The Bella Union, North Carlton, VIC

Tickets www.bellaunion.com.au

Sunday, October 16th

The Bearded Lady, West End, QLD

Tickets www.thebeardedlady.com.au
Remi recently announced the impending release of his highly anticipated new album, Divas and Demons, which is out 16th September, and hes now revealed a string of national tour dates to celebrate the LPs release.

The tour will see Remi zig-zagging across the country with good mate Baro, who collaborated with the rapper on the track F**k the Judge, hitting up venues in Canberra, Hobart, and Ballarat for the first time in two years.

Since our last record, a lot of young mixed race Aussie kids have come to me talking about how much they can relate to the racial struggle in our music, says Remi. I dont think thats a good thing, but Im proud that these kids feel a little less alone, because of some songs we didnt think anyone would hear.

It also became inspiration for me to continue opening up about my experience. Often you can feel like one crazy beige kid in a sea of ignorance shouting about equality. These kids helped change that for me.

The most beautiful thing about a lot of musicians I know is how much the social climate effects them. Jordan Rakei is one of those musicians. Even though we were literally continents apart when he worked on this joint, with very little background on the song, Jordan was able too match the tone and message immediately.

Partially because his voice sounds like liquid gold, but mostly because I know he gets it. Its very apparent across his discography (if you havent heard it, get it) that he cares for our planet and the people in it. Thanks for being one of the good guys my brother.

Check below for all the dates and details.

Remi National Tour Dates

Friday, 18th November 2016

Karova Lounge, Ballarat

Friday, 25th November 2016

Railway Club, Darwin*

Saturday, 26th November 2016

Rocket Bar, Adelaide

Wednesday, 30th November 2016

Transit Bar, Canberra

Friday, 2nd December 2016

Newtown Social Club, Sydney

Friday, 9th December 2016

Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane

Saturday, 10th December 2016

Republic Bar, Hobart

Saturday, 17th December 2016

Howler, Melbourne
Adelaide welcomed a new venue over the weekend, with Big Window officially opening its doors.

Following from last years news that Adelaide was now a UNESCO recognised city of music, the city has delivered music fans with another music venue on the weekend.

Big Window, owned and operated by Matthew Khabbhaz (best known as producer Tigerilla and for being Alldays housemate), is promising to be one of Adelaides leading proponents of house, disco and hip-hop.

As The Music reports, the new 100-capacity Hindley Street address was opened on Saturday night, with an event hosted by US DJ Darshan Jesrani. A frequent visitor the US and Europe, Khabbhaz and his business partner Paul Glens are planning to curate events at the venue based upon trends they see emerging overseas.

The venue is also specifically catering to musicians, with Big Window boasting a recording studio with plans to encourage touring bands to record onsite, so be sure to to check out the Big Window website.

Tigerilla has definitely been keeping busy, as hes also just dropped his new track TULIPS ft. Gill Bates.
Beyond The Valley brought the New Year in in style last year when they tapped electronic duo Flight Facilities for an epic countdown. Theyve now announced the Aussie band that will get the honours this time around its none other than Sticky Fingers.

The countdown is the biggest part of BTV, and working out which act is going to deliver that moment is a huge decision! Rufus and Flight Facilities have held that spot previously and Stickies are helping us continue the tradition of having marquee Australian talent counting in the New Year  they have some crazy things in store! said BTVs Nick Greco.

In addition to Sticky Fingers, punters heading to Lardner Park in Warragul this year will be treated to performances from the likes of Chance The Rapper, Alex Lahey, DZ Deathrays, MSTRKRFT, What So Not, SAFIA, GoldLink, Dune Rats, and many more.

Best of all, organisers promise this is just the start. They say they have around 66 acts up their sleeves in total and there will be more great acts announced as we roll into summer toward the biggest NYE party yet!

This years Beyond The Valley will be a four-day event with four-day tickets starting at $420, three-day tickets available for $380, two-day tickets starting from $340, and single-day NYE tickets coming in at $150.

Beyond The Valley 2016

Alex Lahey

Bag Raiders (LIVE)

Bakermat

Chance The Rapper

Dena Amy

Dune Rats

DZ Deathrays

Eats Everything

Emma Louise

Giraffage

GoldLink

Harts

Hermitude

Highasakite

Hot Chip (DJ set)

Hudson Mohawke

Japanese Wallpaper

Jarryd James

JME

Kllo

Kolsch (DJ Set)

Ladyhawke

Lastlings

Lunice

Montaigne

Motez

MSTRKRFT

Oliver Huntemann

Paces

Pachanga Boys

Phantogram

Running Touch

Ryan Hemsworth

SAFIA

Skream

Slumberjack

Sonny Fodera

Sticky Fingers

Thundamentals

Tokimonsta

Total Giovanni

Vera Blue

Wafia

What So Not

ZHU

Wednesday, 28th December 2016  Sunday, 1st January 2017

Lardner Park, Warragul

Tickets: Beyond The Valley
Vice President Biden Expects Administration to Break the Law

Where Does Liberal Jay Sidie Stand?

An ongoing debate in the Sunflower State rehashed for the upcoming election cycle . . .Overland Park, KS - According to Reuters this morning, Vice President Joe Biden said he expects the Obama Administration to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before leaving office. Under current federal law, closing the facility and transferring terrorists to American soil is illegal. The Administration's own Attorney General Loretta Lynch has publicly agreed as such. Regardless, the Administration has continued to move ahead with its plans to close the facility and in February outlined Fort Leavenworth as one of 13 potential sites for housing the terrorists. Yoder for Congress issued the following statements in response to the report:"Republicans and Democrats, regardless of political party or their position on this issue, should reject this kind of disregard for the faithful execution of our laws by the executive branch. Congress and the American people have spoken - closing the facility and bringing these terrorists to Kansas is a non-starter. I will continue to fight this misguided and dangerous effort and instead promote policies that keep the American people safe," said Congressman Kevin Yoder."Does Liberal Jay Sidie agree with the Vice President, that the Administration should break federal law, oppose a bipartisan majority of Congress and the American people, and close Guantanamo Bay," asked Cate Duerst, Yoder for Congress Campaign Manager. "Does he want to transfer the world's most dangerous terrorists to Fort Leavenworth over the objections of Kansans? The Third District needs answers on where Mr. Sidie stands on the safety and security of the American people and especially our communities in Kansas."###########
he Court will still hold the public hearing on Sept 15, as previously noticed.

Legal move trickery with no opposition moves the toy train past another hurdle as proponents of the extension that wasis now back on track.We'll have more on this later but for now take a look:Written by David JohnsonOn Aug. 19, the 16th Circuit Court held a status conference on the streetcar extension case and KCRTA asked the Court to forego the judicial hearing as permitted under the TDD Act when no one files an opposition in the proceeding.Under such circumstances, the court can make its ruling based on the pleadings alone. The judge decided to do so.The TDD Act expressly permits this when no opposition to the legality of the proposed district needs to be ruled upon by the Court. Considering that two prior courts have reviewed this same structure and finance plan before and found them to be lawful, we anticipate that this proposed district will be certified for voter consideration by the Court as were the prior proposals.This only affects the judicial hearing that would have been held on Sept. 16.Assuming the Court certifies the district for voter consideration as anticipated, the Court would issue that order sometime after Sept. 15.###############
English Swedish

Stabilised operations and significantly improved financial performance during the second quarter

April - June

Revenue growth for B737/B767 aircraft fleet offset by decreasing ATP fleet utilisation. Underlying revenue growth amounted to 1.0 % year-on-year.

EBITDA decreased to MSEK 36.2 (50.1) corresponding to a margin of 11.3 % (14.8).

Earnings per share of SEK -0.56 (0.15).

Per the terms and conditions of the corporate bond loan the interest rate increased by 50 basis points to an interest rate of 7.0 %, as from June 21.

One B737-400 aircraft was acquired.

January - June

Revenue growth for B737/B767 aircraft fleet offset by decreasing ATP fleet utilisation. Underlying revenue growth amounted to 1.4 % year-on-year.

EBITDA decreased to MSEK 40.3 (88.0) corresponding to a margin of 6.3 % (13.1).

Earnings per share of SEK -1.90 (-0.31).

The bond loan issued in 2015 (WEST002) was listed on NASDAQ, Stockholm in January 2016.

The shareholders of the company changed the composition of the Board of Directors. A new CEO was also appointed.

One of the Group's CRJ200PF was involved in a tragic accident.

Two B737-400 aircraft were acquired.

Key performance indicators for the Group

All figures in MSEK unless stated otherwise Apr - Jun Apr - Jun Jan - Jun Jan - Jun Jan - Dec 2016 2015 2016 2015 2015 Financial metrics* Revenue 319.3 337.6 643.2 669.6 1,409.9 Revenue growth -5.4% 15.1% -3.9% 11.9% 13.3% Underlying revenue growth 1.0% 7.4% 1.4% 6.7% 8.6% EBITDA 36.2 50.1 40.3 88.0 177.9 EBITDA margin (%) 11.3% 14.8% 6.3% 13.1% 12.6% Net income -15.2 3.9 -51.2 -8.4 -49.6 Cash flow from operating activities 130.0 88.1 116.1 117.6 216.7 Earnings per share before dilution (SEK) -0.56 0.15 -1.90 -0.31 -1.84 Net interest bearing debt / EBITDA** 5.2 - 5.2 - 3.6 Interest coverage ratio** 2.3 - 2.3 - 2.9 Equity / Asset ratio 9.9% 19.8% 9.9% 19.8% 13.3% Total assets 1,363.9 1,144.1 1,363.9 1,144.1 1,412.1 Operating metrics* Fleet dispatch regularity 99.4% 99.2% 98.8% 99.1% 99.1% Performed flights 5,699 6,386 11,717 12,978 26,790 Aircraft in service (incl. wet leases) 42 45 42 45 48 Average employees 478 506 488 503 508

CEO's comments

Following a challenging first quarter, in which we had the tragic accident of one of our CRJ200PF, wind down of our Swedish Mail operation and a number of costly operational challenges, I am pleased to see a stabilisation of our business in the second quarter. Operational and financial results have improved significantly from 1st quarter to 2nd quarter. Our 2016 focus of "Back to Basics" is showing results and will continue to do so through the remainder of the year. Over this quarter, financial results have improved month by month, thanks to proactive cost control. Customers have seen an improvement in our delivery of services, and employees are supporting the changes and challenges ahead. While primary focus is to regain profitability and stability with our present business, we are also actively seeking growth opportunities for 2017 and beyond - says Mr. Fredrik Groth, CEO & President

The full report can be downloaded at http://www.westatlantic.eu/

For further information, please contact:

CEO, Fredrik Groth, +46 (0) 10-452 97 09

CFO, Magnus Dahlberg, +46 (0) 10-452 95 49

About West Atlantic

The West Atlantic Group is one of the market leading providers of dedicated air freight services to European NMO's and air freight capacity to Global Integrators and Freight Forwarders. The Group has a well-established geographic network and operates an aircraft fleet of 48 customised aircraft, whereof a majority is wholly owned. West Atlantic was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Operations are performed all over Europe and per December 31 2015 West Atlantic had 511 employees. For 2015 West Atlantic reported revenues of MSEK 1,410 and EBITDA of MSEK 178.

West Atlantic AB (publ) discloses the information contained in this interim report pursuant to the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instrument Trading Act.
The 7.5 billion euro debt increase has been attributed to the tranche collected after the first bailout review

The Greek public debt increased to 328.3 billion euros at the end of June, from 321 billion euros in March, according to the latest figures published by the public debt management agency (ODDIH).

This 7.5 billion euro increase has been attributed to the tranche that was paid out following the first bailout program review. The tranche also resulted in an increase of cash deposits from 2.08 billion euros to 3.17 billion euros, as well as increase of the segregated account from 63.4 million euros to 5.04 billion euros.

It should be noted that the Budgetary Central Government Debt differs from General Government Debt (Maastricht definition) by the amount of intra-sectoral debt holdings and other ESA adjustments.

The full set of figures and tables is available online.

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
IPK International and ITB Berlin examine trends in family trips abroad  steady growth despite declining birth rates in many countries  Spain is the most popular destination for families

Despite declining birth rates, family trips are on the rise. In 2015, around 78 million Europeans went on family vacation abroad and spent a total of 640 million nights on these trips. This is the result of a special evaluation of the World Travel Monitor, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.

Destination Germany registers high growth rates

Over the last ten years, the annual average growth rate of holiday trips with children (aged under 15) has been around two percent, which corresponds to the growth rate for all holiday trips undertaken by Europeans. For family trips, Europe is the preferred destination as 90 percent spend their holidays there. The most popular destination for families is Spain, where around 15 percent spend their holidays, followed by France. In recent years, Germany has registered high growth in this segment. As in 2007 it was still ranked sixth behind Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Turkey, Germany is now ranked on the third place and the number of family tourists there has almost doubled. Outside Europe, the most popular destinations for families are the USA, followed by Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Thailand. The three source markets with the highest demand for family trips are Germany, the UK and France, which altogether account for more than one-third of European family tourists.

Off to the beach

Beach holidays are the most popular type of family holidays, with two in five spent on lakes or by the sea. The main motivation for families is to relax, while sunbathing and swimming as well as good food and drinks are also very important. Although having been on the rise in recent years, with 17 percent, city breaks follow beach holidays by far in popularity. The focus here is on sightseeing and experiencing a citys atmosphere. With 15 percent round trips are the third most popular type of family holidays.

Hotels are increasingly in demand

More than 50 percent of families choose to stay in hotels. Over the last ten years this market has experienced steady growth, with about 25 percent of overnights spent in 4-star hotels. Besides hotels, the second most important type of accommodation are rented holiday homes and apartments which are more popular among family holidays than in the overall holiday market. In contrast, the market for private accommodation has almost halved over the same period.

Travel information and booking is mainly online driven

In order to plan their holidays, families obtain most of their information from the internet but approximately one-third also consult travel agencies and a quarter get tips and information from friends and relatives. Also for bookings the internet has become the most important booking channel and has gained a strong in market share in recent years. In 2015, almost three-quarters of all family trips were booked online. Travel agencies came a distant second. Around a quarter of family holidays were booked via this channel.

Dr. Martin Buck, Senior Vice President Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin: The young people of today represent the travel market of tomorrow. Tour operators must pay attention to the needs of both families and children. Good Wi-Fi reception at a destination is important, for example. The growth in hotel overnights shows that families have increasing requirements when it comes to their holidays. Not only attentive staff or good care for their children is important, they also want to experience unforgettable, special moments that let them come together as a family.

Alongside special evaluations of IPK`s World Travel Monitor and ITB Berlin will be publishing further data from the World Travel Monitor as part of the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2016/17 in early December. (Last years ITB World Travel Trends Report 2015/2016 is available here). The ITB World Travel Trends Report is based on the latest findings and papers published by the World Travel Monitor Forum, which will take place in early November 2016 in Pisa, Italy.

The World Travel Monitor Forum is an exclusive industry gathering which discusses the latest travel industry trends and forecasts of tourism development.

The overall findings for 2016 of the World Travel Monitor, the worlds most comprehensive survey of global travel trends, will be presented by IPK International at the ITB Future Day, part of the ITB Berlin Convention.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2017 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 8 to 12 March. From Wednesday to Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 8 to Saturday, 11 March 2017. More details are available at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the global travel industrys leading trade show. In 2016 a total of 10,000 companies and organisations from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 180,000 visitors, who included 120,000 trade visitors.

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
August 2016 is shaping up to be windfall for the all-important tourism sector in recession-plagued Greece, with most traditional holiday destinations reporting full occupancy

August 2016 is shaping up to be windfall for the all-important tourism sector in recession-plagued Greece, with most traditional holiday destinations reporting full occupancy, while other less-known destinations are also recording increased arrivals, according to Greek financial daily Naftemporiki.

Several hotel representatives contacted by N over the past week mostly confirmed estimates by the leadership of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), namely, that August is significantly improved from July 2016, whereas September 2016 also records high reservation rates.

July was not particularly good, but August (2016) more than compensated, Dimitris Pollalis, the president of the hoteliers association of Laconia prefecture, in the extreme south of mainland Greece, told N this week.

Not a single room remained unoccupied; occupancy is very high, a large number of visitors are in the area, and demand appears high for September as well, he added.

Conversely, he pointed to reduced spending, per capita, by both Greek and foreign tourists.

In another market that usually attracts all types of tourists, the large island of Evia, which straddles the eastern coast of mainland Greece, the president of the hoteliers association, Miltiades Helmis, also said occupancy is up from 2015.

He nevertheless clarified that this improvement is not due to both an increase in arrivals, but to the fact that there are 3,000 less rooms available this year. The reason, he said, is that a handful of hotels and resorts did not open for the 2016 season.

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
Bahrain will today (August 23) sign contracts to carry out housing projects worth more than $395 million funded by the Gulf Development Programme.



The signing will take place under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and head of the ministerial committee for construction and infrastructure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, a BNA report said.



Seven contracts will be concluded by the Housing Ministry, represented by Housing Minister Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar, and Bahraini, Kuwaiti, Emirati and international contracting companies.



The signing ceremony, at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, will be attended by representatives from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development ((KFAED), ministers, senior officials and invitees.



Al Hamar said the $293 million Kuwait-funded projects will include 1,247 housing units in East Hidd and the construction of another 1,645 housing units and implementing infrastructure work in Hidd.



Meanwhile, three contracts will be signed to carry out housing and infrastructure projects worth more than $102 million funded by the UAE.



The Housing Minister praised the Gulf Development Programme and its role in fast-tracking projects and reducing the waiting period for housing, in line with the Royal order to provide 40,000 homes for citizens by implementing housing projects nationwide.
Tekfen Construction, a unit of Turkey's Tekfen Holding, has signed a pre-agreement with Qatar's Ministry of Municipality and Environment for the construction of the Al Khor Expressway project, a report said.



The $2.1-billion project aims to build a 34-km-long highway with 10 lanes along with viaducts, road junctions, overpasses and underpasses, the company was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency.



The project is expected to be completed in 36 months.



Speaking at the signing ceremony of the agreement in Ankara, Turkish Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan said that the number of projects undertaken by Turkish contractors in Qatar reached 119, amounting to a $15 billion in value.



Tekfen, a Turkish conglomerate based in Istanbul, is engaged in a diverse range of construction activities including power generation, airports, petroleum, roadways, infrastructure projects, and building complexes.


Turkeys new national wealth fund will finance projects including airports, seaports, roads and railroads across the country, a senior government official was quoted as saying in a Gulf Times report.



The fund, which is seen having a value of $200 billion, will implement projects that dont have a build-operate-finance model, Transport, Maritime and Communication Minister Ahmet Arslan said, according to the report.



Some sub-funds will provide finance for those infrastructure projects, he added.



Transport projects impact the lives of millions of people and hundreds of billions of dollars of local and international trade, Arslan said. Thats why its normal that transport-infrastructure projects benefit from a large part of the wealth fund.



All the road and bridge projects around Istanbul and around the Sea of Marmara will be completed by the end of 2019 and will cost around $20 billion, serving around 30 million people, Arslan explained.



The government is also planning to auction the rights next year to build a tunnel for a road and railway under the Bosporus to carry about 6.5 million passengers a day, Arslan said. The project will cost about $5 billion and will be integrated into existing metro lines and roads.
Bahrain's Ministry of Housing will allocate an additional 3,200 units to citizens in the coming months following a directive from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.



The directive was issued during a visit by the Crown Prince to the ministry headquarters in the Diplomatic Area, a BNA report said.



During the visit, the Crown Prince highlighted recent achievements in the housing sector, which included the swift allocation of 3,000 units since the holy month of Ramadan.



He noted that the ministrys efficient and fast-paced housing drive serves as a model for delivering projects that directly contribute to further improving citizens living standards.



The Crown Prince praised the dedication of the ministry and its staff in their efforts to fulfil His Majesty's directive to build over 40,000 housing units across the kingdom in the coming years.



The Crown Prince emphasised the importance of facilitating public-private partnerships, which he said will help provide adequate public services, and boost the kingdom's long-term sustainable development.



Housing Minister Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar expressed his gratitude for the Crown Prince's visit, and reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to fulfilling His Majesty's directives.



Upon his arrival, the Crown Prince was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the housing minister and a number of senior members of the Ministry of Housing.
Finnish English

FIT Biotech Oy



Company Release

August 25, 2016 at 20.05 pm EET



NOTICE CONVENING AN EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF FIT BIOTECH OY

The shareholders of FIT Biotech Oy are invited to an extraordinary general meeting, which is to be held on September 15, 2016 starting at 11:00 am (Finnish time) at the offices of Castren & Snellman Attorneys Ltd at Etelaesplanadi 14 (6th floor), 00130 Helsinki, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting will begin at 10:30 am.



A. Matters on the Agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting



At the extraordinary general meeting, the following matters will be considered:



1. Opening of the meeting



2. Calling the meeting to order



3. Election of persons to scrutinise the minutes and to count the votes



4. Recording the legality of the meeting



5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes



6. Approval of the funding programme between FIT Biotech Oy and Bracknor Investment Group and authorising the board of directors to decide on the issuance of shares as well as on the granting of options and other special rights entitling to shares



In accordance with the company release published on August 25, 2016, FIT Biotech Oy's (hereinafter also "the Company") board of directors has on August 25, 2016 signed an agreement between the Company and Bracknor Investment Group (hereinafter "Bracknor") concerning a Convertible Notes with Warrants Funding Programme of up to EUR 12,480,000 (hereinafter the "Programme"). The agreement is conditional upon FIT Biotech Oy's general meeting approving the Programme and granting the board of directors requisite authorisations in order to implement the Programme.



Pursuant to the Programme, convertible notes may be drawn in 48 sequential tranches of EUR 250,000 (each, a "Tranche") during a period of 98 months. The Tranches will be converted into series K shares of the Company at the latest by the maturity date of each Tranche. Further pursuant to the Programme, Bracknor will receive with the drawing of each Tranche share warrants that entitle it to subscribe for a number of K shares in the Company corresponding to the nominal amount of the Tranche at a floating subscription price. Furthermore, Bracknor is entitled to a commitment fee of EUR 480,000. Bracknor will use the commitment fee for the subscription of a corresponding amount of convertible notes. The convertible notes related to the commitment fee do not entitle to the share warrants. Based on the convertible notes and the share warrants, the Company may issue either new K shares or K shares held by the Company.



The purpose of the Programme is to ensure the continuity of the Company's business and the sufficiency of its working capital. Thus, there are weighty financial reasons for the implementation of the Programme and for the issuance of special rights entitling to shares.



The proposals included in this item 6 form an entirety that requires the adoption of all its individual items by a single resolution. The board of directors proposes to the general meeting that the general meeting (i) approve the Programme and authorise the board of directors to take all measures required by the implementation of the Programme including the approval of the terms and conditions of the convertible notes and share warrants and (ii) authorise the board of directors to decide on the issuance of shares and the granting of options and special rights entitling to shares for the purposes of implementation of the Programme. The aggregate number a new K shares to be issued pursuant to the Programme is expected to amount to a maximum of 110,000,000 K shares. The final number of K shares required for the implementation of the Programme is determined, inter alia, based on the amount of convertible notes to be drawn, the share price development of FIT Biotech Oy's K share and possible adjustments during the validity of the Programme. If necessary, the board of directors will seek additional authorisations from the general meeting in order to implement the Programme.



Authorising the board of directors to decide on the granting of options and other special rights entitling to shares



The board of directors proposes that the general meeting authorise the board of directors to decide on the granting of options and other special rights entitling to shares as referred to in Chapter 10, section 1 of the Limited Liability Companies Act (624/2006, as amended) in one or more tranches for the purpose of implementing the Programme.



The number of new and/or shares held by the Company that may be issued on the basis of special rights entitling to shares can be no more than 110,000,000 series K shares, which corresponds to approximately 398% of the Company's current shares and votes. The board of directors is entitled to decide on all other terms and conditions for granting special rights entitling to shares, and the granting of such rights can be carried out as a directed issue in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription right in accordance with the Companies Act. The board of directors is also authorised to amend the terms of the special rights entitling to shares after the issuance of such rights.



It is proposed that the authorisation be valid until further notice in order to be able to execute the Programme in its entirety. The authorisation will not revoke any prior authorisations granted to the board of directors.



Authorising the board of directors to decide on directed share issues to the Company itself



The board of directors proposes that the general meeting authorise the board of directors to decide, in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription right, on directed share issues without payment to the Company itself for the purpose of the Company being able to transfer such treasury shares in order to implement the Programme. A maximum of 110,000,000 K shares may be issued based on the authorisation. The board of directors may decide on all other terms and conditions relating to the share issues.



It is proposed that the authorisation be valid until further notice in order to be able to execute the Programme in its entirety. The authorisation will not revoke any prior authorisations granted to the board of directors.



7. Authorising the board of directors to decide on the granting of options and other spe-cial rights entitling to shares

The board of directors proposes that the general meeting authorise the board of directors to decide on the granting of options and other special rights entitling to shares as referred to in Chapter 10, section 1 of the Limited Liability Companies Act (624/2006, as amended) in one or more tranches. The board of directors may use the authorisation for measures required to ensure the sufficiency of the Company's working capital and e.g. for implementing of a possible convertible notes with warrants funding programme between the Company and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.



The number of new and/or shares held by the Company that may be issued on the basis of special rights entitling to shares can be no more than 2,000,000 series K shares, which corresponds to approximately 7% of the Company's current shares and votes. The board of directors is entitled to decide on all other terms and conditions for granting special rights entitling to shares, and the granting of such rights can be carried out as a directed issue in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription right in accordance with the Companies Act. The board of directors is also authorised to amend the terms of the special rights entitling to shares after the issuance of such rights.

It is proposed that the authorisation be valid until further notice. The authorisation will not revoke any prior authorisations granted to the board of directors.



8. Closing the meeting

B. Documents of the General Meeting

The aforementioned proposals for resolutions on the matters on the agenda of the general meeting as well as this notice are available on FIT Biotech Oy's website at the address http://www.fitbiotech.com/. Other general meeting documents will be available on the above website no later than on September 8, 2016. The general meeting documents will also be available at the general meeting and copies of these documents will be delivered to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the general meeting will be available on the above website as of September 29, 2016, at the latest.



C. Instructions for the Participants in the General Meeting



1. Shareholders registered in the shareholders' register



Each shareholder, who is registered on September 5, 2016, the record date of the meeting, in the Company's shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd, has the right to participate in the extraordinary general meeting. A shareholder whose shares are registered on his/her personal Finnish book-entry account is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company.



A shareholder who is registered in the shareholders' register of the Company and who wants to participate in the general meeting has to register for the meeting by e-mail to the address liisa.laitinen@fitbiotech.com or by post to the address FIT Biotech Oy/Liisa Laitinen, Biokatu 8, 33520 Tampere, Finland, no later than at 10:00 am (Finnish time) on September 12, 2016 by which time the registration must be received.



In connection with the registration, a shareholder shall state his/her name, personal identification number or business identity code, address, telephone number, as well as the names and personal identification numbers of assistants or proxy representatives, if any. The personal data given to FIT Biotech Oy will be used only in connection with the extraordinary general meeting and with the processing of necessary registrations.



Upon request, a shareholder, his/her representative or proxy representative must be able to prove his/her identity and/or representation right at the meeting venue.



2. Holders of nominee-registered shares



A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the general meeting based on the shares that would entitle him/her to be registered on September 5, 2016 in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd. The right to participate in the general meeting also requires that the shareholder has on the basis of such shares been temporarily registered into the shareholders' register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd at the latest by September 12, 2016 at 10:00 am (Finnish time). As regards nominee-registered shares, this constitutes due registration for the general meeting.



A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay the necessary instructions regarding registration in the temporary shareholder's register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the general meeting from his/her custodian bank. The account operator of the custodian bank has to temporarily register a holder of nominee registered shares who wants to participate in the general meeting into the temporary shareholders' register of the Company at the latest by the time stated above.



3. Proxy representatives and powers of attorney



A shareholder may participate in the general meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative must produce a dated proxy document or power of attorney or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder at the general meeting. When a shareholder participates in the general meeting by means of several proxy representatives repre-senting the shareholder with shares in different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy repre-sentative represents the shareholder must be identified in connection with registration for the general meeting. Any proxy documents and powers of attorney are requested to be delivered by post to the address FIT Biotech Oy/Liisa Laitinen, Biokatu 8, 33520 Tampere, Finland or by e-mail to the address liisa.laitinen@fitbiotech.com no later than on September 12, 2016 at 10:00 am (Finnish time).



4. Other instructions and information



Pursuant to Chapter 5, section 25 of the Limited Liability Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the general meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting.



As at the date of the notice convening the general meeting August 25, 2016, FIT Biotech Oy has a total of 27,670,281 shares, which each carry one vote regardless of share class. The shares are divided into classes as follows: 5,229 A shares, 65,235 D shares and 27,599,817 K shares.



Helsinki, August 25, 2016



FIT Biotech Oy

Board of directors




A proposal to construct a four-storey car-park in Bahrain's Muharraq area was discussed during a meeting of officials.



The meeting was convened by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, said a BNA report.

The car-park is planned as part of the Pearling Trail, a Unesco World Heritage site.



The meeting was attended by Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Ministry assistant under-secretary for roads Huda Fakhro and Lieutenant-Colonel Adel Al Dosari from the General Directorate of Traffic.



Results of a feasibility study conducted by Italian Systematica traffic consultancy firm were also discussed, focusing on the positive impact of the planned project.

The 3.5-km Pearling Trail, testimony of an island economy, consists of 17 buildings in Muharraq city, three offshore oyster beds, part of the seashore and the Qal'at Bu Mahir fortress on the southern tip of Muharraq Island, from where boats used to set off for the oyster beds.


Al Namal Group, one of Bahrains leading diversified companies, has signed an agreement with Zamil Air Conditioners for the supply of air-conditioning solutions at the Atrium Mall, an upcoming project in the kingdom's Northern Governorate.



Al Namal has businesses covering real state, property development and management, construction and health and hospitality.



The Atrium Mall will be the largest shopping mall in the Northern Governorate of the kingdom. The $30- million mall is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.



According to the agreement, Zamil Air Conditioners will supply Al Namal Group with solutions consisting of energy-efficient air-cooled chillers as well as roof-mounted double skin air-handling units.



Al Namal and VKL Group chairman and managing director Varghese Kurian said: "We are delighted to sign the bilateral agreement with Al Zamil for our upcoming project, the Atrium Mall. We believe in the importance of playing a vital role in facilitating a healthy spending structure for the community, thus enriching the Bahrain economy."



Zamil Industrial CEO Abdullah Al Zamil said: "We are proud of our partnership with Al Namal and we look forward to have this partnership contributing greatly in developing the economy of the kingdom." - TradeArabia News Service


Egypts General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) has received approximately 14,720 imported food and industry containers, totalling 2,345 tonnes for examination during July, said a report.



The GOEICs report revealed that 5,702 imported food containers weighing 1.9 tonnes were examined of the total 14,720, added the Daily News Egypt report.



The examination results showed the validity of 5,586 containers, while 116 were rejected for non-conformity to standards. The most important accepted food commodities are wheat, corn, rice, sugar, beans, meat, and poultry, while the rejected commodities are often meat, wheat, corn, canned foods, and beverages.



The report pointed out that the number of the imported industrial containers amounted to 8,958, out of which 60 were rejected. The total imported industrial containers in July reached 9,018, containing detergents, soaps, home furniture, toys, car filters, electric pumps, refrigerators, and tyres.



Head of GOEIC Alaa Abdel Karim said that the organisation is keen to remove all obstacles facing serious exporters and importers, with an emphasis on facing all types of fraud and manipulation.



Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil said that the ministry aims to develop the procedure system so as to contribute to accelerating the pace of examination and release of cargo and not to overstock products in various ports.



The minister confirmed the acceleration of the conformity of these goods to technical standard and specifications to ensure the quality and safety of imported products, added the report.
The organising committee of the Omani Products Exhibition (Opex) has begun its marketing campaign in Tehran, Iran, to promote the 6th Omani Products Exhibition, to be held next month, said a report.



The committee recently organised a meeting at Waljat College of Applied Sciences in the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) to provide information about the event to business owners, added the Iran Daily News report.



The meeting discussed the latest updates on the preparations for the exhibition, and the business owners and industrialists were briefed about the participation process, participation advantages, the Iranian market, and the provided support, it said.



As per the marketing plan, advertisements and appearance on the Iranian media will be extensive before the exhibition begins.



The committee also informed that a press conference will be organised next month in Tehran to brief the Iranians on the exhibition and its objectives, added the report.
Rescue teams were working through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble that remained of central Italian towns flattened by an earthquake that hit in the early hours of Wednesday, killing at least 247 people.

The Civil Protection department in Rome said a tally by local officials showed that 190 people were killed Rieti province and 57 in the province of Ascoli Piceno.



One hotel that collapsed in the small town of Amatrice probably had about 70 guests, and only seven bodies had so far been recovered, said the mayor of the town that was one of the worst hit by the quake.



The strong 6.2 magnitude quake razed homes and buckled roads in a cluster of mountain communities 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 (135 miles) from the epicentre.



"Tonight will be our first nightmare night," said Alessandro Gabrielli, one of hundreds preparing to sleep in tents erected by rescue workers in fields and parking lots, each one housing 12 people whose homes had been destroyed.



"Last night, I woke up with a sound that sounded like a bomb," he added.



Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her out of the rubble alive, where she had lain for some 17 hours in the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto.



Many other children were not so lucky. 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.



Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the Cabinet would meet on Thursday to decide measures to help the affected communities.



"Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction," he told reporters late on Wednesday as he announced 120 bodies had been found and 368 people had been taken to hospital.



TOLL COULD CLIMB



The death toll rose to 159 a few hours later. With people still unaccounted for, the civil protection department warned it could climb higher.



Aerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the quake. Inhabitants of the four worst-hit small towns rise by as much as tenfold in the summer, and many of those killed or missing were visitors.



Amatrice's mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, said its best-known accommodation, Hotel Roma, which probably had around 70 guests at the time of the quake, had collapsed and only seven bodies had been found under the rubble.



The civil protection agency said it was trying to determine how many people were staying in the hotel.



Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio bearing 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.



Italy's earthquake institute, INGV, said the epicentre was near Accumoli and Amatrice, which lie between the larger towns of Ascoli Piceno to the northeast and Rieti to the southwest.



It was relatively shallow at 4 km (2.5 miles) below the earth's surface. INGV reported 150 aftershocks in the 12 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 temblor 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.  Reuters
The Earth has gained coastal land equivalent to the size of Jamaica in the past 30 years with man-made construction outpacing erosion caused by rising sea levels, mapping data showed on Thursday.



Expansion of ports off China, construction of luxury resorts off Dubai or land reclamation in the Netherlands were among causes of coastal expansion, according to a study by Dutch research group Deltares.



Using satellite data with Google Earth, Deltares said coastal regions had gained a net 13,565 sq km of land since 1985, roughly the size of Jamaica or the US state of Connecticut.



Overall, coasts added 33,700 sq km of land and lost 20,135 sq km to water, it said. Loss of land included erosion dotted around coasts from Vietnam to the Mississippi delta in the US.



"We expected on average the coast to shrink ... as sea level has risen," said Fedor Baart of Deltares, an author of the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. "But the coasts are actually growing."



"We have a huge engineering power," he said. Off China, "the coastline all the way from Hong Kong to the Yellow Sea has almost been redesigned."



A UN panel of climate scientists says world sea levels have risen by about 20 cm (8 inches) in the past century, and links it to a warming driven by man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are thawing ice from Greenland to Antarctica.



Inland, the data also show big shifts to lakes such as the shrinking Aral Sea in central Asia and showed changing courses of rivers including the Amazon and the Ganges, sometimes linked to natural variations.



In other areas, human influences were clear. In Myanmar, for instance, there were more reservoirs and dams than previously known. North Korea also has a reservoir on the Rimjin River that does not appear on maps.



Including both coasts and inland areas, the Earth's surface gained 173,000 sq km of land and 115,000 sq km of water in the past 30 years, it said.



The scientists said the freely available data could help countries sharing the same river to monitor their neighbours' dams or help planning by UN agencies to prevent floods. - 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. - Reuters
Dan Benzaquen has been appointed general manager of the five-star Movenpick Tala Bay, an upscale family-friendly resort located on the shores of the Red Sea in Jordan.



A seasoned hotelier with more than 13 years of industry experience, Benzaquen brings his enthusiasm for re-defining the guest experience to his new role.



Hospitality is my passion, said Benzaquen and having worked my way through the industry ranks from a young age, I have developed a good grasp of what sets a good hotel apart from the rest  a unique guest experience and great customer service.



I always put myself in our guests shoes, asking myself the question, Will this make them happy? Its important to think like a guest when it comes to introducing new activities and services.



Families come to Movenpick Tala Bay to bond and spend time together. My job as general manager, therefore, is to inspire the team to deliver our service philosophy of Natural Enjoyment, ensuring guests share new experiences and create happy memories that last a lifetime.



Benzaquens first job was as guest services manager at Sheraton Dongguan Hotel, China, and from there he climbed the career ladder in roles with a number of leading brands in countries including the UAE, Thailand and Vietnam.



The French national has worked for Six Senses Hotels Resorts & Spas and the Accor Groups Pullman brand in Asia, and also enjoyed stints with Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in the UAE, as Front Office Manager at Movenpick Hotel & Apartments Bur Dubai and as Hotel Operations Manager at Movenpick Hotel Deira.



Before joining Movenpick Tala Bay, Benzaquen was executive assistant manager at Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea.



Dan Benzaquen is a general manager who understands the true meaning of inspired leadership, showing true passion for delivering the warm customer service for which Movenpick is renowned, said Michael Nugent, regional director of Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in Jordan.



Benzaquen holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Hospitality Management from the esteemed Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. - TradeArabia News Service
Qatar Airways is embracing the spirit of Haj by providing pilgrims with exclusive Haj kits designed and assembled with items to assist them during their spiritual journey.



The Haj kits will be offered to all passengers travelling for pilgrimage on the airlines flights to Jeddah and Madinah during the Haj season, starting from August 25.



The Hajj kits were first launched by Qatar Airways in 2015 and each Haj kit includes items that are beneficial to pilgrims as they make their journey through the Holy sites. The kit contains a prayer counter, prayer beads, prayer mat, stone bag, socks and wet wipes, conveniently packaged in a bag that can also be used to carry shoes.



Rossen Dimitrov, Qatar Airways senior vice president, Customer Experience, said: Qatar Airways flights to Jeddah and Madinah offer convenient travel for those passengers who wish to make their Haj pilgrimage. Qatar Airways introduced the Haj kits as a way to provide pilgrims with items that would be of value to them during their religious journey and in recognition of the importance of this spiritual time. Providing our passengers with an exceptional journey is a priority for Qatar Airways, and we are delighted to be able to offer them a gift tailored to their specific needs while experiencing Haj.



Qatar Airways operates four flights a day to Jeddah, and three flights a day to Madinah starting from September 1, from Hamad International Airport in Doha. Through its home base at the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways connects passengers to more than 150 places around the world, providing pilgrims from across the globe with easy, convenient access to Saudi Arabias Holy sites.



Passengers can fly with Qatar Airways to and from eight destinations in the kingdom, including Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, Gassim, Hofuf and Taif.



This year has seen Qatar Airways launch 10 new routes through its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, enabling travellers from across the world to connect more easily with Saudi Arabia, while passengers travelling from Saudi can easily travel the world with Qatar Airways. The new destinations, with several flights a week through Doha, are Los Angeles (US), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE); Sydney (Australia); Boston (US); Birmingham (UK);Adelaide (Australia); Yerevan (Armenia); Atlanta (US); Marrakech (Morocco); and Pisa (Italy). From September, the airline will continue to add new destinations to its global map including Windhoek (Namibia); Helsinki (Finland); Krabi (Thailand); and Seychelles. - TradeArabia News Service
Luxury tourism is emerging as one of the biggest trends in the travel sector with many travelers seeking quest for new luxurious horizons. With affluent travellers seeking personalised experiences and indulgences at unique locations, Oman's tourism ministry throws light on some of its amazing luxurious experiences.



Luxury Yacht Charters: The Pristine waters of the sultanate offer a unique perspective, surrounded by white sandy beaches, rocky cliffs and unique geological structures. The most extravagant way to explore the magnificent waters of the Sultanate is enjoying the privacy and luxury of a private yacht charter.



On board the many charters available, travellers will get to enjoy a tailored journey be it a fine dining experience at sea or a romantically musical journey through the waters of Oman.

Travelling on board these pinnacles of luxury is an unparalleled experience for a person that cant stay away from the sea. With luxuriously decorated living rooms and lavish bedrooms, the stay in a luxurious charter is as glamorous as a five-star accommodation at a resort, only the pool is substituted by the vast azure sea.



Opera house: A spectacular house of musical arts, the Opera house Muscat is one of the worlds most beautiful and technologically advanced opera houses in the world.

The Royal opera house has brought the biggest names in the world of art like Placido Domingo, Wynton Marsalis and Andrea Bocelli.



The spectacularly luxurious experience of the Royal opera house Muscat is enhanced by the grand arabesque architecture which was designed by the same architect as the Grand Mosque. The opera house also houses a luxurious dining and retail experience that defines what a cultural and luxurious experience should be.



Fine dining: To some, fine dining is the best way to enjoy a luxurious experience. And the Sultanate has much to offer epicures. Gastronomic outings are a rising trend in the Sultanate, which has led to the rise of these establishments.



Be it a unique dining experience at the Japanese restaurant Tokyo Tarro, or dining at the lushest Omani table at Al Angham. Gastronomes are spoilt for choice in the sultanate with a variety of endless cuisines. Every international hotel chain in the sultanate brings a unique dining experience to the gastronomic culture in the Sultanate.



The unique creativeness of the chefs in Oman has created an amazing and eclectic gastronomic experience, with many chefs visiting from abroad to showcase their culinary skills to the residents of the country.



Six Senses Zighy Bay: Cradled within majestic mountains and boasting its own private opal blue. The spectacular luxurious resort is a stones throw from waters from Musandam's famed fjords.



From the moment guests arrive to this spectacular resort, they will feel that this luxurious location is unlike any other. In fact, they can even choose to arrive by a paraglider.

Once they arrive to the architecturally grand location, they can wind down with the resorts resident yoga instructor. Alternatively, if they want to keep the upbeat pace then they can spend some time with the resorts personal trainer who leads an exciting boot camp challenge on the soft sandy beaches of zighy bay.



Indulge in the finest selection of foods in the different restaurants, be it flavours from the Arabian world or European cuisines. Guests can even take a cooking class if they fancy.



Glamping: Glamping, or Glamorous camping is a spectacular experience that has caught the tourism world by a storm. Forgo the mesh tent and basics and visit the serene and secluded desert in style.



There are many operators that take camping to a different level with air conditioned, superiorly decorated tents and even camp sites that have swimming pools. Once you step into these resorts, you will feel that you have stepped out of reality and into a page of the 1001 nights story book.



The 1001 nights camp is one of those camps that take visitors on a leap of luxury. The camp is nested away in the sands of Al Shaqiya, away from the busy city, giving this place a unique magical view of the stars. - TradeArabia News Service
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zensar Technologies, a leading digital solutions and technology services company, announced that it will exhibit digital solutions on the central theme of, Return on Digital at this years Oracle Open World. Zensars unique proposition of Return on Digital, helps clients deliberate not only on executing digital initiatives, but focuses on business outcomes and realization of profits on the investments. Visit booth #721 at Moscone South from September 18-22, 2016, to interact with experts presenting demos detailing solutions offered by Zensar aimed at creating business impact with Oracle solutions. All solutions help enterprises realise clear Return on Digital across varied industry sectors and functions. Zensar will be presenting on the topic, Application and Data Security Solution in a PaaS Cloud at the exclusive speaker session at Room: Marriott MarquisGolden Gate C3, Date and Time: 09/19/16, 04:15 PM - 05:00 PM



We are excited to showcase solutions at this years Oracle Open World which will enable enterprises to be digital ready, and understand the relevance of adopting a Return on Digital approach. Oracle is a significant growth area for us and coupled with our digital expertise, Zensar is equipped to bring about complete digital transformation for companies, and to realize returns on their investments, said Sandeep Kishore, CEO and MD, Zensar Technologies.

Our Oracle expertise is built on successful live implementations at global companies. This year, our demos are designed to display benefits that companies can derive from going digital with Oracle solutions. Our theme of Return on Digital brings out this business value clearly, commented Harish Gala, Executive Vice President and Head, Enterprise Application Solutions.

Zensar will be demonstrating the following solutions at OOW to showcase the value delivered to the businesses:

For enterprises wanting to provide customers the best in class retail experience with CX Prime

This solution improves customers shopping experience and utilizes in-store time effectively

Targets the right product to each customer through recommendations and promotions

The sales or service reps see a full picture of the customer

For enterprises that want to Power the Digital Factory of the Future - IoT

Predictive Intelligence

Plant Monitoring

Real time performance reporting

For enterprises that desire Holistic Analytics at their fingertips with IntelliZen

An intelligent view of operations across departments  Finance, Sales, Marketing, etc.,

Intuitive dashboards that turn enterprise transactional data using pre-configured interfaces into actionable insights for agile, impactful decisions.

For enterprises concerned about loss prevention through credit fraud detection and avoidance

>50% Reduction in frauds

>30% Increase in revenue

For enterprises that want to eliminate performance bottleneck by validating their Oracle SOA infrastructure against best practices using Zen Infra validator tool

Instant environment analysis

> 50% Reduction in time in identifying bottlenecks

For enterprises keen to have smart Digital Invoices Processing, the digital way

Complete invoice processing on mobile

>70% Reduction of human errors

About Zensar (www.zensar.com)

Zensar is a leading digital solutions and technology services company that specializes in partnering with global organizations across industries on their Digital Transformation journey. A technology partner of choice, backed by strong track-record of innovation; credible investment in Digital solutions; assertion of commitment to clients success, Zensars comprehensive range of digital and technology services and solutions enable its customers to achieve new thresholds of business performance. Zensar, with its experience in delivering excellence and superior client satisfaction through myriad technology solutions, is uniquely positioned to help them surpass challenges around running their existing business most efficiently, helping in their legacy transformation, and planning for business expansion and growth through innovative and digital ways.

Follow Zensar via:

Zensar Blog: http://www.zensar.com/blogs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Zensar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zensar-technologies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zensar

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zennovation

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.
Sky Prime Aviation Services has become the latest aviation company in Saudi Arabia to be awarded a national air operator licence under an ongoing liberalisation of the kingdom's aviation market.



The company, which provides private jets, received the licence for chartered flights from Minister of Transport Sulaiman Al-Hamdan during a ceremony in Riyadh, according to its Twitter feed. It will launch flights at the end of 2016, it said.



It is the third air operator to be given permission to launch in the kingdom in recent months after Nesma Airlines and SaudiGulf Airlines.



The aviation sector is one of many areas the government is keen to strengthen as part of its 2030 vision, which aims to lower the kingdom's dependence on oil.



Previously, only national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines and budget operator National Air Services were allowed to serve a domestic market of about 27 million people. Foreign carriers could fly in and out of Saudi Arabia, but not within it.



The Saudi authorities began accepting applications to allow other airlines to operate internal flights in 2012.



Riyadh-based Sky Prime will start its operations during the last quarter of 2016, according to its Twitter feed. According to its website, the company offers private jet charter, maintenance and technical support, aviation project management and ground handling.



Qatar Airways, through its subsidiary for the Saudi market, Al Maha Airways, also received an initial carrier licence in 2012 but has yet to be given final approval to operate flights in the kingdom. - Reuters
We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today
Celebrating 10 years in business with a new look website



(TRAVPR.COM) UK - August 25th, 2016 - Bed and Breakfasts Guide Ltd is celebrating 10 years in business this year with a freshly revamped website. We have improved not only the look and feel of the website but also the usability so its now even easier than ever to find and book a Hotel or B&B in the UK.

We compare prices between Booking.com, Laterooms and Bookdirectrooms to ensure you get the best possible price when you book online. In addition to this we also have our own unique B&B stock so you wont be disappointed with the choice on offer, there are more than 50,000 properties on our site.

As part of the new website we also have an exciting new blog giving you information on areas in the UK and some travel inspiration for your next trip.

Also new for 2016 is our Free business hotel booking service, designed to make life easier for business travellers. We do all of the searching for you to make sure you get the best rate possible based on your specific requirements. Simply tell us where you need accommodation, budget and we will do the rest. All size bookings catered for, with absolutely no hidden charges. Its completely free to use!

We hope you enjoy our new website.

www.bedandbreakfastsguide.com

twitter.com/BandBGuide

Facebook.com/BedandBreakfastsGuide

###
Last August 24, on the great American holiday known as National Waffle Day, I got confused and thought it was the Swedish waffle day tradition Vaffeldagen, which falls on March 25th. According to Wikipeidia it actually is an old Christian holiday, Varfrudagen ("Our Lady's Day"), but they got confused because they evidently sound alike, and now celebrate it with waffles. Other sources say that it is a celebration of spring, waffles use a lot of eggs which are a symbol of new life, so there you go. I prefer the confused story.

A reader corrected me and I promised that I would run the story again on the proper date, and correct my previously confused posts about concrete waffle slabs, a technology that gets longer spans out of less concrete. For those who might remember that TreeHugger normally is not fond of concrete, I admit a fondness for older concrete done well.

 National Arts CentreAs for replacing concrete with wood, that is even coming to waffle slabs, with the new addition to National Arts Centre in Ottawa, where they picked up on the existing waffle slab architecture, and have built a waffle slab out of cross-laminated timber, a first. More coverage on that to come.

Here are my two waffle posts, reposted in honour of the upcoming Vaffeldagen.

What Are Waffle Slabs?

Lloyd Alter/ Montreal Museum of Fine Arts/CC BY 2.0

In the Washington Post, they write about How pancakes and waffles divide the nation. I have always preferred waffles to pancakes, which I consider to be limp and formless. Waffles, on the other hand, have form and real substance, structure and rigidity.

It is much the same in architecture. A concrete slab is- just a slab, and a thick one at that, using a lot of concrete to get to the depth it needs to span a significant distance without limply sagging. You don't look at it because it is boring, and the electrical or mechanical services are hanging from it so they are covered with even more boring drywall.

Lloyd Alter/ Montreal Museum of Fine Arts/CC BY 2.0

Waffle slabs are different. They are designed to be thick where you need it, for the structure in the ribs, and thin for the slab. They are designed to be exposed and seen and enjoyed. Today I was walking through the wonderful Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' decorative art collection in the Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion and had trouble looking at the fabulous stuff because I was entranced by the ceiling, layers of the tastiest waffle slabs I had ever seen. The entire structure is there for you to see: nothing but the concrete that it holding itself up.

 Engineering Heritage Australia

Almost nobody really does waffle slabs anymore; they can be expensive, with the reinforcing carefully placed in narrow ribs between forms.

 John B. Parkin

They can be really hard to repair; one of the reasons that Toronto's iconic John Parkin Terminal was demolished was because he built the parking garage with waffle slabs, and one should not put salt on waffles.

But while we are no fan of concrete on TreeHugger, there are good things to say about waffle slabs. They use less concrete, and they look good enough to leave exposed so you use less of everything else.

Lloyd Alter/ National Theatre/CC BY 2.0

Examples of Waffle Slab Architecture

There are wonderful waffles at the National Theatre in Britain;

Lloyd Alter/ Confederation Centre/CC BY 2.0

And really cool ones at the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where in one section, they even left off the slab itself and put on great pyramidal skylights.

 Alarcon + Asociados via Designboom

Holedeck has figured out a great way to integrate services into them. Perhaps it is time to say that if we have to use concrete in our buildings, then we should let concrete be concrete, exposed and beautiful through thick and thin. It's time to bring back tasty waffle slabs. Mmmmm.

 Goldstein House/ John Lautner

This post has been corrected to reflect information about Vaffeldagen.

In Sweden, they celebrate Vaffeldagen or Waffle Day on March 25; In America, we waffle a bit and celebrate Waffle Day on August 24, the day the patent on the waffle iron was issued. That's two opportunities to celebrate the tasty waffle slab, a form of construction that used to be popular but has fallen out of flavor or favor or whatever.

Which is a shame; we are not usually fond of concrete because of its carbon footprint, but waffle slabs let designers get much larger spans with less material. They also look so nice as architectural elements that they are left exposed instead of getting covered up with drywall- the structure is the finish. And being concrete, they are durable. We have covered tasty waffles that I have known here, but there are some others worth looking at. I have been criticized for not mentioning some other very famous waffles, starting with John Lautner's Goldstein house in Los Angeles, a rare residential use of waffles. It has been donated to the The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) by its owner so it is likely that it will remain intact and accessible.

 Robarts Library

A number of readers berated me for not including Toronto's Robarts Library in the list; I am a fan of this building and have written about it before, but had forgotten about its waffle slabs.

 Louis Kahn, restored by Polshek Partnership

The Robarts waffles are triangular and appear to be a homage to Louis Kahn, and his Yale Art Gallery, which was recently restored and upgraded by the Polshek Partnership.

 LGA architects

Another demonstration of how well waffle slabs hold up over the years, both aesthetically and functionally, is this renovation of the Kitchener Public Library by LGA architects and Phil Carter; those 1961 vintage waffles still look good.

Lloyd Alter/ Barbican waffles/CC BY 2.0

Waffles can be very dramatic with low ceilings, like these at the Barbican in London. The wonderful housing project, one of the world's best, is full of waffles that also act as light fixtures.

Lloyd Alter/ Lights in Washington Metro platform/CC BY 2.0

Waffles are dramatic high up as well, as shown in the Washington Metro. The trains may not be holding up so well, but the roof certainly is. I did not originally think of this as a waffle slab; I thought of it as a coffered ceiling. But others do not waffle about it, so here it is.

Lloyd Alter/ Fiat factory, Turin/CC BY 1.0

Similarly, I did not include Nervi's Fiat factory in Turin but all the waffle sites do, so I include it here.

Lloyd Alter/ Marcel Breur MET/CC BY 2.0

On this waffle day, spend some time looking up at ceilings. You will see few as beautiful as those waffle slabs; few that have lasted so long. They are at once decorative, structural (though this one by Marcel Breuer at the MET Modern is totally decorative, hanging below the ceiling) and durable, all attributes of green building. Happy Vaffeldagen!

For more waffles, see the waffle slab archive on Tumblr
Since the MTA confirmed its decision to suspend L train service between Brooklyn and Manhattan for 18 months starting in January 2019, there's been no shortage of suggestions for transit alternativesfrom the whimsical (floating, inflatable East River tunnel), to the utopian (how about a car-free 14th Street?), to the pragmatic (let's expand service on the train routes that intersect with the L). This week, a report from NYU's Rudin School of Transportation [PDF] proposes expanded bus, train and ferry servicewith some government-subsidized help from private companies like Uber and Lyft.

"The top priority should be improving subway service and ramping up bus service for these areas, but it would also be useful to shuttle people over the bridge in a ride-share to other subway lines," said Rudin Center Assistant Director Sarah Kaufman on Thursday.

While the study doesn't delve into exact cost and implementation, Kaufman added that New York City wouldn't be the first to partner with Uberthere's a small suburb of Orlando, Florida, called Alamonte Springs, that started subsidizing Uber rides in March, in a stated effort to encourage people to take public transit (logic: if you can Uber to the train station, you're more likely to take the train). Rides to the SunRail are subsidized 25%, and rides within city limits are subsidies 20%.

"It would have to be done carefully, right?" Kaufman said. "In a way, it would benefit the residents along the L to use Uber, Lyft and Via, because they would have, essentially, door-to-door service. At the same time the congestion would be unbearable. So the idea is to carefully incentivize these businesses to offer more services in the areas along the L, but especially focusing on the after-hours service, which is especially what Williamsburg and Bushwick need."

As for the rest of the 225,000 daily L train users who don't live in North Brooklynin neighborhoods such as Canarsie, Brownsville and Cyprus HillsNYU suggests that expanded service on intersecting train lines should be the priority. "The idea is that people further out on the L have more options to chose from," Kaufman said. "They aren't ideal and they will be not very convenient, but farther out on the L you have the M, the J/Z and A/C and the 3."

We pointed out that Williamsburg and Bushwick also have the J and the Z. "Right, that's true," she said, clarifying, "South Williamsburg has more options than North Williamsburg."

"We are happy to explore ways to work with the State, City and the MTA to be part of a larger solution that ensures that Brooklyn residents have an affordable, reliable way to commute to Manhattan during the L train shutdown," said Uber spokeswoman Alix Anfang.



(Billy Devine)

NYU has also suggests implementing a scooter sharesomething similar to Scoot Networks in San Francisco, which charges $3 for the first 30 minutes of a trip (or $5 during rush hour), plus 10 cents for every additional minute.

"I think that it's great to put all of the options on the table, but it's really important that we don't get distracted from thinking about the public policy solutions," said Masha Burina, a Community Organizer with the Riders Alliance. "Because we could use this as an opportunity to really improve the L train, but also our bus routes."

To date, the MTA has confirmed that it will expand service on the J, G and M trains during the L shutdown, with additional subway cars and more frequent rush hour trains (keep in mind that expanded M service will require extensive M line closures for repairs starting next summer). Other ideas that have been floatedexpanded ferry service, B39 bus service over the Williamsburg bridge, a bus-heavy or even car-free 14th Streetwill require coordination with state and city agencies, like the Department of Transportation.

The MTA says it will have a full alternative transportation proposal at least one year before the shutdown is scheduled to begin.

"The MTA is committed to open partnership and community engagement as we develop alternative service plans to minimize impacts on L train riders and surrounding businesses during the closure," said the MTA spokeswoman in a statement Thursday. "We still have 2.5 years before the closure and many solutions will involve our partners at City, State and Federal agencies."

"DOT and other City agencies stand ready to work collaboratively with the MTA to support the implementation of potential mitigation efforts," stated a DOT spokesperson. "We will also review the suggestions included in the NYU Rudin Center for Transportations recent report."
Business

How to pick a card thats perfect for you

It can help you get more for every dirham you spend & reward you for your daily purchases. However, given the endless variety of cards in the market, picking the best card can be a confusing decision to make.
M.G. Devasahayam

THE Union Territory of Chandigarh came into existence on November 1, 1966 under Section 4 of The Punjab Reorganisation Act: "On and from the appointed day, there shall be formed a new Union Territory to be known as the Union Territory of Chandigarh comprising such of the territories of Manimajra and Manauli kanungo circles of Kharar tehsil of Ambala district in the existing state of Punjab as are specified in the Second Schedule and thereupon the territories so specified shall cease to form part of the existing state of Punjab."

Responding to popular demand, the state of Punjab was reorganised in 1966 on a linguistic basis. The J.C. Shah Commission appointed for the purpose awarded Chandigarh to Haryana, but due to dispute it was made into a Union Territory (UT), serving as the common capital of the two states with the intention of giving it to Punjab at a later stage. Initially, this arrangement was for a period of 10 years. When this term was coming to an end, I was the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer of the UT. Since I belonged to the Haryana cadre, I was packing up to say farewell when we received the Government of India notification extending the term for a further period of 10 years. Now it is going to be half a century, with the golden jubilee due in a few weeks.

Quite different from other cities and towns, Chandigarh, the only well-planned green-field city in the country, developed in a systematic and organised manner. The legal framework for the city was set in place in 1952 by enacting the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act. This was followed in the same year by framing the Punjab Capital (Development and Regulation) Building Rules, the Chandigarh (Sale of Sites) Rules and the promulgation of the Chandigarh Trees Preservation Order. Also, the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act was enacted to control and regulate construction at the periphery of the city up to a distance of 8 km in all directions.

Under the provisions of these acts and rules, an institution known as the Capital Project Organisation (CPO) was set up, with full administrative and technical components, and clear-cut functions in the areas of architecture and urban planning, engineering, estate management, and finance. The Chief Administrator was the head of the CPO, with a chief architect, chief engineer, and estate officer looking after their respective functions. The CPO was a non-elected organisation, but performed the functions of both project development and local administration and had a fair amount of autonomy.

The Chief Administrator was vested with powers to frame by-laws and issue instructions regarding building, land use, sale of developed plots, preservation of trees, regulation of outdoor advertisements, peripheral control, and other related matters. Implementation of these was the responsibility of the Estate Officer, who was also the administrator of the capital project.

Consequent to the reorganisation of the state of Punjab in 1966, the city of Chandigarh and a few adjoining villages were made into a Union Territory, administered by the central government. A Chief Commissioner, appointed by the Government of India, was the head of the Chandigarh administration, performing the functions of the Chief Administrator. By appropriate notifications, all of the acts and rules were made applicable to Chandigarh UT in the same form and substance. The Chief Architect and Chief Engineer continued in the same capacities, with additional responsibility as Secretaries to these respective Departments. The Estate Officer was additionally designated as Deputy Commissioner of the Union Territory. New posts of Home Secretary and Finance Secretary were created to assist the Chief Commissioner.

In I984, the Governor of Punjab was designated as the "Administrator" of the Union Territory and the post of the Chief Commissioner was reduced to that of "Adviser to the Administrator". This was a temporary arrangement to facilitate the coordination of anti-militant/disturbed area operations in Punjab in the wake of Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple, Amritsar. Though these "operations" have ceased decades ago, typical of India's governance lethargy this "temporary arrangement" has almost become permanent with Punjab developing a huge vested interest.

While so, in 1994, the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh was established under the provision of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Act. In pursuance of this, the first Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation (MC) of Chandigarh was appointed in May 1995. In September 1995 and May 1996, certain functions were transferred to the MC, along with employees and funds. In December 1996, local elections were held, whereby a mayor and 14 councillors were elected to the corporation. This brought in a dual system of administration in Chandigarh, with the appointed officials controlling the majority of functions and funds, while the elected corporation is given a partial role.

In the last five decades, two generations have been born and brought-up in Chandigarh as a distinct territorial entity. It is therefore natural for the city's citizens to demand a council of elected representatives to be put in place to take and execute all policy and other administrative decisions. According to them, the existing arrangement of governing and administering the UT through the Governor and by a team of bureaucrats answerable to none, was a clear violation of the democratic rights of the residents and also of the Constitution. This is because the municipal corporation, zila parishad, market committee and panchayat samiti, which had elected governing bodies, had been reduced to powerless entities as bureaucrats had the powers to overrule their decisions.

It was in the midst of such churning that the central government decided to delink the Punjab Governor from administering the UT of Chandigarh and appoint former civil servant KJ Alphons as an independent administrator, with the rank and status of Lieutenant Governor. But as quickly as it was taken, the decision was rescinded under intense pressure from the Punjab Chief Minister who was apprehensive about the loss of Punjab's claim over the city, particularly when the state assembly was facing elections.

The merit and demerit of appointing an independent administrator for Chandigarh can be debated at length. The moot question is whether the Chandigarh administration, which is already falling between two stools (bureaucratic and democratic), should add one more stool! Many local leaders have expressed views on this development.

But the most apt one came from former MP and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. When asked to clarify whether he would prefer a separate administrator or an additional charge with Punjab governor, he opted for the former. He went on to say: "In fact, a Chief Commissioner would be good enoughThey simply need to turn the post of adviser into a Chief Commissioner." This perhaps could be the solution.

The writer is a former Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has unearthed a drug cartel operating from Nepal and Delhi with the arrest of three persons, including two women, and the recovery of cocaine worth Rs 25 crore.

The NCB said the African drug syndicate is changing drug routes to avoid the interdiction from drug enforcement agencies and South American originating cocaine is being routed to India via Nepal.

On August 23, the NCB's Lucknow Zonal Unit and SSB officials apprehended a Manipuri lady named Rose Kashung at the Indo-Nepal Border in Sanauli, UP and recovered 3.125 kgs of fine quality cocaine from her possession, said NCB.

The SSB added its troops deployed on Indo-Nepal border at border outpost Sonauli, Maharajganj, UP, intercepted a bus coming from Kathmandu at the main gate Sonauli on August 23 and arrested a Manipuri woman.

"The value of the fine quality cocaine is estimated to be Rs 25 crore in illegal drug market," said Madho Singh, Zonal Director, Delhi Zonal Unit.

The drug was destined to New Delhi and the receiver, a Manipuri woman namely Moi, residing in village Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi was later apprehended by the NCB's Delhi Zonal Unit, said Singh.

Moi has disclosed to the NCB that she has been staying with a Nigerian national, Ogbonnaya Godswill Nnanna, who is the kingpin of the cartel and is still on run.
The leaking of data on Scorpene submarines, the future backbone of Indias maritime fleet, is undoubtedly grave. Armies the world over maintain a thick curtain of silence over the simplest aspects because deception is a vital component of warfare. The first Scorpene, greatly delayed already, was about to be commissioned when information about its capabilities was splashed all over the Internet. It is no consolation that this is an old trick in inter-corporate warfare. The government has so far managed the fallout well and has not got stampeded into precipitate action, although much depends on future revelations about the leak.

Even if the disclosure has emanated from India, a knee-jerk reaction is avoidable because that could hurt the countrys defence preparedness. Hacking has become an existentialist hazard. The only option is to install more robust firewalls. More important is to avoid banning the company. Indias defence capabilities in the past have been hit after the losing party used someone elses shoulders to torpedo the winning bid. The intention was to scuttle the contract to re-enter the fray and besmirch the competitors reputation in the international arms market. Submarines are among the costliest toys around and India suffered immensely when kickback allegations forced the German HDW to pack up its bags. HDW was later given a clean chit and India had to make do with ageing submarines.

The French also must be asked some tough questions, especially because another of its company is poised to sell fighter planes. Scorpenes makers had immediately insinuated that the leak had happened in India. This does not bode well for an enduring relationship with the Indian defence sector. It later emerged that the culprit was its former employee. The occasion is also right to ask the company to make good on its tall promises about export orders and the hike in costs. If it acts obtuse, India should show the door to the company that is to supply fighter planes. Not only will this keep the submarines makers in line, but also send a strong signal to other suppliers from the US, Russia and Israel.
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, August 25

Five armed robbers killing a couple, raped two women, including a minor, and grievously injured six others in Dingerheri village of Mewat district late last night.

According to the complaint filed by one of the family members, the accused entered the house around midnight. Male members of the family were sleeping in the courtyard, while women were sleeping in a room.

We heard screams and rushed out to see. We saw five men, two in their undergarments and face covered, beating our family members with iron rods. They snatched our dupattas to tie them to cots and gag them. The accused then entered our room and gang-raped two women, including a teenaged girl. They then searched the entire house for money, said the complainant.

A young boy of the family managed to flee around 3am and informed his grandfather at a tubewell who raised the alarm. By the time the villagers reached the house, the accused had fled. The entire family was rushed to hospital where a couple succumbed to injuries.

The police were informed and a team headed by SP Kuldeep Singh reached the spot along with forensic experts.

We have formed five teams to nab the accused, said Mewat SP Kuldeep Singh. The police suspect the role of Bawaria gang.
Chandigarh, August 25

A couple was murdered and their two teenage relatives were allegedly sexually assaulted by unidentified people who barged into the familys house at a village in Haryanas Mewat district in the wee hours of Thursday.

The assailants first killed the couple, said to be around 40, with sharp-edged weapons and then injured six other members of the family, all of whom were sleeping in the house located near the fields at Digerhedi village, police said.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The injured included two women, aged 18 and 19, who were sexually assaulted by the assailants. They were related to the couple, they said.

After committing the crime, the accused tied the injured with ropes and escaped. Neighbours found the injured after which the police were informed.

A couple was killed in the incident. Two women have been sexually assaulted, Mewat SP Kuldeep Singh told PTI over phone.

Efforts are on to nab the assailants. The injured have been hospitalised, he said.

A case under relevant sections had been registered and investigation was on, Singh added. PTI
Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

Mincing no words to say that the absence of sufficient District Attorneys or prosecutors will retard the pace of justice, Justice Rajan Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned the Haryana Additional Chief Secretary.

The direction came on a petition alleging contempt of court filed by the All-Haryana Attorneys Welfare Association against Chief Secretary DS Dhesi and other respondents. The petitioner claimed that the High Court on July 17,2015, had asked Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to fill the vacancies of District Attorney, Deputy and Assistant District Attorney in the shortest possible time.

Directions were also issued to provide them with requisite support system.

Counsel appearing for the association submitted that despite clear directions issued by the Division Bench, steps have not been taken by the respondents to implement the same. As a result, a number of posts of prosecutor in Haryana remained vacant.

Taking cognizance of the contentions, Justice Gupta issued notice of motion to the respondents, which was accepted by the Haryana Deputy Advocate-General.

Justice Gupta then observed that he may seek instructions and apprise the court the reasons behind the states failure to adhere to the undertaking given before the High Court and non-compliance of the directions given by the Division Bench in July last year.

Before parting with the order, Justice Gupta granted 10 days to the respondents and directed the Additional Chief Secretary to remain present in the court with relevant instructions.

The Division Bench had earlier taken note of the assurance furnished by counsel for Punjab, Haryana and UT that sincere efforts were being made to fill all vacancies.

Taking note of the status reports filed on behalf of the respondents, we direct that the process of appointment of DAs/DDAs/ADAs through direct recruitment be completed positively within nine months. In cases where appointment is to be made by promotion, the process be completed within one year, the Bench had concluded.
Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 25

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries are eyeing Indias famous Murrah buffalo to overcome the shortage of milk production in many countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afganistan, Sri Lanka.

The Dhaka-based SAARC Agriculture Centre has sought Murrah bulls germplasm to upgrade their indigenous buffalo breed for improving their milk yield. The Indian Government has given its nod in principle , Dr Mohammad Nure Alam Siddiky, senior programme office (livestock) of the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) told The Tribune here today.

Representatives of various SAARC countries are attending an international training programme on Herd Health Management of Dairy Buffalo: Nutrition, Breeding, Reproduction, Disease, management and Record Keeping at the Central Institute for Research on Buffalo (CIRB) being organised from August 22 to August 27.

Dr Siddiky said that SAARC had sought 1000 doses of Murrah bull semen for cross-breeding the non-descript breeds in other SAARC countries. This is first step towards exchange of germplasm of elite breeds. We expect to strengthen and improve ties in the agriculture and livestock fields among the SAARC countries later on.

The SAARC official maintained that Pakistans Nili Ravi, another elite Murrah breed, had also supplied the equal amount of germplasm for other countries. We await export clearance from the Directorate of Foreign Trade and some other Indian agencies involved in it, he added.

He said that India, Pakistan and Nepal had highest contribution of buffalo milk in the total milk yield in respective counties with 53% (India), 63% (Pakistan) and 70% (Nepal). However, Bangaladesh has a mere 5% buffalo milk availability. Similarly, the buffalo milk contribution was very low in Sri Lanka, Afganistan and Bhutan.

Dr Inderjeet Singh, Director, CIRB, said Murrah germplasm would be supplied to these countries under an agreement the first time.

Veterinarians visit Jind

Jind: Seventeen veterinary scientists of five SAARC nations on Thursday visited Lakshya dairy farm at Kandela village that houses a large number of Murray and Holliston buffaloes.

Six scientists from Bangladesh, three from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka each and two from Pakistan are taking part in the buffalo-development programme. The main objective is to enhance collaboration among SAARC nations for cattle research.

Dr Maqsood Akhtar, Chief Research Officer, Buffalo Research Centre, Lahore, said: We are here to know about Indian buffalo breeds, way to keep the cattle healthy and safe from dangerous diseases.

He said the Pakistan Government was paying attention to rare breeds of cows, including Sahiwal, Cholistani and Red Sindhi. He praised the cloning technique adopted at the NDRI,Karnal.

Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma of the CIRB said these scientists had visited 10 villages in Hisar district and collected vast information about buffalo research across India, especially in Haryana.
Tribune News Service

Solan, August 25

Alleging large-scale corruption in the allotment of power projects in the state, a former executive committee member of the state BJP, Kushal Jethi, today demanded a CBI probe into the allotment.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jethi said a high-level probe would unearth their operations which smacked of corruption.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Jethi said it was intriguing to note that several hydel projects were operating from small offices in Delhi, Mohali, Shimla and Noida. He alleged that several power projects shared common addresses and it appeared that they were being operated by a single person.

Jethi while producing the list of such power projects said he had apprised the Chief Minister of such projects along with documentary evidence and despite assuring him of an early action, nothing had been done so far.

He alleged that several such companies had been blacklisted in Uttarakhand after large-scale corruption had been unearthed in their operations, but it was intriguing as to how they had been allotted power projects in Himachal. He said only a CBI probe could unearth the truth behind their allotment.

He alleged that 30 hydel projects were cancelled in Uttarakhand from 2007 to 2012 and several such projects were allotted in Himachal. As many as six projects were operating from SCO-140-141, Sector-34-A, Chandigarh, which included two projects of 9 MW and 4 MW of M/S Kapil Mohan Associated Hydro Power Pvt Ltd, two projects of 8 MW and 20 MW allotted to M/S Chandigarh Distilleries and Bottlers Ltd and one project of 24 MW capacity allotted to M/S Kut Energy (P) Ltd. M/S Himani Chamunda Thingri project of 9.50 MW also operated from the same office.

Both Kapil Mohan Association and Chandigarh Distilleries had been blacklisted by Uttarakhand, alleged Jethi.

He alleged that five other projects were operating from D-390, sector-10, Noida, which included M/S Shangling hydropower project, M/S Purthi Hydropower Project Private Ltd, M/S Telling hydropower project, M/S Lara Sumta hydropower project and Sumte Kothang hydro-power project.

He urged the Prime Minister to initiate a CBI probe to unearth the alleged connivance of officials and politicians into their allotment.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 25

Contrary to claims of flight of industry from the state after the expiry of the Special Industrial Package, there has been investment of over Rs 1,006 crores in Himachal following the holding of the Investors Meet at New Delhi in October 5 as 38 new units are proposed.

Countering all claims of flight of industry from the state after the expiry of the Special Industrial Package to Himachal Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that only two units of the same company had wound up operations in the state.

As per the latest information furnished by the Industry Department there has been an investment to the tune of Rs 2,764.22 crores in the state with the setting up of 2,050 new units. These units cleared by the single window have provided the jobs to a total of 20,663 persons.

As per the information compiled by the Industry Department, Unit I and Unit-II of Ms Raychem RPG Ltd had wound up its operations. The two units were located at Plasra village in Nalagarh area of the state.

According to the department, no other industrial unit has shut despite opposition claiming that many investors had moved out after the special incentives period got over. The definition of a sick unit has been fixed by the Reserve Bank of India and it is these kinds of financial institutions which declare a unit as sick, said an official while talking about the sick units in various industrial estates.

It is for the first time that the Industry Department has come out with specific figure of investment after the holding of the Investors Meet at Delhi. The department has claimed that owning to these efforts 38 new units are proposed with a total investment of Rs 1006.70 crore though it has not been specified about the sectors in which these new investments have been made.

The first phase of the industrial meet was held at Bangalore, Ahmadabad and Mumbai in November, 2014 and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had led the team of officials from the industry, tourism, health, revenue and pollution control board. The cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai had been targeted in the second phase the meet held in New Delhi in October 2015.

The government had planned the investors meet to attract industry in view of the fact that after the term of the Special Industrial Package got over, and the new investments have not been very encouraging.
Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 25

The Kangra police have traced the source of psychotropic drugs into the state to Delhi, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and Talwara area of Punjab. The sources have been traced with the arrest of three major suppliers of psychotropic drugs in the district.

SP Kangra Sanjeev Gandhi said the police had arrested three persons  Nitin, a resident of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Sham Sunder, a resident of Talwara, and Firoz Alam of Delhi.

Bulk suppliers of psychotropic drugs in Kangra district, they had been in business of supplying psychotropic drugs in the state since long, he said.

Interrogation of accused revealed that the accused used to procure packets of psychotropic drugs like proxyvon capsules from chemists in Delhi, Meerut and Talwara at a cost of about Rs 600 per packet. In Himachal they use to sell these packets to the retailers of psychotropic drugs at prices ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,400 per packet.

The SP said they had procured arrest warrants of chemists from where the accused used to procure psychotropic drugs in bulk.

Initially, the team of Himachal police that had visited Meerut failed to get much cooperation from the UP police.

This time I have talked to SP Meerut and requested him to provide assistance to our raiding teams. The police also raided Talwara in Punjab to nab the chemist who used to supply drugs to Sham Sunder. We are also planning to raid certain centres in Delhi and Jammu, the SP said.

The campaign of Kangra police against drug peddlers has revealed that menace of psychotropic drugs was much more than the regular drugs like charas, heroine and poppy husk.

The easy availability of these psychotropic drugs and good distribution networks has attracted many youth in the state towards their addiction.

Though the Kangra police have arrested more than 160 people in the last few months on charges of drug peddling and seized large qualities, the actual source of how these psychotropic drugs come out in market in such large qualities still remains a mystery.

The psychotropic drugs are scheduled drugs that are produced under strict restrictions and can be sold only with a valid doctor prescription. The chemists selling them have to keep a record of the people to whom the psychotropic drugs are sold and the doctor who prescribed them.

The Kangra police have requested the state government to give them power take direct action against those selling psychotropic drugs illegally under Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Till date the police have to go through the drug inspectors to take action in psychotropic drug cases.

The provision has been kept to save registered chemists against direct police action.
Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 22

As the state government continues to pressurise employees to attend their duties despite the Valley being under strict curfew for the last 44 days, the employees said they did not accept any such order and would challenge it in the court.

President of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Abdul Qayoom Wani said those issuing such orders were sitting under security cover and want to put the lives of the employees at risk.

Curfew is everywhere, how will the employees reach office in such situation. For us life is priority. We can challenge the order in court. Those who despite hardships try to reach their offices are being shot and harassed. We dont accept this order. We wont attend office till normalcy returns, he said.

The order was issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan on August 17 directing all government and semi-government employees in Jammu and Kashmir to join their duties immediately or else they would be treated absent from duty and their salary would be deducted for the month of August.

After the trouble began in Valley on July 9 following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani most of the government employees are not attending their duties due to curfew and restriction in place and also the fear of facing heat of protesters.

There are around 5.50 lakh employees working in J&K in various government and semi-government departments and the government annually spends Rs 15,000 crore on their salaries.

After the agitation started in Kashmir last month, the employees from different districts of the Valley say that they are not able to attend duties despite governments continuous pressure. The recent incidents of firing on an ambulance driver and beating of a High Court employee in Srinagar by forces have further added to the fear among employees.

The government is putting our lives in danger. We cannot attend duty till our safety is ensured. Even curfew passes are not being accepted. Forces are beating everyone. There are strict restrictions and night curfew is in place. Even politicians and their families are either in other states or high-security homes. How can they dictate us to attend offices, when they themselves fear to go out? Even protesters are not allowing employees to move, said an Education Department employee in Srinagar.

Last week, the statement of the Education Minister received severe criticism after he asked the parents to cooperate in the opening of schools in the Valley amid unrest. The parents said they could not send their children to school till normalcy was resumed.
Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 25

Despite Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressing his willingness to meet everyone in Kashmir during his two-day visit to the Valley, a delegation of Kashmiri Hindu employees was not allowed to present their views, citing time constraints by officials.

Although despite tight schedule Rajnath met several delegations, the employees were not allowed to present real picture of the Valley. This has surprised them as the Central government has been talking of their rehabilitation and resettlement in Kashmir.

About 2,000 Pandit youth returned to the Kashmir valley in 2010 under Prime Minister employment package to start their life afresh in their homeland which their families were forcedto leave after the eruption of separatist insurgency in 1990.

However, a majority of them left the Valley and reached Jammu after rampaging mobs attacked their transit camps in Haal (Pulwama) and Vessu (Anantnag) following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

We tried to meet the Union Home Minister but our request was turned down with the excuse that he had a busy schedule. We have also suffered during the two-month unrest and are part of the Valley. The government needs to hear our point also, said Vimal Pandita, one of the delegation members.

Despite living in relative pace for the past six years, Pandit employees were subjected to concentrated attacks by protesters in the initial days of the unrest. This has totally shaken the community members who are working in different districts of the Valley from north Kashmirs Baramulla district to volatile districts of Anantnag and Pulwama.

Truth should come out about what happened in the past two months but it seems deliberate efforts are being made to ignore the plight of minorities in Kashmir who are caught in the cross-fire. Even non-migrant Pandits are afraid of emerging situation inthe Valley, said Rajesh Kumar, another PM package employee.

However, a senior BJP leader said the employees approached for the meeting on the second day of Rajnaths visit and it would have been difficult to accommodate them and meet the Home Minister. We have told them to prepare a memorandum, listing their demands, so that it could be forwarded to the Centre, said a BJP minister.

Displaced Pandits have been repeatedly accusing the PDP-BJP coalition government of hiding facts about the attacks on religious places of minority community and transit camps during the current unrest and have been demanding their adjustment outside Kashmir.
Ranbir Chauhdary

RAO Bahadur Ch Ram Singh was a distinguished police officer of the colonial and post-colonial Punjab. Son of a Rao Sahib, he was recruited as DSP from the quota reserved for Hindu agriculturist castes. As DSP Headquarters, Lahore, this handsome Jat from Tanda Heri village of old Rohtak district endeared himself to the then Deputy Commissioner, Dharam Vira, an ICS Officer  in 1938  by dispersing a crowd of women protesters who had blocked the entry to the office of the then Premier of the province, Sir Sikander Hyat Khan, by letting loose snakes with the help of a snake charmer. In 1944, he displayed valour as SP, Anti-Robbery Staff, Ludhiana, by getting a large number of criminals arrested or killed in encounters. In 1946, as SP, Sargodha, he disturbed a public meeting of the Muslim League by letting loose at the venue two rival buffaloes! He had also prevented the visit of MA Jinnah to that place by sending a telegram to his daughter that her fathers life was in danger. Ram Singh was awarded King George Police Medal.

His reputation as a police officer reached new heights on his appointment as SP, Amritsar, after the Partition. He arrested Jogender Singh, SI, Beas police station, for possessing vast amounts of goods looted from Muslims migrating to Pakistan. Goods worth Rs 2 lakh, in those days, were recovered by him within the first few days of the recovery of looted goods drive launched by him. A large number of policemen in Amritsar voluntarily surrendered stolen goods. His services were recognised by political leaders of the district. While participating in a debate in the East Punjab Legislative Assembly, Sardar Sajjan Singh remarked: There was hardly a policeman in entire Amritsar district, except one head constable who had not been a party to loot. It was only after the present SP Ch Ram Singh (came) that things had changed.

The Rao Bahadur also got recognition as Commandant of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) at Jalandhar Cantt from 1952 to 1955. Under his dynamic leadership, the force played an important role in protecting the border with Pakistan, checking smuggling and protecting the Bhakra Nangal Project (under construction then) and other strategic points such as bridges and rail tracks. Consequently, he received the Presidents Police Medal.

As DIG Ambala Range, he played an important role in controlling the Save Hindi Agitation (Hindi satyagraha) launched by the Arya Samaj against the compulsory teaching of Punjabi in the Punjabi and Hindi regions of Punjab. He did not hesitate to take stern action against these Jats of Bahu Akbarpur village, Rohtak district, for attacking police personnel. He did not care about his expulsion from the Jat community by a khap panchayat for this action because he considered the police as his caste.
Beijing, August 25

The complex India-China ties cannot be defined in black and white despite growing regional rivalry between the two countries, state-run Chinese media on Thursday said and called for aligning Make in India campaign with Made in China 2025 to enhance cooperation.

This year marks an eventful time in China-India relations. At the beginning of the year, Indian media collectively criticised the Chinese government, alleging China adopted double standards against terrorism, an article in the state-run Global Times said, referring to Beijing putting a technical hold on New Delhis bid to bring about a UN ban on Masood Azhar, leader of the Jaish-e-Muhammad militant group.

In June, India suffered a setback in its bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) after the groups members, including China, opposed the bid but India has singled out China for barring membership, the article titled China-India relations arent simply black and white said.

The move was seen by some as revenge against China over the NSG veto. This series of negative events has caused some observers to assess the China-India relations as simply black and white.

It is irrational and impractical to define China-India relations in black and white terms. A multi-dimensional perspective does not contradict the crux of the bilateral relationship, it said, highlighting the positive outcomes of the 2014 visit to India by Chinese President Xi Jinping, followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to China last year.

In reality, ties between big nations have always been complex and require a multi-dimensional perspective. Viewed in this more rounded way, the conclusion on the China-India relations becomes quite different, it said.

In terms of economic and trade relations, while trade volume between China and India is less than that between China and Vietnam, China is actually Indias largest trading partner.

On a global level, close collaboration between the two nations drives bilateral relations where the two economies are complementary. But at the regional level, India and China are competitors, it said.

While both the countries are equally motivated to promote a fair, reasonable and new international economic order and collaborated in WTO, Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) initiated by BRICS nations, the two are locked in regional rivalry with their strategic projects.

At the regional level, China and India face competition against each other, it said.

Chinas One Belt, One Road (Silk Road) initiative is being viewed as a challenge to Indias ambition in the South Asia region.

Yet, the two economies are quite complementary where the scope for further economic cooperation is continuously expanding. The two countries can align Chinas Made in China 2025 and Internet Plus with Indias Make in India and Digital India. They can also tap potential for practical cooperation in fields such as railways and industrial capacity, it said. PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25

While levels of the Ganga continue to pose threat, Chief Minister Nitish Kumars assertion to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the need of a national silt management policy is expected to initiate movement in the direction which has so far been dealt with in an ad hoc manner.

Government functionaries indicate the suggestion has re-started the thought process for a proper management of this very real and recurring environmental problem  rising level of silt in rivers due to various factors, including infrastructure projects like dams, and posing recurring threat to man and property, year after year.

The water retention capacity of the Ganga and other rivers has reduced due to siltation, becoming one of the major causes for flooding, says environmental expert Himanshu Thakkar. Lamenting the ad hoc manner in which this very crucial issue of siltation is being dealt currently, whether it is while building infrastructure projects on rivers or for navigation purpose, he calls for a concrete effort.

It is strange how silting does not find a mention either in the National Water Policy or any other document built for management of water resources in the country, he says. There has been no concrete effort in this direction so far even while we are talking of building inland waterways and other infrastructure on rivers, he adds

Now the reason why there has to be a national policy for silt management or de-silting is for the following reason. As per experts, run of a river till the delta an extremely dynamic process involving several factorswater, silt and biodiversity  a reason enough for tackling the issue comprehensively, keeping all of them in mind.

Along with water, a river transfers silt from mountains to the delta. Fertile plains formed all along are a result of this process. Any imbalance in this process is bound to create environmental issues. Deforestation results in increase in silt load and construction of dams, as happened in this case, stops the transfer. Less silt at delta will cause a major imbalance vis-a-vis sand in sea, explains Thakkar.

Which is one reason why avoidable flood disaster in Bihar and UP are being attributed to mismanagement of two dams  Bansagar at Sone in Madhya Pradesh and Farakka on the Ganga in West Bengal  and decreased capacity of rivers to carry the water.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25

A day after the Scorpene submarine data leak emerged, India has expressed concern and sought answers from France on the origins of the leak. Separately, it has launched an audit of procedures within and asked a foreign government to check on the leaked documents.

Meanwhile in Paris, news agency Reuters cited an unmanned French government source to pin blame on the data leak. Documents relating to Indian submarines were stolen from French naval contractor DCNS and not leaked...It is not a leak, it is theft, Reuters cited the source. It further said the documents looked to have been stolen in 2011 by a former French employee who had been fired while providing training in India on the use of the submarines.

India and France have launched separate investigations, a day after Sydney-based newspaper The Australian reported that 22,400 pages of data relating to the design, strike capability, weaponry, propulsion, intelligence-gathering abilities and stealth capability etc of the under-construction submarines had been leaked.

French company DCNS is making six Scorpene submarines in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 23,562 crore ($3.46 billion). The first one named Kalvari is set to be inducted into the naval fleet by yearend and the remaining five vessels at periodic intervals till 2020. The French Government holds 62 per cent stake in DCNS.

A spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: The documents that have been posted on the website by an Australian news agency (The Australian newspaper) have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out.

Sources said it was to be ascertained if the blacking out of the vital data was done by the newspaper or in the original documents.

The Indian Navy has taken up the matter with Director General of Armament of the French Government expressing concern over the incident and has requested the French Government to urgently investigate the incident and share the findings with India, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has ordered an internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise. The matter is being taken up with foreign governments concerned through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports.

The government is also examining the impact if the information contained in the documents claimed to be available with Australian sources is compromised. A high-level panel constituted by the Defence Ministry and Navy will study the impact of the data-leak.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25

As the India-Pakistan war of letters continues, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has shot off another letter to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Choudhary.

Sources in the government confirm that in the letter, Jaishankar has made it clear to Pakistan that the India-Pakistan talks should focus on terror emanating from Pakistan to India and to the region.

The letter is Indias response to Choudharys August 19 invitation to Jaishankar, asking him to travel to Islamabad and discuss the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said the letter was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to Choudhary yesterday in Islamabad.

Sources said the Foreign Secretary, in the letter, has pressed upon Islamabad once again for the need to move out of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Sources add that India has upped the ante this time with the Foreign Secretary raising the issue of terror emanating from Pakistani soil and targeting not just India but also the region. It is learnt that the decision on whether Jaishankar would travel to Pakistan at the end of the month would be determined once Pakistan responds to the latest letter.

India-Pakistan relations show no signs of improvement with Kashmir having emerged as the main issue. The dialogue process has been in a state of suspension since the January Pathankot attacks and the recent exchange of letters between the two Foreign Secretaries is an effort to create ground for talks.
New Delhi, August 25

India's High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna is set to head for Washington as Ambassador to the US, considered a high-profile posting.

Arun Singh, India's Ambassador to US, is due for retirement and it is understood that Sarna's name has been finalised to succeed him.

It is learnt the India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha may replace Sarna in the UK.

Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1980 batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted to London in January.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the MEA. He had held the post between 2002 and 2008.

Sarna is likely to take up the new assignment in the midst of the high-voltage presidential campaign in the US and his main task will be to ensure continuity in Indo-US relations when a new dispensation takes charge in Washington.

Sarna is an author of many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' released last year. He was also India's Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012.

For two years from August 2012, Sarna had served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations in the MEA.

Sarna had served at various Indian missions, including in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington.

Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner to the UK, is a seasoned diplomat and, in his career spanning 35 years, he has handled several important assignments at the MEA and in Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America.  PTI
New Delhi/Mumbai, August 25

Documents relating to Indian submarines were stolen from French naval contractor DCNS and not leaked, a French government source said on Thursday, adding that the information published so far showed only operational aspects of the submarines.

Earlier, the Indian Navy said it has taken up the Scorpene document leak matter with Frances Directorate General of Armament (DGA) and has asked the French government to investigate the incident with "urgency" and share their findings with the Indian side.

"It is not a leak, it is theft," the source said. "We have not found any DCNS negligence, but we have identified some dishonesty by an individual."

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The source said the documents looked to have been stolen in 2011 by a former French employee who had been fired while providing training in India on the use of the submarines.

The documents were not classified and at this stage appeared to only focus on the operational elements of the submarines, the source said.

An internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise is also being undertaken, the Indian Navy said in a statement, a day after it stressed that the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India.

The documents that have been posted on the website by an Australian news agency have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out, the Navy said.

Interestingly, The Australian, a newspaper based in Australia, had put out only few of the 22,400 pages that are in its possession. Citing security concerns of India, the paper had itself blackened out vital information.

Officials had yesterday sought to play down the impact of the leak.

They had argued that the leaked documents are outdated technical manuals and dont constitute sensitive information and is very different from specifications of the Scorpene subs being built for India.

In todays statement, the Navy said it has taken up the matter with Directorate General of Armament of the French government expressing concern over this incident and has requested the French government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side.

The matter is being taken up with concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports, it added.

The government of India, as a matter of abundant precaution, is also examining the impact if the information contained in the documents claimed to be available with the Australian sources is compromised.

The detailed assessment of potential impact is being undertaken by a high-level committee constituted by the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Navy is taking all necessary steps to mitigate any probable security compromise, the statement by the Navy said.

Defence experts had yesterday raised concerns over the leak, irrespective of the leak compromising Indian security or not.

Defence analyst Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies, had said that 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, he said.

Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd), a submariner who once headed naval operations, had said the breach of security of data should not have happened.

The loss of data is a serious issue, he had said.

Scorpene data leak not from our side: MDL

Meanwhile, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), where the Scorpene submarines are being built, on Thursday said the data leak did not take place from its end and that it was assisting the Navy in the probe.

A day after the data leak on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company came to light, an MDL official said there were stringent norms at MDL on data security.

We are helping Navy in the probe. We are certain the data leak was not from our side, an MDL official said here.

It needs to be verified if the leaked documents are authentic, the official said, reacting to reports of the massive data leak.

There are stringent norms at MDL on data security, the official said.

MDL head Rear Admiral Rahul Shrawat was not available for comments.

French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project.

MDL is scheduled to deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy early next year and the remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020.  Agencies
New Delhi, August 25

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday dismissed suggestions that Rahul Gandhi had done a U-turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said the party vice president stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.

No U-Turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. Person who killed was from RSS. It is the Ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress General Secretary said in a series of tweets.

Rahul Gandhi yesterday told the Supreme Court that he had never blamed the RSS as an institution for killing Mahatama Gandhi but persons associated with it were behind the assassination.

He had 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.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress vice president, had 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.

Meanwhile, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said wisdom had prevailed upon the Congress leader and although it might be a U-turn, it was a good turn.

Naidu also termed the RSS as a patriotic organisation which was ready for service anywhere at any given point of time.

Good, Rahul finally admitted before Supreme Court that RSS is not accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Wisdom has prevailed. It may be a U-turn but a good turn. RSS a patriotic organization. RSS - Ready for Self Service anywhere any time, Naidu tweeted.  PTI
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25

The race for the next Indian ambassador to the US has started in earnest. Arun Singh, the current Indian envoy to the US, is set to retire by August-end and the government is mulling its options on the next person to head its mission in Washington DC.

Sources informed The Tribune that there were three people in contention. Navtej Sarna, currently Indias High Commissioner to the UK, Pankaj Saran, Indias Ambassador to Russia, and Navdeep Suri, Indian High Commissioner to Australia. The government is looking at the merits of all three candidates with sources pointing out that the final call will be taken by the Prime Minister.

That also sets in motion some major reshuffles within the Ministry of External Affairs. Santosh Jha, Joint Secretary (policy planning) in the Ministry, is all set to move to Washington DC as Deputy Ambassador.

Dinesh Patnaik is set to move to London as the Deputy High Commissioner as his stint as Indias Ambassador to Morocco ends. Yash Sinha, who is currently serving as the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, also lobbied hard for the Washington posting but sources point out that he might get to go to London as High Commissioner if Sarna moves to Washington DC.

Taranjit Sandhu, who is Indias deputy chief of mission in Washington, is headed to Sri Lanka as the new High Commissioner.
United Nations, August 25

UN General Assembly president-elect Ambassador Peter Thomson will travel to India early next week during which he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and discuss the ambitious SDGs.

Thomson, the Permanent Representative of Fiji elected in June as President of the UNGAs upcoming 71st session, will visit China later this week and will then travel to India.

On August 29, the president-elect will be in New Delhi where it is planned that he will meet with Modi, Swaraj and Secretary for External Relations, Sujata Mehta, a press release from the office of the President of the UN General Assembly said yesterday.

Coming from the Asia-Pacific nation of Fiji, I am pleased to have this opportunity to visit the two biggest countries in the regional group to which I belong, Thomson said, adding that he looks forward to the high-level talks he will have with the Governments of China and India.

My main interest will be to discuss how the United Nations can assist and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he added.

He will attend official meetings in Beijing tomorrow and is expected to meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Swaraj will travel to New York later next month to attend the high-level General Debate of the 71st session of the General Assembly. She will address global leaders from the iconic lectern of the General Assembly on September 26.

Modi, who had addressed the UN General Assembly sessions in 2014 and 2015, will not be attending this years UNGA session.

Thomsons visit to India assumes significance against the backdrop of New Delhi leading efforts for early completion of the long-pending reforms of the UN Security Council.

In July, Indias push to achieve urgent reforms of the 15-nation Council by this year and secure a permanent seat on the horse-shoe table had suffered a setback when the 193- member General Assembly decided to roll over discussions on reforming the world bodys top organ to its 71st session.

India had been pushing for completing reforms of the UN Security Council in the 70th session of the General Assembly, which will end next month.

Thomson will preside over the 71st session, which will begin on September 13, amid expectations from a majority of member states that the UNSC reform process will accelerate and concrete results will be achieved in reforming the most powerful organ of the UN.

India along with the G4 nations had said it was unfortunate that momentum could not build up over UNSC reforms in the 70th session.

Lamenting the UN had not been able to push forward with the reforms, Brazils envoy to the UN Antonio de Aguiar Patriota - speaking on behalf of the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan - had said there was huge expectation that time had arrived for us to move into concrete negotiations, It is unfortunate that the 70th anniversary of the UN was not able to build up momentum with a view to reaching an agreement on this important item. For his visits to India and China, Thomson will be accompanied by the Office of the President of the General Assemblys Chef de Cabinet Ambassador Tomas Anker Christensen and Senior Adviser Meena Syed.

Thomson will replace current General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft.

Following his election, Thomson had noted that the Assemblys 71st session would bring momentum to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and serve to achieve progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  PTI
New Delhi, August 25

Shakti Sinha, who joined BJP in July 2014, is frontrunner for the post of Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).

A 1979-batch IAS officer, Sinha took voluntary retirement in September 2013 when he was serving as Finance Secretary, Delhi government. He was earlier Private Secretary to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was director of India Foundation from April-July 2016 and is at present part-time Director at South Asian Institute for Strategic Affairs.

The NMML post has been lying vacant after UPA government-appointee Mahesh Rangarajan stepped down in September last. The library was set up in 1966 in Nehru's memory at sprawling Teen Murti House (next to Rashtrapati Bhavan), a place where the first PM stayed for 16 years till his death in 1964. NMML is an autonomous body under Culture Ministry.  TNS
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 25

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today announced to set up 200 skill centres in the state.

Sukhbir, accompanied by Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Bathinda MLA Sarup Chand Singla today met workers of the Maur Vidhan Sabha constituency during a public rally. He said these skill centres would help youngsters in pursuing their own ventures across the state.

The Deputy CM said it would take one and a half months to set up these centres. "These skill centres will not only help in training the youth but also provide finance through various schemes of the state government," Sukhbir said.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

As 21 members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today sought sacking of partys state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur for allegedly seeking money from a volunteer, the issue is threatening to cause a major divide in the party.

Chhotepur has got support from several party leaders and has also decided to hit back strongly. He announced today that he would expose the partys wrongdoings tomorrow and the conspiracy against him.

The party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is likely to meet at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence tomorrow to take a final call on his removal, said sources.

Kejriwal has reportedly refused to meet Chhotepur and asked him to file his clarification before the party's Punjab state committee.

Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, a member of the Political Review Committee, has come out in support of Chhotepur, calling him an honest politician.

Randhawa has accused Kejriwal of succumbing to the pressure from a coterie in the party and ignoring the ground realities. He alleged that the party was not run on democratic values. Giving an example of the autocratic way of running of the party, he said not a single meeting of the Political Review Committee had been called so far. Randhawa is likely to accompany Chhotepur to the latters press conference tomorrow.

A number of AAP leaders confess that the party has suffered a blow due to the controversy. We were going well in Punjab. Now we are in troubled waters. The way whole episode of Chhotepur is conducted has disappointed the volunteers, said a leader.

The 21 members, who have written the letter to Kejriwal included Faridkot MP Prof Sadhu Singh, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, HS Phoolka, Himmat Singh Shergill, Sukhpal Khaira, Yamini Gomar, Harjot Singh Bains and Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi.

Outsiders targeted Chhotepur: Capt

Chandigarh: Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday condemned "dirty tricks" resorted to by AAP leaders from UP and Delhi against the "son of the soil" Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who nurtured the party right from the day of its conception in Punjab. "The sting operation has clearly been planned and executed as part of an internal coup engineered by the AAP leaders from outside who want to control Punjab by using their local stooges and inconsequential wannabe leaders," he alleged. TNS

Sanjay Singh decries talk of AAP blacklist

Chandigarh: Condemning the rumours in a section of media that AAP has made a "blacklist" of some of its senior leaders, the party today termed the reports as baseless. Punjab affairs incharge Sanjay Singh said: "As per the said propaganda, Sukhpal Khaira, Kanwar Sandhu and Jasbir Singh Bir are being sidelined by the party." He said all these leaders were performing their duties at their optimistic level and were assets for the party. TNS

No place for corrupt in party: Bhagwant

Moga: Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has stated that the corrupt people had no place in the party. He said AAP was founded on the basic principles to root out corruption from the country. "We cannot tolerate anybody who is corrupt or is engaged in corrupt practices in his/her political career, he said. He said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was shocked to know that Chhotepur was involved in corruption as revealed by the sting operation. TNS
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.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 25

British MP (Labour Party) David Hanson has said curbing terrorism could be the key to establish cordial ties between India and Pakistan, which in his view is responsible for patronising terrorism and infiltration.

He was speaking during a session with activists of Folklore Academy here today. The Amritsar-based academy is focused on mending relationship between India and Pakistan.

Hanson was in the city as part of a delegation that included his colleagues in British Parliament Bob Blackman (Conservative Party), Baroness Barker (Liberal Democratic Party, House of Lords), and Robert Harper, Asia Pacific Programme Manager, UK.

Earlier, the delegation, which also included Additional Solicitor General of India Pinky Anand and Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust chairperson Kishwar Desai, visited the century-old Town Hall, where Partition Museum is to come up.

The Folklore Academy expressed its resentment against the British Government for the Partition of the country. A memorandum was handed over to visiting delegates, seeking apology from the British Parliament for Partition, said academy president Ramesh Yadav.

At this, Hanson said: If you look at history, Britain gave freedom to India and Pakistan. The decision to partition the country was influenced by then Indian politicians. It could be a consequence of political situation arising then. Britain never forced it.

He criticised Pakistan for fomenting acts of terrorism. It is clear that terrorism in India is supported from the Pakistani side. It is the liability of the Pakistan Government and their Army to stop infiltration. The security of India is paramount.

The Pakistani authorities have to come down heavily on terrorists. It is not Britains policy to interfere in matters of other nations. But we will not hesitate to bring the two countries together, as both are members of the Commonwealth, Hanson added.
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

Jalandhar, August 25

A day after the Punjab Government decided to hand over investigation into the attack on RSS leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (red) to the CBI, the Jalandhar Commissionerate today brought four Ludhiana jail inmates on production warrant on a suspicion of their involvement in the attack.

The inmates were Shiv Sena leader Amit Arora, his domestic help Mani, Samar DSouza and Bharti Sandhu. They were remanded in seven days police custody.

The Ludhiana police had on June 23 arrested Arora, along with Mani, on the charge of concocting a story of attack on him. Arora had claimed he was attacked on February 3.

DSouza had surrendered in a Ludhiana court on August 12. He is an accused in a stage-managed attack on Shiv Sena leaders RD Puri and Arora in 2013. Sandhu was DSouzas accomplice in the attack. The Ludhiana police had arrested Puri on June 24.

Sources said the police had received a tip-off about the involvement of the four inmates in the attack on Gagneja. They were produced in court under tight security.

Journalists were not allowed to enter the court premises reportedly on the instructions of the Jalandhar police. A guard categorically said senior police officials wanted no journalist in the court complex.

After the hearing, police officials led by ACP (Central) DD Sharma left the court from the back door, thus avoiding journalists waiting at the front gate.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vivek Sheel Soni said the inmates would be interrogated to find out their role in the attack. It is too early to establish or rule out their involvement, he added.

Sources said ever since the Jalandhar police announced Rs10-lakh reward and a job in the police to anyone giving information about the accused involved in the attack on the RSS leader, the helpline number had been receiving calls about the suspects.
The beautiful and rugged scenery of eastern Montana and western North Dakota will be on display in a documentary film called "Makoshika," playing at the Myrna Loy Center starting Friday, Aug. 26.

Tickets are available at the Myrna Loy Center, 15 North Ewing Street. Call 406-443-0287 for information.

On opening night Friday, Makoshika Producer Peter Tolton will host a filmmaker Q-and-A following the 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. showings.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Author Richard Manning, who penned the Harpers Magazine March 2013 cover story, Bakken Business: The Price of North Dakotas Fracking Boom, will relate his experiences exploring and writing about the region during the height of the oil boom. Additionally, Producer Tolton will host a filmmaker Q-and-A following the showing.

This artful and informative 50-minute documentary film illustrates how people cope with cycles of industrial boom and bust throughout generations, sharing stories that start from the height of the most recent oil boom. "Makoshika" was made by native Montanans and exclusively features Montana musicians on the film soundtrack.

Examining both the present boom and those since passed, "Makoshika" alternates between intimate first-person narratives and historical commentary. A dialogue on the delicate balance between economic development and environmental and social justice from a diverse range of voices, the film is a portrait of a fascinating American region in transition.

"Makoshika" gets its name from the native Lakota word for bad lands. Those who live in this region have always been met with both opportunity and intense hardship. From the native tribes, to the pioneering homesteaders of a century ago, to the laborers who have come to the region in successive waves of oil development, its history has been one of both dramatic economic booms and devastating busts.

An impressive directorial debut for director Jessica Jane Hart, "Makoshika" is an official selection of the 2016 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, the 2016 Environmental Film Festival in the Nations Capital, Venice Film Week, and Toronto Film week. The documentary won the Best Heritage Feature Documentary from the Tribute Film Festival in Abilene, Texas and a Silver Spotlight Documentary Film Award.

The film was partially funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign that gathered much of its support from the Billings community, a Humanities Montana Grant, and local sponsorships.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25

With elections looming in Uttarakhand next year, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has sent a strong message of unity to state Congress leaders asking them to strengthen the party rather than individuals to fight and defeat the BJP.

In a poll strategy meeting Rahul held with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and state party chief Kishore Upadhyay here yesterday, he was learnt to have said it was critical to stop the BJP in the hill state to send a message of the Congress revival.

Referring to the Congress 2002 victory in Uttarakhand which, Rahul said, laid the ground for its 2004 General Election win, he reportedly told his colleagues, If we can stop the BJP in Uttarakhand, we can send a strong message of the Congress recovery across India.

Rahul underlined his comments mentioning the importance of Uttarakhand in the saffron scheme of things and spoke of why it was so important to contain the BJP in the state. His reference was to Uttarakhands strong upper caste base, the fact that it was home to Char Dhams and the Ganga  all elements significant to the saffron political strategy.

The meeting, also attended by Congress general secretary in charge of Uttarakhand Ambika Soni, discussed the election strategy of the party in the state and decided that Congress workers would reach every voter by the end of the year with the message of development and secularism.

We have to fight communal forces, was Rahuls message to Rawat and Upadhyay who had some heartburn after the denial of a Rajya Sabha ticket to latter in June.

The Tribune has learnt that Rawat and Upadhyay have buried the hachet and will together plan a major political campaign in all five parliamentary segments of the state.

Plans are under way to hold a yatra across all Lok Sabha segments in the state where all party leaders will gather in a show of unity.

Parallel to that, the Congress in Uttarakhand will hold seminars in each district of the state.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 25

Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said the top leadership of the Congress in New Delhi has asked the Congress leaders in Uttarakhand to start preparations for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.

We will hold rallies in the state from the next month. I along with the PCC chief Kishore Upadhyay will travel in the state and hold mini yatras, he said.

Speaking at a press conference after his return from Delhi, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said Rahul Gandhi had urged party workers and the leaders to work unitedly.

Further he said the state government would acquire all disputed land of ashrams and bring it into public use. Recently, the BJP leader Satpal Maharaj had alleged that the government had illegally acquired the land belonging to Nirmal Ashram.

Significantly, the Chief Minister also clarified that he was misquoted on the Gairsain. I had only said we will make a road map for the development of Gairsain but I was quoted as saying that Gairsain will be made the capital of Uttarakhand which is not true. In my view, this decision has to be taken by the people of the state, he stressed.

The Chief Minister also announced the creation of six new development authorities/councils.
Kabul, August 25

An attack on the American University of Afghanistan has ended, a senior police officer said on Thursday, after at least seven persons were killed and more than 30 were injured.

Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued.

Rahami said one foreign teacher had been wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university on the edge of Kabul. It was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the US system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi earlier said was still not clear if there were one or two attackers.

Hedayatullah Stanikzai, an official with the Ministry of Public Health, said a guard employed by the university had been killed and that the injured included a foreign teacher.

University authorities could not immediately be reached for comment.

Dejan Panic, the programme director at Kabuls Emergency Hospital, said 18 persons injured in the attack, including five women, had been admitted. He said three were seriously injured, probably from automatic gunfire.

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 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.

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.

The US State Department condemned what it called an attack on the future of Afghanistan.

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.  AP
Melbourne, August 25

Australian police have ruled out any links to extremist groups in the stabbing of a 21-year-old British woman to death at a backpackers hostel in the countrys northeast even as a romantic angle is being probed.

What I can say, at this stage, (is) there is absolutely no  and I repeat  there is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any particular motive in relation to this matter, Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said.

Yesterday, police said they were investigating links to any extremists groups in the stabbing to death of Mia Ayliffe Chung by 29-year-old French national Smail Ayad who said Allahu akbar during both his arrest and the attack witnessed by a crowd of 30 people.

But were certainly far from reaching any positive conclusions as to motive or anything like that. We intend to attempt to interview the suspect today and I would imagine that we will be in a position to either charge or release the suspect, he added.

The stabbing incident took place on Tuesday at Shelleys Backpackers in Home Hill, 100 km south of Townsville by Ayad, who was also staying at the hostel. He also attacked and injured a 30-year-old British man who came to Mias rescue.

Ayad underwent a psychiatric assessment and may have used cannabis prior to the attack, Rohweder said, adding police were probing if the suspect had any romantic interest in Mia.

There is certainly at this stage no indication  from Mias point of view  that there was any sort of romantic connection.

We are certainly looking at everything thats occurred down there over the last couple of days. Stating that the suspect was violent with police officers, he said.

When we transported the suspect from the Townsville hospital to the Townsville police station, the suspect behaved in an extremely violent manner, which necessitated police stopping the motor vehicle and attempting to restrain him.

As a result of that, police received some injuries, including not just cuts and abrasions but also a bite to the leg, and other policemen then arrived and assisted the two detectives, and he was subsequently placed in a van and taken to Townsville police station, he added.  PTI
Bogota/Havana, August 25

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 October 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. 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.

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.

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. US President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on the deal, the White House said.  Reuters

Plebiscite to decide fate of accord on October 2

The deal, opposed by two former Colombian presidents, still needs to be voted on in a plebiscite. Colombia's president Juan Manuel Santos said Colombians would decide to approve or reject the peace accord in a plebiscite vote on October 2

But the FARC were hit hard by Uribe's government from 2002, when he launched a US-backed offensive that killed many guerrilla leaders and halved their ranks

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

Grim count of five-decade-old war
Havana/Washington, August 25

Colombias government and FARC rebels have announced that they have reached a historic peace accord to end their five-decade civil war, the last major armed conflict in the Americas.

After nearly four years of peace talks in Cuba, the two sides said they have successfully concluded negotiations and reached a final deal.

The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord... on the end of the conflict and the building of a stable and enduring peace in Colombia, they said in a joint statement read out in Havana yesterday.

Speaking earlier in Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos hailed the historic news.

We have fortunately managed to reach a safe harbor, said the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Timoleon Timochenko Jimenez.

Over the past few days, the government and the FARC had been discussing a range of unresolved topics, and worked late into the night Tuesday to draft a joint statement, sources from the two delegations told AFP in Havana.

Santos smiled as he spoke of a very special day. May this country that you are imagining and painting become a reality, he told a group of children taking part in a government-sponsored art competition called Paint a Colombia in Peace.

Once a peace deal is signed, the FARC will begin moving its fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire. The deal must still be endorsed by Colombians in a referendum.

Santoss top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading the No campaign, arguing his successor has given too much away to the FARC.

The war, which began in 1964, is the last major armed conflict in the Americas. It has killed 260,000 people, uprooted 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing.

Along the way, it has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the worlds largest cocaine-producing country. Three previous peace processes with the FARC ended in failure. But after a major offensive by the army from 2006 to 2009 - led by then-defense minister Santos - a weakened FARC agreed to come to the negotiating table.

This time, a final peace accord looks all but certain.

However, the government is still fighting a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose ongoing kidnappings have derailed efforts to open peace negotiations.

Obama congratulates Colombian President

US President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on finalizing details of a peace agreement to end the countrys 50-year-old guerrilla war with FARC rebels, the White House said.

The president recognised this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement that can advance security and prosperity for the Colombian people, the White House said in a statement.  Agencies
Paris, August 25

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended a ban on burkinis in more than a dozen coastal towns on Thursday, saying France was locked in a battle of cultures and that the full-body swimsuit symbolised the enslavement of women.

Photographs of armed police ordering a Muslim woman on a beach in the Mediterranean city of Nice to partially derobe went viral on social media this week, upsetting many French Muslims and causing global consternation.

In a sign of rifts opening in the socialist government before a presidential election in 2017, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Frances Moroccan-born education minister, cautioned the debate was fanning racist rhetoric and being used for political gains.

We have to wage a determined fight against radical Islam, against these religious symbols which are filtering into public spaces, Valls said.

Reiterating his stance on the issue, he said: For me the burkini is a symbol of the enslavement of women. Frances Conseil dEtat, its highest administrative court, was due on Thursday to hear a request by a human rights group for the burkini ban in the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve-Loubet to be overturned. The debate over the burkini ban encapsulates the difficulties secular France faces as it grapples with a response to homegrown jihadists.  Reuters
Islamabad, August 25

Pakistan has conveyed its disappointment to America that despite its concerted and forceful campaign against all terrorist groups, including the dreaded Haqqani network, the US did not certify its actions and blocked the $300 million military aid to the country.

In a meeting with US President Barack Obamas envoy Peter Lavoy, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary expressed concerns over the halt to the military aid.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year.

In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked the release of $300 million military aid to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US operations in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said Chaudhary lamented that despite Pakistans indiscriminate action against all terrorist groups, included the Haqqani Network, the US administration had decided not to certify the concerted and forceful measures taken by Pakistan.

Referring to certain recent developments that had placed a strain on bilateral ties, Chaudhary stressed that continued engagement was important to resolve differences of perception and understanding.

The Haqqani network - a guerilla insurgent group using asymmetric warfare to fight against US-led NATO forces and the Afghan government - has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets.

The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The Pakistan visit of Lavoy, who is also Senior Director for South Asia at the US National Security Council, is part of the regular high-level exchanges between the US and Pakistan.

The Pakistan foreign secretary in his meeting with Lavoy also reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani leadership to not allow anyone to use Pakistans soil against any country.

Lavoy noted that the US recognised the efforts and sacrifices made by Pakistan and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism.

He acknowledged Pakistans outreach to Afghan government and efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in Afghanistan.  PTI
Seoul: Surviving South Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan's military in World War II will be eligible to receive USD 90,000 each from a foundation to be funded by the Japanese government. The families of deceased victims will receive USD 18,000. South Korea and Japan had settled a decades-long dispute over sex slave victims last year. Seoul then said there were 46 surviving victims and 196 who had died.  AP

Ultrasound jumpstarts comatose mans brain

Los Angeles: In a first, scientists have used low-intensity ultrasound to jumpstart the brain of a 25-year-old man recovering from coma, an advance that may lead to a portable device that can non-invasively 'wake up' patients who are in a vegetative state. The technique uses sonic stimulation to excite the neurons in the thalamus, an egg-shaped structure that serves as the brain's central hub for processing information.  PTI
Washington, August 25

Calling China the worst abuser and currency manipulator, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump warned that if elected, he will identify all countries violating trade agreements and take serious actions against them.

The 70-year-old real estate tycoon-turned-politician said he will instruct the US trade representative to bring trade cases against China, which is also building a massive military fortress in the strategic South China Sea.

Trump said he would direct the Secretary of Commerce to identify every violation of trade agreements that a foreign country is currently using to harm American workers.

China is the worst abuser, Trump said.

They have no respect for our country. They have no respect for our leadership. And we dont blame them, we dont blame them. We want to put ourselves in that position very soon. You watch. And theyll like us better than they do now, he said.

They dont like us. Theyre building a massive military fortress in the middle of the South China Sea that theyre not allowed to do.

Theyre doing that, and yet, theyre ripping us economically. We have tremendous power over Chinaeconomic powertremendous. We dont do anything. They build and build and build, and they didnt get environmental impact statements when they decided to rip up the sea, he told supporters at an election rally in Tampa, Florida.

They saidSunday night, lets build. Monday morning, they were digging. A little different than our country, wouldnt you say? A little different. A little bit different, he alleged.

I dont think our politicians even know whats going on.

And they will stop or were going to take in one hell of a lot of money, Ill tell you that. Im going to instruct the United States trade representative to bring trade cases against China, both in this country and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trump said.

Trump further said he would instruct his treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator, the greatest in the world.

Any country that devalues their currency in order to take unfair advantage of the US and all of its companies who cant compete will face tariffs and taxes to stop the cheating. And when they see that, they will stop the cheating, he said.

Chinas unfair subsidy and its behaviour is prohibited by the terms of its entrance into the WTO, and I intend to enforce our rules. Thats all. Very simple, he added.

And they know its coming. Theyve called a lot of friends of mine. They know its coming. They say, What do we do? What do we do? If China does not stop its illegal activitiesremember this. Our trade deficit with China is approximately USD 505 billion a year, Trump said.

We have to straighten it out, folks. We cant have deficits of USD 500 billion. We cant have deficits and we can start making things right here again, and itll be very nice, Trump said.

Well bring our jobs back here instead of havingits like a one-wayits like a one-way bridge, it all goes out of this country. The only thing that comes into our country is drugs. They pour into the country; the cash pours out. We dont do anything right. We have such bad leadership, he said.

He reiterated that he would withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks.

Im going to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks which have yet to be ratified. Im going to appoint the toughest and smartest trade negotiators to fight on behalf of American workers so that we make great trade deals with other countries instead of incompetent and bad trade deals, Trump said.

Trump said that he will immediately renegotiate the terms of The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to get a better deal for our workers.

And if we dont get the deal that we want, which has to be good and has to make up for all of these years of abuse and lost time, then we will walk away, which is fine, he said.

Because they rightfully think were run by incompetent people. So I dont blame China, I dont blame Japan and Mexico and these other countries. Theyre getting away with murder, but if I were them, Id be trying to do the same thing. I blame our leaders, he said.

I want us to be on the winning side. We will be on the winning side if you elect me on November 8th. I promise. I will then direct all appropriate agencies to use every tool under American and international law to end these abuses.

Were being abused, he added.

Im going to use every lawful presidential power to remedy the trade disputes, including the application of tariffs. Ill tell you, were going to probably have to at least use them in some cases because they have to understand, were not playing games any longer, folks. Were not playing games, Trump said.  PTI
The Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees plans to move forward with a school building bond election by this coming spring.

This consensus was reached during a school board retreat Aug. 9.

Everybody indicated an interest in moving toward a bond issue in the spring, said interim school district Superintendent Jack Copps, although no formal vote was taken.

Three board members -- Aidan Myhre, Karen Goldsberry and Tina Huffsmith -- were absent from the retreat and the budget vote that evening because of family illness.

The board doesnt need to pass a bond resolution until 70 days prior to the election, Copps said, so they clearly are in the early stages and have time to have some conversations of how to proceed.

They asked me to put together an RFP (request for proposals) that would address a new survey of the community ... to see generally what the community sense is about another bond issue and what ought to be the priorities if there is another bond issue.

This will again put the school district bond up against a jail bond issue slated for November, said Copps. Both the jail and school bond issues failed during a similar situation last year.

I recommended ... that they proceed with the bond election in the spring, said Copps. We have a lot of information that is very valuable to us because of the last bond issue. That information is aging and in a very short time will not be much use to us. We would have to recreate some of the data again. So this is an appropriate time to start thinking about a bond issue again.

I also said, the next bond issue we need to speak with great clarity. I believe there is general consensus in the community that our infrastructure is aging and in serious need of attention. ... I think it needs to be simple. I think we need to focus on fixing our schools. It needs to address issues with facilities that have been abandoned and also the shift ... of students from the greater community into the valley area. ... We need to address schools that are overflowing with numbers of students.

The board would like to work with a consulting company that has experience helping school districts prepare and pass building bond issues.

Following the June 2015 bond defeat, the board took a step back from any bond proposal discussions.

In November and December it held a series of six public listening sessions to hear from the community members about school needs, priorities and what they valued in their schools.

In recent months, the board drafted a school district strategic plan or framework.

Its a broad-based document, said board vice chairman Sarah Sullivan, who chaired the retreat. It really outlines a general vision of what were trying to achieve in the district in different areas. The board wanted the strategic framework in place as a guide before it developed a facilities bond. After getting community feedback, the board will adopt it at a later date.

The next step toward a bond issue will be a phone survey, Sullivan said. The RFP responses will help the board determine other possible steps and costs associated with these -- such as the survey, possible community meetings, print materials and targeted outreach.

I think there is recognition on the boards part that the board has ownership in a failed bond campaign, and we didnt do a stellar job in putting out a clear message of what our needs are" and how the bond would help address these, Sullivan said.

The board recognizes there is an urgency to getting a bond passed, she added, both in terms of decaying facilities and in terms of community desire -- and in ... utilizing the information weve gathered over the past six years. ... We believe theres an appetite in the community to pursue and hopefully pass a bond.

I definitely want something sooner rather than later, she said, but added that sometimes things dont go as planned.

If we could run and pass a bond in the spring, that would be a wonderful outcome. There could be strategic reasons to wait for the fall, but we definitely feel we need to get this done. We recognize the urgency.

Recent board discussions have not focused on specific schools, said Sullivan and Copps.

The board has a lot of information, agreed board trustee Libby Goldes. Our newest school was built in the 1970s, so we have a lot of buildings in a great need for attention.

"Weve heard from the community. Were not going off in a different direction. ... We will use the information from the past and that will help inform the process we use. ... The community is really aware that something really needs to be done.

In other board matters, the board unanimously approved the 2016-17 budgets for the elementary and high school districts.

The board received no feedback from the public or from staff about the proposed budget, said Sullivan, nor was there any public comment at the Aug. 9 board meeting before the vote.

The adopted K-8 general fund budget is $35,158,380 (up from $34.7 million last year) and the high school general fund budget is $22,543,987 (up from $22.3 million last year).

Helena Public Schools taxpayers should be seeing their school taxes decrease this coming year because generally, the high school and elementary districts taxable values went up, said retired district business manager Kim Harris in an earlier Independent Record article.
Today is a big day for the National Park Service. It was on this date 100 years ago that Congress passed the National Park Service Organic Act, which created the park service. So, today is it's birthday. Let the celebrations begin!

The National Park Service posted this video on its Facebook page: "It's finally here! Experience 0 to 100 with this video in honor of our 100th birthday!"

Here's a little history on the act that created the National Park Service, thanks to the National Archives:

And a look at the work of Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. (By the way, the Magic City Magazine recently featured an article about Mather.)

Of course, our "local" national park, Yellowstone, was the nation's first:

In case you somehow forgot how amazing Yellowstone is, Aerial America has a good reminder:

And we want to know here this Airbnb with the view of Yellowstone National Park is:

President Barack Obama has been visiting national parks during his presidency:

NASA astronaut Jeff Williams has been sharing some incredible photos and videos of our national parks  taken from space.

Here's Old Faithful:

And Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Devils Tower National Monument:

Google's Doodle is celebrating this big day. Here's the story behind the doodle:
OKLAHOMA CITY  The Council of Bond Oversight on Thursday approved a bond package for turnpike expansions despite a plea from an attorney who has lodged a legal challenge before the states highest court.

The council approved the sale of $480 million in bonds pending the resolution of litigation filed by Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent, who attended the meeting.

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority tabled a proposal to phase in a 17 percent toll increase to pay for the expansion. It also agreed to ask the Oklahoma Supreme Court to validate the bond issue.

The bond package is the first part of a total of about $935 million in bonds to be sold to fund Driving Forward, an expansion of the turnpike system.

The bond-financed projects include work on the Gilcrease Expressway, the Muskogee Turnpike, the Turner Turnpike, the H.E. Bailey Turnpike, the Kilpatrick Turnpike and a new Oklahoma City-area turnpike.

Fent alleges there must be a separate financing mechanism for each project to avoid the constitutional prohibition of logrolling, or including more than one item in legislation.

This bond issue proposed is unconstitutional, Fent told the council. I ask you not to approve these because they are unconstitutional.

State Bond Advisor Jim Joseph said the validation lawsuit requires the bond to be fully authorized before the Oklahoma Supreme Court will take it up.

In other action, the council approved the sale of $200 million in bonds that could go to cover 18 projects on the eight-year plan for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

House Bill 3231, passed last session, authorizes the sale of bonds to fund the projects.

The Legislature is expected to appropriate funds to retire the bonds, the council was told.

A project in Tulsa is on the list: rehabilitation of the 23rd Street bridge over Interstate 244.

The project includes reconfiguration of bridge spans, substructure repairs and replacement of the bridge deck. A nearly $20 million contract was awarded in May, when construction began. It is expected to be finished in early 2018.

The list contains potential projects that could get some of the bond funding, said Brenda Perry, an ODOT spokeswoman.

Whether or not they get any bond money or not, they are going to get done, she said.

Another project is in Okmulgee County. It involves reconstruction of 7.5 miles of U.S. 75A between Beggs and Mounds as a two-lane highway with paved shoulders on a new alignment.

The project includes a bridge replacement at Duck Creek. A $16.2 million contract was awarded in August. Once construction starts, the project is expected to take a year.

A Rogers County project involves rehabilitation of the eastbound U.S. 412 bridge over the Verdigris River, about 7.5 miles east of Interstate 44 between Tulsa and Inola.

The estimated cost is $13.6 million. The contract went to bid in August and goes before the Oklahoma Transportation Commission on Sept. 6. Construction is expected to take about seven months.
HOMINY  At the start of negotiations over 43,000 acres of prairie an hour northwest of Tulsa, media mogul Ted Turner sent a message to the potential buyer. I want this land preserved for generations to come, Turner told the chief of the Osage Nation last year.

And Geoffrey Standing Bear sent word back to Turner.

It wont be just generations, the chief promised. It will be forever.

More than 300 Osage citizens drove several miles down a bumpy gravel road Wednesday to celebrate the purchase, a $74 million deal financed with casino profits. Turner himself, whos most famous as the founder of CNN, planned to attend the handover ceremony, but health issues prevented him from traveling, a spokesman said.

After running an environmentally friendly ranch on the grassland for 15 years, Turner wanted a buyer who would treat the property with the same tender care, explained Taylor Glover, the president and CEO of Turner Enterprises.

After my very first meeting with Chief Standing Bear, Glover said, I told Ted, You found your buyer. 

Now that the land is the tribes, Standing Bear has received several proposals for what to do with it  at least one of which he has already rejected.

Putting thousands of wild mustangs on the property would earn a lot of cash from the federal government and bring an instant return on investment.

But it would take a heavy toll on the land, he said. Its our responsibility to preserve this land for the future.

Other possibilities include raising bison, renting out parts of the property to cattle operations and hosting for-profit hunting businesses.

Whatever the tribe decided a to do with it, the Osage Nation didnt buy the Bluestem Ranch to make money, but simply for the sake of owning it, Standing Bear said. Or more precisely, to own it again.

The tribe claimed virtually all of Osage County before the federal government forced allotment in the early 1900s. And before settling in what is now Oklahoma, the tribe had hundreds of millions of acres of territory, said Everett Waller, chairman of the Osage Minerals Council.

As the tribe faced extinction in the 19th century, the rolling hills of the Osage prairie became its last refuge.

We had one home left, and this was it, said Waller, who wrapped himself in a bright red traditional Osage blanket as he spoke. Our ancestors walked on this land. Our warriors died for this land. And today, this land is ours again.

The tribe has already started the process of putting the land in trust with the federal government, which would give the Osage Nation sovereignty over it. And it would legally prevent the tribe from ever selling the property or giving it away in the future, Standing Bear said.

We cannot ever be separated from this land again, he 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.
A third bridge linking the European and Asian continents in Istanbul will open on Friday during a ceremony that will be attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge, built above the Bosphorus, was named after 16th century Ottoman Sultan Selim I, whose rule marked the expansion of the burgeoning world power in the Middle East.

According to Turkish officials, it is estimated that the longest suspension bridge to have a railway system in the world will save $1.75 billion annually in terms of time loss and energy costs.

The bridge is also expected to provide a solution to the city's air pollution as well as traffic congestion, the officials claimed.

The government has guaranteed to the operators that 135,000 automobiles will use the bridge each day. The fee for automobiles going from the European to the Asian side will be 9.90 Turkish lira ($3.4).

There will be no charge for passage from the Asian to the European side.

The bridge is 1.4 kilometer long (0.9 mile) and 59 meters wide and boasts eight road lanes as well as two rail tracks.

It has been built as a part of the Northern Marmara Motorway Project, which has been planned in three phases. The first phase of the project has been completed by the private sector, which invested an approximate $3 billion.

The other two phases will involve the construction of highways and linking roads amounting to a total length of 257 km. They are expected to be completed and available for public use in 2018.

On March 6, the final and middle section of the bridge was placed during a ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

When we laid the foundation of the bridge on May 29, 2013, some people were saying, it will not happen. When they were saying this, we told them: No, we will connect Europe and Asia with Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and it will be the most important message from us to the world, Erdogan said.

Only those who think big are able to realize such projects, the president added.

On Aug. 17, Turkish Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan said that there had been no disruption to the countrys major infrastructure projects despite the July 15 coup attempt

Arslan struck an upbeat note, saying: If possible, they will be finished earlier.

The minister denied there had been any technical or financial obstacles to finishing the countrys mega projects, which include Istanbul's third airport, a finance center and the Kanal Istanbul artificial sea route.

Anadolu Agency
The terrorist group Daesh has been forced to flee the northern Syrian city of Jarabulus following Turkeys military operation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who was in the capital Ankara for a day-long visit, Erdogan said: Members of the Free Syrian Army and Jarabulus residents have recaptured Jarabulus.

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 (FSA) fighters.

The Ankara-backed fighters took control of Jarabulus, where one FSA member was killed. The Turkish army sustained no casualties.

Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.

Erdogan said the most important issue in the region was the fight against terrorism. Whether [the fight is against] Daesh, the PKK, the PYD or FETO, [they are] all terrorists in our view, he said.

Al-Nusrah, Al-Shabab whichever [organization it] is, [they are] all terrorist organizations, he added. We cannot make distinctions [such as] bad terrorists, good terrorists. Terrorists are terrorists, he said.

In reference to the PYD, which is reportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, Erdogan said: One terrorist organization fighting with another one does not justify it.

While Turkey considers the PYD to be the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK organization, the U.S. sees the group as its ally in the fight against Daesh.

Extradition of Gulen

About the U.S.-based leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Erdogan said the main priority for Turkey was the extradition of Fetullah Gulen as soon as possible.

He told Biden the U.S. could "at least" detain the FETO leader. The Turkish government blames FETO for the deadly July 15 coup attempt, in which at least 240 people were martyred.

Gulen, who lives in self-exile in the U.S., is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

Biden, who visited Turkish parliament in Ankara during his visit, which was heavily attacked during the July coup attempt, said: I saw some of the damage myself today, meeting some of the members of your parliament, including the speaker.

I can understand Mr. President how some of your countrymen would feel that the world didnt respond to the existential crisis your country facing rapidly enough.

Thats why I want to personally be here. And I was asked by the [U.S.] president to personally be here to represent him, to tell you and all of your colleagues and your countryman how very, very sorry I am, the president as the American people are for the suffering and lose you have endured, he said.

Biden reiterated that the U.S. stands with our ally Turkey, we support people of Turkey and our support is absolute and unwavering.

This attempted coup was an attack on the people of Turkey, not just the government.

He added the U.S. was committed to doing everything we can to help bring justice for all those responsible for this coup attempt.

Even as [we] speak, our American experts are on the ground here in Ankara, meeting with your people, closely coordinating with our Turkish counterparts to evaluate and gather material with regard to Turkish request to extradite Gulen in accordance our bilateral extradition treaty.

We have more lawyers working on this case than any other extradition in recent history.

During his earlier meeting with parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman, Biden had said: [We] wish Gulen were in another country, not in U.S.

The Erdogan-Biden meeting lasted around two-and-a-half hours at the presidential palace in Ankara.

Anadolu Agency
Elements of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) backed by Turkish air and ground support encircled the Daesh-held northern Syrian town of Jarabulus as part of the joint Turkey-anti Daesh coalition operation dubbed Euphrates Shield on Wednesday, and took control of the town later in the day.

An opposition commander with the Failaq al Sham group, who requested anonymity, told reporters that most of the Daesh fighters in Jarabulus 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 opposition fighters.

"Daesh fighters have withdrawn from several villages on the outskirts of Jarabulus and are heading south towards the city of al Bab," the Failaq al Sham commander said.

News agencies reporting from the area stated that Daesh fighters offered relatively lower resistance against advancing FSA units.

No casualties have been reported from the Turkish Army, while one member of the FSA has been killed in the operations, reports said.

According to a press statement by the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) reaffirmed full support for the operation to liberate Jarabulus from Daesh terrorists.

The statement also noted that the Syrian Coalition welcomes the support provided by Turkish forces and the international coalition against Daesh.

Source: Daily Sabah
The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A
Chelsea and Paris, last season's UEFA Youth League finalists, gatecrash UEFA HQ in Switzerland to strut their stuff ...

Finalists show off their skills at UEFA HQ

Real Madrid use their skills to take you on a tour of their facilities ...

Real Madrids UEFA Youth League skills challenge

How Barcelona got on when they took the keepy-uppy skills challenge ...

Amazing Barcelona keepy-uppy skills challenge

Club legend Thierry Henry invites Arsenal's youngsters to prove their skills ...

2311_UYL Arsenal Challenge

Villarreal create a human castle ...

Villarreals skill challenge: Watch them build a yellow castle

Wolfsburg have a go ...

Wolfsburg youngsters show off their skills

Sevilla's challenge takes them from the gym to the pitch ...

1611_UYL Sevilla Challenge

Olympiacos get bored of life in the office and take to the pitch ...
No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but three soldiers were wounded in ATO area in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on the ATO Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but three soldiers were wounded as a result of armed hostilities in ATO area in eastern Ukraine over the past day, he said.

He added that seven militants had been wounded over the past day.

ol
Ukraine plans to completely halt gas imports in 4.5 years time, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Ihor Nasalyk has said, the  has reported.

Speaking on TV channel 112 Ukraine, he said that last year Ukraine had not bought a single cubic metre of gas, a single kilowatt of energy or single kilogram of coal However, he said, Ukraine must pay more for gas to be independent from Russia in this regard.

"We pay more because we pay for transit and on the territory of Ukraine as well as in Europe, because the current price is 185 dollars per cubic metre. If it were a direct contract with Russia the price would be 140 dollars," said Nasalyk, calling the difference in price "the independence of Ukraine" from Russian fuel.

pd
MISSOULA -- Immigrants to the United States inspire people who are already living here with their dreams, and they challenge them with their hard work and sacrifice, said Clem Work, of Soft Landing Missoula.

"They remind us that in a broken world, there are answers, there are solutions, there are ways to make things work," Work said.

Work and others spoke in support of a resolution that Missoula join the national "Building Welcoming Communities Campaign" to help some of the 60 million people displaced by war and conflict around the world. Their comments came Wednesday at a Committee of the Whole meeting of the Missoula City Council.

Councilors Marilyn Marler and Emily Bentley sponsored the measure.

"Be it resolved that the city of Missoula is committed to doing our part to make the United States a welcoming environment for refugees and declares Missoula to be a Welcoming City," said Bentley, reading from the resolution.

" ... Be it further resolved that the city of Missoula promotes the dignity and respect of all residents and is committed to publicly standing up against hateful rhetoric, condemning hate threats, and condemning crimes motivated by hate."

In tears, Councilwoman Heidi West said she lived in Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union, and she saw a lot of refugees, but her childhood home was not welcoming.

"The city I grew up in didn't end up receiving any refugees because the response was so overwhelmingly negative," West said.

She said she's pleased Missoula is already housing one family.

Councilman Jon Wilkins said he wholeheartedly supports the resolution, and he doesn't understand the hateful emails he has received over his support.

"You can look on TV and you see people just suffering, and I don't know how anybody could look at that and then deny them to come here. That's just beyond my comprehension," Wilkins said.

He also had words for people who have sent him hate mail: "I want people to look in the mirror because if they don't know what a bigot is, they'll see it in the mirror."

Councilman Harlan Wells was the only dissenting vote in committee. Wells said he isn't "a bigot or a racist or a xenophobe," but he wouldn't be forced into supporting the resolution to prove it.

"Wholesale, unchecked immigration still makes me a little nervous," Wells said.

Marler, though, said it's important to note that standards exist; the resolution notes "the process for a refugee to enter the United States is one of the strictest vetting process(es) for any person to cross a border worldwide."

"It's really important that people who support helping other people speak up because there's a lot of negative rhetoric out there," Marler said.

At least Wednesday, more people offered positive words.

Alysha Goheen Jannotta said she and her husband returned to Missoula because it has a commitment to inclusiveness, and she's pleased to talk with her young daughter about the community.

"It makes me so proud that I can say to my child that Missoula as a city is opening our hearts to the world and doing our small part to address this tremendous suffering," Jannotta said.

The full council is scheduled to take up the resolution at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 12.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a balanced budget of the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine for 2016 by its decree.

This has been reported by the press service of the Governments portal.

The document foresees that income of the Fund will be UAH 17.1 bln, the insurance premiums of them - UAH 16.1 bln, expenses of the Fund  UAH 16.9, the benefits  UAH 15 bln in 2016 (together with the balance at the beginning of year).

These savings of the Fund will be used to pay for material security, social services, and to conduct other activities stipulated by the Law of Ukraine "On obligatory state social insurance".

ish
Thursday, August 25, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has met with Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski on the eve of completion of his diplomatic mission to Ukraine and discussed the priority issues on the agenda of the EU-Ukraine cooperation.

This is reported by the Government portal.

"Discussing the priority issues on the agenda of the EU-Ukraine cooperation, the Prime Minister emphasized the priority of introducing visa-free travel regime for the citizens of Ukraine. The Prime Minister called on the European side to speed up completion of the relevant procedures for the liberalization of the EU visa regime for Ukrainians," the statement reads.

In turn, the Head of the EU Delegation pledged EUs support for Ukraine, in particular amid military aggression and threats to the territorial integrity of the country.

ol
Ukrainian diaspora in Canada will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Paul Grod said this in his address on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ukraines independence, we honour those gave their lives so that Ukraine may be free. We pay tribute to those who today must defend the freedom that the people of Ukraine hold so dear. We remain united in our determination to support their brave struggle," Grod said.

The President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress noted that Ukrainians had answered the call to defend their country with determination, unity of purpose and valour. And the people of Ukraine will be victorious in their righteous struggle, for their cause is the cause of Free Peoples the world over  to live in liberty, in dignity and to choose their own common destiny," he added.

ol
| By Patricia Fanning

Underserved residents of Frederick County have begun receiving oral health care at a clinic established this summer by the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (SOD) in collaboration with public and private partners. Leaders gathered in Frederick, Md., for a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 16.

(View a photo gallery.)

The clinics affiliation with Frederick Memorial Hospital and its parent, Frederick Regional Health System, is a first for the SOD in what can be viewed as a state and national model.

We envisioned this novel collaboration as serving as a road map or a model for other university, community-based health care partnerships, said SOD Dean Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA. In his remarks at the event, he referred not only to the financial and operational collaboration, but to its relationship with the hospital, which refers patients and shares records.

I see this as an opportunity to bring oral health care professionals into the multidisciplinary health care team, and that would be a relatively novel step forward in bringing dentistry and medicine together," Reynolds said.

President Jay A. Perman, MD, talks with dental assistants Sophie Paulsgrove and Rebecca Howes at the Monocacy Health Partners Dental Clinic in Frederick.

Jay A. Perman, MD, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), described the teamwork underlying the clinic as reinforcing one of UMBs core values: collaboration.

Find ways to do good things together, he said. Youve given us the great opportunity to deliver on our mission, which is to help ensure health care access for underserved populations.

Maryland Del. Karen Lewis Young of Frederick County noted that provision of oral health care was among topics for state legislators gathered at a recent national conference. Young said the Monocacy Health Partners Dental Clinic met four of five best practices, starting with access for the underserved.

The need for dental care among low-income adults has been great, as shown by an assessment in 2013 by the Frederick County Health Department and by cases in the emergency department at Frederick Memorial Hospital, which is located within view of the Monocracy Health Partners building. It houses the five-room dental clinic as well as other health services.

The head of the Frederick Regional Health System said Frederick Memorial had been averaging close to 1,000 visits per year for dental issues. We saw a rising pattern of patients coming to our emergency room for relief from pain from incidents and infections related to dental conditions, said Tom Kleinhanzl, president and chief executive officer of the health system.

The Affordable Care Act and other initiatives have created a safety net for children but not for adults, who often have been unable to access follow-up care. Since the clinic opened in June, nearly 100 people have been treated. Low-income adults pay on a sliding scale, based on what they can afford.

Many are like Kimberly Bright, a mother of four whose children are covered under Medicaid but who had foregone her own dental care as too expensive. One day in July, overcome by pain from a wisdom tooth, she went to the Frederick Memorial emergency department. An article published by The Baltimore Sun about the clinic described how Bright was treated by a fourth-year SOD student, who performed an extraction under the oversight of a local dentist.

Several are among dentists on the deans faculty, including Vincent diFabio, DDS, who was credited in Kleinhanzls remarks with planting the seed that helped lead to establishment of the clinic.

Reynolds said the model helps the SOD to educate students in various clinical settings, to prepare them in a way that they can be highly effective when they enter the community.

And then, after the dean expressed the schools delight in being able to partner with Fredericks leaders to open the clinic, it was time to cut the ribbon. The ceremony had been whisked indoors just in time to avoid a summer rainstorm.

Scissors in hand, those doing the honor were diFabio; Reynolds; Perman; Mark Luckner, executive director, Maryland Community Health Resources Commission; Kleinhanzl; Delegate Young; Frederick Mayor Randy McClement; and State Sen. Ronald N. Young of Frederick.

Among those attending the event in higher education were Richard J. Manski, DDS, MBA, PhD, chair of the department of Dental Public Health at the SOD, and James T. Brady, chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland.
DECATUR  While the Decatur area unemployment rate dropped in July, a decrease in the number of jobs and smaller labor force is raising concerns.

The unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in July, compared to 7.8 percent a year ago, according to Illinois Department of Employment Security statistics released Thursday. It had been 6.8 percent in June.

Yet, other factors seem to continue pointing to an uneven economic recovery, said Ron Payne, a labor market analyst with the department.

The manufacturing level continues to be considerably down from three, four years ago, Payne said. When you're not producing goods, you don't have as much business for the transportation sector.

The manufacturing sector lost 200 jobs over the year, as did the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector, Payne said. Construction was down 300 jobs, and financial activities lost 100, which Payne said brought the total number of nonfarm jobs down by 800 compared to a year ago.

Payrolls increased in health care and social assistance, he said.

A decrease in the number of unemployed workers seems to indicate some are giving up on looking for work in the Decatur area and possibly moving elsewhere, Payne said. However, he said that is not a trend isolated to Decatur, as it's appearing statewide.

A decrease in unemployment is concerning when its the product of people leaving the labor force or giving up on finding a job, said Sean McCarthy, Illinois Department of Commerce acting director. Were not growing enough jobs for everyone that wants to work. As a result of Illinois subpar job growth, every day more than 1,000 people give up looking for work.

"We owe it to these people to make our economy grow at a more competitive rate.

Labor force participation has started to decrease as the year has gone on, IDES director Jeff Mays said.

We've seen growth in labor force participation over the last year, but over the last three months we've given too much of it back, Mays said.

The statewide not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in July.

Similar decreases to Decatur were reported across Central Illinois, as the July unemployment rate in Christian County was 5.9 percent and 6.9 percent a year ago, in Coles County, 6.4 percent and 6.8 percent, in DeWitt, 5.3 percent and 5.7 percent, in Douglas, 4.5 percent and 5.1 percent, in Effingham, 4.5 percent and 4.8 percent, in Fayette, 5.9 percent and 6.2 percent, in Logan, 5.3 percent and 5.8 percent, in Moultrie, 4.4 percent and 4.7 percent, in Piatt, 4.4 percent and 4.7 percent and in Shelby, 5.5 percent and 6.3 percent.
Rosalie was separated from her children when Boko Haram attacked her village

I heard a loud explosion in the village, then the sound of gunfire, she recalls. Her husband was out working in the fields while her three daughters and oldest son were home alone. I rushed home to get my kids but when I arrived the house was empty  they were gone.

Rosalie desperately looked for her children but they were nowhere to be found. My whole body was shaking. I walked down every road, on every path, asking every child I met: have you seen my children? Where did they go?



Protecting my sisters

We heard the gunshots but I didnt understand what was going on. Id heard about Boko Haram but I didnt know it was them, Elisabeth says. She is ten years old and Rosalies oldest daughter. The three sisters hid on the floor in the house, their brother Alexis who was playing in the neighbourhood was nowhere to be found.

Outside their house people were fleeing and the sisters decided to follow suit into the woods. For the next few days, the forest became our home, Elisabeth recalls. The hardest part was that we didnt know where our parents were  I had to protect my sisters, and myself.



The first miracle

Three young girls, tired and terrified, stood in front of Francoiss farmhouse. They were famished. I gave them water, food, and asked where their parents were. They told me what happened and I offered for them to stay with me until they found their parents.

While the three sisters were safe with Francois, Rosalie kept searching for her children. She cant remember if it was days or weeks, but she kept searching. One day her search took her to Dzawandai. She asked the village chief if he knew any displaced children, and he immediately took her to Francoiss house.

I started screaming Mummy! Mummy! as soon as I saw her, Elisabeth says, wearing a face splitting grin. The three sisters were finally reunited with their mother Rosalie. However, there was still one piece of Rosalies heart missing - her son Alexis.

Weeks turned to months and Rosalie never stopped worrying about Alexis. A year later, when visiting a market in a neighbouring town Mokolo, she spotted a boy who looked like her son. The boy spotted her too and immediately ran towards her and jumped into her arms. Alexis had spent the last year with a family that had taken him in.
UNICEF/UN028722/Vincent

Download the report and multimedia content here: http://uni.cf/2bVEGu6

DAKAR, 25 August 2016  Years of violence by Boko Haram in Africas Lake Chad basin have led to a worsening humanitarian crisis that has displaced 1.4 million children and left at least one million still trapped in hard-to-reach areas, UNICEF said in a report released today.

The Lake Chad crisis is a childrens crisis that should rank high on the global migration and displacement agenda, said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa. Humanitarian needs are outpacing the response, especially now that new areas previously unreachable in north-east Nigeria become accessible.

Released ahead of the United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants (19 September 2016), Children on the move, children left behind, looks at the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on children in Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad and Niger and its devastating toll on children.

The report notes that:

In addition to the 2.6 million people currently displaced, an additional 2.2 million people  over half of them children  are feared to be trapped in areas under the control of Boko Haram and need humanitarian assistance.

An estimated 38 children have been used to carry out suicide attacks in Lake Chad basin so far this year, bringing to 86 the total number of children used as suicide bombers since 2014.

An estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year.

In north-east Nigeria alone, an estimated 20,000 children have been separated from their families.

The report also notes that most of the displaced population  more than 8 in 10 people  are staying with families and neighbours, putting additional strain on some of the worlds poorest communities.

Local communities are sharing the little they have to help those in need in an act of humanity that is replicated in thousands of homes across the conflict-affect areas, said Fontaine.

UNICEF is working with partners to meet the basic needs of children and their families in the conflict-affected areas. So far this year, nearly 170,000 children received psychosocial support, almost 100,000 were treated for severe acute malnutrition and over 100,000 took part in learning programmes.

UNICEF has received only 13 per cent of the US$ 308 million it needs to provide assistance to the families affected by Boko Haram violence across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The childrens agency is appealing to the donor community to step up its support for the affected communities. Additional resources will help UNICEF and its partners scale up the response  particularly as access to areas previously under Boko Haram control is revealing growing humanitarian needs.

###

For further information, please contact:

Helene Sandbu Ryeng, UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office, Tel: +221 778 199 097, hsryeng@unicef.org

Toby Fricker, UNICEF Nigeria, Tel: +234 816 992 4644, tfricker@unicef.org

Anne Boher, UNICEF Niger, Tel: +227 96 96 21 59, aboher@unicef.org

Brigitte Helali, UNICEF Cameroon, Tel: +237 690 031 739, bhelali@unicef.org

Maria Fernandez, UNICEF Chad, Tel: +235 663 600 042, mfernandez@unicef.org
Blasts hit Mogadishu 29 Oct 2022 | 5:41 PM Mogadishu, Oct 29 (UNI) Three separate bomb blasts rocked Somali capital, Mogadishu on Saturday in the latest attack in the country, the police and witnesses said. see more..

Rights body recognises Bangladesh Genocide of 1971 29 Oct 2022 | 5:37 PM Washington/Dhaka, Oct 29 (UNI) Human Rights Congress for Bangladeshi Minorities (HRCBM) welcome US resolution on Bangladesh Genocide by Pakistan in 1971. see more..

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..
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin remained mum Wednesday as a pharmaceutical company run by his daughter faced mounting criticism for hiking prices on life-saving allergy injection pens.

The Democratic West Virginia senator's daughter, Heather Bresch, is CEO of Mylan, the manufacturer of EpiPens. A two-dose package, costing around $94 nine years ago, rose more than 600 percent to an average cost of $608 in May, according to the Elsevier Clinical Solutions' Gold Standard Drug Database.

Manchin spokesman Jonathan Kott said Wednesday the senator had no comment right now. His silence contrasted with a growing number of leaders crying foul on the ballooning prices, including fellow senators and the presidential candidate Manchin has endorsed, Hillary Clinton.

None of them, Democrats or Republicans, went out of their way to mention Manchin's family connection.

Bresch made $18.9 million total compensation in 2015, 7.7 times greater than her $2.45 million pay when she was Mylan's president in 2007. Her predecessor as CEO made almost $15 million in 2007, according to SEC filings.

Earlier this month, Mylan reported quarterly revenues of $2.56 billion, up 8 percent compared to the prior year

A Mylan statement Monday cited health insurance changes resulting in higher deductible costs for many families. It pointed out its savings programs for patients and free EpiPens for schools, with around half of U.S. schools participating.

"This current and ongoing shift has presented new challenges for consumers, and now they are bearing more of the cost" of the devices, the statement said.

Earlier this month, Mylan was one of the companies Manchin praised for donating money to help build homes in flood-ravaged West Virginia.

Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota addressed the price hike at press conferences alongside doctors and affected families Wednesday.

Asked Wednesday if Manchin's connection would make senators hesitant to take on the price hike issue, Klobuchar said she hopes not.

"I think we have an obligation to the American people to do our job regardless of who is related to who at a company," Klobuchar told reporters. "And I have never seen Senator Manchin intervene himself in any of these cases involving this company. I've never seen that happen. I know him very well."

In a letter to Bresch dated Monday, Blumenthal posed a series of questions and demanded for Mylan to drop the price. Blumenthal and Klobuchar are calling for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and a Federal Trade Commission investigation into possible antitrust violations at Mylan.

In the U.S. House, Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, on Tuesday asked the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to hold a hearing on the issue.

Clinton echoed calls for Mylan to reduce the "outrageous" price hike. She said pharmaceutical companies should have to explain price increases and show what benefits and value have been added.

Pharmaceutical and biotech industries can fuel American innovation, and combat debilitating diseases, Clinton said in the statement Wednesday. But she added that "it's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them."

Dr. Andrew Gurman, American Medical Association president, said the EpiPen price increase could "keep them out of reach of people in need or force some families to choose between EpiPens and other essentials."
LOS ANGELES  Four years ago, photographer Andrew George approached the medical director of a Los Angeles hospital with an unusual request: He wanted to meet and take photographs of people about to die.

There was nothing macabre about the request, George said. He simply wanted to learn of and reflect the wisdom these people had gained in the hope that others could discover how to lead better, more fulfilling lives.

"I wanted to make a project about the universal challenge that we all have to address, and that is dying," George said as he sat in a gallery in Los Angeles' Museum of Tolerance, where his photo exhibition, "Right, Before I Die," opened this week.

"I thought if I could make a project about exceptional people who had overcome the fears that we all grapple with in life. Then it occurred to me that I could really only get that from dealing with a dying population."

On the exhibition walls around him are 20 framed photos of dying people, each accompanied by some of the words they spoke as they described their hopes, dreams, happy moments and regrets while he photographed them.

A commonality he found was that few seemed to fear death any longer. Not that any were in a hurry for it to come either. Many, although appearing frail and noting they were in much pain, still looked forward to just greeting the day.

One subject, identified only as Irene, is quoted as saying: "It's a beautiful day. I'm watching the leaves sway back and forth in the wind, and I'm happy that I get to be alive to watch that."

A few had regrets, although they no longer dwelled on them.

"My wife wasn't the greatest love of my life. A Japanese girl was back in the '40s," a man named Jack is quoted as saying.

The pair were teenagers when she was sent to a relocation camp during World War II. And although they planned to marry, they lost touch. "Thought about her the other day because I had a Japanese nurse. I hadn't thought about her in years," said Jack, who is photographed connected to an oxygen tube.

Of the people George photographed, only Nelly Gutierrez  who has diabetes, liver failure, heart trouble and other ailments  is still alive. The 63-year-old said she hangs on through pain and grueling treatments because she wants to see her family. That, and she likes to sing karaoke on the days she isn't too exhausted by dialysis.

She saw the white light of death once, she recalled, adding she believed it was heaven. But she argued with God that she wasn't ready to go because her kids still needed her.

"And then I woke up," she said with a smile as she checks out her photo.

Coincidentally, the LA exhibition opened just days after a San Diego woman suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease threw a farewell party for friends, then ended her life through assisted suicide.

Dr. Ira Byock, founder of the Providence Institute for Human Caring, which is underwriting the exhibition, declines to offer an opinion on assisted suicide other than to say he's happy to see the debate about it over in California, where it is now legal.

Now, the author of "Dying Well" said, medical professionals can concentrate on making a person's final days as fulfilling as possible rather than arguing about how those days should end.

When he set out to find people to photograph, George said, he was turned down repeatedly by hospital administrators who told him the same thing: "This is taboo. We don't talk about death."

He found an exception in Dr. Marwa Kilani, medical director of palliative care at Los Angeles' Providence Holy Cross Hospital. She had heard so many interesting life stories from people during their final days, she told him, that she agreed it was important to share them with others who could learn from them and learn of the dignity people continue to possess even in their dying days.

"Right, Before I Die," opened last year at Belgium's Musea Brugge, moving on to San Francisco's Grace Cathedral earlier this year. Future venues are being considered after it leaves the Museum of Tolerance at the end of September.

"We're not an art museum, but there was something that resonated with me very much with the subject and the important themes of our museum," said Liebe Geft, director of the facility dedicated to peace, tolerance and a remembrance of the horrors of the Holocaust.

"It reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit, of the precious gift of life," she said of the exhibition. "And it begs all kinds of questions about what it means to be alive, what is the purpose in being here, how can I be the best person that I can be."
Most of us have ordered from Amazon at one point or another. But did you know that Amazon started in a small room? Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, started with a bachelor's degree in Engineering. Now, according to Rasmussen, he has amassed an estimated net worth of $25 Billion while he has an estimated personal wealth of $66.7 Billion.

Born in 1964, this American tech entrepreneur focused on e-commerce. He is the current CEO of Amazon.com. Amazon is now known as the largest retailer in the world wide web.

Because of his knack in technology, he started exploring trade and commerce. Did you know that he left his high paying job in New York City to start an online retail business? It was in 1994 that he founded Amazon.com. He set up the business in his own garage. He banked on the fact that the United States Supreme Court at the time ruled that mail order catalogs were not required to collect sales taxes if they lack a physical presence.

It was his keen attention to business details that pushed him to create Amazon.com.

This Albuquerque, New Mexico local learned about the mechanics of things at an early age. It was said that when he was a toddler, he tried to dismantle his crib. When he was a young boy, Jeff Bezos attended River Oaks Elementary School in Houston.

He displayed huge interests in science and technology. One story noted that he once created an alarm that would keep his younger siblings out of his room. His family then moved to Miami, Florida. There he enrolled in the Miami Palmetto Senior High School. He involved himself in the Student Science Training Program at the University of Florida. He graduated as the high school's valedictorian.

He then enrolled in Princeton which earned him a degree in Engineering. Bezos graduated summa cum laude from Princeton with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Watch the video below where Jeff Bezos talks about life after Princeton:
South Africa's department of higher education and training has confirmed a backlog of more than 100,000 certificates. These documents should have been issued to college students already.

City Press reported that the department's acknowledgement comes after frustrated Ekurhuleni West College students protested at their campus in KwaThema, near Springs. The peaceful protests started because the college failed to release their certificates for the technical, vocational, education and training (TVET) levels three and four.

"There has been a backlog of more than 100 000 unissued certificates, which should be dealt with by the end of August," the department of higher education spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said.

Lucky Nhlapho, a mechanical student and the student representative council (SRC) chairperson, revealed that students planned to "continue with the protests until the department forced the college to release their certificates."

Nhlapho added that the delays were affecting their job or internship opportunities. The college has suspended him and was being removed from his position. He was required to hand over his SRC uniform without any explanation.

"The protest was truly peaceful and police were not called by the college to monitor our actions," he said. "The suspension letter came to me as a surprise because we haven't been forcing anyone to join the protest and we are protesting outside the college."

According to Nkwanyana, the department of higher education is currently dealing with the backlog. "The department is expecting a report back, next week, from the State Information and Technology Agency (Sita)," the spokesperson said.

The issue on college certificates is a problem affecting the whole country. Sita's report would be a reference to help address the students' concerns.

This problem, though, has already been around for a couple of years. Last year, the National Assembly raised their concern over this.

Sita and the department on higher education and training have committed to eliminate the backlog of TVET certificates, which was at 192,000 in June last year. The "Backlog Elimination Project" was created to clear the backlog by January this year.
There are tons of social and cultural issues happening outside and even inside schools. Which is why United States Secretary of Education John King urges schools to tackle racism.

King stands before a panel in Hartford to talk about school diversity. Students of different race and oftentimes, gender or identity, becomes a focus. He urges schools to teach empathy. With the Black Lives Matter movement on the rise, it has shone a spotlight on racism in the education system and the school institution itself.

The racial bias is clearly seen and has also led to a resistance and rising tensions between people of different colors and the state police. According to WNPR, John King points out that racism can be minimized or zeroed out if schools teach empathy.

"As an educator, part of our role is to help students to see the world through others' eyes," says Education Secretary King. King believes that creating a curriculum that focuses on creating a diverse school community. It enables the students to get the chance to understand history when it comes to race and class in the country.

The clashes between the police and people of different race and color is gaining attention. Schools can be a place of conversation. King wants to get ahead of this and acknowledges that there are obstacles they will face. When it comes to the longstanding issues of racial discrimination and social class separation. He knows that there is a "tremendous goodwill in the country and a readiness to take on these issues in thoughtful ways."

King understands that part of the solution is supporting students of color. Moving in this initiative, schools like Bridgeport, Hartport, New Haven and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation are joining United States President Barack Obama's call for My Brothers Keeper Community Challenge.

The challenge urges schools to create plans to address these problems that the students face. This is not limited to but includes low achievement, increase in absenteeism rate and suspension rates.

Students are already reacting to this conversation, check out the video of a student below reacting to racism:
Phoebe Willis, a current student of the University of Virginia Law School feels impacted by the rising cost of higher education. She is currently the student representative on the University of Virginia Board of Visitors.

She explains that she witnessed the increase of this cost nationwide. Willis states that it is hard to keep up with the rising cost. For her, it does not matter which school because enrolling in a four year course in a university or college brings a financial burden to anyone.

"I understand the privilege of attending the University of Virginia, which provides a first-class education at a fraction of the cost of its peer group colleges and universities," Willis says to Roanoke.

She tells everyone that Virginia has tons of nationally ranked colleges and universities, even within the public system. She describes University of Virginia's focus as one towards excellence. The school drives an impressive rank of students, faculty, resources and administrators in the whole Virginia public colleges and universities.

In the public university ranking, University of Virgina is ranked third. Willis explains that the tuition in UVa is thought to be the highest in the whole state when it comes to public schools. She claims that UVa is not the most expensive public school in the state. Because of the school's strong alumni support, they are able to create excellent programs and student experiences.

"This alumni and other donor support closes the wide gap between the cost of operating UVa and the income derived from tuition," explains Phoebe.

She stresses that keeping costs down for everyone is one of the Board's focus. Willis concludes that she is proud to be part of University of Virginia, a school where the cost of a degree shows a significant financial commitment. And a school that pushes excellence. As the school's student representative in the Board of Visitors, she expresses her confidence on the matter.

Watch the promo video below of University of Virginia's welcoming the class of 2020:
Hackers reportedly infiltrate the world-class news organization, The New York Times

Hackers behind DNC could be behind the attacks

A few months ago, cyber attack in the Democratic National Committee computers has led to its many officials' resignation. The reports suspect the same group of Russian hackers' involvement in NY Times cyberbreach. According to New York Times, the cyber attack is currently under FBI investigation.

Many of cyber espionage analysts have mentioned web-based attacks done by the Russians. There have been many cyber attacks particularly targeting NATO and Departments of State and Defense.

The @nytimes' was targeted by a #cyberattack this month, but there is no evidence that the #hackers succeeded: https://t.co/MLm5OfgDvS  Symantec + Blue Coat (@BlueCoat) August 24, 2016



So far, Russian hackers have successfully exposing many sensitive information of the United States including hacking the systems inside The White House and sending the data to Wikileaks.

The New York Times recent cyberbreach is not the first time

Journalists at the New York Times are connected to high-level sources in the government. Hence, there is a strong evidence that the Russian hackers want to spy on any great deal of information from the journalists. Richard Clarke, chief counter-terrorism advisor under George W. Bush, spoke to ABC News, saying that the Russian intelligence might want to find out who are the sources in Russia that give information to these American journalists.

Hackers have always aimed at NY Times building to obtain sensitive data and this is not the first attack. In 2013, hackers from China managed to breach the networks and gain access to reporters' personal accounts, Wired wrote. The Chinese hackers were reportedly searching for information related to the country's prime minister. The installed malware was finally discovered after it had been inside the system for four months.

Another hacker group who named themselves Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) was also responsible for the attack in April 2013 when it tweeted false information right from Associated Press account, FoxNews reported. The team also attacked the webs of high-profile media including NY Times, Washington Post and BBC.


As reported by WisPolitics.com, the Joint Finance Committee approved redirecting more than $21 million in bonding to offset rising costs for Milwaukee and Racine counties as they build new facilities for young offenders. Meanwhile, one committee member warned inflation will likely raise the 
August 25 2016

Glasgow City Council has approved 5.6m of grant funding with Scottish Cabals and Bigg regeneration to regenerate the Forth and Clyde canal where it passes through Port Dundas.The cash will be used to progress a site remediation, access and infrastructure programme to facilitate development of a vacant site at 100 Acre Hill, formerly a distillery, whilst also allowing a business case and detailed designs to be drawn up.Council Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region City Cabinet, said: These agreements mark the next stage in the regeneration of the canal corridor, and will take what has already been achieved in the area in recent years to another level. The north side of the city centre has great potential, and unlocking this through remediation and flood protection makes the area very attractive to developers and investors from both the public and private sectors.The development of the 100 Acre Hill site is key to the regeneration of the north canal area as it will improve connectivity between the city centre, Sighthill and Possilpark. It is estimated that the site could hold up to 500 homes and 6,000 square metres of commercial space.
In an effort to neutralize the enemy and their ability to impact combat operations, the 57th Wing and 26th Weapons Squadron, in conjunction with Airmen from the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing, supported and created the U.S. Air Force's first-ever MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft Electronic Combat Officers (ECO) course.



June 10, 2016 - Airmen from the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing pose with their instructor, Capt. Craig, 26th Weapon Squadron MQ-9 Pilot (center), after graduating from the U.S. Air Force's first-ever Electronic Combat Officers course. The course focuses on training aircrews of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft to mitigate potential signal interruptions thus reducing the potential risks to RPAs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nadine Barclay) We've been working for the last year and half or so to build the ECO course for the RPA community, said Capt. Craig, 26th WPS MQ-9 pilot and ECO course creator. It's very fulfilling to see it's finally coming into fruition.



Since the insatiable demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability grew faster than the Air Force could produce qualified MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircrews, the reality of low manning, platform sustainability and training became a constant concern. Since MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircraft require satellite signals to operate, it becomes extremely important for aircrews to train towards mitigating potential signal interruptions. RPA ECOs integrate with the affected MQ-1/9 aircrews, the relay site, space command, and others at the Air Operations Center (AOC) to mitigate these signal interruptions.



I had this vision back in 2013, when I wrote the syllabus for the first time, said Craig. I didn't think it would end up turning into an actual ACC [Air Combat Command] course.



Craig, who previously served as a Formalized Training Unit (FTU) Instructor at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, was deemed the most knowledgeable about the satellite communications (SATCOM) threats and how to combat them. He spent the next three years laying the groundwork for the course.



Armed with the knowledge of a manning shortage, Craig developed new tactics, techniques and procedures that would allow the current manning to act in dual hatted position thus reducing the risks RPAs are subject to.



After taking the course Airmen will return to their units as trained experts on RPA use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) to include, but not limited to: area of operation (AO) non-kinetic threats, radio communications, GPS, remote-split operations (RSO), SATCOM, and Link 16 a tactical data exchange network (JTIDS).



It came to a point where I felt that we will no longer be fighting in a permissive war and it couldn't just be me that knows how to fight against it, so I drafted up a syllabus on how I would train an ECO to fight a threat, said Craig. At the same time the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron was testing how to fight against SATCOM contested threats. I was just at the right place at the right time.



Since Air Force regulations dictate that every wing or squadron Weapons and Tactics office will have graduated and certified Electronic Combat Pilots (ECPs), Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs) or ECOs, the demand for a certified ECO course for MQ-1 and MQ-9 squadrons grew.



They [Air Force Central Command] are in the demand phase for information, said Craig. They want to learn what the RPA capabilities are. Leadership's mindset of the Predator and Reaper's capabilities in a non-permissive fight are shifting now that we have proven new innovative solutions.



Much like Sun Tzu alluded to, we must mitigate our own weaknesses before they can be exploited by the enemy, which is why the newly created ECO course is designed to be a three phase system and walks the students through 15 days of rigorous training.



The course offered realistic training and challenging missions, said Maj. Joseph, ECO student. It would do us no good to practice in "theory" without real-world, realistic training scenarios that will mirror future/present threats that we may face.



The first phase begins with the academics portion of the course and teaches students to plan and prepare against a jamming threat.



Next the students learn to integrate RPAs into the SATCOM during simulated flights, followed by the final hands-on portion in which students execute TTPs in support of airborne RPA flight operations in the Nevada Test and Training Range.



One student will sit in the seat and experience what it's like to receive a jamming signal while flying another student acts as the ECO' and supports the pilot who has received the threat, said Craig. They swap roles and do it all over again so they both get to experience those perspectives, from both the pilot and the ECO.



In addition, students received help from the 26th Space Aggressors Squadron from Schriever AFB, Colo., who replicate enemy threats to space-based and space-enabled systems during tests and training exercises.



Getting to interact with the Aggressors was incredible, said Joseph. We learned about friendly and adversary capabilities and mindsets, challenges and weaknesses. This program is about preparing for a more advanced adversary, so it's important to train against the best.



By using GPS and SATCOM jamming techniques, the 26th WPS provides the Air Force, joint and coalition military personnel with an understanding of how to recognize, mitigate, counter and defeat these threats.



Still developing Airmen with the skills needed to win today's fight and prepare for tomorrow's threats without directly engaging the enemy doesn't come without its own challenges.



One of the misconceptions we have is that, we're already critically manned, said Craig. We can't divvy out any more bodies to be only ECOs, or deploy them to be a part of this fight at the relay site. The truth is, units don't lose a pilot or an instructor, but using the current manning to do both they gain an expert in the squadron.



Being one of only a handful of trained ECOs is something the only fully certified Air Force RPA ECO is set on changing.



I'm the only RPA ECO in the Air Force community, meaning I don't have other ECOs that I can go to and ask questions, said Craig. Since we only have one dedicated instructor, myself, the ratio is one to four. There will be four students, four times a year and as we continue to train ECOs we will grow in size until we have two-to-three ECOs in every unit.



The course, which was conducted jointly between Creech and Nellis AFBs, recently graduated a beta class of five Airmen assigned to the 432nd WG.



Although the training currently focuses on officers, enlisted Airmen in RPA career fields may also attend a modified ECO course prior to deployments.



In a time when Airmen are asked to find vulnerabilities, develop a course of action and implement change to mitigate threats through innovation, Craig offers one final piece of advice.



We are definitely preparing for tomorrow's fight through innovation, 100 percent, said Craig. I'd say to other Airmen not to give up on their innovation. Be persistent, perfect your theory, and get it to the right people with influence who will be able to help you in developing that innovation. I've had tremendous support from the 26 WPS cadre, USAFWC, 432d AEW, and ACC to get this course where it is today; I wouldn't have been able to do it alone. By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nadine Barclay

Provided through DVIDS

Copyright 2016 Comment on this article
Published: August 25, 2016

Senior Comm Major Jumps in the Action with NBC, NABJ

Most days this summer, Chris Grisby 17 was greeted by the Statue of Liberty once in the morning and again in the evening as he commuted from his summer housing on Staten Island to his internship at NBC News Group in Manhattan.Other than Lady Libertys presence, there really wasnt a typical day for Grisby this summer. As an intern on the network desk, Grisby was responsible for filtering breaking news coverage, finding eye witnesses or victims, gathering content and pushing all of those elements to the TODAY show, MSNBC and Nightly News with Lester Holt.Working at the breaking news desk was a roller coaster. From my third day on the job  the Pulse nightclub shooting  to wrapping up my internship during the Rio Olympics, everyday was something special, said Grisby, of Dallas, TX. This summer seemed to be a very intense news cycle, but it provided me with great experience on how network news works and functions.Grisby, a communication major with a minor in journalism , knew on his college visit to UT that Tampa would be a good fit. He saw the nearby NBC and Fox satellite towers and assumed internships would be possible. He was right  in the fall of 2015 and again this fall semester, he is a general assignment intern with Fox 13.It was during his internship last year that now-retired news anchor Denise White recommended Grisby check out the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), which is where he first heard about the NBC internship opportunity. He also discovered and was accepted for the Student Multimedia Project during the 2016 Convention and Career Fair in Washington, D.C., hosted by the NABJ and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). The fellowship gave Grisby one of the most impactful experiences of his collegiate career.A team of students from all across the country came together for a week to produce three newscasts that aired on ABC 7 in D.C. every day, a newspaper every day, as well as a digital site, Grisby explained. Through the help of the NABJ and NAHJ mentors, we were able to produce something great. The project really gave an inside scoop to a real and active newsroom. Seeing all of my hard work during the day be showcased on TV or in the next days newspaper was really humbling.Grisby has aimed to be a broadcast journalist and anchor in San Francisco, a city where he said the people are vibrant and diverse.Going into my senior year now, I know what I need to work on and the resources available from a plethora of mentors who are here to support me, said Grisby, who has served as a resident assistant the last three years. Plus the opportunities for future career placement after graduation are at the palm of my hand through all of the networking and relationships that I have established this summer.
"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

WASHINGTON -- 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?
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.
Church News  October 20, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Needing Answers We want God to be like FedEx and deliver overnight. Things dont happen that way, but in...

Church News  October 13, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Natures Therapy The pine tree with its solemn dignity lifts its branches to the sky as if to give...
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
There's a new study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences examining possible links between cellphone use and cancer. As has been true of earlier studies, it offers no definite conclusion.

The study subjected rats to the same kind of non-ionizing radiation a cellphone produces. In the study, half the rats were exposed to the radiation, half not. Of the male rats exposed to radiation, about 2 to 3 percent developed brain cancer. Of the rats not exposed, none developed brain cancer. On the surface, that seems fairly convincing that cellphone radiation can cause cancer.

But there's a lot about the study that doesn't make sense. Rather than rehash all that here, let me provide you with a link to an explanation of the study: http://biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2016/05/26/055699.full.pdf.

If top-notch scientists can't say one way or another, it would be foolish of me to chime in with my opinion on whether there is a direct link between cellphone use and cancer. But I can say this: Why not take some simple steps to protect yourself? If there is a link  and there are scientists who believe there is  you could save your life. If there isn't a link, well, none of what I'm going to suggest will cause you any harm or be much trouble.

One thing to keep in mind  if cellphone radiation does cause cancer, then the fact that many of us have practically abandoned wired phones and instead spend hours each day using a cellphone makes things worse. If there is a link, then the amount of time you are exposed to cellphone radiation does matter. The more exposure, the worse off you are. And many of us are practically glued to a cellphone.

Time isn't on your side: So let's start with that  exposure time. The no-brainer first step is to spend as little time as you can on the cell. There are a lot of ways to do that. When things can be handled with a text (which means the phone isn't pressed against your head) use that. During times when you have access to both a wired phone and a cellphone, use the wired phone. If you can use the speaker phone or ear buds with your cellphone, do that. None of this seems inconvenient, and it will cut the time you spend with the cellphone pressed against your head.

Lower the bar: Did you know that when your phone is in a weak signal area it automatically ups the power it is using? That means you are getting more radiation when reception is bad. So don't struggle during times when the connection is flaky. Wait until you are in a good reception area before making the call.

Not all phones are equal: Some phones produce more radiation than others. The government requires that manufacturers say how much radiation a given phone uses. It's measured by a term called specific absorbency rate. You can use this link  FCC.gov/cgb/sar  to see the numbers. Why not use a phone that rates on the low end of the scale? One thing to keep in mind, all phones marketed meet government requirements for what is considered acceptable radiation levels  it's just that some do better than others.

Avoid gimmicks: From all that I've said, you might guess that I'm now going to advise you to guy one of the many gadgets on the market that claim to block cellphone radiation. But I'm not. Some of these devices actually increase the amount of radiation you receive. For instance, some block the signal to the phone enough to require it to automatically increase power. Others are just frauds. So stay away.

It's a matter of inches: Because of the frequency range used by cellphones, even an extra inch  holding the phone a little away from the ear  actually makes a big difference in the amount of radiation you receive. So avoid pressing the phone against your head.

It's not for kids: One thing that scientists do agree on is this  kids are more susceptible to exposure than adults. So make sure  if your child carries a cellphone  to ask them to use ear buds when they make and receive calls. And do what you can to convince them (and I know this is an uphill battle) to spend as little time as possible on their cellphones.

Look, the radiation from cells may be perfectly safe. But there is enough evidence of possible harm to make it sensible to take some easy precautions. This I know for sure. Legitimate scientists don't know for sure  that means it's possible. So let me make the call on this one  do whatever you can to limit the amount of exposure you get from your cellphone.

Bill Husted writes about technology. Contact him at tecbud@bellsouth.net.
Armenias Court of Appeals today rejected a petition to release Sasna Dzrer member Arayik Khantoyan from pre-trial detention.

The news was relayed to the press by Khantoyans lawyer Arayik Papikyan, who said the rejection was a political decision rather than a judicial one and that it was to be expected given that the courts follow instructions from above.

Khantoyan will be tried on charges on taking hostages and for trafficking in arms.

The court also heard an appeal by Artur Sargsyan, who has been charged with aiding and abetting the Sasna Dzrer group that seized a Yerevan police building on July 17.

Sargsyan had delivered food to the armed group members holed up in the police building.

The court will announce its ruling tomorrow.

As we go to press, the court is reviewing an appeal by Sasna Dzrer group member Armen Bilyan to have his pre-trial detention overturned. Given that the court session is being held behind closed doors, reporters and relatives are waiting outside to hear the verdict.

Yesterday, the court rejected similar appeals by Aram Manoukyan and Gevorg Iritsyan.
SHARE Contributed Photo/Darrett Sanders Graham Hamilton and Rodney To in Echo Theater Company's "One of the Nice Ones."

THEATER

VENTURA COUNTY

"El Bracero  Mariachi Opera": The Moorpark College Foundation and Nueva Vista Media present the one-act opera highlighting the challenges that legal farmworkers faced on the U.S. bracero camps of the 1960s. A preshow VIP reception, featuring appearances by producer Miguel Orozco and playwright Rosalinda Verde, will be held at 6 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26, Moorpark College Performing Arts Center, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. 553-4760; moorparkcollege.edu/community/foundation/events.

"Peter and the Starcatcher": Actors' Repertory Theatre of Simi presents this grown-up prequel to "Peter Pan" written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barber. Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the musical features a dozen actors portraying more than 100 characters. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Aug. 28, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. 583-7900; simi-arts.org.

"See How They Run": The 3 Masketeers Theater Group presents Phillip King's three-act farce. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Aug. 28, Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. $15. To purchase tickets, visit threemasketeers.bpt.me.

"Don't Dress for Dinner": Camarillo Skyway Playhouse presents Marc Camoletti's farce set in a stylish French farmhouse where a man plots to entertain his Parisian mistress as soon as his wife leaves for her mother's. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 18, 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo. $20 general admission, $15 seniors, students and military. 388-5716; brownpapertickets.com/event/2584707.

"Moonlight and Magnolias": Rubicon Theatre Company presents Ron Hutchinson's comedy about how one of Hollywood's most iconic films, "Gone With the Wind," almost didn't get made. Aug. 31 through Sept. 18, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. $25-$54. 667-2900; rubicontheatre.org.

"Farragut North": The political drama by the creator of HBO's "House of Cards" explores the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering that goes on in election campaigns. 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 26 through Sept. 17, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Westlake Village. $18 general admission, $16 seniors, students and military. 495-3715; conejoplayers.org.

"Footloose": High Street Arts Center presents the Tony Award-nominated musical based on the 1984 film about a rural town where dancing was banned. The play touches on themes of single parenthood, family loss and teenage rebellion and features hit songs of the '80s by artists like Sammy Hagar, Deneice Williams and Kenny Loggins. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 18, 45 E. High St., Moorpark. $20 general admission, $18 seniors, students, teachers and military, $16 children 12 and under. 529-8700; highstreetartscenter.com.

"The Tempest": The California Shakespeare Company presents William Shakespeare's "The Tempest." 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 3-25, Elite Theatre, 2731 S. Victoria Ave, Oxnard. 483-5118.

"The Night Alive": Santa Paula Theater Center presents Irish playwright Conor McPherson's drama that examines the Dublin lives of a group of friends as they search for hope among the struggles of their everyday lives. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 2, 125 South 7th St., Santa Paula. $20 general admission, $18 seniors and students. 525-4645; santapaulatheatercenter.org.

Down South

"One of the Nice Ones": Echo Theater Company presents this black comedy about body image and office politics. Through Aug. 28, Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles. $30. 310-307-3753; echotheatercompany.com.

"Awake and Sing!": Odyssey Theatre presents Clifford Odets' drama about the hopes and struggles of a lower-middle-class Jewish family living in a Bronx apartment during the Great Depression. Elina de Santos directs and Marilyn Fox stars in the production. Aug. 27 through Oct. 2, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. $25-$34. 310-477-2055, ext. 2; odysseytheatre.com.

"As Straw Before the Wind": As Straw Productions presents the world premiere of Filipino playwright Felix Racelis' new work about a Filipina nurse who survives the trauma of World War II, only to discover that her war is not yet over. Lesley Asistio directs and Tita Pambid leads a cast of seven actors in the central role of nurse Nene Santos. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 4, Ruby Theatre at The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. $20 general admission, $12 seniors, students and groups of ten or more. 800-838-3006; strawbefore.brownpapertickets.com.

"Tom": Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum presents this world premiere stage adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The play offers a new look at the complicated title character and racial inequality through the years. Through Oct. 1, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. $15-$38.50. 310-455-3723; theatricum.com.

"Oktoberfest The Musical: An Almost True Story": The audience will enjoy this musical comedy and interactive theatrical experience in the setting of a lively German beer hall that features music, dance and traditional German costumes. The German beer hall setting offers Hofbrau-Munchen beer and seats at either long tables with benches or cabaret-style sofas and cocktail tables. 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 27, Westwood Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles. $60-$75. 800-838-3006, ext. 2; oktoberfestthemusical.brownpapertickets.com.

CLASSES

VENTURA COUNTY

African drumming class: Malik Sow, an African master drummer from Senegal, and Solo Soro, from Ivory Coast, lead a weekly class in West African drumming from 7:30-9 p.m. Mondays at Lightning Ridge Screen Printing, 4435 McGrath St., Ventura. Cost is $20 per class, and a drum can be rented for $5. For information or to arrange a drum rental, call 650-7455.

COMEDY

VENTURA COUNTY

HashtagComedy: Age-18-and-over comedy shows featuring a different lineup every month. Sept. 17, Hillcrest Center for the Arts  Theatre on the Hill. 381-1246.

UP NORTH

Amy Schumer: Sept. 17, Santa Barbara Bowl.

Nick Offernan & Megan Mullally, "Summer of 69: No Apostrope," Sept. 25, Lobero Theatre.

Dance

VENTURA COUNTY

Aloft Dancetheatre: Aloft Dancetheatre & Friends will present a fundraising evening of dance, film, music and refreshments to benefit the Pamela Oster Dance Exchange. 8 p.m. Aug. 27, NAMBA Performing Arts Space, 47 S. Oak St., Ventura. $20. 628-9250; nambaarts.com.
SHARE Contributed photo Teri Helton

Grace is one of those words that have multiple meanings.

As a noun it is defined as a prayer at a meal, a title for royalty or simple elegance of movement. As a verb, it means to honor someone with one's presence.

As a Christian I was taught that grace is the free and undeserved kindness of God; specifically an unearned gift meant to clear the slate of sin through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Recently, I had grace personally defined for me in a unique and memorable way.

My husband and I were enjoying vacation in Canada with his cousin and wife when we dined at the restaurant of the hotel where we were staying. We enjoyed a special evening with great views of the river and trees and ate good food with wine followed by a tasty dessert.

We finished and waited for what seemed a lengthy time for the server to bring our bill.

When the waiter came, he stood at our table and looked at us and stated, "Your bill has been paid."

We all just sat and stared at him. So he tried again and said, "Really, someone has paid your bill. Have a great evening."

It took a few moments for this to sink in for all of us, but it did. The act of paying our bill was unasked for and unmerited. It was a true out-and-out gift with absolutely nothing expected of us in return.

The gift of our bill being paid by someone seemed like what I had learned about God's grace being a gift. What struck me was that my perception of God's grace not only included a need for me to accept the gift of grace, but also to recognize my unworthiness, regret my wrong doings and be willing to change my ways.

But the criteria for receiving this gift of grace did not matter at all. There was nothing to accept; the bill being paid was a simple fact.

It hit me that this is what grace feels like. This is what grace really is.

Humans developed the criteria for receiving God's grace, not God. We seem to have a need to try and pay back or even earn the grace. We expect certain behaviors, attitudes and acts from ourselves and others to demonstrate how we have received God's grace.

This human need to pay back the gift became very apparent that day as we attempted to figure out who paid for our dinner and what we could do in return. We quickly realized that anything we would do in return would diminish the gift and take away from the person's joy of giving it.

There was nothing to do but accept the gift and accepting this gift required nothing, absolutely nothing  no putting a hand out to take it, not even believing in it. It just was.

As I thought more about grace and God, I realized that we experience grace every day in multiple ways, but do not recognize it. This gift of grace lives in the flowers we smell, the stars we gaze at, the hugs we receive and the air we breathe.

As God is, grace is, even if we do not see it or comprehend it. The gift of grace is present for everyone all the time.

Teri Helton is a registered nurse who works for Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and a member of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, which meets monthly and welcomes clergy and representatives of all religious faiths. She can be reached by email at thelton@lmvna.org.
SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Ventura County Sheriff's Office Department.

By Staff Reports

Camarillo police on Wednesday offered back to school safety tips for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Motorists should slow down and obey traffic laws in school zones, pull over to a curb to drop off student,s and watch for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially while at intersections and backing out of driveways, police said. They also should be cautious while driving neighborhood streets and stop when lights are flashing on a school bus because that means students are boarding or exiting the bus, police said.

Just like motorists, bicyclists should remember to stop for stop signs, red lights and signal when turning, authorities said. Any bicyclist under 18 is required by law to wear a helmet, officials said. Those found in violation of the law could be cited, police said.

Student pedestrians should never walk alone to school, cross the street only at marked crosswalks and look left, right and left again before crossing the street, officials said. They should remember to stay alert and not get distracted by cellphones, games or other devices, police said. Students should also make eye contact with a driver before crossing the street, authorities said.
JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Great Rooms co-owners Tom Hilton (left) and Jim Mulligan unpack items as they get their Camarillo showroom ready for what they are calling their "Retirement Sale." After 15 years, the furniture and design store is closing its doors. The sale will begin on Sept. 9.

SHARE JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Carol Hilton, co-owner of Great Rooms furniture showroom and design studio, rearranges one of the shelves as she and the other owners get ready for what they are calling their "Retirement Sale." After 15 years in Camarillo, the store is closing its doors. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Great Rooms is closing its doors after 15 years. The "Retirement Sale" will begin on Sept. 9. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Great Rooms co-owners Jim Mulligan (left) and Tom Hilton work on getting their Camarillo showroom ready for what they are calling the "Retirement Sale" that starts on Sept. 9. After 15 years the furniture and design store is closing its doors. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR Great Rooms co-owners Tom (from left) and Carol Hilton and Jim and Ann Mulligan stand in their Camarillo showroom. After 15 years the furniture and design store is closing its doors. The "Retirement Sale" will begin on Sept. 9.

By Anne Kallas, Special to The Star

From small flea markets to a giant showroom full of furniture and back to a medium-sized shop, Great Rooms has seen the pendulum swing over the past 16 years.

But now friends Ann Mulligan and Carol Ascione-Hilton are ready to close the Camarillo store and spend more time pursuing other dreams.

"This was supposed to be a trash-to-treasure store originally," explained Ascione-Hilton. "And it was only supposed to be part time."

It all started with the two going to flea markets together to search out unique and fun items to decorate their homes. Then friends started to ask them to help out with their home decorating projects.

Eventually, the two self-taught decorators decided to open a store in an industrial neighborhood in Camarillo so they could avoid paying higher retail-space prices. The store opened with 1,400 square feet in early September 2011.

After the tragedy of 9/11, many Americans turned to their homes for recreation and safety. Nesting spurred an interest in redecorating, and soon business was booming. Great Rooms expanded to three times its original size, and things got so busy the women called in their husbands Jim Mulligan and Tom Hilton to come help out.

"We had them delivering office furniture," Ascione-Hilton said. "But now we're getting old and tired. But we're still young enough to do other things."

After the recession started in 2008, the showroom was reduced back to its original size.

Ann Mulligan explained that she and Ascione-Hilton will continue to serve clients who are looking for decorating advice and working on individual projects, "but we won't be carrying $100,000 worth of inventory."

Ascione-Hilton, 58, is also working as a travel concierge, with an emphasis on Italy; she has family in Naples. As someone who arranges all aspects of a journey, she wants to be free to visit more places.

Ann Mulligan, 60, is a holistic health nurse who works at the Mission Oaks Counseling and Wellness Center. She said her 85-year-old mother is coming to live with her, and she wants to be free to attend to her mother's needs.

Jim Mulligan, 64, is a marketing adviser for a few area companies and is also looking to cut back.

Tom Hilton, 63, hosts the Tom and Kat Local 805 show on radio station KVTA and works at FOOD Share as corporate director of advancement. He said he'd be delighted to move away from a seven-day-a-week schedule.

Ascione-Hilton said Great Rooms has provided a niche service between the inexpensive warehouse furnishings offered at some stores and the high-end boutique furniture and design shops.

"We moved from shabby chic to what we have now, which is eclectic," Ann Mulligan said. "But we always wanted to stay true to ourselves and to be unique."

Great Rooms will begin an inventory reduction sale Sept. 9 at 651 Via Alondra. The sale will continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through October. The phone number is 445-9057 and web page is http://greatroomsdesign.com/.
Steven Garcia will demonstrate Native American dance, including Northern Traditional and shawl dancing, at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center off Potrero Road in Newbury Park on Saturday. He'll be joined by Kathy Willcuts. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SHARE

By Anne Kallas, Special to The Star

After centuries of European assimilation, many of the customs and traditions of Native Americans have been lost. But people like Steven Garcia, of San Diego, are trying to resurrect the old ways.

Garcia and Kathy Willcuts, a descendant of a prominent Lakota family, will perform Native American dances from 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center, 4126 Potrero Road, Newbury Park.

According to program manager Razsa Cruz, a ranger for the National Park Service, the program is in keeping with the center's mission to celebrate and demonstrate Native American culture in the Santa Monica Mountains.

"Satwiwa has a reputation of providing cultural contacts to the public," Cruz said. "There are all these different tribes and traditions because Los Angeles has the second largest population of Native American individuals in the U.S."

Various programs are presented at the Satwiwa center, Cruz said, from Lakota shawl dancing, which Wilcutts will demonstrate, to jingle dress dancing to traditional dancing.

"It depends on the attire they're wearing," she explained.

Cruz said the center celebrates all Native American culture with a variety of programs and displays.

"This culture center represents all American tribes in the U.S.," she said. "It's unique to the National Park Service. The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve that culture and share it with others through Satwiwa."

The center is located in the Sycamore Canyon area of the Santa Monica Mountains, part of a trade route used by the Chumash. The name Satwiwa  which means "the bluffs"  comes from a nearby Chumash village.

Garcia traces his lineage to the Tongva tribe that populated the Los Angeles Basin, reaching down to the Camp Pendleton area. Many Tongva are also referred to as Kizh, or "people of the hut," Garcia explained, noting that the word Topanga and Tujunga are derived from Tongva words.

Garcia said he and Wilcutts have two daughters, 15 and 21, who also perform. Now divorced, the couple still work and raise their children together.

Garcia said he was always intrigued by Native American life, especially medicinal plants, but didn't discover his calling until he went to Hawaii and met others who helped him find his purpose.

"I'm the youngest of six children," he said. "My Nana would say, 'Here's my Indian' and tell me about plant medicine. When the Lakota elders told me I should be a medicine man, I said I was part Spanish and part white. But they told me, 'It's your spirituality. You must pass it onto the next generation. It doesn't belong to us.'

"I wanted to know: Why do we need to learn these things about survival and plants? I was told we need to teach everybody about the earth and what's going on. Look at North Dakota, with fracking everywhere."

Garcia said the Eagle Dance, which he will perform Saturday, is his favorite and the most meaningful.

"The eagle is so symbolic," he said. "In different parts of world a lot of people revere the eagle because it carries your message to the creator."

The Native American dance demonstration is free and open to all ages. People are advised to wear layers of clothing that will be comfortable in wide-ranging temperatures and to bring lawn chairs and flashlights.

For information about the event, call 418-3163 or visit www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.
ROB VARELA/THE STAR Stephanie Hogue, a Brooks Institute graduate and owner of Latitudes Fine Arts Gallery, holds one of her pieces that is on display at Bell Arts Factory in Ventura. Jim Rice (right) is executive director and president of Bell Arts Factory.

SHARE ROB VARELA/THE STAR Bell Arts Factory president and executive director Jim Rice peers into the Erle Stanley Gardner building at Main and California Streets in downtown Ventura on Tuesday. The building was being renovated to be part of the planned Brooks Institute campus downtown. ROB VARELA/THE STAR Jim Rice, president and executive director of Bell Arts Factory in Ventura, said he was hopeful about the plan to move the Brooks Institute campus downtown. Bell Arts Factory had planned two shows with Brooks students that now are on hold. ROB VARELA/THE STAR Bell Arts Factory president and executive director Jim Rice chats with Stephanie Hogue, owner of Latitudes Fine Arts Gallery in Ventura. Hogue, a Brooks Institute graduate, is holding one of her pieces that is on display at Bell Arts Factory. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY JIM RICE A flier criticizing Christine Lin, founder and owner of gphomestay, which owns Brooks Institute, was posted on the Erle Stanley Gardner building at Main and California Streets in downtown Ventura. The flier has been removed.

By Arlene Martinez, amartinez@vcstar.com

For its first 57 years or so, Brooks Institute made Santa Barbara its home. But just after the turn of the century, the school that gained international recognition for its photography and film training sought more space.

It found it off Ventura Avenue, in a building where parts of "Erin Brockovich" were filmed. Over the next 14 years, more and more of the school's offerings moved south until last year, when Brooks left Santa Barbara altogether.

In that time, Brooks students and alumni made themselves a part of the creative fabric that businesses and other locals say will be sorely missed, particularly in nearby Ventura.

Brooks, bought by Massachusetts-based gphomestay (Green Planet), will close Oct. 31. Students and faculty learned of the decision to close Aug. 12, a week before the summer semester ended.

There was "always a constant stream of world-renowned talent just down the street," said Vincenzo Giammanco, president of the California Beer Festival, which produces events including Ventura Winter Wine Walk, Champagne on Main and Blues and Brews. "Ventura's a creative area and Brooks was a great fit. There's definitely going to be a hole for that kind of thing locally."

Giammanco, himself a Brooks graduate, frequently used students and alumni to help create videos and images promoting his events. From experience, he knew the skills students would bring.

"They (Brooks) trained a student's eye and they sculpted it to show them the art of storytelling," he said.

Students also played an integral role in promoting the city in which many of them lived, said Marlyss Auster, president and CEO of the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau.

"We as a team were super excited to have the Brooks student body in our downtown on a daily basis," she said, referring to Brooks' planned move downtown come fall semester.

It wasn't just the economic benefit of having them eating at restaurants and living downtown, she said, but also their talent. "They'd be in market, taking beautiful images that we could promote...on a daily basis because they were here and experiencing it and sharing it."

Another benefit was that a company or organization could submit a project to Brooks, including the project budget, and interested students or alumni could respond for work.

"It was an asset to many of the small businesses," Auster said.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce has for years worked with Brooks students, many of whom contacted the business organization for help completing assignments, said President and CEO Stephanie Caldwell.

A student might need to shoot a meeting or a conference and the chamber would benefit from the images they produced. "We would often times get a different perspective," she said.

The loss of 500 students and faculty who would have spent time downtown will be huge, she said.

"It's sad not only for students and faculty but also for our community," Caldwell said.

Bell Arts Factory had planned to host an LGBT show with the works of Brooks students in a few weeks, one of many shows the two have produced. That's since been put on hold, Bell Arts' executive director Jim Rice said.

Students were also instrumental in various community and charity projects, including taking family portraits for those who couldn't afford them.

And while Rice wasn't entirely convinced the presence of Brooks downtown would have had the kind of impact city officials and businesses touted, he was nonetheless working to be part of the effort, talking to former Brooks President Edward Clift about possibly having a permanent space for Brooks at Bell Arts.

"I was hopeful it would help things," Rice said. "They're a resource and anytime art dies somewhere, you miss it."

Stephanie Hogue, a Brooks graduate, opened Latitudes Fine Art Gallery gallery downtown three years ago. She'd had some interaction with students, including offering a couple of internships, but said she and other businesses were looking forward to having a closer relationship with the school.

"It would bring another level of arts to Ventura to have a really prestigious school here(Brooks) students are so passionate and dedicated," she said.
STAR FILE PHOTO Property is graded at Wells and Telegraph roads in east Ventura where an apartment complex will be built.

SHARE

By Arlene Martinez, amartinez@vcstar.com

A construction lobbying group has filed a complaint against the city of Ventura over recently adopted water fees, claiming the charges do not depict the actual cost of delivering the water and were illegally developed.

The Building Industry Association of Southern California and its nonprofit legal arm want the courts to invalidate an ordinance the City Council approved in June. The complaint was filed last week in Ventura County Superior Court.

The ordinance, which applies to all types of projects, requires developers to pay the city a one-time fee of $26,457 per acre-foot of new water they use. It gives credits if a project brings water rights or incorporates "extraordinary conservation" methods.

The fee is too high, the complaint says, and overstates how much water a new unit of development will use.

The fee includes money to help the city create a 20 percent buffer "to ensure that water demands could still be met without the need for mandatory conservation in the event of future droughts or other water shortage emergencies," according to the ordinance. But the costs of creating the buffer are "not reasonably related to the impacts of new development," the complaint says.

Among other things, the claim calls the fee a "tax" and says the city failed to demonstrate a relationship between it and the cost of the water.

"Really what it comes down to is, we think the program the city set up is not necessary and not fair and illegal," said Tim Piasky, executive officer for the Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter of the association. "We came to them with alternative solutions that were fair and equitable and there was no movement by the city and it left us no option but to initiate legal action with the city."

While developing the fee, the city's Water Commission met eight times in public over more than nine months. The Building Industry Association got involved late in the process, submitting comments and looking to negotiate, City Manager Mark Watkins said.

"We'd been through a very open process over a long period of time. It's frustrating when they come in at the very end," Watkins said.

Piasky said the association had reached out numerous times to the city as the ordinance was developed.

The city is still digesting the complaint, but water officials and members of the commission previously have said the fee is fair and necessary because it asks developers, along with city water customers, to pay their share of developing new water sources and helping maintain and improve water infrastructure.

Piasky said the association wasn't necessarily opposed to a fee so long as it was necessary and developed legally.

So far, no developer has paid the fee, city officials said.
COURTESY OF SPENCER MAKENZIE'S Cornhole action during a past Spencer Makenzie's End of Summer Block Party and Cornhole Tournament.

SHARE STAR FILE PHOTO Birders with their familiar binoculars search out avian species in Ventura County. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Steven Garcia will demonstrate Native American dance, including northern traditional and shawl dancing, at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center off Lynn Road in Newbury Park on Saturday. He'll be joined by Kathy Willcuts.

By Arlene Martinez, amartinez@vcstar.com

1. JOIN NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S BIRTHDAY BASH

Live music, yoga, a limited-edition beer, an outdoor screening of a Channel Islands documentary. Put it all together, place it at Ventura Harbor and start celebrating the National Park Service turning 100.

The centennial event is planned from 5-10 p.m. Thursday on the main lawn, 1691 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura. It's free and will include outdoor screenings from "West of the West: Tales from California's Channel Islands."

The event will also feature craft stations, where people can create personalized birthday hats, or participate in fabric block printing, featuring designs that celebrate Channel Islands National Park's natural and cultural resources.

For more information, visit ciparkfoundation.org.

2. COMPETE IN CORNHOLE AND EAT FISH TACOS

On Saturday, enjoy a daylong Block Party and Cornhole Tournament hosted by Spencer Makenzie's Fish Company in Ventura.

Located at the corner of Ash Street and Thompson Boulevard, the event is now in its seventh year.

Live music, food, drinks and prize money await the competitive field of cornhole tournament players (the top prize is $4,500). Though the main competition has sold out, spots remain for the Social Tournament, which features space for 64 teams of all levels.

The fun begins Friday at 6 p.m. and gets going early Saturday, with tournament check-in starting at 9.

For more information go to www.spencermakenzies.com.

3. SEE NATIVE AMERICAN DANCES

The Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center will host Native American dance demonstrations on Saturday night. From 6:30-8 p.m., Steven Garcia and Kathy Willcuts, a descendant of a prominent Lakota family, will perform the dances at the center, which is at 4126 Potrero Road in Newbury Park.

The center is located in the Sycamore Canyon area of the Santa Monica Mountains, part of a trade route used by the Chumash. The name Satwiwa, which means "the bluffs," comes from a nearby Chumash village.

For more about the event, go to http://bit.ly/2bP0XpU.

4. BIRD AND COMRADE

The Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society is hosting its monthly field trips to the Malibu Lagoon on Sunday. All are welcome to join the free walks, which are offered at two times.

If long walks are your thing (and if you're an adult), start at 8:30 a.m. There will be beginners as well as experienced birders to guide this two- to three-hour walk. At 10 a.m. is the children and parents walk, geared at introducing the young and seasoned to nature.

Bring snacks, water, sunscreen and binoculars. Docents will also have binoculars available for use.

Depending on the time of year, see up to 75 species of birds.

Malibu Lagoon is at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Cross Creek Road. Look for people wearing binoculars. Free street parking is available nearby (but read the signs) or pay $3 per hour or $12 for the day. Credit cards are accepted.

For more information go to https://smbasblog.com.

5. JOIN THE BLOCK PARTY AND SEE OLD RIDES

From 1-5 p.m. Sunday, cruise into Old Town Camarillo to see classic cars and motorcycles, eat and listen to live music during the End of Summer Block Party. Ska Daddyz will play at the free event.

Old Town is at 2220 E. Ventura Blvd.
SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Eddie Samu from Thousand Oaks caught a 38-pound yellowtail aboard the Gentleman. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Mark Williams from Oxnard caught a 32-pound yellowtail aboard the Gentleman. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Buddy Morton of Ojai caught a 19-pound lingcod aboard the New Hustler.

SALTWATER REPORT

Summer may be coming to an end but the yellowtail bite remains hot.

Mike Thompson from Channel Islands Sportfishing said the big change this week was a new school of bigger fish moving into the islands.

"The yellowtail we had been seeing were average 15 pounds, but now they are averaging 25 pounds," Thompson said. "Fish upwards of 35 to 40 pounds are being caught every day. We are having to tell our anglers to bring no less than 40-pound line."

Mark Williams from Oxnard caught a 32-pound yellowtail during a three-quarter-day trip aboard the Gentleman.

Nick Sevier from Moorpark hauled in a 29-pound yellowtail on a full-day trip aboard the Sea Jay. Britt Csorba from Ventura caught a 27-pound yellowtail on a full-day trip aboard the Aloha Spirit.

Eddie Samu from Thousand Oaks caught the biggest fish of the week, landing a 38-pound yellowtail while three-quarter-day trip aboard the Gentleman.

Besides the yellowtail, there have been good numbers of bonito and barracuda. Thompson said there is no sign of the surface bite slowing for now.

Pete Banks from Ventura Sportfishing said there has been great success with the yellowtail. On Tuesday, the Amigo came back with 16 yellowtail.

Banks said the halibut have also been biting out at the outer islands. Anglers fishing aboard the Amigo on a two-day trip came back with 12 halibut.

"The fishing has been really good," Banks said. "The yellowtail are good-sized, so we're telling everyone to bring the 40-pound line."

The results have been similar at Hooks Sportfishing. Rick Perez Of Thousand Oaks landed a 19-pound yellowtail while fishing on the Coroloma with captain Steve Earwood. Perez used live Anacapa sardines for bait.

Buddy Morton from Ojai caught a 19-pound lingcod while fishing on the New Hustler with captain Chris Volaski. He used live squid and sardines for bait.

FRESHWATER REPORT

Lake Casitas: The lake hosted a night fishing contest last Saturday. Pat Winningham and Kerry Klein were the winning team with a total of five bass that weighed 25.49 pounds.

Ojai's Larry Elshere caught the biggest fish of the night, landing an 8.07-pound bass. Ventura's Travis Walters had the second biggest fish with a 7.14-pound bass.

Paul Ramsey of Miramonte wasn't in the contest but caught an 8-pound bass with a jig.

Overall, fishing remains good with a lot of surface action in the mornings, with best baits being buzz baits, spinning baits and frogs, all cast very shallow. Once the sun gets high in the sky, the fish are retreating to deeper water, so anglers are having success anywhere from 15 to 30 feet in depth. Most effective baits are nightcrawlers, plastic worms and jigs.

Many of the bass being caught have been in the 4- to 5-pound range. There have been some reports of red ear sunfish, but no catfish or trout.

Lake hours: 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Castaic Lake: Fishing has been good, aided by the water level returning close to normal depth. The striped bass have been hitting well, with most fishing averaging between 4 to 6 pounds. Sardines and lugworms have worked well, with strong spots being near the buoy line and around Kong Island. The largemouth bite has improved, with anglers using plastic worms at 15 to 25 feet in depth. The catfish bite has started to pick up as well.

Lake hours: 6:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Cachuma Lake: Fishing was slow this week due to the Ray fire. The catfish and bass bites slowed to a crawl and there are hardly any trout. The catfish are biting near the coves with mackerel being the best bite to use.

Lake hours: 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Bob Buttitta


The Neon Museum of Las Vegas celebrated its one year anniversary with a pre-Halloween Boneyard Bash. The event was hosted by the Tropicanas longest running headliner, comedy magician Murray SawChuck (Pictured: Chloe Louis Crawford and Murray SawChuck pose with cast members of Evil Dead: The Musical Photo credit: khanhx.com).

Photo credit: khanhx.com.

Guests were entertained with live music from the Phat Pack, The All-Togethers, Swamp Gospel, and the Clydesdale. Other notable guests in attendance included Murrays wife, FANTASY dancer Chloe Crawford; congresswoman Dina Titus; Bill Marion, Chair of the Neon Museum; as well as director Sirc Michaels and cast members of Evil Dead: The Musical.

Photo credit: khanhx.com.

Attendees got a chance to tour the Neon Museum as well as win prize drawings.

Photo credit: khanhx.com.

Photo credit: khanhx.com.

Photo credit: khanhx.com.

Photo credit: khanhx.com.

Photo credit: khanhx.com.


In Las Vegas this weekend to celebrate the renewal of The Jenny McCarthy Show on VH-1, Jenny McCarthy dined last night with sister JoJo McCarthy at Andreas, the Asian hotspot in Encore at Wynn Las Vegas (Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com).

Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com.

The pop culture talk show host, actress, activist, author and blonde beauty said hello to Andreas executive chef Joseph Elevado in the kitchen where she assisted him prepare potstickers before getting playful behind the cocktail lounge bar where she toasted a bachelorette enjoying her last days of singledom.

Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com.

Before sitting down for dinner, Jenny, a former Playmate of the Year, posed for a photo with reigning 2012 Playmate of the Year Jaclyn Swedberg who was also dining at Andreas.

Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com.

Chef Elevado presented Jenny with a smoked salmon sashimi that, to her delight, released a waft of smoke when she lifted a dome covering the plate. While sipping on an Asian Pear specialty cocktail, she and her sis shared a dozen raw oysters, a shrimp tempura and fried burdock specialty sushi roll, shrimp pad Thai, and asparagus.

Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com.

Word is the bombshell will soak up the sun and hip pool party scene today at Encore Beach Club.

Seven new episodes of The Jenny McCarthy Show will begin airing on Friday, April 12 in the 10:30 PM time slot.

Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com.

Photo credit: David Becker/WireImage/ www.davidjaybecker.com.
Ancient architecture: A small stone bridge with 13 stone engravings in the centre of the pagoda shows the way to Nirvana.-VNS Photo Bach Lien

When she was a student, she lived in Bac Ninh Province for a few months to do an internship. In the afternoons, she used to ride her bike along the Duong River, then, sit on the slope of the dyke to watch the ferries passing on the river and watch the kites soaring above her head.

She was particularly taken with the sound of a bell ringing from a nearby pagoda, which brought back many memories.

The poetic beauty of the pagoda, surrounded by straight areca trees and green rice and maize fields, also touched her.

From a distance, she could also admire the high stone bell-tower in the shape of a giant pen which reaches skywards, above the sugar-cane and paddy fields. She learned that the pagodas name is But Thap (the Pen Tower).

The pen tower symbolises locals love of studying. Despite being one of the smallest provinces of the country, Bac Ninh led the country in the number of top scholars under the feudal regime (12 out of the countrys total 46).

A literature teacher, she is very interested in the provinces learning tradition.

More than forty years have passed since then, but my mother has never forgotten the magical sound of the bell and the ancient beauty of the pagoda. Shes always planned to come back and visit it again.

She was not disappointed. The pagoda hadnt changed.

Ancient beauty

She was touched to see the pagodas old gate once more, shaded by ancient giant banyan tree lines. The areca trees are still there, casting shadows that helps ease the summer heat waves.

Passing through the mossy gate, I was myself surprised by the beauty of the 800 year-old pagoda.

It was first constructed in the 13th century during the Tran Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th century when venerable abbot and Zen master Chuyet Chuyet came to live here.

This is one of the oldest pagodas in the country and is known as the center of Buddhism. Some remains of the 17th century are kept in here such as the statues and towers.

The most remarkable statue is the thousand-handed and thousand-eyed Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy), which is the biggest wooden lacquered statue in the country, and is described as a sculptural masterpiece of Viet Nam. The statue is a skilful example of Vietnamese crafts in the 17th century. It is 3.7m high and 2.1m wide and represents the seated Mercy Goddess meditating on a lotus base.

Another highlight of the pagoda, the famous Bao Nghiem stone bell tower in the shape of a giant pen has also been well preserved since the 17th century. The five-storey, 13m-high stone bell tower, shows the talent of the countrys sculptors. The lowest storey of the big pen brush-shaped tower is decorated with 13 stone carvings of dragons, animals and flowers.

Untouched architecture

The 16,000sq.m pagoda has a complex of eight parallel buildings and two corridors. Sophisticated floral motifs are carved into the pagodas weather-beaten door and wooden pillars.

The original architecture also helped make the pagoda famous. The halls and houses, built using traditional materials such as stone, timber and mud, are connected to each other by tiled-roof balconies or stone bridges across small lotus ponds in the courtyard. The complex suggests an ancient royal palace, but here, it is religion that is celebrated.

A quiet stroll through the long corridors surrounding the pagodas buildings is a tranquil way to spend an afternoon.

I was amazed by the stone tower and the stone bridge. I live near here and come to enjoy the calm and to pray for luck and happiness whenever I visit a pagoda. I am also interested in learning more about Buddhism in Viet Nam," said Ho Ngoc Linh, a local visitor. Earlier this month, the pagoda caught the attention of the public when experts announced the discovery of two bronze books dating back to 1660.

Religious symbol: A statue of the thousand-handed and thousand-eyed Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy), which is the biggest wooden lacquered statue in the country, and is described as a sculptural masterpiece of Viet Nam. Photo www.daophatngaynay.com Tranquil setting: The ancient pagoda is famous nationwide for its peaceful scenery and original architecture. - Photo chuanoitieng.com

While upgrading the stone tower in the pagoda, painter Phan Cam Thuong discovered two bronze books of sculptured Chinese scripts.

Experts restored the books, conducted initial research to ascertain their historical value, and returned them to the pagoda for preservation. According to the initial investigation, the Buddhist prayer-book belonged to a monk living in pagoda in the 18th century.

But Thap Pagoda in Thuan Thanh District of Bac Ninh Province has been recognised as a special national cultural historic relic in 2012, which makes it an important place for pilgrims and also a tourist attraction. Today, the pagoda stands amongst a lush canopy of perennial trees and wild grass, making it appear like an abandoned old house from the outside. But a visit inside of this pagoda will help you discover various valuable ancient objects and statues, including 17th-century wood- carved masterpieces.

Its untouched architecture and antique sculptures, along with its poetic beauty has inspired several painters and filmmakers.
According to statistics published by the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment on August 23, the countrys newly registered and expanded FDI has reached $14.4 billion in the first eight months of this year, meeting 58.8 per cent of the annual target at $24.5 billion in inbound investment.

The statistics show that between January and August, Vietnam licensed 1,619 newly-registered foreign invested projects with the total sum of $9.8 billion, up 24.3 per cent on-year, and 770 expanded investment projects worth $4.6 billion, equalling 83.7 per cent on-year. During the same period, the disbursed FDI increased by 8.9 per cent on-year, to $9.8 billion.

In August alone, $1.1 billion in newly-registered capital went into 211 projects and 110 projects received additional funds of altogether $325.8 million. The disbursed capital reached $1.25 billion.

Vietnams manufacturing and processing sector ranked first in attracting FDI capital, with the total $10.53 billion in 678 newly-registered projects and 551 expanded projects, nearly three quarters of the countrys FDI. The runner-up was the property sector with 34 projects worth $836.2 million.

South Korea became the biggest investor with the total committed capital of $4.8 billion during January and August. Other big investors are Singapore and Japan with $1.67 billion and $1.46 billion, respectively.

The northern port city of Haiphong remained in the lead thanks to South Korean LG Electronics new $1.5 billion hi-tech screen (OLED) production project, increasing the total registered FDI sum in city to $2.02 billion. The runners-up are Hanoi with $1.78 billion, the southern province of Dong Nai with $1.59 billion, and the southern province of Binh Duong with $1.38 billion.
Authorities worldwide have issued warnings against playing Pokemon Go while driving since the popular smartphone app was launched in July, (PhotoL AFP/Sophia Kembowski)

Media said that Tuesday's incident marked Japan's first fatal vehicle accident involving the popular gaming app.

Keiji Gooh, a 39-year-old farmer, allegedly struck two women on Tuesday evening on a road in Tokushima city, western Japan, as he played the app while driving, a police spokesman said.

One of the women, aged 72, died while the other, 60, was seriously injured, the spokesman said.

Jiji Press said it was the nation's first fatal accident involving a driver playing Pokemon Go while at the wheel.

Jiji also said there have been nearly 80 accidents in Japan involving modes of transportation including cars and bicycles since the app was introduced into Japan last month.

Authorities worldwide have issued a slew of warnings since the hugely popular smartphone app was launched in July.

It has already been blamed for a wave of crimes, traffic violations and complaints in cities around the globe.

The free app uses satellite locations, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon monsters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures for battles.

Pokemon has been popular in Japan since first being launched as software in 1996 for Nintendo's iconic Game Boy console.

It expanded into other media, most notably a wildly popular TV animation show and its popularity has never waned.


Photo source: Reuters

Accordingly, the landfall location of the gas pipeline exploited from Ca Voi Xanh (Blue Whale) gas field and the gas processing plant will be located at Chu Lai Open Economic Zone (EZ), in the central province of Quang Nam. Besides, another four gas-to-power plants to be fuelled from Ca Voi Xanh field, with a total generation capacity of 3,000 megawatts, will be divided equally between Quang Nams Nui Thanh district and Quang Ngais Dung Quat EZ.

The exact amount of investment capital has not been released, but initial information suggested that the gas-to-power complex could cost as much as $20 billion, while PetroVietnam referred to a figure closer to $10 billion. However, according to the latest news, the projects investment capital is $4.6 billion.

ExxonMobil expects to exploit 8-9 billion cubic metres of gas per year, 1-3 billion cubic metres of which will go to Dung Quat refinery for processing.

On account of the complexs large scale and the involvement of the world-leading oil and gas group, both Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces are making great efforts to win ExxonMobils investment.

Notably, Quang Nam established an investment promotion working group for the project, while Quang Ngai submitted official documents to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries to garner support as well as offer viable locations for the complex. The three locations Quang Ngai authorities suggested to the investors for construction are some 85 kilometres from offshore gas blocks, a rather convenient distance during both the implementation and operations stages.

According to the PMs decision, both Quang Nam and Quang Ngai will benefit from the project, especially Chu Lai Open EZ and Dung Quat EZ, which receive development incentives from the government.

Next week, ExxonMobil expects to join the entrepreneur group of the US-ASEAN Business Council arriving to Vietnam to look for investment opportunities. It is considered an important visit, impacting ExxonMobils investment decisions in Vietnam in the future.
A corner of 2016 VIETLAOEXPO in Vientiane, Laos. Viet Nam will carry out trade promotion activities for better access and penetration of markets through the border gates of the two countries.- Photo Pham Kien

Under the plan, relevant agencies will publicise the agreement's content and help people to obey the terms and instruction documents.

They will also support businesses in the border area between the two countries in trade promotion, cross-border investment and tourism and in developing border market operations.

The trade promotion activities will include market studies, exhibitions and trade fairs, advertising and consultancy, besides brokerage, agents and services for better access and penetration of markets through the border gates of the two countries.

The agencies will also conduct programmes to encourage businessmen and residents in border areas to invest in production and farming in the border provinces, based on the agreement's preferential policies and mechanisms on investment operations, and to develop tourism in the provinces of the two sides.
An ancient temple is seen shrouded in dust as a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Bagan. The quake was also felt across neighbouring Thailand, India and Bangladesh, sending panicked residents rushing onto the streets. (SOE MOE AUNG/AFP)

The quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit at a depth of 84 kilometres, 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.

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.


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.
The Appeals Court on Tuesday began a hearing into the conviction of Meach Sovannara, an opposition member, and 11 opposition activists who were jailed over an anti-government protest in 2014.

They were sentenced to between seven and 20 years for incitement.

Sovannara shouted to the court on Tuesday that the hearing was nothing more than political theater and the outcome had already been decided.

We have no hope because yesterday Mr. Hun Sen already sent a political message to threaten the court at the Peace Palace. Therefore, the court is a political device, he said, referring to a speech given by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday in which he said that the courts should not release people who had been convicted.

Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor at local rights group Licadho, said Hun Sen's message was clearly intended to sway the judge's decision.

If the decisions depended on their discretion and consciousness and objectivity facts and their professionalism and ethics, I hoped that the annulment of the case could happen and it can be an example for the future. But when there is political pressure or political intervention, I have no faith in the system, he said.
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.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told the government in Ankara that the United States strongly condemns last month's failed military coup in Turkey. Biden is visiting the longtime U.S. ally to strengthen relations that began to wobble amid disagreements on Turkish Kurds and Syria, but plummeted after Washington rejected an immediate extradition of a Turkish cleric living in the United States, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating the coup. Zlatica Hoke reports.
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.
For much of the 20th century, for some Americans, Asian food meant chop suey or other Chinese-style dishes. No longer - Americans may now choose from restaurants featuring Japanese, Thai, Korean, Indian and other Asian cuisines. In "Off the Menu: Asian America", filmmaker Grace Lee traveled off the beaten path to explore how food reflects an evolving Asian Pacific America. Heidi Chang spoke with her when "Off the Menu" premiered at the Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu.
Ten hours after it started Wednesday night, the attack in Kabul on the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) was over and one professor, seven students, two security guards, and three members of the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces were dead.



One of the seven students was Sami Sarwari, who had posted on his Facebook page only days before that he started school in AUAF. One friend had responded, So excited for you! Cant wait to hear how the first week goes.



Sarwaris last post on Facebook was August 23, at 9:45 a.m. It read, Im in. Looking forward to a beautiful and bright future. His location showed him checked into AUAF.



Complex attack

Ahmed Mukhtar was standing in the courtyard of the university talking to his friends about the classes he was taking when the first shots rang out, followed by a loud explosion.

A local journalist used to covering such events, Mukhtar instantly recognized it for what it was - a complex assault involving multiple attackers carrying a variety of weapons. The attackers, he could tell, had entered the compound and would try to kill as many students as possible. He knew he had to flee.



The explosion happened in the south side of the university so my friends and I started running to the east side of the university where there was a security tower, he recalled. The university had several towers with armed guards for just such an attack.

Mukhtar was among dozens of other students who climbed the narrow steps of the tower to jump over the walls and escape.





What helped him and others, Mukhtar said, were the safety drills the university had held to prepare students for an emergency like this.



I am heartbroken

Although Mukhtar had not taken his class, he remembered the good-natured young professor who lost his life that night as a friend.



Naqib Khpulwak seemed to be popular among his peers and students alike, given by the number of posts about his death on social media. As a Fulbrighter, a graduate of Stanford law school, and a PhD candidate at Oxford University, Khpulwaks friends said he had offers to work and live abroad but he chose to stay in Afghanistan.



I am heartbroken; I am lost; I can't express my sorrow. I have lost my dear buddy in the terrorist attack in American University, journalist Habib Khan wrote about him on his Facebook page.



A few minutes later, there was another post by Khan.

And I have lost another great friend and fellow classmate, Jamshid Zafar. He was such a decent and intelligent human being. A hope for the country and a great intellectual.

And then this.

So far Naqib Khpulwak, Jamshid Zafar and Zubair Zakir are confirmed dead in the attack on AUAF. This sorrow is unbearable.



Tracking those responsible

Meanwhile, a press release from the office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced Thursday that initial investigations by the Afghan security agency National Directorate of Security or NDS have indicated that the attack was organized and orchestrated from the other side of the Durand Line, a reference to Pakistan.



It further stated that Ghani had called Pakistans army chief and asked for serious and practical measures against the terrorists organizing the attack.



A couple of hours later, ISPR, the public relations wing of Pakistans army, issued a press release announcing the actions taken by Pakistan in response to President Ghanis call.



According to that release, Afghan authorities shared three cell phone numbers allegedly in use during the attack with Pakistan. The numbers, according to ISPR, were from a network owned and operated by an Afghan company whose signals spilled over to border areas of Pakistan.



[B]ased on these three Afghan cell numbers provided by Afghan authorities, Pakistan Army carried out a combing operation in suspected area closer to Pak-Afghan border to verify presence of miscreants, the press release said.



The outcome of that operation, according to ISPR, has been shared with Afghan authorities.



This was one of a series of deadly attacks in Kabul in recent months. One of those attacks last month, during a protest by Afghanistans Shi'ite Hazara community, killed 80. Islamic State claimed it.

Rebecca Zimmerman, an analyst with California-based RAND Corporation, tweeted that the attack showed Kabul's continued vulnerability to breach-and-enter attack operations. New defense tactics were needed that would have closed the universitys gates quickly, she added.
A new report says children in Africa may account for nearly half of the worlds poor by 2030. That prospect  the result of rapid population growth and continued poverty  poses problems for the continent, but a solution is not far off, some say.



Nigeria is Africas most populous country with more than 170 million people and growing fast.



The report by the London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) says the population boom coupled with existing poverty and extreme inequality are a dangerous mix.



ODIs Kevin Watkins, one of the researchers of the report, says over the next 15 years, the African child will emerge as the face of world poverty.



By 2030, around one in five children in Africa will be born into and raised in poverty. So the immediate thing that needs to happen is we need to lift the children out of acute poverty, Watkins says.



Family planning seen as key

Activists say family planning is a key component of meeting that goal.



Nigeria alone will account for six percent of all global births between 2015 and 2030, the report says. The U.N. projects that by 2050, Nigeria will surpass the United States to become the worlds third most populous country, behind China and India.

Its both a blessing and a curse, says Felix Obi, a development policy analyst in Abuja.



We have the potential of having a very large pool of skilled workers if government invests properly in education and building human capital. If the population keeps growing and the government is not investing in the education of young people, its a recipe for chaos in the future, Obi says.



In Nigeria, women on average give birth to five children, but its not uncommon to find 10, 14 or even 20 children in a household, in particular in areas where polygamy is practiced.



Sensitive subject

Birth control remains a sensitive subject.



Its more of like religion. One of the things they say is that you cannot control birth because if God will give you. God will provide, says public health worker Bintu Konto.



She says she often meets women who tell her they want to have less children but they dont know how.



A key challenge for women in Nigeria is not just getting access to birth control pills or injections, but paying for them.

The Nigerian government committed to allocate an additional $8.35 million annually to family planning in 2012. That was on top of its existing $3 million annual commitment.



Family planning activist Chinwe Onumonu is lobbying for follow-through.



Basically to increase funding for family planning and also to get the government to redeem its commitment it made at the London Summit in 2012. So what were trying to do is to first track and do an assessment of the bottlenecks within the Ministry of Health., Onumonu says.

Logistical, financial woes

Contraceptives arrive in Nigeria via the seaport in Lagos, but according to Obi, there often isnt government money to transport them to local public health facilities.



Procurement is just one bit of it. Its just the beginning. But for it to be used and get to the end user, logistics comes in, then the advocacy, sensitization and that bit comes in as well, so states are supposed to be able take care of some of these costs, Obi says.



The federal government passed a record $30 billion budget this year. Only four percent was allocated to health, and out of that, family planning programs received a mere 0.3 percent.



Activists say the government cannot continue to rely on donor agencies to meet its needs. Even Nigerias first lady has called for more commitment and funding for family planning services.
Researcher Henriette Jansen was running a workshop in Southeast Asia on the best ways to survey women about domestic violence when one participant had an epiphany.

Interviewers in the participant's country had questioned women on their experience of domestic violence while their husbands were present, and they found only 3 percent of women had ever suffered physical or sexual violence.

The figure was at odds with other surveys in the region showing that 15 percent to 68 percent of women had experienced violence in their lifetimes, and the World Health Organization estimate that a third of women globally had been subjected to violence.

"The interviewers were not trained about ethics, safety, confidentiality, building a rapport with the women," Jansen, an expert on violence against women at the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"Only women interview women  they have to have the right attitude, not be judgmental, not react in a certain way. If you are judgmental, the respondent will shut up and not say any more."

Beaten for participating

Jansen had also heard reports of women being beaten by their husbands for taking part in similar surveys on domestic violence.

To address such safety and ethics issues, UNFPA and the Australian government on Wednesday launched a program to train researchers and field workers in the Asia-Pacific region to collect and analyze data on the violence that women experience.

Until the 1990s, very little was known about what was happening to women in the home, with the exception of countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, said Ingrid FitzGerald, a gender and human rights adviser at UNFPA.

"In the developing world, there was no data about violence against women," FitzGerald said, noting that most violence against women is domestic violence.

As a result, violence against women was excluded from the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  targets to address extreme poverty and inequality around the world by 2015.

"Violence was not included because it couldn't be measured in enough countries with comparable data," FitzGerald said.

There is more data available now, she said, and with the new Sustainable Development Goals target to "eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls" by 2030, countries will collect even more.

'Painful secrets'

The initiative of the UNFPA Asia-Pacific office and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to create a network of researchers who understand how to measure violence against women, and to make the survey tools and methodology open-source.

The initiative will also help countries use the data for policy and behavior change aimed at ending violence against women.

Jansen said that so far, 28 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have data on violence against women, and the UNFPA project will expand that to 40 by the end of 2019.

Yet no matter how well-trained interviewers are, Jansen said, the statistics still miss the most serious cases: women who have been slain, hospitalized because of injuries, or institutionalized because they have been incapacitated.

"We never get the women who have been locked up, who can't open the doors, who are afraid to open the doors. You can see them during the interviews, [fearing] that their husbands can come home at any moment.

"The interviewer says, 'I'm sure there was something the matter, you could see she was scared,' " she said. "You can never force women to tell their deepest, most painful secrets. ... You never get the truth  you always miss a portion. What you get is always an underestimate."
The American University of Afghanistan is a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education that was chartered in 2004.

It operates under the auspices of The Association of American International Colleges and Universities, founded by a group of college and university presidents with a desire to share information, to encourage collaboration and to share resources among schools with many issues in common.

The group boasts 26 member and associate member educational institutions across the world.

Dr. Sharif Fayez, the Afghan Minister of Higher Education in 2002, proposed the creation of Afghanistan's first-ever private university. The following year in an address before UNESCO, U.S. first lady Laura Bush announced her support for educational initiatives in Afghanistan. Then-U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, likely inspired from his own experience at The American University of Beirut, encouraged the establishment of The American University of Afghanistan.

In 2006, AUAF admitted its first group of 53 students to its Foundation Studies Program, designed to strengthen students' English-language and study skills. In September, the first credit-bearing undergraduate courses were offered, along with the first adult professional-level programs.

In 2008, Laura Bush announced $42 million in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) over five years. By the end of the year, enrollment in the undergraduate and Foundation Studies programs reached almost 350 students. Other than the USAID aid, AUAF does not claim any other affiliation with the U.S. government.

The university held its first commencement ceremony May 26, 2011, awarding undergraduate degrees to 32 graduates. It held its fourth, and largest, graduation in 2014, when 180 undergraduate and graduate students were awarded diplomas.
A Burundian panel tasked with finding ways to resolve the nation's political and security crisis says it will soon present its findings to parliament, which will include a proposal to remove term limits for the head of state from the constitution.

Analysts say debate on the removal of term limits is likely to begin after the Inter-Burundi Dialogue Commission makes its presentation to lawmakers. President Pierre Nkurunziza is expected to make the final decision on the commissions report after parliament approves it.

Local media quoted Justin Nzoyisaba, chairman of the commission, as saying views his group collected demonstrated that citizens want the term limits provision pulled from the constitution. Such a move would mean "that the president can go for as many terms as he wants if elected by the people," he said.

Presidents are now constitutionally limited to serving two full terms. Opposition groups say Nkurunziza is to blame for the countrys crisis for seeking a third successive term in office. The government rejects the accusations.

No surprise seen in findings

Vital Nshirimana, head of Burundi's Forum for Strengthening the Civil Society, said the dialogue commission  a 15-member group with representatives from religious groups, civil society organizations and political parties  was established for the government and did its work for the government, and that its findings were expected.

He said the commission was established after more than 200,000 Burundians fleeing the security and political crisis were forced into neighboring countries, including Rwanda and Tanzania. Those who fled included opposition and civil society leaders who were opposed to Nkurunzizas third term, Nshirimana said.

He said the commissions report sharply contradicted the will of the people.

The commission "has completed its assignment by Nkurunziza to kind of get to say that the people of Burundi want the revision of the constitution, or the amendment of the constitution, and to repeal the Arusha peace agreement core provision. So this is what the commission did, and this is what it was assigned to do, Nshirimana said.

The Arusha agreement ended the countrys civil war and created an ethnic power-sharing agreement between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority.

People do not want the review of the constitution or the cancellation of the Arusha accord, because they know the importance of the Arusha agreement, which is the most important element of the stability of Burundi for the 10 past years," Nshirimana said. "So this was a fake undertaking that was [done] by Nkurunziza, when he saw that other stakeholders had fled the country. So this is not the picture that people want. This is not the picture that the sponsors of the Arusha agreement want.

Because now what is [needed is] an external inter-Burundian dialogue that is likely to happen in the future months if the government comes to the table of negotiations, Nshirimana added.

Pressure from other nations

He also called on the international community to put pressure the government in Bujumbura not to undermine the constitution and the Arusha accord. Nshirimana warned that the administration risked worsening the countrys peace, stability and territorial integrity if moved ahead with plans to scrap term limits.

But the government has often said it accepts the will of the people. Officials reject assertions that the country is unstable.

It is a matter for the Burundians to preserve the Arusha peace agreement and the constitution, because if the parliament agrees that this report be taken as an element of which it can adopt as law, then it would agree that Nkurunziza be a dictator or be a king of Burundi or be the president of Burundi forever," Nshirimana said.

"So we appeal [to] the international community, especially the East African community, with which the responsibility of finding a solution to the Burundian crisis lies, to actually stop these processes.
An Egyptian court on Thursday ordered the release of a prominent rights lawyer held in solitary confinement for more than 100 days after he raised a legal challenge to a decision by the country's president to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

However, the decision to free Malek Adly was immediately challenged by prosecutors. Adly will remain in prison until the court makes a final decision, expected Saturday, said one of his lawyers, Mahmoud Belal.

Adly has been held without formal charge, kept in prison on a rolling series of administrative detention orders every 15 days since his arrest in May. According to the state investigators, Adly is suspected of participating in meetings with Islamists to wage a campaign against the state and spread false information that the Red Sea islands were essentially sold off in exchange for much-needed Saudi financial support

Throughout , he has been kept in solitary confinement with almost no communication with the outside world, sleeping on a bare floor in conditions that his lawyers say amount to torture. Supporters say that he was a victim of a personal vendetta after he essentially insulted Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in a televised interview.

Adly was among a group of lawyers who raised a court case against el-Sissi's decision in April to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The lawyers argued that the islands were historically Egypt's, while the government said they were Saudi territory that had only temporarily placed under Egyptian protection.

The decision sparked a wave of protests that were met with hundreds of arrests. El-Sissi has repeatedly said that all discussion of the islands issue must stop. At the time, Adly appeared on a TV talk show with documents he said showed Egypt's sovereignty and proclaiming, "The person who gives up an inch of Egyptian soil is a traitor" seen as an implicit insult of el-Sissi.
A new battle is underway in the American presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton -- not on the campaign trail, but rather on Facebook. Some people are bombarding the social networking site with articles about the candidates, and adding their own opinions of them. "Hurtful", "harmful" and "go too far" are some of the words Facebook friends who receive these posts in their daily feeds are using to describe them.



Articles like Trump says Clinton knows shes guilty or Clinton labels Trump a racist are sandwiched in-between motivational articles, recipes and vacation photos.

Mike Moran, a Facebook user from Illinois, told VOA he thinks current newspaper stories and editorials are a lot more genteel than the mud-slinging on Facebook.

The enormous website has an estimated 1.5 billion users worldwide. From January 1 to August 1, Facebook reports that 100 million people in the United States created 4 billion posts, comments, shares and reactions about the November 2016 presidential election.



Shanto Iyengar, a political science professor at Stanford University who studies news coverage, says Facebook is now a major source of news, debate and personal expression.

And that includes the constant negative messages by both Clinton and Trump, says Scott Talan, a communications professor at American University in Washington.

The candidates are not conducting a civil campaign and people are mirroring that on Facebook, he explains, by saying things like If anyone votes for the candidate I dont like then they cant be my friend.

Wanna be my friend? Not if you're too partisan!



Facebook user Ed Hamell, from New York, expresses his political views by posting articles to his feed. He admits he's unfriended a couple of people.



I love a good discussion on political and social issues and am curious about how people think and what they value, he explains. But I have little tolerance, though, for nastiness, cruelty and disrespect.



In Ohio, Cindy Gabriel has thought about unfriending some people because of their mean and ugly comments.



You can still present your politics, Talan says, but you can do it in a civil way and people can agree to disagree.



Pam Burdick of Maryland thinks the exchange of ideas is good, while Lorene Bachman in Hawaii doesnt care whats being posted on Facebook because it can be ignored.



Overseas, New Zealander Jacquie Phipps is closely watching the U.S. presidential campaign. I find most of the Trump rhetoric at best worrying and at worst deeply offensive, she says. But so far, no one in my Facebook world has expressed views different from mine in this regard.



That doesnt surprise Talan, who says people who are friends with each other usually want to hear the views they agree with.



For Facebook users wanting to avoid the political debate, there's the sites mute feature. It can help block unwanted messages by disabling notifications from a particular person or page. Apps like the Trump Blocker and Hillary Blocker, keep content from those candidates off your Facebook page. And the Kardashian Filter, will block any words that annoy you.



Moran doesnt think its a good idea to unfriend anybody over political disagreements. His advice? Just remember it will all be over on November 8, Election Day."
Four Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels sped close to a U.S. guided missile destroyer in international waters Tuesday in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter, the U.S. Navy said Wednesday.

The USS Nitze fired 10 warning flares and blew its whistles at the Iranian vessels but got no response.

The four boats came within 275 meters of the Nitze, forcing it to change course, even though oil rigs were dangerously nearby, to avoid a possible collision.

Tuesday's incident occurred in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The Navy accused Iran of harassing the warship and breaking international law.

"These sorts of unsafe and unprofessional actions can lead to escalation and miscalculation, which may necessitate additional defensive measures," a Navy spokesman said Wednesday. "Commanding officers have an inherent obligation for self-defense."

There has been no explanation so far from Iran.

Iran briefly held 10 U.S. sailors captive in January after they accidentally strayed into Iranian waters.
Indias home minister on a visit to Kashmir said substitutes will soon be found for pellet guns that have blinded or caused severe eye injuries to hundreds of people during the worst protests to have wracked the Himalayan region in six years.

The use of pellet guns by security forces to quell the demonstrations has flooded hospitals with victims and triggered huge anger in Kashmir. Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have called for prohibiting their use.



Wrapping up a two-day visit to Kashmirs capital, Srinagar, Minister Rajnath Singh said that a panel looking into the use of pellet-firing guns will submit its report in two or three days.



It was believed in 2010 that the pellet gun is a non-lethal weapon that causes the least damage. But today we feel the need for an alternate, said Singh. He is visiting the region in a bid to explore a solution to the unrest that has gripped Indias only Muslim majority region since the killing of a local militant by security forces last month.



The victims of pellet guns have included a 9-year-old, who was hit as she watched a demonstration through her window.



At a news conference, the Indian minister also appealed to Kashmiris to return to the path of peace, saying that young people of 17, 18, 15 and 20, should have computers, books and pens in their hands." He then asked, Who gives them permission to put stones in their hands?



Young men have been at the forefront of massive anti-India demonstrations, often pelting stones at security forces.



Kashmirs chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, said a majority of people in the Kashmir Valley favor a peaceful solution to the current unrest and said that the five per cent involved in the protests are using young people as shields to attack camps of security forces.



Tight security



The Indian ministers visit took place amid tight security as much of the region, including the capital, remained shuttered under a curfew.

While Singh said New Delhi is willing to talk to separatist groups, separatist leaders questioned how they could join a dialogue as most have been placed under house arrest.



The volatile situation in Indian Kashmir has also deepened tensions and triggered a sharp war of words between India and Pakistan, whose rivalry is sparked by conflicting claims on the Himalayan territory, which is divided between them.



Pakistan, which has called for "putting an immediate end to the human rights violations against the innocent people" of Kashmir, has twice invited New Delhi for talks on the region in the last 10 days, but India says it will only hold a dialogue on cross-border terrorism.



In its latest answer to Islamabad, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar virtually rejected the invitation saying in a letter that he was only willing to discuss terrorism emanating from Pakistan's territory, which targets not just India but other countries as well.
Iraqs parliament on Thursday voted to oust Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, leaving the Iraqi Security Forces without a clear unifying leader in the crucial runup to the military operation to retake the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul.

Obeidi, one of the last Sunni Cabinet ministers in the majority Shiite government, was accused of corruption and ousted by a simple-majority (142-102) no-confidence vote after weeks of political wrangling.

Abbas Kadhim, a senior policy fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, said on Twitter that Obeidis removal set a welcome precedent against corruption, but he acknowledged the decision was partly political score settling.

In a bitter response to the vote, Obeidi said on Twitter that he had tried to fight corruption as much as possible.

Then, in a barely veiled sectarian reference, Obeidi defended his efforts to rebuild the army and prevent the nepotism that caused Iraq in 2014 to lose 40 percent of its land and displace millions of people.

Islamic State in 2014, exploiting the deep Sunni grievances resulting from the sectarian nature of Iraqs government, swept through Iraq and captured large tracts in the west and north of the country.

U.S. lobbying fails

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington warned that Obeidis ouster could diminish the U.S.s ability to effectively coordinate with the ISF on the eve of strategic anti-IS operations in Mosul.

The U.S.s intensive lobbying effort among political parties to retain Obeidi in his position failed, highlighting the limits of U.S. diplomatic influence within Iraqs shifting political environment, ISW said on its website.

The institute cautioned that the U.S. could lose its ability to operate in Iraq if a candidate opposed to U.S. and coalition presence in Iraq stepped in.

U.S. defense officials played down the impact of the parliamentary decision.

Operation Inherent Resolve Coalition spokesman John Dorrian said the decisions of the Iraqi parliament were an internal Iraqi matter.

The coalition remains focused on our mission to defeat Daesh by supporting ISF as they continue the campaign to liberate the country, Dorrian said on Twitter, using a local acronym for the extremist group.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook insisted the U.S. has an excellent working relationship with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and every confidence that the relationship will continue.

Mosul operation to proceed

According to Michael Knights, Iraq fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, while not having a minister is not an ideal situation for the military, it will not significantly disturb the Mosul operation.

CJOC is what really matters, and the leadership of CJOC hasnt changed, Knights said.

CJOC is the acronym for the Combined Joint Operations Center in Baghdad, where Iraqi and U.S-led coalition officers work side by side in the fight against IS.

The ministers role is really about being the civilian head of the Iraqi military and building the future military, and making decisions that will affect the conduct of the military in the coming years  not so much about day-to-day decisions, Knights told VOA.

The trick is how do they [Iraqi officials] replace Obeidi, and how quickly do they do it, Knights said.
U.S. backed Syrian Kurdish fighters say they are withdrawing to their bases east of the Euphrates River, a day after Turkey's military and allied fighters launched a cross-border offensive.

The Kurdish rebels have been a source of tension between the U.S., which views them as a key ally in the war in Syria, and Turkey, which sees them as terrorists allied with separatist Turkish Kurd factions.

A U.S.-led coalition spokesman said the Kurds moved east "to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa." However, it is unclear if all of the Kurdish forces have withdrawn, as Turkey had demanded ahead of its offensive.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told Arab media that Kurdish militia fighters are still fighting on the western side of the Euphrates River and had even captured some ground.

Turkey's foreign minister said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had spoken with him in a phone call early Thursday and said that the Syrian Kurdish forces would withdraw.

Vice President Joe Biden this week told Turkey's leaders that the Kurds would lose U.S.-support if they did not move back across the Euphrates.

Support for US Syria plan

Kerry was in Saudi Arabia Thursday to discuss U.S. military operations in Syria with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, along with diplomats from Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council in order to shore up support for the Syria plan ahead of meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Friday in Geneva, Switzerland.

Kerry left Saudi Arabia for Geneva Thursday night and is scheduled to speak with Lavrov Friday morning. Previous rounds of negotiations have failed to produce an end to the conflict in Syria, which is complicated by U.S. and Russian support for opposite sides in the conflict.

During the meeting with Lavrov, the two sides will try to come to an agreement over military cooperation and information sharing in a bid to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria. Kerry's initial plan, unveiled during July talks in Moscow, would have Washington and Moscow coordinate airstrikes against Islamic State fighters and stop the Syrian air force from launching any further air attacks.

Earlier this week, Kerry said the two sides were close to ending their talks, but U.S. officials have said it's too early to know whether a deal will be reached.

Russia's foreign ministry expressed deep concern about the Turkish border operation, especially Turkey's targeting of Kurdish militia fighters.

It said that Turkey, by targeting both Islamic State militants and Syrian Kurds, could further inflame the Syrian civil war, leading to "flare-ups of inter-ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs."

Middle East analyst Theodore Karasik told VOA that Turkey's military offensive on Syrian territory risks further complicating the war, influencing the shifting alliances among various militia factions that have made it difficult for any one side to dominate the conflict.

He says Turkey risks escalating the conflict, however Secretary Kerrys meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir in Jeddah Thursday and with Lavrov in Geneva Friday appear designed to coordinate as best possible what comes next.
In the late 19th to middle 20th century, America stood as the industrial powerhouse of the world. Consumers sought the latest American-made products, from cars to refrigerators to televisions.

US manufacturing in decline

But, things began to change in the late 1970s. Japan and China caught up with the U.S. in the production of many consumer goods. Today, China is a manufacturing powerhouse that produces about 80 percent of the worlds air conditioners, 70 percent of its mobile phones and 60 percent of its shoes. Chinese products represent almost half of all the goods made in the world.

And, now in the United States, it can be difficult to find a manufacturer to help develop a product.

Matthew Burnett knows this all too well. The American businessman started a watch company in 2007. At first, he had overseas manufacturers make all his products. But he often faced shipping delays, a lack of quality control, and time zone issues.

Later, he expanded into leather goods. Still, he struggled to find domestic factories to make the wallets, belts, and other products of his new brand.

And he was not alone. Many American entrepreneurs found it easier to go out of the country for manufacturing. There was no central marketplace for the industry.

Online marketplace

So, Matthew Burnett, and his business partner Tanya Menendez, created one. They called it Makers Row.

Since 2012, the online marketplace has been connecting entrepreneurs with American manufacturers.

What we try to do at Makers Row is to encourage the brands to start producing in the United States so that you see more made in America products on the shelves," Burnett said. "We used to produce 97 percent of the apparel that we consume here in the United States, today its less than three percent. So it makes it very challenging to find sometimes made in America products, but thats the narrative were trying to shift, by bringing these brands back home to produce.

Makersrow.com also helps brands and businesses find and organize their supply chains.

A manufacturer pays a monthly fee to be listed on the site. It includes project planning software and a search feature. Manufacturers can also receive factory bids through the site.

For an additional cost, entrepreneurs get additional support.

Turning an idea into a business

Makers Row can be especially helpful to new or part-time entrepreneurs. The site can provide a plan for turning an idea into a business.

And co-founder Tanya Menendez says Makers Row offers classes and training.

We have an online academy so people can take free online courses. Theyre designed for people with busy lifestyles," Menendez said. "A lot of people that come to Makers Row start off working 9-to-5 and having this become like their side hustle so we cater to those entrepreneurs too and then we have project software where established businesses can organize all of their ideas in one place.

Today, the Makers Row website has 80,000 registered users.

The registration and fee structure to access the site helps ensure the users are serious about their business, Menendez says.

The BCG company in Boston, which advises businesses around the world, estimates the average cost to manufacture goods in the U.S. is only five-percent higher than in China. And the company predicts that, by 2018, the cost difference will narrow further, to as little as two percent higher.

Makers Row and other similar efforts could play a big part in making that prediction come true.

This story was reported and produced by VOA's Learning English service.
The burden of college tuition loans is making many millennials wary of racking up credit card debt.

Fewer than a third of millennials, usually defined as people between the ages of 18 and 35, even have a credit card. That's a record low percentage, according to recent statistics.

Stefanie OConnell, who graduated from New York University with a degree in drama and a big debt, understands the problem.

With few job opportunities, she became cautious about her finances. That led her to a completely different career path: as a financial expert.

Millennial debt

Through her wealth management blog, O'Connell has discovered many millennials are just like her.

Many younger people are resisting the temptation that credit cards offer to spend beyond ones means, she said.

"They're wary of tools like credit cards, she explained. "They're wary of taking any kind of risk, even if it is a smart risk, like investing."

What OConnell sees among her blog readers is supported by Federal Reserve data that indicates the percentage of Americans under 35 who hold credit card debt has fallen to its lowest level since 1989, when the Fed began collecting data in a standardized way, according to an analysis by The New York Times.

Credit cards are an integral part of the U.S. financial system.

Credit expert Adam Levin said they're frequently necessary for young people to purchase many services and goods that make their life easier and help the economy grow.

Building a credit history allows someone to borrow money at a preferential credit rate to buy a car or a house.

"It's critically important for a young person to build credit, to build strong credit, Levin said. It doesn't mean that you overcredit yourself, but it means that you are wise about your credit, you are a responsible payer, and you don't get yourself in over your head."

Financial technology

Technology has developed tools that help the millennials manage personal finances and plan budgets.

Level Money, a smart app thats also known as the financial GPS, is an example.

After the user adds bank and other credit card account information to the app, it then calculates income and bills. It presents the user with the available cash to spend every day and how much to save each month.

Such apps serve as an online adviser to those who use them, O'Connell said. The apps help users make better spending decisions and avoid spending habits that may make them fall deeper into debt.

The growing trend shows millennials build credit while living within their means.
Myanmar's president, Htin Kyaw, Thursday flew to the ancient capital of Bagan - a popular tourist destination - to assess damage caused by the powerful earthquake which shook the north-central part of the country and killed at least three people, two of them young girls.

The president said that UNESCO, Japan and China have offered to help restore the historic site, but that the process would be long and difficult. Bagan is home to thousands of ancient Buddhist pagodas, dozens of which sustained damage in Wednesday's 6.8 magnitude quake.

"We will take experts' opinions and then try to see what is the best way to restore it," Kyaw told reporters after visiting the site. "But it will be a very lengthy process and quite expensive."

The president added that monsoon rains were expected to last until October, risking further damage to the pagodas and delaying repairs. He said some sites would be covered, and urged local government officials to be judicious in restricting tourist access to damaged sites.



Badly destroyed

Lawmaker U Win Myint Khine, who represents the Chauk region - the epicenter of the earthquake - told VOA the tremors damaged at least 140 ancient temple structures in Bagan, a tentative world heritage site.

"Its badly destroyed," Khine told VOA. "The 6.8 Richter scale magnitude is significantly strong, which is similar to the 1975 quake in Bagan. Some temples or pagoda tops enshrined with jewels also fell to the ground and we were able to keep them."

Culture ministry archaeologist U Aung Kyaw told VOA that security personnel have been dispatched to protect the sites from looters, and that emergency meetings were called to assess the damage.

We are having emergency meeting to.. take necessary actions accordingly," he said. "All concerned departments are cooperating in this meeting."



Bagan is home to more than 2,000 ancient Buddhist structures, including temples and pagodas dating back to 10th through the 14th centuries.

During the quake tremors were felt in the Thai capital, Bangkok, and Kolkata in India - each around 1,000 kilometers away.

Although earthquakes are fairly common in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, the southeast Asian country has not had a deadly one since a 6.8-magnitude quake in November 2012 killed nearly 40 people.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar this past April, but caused only minor damage and no casualties.
Two hospitals that treated the victims of a deadly shooting rampage at a Florida nightclub in June say they will not bill the survivors for the cost of their treatment.

Fifty-three people were wounded in the June 12 shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub that left 49 people dead, making it the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

The parent company of Orlando Regional Medical Center, located not far from Pulse nightclub, said Wednesday it will seek reimbursement from the health insurers of 44 victims it treated, but will forgive any other costs not covered under their policies. The company also said it will not charge the families of the nine people who died at Orlando Regional.

Florida Hospital, which treated 12 of the wounded club goers, say they will not seek any money from the victims or their insurers.

The total costs of un-reimbursed care for the two hospitals is likely to exceed $5.5 million.

The gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. Authorities say he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terror group when he called Orlando's 911 emergency line during the siege.
A confidential report has concluded the Syrian government and Islamic State militants deployed chemical weapons in the war-torn nation in 2014 and 2015, an apparent violation of a United Nations resolution prohibiting the use of chemical attacks.

A year long joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog group, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, found Syrian troops carried out two toxic gas attacks and IS militants used mustard gas in one attack.

The 15-member Security Council is scheduled to discuss the report on August 30, setting the stage for a possible showdown between the five veto-wielding members of China, Russia, the United States, Britain and France.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power denounced the use of chemical weapons, describing them as "a barbaric tool, repugnant to the conscience of mankind." Power called for the U.N. Security Council to take "strong and swift action" against the Syrian government and IS.

Under an agreement negotiated by the United States and Russia in 2013, Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons. At that time the Security Council supported a resolution that would impose sanctions on any person or entity involved in chemical weapons attacks under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter.

In the past, Russia, a Syrian ally, and China have protected Syria from the Security Council by blocking several resolutions.

The report will be made public after the August 30 meeting of the Security Council.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced snap military exercises on land, and in the Black and Caspian Seas, the defense ministry said in a statement.



The drills began at 7:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) Moscow time Thursday in Russia's southern, western and central military districts where troops have been put on combat alert, the statement said.



They will last until the end of the month and will involve various units and troops, from paratroopers to the Northern Fleet.



The latest military exercises come a week after Russia announced it was using an air base in Iran for bombing runs inside Syria. Russia has since withdrawn from the Iranian base. Also in the last week, President Putin verbally attacked Ukraine for allegedly employing its military intelligence to carry out acts of sabotage in Russia-annexed Crimea.



Poland reacted to Thursday's drills by immediately convening a briefing of the commands of its operational forces and military intelligence.



The United States and other governments in both western and eastern Europe have been increasingly concerned by Russia's military moves since 2014, when the Kremlin annexed Ukraine's Crimea region.



Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been particularly troubled about what they see as aggressive moves by Russia. The three smaller states asked NATO to expand its presence in the Baltic as a deterrent to Russia.



In May, Russia announced the deployment of three divisions of troops along its borders to counter NATO's increasing military presence in eastern Europe, a move that contributed to heightened tensions and anxiety in the region.
President Vladimir Putins choice of Olga Vasilyeva as Russias education and science minister is proving to be one of his more controversial cabinet appointments, at least for the countrys human rights activists and some representatives of religious minorities.

Vasilyeva, historian of the Russian Orthodox Church, wrote her doctoral dissertation on Soviet state policy toward the church during 1942-48, when dictator Josef Stalin ruled the Soviet Union.

In late June, while she was still working as deputy chief of the presidential directorate for public projects, Vasilyeva was quoted as saying during an address to a youth forum that the most important thing for teachers of the social sciences and humanities was the worldview platform on which they stand.

It is impossible to build the future without a foundation, and that foundation is patriotism  anything else is unimaginable, she was quoted as saying.

In the same speech, Vasilyeva was highly critical of Ogonyok (Small Flame), the Moscow magazine that became an important proponent of democratic change in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, but she referred positively to Stalin, saying he revived patriotism.

'Symbolic' appointment

It is no surprise that opponents of Russias current president were outraged when Vasilyeva was named education and science minister on August 19.

Andrei Illarionov, a former Putin economic adviser who became a harsh critic, called Vasilyevas appointment a symbolic act. He noted in a blog posting that it took place on the 25th anniversary of the failed attempted coup against reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev by communist hard-liners  and on a day that Putin was visiting Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia called on Vasilyeva to clarify her attitude toward Stalin and his role in the history of the Soviet Union, and "not leave room for ambiguity, because this is important not only for education but for the future of the country."

Nikita Petrov of the Memorial human rights group, which was founded in 1989 to prevent a return to totalitarianism and help rehabilitate victims of the Soviet regime, told VOAs Russian service that while he did not believe that Vasilyevas positive references to Stalin in her June speech were accidental, he also did not believe the Russian government was either seeking to revive Stalinist state terror or to justify it.

'Ideological devices'

At the same time, Petrov said ideological devices like statism and patriotism are being revived, despite the fact that Russias constitution requires a recognition of ideological diversity and prohibits the establishment of any state or obligatory ideology.

As a result, we see that there is an attempt to develop the teaching of history in school not on the basis of an accurate knowledge of the facts, or on the basis of a scientific understanding of these facts, but on the basis of ideological devices like statism, patriotism and even Orthodoxy," he said. "The Kremlin ideologists do not consider history a science, but simply an instrument for nurturing a patriotic consciousness.

However, ignoring the crimes of the Soviet era eventually will lead again to the cynicism that ultimately brought about the Soviet Unions collapse, Petrov said.

Historian Boris Sokolov, who has analyzed Vasilyevas articles and speeches, told VOAs Russian service that they reflect the Russian authorities ambivalent attitude toward the Stalin period. While there is mild official criticism of the eras repression, he said, there is approval of its imperial foreign policy.

Memorial board member Yan Rachinsky told VOA he did not believe that Putin or his prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, were fans of Stalin or inclined to justify repression. Still, he said Russias top leaders did not understand that their system of values was helping to revive Stalinism, which he described as exalting the role of the state in a complete disregard for human life.

Accent on power, not welfare

"And what Mrs. Vasilyeva said before becoming [education and science] minister boiled down to the same thing: Yes, there were victims [under Stalin], but, on the other hand, the territory of the state was increased, the war [World War II] was won, industrialization was carried out  and lots of other similar considerations, Rachinsky said. And it turns out that the new minister of education of Russia believes the main thing for the country is increasing its territory and military power, not the welfare of its citizens.

Meanwhile, the governor of Russias Volgograd region, Andrey Bocharov, announced this week that an airport in the regions capital, Volgograd, would be renamed Stalingrad Airport.

The city of Volgagrad was renamed Stalingrad in honor of the Soviet dictator in 1925. The name was changed back to Volgograd in 1961, eight years after Stalins death.
Police in Burundi arrested eight people Saturday for allegedly circulating defamatory anti-government statements on social media.

The Burundi case is not unique. The list of African countries trying to cut or control social media keeps growing, particularly during elections or periods of unrest.

In Ethiopia, no stranger to restrictions on press freedom, authorities began periodically shutting down access to social media in the Oromia region in March as a response to ongoing protests. In July, Ethiopia blocked social media after university entrance exams were leaked online.

Zimbabwe has used a 2002 law against insulting the president to arrest people for statements made online.

Since July, anti-government activists in Zimbabwe have been using the hashtags #ThisFlag and #Tajamuka to mobilize for demonstrations. The government has branded them as "cyberterrorists" and drafted new legislation to limit such activity.

Angola created the "Angolan Social Communications Regulatory Body," run by the ruling party, to ensure adherence to new media laws.

Meanwhile, across the continent, Mali blocked social media in Bamako this month following the arrest of a popular radio journalist, which led to violent protests that reportedly left several people dead.

Those are just a few recent examples.

Subtle censorship

Other countries may be taking a subtler approach, according to Henry Maina, East Africa director for Article 19, an organization that advocates for freedom of expression.

"Do not rule out situations where Kenya uses filtering, he said, so you have cases of internet slowdown totally, where during certain periods, during our election period in 2013 or during the Garissa terrorist attack, when you just notice that the internet is slower. And that's a different system of just interference, even though it's not as bad as shutdowns."

Adjoa Anyimadu, an Africa research associate at London-based Chatham House, says that these crackdowns affect specific segments of the population.

"It is still a situation where internet penetration is relatively low in Africa, across Africa, so you have to kind of think about the kinds of people who are most engaged in social media in a lot of these countries," Anyimadu said. "In a lot of these places, it's the middle class and it's the younger parts of the population."

Uganda blocked access to social media platforms during its February elections, and then again for the inauguration of its longtime president Yoweri Museveni. But many Ugandans were able to get around it with VPN, or virtual private network software.

Avenue for expression

John Mbaku, a non-resident senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, argues that restricting social media can backfire.

"I think that cracking down on social media is not a very good way to run a country," Mbaku said. "And part of the reason has to be that in most African countries, people have very few avenues to express themselves, especially if they are dissatisfied with the government.

It is important that government give people an opportunity to be able to express themselves so that they wouldn't be frustrated with the government for one thing or another, and would not end up resorting to violence as a way to express themselves," he added.

Government surveillance

Governments are also believed to be doing more surveillance of mobile and internet communications, couched in national security laws.

"With increased terrorism, many governments in Africa have come up with new laws to help them fight terrorism," Mbaku said. "Part of the problem we are seeing now is that some of these governments, not all of them, but some of them, are using those anti-terrorism laws to spy on citizens and gather information that doesn't really help them fight terrorism, but helps them control the population so that they can continue to perpetrate themselves in government indefinitely."

In a report last year, Privacy International detailed the use of spyware by police and military in Uganda to covertly monitor "leading opposition members, activists, elected officials, intelligence insiders and journalists following the 2011 election." The government denied the allegations and refused to open a parliamentary investigation into the matter.

A recent Associated Press report highlighted increased surveillance in South Sudan, noting an interview with a jailed activist who said his interrogators "played recordings of him in intercepted phone conversations and showed him emails he had sent." A government spokesman declined to discuss the issue.

Evolving workarounds

Anyimadu says efforts to stop dissent online may ultimately prove futile.

"The unique thing about technology and social media is that it's constantly evolving, and I'm sure that as ways of shutting down social media evolve, so will ways of getting around those kinds of shutdowns," Anyimadu said.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, just 9.5 percent of the 940 million people living in the world's least developed countries use the internet. But things are changing fast in Africa.

The number of smartphone connections on the continent has doubled in the past two years, according to a 2016 report by GSMA Intelligence, which specializes in global mobile operator analysis. And mobile broadband connections are expected to triple from 2015 to 2020.
South Korean advocates of nuclear deterrence say the government in Seoul must pursue its own nuclear weapons programs to defend against North Koreas growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Song Dae-sung, a political science professor at Kunkuk University in Seoul and author of the book Lets Have Nuclear Power makes the case for a nuclear armed South Korea.

If North Korea becomes a nuclear-armed state and its adversary does not own nuclear power, then the non-nuclear state becomes a slave or hostage of the nuclear state. This is a basic principle of international politics, said Song.

National Assembly Representative Won Yoo-chul, a leader within of the ruling Saenuri Party, has also been a strong nuclear advocate.

Won has put together a study group in the parliamentary National Defense Committee to assess the risks and benefits of South Korea pursuing its own nuclear program. The most efficient way to deter nuclear warfare is to have nukes for our self-defense, Won has said.

Growing threat

Seouls nuclear proponents argue that the international sanctions imposed on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test and most recent long-range rocket launch have so far not deterred Pyongyang.

Since the sanctions were imposed, the North Korean military has accelerated its ballistic missile development by conducting numerous launches, and satellite images show signs that the Norths Yongbyon reactor site has resumed producing plutonium used in nuclear bombs.

On Thursday North Korean state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the most recent submarine-launched ballistic missile test and declared it "the greatest success" that put the country in the "front rank" of nuclear military powers.

Self-reliance

Nuclear proponents say South Korea cannot leave its fate in the hands of China or the U.S.

Beijing has been reluctant to vigorously enforce sanctions, they say, because it needs a stable counterbalance to the superior conventional forces of the South Korean-U.S. Military alliance.

And Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president, has cast doubt on the U.S. policy of providing extended nuclear deterrence in the region by questioning Americas commitment to protect South Korea.

If the U.S. elects a president who makes such an argument, then South Korea needs to own nuclear power all the more, said Song.

Negative consequences

However, South Korean President Park Geun-hye supports the current deterrence and containment regime that involves a close military alliance with the United States and increasing international pressure on the North Korean government.

Opponents of arming South Korea with nuclear weapons say it would unravel the security architecture that has maintained peace in the region for decades.

Those guys arguing for the possession of nuclear weapons are first, shortsighted, second, they do not understand the negative consequences of that kind of move, and third, that would lead to a nuclear domino on the Korean Peninsula in Northeast Asia, said Moon Chung-in, a political science professor with Yonsei University.

While some supporters contend that a nuclear South Korea would exert pressure on North Korea or China, opponents argue it would actually dissipate international support for North Korean sanctions.

Who I think would absolutely be thrilled with such a development would be North Korea, because if the ROK (Republic of Korea) were to pursue its own nuclear deterrence then it would justify everything they have done, said regional security analyst Daniel Pinkston with Troy University in Seoul.

NPT

The United Nations might also impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on South Korea for developing nuclear weapons in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it signed as a non-nuclear weapons state.

North Koreas withdraw from the NPT in 2003 is a major justification for the current sanctions in place against it.

However the Souths nuclear supporters say Seoul could invoke Article 10 of the NPT, which allows for a withdraw from the treaty when extraordinary events jeopardize national interests, by citing the Norths nuclear threat.

A nuclear South Korea could also weaken the close military alliance between Seoul and Washington and the need for large American conventional forces on the Korean Peninsula.

It will be very difficult for the Americans, who are very sympathetic with South Koreas national security conditions, (to) argue that South Korea needs both its own nuclear weapons, and men and women of the United States sacrificing their safety in defense of South Korea, said Bong Young-shik with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies.

Critics argue that Japan would also likely follow suit and acquire its own nuclear weapons, further increasing regional tensions and the potential for nuclear war in Asia.
Already suffering from the earthquake that shook the area Wednesday, a strong 4.3 magnitude aftershock hit the town of Amatrice in central Italy.

The aftershock caused more damage to buildings and sent up plumes of smoke, instilling panic in the town.



Meanwhile, civil protection officials have revised the death toll from Wednesdays 6.2-magnitude earthquake to 241, with 184 in Amatrice, 46 in Arqueta and 11 in Accumoli, the three hardest-hit towns, which are largely ruined. Several hundred have sustained injuries and received treatment.

Authorities said they expected to confirm more deaths as the search operation continue. So far, 215 people have been pulled alive from mounds of rubble. Rescue crews aided by sniffer dogs have been digging through crumbled homes looking for more earthquake survivors.

The civil protection agency said that of the 5,400 people working under its command in the devastating zone, including police, soldiers and firemen, more than half were volunteers.

Italian National Institute of Geophysical and Volcanology (INGV - Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) has registered about 500 aftershocks and said it is closely monitoring the highly seismic area along the Apennine mountain range.

Allied countries, such as Germany, France and Israel all offered to send teams to support the disaster relief, but the Italian government has politely declined, saying its hugely experienced emergency service and army of unpaid workers did not need any back up.

Italy's culture ministry has decreed that proceeds from public museums across Italy this coming Sunday will be used to help restore damaged buildings in the affected areas.

Several churches and other medieval-era buildings were damaged or destroyed in the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck central Italy.



In a statement Thursday, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini urged Italians to visit museums and Italy's numerous archaeological sites Sunday in a concrete sign of solidarity with quake victims.
Gabon President Ali Bongo is facing a tough challenge in his bid for another term in office. The runup to Saturday's vote has been tense, with the opposition questioning Bongo's citizenship and eligibility.

Ten challengers are vying to end nearly 50 years of rule by the Bongo family during the one-round presidential poll. The results may hinge on popular discontent over the state of the Gabonese economy, which relies heavily on oil revenue and has been deeply affected by the drop of oil prices in recent years.

Gabonese economic analyst Mays Mouissi said the state budget has shrunk, so cuts have been made in such areas as investment and credit. "Companies have been laying off staff, and there has been quite a number of social conflicts, he said.

While the opposition blames the governments inability to diversify the economy, Bongo remains confident. He noted that his government had built 700 kilometers of roads and a wider electricity network.

Speaking to VOAs Idrissa Fall earlier this year, Bongo said, "I know what weve achieved, and I believe I can have the support of my fellow citizens.

The son of Gabons longtime leader, Omar Bongo, took over the presidency from his father in 2009 after a disputed election.

Bongos main challenger is Jean Ping, 73, a former African Union Commission chairman. The son of a Chinese immigrant, Ping is a former ally of Bongos father. He was a minister in Omar Bongos governments and even married his daughter. He switched over to the opposition in 2014.

Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume, Pings campaign communication officer, said there had been a major setback in Gabon in terms of individual freedoms, and he also alleged that corruption had been a problem within the government.

Three other major opposition candidates have rallied behind Ping over the last few weeks. Analyst Mouissi said that could be a game-changer.

For once, the opposition has a real chance at winning, he said.

A few weeks ago, the opposition tried to call for the disqualification of Ali Bongos candidacy, saying he'd faked his birth certificate and had been born abroad. Police violently broke up a protest in the capital, and Bongo remains on the ballot.

The electoral campaign ends Friday. Results of the voting are expected next week.
A massive leak of secret data relating to the combat capabilities of submarines being built for the Indian navy by a French shipbuilder could delay their induction as India investigates the huge security breach.

More than 22,000 pages of information relating to Scorpene submarines were made public by The Australian newspaper.

India is not the only one affected by the confidentiality breach. The Scorpene, made by French firm, DCNS, is currently being used by Malaysia and Chile, and Brazil is also due to deploy the sub in 2018.

Defense Minister, Manohar Parrikar, said the leak did not originate from India and suggested that it could be the result of a hack.

The leaks have led to fears that the documents could be an intelligence gold mine for Indias rivals, China and Pakistan.

But Parrikar told the Indian media that We have to first gauge the quantum of the leak and find out links to India.

New Delhi signed the $3.5 billion deal for the submarines in 2005.

The first of the six submarines, which are being built at a dockyard in Mumbai, was scheduled to go into service by the end of the year, giving a much-needed boost to Indias depleted underwater capability.

But Abhijit Singh, head of maritime policy initiative at New Delhis Observer Research Foundation, points out that this could be pushed back as the navy will have to very carefully assess the leaked information to see how big a security concern it poses.

He said that a lot of information that has been revealed is sensitive. For instance, the information on stealth, the frequencies, the noise that the propeller makes, depths to which the submarines can operate and all of that, which is really crucial data, which should not have been revealed. he said.

However he and other naval analysts believe that while the leaks are damaging, it did not mean the huge defense project would have to be shelved.

Uday Bhaskar, a defense analyst and director of the Society for Policy Studies in New Delhi, said the jury is still out on how critical is the data that has been revealed. It appears that the documents pertain to earlier generation of the Scorpene, said Bhaskar.

Indian officials also downplayed concerns about the leak, saying several specifications had been altered since then.

The Australian newspaper described them as an Edward Snowden-sized leak," referring to the classified papers the former government contractor disclosed from the U.S. National Security Agency.

The six submarines are crucial for the Indian navy.

The Indian navy is in a very dire need of replenishment as far as its submarine fleet is concerned. The numbers are shrinking and the Indian navy has not been able to induct a fresh submarine for almost 15 years, Bhaskar said.

A spokeswoman for the French firm DCNS described the leak as "a serious matter" and said French authorities would formally investigate.

The company is also building advanced submarines for Australia, but details of those were not part of the leak.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on Thursday that Syrian Kurdish forces have begun withdrawing to the east of the Euphrates River, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Ankara demanded the pullback after Turkey sent forces across the border to take the Islamic State-held town of Jarablus on Wednesday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Islamic State fighters put up "very little resistance" before fleeing to neighboring villages in the face of the Turkish onslaught.

U.S.-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, fighters also reportedly have begun pulling back from the town of Manbij, captured from IS several weeks ago, in a move to comply with Turkish demands.

However, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told Arab media that YPG fighters were still battling on the western side of the Euphrates River and had even captured some ground.

Kurdish militia fighters seized control of at least six villages northeast of the town of Manbij and southeast of Jarablus, and they are located west of the Euphrates River, Rahman said.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported IS militants attacked Kurdish militia positions Thursday south of Manbij. It was not immediately clear, however, if that was responsible for complicating plans for a Kurdish pullback.

Syrian government media accused Turkey of behind-the-scenes support for the IS group, which it claims withdrew from the border town of Jarablus in response to Turkish demands. Syrian media notes the IS withdrawal occurred quickly and no mines or booby-traps were placed, in contrast with the bitter and bloody battles for Manbij and the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi.

Arab media reported Thursday that 10 more Turkish tanks had entered Syrian territory, bringing the number of tanks on Syrian soil to 30. There were also reports of more Turkish heavy armor being shipped by rail to the south from Ankara and Istanbul.

While visiting Turkey on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden warned Syrian Kurdish forces that they will lose U.S. support if they do not withdraw to the east of the Euphrates.
Beijing has barred three Taiwanese political figures from attending a forum in Hong Kong, according to event organizers.

Representatives of the CS Culture Foundation, a prominent Hong Kong-based organizer of cross-strait forums, said the China Liaison Office in Hong Kong announced Tuesday that three speakers would be denied entry to the city.

One of the scheduled speakers, Yang Wei-chung, a former spokesman for the Kuomintang party, said he was denied a visa at the last minute, even though it had been approved.

The two other speakers  political scientist Fan Shih-ping, who was a member of a consultative committee of Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, and lawmaker Kuo Jeng-liang, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party  described last-minute denials that came without explanation.

'Inappropriate' selection

Susie Chiang Su-hui, chairwoman of the CS Culture Foundation, said Beijing officials told her Yang's involvement with a government committee tasked with investigating assets of Taiwans pro-mainland China party made him an inappropriate selection as guest speaker.

The other two speakers, Chiang said, were rejected based on prior expressions of support for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's Democratic Progressive Party.

I had thought Hong Kong is ruled by the people of Hong Kong, and they enjoy a high degree of autonomy," Yang posted on Facebook in response to the situation, expressing hope that the ban would be lifted quickly. He also vowed the ban would not force him to "change words and deeds."

While Chiang said Beijing officials hadn't said whether the ban represented a new policy or how long it would be implemented, reports from Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office indicated the ban was set to apply to anyone officially associated with Tsai's DPP.

The biannual forum on cross-strait relations has always included politicians and scholars from both major Taiwanese parties, Chiang said. Even during the administration of former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, a leading advocate of Taiwanese independence, no speakers were denied entry, she added.

No comment on 'individual cases'

At a Tuesday news conference, a Hong Kong government spokesman refused to address the banning of the three speakers, saying he could not comment on individual cases.

Last week, amid rumors that Taiwanese legislator Hung Tzu-yung was planning to visit, a government official said advocates for Taiwan independence are not welcome.

Hung's New Power Party, which emerged from Taiwan's 2014 Sunflower Student Movement, advocates Taiwan independence along with a range of civil and political liberties.

Chou Yung-hong, former deputy director of Taipei's DPP propaganda unit, told VOA on Wednesday that he could not say whether the ban indicated a deterioration of the cross-strait relations, but he said that "it is not helpful to resolving the impasse."

The forum intends to find a way to break the deadlock, but Beijing wont even let them go to Hong Kong, which is the basic step and the precondition," said Chou, who blamed Beijing for creating the deadlock by asking Taiwan to abide by the 1992 consensus, which DPP officials reject.

Taiwan's Wu Shi-huai, a retired deputy army general, told VOA the ban's impact on cross-strait relations was apparent, but that he did not expect Beijing to impose a total block on DPP officials.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump brought out a special guest at a rally Wednesday night in Jackson, Mississippi -- former British Independence Party chief Nigel Farage.

Farage was a leader of the so-called Brexit campaign, in which British voters chose to pull the country out of the European Union in a June referendum.

Trump was a strong supporter of Brexit, calling it Britain's independence day. As he trotted Farage onto the stage in Jackson, Trump said it is time for the U.S. to declare its independence from what he said is corporate control of the government, special interests and a rigged system.

Trump's campaign has said he plans to modify his immigration proposals in which he had promised to bar Muslims from coming to the U.S., while deporting millions of others who entered the country illegally.

He told Fox News he will "soften" his immigration proposals by working with illegals without granting them amnesty. But there was no sign of any softening Wednesday night.

He accused Hillary Clinton of supporting policies to help illegal immigrants while ignoring U.S. citizens and embracing globalism.

Earlier Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, Trump said he would impose tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. to "level the field on trade."

China has to understand "we're not playing games anymore," he said.

Clinton finally responded to Trump's repeated allegations of improprieties stemming from her affiliation with the Clinton Foundation during her time as Secretary of State. During a nationally televised interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper -- her first in almost a month -- Clinton called Trump's comments "ridiculous," and said her "work as Secretary of State was not influenced by outside sources."

Emails recently released from Clinton's tenure at the State Department appear to show how donors to the foundation asked for and occasionally received face time with Clinton or her staff at the State Department. Trump has seized on the issue and accused Hillary and former President Bill Clinton of setting up the charity as a "business to profit from public office."

An Associated Press report from Monday shows that more than half of the non-government meetings Clinton took as Secretary of State were with donors to the Clinton Foundation. Though the meetings did not appear to violate legal agreements, Clinton acknowledged the appearance of impropriety and dismissed it.

"I know there's a lot of smoke. There's no fire," she said during the CNN interview.

Also Wednesday, Hillary Clinton's campaign proposed a Public Health Rapid Response Fund, which would give the president authority to release millions of dollars to immediately tackle a health emergency without having to wait for Congress to approve the money.

Democrats have complained that Republicans went on summer recess without authorizing the millions of dollars the White House wants to fight a Zika outbreak.

Zika has turned up in Florida and federal health experts warn that the hot and sticky Gulf states, where mosquitoes thrive, could be the next ground zero for an outbreak.
Republican Donald Trump is continuing to offer voters a more nuanced stance on U.S. immigration policies if he is elected president, rejecting his one-time call for mass deportation for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country but not granting them citizenship either.

Trump, a real estate mogul making his first run for elected office, told Fox News late Wednesday, "No citizenship. Let me go a step further  they'll pay back taxes, they have to pay taxes. There's no amnesty as such [for entering the country illegally], but we work with them."

In a series of interviews this week, Trump has abandoned his call during the months-long campaign for the Republican presidential nomination for a "deportation force" to return the undocumented migrants to their home countries. Instead, he proposes quickly sending convicted criminals out of the U.S., while considering other individual immigration disputes in court hearings, much like the current U.S. policy.

"Now, everybody agrees we get the bad ones out," Trump said. "But when I go through and I meet thousands and thousands of people on this subject, and I've had very strong people come up to me, really great, great people come up to me, and they've said, 'Mr. Trump, I love you, but to take a person who's been here for 15 or 20 years and throw them and their family out, it's so tough, Mr. Trump,' I have it all the time. It's a very, very hard thing."

WATCH: Trump on his relationship with African-American community

Build a wall



Trump has continued his signature vow to build a massive wall along the southern U.S. border to thwart the stream of migrants entering the country from Mexico and Central America, a campaign pledge that critics have derided as impractical but one that drew wide support from Republican voters.

"We are building the wall and Mexico will pay for it," Trump told cheering supporters Thursday at a rally in the northeastern state of New Hampshire.

He accused his Democratic opponent in the November 8 presidential election, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, of trying to smear his supporters as racist for favoring enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

"If you want to have a strong border, it doesn't make you a racist; it makes you smart," Trump said. "It makes you an American."

Trump and Clinton traded barbs Wednesday in their fight for minority voters  African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians  the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. electorate. National surveys show Clinton with a wide advantage over Trump among all minority voters, while he retains a much smaller edge among white voters.

At a rally in the southern city of Jackson, Mississippi, Trump disparaged her as "a bigot who sees people of color only as votes."

Clinton: Trump is 'peddling bigotry'



Clinton, in an interview on CNN, said Trump "is taking a hate movement mainstream," contending that he is "very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia." She is contending Thursday that Trump has embraced a "disturbing alt-right" political philosophy that presents "a divisive and dystopian view of America" that is at odds with reality.

A new Pew Research Center survey shows that Americans are divided on immigration policies, but more say that improved border security and a path to citizenship should both be pursued, rather than each one individually.

The poll of more than 2,000 adults surveyed showed 76 percent agreed that undocumented immigrants are as hard-working and honest as U.S. citizens, while two-thirds said they are no more likely than citizens to commit serious crimes.

The survey also found that 61 percent opposed Trump's build-a-wall plan.

Overall, Pew found that 29 percent favored creating a way for immigrants already here illegally to become citizens if they meet certain requirements, while 24 percent said the U.S. should focus on better border security and stronger enforcement of immigration laws.

A 45 percent plurality, however, said both ideas should be given equal priority.

National polls continue to show Clinton, seeking to become the country's first female president, leading Trump, a one-time television reality show host.

An aggregate of surveys compiled by realclearpolitics.com says Clinton has an average 6-percentage point advantage; however, the

latest poll of likely voters, conducted in recent days by Quinnipiac University, has Clinton ahead by 51 to 41 percent.

In a four-way race that includes Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party contender Jill Stein, Clinton's lead narrows. The survey has Clinton at 45 percent, Trump 38, Johnson 10 and Stein 4.

Voters continue to view both candidates unfavorably, but him more than her. The survey said those questioned had an unfavorable view of Clinton by a 53 to 41 percent margin, but Trump by a 61-33 percent split.
Two Hutu women were dragged out of a minibus, lynched and their bodies set on fire by a crowd in eastern Congo, the local mayor said Wednesday, as inter-ethnic tensions in the region surge in the wake of massacres that have killed hundreds of civilians.

The crowd in the town of Butembo, which is dominated by members of the Nande ethnic group, said the two ethnic Hutu women who were traveling by minibus in North Kivu province were militants, mayor Sikuli Uvasaka Makala told local radio.

Dozens have died in tit-for-tat killings by ethnic militia this year.

Ethnic rivalries, invasions by Rwanda and Uganda, and competition for land and minerals among eastern Congo's dozens of rebel groups have stoked conflict over the last two decades.

"I condemn the death of these two women," Uvasaka said. "I insist: Stop carrying out popular justice. Do you want to put the Nande community at risk?"

Migration by Hutu farmers from North Kivu through predominantly Nande areas toward Ituri province in search of more fertile land has fueled tensions, Otto Bahizi, a Hutu tribal leader from nearby Rutshuru territory, told Reuters.

The government blames the massacres over the last two years that have killed more than 700 civilians on Ugandan Islamist rebels, but independent analysts say other armed groups are involved and ethnic rivalries likely play a role.

About 50 civilians were hacked to death this month outside Beni, some 50 km (30 miles) north of Butembo.

Hundreds of young demonstrators again took to the streets of Butembo on Wednesday to protest against the government's failure to stop the killings. The army fired into the air and arrested about 15 people, a Reuters witness said.
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye is urging the country's diaspora to continue to push for democracy in Uganda.

I think that they have two or three roles. One is to continue their engagement with the governments of the countries where they stay and indeed to solicit their support in their engagement with the regime at home, and also their engagement with those of us who are challenging the status quo, Besigye told VOA Daybreak Africa by phone while on a visit to Britain, where he will meet members of the diaspora.

He travels later this month to the United States.

Besigye was released on bail in July after months of detention and house arrest following the February presidential poll. He came in second in the vote. The opposition said there were voting irregularities, and Besigye called for an independent audit of results. He later declared himself president and was charged with treason.

The poll saw longtime president Yoweri Museveni win a fifth term in office.

The government has repeatedly accused Besigye and the opposition of trying to destabilize the country, something Besigye denies.

Our struggle is in fact very, very clearly a nonviolent struggle, Besigye said.

In the run up to the poll, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International expressed concern about police brutality, restrictions on the right to assemble and arrests of opposition leaders.

A group of private lawyers has brought suit against Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura and seven of his commanders for alleged police brutality against Besigye supporters in July.
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.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed on a plan to restart peace talks in Yemen with Gulf Arab States and the United Nations, he told reporters in the Saudi city of Jeddah Thursday.

"This war needs to end and it needs to end as quickly as possible," he said after meeting with regional leaders, a British minister and the U.N. envoy to Yemen.

He said participants in the talks "agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations," and that Yemen's dominant Houthi group must cease fighting across the border with Saudi Arabia and work to form a unity government with its domestic foes.

The United Nations human rights chief Thursday called for an independent international investigation of abuses in Yemen that include military attacks on residential areas and medical facilities.

In a statement, U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said Yemeni civilians have suffered unbearably over the years because of armed conflicts.

And, he said, ... they continue to suffer, absent any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity. Such a manifestly, protractedly unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community.

UN Rights Report



A report mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council and released by the U.N. Human Rights Office Thursday details a number of allegations of human rights abuses committed in Yemen over the past 18 months that have led to thousands of deaths and left millions of people without proper food.

The report shows examples of military attacks on marketplaces and medical facilities, sniper attacks on civilians and the use of cluster bombs that could possibly be in violation of international law.

In numerous situations where military targets could be identified, there remain serious concerns as to whether the incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects that could be expected from the attack were not excessive in relation to the anticipated concrete and direct military advantage apparently sought, the report said.

The United Nations estimates nearly 3,800 Yemeni civilians have been killed and more than 6,700 wounded since March 2015. That is when the Saudi Arabian coalition, which supports the government, began its bombing campaign against the Houthi rebels.

The report says the escalating fighting is taking a devastating toll on the civilian population. It reports 7.6 million people, including 3 million women and children, are suffering from malnutrition and at least 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

The chief of the Middle East and North Africa section of the High Commissioners Office, Mohammad Ali Alnsour, tells VOA all sides in the conflict are involved in serious violations and abuses.

There was targeting of civilian objects protected by the international law like markets, like wedding ceremonies, hospitals, facilities that really under the international humanitarian law, is protected and have special kind of protection, legal protection, Alnsour said.

The report documents several attacks in which no military objective could be identified. In numerous situations where military targets could be identified, it says the minimal gains from these attacks cannot justify the serious loss of life and injury to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

High Commissioner Zeid says the perpetuation of the conflict and its consequences on the population in Yemen can no longer be tolerated by the international community.

He is calling for an end to the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for the violations and abuses against the civilians. He says those found guilty must be held accountable.
NATO special operations forces, whom world leaders say have not been in a combat role since the end of 2014, are still out in the field with Afghan forces almost nightly, a U.S. general in Afghanistan said Thursday.

On average, we [NATO] probably have somebody out every night or every other night at some place in the country, U.S. Brig. General Charles Cleveland told reporters Thursday at the Pentagon. Cleveland, a NATO spokesman, was speaking remotely from Kabul.

About 10 percent of all Afghan missions are advised by NATO forces, including the recent high-profile mission to stop an attack on the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) and the deadly operation near Lashkah Gah in volatile Helmand Province where U.S. Staff Sgt. Matthew Thompson was killed by a bomb earlier this week.

Well put NATO forces out with that Afghan organization as they move to an objective, [but] we dont put NATO forces on the objective, Cleveland explained. He said NATO forces are instructed to stop at the last safe location as the Afghans move forward to conduct the operation.

For example, during the AUAF attack Wednesday in Kabul, the general said the Afghan Ministry of Interior conducted the mission on campus while NATO counterparts advised. While he could not be certain whether any NATO forces set foot on the campus ground, he said none of the NATO advisers were in an area where there was risk.

The frequency of the NATO operational tempo along in the height of the Afghan fighting season, however, creates a dangerous situation for NATO forces assisting their Afghan allies.

In the recent mission near Lashkar Gah, U.S. forces were helping Afghan allies clear the area of Taliban so conventional forces could move in. In this case, U.S. Staff Sgt. Thompson encountered an explosive device while traveling on foot to help advise the Afghan clearing mission.

Another 10 percent of Afghan missions are enabled by NATO forces, Cleveland said, meaning NATO will help them plan and provide ISR while the Afghans go outside the wire to conduct a mission.

The remaining 80 percent of the Afghan missions are conducted without NATO forces.
Police in Zimbabwe have arrested several people drawn from various church denominations protesting against the current harsh social and economic environment in the country.

At the same time, opposition leaders say they are going ahead with a nationwide protest tomorrow against lack of electoral reforms in Zimbabwe ahead of the 2018 general elections. They claim that the current electoral system favors President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party, which has been in power for more than 36 years.

The Zapu congress kicked off today with opposition leaders gracing the event in a show of solidarity amid moves by MDC formations, Zimbabwe People First led by Juice Mujuru and several others to form a formidable coalition to take on President Robert Mugabe's party in the 2018 general polls.

Nelson Chamisa of the MDC-T speaks out about his controversial appointment as one of the vice presidents of the opposition party.

And we will take a closer look at the impact of current public protests in Zimbabwe.

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 of the Womens Round Table Marvellous Mhlanga Nyahuye and Praxedes Jeremiah will be talking with listeners about rape, which is devastating girls and women in Zimbabwe.

Participate by sending your messages on our WhatsApp number 001 202 465 0318. The number again 001 202 465 0318. Please note that we are livestreaming on all Studio 7 Facebook pages. Stay tuned!!!!!!
Itai Dzamara disappeared 17 months ago when his protest movement, Occupy Africa Unity Square, urged President Robert Mugabe to step down for allegedly failing to step down.

Similar protests demanding the presidents exit and for government to tackle serious issues affecting the nation have been staged by Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign, Pastor Evan Mawarires hashtag this flag campaign, hashtag this gown and several others.

Church leader Ancellimo Magaya and his followers on Thursday protested in Harare demanding that government should address the current harsh social and economic situation in the country.

Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign is staging at the end of this month what is calls the mother of all protests to demand the resignation of President Mugabe.

But what has been the impact of these protests in bringing social, economic and political transformation in Zimbabwe? For perspective, Studio 7 reached Zanu PF lawmaker Joseph Tshuma and Thabitha Khumalo, an MDC legislator.

Khumalo said protests are rattling President Robert Mugabes ruling party, which has been in power for 36 years.

People are doing all this because Zanu PF does not want to address what is affecting them. Zanu PF is refusing to listen to what people are saying. These demonstrations started in a slow pace after the disappearance of Itai Dzamara (leader of Occupy Africa Africa Unity Square). They decided not to listen to what Dzamara was saying 

But Tshuma dismissed these remarks saying that the Movement for Democratic Change formations and other opposition parties are now fond of blaming Zanu PF for all problems affecting Zimbabwe.

 The problem that we have is that we have MDC blaming us for everything. Now they are even blaming us for abducting Dzamara. But the honest truth is that there were people who were stronger than Itai Dzamara who did worse (things) than Dzamara and there are still there, including Thabitha Khumalo  She knows what she is capable of doing and what she has been doing but has never disappeared.

I never knew Itai Dzamara until when he was said to have disappeared. Why would we be in charge of making his disappearance happen .. Why not Thabitha Khumalo? Why not Morgan Tsvangirai? Why not Job Sikhala? Why not Tendai Biti? Why not people who really matter who have really caused shivers down our spine? Lets be honest. Let us now blame everything on Zanu PF. Even now when the rains dont fall they will say its Zanu PF. When there is a cold spell is Zanu PF.

Some of the protests have been led by Pastor Evan Mawarire of #thisflag movement, Tajamuka-Sesijikile Campaign, #thisflag, the MDC-T and several other organizations mostly calling on President Mugabe to step down for allegedly failing to run Zimbabwe.
The earthquake that shook central Italy on Wednesday killed at least 120 people and injured more than 360, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.

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, 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 53 of the dead were in Amatrice alone and about 150 people were still unaccounted for.

"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.

Wednesday's quake was not far from the city of L'Aquila, hit by a 2009 quake that killed at least 300 people.

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.
Police in Harare on Thursday arrested the leader of the Devine Destiny Network Bishop Ancelimo Magaya and several other people following an attempt to stage a demonstration that was crushed by law-enforcing agents.

Heavily-armed police thronged the venue where Bishop Magaya and members of the Devine Destiny were intending to gather for the protest. By the time the would-be protesters arrived at the corner of Julius Nyerere and Jason Moyo roads for the demonstration, police were chasing away everyone in their sight from that venue.

When Bishop Magaya and five others emerged at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere roads, holding a banner demanding an address of the countrys problems, the police immediately arrested them and bundled them into a police truck that was on stand-by.

Newsday journalist Obey Manayiti and freelance reporter Robert Tapfumaneyi, who were covering the protest, were briefly detained by the police. They were released with no charges.

At the time of going on air, it could not be ascertained whether Bishop Magaya and his co-accused had been formally charged. Police spokesperson Charity Charamba said she could not comment because she was yet to be briefed about the case.

Studio 7 could not manage to speak to members of Magayas Devine Destiny Network.

Some opposition parties have condemned the arrest of Bishop Magaya saying demonstrations were provided for under Zimbabwes new national constitution.

Jealous Mawarire, spokesperson of the Zimbabwe People First party led by Joice Mujuru, said the police must exercise restraint when dealing with church organizations.

Mawarires sentiments were echoed by Douglas Mwonzora, general secretary of the MDC formation led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Bishop Magaya and his colleagues wanted to demonstrate against what his organization called President Mugabes misrule, police brutality and the worsening economic situation in the country.
All is set for an opposition political parties demonstration Friday in Zimbabwe to press for comprehensive electoral reforms before the 2018 general polls despite polices move to confine the protest to the outskirts of Harare central business district.

Convener of the political parties under the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), Didymus Mutasa of the Zimbabwe People First party, told journalists the march to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will go ahead as planned.

Mutasa, who was flanked by some NERA principals, former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of MDC-T and Jacob Ngarivhume of Transform Zimbabwe, said the march will culminate with the handing of the petition to ZEC and an address by NERA leaders at the electoral bodys headquarters.

He said opposition political parties had realized that at the centre of the current national problems facing Zimbabwe was a crisis of legitimacy, hence the demand for electoral reforms and a clear road map to the next election.

Mutasa said the parties want the Southern African Development Community to support Zimbabweans in their demand for free and fair elections.

Though the political parties have complied with the legal requirement of notifying the police about the march, police said with an expected crowd of 150,000, they were discouraging the parties from marching in Harare city centre.

The police claimed that the protesters would disrupt human and road traffic.

Despite those concerns, police officer commanding Harare Central district, Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama, said the parties could go ahead with their move to hand over the petition to ZEC.

But chairman of the NERA legal team, Douglas Mwonzora, said it was surprising that police were concerned about an expected 150,000 people for the march when Zanu PF had held its so-called one million man march in the city a few months ago.

As a result, Mwonzora said they have approached the courts to make sure police do not interfere with their march.

Opposition parties worry that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is failing in its constitutional mandate to register voters and administer elections. They also accuse it of bias in favor of the ruling Zanu PF party.
Police have released the leader of the Devine Destiny Network Bishop Ancelimo Magaya and several other people who were arrested Thursday after attempting to stage a peaceful demonstration to express their concern over the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe.

In an interview with Studio 7 last night, Magaya said they were told to go home without any charges preferred against them.

Heavily-armed police arrested the would-be protesters and bundled them into a police truck and ferried them to Harare Central Police Station.

Newsday journalist Obey Manayiti and freelance reporter Robert Tapfumaneyi, who were covering the protest, were briefly detained by the police. They were released with no charges.

Police spokesperson Charity Charamba said she could not comment because she was yet to be briefed about the case.

Some opposition parties have condemned the arrest of Bishop Magaya saying demonstrations were provided for under Zimbabwes new national constitution.

Jealous Mawarire, spokesperson of the Zimbabwe People First party led by Joice Mujuru, said the police must exercise restraint when dealing with church organizations.

Mawarires sentiments were echoed by Douglas Mwonzora, general secretary of the MDC formation led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Bishop Magaya and his colleagues wanted to demonstrate against what his organization called President Mugabes misrule, police brutality and the worsening economic situation in the country.
Emma Donoghue. Photo: Nina Subin

The success of Emma Donoghues 2010 novel Room  about a mother and child living in horrific captivity  turned the Irish-Canadian novelist into a star, one whos burning even brighter following last years Oscar-nominated adaptation of that book. So its fair to say that a great many readers are hungry for her upcoming novel, The Wonder. Well, maybe hungry isnt the right word. The new book spins the strange tale of an 11-year-old Catholic girl, Anna ODonnell, living in a small Irish town in the 1850s who becomes a media sensation when she refuses to eat, claiming shes surviving on manna from Heaven. A hard-nosed nurse from London is sent to find out whats really going on. Here, Donoghue explains why children are stronger than they seem.

One of the amazing things about children is how unquestioningly they get on with whatever their peculiar circumstances are. They dont know any better. They dont have a wider context. All those unspoken rules that constitute a taboo, manners, or religion, and children can memorize any set of them. Theyre very, very good at memorizing the rules that go with each situation. Theyre so unlike adults. Of course, they gradually become more like adults, but theyre at their strangest when theyre youngest. They just dont see things the way we do, and often they attempt to apply wonderful clear logic to our very, very messy world, and there we are trying to explain why its okay to break some rules but not others. We adults sound so inconsistent and hypocritical. Theyre so mentally and spiritually pure, with their consistency and their principles, and were constantly trying to explain and apologize for a muddy, muddy world to them.

When I was researching Room, I did a lot of thinking about how a child could come to accept a bizarre situation because to him it was normal. I wanted to capture the same quality about this child in an intensely religious peasant family. And the first case of a fasting girl I came across was the story of Sarah Jacob in Wales around the 1860s. What got me started with the Sarah Jacob story in particular was the detail of nurses being sent down to watch her. As soon as the nurses were sent and the media got involved, that kind of tightened the noose around her because shed been sneaking food. Paying close attention to this girls fast changed the circumstances. That fascinated me  that by watching a situation, you can actually change it and make it worse.

If I try to explain why Anna ODonnell would have done what she did, I draw comparisons with reality TV, or people posting videos of themselves on YouTube doing dares, or, you know, epic fails. You can definitely see the idea of getting famous for starving yourself as another form of anorexia, but you can also compare it with other horrors of popular culture. And one reason I set my story in 19th-century Ireland was that very recently before the moment about which Im writing, Ireland had been laid waste by starvation. The idea of voluntary starvation seemed particularly interesting to me set against that context of dying from involuntary starvation. Starvation used to be a natural part of the human condition. It was the norm. As soon as you get societies where there are enough calories to go around, theres a particular fascination with those who choose not to partake of all those calories. To us, that seems freakish.

*This article appears in the August 22, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.
Joe Seo as David Cho in Spa Night. Photo: Strand Releasing

For many Korean-Americans, the sauna is a familiar place. Its where you first went with your parents, where you got hot in the jacuzzi and then cold in the cold bath, and felt the burn of the rough washcloth that sloughed off a layer of skin and that left you red, raw, and new again. In director Andrew Ahns Spa Night, a coming-of-age tale of a gay Korean-American teenager in Los Angeles, that space takes on another meaning. The spa is also a place where, with just a glance, moments can slide from cultural to erotic, Ahn tells me over lunch. Cruising takes on an ephemeral, almost melancholic tone, with the showers saturated in soft, electric blues. Ive talked about the cruising sequences as ghost stories, Ahn says. Men come in and out; you may see them again, but likely you wont. Its what makes it kind of sexy. Its also what makes it daring and adventurous.

To watch Spa Night, currently playing at the Metrograph theater in New York, is to be fully immersed in L.A.s Koreatown. The film stars Joe Seo as David Cho, an 18-year-old Korean-American whose parents, played by Korean actors Youn Ho Cho and Haerry Kim, manage a small restaurant. David is a good kid, but in many ways hes being set up to fail: at the SATs, at attending college, and within his place in the heterosexual family unit. And so too, are his parents: Their small family restaurant is floundering, and theres intense parental guilt over not providing enough for their only child. David picks up the night shift at a Korean spa as a way to earn some money, but really as a way to explore his sexuality.

Theoretically, the spa is where Davids identities as both a gay man and a Korean-American can join together, but its also there that they conflict. Hes a part of both worlds  the gay, cruising one, and the familial Korean one  and neither. If you go to a Korean spa, if youre not Korean, people kind of assume that youre gay and there to hook up, says Ahn, who discovered that K-town saunas were used as cruising zones for gay men later in his adulthood. But then if you are Korean, people assume that youre not gay, so for David, whos both gay and Korean, what is that experience like?

In the end, David does hook up with someone: another Korean-American guy, a decision that Ahn says is a logical extension of the idea that what David is looking for is much more than just sex. I decided that the guy that David ultimately hooks up with should be Korean because theres something beyond just the physical attraction, Ahn says. Davids sexual exploration was ultimately going to lead to not just physical desire, but a gay identity, wanting to have a community.

Remarkable to some, Davids desire is unconcerned with whiteness. Its really fascinating to me, especially with some gay press, people are asking, Oh, can you talk about how the gay community is racist towards gay Asian-Americans? Ahn says. I can talk about that, but the movie doesnt have anything to do with it and that to me is kind of the point.

In an attempt to make the movie more conventionally legible, a potential producer suggested that Ahn write in a white surrogate. They were just asking, will you write a [new] character? Could there be a white love interest? Any opportunity for a bigger actor? Ahn says. They wanted a vehicle. They wanted Piper [the white lead character in Orange Is the New Black]. They wanted Ewan McGregor for Don Cheadles Miles Davis movie. What Hollywood producers saw as a savvy business decision, Ahn didnt see in his film, which he always intended would have an entirely Korean-American lead cast and dialogue in both English and Korean.

Its trying to define a true and authentic queer Korean-American identity without having to talk about whiteness, says Ahn. Is there a way to do that? For me, its a film like Spa Night, its nights like Gameboi at Rage in West Hollywood. Theres an authentic Asian-American queer culture. I could have made a film that talks about what it means to be a gay Asian-American man in a very predominantly white gay culture, but thats not what I wanted to talk about. Instead, what Ahn has created is another possibility for gay Korean-Americans: an origin story, one that, with some struggle, allows them to emerge renewed and rejuvenated. Just like at the spa.
the national interest

This Is Not the Political Violence That Should Scare Us

This Is Not the Political Violence That Should Scare Us
The artworks on exhibit at Baylor Universitys Martin Museum of Art suggest  literally  that art sometimes is more than the sum of its parts.

The some 20,000 clay spheres that Steve Hilton has arranged in piles and linear curls on the Gallery I floor. Laurie Wellers 56-square grid of geometrically flavored lines, shapes and patches of acrylic color. Nearly 200 translucent plastic fabric panels of Leisa Richs Play With Me. . . No, Really, PLAY WITH ME that, true to its title, encourages viewers to rearrange and layer, conceivably resulting in a new artwork with each set of museum visitors.

Those three pieces join three others by Brooke White, Esteban Delgado and Greg Reuter in the exhibit multiplicity, which opens this week and continues through Sept. 25 with an opening reception and gallery talk from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

The show comprises six regional artists who interpret the exhibits title multiplicity, formally defined as the quality or state of being multiple or various or the number of components in a system. Math also comes to mind as pieces seem to illustrate words like iteration, intervals, translation and interpolation.

The six works fill the museums Gallery I, and its hard to overlook Hiltons floor installation Black and White #28 and its connected piles of black and white clay marbles set near the gallerys entrance. The prospect of thousands of clay spheres on a portion of the museum floor, where inattentive visitors could accidentally kick and scatter them, raised staff members eyebrows, but director Allison Syltie said Hilton, who came to the Martin to install his work, was adamant about not cordoning it off with a border or barrier.

While works by Hilton, Rich and Weller explore multiplicity through scores, even thousands, of individual parts, others rely on simplicity. Whites Points East, 5:15-5:50 capture the final minutes of a fading sunset in five large photographs. Reuters resin castings Collected suggests objects found on the beach while Delgado assembles four graphic forms from black tangram shapes on a light blue background in Tangrams I-IV.

Four of the artists in multiplicity  Weller, Rich, Reuter and Delgado  will be at Thursdays opening reception to talk about their work.

The Martin Museums Gallery II also has new work to show as the summers popular exhibition of work from the museums permanent collection has been freshened and retooled for the fall, with selections aimed at the different disciplines within the art department, said education coordinator Jennifer Spry.

One of the museums newest acquisitions, a print of Ansel Adams photograph The White Church, Hornitos, California, 1948, goes on display for the first time

A newly reframed print by the 17th century artist Aegidius Sadeler the Younger joins others from such famed printmakers as Albrecht Durer, Rembrandt van Rijn and Francisco Goya in a grouping that not only shows a range of styles, but provides a short history of printing techniques from etching and lithography to mezzotints.

multiplicity

When, where: Through Sept. 25 at Martin Museum of Art, Baylor Universitys Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Opening reception and gallery talk, 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday.

Admission: Free.
Actors singing actresses showstoppers, young women filling old mens roles, seniors playing ingenues, actors of color taking parts usually cast for whites  welcome to the topsy-turvy world of miscast productions.

Sparked in large measure by Broadway actors flip-flopping parts in MisCast Broadway fundraisers, the Waco Civic Theatre will try its hand in a MisCast Cabaret on Friday night at the Waco Hippodrome.

Nearly 20 WCT actors and supporters will perform in the cabaret, with performances at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

The production will sample such Broadway musicals as The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, Matilda the Musical, Newsies, Waitress, Dreamgirls, In The Heights, Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin, Into the Woods, Cinderella and The Addams Family Musical.

Director Phillip Diaz said roughly a quarter of the production were performer-song pairings heard at auditions, with the balance created and produced after auditions.

WCT executive director Eric Shepard said the cabaret revue format adds a little flexibility to the WCTs season offerings. Actors can perform material without being locked into the weeks of rehearsal for a typical stage play or musical. Performers can sing from musicals such as Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera or Newsies whose whole forms are too expensive to produce or whose general audience appeal is limited, Shephard said.

The change in locale enables food and drink service  hence the cabaret of the title as well as provides a different space for slightly racier material. Diaz and Shephard characterize the MisCast Cabaret as PG-13 equivalent.

While most of the MisCast Cabaret acts are solos or duets, some of the larger ensemble numbers, such as an all-female King of New York from Newsies, an all-male Stepsisters Lament from Cinderella and a flip-flopped quartet on The Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton, had to adjust to the Hippodromes narrower stage, Diaz said.
A Parker County man faces an automatic life prison term after his conviction Thursday for sexually abusing a young family member.

Jurors in Wacos 19th State District Court deliberated about two and a half hours before convicting Erlis Joseph Chaisson of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child.

The family member, who is now a 27-year-old state law enforcement officer, and a 31-year-old former Louisiana woman both testified that Chaisson sexually abused them when they both were 8 years old and living in Louisiana.

The family member told jurors that Chaisson also assaulted her after her family moved to a home near China Spring. She said the abuse continued for about four years.

Chaisson pleaded guilty to molesting a child in Louisiana in the other womans case. That conviction, plus the one Thursday, make him eligible for an automatic life prison term, officials said.

In punishment-phase testimony, which will continue Friday morning, a deputy from Parker County testified that Chaisson is a registered sex offender in his county.

Judge Ralph Strother revoked Chaissons bail and ordered him jailed after his conviction.

Indecency counts

After both sides closed their cases Thursday morning, the judge granted a defense motion for a directed verdict of not guilty on two additional indecency counts because evidence did not support the allegations.

Prosecutors Gabrielle Massey and Andrew Erwin agreed with the ruling.

The family member testified that she never told anyone her deep, dark secret for years, saying she only decided to report the abuse after she became interested in law enforcement and knew it was the right thing to do.

She contacted Chaisson in 2014, and he agreed to meet her at a park in Granbury to talk about the abuse. She secretly recorded their two-hour conversation, and Chaisson made numerous incriminating statements during their visit.

A third victim is expected to testify Friday morning that Chaisson sexually abused her as a child in Louisiana.
A 31-year-old woman testified Wednesday that Erlis Joseph Chaisson sexually abused her while he was dating her mother in Louisiana more than 20 years ago.

She is the second woman during Chaissons trial in Wacos 19th State District Court to testify that he molested her when she was a child.

Chaisson, 47, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and four counts of indecency with a child by contact in the abuse of a former family member when she was between 8 and 12.

If convicted, Chaisson faces a possible automatic life prison term because of his conviction in Louisiana for sexually abusing the second woman when she was 7 and 8 while he lived with her mother in Grand Isle, Louisiana.

The former family member, who is now a 27-year-old state law enforcement officer, testified Tuesday and Wednesday that Chaisson also abused her during a four-year period starting when she was roughly the same age as the other woman in Louisiana and on at least one occasion after they moved to a home near China Spring.

She hid a recorder to document Chaissons incriminating statements about the abuse during a two-hour meeting in 2014 at a park in Granbury.

Prosecutors Gabrielle Massey and Andrew Erwin played the first half of the tape for the jury Tuesday evening and the remaining portion Wednesday morning.

The second woman testified Wednesday that Chaisson sexually abused her when she was 8 while they were lying under a blanket on a couch watching a movie.

I have to say that I let him, she told the jury. I was curious and I didnt stop him.

She said the same thing happened the very next night. But, unlike the first woman, she said she told her mother after the second incident, and it never happened again. She said her mother was hesitant to believe her at first, but after making certain that her daughter was serious about the accusations, they went to the police.

In other testimony Wednesday, Marjorie Husbands, a licensed professional counselor from Waco, testified that she began counseling the other alleged victim in May 2014, adding that she was definitely not making up the allegations or embellishing them in any way.

The woman told jurors that she kept her deep, dark secret bottled inside her for years but felt compelled to report Chaissons abusive patterns because of her law enforcement experience.

My job is in law enforcement. Im held to a higher standard. I just want to protect people, and how can I do that if I cant even protect myself? she said Tuesday.

Waco psychologist Lee Carter, who watched the first woman testify, told the jury Wednesday evening that the womans case is a bit unusual because Chaissons own words on the recording corroborate aspects of her testimony.

Cross-examination

The woman was on the stand from 8 a.m. to about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, with much of that under cross-examination by defense attorney Christy Jacks, a former longtime prosecutor from Tarrant County.

Jacks showed the woman photos of trips and other events from the time she alleges she was being abused and suggested she seemed like a normal, happy girl. Jacks said the woman had many opportunities to report the abuse but never did until Chaisson and the womans current boyfriend met in 2014 and took an immediate dislike to each other.

The Tribune-Herald does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse without their permission.

Prosecution testimony will resume Thursday morning.
Public comment is wrapping up in a state-sponsored study of a high-speed rail alternative to Interstate 35, and local leaders are going on record in favor of a downtown Waco stop.

The Texas Department of Transportation will accept comments until Monday for the first phase of the Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail Study.

The study looks at the feasibility and environmental impact of a new train system with speeds up to 220 mph, in an 850-mile corridor between Laredo and Oklahoma City. Preliminary work has shown that the stretch between San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth could operate in the black.

The exact route and projected construction costs are not part of this phase of work. But if the Federal Railroad Administrations review of the feasibility study is favorable, state officials could go on to a design phase that would answer those questions, with an eye toward federal funding.

In a letter addressed to state officials this week, the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization board endorsed the high-speed rail proposal and urged officials to consider the Waco Intermodal Center at Eighth Street and Mary Avenue as a stop.

MPO director Chris Evilia said the studys preferred scenarios show a Waco stop.

Were strongly in favor of that coming through, preferably in downtown, Evilia said. If we have a station downtown at the same location as Waco Transit and Greyhound, not only do we have interconnectivity, but we have a lot of people coming to downtown who wouldnt otherwise be here.

He said high-speed transit would provide a faster and more reliable alternative to congested I-35, allowing Waco residents to get to Dallas-Fort Worth or Austin in 30 to 45 minutes.

Waco Councilman Dillon Meek, who sits on the MPO board, said questions of route, construction costs and fares need to be worked out.

Assuming all those things happen and we get the go-ahead, it could be a game-changer for our economy in a powerful way, Meek said. It could allow people to commute to Waco in a safe and easy way. . . . One of the biggest struggles we have in getting good businesses to come to Waco is that its difficult get here quickly.

Meek said the possibility of regular commuting to Austin or DFW could open up new opportunities for workers here. And at a time when traffic on I-35 is increasingly snarled, an elevated high-speed rail system is an appealing alternative, he said.

Interstate 35 is not sustainable as our exclusive form of transportation, he said. We need to diversify our transportation.

The TxDOT rail study is not related to the Texas Central Railway, a private effort to connect Houston and Dallas through high-speed rail. The MPO also has expressed support for that effort, which is facing opposition from rural communities along the proposed route.

More information on the Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail study can be found at www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/statewide/texas-oklahoma-rail.html.

Comments can be mailed to TxDOT Rail Division, Mr. Mark Werner, 125 E. 11th St., Austin, TX, 78701, or emailed to mark.werner@txdot.gov.
AUSTIN  The about 1.3 million Texans who bought health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will likely have fewer, more expensive coverage options in 2017, as health plans continue to announce they will no longer sell their products in Texas.

Insurance startup Oscar announced Tuesday it would partially withdraw from the Texas market, joining veteran health plans Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Scott & White on the list of companies that recently announced they would abandon the marketplace created by President Barack Obamas signature health law.

The companies said their costs of providing coverage to middle-income Texans have been unsustainable, fueling concerns about a lack of competition and consumer choice within the health insurance market next year.

The announcements come at a time of uncertainty for health insurance markets nationwide, with several major health insurers opting to abandon the exchanges in all but a handful of states. And Cigna, another health insurance company, last week told the Houston Chronicle it was in discussions with state regulators about exiting the Texas exchange.

I think what we should be expecting is premiums that are substantially higher, and I think theres a real risk that other insurers pull out, said Michael Morrisey, a professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. We may be beginning to see the death spiral of insurance plans in the exchanges.

In addition to the shrinking market, major health insurers that have not indicated they will leave the exchange  most notably Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas  have asked the federal government for permission to raise their monthly costs by up to 60 percent. Blue Cross said its financial losses in the marketplace were unexpectedly large, and last year the company ceased offering one of its plans, which covered 367,000 Texans.

A spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas said Tuesday the company had made no final decisions about its 2017 offerings.

We have been in this market for 80 years and, while some carriers have chosen to exit the market, we are working towards continuing to provide health insurance options for Texas consumers, the spokeswoman, Edna Perez-Vega, said in an email.

However, that must be done in a sustainable way, she said, noting that the insurer lost $770 million in the Texas marketplace in 2015.

In addition to Blue Cross, about a dozen smaller insurers are expected to remain in the Texas marketplace in 2017.

Sherri Greenberg, a professor at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs, said monthly health insurance premiums were likely to rise across the state. But she said many Texans might not feel the effect of those increases because they will continue receiving federal subsidies  a pillar of the law meant to offset the cost of health care for many Americans.

Greenberg said 2017 price hikes in the Texas market could vary widely across the state, with rural markets likely to see the biggest changes.

If you had very few options to begin with, and now youre left with [even] fewer carriers and reduced competition, that can mean an increase in insurance premiums, she said.

Competition still could improve if additional insurers choose to enter the Texas marketplace before the Sept. 23 deadline. It is also possible that additional health plans will choose to exit the marketplace before then.

The Obama administration has said it is confident that the majority of people signing up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act will have multiple options for coverage in 2017 and will be able to purchase a plan for less than $75 per month.

The federal government has reported that the average Affordable Care Act health plan in 2016 cost about $400 per month, but after tax credits, the average enrollee paid $113 per month.

Lack of insurer participation in the Affordable Care Act exchange is of particular concern for rural areas. Scott & White, which said it will continue to offer some individual market plans outside of the exchange, has had a significant presence in some of the states more sparsely populated regions.

An Aug. 19 analysis conducted by the health care consulting firm Avalere Health found that more than a quarter of Texas 26 federally designated geographic areas could have just one insurance carrier offering plans on the exchange in 2017.

Lower-than-expected enrollment, a high-cost population and troubled risk mitigation programs have led to decreased plan participation for 2017, Dan Mendelson, the companys president, said in a statement.

Health economists say newly insured Texans have required more expensive care than companies were prepared to handle. Insurers last year struggled to enroll enough healthy people to offset the costs of patients with expensive medical needs, despite a provision in the law that requires people without health insurance to pay a fine.

Health plans also have criticized Congress for cutting funding to programs that were intended to offset their financial losses on the exchange.

The Affordable Care Act offers subsidies to some middle-income Americans who buy insurance on the exchange, and it requires insurers to provide more comprehensive  and, for insurers, more expensive  coverage.

The law also has led to a drop in the percentage of Texans without health insurance, from 25 percent of Texans before the laws passage to roughly 17 percent in 2016, according to the Obama administration.

Many of the health insurance companies leaving the exchange in 2017 have said they will return in later years if the market becomes less volatile.

Mario Schlosser, the chief executive of Oscar, which insured about 7,000 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said in a statement that uncertainties in the market had made it challenging for us to operate effectively and continue to deliver access to quality health care.

We hope to return to these markets as we carry on with our mission to change health care in the U.S., he wrote. The company said it will continue to offer coverage in San Antonio.

The enrollment period for 2017 coverage starts Nov. 1.
A 23-year-old Bellmead man was arrested late Thursday morning as Bellmead police investigate the killing of a woman in a mobile home in the 4300 block of Concord Road.

Davie Dauzat faces a first-degree murder charge after Bellmead police and regional officers were called to the mobile home park after 11 a.m., when they received a call that a woman was dead inside the home. Bellmead police Sgt. Kory Martin said Dauzat was reportedly inside with two young children and was unwilling to leave the home when police arrived.

Police did not say how the woman was killed.

We located a deceased female. We have a suspect in custody who did have blood on him and we were able to talk him out of the home, Martin said. Currently, it is believed that he did kill that female, but we are still investigating that to make sure and confirm that information is correct.

Jail records confirmed Dauzat was booked into McLennan County Jail shortly before 4 p.m. Martin said initial reports indicated that Dauzat and the woman were married, but he could not officially confirm that information Thursday afternoon.

A large police presence was visible throughout the neighborhood late Thursday morning, and roadways were barricaded around the mobile home park. Lacy Lakeview officers and McLennan County Sheriffs Office deputies were on scene to assist Bellmead officers, and Texas Rangers arrived on scene to conduct a murder investigation.

There was a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old that were in the home, and we do have them. They are safe, Martin said. Right now, this is an ongoing murder investigation.

Martin said he was unable to formally confirm the mans relationship to the children. Crime scene units remained at the residence and troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety arrived to collect and process evidence.

James Lee, who said he has lived in the neighborhood since 1993, sat on his front porch, watching firefighters and law enforcement work. Lee said he was shocked by the unusual scene.

Emergency responders and rescue people come out here from time to time trying to help people with medical issues, and of course Bellmead (police) out here for fights, but weve never had this many police out here at once, Lee said. I heard a man killed his wife and hid in the closest, but I dont know what for.

Martin said authorities planned to remain in the neighborhood for several hours as they continued the investigation.

He said police were working to notify family before releasing the womans identity.
About six years ago I got to Heartbreak, Texas, with nothing but my old, broken-down pickup truck, my sweet 16-year-old daughter, and a crisp new divorce decree. Heartbreak seemed a good place to land. Janey and I both managed to fit in, eventually. I met Sally Rae at The Waterin Hole Cafe that first morning. Many adventures later, Sally Rae and I owned The Waterin Hole, (or it owned us) and Janey was off, doing well in college.

One of the good things about The Waterin Hole Cafe was where the people all met each other over deep-fried omelets, deep-fried steak and deep-fried tea. Neath Bosley was one of our favorites.

Neath Bosley was one of those likeable young men who grew up in Heartbreak, a fine feller. He was the New Texas-hybrid sort of man. He liked cows and rode bulls, but he also knew mechanics and hydraulics like a native son.

He was no wildcatter, no oil roughneck. His specialty was to bring in a rusted hulk of a 1957 Caterpillar D-5 bulldozer and rebuild it from the ground up. He bought them for about $5,000 and sold them for about $20,000 after six months work. It was a living.

All he had was an old World War I lathe, a LeBlonde from France, but it held true through three generations of precision users. Though machinery wears down, hydraulics tend to last a century, or more. We dont yet know how long. However, hydraulics are a finicky bunch and need a sort of care only a chosen few know how to administer. Neath was one of these fellas.

Neath was also a cattle guy. Cattle need their own special sort of love and maintenance. Neath was a man for all seasons. He did both.

As a boy, Neath broke wild horses, but this is just what most young men did, along with lifting 50 or 100 bales of hay a day. He learned to shoot, not at humans, but at the rattlesnake at his feet.

Dont dwell on it, boy, lift that next bale, his father would shout when Neath shot a coiled rattler at his feet. Life had drama, but it was reserved for the 30 minutes before bedtime when he ate cornbread and beans, and watched Matt Dillon shoot down the bad guys on Gunsmoke.

Neath had lots of quick-draw holster and guns in his life, for simple survival against the rattlesnakes, but he had no bad men to use them against. He grew up in a sort of idyllic existence.

Neath did quite a bit of youth rodeo in his time. Most boys at his age rode wild horses to tame them; the big guys rode bulls. No one rides a bull more than eight seconds. Those who survive the experience uniformly describe it as the longest eight seconds of their lives Riding bulls are chosen for their bad temperament. A decent bull lives to kill the cowboy on his back, and then get back to breeding his cows.

This sport makes for happy bulls and maimed cowboys, or worse. Neath was doing his man test by riding a bad bull named The Mangler. This bull had earned his name fairly; three of his previous riders were still in the hospital. They all knew they had to learn accounting or some other unmanly way to earn a living after being on his back. The Mangler loved his work.

Neath had always been a likeable, friendly sort of lad. When he got mounted up on The Mangler, he patted this old bull on the neck and said, Lets us give the folks a good show.

Its questionable how much English The Mangler knew, but he got the message.

The bell sounded and The Mangler went to bucking. At exactly seven seconds, Mangler sent Neath flying through the air, in a slow sort of spiral. At least , it seemed slow to Neath, who expected to die shortly after landing. Neath had a moment of introspection, rare for him, but deep, as he watched the two big hooves come down.

Im too young to die. Darn, wish Id done something else with my life.

Neath hit with a thud on his back that left him temporarily paralyzed. The Mangler came down with more than 10,000 pounds-per-square-inch pressure on each of Neaths ears. After that, Mangler walked off, dignity intact.

After a few tense minutes, Neath walked off, his dignity also intact, but he knew his bull-riding days were behind him. Neath had done a lot of speculative thought in a short period of time. He was tough, but he wasnt plumb stupid.

Neaths father had rebuilt another D-5 Caterpillar. Technology sort of ran in the family. It took months, but his father had rebuilt all the glans and seals on the cylinders, put in a new hydraulic pump, replaced the high-pressure lines, and turned a $5,000 piece of junk into an operating $23,000 piece of used machinery. Neaths job was to truck it down to the Mexican border, and get the remaining $5,000 payment from the customer.

At just 22, Neath felt proud of his assignment. He drove right down to Brownsville. His Mexican vendor came up and said, It is no problem. I dont have the money right now, but it will be here in a few minutes. Lets get unloading.

Neath smelled a rat.

Sir, he said, with all due respect, I have to have cash in hand before this goes anywhere.

Sure, sure, no problem, they will be here in a few minutes, the buyer said. Get your chains off, and we can get this done.

Sir, I am told that I have to wait.

At that point things turned squirrelly. Neath saw cash change hands with border guards. Several rough guys approached him. Neath grabbed a cheater bar off his truck and said, All of you together can get me, but the first one at me is out of luck.

Neath backed up to his truck and got into the cab. About then, the buyer appeared and said, This is all a misunderstanding, I have the money in just a few minutes.

Neath replied, Twenty miles north of here is a border station with lots of police. If yall are serious, meet me there, with the cash in the bright lights, with the police.

Neath drove north.

An hour later, the D-5 was unloaded in a weigh station, and Neath had $5,000 cash  and his life. He admitted later, he was too scared to even pee until he got back to Heartbreak. He gave his money to his father, got his $100 fee for a successful delivery, and told his father that he would never do this again in his life. Bull riding was edgy, but messing with the Texas border was over the top!

All these adventures, and a few more stories that cant be told, are true. All these escapades just prepared Neath for his biggest challenge.

Like many things that have happen to many people, Neaths greatest day began normally. He got up early, as usual, and had some bacon and eggs.

Neath, now 40, had a son in college who wanted to study philosophy. This led to a major family argument.

In a pitch of emotion, Neath yelled, Id rather see you playing a piano in an oil-patch cathouse than study some sissified-something called philosophy.

With that, he stormed out.

Neath went out to check his bulls. He had two bulls, and they each ought to have had enough cows to keep them occupied, but the bulls wanted to fight.

Neath had to keep his bulls separate. One cost $20,000, and the other cost more. Bulls were sort of dumb. Any bull that didnt have all the cows was considered a loser. Well, that was bull---- (some politicians, too).

Anyhow, Neath was driving toward town for some feed when he looked back at his fences and his bulls. Darn, one had broken through the fence and was trying to gore the other one. Neath looked into the rear-view mirror and his foot slipped off the brake.

A train hit his front bumper and sent him flying. It hit him so hard that it ripped him right out of his laced-up boots. It sent him up in an upward spiral; at such moments, when one sees ones life pass before ones eyes, time itself slows down to slow-mo.

Neath saw his pickup truck going end over end and himself as a bootless spirit going up to meet God.

Again, Neath saw his earthly existence at an end. He thought he was already dead, going upward, as his Baptist religion always taught him. It seemed to happen so slowly that he had a moment to contemplate his time on earth. Hed loved his wife, perhaps for the last time, and he deeply regretted his last words with his son.

At some point in this reverie, he realized that he was losing altitude. He began to revise his plans for his immediate future.

Maybe the old cowboy spirit took over, but his truck tumbled below, and he landed on his feet, then his chest, then his face. Things got sort of foggy for a moment.

Neath woke up, noticed that he had a goathead sticker in his cheek, so he pulled it straight out. He had some more of those goathead stickers over himself, but he figured he could sort it out later. He pulled out his phone.

Daddy, I ran into a little trouble on the way into town. Im sorry to ask you this, but could you get out here and separate my bulls? By the way, please tell Johnny I have re-thought his college plans. He can do whatever he wants to do

-----

David L. Mosley is a retired teacher who owns an 80-acre ranch in North Waco, where he raised goats until discovering he was really raising coyotes, bobcats and wild dogs. He is a fourth-generation Wacoan. He calls himself over-educated, underfunded and land poor, and he drives a broken pickup truck. Email him at David_Mosley1951@yahoo.com
The second of a group of four friends and associates charged in the August 2015 drug overdose death of a Lodi man entered a plea of no contest in Columbia County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Patrick Henry Sawyer, 46, of Tampa Bay, Florida, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide as a party of a crime, accused of providing the heroin that killed 27-year-old Nicholas Klamer.

Sawyer antered a plea of no contest to a single count of first-degree reckless homicide, which carries a sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing for Sawyer is scheduled for Oct. 18.

According to court documents, early in the morning of Aug. 18, 2015, Klamer and a friend, Chase Thistle, 26, of Madison, got a ride from Klamers father to Madison under the guise of needing to help a friend with car trouble.

Once in Madison the two met with Denan Marquardt, 27, who was waiting in his van with Anna Hays, 27, of Portage, and Sawyer. According to testimony by those involved, Klamer gave $200 to Hays and Sawyer who took the van with the money to a dealer and then returned with heroin.

The five used the heroin in the back of the van before Klamer and Thistle took what was left and went to catch their ride back to Lodi.

Thistle and Klamer used again in the boat house near Klamers parents house. Later that morning, according to Thistle, he woke up and with Klamer still asleep, went back home. Klamer was found dead later that day.

All four involved were charged with reckless homicide as a party to a crime. Hays was convicted of manufacturing and delivery of heroin, after entering a plea of no contest, with the count of reckless homicide dismissed.

Marquardt is being held on a $5,000 cash bond with a jury trial scheduled for Sept. 26-28. Thistle is being held on a $25,000 bond with trial scheduled for Jan. 11 through Jan. 13.
The dynamic duo of cupcake bakers, Susie Hughlett and Branda Pavlas, may not be superheroes in the traditional sense. But they work a certain sweet magic in their shop, Cuppiecakes.

When you enter the retro-style bakery, which occupies the century-old building at 402 W. Third St. in McGregor, you immediately see the fun that defines the business, which is run by the two best friends and co-conspirators.

Even the T-shirts for sale hanging on the back wall reflect the tongue-in-cheek atmosphere that permeates the place: Legalize Frostitution and Come Cheat with Us. But thats only the beginning. Its obvious that these two bakers extraordinaire love to bake and love to provide fun for their customers.

On many days after school hours, you might see a number of teenagers in the shop, eating and playing board games. Or a birthday party, complete with karaoke and cupcakes.

This is a great place to hang out. Its real family-oriented, Susie said. McGregor High School kids love it, and its fun to hear people laughing and talking to each other in our building. That brings us a whole lot of joy.

Susie and Branda began their sweet adventure together eight years ago when they met at church and became best buddies. They later began baking out of Susies kitchen for friends and acquaintances at church. Many of those same Lorena United Methodist members encouraged them to open a business.

Church people love to eat, and they were the catapult that started this whole mess, Susie said.

By mess, she is referring, of course, to Cuppiecakes, which opened its doors in 2014. By all accounts, its been a whirlwind entrepreneurial project that is a dream come true and, at the same time, an exhausting experience.

Career Changes

Both women were working full time when they opened the shop. Susie taught outdoor adventures at Midway High School, and Branda was a counselor at Bruceville-Eddy High School. Branda quit her school job last year, and has been full time at Cuppiecakes ever since. This school year, Susie has dropped back to mornings only, teaching fifth-grade P.E. at Midways Woodgate Intermediate School.

Branda refers to the business now as being run by 1 people because Branda herself is full time, and Susie will be going into the shop just after noon each day.

The first year that the shop was open seems almost a blur to the women. They were still working their full-time school jobs and then staying up until 2 and 3 a.m. to get the baking and icing done.

Church friends and family jumped in to help. But exhaustion soon set in for the owners. The business was growing, and thats when Branda decided to quit her regular job to devote herself to the cupcakes, which she calls their babies.

But justifying to her spouse, Jake, what she wanted to do proved to be a tad difficult, she said.

I had to explain to my husband that, yes, I have a masters degree. And I bake cupcakes, she said, laughing.

The women said that not only Jake but Susies husband, Kevin, have filled the gap with their families at crucial times.

Our husbands really stepped up to the plate  big time, Susie said.

Their six children, a boy and two girls from each family, have also helped on occasion  a matter of pride with the women.

Our kids are the best help we can get. They know everything, Branda said with obvious admiration, adding that the teenagers can run the register, ice cupcakes, mix the icing, wash dishes and make all the different coffee drinks the shop offers to customers.

Theyve developed a real work ethic, she said.

Early Challenges

But before the shop ever opened, there were tears and pain. They missed leasing a great space by just a few hours, their search for a place in Waco or Hewitt seemed to go nowhere, and Jake had a massive heart attack. It wasnt until they finally gave up, thinking it was not in their future to open a shop that things started happening at a frantic pace.

We had been disappointed to the point of tears, Branda said. For me, truly just one of the major times in life when I had to hand it over to God was this shop. A lot of prayer went into it.

Soon after they had given up, a friend called with the news that an interesting place was up for lease in McGregor, a town they had never considered for their shop. Susie and Branda looked at it, loved it and started negotiations with the owner.

The shop had everything they needed to start  except an oven. They purchased that and considered themselves extremely lucky to have such a small equipment start-up cost.

Though Cuppiecakes offers regular cakes for weddings, showers and other events, the women also sell sandwiches, cake pops, poppers, spoon cakes, mini cupcakes and a variety of coffee drinks. Tables in the establishment also give customers a pleasant place to eat.

Concerning the huge surge in the popularity of cupcakes over the past few years, Branda has some ideas. Todays culture seems to be a part of the equation.

For customers, she said, It probably has to do with the way society is moving faster. Theres more ease, and you dont have to cut cupcakes. You just grab and go.

For the owners, cupcakes are a way to offer a variety of sweets instead of just a few of the flavors of larger cakes. They put out 24 types of cupcakes each day  ranging from wedding cake, the most popular, to maple bacon, the most unusual.

In between are such flavors as the Plain Jane (basic vanilla with vanilla icing) to Love Me Tender, a concoction of banana cake with peanut butter icing topped with chocolate drizzle. The Cuppiecakes website says of this one, Elvis would be proud!

Busy, Busy, Busy

The unexpected increase in customers at Cuppiecakes has shocked both women.

We are growing so  right now that things are kind of being thrown at us at a fast pace, Susie said. Its interesting to us, and its humbling but so exciting.

They attribute some of the growth to foot traffic from the Magnolia House, a bed-and-breakfast establishment owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame. Its just around the corner from the bakery.

But most of the business comes from word of mouth. Though it began with church friends, the base soon expanded.

It started getting wider and wider as people would tell more people, Susie said. When people like the product, they are going to tell their friends.

These entrepreneurs are considering whats next on the horizon for Cuppiecakes. Their original plan was not necessarily to have a store front, but a food truck  an old Volkswagen van with a cupcake on top.

We think that would be really fun, Susie said.

And, of course, these two are all about fun.

-----

Cuppiecakes

402 W. Third St., McGregor

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tues and Thurs

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wed

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat

254-840-7030

Also on Facebook
Skamokawa News

PLENTY WARM--If you are one of those who love the heat, you sure got it last week and weekend! Wow, way too toasty for me! We joke about it "always raining" at least one day of the Wahkiakum County Fair, but that certainly didn't happen this time, as those drips you felt weren't from the sky but more than likely falling from your forehead! Luckily, a cool down showed up Saturday evening and we began this week with some nice cloud cover on Sunday morning and even some wetness on Monday morning before the sun returned by early afternoon. Cooler temps are due for a couple of days this week before they go back up, so stay hydrated everybody!

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Aug. 25-31 are Kelly Nettles Recupero, LouAnn Hedges, Katie Phillips, Dolly Hartley, Mike Vincent, Audrey Hedman, Bob Wegdahl, Jr., Carter Helms-Carvalho, Kathy Perkins, Linda Ougendal, Meredith Cothren, Judy Danielsen, Debbie Melton, Joe Turgeon, Vance Mosteller, Wayne Bell and with special remeberances for David W. Pedersen and Elinor Bridenhagen.

Those celebrating anniversaries this week are Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Cruickshank, Lesley and Larry Horman, John and Melissa Thompson, Mike and Sara Brown, Beryl and Randi Curtis, Grant and Ashley Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Doumit and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Robinson. May all of your special days bring you smiles and happiness.

Belated anniversary wishes to Ty and Kendra Finkas who celebrated their fourth anniversary last Thursday, sorry it's late!

GREAT PARTY--A couple of weeks ago, one of our former Skamokawa residents got a nice surprise, when one of her former employees set up a birthday party for her. Tyna Zink got the gang together at Parker's Steakhouse in Castle Rock, and surprised our beloved "Duck Inn" Judy Smith, with the whole batch of us for her 70th birthday! Tony and wife Josie brought out food, and fill-in help so Judy didn't have to keep working, and enjoy her big day, while we all nibbled on trays of tasty treats and enjoyed a yummy birthday cake! Judy was definitely surprised and we even got her to tear up a bit, so Tyna did a great job of getting us all there and really surprising Judy! Many of us had called Judy our boss, as we had almost all worked at the Duck Inn back in the day, and most of us called her our friend as well. Over the years, we'd all shared a lot of time with Judy when she and Skamokawa Pete Peterson ran the place, and so we'll always have some wonderful memories to share. This party was just one more great memory to add to our collection of good times with Judy. Here's to many more Jude!

NICE CELEBRATION--He had to cook the main dish, but John Gustafson didn't seem to mind cooking up some ribs for his birthday guests this past weekend. Guests David and Connie Shrum, Michael Baccellieri and Bill and Kay Chamberlain definitely got their fill of some tender BBQ ribs, along with all the tasty side dishes. Birthday cake and ice cream was served up by hostess Mary and we all broke into chorus as we helped John celebrate birthday number 76. Here's to many more John!

THIS IS IT--It's time for all those fishermen to grab their rods and reels and head out to try and catch the biggest fish this Friday and Saturday, as the big Fall Salmon Derby is taking place at the Elochoman Slough Marina those two days; the last weekend in August, wow!

EMERGENCY DRILL--Aug. 26 is also going to be the time for the Law Enforcment and Emergency Services training drill in the Cathlamet area, which will take place at Wahkiakum High School with hundreds of people involved, both emergency personnel and "victims." I'm told there's going to be a lot of noise and commotion so don't freak out if you're near that area and you hear a lot of racket!

MUSIC:GRANGE AID--Next Friday evening, Sept. 2, the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at Skamokawa Grange Hall, where beginning at 7 p.m., the hall will be full of music as several bands will take part in "Grange Aid," a fund raiser to help the historic Skamokawa Grange Hall. I'm told there will be four bands: The Cliffs of Cathlamet, Skamokawa Swamp Opera, Giants in Trees and Butterfly Launches from Spar Pole. Admission is $10 for adults, with youth from 6 to 18 and seniors costing just $5 and kids five and under are free.

ROCKING OUT--Speaking of music, my great nephew, Kristian Pedersen, son of Scott and Jen Pedersen, made the Columbian Newspaper recently, as he and his band, called the Northwest Rock Academy, got rave revues after performing recently. Seems they had a great set at "Billy Blues Bar and Grill" in Hazel Dell and are playing other places too. Kristian is really impressing folks on that new Fender guitar of his. Way to go KP!

FIRST WEEKEND IN SEPT--I hope that everyone is making plans to head to the marina during the first weekend in September, as the annual "Wooden Boat Festival" will be held Sept. 3 & 4. This is a fund raiser to help our local Search and Rescue organization, and Michael Baccellieri has once again made a great little 7-ft skiff that you might win if you have the lucky ticket! All proceeds to benefit the WCS&R.

You'll be able to enjoy some live music next door at the River Mile 38 Brewing Company and stop in for a drink or two, and they are adding something new this year: an "Ugly Car and Rat Rod" car show! This is a first for them so bring that junky old relic out of the barn and head down to the brewery to see if you can be their first winner of their first car show! That's Sept. 3 only, from 2 to 9 with trophies being awarded at 5:30 p.m.

SONS OF NORWAY--On Sept. 7, the regular monthly meeting for the Sons of Norway will be held at the Norse Hall on Puget Island at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. They want to remind you that Bingo takes place on the second Saturday evening of each month, so all of you who love cash prizes, head there to enjoy a rousing round or two of Bingo!

ON SALE ALREADY--If you're one of those folks who just loves attending the Wahkiakum 4-H Covered Bridge Dinner fund raiser, well there's great news: tickets are on sale already, and with limited seating, you should get yours today! This event takes place Oct. 1 and seating begins at 4:30 p.m. The price of a regular ticket is $35, but if you are a "Grand American" which means you are either a veteran or over 72, the cost is just $25. Remember, besides a great "indoor/outdoor" dinner venue in an historic place, there will be a live auction and music too, so if you didn't get your tickets at the fair already, contact the Cathlamet WSU Extension office today, 795-3278 or stop by their office at 25 River Street and get yours soon!

GET WELL--When we think of all our woodland critters around here, we often think of avoiding the myriad of deer that seem to always jump out in front of us as we're cruising down the road in our cars, but I've never thought too much of the dangers of raccoons and even then, we think of them on country roads and not city roads. Well, sadly, for Fred Nollan, an encounter with one of the "bandits" while he was on his bicycle proved to be extemely hazardous to his health, as the ensuing crash and tumble to the pavement meant broken ribs and several fractures in his pelvis. Ouch! We want to send our best wishes to him and we're so sorry this happened at all but especially at this time, as his plans for a month long stay in Europe had to be canceled and all other things that dominoed from this unexpected episode had to be dealt with as well, so that was really too bad. Again we see that our plans can be changed in an instant from some of the most unexpected happenings.

REUNION NEXT YEAR--If you happen to be in the graduating Wahkiakum High School class of 1972, this is an early notification for you about your reunion planned for next year. It will be held on Aug. 12, 2017 at the Elochoman Slough Marina in Cathlamet, so the class hopes you'll be there. Check with some fellow classmates about all the particulars if you haven't already been notified about it.

DOWN THE ROAD A BIT--Susan McClain Kuhn (sjmq1@yahoo.com) is already taking peoples' ideas about the next big reunion, to be held in 2020, so she has set up a page on Facebook where you can put in your two cents about a proposed campout in Vista Park, or if you'd like something else and what momth you'd like to have it. If you're not on the computer, you can always give me a call and I can pass on your thoughts and ideas.

FAIR WRAP UP--The 108th Wahkiakum County Fair is in the books for this year and as most big things, planning for the next fair starts right after the last one ends. There are always those with more ideas and suggestions of how to make the fair better, so if you would like to see certain things changed, improved, removed, etc., why not write them down and bring them to the fairboard at their next board meeting? You might have even seen an opportunity for your group/club/organization to make some money by offering to do something that no one else did, so maybe you could join in and put up a booth. Remember, these areas all cost money, and demand a lot of time, which is why some folks who have great ideas, just don't follow them through, as they cannot make the committment to do so. Sometimes working together is the only way to make something happen.

I have heard many people say they would like to have a carnival at the fair, and I hear just as many say they don't. Here's the thing that maybe some do not understand: the carnivals do not come here for free. You must pay them to show up! Needless to say, with a small budget, that's tough, if not impossible to do. The booths they put up at a "professional carnival" then sell food items and games, which directly affect local things, and with people only having so much "extra" money to spend, well, it winds up going to the people we paid to come here, who then leave with your money, rather than to the people who actually live and work here and whose organization depends on this "extra" to make it through the winter. Then you have the cost of the rides or bracelets, which can be quite expensive and only those with plenty of cash can even take advantage of them, thus causing a lot of upset kids who want to ride but are told they can't because Mom and Dad can't afford it. Anyway, even if we could afford to have a carnival here, if they've not made a lot of money when they were here before, they won't come back, as it's all about the bottom line for them, and of course, for our fair too.

Could a group or two step up and have more games? Could they make the cost low so that all could enjoy them while still making a profit? Could they make sure they have good prizes so that people would actually come to their booth? Right now is the time to start thinking about these things, and buying items every month to fill up a booth, etc. If we want a better fair, more help and involvement is needed on all levels. I have found most people to be very generous when it comes to good causes, so ask around and you'd be surprised how many people will donate things. If everyone picked up five items every month and stuck them away for the next fair, there would be thousands of items for kids to win at a fish pond, coin toss, ring toss, spin the wheel or some other game, so here's to more pitching in and helping out next year.
BRUNO  This years tractor pull in Bruno was a success, with 18 more hookups than last year,

Matthew Ostry said thats all he could ask for. A total of 90 pulls took place on Saturday.

Each year we try to add something new, even if its subtle, to make it better than last year, Ostry said.

Pulls started just after 1 p.m. with the 3,000-pound class and went until the top class was finished at 6,000 pounds.

The Brainard Legion did very well as well, selling out of food, Ostry said.

There was never a dull moment out there. They served lunch continuously all day, he added.

Ostry said he got great feedback about the track condition from those that pulled.

Its kind-of an honor to hear that, he said.

The talent show went well, as did the dance, he added.

The only thing he said he would do different next year would be a change in advertising.

The biggest thing was hearing people that didnt know about it, he said.

The tractor pull did have its farthest participant come from 80 miles away though, he said.
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.
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.
S&P 500 3,901.06

DOW 32,861.80

QQQ 281.22

Apple Inc. Stock Q4 Results Beat Negative Outlook, Stock Rises

McDonalds Stock Sizzles, but Will it Hit a New All-Time High?

Elon Musk takes over Twitter but where will he go from here?

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?
Breakwater is a happy departure from the former Bourbon Street Grille in Monona, and this is the perfect time of year to eat there.

The night I stopped in, most everyone was eating on the two-level deck, but the weather was too muggy for me. I also wanted to experience the indoor ambiance, which is refined and relaxing.

The entryway, however, hasnt quite shaken the ghosts of the former restaurants, which before Bourbon Street was the Muskie Lounge & Crab House.

Reassuring once you get up the stairs is one of those colorful chalkboards touting some of the nearby farms where the food comes from. Its the first indication youre in for a nice meal.

Seven house cocktails are priced $7 to $12, and if I could have a do-over Id try the white sangria or the mojito. The Breakwater Blast ($8) was a middle-brow affair with white, spiced Captain Morgan and Malibu rums, pineapple and orange juices, and grenadine. It was better as it got watered down.

We had more luck with the five giant braised beef croquettes ($9), even though there was no beef to speak of. Still, the puffy, breaded balls filled with whipped potatoes and Gruyere cheese were excellent, as was the rich tomato sauce they sat in.

Another good place to start is with the Brussels sprout salad ($12), a giant platter filled with mesclun greens topped with deep-fried Brussels sprouts. Tiny cubes of butternut squash added a lot, as did candied bacon, chevre, pickled red onions and dried cranberries. The lemon vinaigrette dressing was ingeniously blended with nduja, a smoky, spicy spreadable sausage. In total, it was a brilliant combination of ingredients.

The menu offers sandwiches and pizza, as well as more formal entrees, but either way the food isnt cheap.

A pulled pork sandwich ($11) came on a wonderfully soft grilled bun, and was packed with lean meat. It would have benefited from more of the extras that came on it: Asian slaw, bell peppers, carrots, scallions, ginger and chili plum sauce. The sauce wasnt detectable and may have been left off.

An entree of bone-in chicken marsala ($20) came sliced and stuffed with ground mushrooms. It was served over roasted gold potatoes, grilled peppers and onions.

Im amazed by how much I liked everything, my companion said. Its one of the few restaurant meals Ive had where the flavors of everything came through without being overwhelmed by sauce or salt.

My daughter had the mac and cheese ($6) on the kids menu. When our server brought it out, her eyes lit up, and, as she reached for the massive bowl, she said ooh, thank you!

She lost interest halfway in, since the cavatappi noodles turned out to be rather bland, covered in sauce that was more creamy than cheesy.

Dessert brought a superbly tart key lime pie ($5) topped with fresh whipped cream, and exceptional blueberry blondies ($5) filled with berries and nuts. Neither was overly sweet and both portions were generous.

What explains the success of the food here is chef/co-owner Brandon Reid, who opened Breakwater in mid-July with partners Nick Pazour and Tim Trpkosh. The La Crosse native spent a year as a sous chef under Dan Fox at Heritage Tavern, and his last job was as executive chef at The Coopers Tavern. Reids also worked at Steenbocks on Orchard.

The 261-capacity space includes a patio that can seat 120, and there is boat access from the Yahara River, where youll see paddleboarders coasting by as well as motorboats observing the no-wake zone.

The main dining room has been painted a fresh baby blue, while the adjoining bar area uses lots of light barn wood in a look Reid describes as cabin meets hipster bar. Centerpieces on top of black tablecloths feature glass jars with plants and stones.

Classic rock of the John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen variety played a little too loudly over the sound system on an otherwise quiet weeknight, but at least the two TVs in the dining room were muted.
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?
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.
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.
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.
How do you replace Steve Jobs? People had tried before and failed: When Apple's founder left amid a boardroom coup in 1985, the string of leaders that filled the void almost brought the company to its knees until Jobs' triumphant return over a decade later.

So when Jobs' hand-picked successor, Tim Cook, took command five years ago today (Wednesday 24 2011, US time), it was always bound to be one of the most-scrutinised handovers in corporate history.

Steve Jobs unveils the original iPhone in 2007. Credit:AP

Jobs, who would die of pancreatic cancer 13 days later, had been a model of leadership and innovation. He had been central to the polished icons of the 21st century computing: the iPod, iPhone and iPad, bringing a flair that had made them seem like more than mere products.

Cook, meanwhile, was the less-visible chief operating officer; the master of the supply chain who rose at 4.30am every morning to keep the well-oiled machine ticking over. And though he was the obvious candidate to replace the irreplaceable, analysts doubted whether he would be able to keep the Apple magic alive.
Reinvented as a podcast, Michael Feldmans Whadya Know is launching next month.

Based off of Feldmans original radio broadcast, fans will recognize familiar shenanigans with comedy, quizzes, interviews, music and more as the show remains family-friendly and audience-dependent. The podcast will be recorded and debuted Sept. 3 with a live audience at the High Noon Saloon.

Were doing basically the same thing but as a podcast, Feldman said.

Everything is podcast now, he said, Thats what people listen to and talk about.

The original show started in 1985 with Feldman as the host being recorded and played across the country. At its prime, 15 years ago, Whadya Know had more than 1.5 million listeners and was carried by 330 stations.

Faced with a decline in popularity and a high cost of production, WPR decided to cancel the show. Feldman recorded his last broadcast from Memorial Union on June 25 where the sold-out audience showed support for his 31 years on the air.

Not interested in what he calls refiredment, Feldman launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the continuation of the show as a podcast. Feldman successfully raised upward of $20,000 in just a month.

They are the ones who actually wanted to hear the show again, Feldman said about his fans.

Audience members and listeners will recognize characters from the radio show; Stephanie Lee is the co-host, John Thulin will be on the keyboard and Jeff Hamann will play the bass.

Throughout the two-hour premier there will also be performances from The Jimmys, a Wisconsin R&B band.

The show will continue to be recorded at the High Noon Saloon twice a month through December with weekly 40-minute podcasts available online.
A Perth doctor who gave a lethal injection to an elderly woman dying of emphysema has defended her actions as "a great relief to all involved."

Dr Alida Lancee has admitted that five years ago she administered painkilling medication that hastened the death of the woman, who had attempted suicide several times in her 80s.

Actions like hers were already widely practised among doctors, she claimed, since the legally allowed terminal sedation practice had "the effects of significantly shortening the dying process in a patient with severe physical compromise".

Since Dr Lancee's revelations, detectives have visited her clinic and told her the death is being investigated as a possible murder.
WA Premier Colin Barnett has used Twitter to attack a group of businessmen led by John Poynton who commissioned a Reachtel poll of more than 10,000 people suggesting he would lose next year's election with a massive swing against the government.

"The Reachtel Poll is an act of self interest. It is also an act of disloyalty to the government and myself as the premier of WA," Mr Barnett tweeted.

Could the Liberals win without Colin Barnett? Credit:Philip Gostelow

"I am deeply concerned that business interests are seeking to interfere in the processes of government."

The private poll involved nearly 11,000 people and found swings against the Liberal-National government and that Labor's Mark McGowan was a more popular leader than Mr Barnett, raising speculation his eight-year stint as premier will come under more pressure, according to News Limited.
A man jailed for sexually and indecently assaulting three females under the guise of giving them therapeutic massages could face a retrial after the WA Court of Appeal quashed most of his convictions.

Robert Charles Higgins was found guilty of 13 sexual offences committed between 1991 and 1997, and was aged 64 when sentenced in the WA District Court last year to four years and nine months behind bars.

Robert Higgins' offending included touching the breasts and genitals of his victims while giving them massages.

His offending included touching the breasts and genitals of his victims while giving them massages.

But Higgins took the case to the Court of Appeal claiming the trial judge misdirected the jury and it resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
A Perth doctor who admitted giving a lethal injection to an elderly woman dying of emphysema has criticised detectives for visiting her clinic and telling her the death was being investigated as a possible murder.

Dr Alida Lancee refused to be questioned by police on the advice of her lawyer.

Dr Lancee said she administered painkilling medication that hastened the death of the woman, who had attempted suicide several times in her 80s, five years ago.

Police told AAP they were investigating Dr Lancee.
The Department of Fisheries has set drum lines off the coast of one of Perth's most popular beaches after more than 60 shark sightings over the last two months.

Shark capture gear was put off Trigg Beach on Thursday afternoon and the area will be closed until 7.30am on Friday after 61 sighting of sharks off the coast from June 6 to August 25.

Rick Knoppert's amazing photograph last month of surfers heading to the shore at Mettams Pool after a shark was swimming among them. Credit:Rick Knoppert

Fisheries says the majority of sharks were spotted in a two kilometre stretch of beach from Mettams Pool to Watermans Bay.

In a statement put out by Fisheries on Thursday afternoon, it said it was "apparent that a risk to water users in the Trigg to Hillarys area exists".
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.
Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020.

Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work.

Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri.
Chris Rickert | Wisconsin State Journal Urban affairs, investigations, consumer help ("SOS") Follow Chris Rickert | Wisconsin State Journal 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

If I were a woman, I might find something to like in a federal judges decision Sunday to block an Obama administration guideline giving transgender students greater access to the bathrooms of their choosing.

Not because I think men are hankering to sneak peeks in the ladies loo by posing as transgender. Rather, it seems inevitable that the only logical end to the bathroom wars is for unisex bathrooms to become the new public bathroom standard.

And as a woman, Id have some serious reservations about using a public toilet regularly used by men because, well, Im a man  and have you seen some of these public mens toilets?

Go into many a gas station or fast food restaurant mens room and the first thing to hit you is the odor of years of accumulated bad aim. Visual evidence of the same is often present as well, especially around toilets.

At home, most men have powerful incentives for cleaning up after themselves. One is that theyre going to have to come back and use those same facilities.

Another is women. My experience is that the wives, daughters and mothers men live with are not shy about letting men know about their bathroom left-behinds.

Neither of these incentives is present in public mens rooms, where most men get in, relieve their bladders and quickly get out.

But with greater awareness of Americas transgender population comes greater accommodation. Stores, libraries, schools and other public places are  to their credit  moving toward gender-neutral bathrooms.

Colectivo Coffee on the Capitol Square, for example, opened in 2013 and features two gender-neutral bathrooms flanking a common sink. The toilet facilities are private (obviously) but the sink is open to the rest of the store.

We did this in response to the customers in Madison who said that is what they prefer, said Colectivo vice president of brand, marketing and retail Scott Schwebel. We do, too.

Theres a small growing trend for multi-stall, all-gender restrooms, said Brian Juchems of Madison-based GSAFE, which advocates for LGBT students. I think the public is following what were used to in our own homes.

Young people dont have the same hangups about gender as old folks, Juchems said, and as they become the old folks, gender-neutral bathrooms will become common and unremarkable.

To make sure my concern for women wasnt a reflection of any personal discomfort with gender-bending, I contacted an expert.

Jeff Weyker oversees Wisconsin franchises for Texas-based Jani-King and said hes done just about everything in the janitorial business since joining it 22 years ago.

Yes, he said, mens toilets are dirtier than womens toilets: The females sit and the men stand.

But in his opinion, womens bathrooms take longer to clean, perhaps because women spend more time in them.

Based on the long lines you sometimes see for public womens bathrooms, he might have a point.
Three Madison area residents were indicted on charges Wednesday by a federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Mitchell Johnson, 26, of Waunakee, was charged with possessing child pornography; 66-year-old Stasia I. Hargis, of Madison, was charged with stealing checks from the U.S. Department of Defense; and 38-year-old Aki Williams, of Mount Horeb, was charged with escaping a Janesville transitional facility, the attorney's office said.

Johnson allegedly had visual sexual depictions of minor on his computer last August and could face 10 years in federal prison if found guilty, the attorney's office said.

From September 2011 until July 2012, Hargis allegedly stole seven federal checks that were made payable to her mother and used them for herself, the attorney's office said. The total amounted to $11,537, and Hargis could face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted, the attorney's office said.

Williams had escaped Monday from the Rock Valley Community Programs facility in Janesville, which provides transitional and supportive help to a variety of people, the attorney's office said. He could see a maximum of five years in federal prison, the attorney's office said.
In British Columbia, some types of trucks can only be driven at night, but can only be driven during the day in neighboring Alberta

The standards on beer bottle sizes differ from province to province

British Columbia and Alberta have a carbon tax, but Quebec and Ontario (and shortly Manitoba) have a cap and trade system, increasing the costs for operating in more than one jurisdiction

While Canadas economy has long relied on international trade, a commentary from Desjardins suggests that focus needs to shift closer to home.The piece, written by Desjardins Senior Economist Benoit Durocher, discusses the tangled system of trade among provinces and territories. He points out that many businesses are finding it easier to conduct trade internationally than with other provinces.According to the World Bank, Canadas openness to international trade was 65.4% in 2015, one of the highest rates among industrialized countries Meanwhile, trade within Canada, i.e. among the various provinces, remains hampered by various barriers, he says.There is an existing Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) intended to deal with the obstacles to the free flow of people, products, services and investments within Canada. However, the piece asserts, the scope of the accord has become too limited given the increasing liberalization of international trade.Although no duty is applied to the goods and services traded between two provinces, there are many different kinds of roadblocks to such trade, Durocher says. Citing a report by the Senates Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, he cites various regulations that differ from province to province, including the following:These and other blockages have caused interprovincial trade to lag behind international trade. According to the report, the ratio between exports to other provinces and total exports has declined from just over 50% in the early 1980s to less than 38% in 2014 nationwide.The good news is that provinces and territories are determined to iron these issues out. On July 22, the Council of the Federation announced that the provincial and territorial premiers reached an agreement in principle on a new Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). The new pact promises to feature broader coverage of Canadas economic sectors compared to the AIT.The piece explains that the CFTA will be implemented through a negative list approach. In other words, by default, all measures will be included unless an exception is mentioned during negotiation. This should make it a lot easier to apply.Given protectionist sentiments that are feared to weaken exports, harmonized trade among the provinces may eventually prove useful as a way to soften the blow for Canadian businesses.
Nearly two years after the gray wolf was placed back on the federal list of endangered species, wolf attacks on Wisconsin livestock and hunting dogs are rising.

State Department of Natural Resources statistics show 58 confirmed or probable wolf depredations  deaths or injuries  of domesticated animals this year through Aug. 15, compared to an average of about 37 for that period in each of the previous three years.

The DNR attributes the increase to growth in the wolf population, which this winter was estimated at nearly 900, its highest level since before the 1960s when the species was all but extinguished by hunters.

The state is providing farmers with more electrified fencing and noisy, light-emitting gadgets to keep wolves away from cattle. And the state pays tens of thousands of dollars each year to people who lose animals to wolves.

But two state lawmakers say the situation is intolerable, and they are staging a wolf summit next month to urge Congress to remove the species from the endangered list so that hunting and trapping can resume.

State Sen. Tom Tiffany blamed wolves for unsatisfactory deer hunting experiences reported by constituents.

We have become a wolf sanctuary in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin, Tiffany, a Republican from Hazelhurst, said Wednesday. It needs to be brought under control like any other species.

But conservationists say Tiffany is grandstanding for a few hunters who want to kill wolves as trophies, and for an agriculture lobby seeking more taxpayer subsidies.

Wolf damage to livestock is minor  especially compared to the harm deer, elk and geese cause to crops, said Melissa Smith, executive director of Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf. And most injuries to hunting dogs could be avoided if hunters wouldnt run the dogs through areas where wolves are known to be raising pups.

The wolf controversy is coming from a very small vocal minority in Wisconsin, Smith said. The positive benefits of wolves far outweigh the few depredations there are.

Tiffany said the summit he is co-sponsoring with state Rep. Adam Jarchow, R-Balsam Lake, Sept. 15 in Cumberland will reveal the havoc raised by wolves.

He said wolves stampede farm animals, causing them to lose weight.

And wolf pack disruptions of the deer herd have left unsuccessful hunters so discouraged that they talk of giving up their cabins, Tiffany said.

But Smith said scientific research indicates wolves have an overall beneficial impact on farming and natural resources. Wolves keep the voracious deer herd moving so it cant settle in and seriously damage crops or wild vegetation that protects surface water  including valuable trout streams  from erosion, Smith said.

And in a state that has mostly stopped trying to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease, wolves picking off sick deer may be the best hope of preventing the deadly disease from causing a collapse of herd, Smith said.

Three hunts

Before Wisconsin was settled in the 1830s, thousands of wolves lived here, but by 1960 hunters had eliminated them.

Wisconsin gave the species protected status in 1957, and the federal government followed suit in 1974.

Wolves migrated into the state from Minnesota, and by 2011, the population had grown to an estimated 824.

In 2012, President Barack Obamas administration removed Great Lakes wolves from the endangered list. Three hunts were held in Wisconsin, despite concerns the population was too fragile.

The wolf population decreased, and in December 2014, a federal judge ordered Great Lakes wolves listed again.

That ended the hunt, and generally prohibited the government from trapping and killing wolves that attacked farm animals. From 2012 through 2014, a total of 176 wolves linked to attacks on farm animals had been removed by farmers or government officials, said Brad Koele, a DNR wildlife biologist who handles depredation claims.

One wolf was dispatched last year under an exception in the prohibition for potential hazards to humans. It was removed after wolf tracks were found in a barnyard where workers with mental or physical handicaps walked from building to building, Koele said.

The DNR supplied farms with $160,000 in wolf deterrents such as fencing and noise-generating devices in 2014. The amount grew to $180,000 last year.

The number of wolf-attack claims classified as confirmed or probably-valid in 2015 was 77, still far less than the 111 in 2011 and 95 in 2012, Koele said.

There has never been a confirmed wolf attack on a human in the continental U.S. outside of Alaska, and very few pet dogs are attacked, Koele said.

Missing calves

The state compensates the owners of animals injured or killed by wolves.

More than $200,505 was paid out this year on claims made in 2015. It was the third highest payout in program history.

The record was nearly $215,000 in 2012, when nearly $191,000 of the total was paid out for 257 missing calves.

Under state law, farmers could be compensated for an unlimited number of missing calves each time a wolf attack was confirmed, Koele said.

After talks with the Wisconsin Cattlemens Association, the DNR in 2013 won approval for an emergency rule limiting claims to five missing calves per attack. The limit, however, was lifted after the wolf regained endangered status in 2014.

The amount paid for a farm animal is based on market value. Compensation for a calf was about $1,300 in 2014 and $800 last year, Koele said.

Wisconsin is the only state that compensates owners for hunting dogs killed or injured by wolves.

The state pays $2,500 for each hunting dog killed, even if the dogs are run through areas the DNR has mapped as dangerous because of wolf activity. An advisory committee has called for an end to payments to people who have records of illegal hunting, but the recommendation is on hold, Koele said.

Typically, hounds used in bear hunting are the ones killed or injured by wolves, he said.

Dogs may be injured or killed when they encounter wolves in areas where attempts have been made to bait bears with containers of food byproducts that also attract wolves and other wildlife. Conflicts also occur in rendezvous areas where wolves bring pups and are likely to take action to protect them.

Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association president Al Lobner didnt respond to a request for comment.
Town of Madison leaders will examine how a proposal to speed up its dissolution could affect the municipalitys employees, residents and businesses.

According to a statement from the town Wednesday, a group of department heads will look at the early annexation proposal and work on possible recommendations.

The final annexation of the town is slated for Oct. 31, 2022, under a 2003 agreement ratified by the state. Earlier this month, Madison and Fitchburg officials outlined a plan that would divide the town between the two cities by the end of the year or soon thereafter.

The Town Board feels it is important to obtain input from various town stakeholders, employees, taxpayers, residents and business owners, the statement said.

It said the town has various contractual and other obligations to be looked at as well.

The group will share its findings and any recommendations with the board by Jan. 16, according to the statement.

Under the proposal sent to Town Chairman Jim Campbell by Mayor Paul Soglin in an Aug. 11 letter, Madison would take about 75 percent of the towns employees, while Fitchburg acquiring the remaining.

Madison is slated to take in most of the towns land, which is primarily scattered along the Beltline, while Fitchburg would assume some land south of the highway.

Fitchburg and Madison leaders hope that expediting the annexation could help improve some of the neighborhoods now located in the town with access to larger planning departments and tax incremental financing.
Search of Mayfield home snares alleged meth trafficker and two others
Advertisement

By The Associated Press

Aug. 24, 2016 | AMATRICE, ITALY

By The Associated Press Aug. 24, 2016 | 05:58 PM | AMATRICE, ITALY

Italian authorities say that the death toll in an earthquake on Wednesday has risen to 159.



The civil protection agency gave the updated figure shortly before midnight in Italy, some 20 hours after the earthquake struck. The tremors reduced three towns to rubble and sparked urgent search efforts.



Among the victims was an 18-month-old girl whose mother survived the deadly earthquake of 2009 in nearby L'Aquila and moved away from there after that terrible experience.



The news agency ANSA reported that the toddler, Marisol Piermarini, was sleeping in her bed in the family's vacation home in Arquata del Tronto when the quake struck early Wednesday.



Her mother, Martina Turco, survived the earthquake that struck L'Aquila, killing more than 300 people. Now she is being treated in a hospital after being pulled from the rubble as the family mourns the death of the little girl.
September 11, 2016, will mark the 15th anniversary of the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil in history. For those old enough to remember, that day and the events that followed will be forever etched in their mind, like Pearl Harbor was for those alive in 1941. Military members and their families recalled a certain anxiety, waiting to see what would happen next.

I was on my first deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, when I found out about the attacks on our nation, said TSgt. Andrea Wieciech, 439th Airlift Wing Command Support Staff member. When the second plane hit, I went back to my room because I knew we were about to go into FPCON Delta and rest and sleep would soon be nonexistent.

When the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan at 8:45 a.m. that Tuesday, first responders and those working in and around the building knew that tragedy had just struck, but they had no idea that a terrorist attack had taken place. As emergency responders began evacuating the first tower, they were hit with a second blow, literally. It had only been 18 minutes since the first plane flew into the 80th floor of the North Tower. The second plane flew into the 60th floor of the South Tower. An hour later, at 9:45 a.m., a third plane flew into the west side of the Pentagon. Twenty-five minutes after that, a fourth plane was brought down in a field in western Pennsylvania by passengers and airline crew members. Theories still abound as to where that jet was headed, whether the White House, Capitol building or the Camp David presidential retreat.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the World Trade Centers that day, 189 at the Pentagon, and 45 onboard the aircraft that crashed in Pennsylvania. Of those, 343 were firefighters or paramedics, 125 were active-duty military personnel, 37 were Port Authority police officers, and 23 were New York police officers.

Military bases, including Westover, were immediately put on lockdown, and the Force Protection level was raised to Delta, the highest security posture, here and abroad.

Retired Maj. Gen. Martin Mazick, then commander, stood up Westovers Crisis Action Team and closed the base to all visitors the moment he realized America was being attacked. When I walked into my office that morning, my protocol officer and secretary told me that a plane had just hit the world trade center tower, he said. Moments later, the second plane hit and he knew it was no accident.

Throughout the day, Westover and bases around the world continued to take increased security measures. The Massachusetts State police and Chicopee Police Department arrived with working dogs to help support our security forces at the main gate and perimeter, said Mazick. Volunteers from the 439th Maintenance Squadron stood guard at entry control points to the flight line, while other others checked IDs at building entrances. I couldnt have been more proud of how everyone came together.

A Westover aircrew was in the air to help within hours of the attacks. The crew was at Travis AFB, Calif., on its first leg of a mission to Australia when they were re-tasked with transporting a rescue team and equipment to New York City. The aircrew delivered 72 search and rescue members --- including medical personnel, firefighters, chaplains and rescue dogs --- to McGuire AFB, N.J. They also transported their vehicles and nine pallets of equipment.

More than 30,000 reserve and guard members were called to active duty as part of a post-9/11 mobilization order. When air strikes began in Afghanistan on October 18, 2001 and Operation Enduring Freedom was launched, nearly 1,000 members of the 439th AW were activated. Many of those members were deployed in the following months. The maintainers began a steady 90-day rotation to bases overseas, such as those in Germany and Spain. Stateside, members were operating in support of Operation Noble Eagle, a homeland defense mission.

The 439th Security Forces Squadron was one of the hardest hit units within the wing. The squadron was tasked with diverse missions to support areas all over the world. Nine-eleven initiated a chain of events that brought the 439th SFS into the forefront of world-wide Air Base Defense, said CMSgt. Michael Grady, 439th SFS. Their officers, non-commissioned officers and airmen were presented with challenges and opportunities they never had to face before, he said.

Although the 9/11 attacks were an act of terror against the United States, several positive things that came from it. As former president George W. Bush said, Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

The city of Chicopee and surrounding communities rallied together to support our military members, here and abroad. The United Service Organizations helped bridge the outside community with the military members to provide them the support they needed. The community remembered Desert Storm and Desert Shield, said Mazick. Everyone wanted to support our troops. Friendlys Ice Cream even donated freezers full of ice cream, he said.

It seemed like there wasnt an overpass, yard or business window that didnt have the American Flag proudly displayed. It reignited our patriotism and showed us how vulnerable we were, said TSgt. James Bitts, 439th Communication Squadron. It was a wake-up call as a nation. They woke a sleeping giant, he said.

There was an enormous shift in military culture and recruitment as well. People were going to the recruiters office in droves.

Every month, there were at least 20-25 prior service members who made the decision to re-enlist after being out for several years, said Mazick. People were returning to do their jobs and anxious to perform because the cause was worthwhile."

I think it drastically changed the military culture, said Wieciech. It felt like the bond got stronger and everyone pulled together more than they had before, she said.

Since 9/11, Westover has deployed more than 2,000 reservists in support of OEF, ONE, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Resolute Support, and Freedoms Sentinel, according to base officials.

Due to 9/11, increased Security and heightened vigilance is now part of our everyday life, whether it is increased physical security at our workplace, schools, highways, or airports, said Grady.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A unique back-to-school guide offers tips on how to help Muslim students and refugee children hurt by world conflicts and the Trump effect, so they dont end up isolated and recruited by violent extremists on the Internet.

Helping Students Deal with Trauma Related to Geopolitical Violence & Islamophobia: A Guide for Educators is being released today in Ottawa by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).

The 16-page guide (which is being made available online in English and French) is especially timely, with Syrian refugees settling in at school this fall and the American election on the horizon, says Amira Elghawaby, NCCM communications director.

Weve experienced an increased demand for information on how students are being impacted by issues around Islamophobia and how educators can support newly arrived Syrian refugees, she said. Theres clearly a gap and this is what this guide is trying to do: put some basic resources out there and get them thinking. Sometimes, they arent aware, like what is the Trump effect on our students.

Presidential candidate Donald Trumps call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. has stoked Islamophobia rhetoric, says the guide, which includes an Associated Press report on the impact it has had on American Muslim children.

It has an impact on youth, and children dont have the capacity to process that and shake it off, said Winnipeg-based ISSA president Shahina Siddiqui.

We know the American election will have impacts here in Canada, Elghawaby said in Ottawa. We want to make sure educators are attuned to how it impacts the students theyre caring for.

Syrian refugees who recently arrived in Canada will likely be confronted with Islamophobia in some form. Many refugees are settled in, and now the real work begins, Elghawaby said.

When Muslim students face Islamophobia, they often find themselves under attack and on the defensive, the guide says. They may feel they have to stay silent or apologize for terrorists acting in the name of their faith to prove their loyalty to Canada, it says.

The booklet aims to help teachers and guidance counsellors understand the impact of hate, war, trauma and terrorism so they can support students dealing with fear, grief, and confusion, Siddiqui said.

It is critical schools provide safe spaces for youth and help them build confidence in their identity as Canadian Muslims, Siddiqui says in the guides preface. If theyre not supported and take hateful messages to heart, theyre more likely to act out in unhealthy ways, turning to drugs, alcohol or the Internet, where theyre targets for violent extremist recruiters, she said.

In an interview Wednesday, Siddiqui wondered if Aaron Driver (an Islamic State supporter who was killed Aug. 10 by police in Ontario while reportedly en route to committing a terrorist act) had received the emotional help he needed in school to deal with the grief over his mothers death.

The guidebook aims to help children long before theyre isolated and turn to violent extremism, she said.

Its meant to reach children at the preventative and healing stage (and) to help teachers understand what theyre dealing with, said Siddiqui.

Many of them dont have the knowledge base or understanding, she said, adding two examples: at a Manitoba school, a girls hijab (head scarf) was pulled off by a teaching assistant; at another school, a student who complained about course material having an anti-Muslim bias was told she couldnt graduate unless she completed the assignment.

Do we want a society thats cohesive and harmonious or one thats about the othering of a whole group of people? Siddiqui said. Unless it is stopped, it will escalate. Hate escalates and violence escalates when it is not responded to.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

ED-GUIDE-ENGLISH-BOOK-WEB
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEGS Italian community is coming together to help after a deadly earthquake in central Italy killed at least 247 people and left thousands homeless Wednesday.

Leaders from a handful of Italian-Canadian organizations in the province will meet this afternoon to lay out a plan to support the country as it deals with the aftermath of the magnitude 6.2 quake, which reduced three towns in central Italy to rubble.

Mario Audino, acting executive director of the Caboto Centre, said its a routine theyve had to follow all too often because of Italys position near a major fault line.

Gregorio Borgia / The Associated Press Rescuers search the rubble of collapsed homes Pescara Del Tronto, Italy, Wednesday.

Unfortunately, weve had to do things like this in the past, many times  Italy is very much subject to earthquakes, Audino said Wednesday.

Normally what we do in these kinds of situations, we launch a fundraising campaign at the community level and we channel the funds to the Canadian Red Cross, who in turn forwards them to the Italian Red Cross.

While most of Winnipegs Italian community, which Audino estimated was close to 20,000, hails from southern Italy, rather than the central region where the quake hit, Joe Grande, owner of Mona Lisa Ristorante, said Winnipeggers are shaken.

(The quake) seems to affect everybody because a lot of (Winnipeggers) families travel through that place or they live there, he said Wednesday evening. Even if youre from the South youll have relatives in the North.

People are quite concerned about whats going on since its such a small country, he said. This morning, there were quite a few families that are calling their families to make sure theyre all right.

Audino said he was watching television Tuesday night when programming was suddenly stopped for coverage of the devastating quake

Obviously I was very saddened, and I still am, he said.

But now we have to go ahead and do something about it to help the people in our homeland.

Its a sentiment being expressed in Italian communities across the country.

Bob Sacco, president of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations, said while its still early, his organization is looking at options to support recovery efforts.

I got a lot of calls from our chapters in Montreal and various chapters across Canada that basically said, How can we help? The first step is really to figure out who the right people are to have an idea and do an effective plan, he said.

Sacco was previously involved with fundraising after a powerful 2009 earthquake in Italys Abruzzo region, which killed more than 300 people. At that time, the Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Fund was established, raising $2 million for a new medical research facility at the University of LAquila, in one of the towns hit hardest by the earthquake. Another $400,000 was donated to the Red Cross.

The Italian community stepped up to the plate when that happened there, and Im sure theyll do that this time as well, Sacco said.

He added his organization will likely follow a similar plan to raise money for the towns affected by the recent earthquake. But for now, he said rescue efforts are most important.

Some of those towns, they go back thousands of years with churches and architects. Thats part of that rebuilding process  how you recapture whats lost, he said. But first of all, you have to make sure everybodys safe.

 with files from The Canadian Press

aidan.geary@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.

Manitobas first black bear cub rehabilitation centre is getting a celebrity boost.

Bob Barker, former host of the televised game show The Price Is Right, has donated $50,000 towards the facility.

I think its money well spent, said Barker, who has been a life-long advocate for animals. I love all animals and I help animals around the world of all kinds. But this particular one, I was struck with the realization that these little cubs, theres no place for them when theyre picked up and I wanted to help.

KATY WINN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES I was struck with the realization that these little cubs, there's no place for them when they're picked up, and I wanted to help," Bob Barker said of his $50,000 gift to the bear sanctuary.

The project began in 2012 when Roger and Judy Stearns, from the RM of Rockwood north of Winnipeg, approached Julie Woodyer, campaign director at Zoocheck, a Canadian-based wildlife protection charity, about orphaned black bear cubs in Manitoba.

The Stearns were concerned about the Manitoba governments policy about handling orphaned bear cubs. Three options are outlined on a government website: cubs will be released into the wild if they are healthy and have a reasonable chance of survival; if not, an accredited zoo or wildlife facility will be contacted to provide a permanent home for the cubs; if no homes are found, the cubs are euthanized.

After becoming aware of the provinces handling of orphaned cubs, Stearns approached Woodyer about potentially opening a rehabilitation facility. Stearns said the idea was eventually put on the backburner and she waited to see if anyone else would open one in the meantime. It wasnt until last summer that she started to seriously look into it, she said.

Time was going by and more cubs were dying and we just thought, Weve got the interest and the space ourselves, why dont we just do it then?' said Stearns.

Barker, who has worked with Zoocheck in the past, was told about the project through Woodyer, the Zoocheck official. He said he was impressed with Judy and Roger Stearns. To think that they would get into this as deeply as they are, financially and time-wise, is just very impressive so I wanted to help, he said. The money was donated to Zoocheck, which will disperse the funds to the project.

Stearns said the facility is going to be self-funded, but Barkers donation will allow the facility to be larger, more complex and better. Its just amazing, she said. It just kicked it up a whole notch or two. Its taken it to another level and its going to speed things along.

Woodyer said the number of orphaned black bear cubs varies by year  some years there may be none, others there may be around four or five. She said the facility is being built to hold 10 cubs and the facility can expand if needed.

We need two final approvals, but there isnt any criteria there that we dont think we can meet, so Im very confident that the facility will be going forward, she said. The RM of Rockwood has been informed of the project and they havent had negative feedback, added Woodyer. She also added that the Stearns neighbours have been informed and are very supportive of the project.

Stearns said less than a quarter of their 10-acre property will be used for the facility, which will include an indoor and outdoor enclosure.

John Beecham, a consultant on bear rehabilitation issues and scientific advisor to Get Bear Smart Society, helped design the facility and provided the Stearns with written guidelines and protocols.

The facility will be run primarily by the Stearns, with a minimal number of volunteers on hand if needed. Stearns said she and her husband already know the rehabilitation process, but Beecham will be available on retainer if they have any questions or concerns.

Its something that addresses what most of the general public wants from their wildlife agencies. When they end up with orphaned animals like this they like to see them saved in some way; returned to the wild if possible, said Beecham.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Judy Stearns and her husband Roger are running a bear cub sanctuary near Stonewall. They're recipients of a $50,000 gift from former game show host Bob Barker.

Stearns said the facility will likely receive cubs in the early spring or late summer, depending on when theyre orphaned. From there, the cubs will be bottle-fed and eventually weaned while staying inside the indoor enclosure. The cubs will then move to the outdoor enclosure, allowing them to socialize with the other cubs, she said.

Stearns said the big factor behind rehabilitating the cubs is their size and their ability to defend themselves from predators. If theyre too small in body weight, they cant defend themselves, she said. The larger they are the better chance they have of survival. The plan is to release the cubs when they weigh around 80 pounds in the late fall  just before they begin to hibernate.

In anticipation of the facility opening, Stearns got her certified wildlife rehabilitator license.

Ive handled animals my whole life, she said. I dont have any fear, Im just looking forward to having the bears here and helping them.

While the facility will not be open to the public, Woodyer said the facility will help educate Manitobans on how to deal with bears through their website and other mediums.

The truth is, at a facility like this, your best hope is that it never even has to be used, that theres never an orphaned cub, said Woodyer. Truth is there always will be. But reducing those numbers of incidents is also a key role of any rehabilitation centre and educating the public about how to keep from having conflicts with wild animals.

The final plans are going to the RM of Rockwood and the Manitoba Wildlife and Fisheries Branch for approval in the coming weeks.

The facility is anticipated to open next spring.

alexandra.depape@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.

Families Minister Scott Fielding says the province will work toward a plan to keep the public safe from a 10-year-old Winnipeg boy who is chronically violent.

Police have cautioned the boy at least 22 times since 2013 but cannot criminally charge him because of his age. The most serious incident was a stabbing last year in which the childs victim was critically injured.

The child is in the care of Child and Family Services but repeatedly flees the residences where he is placed.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Scott Fielding, Minister of Families and MLA for Kirkfield Park.

Were not into making policy on the fly, Fielding told reporters Wednesday when asked about the provinces responsibilities to curtail the child. The individual case, I cant comment specifically on that.

Were obviously going to work with the authorities, including the police and Child and Family Services. We need to develop a plan for this individual.

Fielding noted a child under 12 cannot be charged criminally but said the province has programs and foster care. He would not discuss if the province would, or even can, place the child in a secure facility.

At the end of the day, public safety is extremely important, Fielding said.

The Free Press wrote about the troubled boy in March. His father is a convicted killer.

The Winnipeg Police Service is very familiar with the boy, but they cant charge him.

The youth has been involved in a near-fatal stabbing, assaults, arson, car theft and break-and-enters, and hes possessed weapons and uttered death threats.

Fielding on

Families Minister Scott Fielding was questioned by reporters Wednesday about several ongoing issues:

He said is not aware if anyone in Child and Family Services will be disciplined in the case of a 15-year-old boy who brutally beat and seriously injured a 16-year-old girl in a parkade in April, 2015.

Both were in the care of Child and Family Services and had been housed at the time in the same downtown hotel.

I cant speak specifically on the case, of discipline. Nothing has been reported to me, Fielding told reporters.

Fielding said his government is absolutely committed to not placing children in care in hotels, and said no child is now housed in a hotel, even in emergency situations: Our officials have indicated that is not the case.

Fielding would not make comment on the possibility of the governments increasing funding to MacDonald Youth Services so that workers who went on strike for two weeks earlier this month could get a raise. MYS hasnt had a funding increase in four years.

Its an employer/employees discussion going on. Thats obviously a decision happening right now with MacDonald Youth Services.

However, a senior aide to Premier Brian Pallister said immediately after the interview that the government does not want to see any money targetted for programs being diverted into wage increases.

Fielding said he will release his implementation plan for improving access to day care this fall. It will include less red tape, more home-based day cares, and more day care spaces in schools.

The NDP approach to day care was neither sustainable nor pragmatic, Fielding said.

We need to make it easier for people to get access and easier to start a home-based day care, he said, though Fielding quickly noted, Were not looking to reduce standards. There are rigourous standards in place now.

 with files from Mike McIntyre

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canadas energy ministers wrapped up their meeting Tuesday in Winnipeg and agreed public trust is essential for a future that develops natural resources, creates jobs and transitions to a low-carbon economy.

As they move forward, they should have one question: how will Canadian technology and innovation deliver a clean energy future that includes oil and natural gas?

A critical part of that decision will be the choices made as early as this fall on new energy infrastructure to connect the nations energy with Canadians and the world  specifically, decisions about the future of liquefied natural gas and the next major oil pipeline.

LARRY MACDOUGAL / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Pumpjacks pump crude oil near Halkirk, Alta. Canada currently only exports oil and natural gas to the United States, which is rapidly becoming Canadas competitor as a supplier.

Canada has the resources and resourcefulness to become the worlds energy supplier of choice. It has abundant oil and natural-gas reserves, innovative technologies and a commitment to sustainability.

Global demand for energy is expected to increase 32 per cent through 2040, and while all forms of energy will play important roles, more than a quarter of that total increase will be met by oil. The lions share of demand will come from China and India, as their combined consumption is expected to increase by more than 10.8 million barrels per day through the same timeframe.

Currently, Canada doesnt ship any oil to either country.

As for natural gas, global demand is expected to increase almost 50 per cent by 2040, making it the fastest-growing fossil fuel. One-fifth of that demand will be met by liquefied natural gas or natural gas transported via pipelines.

In short, the world will need more energy produced in a responsible way.

Canada currently exports oil and natural gas to its only customer, the United States However, the U.S. is quickly becoming one of the largest producers in the world, meaning the No. 1 customer is now the No. 1 competitor.

During the meetings in Winnipeg, provincial and territorial leaders welcomed the federal governments participation in Canadas energy strategy.

The strategy clearly recognizes a role as an energy supplier of the future, stating, With stable governments, a strong economy and significant energy resources, our country is well-positioned to meet local and international energy needs.

The Canadian Energy Strategy signatories are correct: Canada is well-positioned as a supplier of choice as one of the worlds largest producers of both oil and natural gas. It has the third-largest reserves of oil in the world, behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

Over the last several years, Canada has developed a reputation as a place where energy projects are not completed or get delayed. As a result, capital investment is not coming to Canada. Less investment means fewer jobs.

Canadians should be proud of our stringent regulatory requirements and our commitment to strong environmental performance. But we should also strive to have an efficient and timely approval process.

We need to reach more customers by way of pipelines, rail and marine terminals. Without this essential infrastructure we will not be able to grow the energy sector for the prosperity of all Canadians.

Canada has three major oil pipelines at various stages in the approval process: Energy East, Trans Mountain and Northern Gateway. By approving these pipelines and enabling industry to invest more than $30 billion of private capital, governments are allowing Canadian energy to reach the people who need it. When it comes to natural gas, there are major export opportunities on Canadas coasts through the development of several liquefied-natural-gas export projects.

The oil and natural gas resources may not be mobile, but the investor confidence and capital needed to develop them are; we need to attract and keep that capital in Canada.

Petroleum producers are supportive of the agreements made by federal, provincial and territorial leaders.

It is time for us to act.

Through continued innovation and technological efforts, Canada has the opportunity to provide safe, reliable and secure energy to international markets.

After all, it was Canadian resourcefulness that found a way to get the oil out of the sand and the natural gas out of the rock. It will be Canadian ingenuity that allows for a cleaner energy future with oil and gas.

In the spirit of the agreement made in Winnipeg this week, we ask Canada to commit to sensible choices that encourage the development of energy infrastructure needed to move energy to Canadians and to the world.

Tim McMillan is the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Hon. Carolyn Bennett, minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, deserves kudos for her effective role in providing the Dene the opportunity to take greater control of their lives after many years of suffering because of ignorance on the part of many governments.

An excellent article, Addressing the fatal ordeal of the Dene by Alexandra Paul, appeared in the Aug. 13 Winnipeg Free Press. It brought back memories, not all of which were pleasant.

The apology by the government of Canada, along with compensation for the Denes forced move to Churchill, establishes a recognition point for the Dene to be in greater control of their future  something that was eliminated from their lives one fateful day in 1956.

JIM COLLINSON PHOTO A polar bear scrounges for food at the Churchill dump in 1967. To the left, unseen, a Dene is doing the same thing, but with a fire in an old fuel drum to warm it up.

In the scene shown in the accompanying photo, just to the left of the bear, was a Dene man. He, too, was searching for food. The only difference was he had a barrel with a fire in it and a metal plate on the top so he could heat up his food.

The Dene and the bear were only about 25 feet apart, but they seemed to ignore each other quite effectively.

At one point, I was about to take a picture that included both the bear and the Dene, but that struck me as inappropriate. Although both were searching for food, the bear knew that once the bay froze over he would be fine. The Dene was not in that position: he had been moved from Little Duck Lake, just south of the much larger Nejanilini Lake. His skills were suited for living within a caribou range, not the barrens near Churchill.

Trying his best to seek food, he shared an open dump with a polar bear that would soon head off for a winter of great food. He, on the other hand, had a proud but fading past, with nothing to look forward to.

Eleven years prior, he was one of those scooped up at Little Duck Lake by a Canso amphibious cargo plane and dropped off in Churchill. There, he and his family and friends were expected to adapt  virtually without help. Just because the caribou that year had been diverted, possibly by a fire in the lichen to the north, an entire community was taken from its home and deposited into an unfamiliar setting. That the Dene caused any drop in caribou numbers is, quite simply, a lie.

In 1971, I landed with some colleagues on Little Duck Lake and walked into the old community. In an eerie way, it felt as if everyone would be coming back. We didnt look too closely, as it seemed they might show up at any time.

Most homes we peeked into had good dinnerware set up on the table, as if the meal had been about to be served when the infamous Canso arrived to take them away to Churchill. Many of the homes had small gramophones and 78 r.p.m. records, not all that different than what I remember growing up in the Souris area in the 1940s.

Their coal-oil lamps were no different  quite elaborate, in fact. Clearly, the residents of Little Duck Lake had lived a rounded and relatively comfortable life until it was shattered by a huge mistake.

We left their homes and contents intact, hoping one day they would be back.

Jim Collinson is a management consultant specializing in energy, economic, and environmental issues who has held assistant deputy minister positions in the federal and Manitoba governments.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You must uphold the highest standards of honesty and impartiality, and both the performance of your official duties and the arrangement of your private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny. This is an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law, Prime Minister Trudeau told his ministers on the day they were sworn into cabinet in November.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall at meetings between Mr. Trudeau and his ministers as the Liberals deal with the fallout after the spending by two cabinet ministers has come to light. Health Minister Jane Philpott has caused substantial embarrassment after it was found she used a Liberal supporters limo service to rack up a $3,815 tab. She has agreed to pay back $3,700. Following a complaint from the Conservatives, ethics commissioner Mary Dawson has agreed to investigate further.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has defended her ministrys use of a professional photographer to document the COP21 climate summit in Paris last fall at a cost of $6,600. She has, however, also promised a review of the pricey practice. This one is less egregious because it doesnt involve insiders status. A promise to review should satiate the critics, but to be clear, they will be watching  very closely  in the future. Nows the time for the ministers staff to be pristine in their spending practices.

DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Health Minister Jane Philpott: embarrassed Liberals

Its these types of missteps that make the oppositions job easy, but they also take away from the hard work ahead for the Canadian government. Mr. Trudeau won his mandate by promising to end a culture of entitlement in Ottawa through openness and accountability. His ministers need to take that promise seriously as well.

Mr. Trudeau was asked to respond to the allegations against Ms. Philpott. He called the incident a mistake; his ministers have been told to apologize, make amends and then make sure the mistakes dont happen again. But the Philpott case was more than just a mistake. Its cronyism, and this government was elected because Canadians were sick of these antics. Time to be firm and clear, Mr. Trudeau. Hiring party insiders cant happen again.

Following the cabinet retreat over the weekend, Mr. Trudeau announced a minor tweaking of his cabinet. Manitoba MP Maryanne Mihychuk has been relieved of some of her duties, and there was a slight shifting of committees. Both Ms. Philpott and Ms. McKenna remain unscathed, largely because both have performed well in their duties. In fact, Ms. Philpott is considered a rising star and a competent minister for the often-thorny health file. But even being a star has its limits. There need to be ramifications if this type of behaviour continues  and being kicked out of cabinet should be the next step.

The Trudeau government has a tough fall session facing it, with a number of issues screaming for attention: senate vacancies; a national plan on climate change; new provincial health care accords, a decision on pipelines, legalizing pot, and electoral reform, to name a few. Meanwhile, the finance minister is expected to provide a fiscal update as the sputtering economy continues to gasp for air. Its not good for Canadians if all this work gets sidetracked by spending scandals.
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.
Tragically, it was deja vu all over again.

When the I-35 bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on Aug. 1, 2007, it put in motion the events that resulted in a new bridge across the Mississippi at Winona nine years later.

Seventy-two years earlier, almost to the day, the interstate bridge at La Crosse plunged into the Mississippi, an event that resulted in a new bridge across the Mississippi seven years later.

I heard it when it went down, E.C. Dickerman, a La Crosse garage attendant, told the Winona Republican-Herald. It was sort of a dull thud, then a splash. I thought a boat hit the bridge ... I ran out and saw the bridge in the river.

A Gateway Transfer truck loaded with about eight tons of silk fabric rolled across the bridge about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 9, 1935. Ten minutes later an Auburn sedan with two couples returning from the Bon Ton night club in La Crescent approached the span.

I was driving about 30 or 40 miles an hour and just as I reached the bridge the car skidded into the first girder, the driver, Capt. Fisher F. Blinn, told the Republican-Herald. As soon as we hit it the span went down and the car fell into the river. I believe we went down with the span.

Blinn said the front windows of the sedan were open. He crawled out the drivers side window, then managed to pull the front seat passenger, Marceline Patro, out the other. He helped Patro, who was injured and bleeding badly, to swim to a bridge girder where they clung, waiting for rescue.

The couple in the back seat were not so fortunate. Francis and Ethel Landrieau were trapped in the vehicle and drowned.

A camper at nearby Pettibone Park was witness to the collapse. There was a big crash, Louise Koenig, of Milwaukee, said. She described a blue streak flashing across the sky as electric transmission lines between La Crosse and La Crescent shorted out as the bridge seemed to fold up and sink down.

She ran to the river and, seeing the car in the water, I took off my dress, jumped into the river, swam to the car and tried to get the care door open, but the current was so swift I had to give up, she said. I am sure when I got to the car the man in the rear seat was still living. A short time later the car seemed to sink farther into the river and soon it disappeared from sight except for a small portion of the spare tire.

The police arrived in a boat, Koenig said, and helped Blinn and Patro off the beam. The campers went onto the roadway to flag down approaching motorists, stopping one La Crescent driver speeding along at 70 mph just short of where the bridge no longer was.

As it was, about 135 feet of the 1,000-foot-long bridge sagged 40 feet into the Mississippi. La Crescent was without electricity or telephone service, the lines from La Crosse severed. Traffic backed up on both sides of the fallen span as motorists and truckers contemplated a 30-mile detour either to the bridge at Lansing, Iowa, or upstream to Winona.

The prospect of a sudden surge of traffic put Minnesota highway officials into a mild panic. The 1890-vintage high wagon bridge in Winona was already under weight and speed restrictions due to concerns about age and carrying capacity. Guards were posted at both approaches to the Winona bridge to strictly enforce load limits.

Commuters between La Crosse and Minnesota were faced with a long detour or chancy boat ride in the days after the collapse. Within three days, a ferry capable of carrying four cars was shuttling between Riverside Park and the west bank of the river, as construction crews worked overtime to replace the fallen span  a task completed by Aug. 20.

Investigations into the collapse pointed to a similar mishap that had occurred two years earlier on July 4, when a car struck the same girder, the impact carrying along the steel beam for nine feet. The damage was repaired, but it was believed that the beam was weakened and vulnerable.

The collapse spurred attention to aging bridges on both sides of the river. The La Crosse bridge was opened in 1891, a year after and similar in construction to the bridge at Winona. Both bridges were found deficient and in 1939 the Cass Street bridge was opened between Minnesota and La Crosse, followed three years later by the interstate bridge at Winona.

As soon as we hit it the span went down and the car fell into the river. I believe we went down with the span. Capt. Fisher F. Blinn, sedan driver
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 channel 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.
Jacqueline Vida Malesevich

Jacqueline Vida Malesevich, 91, Mayville, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, surrounded by her family at Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. until noon at Koepsell Funeral Home in Mayville. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Mayville.

Jacqueline was born the daughter of Edward and Vida (Collins) Nessen on Feb. 18, 1925. She was united in marriage to Bronko Malesevich on Feb. 12, 1944, in Muskegon, Michigan. She worked for the Mayville Public Library for more than 39 years until she retired as head librarian, which helped fuel her passion for reading. She also had a true love for animals and birds especially and helped volunteer with the Dodge County Humane Society. In her spare time she also enjoyed crafts, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She also loved the time spent with her family and friends especially the birthday gang.

She is survived by her children, Dan Malesevich of Cable, Mike (Pam) Malesevich of Brownsville, Jim Malesevich of Mayville, and Mary (Erv) Malesevich of Mayville; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bronko; and three sisters, Maxine Nelson, Betty Hoekenga and Helen Witt.

A special thank you to Hospice Home of Home in Fond du Lac, Hope Nursing and Rehabilitation in Lomira, and her special friends for all of their support and friendship through the years.

Memorials may be directed to the Dodge County Humane Society or the Mayville Public Library.

Koepsell Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Mayville is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.koepsellfh.com.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Russ Feingold said this week that the Clinton Foundation, the global charity that has become a flashpoint in the race for president, may need to shut down if Hillary Clinton is elected.

The comments show Feingold, D-Middleton, wading into the recent exchange between Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Trump has hammered the foundation, launched by former President Bill Clinton, as the most corrupt enterprise in political history.

Trump has alleged Hillary Clinton sold access as secretary of state in exchange for contributions to the foundation  a charge Clinton vehemently denies, saying my work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces.

At a campaign stop in Beloit on Wednesday, Feingold questioned whether the Clinton Foundation could continue to exist if Clinton wins the presidency, according to a Janesville Gazette report.

If it (the foundation) would in any way harm the credibility of the Clinton administration, I dont think its worth having it, because the credibility and accountability of the president has to be first, Feingold said, according to the Gazette and confirmed by the Feingold campaign.

So from my point of view, they (the Clintons) should be very, very open. If it turns out its problematic, it probably should be shut down, he said.

Feingolds comments show he felt compelled to address what The New York Times called overlapping interests between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department during Hillary Clintons stint leading the department from 2009 to 2013. The overlap stems from the fact that many donors to the foundation, including foreign governments such as Saudi Arabia, had interests that could be influenced by the department.

A recent Associated Press report found 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.

Trump was among the donors to the foundation, having given more than $100,000. He told a New Hampshire TV station Thursday that he did not seek access or favors from Clinton in exchange for his contributions.

The foundation has worked on womens issues, global health, climate change and disaster relief. Hillary Clinton joined it in 2013 after ending her stint as secretary of state. The Clintons daughter, Chelsea Clinton, also serves on the foundation board. None of the Clintons have drawn personal funding or salaries from the foundation.

Earlier this month, the foundation said it would stop accepting contributions from corporations and foreign entities, including governments, if Hillary Clinton is elected president, Bloomberg News reported.

Trumps campaign in Wisconsin seized on Feingolds remarks in a press release Thursday.

Wisconsin voters need to know, if its a conflict of interest for her as President, why wasnt it as Secretary of State? asked Trumps state director in Wisconsin, Pete Meachum.

Feingolds campaign, in response to an inquiry from the State Journal, declined to address Meachums question.

Clintons campaign in Wisconsin and the campaign of Feingolds Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment.
PORTAGENew parents must make a lot of important decisions when they bring a child into the world  some can seem very daunting. Divine Savior Healthcares goal is to guide and support mothers and families in their efforts to raise healthy and happy children. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and support and guidance is available to new and experienced mothers.

Most women in the U.S. initiate breastfeeding, but more than half stop breastfeeding earlier than planned. Support is the key work when it comes to breastfeeding, Divine Savior lactation Wendy Sherwood said. When a mother feels supported in her decision to provide breast milk she will continue until her infant is ready to wean.

Current recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics is to exclusively breastfeed until 6 months of age and continue to breastfeed for a year or for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby. Research has shown breastfeeding is a benefit for both mother and baby by protecting babies from some common childhood infections. Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the childs risk of developing diabetes, and the mothers risk of acquiring breast cancer.

When we talk about support, family and friends are extremely important as well as support from nurses, lactation consultants, physicians and other medical professionals. Research from the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group reveals that one-on-one support is more effective than telephone support. In addition, support that is only offered if women seek help will likely be ineffective showing the importance of scheduled, ongoing visits with all patients.

Support for breastfeeding can include giving reassurance, praise, information, and the opportunity to discuss and respond to a mothers questions with evidence-based information.

Each day, Sherwood meets with families, takes phone calls from mothers to reassure them, and offers support to maintain a positive breastfeeding experience. I love that part of my job. I would like mothers to know that I am here as a resource for them, she said. My job is to assist mothers to give their families the very best start to a healthier future. Providing breast milk is not just a mothers decision but it is a family decision.

Many people stress the importance of a six-month breastfeeding experience, while Sherwood likes to focus more specifically on the experience mothers get pre-delivery to right after birth. Many first-time mothers assume breastfeeding is going to be easy, but it can be normal to need some assistance getting started. It is not just enough for mothers to know they should breastfeed, but it is also extremely important to understand the risk of not breastfeeding. Sherwood believes this starts with breastfeeding classes during their pregnancy, questions answered by their doctor, hospital nurses assisting them when baby is born, and a great network of friends and family that support breastfeeding.

Sherwood knows from personal experience the difference having support makes. I have been there at day two post-discharge with a little tiny baby in my arms and I didnt know what to do to get my baby to breastfeed, she said. It can be scary at times, but I was able to get through with the support of a wondering nurse who encouraged me to relax and enjoy the experience. From that day forward breastfeeding was still something we worked at, but it became a joyful experience not just a task to be done. I became a Lactation Consultant because of the great support I received from that nurse and feel that it is my job to offer that same support to new families. I just needed someone to support me and listen, and that is what we are here for at Divine Savior Healthcare.
The second of a group of four friends and associates charged in the August 2015 drug overdose death of a Lodi man entered a plea of no contest in Columbia County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Patrick Henry Sawyer, 46, of Tampa Bay, Florida, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide as a party of a crime, accused of providing the heroin that killed 27-year-old Nicholas Klamer.

According to court documents, early in the morning of Aug. 18, 2015, Klamer and a friend, Chase Thistle, 26, of Madison, got a ride from Klamers father to Madison under the guise of needing to help a friend with car trouble.

Once in Madison the two met with Denan Marquardt, 27, who was waiting in his van with Anna Hays, 27, of Portage, and Sawyer. According to testimony by those involved, Klamer gave $200 to Hays and Sawyer who took the van with the money to a dealer and then returned with heroin.

The five used the heroin in the back of the van before Klamer and Thistle took what was left and went to catch their ride back to Lodi.

Thistle and Klamer used again in the boat house near Klamers parents house. Later that morning, according to Thistle, he woke up and with Klamer still asleep, went back home. Klamer was found dead later that day.

All four involved were charged with reckless homicide as a party to a crime. Hays was convicted of manufacturing and delivery of heroin, after entering a plea of no contest, with the count of reckless homicide dismissed.

Sawyer has entered a plea of no contest to a single count of first-degree reckless homicide, which carries a sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing for Sawyer is scheduled for Oct. 18.

Marquardt is being held on a $5,000 cash bond with a jury trial scheduled for Sept. 26-28. Thistle is being held on a $25,000 bond with trial scheduled for Jan. 11 through Jan. 13.
Innovation ecosystem opens door

New #IBMResearchWITS partnership to focus on big data, cloud computing and mobile tech.

Wits University and IBM Research today opened the IBM Research lab - the second in Africa, at the University's new technology innovation hub in the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein.

The researchers will focus on collaborations in the areas of data driven healthcare, digital urban ecosystems and astronomy.

@gsiwo introduces our Data Driven Healthcare Research in South Africa #IBMResearchWITS pic.twitter.com/btYzqWtwh8  Solomon Assefa (@solo_assefa) August 25, 2016

Wits' Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, says the Wits-IBM partnership will focus on big data, cloud computing and mobile technology to support South African development priorities.

We want to build an innovation ecosystem in South Africa to spur economic development @solo_assefa #IBMResearchWITS pic.twitter.com/qm0Lw3MA8X  IBM Research (@IBMResearch) August 25, 2016

As part of a 10-year investment program through South Africas Department of Trade and Industry and working closely with the Department of Science and Technology, the new research lab is based at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).

The University was recently ranked amongst the top 10 in emerging economies by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

The launch of the IBM Research laboratory is an exciting milestone in the move towards a new era of globally competitive research, innovation and entrepreneurship that will be emerging out of the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein. Wits is delighted to be collaborating with IBM. We look forward to seeing top talent congregate to address the continents most intractable problems and work on the worlds next game changing technologies, said Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand.

The lab is located in the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein  an inner-city area which is today re-emerging as a vibrant Johannesburg district. The two-level, 900 square meter lab has a DIY maker space with electronic design equipment and a 3D printer.

Data Driven Healthcare

In support of the World Health Organizations End TB (Tuberculosis) Strategy, IBM scientists are designing wearable sensor technology connected to the Watson Internet of Things to trace the spread of highly infectious, communicable diseases. This innovation will help healthcare organizations and health officials develop prevention strategies and respond effectively.

IBM scientists are developing cognitive learning approaches to transform cancer reporting, prevention and precision medicine in Africa. In a proof of concept study, IBM scientists have discovered a basic molecular link between cancer causing genes and those associated with metastasis, the cause of 90% of cancer related deaths*. Preliminary results from this work have been presented recently. Using anonymous, unstructured data provided by the National Cancer Registry in South Africa and in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand Medical School, the team is developing cognitive algorithms to automate the inference of national cancer statistics in South Africa. This technology is expected to reduce a five-year time lag in cancer statistics reporting to real-time.



With the support of the City of Johannesburg, IBM scientists have collected 65 samples of microbes and bacteria from 19 bus stations across the city as part of the global Metagenomics and Metadesign of the Subways and Urban Biomes (MetaSUB) international consortium. Once the samples are processed the results will be available to city planners, public health officials and scientists who will use the data to help officials predict and prepare for future disease outbreaks and discover new species and biological systems.

In early September, scientists from IBM, H3ABioNet and the University of Notre Dame will host a hackathon on anti-malarial drug resistance and drug combination prediction.

Digital Urban Ecosystems

Building on IBMs global Green Horizons initiative, researchers at the new lab are working closely with experts from South Africas Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to analyze historical and real-time data from environmental monitoring stations. Using machine learning and cognitive models, the data collected in the City of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane and the Vaal Industrial Triangle will help provide more insight about air pollution and model the effectiveness of intervention strategies. The project has recently been extended to predict ground level ozone and air quality forecasting.

Commuters in the City of Johannesburg currently spend 35 minutes extra travel time per day due to traffic congestion, according to the TomTom Traffic Index. Unreliable traffic light infrastructure provides challenges to traffic light management in the city. Using real time anonymized traffic data from TomTom combined with Twitter, IBM scientists have developed a traffic optimization recommendation tool which can help city officials dispatch traffic volunteers, known locally as pointsmen, to the intersections where they are most urgently needed.

The City of Cape Town often battles with devastating wild fires, due to its unique topography and vegetation. Using data from The Weather Company, an IBM business, and the City of Cape Town's Open Data portal, IBM scientists have developed a cognitive dashboard. This can assess fire incidence risk and severity to help officials raise public awareness and prepare for emergency response.

The number of people living off-the-grid in Africa has grown by 114 million since 2000**. To help meet the energy needs of communities who are living remotely or would like to make use of renewable energy, IBM scientists have developed a mobile app which uses analytics to determine the solar requirements of users based on their energy needs and location.

Exploring the Universe

In 2018 the, Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the worlds largest radio telescope, will be built in South Africa and Australia. IBM scientists are collaborating with SKA South Africa (SKA-SA) on the development of unsupervised algorithms which can make groundbreaking astronomical discoveries. Scientists expect to eventually apply the cognitive technology to other applications, including the development of new pharmaceuticals and genomics. IBM and SKA-SA have signed an agreement to explore the advancement of this technology and to lead some major developments in data science over the next decade.



IBM scientists in South Africa are joining NASA, the SETI Institute and Swinburne University to develop an Apache Spark application to analyze the 168 million radio events detected over the past 10 years by the Allen Telescope Array (ATA). The volume and complexity of the data requires advanced machine learning algorithms to separate noise from true signals of interest. These requirements are well suited to the scalable in-memory capabilities offered by Apache Spark when combined with the big data capabilities of the IBM Cloud and IBM Bluemix Spark.

Open Infrastructure, Sustainable Design

The new lab features an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform based on OpenStack connected to IBM Storwize for efficiently provisioning 80TB of storage for research projects.

The lab is located in the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein  an inner-city area which is today re-emerging as a vibrant Johannesburg district. The two-level, 900 square meter lab has a DIY maker space with electronic design equipment and a 3D printer.

Agile work spaces provide a collaborative environment for IBM scientists to train and mentor Wits students and local start-ups. Developer communities across Africa will also have access, at no charge, to a LinuxONE Community Cloud located in Johannesburg, which acts as a virtual R&D engine for creating, testing and piloting emerging applications via the cloud.
The war against the Minister of Finance

SA academics have collectively penned an open letter expressing their outrage at the unseemly attacks on the Minister of Finance and the National Treasury.

OPEN LETTER FROM SENIOR SA ECONOMICS ACADEMICS RE: HAWKS INVESTIGATION OF GORDHAN

In December 2015 the shocking decision by President Jacob Zuma to fire Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene led about 70 senior academic economists from across South African universities to write an open letter to the Business Day to express our outrage at the capriciousness of that decision and to warn of the likely consequences for the countrys fragile economy. That that decision was politically motivated has been borne out by subsequent events. Significantly Mr Nenes redeployment to the Brics Bank, ostensibly the reason for his removal, has not materialised; the President continues to use every platform to sing the praises of the little known back bencher he appointed in Nenes place, and to express bitterness at the role of (so called) white monopoly capitalists who he claims forced a reversal of his decision to appoint van Rooyen.

At the time and in the circumstances, some commentators thought that the new Minister Pravin Gordhan would be safe from similar politically motivated attacks. How wrong they were. Since earlier this year Minister Gordhan has been subjected to an unrelenting attack from the Hawks who have been investigating the Ministers alleged role in the establishment of the so-called rogue spy unit when he was the SARS Commissioner. A few days ago the media reported that the Hawks were once more circling the Minister.

These events have once again compelled us to put pen to paper to express our outrage and warn of the dangers to our still very fragile economy. With predictions of zero growth in 2016, stubbornly high unemployment, persistent poverty and inequality, and a volatile currency, this is not the time, if there ever was, to be playing such dangerous games with the lives and well-being of all sectors of our economy and society, especially the poor and the vulnerable. We say all this with the same qualifiers we employed in our December 2015 letter; including our recognition that Ministers of Finance do not enjoy any special privileges or protection, and that everyone is subject to the rule of law and the constitution. Finally, our stance does not mean that all of us share with equal enthusiasm the fiscal framework of the Treasury and government.

We urge the President, the Cabinet and the NEC of the ANC to assist in this bringing this dangerous set of events to an end in the best way possible in the interests of our country and our economy. It is time for real leaders in the NEC and the Cabinet and in the SACP and COSATU to stand up to the tyrannical and despotic behaviour on display here because yet again we stand on the edge of an economic precipice.

We end expressing similar sentiments to those used in our December 2015 letter: As senior academics in Economics and related disciplines we express our unambiguous and urgent concern both about these events in general, about the unseemly attacks on the Minister of Finance and about the general lack of progress in tackling the massive and growing crisis of low growth, poverty, unemployment and inequality as well as the crisis of governance at our state owned enterprises.

Collectively supported by:

University of Cape Town

Prof Haroon Bhorat

Prof Anthony Black

Prof Faizel Ismail

Prof Murray Leibbrandt

Prof Martin Wittenberg

Prof Ingrid Woolard

Prof Alan Hirsch

Prof Cally Ardington

Prof Christopher Rooney

Dr Co-Pierre Georg

Dr Azar Jammine

Prof David Kaplan

Prof Don Ross

Mr Corne Van Walbeek

Mr Grant Smith

Ms Katherine Eyal

Ms Kezia Lilenstein

Prof Lawrence Edwards

Assoc Prof Malcolm Keswell

Assoc Prof Mark Ellyne

Prof Martine Visser

Prof Mike Morris

Mr Morne Oosthuizen

Prof Nicoli Nattrass

Assoc Prof Tony Leiman

Ms. Toughedah Jacobs

Ms. Sarah Marriott

Mr. Christopher Rooney

Ms. Adaiah Lilenstein

Ms. Kirsten van der Zee

Ms. Jabulile Monnakgotla

Ms. Amy Thornton

Ms. Shakira Jeppie

Assoc Prof Justine Burns

University of Pretoria

Prof Steve Koch (HOD)

Prof Elsabe Loots (Dean)

Prof Riel Franzsen (NRF-Chair)

Prof James Blignaut

Prof Jan van Heerden

Sol Plaatje University

Botho Enele

Mandla Mthembu

Rhodes University

Prof Robert Van Niekerk

North West University

Wilma Viviers

University of Stellenbosch

Prof Rulof P. Burger

Prof Nick Vink

Prof Theo Kleynhans

Prof Servaas van der Berg

Prof Andrie Schoombee

Prof Estian Calitz

Prof Ada Jansen

Prof Johan Fourie

Prof Ben Smit

Prof Ronelle Burger

Prof Johann Kirsten

University of the Western Cape

Prof Julian May

University of Witwatersrand

Prof Imraan Valodia

Prof Vishnu Padayachee

Prof Dori Posel

Prof Jannie Rossouw

Prof Alex Van Den Heever

Assoc Prof Tendai Gwatidzo

Assoc Prof Daniela Casale

Assoc Prof Uma Kollamparambil

Dr Gareth Roberts

Dr Kenneth Creamer

Dr Desne Masie

Fatima Bhoola

Lumkile Mondi

Nimisha Naik

Odile Mackett

Private Sector

Iraj Abedian  Chief Economist, Pan-African Investment & Research Services (Pty) Ltd.
Forum at W&M aligns higher ed, government, business

Joining forces W&M President Taylor Reveley, who didn't miss the fact that William & Mary would sit right in the middle of a mega-region spanning Richmond to Virginia Beach. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Joining forces Explaining the importance and logistics of a mega-region was Tom Frantz 70, J.D. 73, M.L.T. 81, chair emeritus of Williams Mullen, executive committee member of the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable and member of W&Ms Board of Visitors. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Joining forces Stacey Franklin Jones, Norfolk State University interim vice president for academic affairs, explains how Norfolk is carving a niche for itself in cybersecurity. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Joining forces Virginia Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment J.D. 73 speaks on the General Assembly's investment in GO Virginia and the need for economic revitalization in the Commonwealth. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Joining forces W&M has a more than 300-year history of uniting with government and commerce for the advancement of the Commonwealth, noted Henry Broaddus, W&M vice president for strategic initiatives and public affairs. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Joining forces Karen Jackson M.B.A. '91, Virginia secretary of technology, said that the Commonwealth needs to be able to train workers for jobs not even yet imagined. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

More than 300 state and local government, industry and higher education leaders turn out for regional economic development forum at W&M

As the region and state reinvigorate their economic development efforts, the Commonwealths colleges and universities will play a crucial role in helping to diversify the states industries.

That was one of the key messages included in a wide-ranging economic development forum hosted by William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University Tuesday at W&Ms Raymond A. Mason School of Business.

The business school welcomed more than 300 leaders in business, government and higher education to the four-hour forum that explored unifying the area spanning Richmond to Virginia Beach into a new, collaborative mega-region.

"[The mega-region] certainly has an elemental appeal for me, said W&M President Taylor Reveley. Because if it were to come to pass, guess what is squarely in the middle of the mega-region? How sweet that would be."

But its not just William & Mary that would rise in prominence as the mega-region became a global economic competitor. So would the areas other colleges and universities, all of which are home to fundamental research that could help diversify the economy, lessening dependence on federal military spending.

Already, local models exist on how government, higher education and industry could work together. This year Virginia founded the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, a joint venture between William & Mary Law Schools Coastal Policy Center, W&Ms Virginia Institute of Marine Science and ODU that acknowledges years of work each institution has undertaken. Along the way, theyve been funded by a host of federal, state and private grants totaling more than $10 million.

VCUs School of Engineering is successfully working on bringing pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States through its pharmaceutical engineering program by partnering with outside federal and private funding sources, other universities and healthcare industry sponsors, said Barbara Boyan, VCU engineering school dean. The program involves all levels of the university, down to undergraduate interns, she said.

At Norfolk State, the university has developed similar partnerships to make the region a powerhouse for public and private cybersecurity, said Stacey Franklin Jones, interim vice president for academic affairs. The program not only focuses on providing a qualified workforce, but also innovation, entrepreneurship and commercial contracts.

The talent and potential at local institutions of higher education is such that Bob Crum, executive director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, suggested that they could form the backbone of an innovation corridor along Interstate 64.

It's clear that universities have a very critical role in where we're heading and what we're talking about today, agreed Tom Frantz 70, J.D. 73, M.L.T. 81, chair emeritus of Williams Mullen, executive committee member of the Hampton Roads Business Roundtable and member of W&Ms Board of Visitors.

Frantz explained the concept and importance of the mega-region, how it would work and what would be required to make it successful. Other presentations explained transportation improvements (planned and needed), and the value of Virginias ports to the region.

Support for collaboration across localities comes from the newly created Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity in Each Region, or GO Virginia. The program is a business-led statewide initiative designed to grow and diversify the private sector, explained John Wynne, retired president and CEO of Landmark Communications.

Support for GO Virginia comes in part from two legislative actions the Virginia General Assembly and Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved this year, plus $5.5 million in seed money for year-one incentive grants and an additional $30 million budgeted for next year. The nonprofits goal is to incentivize collaboration for initiatives that create high-paying jobs, Wynne said, but each funded initiative must reach across its border to another locality.

"I remember when Virginia was the best place to do business in America. We have incrementally slipped, said Virginia Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment J.D. 73, who also teaches in W&Ms law school. The Commonwealth of Virginia and those who are in support of the GO Virginia legislation came to the conclusion that we must provide some incentives that are going to enhance collaboration and creativity for our common economic welfare  GO Virginia is a challenge, but it is an initiative that is innovative, that is creative, and it will be transformational.




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
Reactor internals installed at third Tianwan unit

25 August 2016

Share

Installation of the reactor internals within the pressure vessel has been completed at unit 3 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province. The Russian-supplied VVER-1000 is scheduled to start up in 2018.

The reactor internals within the pressure vessel (Image: CNNC)

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said today that the operation to install the internals - which will support the fuel assemblies and control rods - into the reactor vessel was completed on 23 August.

The reactor vessel - weighing almost 317 tonnes and measuring over 11 meters in length and 4.5 meters in diameter - is a vertical cylindrical body with elliptical base, in which the active zone and internals are located. The top of the reactor is hermetically sealed with a lid with drive mechanisms as well as monitoring and protection systems attached. The vessel for Tianwan 3 was installed within the unit's reactor compartment in May 2015.

Tianwan 3 and 4 will be AES-91 VVER-1000 units designed by Gidropress and supplied by Russian state firm Rosatom. AtomStroyExport is the main contractor, supplying the nuclear island. First concrete for unit 3 was poured in December 2012, while construction of unit 4 began in September 2013. Unit 3 is scheduled to begin operating in February 2018. Two similar reactors (units 1 and 2) began operating at the site in 2007.

The Tianwan plant is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, a joint venture between CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Work starts on Fuqing 6 turbine building

25 August 2016

Share

First concrete has been poured for the conventional island of Fuqing 6 - the second Hualong One unit under construction at the site in China's Fujian province. Both Hualong One units currently under construction at Fuqing should be in operation by 2020.

Concrete is poured for Fuqing 6's conventional island (Image: CNNC)

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced today that the first concrete for the turbine building was poured on 24 August, seven days ahead of schedule.

A total of 4860 cubic metres of concrete was expected to be poured over the following 48 hours, CNNC said.

In November 2014, CNNC announced the fifth and sixth units at Fuqing will use the domestically-developed Hualong One reactor design, marking its first deployment. The company had previously expected to use the ACP1000 design for those units, but plans were revised in line with a re-organisation of the Chinese nuclear industry. China's State Council gave final approval for construction of Fuqing units 5 and 6 in mid-April.

The pouring of first concrete for the reactor basemats for Fuqing 5 and 6 - marking the official start of construction of the units - took place in May and December 2015, respectively.

Construction is progressing on the nuclear island of Fuqing 6. In May, the first steel lining module for the unit's containment building was installed.

Fuqing 5 and 6 are scheduled to be completed in 2019 and 2020.

Construction of two Hualong One units is also under way at China General Nuclear's Fangchenggang plant in Guangxi province.

In March, Hualong International Nuclear Power Technology - a joint venture between CGN and CNNC to promote the Hualong One reactor design in export markets - was officially inaugurated.

Although it is still officially listed as being ACP1000, Pakistan's Karachi Coastal Power station is likely to be the first export of Hualong One units.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Many countries in the world today have graying populations or baby boomers that are in the 65 years old and above age range. In 2000, the estimate of the aged population in the world was about 600 million senior citizens. This is a historical phenomenon that started in the 1950s and continued to affect the world economy. This trend has caused the public expenditure to shift to healthcare causing governments to impose higher taxes or a reduction in its role in healthcare.

The increase in public drug spending has been studied and according to F. Lichtenbergs work, health outcomes has been seen on longevity, quality of life, and work productivity. Most of these have been due to new active substances in drug novelty. New pharmaceutical technologies have also increased productivity and employment rates. Private spending on drugs makes up for a larger portion of the total pharmaceutical spending in developing countries. However, in lower-income countries, pharma drug spending makes up for the total spending on health expenditure. The share of GDP expenditure on pharmaceutical drugs is seen as having a similar pattern in most regions.

United States

In the United States where spending on pharmaceutical drugs accounts for 2% of its GDP, it has been a common practice to turn to Mexico for cheaper drugs for many decades now. Although the bulk of pharmaceutical drugs sold are used for legitimate medication, there is that big share of drug addiction to painkillers and using them for recreational purposes as well. This accounts for about 16,000 deaths and 475,000 emergency room visits annually.

Japan

In Japan, pharmaceutical drug expenditure accounts for 1.9% of its GDP. In recent years, the government has instituted drug price cuts and allowed pro-generics policies to prosper to control drug spending. This situation should increase generics drug use to 59% estimate in 2017 and reach a possible 70% in 2025. As a result, Japanese pharma companies are looking to increased their revenues from overseas sales. A yearly drug price cut is also being proposed by the government.

Greece

In Greece, public pharmaceutical drugs spending has reached a 1.8% ratio to its GDP. In recent years, Greece has been hit by a low supply of pharmaceutical drugs due to the governments public spending cuts and capital restrictions. Although this has not decreased the demand, government measures such as cost containment and market regulations have made a difference in public drug expenditure.

Portugal

In Portugal, public expenditure on pharmaceutical drugs accounts for 1.8% of its GDP. The spending on pharmaceutical drugs in the country is seen in the overall environment of health expenditure. Recent drug price cuts have been seen as good for the people, and the government has lesser amounts to reimburse, but this price cut could lead to pharma drug supply shortages. The governments reimbursement scheme has four tiers according to law.

Spain

In Spain, public pharmaceutical drugs spending has reached 1.5% ratio to its GDP. The government has introduced drug price cuts, increased cost-sharing, and an overall budget for pharma drugs expenditures. One other issue is the lack of a drug generics market and budgets for doctors. A recent list of drugs that are no longer qualified for the reimbursement program has also caused issues. The last 15 years, however, showed a 264% increase in real pharma drug expenditures.

Other major EU countries also showed an increase in its public pharmaceutical drugs expenditures such as in France, where it accounted for 1.4% of its GDP. In Italy, it accounted for 1.3% of its GDP while in Germany, it accounted for 1.3% of its GDP. In Belgium, public pharma drugs expenditures made up 1.2% of its GDP while in Ireland, it was 1.1% of its GDP.
Ease of Doing Business Index

The Ease of Doing Business Index measures the relative simplicity of starting and managing a local business, and the government regulations surrounding it. The ratings are determined by considering the distance to frontier scores (how close an economy is to perfection) which is determined by using several different economic indicators. The higher the number, the less business-friendly the country.

Eritrea

Eritrea could be considered the most unfriendly environment for doing business, as it ranks 189th on the index. This is due to several factors. For example, obtaining business permits takes approximately 84 days (nearly 3 months!) and the country has no practice for construction permits. The cost of getting electricity is 2,846% of the per capita income, and it takes more than a week's time just to pay taxes.

Libya

Libya takes second place on the list of most unfriendly business regulations with a ranking of 188th. Here, business regulations are highly bureaucratic and 10 procedures are required just to get a business permit. As with Eritrea, obtaining construction permits is not regulated.

South Sudan

In third place is South Sudan with a 187th place ranking. This is due to the cost of starting a business, which is equivalent to 330% of per capita income. A cost that is prohibitive for many individuals. Additionally, paperwork for construction permits takes 4 months to complete. The average time to obtain electricity is 427 days and South Sudan has no credit information index to promote consumer access to credit.

Venezuela

Venezuela, with a rank of 186th, requires 17 procedures to start a business at a cost of 88.7% of annual income per capita. The process takes 144 days on average compared to 29 days in other Latin American countries. It takes an entire week just to reserve and approve the business name for example.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is also very low on the list with a rank of 185th in terms of ease of doing business among nations. Rather than improving processes, this country has progressively worsened over time. There are 10 procedures that entrepreneurs must go through before being able to start a business. The paperwork takes approximately 22 days and costs 204% of income per capita. Other procedures are difficult here as well such as the 98 days it takes to get electricity at a cost of over 15,000% of the per capita income.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

This country has a 184th place ranking, although the time commitments and costs required in starting a business here are relatively low. Construction permits, however, require 10 processes and take approximately 150 days to obtain. Getting electricity costs 15,247% of the per capita income and has a 2 month waiting period. Credit is difficult to obtain and paying taxes takes up 346 hours a year.

Chad

Chad is next on the list with a ranking of 183rd. This is due to the high cost, 150% of per capita income, compared to an African average of 53%, and a 60 day waiting period, to start a business. Additionally, construction permits require 13 procedures and take 221 days to process. The cost for getting electricity and registering property are also very high and the country has no credit reporting system.

Haiti

Haiti has an Ease of Doing Business ranking of 182nd, making it the 8th most unfriendly business environment in the world. It takes 97 days to start a business here at a cost of 235.3% of per capita income. There are 12 procedures involved. Other inefficient factors that affect the business environment include the 80 days to get a construction permit and the 3,639% of per capita income it costs to get electricity.

Angola

Angola ranks number 181st on the list. Here, a construction permit means a 207-day waiting period and 10 different procedures. Electricity costs just over 614% of income per capita and takes 147 days to obtain. Getting credit, as with obtaining a business loan, is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Furthermore, paying taxes takes 282 hours a year.

Equatorial Guinea

Last on the list is Equatorial Guinea, with a global ranking of 180th. This is due to the time required to start a business, 187 days, and the cost, 99.4% of per income capita. The expense and time are so high because there are 18 procedures required to start a formal business. Other factors that make doing business inefficient include expensive and slow acquisition of construction permits, inefficient and costly electricity hook-ups, and difficulties in obtaining credit.
Woman overdosed on drugs (illustration)

By: Chan Yuan

Police launched an investigation after a man who was high on drugs, drove his dead friend to a hospital after falling unconscious following a drug overdose, according to police in Australia.

Perth police said that the driver, who was not identified, arrived with his dead friend at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, on Friday around 2:30 p.m.

Police were called to the scene, and determined that the 44-year-old man died of a drug overdose.

Witnesses at the scene said that the driver was high on meth and did not realize that his friend was already dead for some time.

Doctors at the hospital did not tell the driver that his friend was dead as he was very anxious about the health of the 44-year-old man.

The main entrances of the hospital was closed for several hours as the driver parked his vehicle right outside the emergency room doors and police cordoned the area as a crime scene.
Wise Intelligent Supreme God Allah

By: Wayne Morin

A teenager was arrested on a charge of gun possession after being caught with an illegal gun during a traffic stop, according to police in Ohio.

The Akron Police Department said that they have arrested 18-year-old Wise Intelligent Supreme God Allah, after being seen with a loaded handgun while traveling in a car.

In court, Allah pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was booked into the Summit County jail, and his bail was set at $20,000.

According to the criminal complaint, police pulled over a 2014 Kia outside a Taco Bell restaurant. While searching the car and the five occupants, police noticed that Allah had a loaded handgun in his waistband.

Allah was arrested, while the four other passengers were allowed to go and continue on their way. Police said that Allah and two women who were in the car, have a history of drugs and weapons charges.
With the ruins of Peru's Machu Picchu behind them, Wrangell Girl Scouts Jing O'Brien, Laura Helgeson and Sophie O'Brien hold up a sign informing middle school teacher Bob Davis they'd made it. In his classroom Mr. Davis keeps a poster of the site, counted among the world's great wonders of antiquity.

A group of Wrangell and Girl Scouts experienced the summer trip of a lifetime last month, heading southward to Peru for a nine-day tour.

Three girls and two chaperones made the 5,686-mile journey from Wrangell to Lima, Peru's capital city. To get there, the scouts had to raise around $14,000, which did not include the cost of the parents. The fundraising process took more than a year, with the girls earning money both as a group and individually to meet their goal.

Sisters Jing and Sophie O'Brien sold cookies and origami pieces at the monthly community market, while Laura Helgeson sold scon...
A Deutsche Bank whistleblower turned down his share of a $16.5 million Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) award last Thursday in protest of the SECs refusal to target Deutsche Bank executives for fraudulent accounting practices.

Writing in the Financial Times, Eric Ben-Artzi, a former vice-president in Deutsche Banks market-risk department, charges the SEC with colluding with top executives of Deutsche Bank who were themselves former leading members of the SEC.

This goes beyond the typical revolving door story, Ben-Artzi writes. In this case, top SEC lawyers had held senior posts at the bank, moving in and out of top positions at the regulator even as the investigations into malfeasance at Deutsche were ongoing.

Ben-Artzi states that the banks shareholders and its rank-and-file employees who are now losing their jobs in droves are the primary victims.

He continues, Meanwhile, top executives retired with multimillion-dollar bonuses based on the misrepresentation of the banks balance sheet. It is therefore especially disappointing that in 2015, after a lengthy investigation helped by multiple whistleblowers, the SEC imposed a fine on Deutsches shareholders instead of the managers responsible.

Ben-Artzi was one of three whistleblowers at Deutsche Bank who alerted the SEC to the banks attempt to hide the real value of its toxic $120 billion credit derivative portfolio. In late 2008 and early 2009, the bank did not update the market value of many of its credit default swaps, allegedly to hide growing losses that the SEC later estimated to be in the billions.

Ben-Artzi first brought the issue to the attention of Robert Rice, chief lawyer of Deutsche Banks 2011 internal investigation into its derivative practices. Ben-Artzi was then fired after he refused Rices directive that any discussion they have be subject to client-attorney confidentiality. Rice would move on from Deutsche Bank to become the SECs chief counsel in 2013.

Following an investigation, the SEC fined Deutsche Bank $55 million in 2015 to settle the allegation that the bank had defrauded investors by cooking its books. The settlement, however, did not require the bank to admit to fraud and did not bring charges or raise any suspicions of wrongdoing, civil or criminal, against its senior executives.

In his open letter, Ben-Artzi notes that at a much smaller firm, Trinity Capital, the SEC charged five executives over similar but smaller-scale violations. (The SEC allowed the CEO to settle and pay a fine.)

Ben-Artzi writes, So why did the SEC not go after Deutsches executives? The most obvious concern is that Deutsches top lawyers revolved in and out of the SEC before, during and after the illegal activity at the bank.

Ben-Artzi calls attention to several prominent members of Deutsche Bank who had a revolving-door relationship with the SEC.

As stated previously, Rice, who oversaw Deutsche Banks internal investigation in 2011 as head lawyer, was hired in 2013 by the SEC as chief counsel. Ben-Artzi calls attention to two other members in his letter: Robert Khuzami and Richard Walker. Khuzami was Deutsche Banks highest-ranking lawyer in the United States from 2004 to 2009. He was then appointed in 2009 to chair the SEC. Meanwhile, Richard Walker, Deutsche Banks top lawyer from 2001 to 2016, was at different times the boss of both Rice and Khuzami. Walker, too, served at the SEC and recommended Khuzami for his job there.

Ben-Artzi lays the final blame with Mary Jo White, the current chair of the SEC. He says that this revolving-door relationship between Deutsche Bank and the SEC took place on the watch of Mary Jo Whitewhose relationship with Mr. Khuzami and Mr. Rice dates back 20 years. She bears ultimate responsibility for the Deutsche fine.

This case underscores the criminal relationship between Wall Street and the US government. The massive fraud committed by the major banks during and after the 2008 financial crisis has gone virtually unpunished by the SEC and Department of Justice. These agencies refusal to prosecute the criminals in charge of the worlds major banks is not an oversight, it is a policy. As the case with Deutsche Bank makes clear, these regulatory arms of the government are nothing of the sort. They are not separate from the banks, but rather are co-conspirators in the pursuit of criminal and, increasingly, reckless profits.
Last Thursday Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens ruled against the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) in the teacher sickout lawsuit filed last January, concluding the case.

The lawsuit was filed by DPS, under the jurisdiction of emergency manager Steven Rhodes, at the height of the teachers job actions last winter. It sought to criminalize the protests, which were organized independently of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, to oppose unsafe school buildings, years of DFT-backed pay and benefit cuts and threats to privatize the district. DPS alleged that the sickouts constituted strike action, illegal under the 1947 Michigan Public Employment Relations Act (PERA).

Dismissing the complaint against the final two teachers, Stephens admitted their actions constituted the exercise of free speech and that she had no legal grounds to sanction the teachers.

The legal action, which originally targeted 22 teachers and four so-called advocacy groups, was aimed at intimidating teachers and quashing the growth of support to the teacher sickouts. High school students joined their teachers in boycotting classes, and parents and other workers solidarized themselves with educators. Protesting teachers posted photos of the black mold, leaking ceilings and unsafe school buildings on social media, making conditions in Detroit schools a national scandal.

There was another critical purpose to the suit. In addition to the rank-and-file teachers named in the pleading were the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and its interim president Ivy Bailey. The appearance of Bailey on the document may have appeared contradictory at first, as the sickouts were conducted in defiance of the union. But the school district and its government backers calculated that the threats of fines, and even possible jail time, would provide added incentive for the union to suppress opposition and facilitate the state reorganization of the Detroit Public Schools necessary to ensure the investments of Michigan bondholders.

The DFT and its parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers, are fervent supporters of Obama and Hillary Clinton, and have long collaborated with the reactionary school reform policies of the Democratic and Republican parties. From the beginning of the protests, the DFT, with the full backing of AFT President Randi Weingarten, had sought to undermine the protests. However, in the aftermath of the suit, they announced their full-throated support to the plan by Republican Governor Rick Snyder for the dissolution of the district.

In return for services rendered, the DPS dropped Bailey and other DFT officials from the list of defendants.

The final act in the case was last weeks dismissal of the two remaining defendants, former DFT president Steve Conn and Nicole Conaway of the pro-union pseudo-left group By Any Means Necessary (BAMN). The court used their public statements on the sickouts, which falsely alleged that they were leading them, as evidence.

In an eight-page decision, Stephens dismissed the DPS argument that it was illegal for defendants to voice approval of the work stoppages, acknowledging this interpretation is offensive to fundamental rights of free speech.

The judges decision was highly political. It had less to do with her reading of the First Amendment than the judges recognition that the unions had already succeeded in suppressing opposition to the highly contentious school reorganization legislation that took effect July 1.

There is little doubt that the same, if not a different judge, would quickly dispense with any concerns about free speech and impose punishing sanctions against teachers, including jail time, if a powerful movement emerged outside of the control of the unions that challenged bipartisan destruction of public education.

The Michigan legislature has streamlined PERAs ability to fine and penalize teachers for striking as part of the restructuring deal backed by the DFT and the AFT. In a draconian perversion, this law now places the burden of proof of innocence upon the accused striker rather than the employer.

State officials quickly assured the district that it would foot the legal bill of $320,000 for the prosecution of the case, demonstrating the high-level decision to utilize the courts powers against the protests. The district had declined to employ their in-house lawyers in the case, seeking instead to maximize their case with a more prestigious (and expensive) firm. This was under conditions where teachers were told there was no money to cover their contractual pay over the summer months.

It should also be noted that the rebellion of teachers against the assault on public education reached its high point during Obamas visit to the city, when the teachers staged their largest protest, in defiance of the DFT. Subsequently, the administration, via Education Department Secretary John B. King, signaled its support to the DPS reorganization, urging the legislature to stop dragging its feet. The practices of the new Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) will be pro-privatization, class-based and will open the doors for charterization of the district, entirely in keeping with Obamas education policies.

Throughout the struggle, the World Socialist Web Site and the WSWS Teacher Newsletter took a principled stand in defense of teachers, opposing the anti-democratic character of the lawsuit, pointing out that the state and its courts aimed to intimidate and silence the courageous and independent mobilization of teachers in defense of their students and the right to high-quality public education. We warned that the reactionary pro-capitalist policies of the DFT, and their hangers-on in BAMN, were undermining the struggle to unite education workers by promoting racial divisions and seeking to corral the struggle behind a corrupt layer of African American Democratic politicians in the name of local control.

As the new school year begins, the attacks on public education in the state are escalating. Detroit teachers start work without a contract and, by all accounts, with the district in complete disarray. Hundreds of teaching positions are vacant and there are almost no building improvements. Teachers and students will be returning to worse conditions this year than those that drove the sickouts in the last school year. DPSCD held an emergency teacher fair last week in order to try and lure teachers to fill classrooms.

The School Reform Redesign Office, which Michigan Governor Rick Snyder now oversees directly, has threatened to move ahead in closing priority schools, the 5 percent of lowest-performing schools in the state. This could affect as many as 40 within the new Detroit Public Schools and up to 100 statewide.

Meanwhile, a significant portion of the old district Detroit Public Schools' debt, $370 million in bonds sold in 2011 and 2012, is due to be refinanced prior to October 1, 2016. Standard & Poors, the Wall Street rating agency, has slashed the ratings on this debt twice since late June, relegating the bonds to junk statusa decision that will increase the cost of debt servicing and potentially extend the length of time necessary to repay the bondholders.

Even more concerning are the implications for the already underfunded pension funds of school employees. The DPS "old district" is both responsible for pension liabilities and payments to the bondholders. While overseeing the Detroit municipal bankruptcy case, Rhodes made the precedent-setting ruling that federal bankruptcy law overrode the state constitutions protection of public employee pensions and that they could be cut to satisfy the demands of wealthy bondholders. It was just announced that Rhodes will stay on in his highly lucrative position of DPSCD emergency manager until January 2017, maintaining his $18,000 monthly salary.
Though perhaps not a household name, jazz great Toots Thielemans has been heard in numerous soundtracks, commercials, and theme songs and on the recordings of popular artists. The music world is substantially diminished with the passing early Monday morning of this amazingly talented and prolific artist. At 94, he had effectively retired from performing. He died in his sleep at his home in Brussels, not far from where he was born in 1922. His manager told a Belgian broadcaster, There were no complications. He died of old age, his body was simply worn out.

Thielemanss performances always displayed a profound musicality. He was both a warm and fun-loving human being, and that came across. His capricious harmonica riffs conveyed a mischievous musical sensibility that audiences always got. Other musicians got it, too. Over many decades, he was in demand as an accompanist on recordings of many of the most popular artists. Billy Joel traveled to Europe in the early 1980s to recruit him for his album An Innocent Man, where his accompaniment to Leave a Tender Moment Alone opens the tune.

Thielemans had been playing music since his early childhood. Every Sunday, an accordionist played for tips at the beer pub his parents ran in the Brussels district of Marolles, on the same street where the painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder lived some four centuries earlier. As a baby, Jean-Baptiste (his given name) could be seen in his parents pub mimicking the motions of the accordion player in his crib, using a shoebox as his instrument. His father bought him a real one when he was just three and he began playing French popular songs.

In a 2011 interview in Detroit, when he was in town for the Detroit Jazzfest, Thielemans described his early influences.

He said he took up harmonica when he was 16, supposedly after seeing a James Cagney film featuring a prison death row harmonica scene. ( Angels with Dirty Faces, released in 1938, when Thielemans was 16, had a death row scene, but no harmonica.) In 1942, during the Nazi occupation of Belgium, Thielemans describes visiting a record store that had records from before the occupation. The proprietress introduced him to a recording by Louis Armstrong with the Mills Brothers. That was my contamination with jazz, he explained.

Around that period, he acquired a guitar on a bet with a friend and became influenced by the Gypsy jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. By his early adulthood, Thielemans had become a full-time musician.

Thielemanss first visit to the US was in 1947, when he performed in Miami and New York. By his own description, he was by then a full bebopper, owning all the recordings of the contemporary jazz greats. While jamming in a Miami club, he struck up a friendship with photographer Bill Gottlieb, who urged Thielemans to meet him in New York. Then, at the 3 Deuces Club, part of the then-thriving 52nd Street jazz scene, Gottlieb introduced him to members of J.J. Johnsons All-Star Band, Hank Jones, Percy Heath and others, saying, Hey fellas, I got a fella here from Belgium. He plays great harmonica.

It was on his way back to Belgium from that trip that Thielemans wrote the guitar chords to Hoagy Carmichaels classic, Stardust. He made a cheap acetate recording of the tune with some string players. When Duke Ellingtons band performed in Belgium, Thielemans formed a friendship with Ray Nance, Ellingtons then trumpet player (later to switch to violin). Nance asked if he could take the recording, promising that hed get it around when he got back to the states. It wound up on Benny Goodmans phonograph, which led to Thielemans being hired for a European tour in 1950 with Goodmans septet. He played guitar, accompanying Goodman, Roy Eldridge and Zoot Sims.

By that time, Thielemans had been in jam sessions with bebop greats Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Max Roach.

In 1952, he immigrated to the US and joined Charlie Parkers All Star Band in Philadelphia. He subsequently played with the George Shearing Quintet until 1959. During one of the bands European tours, a young John Lennon decided to switch to a Rickenbacker electric guitar when he saw Thielemans playing one.

Thielemans made several recordings in the 1950s, playing both harmonica and guitar, but it was his 1962 album, The Whistler and His Guitar, featuring his new composition, Bluesette that brought him to prominence. Bluesette became an instant jazz standard. He described it to one interviewer as his social security.

Toots performed with countless musicians throughout a career that spanned almost 70 years. Notable among them, in no particular order, are Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Stephane Grappelli, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Elis Regina, Jaco Pastorius and Stevie Wonder, with whom he shared a mutual admiration.

Thielemans performed on many movie and television soundtracks and commercials. His uncredited instrumental on PBSs long-running television show Sesame Street has been heard by millions of children in the US. Thielmans played the main theme for the soundtrack of the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, starring Dustin Hoffman and John Voight.

In 1980, Toots recorded a live album with guitarist Joe Pass. In 1992, he recorded the first of two Brazil Project albums, with top Brazilian artists Gilberto Gil, Oscar Castro-Neves, Caetano Veloso and others.

He developed a special musical friendship with Quincy Jones. In the liner notes of his 1995 CD, Qs Jook Joint, Jones wrote, I can say without hesitation that Toots is one of the greatest musicians of our time. On his instrument he ranks with the best that jazz has ever produced. He goes for the heart and makes you cry. We have worked together more times than I can count and he always keeps me coming back for more. 

This reporter will always feel fortunate to have witnessed Toots perform with Kenny Werner at the 2011 Detroit Jazzfest. He always brought an unforgettable bitter-sweetness through his instrument, which readers will recognize if they listen to any of the worthwhile links above.

It is fitting that his website features his words, I feel best in that little space between a smile and a tear.

In 1992, he described his own music to the Los Angeles Times: Sometimes I play a pretty ballad, and I almost cry myself. Thats my nature. Where do you think the blues, or ballads, the good songs, come from? They didnt come out of a belly laughor a military salute.
Under the pretext of strengthening Turkeys security by clearing terrorist groups from the border and maintaining Syrias territorial integrity, the Turkish army launched a major escalation of the war in Syria on Wednesday with a cross-border operation codenamed Euphrates Shield.

Turkish units began their assault on ISIS and Kurdish militia forces at 4 AM local time, backed by tanks and supported by intensive artillery bombardments and airstrikes, including air support from the US-led coalition. The incursion marked the first time since last November, when Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Turkish-Syrian border, that Turkish warplanes have struck inside Syria.

The invasion comes only days after a series of mortar shells targeted the Turkish town of Karkamis from the Syrian side of the border. Turkish authorities evacuated thousands of inhabitants.

There have also been a number of ISIS attacks in Turkey over the past two years, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. ISIS is the prime suspect in a deadly blast last Saturday at a wedding in the southeastern province of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead. After the suicide bombing, the Turkish government vowed to completely clear the Turkish border of terrorist elements.

Operation Euphrates Shield entails invading Syria and establishing a buffer zone, in blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty. This has long been advocated by the Turkish government and, at various times, by NATO allies. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is calling for the imposition of a safe zone in Syria as a means of carving out a base of operations directed above all against the Russian- and Iranian-backed regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus had said earlier this week that proposals to establish a secure zone, an internationally policed buffer area, should be reconsidered.

The Turkish escalation will sharply increase tensions in an already unstable and explosive situation, with the United States, the major European powers, Iran, Russia and China all intervening to back competing factions in the Syrian war.

Once the invasion was underway it became clear that Washington was throwing its weight behind it. While the situation remains extremely fluid, it appears that the Obama administration, having undermined its relations with Turkey by tacitly backing the July 15 military coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is trying to rebuild its ties to Ankara at the expense of the Kurdish militias it has been supporting.

US Vice President Joseph Biden arrived in Ankara as the invasion of Syria was unfolding. After reiterating Washingtons claim, lacking all credibility, that it did not have any foreknowledge of the coup, he declared the US governments support for Ankaras invasion of Syria and endorsed its key aims.

At a press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Biden insisted that Syrian Kurdish forces had to bow to Turkish demands and return to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River if they wanted to continue receiving US support. We have made it absolutely clear that they must go back across the river. They cannot and will not, under any circumstances, get American support if they do not keep that commitment, he said.

Russian officials, who had sought to develop closer ties with the Turkish regime in the aftermath of the abortive coup, indicated their concern over the military escalation. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Turkeys 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.

Both the Assad regime and the Syrian Kurdish militias denounced the invasion. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said it condemns the crossing of the Turkish-Syria border by Turkish tanks and armored vehicles towards the town of Jarabulus, with air cover from the US-led coalition, and considers it a flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty.

A Foreign Ministry source added, Any party that wishes to fight terrorism on Syrian soil must coordinate with the Syrian government and army What is happening in Jarabulus now is not a fight against terrorism. Rather, it is substituting one form of terrorism for another.

The Kurdish militias, which have once again been double-crossed by their US imperialist backers, are providing yet one more example of the bankruptcy of their bourgeois nationalist orientation and their reliance on imperialism. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the Kurdish militia operating in Syria, complained that Turkeys move was a blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs, while Syrian Kurdish politician Aldar Xelil said the operation was a declaration of war on Kurdish autonomous administrations in northern Syria.

In an attempt to justify the incursion, Turkish authorities referred to United Nations resolutions calling for a fight against ISIS. They said Turkey was engaged in an act of legitimate self-defense enshrined in the UN Charter.

Turkish President Erdogan said, Right now, unfortunately, all the attacks that happened in Gaziantep and Kilisbrought this issue to this point. Referring to last Saturdays Turkish security summit, Erdogan said Turkish officials had decided they have to solve the problem.

Speaking at a news conference in Ankara hours after the invasion, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the aim of the operation was to clear ISIS from the southern border. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala underscored that the operation would continue until the terror threat at our border is eliminated.

Turkish authorities also insisted that Turkey was not invading Syria on its own, but operating in coordination with the US-led coalition and in support of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters aiming to recapture the northern Syrian city of Jarabulus from ISIS.

However, the aim of the Turkish invasion is not limited to clearing ISIS from Jarabulus. Operation Euphrates Shield is a preemptive strike to block any attempt by Syrian Kurdish militias to capture Jarabulus before the Free Syrian Army (FSA) is able to take control. Making no distinction between ISIS and the YPG, Ankara has strengthened its FSA proxies against the Syrian Kurdish militias, the lead force within the so-called Syria Democratic Forces alliance (SDF) backed by the United States.

The growing influence in Syria of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the crossing over to the western side of the Euphrates River of its military arm, the YPG, earlier this month alarmed Ankara, which fears the establishment of a US-backed autonomous Kurdish region in the Syrian-Turkish border region. Yesterday, following the onset of the invasion, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu called on Syrian Kurdish forces to go back to the eastern side of the Euphrates. The US also supports this I am saying very clearly that we will do what is necessary, he said.

Last week, after Syrian war planes bombed US-backed Kurdish forces in the northern Syrian town of Hasakeh and Washington threatened to respond by attacking the Syrian regime, Turkey launched artillery barrages against both ISIS and Kurdish fighters near Jarabulus.

The opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are supporting the Turkish invasion. Speaking at a press conference following a Central Executive Board meeting, CHP spokeswoman and deputy chair Selin Sayek Boke expressed her partys support for Operation Euphrates Shield, while criticizing the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government for waiting so long to attack ISIS both inside and outside of Turkey. The MHP is widely known as the leading advocate of an invasion of northern, Kurdish regions of Syria and Iraq.
PARKER, Fla. (AP) - It took 66 years, but Joe Hutchinson finally got his Purple Heart.

In August 1950, the Army veteran was wounded by shrapnel while serving in Korea. The belated recognition came Wednesday, thanks to the efforts George Nepereny, who lives near Hutchinson in the Florida Panhandle.

Nepereny learned that Hutchinson's records were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. He helped him sort out his military records.

He tells the News-Herald (http://bit.ly/2bIrwjG ) that Hutchinson, now in his 80s, is a "real patriot." Hutchinson says he's honored.

Shortly after his injury, Hutchinson went right back to the battlefield. Afterward, he received receive three battle stars and a Combat Infantry Badge. His unit was also awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. Now he has the Purple Heart.

___

Information from: The (Panama City, Fla.) News Herald, http://www.newsherald.com

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a woman with special needs was killed and five other people were injured in a north Florida traffic crash.

The Ocala Star-Banner (http://goo.gl/DhskkO ) reports that a van was transporting residents from New Discovery Family Group Home in Silver Spring Shores to an appointment Wednesday morning when it crashed near Forest High School. Florida Highway Patrol reports that the van's driver was swerving to avoid a truck when the van overturned.

Authorities say 28-year-old Heather Baker was killed in the crash. Two special needs adults and the van's driver were critically injured. Two other special needs passengers were hospitalized in fair condition.

The crash remained under investigation.

___

Information from: Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner, http://www.starbanner.com/

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - A new wing of classrooms at an area middle school will provide a place of learning throughout the remainder of the school year.

Leon County school officials gathered at Montford Middle School for a ribbon cutting the new wing. The wing included classrooms with state of the art technology that will allow students to further their educations in new ways.

Senator Bill Montford, the namesake of the school, attended the ribbon cutting as well, saying he was proud he could attend.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Community College Police Department hosted a safety and wellness fair as a part of the college's week of welcome.

Wednesday, community partners were on hand to provide information about crime prevention, victim advocacy, food safety, mental health, as well as information about law enforcement and the community.

TCC also partnered with the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives to bring a dialogue about how to interact with law enforcement officers.

The "Week of Welcome" continues Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student-Union Ballroom.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Hillary Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine is scheduled to visit Tallahassee Friday as part of a two-day campaign swing through Florida.

While he is in the capitol city, he is expected to rally for Clinton during a voter registration kick-off event at "The Set" on FAMU's campus. Kaine is slated to discuss his running mate's plans for the economy and job growth.

The kick-off is set to start at 2:15 p.m. The doors will open at 11:30 a.m. Registration is required. You can register here.
What might the response look like to an active shooter at a Yakima Valley school?
Patty Murray (D-WA) talks about the current efforts in Congress to deal with the growing opioid problem across the state during a presentation at Triumph Treatment Services in Yakima, Wash. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The senator, law enforcement representatives as well as facility administration and staff spoke on the topic. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic)
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.
AMMAN -- ISIS 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 (ISIS) on several areas, and they failed to make any progress and have retreated," Saif told Reuters.

ISIS 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.
UNITED NATIONS -- An international team has blamed the Syrian government and Islamic State militants for chemical attacks in the conflict-wracked nation during 2014 and 2015, a French diplomat said Wednesday.

The joint body, known as the JIM, was set up by the Security Council last year and was investigating nine cases of alleged chemical use.

According to excerpts from the report obtained by The Associated Press, the JIM found conclusive evidence in three cases.

It said the Syrian government was 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 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 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 police announced late Wednesday night that they had downgraded the level of security threat alerts amid fears in the Negev region, which caused security forces to set up roadblocks throughout the area.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The police were deployed throughout the day in unusual numbers and security forces were dispatched along the roads. Since however, they have announced that the situation has returned to normality.

Police deployed throughout southern region (:  )

X

After a prolonged period of relative calm in the wave of Palestinian terror which gripped Israel in recent months, a Palestinian stabbed an IDF soldier near Nablus on Wednesday afternoon before being shot and killed by the soldier who himself was left in light condition.

Police block roads in southern Israel amid security fears (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

Photo: Herzl Yosef

Photo: Police spokesperson's unit

The incident began with Palestinians 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.

The south of Israel also received a reminder of fragile sense of security. On Sunday afternoon a Code Red rocket alert was sounded in Sderot and Sha'ar Hanegev just before 2:30pm on Sunday. Shortly afterwards, an explosion was heard, and a rocket was found between two residential houses in Sderot. There were no injuries or damage, though forces were immediately dispatched to the area.
A request by former Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, to shorten the length of his year-and-a-half sentence for bribery by a third is set to be discussed during a parole board of the Prison Service meeting which will be convened on December 25.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



Olmert, who began serving his sentence in February, is entitled under Prison Service procedures to a hearing on early release and shortening of his sentence by a third, which would move his release to February 2017. As such, Olmert's lawyers submitted the request and until the parole board is convened, all relevant officials will offer their opinions as to whether Olmert meets the criteria for early release or not.

Olmert on his first 48 hour leave from Prison (Photo: Tal Shahar)

The State Attorney is expected not to oppose the early release. A legal source on Wednesday said that Olmert does meet the criteria for early release, in that he is a nonviolent offender, has shown remorse for his crimes and has demonstrated good behavior during his incarceration. The same source also stressed that the majority of white-collar offenders are released after only serving two-thirds of their sentences.

In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the appeal filed by the state and Olmert against the 8 month sentence imposed on Shula Zaken following the exposure of tapes related to the Talansky affair.
Hillary Clinton may become the president of Israel's most important ally, but her image is banished from a significant swath of the country's media: the ultra-Orthodox press whose deeply conservative readership chafes at images of women.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



Clinton's nomination as Democratic candidate for the US presidency is casting light on a longstanding policy that has already applied to other female figures from Germany's Angela Merkel to Israel's own prime minister Golda Meir. But whereas the election is causing some discussion among US ultra-Orthodox media, their Israeli equivalents are digging in their heels.

Hillary Clinton

X

"For us there is no question. We will not publish pictures of women, period," said Meni Shwartz, editor of the ultra-Orthodox news site Behadrei Haredim.

About 11 percent of Israel's 8.5 million citizens are Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox. Recognizable by their black hats and long black clothes, they often lead insular lives, separated from the more secular Jewish majority and closely adhering to Jewish laws.

The emphasis placed on gender-determined values or traditions remains a conspicuous feature of the Haredi communitys lifestyle.

Hillary Clinton (Photo: AFP)

Ultra-Orthodox women traditionally dress in long skirts and long-sleeved shirts, covering their hair if they are married. Men and women sit separately at synagogues and weddings and unrelated women and men refrain from physical contact.

Ultra-Orthodox media, which include four daily newspapers, two main weeklies and two main web sites, cater to conservative ideals that include preserving women's modesty and skipping topics involving drugs, murder and sex. Many consider showing pictures of women a violation of those values, however newsworthy the figure.

When covering stories relating to Hillary Clinton, Haredi media prefer to use pictures of the White House, Democratic running mate Tim Kaine or even Bill Clinton.

The issue sparked discussion in Israel this year when Yated Neeman, the largest ultra-Orthodox daily, published a story about Clinton's choice of Kaine as her running mate, accompanied by a photograph of Clinton's husband.

The pictures led Yair Ettinger, a journalist who covers religion for the leftist, secular daily Haaretz, to Tweet; "Hey, Yated Neeman, what will happen if Hillary really wins? Four years of photos of Bill?"

Beni Rabinovich, a journalist at Yated Neeman, tweeted back that the Haredi press has "a clear and rigid line on this issue. Without Bill or with Bill, we'll manage."

Yaakov Lustigman, foreign affairs reporter for the popular Haredi newspaper Hamevaser, said his readers are fascinated by the US elections and "we have no problem with there being a female president"but they don't want to see Clinton's picture or even read her first name.

Hamevaser caused controversy when it edited German Chancellor Angela Merkel out of a picture of world leaders marching through Paris after extremists attacked the offices of the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine in 2015.

Haredi men pray at the Western Wall (Photo: EPA)

Homodia, a veteran ultra-Orthodox paper, is the only current Haredi daily that existed during the administration of Meir, Israel's only female prime minister. A reporter there said that at the time, in the early 1970s, the newspaper did not publish her picture.

News site Kikar Hashabbat publishes demure photographs of Clinton and other female leaders, according to foreign affairs reporter Israel Cohen.

"Hillary Clinton is in her 60s. She's solid, she dresses modestly and she's likely to be the next president," Cohen said. "You cannot ignore it."

But it is the lone exception, and journalists at rival publications said they don't consider the site to be truly Haredi because of its policy.

Rivka Neria-Ben Shahar, an expert on Haredi media at Sapir College in Sderot, said ultra-Orthodox newspapers have become more conservative in the past decadesbut her studies show Haredi women today overwhelmingly support the policy.

Ultra-Orthodox rabbis, some with tens of thousands of followers, set the guidelines for what is acceptable in their communities. Several ultra-Orthodox papers have rabbinical committees overseeing their content, and journalists say the issue of whether to publish Hillary Clinton's picture hasn't been discussed.

Behadrei Haredim, headquartered in the ultra-Orthodox enclave of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, walks a tight line between conservative ideals and the modern essence of being online.

Shwartz, the editor, said he gets about 1 million unique visits to the site a month, with users coming from Israel and around the world. The only photographs of women are in a section called "women's lobby," which focuses on cooking, motherhood and lifestyle. Users entering this area are warned that only women should proceed.

Atara Sternbuch, an observant woman who runs the site's English section, said the lack of women's pictures on the main site is "just not an issue." She said people who want to see pictures of Hillary Clinton can search elsewhere. "We want to make it comfortable to our readers who don't want to be exposed to that," she said.

American ultra-Orthodox media have traditionally shied away from publishing women's pictures as well. But the prospect of a Clinton presidency is stirring some debate. One newspaper recently broke a taboo by publishing a picture of Hillary Clinton's hand.

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter, editor of the weekly Ami Magazine in New York, said he would consider printing Clinton's photograph if rabbinical authorities allow it.

"We don't want to isolate the executive branch of the US government," Frankfurter said. "It's too important for us as Jews who are citizens of the US and as Jews who are friends of Israel."

Sheldon Schorer, former chairman of Democrats Abroad Israel, derided the policy of excluding women's pictures and said it put Clinton at a disadvantage. "I don't think the Jewish religion really requires that."
The reconciliation agreement between Turkey and Israel has begun to bear fruit as a delegation of Turkish businessmen, including Ahmed Zorluowner of Turkish energy giant "Zorlu" and a close associate of President Erdoganis visiting Israel with the goal of strengthening business interests, particularly in the energy market.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The Zorlu family is one of the wealthiest in Turkey and according to Israeli assessments, the visit would not be possible without the blessing of the Turkish authorities. As part of their visit, Zorlu officials met with Erez Halfon, Chairman of Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC) and Dorad power station.

Israel natural gas drilling rig (Photo: Reuters)

Zorlu, which owns factories, electronics companies and power plants, is also a partner in Dorad. This is the first time Zorlu has been back in Israel since 2012 and comes just after the Turkish parliament officially ratified a reconciliation agreement.

During meetings, issues related to Dorad were discussed, such as ways to solve shareholder conflicts, development plans, and the possibilities of cooperation in new projects related to the growing Israeli energy sector. This is in light of developments that have occurred due to increased Israeli gas exports to Europe, the closing of coal-fired power stations and more.

The Turks are interested in several Israeli gas sector projects, including the construction of a pipeline between Turkey and the Leviathan gas field. A consortium of 15 Turkish energy companies, Zorlu among them, was set up to raise the required funding to advance the project.

Photo: Albatross

Additionally, following the Ministry of Energy's decision to gradually close coal-fired power stations and replace them with plants powered by natural gas, Zorlu has examined the possibility of building additional plants in Israel.

During the visit, representatives of Israel's Turkish community attended the inauguration ceremony of two power stations with which Zorlu partners: the Ramat Negev Energy power station and Ashdod Energy power station. Both were officially inaugurated yesterday in the presence of Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz.

Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz and Turkish President Erdogan

During a meeting which took place following the ceremony between Zorlu and Steinitz the two agreed that the restored normalization between the two countries would serve to strengthen cooperation in economic and energy relations..

At the ceremony, Zorlu said that Turkey is waiting to import natural gas from Israel, and also sought to convey a positive message on behalf of the business community in Turkey, stating that Turkish companies and investors look forward to strengthening ties with Israel.

Turkish Energy Minister, Berat Albayrak, who is married to President Erdogan's daughter, is believed to have carried out the president's policy in the area of energy and Israel.

Steinitz said that he sees great importance in the investment of a large company like Zorlu in energy and natural gas in Israel. "I hope that normalization with Turkey will enable us to strengthen economic relations in general and export Israeli natural gas to the Turkish market in particular in the coming years," he said.
Israel's Tourism Ministry is looking to break into the Asian market, with the launch of its first major TV advertising campaign in India to promote incoming tourism to Israel.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



According to the Tourism Ministry, India is one of the major emerging markets for incoming tourism to Israel.

The experiential campaign that we have launched in India has been adapted to the particular characteristics and tastes of the Indian market, elaborated Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who noted that Israel is also engaged in significant marketing campaigns in China.

The Tourism Ministry has tripled its marketing budget this year for the Indian market, and the current advertising campaign is slated for two months with an investment of NIS 6 million ($1.5 million)placing an emphasis on Israels rich mix of history, culture, and a vibrant, contemporary lifestyle.

The beach in Jaffa (Photo: Asaf Magal)

In addition to a TV commercial, the campaign also features advertising and marketing content in leading travel and consumer print media and a significant presence across social media.

Israel recently held travel trade promotions in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, which were attended by 800 Indian travel agents.

Israel has also hosted Indian personalities and decision-makers in the Holy Land, including Bollywood star and fashion icon, Sonam Kapoor, in May, who took part in a photo-shoot on location in Israel for the June-July 2016 cover of Harpers Bazaar Bride India magazine, with a documentary film being made about her visit. Other visitors include Bollywood producer Tanuj Garg, who came on a scouting mission for future production and journalist and author Aditi Mathur Kumarand.

In an effort to further meet the needs of tourists from Asia, with an emphasis on India, the ministry hosted four Indian celebrity chefs last November, who offered culinary workshops to hotel and restaurant chefs. Subsequently, hotels in Israel are offering Indian cuisine to their guests.

In 2015, around 40,000 tourists visited Israel from India, up 13 percent from 2014. The Tourism Ministry has set a target of 100,000 visitors from India by 2018, focusing on the growing sector of middle-class Indians looking for vacation destinations far from their home country.

According to the Tourism Ministry, Israel is a potential choice destination for the young and financially secure of India, who are looking for something extra and unique beyond favored destinations such as the United States and Europe.

I am sure that the significant marketing activity we are doing in China and India will lead to an increase in the numbers of incoming tourists from these destinations, added Levin.
An indictment was filed in the Jerusalem District Court against Ahmed Asai'ir, 19, of Jerusalem in connection with the stabbing of an Orthodox youth near the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

According to the indictment, on August 11th, Asai'ir noticed a young ultra-Orthodox man walk out of a grocery store in A-Tur and decided to harass him. He picked up a sharp object found at the scene and stabbed the victim in his neck and upper back before fleeing.

The victim was taken to Hadassah Hospital at Mount Scopus in light to moderate condition. The prosecution seeks to detain the defendant until the legal proceedings against him can commence.
BERLIN -- Germany still wants its military to use Turkey's Incirlik Air Base for reconnaissance flights in the fight against ISIS, but is looking for alternatives due to a dispute with Ankara, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

A ministry spokesman said the armed forces were studying other basing options for six reconnaissance planes, a refuelling plane and 250 soldiers if German lawmakers vote to end the use of the base over Ankara's refusal to allow them to visit.

"The Bundeswehr (armed forces) would like to continue the joint fight against ISIS from the NATO base at Incirlik," Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group.

Such work was in the mutual interest of both countries, she said.

Der Spiegel magazine reported on Thursday that the armed forces were studying whether they could move the planes and troops to Jordan or Cyprus. Such a move would interrupt the flights for at least two months, it said.

Rainer Arnold, defense spokesman for the Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition government, told Reuters his party would demand an end to use of the base if Turkey refused to allow parliamentarians to visit.

"We will only send our soldiers to countries where we can be certain that we can visit them," Arnold told Reuters.

Without the SDP's approval, the government cannot extend the mission when it expires in December.
London  Secret documents recently declassified by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the 1980s shed light on Israeli involvement in the Falklands War in 1982. According to the document, Israel supplied fighter jets and other weapons to Argentina's military junta at the height of the war with Britain.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The Falklands War in 1982 was the height of the struggle between Britain and Argentina over sovereignty of islands situated in the Argentine sea in the South Atlantic. The fight between the two countries had roots in the British control of the Islands in 1833. In April 1982 Argentina invaded the islands but was was defeated two months later by British forces who consolidated their control.

During the war, Israel Skyhawk jets to Argentina which were used to bomb British warships killing dozens of soldiers and sailors. One of the ships that was bombed by the Israeli-supplied fighter jets was the RFA Sir Galahad, which was set ablaze killing 48 people, marking one of the most traumatic episodes in the British experience of the war.

British soldiers during the Falkland War (Photo: Getty Images)

The documents reveal that Israel sent fighter planes and weapons to Buenos Aires in secret using cargo planes which flew via Peru. It has also been revealed that Israel continued to give Argentina weapons even after the war, when the Argentine government thought about trying to take the islands once more.

It was further uncovered that an Israeli sale of spy planes to Argentina was cancelled at the request of the British. The British foreign minister at the time, Sir Geoffrey Howe, personally went to Israeli officials to request the sale be cancelled.

Margaret Thatcher visits the Falkland Islands in 1983 (Photo: AFP)

Israel denied that it ever sold fighter jets to Argentina at first, but British soldiers who occupied the islands reported encountering Israeli made weapons on the islands. It was only two years after the war ended that Israel admitted to supplying the Argentines with weapons. According to the released documents, Israel sold these weapons to Argentina to help boost its weapons industry and noted that the British also sold weapons to Arab states during their wars against the Jewish state.

The British claim that the reason the arms sales to Argentina went through was because the Israeli prime minister at the time, Menachem Begin, still held a grudge against the British dating back to the Mandate period.
BEIRUT- Iran's defence minister said on Thursday four of his country's vessels accused of harassing a US warship were only doing their job, and Tehran would contront any American ship that entered its waters.

The vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted what a US defence official described as a "high speed intercept" of the warhip on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz.

The official said two of the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze in an incident that was "unsafe and unprofessional," underlining the tensions that remain more than a year after Washington and other Western powers reached a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and lifted sanctions.
A waddle of rare Humboldt penguins in the Kiryat Motzkin Hai Park Zoo has in recent years seen an increase in its numbers, in the form of some of the most adorable same-sex couples since the Fox and the Hound.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The zoo operates an international breeding program of endangered species and is currently expecting several more chicks to be hatched soon. At present, though, its attention has been drawn to the waddle's gay and lesbian members and the nurturing they have been showing their significant others.

The Humboldt penguins (:  -, :  )

X

The waddle is comprised of 18 individuals, eight of them female and 10 male. Back when the waddle only had a few male members, two of the females, named Yafit and Brazil, formed a romantic bond. Zoo Manager Yigal Fadida reported that the couple exhibits nesting behaviors, but that neither, of course, could actually fertilize each other's eggs.

The penguin lovebirds (Photo: Osnat Maoz-Yanko and the Kiryat Motzkin Hai Park Zoo )

Synchronized couple's swimming (Photo: Osnat Maoz-Yanko and the Kiryat Motzkin Hai Park Zoo)

One such couple, named Ziegel and Yigal, have recently made their relationship public, frolicking and making love out in the open, sharing their daily meals and snuggling up in the rock alcoves along the water's edge.

The waddle on a hot summer's day (Photo: Osnat Maoz-Yanko and the Kiryat Motzkin Hai Park Zoo)

"When we brought over the new members from the Netherlands, we thought it might help some of the males connect with the females," reminisced Fadida. "However, Brazil ended up choosing a female mate and one of the local males, as well, chose a Dutch husband." He added,"We are hoping to bring in new penguins in the future, to revitalize the penguin bloodlines."

Humboldt penguins are considered under threat of extinction due to human activity, with their numbers currently estimated at under 20,000. They can be found in nature along the Chilean and Peruvian coasts, with a few colonies in Colombia. They mainly live in reserves set up in countries like Chile, which has made a concerted effort to protect them by making it illegal to hunt them until the year 2025. Several of the reserves even have ranger stations against potential hunters.

In addition to hunting them for their meat, the Humboldt penguin's droppings are also valuable, considered to be a very high-quality fertilizer. As a result, merchants try to steal their droppings, which the penguins use for the eggs' protection come nesting season.
Jewish students from the ORT High School in Buenos Aires, Argentina were attacked in a nightclub by other students dressed as Nazis according to Spanish-language media.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The attackers were from a German school in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Lanus, according Argentine news website La Nacion.

The attack occurred at the Cerebro de Bariloche night club. One of the mothers of the children who were attacked recounted the episode to Radio Latina, saying "at a certain point in the night, young people came wearing swastikas and had painted-on Hitler mustaches."

Students at the nightclub where the anti-Semitic attack took place (Photo: TN News Agency)

"My son and his friends complained and asked that they be taken out, but all the club management did was demand that the mustaches be washed off and that the swastikas be removed," she continued.

"They all ended up fighting, and everyone was kicked out of the club  not just the aggressors," she said.

The families have condemned the club, saying that the club management should never have let the students dressed as Nazis into the club in the first place.

However, the mother did say that she appreciated that non-Jewish students who were at the club came to the Jewish students' defense. Gustavo Genusso, manager of the Bariloche club, said to TN News Station that the fight was a "worrying development" and that the students from the German high school were "no longer allowed in the clubs."

Meanwhile, the head of the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations, Ariel Cohen Sabban, said that he would meet with the club's manager.

"It's neither a joke nor a grace," Sabban said. "these symbols reflect an ideology which culminated in the assassination of six million Jews at the hands of the Nazis. If these kids are older than 16, then these kids could be sentenced to between a month to three years in prison for their actions, as this is a crime in Argentina."

Sabban finished by saying, "we have to be alert because we are beginning new hot beds of anti-Semitism which...But the state's drive to combat this phenomenon, specifically through education, is very important."
France's president is calling on Russia to push for a resumption of talks on a political transition in Syria as quickly as possible.

Francois Hollande referred to a report by a team from the UN and the OPCW chemical weapons watchdog agency that has concluded that the Syrian government and Islamic State militants carried out chemical attacks during 2014 and 2015.

"We are in a very serious situation ... evidences of crimes have been provided," he said in a speech in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, near Paris.

Hollande said it's now up to Russia to face "its responsibilities" and use its influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
UNITED NATIONS - Russia said on Thursday it is prepared to work with the United States at the United Nations on how to respond to a report that blamed Syrian government forces for two chlorine gas attacks and ISIS militants for using sulfur mustard gas.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The year-long UN and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry, authorized by the Security Council, said Syrian Arab Air Force helicopters dropped toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014, and Sarmin on March 16, 2015. Both cases involved the use of chlorine.

It also determined there was sufficient information to conclude that ISIS militants were the "only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard gas in Marea on 21 August, 2015."

ISIS fighters in Aleppo (Photo: AP)

"We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening, in preventing such things from happening, even in the fog of war," Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said. "It's a very complicated report which needs to be studied by experts."

Churkin said he spoke with US Ambassador Samantha Power and they would "see what can be done on the basis of this report" by the UN/OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).

The report's 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.

"I saw ... some in the media, predicting confrontation between Russia and the United States over it. It doesn't have to be the case, let me tell you, because JIM is the creation of the US and Russian delegations working together," Churkin told reporters.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Thursday the Security Council had to respond firmly. French diplomatic sources said Paris wanted to push for a resolution that would force Russia to accept that its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, had used banned weapons.

Russia 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.

Churkin said it was very important that the report concluded that ISIS militants had used mustard gas "because all talk we heard about any use of chemical weapons was an effort to ascribe things to the Syrian government."
RIYADH  US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Thursday ahead of wider talks mostly focusing on Yemen's 18-month-long war and the conflict in Syria.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter



The flurry of meetings come as UN-mediated peace talks to bring an end to the war in Yemen were suspended earlier this month. They also fall on the same day that the UN human rights chief called for an international investigation of rights abuses and violence in Yemen's civil war, which has killed more than 9,000 people, including nearly 3,800 civilians, and displaced 3 million.

Kerry announced on Thursday nearly $189 million in additional humanitarian aid for Yemen, bringing the total amount of US assistance to more than $327 million since October 2015. More than 80 percent of the country, or about 21 million people, are in need of aid and some 10 million are in need of emergency food assistance.

Saudi coalition forces fighting in Yemen (Photo: AFP)

The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support.

In recommendations issued Thursday, the UN high commissioner for human rights called on the international community to "to refrain from encouraging or arming parties to the conflict." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups have similarly urged the US, UK and France to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its airstrikes in Yemen. A number of US lawmakers have also expressed concern about Washington's role in the conflict.

During a press conference in Jeddah, Kerry said stability in Yemen is important to blunting the expansion of extremist groups there like ISIS and al-Qaida. He expressed concern about missiles and rockets fired from inside Yemen toward Saudi Arabia's southern border. The strikes and armed attacks at the border have killed several civilians and dozens of Saudi border guards.

A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said he was expected to raise US concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen during his meetings in Saudi Arabia. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.

Saudi coalition forces fighting in Yemen (Photo: AFP)

Kerry's meeting with King Salman lasted roughly half an hour. The two spoke briefly about the monarch's health and an operation he had in the US, apparently for back pain. It was not clear when the surgery was performed.

After his meeting with the Saudi monarch, Kerry wrote on Twitter that they discussed the "need to reach a political solution (and) address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen," as well as the war in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states back rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, and are members of the US-led coalition bombing ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Kerry also met Thursday with UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The two later met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, British Under Secretary at the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, and the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to exchange ideas about reaching a political solution in Yemen.

The night before, Kerry met for three hours with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister.

He was additionally set to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah before a meeting with other Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Oman is the only country of the six-nation GCC that is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

ISIS bomb goes off in the Aleppo countryside (Photo: AFP)

Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch Kristine Beckerle told The Associated Press that by continuing to sell weapons to the kingdom, the US "isn't just signaling support for Saudi Arabia, it is in fact supporting Saudi Arabia in Yemen." She said HRW found evidence that US-supplied bombs killed 97 civilians, including 25 children, in airstrikes on a market in northwestern Yemen in March.

"It isn't just about casualties, but really about a devastating humanitarian crisis that is threatening people's access to food and health care," she said.

Kerry is scheduled to travel to Geneva next, where he will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. A senior Emirati national security official is also expected to take part in the meetings in Geneva.

The State Department official said Kerry would be giving Gulf Arab states "an update on where things are going in Geneva" regarding proposals to share intelligence and coordinate militarily with Russia against ISIS and al-Qaida. Russia and Iran, however, are strong backers of the Syrian president and have been accused of targeting moderate opposition forces, some of whom are supported by Washington and Gulf Arab states.
KARKAMIS- The Turkish military shelled a group of Syrian Kurdish fighters south of the town of Jarablus on Thursday, a Turkish security source said, a day after Turkey launched its first US-backed incursion into Syria.

The shelling occurred near Manbij, an area controlled by the US-allied Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG), after the fighters did not heed a warning from Turkish forces, CNN Turk said. Jarablus lies about 40 km north of Manbij.

President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made clear the aim of "Operation Euphrates Shield" is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG militia seizing territory and filling the void left by ISIS as about eliminating the radical Islamist group itself.
Its that time of year again. Pencils are sharpened. Backpacks are filled with books. Soon, rows of yellow buses will make the morning rounds. Nebraskans are going back to school.

At night around the dinner table, parents will ask about new classes and friends, how strong this years team will be, and whether that homework will be done on time. Like their parents years before, they ask out of love and genuine desire to see their children succeed.

In these conversations, parents and students should keep in mind the many resources my office has to help young people prepare for their career and gain valuable experience.

For example, my High School Youth Advisory Council is a fantastic way to participate in and learn about our system of government. Organized by my staff, these councils offer high school students a chance to share their views with me directly through listening sessions held in Lincoln and Omaha. I highly value the feedback I receive, and I am always encouraged by the enthusiasm of our council members. Interested students should ask a teacher or school administrator about the selection process. Selections are made every fall.

For high school students seeking to serve our nation in uniform, my office also handles nominations to our military service academies. Admittance to a service academy is among our countrys highest honors. Through this highly competitive process, we choose our next generation of military leaders. Students interested in attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy in Annapolis, the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut, or the Merchant Marine Academy in New York should visit my website at www.fischer.senate.gov. Applications for academy nominations are due in October.

A Senate internship is another excellent opportunity to gain firsthand experience in our government and the political process. Positions are available in my Omaha, Lincoln, and Washington, D.C. offices. Internship responsibilities may include: leading U.S. Capitol tours, processing constituent correspondence, attending briefings and committee hearings, tracking legislation, monitoring Senate floor proceedings, drafting correspondence, assisting constituents with federal casework, and conducting legislative research. I encourage interested students to apply on my website and be mindful of fall, spring, and summer deadlines. Please keep in mind that internship positions are only available to college students and college graduates.

With these opportunities, as with any job application, competition is tough. Applicants are carefully vetted. Young people and parents should know a social media profile is every bit as important to employers as a resume. In todays digital age, it is unrealistic to think that only friends on social media can view or access posts.

This is an important message that must be stressed to our young people. There are so many opportunities before them, but a careless Tweet or Instagram post, an inappropriate photo on Facebook, or a foolish video on Snapchat could cost them an amazing opportunity. As parents have these conversations, I encourage them to emphasize prudence and safety in the digital world.

The start of school is always an exciting time. For students coming into senior year of high school or heading off to college, it is a time of transition. They may even be a little nervous. Thats quite all right. The opportunities before our students are many, and the boundaries are few. I encourage all of our Nebraska students to take full advantage of these resources, and I hope to see them soon.

Thank you for taking part in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
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.












This Account has been suspended.
Latest News

Washington, DC - President Barack Obama: "Twenty-five years ago today, Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union. On behalf of the American people, Im proud to join the Ukrainian people in marking this historic anniversary. As we have been reminded in recent years, Ukraines path has not always been easy. From the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who linked arms in a great human chain in 1990 to the fallen heroes of the Maidan, realizing the dream of independence has called on the solidarity and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people.

"The people of the United States, including proud Ukrainian-Americans, have been honored to partner with Ukraine on this journey. Today, we reaffirm that the United States will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people as they protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity, embrace the vision of a strong and united Europe, and deepen their commitment to democracy, anti-corruption, and respect for human rights. I offer my best wishes to all the people of Ukraine. On this occasion, we are reminded that even in the most difficult moments, the glory and freedom of Ukraineand the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian peoplelives on."
Latest News

Washington, DC - The United States condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack today on the American University of Afghanistan.

We salute the quick work of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces who responded to the attack and secured the university. 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 United States for the Afghan government and people as they continue to build a more stable, secure, and prosperous Afghanistan.
Living Section

Wellton, Arizona - Need help preparing for the Citizenship exam? On Thursday, September 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, the Wellton Library will host Practica ciudadania at 11:00 a.m. Review test subjects, learn interview tips, and more. There is no charge to attend.

Please note, instruction will be provided in Spanish.



The Wellton Library is located at 28790 San Jose Avenue in Wellton. For more information, call (928) 785-9575.
Spanish News

Yuma, Arizona - On Thursday, September 8th and 22nd, the Heritage Library will host Consejos Para Conseguir Empleo (Employment Tips) at 2:00 p.m. Topics include popular job search websites, how to fill out a job application online, and how to format a resume.

There is no charge to attend; however, space is limited.



Please note, this program will be taught in Spanish.



The Heritage Library is located at 350 S Third Street. For more information, call Saul Robles at (928) 373-6486.
The fast paced Mumbai life is slowly seeping into my system. The work and the travel hardly leaves any time for you to pursue interests. With someone like me, who is into blogging, composing, writing...the upcoming weekends are looked upon with dreamy eyed anticipation. <br><br> The most interesting thing worth blogging though is the Mumbai Local Train service. First thing's first, in Mumbai Local trains are meant for everyone, be it masses or the classes. Initially, I felt awkward having a C-Segment car at home and an AGM tag in my job, to be travelling in a train. But soon I learnt that people having bigger better cars, houses and designation also travel by the Mumbai Local. The reason is simple - "Save Time". The Mumbai Road infrastructure is below pathetic status, and nothing much is happening to improve it. <br><br> That is why, taking a train is always a better bet. For example, I start at Malad (W) and my office is at VT (South Mumbai). In case I take my car to the office, I would spend at least two hours to and fro, but in a train ride(Fast Train), I would take 45 minutes to reach VT. <br><br> This blogpost is not to mention the advantages of travelling by Mumbai Local Train, but rather to talk about the string of strange characters I meet everyday, when I am on it. Before I start though, some useful tips for outsiders like me who would soon need to travel by train. <br><br> <i>Tip # 1: In case your office starts at 10 AM, do not take the 9 AM train, because you will be CRUSHED. Do not take me lightly, because I somehow managed a ride once at 9 AM and almost lost my laptop, glasses, balls...well...almost! Please wake up a little early and take the train before 8 AM. You will still not get a place to sit till Dadar, but you will not get crushed and thrown around. Tip # 2 : Take a little pain and find out the starting train from your region as you will always get a place to sit in a starting train. Also, buy a first class pass(Photograph needed) for the month. These acts will not ensure you guaranteed seating on every ride, but will make train commuting slightly easier.</i> <br><br> But nothing can beat the weird/lovable/irritating/crazy characters that you will meet in the Mumbai Locals. Here's a small effort by me to capture some of these characters through this post: <br><br> Reliance CDMA Raju Bhai: Raju is from UP, and after staying in Mumbai for donkey years, has become bhai instead of bhaiya. He goes from Malad to Dadar to work as a packer and mover at some logistic company. Raju's favourite possession is his CDMA Mobile phone, which has a creaky and annoyingly loud speaker. The moment he climbs up on the train, he puts on these unbearable (Bhojpuri/Hindi songs from B grade Mithun movies) numbers for the rest of the journey. <br><br> Balancing Act Uncles : These nice local uncles are old and have probably been taking the locals for over 20 years. They stand within the train among the maddening crowd and read a "Loksatta" or a "Sakal" nonchalantly. Though it sounds easy, but reading is not child's play in a local train that halt, move and speed up everytime with a jolt. These uncles are also very helpful, and are always ready to tell you the simplest train route in case you ask them. <br><br> Bombay Bully Boys: Ok...these guys are poor replicas of a Sanjay Dutt or Sunil Shetty. Even if the train is empty, they will hang from the train, even if people are getting ready to get down in a civilized way, they will growl up in a hoarse voice : "abey, uttar na...kya jhol macha rakha hai" (Hey, get down...why all this commotion?). Their attitude is completely like that of a movie star in an action sequence, always ready to pounce...at whom...only they know! <br><br> The Madmen: These characters are the saddest ones to watch in the Mumbai locals. These are people who have lost their sanity in the Mumbai madness. They sit in the train, their eyes look blank and they hardly have any destination to go. They look at you and smile, but the next moment their eyes become moist...thinking about the state they are in! <br><br> The Jolly Salesman: You are travelling in the crowded compartment, when you hear a loud, jolly voice..."Gentlemen, you have ulcer, piles, constipation, rashes... say goodbye to them all. With this book written in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, you will get remedies for 300 diseases. Rs 10 only. No charges for looking". The dialogues are told with such conviction and confidence, that the average 2nd class crowd soon plucks up all the copies and the jolly salesman has a field day. I think corporate business development people(me included) should learn something from these guys. <br><br> There are many more such characters and I would keep on writing if I can. For example, a Qawwal group kept singing from Churchgate to Malad, a young boy who got separated from his father at Dadar was helped by the local train commuters and handed over to the police. <br><br> <i>All in all, Mumbai locals are a mix of sweat, humanity, hope...all mixed together in a strange smelly paste - called "Daily Rigmarole"</i>
Hyderabad: The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, an umbrella body of students' groups at University of Hyderabad, has condemned the report by a one-man judicial commission that research scholar Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide early this year, was not a Dalit.

The JAC alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) influenced the panel to save central ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya.

It was reacting to media reports that the commission in its report declared Rohith as non-Dalit and also exonerated Vice-Chancellor Podile Apparao.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development on January 28 had appointed former judge of the Allahabad High Court AK Roopanwal to investigate the circumstances that led to Rohith's suicide.

The JAC termed the report the political manoeuvring by BJP to deny Justice for Rohith and four other Dalit Research Scholars who were harassed, discriminated and socially boycotted by the vice chancellor to show his allegiance to Irani and Dattatreya.

The JAC said the panel's conclusion that Rohith was not a Dalit was shocking as district magistrate of Guntur had declared Athat he belonged to Mala, a scheduled caste. It claimed that the commission exceeded its mandate.

The commission did not permit Dalit research scholars to present their version of the incidents that led to their harassment on the ground that the mandate of the commission is only to inquire into Rohith's suicide.

The JAC pointed out that National Commission for Scheduled Castes had approved the report of the Guntur district magistrate on the caste confirmation of Rohith and directed the police to proceed under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.


Kabul: At least three civilians were killed and 12 others injured in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's Balkh province on Thursday, police said.

"A suicide attack apparently targeting a parliamentarian in Tajkirgan district," Xinhua news agency quoted police as saying.

The parliamentarian escaped unhurt, he added.
District of Columbia: Afghan security forces are being killed or wounded in attacks by the Taliban and other groups in even higher numbers than last year, when they suffered devastating losses, a NATO official said Thursday.

Authorities estimate about 5,000 local police and troops were killed in 2015 -- with an additional 15,000 wounded.

The grim numbers are set to increase this year, said US Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, a senior spokesman for NATO`s Operation Resolute Support, which helps train and advise Afghan partners.

"What we do know is that the pace of casualties for the Afghans this year has been higher," Kabul-based Cleveland told reporters in a video call.

"We are concerned about the number of Afghan casualties, and we work with the Afghans as much as we can to try and reduce those."

He did not provide numbers, but a subsequent NATO email said that the increase was about 20 percent so far this year from the comparable period in 2015.

The substantial losses highlight Afghanistan`s ongoing security crisis, which has worsened in recent months with frequent Taliban offensives and attacks by other groups.

Afghan forces at the start of 2015 succeeded NATO in handling most of the country`s security, but despite extensive training and assistance from the alliance, they are struggling to contain the Taliban.

On Wednesday, militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul in an unclaimed assault that killed 16.

And earlier in the week, with fighting intensifying, NATO announced the deployment of around 100 US troops to Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, to help head off a potential Taliban takeover of the city.

Cleveland said the high level of casualties actually demonstrated Afghans` resilience.

"For many militaries, that would break their back," he said.

But "they were able to continue to regroup and they were now of course able to move out on the offense."

US President Barack Obama, elected eight years ago partly on a promise to end America`s longest war, last month put the brakes on the US pullout from Afghanistan.

He ordered 8,400 troops to remain into next year to tackle the Taliban threat. He had previously vowed to slash the US troop presence from its current level of 9,800 to 5,500 by 2017.

The Afghans have about 320,000 police and troops. The security forces are grappling not just with attacks but with internal issues such as deeply entrenched corruption.

Nonetheless, Cleveland said, "We still do believe that the ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) is performing better this year than they performed last year."

"We still believe that they are generally on a positive trajectory."
Islamabad: Pakistan has asked Afghanistan to restrain India from using its soil against Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.

"Such cooperation should not be to the detriment of Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement.

The statement on the India-Afghanistan nexus comes two days after a report saying New Delhi will deliver more arms to Kabul to help it fight militants.

India has provided over $2 billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan in more than a decade.

New Delhi has also been assisting Kabul in building its war-ravaged buildings and heritage sites.

India assisted in building the Afghan Parliament complex as well as in restoring the Stor Palace in Kabul. These were jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on December 25 last year and August 21 respectively.

New Delhi in December last year announced the supply of four military helicopters in India's first transfer of lethal equipments to Afghanistan since the hardline Taliban movement was toppled.

At a corps commanders' conference on August 9, top Pakistan army officers said the terrorist threat was transforming because of a growing nexus between hostile actors in the neighbourhood and facilitators within the country.
Ankara: Turkey on Thursday said it had "every right" to intervene if Syrian Kurdish militia do not withdraw east of the Euphrates River in Syria, as promised by the United States.

The Syrian Kurdish forces "must move to the east of the Euphrates and Turkey is following this very closely," Defence Minister Fikri Isik told NTV television.

He was speaking a day Ankara launched an operation in Syria on Wednesday aimed both at the Islamic State group (IS) and Syrian Kurdish forces.

"If this withdrawal doesn`t happen, Turkey has every right to intervene," Isik added.

Turkey has said the operation in Syria is aimed not just at IS jihadists but also the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People`s Protection Units (YPG) militia.

Turkey sees the YPG as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Ankara`s hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates and would no longer receive American support if they did.

But the minister said there was as yet no sign of the withdrawal.

"They have not yet withdrawn but we are watching and monitoring whether they will withdraw. Turkey will be following, moment by moment," Isik said, adding the withdrawal was promised within a week.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS had tweeted that the Syrian Kurdish forces "have moved east across the Euphrates to prepare for the eventual liberation" of the IS stronghold of Raqqa.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said only a small number of the Kurdish forces had moved east back across the river, and most were still on the western side.

The Kurdish forces were still present around the Syrian town of Manbij seized from IS earlier this month, which lies well west of the Euphrates, it added.

But the YPG told AFP in Beirut it had no interest in listening to ultimatums laid down by Turkey.

"The YPG are Syrians and they are present on Syrian land -- Turkey cannot impose restrictions on the movements of Syrians on their land," said YPG spokesman Redur Xelil.
Seoul: South Korea said Thursday it will offer each surviving victim of Japan`s wartime sexual enslavement 100 million won (US$89,581) using funds provided by Tokyo, an offer quickly rejected by some of the women.

The plight of the so-called "comfort women" is a hugely emotional issue that has marred relations between Seoul and Japan for decades and which, for many South Koreans, symbolises the abuses of Japan`s 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

Last December, the two nations reached a "final and irreversible" agreement, under which Tokyo offered an apology and one billion yen ($8.5 million) to open a foundation for the dwindling number of comfort women who are still alive.

With the disbursement of the one billion yen formally authorised by Tokyo during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, South Korea`s foreign ministry said it expects the Seoul-based foundation to receive the money soon.

Ministry spokesman Cho June-Hyuck told reporters Thursday that a part of the money will be used for "individual" financial assistance, providing 100 million won each to the surviving victims and 20 million won for those who have passed away.

"The cash provision is intended to restore the victims` dignity and to heal their wounds," Cho said.

But the offer was rebuffed by some of the women, who have taken issue with Japan`s refusal to accept formal legal responsibility.

"Japan refers to the money as humanitarian assistance and not legal compensation, which is why they won`t take it," said Ahn Shin-Kwon, director of the House of Sharing, which is home to 10 of the ageing victims.

"The government is trying to placate them with money by offering the surviving victims much more than those who have died," Ahn told AFP.

There are currently 40 surviving victims in South Korea, although that number is quickly dwindling as most of the women are in their 90s.

The South Korean government has been under scrutiny by some of the victims and activists since last year`s agreement.

An opening ceremony of the Tokyo-funded foundation in Seoul last month was met with angry protests, with the foundation`s head ending up in hospital after being sprayed with liquid pepper spray.

Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.
Beijing: Six persons were killed and 25 others injured when a bus collided with a truck in east China's Jiangxi Province.

The bus carrying 59 people collided with a truck yesterday between the cities of Jingdezhen and Jiujian, state- run Xinhua news agency reported today.
Kabul: Her voice quaking with emotion, law student Ghazia recalled the horror of coming face-to-face with a gunman who stormed the American University in Kabul, as her terrified classmates leapt out of second-floor windows to save themselves.

Pandemonium broke out Wednesday when a militant drove an explosives-packed car into a university wall, shattering the balmy evening calm and paving the way for two gunmen to storm into the campus packed with hundreds of students.

Many of Ghazia`s peers barricaded themselves inside classrooms, pushing chairs and tables against the doors, while others made a mad scramble to jump from windows, suffering grievous injuries.

Terrified, 21-year-old Ghazia chose instead to run into the corridor, joined by a couple of classmates, in a moment she thought was going to be her last.

She found some fellow students lying on the ground, their bodies covered in blood. The next moment was even more harrowing.

"As I ran, I turned around for one moment to find a gunman shooting in our direction," she told AFP.

"I thought I was going to die, but I kept running until I found myself near the exit.

"My classmates who stayed behind in the class were either killed or badly wounded."

Sixteen people died and dozens of others were wounded in the 10-hour raid, the first major militant assault on a prominent university in Afghanistan.

Taliban militants are suspected of being behind the assault, which has cast a pall on the education sector, seen as a rare symbol of hope for Afghanistan`s youth at a time of rising insecurity.

The growing number of students attending university, especially women, has been hailed as a rare success story in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime, which banned women`s education.

But Wednesday`s attack could set back those hard-won gains, some observers fear. "Education is one of Afghanistan`s brightest achievements since the fall of the Taliban government," Kabul University professor Shahla Farid told AFP.

"This attack shows our youth, already forced to curtail their movements because of insecurity, are not safe even inside classrooms. I fear this will be particularly devastating for women students."

But male students were also hit hard by Wednesday`s tragedy.

"I am traumatised -- I cannot believe they are dead," a 23-year-old student, visibly shaken, told AFP.

He was referring to the death of fellow student Jamshid Zafar, who he was trading jokes with just minutes before he was gunned down.

He was killed along with Naqib Ahmad Khpulwak, a promising young lecturer in the university`s law department who recently completed his master`s degree in the United States and returned to Afghanistan to teach.

Amid the despair, students also paid tribute to Mohammed Akbar Andarabi, a police commander who was gunned down as his team guided hundreds of students to safety.

"He was one of our finest men. He died protecting the students from terrorists," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said about Andarabi, lionised by local media as "Afghanistan`s Achilles".

The private university has been temporarily closed after the attack, as students were plunged into mourning.

But some also struck a note of defiance.

"I will go to university the first day it reopens," said student Tahmina Amanzai.

"I know I will be trembling with fear but I will definitely go. I can`t let terrorists stop me from continuing my education," she told AFP.
Sydney: A Frenchman who allegedly stabbed a young British woman backpacker to death while saying "Allahu Akbar" in fact has no sign of radicalisation, the Australian Police said Thursday.

Twenty-nine-year-old Smail Ayad was expected to be charged with stabbing Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, multiple times late Tuesday at a backpacker`s hostel in Home Hill, a rural town in north Queensland state.

The attack also left a 30-year-old British man in a critical condition, police said.

But despite authorities saying Wednesday that the Frenchman allegedly said "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) during the assault and again when arrested, police said there were no signs of radicalisation.

"We are certainly not ruling anything out but what I can say at this stage there is absolutely no -- and I repeat -- there is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any particular motive in relation to this matter," Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder told a press conference.

Rohweder -- who confirmed the names of the suspect and the victim -- said one line of inquiry was whether Ayad had a romantic interest in Ayliffe-Chung, although he stressed that so far there was no indication of a "romantic connection" from her point of view.

The detective said the suspect appeared to have shown "some form of change of behaviour" and there was "some stuff that was a bit out of character" on Tuesday night, adding that Ayad may have taken cannabis.

He said Ayad was "extremely violent" with police on Wednesday night when he was being transferred from a hospital, where he had undergone a psychiatric assessment, to a police station, with one officer being bitten in the leg.

Investigators were still interviewing witnesses and Ayad could face a charge of murder, Rohweder said.

State Police Minister Bill Byrne called for calm after anti-immigration firebrand Pauline Hanson, a newly elected senator, was reported as saying the incident "could well be the first Islamic terrorist attack in Queensland".

"There will be those that seek to exploit this and I believe they will be unhelpful," Byrne was quoted by the Brisbane Times as saying. "What is required here is cool, calm, thoughtful consideration."

Canberra has been increasingly concerned about extremism and in particular about home-grown radicalisation, keeping the terror threat alert level at high since September 2014.
Raipur: In a shocking incident, a trainer at the Chankhuri Police Training Academy in Chhattisgarh had forced the women trainees to mention their period dates and asked menstruating women to stand out of the queue during the training.

The incident came to fore after a trainee deputy superintendent of police (DSP) lodged a complaint of harassment against her trainer, said a Times Of India report.

The matter became worse after outdoor in-charge Neelkanth Sahu, an official of DSP rank, allegedly hit a trainee with a cane below the belt and made indecent remarks against her on Tuesday.

The ToI report quoted a trainees as saying that Sahu recently pulled the hair of women trainees during a parade and asked women to come out of the swimming pool on the pretext of a head count.

There were being harassed and tortured by their trainer almost everyday, another trainee allged.

It was also reported that Sahu poked the trainee with the cane to wipe out mud sticking to her uniform while she was holding a rifle during practice.

Upset with the unruly behaviour of their trainer, the women trainees reported the matter with senior police officials and lodged a complaint which was signed by the 32-member batch.

Sahu was then sent to police lines at the headquarters and relieved of duty.

Another woman trainee reportedly said that Sahu didn't miss any opportunity to harass women.

He would loudly mention the trainees' menstruation dates from the register.

Sahu also reportedly made fun of pregnant woman trainee, asking why she had no baby bump, said sources.

Later, a delegation of state women commission also visited the police academy to meet the trainees and inquired about their situation.
Raipur: Two women Naxals carrying cash rewards totalling Rs 9 lakh on their heads were arrested while another in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur surrendered today citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), police said.

"Those arrested were identified as Sonay Potai (32), associated with the military wing of Maoists, and Soni Potai, an area committee member," Narayanpur Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Soni told PTI over phone.

Police had received inputs about frequent movement of rebels in interior villages under Benoor police station area of the district reportedly to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on important routes to target security personnel, he said.

Acting on the information, a joint operation was launched by District Reserve Group (DRG) and district police force in the region, located around 350 km from here.

While cordoning off jungles between Matla and Dandvan villages, the police personnel spotted the women cadres and arrested them, the ASP said.

A country-made revolver, one muzzle loading gun, Naxal literature and uniforms, medicines and commodities of daily use were seized from their possession, the officer added.

Cases related to murder, attempt to murder, loot and attacks on police parties were lodged against the duo in different police stations of the district, he said.

Sonay and Soni Potai were carrying cash rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively, on their heads, the police officer said.

During interrogation, the two revealed they were tasked with recruiting new cadres and devising strategy to carry out attacks on security forces, he added.

In a separate incident, a woman Maoist 'deputy commander', carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on her head, surrendered before the ASP Soni at Narayanpur district headquarters.

Phulo Salaam turned herself in citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and their wrong policies, the ASP said.

She will be provided assistance under the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state government, he added.
Havana Province: Colombia`s government and FARC rebels announced Wednesday that they have reached a historic peace deal to end their half-century civil war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

After nearly four years of negotiations in Cuba, the two sides announced a final deal, which President Juan Manuel Santos said would be put to a decisive referendum on October 2.

"The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord... on ending the conflict and building a stable and enduring peace," the two sides said in a joint statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez.

"We don`t want one more victim in Colombia."

In a national address just after the announcement, Santos -- who has staked his legacy on the peace process -- said the deal marked "the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war."

He immediately launched his campaign for a "Yes" vote in the referendum, which he said would be the most important election of voters` lives.

"This is a historic and unique opportunity... to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren," he said.The conflict began with the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964, at a time when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America.

Over the years, it has killed 260,000 people, uprooted 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing.

Along the way, it has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the world`s largest cocaine-producing country.

Three previous peace processes with the FARC ended in failure.

But after a major offensive by the army from 2006 to 2009 -- led by then-defense minister Santos -- a weakened FARC agreed to come to the negotiating table.

Over the past few days, the two sides had been discussing a range of unresolved topics, and worked late into the night Tuesday to draft their joint statement, sources from the two delegations told AFP in Havana.The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations.

They cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and the implementation and monitoring of the accord.

Under the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The FARC will then become a political party. Its weapons will be melted down to build three peace monuments.

Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict.

An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.

Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

Santos insisted there would be no impunity for such crimes.The White House said US President Barack Obama had called Santos to congratulate him.

"The president recognized this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement," it said in a statement.

Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs.

Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called "Plan Colombia" -- recently rebaptized "Peace Colombia" by Obama.

There are still obstacles on the way to peace.

Santos`s top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading a campaign to vote "No" in the referendum, arguing his successor has given too much away to the FARC.

And the government is still fighting a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose ongoing kidnappings have derailed efforts to open peace negotiations.
Prague: Czech police arrested a man Thursday for attempting to drive into the motorcade of visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Prague, they said.

A man in a black Mercedes "attempted to join the motorcade as it moved between Prague airport and Czech government headquarters," police spokesman Jozef Bocan told AFP, adding that the suspect was in police custody and Merkel "had not been in danger".

"While attempting to join the motorcade, he tried to run down police securing the road," Bocan said, adding that officers had to use firearms to subdue the suspect.

"The suspect acted alone. He was not armed, but items found in the car could easily have been used as weapons, particularly some cement cubes," Bocan added.

Merkel held talks Thursday with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and President Milos Zeman focused on the future of the European Union after Britain`s June decision to leave the bloc.

Several hundred protesters, including members of anti-Islam groups, rallied in central Prague against Merkel and her decision to open the EU`s doors to refugees and migrants last summer.
New Delhi: Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts in December 16, 2012, gang-rape, was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition on Thursday after he tried to commit suicide in Tihar Jail here.

Sharma was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital after he consumed pills and tried to hang himself on Wednesday night.

He was hospitalised in the at 12.02 am, a hospital official said.

Responding to the development, Nirbhaya's mother said the convicts are reaping what they sowed in their lives.

"The sin of these people (all the convicts) will not allow them to live. My daughter survived without water for 13 days. She faced extreme pain and brutality," the victim`s mother said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the victim`s father when he spoke to news agency IANS.

"It is good. It is a big thing that he is still alive, he should die very soon. He has to die in future, if he dies today, it would be a tribute to our daughter," said the distraught father.

In a telephonic conversation with IANS, the victim`s father, in his late 50s, said: "It is good for such people to die as they are dangerous for society and country".

"If he was committing suicide, he should do it. Not only he, I want to see all the convicts dead so that we can take a sigh of relief."

Meanwhile, Sharma`s lawyer AP Singh has claimed that it was not a suicide attempt but attempt to murder.

Sharma, Mukesh, Pawan, Akshay Thakur and Ram Singh, along with a juvenile, were accused of gang-raping and assaulting a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a private bus. The victim and her friend were thrown out of the bus after the crime.

The victim died of grave intestinal injuries December 29, 2012, at Singapore`s Mount Elizabeth Hospital where she was airlifted for specialised treatment.

In 2013, Ram Singh was found dead in the Tihar Jail.
New Delhi: PhD student Anmol Ratan, who has been accused of raping a fellow scholar at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), will be produced before a Patiala House court on Thursday, hours after surrendering before the Delhi Police.

Ratan had been missing since Sunday when the complaint was filed against him.

An FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections covering rape and criminal intimidation has been registered against Ratan.

Following the shocking development, Ratan was expelled from the All India Students` Association (AISA).The AISA had released a statement earlier announcing their decision to expel Ratan from the party and that they will reflect on and deal with it with the firmness it deserves."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.

The fact that a leading activist of ours is accused of sexual violence, calls for serious introspection and re-invigorating the process of sensitisation against sexual violence within and outside the organisation," the statement said.
New Delhi: U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump backed away farther from his hardline stance on deporting millions of illegal immigrants, saying in remarks broadcast on Wednesday he would be willing to work with those who have followed U.S. laws while living in the country.

Trump`s comments came in the second part of an interview conducted on Tuesday with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity. They signaled a further softening in his immigration position as he girds for a battle against Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 election and faces pressure to bolster support among moderate voters and minority groups.

Trump, who defeated 16 rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in part based on his opposition to illegal immigrants, said he would not permit American citizenship for the undocumented population and would expel lawbreakers.

To qualify to remain in the United States, Trump said, illegal immigrants would have to pay back taxes.

"No citizenship. Let me go a step further - 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," Trump said.

"But when I go through and I meet thousands and thousands of people on this subject, and I`ve had very strong people come up to me ... and they`ve said: `Mr. Trump, I love you, but to take a person who`s been here for 15 or 20 years and throw them and their family out, it`s so tough, Mr. Trump,`" Trump said. "It`s a very hard thing."

Trump said he would outline his position soon.

Well, Im going to announce something over the next two weeks, but its going to be a very firm policy, Trump told WPEC, a CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump`s new position seemed to resemble in some respects the failed 2007 reform push by former Republican President George W. Bush. That effort offered a way to bring millions "out of the shadows" without amnesty and would have required illegal immigrants to pay a fine and take other steps to gain legal status.

Trump`s latest comments came as Nigel Farage, an anti-immigration politician who was part of Britain`s successful campaign to leave the European Union, planned to address Trump`s rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday night.

Trump has retained much of his immigration agenda. He still wants to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico but he has emphasized in recent days a need to deal most urgently with illegal immigrants who commit crimes and also those who might be displacing African-American and Hispanic workers.

At a rally earlier in Tampa, Florida, Trump did not talk about deporting as many as 11 million illegal immigrants as he has in the past, instead saying he would aim enforcement efforts at people who are committing crimes such as overstaying their visas.

"Hillary Clinton wants a totally open border so people can just pour in," Trump said. "We are going to enforce our laws, remove people who overstay their visas, dismantle the gangs and cartels, and protect jobs and benefits for hardworking American citizens."

REACHING OUT TO MINORITIES

Trump trails Clinton in national public opinion polls as well as in many battleground states where the election will be decided. After a campaign shake-up last week, he has made more urgent attempts to appeal to moderate voters and minority groups who have been disenchanted by his bellicose rhetoric.

As part of an outreach to minority voters, who opinion polls show favoring his opponent, Trump plans to visit some African-American communities, a departure from his reliance on white voters. One such stop is expected to be in September in Detroit.

One adviser, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, an African-American who ran against Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, told MSNBC he would accompany Trump.

"There`s no question that he will be in the communities. He will be talking to African-American leaders around the country in different cities to find out what they believe is important, and what they think has worked," Carson said.

Trump argues that many minority groups have suffered under Democratic policies, particularly in inner cities. He vowed to make cities safer so that "when you walk down your street... you`re not going to be shot, your child is not going to be shot."
District of Columbia: If New York developer Donald Trump wins the White House in November, the global economy could slip into recession, according to a forecast from Citigroup Thursday.

In a research note a team led by the US bank`s chief economist Willem Buiter said the election was a major source of uncertainty in the global economy.

"Our base case is for a (Hillary) Clinton victory and mostly continuity in policies," the note said, adding that a Clinton administration could result in a major fiscal expansion.

A victory by Republican candidate Trump could foretell of darker times, however, they said.

Presuming increases in global uncertainty and tightening of US financial conditions, "a Trump victory could lower global GDP growth by around 0.7-0.8" percentage points, the note said, "pushing GDP growth easily below our benchmark for a global recession."

The note defined recession at world GDP expansion of 2.0 percent or less, at market exchange rates.

Trump, who has lent his name to a broad array of commercial ventures with of varying degrees of success, has campaigned on his business acumen as antidote to the perceived failures of conventional wisdom in Washington.

The New York Times on Thursday put the odds of a Trump victory over democratic rival Clinton at 12 percent.

The Trump campaign could not be reached immediately for comment on the Citigroup report.
Tegucigalpa: The harsh anti-immigration stance of US presidential candidate Donald Trump has fueled a surge in the number of migrants from Central America trying to enter America before it`s too late, officials in the region said.

Although Trump appeared this week to be rowing back some of his tougher language against undocumented migrants, the exodus was already underway, some officials said on Thursday.

"We have seen an increase in migration in the past few months and it is very clear that it has to do with the electoral process that is happening in the United States," Honduras` deputy foreign minister, Maria Andrea Matamoros, said.

"We have learned that the message `coyotes` (people smugglers) are giving is: `It`s now or never. If you don`t make it to the United States right now, you won`t be able to, because they are going to build a wall," she said at a conference jointly organized with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).The migratory flow is essentially from Central America`s so-called Northern Triangle made up of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Those three nations, prey to vicious gang violence, rampant corruption and poverty over the years have seen large numbers of undocumented migrants to the US.

Trump has become the Republican Party`s candidate with promises that include having a wall built along the US-Mexican border to keep out unwanted migrants.

Although many analysts see the wall idea as unfeasible, and Trump reportedly has softened his tone somewhat since last weekend, Central Americans are already said to be in the pipeline headed to the US.

"More and more people argue... that they are getting information from certain places saying `Come now because we don`t know what`s going to happen`," after the US elections, the IOM`s mission chief for the Northern Triangle, Jorge Peraza, said.

"However there are also people saying `Don`t come because it`s not the right time because maybe the next president with bring in anti-immigration policies`," he added.Peraza said factors encouraging some to make the journey to the US include a lack of jobs, the desire to be with family members already in America, and violence they face in their home countries -- a growing motivator.

Ricardo Puerta, a sociologist originally from Cuba who has studied migration issues for more than 30 years, said that 90 percent of Hondurans emigrated because of lack of employment. The other 10 percent leave to reunite with their families or to escape violence.

A researcher at a non-governmental group called Casa Alianza, Jaime Flores, said he had received many accounts from Hondurans saying they were leaving because of violence.

He noted cases where Honduran children were murdered because they refused to join gangs.

"Now some girls are forcibly grabbed to be `collective women` for the gangs or the gang`s boss, otherwise they will be killed or a member of their family will be killed," he said.

Puerta said promised US aid of $750 million to the Northern Triangle, to promote security and economic opportunities in the hope of curbing emigration, was "an inflated balloon."

The initiative, championed by outgoing US President Barack Obama, was announced in 2014 in the wake of a massive wave of unaccompanied Central American children entering the United States. That phenomenon persists, although at a lower level.

More than 68,000 children from the Northern Triangle countries headed to the US this year, according to authorities.
Washington: Four Iranian military vessels sped close to two US Navy guided missile destroyers with their weapons uncovered in the Strait of Hormuz in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter between the longtime foes, American defense officials have said.

The USS Nitze shot warning flares, sounded its whistles and attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with the Iranian boats during Tuesday's incident, US Central Command spokesman Commander Kyle Raines said in a statement, adding that the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards (meters) of the American destroyer. The Nitze was accompanied on its mission by the USS Mason, another destroyer.

The encounter occurred in international waters in the strait, a vitally important choke point with Iran to its north and the United Arab Emirates to the south.

The destroyer had to change course to avoid a possible collision, even though it was near offshore oil rigs.

"Nitze also changed its course multiple times in close proximity to offshore oil rigs in an attempt to maintain separation and better understand Iranian intentions," Raines said.

"Eventually, the Iranian vessels slowed before proceeding outbound."

This was not the first maritime scare between the United States and Iran.

In January, the Iranian navy briefly captured the crews of two US patrol boats that had, through a series of blunders, strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

The 10 American sailors were released within 24 hours.

"We assessed the interaction as unsafe and unprofessional due to the Iranian vessels not abiding by international law and internationally recognized maritime rules of the road as well as their high rate of closure of Nitze and disregard of multiple warnings by the ship's whistle and flares," Raines said of the latest incident.

"The US Navy continues to remain vigilant and is trained to act in a professional manner, and we expect the same of all nations with professional maritime forces."
Accumoli: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that shook central Italy rose to 247 today, officials said, as rescuers desperately searched for survivors in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Hundreds of others were injured, some critically, and an unknown number were trapped under the ruins of collapsed buildings after yesterday's pre-dawn quake.

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were determined to attempt to pluck more survivors from the ruins.

Rescuers had pledged to work through the night in the hope of finding people alive in the mangled wreckage of homes.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier warned that the toll would likely rise after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

Hundreds of people spent 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 L'Aquila, 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.

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.

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.

Renzi said it was too early to consider 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 today.
Accumoli: Rescuers worked into the early hours of Thursday in a desperate search for survivors after a powerful earthquake shook central Italy, leaving at least 159 people dead and devastating several mountain villages.

With 368 people injured, some critically, and an unknown number trapped under rubble, the death toll from yesterday's pre-dawn quake was expected to rise further, officials warned.

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were determined to attempt to pluck more survivors from the ruins.

The rescue efforts "won't slow down during the night", the head of the civil protection agency Fabrizio Curcio told public broadcaster Rai, giving an updated toll of 159 dead.

He did not say how many people were still thought to be missing.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier said at least 120 people were killed in the earthquake. "This is not a final toll," he warned after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

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 L'Aquila, 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.

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.

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.

Renzi said it was too early to consider 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 today.

It was Italy's most powerful earthquake since the 2009 disaster in L'Aquila.
District of Columbia: Hillary Clinton will paint her White House rival Donald Trump as the candidate of the far right Thursday, claiming "a radical fringe" has taken over the Republican Party.

After releasing a hard-hitting ad that tethered Trump to the Ku Klux Klan, Clinton will use a speech in Reno, Nevada to argue he has brought racism to the political mainstream.

"From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton will say, according to excerpts released by her campaign.

"He`s taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America`s two major political parties."

As Trump strives to temper his hardline anti-immigrant message in a bid to halt collapsing poll numbers, Clinton`s campaign has been at pains to remind voters of the New York tycoon`s more controversial views.

Trump has in the past described Mexicans as rapists and drug dealers, and vowed to round up illegal immigrants and build a wall on the southern border -- for which he would make Mexico pay.

In New Hampshire on Thursday, Trump trashed Clinton`s claims about him and his supporters.

"She paints decent Americans as racists," he said to angry jeers.

Clinton has accused "decent Americans who support this campaign, your campaign, of being racists, which we are not" he said to angry jeers from the crowd.

"It`s a tired, disgusting argument."

Trump also accused Clinton of being behind a "vast criminal enterprise run out of the State Department," suggesting that she had sold valuable access to those who donated to her family`s Clinton Foundation.
Washington: More than half of respondents in a new poll said they plan to vote for Hillary Clinton -- the first time the Democratic presidential candidate has breached that all-important 50 percent threshold.

The poll released Thursday by Quinnipiac University found the former secretary of state leading Trump 51 to 41 percent in a head to head race.

"We are starting to hear the faint rumblings of a Hillary Clinton landslide as her 10-point lead is further proof that Donald Trump is in a downward spiral as the clock ticks," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

Support for Clinton falls below 50 percent if third-party candidates are thrown into the equation.

The former first lady gets 45 percent, with Trump polling 38 percent, when Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party contender Jill Stein are added to the mix.

Johnson gets 10 percent and Stein is at 4 percent in the Quinnipiac poll.

Trump's campaign has stumbled in recent weeks after a series of perceived gaffes. Commentators say it has struggled to make the transition from the scrappy party nomination fight to the battle to become US commander in chief.

"Trump's missteps, stumbles and gaffes seem to outweigh Clinton's shaky trust status and perceived shady dealings. Wow, is there any light at the end of this dark and depressing chapter in American politics?" Malloy said.

Meanwhile, Clinton, who is looking to make history as America's first female commander in chief, has hit choppy waters as well amid the continuing fallout over her misbegotten decision to use a private email server for State Department correspondence.

She also has come under scrutiny for allegedly breaching a firewall between her family charity and her role as secretary of state, sparking Republican complaints of special favors granted to donors to the Clinton Foundation.

But despite her self-inflicted wounds, many voters perceive fewer potential drawbacks to a Clinton presidency, and she continues to poll well ahead of her Republican rival.

Quinnipiac's nationwide telephone survey of some 1,500 likely voters, taken from August 18 to 24, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Mumbai: An Air India Mumbai-Newark flight was diverted to Kazakhstan on Thursday due to operational reasons, an official said here.

The official said the flight which took off from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here around 2 am was diverted to Kazakhstan where it landed safely at 7.30 am.

All passengers and crew on board are safe and the Boeing 777 is being inspected by a team of engineers.

The official denied that there was any fire or smoke emanating from the aircraft and said the diversion was due to "operational reasons".

The aircraft is expected to take off for its onward journey to Newark, New Jersey within a couple of hours, the official added.
New Delhi: Reaffirming its support for India's NSG membership bid, Canada on Thursday said the scope of the deal between the two countries for supply of uranium can be further "expanded".

Speaking on a range of issues, Canadian High Commissioner to India Nadir Patel said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to visit the country in the "not so distant future" and that dates are being worked out.

"The date has not yet been set. The challenge is simply scheduling and nothing else. I am working with both the Prime Ministers' offices to try to secure a window. But we are certainly highly anticipating that visit happens in the not so distant future," he said.

Patel said the movement of uranium consignments from Canada to India which began last year is progressing "extremely well".

Asked about its possible expansion, he said, "There are provisions for that to happen." Patel was interacting with a select gathering at the Foreign Correspondents Club here.

Patel emphasized that Canada's "strong support" on India's bid to enter the 48-member Nuclear suppliers Group, resisted by China, was "clear and vocal".

"We have come out vocally. We have made that very clear. We have advocated for India to join as we feel there's a lot to gain from India joining in terms of global collaboration as well," he said.

Gujarat born Patel said, "There is something different right now" in Indo-Canada ties that had not been experienced in the past.

"There's a transformation happening both in India and Canada. We can coexist with common and shared values and have very significant differences of opinion," he said.

Replying to a query on free trade agreement and Intellectual Property Rights, he said problems on the front of IPR are "workable" and not a stumbling block.

He stressed on the need for speeding up economic reforms by opening up more sectors of Indian economy.

"There are other areas that are creating quite a challenge for us to navigate. We subscribe to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of economic reforms but frankly I don't think there has been much progress in a real policy matter. Although some sectors have opened up. Much more needs to be done," he said.
New Delhi: Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi`s flip-flop in the Supreme Court over his remark blaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for Mahatma Gandhi`s assassination, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday said the apex court will now take a final call on whether the Congress vice-president`s assertion is true.

"Whatever he said is in front of the entire world. He as well as the entire nation knows the motive and intent behind his statement. Now, if he is taking a U-turn then the court will decide whether he is correct or not," Naqvi told ANI.

Making a complete U-turn, the Congress vice-president`s counsel Kapil Sibal yesterday told the Supreme Court that the former never accused the RSS as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi."`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."
Mumbai: An Air India flight carrying over 300 people from here to Newark was on Thursday diverted to Kazakhstan after detection of fumes in the cargo hold that triggered a fire alarm.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said all passengers are safe and that there was no reason for worry while a relief aircraft is already on the way from New Delhi to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark.

The Boeing 777-300 ER plane had landed at the Aktobe international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after "some alarm went off" while it was on its way to Newark.

An Air India spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.

An airline source said that fire alarm was set off after fumes were detected from the cargo hold of the plane. "The fumes were possibly from some perishable items that might have been treated with chemicals," the source added.

Since the fire extinguisher is being used in the "slow mode", it would take quite sometime before the aircraft is declared as again fit to be airborne. Hence, a relief aircraft is being dispatched, the source said.

In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.

A relief aircraft has left from New Delhi to Aktobe to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark.

"Our Ambassador Shri Harsh K Jain has informed me that all passengers are safe. There is no reason for worry," Swaraj said in a tweet.

Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has a seating capacity of around 350 people.

"#AI CMD Mr Lohani spoke to Captain Aroob. The pax (passengers) are satisfied and happy that the flt (flight) safely landed in #Kazakhstan," Air India said in a tweet.

Aroob is the captain of the flight that was diverted to Kazakhstan.
New Delhi: Responding to Islamabad's latest invitation for talks, the Centre on Thursday said that it is ready for a bilateral engagement with the neighbouring country provided it focuses on cross-border terrorism.

According to PTI, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has written a letter to his Pakistani counterpart, calling for talks on cross-border terrorism, describing it as a threat to regional security.

The letter was delivered to Pakistans Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry late on Wednesday.

In his letter, Jaishankar also proposed a dialogue on the status of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The response came days after Pakistan had written to India, calling for a dialogue on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and humanitarian issues related to the violence there.

The letter, sources said, was approved by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, after deliberations which involved the heads of the intelligence services and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Through Jaishankar's letter, New Delhi has reiterated its earlier stand - August 19 response to Pakistans letter - stating its willingness to engage in Foreign Secretary-level talks, but not on issues chosen by Pakistan.

Pakistan had responded to the August 19 letter the same day, drawing the Indian response delivered Wednesday.

Behind the letter, government sources say, is a foreign policy team that has pulled together to shape a strategic response to combat multiple crisis that have threatened to leave India isolated from several of its neighbours.
New Delhi: In a major development, December 16, 2012 Delhi gang-rape case convict, Vinay Sharma on Thursday attempted suicide in Tihar Jail.

The Nirbhaya gang-rape convict was admitted to hospital by the prison authorities.

The 23-year-old paramedic dubbed Nirbhaya (meaning fearless), was brutally assaulted and gang-raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of December 16, 2012. She had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.

The death sentence to four of the six rapists has been stayed by the Supreme Court following an appeal challenging the high court order upholding the same.

Of the six rapists, while one committed suicide, another convict, a juvenile at the time of the crime, was recently released after spending three years at a correctional home.

Besides Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Mukesh and Pawan Gupta are the other three convicts lodged in Tihar Jail. Ram Singh, committed suicide in the city's Tihar Jail three years ago

The juvenile was released from observation home in December last year.
New Delhi/Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condemned an attack at the American University in Kabul which ended early today.

The overnight attack triggered explosions and gunfire, killing at least nine people, including seven students, in a raid which comes just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school. Three policemen were also killed in the attack.

The Afghan Police told media that two attackers were gunned down, nearly 10 hours after militants stormed the complex, prompting desperate pleas for help from trapped students.

Taking to Twitter, Modi strongly condemned the attack and paid condolences to the bereaved families.

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

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government.

The elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrolls more than 1,700 students, is seen as a high-profile target for militants partly because it attracts foreign faculty members.
Nagpur: As the Congress vice president told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that he had never blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as an institution for killing Mahatma Gandhi, but persons associated with it were behind the assassination, RSS ideologue MG Vaidya on Thursday said rather twisting it, Rahul Gandhi must come clean on in what sense they were associated with the Hindu nationalist organisation and what was their position and credential.

"If he now says the RSS was not involved, but the people who were involved in Gandhiji`s murder were RSS-affiliate, then he must come clean on his statement that in what sense they were associated with the RSS and what was their position and credential in the organisation," said the RSS patriarch, seeking explanation from the Congress vice president as to how the assassin was affiliated to the organisation.

"He is twisting it now. He must show his generosity by offering apology for his statement and should accept before the court that what he had said was wrong," the former RSS spokesperson and ideologue told ANI.

Stating that somebody might have been associated with the RSS prior to Gandhiji`s murder, Vaidya sought to know from Rahul if the assassin was still a part of the organisation when Gandhiji was murdered?

"Leave aside some official post; whether he (the assassin) was even an ordinary activist of the RSS, he (Rahul) must come out clean on these things," he stated.

"The fact is that he has made a mistake, which he should accept with generosity and should apologise for that," Vaidya added.

When told that Rahul had refused to apologise, Vaidya said, "If that`s the case, why did he take so much time to clarify his statement? If he apologises, it will enhance stature in people`s eyes. A person who is holding such an important post of Congress vice president should be generous at least."

Following Rahul`s submission, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and RF Nariman said if the complainant agrees to the submission, it will take the statement on record and dispose of the petition. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress vice president, cited the affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, saying he had only accused certain people of the RSS and not the organisation as the killer of Mahatma Gandhi.

In his complaint, RSS Bhiwandi secretary Rajesh Mahadev Kunte alleged that Rahul told an election rally in Sonale on March 6 last year that "the RSS people killed Gandhiji".

He alleged that the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of RSS through his speech.

The case is pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra`s Thane district.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Thursday sanctioned Rs 5 lakh compensation for the family of the 65-year-old woman Sheeluamma who was devoured by dozens of stray dogs here.

The attack on August 19 took place barely 10 km from the state secretariat.

Speaking to the media soon after the cabinet meeting, Local Administration Minister K.T. Jaleel said: "We have also sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to another lady who was also attacked by dogs the same day. We gave this amount as this was the only application before the government."

Jaleel said the state government will only be able to go forward as per the law when it comes to tackling stray dogs who have attacked many children and women.
New Delhi: An the Indian Navy continues to probe the extent of threat to its security, a report suggested that a former French naval officer may be responsible for the leak of sensitive data related to Scorpene submarine.

A report by 'The Australian' suggested that the former French naval officer, in question, was working as a sub-contractor for the DCNS  the French company  and he might be behind the leak of the sensitive data which were written in France in 2011.

The French firm had initially suggested the leak might be at the Indian end, saying it supplies but does not control access to technical data.

The leak has hit the Indian Navy hard, which had commissioned the French Scorpene submarine barely a few months back.

The Indian Navy, which is now probing the extent of threat to its security after thousands of secret pages carrying combat details of the new boat popped up in public domain in an expose by The Australian newspaper, has termed it a matter of grave concern.

However, it maintained that the documents that have surfaced till now are technical features and not operational details implying that it can cope up with the grave breach of confidentiality.

Submarine operations are married to the principles of stealth and reams of data in public domain can jeopardise security as the rival navies - particularly that of China and Pakistan - now have access to the information on a platter.

Navy's world over are extremely secretive about its submarines and intricate details of India's latest Scorpene has gone public even before its operational deployment.

The Navy, which is still in the process of gathering all the 22,000 pages said to have been leaked, asserted that India was not the source of the breach.

It has now put the onus on the French company DCNS, which was building the six submarines at Mumbai's Mazgaon Dock Limited under a $3.5 billion transfer of technology contract to explain the leak.

The leak is also likely to damage the reputation of DCNS as a credible defence partner as it faled to maintain secrecy about the Indian project.

Meanwhile, leading opposition leaders have termed leak of sensitive data as various serious issue and demanded an explanation from the NDA government.

Scorpene submarine classifide data leak is a very serious issue which shows that our Defence Ministry is not vigilant.  SHARAD YADAV (@SharadYadavMP) August 25, 2016
New Delhi: Smriti Irani, one of the NDA government's most popular ministers, was once denied the cabin crew job due to lack of ''good personality''.

"My application for cabin crew position was rejected by Jet Airways, which felt I didn't have a good personality," Union Minister Smriti Irani has said.

At her witty best, the television actress-turned- politician also said that thanks to that rejection, she got a job at McDonald's and the "rest is history".

"I don't 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 don't have a good personality. Thank God for your rejection. After that, I got a job at McDonald's 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.

With PTI inputs
United Nations: Israel has rejected a UN request to release a United Nations staffer charged with aiding Hamas, on the grounds that he enjoys diplomatic immunity.

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon yesterday said the UN office of legal affairs had issued a formal letter requesting the release of Waheed Borsh, who worked for the UN Development Program (UNDP).

In early August, an Israeli court charged the 38-year-old Palestinian engineer with diverting 300 tons of rubble from a UNDP project in Gaza to build a jetty for Hamas.

"We do not grant immunity to terrorists trying to harm our citizens," Danon said in response to the letter.

"Israel operates according to the law, and we continue to do so in this case as well," he said in a statement from the Israeli mission to the United Nations.

The office of legal affairs argued that Borsh, as a UN employee, enjoys immunity from arrest and from legal process, and requested that UN officials be allowed to visit him in jail.

After reviewing the charge sheet, the UNDP challenged Israel's allegations and said Saturday that Borsh diverted the rubble under instructions from the Palestinian Authority.

Israel has long alleged that aid has been diverted to Hamas -- the Islamist group that has controlled Gaza since 2007 -- claims rejected by non-governmental organisations and the United Nations.

Danon said the UN should carry out a comprehensive review of its aid programs in Gaza, to ensure that funding and employees "fulfill the purpose of aiding the residents of Gaza and not fund terror activities."

More than two-thirds of the population of the Gaza Strip, which Israel has blockaded for a decade, are reliant on some form of aid, according to the United Nations.
Accumoli: A powerful earthquake shook central Italy on Wednesday, leaving at least 159 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 further, officials warned.

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were preparing to work through the night in the hope of plucking more survivors from the ruins.

The rescue efforts "won`t slow down during the night", the head of the civil protection agency Fabrizio Curcio told public broadcaster Rai, giving an updated toll of 159 dead.

He did not say how many people were still thought to be missing.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier said at least 120 people were killed in the earthquake. "This is not a final toll," he had warned after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

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 L`Aquila, 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.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.

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.

Premier Renzi said it was too early to consider 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.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.

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 children`s 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 that claims to be home of amatriciana, one of Italy`s 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 (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).

It measured 6.0 according to Italian monitors, who put the depth at only four kilometres. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later.

Italy is vulnerable to earthquakes.

The 2009 tremor in L`Aquila 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 the shallowness of Wednesday`s quake had made it more destructive.

But he added: "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."
Srinagar: A fierce gunfight between militants and the security forces broke out on Thursday in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to ANI, the gunfight erupted in Karnah sector of the LoC in Kupwara and one army jawan of the 26 Rajput Regiment was injured.

Troops fired at a group of terrorists trying to infiltrate earlier today forcing them to flee back, the report said.

The latest clash with the militants comes three days after the security forces had gunned down three terrorists in the same district.

A large cache of arms and ammunition had also been recovered from the site.

The slain terrorists reportedly belonged to the Lakshar-e-Toiba terrorist group.

At least three jawans had also been injured in the clash.
Srinagar: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to discuss the unrest in the Valley.

Addressing the mediapersons, Singh said, the Centre as well the state government are committed to bring peaceful solution in Kashmir.

The Home Minister, who is on a 2-day visit to the Valley said, since yesterday he has met 300 people from different sections of the society.

Expressing grief over the deaths in Kashmir, Singh said, those who died in the recent days, whether it was security official or a local, they are our own people.

Kashmir has been witnessing unending violence since Hizbul Mujahidden militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 08.

While addressing a joint press conference with Mufti, the Home Minister appealed to the Kashmiris not to play with the future of youth in the Valley.

He said, the youth and the children should be stopped from resorting to stone-pelting, adding, at a time when the next generation should have books, computers in their hands, some people with vested interests are motivating them them to pick up stones.

Singh asked the Kashmiris to expose the people who are throwing the youth into darkness.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said the Centre is planning to bring all-party delegation to Kashmir.

Coming to the defence of armed forces, the Home Minister asserted that the security personnel have been told to exercise maximum restraint and they are doing so.

On the issue of usage of pellet guns, the Union Cabinet Minister assured that an alternate non-lethal weapon will be provided soon.

More than 4000 security personnel have also injured during the unrest. Will appeal to people not to forget the role the security forces played during floods in Kashmir, Singh asserted.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very much concerned about Kashmir and often talks to him on the issue.

When asked about his opinion on holding talks with Hurriyat leaders, Rajnath reiterated his stand saying, "those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome to talk to me."

A nodal officer will soon be appointed for Kashmiris living in any part of the country. Any Kashmiri facing any trouble will be able to contact the official through a phone number (which would be announced soon) and he would make all efforts to solve the problems, Singh maintained.

Mufti said 95 percent people want peaceful solution through dialogue, only five percent derailing the process.

No solution can be found by stone-pelting and attacking security camps, the J&K CM noted.

Authorities on Thursday continued curfew and restrictions in Kashmir for the 48th consecutive day.

The death toll rose to 69 after a teenager was killed in clashes with the security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama district on Wednesday.
Geneva: US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Geneva for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the situation in war-ravaged Syria.

Kerry, who was flying in from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he announced a new peace push for conflict-torn Yemen, arrived in the Swiss city shortly yesterday before 10:00 pm (Local Time).

He was scheduled to meet with Lavrov Friday morning for talks expected to focus heavily on the situation in Syria.

Earlier yesterday, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura described the meeting as "important" and said it could help his push to resume peace negotiations for the country.

De Mistura did not say whether he would be meeting with the two top diplomats while they were in town.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the Syria conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, which erupted in 2011 after President Bashar al-Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt.

Russian planes have also been carrying out raids on Syrian rebel groups, some of which are supported by the United States.

But the two countries have a common foe in the Islamic State group, and have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the jihadists.

Perhaps as a sign of tightening cooperation, Moscow vowed yesterday to work with the United States on a response after a UN investigation found that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical attacks.

"We have a joint interest in... Preventing such things from happening, even in the fog of war," Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.

The two countries also co-chair a UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, which has been struggling to ensure access for desperately-needed aid across the country.

Aleppo, Syria's second city and former economic hub, has emerged as a top concern since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

Russia last week gave its blessing to a long-demanded 48-hour pause in fighting in the city to allow in aid, but de Mistura said yesterday other unspecified parties were still dragging their feet.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) launched a campaign against communalism on Wednesday, coinciding with 'Shobha Yatras' of Sangh Parivar outfits to mark the Krishna Janmashtami celebrations.

Though the five-day CPI-M campaign, titled 'Namukku Jathi Illa' (We have no caste) featuring cultural processions and conventions, is officially to mark the birthday of social reformer Chattambi Swami, opposition Congress took a dig at the ruling party for organising celebrations on the occasion of Janmashtami (birthday of Hindu Lord Krishna).

Amid tight security and tension, the Janmashtami processions were held in different places in politically sensitive Kannur district.

According to The Indian Express, the BJP conducted 450 Krishna Jayanti processions in the Kannur district, while CPI-M, heading the ruling LDF in Kerala, took out its processions at 305 centres.

Participants in the CPI-M processions in Kannur waved placards with pictures of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Sree Narayana Guru and social reformer Ayyankali.

In a Facebook post, CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishan said cultural processions and conventions would be held in more than 5,000 centres till August 28.

The campaign was to uphold and spread the rich renaissance ideas, he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said, "Let the CPI-M evaluate their decision as a political party to organise celebrations on the occasion of Sreekrishna Jayanthi (Janamashtmi). It shows that they are facing ideological bankruptcy and lack of policies."

RSS-backed Balagokulam, a children's outfit, organised nearly 10,000 colourful processions, in different parts of the state.

Children dressed up as Lord Krishna in glittering robes and ornate headgear depicting various stages of his life took part in the processions to the beats of 'chendamelam', a traditional Kerala percussion instrument.

Meanwhile, temples across the state witnessed heavy rush of devotees on the occasion of Janmashtami.
Indore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s younger brother Prahlad Modi has expressed displeasure over a police case filed against his friend, a dhaba owner, and met the Indore police chief in this regard.

Seven persons, including dhaba owner Anil Rathore, have been charged under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in Manpur police station area, on a complaint filed by Radheshyam Bhil. While six accused have been arrested, Rathore is absconding. The police raided his house on Tuesday.

According to police sources, the Prime Minister`s brother had come to Indore to attend a wedding at Rathore`s residence.

On Wednesday, Modi met Deputy Inspector General of Police Santosh Singh and raised objections over the police complaint against Rathore.

The DIG`s office confirmed to IANS on Thursday that Prahlad Modi had raised the issue with the police chief, who assured him of a probe into the incident.

According to the complaint, Rathore ordered Bhil to repair a punctured tyre of his car and when the latter refused, Rathore and his group started beating him. They also physically abused the women in Bhil`s house, it is alleged.
Mumbai: It's a blatant defiance of Supreme Court's order limiting the height of human pyramid during the Dahi-Handi festival, which is being celebrated across the country on Thursday.

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has placed a dahi-handi at 49 feet in Mumbai's Thane district, clearly defying the 20-feet height limit set by the apex court yesterday.

A report published in the NDTV quoted Avinash Jadhav, the organiser of the famous 'Dahi-handi' festival, saying he was just following the orders from his boss Raj Thackeray.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday refused to modify its order capping at 20 feet the height of the human pyramid in the ritual observed during 'Janmashtami' across Maharashtra.

Openly defying the apex court's order Jadhav said the judiciary cannot dictate how one should celebrate festivals. The MNS worker said that he would prefer going to jail but won't compromise on the height of the pyramid.

The MNS, which has openly mocked the apex court order, also condemned its ruling while refusing to limit the height of the handi to 20 feet. The party also announced a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh for a 9-tier pyramid.

The top court, on August 17, had refused to relax conditions put by the High Court like barring youths below 18 years of age from participating in 'Dahi-Handi' festival in Maharashtra and capping the height of the human pyramid at 20 feet.
Mumbai: On the occasion of Janmashtami, the famous Dahi-Handi festival, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across Maharashtra on Thursday.

However, some 'Govindas' in areas like Dadar, Thane have expressed displeasure over Supreme Court order that human pyramids can't go beyond 20 feet during Dahi-Handi festival.

Protesting against the apex court order, the 'Govindas' in Dadar made a 20+ feet pyramid lying on the ground.

The top court has also barred youths below 18 years of age from participating in 'Dahi-Handi' festival in Maharashtra.
Bhubaneswar: In a shocking incident mocking the 'Mahaparayana' scheme launched by the Navin Patnaik government, a poor man from Odisha was forced to walk down the road, carrying the dead body of his wife wrapped in a blanket for at least 10 kms.

At his side walked his 12-year-old daughter. The incident took place in Odisha's Bhawanipatna early on Wednesday morning.

Dana Manjhi was forced to take home the body of his wife from the district hospital since he failed to arrange a vehicle on his own.

Majhi is a resident of Kalahandi, one of the poorest and most backward districts of Odisha.

His 42-year-old Amang Dei was suffering from tuberculosis.

After walking nearly 10 km, he met the crew of a local television channel. "I told the hospital authorities that I am a poor man and cannot afford a vehicle. They said they could not offer any help," Majhi told them.

The hospital's alleged refusal came despite an existing scheme from the state government for people like Manjhi.

In a state where medical help isn't easy to come by, the Naveen Patnaik government had launched the 'Mahaparayana' scheme in February, offering to transport the bodies of deceased from government hospitals to their homes free of charge.

The television crew called up the District Collector and arranged for an ambulance for the remaining 50 km of the journey.

Under the scheme, vehicles to carry the dead are meant to be deployed at 37 government hospitals and a total of 40 vehicles were assigned for the job.

Kalikesh Singh Deo, a Member of Parliament from the ruling BJD, tweeted, "I have already asked the local minister to verify this and take appropriate action."

Kalahandi District Collector Brunda D said, "As we got to know of the incident, we spoke to the CDMO and arranged for an ambulance". He said he had also issued instructions that the family be provided help under the Harishchandra Yojana for the last rites.

Here is the shocking video.

With PTI inputs
Ottawa: A 35-year-old male suspect was arrested Thursday in connection with an apparent crossbow attack outside Toronto, police said.

Police said officers responding to an emergency call Thursday found three deceased people on a residential street, on the east side of Canada's largest metropolis.

Nearby, police also found a crossbow. Authorities said however that it was not immediately clear that the weapon had been used in the attack.

Paramedics said the three victims, two men and a woman, appear to have died from "blunt force" trauma, a police official said.
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today said the clashes between activists of Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the locals here on Tuesday was provocative and appealed to all sections of the society to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state.

"The incident was provocative, violent and aimed at breaching peace and communal harmony. However, the situation could be tackled with the initiative of the peace loving people and patience exercised by security forces," he said at the civil secretariat here.

Sarkar said a section of people had tried to foment trouble by spreading rumours and using the social media after the incidents took place. But the peace loving people foiled all attempts of creating communal tension.

The government has clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC in the town and intensified patrolling to maintain law and order, the Chief Minister said, adding, "The situation is now under control."

Sarkar, who is also the state home minister, said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to unearth the truth behind the clash between IPFT and the locals and the report would be submitted in a month, he said.

"Media played an appreciable role in the situation and I again appeal to you all to keep vigil and play positive role," he said.

On many tribals, mainly students from villages, returning home with police escorts, the Chief Minister said their guardians had requested the police stations concerned to send them home with security.

"Police had arranged to send them home, because they could not remain unresponsive to their guardians' requests. However, the guardians have said they would send back the students to rejoin their schools," he added.

At least 22 people, including five police personnel were injured in clashes in different parts of the state capital on Tuesday after a section of activists of tribal based party IPFT, who had taken out a procession demanding 'Twipra land', a separate state for the tribals, attacked people and damaged some shops.

Yesterday, police said the clashes occurred when some miscreants in the procession attacked people and damaged shops apparently without any provocation. Angry locals attacked them in turn as a result 17 people and five policemen were injured.
District of Columbia: Iranian ships harassed US naval vessels in three recent incidents, including one that prompted an American ship to fire warning shots, a US official said Thursday.

The incidents all occurred in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, a day after another encounter in which a group of Iranian naval vessels with their weapons uncovered sped close to two US Navy guided-missile destroyers.

The most dramatic moment in Wednesday`s three events occurred when an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boat maneuvered around two US patrol ships, the USS Squall and USS Tempest.

Despite multiple warnings via radio and loudspeaker, the Iranian boat approached head on, coming within 200 yards (meters) of one of the vessels, US Navy Fifth Fleet spokesman Commander Bill Urban told AFP.

"This situation presented a drastically increased risk of collision," he said.

"Ultimately, Squall resorted to firing three warning shots from their 50-caliber gun, which caused the Iranian vessel to turn away."

In an incident earlier in the day, three Iranian vessels crossed the bow of the Tempest within 600 yards on three separate occasions -- creating a possible collision hazard, Urban said.

The third incident involved the guided missile destroyer USS Stout. Urban said one of the Iranian boats from an earlier encounter conducted an "unsafe intercept" by crossing the Stout`s bow at close range.

All three encounters Wednesday occurred in international waters in the northern Persian Gulf, Urban said.

On Tuesday, four Iranian warships sped close to two US Navy guided-missile destroyers with their weapons uncovered in the Strait of Hormuz in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter, according to the Pentagon.

The USS Nitze shot warning flares, sounded its whistles and attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with the Iranian boats, officials said.

The Nitze was accompanied on its mission by the USS Mason, another destroyer.

When asked about the Tuesday incident, Iran`s Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said his country`s "naval units have the duty of safeguarding the country`s security in the sea and the Persian Gulf."

A defense official told AFP that ships from the US and Iranian navies had interacted more than 300 times in 2015 and more than 250 times the first half of this year.

Ten percent of those encounters were deemed unsafe and unprofessional, the official said.

In January, the Iranian navy briefly captured the crews of two US patrol boats that had, through a series of blunders, strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

The 10 American sailors were released within 24 hours.
Lucknow: A day after a protest outside the Vidhan Bhawan, BJP on Thursday filed a police complaint demanding FIR against Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and police officers for "brutal lathicharge" on party workers.

BJP's state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters here that party MPs, MLAs, office-bearers and workers were 'brutally cane-charged' by police while they were protesting the declining law and order situation in the state.

He said, following the incident, a complaint has been registered by state BJP vice-president Ramnaresh Rawat at Hazratganj police station.

"Scores of workers are now undergoing treatment in hospitals as they suffered serious injuries," Maurya said.

He warned if FIR is not lodged, BJP workers would launch an agitation and move to court.

The state unit chief claimed that despite their absence from the protest site, some of the leaders---general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak, organisational general secretary Sunil Bansal and an MLA--were named in the FIR lodged by the police yesterday.

"Pathak was in Mumbai, Bansal was in Karnataka and the MLA was sitting inside Vidhan Sabha," he said.

Maurya claimed he was even stopped by the police in Vidhan Sabha when he tried to meet Akhilesh.

"This is contempt of privileges of an MP," he said adding that and he would raise the issue in Parliament.
Kabul: A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended today after at least 13 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabul's outskirts, a government spokesman said.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the country's capital, Kabul.

The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to Afghan authorities. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the interior ministry said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban. The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, would only tell the media that the Taliban are "investigating."

President Ashraf Ghani laid the blame on neighboring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting the Taliban in sanctuaries across the border, and saying the attack had been "organized" in Pakistan.

Ghani spoke by telephone with Pakistan's army chief, Raheel Sharif, and demanded "serious action," his office said. Pakistan's foreign ministry "strongly condemned" the attack.

Ghani's statement also raised the death toll to 13, saying that a teacher, identified on social media by the as Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed.

"Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms," said Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers.

The assault began just before 7 pm last night, a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university, with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance.

The blast breached the security walls and allowed two other "terrorists," beside the driver of the vehicle, to enter the campus, Sediqqi said.

They were armed with grenades and automatic weapons. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3.30 am, he added.

More than 200 people, mostly students who had been trapped in university buildings were rescued by special police units.
Paris: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has labelled the full-body burkini swimsuits worn by some Muslim women a "provocation" that supports radicalised Islam, amid a heated debate over a ban on the swimwear in France.

In an interview to Le Figero Magazine, Sarkozy said: "Wearing a burkini is a political act, it's militant, a provocation," the Independent reported on Thursday.

"If we do not put an end to this, there is a risk that in 10 years, young Muslim girls who do not want to wear the veil or burkini will be stigmatised and peer-pressured," Sarkozy added.

Nice is the most recent French resort to ban the burkini worn by Muslim women, following bans in the Corsican town of Disco, and the Riviera resorts of Cannes and Villeneuve-Loubet.

In recent days, several women were fined in France for wearing the burkini.

Spiralling into the debate, Sarkozy said the country should not "imprison women behind fabric", adding that "doing nothing" against the burkini would "suggest France appears weak", Le Point reported.

The bans were set to be scrutinised by France's State Council, the country's highest administrative court, after human rights groups challenged the burkini ban.

A group called the Human Rights League (LDH) was appealing a decision by a lower court in Nice, which upheld the burkin ban 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.

Meanwhile, Sarkozy's controversial comments on the burkini earned a sharp rebuke from the woman who created the burkini -- the Lebanese born Australian designer Aheda Zanetti.

"I truly, truly believe that the French have misunderstood and that they don't know what a burkini looks like and what it represents," the Guardian quoted Zanetti as saying.

"For someone to bring out a statement like that on a piece of clothing that is about joy ... he doesn't know what he is talking about. He needs to go to the beach and maybe ask, what is a burkini swimsuit? Burkini is just a word that describes a full cover swimsuit and it doesn't symbolise anything to do with Muslims. It's about encouraging our kids and children to learn how to swim," Zanetti added.

Controversy over burkini bans heightened on Tuesday after photographs emerged showing four police officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray undressing a burkini-clad Muslim woman publicly in Nice.

France has also banned the wearing of burqua in public places for security reasons.
District of Columbia: Four Iranian military vessels sped close to two US Navy guided missile destroyers with their weapons uncovered in the Strait of Hormuz in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter between the longtime foes, American defense officials said Wednesday.

The USS Nitze shot warning flares, sounded its whistles and attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with the Iranian boats during Tuesday`s incident, US Central Command spokesman Commander Kyle Raines said in a statement, adding that the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards (meters) of the American destroyer. The Nitze was accompanied on its mission by the USS Mason, another destroyer.

The encounter occurred in international waters in the strait, a vitally important choke point with Iran to its north and the United Arab Emirates to the south.

The destroyer had to change course to avoid a possible collision, even though it was near offshore oil rigs.

"Nitze also changed its course multiple times in close proximity to offshore oil rigs in an attempt to maintain separation and better understand Iranian intentions," Raines said.

"Eventually, the Iranian vessels slowed before proceeding outbound."

This was not the first maritime scare between the United States and Iran.

In January, the Iranian navy briefly captured the crews of two US patrol boats that had, through a series of blunders, strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

The 10 American sailors were released within 24 hours.

"We assessed the interaction as unsafe and unprofessional due to the Iranian vessels not abiding by international law and internationally recognized maritime rules of the road as well as their high rate of closure of Nitze and disregard of multiple warnings by the ship`s whistle and flares," Raines said of the latest incident.

"The US Navy continues to remain vigilant and is trained to act in a professional manner, and we expect the same of all nations with professional maritime forces."
Qayyarah: Iraqi forces on Thursday pushed the Islamic State group from Qayyarah, a northern town considered strategic for any future offensive against the jihadists` last stronghold of Mosul.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the victory as a key step in the fight against IS but hours later suffered yet another political setback when lawmakers impeached his defence minister.

Special forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, wrapped up a three-day operation to retake Qayyarah, a town located on the banks of the Tigris river.

"We control all parts of the town and managed, in very limited time, to root out Daesh," Lieutenant General Riyadh Jalal Tawfik, who commands Iraq`s ground forces, told an AFP reporter in Qayyarah, using an acronym for IS.

The commander said engineering units were now clearing the town, which lies about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul, of unexploded ordnance and booby traps.

Residents greeted the security forces under skies blackened by huge fires IS fighters set to nearby oil wells in recent days.

The bodies of suspected IS fighters were strewn across some of the town`s streets, especially around its southern entrance, which saw the worst fighting and significant destruction.

Abadi issued a statement hailing what he said was a key step towards reclaiming Mosul, IS`s de facto Iraq capital and the country`s second city.

"Our heroic forces achieved a big victory, an important step towards the liberation of Mosul," Abadi said.

The prime minister`s mood was unlikely to have remained upbeat very long however, with one of his key allies losing a no confidence vote by parliament moments later.

The house impeached Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi by 142 votes to 102 -- and 18 abstentions -- over corruption allegations.

Obeidi`s downfall is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted this month with rival Sunni politician Salim al-Juburi, who is the parliament speaker.At a hearing in parliament, Obeidi answered graft accusations against him by saying they were trumped up because he had refused to be part of corrupt deals.

He fought back with his own allegations against Juburi and other lawmakers but the speaker escaped unscathed after an integrity committee dropped the case.

"I tried to fight corruption in every way but it appears that its lords are stronger and their voices louder," Obeidi said in a statement after the vote.

Unity in Iraq`s Sunni camp is seen as key to preparing an offensive against Mosul.

The operation against Qayyarah was launched on Tuesday and led by Iraq`s elite counter-terrorism service (CTS).

Iraqi forces had already recaptured a nearby air field and Qayyarah is expected to become one of the main launchpads for an assault on Mosul in the coming weeks or months.

Officers have said the push into Qayyarah was coordinated with small groups of armed residents opposed to IS inside the town.

"The people were very cooperative, that is why none of them fled, they did not attack our forces and our forces did not hurt them," General Tawfik said.

A CTS spokesman confirmed pro-government sleeper cells were involved in the operation but would not provide further details.

IS has suffered a string of military setbacks over the past year and lost more than half of the territory it controlled two years ago, in a trend that looks irreversible.

Jassem Hanoun, an Iraqi political and security analyst, argued the timing of Obeidi`s removal could not be worse.

"It will have a direct impact on the battle since the ministry will be run by the deputy, who has limited authority," he said.

The jihadists are vastly outnumbered and outgunned in the Mosul area but, besides the obstacles raised by a divided political class, Iraq also faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Around 3.4 million people have already been forced to flee their homes by conflict since the start of 2014.

The United Nations` refugee agency warned this week that an offensive on Mosul could displace another 1.2 million people and cause a major disaster.
Bagan: Myanmar took stock of toppled spires and crumbling temple walls in the ancient capital Bagan Thursday after a powerful earthquake hit the country, killing three and damaging the top tourist destination.

Two young girls and a man died in Magway region where the 6.8 magnitude quake struck Wednesday evening, cracking buildings across centre of the country and sending tremors that were felt as far away as Bangkok and Kolkata.

In nearby Bagan, home to a vast plain of some 2,500 Buddhist monuments that are among Myanmar`s most venerated religious sites, teams of government-dispatched engineers and architects surveyed damage to nearly 200 of the prized pagodas.

"First we need to figure out the extent of the damage," Arkar Kyaw, the deputy director of Myanmar`s culture ministry said.

"Then we will make a renovation plan," he told AFP, adding that the government is working directly with UNESCO.

First estimates showed at least 185 pagodas at Bagan were damaged, as security officers blocked tourists from entering temples while workers cleared piles of bricks, swept the grounds and sorted through fragments of murals.

"I heard sounds after I paid homage at a pagoda. There were foreign tourists there as well," said Khin Maung Toe, a Myanmar man who was visiting Bagan for the first time when the earthquake struck.

"My wife barely escaped outside as the pagoda collapsed," he told AFP.

The temples, many of which are around 1,000 years old, are a top attraction for tourists flocking to Myanmar as it emerges from decades of military rule.

Bagan`s sweeping expanse of temple ruins -- which make for a staggering sunset vista -- have survived wars, earthquakes and centuries of tropical sun.

In its heyday, between the 9th and 13th centuries, the city was the capital of a powerful kingdom and one of Asia`s most important centres for learning.

"It`s really heartbreaking. I cannot even eat," said Tin Hla Oo, a trustee of the three-story Htilominlo pagoda, which was badly damaged by the quake.

"We are suffering because this is a great loss, as these (pagodas) are priceless."Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, which lies in a tectonically active region.

The last major quake to seriously damage Bagan struck in 1975 and was followed by a controversial restoration effort under the military junta that stepped down in 2011.

Experts said the haphazard renovation work, much of it hastily done with modern materials, significantly altered the original architecture and design of some monuments.

In recent years, as the country undergoes a democratic transition and opens up following decades of isolationist junta rule, UNESCO has worked directly with the government to safeguard the monuments.

Myanmar is eager to see the city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"We believe this time the restoration will follow international standards," said Sardar Umar Alam, the head of UNESCO`s office in Yangon, Myanmar`s largest city.

"It takes time to know how the structures are stabilised and how bad the actual damage is -- if a roof collapses, how much it affects different walls and mural paintings," he added.

Travel to once-cloistered Myanmar used to be reserved for the well-heeled and intrepid, prepared to endure the travails of a country under military rule with patchy electricity and limited communications.

But foreign tourists have poured in since the military stepped down in 2011, many of them making a beeline for Bagan.

This year Myanmar is on track to welcome 5.5 million tourists, nearly a million more than 2015, according to Tint Thwin, director-general of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared a submarine-launched missile test the "greatest success", state media said today, as the UN weighed a condemnation of the launch which appears to advance Pyongyang's nuclear strike capability.

The US mainland and the Pacific are now "within the striking range" of the North's army, the official KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying after Wednesday's launch.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Sinpo on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military. It flew 500 kilometres towards Japan, far exceeding any previous sub-launched tests.

The UN Security Council met for two hours yesterday to discuss North Korea's latest provocative move and agreed to consider a statement condemning the launch.

"There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council and therefore we will have to see how we would then be phrasing the press statement," said Ramlan bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, which currently holds the council's presidency.

However diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyang's main ally, over the wording.

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 Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.

Kim said the latest launch proved the North had joined the "front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability".

Pyongyang's top newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried 24 photos of him observing the launch, including one with his hands on his hips roaring with laughter at an observation post, and other watching through a pair of binoculars.

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," it said.

Kim called for his nation's scientists to work towards mounting nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles and to be able to deliver them in order "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists."

"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," he was quoted as saying.

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system would take its 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.
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared a submarine-launched missile test the "greatest success", state media said Thursday, as the UN weighed a condemnation of the launch which appears to advance Pyongyang`s nuclear strike capability.

The US mainland and the Pacific are now "within the striking range" of the North`s Army, the official KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying after Wednesday`s launch.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Sinpo on Wednesday, according to South Korea`s military. It flew 500 kilometres (around 300 miles) towards Japan, far exceeding any previous sub-launched tests.

The UN Security Council met for two hours on Wednesday to discuss North Korea`s latest provocative move and agreed to consider a statement condemning the launch.

"There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council and therefore we will have to see how we would then be phrasing the press statement," said Ramlan bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, which currently holds the council`s presidency.

However, diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyang`s main ally, over the wording.

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 Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.

Kim said the latest launch proved the North had joined the "front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability".

Pyongyang`s top newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried 24 photos of him observing the launch, including one with his hands on his hips roaring with laughter at an observation post, and other watching through a pair of binoculars.

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," it said.Kim called for his nation`s scientists to work towards mounting nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles and to be able to deliver them in order "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists."

"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," he was quoted as saying.

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system would take its 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.

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 and fully fuelled, it could travel over 2,500 km, the source said.

The agency had previously quoted a military source saying if fired at the optimum angle it could cover more than 1,000 km -- without mentioning if it was fully fuelled.

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its website, 38 North, that Pyongyang still faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile.

But the North is "on track to the capability to strike targets in the region -- including Japan -- by 2020", it said.

The South`s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement following the launch that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions and that the latest test posed a "serious challenge" to security on the Korean peninsula.

The 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 drills on Monday.

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 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.
Karkamis: Turkey sent more tanks into Syria on Thursday and sternly warned a Kurdish militia to withdraw from frontline positions, a day after pro-Ankara Syrian opposition fighters captured a key border town from jihadists.

The tanks joined those which crossed the frontier on Wednesday in the so-called Operation Euphrates Shield, which Turkey says aims to rid the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and Kurdish militia.

Hundreds of Syrian rebel fighters -- backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces -- had on Wednesday taken the town of Jarabulus to end over three years of jihadist control.

But Defence Minister Fikri Isik warned the Kurdish People`s Protection Units (YPG) militia -- who also had designs on Jarabulus -- to move back east across the Euphrates or also face intervention from Turkey.

The new contingent of tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis, throwing up a cloud of dust in their wake before crossing the border, an AFP photographer said.

The operation is the most ambitious launched by Turkey during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict and has been carried out in full coordination with its NATO ally the United States.

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres (miles) south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013.It was not immediately clear if the deployment of the new tanks on Thursday was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.

The well-connected columnist of the Hurriyet daily, Abdulkadir Selvi, said the aims of the operation included creating a security zone free of "terror groups" and limiting the advances of Kurdish militia.

He said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the offensive but this number could rise to 15,000.

Turkey has emphasised that the offensive was also aimed at the YPG, who Ankara sees as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Ankara`s hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

But US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates after recent advances or risk losing American support.

Turkey`s defence minister told NTV television there was so far no evidence of any withdrawal and Turkey reserved the right to strike the YPG if it failed to move.

"If this withdrawal doesn`t happen, Turkey has every right to intervene," Isik added.

"They have not yet withdrawn... Turkey will be following, moment by moment," Isik said, adding the withdrawal was promised within a week.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS tweeted that the "main element" of the Syrian Kurdish forces had already moved east although some remained for clean-up operations.Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS but hardened its line in the wake of a string of attacks -- the latest a weekend bombing on a Kurdish wedding in the city of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children.

Continuing a European tour in Sweden, Biden said there had been "a gradual mindset change in Turkey" to realise that IS was "an existential threat" to the country.

"I think the Turks are prepared to stay in the effort to take out ISIL (IS) as long as it takes," he added.

The Jarabulus operation proceeded at lightning speed with the town captured from IS just 14 hours after it was launched.

The speed of the advance stood in stark contrast to the long, grinding battles it had taken for Kurdish forces to recapture towns from IS in northern Syria, such as Kobane and Manbij.

Television pictures showed the Syrian fighters walking into an apparently deserted and abandoned Jarabulus unchallenged and newspapers published pictures showing that the rebels even had time to take selfies along the way.

The apparent efficiency of the operation also marked a major boost for the Turkish army whose reputation had been badly tarnished by the failed July 15 coup against Erdogan staged by rogue elements in the armed forces.

With the civil war that has killed an estimated, 290,000 people still raging, 11 children were killed on Thursday in a barrel bomb attack carried out by government forces on a rebel-held neighbourhood of Syria`s Aleppo city, a monitor said.
Ankara: Turkish troops will continue their military operation in Syria until the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) regains control of Jarabulus town, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said on Thursday.

"Our main goal is to clear Jarabulus of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. The second goal is to prevent Syrian Kurds from taking control of the area. Jarabulus is an important point in both a short and long-term perspective," Sputnik news agency quoted Isik as saying.

On Wednesday, Turkish armed forces backed by US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear Jarabulus of extremist militants.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the operation was aimed at neutralising the threats posed by the IS as well as Kurdish militants, which Ankara considers to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Turkey.

Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.
Kabul: Twelve people, including seven students, three police and two security guards, were killed in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital, Kabul, police said on Thursday.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, told Reuters 44 people were wounded, including 35 students.

Security forces killed two suspected militants to end the attack on the compound, which began on Wednesday evening with a large explosion followed by gunfire, a police official said earlier.
Portugal's "early paybacks of the IMF loan will depend on market conditions and financing needs, including raising the capital" of the publicly owned Caixa Geral de Depositos bank, the Socialist government finance ministry said in a statement

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.
Jordan's economy has been rattled from conflicts in neighbouring Syria and Iraq

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".

"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.

Growth slumped to 2.4 percent in 2015, down from 3.1 percent the previous year.
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

The United States on Thursday threw its support behind World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim for a second term at the helm of the multilateral development lender.

"I am proud to announce that today the United States has nominated World Bank President Jim Kim for a second term," said US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in a statement.

"President Kim has used his first term to focus the World Bank on effectively addressing today's most pressing global development challenges in innovative ways, from ending extreme poverty and tackling inequality, to combating climate change," Lew said.

The Treasury secretary also praised Kim's leadership of the 189-nation institution in responding to major crises, including battling the Ebola pandemic and addressing the refugee crisis.

He highlighted Kim's sponsorship of "needed reforms" at the World Bank, created in 1944 along with sibling institution the International Monetary Fund.

"Re-electing President Kim will allow the World Bank to continue to build on these important initiatives and reforms," Lew said.

Kim, 56, a US physician, indicated Tuesday that he would seek a second five-year term. His first term ends on June 30, 2017.

That coincided with the Bank's announcement of the start of the selection process for the presidency on Thursday. After the close of the nominating period on September 14, the board will publish a short list of up to three candidates.

Consideration of the contenders will take between two and three weeks.

Following an unwritten rule, the United States, the Bank's largest shareholder, has always chosen its president, while the IMF leader has been drawn from Europe.

In 2012, Kim was the first American candidate to face competition when Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also contended for the presidency.

After taking office in July that year, Kim announced a new goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 and a sweeping internal reorganization to foster collaboration across the Bank.

Earlier in August, the World Bank staff association said in an open letter that the tradition of the US picking the president flew in the face of principles of transparency, diversity and merit-based selection.

Kim's 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.
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]
In Washington today, District Judge James E. Boarsberge said he will not issue a decision on a legal challenge by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Dakota Access, LLC, the private firm behind a nearly $4 billion oil project Native people say will destroy their land and cause unprecedented damage to human, plant, and animal life in the region.

From Native News Online, on the judge's decision late Wednesday:

He indicated that the central legal issue is whether or not proper tribal consultation occurred between the tribes and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Judge Boarsberge said there appears to have been a lack of communication between the Corps of Engineers and the tribes and the failure on the Corps of Engineers' part to perform the due diligence in the process in the development of the project. The judge will render his decision on September 9, 2016 and he set September 14 as a date for appeal if either side is not happy with his decision.

Standing Rock Sioux Reservation Chairman David Archambault described the court hearing as an encouraging victory.

"For our children that are not even here yet, this is something that is very powerful, very special," he told Indian Country Today Media Network after Judge Boasberg said he needed time to weigh the evidence presented at Wednesday's hearing on the lawsuit brought by the Tribe against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"Whatever the result is, know that we won, because we're changing policy on how pipelines are put in. These projects encroach on Indian country, so we're setting a precedent that's very powerful. And it's only done because we're able to unite and we're able to do it with prayer."

Over 4,000 people, many of them Native American tribal members, continue to protest in situ along the Missouri River. By occupying the land, they hope to stop the Dallas firm Energy Transfer from plans to pipe Bakken crude from beneath the river which represents the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's primary source of drinking water.

Protesters say the project will harm water supplies and destroy their sacred land, as have similar previous oil pipeline projects in the U.S. and Canada.

"No decision has been made but construction will stop until Congress is notified." -Chairman Archimbauld #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/0xXAt6xGYy  #NoDAPL Roo (@DeLesslin) August 24, 2016

You can follow updates from activists occupying the Dakota Pipeline drilling site on Twitter with #NoDAPL.

The occupation has drawn together environmental activists and members of other Lakota/Dakota regional tribes, as well as people from other Great Plains, Southwest, and Pacific Northwest indigenous nations. They "camp in the open fields and protest near the parcel where the pipeline company has secured an agreement with the landowner to build," reported the New York Times earlier this week.

From the New York Times story:

The Texas-based company building the Dakota Access pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners, calls the project a major step toward the United States' weaning itself off foreign oil. The company says the nearly 1,170-mile buried pipeline will infuse millions of dollars into local economies and is safer than trucks and train cars that can topple and spill and crash and burn. But the people who stood at the gates of a construction site where crews had been building an access road toward the pipeline viewed the project as a wounding intrusion onto lands where generations of their ancestors hunted bison, gathered water and were born and buried, long before treaties and fences stamped a different order onto the Plains. People have been gathering since April, but as hundreds more poured in over the past two weeks, confrontations began rising among protesters, sheriff's officers and construction workers with the pipeline company. Local officials are struggling to handle hundreds of demonstrators filling the roads to protest and camp out in once-empty grassland about an hour south of Bismarck, the state capital. More than 20 people have been arrested on charges including disorderly conduct and trespassing onto the construction site. The pipeline company says it was forced to shut down construction this month after protesters threatened its workers and threw bottles and rocks at contractors' vehicles.

Indigenous activists are fighting to keep the Dakota Access Pipeline from contaminating their water and land #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/VADOO2H2nq  Fusion (@Fusion) August 24, 2016

The Dakota Pipeline is an issue that affects farmers in the region. The Des Moines Register reports that the pipeline is already damaging land, and causing agricultural losses.

Contamination by toxic oil water is causing health problems and environmental destruction in other areas of native land throughout the Great Plains. An NPR feature from 2012 details the effects in Wyoming.

Just last year, a massive spill in the region left millions of gallons of crude oil and contaminated salt water into the North Dakota watershed.

Photos Show Why The North Dakota Pipeline Is Problematic https://t.co/k7Ecj1SJe0  Shailene Woodley (@PlanetShailene) August 18, 2016

Peaceful protests.

It's in the constitution & we have the right to do so.

Unless they break that just like any other treaty with natives.  Native Life  (@_Native_Life) August 23, 2016

BREAKING: #DakotaAccessPipeline injunction hearing rescheduled to Sept 14, 2pm. Judge "needs time to think." This is a no-brainer. #NoDAPL  Adam Greenberg (@pragmactivist) August 24, 2016

#NoDAPL dates: Sept 9, decision, Sept 14, injunction hearing/possible appeal. Bottom line: The fight continues. Show up.  Adam Greenberg (@pragmactivist) August 24, 2016

From Dakota camps to DC to NOLA to Boston, the people of all nations say #NoDAPL. pic.twitter.com/ppWQt9Qyiz  Adam Greenberg (@pragmactivist) August 24, 2016

Let's keep going! Native American Pipeline Protest Halts Construction in N. Dakota #NoDAPL @insideclimate https://t.co/R8Z5FTT0Nm  Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 24, 2016

Vic Camp shares the news that the Federal injuction decision has been pushed back to Sept 9th. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/ugySdS9xKr  Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) August 24, 2016

Indigenous activists have gathered at a Washington, D.C. courthouse to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/UiZFBNTUix  Fusion (@Fusion) August 24, 2016

Navajo Nation Stands in Support of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe https://t.co/HGHa9efEBy pic.twitter.com/s6fv5T9MBe  NativeNewsOnline (@Native_NewsNet) August 24, 2016

87 Tribal Nations have responded to call to action against Dakota Access pipeline #NoDAPL https://t.co/Io4TOiFZhX pic.twitter.com/j8ZWwXj37o  Matt Remle (@wakiyan7) August 23, 2016

charset="utf-8">

Sounds of the #NoDakotaAccess rally against the pipeline in DC, supporting Standing Rock Sioux court case. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/pArpCQY8DY  Alex Doukas (@adoukas) August 24, 2016

Haudenosaunee protestors ready to defend their water. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/bRZibxQwcs  Native Peoples (@NativePeoplesMg) August 24, 2016

The Comanche came. The Kiowa too. This is historic and unprecedented. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/D0reQt1l6O  Black Buffalo Woman (@RedRoadWoman) August 21, 2016

The smallest racial minority in the U.S. (Native Americans) is fighting oil and broken promises in North Dakota. Tonight. Right now. #NoDAPL  Simon Moya-Smith (@SimonMoyaSmith) August 18, 2016

.@WinonaLaduke on Enbridge: "They have no right to destroy our water, no right to compromise our future" #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/ov1b9bYCaj  Democracy Now! (@democracynow) August 23, 2016
A canola crop used for making cooking oil sits in full bloom on the Canadian prairies near Fort Macleod, Alberta, July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Todd Korol

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA (Reuters) - A dispute over C$2 billion ($1.55 billion) worth of Canadian canola exports to China intensified on Thursday when Beijing criticized Ottawa's insistence that bilateral relations could not improve until the matter is settled.

The situation threatens to mar Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China next week.

"We oppose linking a concrete issue of bilateral trade with China-Canada relations," the Chinese embassy in Ottawa said by email.

Canada, the world's biggest canola exporter, wants China, its top export market for the oilseed, to drop plans to toughen inspection standards on Sept 1. The crop is used mainly to produce vegetable oil.

China says the tougher standard on foreign material is needed to protect against crop disease.

"The quarantine of canola is merely a technical issue that should be solved properly through consultations by relevant competent departments," said the embassy.

The mission issued its statement after Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday that "we cannot take the next step in our relationship with China" until the issue had been resolved.

Freeland called Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng late on Wednesday to convey Canada's concerns, but her intervention did not produce an immediate breakthrough.

"They agreed to continue working closely and to remain personally focused on a solution," said Freeland's spokesman, Alex Lawrence. Asked about the embassy statement, he said Freeland had nothing to add.

China imports 3 million to 4 million tonnes of Canadian canola seed annually.

"If one of your biggest customers isn't there to buy from you, in combination with (big) canola production, prices are going to have to come down," said Tony Tryhuk, manager of commodity trading at RBC Dominion Securities.

ICE Canada canola futures for November delivery fell 1.7 percent on Thursday.

China has raised concerns for years that blackleg disease could spread from canola into Chinese rapeseed, another name for the oilseed.

Story continues

Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is its ample domestic rapeseed oil stocks, similar to other disputes.

China effectively halted imports of U.S. corn and corn products for more than a year beginning in late 2013 as the country rejected shipments of an unapproved biotech variety. Traders speculated that the spat was tied to Chinas domestic grain surplus.

Similarly, some traders believe a recent antidumping dispute raised by China over U.S. distillers' grains is aimed at supporting Chinas ethanol industry.

($1=$1.29 Canadian)

(Additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Alan Crosby and Bill Rigby)
Sears Canada is moving away from its classic blue-and-white logo today, and is adopting a much quieter, more refined one instead.

In the biggest change to the company's logo in 32 years, the company is looking to bolster sagging sales and look past numerous store closures across the country with the rebranding effort.

"The clean and contemporary logo features a timeless font with a fresh take on the maple leaf, signaling a redefined modern era for the brand," reads a press release from Sears Canada.

(Courtesy Sears Canada)

The reaction to the newly-unveiled logo has been mostly positive, although, some think the logo may be a touch too simple.

The new Sears logo: because being boring is better than being ugly https://t.co/RhebUeI3E0  Josh Kolm (@JoshKolm) August 24, 2016

"The new Sears logo: because being boring is better than being ugly," wrote Josh Kolm of Strategy Online.

The logo first appeared earlier this summer on new stores built in Thornhill, Ont. and Burlington, Ont. in the "Sears 2.0" model, which features "a more flexible layout to optimize productivity and in-store experience," the press release says. Sears Canada will also be placing greater emphasis on their e-commerce site.

The logo will appear on Ontario and Alberta locations as they undergo renovations, and all Canadian stores will be getting the logo through the fall.
'We do love Canada': Americans aim to repay Sarnia for $8K rescue of floating partiers

Americans are showing Canada some love by offering to repay the City of Sarnia, Ont., for the cost of rescuing hundreds of people from the St. Clair River when an annual tubing party went wildly wrong, leaving 1,500 drifters stranded on Canadian shores.

The neighbours to the south are rallying behind an online fundraiser designed to repay the kind southwestern Ontario city and its taxpayers.

High winds interrupted the annual Port Huron Float Down, prompting a costly international water rescue that left several government agencies and police departments scrambling to pluck the wayward drifters from the water and shoreline.

Joe Wiedenbeck, a pipefitter from Marysville, Mich., joined the online conversation and on a lark created a campaign to raise money to cover Sarnia's rescue costs.

"I feel like, since all these people ended up in Canada, and Canada had to incur the cost to haul everybody back, then maybe everybody should step up and cover the cost," he said.

In the first 19 hours of launching his GoFundMe account, he had raised $1,300.

Sarnia officials estimate the city spent more than $8,000 for its part in Sunday's massive rescue, which included sending tubers back to the U.S. border on 10 city transit buses escorted by Sarnia police cruisers.

City of Sarnia staff were also left to clean up after the revellers, who left garbage, coolers and even a picnic table behind.

News of the rescue, and the cost, made international headlines, with some criticizing Sarnia's decision to ship Americans home on city transit buses.

Those criticisms inspired Wiedenbeck to do something about it.

An estimated 2,500 floaters hit the water on Sunday, running into windy weather shortly after passing under the Bluewater Bridge, just south of the starting point. Rescue crews were soon out tethering to the tubers and getting them to safety.

Some partiers managed to stay in the U.S., but 1,500 were left stranded in Sarnia, landing in places like a chemical plant and gravel pit.

Story continues

The rescue involved efforts from groups on both sides of the border, including the U.S. and Canadian coast guards, multiple police services, firefighters, paramedics and Sarnia Transit.

Sarnia police worked with border security and sent 20 bus loads of Americans back across the border without any identification and wearing not much more than the swim suits they wore on the river.

Wiedenbeck read about the response and felt people involved should try to help cover the rescue costs.

He is overwhelmed by the response.

"I wasn't expecting a dollar from anybody," he said. "The Internet is full of trolls who like to complain, but don't like to really do anything about it. I feel like I was proven wrong, and I'm just really amazed."

'We do love Canada'

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley supports the Float Down event, which sees daredevil tubers jump in the river in Port Huron, Mich., and coast down about 12 kilometres to Marysville. But Bradley hopes people can find a way to make the event safer.

He plans to meet with his city staff to discuss possible solutions. He supports the decision to provide Americans a ride home on transit buses, but recognizes that some taxpayers have criticized the city for making that call.

"I think it was the right call to do that by police," Bradley said Tuesday about taking the the unexpected visitors home. "In many cases, they had no money and they had no identification."

That kind of hospitality resonated with Wiedenbeck. He hopes the city realizes how much Americans respect their Canadian neighbours.

"I hope they appreciate it," he said. "We do love Canada. Every Canadian I've ever met has been the greatest person."
Many Saskatchewan women receiving federal Canada Child Benefit payments are upset after random case reviews have led to months of delayed payments.

Introduced by the federal Liberal party, the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) was touted as a "game changer", especially for low-income families. It replaced the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the National Child Benefit Supplement and the Universal Child Care Benefit programs.

At the time of the launch, Finance Canada said CBB would lift 300,000 children out of poverty, compared with 2014-15 figures.

However, even before the programs were rolled together, a growing number of women from across Saskatchewan tell CBC they've received letters from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) demanding proof of their eligibility in these programs.

"It's very invasive," said Kirsten Noelle Ismond, who lives with her two-year-old daughter and her fiance in Saskatoon. "They wanted a ton of personal information, from health cards, birth certificates  driver's licence, they wanted letters from your doctor, dentist, daycare. They wanted your lease agreement or mortgage documents."

'Terrifying, exhausting and overwhelming'

Other women say they've had to pay anywhere from $25 to $75 for notes from their doctor, confirming their children exist.

"This happened to me, several years in a row while I was a single mom," said Laura Davies, a mother of three children, now married and living in Warman.

"It was terrifying, exhausting and overwhelming," said Davies.

Ismond said she battled back and forth with the CRA for months, sending in her daughter's growth chart and photographs.

For four months, her benefits were cut off completely after she submitted her first set of forms online without the correct case file number attached.

"We couldn't buy as many groceries," said Ismond, who had to borrow money from relatives until the CRA paid the missing benefits as a lump sum. "We had to be careful with how many diapers we were using or how many wipes we were using."

Story continues

Stay-at-home mothers struggle to provide sufficient information

"I needed daycare notes, doctor letters, school letters, birth certificates, health cards," said Becky Gray, a Saskatoon mother of two daughters. "I have been a stay-at-home mother since the day my oldest was born and she was only two at the time so she wasn't in school."

Gray sent in as much documentation as she could, including notes from previous landlords, and a letter from the girls' father stating the children have always been in her care.

A letter came back from the CRA saying that wasn't enough.

"I sit here and I struggle every single month because I get nothing from them," Gray told CBC, after missing benefit payments for more than a year.

"The CRA owes me over $15,000 and I'm very doubtful I'll ever see any of it," she said.

The Canada Revenue Agency does not have any service counters in Saskatchewan, and advises people to submit documents online.

"It's a painstaking process to call them," Ismond said. "Half the time it rang busy, and you couldn't get through and you'd have to call back again."

'People are suffering': Saskatoon MP

Sheri Benson, Member of Parliament or Saskatoon West, said she's received many distraught calls from constituents who are having a hard time satisfying the CRA.

"People are counting on this money," she said. "They were having to make decisions. Do I keep my phone? Do I pay for rent?"

Benson's office staff counted 46 people who've come in for help with child benefit reviews as a last resort, after running into difficulties reaching the CRA. Only 17 of those cases have now been resolved.

After pressing the agency, Benson discovered that there were fewer people working at the revenue agency over the summer, and none were designated to assist the Prairie region.

Public service staffing levels 'gutted'

However, Benson believes this problem is much bigger than a summer break.

"The previous government gutted the public service," she said. "There aren't enough people left to do the job."

Benson said she and her staff are stuck as they try to help desperate women. Other New Democrat MPs in Regina, Winnipeg and Edmonton have observed similar frustrations.

"People are coming in in tears. They're not sure when it's going to be resolved. Some people have lost their housing," Benson said, noting at least one CRA agent told a constituent to go to the food bank if she didn't have enough to eat.

"It's not just a matter of trying to get the right documents and everything will be OK, people are trying to survive," said Benson, who noted the requirements for documents tend to be inconsistent.

"People are suffering while they're trying to figure out what we feel should be a fairly simple thing to do."

CRA responds

Many women say they've never received a satisfactory answer about why their files were flagged for review.

For its part, the agency has not said what prompts the reviews, only that they're part of its regular work to keep people accountable.

"In a self-assessment system such as ours, impartial and non-discriminatory reviews are completed to validate information such as residency, marital status and primary care of children, all of which affect benefits and credits," wrote the agency in an email. "The CRA is committed to paying the correct amount of benefits to every eligible individual."

The CRA conducted 196,014 reviews of people getting the Canadian Child Tax Benefit in 2014-15, and 172,040 reviews in 2013-14.

An official said statistics for 2015-16 are not available. A breakdown of the number of Saskatchewan reviews compared to those conducted across the rest of the country was also unavailable.
Open Source

Marist College, Rockefeller Archive Center Partner on Open Source Digital Archival Tech

Marist College and the Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) in New York have partnered to develop and implement an open source digital records management system to support researchers, archival staff and the broader archival community.

According to Jack Meyers, president of the Rockefeller Archive Center, archivists struggle with "how to manage the flow of archival information among diverse platforms so that digitized and born-digital records can be properly preserved and also made easily accessible to the broadest possible audience."

At the same time, one of the goals of Marist College "is to offer open source technologies, such as Liferay and Blockchain, to like-minded organizations that create a lasting impact on our community," said Bill Thirsk, vice president of information technology and CIO at the college, in a news release.

The two-year digital records infrastructure project has two main components:

A repository for long-term storage and maintenance of digital records; and

A microservices application programming interface (API) to manage the flow of data between archival systems and the repository.

The system will be compatible with existing archival standards and will use well-documented open source technologies and user-centered design so other institutions can more easily adopt and deploy the components, according to a news release. Marist and RAC will develop the repository and API infrastructure using open source portal technology, and developers will research the use of Blockchain, ArchivesSpace, Archivematica, Fedora and other open source tools. The institutions anticipate that the platform will offer scalability and rapid implementation of emerging technologies to support digital records management for archives.

In a related project, Marist College will use the open source platform Liferay to help the RAC develop a website documenting more than 100 years of the Rockefeller Foundation's international philanthropic programs. The site will include images, documents and films from the RAC.

The partnership is supported by the Cloud Computing and Analytics Center at Marist College, with a generous financial contribution from the Rockefeller Archive Center.
Online Learning

Taking Student Orientation Online

This state university turned to software it already uses  its learning management system  to transform new-student orientation.

The University of Colorado Boulder's online student orientation experience

While the traditional orientation process at the University of Colorado Boulder was meant to bond new students to the institution from their first moments on campus, its structure often had just the opposite effect. Two early-summer "welcome days" packed with face-to-face presentations and panels blasting participants with a firehose of information were bound to leave students feeling numb. By the time they returned to campus in August, they'd have forgotten much of what they'd learned. And most of the participants for that early orientation were Colorado residents; non-residents would typically only show up in the week before school began. That meant orientation was timed to overwhelm them just as they were about to dive into their new college careers.

So the university came up with a different approach. The "New Student Welcome Online Experience," introduced in 2015, doles out content just in time, using a blend of videos, text, quizzes, checklists and rewards to engage and entice students to learn more continually. The platform for delivering the online experience is UC-Boulder's existing learning management system, Brightspace from D2L. Those in-person new-student welcome days still exist, but now they're optional.

As a result of the move to this online orientation "course," student IT processes have been streamlined, the amount of information shared has been pared down to the essentials, and students get a training on the LMS they'll be using when their classes begin. Ultimately, the university hopes, the "online experience" will improve retention rates.

Directive from the Top

The online orientation initiative would never have succeeded without a major push from administration, said Jennifer McDuffie, director of New Student & Family Programs for the university, who served on the coordination team for the project. "We had the highest leaders on campus say, 'This is what we're doing. You need to move forward,'" she recalled.

The turnaround was rapid, added Courtney Fell, learning experience designer in the Office of Information Technology (OIT). The provost's office began talking publicly about the project in December 2014. McDuffie joined her group as interim director in February 2015. And by May 2015, the initial orientation course was launched.

While CU-Boulder faced the predictable human resistance to change, it put in place measures to help ensure success.

"One of the things I heard was, 'For 10 years we've been doing it this way, and you're changing it,'" said McDuffie. But a combination of "strong leadership, a really transparent process, transparent deadlines" and a willingness to let everybody test the system and give feedback throughout the process helped bring along the 300 to 400 internal stakeholders who played a role in the development of the online orientation.

"The change was more about getting to know the families and the relationship-building. It wasn't necessarily about the business getting done or the information being distributed," said McDuffie. Now that the first year is over and the university was able to enroll its largest class ever, those reticent stakeholders have shifted their attention to fine-tuning their orientation messages to make the content more interactive and engaging.

As an example, campus advisers were accustomed to meeting with new students in person and asking them just the kinds of foundational questions one would expect: What do you want to do over the next four years? What are your goals? What are your interests? "They really thrived on those relationships," said McDuffie. "So last year when we went online, we asked those same questions, but it was a quiz prior to a student's advising appointment. That information is still being collected, but not by the same route."
Mylan has been under fire since August over the soaring price of the life-saving EpiPen injectors, for which it faces virtually no competition in the market (AFP Photo/Lucas Trieb)

Washington (AFP) - Mylan NV, the embattled manufacturer of EpiPens, said Thursday it would help extreme allergy sufferers meet the costs of the life-saving devices after a five-fold price hike sparked outrage.

However, prominent US politicians, including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said that was not enough and demanded Mylan lower the devices' price.

With a near-monopoly on the manufacture of the epinephrine injectors, Mylan said Thursday it would expand existing programs to defray out-of-pocket costs for many users.

But it declined to reduce the price after a pack of two of the devices soared to more than $600 from less than $100 in 2007, when Mylan bought the rights to the technology.

Allergy sufferers use the devices for the immediate treatment of life-threatening anaphylactic shocks arising from allergies.

"We have been a long-term, committed partner to the allergy community and are taking immediate action to help ensure that everyone who needs an EpiPen Auto-Injector gets one," Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch said in a statement.

- Pricing called 'exorbitant' -

The controversy made the company the latest healthcare-related firm to face angry public allegations of price-gouging. The American Medical Association on Wednesday called the EpiPen price "exorbitant."

It also thrust Mylan into the pending US political contest, with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Wednesday calling the company's most recent price hike "outrageous" as it occurred just as allergic children prepared to return to school.

Under pressure, Mylan said Thursday it would double eligibility for patient assistance to EpiPen users, eliminating immediate out-of-pocket costs for the uninsured and under-insured.

It also said patients would be able to use a savings card to cover up to $300 of cost of the two-pack of EpiPens. A family of four with an annual income of up to $97,200 would pay nothing out of pocket for an injector, the company said. It also blamed insurance companies for requiring patients to pay an increasing share of the costs for medications.

Story continues

But critics reacted harshly, calling for straightforward price cuts.

"Discounts for selected customers without lowering the overall price of EpiPens are insufficient because the excessive price will likely be passed on through higher insurance premiums," said Clinton campaign spokesman Tyrone Gayle, adding that the company should lower the price "immediately."

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley also said the company's gestures did not go far enough, noting that Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurers would still be liable for the full price.

Appearing on CNBC early Thursday, Bresch, herself the daughter of a US Senator, Democrat Joe Manchin, said prices had fallen on 600 Mylan products, but that commercial pressures drove the company's pricing decisions.

"I'm running a business," she said.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, whose daughter relies on EpiPen, has called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an anti-trust investigation.

Klobuchar was one of a bi-partisan group of senators who this week also called on the Food and Drug Administration to answer questions on its process for approving alternatives to the EpiPen, which could help drive down prices.

Shares in Mylan were down nearly 2 percent at $42.40 in mid-afternoon trading, after having lost nearly 11 percent over two sessions after the furor broke out over EpiPen.
Despite renewed controversy over her mishandling of top-secret State Department emails and her dealings with wealthy donors to the Clinton family global foundation, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is holding a commanding ten-point lead over Republican billionaire Donald Trump in a new national poll released on Thursday.

In some ways, this has been the worst week for Clinton since she claimed her partys presidential nomination in late July. Nearly 15,000 of her previously undisclosed State Department emails surfaced this week during a federal court proceeding instigated by a conservative group seeking more damaging information about her conduct as secretary of state.

Related: Will 15,000 New Emails Be Clintons October Surprise?

And Trump and other Republican critics are citing other emails between State Department and foundation officials that they suggest indicates a pay to play environment in which wealthy donors sought and received favors from Clinton and the Obama administration. Trump said in a speech today that the scandal was the worst since Watergate.

Yet the new nationwide survey conducted by Quinnipiac University on August 18 to 24 shows that Clinton continues to hold the solid lead she claimed shortly after the Democratic and Republican national conventions in late July and that she will be hard to beat if she maintains this pace.

Clinton leads Trump 51 percent to 41 percent among likely American voters, according to poll. The results have a margin of error of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac results are Clintons strongest in weeks and exceeds the current six-point spread she enjoys over Trump in the Real Clear Politics cumulative average. Clinton has also done well in recent polling in a handful of critical battleground states, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado. Analysts say she holds a solid lead over Trump in the race for the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency.

Story continues

We are starting to hear the faint rumblings of a Hillary Clinton landslide as her 10-point lead is further proof that Donald Trump is in a downward spiral as the clock ticks, Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement accompanying the poll. Trumps missteps, stumbles and gaffes seem to outweigh Clintons shaky trust status and perceived shady dealings.

A wild card in all of this is how third-party candidates will impact the campaign, which will go into high gear after Labor Day. Clintons lead over Trump shrinks to seven points when Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are thrown into the mix. In a four-candidate race, Clinton gets 45 percent to 38 percent for Trump, while Johnson garners 10 percent and Stein 4 percent.

Related: Clintons Staff Ignored Investigators as They Looked Into Her Emails

As has been true for months, Clintons lead over Trump has been propelled by support from women and non-white voters, while Trump continues to depend heavily on white men to keep him in the race. The gender and racial divide are glaringly clear: Likely women voters back Clinton over Trump, 60 percent to 36 percent, while men favor Trump over Clinton, 48 percent to 42 percent. White voters support Trump by a margin of 52 percent to 41 percent, while blacks and Hispanics back Clinton 77 to 15 percent.

Trumps problem with female voters in both parties is most apparent on the critical question of whether voters believe that Trump is qualified to be president.

Overall, a startling 58 percent of all voters said that Trump was not qualified and just 40 percent say he is qualified. While 49 percent of men say he is qualified to be president, only 32 percent of women agree with that. By contrast, 66 percent of Americans believe Clinton, the former secretary of state, U.S. senator and first lady, is qualified to be president, including 60 percent of men and 62 percent of all women.

Trump this week made a pitch for support among African Americans and Hispanics, including a meeting on Thursday with a black and Hispanic advisory group at Trump Tower in New York. But even his move to soften his rhetoric about Hispanics and drop his pledge to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants in this country is unlikely to radically alter his low standing among Hispanics.

Related: We Now Know Hillary Lied Multiple Times About Her Email Server

Trump and Clinton have both been saddled with negative ratings from voters, with Clinton particularly hurt by years of controversy over her mishandling of sensitive State Department email and documents and her close ties to Wall Street and other big donors.

Trump has battered immigrants, Muslims, people of Mexican heritage and even sitting GOP governors and lawmakers over the past year as he pressed for the nomination, although last week he voiced regret for some of the more hurtful things he has said, but without specifying what he was referring to.

In the latest survey, 44 percent of likely voters say they like Clinton a lot or a little, while 47 percent dislike her a little or a lot, and eight percent strongly dislike her. Just 35 percent of voters like Trump a lot or a little, while 53 percent dislike him a little or a lot, and 10 percent hate him.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
(Adds details from presentation, comments)

By Anshuman Daga

SINGAPORE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - AirAsia Bhd, Asia's biggest low-cost airline, values its wholly owned leasing arm at 4.1 billion ringgit ($1 billion), and aims to attract an equity investor to the unit by end-2016, it said in a presentation to analysts.

The Malaysian airline aims for its Asia Aviation Capital (AAC) to expand its portfolio to about 200 aircraft in five years from the current 55, AirAsia told analysts in the Aug. 15 presentation, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

Group Chief Executive Tony Fernandes, AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar and other senior officials highlighted the company's plans at a briefing for analysts last week.

AirAsia had no immediate response to Reuters' request for comment on the presentation.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that AirAsia was looking to sell a majority stake in AAC and could value the business at about $1 billion, significant for a company that currently has a total market value of $1.9 billion.

A successful deal will help Fernandes, one of Asia's best-known entrepreneurs, who has grown AirAsia from a two-plane operation a decade ago, to bolster the airline's finances and cut debt.

Reuters reported that AirAsia plans to tap potential suitors including the leasing units of China's HNA Group, China Merchants Bank, and the aviation leasing company backed by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing.

AirAsia group, which includes affiliates in Thailand, Philippines, India and Indonesia, is recovering from a rough patch after the crash of an Airbus jet in Indonesia in late 2014 hit demand, and an attack on its accounting practices by GMT Research pushded its shares to seven-year lows in August 2015.

Ngoi Se Chai, partner at Oaklands Path Capital Management, which owns shares in AirAsia, said the airline's cost advantage could help it grow for the next few years if it does not increase its fleet size too quickly.

In the presentation, AirAsia said the fair value of the company's stock should be at least 6 ringgit a share after including the market value of AirAsia, AAC and stakes in other businesses such as its long-haul affiliate AirAxia X Bhd and loyalty programme joint venture.

AirAsia's share price closed at 2.86 ringgit on Thursday, versus Monday's closing price of 2.99 ringgit. The shares, which rose to a 3-year high of 3.33 ringgit last week, have more than doubled so far this year.

Estimates for AirAsia's 2016 net income have risen by an average of 59 percent based on five analysts who have made revisions over the past past 30 days, Thomson Reuters data shows. ($1 = 4.0180 ringgit) (Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Additional reporting by Liz Lee in KUALA LUMPUR; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Susan Thomas)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce today that its patented CTS process will be used to demonstrate the viability of advanced Aviation Biofuel and Biodiesels for use in Military applications. ALLMs CTS process is poised to become the preferred, lowest cost producer of Aviation Biofuels and Biodiesels (providing 99+% conversion efficiency, feed-stock flexibility, portable and module, yet upwardly scalable to refinery outputs) for conversion of Bio-Mass into Sugar and/or Phospholipids (Bio-Oil) for the production of Biodiesel, Bio-Jet and other Biofuels to be used on Land, Sea and in the Air by the Military, Commercial Airlines and the Transportation Industries.



Biofuels are presently being produced; however, there are inherent drawbacks to the present methods of production which make them highly inefficient, expensive and in the case of the Military, potentially hazardous to use ..... they are:

Fixed, stationary land based and refinery sized production facilities

Inefficient, expensive, old Bio-Mass to Sugar technologies

Inability to be scaled-down for local (Airport, Shipboard or Forward Operating Base {FOB}) production, use and support

Inability to accept multiple feedstock sources w/o major process changes

Require transportation for use anywhere beyond the production facility

Alliances CTS Process solves ALL of the Above and More

Military

Logistics are the problem. In the Navy, fuel resupply ships (Fleet Replenishment Oilers such as the USNS Big Horn or USNS Henry J. Kaiser) are limited in the amount of Diesel and Jet Fuel that they can carry during an at sea refueling deployment. When the supply is depleted, the Oiler must return to a supply depot (generally in an unfriendly or hostile port) to take on a new supply of fuels and redeployment.

With the advent of the CTS process, the local production of Biofuels becomes a reality. The Biofuel production facility is built into standard size, ocean going shipping containers. The Bio-Mass for conversion to Sugar and/or Phospholipids is grown onboard in self-contained tanks using rapidly reproducing Micro-Organisms (such as Genetically Modified Algae or specialty plants) and fleet born cellulose based waste streams. To increase Biofuel production, one simply adds additional container sized processing plants.

Air and Ground Forward Operating Base (FOBs)

All FOBs have two Logistical problems. The FOB is not independent or self-sustaining and requires resupply from a Rear supply depot, and, in the case of volatile fuels, they must be transported at distance and through hostile territory subjecting the driver and convoy to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), sniper fire and mechanical failure, all which can result in a loss of life and much needed fuel supply.

These logistical problems are eliminated by airlifting or delivering a CTS/Biofuel containerized processing plant(s) capable of using local Cellulosic, Bio-Waste and/or Micro-Organism Feedstock; thus providing the FOB with independence, self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Alliances CTS process when configured into a portable, modular unit can be easily transported, quickly connected and configured to use virtually any feedstock available. The portable unit can be run onboard ships that are in route to far away conflicts then off-loaded to provide a constant supply of aviation Biofuel and Biodiesel for heavy equipment, armored vehicles and fighter aircraft, using locally grown/sourced biomass and waste. This will dramatically change the way our Military plans and executes logistics for all future campaigns, drastically reducing costs and protecting the lives of sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen.

About ALLM:

Alliance BioEnergy +, Inc. (ALLM) is a publicly traded company focusing on the commercialization and licensing of a patented cellulose conversion technology that it controls through a master license agreement with the University of Central Florida. ALLMs subsidiary, AMG Energy Group, LLC (AMG), owns 50% of Carbolosic, LLC, in a joint venture with Thor Renewable Energy Singapore. Carbolosic holds the exclusive, worldwide license to three (3) issued patents and fifteen (15) filed and pending patents revolving around the core CTS (cellulose to sugar) technology. ALLM also holds the exclusive CTS rights to North America (Canada, US, and Mexico) and Africa.

The CTS process is the only known patented, dry mechanical process that can convert virtually any cellulose material into sugars and other products in a matter of minutes with no liquid acids, no applied heat, pressure or hazardous materials of any kind. The CTS process when used in the production of Ethanol is clean, less expensive to build and operate than traditional ethanol plants or other cellulose ethanol technologies and is completely environmentally friendly.

Information in this document constitute forward-looking statements or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "forecast", "anticipate", "estimate", "project", "intend", "expect", "should", "believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements to differ from the future results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors are more fully discussed in Alliance Media Group Holdings, Incs filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by the above-mentioned cautionary statement. Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this estimate, except as may be required by law.
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 24, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vital Images, Inc. (Vital), a Minneapolis-based advanced medical imaging and informatics company, is pleased to present a sneak preview of holographic computing with its VitreaView enterprise imaging solution at the HIMSS Asia Pacific annual conference in the Vital booth (#412), 23-26 August in Bangkok, Thailand. Vital is exploring the potential application of the Microsoft HoloLens as an extension of its enterprise visualisation solution, including the companys VitreaView and Vitrea Advanced Visualisation software.



Microsoft describes HoloLens as the first fully self-contained, holographic computer, enabling you to interact with highdefinition holograms in your world. Introducing this type of virtual interaction to healthcare presents a range of potential possibilities in providing clinicians an immersive view of a patients anatomy, while extending that visibility to remote team members, consulting physicians or healthcare informatics partners:

Guided surgery and education: A surgeon could wear the HoloLens while operating on a patient and see a panoramic view of the body area on which to be operated. Images the surgeon views in the HoloLens potentially could be presented in real-time to a team of experts for advice and guidance during the operation or to a classroom to benefit students, including with Skype for HoloLens.

Telemedicine and military healthcare: A healthcare practitioner in a remote village could use HoloLens to observe specific parts of the patients body, then send the information to Vital where clinical analytics could be applied to potentially assist in diagnosing the patient.

Virtual care and rehabilitation are further opportunities where the HoloLens can play a role in assisting patients to adhere to physical rehabilitation exercises and potentially providing remote treatment.

Vital will also demonstrate its VitreaView enterprise imaging solution integrated with multiple clinical information system partners, including ClinicToCloud, MedCubes and RingMD. This image enabling integration will provide clinicians easy access to complete imaging history across multiple care locations.

We look forward to presenting some of the ways we envision HoloLens  the very first augmented reality platform  could integrate with Vitals enterprise visualisation platform to enhance clinical confidence and outcomes, says Dr. Ravi Shrestha, general manager Asia Pacific at Vital Images. While Vitals current efforts with respect to HoloLens are conceptual, we recognise the great potential of the technology to help clinicians.

About Vital Images, Inc.

Vital Images, Inc., a Toshiba Medical Systems Group company, is a leading provider of diagnostic imaging and enterprise informatics solutions to help healthcare organisations deliver exceptional care while optimising resources across multi-facility organisations. The company's solutions are scalable to meet the unique needs of hospitals and imaging centers and are accessible throughout the enterprise anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit www.vitalimages.com or join the conversation on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Vitrea is a trademark of Vital Images, Inc.

VitreaView is a trademark of Vital Images, Inc.

Marks not owned by Vital Images, Inc. are the property of their respective holders.
GREENVILLE, Wis., Aug. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB:SCOO) (School Specialty, SSI or the Company), a leading distributor of supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources to the education, healthcare and other marketplaces, is honored to collaborate with the Gloria Pointer Foundation to provide students in Ghana, West Africa with much-needed supplies (incl. pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, chalk, math and science materials, and physical education equipment) for their schooling and to help improve their quality of life through education.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b632ef0-3d78-4a7c-b758-fff989e7b39e

School Specialty is excited to join forces with Dr. Yvonne Pointer and the extended team of the Gloria Pointer Foundation supported by partner, We ACT, to deliver essential materials and tools to the children in Ghana for their life-long learning! We recognize how important it is to help others and lead with action, sharing the understanding that education is the foundation of our global communitys wellbeing, safety and prosperity, stated Joseph M. Yorio, president and chief executive officer of School Specialty. We believe the classroom supplies provided will greatly enhance the educational experience of all the young students and foster learning opportunities that empower them to be the best they can be.

Driven by the brutal murder of her 14-year old daughter Gloria in 1984, Dr. Yvonne Pointer not only became an advocate to find Glorias killer but she also became an advocate for children everywhere  not wanting another parent to ever suffer such an unspeakable loss. For more than three decades she has served as an activist and humanitarian, committed to creating a lasting legacy for her daughter and helping the youth in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, across the U.S. and around the world realize their dreams through education. As a result of her steadfast activism, the Gloria Pointer Foundation was formed, along with the Gloria Pointer Scholarship Fund in Cleveland and the Gloria Pointer Teen Movement in Ghana. The mission of these organizations is to reduce poverty and violence by increasing educational opportunities.

Following a chance exchange in 2003 with a Ghanaian boy who had lost all hope until he happened upon an article telling the story of Gloria, Dr. Pointer and her friends were inspired to make a difference in this boys life as well as the lives of many children they would eventually meet in several villages in Africa. Out of this, the Gloria Pointer Memorial School opened its doors in 2015 in Ghana. Since then three schools have been built and a fourth one is underway.

We are elated and extremely grateful for the outpouring of support received from the School Specialty team through their generous donation of much-needed supplies for our young students and their teachers in Ghana. So many children dont have access to the critical tools they need for everyday learning and improving their lives  even the most basic supplies of paper, pencils and chalk  so it is a wonderful blessing when partners such as School Specialty and We ACT can provide assistance and share their resources with us, commented Dr. Yvonne Pointer, creator of the Gloria Pointer Foundation. We hope this is only the beginning of a mutual collaboration and look forward to putting the donated supplies to great use at our schools and making a positive impact on the communities in Ghana.

In a presentation held this week at School Specialtys Distribution Center in Mansfield, Ohio, around 75 representatives from the Gloria Pointer Foundation, including Dr. Yvonne Pointer (founder) and Dr. Whitaker (mentor); Chief Nana Kodwo Eduakwa V of the Atonkwa village in Elmina, Ghana; the We ACT community advocacy group, including Brigitte Coles, Angel Ross-Taylor, Timothy Holt and Patricia Harrelson (co-founders); and the School Specialty team, including Joe Yorio (CEO), Todd Shaw (EVP - Operations), Joe Geltz (SVP - Process Excellence and Fulfillment), Johnny Cline (Director of Operations), Tim Dove (Senior Manager, Human Resources) and many other members of staff joined in a celebratory handover of the supplies. For a view of the presentation, please see YouTube video at https://youtu.be/wvn4Bcmfvko.



About School Specialty, Inc.

School Specialty is a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace. The Company designs, develops, and provides educators with the latest and very best school supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential. Through its SSI Guardian subsidiary, the Company is also committed to school, healthcare and corporate workplace safety by offering the highest quality curriculum, training and safety and security products. Finally, through its SOAR Life Products brand, the Company offers thousands of products that sharpen cognitive skills and build physical and mental strength in fun and creative ways. From childhood through adulthood, they help individuals live life to the fullest  engaged, happy and well. SOAR Life Products is a customized offering for hospitals, long-term care, therapeutic facilities, home care, surgery centers, day care centers, physician offices, and clinics. For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.

@SchoolSpecialty

Connect with School Specialty on social media; search School Specialty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. For Ideas and resources, educational trends and inspiration for todays educators  visit the Schoolyard blog.
DENVER, Aug. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tuff Shed, Inc., Americas leading supplier of storage buildings and garages, is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this summer, with the company enjoying record sales and revenue.



The privately-held, Denver-based company has experienced significant growth over the last five years, rebounding nicely from the economic downturn that hit the construction industry particularly hard during 2010 and 2011. The company is on a five year roll of year over year sales growth in the double digits in each of the past 5 years. Currently the company is projecting more than a quarter billion dollars in sales in 2016, an all-time high for Tuff Shed.

CEO and founder Tom Saurey attributes the strong growth to high quality products, strong brand recognition, world-class business partners and a hard-working, conscientious company workforce that includes more than 1,000 employees and more than 1,000 independent installers. Our business is running on all cylinders, says Saurey, who started Tuff Shed in Rexburg, Id. back in 1981. Its the people that make this engine go. And weve got the best peoplefrom our suppliers to our partners at The Home Depot, to our teams of employees and contractors all the way to our customers.

A network of 45 Tuff Shed manufacturing facilities allows the company to service customers across 36 states. Assortments of Tuff Shed storage buildings, garages and recreational buildings are on display across the country in 114 Tuff Shed factory-direct locations (including the factory locations) as well as in nearly 1,300 Home Depot stores. For the last several years, Tuff Shed has been adding new locations and service areas. Already this year, three new manufacturing facilities opened in the first quarter, and another two factories are slated to open by the end of October.

TUFF SHED products include wooden backyard storage sheds, larger commercial storage buildings, garages and cabin shells. The company works with its customers to design and accessorize buildings, then pre-fabricates key building components at its manufacturing facilities so it can deliver and install buildings on the customer site. Over its 35 years Tuff Shed has designed, fabricated and installed more than 900,000 buildings, and will surpass its one millionth building in 2017.

More about Tuff Shed

Tom Saurey founded TUFF SHED in 1981 in Rexburg, Idaho and moved the company headquarters to Denver in 1986. Strong sales and sustained growth have drawn industry praise for the enterprise, with recognition including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Rocky Mountain Region in 2004 for Saurey, along with ColoradoBiz Magazines Manufacturing Company of the Year in 2004, and Denver Business Journals Deal Makers of the Year Award in 2005 for TUFF SHED. The Home Depot has twice recognized Tuff Shed as its Service Provider of the Year, first in 2007 and again last year. Visit Tuff Shed online at www.tuffshed.com.
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
Behind the Facades in France: What expats and the mainstream media (French and American alike) fail to notice (or fail to tell you) about French attitudes, principles, values, and official positions
Case Study: Small Retailers are Going Bigger When it comes to Payments Security

By George Rice, Director of payments for HPE Security at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Data breaches are damaging for every company that suffers them, no matter the size. Unlike their larger peers, however, small businesses frequently arent given the chance to recover from the financial and reputational impact of a breach. According to a report from The New York Times, sixty percent of all online attacks in 2014 targeted small and mid-size businesses.1 That same year it was found that nearly three-quarters of companies that suffer major data loss shut down within 24 months.

Combating cyber criminals can be tough for businesses that lack the technical and budgetary resources of a large enterprise. Partners with the expertise and perspective to support the unique needs of small businesses can be few and far between. Epicor Software Corporation is one such partner. It was founded to serve just these types of businesses, and today the company supplies state-of-the-art enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions to small and mid-sized retailers in North America.

This includes everything from payments and finance systems, to merchandise sourcing and inventory management, to business intelligence and cross-selling in-store, online, or on mobile apps. In 2015, enterprise-grade security from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) joined the list of options available to the 5,000-plus Epicor retail customers.

Epicor considered a wide range of approaches to data security before settling on HPE SecureData Payments, including implementing alternate gateways or its own internal data encryption, as well as investigating commercial offerings from vendors such as TransArmor and Bluefin. HPEs Secure Stateless Tokenization (SST) and Format-Preserving Encryption (FPE) proved to be the difference, providing Epicor and its retail clients full end-to-end protection from the point of sale (POS) terminal all the way through the payments lifecycle.

When we took a close look at HPE SecureData Payments, we liked what we saw, says Matt Mullen, vice president of strategy and product at Epicor. It was already used by other top retailers in the space where we compete, and HPE SecureData Payments offers a deployment framework that allowed us to bring our data security solution to market in a very easy and affordable manner.

The initial implementation was finished in just seven weeks and was seamlessly integrated into Epicors systems. Today, Epicor hosts the software in its cloud-based payments gateway, which, in turn, is hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) across six fully redundant AWS availability zones in three different regions. Security and resiliency is built in to the approach, ensuring exceptional protection from breaches and down-time.

This multi-tenant, multisite gateway handles the full roster of tenants identically, with all six availability zones providing instant backup for each other. That way, if one site goes down, the other five pick up the slack and continue processing payments. HPE SecureData Payments plugged into the environment without much customization, a key factor in Epicors choosing it as the go-to security mechanism for guarding sensitive transactions at the POS.

We also wanted to make data security as seamless as possible for our customers to adopt. HPE Format-Preserving Encryption was critical to meeting that objective, says Bill Wilson, senior vice president of product development at Epicor. It allowed us to introduce data security into our existing systems without any major software changes. For our customers, everything still works the same as it always did. Except now theres a solution thats designed to fully secure their data in transit from the POS through the backend servers.

Mullen agrees, noting that HPEs Format-Preserving Encryption  which effectively guards data without changing the core file where sensitive information is stored  required no reprogramming of the Epicor system.

It allowed us to launch our new security offering well in advance of market expectations. That was extremely beneficial to Epicor and our customers. After all, the faster you put the lock on the door, the sooner you can protect your valuables, Mullen says.

In this case, the lock was point-to-point data encryption. This ensures that credit card data is not exposed at any point in the life of an Epicor-processed transaction.

By tokenizing card numbers immediately at the point of purchase, weve gone beyond PCI compliance to actually eliminating clear data from the transaction process, Wilson says.

Mullen adds that even if someone sneaks in to take data, theres nothing useful to them. Customers loved hearing that message, especially retailers whose reputation could be seriously affected by a data breach. Ace Hardware, a longtime customer, recommended that all its store owners add the HPE SecureData option to their Epicor environment.

The sell-through for us was staggering, says Mullen. Among our 5,000 retail customers, typical sell-through of a new product is 10 percent, or about 500 units, over 12 months. When we launched our secure payments solution, we sold 1,100 units in the first three months  far beyond our expectations.

Businesses of all sizes bought. From Ace superstores to family-owned neighborhood shops that had been around for multiple generations.

Before, they felt pretty defenseless, Wilson says. But now they get both reduced risk of a data breach and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have a robust solution to help protect their business.

SOURCING:

George Rice is director of payments for HPE Security at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. He works with merchant acquirers and large retailers on data security, and leads HPEs presence among organizations such as the PCI Council, EMVCO and the ETA.



Other Point of Sale news of interest:
Lightspeed CEO Dax Dasilva Appears at FYF Fest LGBT Arts Activation

Partners with Former Arcade Fire Member Marika Anthony-Shaws Plus One Organization

Never Apart, Dasilvas cultural non-profit, debuts historical LGBT coloring book

August 2016 (Los Angeles, CA) Lightspeed, the worlds most powerful cloud-based POS and eCommerce solution for independent retailers and restaurants, has aligned with non-profit Never Apart for the sales of a collaborative coloring book benefitting the LGBT community. Powered by Lightspeed, all sales of the uniqueColour by Icons coloring book will be hosted on NeverApart.com. In addition, Colour by Icons makes its Los Angeles debut at FYF Fest with an impactful activation hosted by former Arcade Fire band member Marika Anthony-Shaws arts organization Plus One.

Conceived by Lightspeed Founder & CEO Dax Dasilva, Never Apart is a non-profit organization that brings communities together for social change through arts and culture. The Colour by Icons project features and celebrates queer historical icons, and attendees at FYF Fest will have the opportunity to color in pages of the coloring book.

The partnership with Plus One is an alignment of missions, creating a strong connection between a technology company and two cultural organizations, with the common goal of promoting inclusivity among all groups. Plus One was founded with the mission of empowering artists to be at the forefront of change and a focus on building a fundraising community through music, education and creative outreach.

Never Aparts Colour by Icons initiative is close to the heart of tech leader Dasilva, as he plays an active role in the LGBT community. Dasilva attributes Never Aparts first anniversary success to bringing the tech startup mentality to running a non-profit. The same strategies that have solidified Lightspeed as an industry leader have been injected into Never Aparts DNA, providing the organization with the entrepreneurial edge needed to fulfill its mission and share it with the world.

Lightspeeds seamless transactions for online POS have the power to revolutionize charitable sales initiatives. The omnichannel technology streamlines purchase processing and empowers retailers to enhance in-store and online transactions. Lightspeed currently powers over 38,000 customers and manages $14 billion in global transactions across 100 countries.



Lightspeed and Never Apart will join Plus One on August 27-28 to host a community-building arts activation at this years FYF Fest in Los Angeles.

About Lightspeed

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Lightspeed is the most powerful cloud-based commerce solution for independent businesses, in-store and online. More than 38,000 retailers and restaurateurs processing over $14 billion in transactions annually use Lightspeed to grow and manage their business. Founded in 2005 with offices in Canada, USA, and Europe, Lightspeed is backed by Accel Partners, iNovia Capital, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and Investissement Quebec (IQ).

About Never Apart

Established in 2015, Never Apart is a non-profit organization in Montreal, Canada, determined to bring about social change and spiritual awareness through cultural programming with global reach and impact. Founded by tech CEO, Dax Dasilva, the Center features 12,000 square feet of creative space that hosts seasonal art exhibitions, two permanent installations: the Sun Room and the Moon Room, live music events, artist talks, and film screenings. During its first year of operation, Never Apart has welcomed thousands of visitors. Follow Never Aparts latest developments and monthly online magazine at Neverapart.com, Facebook: Facebook.com/neverapartmtl,

About Plus One

Plus One was born from the belief that harnessing and directing the energy of a passionate audience and fan-base can be a powerful change agent. The idea is simple: performing artists partner with Plus One to add $1 to each of their concert tickets to go to a recipient organization. Plus One then works with the tour to engage and activate the artists audience about the cause through presence at shows along with long-term outreach that lets fans know the impact the Plus One dollars are making. Through its partnerships with bands such as Arcade Fire, The National, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Plus One drives dollars and builds new communities of support for organizations tackling some of todays most important issues. Learn more about the organization at Plus1.org

More POS news:
UPDATE: At least 12 killed in Attack on American University of Afghanistan

[UPDATE: August 25, 2016 8:30 a.m.]

Police in Kabul said a violent attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended hours after gunfire and explosions plagued the university.

As many as 12 people were killed and 30 more injured after gunmen launched the assault on Wednesday evening. Staff and students hid throughout the university as many other fled from emergency exits, trying to get away from the attack.

For hours after the initial attack, Afghanistan police worked tirelessly to clear pieces of the building and evacuate students and staff members still inside. The AP said as many as 700 students were rescued.

The Reuters news agency reported the Afghanistan police shot and killed two attackers before clearing the building.

One of those deceased was a security guard for the university.

Original story below.

Multiple new outlets have reported that the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul is under attack. According to the reports, gunmen entered the university and open fired as classes were taking place.

Several professors, many American, and students are stuck inside as they hear gunshots and explosions around them.

This is the first photo taken after the attack on #American university pic.twitter.com/x39JI1PLL7  Zakarya Hassani (@ZakariaHassani4) August 24, 2016

Many people near the university have tweeted photos of smoke rising from the area where the university is. It is believed that there could have been a blast that allowed gunmen to get inside the gates of the university.

Security forces have blocked off the area after confirming dozens of students and staff were trapped inside.

Several sources have said that students are escaping from the attack through emergency doors at the university.

The attack comes just weeks after two professors, one American and the other Australian, were abducted from the university at gunpoint on Aug. 7.
Iran will take part in an informal meeting of OPEC countries in Algeria next month, state media reported on Thursday.

"I will take part in this session," Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told the ministry's Shana news service.

Iran had previously said it had not yet taken a decision on whether to attend the closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers in late September.

Oil markets have been carefully tracking reports of whether Iran will attend the meeting, which other OPEC members hope will lead to a freeze in production that would boost oil prices.

Iran refused to accept a freeze earlier this year, having just emerged from international sanctions and keen to maximise its oil revenues, but rumours this week that it may have changed its position have led to a 10 percent spike in prices, according to Bloomberg.

Zanganeh did not comment on whether Iran, OPEC's third-biggest producer, would support a cap on production at the September meeting.

He did mention that OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo will be visiting Iran "in the near future," according to the Shana agency.

Adding to the difficulties of reaching an agreement, tensions have 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.
The makers of Rebit.ph, Bitbit.cash, and PrepaidBitcoin.ph now have a partner in the worlds biggest tech ecoystem

What kind of company would be magnanimous  or foolhardy  enough to pull another company out from the grave?

Philippines-based bitcoin startup Satoshi Citadel Industries (SCI) is one shimmering example. Today, it has announced the acquisition of Reza, a defunct bitcoin stock trading company based in Silicon Valley.

The Silicon Valley-based company enables any Bitcoin user to make investments in bitcoin or fixed income stocks in the US or other international stock exchanges via a mobile app. Traders can choose to invest in three portfolios  Conservative, Moderate or Aggressive  which are sorted by its degrees of risks and returns. They then, of course, can track them.

This ambitious project, however, fizzled out about four months ago despite receiving a seed funding of US$357,000 from Boost VC and Digital Currency Group.

Also Read: Singapore MAS sets up FinTech Innovation Lab; reviewing VC funding rules to boost fintech sector

Some in the online community speculated that the company may have had run afoul of US Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Others suggested that users were not receptive to the beta product.

Thankfully, the SCI saw an opportunity to diversify its business through Reza and breathed new life into the floundering business through an acquisition.

Were thrilled that the Keza app is being relaunched with such an amazing team, said Kezas co-founder Simon

Burns, in an official press statement.

Keza was built for emerging markets users who dont have access to global capital markets, which makes the Philippines a perfect match. We are excited that the vision of the company is being fulfilled, he added.

Previously, SCI launched a range of bitcoin solutions including bitcoin remittance service Rebit.ph,; mobile wallet Bitbit.cash; prepaid Bitcoin card service PrepaidBitcoin.ph.



Image Credit: SCI

The post This Philippines bitcoin firm has acquired a defunct Silicon Valley company appeared first on e27.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte poses with soldiers during a visit at Capinpin military camp in Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte poses with soldiers during a visit at Capinpin military camp in Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

President Rodrigo Duterte gave assurance that his administration will protect the integrity and the safety of Filipino citizens.

He delivered the statement during his speech to the jungle fighters of the 2nd Infrantry Division of the Philippine Army in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal this afternoon.

Though he did not stress the arbitral tribunal ruling on the issue of maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea, he said there will be a time that it will be insisted by other southeast Asian nations as well as the United States of America.

The president says China seems to be dealing in good faith and reconciliatory however he also asked China to better come up with a decision.

He says there is no possibility for the Philippines to attack China but if there would be a misunderstanding between the two countries, the best thing he could to is to defend the nation.

I guarantee to them that if anyone will try to invade, it will be bloody and we will not give it to them easily. It will be the bones of our soldiers as well as my bones. We will not allow any country. I will not allow, Pres. Duterte said in his speech.

Duterte directs the soldiers to spruce their arms and training to defend the country.

The president also reiterates his stand to bring lasting peace in the country.

We dont want a quarrel. I would walk extra mile to ask for peace to everybody.  Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue

The post Pres. Duterte assures to defend country from invaders appeared first on UNTV News.
Snapchat is an increasingly popular app among a wide range of consumers, especially young people. But getting started with Snapchat for your business can be a bit intimidating, especially since many of the features arent clearly outlined.

But if your target customers are using Snapchat, then your business should probably be on it too. Heres a step-by-step guide to getting started with Snapchat for your business.

Download the App

Snapchat is strictly a mobile app, not a web platform. So signing up for an account requires you to have a mobile device with access to the App Store or Google Play. You can download Snapchat for free from either of those sources. Then once you have the app, you can sign up for an account by selecting your username, email and password.

Find People to Follow

After signing up, one of the first things youll probably want to do is add some contacts. On Snapchat, you can add connections in a variety of different ways. You can import the contacts from your phone and add anyone who has Snapchat in your address book. You can also add people by searching usernames. Or you can take a screenshot of someones snap code, which is that little ghost gif that people can add their own photos to. By uploading a screenshot of someones snap code, you can add them automatically.

Make Your Snap Code

After signing up for an account, you also have the opportunity to make your very own snap code. Just press the big Snapchat logo on the main options page within the app and youll get the opportunity to take a series of selfies. Those photos together make up your snap code, which you can then share with others so that they can easily add you on Snapchat.

Take a Photo or Video

Once youve set up all your basic details, its time to start snapping. Snaps consist mainly of photos or videos. To take a photo, you just press the large round button toward the bottom of the screen. And to take a video, you hold that button down to record continuously. Snaps can be up to ten seconds long. And you can specify the amount of time you want your snaps to appear by pressing the number at the bottom left of the screen.

Play with Filters

Snapchat also offers you the ability to turn the camera around so that you can take photos or videos of yourself to share with your audience. You may have also seen that a lot of people on Snapchat use silly filters that go over their faces. There are ones that give users dog ears, silly voices and even promotional filters that go along with things like movie releases or special events. To access those filters, just press the screen on your own face and Snapchat should recognize it and bring up a selection of filters that you can use for that day.

Add Some Embellishments

Even if youre not trying to use any weird voice changers or add animal ears to your snaps, there are other ways you can add some interest to your snaps after youve taken a photo or video. Up in the top right corner, there are buttons that allow you to add text, stickers or even doodles to your snaps. You can also swipe the screen to add different visual filters or special effects like your current speed, temperature or geo filters that show your location.

Send Your Snaps

When youre happy with how your snap looks, its time to send it. Theres a small arrow button on the bottom corner of the screen that you can use to complete your snap. Then youll get to a page where youll see all of your contacts. You can choose which contacts youd like to send your snap to. Theyll get a notification from you and then have 24 hours to view it before it disappears.

Add to Your Story

On that same page, youll also see an option at the top that will let you send the snap to your story. Your Snapchat story is like a collection of snaps from the day that anyone who follows you can view. This is a popular feature for business Snapchat users who want to communicate with more than just a few people at a time. You can view your own story and see how many people have viewed it on the main story page. You can also add snaps to your memories section, which is a collection of your favorite snaps or content that you want actually saved on Snapchat.

Interact with Your Audience

Now that you know how to set up your account and create your own posts, you need to consider exactly what type of content you should create to get the most out of the platform. There are plenty of different ways businesses can use Snapchat. But overall, the most important thing to remember is that people want to use Snapchat to actually interact with people. So consider doing things like asking questions of your audience, giving them a behind the scenes peek at your business, or even hosting a Q&A session. You can also share some of your favorite Snapchat accounts with others in your contact list using the new suggest feature.

Promote Your Account

You also need to work hard to grow your following on Snapchat, since it doesnt naturally integrate with any other platforms. You can promote your Snapchat account by connecting with other users or sharing your username and snap code on your website and other social accounts. You might even try offering some sort of incentive or giving your audience a preview of the kind of content they can expect by saving your snaps and sharing them elsewhere on occasion.


Snapchat is paying $110 million, with 75 percent in stock and 25 percent cash to acquire mobile contextual search engine Vurb. The deal also includes a $75 million retention bonus to keep Vurb founder and CEO Bobby Lo.

Vurb touts itself as tool for helping consumers decide what to do and who they want to do it with. So obviously, if you operate a small business that might be a local destination, learning more about this new tool can be key to your marketing efforts.

But how does Vurb work and how can the results users find really impact small businesses?

How Vurb Works

Well, those who download the app can create decks or collections of places they want to go and things they want to do and can share these decks with their friends from a list of contacts on other social media sites, such as Facebook. So you can imagine how valuable it could be to have your business mentioned by potential customers and their friends here.

Vurb is a game changer, because it overcomes the limitations of traditional search engines by making mobile decision-making a collaborative effort. It also brings together the most relevant information consumers are looking for when they are most interested in taking action  when they are looking for something to do with friends.

When you take into consideration the amount of time people spend on their mobile devices, it will really make you appreciate the marketing potential this tool represents. According to an infographic by Cloudinary, planning an average night out may involve using up to 9 apps, 22 app switches, 77 swipes, 13 minutes on the phone and 10 texts. These are tasks Vurb can eliminate or dramatically reduce, while at the same time bringing customers and their friends together in the collaborative process.

See the screen below:

Vurb has tremendous potential applications in the Snapchat ecosystem. With Vurb and Snapchat, users can now share their favorite finds, make plans, buy tickets, get a ride, stream movies, listen to music, make reservations and more. This will of course translate to longer times on Snapchat, giving brands large and small a chance to be part of the conversation users are having.

For small businesses, the coming together of Vurb and Snapchat represents a great opportunity to engage with users and make their businesses part of the conversation. Whether it is a restaurant, movie theater or a retail stores, this will provide these businesses a great marketing platform to increase digital presence.

Vurb is the seventh company Snapchat has acquired in the last two years. Other acquisitions include Obvious Engineering, Bitstrips, Looksery, Scan, Vergence Labs, and AddLive. While individually they may not have caught anyones attention, together and with Snapchats assets they are coming together to make the social media platform even stronger as it moves forward to better monetize the service it provides.

More On Vurb

Vurb was founded by Lo in 2011, and when it came out of stealth in 2014, TechCrunch called it a legitimate challenger to Google search. The company then won the grand prize in the TechCrunch Disrupt NY Startup Battlefield 2014, which helped raise an additional $8 million adding to the $2 million it had already secured in a previous round of funding.

What the investors saw in Vurb was the way in which it makes mobile search focus on browsing instead of countless result pages on Google. Essentially, it brings together the different apps in the ecosystem, such as Fandango, Foursquare, Google Maps, Yelp, Uber and others to help customers find directions, eateries, movie theaters, places of interest, trending videos, reviews, a ride and more all within the app. That means not having to jump in and out of different apps to find what you and your friends want to do.

If you want to try Vurb, it is currently available in the App Store, Google Play and the Amazon App Store.
Very few people genuinely dont want to take pride in what they do.

Yet we all know someone (it might be you) who isnt putting their best in. Whether its time pressure from your boss that causes you to focus on quantity over quality, or a project that is causing you nothing but problems, everyone is guilty of just getting something done at the expense of getting it done well.

Understandably, this can be a problem for many businesses, and the last thing you want is to be working in a culture where youre fearful of being honest to the point of submitting below par work. The chances are itll catch up with you and itll cause much more damage than if youd bought the problems up before they affected your output.

When to tell your boss the truth? Of course it depends on the type of manager youre dealing with, but by and large, if you care about what youre doing and you can frame the problem in a way that reflects well on yourself, youre on to a winner.

When to be an Underperforming Employee

When You Need to Make a Point

Some managers, and rarely the best, can be culpable of pushing more and more at their employees indiscriminately. You may be set targets that are met and then increased, without much understanding of what youre expected to do within your time at work.

While productivity is hugely important to any business, this kind of attitude tends to come at the cost of quality work. Its a short term fix that rarely benefits the company in the long run. It can damage your brand. It can damage your reputation. It can damage relationships with key partners, customers and clients.

Your next step comes down to how you read your boss. If you think they will stand staunchly by their targets and come back saying that they think the inability to meet them is down to you, then it sounds like you have a serious micro-manager problem, and its probably time to get out.

On the other hand, if you know that deep down the company is genuinely concerned with the quality and believes in you and the quality you produce, you should let them know. Any good manager would look to resolve the problem, either by reconsidering other tasks or taking a step back from the target-heavy approach.

When You Need Some Advice

Approaching your boss to tell them that youre not producing your best work can actually be a really effective way of receiving constructive feedback. Yes, its daunting to tell your boss that youre not acing it. But isnt that what a manager is there for?

In fact, what youre doing is incredibly brave, whilst showing initiative and serious objectivity in assessing the quality of what youre producing. Instead of submitting some work knowing that its not good enough and waiting for feedback to tell you as much, youre being proactive and making it clear youre not going to go forward with work thats below par.

This way, you can receive advice and feedback about how youre working and what you could be doing better that can help you to resolve whatever problem youre having. Sometimes a piece of advice on how to structure your work day, some resources or even just helping to highlight your knowledge gaps can be hugely beneficial to the company, and your continued development.

To Highlight Areas of Weakness

People often get given tasks that sit nicely outside of their comfort zones. And this is a good thing.

In at the deep-end development can often be the best way of learning. Saying yes to these kinds of new tasks, particularly early on in your career, can be incredibly beneficial for both your personal development and your relationship within the business.

Having said this, sometimes its important to know where youre weaker. If youve been given a task and you can see that its not right based on your understanding, your skills or your experience, be honest.

Provided you have the kind of boss who puts their own ego aside for the good of the business, you will have a situation where your honesty is appreciated. If anything, youve chosen to put the business in front of your personal reputation. Just make sure that you focus on what you do have to offer, and where your skills do lie.

Its a bit of a gamble, because you dont want to be seen as work-shy or unhappy to pick up extra tasks. The chances are that if this particular role is central to what you do, you might need to learn how to do it or find a job that youre better suited to.

But if you have faith in the people above you, youll come out of it looking much better, as youll have cleared up paths of communications. They may reassign that task, or train you how to do it better, but the problem will have been solved.

Republished by permission. Original here.
Digital Divide

Comcast Reports Internet Essentials Program Helped 3 Million Low-Income Americans

Comcasts Internet Essentials program has helped 3 million low-income Americans, or 750,000 families, access low-cost, high-speed internet service at home, according to a five-year progress report the company released today.

Comcast is also providing more than $2 million in grants to community-based organizations that provide digital literacy training and internet access, the company said in a news release.

In the last five years, weve learned that no single company or government program is ever going to fix the digital divide and that solving a big, difficult societal issue like this takes nothing short of a movement, said David L. Cohen, senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer of Comcast, in a prepared statement. We are so proud that thousands of community partners around the country have helped us make a meaningful dent in the digital divide.

Cohen also mentioned that the Internet Essentials program is expanding to HUD-assisted homes over the next five years. The company estimates that up to 2 million HUD-assisted homes are in Comcasts service area across the country, representing 40 percent of HUD-assisted households.

Since the launch of the Internet Essentials program in 2011, Comcast has also provided more than $300 million in cash and in-kind support to help fund digital literacy training and educational initiatives nationally, the company said in its release. Those efforts have reached nearly 4.4 million people, Comcast said.

Between 2011 and June 2016, Comcast has also:

Dedicated more than $1.8 million in grants to create Internet Essentials Learning Zones;

Broadcast 8.5 million public service announcements, valued at nearly $110 million;

Provided more than 54,000 subsidized computers priced at less than $150 each;

Distributed nearly 53 million pieces of Internet Essentials program materials for free;

Offered Internet Essentials to more than 55,000 schools in over 5,000 school districts in 39 states and the District of Columbia; and

Partnered with more than 9,000 community-based organizations and government agencies and elected officials to spread the word.

The company also announced that Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the new national spokesperson for the program, and she is kicking off a multi-city tour during back-to-school season.

Internet Essentials provides high-speed internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax, as well as the option to purchase an internet-ready computer for less than $150. For more information or to apply for the program, visit InternetEssentials.com or call (855) 846-8376. Spanish speakers may call (855) 765-6995.
Assessments

Fewer Than Half of California Students Met College Readiness Standards

Fewer than half of California public school students are prepared for the academic challenges of college, according to results released Wednesday from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

The tests, based on state Common Core standards, were taken on computers by 3.2 million California students between third and eighth grade and in 11th grade, starting in January. The tests are also known as the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments.

The test results indicate that overall, only 48 percent of students met English language arts standards, and 37 percent met math standards. Still, thats an improvement over last year, when 44 percent met English standards and 34 percent met math standards.

In Los Angeles Unified School District, the states largest, the scores were even lower. Only 39 percent met English standards and 29 percent met math standards, according to the Los Angeles Times. Again, those are still improvements over 33 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

When examined closer, the results show some troubling patterns along ethnic lines. Math scores for African Americans only improved by 2 percentage points year over year, from 16 percent to 18 percent meeting or exceeding standards. African American English scores were moderately better, improving by 3 percentage points from 28 percent competency in 2014-15 to 31 percent competency in 2015-16.

Latino students saw 3 percentage points of improvement in their math scores, from 21 percent competency to 24 percent competency. And their English scores fared slightly better, rising 5 percentage points from 32 percent in 2014-15 to 37 percent in 2015-16.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson tried to put a positive spin on the results.

The higher test scores show that the dedication, hard work and patience of Californias teachers, parents, school employees and administrators are paying off, Torlkason said in a prepared statement. Together we are making progress towards upgrading our education system to prepare all students for careers and college in the 21st century.

The superintendent acknowledged that California schools and students have more work to do. But he also said our system has momentum, and expressed confidence that business, political and community leaders will join parents and educators to help continue supporting increased standards and resources for schools.

In contrast, the Education TrustWest, a nonprofit research, policy and advocacy organization, said Wednesday: We need faster progress for all students and swifter gap closure for our students of color, English learner and low-income students. If not, it will be decades before some groups of California students are fully meeting standards and are on track for colleges, careers and life.

In contrast to their African American and Latino classmates, Asians and whites did much better on the assessments. Asians improved 4 percentage points in English language arts, from 72 percent competency in 2014-15 to 76 percent competency in 2015-16. Their math scores went up 3 percentage points from 69 percent to 72 percent.

White students improved 3 percentage points in English from 61 percent in 2014-15 to 64 percent in 2015-16. Their math scores went up 4 percentage points from 49 percent to 53 percent competency.

The latest CAASPP test was only the second year it was administered. Before that, California used the Standardized Testing and Reporting system (STAR). Results from 1998 to 2013 can be viewed on the STAR website.
Policy

Feds Say Virtual Schools Need to Follow Special Ed Rules

Even when the education is delivered online, schools and districts ought to adhere to the needs of children with disabilities. That was the message recently delivered in a "Dear Colleague" letter issued to virtual schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

The letter, which emphasizes that the agency isn't creating or imposing "new legal requirements," is intended to help state education agencies and districts meet their existing obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Among the responsibilities covered in the document are these two:

"Child find responsibilities," which require schools to identify, locate and evaluate students in need of special education and related services. This stipulation may "present unique challenges," the agency acknowledged, since students attending virtual schools may not have the "same degree of face-to-face interactions" with teachers or other school staff, making identification difficult. The letter recommends that the district come up with "additional ways" to identify candidates, such as screenings and parent or teacher questionnaires.

Responsibility for providing "free appropriate public education." Here, the dilemma is figuring out which entity is responsible for delivering the education. As the letter noted, typically, the district where the student's family resides is accountable for making the schooling available. But oftentimes, the state itself is the local education agency running or contracting with the virtual school. In those scenarios, the guidance suggests, the state is the final arbiter for deciding who's responsible.

Those duties, for example, include developing and carrying out the individualized education program (IEP) for the student and making the student is educated in "the least restrictive environment,"  in other words, alongside peers without disabilities.

The agency closed its letter with a notice that it would be issuing additional guidance to address "more specific" questions in the future. It solicited feedback at [email protected].

The letter is available on the Education Department website here.
Library Management Systems

Follett Destiny Expands Chromebook Integration, Adds SAML and LTI Support

Follett has updated its flagship library management system. The latest release of Destiny includes a revamped interface; simpler access to digital resources, including open educational resources; and new kinds of integration with some Google Chromebook models.

Version 14 adds support for integration standards IMS' Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), both of which facilitate single-sign-on with other resources. The integration enables students to access the school's library catalog from within their courses or student portals. Teachers will be able to include links to specific digital resources in their class assignments or discussion forums, and students will be able to go to the resource without additional logins.

The updated interface includes branding intended to be more student-friendly. For example, the product's previous services, universal search, BryteWave K-12 and Follett Shelf, are now known as "Destiny Discover," which will serve as the interface through which students can search for and get to library resources.

Destiny Discover also provides access to OER. The company has joined the U.S. Department of Education's #GoOpen initiative, a campaign to encourage the transition to openly licensed educational materials. Teachers will be able to locate digital resources available via ED's Learning Registry, a metadata system to help users discover OER content online.

A Google Chrome extension allows Destiny resources to appear next to Google search results when the user is searching through a Chrome browser, which, according to the company, will promote the use of school resources.

The formerly named BryteWave K-12 app for Chromebook lets students get to Destiny Discover and Follett e-books through a browser and then read them offline. The Chromebook models that support that functionality are the ASUS Chromebook Flip, the Acer Chromebook R 11 and the Google Chromebook Pixel.

Among the customers that have checked out the new release is Clear Creek Independent School District in Texas. There, the updated software will enable students to "quickly and efficiently access Destiny since it is now tied to our learning management system with no separate log in," said Suzy Ferrell, director of library media services, in a press release. "Partnering with our curriculum teams, we will be able to help bring the resources from our libraries to students and teachers into their online learning environments."

Gregory Odell, e-learning specialist at Hall County Schools in Gainesville, GA noted the ability to embed digital content housed in Destiny into courses accessible through the district's learning management system. "Adding the LTI capability to Destiny opens up many opportunities for our district to promote the digital assets available in Destiny via our one-stop-shop LMS," Odell said.
(Adds background on other China crop disputes)

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A dispute over C$2 billion ($1.55 billion) worth of Canadian canola exports to China intensified on Thursday when Beijing criticized Ottawa's insistence that bilateral relations could not improve until the matter is settled.

The situation threatens to mar Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China next week.

"We oppose linking a concrete issue of bilateral trade with China-Canada relations," the Chinese embassy in Ottawa said by email.

Canada, the world's biggest canola exporter, wants China, its top export market for the oilseed, to drop plans to toughen inspection standards on Sept 1. The crop is used mainly to produce vegetable oil.

China says the tougher standard on foreign material is needed to protect against crop disease.

"The quarantine of canola is merely a technical issue that should be solved properly through consultations by relevant competent departments," said the embassy.

The mission issued its statement after Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday that "we cannot take the next step in our relationship with China" until the issue had been resolved.

Freeland called Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng late on Wednesday to convey Canada's concerns, but her intervention did not produce an immediate breakthrough.

"They agreed to continue working closely and to remain personally focused on a solution," said Freeland's spokesman, Alex Lawrence. Asked about the embassy statement, he said Freeland had nothing to add.

China imports 3 million to 4 million tonnes of Canadian canola seed annually.

"If one of your biggest customers isn't there to buy from you, in combination with (big) canola production, prices are going to have to come down," said Tony Tryhuk, manager of commodity trading at RBC Dominion Securities.

ICE Canada canola futures for November delivery fell 1.7 percent on Thursday.

China has raised concerns for years that blackleg disease could spread from canola into Chinese rapeseed, another name for the oilseed.

Story continues

Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is its ample domestic rapeseed oil stocks, similar to other disputes.

China effectively halted imports of U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . corn and corn products for more than a year beginning in late 2013 as the country rejected shipments of an unapproved biotech variety. Traders speculated that the spat was tied to China's domestic grain surplus.

Similarly, some traders believe a recent antidumping dispute raised by China over U.S. distillers' grains is aimed at supporting China's ethanol industry.

($1=$1.29 Canadian) (Additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Alan Crosby and Bill Rigby)
A heartbroken mother grabbed an urn containing her daughters ashes to send a message to the drug dealers who killed her.

The message, posted to an anti-heroin Facebook site, has been viewed 250,000 times.

Florida mother Tina Wells Louden says that Ashley had been using heroin for five years - before the drug killed her three years ago.

The dark-haired mother-of-two would have turned 28 this year.

Louden said, Maybe it would change somebody. We live through this pain, every birthday, every holiday, its not the same. Part of our heart is gone.

She posted the hard-hitting message addressed to drug dealers - on what would have been her daughter Ashleys 28th birthday.

Louden says, To my daughters drug dealer, this is how I spend my daughters birthday now.how do you live with yourself???

Thats all I wanna knowI dont normally post pics like this but lets make this go viral so all the drug dealers see what they are doing to our families.

Loudens post was shared online via the Facebook page, Heroin kills you, - and has since been viewed 250,000 times.
Devon is good for your health, with residents of Teignbridge recording the longest life expectancy in England and Wales.

Researchers from family history website Ancestry looked at more than 85 million records over a 170 year period to identify how life expectancy had changed.

They studied death indexes from 1837 to 2007, and found that the Teignbridge district came out on top in the longevity stakes.

The coastal district lies west of Exeter, and includes Teignmouth and Newton Abbot.

During the period studied, residents were found to have a life expectancy averaging 82 years.

Colwyn in Wales and Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire came in joint second place, recording an average lifespan of 81, while half of the top 20 areas were in Somerset, Devon or Wales.

During the study period, the average lifespan for people in England and Wales rose dramatically from 40 to 78. The figure has now increased to 81.

All that sea air seems to be having the opposite effect on the residents of Shepway, Kent, however - they have the countrys lowest life expectancy, averaging just 41 years of age at death between 1837 and 2007.

Following Shepway are Burnley and Pendle in Lancashire and Whitechapel in Londons East End, where Jack the Ripper famously murdered five prostitutes in the 19th Century.

Four other areas of London join Whitechapel in the 20 worst locations for life expectancy: Rotherhithe, Epping Forest, Newington and Clerkenwell.

Historically, areas with the lowest life expectancy have been poorer than others.

Shepway remains one of the most deprived areas in Kent, while Portsea Island (Portsmouth - in joint 17th place for the lowest life expectancy) saw more than 800 residents die of cholera in the 1840s as a result of poor living standards.

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.

Story continues

"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.

Ancestry is offering free access to all UK and Ireland records on the site this Bank Holiday weekend.



Image: Teignmouth seafront (Tony Atkin)
888poker Ambassador Chris Moorman Wins 241,300 in Barcelona

August 25 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!

Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
Bear Medicine (2004) by Rick Bartow. CS Indian (2014) by Rick Bartow. Crows Creation V (1992) by Rick Bartow. Things You Know but Cannot Explain (1979) by Rick Bartow. Deer Spirit for Frank LaPena (1999) by Rick Bartow. Prev 1 of 5 Next

The art of Rick Bartow reconciles a multiplicity of selves: Native American, European American, veteran, musician, recovering alcoholic, husband and father.

One-third of the contemporary Native American art trailblazing triad that also included Fritz Scholder and T.C. Cannon, the Pacific Northwest painter died in April. The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is offering Rick Bartow: Things You Know But Cannot Explain, A Retrospective Exhibition, with more than 120 paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints spanning 40 years. The show is a traveling exhibition organized by the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon.

Born in Oregon, Bartow was a member of the Mad River Band of Wiyot Indians in California. His fathers family was of Wiyot heritage; his mother was non-Indian. He graduated with a degree in art education, then shipped out to Vietnam in 1969.

He served as a teletype operator and musician serenading military hospital patients. Although he was awarded the Bronze Star, he carried guilt about surviving when so many others emerged disfigured, dismembered or dead.

As Bartow struggled to return to some semblance of normalcy, art became his therapy, Institute of American Indian Arts curator Manuela Well-Off-Man said.

Often infused with rabid brushstrokes and relentless energy, his paintings and sculptures capture transformations of humans into animals dancing with drama, joy and wit. Bartow traveled extensively, specifically to New Zealand and Japan, incorporating Maori influences and working with a master Japanese printmaker. The distorted raw ambiguity of some of his portraits cross the sensibility of the British figurative painter Francis Bacon with Scholders explosive brushwork.

Self-portraiture is one of the key themes he explored throughout his career, Well-Off-Man said.

The pastel and colored pencil work of hisCS Indian (2014) mirrors his Vietnam experience in its grotesque features, multiple eyes and text.

Bears, crows and deer emerge in his mythologies and artwork. The transformation of humans into animals unfolds, blurring the lines between both. Coyotes and ravens become tricksters. The tale of the bear lover, in which a woman takes a bear as her partner and ultimately turns into the animal, recurs, as bears represent healing medicine. The bear also acts as a role model by raising its cubs.

Im just an artist that thinks that people and animals share the same bed, Bartow said in an interview. If the bed isnt comfortable for (the animals), its not going to be comfortable for us for long.

Deer Spirit for Frank LaPena (1999) reveals his reverence for transformation and honors another visionary Native American artist.

He expresses how the natural world and spiritual world connect and balance one another, Well-Off-Man said. He explores the profound relationship between the human and animal realm.

Splashes of bold color permeate his works, as do stretches of white canvas.

There are so many areas he left blank, Well-Off-Man said. His use of white space is absolutely stunning. Its part of the dramatic composition.

Bartows work hangs in more than 60 public institutions, including the Yale University Art Gallery, the Brooklyn Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts. In 2012, he created We Were Always Here, a monumental pair of cedar sculptures 20 feet high, commissioned by the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian and installed on the National Mall. Until his death, Bartow sang and played lead guitar with The Backseat Drivers every week in Newport, Ore.

WHAT: Rick Bartow: Things You Know but Cannot Explain, a Retrospective Exhibition

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays. Noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Tuesdays. Runs through Dec. 31.

WHERE: IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, 108 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe

HOW MUCH: $10 adults; $5 seniors (62+), students with ID and New Mexico residents. Members free. Native people, veterans and their families, youths (16 and under) and New Mexico residents on Sunday free. Call 505-983-8900.
Its more than 6,500 miles from New Mexico to Beijing, the capital of China, but an international exchange program helped bridge that distance for an Albuquerque student in a very special way this summer.

Recent Cottonwood Classical School graduate Sage Herrick was one of a small group of U.S. teens chosen to visit China in late July to foster better understanding between the two countries.

The trip was hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and funded by the Beijing-based Yihai Education Group, for 12 students  all either Presidential Scholars or Intel finalists  who were selected through a highly competitive process.

Herrick, 18, was named a 2016 Presidential Scholar, one of two from New Mexico. Growing up in the tiny northern New Mexico town of Santa Cruz near Espanola and later Albuquerque, Herrick has long been interested in the foreign relations aspect of politics, and China in particular.

China was fascinating to me because a lot of Americans have a very poor attitude towards China  a little scared of it  dont really understand how it functions; and I wanted to move past that, said Herrick in an interview after she returned.

The two-week trip July 12-29 was her first exposure to international travel. The six boys and six girls in her group had a challenging itinerary that included a stay in Beijing, flying to Guiyang, about 1,000 miles to the southwest, and on to the cities of Beichuan and Chengdu.

They were very busy. The goal is to give them the broadest representation in two weeks, from very official outings to cultural and social experiences, said Kathy Thompkins, CEO of Yihai North America in New York.

Herricks most memorable day was in Beijing when they visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Tiananmen Square is a large square in the center of the city that contains the Great Hall of the People, the mausoleum of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong and was the site of political protest demonstrations in 1989. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace from the early 15th century to the early 20th century.

That (experience) was definitely very eye opening, said Herrick, adding that she appreciated being able to get the Chinese perspective on many current issues.

During their time in Beijing, Herrick and the other U.S. students visited schools established by the Yihai Educational Group where they learned some martial arts and tried their hand at calligraphy.

Another highlight of the trip was their visit to Beichuan. The city was the epicenter of a devastating earthquake that struck in 2008. The group toured the Memorial Museum and afterward danced around a bonfire with children of their host families.

It was a wonderful way to end a tragic and eye-opening visit because it reminded us of the ephemeral nature of life and how the human spirit can conquer tragedy, Herrick wrote, describing the experience.

Herrick and the other students stayed with host families in each location. She was intrigued by some of the misconceptions her Chinese hosts had about American women. In many cases they were convinced that American women ate a lot of bread. Herrick said her hosts were worried they might not have enough bread for their guest.

She also experienced many food items not often found in the U.S.

I won a little award for the most adventurous eater, Herrick said. Her eating adventures included chicken feet, the intestines of several animals and fish heads.

Her hosts were mostly only aware of U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles. Eager to expose them to the culture of New Mexico and the Southwest, she brought gifts such as turquoise jewelry, Hopi sand paintings and small Navajo rugs.

It was cool for them to see the Southwest side of the country, Herrick said.

This fall, Herrick is bound for Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where she will study mechanical engineering. After her experiences this summer, she hopes to find ways to connect her twin interests in engineering and foreign relations by pursuing a minor in foreign relations.

The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, which hosted the trip, is a nonprofit organization that promotes understanding between the two countries. The Yihai Education Group is part of a global company involved in real estate development, education, property management and fitness centers. In addition to supporting the U.S. China Student Leaders Exchange, the Yihai Education Group has established several schools in China.
Victor Zamora, left, and Andrew Lopez apply mud to a structure at the San Gregorio Mission at Abo at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Marc LeFrancois, acting superintendent for Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, oversees the work of the HOPE Crew at San Gregorio Mission at Abo. HOPE stands for hands on preservation experience, a federal program that connects young people seeking jobs with opportunities to get paid while they learn preservation skills from experts. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) A student applys mud to a structure on the premises. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Emilio Lovato, left, and Joseph Moseley are members of the HOPE Crew that worked on the walls of the San Gregorio Mission at Abo this summer. Many of the crew members are from nearby Mountainair and have historic family ties to the area. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) The walls of San Gregorio Mission church at Abo, near Mountainair. The mission is one of three in the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument built by the Spanish in the 1620s, which attract many visitors. The walls must be repointed every five to seven years to prevent further deterioration. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) From left, Park Ranger Patrick Romero, Garrett Green and Victor Zamora grab handfuls of mud and press it between the stones to stabilize the walls of a historic structure beside the San Gregorio Mission church. Romero started doing this work during the summers while in high school and is now a full-time National Park Service employee. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 6 Next

The century-old National Parks Service has enlisted some strong young arms to continue the fight to preserve New Mexicos historic legacy from the ravages of time.

Thanks to the National Trust for Historic Preservations HOPE Crew program, a team of high school and college students has spent the summer learning new skills to help stabilize the stone walls of the San Gregorio Mission at Abo.

San Gregorio is one of three sites in the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The missions were built by the Spanish in the 1620s near the present-day town of Mountainair but drought, disease and Apache raids led to their abandonment by the mid-1670s. Although the structures are ruined, the walls that still stand attract many visitors each year.

Several members of the team are students at Mountainair High School, many of whom have cultural ties to the sites they are preserving.

Crew member Daniel Sisneros is a descendant of the family that built some of the residential structures and his grandparents still occupy a home on Monument land near the church.

The work is hard, and you cant be afraid to get dirty. The stucco and soil mortar for the church walls has to be mixed by hand, bucket by bucket to avoid drying too quickly.

Mudding involves slinging handfuls of squishy red mud on the walls and repeatedly smearing it in by hand. Crew members T-shirts, jeans and boots are caked with dirt.

To keep the walls from deteriorating, the mortar between the stones must be renewed, or repointed, every five to seven years. The work is time-consuming and requires skill.

Since early June, the HOPE Crew of 15 young men has repointed the walls of the mission church at Abo and by early August they were re-mudding walls of a former residential structure at the site. This years crew is all young men but the program is open to women.

Crew members report for work each day at the Salinas Monument headquarters in Mountainair and a Park Service van takes them to the site.

Hard work pays off

The hard slog has the potential for a big payoff. HOPE stands for hands-on preservation experience, a national program that connects young people seeking jobs with National Trust projects where they can learn preservation skills from experienced craftspeople and gain the opportunity to follow a career path.

Many people are retiring and leaving the workforce, taking with them the skills theyve developed over years, said Monica Rhodes, associate director for the HOPE Crew program. We created this program to help bridge that gap between those who have the skills and are leaving the workforce and those who are looking for an opportunity to get into a field.

Since its inception in early 2014, the HOPE Crew program has trained 350 young people and completed 73 historic preservation programs nationwide.

Career path

The National Park Service hired local youth to work at the Salinas Monument each summer since about 2005 through federal programs that have been replaced, said Marc LeFrancois, Salinas Monuments acting superintendent.

HOPE Crew members at Salinas are now hired through the federal Pathways program, started in 2010, which offers paid internships for students to work in federal agencies.

The application process to be accepted into the Pathways program is more competitive than the previous programs, LeFrancois said, but it gives young people 16 years and older an opportunity for a federal career. As long as they maintain a 2.0 GPA and stay in school, they remain Pathways employees and they can return to project work each year until they graduate from college.

The whole idea of the program is to generate a workforce from the youth that can become the next leaders in the Park Service, said LeFrancois.

Thats especially important for young people from small towns in remote rural areas.

This project is not just about preserving ruins, LeFrancois said. Its about preserving the community.

Patrick Romero from Mountainair, who is supervising the crew, started as a summer employee and was hired as a permanent National Park Service employee.

Crew member Garrett Green, a student at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, found out about the Salinas project on the Pathways website, usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads. He hopes to get a job in the U.S. Forest Service or the National Park Service.
The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously against a proposed charter school for minority youth recently but suggested that it seek endorsement from New Mexicos chartering authority.

Former state Rep. Ray Begaye brought his request to open First Nations Preparatory Charter School in June and made several appeals to the board over the summer.

Cost was a critical consideration at the board meeting.

RRPS does not currently charter any schools. The ASK Academy and Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education, the two charters in the city, are controlled by the New Mexico Public Education Commission. Legally, districts and the PEC both have the authority to grant charters.

RRPS administrators projected they would have to hire at least two people to handle one charter school because the state and federal compliance issues are so complex.

Albuquerque Public Schools charters 21 schools and has about a dozen staff dedicated to assisting them.

I dont know if we can generate the funding we would need for that (the hires), Gary Tripp, strategic planning and engagement officer, told the board.

Several board members said the PEC is in a better position to support First Nations and any other charters that would like to come to Rio Rancho.

Begaye countered that the district will lose money if First Nations opens with a state charter because each student who leaves RRPS to attend his school will take some funding with them.

First Nations would benefit Rio Rancho and local families, Begaye said, by providing culturally sensitive curriculum for Hispanic and Native American youth.

Rio Rancho has quite a few Navajo students, said Begaye, a Shiprock resident who has taught Navajo classes. How much attention is paid to them?

But board member Martha Janssen was concerned about the school model because it separates minority youth from others.

I think we have a nice melting pot in our district, she said.

Other questions centered on the schools structure and oversight.

Board member Ramon Montano felt that he did not have enough information about First Nations curriculum to back it. He requested that the board create more detailed processes for evaluating charter schools.

Board president Don Schlichte had the deepest concerns about charter schools in general, saying that he supports choice but thinks the states funding formula gives the charters too much money at the expense of districts.

We are stealing from Peter to pay Paul, he said. The charter system is hurting the public school system.

Begaye stressed that he wants to maintain a positive relationship with the board and said he will now approach PEC for a charter, a process that can take up to a year.

He said he had hoped RRPS would give his school a green light because he wants a collaborative relationship, not competition.

You can ask state charter schools, Do you communicate with the district? They dont communicate, Begaye said.
Rio Rancho Public Schools continues to outpace most of the state on PARCC, though English scores dropped slightly compared to 2015.

Overall, 29.2 percent of RRPS students reached the benchmark in math and 38.3 percent in English, compared to 19.9 percent and 27.7 percent, respectively, for New Mexico as a whole, according to data released by the Public Education Department on Thursday.

But the district saw a decline in English, dropping 3.67 percentage points compared to 2015, and only gaining 1.72 percentage points on math.

Of the 89 school districts in New Mexico, 57 improved in English and 77 in math.

The average increase statewide was 1.3 percentage points across all grades for English and 2.5 percentage points for math, with some districts jumping as much as 8 percentage points.

Carl Leppelman, RRPS associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, attributed the decline to the test delivery method.

Third- and fourth-graders took the PARCC exam on paper in 2015, but switched to computer in 2016. They saw significant drops in English, which demands keyboarding skills to fill in responses.

Last year, 37.9 percent of the districts students met benchmarks in third-grade reading, but that number fell to 27.4 percent this year. Similarly, fourth-grade reading dropped from 44.1 percent proficiency in 2015 to 32.7 percent in 2016.

We anticipated there would be some decline, we didnt know to what degree, Leppelman said. You see that nationwide with a switch to computer.

Happy Miller, RRPS accountability chief, noted that the third- and fourth-graders pulled down the districts English average, but sixth- and 10th-graders actually earned better scores in the subject.

I think it is misleading to say the whole district went down (in English), she said.

RRPS spokeswoman Beth Pendergrass said the scores reinforce the districts emphasis on teaching computer skills.

This past spring, the district purchased a new English curriculum that blends digital components and hard copy text, in alignment with Common Core standards.

In neighboring Albuquerque Public Schools, kids also stumbled on English.

APS students scored slightly above the state average  20.4 percent were proficient in math and 28.1 percent in English  but they fell 1 percentage point in English compared with 2015 and only saw a 1 percentage point improvement in math.

The worst decline for APS was also third-grade English: 21.4 percent met reading standards this year, a 10-point drop over the past year.

The results do show that both as a district and as a state the need to do more to help students achieve at a higher level, APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy said in an emailed statement. Proficiency rates below 50 percent are just not acceptable and we will be working with students, teachers and families to address deficiencies. We are committed to putting resources at schools and redesigning teaching and learning so that more students succeed.

Las Cruces improved by about 3 percentage points on math and English, reaching 19.6 proficiency and 27.5 percent, respectively.

Santa Fe dropped below the state average in both English and math, hitting 25.7 percent proficiency and 16.5 percent proficiency, respectively. Los Alamos again was a standout  over 50 percent of its students met or exceeded expectations on many tests.

New Mexico Secretary of Education Skandera highlighted successes in Farmington and Gadsden, which she said have embraced reforms and tracked data to make instructional changes.

The two rural districts are performing better than most of the state and saw large gains. Farmington went up more than 8.5 percentage points in English to 36.3 percent proficiency.

If you push to improve, the skys the limit, Skandera said.

But the secretary stressed that New Mexico still has a long way to go on education.

We established the baseline last year, and were on our way with good improvements, she told the Journal. We have never seen this kind of improvement across grade levels in our recent history.  We need to keep pushing for where we want to be next.

Skandera praised the high participation rate in the controversial test, which drew protests and walkouts in 2015, the first year it was administered.

Ninety-seven percent of New Mexicos students in grades 3-11  217,000 kids  took PARCC in 2016, compared with 95 percent in 2015.

But American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly said the overall results prove that PARCC is not working for students.

With the release of this years scores, Secretary Skandera is now championing minimal gains in PARCC scores, she said in an emailed statement. Despite small increases, the fact remains that across the board, New Mexico students are not proficient, according to PARCC.

Eleven states administer PARCC, which stands for the Partnership for Assessment and Readiness for College and Careers. The computerized exam is designed to align with Common Core and raise standards.

How they rate PARCC Performance Levels

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, divides students into five levels, from 1 to 5, based on test performance. On its website, the PARCC consortium defines each level as:

Level 1: Student did not meet expectations.

Level 2: Student partially met expectations.

Level 3: Student approached expectations.

Level 4: Student met expectations.

Level 5: Student exceeded expectations.
A man accused of playing a game that led to the death of his 3-year-old niece pleaded guilty to a felony charge Monday afternoon and faces up to six years in custody.

Jay Chee Hood told police he was playing the body slam game with Addelina DeLuna, 3, and his son at a Rio Rancho home in May 2014, according to a criminal complaint. He said hed flip the children onto the bed, let them roll off and run back to him to be thrown again. Hood told police that, as the group played, he threw Addelina onto a bed and she bounced onto the floor, hitting her head.

The next day, she died in an Albuquerque hospital, according to court documents.

Hood, 38, pleaded guilty in 13th Judicial District Court to one count of attempted negligent child abuse resulting in death, a second-degree felony which carries a sentence of up to 15 years. Hood initially faced a first-degree felony child abuse count.

His agreement with prosecutors caps his sentence at six years. Judge George Eichwald said a sentencing hearing will likely be held in six to eight weeks.

Prosecutor Jessica Martinez said in court that Hood failed to take the child to a hospital in a timely manner.

Had he brought her in earlier, she said, theres a good chance she would be alive today.

After the hearing, Hoods attorney, Jack Mkhitarian, said that Hood had recently adopted the girl, whose parents were incarcerated.

Its a very difficult situation for everyone involved, Mkhitarian said. There are no winners in the case.

Hood told police that he called a Gallup hospital and a nurse hotline, and was told to let the child sleep, according to court documents. Its not clear from the complaint why he contacted a hospital in Gallup.

About five hours after she hit her head, Hood took an unresponsive but breathing Addelina to a local hospital because she was bleeding from her mouth, according to the criminal complaint.

Mkhitarian said his client simply received bad advice from the nurse hotline.

It was a worst-case scenario for any parent, he said.

Addelina was transferred to University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was taken off life support early the next day, according to the complaint. Police were called to the hospital because the girls brain was bleeding and doctors held that her injuries were not accidental, according to the complaint.
SAN SIMEON, Calif.  Growing wildfires fed by windy, dry conditions have destroyed buildings and forced evacuations in central California, eastern Washington, Oregon and elsewhere.

Crews in both states fought to contain the blazes Monday, with firefighters making headway in the Golden State while authorities counted at least 16 homes burned in the Northwest.

Heres a look at major wildfires in the West:

CALIFORNIA

A growing wildfire in central California had charred over 50 square miles by Monday, while a destructive blaze in Southern California was mostly under control.

Nearly 1,900 structures were threatened by a blaze in coastal San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties, where more than 2,400 people were under evacuation orders.

Despite its being well over a week old, the fire surged with new activity Monday and threatened to jump the lines that were containing it, though by days end containment remained at 35 percent.

The fire has destroyed 34 homes and 14 other buildings.

Eighty miles up the coast, Californias biggest fire grew to nearly 135 square miles in rugged wilderness coast along Highway 1 north of Big Sur.

More than 400 homes remained threatened by the fire.

Meanwhile, a 58-square-mile fire that destroyed 105 homes in Southern California was almost entirely contained.

WASHINGTON

Wildfires in the Spokane area have burned more than a dozen homes and forced evacuations.

One blaze west of the eastern Washington city had destroyed at least six homes and scorched more than 9 square miles by Monday morning, the Department of Natural Resources said.

The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said 11 structures were destroyed near the town of Davenport, a figure that includes homes, garages and outbuildings.

The fire jumped the Spokane River and threatened the small community of Wellpinit on the Spokane Indian Reservation.

Another wildfire, south of Spokane near the town of Spangle, destroyed at least 10 homes and numerous other buildings Sunday.

A third blaze was burning on the northeast side of the city. That fire had scorched 250 acres, and officials said some homes were likely destroyed.

WYOMING

The largest fire in Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming grew to about 35 square miles amid windy, warm weather, but tourists could still visit the park during the busy summer season.

All the parks main tourist facilities and roads were open Monday.

The blaze has charred mostly remote forest between West Yellowstone, Mont., a border town just outside the parks western boundary, and the Madison Junction recreational area within the park.

The flames expanded by nearly 10 square miles Sunday. Its one of four fires burning in Yellowstone.

MONTANA

Authorities ordered people in a rural area of northwestern Montana to evacuate before dawn Monday after a wildfire doubled in size in one day.

The Sanders County Sheriffs Office told people to leave their homes outside the small town of Thompson Falls. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph were expected to blow across the dry, hot terrain, stoking extreme fire behavior.

Some 20 homes and other buildings were threatened, and residents were told that the evacuation area may spread.

OREGON

A wildfire spotted Sunday afternoon in eastern Oregon has quickly become one of the states largest active blazes.

Fire officials say the fire has scorched nearly 50 square miles of brush and grass near the Idaho state line. Officials say the fires size was reduced from 80 square miles due to better mapping.

A Bureau of Land Management spokesman said the wildfire is burning two miles east of the Owyhee Reservoir, and its threatening Succor Creek State Park.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
DENVER  A federal appeals court will decide whether Kansas has the right to ask people who register to vote when they get their drivers licenses for proof that theyre citizens, a decision which could affect whether thousands have their ballots counted in Novembers election.

Three judges from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case Tuesday from Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and the American Civil Liberties Union but didnt indicate how soon they could rule.

Kansas wants the court to overturn a ruling by a federal judge in May that temporarily blocked the state from disenfranchising people who registered at motor vehicle offices but didnt provide documents such as birth certificates or naturalization papers. That was about 18,000 people at the time. If the order is allowed to stand, the state says up to an estimated 50,000 people who havent proven theyre citizens could have their votes counted in the fall.

Since 1993, states have had to allow people to register to vote when they apply for or renew their drivers licenses. The so-called motor-voter law says that people can only be asked for minimal information when registering to vote, allowing them to simply affirm they are citizens.

The ACLU claims the law intended to increase registration doesnt allow states to ask applicants for extra documents. It also says that motor vehicle clerks dont tell people renewing existing licenses that they need to provide the documents, leaving them under the mistaken impression that their registration is complete when they leave the office.

Dale Ho, director of the ACLUs voting rights project, told the judges that Kansas can prosecute any non-citizens who register to vote and can also better train its motor vehicle clerks so they dont offer the option of registering to vote to people who arent citizens. Ho also said that Congress considered but rejected an amendment that would have allowed states to ask for proof of citizenship.

Kobach, who is a national leader in Republican voter requirement efforts, told the judges the law doesnt expressly bar states from asking for proof of citizenship.

Kansas law requires all voters to prove their citizenship, whether they are applying at a motor vehicle office or elsewhere in the state. After the hearing, he said it doesnt make sense to hold voters to a higher standard just because they didnt register at a motor vehicle office.

Its an absurd result. Why would Congress want us to do that, he said.

Kobach has championed the documentation requirement as a way to prevent non-citizens from voting, particularly immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Critics contend the requirement suppresses turnout because people who are citizens may not be able to immediately provide documentation.

In the May ruling, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson said evidence showed only three instances in Kansas where noncitizens voted in a federal election between 1995 and 2013, and about 14 noncitizens attempted to register during that time. Robinson said the number of people disenfranchised outweighed the harm of those cases.

Kobach said the state would be able to handle a ruling close to the election because the voters subject to Mays ruling will vote with provisional ballots and whether theyre counted wont be decided until after Election Day.

Alabama, Arizona and Georgia have similar registration requirements on the books, but Alabama and Georgia are not currently enforcing them. Arizona does not require additional citizenship papers from people registering at motor vehicle offices beyond whats already required to get a drivers license.
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.
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.
RED RIVER  Lawmakers who must figure out how to haul New Mexico out of its deepening budget hole heard gloomy forecasts Wednesday as they get ready to head into a special legislative session next month to begin coming up with fixes.

The state ended the budget year 2015-16 on June 30 about $131 million in the hole even after transferring money from reserves, according to figures released at a meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee. And theres a projected shortfall for the current budget year of $458 million.

The decline in oil and natural gas prices has savaged the states finances. There was an 8.7 percent drop in revenue, or $545 million, in the just-ended budget year from the previous year.

Each drop of a dollar in the price of a barrel of oil means a reduction of about $9.5 million, and that is compounded by the slowing economy in the states oil and gas producing regions.

Finance and Administration Secretary Duffy Rodriguez told the committee there are indications of a gradual recovery of drilling activity in New Mexico, but most revenue benefits would be seen in the next budget year, not the current one.

The committee was told that according to the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division, active drilling rig counts fell from a high of 102 rigs in December 2014 to 13 rigs in March 2016 and leveled off at 30 this month.

Legislators are considering using the $219 million Tobacco Permanent Fund, which is fed by a settlement with big tobacco companies, to fill the gap for the just-ended year and to help plug the current years hole.

But that still would leave a shortfall of nearly $326 million for this years $6.2 billion budget  and the states operating reserves would be reduced to zero.

So legislators  even as theyre eyeing the Nov. 8 election in which all House and Senate seats are up for grabs  must decide what it would take to achieve solvency. The state Constitution requires a balanced budget.

Its going to take sacrifices from everyone, no question, said Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Options outlined to the committee in broad terms included cutting spending, raising revenues  which could include not just tax increases, but closing tax loopholes  and sweeping up surplus balances in various state funds.

The longer you take to address this issue, the fewer options you have, LFC Director David Abbey cautioned the committee. For both legal and practical reasons, it should be done quickly, he said.

Gov. Susana Martinez has said she will call a special session sometime in September and wants all the budget issues dealt with.

Not to do so would be irresponsible and typical kick-the-can Santa Fe politics, her spokesman, Michael Lonergan, said in advance of the meeting.

But it appears unlikely all the fixes for the current year would be enacted in a special session thats intended to be short.

I dont sense that we have a consensus in there, LFC Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, told the Journal in an interview outside the committees meeting room.

Martinez opposes any tax increases, a view shared by many lawmakers, especially Republicans.

I have no interest in letting any revenue-raising proposals get through my committee, said Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

But other lawmakers are resistant to more spending cuts.

Were not cutting anymore; were amputating, objected Sen. Howie Morales, D-Silver City, reflecting the concerns of legislators worried about the potential impact on education and social services.

The LFC and the Martinez administration are working to identify potential revenue sources, such as money that was appropriated for capital outlay projects  years ago, in some cases  that hasnt been spent, or shifting the funding source for some capital projects to severance tax bonds, freeing up general fund revenue that otherwise would be used for them.

The state agencies under the governors control have been ordered to come up with 5 percent spending cuts; the LFC estimates that could free up about $50 million.

Asked about possible cuts to public schools, Rodriguez said, We would not be looking to disrupt anything classroom-related.
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.
Longtime Artesia city councilman Jose Luis Aguilar died last Thursday in Lubbock, Texas. He was 72.

Aguilar had served District 2 in Artesia since 2010. Aguilar also served on the council in the same distirct from from 1986 to 1998.

Were obviously quite saddened at his passing, Artesia Mayor Phillip Burch said. It was a shock to us as well as to the family.

Burch said Aguilar was a strong supporter of his constituents and very active on the council.

Fellow councilman Raul Rodriguez agreed, saying Aguilar constantly advocated for Artesia residents, whether that be in the area or up in Santa Fe. He also said Aguilar was a person who would not back down from what he believed in.

Sometimes you have to humble yourself when youre on the short end of a 7-1 vote, Rodriguez said. And he did.

Burch said he will recommend a replacement for Aguilar, whose term ends in 2018, but hasnt decided on who that will be.

I challenge the next councilor to do half of what hes done, Rodriguez said. That would be a great accomplishment.

His funeral will be at 8 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Artesia.

Maddy Hayden can be reached at 575-628-5512.



2016 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.)

Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at www.currentargus.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Albuquerque police have finished a 14-month-old investigation into a drive-by shooting that left a high school student dead by charging a suspect they believe is likely the final person in the case.

Esias Frank Madrid, 18, was rebooked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday on suspicion of an open count of murder for the fatal shooting of Jaydon Chavez-Silver, 17. A criminal complaint said witnesses have told police that Madrid fired into a home from the back seat of a car in June 2015.

Officer Tanner Tixier, a police spokesman, said the department now considers the Chavez-Silver homicide investigation cleared by arrest and doesnt plan on filing additional charges in the death of the Manzano High School student.

Madrid was already in custody on a separate murder charge from December when 18-year Arturo Villa was shot and killed over a fight after a game of beer pong.

Metropolitan Court Judge Linda Rogers during Madrids first appearance Thursday ordered that he be held on an additional $1 million bail, cash only, for the Chavez-Silver slaying. Madrid is already being held without bail in the beer-pong case.

The judge said Madrids brief but exciting criminal history was reason for the high bond. It was not clear if Madrid has an attorney for Chavez-Silver case. The investigation into Chavez-Silvers slaying has lasted for more than 14 months.

Two suspects originally charged with murder had their charges dismissed.

Several of the witnesses police used during the investigation had ties to other homicides and other shootings in Albuquerque in recent years, according to a criminal complaint.

According to the complaint against Madrid, witnesses told police that both he and Nicholas Gonzales fired into a window in a drive-by that targeted a house party in Northeast Albuquerque.

The two were trying to shoot someone who lived at the home on Nakomis NE for a fight earlier that summer. Chavez-Silver, a successful high school student athlete who had been accepted into the Air Force Academy, was an innocent bystander who was not the target of the shooters, according to police. They were targeting a man who lived in the home.

Madrid, Gonzales and Dominic Conyers were among those charged in Chavez-Silvers death. Gonzales, 16, the youngest of three suspects, pleaded guilty to lesser offenses.

Nicole Chavez-Lucero, Jaydons mother, said she was hopeful that the recent arrest brings her closer to getting justice for her son. But she said theres a long list of court dates she and her family will have to sit through before that happens.

I am hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of this process, she said. Im waiting to finally get justice for Jaydon.

Two of the original defendants first arrested in the case were released from jail after the charges against them were dropped in June.

Donovan Maez and Christopher Cruz were originally arrested on suspicion of murder in the case. But a court filing says there was not enough evidence to against the two men, and the charges were dropped in the interests of justice.

Maez is the son of former state Rep. Stephanie Maez, D-Albuquerque, who resigned after her sons arrest.

Maez, through his attorney, has sent the city a tort claims notice letting the city know he is considering filing a lawsuit. He spent more than 10 months in jail before the case was dismissed.

Clearly, there were some issues with the first of the arrests, and were re-examining what happened there, said Tixier, who credited the departments homicide detectives for working over a year to clear the case.


Facebook would get $10 million in state economic development funding for its proposed data center under an incentive package approved Thursday by the Los Lunas Village Council.

If the proposed data center moves forward, the $10 million would be the largest amount ever disbursed by the states Local Economic Development Act, or LEDA, program since it began in 2002.

The LEDA funds would be used by Facebook to purchase water rights and build an industrial water treatment facility, according to an agreement that was part of the incentive package. The agreement guarantees Facebook 1.5 million gallons of water a day for the data center in the projects initial phase, up to 4.5 million gallons a day after completion of the project.

The Water Capacity Guarantee is necessary to protect against a worst-case scenario, because it is critical that the twenty-four hour per day, seven-day per week operation of the data center not be interrupted for any portion of any day, due to lack of water, the agreement says.

The project would create a huge impact, said House Majority Whip Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, whose district encompasses the site. It would stand to attract the attention of companies around the world.

Facebook is deciding between Los Lunas and West Jordan, Utah, for the site of its new data center, which could include up to six buildings.

It is unclear how much water the proposed data center would use during normal operation. Utah officials have said it would use 5.3 million gallons a day, but information from Facebooks sustainability website suggests it could use around 25,000 gallons a day.

Earlier this week, West Jordan briefly dropped out of negotiations with Facebook after several Utah entities voted against a $260 million tax incentive package for Facebook. Critics of the deal said the tax package was too rich for the number 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.

West Jordan later announced that it was restarting negotiations with the social media giant.

In New Mexico, the project has received nearly uniform support. Baldonado said its difficult to quantify the exact value of the project. In addition to permanent jobs, he said it would likely employ a large number of construction workers and other temporary employees.

In addition to the LEDA funds, the incentives in Los Lunas include a monthly reimbursement to Facebook of up to 75 percent of gross tax revenues the village would receive from the data centers construction and operation. The reimbursement would be capped at $1.6 million a year, Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego said.

It was a request from the company, he said. The LEDA act makes it possible, and the company requested it.

Those incentives are in addition to up to $30 billion in industrial revenue bonds for the project. The bonds are not a payment to Facebook, but rather a mechanism that allows the village to waive the companys property taxes.

The village has offered to waive Facebooks property taxes for 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.

Facebook was expected to choose a site for the data center by early September. It is unclear how the termination and subsequent restart of negotiations in West Jordan have affected the decision timeline.
PARIS  Human rights groups challenged the legality of municipal bans on full-body burkini swimsuits before Frances highest administrative court Thursday, a practice that one lawyer fiercely denounced as reflecting a reflex of fear.

The three-judge Council of State heard arguments from both sides and said it would issue its ruling Friday over whether to overturn the locally ordered bans. They have elicited shock and anger worldwide after photos this week appeared to show police instructing one Muslim sunbather to remove her body-concealing tunic in Nice, scene of last months truck slaughter.

The legal fight over the right of Muslim women to wear burkinis has fired a national debate over the place of Islam in France, a strictly secular country, and fueled concerns at home and abroad that some French mayors are overstepping their powers.

Pleading in a courtroom packed with journalists, legal experts and ordinary citizens, the lawyers for two human rights groups expressed fears that the bans on wearing any religious garments on beaches, if upheld by the court, would be extended to public transportation networks and other public places.

France has lost any sense of proportion in this matter. The Council of State must be a compass in the tempest and show the right way, said Patrice Spinosi, a lawyer for the Human Rights League. The bans have been issued by a reflex of fear.

Spinosi argued that, before about 30 coastal towns and cities introduced the ban, there werent any riots on the beaches. He said the bans, by contrast, had stirred disruption to public order, driven by the sight of police issuing fines to Muslim women on some Riviera beaches.

Divisions have emerged in President Francois Hollandes government over the bans, and protests have been held in London and Berlin by those defending womens right to wear what they want on the beach.

Critics of the local decrees have said the orders are too vague, prompting local police officials to fine women wearing the traditional Islamic headscarf and the hijab, not burkinis. The bans do not generally use the word burkini but forbid any clothing that is deemed overtly religious.

Thursdays arguments focused on a ban in the Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet, but Fridays binding decision will set a legal precedent on whether any municipality can tell Muslim women what to wear on the beach.

Francois Pinatel, the lawyer for the town of Villeneuve-Loubet, acknowledged the mayors order had infringed basic freedoms but argued this was legal because the decree was intended to safeguard public order following the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice 15 kilometers (9 miles) away.

There is a climate of absolute tension in the region with an extremely explosive situation, Pinatel told the judges.

Parallel to Thursdays court deliberations, public debate continued even among cabinet ministers.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said burkinis represent the enslavement of women. He urged police to enforce the bans fairly and respectfully.

Hollande himself has remained neutral on the issue, arguing that society presumes that each person conforms to the rules, and that there is neither provocation nor stigmatization.

Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, a feminist with North African roots, argued that while she doesnt like the burkini swimsuit, banning the garment amounted to a politically driven act that encouraged racism. Health Minister Marisol Touraine took a similar stance.

In London, about 30 demonstrators threw a wear what you want beach party Thursday outside the French Embassy.

Recent militant attacks on France dont justify men with weapons standing over a woman telling her what not to wear. Thats not a sight that any of us should stand for, said church curate Jenny Dawkins, 40, one of the protesters.

In Berlin, about 60 people  some wearing burkinis, others bikinis  protested outside the French embassy in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

The Human Rights League and the Collective Against Islamophobia in France the other rights group pursuing Thursdays lawsuit  say the Villeneuve-Loubet mayors decree violates basic freedoms of dress, religious expression and movement.

The Villeneuve-Loubet order bars from beaches anyone whose garments dont respect the principles of secularism, health and safety, and good moral standards.

On Monday, a lower court in Nice ruled that the Villeneuve-Loubet ban was necessary, appropriate and proportionate. The administrative court added that wearing conspicuous religious clothing on the beach may be seen as a provocation and increase tensions.

The Nice court said that burkinis can be viewed as erasing women from the public eye and a lowering of their place.

Religious clothing is particularly sensitive in France, where an unusually large part of the population has no religious affiliation. The first provision in Frances constitution declares it is a secular republic.

___

Associated Press reporters Angela Charlton, Sylvie Corbet and Catherine Gaschka in Paris, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Leonora Beck in London contributed to this story.
Herewith some mind-bending questions:

Are we living in a computer simulation, as in The Matrix?

Why is there something rather than nothing? That is, why does the universe exist at all?

Are there multiple, parallel universes that comprise a multiverse?

How do we reconcile modern cosmology with traditional religious faith?

What is time? Is there such a thing in physics as the present?

This morning we talked with Jim Gates, a theoretical physicist at the University of Maryland (and someone you may have seen on television lately in TurboTax ads). Gates, who has been at the university since 1984, is one of the pioneers of the theory of supersymmetry, and he explained that concept, as well as the hunt for new particles and new physics, during our free-ranging conversation.

Gates told us that he doesnt think were living in the Matrix. But he has perceived something akin to code in the equations of physics, the kind that you would expect to find if this universe were a computer simulation. We asked if the computer scientists (if they exist) would have inserted the code for future intelligent beings to discover that reality is simulated. He said no  since theyd have no choice but to use it to construct the simulation. So have fun with that!

  

Video: The Posts Joel Achenbach sits down with theoretical physicist Dr. Jim Gates who says we could create an alternate universe with a computer simulation. (T.J. Ortenzi/The Washington Post)

URL: http://wapo.st/2bjczAL

Embed code:

physics
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump defeated 16 rivals in the Republican primaries by being the most anti-immigrant of them all, promising to build a giant wall on the border and deport millions. He labeled opponents like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio as weak and amnesty-loving, and his extreme rhetoric pushed the entire immigration debate to the right.

But suddenly, Trump is sounding like some of the people he defeated. In an appearance on Fox News Channels Hannity show Wednesday, Trump discussed how tough it is to break up families for deportation, suggesting that maybe upstanding people whove been in this country for years should be allowed to stay if they pay back taxes and insisting, just as Bush and Rubio were repeatedly forced to do, that such actions would not amount to amnesty.

Everywhere I go I get the same reaction. They want toughness. They want firmness. They want to obey the law, Trump said. But they feel that throwing them out as a whole family when theyve been here for a long time, its a tough thing.

Trumps exact meaning was murky. And it was unclear if he was unveiling a new stance or simply trying out new rhetoric to appeal to a general election audience as he lags Democrat Hillary Clinton in polls 11 weeks before the election. His new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, insisted on CNN Thursday that nothing has changed in terms of the policies.

And Trump seemed to backtrack yet again less than 24 hours later, saying on CNNs Anderson Cooper 360 Thursday evening that he would not grant any legal status to immigrants here illegally unless they leave the United States first, something that would be burdensome and impractical when applied to millions of people. There is no path to legalization unless they leave the country and come back, he said.

Still, Trumps new language seemed to reveal an awareness that his unyielding stance against immigrants is unlikely to get him to the White House, with Latinos voting in growing numbers in key states.

Hes learned painfully, belatedly, that what stirs up a large part of the Republican primary electorate is not what wins general elections, said John Rowe, a GOP donor and former CEO of Exelon, whos planning to vote for libertarian Gary Johnson. You cannot win without women, Asians, Latinos, African Americans.

In an interview Thursday on ABC, Bush called Trumps positioning abhorrent, saying: I can only say that whatever his views are this morning, they might change this afternoon, and they were different than they were last night, and theyll be different tomorrow.

Clinton, speaking on CNN, dismissed Trumps shifting language as a desperate effort to try to land somewhere that isnt as devastating to his campaign as his comments and his positions have been up until now.

There were signs that Trump risked angering hard-core supporters who helped him win the nomination. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who published a book called In Trump We Trust, reacted with angry tweets to Trumps comments on Fox, including remarking sardonically Well, if its hard, then never mind.

GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa, a leading immigration hardliner, said in an interview that I have some concerns at this point over Trumps stances.

The upside for Trump was not immediately apparent. Immigrant advocates argued he would gain no ground with Hispanics by giving lip-service to limited pro-immigrant measures while still insisting on the need for a border wall. Advocates speculated that Trumps goal was to woo independent voters who might support him but are turned off by his harsher stances.

Look, when you launch your campaign saying Mexican immigrants are rapists, drug dealers and murderers, I dont know theres a lot you can say to recover, said Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois.

After beginning his campaign asserting that Mexican immigrants are rapists, and are bringing drugs, Trump built an image as the one candidate who would expel immigrants in the country illegally, pledging a deportation force to send all 11 million home.

Opponents including Rubio, Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich denounced Trumps proposals, insisting there was no way to eject 11 million people from the country. But as Trump gained support, his opponents were forced to modulate their stances, as even those like Rubio who had supported a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally put the focus on border security first.

Trump was quick to ridicule his opponents. Marco Rubio is totally weak on illegal immigration & in favor of easy amnesty, Trump declared over Twitter last fall. After Bush claimed that illegal immigration could be described as an act of love, an Instagram video Trump posted showed the words, Forget Love! Its time to get Tough!

Yet now its Trump talking about allowing immigrants in the country illegally a way to stay here.

They have to pay taxes. Theres no amnesty as such. Theres no amnesty  But we work with them, Trump said Wednesday.

I would say its nice to see Donald Trump acknowledge that he was wrong and that his opponents were correct, said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for Kasich. What one hopes is that Donald Trump actually believes and knows he was wrong, and isnt just saying something in an attempt to get elected.

__=

Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver and Julie Bykowicz, Julie Pace and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed.
SEATTLE  A federal jury convicted the son of a Russian lawmaker Thursday of hacking into U.S. businesses to steal credit card information and orchestrating an international online theft scheme that netted him millions of dollars.

Jurors deliberated over two days before finding Roman Seleznev guilty of 38 charges, including nine counts of hacking and 10 counts of wire fraud. He could face up to 40 years in prison when hes sentenced Dec. 2, and he still faces similar charges in federal courts in Nevada and Georgia, his attorney said.

Seleznev hacked into businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, and stole millions of credit card numbers that he sold on underground internet forums, authorities said. The thefts led to almost $170 million in credit card losses around the world and made him one of the most prolific credit card traffickers in history, prosecutors said.

His lawyer, John Henry Browne, vowed to appeal, saying a key issue will be Seleznevs 2014 arrest by U.S. Secret Service agents in the Maldives that he called a kidnapping. The defense had tried to challenge the arrest, but the judge banned the issue at trial.

Agents captured Seleznev as he and his girlfriend arrived at the island countrys airport on their way to Russia. They flew him by private jet to Guam and then to Seattle, where he is in custody.

Seleznev was indicted in 2011, but a month later, he suffered a brain injury in a terrorist bombing in a cafe in Morocco. He was in a coma for two weeks and underwent a series of operations, according to a previous lawyer.

Prosecutors added 11 new counts in 2014, including wire and bank fraud, hacking and identity theft.

Sitting at his keyboard in Vladivostok, Russia, and using the online nicknames Track2, Bulba and 2Pac, Seleznev masterminded a scheme dating to 2008, Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Barbosa said during closing arguments Wednesday.

The defense focused on challenging the evidence from Seleznevs laptop, seized by Secret Service agents during his arrest. His lawyers claim the agents mishandled the computer and failed to adequately secure it.

The defenses only witness testified that the machine may have been tampered with, and the attorneys said any evidence from it was suspect. They also said prosecutors failed to make a solid link between the hacks and Seleznev.

The investigation started in 2010 when an Idaho deli was hacked. Over time, agents linked the computer viruses used to steal the credit card data to computer servers where the numbers were stored. They connected those servers to Seleznev through online nicknames and other sites he frequented.

When he was arrested, agents found 1.7 million stolen credit cards on his laptop, along with the passwords to access the servers, prosecutors said.

___

Follow Martha Bellisle at https://twitter.com/marthabellisle

___

This story has been corrected to show that prosecutors say the scheme dates to 2008.
Scientists have found something entirely new: a galaxy as huge as the Milky Way that is made up almost entirely of dark matter, the mysterious stuff that barely interacts with the normal matter were familiar with.

The galaxy Dragonfly 44, reported Thursday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, is 300 million light-years away. If scientists can track down a similar galaxy closer to home, however, they may be able to use it to make the first direct detection of dark matter.

Dark matter is the name given to something that we cant see but know must be there. The visible matter of the universe doesnt have enough mass to hold things together. The gravitational pull of dark matter is what keeps galaxies intact.

In the Milky Way, there is five times more dark matter than regular matter. Dragonfly 44, in contrast, is 99.99 percent dark matter. Other galaxies made mostly of dark matter have been found before, but none were as large as this one. And it is literally dark: It has very few stars.

Its pretty crazy, the difference from the Milky Way is a factor of 100, said study author Pieter van Dokkum of Yale. Its as if someone picked through the Milky Way, selecting just one star out of every 100 and throwing the rest away. For the galaxy to stay in one piece, it must make up the difference with dark matter. Thats just something we never knew could happen.

Van Dokkum and his colleagues were not looking for a dark galaxy. They found it using a telescope built out of camera parts. The Dragonfly Telephoto Array was built by a group of astronomers at Yale and the University of Toronto who realized that telephoto lenses  often used for nature photography and sporting events  were well-suited for spotting the kind of large, dim objects that pose problems for typical telescopes.

We planned to study the outskirts of galaxies to see what exists around them, but by accident we saw all these little smudges,van Dokkum told The Washington Post. At first, van Dokkum and his colleagues thought they were seeing defects in their equipment. But when they looked more closely at their data, they realized they had found an entirely new class of object.

The researchers then turned from their maverick telescope to an old standard: the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, home to the largest telescope in the United States. They spent six nights imaging the strange galaxy to be sure of its mass.

Whats especially bothersome, according to van Dokkum, is the fact that Dragonfly 44 is a solidly average-size galaxy, the kind we thought we understood well.

If its a very big or very large galaxy, you can brush it off and say, oh, that must be a rare thing, he said, but most of the stars in the universe live in galaxies this size.

We thought the formation of stars was kind of related to how much dark matter there is, and Dragonfly 44 kind of turns that idea on its head, he continued. It means we dont understand, kind of fundamentally, how galaxy formation works.

Van Dokkum hopes his team will soon find more of these galaxies. Dark matter interacts with itself very little, but scientists predict that when it does interact, it produces tiny signatures of ultraviolet light. In a typical galaxy, these signals are drowned out by the noise of stars and other matter around them. If it were close enough to study, a galaxy that is almost totally dark might be dim enough for scientists to pick out the first direct evidence of dark matter.

The researchers are searching the sky now. We think that this galaxy is representative of an entirely new class of object, van Dokkum said. Its not some weird singular galaxy thats just a curiosity.

He hopes scientists will eventually be able to detect even darker galaxies  perhaps some that are made up entirely of dark matter.

dark-galaxy
DEL RIO, Texas  A former city council member in a South Texas town has pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge relating to a scheme involving city contracts.

A U.S. Attorneys Office statement says former Crystal City council member Gilbert Urrabazo pleaded guilty in Del Rio on Thursday to a federal bribery count. He admitted using his office in April 2015 to enrich himself by taking cash from a person seeking to do business in Crystal City.

He could be sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison and fined up to $250,000.

Previously, brothers and former council members Rogelio and Roel Mata pleaded guilty to single bribery counts.

Ex-Mayor Ricardo Lopez and former city attorney and city manager William James Jonas await trial on bribery conspiracy and other counts.
Hillary Clinton has been content in recent weeks to sit back and let Donald Trump be the news, allowing him to make his own bold claims and be the focal point of the campaign.

The roles were reversed on Thursday.

During a speech in Reno, Nevada, Clinton went big. And she almost seemed to take a page out of Trumps playbook, using bold claims and the power of suggestion to paint a dark picture of a Donald Trump who isnt just an unwitting bigot, but rather someone deliberately advocating racist policies and fomenting extremism in the United States.

Trumps lack of knowledge or experience or solutions would be bad enough, Clinton said. But what hes doing here is more sinister.

She said Trump is a man with a demonstrated history of racial discrimination in his business dealings, who is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters.

She said people who are thinking its all bluster and that he might change his ways are hoping against hope.

But the hard truth is, theres no other Donald Trump, she said. This is it.

She also made some particularly bold claims, including suggesting Trump might retaliate against slights on social media by using the military.

And she didnt give any indication that she meant to be hyperbolic.

So when a tweet gets under his skin and he wants to retaliate with a cruise missile, maybe cooler heads will be there to convince him not to, she said. She punctuated the remark by saying: Maybe.

Clinton even cited an African-American Muslim Olympian who won a medal in fencing, Ibtihaj Muhammad, and suggested she might be expelled from the United States under a Trump administration.

Trump has talked regularly abut temporarily banning Muslims from immigrating to the United States, not deporting them. But Clinton suggested its an open question.

Would she even have a place in Donald Trumps America? Clinton asked.

Clinton also brought up a hypothetical situation in which an immigrant coming to the United States would be made to prove they arent a Muslim.

And then she suggested the only parallel for such a religious test is the Islamic State. She summed it up by saying that Trumps policy would equate the United States with terrorists.

Come to think of it, there actually may be one other place that does that: The so-called Islamic State  the territory that ISIS controls, Clinton said. It would be a cruel irony if America followed its lead.

The speech, of course, came after the Clinton campaign released a video earlier Thursday showing white nationalists and supremacists, including members of the Ku Klux Klan, praising Trump. It was very much a guilt-by-association attack on Trump.

Clinton is clearly drawing some lines and connecting some dots here  really in much the same way Trump does. And in doing so, she made clear that she is not giving Trump the benefit of the doubt on any of this stuff going forward.

She did just about everything, in fact, except say Donald Trump is an unrepentant racist.

And in a campaign increasingly full of suggestions  including most recently about her health  and bold claims, Clinton served notice that she wont be unilaterally disarming.

Now, some people will say that his bluster and bigotry is just over-heated campaign rhetoric  an outrageous person saying outrageous things for attention, she said. But look at the policies Trump has proposed: They would put prejudice into practice.

clinton-speech-analysis
For more than a year, Donald Trump took the hardest line on immigration  vowing to deport 11 million illegal immigrants en masse and pillorying his GOP primary rivals as favoring amnesty.

But 11 weeks before the election, Trump is suddenly sounding a lot like the opponents he repeatedly ridiculed.

The nominee and his campaign aides are now talking openly about requiring illegal immigrants to pay back taxes and potentially allowing those without criminal records to stay in the country  lines that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida repeatedly used in the GOP presidential primary. Trump also says that any softening of his position wont include a path to citizenship  consistent with the way former Florida governor Jeb Bush described how he would provide legal status for undocumented immigrants.

The shift, if it sticks, marks a dramatic turnabout for a candidate who repeatedly attacked Bush, Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other primary rivals as weak and spineless on immigration, and who repeatedly vowed that he would never waver in his push to deport everyone here illegally.

In a Thursday interview with WABC radio in New York, Bush said Trumps views seem to be constantly changing, making it difficult to read where he stands. But he said Trump seems to have turned his back on the positions that have defined his candidacy.

Sounds like a typical politician, by the way, where you get in front of one crowd and say one thing, and then say something else to another crowd that may want to hear a different view, said Bush, who has refused to endorse the GOP nominee. All the things that Donald Trump railed against, he seems to be morphing into  its kind of disturbing.

When pressed on the similarities between his position and Trumps new stance, Bush said with a laugh: Well Im sure I influenced his position.

Republican advocates of immigration reform came out of the woodwork Thursday to draw attention to Trumps changing stance. Former House majority leader Eric Cantor, who supported Bushs campaign, wrote on Twitter: Pleased to see @realDonaldTrump embrace @JebBushs immigration plan. Cantor lost his seat in a 2014 primary upset in part because of his support for immigration reform.

Meanwhile, Democrats are in rare agreement with many Trump defenders in saying that the candidate has not actually flip-flopped. They argue he is merely trying to paper over ugly remarks that cant be taken back, like labeling illegal immigrants from Mexico rapists and killers bring drugs and crime into the United States.

I dont think anything has changed, said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a staunch immigration reform advocate.

Following a staff shake-up last week amid worsening poll numbers against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump has sought to move to the center at least rhetorically in a number of areas, including immigration. Although cagey on the details, Trumps remarks so far have borne remarkable similarities to the positions that Bush and others held on immigration reform.

For example, Bush wrote in a 2013 book on immigration reform that he supported a path to earned legal status, not citizenship where undocumented immigrants could obtain a provisional work permit, where they pay taxes, they pay a fine, they learn English, they work. He advocated the same in the GOP primaries.

In a town-hall style interview with Fox News Channels Sean Hannity that aired this week, Trump described a similar set of policies. He said there would be no citizenship and no amnesty, but at the same time he suggested that some otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants could be allowed to stay if they pay back taxes. No amnesty, but we work with them, Trump said.

In an interview on CNN Thursday morning, Trumps new campaign manager Kellyanne Conway tried to distinguish what Trump is saying from what Rubio, Bush and others advocated.

Senator Rubio is a particularly different case because he led the Gang of Eight with Chuck Schumer and  and I think Dick Durbin. The Gang of Eight, their plan was amnesty, she said.

Rubio was part of the Gang of Eight senators who co-sponsored a comprehensive immigration reform bill that included a path to citizenship in 2013. But he backed away from the sweeping approach by the time of his presidential campaign and repeatedly insisted that he did not support amnesty.

The Florida senator also emphasized during his presidential campaign that he would not hesitate to deport illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes. But he took a more tolerant attitude toward those who did not commit serious crimes.

If youre a criminal alien, no, you cant stay, he said on NBCs Meet The Press in January, specifying that he meant those who committed felonies. He added: I dont think youre gonna round up and deport 12 million people.

When he spoke to Hannity, Trump said he would deport illegal immigrants who are gang members. But polling the audience, he seemed open to taking a different approach to those who have not broken laws aside from being in the country without proper documents.

So now we have the person 20 years been an upstanding person, the family is great, everyone is great, do we throw them out or do we work with them? Trump asked the crowd, which had a mixed reaction.

Trump said Thursday he will lay out an exact plan on immigration in an upcoming speech.

I will be doing that Id say over the next week or so, Trump told reporters at Trump Tower in New York. I look forward to it.

He insisted that he is very strong on illegal immigration and warned not to be fooled by the news media.

You either have a country or you dont. We either have borders or we dont, Trump said, adding that he would still build a massive wall along the Southern border, and make Mexico pay for it, if elected president.

At a Thursday afternoon rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump sought to project strength in his immigration positions, reiterating his commitment to building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. But he did not offer any new details on his revised stance.

We will end illegal immigration and we will restore the constitutional rule of law, Trump pledged.

The wavering marks a sharp departure from last year, when Trump said in television interviews on NBC and MSNBC that illegal immigrants have to go and he vowed to create a deportation force. The tone he has adopted lately no longer includes that language.

As a candidate in the primary, Trump hammered Bush and Rubio for being soft on illegal immigrants.

The issue Bush and Rubio ran into with the GOP base was that many conservatives saw anything short of deporting all illegal immigrants as a form of amnesty, which has become one of the most damaging words to be associated with in Republican circles.

Now, Trump risks having the same problem in the final stretch before the general election.

So whats Trump going to call his amnesty plan: The Gang of One proposal? tweeted Mark Krikorian, a staunch opponent of illegal immigration.



Jenna Johnson contributed to this report.



VIDEO:

Heres what Americans living near the Mexico border say about Trumps wall

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border if he wins the election. Heres what people living along the border have to say about that wall. (Zoeann Murphy, Samuel Granados, Kevin Schaul, Monica Akhtar and The Washington Post)

http://wapo.st/2bCLV6k

Embed code:

trump-immig
We know that in New Mexico, 5,409 rape victims who were swabbed, tested and examined in a hospital  holding still while strangers gathered evidence from their bodies  never got justice.

In Michigan, the number was 15,217.

In Virginia, 2,369 of these rape evidence kits were carefully harvested from victims and then filed away, stuck in storage and otherwise forgotten, while the rapists roamed free.

We know this because of a nationwide effort to get federal funding and state legislation to address this heinous backlog of neglect, indifference and injustice.

It was led by the Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actress Mariska Hargitay, and championed by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, the Democrat from Maryland.

Now heres the part thats stunning. While 31 states got their act together, figured out how many unexamined rape kits they had and applied for the federal money to start testing them, Maryland is dragging behind. It, along with 18 other states, still has no idea how many rape kits are in its backlog, according to the foundation.

Mikulski must be furious.

Last year, she stood in a Maryland State Police crime lab with Biden after they secured $41 million to test the shameful backlog of about 400,000 rape kits across the nation.

We want to make sure that no victim is doubly victimized, one, by the violent predator who attacks her, and then also by the system that neglects her, Mikulski said then.

I tried to ask her about Marylands lackluster response, but her staff said she was traveling and couldnt respond.

Thats OK. Ill be furious for her. Were both short and loud. This will work.

I mean, Maryland, honestly. Look across the river at Virginia, the state usually in trouble with women, trying to order transvaginal probes and all that.

Virginia got moving immediately, quickly reporting its rape kit backlog of 2,369 and securing $1.4 million in federal grants to test them. The District, it turns out, has no backlog at all.

But, Maryland, what gives?

State legislation was passed in April 2015 to get the backlog counted, but the counties and cities were given until this December to tally up their untested kits, according to the bill. Most states took six months to get their audits done and start testing the backlog. Some have already prosecuted ancient cases.

The problem is most acute in Baltimore, this months Exhibit A for bad police behavior.

Baltimore is a city of ghost rapes, apparently.

For years, the Baltimore Police Department led the nation in the number of rape and sexual assault cases that were simply dismissed as unfounded. But some of those cases  a paltry 15 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to a U.S. Justice Department report this month  left something behind to haunt the city. Those rape kits full of evidence.

And whats Baltimore doing about those kits? Ignoring them.

We know from our work that there are too many Baltimores in America today  from Detroit to San Diego, Cleveland to Charlotte, Las Vegas to Memphis, said Sarah Haacke Byrd, the managing director of the Joyful Heart Foundation,

Byrd and others knew that Baltimore has a history of ignoring sex crimes.

In 2010, the Baltimore Sun looked into the citys bizarre lack of investigated rape cases and found that police dismissed rape and sexual assault charges at alarming rates by systematically shaming victims, abusing, belittling and aggressively questioning them until they went away.

And those were the ones who got the honor of an investigation. Four out of 10 calls reporting rape didnt even get a report.

Six years later, things are no better in Charm City.

The scathing Justice Department report on policing in Baltimore included hideous examples of what police really thought of sexual assault victims.

They found emails from a prosecutor on a sexual assault case who wrote that this case is crazy  I am not excited about charging it. This victim seems like a conniving little whore (pardon my language). The Baltimore officer replied, Lmao! I feel the same.

A detective in the sexual crimes unit, according to the Justice Department report, was heard at a party saying that in homicide, there are real victims; all our cases are bulls.

Knowing what they were dealing with, the folks at the Joyful Heart Foundation submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for Baltimores 2015 numbers. They got some, but it was a jumble of incoherent and incongruous paperwork.

It basically said what victims have thought all along: We dont care.

Too many sexual assaults have two acts. Theres the attack itself, then the revictimization by police and prosecutors who blame or dismiss victims.

About 65 percent of rapes and sexual assaults are never reported in this country, according to a 2012 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Why?

Belief that the police would not do anything to help, according to the report, as well as Belief that the police could not do anything to help.

In Maryland and its largest city, the evidence is clear that theyre right.

sex-assaults-comment
ISTANBUL  The Turkish government had been planning for more than a year to send troops into Syria to fight the Islamic State before it did so this week, but the intervention was opposed by military officers who later participated in Julys failed attempt to overthrow the government, a senior Turkish official said Thursday.

He spoke as Turkey dispatched additional tanks across the border to reinforce positions around the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which was captured from the Islamic State on Wednesday by Syrian rebels and Turkish troops in Turkeys first significant foray into Syria since the war began five years ago.

Reluctance within the military to move across the border was reinforced by other issues that subsequently emerged, including Turkeys November 2015 shoot-down of a Russian jet, which forced Turkey to suspend flights over Syria for fear of Russian retaliation and meant it could not offer air support to any advancing troops.

The suggestion, however, that military officers who were secretly plotting against the government all along had acted for more than a year to thwart its plans to intervene in Syria offers one possible new explanation for President Recep Tayyip Erdogans seeming reluctance to fulfill long-standing U.S. demands for Turkey to adopt a more active stance against the Islamic State in Syria.

Planning for the offensive spearheaded by Turkey on Wednesday against the Islamic State-controlled town of Jarabulus began in June 2015, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to share information on sensitive issues. However, the proposals were consistently resisted by the Turkish military, he said.

Certain commanders within the Turkish military worked hard to stall Turkeys plan to move against ISIS, the official said. Time and again they came up with excuses such as a lack of military capabilities to make it impossible for the government to move forward.

A number of [the] staunchest opponents of military action ended up partaking in the coup attempt, he added.

Among those, he said, was Samih Terzi, head of Turkish special forces, who led an assault in Ankara on the night of the July 15 coup attempt to capture the special forces headquarters. He was shot dead during battles to control the facility.

Turkish special forces, under a new commander, provided the backbone of the Turkish push into Syria, which also involved tanks and Turkish warplanes. The offensive met with no resistance from the Islamic State and the town of Jarabulus was captured within hours  demonstrating, the official said, that our troops were always up to the task.

The United States supported the operation with additional airstrikes and advisers  and a statement delivered forcefully during a visit to Ankara by Vice President Biden. The incursion also was made possible by the recent rapprochement between Russia and Turkey, which enabled Turkish warplanes to fly sorties over the battlefield in Syria for the first time since November, the official stressed.

His claims echo frequent complaints made over the past year by U.S. officials that Turkey had seemed unable to follow through with promises to intervene more robustly in Syria. The officials expressed on several occasions their frustration with the discrepancy between the apparent willingness of the Turkish government to send troops into Syria and the reluctance of the Turkish military to endorse the plan.

The ease with which the Turkish-backed Syrian rebel force overran Jarabulus this week may be attributable to the significant weakening over the past year of the Islamic State, which has rapidly been losing ground to a wide range of U.S.-backed forces in Iraq and Syria.

Turkeys determination to intervene in Syria now also appears to have been fueled by the expanding territorial ambitions of Syrias Kurds, who have taken advantage of the support they have received from the U.S. military for the fight against the Islamic State to consolidate their control over a newly emerging Kurdish region in northern Syria.

With the swift fall of Jarabulus, the focus now has shifted to the Syrian town of Manbij, 25 miles away, which was captured last week by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces after an 11-week battle.

Control over Manbij, a mostly Arab town, gives the Kurds a foothold on the west bank of the Euphrates River that would enable them to pursue a declared plan to link up Kurdish-controlled areas of eastern Syria with a small Kurdish enclave in western Syria. That is something Turkish officials have vowed to prevent, for fear that a new Kurdish entity bordering Turkey in Syria would fuel the independence aspirations of Turkeys already restive Kurds.

The Syrian Kurds said Thursday they had withdrawn from Manbij, fulfilling a key Turkish demand and a promise made to their U.S. backers to do so after they conquered the town. But SDF spokesman Servan Darwish said that Arab and local Kurdish forces affiliated with the SDF would remain there.

  

Sly reported from Beirut. Heba Habib in Stockholm contributed to this report.

turkey-syria
Federal Statistical Office

Neuchatel, 25.08.2016 - (FSO) - Industrial production in the secondary sector declined 1.6% in 2nd quarter 2016 in comparison with the same quarter a year earlier. Turnover fell by 2.6%. This is shown by provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

This press release and further information on this topic can be found on the FSO website (see link below)

Address for enquiries

Info IID, FSO, Economic Surveys section, +41 58 467 23 70, info.iid@bfs.admin.ch

Publisher

Federal Statistical Office

http://www.statistics.admin.ch




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.
Ares Management is reportedly seeking to raise more than $45bn for its latest batch of funds.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

En espanol - El Centro Carter felicita a Colombia por el historico acuerdo de paz

ATLANTA  The Carter Center congratulates the people of Colombia on the historic agreement announced today that will bring an end to a 50-year civil war between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia  Peoples Army (FARC-EP).

Generations of Colombians have lived under the shadow of war in their country, said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The courageous efforts of President Juan Manuel Santos and his former adversaries to bring about this peace accord offer hope for a more secure and prosperous future for Colombians who are choosing peace.

The Carter Center has ongoing projects in Colombia on issues related to the peace accord  including matters of human rights, the separation of child soldiers from the conflict, and political and electoral reform. We look forward to continuing to work with the government on the accords implementation.

###

"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
watch now

Portugal's plan to pump nearly 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion) into its biggest bank by assets is "another big step towards the stabilization of the Portuguese financial system," the country's financial minister told CNBC on Thursday.

The European Commission (the executive wing of the EU, of which Portugal is a member) and Portugal have agreed in principle to the recapitalization of state-owned Caixa Geral de Depositos. "This is another big step towards the stabilization of the Portuguese financial system. This is a ... milestone in the process and we are looking for business plans. I think it will create necessary turnout not just in Caixa but also in the Portuguese financial system," Mario Centeno told CNBC. The plan was agreed late on Tuesday afternoon. It would see Portugal pump up to 2.7 billion euros of state funds into Caixa, transfer 500 million euros of its ParCaixa shares to Caixa and convert 960 million euros of contingent convertible bonds into equity.

Lisbon, Portugal Travel Ink | Gallo Images | Getty Images

Meanwhile, Caixa will issue highly subordinated debt worth around 1.0 billion euros that will be compliant with regulatory capital ratios designed to bolster banks' ability to withstand financial shocks. This follows negotiations with Brussels officials, aimed at ensuring the plan is not viewed as state-aid to the bank, which would add to Portugal's problematically high budget deficit. Although the government would put money into the bank, the hope is that the returns for the state would outweigh the cash injection. Portugal's budget deficit ran to 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, far above the 2.7 percent target agreed with the European Commission. The Commission opted against fining Portugal  or Spain, which missed its own target  but the country must still aim to get its deficit below a threshold of 3 percent of GDP. "First it is very important, our relationship with the European Commission, and it is working very very well as the situation improves. We are looking at a very constructive relationship with Brussels," Centeno told CNBC. "Second, on the budget front, we are going to post data up to July in the budget and we see contained public expenditure, a big reduction in deficit vis-a-vis last year," he added.

watch now
08/25/2016

Photo (c) gwimages - Fotolia It may not be a coincidence that college started to get a lot more expensive when schools began restricting who could attend, then spent millions of dollars on facilities to compete for the students they wanted.

Costs surged and so did tuition. Now that millions are paying off student loans the size of small mortgages, policymakers are looking for ways to make college more affordable.

In some states the legislature has enacted laws that guarantee a tuition level for students during his or her enrollment. The goal is to make college costs more predictable and affordable.

It may do that for some students, but researchers at the University of Illinois say these laws have unintended consequences that may make college less affordable in the long run.

Researchers Jennifer Delaney and Tyler Kearney have published a study examining guaranteed-tuition laws and their impact on mandatory student fees and out-of-state student enrollments. These are important alternative revenue streams for colleges that are not subject to the laws.

Cost-shifting

With guaranteed tuition laws in place in Illinois, Texas, and Oklahoma, costs got shifted around. From 2000 to 2012, public colleges and universities in the states that have these laws increased mandatory student fees by 40%. They also raised their out-of-state tuition by 28%.

When they did that, out-of-state student enrollment dropped by 23%, putting public colleges and universities even deeper in the hole. The effects were even more severe at universities specializing in doctoral programs and research.

"These findings suggest that guaranteed-tuition programs are not beneficial for either in-state or out-of-state students," said Delaney.

She notes that institutions barred from getting money from one source will just get it from another.

Finding alternatives

So how do you make a college degree more affordable. The simple answer may be to obtain it from an institution that specializes in online programs.

Previously offered mostly by expensive for-profit schools, a number of quality, non-profit colleges have built up their online degree programs, and some have reduced tuition costs to reflect the savings.

Southern New Hampshire University was a pioneer in this area, with a national advertising campaign promoting its online degree programs. Other non-profit schools quickly followed suit.

Today, there are a number of schools offering online degrees that typically cost less than pursuing a degree on campus. Earlier this year, we profiled five of them here.
Although live streaming content is not a new trend in the digital media realm, as of late its certainly receiving a major push from the big players in social media. To stay on top of this trend, credit unions must find a strategy that enables them to participate in live streaming (via social media) in ways that keep them both within industry regulations and still relevant to consumers in a world oversaturated with click-bait marketing content. My recent BANK ON IT Podcast guest, Ian Cleary, is the president of RazorSocial.com, and he took some time to discuss live streaming content strategy with us.

For social media professionals, platforms like Periscope, Blab and Meerkat are familiar names that specialize in live streaming content. But for companies that look to use these platforms for branding purposes, it is important to understand why the scales of these services are important. Currently, one of the most popular live-streaming-only services is Periscope with 10 million users, which at first glance does seem like a significant amount. That is, however, until you consider that the membership is 10 million users across the world. For social media giants like YouTube or Facebook, that figure is minimal, with each boasting well over a billion users worldwide. Those are figures that yield better results when it comes to branding efforts geared towards a specific demographic. Fortunately, both Facebook and YouTube are gearing up to enter the live streaming space  and that presents a tremendous opportunity for credit unions.

Facebook is known to constantly change its algorithm in order to promote one type of content or another. Currently, Facebook has already enabled live streaming via mobile application, and they are actively promoting live streaming more so than traditional forms of content such as blog posts and photos. According to Ian Cleary, financial institutions utilizing live streaming on Facebook can easily obtain extra views just by virtue of participating in this post format, which is currently prioritized to appear more often according to Facebooks algorithm. Those extra views count as organic traffic, which can potentially convert into extra likes, and ultimately extra customers. YouTube, similar in size and premise, is set to release its live streaming option via mobile application over the next coming months.

Credit unions should also mix their live streaming content between planned/scripted broadcasts and candid live moments. A weekly Q&A session can be a great way for credit unions to connect with consumers by helping them strategize financially for the week or answer general questions for both current customers and potential clients. This is a great strategy for building consumer relationships. For a more spontaneous live session  a credit union can live stream a ribbon-cutting ceremony and welcome local customers into their new branch. Credit unions are not strangers to public events, fairs, and promotional outings  which are all prime for live streaming content. However, any credit union should exercise caution to stay within regulations while live streaming. An impromptu stream of customer service interaction can violate a customers privacy and create more problems than the opportunities.

Ian Cleary believes that financial institutions should try to stick to boosting content that they know customers already like. Promoting or boosting a post that isnt getting very many likes organically will result in more of the same problem. If your audience didnt care for something organically, they will care for it even less when it is pushed up their news feed. Facebook offers analytic tools for live streaming that most social media professionals are already familiar with, which means they can analyze the data collected for live streaming the same way they analyze the data of a common blog post. When Google releases the YouTube Live app, credit unions will be able to advertise their live streams against key words that could easily connect a customer, searching for content on personal loans, to a financial expert discussing personal loans via live streaming.

If a credit union is not already equipped with live streaming content that could be popular with their audience on Facebook and YouTube, Ian Cleary suggests to analyze what type of content your customers are searching for in order to build live session topics from that data. Then, turning those topics into regular weekly sessions so that youll be able to leverage and commit to careful targeted advertising. If a viewer watches 90% of a stream about refinancing their home, the likely-hood that theyre planning to refinance their home is pretty high. At its core, the idea behind live streaming is not necessarily about inventing new content or awkwardly challenging your audience to participate in unfamiliar ways. In fact, Ian Cleary believes, it is just the opposite.

Its not a completely different world. Its just a new way of building that relationship and we need to invest a bit of time figuring out how do we do it, says Mr. Cleary. Were still [in] relationships where we get business through relationships and now weve got other opportunities, and different ways of building relationships and we can build relationships at scale.

One last bit of advice Ian Cleary shared for the credit unions looking into live streaming content is to use an application called Wirecast. It allows users to use one live stream and broadcast to both Facebook and YouTube simultaneously. It also allows swapping sources between mobile and PC cameras, so linking people in different locations is very manageable.

To hear more about live streaming content strategy, you can find the episode of BANK ON IT Podcast with John Siracusa and Ian Cleary here.
Thoughts on the Good News and Bad News for Credit Unions

When a debit card number is counterfeited, like what happens in a breach of data from a merchant, any counterfeit card number usage results in withdrawals directly from the cardholders bank account. Even though the cardholders liability for fraudulent transaction is limited  under the FCBA, liability for unauthorized use of the card tops out at $50 and many issuers have a $0 liability for fraud  there also can be additional costs and fees as a result. Checks that bounce result in NSF charges or scheduled bill pays that fail and incur late fees are just some of the aggravations that debit cardholders whose cards were caught in one of the many highly publicized data breaches had to deal with.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston was conducting its Survey of Consumer Payment Choice at the same time the Target breach was announced in 2013. Some respondents had answered before the breach was made known to the public, and some respondents were not surveyed until after the breach was made public. Even after accounting for the differences in demographics between early respondents and later respondents, there was a statistically significant difference in the perception of security of debit cards. 37% of pre-breach respondents said that using their debit card was secure or very secure, but that number dropped significantly, down to 23% for post-breach respondents.
(Read to bottom for Parts 2 and 3 of this three-part series.)

The media today is full of speculation about the possibilities of a woman becoming President of the United States. Ninety-seven years ago this month, the U.S. media was all agog about the first woman to actually drive a car from coast to coast. Unheard of.

Too fragile

Women are far too fragile to stand the rigors of such a journey and certainly lacked the mechanical ability and common sense needed for such a venture (please, ladies, dont get all up in arms. Im only stating the common knowledge of the day, at least among men). Also bear in mind that a Vermont doctor named Horatio Nelson Jackson had been the very first man to drive a car from coast to coast. He had done it only six years earlier  in 1903 to win a $50 bet.

Alice gets a car

Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1886, Alice Huyler was interested in things mechanical from an early age. After two years at Vassar College she left to marry a lawyer more than twice her age named John Rathbone Ramsey.

In the early spring of 1908, while taking one of the family horses for a drive, a passing car spooked the animal and he bolted. With some difficulty Alice got him under control, but the episode frightened her husband and he bought her a shining red Maxwell roadster with two bucket seats in front and a fold down jump seat in the rear, as Alice described it. The Maxwell agent gave Alice two lessons and pronounced her a capable driver.

Turning heads

Alice loved to drive and put 6,000 miles on the little red car that summer exploring the roads around New Jersey, becoming an expert driver. So much so, that she entered a reliability run that fall that ran 150 miles from Lynbrook to Montauk Point on Long Island. She completed the run successfully and caught the eye of Carl Kelsey who was sales manager for Maxwell-Briscoe.

That very night Kelsey proposed to make Alice the first woman ever to drive an automobile across the United States of America, from Hell Gate on the Atlantic to the Golden Gate on the Pacific  and in a Maxwell!

Travel companions

As can be imagined, the idea took Alice Ramseys breath away; not quite 22, such a thing at first seemed impossible, but the more she thought of it the more she liked it. Her two older married sisters-in-law had accompanied her on the Montauk run and had heard Kelseys proposal.

On the way back to Hackensack they discussed it and indicated a willingness to accompany Alice  but what would her husband say? In the end, with the assurance that his sisters would go along, Ramsey agreed and a fourth passenger, a younger friend of Alice, was enlisted.

Maxwell-Briscoe furnished a new 1909 Maxwell 30 touring car and agreed to pay all expenses. They also alerted all the Maxwell dealers along the way to watch for the car and assist in any way. Wanting to milk the trip for all possible publicity, the company hired a newspaperman as advance agent and he traveled the route by train, making arrangements for lodging and welcoming parties, and interviewing the girls each day for their impressions.

Travel attire

The trip was scheduled to begin on June 9, 1909 at the Maxwell showroom on Broadway in New York City, and the girls were in a quandary as to what to take and how to pack it into the single suitcase allotted to each  the long dresses then worn took a lot of space. They each took extra underwear, toiletries, and a dressy suit, blouse or two and shoes, and all of them but Alice managed to secret one of the large flowery hats popular at the time (Alice was stuck with wearing her visored driving cap on the few occasions they dressed up).

For everyday travel they chose tan covert suits with plain blouses, over which they wore long dusters in nice weather and driving caps with visors and soft, billowing crowns that were tied on with long veils that tied under the chin. Although the Maxwell had a waterproof top that could be raised, there were no side curtains so rubber hats and ponchos were a necessity.

Supplies

The car had been equipped with a larger, 20-gallon gas tank and carried tools, hand tire pump, jack, two spare tire casings, and extra inner tubes and patching equipment, along with a picnic hamper with a few rations and eating utensils. The headlights burned acetylene gas, which was made by a carbide generator on the left running board, while the cowl and tail lights burned kerosene. To warn pedestrians and other drivers, there was a brass horn with the bulb conveniently at the drivers right hand. Treaded tires were still in the future, so tire chains and lots of repair links and spare cross chains were carried and used frequently  even in rainy weather, as the smooth tires gave little purchase on slippery surfaces.

About the car

The Maxwell 30 was right-hand drive, had a 30-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine, and drove the rear wheels through a 3-speed and reverse transmission, a driveshaft and a differential. It weighed a little over 2,000 pounds unloaded, and the top speed was around 40 mph. Alices car had black fenders, a dark green body, and a black folding top. It also had a sheet iron pan underneath the engine to protect from road damage.

Women only

Alice was the only one of the four women who knew how to drive so she would be behind the wheel the whole way and, as Maxwell advertised the trip as a women only venture, she had to crank the engine, change tires, and make minor repairs along the way. June 9 was a chilly day with a steady rain falling, as the four ladies, elegant in their rubber ponchos, posed for pictures and answered questions from the many bystanders who had come to watch the strange sight of four women taking off for the west coast in an automobile  I imagine there were more than a few bets placed on the outcome.

Finally at about 10 a.m., Alice gave the Maxwells crank a pull, the engine roared to life, and they were off. Ill tell you some highlights of the journey next time.

Related Coverage

Part 2: Alices cross-country drive continues

Part 3: Alice finishes her cross-country trip in 1909
The Arla Foods amba on-account price for conventional milk will increase by 1.25 eurocents per kilogramme (1.01pence per kg), from 1 September.

When applied to the UK standard litre for conventional milk, the increase equates to an upward movement of one pence, taking it to 20.05 pence.

Commenting on the decision, Arla Foods amba board director, Jonathan Ovens, said it is "welcomed news" for farmer owners who continue to face "challenging times" on farm.

"Our increase will hopefully reaffirm their confidence in the dairy industry, after 18 months of falling prices," Mr Ovens said.

"Commodity markets have continued to strengthen, as indicated by the increase in the latest GDT auction.

"This follows a significant downturn in milk production and increases in yellow cheese prices across Europe, while prices across European retail markets are also firming.

Arla Foods is a global dairy company and co-operative owned by 12,700 dairy farmers with circa 2,700 of whom are British.
UFW is moving its organizing offshore, when it represents only 1% in California

by Enrique Segovia Thu, Aug 25, 2016 9:00AM

The UFW has organized only 1 percent of farmworkers in California and is deficient in many ways, yet it's moving its operations offshore to Mexico and Central America to organize cheap labor for big business like Costco. Farmworkers are being sold out.
The National Labor Council for Latin American Advancement passed a resolution in solidarity with farmworkers in San Quintin (Baja California, Mexico) and Skagit County (Washington State) at the 21st LCLAA National Membership Convention held August 18-20, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.

National LCLAA Resolution In Solidarity With The Farmworkers In San Quintin (Baja California, Mexico) and Skagit County (Washington State)Whereas, as many as 70,000 farmworkers (jornaleros) in the Valley of San Quintin, Baja California (Mexico) have been waging intermittent strikes and organizing road blockades and mass mobilizations since mid-March 2015 to demand an increase in their daily wage from 100 pesos to 300 pesos per day [raise from $7.50 per day to $15], an eight-hour workday, health care, overtime pay and vacation days, an end to the widespread sexual abuse, and, most important, the legal recognition of their independent union  the Alianza de Organizaciones Nacional, Estatal y Municipal por la Justicia Social del Valle de San Quintin (Alliance National, State and Municipal Organizations for Social Justice in the Valley of San Quintin, or Alianza)  as the bargaining agent for these 70,000 workers; andWhereas, these farmworkers (many of them indigenous workers from Oaxaca) pick strawberries, tomatoes, and other fruit primarily for export to the United States under the label of Driscolls, through its Mexican subsidiary, BerryMex; andWhereas, articles in the mainstream media about the conditions of farmworkers in San Quintin Baja California, Mexico describe rat-infested camps, some without functioning toilets, with workers routinely having their wages illegally withheld, and many facing debt after being gouged by the overpricing of necessities sold at company stores, and with pay so low that it amounts to less than one-tenth of what U.S.-based farmworkers earn; andWhereas, over the weekend of May 9-10, 2015, the Baja California government, instead of opening negotiations with the farmworkers, as promised, sent in police to quash the farmworkers protest, severely wounding 70 workers, many with rubber bullets shot at close range, leaving some of the workers in critical condition; andWhereas, the repression against the farmworkers of San Quintin made front-page news and created a huge backlash across Mexico, forcing the government to (1) meet with representatives of the Alianza and promise to legally recognize the workers independent union (promising a registro to the Alianza) and (2) promise to implement many of the demands raised by the workers that pertain to Mexican labor law; andWhereas, the growers are refusing to abide by the agreement between the Mexican government and the Alianza, arguing that they have more than 60 signed contracts with the CTM, the CROM, and the CROC, and that they will therefore not recognize nor open negotiations with the Alianza; andWhereas, the leadership of the Alianza, soon after the strike began, issued a call to the U.S. labor and community movements to organize a boycott across the United States of Driscolls, extending the boycott of Driscolls that was launched one year earlier by the Familias Unidas por la Justicia; andWhereas, upon learning of the strike of the farmworkers in San Quintin, unionists and community activists in cities throughout California and other U.S. states launched a campaign incorporating the struggle of the San Quintin workers into the Driscolls boycott; andWhereas, many of the San Quintin farmworkers have either worked in the farms owned by Sakuma Brothers in the state of Washington, or have family who work for Sakuma Brothers, where the workers have been subjected to a wide range of abuse for years, such as inadequate piece rates, wage theft, racist and sexist abuse by supervisors, substandard housing and continuous retaliation for their efforts to improve their conditions; andWhereas, the Washington State AFL-CIO has recognized the independent union formed in 2013 by the Sakuma farmworkers  the Familias Unidas para la Justicia  and has endorsed and supported the boycott of Sakuma Brothers Farms; andWhereas, Miles Joseph Reiter is the Chairman of the Board of Driscolls Inc and is also a member of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture and this board has responsibility for oversight of this industry. We question and oppose his serving on this board due to the conditions of the striking farm workers and the families in San Quintin, Baja, California; andTherefore be it resolved, that the Sacramento LCLAA Chapter, goes on record in support of the struggle of the 70,000 farmworkers in San Quintin and the 468 farmworkers in Skagit County, Washington, for better wages, working conditions, and the recognition of their fighting unions  the Alianza de Organizaciones Nacional, Estatal y Municipal por la Justicia Social del Valle de San Quintin (Alliance of Farm Workers of San Quintin), and Familias Unidas  as the legitimate bargaining agents for these workers; andBe it further resolved, that the LCLAA opposes the protection contracts signed between the growers and the company unions, and urges the Mexican government to formally give the registro to the Alianza the San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico workers, as promised, that it meet the Alianzas demands pertaining to Mexicos labor laws,  and that the government use all its powers to compel the growers to rescind the protection contracts with the company unions, negotiate directly with the Alianza, and agree to increase the workers wages to 300 pesos a day, while resolving the other demands raised by the workers; andBe it further resolved, that LCLAA reiterates its call on Driscoll corporation and its subsidiary BerryMex and the San Quintin employers and Sakuma Farms to rehire strikers and sign a contract with the Alianza workers in San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico, and Familias Unidas por la Justicia in Washington State; andBe it further resolved, that LCLAA calls upon the California Federation of Labor and the entire trade union movement in the United States to add Driscolls to their Do Not Patronize list and to actively promote a boycott of Driscolls  as well as build ties of solidarity with the San Quintin farmworkers of Baja California, Mexico, organizing union-to-union solidarity, visits to San Quintin, and tours to the United States of representatives of the Alianza so that these workers can tell their stories directly to U.S. workers; andBe it further resolved, that LCLAA will link the struggle of the Sakuma Brothers and Driscolls workers in the state of Washington, to the struggle of the San Quintin workers of Baja California, Mexico; andBe it further resolved, that the LCLAA will send this resolution to the Alianza San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico, and the Sakuma Farms workers, with copies to the broader labor movement, to be used as a template for further resolutions in solidarity with the farmworkers of San Quintin- Baja California, Mexico, and Familias Unidas por la Justicia in Washington State.Be it finally resolved: LCLAA will fight so that undocumented workers have full rights like the rest of the American working-class.Respectfully Submitted by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement - Sacramento AFL- CIO (LCLAA) Chapter on April 7, 2016.
By clicking on "Accept", you consent to the transmission of data to Google for this Google Map in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and at the same time explicitly consent to the transfer of data to the USA in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. If you no longer wish to consent to each Google Map individually in the future and wish to be able to load the maps without this blocker, you can also select "Always accept Google Maps" and thereby consent to the associated data transmissions and transfers to Google and to the USA for all other Google Maps which you open on our website in the future. Please note that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there does not currently exist an adequate level of data protection in line with EU standards in the USA, and at present we cannot provide appropriate safeguards to protect your data and offset this shortcoming.

Possible risks to you of data transfer to the USA are that access by state authorities cannot be excluded and that your data could be processed for reasons of national security, law enforcement or for other purposes in the public interest of the USA, possibly without you being informed separately and without enforceable rights and effective legal remedies being available to you.

You can withdraw consent that you have given at any time with future effect via the settings . For further information, please see our Data Protection Declaration and Google's Privacy Policy

*Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Irland; Mutterunternehmen: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

This map material is provided by Google*. If you load the Google Map, your data - including your IP address - is transmitted to Google and may be stored and processed by Google inter alia in the USA. We have no influence over further data processing by Google.
LifeStyle

The best LifeStyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel LifeStyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Deb Hutton and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand.

Get Foxtel
- The Enugu state police command says it has caught one suspect who partook in the herdsmen attack in Enugu state

- Some suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly attacked Atakwu community in Enugu state

- The herdsmen reportedly opened fire in the community killing a seminarian and some others

- Investigation into the attack is still ongoing

The arrest of one suspected herdsman who partook in the bloody attack on Attakwu community has been announced by the police in Enugu state on Friday, August 26.

Suspected herdsman apprehended by Enugu state police command.

Many people were feared dead, as suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Enugu Atakwu community, in Nkanu West Local Government Area (LGA)

The attack reportedly took place on Thursday morning, August 25, the attackers are said to have killed a seminarian of the Catholic Church and several others.

READ ALSO: Fulani herdsman stabs mother to death; gives unbelievable confession

Daily Post reports that the herdsmen who were armed to teeth invaded and started shooting and maiming anybody in sight.

One of the victims, a seminarian is said to have just returned from his apostolic work.

A community source told newsmen that they just came early this morning and started killing people.

There is confusion everywhere now; people are running helter-skelter.

However, in a statement issued by the Enugu state police commands spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said one of the suspects had been apprehended.

According to him, the Nigeria police force in its resolve towards unmasking those behind the dastardly act perpetrated at Ndiagu Attakwu community of Akegbeugwu in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state in the early hours of 25/8/16, which left one person dead and four others critically injured, have nabbed a suspect identified as one Umaru Isah from Gusau Zamfara State over his alleged involvement in the incident.

His arrest came through intelligence information gathered. The said suspect, who claimed that he is 20 years old, revealed that he came in from Gusau Zamfara State to Enugu recently for the purposes of rearing cattle, but has none to rear till now.

Investigations have commenced in full scale into his nefarious activities with a view to unmasking his gang members so that they can be brought to book.

The state commissioner of police Emmanuel Ojukwu has vowed to unmask all those involved in the dastardly act and bring them to book.

Source: Legit.ng
- The 41-year-old Joachim Iroko has been released from prison

- Mr Iroko was held in custody for naming his dog Buhari

- The 41-year-old has met the terms of his bail which was set at N50,000

Joachim Chinakwe and President Buhari

Having met the conditions for his bail, 41-year-old Joachim Iroko who was charged in Ogun state for allegedly naming and inscribing Buhari on his pet dog, has been released from prison.

The 41-year-old trader faces a one-count charge of intention to cause breach of public peace.

Premium Times reports that he was arraigned before Bolaji Ojikutu of Sango-Otta Magistrates Court on Monday morning and was subsequently granted a N50,000 bail.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Panic in Enugu as Fulani Herdsmen attack, many feared dead

He was transferred to prisons while his family sought money for his released.

Mr. Iroko met his bail conditions yesterday after receiving about N90,000 through fundraising appeal coordinated by a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

He was released around noon on Thursday, August 25, and he went straight to his residence in Sango-Otta, Ogun state.

Mr Iroko was first arrested on August 14 after police received complaints from a neighbour, Halilu Umar, that he had named his dog Buhari in an apparent attempt to ridicule his father, whose name is Alhaji Buhari.

The matter had generated huge interest across Nigeria and sparked debates about free speech.

Joe Chinakwe, spent three days in prison in Ogun state as his family was unable to meet the bail conditions granted to him, the Vanguard reports.

The man was granted the bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum by an Ogun state magistrate court for naming his pet dog Buhari. Family sources told reporters that they were able to raise only N20, 000, but could not complete the whole sum.

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Fayose says victims of Ekiti dam tragedy were not staff of the World Bank

- Earlier report stated that four World Bank officials died when the boat they were travelling in capsized

- Accident happened in a dam in Ekiti state, Southwest Nigeria

- Passengers were said to be surveyors by profession

The News Agency of Nigeria had reported on Thursday, August 25 that four World Bank officials were reported to have drowned at Egbe Dam in Egbe Ekiti, Gbonyin local government area of Ekiti state.

The government of Ekiti has stated that the four people who lost their lives on Wednesday, August 24 at Egbe Dam in Gbonyin local government area of the state, were not World Bank officials as reported on Thursday, August 25.

On Friday, August 26, Idowu Adelusi, the chief press secretary to Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state, said though the Third Urban Water Sector Reform Project was sponsored by the World Bank, the contract for the bathymetry surveying of the dam was awarded to Enviplan Nigeria Limited, whose staff died in the sad event.

The statement said the company was to work on Ureje, Egbe, Itapaji and Ero dams. The statement issued on Friday, August 26 reads in part:

The sad incident happened because some safety measures were not adhered to by the deceased who refused to wear life jackets and those who survived wore life jackets provided by the company. The victims are staff of Enviplan Nigeria Limited which is a consulting firm to

the World Bank.

The victims are Alaran Tirimisiyu, Abdulwaheed Alayande, David Malu and Albert, while the survivors are Charles Ehinlaye, Bukky Ajet and Yahaya. It should be noted that no World Bank official or Ekiti State Water Corporation staff was involved.

The Third Urban Water Project commiserates with the families of the departed and pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Egbe Dam one of the six dams in Ekiti and it is the biggest of them all.

READ ALSO: Five ways government can quickly stop fuel tanker explosions

The report of Thursday, August 25 had it that Folasade Akinrinmola, the chairman of Gbonyin LGA and Ekiti police command confirmed the mishap to newsmen on Thursday, August 25.

The council chairman stated that the accident happened in the late hours of Wednesday, August 24, involving a group of seven contractors working with the World Bank on an evaluation work on the dam.

Akinrinmola explained that the men began work in the night of Tuesday, August 23 from one part of the dam and that the mishap occurred when they moved to the other part on Wednesday, August 24.

The boss stated that the traditional ruler of Egbe community informed her of the boat accident.

Akinrinmola narrated saying: We immediately mobilised a rescue team and an ambulance, and in the process, those wearing life jackets were rescued.

READ ALSO: Woman spends 4 months trying to revive dead husband

The rescued people were the ones who told us that others were in the water. The bodies of those that had drowned were later retrieved by the local fishermen.

One of the dead victims was said to be the son of the leader of the team who providentially escaped unhurt.

We believe that they came to Ekiti based on some of the proposals we had written on the dam on how it can be put to use. We believe that the World Bank has started work on the dam based on their findings.

The Gbonyin LGA chairman described the boat mishap as tragic and unfortunate, adding that the remains of the deceased had since been taken to the mortuary in Ode-Ekiti, the secretariat of Gbonyin LGA.

Alberto Adeyemi, the police public relations officer (PPRO) of the Ekiti state police command, likewise informed journalists of the incident, saying: It is true that the boat transporting the team capsized, four of them died while three survived.

About a two hours ago, a lifeless body of a man identified as Seun was reportedly fished out from Majidun river in Ikorodu area of Lagos state.

See photos below:

Four out of seven surveyors who came from the Development Dams and Irrigation Scheme, Kaduna state to Ekiti state for a job inspection, lost their lives after the boat they were sailing in capsized in the Egbe river, Ekiti state on Wednesday, August 25. The incident according to eyewitnesses happened at about 5:30pm. Their bodies were recovered by local fishermen and fire brigade with help of police force.

Source: Legit.ng
Paul Pelosi, the husband of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was "violently assaulted" after a break-in at the couple's California home early on Friday. Drew Hammill, spokesman for Nancy Pelosi, said an assailant broke into the couples house in San Francisco and violently assaulted Paul Pelosi. Nancy Pelosi was not at home at the time of the incident. The Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who is second in line to the presidency, was not at home at the time of the early morning assault. The circumstances of the attack were unclear, including how the intruder got into the home.
- The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has had a discussion with President Buhari bordering on the militancy in the Niger Delta and insurgency in the north

- Oba Lamidi Adeyemi says Buhari requested traditional rulers to convey their advice on problems facing the country in writing

- The topmost monarch says the country is losing resources to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers

Oba Lamidi Adeyemi describes the visit of the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, to Nigeria as a major diplomatic point recorded by the present administration.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has had a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the security situation facing the country.

READ ALSO: Fast all in one  UC Browser

The Nation reports that the topmost monarch told journalist at the end of the meeting on Monday, August 25, that his discussions with the president bordered on problems facing the country, including the militancy in the Niger Delta and insurgency in the north.

Oba Lamidi Adeyemi said President Buhari requested traditional rulers to convey their advice on problems in the country in writing.

He said: As a Nigerian and one of the topmost traditional rulers in the country, over the time, I sent a memorandum to the President which he acknowledged and he asked me to come and endorse those things I have written.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, said had the militants who tried to invade Lagos successfully spread their activities to the south west, there would have been more destruction.

I think it is time for me to use the proper channel to reach the President for suggestions and advice. Where he deserves commendation, I should also do that.

READ ALSO: Foreign media tag arrest of man in Buhari dog saga 'weird'

Especially as it concerns the multi-dimensional problems Nigeria is facing; the Avengers and the bombing of oil installations, MEND and Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

One major diplomatic point the President scored recently was the visit of the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry. America does not usually send top officers for such visits if they have not used certain parameters to gauge the countrys performance.

I have met with the President and offered some suggestions. We are losing huge resources to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers. Coming close to that is the infiltration of the militants in Lagos and Ikorodu where in the last three weeks, 10 landlords were massacred.

The monarch said the federal government responded immediately to wipe out the threat, Ikorodu and Arepo areas, adding that had the militants successfully spread their activities to the south west, there would have been more destruction.

He said: The President listened attentively and he has asked me to pass the information to other traditional rulers in my domain to assist the government by giving advice because he is a good listener but that such advice should be put in writing so that he can then relate it to the problems affecting Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has challenged to fast-track his governments action on the Niger Delta militants, Channels TV reports.

Soyinka asked the president to be more proactive in dealing with the problems of the oil-rich region.

While speaking at a press conference in Lagos he said that Buharis government is not doing enough in handling the tension in the Niger Delta region.

He called on the federal government, like other major players in Nigeria and the region, to change its administrations style and move quickly to deal with the issues of the Niger Delta.

Source: Legit.ng
Breakups are usually nasty; some relationships get broken amidst tears and pains. The affected people in some of these bad breakups hold grudges against each other for a long time.

Some people are vengeful; they would always do things that would make their exes mad despite having gone separate ways. They enjoy the fact that they still have certain powers and authorities over them even though they are miles apart.

Depending on the level of maturity of the individuals that have separated, things may not be as bad as people think they would be if they handle things well. Some individuals believe they have the right to say whatever they want since they are no longer within the confines of a relationship.

They take to their social media pages and update their thoughts there as a way of reaching out to their exes. They know that their status updates would always be checked by the overzealous partners who enjoy stalking them.

Status updates like that could be hurtful if it is being read by the person it was written for. Updates like that would either make an ex cringe with jealousy or burn with anger. Whichever way, you can be sure it would evoke some emotional reaction in the aggrieved exes.

Find below some of the status updates you would see when people are trying to reach out to their exes:

1. Good riddance to bad rubbish

Some people could be so direct with the status updates they drop on their Whatsapp, BBM and Facebook pages. Whichever ex sees this kind of updates is bound to be more depressed. It is a message that would make anyone feel worthless no matter what led to the breakup.

Many people want their partners to show some sense of dependency when they break up as it would make them feel good. When they do not get the desired attention, it could be annoying.

READ ALSO: See the hottest guys from the northern part of Nigeria

2. I really do not care about you anymore

Indeed, some people have a little bit of growing up to do considering the way they handle breakups.

It is absurd passing a message to your ex via social media pages when you could have called him or her directly. Whether you think this is wrong or right, some people still do it.

Some put up blatant statements like these in order to hit their exes hard. It would work for whoever chooses to be bothered by them.

3. Blocking is for weaklings

Some people are smart, they anticipate their exes action and drop their status updates before they ever get to make that move.

They know they are most likely to get blocked and would do things that would make the ex reconsider. No one wants to be seen as a weakling anyway.

4. Sometimes you have to act like a fool to fool someone...

When your ex is trying to make you feel like your moves are weak, you would see an update like this.

They are only trying to make you feel stupid by telling you they did not play into your hands. Depending on the depth of what transpired between you two, you may not feel bad about it.

5. You folded your mat and I got rug instead

With this status update, your ex is telling you that he or she has moved on. This means that you had been a bad choice all along as they have finally met a better person.

Seeing this update could cause your anger to boil as you would be tempted to say something hurtful in turn. But you can guess how that is going to end.

6. Don't be a woman that needs a man, be a woman a man needs

Many ladies put this up in order to motivate themselves. This status update is most likely to be seen when a woman is getting over a breakup.

This is more or less like a point of strength to her as she must have considered herself to be an asset and not a loss. Basically, people get better when they have a positive thought like this after a breakup. They become better individuals at the long run.

READ ALSO: Top places you need to visit in Nigeria if you are on holiday

7. Heart closed until further notice

Many people in the society enjoy the attention they get from people when they put up an update like this one.

They want everyone to know they have been brokenhearted. They silently tell whoever broke their hearts that they are hurting and would not give other people the opportunity to mess with them.

There are several other updates people drop when they are going through an emotional tussle. What are the popular status updates you have seen? Kindly put them in the comment section.

Source: Legit.ng
By Srivatsan: I was in Class 7 when a friend asked me to watch a Tamil film called Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu. I wanted to watch it not because it had Kamal Haasan playing the lead, but that the film was supposed to have explicit sexual content. I vaguely recall the film opening with a tracking shot of a local gangster Mani. The camera cuts to a close-up and he says, "I need DCP Raghavan's (Kamal Haasan's character) eyes. Whoever gets me his eyes will be get a huge reward."

advertisement

Just like his wife in the film, I too was waiting for the worst.

*BANG*

DCP Raghavan kicks open the gate, confronts Mani and coolly says, "Seems like you wanted my eyes; here I am." While Mani stammers, Raghavan says, "Close the gate, you bast***d," and opens his eyes wider.

The blast of an introductory scene for Kamal Haasan in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu was loaded with the style that one would hardly expect from the star. Over the years, the film has garnered a huge fan following that I doubt any other proper commercial film has been able to yet.

Given that it's a commercial film, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu was not laced with superficial stunts where the hero sends 20 odd goons to outer space. The film was formulaic. For instance, Raghavan solves the mysteries in the film using his instincts. While this might sound surreal, his actions make the unbelievable believable when he records his thoughts on a Dictaphone and keeps replaying it.

At the same time, director Gautham Menon couldn't stop glorifying Haasan in the film. So, in the scene where a troubled Jyothika tells him that talking to him was soothing, Haasan says, "Everyone who talks to me says the same thing."

ALSO READ: Chevalier Kamal Haasan: Five best performances of the versatile actor

ALSO READ: Rajinikanth congratulates Kamal Haasan on Twitter for being conferred with French honour

With the tagline 'Another episode in a police officer's life', Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu traces the journey of DCP Raghavan, who sets off to hunt down the killers of Rani, the daughter of his friend and Police Commissioner Arogya Raj. Through the investigation of Rani's case, Raghavan narrows down on two psychopathic serial killers, who are out raping and killing women.



DCP Raghavan

Gautham's newness in storytelling gave the film a Hollywood feel, shaking the traditional audience with its modern theme. Right from the scene where the villains hang a finger along with chillies and lemons, to the one where Raghavan discovers that the psychopaths are actually homosexuals, Gautham has to be credited for his writing which elevated a mere surreal revenge saga to a multi-layered one.

We've seen Haasan donning Khaki in films like Soorasamharam (1988), Vetri Vizha (1987) and Kuruthipunal (1995), but the star playing the smart cop Raghavan was something I was dying to see. Like most of Haasan's films, he's not given a larger-than-life image in this either. He's a man of a few words, he's old and doesn't shy away from revealing that he's 40.

advertisement

In the film, Gautham lets the audience delve in the deeper recesses of Raghavan's character, but before we can come to a conclusion, the reason behind Haasan's taciturnity is revealed using a flashback sequence. DCP Raghavan's job costs the life of his wife Kayalvizhi (Kamalini Mukherjee) as collateral damage.

Over the years, what stands out in the film is the mature handling of Raghavan's relationship with Aradhana (Jyothika), a divorced woman with a child. It is not just 'Lust is the foundation of love' that we see between Raghavan and Aradhana. Her character makes you believe that a young girl at a crossroads in her life can fall for an older man merely after what Raghavan brilliantly terms, 'Urayadalgal (a few conversations) and stuff'.

At the same time, Gautham was cautious of the fact that stretching it even a bit could have spoiled the subtle romance between Raghavan and Aradhana. For instance, in the scene where Raghavan confesses his feelings for Aradhana, he politely walks back when she says, "After hearing my past, don't you think some things are best left unsaid?" The sheer brilliance of this could have easily been damaged with pages of dialogues.

advertisement

How could one possibly not brag about the songs? Be it Paartha Mudhal Naale or Manjal Veyil, the songs don't derail the film from its main track.



Raghavan and Aradhana

Even after 10 years of its release, if one raves about Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, one has to give credit to the villains, especially Daniel Balaji as Amudhan Sukumaran, who gave his career-best performance. We've seen burly, all-brawn of villains in the past, but Gautham as a writer strikes a chord for having sketching a villain who taunts the mind of the protagonist more than anything else. The battle here is between minds, and not fists.



Villains Amudhan and Ilamaran

Haasan had many releases after Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, but this crime thriller remains among his absolute bests. The film is the last where a director actually directed the Vishwaroopam star and left an imprint in the minds of the audience... so much so, that even a decade after its release, people still haven't been able to forget Raghavan.

--- ENDS ---

advertisement
- Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo says the government needs to implement a coalition of economic policies that can deal with desperate socio-economic issues for the country recover economically

- Soludo says Nigeria at the moment is dealing with political, economic and social shocks

- Calls for communication strategy that effectively communicates change in a forward looking and inspiring manner for the citizenry

Soludo has called for the the restructuring of the Nigerian economy.

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo, has recommended the restructuring of the Nigerian economy from consumption driven to production based for the country to get out of the its present challenges.

READ ALSO: Fast all in one  UC Browser

Soludo who gave the recommendations in his lecture at the progressive governors forum 4th progressive governance lecture series, said the government needs to implement a coalition of economic policies that can deal with desperate socio-economic issues in a systematic and sustainable manner.

According to The Nation, in his lecture titled: Building the Economy of States: Challenges of Developing Inclusively Sustainable Growth, the former CBN boss Nigeria at the moment is dealing with political, economic and social shocks.

He noted that the country needs to break the dynasties of poverty and maximize the comparative and competitive advantages for the growth in Nigeria and states to be inclusive.

He said no state can develop sustainably if the overall governance and economy are in crisis, adding that Nigeria economy in terms of dollar has collapsed by about 50 percent.

He said: Nigeria is facing unprecedented and tremendous political and economical challenges with global and local dynamics. Regardless of these challenges, opportunities and possibilities abound if we address some fundamental issues. The key to achieving this is to have a development plan that is anchored on realizing inclusive and sustainable growth.

READ ALSO: What Buhari's government plans to do to small businesses

"Inclusive and Sustainable growth cannot be achieved without conscious efforts to deconstruct the dynasties of poverty and maximize states and Nigerias comparative and competitive advantage.

Nigeria is not secured and made politically sustainable especially through the de-strangulation of the hold of the federal government over states.

Encouraging fiscal federalism in ways that allow states to have greater control of their resources, evolution of a master plan for mass export oriented industrialization that answers the economic questions and realities of today.

APC developing over-arching vision of Nigeria without Oil and there should be a coalition of economic policies that can deals with disparate socio-economic issues in a systematic and sustainable manner.

APC States must develop a peer review mechanism to track, measure and share knowledge and experience in order to achieve shared values that will distinguish APC states from non APC states.

There is need for communication strategy that effectively communicates change in a forward looking and inspiring manner for the citizenry. This is important for building consensus for development, and there should be a coordinating mechanism for developing the 2017 budget."

Meanwhile, Reno Omokri, the former special assistant on new media to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has said that former president Goodluck Jonathan handed over the best Nigerian government, and the largest economy in Africa to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Omokri, an ordained pastor, in a series on Tweets on Wednesday, August 24, stated how the former president took over and handed the best government to the present administration.

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu has visited the community of Attakwu, Akagbe-Ugwu, following the invasion of over 50 Fulani Herdsmen

- The attack left a Catholic Seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor dead and about four persons injured

- Governor Ugwuanyi was moved to tears just like he was when visited Ukpabi-Nimbo in April

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state today, August 25, visited the community of Attakwu, Akagbe-Ugwu in Nkanu-West local government area of Enugu state, following the invasion of over 50 Fulani Herdsmen armed with machetes.

It was gathered that the attack left Catholic Seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor dead and about four persons injured.

READ ALSO: Fast all in one -- UC Browser

The seminarian was said to have just returned from his apostolic work before the attack.

See pictures below:

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his security and other members of his cabinet visit Attakwu, Akagbe-Ugwu after Fulani herdsmen killed a Catholic Seminarian and injured four persons. Photo: Vanguard

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his security and other members of his cabinet visit Attakwu, Akagbe-Ugwu after Fulani herdsmen killed a Catholic Seminarian and injured four persons. Photo: Vanguard

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi talking to a Catholic Bishop after a seminarian was killed by Fulani Herdsmen. Photo: Vanguard

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi talking to a Catholic Bishop after a Seminarian was killed by Fulani Herdsmen. Photo: Vanguard

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi moved to tears following attack by Fulani Herdsmen on Enugu community. Photo: Vanguard

Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has condemned in strong terms the attack by suspected herdsmen on Attakwu, Akagbe Ugwu community which left a Catholic Seminarian dead.

READ ALSO: Gunmen invade village in Enugu, police in duel with hoodlums

According to him, the incessant attacks on parts of the country by suspected herdsmen posed a grave threat to the peace, security, and economy of the country. He called on the federal government to take decisive steps to put a full stop to the ugly incidents.

He said: This is another heartbreak, not only for Enugu state, but the nation in general; and whatever evil forces behind these reprehensible acts certainly do not wish the country well. It must not be condoned.

The primary object of government is the welfare and security of the citizens. The federal government must take decisive steps to put a full stop to this wanton destruction of lives and property; and the security agencies must do everything humanly possible to ensure that the perpetrators of this act of wickedness in Akagbe-Ugwu do not go unpunished."

Legit.ng recalls that it was all tears at Ukpabi, Nimbo, in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu state, following the visit of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Tuesday, April 26.

Ukpabi Nimbo community, on Monday, April 25, became a red spot on the world map when rampaging Fulani herdsmen struck, killing scores of villagers, mostly farmers, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the process.

Sources in the area had put the casualty figure at 40, although the police were yet to give a definite figure.

Governor Ugwuanyi reportedly could not hold back his tears when he arrived at the community, as he tried console the bereaved people.

Source: Legit.ng
August 24, 2016 Katie Lawhon , 717-338-4402

Gettysburg National Military Park's Advisory Commission will meet on September 15, at 7 pm at the park Museum and Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg. The public is invited to attend. Since the meeting is being held after visiting hours, access will be through the classroom doors on the far right front of the building.

The meeting agenda includes an operational update on park projects and activities including the rehabilitation of Cemetery Ridge, "Foundation Documents" for Gettysburg National Military Park, planning for Little Round Top and other projects on the battlefield and in the Soldiers' National Cemetery.

The purpose of the Commission is to advise the Secretary of the Interior on coordinating activities within Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District with local government and the community. Members of the public may submit comments on the agenda to the Commission Chairperson, care of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.

For more information contact Gettysburg National Military Park at (717) 338-4402.
Thirsty? Youre in luck. In Pastes drinking-and-traveling series, City in a Glass, we mix up a citys signature swills and slide them down the bar to readers. Grab a stool. This round, in Minneapolis, is on us.

at enough bars in Minneapolis and youre likely to hear the phrase Nordic tiki tossed around. This odd style of cocktail is a Northern European play on tropical libations, and it is specific toand very prevalent inMinnesota. In this part of the country, a third of the population is of Nordic descent (from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and its territories). So instead of making tiki drinks with the traditional rum, many bartenders make them with Genever, a Dutch predecessor to gin, or aquavit, a caraway- or dill-flavored grain spirit from Scandinavia.

Tikis regained its popularity globally, local barman Robert Jones says. Were embracing our heritage as a city and thinking about tiki from that aspect instead of classic tiki. Using aquavit and other things that we have locally makes it kitschy and fun.

Simeon Priest, head bartender at Hi-Lo Diner, had a Nordic tiki drink on his menu this summer that he made with aquavit, aperitif wine, pineapple juice, cinnamon and blue Curacao. [A Nordic tiki drink] looks like a regular tiki drink but tastes more like caraway or rye; theyre not the classic pineapple-in-your-face, sit-by-the-pool type of cocktail, he says. Priest, who grew up in Minneapolis, says aquavit was something peoples grandpas used to drink. As a kid you tasted it and thought it was gross, but now were understanding the intricacies of it and the process that goes into making it.

Another reason why aquavit has risen in popularity in Minneapolis is because it just started being produced here. Five years ago, after a heated legislative battle, the state relaxed its distilling laws and the city has had a boom in micro-distilleries ever since. Two of the most well respected distilleries are Norseman and Tattersall, the later of which now makes aquavit. The spirit is so hot that Jones says theyre distilling it almost from a necessity standpoint.

But aquavit and Nordic tiki drinks arent the only interesting aspects of Minneapolis cocktail culture. On this city drinks tour, were going to introduce you to three only-in-Minneapolis cocktails (made by three Minnesota natives), show you where to find them and even how to replicate them at home.



Where to order: Spoon and Stable

Youll probably recognize every drink name on the menu at Spoon and Stable restaurant in North Loop. Theres the classic Negroni and the Gimlet, for example. But you may not recognize the ingredients listed underneath. Chamomile in the Negroni? Fennel pollen in the Gimlet? Head bartender Robert Jones says he focuses on making these classics fantastic firstand then better than anyone else. Were keeping the integrity of what the cocktail is, but modifying it slightly to make it unique, he says. We may change the spirit or add a couple of bells and whistles. That way the people who have had a Sazerac before arent having the same one.

Take his Sling. A Sling doesnt have a set recipe; its more of a format. Most people are familiar with the Singapore Sling, but when I think of a Sling I think: base spirit, spirit-modifier, something sweet and some acid, Jones says. (A Singapore Sling is made with gin, triple sec, cherry liqueur, herbal liqueur, Grenadine, pineapple juice, lime juice and bitters.)

For Spoon and Stables summer version of a Sling, Jones mixes Tattersall aquavit (of course) with watermelon juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, absinthe and a pinch of salt. Prior to making the drink, Jones compresses the watermelon juice with mint via a Cryovac, or vacuum-pack machine. This gives the watermelon a bright red color and prevents the mint from turning grassy when muddled. Aquavit has all these cool spices in it that you dont normally find in other things, he says. The absinthe kind of pushes that caraway and anise-y flavors to the top of the drink and it just makes everything echo and go forever.

Sling

1 oz. Tattersall aquavit

1 oz. mint-compressed watermelon juice (recipe below)

 oz. lemon juice

 oz. simple syrup (1 part sugar: 1 part water)

1/8 oz. absinthe

Pinch Kosher salt

Cucumber wheel, for garnish

Watermelon ball, for garnish

Make mint-compressed watermelon juice: Combine a bunch of mint and watermelon juice in a Cryovac bag. Vacuum seal. Store in the refrigerator. Strain before use.

Make drink: Combine all ingredients (except garnishes) and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake. Strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a cucumber wheel and a watermelon ball.



Where to order: Hi-Lo Diner

Photo courtesy of Eliesa Johnson

Hi-Lo Diner in Longfellow has only been open a few months, but it has a history that stretches back to 1957. The retro diner originally opened in Pennsylvania all those years ago but closed in 2009. In the time since, the Hi-Lo team bought the pre-fab building, had it restored and then transported it, piece by piece, to its new home in Minneapolis.

Head bartender Simeon Priest says they like to keep that old-school diner feel alive with the menu. He has everything from cocktails made with ice cream to cocktails made with Tang. We also set out to reinvent some of the cocktails from the 50s, 60s and 70s, which was the dark ages for cocktails in this country, he says. In the preceding decades, many of the great American bartenders had moved to Cuba or London, places where they could still practice their craft during Prohibition and the world wars. We are revitalizing these older classics like the Grasshopper, but also making a few more modern cocktails that we think taste nice.

One of his popular new creations is the Oaxacan in Memphis (say it out loud to get the pun). It is actually an update of the Rusty Nail cocktail, which is made with smoky scotch whiskey and Drambuie, a sweet, herbal liqueur. The Oaxacan in Memphis swaps in Tennessee whiskey for the scotch, Mexican mezcal for the smoke, urban-sourced honey for the sweetness and amaro for the bitter herbs. We add a thyme tincture on top to give the first few sips and the nose of the cocktail a bit of an herbal note as well, Priest says.

Oaxacan in Memphis

1 oz. George Dickel No. 12 Tennessee whiskey

1 oz. Del Maguey Vida mezcal

 oz. Licor 43

 oz. Tattersall Amaro

 oz. Skinny Jakes Fat Honey (thinned out, 1 part honey: 1 part water)

Thyme tincture, for garnish

Rosemary sprig, for garnish

Combine all ingredients (except garnish) plus ice in a mixing glass. Stir. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass that contains a single, large ice cube. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a spritz of thyme tincture.



Where to order: Marvel Bar

Photo courtesy of Erin Kincheloe

If a bartender told you he put water in your cocktail, youd probably send it back, thinking you were being ripped off. But at Marvel Bar in North Loop, water is actually listed as an ingredient on the menu. We love water, and lots of it, general manager Peder Schweigert says. Dilution is really one of the only common elements behind a cocktail, along with alcohol, and we love to play with the ways that different dilutants affect the end product.

While many of Marvel Bars drinks are technique drivenfor example, one cocktail is rested on charcoal for 10 days, both softening the flavors and adding a hint of smoke, Schweigert saysmost are simple at their core. The Sugarbush, for example, is made with gin, maple syrup, maple water and water. (Maple water is the pure, clear sap that comes out of maple trees in the spring.) The drink is inspired by Schweigerts life growing up in Minnesota.

Every spring I head about four hours north to process maple syrup with my father, he says. And one of my favorite things is making tea with the partially cooked-down maple sap. As the day winds down, we will often add a bit of whiskey to that maple tea as well.

He tries to capture that sense memory in the Sugarbush cocktail by using a gin aged on roasted maple wood chips. Some of the other elements you smell are wood, both fresh and burning, and the brisk nature of the Northwoods in spring, he says. [Its] my attempt to take people north with me, minus the snowshoes.

Sugarbush

50 mL Leatherbee Autumnal Gin (2015)

90 mL filtered water

75 mL maple water, such as DRINKmaple

5 mL Grade B maple syrup

Combine all ingredients, plus ice, in a cocktail shaker. Shake. Strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice.

City in a Glass columnist Alyson Sheppard writes about travel and bars for Paste and Playboy. She currently resides in the great state of Texas.
Has your iPhones touchscreen been slow and unresponsive lately? Well, you might have touch disease.

The design flaw has emerged in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus where the screen begins to flicker and is slow to respond to touch commands. Despite that Apple has not yet responded to the complaints.

iFixit, an iPhone repairs service, highlighted the issue this week. It claimed that the disease is caused by two chips coming detached from the logic board over time. These are the chips that recognize touch and swipe commands on the screen.

iFixit claimed that the problem is incredibly common. The companys blog post on the defect quotes other repair shops claiming the same. This issue is widespread enough that I feel like almost every iPhone 6/6+ has a touch of it (no pun intended) and are like ticking bombs just waiting to act up, according to Jason Villmer, Missouris of STS Telecom. However there are no hard figures on how many people are experiencing this problem beyond some complaints on Apples support forums.

The blog post details a few DIY methods of fixing the phone like applying pressure to the screen and twisting the phone to make the chips slip back in place but this is only a temporary fix. For something more concrete, iPhone 6 or 6 Plus users will need to get the chip soldered back on and if youre warranty is out, it may be more sensible to just buy a new phone. Both options arent exactly ideal, especially for a brand of phone thats only two years old.

Affected users have claimed that when they raised the issue with Apple, the company did not recognize the defect.

If the issue is as widespread as repair pros suspect, then Apple should start offering customers solutions instead of excuses. And they need to do it soon, said iFixit.

Apple has yet to comment though the much-rumored iPhone 7 is expected to be revealed soon, which may divert some attention from iPhone 6 problems.
I dont know about you, but my local Whole Foods has a thoroughly excellent wine section. Really good. Much of the wine there is priced in a way that exemplifies why the place is affectionately (or not) referred to as Whole Paycheck. So, good news, bad news.

There are certain regions producing wine that just dont command the prices that wine from, oh, say, France, commands. Not because they arent good, but because theyre just not as well known in the global market. Whole Foods is spotlighting a great example: Chile. From the end of August through the end of October, the entire chain will be featuring a carefully-curated selection of Chilean wines, and the prices will leave extra room in your budget. You know, for more microgreens. Or whatever.

So, Amy, before I head to Whole Foods to splurge on a bunch of vino, what are some things I should know about the wines of Chile?

Dude, I just drink the stuff, really. But:

Chile is a large nation with an extraordinary amount of latitude change from end to end. It is an immense strip on land with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Andes Mountains on the other. This basically means Chilean wine isnt a thing. There are so many microclimates and mini-regions it would make your head spin. Plus its a rapidly growing wine producer, though winemaking is a tradition that goes back to the 1600s there. So the first thing to know is that Chilean wine wears many faces.

Chiles main grapes: Some 20+ varieties are grown, but what youre most likely to find are Cabernet Sauvignons, Carmeneres, Merlots, Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Malbecs and Syrahs. Semillion, Viognier, Torontel, Carignan and Petite Sirah are also fairly abundant.

There are lots of great wines coming out of Chile but they are becoming especially well known for a distinctive style of Cabernet that leaves behind the high alcohol levels and extreme oakiness that characterize a lot of California Cabs. These wines are light and fresh and clean-tasting, which makes them friendlier for food pairing and for warmer weather.

That said  heres a sampling of what you can find at your local WF from late August through late October.



Casablanca Valley, $12.99

A mild-climate valley with a long dry season, Casablanca has some great spots for growing Sauvignon Blanc. These lower-yield grapes come from granite soils and Pacific breeze exposure, so expect good, crisp minerality and the more nuanced, strait-laced style of Sauv Blanc (if you are a New Zealand-style gooseberry-kiwi-smoothie kind of SB lover, this wine might confuse you). Hand-picked at 22 Brix and whole-cluster crushed, the wine is fermented in stainless steel, resulting in a pale straw color with green reflexes, and a grassy, herbaceous nose (hay, lemongrass, citrus peel and fresh leaves). Super brisk, high minerality, long finish. Lemon and grapefruit dominate the palate. A great hot-weather wine.



Valle Central, $7.99

A ruby-colored Pinot with a ripe, rounded bouquet (raspberry, cherry, a little vanilla). Ruby red; clean and bright. Fresh, soft, harmonious, with a pleasant silky finish. An unusually decent red for sushi, but also a good draft pick for pasta dishes and mild fish. Like many fruity Pinot Noirs, this ones also a friend to cheese (goat, especially, in my opinion  your mileage may vary)



Leyda Valley, San Antonio Valley, $14.99

Leyda Valley is a sub-region of the San Antonio Valley, located between the coastal mountains and the Pacific. Poor soils and a dry climate throw the kind of gauntlet grapes seem to appreciate. Pinot Noir isnt generally a wine that expresses a lot of saline notes in my experience (but my experience is more concentrated in the northern hemisphere, so this was interesting!)  Boya is a distinctly marine Pinot. If you want a red for the beach, or one that will fool you into thinking youre at the beach, consider this one. Harvested young, aged relatively briefly in older barrels and gravity-decanted, this is a bright, lower-alcohol wine that lends itself well to food pairing. It has an intense nose (florals and tart cherry) and a supple, clean finish thats long on berries.



Colchagua Valley, $13.99

The southern Rapel Valley is well known for Carmenere, and Criterions Carmenere Reserva is deep and densely colored with aromas of ripe blackberry, cinnamon and nutmeg. Rich, smooth, decently tannic but tempered with good acidity and a red berry finish. This wines got decent aging potential  probably at least five years.



Elqui Valley, $12.99

Elqui Valley borders the Atacama Desert, said to be among the best places in the world for stargazing because of the unusually low levels of water vapor in the atmosphere (Mayu is an Inca word for the river of stars effect of the Milky Way Galaxy when you can actually see it  remember actual dark nights?) This extreme dryness can be good news for grapes, too, and this area has long been the home of grapes grown for Pisco. This blend is fermented in steel (cold maceration), using the punch-down method to optimize color and tannin extraction. The Syrah is then partially aged in French oak and the Carmenere in American oak before blending. The result is not unlike a traditional Italian style, more juicy than jammy, with a deep color and a full-bodied character. Blackberry and plum predominate, with some vanilla and baking spices. Grilled meat will thank you for setting it up on a date with this wine.



Maule Valley, $19.99

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Hand harvested fruit, long skin-time. Manual harvesting. Aged 18 months in French Oak and a year in the bottle before release. Result? Deep ruby color, more florals on the nose than you sometimes get with heavier reds, but also familiar tones of cherry, blueberry and blackberry. Dark berry and black plum notes on the palate, and the velvet tannins that let you know youre dealing with Merlot, as well as the long finish that lets you know youre also in Cabernet country. This is a good red for roasted things, and hard cheeses.



Maipo Valley, $12.99

De Martino Estate Organic wines are estate produced and bottled wines of outstanding quality and terroir (alluvial terraces, for those of you keeping score at home). Organic since 1998, De Martino is a sustainability-focused winery (in the wine growing and crafting process but also in packaging and shipping practices) and is certified by BCS Germany. These folks are the first Chilean winery to be certified carbon-neutral, so if thats your jam, know youre buying from the good guys here. Their approach to Cabernet Sauvignon is to minimize (but not totally eliminate) oak contact, de-emphasizing the wood notes and letting the fruit shine through. So, this is a brighter, leaner Cab than some, making it very food-friendly. Cherry and blackcurrant notes are strong, with a hint of tobacco. As for what to pair with it, this wines an easygoing playmate and will compliment a huge range of dishes. Milder cheeses, pizza and pasta, grilled meats. Personally I liked it with roasted prosciutto wrapped figs.



Colchagua Valley

Partly oak and partly steel-fermented, this is another exemplary Chilean Cab with a low-attitude, moderate-alcohol leanness and suppleness that makes it a slam dunk pairing with a wide range of foods. Deep ruby-red in color, the wine has a peppercorn and red berry nose with a little blue-note of tobacco. Firm but pliant tannins, very lingering finish. This is definitely a wine that likes red meat, but vegetarians will find its pretty splendid with mushrooms and grilled vegetables. (Id put it on the table with winter squash ravioli in brown butter for sure.)

These wines will be featured through the end of October. Get them while you can  theyre all under 20 bucks and have been chosen with care and thoughtfulness, and theyre all really nice wines. Some will cellar better than others, but the beauty of this stuff is that you can get a mixed case without going into hock and you dont have to worry over whether its a special enough occasion to justify opening any of them. Theyre all great weeknight-dinner bottles. Experiment  at these prices you can definitely afford to.
Were still waiting on a lot of the biggest new smartwatches in 2016, whether its the Moto 360 3 or the Apple Watch 2, but that doesnt mean there arent a lot of good options out there right now.

Whether youre looking for an inexpensive way to keep track of your notifications on your wrist, or a more elaborate gadget that doubles as a fashion piece, youre bound to find something below that fits your desires.

The thing I like most about the Pebble Time is that it know exactly it wants to be and sets to be it in the most practical way possible. Pebble has always prided itself on making smartwatches that have simple functions and incredibly long battery. The new Pebble Time continues that legacy and even updates the display from monochrome to color.

Add in the completely redesigned software and youve got a smartwatch that acts as a very significant alternative to the Apple Watch and Android Wear. If you shell out the extra money for the Steel version, even better. But as a budget smartwatch that puts you outside of the Apple/Google dichotomy, the Pebble Time is your best bet.

Fitbit has been in the activity tracker game from the very beginning and has always been at the top. The Fitbit Blaze is an example of the fitness tracker plus modela device that has a lot of the functionality of a smartwatch, except with an added emphasis on fitness.

The Blaze is the best of the bunch with its color display and easy-to-use software. The heart rate monitor might not quite be up to snuff for fitness buffs, but for beginners, the Fitbit Blaze is a really solid, balanced activity tracker with just enough smartwatch features to make it feel worth the money.

Unlike every other smartwatch on this list, the Vector Watch is made by a watch manufacturer, not a tech company. That alone gives this device a couple of advantages over the othersmost notably, the real wristwatch look and feel. But the best part is that the Vector Watch has fantastic 30-day battery life and always stays on so you can actually use it as a watch.

The Huawei Watch has always been one of the most expensive and luxurious Android smartwatches out there. Its much more than just a nice design and a hefty pricetag thoughthe Huawei Watch has the best display out there too. The 1.4-inch screen is a 400  400 resolution AMOLED display, which makes for the highest pixel density on any smartwatch. So if you want a smartwatch that will dazzle with its display, the Huawei Watch is one to check out.

The iPhone wasnt the first smartphone and the iPad wasnt the first tabletApples never been about being first. But its also safe to say that a competitor like Android wasnt around when those products first hit the market. Winning the smartwatch wars wont be nearly as easy, and though neither watchOS or Android Wear are as developed as they need to be, the ambitious nature of the Apple Watch is certainly promising.

Despite not being round, its still an incredibly well-built and attractive watch. Rumors are pointing toward a forthcoming price cut, so you may want to wait for that. The sequel to the Apple Watch probably wont be due for at least a few more months, so the original is a still a good buy, especially with the price cut.

Despite everything the original Moto 360 got right, it had it also had its fair share of problemsand not just quibbles either. It had terrible battery life, disappointing performance, and pretty limited functionality.

The Moto 360 might not attempt to do as much as the similar offerings from Apple or Samsung, but it does just as many things well. Motorola has nailed the look and feel of the kind of smartwatch I want to have on my wrist, largely thanks to the amount of customization the company is giving its customers. Because of that, its my favorite smartwatch to actually have on my wrist so far that Ive used.
By Manjeet Sehgal: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) may soon show door to its Punjab convenor, Sucha Singh Chotepur who allegedly accepted money for favouring tickets to his men.

A video clip allegedly showing Chotepur accepting cash is the reason being given for the proposed party action against the veteran politician. He is also accused of discussing party's Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann's drinking habit in an audio clip. Sources say the clips were selectively shown to some party leaders and are under wrap.

advertisement

Sources said the audio-video clips are part of a sting operation carried out by none other than but by the AAP leaders who belong to Punjab. The audio clip discussing Mann's drinking habit could be the outcome of a verbal spat between Chotepur and Mann who had asked the former to give up the habit after the parliament video shoot incident.

PARTY LEADERS SEEK REMOVAL

As many as 21 senior AAP leaders in Punjab, including Sadhu Singh, Bhagwant Mann, supreme court lawyer HS Phoolka, have written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking removal of Chotepur.

"We are highly upset and disappointed to see media reports about Sucha Singh Chhotepur accepting bribe. For past few weeks there had been whispers across Punjab about his conduct and practices but his confession in an interview and also to some party leaders demands an immediate action by Political Affairs Committee of Party," they said.

The leaders said that partys principles of zero tolerance towards corruption must be followed and such a corrupt person must be immediately removed, especially someone who is entrusted to lead hundreds of thousands of volunteers and state leaders.



MANISH SISODIA ASKS ARVIND KEJRIWAL TO PROBE ALLEGATIONS



Sources said the clips were also shown to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was asked by party Supremo Arvind Kejriwal to probe the allegations a week ago.

Manish Sisodia had also summoned Sucha Singh Chotepur to Delhi to know his side of story. Sources privy to the information told India Today that Chotepur had confirmed that the person shown in the sting video clip accepting a packet containing currency was him but the money was for the party fund and not as a bribe for ticket distribution.

Despite the clarification, AAP Party High Command has recommended an action against the Punjab party convenor for violating the provisions of party's constitution which prohibits its functionaries from accepting donations in cash. Donations for AAP can only be made and accepted in the form of a cheque, bank draft or an electronic transfer.

SISODIA RECOMMENDS ACTION AGAINST SUCHA SINGH CHOTEPUR

Highly placed sources said Manish Sisodia has prepared a report and has recommended action against Sucha Singh Chotepur who so far was considered a politician with a clean image. The party may announce its decision soon.

advertisement

Sucha Singh Chotepur had publicly denied that the person shown in the video clip was not he. He had also accused his opponents of doctoring the video to malign his image.

"The allegations are baseless and every penny accepted as a donation is accounted for. AAP has not opened any bank account in Punjab so far. The party volunteers contribute and fund the rallies and other programmes in the state. The clips have been doctored and are being used to malign my image," Sucha Singh Chotepur said.

CAPTAIN AMRINDER SINGH BACKS SUCHA SINGH CHOTEPUR



Meanwhile, former Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amrinder Singh has backed Sucha Singh Chotepur and has called him 'the only clean AAP politician'.

"This is a conspiracy hatched by Arvind Kejriwal against Chotepur who is the only clean AAP politician in Punjab. Kejriwal is known for his methods to misuse a politician and then gets rid of him by levelling false allegations against him," Captain Amrinder Singh said.

When asked to comment, AAP's Punjab Dialogue chief Kanwar Sandhu said he has heard about the allegations but the people levelling allegations have not come with evidences.

advertisement

A former Akali Dal chief, Suchah Singh Chotepur is a former Punjab assembly and Lok Sabha member.

ALSO READ:

U-turns, new demands continue suspense over Navjot Sidhu joining AAP



--- ENDS ---


Silicon Valley band represents the USA at International Folk Arts Festival in China By: Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors 1 2 3 1_RHAN_China 2_RHAN_China 3_RHAN_China SILICON VALLEY, Calif. - Aug. 24, 2016 - PRLog -- While the Olympics were going on in Rio, San Jose-based band Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors was representing the USA at the 10th China International Folk Arts Festival in Qinghai Province, China. The triennial event was sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC) and held in the city of Xining, the largest city and capital of Qinghai.



More than 300 artists representing 12 countries and China performed at the festival, which ran August 8-13 and included two gala performances, several regional shows, and a closing ceremony. Held at the Qinghai Grand Theatre, the Opening Gala was attended by 2500 including local and national dignitaries and taped for a national broadcast. The additional regional performances held throughout the Qinghai Province, many in cities closed to tourism, each had 3000-5000 people in attendance.



"The US has created the greatest genre of music ever: rock and roll. Everyone in the band grew up loving it and are passionate about playing it. It was a great honor to represent American Rock at the festival," Said Randy Hansen, band leader and songwriter of the group's all original music.



Zhang Xihai, the Deputy Director General of the International Liaison Department of CFLAC, explains the mission of the festival, "The language of music and folk art has no boundaries; we can all share it. The grand goal is to build bridges, to find a common platform for every artist. Even without a common background, (the groups) work together to produce something that can be appreciated by people of different cultural backgrounds. We need to understand (each other); the more knowledge we have of each other the better. America and China are far away in distance but close in mind and hearts, with so many people that study and travel (between the two countries)."



Following the performances in Xining for the Folk Art Festival, CFLAC invited the bands from the USA and the Netherlands to travel 450 miles east to Baoji, in the western Shaanxi province, for an International Art Exchange Show with local emerging artists and to meet with the musician's association.



The USA band Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors includes Randy Hansen, lead vocals and guitar; Rob Edwards on lead guitar; Russ Klein on bass; Ilya Umansky on keyboards; Steve Hlavica on drums.



About the band: Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors have been performing original music together since 2011 throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at numerous clubs and festivals. A sample of venues played includes the Rockbar Theater in San Jose, JJs Blues in San Jose, Nine Lives Club in Gilroy, Santana Row in San Jose, Hollister Rally in Hollister, Henfling's Tavern in Ben Lomond. Songwriter Randy Hansen has released ten albums. His songs had been played on Bay Area radio stations and worldwide on Jango Internet Radio.



About the Festival: The China International Folk Art Festival was set up in 1990 with approval from the State Council. It is held triennially by CFLAC and a domestic city. To this day, it has attracted 137 folk art groups from 58 countries, more than 3000 artists and millions of spectators. (Source:



Groups performing at the 10th China International Folk Arts Festival:



Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors Band of USA



Escalandrum Band of Argentina



Kabu Ni Vanua Traditional Meke Group of Fiji



"Written in the Stars" Girls Choir of Finland



Ragini Makkhar & Naadyog Dance Group Of India



The Titanic Dance Group of Ireland



The Dream Dance Company of Korea



National Center for Children and Youth "Seytek"of Kyrgyz



Desire Francois et Cassiya Group of Mauritius



The National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Mongolia



Skyblasters Band of the Netherlands



Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers of South Africa



Xining Art Theatre Co. Ltd



About Xining: Xining is the capital of Qinghai province in western China and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. It has 2,208,708 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,198,304 live in the built up area made of 4 urban districts. The city was a commercial hub along the Northern Silk Road's Hexi Corridor for over 2000 years and was a stronghold of the Han, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties' resistance against nomadic attacks from the west. The city lies in the Huangshui River Valley, and owing to its high altitude, has a cold semi-arid climate. (Source: Wikipedia)



High-resolution photos available.



Contact

Wendy Goodman

***@journeymore.com



Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/ 12582154/1

https://www.prlog.org/ 12582154/2

https://www.prlog.org/ 12582154/3 Wendy Goodman End -- While the Olympics were going on in Rio, San Jose-based bandwas representing the USA at the 10th China International Folk Arts Festival in Qinghai Province, China. The triennial event was sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC) and held in the city of Xining, the largest city and capital of Qinghai.More than 300 artists representing 12 countries and China performed at the festival, which ran August 8-13 and included two gala performances, several regional shows, and a closing ceremony. Held at the Qinghai Grand Theatre, the Opening Gala was attended by 2500 including local and national dignitaries and taped for a national broadcast. The additional regional performances held throughout the Qinghai Province, many in cities closed to tourism, each had 3000-5000 people in attendance."The US has created the greatest genre of music ever: rock and roll. Everyone in the band grew up loving it and are passionate about playing it. It was a great honor to represent American Rock at the festival," Said Randy Hansen, band leader and songwriter of the group's all original music.Zhang Xihai, the Deputy Director General of the International Liaison Department of CFLAC, explains the mission of the festival, "The language of music and folk art has no boundaries; we can all share it. The grand goal is to build bridges, to find a common platform for every artist. Even without a common background, (the groups) work together to produce something that can be appreciated by people of different cultural backgrounds. We need to understand (each other); the more knowledge we have of each other the better. America and China are far away in distance but close in mind and hearts, with so many people that study and travel (between the two countries)."Following the performances in Xining for the Folk Art Festival, CFLAC invited the bands from the USA and the Netherlands to travel 450 miles east to Baoji, in the western Shaanxi province, for an International Art Exchange Show with local emerging artists and to meet with the musician's association.The USA bandincludes Randy Hansen, lead vocals and guitar; Rob Edwards on lead guitar; Russ Klein on bass; Ilya Umansky on keyboards; Steve Hlavica on drums.Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors have been performing original music together since 2011 throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at numerous clubs and festivals. A sample of venues played includes the Rockbar Theater in San Jose, JJs Blues in San Jose, Nine Lives Club in Gilroy, Santana Row in San Jose, Hollister Rally in Hollister, Henfling's Tavern in Ben Lomond. Songwriter Randy Hansen has released ten albums. His songs had been played on Bay Area radio stations and worldwide on Jango Internet Radio.The China International Folk Art Festival was set up in 1990 with approval from the State Council. It is held triennially by CFLAC and a domestic city. To this day, it has attracted 137 folk art groups from 58 countries, more than 3000 artists and millions of spectators. (Source: ChinaDaily.com Randy Hansen and the Angry Neighbors Band of USAEscalandrum Band of ArgentinaKabu Ni Vanua Traditional Meke Group of Fiji"Written in the Stars" Girls Choir of FinlandRagini Makkhar & Naadyog Dance Group Of IndiaThe Titanic Dance Group of IrelandThe Dream Dance Company of KoreaNational Center for Children and Youth "Seytek"of KyrgyzDesire Francois et Cassiya Group of MauritiusThe National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of MongoliaSkyblasters Band of the NetherlandsDie Nuwe Graskoue Trappers of South AfricaXining Art Theatre Co. LtdXining is the capital of Qinghai province in western China and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau. It has 2,208,708 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,198,304 live in the built up area made of 4 urban districts. The city was a commercial hub along the Northern Silk Road's Hexi Corridor for over 2000 years and was a stronghold of the Han, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties' resistance against nomadic attacks from the west. The city lies in the Huangshui River Valley, and owing to its high altitude, has a cold semi-arid climate. (Source: Wikipedia)High-resolution photos available. Email : ***@journeymore.com Tags : Music , Travel , Songwriter , Bands , China , Folk Art , Silicon Valley , California Industry : Entertainment , Society , Travel Location : Silicon Valley - California - United States

China Account Phone Number Disclaimer Report Abuse Account Email AddressAccount Phone Number


Award recognizes Long's commitment to small business community

Contact

Jennifer Sherwood

***@maine.edu Jennifer Sherwood

End

-- The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, has selected Christine Long as the 2016 State Star. The award, given annually, recognizes a member of the Maine SBDC staff that has shown exemplary performance and a strong commitment to small business success."Chris is a tremendous asset to the Maine SBDC program. Always kind and helpful, Chris is the quiet one working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the program provides consistent and superior services to our clients statewide," said Maine SBDC State Director, Mark Delisle.Long is an administrative manager at the Maine SBDC at the University of Southern Maine (USM) in Portland. She has been with the Maine SBDC for 27 years and coordinates the USM business advising center providing assistance to clients and business advisors. In addition, she oversees all online requests for business advising and provides administrative, procedural and program support to the lead office and business advisors across the state.Each year, America's Small Business Development Centers recognizes top performers from programs around the country at its annual conference. A special reception will be held Monday, September 19, 2016 in Orlando, Florida to honor this year's award winners.The Maine SBDC provides no-cost, comprehensive business management assistance to small businesses throughout Maine through its network of certified business advisors. It is a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the University of Southern Maine and accredited by America's SBDC. For more information or to request a business advising appointment, visit the website: www.mainesbdc.org or call 207-780-4420
By: PODS of Lexington

PODS

Contact

Katie Yates

***@consortium- media.com Katie Yates

End

-- PODSLexington, a moving and storage company, is joining forces with Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) to host the final days of Drive Kentucky Summer Lifesaver, a blood drive promotion which ends on Wednesday, Aug. 31.The ultimate goal of this partnership is to raise awareness of the need for life-saving blood donations, as just one blood donor can save up to three lives. Participants who donate will receive a T-shirt for their contribution and have a chance to win a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 and 2 tickets to Red White and Boom.On August 29, donors can participate in the Drive Kentucky Summer Lifesaver wrap-up party with pizza provided by Papa Murphy's at KBC's Beaumont Donor Center from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Mix 94.5 will be onsite from 10 a.m.  noon, just look for the PODScontainer."The need for blood donations in our community is so great right now. All the donations KBC collects, stays in Kentucky, and goes to help save the lives of our neighbors and friends," expressed Ken Kocon, general Manager of PODS of Lexington. "You never know when you or a loved one will need the gift of blood, which is why our goal is set so high this year, but I'm confident that the people of Lexington will give generously, and we will beat the goal."Donors will receive a free mini-physical before donating, and their cholesterol results will be posted online on the KBC donor portal three days later."With PODS help, the past 3 years, we've recruited about 22,000 donors each summer," said Denise Fields, Kentucky Blood Center Marketing & Communications Manager. "We hope the additional push from PODS will help bring awareness not only to the end of the truck promotion and the summer, but to help us be prepared for the Labor Day Holiday."Kentucky Blood Center relies on volunteer blood donors to meet area patients' needs. KBC, the largest Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed blood bank headquartered in the Commonwealth, is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for patients at nearly 70 Kentucky hospitals and clinics in more than 60 counties.Over the last year, KBC distributed nearly 130,000 blood components, relying on volunteer blood donors to meet patients' needs in the areas it serves.For more information, or to schedule a donation, visit www.kybloodcenter.org.###PODS is a leader in the moving and storage industry providing both residential and commercial services in 46 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the UK. Founded in 1998, PODS pioneered the portable moving and storage industry now preferred by many customers' increasingly active and mobile lifestyles. To date, the PODS network has completed almost 700,000 long-distance moves, exceeded 3 million deliveries, and has more than 170,000 PODS containers in service.Founded nearly 50 years ago, KBC is the largest independent, full service, non-profit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC's sole purpose is to collect, process, and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky hospitals.
At AMO Toys, a new B2B portal and webshop based on the uCommerce platform is now automatically fed with product data from the PIM system, so that customers can rely on always getting the right prices, information, pictures, user manuals, etc.

Contact

Perfion

Jan Nrret, CEO

***@perfion.com

+4570262680 PerfionJan Nrret, CEO+4570262680

End

-- AMO Toys Scandinavia A/S is a young company, which has grown explosively during its first years. The product range and the amount of product information have increased tenfold.The company's challenge was to maintain product data in the suppliers' many different Excel spreadsheets. It was time consuming to standardize the spreadsheets in order to collect data in one price list. At the same time, it was difficult to gather data on specific items for a customer and to keep an overview of missing data. A consistent structure was needed, also in the Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system. With the existing data structure, it was impossible for AMO Toys to offer the online B2B platform and webshop demanded by the customers.Today, AMO Toys' master data and all other product information is available in the Perfion PIM system as Perfion is fully integrated with Dynamics AX. The same applies to the InDesign templates used for price lists.When product data changes in Perfion, the price lists are automatically updated with the new data. If customers need product data on specifically selected goods, this specific data can easily and quickly be exported in the desired format.Additionally, a new B2B portal and webshop based on the uCommerce platform is automatically fed with product data from the PIM system, so that customers can rely on always getting the right prices, information, pictures, user manuals, etc. The new shop gives customers a much better overview of the entire product range and the optimal product information encourages purchase. Consequently, the amount of orders increases all the time.Product Manager Steffan Schjdt Christensen, explains:"Without a PIM system to manage all the product data that cannot be stored in an ERP system, it had not been possible to create our new B2B webshop. We can also see that the number of orders in the webshop increases steadily as we import more and more detailed product information, images and other data into Perfion. The more products we present optimally in the webshop, the more we sell."At AMO Toys, Perfion handles four currencies as well as product information in four different languages.In addition to customer satisfaction, Product Manager Steffan Schjdt Christensen experiences that his and his colleagues' work is now much easier to manage:"The best about Perfion is its ease of use. I can add new things myself, and the system sets no limits. I have no IT education or other special qualifications, but after a brief introduction, I was able to use the system because of its logic. Our salespeople are happy about Perfion too because they now have access to all information and can assist their customers themselves."Suppliers' Excel sheets with new product data are easily read in to Perfion, so changes don't have to be entered manually. Because the PIM system provides AMO Toys a complete overview of all product information, new products are now created with all the necessary data right from the beginning. It has also become easy for employees to seek information across various suppliers and create the necessary reports.AMO Toys Scandinavia A/S is an independent distributor of toys, and licensed products for children.The company markets and distributes a range of carefully selected toy products and brands to the Scandinavian market. All with very high standards of play-value, quality and safety. The range includes some of the leading toy brands and licenses, as well as a market-leading range of private labels.Perfion is the world's only 100% standard Product Information Management (PIM) solution for companies withor need for multi-channel, multi-language communication.With Perfion you get a single source of truth for product information which gives you full control of all product data from day one wherever it is applied (e.g. webshops, websites, supplier portals, smart phone apps, printed catalogues, fact sheets, social media, direct mails, newsletters)Perfion is the easiest and fastest PIM solution to implement. It is open to integrate with your existing IT-platform and handles continuous changes in requirements without extra cost.Perfion integrates easily with existing ERP systems and 100% into Microsoft Dynamics NAV, AX, GP and SL as well as SAP, Oracle, Infor, Movex plus Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint, EPiServer Commerce, Sana Commerce, Dynamicweb, Magento and OXID eSales.Perfion has a documented ROI of less than a year.
EduMind offers CA Surveying exam course with intensive training by experts. Enroll in the course and get benefitted now.

End

-- With reputed instructors, in-depth course material and revolutionary teaching methods used  this review course is a sought after one by many aspirants.After passing out of college, it is just not sufficient to become a professional engineer. Students are required to earn some credentials before boasting about being a professional engineer. A PE is considered to be of high repute among clients and employers in the industry. EduMinds California Survey exam review course is the first step to scoring flying colors in the actual exam.School of PE a division of Edu Mind has been recognized for producing engineers with quality and performance that's earned student's high regards and recognition. Upon enrolling for the CA exam review course students stand to benefit from a load of advantages such as: The refresher module focuses on the theoretical part of the exam. 60% of the overall course work is covered in refresher course. Easy access to instructors Be part of discussion forum Easy access to course material Comprehensive coverage of course topics Easy refund in case dissatisfied with the courseA PE certification provides the much needed recognition to flourish in the respective industry. The Survey exam review course is offered in two divisions. Students will benefit from both theoretical part as well as the workshop module. The workshop module comprises of 60% of the course-work. The course focusses at solving the problems and can be conveniently be taken by enrolling online or for an onsite course.Passing the CA survey exam can open new doors of opportunities for an aspirant. Furthermore, this exam review course can be the pathway to progress in a student's pursuit to excel in the engineering career.For more information, visit http://www.schoolofpe.com/ casurveying/
RCNi supported by their technology partner, Impelsys, announce the launch of native mobile apps to aid their online learning resource, RCNi Learning

Contact

Impelsys Inc

Roshan Jayaram

***@impelsys.com Impelsys IncRoshan Jayaram

End

-- RCNi, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing, partnered with Impelsys, a leader in digital publishing and learning technology, to launch native mobile apps to support their online learning platform, RCNi Learning. The apps that are now live on iOS App Store and Google play Store will allow users to access the learning resources and sync their progress across all devices seamlessly.RCNi Learning is an online learning platform built on Impelsys' flagship mobile responsive and easy to navigate online learning solution, iPublishCentral Learn. The site is designed to help nurses meet their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements and to help students bridge gap between theory and practice. RCNi Learning features 135 interactive learning modules on a wide variety of specialties, with more modules to be added in phases.With the much awaited launch, students can now access their learning modules anytime, at any place even without internet access. The progress made on the module will be automatically synced to the account once the device is connected to internet. This allows tracking students' progress across devices at an account level to keep record of all learning activities and their CPD through certification of learning modules completed."At RCNi, we are always committed to provide up-to-date and quality educational content on nursing," said Rachel Armitage, Managing Director, RCNi; "With the launch of our RCNi Learning apps for Android and iOS, our learning modules are available both online and offline across a range of devices. This means users can easily complete their learning modules whenever and wherever they are, making learning effective and convenient. We are thankful to the team at Impelsys for their vision and technical expertise.Talking on the occasion, Sameer Shariff, Founder & CEO, Impelsys conveyed, "It is our constant endeavor to look at ways to leverage technology in the content and learning landscape, we are incredibly excited with this launch and we believe we are on the right path of making learning convenient by taking courses to students wherever they are."RCNi is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing. RCNi produces eleven nursing publications including Nursing Standard, the UK's best-selling nursing journal, and a range of specialist journals. RCNi also hosts the annual Nurse Awards, celebrating excellence in nursing, and the RCN Bulletin Jobs Fairs, the largest recruitment events for nurses in the UK.To know more visit us at www.rcni.com or www.rcnilearning.com Impelsys is a leading provider of technology solutions and services for educational providers and publishers globally, managing content & learning delivery on their flagship platform  iPublishCentral Suite, the World's Most Comprehensive Read to Learn Solution. Impelsys provides content engineering services across the digital product development lifecycle helping clients build new digital products ranging from eBooks to simulations to online courseware.To learn more, please write to marketing@impelsys.com or visit www.impelsys.com
Panattoni Europe is to deliver a custom-tailored project for Trio Line, the Danish manufacturer of high-end upholstered furniture commissioned by designers and interior decorators. The investment spanning more than 32,200 sqm of space will be developed near Poznan and will merge warehousing and manufacturing functions. The transaction was mediated by

[]
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.

advertisement

"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.

advertisement

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.

The report can be found online at: http://www.etruscanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ES1-17toc.pdf
The Afghan forces shot two gunmen for attacking the American University in Kabul on late Wednesday, ending the siege.

Information on casualties remained uncertain, but the Afghan Public health Ministry said one guard was killed and at least 21 people were wounded, six critically. No foreigners were reported among the wounded. Photo: Reuters

By Reuters: Afghan security forces killed two gunmen who attacked the American University in Kabul, police said early on Thursday, ending an assault on the compound that killed at least one person and sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic.

The attack at around 6:30 p.m. 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 pupils were working.

advertisement

Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded.

"The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team. More details will be announced soon."

Information on casualties remained uncertain, but the Afghan Public health Ministry said one guard was killed and at least 21 people were wounded, six critically. No foreigners were reported among the wounded.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Reuters earlier on Thursday that security forces had rescued around 500 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan's elite.

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," he said.

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.

advertisement

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 swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.



--- ENDS ---
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.

advertisement

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 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.

advertisement

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.
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.

advertisement

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.
A disorder known as Barrett's esophagus (BE) affects some 200,000 Americans each year. The condition, which is caused by stomach acid damaging the lining of the esophagus, can lead to the development of a serious, potentially fatal cancer of epithelial tissue, known as esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

In a new study, Carlo Maley, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, uses evolutionary theory to make predictions about which BE patients will go on to develop cancer.

The results, which appear in the current issue of the journal Nature Communications, point the way toward more accurate medical assessments for patients with BE and the development of early-warning beacons of disease known as biomarkers.

The research highlights the power of studying genetic diversity as a reliable predictor of cancer development and spread in BE cases and potentially, across cancer types. Such evolutionary indices offer the prospect of more accurate, pre-symptomatic diagnosis of cancer, compared with traditional biomarkers based on specific genetic abnormalities.

"Less than 5 percent of people with Barrett's will develop esophageal cancer in their lifetimes, yet we spend a great deal of resources and emotional stress over monitoring everyone with that disease," Maley says. "We need better ways predict who is at risk and who can be reassured. Evolutionary theory provides novel ways to measure the underlying evolutionary process that drives the disease and thereby predict who is at risk."

Processes of evolution have given rise to the cornucopia of life on earth, through the twin paradigms of chance mutation and natural selection, promoting advantageous traits while weeding out those that are disadvantageous to the organism.

advertisement

Unfortunately, cells that have become cancerous, furthering their own survival at the expense of their host, are also embedded in the evolutionary framework, using evolutionary strategies to further their lethal agenda.

Clone College

As the author's note, BE provides an ideal laboratory for studying evolution in action. Cells in the esophagus bearing mutations can propagate to form clones, (collections of genetically identical cells). Selection acts to preserve those clones that convey a survival advantage to a developing tumor, allowing such clones to expand with time.

Despite the central importance of clonal expansion in the trajectory of cancerous tumors, the dynamics of clonal evolution, degree of clonal diversity and rates of clonal expansion had not been quantified prior to the new study.

The paper highlights an intriguing finding: in the case of BE, genetic diversity remains fixed from an early stage, rather than increasing over time. Only Barrett's lesions whose genetic diversity is above a given threshold develop into EAC, while the majority of cases do not. Rather than a step-wise expansion of clones with time, the data show a co-existence of multiple clones, which come and go at equal rates, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium of genetic diversity.

advertisement

A more thorough understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of Barrett's clones is essential for understanding the factors driving cancer progression as well as for improved clinical management of the disease.

Currently, only a small percentage of Barrett's patients go on to develop esophageal cancer during their lifetime, but assessing the risk in particular individuals is challenging, costly, time consuming and error-prone.

Ongoing, endoscopic surveillance of BE patients aims to detect cancers in their early stages, where they may be addressed through minimally invasive means, but improved methods of risk assessment in BE populations could potentially save lives at reduced cost, zeroing in on those patients most likely to develop life-threatening disease.

Signs of illness

When food or liquid is swallowed, it passes through the esophagus -- a hollow, muscular tube running from the throat to the stomach. Stomach acid and bile used to digest food, is normally prevented from rising up into the esophagus by the esophageal sphincter -- a ring of muscle joining the stomach and lower esophagus. Stomach reflux, however, can force liquid from the stomach into the esophagus, potentially injuring the structure.

Patients with chronic acid reflux are at risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, whose symptoms include heartburn; a sour, burning sensation in the back of the throat; upper chest pain, chronic cough, laryngitis, and nausea.

In Barrett's esophagus, the normal tissue lining the esophagus is transformed into tissue resembling the lining of the intestine. Roughly 10 percent of people with chronic symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux will develop Barrett's esophagus.

While Barrett's esophagus increases the risk of esophageal cancer, the disease remains rare, affecting less than 1 percent of BE patients per year. Nevertheless, those with BE are encouraged to undergo routine examinations of the esophagus to search for pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions and target them for early treatment.

Often, there are no specific symptoms associated with Barrett's esophagus. Diagnosis is carried out through endoscopy and biopsy. The American Gastroenterological Association recommends regular screening for those carrying multiple risk factors for BE, including white males over 50 years of age with a history of hiatal hernia, chronic gastro-esophageal reflux, smoking and/or obesity.

Progression to cancer

The current study examines cell samples brushed from the esophageal lining of 320 patients with BE. All patients underwent acid suppressive therapy and were cancer-free at the outset. Patients were evaluated for 11-130 months, during which 20 patients (or 6.3 percent) progressed to a cancerous stage.

Intriguingly, the new study also determined that the degree of genetic diversity in BE lesions does not tend to change over time. The finding suggests that evolutionary selection acting on BE clones is weak and that risk of cancer development is predetermined by a baseline level of diversity which remains invariant over time: highly diverse Barrett's lesions typically progress to cancerous stages while low diversity lesions do not.

Analysis of BE patients over time confirmed genetic diversity was indeed closely correlated with the likelihood of progression to esophageal cancer, further validating the results of earlier research from Maley's team. Diversity-based categorization of cases in the study identified all but one BE case progressing to cancer in 80-100 percent of simulations conducted. Surprisingly, clone size did not correlate with likelihood of disease progression.

The researchers also provide the first estimates of the rate of expansion and contraction of mutant clones occurring in a living subject. Results demonstrated that a dynamic equilibrium is at work in lesions, with clonal expansions and contractions roughly balancing each other out over time, leading to stable genetic diversity. (The point at which dynamic equilibrium is established for BE lesions has yet to be precisely determined.)

Clonal expansions without accompanying contractions were found to be rare, occurring on average once every 36.8 patient years, while clonal contractions occurred once every 22.1 patient years. In cases of clonal expansion, clones grew an average of 1.58 cm2 per year across the surface of the esophagus.

The data sheds new light on the evolutionary dynamics involved in the progression from BE to cancer, with important implications for clinical surveillance and early treatment. The findings further support measures of genetic diversity as universal biomarkers for assessing the risk of disease progression across multiple forms of cancer.
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
The mother of a Tauranga man killed in a crash near Napier earlier this year has started an online petition for foreign drivers to sit a New Zealand drivers licence test.

Judy Richards launched the online petition after Chinese national Jieling Xiao had her jail sentenced quashed last week.
As director of one of the country's oldest, busiest animal shelters, Alyssa Krieger has seen staff and volunteers come and go- many of them just months after they started at MSPCA-Angell in Massachusetts. And she has a good idea why. Compassion can be a heavy burden. And even the biggest, strongest hearts can have trouble lugging all that weight around.

Among people who work with animals, it's called compassion fatigue, a sustained, even chronic stress on both the mind and body of a caregiver. And it has long afflicted people who can't say no to animals in need - whether in shelters, rescue groups, veterinary clinics or even among independent caregivers. "The thing about compassion fatigue is you don't always know in the moment that you have compassion fatigue," Krieger tells The Dodo. "It takes a very self-aware person for that to be so obvious." Instead, the weight of all those feelings - seeing animals abandoned, put down, abused, lonely - builds up over time.

"One of the hallmark signs of [compassion fatigue] is that you cannot undo what you've been exposed to, and your worldview is forever changed," Elizabeth Strand, founding director of the University of Tennessee's veterinary social work program, tells National Public Radio.

Dodo Shows Cat Crazy Fluffy Cat Wants To Sit On His Dad At All Times

Jos Danckwerts

Think of it as a kind of awakening that makes it impossible to close your eyes again. Unless, of course, like Krieger, you carve out some essential boundaries. "Having a work-life balance is important," says Krieger, who has been at the shelter for nearly seven years. "The first year, I would work through my lunch break and stay two hours late and I loved it, but it was tiring. Now I am better at going home and having lunch. "If you ask anyone who works with me, I'm constantly yelling at them to go to lunch or go home."

'We're saying goodbye to animals we love a lot' Ask Tammy Thies about compassion fatigue and you will likely get a resounding, "Ohhh yeah." "It's definitely a real disease," Thies, who is founder of the The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota, tells The Dodo. "Because people, like our staff, are rescuing animals from bad conditions, but not only that, because we house so many animals and we have such a high geriatric population, we're saying goodbye to animals we love a lot. "It can just be overwhelming. Even though you're doing a good thing, there's so much sadness around what you do."

Tammy Thies, founder of The Wildcat Sanctuary | The Wildcat Sanctuary

The sanctuary takes compassion fatigue among staff so seriously that it hosts an annual seminar focused on combating its effects. Another way to keep it in check involves embracing the circle of life. "We do an ash release ceremony when our cats pass away and are cremated," Thies says. "We do a celebration of their life. Similar to what you would do with humans when you follow the grief process."

Amiee Stubbs

Few people in any profession, however, work so closely with death as veterinarians and technicians. Indeed, death - frequently the only treatment for an old or sick animal - is something of a colleague in the veterinary world. But death doesn't take a holiday. It's well-documented that suicide rates among veterinary staff are among the highest, with a study from the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) suggesting one in six vets has considered suicide. That's a sobering - and tragic - statistic for a vocation that also happens to save more lives than most. "Because we are in a profession that requires empathy for us to do our job well, we may have a tendency to internalize the emotions and the drama and we just keep working, because it's what we have to do," Sonja Olson, an emergency clinician at BluePearl Veterinary Partners, tells The Dodo.

Johnothan Jones

But the darkness that has dogged the veterinary community for so long seems to be abating, thanks in great part to the simple fact that more people are talking about it. "What I would celebrate is that there's more awareness than ever about this issue," Olson says.

HSUS

The idea that you can just "power through" the daily wear and tear on your heart seems to be fading, Olson notes, as more people are reaching out to their managers, health care providers or colleagues. "Lean on your friends and family as resources," Olson says. "You are not alone. Really give yourself permission to have a life. And stay healthy by finding ways to keep yourself well with good nutrition, hydration and exercise."

Lisa Delong

And the idea that we're all in this together is breathing hope into all quarters of the animal care community - from The Wildcat Sanctuary's annual get-togethers to MSPCA-Angell, where the organization frequently has a guest speaker visit to discuss the emotional rigors of do-goodery. You might say compassion fatigue is taking a turn for compassion rejuvenation - a concerted effort to uplift the spirits of those who uplift animals every day.

HOME DOG LA
A young male deer was found last week in extreme distress, while his mother and sibling lingered nearby. Sadly, the male deer was unable to follow after his family - because he had gotten caught between the metal rails of a fence in Marysville, Washington.

When the homeowners saw the deer's plight on their property, they immediately contacted the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center to get him the help he desperately needed. "There was no way the deer was going to be able to be easily removed," the rescue wrote on Facebook. "The hips would not go through and the rib cage would not allow for it to return back the same way it went in. He was very upset, crying and terrified."

Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Scared Pittie Gets So Happy When He Meets This Guy And His Pack Of Dogs

There was only one way to free the fawn from the fence - by cutting him out. Despite the damage it would cause to their property, the family didn't hesitate to tear the fence down, the care center wrote.

After the fawn was finally cut free, he was transported to the rescue center, where he was slowly brought out of the temporary sedation used to transport him. Additionally, caretakers treated a wound on the deer's side caused by his unfortunate predicament.

The wildlife care center also treated the fawn for an illness known as capture myopathy, a form of muscle weakness that can present itself in animals who have been trapped and immobile for a prolonged period of time. Sadly, it was impossible to reunite the male deer with his family during the rescue. "The effects of the drugs and injury required that he come back to our center," the rescue wrote in a Facebook comment.

"It is not ideal, but he will have new fawns to bond with and won't be alone - even at release. At least he is alive. Once these 'fawns' are this old, we rarely get them into the center. They are usually hard to catch even if orphaned at this age. This was a very unusual situation, but at least he was saved," the rescue wrote.
All passengers are reported to be safe.

By Anindya Banerjee: A Newark-bound Air India flight, carrying around 300 passengers, was diverted today to Kazakhstan following some technical glitches.

Boeing 777-300 ER plane landed at an international airport in Kazakhstan at 8 am today after "some alarm went off".

AIUpdate: #AI191 #Mumbai - #Newark has been diverted to #Kazakhstan due to operational reasons. All pax are being taken care of.; Air India (@airindiain) August 25, 2016

advertisement

Following the incident, the airline immediately contacted the local Air Traffic Controller (ATC). Air India also dispatched a relief aircraft from New Delhi to ferry the stranded passengers from Kazakhstan to Newark.

Engineers are now inspecting the flight.

All passengers are reported to be safe.

--- ENDS ---
Dodo Shows Adopt Me! Scared Little Dog Is So Full Of Joy Now  And Looking For A Family

"The department is committed to wolf recovery," Donny Martorello, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf policy lead, said in a release, "but we also have a shared responsibility to protect livestock from repeated depredation by wolves." Sadly, this excuse for killing wolves is nothing new.

Once the world's most widely distributed animal, the gray wolf has become extinct in much of Western Europe, in Mexico and in much of the U.S., according to the IUCN: "Their original worldwide range has been reduced by about one-third by deliberate persecution due to depredation on livestock and fear of attacks on humans ... Continued threats include competition with humans for livestock and game species, exaggerated concern by the public regarding the threat and danger of wolves, and fragmentation of habitat."

Shutterstock

Killing wolves to protect livestock doesn't even work, a recent study showed. In fact, it can backfire. For each wolf killed, the odds that other wolves will prey on nearby farm animals actually increase. Despite this, the remaining members of the Profanity Peak wolf pack are now being hunted by the state. They have been living in the Kettle mountain range since at least 2014, according to Defenders of Wildlife. "It's a disappointing day when the state has to move forward with the last resort of lethal control, but we have come to that day," Shawn Cantrell, Northwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, said in a statement. "Removing members of the Profanity Peak wolf pack is a loss to wolf recovery efforts in the region. The best thing to do is to learn from this sad outcome and redouble our collective efforts to proactively prevent future livestock-wolf conflicts."
Preparations are underway for a milestone summit this fall that could be a defining moment for Canadian quality of life in the 21st century.

Ottawa appears determined to overhaul Canadas $219-billion healthcare industry. It is keen to use the once-in-a-decade expiry of the Health Accord as the opportunity for reform. The Health Accord is the means by which Ottawa injects funds into Medicare with health-care transfers to the provinces and territories, and renegotiation of a new accord has consumed several months.

At this historic moment, the feds are prepared to be the prime architect of change, if balky provinces and territories put up their usual stubborn resistance to it.

Provinces and territories have consistently demanded more money from Ottawa with no strings attached. They denounce specific uses of the funds as a federal intrusion on their bailiwicks.

But as Dr. Jane Philpott, the federal health minister, said earlier this week, There has never been a major development in the history of health care in Canada where the federal government was not there.

Indeed.

For instance, there would be no Medicare  the national achievement of which Canadians are proudest  had Ottawa not unilaterally imposed it across the country in the 1960s. Ontario was among the holdouts, until its then premier discovered that Ontarians wanted what the feds were offering.

Today, the feds have that same advantage of popular support for reform.

A Canadian Medical Association (CMA) poll that mirrors the results of other polls shows Canadians are strongly supportive of major healthcare reforms in mental-health services (83 per cent), more affordable prescription drugs (80 per cent), palliative care (80 per cent) and home care (79 per cent), among other health services.

Dr. Philpott is an ardent champion of targeted funding, to ensure that federal money gets spent on the Grits priorities of improved home care, palliative care and mental health treatment.

By contrast, the sub-governments share the view of Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, that We are totally opposed to targeted funding. Give us the money, let us decide how to spend it.

Dr. Philpotts valid grievance is that the $41 billion Ottawa transferred to sub-governments during the previous 2004-2014 Health Accord, which expired two years ago, did not bring health-care reform. We didnt buy change, as the minister puts it. This time, Ottawa wants to see results for its money.

In a remarkable speech to the CMA this week, Dr. Philpotts indicted the sub-governments for their routine violations of the Canada Health Act, which has undercut a fair and just society. She condemned the system as plodding and uncoordinated, an assessment few Canadians would disagree with.

And acceding to the sub-governments rote demands  an increase in federal funds with no strings attached  holds exactly zero chance of forcing reform. After all, the health minister noted, there are many countries that spend less than Canada on healthcare, yet boast better health outcomes.

Examples: Britain, Italy, Spain, Norway, Israel and Ireland, among others.

The sub-governments should have seen this confrontation coming. A Harper government also frustrated with lack of health-care reform slashed the increase in federal health transfers from 6 per cent to 3 per cent in a bid to force better spending decisions on provinces and territories.

It will be a struggle for the sub-governments to marshal a convincing argument against Dr. Philpotts insistence that Ottawa must have a role in moving Canadian healthcare from from the middle of the pack to out in front.

Heres what the traditional hands-off, no-strings-attached status quo has gotten us:

The World Health Organization (WHO), an arm of the U.N., ranks Canada a dismal 30th in quality of health care, trailing Colombia, Cyprus and Morocco. (France and Italy rank 1st and 2nd, respectively.)

Total Canadian health-care spending has more than doubled, to $219 billion, over the past 15 years, with no comparable across-the-board improvement in quality of health of Canadians. And as a percentage of GDP, Canadian healthcare spending has jumped from 8.3 to 10.3 in that period.

Absenteeism, most of it health related, costs the Canadian economy an estimated $16.6 billion a year. Poor health also contributes to voluntary turnover, which on average is 7.3 per cent and in the retail sector is almost 21 per cent.

Wait times, on average, are actually worse than 20 years ago. Twenty-nine per cent of Canadian patients must wait more than two months to see a specialist. The percentage of patients subjected to that anxiety is much smaller in the U.S. (6 per cent), Britain (7 per cent), Germany (10 per cent) and France and Australia (18 per cent each).

The basic principles of the Canada Health Act are routinely violated, degrading quality and accessibility of care from coast to coast.

In a letter to Dr. Philpott earlier this year, the Canadian Health Coalition (CHC) noted that rogue behaviour:

In the past year alone, the provinces have failed several times to abide by the Canada Health Act, the CHC wrote. Bill 20 in Quebec forces patients to pay for medically necessary treatment. Bill 179 will lead to the opening of private MRI clinics in Saskatchewan, and allow those who can pay to jump the queue ahead of others. [Thats two-tier healthcare, which Canadians have rejected in more than one election.]

In Ontario, weve found multiple cases of extra-billing and user charges, especially for cataract patients. In British Columbia, private clinics are charging illegal membership fees and user fees, and are double billing patients and the provincial healthcare system.

What the country needs is a holistic approach to health, as Dr. Philpott suggested this week in offering as one of several solutions a serious look at the socio-economic factors affecting health.

The logical conclusion is that governments must at least think about embracing universal daycare, pharmacare and denticare, which certain successful European societies have long ago done. Quebec has done so in daycare, of course  still a prime candidate for a national rollout more than a decade after then PM Paul Martin first suggested it.

The feds will have to put their money where their social-engineering ambitions are, covering something close to half of sub-government healthcare spending, long ago slashed to the current 20 per cent or so.

For as long as the provinces and territories are shouldering most of the financial burden for health care  the biggest item by far in every sub-governments budget  premiers are going to be huffy about how their healthcare budgets are devised.

Its time we stopped benchmarking ourselves against the U.S. (ranked 38th by WHO), which has bred a complacent satisfaction with our healthcare system, when reality urges a long-delayed renaissance.

SHARE:
After months of contract talks, the union representing 50,000 postal workers looks set to serve its 72-hour strike notice on Thursday, as its strike mandate is set to expire at the end of the day.

Canada Post is maintaining its unacceptable demands, rollbacks, said chief negotiators in a bulletin to members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Wednesday. If nothing changes between now and tomorrow, we will be issuing our 72-hour notice of strike activity.

However, the bulletin added that it is critical that we all continue to show up for work unless otherwise notified by our national union.

Bargaining talks have heated up in recent days as federal politicians, including Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk and Treasury Board president Scott Brison, have met with union officials and Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra.

Key issues have included the companys push to switch all new hires to a defined contribution pension plan and the ability to close nearly 500 union-staffed retail locations. The union has also called for equalizing pay among rural carriers, who are mostly women, with urban carriers.

The union would be unlikely to shut down the entire postal service, and during the last dispute in 2011, it held rotating strikes in different cities until the company locked out workers. The federal government then brought in back-to-work legislation, which has since been deemed unconstitutional.

Last week, the union asked the company to agree to extend the strike mandate, good for only 60 days, arguing it would be time consuming and cost-prohibitive to hold another strike vote in time. Management refused, saying it would be inappropriate.

If the union wants another strike mandate from their members, they should ask their dues-paying members, not the employer, said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton, arguing it would only result in further uncertainty for employees and Canadians about the postal service.

After nine months of negotiations, Hamilton said the two sides remain far apart.

The union continues to press for more than $1 billion in demands with no appreciation for the current and troubling future state of the postal service caused by declining mail volumes and increasing pension obligations, he said.

Canada Post remains committed to negotiating agreements that are fair to our employees, and allow is to continue to provide affordable pricing and service to Canadians.

The company had previously served notice it would lock out workers in July, but then withdrew the threat.

Read more about:

SHARE:
OTTAWAThe political pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to outline specific measures to control spending among his cabinet ministers, now that two of them find their own practices under the microscope.

New Democrat caucus chair Charlie Angus and ethics critic Alexandre Boulerice have written to the prime minister about questionable expenses that they say may breach Trudeaus own standards of conduct when it comes to public funds.

I think the prime minister needs to clarify: were they serious in the commitments they made in being open and transparent and whats he going to do about it? Angus said in an interview Wednesday.

This is a government thats already 25 per cent of the way into its new mandate and troubling patterns are developing.

The push for additional scrutiny comes after the ethics commissioner confirmed she would examine Health Minister Jane Philpotts repeated use of a high-end car service owned by a Liberal supporter.

The minister has committed to fully co-operating with Mary Dawsons investigation, which will focus on the question of preferential treatment because the owner of the vehicle service, Reza Shirani, volunteered on the ministers last campaign.

The Canadian Press reported Monday that Philpott claimed the $520 cost of accessing Air Canada passenger lounges in various airports in North America and Europe. Philpotts office later said she would pay back the money.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna also asked her department this week to review its expenses after it was revealed $6,600 was spent documenting the COP21 climate change conference in Paris.

McKenna said the use of photography was a long-standing practice under previous governments, including the Conservative government.

During a news conference Tuesday in Barrie, Ont., Trudeau said his government would look for new and more robust ways of disclosing the use of public dollars, although his office has not outlined specific steps.

Aaron Wudrick, the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said Wednesday it is reasonable to think the government may need some time to review ministerial spending practices.

I dont imagine it should take them a year to come up with something, Wudrick said.

If theyre suggesting they need to take a few weeks, or a month or two to figure something out, thats a reasonable time frame  but he should certainly at least indicate thats happening and not sort of leave it hanging there.

Wudricks watchdog group has encouraged Trudeau to look at the online disclosure policies used by Albertas provincial government and the City of Toronto.

At the federal level, there are individual budgets for MPs separate from ministerial offices and staff.

Wudrick said the degree of financial scrutiny at the MP level has increased considerably but there are still broad categories, such as hospitality, that do not offer specific details.

Improvements are required at the ministerial level, he added, noting ministers tend to travel more and attend international events.

I think that is in many cases where some of the bigger dollars will appear, he said.

They should have the resources they need but these are some of the situations where the costs can get out of control. I think the public needs confidence that they are being kept under control.

Follow @kkirkup on Twitter

SHARE:
A Canadian citizen was among the 250 people who were killed when an earthquake struck a mountainous stretch of Italy Wednesday, Global Affairs Canada said.

I was extremely saddened to see the tragic loss of life following the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which now includes the death of a Canadian citizen, Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said in a statement Thursday.

We share in the grief of the lives cut short by this terrible event.

The foreign affairs department did not release the name of the victim, citing privacy concerns.

The 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, injuring at least 365 people and reducing four historic towns in the Appenine Mountains of central Italy to rubble. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit the country since 2009, when a quake shattered LAquila  less than 100 km from this weeks devastation  killing more than 300 people.

Its unknown how many people remain trapped beneath the rubble.

Officials say 72 Canadians were registered as being in the area when the earthquake struck, though they did not say whether any are missing. One Canadian was reported inured.

Vaughan resident Sam Ciccolini, 72, returned from the region less than two weeks ago, strolling the narrow streets of villages now smothered in concrete rubble and debris.

Ciccolini says 48 family members live in a mountain village 100 km southeast of the quakes epicentre.

At 4:30 a.m., I get a WhatsApp from (my niece) saying, Theres an earthquake outside our hometown. We are all scared for the aftershocks, but no destruction yet,  recalled Ciccolini, who grew up in central Italy.

As soon as day broke and the aerial shots were coming in, I said, Oh my god. Entire towns. 

Ciccolini is the vice-chair of Villa Charities, which helped raise money following the 2009 earthquake in LAquila and funded a new community centre.

Bob Sacco, president of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations, said that while its still early, his organization is looking at options to support recovery efforts.

I got a lot of calls from our chapters in Montreal and various chapters across Canada that basically said, How can we help? The first step is really to figure out who the right people are to have an idea and do an effective plan, he said.

Seven years ago, Sacco was involved in the Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Fund, which raised $2 million for a new medical research facility at the University of LAquila. Another $400,000 was donated to the Red Cross.

The Italian community stepped up to the plate when that happened there and Im sure theyll do that this time as well, Sacco said.

The four towns and villages hit hardest were Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli. All have medieval roots with centuries-old buildings.

Constantin Christopoulos, professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto, said the proximity of the quakes epicentre to the villages and towns that were affected played a big role in the devastation, on top of sheer magnitude.

The closer the epicentre to the populated areas, the more damage that we see, Christopoulos said, noting the four communities are within 12 km of the quakes centre.

Many of the buildings that were seeing on TV  some of these look like older stone and unreinforced masonry construction  were not designed to withstand earthquake loading, and are therefore prone to damage, he said.

Aurora resident Anthony Pullano, a past board member of the Canadian Italian Businessmans Association and the Italian Chamber of Commerce, said he was upset by the devastation of the quake.

These towns are from the Renaissance, they go back hundreds of years, he said, noting he has family 140 km away in Rome. Theyre fearful, intense emotional anguish over what has occurred to their neighbours.

Pullano noted the clock tower in Amatrice remained standing, in defiance of tragedy, like a beacon of hope for all Italy.

A correspondent for Torontos CHIN Radio was within 40 km of the epicentre when it struck, said Umberto Manca, manager of Italian programming.

His house was trembling. All the bricks were shaking, furniture on the floor, said Manca.

The man, Mauro Carlini, hosted CHINs morning show Wednesday nonetheless. A tremor hit while he was on air. You could hear his voice trembling, Manca said.

Manca fielded calls all day from local Italian-Canadian residents concerned about friends and family abroad. Some were on vacation in the mountainous region.

The Italian consulate in Toronto has posted an http://www.constoronto.esteri.it/consolato_toronto/it/ information line END for people looking to reach loved ones.

It has also posted a link to the Italian Red Cross, which is accepting donations from people around the world via online and wire transfers.

GTA resident Nick Pinto, 61, who was raised partly in southern Italy, raised concerns over government foot-dragging back home and cited criticisms of the response to the quake in LAquila seven years ago.

Hopefully, reconstruction will come quicker than it has in the past and that the people will be taken care of, Pinto said.

Italy has a checkered history of reconstruction after earthquakes. In 2009, roughly 8,300 people who were forced to leave their homes in LAquila after the deadly earthquake there are still living in temporary accommodation.

Italy straddles two fault lines, rendering it one of the most volatile countries in Europe.

Brian Schwartz, chief of emergency preparedness at Public Health Ontario, noted the difficulty of getting emergency relief to the remote, mountainous area.

Mobile hospitals, clearly thats a huge challenge in central Italy, understanding that many of these places are remote villages, Schwartz said.

Evacuating injured victims is equally crucial, he added. Most major injuries need an operating room.

Schwartz says longer-term aid may prove the highest hurdle, in fields from housing to sanitation, food and water supply.

They need to rehabilitate injuries, they need to prevent infectionDevastating events can lead cholera because of tainted water. Fractures, if not splinted, can lead to infections, he said.

With files from The Canadian Press

SHARE:
OTTAWAFormer prime minister Stephen Harper has been awarded one of Ukraines highest honours.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko granted the Order of Liberty to Harper to mark the 25th anniversary of Ukraines independence this week.

Past recipients of the award, which recognizes contributions towards strengthening Ukraines sovereignty, include top diplomats of NATO and the European Commission.

Harper led the charge to have Russia booted out of the G8 following that countrys annexation of Crimea in 2014.

As prime minister, he also pledged millions in military trainers and other forms of aid to Ukraine, which was also one of the last countries he visited before last falls election.

Harper was not the only Canadian honoured by the Ukrainian government for their contributions this week  others included his fellow Conservative MP Jason Kenney, Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj and other members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community.

Harper said he was deeply honoured by the award.

I look forward to the day when Ukraines freedom and territory are no longer threatened by the Putin regime, read a message on his Twitter account.

We must continue to stand with the people of Ukraine.

Harper is expected to remain involved in international issues after he resigns his seat as a member of Parliament, a move expected by the time Conservatives gather in Halifax in September.

His next steps include the full launch of a consulting business that will have a foreign affairs component to its work.

Read more about:

SHARE:
SAGUENAY, QUE.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has joined a social media campaign urging world leaders to acknowledge that poverty has a disproportionate impact on girls and women.

Women and girls are less likely to get an education, more likely to be impoverished, and face greater risk of disease and poor health, Trudeau wrote in a letter released early Thursday morning.

The letter was crafted in response to a call from the ONE Campaign  an organization co-founded by Bono, the frontman for the Irish rock band U2, which promotes maternal and child health projects in developing countries in Africa and elsewhere.

The organization had sent an open letter to Trudeau and other global leaders this March to coincide with International Womens Day asking them to recognize that poverty and gender inequality go hand in hand.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am writing you back to know that I wholeheartedly agree: poverty is sexist, Trudeau wrote, employing the phrase used by the campaign.

The campaign, according to its website, has also been endorsed by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, actresses Meryl Streep and Tina Fey, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and philanthropist Melinda Gates.

I accept your challenge to lead. As a feminist, I know that women must be treated equally everywhere, Trudeau wrote, noting that he brought gender parity to his cabinet when the new Liberal government was sworn in last year.

It is my hope that this will set an example for governments around the world, Trudeau wrote.

Trudeau also reiterated that Canada is increasing its contribution to the Global Fund, an international partnership dedicated to ridding the world of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, by 20 per cent to $785 million over two-year period.

Canada is also hosting a fundraiser for the Global Fund Sept. 16 in Montreal.

U.S. President Barack Obama hosted the last such conference in Washington, D.C. in 2013.

Trudeau encouraged the ONE Campaign to continue putting pressure on other governments.

Canada can play an important role, but we need other leaders around the world to step up, too, Trudeau wrote.

RELATED:

I am a feminist, Trudeau tells UN crowd

The view from Britain: Trudeaus Canada a model to emulateE ND

SHARE:
The screams rang out just before 1 p.m., rising from the yard of a small bungalow in Scarborough and ringing out through the tree-lined residential street.

It was clearly an argument, one neighbour said  a young man yelling, another man screaming calm down, prompting a woman to come out of the house to join them.

By the time police arrived, silence. Responding to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at a home near Lawndale and Argo Rds. Thursday, police officers and emergency personnel were met by a grisly sight.

One man was dead on the homes driveway; the bodies of another man and a woman were found steps away, inside a small garage on the back of the homes property.

All died from what police described as crossbow bolt injuries, and a 35-year-old man arrested soon after the bodies were discovered is believed to be behind the attacks, a police source said.

The identities of the victims and the suspect have not yet been released, but the police source said investigators believe they are related. As of late Thursday night, Toronto police had not yet announced any criminal charges.

Just two hours after the bodies were found, the bizarre case took another turn as Toronto police launched a separate, related investigation into a possible bomb threat at a condominium in downtown Toronto.

Around 3 p.m., police ordered residents to evacuate 218 Queens Quay, then called in the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive team to investigate a suspicious package.

Toronto police Supt. Bill Neadles said late Thursday night that the package was discovered inside one of the units in the building, after police arrived to notify someone in the apartment about some of the events that may have transpired today.

They were sent to the unit by a call from one of investigators at the scene of the Scarborough crossbow deaths, Neadles said. He would not say who the condo unit belongs to.

Toronto police homicide Det.-Sgt. Mike Carbone told reporters police were only beginning their probe into the complex case, and had few details.

With this being (only) a four-hour investigation, we still have a ways to go to determine what exactly happened, Carbone said in a scrum Thursday night.

Immediately after the bodies were discovered, police cordoned off a wide area around the small bungalow, in a normally quiet neighbourhood near Kingston and Mason Rds. Residents arriving home in the afternoon were met with police tape blocking them from entering their houses, likely for hours.

Neighbours believe the home where the deaths occurred has been occupied in the last few years by a middle-aged couple.

Property records show the house was bought by Susan and William Ryan in 2010; neighbour Karen Mercado says William passed away two years ago.

In an interview with the Star inside her home Thursday night  with a body still visible under a tarp, just outside her front window  Mercado said no one inside her home was aware of what happened until a family member went to leave for work and saw a large police presence outside.

Its scary this has happened right next door, Mercado said. I have two kids and this is usually a very quiet neighbourhood. I was raised in this house for 22 years and nothing like this has ever happened here before.

Jerome Cruz was in his yard around 1 p.m. when he heard screaming coming from across the fence. His backyard abuts the yard where the bodies were found.

I heard somebody screaming in anger and banging. A young man screaming. I heard another man say calm down and a lady come from the house, Cruz told the Star Thursday.

Ragu Sangaramoorthy, who lives in the area, said he arrived home from work to see his street taped off. His kids were in the back seat. Oh my God, in front of where my kids play? . . . Im scared now. These were human beings.

Dale Lounsbury, who sells crossbows at a sporting goods store in Waterloo, Ont., and owns one himself, said they can be dangerous due to their power and accuracy. But they are not suited to firing multiple shots in quick succession, he said.

Crossbows are not a rapid-fire instrument at all, Lounsbury said. I can probably fire two shots a minute, maybe three.

Unlike guns, buying a typical crossbow does not require a licence.

In December 2010, a man fired a bolt into his fathers back at a Toronto public library branch in another crossbow incident that captured the citys attention. In that case, Zhou Fang then crushed his 52-year-old fathers skull with a hammer.

Fang was initially charged with first-degree murder but the prosecution accepted a plea of second-degree murder after considering that he was the victim of long-term abuse at the hands of his father.

He was sentenced to life in prison in 2012.

With files from Jake Kivanc, Sammy Hudes and The Canadian Press

Recap: Police respond to crossbow attack

SHARE:
Mirza Ismail is angry and frustrated over what he calls Canadians indifference to the plight of Yazidi refugees persecuted by Daesh terrorists in northern Iraq.

Why is the voice of the community, which only has an estimated 200 families across Canada, being ignored, he asks, while almost 30,000 Syrian refugees were plucked up and resettled by Ottawa from Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan in a matter of months?

I dont know why we are not listened to by our government, said Ismail, chair of the Toronto-based Yezidi Human Rights Organization International. Our women and girls are kidnapped, tortured and raped. They are the most vulnerable people, but get little attention.

The parliamentary standing committee on immigration recently held a series of hearings listening to dozens of witnesses as part of its study to come up with immigration measures to protect the worlds most vulnerable. A final report is expected to come out in the fall.

The targeting of groups for ethnic cleansing is an ongoing reality in parts of the world  and then there is genocide. Every anniversary of the Holocaust, the Holodomor, and the Armenian genocide, we invoke the words, said Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, the committee chair.

The importance and urgency of the topic was recognized by all committee members. Well be examining ways for Canada to support targeted groups, including accelerated resettlement and other humanitarian measures.

While advocates all agree Canada needs to do more and act quicker, how to achieve that remains a contentious issue.

The Canadian Council for Refugees shares the horror felt over the human rights abuses suffered by the Yazidis, as well as by many other religious and ethnic minorities, said Janet Dench, the councils executive director.

At the same time, we need to be careful about targeting specific groups, as it can compromise equitable treatment. Often there are individuals at extreme risk who do not fit within a specified group, but are just as deserving of priority consideration.

What criteria officials should rely on to assess vulnerability is another operational challenge.

How can you say this person is more vulnerable than the other? asked Chris Morrissey, who leads the Vancouver-based Rainbow Refugee, voluntary group that supports people seeking refugee protection due to persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV status.

I dont think it is acceptable to make comparisons. Vulnerable people are vulnerable people.

In fact, the Liberals ambitious plan to prioritize Syrian refugees in the Middle East has hit a sour note among other refugee groups and their supporters who felt the Syrians were jumping the queue with the sanction of the Canadian government, pushing everyone else further back in the line.

Although the refugee resettlement pie is much bigger this year, many of the sponsorship agreement holders still worry about slices being carved off with the restrictive caps Ottawa imposed on new sponsorship applications they can submit each year.

While no one wants to get into the morbid science of comparing one refugees plight with another, there are many who wonder why someone who has been waiting for more than five years may need to continue to wait while others appear to be zipping through the process because they are prioritized, said Brian Dyck, of Mennonite Central Committee Canada.

One of the challenges in resettling groups such as the Yazidis is that most of them are still trapped within their home country of Iraq as internally displaced people, hence by the United Nations definition are not refugees and are ineligible for resettlement to countries like Canada.

Between 2002 and 2012, Ottawa had a program known as the source-country class designed to resettle internally displaced people whose governments failed to protect them. However, eligibility was limited to people from a handful of war-torn countries.

It was scrapped by the former Conservative government because it was dangerous for Canadian officials to enter these countries to process applicants and, diplomatically, resettling foreign nationals from their home country was seen as an affront to other states.

Canada needs a program that can respond quickly to changing world events, said New Democrat immigration critic Jenny Kwan, who, along with her Conservative counterpart, Michelle Rempel, has urged Immigration Minister John McCallum to expedite resettlement of Yazidis.

To shorten processing time, Kwan asked officials to waive the additional level of screening and bring people to Canada following screening by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As an alternative, Canada could bring UNHCR-screened refugees to Canada under temporary visas and provide permanent residence upon completion of secondary screening.

Extraordinary events demand above and beyond actions, and Canada is well positioned to be a leader on this. It merely requires the political will to act, said Kwan. We cannot afford to wait.

While political will is needed, politicizing what group is deemed more vulnerable and deserves quicker resettlement is something to be avoided, said the refugee councils Dench.

Who we should resettle should not be based on the governments preference of the day. We need a principled response to these crises. We recognized the problem with the source-country program, but it should not be eliminated but reformed, said Dench.

We dont want it to be a competition, depending on who has a better lobbyist and better access to the media. What we need is to evaluate vulnerability based on an individuals connection to the situation and not on the basis of membership to a group.

Toronto lawyer Chantal Desloges said current immigration law already allows officials to apply discretion in exceptional circumstances, and all the government needs to do in response to ever-changing global refugee crises is issue directives to encourage the application of discretion toward a particular group facing immediate threats.

However, Paul Clarke, of Action Refugies Montreal, said the bottom line of Canadas response to protecting the vulnerable comes down to its capacity to respond.

The matter is when you prioritize a group, you are de-prioritizing someone else, said Clarke. When you see a poor person, you dont say, Let me see if I can find somebody poorer before I help you.

SHARE:
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.

Read more about:

SHARE:
A war of words broke out between UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati after the former called her 'bua'.

By India Today Web Desk: A war of words is going on between the UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati. They have had exchange over the use of word, 'bua' by the CM for the former chief minister.

After Mayawati objected to Akhilesh Yadav's choice of address for her, the Chief Minister on Thursday asked a counter question. "If I don't call her bua (aunt), what should I call Mayawati," asked Akhilesh Yadav.

advertisement

"Everyone calls the BSP chief 'behenji', what's wrong if I call her bua", said Akhilesh, almost making a mockery of Mayawati's anguish on the matter.

THE BACKGROUND

Last year in October, launching an attack on the BSP chief, Akhilesh Yadav had used the word, 'bua'. Speaking at a function at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia University, he said, "I am not afraid, but fear of bua (aunt) should be in everybody's mind".

At that point of time Akhilesh's comment was construed as an attempt to dilute his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's comment about Mayawati. Mulayam Singh had earlier said, "Unko kya kahen yeh samajh mein nahi aata. shrimati kahen, kunwari beti ya behenji kahen (I am at a loss about how to address her. Whether to address her as shrimati, kunwari or behenji)."

MAYAWATI TAKES ON MULAYAM, AKHILESH

Mayawati, for obvious reasons, did not like the comment. At a public meeting in Roorkee, she retorted by saying that UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was Mulayam's "lallua" (baby).

She further said that calling Mulayam Singh her brother was below her dignity. "I will feel humiliated and insulted if he is called my brother because he has cheap mentality against our saints, mentors and great leaders," said Mayawati.

Mayawati repeated her reservation over the choice of word to address at a recent rally in Agra. She advised Akhilesh not to show fake affection towards her.



ALSO READ:

Mayawati plays Dalit card as she launches BSP's poll campaign from Agra



--- ENDS ---
KABULMohammed Naser heard the bomb go off and ran to his second-floor classroom window, just in time to see the cinder-block garden wall blow apart. The lights went out and students rushed for the stairway, but someone said gunmen had entered the first floor.

We were trapped. Girls were screaming in the next classroom. I could feel the fear, Naser, 21, a business student at the American University of Afghanistan, said Thursday morning, hours after militants bombed and stormed the campus Wednesday evening.

The attack left at least 16 people dead and 53 wounded, the Afghan Health Ministry said Thursday.

The unknown assailants detonated a truck bomb at a school for the blind next door to the prestigious U.S.-run university while evening classes were in session. A small squad of gunmen rushed into the compound, battling police and other security forces until the pre-dawn hours. At least seven students died and hundreds were trapped for hours before the assailants were killed and the campus evacuated.

They were trying to kick down our classroom door, so we pushed all the tables and chairs against it, Naser recounted from his bed at the Emergency Hospital in the Afghan capital. Then students started jumping out the windows, and I did, too.

While Naser and about 20 other students were huddling behind a pile of furniture in their economics class, a police special-forces officer named Faraidoon Nizami, 25, was trying to fight his way up to their location.

I saw one guy wearing a commando uniform and I shot him, Nizami said Thursday. As he and his squad mates from the police Crisis Response Unit started up the stairs, another militant threw a grenade down and injured one of them. Nizami said he threw a grenade back and saw the second attacker collapse, but Nizami, too, was wounded.

Naser and Nizami ended up in the same cramped hospital ward Thursday, along with half a dozen other wounded students and police officers. Naser, who had landed on a cement patio when he jumped, broke his right arm and shattered his left hip before crawling to a basement library and passing out. When he woke up, special-forces officers were carrying him to an ambulance.

This was a political attack, he said. They are trying to stop education in Afghanistan and our university is the only one with international standards. It is a horrible pattern. Two foreign professors, including one American, were kidnapped by gunmen near the university Aug. 7 and have not been heard from since.

Nizami, who was nursing a leg wound, said his injured squad mate later died in a hospital. Their commander, Lt. Mohammed Akbar, 33, was shot dead while trying to evacuate students from the upper-floor classrooms. He was praised in numerous official statements and tweets Thursday as a courageous officer who had led rescue missions during some of the most infamous militant attacks on buildings in Kabul, including the Serena and Intercontinental hotels, the parliament and the election commission.

President Ashraf Ghani visited Nizami and other patients Thursday morning. I lost two of my friends, but the president came here and said he appreciated what we had done, Nizami said. Education is so important for our country, he added. If people are educated, there would be no more war.

Ghani issued a statement calling the attack a cowardly attempt to hinder progress and development in Afghanistan. He said terrorist groups seek to undermine values that Afghans believe in, but he vowed that such attacks will strengthen the nations determination to fight and eradicate terror.

Later, after the president met with his national-security advisers, his office issued a second statement saying the attack was orchestrated from the other side of the Durand Line, meaning from Pakistan. It said he spoke by phone with Pakistans army chief and asked for serious and practical measures against the terrorists organizing the attacks.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the campus attack, but its combination of a powerful bomb followed by a commando-style ground assault was typical of previous Taliban attacks on foreign and government facilities in Kabul. Afghan officials have often accused Pakistan of harbouring Taliban militants and leaders. Afghan officials reportedly gave Pakistani authorities three cellphone numbers used by the attackers that appeared to be from Pakistan. Pakistani officials released a statement late Thursday saying those numbers were from an Afghan company that provides cellular service on both sides of the border.

A Taliban spokesman said the group was investigating Wednesdays attack.

Some of the surviving students and their families echoed Ghanis defiant message Thursday, saying they planned to continue their education despite the threats. It was not clear when or whether the university would reopen, however. University officials have made no comments and have ordered students not to speak to the press.

Khuda Baksh, 61, a shopkeeper whose daughter Farzana suffered a mild head injury in the attack, said he would send her back to the university if it reopens. Speaking outside the Emergency Hospital, he said he had waited all night while she was trapped on the second floor of the classroom building before finally lowering herself to the ground with a curtain.

I am a poor man, but I am proud that all my children have been educated, Baksh said. My country needs educated people because there is so much illiteracy. I worry every day when my children leave home, but my daughter is a talented student and she wants to help her country.

In a flood of tweets and online messages all day Thursday, students, professors, friends and supporters expressed similar sentiments. Many blamed militant groups for seeking to sabotage education. Zabiullah Mudaber tweeted that the attackers were afraid of our bright young generation. Arhum Butt tweeted: To destroy education is the easiest way to rule. Hang in there #Kabul.

Despite the bravado, however, the terrifying campus attack added yet another violent blow to prospects for higher education and professional ambition among young Afghans, especially in the capital, where many flock to study and work. On July 23, terrorists detonated a suicide bomb during a peaceful demonstration by mostly young ethnic Hazaras, many of them college students.

Tens of thousands of young Afghans have fled the country in the past two years, some joining the flow of illegal migrants to Europe. Unemployment is soaring, and the collapse of the Western-financed war economy has left many young professionals jobless.

The attack on the countrys most modern university, established and run by Americans, is also bound to cast doubt on its future viability here, especially coming so soon after the kidnapping of the two foreign professors. No group has claimed responsibility for those abductions. In Wednesdays attack, another foreign lecturer, a woman from Uganda, was slightly injured, according to hospital officials.

One of the saddest scenes recounted by students Thursday was inside another classroom on the third floor of the building where Naser and other students were trapped. Mohammed Daud, an economics major, described trying to calm frightened female classmates as they listened to gunfire in the dark and then heard a gunman walking toward their room.

We all kept quiet. He entered the room and fired a few rounds and left, recalled Daud, who was being treated at the Emergency Hospital for a broken shoulder. Then I saw our lecturer with blood on his chest. He walked toward the window and threw himself down. Daud said he was afraid to follow but heard another gunman approaching and jumped. On the ground he saw his professor, an Afghan, lying dead.

His name was Ahmad Naqib Khpelwak, and he was one of the best teachers, Daud said. He had two masters degrees and was planning to begin his doctorate. Other students tweeted a photograph of Khpelwak, a handsome and confident-looking man with a yellow scarf around his neck.

We have lost another asset of Afghanistan, one of them tweeted.

Read more about:

SHARE:
LONDONBritish lawmakers on Thursday demanded that social media do more to police users who promote extremism, arguing that companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter are consciously failing to stop radicalization online.

Social media companies are leaving cyberspace ungoverned and lawless, allowing the forums to become the lifeblood of Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, according to a report from the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.

Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle 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, Chairman Keith Vaz said.

Internet-based recruitment by terrorists has become a sensitive issue in Britain, particularly after a group of teenage girls from East London travelled to Syria last year to become so-called jihadi brides. The case highlighted the struggles families and authorities face in trying to deal with young people exposed to Daesh ideology through social media. One of the girls, Kadiza Sultana, is believed to have died in an airstrike.

Despite their size, Vaz said, social media companies deploy only a few hundred employees to monitor billions of accounts. If the companies fail to act, and allow their platforms to become the Wild West of the internet, then it will erode their reputation as responsible operators, he said.

Twitter, Facebook and Google-owned YouTube responded with statements that either rejected the reports conclusions or pointed to earlier efforts to combat the threat. Google did not comment on its other media services.

YouTube said the company takes its role in combating the spread of extremist material very seriously. Twitter pointed to a statement released last week in which the company reiterated its commitment to eliminating the promotion of violence or terrorism on our platform and said that it had suspended 360,000 accounts since mid-2015 for violating its policies.

Facebook insisted it deals robustly with reports of terrorism-related content.

In the rare instances that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, well also look for and remove relevant associated accounts and content, Simon Milner, policy director for Facebook U.K., said in a statement.

Social media companies are bowing to public pressure to do more to stop their sites from being used by terrorists, said Peter Neumann, director of the International Center for the Study of Radicalization at Kings College London. He said it is just not enough to blame the internet companies.

Our research has shown that the vast majority of ISIS recruits that have gone to Syria from Britain and other European countries were mainly via peer-to-peer interaction, not through the internet alone, he said. Blaming Facebook, Google or Twitter for this phenomenon is quite simplistic  Id even say misleading.

Read more about:

SHARE:
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALANDA tourist from the Czech Republic, whose partner fell to his death, survived a harrowing month in the frozen New Zealand wilderness before being rescued, police said Thursday.

The woman was found Wednesday living in a park wardens hut on the snowed-in Routeburn Track, Insp. Olaf Jensen told reporters. She was admitted to a local hospital and found to be in reasonable health, Jensen said, although she remained upset from her ordeal.

He said the young couple left July 26 to hike the 32-kilometre track, a route which typically takes three days. But Jensen said the couple became lost because the track markers were buried in deep snow.

He said that two days into their ordeal, the man fell down a steep slope and died. The woman then spent the next three nights living outside in freezing conditions before stumbling upon the hut and breaking in, Jensen said. He said she suffered from some frost bite, hypothermia and other minor injuries.

Given her experience and the avalanche risk, she decided it was best for her safety to remain in the hut and that was the correct decision to make, Jensen said.

He said the woman fashioned a letter H in the snow outside to signal she needed help and waited. But Jensen said hikers were avoiding the route and nobody came.

It was not passable, he said. It was really extreme conditions.

Jensen said it was almost a month before the Czech consulate finally raised the alarm on Wednesday. He said police found the couples car at the trailhead and sent a helicopter along the route. He said the woman was relieved to see her rescuers after her traumatic experience.

Its very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported, Jensen said.

He said there was a radio in the hut, but the woman couldnt get it to work.

Geoff Owen, the Wakatipu-area operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said the Lake Mackenzie Hut where the woman stayed had firewood and may have had some food left behind by the rangers. He said the woman may have also broken into another hut nearby to find more food.

The Routeburn Track, on the South Island, is listed among New Zealands top 10 Great Walks and is popular with tourists during the Southern Hemisphere summer.

But during the winter months from June until August it can become treacherous. When there is deep snow, its typically only tackled by climbers equipped with crampons and ice axes.

Jensen said the couple was reasonably well-equipped for a hike, but not for the conditions they encountered.

Richard Forbes, the president of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club, said he was with a group of hikers that went to the Routeburn Track last weekend.

He said they were advised by Department of Conservation staff not to hike the alpine section of the track, where the woman was later found, because of the avalanche risk.

Police said they planned to try and recover the body of the man, who is also from the Czech Republic, later Thursday.

SHARE:
JACKSON, MISS.Republican nominee Donald Trump is linking his movement to take back the country to Britains surprising vote to leave the European Union.

The architect of the withdrawal campaign, known as Brexit, took up Trumps invitation to join the GOP presidential nominee on stage during a rally late Wednesday in Jackson, Mississippi.

If I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me, said Nigel Farage, the outgoing leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party.

You have a fantastic opportunity here, he told members of the audience. You can go out, you can beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, you can beat Washington, and youll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain.

Only moments before, Farage had denounced President Barack Obama for urging the British, before the June 23 referendum, to reaffirm their commitment to the European Union, and said he would not try to influence the American election.

Farage helped propel his party from the political fringe to power broker. Over the past few years, it has won over large numbers of voters from other parties by appealing to concerns about globalization and large-scale immigration.

Farage, who had pushed for the June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union, stepped down as party leader shortly after his side won.

He was the subject of controversy in the hours after the vote, when he stepped back one of the key leave pledges that Britain should use the 350 million pounds a week it sends to the EU to fund the National Health Service instead. Asked if he could guarantee that 350 million pounds a week would go to health care, Farage answered: No, I cant.

Trump said Farages appearance was an honour and that the nations working people will take control again.

The billionaire businessman noted the leave side trailed in opinion polls heading into the referendum, and Farage suggested that U.S. voters who might be keeping their personal views silent on the White House race will flock to Trump and propel him to victory.

Trump did support the leave moment, but only in the final days before the vote, after acknowledging earlier that he didnt know much about the referendum.

I was very supportive of their right to do it and take control of their own future like exactly what were going to be voting for on Nov. 8. November is our chance to redeclare American independence, he said at the rally.

Farage predicted that Trumps campaign would smash the establishment.

Read more about:

SHARE:
ANKARA, TURKEYTurkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and gave Syrian Kurdish forces a week to scale back their presence near the Turkish border, a day after it launched a U.S.-backed cross-border incursion to establish a frontier zone free of the Daesh and Kurdish rebels.

Skirmishes broke out between Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, raising the potential for an all-out confrontation between the two American allies that would also jeopardize the fight against Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) in the volatile area.

Turkeys incursion Wednesday to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkeys role in Syrias war and adds yet another powerhouse force on the ground in an already complicated conflict.

But Ankaras objective went beyond fighting extremists. Turkey is also aiming to contain the expansion by Syrias Kurds, who have used the fight against Daesh and the chaos of Syrias civil war to seize nearly the entire stretch of territory along Syrias northern border with Turkey.

Above all, Ankara seeks to avoid Kurdish forces linking up their strongholds along the border. The U.S. has backed its NATO ally, sending a stern warning to the Syrian Kurds with whom it has partnered in the fight against Daesh to stay east of the Euphrates River. The river crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarablus.

The U.S. is interested in stopping this from becoming a confrontation between the YPG and Turkey. That would be a huge detriment to the anti-IS (Daesh) campaign, said Chris Kozak, a Syria researcher at the Washington-based Institute of the Study of War, referring to the main U.S.-backed Kurdish faction fighting Daesh. Turkey accuses the group of links to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Kozak said an open confrontation between Turkey and the Kurds in Syria would undo much of the progress made working with the Kurdish forces against Daesh in northern Syria. If there are direct clashes, the U.S. would be forced to take sides, he said, and Washington would likely side with its NATO ally, whose airbase is used to launch coalition airstrikes against the extremists in Syria and Iraq.

Also, if the Syrian Kurdish forces are distracted in clashes with the Turks and have to shift resources toward front lines with Turkey or with Turkish-backed opposition groups, that buys (Daesh) some breathing space, Kozak said.

On Thursday, Turkish officials said Syrian Kurdish forces had started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River. The news was relayed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.

Syrian Kurdish officials contacted by The Associated Press would not confirm or deny that their forces were withdrawing east. Instead, the main Syrian Kurdish faction, the YPG, said its troops had returned to their bases after helping liberate the northern Syrian city of Manbij from Daesh earlier this month. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates about 30 kilometres from Jarablus, and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw.

The Kurdish forces statement said they handed control of the city to a newly-established Manbij Military Council, made up mostly of Arab rebel fighters from the town.

By day break, at least 10 more Turkish tanks crossed into Syria, Turkeys private Dogan news agency reported. An Associated Press journalist saw three armoured vehicles cross the border, followed by a heavy construction vehicle. Explosions reverberated across the border, followed by billowing grey smoke.

It remained unclear whether Turkey-backed Syrian rebels would move against Daesh-held towns or nearby Kurdish-controlled areas, including the town of Manbij.

Turkeys state-run Anadolu agency, reporting from Jarablus, said the Syrian opposition forces were working to secure the town to allow its residents to return, including defusing explosives inside the town or on roads leading to it. Estimates put the towns population at 25,000.

Turkeys defence minister, Fikri Isik, said Thursday that Turkish forces were securing the area around Jarablus. He said the Turkish-backed operation had two main goals  to secure the Turkish border area and to make sure the Syrian Kurdish forces are not there.

Its our right to remain there until the Ankara-backed Syrian opposition forces take control of the area, Isik said. He said Turkey and the U.S. have agreed that the Syrian Kurdish forces would pull out of the northern area around Jarablus within a week.

For now, the withdrawal hasnt fully taken place. We are waiting for it and following it, he told the private NTV television station.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition, Col. JD Dorrian, said some members of the force that seized control of Manbij went east of the river, but some remained to secure and clear landmines.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Kurdish forces appeared to be on the move south of the newly captured town of Jarablus, making the potential for all-out confrontation all the more possible overnight. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, was advancing south of Jarablus, taking over at least three towns in what appeared to be a push by the Kurdish-led forces to secure Manbij and the river separating it from Jarablus. The advances triggered brief clashes with the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels who had advanced south of Jarablus.

Sharwan Darwish, a spokesperson for the SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council, said there were no direct confrontations, only warning shots. A Turkish official said he had no immediate comment on the reported clashes.

Meanwhile, U.N. officials said they had received word from Russia that it supports a 48-hour pause in fighting in and around Syrias largest city so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to its increasingly embattled population.

Jan Egeland, who heads up humanitarian aid in the office of the U.N. Syria envoy, said the U.N. now awaits assurances from two rebel groups and written authorization from President Bashar Assads government before any aid convoys can go through to Aleppo amid an upsurge in fighting that has left the city nearly surrounded by Russian-backed Syrian troops.

Egeland said Russia backs a three-point U.N. plan that is to involve separate road convoys of aid delivered both from Damascus and across the Turkish border through the critical Castello Road artery into Aleppo.

We are very hopeful that it will be a very short time until we can roll, Egeland told reporters.

Read more about:

SHARE:
Ontario doesnt house people with developmental disabilities in dedicated institutions anymore  and in 2013 the province rightly apologized for doing so in the past.

But as a disturbing new report from Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube points out, in some ways things haven't changed much. People with developmental disabilities still too often end up in institutions ill-equipped to meet their needs, not by design but as the result of a broken system.

As reported by the Stars Andrea Gordon, once adolescents with developmental disabilities 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 - crucial services for which there are often years-long wait lists. Meanwhile, the province does little to buttress stressed family caregivers, prompting many to bail out.

Without community supports in place, those with complex disabilities like autism or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome often end up in psychiatric units, nursing homes, homeless shelters or jails where they get no help or the wrong help or are subject to abuse. In these institutions they are left to languish by a province that Dube says tends to take a "hands-off" approach to such crises. And when they are eventually released they are often returned to the abusive situations from which they were previously removed.

The ombudsman's investigation into the developmental services system began in 2012 in response to a flood of complaints. Some were on the brink of crisis, others firmly in its midst, Dube said at a press conference on Wednesday. At the time, he says, the Ministry of Community and Social Services was inflexible and officious, remarkably phlegmatic in its response to even the most horrifying cases.

And of the 1,436 complaints Dubes office investigated, many are truly horrifying. Consider just three:

<bullet>Peter, who has autism spectrum disorder, spent 12 years in psychiatric hospitals, often in restraints or crawling on the floor. It took ministry officials nearly a year to find him a home after a complaint from the ombudsmans office.

<bullet>Patrick was placed in a nursing home at 24 because his mother could not handle his aggressive behaviour. There he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by his 75-year-old roommate.

<bullet>Tommy was hospitalized repeatedly because of his aggressive behaviour, including a 73-day stint at $2,000 per day.

There are many thousands more in urgent circumstances and anxious for relief, Dube said.

The ombudsman claims things have gotten better, but only incrementally. Though he believes the ministry is now "well intentioned and earnest," the system remains a "fragmented, confusing, and complex assortment of hundreds of community agencies and local processes, impossible for many individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to navigate.

The ombudsman's damning report offers 60 recommendations for a massive overhaul to create an integrated system where none currently exists and ensure that people with developmental disabilities get the support, care and protection they need. Most critically, Dube argues, people with developmental disabilities must no longer be housed in hospitals, nursing homes or other inappropriate places  or returned to abusive situations.

It is often said that societies are judged on how they treat the most vulnerable of their members, Dube rightly noted. By that measure, Ontario has been failing for too long. Encouragingly, Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek, seemingly chastened by the report, has committed to implementing all of Dubes recommendations. The ombudsman has called on the ministry to report back on its progress in six months. For the government, that may seem like a tight deadline, but for those caught up in the broken system, the urgency is long overdue.

SHARE:
In Feb. 2010 a woman went to a walk-in clinic to see a doctor about a possible ear infection and some chest congestion. While Dr. Javad Peirovy was examining her with a stethoscope he cupped her breasts and touched her nipples.

One would think Peirovy would have lost his licence because of this, especially since it was not an isolated incident. A disciplinary panel of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario found in July 2015 that he had sexually abused four patients, including that woman, in the span of one year. And in 2013, he pleaded guilty in criminal court to two counts of simple assault  after being initially charged with sexually assaulting six female patients in 2009 and 2010.

Yet, despite all this, the disciplinary panel decided in April not to revoke his licence, but simply to suspend it for six months. Starting this fall, believe it or not, Peirovy can begin practising on both male and female patients again. (The only proviso is that a female health care professional must be present when he is examining female patients.)

A doctor with a history like Peirovy's should not be allowed to continue his practice, as the college itself understands. Thats why this week it asked a panel of Divisional Court judges to overrule the decision of its own disciplinary panel. The college rightly argued that the only appropriate penalty in his case given the utterly egregious and deliberate nature of the respondents sexual misconduct towards his female patients is the revocation of his licence.

The college is to be congratulated for taking this unusual action. But it should never have come to this. As The Star has argued before, the province should amend the Regulated Health Professionals Act so that any doctor who is found by a disciplinary panel to have committed any type of sexual assault will automatically lose his or her licence.

Currently the act only mandates the stripping of a licence if the doctor engaged in one of five acts: sexual intercourse, oral-to-genital contact, genital-to-genital contact, genital-to-anal contact and masturbation. That leaves a big loophole for disciplinary panels with a possible interest in protecting their own.

As medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte says, its a clear gap in the legislation. Why would it not be fixed immediately? Is a 14-year-old girl whos molested without penetration deserving of less protection?

Lenient treatment of doctors by the colleges disciplinary panel has been going on for far too long. In 2014, Mississauga physician Sastri Maharajh admitted he assaulted as many as 13 female patients by placing his mouth or resting his cheek on their breasts. Regardless, the colleges disciplinary panel allowed him to continue practising after suspending his licence for only eight months, on the condition that he treat only male patients.

That ruling was made despite the proven difficulty of enforcing sex-based restrictions on a doctors practice. Consider another male doctor, Sharif Tadros, who admitted to sexually assaulting female patients. He was allowed to continue to practise if he treated only male patients, but was later found to be treating women.

Sadly, the list goes on. As the victim from February 2010 notes: If this is allowed to continue, it could be your friend, your mom, your sister . . . Weve got to stop this now.

It's past time the province tightened the law to ensure that doctors who betray their patients' trust in such a fundamental way are never allowed to do so again.

SHARE:
Re: Retreat begins with another Philpott apology, Aug. 22

Retreat begins with another Philpott apology, Aug. 22

The message to hardworking MPs like Jane Philpott seems to be: sweat the small stuff. All of your hard work, no matter how impressive, pales in comparison to your missteps when the hounds get a whiff of your blood.

It doesnt matter that Dr. Philpotts apology was not conditional, like those of most politicians. She readily admitted that the limo expenses were inappropriate, and took personal responsibility for them by committing to repayment of excessive amounts  even if she herself had not made the arrangements.

However, though she dealt with the issue in a forthright and adroit manner, it did not stop the nasty letters and columns, despite having earned nothing but rave reviews before this incident. Her performance as a new MP and minister of health has made her omnipresent in her own riding, the country and abroad, so it is little wonder she requires limo service to discharge her considerable responsibilities.

Many of us who have gotten to know Dr. Philpott up close in our riding have the deepest respect and admiration for her, and believe she deserves some slack in view of her stellar performance.

Lets not send the wrong message to her and other hard-working representatives, or well dampen their enthusiasm for exemplary public service.

Salvatore (Sal) Amenta, Stouffville

I think too much negative attention is being given to Dr. Philpotts admission about her limousine bill being too high, especially with the cartoon in the Aug. 21 Star. We do not know the background as to why Dr. Philpott needed to take a limo to her engagements in one day. I expect she may have been encouraged to do so as she has long days of working, and probably had many stops in that one day.

She may have used the time in the limo travelling between stops to work or prepare more on what she was going to speak about. Dr. Philpott has, also, been travelling to various parts of the world and Canada to meet with individuals and to give speeches.

I would be extremely tired from working her schedule, and maybe it was a safety reason due to exhaustion that she needed to have someone else drive her to her various engagements that day.

Dr. Philpott has admitted that the limo bill is too high, and she immediately agreed to pay the bill. I have not heard anything about her defending herself about not paying the bill or her reason for needing to take the limousine. She took responsibility for her actions and is paying the bill.

I do not believe that Dr. Philpott is out to gain any financial benefits for herself at the taxpayers expense. How many people do we know who would do that and also work so faithfully and give her all to her position as minister of health?

Barb Harvey, Toronto

Revelations about the federal health ministers use of extremely expensive limousines brought to mind that infamous case of Liberal Minister David Dingwall about a decade ago.

Remember his indignant response to a Commons Committee when questioned on his spending : Im entitled to my entitlements. It seems thats always been the case with some politicians.

Reports of the latest lamentable limousine lollapalooza revealed that some ministers use them at $145 a trip to get home from the airport, when plebeians make do with a $25 taxi.

Then the defence minister used one in California to attend a meeting and visit a business, that set taxpayers back over $1,500. Makes you wonder why assistants who always travel with ministers are not driving them in a hired car in such instances.

Heres hoping the media dig deeper into Limousine-gate, and maybe discover this could be the tip of another travel expense iceberg.

Of course, in the crazy world of B.C. politics things are done on a far grander scale. A few months ago it was revealed that Premier Christy Clark had racked up over $500,000 in private jet travel expenses in five years. She claimed to be flying on constituency business to Kelowna, a four-hour drive from her home in Vancouver, and well-served by commercial airlines.

Its not the first time that ministerial air travel has been questioned in B.C. In the 1990s Ms Clarks former Liberal Party mentor Gord Wilson had flipped parties, and was then an NDP Minister when Ms Clark was Opposition critic.

She took him to task for using a helicopter to get to Victoria while other politicians used the ferry. Mr. Wilsons rejoinder remains emblazoned in the annals of political discourse: Unlike her, I dont have a broom to travel on!

Bernie Smith, Parksville, B.C.

Star columnist Paul Wells ability to get to the crux of a problem is informing and entertaining. Does a younger generation of Canadians not remember that English saying, take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves?

There is only one source of cash for Canadian coffers. Me or you. Not that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow Philpotts limo service thought they found.

Justin Trudeau would indeed be wise to enforce the count those pennies rule. Most of us have to.

Rochelle Hatton, Sudbury

This letter is to all the Conservatives screaming about Minister Jane Philpotts limousine bill. While it is extravaganza beyond the pale, I would guess that Minister Philpott had no idea of the cost when she ordered the service. And, let us not forget the excesses of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper who travelled all over the globe dragging his personal barber on multiple trips so she could wield her comb to keep that errant cowlick from straying.

J. Richard Wright, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Could a Conservative tell me the cost of shipping Stephen Harpers limousine by airforce plane from Canada to France? And back again? Was it less than $1,700? Where was Collin Carrie then?

Graham Steeves, Port Elgin

A $1,700 limo ride? Well, it didnt take Jane Philpott long to become a true Liberal. Total disregard for taxpayers money. Shes a fast learner. Too bad for Canadians!

Claude Gannon, Markham

SHARE:
Re: The politics of swimming in burqinis and bikinis, Opinion Aug. 21

The politics of swimming in burqinis and bikinis, Opinion Aug. 21

Every woman controls her own body. How much she chooses to reveal is a personal decision based on custom and tradition. Other than disappointing some nasty little voyeurs on the beach there is no reason that wearing a burqini should prevent any woman from accessing the ocean.

The towns in France that are banning the garment are showing themselves to be small-minded, mean and bigoted. Their position is contemptible.

Robert Kent, Mississauga

I applaud Hadani Ditmars for exposing this Orwellian absurdity.

A few French mayors and an alarming number of others, have decided that because they object to what they perceive to be women being controlled by being told what they can and cannot wear, are going to bring them freedom by telling them what they can and cannot wear.

To paraphrase, the government has no business on the beaches of the nation. Unless of course youre hot and shirtless.

Greg Stock, Toronto

Iranian writer, Azar Nafisi, who was fired from her teaching position at the Tehran University for refusing to wear a veil, writes in her book Reading Lolita in Tehran:

The streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities are patrolled by militia, who ride in white Toyota patrols, four gun-carrying men and women, sometimes followed by a minibus . . . They patrol the streets to make sure that women wear their veils properly, do not wear makeup, do not walk in public with men who are not their fathers, brothers or husbands . . . In the course of nearly two decades, the streets have been turned into a war zone, where young women who disobey the rules are hurled into patrol cars, taken to jail, flogged, fined, forced to wash the toilets and humiliated, and as soon as they leave, they go back and do the same thing.

Burqini-clad Muslim women in the West will provide the religious police in Tehran another reason to crack down on young Iranian women who defy the strict Islamic dress code imposed by the Mullahs.

If virtuous Muslim women in the West are wearing veil-like burqinis in the beach, why are young Iranian women refusing to wear them in the streets?

Mahmood Elahi, Ottawa

SHARE:
Re: Human error blamed for freight train derailment, Aug. 22

Human error blamed for freight train derailment, Aug. 22

Yet another train derailment has occurred in the GTA, apparently due to employee error. A CP spokesperson stated that the train contained dangerous goods but that there was no public safety concerns. Of course there are public safety concerns. We all just got lucky this time.

There have been 14 main-track derailments in Ontario from January to July of this year, four of them involving dangerous goods. In addition, in this province alone, there have been 65 non main-track derailments, 13 of them involving dangerous goods. During the same time period there have been 13 train collisions and six runaway trains, one of them right in the City of Vaughan.

Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow was quoted as saying that trains carrying hazardous and inflammable materials should be rerouted away from populated areas. Seems like a no brainer.

And yet Metrolinx is considering a plan that would reroute more freight trains to a track that runs directly through neighbourhoods in Markham and Vaughan. In my neighbourhood that track is one short block from an elementary school.

Come on, Metrolinx, think Lac-Megantic and then think again.

Marilyn Ginsburg, Thornhill

Just as in the Lac-Megantic disaster, the knee-jerk analysts of this minor train wreck pin the blame on the operator. How convenient! Now the only action needed is to discipline or retrain the designated culprit and ignore the fact that the system  trains, tracks, computers, switches, signals, procedures, policies, management, etc.  made it possible for this human error to occur.

As one sector of the transportation industry presses urgently toward an autonomous automobile control system, the rail sector is chronically reluctant to exploit and improve its already almost automatic system.

If it is possible to design an automobile that can navigate its way safely by sensing painted lines on potholed asphalt and avoiding both moving and stationary obstacles, should it not be easier to build this kind of control system for a railroad where trains run on a fixed tracks on an exclusive right of way not shared by bicycles, pedestrians and amateur drivers?

Given this advantage, one would expect the train driver to go the way of the elevator operator long before an effective autonomous automobile hits the road.

Paul Collier, Toronto

Wont self drive cars be a hazard? Presumably theyll be programmed to drive at the speed limit, come to a full stop at stop signs, turn into the appropriate lane. What a change it will be from the usual Toronto traffic!

Hugh Jones, Toronto

Read more about:

SHARE:
As many as seven students were killed when two gunmen attacked the American university in Kabul.

Afghan policemen stand guard at the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan (Pic: Reuters)

By Reuters: Twelve people, including seven students, three police and two security guards, were killed in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital, Kabul, police said on Thursday.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, told Reuters 44 people were wounded, including 35 students.

Security forces killed two suspected militants to end the attack on the compond, which began on Wednesday evening with a large explosion followed by gunfire, a police official said earlier.

advertisement

Also read

Afghan forces kill two gunmen to end American University attack



Gunmen attack American university in Kabul, one student dead



--- ENDS ---
After finding justice in criminal court, Tim Bosmas family is now hoping for the same in civil court as they pursue a lawsuit against the Ancaster dads killers.

The $14-million suit was filed quietly in London, Ont., Superior Court last May  more than a year before Dellen Millard and Mark Smich would be found guilty of first-degree murder in the 32-year-olds death.

Bosmas parents, Hank and Mary, his widow, Sharlene, and their daughter (who is listed as Jane Doe to protect her privacy), are the listed plaintiffs, claiming damages under the Family Law Act for both financial and emotional losses.

I can tell you, for Sharlene and for Tims parents, it has never been about recovering money, London-based civil lawyer Jennifer Chapman told The Spectator on Friday.

Its another venue where they can get justice for Tim, and have someone say, You are responsible for taking this mans life, and for the pain and suffering that this family now experiences.

Bosma was killed May 6, 2013, after taking Millard and Smich for a test drive of the pickup truck he was selling online. He was shot in his truck, his body then burned in an animal incinerator outside an air hangar owned by Millard at the Region of Waterloo airport.

His family continues to suffer from severe emotional and mental distress as a result of the brutal and callous act, the May 5, 2015, statement of claim reads.

The disappearance and death of Timothy Bosma and the resulting damages claimed herein  were caused solely as a result of the horrendous, malicious, arbitrary and reprehensible misconduct of one or a combination of more than one of the defendants.

Despite the criminal conviction, the allegations in the lawsuit have not yet been tested in civil court.

In addition to the two convicted murderers, Millards mother, Madeleine Burns, and his girlfriend, Christina Noudga  who is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder  are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

The statement of claim specifically notes that the transfer of properties from Millard to his mother in the days after his arrest in May 2013 was a fraudulent conveyance aimed at protecting his assets from creditors and as such, unlawful.

Much has been made of Millards fortune. During the murder trial, the Crown argued that he is not as wealthy as had been portrayed by the media, and that he had been struggling with debts in the months leading up to Bosmas murder.

But his defence lawyers painted a picture of a young aviation magnate flush with cash and properties  including his Etobicoke home, a Toronto multiplex, a Waterloo-area farm and the air hangar.

In a statement of defence filed Nov. 6, Millard argues the sum of money sought by the Bosmas marks vengefulness  without foundation and calls for the action to be dismissed.

From my own life experiences, I have felt the unimaginable grief and sorrow that stems from losing immediate family, he writes. The Bosma clan have (sic) been victims of a senseless loss, a loss of one of their family.

He adds in his defence  which would have been filed before he stood trial and was convicted  that the Bosmas have been re-victimized by a flawed police investigation. They are being wrongly incited to hate, and to blame me for their loss. However I am not to blame.

He ends by noting that despite this attack, I still feel the utmost empathy for the family. God bless the Bosmas.

According to documents, Millards assets have been frozen and have been controlled by a court-ordered receiver, Zeifman Partners Inc., since Nov. 13, 2015.

But people are allowed to liquidate assets to pay for lawyers, Chapman says.

No statement of defence has been filed for Smich, Burns or Noudga.

Less is known about Smichs financial circumstances, but Chapman stresses again that it is not about going after he who has more cash.

Its not about the Bosmas getting some payday. Its about having that judgment. And whether (the funds) ever actualize or not is at the bottom of their priority list.

Millard and Smich are now serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of Bosma  and are both appealing their convictions.

Chapman said those appeals will not necessarily delay the civil action, though it does prevent them from being able to see the investigation documentation.

The two courts function independently of one another. She explains that the action was filed in May of last year  instead of waiting for a conviction  because of an over abundance of caution around a two-year limitation period set out by the court.

Any time you start a civil action you have a two-year limitation period from the date that you knew, or ought to have known, the elements of your cause of action, she said.

From there, Chapman says the average civil action in Ontario takes between four and six years to move through the courts.

Millard and Smich will also face another criminal trial next year for the first-degree murder of Toronto woman Laura Babcock, who disappeared in July 2012.

And Millard alone is charged with the first-degree murder of his father, Wayne, whose November 2012 shooting death was originally ruled a suicide.

Ravin Pillay, Millards lawyer on the Bosma trial, did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Smichs lawyer, Thomas Dungey, said he only represents Smich on his criminal matters and couldnt comment on the civil suit.

Brian Greenspan, counsel for Noudga on her upcoming accessory trial, said he has not had the chance to discuss the civil matter with his client and is therefore unable to comment. Her trial is set to begin in November.

Read more about:

SHARE:
The European Commission has hit back at U.S. concerns about competition probes into transfer-pricing arrangements by U.S.-headquartered companies doing business in Europe including Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) .

Both are under investigation for sweetheart tax arrangements with national tax authorities that were deemed to constitute illegal state aid in preliminary rulings by the E.C.

The probes concern Amazon's taxes in Luxembourg and Apple's tax-break arrangement in Ireland, which is now withdrawing its so-called double Irish tax perk over a four-year period.

Last October the E.C. announced state aid decisions against Starbucks (SBUX) and Fiat Finance and Trade, followed by a ruling this past January with a negative decision against a Belgian tax scheme it said benefited 35, mostly European, companies.

Apple and Starbucks have appealed the decisions to the E.U.'s highest court in Luxembourg.

The cases come less than two years after the November 2014 "LuxLeaks'" revelations about hundreds of tax-shelter deals between Luxembourg and multinational companies during Jean-Claude Juncker's time as prime minister.

As European Commission president, Juncker has made the fight against tax evasion and avoidance a priority, with the E.U.'s antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager pursuing state aid cases against alleged corporate tax dodgers.

A month before the E.C. is due to rule on Apple, the U.S. Treasury Department laid out its concerns in a 25-page paper released on Wednesday.

Among other things, the paper said the E.C.'s probes undermine the multilateral progress made towards reducing tax avoidance. It also alleged the Commission's approach is inconsistent with international norms and said the regulator should not seek retroactive recoveries -- or back taxes -- under what it sees as a new approach.

The paper also suggests that the E.U. and U.S. work together on the tax issue.

"The U.S. Treasury Department," the paper said, "remains ready and willing to continue to collaborate with the Commission on the important work of ensuring that the international tax system is fair, efficient and predictable."

A Commission spokesperson on Thursday said the E.C. takes note of the white paper and insisted that the E.C. is not unfairly targeting U.S. companies.

"E.U. law applies indiscriminately to all companies operating in Europe," the spokesperson said, adding, "there is no bias against U.S. companies."

She added that the Commission has been in contact with U.S. authorities on this matter "on several occasions already and remains available to offer all necessary further clarification as regards the application of established principles of E.U. state aid law in this area."
Here's a question that makes even the most confident of job seekers pause: What is your salary history?

Job candidates in Massachusetts will soon no longer have to fret this common query. Last month the Massachusetts state legislature passed what has been called the strongestequal pay law in the country.

State businesses now have two years to implement standards designed to create a more equal and transparent workspace. In addition to refraining from asking candidates about their salary history, employers must pay all employees the same wage for "comparable" positions, regardless of gender.

There are various factors that help explain why men are still, on average, paid more than women, more than 50 years after the Equal Pay Act made gender-based wage discrimination illegal. Women, when compared to men, hold lower-paying jobs and are less likely to ascend to high-level positions. Yet wage disparities persist even among corporate executives and doctors, studies have shown. As much as 40% of the gender-wage gap is unexplained.

Women earn 79% of what men earn, meaning a full-time working woman's median annual salary is $10,800 less than what a man makes. This gap varies depending on the woman's state and racial background.

Eliminating salary history from the job application process could help "cut off wage discrimination at the knees," says Sarah Fleisch Fink, the director of workplace policy and senior counsel at the Washington, D.C.-based policy and advocacy group National Partnership for Women & Families. "We suspect this has a significant impact on what someone is being paid."

The idea is that as women are paid less over time, their salaries at previous positions help set lower rates at their new jobs, compared to what their male counterparts are earning. Or, revealing a salary history could even, in some cases, cost someone the job.

Reversing course on this standardized application process for many employers could require them to reconsider the value of an individual position and the potential employee's background, Fleisch Fink continued.

"That's really how we should be thinking about pay," she said.

This is good news for workers, especially women, in Massachusetts, the first state to have forbidden salary history inquiries. Workers there, in addition to 15 other states, including Connecticut and California, are also protected from retaliation if they discuss salaries with colleagues.

For workers outside of Massachusetts, the legal playing field remains a bit more complicated.

Women will sometimes call the Washington, D.C.-based National Women's Law Center with questions about their salary, or to voice concern about of the legality of their male employees' suspected higher salaries, says Emily Martin, the organization's general counsel and vice president for workplace justice. She recommends women familiarize themselves with the law and consider speaking with an attorney in certain cases.

"A lot of employers have pay secrecy rules that are illegal under the National Labor Relations Act, so if someone is confronting a policy at work saying they can't talk about how much you make with your co-workers it is definitely worth talking to an attorney, if you feel like you are potentially at risk from your employer," Martin said.

There are also various, thoughtful ways to approach salary history questions.

Job candidates could explain their previous salary histories and then say if and why they felt like they were underpaid for their previous work. They could also express why they think a higher future salary is appropriate.

Kim Keating, CEO of Keating Advisors, which provides compensation consulting to individuals, companies and organizations like Human Rights Campaign, recommends against sharing specific previous or current salary figures.

"The person who names a number first is at a disadvantage," Keating said. "You can say I am focused on getting a number that is fair and equitable and if they press you can say my current compensation doesn't reflect my present capabilities and explain what you are hoping to be compensated and why."

But not all people are in a position to consider withholding or finagling information, as they might consider themselves vulnerable in the job market.

"It's a difficult moment to push back against," Martin said. "Which is why I think the approach Massachusetts is taking is a good model."

Women are also less likely to negotiate their salaries than men, as a 2016 Harvard Business Reviewstudy shows, and they don't necessarily perform well in negotiations they are forced into, as opposed to those they initiate.

Keating's organization usually works with companies whose employees have expressed feelings of unfairness over compensation. Her approach can involve collecting data on hiring and promotion practices to help create a more transparent system.

This past spring a small group of companies like Stella McCartney and Johnson & Johnson signed a White House-sponsored equal pay pledge, with Care.com, among others, spelling out its plan to take certain actions, including planning and executing equal pay reviews and regular equal pay audits.

Despite this progress, the onus still mostly falls on individual workers.

Martin says the Massachusetts equal pay legislation signals a recognition for "concrete solutions in this area," and she expects to see new state bills introduced that mirror this legislation. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which would penalize employers for retaliating against workers for discussing salaries, has been stalled in Congress since 2013.

"There is still a gap and it is just attributable to discrimination," Fleisch Fink said. "You start getting at that gap when you increase transparency, and that would hopefully mean we would start to see meaningful decreases in the wage gap."
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Spain's economy grew at a slightly faster than expected rate in the second quarter of the year. The fourth largest economy in the Eurozone increased by 3.2% year over year and by 0.8% in the second quarter. The expectation was for a GDP rise of 0.7% for the quarter.

The economic growth was due to an increase in investments and exports, BloombergTV's Mark Barton reported on "Bloomberg Markets: European Close" on Thursday morning.

Spain's political issues don't seem to be holding the economy back. Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is facing a confidence vote on August 31.

Bloomberg's Maria Tadeo joined the program from Madrid to discuss Spain's economic figures.

"It seems, and the numbers are really telling us that [political issues] had no impact on the economy whatsoever," Tadeo said. "At 0.8% in the second quarter, Spain is growing twice as fast as the Eurozone and that includes Germany, Italy, and France. And just this morning [Spain's] economy minister told us there are no indications of slowdown going into the third quarter."

The country still has work to do, with unemployment at 20% and several other issues that remain unresolved.
During 3-9 August IG reported a high level of seismic activity including explosions, long-period earthquakes, harmonic tremor, and signals indicating emissions at Reventador; cloud cover sometimes prevented visual observations. Incandescent blocks rolled as far as 1 km down the flanks. Gas, water vapor, and ash plumes rose from the crater during 3-4 and 6-7 August; the plumes rose as high as 1 km on 6 August. ...
YSR Congress, the principal opposition in Andhra Pradesh has demanded that the Assembly session should be convened giving adequate time to discuss all the pressing issues instead of just endorsing the GST Bill passed in the Parliament.

By Ashish Pandey: YSR Congress, the principal opposition in Andhra Pradesh has demanded that the Assembly session should be convened giving adequate time to discuss all the pressing issues instead of just endorsing the GST Bill passed in the Parliament.

The government of Andhra Pradesh has decided to convene the state assembly session in Hyderabad from September 8.

The government sources confirmed that the session only ratifies the GST Bill and completes the formality.

advertisement

Making a strong objection on it YSR Congress party senior leader Ummareddy Venkateswarlu told India Today that there are other pressing issues related to state that need to be discussed in the Monsoon Session and there is every need to bring up the issues in the Assembly session.

"We need at least four weeks time to take up the issues right from the deficit rainfall and the concern of farmers who are in distress as they have failed to qualify for the crop insurance and no bank has extended finance to the recent irregularities in Krishna Pushkarams besides other issues of public importance." Said Ummareddy.

"Reservations for Kapus and the demolition of places of worship ahead of the Krishna Pushkarams, the closure of 550 social welfare hostels besides the auction of Sadavarthi temple lands and the allotment of contracts in the capital area region under Swiss Challenge which has been in courts are some of the issues we have to take stock of in the session, "he further added.

The opposition leader also pointed out the attacks on Dalits involved in skinning of dead cow in East Godavari as a serious incident and demanded discussion on it during upcoming session.

--- ENDS ---


Former Murky Coffee owner Nicholas Cho, at left, took to the Web in defense in 2008 after a customer publicly berated barista David Flynn, at right, over the shops strict policies. The fracas lit up the Internet. (2008 photo by Joe Heim/The Washington Post)

If theres a Donald Trump of the specialty coffee world, hes Nicholas Cho, the charismatic barista with a history of avoiding taxes and reacting sharply to critics.

Washingtonians of recent vintage probably have no clue who Cho is. He used to operate the much-admired Murky Coffee, with locations in Arlington and on Capitol Hill. It was the forerunner of todays third-wave shops  Qualia, Peregrine Espresso, Compass, the Wydown and many more  that flood our veins with coffee prepared from high-quality, single-origin beans from around the world. Both Murky locations have long since closed, done in by tax violations, higher rent, mismanagement or some combination of the three.

But before he shuttered the shops and moved to California to co-found a roaster, Cho developed a reputation as Murkys guard dog, willing to take a bite out of anyone who messed with the integrity of his coffee products. Arguably, his most famous episode came in 2008, when he got into a war of online words with a customer who didnt appreciate Murkys approach to serving espresso (that is, refusing to dilute it with ice). It was an exchange of tirades that ended with Cho threatening to punch the guy in, well, his baby maker.

The fight broke the Internet way before Kim Kardashian.

Nearly two years after that episode, Cho pleaded guilty to eight counts of criminal tax violation for not submitting tax receipts from Murky Coffee on Capitol Hill, which closed in February 2008 when the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue padlocked the property. Cho faced nearly four years in prison, but a D.C. Superior Court judge suspended the sentence and placed Cho on five years supervised probation. The probation came with conditions: Cho would complete 400 hours of community service and pay more than $190,000 in restitution.

More than six years later, Cho has finally paid off his debt to the District of Columbia. But it required a protracted court battle and the Districts willingness to forgive more than $30,000 in interest. In the end, Cho paid slightly more than $157,000 to resolve the tax debt.

We were able to get all but $30,000 back, said Robert P. Marus, a spokesman for the attorney generals office. If the judge sent him to jail, we wouldnt have been able to get any of that back.



Nicholas Cho pours a winning cup during a 2010 barista competition in the District. After Chos move west, the D.C. district attorneys office claimed he had failed to use his coffee expertise to earn an income that would allow him to pay his debts. (2010 photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

So what caused Cho to cough up the cash? The D.C. Office of the Attorney General filed a motion in late 2014 to revoke Chos probation and toss him in jail. The District accused Cho of willfully not complying with the conditions of his probation. The office laid out the numbers: By June 2015, more than five years after pleading guilty, Cho had paid back only $17,169 (with a balance of more than $170,000) and had completed 29 hours of community service (6 percent of the amount required).

The district attorneys office accused Cho of, among other things, voluntarily impoverishing himself; failing to take advantage of his coffee expertise to earn a living; spending cash on overseas travel instead of repaying his debts; and concealing income. The attorney generals office alleged that Cho had reported only $1,000 in income from 2010 to 2013, while city investigators unearthed 1099-K forms allegedly showing that Cho had earned more than $160,000 in the years 2011 through 2013.

The defendant has failed virtually every probationary condition, no matter how easy and uncomplicated such conditions have been. It is evident from the defendants conduct that he has not taken his probation seriously, the attorney generals office alleged in court documents.

In court documents responding to the Districts motion to revoke probation, Chos attorney, Eugene Ohm, attacked the Districts allegations point by point. The financial crisis of 2008 has hampered Chos ability to find employment, the attorney argued. Chos overseas travels were industry-related trips for lectures or networking, paid for by other entities. The $160,000 was payments to Wrecking Ball Coffee, a San Francisco-based roaster thats owned by Chos wife, Trish Rothgeb.

Six years after pleading guilty to eight counts of criminal tax violation, Cho has paid most of his debt to the District, which has dropped its efforts to have his probation revoked. (2007 photo by Dayna Smith/For The WashingtonPost)

When setting up the PayPal Business account for Wrecking Ball Coffee, Mr. Cho provided his own Social Security number, Ohm argued. Mr. Cho was unaware that this would result in a Form 1099-K being issued in his name in connection with the income of the business.

Additionally, Chos attorney argued that his client has deep, pervasive financial problems that extend beyond what he owes to the District. Cho, the attorney said, has had to use what little money he has earned or borrowed to cover numerous liabilities while still providing himself with the necessities of life.

The attorney generals office countered that it had collected enough evidence to prove Cho could pay off his debt. The office declined to share all its evidence. But spokesman Marus said work by Bayly Leighton, assistant attorney general, and James Hessler, a criminal investigator with the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, gave Cho little choice but to make restitution and start volunteering his time. He has now completed his community service hours.

And where did Cho get the money to cover his tax debt? According to the attorney generals office, two checks were submitted on Chos behalf. The first one, in the amount of $100,000, arrived June 15. The second one, for $39,885.38, arrived June 28. Both were drawn on an account owned by L.M. Rothgeb. Nexis records indicate L.M. Rothgeb is related to Trish Rothgeb, Chos wife and business partner in Wrecking Ball Coffee.

On Aug. 10, a Superior Court judge approved the Districts motion to withdraw the request to revoke Chos probation, officially ending the citys more than eight-year battle to get the former Murky Coffee owner to pay his taxes.

Ive completely fulfilled all of my financial obligations to the District of Columbia. The court canceled the motion to revoke probation because I have repaid all of my obligations to the District including penalties, Cho said in an email. I dont believe that I have anything else to say on the matter.

But thats not the end to Chos tax woes. He still owes more than $84,000 to Arlington County for unpaid meals taxes (and interest) connected to the Murky Coffee outlet in Clarendon, which closed in 2009. Cho has not paid the county anything since 2009, said Chris Sadowski, deputy treasurer for litigation in the Office of the Treasurer. Unlike the District, Arlington County has not prosecuted Cho in criminal court and cannot threaten him with jail time for not paying his taxes.

He has not come close to paying us, but this is an interesting development in the District, Sadowski said. Maybe hell have some money to dedicate to us.
The Wassataquoik Stream flows through the newly created Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

President Barack Obama created a new national monument on Wednesday, just in time for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The monument was created on 87,000 acres of Maine wilderness donated by conservationist Roxanne Quimby, who founded the health company Burts Bees.

The Katahdin Woods and Waters monument includes the East Branch of the Penobscot River and stunning views of Maines tallest mountain, Katahdin (kuh-TAH-din). 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.

Supporters say the move will create hundreds of jobs in a region hurt by the closing of paper mills in nearby towns. But critics fear that it will hinder efforts to rebuild a forest-based economy in Maines North Woods.

This spring, Maines legislature passed a symbolic bill saying it didnt consent to federal ownership of the land. Republican Governor Paul LePage also opposed the ownership, calling it an ego play.

Lucas St. Clair, the son of Burt's Bees founder Roxanne Quimby, was an advocate for the monuments creation. Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine, can be seen in the background. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

Quimbys son, Lucas St. Clair, who has advocated for the monuments creation in recent years, brushed aside such criticism Wednesday.

Many parks over the history of the park system have been criticized upon creation, St. Clair said. 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 boat and where Roosevelt hiked Katahdin in moccasins after losing a boot while crossing the turbulent Wassataquoik Stream.

It is teeming with wildlife: moose, black bears, coyotes, deer, bobcats, snowshoe hares, fisher cats, bald eagles and Canada lynx.

Although the monument status is supported by numerous conservation organizations, independent Senator Angus King, Republican Senator Susan Collins and Republican Representative Bruce Poliquin wrote a letter to Obama last fall outlining serious reservations about the proposal.

Kings position evolved, however, and he said the federal designation will provide much-needed diversity to the regions 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 Burts 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, including Maines Acadia National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park, started with monument status.

Deeds to the land allow snowmobiling and hunting, and 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 services 100th anniversary Thursday.

I cant think of a better way to celebrate the centennial and underscore our mission, said park service director Jonathan Jarvis, than by adding this extraordinary piece of Maines North Woods to the National Park System.
Dear Amy: As new parents, my husband and I are concerned about protecting our childs online privacy.

Our friends run the gauntlet from creating Facebook and Twitter profiles for their child the day they are born, to not even allowing their childs photo to be taken with a smartphone.

We made one request when our baby was born: Please do not post our childs name together with her photo on social media.

We think this is a reasonable, easy-to-remember request and provides at least a measure of privacy for our child, who has a unique name. That way, at least, someone who Googles her name doesnt get her photo with it.

However, on our babys first birthday, a family member posted her name, photo and Happy First Birthday in a Facebook post and tagged my husband and me.

In a single post, they gave her first and last name, the names of her parents (including her mothers maiden name), together with her photo and date of birth.

We politely asked her to take it down, which she did. This is a recurring problem, though.

Is it realistic to ask others to respect the privacy of our child? Does our name-photo separation rule even make a difference? How do we get our Facebook-frenzy family to remember our caveat? Your advice, please!

Privately Proud Parent

Privately Proud Parent:It is realistic, and your responsibility, to ask people to respect your childs privacy. And -- it is smart. However, you can expect some people to disregard your wishes, intentionally or accidentally.

My own practice is to never post photos of children (including my own) unless I have permission by adult children or the parents of grandchildren. I never tag anyone in photos and am deliberately vague about relationships.

If people wish to tag themselves (or their children), they can do so, but it should be their choice.

Anyone who makes a choice to post a photo of a child including identifying details for all the world to see is taking a risk about how that photo and identifiers might be shared and used outside of their personal social media friendship circles, now and for all time (including dissemination by technology that hasnt been developed) .

Because you are being more cautious than some other parents, keep reminding family members of your policy and ask them to remove tags or photos when you see them. My impression is that younger parents are more intentional about their social media use than their parents are.

And when grandparents hop onto Facebook, they tend to be completely off the hook. Be forewarned and continue to monitor closely.

Dear Amy: My wifes birthday was June 16, and I am planning a surprise birthday party for her this month (August). I know it sounds weird, but my sons are able to come in from out of town, so now is a good time for the celebration.

I have never planned a surprise party before, and I am wondering what advice you can provide to keep the occasion from being awkward since it is several weeks late. Will it be okay to sing her happy birthday? Is it okay for the guests to bring her gifts?

Any recommendations to help make it a positive/memorable event?

Belated

Belated: First, you should ask yourself if your wife would enjoy a surprise party.

I love surprises, but I loathe surprise parties. Keep in mind that they are not for everyone. She might prefer to know about this in advance, so she can look forward to it.

Hosting this two months late is awkward, but if you decide to go ahead, you should have fun with it.

You could basically turn back the clock and post calendars and newspaper headlines from June 16. Make sure to offer a wonderful public toast to her.

Yes, people can/should bring gifts, and, yes  singing should happen.

Dear Amy: Worried was dropping off groceries once a week for her husbands 94-year-old grandmother, Jenny, who lived alone in what seemed like unhealthy conditions.

While I shared your alarm and concern about this elderly woman, it is important to remember that she has the right to live the way she wants to live, including rejecting help.

Concerned

Concerned: You are right, but there are also many ways to help people who are infirm or no longer capable of keeping themselves safe. Meals on Wheels offers free meals delivered by volunteers; this might be preferable to dropping off groceries.

Amys column appears seven days a week at washingtonpost.com/advice. Write to Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he's "running against a rigged press" during a campaign rally on Aug. 2 in Ashburn, Va. (The Washington Post)

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he's "running against a rigged press" during a campaign rally on Aug. 2 in Ashburn, Va. (The Washington Post)

Is this any way to run a blacklist?

Donald Trump has made no secret of his dislike for the news media, which he has variously labeled with the three Ds (dirty, disgusting and dishonest). But some media outlets clearly are worse than others to Trump, who has banned nearly a dozen of them from his campaign rallies and public events.

Just dont try to figure out why some are out and others are still in good standing.

There is little rhyme or reason to the way Trump has gone about punishing disfavored journalists and news organizations. Trump banned the Des Moines Register last summer after it published an editorial that urged him to drop out of the race, for example. But the Wall Street Journal suggested something similar in an editorial earlier this month  with no reaction from Trump.

Similarly, The Washington Post was banned by Trump from his public events in mid-June after it ran a disputed headline (Donald Trump suggests President Obama was involved with Orlando shooting). But MSNBC, CBS News and the Atlantic published nearly identical headlines at the same time with no response from Trump.

The Posts Margaret Sullivan explores what might have lead Donald Trump to revoke the newspapers media credentials. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Britains Daily Mail tabloid hasnt been banned, although it was threatened with a lawsuit this week from Trumps attorney after it published an article suggesting that Melania Trump was a call girl before she met Donald. There were no threats, legal or otherwise, from Donald Trump, however, when the New York Post published nude photos of Melania Trump on its front page.

Despite a recent fusillade of tweets criticizing TV news coverage, no TV network or reporter is banned. Yet Politico, the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast and BuzzFeed, among others, remain on Trumps blacklist, for reasons that few people remember anymore.

Which is to say that Trumps habit of banning news outlets isnt just unprecedented for a presidential candidate  it also seems entirely arbitrary.

The New York Times isnt banned, although Trump has singled out the newspaper for criticism multiple times, even branding it the failing New York Times. Among other stories, Trump has objected to a Times article published this month that portrayed his aides as exasperated and his mood as sullen and erratic.

At a recent rally in Connecticut, he suggested he might revoke the Times credentials to cover his rallies and events. He hasnt.

He has certainly been critical of us, said Dean Baquet, the Times editor. But Baquet called the papers coverage appropriately questioning and said that a ban would make little sense. We can still get into most rallies, he said. We can watch television. We can interview people.

One theory circulating among journalists is that Trump has realized that banning news organizations has played badly with the public, especially after he declared The Post verboten in June. He hasnt banned another news outlet since (although he did call reporters the lowest form of humanity at a rally this month).

1 of 60 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail View Photos Donald Trumps media blacklist remains baffling to many. 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.

On the other hand, Trump also uses the work of banned outlets when its to his advantage. His campaign regularly emails supporters and journalists articles critical of Hillary Clinton from The Post and Politico, two outlets on his blacklist.

The Trump team has made it clear their candidate runs against the media as a tactic to distract supporters and avoid being held accountable, said John Avlon, the editor of the Daily Beast. The bans are an example of this, and their arbitrary application reflects the chaos inside the Trump campaign. The Daily Beast continues to be blacklisted because we insist on a fact-based debate and reporting without fear or favor. We consider it a badge of honor.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

As a practical matter, journalists say that being on Trumps banned list makes it more difficult, but not impossible, to cover him.

Overall, the blacklist mostly remains a matter of minor but kind of comical inconvenience, said Katherine Miller, political editor of BuzzFeed, which Trump has banned since he announced he was running. Our coverage of Trump and his campaign has been widely recognized. If we were off the blacklist, we wouldnt approach that coverage any differently.

The ban on The Post includes a prohibition on flying on the chartered press plane that follows Trump to his events. This has forced the paper to deploy multiple reporters flying on commercial flights, a more expensive proposition, said Steven Ginsberg, the papers senior politics editor. The Posts reporters also must arrive hours early to get into Trumps events via general-admission entrances, which Ginsberg calls a challenge but not an impediment.

Miller said Trump has never given her organization a formal reason for its presence on his blacklist, so its hard to conclusively say what lands an outlet there. But BuzzFeed probably landed in hot water with the Republican nominee long before he was even a candidate. The website called Trumps political ambitions a long con in a lengthy piece in February 2014, which may have marked BuzzFeed as an early entry on Trumps media enemies list.

The larger issue, suggests BuzzFeeds Miller, is what Trumps inexplicable pattern of banning media outlets says about how he will act if hes elected.

I think if theres an element most worth concern, its the opaqueness of that process, she said, and what it portends for how a President Trump would deal with issues like this, whether they concern the media or any other function of that office.
1 of 13 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See the stunning winners and finalists in The Posts 2016 travel photo contest View Photos After weeks of debate, the 13 finalists in the 17th annual Travel photo contest have been selected. Caption After weeks of debate, the 13 finalists in the 17th annual Travel photo contest have been selected. First place Though his image captures the stillness and serenity of a sunrise at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Tim Auer of Mountain View, Calif., was far from calm. Minutes after this January photograph was taken, the 32-year-old electrical engineer proposed to his girlfriend. The shot of Yellowstone National Parks Old Faithful Inn, Auer admits, was partly a stalling tactic. I was seizing whatever opportunity I had to collect my thoughts, he says. The picture  and the proposal  were a success. The wedding is set for March 2017. Read more about each place-winner and honorable mention here. Tim Auer Wait 1 second to continue.

We know where youve been  and not because of flagrant humblebragging. This is the 17th annual Travel photo contest, for which we encouraged you to flaunt your pictures. We received nearly 1,300 submissions, and you certainly set the globe a-spinning. The participants visited so many areas including South Africa, Uganda, the Galapagos Islands, Slovenia, Vietnam, Antarctica and Iran  that the map looks like a pincushion. We noticed some prevailing trends. Cuba is hot, hot, hot, as is Iceland. The multifaceted landscapes overseen by the National Park Service, which turned 100 on Aug. 25, look ravishing from all angles. Also, many people are eschewing serious cameras for back-pocket smartphones. A few photographers will also remember the moment for what occurred outside the picture frame: They proposed to their significant other during their trip. (See winner Tim Auer.) Next year, perhaps we should add a Destination Wedding category to the contest. Here are our top-three placers, plus the 10 images that earned an honorable mention.

Winner

Tim Auer, Mountain View, Calif.

Though his image captures the stillness and serenity of a sunrise at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, the photographer himself was far from calm. Minutes after this January photograph was taken, the 32-year-old electrical engineer proposed to his girlfriend of 2 years. The shot of Yellowstone National Parks Old Faithful Inn, Auer admits, was partly a stalling tactic. I was seizing whatever opportunity I had to collect my thoughts, he says. A photographer with a penchant for wildlife, he knew he wanted to capture the herd of bison seen huddling at right. Most [of them] were sleeping, warming themselves with the steam coming off the thermal feature, except for one, who was standing and looking out toward the trail, Auer says. As the beast moved closer, he clicked away on his Canon EOS-1D X, hoping to capture its silhouette. (The photographers sunrise silhouette of a brown bear in Alaska took third place in our 2014 Travel photo contest.) The picture  and the proposal  were a success. The wedding is set for March 2017.

[The essential guide to all 59 U.S. national parks ]

2nd place

Shannon Hinson-Witz, Chicago

Hinson-Witz, 44, recalls waiting patiently for this young mountain gorilla, a member of the Humba family, to turn toward her. The rest of the family was engaged in a grooming session while this youngster sat off to the side happily munching on the forest vegetation, she says. Hinson-Witz, a project manager for a pharmaceutical company, snapped this image during a December visit to Virunga National Park in Congo. She knew she wanted a close-up. Youre not supposed to look at their eyes, which is so hard because as you can tell from the photo, their eyes are incredibly captivating, she says. About 45 minutes in, her efforts paid off. The primate turned around and gazed directly at her. I couldnt look away from her eyes  they were mesmerizing, Hinson-Witz says. The two continued to lock eyes as Shannon raised her Canon EOS 7D and quietly began shooting. It was such a rare emotional and intimate moment, she says. She hopes the photograph will inspire others to learn more about the vulnerable animals and Virunga National Park, the oldest in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site. If one person sees this picture and decides to go visit, Ill be over the moon, she said.

[Birder, scuba diver  or both? This biodiverse destination offers the best of both worlds]

3rd place

David Kim, Atlanta

A few years ago, Kim decided that he needed a drastic change. Instead of continuing to wind down my days blinking at a computer screen, I started [a] mantra: Be less patient,  says the independent financial speculator. He ditched his cubicle and made a commitment to travel the world. Kim now takes 22 to 25 trips every year and catalogues his adventures on Instagram.

One of his most memorable was in June, to Robben Island in South Africa, site of the former prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. He captured this shot of himself hopping the islands coffin-shaped wave breakers by placing his Leica on a nearby rock and setting a timer. He says this image captures the mood and spirit of the site. Although raining, the sun kept boring through the clouds, said Kim, 32. It beautifully matched the spirit of not only Mandela, but also his fellow prisoners, many of whom now serve as tour guides there. . . . They werent bitter or angry; they were hopeful.

[Gallery: Travel Photo Contest 2015 winners]

Honorable mentions

Jackelyn Soto, Cary, N.C.

The 33-year-old chemist booked a six-day trip to Iceland with her mother and younger brother in February with one mission in mind: seeing the Northern Lights. But they were pleasantly surprised to find that the countrys land-based natural features were equally awe-inspiring. It was starkly, amazingly beautiful, Soto says. You feel like youve gone to another world. One of their favorite vacation activities was an all-day glacier tour organized by the Hotel Ranga in Hella. This capture is frominside one of the glaciers seen on that excursion.The view inside was amazing, Soto says. To take the shot, she slowed the shutter speed on her camera and tried to keep it as still as possible, despite her shivering  it was February in Iceland, after all. I couldnt believe the color of the ice was so blue! she says. Its really that color in person! It was crazy.

[Capturing the grandeur of travel: Landscape photos from the 2016 Travel Photo Contest]

Dennis Barnett, Lincolnshire, Ill.

Barnett, 65, was actually en route to another famous photo site, Deadvlei, when he scouted and composed this striking shot of Namibias massive orange-red sand dunes. I prefer to shoot flat and straight-on, says Barnett, owner of a small design firm, who took the image during a July trip. I liked this angle the most because it seemed to compose on the page pretty well, like three perfect triangles. He took several full-frame images on his Nikon camera before moving on. When I saw what I wanted and the light was right, thats when I shot it, Barnett says. There wasnt a cloud in the sky. Just left of center, two small lines appear to rise from the sand. Those are actually people in the distance, walking down the dunes. The dunes are like small mountains that stretch for miles, Barnett says. They are magnificent.



(Syeda Batool Moosvi)

Syeda Batool Moosvi, Washington, D.C.

Moosvi was captivated with Tehrans cityscape during her first visit to Iran in July. The city lies in an immensely large valley in the shadow of the Alborz mountains, she says. An internal-medicine doctor at Washington Hospital Center, she traveled to the Iranian capital last summer for a medical conference. One morning, before a busy day, Moosvi, 43, got up early and took in the sunrise from her hotel rooms balcony. Noticing the contrast between the newer and older parts of the city, as well as the suns play upon the skyscrapers, she took out her iPhone 6 and captured the scene. Her husband encouraged her to submit it for consideration. It brings back good memories, she says of the shot. We are happiest during our vacations.

[Iguanas, leopards and bears: Our favorite animal submissions from Travels photo contest]



(Christopher Michael Shepherd)

Christopher Michael Shepherd, Baltimore

The Matterhorn has fascinated me since I first visited as a child, says Shepherd, 21, who snapped this vista during a two-week European vacation. The recent graduate of the University of Delaware, now a structural engineer at AECOM in Baltimore, returned to Zermatt, Switzerland, in June to photograph the countrys most iconic landmark. This time, I felt my photography skills were at a level where I could capture its essence, Shepherd says. He took a four-hour hike from Zermatt and left the top of the trail feeling satisfied with the pictures he had snapped of the world-famous mountain. But it was upon his descent, about 100 feet down the hill, that he noticed this cloud formation around the mountains peak. He particularly liked how the lodge was dwarfed by the mountains massive shadow. The unusual vantage point prompted him to reach for his camera and start shooting.

[In Cuba, as an uncertain future inches closer, its still a step back in time]



(William G. Barnard IV)

William G. Barnard IV, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Barnard, 42, took this photograph in a mask-makers market in Purulia, about 125 miles west of Kolkata, during a month-long visit to India in November. The colorful papier-mache masks are traditionally used in the Chhau, an ancient dance from east India.Using only the light coming in from the door of the artists workshop. I opened my f-stop to 0.95 and chose to focus on the mask he was working on, says Barnard, a computer programmer. He likes the fact that the image tells a story. You get character from the artist and character from the mask, he says. Barnard snapped three quick shots of the mask-maker before taking a memento for the road: one of the beautiful hand-painted masks, which is now hanging up in his living room.



(Regina Goetze Roman)

Regina Goetze Roman, Alexandria, Va.

It was completely empty, says Roman, 60, of the April morning scene in Cairo. I felt like I was witnessing something that was rarely seen. Noticing the clear sky and the juxtaposition of the solitary figure on the old rickshaw and the shiny new tour bus, she began clicking away on her Nikon . Moments later, the scene completely changed, as tour buses and tourists swooped in. There are those moments were we stand within eternity and are part of the past, part of the future, says Roman, a spiritual director at St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Alexandria. In this moment, it seemed like all of history flowed through me. . . . It gave me, and anybody who was there at that moment, a sense of timelessness and a feeling of awe and wonder of this civilization.

[Quiz: Test your U.S. national parks knowledge]



(Frederick J. Baldassaro Jr.)

Fred J. Baldassaro Jr., Alexandria, Va.

Baldassaro snapped thisimage in June during a five-day National Geographic photography workshop in Dubois, Wyo., 85 miles east of Jackson Hole. Early one morning, he and a team of photographers noticed that the light was hitting these cowboy hats in a distinctive way. While the rest of the group remained outside the barn, Baldassaro sneaked into it to capture the moment up close. Using a wide-angle lens, he took only a few snaps before heading out to the buses to start the days adventures. I kept my camera with me at all times, day and night, in case there was a photo opportunity like this one, says Baldassaro, a 42-year-old director of communications at the Pew Charitable Trusts. It was a perfect moment of light and feeling. As soon as I came out [of the barn], I thought I had captured something special.

Andrew Kaufman, Washington, D.C.

A fork in the road turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Kaufman, a 31-year-old surgical resident, who shot this image during a New Years hike at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. We had just walked this seven-mile loop in the park and gotten to a point in the trail where it was closed, due to ice, Kaufman recalled. We were exhausted and frustrated. He noticed his wife, Shannon, looking up at the sky as they plotted their next move. The unusual perspective and the vibrancy of color caught his attention. You dont really appreciate how big and grandiose [the trees] are until youre staring up and looking at them like that, Kaufman says. The sky was this incredible shade of blue and the walls of the canyon were these great, grated textures of orange and yellow.

Paula Shegda-Goins, Falls Church, Va.

After making annual visits to Vietnam for 15 years, Shegda-Goins decided to switch up her routine by enrolling in a photography class.Whenever we come back to the same city, we try to do something different and look at it from a different view, says the 63-year-old former financial project manager. Her newfound skills came in handy amid the light and movement of Hanois busy and bustling Old Quarter. A quick study, Shegda-Goins was able to highlight the vibrancy of the citys famous night market as well as its colorful cast of characters. I was trying to capture the moment and the multitude of activities going on in the market, from the boredom of the vendors, who were there every night, to the different people trying on glasses and attempting to be chic, she says.

[Most- and least-attended national parks]



(Aya Okawa )

Aya Okawa, El Cerrito, Calif.

In October, Okawa took to the skies to capture this bird-eyes view of Yellowstones colorful Grand Prismatic Spring. Flying at nearly 11,000 feet, Okawa leaned from an open window of the small aircraftand began clicking away with her Nikon. This was taken after the sun had just come out over the hills, so that we could get a nice illumination on the ground and the colors, says the 38-year-old, who is a managing director of the nonprofit Global Academy Foundation. The colors and patterns in the photograph resemble abstract art. You see all of the features and textures of the earth, which are so beautiful. Okawa picked this photograph from the series because she liked the juxtaposition of man and nature. You can see the springs and two tiny people enjoying them in a quiet moment, she says.

 Megan McDonough and Andrea Sachs

More from Travel:

The most pressing summer travel questions  answered

Oldest, newest, largest, smallest  a roundup of U.S. national park superlatives

What does the National Park Service consider a national park?
In this file photo from 2012, a math teacher asks students questions during the opening of the BASIS DC charter school, a brand that has been called one of the most challenging schools in the country . (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Parents at a high-achieving Washington charter school say their children are not being offered physical education classes despite a law that requires the citys schools to make such classes available to all students.

Steve OSullivan and Melody Webb are among a group of parents who found out last week that BASIS DC, a charter school in downtown Washington known for its demanding science and technology curriculum, would not offer PE classes to all students who want them. The couples son is in seventh grade and entering his third year at the school, and they expected that the PE classes he took in his previous years at BASIS would be an option for him this year, too.

But just days before school began Monday, the couple say that they and other parents learned that just one physical education class is being offered for seventh-graders and that it is vastly oversubscribed. Students were out of luck, even though the Districts Healthy Schools Act of 2010 requires that public schools and public charter schools provide middle-schoolers with at least 225 minutes (3.75 hours) of physical education each week.

[Is more physical education at school linked to higher student math scores?]

Tim Eyerman, the head of school at BASIS DC, did not respond to requests for comment. Katie Perry, a spokeswoman for the BASIS network, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., said in an email that as part of the BASIS DC curriculum, PE is a required class for 5th and 6th grades, however, it is only offered as an elective in 7th grade  along with Art, Music, Drama, and Robotics.

Parents at BASIS DC who were told their students couldnt take PE were advised to have them choose one of the other electives instead.

That response isnt cutting it with parents who believe that D.C. law clearly requires that the school make physical education available to their children. OSullivan said it was a complete shock for his son that he wouldnt have any PE this year.

BASIS doesnt even have recess, so a physical education class is essentially the one chance for these 12-year-old boys and girls to do their running around, he said. Its kind of embarrassing that the school doesnt have this.

[U.S. schools develop a nicer version of gym class]

Gretchen Kittel, the parent of another seventh-grader at BASIS, is supportive of the school and its academic rigor but insists that a balance is imperative.

To have them confined for a whole day with no physical activity is just nuts, Kittel said. We have to get these kids off of their rear ends and moving. You have to develop the body and the mind in order to achieve academically.

Kittel said that in previous years, students were allowed to participate in exercise or physical activity for 20 minutes of their daily 50-minute lunch break. But she said that option also has been rescinded.

Passed in 2010, the Healthy Schools Act aimed to ensure that all the citys students in elementary and middle schools received physical education as part of the regular school week, as studies have shown that physical activity has numerous benefits to students in and out of the classroom. The amount of time students spend doing physical activity in school appears to be linked to higher standardized math scores in D.C. schools, according to an American University study released in February that examined the effects of the citys law; that study found that schools offering more physical activity had significantly better math success.

[From the archives: D.C. bill aims to improve nutrition, exercise among students]

OSullivan and Webb said they reached out to the Public Charter School Board and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education on Monday to inquire about BASISs physical education program but had not received a response from either office.

We have no indication at this time that BASIS PCS is not meeting the physical education requirement of the Healthy Schools Act, Fred Lewis, an OSSE community relations specialist, said in an email.

A representative for the Public Charter School Board, which oversees the citys charter schools, declined to comment.

OSullivan said that on Wednesday morning he and his wife met with Eyerman, who told them there were practical difficulties with scheduling and space that made it so the school could not make PE available for all students. And they said he also told them the school was not obligated to meet the requirements set out by the 2010 law. Eyerman and Perry, the BASIS spokeswoman, did not respond to questions about whether the school would make physical education available to all of its students.

D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large), who chairs the councils education committee, said he wasnt aware of the specific complaints against BASIS DC but made clear that the law applies to all of the citys traditional public schools and public charter schools.

He acknowledged, however, that the law has been difficult to administer. In addition to the physical education requirements for middle-schoolers, the Healthy Schools Act of 2010 required that public schools and public charter schools provide 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of physical education a week for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Its been an issue across the city, Grosso said. This law has very specific standards on numbers of minutes that a student must have physical activity. And its a true challenge with the time available in the day to do this and to do a full implementation. It is simply very, very difficult to manage.

The challenge for now is how do we hold them accountable to do whats right and follow the law but also dont be so draconian on them that they cant continue to operate as a quality educational institution, Grosso said.

Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), who authored the Healthy Schools Act, agrees that enforcement of the law presents the city with a dilemma.

When we passed this legislation, we showed all of this data about how this physical education actually makes a difference in performance, she said. The problem is that if schools are not in compliance, its a difficult thing about enforcement. You could take funds away from them, but nobody wants to do that. You really just want them to comply.
The Rotunda at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville as the sun sets just ahead of the start of the 2016-2017 academic year. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

The University of Virginia has spent the past decade building an investment fund that now totals $2.2 billion, a pile of money so large that officials say it could finance the entire school and medical center for nine months.

As the balance grew, the university sought to protect the annual funding it gets from Virginia taxpayers and raised its tuition significantly, with the price for in-state freshmen rising 30 percent since 2013.

On Friday, lawmakers in Richmond plan to ask the school to justify stockpiling so much money, outside of its endowment, to generate discretionary revenue for selected projects. Their questions come as the state confronts a possible shortfall of about $1.5 billion in its current two-year budget.

Many public universities across the country have pursued similar financial strategies, sometimes stirring controversy, as they manage pools of funds termed surpluses, working capital or simply reserves. U-Va. is one of the leaders.

Most of us think if you run the government, if you run a surplus, you cut taxes, said state Sen. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax). Apparently, not U-Va. You just raise tuition some more.

[U-Va. sets aside money for investment. A critic calls it a slush fund.]

Such criticism underscores a debate about U-Va.s mission that has flared repeatedly in recent years: Should Thomas Jeffersons university raise its national and global profile as high as possible, striving to compete head-to-head with top private institutions? Or should it concentrate more on the traditional public flagship function of serving the students of the commonwealth?

University officials say they can do both.

They say they remain strongly committed to affordability and financial aid for families in need. They say the fund was assembled through sound financial management, using investment returns, health-system revenue, donations, operating cash and other sources. And they say the $2.2 billion does not include tuition revenue or state general funds and is not intended to fund ongoing operations. Instead, they see it as a way to seed strategic investments that can propel the school to the top of public higher education.

U-Va. believes that the fund could generate up to $100 million a year. Among the proposals that have emerged for the money  none approved yet  are modernizing laboratories, improving library resources and bolstering faculty in business and other fields.

The governing board wants the efforts to result in U-Va. again gaining the number one ranking for public universities, Rector William H. Goodwin Jr., the leader of the Board of Visitors, wrote in an email April 17 to senior university officials.

Many other prestigious public schools have amassed hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars in an effort to keep pace with elite private schools and to weather political and economic volatility. Some have increased tuition in recent years, while others have frozen it. Nearly all call the reserves essential in an era of dwindling state funding. Reserves are much more flexible than endowments, which usually carry significant donor restrictions.

[How the University of California and other public schools use reserve funds to keep pace]

An analysis by Moodys Investors Service found that some public universities have enough cash and ready-access funds to operate for several months or even a year.

As of June 30, 2015, the University of Pittsburgh had enough cash  $2.3 billion  accessible within a month to run for 473 days. This metric, known as monthly days of cash on hand, showed Purdue at 450 days, Penn State at 406 days and U-Va. at 314, according to Moodys. Among other schools and systems analyzed, the University of Michigan stood at 239 days of cash on hand, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at 174 days, the University System of Maryland at 172, the University of Washington at 129 and Virginia Tech at 115.

Purdue said its strong financial stability has enabled the Indiana university to freeze tuition for several years and lower its total cost of attendance while investing in engineering, computer science and other programs.

Seeking to put its reserves to use, the U-Va. board in February quietly authorized what it named a Strategic Investment Fund.

The $2.2 billion fund, about two-thirds the size of the universitys $3.2 billion annual operating budget, stands apart from U-Va.s $6 billion endowment. Its origins trace to a starting pool of $120 million in 2007.

The fund first drew substantial notice in early July, when a former board leader, Helen E. Dragas, criticized it as a slush fund in an opinion piece for The Washington Post. Her accusation, and the universitys response, stirred outrage among some parents and lawmakers.

[Dragas: What U-Va. needs is less privatization, more public accountability]

Francois DiFolco, of Fairfax County, said he was upset that U-Va. was holding such large operating reserves while it was raising tuition and his daughter was taking out student loans. She graduated in 2015, he said, about $28,000 in debt.

We were in an economy where everyone was scraping, and they were making money, DiFolco said. I dont think a state university is supposed to do that. . . . These 18-, 19-, 20-year-old kids took out loans to go to a school, and they took out more money than they had to. Thats not right.

U-Va.s in-state tuition for freshmen is now about $13,000, not counting fees, meals and housing. Three years ago, it was about $10,000. Tuition for out-of-state students is about $41,700 a year.

[U-Va. leader: This is no blank check.]

For many years, public universities have been forced to rely less on state funding and more on tuition, philanthropy and a variety of moneymaking strategies, including savvy investment management. The fiscal pressure is especially intense at major flagships as they seek to compete with wealthy private universities for star faculty and students while providing a substantial home-state price discount.

Strong reserves at U-Va. and several of its peers provide a margin of protection against volatility and financial stress in their operating environment, said Susan I. Fitzgerald, a senior vice president at Moodys. High reserves contribute to a high credit rating, which reduces borrowing costs. U-Va.s rating is AAA.

University officials say reserves also provide peace of mind.

The baseline reserve in the modern university is another cost of doing business, said University of Washington spokesman Norman Arkans. You cannot function without it. In the event of a natural disaster or a major system failure or an economic crisis, you have to be able to continue to operate your educational program uninterrupted, Arkans said.

Reserves helped the University of Illinois system make it through a recent budget battle that had led to major layoffs, program reductions and credit downgrades at other public colleges and universities across the state. The system, with three campuses, has an annual operating budget of $5.6 billion. In fiscal 2015, it held about $2.4 billion in operating cash, according to spokesman Thomas Hardy. The system tapped those reserves this year to cover a deficit of about $300 million that arose during the budget stalemate.

[Illinois gives universities more funding, but is it too little, too late?]

In 2013, Wisconsin legislators questioned why the University of Wisconsin system held $648 million in what was termed an unrestricted surplus after several years of tuition increases. The Republican speaker of the state Assembly, Robin Vos, said at the time that he had concerns about so much money lying around. Wisconsin system leaders replied that the reserves were in line with the practice at other public universities. But eventually, the system whittled its reserves in response to a state budget cut and tuition freeze.

That is a scenario U-Va. hopes to avoid.

The universitys state appropriation is about $150 million, slightly less than 10 percent of its academic division budget and about 5 percent of its total budget, counting the U-Va. medical center.

University officials say the strategic fund will enable the 23,900-student school to improve yet still remain affordable. Using reserves to generate income for high-priority projects will reduce the pressure for tuition increases, they say.

Were doing a very good job balancing both affordability and excellence, said Patrick Hogan, U-Va.s chief operating officer and executive vice president. If the university were to spend all of the fund on a big tuition cut, he said, that would leave no money to spend on investments needed to maintain the excellence we have.

Hogan said the sources of the fund were reported on the universitys balance sheets for years. Nobody can allege we had this money hidden, he said.

The Board of Visitors discussed the fund in a closed session in June that some have claimed was a potential violation of the states open-meetings law. U-Va. says it followed the law, but it acknowledged seeking to keep news about the fund under wraps until it could consult with key legislators.

Some legislators contend that the fund indicates that U-Va. has been playing a game with Richmond, stashing money in little-noticed accounts while claiming it had to enroll a large number of out-of-state students to stay afloat.

[Prominent public universities shifting toward out-of-state students]

Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax) said that for years, lawmakers have pleaded with the university to expand the number of seats for Virginia students. About two-thirds of U-Va.s 16,700 undergraduates come from within the state. The university has grown in-state enrollment somewhat, but lawmakers wish it would do far more.

For the last 10 years, they told us: We cant, because were really broke. We need the money from the out-of-state students,  Albo said. The lawmaker, a U-Va. alumnus, said he had long been sympathetic to that response because he knew state funding had decreased.

Now I find out that was all a bunch of bull, he said. Theyve got the money. They just dont want to do it.


A 1961 mug shot of Wyatt Tee Walker and his wife, Theresa, who were both arrested in Jackson, Miss., for protesting segregation. (Timothy C. Wright/For The Washington Post)

On a cold day in 1960, a fed-up Wyatt Tee Walker led a group of protesters through the whites-only entrance of the Petersburg, Va., public library.

Walker, the pastor of the historic Gillfield Baptist Church, calmly walked to the librarys counter and asked for a biography of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

I was rubbing it in their noses a little because I always felt Robert E. Lee was guilty of treason and should have been arrested and put in prison, said Walker, now 87, but the South made such a hero of him.

His attempt to borrow R.E. Lee: A Biography, Vol. 1 by Douglas Southall Freeman on Feb. 27, 1960, was interrupted by shouts.

I heard somebody say, The niggers are here!  recalled Walker, who would later serve as chief of staff for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. They called the police and arrested those of us who would not leave. They took us to the Petersburg jail, and that stirred up the community.

It was the first of Walkers 17 arrests for challenging segregation in Virginia and other parts of the South  an era vividly chronicled in the Smithsonians new National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens Sept. 24. The Petersburg library sit-in would become a catalyst for desegregating the small citys lunch counters, bus terminal, restaurants and public swimming pools.

[Thurgood Marshalls interracial love: I dont care what people think. Im marrying you.]

Were they courageous? Maybe so, Walker said. But we didnt think about fear. We wanted to get rid of segregation. It was so humiliating to be an African American in those days.

Tapped by King to be the first full-time executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Walker challenged Jim Crow in Mississippi and Alabama.

He and King were arrested during a 1967 protest in Birmingham and spent five days together in jail. Walker smuggled in a tiny camera, taping it to his leg. In their cell, he took a photo of King gazing through the steel bars that became an iconic image. King snapped a photo of Walker looking out the same bars. Six months later, King was assassinated in Memphis.



Wyatt Tee Walker, 87, sits in the room of his assisted-living complex just south of Richmond, surrounded by photographs. (Timothy C. Wright/For The Washington Post)

Walker spoke about the events that defined his life and redefined the country in the community room of his assisted-living complex, which he navigates with the help of a wheelchair. His wife, Theresa Ann Walker, 89, who was jailed alongside him in Jackson, Miss., sat nearby with one of their four children, Robert Walker, 60. She still lives in their home just south of Richmond and visits her husband every day.

Wyatt Tee Walker is one of the few civil rights movement strategists still alive.

He was born Aug. 16, 1929, in Brockton, Mass. His father, who was a minister, and his mother, who was a nurse, moved the family to Merchantville, N.J., where Walker grew up as one of 11 children. When Wyatt was young, he and his two older sisters desegregated the towns movie theater.

The picture playing was The Great Lie,  he recalled.

Walkers father had a huge influence on him. He was what they called a race man, Walker said. He resisted anything that discriminated against you because you were African American. He was very outspoken against it.

In 1946, Wyatt Walker moved to Richmond to attend Virginia Union University, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelors of science degree in chemistry and physics. He went on to Virginia Union Graduate School of Theology, where he met King during a student conference.

Years later, as Walker led integration efforts in Virginia, King called to recruit him.

He asked me to become executive director of SCLC, the civil rights group King and other ministers had founded in 1957, Walker recalled. And I told him whatever he wanted me to do, I would do it.

On May 24, 1961, the Walkers and dozens of Freedom Riders boarded buses heading for Jackson. For the first time, Walker said, he felt fear.

Mississippi was more dangerous then than anywhere else, he said. The lynchings, the students killed, so many bad things had happened in Mississippi.

When the bus arrived in Jackson, the riders got off and walked into the terminal waiting room reserved for whites. We werent there five minutes before we were arrested, he said.



Theresa Walker at the family home, where she was going through family documents and mementos that are being given to the University of Richmond. (Timothy C. Wright/For The Washington Post)

His wife, Theresa, was arrested too.

It was a terrible experience, she said. I didnt talk about it for 30 years. Then I found my notes.

On a thin piece of paper, Theresa had kept copious notes in blue ink detailing their incarceration: Breakfast grits black coffee. No toilet articles yet. No phone call yet.

[Historically Black: Collecting the African American experience]

The jailers divided the Freedom Riders by race and gender.

There were about 14 of us in a cell for two people, Theresa recalled. Some slept on the floor, the mattresses were dirty. The toilet was open. People walking by the jail could look in. If you wanted to shower, the water was cold. If you wanted a drink, the water was hot.

The jailers slid food on a tray underneath the door.

At night, while the girls were sleeping, bugs were crawling on the girls, she said. During the day, The Salvation Army people would come by and tell us we were all going to hell, told us we were all sinners for riding on that bus.

The male Freedom Riders, including her husband, were being held in another cell.

At night, We could hear them singing, so we would sing back to them, she said. The jailers would always tell us be quiet and shut up.

After a week, the Walkers were finally allowed to make a phone call. Theresa Walker was desperate to make bail and get out.

Someone told us they were going to move us to the state penitentiary in Parchman, Miss., where at least 300 Freedom Riders were eventually held. And when you got to Parchman, she said, they did vaginal searches with no gloves. I had children. They managed to get word to King that they needed help to get released.

The following year, Wyatt Walker traveled to Birmingham to prepare for Project C, which stood for confrontation.

Dr. King said if we could crack Birmingham, Walker said, we could crack the South.

He and others called the city Bombingham because it was so segregated and so hostile to blacks, he said. Churches and houses were bombed by the racists  all presided over by Bull Connor, the citys feared public safety commissioner.

Walker spent a year choreographing how the protests would unfold in minute detail. Word got around that Kings man was in town, he said. But no one knew who that man was.



A framed copy of the famous 1967 photo Walker took of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Birmingham jail hangs in his Virginia home. King took a photo of Walker in the same spot. (Timothy C. Wright/For The Washington Post)

The demonstrations in Birmingham became the turning point for the civil rights movement. On Good Friday, April 12, 1963, King was arrested and spent eight days in jail, where he penned his famous essay, Letter from Birmingham Jail. It is often illustrated with the photo taken by Wyatt Walker four years later.

[Why youll see Emmett Tills casket at the African American museum]

Two weeks after Kings release, hundreds of black children streamed out of the 16th Street Baptist Church to demand integration and were met with fire hoses and snarling police dogs  images that shocked much of the country. President John F. Kennedy warned that the events in Birmingham have so increased the cries for equality that no city or state or legislative body can prudently choose to ignore them.

The momentum from Birmingham fueled the March on Washington, which took place on Aug. 28, 1963.

Walker walked the Mall as day broke and watched black and white marchers gather by the tens of thousands along the Reflecting Pool. They wore crisp dresses, strings of pearls and pressed suits, and many carried signs demanding justice.

Walker made one decision that day that he still regrets.

I tried to persuade Dr. King not to use the I Have a Dream speech, he said. I had heard it so many times, I thought it was trite.

But all ministers have what they call a going home point, a strong closing to a sermon, and that was his. Mahalia Jackson, whod performed How I Got Over, whispered to King, Tell them about the dream, Martin.

Walker recalled King swinging into his closing, his voice rising in his trademark oratorical style. Walker watched the crowds reaction as King described a world without segregation, without racism, without injustice.

It was a world-stage moment, he said. And it forever changed the people who heard it, then and in the decades to come.



Walker works at his computer surrounded by photographs that chronicle the history of the civil rights movement. He lives in an assisted-living complex outside Richmond, and his wife visits every day. (Timothy C. Wright/For The Washington Post)
This Australian senator's rant about Indian-style squat toilets threatening 'Australian way of life' is probably the most bizarre statement you'll read today.

By India Today Web Desk: Looks like this Australian politician has completely run out of topics to discuss. Pauline Hanson, Queensland's representative in Australia's senate and leader of right-wing populist party One Nation recently posted a Facebook video where she speaks about how Indian-squat toilets threaten Australian culture.

Hanson is irked with the fact that an Australian taxation office in Melbourne introduced Indian-style squat toilets to cater to the 20 per cent of the workforce that is from a non-English speaking background.

advertisement

In the bizarre video, she even does a little "squat" demonstration to show how it's used. The main point of Hanson's worry is as she says in the video, 'if they can't 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 adds. With this statement Hanson's indirectly points at who use squat toilets as dimwitted and in capable of dealing with the tax system in Australia.

A Facebook user Wade Rowsell commented on her video with a direct question: "And how much is this costing the Australian taxpayer?" To which she replies saying, 'It's not just a matter of dollars Wade. It starts with toilets and ends with costing us our Australian way of life

Outraged by Hanson's statement, Australian Multicultural Foundation Chairman Hass Delal hit out saying,'Considering there are so many things happening in the world, so many bigger issues, I don't know why so many people are concerned about a couple of squat toilets in a couple of buildings.'



WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

--- ENDS ---
An evidence bag from a sexual assault case in the biology lab at the Houston Forensic Science Center. (Pat Sullivan/Associated Press)

We know that in New Mexico, 5,409 rape victims who were swabbed, tested and examined in a hospital  holding still while strangers gathered evidence from their bodies  never got justice.

In Michigan, the number was 15,217.

In Virginia, 2,369 of these rape evidence kits were carefully harvested from victims and then filed away, stuck in storage and otherwise forgotten, while the rapists roamed free.

We know this because of a nationwide effort to get federal funding and state legislation to address this heinous backlog of neglect, indifference and injustice.

It was led by the Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actress Mariska Hargitay, and championed by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, the Democrat from Maryland.

Now heres the part thats stunning. While 31 states got their act together, figured out how many unexamined rape kits they had and applied for the federal money to start testing them, Maryland is dragging behind. It, along with 18 other states, still has no idea how many rape kits are in its backlog, according to the foundation.

Mikulski must be furious.

Last year, she stood in a Maryland State Police crime lab with Biden after they secured $41 million to test the shameful backlog of about 400,000 rape kits across the nation.

We want to make sure that no victim is doubly victimized, one, by the violent predator who attacks her, and then also by the system that neglects her, Mikulski said then.

I tried to ask her about Marylands lackluster response, but her staff said she was traveling and couldnt respond.

Thats okay. Ill be furious for her. Were both short and loud. This will work.

I mean, Maryland, honestly. Look across the river at Virginia, the state usually in trouble with women, trying to order transvaginal probes and all that.

[Virginia lawmakers womb obsession is hard to fathom]

Virginia got moving immediately, quickly reporting its rape kit backlog of 2,369 and securing $1.4 million in federal grants to test them. The District, it turns out, has no backlog at all.

But, Maryland, what gives?

State legislation was passed in April 2015 to get the backlog counted, but the counties and cities were given until this December to tally up their untested kits, according to the bill. Most states took six months to get their audits done and start testing the backlog. Some have already prosecuted ancient cases.

The problem is most acute in Baltimore, this months Exhibit A for bad police behavior.

Baltimore is a city of ghost rapes, apparently.

For years, the Baltimore Police Department led the nation in the number of rape and sexual assault cases that were simply dismissed as unfounded. But some of those cases  a paltry 15 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to a U.S. Justice Department report this month  left something behind to haunt the city. Those rape kits full of evidence.

And whats Baltimore doing about those kits? Ignoring them.

We know from our work that there are too many Baltimores in America today  from Detroit to San Diego, Cleveland to Charlotte, Las Vegas to Memphis, said Sarah Haacke Byrd, the managing director of the Joyful Heart Foundation,

Byrd and others knew that Baltimore has a history of ignoring sex crimes.

In 2010, the Baltimore Sun looked into the citys bizarre lack of investigated rape cases and found that police dismissed rape and sexual assault charges at alarming rates by systematically shaming victims, abusing, belittling and aggressively questioning them until they went away.

And those were the ones who got the honor of an investigation. Four out of 10 calls reporting rape didnt even get a report.

Six years later, things are no better in Charm City.

The scathing Justice Department report on policing in Baltimore included hideous examples of what police really thought of sexual assault victims.

They found emails from a prosecutor on a sexual assault case who wrote that this case is crazy ... I am not excited about charging it. This victim seems like a conniving little whore (pardon my language). The Baltimore officer replied, Lmao! I feel the same.

[Baltimore prosecutor on woman reporting rape: Seems like a conniving little whore.]

A detective in the sexual crimes unit, according to the Justice Department report, was heard at a party saying that in homicide, there are real victims; all our cases are bulls---.

Knowing what they were dealing with, the folks at the Joyful Heart Foundation submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for Baltimores 2015 numbers. They got some, but it was a jumble of incoherent and incongruous paperwork.

It basically said what victims have thought all along: We dont care.

Too many sexual assaults have two acts. Theres the attack itself, then the revictimization by police and prosecutors who blame or dismiss victims.

About 65 percent of rapes and sexual assaults are never reported in this country, according to a 2012 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Why?

Belief that the police would not do anything to help, according to the report, as well as Belief that the police could not do anything to help.

In Maryland and its largest city, the evidence is clear that theyre right.

Twitter: @petulad
Thursday, Aug. 25

Historic Manassas walking tour Learn the history of the city. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Thursday-Friday at noon, Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. manassasmuseum.org. Free.

National Park Service 100th birthday celebration Park staff members share stories around a campfire of how the park service originated. 4-6 p.m. Prince William Forest Park, 18100 Park Headquarters Rd., Triangle. 703-221-7181. nps.gov/prwi. Free.

Quantico Marine Corps Band The final concert in the Marine Corps Heritage Foundations summer concert series. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and picnic. Concessions will be available. 7 p.m. National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. 877-635-1775. usmcmuseum.com. Free.

Let It Rain II Suzanne Jepsons paintings in this series all include an orange umbrella to add a pop of color. Through Sept. 4, Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117. loftgallery.org. Free.

Warm and Cool An exhibit of paintings by Roger Frey of Woodbridge and jewelry by Tyler Kulenguski of Annandale. Through Sept. 5, Artists Undertaking, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584. theartistsundertaking.com. Free.

Jamie McPhail and Caleb Mathews exhibit Works by McPhail, an encaustic artist, and oil paintings of clouds by Mathews. Through Sept. 17, Center for the Arts, 9419 Battle St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. center-for-the-arts.org. Free.

Friday, Aug. 26

Bristoe Station Anniversary tour To commemorate the 154th anniversary of Stonewall Jacksons capture of Bristoe Station, park staff lead an in-time walking tour of the site. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, 10708 Bristow Rd., Bristow. 703-366-3049. pwcgov.org/history. $5.

Civil War Weekend The impact of the Civil War on Manassas will be highlighted with drills and artillery demonstrations, reenactments, historical debates, a Civil War dance, period music, bourbon tasting, local author talks and tours of Liberia Plantation. Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. visitmanassas.org. Free.

American Legion dinner The public is invited to dinner with a different special every week. Proceeds support local veterans and the community. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. vapost364.org. $5-$15.

Saturday, Aug. 27

American flag collection service Operated by the Bull Run District Committee of the Boy Scouts, who will collect flags and demonstrate proper folding techniques. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Prince William County Balls Ford Road Yard Waste Compost Facility, 13000 Balls Ford Rd., Manassas. Free.

Yoga on the Lawn Vinyasa yoga taught by certified yoga instructor Christopher Glowacki. 9 a.m. Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge. 703-499-9812. pwcgov.org/ripponlodge. $5.

Dog Days of Summer Military working dogs show their skills at this event that also features local pet adoption agencies, the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia, a bulldog kissing booth, speakers and childrens activities. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Triangle. 877-635-1775. usmcmuseum.com. Free.

Home seller seminar Presented by local real estate broker Bob Hummer. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Strayer University, 13385 Minnieville Rd., Woodbridge. 703-878-4866. military-realestate.com. Free.

Battle of Kettle Run anniversary tours Park staff and volunteers lead walking tours on the 154th anniversary of Stonewall Jacksons capture of Bristoe Station and the Battle of Kettle Run. 1-4 p.m. Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, 10708 Bristow Rd., Bristow. pwcgov.org. $5.

Music on Mill The outdoor concert series continues with Alexandria-based reggae band FeelFree. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. 5-7 p.m. Through Sept. 3. River Mill Park, 458 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-491-1918. occoquanva.gov.

Movie Under the Stars E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 7 p.m. Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, 14900 Potomac Town Pl., Woodbridge. stonebridgeptc.com. Free.

U.S. Army Band Downrange An outdoor concert of modern and patriotic tunes. 7 p.m. Leesylvania State Park, Marina, 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr., Woodbridge. 202-433-3366. Free.

Sunday, Aug. 28

Bird Walk The guided tour will include a variety of habitats. Bring binoculars and cameras. 8 a.m. Merrimac Farm Stone House Visitor Center, North Parking Lot, 15014 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville. 703-499-4954. alliance@pwconserve.org. Free.

Liberia Plantation tour The 1825 home was used by Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War and still has graffiti left by soldiers. Noon, Liberia Plantation, 8601 Portner Ave., Manassas. 703-257-8265. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. Doors open at noon on Sunday with games beginning at 2 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Mondays with games beginning at 7:15 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. $15 minimum.

Ice cream social Local jazz band Fascinating Rhythms performs. 3 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. Free.

Monday, Aug. 29

Job search network group Plus discussion of various topics related to the search process. 1-3 p.m. House of Mercy, 8170 Flannery Ct., Manassas. 703-659-1636. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support Dale City Knights of Columbus activities and charities. Doors open at 6 p.m. with games beginning at 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-491-2378. $9 minimum.

Tuesday, Aug. 30

Take Out Tuesday concert One Hot Mess, local acoustic trio, performs. 6-8 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. Free.

Wednesday, Aug. 31

Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club Members 18 and older develop their public speaking and leadership skills. 7:30-9:15 p.m. Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Lake Ridge. 703-491-3020. contact-8913@toastmastersclubs.org. lakeridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $34-$64 membership fee.

 Compiled by Sarah Lane

To submit an event

Email: pwliving@washpost.com

Fax: 703-392-1406

Details: Announcements are accepted on a space-available basis from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be received at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable contact phone number.
Prince William County

These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-792-5123.

GAINESVILLE AREA

ASSAULT

Barrymore Ct., 13800 block, 8:05 a.m. Aug. 11. During an argument, a man, 20, and a female acquaintance, 19, assaulted each other. The pair, both of Gainesville, were arrested.

MANASSAS AREA

CHILD NEGLECT

Freedom Center Blvd., 8900 block, 11:33 p.m. Aug. 12. After an argument at a hotel, a man drove a male juvenile relative to a police station and dropped him off without contacting police. A relative picked up the juvenile.

WEAPONS

Callan Dr., 7600 block, 6:23 p.m. Aug. 14. Someone fired a weapon from inside a residence. Two other residences and two vehicles were damaged. No one was reported injured.

Dumfries Rd., 14800 block, 7:51 p.m. Aug. 14. During an argument in a vehicle, a man retrieved a handgun from the trunk and fired it at the ground and in the air. A female acquaintance fled the vehicle and hid in a nearby wooded area. No one was reported injured. A Woodbridge man, 33, was arrested.

ROBBERY

Promenade Lane, 10800 block, 10:51 a.m. Aug. 15. A man wearing a motorcycle helmet demanded money from a store employee at gunpoint. When the employee was unable to open a safe, the man fled on a motorcycle.

THEFT/BREAK-IN

Caton Pl., 13000 block, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12. An attempt was made to enter a residence by damaging a side door.

TRIANGLE AREA

WEAPONS

Corby St., 18200 block, 10:15 p.m. Aug. 10. Several gunshots were heard. A bullet hole was found in an interior wall of a residence. No one was reported injured.

WOODBRIDGE AREA

ASSAULTS

Cove Landing Dr., 14100 block, 1:30 p.m. Aug. 13. In an argument, an unknown person assaulted a woman, cutting her arms. The woman was treated for injuries.

Cuddy Loop, 14100 block, 4:30 a.m. Aug. 15. During an argument, a man bit a female acquaintance in the face. The woman was treated for injuries. A Woodbridge man, 26, was arrested.

Ferndale Rd., 14200 block, 10:07 p.m. Aug. 12. During an argument, a man attempted to stab a male acquaintance with a knife. The two struggled and finally separated. A Woodbridge man, 52, was arrested.

Filarete St., 14400 block, 12:54 p.m. Aug. 14. In an argument, a man stabbed a female acquaintance in the hand. The woman was treated for injuries. A Woodbridge man, 40, was arrested.

River Rock Way and Opitz Blvd., 11:17 p.m. Aug. 11. Five males got out of a vehicle and assaulted a male pedestrian, who was treated for injuries.

Tyler Cir., 1500 block, 9:07 p.m. Aug. 15. A woman assaulted a female acquaintance, who was treated for injuries.

CHILD ABUSE

Veterans Dr., 14300 block, 7:22 p.m. Aug. 14. After a vehicle crash, a male motorist left the vehicle and fled on foot. A 5-year-old boy was found in the vehicle.

WEAPONS

Golansky Blvd., 3000 block, 1:39 a.m. Aug. 12. During a large group fight, two people fired weapons into the air. No one was reported injured. A Woodbridge woman, 28, was arrested.

ROBBERY

River Ridge Blvd. and Paper Mill Lane, 4:49 a.m. Aug. 13. After arranging to buy a cellphone from two male acquaintances, a person and an unknown man robbed the two at gunpoint of cash and the cellphone.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Oakwood Dr., 11900 block, 4:45 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Aug. 8. Several firearms, jewelry, video games and clothes were stolen from a residence entered through a rear door.

Oregon Ave., 1400 block, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11. A computer laptop and a computer tablet were stolen from a residence entered by damaging a rear door.

Teal Way, 1500 block, 9 a.m. Aug. 6 to noon Aug. 15. Cash, two electric guitars, a laptop, a video game system and video games were stolen from a residence entered by breaking a rear window.

Wood Hollow Dr., 12700 block, 8 p.m. Aug. 1 to 9 a.m. Aug. 2. Several items were stolen from a residence entered by damaging the front and rear doors. The items were found in a nearby vacant apartment.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

Wilderness Lane, 14200 block, 2:30 to 9:50 p.m. Aug. 12. A black 2008 Ford Crown Victoria was stolen.

Manassas

No report was received from Manassas police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-257-8000.

Manassas Park

No report was received from Manassas Park police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-361-1136.
Seven victims died in an Aug. 10 explosion at a Silver Spring apartment building. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Montgomery County authorities identified a 34-year-old man Thursday as one of the seven victims killed in a Silver Spring apartment explosion and fire earlier this month.

Aseged Mekonen is the sixth victim to be identified from the blast that occurred shortly before midnight Aug. 10 at the Flower Branch Apartments on Arliss Street. Remains of seven people were found in the rubble after what officials have said was a natural gas explosion that remains under investigation.

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.

[Two young fire victims were buddies: one love Spider-Man, the other Minions]

Among friends and family, Mekonen -- who delivered injera, the flat spongy Ethiopian bread, to local purveyors and also drove a taxi cab -- was known as someone who was at once hard-working and always willing to stop to say hello.

Aseged Mekonen, 34, was the sixth victime identified from the Aug. 10 explosion.. (NA/Montgomery County)

He was friendly for everybody, said Tigist Atreso, the owner of the TG Silver Spring Mart in downtown Silver Spring, which sells injera.

She said that Mekonen, a native of Ethiopia, often asked her about owning the shop, and said he wanted to build a business like that as well. He had a big plan, Atreso said.

Around the corner, at the Wesenyelesh International Market, Andrew Zewdu recalled with a laugh how you could often hear Mekonen coming -- by the sound of hip-hop music coming from his delivery van. He was a nice guy. Always happy, Zewdu said.

He also worked as a valet car parker, Zewdu said.

He barely rested, added Aida Zewdu, another employee at Wesenyelesh, who said her mother--the owner of the market--once found him asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. She asked him why he was working so hard.

He laughed and told her he was trying to get to her level.

[Seventh body found at site of Silver Spring apartment blast]

Federal pipeline investigators continue to review the blast to determine, among other items, the source of the gas leak and what ignited it.
Oscar Garcia, 37, who was fatally shot outside his home in Seat Pleasant, Md., worked several jobs to help support his wife and five children. (Family photo)

Friends and family knew Oscar Garcia as a hard-working man.

Whether he was making sandwiches at a downtown D.C. deli, working one of two cleaning jobs or playing music as a DJ on weekends, it was all for his wife and children.

He didnt have time to do anything else other than work, said Soonyoung Yoon, Garcias former boss. Every chance he got, he tried to earn money to support his family.

On Aug. 17, Garcia had just finished his cleaning job before midnight and pulled in to the driveway of his Seat Pleasant home when someone came up on him while he was sitting in his dark-colored Dodge Dart.

He was arriving home from his second job when he was approached and shot, said Capt. Brian Reilly, head of the Prince Georges County homicide unit.

Prince Georges County police released a composite sketch of the man suspected of fatally shooting Oscar Garcia inside his car on Aug. 17. (Prince Georges County police)

The gunman fled, and the father of five died several hours later at a hospital.

On Thursday, police released a composite sketch in the case, hoping that it will lead detectives to the person who killed Garcia, 37.

Garcias wife and children were inside the home that the family has owned for several years when the shooting occurred, and there was no indication that anyone tried to enter the house, Reilly said.

[Police investigate homicide in Seat Pleasant]

Police said that they are trying to determine a motive in the case but that they do not think that Garcia was personally targeted.

Our detectives are working hard to find a suspect who would be so brazen as to shoot this hard-working man as he was coming home from work, said Christina Cotterman, a police spokeswoman.

A funeral for the Salvadoran native will be held Friday evening in the District. Garcias loved ones and those who worked with him say he will be remembered as a fun-loving, caring man who made good on many ambitions during his roughly 15 years in this country.

Garcia worked as a supervisor for two cleaning companies and until recently was a sandwich maker at Jacks Famous Deli on Third Street NW. Yoon said Garcia had been with the deli for 14 years before leaving.

He was a very bright young man, and all my customers loved him, Yoon said. He was very compassionate. He was a family man.

[Tracking D.C.-area homicides]

Yoon said Garcia rarely missed a day of work. And when a problem cropped up in the deli, Garcia was able to fix it.

Yoon, who attended Garcias wedding and celebrated when his children were born, said he was like family. Garcias wife still works at the deli, which is where the couple met 13 years ago, Yoon said.

Yoon has set up donation boxes at the deli and a GoFundMe account hoping to help Garcias family with funeral expenses.

Its really, really hard for us, Yoon said. Everyone here, we all cried.

Luis Maravilla grew up in El Salvador with Garcia, and they both immigrated to the United States, practically becoming family. The two lived and worked together when Garcia first arrived in this country.

Garcia was always working to make his life a little bit better all the time, always looking to move up and up and up, Maravilla said.

Although Maravilla had come to the United States a few years ahead of Garcia, it was Garcia who quickly became the supervisor of a cleaning company and eventually Maravillas boss.

He was looking at something more all the time, Maravilla said. He did not sit still. He tried and he was making the American Dream.

Maravilla said the loss of his friend is difficult. When he thinks of Garcia, he recalls a man who would laugh even in bad circumstances and take good care of his family here and in El Salvador.

I want to remember him how he was, Maravilla said. I love him, and he loved everybody.

Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious or out of place the night of Garcias death to contact detectives.

A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information leading to an arrest and indictment. Anyone with information can call 301-772-4925 or, to remain anonymous, 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
D.C. police arrested a man Wednesday and charged him with breaking into a residence in Northeast Washington, sexually assaulting a woman and then holding her against her will after police arrived.

The incident occurred Wednesday about 1:30 a.m. in the 300 block of Channing Street NE, in the Edgewood neighborhood off Rhode Island Avenue.

Police said they charged Dejaun Turner with first-degree burglary, first-degree sexual abuse, aggravated assault and kidnapping. Turners address was not provided.

Police said the man entered the residence and physically and sexually assaulted a female resident. Neighbors heard a commotion and called police. When officers arrived, police said in a statement that the man refused to let the resident leave an held her against her will. Officers were able to get inside and reach the woman, police said.
Police released this sketch of a man they believe was involved in an attempted assault on a jogger on the W&OD trail. (Courtesy of Leesburg Police)

Two people were assaulted in separate incidents along the Washington and Old Dominion bike trail in Loudoun County, authorities said.

In one incident, a man who was wearing dark clothing approached a female jogger about 6:30 a.m. Thursday along the trail in Leesburg. He was carrying a box cutter.

She ran away and was not harmed, Leesburg police said. The man also ran from the scene.

Police said the incident happened between Valley View Avenue and South King Street. Law enforcement officers searched the area but were unable to find the man.

The attacker in the Leesburg incident is described as being a black man in his 50s.

In the other incident, the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office said a woman was walking along the W&OD trail, just east of Sterling Boulevard, about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 when two men approached her from a wooded area, pulled at her clothing and then physically assaulted her. Authorities are describing the incident as an attempted sexual assault.

The men fled when a bicyclist rode by the area, the sheriffs office said.

Both of those attackers are described as being black men. According to police, one is about 6-foot-2, has black, curly hair and was wearing a black shirt. The other man is described by police as being slightly shorter with a thin build. He also has black, curly hair and was wearing a gray shirt, officials said.

That incident was reported to the sheriffs office Tuesday.

Authorities reminded area residents to stay alert to their surroundings and walk, run or bike in a group or with another person.

Both cases remain under investigation, police said.
A Metro train is seen after it derailed just outside the East Falls Church station on July 29. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

It was about this time last year that Metro board members gathered after a worrisome derailment, demanding answers from the agencys leaders in light of a series of damning federal reports that questioned the safety of the system.

By the end of the meeting, board members had expressed their profound dissatisfaction with the lack of answers and the agencys leadership. Hours later, Metros chief safety officer resigned.

Thursdays emergency board meeting was deja-vu all over again  except for the outcome. At the end, board members were cautiously optimistic, largely because of General Manager Paul J. Wiedefelds most recent hires: Chief Operating Officer Joseph Leader and Chief Safety Officer Patrick Lavin. Leader and Lavin, both alums of New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority, fielded the bulk of the boards questions.

Night and day, said board member Malcolm Augustine, who represents Maryland and Prince Georges County, adding that it was like the exact same meeting with new players and a key difference: tone. There was ownership from all three people.

Leif A. Dormsjo, a D.C. member, said: I think they have the right philosophy, and thats the biggest thing Ive noticed thats different from the last year. These guys are not running away from the problems. They seem to be running toward them.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld talks in his office in Washington on July 7. (Cliff Owen/AP)

The 21/2-hour meeting covered a wide range of topics  red-signal violations, safety culture, a potential criminal investigation  but most of the questions focused on the July 29 derailment at East Falls Church and federal regulators reports suggesting that inspectors and maintenance workers had missed opportunities to catch the track defect.

Wiedefeld, Lavin and Leader sought first to allay immediate concerns of board members about any imminent dangers on the tracks.

[Metro board to seek answers on safety, communications at emergency meeting]

The derailment took place at an interlocking, a point where trains change tracks. Directly after the incident, Leader said, all the interlockings in the system were inspected closely. Staffers were brought in from other departments  specifically, maintenance and construction supervisors  to assist and offer a fresh pair of eyes.

Additionally, Leader said, officials also are conducting additional inspections at the areas where tracks curve sharply  spots that can put extra stress on the infrastructure and cause a similar wide gauge defect that was linked to the July 29 incident. Those inspections are scheduled to be concluded by the end of the month.

By the end of this month, we should be in a situation where we should be able to say, this wont happen again? asked Metro board Chairman Jack Evans.

Wiedefeld said yes.

Additionally, Leader said he is looking to eliminate Metros reliance on gauge rods, beams used as a temporary means of holding tracks in place to help prevent the wide gauge spreading of the tracks. It is a Band-Aid fix that Metro has come to rely on for excessive periods, Leader said.

I didnt feel gauge rods were getting the attention they needed, Leader said. Weve now made that a priority.

Even so, Lavin acknowledged  as had been noted by the National Transportation Safety Board  that problems with the stretch of track involved in the derailment had likely been known as far back as 2009.

[In scathing report, FTA blasts Metro track maintenance program]

He outlined the dates of the recent inspections of the area where the July 29 derailment occurred: The interlocking was inspected by a track-geometry vehicle most recently in February. Both tracks got a once-over by inspectors in July. And the interlocking received a detailed inspection on June 17. Lavin said it was not clear why those inspections had not identified the defects.

Wiedefeld did not comment on whether he thinks employees may have falsified an inspection report. The decision to bring in two former federal prosecutors to investigate potential criminal wrongdoing came after investigators encountered conflicting information and disturbing information, Wiedefeld said, but he added that he could not say more because of the ongoing investigation.

In terms of long-term solutions, Metro officials have said theyve embarked on a top-to-bottom revamping of the track-maintenance program, which involves an overhaul in the inspection schedule, a beefed-up maintenance training program, and an independent tabulation of track defects by outside consultants.

[Metro adjusts SafeTrack plan after July derailment]

On Thursday, officials said theyve also brought in a six-person team of inspectors, trained by the Federal Railroad Administration and with decades of experience, to make their own assessment of the state of the systems tracks and to help train and mentor Metro staffers in performing more-thorough inspections.

The agency also is seeking technological solutions such as high-definition video to help detect or monitor track problems. And Metro leaders acknowledged that they had not been using the multimillion-dollar track-geometry vehicle  designed to catch track defects  to inspect interlockings.

Whats the story with the Mad Max Machine? board member Tom Bulger said, referring to a nickname for the vehicle.

Lavin replied that the derailment brought to the agencys attention that the vehicle was not being used to inspect crossovers.

Really, Bulger said in a sarcastic tone.

Yes, sir, Lavin replied.

And how many crossovers do we have that the Mad Max Machine missed? he asked.

I assume most of the terminals, Lavin replied.

And thats been going on since we bought this thing for almost eight million bucks? Bulger asked.

Wiedefeld interjected. Basically, institutionally, it was not being used.

Really. Great. Okay, Bulger replied, seemingly unsatisfied.

Officials said they plan to start using the machine on interlockings and in addition may also start sending it out on the tracks more frequently than the current twice-yearly.

Tech solutions are also being considered as a fix for Metros problems with red-signal violations, the most egregious of which occurred in early July and involved a Red Line train that nearly struck two track workers before heading in the direction of an oncoming train. The train was stopped a few thousand feet before impact.

Lavin said he wants to change the engineering on the red-signal system so that all trains are automatically stopped at any red light, with operators needing to take two or three extra steps to pass through a signal that indicates a stop. Currently, trains that are being operated manually can pass through red signals without stopping if their speed is less than 12 mph.

[New FTA report calls for further action from Metro to prevent red-signal overruns]

Even amid the optimism about Metros new brass, board member Michael Goldman, representing Maryland, expressed frustration that the agencys troubled history had, essentially, repeated itself.

Weve now gone through this like Groundhog Day over and over again, he said. I want to see steps taken in the system and the problem resolved so it doesnt come back again next summer or next year.

He was curt when responding to a query about whether he was satisfied with the answers he had received from the agencys leaders. No, he said. Ill be more satisfied with actions rather than words.

Board member Christian Dorsey, representing Virginia, said he was glad to see an honest reckoning with the issues plaguing the system and the entrenched inability to resolve problems. I didnt sense a desire to obfuscate at all, Dorsey said.

But even the tepid optimism from the board came with a side of skepticism. Robert C. Lauby, a Metro board member from the Federal Railroad Administration, took an opportunity near the end of the meeting to congratulate Wiedefeld and his staff on their honesty and apparent commitment to change.

Right now, youre the fresh eyes. Youre part of the solution. And maybe in four, five years you might be part of the problem again, Lauby said, I dont know.

Cue nervous laughter from around the room.

But youre doing the right things, he said, and I want to congratulate you and thank you for the good information that you provided.
Hillary Clinton with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and senior staffer Huma Abedin at a rally in Old Town Alexandria in October. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

 Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Thursday distilled Donald Trumps recent pitch to black voters to something bumper-sticker short and snappy: Your life sucks.

What he said about the African Americans, Youre all  you have no jobs, your schools are horrible, youre worthless. Is that an endearing message to get people to vote for you? McAuliffe, a close friend and political ally of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said in a Richmond radio interview.

Jimmy Barrett, host of WRVAs Ask the Governor program, broke in with a quibble.

He didnt call them worthless, just for the record, Barrett said. But I understand what youre saying.

McAuliffe continued: Well, basically the implication is, Your life sucks. 

Asked about McAuliffes remarks, Trumps campaign released a statement he made on the campaign trail Thursday.

This is the year that the people who have been betrayed by Democratic policies, including millions of African-American and Hispanic-American citizens, reject the politicians who have failed them and vote for change, the statement said.

As Ive discussed for many days now, Democratic politicians have run nearly every inner city in America for 50 or 60 years or more. Their policies have produced only more poverty, joblessness, and failing schools.

Seeking to reset his faltering campaign, the Republican nominee has recently tried to appeal to black voters, saying Democrats have taken their votes for granted. But Trumps approach has offended some listeners because of his use of sweeping language to describe the status of blacks. And economists also say he has inflated figures for black youth unemployment, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts at 19.2 percent.

[Trumps courtship of black voters hampered by decades of race controversies]

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? Trump said at a recent campaign stop. 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?

The campaign also issued a statement from Lynne Patton, vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation, who is African American and who narrated a video shown at the GOP convention about being welcomed into the Trump family:

I think what my boss is saying is the Democratic Party has made a lot of promises to the Black and Latino communities that have just never materialized, the written statement said. The numbers dont lie. Since Barack Obama took office the amount of African Americans living in poverty has risen by 1.4 million. Black home ownership has dropped from 47 percent to 41 percent.

Among people identified as black in the census, 9.94 million were in poverty when Obama took office in 2009, according to Valerie Wilson, director of the Economic Policy Institutes Program on Race, Ethnicity and the Economy. That number rose to 10.76 million in 2014, the most recent year for which figures were available, an increase of about 811,000.

But among those who identify as black and some other race, the number is closer to what the Trump campaign claims. Poverty in that group increased by 1 million people, from 10.58 million in 2009 to 11.58 million in 2014, Wilson said.

The poverty rate, however, remained almost unchanged over that period, a time of population growth. For people identified as black alone or in combination with other races, the poverty rate was 25.9 percent in 2009 and 26 percent in 2014.

Wilson also noted the poverty numbers do not reflect significant labor market gains made by African Americans in 2015 and 2016, she noted.

The black homeownership rate fell from 46 percent in 2009 to 42 percent in 2015, the last full year for which figures were available, Wilson said. The decline started before Obama took office in 2009 and was a result of the financial crisis and the collapse of the housing market, Wilson said.

Trump and McAuliffe were once on good terms, back when the real estate mogul opened his checkbook for Democrats and McAuliffe was a prolific fundraiser for Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

[Clinton donors pumped millions into McAuliffes coffers]

Trump gave $25,000 to McAuliffes failed 2009 bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Trumps name is emblazoned on a winery in the commonwealth, a critical swing state in recent presidential elections.
By PTI: Kolkata, Aug 25 (PTI) Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)

today signed an MoU with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for promoting renewable energy.

"We signed the MoU with the chamber to popularise clean energy and climate. We will work with BCCI with our technical resource. We can offer technology and business models on renewables," TERI director general Ajay Mathur said here today.

advertisement

He said if there is demand then Teri may consider opening a resource center in city.

State Power Minister Shobandeb Chatterjee, who was present on the occasion, promised all support to the clean energy initiative by BCCI.

BCCI energy committee chairman Deb A Mukherjee said the agreement will forge an alliance between the chamber and TERI to work toghther in the domain of renewables and allied fields. PTI BSM KK KK

--- ENDS ---
The abductors developed cold feet and released victim Ishaan Bapat near Jalahalli on Wednesday morning and fled from the scene after they came to know that nearly 50 police personnel were on their trail.

By Rohini Swamy: The Bangalore Police on Tuesday formed 10 teams to trace and rescue Kirloskar Electric Company MD Vinayak Bapat's son after unknown men abducted him.

The abductors developed cold feet and released victim Ishaan Bapat near Jalahalli on Wednesday morning and fled from the scene after they came to know that nearly 50 police personnel were on their trail.

advertisement

Nineteen-year-old Ishaan, is a second year student in the Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Yelahanka, and resides in Malleswaram.



WHAT HAPPENED?

Around 5.30 pm on Tuesday, Ishaan was returning home from his college in a BMTC bus and got off the bus near Yelahanka. As soon as he stopped at a local hotel to order a snack, two unidentified men came up to him and forcefully pushed him into a car.

At around 8 pm, Ishaan's mother received a call regarding the abduction of her son. However, Ishaan's abductors informed her that they would soon inform the family about the ransom amount and warned her against informing the police.

Ishan's father approached Bengaluru Police Commissioner NS Megharikh, who along with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East division) PS Harsha, ordered to set up ten teams to search for the boy. After receiving another call from the abductors, the police traced the mobile phone call to the Whitefield area of Bengaluru.

As soon as the abductors realised that the police were hot on their trail, they left the boy and fled. They even failed to made the ransom call.

"No arrests have been made till now, but we are in the process of getting detailed sketches of the abductors with the help of the victim. We will be able to trace them shortly, " said, PS Harsha.



ALSO READ:

2 persons, including woman, arrested in Ghaziabad abduction case



--- ENDS ---
A rescuer carries a wounded baby in the rubble of buildings hit by a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, on Thursday. Russia agreed to a 48-hour humanitarian cease-fire in the divided northern city to allow aid deliveries, and the White House said it supported the relief effort by the United Nations. (Ameer Alhalbi/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

BRAZIL

Impeachment trial begins for Rousseff

Brazils Senate began the impeachment trial of President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday and could permanently oust her as soon as next week.

The impeachment drama has dragged on since December. Political insiders, the media and even many of her supporters predict that Rousseff will be removed from office when the Senate casts its final vote on Aug. 30 or 31.

If 54 of the 81 senators vote to oust Rousseff, she will be replaced by Michel Temer, her former vice president. Temer took over as interim president when the Senate suspended Rousseff on May 12 after the lower house voted for her removal.

Rousseff is accused of breaking fiscal laws by issuing decrees on spending without congressional approval and leaving a state-owned bank to pay for a low-interest financing scheme for family farmers for months before reimbursing it.

Rousseff denies the charges.

 Dom Phillips

YEMEN

U.N. calls for probe of human rights abuses

The U.N. human rights chief called for an international investigation of rights abuses and violence in Yemens civil war, which has killed thousands of people, insisting that a domestic panel set up to look into violations has not been up to the task.

The call from Zeid Raad al-Hussein came as his Geneva office released a 22-page report chronicling abuses on both sides in the conflict, which pits the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, against Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, and their allies.

In a statement, Zeids office said he called on the international community to establish an international, independent body to carry out comprehensive investigations in Yemen, noting challenges faced by the national panel set up under President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi  notably, security concerns.

 Associated Press

RUSSIA

Putin orders snap military drills

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap military drills as German Chancellor Angela Merkel accused him of breaking international law in Ukraine and said NATO will defend member states against attack.

Combat readiness exercises are taking place to defend the interests of the Russian Federation amid increasing threats to its security, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement. Troops in Russias southern, central and western military districts; naval deployments in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea; and airborne forces are involved, he said.

While Germany wants a constructive relationship with Russia, Merkel said during a visit to Estonia, we have to live with the reality of its actions in annexing Crimea and backing separatists in eastern Ukraine. Estonia is a NATO member.

Russia is conducting drills near its border with Ukraine as tensions spike ahead of talks on the Ukrainian conflict among Putin, Merkel and French President Francois Hollande next month.

 Bloomberg News

Kidnapped Egyptian killed:

A police driver kidnapped on Tuesday was executed Thursday by suspected militants from the local Islamic State affiliate in Sinai, Egyptian security officials said. They said three masked militants and the policeman arrived at the residential al-Masaeed district in el-Arish in a green truck. The policeman, blindfolded and bound, was brought out and shot twice in the head before the militants sped away in the vehicle.

Life sentence for Argentine:

A retired Argentine general received a life sentence for killings, kidnappings and torture committed during Argentinas crackdown on leftists decades ago. Luciano Benjamin Menendez, 89, already is serving other life sentences for human rights violations. Thursdays verdict is for 282 disappearances, 52 homicides, 260 kidnappings and multiple cases of torture at a clandestine military base.

Hong Kong gets its first Zika case: Hong Kong has confirmed its first case of Zika, putting it on high alert for any spread of the mosquito-borne virus that has wreaked havoc in Latin America. Leung Ting-hung, a Department of Health official, said measures had been taken to prevent the viruss spread, with the focus on controlling the mosquito population. The patient, a 38-year-old woman, has developed joint pain and red eyes since Aug. 20, the department said.

 From news services
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said the conservative movement known as the "alt-right" was an "emerging racist ideology." (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said the conservative movement known as the "alt-right" was an "emerging racist ideology." (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post)

A series of racially charged accusations dominated the presidential campaign Thursday, with Democrat Hillary Clinton accusing Donald Trump of taking hate groups mainstream, while the Republican nominee repeatedly claimed that Clinton is a bigot toward African Americans.

Clinton started the day by releasing a video that featured Ku Klux Klan members and white supremacists touting Trumps candidacy  then gave an afternoon speech condemning Trumps racially inflammatory remarks and support within the alt-right, which she described as an emerging racist ideology.

Trump is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters, she said in the speech in Reno. Its a disturbing preview of what kind of president hed be.

Trump, meanwhile, declared in an interview on CNN that Clinton is a bigot  an accusation that he first made at a rally in Mississippi Wednesday night, but that he repeated several times under questioning from CNNs Anderson Cooper.

She is a bigot, Trump said in the interview, which was broadcast Thursday. If you look at whats happening to the inner cities, you look at whats happening to African Americans and Hispanics in this country, where she talks all the time.

Speaking at a rally in New Hampshire on Aug. 25, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump warned supporters that Democratic rival Hillary Clinton will accuse them of racism, saying that is a tired strategy of the Democratic party. (The Washington Post)

The blisteringly direct accusations brought the subjects of race and bigotry, previously undercurrents, to the surface of this years presidential election. And the exchanges hinted at just how nasty the verbal battle between Clinton and Trump could become in the roughly 10 weeks until the general election.

Clintons aim is to diminish Trump in the eyes of Americans uncomfortable voting for someone who appeals to racists, perhaps even winning over some moderate Republicans. Trump is fighting that image by appealing to minority voters while questioning Clintons record on race issues, noting that Democrats have long controlled cities where many African Americans continue to live in poverty.

While Clinton stopped short of accusing Trump directly of being a racist, Trump offered no such restraint with his remarks.

Clintons speech Thursday afternoon, delivered at a community college in this general-election battleground state, focused particularly on Trumps connection to the alt-right.

Its a movement that predates Trump, but it was his presidential campaign that brought it into the mainstream. From the moment he told a national audience that Mexico was sending rapists and drug dealers across the border, Trump surged in the polls.

The movement has come under new scrutiny in the wake of a leadership shake-up in the Trump campaign that included the installation of Breitbart News head Steve Bannon as the campaigns chief executive. Bannon has described Breitbart News as the platform for the alt-right.

The de facto merger between Breitbart and the Trump Campaign represents a landmark achievement for the alt-right,  Clinton said. A fringe element has effectively taken over the Republican Party.

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.

She ticked off several recent headlines from the site in an effort to discredit Bannon. Among them: Hoist It High And Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims a Glorious Heritage. That appeared, Clinton said, shortly after the mass shooting in a Charleston, S.C., church.

Clinton also called Trump a man with a long history of racial discrimination, who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of supermarket tabloids and the far dark reaches of the Internet.

In his own speech in New Hampshire earlier Thursday, Trump tried to discredit Clintons argument before she had made it, calling it one of the most brazen attempts at distraction in the history of politics and an attempt to spread smears and her lies about decent people.

Its the oldest play in the Democratic playbook, he said. When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: Youre racist, youre racist, youre racist. They keep saying it: Youre racist. Its a tired, disgusting argument and its so totally predictable.

Trump framed Clintons speech not as an attack on him but as an attack on the millions of decent Americans who support him. He provided a point-by-point defense of some of his most controversial stances  including blocking refugees from entering the country, cracking down on illegal immigration and intensifying policing  saying that it is not racist, Islamophobic or hard-hearted to want to keep Americans safe.

To Hillary Clinton and her donors and advisers pushing her to spread smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words, I want you to remember these three words: Shame. On. You, Trump said.

The fact that questions about race and bigotry dominated the day was by itself a victory for Clinton. She and her top aides have spent several days trying to fend off new questions about foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation and her use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state.

In a contest in which both Clinton and Trump are viewed unfavorably by wide swaths of the electorate, both are seeking to make the race a referendum on the fitness of the other. Clintons speech here was an attempt to put the spotlight back on Trump on an issue her camp hopes will continue to be a hot topic through November, although Trump made a clear play to try to neutralize that by questioning her own attitudes toward black Americans.

[Donald Trump shouts: Hillary Clinton is a bigot!]

In her speech, Clinton chided Trump for having questioned the citizenship of President Obama, the first African American to hold the position; for having been sued by the Justice Department for alleged discrimination in rental housing; for questioning the impartiality of a judge of Mexican heritage; and for proposing to use deportation forces to remove 11 million undocumented immigrants from the country  an idea Trump now seems to be wavering on.

[Hillary Clinton forcefully defends foundation: Theres a lot of smoke and theres no fire]

In recent days, Trump has been aggressively trying to shed the label of racist, which his campaign and supporters say is unfair and unmerited. He has increased the number of minority surrogates speaking on his behalf on cable news and at his rallies, and he is planning to take trips into urban areas soon to visit churches, charter schools and small businesses in black and Latino communities.

The purpose of this pitch is not only to reach out to minority voters but also to soften Trumps image among white moderates, notably women, who have been taken aback by Trumps rhetoric. He has delivered the vast majority of his speeches to overwhelmingly white crowds, even when he appears in cities with large minority populations.

Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future, Trump said at the rally Wednesday night in Mississippi. Shes going to do nothing for African Americans. Shes going to do nothing for the Hispanics.

The line was included in prepared remarks distributed to reporters, and it seemed to catch many in the white crowd by surprise, triggering a delayed and somewhat brief round of cheers and applause. A woman standing behind Trump grimaced at the comment, her eyes widening as she seemed unsure whether she should clap. Another woman seated in the upper tier of the arena approvingly shouted, Yeah! Yeah!

Trump has accused Clinton of bigotry before, but those comments did not land with the same impact.

In an interview on Thursday, CNNs Anderson Cooper grilled Trump on his use of the insult.

But how is she bigoted? Cooper said at one point. Bigotry is having hatred towards a particular group.

Because she is selling them down the tubes because shes not doing anything for those communities, Trump responded. She talks a good game. But she doesnt do anything.

Cooper pressed again: So youre saying she has hatred or dislike of black people?

Her policies are bigoted because she knows theyre not going to work, Trump responded.

But youre saying shes personally bigoted . . . Cooper said.

Oh, she is. Of course she is, Trump said. Her policies. Theyre her policies she comes out with the policies and others that believe like she does also but she came out with policies over the years. . . . This is over the years. Long time. Shes totally bigoted, theres no question about that.

Trumps blunt pitch to minorities has been criticized by some for casting all blacks and Hispanics as impoverished, undereducated and underemployed.

What do you have to lose? Trump said at a rally in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon. It cannot get any worse. And believe me, Im going to fix it. . . . Ill be able to make sure that when you walk down the street in your inner city or wherever you are, youre not going to be shot. Your child isnt going to be shot.

Trumps ongoing efforts to soften his image also carry some risk with his more fervent supporters.

Conservative activist and author Ann Coulter has been taking Trump to task on Twitter and talk shows in recent days as Trump has signaled that he might back off his plan to remove all the roughly 11 million immigrants currently in the country illegally.

Although Trump has yet to clearly state what he now believes, he has made a series of comments that seem to echo the immigration reform stances of several of his former Republican rivals whom he once mocked for being weak on illegal immigration.

Nevada, the site of Clintons speech Thursday and home to a burgeoning Latino population, is one state watching the immigration debate closely.

President Obama carried the state against Mitt Romney in 2012, but recent polls here have showed Clinton with no more than a modest lead over Trump.

David Weigel contributed to this report.
For more than a year, Donald Trump took the hardest line on immigration  vowing to deport 11 million illegal immigrants en masse and pillorying his GOP primary rivals as favoring amnesty.

But 11 weeks before the election, Trump is suddenly sounding a lot like the opponents he repeatedly ridiculed.

The nominee and his campaign aides are now talking openly about requiring illegal immigrants to pay back taxes and potentially allowing those without criminal records to stay in the country  lines that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida repeatedly used in the GOP presidential primary. Trump also says that any softening of his position wont include a path to citizenship  consistent with the way former Florida governor Jeb Bush described how he would provide legal status for undocumented immigrants.

The shift, if it sticks, marks a dramatic turnabout for a nominee who repeatedly attacked Bush, Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and other primary rivals as weak and spineless on immigration, and who repeatedly vowed that he would never waver in his push to deport everyone in the United States who is here illegally.

It was unclear Thursday evening if it would. In an interview with CNN, Trump said there is no path to legalization unless they leave the country and come back, apparently returning to at least some version of his original position. Trumps campaign did not immediately respond to a request for more clarity on his views.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border if he wins the election. Here's what people living along the border have to say about that wall. (Zoeann Murphy,Samuel Granados,Kevin Schaul,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

In a Thursday radio interview with WABC in New York, Bush said Trumps views seem to be constantly changing, making it difficult to read where he stands. But he said Trump seems to have turned his back on the positions that have defined his candidacy.

[Trump on illegal immigrants: Theres no amnesty, but we work with them.]

Sounds like a typical politician, by the way, where you get in front of one crowd and say one thing, and then say something else to another crowd that may want to hear a different view, said Bush, who has refused to endorse Trump. All the things that Donald Trump railed against, he seems to be morphing into. Its kind of disturbing.

When pressed on the similarities between his position and Trumps new stance, Bush said with a laugh: Well, Im sure I influenced his position.

Republican advocates of immigration reform came out of the woodwork Thursday to draw attention to Trumps changing stance. Former House majority leader Eric Cantor, who supported Bushs campaign, wrote on Twitter: Pleased to see @realDonaldTrump embrace @JebBushs immigration plan. Cantor lost his seat in a 2014 primary upset in part because of his support for immigration reform.

Meanwhile, Democrats are in rare agreement with many Trump defenders in saying that the nominee has not actually flip-flopped. They argue that he is merely trying to paper over ugly remarks that cant be taken back, such as labeling illegal immigrants from Mexico rapists and killers bringing drugs and crime into the United States.

I dont think anything has changed, said Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), a staunch advocate of immigration reform.

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)

Following a staff shake-up last week amid worsening poll numbers against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump has sought to move to the center  at least rhetorically  in a number of areas, including immigration. Although the nominee has been cagey on the details, Trumps remarks so far have borne remarkable similarities to the positions that Bush and others held on immigration reform.

For example, Bush wrote in a 2013 book on immigration reform that he supported a path to earned legal status, not citizenship, in which undocumented immigrants could obtain a provisional work permit, where they pay taxes, they pay a fine, they learn English, they work. He advocated the same in the GOP primaries.

[Donald Trump polls the audience on the fate of 11 million people]

In a town-hall-style interview with Fox News Channels Sean Hannity that aired this week, Trump described a similar set of policies. He said there would be no citizenship and no amnesty, but at the same time he suggested that some otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants could be allowed to stay if they pay back taxes. No amnesty, but we work with them, Trump said.

In an interview on CNN on Thursday morning, Trumps new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, tried to distinguish what Trump is saying from what Rubio, Bush and others advocated.

Senator Rubio is a particularly different case because he led the Gang of Eight with [Democrats] Chuck Schumer and  and I think Dick Durbin. The Gang of Eight, their plan was amnesty, she said.

Rubio was part of the Gang of Eight senators who co-sponsored a comprehensive immigration reform bill that included a path to citizenship in 2013. But he backed away from the sweeping approach by the time of his presidential campaign and repeatedly insisted that he did not support amnesty.

Rubio also emphasized during his presidential campaign that he would not hesitate to deport illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes. But he took a more tolerant attitude toward those who did not commit serious crimes.

If youre a criminal alien, no, you cant stay, he said on NBCs Meet The Press in January, specifying that he meant those who committed felonies. He added: I dont think youre gonna round up and deport 12 million people.

In that interview, Trump said he would deport illegal immigrants who are gang members. But polling the audience, he seemed open to a different approach to those who have not broken laws aside from being in the country without proper documents.

So now we have the person, 20 years been an upstanding person, the family is great, everyone is great, do we throw them out or do we work with them? Trump asked the crowd to a mixed reaction.

Trump said Thursday that he will lay out an exact plan on immigration in an upcoming speech.

I will be doing that, Id say, over the next week or so, Trump told reporters at Trump Tower in New York. I look forward to it.

[Pew poll: Majority rejects Trumps views on immigration]

He insisted that he is very strong on illegal immigration and warned not to be fooled by the news media.

You either have a country or you dont. We either have borders or we dont, Trump said, adding that he would still build a massive wall along the southern border, and make Mexico pay for it, if elected president.

At a Thursday afternoon rally in Manchester, N.H., Trump sought to project strength in his immigration positions, reiterating his commitment to building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. But he did not offer any new details on his revised stance.

We will end illegal immigration, and we will restore the constitutional rule of law, Trump pledged.

The wavering marks a sharp departure from last year, when Trump said in television interviews on NBC and MSNBC that illegal immigrants have to go and he vowed to create a deportation force. The tone he has adopted lately no longer includes that language.

As a candidate in the primary, Trump hammered Bush and Rubio for being soft on illegal immigrants.

The issue Bush and Rubio ran into with the GOP base was that many conservatives saw anything short of deporting all illegal immigrants as a form of amnesty, which has become one of the most damaging words to be associated with in Republican circles.

Now, Trump risks having the same problem in the final stretch before the general election.

So whats Trump going to call his amnesty plan: The Gang of One proposal? tweeted Mark Krikorian, a staunch opponent of illegal immigration.

Jenna Johnson contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton speaks in New York while her husband, former president Bill Clinton, applauds.

Nov. 9, 2016 Hillary Clinton speaks in New York while her husband, former president Bill Clinton, applauds. Melina Mara/The Washington Post

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.

Late Wednesday night, Clinton called into CNNs Anderson Cooper to offer a full-throated defense of her familys foundation.

We did provide a lot of life-saving work, Clinton said. Im proud of the work that my husband started and he did.

We provided a massive amount of information and Donald Trump doesnt release his tax [returns] and is indebted to foreign banks and foreign lenders, she added.

Clinton has largely stayed out of the spotlight, continuing a multiday fundraising swing on the West Coast. On Thursday, her speech in Reno, Nev., 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.

[Emails reveal how foundation donors got access to Clinton and her close aides at State Dept.]

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 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 U.S. soldier. Seizing on those controversies, Clintons campaign worked to put Trump on the defensive while largely keeping the spotlight off Clinton.

Speaking in Akron, Ohio, Aug. 22, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump demanded that a special prosecutor investigate his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. (The Washington Post)

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 at the helm two new aides, pollster Kellyanne Conway and conservative media denizen Steve Bannon.

[Inside the exclusive events helping to fund Clinton and the Democratic Party]

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 autumn 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 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 more than 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 from Trumps lack of transparency.
Gift Article Share

TEMPE, Ariz.  Even when no one asks him about Donald Trump, Sen. Jeff Flake makes sure the audience knows how much he despises the Republican presidential nominee. No Trump questions, the Arizona Republican mused at the end of two meetings on Tuesday with employees and executives at the Allstate Insurance office.

No matter.

Flake went on to tell the roughly 50 workers that he will not support Trump, given the kind of campaign he is running. He has little faith that Trump will change his ways, dooming him to defeat in November. Furthermore, Flake added, emphatically, I dont think he should win if he continues to campaign as he is.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cant expect to win Arizona because he "needlessly" offends minorities. (Video: Reuters)

Far from shading his views back home over Congresss long summer recess, Flake is doubling down as one of the most outspoken critics of his partys presidential nominee. He mocks as a joke the marquee idea behind Trumps campaign, a wall along the Mexican border paid for by the Mexican government.

Advertisement

Hes now openly hopeful about Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons dealings with Congress if she defeats Trump, boasting about his close friendship with her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

All of this has made Flake a massive political target for arch conservatives. The national spotlight will fall Tuesday on Sen. John McCains effort to beat back a tea-party-infused challenger in the states GOP primary. But here in Arizona theres already talk about which conservative in 2018 will challenge Flake, the onetime conservative House firebrand with a libertarian bent whose image has shifted to the center in the Senate.

Dont get me started on Jeff, former state senator Kelli Ward, McCains primary challenger, said in an interview at a Scottsdale campaign office. Ive been very disappointed in Jeff because he was sold to all of us as an extremely conservative man and politician and legislator, and hes let us down on all fronts.

Ward vowed to support a primary challenge to Flake even if she pulls off a stunning upset of McCain and eventually wins the Senate seat. Hopefully there will be somebody good, Ward said of a Flake challenge from the right. If somebody good came up, Id probably support them against Jeff.

Advertisement

Not even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), who has very strained relations with his colleagues, has ever openly supported a primary challenge to an incumbent Republican, let alone one from his own state.

Ward declined to state her own intentions about challenging Flake should she lose to McCain next week. But theres already chatter that one of the more conservative members of Arizonas congressional delegation would take on Flake, whose apostasies run from refusing to support Trump to aggressively supporting bipartisan immigration legislation to an overall demeanor of being nice to Democrats.

The list of Republicans who reject their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, and support his Democratic opponent keeps growing. (Video: The Washington Post)

After Clinton selected Kaine as her vice-presidential nominee, Flake issued a mocking tweet toward conservatives about how he was trying to find something bad to say about the senator from Virginia. Instead, he congratulated Kaine as a good man and a good friend. He told reporters that he has communicated with Kaine since the nomination and believes he could be an emissary for bipartisan deals in the Capitol during a Clinton administration.

Kaine and Flake both joined the Senate in 2013 and have established a good working relationship as members of the Foreign Relations Committee on issues such as whether Congress should enact a new authorization for the use of military force to better define the fight against terrorism, including groups such as the Islamic State.

Advertisement

Flake has even abandoned the standard Republican line of repealing the Affordable Care Act. This notion that were going to repeal it and replace it tomorrow, we couldve never done that, he said Tuesday at the Allstate event, noting that President Obama would always veto a bill that would end Obamacare. Assuming Clinton wins, the imperative for both sides is to work on smart fixes to the health-care system rather than uprooting the law, he said.

Youve got to work across the aisle, and I hope we can do it after this election, Flake said. He dismissed the Lock her up chants at Trump rallies as part of crazy conspiracy theories toward the Clintons that serve only to poison the environment.

Hes well aware that his approach, particularly refusing to support Trump, could make winning a Republican primary more difficult in two years. If I wanted to sail through reelection, this has made that tougher. No doubt, he said in an interview after the sessions with Allstate workers. His campaign coffers are relatively low, having raised less than $400,000 in the first half of this year, which leaves him with $581,000 in his account.

Advertisement

Flakes family name is literally synonymous with his home town, Snowflake, which his great-great-great-grandfather helped found as a Mormon settler. Flake ran the Goldwater Institute, named after Barry Goldwater, the states legendary conservative senator whose disastrous 1964 presidential campaign is drawing some comparisons to Trumps this year.

Elected to the House in 2000, Flake was considered a strong conservative. His 2012 Senate bid was a competitive contest that he narrowly won, a race in which Hispanics accounted for about 16 percent of the vote. This year Hispanics might crest 20 percent of the vote in Arizona.

Flake has done the math about the changing composition of the electorate  including that younger voters are favoring Clinton by greater than 2-to-1 margins in some surveys  and he worries Republicans will consign ourselves to political oblivion without a dramatic shift in policy and tone. His main job this year has been to help McCain win reelection. At a rally at McCain campaign headquarters Tuesday, the 79-year-old incumbent praised his understudy for his integrity and called him a man of honesty.

Advertisement

Yet McCain has stood behind Trump, continuing to endorse the nominee even as he criticizes many of his proposals. Flake acknowledged that McCain might infuriate more Trump supporters than hed win over in independents if he joined in rejecting Trump.

Then Flake reflected on how he would have handled things if it had been his turn this year to run for reelection, whether he wouldve been just as outspoken about Trump. What he said was the sort of answer that displayed an honest streak as well as a lack of political calculation.

I would like to think so, but I cant say, Flake said. To be honest, you know, I dont know.

What Donald Trump is doing on the campaign trail Share Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn MailSolid Email this link View Photos View Photos Next Image MANCHESTER, NH - NOVEMBER 7: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH on Monday November 07, 2016. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Correction: An earlier version of this post referred to Kelli Ward as a state senator. She resigned in December.

GiftOutline Gift Article
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

A new Pew Research Center poll finds Americans broadly rejecting many of Donald Trumps views on immigration, at a time when Trump is striking a markedly different tone on the issue to make inroads with minority voters and turn around depressed poll numbers generally.

Large majorities of those surveyed said they think undocumented immigrants fill jobs that U.S. citizens do not want, are as honest and hardworking as U.S. citizens and are no more likely than citizens to commit serious crimes  sound rebukes of Trumps rhetoric on immigration.

Even some of Trumps own supporters reported positive views of undocumented immigrants on some issues. They expressed negative views of undocumented immigrants on other issues, including whether they commit more violent crimes than U.S. citizens.

[In latest shift, Trump campaign wavers on mass deportations]

A majority of those surveyed also rejected one of Trumps signature policies: building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump has vowed to get Mexico to pay for the wall, and the proposal has become such a big part of Trumps presidential campaign that supporters chant build the wall at his rallies.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border if he wins the election. Here's what people living along the border have to say about that wall. (Zoeann Murphy,Samuel Granados,Kevin Schaul,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed by Pew are opposed to building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The proposal has far more support from Republicans and GOP-leaning independents  63 percent favor it  while 84 percent of Democrats oppose it.

But the poll shows that support for building a border barrier has declined since Trump made it a centerpiece of his campaign. In September 2015, 48 percent of those surveyed by Pew opposed building a fence along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. Support for a border fence fell to 38 percent in March, when 34 percent supported a wall in a separate question. In the latest survey, 36 percent support building a wall along the entire border.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the findings.

Other polls also have found a drop in support for the border wall. Rand Corp.s Presidential Election Panel Survey found that 48 percent of those surveyed in December and January supported a border wall; the same people were asked again in July and August, and support had dipped to 38 percent.

The Pew survey finds that support for building a border wall remains high among Trump supporters, at 79 percent.

The survey findings come as Trump this week shifted his tone on immigration, asserting that he may be open to softening laws to benefit the estimated 11 million undocumented people in the United States. Trump also said this week he would enforce current law and follow the policies of President Obama, though perhaps with a lot more energy.

The Pew survey of 2,010 adults finds a 45 percent plurality of those queried  along with 45 percent of Republicans surveyed  who say both a path to citizenship for those here illegally and border security should be given equal priority when dealing with illegal immigration. Trump has said that undocumented immigrants have got to go and that he would create a deportation force.

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 characterizations of undocumented immigrants were also soundly rejected in the poll.

When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best, Trump said at his campaign kickoff speech in June 2015.

Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards, and they tell us what were getting, Trump said.

Pews poll shows that a large majority of those surveyed  76 percent  think that undocumented immigrants are as hardworking and honest as U.S. citizens. Sixty-five percent of Republicans surveyed said they believe this, along with 86 percent of Hispanics.

Among Trump supporters, 1 in 3 said undocumented immigrants in the United States are not as honest and hardworking as U.S. citizens.

Overall, 71 percent of those queried  and more than 6 in 10 Republicans surveyed  said undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens do not want.

Among those who said they strongly favor Trump, 41 percent said they think undocumented immigrants mostly fill jobs that U.S. citizens would want.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that crime is surging and that this is because of illegal immigration, a claim that is unsupported. He has appeared at rallies and on television with the loved ones of people killed by undocumented immigrants.

One of them, Jamiel Shaw, whose son was killed in 2008 by a gang member who was in the United States illegally, spoke at the Republican National Convention. Trump also points to the case of Kate Steinle, a 31-year-old shot and killed on a busy San Francisco pier by an undocumented immigrant and repeat felon who had been deported five times.

[Donald Trumps unsupported claim that crime is through the roof because of illegal immigration]

The survey shows that a large majority of people do not agree with Trumps assertions that undocumented immigrants commit more violent crimes. Two-thirds of those surveyed said that undocumented immigrants are no more likely than U.S. citizens to commit serious crimes.

But there is a partisan rift on the issue. Four in 5 Democrats surveyed said undocumented immigrants are no more likely than citizens to commit serious crimes, compared with just more than half of the Republicans. But a smaller 42 percent of Republicans said they think undocumented immigrants are more likely than U.S. citizens to commit serious crimes. Half of Trumps supporters say undocumented immigrants are more prone to commit crimes, a number that rises to 59 percent among those who support Trump strongly.

According to a Gallup poll released Wednesday, 38 percent said the number of immigrants allowed into the United States should be reduced, an uptick from 34 percent last year.

Scott Clement contributed to this report.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is famous for his words. He hit out at the Centre today saying

By Rohit Kumar Singh: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was visiting flood affected areas near Patna today attacked attacked the Central government saying that river Ganga is furious because Union government is selling gangajal in post offices.

"BJP has started politics with selling Ganga Jal at Rs 80 per bottle. Ganga is angry and therefore she thought instead to herself reach the doorsteps of the people," he said.

advertisement

Former chief minister of Bihar yesteday made a bizzare statement telling the flod victims that they should feel fortunate to welcome river Ganga at their doorstep.

"People here are fortunate to find Ganga water in their home. Many a times it does not happen", Lalu had said.

Lalu has been visiting flood-affected areas in and around Patna for past one week assuring people of state government's assistance. He said that it was the the water released by the Madhya Pradesh government that had created havoc in Bihar. Slamming the Madhya Pradesh government Lalu said that they didn't inform Bihar before releasing water from the Ban Sagar dam.

As many as 127 people have lost their lives across Bihar and more than 25 lakh people have been displaced.



--- ENDS ---
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

In this 12th-century town, as many as 70 percent of the homes were vacant in the off-season. There were fewer people on the streets. Numerous teenagers had left for good.

And that was before the earthquake.

As the search through the debris continued and hopes dimmed that rescuers would find more survivors, cities and towns hit hard by Wednesdays devastating temblor in central Italy began to process the full extent of the disaster.

Churches fell. Piazzas were ruined. Neighborhoods were leveled. Early Friday, Italian authorities said the body count was at least 267 and set to grow.

But in many of those towns, already fighting a long battle against depopulation, a deeper anxiety began to spread.

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)

Would the people ever come back?

Aftershocks  some strong enough to send already damaged structures tumbling down  continued to belt the region Thursday. But for many, that was not what had them spooked the most. In some cases, these were towns already on the edge  places where sons and daughters had so little economic opportunity that many simply left. In quake-

battered Accumoli, for instance, youth unemployment was already 30 percent in a town where 80 percent of the population was older than 65.

In the aftermath of such destruction, some locals feared that towns like this one might take years, maybe decades, to bounce back from the weight of the 6.2-magnitude earthquake.

In the temporary tent city set up for Accumolis newly homeless, Lucia Di Gianvito, a 57-year-old house cleaner, said she had had no word from the elderly woman who once employed her.

She is probably dead, Di Gianvito said. Everything is going to be over now. No jobs. No shops left. Its over.

A woman nearby chimed in, saying that surely the town would rebuild.

Di Gianvito just laughed.





The situation wasnt good even before, she said, adding that only one of her two adult sons had managed to find work. There were no jobs. The young people are leaving. Should we leave, too? Maybe. But where will we go? There is no hope.

[Watch: Girl pulled from rubble 15 hours after earthquake]

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Thursday pledged a series of measures to aid and rebuild hard-hit towns, including tax relief and a 50 million euro ($56.4 million) package that he suggested was just a start.

We have a moral commitment to the women and men of those communities, Renzi said. The reconstruction of those towns is a priority of the government and country.

But as often happens in Italy after major quakes, the recriminations were already flying. Italy is the most earthquake-prone nation in Western Europe  as well as a nation stocked with ancient buildings and archaeological treasures whose care scholars see as paramount to preserving human history.

Yet vast numbers of older structures do not conform to anti-earthquake building codes adopted in the 1980s  and even many new buildings do not comply, experts say. Alessandro Amati, a seismologist at Italys National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, estimated that 70 to 80 percent of buildings in Italy are not earthquake-proof. In Wednesdays quake, 293 cultural heritage assets in Italy were damaged  including several that totally collapsed.

When reinforcements are done here, they can be shoddy, and it is not unusual for criminal charges to be brought against architects and construction companies when allegedly safe buildings fail during quakes.

On Thursday, the Italian news media reported that prosecutors were investigating how and why a school restored four years ago using government anti-earthquake funds managed to collapse.

But there is also evidence that such efforts can work: After earthquakes in 1979 and 1997, buildings in the city of Norcia, near Wednesdays epicenter, underwent substantial reinforcements. This week, those were credited with protecting the city, which sustained only limited damage.

More such reinforcements could have saved lives, many here argued. But there are enormous deficits when it comes to seismic safety in Italy, Amati said.

What might worry residents in towns like Accumoli more is the track record for rebuilding. In 2009, a 6.3-magnitude quake struck LAquila, 72 miles east of Rome, causing widespread damage that claimed more than 300 lives. Seven years later, new housing structures have gone up on the citys edges, but the historic center remains largely a ghost town. A more complete restoration is not expected until at least 2021.

By comparison, the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, killed 4,600 city residents and led to the full or partial collapse of more than 100,000 structures. The city suffered lasting impacts, but a massive reconstruction effort led to an 80 percent economic recovery in less than five years.

On Thursday, Renzi also insisted that he was prepared to make a serious investment in fortifying buildings and taking other steps to prevent further damage from natural disasters.

I do not want to repeat the mistakes of LAquila, he said.

In Accumoli, which suffered widespread damage, the fight now is to hold on to a future. The population had already fallen from 758 in 1991 to 667 in 2015. With fewer children, a middle school has closed. Some residents say economic opportunity has been hard to find  and will be harder now.

Giuseppina Chiaro, a 51-year-old housewife, said her 24-year-old son had left the town to find work. Now she feared that

her 21-year-old daughter, who worked at a local bar, might also need to leave.

Right now, all I can see is darkness, she said. We have no money, where should we stay? Who will give us the money we need to go away? And with a 60-year-old husband? Im over 50. Im the kind of woman who rolls up her sleeves and gets to work. But get to work on what?

Mayor Stefano Petrucci, however, said the town had improved its economic prospects in recent years. Although 70 percent of the homes were vacant most of the year, many of them filled up in August with temporary residents and vacationers escaping big cities.

On Wednesday, the earthquake caused damage even to the towns most prized structures. A 12th-century civil tower. A 15th-

century palazzo. But Petrucci insisted on Thursday that Italian politicians would move swiftly to rebuild here  at least they would if they wanted to look good.

Well become an example of how to rebuild a city center, he vowed. Well come out of this with our heads held high.

Even in their sorrow, many residents said they are ready to fight for this towns survival. Francesco Nigro, the local pharmacist, said he has already worked out a deal to open a temporary pharmacy in a shipping container because of a sense of community that he refuses to let go of. As he spoke near the light-blue tent city for homeless residents, an elderly woman in pain came up to him and asked for an analgesic cream.

He gladly supplied one.

We care about each other here and were not going to give that up, he said. Its going to take time and patience. But this town is not going to be defeated.

Faiola reported from London. Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report.

Read more

Italian town known for its pasta dish is no more after earthquake

Watch as Amatrice, Italy, is shaken by aftershocks

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Iraqs parliament voted to sack its defense minister on Thursday, leaving two of the countrys key security posts empty ahead of an offensive for Mosul, the biggest fight yet against Islamic State militants.

Lawmakers voted 142 to 102 to withdraw confidence from Khaled al-Obeidi amid accusations of corruption. The move follows the resignation of Iraqs interior minister in July after a devastating bomb attack in Baghdad.

Iraqi forces are slowly isolating the northern city of Mosul, the Islamic States de facto capital in Iraq, with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday announcing the recapture of the town of Qayyarah, 37 miles south of the city.

[Islamic State, losing fighters and territory, turns more to child bombers]

With military plans already drawn up, Iraqi officials said they expected Obeidis removal to have limited practical impact on the impending fight. However, the sacking highlights Baghdads deep political instability as the countrys armed forces try to purge the group from its remaining strongholds.

Abadi has been flailing in his attempts to address entrenched graft and overspending, the main grievances of demonstrators who have been holding large street protests against his government. Trying to stay on the right side of corruption allegations, politicians have been trading accusations in recent months, arriving at parliament with large files allegedly documenting corrupt activity of rivals.

Obeidi was called before parliament earlier this month to answer questions about weapons contracts. During that session, he leveled accusations against several other politicians, drawing public praise for crusading against corruption.

[U.N.: Over a million could be displaced by Mosul offensive]

On Thursday, Obeidi claimed that he was voted out because of the allegations he made. He denies corruption.

The voice of the corrupt people was louder than my voice, Obeidi said in a statement.

It is the first time Iraqs parliament has withdrawn confidence from a minister since the current political system was created after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Bashar al-Kiki, head of the provincial council of Nineveh, of which Mosul is the capital, said he did not expect the ouster to have a significant impact on the offensive there. However, he said, the vote of no confidence should have been delayed until afterward. Obeidi, who is from Mosul, had the confidence of the people, Kiki said.

He is a son of the city, he said. Its better to have him than not.

Abadi has pledged to recapture Mosul before the end of the year. The offensive could displace more than a million people, according to the United Nations.

Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.

Read more

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
An undated photo released by the official Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 25 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un monitoring the test-fire of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile. (KNS/via AFP/Getty Images)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boasted about the greatest success of a ballistic missile launched from a submarine this week, which appeared to be a major technological breakthrough for the nuclear-armed nation.

After a series of flops, North Korea launched a missile from a submarine near its east coast port of Sinpo early Wednesday. It flew about 300 miles before falling into the sea inside Japans air defense identification zone, the area in which Tokyo controls aircraft movement.

The launch, apparently of a KN-11 or North Star missile, contravenes U.N. resolutions and was roundly condemned by Japan, South Korea and China, as well as by the United States and the United Nations.

But in North Koreas state news media Thursday, the apparently successful launch was cause for major celebration. The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Korean Workers Party, carried seven color photos on its front page Thursday, including a large one of Kim surrounded by military officials, all of them smiling broadly.

Such images are used in North Korean propaganda in an effort to convince the populace, who have little, if any, access to outside information, that their impoverished and technologically backward country is strong and standing up to a United States that, the state media say, is trying to destroy North Korea.

[ U.S. policy on North Korea relies on China  and provokes it at the same time ]

Kim lauded the missile launch as a great manifestation and demonstration of the tremendous power and inexhaustible muscle, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea has joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability, and the U.S. mainland is now within North Koreas striking range, he said.

The missile was launched at a steep angle, a South Korean military source told Yonhap News Agency in Seoul, and probably could have traveled for more than 600 miles if it had been fired at a regular angle.

The launch coincided with the start of annual drills between the South Korean and U.S. militaries, exercises that always elicit an angry reaction from the North, which views them as a pretext for an invasion. The young North Korean leader came out with another round of bluster Thursday.

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, Kim reportedly said.

[ North Korean missile lands perilously close to Japan ]

The military has also clearly been trying to advance its ballistic missile program, conducting a series of land- and sea-based tests over the past year. It appears to be trying to work on its intermediate-range Musudan missile, which can theoretically reach Guam, and its submarine-launched missiles, which would give it the ability to stage an attack from sea.

The tests have had a patchy record of success. The most recent KN-11 launches  three in the past year  were all deemed failures because the missiles exploded at launch or traveled only a short distance.

But analysts say that even failures offer lessons for North Koreas rocket scientists.

Joseph S. Bermudez, a military analyst affiliated with the Washington-based U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, said this weeks test showed that North Korea remains strongly committed to the long-term development of an operational submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and is learning from its previous successes and failures.

Assuming the current rate of development, while North Korea still faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile, it is on track to develop the capability to strike targets in the region  including Japan  by 2020, Bermudez said in a commentary posted on the 38 North website.

[North Korean missile test a failure, Seoul says]

The latest launch was widely condemned.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said North Koreas defiance of the international community was deeply troubling.

The foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea and even China, North Koreas main ally, said after a meeting in Tokyo that the launch was totally unacceptable.

Read more

North Koreas deputy ambassador to Britain defects from London

North Korea says it has been practicing to blow up South Korean airports

North Korea fires projectiles into sea after U.N. passes new sanctions

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The Turkish government had been planning for more than a year to send troops into Syria to fight the Islamic State before it did so this week, but the intervention was opposed by military officers who later participated in Julys failed attempt to overthrow the government, a senior Turkish official said Thursday.

He spoke as Turkey dispatched additional tanks across the border to reinforce positions around the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which was captured from the Islamic State on Wednesday by Syrian rebels and Turkish troops in Turkeys first significant foray into Syria since the war began five years ago.

Reluctance within the military to move across the border was reinforced by other issues that subsequently emerged, including Turkeys November 2015 shoot-down of a Russian jet, which forced Turkey to suspend flights over Syria for fear of Russian retaliation and meant it could not offer air support to any advancing troops.

The suggestion, however, that military officers who were secretly plotting against the government all along had acted for more than a year to thwart its plans to intervene in Syria offers one possible new explanation for President Recep Tayyip Erdogans seeming reluctance to fulfill long-standing U.S. demands for Turkey to adopt a more active stance against the Islamic State in Syria.

[Biden warns Kurds not to seek separate enclave on Turkish-Syrian border]





Planning for the offensive spearheaded by Turkey on Wednesday against the Islamic State-controlled town of Jarabulus began in June 2015, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to share information on sensitive issues. However, the proposals were consistently resisted by the Turkish military, he said.

Certain commanders within the Turkish military worked hard to stall Turkeys plan to move against ISIS, the official said. Time and again they came up with excuses such as a lack of military capabilities to make it impossible for the government to move forward.

A number of [the] staunchest opponents of military action ended up partaking in the coup attempt, he added.

Among those, he said, was Samih Terzi, head of Turkish special forces, who led an assault in Ankara on the night of the July 15 coup attempt to capture the special forces headquarters. He was shot dead during battles to control the facility.

Turkish special forces, under a new commander, provided the backbone of the Turkish push into Syria, which also involved tanks and Turkish warplanes. The offensive met with no resistance from the Islamic State and the town of Jarabulus was captured within hours  demonstrating, the official said, that our troops were always up to the task.

[Turkeys Syria offensive is as much about the Kurds as the Islamic State]

The United States supported the operation with additional airstrikes and advisers  and a statement delivered forcefully during a visit to Ankara by Vice President Biden. The incursion also was made possible by the recent rapprochement between Russia and Turkey, which enabled Turkish warplanes to fly sorties over the battlefield in Syria for the first time since November, the official stressed.

His claims echo frequent complaints made over the past year by U.S. officials that Turkey had seemed unable to follow through with promises to intervene more robustly in Syria. The officials expressed on several occasions their frustration with the discrepancy between the apparent willingness of the Turkish government to send troops into Syria and the reluctance of the Turkish military to endorse the plan.

The ease with which the Turkish-backed Syrian rebel force overran Jarabulus this week may be attributable to the significant weakening over the past year of the Islamic State, which has rapidly been losing ground to a wide range of U.S.-backed forces in Iraq and Syria.

Turkeys determination to intervene in Syria now also appears to have been fueled by the expanding territorial ambitions of Syrias Kurds, who have taken advantage of the support they have received from the U.S. military for the fight against the Islamic State to consolidate their control over a newly emerging Kurdish region in northern Syria.

With the swift fall of Jarabulus, the focus now has shifted to the Syrian town of Manbij, 25 miles away, which was captured last week by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces after an 11-week battle.

Control over Manbij, a mostly Arab town, gives the Kurds a foothold on the west bank of the Euphrates River that would enable them to pursue a declared plan to link up Kurdish-controlled areas of eastern Syria with a small Kurdish enclave in western Syria. That is something Turkish officials have vowed to prevent, for fear that a new Kurdish entity bordering Turkey in Syria would fuel the independence aspirations of Turkeys already restive Kurds.

The Syrian Kurds said Thursday they had withdrawn from Manbij, fulfilling a key Turkish demand and a promise made to their U.S. backers to do so after they conquered the town. But SDF spokesman Servan Darwish said that Arab and local Kurdish forces affiliated with the SDF would remain there.

Sly reported from Beirut. Heba Habib in Stockholm contributed to this report.

Read more:

Obamas Syria plan teams up American and Russian forces

A new jihadist threat may be on the horizon in Syria

With ISIS on the run, new wars could erupt in Iraq

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The media campaign over Hillary Clintons use of a private email server and the interactions between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department while she was at its head provides information on her ties to billionaires and foreign despots, but largely obscures the basic issues in the corruption of the Clintons, to say nothing of the crimes she committed as part of the Obama administration.

The right-wing group Judicial Watch, which played a prominent role in the campaign to impeach President Bill Clinton in 1998-99, on Monday released more than 700 pages of email messages to and from Huma Abedin, Hillary Clintons closest personal aide at the State Department and now a vice chairman of her presidential campaign.

The emails included several in which a top Clinton Foundation official, Douglas Band, contacted Abedin on behalf of foundation donors who wanted access either to the State Department or Clinton herself. Abedin responded, sometimes by setting up meetings or facilitating requests, at other times in the negative.

On the same day, a federal judge revealed that the FBI has recovered nearly 15,000 email messages to or from Clinton during her tenure as secretary of state, and turned them over to the State Department for a security review and eventual public release. Judge James Boasberg set September 22 for a progress update on the processing of the email messages, but no other information was made public on either the content of the messages or how the FBI obtained them.

The following day, Citizens United, another right-wing group dedicated to demonizing the Clintons, released 378 pages of emails from Cheryl Mills and other Clinton aides at the State Department.

Media outlets hostile to Clinton, such as Fox News and the New York Post, featured the twin stories with headlines about a new deluge of emails threatening Clintons presidential campaign and claims they showed wealthy donors buying access to the State Department through contributions to the Clinton Foundation.

Republican candidate Donald Trump declared the Clinton Foundation the most corrupt enterprise in political history and pledged to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate its activities if he is elected in November.

The Associated Press released an analysis showing that of 154 private individuals who met with Clinton as secretary of state, nearly half had given money to the Clinton Foundation. The AP report seemed to support allegations of pay to play at the State Department, but the Clinton campaign claimed that it involved cherry-picking among the more than 17,000 people with whom Clinton had calendared meetings during her four years at the State Department.

The political motivation of right-wing media outlets in promoting the email story is obviousto boost the floundering Trump campaign. In the case of the pro-Clinton mediathe vast majoritythe continued publicity given the email scandal and the role of the Clinton Foundation also has a political purpose, to keep the Clinton campaign in line, putting pressure on it to make no concessions to those who supported her primary challenger Bernie Sanders or have illusions that Clinton can be pushed to the left.

Neither the US ruling elite nor, for that matter, Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party leadership, wants a blowout victory in the November elections. They would prefer to avoid a situation where the election of Clinton is accompanied by a Democratic takeover of the Senate and the House of Representatives because this might arouse popular expectations that the new government will take some action to alleviate the deepening crisis affecting working people.

The allegations of a pay to play relationship between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department, whatever the political motivation, largely obscure the essential basis of the corruption of the Clintons and the real purpose of their foundation.

In the fifteen-plus years since Bill and Hillary Clinton left the White House, they have amassed a personal fortune estimated at more than $150 million. The vast bulk of their income during this period had nothing to do with the Clinton Foundation, but came in the form of fees for speeches given to banks, corporations, trade associations and universities. In some years, one or the other Clinton made as much as $10 million simply for giving dozens of such closed-door talks, for an average fee of more than $200,000 per appearance.

In the course of the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sanders repeatedly raised the issue of these speaking fees and demanded that Clinton release the transcripts of her talks, particularly to Wall Street audiences. She always refused.

After Clinton won the Democratic nomination, Sanders dropped the issue and endorsed her, and neither the corporate media nor the Trump campaign has raised the question sinceno doubt because the banks and billionaires do not want their dealings with Clinton to be made public.

The Clinton Foundation was not primarily a money-raising instrument for the Clintons personal bank account, as their critics on the right claim, nor a harmless, blameless charity, set up out of the goodness of their hearts, as Democratic Party apologists suggest. Its purpose was to maintain the Clintons political relations with billionaires, corporations, dictators and right-wing capitalist governments around the world.

From that standpoint, it was highly successful. Bill Clinton traveled and engaged with wealthy donors continuously, while his wife, who held office as a senator or secretary of state for most of this period and could not represent the foundation openly, benefited politically but stayed in the background.

Once Hillary Clinton became a declared presidential candidate, in May 2015, many of the donors to the Clinton Foundation became donors to her presidential campaign. (Foreign governments and individuals are barred from making such contributions, but foreign corporations may do so through their US-based subsidiaries).

The claim that the Clinton Foundation engaged in an overt pay to play relationship with the US State Departmentthe focus of this weeks media campaignfinds little support in the emails from Huma Abedin released by Judicial Watch on Monday. The bulk of these messages concern routine internal State Department business, like scheduling, personnel matters, drafts of documents, much of which is redacted for security reasons. But a few have been highlighted in media accounts because they involved the Clinton Foundation.

For example, in June 2009, Douglas Band of the Clinton Foundation wrote to Abedin, telling her the crown prince of Bahrain was to be in Washington and wanted a meeting with Hillary Clinton. Good friend of ours, he added, referring to the autocrat, whose regime had given money to the foundation four years before.

Abedin replied that the crown prince had already contacted Clinton through normal State Department channels but Clinton was delaying a response because she was not feeling well. Two days later she informed Band that the State Department had replied to the prince thru official channels.

Bahrain is an important client state of US imperialism in the Persian Gulf, hosting the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet. US military aid to the tiny monarchy peaked at nearly $100 million in 2003, the year of the US invasion of Iraq, and has never since fallen below $10 million. US-Bahrain trade, which includes substantial purchases from US arms manufacturers, regularly tops $2 billion annually.

In that context, to suggest, as Judicial Watch does, that the heir-apparent to the Bahraini throne could not get a meeting with a US secretary of state without going through the Clinton Foundation is dubious, at best.

What is criminal here is the US-Bahrain relationship itself, which Clinton oversaw as secretary of state, including during the crisis year of 2011, when a mass popular movement threatened the monarchy. This led to a police-military crackdown with the backing of Saudi Arabia, which dispatched 1,000 troops across the causeway leading to the island nation. The Obama administration tacitly supported the Saudi intervention while paying lip service to the democratic rights of Bahrains Shiite majority.

Other Abedin emails relate to requests for meetings with Clinton from corporate heads, including Daniel Abraham, the billionaire proprietor of Slim-Fast, and top officials of St. Louis-based Peabody Coal, the largest US coal producer. Both had made donations to the Clinton Foundation but did not go through the foundation to make contact with the State Department.

Abraham is a long-time Democratic Party money-man who wanted to see Clinton about US policy on Israel and the Palestinians. He told the press this week, I have been friendly with the Clintons since their White House days. As far as I am concerned, it was all good. She never asked me for anything.

Peabody approached the Obama administration through the lobbying firm run by Richard Gephardt, former House Democratic leader and presidential candidate. The company wanted its CEO and other top executives to brief Secretary Clinton on Peabodys activities in exporting clean coal technology to Australia, China and Mongolia, among other global initiatives.

Such meetingsbillionaires seeking to convey their views on foreign policy, giant companies seeking US government backing for their foreign venturesare the bread and butter of every capitalist administration, Democratic or Republican. The corruption is embedded in the routine, everyday relationships.

One email to Abedin was from Maureen White, a longtime Clinton crony who wanted to meet with the secretary of state during a visit to Washington. Abedin promised to fit her in.

This is of interest mainly because White is married to Steven Rattner, the Wall Street speculator whom Obama appointed to head his auto industry task force and supervise the slashing of wages for entry-level autoworkers and the imposition of cuts in pensions and other benefits. Rattner only narrowly escaped prosecution for his role in manipulating the issuance of bonds by the New York state government during the administration of Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, a cabinet official in Bill Clintons administration.
By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) Infrastructure firm NCC Ltd today said Blackstone GPV Capital Partners (Mauritius) has offloaded 3.25 per cent stake in the company through open market sales.

Blackstone GPV Capital Partners (Mauritius) V-A Ltd and Blackstone FP Capital Partners (Mauritius) V FII Ltd sold 1,80,60,002 shares of the company constituting 3.25 per cent stake through open market sales, it said in a regulatory filing.

advertisement

The sales took place between April 10, 2015 and August 24, 2016, it added.

Post the sales, Blackstones stake has declined from 10.24 per cent to 6.99 per cent.

For the April-June quarter of 2016-17, the firm reported a 9 per cent growth in turnover at Rs 1,929.7 crore against Rs 1,775.2 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous year.

Net profit rose by 26 per cent to Rs 52.3 crore against Rs 41.4 crore during the same period.

In the first quarter of the current year, the diversified infrastructure development firm secured orders aggregating to Rs 3,620 crore and the order book stood at Rs 19,045 crore as at the end of the quarter. PTI RNK ABM

--- ENDS ---
Yesterday, the Australian reported that it had seen more than 22,000 pages of leaked documents outlining critically sensitive technical details on Scorpene-class submarines that French state-owned shipbuilder DCNS has designed for Indian Navy.

The Murdoch-owned daily wrote, The leaked DCNS data details the secret stealth capabilities of the 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 enduranceall sensitive information that is highly classified.  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 Australian saw 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 systems, 6,841 pages on its communications systems, and 2,138 on its navigation systems.

This massive leak is a major blow for DCNS, threatening the $A50billion (34.3billion) contract it won in April to build a next generation of 12 submarines for Australia. The Australian raised concerns over the leak of the documents, fearing the impact on the security of the Australian Navy.

Amid the US pivot to Asia and Washingtons war drive against China, Australia is upgrading its navy for war against China and expanding its submarine fleet. DCNS won the highly coveted Australian contract over Germanys ThyssenKrupp AG and Japans state-backed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. DCNS redesigned its nuclear-powered Shortfin Barracuda to meet Australian specifications for a stealthy, diesel-electric-powered vessel capable of matching the long range of Australias current Collins-class submarines.

The Australian noted, [DCNSs] proposed submarine for Australiathe yet-to-be-built Shortfin Barracudawas chosen ahead of its rivals because it was considered to be the quietest in the water, making it perfectly suited to intelligence-gathering operations against China ... Any stealth advantage for the 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.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull admitted that the leak was concerning, but tried to downplay its impact for the Australian navy. It is a completely different model, it is a different submarine, he said.

DCNS and the French defense ministry have refused to comment, though DCNS suggested that Indian companies might be responsible for the leak. In a statement, DCNS declared that an in-depth inquiry will be carried out by [French] national security agencies. These investigations, it added, will determine the exact nature of the documents that were leaked, and the potential damages to our clients as well as the identity of those responsible.

Although it did not immediately authenticate the leaked documents, DCNS raised the prospect that the leak was part of an economic war waged by its competitors after it won the Australian submarine contract. Competition is harder and harder, a DCNS spokeswoman said, and all methods can be used in this context.

There is India, Australia and other prospective clients, and other countries could raise legitimate questions over DCNS. Its part of the tools in economic war, she said.

The Australian said the leak apparently occurred in 2011: [T]he 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. This subcontractor reportedly shared the data more widely while working with a company in Southeast Asia.

If this is the case, the timing of the Australians report, five years after the leak occurred but shortly after DCNS won the Australian contract, suggests that the leaked documents were indeed presented to the Australian as part of economic warfare campaign. A country trying to derive military advantage from its knowledge of the Scorpene would have no reason to announce that it had this information and allow India or DCNS to devise countermeasures. DCNS competitors, on the other hand, have every reason to discredit it by revealing its inability to hide sensitive information.

In any case, the initial reactions to the leak point to the extraordinarily sharp economic and military tensions of contemporary capitalist society. While corporations expect their competitors to use under-handed or illegal means as a matter of course, revelations of key details via leaks or cyber-warfare immediately has vast military and diplomatic implications amid the explosion of military tensions and rivalries in Asia.

As explosive tensions mount between the United States and China, Washington fears that US stealth torpedo-launch systems installed in the French-built Australian submarines could be compromised and exploited by China. If Washington does not feel confident that its crown jewels of stealth technology can be protected, the Australian wrote, it may decline to give Australia its state-of-the-art combat system.

After the leak of Scorpene data, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said that India is investigating the leak to find out what has happened.

In a statement, the Indian Defense Ministry 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.

Indian officials acknowledged that the issue was very serious. They expressed concerns that Indias regional rivals, China and Pakistan, might have gained access to the sensitive technical data on the submarine. The same type of submarine is also used by Malaysia and Chile and is soon to be used by Brazil.

Uday Bhaskar, a former naval officer, said that the leak of sensitive technical data would seriously damage the submarine: A submarine is all about not getting detectedand all the technical details relate to the acoustic signature of the submarine, and the kind of noise it makes. With all these things in the public domain, a navy of another country can tune in and pick up signals off our boat.
At least 200 people died after an earthquake struck Italy early Wednesday morning. The earthquake lasted only twenty seconds, but it destroyed an entire region. Hundreds of people are still missing. Thousands were injured and tens of thousands have been left homeless.

The number of casualties could be much higher than reported so far, since many mountain villages are so remote that their destroyed roads can only be reached with difficulty and with the help of heavy equipment.

The earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale and was felt in the capital city of Rome. Its epicentre was in the mountainous region bordered by Lazio, Abruzzi, Marche and Umbria. There were eight aftershocks before midday on Wednesday in an approximately 100-kilometre-long strip on the western flank of Abruzzi.

The region in the south of Perugia affected by the earthquake reaches to the northeast up to Ascoli and to the southwest almost all the way to Rieti. In all of the towns in this area numerous houses, churches, streets, bridges and fortifications have been destroyed.

The powerful earthquake surprised people in their sleep shortly before 4 am on Wednesday. The early morning light revealed a horrific sight in the villages and cities in the region. Entire families were buried under the rubble and entire city centres were wiped out. Not a single house has been left habitable. We need a tent city for the entire population, the mayor of Accumoli reported at midday. Half of our area no longer exists. The people are buried under the rubble, said the mayor of Amatrice.

The city centre of Amatrice has been completely destroyed. The church clock stopped at 3:36 am. The hospital is damaged. Doctors, caregivers and nurses are improvising patient care outdoors, including everything from emergency room services to hospital wards. Severely injured people in the outskirts of town were laid out on the street and had to wait in the heat for hours before ambulances picked them up. People all over Italy have been asked to donate blood; their eagerness to help has been overwhelming.

Scarcely a single house in Accumoli remains habitable. There are mountains of rubble everywhere, bizarre jumbles of household appliances, water pipes, wrecked cars, beams and roofing tiles. These are interspersed with grotesquely broken walls and buildings. With their bare hands, aid personnel struggled to unearth survivors, who gained their attention with shrieks and half-smothered calls for help. Ambulances cannot get through the debris. Instead, people are lifted on stretchers over the fields of rubble and passed from man to man. Damaged electric, gas and water lines are making the rescue work more difficult and dangerous.

The authorities are asking people to remain outdoors and refrain from re-entering their houses. However, there are not enough safe emergency accommodations for everyone. A spokesperson for the National Civil Defence said on television on Wednesday that aid operations were not initiated until several hours after the earthquake, much later than they should have been. There is still not enough of anything. Too few ambulances, helicopters, and emergency centres are available. In spite of the hundreds of volunteer helpers, there are not enough well-equipped rescue teams with search dogs and search devices to locate and save survivors trapped under the rubble.

However, the earthquake did not come as a surprise.

Italy has frequent earthquakes, often with devastating repercussions. They are caused by the juncture of two tectonic plates, which run along the Apennines Mountains. The meeting of the plates produces tensions that are repeatedly eased through severe earthquakes. The experience of recent years has made it clear that the danger of such earthquakes has not abated over time. In particular, there was the case of the catastrophic earthquake in L'Aquila in 2009, which left over 300 people dead.

Much about this most recent earthquake is reminiscent of the 2009 earthquake. That earthquake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale and took 309 lives, including many children and youth. Sixty-seven thousand people became homeless.

At that time, thousands of scientists all over the world signed an open letter in which they called on the Italian government to drastically improve its earthquake prevention. To this day, no serious measures have been implemented to this end. Instead, six seismologists were given prison sentences because they had not warned the population about the coming earthquake.

The geophysicists defended themselves by referring to earthquake maps and guidelines for quake-resistant construction that had been in the possession of the government for a long time. On paper, there are strict building requirements that hold for all seismic risk areas, but things are much different in practice.

Of course there are many very old historical buildings that cannot meet the requirements. However, the collapse of new buildings and the extensive damage to hospitals, schools and state agencies clearly indicate the use of shoddy building practices and materials. Private profit and corruption prevent the implementation of effective prevention.

National civil protection is also totally inadequate. While the government is spending billions on war preparations against Libya, it has no money for an appropriate number of rescue units, emergency stations and other necessary precautions.

The earthquake in L'Aquila seven years ago already made it clear that the buildings that were built in the last part of the twentieth century, beginning in the 1970s, did not conform with earthquake protection guidelines at all. They were built with too little steel and concrete and put together with bad cement. Nothing about this situation has changed since that catastrophe.

More than 8,000 uprooted people still live in the outskirts of L'Aquila in so-called new towns. The provisional wooden lodgings that were quickly built after the earthquake in 2009 are now themselves so dilapidated that they are no longer livable.
Finlands government announced this month that it hopes to conclude a defence cooperation agreement with the United States prior to the US presidential election in November.

Defence minister Jussi Niinisto explained in a Reuters interview that the deal would cover joint military training, information sharing and research. Stressing Helsinkis full commitment to deepening ties with Washington, Niinisto remarked with reference to the US elections, Its one of the reasons to have it done this autumn. But Im certain we will continue to work together with either one of the main candidates winning.

Conclusion of the deal would mark a further step in Finlands integration into the aggressive drive of US imperialism to encircle and isolate Russia in Eastern Europe, the Baltic and the Nordic region. Finland and neighbouring Sweden, which were traditionally non-aligned during the Cold War, have both taken a series of steps over recent years making them NATO members in all but name.

Although no binding commitments are expected in the Finnish-US defence deal, it would provide for stepped up joint military exercises. Finnish and US troops trained in bilateral exercises for the first time in 2014, including cold weather training in Lapland and urban warfare in Helsinki.

The Centre Party-led government of Juha Sipila, which also includes the conservative National Coalition Party and right-wing populist Finns Party, has made no secret of its desire to expand ties with NATO and the United States since coming to power last summer. In an unprecedented move in Finland, where opposition to NATO membership is strong among the population, Sipilas government refused to rule out considering NATO membership. This position was confirmed in a recent defence policy review, which acknowledged that a move to join would trigger a crisis with Russia.

Finland has, undoubtedly with US backing, also taken a series of provocative moves against Russia, with which it shares a 1,300 kilometre border to the east. In May 2015, the Finnish government wrote to over 900,000 reservists in the military to advise them of new deployment instructions during a potential war crisis. Just a month later, it was revealed that rapid response units (RRUs) had been quietly established several months before to patrol the Finnish-Russian border.

Earlier last year, it mobilised a significant contingent of military and coastguard forces to search for an alleged unidentified object off the coast of Helsinki. Although the media widely reported claims that the object was a Russian submarine, no evidence for this was ever found.

Finlands expanding ties with US imperialism and increased integration into NATO are part of a broader process which is seeing the Nordic region becoming transformed into another front in the imperialist powers offensive against Moscow. Finland and Sweden have been integrated into NATO structures via the Partnership for Peace initiative launched in the 1990s. Soldiers from both countries participate in almost every major NATO exercise and have also deployed in NATO wars such as the occupation of Afghanistan, where both Finnish and Swedish troops served, and the bombardment of Libya in 2011, in which Swedish Saab Gripen jets took part.

Earlier this year, President Obama invited Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Icelandic Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson to a joint Nordic summit at the White House. According to president Niinisto, the meeting focused heavily on security and the Baltic Sea in particular, where the Obama administration has repeatedly vowed to go to war with Russia in defence of the tiny Baltic republics Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

In a joint statement issued following the meeting, the six leaders launched a broadside against Russia. Vowing to deepen military and security collaboration, including through exercises and strengthening defence capabilities, the statement declared, The United States and the Nordic countries share a firm conviction that there can be no compromises over the international security order and its fundamental principles. Russias illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, which we do not accept, its aggression in Donbas, and its attempts to destabilize Ukraine are inconsistent with international law and violate the established European security order. The United States and the Nordic countries reaffirm our support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

It continued, The United States and the Nordic countries are concerned by Russias growing military presence in the Baltic Sea region, its nuclear posturing, its undeclared exercises, and the provocative actions taken by Russian aircraft and naval vessels. We call on Russia to ensure that its military maneuvers and exercises are in full compliance with its international obligations and commitments to security and stability.

In reality, the portrayal of Russia as the aggressor is a transparent lie, aimed at concealing the central role being played by Washington in ratcheting up tensions in the region. Washington and its allies triggered the Ukraine crisis by sponsoring a pro-western coup in Kiev led by fascist forces, and followed this up by implementing vast deployments of NATO forces from the Black Sea in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north.

As part of the Pentagons dramatic increase in military spending on its defence assets in Europe beginning in 2017, US forces are to play a much more prominent role in military exercises in the Nordic area. The US military has established new forward bases in NATO member Norway where M1A1 Abrams tanks and amphibious assault vehicles are being stored.

US forces already took part this year in the Norwegian armed forces Cold Response 2016 exercises in February and March with equipment including mobile artillery, special operations units and Abrams tanks. Swedish and Finnish forces were also involved.

US troops followed this up in May with mechanised land exercises and air combat training in Finland. The air exercises saw eight F-15 US fighter jets participating with F/A-18 Hornets from Finlands Karelia Air Command in training in the east of the country, near the border with Russia. Defence minister Niinisto said of the stepped-up US presence, As a result the US is seeking out exercise opportunities on a broad front. This means we can take advantage of a higher level of US training activity to develop Finlands defence capabilities.

Both Finland and Sweden participated in last months NATO summit in Warsaw, where the US-led alliance finalised plans to deploy a total of 4,000 troops to the Baltic republics and Poland, which will be backed up by a rapid response force of 40,000 capable of deploying to the region within days. Justifying the presence of non-NATO members at the alliances talks, an official pointed to the close collaboration that would take place in the event of a conflict in the Baltic region.

Defence minister Niinisto reinforced the message, noting that the interoperability between Finnish and NATOs armed forces was more effective than that between NATO and some of its newer members.

On the sidelines of the summit, defence minister Niinisto signed a defence cooperation agreement with his British counterpart, Michael Fallon. The deal provided for increasing information sharing and joint exercises, with a particular focus on repelling chemical and biological arms.

The US is also actively encouraging the further integration of the Nordic countries militaries. In April 2015, NATO members Norway, Denmark and Iceland signed a defence cooperation agreement with Finland and Sweden which contained provisions to enable shared use of air space for military purposes, as well as joint planning on procurement and production of defence equipment.

Sweden and Finland are in the process of considering further developing their military collaboration into a treaty-based defence union, which is widely interpreted as the prelude to NATO membership. Talks are weighing the possibility of joint military units and the shared use of infrastructure.

Former Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen spelled out the implications of the move, stating, I support the school of thought that one must be very precise in respect of questions dealing with war and peace. We can never be sure if the resources of our neighbour are at our disposal in times of need if our cooperation with Sweden is established on a voluntary basis.
The Socialist Equality Party (US) held its Fourth National Congress from July 31-August 5 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Congress unanimously endorsed the statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International,Socialism and the Fight Against War, and adopted three additional resolutions, Perspectives and Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party, For the Unity of the Working Class in the United States and Latin America and The Fight for Socialism and the Tasks of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality.

1. Young people around the globe face a future of poverty, social inequality and war. The 2008 financial crisis, which signified the breakdown of the world capitalist economy, has made mass poverty and unemployment permanent features of social life, hitting youth particularly hard. One-third of the worlds 1.8 billion young people are currently unemployed, out of school or not in job training programs. For college students, skyrocketing tuition has produced record levels of student loan debt, totaling a combined $1.3 trillion in the United States alone. For the first time since World War II, the younger generation in the advanced capitalist countries faces a future with living standards lower than those of their parents. In the United States, funding for education has been slashed and millions of young people are unable to find work, with the official youth unemployment rate at over 10 percent.

2. The crisis of capitalism is driving extreme political instability throughout the world, which finds its most acute expression in the drive by all the major imperialist powers, above all the United States, towards ever more reckless and dangerous military adventures. The drive to war arises out of the basic contradiction between a globally integrated economy and the division of the world into competing nation states. Under the pretense of countering Russian aggression, the US and NATO have stationed thousands of troops along the western border of Russia. Under the framework of the pivot to Asia, the US is escalating its campaign of encirclement and aggression against China. A small incident, intentional or accidental, could spark a nuclear war.

3. The experiences of millions of workers and young people since the 2008 economic crisis are producing a political radicalization, particularly among the youth, who have known nothing but war, repression and austerity. In the United States, where anti-communism has served for decades as a state religion, there is growing support for socialism. One recent poll found that 43 percent of American young people said they supported socialism, while only 32 percent supported capitalism.

4. The growth of anti-capitalist sentiment found an initial and contradictory reflection, during the Democratic Party primaries, in the support for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist, who claimed to be carrying out a political revolution against the billionaire class. Sanders received 13 million votes in the primary process and was the overwhelming favorite among young people.

5. But Sanders unequivocal endorsement of Hillary Clinton, a Wall Street stooge and warmonger, made clear the real purpose of his campaign: to corral, on behalf of the ruling elites, this sentiment back into the safe channels of the Democratic Party. The ignominious outcome of the Sanders campaign confirmed the warnings of the SEP and IYSSE that the senator from Vermont, far from being a socialist, is a tried and true defender of the political establishment.

6. Sanders and the Democrats are now attempting to convince workers and young people to back Clinton by invoking the dangers contained in Donald Trumps fascistic campaign. But the ability of Trump to gain a hearing is due, above all, to widespread anger and frustration with the Democrats themselves, who, under Obama, oversaw the greatest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in history. Meanwhile, Clinton is appealing to the military and disaffected Republicans on the basis that she is the more reliable defender of the interests of American imperialism.

7. With Sanders capitulation, the media and the Democratic Party are seeking to bury the issue of social inequality, which motivated support for his campaign, by promoting the politics of sexual, gender and racial identity. Working closely with their political allies in the middle-class pseudo-left groups, they have sought to present the epidemic of police murder in the United States not as the violence of the capitalist state against the working class and youth, but as an expression of an unbridgeable racial divide and initiated a campaign for tougher sentencing for sexual assaults.

8. The class basis of identity politics is complacent and well-heeled layers of the upper middle class, hostile to social equality and instilled with a hatred and fear of the working class. They utilize questions of race, gender and sexual orientation to secure access to careers and privileges for themselves. Above all, identity politics is organically opposed to the political unification of the working class on a socialist and internationalist basis.

9. The attempt to bury the question of class has been accompanied by a concerted attack on historical truth. Utilizing an irrationalist methodology that rejects the very notion of historical objectivity, history is being recast to meet the current interests of the ruling elite. The American Revolution and the Civil War have been singled out for particularly heated attacks, utilizing a racialist framework that minimizes or denies their progressive character, out of fear of the attraction of a revolutionary program among workers and youth today. The same campaign is being waged, in different forms, internationally. In Germany, academics with close ties to the state are seeking to relativize the crimes of the Nazis, in order to facilitate the revival of German militarism. Australia has seen a campaign to glorify militarism, particularly the countrys involvement in World War I, and to suppress any critical evaluation of the history of Australian imperialism.

10. The United States stands on the precipice of enormous social upheavals, in which youth will play a crucial role. Millions of young people are looking for a way to fight against cuts to education and social programs, student loan debt, joblessness, poverty, police violence and the growing threat of war.

11. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth movement of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), seeks to win working class youth, high school students and college students to a genuine socialist perspective. The IYSSE insists that young people must turn to the working class, the principal revolutionary force in society. The political independence of the working class requires a fight against the pseudo-leftthe International Socialist Organization, Socialist Alternative, the remnants of Occupy Wall Street, various neo-anarchist organizations and similar outfitswhich seek to subordinate the working class to bourgeois politics, whether through the Democratic Party, the Green Party or other organizations.

12. An orientation to the working class requires a relentless theoretical struggle against bourgeois ideology, in which the IYSSE must play a central role. This theoretical struggle is posed with special sharpness on college campuses, because they have long served as centers for the production and dissemination of anti-working class and anti-Marxist ideologies. The IYSSE opposes the reactionary philosophical outlooks of irrationalism and subjectivism (including post-modernism, neo-anarchism and the theoretical tendencies associated with the Frankfurt School) promoted by the pseudo-left and practitioners of identity politics, which reject the possibility of objective truth. In opposition to these philosophies, the IYSSE fights for Marxism and materialism. The IYSSE fights for historical consciousness among workers and youth, above all the history of Marxism and the Trotskyist movement, which in its struggle against the Stalinist bureaucracy established itself as the sole continuation of Marxism in the 20th and 21st centuries.

13. The fight for the political independence of the working class is inseparable from the theoretical struggle of the IYSSE on university campuses. In Germany, for example, the IYSSEs campaign at Humboldt University to expose the role of German academia in ideologically justifying German militarism and police-state measures, has played a key role in the PSGs campaign against war within the German working class.

14. The IYSSE calls special attention to the danger of war and fights to build a new anti-war movement based on the working class. Young people, who are preyed upon by military recruiters and who would likely be drafted in the event of a military confrontation with Russia and China, will play an important role in the struggle against war. The orientation of the new anti-war movement must be socialist internationalism, the unification of workers and youth in every country, on the basis of a common program, in the fight against their common enemy, the capitalists in every country. There can be no fight for socialism without a struggle against war, and there can be no fight against war without a struggle for socialism.

15. This Congress of the Socialist Equality Party calls for the building of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality as a crucial element in the fight to build the revolutionary leadership of the working class.
Amid US-South Korean war games and heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea conducted the test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday. The missile, which was launched from waters near the coastal city of Sinpo, flew about 500 kilometres and landed in Japans air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un bragged that the test had been the greatest success and victory and placed North Korea in the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability. The launch followed two unsuccessful attempts in April and July during which the missile flew just 10 and 30 kilometres respectively.

Pyongyangs missile launch and militarist bluster, along with its bellicose threats, are reactionary. They do nothing to enhance the security of the North Korean people. In fact, by providing a pretext for Washingtons military build-up in North East Asia as well as Japanese rearmament, North Koreas actions only heighten the danger of a devastating war in the Asia Pacific region.

The missile launch provoked immediate condemnations from Japan, South Korea and the United States as well as criticism from China. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared: It is a grave threat to Japans security and an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly.

South Koreas foreign ministry denounced the missile firing, saying it was a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and would only result in tougher sanctions. The US Pacific Command branded the launch as a provocation that will only increase the determination of the international community to implement existing UN sanctions.

The US and Japan called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, which convened late last night. Malaysias ambassador Ramlan Bin Abrahim, the current council president told the media that there was a general sense of condemnation by most UN members at the closed-door meeting.

The condemnations of North Korea by the US and its allies are utterly hypocritical. Washington as part of its pivot to Asia and military expansion in Asia has deliberately sharpened tensions on the Korean Peninsula by beefing up its military ties with South Korea, including preparations to install a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in South Korea supposedly to counter North Korea.

The US and South Korea began their annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military exercises this week involving 25,000 American and 75,000 South Korean personnel. The war games are premised on Operational Plans 5015 (OPLAN 5015) adopted last November by Washington and Seoul, which involve pre-emptive strikes on North Korean targets and assassination raids against its top leadership, including Kim Jong-un.

Unlike the case of Iran with which it actively sought a rapprochement, the Obama administration has made no attempt to end the tense standoff with North Korea through talks. In fact, Obama has maintained the confrontational stance of President Bush and shunned six-party negotiations sponsored by China, insisting that Pyongyang must dismantle its nuclear arsenal in advance of any discussions.

While Washington hypes up the threat posed by its latest missile launch, Pyongyangs nuclear weaponry and delivery systems are still primitive. North Korea has an outdated fleet of about 70 submarines with Soviet-era technology that are unlikely to be able to fire a ballistic missile. The missile was likely fired from a 2,000-tonne vessel known as Gorae, whale in Korean, which has a limited range, is relatively noisy and thus easily detectable.

The missile launch took place during the annual meeting of foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea in Tokyo. All three condemned the test with Chinas foreign minister, Wang Yi, declaring: China opposes North Koreas nuclear and missile process, actions that cause tension on the Korean Peninsula. He said that the three neighbours, despite the disputes between them, should work together to deal with regional threats such as those posed by North Korea.

In its article on the trilateral meeting, the New York Times mused that the missile test had brought temporary unity in East Asia. In reality, the three nations are opposed to North Koreas actions for widely differing and antagonist reasons. The two American alliesJapan and South Koreaare using Pyongyangs sabre rattling to strengthen ties with the US and to boost their own military capacities.

The Abe government will undoubtedly exploit the missile test as further justification for remilitarisation and its push to revise the Japanese constitution to end limitations on its ability to wage war in pursuit of its imperialist interests.

China, however, confronts a deepening dilemma. Beijing is well aware that Washingtons pivot to Asia and military build-up is primarily aimed at preparing for war against China not North Korea. While criticising its formal ally, China also does not want to precipitate a political implosion in Pyongyang that could lead to the establishment of a pro-US regime on its border. It is also concerned that North Koreas nuclear tests, most recently in January, could provide Tokyo and Seoul with the pretext to develop their own nuclear weapons.

Foreign Minister Wangs appeal for closer collaboration with South Korea and Japan is aimed at trying to ease regional tensions and marginalise the United States. The US, on the other hand, has a definite interest in maintaining the dangerous standoff on the Korean Peninsula to strengthen defence ties with its two allies and justify its preparations for war against China.

As Washington has more aggressively pursued the pivot, Beijing has more publicly hit back. A commentary yesterday in the state-owned Xinhua news agency was sharply critical of the US role in stoking up tensions on the Korean Peninsula. While noting that the North Korean missile launch was a new violation of UN resolutions, the article stated that it was in response to this weeks joint US-South Korean military drills.

The comment warned that Washington and Seoul are playing a dangerous game by seeking to deter North Korea through sabre rattling. Their plan, it declared, was doomed to be wishful thinking, as muscle-flexing leads to nowhere but a more anxious, more agitated and thus more unpredictable Pyongyang. It made an appeal for South Korea to pursue its security though good neighbourly and friendly relations with its neighbours, rather than a bunch of US made [THAAD] missiles.

However, China, like North Korea, is seeking to counter the US through a military arms race that can only end in a disaster for humanity. Its whipping up of Chinese nationalism, and in particular anti-Japanese xenophobia, only drives a wedge between the working class in the region and internationallythe only social force capable of putting an end to capitalism and the drive to war.
Many have responded with a mixture of surprise, shock and horror to the Civil Defence Concept (KZV) officially presented by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Wednesday. Extending over 69 pages, it details a series of measures to prepare the population for a war.

One must pause for breath after reading these 69 pages, wrote the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Monday in a preliminary report on the document, noting that it dealt with issues one would rather suppress.

How to be protected against attacks using biological or chemical weapons? How will the population be taken to safety if a radioactive cloud spreads? Where will the federal government hide if an attack is threatened? Where will cultural treasures be stored in the case of war? How can men and women be made to report for work in sectors vital to life and defence? These questions had to be asked, the newspaper stated, because it was necessary to prepare for the worst.

The Civil Defence Concept appeared in parallel with the White Paper 2016 on Security Policy and the Future of the German Army, which proposed a major strengthening of the military. Whoever thought this meant only an expansion of military deployments abroad can now clearly see that the German government is preparing for wars that will transform Germany and Europe into a battlefieldand within the foreseeable future.

The Civil Defence Concept calls on the population to establish a personal store of water and food to last ten days. It recommends that a first aid kit, warm blankets, coal, wood, candles, torches, batteries, matches, charged batteries and cash reserves be kept at the ready.

Further measures to prepare for a state of defence include the strengthening of building materials for public and private buildings; the establishment of a dependable alarm system via radio, TV, sirens, loudspeakers, text messages and the Internet; and the creation of hospital decontamination stations in case of nuclear, biological or chemical attack.

The document declares it necessary to consider the reintroduction of compulsory military service and the implementation of a secure method for the call-up and mobilization of military personnel. It argues that the Federal Labour Agency should have the power to compel men and women to work in sectors vital to life and defence.

These measures are not about Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union electioneering or an attempt to spread panic, as the Greens and the Left Party claim. Nor is the Civil Defence Concept a mere redrafting of routine instructions for disaster situations, as some media outlets have argued in an attempt to downplay its significance. On the contrary, the document makes explicit and repeated references to war and chemical and nuclear weapons attacks.

Twenty-five years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a nuclear war on European soil is a real danger. NATO has systematically encircled and threatened Russia militarily. The Western alliance is openly preparing for war. Last July, Der Spiegel cited Danish NATO officer Jacob Larsen as saying, We have to learn once again how to fight a total war.

German imperialism, which has already on two occasions plunged the world into the abyss, is playing a central role in this. Since the German government announced the end of military restraint at the beginning of 2014, German foreign policy has been following an aggressive path similar to that which preceded World War I and World War II.

Together with Washington, Berlin played the leading role in the coup that overthrew the elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in early 2014 and replaced him with a regime led by pro-Western oligarch Petro Poroshenko and based directly on fascist groups and militias. Since then, NATO has been building up its military forces on Russias borders, working closely with the ultranationalist, anti-Russian governments in Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine.

Earlier this summer, the largest ever NATO exercise took place in Eastern Europe. Operation Anaconda, which included 31,000 soldiers, 3,000 vehicles, 105 aircraft and 12 ships, simulated a war with Russia. A month later, the NATO summit in Warsaw agreed to station several battalions and create a missile defence system in Romania and the Baltic states.

The military situation is now so tense that an incident, intended or not, could trigger an uncontrollable chain reaction.

Factions within the US ruling elite pushing for a military confrontation with Russia are gaining strength. The hawks are for the most part not in the camp of the semi-fascist Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but lined up behind the Democrat Hillary Clinton, who is also backed by Germanys ruling elite.

The agitation against Russia is assuming hysterical dimensions in Germany. Even Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who prepared the way for the return of German militarism and played a leading role in the Ukraine coup, is too soft for most of the media.

Last week, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung accused him of viewing the motives of Moscow fundamentally differently than German Chancellor Angela Merkel. While Merkel allowed Moscows actions to be termed cynical, Steinmeier travelled to Ekaterinburg to dream in a speech, the newspaper wrote. It went on to accuse Steinmeier of turning towards those for whom an understanding for Russia and a hearty distrust of America are always two sides of the same coin.

The two most important German foreign policy think tanks, the German Society for Foreign Policy (DGAP) and the Foundation of Political Science (SWP), produce a steady flow of papers accusing Russia of aggression, violations of international law and the destabilisation of Europe.

A DGAP paper authored by Jana Puglierin from the Green Party-aligned Heinrich Boll Foundation concluded with the demand that NATO demonstrate its decisiveness towards Russia and operate from a position of strength. This means, it explained, the limiting of confrontation by containment and a turn to military means by a strengthened NATO that can credibly deter Russia, along with the maintenance of the economic and political sanctions.

The confrontation with Russia is not the only source of conflict threatening war. In the Syrian war, where the front lines are increasingly difficult to identify, the US and its allies are preparing a military escalation that could expand into a confrontation with Russia, a nuclear power. Germany is also on the front lines here. The same applies to the imperialist wars in other parts of the Middle East and Africa.

With the crisis of the European Union, national antagonisms are breaking out once again in Europe. While Germany arrogantly claims to be the hegemon and leading power in the EU, other European powers are rearming and stoking up nationalism.

There is no opposition among the establishment parties to the governments war drive. On the contrary, both opposition parties in the Bundestag, the Left Party and the Greens, are inciting it further.

The Left Party parliamentary group chairwoman, Sahra Wagenknecht, accused the government Tuesday of giving backing to the terror potentate Erdogan, the Turkish president who has been threatened with exclusion from the US-led coalition in Syria, and supporting his unspeakable policies. The foreign affairs spokesperson for the Green parliamentary group, Omid Nouripour, accused the government of a thoughtless foreign policy. It weakens Germanys influence and reduces our room for manoeuvre if the federal government does not speak with one voice, he declared.

The Partei fur Soziale Gleichheit (Socialist Equality Party) is the only party warning of the war danger and mobilising workers and young people against it. The PSG has placed the struggle against war at the heart of its election campaign in the Berlin state elections and clearly identified the cause of the war dangerthe global crisis of capitalism.

The German ruling elite do not intend to emerge empty-handed from the new redivision of the world and the struggle for raw materials and markets, the PSG wrote in its election manifesto. The election statement further declared that a new anti-war movement can be successful only if it is international, is based on the working class, and combines the fight against war with the struggle against capitalism.
Traditional Papua New Guinean landowners blocking access to the $US20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project at Hides in Hela Province agreed to end their two-week protest following talks with a government team last Thursday. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding after the government promised to meet its outstanding financial commitments to the landowners.

The landowners are owed $1 billion kina ($A400 million) in royalties from the LNG facilities operated by an ExxonMobil-led consortium. Leader of the Hides landowner group, businessman Larry Andagali, said the government took more than six years to kick-start the LNG payments after signing the benefits-sharing agreements in December 2009.

The dispute threatened to erupt into another major crisis for the government of Prime Minister Peter ONeill. It followed the violent suppression by police of an eight-week student strike calling for ONeills resignation over corruption charges and a series of unofficial strikes by sections of workers. The government faced and survived a no-confidence motion in parliament brought by the opposition parties.

The LNG project is one of the largest investments in Papua New Guinea (PNG). ExxonMobil started shipping exports to Asian markets two years ago, delivering a massive boost to the countrys output. According to the Asia Development Bank, the first full year of gas production in 2015 saw PNGs economy grow by 9.9 percent.

The global economic crisis has, however, produced a precipitous drop in commodity prices. LNG prices have fallen to less than half of what they were in early 2014. Asias LNG market has fared worse than slumping oil markets, tumbling by 67 percent. The price has dropped as low as $US6.45 per million British thermal units (Btu) from a peak of $19.70 in 2014, amid a surge in supply, especially from Australia. LNG imports into China, Japan and South Korea have all fallen due to the slowing world economy.

The LNG project was predicted to ultimately double the size of PNGs economy. Developers claimed benefits from direct cash-flow to the government and landowners would amount to $1 billion a year over three decades. Under the LNG Umbrella Benefits Sharing Agreement (UBSA), a number of the states revenue streams, including royalties, development levies and equity dividends, were to be shared with landowners and local and provincial governments. The UBSA was negotiated under the Oil & Gas Act as a precondition for awarding licenses for the project.

The extraction of natural resources, including oil, minerals and gas, accounts for 60 percent of PNGs gross domestic product (GDP). Total government income, including from these sources, has dropped by 20 percent in the past 12 months. According to Australian economist Paul Flanagan, many of the benefits of the production phase of the LNG project have vanished for at least a decade. There will be no tax revenue from the project for many years, he predicts.

Massive increases in government borrowing on the back of the short-lived resources boom produced combined budget deficits of 24 percent of GDP over 201315. Public debt is set to increase this year to 32.2 percent of GDP.

The PNG ruling elite is under pressure from global financial agencies to devalue the currency and accelerate attacks on workers and the rural poor that have already produced widespread popular opposition. The government has imposed austerity measures similar in scope to those in Greece, with health and education budgets slashed by 40 and 30 percent respectively. Thousands of public servants have not been paid properly since the beginning of the year and government services are collapsing.

ONeill told parliament early in the dispute that money owed to the landowners would be paid, but failed to confirm when. The protesters successfully disrupted the flow of gas out of Hides by closing down some valves at the site. When a gas shipment was loaded at the Marine Terminal in Port Moresby on August 12, the LNG flow rate had reduced by half. Landowners from the neighbouring Southern Highlands province were ready to join the protest to demand their entitlements.

The government deployed nearly 60 police to beef up security at the LNG sites. Petroleum and Energy Minister Nixon Duban declared the police would remain in place to give comfort to all stakeholders, including the investor, while the issues are being worked on. According to the New Zealand-based Asia Pacific Report on August 14, ExxonMobil was planning to shift financial losses accruing from the protest onto stakeholders, including the government and landowners.

The turmoil is symptomatic of a worsening economic and social crisis in PNG. None of the promised benefits flowing from the LNG projects to improve the lives of ordinary people has been realised. ExxonMobil was attracted to invest heavily in PNG in the first place chiefly because of low labour and start-up costs and the prospect of windfall profits.

A former Australian colony, PNG has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the Asia-Pacific, with over 80 percent of the rural population employed in subsistence or semi- subsistence agriculture. The proportion of people living on less than $US1.25 per day is entrenched at 30 percent, with around 2 million living below the breadline.

ONeill has responded to the escalating social disaster by ramping up preparations for further repression. After a National Security Advisory Council meeting last month, Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari threatened to invoke the Internal Security Act and Essential Services Act. Politicians, landowners, public, students, and any members of the community who issue threats will be investigated, arrested and prosecuted, he declared. A new National Security Joint Task Force, including police and military personnel, was established to quell increasing internal security threats.

The fate of the LNG project is a key concern in Washington. In November 2010, then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Port Moresby, as Chinese investment and aid was growing. Chinas state-owned Metallurgical Construction Corporation was involved in developing the huge Ramu nickel and cobalt mine. Noting that the US Export-Import Bank was helping finance the ExxonMobil project, Clinton declared that the US was ready to assist in the development of the countrys resources.

Speaking to a Congressional committee in 2011, Clinton declared: Lets put aside the moral, humanitarian, do-good side of what we believe in, and lets just talk, you know, straight realpolitik. We are in a competition with China ... ExxonMobil is producing it [natural gas]. China is in there every day in every way trying to figure out how its going to come in behind us, come in under us.

The author also recommends:

Pacific island economies hit by global slump

[17 August 2016]
Momentum, the network formed within the Labour Party to support Jeremy Corbyn, has called a four-day fringe meeting, to run parallel with the partys special conference next month, both in Liverpool.

Billed as a means of connecting grassroots groups to Labour, The World Transformed will be addressed by four members of the partys shadow cabinet, including Corbyn himself, along with numerous other Labour politicians, trade union bureaucrats, economists and journalists. It is timed to coincide with the result of the leadership election, forced by the right-wing putsch against Corbyn, at the official Labour event on September 24.

Despite the vicious, anti-democratic methods used by the right to rig the outcome of the electionincluding barring more than 130,000 members from votingCorbyn is expected to win comfortably. If so, the right wing have threatened to form a separate group in parliamentthe name True Labour is suggestedand obtain recognition as the official opposition. Should Corbyn win narrowly, or unexpectedly lose, a wave of expulsions against his supporters will follow.

Whatever the result, just one year after Corbyn was elected leader, his stated aim of transforming Labour into an anti-austerity, anti-militarist party is in acute crisis. The overwhelming majority of Labour MPsworking in concert with the highest echelons of the state, and supported by all the bourgeois presshave made clear they would rather destroy the party than tolerate its association with nominally left-wing policies.

These events confirm that the fight for even the most minimal social reforms can only be waged independent of, and in conflict with, the Labour Party. But it is to try to prevent workers and youth drawing this necessary political conclusion, and acting upon it, that is behind Momentums grassroots initiative.

Corbyn and his supporters make no secret of the fact that their model for Labour is Syriza in Greece. This is the bourgeois party founded in 2004 by ex-Stalinists and various pseudo-left tendencies as a supposedly radical coalition. With the social democratic PASOK reviled due to its implementing austerity measures, Syriza used populist rhetoric to come to power in January 2015. Within months, Syriza was itself imposing the diktats of the Greek and European bourgeoisie.

By recasting Labour as a Syriza-type movement, Momentum aims to politically confuse and disarm workers and youth under conditions in which the shock Leave result of Junes referendum on UK membership of the European Union presents an existential crisis for the ruling elite.

Its efforts to this end similarly rely on Britains Stalinists (the Morning Star is a participant at the event) and the pseudo-left.

Film director Ken Loach, who heads Left Unity, is a keynote speaker. The brainchild of Alan Thornett, leader of Socialist Resistance, which is affiliated to the Pabloite United Secretariat, Left Unity was founded in 2013 on the explicit basis of creating a British Syriza. With Corbyns election, Left Unity decided that the Labour leader provided the best means of achieving its goal, officially encouraging its members to sign up to the Labour Party.

Loach is currently going around the country arguing that Corbyn offers hope for Britain, and will return the country to the kind of society people would like to live in, as we did after the Second World War before Margaret Thatcher came in and tore it all up.

Other speakers are Leo Panitch, Marxist academic and leader of Canadas Socialist Project, whoas with all the pseudo-leftspecialises in providing political apologias for Syrizas abject betrayal. Another is Richard Seymour, of the Lenins Tomb blog, who split from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in 2013. Amongst Seymours complaints was the SWPs apparent hesitancy in participating in the formation of a Syriza-style coalition in Britain.

While the Socialist Party and SWP have yet to make an official statement on the Momentum initiative, there is no doubt that they are also seeking a regroupment around the Labour Party.

Both these organisations played a lead role in covering for Syriza in Greece and are now seeking to encourage illusions in the supposedly socialist character of the Corbyn campaign.

For decades Militant, the Socialist Partys forerunner, worked inside Labour, claiming it was the vehicle for achieving socialism in Britain via an enabling bill in Parliament. For its ministering, it was proscribed and forced out of the party following a wave of expulsions in the 1980s under Neil Kinnock.

In the ensuing period, as Labour was refashioned as an openly right-wing party of big business, the Socialist Party claimed to stand for the building of a new workers party. This pretence is now being abandoned on the basis that, thanks to Corbyn, Labour is in the process of becoming that party.

Under the hashtag #KeepCorbyn: stand firm for socialism, the Socialist Party speak of the fight for a Labour Party for the working class. This is to be achieved through a return to the founding structures of the Labour Party which involved separate socialist political parties coalescing with the trade unions and social movements like womens suffrage campaigners and the co-operative movement, it argues.

Peter Taaffe, leader of the Socialist Party, told the Guardian that he had held unofficial talks on his organisation being readmitted to Labour if Corbyn wins Septembers leadership election.

The Guardian reported that Taaffe had sounded out Corbyn indirectly, including through Mark Serwotka, the leader of the PCS union, another speaker at the Momentum meeting, and the Socialist Party had received a warm welcome from some in Labour.

I know Jeremy, hes a good bloke, Taaffe said. Hes principled. Hes on the left.

The fundamental issue, as Taaffe well knows, is not Corbyns personal characterand even here it should be noted that the Labour leader has retreated on numerous of his left principles over the last monthsbut the political character of the party he heads.

In peddling the claim that Labourthe principal political prop of British imperialism for more than a centurycan be refashioned in the interests of the working class, the Socialist Party is returning to its origins as a political adjunct of the Labour bureaucracy.

The Socialist Party openly proclaims that its model for a re-founded anti-austerity Labour Party is the Greek party Syriza, which went from under 5% to winning a general election in just a few years

There is no mention of the role Syriza is playing in leading the attack on Greek workers, with good reason. As the International Committee of the Fourth International explained in its statement, The Political Lessons of Syrizas Betrayal in Greece, the pseudo-left internationally supported Syriza because they represent the same affluent layers of left academics, union functionaries, parliamentarians, and professionals, and sought to advance their class interests through similar policies. When the ruling class allowed Syriza to take power, all of them saw this as a model and hoped that they would be given the opportunity to play a similar role in their own countries.

Taaffe boasts that Socialist Party members have played a lead role, working with Momentum within the trade unions to move motions in Corbyns defence. For months, the SP has called for a conference of Corbyns supporters to provide a giant step towards creating a new workers party out of the dying embers of New Labour.

Nominally, the Socialist Workers Party is maintaining its pose of distance from Labour.

Writing in the Socialist Worker, SWP leader Alex Callinicos argues that whereas the Labour left exists in order to achieve socialism by winning elections  It is because the Socialist Workers Party gives priority to building mass struggles that we remain outside Labour.

But the remainder of his statement makes clear that, like Taaffe, this is a purely tactical stance that can be reversed as required. Calling on everyone on the radical left to rally round Corbyn, he argues that if the Labour leader wins re-election, there will be a real chance to transform the British left on a more militant and principled basis.

But seizing this opportunity will confront us all, inside or outside the Labour Party, with tough strategic and tactical choices.

This is typical of the political double bookkeeping the SWP specialises in.

It was the SWP that provided the platform in Britain for Syriza representatives to justify Syrizas repudiation of the massive mandate delivered by the July 5, 2015 referendum opposing EU austerity. Just days after Syriza had drawn up an even greater package of spending cuts, on July 12, Callinicos stood by approvingly as Syriza Central Committee member Stathis Kouvelakis told a London rally that the word betrayal in relation to his governments action was inappropriate if we are to understand what is happening.

Rather, Syriza leader [Alexis] Tsipras honestly believed that he could get a positive outcome by putting forward an approach centred on negotiations and displaying good will, and this is also why he constantly said he had no alternative plan. No doubt Callinicos will attempt the same apologias for Corbyns inevitable betrayal.
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."
John Krasinski was on Conan Tuesday and told late night televisions preeminent redheaded host about his audition to play Captain America back around 2010 or so. It was a big deal for me, Krasinski said. I mean, first of all, I love those Marvel movies. I love superheroes. I love imagination. When they asked me to test, they actually allowed me to put on the suit. I was on a set, it was all very interesting.

I was putting on the suit, just watching, he continued. I was like, This is so amazing. And I got about right to my waist, I was still shirtless, feeling pretty good about myself, wasnt [in the shape he was in for] 13 Hours yet, but felt pretty good. And all of a sudden, Chris Hemsworth walked by as Thor and hes like, Hey, mate. And I went, Im good. This is stupid. I shouldnt. Thats OK. Im not Captain America, he said, laughing about Hemsworths much-lauded fitness.



Krasinski was one of several actors that wound up losing out on the role to Chris Evans. That list reportedly included Channing Tatum, Ryan Phillippe, and Garrett Hedlund. He eventually wound up bulking up for 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi and has stayed in shape in advance of his next undertaking, a 10-episode Jack Ryan series on Amazon.

Jason Statham is still interested in playing James Bond:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
Initial interrogations have revealed that the accused Tarun Kumar Goyal, his wife Suman Goyal alongwith another accomplice Navdeep Bedi were running a drug racket from last six years which operated in and around Chandigarh.

By Manjeet Sehgal: Opposition political parties have been pointing towards an alleged politico-drug smuggler nexus in Punjab from quite some time. Ruling BJP MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu had also recently accused ruling politicians of misusing red beacons for smuggling.

Confirming the allegations, Punjab police on Tuesday arrested a couple using a red beacon fitted vehicle to smuggle the banned contraband.

Initial interrogations have revealed that the accused Tarun Kumar Goyal, his wife Suman Goyal alongwith another accomplice Navdeep Bedi were running a drug racket from last six years which operated in and around Chandigarh.

advertisement

"We are investigating the case. The accused are being interrogated. Besides the arms and ammunition, we have also recovered 52 gm heroin, 2220 lemotin tablets and currency amounting to Rs 3.40 lakh from the possession of the accused," SHO, Zirakpur, Tarlochal Singh said.

Sources said the accused Tarun Kumar Goyal was a drug smuggler and was out on a bail since last year. The police has also recovered a mobile phone from his possession which has a list of 220 addicts who were his regular customers. Sources said the list also has the names of the sons of some bureaucrats. The accused had also reportedly used some red beacon fitted vehicles owned by bureaucrats to smuggle the narcotics. Later he himself fitted the flashing beacon on his own vehicle.

What left the police shocked is that he was making a heroin like substance by melting Pseudoephedrine and Lemotin drugs which were procured from Baddi, Solan and New Delhi.

Recently, four youths died of drug overdose in Chandigarh. The police may soon arrest the owners of drug factories supplying Pseudoephedrine and other drugs to the accused.



--- ENDS ---
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.
Shane Smith

Good morning. Here's everything you need to know in the world of advertising today.

1. Vice CEO Shane Smith says there will be a "bloodbath" of media consolidation in 2017. Smith said the company is building a war chest so it can go out and "buy market share."

2. WPP posted better-than-expected net sales in the first half of the year, helped by the weakness of the post-Brexit pound. Net sales grew 3.8% in the period to 5.6 billion ($7.4 billion), versus the 3.2-3.3% expected by analysts. Profit before tax was down 40.1% in the period to 425 million ($561 million) as the company took on writedowns, mostly due to its investment in measurement company comScore last year.

3. Google is going to start punishing mobile sites that serve up full-page interstitial ads. It will downgrade those sites in its mobile search results.

4. Google's choice to downgrade sites with mobile full-screen ads is kind of strange because it thinks they are OK elsewhere. Google offers full-screen in-app ads on its AdMob platform.

5. The producer of Jeremy Clarkson's new car show "The Grand Tour" revealed 11 key details about the Amazon series. There will be a "Game of Thrones" stunt and the producers have been keen to avoid copying any "Top Gear" segments, for fear of copyright issues with the BBC.

6. Facebook's new app for teenagers has a worrying problem. Anyone can pretend to be a teenager.

7. Netflix had the perfect response to "Manbang," the so-called "Netflix of North Korea." When asked about Manbang, Netflix responded: "We are bummed we didn't think of that name first." Netflix US also changed its Twitter bio to "Manbang knockoff."

8. A VC firm redesigned its website to say "F--k Trump." "Donald Trump's anti-immigration statements are diametrically opposed to the core values of entrepreneurship. And at CRV, we've had enough," the firm's blog post said, adding: "The CRV partnership  united and unanimous  rejects Donald Trump's candidacy for President of the United States."

Story continues

9. Facebook, Google, and other online platforms will cost UK publishers 500 million by 2026, according to a report from OC&C Strategy Consultants. That's around 10% of UK publishers' revenues.

10. Facebook is getting into header bidding, according to The Information. It will integrate the Facebook Audience Network into a third-party ad tech company's header bidding wrapper, the report says.

NOW WATCH: New guidelines have led to a big change for uniforms at the Rio Olympics





More From Business Insider


From Cosmopolitan

Though some American politicians continue to debate whether climate change is real, scientists have long sounded the warning bells that human-caused global warming is rapidly getting worse. Some warn that we may be close to the point of no return, leaving future generations to deal with the calamitous impacts of earth's rising temperatures and increasingly extreme weather patterns. (The most alarmist studies claim that climate change will usher in the sixth mass extinction). Unless our society can curb human emissions, here are 10 things that could be gone in the next century:

1. Your future income. Well, not literally all of your income - but a new report by Demos and NextGenClimate estimates that Millennials as a whole will lose up to $8.8 trillion if the world doesn't act to stop climate change now. Demos president Heather McGhee told DemocracyNow.org that the study analyzed the financial cost of extreme weather events and curbed agriculture production, noting, "when temperatures rise over a certain point, GDP falls. And we know that when GDP falls, wages fall, jobs fall. "

2. Pretty much all of America's national parks. If you like nature, well, prepare to wish it farewell. The National Parks Service just turned 100, and according to a very scary article in the Guardian, it is now hurtling towards an untimely death:

The Statue of Liberty is at "high exposure" risk from increasingly punishing storms. A national monument dedicated to abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who will be enshrined on a new $20 note, could be eaten away by rising tides in Maryland. The land once walked by Pocahontas and Captain John Smith in Jamestown, the first English settlement in the US, is surrounded by waters rising at twice the global average and may be beyond rescue.

Maybe Oculus Rift will be the only way to show future generations all those old-timey things like forests and lakes and glaciers. I'm joking ... kind of.

Story continues

3. Millions of people. An increase in extreme weather events like heat waves, wildfires, and infections diseases means that more people are going to die unless we can reverse this trend. The World Health Organization predicts, "Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year" from ailments like malnutrition, malaria, and heat waves.

4. The Maldives. Low-lying islands and communities at sea level are at risk of flooding as water levels continue to rise. The Maldives, a set of extremely Instagrammable islands in the Indian Ocean, is the lowest-lying country in the world and is considering relocation options for its citizens. Much of Indonesia is also in danger of disappearing - as many as 1,500 islands could be underwater by 2050.

5. Coffee!!!!!! The exclamation points are very necessary to convey how energized coffee makes us and how tedious life will become when coffee turns into a luxury good. The Guardian reports that a fungus known as "coffee rust," insects, and droughts are already plaguing Latin and South America, where some of the world's most popular coffee beans grow.

6. Wine. Prices of wine are going to soar, experts say, thanks to fluctuations in weather patterns that will make wine grapes harder to grow and harvest in places like France, California, and Australia. My advice is to start stockpiling giant jugs of Carlos Rossi now.

7. And chocolate. Cocoa beans are going the way of wine grapes, and romance will soon be dead.

8. Wild animals. World Wildlife Federation director of science and policy Mark Barratt told the Guardian in 2014, "We have lost one half of the animal population and knowing this is driven by human consumption, this is clearly a call to arms and we must act now." That loss, by the way, occurred in just the last four decades. Animals at risk include the polar bear, the golden toad, and koalas.

9. This village in Alaska. Shishmaref, a 500-person Inuit community just north of the Bering Strait, has voted to relocate to mainland Alaska due to climate change. It is one of 31 communities in Alaska endangered by rising sea levels.

10. Most of our glaciers. As the earth's temperature rises, glaciers are melting. Scientists predict that one-quarter of all mountain glaciers will be gone by 2050. Glacier melt at the poles is contributing to sea rise and changing currents, and slowly killing off life in the Arctic.

Follow Prachi on Twitter.
A Florida woman has been arrested after cops discovered two teens, 34 Chihuahuas and six birds in a "house of horrors" that was inundated with feces, trash, and cockroaches.

Read: Chihuahua Named Bubba, Found 'Lethargic' From Meth and Heroin Use, Has Finished Detox

In images provided to InsideEdition.com, feces and urine from the Port St. John home can be seen lining the floor, and used plastic plates and cups form a large pile on a bedroom floor.

Cigarette butts and half-eaten food also appear in the images.

Authorities were originally responding to an animal complaint at the home Sunday.

According to a statement from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, homeowner Tamara Daniels, 52, initially denied authorities access to the home, but eventually surrendered ten dogs to deputies.

Later that same day, deputies returned and discovered an additional 24 Chihuahuas, as well as six birds at the home.

Of the 34 Chihuahuas, three were pregnant.

They also discovered two teenagers living in "what could be described as worse than deplorable conditions," according to a statement.

"Both children had animal feces on the bottom of their feet, and neither was enrolled in school," authorities said.

Officials told WKMG the home was in "no way safe for the animals, let alone the children who also were in the residence."

Read: 276 Dogs Rescued From New Jersey Home: 'The Worst Hoarding Case We've Ever Experienced'

Daniels was arrested and charged Sunday night with two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. She is currently being held on $10,000 bond and has not yet entered a plea.

"She is a very kind person [who] would give anyone the [benefit] of the doubt. And her kids [are] good kids," one person who claimed to know her wrote on Facebook. "She needed help a long time ago and no one would help her... Yes her place is disgusting but she has raised them kids to be well mannered and respectful teens."

Story continues

The two teens are currently in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

When the SPCA of Brevard County took 24 of the Chihuahuas into their custody after Animal Control independently found foster homes for the rest of them, they reported the dogs were "surprisingly well adjusted, considering the situation they came from."

Susan Naylor of the Brevard County SPCA said while they were all found with fleas and kennel cough, none suffered any major injuries.

"They're all really sweet. Chihuahuas can be a nippy breed, but none of them are nippy," Naylor told InsideEdition.com. "Even though they're scared, they're all extremely playful."

Read: Shelter Bombarded With Requests to Adopt Two Dozen Puppies Saved From Animal Hoarder

While most of the Chihuahuas are being held in SPCA's care for first two weeks, Naylor said the three pregnant dogs have been sent to live with foster homes. One will even be the subject of a maternity photoshoot.

They initially believed four of the Chihuahuas were pregnant, but "one was just a little chunky," Naylor joked.

The SPCA of Brevard County is currently raising funds for vaccines, food, and blankets for the pups on a YouCaring page.

Watch: Canine and Raccoon Are Inseparable After Family Takes In Critter: 'He Doesn't Know Roxy's a Dog'

Related Articles:
Enjoying a top-down drive can certainly brighten anyones mood. But affordable convertibles that comfortably fit four people have been scarce ever since the Toyota Solara and Chrysler Sebring left the segment. GMs response? The Buick Cascada, imported from Europe. It includes many niceties you get in a $60,000 convertible. The only price-comparable ragtopsa Mustang or a Camarowont provide the rear passenger room or the same level of convenience.

The Cascadas fabric top keeps out noise and holds in comfy temperatures. The power-operated top opens and closes in just 17 seconds at up to 31 mph, allowing flexibility for changing mood or weather on the go.

The car isnt particularly quick or fuel-efficient. The body structure is sturdy, free from the agitating shimmy that afflicts many convertibles. Handling is responsive and secure. The ride is steady, but sharp bumps do come through.

The interior is well-trimmed, with comfortable seats and handy touches such as a wind deflector. Heated front seats and steering wheel let you extend open-top season into the autumn chill. Many of the buttons, knobs, and dials feel dated, and the infotainment system is a generation behind. But if you dont mind those compromises, youll have the wind in your hair without breaking the bank.

Read the complete Buick Cascada road test.



Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the October 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.





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.
Buenos Aires (AFP) - An Argentine court sentenced 28 people to life in prison Thursday for torturing and killing opponents of the country's 1976-1983 military regime at a secret detention center.

Those convicted included former general , nicknamed "The Hyena" for laughing during torture sessions at the clandestine prison known as La Perla.

Menendez, 89, was already serving 11 life sentences for human rights abuses committed at the infamous facility in the central province of Cordoba.

In the latest trial, he was convicted of 52 homicides, 260 kidnappings, 656 cases of torture and 82 disappearances of detainees who were never found.

In all, he and his co-accused were charged with kidnapping, torturing, killing or stealing the newborn babies of more than 700 victims, 279 of whom are still officially missing.

Ten other defendants were sentenced to between two and a half and 21 years.

Menendez showed no remorse during the trial, telling the court there was "never repression of any kind" at the detention center.

"These criminals accuse the armed forces and go to the courts saying they're victims," he said.

Some 600 people testified in the landmark case, which opened in 2012.

An estimated 30,000 regime opponents or suspected sympathizers were killed or "disappeared" during the dictatorship.
Nicosia (AFP) - As Turkish troops approached his village on August 14, 1974, Georgios Kantoni packed a simple meal of bread, cheese and watermelon for his family and sent them to hide in the wheat fields.

Antonis Christofi, Kantoni's grandson, was 14. It was the last time he would see his grandfather.

"We were afraid because we heard people say the Turkish were killing villagers," Christofi remembers.

Kantoni refused to leave his home. He was shot dead days later, his body flung in a shallow lake a few hours' walk from the village. His wife was killed and thrown down a nearby well.

They were among more than 2,000 people who went missing in violence between Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities in 1963-1974, which culminated with the Turkish invasion of the island that August.

More than 40 years on, the task of retrieving and identifying the ghosts of Cyprus's mass killings falls to the UN-backed Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).

Its team of Turkish and Greek Cypriot specialists has identified the remains of about 680 people since 2008.

The Turkish invasion, in response to an Athens-inspired putsch, left the island and its Turkish- and Greek-speaking communities bitterly divided.

Now, as long-stalled peace talks foster increasing goodwill, the CMP -- itself a rare example of cooperation between communities on the island -- wants to find as many bodies as possible.

"Every missing person is a symbol of what we did to each other," says Turkish Cypriot CMP member Gulden Plumer Kucuk. "Our work needs political will to continue."

For Christofi, the CMP's discovery of his grandparents' bodies in 2014 -- four decades after their deaths -- came as a shock.

"Now we at least have a place we can visit them," he tells AFP, clasping a photograph of his grandfather's skeleton, its right shoulder blade cratered by a bullet.

"But there is always the why. Why did these old people die this type of death? They didn't do anything to anybody."

Story continues

- Painstaking work -

Hiding from the sun under a flower-print beach umbrella, archaeologist Maria Solomou watches an earthmover scrape strips of soil from a riverbank 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Nicosia in the Turkish-occupied north.

She has information that seven bodies are buried here.

"When you're looking for bones you have to work slow," Solomou explains. She estimates she has personally found the remains of more than 70 people for the CMP.

The excavator unearths bone. Solomou sets about the painstaking process of extricating the remains in the punishing August heat.

With about 1,000 bodies still missing, the CMP has a problem. Most the missing disappeared four decades ago. Witnesses to their deaths or hurried burials grow old, misremember. Some die.

The discovery last year of around 30 bodies north of Nicosia is a case in point.

From witness statements, dig teams knew roughly where a mass grave might be. But they only found remains after an improbable tip-off from a 94-year-old shepherdess.

Without her directions, remembered precisely from 42 years earlier, the bodies may have gone undiscovered.

"How many more years would we have been able to get this information?" says Florian von Koenig, a UN representative in the CMP. "Our biggest thing we need -- information -- is increasingly hard to come by."

One source of hope is the decision last year to allow CMP teams access to Turkish military sites, with their dozens of potential graves.

- Relief, grief -

In a white, humidity-controlled hangar near Nicosia's abandoned airport in a UN buffer zone, 90 identical cardboard boxes line stacks of metal shelving.

In them are dozens of remains of people, some women and children, killed by Greek Cypriot militiamen in 1974 and dumped in a mass grave near the port of Famagusta.

Forensic anthropologist Photis Andronicou says hundreds of bodies still await identification.

Using DNA testing, sometimes aided by a wallet, shirt or other possession found alongside a body, the CMP identifies every skeleton.

"The geneticists check the results, then we check the results," Andronicou says. "The threshold is 99.95 percent (certainty)."

Each identification provides both relief at the end of decades of uncertainty, and grief over the death of the hope, however forlorn, that loved ones are alive.

Dina Papachristou, 69, has not seen her daughter, son-in-law and seven-year old grandson since they disappeared in 1974. She still clings to a belief that they weren't killed that summer.

"I just want to find them," she says, arranging black-and-white images of the schoolboy on a tablecloth strewn with family Polaroids.

"If that means bad news, I'm prepared."

- 'The pain of loss' -

In Tashkent village, north of Nicosia, workmen paint a curbside skirting a gleaming cemetery complex. Thirty-five Turkish Cypriot men killed in 1974 were finally laid to rest there this month.

Erdinc Erdagli, head of a local missing persons committee, says the CMP has identified 80 villagers found in a mass grave near Limassol.

They include his own father, who he buried in 2014. Down on his haunches, Erdagli cups his hand to shield from the breeze a single pheasant feather -- a symbol of his father's love for game bird hunting -- and stands it beneath the marble headstone.

"You feel the pain of loss at special moments," he says. "You graduate from school, get married, have a child, but your father is not with you.

"This is the most difficult situation a man can face."
Archaeologists have long marveled at ancient great circles, such as the iconic Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, wondering who created such constructions and why.

A team of archaeologists have discovered that two of the oldest such stone circles in Great Britain were constructed in alignment with the sun and moon, likely by ancient astronomers seeking to understand the relationship between Earth and the two celestial objects.

Callanish, on the Isle of Lewis, and Stenness, on the Isle of Orkney, built in 3,000 B.C. and both predating Stonehenge by about 500 years, were constructed in line with the movements of the sun and the moon, according to new research published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

This research is finally proof that the ancient Britons connected the Earth to the sky with their earliest standing stones, and that this practice continued in the same way for 2,000 years, Gail Higginbottom of Australian National University, the lead author of the report, told Sci-News.

At different points of the solar and lunar cycle, the stones interact with the landscape in different ways.

For example, at 50 percent of the sites, the northern horizon is relatively higher and closer than the southern and the summer solstice Sun rises out of the highest peak in the north, Higginbottom said. These people chose to erect these great stones very precisely within the landscape and in relation to the astronomy they knew.

Related Articles
By PTI: Bhopal, Aug 25 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivarj Singh Chouhan has appealed to students to contribute towards development of the state.

"Students and talented people should contribute for the progress of the state and the country," Chouhan said.

He was addressing a programme where he distributed laptops to students who secured top positions in the merit list of Class XII in various districts, under Meghavi Vidhyarthi Protsahan Scheme at Lal Parade ground here last evening.

advertisement

Nearly Rs 53 lakh was e-transferred for laptops in the accounts of 17,196 other students who obtained over 85 per cent marks in class XII exam of MP Board of Secondary Education.

On the occasion, the students also took selfies with the CM who urged the children to work hard and earn name and fame across the world. The progress of children will move their parents, state and the country ahead, Chouhan said.

Chouhan also said the government is making efforts to provide them resources, facilities and opportunities.

The state government has taken a pledge that not a single daughter and son of the state should be deprived of education because of unavailability of funds.

Chouhan informed that a scheme has been formulated to realise the pledge. Under this, the fees will be borne by the state government of those students who get admitted to higher education institutes and are unable to pay for it.

In order to make the scheme suitable and viable, suggestions are being sought from the students by the Chief Minister on his Facebook page, twitter handle and official portal to express their expectations and desires.

On the occasion, Chouhan discussed with the students about their professional passion. He said help is being provided to people who wish to set up their own enterprises and want to give employment to others.

Also, venture capital fund has been established for those who wish to realise their new and innovative thoughts.

Shares of such companies working with new approach and thoughts will be purchased from this fund.

Once the company establishes, the government will sell these shares and invest the fund in another company.

Chouhan also provided bicycles to a few students. PTI MAS GK SMN

--- ENDS ---
It's a case that has horrified the nation: Austin Harrouff, a 19-year-old Florida State University sophomore, allegedly fatally stabbed a married couple to death last week in the garage of their Tequestra, Florida, home. Authorities said they found Harrouff soon after, allegedly trying to bite chunks off the man's face.



Investigators say they are still trying to determine what drove Harrouff to allegedly kill John Stevens III, 59, and his 53-year-old wife, Michelle Mishcon. Neighbor Jeff Fisher, 47, came to the couple's aid and was injured in a scuffle with their alleged attacker, police have said.



Here are five things to know about the case.





1. Harrouff Reportedly Behaved Erratically Before Alleged 'Random' Attack

Prior to his alleged attack, Harrouff walked out of a restaurant, where he was eating with his father and others, due to "slow service," Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told PEOPLE.







Harrouff's father, Wade Harouff, told the Palm Beach Post that after leaving the restaurant, Austin went to his mother's house nearby, where she stopped him from drinking cooking oil before taking him back to the restaurant.



Back at the restaurant, Wade became upset with his son and grabbed him by the shirt collar and, subsequently, the younger Harrouff left the restaurant again, according to the Post.



When authorities responded to the scene of Austin's alleged attack, "The suspect was on top of our victim, clutching him in a bear hug and biting him in the face," Snyder told PEOPLE.



"[The deputy] shot him with a taser ... that didn't work," Synder said. "Another deputy got there, two deputies, and they engaged the suspect and they said they used every bit of strength they had."



He added: "It was an impossible task to get [Austin] off of the victim. And another officer from a nearby municipality arrived and deployed a dog on him to try to get him off. Then finally, after minutes of fighting, they were able to get the offender off of the victim, but the victim was dead."



Snyder called his alleged attack "random" and "unprovoked" and said Harrouff had never met the two victims.





2. Victims Were Killed in Garage They Transformed into Community Hangout

Mishcon and Stevens outfitted their garage with a TV, a stereo, a bar and couches, according to friend Denise Andersen.



"They welcomed everybody in the community and it was a place where people could connect and relax after a day of work," Anderson, 54, told PEOPLE.



Anderson described the couple as "generous and giving people."



She said Mishcon was a "very special person" and called Stevens "one of the sweetest, mild-mannered men you'd ever meet."





5 Things to Know About Austin Harrouff, FSU Student Who Allegedly Tried to Eat Stabbing Victim's Face| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime





3. Police Speculated Suspect Could Have Been on Flakka, But Father Says Mental Illness Runs in Family

Police have speculated that Harrouff may have been under the influence of the synthetic drug flakka at the time of his 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 FBI to determine whether Harrouff was under the influence of bath salts or flakka.



However, Wade Harrouff told the Post, "I know it's not flakka-induced." He added, "The weird behavior is coming from schizophrenia in my family."



 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.





4. He Allegedly Posted to YouTube About His 'Psycho Side'

A description of a YouTube channel called A.Frost and appearing to belong to Harrouff reads, "I've got a psycho side and a normal side." It adds, "I've lost my mind help me find it."







In a video uploaded four days before the attack, Harrouff discusses steroid use.



"You think steroids would be beneficial? Who knows. But for me ... I think that steroids really aren't for me," he said. "I used to think that I needed steroids to be a body builder, to be this thing. To be this symbol. To be this lie."



Wade told PEOPLE his son didn't do steroids, saying, "He always took pride in not being on steroids."





5. Austin Is Suffering from Organ Failure, Says Father

Wade, a dentist, told PEOPLE that his son's liver is failing, his lungs are filling with fluid and he is experiencing esophageal bleeding.



"His organs are shutting down," the elder Harrouff said.



Since his arrest, Austin 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 has told PEOPLE.



Once he is released from the hospital, Austin will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as attempted first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Fisher, police said. He also will face burglary and resisting arrest charges, they said.



In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Austin's family expressed condolences to the victims.



"The Harrouff family loves Austin as they know the Stevens and Mischon families loved John Stevens III and Michelle Mischon," the statement read.



"There are no words we can offer to give any real comfort for this tragic loss," it continued. "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."
Booking a flight with at least one layover can save you $100 or more on a trip, says George Hobica, founder and president of the website Airfarewatchdog. But it also increases travel timeand the chance that delays could make you miss your connecting flights. If your trip involves a connection, follow these tips to increase your chances of making it to the next gate on timeand decrease the likelihood of getting stranded far from your destination.

Lengthen Your Layover

In theory, any ticket that involves connecting flights should allow you ample time to make your connections. But thats assuming that you arrive at your connecting airport on time. In reality, things rarely go that smoothly. I wouldnt book a ticket that gives you less than 2 hours to connect on domestic flights, or 4 hours on international routes, Hobica advises.

Sit Near the Front

Sitting near the front of the cabin can easily shave 15 minutes off your deplaning time, Hobica says. Let flight attendants know you have a tight connection so they can help you get out quickly.

Work Your Apps

Your airlines app should give you updated info on boarding gates and on delays for each leg of your journey so that you know where youre going and can start rebooking, if necessary, ASAP. The apps FlySmart and GateGuru (free for Android and Apple) have terminal maps for all major airports to ensure you don't head down the wrong terminals to your connecting flights.

Avoid the Days Last Flight

If you miss your connection and its the last one of the day, youll be stranded until you can get another flight to your destination. The airline might provide overnight accommodationbut thats often not the case. Usually, it will only rebook you on the next available flight.

Stay Away From Certain Airports

Whenever your trip involves connecting flights, avoid traveling from or through airports that are prone to delays. Of the countrys busiest airports, these eight had the worst on-time departures performance between January and May of this year: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, LaGuardia Airport, Miami International, San Francisco International, Chicago OHare International, John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, and Los Angeles International. You can find on-time arrival and departure statistics data for the largest U.S. airports and airlines on a monthly basis in the Department of Transportations Air Travel Consumer Report.

Story continues

More on Air Travel



Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the October 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.





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.
50 Cent leads THR's Top TV Songs chart for July with his song "I'm The Man," featuring Sonny Digital, thanks to HBO's Ballers.

Rankings for the Top TV Songs chart are based on cumulative monthly Shazam tags, as well as sales and streaming information tracked by Nielsen Music during the same period.

"I'm the Man," which was featured in the Ballers' second season premiere episode on July 17, sits atop the chart with 109,000 Shazam tags, as well as 13.8 million U.S. streams and 20,000 downloads in July, according to Nielsen Music. Of those downloads, 6,000 occurred in the first tracking week after the episode aired (week ending July 21), marking a 280 percent gain from the previous week, where it sold 2,000.

But that's not all. Additionally, a remix of "I'm the Man" featuring Chris Brown, debuts at No. 2 on the Top TV Songs chart after its appearance in the Starz series Power, snagging 25,000 additional Shazam tags for itself.

Of the remaining eight songs in the top 10, five tracks were featured in season one of the Netflix sci-fi drama Stranger Things, which premiered on Netflix July 15. The series is set in 1983, so many of the tracks - "Africa" by Toto, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, "Atmosphere" by Joy Division among them - were released in the '80s. A notable exception, "Heroes" by Peter Gabriel, was released in 2010, though the original recording by David Bowie debuted in 1977.

"Africa" lands at No. 3 on Top TV Songs with 46,000 Shazam tags, 5.1 million U.S. streams and 13,000 downloads in July. The track was streamed 1 million times in the tracking week after Netflix premiered the show (week ending July 21), marking a 10 percent gain from the previous week, where it was streamed about 900,000 times.

"Should I Stay or Should I Go," a recurring track throughout Stranger Things, finishes at No. 6 with 37,000 Shazam tags, 1.6 million U.S. streams and 4,000 downloads.

Story continues

Here is the full Top TV Songs chart for July:

Rank, Title, Artist, TV Show (Network)

1. "I'm the Man," 50 Cent feat. Sonny Digital, Ballers (HBO)

2. "I'm the Man (Remix)," 50 Cent feat. Chris Brown, Power (Starz)

3. "Africa," Toto, Stranger Things (Netflix)

4. "Heroes," Peter Gabriel, Stranger Things (Netflix)

5. "The Monster," Eminem feat. Rihanna, Power (Starz)

6. "Should I Stay or Should I Go," The Clash, Stranger Things (Netflix)

7. "Atmosphere," Joy Division, Stranger Things (Netflix)

8. "Hazy Shade of Winter," The Bangles, Stranger Things (Netflix)

9. "Feel the Love," Rudimental feat. John Newman, Ballers (HBO)

10. "We've Got Tonight," Bob Seger & The Electric Bullet Band, Ray Donovan (Showtime)
From Town & Country

A strong earthquake in central Italy reduced three towns to rubble as people slept early Wednesday, with reports that as many as 73 people were killed and hundreds injured as rescue crews raced to dig out survivors.

The toll was likely to rise as crews reached homes in more remote hamlets where the scenes were apocalyptic "like Dante's Inferno," according to one witness.

"The town isn't here anymore," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of 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 felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks. The temblor shook the Lazio region and Umbria and Le Marche on the Adriatic coast.

Premier Matteo Renzi planned to head to the zone later Wednesday and promised: "No family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind."

The hardest-hit towns were 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 said the toll was 73 dead, several hundred injured and thousands in need of temporary housing, though it stressed the numbers were fluid.

It was one of the most beautiful towns of Italy and now there's nothing left.

The center of Amatrice was devastated, with entire 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 center 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."

Story continues

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 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. Italy's national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rieti's hospital.

We came out to the piazza, and it looked like Dante's Inferno.

But just a few kilometers 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 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the latest quake. The town sent emergency teams Wednesday to help with the rescue.

"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. 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 hadn't 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," lamented Gino Petrucci, owner of a bar in nearby Arquata Del Tronto where he was beginning the long cleanup.

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 (105 miles) northeast of Rome, and with a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (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 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 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.

The mayor, Pirozzi, estimated dozens of residents were buried under collapsed buildings and that heavy equipment was needed to clear streets clogged with debris.

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.

The Vatican press office said a six-man team from the Vatican City State's fire squad went to Amatrice early Thursday. A statement said the decision was taken as a "sign of the pope's concrete proximity to the people affected by the quake."
From long security lines to cramped cabins to rude passengers, theres a lot to complain about when it comes to flying in economy today. Here's how to make the experience at least a bit more tolerable.

1. Score the Best Seats

Start checking for available seats 72 hours before departure. Thats when airlines may start releasing those that were earlier reserved for people who have been upgraded or have canceled, which means you might be able to select a plum spotwithout having to pay extra for it.

Consult the SeatGuru website for seating maps of most airlines planes, including seat pitch and width. Green seats have more room; yellow seats have at least one drawback (such as no window, limited recline or leg room, or proximity to a galley or restroom); red seats have multiple drawbacks. (Find out how much passengers feel the squeeze.)

2. Board Early and Save on Baggage Fees

Checking just one bag could cost you $36 to $200 round-trip. Making do with a carry-on is an obvious way to avoid bag feesunless youre flying on Allegiant, Frontier, or Spirit, which charge for carry-on bags.

If traveling light isnt an option, consider signing up for one of the airline credit cards that might offer benefits like free checked bags, early boarding, and discounts on food and beverages. Americans AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard, Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express, and United MileagePlus Explorer Card, for instance, all have annual fees less than $100. (Learn about Consumer Reports' Credit Card Adviser Comparison Tool, which will help you choose cash-back credit cards customized for your spending habits.)



3. Speed Through Security

Flyers who have registered with TSA PreCheck enjoy expedited screening at more than 180 U.S. airports, saving time and stress. The Transportation Security Administration says that 95 percent of the people going through the pre-check line waited 5 minutes or less in June. Another perk: PreCheck participants are not required to take off their shoes, jackets, or belts, or remove laptops or bottles with liquids from their bags. The cost is $85 for five years. You can start your enrollment online, then complete it by making an appointment to visit an enrollment center listed on the website.

Story continues

More on Air Travel

4. Avoid the Crowds

If youll be in the airport for more than a few hours, consider splurging for access to a lounge. Most airlines sell day passes to their club lounges even if youre not traveling with them, and companies such as Plaza Premium Lounge, No. 1 Lounge, and The Club Airport Lounge sell passes at their locations around the world. The cost is usually $30 to $59 per person, which, in addition to letting you dodge the airport throngs, gets you free food, beverages, WiFi, showers, and assistance with your travel arrangements. Some airline-branded credit cards offer discounted or free passes to lounges. American Express Centurion Platinum cardholders (who pay a hefty $450 annual fee) have free membership to its seven U.S. lounges.

5. Minimize Stress

Dont join the mad rush to get on the plane. The less time you spend in line, the better, says Leon James, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii who studies air, road, and pedestrian rage. Dont get in line until your section is called, then occupy yourself with a book or a game or a conversation: Research suggests that people who do nothing in line perceive wait times to be longer and more frustrating than those who are distracted.

6. Maximize Comfort

Keeping warm and entertained are necessities for serene travel, James says. Bring along a sweater, a small pillow and blanket (for longer flights), and reading material or audio books, and games. Noise-canceling headphones and eye masks can lend an added sense of calm.

7. Move It

Remaining in a sedentary position for more than 4 hours can increase the risk of developing a dangerous blood clot (known as deep vein thrombosis), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our medical experts suggest walking around the plane every hour, if possible, and periodically raising your heels with your toes on the floor, then raising your toes with your heels on the floor. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and avoid alcoholic beverages. Wear loose clothing, and do not sit with your legs crossed.

8. Keep It Clean

Fill an enclosed space with a steady stream of people (many of them coughing and sneezing) and you have the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

Research shows that some of the germiest spots on a plane are the seatback tray table, the overhead air vent, the seatback pocket, and the seat-belt buckle. To ease your mind and maybe avoid picking up a bug, wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water, and use alcohol-based wipes on all of those germy surfaces before you touch them, says Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports chief medical adviser.

9. Make Sure You're Insured

Travel insurance can cover the cost of your airfare (as well as hotels, tour costs, or cruise fare) if you need to cancel or interrupt a trip because of unexpected events such as personal illness, the illness or death of a relative or travel companion, or some types of severe weather. Travel insurance will generally also cover the cost of belongings that are lost or stolen, emergency medical care, and also offer a death benefit. Premiums average about 5 to 7 percent of the cost of the trip, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Trip cancellation and other travel insurance is provided as a benefit of some credit cards, and you may be covered for medical treatment and theft under your own health and homeowners policies (if youre traveling overseas, be sure to confirm that your health insurance will cover you abroad). Its always best to be prepared for the unexpected, especially because airlines can take a very hard line regarding their nonrefundable ticket policies.

To review and purchase travel insurance plans, go to an online broker such as InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth, which each sells coverage from 21 carriers.

Passengers Feel the Squeeze

Added seats translate into added revenues. Airlines are packing more of them into their planes by shaving inches from seat width and distance between rows, and even by eliminating some restrooms and galleys from their planes.



Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the October 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.





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.
What's a girl to do after she's gone braless on Jimmy Kimmel Live? Wear nothing but a bra the very next day, of course!

Hours after rocking a yellow camisole on the late-night talk show

AKM-GSI

WATCH: Kendall Jenner Shares Cheeky, Unpublished Vogue Swimsuit Pic

Kendall Jenner grabbed coffee with friends at Alfred Coffee & Kitchen in West Hollywood, California, on Thursday in a very curious, grunge-inspired outfit. The 20-year-old model sported a heavily ripped-up vintage Metallica T-shirt featuring the album art from their sophomore studio LP, Ride the Lightning.

The collar was left intact, but a giant U-shaped keyhole was cut to expose Jenner's chest and stomach, which she tastefully covered with a black bra. She accessorized with a neck full of chokers and a gold bodychain, then completed her rock n' roll look with cropped, light-hued boyfriend jeans, white patent boots, and her beloved keychain accessories.

FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

Who knew Jenner was the one for whom the bell tolls?

If this ensemble makes you scratch your head, Jenner probably doesn't care. She took to Snapchat with a close-up of the look, throwing a 100 emoji right over her envious abs.

Snapchat

The Vogue cover girl has gone heavy on the '90s looks lately, which is as on-trend as you'd expect from not just a model but a member of the Kardashian clan.

There was this off-the-shoulder ribbed tee she rocked with a bandana and topknot while at the horse races with her grandmother, Mary Jo, in July:

WATCH: Kendall Jenner Granted Temporary Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalker

This Kardahsian-approved bodysuit and high-waisted jean combo, seen on Jenner and a pal in June:

And, of course, there was the belly-bearing outfit she wore to the Adele concert in Los Angeles earlier this month. It screams 1997, in the best way possible. Check it out in the video below.

Related Articles
Aaron Paul may have his own role on a Netflix series, but there's another series on the streaming service that has caught his attention.



The actor, like so many other Netflix subscribers, is obsessed with Stranger Things and the show's young stars  so much so that he told Millie Bobby Brown that he wanted to adopt her.



Paul, 36, told Jimmy Fallon that tweeting his praise for the Duffer Brothers' series led to an opportunity to interview the 12-year-old breakout star for Elle.



"I was terrified," he told the late night host of his assignment. "She's the bestabut I was so terrified. She was on a family vacation Spain and I was like, 'I've got to make this good'aShe gets on the phone with her cute little accentaShe's far more articulate than I, and I was terrified."







Paul even confessed that he and his wife, Lauren, told the actress they wanted to adopt her.



Brown plays Eleven on the hit new series.



"She's with her family on vacation!" Fallon objected.



Paul responded, "I know, but she said we could!"



In the interview, Brown definitely sounded game.



"Listen: Me and Aaron have arranged a dinner in L.A. in two weeks' time," she told his wife. "Now, you bring the adoption papers. I'll bring my suitcase."



He also begged to come back when Fallon said the four child stars of Stranger Things would be on The Tonight Show next week.











#wcw for life. A photo posted by Lauren Paul (@laurenpaul8) on Aug 10, 2016 at 9:15am PDT





The actor, who currently stars in Netflix's Bojack Horseman and Hulu's The Path, has previously shared his admiration for Brown on Instagram following their talk.





RELATED VIDEO: Aaron Paul Wants to 'Keep Kids in School Hallways'



"Had the absolute pleasure to interview the brilliant, articulate and absolutely adorable @milliebobby_brown the other day. She of course exceeded all of my expectations," he wrote. "If you have seen Stranger Things then you know how amazing this young lady is. If you haven't seen the show you need to get on that as soon as possible. Millie, you're the best. Thanks for sitting down and discussing life with me."



Lauren Paul has also praised the actress on social media, sharing a photo of Brown's character on the show and dubbing her "#wcw for life."
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs thinks that no matter the history of filmmaker Nate Parker, "people need to see" The Birth of a Nation.

Speaking to TMZ on Thursday, she said she hasn't yet seen the film from writer, director and star Parker, but added, "I know just by the conversation that has gone on at Sundance that it's clearly a movie that filmgoers should go and see."

In 1999, Parker and co-writer Jean Celestin were accused of rape by a female classmate. Parker was acquitted at trial while Celestin was found guilty, but his conviction was later overturned on appeal. The trial transcripts have been shared in the media in recent weeks as the Oct. 7 release of The Birth of a Nation nears, and Parker recently spoke out about the case. It also was revealed that the accuser killed herself in 2012.

When asked about the issue of Parker's "presumed guilt," Boone Isaacs replied: "That's one issue, that's his personal issue. And then there's the issue of the movie." She added, "The important thing is for people to see it and enjoy the film, be impressed by the film. And I think that is what is very important. People need to see this movie."

Is she worried that it could be impacted in a negative way? "Now you're making a guess about the possibility," she said. "This is my belief, is that people need to see the movie and judge the movie."

The Birth of a Nation tells the story of the 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner. The unflinching portrayal of slavery's horrors and Turner's personal story captivated audiences at the Sundance Film Festival in January and fetched a record $17.5 million when it was sold to Fox Searchlight.

The Hollywood Reporter surveyed Academy members and found that few had previously known of Parker before the details of his rape trial resurfaced and are now first learning about him through the resulting media coverage.

Story continues

"Personally, I find it really hard to separate the man from the film when he wrote, directed and starred in it," Marcia Nasatir, an Academy member in the executives branch, told THR. "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."

Read more: Oscar Voters Ponder Nate Parker and 'Birth of a Nation': "I Would Not Go to the Movie"
Uttam Kumar Reddy has vowed to expose the lies and falsehood of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on irrigation projects in the State.

By Ashish Pandey: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has vowed to expose the lies and falsehood of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on irrigation projects in the State.

On Wednesday, the Telangana Chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had challenged Congress to prove corruption in upcoming irrigation projects.

"By shifting the project to Medigadda, the TRS Government has increased the capital cost by over Rs. 50,000 crore which needs to be borne by people of Telangana. Further, a burden of annual recurring cost of Rs. 15,000 Crore has been imposed upon people in guise of Kaleshwaram project. Congress party will not be a mute spectator to this open loot of public exchequer," Congress state president said.

advertisement

"KCR has mortgaged the interest of Telangana State by deciding to shift the main project from Thummadihatti to Medigadda. This will cause a huge loss to the interest of Telangana farmers," said Uttam Kumar Reddy. He informed that the Congress party has convened an expert talk and discussion on 'Pranahita Chevella/Kaleshwaram project" said Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Speaking to media Congress state president told that party has invited retired engineers and several irrigation experts for discussion on the Chief Minister's false claims on three majors on Godavari River.

"We will expose how the shifting of main project from Thummadihati to Medigadda was detrimental to the interest of Telangana. Instead of acting like the Chief Minister of Telangana, KCR is behaving like the agent of BJP-Government of Maharashtra," he alleged.

"Telangana Government gave up 7 Mandals, 2 lakh acres of land and the fate of lakhs of tribals to Andhra Pradesh to enable it to construct Polavaram Project. But we failed to ask for just 3,000 acres for submergence from Maharashtra Government to build Pranahita Chevella project," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy further added that the Chief Minister's refusal to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accommodate 3,000 acres in lieu of lakhs of acres given by Telangana to AP remains a mystery.

The TPCC chief also accused the Chief Minister of falsehood on the ayacut.

"The figures of 40 lakh ayacut under Kaleshwaram project are false and bogus. By drawing 2 TMC water per day, an ayacut of only 16 lakh acres could be served and this has been confirmed by all irrigation experts," he said.

He also alleged that the tender process of Kaleshwaram project was non-transparent and no global bids were called. "The Chief Minister appears to be in a hurry to execute country's biggest scam. Congress party will expose all the irregularities and falsehood being committed by TRS Government," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said Friday's meeting with irrigation experts and retired engineers would expose the false claims of TRS Government.

--- ENDS ---
From Harper's BAZAAR

If you forgot that Adam Brody and Leighton Meester have been married since 2014, no one could blame you. The very private couple rarely make public appearances together. In fact, until Tuesday, they had only appeared twice at official public events together.

Brody and Meester made an exception to their usual rule of extreme privacy, however, and attended a party to celebrate Brody's new Crackle series, StartUp, together. The party, which took place at the London Hotel in Los Angeles, marks their third official appearance together as a couple, according to E! Online.

Photo credit: Getty

The couple, who are parents to 1-year-old daughter Arlo, looked totally in love as they posed to pictures and mingled with the other partygoers.

In 2014, Meester spoke to InStyle about her newfound need for privacy, something she and Brody have successfully maintained during their first two years of marriage. "My values have shifted greatly in terms of what I find important. It's my family, my friends and having a personal life. Those are the things that need nurturing."

You Might Also Like
The National Park Service (NPS) turned 100 on Aug. 25, and visitors are getting an amazing gift in honor of the milestone.

Admission to all 58 national parks will be free Aug. 25-28. Admission fees will also be waived at 354 protected areas, including national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails and the White House.

The price of admission varies from one national park to another, and depends heavily on the location and season. For example, entrance to Yellowstone National Park costs $30 per car. At Mesa Verde National Park, cars have to pay $15 in the summer months and $10 during the rest of the year.

From Acadia to Zion, the best part about national parks is that there are so many options. Whether you like to hike, kayak or just gaze at a mountain, youre bound to find one that sparks your interest. If you can decide what park to visit, search the hashtag #Findyourpark on Instagram, where park people have been sharing their outdoor experiences for other would-be visitors.

Weve also put together our list of cant-miss national parks hosting special centennial celebrations this weekend.

1. Great Smoky Mountains



You might think that the Grand Canyon attracts the biggest crowds, but with 307 million visitors in 2015, Great Smoky Mountain National Park  which straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina  has proven to be more popular. Join a ranger on Aug. 26, for an evening campfire at the Elkmont campground to discuss what makes this national park so great.

2. Grand Canyon National Park

With the NPS waiving admission fees, you can guarantee that the Grand Canyon will get a lot of attention this weekend. In addition to the awe-inspiring natural beauty, the NPS will also be hosting the Grand Canyon Music Festival starting Aug. 25. Free concerts on Aug. 26 include the world premiere of Puhatawi, a new genre of Hopi music, and an evening with local students sharing their love of rock music. Concerts on other days cost $15 for adults and $8 for children.

Story continues

3. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone will celebrate the National Park Service centennial on Aug. 25 with an Evening at the Arch. Tickets are sold out, but the event will be live streamed. If youre able to visit the park this weekend, make some memories while gazing at the Grand Prismatic Spring or biking and camping in backcountry. But be on your guard, there are some fire restrictions in effect due to fire danger.

4. Everglades National Park

If you want to cover a lot of ground in a limited amount of time, hop on your huffy for a canal biking tour you wont soon forget. On Aug. 27, the NPS will host a free, guided bike tour down the canal berm of Floridas Everglades National Park. The ride starts at 7:30 am, making it a scenic and eye-opening way to break in a new day. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the park office.

4. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

The National Park System might be 100 years old, but its basically a toddler compared to the 2,000 year-old Sequoia trees in this California national park. Celebrate the centennial by watching the Mountain, Forest and Desert players put on a free performance of Ersa of the Red Trees from Aug. 26- 28. This classic Sequoia tale takes place in front of the historic General Sherman tree, and contains fairies, beasts, magic and poetry.

6. Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington has several events this weekend to celebrate the NPS centennial. Watch history come alive on Friday at the Paradise Inn Lobby, when rangers share stories about the breathtaking park and the people behind its success. The park is also hosting a Centennial Star Party on Saturday, where astronomy volunteers will point out constellations for visitors. Star gazing begins at the Visitor Center at 9:30 pm.

7. Yosemite National Park

President Obama and the first family visited Yosemite National Park  set within Californias Sierra Nevada mountains  this summer, and for good reason: Its gorgeous! Known for its rock formations like El Capitan and its stunning views from Glacier Point, Yosemites beauty can easily be appreciated by even the moodiest of teenagers. If you cant experience the park in real life, no worries. In celebration of the centennial, the White House has released a 360-degree virtual reality tour so you can experience the park just like the Obamas.

Brittany Jones-Cooper is a writer for Yahoo Finance.

Read more:

6 horrible moments from 2016s summer of travel

Low on cash? Now there is layaway for airline tickets

American Airlines new awards chart could cost you miles
By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Al Shabaab militants attacked a beach restaurant in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, with gunmen raiding the building after setting off a car bomb, police and the insurgent group said. Sporadic shooting could be heard as night fell, Reuters witnesses said. It was not clear how many casualties there might be. "A car bomb exploded at Banadir beach restaurant at Lido beach and there is exchange of gunfire. We have no other details so far," police officer Major Ahmed Ibrahim told Reuters. Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab's military operation spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab said the group was responsible for the attack. "We attacked the Banadir beach restaurant and now our fighters are fighting inside it," he told Reuters. Al Shabaab, has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Somalia to try to topple the Western-backed government. In January, its militants stormed another restaurant on Lido beach, killing 17 people. On Sunday, more than 20 people were killed when its suicide bombers detonated two car bombs at a local government headquarters in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region. On Thursday, Reuters witnesses near the scene of the beach attack said the restaurant had been sealed off by security officers and that the attackers had lobbed grenades at the officers and fired at them. They said they had also seen two bodies lying on the ground. Internal Security Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed said on his Twitter account: "Warning: People near the blast scene should stay in the hotels and in their houses in which they are inside. Cars should not enter Lido beach area." Al Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but has remained a potent threat in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government. In a separate incident in southern Somalia, a roadside bomb believed to have been planted by al Shabaab militants wounded at three people in Baardheere town in Gedo region, Colonel Hussein Nur, a police officer in the town, told Reuters by phone. (Additional reporting by Abdirahman Hussein; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Louise Ireland)
By Hamid Ould Ahmed ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria's cereal crop is expected to drop by 40 percent this harvest after the worst drought in decades, the head of the country's farmers' union said on Thursday. The fall in cereal output comes as OPEC member Algeria seeks to reduce imports to offset a sharp decline in its energy earnings that has hit state finances. Drought has mainly affected the southern provinces of the North African nation, where agriculture relies heavily on rainfall due to its underdeveloped infrastructure, the farmers' union chief Mohamed Alioui told Reuters. "This was the worst drought in about 50 years," he said. Output in the central areas was weak but better in the east, he added. "Overall production has fallen by around 40 percent. Imports are likely to increase next year by the same level to offset the domestic output drop," Alioui said. The harvest campaign is over and final figures on production will be available within days, he said. Algeria's cereal imports reached 9.25 million tonnes in 2015 after weak domestic output of 3.77 million tonnes in the previous year. It imports mainly soft wheat, with France the top supplier. The cereal harvest rose 14.3 percent to 4 million tonnes in 2015. The agriculture ministry is hoping to increase wheat and barley output to 6.7 million tonnes by 2019, as part of a plan to cut food imports. To reach that goal, the government has been providing financial incentives to farmers, including interest-free loans. The government plans to raise total the irrigated area to 2 million hectares from 900,000 hectares now. The share of irrigation for cereals is expected to reach 600,000 hectares in 2019, up from 60,000 hectares currently. "Cereal production was excellent in irrigated areas," Alioui said. Government measures to boost crops coincided with a fall in energy earnings, which account for 60 percent of the state budget and 95 percent of total exports. With the oil price starting to fall in mid-2014, Algeria took its first steps to reform the farming sector by opening it up to foreign firms willing to invest in grain, vegetables and fruit farms. (Writing by Patrick Markey, editing by Jason Neely and David Evans)
This week, one of Africas wealthiest countries goes to the polls  and may well set itself up for another dictatorship. The outcome will depend, in part, on a surprisingly intimate question: Can President Ali Bongo Ondimba buck his fathers power-hungry ways?

Well-fed, well-padded and wealthy, Gabons president is in many ways a man defined by generation gaps. The 57-year-old, who has been at the helm of his 1.6-million-strong nation since 2009, is the son of longtime leader Omar Bongo Ondimba. While relying on his dads network of patronage politics  Bongo the Elder held office from 1967 to his death in 2009  le fils is trying to set a new beat for a country reeling from Omars lucrative, corruption-plagued and oil-fueled tenure.

Bongo the Younger loves music and is reputedly a good drummer and piano player. Hes been known to rap on stage, charm Western leaders and, most recently, pose for selfies with Gabons jeunesse, tweeting messages like We are together! and #ChangeonsEnsemble in a bid to drum up support. But many in this central West African nation  slightly smaller than Colorado are fed up with Bongos now-familiar tune. While Gabons GDP grew 1.6 percent last year, ringing up to $8,311.48 per capita, according to the World Bank  the fourth highest rate in Africa  unemployment remains at a whopping 20 percent. This means there are a lot of have-nots, especially among the younger generation, who say Bongo has done too little too slowly  and that he may stick around too long, like dear old pop. Leur probleme? Ali will likely be reelected this week to a second seven-year term.

Soft-spoken but stout, Bongo  who couldnt be reached for comment  is the product of a luxurious international lifestyle that saw him shipped off to France at a young age to attend private school just outside Paris. He later graduated from the Sorbonne with a Ph.D. in law. Ali and his wife, the svelte, fashionable Parisian Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, have four children and are known for spending a great deal of time with their jet-setting friends far from Gabon. Their private life is more in England than it is in France, says Antoine Glaser, former managing editor of Africa Intelligence.

All it would take is the police or army losing control and firing into a crowd to spark a movement of violence like weve seen elsewhere in the region.

At age 14, Bongo converted to Islam alongside his father. Yet while Ali is often painted with the same brush as Omar, he is really the contrary of his father, Glaser says, noting that Ali pushed against Omars politics and fought his fathers allies: He was never at all in the heart of the power. Touting reforms and free-market ideals, Bongo denies hes a lifer like dad. To prove it, he has pushed back legally against those who label him dictator and even promised to leave his fathers inheritance to Gabonese youth (secession proceedings over Omars estate remain tied up in international courts). Since his controversial 2009 election  opponents alleged Bongo was born in Nigeria and thus ineligible to run; others have suggested the election was rigged; hes publicly denied both  Bongo has managed to foster greater economic freedom and bring significant infrastructural spending to Gabon.

Gettyimages 522594430

If Bongo wins it will extend his familys rule over the country to more than 50 years.

Source Michael Nagle/Getty

But while veering away from his fathers political ways, hes still known as Bongo fils, the son, says Kevin Amirehsani, senior analyst with Global Risk Insights. Yet Alis not cut from exactly the same cloth, says Glaser. While Omar met weakness with cash and political positions, quieting critics with bribes and elevated standing, Ali is a man of security who prefers to use a stick, not his fathers carrots. Civil society opponents have even landed in jail as a result.

A fractured opposition fielding 14 presidential candidates surprisingly coalesced in recent days, with the main coalition parties now backing former foreign minister Jean Ping. But many still expect Bongo to win on August 27, netting a second seven-year term in a country with no term limits, thanks to his control over state resources and the media, as well as his development track record, Amirehsani says. Glaser, who wouldnt put it past Bongo to pull strings for a win if need be, says Pings new support, which saw two of the countrys three biggest opposition figures  Guy Nzouba-Ndama and Casimir Oye-Mba  rally behind Ping, could spell trouble for the president. Dr. J. Peter Pham, director of the Atlantic Councils Africa Center, disagrees. [Bongo] will be reelected, he says, noting the presidents accomplishments, the risible nature of the opposition and the Gabonese first-past-the-post system, in which the winner only needs to come in first in the pack.

Bongos weakest link? Disillusioned youths. Many millennials are fed up with disparity. Gabon has one of the highest GDPs on the continent, but thats not spreading downward, Amirehsani says. Neither he nor Glaser believes Gabon will descend into massive unrest like Congo-Brazzaville, where Denis Sassou Nguessos extension of his 32-year rule has resulted in mass protests and deaths. But Glaser does see things moving in that direction for Gabon eventually. While Bongo, who was minister of defense for 10 years, may be known as a man of security, he cant really control everything, Glaser says. All it would take is the police or army losing control and firing into a crowd to spark a movement of violence like weve seen elsewhere in the region, he explains. Pham is also concerned. While hes certain Bongo will win, hes less sure of how the opposition will respond to losing. Gabon is a small country, and it doesnt take that many people to cause problems, he warns.

Despite Bongos expected win, Amirehsani doesnt believe Bongo will hold the reins indefinitely. Glaser says the length of Bongos tenure will likely depend upon how long oil coffers remain fluid and on the ferocity of Gabonese youth. Many western leaders are happy for Bongo to stay, because they want regional stability, Amirehsani explains. Bongo can be relied upon to uphold oil and development aid contracts; hes proven useful in negotiations with other African leaders, not to mention a crucial UN Security Council vote in which Gabon supported intervention in Libya to remove Muammar Gaddafi.

The message to Gabonese youths? If they want to make revolution, theyll have to wait, says Glaser, adding that its just a matter of time.

Related Articles
Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP) - Fernando Alonso has heaped praise on his McLaren Honda team, which is introducing upgraded engines at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, and described them as the best team of his career.

Two-time world champion Alonso and his team-mate Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, are both struggling to make any impression in this year's title race but the Spaniard insists there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

"We are in the right direction -- the team is strong, the technical people we have. We are united. There is a good balance in the team, in the staff and in the design group," he said ahead of Formula One's return after a break during the European summer.

"For me, it's probably the best team I've been with in my career.

"We are not competitive now because we have had a lot of problems to solve from last year. We weren't ready to compete at this level and we had to make sure the reliability was in place, the power, drive-ability and aerodynamics.

"Everything had to change a lot and we had to find a direction. In terms of the team, the structure and the organisation, this is the best group that I've been working with."

Both Alonso and Button will run with upgraded power units this weekend, with Honda having given their approval for the use of new parts - and the spending of seven of the team's remaining 11 development tokens for this year.

The team will introduce tweaks to the combustion chamber, turbo and compressor and both drivers will have use of all the new components at a Spa circuit where engine power is a key factor.

The power unit changes for this weekend mean that Alonso has now taken his fifth and final permissible set of components for all six parts of his power unit.

Meanwhile, Alonso added that he believes the regulations overhaul for 2017 may give McLaren a chance to take a big step forward.

"If we stayed with the same regulations as this year, probably not, because even if we had the same power as Mercedes, Mercedes is clearly ahead of everyone in terms of aerodynamics and everything," he said.

Story continues

"But the change opens up a hope for all of us, not just McLaren."

He said this season is best regarded as a transitional one, with 2017 "the priority".

"We are concentrated on being world champions, which requires a big improvement for next year. A lot of effort is being made this year for next year's car."

The identity of his team-mate for 2017 remains unconfirmed and, ahead of the Belgian race, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said the decision will be made without allowing any emotions to interfere.

It boils down to a choice between Button and rising Belgian star Stoffel Vandoorne.

"We need to be rational about what we want to achieve at McLaren this year, next year and in the following years," he said.
Hillary Clinton will deliver a major speech on Thursday highlighting Donald Trump's ties to the "alt-right," a political movement embraced by white nationalists, neo-Nazis and anti-Semites.



Previewing her speech on CNN Wednesday night, Clinton said of Trump, "He is taking a hate movement mainstream. He's bringing it to our communities and our country."



So what is the alt-right movement anyway? Here are five things you should know.



1. The Washington Post defines the alt-right as "a largely online movement of right-wing ideologies that presents itself as an alternative to mainstream conservatives."

Richard Spencer, founder of the website Alternative Right, told the Post, "Alt-right was a reaction against the mainstream conservative moment or 'conservatism.' "







The movement, according to the Post, supports "racialism, isolationism, the 'manosphere' and the birther movement"  a long-debunked idea Trump notably embraced in 2011 that claims President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. It opposes "political correctness, feminism, multiculturalism, the mainstream media and immigration."





Hillary Clinton on Donald Trump: 'We Were Not Friends'





2. The movement's followers include white supremacists, white nationalists and anti-Semites.

Yahoo News said the alt-right is rooted in the white nationalist movement of the 1980s and 1990s and that "it postulates that the culture of white America is under attack, and sees itself as its defender."



According to the Post, notable figures associated with the movement's ideologies include far-right French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage  who spoke at Trump's rally Wednesday night in Jackson, Mississippi  and former Breitbart executive Stephen Bannon, who was recently named Trump's new campaign CEO. Another is former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke, whose endorsement Trump infamously did not immediately disavow when he was asked about it in February.



3. Some have denounced the alt-right movement as nothing more than a rebranding of neo-Nazi racism.

Wrote RedState's Leon H. Wolf, "I am not much for the term 'Alt-Right' because it implies that neo-Nazis somehow become new, different, interesting and edgy when they get a Twitter account and express their support for Donald Trump. In reality, it's the same tired old neo-Nazi crap, complete with the cowardly, anonymous intimidation that White Supremacists have been practicing for decades."



And The Guardian's Giles Fraser described the alt-right as "old racism for the tech-savvy generation," noting that "with Donald Trump they have found a champion who understands their anger. And they have become his digital vanguard."



4. The alt-right is known for its use of memes  some of which Trump has employed in his campaign  and social media to spread its ideas.

Alt-right followers are increasingly active on sites like 4chan, Reddit and Twitter, NBC News reported.





Story continues

What Is the Alt-Right Anyway? A User's Guide| 2016 Presidential Elections, politics, Donald Trump, Hillary Rodham Clinton



Trump has been criticized throughout his campaign for retweeting alt-right accounts and memes, including one about Clinton  taken from a neo-Nazi message board  that featured the Star of David.





Why do so many Ku Klux Klan members support Trump?



"A lot of what he believes, we believe in." https://t.co/AqB3DLKL9f a Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 25, 2016





5. A new Clinton ad links Trump to white supremacists and members of the alt-right movement.

The video shows KKK members, white nationalists and white supremacists explaining their support for Trump and concludes, "If Trump wins, they could be running the country."



The GOP nominee's campaign released a statement from Pastor Mark Burns, a prominent Trump supporter, denouncing the video as "a disgusting new low."



"Hillary Clinton and her campaign went to a disgusting new low today as they released a video tying the Trump Campaign with horrific racial images," the pastor said. "This type of rhetoric and repulsive advertising is revolting and completely beyond the pale. I call on Hillary Clinton to disavow this video and her campaign for this sickening act that has no place in our world."





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





And Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said Thursday of Clinton's upcoming speech on the GOP nominee's connection to the alt-right: "I just am confounded by the strategy."



"I'm just confounded that this is what Secretary Clinton is actually going to tell the American people after she's so scarce," Conway told CBS. "No press conference in 263 days, very few interviews, one last night on a different network that didn't really go very well. Why isn't she out there saying, 'Here's how I'm going to rebuild the American economy. Here's my position on energy independence'?"



Conway also said she isn't "that familiar" with the alt-right and that Trump's campaign has never discussed the movement internally. Asked whether Trump's campaign was a platform for the alt-right, she replied, "No, not at all."



"It certainly isn't part of our strategy meetings. It's nothing that Mr. Trump says out on the stump," Conway said.
By PTI: Srinagar, Aug 24 (PTI) 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.

advertisement

Officials said 18 security personnel including Commanding Officer of CRPFs 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. PTI MIJ NES AKK

--- ENDS ---
A political movement most Americans have never heard of is suddenly in the spotlight, thanks to Donald Trump  who has hired one of its leading spokesmen to run his campaign  and Hillary Clinton, whose speech planned for Thursday afternoon is expected to denounce it.

Its the alt-right, a loose aggregation of bloggers, radio hosts, think tanks and activists that emerged from the white nationalist movement of the 1980s and 1990s. It occupies positions on the far right of American politics, but it is not primarily about the issues that motivate mainstream conservatives, such as taxes or government spending. Instead, it postulates that the culture of white America is under attack, and sees itself as its defender.

Trump has for much of his campaign flirted with alt-right themes, mostly through retweets, some of which he later disavowed. When former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke  a major figure in the alt-right world  urged his supporters to back Trump, the candidate maintained, implausibly, he didnt know anything about Duke before grudgingly disavowing the support.

But with the hiring of Breitbart Media chairman Steve Bannon as CEO of his campaign, Trump has embraced someone at the heart of the movement, who boasted of turning Breitbart.com into the platform of the alt-right. Duke himself celebrated the hiring with the boast: Weve taken over the Republican Party, although presumably the partys mainstream leadership would disagree.

There are, of course, many strains of thinking under the alt-right umbrella. Some factions are preoccupied with a return to traditional values, while others espouse a philosophy called Human Biodiversity: the belief that there are significant biological differences between people of different races, which justifies treating them differently. (The other name for this is scientific racism.) Anti-Semitism is common, in various forms, ranging from Holocaust denial to full-bore denunciations of Jews as agents of the collapse of white Christian society. Bannon, personally, has not been accused of anti-Semitism, however.

Story continues

The common thread, however, that connects members of these different factions is a shared desire to protect Western civilization from what many refer to as white genocide. This manifests in opposition to things like immigration and multiculturalism, as well as a steadfast aversion to political correctness and to establishment politics of all kinds, including Republican.

From left, Andrew Anglin, The Daily Stormer; Richard Spencer, The Alternative Right; Jared Taylor, American Renaissance; Matthew Heimbach; David Duke; Milo Yiannopoulos and Steve Bannon. (Yahoo News photo illustration; photos: AP, Facebook, Getty Images, Reuters)

The term alt-right was coined in 2008 by Richard Spencer, who runs the National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think tank. Spencer founded the influential Alternative Right blog in 2010 to define the movements core principles.

The term represented a shallow rebranding of white nationalism, according to Heidi Beirich, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist groups. They dont want to be identified as white nationalists anymore, she said. People associate that with white supremacy, which is what it is, so instead they changed it to alt-right.

And with that, Beirich said, the movement quickly made its way from the fringe into right-wing politics.

Theyre self-mainstreaming, she said. But it should be called out for what it is, which is just pure racism.

Spencers own reasons for supporting Trump seem to directly reflect the alt-rights central white genocide fears.

Asked by a reporter at the Republican National Convention about the possibility that some of Trumps policy proposals, such as banning Muslims from entering the country or abolishing birthright citizenship, might be unconstitutional, Spencer replied, Who cares? The whole point is that weve got to survive.

Whether something is constitutionally legal I could give a s*** to be honest. Survival is more important than law, he continued, adding, power is what matters.

Other key alt-right figures include Andrew Anglin, who endorsed Trump for president on his neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer almost immediately after Trump announced his candidacy last June, and Jared Taylor, a prominent white nationalist leader who has long promoted eugenics and racial segregation through his American Renaissance magazine and now Amren.com.

Back in January, Taylor lent his voice to thousands of pro-Trump robocalls in Iowa sponsored by the white nationalist American Freedom Party in which he told voters, We dont need Muslims. We need smart, well-educated white people who will assimilate to our culture.

Yet, ahead of Clintons speech on Thursday, Taylor dismissed the attempt to link Donald Trump to the alt-right [as] a standard lefty campaign technique.

Find someone with certain views who supports your opponent and then suggest your opponent shares those views, Taylor told Yahoo News. It is illogical and unfair to act as if Mr. Trump is responsible for the opinions of all of his supporters.

Theres also Matthew Heimbach, whos been widely regarded as the future of white nationalism since his senior year at Towson University in 2013, when he gained national attention (including from this reporter) for establishing the schools first white student union. This April, the 25-year-old was caught on video shoving and shouting racial epithets at an African-American protester during a Trump rally in Louisville, Ky.

And James Edwards, host of The Political Cesspool radio program, which, according to the statement of principles on the shows website, stands for the Dispossessed Majority and promotes a philosophy that is pro-White.

Edwards caused a firestorm for the Trump campaign back in March when he promoted a 20-minute interview with Donald Trump Jr., which the candidates son insisted he would never have done had he been aware of Edwards white nationalist views.

Yet by July, Edwards had managed to get an all-access media credential for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, where he interviewed several GOP members of Congress and a Trump campaign official. According to the progressive, nonprofit media watchdog Media Matters for America, Edwards pointed to his attendance at the convention as evidence that he and his radio program are going mainstream.

For almost a year, alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos has been at the helm of Breitbart News tech section. An outspoken adversary of all things politically correct, Yiannopoulos has used the Internet as a platform to take on everything from feminism to gay rights  despite being a homosexual himself. In January, he created the Yiannopoulos Privilege Grant, a scholarship fund exclusively available to white men who wish to pursue their post-secondary education on equal footing with their female, queer and ethnic minority classmates. And last month, he was permanently banned from Twitter after he launched a racist harassment campaign against African-American actress Leslie Jones.

Apart from Bannon, none of these figures has any role in the Trump campaign, which has harnessed some of their energy and themes without specifically embracing them. And they do the same.

They dont necessarily think Trump is one of them, but he creates a space for them, said Pete Montgomery, a senior fellow at People for the American Way and author of the blog Right Wing Watch. He notes that Duke, Spencer, Anglin and others who have endorsed Trump have qualified their support by saying they dont agree with everything he says.

I do not believe he would solve all or even most of the problems we are facing, but he is absolutely the only candidate who is even talking about anything at all that matters, wrote Anglin shortly after Trump launched his campaign. Trump is willing to say what most Americans think: its time to deport these people. He is also willing to call them out as criminal rapists, murderers and drug dealers.




Hong Kong (AFP) - Russian aluminium giant Rusal said on Thursday net profit fell 70 percent in the first half of 2016, as weaknesses in global commodities markets keeps prices depressed.

The cost of aluminium sank to six-year lows below $1,500 a ton in 2015 as a growth slowdown and overcapacity in key market China hammered demand. Prices have only recovered marginally, sitting just below $1,700 now and well off a peak above $2,300 seen in 2012.

The European Union Chamber of Commerce warned in February that the effect of China's huge stockpiles was wreaking "far reaching" damage on the global economy.

With this backdrop, Rusal posted a net profit of $261 million for the first six months of this year, compared with $879 million in the same period in 2015, it said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange Thursday.

Revenue fell 17.9 percent to $3.89 billion.

"Throughout the first half of the year, the aluminium industry remained under strong pressure as the weak commodity environment continued," chief executive officer Vladislav Soloviev said in the statement.

Soloviev described a slight recovery in the price of the metal in the second quarter of the year, helped by strong demand and tightening of China's supply, had contributed to improved numbers in the period.

Profit for the second quarter rose 7.1 percent from the previous three months to $135 million. However, that is still down 56 percent year on year.

Shares in the Russian firm ended the morning 2.01 percent lower at HK$2.92 in Hong Kong Thursday.

China Hongqiao Group surpassed Rusal as the world's biggest producer of aluminium in the first half of last year.
Amanda Bynes is feeling happy and healthy. (Photo: Splash News and Pictures)

It has been six months since we last heard from Amanda Bynes on Twitter. And guess what. Shes back. And shes speaking our language.

Bynes made a long-awaited return to the social media platform last night to explain to fans why she hasnt been present.

Hi everybody! I havent tweeted in a long time and I want to say hi! Ive been really busy at FIDM, and I just finished my midterms.  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

Turns out she hasnt been held captive by her parents or fallen in with the wrong crowd (again); she has simply been busy at fashion school.

In the following tweets, she gushes about how much the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising has done for her.

I am really loving school and I feel that I am learning a lot. I enjoy all of my classes and my teachers are excellent.  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

Im really appreciative of all that FIDM is giving me. Ive been in school learning about the fashion business so I dont have time to tweet  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

The actress enrolled at the FIDM campus near Orange County, Calif., in spring 2014 but then transferred to the Los Angeles campus, where even more courses are offered.

Back in 2014, E! reported that Bynes was originally going to be a fashion design major at FIDM but then decided to pursue merchandise product development.

Of course, in true Bynes fashion, she followed up her FIDM-loving tweets with a rant about copycat Twitter accounts.

I dont know why some people use my photos or try to pose as me, but they do.  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

I really wish Twitter would take the account in question down, Im not sure why they are refusing to do so.  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

Seems reasonable. Other than that, most of her Twitter time in the past year has been devoted to fashion  shes a style queen after our own hearts.

Story continues

Hi everyone! I got a haircut! What do you think? pic.twitter.com/037letcutR  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) February 24, 2016

Me and the fabulous Michael Costello (Im wearing one of his beautiful gowns) at the SOAR Los Angeles Gala! pic.twitter.com/5gLWEKhVJ9  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 19, 2015

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Amanda Bynes returns to Twitter and seems really happy and healthy!

Amanda Bynes returns to Twitter and seems really happy and healthy!

Everyones favorite child star, Amanda Bynes, has had a pretty rocky time when it comes to social media in the last few years. While we of course dont know whats truly going on with Bynes (which is totally okay  after all, its none of our business), we all remember when she had a few very public breakdowns on social media. Luckily, it appears that Bynes is doing significantly better now. According to her recent Twitter post, not only is she back in school, but shes back in school and loving it.

Hi everybody! I haven't tweeted in a long time and I want to say hi! I've been really busy at FIDM, and I just finished my midterms.  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

I am really loving school and I feel that I am learning a lot. I enjoy all of my classes and my teachers are excellent.  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

I'm really appreciative of all that FIDM is giving me. I've been in school learning about the fashion business so I don't have time to tweet  amanda bynes (@amandabynes) August 24, 2016

As far as we know, Bynes attends the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California.

Everyone goes through challenges and rough patches, and celebrities are no exception to this rule. In fact, what could be more stressful than not only going through personal issues, but having them plastered all over the media for other people to talk about? While we dont know the details of Bynes personal life, we are happy to see that she appears to be happier and healthier now than she has been in a long time.

Story continues

giphy (43)

Were rooting for you, Amanda!

The post Amanda Bynes returns to Twitter and seems really happy and healthy! appeared first on HelloGiggles.
The drama between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp isnt over yet.

After Heard was awarded $7 million in the divorce settlement with Depp and pledged to donate the full amount to charity, the 53-year-old actor sent a portion of the financial donations directly to two charities chosen by Heard. However, Heard is now insisting that Depp double the amount to account for his tax deduction, and to pay the full amount immediately rather than in installments.

Amber Heard appreciates Johnny Depps novel interest in supporting two of her favorite charities, the ACLU for domestic violence and the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. This is great and unexpected news, a member of Heards team said in a statement on Thursday. However, if Johnny wishes to change the settlement agreement, we must insist that he honor the full amount by donating $14M to charity, which, after accounting for his tax deduction, is equal to his $7M payment obligation to Amber. We would also insist that the full amount be paid immediately and not drawn out over many years.

WATCH: What Led Johnny Depp and Amber Heard to Settle Their Divorce Case

Anything less would be a transparent attempt by Johnnys counsel, Laura Wasser and Patti Glaser, to reduce their clients true payment by half under the guise of newfound concern for charities that he has never previously supported, the statement continues.

Prior to the exes latest disagreement, Depps rep praised Heard in an announcement that the actor had sent the first of multiple installments to Heards chosen charities.

Following Amber Heards announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heards pledge, his rep said in a statement. Ms. Heards generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected.

Story continues

Last week, Heard and Depp settled their divorce case, and the 30-year-old actress withdrew her restraining order against him.

WATCH: Johnny Depp & Amber Heard  A Timeline of Their Relationship, Divorce and Domestic Abuse Allegations

As described in the restraining order and divorce settlement, money played no role for me personally and never has, Heard later said in a statement revealing her plans to donate the entire $7 million she was awarded. Except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully help those less able to defend themselves.

Hopefully, this experience results in a positive change in the lives of people who need it the most, she added.

Watch below:

For more Entertainment Tonight videos visit Yahoo View.

Related Articles
Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends?

Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. AEO.

American Eagle Outfitters in Focus

AEO may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 14.16, its P/S ratio of 0.93, and its decent dividend yield of 2.69%. These factors suggest that American Eagle Outfitters is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that AEO has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings.

AMER EAGLE OUTF PE Ratio (TTM)

AMER EAGLE OUTF PE Ratio (TTM) | AMER EAGLE OUTF Quote

But before you think that American Eagle Outfitters is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 3.1% in the past 30 days, thanks to 11 upward revisions in the past one month compared to none lower.

This estimate strength is actually enough to push AEO to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. So really, American Eagle Outfitters is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time.

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 EAGLE OUTF (AEO): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
large house mcmansion salinas california

In the late 1990s to mid-2000s, there was perhaps no better indicator of affluence than the McMansion, a cookie-cutter suburban home that typically measures between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet.

In this era of speculative homebuilding before the 2008 financial crisis, bigger was considered better, and buyers sought homes with the same general list of features: five or more bedrooms, a three-car garage, and cathedral ceilings in the master bedroom or living room, for example.

It used to be the case that although McMansions would cost more to construct, they would also sell for more than a typical starter home.

But according to a new report from Bloomberg, that just isn't the case anymore. Bloomberg cites data from Trulia that shows that the premiums paid for McMansions have declined significantly in 85 of the country's 100 biggest cities.

To cite one example, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the extra money that buyers were expected to be willing to pay to own a McMansion fell by 84% from 2012 to 2016.

In that same city in 2012, a typical McMansion would be valued at $477,000, about 274% more than the area's other homes. Today, a McMansion would be valued at $611,000, or 190% above the rest of the market.

McMansions are often despised for their mishmash of architectural styles and general ostentatiousness.

"People used to buy a home under the assumption that they would be living there until the end of a long, nebulous concept of time. A house was for life, a marriage of sorts," the anonymous writer of McMansionHell, a tongue-in-cheek blog that criticizes the design flaws inherent in the American McMansion, told Business Insider.

"The McMansion was never designed to last forever ... [it] was built cheaply in order to get maximum items checked off the check-off list for the lowest cost. The designing of houses from the inside out caused the rooflines to be massive and complex."

mcmansion missouri

Story continues

The author of McMansionHell  whose ire for the home style began when they saw their rural North Carolina neighborhood be transformed into what they called "Anywhere USA"  said that they hope their criticisms of the McMansion will help bring an end to this architectural era.

"Among the general population, a positive trend is emerging: People are starting to see that bigger isn't always better  this is evidenced by the tiny-house phenomenon that's been sweeping the nation the last couple of years," they said, adding that McMansions could be declining in value in part because millennials are waiting longer to buy homes.

"However, I started McMansionHell with the goal of educating people about architecture and making them aware of the flaws of these houses (both architectural and sociological) through a combination of humor and easily digestible information in a way people who wouldn't otherwise care about architecture can get engaged with. If my work can stop just one person from bulldozing a forest to build an oversized house that's a blight on the environment, then I would call McMansionHell a very successful project."

NOW WATCH: The secret to selling your house for more money





More From Business Insider


Photo: Getty Images

What do Amy Schumer, Michael Phelps and Kim Kardashian have in common? Almost nothing. Except for that fact that theyve all jumped on the cupping bandwagon.

Yep. Schumer is the latest celeb to try the healing trend, following in the footsteps of reality stars and athletes.

While theres no actual confirmation that she tried cupping, the comedian posted a photo on Instagram of circular bruises on her ribs that look identical to Phelps.



#wcw my rib A photo posted by @amyschumer on Aug 24, 2016 at 7:48am PDT

#wcw my rib, she wrote.

Were not sure why she tried cupping, but considering she called out her rib specifically, she may have attempted the healing method after being hospitalized for bronchitis while shooting an upcoming movie with Goldie Hawn in Hawaii. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show Tuesday, Schumer explained that her cough was so violent, she actually fractured some of her ribs.

I would have still gone to work, but the doctor, insurance wouldnt clear me. I was really sick, Schumer told Stern. Im making Goldie sit around. Goldies busy! It was one of the worst times of my life.

Considering she missed dates shooting a movie and is still in pain, were not surprised shes giving cupping a go.
The death toll mounted to 69 after a young boy was killed in clashes with the security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama district on Wednesday.

During stone pelting near Degree College Pulwama, militants hiding in the mob fired and hurled two grenades on the deployment resulting in injuries to 17 police and CRPF personnel and some civilians.

By Shuja-ul-Haq : Tension continued to prevail in the Valley for 48th day. The government decided to continued curfew and restrictions as the separatists extended the protest shutdown till September 1.

The death toll mounted to 69 after a young boy was killed in clashes with the security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama district on Wednesday.

Close to 20 people including three senior police officers were injured when suspected militants hurled grenades at them in Pulwama town yesterday.

advertisement

STONE PELTERS AND SECURITY FORCES CLASH

According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters, Kashmir, eight incidents of stone pelting were reported from Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.

The statement said, during stone pelting near Degree College Pulwama, militants hiding in the mob fired and hurled two grenades on the deployment resulting in injuries to 17 police and CRPF personnel and some civilians. "The injured include CO 183 Bn CRPF, ASP Pulwama, DySP Pulwama and SHO Pulwama," the statement added.

It further reads that at Pinglina, Pulwama miscreants assembled on road and started heavy stone pelting on the police and security force deployment. In order to clear the road and chase the miscreants, Police/Security forces were compelled to use some force, which caused injuries to few miscreants. "One of them identified as Amir Gul Mir son of Ghulam Mohammad Mir resident of Ratnipora succumbed to his injuries, the statement said. In this incident a number of police and security forces personnel were also injured," the statement added.

Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh arrived in Kashmir on Wednesday on a two-day visit where he held a security review meeting with top civil, police, paramilitary, intelligence and army officials.

ALSO READ:

Kashmir talks: Rajnath Singh welcomes all, Hurriyat says no, calls it a farce







--- ENDS ---
TOKYO/LONDON (Reuters) - Japanese carrier ANA Holdings <9202.T> needs to replace damaged compressor blades in the Rolls-Royce <RR.L> engines powering its Boeing <BA.N> 787s, it said on Thursday, forcing it to cancel some Dreamliner flights over the coming weeks.

The carrier said that under certain flying conditions the compressor blades in the engine's interior showed corrosion. It said it will cancel nine domestic 787 flights on Friday, with other cancellations likely in the coming weeks.

ANA's Dreamliners are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The Japanese airline is the biggest operator of the Boeing model with some 49 aircraft, or around a tenth of the global fleet. Of the 445 Dreamliners in operation worldwide, 168 use the Rolls-Royce engines, according to Boeing's website.

"We are aware of the situation and are working with Rolls-Royce and ANA to resolve any issues impacting the airplanes in service," a spokesman for Boeing in Tokyo said.

Rolls-Royce Holdings said in an e-mailed statement it was "working closely with ANA to minimize the effect on aircraft service disruption".

It did not say whether the problem had been found in 787 engines on aircraft operated by other airlines, but when asked about any requirement to take additional action a spokesman said the issue was limited to a small proportion of the ANA fleet.

Shares in Rolls-Royce traded down 2.2 percent at 771 pence at 1505 GMT, making the company one of the biggest losers on Britain's bluechip index.

Airlines that order the Dreamliner can choose either the Rolls-Royce engines or General Electric Co's <GE.N> GEnx engines for their aircraft.

ANA said vibrations resulting from the problem with the compressor blades had occurred on a flight from Japan to Malaysia in February and on one to Vietnam in March. A 787 traveling on a domestic route on Aug. 20 had also experienced trouble, it said.

Story continues

Rolls-Royce is in turnaround mode after a tough 18 months after being hit by a low oil price and lower demand for servicing of some of its older engines. It has a plan to cut costs by 150 million to 200 million pounds by the end of 2017.

In a note, Morgan Stanley analysts pointed out that a previous corrosion issue on the Trent 1000 gearbox in 2012 was quickly resolved and the then chief executive said the financial consequences were not material.

(Reporting by Maki Shiraki and Tim Kelly in TOKYO and Sarah Young in LONDON; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Susan Thomas)
By Karolina Tagaris and Phoebe Fronista ATHENS (Reuters) - It is said to be the world's first weather station, to date back more than 2,000 years, and to have been used by merchants to tell the time - even in darkness. The Tower of the Winds, still standing on a slope on Athens's ancient Acropolis hill despite attempts by Lord Elgin to move it to Britain, has been restored and re-opened to the public for the first time in nearly 200 years. No one knows who funded its lavish construction - the octagonal monument is made almost entirely of Pentelic marble, the same used for the Parthenon and rarely found in buildings other than temples. At nearly 14 meters (46 ft) tall, it is credited to the architect and astronomer Andronikos of Cyrrhus, but all these years later no one knows exactly how it worked. "It is, we believe, the world's first weather station," Stelios Daskalakis, head of conservation, told Reuters. "It's located in the Roman Agora (market place) as it was of great value for the merchants to read the weather and also tell the time their goods would arrive," he said. Atop its fully-preserved roof, made of 24 marble slabs, rests a Corinthian capital which possibly served as the base of a bronze wind vane in the form of sea god Triton, Daskalakis said. Beneath it is a frieze of eight Anemoi - wind gods of Greek mythology - each facing a different direction. And beneath that, lines of a sundial. The greatest mystery remains how the clock worked at night. Based on the most prominent theory, a hydraulic mechanism powered a water clock device with water flowing from a stream on the Acropolis hill. "It's unique in that such an important work was not a temple but had a utilitarian use, Daskalakis said. "We don't know who funded it, whether it was private or a high-ranking official. The only thing justifying such a high cost is Athens wanting to upgrade the Roman Agora." LORD ELGIN AND THE DERVISHES Its use a clocktower and weather station was short-lived. Its mechanism is believed to have been looted during the Roman period and has never been found, Daskalakis said. But over the years, the Aerides, as the monument is also known, also served as a church and restorers have discovered fragments of frescoes with Christian subject matter, including an angel and a saint on horseback. Using a multispectral camera, they also uncovered its fanciful interior and exterior decoration rich in color, such as deep Egyptian Blue for the ceiling and a red and blue meander, or decorative border. Late in the city's period under Ottoman rule, the monument was also used as a place of worship by Sufi Muslim Whirling Dervishes. A mihrab niche was carved in the direction of Mecca and Ottoman inscriptions decorate its walls. Its use as a Muslim place of worship saved it from the hands of British diplomat Lord Elgin, who took prized Parthenon marbles from the Acropolis some 200 years ago, Daskalakis said. "In 1799 he began planning the transfer of the entire monument to Britain. But it was considered a sacred place and they did not allow the monument to be uprooted," he said. The monument has been largely shut to the public since the Dervishes left in 1828, barring brief use to store antiquities in 1843. The years took their toll, as did natural disasters, and pollution, prompting a full restoration which began in 2014. While the mysteries surrounding the mechanism have yet to be resolved, its value remains undisputed. "It certainly was a very important building for the era," Daskalakis said. (Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
25 Aug - While ex-boyfriend Luis Manzano is busy with his new girlfriend, Jessy Mendiola, actress Angel Locsin revealed recently that she hasn't been in any relationship since their breakup.



According to ABS-CBN News, the actress, who spoke to the media recently, also stressed that alone doesn't mean lonely, and that she is not planning to be in another romance anytime soon.



"Maybe not now. If it's time, then I'll [start dating again]. Today I just enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, and also work," said Locsin.



She also seemed to throw a little bit of shade Manzano's way, by adding, "It's too early anyway."



The sultry star also revealed that she is doing fine after undergoing medical procedure in Singapore for her spine issue. However, Locsin added that she will be travelling to the country again next month for another assessment to determine if she can finally do much more intense activities.



When asked if it means she can finally reprise her role as female superhero "Darna" again, Locsin stated that she will be more than willing to do the previously postponed movie if everything turns out okay.



(Photo source: facebook.com/TheRealDarnaAngelLocsin)
By Maximiliano Rizzi

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Argentine soy farmers fear they will get shortchanged under a proposal they say would favor U.S. agricultural company Monsanto Co by forcing them to pay royalties on seeds grown on their own farms using the company's genetically modified technology.

Farmers in Argentina's Pampas grains belt say they should have to pay only once, or maybe twice, for seeds containing Monsanto's Intacta RR2 PRO technology.

Monsanto says to plant seeds grown with that technology without paying royalties - something that the current law allows - amounts to copyright infringement.

The government says it will introduce a bill to Congress next month requiring farmers to pay royalties for the first three seasons of planting beans grown from original GMO seeds.

"That's something we are not so willing to grant," said Dardo Chiesa, president of Argentine Rural Confederation (CRA), one of the country's main farmers associations.

Grains powerhouse Argentina is the world's No. 3 soybean exporter and top supplier of soymeal livestock feed.

Monsanto officials in Buenos Aires said they would have no comment on the bill until the measure is formally introduced.

"We are worried about it," said Jorge Solmi, head of the seed committee at the Agrarian Federation of Argentina (FAA), another major growers' organization.

President Mauricio Macri was elected last year on promises of rejuvenating Argentina's economy through a series of free-market reforms.

The farm sector has generally been supportive of Macri, but the conflict with Monsanto remains a sore spot.

The government said in June it would oversee the testing of soybean crops under a deal aimed at satisfying Monsanto's demands that its genetically altered technology be protected.

Monsanto wanted exporters to inspect shipments as they do in neighboring Brazil but Argentine farmers opposed that and asked for government control. Monsanto had threatened to stop selling new soybean technologies in Argentina over the dispute.

This year's soy harvesting has been completed in most parts of Argentina. The government expects the crop to amount to 58.8 million tonnes.

(Writing by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
A tornado was captured on video as it destroyed an Indiana Starbucks Wednesday.

Read: Oklahoma Man Films Tornado as it Rips Over His Head and Through His Yard

Brandon Mobley was eating inside a Chilis restaurant in Kokomo across the street when he shot the jaw-dropping video.

He told Inside Edition that he was standing behind the bar filming the tornado and was shocked to see the Starbucks just disappear.

He said: "I was filming the destruction and that is when I filmed the Starbucks and thought, 'oh my God.'"

There was utter destruction and it was a miracle no one lost their life.

Read: Why You Should Find a Ditch If You See A Tornado Coming

Manager Angel Ramos, who was inside the Starbucks at the time, said: "As soon as I saw the clouds turning, we got everyone inside to safety."

On Thursday, Donald Trumps running mate and Indiana Governor Mike Pence said it was a miracle no one was killed or badly hurt after the tornado ripped through the area at 165 miles per hour.

Watch: An Eyeful of the Storm: Brave Woman Poses in Front of Tornado in Shocking Images

Related Articles:
Despite the Supreme Court order, MNS workers put up a Dahi Handi at more than double the permissible height in Thane.

Dahi Handi celebration in Thane, where MNS workers violated SC order by stringing up the earthen pot over 40 feet above the ground.

By India Today Web Desk: Defying the Supreme Court's order, the MNS workers on Thursday morning strung up a Dahi Handi over 40 feet high from the ground. The Supreme Court on Wednesday had refused to increase the maximum permissible height of Dahi Handi above 20 feet, holding the Bombay High Court's decision in the matter.

But, the apex court order was not a detriment for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray. An MNS worker, identified as Avinash Jadhav organized a Dahi Handi competition at Thane and strung up the earthen pot at 49 feet, more than double the permissible height. Jadhav sported a T-shirt, that said, "Hoye me kayada modnaar (I will break the law)".

MNS worker, Avinash Jadhav sporting a T-shirt saying,

advertisement



RAJ THACKERAY GAVE THE CUE?

The Thane incident made it clear that the MNS workers didn't take the SC order seriously. For them, orders come only from their boss, Raj Thackeray.

Soon after the court order, Raj Thackeray had told his party workers that the Dahi Handi, celebrated on the occasion of Janmashtami, would be organised "the way it is meant to be". The party workers took the hint as a go ahead to violate the SC order.

Govindas forming human pyramid as part of Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane.

In its order, the SC also prohibited participation of children below 18 years of age. But, as the Govindas attempted to break the earthen pot by building human pyramids at various places, groups of minors were also seen among the competitors.

WHAT DID THE SC SAY?

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order restricting the height of Dahi Handi to 20 feet from the ground. "To increase the height is very scary. Are you getting an Olympic medal also for this? Then we will be happy," the apex court had observed.

The Bombay High Court order on April 11, 2014, had come in response to a PIL filed by social activist Swati S. Patil's Utkarsh Mahila Samajik Sanstha citing hundreds of injuries, some permanent, and deaths, of Govindas when the human pyramids came crashing down.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THANE?

After getting a kind of green signal from his party chief, Avinash Jadhav, one of the organizers of the competition, attempted to create a new world record for the highest Dahi Handi. He got it strung up at 49 feet to break the previous record of 43 feet by a Mumbai-based group, which found its entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Several other Dahi Handis were placed above 20 feet high, some going up to 35 feet above the ground.

Human pyramid in Thane.

PROTEST AGAINST COURT ORDER



Several organisations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai celebrated the Dahi Handi ritual on Janmashtami with protests, black bands and black flags. Politically-backed organisations of the estimated 1,500-plus groups, who conduct the event flouted the apex court order.

advertisement

While one Dadar organisation built a 'horizontal' pyramid on the ground and then broke the pot at a height of more than 30 feet, but the Govinda climbed a ladder to break it. The participants of some organisations sported black shorts and arm-bands to protest the apex court ruling and after breaking the Dahi Handi, the topmost Govinda waved a black flag.

POLICE PROMISE ACTION

Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Ashok Dudhe said that the police were photographing and videographing the celebrations across the city. "All those found flouting the Supreme Court norms shall be prosecuted depending on the kind of violations," Dudhe warned, though police have not directly intervened to stop the celebrations.

Police have sent notices to Dahi Handi organisers for violating the Supreme Court order. Thane Police sent the notice after watching the video footage of the event. Police notice referred to violation of maximum permissible height norm for Dahi Handi and participation of minors in attempt to break the earthen pot.



advertisement

THE RISK FACTOR

Activists have campaigned against the way Dahi Handi has been celebrated in various parts of Maharashtra. Many people including minors have got injured or even killed after falling off the human pyramid.

Last year itself, about 300 people were injured and one person was killed during the Dahi Handi celebrations in the state. This led to a PIL in the Bombay High Court, which put certain restrictions for celebrating Dahi Handi.



ALSO READ:

Raj Thackeray dares Mumbai Police over Dahi Handi celebrations

Mumbai Police to video record dahi handi violations but will not stop them



--- ENDS ---
Tesla Motors, Inc. TSLA was the biggest newsmaker in the auto sector yet again, after it launched batteries with higher capacity for its vehicles. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Corporation TM resumed production in Venezuela, while Harley-Davidson, Inc. HOG agreed to a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Further, General Motors Company GM announced the launch of a new midsize Chevrolet sedan in China and Lear Corporation LEA signed an investment agreement to build a premium leather processing plant in the nation.

Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories

1. Tesla has launched new versions of Model S and Model X with 100 kWh batteries. Prior to this, the largest battery it offered was 90 kWh. The Model S P100D can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds (when using the Ludicrous mode), which makes it the fastest car currently in production. It also has the longest range among all electric vehicles in production as of now. The Model X P100D with Ludicrous mode can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. The range of the SUV has also increased to 289 miles (read more: Tesla's New 100 kWh Battery Makes Model S Fastest Car).

2. Toyota has restarted production in Venezuela after a gap of six months. This South American nation has been troubled by low oil prices and currency controls, which have led to a dollar deficiency in the region. As a result, Toyota, along with many other automakers, has been facing headwinds in vehicle production in the country. Toyota has now started vehicle assembly in Venezuela for catering to local markets as well as for exports. It is currently assembling three models  Corolla, Hylux and Fortuner  at the Cumana plant (read more: Toyota Restarts Production in Venezuela, Plans to Export).

3. Harley-Davidson agreed to a $15 million settlement with the EPA, which had filed a complaint over the companys super tuners which bolstered power but released harmful emissions. According to the EPA, the company sold about 340,000 of the tuners, and more than 12,000 motorcycles of various models with the tuners pre-installed. Of the $15 million settlement, $12 million will be paid as civil penalty while the other $3 million will be spent on a project to mitigate air pollution by replacing conventional woodstoves with cleaner-burning models. Per the deal, the company will buy back all the devices and discontinue future sales of the product (read more: Harley-Davidson Agrees to $15 Million Settlement with EPA).

Story continues

4. General Motors announced that its Chevrolet brand will be introducing an all-new compact midsize family sedan in China. The sedan will be launched at the Chengdu Auto Show, to be held on Sep 2, under the Cavalier nameplate. The vehicle features a 1.5L DVVT inline four-cylinder engine and is expected to provide class-leading fuel efficiency of 5.4 liters/100 km (read more: General Motors' Chevrolet to Launch New Sedan in China).

5. Lear Corp has signed an investment agreement with the Administrative Commission of Yangzhou Economic & Technological Development Zone to build a premium leather processing plant in China. The plant will be established in Yangzhou and will have adjacent land reserved for future expansion. This is expected to help the companys sales and business in China to grow.

Performance

Auto sector companies had mixed fortunes on the stock market last week. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. HMC gained the most, while Harley-Davidson was the biggest loser among the stocks listed below.

Over the last six months, Harley-Davidson outperformed the others with a 23.2% gain. AutoZone lost the maximum value over the longer term.

Company Last 1-Week Period Last 6 Months GM -0.2% +7.7% F -0.7% -0.7% TSLA -0.3% +18.8% TM +1.4% +14.5% HMC +2.4% +19.3% HOG -2.0% +23.2% AAP +1.5% +6.9% AZO -1.2% -1.0%

Auto-Tires-Trucks Sector Price Index

Auto-Tires-Trucks Sector Price Index

Whats Next in the Auto Space?

Tata Motors will report earnings for the quarter ended Jun 30, 2016 on Aug 26.

On Sep 1, 2016, Ford Motor Co. F will pay a quarterly cash dividend of 15 cents per share to shareholders of record as of Jul 28.

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



FORD MOTOR CO (F): Free Stock Analysis Report



TESLA MOTORS (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report



HONDA MOTOR (HMC): Free Stock Analysis Report



TOYOTA MOTOR CP (TM): Free Stock Analysis Report



LEAR CORPORATN (LEA): Free Stock Analysis Report



HARLEY-DAVIDSON (HOG): Free Stock Analysis Report



GENERAL MOTORS (GM): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Less than 18 months after making the leap across the Atlantic from the head of BBC Drama to helm the TV arm of J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, Ben Stephenson has already noticed one major difference between the U.S. and U.K. TV industries.

British writers, he claims, simply don't understand the U.S. pitch process.

"In the U.K., you say hello; you talk about the fact that Polly [Hill] has moved to ITV; you talk about the weather; you talk about shoes; you talk about anything else and then say, 'Well, I do have an idea, but I don't think you'll like it. I'll send you an email later,'" he said during a panel discussion at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

"Whereas in the U.S., the pitch is the deal; it is the formal process. They often sell straight-to-series shows purely on the pitch."

U.S. writers, he notes, are "schooled" in the pitch, talking for up to an hour and often about a whole show "without being f - ing boring."

"It is such an art. I think that many British writers would fail at that, which I think is not their own personal failings but the system. It's not better or worse; it's just how it's done."

Another difference, he says, is use of the phone.

"In the U.K., we don't phone people at all. We have long conversations about stuff, but we don't do short calls. Whereas in the U.S., it's all about phone calls," Stephenson said, adding that he now has around 10 missed calls after each lunch break.

"And you have to phone them back that day, and it is a massive cultural difference, and it's why Americans in Britain get so frustrated. In the U.S., they're deeply insulted."

Stephenson spent 11 years at the BBC and is credited with overseeing a revival of drama and commissioning shows such as Peaky Blinders, Line of Duty, Happy Valley, The Missing and Luther.

Read more: Edinburgh TV Fest: Former 'Top Gear' Producer Says "Everything Went to Shit" at BBC
Beirut (AFP) - Eleven children were killed on Thursday in a barrel bomb attack carried out by government forces on a rebel-held neighbourhood of Syria's Aleppo city, a monitor said.

"Fifteen civilians, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nayrab neighbourhood" in the south of Aleppo city, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

The group also reported eight civilians, including two children, were killed on Thursday in rebel fire on the government-held west of the city.

An AFP journalist in Bab al-Nayrab saw rescue workers and civilians digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings.

One man carried out the lifeless body of a baby no bigger than his forearm. Its eyes were closed and its body was white with dust except for speckles and smears of blood.

Nearby, a civil defence worker protected the face of another dead child as his colleagues scraped away the rubble encasing the rest of the child's body.

Syria's regime has been accused of regularly using barrel bombs -- crude, explosive devices -- on rebel-held areas that are home to civilians, and other parties to the conflict are not known to have used the weapons.

President Bashar al-Assad and his government deny using barrel bombs.

Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo city has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

The city has been roughly divided between rebel control in the east and government control in the west since mid-2012, with each side bombarding the other and causing civilian casualties.

Fighting for Aleppo city has intensified since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

After a nearly three-week siege, rebels early this month linked up with opposition-held neighbourhoods via a new road from the city's south, in a major blow to fighters loyal to Assad.

But fighting has continued near the new supply line, which has been bombarded almost daily in recent days, affecting supplies coming into the city's opposition-controlled neighbourhoods.

Story continues

An AFP correspondent in the city's rebel-held east said on Thursday that vegetables and meat were becoming more scarce than in days after the siege was broken.

A litre of fuel had risen from 700 Syria pounds ($3.25, 2.90 euros) earlier this month to 1,200 Syrian pounds, he said.

Around 250,000 people live in the city's eastern districts, while another 1.2 million live in its western neighbourhoods.

More than 290,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began, according to the Observatory.
25 Aug - While most co-stars would part ways following the release of their movie, it seems that "How To be Yours" stars Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson are getting closer each day.



The situation was confirmed by Alonzo herself, who attended the contract signing with real estate developer Sta. Lucia recently, according to ABS-CBN News. The actress stated that the two of them are currently 'going with the flow'.



"We are going out. It's a hard process. We're just really enjoying. Right now, we are really enjoying each other's company," said the actress.



The two stars dated in the past, but broke up soon after. "How To Be Yours" was their first movie together after some time, and Alonzo's first movie after she officially broke up with actor Zanjoe Marudo.



In a previous interview, Anderson admitted that he was immature in their past relationship and would have not broken up with Alonzo if he had tried getting to know the actress better.



Speaking to the media at the event, Alonzo stated that she appreciates the fact that Anderson is able to bring a different side of her now that they are spending more time together.



"There are things that I thought I couldn't do but I was able to do because of his encouragement, him and his friends. It's very interesting to know that there is a side of me that I have not discovered before and he helps me discover it," she said.



Although Alonzo wouldn't call what they have 'a relationship', the actress promised that they would not keep their romance a secret if such a thing were to happen between them.



(Photo source: instagram.com/beaalonzo)
Nearly 42 visitors came to Las Vegas last year to teeter around in seven-inch heels, wait in line for a celeb sighting outside a mega-club, drink yard-long margaritas (in a pool, while gambling), and finally hop on the plane back to sober reality. No one can beat this city for crazy fun; but what many people dont know is that its also the perfect base for a day-long adventure in nature. Give your liver a break for a day and try one of these spectacular trips, right from the Strip.

Helicopter to the Grand Canyon (or just to Red Rock)

There are myriad tour companies, but the fanciest new trip is in one of Sundance Helicopters ultra-modern chromed helicopters with their wraparound glass cockpits, which touch down 3,500 feet in the base of the Grand Canyon for a Champagne lunch, and have you back in three and a half hours. One of the most extravagant tours is its six-hour Airplane Quest, involving a prop plane flight to the Grand Canyon over the Hoover Dam, a helicopter flight into the base of the canyon where youll pick up a river boat down the Colorado River, then ascend back for a picnic on the rim of the canyon, and later visit the rustic Hualapai Ranch. Cant commit to a full day? Sundance recently added a two-hour trip just minutes from its Strip terminal to Red Rock Conservation Area. While no other helicopter company can land in the conservation area, Sundance brokered a deal with a local private property owner right on its border. Youll fly over the homes of Floyd Mayweather and Teller (of Penn and Teller) on your way to Red Rock, then watch the dramatic sunset with a bucket of Champagne and appetizers before hopping back in, circling to the north end of the Strip, and following all the way from the Stratosphere to the southern end. (Keep your eyes peeled for 80's soap icon Lorenzo Lamas, now a Sundance pilot!)

Hike the Valley of Fire

Hike Valley of Fire State Park, Nevadas oldest and largest state park, at just the right time of day and youll understand why its so aptly named. Just 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas via the I-15, its a massive park of red sandstone formations thats also filled with ancient petrified trees and 3,000-year-old petroglyphs made by the prehistoric Basket Maker people and the Anasazi. Although its open year-round the best time to hike the park is between October and April, when the heat is a bit more manageable (daily summer highs can reach 120 Fahrenheit). Hikes you shouldnt miss include Rainbow Vista, a short hike that leads you to Fire Canyon and lends a spectacular view of the vista to the north. Fire Wave, only one and a quarter miles round trip, takes hikers to a fabulous view of wildly colorful sandstone, the hallmark of the park. Dont leave without at least stopping by Elephant Rock, a hike that only takes about 10 minutes from Valley of Fire Highway. Climb behind Elephant Rock to see the incredible trunk, a natural arch that looks like an elephant.

Kayak Hoover Dam

You could take a tour of Hoover Dam, which itself is an amazing experience: Most tours follow a guide through the interior and exterior of the highest concrete dam in the western hemisphere, which stands a daunting 700-plus feet above the Colorado River. Youll get a look at the generator room and Lake Mead, the worlds largest manmade lake. Or, you could get in a kayak and get one of the most exceptional views possible of this modern wonder. A seven-hour tour run by Evolution Expeditions picks you up at your hotel and starts with a descent down the original road that was excavated from the canyon walls to create the dam. Youll then kayak from the base of the Hoover Dam down the Colorado River and through the Black Canyon, stopping inside a sauna cave in a geothermal hot spring pool, exploring the preternaturally green Emerald Cave, and then through the Colorado River Valley. Youll see lots of wildlife (Desert Big Horn sheep, coyotes, falcons, and even the occasional bald eagle) from the river. Feel free to quiz the guides, who can talk all about the dam, the history of the Black Canyon, and the vertiginous new Bypass Bridge.
On most college campuses, your student ID is the most important thing you carry: It gets you into your dorm, buildings, the cafeteria, the gym. What many students dont realize is that it can also save you money.

This plastic card with yet another embarrassing picture of you can unlock some great deals in your area and beyond. Here are some of the discounts for things you may be paying full price for.

Online subscriptions

Websites that make you sign up with a college email might add some junk mail to your inbox but dont overlook them. Sites like Collegebudget.com and Studentrate.com offer great discounts on everything you could imagine. If youre in the market for a new hair straightener or a cheap weekend getaway with friends, you may find some options here. Think of these sites like Groupon for college students.

Of course, theres also Amazons money saving membership to Amazon Prime Student. The first six months are free and include free two-day shipping. After your six-month trial your account automatically upgrades to Amazon Prime but for 50% off its regular price of $99 a year.

Deals on technology

Besides the discounts that Apple offers students and teachers, there are other options to check out. For any software you may need for class, Journeyed.com is a great resource. The site offers 20% to 60% off on sought-after design tools like a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud for 58% off, and great deals on new and refurbished laptops and tablets. Shopping categories range from music and video to graphics, art and design so you are sure to be covered regardless of your major.

A similar site with deals on hardware and software is newegg.com. Their deals vary day to day, but we reached out to the company and they sent us some examples that ranged from 64% off on Phillips headphones to 27% off wireless routers.

Make sure you call up your wireless provider to see what they can offer you. For example, you may be eligible for a discount if you have AT&T. All they need is your school or work email to see if you qualify.

Story continues

Entertainment and travel

Just because youre in college doesnt mean you shouldnt still be able to go out and catch a movie with your friends. AMC, Regal and Cinemark offer college students about 10% off ticket prices on certain days. The discounts may vary from location to location so your best bet would be to call your local theater.

If youre looking to get away, Amtrak offers 15% off travel fares and Greyhounds Student Advantage card can score you up to 20% off bus fares and 40% off at select retailers. The only catch here is that you do have to pay a yearly fee of about $20-$22 for membership.

Clothing

While in college, shopping might be the last thing on your mind but if its not, heres an incomplete list of stores with student discounts: Charlotte Russe, Banana Republic, Topshop, Madewell, JCrew, TOMS, Club Monaco, and more. Check with the local retailer for updated student discount rates.

WATCH MORE

Would you pay $2,900 for 300 square feet? We tested out NYCs first micro-apartments.

College hacks that have saved this student $9k

No credit? No problem. Heres how to build your credit from scratch

New Retirement rules could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars
BEVERLY HILLS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Beverly Hills Group Inc. (OTCPK: BHGI) is pleased to announce the Mikkin's have withdrawn all claims against the company and all defendants, in their entirety, and have signed new lock-up / leak-out agreements restricting the sale of their shares of company stock.

These critical events, in addition to BHGI's earlier settlement and new lock-up / leak-out agreements with Ahmad Arfaania et al, will now free the company from these legal encumbrances. The new lock-up / leak-out agreements also provides an important safeguard for shareholders.

BHGI can now proceed as planned with the financing and corporate actions necessary to complete the acquisitions of the businesses and assets from Grupo Richard, and will be focusing on developing the company's diverse business opportunities.

Sincerely I remain,

Jacob Thomas

Chairman of the Board

Beverly Hills Group, Inc.

ABOUT BEVERLY HILLS GROUP

Beverly Hills Group, Inc. is a multi-faceted company, with current diverse investments in Mexico. These investments consist of retail convenience stores, wholesale distribution, construction, real estate development, banking and financial services. Our objective is to grow through strategic acquisitions, and to focus on increasing consumer awareness and demand in the Mexican and Latin American markets. Once these strategic acquisitions are procured and integrated, Beverly Hills Group will provide investment capital, preeminent modern business practices and best-in-class management, allowing these companies to grow to their greatest potential.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain a number of forward-looking statements. Words, and variations of words such as "expect," "goals," "plans," "believe," "continue," "may," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify our forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, our expectation for growth; benefits from brand-building; cost savings; growth and margins.

Story continues

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, continued volatility of, and sharp increase in, costs, pricing actions, increased competition, risks from operating internationally, continued consumer weakness, weakness in economic conditions and tax law changes.

SOURCE: Beverly Hills Group, Inc.
Authorities have inspected the 18 km stretch that saw heavy congestion on roads, causing hours long traffic, last month after continuous rain lashed parts of Delhi-NCR.

Officials of NHAI, the local municipal corporation, state housing body HUDA as well as BJP MLA Umesh Agrawal and head of the traffic police wing inspected an 18km stretch of the Delhi-Gurugram expressway.

By Ajay Kumar: Authorities inspected on Wednesday a thoroughfare connecting Delhi and Gurugram to identify bottlenecks after heavy rain last month clogged roads in the Millennium City and provoked a deluge of jokes on social media.

The traffic standstill drew global attention on collapsing civic infrastructure and lack of coordination among different departments in the National Capital Region, with different political parties in power.

advertisement

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED



Facing criticism for failing to decongest the Delhi-Gurugram expressway, officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the local municipal corporation, state housing body HUDA as well as BJP MLA Umesh Agrawal and head of the traffic police wing Y Puran Kumar examined the 18km stretch falling in the district.

"The NHAI and concessionaire of the expressway have failed to construct it with futuristic planning and this was followed by not making necessary adjustments, leading to traffic chaos in the area," the legislator said. "A major cause of concern is the narrowly drawn two-lane entry and exit points, which were not addressed by NHAI leading to the mess."

INSPECTION COVERS RAO TULA RAM FLYOVER, RAJEEV CHOWK



The total 27.7 km stretch spans from Rao Tula Ram flyover near Delhi airport to Kherki Daula in Gurugram and is notorious for crippling gridlocks.

Authorities began their inspection from Rajeev Chowk, the most congested point on the stretch. Vehicles come to this intersection from Sohna Road, old city and sector 32 Medanta Road and head towards Delhi. Over 50,000 vehicles pass through during peak morning and evening hours on working days and since only two lanes are available to enter into the main carriageway, massive jams are frequent.

WHAT DO THE AUTHORITIES SUGGEST?



"We have decided to expand the place to four lanes. We will use a green belt for construction without affecting the service lanes. The process will begin in three days," said Ashok Kumar Sharma, project director of NHAI.

Millennium city Gurugram has been struggling to provide smooth passage to commuters. The deputy commissioner of the district says 50 per cent of the roads have become "non-motorable" because of monsoon rain.

Signature Tower Chowk is another vulnerable intersection on the expressway stretch. A large number of heavy vehicles, many of them from a Maruti factory in sector 18, use this road to go towards Jaipur and Delhi.

The inspection team has proposed a new two-lane road from Maharana Pratap Chowk (MDI Chowk) towards Delhi to decongest the area.

"The major hurdle coming in the way of this road is several trees, which need to be chopped. The land belongs to the MCG (the municipal corporation). Despite that we will take an NoC from the forest department," said Vivek Kalia, joint commissioner of MCG.

advertisement

The two-lane exit point near Udyog Vihar flyover is also a big concern. The area is occupied by a large number of BPO, software, textile and multinational companies with heavy traffic. Officials have decided to expand it to four lanes with a similar plan proposed for Atlas Chowk.



Also read - Gurgaon: How sex workers use autorickshaws to strike deals, avoid police



--- ENDS ---
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is still committed to closing the U.S. prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and his administration expects to complete the task, White House said on Thursday.

"We're going to do our best to try to get this closed and it's our expectation that that's what we'll do," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a news briefing.

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Correction: This article originally included references to the environmental effects of firefighting foams containing perfluorochemicals. Those toxic chemicals are not in the class of foams used in forest fires.

Boeing, the worlds second-largest defense contractor after Lockheed Martin, is primarily known for its design and manufacturing of jet aircraft, rockets and satellites. Now the defense giant has signaled interest in developing a new military technology  one that would greatly improve on and speed up techniques for extinguishing wildfires, like the ones currently rampaging through parts of California, Montana, Oregon and Washington State.

Related: California Wildfire Forces Closure of Scenic Highway 1

Traditionally, Forest Service rangers and firefighters have dropped hundreds of thousands of gallons of chemical fire suppressants and water out of airplanes and helicopters to combat wildfires. Putting out a fire in a relatively confined area of 883 acres could take a day or more under the best of circumstances, according to the National Wildlife Coordinating Group.

But as Defense One reported on Wednesday, Boeing has suggested that firefighters could get the job done faster and more efficiently by launching salvos of special 155 mm shells from a dozen or more miles away. Rather than dumping fire suppressant material from planes and helicopters, Boeings engineers would pack it into massive shells that would be fired from a field howitzer.

As Defense One explained, the artillery piece might be a BAE Systems M777 or a model manufactured by the Swedish arms merchant Bofors. And the shell would release its load of fire suppressant by virtue of a complex array of gizmos, including a timer, an altimeter, a global positioning device, temperature and pressure sensors and a distance measuring device.

Boeing filed a patent application for the new shells in 2014 and made its plans public at the end of July. The defense contractor estimates that each shell could deliver as much as six gallons of fire suppressant on a 100-square-foot area, according to Defense One. Boeing engineers assert that steady firing with three-gallon shells could deliver 214,000 gallons of fire suppressant in about six hours. That would be twice as fast as what could be done with a helicopter.

Story continues

Related: Wildfire Destroys Dozens of Homes in Central California

The patent application states that some guns could deliver the fire-retarding material within 15 feet of a target at a 15-mile range, which would be some fancy shooting. But the range and accuracy could vary, depending on the type of shell and artillery gun being used.

As Defense One points out, the proposed new artillery shells may not be the perfect substitute for airplanes and helicopters, but nonetheless could be a valuable contribution, one thats desperately needed as hotter and more ferocious wildfires sweep the West.

Hot, dry and windy conditions have created a perfect storm for the spread of large wildfires in several western states, including in California, where they have already destroyed 135 square miles of forest and sent tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes, according to the Associated Press. A total of 26 active fires have burned more than 415,000 acres in eight western states.

Related: Boeing Lifts 20-Year Forecast for New Aircraft Demand

Boeing's patent application notes that the external surface of the shell would be made of an environmentally safe metal  one that decomposes in nature in less than ten years or is inert and is not harmful to the environment without decomposition. The filing also claims that the fragments of the exploded shell would be environmentally friendly.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
From Road & Track

Last week, we showed you an auction for a BMW 1 Series hatchback that had somehow been imported to the U.S. Obviously, it was fascinating to see a vehicle for sale that was never officially sold here, but a car this new could only have been brought here under sketchy circumstances. And as it turns out, the story of that little 116i is so sketchy, Bring a Trailer canceled the auction.

According to the seller, the car was brought over from Scotland by the original owner, who then sold it to an Arizona dealer. The BMW was sold again to its next owner in Florida, where it was first registered and given a bonded title. After that, it was sold to the current owner, who claims it's used as a daily driver, carries insurance, and is registered with BMW of North America.

While that backstory raised some questions, it at least sounded somewhat legitimate. After all, if it's insured, and BMW knows it's here, it's probably relatively safe to buy.

Well, maybe not. Once the commenters on Bring a Trailer started digging, the story quickly got even sketchier than we originally thought.

One of the first issues is that it appears the car is titled as a two-door, when it's obviously a five-door. That may have been the only option in the computer, since the five-door version was never sold here, but it's still inaccurate, and may constitute title fraud.

Secondly, one of the commenters discovered a lien against the vehicle in Scotland, as well as the fact that it's listed as a "hire purchase," the U.K. equivalent of a lease. We can't imagine BMW Financial Services would be happy to to find its leased vehicle hiding in Florida, nor would we be surprised if it came out that the car is technically considered stolen.

After this information came out, Bring a Trailer responded by saying:

More and more interesting developments with this one. We're pretty sure this is the first listing to reference Interpol. The seller has not provided any additional documentation to substantiate the import status, and now the title lien issue seems to be as real a concern as the importation. We are going to go ahead and withdraw the auction.

All things considered, that was the right decision. Rare cars are cool, but an illegally imported car that's incorrectly titled, still has a lien against it in another country, and may be considered stolen definitely isn't worth the risk.
Despite repeated warnings, fire safety measures in the area have not improved, with Wednesday's incident claiming another life.

While a 37-year-old businessman who was staying on the first floor of the house in Hauz Khas Village died due to suffocation, his friend, a 23-year-old French woman, was injured in the fire.

By Mail Today Bureau: A fire at Delhi's nightlife hub Hauz Khas Village killed a businessman on Wednesday morning while a French woman was injured in the incident that underscored the Capital's poor safety standards and pervasive failure to enforce laws.

ONLY THREE OUT OF OVER 50 JOINTS HAVE FIRE SAFETY PERMITS



Mail Today reported in June that only three out of the more than 50 eateries and bars in the area had fire safety permits and the situation becomes alarming during weekends with huge crowds and cars choking the roads.

advertisement

According to authorities, a "minor" fire broke out at 5.40 am, 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.

BUSINESSMAN DIES, FRIEND HOSPITALISED



Real estate businessman Gourav Taneja was 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 the same institute but was later shifted to Apollo Hospital.

NARROW LANES LED TO DELAYED HELP



"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 splashing water. Some even used fire extinguishers. Officers said if a fire tender manages to enter a narrow lane it has to battle to come out as there is no turning or connecting road. So each time it runs out of water, a vehicle has to move in reverse.

SHORT CIRCUIT SUSPECTED TO BE CAUSE OF FIRE



The fire department is yet to determine what led to the incident, but suspects a short circuit. Cops will record Anklora's statement to help with the probe.

Restaurants or pubs with fewer than 50 seats don't need any certificate from the fire department. But Mail Today found that such establishments in the Village are usually swarming with over 100 people.

FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS JOINTS ROUTINELY FLOUT FIRE SAFETY RULES



Fire department officials said they cannot do anything about the rules.

Fire dept officers said despite it being early morning, they had tough time reaching the spot.

"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.

advertisement

EXCISE DEPARTMENT RAID EXPOSED VULNERABILITY



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. Many of the restaurants run from second and third floors, making them vulnerable to accidents and natural disasters. In case of a fire, a rescue operation becomes difficult. A pub was gutted in the area during Diwali a few years ago.

THE AFFECTED



The first floor of the house, with a makeshift accommodation, was rented by Gourav and Anklora from its owner, Liaqat Ali. The area is ringed by restaurants and commercial joints.

Gourav was from Haryana's Karnal district and owned a construction business in the Capital while Anklora is studying law from OP Jindal Global University in Sonepat.

SUFFOCATION SEEMS TO BE CAUSE OF DEATH



"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 Taneja's body for postmortem. Anklora is out of danger." Police have registered a case of negligence. Gourav's family reached Safdarjung Hospital and took his body to Karnal.

advertisement

Officials of Delhi Fire Services said it is the responsibility of the civic body to refer cases for fire clearance to them, but no case from Hauz Khas Village has come to them in recent days.

ALSO READ: Hauz Khas village under scanner! Officials raise red flag over illegal bars and fire safety



--- ENDS ---
Gabriel and Daniel Hammond aren't the first interlopers to crash the gates of Hollywood with deep pockets and ambitions. But the Washington, D.C.-reared duo, who sold their hedge fund, SteelPath, to OppenheimerFunds in 2012 for what was said to be several billion dollars, have every intention of sticking around. Since launching Broad Green Pictures (named for the street they grew up on in Potomac, Md.) in 2014, the brothers - whose parents took them to old movies - have assembled a staff of 90 that includes Straight Outta Compton producer Matt Alvarez as production president. When Alvarez took the position in May, and indie-minded Alix Madigan exited her creative executive post a month later, it signaled Broad Green is shifting its focus from smaller-budget dramas to broader-audience pics (fewer anti-greed polemics like 99 Homes or auteur meditations like Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups). There's still room for acquisitions, and Broad Green will troll the Toronto Film Festival in September, but it's seeking films in the vein of its most successful release, the Robert Redford-Nick Nolte starrer A Walk in the Woods ($29.5 million domestic after Broad Green paid nothing for the film, committing only to a wide release). The shift is apparent in Broad Green's slate: Bad Santa 2 in November, then Villa Capri (a two-hander with Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman) and the dance comedy Step Sisters.

Gabriel, 37, and Daniel, 33, share a home in West Hollywood. "I call it the reverse Entourage house because I get home from work and have a cup of chamomile tea," says Daniel. "He puts on his blue-light[-blocking] glasses, we have takeout, watch half a movie before we're like, 'Wow, we're way too tired to finish.' " Their living arrangement likely will change given Daniel, a former aspiring screenwriter, is planning his wedding to New York-based attorney Matt Rand. "The beautiful thing about having a gay wedding is there are no rules," says Daniel. Gabriel will serve as best man. Heading into the fall festivals, the Hammonds invited THR to their sleek offices near the Paramount lot (where staff gets breakfast and lunch prepared by private chefs) to discuss the Netflix threat, films they regret not buying and why they didn't buy The Birth of a Nation.

Story continues

The midbudget movie business seems the most challenged. How do you plan to buck that trend?

GABRIEL Despite the media attention devoted to the rise of the tentpole superhero franchise, you don't need to look outside this summer, with Sausage Party and Bad Moms, to see that compelling ideas made in the midbudget space can be profitable and make a tremendous impact. The challenge is in finding stories so compelling and universal that one can compete with larger blockbusters and brand-name intellectual property.

Netflix and Amazon are spending big. How can you compete?

DANIEL Amazon and Netflix are both fantastic companies with tremendous resources in terms of their people, finances and data technology. However, although in some cases their product is no different, their business models, economic incentives and strategies are very different from ours. So in many ways I don't view them as competitors but rather as strategic partners. We are already working with Amazon on [Nicolas Winding Refn's] The Neon Demon [which went to Amazon Prime after a June theatrical release by Broad Green] and on the upcoming movie The Dressmaker. We also have an output deal with Amazon.

Read more: 'Annabelle' Director to Helm 'Wish Upon' for Broad Green

Considering Neon Demon grossed only $1.3 million theatrically, do you plan to partner with Amazon again or with Netflix in the future?

GABRIEL It's something we've definitely explored. We sat down with [Amazon film chief] Ted [Hope] and had a great conversation about what he's looking for and what he's trying to build. It's really kind of amazing the resources he's been given and how much of an impact it is having on the industry. So I definitely think there will be projects we do together with Amazon or Netflix.

Who do you see as your competition?

DANIEL The traditional studios are still our largest competitors in the $25 million to $50 million space insofar as they may be moving away from these types of movies but they're still the biggest producers of them overall. Those traditional studios and Lionsgate are really the model we're emulating. New Line is really good at doing things that are original but for mass appeal.

Daniel calls the Homer clock "amazing," adding, "I'm a total Simpsons nut."

What do the recent staff changes mean for Broad Green's focus?

GABRIEL When we started, we wanted to be able to get things out into the marketplace right away. It obviously takes a long time to get from idea to screen, so acquisitions became the only way to do that. But all along we've been developing these larger projects, which have a longer gestation period, to get them into production. Part of it is just moving toward what we've always intended to do, which is to really leverage the breadth of the organization we've built.

What is the game plan heading into Toronto?

GABRIEL We'll definitely have our team there, and we'll be looking for things in both categories [small- and medium-budget], whether that's a wide release like Walk or a platform release.

How many films a year are you looking to release?

DANIEL We're moving toward making things in-house and being able to work on co-productions on a much greater scale. We're really focusing on eight to 10 films a year. Around seven, eight of those we want to be true wide releases and two or three in that sort of high-prestige-echelon specialty space, with a mixture of things produced fully in-house and co-productions.

Gabriel owns blue-light-blocking glasses for when he works late.

What will be your breakdown of acquisitions versus homegrown?

DANIEL Probably two out of our eight to 10 a year will be true acquisitions. There is so much competition now. There are so many distributors. Things very quickly get extremely expensive. So it's easier just to make sure we're building things in-house.

You bid for The Birth of a Nation at Sundance but weren't in the final mix, right?

DANIEL In that final mix, no. It's an incredible movie, and Fox had some really big ideas for it.

Were you aware of Nate Parker's rape case when you bid on the movie?

DANIEL No.

Read more: Oscar Voters Ponder Nate Parker and 'Birth of a Nation': "I Would Not Go to the Movie"

Which film do you most regret not buying?

DANIEL Definitely Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

GABRIEL [Asif Kapadia's Oscar-winning documentary] Amy. It was extraordinarily powerful, and I was just brutalized. But I didn't understand how that would translate into a theatrical release. I just didn't properly evaluate it. That was the one where I feel I could have done a better job understanding how its release would work.

What is your biggest challenge now?

GABRIEL It's getting the people who work with us to think differently and to try new things. We're really big on Broad Green [having] a collaborative culture and saying: "This is not a culture where you fear failure. We want you to fail."

DANIEL Our big challenge as an industry is to find a way to take those more complicated stories that used to be made [into successes] and market them to an audience in such a way that they still want to see them in theaters.

Terrence Malick does not make mass-appeal films. What's the mind-set behind releasing three of his movies?

DANIEL It's just honestly being able to sit down with the man and talk because he's so genuinely curious about everyone he meets and wants to ask them questions about their lives. To have that kind of feedback from someone who is so insanely talented and beautiful has been a fantastic experience.

What's the backstory on how you got Bad Santa 2 instead of Dimension, which released the first film?

DANIEL Miramax was in the process of reigniting Bad Santa 2, and me and [Broad Green marketing president] Dylan Wiley went over for a general with them. They mentioned that they were in the process of moving on the movie. I was like, "You need to call us when that happens because I loved the original movie, and I think that would be a fantastic way for us to get into business together."

What attracted you to this business?

GABRIEL Our parents would take us to see foreign-language films at E Street Landmark. And our [late] mom would show us Hitchcock.

Daniel, will you now develop any of the screenplays you wrote?

DANIEL No. I'm realizing my vision now doing this. I do want to get back to it one day, but the stuff I wrote when I was younger will stay in the vault. (Laughs.)

This story first appeared in the Sept. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
By Julia Fioretti BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission rebuffed an attack by the U.S. Treasury on its investigations into alleged sweetheart tax deals between companies such as Apple and McDonald's and European governments, saying there was no anti-U.S. bias. The U.S. Treasury Department published a white paper on Wednesday that voiced concern at the EU executive's tax investigations, saying they departed from international taxation norms and would have an outsized impact on U.S. companies. The European Commission said it treated all companies equally. "EU law applies indiscriminately to all companies operating in Europe - there is no bias against U.S. companies. This is very clear if we look at the facts: In October 2015 the first state aid decisions on tax rulings concerned a European company, Fiat, as well as a U.S. company," a Commission spokeswoman said. It is not the first time the United States has criticised the EU's tax investigations. In February U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew wrote to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker urging him to reconsider the EU's approach. In the white paper, the U.S. Treasury Department said the Commission's approach departed from prior EU case law and undermined OECD guidelines on transfer pricing - the setting of prices for the transfer of goods or services from one subsidiary to another - which critics say is used to reduce tax liabilities in relatively high-tax countries. In addition, the EU should not seek to recover taxes from companies retroactively, the Treasury Department said, because it was a departure from prior practice. "Imposing retroactive recoveries would undermine the G20s efforts to improve tax certainty and set an undesirable precedent for tax authorities in other countries," the white paper said. The Commission spokeswoman said EU state aid rules forbid national governments from giving tax benefits to selected companies that are not available to others. "These state aid rules and the relevant legal principles have been in place for a long time," she said. The European Commission accused Ireland in 2014 of dodging international tax rules by letting Apple shelter profits worth tens of billions of dollars from tax collectors in return for maintaining jobs. Apple and Ireland reject the accusation. A ruling is expected in the autumn. The EU launched an investigation into tax deals between McDonald's and Luxembourg in December last year. (Reporting by Julia Fioretti; Editing by Adrian Croft)
The French Embassy in London was the scene of an impromptu beach party Thursday with a sand-pit, deck chairs and around fifty sign-toting campaigners protesting a ban of the full body burkini swimsuit in several French towns.

The wear what you want beach party protest was staged as Frances highest administrative court, the State Council, is set to rule on whether the bans are legal. Piles of sand were dumped outside the embassys grand stuccoed exterior, with children and women playing as police officers holding semi-automatic rifles looked on.

One of the protests organizers said she was galvanized by images published on Tuesday of a headscarf-wearing woman being forced by armed police to remove a tunic on a beach in France. I felt physical sick and incredibly frustrated, Esmat Jeraj said. [We] are really angry that you have a state supporting the idea that armed police can come along and ask you to remove your clothes in public and dictate what you should or shouldnt wear.

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  (@_elena) August 24, 2016

Around 15 French towns have banned the outfit mainly worn by Muslim women this summer, with around 24 women being stopped in Nice since the ban came into force, reports the Guardian. As with Frances ban on headscarves, supporters argue that the burkini goes against the deeply-held French principle of laicite, or secularism, which is enshrined in the countrys laws.

Anglican priest Jenny Dawkins, who decided to take part in the protest after seeing the chilling images of the woman in Nice, calls it a weak argument. I guess [the bans] are under the guise of secularism, that clothes expressing a religious view in a secular society is not acceptable, Dawkins told TIME. Whatever creed leads to somebody being isolated and intimidated to take their clothes off is not a creed I subscribe to.

French national Bernice Schramm who was wearing a DIY burkini consisting of a hat, leggings, a shawl, swimsuit and an over-shirt added that the bans were the result of a systematic state policy of Islamophobia. Frances minister for womens rights Laurence Rossignol has argued that the burkini is a symbol of fundamentalist patriarchy; but protestor Yasmin Basith, who is Muslim, said it is the ban that is sexist not the burkini.

I dont think they understand that we do it out of choice  we want to be modest, Basith said. What the French government is doing is oppressive I think it is so hypocritical because they are a country that say egalite, fraternite but they dont let women wear what they want.

The ban follows a series of devastating terrorist attacks on French soil, the latest being the execution of a priest in Rouen in July. According to the Guardian, Nices ban refers to garments that overtly manifests adherence to a religion at a time when France and places of worship are the target of terrorist attacks. But 26-year-old organizer Jeraj says it is deeply offensive to link Islam with acts of terror. The war on terror should never begin in a womans wardrobe. The idea that it is happening is absolutely ludicrous and absurd.

There is, however, widespread support for new restrictions. According to a poll released on Wednesday by French pollster IFOP, 64% of those surveyed were in favor of it. It does look like the vast majority of France support that ban, Jeraj said. I think we are going to have a conversation to discuss what is the best way forward. It is very important that women in France, women in Britain, women across the world take this issue up because it is about eroding civil liberties.
From ELLE

It happened in public, beneath a brilliant sun. A trio of armed men surrounded a woman on a beach and demanded she take her top off. Onlookers took photos. The pictures were shared all over the Internet.

But the men won't face any consequences because they haven't committed a crime. They're policemen in Nice, France. And as far as the law is concerned, they're innocent.

At least 15 French towns-and Nice, too-have banned the burkini, a swimsuit that covers women's bodies and heads in accordance with their religious practice. The woman whom the men approached was not dressed in one, but she did have on a modest blue tunic and ankle-length black leggings. Once the police arrive, the photos show her as she removes her tunic. She's crouched on the sand. The officers tower over her.

There are people behaving inappropriately on this beach & the woman isn't one of them pic.twitter.com/4HJLEkvZH1 - HannahJane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) August 24, 2016

For now, the woman has yet to make a public statement. But elsewhere in France, a woman has come forward to say she was fined this week for wearing a tunic and a head covering on the beach in Cannes. She was issued a ticket for dressing in clothes that do not "[respect] good morals and secularism."

France has prized secularism or "laicite" since the French Revolution and the principle became a formal tenet of law in 1905. Since the population of Muslims in France has grown over the past several decades, the French seem to have doubled down on the precept. In 2004, all "conspicuous" symbols of faith were banned from state-run schools and civic events. As of 2010, women are not permitted to fully cover their faces in public. The Economist summed up the fallout in 2014:

Critics accuse France of illiberalism, of curbing freedom of religious expression, and of imposing a Western interpretation of female oppression.... For the French, however, it is part of an unapologetic effort to keep religious expression private, and to uphold the country's republican secular identity.

Story continues

But no matter the roots of the controversy, the rhetoric around how Muslim women dress has gotten more extreme. A mayor in Corsica has banned burkinis to "protect the population." A tribunal in Nice deemed the law in nearby Villeneuve-Loubet a "necessary, appropriate and proportionate" response to recent terrorist attacks in France. The swimsuit was bound to "offend the religious convictions or non-convictions of other users of the beach" and could even be interpreted as "a provocation." French Premier Manuel Valls insisted that the burkini symbolizes Islam's "enslavement of women." French Minister for Families, Children and Women's Rights Laurence Rossignol exclaimed that observant Muslims "hide women's bodies in order to better control them."

Marine Le Pen painted the issue in explicitly nationalist terms. "France does not lock away a woman's body," she said. And by extension, Islam keeps her in chains.

Reminder! If you think your progressive values can only survive when women's bodies are policed, you've already lost them.

[contentlinks align="left" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related Stories" customtitles="Inside the First Istanbul Modest Fashion Week|Why Do We Police Muslim Women's Beachwear?" customimages="|" content="article.36665|article.35847"]

I find it hard to believe that women are freest when representatives of the government can order them to undress on a beach. Whatever women wear, social tensions have forever been hashed out on their bodies. Whether they are stripped down or covered up, someone will always find a way to tell a woman in public that her very existence is "a provocation." It seems obvious, but here we are! Let's be very clear: It is just as illiberal to snarl that a woman in public should "put some clothes on" as it is to force her to reveal more than she chooses.

This suit is too big. This suit is too small. When will it be OK for women to wear what they want? #burkini pic.twitter.com/fi1w4jwVy1 - Christina Cerqueira (@cerqueic) August 23, 2016

When fear cripples a population, it's women who suffer, it's women's bodies that become provocative, improper, a "problem." Over and over, we've seen people in power lose track of who the real marks are. It must seem so much easier to fix the viewfinder on women. It's true-we're everywhere!

Writing in the Guardian, the creator of the burkini said that she invented the swimsuit "to give women freedom, not to take it away."

"So who is better," she demanded, "the Taliban or French politicians? They are as bad as each other."
After over a dozen French towns have banned women from wearing 'burkinis'  a swimsuit for women that leaves just the face, hands and feet exposed  a demand for the product has risen 200 percent worldwide, BBC News reported.



Aheda Zanetti, who lives in Australia and owns the trademark on 'burkini,' says online sales skyrocketed.



"No man in this entire world can tell us what to wear or what not to wear," she told BBC News.



On Aug. 12, the mayor of Cannes banned burkinis, calling them a "symbol of Islamic extremism," following the July attack in Nice, for which ISIS claimed responsibility. Several other towns have since joined in on the ban, and any woman caught disobeying is charged a fine.







Photos emerged Tuesday showing several male police officers forcing one woman to remove her head covering on a beach in Nice.



The woman, who gave just her first name, Siam, said she was also fined in Cannes, according to The Guardian.



"I was sitting on the beach with my family," she said. "I was wearing a classic headscarf. I had no intention of swimming."



The ban has citizens divided, with some saying that burqas go against women's rights, while others argue that banning the garments amounts to Islamophobia.



French Prime Minister Manual Valls has backed the burkini bans, but he says he's not interested in creating a nationwide law against them.
Nearly two dozen people were arrested this week and a wide collection of material was seized  including drugs, guns, money and an alligator  after a multi-state, months-long investigation into an alleged California street gang.



Authorities called their operation "Gang of Thrones."



Among those arrested was a local police officer who is accused of feeding "confidential law enforcement information" to the gang's members, San Jose, California, authorities said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE.



Among the agencies who assisted the operation were the DEA and the FBI, according to the release.



Their work began in March, when the San Jose gang unit "began building a criminal conspiracy investigation against a Vietnamese criminal street gang," police said in their release.



Their probe targeted an alleged "sophisticated gambling, extortion and drug trafficking ring run out of some of the myriad Vietnamese cafes that dot the city," according to the Mercury News.



The investigation "resulted in the arrest of 23 suspects who are known members or associates of a criminal street gang in San Jose," police said. "The suspects were booked ... on charges ranging from extortion, public corruption, narcotic trafficking, assault, illegal gun possession and conspiracy."



 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.



Six more people remain at large as of Thursday afternoon, a San Jose police spokesman tells PEOPLE. They are suspected of conspiracy, narcotics and gambling crimes, among others, police said.



In addition to the arrests, police said in the release that 35 search warrants were served in Louisiana and California, recovering, among other things: five handguns, 69 illegal gambling machines, more than $200,000; 4,000 ecstasy pills, 300 Xanax pills, 200 molly tablets, illegal steroids and more than 600 pounds of marijuana.



An alligator was also taken into the custody of animal control, a police spokesman says. It is illegal to possess the animal in California.



San Jose officer Derrick Antonio was among those arrested, police said. He was taken into custody and has been on administrative leave since June, "when an allegation surfaced regarding unauthorized computer access," a police spokesman says.



Antonio, a nine-year veteran of the force, is charged with six felonies: five counts of unauthorized computer access and one count of accessory after the fact, police said.



PEOPLE was not able to reach Antonio for comment.



It was not immediately clear which of the suspects had made bail, if any, of if any had entered pleas to their charges or retained attorneys.



San Jose police referred those questions to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office, which was not immediately able to provide that information, though a spokeswoman tells PEOPLE they will look into gathering it.



One local attorney told KTVU that his client, Phuc Nguyen, was innocent and had no gang ties.



Antonio has been released on bail, according to the station.


Know a hero? Send suggestions to heroesamongus@peoplemag.com. For more inspiring stories, read the latest issue of PEOPLE magazine



Years ago when Annie Torres was struggling to make ends meet and she'd find a homeless dog in desperate need of medical attention, she didn't hesitate to take the pooch to the veterinarian. Torres would then live on hot dogs and macaroni and cheese, putting the vet bills first.



"There were years we really struggled," says Torres, who lives in Woodland, California, with her father, Gus. "But it was worth it. It meant that an innocent dog would not get put to sleep because they could not get vet care."



In the two decades since saving her first dog, Torres, 46, has made it her mission to rescue as many injured or homeless pups who have cross her path as she can. She's single-handedly saved over 200 pooches found roaming country roads or slated for euthanasia in shelters at a cost of over $50,000  all from her own pocket.







Torres finds most of them homes, oftentimes driving hours  and once days cross country  to personally deliver them. Those Torres can't place, or whom she falls in love with, she permanently keeps. Currently, 12 pups fill her 3-bedroom ranch home.



"She is an amazing person, one of a kind," says Dr. Richard Thornburgh, D.V.M., Torres's veterinarian who has treated Torres's injured pooches for the last 15 years at a discount or for free. "She has a huge heart."



This past year, Torres decided to take her devotion one step further. She's long been sickened by the millions of dogs who end up in shelters and are killed each year, and dreamed of decreasing the number of dogs entering shelters in the first place.



Then a homeless puppy Torres was fostering died in her hands. "I remember that devastating feeling," she says, "that there must be something I can do to stop this."



In October 2015, Torres created the non-profit Crash Fund to provide free spaying and neutering for area dogs, raising $10,000 that paid for 100 dogs to get spayed and neutered for free between May and July. (She put in $1,500 of her own money.)



Thornburgh and his staff at Valley Oak Vet Hospital in Woodland donated their time, while Torres supplied the surgical necessities, microchips and vaccines. More clinics are planned for the future.



"When people call me up after their free services and say how grateful they are they did the right thing and don't have to dump puppies at a shelter, that takes the sting out of what's happening every day. I have to focus on the good we can do one dog at a time," she says.





Story continues

California Woman Spends $50,000 of Her Own Money to Help Over 200 Injured Homeless Dogs Receive the Care They Need| Heroes Among Us, Real People Stories, Real Heroes



One particularly special dog is Pickles, a gray and white pit bull abandoned in 2013 at a local shelter with a serious bowel injury and slated for euthanasia. Torres received a call about Pickles and whisked her to Thornburgh, who performed three lifesaving surgeries free of charge. Says Torres: "It was love at first sight. We all saw how special she was."



Now the world does, too. Pickles' adventures and Torres's hilarious comments are followed on Facebook by the dog's 128,00 fans. Torres named her spay and neuter effort "No puppies for hussies," after Pickles.



"I call her the hussie," says Torres, laughing, "because she shakes her booty at the other dogs."





California Woman Spends $50,000 of Her Own Money to Help Over 200 Injured Homeless Dogs Receive the Care They Need| Heroes Among Us, Real People Stories, Real Heroes



This hussie has her own pin-up calendar, which helped raise money for the first round of spaying and neutering. Torres named The Crash Fund after one of her brood  Crash  a pit bull puppy she rescued after his breeder dropped him, shattering his elbow.



Torres' passion for saving dogs began around the same time she started working in 1996 for Landing Products, a manufacturer of propellers for remote control aircraft, including drones. The owner took Torres under his wing, and six years ago, he turned the company over to Torres and a business partner after he was diagnosed with fatal pancreatic cancer.



While Torres's macaroni and cheese days are over now, she says financial security pales to the joy she feels when saving a mistreated pup.



"Seeing a dog dumped, a poor beaten-down creature, and showing them love and watching them blossom and turn into the most incredible living creatures you can imagine," says Torres, "is reward beyond money, beyond anything you can imagine."
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Canarc Resource Corp. (TSX: CCM, OTC-BB: CRCUF, Frankfurt: CAN) (the "Company") announces the signing of an agreement with Eureka Resources Inc. (TSX-V:EUK) ("Eureka") which grants Canarc an exclusive option (the "Option") to acquire up to a 75% interest in the FG Gold Property (the "Property") located approximately 100 kilometres east of Williams Lake in central British Columbia.

The Agreement

The Option is to be exercised in two stages, with the first stage giving Canarc the right to earn a 51% interest in the Property and the second stage giving Canarc the right to earn an additional 24% interest for a total 75% interest in the Property.

In consideration for the grant of the Option, subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") and the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), Canarc will issue to Eureka 250,000 common shares, and participate in Eurkea's planned private placement, by acquiring 750,000 units of Eureka (each a "unit") at a price of $0.14 per Unit, at an aggregate cost of $105,000. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of Eureka and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one additional common share of Eureka at an exercise price of $0.20 for a period of two years after issuance.

Under the terms of the Option Agreement, Canarc can earn the initial 51% interest in the Property by making the following expenditures, share issuances and payments to Eureka:

(a)aggregate property expenditures of $1,500,000, of which at least $500,000 is to be incurred in or before 2017, at least $500,000 is to be incurred during 2018 and the balance is to be incurred during 2019;

(b)share issuances of 250,000 Canarc common shares on or before each of the first, second and third anniversary, for a total of 750,000 Canarc common shares;

(c)annual cash payments equal to 50% of the British Columbia mining exploration tax credit paid to, or credited to the account of, Canarc with respect to the Property (the "METC") for expenditures incurred by Canarc (to an aggregate maximum of $1,500,000 in expenditures during the first option period) during the prior year.

Story continues

Upon the exercise of the initial stage of the Option, Canarc will have the option to earn an additional 24% interest for a total 75% interest in the Property by making the following expenditures, share issuances and payments to Eureka:

(a)aggregate expenditures of $1,500,000 between the third anniversary and the fifth anniversaryof the Option Agreement;

(b)share issuances of 750,000 Canarc common shares on or before each of the fourth and fifth anniversary, for a total of 1,500,000 Canarc common shares;

(c)annual cash payments equal to the greater of: (i) $75,000 and (ii) 50% of the METC for expenditures incurred by Canarc (to an aggregate maximum of $1,500,000 in expenditures during the second option period) during the prior year.

Upon exercise of the Option by Canarc, Canarc and Eureka will form a joint venture with respect to the further development of the Property.

Transaction Rationale for Canarc

Canarc entered into the Option Agreement as a result of the following considerations:

Prior third party exploration expenditures on the Property totalling $15 million have yielded a good understanding of the geology of the Property.

Eureka reports an NI 43-101 total measured and Indicated resource of 376,000 ounces gold ("Au"), at an average grade of 0.776 g/t Au, comprised of measured resource of 5,600,000 tonnes at 0.812 Au g/t containing 145,000 oz Au and indicated resource of 9,570,000 tonnes at 0.755 Au g/t containing 231,000 oz Au and an Inferred resource of 634,900 ounces Au at an average grade of 0.718 g/t Au comprised of 27,493,000 tonnes at 0.718 Au g/t . This is considered a historical estimate.

Main zone resource area is open down dip and along strike for expansion, targets are drill ready.

A total of 49,691 meters of exploration drilling in 402 holes has been completed to date.

Recent geophysical and geochemical work has identified several other prospective targets with potential for a significant increase in resources.

Laboratory flotation testing has yielded excellent recoveries.

The Property is easily accessible by paved and all weather logging roads.

The Option diversifies Canarc's portfolio of BC gold properties.

Exercise of the Option could add substantial additional gold resources at an attractive cost.

FG Project

The Property, known as the FG Gold Project, is located in the Cariboo Gold Camp, situated in the historic Quesnel Trough area of central British Columbia and has a long history of continued exploration since the 1970s. A combination of quartz veins and knotted phyllites host gold mineralization containing coarse free gold and finer grained sulphide bearing gold.

The Property consists of 33 contiguous mineral claims totalling 10,400 hectares.

Eureka has held the Property (formerly called Frasergold) since 1982. To date over $15.0 million of exploratory work has been completed on the Property.

Through drilling, soil sampling, induced polarization ("IP") geophysical surveys and surface exploration mineralization has been defined over a strike length of 3 kilometres, and has indicated potential for additional mineralization that could extend along an interpreted strike length of over 10 kilometers.

An airborne geophysical survey was completed in 2007 covering a large portion of the Eureka Syncline. To cover the area of the airborne survey over the southern limb of the syncline new claims were acquired in June, 2016. A detailed geophysical interpretation was completed on the area of these new claims by SJ Geophysics Ltd. of Surrey, B.C. in July, 2016. The results of this work has revealed three conductive / resistive horizons of the sedimentary package that makes up the favorable lithologies of gold mineralization in the Property Main Zone.

In the Main Zone, the favorable horizon is interpreted at the contact of the upper resistive zone (Knotted phyllite) and the middle conductive zone (black banded phyllite). This same sequence appears at elevations ranging 1700 - 2000 meters (asl) at the South Limb. Only limited prospecting by geochemistry has been completed in this area of the Property.

In July 2016 soil sampling was completed collecting 114 samples in the area of the northwest extension referred to as the northwest "offset" zone. Mapping, sampling and prospecting the "offset" zone was also completed to note similar lithologies to the Main Zone. Results indicate a strong correlation of gold anomalies in soil to the favorable electromagnetic horizon. Soil sample assays ranged from
Twitter wasn't too kind to the actor after he apparently did a shoddy job as a DJ. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@bobby_deol_official_fanpage

By Hemul Goel: After leading to the creation of well-intended puns like "DJ Waaley Bobby" once the news of Bobby Deol taking a new direction in his professional life--i.e. moving to DJing--broke out, it seems like the actor can't help but be the butt of jokes on Twitter.

Also read: Indian aunties singing DJ Wale Babu in kirtan style is breaking the internet

advertisement

Round two of the jokes saw the actor being roasted on Twitter, after reports surfaced about the public demand for a refund, post his failed DJing gig at a posh club in the Capital. According to a Deccan Chronicle report, the main source of angst was the fact that in-spite of the price paid by those in attendance, the actor bored everyone by repeatedly playing songs from his 1997 release, Gupt.

The source was quoted saying the following on the website, "It was a sold out event for Bobby's 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."

Obviously, once the news reached the Twitterati, they delivered burn after burn, regarding the actor's latest professional misstep.

Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@ZiddiDesai

Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@Gauravthapar9

Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@VaibhavNegi85

Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@IndiPRgirl

However, some had more important questions to ask:

Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@chulbuli_pandey Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@chulbuli_pandey

Twitter screengrab. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@vinayaravind

But, the best is obviously this parody account's reaction to the news.

Public: Refund refund refund.

Bobby: pic.twitter.com/QTsK33W2Ik

DJ Bobby Deol (@bobbydeol_) August 25, 2016



And, for those who had happily buried away the track in some lost corner of their brains, here's a refresher.







--- ENDS ---
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Carube Copper Corp. (TSXV: CUC), announced today that it has secured its right to acquire, subject to a 2% NSR, 100% of the Fiedmont Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project ("Fiedmont") by making the first of four scheduled anniversary payments to the vendors. Fiedmont consists of 54 mining claims and covers 23 square kilometres. It is accessible by paved highway and located 30 kilometres north of Val d'Or, a major mining and service centre in west Quebec.

Amendment to Vendor Agreement

Subject to the pending approval of the TSXV, the compensation payable to the vendors for the first anniversary payment shall be a total of 238,148 common shares, consisting of: a) 90,000 common shares of CUC; plus an additional (b) 148,148 common shares of CUC, in lieu of $20,000 in cash, (based on an average trading price of $0.135 per share for the 7 trading days prior to July 7, 2016; the anniversary date).

Previous Work and Discoveries

Following the discovery of PGE mineralization in a highway cut in 2001 by two local geologists, R.J. (Bob) Tremblay and Terry Coyle, exploration work which consisted of prospecting, blasting, geophysical, geochemical and geological surveys, and limited drilling were completed. Multiple zones, with historic intercepts of up to 1.19 g/t PGEs (0.86 g/t Pd + 0.33 g/t Pt) over 8.6m, 1.48 g/t PGEs (1.04 g/t Pd + 0.44 Pt) over 5m and 1.05 g/t PGEs (0.77 g/t Pd + 0.28 Pt) over 3.5m1 have been delineated by scout drilling in one small part of the project area. Similar intercepts were recorded in blast holes and trenches; one channel sample yielded 5.69 g/t PGEs (4.16 g/t Pd + 1.53 g/t Pt) over 1m.1 The PGE mineralization is associated with three distinct complex differentiated mafic to intermediate intrusions within the Kinojevis Group volcanic rocks. Within the northern-most intrusion, soil geochemistry, geophysics and prospecting have identified nine PGE targets with at least five being high priority.

Of note is the fact that Fiedmont and Lac des Iles mining complex (LDI), one of only two primary producers of palladium in the world, have similar host rocks, intrusives and Pd/ Pt ratios. Carube Copper believes that this is a result of the energetic emplacement of a differentiated complex intrusive with numerous disruptive magma pulses, subsequent alteration and the emplacement of PGE mineralization. Also, Fiedmont is of a similar size to the Lac des Iles' 3 km long by 1.5 km wide, Mine Block Intrusion. The PGE targets at Fiedmont as outlined by soil geochemistry have similar planar dimensions to the PGE zones at LDI.

Numerous lithium, bismuth and molybdenum targets were delineated in one part of the northern-most intrusion at Fiedmont, which is within 2.5km of the eastern margins of the La Corne batholith.

1 Historic results from Kinbauri Gold Corp press release April 3, 2006. Reported PGE results are combined Pd and Pt assays.

Planned Exploration

Future work will involve trenching and stripping of areas that have been identified by the soil geochemistry to be prospective for palladium and platinum as well as areas prospective for molybdenum, bismuth and lithium. A better understanding of the nature, grade and structure of the mineralization is required in order to correctly locate and align follow-up drilling.

Terms of Agreement Moving Forward

Over the next 3 anniversary dates, Carube Copper must issue a total of 310,000 shares, pay the vendors $130,000 and complete a total of $630,000 in exploration expenditures to earn a 100% interest in the Fiedmont project.









Fiedmont PGE Property near Val d'Or Quebec

Cannot view this image? Please visit:

http://www.accesswire.com/uploads/22261_a1472140782376_69.jpg to view this image.

Contacts

Jeff Ackert, President and CEO  1-613-839-3258  jackert@carubecopper.com

Vern Rampton, Executive VP of Corporate Development  1-613-839-3258  vrampton@carubecopper.com

Alar Soever, Chairman  1-705-682-9297  asoever@carubecopper.com

www.carubecopper.com

QP Statement: This press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Vern Rampton, P. Eng. in his capacity as a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101.

Carube Copper Corp. (CUC.V), is a Canadian exploration company focused on the exploration and development of copper and gold projects in Jamaica and Canada. In Jamaica, two projects, totalling 188 square kilometres in area, are the subject of separate joint venture agreements with OZ Minerals Limited, an Australian copper-gold producer with a market capitalization of $2B. Carube Copper holds a 100% interest in two other nearby projects, totalling 80 square kilometres. In Canada, Carube Copper holds a 100% interest in three porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum properties, totalling 593 square kilometres within the Tertiary-aged Cascade Magmatic Arc in southwestern British Columbia. Exploration continues on these properties with the goal of joint-venturing them to larger exploration and mining companies. Carube Copper continues to seek opportunities in Canada and the Caribbean for acquisition and development.

DISCLAIMER & FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on currently available information, Carube Copper Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Factors that can cause results to differ materially are set out in the Company's documents filed on the SEDAR website. Undue reliance should not be placed on "forward looking statements."

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By reference herewith, Carube Copper incorporates into this release the entire disclaimer set forth on our website at http://carubecopper.com/disclaimer.htm.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Carube Copper Corp.
Critically acclaimed since it first screened at the Sundance Film Festival early this year, moviegoers can now catch a glimpse of the upcoming Kenneth Lonergan movie in a first trailer. The film sees Casey Affleck faced with a family tragedy and its aftermath, taking him back to his past in his hometown of Manchester by the Sea.

Following the death of his brother, Boston plumber Lee Chandler returns to the small fishing town in Massachusetts where he grew up after being made legal guardian of his 16-year-old nephew, Patrick.

Since its Sundance screening in January, "Manchester by the Sea" has been showered in praise by American critics. This third movie from Kenneth Lonergan ("You Can Count On Me," "Margaret") is also due to appear at international film festivals in Toronto and New York in September, ahead of its US release in November. This kind of exposure could stand the film in good stead for 2017 Oscar nominations.

The critics aren't short of praise for the cast either, including Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams and young actor Lucas Hedges. Kyle Chandler also stars as the dead brother.

"Manchester by the Sea" is due for US release November 18.

Check out the trailer here: Youtu.be/41MV4QotMHY
Afghan security forces are being killed or wounded in attacks by the Taliban and other groups in even higher numbers than last year, when they suffered devastating losses, a NATO official said Thursday.

Authorities estimate about 5,000 local police and troops were killed in 2015 -- with an additional 15,000 wounded.

The grim numbers are set to increase this year, said US Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, a senior spokesman for NATO's Operation Resolute Support, which helps train and advise Afghan partners.

"What we do know is that the pace of casualties for the Afghans this year has been higher," Kabul-based Cleveland told reporters in a video call.

"We are concerned about the number of Afghan casualties, and we work with the Afghans as much as we can to try and reduce those."

He did not provide numbers, but a subsequent NATO email said that the increase was about 20 percent so far this year from the comparable period in 2015.

The substantial losses highlight Afghanistan's ongoing security crisis, which has worsened in recent months with frequent Taliban offensives and attacks by other groups.

Afghan forces at the start of 2015 succeeded NATO in handling most of the country's security, but despite extensive training and assistance from the alliance, they are struggling to contain the Taliban.

On Wednesday, militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul in an unclaimed assault that killed 16.

And earlier in the week, with fighting intensifying, NATO announced the deployment of around 100 US troops to Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, to help head off a potential Taliban takeover of the city.

Cleveland said the high level of casualties actually demonstrated Afghans' resilience.

"For many militaries, that would break their back," he said.

But "they were able to continue to regroup and they were now of course able to move out on the offense."

US President Barack Obama, elected eight years ago partly on a promise to end America's longest war, last month put the brakes on the US pullout from Afghanistan.

Story continues

He ordered 8,400 troops to remain into next year to tackle the Taliban threat. He had previously vowed to slash the US troop presence from its current level of 9,800 to 5,500 by 2017.

The Afghans have about 320,000 police and troops. The security forces are grappling not just with attacks but with internal issues such as deeply entrenched corruption.

Nonetheless, Cleveland said, "We still do believe that the ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) is performing better this year than they performed last year."

"We still believe that they are generally on a positive trajectory."
- Solid performance despite challenging retail environment

- Positive SSS growth across operations except Brazil

- Continued progress on efficiency measures, under-performing store program and sale of non-core assets

- Adjusted EBITDA rises to CLP 206.6 billion on better operational performance and profit achieved from the sale of non-core assets

- Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA falls to 3.2 times

SANTIAGO, CHILE / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Cencosud S.A. (BCS: CENCOSUD; NYSE: CNCO), a leading South American retailer with operations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Colombia, today announced its consolidated financial results for the second quarter 2016. All figures are in Chilean pesos (CLP), except where indicated otherwise, and in accordance with IFRS. Variations refer to the comparison between 2Q16 and 2Q15.

Cencosud reported improved 2Q16 results despite a more challenging economic environment and deceleration in consumption across the region. Results were underpinned by efficiency measures, focus on core operations, resilience of main businesses and geographic diversification.

Revenues in local currency continue to increase in all markets with the exception of Brazil. Nevertheless, revenue in Chilean pesos decreased 4.2%, due to the devaluation of the Argentine peso (30.8%), Colombian peso (9.3%) and Brazilian real (4.0%) over the same period last year.

Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 428 bps reaching 8.2% in 2Q16. Adjusted EBITDA grew 99.2% in the period, despite currency devaluation, due to better operational results and profit from the sale of non-core assets.

Net Profit increased 66.3%, reaching CLP 86,367 million driven by better operational performance, sale of non-core assets, the positive impact of the exchange rate over dollar denominated debt and asset revaluation. In contrast with extraordinary negative one off effects registered in 2015.

Please visit investors.cencosud.com to obtain the full second quarter earnings release, including financial results and tables.

Management Comment

In the second quarter of 2016, we continued to execute on our strategy of cost discipline and emphasis on profitability in the face of a challenging retail environment. Our revenues for the quarter were lowered by headwinds including currency depreciation and moderate economic growth. Even so, our operations still generated solid financial results, with positive SSS figures in nearly every business. Financial results this quarter also benefited from the sale of non-core assets. We also continue to deleverage our balance sheet, and have reduced our Net Debt / Adj. EBITDA to 3.2x.

We are pleased with the way we have navigated challenging operating conditions so far in 2016, and remain confident in our ability to execute our strategy to drive profits for the remainder of the year. We are cautiously optimistic on the prospect of improving economic conditions and believe Cencosud has the scale and experience a privilege position to take advantage of this dynamic.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results on Friday, August 26th, 2016 at 1:00PM Chilean time/ 12:00PM EST. To participate on the day of the call, dial 1-888-349-0108 or 1-412-902-4201 approximately ten minutes before the call and tell the operator you wish to join the Cencosud Conference Call. A webcast of the conference call will be available online at http://investors.cencosud.com/English/investor-overview/financials/quarterly-reports/default.aspx

About Cencosud S.A.

Cencosud is a leading multi-brand retailer in South America, headquartered in Chile and with operations in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. The company, founded by Chairman Horst Paulmann, operates in supermarkets, home improvement stores, shopping centers and department stores, always aiming to deliver the right product at the right price to Latin America's growing middle class. In 2012, the company listed American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange.

Forward-Looking Statements:

In addition to historical information, this release contains "forward-looking statements" that reflect management's expectations for the future. The forward-looking statements included herein represent Cencosud's views as of the date of this release. A variety of important factors could cause results to differ materially from such statements. These factors are laid out in Cencosud's filings with the SVS in Chile and the SEC in the United States. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason unless required by law.

Corporate Communications



Renato Fernandez

Phone +5622959 0905

renato.fernandez@cencosud.cl

Investor Relations



Maria Soledad Fernandez

Phone +5622959 0545

mariasoledad.fernandez@cencosud.cl

Natalia Nacif

Phone +5622959 0368

natalia.nacif@cencosud.cl

Valentina Klein

Phone +5622200 4395

valentina.klein@cencosud.cl

SOURCE: Cencosud S.A.
bubble art

Mylan, the maker of emergency allergy medication EpiPen, has taken it on the chin over the past few days after an outcry over the drug's price.

CEO Heather Bresch took to the airwaves on Thursday to defend the company, telling CNBC that the hike is a product of the whole healthcare system.

Here's Bresch (emphasis added):

"There are four or five hands that the product touches and companies that it goes through before it ever gets to that patient at the counter. No one  everybody should be frustrated. I am hoping that this is an inflection point for this country. Our health care is in a crisis. It's no different than the mortgage financial crisis back in 2007. This bubble is going to burst."

Bresch is right about two things: Prices are increasing in the healthcare industry, and there are a lot of complex components in the industry. Dig a little deeper, however, and the housing-crisis comparison falls apart.

The increasing price of healthcare

Insurance premiums, drug prices, and care costs are up. According to the US Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the total spending in the US on healthcare topped $3 trillion for the first time in 2014  the most recent year for which data is available.

The complexity and layers of the healthcare system do seem to reflect the layers of the mortgage market in 2007. During the housing crisis, banks, nonbank lenders, insurance companies, ratings agencies, mortgage brokers, and others all had their hands in the mortgage market. Now, there are drugmakers, healthcare providers, pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies, and others involved in delivering and profiting off of healthcare.

So, to be fair: Yes, increasing costs are a problem. Is it getting expensive for the average American? Sure. Are there legitimate gripes about the healthcare system? Sure.

But the question that matters to the housing-market analogy isn't whether prices are rising. The question is whether they are increasing at an unsustainable rate.

Story continues

A bubble forms when there is money pouring into an asset without justification. The demand, and the reasons people are accessing healthcare, are not unjustified. There may be some kinks to work out to bring down costs, but it doesn't appear to be leading to a crash  at least not yet.

house building construction

Here are a few differences

One of the reasons why house prices increased so much and the bubble formed in the early 2000s was because people were trying to move into houses when they couldn't actually afford to.

In the healthcare industry, many of these drugs are necessary for the survival of patients.

For example, Americans during the housing crisis were buying a four-bedroom house when they could really only afford a two-bedroom. The increased demand helped drive prices to an unsustainable point.

Nowadays, people aren't buying six EpiPens when they need only two  well, maybe some people do, but not on such a large scale.

On the banks' side, the lowering of credit standards brought more people to homeownership than would have bought otherwise. These policies made it cheaper at the point of sale for potential homeowners.

For the healthcare industry, its policies aren't necessarily making it easier to access healthcare and generating demand that otherwise wouldn't be there. In fact, it's doing the opposite. For instance, the increased use of high-deductible insurance plans  as Mylan noted  are actually causing people to pay more for their own healthcare. This, in fact, has been shown to slow the increase of healthcare costs and maybe reduce spending.

To be fair, both industries had government-created access. In 2007, it was policies that made it easier for lower-income people and minorities to access mortgages, and for healthcare it is Obamacare.

Epi Pen

Additionally, as my colleague, Lydia Ramsey, noted, drug prices are increasing not because there is an overheating in the market  as there would be with an asset bubble  but because drugmakers own patents that restrict competition and have high levels of control over setting the price.

Demand is also simply increasing because there is a legitimate need. As the American public gets older, people aren't spending more because they want more  they're spending more because they need more. Baby boomers need more prescription drugs and check-ups, and so will spend more.

Even with this aging, the amount of money being spent on healthcare isn't exactly in an unsustainable boom. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, increases in US spending on healthcare are actually growing at their lowest levels in decades, not exactly ballooning.

In relation, everything from housing starts to single-family homes sold were setting records during the years before the housing crisis hit.

NOW WATCH: JAMES ALTUCHER: The American Dream is a lie





More From Business Insider


Clintons Chelsea Hillary Bill

Chelsea Clinton plans to stay on the board of the Clinton Foundation if Hillary Clinton is elected president in November, a spokeswoman for the younger Clinton told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

That follows an earlier report this week that said the Clinton family would wind down some of the foundation's activities if Hillary Clinton wins the White House.

Chelsea is committed to ensuring that those benefiting from the foundations work will be able to continue receiving that often life-changing help, a spokeswoman for Chelsea Clinton told The Journal.

The representative did not specify whether Chelsea would stop fundraising, only noting that she will steward the implementation of changes, including new fundraising policies.

Ray Madoff, a professor at Boston College Law School, told The Journal that it would be a complicated case if Chelsea stays.

The Clinton Foundation has been way too inattentive to the appearance of impropriety, Madoff said. Chelsea clearly has access to her parents so the appearance of impropriety continues.

Additionally, the Clinton Health Access Initiative might continue to accept foreign donations and corporate funding, according officials representing the initiative who cited its heavy reliance on government donations for public health projects.

Clinton family, Clinton Foundation

Former President Bill Clinton, who originally established the Clinton Foundation, told donors in a letter sent Monday that he plans to resign if his wife is elected.

He also said in the letter that the foundation would raise money only from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and U.S.-based independent foundations.

Story continues

These changes were to eliminate legitimate concerns about potential conflicts of interest, Mr. Clinton said.

A report Tuesday by the Associated Press showed that at least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or spoke on the phone with Hillary Clinton while she led the US State Department collectively contributed as much as $156 million to the Clinton Foundation.

In response to that report, Republican nominee Donald Trump accused the Clinton family of running a so-called pay-to-play scheme that grants political access to donors.

NOW WATCH: Penn Jillette reveals what it was like to work with Donald Trump on 'Celebrity Apprentice'





More From Business Insider


Anand in Gujarat has become the centre for surrogacy. The number of successful deliveries is the highest in the world as childless couples and destitute women both find hope.

Childless even after six years of marriage, a desperate Thomas Kim, 35, a loan manager in a bank in California, and his wife Karen, 34, decided to get a child by a surrogate mother, through a private US agency, for $150,000 (Rs 60 lakh). Just before they were to sign the deal, Thomas read a front-page news report in The Los Angeles Times on how poor women were lending their wombs to childless couples in Anand, a small town in Gujarat, thanks to the efforts of gynaecologist Naina Patel.

The couple got in touch with Patel and last February, Regina Malik, 29, wife of a factory employee, delivered their son, Brady, at Patel's Akanksha Fertility Clinic, for just over $12,000 (Rs 5 lakh).

advertisement

Today, the couple can't take their eyes off Brady, who looks every bit their child-like Karen, he has a dimple on his cheek, and his eyes resemble Thomas's. Spurred by the joys of parenthood, Thomas and Karen are now going for their second child in Anand, this time by another local woman. Says Thomas, "The ease with which Brady was born and the cost we paid for making our lives meaningful are simply unthinkable in the US."

The Pioneer: Gynaecologist and Akanksha fertility Clinic founder naina Patel (centre) holding a newborn, with women who have opted for surrogate motherhood

Anand has in fact become, literally, a cradle for surrogate mothers in India, thanks to Akanksha, which specialises in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Patel, fondly known as Nainaben, has facilitated the birth of 35 babies through surrogate mothers in her clinic since 2003, when the first surrogate mother delivered.

The number of successful surrogate deliveries in Anand is the highest in the world. It was this achievement and the pressing need for surrogate mothers in the US that prompted New York's ABC Television to interview Patel on its show, Good Morning America. With 42 surrogate mothers now carrying the embryos of childless couples-among them Americans, Germans, Taiwanese, Korean and Israeli couples, besides nris and locals-there is little doubt that Anand, which also heralded the milk revolution, is all set to lead a revolution in surrogate motherhood.

The system in place at her clinic, which Patel set up in 1999, is fairly simple. Those wanting a child get themselves registered and so do the women who wish to take up surrogacy. The first list-which now comprises 250 childless couples-is always longer than the second despite more and more women taking up surrogacy. Once a candidate is chosen by a couple, they sign a legal contract with her covering the details of payment.

The semen and eggs of the couple are then collected, fertilised in the clinic laboratory, and then injected into the uterus of the surrogate. Within 15 days, it becomes clear if the woman will conceive or not. If she doesn't-the success rate is 50 per cent-the candidate gets a nominal amount from the couple as per the contract. On conception, she gets Rs 2.5 lakh, in addition to a monthly amount of Rs 3,000 that the couple spend on the pregnancy in order to get a healthy child.

advertisement

Future Perfect Thomas and Karen Kim, an American couple of South Korean origin, with their child Brady and Patel

Mark, 54, and Darcy Cornwell, 39, an American couple, attempted to beget a child through an Anand surrogate, but the woman carrying the couple's sperm and eggs failed to conceive. However, they have not given up. Says Patel, "A second try generally doesn't fail. That's our experience."

An analysis of some cases of surrogate motherhood in Akanksha Clinic shows how a highly sensitive concept has become acceptable now. Take the example of Pushpa Pandya, 27, who gave birth to a child for a Bangalore-based couple last year and is now carrying the child of an NRI couple based in the US.

She got Rs 2.5 lakh for the first delivery, which helped her and her husband Jagdish, a delivery boy in a courier company, build a small house of their own.

advertisement

Pushpa says she will use the proceeds from the second delivery to educate her daughter Jinal, a bright Class III student who wants to be a doctor. Says Pushpa, "When I first decided to become a surrogate last year, I became an outcast among friends and family.

Mother's Pride Regina Malik, the surrogate mother who delivered Brady early last year. She has rented a flat in Anand, where she now takes care of women who have taken up surrogacy in secret.

But an article by Nainaben in a local newspaper, describing scientifically what surrogate motherhood is, and the resultant enhancement in my financial status due to the money I earned, changed all that. Surrogacy has suddenly become acceptable to everyone." Her husband has been supportive. "Once we spoke to Nainaben, we were convinced there was no moral question involved in it," he says.

Then there is Manjula Chakranarayan, 30, a maidservant earning just Rs 50-100 a day, who is pregnant with the child of a Sindhi couple from Jammu and Kashmir. "We are fed up of poverty. This is the best way to lead a better life. All my relatives know about it. They say that if I am doing it for my children, there's nothing wrong in it," she says.

advertisement

However, not every surrogate mother has had it so easy. Fear of social boycott has forced Jagruti Rathod, wife of an autorickshaw driver from Vadodara, to keep her surrogate pregnancy an absolute secret. Her three children are under the impression that she has gone to Israel to work as a nurse on a year's contract. But the fact is, she is living in a flat in Anand where Regina, with Patel's help, is taking care of seven others who have taken up surrogacy in secret. Says Jagruti, "With the Rs 2.5 lakh that I will get, I will first clear a loan of Rs 1 lakh that my husband had taken and also buy a new CNG autorickshaw for him."

The story of Jasmine Pravin Christian, 42, the oldest among the surrogate mothers in Anand, is even more moving. Her husband is a drunkard and one of her daughters, who suffers from mental disability, needs immediate treatment. On a nurse's advice, Jasmine is carrying the child of an Indian couple based in Dubai. "I needed Rs 1.5 lakh for my daughter's treatment," she says. Almost all these women come from the deprived sections of society, mostly Christians and the lower classes amongst the Hindus. Of the two Muslim women in Anand who are now pregnant, one will deliver for a foreign-based Muslim couple.

An attempt on the part of the poor to earn quick money is one of the main factors responsible for this phenomenon, but it could not have been possible without the awareness spread by Patel, who has tried to lend a human touch to a concept that is otherwise based on mere economic give-and-take. The doctor, who arranges surrogate candidates for free, charging only for IVF and hospital fees, refuses to term it "rent a womb", calling it "donating a womb" instead. "There's a powerful emotional angle to it which gets buried when it is described in the language of economics. I don't simply facilitate surrogacy, but also play the role of a psychiatrist," she insists.

A better life Thirty-year-old Manjula Chakranarayan, a maidservant who is pregnant with the child of a Sindhi couple from Jammu and Kashmir

In many cases, the surrogate mother becomes so attached to the child that she forgets it is not hers genetically. Patel and her husband Hitesh, an orthopaedic surgeon, handle the psychological aspect of such cases. Some devout Hindu couples request the surrogate mother to read verses from the Gita in the belief that it will have a positive effect on the development of their child in her womb. In all this, the Patels are the crucial link.

Another responsibility is to ensure that the money a surrogate receives is properly spent by her and not blown away by her husband. For this, the duo counsels the pregnant surrogate. Admits Patel, "The emotional pressure is too much to bear at times."

In a recent case, a couple was so grateful to the surrogate mother for giving birth to their baby that they deposited a sum of Rs 50,000 in fixed deposits in the name of each of her children.

Another beneficiary couple from Hyderabad keep a picture of the surrogate mother in their puja room. The same sentiment is echoed by Dipti, 29, and Rajesh Pandya, 40, of the UK, who are now expecting their first child through a surrogate. When Dipti came to Anand to finalise their candidate, she wept uncontrollably recalling how badly she was treated just because she was 'barren'.

True to its name, Anand has brought joy to many childless couples. Even as Patel says it is a win-win situation for the couple as well as for the poor surrogate mother, the rather unorthodox practice banned in many western countries and regulated strictly by law in others, continues to pose a moral question.

--- ENDS ---
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday it has been providing medical training for Syria, following a visit to the war-ravaged country last week by a senior Chinese officer. While relying on the region for oil supplies, China tends to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, namely the United States, Britain, France and Russia. But China has been trying to get more involved, including sending envoys to help push for a diplomatic resolution to the violence there and hosting Syrian government and opposition figures. Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Syrian Defence Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij in Damascus last week and discussed personnel training. Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing that this year marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and that they had long been good friends. "China has always played a proactive role in looking for a political resolution for the Syrian issue," he said. "At the agreement of both countries militaries, China has provided medical equipment as well as medicine and other humanitarian aid to Syria, mainly to ease the humanitarian crisis," Wu added. "On the same consideration, China has also provided medical, nursing and other professional training," he said, without elaborating. Wu said in a later statement that the training would take place in China. While China has shown no interest in getting involved militarily in Syria, China's special envoy for the crisis there in April praised Russia's military role in the war. China has its own security concerns about violence in the region. China is worried that Uighurs, a mostly Muslim people from western China's Xinjiang region, have been fighting with militant groups in Syria and Iraq, having traveled there illegally via Southeast Asia and Turkey. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel and Simon Cameron-Moore)
From Popular Mechanics

The Chinese government has released illustrations of the rover it plans to send to Mars in 2020. The rover is designed to operate for three months, and if the mission is successful, it would make the country's space program the fifth to send an artificial object to the red planet.

The illustrations show that the Chinese team is seeking to scale up their rovers. The new vehicle will be bigger in every way than the Jade Rabbit/Yutu rover that touched down on the Moon in 2013. Weighing 441 pounds compared to Yutu's 310, and carrying six solar panels instead of four, the new rover will be closer in size to the American Curiosity than anything the Chinese space program has delivered before.

Photo credit: Xinhua

According to Xinhua, the official Chinese state news, the rover will land in a "low-latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars," which could explain the increased number of solar panels. The sunlight in this area will not be as plentiful as at the equator, but the rover should have an easier time traversing the terrain. More solar panels could compensate for the loss. The rover will also carry thirteen "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."

Photo credit: Xinhua

The Chinese Premier, Xi Jinping, has made it known for years that he considers space exploration a top priority. In 2014 he announced that the Air Force should incorporate space into its defense plans, and earlier this year he established a Space Day holiday on April 26th. In line with this vision, China has announced the creation of a second space station to be launched this year and plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2036. In addition to the illustrations and payload details, China also announced a naming competition for both the spacecraft and the rover.

China sees itself in direct competition with India, having already been stung by that country's Mars probe beating them to the red planet. "Although we are not the first Asian nation to send a probe to Mars," says Ye Peijian, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, "we want to start at a higher level." With any luck, the 2020 Chinese rover could work in conjunction with its American counterpart.

Source: Japan Times

You Might Also Like
(Updates byline)

By Elzio Barreto and Sue-Lin Wong

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Aug 25 (Reuters) - China's bid to tame its peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector could cost smaller platforms some business, but the impact on larger players will be limited, and some of the new restrictions will be hard to enforce, analysts and industry players said.

Regulators unveiled a series of measures on Wednesday night to head off signs of rising risks in its fast-growing P2P market, including borrowing limits and forcing P2P platforms to use third-party banks as custodians of investor funds.

China's P2P and online finance industry has boomed in recent years, but growth is slowing after a series of scandals and multi-billion dollar failures.

The regulator's announcement knocked 22 percent off the New York-listed shares of Chinese P2P lender Yirendai Ltd overnight, while Chinese stocks fell to a two-week low on Thursday, weighed by banking shares on concerns over the crackdown on riskier lending practices.

But many larger P2P companies including Lufax, Yirendai, PPDAI and Dianrong.com, say they already comply with many of the new requirements, so could benefit from the restrictions.

"Before the rules were released, people didn't have judgement on which platform is good, but now they can understand it. Investors will definitely withdraw money from the platforms which are violating the rules," said Cliff Zhang, chief executive of China's oldest P2P lender PPDAI.

China's government for years maintained a hands-off approach to promote alternative sources of funding for consumers and small businesses, which often struggle to get credit from banks and other mainstream financial institutions.

The volume of P2P loans surged more than 20 times to 656.8 billion yuan ($98.7 billion) at the end of July from just 30.9 billion yuan in January 2014, according to industry data provider Wangdaizhijia.

Nomura estimates that could reach 880 billion yuan by the end of 2016 and 1.5 trillion yuan by the end of 2018.

Story continues

P2P lenders have been discussing new rules with the government for several months in a bid to improve sentiment toward the sector, which took a big hit earlier this year when Ezubao, once China's biggest P2P lending platform, folded.

Ezubao turned out to be a Ponzi scheme that solicited 50 billion yuan in less than two years from more than 900,000 retail investors.

The dialogue with government has given platforms the opportunity to start preparing for the changes, and they have a year's grace to implement some of them.

"At the beginning of last year we started to transform our business model from SMEs to individuals, so now more than half of the loans we match are under this 200,000 yuan limit," said Xie Qun, CEO of P2P platform Jimubox.

"We're confident with this one-year grace period, we'll be able to convert all this business to be compliant," he added.

Several lenders already segregate investors' funds into custodial accounts with banks to prevent fraud, while for companies like Lufax, a typical unsecured loan would be in the 100,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan range, below the government cap.

Industry officials said borrowers and lenders were in any case likely to find ways around the caps.

"If you look at how China's internet market has worked historically, people always find a way," said Simon Loong, founder and CEO of WeLab, which operates a P2P platform in Hong Kong and Chinese mobile lending platform Wolaidai.

"I don't mean to try to beat the system, but people try to adapt their business model, find a way to survive with the customer base or information data they've already collected. People always find a way to survive." ($1 = 6.6518 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Elzio Barreto and Sue-Lin Wong; Writing by Elzio Barreto; Editing by Will Waterman)
China's main offshore oil and gas producer CNOOC saw its shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange fall on Thursday, after it reported a $1.16 billion net loss for the first half of 2016.

It was the company's first half-year loss since it started trading on the Hong Kong exchange in 2000, with CNOOC blaming low oil prices and write-downs on assets for its performance.

"Further recovery of international oil prices faces headwinds," the company said in a statement sent to the Hong Kong bourse late Wednesday.

CNOOC posted a net loss for the six months ending June 30 of 7.74 billion yuan ($1.16 billion), alongside a 25.4 percent drop in revenue to 66.83 billion yuan.

This was in line with a warning the firm issued in July saying it could see an 8.0 billion yuan (1.2 billion) net loss, compared to a net profit of 14.7 billion yuan in the same period last year.

CNOOC said it saw an impairment loss of approximately 10.4 billion yuan for the period on "fields in North America, Europe and Africa".

This was "primarily due to the revision of the estimation for the oil price forecast and the adjustment in operating plan for oil sand assets in Canada."

CNOOC acquired Canada's Nexen Energy in 2013 for $15 billion, which many analysts said was too much.

The company warned of tough conditions for the rest of the year, saying it would be "complex and volatile".

"Uncertainties still remain in both the international and domestic macro environment," it said.

CNOOC's shares fell 1.8 percent in Hong Kong during Wednesday morning trade.

China's economic growth slowed to 6.7 percent in the first quarter, its weakest quarterly expansion in seven years.

Plunging crude prices have hurt other major Chinese energy firms.

PetroChina's net profit plunged 97.9 percent in the first half of this year, at 531 million yuan ($79.9 million), down drastically from the 25.4 billion yuan it made in the same period last year.

PetroChina also warned oil prices will continue to "keep fluctuating at a low level".
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - China's ambassador told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that their countries should fight protectionism together during a meeting a week after two Chinese firms were blocked from buying a stake in Australia's biggest power grid, broadcaster ABC reported on Thursday. Ambassador Cheng Jingye met Turnbull on Monday, ahead of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in early September, according to a notice on the embassy's website posted on Thursday. "It is our hope that both sides would work together to stand for trade and investment facilitation and liberalization and against protectionism of all manifestations," Cheng said in a speech at the Chinese embassy, the ABC reported. The Chinese envoy said he hoped that the two countries could build on momentum generated by last year's Free Trade Agreement, while acknowledging that both countries do hold some political differences, according to the report. "It is natural that the two countries may disagree on some issues," he said, according to the ABC. Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison last week officially rejected bids by two Chinese companies in the A$10-billion ($7.67-billion) sale of Ausgrid, after they failed to overcome security concerns. The decision has caused a rift between Australia and its biggest trading partner. China has accused Australia of bowing to protectionist sentiment in blocking the bid for Ausgrid, as well as an earlier one by a China-led consortium to buy cattle company Kidman & Co. (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
HONG KONG, Aug 25 (Reuters) - China pork company WH Group Ltd said on Thursday a major investor, Chinese private equity firm CDH Investments, plans to sell an aggregate 10.61 percent stake in the company in placements that could raise HK$9.25 billion ($1.19 billion).

WH Group, owner of the world's largest pork producer and processor Smithfield Foods Inc, said in a Hong Kong stock exchange filing that CDH had informed the pork firm it plans to sell an aggregate 1.55 billion shares, at HK$5.95 each. The sale will be carried out via a series of deals, including private placements to buyers that could include existing shareholders.

Shares in WH Group ended 1.5 percent up on Wednesday at HK$6.26 before the CDH plan was announced, and slid 4.5 percent early in Thursday trading to HK$5.98, marginally above the CDH placement price.

CDH's shareholding in the Chinese pork company will be reduced to 19.77 percent from 30.39 percent on completion of the deals, WH Group said. WH Group gave no reason for the share sales among the major shareholders.

CDH officials in Hong Kong weren't immediately available for comment.

As part of the CDH deal, another major WH Group investor Rise Grand Group Ltd will buy 292 million of the shares, raising its stake to 36.01 percent from 34.02 percent.

Thomson Reuters publication IFR on Wednesday reported part of the CDH sale plan, citing a deal marketing term sheet.

($1 = 7.7538 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
Washington (AFP) - The Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday declassified a trove of secret daily briefings given to presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, offering fresh insights into pivotal moments in Cold War history.

The 2,500 previously classified daily intelligence briefings are peppered with details about the slowly unfolding catastrophe in Vietnam, various international crises and attempts to understand the machinations of Soviet and Chinese leaders.

The 28,000 pages offer tantalizing new insights into the context of Nixon's historic visits to China and the Soviet Union -- firsts by a sitting US president -- and his eventual disgrace and resignation.

The briefings during the Ford administration detail the fall of Saigon, the evacuation of Lebanon and Mao Zedong's death.

On February 21, 1972, the day that Nixon landed in Beijing, the CIA carefully noted which Chinese officials appeared at which events, trying to glean a better idea of the workings of the politburo -- political theater that is still closely watched today.

Briefers later informed Nixon that the visit unnerved Moscow, worried Tokyo and encouraged European powers to engage with China.

Beijing, on the other hand, was "generally pleased" with the visit.

On August 10, 1974, newly sworn-in president Gerald Ford's briefing deals in detail with the global response to Nixon's shock resignation.

"None of the potential troublemakers has produced even a rumble," his briefers noted.

Most days, the daily ritual would not be so positive.

On the last day of April 1975, Ford was bluntly informed that "President Minh surrendered Saigon unconditionally this morning."

"The flag of the Viet Cong's Provisional Revolutionary Government was hoisted over the presidential palace at 12:15 today Saigon time, marking the end of 30 years of war in Vietnam."

A year and a half later, Ford was informed that Chairman Mao had died.

"Mao had been an important member of the Chinese Communist Party since its founding in 1921," the CIA noted in an initial understatement, before examining the implications of the death of a man who was the "dominating force in Chinese politics."

Senior members of the Communist Party, the CIA speculated, may have been relieved by his death, which ended fears of reprisals.
Citigroup Inc. C and AT&T, Inc. T have put an end to the legal tussle over a trademark infringement.



Per a filing on Monday with a Manhattan federal court, the companies have dropped allegations against each other with prejudice, which means that the charges cannot be brought again.



Citigroup had alleged that AT&Ts use of the trademarks thanks and AT&T thanks infringes upon the formers trademarks including ThankYou and Citi ThankYou. According to the lawsuit filed in June, AT&T announced its new appreciation program AT&T thanks for its customers on Jun 2, despite being aware of Citigroups use of related trademarks. The banking giant has been using ThankYou trademark since 2004 in a customer loyalty program, with approximately 15 million members in the country.



The bank claimed, For many years, Citigroup has used trademarks consisting of and/or containing the term THANKYOU  including THANKYOU, CITI THANKYOU, CITIBUSINESS THANKYOU, THANKYOU FROM CITI, and THANKYOU YOUR WAY  in connection with a variety of customer loyalty, reward, incentive and redemption programs (collectively, the THANKYOU Marks).



Citigroup also stated that it has a co-branded credit card with AT&T  the AT&T Universal Card  that gives ThankYou reward points to its users based on the amount spent. Moreover, AT&Ts trademark designs have similar fonts and word placements. So, AT&Ts new program is bound to confuse costumers. Hence, Citigroup wanted the court order to stop AT&T from using the terms. Apart from this order, Citigroup also sought unspecified damages.



AT&T countered Citigroups allegations. The company spokesperson Fletcher Cook had stated in an email, This may come as a surprise to Citigroup, but the law does not allow one company to own the word thanks. Were going to continue to say thanks to our customers.



Notably, this case was dismissed after a U.S. Federal judge earlier this month rejected Citigroups request to block AT&T from using "AT&T thanks" for its customer loyalty program. Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan mentioned that though both the companies use similar words that express a message of gratitude, Citigroup has failed to show that customers would be confused or the bank would suffer irreparable harm if AT&T kept using the phrase AT&T thanks.



The termination of this suit certainly helps in maintaining the business relationship between the two companies. While Citigroup spokeswoman Jennifer Bombardier said in a statement, "We have decided not to pursue this matter any further and look forward to continuing to work with AT&T," AT&T spokesman Fletcher Cook stated, "We consider the matter closed."



Currently, both Citigroup and AT&T carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A couple of better-ranked finance stocks include Enterprise Financial Services Corp. EFSC and Credit Acceptance Corp. CACC, each sporting 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



CITIGROUP INC (C): Free Stock Analysis Report



AT&T INC (T): Free Stock Analysis Report



ENTERPRISE FINL (EFSC): Free Stock Analysis Report



CREDIT ACCEPT (CACC): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
By PTI: Mumbai, Aug 25 (PTI) Even as there were concerns over trade after Britains exit from the EU, Indian engineering exports to the UK, Germany and France have not been impacted, signalling a positive growth to the manufacturing and high-tech exports.

"The sentiment hit by Britains decision to leave the European Union has not come in the way of Indias engineering exports to UK and other two big markets of Germany and France, as these destinations defied the general declining trend, giving positive growth to the manufacturing and high-tech exports," EEPC India Chairman T S Bhasin said in a statement issued here.

advertisement

Engineering exports to Britain went up by over 12 per cent to USD 215 million in July from USD 192 million in the same month of the previous year.

Shipments to Germany were even better close to USD 200 million, rising by over 19 per cent year on year from USD 168 million in July 2015. Exports to another key market, France were moderately higher by 2.29 per cent to USD 86 million from USD about USD 84 million for the period under review.

"Somehow, the reality has sunk in. Besides a quick decision on the change of Prime Minister in UK too helped calm the nerves. New Prime Minister Teresa May is well respected, giving a re-assurance to the business community," he said.

He said the engineering exports to the UK are in line with the trend of the Britains economy defying concerns which centered around the outcome of the June 23, referendum in that country.

Besides, another key indicator of the UK retail sales in July also showed 1.4 per cent increase.

"From the engineering exports point of view, it is important to see that our shipments went up to UK despite about 11 per cent trade-weighted drop in prices of Pound Sterling, making Britains imports expensive," Bhasin added.

According to EEPC, despite reporting a rise in overall exports for the consecutive two months of May and June 2016, it slipped yet again in July contracting by 12.11 percent as against a positive growth by 2.57 percent in the previous month.

Cumulative engineering exports continued to decline as engineering exports for the first four months of the current fiscal dropped by 5.82 percent to USD 20.27 billion in April-July 2016-17 from USD 21.53 billion during April-July 2015-16. PTI PSK DK ABK RDS

--- ENDS ---
By Luciana Lopez NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clintons presidential campaign is focusing an effort to win over Asian American voters on three states where it believes the small but rapidly growing group could make the difference in her race against Republican Donald Trump. The push in closely fought Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania follows a broader national effort by Clinton's campaign to court minorities who are critical to her chances of winning the White House in the Nov. 8 election. Asians make up less than 3.5 percent of the U.S. population, but are the fastest-growing racial group in the country, according to the U.S. Census, due largely to net migration, making them more important than ever in an election. Secretary Clinton understands the importance of the AAPI community and has launched a program that reflects that, reaching AAPI voters in unprecedented ways, said Jason Tengco, the Clinton campaigns outreach director for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The three states were targeted because Asian voters could swing the outcome in the tight races between Trump and Clinton there. The effort will include print, digital and broadcast advertising in a handful of Asian languages and more coordination among volunteer groups representing ethnic communities within the Asian American and Pacific Islander group, according to the campaign. Among the recent hires for the effort was Philip Kim, a Los Angeles native who previously worked with Senator Tim Kaine, Clinton's running mate, as outreach director for Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in Nevada. The campaign did not say how much the three-state push would cost. While small, the Asian population could eclipse the margin of victory in each of the states Clinton is targeting. Asians make up some 2.1 percent of eligible voters in Pennsylvania, 5 percent in Virginia and 9 percent in Nevada, according to APIAVote, a nonpartisan group. Polling from Reuters/Ipsos shows Clinton with a mere 1 point lead over Trump in Pennsylvania, a 6 point lead in Virginia, and a 2 point lead in Nevada. GETTING ASIANS TO THE POLLS The challenge will be to get Asian Americans to the polls. Asian American voters have tended to lean Democrat but register to vote much less frequently than whites and blacks. Asian registration was about 56.3 percent in 2012, according to the Census, versus 73.1 percent for black voters and 71.9 percent for white voters. The number of Asian Americans voting in presidential elections rose from 2008 to 2012, according to the Census, which showed 4.3 million Asian voters in 2012 and a turnout of 47.9 percent. A big part of what were doing is voter registration, said Xochitl Hinojosa, a Clinton spokeswoman. Clinton's campaign has already done significant Asian outreach. It launched the "AAPI for Hillary" campaign to engage Asian voters in January and has done phone calling in a range of languages for months. But the campaign said the latest push was the first with state-specific programs. The Clinton campaign is considering advertisements in Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Chinese. A spokesperson for Trump's campaign did not respond to requests for comment about its Asian outreach. The Trump campaign has, however, recently made some efforts to appeal to black and Latino voters to undercut Clinton, including a meeting on Thursday with Latino and black Republicans in New York. Trump has had problems with minorities in the past and has angered some with his hardline anti-immigration rhetoric. He has accused Mexico of sending rapists and drug dealers over the border, vowed to build a wall to stop them and called for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to shore up U.S. national security. Clinton leads Trump by 12 percentage points nationally among likely voters, bolstered by minority support, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Cynthia Osterman)
Washington (AFP) - The tone of the US presidential campaign turned darker, with Hillary Clinton skewering Donald Trump as a man who flirts with racism and paranoid ideas, while he in turn labeled her a racist whose family foundation was a "criminal enterprise."

Speaking at a campaign event in Reno, Nevada, Clinton employed unusually tough language as she detailed a history of what she said were the Republican real estate mogul's discriminatory actions.

He had been sued as a young developer for failing to rent to black and Latino tenants, and by black employees of his casinos, the Democratic presidential candidate said.

The Republican nominee's recent choice of Steven Bannion, a firebrand conservative, as his new campaign chief showed Trump was embracing the extremist white nationalist stances of the so-called "alt-right" movement, she said.

"A man with a long history of racial discrimination who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of supermarket tabloids and the far dark reaches of the internet should never run our government or command our military," Clinton said.

Her speech came on a day when one poll showed her support reaching an important threshold -- backing from just over half of all respondents. The survey by Quinnipiac University gave her a 51 to 41 percent lead over Trump in a head-to-head race.

-'Totally bigoted'-

Trump has recently attempted to enlarge his tiny base of support among blacks -- it has been as low as 1 percent -- arguing that African Americans have "nothing to lose" by voting for him.

He met with a group of black and Latino supporters at his Trump Towers in New York early on Thursday.

Speaking in New Hampshire later, Trump lashed out at Clinton, saying she was accusing "the decent Americans who support this campaign, your campaign, of being racists, which we're not."

Calling it "a tired, disgusting argument," he said it was Clinton who was being a "racist" by viewing minorities merely as a source of votes while doing nothing for them.

Story continues

Trump doubled down later in an interview broadcast on CNN Thursday night, saying he personally thinks Clinton is "totally bigoted."

When asked to elaborate on the allegation, he said Clinton's policies "are bigoted because she knows they're not going to work."

- No path to legalization -

Trump also sought this week to moderate his earlier comments on immigration.

As president, he would focus on deporting the "bad" immigrants without uprooting the "good" ones, he said -- a sharp shift from his early insistence that all undocumented immigrants be deported.

"You can't take 11 million at one time and say boom, you're gone," Trump said on CNN.

But he repeated his pledge that there would be "no legalization" route for undocumented immigrants already in the United States, even those who have committed no crime.

"There's no legalization and there's no amnesty," he said. "If somebody wants to go the legalization route, what they'll do is go, leave the country, hopefully come back in, and then we can talk."

He also promised again that he would build a wall on the southern border.

"We will have a strong border and we'll have a tremendous wall, a wall that Mexico pays for," Trump told CNN.

Responding to Trump's immigration plan to step up deportation, the Clinton campaign said his extreme right-wing agenda "is fueling a dangerous movement of hatred across the country."

- 'Prejudice and paranoia' -

Giving in to the persistent urging of party leaders, Trump has begun relying more on a TelePrompter, allowing for fewer troublesome off-the-cuff remarks.

That new discipline has enabled the Republican tycoon to concentrate his attacks on Clinton and his allegations that, as secretary of state, she trafficked in influence through the family's Clinton Foundation.

Recently released emails showed that donors to the foundation had been given greater access to Clinton and her staff, he said.

"This week the curtain was truly lifted," he said." The corruption was revealed for all to see. The veil was pulled back on a vast criminal enterprise run out of the State Department by Hillary Clinton."

Clinton, who has denied the influence charges, pressed the argument that Trump lacks the temperament to be president.

"Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," she said. "He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party.

"His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous."
Renewable energy has made significant inroads into the U.S. energy system and even in the era of low fossil fuel prices, costs for solar and wind installations are down dramatically.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the solar industry trade group, costs to install solar panels fell by more than 70 percent over the last 10 years and during that time, solar saw a compounded annual growth rate of nearly 60 percent. The trade organization for the wind energy industry, the American Wind Energy Association, said costs are down more than 90 percent since the early 1980s.

Federal tax policy and renewable energy mandates from various states spurred much of the rapid development. With a new presidential administration set to take office in 2017, how much further federal renewable energy policy may expand, or if it may contract, could be determined by whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is elected.

[See: 10 Energy ETFs That Will Clear Your Conscience.]

"The development of alternative energy technology (is) a topic of great disparity in political platforms between the Democratic and Republican candidates," says Stewart Glickman, group head for energy equity research for S&P Global Market Intelligence in New York.

Their policies could also boost certain publicly traded companies, market analysts and investment managers say.

If Hillary Clinton wins. "Clinton has clearly spelled out an affinity for alternative energy in her campaign materials," Glickman says.

On her campaign website, Clinton states a goal to: "generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America, with half a billion solar panels installed by the end of Hillary's first term."

Glickman says that's an ambitious plan. Using SEIA data, S&P Global Market Intelligence estimates about 25,000 to 30,000 megawatts of solar capacity were installed in the U.S. up until 2015.

"At an assumed 4,000 solar panels per megawatt, we think this implies 100 million to 120 million solar panels installed cumulatively," he says. "Over just a single four-year presidency, the compound annual growth rate would have to be more like 45 percent."

Story continues

That growth is possible but contingent on the continued extension of the Investment Tax Credit, which is now slated to expire in 2021, he says.

Garvin Jabusch, co-founder and chief investment officer of Green Alpha Advisors in Boulder, Colorado, who specializes in green investing, says Clinton's goal is very aggressive, even beyond the traditional Democratic platform.

He says aside from solar panels, her election platform calls for a price on methane, which is more harmful to the environment than carbon-dioxide emissions, and to close the loophole that exempts hydraulic fracking from the Clean Water Act, which will likely increase natural gas costs.

"These things are all a big deal, and it's quite a bit further than I expected her to go," Jabusch says. "But it's very encouraging and if they come anywhere near these goals, it's incredibly bullish for renewable energy and electric transportation."

Both Glickman and Jabusch said two U.S. solar-panel manufacturers, First Solar (FSLR) and SunPower Corp. (SPWR), would benefit if Clinton's platform is realized.

"It would require all the production capacity of every American solar manufacturer running flat out," Jabusch says. "I don't have to tell you this, but it would be incredibly good for the stock."

If Donald Trump wins. Trump and the Republican platform have a much greater tilt toward fossil-fuel energy production, including coal production and canceling the Paris Climate Agreement, which calls to limit global warming. The GOP platform also states: "government should not play favorites among energy producers."

Glickman says his firm interprets these comments to mean that the solar tax credit would be either reduced or eliminated. S&P estimates that a steep reduction in the ITC, such as scaling back to 10 percent from the current 30 percent, could cause solar installation demand to drop 60 percent because of solar energy's high upfront fixed costs.

[See: The 10 Best Energy ETFs for an Eventual Bounce.]

"If you're in a business where all of a sudden demand falls off 60 percent very quickly, I can't imagine a business that wouldn't be affected by that," Glickman says.

Jabusch says renewables may temporarily struggle under a Trump administration.

"It's not a death knell because their (renewables) economic competitiveness is so strong now that it's almost impossible to put that genie back in the bottle, but they sure as hell can slow it down," he says.

Mike Ciccarelli, commodity and stock trader at Chicago-based Briefing.com, says considering Trump and Clinton are at the opposite spectrum on policy, their wins could make energy stocks move.

"They're both hard core enough that what they're favoring could see really big moves," he says.

Glickman and Ciccarelli said the oil super-major companies could benefit from a Trump win, such as Chevron Corp. (CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM).

Although the GOP platform calls coal "an abundant, clean, affordable, reliable domestic energy resource," Glickman says because under the Obama Administration so much regulation has been signed to limit use of coal, coal-producing companies like Peabody Energy Corp. are unlikely to benefit.

"I think you would have to get new legislation to pass the House and the Senate to undo that. I'm not sure is something that would happen quickly. I'd think you'd have to see more shoes drop before you can get there." Glickman says.

Ciccarelli says for investors looking at coal stocks they may be better off looking a firm like SunCoke Energy (SXC), suppliers of coaking and metallurgical coal that's used in steel production rather than for power generation.

Glickman and Jabusch say the gains in the renewable industry have advanced so far that federal policy may begin to take a back seat.

"We think alternative energy could eventually reach a point where it can stand on equal footing with fossil fuels, but probably not during the next presidency, regardless of which candidate takes office in January 2017," Glickman says.

Abe Silverman, in-house counsel at power producer NRG Energy, said individual states have been more proactive on increasing renewable energy use.

[Read: 7 Ways to Invest With a Theme In Mind.]

"When you talk to consumers, individual people and companies, they are really interested in sustainability. Will it continue? Absolutely. I don't think this is a genie you can put back in the bottle," he says. "The question is what is the speed of adoption and what kind of policies are we putting into place that will happen faster or slower, and also, cheaper or more expensive."





More From US News & World Report


By Helen Murphy and Marc Frank BOGOTA/HAVANA (Reuters) - Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos sent the text of a peace accord with Marxist FARC rebels to Congress on Thursday in the first step before a plebiscite to end the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere. The government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reached final agreement on the accord on Wednesday after an entrenched conflict that ravaged the country for more than 50 years, taking around 220,000 lives and leaving millions displaced. Legislators have 30 days to go over the 297-page text, which will be made public for all Colombians to read before voting on it in an up-or-down referendum on Oct. 2. Among many other details, the accord lays out the terms under which rebels will disarm and eventually enter civilian life again. "We are giving the final word to the people," said Santos as he handed the accords, wrapped in a ribbon emblazoned with the colors of Colombia's flag, to the president of Congress. "Peace is always better than war. It will remove the fear we have all grown up with after so many years. Peace offers opportunities that most Colombians never had." Santos also declared a definitive ceasefire, although one has been in effect since June. Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal, but the nation is deeply divided and caught in a heated debate over what sort of justice the rebels should face. In Havana earlier on Thursday, government peace negotiators hit back at critics of the deal, telling a news conference the cost of bringing rebel fighters into society and building peace was far less than spending on the conflict. Opponents of the deal, led by former President Alvaro Uribe, say it gives rebels amnesty for too many crimes and is unfair to law-abiding citizens because it calls for subsidizing fighters as they leave jungle and mountain hideouts to look for work. The government must win support from many who would prefer to have defeated the guerrillas through military force to avenge years of kidnappings and attacks on civilians. The team that spent nearly four years negotiating with the FARC in Havana, stressed at their news conference that the government and people from all walks of life must work together to help integrate the fighters into mainstream society. "This is for Colombia, so that what happened in Central America does not happen here - that we abandon them after they lay down their weapons and they end up in criminal groups or taking up weapons again," said Senator Roy Barreras, one of the negotiators. Violent crime has increased sharply in Central American countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala since guerrillas and other armed groups were demobilized in the 1990s, a crisis some blame on the failure to help fighters adjust to civilian life. Part of the plan to help the FARC fighters includes paying them 90 percent of Colombia's minimum wage as they emerge from their strongholds. The negotiators compared the monthly $200 subsidy to the thousands of dollars spent on each army bombing raid. "War is much more expensive, even without counting the human cost," Barreras said. Under the agreement, the rebels and government soldiers will receive amnesty for all but the gravest crimes, an arrangement similar to one Uribe struck with right-wing paramilitary groups when he was in office. If the deal is approved, FARC will have non-voting representation in Congress until 2018 and can participate in elections. From then on, the former rebels will have to win votes like candidates in any other political party. Once the agreement is signed, a 180-day countdown begins toward the full demobilization of the fighters, a process that the international community will monitor. U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated Colombia on the deal on Thursday and promised U.S. support for implementing it. "Even as we mark the end of an era of war, we recognize that the work of achieving a just and lasting peace is only beginning," Obama said. (Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Tom Brown)
Havana (AFP) - Here are key points of the peace deal announced Wednesday to end five decades of conflict between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government.

The deal consists of six agreements:

- Ceasefire and disarmament -

The FARC and the government signed a ceasefire and disarmament agreement in June.

The FARC must now begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

- Justice for victims -

The two sides announced a deal in December 2015 to create special courts to judge crimes committed during the conflict. An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. The amnesty will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape. Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

- Drug trafficking -

In May 2014, the FARC agreed to stop drug production in areas under their control. The government pledged to help farmers earn a living without growing illicit crops such as coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine. But Colombia, a top ally in the US war on drugs, will continue its crack-down on drug traffickers.

- Rebels in politics -

The FARC will now become a political party.

Under a November 2013 deal, it will temporarily be allocated 10 seats in the 268-member Congress. Once the rebels lay down their arms, the government has pledged to provide security to prevent reprisal attacks by remnants of right-wing paramilitary groups that fought them in the 1980s and 90s.

- Land reform -

In May 2013, the two sides signed a deal to provide land, loans and basic services to impoverished rural populations. Millions of dollars in financing will be needed to implement it.

- Ratifying the accord -

The final deal will now be put to a referendum on October 2. It will only take effect if the "Yes" camp wins a majority and gathers at least 4.4 million votes.
Bogota (AFP) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos ordered a definitive ceasefire with the FARC rebels Thursday after the two sides reached a historic deal to end their half-century conflict.

With Colombia now gearing up for a decisive referendum on the deal on October 2, Santos ordered a ceasefire from Monday, ending hostilities that have killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.

"The armed conflict with the FARC has ended," he said in an address from the steps of Congress to applause from a crowd waving large paper cutouts of white doves.

He was there to formally present the 297-page peace accord concluded Wednesday by negotiators from the government and the Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The fate of the accord, hashed out in nearly four years of arduous negotiations in Cuba, now comes down to a yes-or-no vote.

Santos, who has staked his legacy on the peace process, faces a tough political battle to win the referendum.

His top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading a campaign to vote "No" to the deal, arguing his successor has given away too much to the FARC.

Santos -- who is still due to sign the accord before the referendum, along with FARC leader Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez -- wasted no time in launching the "Yes" campaign.

He told voters the referendum would be the most important election of their lives.

Opinion polls are mixed on how Colombians will vote.

The accord will take effect only if the "Yes" camp wins a majority while gathering at least 4.4 million votes -- 13 percent of the electorate.

The government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, warned there was "no room to renegotiate" if voters reject the deal.

"After nearly four years here with the FARC, it's time to decide," he said in Havana.

- Tough road ahead -

Other obstacles to peace remain.

Story continues

The government is still fighting a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose ongoing kidnappings have derailed efforts to open peace negotiations.

And it will have to come up with the money to finance rural infrastructure projects and other carrots offered to the FARC, at a time of economic slowdown.

US President Barack Obama, who called Santos Wednesday to congratulate him on the "historic" news, acknowledged the tough road ahead.

"Even as we mark the end of an era of war, we recognize that the work of achieving a just and lasting peace is only beginning," he said Thursday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini also hailed the deal, but also warned of the challenges ahead.

Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs.

Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called "Plan Colombia" -- recently rebooted as "Peace Colombia" by Obama.

- Half-century of conflict -

The conflict began with the founding of FARC in 1964, when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America.

Over the years, it has killed an estimated 260,000 people, uprooted 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing.

Along the way, the fighting has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the world's largest cocaine-producing country.

Now, 25 years after the Cold War, Colombia's civil war is the last major armed conflict in the Americas.

The peace accord comprises six separate deals, covering justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, disarmament, fighting drug trafficking, and the implementation and monitoring of the accord.

Under the deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The FARC will then become a political party.

Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict.

An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.

Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.
By Keith Coffman

DENVER (Reuters) - An elected sheriff from a rural county in Colorado has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a developmentally disabled woman at his home before transporting her to jail, court documents showed on Wednesday.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Thomas Hanna faces felony charges of sexual assault of an at-risk adult and sexual conduct with an inmate, as well as misdemeanor counts of official misconduct and soliciting prostitution, an arrest warrant affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Hanna was transporting the woman from the town of Julesburg to a lockup in a neighboring county on Aug. 10 when he took her to his house and asked if she wanted to earn $60.

The woman, who investigators described as functionally "delayed," said Hanna told her, "I just want sex," then ordered her to strip before groping her and threatening to lock her up for the rest of her life if she reported the incident.

Hanna, 43, who was elected in 2014, was taken into custody on Tuesday after a criminal probe conducted by Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents and district attorney investigators, court records showed.

Hanna made his first court appearance on Wednesday, where his bond was set at $250,000, and he will be charged at a later date, according to a statement from a Denver-area district attorney who was appointed special prosecutor in the case.

Hanna could face a sentence of eight years to life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, the prosecutor said.

The investigation of Hanna was launched after one of his deputies, Larry Neugebauer, told authorities he saw the sheriff put the prisoner in his personal truck, a violation of department policy, and later saw the truck and a patrol car parked outside Hanna's home.

Hanna denied to investigators that he assaulted the woman, but admitted it was a "poor decision" to take her to his house to discuss criminal activity in the area, the affidavit said. He declined to take a polygraph test.

Story continues

Investigator Jeff Huston said the woman, who has not been identified publicly, was timid, hard to understand and had difficulty putting her thoughts together when she was interviewed by police.

The woman told Huston she was "ashamed" of her disability and did not understand that she had been victimized, the affidavit said.

Sedgwick County is a sprawling but sparsely populated farming and ranching area in the northeastern corner of the state bordering Nebraska.

(Editing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Tait)
Sources said party was forced to contemplate strict action against Chotepur after allegations of accepting money for ticket distribution were levelled against him.

By Ankit Tyagi, Ankit Kumar: Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) is likely to expell it's Punjab convenor and senior leader Sucha Singh Chotepur from the party within 2 days for anti-party activities, sources told India Today.

AAP was forced to contemplate strict action against Chotepur after allegations of him accepting money for ticket distribution surfaced.

According to senior party sources, party leadership received a sting operation in which Chotepur is seen accepting money from an AAP volunteer and promising him assembly ticket.

advertisement

AAP PAC is investigating the video sting and will take final decision in 2 to 3 days. Senior members of the investigating committee told India Today that evidence is undeniable. Sources also said there is no other option but to expel the AAP convenor after what he has done.

Trouble for Singh started when few volunteers approached leadership claiming Chotepur had promised them tickets. On 4th August when first list of AAP candidates was released, Chotepur had walked out of the presser claiming locals are being ignored and central leadership is giving tickets to sycophants. Till recently Chotepur was being seen as a big CM probable for AAP.

ALSO READ:

Will continue to respect Sidhu even if he does not join AAP, says Kejriwal



--- ENDS ---
By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors in the obstruction of justice case against former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca have asked a judge to order a mental competency hearing for the ex-lawman, who says he has Alzheimer's disease.

In court papers filed late on Wednesday, the prosecutors asked for a psychologist to be assigned to examine Baca in advance of a proposed hearing in November.

A judge's ruling that Baca is not competent to stand trial could bring the case, involving an alleged attempt to cover-up inmate abuse and other misconduct at local jails, to a halt while he receives treatment.

"If the court grants this motion, it will help ensure that defendant's trial proceeds in a timely fashion if he is competent and will save resources if he is not competent," Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fox said in papers filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Baca, 74, was indicted this month on charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to federal investigators. He has pleaded not guilty.

The charges were brought after he backed out of an earlier plea agreement on one count of lying to investigators, rather than face a sentence tougher than the six-month term a judge rejected as too lenient.

Baca falsely asserted in a 2013 interview by federal investigators he had no prior knowledge of his deputies' efforts to harass an FBI agent involved in a jail corruption probe, according to prosecutors.

Baca previously admitted he directed the deputies to "do everything but put handcuffs" on her, according to court papers.

Nathan Hochman, Baca's attorney, could not be reached for comment.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Hochman told the judge he would like to have medical experts evaluate his client, citing the possibility of using Baca's mental status as a defense at trial, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Previously, Baca's attorneys have said he has Alzheimer's disease, a slow-developing but debilitating form of dementia that interferes with memory and thinking.

Story continues

Earlier this month, Baca said in court he was being treated for Alzheimer's disease but he retained at least some mental clarity.

Baca faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

He served as the top elected law enforcement official in Los Angeles for 15 years before retiring in 2014 amid a federal investigation of inmate abuse and other wrongdoing at two downtown lockups.

Seventeen other officials have been convicted of criminal charges in the misconduct probe.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Tom Brown)
This Thursday marks the 100th anniversary of the act that established the National Park Service. And if you have the time to travel, heres a list of NPS sites and National Landmarks you can visit related to the great events and cases that have helped defined our Constitution.

Independence Hall, where the Constitution and Declaration became reality

While many of the buildings related to events are long gone, others have been preserved or remain in use. Here are a few suggestions we have if you feel the urge to hit the road.

New York City has several interesting landmarks with constitutional ties. Your first stop will likely be the Hamilton Grange National Memorial. The house was moved to St. Nicholas Park in 2008 and reopened on Constitution Day in 2011. It is believed to be the only house that Alexander Hamilton owned. The Park Service has operated the Grange since 1962. Another interesting landmark is the Pierpont Morgan Library on 36th Street. J.P. Morgan was a key player in the Supreme Court decision of Northern Securities Company et al. v. United States (1904), the first case to uphold the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

A trip down to Philadelphia will take you to one obvious location and another lesser-known gem. Just north of Philadelphia in Bensalem, Pa., is Andalusia, the country home of Nicholas Biddle, President of the Second Bank of the United States. Biddles bank was the center of contention in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), the seminal Court decision about federal and state powers. Then when you make a stop at Independence National Historical Park, you can tour Independence Hall, where both the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were crafted, and also see the Old Supreme Court building, Congress Hall, the first two Banks of the United States, and the Liberty Bell.

A detour west of Philadelphia will take you to Gettysburg National Military Park, which is part of the National Park System. We all know about the significance of the great Civil War battle that was fought there in July 1863, but did you know that the battlefield itself was the subject of a major Supreme Court decision? In 1896, the Court ruled in United States v. Gettysburg Electric Railway Company that the preservation of nationally important historic sites is a legitimate purpose of the United States government.

Story continues

If you decide to head south from Gettysburg, Washington, D.C., has plenty of historical and constitutional landmarks. At last count, there were at least 74 National Historic Landmarks in the District of Columbia alone. One you dont want to miss is the current Supreme Court Building, which was opened in 1935 and designed by Cass Gilbert. Another interesting building you can walk by is the current Burmese ambassadors residence in the Kalorama district: It is the former house of Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.

Down south below the federal district, youll find a significant house museum you can tour: Chief Justice John Marshalls home in Richmond, Virginia. The house museum has operated since 1913 and it has a large collection of objects associated with Marshall. Another National Landmark in Richmond is the Wickham-Valentine House, which is open for guided tours. John Wickham successfully defended Aaron Burr when he was charged with treason in 1807.

If you head west from Pennsylvania, neighboring Ohio has some interesting constitutional landmarks. For example, in Youngstown, the old Stambaugh Building designed by Albert Kahn can be seen as you walk or drive by Federal Plaza. The building may soon become a hotel, but it was the former home of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, the subject of a very big Supreme Court decision that helped defined presidential powers.

A trip to Mentor, Ohio will take you to the James Garfield National Historic Site, the home of the 20th President. Did you know that Garfield also argued a significant Supreme Court case, Ex parte Milligan? And no trip to Ohio would be complete without a journey to the William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati.

Other constitutional landmarks to consider include the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tennessee, designed by William Strickland. The Tennessee state legislature was the subject of the landmark Baker v. Carr case in 1962, which found that Federal Courts can decide the constitutionality of apportionment of state legislatures.

The Sumner Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas, is a National Landmark but also a privately owned building. The dispute over segregation at the school was part of the Courts decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which held that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

In Georgia, the New Echota Historic Site is a state park and a National Historical Landmark. It was the first capital of the Cherokee Nation, which was the subject of two landmark decisions by Chief Justice John Marshall in the 1830s.

And the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis not only has the famed Gateway Arch, but it has the Old Courthouse, the location of the first two Dred Scott trials. Visitors can learn about the Dred Scott case and see restored 19th-century courtrooms.

Recent Stories on Constitution Daily

10 fascinating facts about the National Park Service

Take a constitutional road trip for the Park Services 100th birthday

Theodore Roosevelts bold Grand Canyon move
Paris (AFP) - France's highest administrative court will on Thursday examine a request to scrap a ban on the Islamic burkini swimsuit which has sparked a furore in the country.

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.

Villeneuve-Loubet, just west of Nice, was among the first of some 30 French towns to ban the burkini, triggering a fierce debate in France and elsewhere about the wearing of the full-body swimsuit, women's rights and secularism.

The Nice tribunal ruled on Monday that the ban in 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.

The ruling by the State Council, France's highest administrative court, will provide a legal precedent for towns to follow around the country.

The vague wording of the prohibitions has left beachgoers puzzling over whether it refers solely to the burkini -- an Islamic swimsuit that originated in Australia -- or to being fully clothed and having one's head covered on the seashore.

A mother of two told AFP on Tuesday she had been fined on the beach in the resort of Cannes 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.

- 'She wasn't even wearing a burkini' -

Anouar Kbibech, the head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), on Wednesday called an urgent meeting with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, saying he was "concerned over the direction the public debate is taking."

Story continues

Anger over the ban was further inflamed when photographs were published in the British media of police surrounding a veiled woman on a beach removing her tunic.

"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.

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.

One of the world's most secular countries, France strongly separates religion and public life.

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 headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols in state schools.

However citizens are allowed to wear the headscarf in public.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - Costa Rica has registered its first case of a baby born with microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus, the country's health ministry said on Wednesday. The health ministry described the case as "imported" in a statement, as the mother of the child is Nicaraguan and was thought to have contracted the virus in the neighboring Central American country. 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 such as microcephaly. It has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. (Reporting by Enrique Pretel; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Syria

A "third generation" of jihadists could soon rise to power in Syria.

Clint Watts, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and former Army officer and FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force special agent, explained that if the Syrian civil war doesn't get resolved soon, the country might be taken over by jihadists who want to build their own state like ISIS, but with less violence.

"I think what we'll see is a third variant of jihadism," Watts told Business Insider after a roundtable discussion on terrorism at the Comedy Cellar in New York City. "We're just calling it Al Qaeda or ISIS, but I think we'll see the emergence of a third, which is taking bits and pieces of Al Qaeda and ISIS, trying to do state-building without crazy violence and trying to live in Al Qaeda's image without having the Al Qaeda label."

He continued: "So there will be a third generation of something and it'll be harder, actually, for the West to counter."

Jabhat al-Nusra, Al Qaeda's powerful Syrian affiliate, recently renamed itself Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in an effort to moderate its image. The hope is that the group will be able to both win over locals who might be unwilling to embrace the "Al Qaeda" name and avoid targeting from the West, which had been hitting Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria.

The rebranded group will likely "engage in politics and disengage from the global ideology of Al Qaeda," Watts said.

"When they do that, we'll have less authorization and less motivation to go against it," he explained.

Jabhat al-Nusra's long-term goal had been establishing an Islamic emirate in Syria ruled by Sharia law. With the rebranding, they could come closer to achieving that. And they could back away from some of Al Qaeda's methods, namely, attacking the West.

If this happens, the new group would end up looking like a hybrid between ISIS, which emphasizes creating a fully functioning Islamic State for the world's Muslims to live in, and Al Qaeda, which has typically been more politically savvy than ISIS.

Story continues

It would be "state-building without extreme violence," Watts said. "Al Qaeda's ideology without the global targeting."

ISIS is known for its gruesome beheading videos and violent crackdowns on the populations under its control. And Al Qaeda has long been associated with attacks on external targets, like the World Trade Center in New York City.

Jabhat al-Nusra has developed a reputation in Syria as one of the most well-armed and effective groups fighting President Bashar Assad's forces, and many rebels joined the group despite its terrorist ties because it had the most resources. But it ran into problems in Idlib province when it cracked down on the population.

"The only problem was that al-Nusra was Al Qaeda," Abu Faisal, a Syrian aid worker who goes by a pseudonym, told Business Insider earlier this month.

"Most Syrians could not accept this no matter how effective al-Nusra was against the regime. People will cheer them in battle, but when they tried to rule using very similar methods to ISIS, people would push back and say, 'go back to the front, your place is not here.'"

Therefore, a blend of ISIS and Al Qaeda's strategies without the negative perception that comes with the Al Qaeda name might be Jabhat al-Nusra's best chance at survival and expansion.

NOW WATCH: EX-PENTAGON CHIEF: These are the 2 main reasons ISIS was born





More From Business Insider


PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic supports deeper European defense cooperation that could eventually lead to the creation of a European army, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday.Sobotka said more European security and defense cooperation, in addition to the existing partnership in NATO, was a priority given the need to protect external EU borders and respond to growing security threats from places such as the Middle East. Creating joint army units would follow a practice long established by countries such as Germany, which has created them with France and the Netherlands and has discussed military collaboration with other EU partners. In Tallinn on Wednesday, Merkel said she saw no fundamental obstacles to setting up joint units with Estonia, although she added the disparate sizes of the two militaries meant such an endeavor might require the participation of other countries. Sobotka said his country envisaged further partnerships between EU countries, suggesting they could form steps towards the establishment of a European army. "Certainly the Czech Republic can imagine stronger cooperation in the military area, integration of units, common exercises, and above all securing the capacity to organize operations to support common European foreign policy," he said. In his discussion with Merkel, he called the project "a possible joint European army". Merkel is meeting 15 other heads of state this week to prepare the groundwork for a Sept. 16 summit in Bratislava aimed at giving new agenda to the bloc hit by the immigration wave and Britain's decision to leave. European countries have started to increase military spending in light of an increasingly aggressive stance by Russia and wars in the Middle East, but funding in most EU states is still far below the 2 percent of GDP they pledge as members of NATO. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Andreas Rinke; Editing by Dominic Evans)
DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / The OJ Simpson trial happened over twenty years ago, but it continues to capture the public's imagination. FX recently aired a miniseries on the case, and ESPN aired a five-part documentary in June about the rise and fall of OJ Simpson, added Dallas criminal lawyer John Helms.

"I was a young lawyer during the trial, and I had a case in a nearby federal court in Los Angeles. I was working very long hours at the time, but I followed the case as closely as I could. I also read two books about the case in the years following the trial."

So much has been written about the case, the evidence, and especially the trial, but this is my take on the main lesson a criminal defense lawyer can learn from the defense strategy: Know your jury and what will appeal to them.

The case should have been a slam-dunk for the prosecutors, and they thought it was. The evidence of Mr. Simpson's guilt was truly overwhelming. The prosecutors failed in a lot of ways, but their main failing, in my view, was making the case too complicated without explaining how the evidence completely ruled out the defense's theory.

What criminal defense attorney Johnny Cochran knew was that this particular jury would be receptive to a beyond-far-fetched theory that all of the evidence could have been planted by rogue, racist LAPD cops. He knew, from years of experience trying civil rights cases against the police, that the African-American community in Los Angeles had deep-seated mistrust and anger toward the LAPD, much, if not all of which was probably justified.

The jury consisted of eight African Americans, two Hispanics, one half-Native American and half Anglo, and one Anglo woman. Only two of the twelve jurors were college graduates. None of them said they regularly read a newspaper, but eight regularly watched tabloid TV. This was, in other words, a jury that would be receptive to appeals to emotion and conspiracy theories and would likely believe that the LAPD was racist and willing to plant evidence to get a conviction just because the defendant was African American.

Story continues

Johnny Cochran tried the case masterfully for this audience. He did not try to connect the dots. He used a simple argument: The cops, especially Mark Fuhrman, were racist and could not be trusted. If they were racists who could not be trusted, then all of the evidence could have been planted or doctored.

With this jury, it worked to perfection, even though it defied logic and common sense when you consider the facts. First of all, at the time the evidence was collected, the LAPD did not know whether Mr. Simpson had an airtight alibi. If he had, it would have become obvious very quickly that evidence was planted, especially Simpson's blood at Nicole Brown's house and cops would have gone to jail. There was also simply no way that one, or even three, police officers could have gone back and forth between Simpson's house and Nicole Brown's house dropping blood and evidence from one location at the other. Even if they could have, physically, the media and other officers would have seen them. There is also no innocent way to explain how Ron Goldman's blood got in OJ Simpson's Bronco, especially since they did not even know each other. The type of conspiracy that the defense needed would have had to involve dozens of detectives and officers, none of who knew at the time whether Mr. Simpson had an alibi. It strains logic way past the breaking point.

The prosecutors completely failed to make this point effectively. Even if they had, it is unclear that this jury would have been persuaded.

Johnny Cochran, however, knew that this jury would be persuaded less by logic and reasoning than by appeals to emotion and their pre-existing beliefs about justice and the LAPD. He wove his argument throughout the case in a simple and persuasive way.

None of this is a criticism of Mr. Cochran. He deserves the highest praise for the job he did representing his client.

The lesson of knowing your jury and what appeals to them does not just apply to high profile cases. I know from my experience trying cases that a jury in a small town in East Texas is more likely to be receptive to themes about personal liberty and personal responsibility than a Dallas jury, which may respond more to themes about fairness and equality. Each case is different, but one of a criminal defense lawyer's most important jobs at trial is to find a theme that fits the defense and resonates with the particular jury in the box.

If you have been charged with any crime, including drug possession, fraud, assault, theft or a federal drug crime, call Dallas criminal attorney John Helms at 214-666-8010 or visit his website.

source: http://johnhelms.attorney/dallas-criminal-lawyer-oj-simpson-defense-tactics-can-help-case/

SOURCE: John Helms Law Firm via Submit Press Release 123
After carrying out fraud worth over Rs 5 crore, this Noida company rewarded its 53 employees with a four-day, five-star vacation.

By Shashank Shekhar: They knew they were part of a bogus firm, but employees were really happy with this fake BPO company that had a Robin Hood aura. It stole from its customers and gave to its workers.

The firm operating from sector 63 in Noida last week sent 53 of its staff members on an all-expenses-paid vacation in Goa for four days, with travel by flight and five-star stay. 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.

advertisement

The matter came to light after a team of Uttar Pradesh Police's special task force (STF) arrested the 53 people and busted the gang.

THE MODUS OPERANDI



Officers say the fraudsters not only created bogus call centres but also got ISO certification on fake documents. As rewards, it gave away "employee of the month" and other monetary prizes to boost performance. "Initial scanning of their bank accounts shows that they made Rs 5 crore," said UP STF's 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 of insurance holders from the company and initial inquiry has revealed that brokers and leading insurance agents have illegally sold the information to the firm.

Members of the syndicate posed as representatives of popular insurance companies. They had access to complete details of a large number of insurance clients.

"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.

SECOND SUCH CASE IN A MONTH



State police this month busted another ring and 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 swank call centres and employed women as callers. The syndicate lured the 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 to be able to withdraw the money.

SENIOR CITIZENS EASY TARGETS



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.

advertisement

EMPLOYEES OFFERED LUCRATIVE SALARIES



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."

Cops are trying to ascertain the exact number of customers and amount cheated by the gang.

WHAT LED TO THE CRACKDOWN?



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 data of insurance policy holders from various companies where they had worked as telecallers.

"We will also send notices to the insurance companies whose data was used for the fraud," Singh said.

Also read - BPOs in Delhi, NCR will leave India: Centre's argument against ban on diesel cars



--- ENDS ---

advertisement
The death toll from Wednesdays 6.2 earthquake in Italys central Appenine region rose to 247 Thursday morning, according to the countrys civil protection agency, as rescuers continued to dig through the debris for survivors.

A 10-year-old girl was recovered alive from underneath the rubble in the town of Pescara del Tronto on Wednesday evening, nearly 17 hours after the quake struck, the Associated Press reported. However, many were not so fortunate.

Read next: Everything We Know About the Earthquake in Central Italy

Unfortunately, 90% we pull out are dead, but some make it, thats why we are here, a volunteer named Christian Bianchetti was quoted as saying. Officials expect the death toll to rise further in the coming days. More than 360 people were injured in the tremblor.

Two powerful aftershocks, at magnitudes 5.1 and 5.4, hampered rescue efforts. Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that Italians lined up to donate blood across the country following an appeal from the Italian Red Cross and health officials.

Read more: Central Italian Town Isnt Here Anymore After Earthquake

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi visited the devastated town of Amatrice midday Wednesday, vowing that no family, no city, no hamlet will be left behind as the region recovers and rebuilds after the disaster.

Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction, he added.
Hillary Clinton

A political movement based on a nationalistic fervor has gone from residing on the fringes of the internet to being targeted on Thursday in a major speech from Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

That movement  the "alt-right"  is considered to be a subset pushing for a "white ethno-state," as Republican strategist Rick Wilson told Business Insider, and it has tightly embraced Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"These are people who are trying to mainstream racism through cultural appropriation and manipulation," Wilson said. "They are basically people who believe they can use the modern tools of social and alternative media to achieve a set of goals that are explicitly anti-Democratic and anti-Republican and fundamentally at odds with a pluralistic society. What they're looking for is a white ethno-state, and they know they can't go and expose a public face to it."

The alt-right movement first emerged under that title in 2008, when paleoconservative writer Paul Gottfried wrote of the "alternative right." Richard Spencer, a white nationalist, came up with the shortened "alt-right" in 2010, describing the movement as "an ideology around identity, European identity," in an interview with The New Yorker.

The movement is full of white nationalists, reactionaries, men's rights activists, and Gamergaters. And the rise of Trump, who at times has retweeted their viral Twitter memes and accounts promoting alt-right initiatives, led to their subsequent transfer from fringe discussion to mainstream discourse.

Conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor at the website Breitbart, which caters to the alt-right movement, is one of the movement's more visible leaders. He has said many are drawn to the ideology not out of political reasons but because it "promises" a "challenge to social norms."

As Rosie Gray wrote in BuzzFeed earlier this year, the alt-right is "white supremacy perfectly tailored for our times: 4chan-esque racist rhetoric combined with a tinge of Silicon Valleyflavored philosophizing, all riding on the coattails of the Trump boom."

Story continues

Ben Shapiro, a conservative commentator who is the editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, told Business Insider the "very anti-Semitic" movement was full of "'brave' people who say white people are the greatest."

Shapiro quit Breitbart earlier this year and said he started receiving hate online from pro-Trump alt-righters, particularly on Twitter, after he came out as anti-Trump. He adopted that viewpoint after the Manhattan billionaire appeared reluctant to disavow David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader, in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper. Trump would later disavow Duke, but he recently used a meme shared by Duke as a chart at a rally, though the meme was slightly altered to remove a Jewish star.

Donald Trump

"It's a weird mash-up," Shapiro told Business Insider. "The paleocons are pro-white nationalism like [former presidential candidate Pat] Buchanan, outwardly white nationalist like Jared Taylor [the white nationalist founder of American Renaissance], and then there are the young people who've bought into this because they feel like fighting political correctness is all saying things that are actually racist."

"So a lot of the young people who've bought into the alt-right, I don't think they're doing it on the basis that they really understand Jared Taylor or what people like Pat Buchanan are actually saying," he continued. "I think a lot of them started off in kind of the Twittersphere."

He said the younger wing of the alt-right started off as a breakaway segment of Gamergate, the movement whose members protested and engaged in online harassment of those who brought up issues of sexism in video game culture.

"They felt that to fight political correctness, they had to put out these memes to 'trigger'" the activists, Shapiro said. "Stupid tactic. Point is to tell the truth, not trigger people."

Shapiro said many mistook blatant offensiveness for truth, and so when they heard Trump say similarly offensive things to women, Latinos, and African-Americans, they felt he was "one of us."

"And that escalated into, 'Well, we're going to send out Holocaust memes and racist memes,' and it became indistinguishable," he said.

Often, anonymous alt-right Twitter accounts will create memes showing various politicians, journalists, or activists they do not like being banished to a Nazi gas chamber. Another frequent response from the alt-right is to call someone a "cuck" or a "cuckservative." The term is the "ultimate insult to them," Shapiro said.

"It just means you're a white man who enjoys watching his wife have sex with black men," he said. "I find it odd and bizarre, but for them it's the ultimate insult. Which, again, I'd be insulted except I'm happily married and I'm not sure ... I mean I think it'd be bad to watch my wife have sex with someone of any race. I'm not sure why specifically being black would be what mattered."

"But the idea is that you're betraying the white race," he continued. "You're someone who would be happy to see the white race betrayed. That's why they use the word. It is a racist word. Because the whole concept of it is you're not just you watching your wife have sex with another man  it's you're watching your wife miscegenate, and watch the white race be tainted by these black people and be happy about it. That's sort of the implication of it. They're awful."

Milo Yiannopoulos

In a piece written for Breitbart by Yiannopoulos and Allum Bokhari earlier this year as an explainer of what the movement is, the duo listed "halting, or drastically slowing immigration" as a major priority, adding that "while eschewing bigotry on a personal level, the movement is frightened by the prospect of demographic displacement represented by immigration."

It's a tribalist movement, with the pair writing that alt-right intellectuals would argue that culture is "inseparable from race."

"The alt-right believe that some degree of separation between peoples is necessary for a culture to be preserved," they wrote. "A Mosque next to an English street full of houses bearing the flag of St. George, according to alt-righters, is neither an English street nor a Muslim street  separation is necessary for distinctiveness."

Wilson said such intellectuals or "guys at the top" of the movement don't have any "power or say" in political discourse, even as Trump has championed some platforms of their cause, such as the massive border wall along the US border with Mexico and, at times, an indefinite ban on Muslim immigration into the US.

He added that Trump "understands who they are on a sort of gut level" but that the alt-righters are "absolutely dependent on Trump."

"There is no forward-facing alt-right racist candidate without Trump," he said. "They could try, but it'd be like David Duke: marginal, insignificant, hated by everyone, and not able to win a single thing."

He continued:

"The virus found a host this year in Donald Trump, but most movements that are political, they have a public-facing element. Their public-facing element is irrelevant. They can't have a real public-facing element because it's loathsome to society. Not just mainstream liberal society but all society."

"It's loathsome to conservative values to say we're going to have a white ethno-state. Because if you believe in America and you believe in this country and you believe in our Constitution, you should believe that the gift of being an American is not racially determined. They don't believe that. They're fundamentally un-American."

"Which is why basically, I think that they're doomed to fail in the long haul. And if they want to live in communes in Idaho and breed like rabbits, God bless 'em. Go do. But until then, they're going to be a tiny fraction of a tiny fraction of a tiny fraction of a minority hiding behind frog memes and horses--- Twitter accounts."

"Without Trump, the alt-right is just David Duke with Pepe the Frog memes."

Shapiro went slightly harder than Wilson in detaching Trump from the alt-right movement, saying Trump didn't have a real grasp of the ideology because Shapiro didn't think the real estate magnate "is capable of doing simple mathematic problems."

"I think he is very much in line with the Pat Buchanan philosophy on politics," he continued. "I think he's basically a paleocon that embraces a certain amount of alt-right thinking in terms of European populations being obscured. I don't think that he's an alt-right guy."

Donald Trump

As Clinton homes in to target Trump's alt-right support, he is in the midst of an effort to reach out to minorities, campaigning to convince African-American and Hispanic voters that they should vote for him because, to him, their conditions are currently deplorable.

Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York told Business Insider in a conference call that Trump's campaign, which brought exposure to the ideals of the alt-right, would further engage African-American and Hispanic communities in the political process. And that engagement will be against him.

"Because we have been the brunt of the disrespect oftentimes the violent interactions that the alt-right espouses," she said. "And clearly we recognize that this is a strain within the American family that has never been in our best interest. That drives the black community to the polls."

Maxwell Tani contributed to this report.

NOW WATCH: DATA SCIENTIST: There's an easy way to tell if one of Trump's tweets came from him or his campaign





More From Business Insider


Many people dream about designing and building their perfect home from the ground up. The home might be for raising a family or for retirement. Either way, planning makes all the difference when it comes to making your custom dream home a reality.

"If you find the right people, building a house is one of the great joys in life," says Duo Dickinson, an architect in Madison, Connecticut, and the author of "The House You Build" and other works.

But building a home from scratch is not a simple job. Once you find the site, the process is likely to take at least another year and will involve, at minimum, an architect, an engineer, a builder and perhaps specialized designers for kitchens, baths and other elements.

In most cases, the best place to start is with an architect, who will design the house and create blueprints you can use to get bids from builders. Some companies provide design-build services, which have pluses and minuses. Because the architect and builder are part of the same company, they have experience working together. But you won't have the opportunity to get bids from other builders once the plans are ready.

[See: 12 Home Improvement Shortcuts That Are a Bad Idea.]

Ideally, you want to find your architect before you buy the land, since not all lots are created equal. In addition to general location, which is important for all homeowners, you'll need to assess how suitable the lot is for building, what utilities are available and how the property can be reached by road. You must also research city and county rules to determine what kind of home can be built on the land.

"The thing that you have to pay the most attention to is the site," Dickinson says. "You can't build the site. You can only make something that exists in the place."

An architect not only will understand all those issues, but he or she can also figure out where to place the house to best take advantage of views, sunlight, shadows, trees and more.

"What the architects do is help you work through the opportunities of the site," says Elissa Morgante, a partner at Morgante Wilson Architects in Chicago. "Having a professional helps you understand the property you are buying."

Story continues

Once you have chosen a site, it's time to shift your focus to the design of your home. When selecting an architect, ask a lot of questions about the design process. You want to collect photos of rooms you like and dislike, even if you don't know why certain rooms appeal to you and others don't. You can share those with the architect, while also outlining basic details about the home such as the number of rooms, floor plan and how many levels you would prefer.

"An architect should be able to fly through a lot of ideas quickly with you," Morgante says. "Even a very simple house can be a disaster or an absolute gem."

Sharing your budget for the house with your architect will make it easier to discuss whether different features are worth considering for your price range. A multistory house, for example, is cheaper to build than a single-story house, but it may not be the best choice for a retirement home. You may be set on a stone house until you discover it costs 50 percent more than a wood-frame house.

"We try to help them make educated, informed decisions," Morgante says. "I think knowing what you want is pretty hard for a lot of people."

Once you and the architect have agreed on the design, the architect will draw up blueprints you can use to get bids from at least three builders. Ask everyone you know for recommendations, including your architect and any real estate professionals you've worked with.

"Get a real estimate and check it twice and three times," says H. Dale Contant, president of Atlanta Design & Build. "Just make sure every detail is covered." You want to make sure that the contract is clear about what is and isn't included, what the allowances are for appliances, flooring and other elements -- or what specific fixtures are included, down to model number -- plus the contract should include a schedule of progress payments and detail the process for making changes.

[See: The 20 Best Places to Find a Job in the U.S.]

Once you've narrowed your choice to one or two builders, ask for references and talk to previous clients, visiting the homes that were built if you can. The contract should be extremely detailed -- down to the exact model of fixtures and appliances included. "The best way to protect yourself is to make sure that you've got all the numbers lined up that you possibly can," Contant says.

You also want to find a builder who will work with you and your architect. For the next year, your team will be a big part of your life. "You want to genuinely like the team," Morgante says. "You're going to spend a lot of time with them."

Here are five tips for building a custom home without losing your mind and your shirt:

Know what you want before you start. An architect will help you create the exact plans for your home, but you need to have a sense of how many rooms, the preferred building materials, the size and the style of the home before you start. Some of those details may change during the planning process, but you can save time by going in with more information.

Don't skimp on the planning process. You can easily change floor plans, materials and designs while everything is still on paper. Once building starts, changes get expensive. "You can make an enormous number of changes if it hasn't been framed yet. After that, any change will cost you money," Dickinson says. You should keep in mind, he adds, that once building decisions are made they are difficult to undo. So take your time when planning the house, and avoid jumping into the building stage before you're ready.

Check references and licensing. You should do this with both the architect and the builder and any other professionals you are responsible for hiring. You want to talk to references in detail about how the process of building their homes went. Visit the final results if you can.

Get everything in writing. The contract with both the architect and the builder should be extremely detailed, laying out what services are to be performed, the timetable and a schedule of progress payments. If you can't list specific makes and models of bathtubs, air conditioners, appliances and other features in the building contract, have the builder write in allowances with specific dollar amounts.

[See: 8 Easy Renovation Projects Every Homeowner Can Do Now.]

Visit the site frequently. Questions come up often about exactly how something should be done. The architect should visit at least weekly, but you want to be on site frequently, too, to answer questions and make sure you like the way things are going. If you live nearby, plan to stop by several times each week -- if not daily -- to help make decisions and assess the progress. "You really have to turn other aspects of your life off and dedicate yourself for the next six months to a year," Dickinson says. "It's not just you doing a house. It's a village."





More From US News & World Report


Many people dream about designing and building their perfect home from the ground up. The home might be for raising a family or for retirement. Either way, planning makes all the difference when it comes to making your custom dream home a reality.

"If you find the right people, building a house is one of the great joys in life," says Duo Dickinson, an architect in Madison, Connecticut, and the author of "The House You Build" and other works.

But building a home from scratch is not a simple job. Once you find the site, the process is likely to take at least another year and will involve, at minimum, an architect, an engineer, a builder and perhaps specialized designers for kitchens, baths and other elements.

In most cases, the best place to start is with an architect, who will design the house and create blueprints you can use to get bids from builders. Some companies provide design-build services, which have pluses and minuses. Because the architect and builder are part of the same company, they have experience working together. But you won't have the opportunity to get bids from other builders once the plans are ready.

[See: 12 Home Improvement Shortcuts That Are a Bad Idea.]

Ideally, you want to find your architect before you buy the land, since not all lots are created equal. In addition to general location, which is important for all homeowners, you'll need to assess how suitable the lot is for building, what utilities are available and how the property can be reached by road. You must also research city and county rules to determine what kind of home can be built on the land.

"The thing that you have to pay the most attention to is the site," Dickinson says. "You can't build the site. You can only make something that exists in the place."

An architect not only will understand all those issues, but he or she can also figure out where to place the house to best take advantage of views, sunlight, shadows, trees and more.

Story continues

"What the architects do is help you work through the opportunities of the site," says Elissa Morgante, a partner at Morgante Wilson Architects in Chicago. "Having a professional helps you understand the property you are buying."

Once you have chosen a site, it's time to shift your focus to the design of your home. When selecting an architect, ask a lot of questions about the design process. You want to collect photos of rooms you like and dislike, even if you don't know why certain rooms appeal to you and others don't. You can share those with the architect, while also outlining basic details about the home such as the number of rooms, floor plan and how many levels you would prefer.

"An architect should be able to fly through a lot of ideas quickly with you," Morgante says. "Even a very simple house can be a disaster or an absolute gem."

Sharing your budget for the house with your architect will make it easier to discuss whether different features are worth considering for your price range. A multistory house, for example, is cheaper to build than a single-story house, but it may not be the best choice for a retirement home. You may be set on a stone house until you discover it costs 50 percent more than a wood-frame house.

"We try to help them make educated, informed decisions," Morgante says. "I think knowing what you want is pretty hard for a lot of people."

Once you and the architect have agreed on the design, the architect will draw up blueprints you can use to get bids from at least three builders. Ask everyone you know for recommendations, including your architect and any real estate professionals you've worked with.

"Get a real estimate and check it twice and three times," says H. Dale Contant, president of Atlanta Design & Build. "Just make sure every detail is covered." You want to make sure that the contract is clear about what is and isn't included, what the allowances are for appliances, flooring and other elements -- or what specific fixtures are included, down to model number -- plus the contract should include a schedule of progress payments and detail the process for making changes.

[See: The 20 Best Places to Find a Job in the U.S.]

Once you've narrowed your choice to one or two builders, ask for references and talk to previous clients, visiting the homes that were built if you can. The contract should be extremely detailed -- down to the exact model of fixtures and appliances included. "The best way to protect yourself is to make sure that you've got all the numbers lined up that you possibly can," Contant says.

You also want to find a builder who will work with you and your architect. For the next year, your team will be a big part of your life. "You want to genuinely like the team," Morgante says. "You're going to spend a lot of time with them."

Here are five tips for building a custom home without losing your mind and your shirt:

Know what you want before you start. An architect will help you create the exact plans for your home, but you need to have a sense of how many rooms, the preferred building materials, the size and the style of the home before you start. Some of those details may change during the planning process, but you can save time by going in with more information.

Don't skimp on the planning process. You can easily change floor plans, materials and designs while everything is still on paper. Once building starts, changes get expensive. "You can make an enormous number of changes if it hasn't been framed yet. After that, any change will cost you money," Dickinson says. You should keep in mind, he adds, that once building decisions are made they are difficult to undo. So take your time when planning the house, and avoid jumping into the building stage before you're ready.

Check references and licensing. You should do this with both the architect and the builder and any other professionals you are responsible for hiring. You want to talk to references in detail about how the process of building their homes went. Visit the final results if you can.

Get everything in writing. The contract with both the architect and the builder should be extremely detailed, laying out what services are to be performed, the timetable and a schedule of progress payments. If you can't list specific makes and models of bathtubs, air conditioners, appliances and other features in the building contract, have the builder write in allowances with specific dollar amounts.

[See: 8 Easy Renovation Projects Every Homeowner Can Do Now.]

Visit the site frequently. Questions come up often about exactly how something should be done. The architect should visit at least weekly, but you want to be on site frequently, too, to answer questions and make sure you like the way things are going. If you live nearby, plan to stop by several times each week -- if not daily -- to help make decisions and assess the progress. "You really have to turn other aspects of your life off and dedicate yourself for the next six months to a year," Dickinson says. "It's not just you doing a house. It's a village."

Teresa Mears writes about personal finance, real estate and retirement for U.S. News and other publications. She's also written for MSN Money, The Miami Herald, The New York Times and The Boston Globe. She publishes Living on the Cheap and Miami on the Cheap. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaMears.
Dev Patel is setting off on a heart-tugging journey to India to find his real parents in the first trailer for The Weinstein Companys Lion, based on Saroo Brierleys memoir A Long Way Home.

I had another family  a mother, a brother, he tells his mother, played by Nicole Kidman. Every day my real brother screams my name.

The movie tells the story of 5-year-old Indian child who gets hopelessly lost after falling asleep on a parked train and ending up 1,000 miles from his village. Hes adopted by an Australian couple (Kidman and David Wenham), then begins a painstaking search for his lost village and family, utilizing Google Earth, more than two decades later.

Sunny Pawar plays the 5-year-old version of Brierley with several scenes in the trailer showing the nightmarish sequence of getting lost on the train. Rooney Mara also stars.

TWC is opening Lion in an awards-season slot of Nov. 25. Its directed by Garth Davis from a script by Luke Davies and produced by Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Angie Fielder.

Related stories

Alicia Silverstone Joins Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell in 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer'

'Lion,' Starring Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, to Receive Gala Screening at London Film Festival

Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman Team to Adapt Novel 'Truly Madly Guilty'
From Town & Country

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control added a portion of Miami Beach to their Zika-related advisory, and now, Florida officials are investigating a possible case of locally-transmitted Zika in the Tampa Bay area.

So what does the spread of Zika mean for travelers?

If you or your partner is pregnant or planning to become pregnant speak with your doctor before making the trip to Miami.

The CDC minces no words in their travel advisory: "Pregnant women should avoid travel to the designated area of Miami Beach, in addition to the designated area of Wynwood, both located in Miami-Dade County, because active local transmission of Zika has been confirmed."

The statement cautioned that pregnant women should avoid the two Florida neighborhoods now under advisement, and also consider postponing travel to all of Miami-Dade County.

Dr. Laura Riley, the vice chair of obstetrics at Massachusetts General Hospital, agrees. "It does not matter what trimester pregnancy that you're in," she says. Do not travel to an area with known Zika transmissions.

Because Zika can be transmitted sexually as well as through mosquitos, the partners of pregnant women, and women who are trying to conceive should also steer clear of the area.

Riley recommends waiting eight weeks before trying to conceive if you or your partner has been to a region with known transmissions, and six months for men who experienced Zika symptoms or know they contracted the virus.

Riley is also of the safe-not-sorry mindset. "If you're anywhere near Miami," she says. "Be concerned. And if you have the option not to go there, and have the option not to go to Florida. Don't go."

If you still plan on going, don't panic.

For most people (approximately 4 out of 5) Zika doesn't manifest any symptoms, and those who do get sick from the virus experience mild, flu-like symptoms.

If you are not pregnant, your partner is not pregnant, and you do not play to get pregnant in the next eight weeks, enjoy your vacation, but stay vigilant. You don't want to risk an unplanned pregnancy, and for public health reasons, you don't want to spread Zika.

Story continues

Riley recommends taking steps to prevent mosquito bites like wearing long sleeves and pants and applying bug repellant liberally. Also, this is one of those times when it's best to use air conditioning instead of opening the windows. And practice safe sex, specifically using condoms.

If you want to cancel your trip:

Check your travel insurance.

If your insurance allows you to cancel for any reason, take advantage. Unfortunately, most standard policies aren't that generous, but look to see if your policy includes "change of mind" as acceptable reason to cancel. If that phrase is in there, you could recoup the majority of your funds.

And if you used a travel agent to book your trip, be sure to call them, too. Often, they have the power to negotiate with airlines, hotels, and other travel providers through their industry relationships.

Contact your airline.

Ring up your carrier to see if you can change or cancel your flight. Some of the airlines flying into Miami-Dade are offering Zika-related assistance, but be sure to read the fine print. On United, for example, they're offering to refund or rebook tickets, but only if they were purchased before August 3. On Delta, some customers may qualify for a change in destination, travel dates, or a refund.

Reach out to your hotel.

While hotels in the area have yet to put formal cancellation policies in place, give your accommodations a call. According to Erina Pindar, Managing Director of luxury travel agency SmarterFlyer, "Most properties have been understanding if the clients choose not to go because of Zika. Most luxury properties also have flexible cancel policy, meaning that rooms can be cancelled within 24-48 hours." The New York Times is also reporting that several properties in the area are upping their pest control and providing mosquito repellents to guests.
Doberman pinscher puppies clumsily shuffle around a white-walled enclosure, getting tripped up by their oversize paws. Then, without warning, one of the pups slumps over, catatonic. Although Dobermans have a reputation as fierce guard dogs, they also succumb to a particularly strange kind of kryptonite: narcolepsy.

It may be entertaining for the scientists who ring the pen to watch narcoleptic pups fall asleep mid-romp, but theres a serious reason why the dogs have captured the attention of geneticists. By studying the DNA of Doberman puppies, Emmanuel Mignot of the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine and other specialists were able to isolate the gene that causes the neurological sleep disorder, which also afflicts humans. Mignots 1999 discovery led him and others to identify the gene in human DNA and make progress toward treatments.

Scientists from Arizona to Massachusetts are researching a slew of medical conditions by looking at the DNA of greyhounds, rottweilers, Irish wolfhounds and other breeds.

As it turns out, we can learn a lot about human diseases and potential cures by studying our canine friends. Locating disease-causing genes is much simpler in dogs than in humans because dogs have fewer genetic variations for scientists to sift through. Human DNA contains approximately 1 million genetic markers; a dog breed contains about 170,000. This difference means that researchers need 400 to 600 dogs for a genetic study of a canine disease. That same study in humans would require 100 times more barkers. Selective breeding also means theres greater uniformity in dog DNA, so its relatively straightforward for geneticists to locate aberrations.

Armed with these insights, scientists from Arizona to Massachusetts are researching a slew of medical conditions  rare bone cancers, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimers disease, deafness, autism, even obesity  by looking at the DNA of greyhounds, rottweilers, Irish wolfhounds and other breeds. Some diseases are known to be more prevalent in certain breeds, such as cancer in golden retrievers, epilepsy in beagles and autoimmune disorders in Siberian huskies, which helps narrow the search area for mutated genes even further.

Story continues

As the field expands, so does support and research money. Theres absolutely growing interest and acceptance that studying diseases in dogs can help us understand human disease, says Will Hendricks, an assistant professor in the Integrated Cancer Genomics Division of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, in Phoenix. Earlier this year, the National Advisory Council for the Dog and Human Precision Medicine Initiative helped stimulate a coming sea change, Hendricks says. First-time NIH grant opportunities are becoming available, and a growing number of for-profit companies are jumping on the bandwagon.

The growing interest in canine genetics is hardly surprising, considering Americans are famously obsessed with their pets. Nearly 45 percent of American households have at least one dog, according to the Humane Society. The estimated pet dog population: a staggering 77.8 million animals. To scientists, thats a giant untapped pool of potential research subjects that already live in relatively controlled environments. One of the wonderful things about dogs is that every dog lives with a human who watches it all the time, says Elinor Karlsson, a postdoctoral scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard who specializes in evolutionary genomics. Its this incredible resource for science.

Humans know what and how much dogs eat, their patterns of movement and whether they are acting lethargic or displaying strange behaviors like incessant tail chasing or flank sucking. Thats why dog geneticists are harnessing citizen science to crowdsource dog DNA. Darwins Dogs, part of the Broad Institutes research effort, posted a series of 10-question surveys on its website in October 2015, hoping to get responses and DNA samples from 5,000 dog owners within a few years. By June, dog owners had answered more than 616,000 questions and volunteered nearly 7,000 pets for the project. Put simply: Its a scientific trifecta  a win for scientists, pet lovers and their animals, all of which will benefit from new health insights.



Certainly, some researchers remain more comfortable working with rats and mice than canines. For them, the home of even the fussiest anal-retentive is an uncontrolled environment. Hendricks acknowledges that the naturally occurring cancer model is in a unique space between a highly artificial model and a human model. For other naysayers, there is a mental block. Humans are special; how could we possibly gain insights about OCD, say, from mangy mutts? On the other hand, Nicholas Dodman, a professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, notes, Some psychiatrists dont think you can learn anything from dogs, which is kind of ironic since everything we know about humans comes from mice.

Related Articles
People are forced to stay inside their houses in Bharauli because of the recent floods that have brought wide spread destruction in their village.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Dr. Nagendra Tiwari, his wife and daughter have not come out of their house for a one week now. Reason, their house is submerged with water-level rising up to 6-feet around their house. A teacher by profession, Tiwari along with his wife Shashi Kala and daughter Shweta are forced to live a marooned life because of the recent floods that have brought wide spread destruction in their village, Bharauli. The family is surviving on whatever little ration they were left with before water around their house began to rise making their any attempt to come step out of their house dangerous. However, their limited ration is also getting over.

advertisement

"From 19th August my house is submerged under water. We are living life in this manner for last one week. Entire villages is inundated. Nobody is coming to our village to provide any relief or food", said Nagendra Tiwari.

Bharauli in Bhojpur district of Bihar is submerged under water for past one week as water level continues to remain above the danger mark in Ganga. The rising water which refuses to recede has brought destruction and wreaked havoc in this village of 20000 people. Situated just about 100 kms from Patna, in the Shahpur block, Bharauli speaks for itself of how worse the situation is on ground zero. Barhara, Shahpur, Sandesh and Bihiya are the worst hit blocks in Bhojpur district. The local administration claims to be reaching out to maximum number of flood affected villages and provide sufficient relief to them but the locals complain that no government relief in any form is making their way to Bharauli. Over 4 lacs people are affected in Bhojpur's 300 villages in these floods.

Bhojpur district, located on the Ganga basin has been one of the worst affected in Bihar in the recent floods that has engulfed almost 28 of the 38 districts. At least 12 people have died in Bhojpur in the floods in past one week. The Ganga has entered each and every house in Bharauli with people being forced to spend their days and night sitting on the high rise bed (chowki) and many a times on the roof tops waiting for government help but sadly the government is not ready to admit that Bharauli is flood hit.



VILLAGERS PLIGHT

Nagendra Tiwari's wife Shashikala says, "We are not getting milk or even green vegetable. No help has come to us from the government."

Tiwari's daughter Shweta is pursuing post graduation from a college in Bhojpur town. She had come to meet her parents before floods hit her village and since then she has been living with her parents and comforting them at the cost of her studies.

"I came to my village for Rakhi but since then I have not been able to go out of the house. My classes are going on and I have examinations on 11th September. My study is suffering. Moreover, it does not look good to leave my parents in this condition and go to town. The government is providing help and relief in urban areas but not in rural areas.", says Shweta Tiwari.

advertisement

The farmers of this village have been the worst-affected with several hectares of crop completely been washed away and damaged in the floods.

"We are completely dependent on farming to earn a living but all my crop has been damaged. The government has still not provided anything to us to eat", Rameshwar, a farmer.

The locals in Bharauli are desperate and need immediate relief from the government but sadly the government is more focused on providing assistance in relief camps located in urban areas of Bhojpur rather than reaching to this village which a 30 kms from district headquarter.

Local leader of HAM, Danish Rizwan says, "Nitish Kumar is more focused on fulfilling his PM aspiration and not bothered about the people of Bihar. Most of the time the CM is out of Bihar"

--- ENDS ---
Few mainstream Republicans campaign for Donald Trump. House Speaker Paul Ryan has yet to stump for his partys presidential nominee, nor has Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The last two Republican presidents  George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush  have stayed on the sidelines of his campaign. But Nigel Farage, once the leader of the far-right UK Independence Party who led Britain out of the European Union in this summers so-called Brexit, is more than willing.

Speaking in Mississippi on Wednesday night, the British politician said, We reached those people who have never voted in their lives but believed by going out and voting for Brexit they could take back control of their country, take back control of their borders, and get back their pride and self-respect. Trump stood by his side, beaming. Not long ago, the GOP nominee fashioned himself MR. BREXIT, an explicit effort to ride the coattails of Farages unlikely and unexpected victory. (Trump himself noted at the time of the British vote in June that he had no idea what it was about and congratulated Scottish voters on electing to leave when they overwhelmingly sought to stay in Europe.)

Then, without endorsing Trump outright, Farage said, I will say this: If I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me!

The crowd gathered to see Trump was a bit perplexed; an informal survey by the Guardian found that eight out of 10 people at the rally had no idea who the Brit onstage was. But for people watching news clips from the rally that ran Wednesday night into Thursday, Trumps intentions were clear: He was aligning himself with Farage, an outsider underdog who successfully bucked Londons political class to divorce Britain from Europe.

The two share many similarities. Both decry immigrants and use race to rally their supporters. Both believe their respective countries are losing their identities to foreigners. Both seem to think liberal politicians are variously in the pockets of Wall Street, or The City in London, and that those establishment types ignore working men and women. Trump and Farage appeal to voters without a college degree. Theyre isolationists. And theyre demagogues who dont hesitate to lie if it advances their political fortunes.

Story continues

Populists tend to color themselves in what the greatest fear is, and thats what Farage did when he stoked fears about immigrants taking over Britain, Heather Conley, the director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Foreign Policy on Thursday. There certainly are a lot of similarities between the two men, she added.

Farage is very familiar with the electoral terrain Trump is mining. The American businessmans campaign closely mirrors the one run by Leave proponents. Trump has touched a nerve with white men without a college degree who have largely been left behind by the recovery from the Great Recession and who view the rise of minority groups with concern and, in some cases, outright hostility. Trump also flirts with the far-right fringes of American politics by insulting Muslims and Latinos while insisting African-Americans live in poverty and with crime that makes their neighborhoods worse than war zones, despite the fact that these descriptions do not apply to the majority of black Americans.

Trump insists the upcoming election is rigged in favor of his Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton, though he offers no proof. He makes claims about the health of the American economy, crime statistics, polls, and trade that have no relationship with reality. But the untruthfulness of his statements has done little to lessen support among his base.

Farage ran a very similar campaign to persuade Britons to leave the European Union. Sixty-six percent of people without a college degree voted to leave Europe, while 71 percent of Britons with a college degree voted to stay. The former UKIP leader, who resigned after the vote but still, ironically, holds a seat in the European Parliament, was also able to persuade older voters to abandon Brussels; 61 percent of Britons older than 65 voted for Brexit. Similarly, 59 percent of white voters without a college degree back Trump, and voters 65 and older support Trump over Clinton 49 percent to 45 percent.

Proponents of the Leave campaign also werent afraid to lie to win their vote. They notoriously repeated oft-debunked claims about how much money the U.K. sends to Europe, for example. Farage was forced to admit the day after the election that the claim made over and over again by Leave campaigners that all money once sent to Brussels would go to public health care in the U.K. was false; that money will not.

But those who voted to leave proved impervious to the facts, or bought into the Leave camps distortions. On the day after the historic vote, in some cases, many were having second thoughts. After the June 23 vote, the polling firm Opinium found that 7 percent of those who voted to leave, or 1.2 million people, said they regretted voting to leave.

Farage also isnt afraid to embrace elements of the far right. During the referendum campaign, Farage often talked about taking back Britain, implying that immigrants somehow make Britain less British. A UKIP supporter attacked and killed a center-left British member of Parliament whod supported accepting Syrian refugees shortly before the vote, for instance.

Trumps campaign slogan, Make America Great Again, suggests that somehow America is becoming less American. He sees a country infiltrated by Muslim terrorists, Mexican rapists and drug dealers, and cities riddled with crime. What have you got to lose? hes recently begun asking African-American and Hispanic audiences in an attempt at outreach.

Speaking to a Mississippi radio station during his trip to support Trump, Farage used provocative language that could have come from the GOP nominee himself. Farage said he no longer hears English spoken on his streets anymore and called immigration the absolute key to his Brexit victory.

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.

He added, Where we struck the chord is, yeah, our GDP may be going up through mass immigration but whos benefiting? Its the big businesses getting cheap labor who are benefiting.

One thing that Farage secured that Trump still covets: electoral victory. Before the Brexit vote, polls, betting shops, and talking heads all confidently predicted that British voters would choose to stay in the EU, even though the polls were close. The result  52 percent to 48 percent in favor of leaving Europe  came as a shock to most and proved politically lethal to David Cameron, then prime minister.

Two months on, new Prime Minister Theresa May has yet to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, an obscure provision in a European charter that would actually begin the process of unraveling the U.K. from the thicket of European laws and regulations. But Conley, from CSIS, believes it will happen.

For a party of obscurity to be able to push David Cameron and the politics of it to this referendum, its quite an extraordinary accomplishment, she said. I know a lot of people think there will be a redo of the referendum. But I think Brexit is going to happen.

Trump is hoping for a similar, unexpected result. The Real Clear Politics poll aggregator has Clinton up 6 points nationwide; Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight.com gives Clinton an 84 percent chance to win. Polls in key battleground states have widened since this summers political conventions, and even Democrats sniff an outside chance at an upset of their own in some seemingly solid Republican states, like Georgia.

Without a sharp turnaround in the few months remaining, Trump wont be MR. BREXIT but the thing he seemingly hates the most: a loser.

Photo credit: JONATHAN BACHMAN/Getty Images
Donald Trump has escalated his pitch to black voters in recent days, but some leaders are skeptical the controversial nominee will be able to win them over.

We have great relationships and the numbers are going up with the African American community rapidly, Trump said Thursday at a meeting in Trump Tower with the Republican Leadership Initiative, a Republican National Committee project focused on engaging millennial and minority Republicans. Ive always had great relationships with the African-American community, and now Ive made it such a focal point.

In his past few rallies, Trump has begun saying that he would work harder for black citizens than Democrats, who he says take their support for granted. He emphasizes (and exaggerates) statistics and descriptions of inner city life to enhance his point: Youre living 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? Trump said during remarks in Michigan in August. (The unemployment rate for blacks ages 16 to 24 in May was actually 18.7%, Politifact found.)

What do you have to lose is a risky pitch, carrying as it does the implication that black communities are currently horrible. A former Democratic elected official called it a clumsy, ham-handed attack.

Its insulting to the intelligence of voters, and clearly its not designed to appeal to African-American voters, the official said. Its designed to sort of send a message to his base, that Theyre saying Im ignoring African and Americans and Latinos, but really Im not.'

Ben Carson, on the other hand, said that Trumps comment was about real challenges facing black Americans. Mr. Trumps point is that the African-American community has seen high unemployment, practically no economic opportunity and poor educational opportunities, Carson, who ran against Trump in the primary and now advises him, told TIME in a statement. Mr. Trump has to go to African American voters and listen to their problems and offer substantive solutions to economic opportunity, school choice and prison reform, to name a few.

Story continues

He isnt going to concede the African-American vote to Hillary Clinton, Carson, who also attended Thursdays Republican Leadership Committee meeting, concluded. And [he] will compete to earn the trust and vote of African-Americans.

But Carsons point about Trump needing to go to African-American voters highlights what has so far been a limit in Trumps outreach: his appeals to minority voters are taking place in rallies filled with predominantly white crowds. One stop to broaden minority outreach thats already on Trumps agenda is Detroit, where Carson grew up. A spokesperson for Carson confirmed that the former neurosurgeon will accompany Trump on an upcoming trip to the city. But Trump declined invitations to speak at both the NAACP and the National Urban League, both of which have drawn GOP candidates and politicians in the past.

Another of Trumps key pitches to black voters is that he would protect them from crime, an extension of the Make America Safe Again theme that he highlighted in his first general election television ad. Its a disaster the way African-Americans are living in many cases, he said in Ohio in August. Well get rid of the crime. Youll be able to walk down the street without getting shot. Right now, you walk down the street, you get shot.

Some black leaders, like National Urban League CEO Marc Morial, feel Trump insults African-Americans with his emphasis on violence. The condemnation of the community, the stereotyping of the community as being crime-ridden  is divorced from reality, Morial said. Black America has a set of significant challenges today, but black America has tremendous successes.  The stereotyping is offensive, to say the least.

Others, like current Democratic Party head Donna Brazile, say all of this is too little, too late, anyway. Trumps own words and deeds have made him a singularly unqualified messenger of any sort of reconciliation, she wrote in an op-ed for USA Today. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., she continued, Trumps support among African Americans will continue to be virtually nil until we see some light and love from his campaign. Im not holding my breath.

But Trump says his new strategy is already working. On Wednesday, Trump claimed that his poll numbers with African-Americans have gone way up in the past few weeks. A recent NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll found Trump with 8% support among black voters. That is higher than what some other polls have found over the summer, where hes been hovering between about 1% and 6% black support. (In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won just 6% of the black vote, according to exit polls.)

For what its worth, Trump claims he would win 95% of the black vote if he ran again in 2020, a prediction that made his running mate Mike Pence laugh out loud in an interview. His optimistic view  thats pure Donald Trump, Pence said.
At a rally in Jackson, Miss., Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton a "bigot" as part of his new effort to court minority voters. He also said, Shes going to do nothing for African-Americans. Shes going to do nothing for the Hispanics. Shes only going to take care of herself, her husband, her consultants, her donors. These are the people she cares about. The crowd at the rally was largely white.
Donald Trump's latest attack on Hillary Clinton may be his boldest yet.



At a Wednesday rally in Jackson, Mississippi, the 70-year-old GOP nominee beefed up his efforts to put a dent in Clinton's lead among minority voters, labeling her a "bigot" who cares only about votes.



"Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future," the 70-year-old GOP nominee yelled out at a Wednesday rally in Jackson, Mississippi.



"She's going to do nothing for African-Americans, she's going to do nothing for the Hispanics. She's only going to take care of herself, her husband, her consultants, her donors. These are the people she cares about."







The statement comes as Trump finds himself trailing the Democratic nominee among minority voters by an overwhelming percentage. A recent NBC News poll showed that only 8 percent of African-American voters support Trump while 87 percent favor 68-year-old Clinton. Clinton leads Trump among Hispanic voters and Asian Americans by more than 45 percent.





This woman's face when Trump has the nerve to call Hillary a "bigot" #Trump https://t.co/4iMbHe1out a Sarah Wood (@SarahWoodwriter) August 25, 2016





Clinton brushed off Trump's comments, telling CNN that the business mogul is "taking a hate movement mainstream."





"He is taking a hate movement mainstream. He has brought it into his campaign." aHillary to @andersoncooper on Trump a Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 25, 2016





"He is bringing it to our communities and our country," Clinton said. "And someone who has questioned the citizenship of the first African-American president, who has courted white supremacists, who has been sued for housing discrimination against communities of color, who has attacked a judge for his Mexican heritage and promised a mass deportation force, is someone who is very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia."





Donald Trump slams Morning Joe hosts as 'two clowns'



Trump's Wednesday comments are the latest in his new effort to appeal to non-white voters. At a Minnesota rally last week, Trump urged African-Americans to vote for him, saying, "What do you have to lose?"





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





"Look, what do you have to lose? You're living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs," he said. "Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?"
Donald Trump has made a bold statement against Hillary Clinton, calling her a bigot whos only out for votes.

Speaking at a rally at Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday night, Trump accused Clinton of taking for granted her minority voters.

Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future, Trump said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

The statement has already been met with cries of irony on social media. Trump has been accused of racism himself and Clinton, speaking to CNNs Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night shortly after Trump made the statement, said, Someone whos questioned the citizenship of the first African-American president  is someone who is very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia.

Its the latest attack on Clinton as Trump revs up his campaign. Earlier on Wednesday, during a rally in Tampa, Fla., he said Clintons supporters are mostly celebrities who arent very hot anymore. Her supporters have very little enthusiasm, he said.

At the Jackson rally, Trump also invited outing U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage  noted for being a major architect of Brexit  on the stage, according to multiple reports.

Watch the video below.

Trump calls Clinton a "bigot," claims she "sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings https://t.co/KRJPOypGr5  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 25, 2016

Related stories

Donald Trump Slams Hillary Clinton's Celebrity Supporters: They 'Aren't Very Hot Anymore'

Inside Hillary Clinton's Star-Studded Hollywood Fundraiser (Photos)

'Celebrity Apprentice': Arnold Schwarzenegger Replaces Donald Trump in First Teaser
GettyImages 589916164

Donald Trump on Wednesday signaled a significant reversal on immigration, the signature issue that propelled him to the Republican presidential nomination.

During a town-hall interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, set to air on Wednesday night, Trump suggested that he would not look to deport all of the 11 million-plus immigrants in the country illegally.

"No citizenship," he said, according to a partial transcript. "Let me go a step further  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."

"Now, everybody agrees we get the bad ones out," he continued. "But when I go through and I meet thousands and thousands of people on this subject, and I've had very strong people come up to me, really great, great people come up to me, and they've said, 'Mr. Trump, I love you, but to take a person who's been here for 15 or 20 years and throw them and their family out, it's so tough, Mr. Trump.' I have it all the time! It's a very, very hard thing."

Trump has hinted at a "softening" in his hard-line immigration stance in recent days. At one point in the GOP primary, he said that he would impose a "deportation force" to return all immigrants in the country illegally to their countries of origin, subsequently letting people attempt to return under legal methods. He has also promised to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Trump's deportation shift on Wednesday sounded similar to rhetoric used throughout the primary season by Republican candidates such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, whose immigration platforms Trump criticized during the contest.

"Actually, with path to legalization, looks like Trump finally read @JebBush book Immigration Wars," former Bush adviser Charlie Spies tweeted. "This = his plan."

NOW WATCH: 'We're not playing games any longer': Trump ramps up his rhetoric on China





More From Business Insider


Donald Trump

With nearly 11 weeks to go before the November presidential election, Donald Trump is trying to address the elephant in the room: his dismal standing among African-American voters.

The Manhattan billionaire's plea has been the same  from Wisconsin to Michigan to North Carolina, Texas, and Mississippi. He asks black voters to give him a chance.

"What the hell do you have to lose?" the Republican nominee has been asking rhetorically since last week.

It is the first time in more than 14 months of campaigning that the real-estate mogul has looked in the direction of African-American voters en masse. Trump is making his pitch using the same vehicle that helped win him the GOP nomination  big, boisterous campaign rallies, still attended by mostly white audiences.

At those rallies this week, Trump's appeal to black voters took a curious turn  replacing "give Donald Trump a chance" with a new angle:

"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. Right now, you walk down the street, you get shot."

Trump's assertion that getting shot is an everyday worry for black Americans at large speaks to what critics say is his most glaring weakness with this demographic  that he is out of touch with people of color.

Morehouse College black college students

"I hear him not talking to black people, but talking to white people about black people so they will think he cares about black people," former Atlanta newspaper publisher Alexis Scott told The New York Times in a story published on Wednesday.

Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League, agreed, telling The Times: "Black America has deep problems ... but black America also has a large community of striving, successful, hard-working people: college educated, in the work force."

Story continues

Trump's ominous depictions have followed another narrative he adopted in the past week, in which he framed the black American experience as rather apocalyptic.

"You're living in poverty," the New York businessman said. "Your schools are no good. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed."

But the evidence suggests that the stark  and, in the case of that youth unemployment number, inaccurate  generalizations have done little to dig Trump out of his low standing with African-American voters.

This week, he continues to poll in the single digits among the voting bloc.

NOW WATCH: Clinton just released a brutal ad linking Trump to white supremacists





More From Business Insider


In the summer of 1980, Donald Trump faced a big problem. For six months, undocumented Polish laborers had been clearing the future site of Trump Tower, his signature real estate project on Manhattans Fifth Avenue, where he now lives, maintains his private offices and hosts his presidential campaign.

The men were putting in 12-hour shifts with inadequate safety equipment at subpar wages that their contractor paid sporadically, if at all. A lawyer for many of the Poles demanded that the workers be paid or else he would serve Trump with a lien on the property. One Polish worker even went to Trumps office to ask him for money in person, according to sworn testimony and a deposition filed under oath in a court case.

For help, Trump turned to Daniel Sullivan, a 6-ft. 5-in., 285-lb. labor consultant, FBI informant and future officer of the Teamsters Union. Donald told me he had difficulties , Sullivan later testified in the case. That he had some illegal Polish employees on the job.

Sullivan had been helping Trump negotiate a casino deal in New Jersey at the time, and he testified that he was shocked by Trumps admission. I think you are nuts, Sullivan testified that he told Trump. You are here negotiating a lease in Atlantic City for a casino license and you are telling me you have got illegal employees on the job.

For 36 years, Trump has denied knowingly using undocumented workers to demolish the building that would be replaced with Trump Tower in 1980. After Senator Marco Rubio raised the issue of undocumented Polish workers during a Republican primary debate this year, Trump described himself as removed from the problem. I hire a contractor. The contractor then hires the subcontractor, he said. They have people. I dont know. I dont remember, that was so many years ago, 35 years ago.

But thousands of pages of documents from the case, including reams of testimony and sworn depositions reviewed by TIME, tell a different story. Kept for more than a decade in 13 boxes in a federal judiciary storage unit in Missouri, the documents contain testimony that Trump sought out the Polish workers when he saw them on another job, instigated the creation of the company that paid them and negotiated the hours they would work. The papers contain testimony that Trump repeatedly toured the site where the men were working, directly addressed them about pay problems and even promised to pay them himself, which he eventually did.

Story continues

The documents show that after things got ugly over unpaid wages, Trump sought Sullivans advice on the workers and their immigration status. At one point, a lawyer for the Poles testified, Trump threatened, through his own lawyer, to call the Immigration and Naturalization Service and have the workers deported. And when the Labor Department launched a probe of the Polish laborers, Trump again called Sullivan for help, asking him to meet the federal investigator at Trumps office, according to the documents.

Testifying at a 1990 trial where he faced a charge of participation in a breach of fiduciary duty, Trump told a federal judge he still didnt know if the workers were undocumented, arguing that he had hired a subcontractor who employed them and that he personally wasnt very involved in that whole process. His lawyers also questioned the credibility of Sullivan, who had been convicted of tax evasion in a separate case. When contacted Aug. 23 by TIME for comment on the documents, Trump replied with an emailed statement. The laws were totally different thirty five years ago, he wrote in the message. The building, Trump Tower, turned out to be one of the most successful and iconic buildings ever built. Do you have nothing better to write about than a story that is 35 years old and filled with half truths and false information?

Later that day, as part of a political pivot designed to soften his image with minority and centrist voters, Trump told an interviewer he might reconsider the hard-line stance against undocumented immigrants that has been a centerpiece of his campaign. Since shortly after launching his bid for the presidency, he has promised to rid the nation of its 11 million undocumented workers, possibly by employing a deportation force, and to suspend issuing new green cards in order to force employers to hire from the citizen labor pool. He has regularly described undocumented workers as an economic threat to U.S. citizens. Theyre taking our manufacturing jobs, he said at a rally in Phoenix in July 2015. Theyre taking our money. Theyre killing us.

Thirty-six years ago, at the beginning of his career, he saw things differently.

Trump Tower has never been just another building project for Donald Trump. And in 1980, it was something of a personal obsession. He had started in real estate in Queens, working for his father, who had prospered in the outer boroughs. In 1979 he managed, through charm, persistence and hard work, to secure the lease on the old Bonwit Teller building at 56th Street and Fifth Avenue, eventually signing a 50-50 deal with the property owner to develop what would be the citys tallest glass structure on the site. Facing zoning restrictions, Trump made large donations to politicians and curried favor with powerful members of the New York board of estimate, which approved a zoning variance for the project.

With the approvals in hand, Trump set about preparing to build. One day in late 1979, he was inspecting renovation work being undertaken by a tenant in a building he owned next door to the site, and saw the Poles at work, according to testimony given to the court by the foreman overseeing the job. The foreman testified that Trump personally approached him to ask who they were. Those Polish guys are good, hard workers, court documents say the foreman recalled Trump saying. Soon afterward, Trump met with the workers boss, a man named William Kaszycki, at Trumps lavish office across Fifth Avenue, Kaszycki later testified.

Kaszyckis company specialized in window and job-site cleaning and had never done the heavy demolition work required to remove a 12-story building in midtown Manhattan. Kaszycki testified that Trump told him to start a new company to do the demolition work and directed him to get new and different insurance for the job. Kaszycki, who has since died, testified that he accepted Trumps $775,000 fee offer flat out. And with Trump offering an additional $25,000 if the building came down quickly, Kaszycki promised him that the Poles would work day and night, seven days a week.

And they did. From January to March 1980, they sneaked over from the job next door and worked two shifts, one from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., the other from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Some later testified that they worked 24-hour shifts. They were paid $4 to $5 an hour, court documents show, which at the time was less than half the prevailing union wage and just above the state minimum wage of $3.10 an hour. Tearing down walls, cutting pipes and pulling electrical wires is dangerous work, and unlike union workers who later joined the job, most of the Polish workers lacked safety equipment like hard hats, according to the testimony of several former workers. A large piece of steel fell on the arm of one worker, Albin Lipinski, breaking several bones and permanently disfiguring his fingers.

But it was a dispute about money, not safety and long hours, that would later cause Trump so much trouble. Five miles east of the Fifth Avenue job site, at a two-story tin-sided house in the heavily Polish neighborhood of Maspeth, Queens, a middle-aged lawyer named John Szabo started getting visits in March 1980 from undocumented Polish laborers who said they were not being paid for their work. Before long, he would have dozens of clients from the same job. Szabo contacted Kaszycki, who was spending much of his time in Florida, but couldnt reach him. So in late March, Szabo called Thomas Macari, a vice president in Trumps operation, according to Szabos testimony. Macari, who could not be reached for comment, was overseeing the demolition job on a daily basis, according to the testimony of the Poles, Kaszycki and others in the case. If his clients werent paid, Szabo said, he would serve Trump with a mechanics lien, a powerful legal device that gives a laborer partial claim to the title of a property on which he has worked.

Soon Trump, who toured the site on multiple occasions, according to the testimony of witnesses, had to address the issue himself. One evening in the spring of 1980, he met with some of the workers at the Bonwit Teller building, according to the testimony of one of the Poles on the job, Joseph Dabrowski. Kaszycki hadnt been showing up on the job, and the Poles were angry about not being paid. Trump told them that if Kaszycki left the job for good, he would pay them himself, Dabrowski testified. And initially he made good on that promise. Trump used a bank account that required his signature to pay Kaszyckis creditors, and Macari opened a new account requiring his own signature to pay the demolition workers. Macari paid the Polish workers cash for Trump, according to the sworn testimony of multiple witnesses.

But still the Polish workers were paid inconsistently. Lipinski, who had become a foreman after his arm was crushed by the steel beam, took matters into his own hands. Around noon one afternoon, he walked across Fifth Avenue and into Trumps office, Lipinski testified. He spoke to the secretary and was surprised the secretary let him speak to Trump, Lipinskis son Jozef says in an interview this summer, sitting next to his father in his apartment in New York. Jozef says his father told him and his brother the story throughout their childhood: Trump told him, I paid the checks and anything I owed to the other guy, and hes supposed to pay you.'

Now 80, Albin Lipinski is a U.S. citizen. Speaking through an interpreter at his home, he displayed his hand, still scarred from the accident, but says he supports Trump for President. Twenty-seven years after signing an affidavit about his meeting with Trump and testifying under oath about it, he now says he did go to Trumps office but never met Trump. I went to the office because I was mad I wasnt being paid, he says through a translator, but I never met Trump. Jozef and his brother say their father has begun forgetting things in his old age.

By early June 1980, the Polish workers unpaid wages totaled over $100,000. It was at this point, Sullivan later testified, that Trump asked the labor consultant for advice about the laborers. I told him to fire them promptly if he had any brains, Sullivan testified. Sullivan died in 1993.

Trump initially ignored the advice. On June 27, 1980, the Poles lawyer, Szabo, went to Trumps office and served Trump with a mechanics lien, Szabo testified. Worse, the Polish workers were threatening violence, according to Sullivans testimony. Donald called me at my home in Pennsylvania on June 27th, 1980, and asked could he see me immediately, Sullivan testified. He needed some help because the employees on the Bonwit Teller were threatening to hang a fellow named Tom Macari off the building and would I come to New York as soon as possible.

At his office on Fifth Avenue the next day, Trump told Sullivan he was in a bind: if he didnt have the Bonwit building down by Sept. 1, he said, he was going to have to pay real estate taxes on it, Sullivan testified. Sullivan persuaded Trump to fire the Poles and rely only on union workers to get the building down.

Worried the Poles would never get paid, Szabo put a second and third lien on the property. On Aug. 8, he called Macari and told him that because Trump had been paying the Poles, he was legally their employer. That meant that under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Trump couldnt sell any space in the tower until Szabos clients were paid.

Forty-five minutes later, Szabo testified, he received a call from a man who identified himself as a Mr. Barron from Trumps legal department, who said Trump was going to sue Szabo for $100 million for wrongful filing of mechanics liens. At trial, Trump admitted that both he and a senior executive at the company had used the name Barron as a pseudonym. I believe I occasionally used that name, said Trump. But in this case, Macari said under oath that it had been he who called Szabo while posing as Barron; Szabo testified he didnt recognize Barrons voice.

Szabo wrote a long letter defending his actions and laying out his case under the law and sent it to Barron on Aug. 18. A few days later, Szabo testified, he received a call from a real lawyer for Trump, Irwin Durben, who said Trump was threatening to ask the Immigration and Naturalization Service to have the Poles deported.

By the fall, the Labor Department was investigating Trump and Kaszyckis use of the undocumented workers. That winter, a Labor Department official made an appointment to inspect Trumps employment records at the office across from the work site. Trump called Sullivan and asked him to attend the meeting with the federal investigator, according to Sullivans testimony. In the end, Szabo and the Labor Department won a judgment of $254,523.59 against Kaszycki. Trump never had to pay the Poles another cent.

None of this history would have been preserved at the federal court storage facility near Kansas City, Mo., but for a separate fight over money and Trumps use of the Polish workers. According to the contract Kaszycki had signed with Local 95 of the House Wreckers Union, he and Trump were supposed to pay into the unions pension and welfare fund a percentage of every man-hour worked on the project, whether it was done by union or nonunion workers.

A dissident member of Local 95, a former boxer named Harry Diduck, who has since died, realized Trump and Kaszycki had been paying the pension fund only for the hours the few dozen union workers had put in, not for the hours the Poles had worked. In 1983, Diduck and his lawyers, Burton Hall and Wendy Sloan, sued Kaszycki, the union president and subsequently Trump and others for the $600,000 they claimed Trump and his partners owed the pension fund.

Over time, Sloan amassed thousands of pages of testimony from the Polish workers, Sullivan, Szabo, Macari and dozens of others. Trump fought her at every step. When she tried to depose him, he stormed out after two hours complaining that he was being harassed, necessitating a court order forcing another deposition. The case ran for 15 years. The initial judge in the matter found that Trump had participated in defrauding the union pension fund. It then went through an appeal and multiple battles back at the district court under three different judges. Finally, in 1998, when the question of whether Trump was the legal employer of the Poles was set to go to a jury trial, Trump settled. No one knows how much he ended up paying to compensate the union pension fund. The deal remains sealed by the court. TIME and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press have asked the court to make the deal public.

But the other records in the case have been sitting in storage ever since. They include a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City that gave both sides partial victories. It began with a swipe at the union president and the later complicity of Trumps organization: This case illustrates an immutable law with respect to falsehoodsas immutable as the one respecting gravity Sir Isaac Newton conceived upon seeing an apple fall from a tree: having first manufactured a falsehood, a person is forced to invent more to maintain it; yet, as here, in the end, time generally reveals what a falsehood hopes to hide.

Sullivan put it more bluntly in 1990 to People magazine. It was disgusting how he used people, Sullivan said. I said, Dont exploit them like that. Dont try to f-ck these poor souls over. It baffled me then, and it makes me sick even now that he knowingly had these Poles there for the purpose of Trump Tower at starvation wages. He couldnt give a sh-t because hes Donald Trump and everybody is here to serve him. Over time he became more and more monstrous and arrogant. I asked myself, How long is it going to take for all of this to catch up with him?'

With reporting by MERRILL FABRY and CELINE WOJTALA/NEW YORK and MELISSA AUGUST/WASHINGTON



This appears in the September 05, 2016 issue of TIME.
By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) With activists vowing to step up resistance against genetically-modified (GM) mustard, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said the government will look at agriculture "holistically" and will do whatever it takes to safeguard the interests of countrys farmers.

Noting that he is not "strict" with any particular method of farming, Dave said the issue of GM crops has unnecessarily been "sensitised" and his ministry will analyse every aspect before reaching a decision.

advertisement

"Whichever will benefit the farmers, whichever will reduce their input cost, whichever increases their production, that is our line of thinking," he told PTI in an interview.

He said Indian people and consumers, particularly the farmers, must be safeguarded.

"We will see to it that at the end, farmers do not have to invest 12-14 per cent inputs costs particularly for seeds. We want to reduce this. At the same time, farmers should not have to lose their crop as well.

"We are looking at all these issues. (The issue) GM is unnecessarily being sensitised. We will look towards agriculture holistic and completely," Dave said.

A group of activists had recently said they will step up their resistance against approval to GM mustard and also demanded fixing liability on crop developers for providing "false" evidence to the countrys biotech regulator.

They had made detailed presentations to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and said they will not allow Indians to be made "lab rats" in an "irreversible and irresponsible experiment".

Biotech regulator GEAC, however, had recently deferred its decision on commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard in the country and asked its risk assessment group to look into the deficiencies pointed out by a sub-committee.

The Environment Minister said ultimately it is not about fighting that "this religion is better or that is better but it is eventually the uplift of people, especially farmers, which is more important".

Asked whether the Environment Ministry will go ahead with GM crops if all safeguards are taken into consideration, Dave dismissed it as a "hypothetical" question and said the ministry will analyze every aspect and then reach a decision.

"This is a hypothetical question. Let the chapter come in front of us, we will analye and we will give the decision. The GEAC has not taken a decision as yet," he said.

Dave had earlier stuck a note of caution over using genetically modified crops, saying one particular scientific process should not be given preference and asserted that natural farming is "always better". PTI TDS AAR ZMN AAR

--- ENDS ---

advertisement
Updated with video: Donald Trump talked tunnel technology, and deporting the bad dudes in an interview today with Anderson Cooper and flatly denied Coopers insinuation hed just flip-flopped on his flip-flop on his position about undocumented immigrants.

And, Hillary Clinton?

She is a bigot, Trump says in the interview that aired tonight. Its Trumps first non-Fox News Channel interview since late July, when he got mocked for telling ABC News George Stephanopoulos he has sacrificed for his country by employing thousands and thousands of people.

Trumps comments for Anderson Cooper 360 were his latest punch back at Dem candidate Hillary Clinton. This time he was punching back after Clinton spoke ominously in Reno, Nevada this afternoon of Trumps ties to radical alt-conservatives. Trumps platform of prejudice  and paranoia is taking hate groups mainstream, she said; Clinton also dismissed Trumps latest paranoid fever dream about her health.

Look at whats happening to the inner citieslook at whats happening to African Americans and Hispanics in this country where she talks all the time, Trump told Cooper.

Look at the vets, where she said the vets are being treated essentially just fine, that its over-exaggerated, whats happening to the vets not so long ago.

But how is she bigoted? Bigotry is having hatred towards a particular group, Cooper questioned, trying to get Trump back on-topic.

Because she is selling them down the tubes, because shes not doing anything for those communities. She talks a good game. But she doesnt do anything, Trump dug in.

So youre saying she has hatred or dislike of black people? Cooper pushed.

Her policies are bigoted because she knows theyre not going to work, Trump shot back.

It went on like that for a while  Cooper repeating the definition of bigot, and Trump happily repeating his talking points.

But youre saying shes personally bigoted? Cooper asked.

Oh she is. Of course she is. Her policies, Trump responded. Shes totally bigoted theres no question about that.

But it does imply that she has antipathy that she has hatred toward, I guess in this case youre talking about African Americans, Cooper began.

She has been extremely extremely bad for African Americans, Trump interrupted. I think she has been extremely bad for HispanicsLook at the rise in poverty. Look at the rise in violence.

But hatred is at the core of that or dislike of African Americans?

Or maybe shes lazy, Trump suggested.

Its Trumps first non-FNC interview since late July, when the GOP nominee sat down with ABC News George Stephanopoulos to respond to father of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq. Khizr Khan, speaking at the DNC, said Trump has sacrificed nothing for his country. Trumps sit-down with ABC did not go well for the candidate, who claimed he had sacrificed for his country by employing thousands of people, and suggested that the Khans wife, Ghazala Khan, had not spoken at the convention, rather standing silently by her husbands side, because she was forbidden to as a Muslim.

In the walk-up to tonights CNN interview with Trump, some GOP candidates Trump had easily dispatched during primary season noted his new platform sounds suspiciously like theirs, which Trump had derided during debates.

Well, I can only say that whatever his views are this morning, they might change this afternoon, and they were different than they were last night, and theyll be different tomorrow, Jeb Bush told WABC Radios Rita Cosby this morning.

And Ted Cruzs former communications director, Amanda Carpenter told CNN this morning, In the most polite way possible, we really really told you this was going to happen, everybody.

The idea you were going to have deportation forces go around the country, haul people out of their homes and send them back to Mexico was never feasible, and we never thought he would follow through with something like that, she added. Trumps new position on immigration is in such marked contrast to his primary posturing, we have no idea what he really means or thinks and thats been the whole problem through the election cycle, she said.

Here is the second part of Coopers interview with Trump:

Related stories

'SNL's Kate McKinnon: Hillary Clinton Was "Warm And Sincere" & "Very Funny" - Awardsline

Donald Trump's Doctor Explains "Astonishingly Healthy" Medical Record To NBC News

Jimmy Kimmel Comes Clean To Hillary Clinton Pickle Jar Truthers
One day after calling Hillary Clinton a "bigot" at a rally, Donald Trump is standing by his claim.

"She is a bigot," the GOP presidential nominee said Thursday, repeating his accusation from Wednesday's Mississippi event to Anderson Cooper while appearing on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360. "If you look at what's happening to the inner cities, you look at what's happening to African-Americans and Hispanics in this country where she talks all the time."

Cooper, unsatisfied with Trump's explanation, pressed the divisive nominee on his reasoning by defining the term.

"But how is she bigoted?" Cooper asked. "Bigotry is having hatred towards a particular group."

"Because she is selling them down the tubes because she's not doing anything for those communities," Trump replied. "She talks a good game. But she doesn't do anything."

Cooper continued, "So you're saying she has hatred or dislike of black people?" Trump said her policies "are bigoted because she knows they're not going to work."

When Cooper asked if he is saying Clinton is personally bigoted, Trump continued to give him a runaround.

"Oh, she is," said Trump. "They're her policies, she comes out with the policies and others that believe, like she does, also. But she came out with policies over the years. This is over the years, long time. She's totally bigoted, there's no question about that."

In an attempt to again parse his words, Cooper asked if Trump is specifically implying that she has hatred toward African-Americans.

"I think she has been extremely, extremely bad for African-Americans," said Trump. "I think she has been extremely bad for Hispanics. You look at what's happened with her policies and the policies of President Obama and others. Look at the poverty. Look at the rise in poverty. Look at the rise in violence."

Story continues

For his final attempt, Cooper asked: "But hatred is at the core of that or dislike of African-Americans?"

Trump's reply?

"Or maybe she's lazy."

Trump to @andersoncooper on Clinton: "She is a bigot." Full interview at 8ET on @AC360 https://t.co/aFzghBnB52 https://t.co/bVNlXhCmti

- CNN (@CNN) August 25, 2016

Trump also stood by his controversial pleas to black voters and repeated his opinion that Clinton "should be in jail" over her emails.

He told Cooper that he doesn't think African Americans are insulted by his statements, repeating: "What do you have to lose?" (He has previously said: "You're living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs.")

At one point during the interview, he told Cooper, "I know you want to protect her."

Donald Trump: I don't think African Americans are insulted by my language https://t.co/UiesPjySpT https://t.co/GRLzpnyWng

- Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 26, 2016

Donald Trump: "Hillary Clinton should be in jail. You know it. The FBI director knows it. Everybody else knows it." https://t.co/RkgO5E9Ovi

- CNN (@CNN) August 26, 2016

On Wednesday, Cooper spoke to Clinton about Trump's initial comment.

"He is taking a hate movement mainstream," the Democratic presidential nominee told the host, adding that he is "someone who is very much pedaling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia."

Clinton continued to focus on Trump's "divisive rhetoric" while speaking Thursday at a rally in Nevada.

"From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," she said. "He is taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican party."

Trump also held a rally on Thursday, in Manchester, N.H., where he said his opponent "paints decent Americans as racists."

"Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and the millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racists," said Trump ahead of his Anderson Cooper 360 interview.

Read more: Donald Trump Says Hillary Clinton's Celebrity Supporters "Aren't Very Hot Anymore"
Down Ticket is Yahoo News complete guide to the most fascinating House, Senate and governors races of 2016. Coming to you every Tuesday and Thursday until Nov. 8. What you need to know today.

_____

This Republican Senate candidate is showing the rest of the GOP how not to get dragged down by the Donald

On Tuesday, we took a breather from cataloging the many Donald Trump-related problems facing down-ballot Republicans in order to point out that, hey, maybe not everything is doom and gloom for the GOP right now.

One of the bright spots: Three vulnerable Republican senators  Marco Rubio in Florida, Rob Portman in Ohio, Chuck Grassley in Iowa  are leading their Democratic challengers in swing states where Trump is nonetheless trailing or tied with Hillary Clinton.

Turns out, however, that theres a fourth GOP Senate candidate who may be an even better example of how Republicans can save themselves from Trump.

His name is Joe Heck, and hes running for Harry Reids seat in Nevada.

As you may have heard, Reid  a 30-year veteran of the chamber who served as majority leader from 2007 to 2015 and is probably the second most powerful Democrat in the country  will be retiring in January. There is no race Republicans are more determined to win: in part to ensure that they keep control of the Senate, and in part to embarrass Reid.

Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto should be the favorite. She is Reids handpicked successor, which means she is backed by the minority leaders powerful political machine and a Nevada Democratic Party that is much more organized than the states notoriously sloppy GOP. (Reid himself has said that he is devoting a huge amount of my time to the race.) As the granddaughter of an immigrant from Chihuahua, Mexico, she would be the first Latina senator in U.S. history  a leg up in a state with a large Latino population (28 percent) that votes heavily Democratic. (Barack Obama won 71 percent of Nevadas Latino vote in 2012). From 2007 to 2015, she served as Nevadas attorney general, one of the highest-profile offices in the state. And in general, Democrats  who enjoy a statewide voter-registration advantage over Republicans  tend to benefit from presidential-year turnout patterns in Nevada.

Story continues

Yet Cortez Masto hasnt led in a single poll since May; in fact, Heck is slightly ahead at this point, according to the RealClear Politics average. Trump, meanwhile, lags a few points behind Clinton.

This wasnt what the pundits predicted. If there was any state where Trump would hurt the chances of down-ballot congressional candidates, Nevada was supposed to be it, the Washington Posts Dave Weigel recently wrote. President Obama carried it twice, both times losing the white vote but winning landslides with the states enormous Latino population. [But now] Nevada is the only competitive Senate race in the nation where Democrats are playing defense.

So whats going on?

Like Rubio, Portman and Grassley, Heck is running ahead of his partys presidential nominee because he is defining himself in a way that keeps Trump from defining him. Unlike Rubio, Portman and Grassley, however, Heck (a congressman from Nevadas third district) is doing so as a non-incumbent in a race for an open Democratic seat. This makes his early success more impressive  and potentially more instructive for other down-ballot Republicans.

On paper, Heck looks like exactly the sort of candidate Republicans would want on their team: a physician and a brigadier general in the Army Reserve who has served three tours of active duty. He also has an excellent track record at the ballot box, having narrowly defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2010 before going on to win reelection by widening margins in 2012 and 2014, in a district that twice voted for Obama.

Also important: As one Democratic strategist recently told top Nevada political reporter Jon Ralston, in Congress, [Heck] has represented 25 percent of the voters of the state, and three-quarters of the voters are in [the] same media market as his congressional district, so he started better defined than Catherine.

We knew this race would be tough, the Democrat added. He has a good biography as a general and a doctor, so negatives have hit him less hard in past campaigns.

But the key for Heck  at least so far  is that hes actually delivered on this promise as a candidate. (Outside money is helping as well.) On the one hand, Heck hasnt fallen into the same trap as his Republican counterparts in New Hampshire and elsewhere by trying to have it both ways on Trump; he supports the Donald and doesnt squirm when he says so. But hes also made it clear that hed bring a very non-Trumpian set of priorities to the Senate.

Chief among them: immigration reform. Heck was one of the few GOP congressmen who supported the Gang of Eights 2013 push for comprehensive reform. He read all 1,200 pages of Senate bill, and though he objected to portions of it, he planned to work on a House version. When House Republicans eventually decided to kill the legislation, Heck released a statement saying the situation was extremely frustrating and very disappointing. He spent six months drafting a GOP version of the DREAM Act; he criticizes Trumps proposed Muslim ban for stereotyp[ing] 1.6 billion people; and when asked about Trumps mass deportation plan, he insists that we could not execute it and we could not afford it. He says that he would continue to advocate for immigration reform as a senator under President Trump.

Its hard to predict what the futures going to hold, but thats the position Id take on the Senate side, Heck told the Washington Post. Being a smaller body, it might be easier to build a critical mass of consensus than trying to do it in a group of 435.

To be sure, Heck and Trump overlap on some immigration-related issues. But for the most part, Heck has convinced his diverse district  where he has consistently reached out to minority groups, arranging discussions about improving Hispanic health care and employing Mandarin and Tagalog speakers on his congressional staff  that he isnt anything like Trump.

Not that Hecks opponents agree. The Democrats plan is to paint Heck as a Trump clone: Last month, Cortez Masto described Heck and Trump as ideological soul mates, and Reid has referred to his protegees rival as both a parrot and Joe Im Really Trump Heck.

In response, Heck has accused Cortez Masto of being little more than Reid 2.0 and claiming that, of the two of them, only he would hold leaders of both parties accountable.

In a state where neither Reid, Clinton, nor Trump is particularly popular right now, the contest  and perhaps even control of the Senate as a whole  may come down to which argument Nevadans find more convincing. The fact that more of them seem to be supporting Heck than Trump  and fewer seem to be supporting Cortez Masto than Clinton  suggests that the congressman may currently have the upper hand.

Whether Heck can eke out a victory remains to be seen. Still, no other GOP candidate is handling Hurricane Donald quite as deftly. His fellow Republicans should take note.

_____

The sockless senator

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr is many things. A former lawn equipment salesman. The twelfth cousin of Aaron Burr. The driver of a 1974 Volkswagen Thing.

One thing Burr is not, however, is a wearer of socks. This week, he decided to explain his aversion via video tweet. It is officially our favorite clip of the 2016 election cycle (so far):

Im not opposed to socks, I just choose not to wear them.https://t.co/VP8Nqjh1E0  Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) August 23, 2016

Burr will undoubtedly remain sockless after Novembers election. The question is whether he will remain a senator. A NBC/Marist poll taken earlier this month showed Burrs Democratic rival, Deborah Ross, ahead by two percentage points; two polls released earlier this week awarded Burr narrow leads. The contest is becoming a somewhat unexpected tossup as Trump underperforms in the state and Democratic challenger Roy Cooper pulls away from GOP incumbent Pat McCrory in the governors race.

For the record: Down Ticket sometimes goes sockless as well. Its a southern New Jersey thing. (Not really.)

_____

Cheat sheet: This years most fascinating ballot initiatives

By Chris Wilson

Marijuana: Several ballot initiatives across the country seek to legalize weed to varying degrees. In Massachusetts, a victory for Question 4 would make it legal to grow, possess and distribute marijuana for all residents over the age of 21. The state voted in 2008 to decriminalize possession and in 2012, approved the use of medical marijuana. Arizona, California, Maine and Nevada also have measures that would legalize weed for recreational purposes. Marijuana is currently legal for recreational purposes in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas have initiatives to legalize cannabis for medical purposes. In 2014, Floridas Amendment 2  which would have created a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana  fell two points short of the 60 percent threshold it needed to reach. Montana has Initiative 182, which would remove a licensed marijuana providers three-patient limit. Missouri also considered a medical marijuana initiative, but it failed to make Novembers ballot.

South Dakota Referred Law 20: At the conclusion of an election cycle that saw Bernie Sanders putting a national $15 minimum wage front and center, South Dakota voters will have the opportunity to lower the statewide minimum wage for some residents, two years after voting to raise it for all of them.

Confusing? Lets break it down. In November 2014, South Dakota residents voted 55 percent to 45 percent for Measure 18, which raised the minimum wage in the state from $7.25 per hour to $8.50 per hour, along with annual cost-of-living adjustments. The following year, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a bill that exempted South Dakota residents under the age of 18 from the increase, bumping their minimum wage up just a quarter to $7.50 and untethering minors from any automatic cost-of-living increases. Supporters of the measure said the point was to create a youth training wage for younger workers.

I dont think it is an affront to the will of the voters, Daugaard said last year, despite overturning part of a measure that passed by 10 points a few months earlier. Again, I think that campaign focused on adult workers who support a household and not on teenagers.

That leads us to Referred Law 20, which will be on the ballot in November after a group opposing the lower wage for young workers successfully filed a petition. A yes vote will lock in the minimum wage for minors at $7.50 without any automatic increases, while a no vote would restore the law to what South Dakota residents voted on two years ago. It is one of a few states with a minimum wage measure on the ballot; the others are Colorado, Maine and Washington. The Washington measure (Initiative 1433) would also give residents the opportunity to earn paid sick leave in addition to boosting the minimum wage.

California: The Golden State has a robust ballot-initiative process that lets voters to decide on a variety of issues every election cycle. A few of the items on the ballot this November:

Proposition 62: Repeal the use of the death penalty in the state. California has not executed a prisoner since 2006.

Proposition 63: A gun control measure that would prohibit high-capacity magazines and require background checks for the purchase of ammunition.

Proposition 64: As mentioned above, this would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

Proposition 67: Prohibit the use of plastic bags at large grocery stores and other retailers.

And then you have Proposition 60, which would require pornographic actors to use condoms.

Colorado Amendment 69: Some strange bedfellows have come together to oppose this initiative, which would create a universal health care program for all the states residents. Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Michael Bennet, both Democrats, oppose the measure, claiming it would hurt businesses and increase taxes. Meanwhile, health care companies and the Koch brothers organization Americans for Prosperity are spending money to defeat it. Polling in June showed the yes votes in the lead, but Amendment 69s chances of passage have declined since then. State Sen. Irene Aguilar, an early advocate for the amendment, admitted earlier this week that shed consider support from 35 percent of the states voters a moral victory.

_____

Want a sneak peek of the message down-ballot Republicans will be running on this fall? Paul Ryans got you covered.

 and surprise: It doesnt have anything to do with Donald Trump.

For the past few weeks, the political press has been speculating about when the Republican Party will pull a Dole 96 and start publicly pushing a blank check message, essentially conceding a Trump loss and campaigning instead to preserve their congressional majorities as a brake on the liberal ambitions of President Hillary Clinton.

But Paul Ryan is already there.

Heres a fundraising email the House majority leader sent out Wednesday:

As Paul Ryan goes, so goes the GOP. Expect more of this in the weeks ahead.

_____

The best of the rest

Bernie Sanders launches Our Revolution, while @Tim_Canova accuses him of ignoring his callshttps://t.co/dfVAysgxZE  daveweigel (@daveweigel) August 25, 2016

I went to Indy to write on @EvanBayh and #insen, and my trip began by sharing a DCA-IND flight with .. Evan Bayh https://t.co/eX44tysnHQ  Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) August 25, 2016

Flake isnt just anti-Trump. Hes now hopeful that Clinton-Kaine will work with Congress on big bipartisan deals.https://t.co/vS9gSYGF44  Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) August 25, 2016

_____

Countdown

_____
The Ventura Fire Association on Wednesday, August 24, shared this footage of a helicopter pilot making a skilled precision drop in order to assist with putting out the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County, California.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported on Thursday, August 25, that the Soberanes Fire, after burning more than 90,000 acres, was slowing down, though continued to move south near Mount Olmstead.

The Cal Fire Spokesman told the Monterey County Weekly that crews hope to have the fire contained before September 30. Credit: Instagram/venturafireassociation
London (AFP) - Leicester City and England midfielder Danny Drinkwater signed a new five-year contract with the Premier League champions on Thursday.

Drinkwater, 26, joins Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Kasper Schmeichel in committing his future to the club since the end of last season.

"I've loved playing for this club. It's been perfect for me and my career and I want to be here for a long time to come. I couldn't be happier," Drinkwater told Leicester's website.

Drinkwater joined Leicester in 2012 from Manchester United and has made 177 appearances for the Foxes.

He was named the club's player of the year as Leicester won promotion back to the top flight in the 2013-14 campaign, and last season played a key role as the Foxes became the most unexpected champions in Premier League history.

Drinkwater, who won the first of his three England caps against the Netherlands in March, added: "I've grown a lot as a player and a person in the last four years and Leicester has been a massive part of that.

"I love being part of this team. We've been through so much together and I'm sure there's a lot more to come."
PWC says drones could save businesses $127 million worldwide

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence IoT Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

A team of academics and scientists has issued a report showing that the majority of drone malfunctions and accidents are a result of technological errors rather than human operator errors, according to Mashable.

The team, led by Graham Wild, an aviation lecturer at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, examined 152 drone event reports over the past nine years to determine the cause of the accidents.

Wild said that the most common error his team found was the loss of communication or radio signal between the operator and the drone. He did recognize that drone accidents are still very rare, citing 152 total reported accidents in 10 years of drone activity in Australia. Nonetheless, Wild and his researchers called for drone accident reporting to be mandatory worldwide, arguing that it will make drone aviation as safe as commercial air transport.

The lack of detail in the reports was a major problem for the researchers, according to Wild.The researchers said less than 20% of the reports they examined had sufficient information for the researchers to determine the cause of the crash. For example, the researchers would have liked to know the type of drone, its weight, and other circumstances surrounding the crash. This resulted in the researchers calling for more detailed reporting of crashes.

Despite the lack of information, the findings show there are still issues to resolve before drones outside of the line of sight become more of a phenomenon used by all industries.While regulatory barriers had been commonly mentioned as the primary barrier to mass drone delivery adoption, this study raises new questions about whether the technology in drones is safe enough to be brought to the mass market.

7-11 has already conducted the first commercial drone delivery in the US, and other companies are testing deliveries throughout the world. By reporting how crashes occur, much like in the self-driving car space, companies can better learn how to improve the drone technology.

Story continues

Drones turned the corner in 2015 to become a popular consumer device, while a framework for regulation that legitimizes drones in the US began to take shape. Technological and regulatory barriers still exist to further drone adoption.

Drone manufacturers and software providers are quickly developing technologies like geo-fencing and collision avoidance that will make flying drones safer. The accelerating pace of drone adoption is also pushing governments to create new regulations that balance safety and innovation.

Safer technology and better regulation will open up new applications for drones in the commercial sector, including drone delivery programs like Amazons Prime Air and Googles Project Wing initiatives.

Jonathan Camhi, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed drones report that forecasts sales revenues for consumer, enterprise, and military drones. It also projects the growth of drone shipments for consumers and enterprises.

The report details several of worlds major drone suppliers and examines trends in drone adoption among several leading industries. Finally, it examines the regulatory landscape in several markets and explains how technologies like obstacle avoidance and drone-to-drone communications will impact drone adoption.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

We project revenues from drones sales to top $12 billion in 2021, up from just over $8 billion last year.

Shipments of consumer drones will more than quadruple over the next five years, fueled by increasing price competition and new technologies that make flying drones easier for beginners.

Growth in the enterprise sector will outpace the consumer sector in both shipments and revenues as regulations open up new use cases in the US and EU, the two biggest potential markets for enterprise drones.

Technologies like geo-fencing and collision avoidance will make flying drones safer and make regulators feel more comfortable with larger numbers of drones taking to the skies.

Right now FAA regulations have limited commercial drones to a select few industries and applications like aerial surveying in the agriculture, mining, and oil and gas sectors.

The military sector will continue to lead all other sectors in drone spending during our forecast period thanks to the high cost of military drones and the growing number of countries seeking to acquire them.

In full, the report:

Compares drone adoption across the consumer, enterprise, and government sectors.

Breaks down drone regulations across several key markets and explains how theyve impacted adoption.

Discusses popular use cases for drones in the enterprise sector, as well as nascent use case that are on the rise.

Analyzes how different drone manufacturers are trying to differentiate their offerings with better hardware and software components.

Explains how drone manufacturers are quickly enabling autonomous flight in their products that will be a major boon for drone adoption.

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 world of drones.





More From Business Insider


Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. DNKN announced an addition to its all-day breakfast menu  Belgian Waffle Breakfast Sandwich  to celebrate National Waffle Day on Aug 24. Notably, this item will be available at Dunkin' Donuts restaurants starting Aug 29.



The sandwich contains Cherrywood smoked bacon, egg and American cheese which is served between two thick, deep-ridged Belgian Waffles. The sandwich is golden brown on the outside and fluffy and light inside, making for a scrumptious munch.



Moreover, as part of its National Waffle Day celebration, Dunkin' Donuts launched a new mobile game, "Savor the Flavor", where customers scratch a virtual waffle-themed card and can win one year of free breakfast sandwiches. The offer begins on Aug 24 and runs through Sep 30.



Meanwhile, we note that with gradual improvement in the U.S. job market, consumers prefer having breakfast at restaurants. The breakfast segment is also gaining popularity because of lower rates than other meals and lesser waiting time.

DUNKIN BRANDS Price

DUNKIN BRANDS Price | DUNKIN BRANDS Quote

Other restaurateurs like Yum! Brands, Inc.s YUM Taco Bell, McDonald's Corp. MCD and Jack in the Box Inc. JACK are also cashing in on this trend with their breakfast platter.



Moreover, sandwiches have become a popular menu item at restaurants. The breakfast sandwich is not only nutritious and filling because of ingredients like bread, eggs, cheese and meat, bacon or sausage, but is also convenient to consume while on the move.



Thus, given the fact that breakfast is the most popular day-part of the growing quick service restaurants and Belgian waffles are a much-loved breakfast choice, the menu addition should be welcomed by breakfast enthusiasts.



Dunkin' Brands currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



YUM! BRANDS INC (YUM): Free Stock Analysis Report



MCDONALDS CORP (MCD): Free Stock Analysis Report



JACK IN THE BOX (JACK): Free Stock Analysis Report



DUNKIN BRANDS (DNKN): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday accused a senator heading an inquiry into extra-judicial drug killings of taking bribes from jailed drug lords, which she immediately denied. The senator, Leila de Lima, who has criticized the surge of killings and called for the Senate investigation, appealed to Duterte in a news conference to "stop this madness". More than 1,900 people have been killed in Duterte's war on drugs since he came to power seven weeks ago, according to police figures. Police say the toll of about 36 people a day is a result of drug dealers resisting arrest or gang feuds. Duterte, who won a May election on a promise to wipe out drugs and dealers, last month named about 160 officials, judges, police and soldiers who he said were protecting drug traffickers or selling drugs in their communities. On Thursday, he turned his anger on De Lima. "De Lima, you are finished," Duterte told a news conference in Davao City in the south of the country where he used to be mayor and built his reputation as a ruthless crime fighter. Duterte handed the media a diagram purportedly showing links between officials and politicians and big drug dealers locked up in the country's main prison. At the top of the list was de Lima. "De Lima is undergoing a nightmare now," Duterte said. 'MADNESS' De Lima later held her own news conference and denied the president's accusations as "nonsense and baseless". She said the diagram showing her atop a web of graft and drugs was "garbage". She said was the only one speaking out against Duterte's war on drugs and she would not be threatened. "Stop this madness," she pleaded to the president. "Its as if this war against drugs has turned into a war versus de Lima ... It's like he's really bent on destroying me at all costs. I hope he stops it." This month, Duterte said de Lima was having an affair with her driver. She declined to comment on the issue. Also on the president's diagram was a congressman, who is also a retired police general and former provincial governor, a former deputy justice minister and his brother, a former prison official, and a civilian, who was de Lima's driver. The United States, a close ally of the Philippines, said this week it was "deeply concerned" about the reports of extra-judicial drug killings and it urged Duterte's government to ensure that law-enforcement efforts "comply with its human rights obligation". The crackdown and some strongly worded criticism Duterte has made of the United States since coming to power present a dilemma for Washington, which has been seeking to forge unity among allies in Asia in the face of an increasingly assertive China, especially in the strategic South China Sea. Last week, two U.N. human rights experts urged Manila to stop the extra-judicial executions and killings. Duterte responded by threatening to leave the United Nations. The Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador this week to explain reports that traffickers were bringing narcotics from China. "This fight against drugs will continue to the last day of my term," Duterte told the news conference. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Robert Birsel, Raju Gopalakrishnan)
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck in central Italy early Wednesday at around 3:36 a.m. local time, followed by several aftershocks.

At least 159 people have died, according to the Wall Street Journal. Relief efforts are under way.

The epicenter was near the town of Norcia, in the Umbria region, and damage to some of the townsparticulary Norcia and Amatriceis severe.

The picturesque villages, some 70 miles northeast of Rome, are popular with tourists looking to step back in time. Now, tragically, much of the towns' architecture has been destroyed.

Teams rescue people who were trapped in the buildings that crumbled in the earthquake on Aug. 24, 2016.

Destruction after an earthquake in central Italy on Aug. 24, 2016.

WATCH: Drone footage shows extent of damage after Italy earthquake. https://t.co/GVSIOFZ5lp pic.twitter.com/gMpv1mevHe Reuters Top News (@Reuters) August 24, 2016

Half the town no longer exists, said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, a town that had been preparing for a festival this weekend. Pirozzi said the first priority is to rescue those who are trapped in rubble.

We are not going to leave any family alone from any district, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said in a statement. We are going to work because in the next few hours we must continue to bring people alive from beneath the rubble, and bring hope to that territory.

Strong earthquake in Italy's Umbria. First images showing heavy damage in #Amatrice and #Norcia. pic.twitter.com/qZlgwx4u2L Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) August 24, 2016

A clock on a 13th century tower in Amatrice was frozen to the time of the earthquake, according to CNN.

Story continues

As crews worked to reach those injured and trapped in rubble, leaders abroad offered support and assistance.

The @crocerossa continue search and rescue duties after the earthquake in Amatrice, Italy. pic.twitter.com/Vt5Nu8DsPg British Red Cross (@BritishRedCross) August 24, 2016

I am deeply concerned to learn of the devastating earthquake in central Italy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement to Italy's prime minister. The images of the devastation are shocking. Given the suffering and massive destruction I would like to express my deepest sympathy on behalf of the German population. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and wish those who are injured a speedy recovery.

Devastation following an earthquake in central Italy.

Shaking from the earthquake reached as far as Rome. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre recorded at least 80 aftershocks in the morning hours.

"Half the town no longer exists," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, Italy https://t.co/Qb7RPF1Xx1 pic.twitter.com/7MyIohpclm New York Times World (@nytimesworld) August 24, 2016

There are two fault lines in the region, one from Genoa to Messina and another running through Italy originating in Naples.

Earthquakes in the region are difficult to predict as the fault lines in the region are hidden, according to a professor at the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology.



Simplified cartoon of tectonics of Italy with today's event as red circle, from https://t.co/SZjyrkPb6W pic.twitter.com/WQcWtdWEDZ Jascha Polet (@CPPGeophysics) August 24, 2016

For now, the focus is on recovery.

In difficult times, Italy knows what to do, said Prime Minister Renzi.

Related Articles
According to the investigators, Joshi-Dhariwal duo had helped underworld don Dawood Ibrahim to set up gutka manufacturing unit in Karachi.

By Vidya : Gutka barons Rasiklal Dhariwal and Jagdish Joshi, who have been chargesheeted by Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) under Special Maharashtra control of Organised Crime act in Mumbai, were granted an interim bail till September 16 by the special court today.

In their bail petitions, lawyers of both Dhariwal and Joshi argued that both the accused are only businessmen and did not indulge in any organised crime.



advertisement

THE CASE

The case pertains to 2004, when Mumbai Police had arrested Jamiruddin alias Jambo for possession of illegal gun. During the interrogation Jamiruddin revealed that Joshi-Dhariwal duo had helped underworld don Dawood Ibrahim to set up gutka manufacturing unit in Karachi.

"During the interrogation jumbo started speaking and he told us as to how Dharival and Joshi were in a financial dispute and that none other than underworld don Dawood Ibrahim had solved the issue. As a return for his efforts, Dawood had asked Joshi and Dharival to help set up a gutka manufacturing unit in Karachi." said Suresh Walishetty, the Mumbai police officer who was investigating the case before it was handed over to the CBI.



WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

According to the investigators, both the gutka barons as well as few mediators had first gone to Dubai and then travelled to Pakistan. They had met Dawood in person at his Clifton residence in Pakistan to iron out the differences between them.

Walishetty, who still remembers the case minutely, points out that Joshi had the technical knowledge of manufacturing gutka and Dhariwal had provided the capital and both were fighting over profit sharing.

It was around 2003-04 that the factory was set up. Mumbai police had also seized documents of spare parts being sent to the D-Company.

Earlier in 2005, CBI had filed chargesheet against four persons, Jamiruddin, Rajesh Panchariya, Anees Ibrahim and Farooq Mansoori accusing them under IPC and MCOCA of aiding and abetting activities of the underworld, indulging in criminal conspiracy and maintaining links with members of organised crime syndicate.

At that time the chargesheet did not include Dhariwal and Joshi.

ALSO READ:

It's official! UN confirms Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan

Dawood Ibrahim won't skip nephew's Mumbai wedding, he'll Skype it



--- ENDS ---
By Jatindra Dash BHUBANESWAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Authorities in eastern India are struggling to evacuate more than 100,000 people stranded in villages after floods intensified, killing more than 300 and driving hundreds of thousands from their homes, officials said on Thursday. The heavy monsoon rains have caused rivers including the Ganges and its tributaries to burst their banks forcing over 200,000 people into relief camps in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The deluge has submerged thousands of villages, washed away crops, destroyed homes and roads and disrupted power and phone lines, affecting millions of people across the five states. In India's eastern Bihar state, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster management officials said villagers in some areas were not willing to be evacuated, reluctant to leave their homes, possessions and livestock for fear of looting. "We are asking them with folded hands, please come to the relief centers. Those who do not want to leave homes, their number is very large, probably more than 100,000 people," said Bihar's Principal Secretary for Disaster Management Vyas Ji. "The water is rising downstream and we do not want people in those areas to stay in their houses," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Since the monsoons began in June, more than five million people across 26 out of Bihar's 38 districts have been affected and at least 127 people have died, mostly due to drowning. In the past week, 2.3 million people have had their lives disrupted and the death toll has reached 28. At least 107,000 people have taken refuge in government relief camps. News reports said one person died and nine others were missing in Aurangabad district after a boat carrying 18 people who were trying to flee the disaster sank in the Punpun river, a tributary of the Ganges, on Tuesday. In neighboring Uttar Pradesh state, at least 53 people have died and more than 1.8 million people across 29 out of total of 75 districts have been hit by the disaster. Television pictures showed people wading neck-high in water in Ballia district, while others took shelter on roof tops of multi-storey buildings. Uttar Pradesh's Relief Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Singh said rescue and relief teams from the National Disaster Response Forces had evacuated thousands of people in boats and the Indian Air Force was airdropping food packets from helicopters. "More than 90,000 people have been displaced from their homes and about 60,000 of them have taken shelter in relief camps," Singh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "The good thing is there has been no rain over the last three days." India usually experiences monsoon rains from June to September, which are vital for its agriculture -- making up 18 percent of its gross domestic product and providing employment for almost half of its 1.3 billion population. But in many states the rains frequently cause landslides and flooding that devastate crops, destroy homes and expose people to diseases such as diarrhea. Authorities said there was no problem in reaching flood-hit areas, but television pictures on Wednesday showed crowds of people in Bihar's Patna district blocking roads and complaining of a lack of aid. "We are in difficulty. We are not getting food," a middle-aged woman standing on an embankment told Kashish News, a local Hindi station. (Reporting by Jatindra Dash. Editing by Nita Bhalla and Astrid Zweynert. 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)
Science fiction gives creators and writers a "free pass" to address controversial contemporary issues in a way that doesn't scare viewers, Ron Moore, executive producer of Starz's Outlander, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Voyager, said Wednesday at the Edinburgh Television Festival.

"If you put these things in a science fiction context, you get a free pass, not just from networks, but from audiences as well, because you are allowing them to think about things in a way that doesn't threaten anybody," he said during a sci-fi master class at the fest. "If you call them Klingons [in the Star Trek universe], it's different than if you call them the Soviets. In Battlestar Galactica, if they are the Cylons, it's different than if you are saying it's al-Qaida."

Concluded Moore: "There are different emotional buttons it pushes with anybody. So by just taking one step back and removing all the contemporary labels, you can still get to some interesting thematic ideas, you can explore really deep philosophical questions, political questions and socio-political questions and religious questions, but you need to kind of give everyone permission not to get upset."

Read more: Bryan Cranston to Appear in Philip K. Dick Drama Series for Sony, Channel 4

He showed a water torture scene from the first season of Battlestar Galactica and explained that the writing staff had "just even heard of the concept of water boarding" and seen the first images of Abu Ghraib when the scene was written. "It was very much in the moment and it was important in that show that we were talking about what was happening in real time," Moore said. "It was an opportunity to sort of explore a lot of those things - heroism ... what should a good guy do."

He also recalled: "We had a huge fight with the network about it at the time, not so much because of the themes that I am talking about now, but because it was too graphic. In the early drafts, she knocked his teeth out. It was much more brutal and graphic, and then we kind of compromised."

Story continues

Moore on Wednesday also was asked about upcoming anthology series Electric Dreams: The World of Philip K. Dick, based on the sci-fi author's short stories. The show from Sony Pictures Television and British broadcaster Channel 4 will be written and executive produced by Moore and Michael Dinner (Justified, Masters of Sex), with Bryan Cranston exec producing as well. When the project was first announced, the team said Cranston also was planning on appearing in the series.

Asked about Cranston's level of involvement and acting plans now, Moore said: "He is one of the producers. He is very involved in it. ... His participation in front of the camera is a different question. We are not sure, and he is not sure. A lot of it depends on schedules and timing. I know he'd like to, but we are still in the very early stages of this."

Moore also addressed the new CBS All Access series Star Trek Discovery, led by showrunner Bryan Fuller. "I know Bryan well, and we've worked together," he said. "He is going to approach that show in a very different [way]. ... He has a very fresh and exciting opportunity. Knowing Bryan, he will seize that opportunity and strangle it for every possible thing he can get out of it."

Read more: 'Outlander' Boss Ron Moore Dissects Emotional Finale, Looks Ahead to Season 3
There are few things Oliver Stone loves more than political button-pushing, and hell be back at it again this September with Snowden. His biopic will focus on the former CIA employee who leaked classified National Security Agency information in 2013 and has since been evading prosecution in Russia. In a new clip from the film above, moviegoers will get a pretty good idea of the tone the director is taking.

In the brief, one-minute scene, Rhys Ifanss government administrator oversees a new group of computer-whiz recruits, giving them a complicated task  involving creating, breaking down, and then reconstituting a secure network  that should require hours of toil. Wouldnt you know it, though, that Joseph Gordon-Levitts Edward Snowden  with his distinctive, jarring accent  completes the assignment in a brisk, genius-level 38 minutes.

On the heels of its prior trailers, this Snowden clip again suggests that Stones latest will imagine its protagonists life story in decidedly Hollywood-esque terms, as a thriller about an unassuming mastermind looking to expose a government conspiracy. Co-starring Shailene Woodley, Timothy Olyphant, Melissa Leo, Tom Wilkinson, Zachary Quinto, and Nicolas Cage, the film will have its official world premiere at next months Toronto International Film Festival (it had a special sneak preview at this summers San Diego Comic-Con) before debuting in theaters nationwide on Sept. 16.

Watch a Snowden trailer:




In what might be the first documented instance of children complaining that they werent allowed to go to school, the people behind the series Empire have been hit with a class-action lawsuit by a pair of young detainees who claim that the shooting of the series kept them from receiving their education.

In the suit, filed in federal court in Illinois on Wednesday, two minors claim that an Empire shoot at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center made them feel like bigger prisoners than they already were.

The suit, which names 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, among others, claims that, on three occasions last year, the facility was placed on lockdown so that Empire could film there.

Also Read: 'Empire' Star Terrence Howard Was Almost Fired From the Show, Lawsuit Says

The children for whom these facilities were intended, meanwhile, were ordered to remain in their cells, or were confined to the jail-style pod areas just outside their cell doors. There they were told to sit, for days on end, the lawsuit reads.

Their schooling continued in name only, visits from their families were interrupted, cut back or effectively eliminated, sick-call requests were ignored, and programs that were intended to help them overcome the problems that landed them at [the center] in the first place were canceled or interrupted, the suit continues.

The suit goes on to claim that, because of the Empire shoots, the child detainees were placed under restrictions more severe than those governing many adult jails.

Also Read: Lee Daniels Pleads for Gun Control at Democratic Convention

A spokesperson for Empire producer 20th Century Fox Television had no comment on the lawsuit.

Alleging unlawful seizure, conspiracy and other counts, the suit seeks unspecified damages.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Related stories from TheWrap:

'Empire' Producer Says 'There Certainly Could Be' a Cookie Spinoff

Mariah Carey to Guest Star on 'Empire' This Season

'Empire' Star Terrence Howard Was Almost Fired From the Show, Lawsuit Says
Through the past week that my wife Deb and I spent in Erie, Pennsylvania, it was hard not to keep comparing national-level politics, including all its frictions, with the local-level handling of such deeply political concerns as economic opportunity, social justice, racial and ethnic diversity, and the evolving possibilities and disappointments of the American Dream (or what The Atlantics founders called the American Idea).

Partly that was because Donald Trump was in Erie just before we arrived, giving an angry speech to a big crowd about the decline of the local manufacturing economy and the threats posed by refugees. Trump was aware that GE Transportations enormous plant just east of town, which makes high-tech locomotives and other railroad parts, has steadily shed jobs over the years and will probably soon shed more. That was at the center of his Things Are Terrible In Erie theme. He appeared not to be aware that GE was shifting these jobs not to China or Mexico or some other overseas unfair trader locale but instead, mainly to Ft. Worth, Texas. He might also not have been aware that Erie has long prided itself on being a resettlement center for refugees like those he was warning about, including groups recently arriving from Syria.

James Fallows / The Atlantic



The retro look of Saras on Presque Isle,

near Erie, just after Toomeys appearance there

A few days later, incumbent United States Senator Pat Toomey, a Republican who is running for reelection in a state where Trump is running far behind, came to Erie for a meet-and-greet at a popular summer-evening spot, Saras hotdog stand on the state park of Presque Isle.

But even if no candidates had been there, the connection between local and national politics would still have been evident, because almost every issue of large-scale national consequence is playing out in this challenged, medium-sized city.

Recommended: The Stanford Rape Case Judge Steps Aside

For instance:

Basic Questions of Growth and Decline

Erie was for decades the third-largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. But its population has fallen from about 140,000 in the 1960s to about 100,000 now, making it fourth-largest, after Allentown (which we visited and wrote about here). Eries role as a refugee-resettlement locale is a significant reason it has stayed as large as it has.

Story continues

Old Economy, New Economy

On the way into town from the Tom Ridge International Airport along 12th Street, you pass one abandoned-looking factory after another. (Former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Ridge is from Erie, along with the late air-combat theorist John Boyd and C-Span anchor and executive Steve Sculley.) On the way out of town, driving toward Penn States Behrend campus, you pass another huge factory whose roof is simply falling in, and all of this is apart from the steady contraction at GE.

Google Earth

On the way out to Penn State, Behrend

Thats the obvious part. What was more surprising was learning that work is still underway in most of those factories (though not the one above); that advanced manufacturing is expanding in the area even as the largest factories are shrinking (as explained in this Jefferson Educational Society paper by Perry Wood and Jim Wertz); that tech incubators are full of new companies; and that Penn State, Behrend, has extensive connections with manufacturers aimed at keeping higher-wage manufacturing in the area and preparing local people for those jobs.

Structural Unfairness

National-level governance in the United States is hobbled by a number of no-longer-sensible but almost-impossible-to-change structural rules. The nine Supreme Court Justices should have staggered 18-year terms, so that every president would get an appointment every two years, in place of todays grim actuarial battles over lifetime posts. Line-drawing for congressional districts and state legislatures should follow Californias nonpartisan anti-gerrymandering system, rather than being one more frontier for all-out partisan warfare. A National Popular Vote provision would give voters around the country equal incentive to turn out, rather than todays overemphasis on Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. And dont get me started on the Senate. All these rule-changes would be sensible; none is likely.

At the civic level, we wrote last year about how San Bernardinos flawed city charter, which forces Californias poorest city to pay police and firefighter salaries pegged to the richest cities in the state, compounded its many other problems. As Ryan Hagen of the San Bernardino Sun has reported, another effort to change that charter has made its way onto this years ballot.

Pennsylvanias school-funding system, which well go into in further dispatches, is an East Coast version of this structural problem. It is uniquely unfair, in effect giving the cities with the least local resources (like downtown Erie) the smallest amount of state aid.

Recommended: Steve Bannon's Bad Day: Allegations of Voter Fraud and Domestic Violence

Not long ago, Eries school system threatened simply to close its public high schools unless the funding inequities were resolved. (Pennsylvania requires districts to offer schooling only up to age 14. In practice, Erie would have paid to bus the students to the surrounding, much better-funded suburban schools.)

With effort and ingenuity, leaders can work around some local and national problems. But some problems are impossible to solve unless prevailing rules are changed. As well explain in forthcoming reports, Eries school-funding problem is one of them.

New Americans

At the far western end of Pennsylvania, with Buffalo 100 miles up the lake shore in one direction and Cleveland 100 miles away in the other, Erie might seem isolated and insular. But its population is internationally diversified. Refugees, not just normal immigrants, make up some 10 percent of its population, which would be comparable to some 32 million on the national scale. We met Albanians, Bosnians, Bhutanese, Burmese, Syrians, and many others.

These are the very people Donald Trump warned against in his speech in Erie. (Syrian refugeeswe have no idea who they are, where theyre coming from, no paperwork. You saw what happened in San Bernardino. You saw what happenedfrankly, take a look at all over the world. Take a look at whats happening.) The reaction in Erie itself seemed quite different from Trumps.

Recommended: Trump Just Massively Betrayed Ann Coulter on Immigration

Self-Image and Generational Split

A negative image of a region and its possibilities has been an important background factor, and sometimes a motivator, in many places we have reported from. For instance: Columbus, Mississippi; Fresno and San Bernardino, California; Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Charleston, West Virginia. Thats true in Dreary Erie and other cities in the Buffalo-Erie-Cleveland-Detroit arc as well, and for some of the people there.

For other people, it looks different: For example, some of the software and tech entrepreneurs we saw at the Radius CoWork space in downtown Erie, some of whose stories well tell. Were nothing but optimistic about this place, one of them said. Its such a large canvas to paint on. What about their parents generation, which was so downcast? Its time to move on.

James Fallows / The Atlantic



Tech entrepreneurs at the Radius CoWork space. From left: Benjamin Henry, Matt Machuga, Bill Scholz, Sydney Zimmermann, Andrew Chernauskas, Krystle Knight, Sean Fedorko, David Balusavich, Matthew Flowers, Seth Trott.

Fragmentation Versus Connection

This is exactly the kind of traditional, wage-earning, working-class community that, when subject to economic stress, can lose social cohesion, too. , as described in Bowling Alone or Hillbilly Elegy. There is evidence of that loss in this part of the country, but also evidence of a surprising (to us) effort to re-knit the social fabric.

Downtowns Versus Sprawl

Eries downtown still has some of its good bones, but not enough of them are occupied by real businesses now. Weve seen cities all along the cycle of downtown redevelopment, from those that are fully polished, like Greenville, South Carolinas, to those that are just beginning, like Fresnos. Erie has a long way to go, but a successful entrepreneur named Joel Deuterman, shown at top, has decided to play a central role in leading the transformation.

Digital Commonwealth



The YMCA, at right in this postcard from 100 years ago, is still there in downtown Erie. The Hotel Lawrence, at left, is alas now gone and replaced by a generic 1970s-era building.

A few weeks ago, Deuterman announced that he was moving his tech company, Velocity Network, to a now-vacant building downtown and that he would be investing in restaurants, cafes, and other common areas in the vicinity to make downtown more attractive for working, shopping, dining, and eventually condo- and apartment-living. When I was younger, I thought that business was a kill-or-be-killed proposition, Deuterman, who is now in his early 50s, told us. I came to realize that if I did things with an awareness of the common good, the benefits would also come back to me, and with a heck of a lot less effort. Well explain why we came to take statements like this seriously.

Arts, Local-ism, and Tourism

Lots of effort on this front as well, about which well say more.

James Fallows / The Atlantic



August sunset over Presque Isle, from one of the new hotels on Eries bay front

* * *

This is part of what we saw on an initial week in a medium-sized town and why were going back to learn more. In coming reports, Deb and I will say more about what weve heard so far on many of these themes.

The real point for now is how stark we found the contrast: on the one hand, the flattened termsangry, resentful, hopelessthe language of media and politics uses to describe America in general; on the other hand, the engaged, changing realities people understand about the places where they actually live. The point may sound banal, but it has consequences. In the very same terrain that was just described as Rust Belt loser-land in a big presidential-campaign rally, and whose urban landscape clearly shows the structural and human marks of traumatic change, people are also trying to anticipate and adapt to those changes, to improve their individual and collective futures, and generally to behave as if they are actors in their own dramas, rather than just being acted-upon. Being active, rather than passive, is one working definition of todays American Idea.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Prague (AFP) - EU leaders will tackle security and migration policy as well as economic growth at a key September summit in Slovakia to plot the bloc's future without Britain, Angela Merkel said Thursday.

"The Bratislava summit will accent ways that we can improve economic power, create more job for young people and now to boost internal and border security," Germany's chancellor said at a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka in Prague.

The informal meeting on September 16 will go ahead without Britain after its voters chose to leave the bloc in a June referendum.

Talks among the bloc's 27 remaining members are likely to be challenging as Berlin's preferred vision of a centralised, federal Europe clashes with proposals for a confederation of nation states popular among leaders of eastern EU members.

Migration policy is another highly controversial issue on the agenda, with eastern members the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia refusing to take in refugees under an EU-wide quota system championed by Berlin.

Several hundred protesters, including members of anti-Islam groups, rallied in central Prague Thursday against Merkel and her decision to open the EU's doors to refugees and migrants last summer.

A leader of Germany's anti-Islamic, anti-immigrant Pegida movement, Tatiana Festerling, was also present for the demonstration.

"There are diverging views on how to distribute migrants across the EU, but on many other issues opinions converge," Merkel said, pointing to an EU agreement with Turkey to stem the flow of mostly Syrian refugees to Europe.

"Bratislava is not a decision-making summit, more an agenda-setting summit," Merkel said Wednesday in Estonia on the first leg of her three-nation whistlestop tour that also takes her to Poland on Friday.

"It's good to listen to as many single countries in the EU ahead of the summit, also in smaller groups.

Story continues

"Brexit means that we will miss an important partner, so we have to build the work of the 27 very carefully and thoroughly."

Czech police said they arrested a man Thursday for attempting to drive his black Mercedes into Merkel's motorcade in Prague as she travelled from the airport to government headquarters.

Police spokesman Jozef Bocan told AFP, that the suspect was in police custody and Merkel "had not been in danger".
* Music industry says YouTube does not pay artists enough

* YouTube says has generated additional revenue for artists

* EU may require websites to seek deals with rightsholders

By Julia Fioretti

BRUSSELS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Websites such as Google's YouTube, DailyMotion and Pinterest could be required to seek licences or revenue-sharing deals with artists for content that is uploaded by their users as part of the European Union's planned copyright overhaul.

The music industry has long complained services such as YouTube do not pay artists enough for their music and has urged regulators to close what it calls the "value gap".

They say Alphabet Inc's Google makes a vast amount of money from ad-supported services such as YouTube, but only a small share of it goes to the music industry.

The European Commission, the EU executive, is looking at imposing an obligation on platforms hosting user-uploaded content such as YouTube, Vimeo and DailyMotion to seek agreements with rightsholders "reflecting the economic value of the use made of the protected content", according to a draft paper, seen by Reuters, listing the preferred options for the copyright reform.

The agreement could take the form of a copyright licence or a monetisation agreement such as sharing of revenue, an option that is already widely used.

The Commission also wants online sharing platforms to put in place "appropriate and proportionate measures, such as content identification technologies, to ensure the functioning" of the agreements with rightsholders.

The proposal is still being discussed and the final version is expected in late September.

Google says YouTube alone has generated over $2 billion for rightsholders by striking licensing agreements with music labels and publishing societies around the world.

YouTube uses Content ID, which automatically identifies an artist's content, to give rightsholders the choice of whether to leave it up, block it or monetise it through a revenue-sharing deal.

Story continues

Google says over 98 percent of all YouTube copyright removal claims are done through Content ID and the music industry chooses to monetise 95 percent of its Content ID claims.

But rightsholders say they do not have enough bargaining power and are presented with a "take it or leave it" deal since the online platforms have no obligation to negotiate with them.

The draft paper said its proposals would likely increase revenues for rightsholders, but did not estimate by how much.

Google declined to comment.

The music industry says Content ID does not work well enough and subscription-based services such as Spotify generate more revenue for the industry despite having a smaller user base.

The Commission also wants to give news publishers a new right covering the online use of their content to give them more bargaining power vis-a-vis online players such as Google.

The media industry has often accused Google of making money at its expense by making its content freely available via Google News.

(Reporting by Julia Fioretti; Editing by Mark Potter)
BRUSSELS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The following are mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process:

APPROVALS AND WITHDRAWALS

-- Investment bank Goldman Sachs and private equity firm Altor Fund to jointly acquire marine electronics maker Navico and marine maps provider C-Map (approved Aug. 25)

-- German forklift truck and robotics maker Kion to acquire U.S. peer Dematic (approved Aug. 25)

-- U.S. healthcare services provider McKesson Corp and asset manager Blackstone to set up a joint venture (approved Aug. 25)

NEW LISTINGS

-- Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange plan to merge to create the world's largest exchange (notified Aug. 24/deadline Sept. 28)

-- Britain's Centrica to acquire Danish energy management company Neas Engergy (notified Aug. 24/deadline Sept. 28)

EXTENSIONS AND OTHER CHANGES

None

FIRST-STAGE REVIEWS BY DEADLINE

AUG 30

-- Polish chemicals company Synthos to acquire Swiss-based chemicals group Ineos' expandable polystyrene business INEOS Styrenics (notified July 25/deadline Aug. 30)

SEPT 1

-- Private equity firm Advent International to acquire New Zealand resins and coating company Nuplex Industries (notified July 27/deadline Sept. 1)

SEPT 6

-- Buyout group CVC to acquire Swedish cigarette pack maker AR Packaging (notified Aug. 1/deadline Sept. 6)

SEPT 7

-- German energy companies Alpiq AG and Getec Energie AG to set up a joint venture (notified Aug. 2/deadline Sept. 7/simplified)

-- Buyout firm Carlyle to acquire a 50-percent stake in Portuguese plastics packaging company Logoplaste (notified Aug. 2/deadline Sept. 7/simplified)

SEPT 8

-- CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd and Vimpelcom to merge their Italian mobile operations (notified Feb. 5/deadline extended to Sept. 8 from Aug 18)

SEPT 9

-- Commodities trader Archer Daniels Midland Co and Singaporean palm oil processor Wilmar International Ltd to acquire joint control of Olenex joint venture (notified Aug. 4/deadline Sept. 9)

-- Investment fund Partners Group to acquire real estate services provider Foncia Holding and its subsidiaries (notified July 4/deadline Aug. 9/simplified)

Story continues

SEPT 12

-- South African furniture and household goods retailer Steinhoff International to acquire British retailer Poundland (notified Aug. 5/deadline Sept. 12/simplified)

-- French carmaker Groupe PSA subsidiary Automobiles Citroen SA and Spanish management services provider Estacionamientos y servicios, S.A.U. to set up a car sharing joint venture (notified Aug. 5/deadline Sept. 12/simplified)

-- Investment fund OpenGate Capital to acquire Belgian materials group Umicore's zinc chemicals business (notified Aug. 5/deadline Sept. 12/simplified)

SEPT 14

-- Private equity firm First Reserve to acquire UK service provider Morrison Utility Services (notified Aug. 9/deadline Sept. 14/simplified)

-- Investment company Cerberus to acquire control of French financial companies GE Money Bank SCA, Sorefi SCA, Somafi-Soguafi SCA and General Electric Financement Pacifique (notified Aug. 9/Sept. 14/simplified)

SEPT 15

-- Private investment company Ardian to acquire joint control of fibre product producer Kemide and its subsidiary Kermel (notified Aug. 10/deadline Sept. 15/simplified)

SEPT 16

-- Dutch infrastructure fund DIF and French utility EDF to acquire German gas grid Thyssengas (notified Aug. 11/deadline Sept. 16)

SEPT 19

--French oil and gas major Total to take over Lampiris, Belgium's third-largest natural gas and renewable power vendor (notified Aug. 12/deadline Sept. 19)

--Canon Inc to acquire Toshiba Corp's medical equipment unit (notified Aug. 12/deadline Sept. 19)

--A division of Chinese aviation and shipping conglomerate HNA Group to buy U.S-based Carlson Hotels Inc, owner of the Radisson hotel chain (notified Aug. 12/deadline Sept. 19)

SEPT 20

-- Impulsora Del Desarrollo Y El Empleo En America Latina, S.A.B. De C.V., CPPIB and Ontario teachers' pension plan create strategic partnership to invest in infrastructure assets in Mexico (notified Aug. 16/deadline Sept. 20/simplified)

-- China's HNA Group to acquire Swiss airline catering firm Gategroup (notified Aug. 16/deadline Sept. 20)

-- Agricultural commodities trader Bunge to acquire majority stake in German company Walter Rau (notified Aug. 16/deadline Sept. 20/simplified)

SEPT 21

-- Computer Sciences Corporation to merge with Hewlett Packard Enterprise's information technology services segment.

(notified Aug.18/eadline Sept.21/simplified)

SEPT 22

-- Verlinvest and China Resources Co. to acquire joint control over Resources Verlinvest Health Investment.

(notified Aug.18/deadline Sept.22/simplified)

-- Czech investor EPH and private equity group PPF Investments to buy from Sweden's stale-owned utility Vattenfall lignite mines and power plants in Germany - Vattenfall Mining and Vattenfall Generation. (notified Aug.18/deadline Sept.22)

SEPT 23

-- Swiss bank PostFinance and infrastructure group SIX to acquire joint control of a new mobile payment system Twint. (notified Aug.19/deadline Sept.23/simplified)

-- Allergan to sell its Anda distribution business to Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. (notified Aug. 19/deadline Sept. 23/simplified)

-- Buyout firm Hellman & Friedman, Permira Advisers and Technology Crossover Ventures buy stake in Genesys, a U.S. provider of call centre software. (notified Aug.19/deadline Sept.23/simplified)

-- Triton Group to acquire sole control over Stromboli, holding entity of Flakt Woods. (notified Aug.19/deadline Sept.23)

-- FIH Mobile to buy from Microsoft Mobile Vietnam and other assets from Microsoft Mobile. (notified Aug.19/deadline Sept.23)

-- Valeo and Siemens to set up 50/50 joint venture. (notified Aug.19/deadline Sept.23/simplified)

SEPT 28

-- Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange plan to merge to create the world's largest exchange (notified Aug. 24/deadline Sept. 28)

-- Britain's Centrica to acquire Danish energy management company Neas Engergy (notified Aug. 24/deadline Sept. 28)

OCT 24

-- U.S. rail equipment maker Wabtec Corp to acquire French peer Faiveley Transport SA (notified April 4/deadline Oct. 24/commitments offered July 25)

DEC 20

-- U.S. chemicals company Dow Chemical to merge with DuPont (notified June 22/deadline extended to Dec. 20 from Aug. 11 after the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation)

SUSPENDED

-- SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state energy company, to buy stakes in Greek natural gas grid operator DESFA from Greek natural gas utility DEPA (notified Oct. 1/deadline suspended on Jan. 21)

GUIDE TO EU MERGER PROCESS

DEADLINES:

The European Commission has 25 working days after a deal is filed for a first-stage review. It may extend that by 10 working days to 35 working days, to consider either a company's proposed remedies or an EU member state's request to handle the case.

Most mergers win approval but occasionally the Commission opens a detailed second-stage investigation for up to 90 additional working days, which it may extend to 105 working days.

SIMPLIFIED:

Under the simplified procedure, the Commission announces the clearance of uncontroversial first-stage mergers without giving any reason for its decision. Cases may be reclassified as non-simplified - that is, ordinary first-stage reviews - until they are approved.

(Compiled by Brussels Newsroom)
LONDON (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange Group have submitted their $29 billion merger deal to European Union competition regulators ahead of a Sept. 28 deadline for a preliminary review.

The deal, which will create the world's biggest exchange by revenue, is likely to face tough scrutiny because of the huge combined presence of the two companies in derivatives clearing.

The European Commission's antitrust department, whose approval is needed for the deal to proceed, has set a provisional deadline of Sept. 28 for its preliminary review.

"We believe the merger will create significant value for our customers and shareholders, and facilitate economic growth through the creation of a global markets infrastructure group, anchored in Europe," the exchanges said on Thursday.

The LSE's LCH.Clearnet is Europe's main clearing house for euro-denominated swaps and that could be a concern for the EU competition enforcer. Analysts say the exchanges may have to offer major concessions such as selling overlapping businesses.

The exchanges expect the EU scrutiny to broaden into a full investigation of about five months. Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands, trading locations of rival exchange Euronext, have already expressed concerns about the deal.

Deutsche Boerse and LSE are expected to argue their combined firm will be better able to compete with U.S. and Asian rivals.

U.S. and Russian authorities have already approved the deal which also needs a green light from the German state of Hesse.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by David Clarke)
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar sent across yet another reply to his Pakistani counterpart reiterating India's stand on talks with the neighbour over the Kashmir issue.

By Maha Siddiqui: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar sent across yet another reply to his Pakistani counterpart reiterating India's stand on talks with the neighbour over the Kashmir issue. India clearly stated yet again that it is willing to talk to Pakistan but solely on on the issue of terrorism that is core to the Kashmir problem. India has repeatedly said that Pakistan has no locus standi on the issue of Kashmir as it is an integral part of India.

advertisement

This is the latest missive in a series of letter exchanges between the two sides since August 15 when Pakistan first made the diplomatic move calling in the Indian High Commission to Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale and handing over a letter addressed to the Foreign Secretary.

India responded on the August 17 saying, "Since aspects related to cross-border terrorism are central to the current situation in J&K, we have proposed that discussions between the Foreign Secretaries be focussed on them."

Within two days Pakistan again send a letter inviting S Jaishankar to visit Islamabad by the end of the month to discuss Kashmir.

As the word play continued, India responded on Wednesday evening to the August 19 letter. This letter was send across through the India High Commission in Islamabad even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh made a fresh attempt on Wednesday to engaged with various stakeholders in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to provoke India by what New Delhi says meddling in the affairs in Kashmir. On August 22, special assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi briefed the Ambassadors of the OIC member states, based in Islamabad over alleged grave human rights violations in Kashmir.

Pakistan also tried raising the issue at the UN in July where India's permanent representative Syed Akbaruddin retorted by saying Pakistan extols "virtues of terrorists and provides sanctuary to UN- designated terrorists and masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self-determination."

India will talk to Pakistan only on cross-border terrorism, not Kashmir



Kashmir unrest: Respect jawans, we are deliberating use of pellet guns, Rajnath tells Kashmiri youths



--- ENDS ---
(ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time on the Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon - see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets)

MILAN, Aug 25 (Reuters) - European shares fell in opening deals on Thursday with mining stocks leading losers for a second day in a row, while German market research firm GFK soared on merger and acquisition talk.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.8 percent by 0714 GMT, pulling back after reaching a new one-week high in the previous session.

The STOXX 600 Basic Resources index fell over 2 percent, making it the weakest sector on the day, led by a 3.7 percent drop in mining giant Glencore.

But GFK rose 7.4 percent after German weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported that its majority owner of the is looking at options including a merger or sale.

Ahold Delhaize rose 1.4 percent after the supermarket chain operator reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings growth.

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Editing by Vikram Subhedar)
(ADVISORY- Follow European and UK stock markets in real time on the Reuters Live Markets blog on Eikon - see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets) Adds details, updates prices)

* Pan-European STOXX 600 index down 1.1 percent

* Pharma, miners lead sectoral losers

* Sunrise, Ahold lifted by better than expected results

* German business morale deteriorates in August

By Danilo Masoni

MILAN, Aug 25 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Thursday, weighed down by losses among pharma and mining sector stocks, while firms such as Sunrise and Ahold were lifted by well received earning updates.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 1.1 percent by 0828 GMT, weakened by a disappointing sentiment survey in Germany and pulling back from a one-week high hit on Wednesday.

The Ifo economic institute said German business morale deteriorated in August, suggesting company executives in Europe's largest economy have become less optimistic since Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

"In order for stocks to set up the next leg higher, better than expected economic data out of the euro zone will be needed," said Markus Huber, trader at City of London Markets.

The STOXX 600 Helthcare index fell 2.2 percent, making it the weakest sector on the day, led lower by shares such as Qiagen, BB Biotech and Shire, all down over 3 percent.

Sector stocks mirrored losses in their U.S. peers which were hit by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's call on Mylan to drop the price of an allergy treatment drug which has increased in price by more than 400 percent in the past decade.

The STOXX 600 Basic Resources index also fell more than 2 percent led by a 3.7 percent drop in mining giant Glencore following disappointing set of results in the previous session.

But Sunrise Communications rose 4.4 percent after the Swiss telecoms company posted a fall in core earnings that was narrower than expected and confirmed its guidance.

"The strong second quarter showing by Sunrise in a maturing and competitive market is evidence that its investments in network, distribution and customer service are paying off," analysts at Berenberg said.

Story continues

Ahold also rose, by 1.4 percent, following strong results. The operator of supermarket chains in the United States and Europe reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings growth and said it expects free cash flow of 1.3 billion euros for the full year.

Among outstanding gainers, GFK soared as much 9 percent after German weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported that its majority owner is looking at options including a merger or sale. The stock later pared some gains and was up 3.9 percent.

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Toby Chopra)
From Delish

The non-dairy wave is quickly gaining traction what with the plethora of almond, soy, and coconut milk at coffee shops and grocery stores. (Not to mention the shocking debut of cockroach milk.) And now a new startup wants consumers to turn to fruit for their dairy-free drinking needs, the Miami Herald reports.

Harnessing the vitamin-packed power of bananas, Banana Wave is a new beverage brand that purees the tropical fruit along with grains and seeds to create a lactose- and gluten-free milk alternative that's loaded with potassium, vitamin C, fiber, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

It's also low in sodium, low in sugar (less than a glass of orange or apple juice), and contains no cholesterol. Plus it contains150 calories and is naturally lactose-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free. "

Photo credit: Facebook / Banana Wave

Right now you can find it at Whole Foods supermarkets throughout Florida, though founders H.E. Neter Kush Ben Alkebulan and Trendolyn Hopkins plan to get their product in Walmart, Kroger, and Publix stores by next year.

"We are the first company to actually make milk from a universally loved fruit - bananas," Neter told the newspaper, adding that the company's mission is to make humanity healthy, happy and strong one refrigerator at a time.

Follow Delish on Instagram.
Congratulations are in order for Michael Yo and Claire Simmons!

The Insider co-host and his wife have announced they're expecting their first child, a baby boy!

"[We found out] on the first day of our honeymoon in Italy!" Yo tells ET. "We waited four months after our wedding to take our honeymoon because of our crazy schedules."

WATCH: Jessa (Duggar) Seewald Is Pregnant With Second Child

So far, Yo says his wife is having an "easy pregnancy."

.

"No morning sickness. Hallelujah!!" he exclaims. "I'm so excited. Whenever she needs me, I am there -- from massages to cooking. I can't wait for the baby moon!"

Needless to say, Yo is very excited about fatherhood. "I can't wait to pass along all the great things my parents have taught me about treating everyone equally," he says. "Living your dream and hopefully one day, he or she will be able to change the world."

The couple's baby news comes just a month after they celebrated their one-year anniversary of when Yo first popped the question. The two couldn't help but gush about their proposal on Instagram.

"I said 'YES' one year ago today!" Simmons exclaimed four weeks ago, along with an adorable shot of the couple. "@michaelyo makes me the happiest girl in the world! I love you forever and ever Michael!"

"One year ago I got engaged to the most incredible women in the world @claireelisesimmons," Yo wrote in his own post. "She is now my wife/EVERYTHING to me. You make everyday worth living, I love YOU!"

RELATED: 'The Insider's' Michael Yo Marries Claire Elise Schreiner in Fairytale Valentine's Day Wedding

Yo, 41, and Simmons, 29, wed on Feb. 14, 2016, in a gorgeous Valentine's Day ceremony in Pasadena, California. The newlyweds said "I do" surrounded by friends and family, who donned the color red in celebration of the holiday.

Story continues

Michael Yo

The couple had been dating since 2013.

Yo and Simmons aren't the only ones focusing on all things baby -- Lance Bass revealed to ET last week that he and his husband, Michael Turchin, are hoping to expand their family.

"We plan on doing the baby thing ourselves sometime soon," Bass gushed, before sharing that he would trust fellow *NSYNC member JC Chasez to babysit.

See more in the video below.

Related Articles
Regina King had the unenviable task of telling Oprah Winfrey what to do on the set of Greenleaf, but both of them were excited for the experience.

King won an Emmy last year as an actress in American Crime, and fans might also remember her from Ray and Enemy of the State. All of her experience in front of the camera proved helpful in remaining poised behind the camera while directing Greenleaf.

WATCH: Oprah Winfrey on Her Return to Acting in 'Greenleaf': 'It's So Good!'

"Today, I'm feeling confident," King told ET's Nancy O'Dell the day before she would be working with Lady O on the OWN original series.

As if King needed any more pressure, Winfrey acts in and executive produces the project, which means King was basically directing her boss.

"She has such a warmth about her," King said. "When Oprah comes to set, everyone just kind of feels the love like there's a hug."

Winfrey was equally looking forward to shooting with King.

WATCH: Oprah Winfrey Shares the Biggest Shock She Ever Had on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

"I'm kind of excited," she told ET.

The upcoming series centers on disillusioned preacher Grace Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge), who has returned home to her estranged family after 20 years. As she re-enters the world of Calvary Fellowship World Ministries, the Memphis megachurch run by her powerful parents: Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield), it becomes evident that things are not as virtuous as they seem and that the family's outward display of faith hides sin and misdeeds.

Greenleaf airs Wednesday at 10/9c on OWN.

Related Articles
By Narottam Medhora

(Reuters) - Popular messaging service WhatsApp said it would start sharing users' phone numbers with parent Facebook Inc (FB.O), marking a notable shift in its stance on privacy.

When Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014, founder Jan Koum vowed to protect data of its users, saying the deal would not affect its privacy policy.

The change in policy, WhatsApp's first since the deal, will allow for more relevant advertisements and friend recommendations on Facebook, according to a WhatsApp blog post.

WhatsApp, however, sought to reassure users by saying that it would not sell, share, or give users' phone numbers to advertisers.

The company also maintained that messages on the service were encrypted by default and that it would not allow banner advertisements from third parties.

"Our belief in the value of private communications is unshakeable," WhatsApp said in the post.

Koum had outlined his approach to privacy in a blog post after the deal with Facebook, drawing on his own experiences of growing up in Ukraine during the Soviet era.

Some users, however, were not convinced by the shift in WhatsApp's stance.

"Phone numbers?!? No! That's absolutely NOT OKAY. I might need to delete Facebook, people. NOT kidding," Twitter user Mindy McAdams wrote.

WhatsApp said users could choose not to share account information with Facebook. (http://bit.ly/2biXHVy)

The shared data will also help WhatsApp track information about how often people use its services and tackle spam on the service, it said on Thursday.

WhatsApp, which is has more than 1 billion users, will also explore ways for businesses to send messages using its platform over the next several months, it said. (http://bit.ly/1fi1n5j)

WhatsApp dropped its $1 token fee for some of its users earlier this year and said it was experimenting making businesses pay to reach their customers through the service.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
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.
The Navy, which is still in the process of gathering all the 22,000 pages said to have been leaked, asserted that India was not the source of the breach.

Delays in induction of new boats and accidents have affected India's submarine arm. The latest controversy has only added to the Navy's string of problems. (Photo: Agencies)

By Mail Today Bureau: Barely a few months before the commissioning of French Scorpene submarine, the Indian Navy is probing if its security has been compromised after thousands of secret pages carrying combat details of the new boat popped up in public domain in an expose by The Australian newspaper.

The leak has hit the Navy hard which acknowledged that it was a matter of grave concern but maintained that documents that have surfaced till now are technical features and not operational details implying that it can cope up with the grave breach of confidentiality.

advertisement

LEAK CAN JEOPARDISE SECURITY



Submarine operations are married to the principles of stealth and reams of data in public domain can jeopardise security as the rival navies - particularly that of China and Pakistan - now have access to the information on a platter. Navy's world over are extremely secretive about its submarines and intricate details of India's latest Scorpene has gone public even before its operational deployment.

INDIA NOT SOURCE OF LEAK: NAVY



The Navy, which is still in the process of gathering all the 22,000 pages said to have been leaked, asserted that India was not the source of the breach. The onus is now on the French company DCNS, which was building the six submarines at Mumbai's Mazgaon Dock Limited under a $3.5 billion transfer of technology contract to explain the leak.

LEAK DAMAGES DCNS' REPUTATION AS CREDIBLE DEFENCE PARTNER



First of the six submarines, named INS Kalvari, is undergoing sea trials and the navy claimed that it will be inducted as per schedule before the end of this year. The deployment has already been delayed by four years and the latest leak will not have impact on the induction.

The leak was exposed by The Australian newspaper as it came to light when the French contractor DCNS had won the bid to supply 12 submarines to Australia after beating offers from Japan and Germany. The expose has compromised DCNS credential as a credible defence partner after it failed to maintain secrecy about the Indian project.

DCNS BLAMES CORPORATE ESPIONAGE



In a statement, DCNS blamed the leak on corporate espionage. The company said that it would determine if any harm had been caused to clients.

"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 being investigated by the proper French national authorities for Defense 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," said a statement released by DCNS.

advertisement

DCNS VIOLATED PROCEDURE, REVEALED INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTY: SOURCES



"I understand there has been a case of hacking," said defence minister Manohar Parrikar claiming that he has sought report from Navy chief admiral Sunil Lanba.

Sources in New Delhi said that the company seems to have violated the Indian Defence Procurement Procedures which clearly say that any details of the specification, plan, design, pattern, sample of information about the contract can not be divulged to a third party.

DISCREPANCIES IN LEAKED DOCUMENTS



While the scrutiny of documents was going on by the specialists at the naval headquarters, some discrepancies have been detected in the first look. Officials said that some 4,000 pages talk about the weapon systems of Scorpene. But as the things stand till today, the Navy is still to decide which torpedo will go into the boat as the plan to buy the proposed Black Shark torpedo has been shelved.

The submarine comes with tube launched land attack missiles, torpedoes and mines. But in the French Scorpene, the torpedoes for the submarines are yet to be finalised.

INDIAN SUBMARINES HIT BY SERIES OF TROUBLES



advertisement

India's submarine arm has been hit by a series of troubles, from deadly accidents to long delays in induction of new boats. The latest controversy has only added to the string of problems. The submarine fleet is dwindling. The navy operates 13 diesel-electric submarines and one nuclear powered INS Chakra.

As per the plan, 24 new submarines were to be added by 2024. But till today, apart from the six French submarine boats that are being constructed at MDL, the construction programmes for the others has remained in conceptual stage only.

ALSO READ: Scorpene submarine leak: French firm kept us in the dark, says Ministry of Defence



--- ENDS ---
A surgical assistant was recently arrested for posing as a plastic surgeon and performing procedures on unwitting patients. (Photo: Getty Images)

Earlier this month, officers from Denver arrested a 36-year-old surgical assistant who had been posing as a plastic surgeon since at least January 2015.



As reported by the Denver Post, Carlos Hernandez Fernandez ran his own cosmetic surgery clinic and had been performing surgeries, including tummy tucks and face-lifts, with no general anesthesia and only local anesthesia. On the website Healthgrades.com, he claimed he had admitting privileges at two Denver hospitals  Centura Health-Porter Adventist Hospital and Swedish Medical Center  and had a five-star patient satisfaction rating based on two reviews.



Fernandez has been arrested on charges of criminal impersonation, illegally practicing as a medical doctor, sexual assault, and child abuse. He has been released on $2,000 bail.



As terrifying as this news is, this isnt the first time unlicensed doctors have performed surgery on unsuspecting patients. It happened twice in Florida (in 2011 and in 2015), as well as in New York City in 2012.



So how can you protect yourself from becoming a victim under a fake surgeons scalpel? First and foremost, find out if your doctor is board certified.



Board certification is the highest level of certification and the only legitimate certification for doctors and specialists, Stafford R. Broumand, M.D, a board-certified plastic surgeon at 740 Park Plastic Surgery in New York City, tells Yahoo Beauty.

You can research any medical specialist by going through the database of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Whether youre looking for a plastic surgeon, a gynecologist, or a dermatologist, you can look to see what is the official board that certifies those specific doctors.



Broumand further explains that a board-certified plastic surgeon will be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which is a subset of the ABMS.

Story continues

Aside from confirming a plastic surgeons credentials, there are a handful of red flags to watch for when choosing a doctor, such as a surgeon who offers discount coupons.



Dont bargain price when it comes to something serious like surgery, John Zannis, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon at Zannis Center for Plastic Surgery in New Bern, N.C., tells Yahoo Beauty.



Broumand agrees. You get what you pay for, he says. The reality is to become a plastic surgeon and to then get boarded in plastic surgery is unbelievably difficult and extremely rigorous. To have someone who has done this training, that has taken a lot of time, a lot of effort, [and] who has spent their lifetime trying to get that education and certification  this person wouldnt just give their services away for nothing.

Zannis offers other warning signs, including surgeons who make lofty promises (Youll look 30 years younger!), who try to sell you on undergoing additional procedures, surgeons who have been sued multiple times, and those who rely heavily on paid advertisements.



The number of ads a surgeon displays is often inversely proportional to the quality of the doctor, says Zannis.



And you may want to look elsewhere if your consultation consists of sitting by yourself in a room while viewing a video about the doctors services, followed by a brief meeting. If you find out beforehand that you wont even be meeting with the surgeon during your consult, dont waste your time, says Zannis.



Carlos Hernandez Fernandez, the man performing the surgeries under false pretenses, did not have admitting privileges at any hospital and was not certified by any of the organizations mentioned above.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Denis Villeneuves Arrival will be the opening-night film at the genre centric Fantastic Fest in Austin, the festival said today in unveiling its second wave of programming. The sci-fi pic, which stars Amy Adams, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival then head to Toronto. Also on Fantastic Fests slate is the world premiere of the newly restored cult classic The Zodiac Killer and the U.S. premiere of The Handmaiden with Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) in attendance.

Other titles include Ana Lily Amirpours dystopian love story The Bad Batch, a follow-up from her A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night; Maren Ades black comedy Toni Erdmann; and Julia Ducournaus coming-of-age pic Raw, her directorial debut. Other films include Paul Verhoevens dark comedic thriller Elle and Paul Schraders crime thriller Dog Eat Dog which just landed a distribution deal.

Paramount has set a November 11 wide release for Arrival, starring Adams and Jeremy Renner. This was the film that took the 2014 Cannes market by storm when the studio won a wild rights auction to the pic for a fest-record $20 million, earning it North American and China distribution rights.

Fantastic Fest, which runs September 22-29 in Austin, already has set a screening of Tim Burtons Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children ahead of the pics September 30 U.S. theatrical release via Fox.

Here is the full list of newly announced film titles:

AALAVANDHALAN

India, 2001

International Premiere, 178 min

Director  Suresh Krissna

Kamal Hassan stars in this ridiculously entertaining tale of an Indian commando pitted against his own serial killer twin brother in a deadly race to save the beautiful Tejaswini from certain death.

ARRIVAL

United States, 2016

Opening Film, 116 min

Director  Denis Villeneuve

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team  lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams)  are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers  and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

Story continues

ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM  GRADUATION

Japan, 2016

U.S. Premiere, 118 min

Director  Eiichiro Hasumi

This conclusion to last years hit finds Class-E running out of time in their efforts to assassinate Koro-sensei, their yellow octopus smiley-faced teacher who is about to destroy Earth.

THE BAD BATCH

United States, 2016

U.S. Premiere, 115 min

Director  Ana Lily Amirpour

Ana Lily Amirpour follows up her alt-cult sensation A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE with her highly anticipated dystopian cannibal desert trip.

DOG EAT DOG

United States, 2016

U.S. Premiere, 93 min

Director  Paul Schrader

From the brilliant minds of Edward Bunker and Paul Schrader comes this unhinged pulp comedy at a million miles an hour; the story of three hardened criminals and the final, simple crime which will bring them all down.

ELLE

France, 2016

US Premiere, 131 min

Director  Paul Verhoeven

Paul Verhoevens debut in French cinema highlights an incredible Isabelle Huppert in a dramedy that first subverts then transgresses the rape-revenge narrative.

EYES OF MY MOTHER

United States, 2016

Regional Premiere, 77 min

Director  Nick Pesce

After a traumatic event, a young girl begins to associate pain and death with love and friendship in increasingly dangerous ways.

GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS

United Kingdom, United States, 2016

US Premiere, 111 min

Director  COLM MCCARTHY

In a dystopian future, young Melanie must go on a trip with the soldier who needs to kill her, the doctor who wants to use her and the teacher who wants to help.

GOKE: BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL  PRESENTED BY AGFA

Japan, 1968

Special Screening, 84 min

Director  Hajime Satos

An airplane crashes under mysterious circumstances and the survivors find themselves stalked by an evil blobby presence bent on world domination.

THE HANDMAIDEN

South Korea, 2016

U.S Premiere, 145 min

Director  Park Chan-Wook

In the 1930s, country girl Sook-Hee is hired as a handmaiden to Japanese heiress Lady Hideko, who lives a secluded life with her uncle. However Sook-Hee is not what she seems and neither is Lady Hideko, Count Fujiwara or Uncle Kouziki.

HELMUT BERGER, ACTOR

Austria, France, Italy, 2015

Texas Premiere, 90 min

Director  Andreas Horvath

Filmmaker Andreas Horvath (EARTHS GOLDEN PLAYGROUND) offers a deeply personal and unblinking portrait of Helmut Berger, the Austrian film star of the 60s and 70s best known for his work with director Luchino Visconti.

THE HIGH FRONTIER

Poland, 2016

International Premiere, 97 min

Director  Wojciech Kasperski

Father/son bonding time takes an extraordinarily dark turn when a former guard and his two teen boys receive an unexpected guest in their remote cabin along the Poland-Ukraine border.

KAMMATTIPADAM

India, 2016

North American Premiere, 240 min

Director  Rajeev Raji

Aging gangster Krishnan returns to his hometown after receiving a distressing phone call from a friend, only to find that hes picking up the pieces after thirty years of bloody gang war.

NOVA SEED

Japan, Canada, 2016

U.S. Premiere, 64 min

Director  Nick DiLiberto

Painstakingly hand-drawn by a single animator over four years, this saturated slice of lo-fi sci-fi pulp recalls both Moebius and Miyazaki as it ambitiously realizes an eclectic post-apocalyptic future populated by lion-men, brain-leeching slugs and Saturday Morning Cartoon villainy, the latter most memorably personified by the sublimely named Dr. Mindskull.

RAW

France, 2016

US Premiere, 98 min

Director  Julia Ducournau

Part sister bonding, part coming-of-age story, part gross-out horror flick, Julia Ducournaus debut feature is the terror discovery of 2016.

THE RED TURTLE

France, 2017

North American Premiere, 81 min

Director  Michael Dudok De Wit

A castaway ekes out an existence on a deserted tropical island guarded by an enigmatic red tortoise in this magnificent animated fable from the imagination of acclaimed Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit (FATHER AND DAUGHTER) and produced in part by the legendary Studio Ghibli.

SADAKO VS KAYAKO

Japan, 2016

US Premiere, 98 min

Director  Koji Shiraishi

The showdown of the century is about to begin and no one in Tokyo will be spared: Rings Sadako vs The Grudges Kayako in a fight to determine the future of humanity.

SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD

Australia, United States, 2016

World Premiere, 85 min

Director  Chris Peckover

Chris Peckover, director of 2010s UNDOCUMENTED, returns to Fantastic Fest with this playfully twisted suburban Christmas thriller in which babysitter Ashley must protect twelve-year-old Luke during an unusual home invasion.

SHIMAUMA

Japan, 2016

International Premiere, 103 min

Director  Hajime Hashimoto

Dora is a lowlife con man who runs a marriage scam with his associates. But a badly timed encounter with a yakuza will plunge Dora into a new, deep world of darkness, both ugly and enticing!

SWEET, SWEET LONELY GIRL

United States, 2016

World Premiere, 76 min

Director  A.D. Calvo

Adele is a friendless young woman living with her wealthy but agoraphobic aunt. She meets Beth and the two become fast friends, but Adele may be drawn to a darkness within her new companion, a darkness that threatens to overtake everything.

TERRY TEO

New Zealand, 2016

International Premiere, 92 min

Director  Gerard Johnstone

Teenaged cat burglar Terry Teo turns crime fighter when his estranged father is killed by local gangsters in this revival of the classic New Zealand character.

TONI ERDMAN

Germany, 2016

U.S. Premiere, 162 min

Director  Maren Ade

A father tries to reconnect with his repressed, career-driven daughter in the funniest movie to ever come out of Germany.

THEY CALL ME JEEG ROBOT

Italy, 2015

Texas Premiere, 118 min

Director  Gabriele Mainetti

A lowlife thug finds his grimy, pornography-filled existence disrupted when he accidentally acquires superpowers that force him to become a better man against his will.

YOUNG OFFENDERS

Ireland, 2015

International Premiere, 84 min

Director  Peter Foott

The day after the largest drug bust in Irish history, with massive packages of cocaine washing up along the shoreline, two go-nowhere teens make a most sensible decision: They will ride to the coast on stolen bicycles and claim a bundle of that wondrous cocaine for themselves.

THE ZODIAC KILLER  Presented by AGFA and SOMETHING WEIRD

United States, 1971

World Premiere, 85 min

Director  Tom Hanson

AGFA and Something Weird present a brand new 4K transfer of this sanity-defying, tabloid-horror vortex that was produced with one goal in mind: to capture the real-life Zodiac Killer.

Related stories

Paul Schrader's 'Dog Eat Dog' Acquired By RLJ Entertainment

'Arrival': #HongKongIsNotChina Goes Viral Over Sci-Fi Pic's Apparent Poster Flub

'Arrival' Trailer: Amy Adams Goes Beyond First Contact In Denis Villeneuve's Sci-Fi Drama
Fargo is shot in the coldest, bleakest weather possible, makeup department head Gail Kennedy says, perhaps a bit too cheerfully.

Kennedy is a native of Calgary, the shooting location for both seasons of FXs episodic spinoff from Joel and Ethan Coens 1996 cult classic film. That might be what allows her to keep smiling while she helps the actors, most from south of the border, try to control their chattering teeth.

We all do our best to keep people warm, says Kennedy, whose work on Fargo is up for an Emmy for outstanding makeup for a miniseries or movie. (She won for 2007s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.)

Kennedy says the makeup crew is careful not to apply anything that might freeze on the skin. We use triple the moisturizer, and were fast with our resets so the actors can finish their scenes and get into the warmth. Adhesives dont react the same way in dry cold, either. That was particularly challenging with all of the facial hairpieces in season two.

If the temperature dips too low, Kennedy and her team have to keep the actors makeup bags under their parkas so nothing freezes. We look like down-feather beach balls, she admits.

Adhesives dont react the same way in dry cold. That was particularly challenging with all of the facial hairpieces in season two. Gail Kennedy

In season one of the show, Kennedy helped create the look of the meek, downtrodden lead character, Lester Nygaard, played by Martin Freeman. He transforms into a more confident man halfway through the series, but not before his nose is broken and he suffers a wounded hand that becomes infected  physical impairments handled by Kennedys special-effects makeup team.

The second season of the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning anthology series aired in 2015; production on season three is set to start later this year.

Kennedy says the workload keeps her team of seven hopping. At one point we were running four units  two at night and two during the day, she says.

Story continues

In season two, Kennedy and her crew  including assistant makeup department head Joanne Preece, key makeup artist Gunther Schetterer, and makeup FX artist Dave Trainor  dialed back the styles of the 1979-set drama to five years earlier, in order to be consistent with what a small Midwest community would look like at the time. The palette for the series was based on the look of old Polaroid photos and on Kennedys own memory.

In 1979, says Kennedy, I was about the same age as the character Peggy Blumquist [Kirsten Dunst], so I had a plethora of research material in my own photo albums. Im originally from Helena, Montana, and the sophistication level there was about the same as rural Minnesota.

Frontier Spirit Gail Kennedy has more than 50 film and TV credits, many on period projects. Lewis and Clark (2018) Kennedy is makeup department head for the coming HBO miniseries about the explorers who mapped the Northwest Passage. Passchendaele (2008) She was department head for the WWI-set romance between a soldier and a nurse in Canada and on the battlefield of Belgium. Into the West (2005) She was nominated for two Emmys for this miniseries set in 19th-century America. Legends of the Fall (1994) She helped Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aiden Quinn, and Julia Ormond look good while braving the wilderness of Montana (actually Alberta and British Columbia) in Edward Zwicks Golden Globe nominee.

Kennedy sourced magazine ads from the period to see what drugstores were selling at the time. She then found modern cosmetics that replicated those products.

Also in season two, Kennedy met the challenge of transitioning the character of Otto Gerhardt, played by Michael Hogan, from a powerful 60-year-old patriarch to an aphasic stroke victim with severe frostbite. Add in a flashback of him in his early 40s, all done just with makeup  no prosthetics  and its clear to see why Kennedys contributions to Fargo are on the Emmy shortlist.

Related stories

Panama Plays Key Role in Boxer Biopic 'Hands of Stone'

Maryland Incentives, State's Proximity to Washington D.C. Draw 'House of Cards,' 'Veep'

Discovery Channel's 'Hello World' Lets Music Stars Go Wild About Species, Habitats
The father of a Florida State University student accused of stabbing a married couple to death last week, before allegedly attempting to bite chunks off of one of their faces, is speaking out in an emotional sit-down with Dr. Phil McGraw.



In a newly released clip from the upcoming interview, Dr. Wade Harrouff says he was with his son, Austin Harrouff, at dinner on Aug. 15 just before Austin allegedly attacked John Stevens III and wife Michelle Mishcon. Police said the couple was killed as they sat in their open garage in Tequesta, Florida.



The couple's neighbor Jeff Fisher was also injured in the incident when he attempted to aide them, police said.



In the Dr. Phil interview, Wade details the lead up to the attack, describing Austin's so-called "manic behavior" at dinner that evening.







Further, Wade claims that his son's personality dramatically changed just two weeks before the fatal attack on Stevens and Mishcon.





Father of Accused FSU Face-Biter Breaks Down in Sobs on Dr. Phil: 'This is the Biggest Nightmare'| Crime & Courts, True Crime, Crime



Addressing the late couples' families directly, during his sit-down, Wade says, "This is the worst thing I could think of, this is the biggest nightmare I could ever dream of ... what's happened."



Breaking down into sobs, Wade continues, "I'm deeply sorry for what my son did to those people, and I'm apologizing for him because my son would have never knowingly done anything like that."



"He's such a good person," Wade says of Austin. "He never would knowingly do something like that and I'm truly sorry to those people."





Related Video: FSU Student Accused of Fatally Stabbing Couple Seen Calming Leaving Restaurant

Dr. Phil: 'This is the Biggest Nightmare'" data-ad-channel="Brightcove" data-ad-subchannel="" data-auto-play="no">





Police have speculated that Austin may have been under the influence of the synthetic drug flakka at the time of the alleged attack.



He tested negative for common street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. More extensive testing is being performed by the FBI to determine whether Austin was under the influence of bath salts or flakka, but it will take up to three weeks.



Wade previously told the Palm Beach Post, however, that schizophrenia runs in his family and that he doesn't think Austin was on flakka.





Father of Accused FSU Face-Biter Breaks Down in Sobs on Dr. Phil: 'This is the Biggest Nightmare'| Crime & Courts, True Crime, Crime



Austin has been hospitalized at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach since his arrest, the Martin Country Sheriff's Office has told PEOPLE. Wade previously told PEOPLE that his son's liver is failing, his lungs are filling with fluid and he is experiencing esophageal bleeding.



(If and when Austin recovers and is released, he will be charged in the attack, police said.)



Wade also told PEOPLE that his son's current medical condition likely resulted from his alleged ingestion of hazardous materials  unspecified chemicals that police allege Austin consumed in the couple's garage after the killings.



 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.



In an earlier statement obtained by PEOPLE, Austin's family expressed condolences to the victims.



"There are no words we can offer to give any real comfort for this tragic loss," the statement said. "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."



Wade's sit-down with Dr. Phil airs Wednesday, Sept. 7.
A Georgia man has been left paralyzed after he was hit by a wave in a freak accident at the beach.

Read: Woman Dies After Being Stabbed in the Chest by Beach Umbrella Blown by Strong Gust of Wind

Stephen Franke, 54, is currently living at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where he undergoes physical therapy every day, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Every day gets better," Franke told InsideEdition.com. "I am going to assume there are challenging days, but I haven't had them yet."

Doctors are optimistic he will regain some level of mobility, but his daughter Abby, who found his body limp in the sand, said timidly, "I don't know if I'm going to watch him surf again. I'm not sure, I'm kind of scared now."

It all started three weeks ago when the father of four was enjoying an extended reunion with 50 members of his family at Orange Beach, Alabama.

"I was out body surfing with my daughter and riding waves and just decided to take one more wave," he recalled. "Instead of being inside of the wave, I was leading the wave down into the sand."

He said he remembered his head hitting the sandbar and the waves dragging him along the sand.

Franke said he tried to pull himself out of the wave twice, but couldn't feel his body move.

"I realized I got paralyzed," Franke said.

He then tried to yell to his 18-year-old daughter, but since water clogged his throat, Abby said she couldn't hear it.

When she found him, she said, "I was really scared. I thought I was going to lose him."

The family escorted Franke to a hospital in Pensacola. He was immediately rushed into surgery.

"The impact of that wave, I ruptured my third vertebra and crashed into my fourth vertebra," he said.

Read: Severely Allergic Woman Dies After Kissing Boyfriend Who Ate Peanut Butter Sandwich

Since the July accident, Franke said he is scheduled to continue physical therapy and continue his long-term stay at the hospital until early October.

Story continues

The family has since set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for his medical bills.

Franke told InsideEdition.com that despite the grim circumstances, he's still trying to stay positive.

"The alternative is not going to help me," he said.

Watch: Miracle Bride Ditches Wheelchair at Her Wedding, Despite Once Being Paralyzed: 'I Danced to Every Song'

Related Articles:
Scott Eastwood has finally reached out to the father of his ex-girlfriend, Jewel Brangman, who tragically died in a car accident in 2014.

In a candid interview with GQ Australia, 30-year-old Scott said he didn't speak to Jewel's father, Alexander Brangman, after her death, because he still hasn't "found the right words." But in a new interview, Alexander says Scott apologized to him with a phone call on Tuesday night.

"He said, 'I didn't reach out because I didn't know what to say,'" Alexander tells People. "He was very apologetic."

WATCH: Inside Scott Eastwood's Relationship With Former Girlfriend Who Died in Tragic Car Accident

The 61-year-old law professor admits he was disappointed when Scott didn't come to Jewel's funeral two years ago.

"Quite frankly, I was hurt by it," Alexander says, recalling the emotional time. "I was disappointed he didn't come to her celebration of life. Many people were actually disappointed. Many of her friends flew across the country to pay their respects and condolences. There wasn't even a flower sent."

He also had an issue with Scott talking about Jewel publicly, without his consent.

"I don't think he handled the situation properly," Alexander says bluntly.

Still, the grieving father showed some understanding when it comes to the Suicide Squad actor's actions.

"Maybe he didn't know how to grieve, and in some ways, I could have helped him," Alexander muses. "Or could still help him. I was angry -- but everybody grieves differently. You know, he's a kid, too. I didn't know what his grieving process is -- I'd like to get to know more of what he went through. Because that's a difficult thing."

"If he wants to confide in me the struggles he's been going through in regards to their relationship and her passing, I'll be more than glad to counsel him," he adds, explaining that Scott wanted to meet with him to discuss things in person.

Story continues

WATCH: Scott Eastwood Reveals Former Girlfriend Died in Car Accident, Says Dad Clint Once Punched Him in the Face

Scott told GQ that Jewel's death has had a profound impact on him. "I've lost friends before; I've lost some great friends. But, I had never lost someone I had been really intimate with, you know, like in that way, in a relationship," he said. "I think that really affected me in a way that... I don't know. Maybe it's made it harder for me to date."

On Sept. 7, 2014, while driving from San Diego to Los Angeles, California, Jewel was killed after she rear-ended a van while driving a 2001 Honda Civic, according to the accident report obtained by ET. She was just 26 years old.

"The f**ked up thing is, it was a fender bender, and there was a recall on airbags," Scott told the magazine. "Her airbag exploded. It shot a projectile through her body. It split her spine, and um... I've never told anybody that."

Watch the video below for more on Scott and Jewel's relationship.

Related Articles
Parents across America are making a concerted effort to keep up with soaring tuition tabs.

College saving reached an all-time high in 2016, according to Fidelitys 10th Annual College Savings Indicator Study. Yet, even with 72% of the families surveyed stashing away cash for tuition, Americans are still falling short of the skyrocketing costs.

Its no secret, college is expensive. Last year, the average tuition for a private, non-profit, four-year degree clocked in at a cool $32,405, while a public, four-year, in-state degree cost $9,410, as tracked by the College Board. Theres a lot of dialogue going on around the cost of college, and theres an awareness that the costs continue to increase, Keith Bernhardt, Vice President of College Planning at Fidelity, tells FOXBusiness.com.

It is these exorbitant price tags, Bernhardt believes, that have made college-specific savings part of the national dialogue. The use of dedicated college savings accounts is at an all-time high with 41% of families owning a 529 plan, according to Fidelity. While Bernhardt cites this as a positive step forward, he acknowledges families can be doing more to reach their goals.

For those of us with degrees, we know the costs of college continue far beyond graduation.

Part of the dialogue is the type of debt some students are graduating with its a significant debt-load for people just coming out of college, trying to start their lives. This debt, unlike other debts, is significant because there is no Chapter 11; you either pay it in full or it follows your forever.

So with nearly $1.3 trillion outstanding in student loan debt, according to the New York Federal Reserve, is it any wonder American families are so concerned? While Fidelity finds a 24% increase in college savings among American families since 2007, the study also notes that parents are on track to reach less than one-third of their funding goals by the time their children head off to campus. The median amount American families saved for college last year was $3,000, and, upon reflection, nearly half of parents wish they would have saved an extra $100 or more each month. But the reality is, in tough economic times, stashing away that extra cash isn't always an option.

Story continues

People have priorities. Thats priorities with an s at the end. Theres not just one savings goal that people have, Bernhardt explains.

So what steps can families take to plan for the costs of higher education?

It is a struggle, admits Bernhardt; what can be easy is getting started and saving what you can. Be aware of individualized familial expectations regarding goals, the type of institution your child wants to attend, financial aid qualifications and timeline, Bernhardt advises.

Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate.com, tells FOXBusiness.com parents should start early.

You have 18 years to plan for it. Squirreling away a modest sum each year from birth through high school can build a healthy sum that defrays the need for borrowing later, recommends McBride.

An extra $50 a month starting at birth could grow to $20,000 by the time your child turns 18, notes Fidelity.

Another method to consider? Tax-advantaged options, which can help grow one's savings from an investment perspective. Avoiding taxes on your earnings could make a big difference, particularly if you have a long runway, says Bernhardt. And dedicated savings accounts often help people save more, according to Fidelity.

McBride's best advice? Every dollar that is saved ahead of time is one less dollar that needs to be borrowed later on.

Related Articles
MADRID  In the run-up to Septembers Toronto and San Sebastian festivals, Barcelona-based Film Factory has acquired world sales right to La Reconquista (The Reconquest), a nostalgia-laced love story marking the fourth feature from Jonas Trueba, one of the leading lights of Spains newest generation of filmmakers.

Film Factory will introduce The Reconquest to buyers at the Toronto gathering before it world-premieres in competition Sept. 22 at San Sebastian, the highest-profile film event in the Spanish-speaking world.

That San Sebastian competition berth and now pick-up from one of the Spanish-speaking worlds biggest sales agents gives the maximum exposure to date to Trueba, who has maintained a consistent output since 2010 despite a post-recession industrial context in which new talent, especially, has had to look for alternative financing and distribution channels.

Truebas fourth feature in six years, The Reconquest returns to a theme explored in three previous dramedies: the not-so-young looking to gain (2013s The Wishful Thinkers), retain (2015s The Romantic Exiles) or regain (Every Song Is About Me) a sense of fulfillment through love. The films whimsical ironies, cultural references and stubbornly romantic male protagonists give the films a distinctly French feel. Road movie The Romantic Exiles was indeed shot and set in France.

In The Reconquest, which shuttles between past and present, Manuela and Olmo meet up one day for a drink after years of not having seen each other. Then she gives him a letter that he wrote to her when they were high-school sweethearts.

Over one night on the town in Madrid, to the heart of music and cocktails, Manuela and Olmo will reunite in a future they promised one another 15 years ago when they were teenagers experiencing first love, the official synopsis reads.

The new film, like Truebas first three, was produced by Javier Lafuente, based out of Los Ilusos Films. Itsaso Arana (Las altas presiones), Francesco Carril (The Wishful Thinkers, The Romantic Exiles) and Aura Garrido (Stockholm, The Ministry of Time ) star. CineBinario, an indie distribution house with a strong line in younger French directors, handles Spanish theatrical distribution, bowing The Reconquest in Spain on Sept. 30.

Story continues

Trueba has said that the film is based on the feeling caused by this strange familiarity when you reunite with someone who once meant everything to you and suddenly you are tossed into some kind of time vertigo.

The Reconquest is a delicate and elegant love story suitable for educated audiences all over the world, said Film Factory founder Vicente Canales.

The Romantic Exiles won a special jury award at the 2015 Malaga Spanish Film Festival.

Related stories

San Sebastian: Kormakur, Feng, Lee Compete for Fest's Golden Seashell

Wild Bunch's '150 Milligrams,' From Emmanuelle Bercot, Opens San Sebastian

San Sebastian Completes Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Line-Up
Earthquake measuring 6.4 on the richter scale shook Italy on Wednesday leaving as many as 247 people dead.

By Reuters: The number of people killed in the earthquake that devastated parts of central Italy on Wednesday rose to 247 on Thursday morning, regional and national officials said.

The Civil Protection department in Rome said a tally by local officials showed that 190 people were killed Rieti province and 57 in the province of Ascoli Piceno.

SEE PICS: Devastating earthquake flattens Italy town



advertisement

WHAT HAPPENED

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.

ARMY MOBILISED

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.

THE PLIGHT

"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."

advertisement

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.

advertisement

The US 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.

advertisement

Also Read

6.8-quake hits Myanmar; tremors felt in northeast, West Bengal, Bihar



--- ENDS ---
FilmRise has nabbed North American rights to From Nowhere, a drama about undocumented teenagers in NYC that won the Narrative Spotlight prize at SXSW. It follows a Dominican girl, an African boy and a Peruvian girl who are about to graduate high school in the Bronx. Like most teens, all they want to do is hang out with their friends, fall in love, and figure out where to go to college, but unlike their American classmates, these three live with the threat of being discovered by the authorities. When one of their teachers (Julianne Nicholson) connects them with a lawyer (Denis OHare) to help them get their papers, the teens start to dig into their family history to assist their immigration cases, forcing them to confront their pasts. FilmRise plans a winter theatrical bow for the film directed by Matthew Newton, who co-wrote it with Kate Ballen. From Nowhere also stars J. Mallory McCree, Octavia Chavez-Richmond and Chinasa Ogbuagu.

Freestyle Digital Media has picked up North American rights to Dependents Day, a millennial love story that explores what happens to men when women are the breadwinners. An October 18 VOD launch is planned. Directed by Michael David Lynch, the relationship comedy follows Cam (Joe Burke), an unemployed actor who is claimed as a dependent by his successful girlfriend Alice (Benita Robledo). As he stumbles from one humiliating job to the next, Cam still tries to keep his dream alive as well as his relationship. Will he ever rise to the occasion? Will Alice have the patience to find out? Lisa Ann Walter, Shannon Lucio, Brian George and Todd Bridges co-star in the pic, which won the Audience Award for Comedy at the 2016 Cinequest Film Festival.

Related stories

Freestyle Falls For 'Autumn Lights'; First Trailer For U.S-Icelandic Mystery

Goya Winner 'Truman' Acquired By FilmRise For 2017 U.S. Bow

PBS' 'Mike Nichols: American Masters' Acquired By FilmRise
Helsinki (AFP) - Switzerland may have voted against the controversial idea of paying all its citizens a guaranteed income, but Finland indicated Thursday it plans to try out a monthly basic payment of 560 euros ($600).

The government said it had chosen the figure for an unconditional basic income in line with a manifesto pledge by centrist Prime Minister Juha Sipila, who took office 15 months ago.

Former businessman Sipila wants to see if the measure can boost employment and simplify the welfare benefits system, and plans to test the idea on a 2,000-strong sample of randomly selected working-age residents.

"The primary goal of the basic income experiment is related to promoting employment," said the health and social affairs ministry, adding that it also aimed to simplify the complicated benefits system in a sustainable way regarding public finances.

Amid a growing debate on the subject, Finland now wants to be the first European country to test the idea nationwide.

In June, voters in Switzerland decisively rejected a far more generous proposal to pay a monthly 2,500 Swiss francs (2,300 euros/$2,500) to each adult and 625 francs for each child.

The idea has support on the political left and right with the former wanting a guaranteed safety net while some liberal voices feel that money for nothing can dissuade some jobless people from seeking work.
From Cosmopolitan

Twenty-seven-year-old Adam Hilarie met 18-year-old Hailey Bustos on the dating site PlentyOfFish.com. Just one night after they went on their first date in Auburndale, Florida, police found Hilarie dead in his kitchen in what they now believe was an armed robbery that Bustos facilitated, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Hilarie and Bustos reportedly had a great first date; the pair went bowling and then back to his apartment where she met his roommate. Almost immediately after he dropped her back home, she texted him, I had a good time and would like to see you again. According to the Sentinel, Bustos showed up at his apartment as planned the next evening, but she brought three men with her.

After the men reportedly overpowered Hilarie and got into his apartment, Hilarie was begging for his life, he was not putting up any kind of fight, and was telling them that he had a 5-year-old daughter, arrest reports obtained by the Sentinel read. The Washington Post reports the men took Hilaries TVs, his XBox, and his iPhone after one of them shot him in the head and killed him.

All three men - and Bustos - have been arrested. Police also told the Post that Bustos was paid $50 in cash for assisting with the robbery. Though they provided no further details, investigators also said Bustos had been involved in at least one other robbery similar to this one in the past. Its unclear if Hilaries 5-year-old daughter Lajaya was in the apartment at the time of the robbery and shooting.

Hilaries brother Johnny Jackson told the Post that Hilarie had only been on the dating site about two months, as that was when he had broken up with his last girlfriend. Most tragically though is how Hilarie is survived by Lajaya: He really loved his daughter. That was his world.

A GoFundMe set up by a close friend of Hilarie is raising money for his daughter and funeral services, as Hilarie did not have life insurance. You can donate here.

Story continues

Follow Tess on Twitter.

Related:

For more news videos visit Yahoo View.
By Christophe Van Der Perre

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The first driverless taxi began work on Thursday in a limited public trial on the streets of Singapore.

Developer nuTonomy invited a select group of people to download their app and ride for free in its "robo-taxi" in a western Singapore hi-tech business district, hoping to get feedback ahead of a planned full launch of the service in 2018.

"This is really a moment in history that's going to change how cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings," nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters.

The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if necessary.

The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows private testing that began in April.

Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore government on the project, said he hoped to have 100 taxis working commercially in the Southeast Asian citystate by 2018.

Nutonomy is one of several companies racing to launch self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms striking new alliances.

Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a $300 million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber to develop a driverless vehicle.

Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said its vehicle, developed with Delphi Automotive Plc, would be ready for production by 2019, while Ford Motor Co said its self-driving car was slated for 2021. [L3N1B43C1] [L1N1AX0P0]

(Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Robert Birsel)
From House Beautiful

A fisherman from the Philippines discovered what might be the largest natural pearl ever - and he had been hiding it under his bed for more than 10 years.

The pearl is nearly one foot wide and 27 inches long, and it weighs a whopping 75 pounds, The Guardian reports. For reference, that means this pearl is just a bit smaller than a standard bed pillow and weighs as much as an average 11-year-old boy.

So how did this fisherman happen upon this massive pearl? According to local news source Palawan News, he actually found it more than 10 years ago while out on a fishing trip in the waters surrounding Palawan Island. His boat's anchor snagged on the giant clam, and he had to swim down to free it - and that's when he discovered the giant pearl.

Unaware of the pearl's potential value, the man kept it under his bed for more than a decade. Believing it to be a good luck charm, he would touch it every time he prepared to leave for a fishing trip. It wasn't until he recently began preparing to move to a different part of the province that he entrusted the pearl to his aunt, tourism officer Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao, who immediately recognized the pearl's significance.

With her nephew's permission, Maggay-Amurao presented the giant pearl to the mayor of Puerto Princesa, Lucilo R. Bayon. Now, it's on display in the atrium of the local New Green City Hall while Maggay-Amurao awaits an expert who can verify its authenticity.

If it is, indeed, confirmed to be a real natural pearl that formed within a giant clam, this 75-pound find would be significantly larger than the current "world's largest pearl" record-holder, which was discovered in 1939 and weighs a mere 14 pounds. It would also be worth some major money: more than $100 million, The Guardian reports.

Maggay-Amurao's Facebook post about the discovery calls for locals and Filipinos everywhere to raise awareness about what might be the new world's largest pearl - and her efforts to have the giant pearl verified. Her post has been shared more than 3,000 times.

Story continues

[h/t The Guardian]

You Might Also Like
Bogota (AFP) - Here are five key points on Colombia's five-decade conflict, after the FARC rebels and the government reached a historic peace accord.

- Disputed origins -

There is disagreement on when and why war broke out.

In a country covered in mountains and jungle, where the government's presence is often weak, rural poverty has played a central role.

Most historians trace the conflict to the 1960s, when several leftist guerrilla groups rose up against a government they accused of subjugating peasants and the poor.

Some go back to the 1940s and a period known as "La Violencia" (the violence), an eruption of bloodshed following the assassination of leftist presidential candidate Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. Others date it to peasant uprisings in the 1920s.

- Key actors -

Founded in 1964, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the country's oldest and largest leftist guerrilla group. But there have been many players in the conflict.

Others include:

- The National Liberation Army (ELN). Still active. Has agreed to peace talks.

- The April 19 Movement (M-19). Demobilized in 1990.

- The People's Liberation Army (EPL). Demobilized in 1991.

- In the 1980s, a right-wing paramilitary group, the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), began fighting the guerrillas. Funded by large landholders, these groups sometimes collaborated with the Colombian army. They were disbanded between 2003 and 2006, though remnants continue to operate as criminal gangs.

- Drug cartels have also fueled the violence since the 1980s.

- Atrocities on all sides -

Massacres, kidnappings, scorched-earth campaigns and extrajudicial killings have been hallmarks of the conflict.

Atrocities have been committed on all sides.

The most notorious crimes include:

FARC

- Massacres such as the one in the town of Bojaya in 2002, when guerrillas killed at least 79 people sheltering in a church.

- Kidnapping and holding hostages, such as then presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, abducted in 2002 and rescued in 2008.

Story continues

- Accusations of a 2003 car bombing at the El Nogal social club in Bogota, which killed 36 people.

ELN

- Mass hostage seizures such as the hijacking of Avianca Flight 9463 in 1999.

- Massacres such as the one in Machuca in 1998, when rebels dynamited an oil pipeline. Burning oil set the village alight and killed 84 people.

M-19

- Besieged the Supreme Court building, the Palace of Justice, in 1985, leaving some 100 people dead.

Paramilitaries

- Wiped out entire villages, often blasting loud music as militia members killed and raped victims. In one gruesome case, the El Salado massacre in 2000, 60 people were killed.

Army

- Executed hundreds of civilians and reported them as rebels killed in combat in the so-called "false positives" scandal.

- Long list of victims -

The conflict has killed 260,000 people and forced 6.9 million from their homes in the past five decades. An additional 45,000 are missing.

- Peace efforts -

After three failed efforts and four years of new talks, the government and FARC announced a historic peace deal Wednesday. It will be put to a referendum on October 2.
By Julie Steenhuysen and Zachary Fagenson

CHICAGO/MIAMI (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.

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.

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.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen and Zachary Fagenson in Miami; additonal reporting by Anna Driver in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr and Peter Cooney)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f190649%2fstormlandfall

For days, a war has been raging between two of the premiere computer models used to help predict the weather. On the one side, there's the National Weather Service's Global Forecast System, or GFS, which has maintained that a tropical wave moving across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola will not intensify into a hurricane and strike Florida this weekend.

But other models have consistently outshone the GFS in both routine and high impact, high risk forecast situations.

On the other side of the battle is the European, or Euro model, which is run by the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in England.

SEE ALSO: The Weather Service is getting better supercomputers

The Euro, which gained notoriety by catching on to Hurricane Sandy's unprecedented and catastrophic left hook into New Jersey a week in advance, has rattled Florida with its depiction of an intense tropical storm or hurricane hitting the southern part of the state this weekend.

Run after run, the Euro had stuck to its guns for the past three days, insisting that the area of inclement weather designated as "Invest 99L" would soon become Hurricane Hermine, potentially going on to menace Gulf Coastal states as a major hurricane of Category 3 intensity or greater.

Euro may have just surrendered

The battlefield may have just changed significantly, though. It's unclear if a peace treaty has been signed, or if this is just a temporary lull in the fighting, but the afternoon run of the Euro model trended toward the GFS solution of a weaker storm.

In other words, it is no longer showing an intense storm hitting Florida on Sunday, and then intensifying over the unusually warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

This news is being met with cautious relief on social media. For example, Miami NBC-TV meteorologist John Morales welcomed the new computer model trend.

Weather Channel meteorologist Justin Abraham comically celebrated what he sees as a potential GFS victory over the top-seeded European model.

Story continues

However, Floridians shouldn't let down their guard yet, since the swirling cloud mass located north of Haiti could still persevere despite two main challenges.

Invest 99L has been contending with layers of dry air that have stifled the development of thunderstorms near the center of the storm. Such thunderstorms are needed in order for the weather system to form a closed area of low pressure at the surface and intensify.

The wind shear is forecast to diminish starting in about 24 to 36 hours, at which point it's possible both the Euro and GFS will be wrong, and the storm will intensify rapidly.

"Although upper-level winds are not conducive for significant development during the next day or so, they could become a little more favorable over the weekend or early next week when the wave is expected to approach southern Florida or the southeastern Gulf of Mexico," the National Hurricane Center said in a 2 p.m. ET statement on the weather system.

The Hurricane Center lowered Invest 99L's chances of developing into a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane to 70 percent through 5 days, down from 80 percent earlier in the day.

For now, Invest 99L looks like a poor excuse for a tropical weather system that is inspiring trepidation in a coastal state like Florida. Its center is exposed and comprised only of low-level clouds, and the largest thunderstorms are displaced several hundred miles away from the center.

In short, it looks like garbage, from a tropical meteorology perspective.

Whether it turns into something more impressive remains to be seen, but for now, it's encouraging that the great model war of August 2016 may be coming to an end.
Jason 'Byrd' Dickens, who played Scott Smith, an abusive boyfriend in 10 episodes of the popular TV series Degrassi High, faces varied child exploitation charges after an arrest by Toronto Police Services.

Dickens, 45, was slapped with 20 charges in all, including allegedly making and possessing child pornography, sexual assault and bestiality. He was arrested along with three other women, including his partner, Dylan Anne McEwen, 31.

Inspector Pauline Gray of the Toronto Police sex crimes unit told those at a press conference Thursday that the arrests "resulted in the rescue of children that were not only being sexually abused but then further exploited by having this abuse permanently captured by the recording of it."

"We are concerned there may be more victims in the community," Gray added.

The long-running Degrassi franchise, from indie producer Epitome Pictures, launched the careers of the rapper Drake, 90210's Shenae Grimes and The L.A. Complex's Cassie Steele.

After his recurring role on Degrassi High, Dickens became a veteran of camera and electrical departments on Hollywood film and TV sets in Toronto. His recent rigging gaffer credits include work on Beauty and the Beast, Transporter: The Series, Minority Report and XXX: Return of Xander Cage.

Detective Mike Sabadin told reporters that Dickens and women had engaged in the alleged sexual abuse of a child between 2000 and 2006 and that "they made, possessed and distributed online child sexual abuse images and videos."

Both Dickens and McEwen remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in an Old City Hall courtroom in Toronto on Sept. 1.

Read more: 'Degrassi' Canceled After 14 Seasons
How a Former Fashion Photographer Is Redefining Beauty Standards

All photos courtesy of Rick Guidotti

When you're a little person, the camera isn't normally your friend.

My girlfriend is a little person, and often when we're out in public, she'll see a stranger fiddling with a camera out of the corner of her eye.

"That guy just took my picture!" she'll whisper, and sure enough, I'll see someone surreptitiously angling a camera toward her from the hip and it will be too late. The photo is already taken, lost to the ether, where it can be used for who knows what.

Thankfully, at this year's Little People of America Conference in Boston, there was one man who was using his camera for good  and redefining beauty in the process.

Rick Guidotti has always been drawn to beauty in all its forms. First, it was the aesthetic of space that compelled him to photograph buildings while studying architecture at Temple University in Philadelphia. Then it was photographing his actor and designer friends when studying photography at New York's School of Visual Art. Finally, it was traveling the world between Milan, Paris, and New York, photographing the most beautiful women in the world at the height of the supermodel era.

But then a chance encounter permanently expanded his definition of beauty and forever changed his life.

The girl at the bus stop

About 18 years ago, Guidotti had just wrapped a photo session with Cindy Crawford and was leaving his Park Avenue studio when he spotted her. She was waiting for a bus at the corner of Park and 20th Street and couldn't have been more than 12 at the time. But with her long, flowing white hair and porcelain white skin, Guidotti had never seen anyone more spellbindingly beautiful in his entire life  he had to take her picture.

But like anyone who has had a random stranger approach and insist on taking a picture, the girl vehemently declined. She would get on the bus that day without ever knowing the transformative impact of their seemingly incidental interaction.

Story continues

Undeterred by her reaction, Guidotti scoured bookstores, libraries, and the Internet for any information he could find on this girl and people like her. He learned she had a condition called albinism. Albinism is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a lack of pigment in the skin eyes and hair. Though it can cause susceptibility to skin cancer and vision problems such as sensitivity to light, Guidotti assumed he'd find great photos of such a beautifully unique characteristic. What he found instead shocked him.

"This kid was beautiful. I was fully expecting to find at least some beautiful photographs, but I was thrown across the room by how negatively presented they were."

What he saw was people with albinism in their underwear or naked up against walls in doctor's offices with black bars across their eyes.

"This was presenting humanity to me, and I was like, 'No it's not! These are images of despair and sadness."

It was then that he knew what he had to do. The fashion world was always telling him what and who was beautiful from moment to moment, and right then it was clear: There was so much more to the beauty spectrum than the industry could contain.

Expanding the beauty spectrum

"As an artist you need to be empathetic to all forms of beauty in however you present your art. Your art should always come from your heart, and when you have a preconceived idea of beauty, but are not aware of it, then you're almost following someone else's lead and not being true to yourself," says Guidotti.

He knew he was following established beauty standards by photographing supermodels, so he decided to move from showcasing models to showcasing the beauty of those with genetic differences.

"It was time to be my ultimate audience and get excited about sharing my discovery with the public at large. I was no longer going to be led around by the hand and try to live up to an editor's idea of beauty or a fashion industry standard. I realized I had to trust my own instincts, because as an artist that's all I have."

So he approached the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation [NOAH] and asked if he could photograph their members  showcasing them in magazine articles and exhibitions just like he'd done while shooting models  with the ultimate goal being to show the world what he saw at that bus stop.

A revolution in positive exposure

Initially, NOAH was not on board. The organization was very skeptical and concerned about the exploitation of its members. After all, those with albinism are routinely portrayed as evil and sinister characters in the media. You may remember the religious assassin in The Da Vinci Code, the dreadlocked henchmen in The Matrix Trilogy, and the savant who killed his mother while in the womb in Powder. It was no wonder NOAH was a little hesitant, but these photos were different.

"I'm an open book, and my heart is always on my sleeve. I don't take photographs. I collaborate with my subject on the images, and if there are people out there who do think I have an agenda, all they would have to do is be with me for two seconds and they'll see where this is coming from," says Guidotti.

Eventually NOAH did see where he was coming from, and as Guidotti started taking the photos, amazing things began to happen. One girl, Christine, walked into his studio all hunched over ? not wanting to make eye contact. Guidotti kept insisting she was beautiful, but after years of bullying and torment at the hands of her peers and her community, she didn't believe him.

"It took holding up a mirror to her and saying, Look, you'll see!' When she looked in the mirror and saw beauty in that reflection that changed everything for her. Of course, she needed to change the way she saw herself. Her community needed to change the way they saw her and it created a change how you see, see how you change philosophy," says Guidotti.

"I knew instantly she was going to walk into school the next day not with her head down and shoulders hunched, but with her head held high, because once you're enriched like that and you see your beauty and it's power you don't shift back  you stay empowered."

Guidotti has been empowering people with disabilities through his photography ever since. As people began to see their kids open up through the transformative power of having their own genuine beauty reflected through a professional camera lens, more and more families insisted that Guidotti take their child's picture and that first opportunity snowballed from the next, into the next, into the next.

Soon Guidotti found himself photographing all kinds of people who happened to have differences, first across the genetic-disorder spectrum and then expanding to photographing other disabilities. In 1998, he founded Positive Exposure, a nonprofit organization with the mission of changing public perception of people with disabilities and genetic disorders through photography, film, and narrative.

"Every time I meet Rick, he compliments me. Each time, he makes me feel more confident in my own skin. I think it's important for all people with physical differences, to realize how beautiful and unique they are," says Becky Curran, president of the New York Chapter of Little People of America, who recruited Guidotti to speak at and photograph the LPA Fashion Show she co-hosted in Boston at this year's conference.

Much like Positive Exposure, Curran created the LPA Fashion Show to encourage LPA's members to feel confident with their own image and strut their stuff. This year, more than 70 people participated  from kids to adults and families. All of them represented a variety of dwarfism types and a variety of physical abilities.

"Rick reminds us that we have a purpose and we were all put on this earth for a reason. We are all beautiful and should feel confident. The fashion show is another reminder. We couldn't have asked a better person to set the tone and introduce the 70-plus runway models."

Beauty and beyond

These days, Guidotti is moving past empowerment through photography and taking Positive Exposure to the next level. Not only is the organization releasing its first photography book called Change How You See, See How You Change featuring 150 photographs of those with genetic conditions that Guidotti has photographed over the years, but the organization has also set their sights on changing minds in the medical community and making sure those black bars in medical text books are things of the past.

This new initiative for medical schools is called FRAME (Faces Redefining the Art of Medical Education) and features brief six- to eight-minute films presenting various genetic, physical, or developmental conditions in a very different way.

"As presented not by the scary medical text books with their scary medical text but by someone living with that condition and their families," says Guidotti.

"We're really trying to provide opportunities for med students and the health care community to really get to see people with a variety of differences ? see them laugh, giggle, and interact. We're putting them front row and center in medical education, the humanity."

Their goal is to create a permanent center in New York City that celebrates diversity. Called the Positive Exposure Center, it would be a place where diversity and difference would be celebrated through the arts. Not a museum, but a place where theater and arts programs for those with differences could ply their trade or rehearse. A safe space where no one would be mocked any longer and the public would get an opportunity to educate themselves and internalize diversity. It would a place for dialogue and action, not secrets or spies, a place for sharing and openness, not silence and fear, and a place of love and acceptance, not hate or bigotry.

"Every student comes through New York City at one point or another  why couldn't they come through the Positive Exposure Center and learn what diversity really looks like, what it feels like, and what it sounds like. What it really means to be inclusive and build an inclusive community?" asks Guidotti.

Right now, Positive Exposure is trying to really identify the players who can make this dream a reality, so if this is something you'd like to be a part of, email rick@positiveexposure.org and donate the funds necessary to make it happen through this link.

Let's keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
"My name is Kayla Mueller. I need your help."



Those words were a brief assurance to then-25-year-old Kayla Mueller's concerned parents not long after she was taken hostage by Islamic State militants while doing service work in Syria in 2013.



Kayla's entire proof of life video will be shown for the first time in an upcoming ABC News 20/20 special about her life  and death  in captivity.



"I've been here too long and I've been very sick," Kayla, who was wearing a black headscarf, said in the 10-second long video. "It's very terrifying here."







Kayla, a Prescott, Arizona, native was taken by ISIS in Aleppo, Syria, with a Doctors Without Borders contractor. She was held for 1.5 years, reportedly dying in Feb. 2015.



The video was sent by email to one of Kayla's friends almost a month after she went missing. The friend passed the clip on to the FBI, who in turn, released it to Carl and Marsha Mueller.



"You just go into almost a catatonic state, I think. You can't even stand up," Carl tells 20/20 of seeing the video in 2013.



Adds Marsha, "I saw how thin she looked, but I saw that her eyes were very clear and steady. It broke my heart, but I also saw her strength."





Former ISIS Captive Kayla Mueller Begs for Help in Newly Released Proof of Life Video| 20/20, TV News

The Muellers turned to the nongovernmental aid organizations for which their daughter worked, but found little help. Instead, they were told their daughter's release was in the government's hands. They say that Doctors Without Borders didn't provide a crucial ISIS email address to them until two months after receiving it from workers freed from captivity.



In May 2014, the family got more proof of life in the form of an audio clip after beginning negotiations with ISIS over email. It was the last they heard from Kayla.



The 20/20 special will also feature interviews with Kayla's fellow captives, and further examine the communication between ISIS and Carl and Marsha.



20/20's "The Girl Left Behind" airs on Friday, at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.
From Esquire

Just because Donald Trump bought the entire Miss Universe Pageant doesn't mean he's got the vote of all the Miss Universes. Alicia Machado, who won the pageant back in 1996, is celebrating her newly obtained U.S. citizenship...and is using it to vote against the Republican nominee.

Machado posted a picture of herself holding an American flag in a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building. Writing that she's "so proud" to be a citizen, she said she's throwing all her "power and support" behind Hillary Clinton.

Machado's views aren't just because Trump constantly contradicts himself, or because of his support of "extreme vetting" of immigrants, or any of the other disasters he's been pumping into the media on the regular-Machado and Trump have had a long-running feud. When Machado gained some weight after her victory, Trump called her "an eating machine" and "Miss Piggy." He even had her work out at a gym, then called papparazzi behind her back to show up and document her working out. He also called her "Miss Housekeeping" to mock her Venezuelan background.

"Miss Housekeeping and miss Piggy Can Vote @realdonaldtrump [sic]," Machado wrote on Instagram.

It's OK, Trump-at least you have those secret, ashamed voters your advisers keep going on about.

You Might Also Like
By Richard Lough PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended a ban on burkinis in more than a dozen coastal towns on Thursday, saying France was locked in a "battle of cultures" and that the full-body swimsuit symbolized the enslavement of women. Photographs of armed police ordering a Muslim woman on a beach in the Mediterranean city of Nice to partially disrobe went viral on social media this week, upsetting many French Muslims and causing global consternation. In a sign of rifts opening in the socialist government before a presidential election in 2017, France's Moroccan-born education minister said the debate was fanning racist rhetoric and being used for political gain. The health minister said France's secular values did not mean a rejection of religion. "We have to wage a determined fight against radical Islam, against these religious symbols which are filtering into public spaces," Valls said in an interview on BFM-TV. Reiterating his stance on the issue, he said: "For me the burkini is a symbol of the enslavement of women." France's Conseil d'Etat, its highest administrative court, on Thursday began hearing a request by a human rights group for the burkini ban in the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve-Loubet to be overturned. The debate over the burkini ban encapsulates the difficulties secular France faces as it grapples with a response to homegrown jihadists and foreign militants, following Islamist attacks on Nice and a Normandy church in July, and major deadly attacks in Paris last year. Security and immigration are now central issues in the presidential election campaign. Former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy, who joined the presidential race on Monday, told the Figaro magazine that France under President Francois Hollande had become too timid. "The Burkini is a political act, a militant act, a provocation. Women who wear it are testing the Republic," Sarkozy told the magazine in comments to be published on Friday. In a demonstration of how the Burkini controversy has reverberated abroad, British author J. K. Rowling tweeted: "So Sarkozy calls the Burkini a 'provocation'. Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we're always 'asking for it.'" France is not the only country where restrictions on face and head coverings are back in the spotlight, and debate on assimilation is raging in Western Europe after a wave of militant strikes and an immigration crisis that has forced a rethink of Europe's internal open border policy. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives want a partial ban on the niqab, or face veil, while in Austria right-wing politicians have called for a ban on the burqa, which covers the face and body. In Switzerland there are calls for a popular vote on a ban on the burqa. On a visit to Paris on Thursday, London's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, condemned the ban, saying no one should tell women what to wear. "I don't think it's right," Khan told the Evening Standard newspaper. "One of the joys of London is that we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it." ISLAMIC STATE AND THE BURKINI The burkini has been banned by at least 15 French towns from Corsica to the northern coast but most restrictions have been enforced in the southeast, an area where the far-right is strong and which is a gateway and home for many immigrants. It has also been a fertile zone for Islamist militant networks recruiting would-be jihadists to fight in Syria. The stigma caused by the ban "would only encourage Islamic State's recruiters", said Abdallah Zekri of the National Observatory against Islamaphobia. At least two ministers came out in open disagreement with the government's stance on the burkini bans on Thursday. "To pretend that swimming veiled or bathing on a beach dressed is in itself threatening to public order and the values of the Republic is to forget that those (secular) values are meant to allow each person to safeguard their identity," Health Minister Marisol Touraine wrote on her website. Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said she opposed burkinis but dismissed the argument of Prime Minister Valls that the ban was a useful tool in France's fight against militants. "There is no link between the terror attacks of Daesh and the dress of a woman on the beach," Vallaud-Belkacem told Europe 1 radio, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. While Valls on Thursday rejected the idea the ban might fuel sympathies for militant groups, some government officials are worried. One senior French government official warned that missteps would only exacerbate tensions heightened since a Tunisian drove his truck through a crowd in Nice last month, killing 86 people, and youths slit the throat of a Catholic priest in Normandy. "We have several million Muslims in France who are mostly moderates or non-practicing. If they feel that it is the only subject in public debate they won't feel at home and will be tempted to withdraw to their communities," the official said. The Conseil d'Etat is expected to rule on the Villeneuve-Lobet ban on Friday at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT). (Additional reporting by Francois Rosnoblet in Cassis and John Irish and Michel Rose in Paris; editing by Timothy Heritage and Peter Graff)
PARIS (Reuters) - France's highest administrative court will rule on Friday whether to uphold or suspend a ban on burkinis that has spread to more than a dozen coastal towns, pending a definitive decision, a judge said. The court, the Conseil d'Etat, considered on Thursday a human rights group's request to overturn the burkini ban in the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve-Loubet. But Friday's decision, at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), will not be about the legality of the ban. Under the French system, the judge will merely decide whether there is ground to act urgently by temporarily suspending the ban until a judgment on its legality can be made. The court will therefore consider two things: whether the town's decree banning the burkini is a flagrant violation of civil liberties, and if the harm caused is serious enough to immediately suspend it. A decision on the substance is likely to take at least several more months or longer. The procedure was developed to avoid situations whereby serious violations of civil liberties by public authorities would remain in place for months or even years because of clogged-up courts. For more on France's burkini ban, click on: (Reporting by Simon Carraud and Michel Rose; Editing by Leigh Thomas)
French writer Michel Butor, one of the leading figures of the experimental 1950s "Nouveau Roman" literary movement, died on Wednesday aged 89, his family told Le Monde newspaper.

A prolific author who tested the boundaries of traditional narrative structures, Butor was best known for his 1957 book "La Modification" (Second Thoughts), a staple of French literature classes.

The story chronicles the thoughts of a man on a train journey from Paris to Rome to see his mistress. The twist is that the tale is written in the second person, referring to the main character as "you".

The book won Butor the prestigious Renaudot Prize.

Butor died at the Contamine-sur-Arve hospital in western France, near the Swiss border, Le Monde said.

His death was confirmed by publishing house Gallimard.

Born in 1926 near the northern French city of Lille, Butor studied philosophy and literature before becoming a teacher, working mainly abroad in Egypt, England and Greece.

He returned to Paris in 1958 and went on to build up a multi-faceted, unclassifiable body of work that included books as well as essays and poems, often drawing inspiration from his overseas travels.

He was linked to the post-World War II "Nouveau Roman" (New Novel) group, which challenged conventional ideas about plot, chronology and characterisation.

Butor taught literature at a number of universities in the 1970s and 80s, including the University of Nice. He retired from the University of Geneva in 1991.

"To write is to destroy barriers," he said at a retrospective of his work at Paris' French National Library in 2006.
Many persons are still believed trapped beneath building debris, while rescuers are struggling to reach remote villages and towns levelled in the quake.

The miraculous rescue of the kid created a ripple of sweet relief among the rescuers and residents of Pescara del Tronto. (Photo courtesy: SKY TG24, abcnews.com)

By India Today Web Desk: Seventeen hours after a deadly earthquake struck central Italy, rescue workers managed to pull alive a 10-year-old girl from rubble in Pescara del Tronto on Wednesday.

The miraculous rescue of the kid created a ripple of sweet relief among the rescuers and residents of Pescara del Tronto. 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.

advertisement

A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake ripped through the mountains in central Italy on Wednesday, claiming more than 250 lives as it flattened several villages and towns, media report said. The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10 km.

Many persons are still believed trapped beneath building debris, while rescuers are struggling to reach remote villages and towns levelled in the quake.

Rescue workers try to save the girl in Pescara del Tronto. (Photo courtesy: SKY TG24, abcnews.com)

Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had 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.

AMATRICE REDUCED TO RUBBLE

Much of the town of Amatrice was reduced to rubble.

Amatrice is known for its traditional all'amatriciana pasta sauce, and was gearing up to hold a festival celebrating the recipe this weekend, reports said. The town is popular with holidaymakers and most of the 2,500 people left displaced by the earthquake were said to be visitors.

The Italian branch of the Red Cross sent at least 20 ambulances and sniffer dogs to affected areas alongside the Italian Defence Ministry.

ALSO READ:

Italy earthquake death toll rises to 247, search for survivors continues



--- ENDS ---
Paris (AFP) - French writer Michel Butor, one of the leading figures of the experimental 1950s "Nouveau Roman" literary movement, died on Wednesday aged 89, his family told Le Monde newspaper.

A prolific author who tested the boundaries of traditional narrative structures, Butor was best known for his 1957 book "La Modification" (Second Thoughts), a staple of French literature classes.

The story chronicles the thoughts of a man on a train journey from Paris to Rome to see his mistress. The twist is that the tale is written in the second person, referring to the main character as "you".

The book won Butor the prestigious Renaudot Prize.

Butor died at the Contamine-sur-Arve hospital in western France, near the Swiss border, Le Monde said.

His death was confirmed by publishing house Gallimard.

Born in 1926 near the northern French city of Lille, Butor studied philosophy and literature before becoming a teacher, working mainly abroad in Egypt, England and Greece.

He returned to Paris in 1958 and went on to build up a multi-faceted, unclassifiable body of work that included books as well as essays and poems, often drawing inspiration from his overseas travels.

He was linked to the post-World War II "Nouveau Roman" (New Novel) group, which challenged conventional ideas about plot, chronology and characterisation.

Butor taught literature at a number of universities in the 1970s and 80s, including the University of Nice. He retired from the University of Geneva in 1991.

"To write is to destroy barriers," he said at a retrospective of his work at Paris' French National Library in 2006.
The screams are now coming from a federal court in Connecticut, where a lawsuit was filed on Wednesday that will determine who holds rights and may license new film versions of the horror-film classic Friday the 13th.

On one side of the battle is Victor Miller, who wrote the story for the original 1980 film and is credited with coming up with the characters for the many sequels and reboots. According to a complaint, he is looking to take advantage of a provision in copyright law that allows authors to terminate a grant of rights and reclaim ownership.

However, as many authors have learned (particularly those who once freelanced for Marvel Comics), those termination rights aren't foolproof. If someone contributes material as a work-made-for-hire, then it's the employer who is seen as the true statutory author with no possibility of rights termination.

Here, Horror, Inc. and the Manny Company are the plaintiffs, claiming in their lawsuit that Miller wrote Friday the 13th as a work-made-for-hire. Specifically, they say that in 1979, Sean Cunningham had the idea to capitalize on the success of the then-recently released horror film Halloween and went to Miller, with whom he had previously worked on a film titled Here Come the Tigers, to develop this idea.

"Miller had never written a horror screenplay prior to his being hired by Cunningham and was guided in the process, and directly supervised, by Cunningham," asserts the complaint. "Accordingly, Miller entered into an employment agreement with the Manny Company pursuant to which Miller wrote a screenplay for the Film as a work for hire (the 'Screenplay')."

Georgetown Productions, a predecessor company of the plaintiff, is said to have taken the "bold risk" to finance the production in exchange for Manny Company's assignment of rights. This happened, according to the complaint, after Cunningham had come up with the idea for a Friday the 13th film and took an ad out in Daily Variety to see if anyone was interested in funding the proposed film. As distributors called, Cunningham and Miller "began furiously working on the development of the Screenplay," says the lawsuit.

Story continues

Thirty-six years later, Miller is trying to grab ahold of rights with notices sent in June seeking termination effective on July 2018. The copyright registration listed Georgetown as the author, though Miller's contract doesn't have "work for hire" written anywhere on it.

"As a result of Miller's improper actions, a cloud has been placed on Horror's rights in and to the popular and lucrative Friday the 13th movie franchise and has caused, and will continue to cause, both Horror and the Manny Company significant damages," states the complaint. "In addition to seeking a declaration of the parties' respective rights, the Manny Company seeks a determination that Miller has materially breached the Employment Agreement, has slandered Horror's title in Friday the 13th, and has engaged in unfair trade practices."

The plaintiffs are represented by Bonnie Eskenazi and Julia Haye at Greenberg Glusker plus local counsel. Here's the full complaint.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Miller for comment and will update with any new information.
This report is part of a project on voting rights in America produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 program.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio  Trump signs in her backyard. Trump magnets on her refrigerator. Trump buttons on her dining room table. Kathy Miller is the Mahoning County chairwoman for Donald Trump.

While handing out Trump signs in June at a Republican headquarters just south of Youngstown, Ohio, she was approached by a woman in her late 80s, who said, I have never voted Republican in my life. Give me the biggest sign youve got.

In economically struggling communities like Mahoning County  where most steel mills have closed  many white, working-class Democrats are voting for Trump, registration records and 2016 presidential primary results show.

Theyre just all fed up, Miller said. It may be the economy for some, it may be the school systems, it could be health care, it could be immigration, education, it could be anything. Theyre just fed up with the direction of our country. Mr. Trump showed up at the right time.

According to a November 2015 Public Religion Research Institute poll, 72 percent of Americans and 78 percent of white working-class Americans believe the country still is in a recession. A News21 analysis of the General Social Survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago also found that in 2002, the percentage of white Americans with hardly any confidence in the executive branch of the federal government was just under 20 percent, the lowest it had been between 2002 and 2014. By 2014, that number was nearly 50 percent.

The disenfranchised voter who has lost their job as a result of policies affecting the coal industry and other heavy manufacturing jobs are feeling very frustrated with Washington, said Rex Repass, founder and CEO of Repass, a national public opinion research and strategic consulting firm. Even though many are historically Democratic counties, they have become very red and very angry.

Story continues

In Tennessee, after a clothing factory outsourced jobs and operations to Mexico, a county that voted Democratic in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections went Republican in both 2008 and 2012.

In Mahoning County, Ohio, as its county seat Youngstown labors under the loss of the steel industry, more than 6,000 voters have switched from Democrat to Republican this year.

Similarly, frustration over closing steel mills and rising health care costs has swayed nearly 5,400 voters to switch parties in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

And in one Kentucky county where residents frustrated with the demise of the coal industry voted about 31 percent Republican in the 2000 presidential election, they voted more than 72 percent Republican in 2012, even though a majority of its voters remain registered Democrats.

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.

Clay County, Tennessee, which borders Kentucky, used to be home to four garment factories. Celina, the county seat, had two.

The largest of these factories was childrens clothing factory OshKosh, which employed between 1,500 and 2,000 from the 1950s to the 1990s. In a county with a population of between 7,000 and 8,000, everyone worked there or knew someone who did.

Just about everybody who wanted a job, if theyd work, they had a job at OshKosh, said Doug Young, director of the countys Three Star Initiative, a program focused on improving the countys infrastructure to bring jobs to the area.

The factory shut its doors in November 1996 and moved its operations to Mexico, taking advantage of the cheap labor options the North American Free Trade Agreement provided. The agreements purpose was to establish a free-trade zone in North America by lifting tariffs on a majority of goods the U.S., Mexico and Canada produce and trade with one another.

Almost overnight, unemployment spiked to nearly 30 percent as hundreds of northern Tennessee residents lost jobs.

Racoe Inc., a military fabric cutting company, moved into the old OshKosh factory in December 1997. Only six people now work in the 66,000-square-foot building.

The county worked to recover from the loss, and logging is now a valued industry in the heavily forested area. Log trucks pass through the small downtown several times an hour.

Unemployment in Clay County, which is nearly 97 percent white, has petered out to a little more than 5 percent in May 2016, just over the May national average of 4.7 percent.

Yet the county still has a 24 percent poverty rate and historically Democratic voters are switching to the Republican Party. In Marchs Republican primary, Trump won Clay county 57.1 percent to Ted Cruzs 17.1 percent and had more than double the votes of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Timothy Scott, the former Democratic chairman in Clay County, said older people come to retire in Clay County because of nearby Dale Hollow Lake, which attracts 3.2 million visitors to the county annually. Scott said more of these retirees tend to vote Republican, but he still attributes much of Trumps appeal to his rhetoric.

I think his popularity is (because) just everybody is mad, and he is saying what they feel, he said. There will be a lot of Democrats voting for him.

While older generations have been moving into the community, Scott said young people in the area are leaving because there arent jobs once they graduate.

Young said Clay County voters feel ignored by politicians who they believe arent doing anything to bring jobs back to the area. I really do think its this attitude that we lost our jobs and nobodys really come to help us, Young said.

In the Rust Belt of Ohio and Pennsylvania, steel was the dominant industry. But as steel companies outsourced their labor to mills in China, voters also grew frustrated with the job loss.

When the steel industry collapsed in the 1970s  this region was literally not prepared for the shutdown of the steel mills, said Bertram de Souza, a political columnist for the Vindicator newspaper in Youngstown.

Forty years after its steel mills closed, Youngstowns poverty rate is just over 40 percent.

Related: America's industrial decline

The opportunities arent here, said Frankie Susany, 50, who grew up in the Youngstown area and now works there as a small-business owner. What used to be a thriving city in Youngstown is brown fields, abandoned mills, abandoned buildings, abandoned factories.

Trumps Make America Great Again message resonates with Susany, who said that when he grew up, young people who worked in the steel mills had great lives. They drove new cars and had their own places to live right out of high school.

Now, with that steel industry gone, Susany believes voters need to cast their ballots with future generations in mind. Thats what this election is about, he said. If we dont change it now, our grandchildren are never going to know the America that (people my age) grew up in.

In the March 2008 primary, just under 14 percent of registered voters in Mahoning County  where Youngstown is located  voted Republican. During this years state primary in March, more than 48 percent of the countys registered voters cast a Republican ballot, and poll workers had to print additional Republican ballots. More than 6,000 voters then switched from Democratic to Republican this year.

Leo Connelly Jr. is a Vietnam veteran and former salesman who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but switched to Republican this year to vote for Trump in the primary. I was sold on the fact that Obama could turn this country around, he said. We dont want to get fooled again.

In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, which is 94 percent white with nearly a 10 percent poverty rate, 5,400 voters switched to the Republican Party to vote for Trump in the primary. The regions steel factories shut down in the 1980s, and residents remain bitter about the job loss, said Blair Adams, a third-generation owner of K Castings Inc., a manufacturing plant.

The steel industry as a whole, the big foundries that pour the molten metal, theyre gone, he said. All these people that are in this manufacturing area are definitely shifting (parties) because they understand that their jobs are at risk.

For generations in Kentuckys coalfields, including the town of Hindman, families spent most of their lives working underground in the mines. As those jobs disappear, Democrats are looking to options outside their party for change and the chance for an improved economy.

Whats happened here (is) a catastrophe on top of a disaster, said Mimi Pickering, a filmmaker with Appalshop, a media training center in nearby Whitesburg. The last few years weve lost a great number of coal mining jobs, but really the coal economy has been declining and the employment in the industry has been declining since the 1950s.

As coal became more scarce and expensive to mine in eastern Kentucky, coal companies moved to states such as Montana and Wyoming, where the work is easier and cheaper. The companies also started to use advanced mining technology, eliminating the need for a large number of miners.

Meanwhile, the government put environmental regulations into place, encouraging states to switch from coal to natural gas as a power source. Kentucky residents such as Ballard Combs, an 81-year-old former coal miner from Knott County, see Obama as the face of these changes.

I loved the mines, said Combs, who worked underground most of his adult life. Obama shut them all down.

Nearly 90 percent of registered voters in Knott County, which is 98 percent white, are Democrats because its what their families have been for generations.

But since 2008, the county has increasingly voted for the Republican presidential candidate. Both Combs and his father were Democrats, but hes voting for Trump.

Knott County Clerk Ken Gayheart said registered Democrats come into his office daily to switch their registration to the GOP. When the coal companies left, Gayheart said no industries moved in to fill the vacancy.

These old hills were never worth much, Gayheart said. We dont do anything, we dont make anything here in Knott County.

Nearly 34 percent of the countys residents live below the poverty line. In May, the unemployment rate was 10.5 percent.

Eastern Kentucky is in tough shape, but a lot of rural America is in a tough time, said Tim Marema, vice president of the Center for Rural Strategies in nearby Whitesburg. Something needs to change. Thats the point for the residents on the Trump side.

Pervis Jacobs, 65, grew up in Hindman, Kentucky. Hes a lifelong Democrat, but hes voting for Trump. I feel like I have no choice, said Jacobs. I just dont like the Democrats policies anymore.

Many Trump supporters criticize increasing government regulations, President Obamas health care law and immigration.

Nick Patterson, joint operating officer of Honest Abe Log Homes and president of Barky Beaver Mulch in Clay County, Tennessee, said the companies used to employ about 500 people and now employ 130.

I think one of the things thats so key in this political conversation over the last couple years is our overhead per employee has increased drastically, he said. It has come from federal regulations.

Patterson said Chinas economic situation has hurt his small business because theres not enough domestic business. Over 50 percent of his produced lumber will end up overseas.

Leslie Rossi, leader of a grassroots movement for Trump in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, said she was initially drawn to Trump because he said he would repeal Obamacare. Rossi, a landlord, painted one of her rental houses red, white and blue to support the GOP candidate.

Obamacare didnt work, and its just been a burden, Rossi said. People still dont have health care, and the people that did are paying more than theyve ever paid. Its changed in such a worse direction.

Don't miss another Accountability investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

Rossi also said she believes immigrants take benefits that Americans, especially veterans, should be receiving. How can you bring an immigrant in and give them free health care, and people that are American citizens that fought for us, youre just not giving them the things they need, Rossi said. Its sickening.

Lawfully present immigrants in the U.S. are able to purchase health care, but undocumented immigrants are not eligible to purchase coverage unless they apply on behalf of documented individuals, according to HealthCare.gov.

Veterans are eligible for coverage through the Veterans Health Administration.

A News21 analysis found in 2014, just over 48 percent of white Americans thought the number of immigrants should be reduced, according to data from the General Social Survey. Only 13 percent of the same demographic believe the number of immigrants should be increased.

The survey also found in 2014, nearly 29 percent of white Americans think immigrants take jobs away, and roughly another 7 percent strongly agree.

Patterson said Trump is seen as a political outsider, especially to those who have felt ignored by typical politicians.

When you get to the federal level, I think people do feel like they've not been listened to because you've seen policies being handed down that have not helped them, he said. I think some of the campaign promises that were made on that have simply not been true. And I think that affects people.

Miller, the Mahoning County chairwoman for Trump, said Americans should forget politicians. Trump appeals to her because hes a businessman, and Trumps business background will create jobs and improve the economy.

We need someone who understands business, can get things done, understands how the economy works (and) has employed people, she said. I think thats my biggest beef with our regular politicians.  And I think Mr. Trump, hes done it all.

Scott, the former Democratic chairman in Clay County, Tennessee, said Republican candidates always talk about social issues such as immigration, gun control and gay rights, but the discussion this year seems louder than in past elections.

(Trumps) demeanor has brought a lot of these people out, said Scott, who isnt voting for Trump. Hes made them vocal. He gives them courage.

Miller said his supporters are seeking a definitive change, one they believe they will find in Trump.

I think the generation like mine, weve seen it all. Weve heard all the promises and weve just decided were done, she said. We just want a country that works, we want jobs, we want to protect our borders, we want to have a life for our children.

Taylor Gilmore contributed to this report

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.
Libreville (AFP) - The increasingly disgruntled people of Gabon go to the polls Saturday in a presidential election in which a last-minute opposition pact has robbed incumbent Ali Bongo of a clear run at a second term.

Bongo, 57, has long sought to emerge from the shadow of his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the country of 1.8 million people for 41 years until he died in 2009.

The president's only credible challenger, former senior African Union official Jean Ping, 73, is carrying the flag for the old guard of Bongo senior's cronies.

It was only last week that protracted negotiations finally led the last of other prominent opposition hopefuls to give way to Ping.

Until then, their presidential ambitions would most likely have mathematically ensured Bongo won another seven years in office.

Nine other runners have a negligible chance of winning the election, which will be decided by a simple majority after a single round of voting.

Fears that the results will deliver unrest are fuelled by memories of the violence that followed Bongo's 2009 victory against Andre Mba Obame.

Several people were killed, buildings looted, a ceasefire imposed and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil torched.

There has been growing popular discontent and numerous public sector strikes in recent months.

- Fears of violence -

The country's economic woes are closely tied to the fall in the global price of oil, the mainstay of Gabon's perilously undiversified economy.

Thousands of oil workers have lost their jobs, according to the sector's main union, ONEP.

"If these people and their families express their frustration at the ballot box, well, that could end badly for the government's candidate," said ONEP's deputy head, Sylvain Mayabi-Binet.

"There are enough frustrated people for the slightest spark to send people into the streets," he added.

Bongo, 57, has campaigned under the slogan "Let's change together", playing up the roads and hospitals built during his first term and stressing the need to break with the bad old days of disappearing public funds and dodgy management of oil revenues.

Story continues

Ping has pledged to ensure, if elected, that Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear".

The campaign period has been marked by months of bitter exchanges between the two camps, including accusations, and strenuous denials, that Bongo was born in Nigeria and therefore ineligible to run.

Ping's own roots -- he is Sino-Gabonese -- served as ammunition for Bongo's camp, which has suggested he and his son are secretly serving Chinese interests.

The two rivals go back a long way, having worked for years together under Bongo senior, who was responsible for getting Ping his job as chairman of the African Union Commission.

Ping also has close family ties to the Bongo dynasty: he is the father of two children by Ali's sister.

He turned on Bongo in 2014, and in March he told French daily Le Monde that "Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan."

European Union observers in a statement urged the electoral commission to ensure that the results are counted and announced with "transparency and speed".

Some 628,000 voters will be eligible to cast their ballots Saturday.
Amman (AFP) - Animals evacuated this week from a zoo dubbed the "world's worst" in the Palestinian Gaza Strip have arrived at an animal shelter in Jordan, an AFP photographer said on Thursday.

Two turtles, two eagles, two porcupines, a pelican, an emu and a deer arrived late Wednesday near Amman after travelling from Gaza via Israel, said Amir Khalil, a vet from the charity organising the transfer.

Animal welfare charity Four Paws on Wednesday said it evacuated 15 animals -- including Gaza's last tiger Laziz -- out of the Khan Yunis zoo, as they headed for a new life outside the Israeli-blockaded territory.

The tiger was put on a plane and flown to South Africa where it arrived on Thursday, while five monkeys remained in Israel, Khalil said.

The animals that arrived in Jordan were placed in quarantine at the New Hope Centre, a shelter near Amman, "while waiting to be transferred somewhere bigger", the vet said.

The animals would now have access to food and necessary treatment, Khalil said.

Dozens of animals had died at the Khan Yunis zoo, some of starvation, and badly stuffed bodies of dead crocodiles, lions and others were left in the open, surrounded by piles of bones.

Four Paws 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."

There were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo in the years after its 2007 opening, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers.

The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypt's closed border have suffocated its economy, making it increasingly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure.
(Reuters) - A Georgia truck driver was sentenced to 40 years in prison for pouring boiling water over a gay couple, a district attorney's spokesman said on Thursday.

Martin Blackwell, 48, was convicted by a jury on Wednesday of 10 charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault, said the spokesman for Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr.

Blackwell told police he heated water and poured it over Anthony Gooden Jr. and Marquez Tolbert while they slept because he was disgusted by their relationship.

The attack occurred in February in an apartment in the Atlanta suburb of College Park where Gooden's mother, who was dating Blackwell, lived.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk sentenced Blackwell to 40 years in prison.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted prosecutors as saying both victims required skin grafts after the attack. Gooden spent nearly a month in a hospital, including two weeks in a medically induced coma, and Tolbert was hospitalized for 10 days, it said.

Tolbert was 21 and Gooden 23 at the time of the attack.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Bill Trott)
By Andrea Shalal and Jan Lopatka BERLIN/PRAGUE (Reuters) - Germany is in discussions with Turkey to ensure that the German military can keep flying reconnaissance missions from Incirlik Air Base in support of a U.S.-led fight against Islamic State, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday. Merkel said she expected the German military to continue operating effectively from the NATO base despite threats by some German lawmakers to end the mission unless Ankara allows them to visit the base. Merkel said such visits were vital given that German lawmakers authorize military missions. Turkey in June denied lawmakers access to the base, angered by a German parliamentary resolution that branded the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces genocide, and has said it may block a similar visit in October.. "I expect that missions of the anti-IS coalition will continue to be able to be flown from Incirlik," Merkel told reporters during a visit to Prague. "Part of that, given that we have a parliamentary army, is that German lawmakers must be allowed to visit Incirlik if they want to." Merkel said Berlin was in discussions with Ankara to resolve the dispute, but gave no details. A spokesman for the German Defence Ministry on Thursday said the armed forces were studying other basing options for six Tornado reconnaissance planes, a refuelling plane and 250 soldiers if German lawmakers vote to end the use of the base. Ties between the two NATO allies have also been strained by the thwarted coup in Turkey on July 15, with Ankara angry about what it called Germany's sluggish response in condemning the action. Rainer Arnold, defence spokesman for the Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition government, told Reuters his party would demand withdrawal of German soldiers and equipment from the base if Turkey refused to allow parliamentarians to visit again in October. He said his party expected an answer in September. "We will only send our soldiers to countries where we can be certain that we can visit them," Arnold told Reuters. Without the SPD's approval, the government cannot extend the mandate for the mission when it expires in December. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group that it was in the interest of both countries to continue the work at Incirlik. Asked if the military was ready for a rapid withdrawal from the base, von der Leyen said, "Smart military planning always looks at fallback options." Turkish officials said last week they would not approve an October visit planned by members of the German budget committee, but Arnold said they had not received a definitive answer. The ministry spokesman said alternative potential bases had been identified in the region, but gave no details. Der Spiegel magazine reported on Thursday that the armed forces were studying whether they could move the planes and troops to Jordan or Cyprus. Such a move would interrupt the flights for at least two months, it said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Andreas Rinke and Hans-Edzard Busemann, Editing by Ralph Boulton)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Prosectors in Stuttgart, Germany are examining a trove of stolen Bosch data to see whether it contains clues about how Volkswagen cheated diesel emissions tests. "We are reviewing it to see if it is relevant," a spokesman for the Stuttgart prosecutor's office said on Thursday. "Currently, I would question whether we will learn anything new." The data stems from an old case when a former Bosch employee stole engine software data for the purpose of re-selling it to other auto makers and tuning companies. The employee was convicted of stealing confidential corporate data, and prosecutors are now evaluating whether the data from that case is relevant for a more recent probe of both Volkswagen and Bosch, examining their potential involvement in an emissions cheating scandal. A spokesman for Bosch said the company could not comment on an ongoing investigation. The Stuttgart prosecutor's office confirmed that the data include software from the 2009 to 2011 period, when Volkswagen used engine manipulation software to cheat emissions tests. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Georgina Prodhan)
Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur's relationship status has been a topic of discussion for quite some time. But the Romanian beauty has finally opened up on the same and said they are just friends.

By India Today Web Desk: Salman Khan's love life has always caught the fancy of media and fans. But his relationship status with Iulia Vantur has almost become an obsession. While many believe that the 50-year-old actor will finally settle down with this Romanian beauty, the rumoured couple calls themselves just "good friends".

ALSO READ: Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur want their relationship to work, but as for marriage...

advertisement

ALSO READ: Salman Khan, with girlfriend Iulia Vantur by him, Being Bhai for his sisters today



However, their recent frequent public appearances together have made it difficult for many to believe that there is nothing between Salman and Iulia than a just a platonic relationship.

From film sets to film screenings, the two are inseparable. And this has raised many eyebrows about their relationship status.

But Iulia has finally opened up on her relationship with the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor.

According to a report in Pinkvilla.com, Vantur has given an interview to a leading magazine where has claimed that she is only good friends with Salman.

She was quoted as telling the magazine, "No, we're friends. Friends means friends, not love. Everything happens in the best time, not earlier, not later. The rest is speculation."

Amidst the reports of them tying the knot soon, this might be a shocker for many.

But as Iulia puts it that everything happens in the best time, we will have to wait how their love story progresses with time.

On the work front, Salman is currently shooting for Kabir Khan's Tubelight in Leh.



--- ENDS ---
Berlin (AFP) - Germany's military is preparing to pull out from a Turkish airbase as a row between the two NATO partners escalates, Der Spiegel magazine reported Thursday.

Germany in December agreed to send Tornado surveillance jets and tanker aircraft to the Incirlik base in southern Turkey to aid the multinational coalition fighting the jihadist Islamic State group and currently has about 240 soldiers stationed there.

But Turkey has repeatedly refused to allow visits to Incirlik by German politicians, prompting junior coalition partner the Social Democrats (SPD) to demand Germany's withdrawal from the airbase.

Germany's military is a parliamentary force, meaning that MPs have decision-making power over deployments.

A German mandate in Incirlik runs out at the end of the year, and the SPD has threatened to block its extension.

"If it is no longer possible to visit our soldiers, then it is out of the question to extend the mandate," Rainer Arnold, the SPD's defence expert, told Spiegel.

Without citing its sources, the news magazine said the defence ministry is examining whether it could transfer its deployment to Jordan or Cyprus instead.

Tensions have been rising between Germany and Turkey over the German parliament's decision to brand as genocide the World War I-era massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces, as well as Ankara's threat to back out of a crucial March deal with the EU on migrants.

Berlin also angered Ankara by criticising President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's post-coup crackdown, in which more than 40,000 state employees have been arrested.
LONDON  German industry insiders did the obvious and chose Maren Ades breakout feature Toni Erdmann as their countrys entry in the race for best foreign-language film at the Academy Awards, it was announced Thursday.

The choice, made by an independent jury Wednesday night, seemed a foregone conclusion after the Intl. Federation of Film Critics earlier in the day named Toni Erdmann best film of the year. The award was the latest coup for a film that went in to the Cannes Film Festival relatively unheralded and emerged an unexpected hit, winning raves from critics if not any festival prizes.

The last German film to win the foreign-language Oscar, in 2007, was The Lives of Others, a drama set in East Berlin at the height of the espionage-ridden Cold War. Toni Erdmann, one of eight films on Germanys long list for Oscar-entry consideration, departs from the Cold War- and Nazi-related themes so often seen in well-traveled German films and concentrates on the funny and painful relationship between a woman and her estranged father.

I am very happy that the jury is sending Toni Erdmann into the Oscar race and am anxious to see how Toni behaves in Los Angeles, Ade said in a statement.

The incredible success story of Toni Erdmann continues, added Petra Mueller, CEO of Film and Media Foundation NRW, which helped fund Ades movie.

At least three other films under consideration by the nine-member jury dealt with Hitler or the Nazis. In choosing Toni Erdmann, the panel praised the film for its unswerving artistic clarity and its portrayal of universal topics like social isolation and the challenge of interpersonal integrity. The film is just what modern international cinema should be, the jury said.

Critics agreed. Varietys review called Ades third feature a humane, hilarious triumph. The film scored 450,000 admissions in Germany following its release there last month, and has been sold by international agent The Match Factory in 100 territories. Sony Pictures Classics acquired North and Latin American rights to Toni Erdmann in a well-publicized deal at Cannes, and is expected to release the movie in the U.S. in December.

Story continues

The film is a Komplizen Film production in conjunction with Coop99, KNM, Missing Link Films and SWR/WDR/ARTE.

Related stories

Saudi Arabia Submits Second Ever Film, 'Barakah Meets Barakah,' for Oscar Foreign Language Race

Maren Ade's 'Toni Erdmann' Wins 2016 Fipresci Grand Prix

Cannes Winners Underscore Contrast Between Creators and Critics
FRANKFURT, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The majority owner of Germany's GfK is looking at strategic options for the market research firm, including a merger or sale, German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported on Thursday, citing no sources.

GfK Verein, which owns 56.5 percent of shares in GfK, had no immediate comment, while GfK itself was not available for comment.

WirtschaftsWoche said U.S. rivals Nielsen Holdings and IMS Health as well as WPP unit Kantar were interested in GfK. All three companies were not immediately available for comment.

GfK has a market value of about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion). Its stock has slumped by more than 20 percent since its chief executive and chairman earlier this month unexpectedly announced their resignations, having fallen out with GfK Verein.

Shares in GfK were up 7.3 percent in pre-market trade at brokerage Lang & Schwarz on the WirtschaftsWoche report.

($1 = 0.8870 euros) (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Additional reporting by Hans Seidenstuecker; Editing by Madeline Chambers)
Stanford tight end Dalton Schultz (9) is tackled by Notre Dame cornerback Devin Butler during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The girlfriend of Notre Dame cornerback Devin Butler said the accusations that Butler was violent with police officers outside of a South Bend bar are false.

Butlers girlfriend Haleigh Bailey, told the South Bend Tribune she was with Butler when the incident occurred and that the reports are not accurate.

[Check out Dr. Saturday on Tumblr for entertaining things you wont see on the blog]

I was there that entire night, Bailey told the paper. Reports say that everyone left the scene but I was still there and saw everything officers did to Devin.

He was abused, and wrongly arrested. He never tackled an officer and he never intentionally hurt anyone. He had no reason to be tazed because he was never resisting arrest, and he was already on the ground complying when they tazed him.

On Tuesday, Butler was charged with felony counts of resisting law enforcement and battery of a police officer. Butler entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday.

Last Saturday, Police responded to reports of a fight at the Linebacker bar just after midnight. When they arrived, the fight had broken up and the police retreated outside where they saw two women arguing, according to court documents. Before police could approach, Butler stepped in a allegedly pushed one of the women.

Selina Bell, the fiancee of Irish wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr., told the Tribune that Butler never physically assaulted a woman.

I dont know who theyre trying to reference him hitting or pushing, because he didnt do that to anyone. But he was holding his girlfriend and protecting her, Bell told the paper in a phone interview on Wednesday night. He 100 percent never hit her, pulled her, pushed her, grabbed her forcefully at all.

Police tried to detain Butler and thats when police say Butler became violent, pushed officer Aaron Knepper, tackled him to the ground and punched him several times in the side and stomach. Knepper was taken to the hospital, treated for minor injuries and released.

Story continues

Bailey disputes the officers story and claims her boyfriend could not have done those things while recovering from a broken foot that requires a walking boot.

Reports say that Devin did all of these aggressive things but in reality, he was grabbed by the police from behind and never told who was grabbing him or why they were grabbing him, Bailey wrote to the paper. Devin felt he was doing the right thing but out of nowhere was arrested for simply stopping an argument. He felt he had no reason to be detained.

Devin has been in a boot/cast and on crutches recovering for the past 8 weeks. He is in no condition to be lifting weights, working out, or doing any tackling. I have not seen him run let alone walk on two feet since the day before his surgery in June. I can assure you he did NOT tackle a police officer but police officers tackled HIM.

From the South Bend Tribune:

According to the South Bend Police Department, Butler continued to swear at the officers and threaten them. When other officers tried to pull Butler off Knepper, police say, Butler grabbed onto Officer Kneppers duty belt and physically ripped it off of him before Knepper deployed a Taser to subdue Butler. Bailey in her message asked: How could the police officer proceed to taze Devin if Devin had ripped off his duty belt? The story doesnt add up and thats because these things didnt happen. She also wrote that Knepper was extremely violent and excessively forceful with the way he treated Devin. It was disturbing to say the least. Bell, who claims she was sober at the time of the altercation, also said that Butler never ripped off Kneppers duty belt and did not resist arrest.

Butler has been indefinitely suspended from the program and is due back in court on Sept. 1.

[Visit Dr. Saturday on Facebook for stories you might have missed and chat with the writers]

Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!
By Jessica Dye

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Texas jury said on Thursday a General Motors Co (GM.N) ignition switch, linked to nearly 400 injuries and deaths, was not to blame for a fatal 2011 crash, according to a company statement.

The verdict in Harris County, Texas, was the second in favor of GM this year in lawsuits over the now recalled ignition switch.

Plaintiff Zachary Stevens alleged that a defective switch caused him to lose control of his 2007 Saturn Sky and crash into another vehicle, killing the other driver. GM said his reckless driving was at fault.

During the trial, which opened on Aug. 9, Stevens lawyers pushed back against GM and noted their client suffered a severe head wound in the crash.

Manslaughter charges initially filed against him were dropped after GM recalled 2.6 million vehicles with the switch in 2014, according to his lawsuit.

Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before returning a unanimous verdict for GM, said company spokesman Jim Cain.

We asked the jury to evaluate Zach Stevens case on the facts and they did, Cain said in a statement. The accident had nothing to do with the ignition switch.

A lawyer for Stevens could not immediately be reached for comment.

The case was the third involving the switch to go to trial since the beginning of the year. The first was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs during the trial, and the second resulted in a verdict clearing GM of liability for a 2014 crash in New Orleans.

GM resolved some claims for injuries and deaths blamed on the switch through an out-of-court program administered by Washington lawyer Kenneth Feinberg. Federal lawsuits have been consolidated in New York City, while about 20 are pending in the Texas state court where Stevens' case was filed.

A fourth trial over the switch is set to begin on Sept. 12 in Manhattan.

GM has paid roughly $2 billion in criminal and civil penalties and settlements in connection with the switch, which can rotate out of position and cut power to steering, brakes and air bags. The company previously acknowledged that some of its employees knew about the switch defect for years before a recall was initiated.

(Reporting by Jessica Dye; Editing by Dan Grebler and Peter Cooney)
[tiImage is_image="1" image_id="222545" image_style="375x375" align="right"]

At Baia Pasta, maccheroni are made like they should be: thick, ridged, chewy, and packed with flavor. Giving the mac half of the beloved American comfort food, mac and cheese, the attention that it deserves, Baia Pasta founders Renato Sardo and Dario Barbone focused on making the perfect thick pasta for silky cheeses (and other sauces) to cling to. Both Italian transplants to California, Renato and Dario know the importance of great pasta, which is why they source the tastiest grains from across the U.S. and transform them into pasta using traditional Italian techniques.

Each small batch of Durum Wheat Semolina Macs is cold-kneaded, extruded through brass dies, and dried gently at low temperatures to cultivate a pasta with a full wheat flavor and a rough surface, perfect for sauces to stick to. Go traditional American and make your favorite mac and cheese recipe or try an Italian classic; Dario recommends a tangy salty puttanesca or a rich and peppery cacio e pepe.

Baia Pasta Durum Wheat Semolina Macs are available online and in stores across the country. Baia Pasta is a proud member of the Good Food Merchants Guild, national association uniting American craft food businesses to connect, convene and promote Good Food businesses of all sizes.

---------

From her grassroots work at the Good Food Awards to her continued education at NYUs Food Studies Masters Program, Kate Malin brings an unparalleled passion for great food and good people.
Textiles Minister Smriti Irani was speaking at the Air Passengers Association of India where she said that she wanted to work as the cabin crew in Jet Airways, but was rejected.

"I don't know if many people know that one of the first jobs that I wanted and I lined up for was cabin crew at Jet."

By PTI: "My application for cabin crew position was rejected by Jet Airways, which felt I didn't have a good personality," Union Minister Smriti Irani said today.

At her witty best, the television actress-turned- politician also said that thanks to that rejection, she got a job at McDonalds and the "rest is history".

"I don't 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 don't have a good personality. Thank God for your rejection. After that, I got a job at McDonalds and the rest is history," she said.

advertisement

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.

--- ENDS ---
Florida Governor Rick Scott said Wednesday it is safe to travel to the state despite Florida health officials reporting 15 new travel-related Zika cases statewide.

We have great mosquito control boards. We have great health departments across our state. We have 43 cases in an entire state that takes 15 hours to get from one end to the other of 20.6 million people. We have 43 cases of local transmission, Scott said during an interview on the FOX Business Networks Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast.

According to the Florida Department of Health, there are 523 total cases not involving pregnant women and 70 cases involving pregnant women, regardless of symptoms. The governor said his administration is taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of everyone in Florida.

We are making sure everybody gets rid of their standing water, wears bug repellent, wears protective clothing. We are going to keep everyone safe. Everybody thats pregnant in state, every pregnant woman has the opportunity to get a freeabsolutely freeassessment test at our county health departments, he said.

Scott says health officials are investigating every new case and havent seen any new locally transmitted cases in over two weeks in Miamis Wynwood neighborhood, where the first local transmission occurred.

We got very aggressive mosquito abatement efforts. Our educational efforts are paying off, Scott told host Charles Payne.

The Florida governor, who is also chair of the Trump super PAC Rebuilding America Now, weighed in on the Republican presidential nominees stance on immigration.

I agree with Donald Trump. I want a secure boarder. I want to have an immigration policy that clearly works. Our federal government has failed us on either securing our boarders or making sure that we have an immigration policy that we all understand, Scott said.

Related Articles
EDINBURGH, Scotland  The Grand Tour, the new auto show from former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, launches on streaming platform Amazon Prime Video in the fall. At the Edinburgh Intl. Television Festival Wednesday the shows executive producer Andy Wilman, who held the same position on Top Gear, explained how the team had started afresh.

Wilman and Clarkson, who had gone to the same school, joined BBCs Top Gear in 2002 and helped build it into the most popular factual show in the world. In March 2015, Clarkson was sacked by the BBC for punching a producer, and Wilman, Hammond and May decided to leave the show, too. In July 2015, Amazon announced that the former Top Gear team would be producing a new car show for them, and earlier this year they revealed its name: The Grand Tour.

Wilman said there will be 12 shows a year for three years, with the option to extend the deal further if the parties agree. He said he would prefer it if the shows went out weekly rather than all at once as it was not something to be binge-watched, but that was yet to be decided. Each show will be around 60 minutes but some may go as long as 70 minutes.

The shows will consist of pre-recorded films shot in exotic locations, and studio audience recordings that will take place at a different location around the world every week. The studio sections of the program will be filmed in front of a 300-strong live audience housed within a giant tent. Wilman claimed Clarkson got the idea for the tent after he watched an episode of True Detective that features a Baptist meeting in a large tent.

Wilman said there was no real difference in how they would address their global audience for The Grand Tour in comparison with how they approached Top Gears viewers, who were initially British, although the show had over time developed a global reach.

There is a universal language if you love cars, he said, although they would try to incorporate local elements when traveling with the show. If we are going to places, we will look at the local color of the motoring  the local car culture.

Story continues

He said the worldwide success of Top Gear had been unexpected, but they hoped to replicate it with the new show. We never analyzed it but something happened  people wanted to watch it all around the world. So were just crossing fingers that itll happen again.

He said the shows main asset was having Clarkson, Hammond and May as hosts. The main ingredient is those three guys. They havent really changed, he said.

The old Top Gear team had developed a reputation for liking to create controversy, and in particular there were accusations that some comments on the show were racist. Wilman said on the new show there is mischief but there is nothing that would worry anybody. He added that Amazon had laid out editorial guidelines, but he didnt state what those were.

Wilman said he and the three hosts had started afresh. We will try harder because now we have to do new things. We have got to embrace failure again. We are back to where we were in 2002.

Wilman said that working for Amazon was fantastic but really demanding, which was a good thing  its really nice to be pushed. He saluted their ambition for the show, although he admitted the expectations were daunting. The marketing they are putting behind it is actually quite overwhelming  I was thinking its like its a new Marvel movie. Im going: stop, stop, stop, we are bringing back comfort food, its not bloody Star Wars. They want to go big like that but theres a lot of will behind it, he said.

He rejected as nonsense press speculation that Amazon had paid 160 million ($212 million) for three seasons of the show, although he admitted he and his team were spending a lot on it. Thats going out the door hand over fist because of what we have to do, he said.

The high cost was partly a result of Amazons requirement to shoot everything in 4K, which he said was a nightmare. Making a drama in 4K makes a lot of sense. Making the kind of actuality show we make, it doesnt make sense at all, but thats what weve been tasked to do.

Asked why they had opted to go with Amazon over other bidders, Wilman said: The main reason is we do get left alone, which as anybody whos worked with us knows we like. But we are left alone because it is logical [as they need to be allowed to create with complete freedom]. Youve got to go new world. Thats because they are a new outfit  they are like a blank canvas, he said, adding that the desire was to start from scratch. He explained that there was also a legal need to avoid duplicating anything that they had done in Top Gear, and the Amazon lawyers scrutinized everything to ensure there was no duplication.

He said he would be happy to see the show get a second run on a traditional broadcaster. Id like it to be seen by as many people as possible, but it is Amazons show.

Addressing the issues that led to the implosion at Top Gear, Wilman said it had been a perfect storm. That show got bigger and bigger and bigger, and because it got bigger by accident we never adjusted to that, he said. We were collapsing under the weight of the work we were doing.

He admitted that his own response to the crisis had not been ideal. Everything became personal and confrontational. It was going to be a victory for somebody, not a resolution, he said, adding that he loved the BBC but that we had a broken relationship and I didnt have the maturity to mend it. I was entrenched. I was vicious in my reaction.

He said he hadnt watched the new version of Top Gear, because there was a lot of pain for me It was everything we did. The new show, fronted by Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc, got a lukewarm reception from the press and audience, leading to Evans departure after one season, but Wilman said there was no ill feeling toward the new team at Top Gear. I hope they do succeed, he said.

Related stories

Showrunner Ronald D. Moore on 'Outlander,' 'Electric Dreams: The World of Philip K. Dick'

Jeremy Clarkson's Amazon Car Show to Film Live in U.S., U.K., Germany

Former 'Top Gear' Hosts Name Amazon Show 'The Grand Tour' (VIDEO)
Athens (AFP) - Greece must step up efforts to protect thousands of refugees and migrants from the coming winter and boost security in its camps, the UN's top refugee official said Thursday.

"With the arrival of winter, there are still many thousands of people living in sites that are not yet at standard conditions," UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi told a news conference in Athens.

"It is important to upgrade conditions to minimise the risk factors to which these people are exposed. And they will be increasingly exposed when winter comes."

According to Greek state data, there are over 50,000 refugees and migrants in dozens of camps around the country, many of them former warehouses and army camps of questionable quality.

Another 7,000 are estimated to be staying outside the state camp system altogether, including squats run by volunteer groups.

Grandi, who visited two camps near Thessaloniki, northern Greece and a centre for unaccompanied minors, called for additional police to guard the facilities.

"There are very serious security problems in some of the sites... my concern is about the daily security of the people," the Italian diplomat said.

"There are women with children without their husbands... many unaccompanied minors, elderly people, these people are at risk."

"There are criminal elements... infiltrating and exploiting people... the main response to that is to have more police capacity," he said.

Brawls have regularly broken out in the camps, mainly on the islands where many migrants are fed up waiting for months for their asylum applications to be processed.

Over 160,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Greece since January, including 2,300 in August, the UN said on Thursday.
Guatemala City (AFP) - A mayor of a Guatemalan village was arrested Thursday for allegedly ignoring warnings ahead of a mudslide that engulfed a community in 2015, killing 280 people.

Victor Gonzalo Alvarizaes Monterroso, mayor of the village of Santa Catarina Pinula, to the west of the capital Guatemala City, was arrested on a charge of negligent homicide, a spokeswoman for the state prosecutor's office told reporters.

The mudslide occurred on October 1 last year. A section of earth detached and covered a district of the village called El Cambray II.

The official toll was 280 killed and another 70 missing.

Investigators say Alvarizaes was informed of the risk of such a disaster happening, along with recommendations that El Cambray II be moved.

A former mayor of the community, Antonio Coro, was arrested in January on the same charge.
T. Rowe Price MD Tax-Free Bond Fund (MDXBX) a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) was incepted in March 1987 and is managed by the T.Rowe Price Associates. The objective of MDXBX is to provide, consistent with prudent portfolio management, the highest level of income exempt from federal and Maryland state and local income taxes by investing primarily in investment-grade Maryland municipal bonds. MDXBX invests at least 80% of net assets in investment-grade Maryland municipal bonds. MDXBX's weighted average maturity is expected to exceed 15 years.

The T. Rowe Price MD Tax-Free Bond fund, managed by T. Rowe Price, carries an expense ratio of 0.46%. Moreover, MDXBX requires a minimal initial investment of $2,500.

MDXBX has a history of positive total returns for over 10 years. Specifically, the funds returns over the 3, 5 year benchmarks; 3 year 5.96% and 5 year 5.27%. To see how this fund performed compared in its category, and other #1 and #2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.

MDXBXs performance, as of the last filing, when compared to funds in its category was in the top 31% in 1 year, top 15% over the past 3 years, and in the 13% over the past 5 years.

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 >>



View All Zacks #1 Ranked Mutual Funds

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



Get Your Free (MDXBX): Fund Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Mogadishu (AFP) - Shabaab jihadists attacked a beachfront restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday, setting off a car bomb before exchanging fire with security forces, an AFP correspondent said.

Sporadic shots could still be heard coming from the scene several hours after the attack began, the correspondent said, with at least one of the gunmen still thought to be holed up inside the restaurant.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack through the website of their Andalus radio station.

The Banadir Beach Restaurant near Lido beach is a popular eatery frequented by young people and Somali officials.

As in other recent Shabaab attacks, the violence began with the militants setting off a nearby car bomb before storming the building and engaging in a gunfight with security forces.

From their position inside the restaurant, the attackers also lobbed several grenades at the security services who cordoned off the area, the correspondent said.

Somali authorities said the car bomb had failed to fully detonate and they escorted local reporters to a nearby hospital where they presented a wounded man, with his head bandaged, as the bomber.

The Somali national news agency Sonna said some 20 people had been able to escape from the restaurant during the gunfight with the help of security forces.

It was unclear however how many, if any, customers and staff members remained trapped inside as the siege stretched into the night.

The Shabaab group is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in the capital Mogadishu.

It was forced out of the capital by African Union soldiers five years ago but continues to launch regular attacks including in recent months on restaurants, hotels and military bases.

It is the second time this year the group has attacked the Lido beach area and its many eateries, including upmarket establishments popular with business people and diaspora Somalis who have returned home to the city.

Story continues

In late January, Shabaab gunmen detonated a bomb before bursting into the Lido Sea Food Restaurant and spraying gunfire at terrified customers, killing some 20 people.

The group is expected to try and violently disrupt elections due to be held in September and October.

The jihadists have also staged repeated attacks in neighbouring Kenya and a recent security analysis warned the group was expanding its horizons with cells active in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as well as Somalia.
By Makini Brice PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti's long-delayed presidential vote must take place on Oct. 9 as scheduled to install a legitimately elected leader as soon as possible and assuage concerns about political stability, interim President Jocelerme Privert told Reuters. Privert's comments late on Wednesday come as Haiti scrambles to find funding for its third election process in a year. A history of volatility and missed deadlines in the nation's recent electoral history has raised doubts about the October date. The results of a presidential vote last year were scrapped after the electoral council accepted a commissions conclusion that many of the ballots were fraudulent, a disputed decision that prompted some in the international community to withdraw support for the elections. A January runoff was also canceled after violent protests. Privert said this would not happen again. "I cannot even picture a Plan B," he said. "The risk for the country is too large." The election will be mostly self-financed as the U.S. government, a major donor to last years vote, said it would not contribute this time. Privert said $15 million had already been allocated to the provisional electoral council. He said the estimated $55 million to pay for the vote would be found, even if other recipients vying for the country's limited budget lose out to what he called a "priority project." "We have done all that is humanly possible to assure that on Oct. 9, the people go to the polls to elect the legitimate authorities capable of confronting the economic and social challenges that our country faces." Election council President Leopold Berlanger, who has also emphasized the need to hold the election as scheduled, said on Tuesday that about $25 million was available for it. Haiti's campaign season began on Tuesday for the third time in a year. Privert, whose term officially expired in June, has led the country since former President Michel Martelly left power in February without an elected successor. Opponents have accused Privert of dragging his feet to stay in office longer. Still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010 that killed 220,000 people, Haiti, the western hemisphere's poorest nation, has also been hit by a cholera outbreak brought by U.N. peacekeepers and now faces the threat of the Zika virus. The favorites in the race are conservative Jovenel Moise and center-left Jude Celstin, who lead a field of 27 candidates. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent in the first round, a runoff will be held in January. Haiti has more than 6 million registered voters. (Editing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
AISA leader who allegedly raped a fellow student after spiking her drink surrendered to the Delhi police on Wednesday night.

The accused, Anmol Ratan, finally surrendered to the police on Wednesday night.

By Indo-Asian News Service: 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 PM 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.

advertisement

An activist of the All India Student Association (AISA), Ratan was expelled from leftist student outfit after the allegations against him.

Also read - JNU rape case: Accused Anmol Ratan to apply for anticipatory bail

--- ENDS ---
Batman v Superman composer Hans Zimmer is seeing his own dawn of justice, as a man who was suing him has not only dropped his lawsuit but also apologized and wrote him a check.

Composer Richard Friedman sued Zimmer in 2015, claiming the principal music from 12 Years a Slave copied his 2004 work entitled "To Our Fallen."

Friedman voluntarily dismissed his claims on Tuesday. In a Thursday statement, representatives for Zimmer say Friedman was faced with evidence that "resoundingly disproved his claims" and also the threat of sanctions for pursuing a frivolous lawsuit. In a letter of apology, according to the statement, Friedman told Zimmer he was "misguided and mistaken." He also apologized for relying on the erroneous findings of his expert, James DiPasquale, which Zimmer had disputed from the start.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Zimmer says he's very gratified by the results.

"I hope this case's successful conclusion will persuade other artists who face similar claims that justice can be achieved," Zimmer said. "I also hope that this dismissal will discourage other plaintiffs who may be motivated by recent high-profile music copyright lawsuits from filing meritless infringement claims."

Zimmer was represented by Bert Deixler, Philip Kelly, and Joshua Sussman of Kendall, Brill & Kelly and Candace Carlo of Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo.

Friedman was represented by Maxwell Blecher, who declined to comment.

Read more: Inside 'Score': Fundraised Doc on Scoring Exposes Hans Zimmer's Creative Fears (Video)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f18845%2fharambe

For some folks, nothing is more important then remembering Harambe, the gorilla who was killed and meme-ified after a dangerous encounter with a 4-year-old boy at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Four girls from Troy, Michigan used their student ID cards to preserve the fallen animal's memory with an expertly executed photo-op contributing to the countless Harambe memes in a unique way.

SEE ALSO: Harambe memes chase Cincinnati Zoo off Twitter, Facebook

Together, their shirts spell out "Harambe 1999-2016" across the four Troy High School student IDs.

"Harambe lives on," one of the students, Tiffany Nogoy, posted on Twitter.

"It's official we've peaked in high school," Maddie Darish, a student who also participated in the prank, tweeted. "It's all downhill from here."

It might not all be downhill, but since the image was posted, it's been retweeted 2,500 times and cemented itself as an evergreen in the Harmabe meme catalogue.
After a 6.2-magniture earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, authorities are working to assist those affected by the natural disaster.

Italys civil protection department is continuing to deploy relief and rescuers, but there are ways that others in and outside of the country can help as well.

In Rome, blood donations are being taken at several locations:

For those in #Rome who are eligible to give blood, heres where you can donate #help #earthquake #terremoto #italy pic.twitter.com/85iXVvArXN

 the smartraveller (@_smARTraveller) August 24, 2016

In addition, the Rieti provincial chapter of the countrys blood donation charity, AVIS, is also calling for donations.

Several schools and stores in Rieti are also accepting nonperishable items including food, bottled water, powdered milk, medications, blankets, and clothing, which can be dropped off at several locations in the area.

The Italian Red Cross is also asking people to open up their Wi-Fi to ease communication in the affected areas for rescue workers.

#Terremoto, per favorire comunicazioni e operazioni di soccorso vi invitiamo a togliere la password della rete wi-fi pic.twitter.com/U9baz8F7WG

 Croce Rossa Italiana (@crocerossa) August 24, 2016

For those outside of Italy, there are various emergency funds that have started accepting donations.

Italian daily newspaper La Stampa has opened a donation fund you can give to, which they aim to use to assist the schools, kindergartens, and public healthcare facilities in the affected areas.

Donations can also be made to the Italian Red Cross and ShelterBox, a company that creates emergency shelters and emergency boxes that include a disaster relief tent, thermal blankets, water storage and purification equipment, solar lamps, cooking tools, and childrens games.

A @ShelterBox response team will be in Italy within 24 hours, to assess the need for emergency shelter in Italy after today's #earthquake.

 ShelterBox (@ShelterBox) August 24, 2016

Talia Avakian is a digital reporter for Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @TaliaAvak.
This week, Herb Alpert is in Hollywood's Capitol Studios with an orchestra, cutting his first Christmas album in 48 years. But it's really Christmas in August for the school where his foundation has just promised $10.1 million - Los Angeles City College, which says it will be able to provide free tuition as well as private lessons to all its music majors for years to come as a result of the Herb Alpert Foundation's gift.

LACC is not one of Southern California's "glamor schools" when it comes to star gift-giving, but the trumpeter is hoping to start a "tag, you're it" chain reaction among his fellow philanthropists, retraining some of their financial attention on the community college system.

"Some kids are in situations where it's a bit of a struggle just to get their mojo working," says Alpert. "I was just thinking about how expensive it is for kids to go to UCLA or 'SC or one of the major colleges, and I love the idea that we can open the door to help students who are financially challenged to study at LACC, which is a beautiful college. I mean, it's a gem. If you haven't been there lately, the campus is alive and kicking, and there are a lot of great teachers and a lot of great energy there."

Read more: Detained Cuban Artist Absent From Herb Alpert Awards Ceremony

Alpert's donation sets a record, or comes close, in several regards. The $10.1 million he has promised more than quintuples the previous high-water mark for a gift to an arts-related program in California's community college system, set last year when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association gave $2 million to LACC's cinema department. It's also the most anyone has ever given to a community college in Southern California for any purpose, and the second-highest amount ever handed over to any two-year school in the entire state, according to Robert Schwartz, executive director of the Los Angeles City College Foundation.

Story continues

"I think once this gift is announced, we're going to see an even greater influx of talented kids coming in from around the city," says Schwartz. LACC currently has about 175 students majoring in music, but the level of funding - with an endowment set at about $400,000 a year in perpetuity - is designed to accommodate an expected 250 music majors getting a free education at the school. Also benefiting in some way will be the rest of the 2,000 students per semester who enroll in at least one LACC music class.

Read more: Trumpeter Herb Alpert Wants to Take Jazz to "the Next Level"

How rare is this kind of gift? "I'll give you this statistic," says Schwartz. "Last year in the United States, there was approximately 40 billion dollars given to higher education in gifts, and of that, less than 2 percent was given to community colleges. Juxtaposed with that is the fact that in the United States, about 80 percent of the workforce has been educated at a community college. Again, of that 40 billion, about a third of that number went to about 20 schools, so it's very concentrated."

John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Charlie Mingus and Chet Baker are among the past students at the school who could have benefited from this largess. Schwartz likes to point out that LACC - which has offered music courses since opening in 1929 - was the first college in the country to offer a jazz major, starting in the 1940s.

Alpert never attended LACC himself, but his brother, David, did. When he considers the roots of his interest in funding music education, he inevitably thinks back well beyond college days.

Read more: How Herb Alpert's $5.5 Million Saved the Harlem School of the Arts

"When I was 8 years old in my grammar school here at Melrose Elementary, there was a music appreciation class," Alpert says. "And luckily for me there was a table filled with instruments, and I happened to pick up the trumpet. And when I finally made a sound out of it - because I thought you just blow hot air into the horn - it was talking for me. I was super shy; I was an introvert, and this horn was speaking for me.  I like the idea of world music - that kids can experience their own creativity and appreciate their own uniqueness. And if they can do that, then hopefully they'll appreciate the uniqueness in others, which is a win-win, because I think we're in kind of a bind today with the world situation."

Some of the younger students who'll benefit from Alpert's generosity may be surprised to learn that their benefactor is bigger than Taylor Swift - at least according to one ranking: Alpert currently sits at No. 7 on the list of the top Billboard 200 album artists of all time, just ahead of Swift and just behind Mariah Carey. Twenty-five of the albums that put him on that list are being reissued on CD in September, concurrent with the release of a brand-new album, Human Nature, which features a cover of the Michael Jackson hit of that name as its title track.

Read more: UCLA music school named for Alpert
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RTSGXVO

Via Dave Lutz, head of ETFs at JonesTrading, here's a super-quick guide to what traders are talking about right now:

Good morning! US Futures are continuing to retreat as position squaring continues into the central bankers gathering in Jackson Hole. Spoos are off 30bp, following a sea of red in Europe, where the DAX is dropping 1.1% in very whippy trade  Miners (Falling commod prices) and healthcare (Hillary comments) the weakest sectors  while those Fins retreat 1.1%. FTSE is faring better, with a nice rally in Staples helping London lose only 30bp. Volumes are terrible across the continent, with most exchanges 20-30% light to trends. In Asia, Nikkei lost 30bp in quiet trade - Shanghai lost 60bp to 2week lows as property shares and banks struggled on regulatory crackdown fears, while Aussie lost 40bp as commod prices fell, offsetting a rally in staples on the back of grocer #s.

Hawkish Positioning continues into Yellen speech tomorrow, with equities and commodities sliding. The US 10YY is off small, despite the German 10YY making new week peaks despite headers that Germanys Ifo collapsed. The Pound is retreating from three-week highs, While Euro has a bid  keeping the DXY basically unchanged. Not much bounce in metals, as Ore dropped 3% in China  and we see Copper up very small, but Silver and Nickel falling again. $ Down, Gold Down - not a good sign for the bulls in the yellow metal. No real recovery in Oil, with WTI surrendering overnight gains and eyeballing a 100dma test 2% lower as Gasoline drops sharply overnight. Natty continues to outperform, drifting around the flatline this AM.

Ahead of us today, we get Weekly Jobless Claims and Durable Goods Orders at 8:30  followed by Markit US Services PMI at 9:45. Natty Gas Inventory data at 10:30  then we get Kansas City Fed Manf. Activity at 11. The US Treasury is auctioning off $28B in 7Y notes at 1pm.

NOW WATCH: Here's what Rio's 'uninhabitable' Olympic Village looks like





More From Business Insider


F-22 raptor thermal image

The US has spent decades, and hundreds of billions of dollars, on developing "fifth-generation" low-observable aircraft, such as the F-22 and F-35, but recently a couple of thermal images have cast doubt on whether or not these planes are actually as invisible as they claim to be.

At the Royal International Air Tattoo airshow in England last month, a EC-135 Eurocopter took a detailed thermal image of an F-22, which looked like a big, juicy, $150 million target.

F-35 thermal VTOL

In mid August, a Star SAFIRE 380-HDc imaging system developed by FLIR showed the $100 million F-35B as plain as day. Both of these planes have done a great job of limiting their visibility to traditional radars, but these images show that thermal imaging can be a real threat.

According to Justin Bronk, a Research Fellow specializing in combat airpower at the Royal United Services Institute, infrared search and track (IRST) systems have proliferated to modern air forces the world over.

Su 27UB IRST pod thermal imaging russian jet

"IRST looks for temperature differences using liquid hydrogen or nitrogen to cool the sensor to extremely low temperatures which provides a contrast to the outside. Then it relies on the fact that the air is very cold (at altitude) and any fighter airframe moving through the air at several hundred knots, or particularly supersonic, heats up a lot so temperature difference is huge," Bronk told Business Insider.

Furthermore, the last decade or so has brought phenomenal improvements in computing power in algorithms, meaning that IRST systems can now filter out false positives and do an excellent job of passively scanning the skies for large, hot, and fast moving targets.

In particular, the Eurofighter Typhoon's IRST abilities are uncanny. The Typhoon can spot "astonishingly small points of heat at long distance," according to Bronk, who joked that it could see a "campfire on the moon."

Story continues

"In theory, state of the art IRST could find and track F-22 at quite long range," said Bronk, who went on to explain that stealth planes are generally bigger requiring larger wings to create more lift.

Even worse, the radar-absorbing materials these planes are coated in "heat up quickly" leading to a "good infrared return even if the jet exhaust is shrouded"

f-22 f22 raptor inherent resolve arabian sea

But aerial combat does not take place in theory.

The fact is, even with some of the best IRST in the world, there is no way a Typhoon would know where to find the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

"You still have to know where to look," said Bronk, which would be "almost impossible."

First off, there is an "enormous amounts of clutter and all sorts of Air Force missile threats in any contested environment."

Secondly, IRST is hugely affected by weather. Humid parts of the world are inhospitable, and the thermal imaging works better at night when the skies are cooler.

But even on a good day, looking for fifth-generation aircraft in the open skies with IRST is like "looking through a drinking straw," said Bronk.

"The [IRST] field of regard is quite small... and it's much much harder to perform a wide sector scan in a way that a radar can," said Bronk.

eurofighter

Meanwhile, stealth is only one strength of fifth generation aircraft. The situational awareness of an F-35 or F-22 represents another, arguably more important, asset.

"Stealth makes it difficult to find the plane, but mainly grants freedom of movement," said Bronk.

Using that freedom, the fifth generation planes can chose to "avoid them, engage them, or position themselves in a engagement on their terms."

So while the legacy aircraft of other nations can scan the skies through a drinking straw, the US fifth-gens can sense a drop of blood miles out like a shark.

NOW WATCH: The F-35 has hit another snag  this time because its too stealthy





More From Business Insider


hillary clinton

Hillary Clinton warned Thursday that Donald Trump's ascendancy to the Republican presidential nomination represents the victory of a "fringe element" of dangerous nationalists over mainstream Republican leaders.

In a speech from Nevada that her campaign touted heavily throughout the week, the Democratic presidential nominee singled out the "alt right," a faction of conservative voters vocally in favor of racially tinged nationalist policies.

"Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia. Hes taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party. His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous," Clinton said in the speech.

She continued: "A man with a long history of racial discrimination, who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of supermarket tabloids and the far, dark reaches of the internet, should never run our government or command our military."

The former secretary of state noted Trump's compliments of noted conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and laid into Trump's recent appointment of the former head of the website Breitbart, Steve Bannon, as his campaign CEO. And while Trump has denounced some white supremacists' support for his candidacy, Clinton argued that former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke's vocal support for Trump should be a warning sign about the Republican presidential nominee's nationalist rhetoric.

"Theres always been a paranoid fringe in our politics, steeped in racial resentment. But its never had the nominee of a major party stoking it, encouraging it, and giving it a national megaphone. Until now," Clinton said.

She added: "On David Dukes radio show the other day, the mood was jubilant. 'We appear to have taken over the Republican Party,' one white supremacist said. Duke laughed. 'Theres still more work to do,' he replied."

Story continues

For his part, Trump has brushed off Clinton's comments, attempting to counter by aggressively pitching his candidacy to minority voters by emphasizing his strong support for law enforcement.

In a speech in New Hampshire on Thursday, the Republican presidential nominee defended his harsh immigration rhetoric and his plan to ban Muslims from entering the US, asserting that Clinton "bullies voters" by painting "decent Americans as racists."

"People who want their laws enforced and respected and who want their border secured are not racists. They are patriotic Americans of all backgrounds who want their jobs protected and their country kept safe," Trump said.

He added: "People who speak out against radical Islam and who warn about refugees are not Islamophobes. They are decent American citizens who want to uphold our values as a tolerant society, and who want to keep the terrorists out of our country."

Though Trump's campaign claims it does not embrace alt-right ideas, it's clear that Trump's rhetoric has been positively received by many members of the alt right. Many far-right conservative voters have lauded Trump's questions about President Barack Obama's citizenship, as well as his social-media team's sharing of memes for alt-right users.

NOW WATCH: Clinton just released a brutal ad linking Trump to white supremacists





More From Business Insider


Hillary Clinton

In her first live television interview in nearly a month, Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night denied allegations that she gave Clinton Foundation donors special access when she was secretary of state.

Speaking with Anderson Cooper on CNN, the Democratic presidential nominee said her family's charity had done lifesaving work and had released donor information in an effort to be more transparent.

"In 2009, they took steps that went above and beyond all legal requirements," Clinton said, "and indeed all standard requirements followed by every other charitable organization  voluntarily disclosing donors, significantly reducing sources of funding."

Based on this information the foundation released, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has accused the Clintons of giving donors preferential treatment, and he called for a special prosecutor to investigate the organization.

The Associated Press found that over half of private interests who met with Clinton at the State Department made donations.

Clinton called the AP report "a lot of smoke and ... no fire," since donors on the list included global leaders like Elie Wiesel and Melinda Gates  people she said she would have met with anyway as secretary of state.

She then compared the foundation's disclosure with Trump's lack thereof:

"You know more about the Foundation than you know about anything concerning Donald Trump's wealth, his business, his tax returns. I think it's quite remarkable. His refusal to release his tax returns is even more concerning given the recent news that his businesses are hundreds of millions of dollars in debt to big banks, including the state-owned bank of China and business groups with ties to the Kremlin."

Clinton: "You know more about the Foundation than you know about anything concerning Donald Trump's wealth..." https://t.co/b2UDSbxp3A  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 25, 2016

While Clinton has released her tax returns and called on Trump to do the same, he has refused, citing an ongoing IRS audit.

Story continues

"There's nothing to learn from them," Trump told George Stephanopoulos in May, adding that he didn't think voters were interested. When the ABC host asked about his tax rate, Trump replied: "It's none of your business."

NOW WATCH: REPORT: At least 85 Clinton Foundation donors met with Hillary while she was Secretary of State





More From Business Insider


Hillary Clinton on Thursday laid out a comprehensive critique of Donald Trumps worldview as full of racially tinged conspiracy theories outside of mainstream Republicanism. The speech is part of a sustained effort by the Clinton campaign to delegitimize Trump as unfit for the presidency in the eyes of mainstream voters.

Clintons speech in Reno, Nev., came about a week after Trump shook up his campaign team and started making direct pitches to black and Latino voters.

The Democratic nominee told her supporters that Trump has peddled a constant stream of bigotry during his campaign. She said Trump is not a mainstream conservative, but rather part of a fringe element called the alt-right.

He has continued pushing discredited conspiracy theories with racist undertones, Clinton said, mentioning Trumps innuendos about her health, his insistence that President Obama was not born in the United States, and his association with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Among other things, Jones has said the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax.

Clinton warned voters not to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, detailing, one by one, the provocative comments he has made since he began running for president  from questioning the fitness of a federal judge due to his Mexican ancestry to retweeting the views of a white supremacist.

Trump took this fringe bigot with a few dozen followers and spread his message to 11 million people, she said.

Trump began directly appealing to African-American voters last week, and recently said he is open to shifting his stance on deporting all undocumented immigrants in the country. Trump has asked minority voters what they have to lose in voting for him, arguing that Democrats have not improved their economic standing or crime in their neighborhoods. (Clinton called Trumps outreach comments insulting and ignorant.) The real estate tycoon, who is trailing Clinton in most polls of battleground states, brought on Breitbart News chair Stephen Bannon and pollster Kellyanne Conway to run his ailing campaign two weeks ago.

Story continues

Clinton warned voters not to be fooled by the change in personnel. He may have some new people putting new words in his mouth, but we know where he stands, Clinton said.

She also directly attacked Bannon, Trumps new campaign chair, by reading headlines out loud from Breitbart. Clintons quotes created a fairly surreal moment in this unusual campaign.

To give you a flavor of his work, here are a few headlines theyve published, Clinton said, adding she wasnt making them up. Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy. Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer? Gabby Giffords: The Gun Control Movements Human Shield. Hoist It High and Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims a Glorious Heritage.

Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign stop in Reno, Nev.. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Clinton contrasted Trumps rhetoric with that of Republicans in the past, saying that Trumps brand of conservatism is part of a rising tide of hardline, right-wing nationalism that does not represent the mainstream GOP.

Twenty years ago, when Bob Dole accepted the Republican nomination, he pointed to the exits and told any racists in the party to get out, she said, also mentioning George W. Bushs embrace of Muslim Americans and Sen. John McCains defense of Obama from birther conspiracy theories.

She then made an appeal to Republicans who are alienated by Trump to back her instead.

Every day, more Americans are standing up and saying Enough is enough, including a lot of Republicans, Clinton said. Im honored to have their support.

Before Clinton began speaking, Trump told a crowd in Manchester, N.H., that her attempt to tie him to extreme elements in the party is one of the most brazen attempts at distraction in the history of politics.

Repeatedly accusing Clinton of desperation, the celebrity businessman strongly denied he was a racist, casting it not just a smear against his campaign but the decent Americans supporting his unlikely bid for the presidency. He called it the oldest play in the Democratic playbook.

Youre racist! Youre racist! Youre racist! Trump said of Clintons expected attacks, breaking from his prepared remarks.

After Clintons speech, Trump panned it on Twitter as short and inaccurate.

Just watched recap of #CrookedHillary's speech. Very short and lies. She is the only one fear-mongering!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2016

Hillary Clinton's short speech is pandering to the worst instincts in our society. She should be ashamed of herself!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2016

Holly Bailey contributed to this report.
By PTI: scholar

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) A day after JNU student Anmol Rattan surrendered before police after a fellow PhD scholar accused him of raping her, the varsity students and teachers today demanded that be suspended from the university.

The students and teachers demanded that the university should be declared out of bounds for the scholar to ensure safety of the complainant.

advertisement

"We are extremely dismayed to know that three days after the complaint has been lodged, the accused is yet to be suspended or declared out of bounds from the university, so that safe conditions of complaint and testimony for the complainant may be maintained.

"We demand that this be done forthwith. This failure to act has tarnished the image of the JNU administration quite severely," the varsity teachers said in a joint statement.

A 28-year-old girl had approached Delhi Police earlier this week alleging that Ratan, an activist of the left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) had raped her in a hostel room on the university campus.

The woman, a PhD student, alleged that Ratan, offered her a copy of a movie that she was looking for, took her to his hostel room and offered her a spiked drink.

She told police that he raped her when she was unconscious. He also threatened her and asked her not to report the matter.

Taking strong note of the incident, AISA had expelled Anmol from the party which ended his primary membership.

The accused, who was absconding since August 20, surrendered before the police yesterday.

Scores of students of the varsity today staged a protest outside Delhi Police Headquarters demanding that the force refrains from revealing information which could reveal identity of the victim. PTI GJS RG

--- ENDS ---
How much would one pay for control of a mighty nation? Unfortunately, that questions has become depressingly relevant in this election cycle  and it has nothing to do with campaign finance issues.

In the classic film The Fall of the Roman Empire, filmmakers depicted the inflection point of the decline after the death of Marcus Aurelius, the last of the good emperors. In the fictional account, Livius fights Commodus to the death in an attempt to rescue the empire from its corruption. By the time he does, though, he realizes theres nothing left to save. As he walks away from power, others begin openly bidding to seize the mantle. One million denarii for the throne of Rome! yells one, followed by two million denarii! from another, and so on.

This was the beginning of the fall of the Roman Empire, the narrator intones gravely as the camera pulls out to a wide shot. A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.

Related: As Millions Flowed to Bill Clinton and the Foundation, Favors Were Granted

Well, now we know the feeling. And thanks to a new batch of e-mails released by the State Department from Hillary Clintons tenure as Secretary of State, we have a good idea of the bidding, too. The odds of it affecting the outcome of this election, however, might be too small to calculate.

An Associated Press review of State Department and Clinton Foundation records produced what the Clinton campaign insists was nothing more than a coincidence. More than half of Secretary Clintons official State Department meetings or conversations, outside of government officials, turned out to be Clinton Foundation donors.

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, Stephen Braun and Eileen Sullivan reported. Combined, the eighty-five donors provided $156 million to the group, forty of whom gave $100,000 or more. Those contacts do not include another 16 representatives of foreign governments who donated $170 million more, they note, because such meetings would presumably have been part of her diplomatic duties.

Related: Is the Clinton Foundation Hillarys Achilles Heel?

Story continues

Accepting those donations, however, violated a Memorandum of Understanding demanded by Barack Obama before appointing Clinton to run the nations foreign affairs. Both the Clintons and the foundation pledged total transparency and solid firewalls in operations of both entities. How did that work out? The Associated Press had to sue to get the calendars from which this analysis was derived.

The release of e-mails, also long blocked by Hillary Clinton and State, show just how lucrative donor status could be. When the Crown Prince of Bahrain wanted a meeting with Secretary Clinton, her office initially put him off, The Wall Street Journal reports. An e-mail exchange from foundation executive Doug Band on behalf of the $32 million donor to Huma Abedin straightened that out. Two days later, a meeting with Crown Prince Salman was on the calendar.

That paid off for Bahrain, a country high on the list of Human Rights Watch for the torture and mistreatment of detainees, in more concrete terms, too. David Sirota reported in 2015 about the curious increases in arms sales that took place with governments that contributed to the Clinton Foundation during Hillary Clintons tenure. Between 2010 and 2012, arms sales to Bahrain increased by 187 percent over a similar period from 2006-8 during the Bush administration, including a $70,000 purchase of toxicological agents. Bahrain at the time was suppressing an Arab Spring uprising of the kind that the Obama administration was encouraging in other places, even in nominally allied Yemen.

Related: Report Prompts Pence to Call for Probe of Clinton Pay-to-Play' Practices

Consider also the curious case of Victor Pinchuk, a Ukrainian steel magnate who donated over $8 million to the Clinton Foundation and had committed to giving as much as $20 million more to its initiatives. The Washington Posts Tom Hamburger reported last October that Pinchuk had used his Clinton Foundation connections to get a meeting with a top Clinton aide at State, but thats hardly all his $8 million bought. While Secretary of State, Clinton hosted a dinner for her foundations donors, including Pinchuk, who had hired longtime Clintonista Douglas Schoen to lobby the State Department on behalf of the Yanukovich government  the pro-Russian regime that Ukrainians sacked in late 2013, a change that was supported by the Obama administration.

But wait, as television pitchmen say  theres more! At the same time as Pinchuk was lobbying State and getting invited to close access dinner events through his Clinton Foundation connections, he had connections of a very different kind through his businesses. Newsweek reported in April 2015 that Pinchuk had been selling oil pipeline and railroad equipment to Iran in 2011 and 2012, in apparent violation of the tight sanctions placed on Tehran over their nuclear-weapons development.

Fred Fleitz, former chief of staff to John Bolton when the latter was Undersecretary of State for Arms Control in the Bush Administration, wrote last year that the lack of action by the State Department was stunning. Congress needs to determine why sanctions were not imposed in this case, Fleitz wrote, and whether pressure was put on lower level State Department officials to overlook this violation. Even if no overt pressure was put on underlings, how many of them would have felt comfortable with pressing a case against a figure that Hillary Clinton invited to dinner?

Related: House Republicans Press Their Case for a Perjury Charge Against Hillary Clinton

Expect more revelations to flow out of the e-mails and Clinton Foundation records. Just dont expect it to make much of a difference. Questions have been raised about connections between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department for years. Hillary Clintons attempt to circumvent legitimate Congressional and judicial oversight of State Department operations by hiding communications in an unauthorized and non-secure e-mail system is a brazen corruption of constitutional authority, and yet it hardly put a dent in her race to the nomination.

We have moved beyond character and morals in American society to an entirely transactional kind of politics. Not only do people no longer value character and integrity, but we have also become almost hostile to the proposition that they matter at all. If those values still mattered to American voters, we would not have the two least-favorable candidates in either party as nominees for the presidency.

The Romans who begin bidding for the throne at the end of The Fall of the Roman Empire would recognize this new cultural environment. When character and integrity no longer matter, Mike Roykos suggested motto for Chicago of ubi est mea is the only standard that applies: Wheres mine?

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Hindu devotees mark Krishna Janmashtami festival A devotee breaks a clay pot containing curd as others form a human pyramid during celebrations to mark the Hindu festival of Janmashtami in Mumbai, India Aug. 25, 2016. (Photo: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

Indian Hindu devotees across the world celebrated the Krishna Janmashtami festival, which marks the birth of Hindu deity Lord Krishna.

Also known as Saatam Aatham, Gokulashami or simply Janmashtami, the festival is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna Pasha of the month of Shravana, which, in the Hindu calendar, runs from August until September.

Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, worshipping Lord Krishna and offering prayers at the time he is believed to have been born.

However, restrictions were put in place this year for one of the festivals main traditions, Dahi Handi, a popular ritual in which people climb on top of each other to form a human pyramid. The aim is to break a pot full of curd that is hanging on a rope high above the ground. (AP)

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
more hitler in paris y'all

"That was the greatest and finest moment of my life," one of the world's most brutal tyrants reportedly said after touring the newly Nazi-occupied French capital.

The day after Germany signed an armistice with France, Hitler and his cronies toured the Dome des Invalides, which holds Napoleon's tomb; the Paris opera house; the Champs-Elysees; the Arc de Triomphe; Sacre-Coeur; and the Eiffel Tower on June 23, 1940.

Hitler spent just three hours in the "City of Light," but his forces occupied northern France for four years until the Allied forces liberated Paris on August 25, 1944, 72 years ago on Thursday.

"The Germans were driven from many strategic parts of the city by the combined onslaught of the French military and the fury of citizens fighting for their liberties," the Associated Press reports.

During Hitler's brief tour, he instructed friend and architect Albert Speer to take note of the city's design to recreate similar yet superior German buildings.

"Wasn't Paris beautiful?" Hitler reportedly asked Speer.

"But Berlin must be far more beautiful. When we are finished in Berlin, Paris will only be a shadow."

While sightseeing, Hitler also ordered the destruction of two French World War I monuments that reminded him of Germany's bitter defeat.

Hitler in Paris

NOW WATCH: Startling facts about World War II





More From Business Insider


By Venus Wu HONG KONG (Reuters) - Activists who have advocated independence for Hong Kong say they have been harassed or followed by pro-China local newspapers in recent months, while Beijing has stepped up its rhetoric against what it calls the "dangerous absurdity" of independence. Beijing's refusal to grant full democracy to Hong Kong, which mostly runs its own affairs under a one-country, two-systems arrangement since the former British colony returned to China in 1997, prompted three months of street protests in 2014 and growing calls for independence for the city. In a July poll by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 17 percent of the roughly 1,000 respondents said they supported independence, but Chinese state media call such views "poisonous". Six candidates in next month's legislative elections have been excluded from the ballot by Hong Kong's Electoral Affairs Commission for pro-independence opinions, which it says are incompatible with the city's governance laws. One of the six, Edward Leung, spokesman for Hong Kong Indigenous, a localist party set up in 2015, and his colleague Ray Wong say they were tailed for a month this summer by men claiming to be from a newspaper with Beijing links. And this month Leung was filmed in a scuffle with a reporter from a local pro-China paper, Ta Kung Pao, which published front-page pictures of the tussle along with a story claiming to have exposed his hidden wealth. Leung, who suffered grazes on his face and neck from the incident, said the reporter and another man approached him earlier that evening with details on his private life while trying to film his reaction. The scuffle occurred later when Leung confronted the reporter, who also turned up at the underground station nearest to the apartment the article said was his home. TKP's article said Leung had started the fight, and its reporter, surnamed Lo, had sustained similar injuries. 'GRANDPA' WATCHING Leung said the man accompanying Lo that evening had also been one of two men who had followed him and Wong in a black car for a month. In a video filmed on Aug. 7 by Leung and posted online by him, Wong confronts the men in the car and asks where they are from. The driver is heard to say: "You know where I'm from. It's 'grandpa'," using a popular term to describe China's government. The driver added that he was from a newspaper, but didn't identify the title. "The Chinese Communist Party is making use of Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao, their minion, to gather intelligence on us," Wong told Reuters. Ta Kung Pao did not respond to requests for comment. China's State Council Information Office and the mainland's representative in Hong Kong, the Liaison Office, did not return requests for comment. Three employees at Ta Kung Pao, which they said had an editorial staff of about 100, told Reuters they didn't recognize Lo or the other two men. "We think it's very strange. They're not our reporters," said one, who declined to be named. Wong said his family had also been approached earlier this year by three men claiming to work for a Chinese government entity that he declined to name. "They told my family, 'Be careful, your son may end up like Lee Bo,'" Wong said, referring to a bookseller who went missing in Hong Kong in late December and showed up months later under police custody in mainland China. A third activist, Andy Chan Ho-tin, who founded the Hong Kong National Party to promote Hong Kong independence, said he must also have been followed in April by reporters at another pro-Beijing newspaper, Wen Wei Po. He was not aware of it until the paper printed an article and pictures alleging Chan's links to another activist charged with arson. The article said it had continuously staked Chan out at the party's office and various university campus forums. Wen Wei Po declined to comment. Professor Sonny Lo, co-director of the Education University of Hong Kong's Centre for Greater China Studies and the Centre for Governance and Citizenship, said traditional leftist newspapers had undergone a "strategic transformation" in recent years, adding investigative teams partly to intimidate and gather intelligence on perceived threats in the protest movements. "We're seeing a far more sophisticated and coordinated strategy at work now from these newspapers in isolating and attacking targets," said Lo, who has researched China's underground influence in Hong Kong. (Additional reporting by Greg Torode, Tris Pan and Hera Poon; Editing by James Pomfret and Will Waterman)
* Li & Fung H1 revenue down 6.4 pct to $8.07 bln

* Analysts concerned that profitability threatened (Adds context)

By Donny Kwok

HONG KONG, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Global exporter Li & Fung Ltd's first-half net profit halved as price deflation and competition affected its main U.S. market, while the weak Chinese currency continued to hit its trading business.

The Hong Kong-based company, which grew to prominence by making clothing and toys for Western retailers, said on Thursday its net profit for January-June plunged 51 percent to $72 million from $149 million a year earlier, its lowest half-yearly profit since 2004.

The exporter, which supplies to firms such as Kohl's Corp and Wal-Mart Stores Inc, said core operating profit fell 14 percent to $156 million from $182 million. Revenue shrank to $8.07 billion from $8.63 billion a year ago.

Li & Fung has refocused on its core asset-light supply-chain business following the sale of its loss-making brand-licensing and distribution business in 2014, helping it to boost cash flow and control operating costs.

In May, the company said it was selling its Asia consumer and healthcare distribution business to motor vehicle distributor Dah Chong Hong Holdings for $350 million in cash.

Analysts have expressed concern that management might have limited capacity to sustain profitability by further cost cutting if prices deflated materially in 2016.

The $4.3 billion company by market valuation had said in March that it expected deflationary pressure to worsen this year and expected to see a declining order book volume.

Daiwa Capital earlier this month downgraded Li & Fung to a "hold" from "outperform" on concern that its European business will be challenged by Britain's vote to leave the European Union, and increasing terrorist attacks.

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Additional reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Hong Kong (AFP) - Hong Kong authorities reported the city's first Zika virus infection Thursday, which they described as an imported case of the disease blamed for birth defects.

The Zika-infected patient was said to be a 38-year-old female who had travelled to a Caribbean island, before complaining of pain in the joints and red eyes.

"Initial investigations show that the patient had travelled to the island of St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean Sea from August 6th to the 20th...she remembered that she was bitten by a mosquito," Leung Ting-hung, head of the Centre for Health Protection, told reporters late Thursday.

The woman underwent a blood and urine test at an outpatient clinic at a private hospital on August 23, Leung said, describing her as a "foreigner" who lived in the rural district of Tseung Kwan O and worked in the financial district of Central.

Test results revealed she had Zika virus Thursday.

Leung said she is now being treated under quarantine in hospital and is in a stable condition.

"We will carry out relevant preventive and control measures to prevent further spread of the disease, as this is essentially a mosquito-borne disease, so the most important thing is to control the mosquito population in Hong Kong," Leung said.

Until now, global health authorities have been primarily concerned with the danger Zika poses to pregnant women and their foetuses.

Zika causes only mild symptoms for most people. But in pregnant women, it can cause microcephaly, a deformation in which babies are born with abnormally small brains and heads.

The virus has also been linked to a disorder known as Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can lead to nervous system problems such as weakness and paralysis.

However, new research earlier this month using lab mice showed for the first time that Zika may damage adult brain cells involved in learning and memory.

The outbreak of the virus began in Brazil in early 2015 and has spread to neighbouring countries.

Story continues

In southern United States, the state of Florida has reported a total of 524 Zika cases, most of them brought in by people who were infected while travelling to Latin America.

Thirty-six cases were locally transmitted, according to the state department of health.

Hong Kong is particularly alert to the spread of viruses after an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) swept through the city in 2003, killing 299 people and infecting around 1,800.

Bird flu scares in the past two years have seen mass culls of up 20,000 birds in Hong Kong.
Berlin (AFP) - Human Rights Watch on Thursday urged Chancellor Angela Merkel to bring up major rights violations, including a "policy of disappearances", when Germany hosts the president of Turkmenistan next week.

The monitoring group said the rare visit to Germany by Turkmenistan's reclusive president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on Monday should be used to tackle the plight of activists.

"Chancellor Angela Merkel should not waste this opportunity to directly and insistently call for oppression in Turkmenistan to be ended," said HRW's director for Europe and Central Asia, Hugh Williamson.

Dozens of people were arrested in the late 1990s and early 2000s and vanished in the country's prison system, and their families received no official word on their whereabouts or wellbeing, he said.

HRW highlighted the disappearances of opposition leader Boris Shikhmuradov, his brother Konstantin and former OSCE ambassador Batyr Berdiev as key cases to address.

It also referred to local reporter Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, who has been incarcerated for almost a year on narcotics charges.

"Chancellor Merkel should press Berdymukhamedov for Nepeskuliev's release," Williamson said.

"He is sitting in prison for doing what correspondents around the world do: he shares information about what is happening in his country."

Germany should urge Turkmenistan to submit a new draft constitution that would include no term limits for the president, allow censorship and offer no protection of the freedom of movement of its citizens to international review, HRW said.

Williamson noted that Turkmenistan had already imposed a travel ban on many dissidents, a policy he said should make Merkel particularly wary given that she grew up in communist East Germany which had similar restrictions.

Rights groups regularly list ex-Soviet Turkmenistan, which has the world's fourth largest known reserves of natural gas, as one of the least free states.
Sydney (AFP) - Australian supermarket giant Woolworths on Thursday reported a large annual net loss of Aus$1.23 billion (US$940 million), its first since listing more than two decades ago, following a failed push into hardware and a slump in food sales.

Woolworths, Australia's largest retailer and one of the two dominant supermarket chains in the country, recorded the sharp plunge for the year to June 26 -- the first loss since 1993, compared to a net profit of Aus$2.15 billion in the prior period.

The company said Wednesday it was exiting the disastrous Masters home improvement business seven years after entering the hardware market, selling it for Aus$1.5 billion.

"Unequivocally it's been a challenging year for the group -- in this case the numbers speak for themselves," The Australian Financial Review quoted Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci as saying.

"But you need to look through the numbers to see where we are -- we are making progress but there's still a lot to do."

Australian food and petrol sales sank 40.8 percent to Aus$1.76 billion for the period, while its discount department store chain Big W lost Aus$14.9 million after last year's profit of Aus$111.7 million.

The weak results also demonstrated the fierce competition that the company, which is unrelated to South African department store Woolworths Holdings, has faced from rival Coles and German retailer Aldi.

"It's the combination of a number of years of neglect -- Woolworths is a really stellar example of corporate mismanagement," IG Markets' analyst Angus Nicholson told AFP.

"They were clearly losing out on a lot of sales over the years as consumers increasingly realised that they were getting much better price opportunities over at Coles... and it took a while for Woolworths to really start turning around and focusing back on price."

Investor optimism that Woolworths has seen the worst with these results were reflected in the company's share price, which was trading 5.0 percent higher to Aus$25.43 in Sydney on Thursday.

The embattled retailer, which shed its chairman and chief executive and announced thousands of job cuts last year, announced a final dividend of 33 Aus cents a share, compared to 72 cents last year.
HAJDUKOVO, Serbia (Reuters) - Hungary is offering to send police to Serbia's border with Macedonia and Bulgaria to help its neighbor stem the flows of migrants crossing illegally into Western Europe, Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said on Thursday. Last year, hundreds of thousands of migrants took the Balkan route that includes Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. Balkan countries closed their borders in March, but thousands of migrants still resort to perilous illegal crossings or pay people smugglers. For the majority of them, Hungary is a key entry point into the EU's border-free Schengen zone. "Hungary proposed to help Serbia to guard its (southern) borders ... with police and legal help, Pinter said after meeting his Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Stefanovic in Serbias border town of Hajdukovo. He spoke through an interpreter. Stefanovic said the two Interior Ministries were ready to assess where additional police would be most needed when the migration routes switch back to the land from the sea as the weather worsens. There are some 4,000 refugees in Serbia, most of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. To stem the flow, Serbia last month formed joint military-police border patrols. Since the beginning of the year more than 103,000 migrants have passed through Serbia, an EU membership candidate. Its authorities prevented 5,000 illegal border crossings and charged 356 people with the smuggling of around 2,000 people. Separately, Serbias Interior Ministry said on Thursday it detained 34 migrants found in a house in a Belgrade suburb. A day earlier, a 20-year-old Afghan migrant was shot dead near Serbia's border with Bulgaria. A hunter was detained in connection with the shooting. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Alison Williams)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Iconic Minerals Ltd. (ICM.V) (OTC Pink: BVTEF) (YQGB.F) (the "Company" or "Iconic") is pleased to announce that it has penetrated a higher conductivity zone believed to be the brine horizon in phase 1 drilling at the Company's Bonnie Claire Lithium Project in Nevada, U.S.A. Drill hole BC 1601 has been completed to a depth of 1560 feet (475 m) and shows a substantial rise in conductivity beginning at 650 feet (198 m) in a sandy unit and continuing to a peak at 1,000 feet (328 m). A map showing the drill hole location (shown as DH1, the northernmost hole) can be found on the Company's website.

The upper 600 feet (180 m) of the first drill hole is dominated by clay with only occasional sand and gravel beds. Below 650 feet (198 m) there is a significant increase in both the number of permeable beds and conductivity. Both drill cuttings, and water/brine samples were taken while drilling. These samples contain drilling mud and injected water and are being tested for the purpose of determining the presence of lithium within the water/brine. Currently, perforated PVC casing is being inserted into the drill hole, where it will be cleared of all drilling mud, and a detailed uncontaminated brine sampling of all potential brine zones will be performed.

All of the sampling will be completed under the direction of an independent hydrogeologist, who will also be responsible for the security of the samples until they reach the geochem lab. Sample standards will be included with all brine samples submitted.

Richard Kern, Certified Professional Geologist (#11494) and CEO of Iconic is the Qualified Person who has prepared and reviewed this press release in accordance with NI 43-101 reporting standards.

Iconic Mineral's Bonnie Claire Lithium Property:

The Property is located within a valley that is approximately 30 km (19 miles) long and 20 km (12 miles) wide, the associated drainage basin covers an area of 2,070 square km (800 sq mi). Quartz-rich volcanic rocks, that contain anomalous amounts of lithium, occur within and adjacent to the drainage basin. Geochemical analysis of the local salt flats has yielded lithium values up to 340 ppm. The gravity low within the valley is 20 km (12 miles) long, the current estimates of the depth to bedrock range from 600 to 900 meters (2,000 to 3,000 feet). The current claim block covers the gravity low and the associated mud flats.

Story continues

On behalf of the Board of Directors

SIGNED: "Richard Kern"

Keturah Nathe, Corporate Development

Contact: (604) 718-2800 ext 312

For further information on ICM, please visit our website at www.iconicmineralsltd.com. The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com

Forward Statement: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Iconic 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 except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

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.

SOURCE: Iconic Minerals Ltd.
(Reuters) - A U.S. judge ruled on Thursday that a Chicago-area man was mentally incompetent to stand trial on charges he tried to set off what he thought was a car bomb outside a bar.

The suspect, Adel Daoud of Hillside, Illinois, sincerely believes that his lawyers are Freemasons, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said.

Daoud, 22, also believes the judicial system "is controlled by the Illuminati, a secret ruling class, who he repeatedly describes as reptiles in disguise," she said.

"The government has not shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is competent to stand trial," Coleman wrote in her decision.

A lawyer for Daoud could not be reached for immediate comment.

Federal agents arrested Daoud in 2012 in a sting operation after he placed what he thought was a bomb in a Jeep outside a downtown Chicago bar. The explosives were inert and supplied by undercover officers.

Since the suicide of his cellmate in January, Daoud has believed that the U.S. government is likely to execute him regardless of the outcome of a trial, Coleman said. Daoud also faces charges of assaulting a fellow inmate.

She ordered him to undergo psychiatric treatment that may result in him being found fit to stand trial as scheduled in February.

Daoud was a friend of Abdella Ahmed Tounisi, of Aurora, Illinois, who pleaded guilty in August 2015 to a charge that he traveled overseas to join an al Qaeda-linked group in Syria.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Tom Brown)
Betsy Davis, the Queen of Plastics, was an artist whose work inspired me before I ever met her. I saw one of her meticulously geometric, florid laser cut plastic sculptures on a friends wall. It stopped me in my tracks.



When I finally met Betsy at a party, I was struck by her beauty and cool demeanor. I never thought Id be worthy of being her actual friend. But we forged a bond in the 12 years leading up to her death last month.



For many people in my life, if they were going through something like dying of ALS, I would keep quiet out of respect for them. But for Betsy, Im sharing her story out of respect for her. She did not ask to go quietly; she asked to go loudly and proudly, in a weekend celebration surrounded by beloved friends and family.



After Betsy died, her sister asked we honor her by doing something unexpected: Make art. Make meaning. Talk to a stranger. Break a rule. And so I share her Rebirth Ceremony with you.







Ive never known exactly when someone was going to die. Until a recent Sunday, as I struggled to put on my friend, Betsys, red Donna Karan wrap dress. Im definitely doing it wrong. I can tell because Betsy groans with frustration. Shes unable to talk because shes in the final stages of ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that slowly deprives one of the power to move, speak, eat and breathe. She tries to explain this fabulous, complex frock by nodding out the letters of the alphabet, literally spelling it out for me. I guess, in a game of involuntary charades.



AB.



B! Bow? You want me to tie a bow right here?



No.



A B.



Backwards? Oh. Its on backwards.



After ten minutes of trial and error, I get her approval. Im ready for the Rebirth Ceremony. In two hours, she will die, exactly as planned. Let me explain.





On June 9, 2016, the End of Life Options Act, a law that permits terminally ill adults to take an aid-in-dying medication, went into effect in California. Three weeks later I got an email from Betsy, an artist at the end of a 3 year battle with ALS. The subject line read, Planet Earth. She was preparing her departure, yet another great adventure. Shed met with doctors, filed paperwork, and this was the window where she could self- administer the drug. It would be July 24. Sunset.



Her phrasing made it sound as if Id been invited to a swinging shindig. A number of thoughts flew through my mind, Im not worthy, chief among them. But if your name makes that list, there is only one answer. I RSVP'ed as if it were Sunday brunch. Im in!



We soon received rules of conduct, subject line, The Party. 1. no crying in front of Betsy, 2. only joyful and light interactions, and 3. Betsy may cry in front of us. There was a schedule, much like a wedding itinerary, which included happy hour cocktails leading up to a Sunday Rebirth Ceremony. There was even a rehearsal dinner (well, pizza and a Jodorosky movie) the night before. I locked in for a mind-bending weekend in Ojai.



A cursory Internet search into whether this was the first assisted suicide in California did not give me the answer I was looking for  but it certainly gave many vehement arguments against I was about to do. It hadnt occurred to me that it could be wrong, because this was clearly what she wanted.





Story continues

I knew what it was like to watch someone slowly and painfully expire. When my father-in-law died of cancer, we clung to his precious last moments of consciousness, fearful the palliative drugs would take him away too soon. In retrospect, his suffering could have been avoided if hed taken the drugs sooner.



But now I was reading this was a slippery slope. Poor people may be socially pressured into death, to spare their family resources. Insurance companies might withhold treatment from someone with low odds of survival because its cheaper to simply let them go. I already had nerves, but now they were amplified. According to one blog, I should protest what she was attempting, in order to give her strength to live on. Maybe if her friends refused to let her die, she would write a book, become the next Stephen Hawking? Were we making a huge mistake?



My friends and I rented a house in Ojai, close to Betsys, for the weekend. We understood our job was to have as much fun as possible, so she experienced authentic joy in her final hours. All jokes must be actually funny. All laughter, legit. We would not eff this up. Our combined anxiety vibrated as we numbly ate breakfast before heading to Betsys house for the Rebirth Ceremony.



Then, as we ate, a quiet man named Mat who Id known for years but never really talked to, spoke up. He told us, shy at first, that his dad died of ALS when he was 16. Of course, there was no End of Life Option Act then. The natural way to go from ALS is suffocation or choking. Mats father did not want either. One day, Mats father said goodbye to his kids. They told him they loved him and werenat allowed to see him again. He stopped eating. The most painless and swiftest way to go took 6 days.



Mat was grateful Betsy could depart painlessly and surrounded by loved ones. He asked if it was hard to plan her death, she responded, Dying is easy. Try living in this body. Thats hard. After that I didnt look back.



Betsys ALS diagnosis was the least interesting thing about her: a brilliant, motorcycle driving, world-traveling pioneer of laser cutting sculpture  who just happened to be a statuesque beauty with a keen sense of style.



We dressed to the nines for her Rebirth Ceremony. On a scale of natural to drag queen, I was a solid Liza Minnelli.





I reviewed what I knew would happen: at 4 p.m., we would have tamales. From 5a7 p.m. we would drink cocktails while picking out Betsy souvenirs  everything must go. Around 7 p.m. Betsy would don a ceremonial Japanese robe and go up the hill by her house. There we would gather as she took a jello-based concoction of pentobarbital and morphine, a barbiturate similar to what Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland took at the time of their accidental deaths. Old Hollywood style.



The drug had to be self-administered, and there was a lot of it. She had to stay strong enough to move her hand to her mouth and swallow the entire dose. She would go into a coma in 5 minutes, it would take 1- 48 hours to reach her final destination. Would she get it all down? Would it stay down?



I spoke with the attending physician about this new realm of medicine. She attended continuing education seminars and leveraged a peer to peer network with MDs in Washington. A trove of medical research also exists from countries like the Netherlands, where euthanasia has been practiced for years.



When we arrived at Betsys house she was laughing, surrounded by friends who hugged her and took photos. Her relatives, a Catholic nurse among them, were curious how we young people felt about the whole thing. Girded by Matas story, we focused on the positives. One friend brought balloons altered to read, Happy Re-Birthday. Betsys photographer friend documented everything like a wedding.



Betsy wanted her things to live on through us, so a fashion show emerged as we tried on her clothes. I found a red dress from her performance art piece at the Getty Museum, a stunning number so complicated I asked her professional stylist friend, Amanda, for help. Amanda was stumped too, and we realized if we didnt ask Betsy how it worked before 7 p.m., wed never figure it out.



Gandalf said, It doesnt matter how much time you have, its what you do with it. When Betsy had exactly two hours left, she spent 10 minutes explaining out how the hell to put on a wrap dress.





Betsys suffering was palpable beneath the joy. Layers of fatigue and disappointment behind her eyes as she tried to communicate. Days earlier shed texted a friend, I am so ready to leave this body.



An hour before the ceremony she answered questions Id emailed earlier. To someone facing a similar situation, she advised, know yourself and your strengths and leverage them. How did she curate a guest list for the most exclusive party of the century?



She originally only wanted five people. But once her caregiver typed up the email, it expanded to 30 loved ones who inspired her  she didnt think wed come. It was only after being flooded with RSVPs she thought, Well. I guess weall get tamales.



As we spoke, Mat, who was an architect, periodically checked in to clarify the floor plan of the ceremony site, ensuring that everything was just so. He wore a kimono top shead bought on a trip to Japan. She loved it.



Around 6 p.m. we were asked to step outside so Betsys family could have some alone time. It was golden hour, the sun low in the sky. A Tesla Model X with Falcon wing doors was at the ready to transport her to the ceremony site. Betsys father stepped outside and thanked us for coming. Nothing will ever prepare you for the face of a man about to lose his daughter. His strength and love, as he was relentlessly tested by his artist daughter, until the very end. It was heartbreaking.



We were instructed to walk up the hill to a vista where white shade tents, a massage table and an alter stood before white folding chairs  once again, like a wedding. We hiked up a perilously steep snake- hole filled hill, decked out in glorious Betsy attire, and prevented one another from stealing the show by falling off the cliff.





RELATED VIDEO: Brittany Maynards Legacy: One Year Later





She was lifted into the Tesla X, laughing with joy as the Falcon doors closed, radiant in her blue and white robe. Despite our collective uncertainty, we cheered her on as she was wheeled into the ceremony site. Lots of hooting and hollering, as if shed just kissed the bride.



She lay on the massage table as soothing chime music played. Caretakers futzed over her hair but kept getting it wrong until she mumbled Amanda! Her stylist friend came and lovingly finger-combed her hair until it was perfect and tied her kimono sash into a pristine bow. She looked like the famous Millais Ophelia painting.



There was an awkward pause in which we heard the medicine was delayed due to technical issues. In this extended silence, sniffles from the crowd betrayed us. I looked around at the tear streaked cheeks of 30 friends trying to keep it together. The sun glowed gently on Betsys face. Her caregiver arrived with the medicine and we were instructed to leave so she could consume the entire dose without distraction. I walked past Betsy, smiled and said Youre beautiful. See you later. Her face was full of tears.



We walked down the hill and heard a primal scream.



My first thought was that Betsy was mad at us for crying and making her sad. Another friend thought she was unleashing her rage and frustration at this disease that robbed her of everything she had. A third said there was no way she was physically capable of making the sound  it was someone else. Regardless of what it meant, it was a reflection. Death has no answers, it just holds up a mirror and asks who you are and who you want to be.





Back at the house we sat on the porch in the twilight. Most cried. A few chanted ohms, in hopes it might energetically help her take the medicine.



After about 15 minutes we got an update: shed successfully taken all the medicine and was in a coma. The doctor said her heart was strong. It would be many hours, possibly a day, before she passed. Guests dispersed and she was moved into the house. Per her request  and only after the doctor assured us we couldnt possibly wake her  her friend and I rubbed frankincense and various oils on her hands and feet. As I touched her, she made a joyful sigh and smiled from another dimension. It was time to leave her family in peace. We walked outside and gazed at the stars. Before we made it to the car, her brother-in-law came out and told us she had passed. It was 10:35 p.m.



We were there for her, but also for ourselves.



I got to be there for a friend. Mat got to see ALS end better for Betsy than it did for his father. Others were there out of love, curiosity, a fascination with mortality, a sense of being part of history. All of the above.



I cant help but wonder what could have been if my father in-law had an End of Life Option. Its not for everyone, but in Betsys circumstances, it was the best path. Does this change the way we die? Maybe. While it provides the opportunity to spare horrific suffering, others must be protected from the slippery slope. Its an option that must never be offered; only demanded as a last resort.



Surrounded by devoted family, friends and former lovers adorned in her fabulous clothes, Betsy gave a carefully art directed glimpse into lifes most mystifying and inevitable moment. Was this her final piece of performance art? I'lI never know, but Im glad I got to be there.



ALS is listed as the cause of death on Betsys death certificate, per the End of Life Option Act. Since its a trigger topic, here is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1a800a273-TALK (8255). Callers will be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in their area, anytime, 24/7.



This story first appeared on Medium.com
Invesco Diversified Dividend Investor (LCEIX) a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) invests primarily in dividend-paying equity securities. LCEIX invests in securities that the portfolio managers believe are undervalued based on various valuation measures. LCEIX may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers.

This Large Blend fund, as of the last filing, allocates their fund in three major groups; Large Value, Intermediate Bond and Large Growth. Further, as of the last filing, GENERAL MILLS INC, AT&T INC and COCA-COLA CO were the top holdings for LCEIX.

The Invesco Diversified Dividend Investor fund, managed by Large Blend, carries an expense ratio of 0.74%. Moreover, LCEIX requires a minimal initial investment of $1,000.

LCEIX has a history of positive total returns for over 10 years. Specifically, the funds returns over the 1, 3, 5 year benchmarks; 1 year 7.08%, 3 year 10.61% and 5 year 13.25%. To see how this fund performed compared in its category and other #1 and #2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.

LCEIXs performance, as of the last filing, when compared to funds in its category was in the top 9% in 1 year, top 9% over the past 3 years, and in the 6% over the past 5 years.

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 >>



View All Zacks #1 Ranked Mutual Funds

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



Get Your Free (LCEIX): Fund Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
BEIJING, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Fuwei Films (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (FFHL) will host a conference call to discuss the results of the second quarter 2016, to be held Friday, August 26, 2016 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.

To participate in this event, dial 877-407-9205 domestically, or 201-689-8054 internationally, approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call.

You may access the teleconference replay by dialing 877-481-4010 domestically or 919-882-2331 internationally, referencing conference ID # 10078. The replay will be available beginning approximately 2 hours after the completion of the live event, ending at midnight Eastern on September 26, 2016.

About Fuwei Films

Fuwei Films conducts its business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Fuwei Films (Shandong) Co., Ltd. ("Fuwei Shandong"). Fuwei Shandong develops, manufactures and distributes high-quality plastic films using the biaxial oriented stretch technique, otherwise known as BOPET film (biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate). Fuwei's BOPET film is widely used to package food, medicine, cosmetics, tobacco, and alcohol, as well as in the imaging, electronics, and magnetic products industries.

SOURCE: Investor Calendar
By Revathi Rajeevan: A BJP worker was allegedly hacked in Kannur district today afternoon by CPM workers. 38-year-old Sujesh was attacked in Kakkayangad near Iritty district. Sujesh has been admitted to Indira Gandhi hospital in Talassery.

According to police, the attack was in retaliation to the attack on a CPM worker late on Wednesday night. 46-year-old Suresh was allegedly attacked by BJP workers in Pala on Wednesday

advertisement

Suresh has been admitted to AKG hospital in Kannur. Police say both were injured on the head.

Security in Kannur was beefed up on Wednesday for the processions taken out by the BJP and the CPM. While the BJP held processions as part of Janmashtami celebrations, CPM took out their own "we are one" campaign against communalism, which drew flak from other parties.

Considering the tensions prevailing in different parts of the district between the two parties, police had even assigned separate routes for the processions.

--- ENDS ---
By Paul Kilby

NEW YORK, Aug 24 (IFR) - Latin American bonds may be overvalued but funds dedicated to the asset class, overwhelmed by flows from investors gripped by a global hunt for yield, may have little choice but to continue buying them.

Since late July, a whopping US$6bn has flooded emerging market bond funds as investors took an overweight position in EM debt for the first time since the so-called taper tantrum in May 2013, according to the Institute of International Finance.

Though this level of involvement in the region's debt was initially welcomed after a tough couple of years, some market players said it has now pushed valuations to levels that made little sense based on underlying fundamentals.

"We are getting to levels where spreads don't compensate for risk," said Jorge Piedrahita, CEO of broker Torino Capital LLC.

"Argentina 2019s are almost at 3%. The country was in default just six months ago. There is a lot of complacency in the market place."

Reference spreads on the CEMBI - JP Morgan's EM corporate index - recently hit a 13-month low at 308bp, marking a year to date return of 12.56%. That return is an even larger 18.25% for the Latin American composite of the index.

"You have to really go back to early 2013 to see a sustained period of spreads at these levels," said Jason Trujillo, a senior credit analyst at Invesco.

"But at that time corporates had a stronger fundamental backdrop, now you have a more challenging picture. This leaves me a bit cautious."

MIGHT IS RIGHT

The rush towards EM began steadily earlier this year as commodity prices stabilized, while leadership changes in both Brazil and Argentina have made Latin America debt a particularly popular place to park money.

Adding to that rush was a renewed bid from accounts looking to bolster returns amid accommodative monetary policies across the developed world.

Not only have big US asset managers like BlackRock and PIMCO been bullish on EM debt, but European accounts - which saw 10-year German bund yields turn negative for the first time ever in June - have taken a particular shine to the asset class.

Story continues

"If you see German insurance companies that have never put money to work in LatAm before asking for offers in higher quality names, you have to pay attention," a New York based trader said.

Of the US$12.8bn flowing into external EM bonds since Britain voted to leave the European Union on June 23, US$8.2bn has come from European domiciled funds, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Such demand is hard to ignore in a market where supply has been limited.

This is particularly true in Latin America, where the abundance of liability management trades and refinancings has meant limited net new supply despite an uptick in new issuance volumes.

"You have to take into account not just the rally but the monetary conditions that have contracted spreads," said Graham Stock, head of EM sovereign research at BlueBay Asset Management.

"If you don't expect a major reversal in that element, it might be premature to call an end to the rally. It is not just EM performing well but other asset classes are too."

Indeed, US high-yield markets have enjoyed their own rally, leaving yields considerably tighter than their EM corporate counterparts.

For instance, the average Double B yield in the US junk market is around 4.823%, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The yield to maturity on the Latin American component of JP Morgan's CEMBI, where average credit ratings are BB+/Ba2, is 6.133%.

MIXED VIEWS

Some investors however insisted valuations may still not have reached a peak.

Sean Newman, a senior portfolio manager at Invesco, said that sovereign spreads had room to narrow even after JP Morgan's EMBI Global Diversified hit a close to 15-month low of 330bp last Friday.

"Commodities have by and large stabilized, several countries have embraced reforms, and central banks policy both within EM and the developed markets are supportive," Newman said.

"I am looking at a 314bp spread (on the EMBIG) as a critical level. That is my sign post right now."

There are others who simply don't want to lose out even if they realise it's probably time to stop buying at current levels.

"Right now everyone recognizes this is unsustainable but no one wants to be the first to sell because that means underperformance and that is very uncomfortable," said a portfolio manager.

Another said investors continued to buy because "they would rather make money than be right." (Reporting By Paul Kilby; Editing by Shankar Ramakrishnan)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran's defense minister said on Thursday four of his country's vessels accused of harassing a U.S. warship were only doing their job, and Tehran would confront any American ship that entered its waters. The vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted what a U.S. defense official described as a "high speed intercept" of the warship on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz. The official said two of the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze in an incident that was "unsafe and unprofessional, underlining the tensions that remain more than a year after Washington and other Western powers reached a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and lifted sanctions. Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Thursday that the ships had only been carrying out their regular duties monitoring foreign ships near Iranian waters. If an American ship enters Irans maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them, he said in a stark statement reported by the Iranian Students News Agency. The United States and its allies are concerned about Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war, Tehran's ballistic missile program, and its backing for Shi'ite militias accused of abusing civilians in neighboring Iraq. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh)
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. It remains to be seen whether these actions were carried out by rogue Revolutionary Guard commanders or sanctioned by senior officials in Tehran, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "For four decades the Revolutionary Guard have been told that America is the greatest threat to the Islamic Revolution," said Sadjadpour. "This institutional culture hasnt changed after the nuclear deal," he added. 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. Additional reporting by Warren Strobel; Editing by Grant McCool and Andrew Hay)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The intention of four Iranian vessels that approached a U.S. warship in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz this week were not clear, but such actions can escalate tensions, the White House said on Thursday. "At this point, it's not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior is not acceptable, given that this U.S. ship was in international waters," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a news briefing. "These types of actions and incidents are concerning and they have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions." (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Four Iranian vessels harassed a U.S. warship by coming within 300 yd. of it on Tuesday, according to a U.S. defense official who told Reuters that the maneuver was unsafe and unprofessional.

The American destroyer, the U.S.S. Nitze, was near the Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula. It unsuccessfully attempted to communicate with the Iranian vessels on several occasions. But two Iranian ships proceeded to conduct a high-speed intercept within close range of the Nitze.

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 defense official, who spoke anonymously, told Reuters.

Officials are unsure if the interception was ordered by Tehran. Irans military has long been suspicious of U.S. activity in the region, and in January detained 10 U.S. sailors who had accidentally veered into Iranian waters.

[Reuters]
Baghdad (AFP) - Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday voted to impeach Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi over corruption allegations, MPs said.

Obeidi lost a no confidence vote by 142 to 102 in a secret ballot, while 18 abstained, two members of parliament told AFP.

The vote removes one of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's key Sunni allies from government and comes as Iraqi forces ramp up preparations for an offensive against Mosul, the Islamic State group's last major stronghold in the country.

The shock impeachment is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted this month between Obeidi and parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi, the highest-ranking Sunni politician in Iraq.

Obeidi was questioned in parliament over corruption allegations to which he answered with accusations of his own implicating Juburi and several MPs.

Juburi moved quickly and agreed to have his immunity lifted so that he could be investigated, only for a special integrity court to drop the case hours later.

Obeidi had said the accusations against him were trumped up and retaliation for his refusal to buy in to corrupt defence deals.

"I tried to fight corruption in every way but it appears that its lords are stronger and their voices louder," he said in a statement after the vote.

He then made a thinly-veiled reference to Nuri al-Maliki, the powerful former prime minister who many observers suspect of manoeuvering behind the scenes to undermine every move Abadi and his allies make.

- Impact on the battle -

"I spared no effort in building the army... whilst striving to fight the corruption and nepotism that led Iraq to lose 40 percent of its territory in 2014, displaced millions of people, threatened its shrines as well as its beloved capital Baghdad," Obeidi said.

Maliki had been premier for eight years when the army, gangrened by nepotism and hollowed out by a system in which "ghost soldiers" enrolled but did not show up for duty, collapsed completely in the face of a vast June 2014 IS assault.

Story continues

Alia Nasayif, one of the MPs accused of corruption by Obeidi and a vocal Abadi critic, welcomed the outcome of Thursday's vote.

"What happened today restored the prestige of the Iraqi state. It's the first time that parliament takes action and uses its authority to remove a corrupt minister," she said.

She dismissed any suggestion that the defence minister's impeachment could affect the war effort.

"The battle is being led by real commanders at the joint command and his exit won't have much impact. He is not a minister who fights Daesh (IS), he's a corrupt minister," Nasayif told AFP.

Jassem Hanoun, an Iraqi political and security analyst, disagreed and argued the timing could not be worse.

"What happened today is a negative development, especially in terms of timing," he said.

"It will have a direct impact on the battle since the ministry will be run by the deputy, who has limited authority," Hanoun said.
By Saif Hameed and Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament impeached Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi on Thursday over corruption allegations, removing him from office as the army gears up for an assault on Islamic State's de facto capital, Mosul. Two lawmakers said parliament voted 142-102 to withdraw confidence from Obeidi after questioning him this month about weapons contracts. He had denied the corruption allegations and in turn accused Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and five other MPs of wrongdoing. Obeidi, a Sunni Muslim ally of Shi'ite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, had spearheaded the military campaign to retake territory that the ultra-hardline Sunni Islamic State group seized in 2014 and said he had cut down on graft including ghost soldiers -- members of the military who do not exist but whose salaries are collected. "Those who brought Iraq to where it is now have triumphed," Obeidi said in a Facebook post following parliament's vote. "I tried with everything to fight corruption but it appears that its masters are stronger, their voices louder and their actions more enduring." Lawmakers have accused the Defence Ministry of wasting billions of dollars and weakening the armed forces to the point where they collapsed in 2014 in the face of the Islamic State onslaught under the previous government led by Nuri al-Maliki, who was also acting defense minister. Thirteen years after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and led to sectarian violence, OPEC oil producer Iraq ranks 161st out of 168 nations in Transparency International's corruption index. The military is slowly being rebuilt with the support of a U.S.-led coalition, which has been bombing Islamic State militants in Iraq and neighboring Syria. The army and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias have retaken many areas from the militants, but the biggest test will be the battle for Mosul. It was not immediately clear how Obeidi's departure would affect that offensive, which Iraqi officials have said could start as soon as next month, a timeline some coalition officials consider too ambitious. "It will not negatively influence counter-terrorism efforts against Daesh, nor will it hinder the Mosul operation," said senior Shi'ite MP and former national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the anti-IS coalition, said this month that the row between Obeidi and Jabouri would not derail the Mosul offensive. A Baghdad-based spokesman on Thursday said the coalition remained committed to supporting Iraqi security forces, declining to speculate on the possibility of fallout on the battlefield from Obeidi's departure, which he called "a matter for the government of Iraq". Critics of the vote condemned Obeidi's questioning as political. Sunni lawmaker Khalid al-Mifraji described the impeachment as "a crack in our war against Daesh". (Additional reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Writing by Stephen Kalin, Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Angus MacSwan)
BASHIR, Iraq A group of Kurdish men arrive at sunrise, at an undisclosed location in Kirkuk Province, just steps behind the front lines of battle. They work quickly in the sweltering heat.

Explosives are carefully piled in trenches and tied together so they will all blow up at once.

Then, after a successful detonation, the men bow their heads for a moment of silence, to remember a colleague who died the day before, more than 180 miles away.

But these men arent soldiers. They are a demining team made up mostly of Kurdish civilians.

An Iraqi official checks in on progress made by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action in its efforts to demolish explosives left by ISIS. He walks along the trenches and hills behind the frontline, and a hill fortified by Peshmerga forces to prevent ISIS from getting a view of the demining teams. (Photo: Ash Gallagher for Yahoo News)

The man they remembered was a British national who had been in Ramadi, a city west of Baghdad, who had been attempting to deactivate an unexploded device when it blew up and killed him.

Demining teams in Iraq work to clear bombs, mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and unexploded ordinance (UXOs) left in territory recaptured from the Islamic State.

Their work is personal. Some have lost friends or loved ones to ISIS; others want to do their part to make sure their country is safe again; some just need the work.

There are at least three million internally displaced people in Iraq, according the United Nations Office for Coordination of Human Affairs (UNOCHA). But before people can go home, it is up to mine-clearing specialists to inspect and clear towns and villages of explosives.

In the town of Bashir in Kirkuk, a community of Shia Turkmen was forced to flee when ISIS took over in June 2014. But in May, Bashir was liberated by joint Peshmerga forces and Popular Mobilization forces, which are typically recruited from Shia Muslim communities.

Bashir, Iraq, a town formerly populated by Shia Turkmen, has been ravaged by foreign airstrikes and fighting since ISIS took over two years ago. The town is deserted, and demining teams have not yet been able to sweep through the homes, but are working instead on the surrounding farmland. (Photo: Ash Gallagher for Yahoo News)

The battles have left the streets like a ghost town. Clouds of dust swell up as military vehicles drive through. And with the exception of a few police keeping watch, no one is home. Many structures in Bashir have been flattened by coalition airstrikes. Bullet holes adorn the walls of homes and businesses.

Despite the heat, an older man and several young teenagers sit out on blankets in front of a building reduced to a pile of rubble. One of the boys, Hussein, told Yahoo News that he came back to try to rebuild his house.

Story continues

Many Iraqi displaced are desperate to return to their homes, and some will still come back just to see what is left. A team from the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) was able to enter Bashir in July. Guarded by Shia Turkmen militia on one side and Kurdish Peshmerga on the other, they have been working to clear the area of explosives.

Demining is a humanitarian mission. The U.S. State Department funds several global demining organizations. In 2015, with congressional approval, it made grants of at least $25 million to groups working in Iraq.

Its a fine line between military and civilians, a State Department representative in Washington, D.C., told Yahoo News. [On] the humanitarian assistance part, we have a lot of coordination meetings together. We rely on our military colleagues to provide an update. Before civilians can be sent in to do the work, military operations have to be complete.

Just after dawn on Wednesday, the demining team rigs together the explosives it has collected in the previous week to detonate and destroy them behind the frontlines. The fortified positions are held by Kurdish Peshmerga forces. (Photo: Ash Gallagher for Yahoo News)

Alex Van Roy, an Australian, is the FSD country program manager for Iraq. He said clearing explosive devices is important to assist liberating forces in turning [infrastructure] quickly back into hospitals and schools and electrical substations.

What we are coming across, mainly, are simple IEDs being used as an improvised land mine, Van Roy told Yahoo News. Where a land mine may have been used in the past, they [now] have had to improvise, using the materials available to them.

The FSD trains Iraqis in the delicate work of detecting explosives, removing them and disposing of them. The dangers of the job are evident. Once the metal detector discovers a suspected explosive, the area is secured, and demining teams attempt to deactivate the device for safe transporting and detonating.

Some are explosives that were never set off. Others were munitions that did not explode when they landed. Both pose potential dangers, and the demining teams are at risk of death when they attempt to deactivate them.

A Kurdish team leader for the FSD, Loqman Mala Husan, said he lost a friend and co-worker a few months back during a demining operation. He was a very funny man, we liked him, it was bad for us, he said.

The British worker who died in Ramadi worked for a group called, Janus, another organization receiving assistance from the U.S. government.

U.S. State department officials say that when someone from an American-supported organization dies in the line of duty, they offer compensation to their families.

Once the devices are rendered safe, they are taken to another site behind the frontlines and put in trenches. On Wednesday, as fighting subsided along this section of the front, the demining team went to work. A red marker on the horizon showed where ISIS fighters were dug in.

The FSDs Team 1 walks out among the trenches behind the frontlines, where Peshmerga have set up fortified hills, to prepare for a detonation that will destroy explosives left behind by ISIS. (Photo: Ash Gallagher for Yahoo News)

Each of the devices were constructed differently: some in metal cans, others in plastic containers. After rigging the explosives together, the men, already covered in sweat and dust, pause to eat breakfast of beans, bread and Kurdish tea. They give the detonation button to one of the men for safekeeping and spread out to safe areas, including the Peshmergas fortified hill.

Over the walkie-talkies, the countdown can be heard, then a moment of silence before a booming sound erupts from the site. Plumes of smoke rise into the air and dissipate into the blue skies above the frontlines.

So far, the demining team has cleared over 54,000 square meters of land, about 13 acres.

It has discovered 179 IEDs and 31 UXOs and still has a long way to go.

After clearing explosives from the farmland that was once a battleground for militia fighters and the Iraqi military, demining teams will eventually make their way into Bashir itself, sweeping structures to make sure displaced residents wont step on an explosive when they return home.

ISIS has been suspected of setting booby traps in childrens toys or creating trip wires. Van Roy said he has seen near-misses when a resident returning home comes close to setting off an IED.

Those people, besides putting themselves in a risky situation, are also sometimes very good sources of intelligence about where items might be, he said. Some are former fighters, others farmers trying to start life again on their land.

While demining teams work to make the liberated cities and towns safe again, it is a slow process, and it is difficult to keep desperate civilians from their homes. After waiting so long, many displaced are ready to go back and risk their lives just to rebuild from the rubble.
By Rohini Swamy: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said that the state will not be able to share River Cauvery's water with Tamil Nadu as the rainfall deficit has left the state in acute water crisis.

Addressing a delegation of Tamil Nadu farmers, Siddaramaiah said, "We have only 50 TMC of water, that is 50 percent deficiency, we need water for drinking purposes. Nearly 40 TMC of water will be needed we will be left with just 20 TMC, with that we will have to irrigation and give Tamil Nadu, please understand our position."

advertisement

The delegation had appealed to the Karanataka government to release water for the samba crops. Siddaramaiah told the delegation that due to inadequate rainfall the water in the catchment area has reduced by half and therefore state is not in position to share the water. However, he assured that if there are good rains in the coming days and the water level in the catchment area increases the state will release water to TN.

TROUBLED WATERS

Based on the repeated demands made by the TN farmers, Siddaramaiah had now called for a meeting of the floor leaders of both houses to discuss the situation on the deficit rainfall and release of water.

The Tamil Nadu government had recently moved court to get its share of water. But the Karnataka government had clarified their stand and said that they were ready for a legal battle of need be.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday groups of people took out a protest march in Trichy flaying the Karnataka government's failure in releasing Cauvery water as per the tribunal.

Last week around 6000 farmers and cadres of several political parties staged road blockades demanding the release of water for Samba cultivation. Consequently, several arrests took place across 116 locations in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur on August 20.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president HD Kumaraswamy also held protests along with the farmers in Mandya saying that if the water is not released to TN, the farmers along the Cauvery delta will die of thirst and starvation.

ALSO READ:

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah likely to draft eldest son Yathindra into politics

Karnataka: Violence in Cauvery belt over Cabinet reshuffle



--- ENDS ---
By Steve Scherer and Gabriele Pileri AMATRICE, Italy (Reuters) - The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy climbed to 250 on Thursday as rescue teams scoured mounds of rubble for a second day in towns and villages flattened by the natural disaster. The 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome early on Wednesday as people slept, destroying hundreds of homes. Dozens of emergency workers with sniffer dogs clambered over piles of debris trying to find anyone still trapped, while cranes removed huge slabs of fallen masonry and trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes. "People like myself have lost everything, but at the same time the fact that we have survived means we have to move forward one minute at a time," said Alessandra Cioni, 45, who managed to crawl out of her crumpled house after the quake. "We have been saved, not like half the people in this place who have lost their lives," she said, breaking down in tears. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi promised to rebuild the shattered houses and said he would renew efforts to bolster Italy's flimsy defenses against earthquakes that regularly batter the country. "We want those communities to have the chance of a future and not just memories," he told reporters in Rome. A violent aftershock on Thursday afternoon sent rescuers fleeing as stones fell from the already severely damaged bell tower of the 15th century church of St. Augustine in Amatrice. The jolt, which struck fear and panic in survivors, detached the church's facade, leaving it leaning dangerously over the main street where the emergency services were working under blue skies and a hot summer sun. Almost 200 of the victims died in Amatrice, which is famed for a local pasta dish and was full of holidaymakers ahead of its 50th annual food festival, set for this weekend. It was unclear how many visitors were in the area on Wednesday, making it hard to track the number of deaths. "We need to know firstly the exact number of people who are missing before we can say what work is waiting for us," said fire department spokesperson Luca Cari. "We will obviously move forward without interruption until we are sure there is no one left." Five Romanians, one Spaniard, one Canadian and a number of other foreigners, some of them care-givers for the elderly, were believed to be among the dead, officials said. NEGLIGENCE Aerial video taken by drones showed swathes of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, completely flattened. The nearby towns of Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli fared little better, leaving thousands of people homeless. The Civil Protection Department has sent up tents for survivors, which risk being their homes for many weeks. Italy has a poor record of rebuilding after quakes. About 8,300 people who were forced to leave their houses after a deadly earthquake in L'Aquila in 2009 are still living in temporary accommodation. Renzi declined to predict when the homeless might be rehoused, but said it was his government's top priority. "This is not about setting challenges and making promises. We need the pace of a marathon runner," he said. About 365 people injured in Wednesday's quake were hospitalized, the Civil Protection said, noting that about 5,000 people, including police, firefighters, soldiers and volunteers, were involved in post-quake operations. As night fell on Thursday, rescuers said they had pulled 215 people from the rubble, but as the hours passed only bodies were recovered, including many children who had been spending their summer holidays in the region. Two young boys and their parents died in the nearby town of Accumoli when the church bell tower crashed through their roof. Magistrates opened an investigation into whether there had been any negligence in recent restoration work. Another investigation was opened into why Amatrice's school had collapsed, despite the fact it had only opened in 2012 and was meant to have been earthquake-proof. Most of the buildings in the area were built hundreds of years ago, helping to explain the widespread destruction. Cultural Minister Dario Franceschini said all 293 culturally important sites, many of them churches, had either collapsed or been seriously damaged. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. Almost 30 people died in earthquakes in northern Italy in 2012 while more than 300 died in a quake in the L'Aquila disaster. "We are the best in the world when it comes to managing emergencies, but that is not enough," Renzi said. "We need to change our mentality. We need a new model of development, but also of prevention. ...Everyone says this after these events, but now is the moment for all of Italy, working together, to take a leap forward." (Additional reporting by Antonella Cinelli, Giulia Segreti and Roberto Mignucci; Writing by Philip Pullella and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Amatrice (Italy) (AFP) - The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy rose to 267 as rescuers continued a grim search for corpses and powerful aftershocks rocked the devastated area.

The bulk of the confirmed deaths -- 193 at the latest count -- were in the small town of Amatrice, where Rita Rosine, 63, wept as she mourned her 75-year-old sister, who was buried under the ruins of her house.

"The situation is worse than in war. It's awful, awful... they say it will take two days to dig her out because they have to shore up the surrounding buildings," she told AFP.

"She didn't deserve to die like that, she was so good."

As hopes of finding any more survivors in the rubble faded, questions mounted as to why there had been so many deaths in a sparsely-populated area so soon after a 2009 earthquake in the nearby city of L'Aquila left 300 people dead.

That disaster, just 50 kilometres (30 miles) south, underscored the region's vulnerability to seismic events -- but preparations for a fresh quake have been exposed as limited at best.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced on Thursday the launch of a plan to help better prepare Italy for earthquakes.

"Italy should have plan that is not just limited to the management of emergency situations," he said after a cabinet meeting.

Renzi admitted that Italy has a difficult task ahead to secure buildings -- and its vast collection of historical heritage -- against quake damage, but said that modern technology could play a role.

He also stressed that priority would be given to securing "a place to sleep" for those who had lost their homes in the quake.

Giuseppe Saieva, the chief public prosecutor for most of the area affected, said he would be opening an investigation into whether anyone could be held responsible for the disaster.

Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said Thursday that some 293 historical buildings were damaged or destroyed by the quake.

Story continues

- No new survivors -

In Amatrice, a 4.3 magnitude aftershock shook the already badly damaged village on Thursday, fuelling fears of fresh collapses which could hamper the rescue operation.

Amatrice normally has a population of around 2,500 but it was packed with visitors when the quake struck as people slept in the early hours of Wednesday.

At least eight foreigners were killed, including three British citizens who were visiting Amatrice, a local official told the BBC. Two Romanians, a Canadian, a Spanish national and one woman from El Salvador were also killed, according to the countries' respective foreign ministries.

A total of 215 people have been rescued from the rubble since Wednesday morning. But there have been no reports of survivors being found since Wednesday evening, when eight-year-old Giorgia was rescued 16 hours after being trapped, having been located by a labrador called Leo.

Her parents also survived but her 10-year-old sister did not make it.

- 'What happens tomorrow?' -

Hundreds of people spent Wednesday night sleeping in their cars or in hastily-assembled tents, the aftershocks adding to their discomfort.

Mario, a father of two small boys, said he was still in shock. "We slept in the car last night, though with the quakes it was hard to sleep at all," he told AFP.

"We've booked a tent for tonight. But then tomorrow, the next day?"

The extensive damage to lightly-used properties has raised the spectre of some of the smaller hamlets in the region becoming ghost towns.

"If we don't get help, l'Arquata is finished," said Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata del Tronto, which accounted for 57 of the confirmed deaths to date.

Petrucci said it was impossible to say exactly how many people were in the 13 tiny communities that make up l'Arquata when the disaster struck.

In Pescara del Tronto, which was virtually razed by the quake, there are only four permanently resident families but there could have been up to 300 people there on Wednesday.

Measuring 6.0-6.2 magnitude, the quake's epicentre was near Amatrice and its shallow depth of four kilometres (2.5 miles) exacerbated its impact.

It occurred without warning but in an area with a long history of killer quakes.

The Civil Protection agency which is coordinating the rescue effort said that in addition to the dead, 365 people had suffered injuries serious enough to be hospitalised. Several of them are in a critical state.

- 'Nothing ever done' -

After L'Aquila, the Civil Protection agency made almost one billion euros available for upgrading buildings in seismically-vulnerable areas.

But the take-up of grants has been low -- because of form-filling attached, critics say.

"Here in the middle of a seismic zone, nothing has ever been done," said Dario Nanni of the Italian Council of Architects.

"It does not cost that much more when renovating a building to make it comply with earthquake standards. But less than 20 percent of buildings do."
Rome (AFP) - More than 700 Italian restaurants have added spaghetti all'amatriciana to their menus in solidarity with the victims of an earthquake that destroyed the birthplace of the famous pasta dish.

Chefs around the world are being urged to follow suit after the Slow Food movement threw its weight behind the idea, with British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver also backing the idea and urging customers to #EatForItaly.

Amatrice was one of several mountain villages devastated by Wednesday's powerful quake and it will be some time before the hilltop beauty spot is once again serving up its signature dish to the gastronomic pilgrims who flock there in their thousands every summer.

In the meantime, amatriciana, one of the staples of the cuisine of Rome and much of central Italy, is going to be much more widely available thanks to Paolo Campana, a graphic artist from the Italian capital.

Under an initiative he launched on Facebook, restaurants are being encouraged to put amatriciana on their menus and to donate two euros from every dish sold to the relief fund for the quake victims.

The idea has taken off spectacularly with over 700 restaurants contacting him by Thursday lunchtime to say they wanted to participate, he told AFP.

"I'm very attached to Amatrice," he said. "On New Year's eve last year I had dinner in the Hotel Roma which makes the best amatriciana in the village. Today there is nothing of it left."

The hotel Campana was referring to collapsed in Wednesday's quake, just days before it was due to be at the centre of an annual festival dedicated to a sauce first created by shepherds in the rugged mountains that surround the village.

"At the start it was just a rough idea I put up on Facebook. But it has taken off and I've made a little poster that restaurants can put up in their windows to show they are participating in the initiative.

- British chef joins in -

"I've got requests from all over Italy, from Puglia to Tuscany, and also from abroad. I have been asked to translate the sign into several languages to export the scheme. Even restaurateurs who have never cooked amatriciana before are going to have a go."

Story continues

Carlo Petrini, president of the Slow Food movement, urged restaurants around the world to put the dish on their menus for at least a year.

"We hope in this way to keep the public's attention for longer -- we have to look beyond the immediate emergency and start working from today to rebuild," he said.

In a posting on his official Facebook page, Britain's Oliver said he and the 700 chefs working for him would be cooking up the dish for the rest of the month.

"It will be on the specials board tonight at Jamie's Italian, and for the rest of the month 2 (2.35 euros/$2.65) from each dish will go straight to the International (Committee of the) Red Cross," he wrote.

"I think we can easily make thousands and thousands of pounds to help."

- An authentic amatriciana -

Amatriciana is one of those dishes that Italians love to argue about.

Although it is always essentially a combination of pork cheek (guanciale), onions, tomatoes and pecorino cheese spiced with a bit of chilli, recipes vary significantly, particularly as the dish has been exported around the world.

Some people use sweet-cured pancetta (pork belly) instead of guanciale, others, including the celebrated River Cafe restaurant in London, throw in a bit of rosemary.

Spaghetti is the most frequently used pasta but in Rome, where the restaurant trade is full of natives of the Amatrice region, they favour bucatini, a slightly thicker noodle with a hole in the middle.

There is also debate over whether to use red or white wine to deglaze the pan after frying the cured pork and onions to the (also much discussed) correct degree of caramelised crispness.

Against this backdrop of culinary confusion, the local council in Amatrice issued a decree a few years ago spelling out exactly how to make an authentic amatriciana.

Spaghetti gets the nod as the pasta of choice, no more than a splash of white wine is allowed and if you use anything other than fatty guanciale you must give your sauce another name.

"Only with guanciale will the dish be incomparably delicate and sweet," the council warns on its website.

San Marzano tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced, are de rigeur.

A tiny piece of fiery dried chilli is all that is required for a subtle heat and the grated pecorino must only be added at the end, to the cooked spaghetti just before the sauce.
J.K. Rowling just shut down the haters  again  with one simple Tweet

J.K. Rowling just shut down the haters  again  with one simple Tweet

J.K. Rowling is a force to be reckoned with. And when she decides to chime in on a debate, shes often able to shut it down with incredibly concise and clever commentary in under 144 characters. So when she most recently spoke out about on the burkini ban in France, she pretty much owned the dialogue in a simple tweet that points out the very heart of the burkini issue.

ICYMI, France implemented a pretty bonkers ban on women wearing burkinis, which are a swimsuit designed to allow Muslim women to cover their bodies as is which is part of their religious observation. The ban was implemented by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard who claimed the burkini was a symbol of Islamist extremism. The former president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, even chimed in during a TV interview Wednesday night, calling the burkinis a provocation.

If that makes you feel very ugh, we totally agree. And so does J.K. Rowling.

So Sarkozy calls the burkini a 'provocation.' Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we're always, always 'asking for it.'  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 25, 2016

Just like that she was able to point out a major hypocrisy in both this burkini debate and the culture that created it.

Bow down.

Rowling is definitely not one to shy away from controversy, but always enters the conversation in the most nonchalant and logical way, using her incredible intelligence and unique way with words to basically cast an enlightenment spell on all of us.

While its never surprising when Rowling uses her wit and humor to illuminate some pretty brilliant points on otherwise dark topics, its still always awe-inspiring to see it happen.

It's not a smear if it's true.

If it's true it's a fact.

Disliking a fact doesn't turn it into a smear.#facts pic.twitter.com/OryQQi28Ly  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 23, 2016

But she doesnt just chime in on some of the lifes more frustrating issues. Shes also a general Twitter goddess who happily gives wonderful responses and meaningful advice to the masses who seek her out.

Story continues

Of course. Being anxious isn't who you are, it's something you're feeling. It will pass. #GryffindorStrong https://t.co/yooTw8x6xO  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2016

Have a good weekend too! Hugs right back. https://t.co/gJsUV66lzv  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 2, 2016

A quick perusal of her tweets and you can see a loving and positive woman whos genuinely trying to make the world a happier and (dare we say it) more magical place.

I'd make them happier, because they deserve it. https://t.co/kgVtMAltgh  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 21, 2016

Oh yeah? Well, I don't think they're real wands. https://t.co/CkiavJyDLu  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 14, 2016

What's the very long German word for the mixture of melancholy and inexplicable unease induced by end-of-holiday packing? I've got that.  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 25, 2016

We love you, J.K., for everything you are but especially for your amazing way with words. Thanks for using your powers for good and keep on fighting the good fight.

The post J.K. Rowling just shut down the haters  again  with one simple Tweet appeared first on HelloGiggles.
TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese truck driver playing Pokemon Go while driving hit two women, killing one and injuring the other, in Japan's first death related to the Nintendo Co craze. The driver said he had been distracted by the game after his arrest for negligent driving following the accident on Wednesday evening, a spokesman for the Tokushima prefectural police said. "The driver is still in custody. No decision has been made yet on whether to proceed with a prosecution," he added A spokesman for Niantic, which developed Pokemon GO jointly with Nintendo affiliate Pokemon Company, said the company had added a pop-up to the Pokemon Go screen when it detected an increase in speed asking for confirmation the user was not driving. He didn't say whether the developer would take further steps to guard against accidents. A spokesman for Nintendo offered condolences to the family of the dead woman. "Pokemon Company and Niantic endeavour to create an environment where people can play the game safely and we will continue to do that," he added when asked whether the company would take any new measures to guard against accidents. The popularity of augmented-reality Pokemon Go around the world has generated crowds of people in parks and other public places as user search for monsters, but has also been blamed for injuries and robberies of distracted users. Signs at parks and other places in Japan have asked users to avoid creating a nuisance. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Nick Macfie)
* ANA says engine compressor blades showed corrosion

* Says will cancel nine Friday flights, more likely (Adds Boeing, Rolls-Royce comment)

TOKYO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Japanese carrier ANA Holdings , said on Thursday it needs to replace damaged compressor blades in the Rolls-Royce engines powering its Boeing 787s, forcing it to cancel some Dreamliners flights over the coming weeks.

The carrier said that under certain flying conditions the compressor blades in the engine's interior showed corrosion. It said it will cancel nine domestic 787 flights on Friday, with other cancellations likely in the coming weeks.

ANA's Dreamliners are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The Japanese airline is the biggest operator of the Boeing model with some 49 aircraft, or around a tenth of the global fleet. Of the 445 Dreamliners in operation worldwide, 168 use the Rolls-Royce engines, according to Boeing's website.

"We are aware of the situation and are working with Rolls-Royce and ANA to resolve any issues impacting the airplanes in service," a spokesman for Boeing in Tokyo said.

Rolls-Royce Holdings in an e-mailed statement said it was "working closely with ANA to minimise the effect on aircraft service disruption." It did not say whether the problem had been found in 787 engines on aircraft operated by other airlines.

Airlines that order the Dreamliner can choose either the Rolls-Royce engines or General Electric Co's GEnx engines for their aircraft.

ANA said vibrations resulting from the problem with the compressor blades had occurred on a flight from Japan to Malaysia in February and on one to Vietnam in March. A 787 travelling on a domestic route on Aug. 20 had also experienced trouble, it said.

(Reporting by Maki Shiraki and Tim Kelly in TOKYO and Sarah Young in LONDON; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Susan Thomas)
Jason Momoas family looks like they travelled back in time

Jason Momoas family looks like they travelled back in time

Jason Momoa (who will, of course, forever be Khal Drogo in our hearts) is really, really good at Instagram. Hes constantly posting pics of his travels, and were all living vicariously through his joy and thirst for life. His excitement pretty much emanates through each and every photo, and his uplifting spirit is contagious.

Ultimately, its impossible to not feel super happy for the guy, because he gets to travel the world with his gorgeous family by his side.

Also because Guinness just named a beer after him.

A photo posted by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 23, 2016 at 7:22am PDT

Momoa and his family are in Dublin and paid a visit to the Guinness plant, where he discovered that his favorite beer company bestowed upon him the greatest beer honor there ever was. Momoa wrote, HOLY SHIT. @guinnessus the open gate brewery In Dublin. Just brewed the first ever. MOMOA brew. The Mano. The first sour. From @Guinness. Come down and try. Im officially blown away love u @feds_h.

See? Pure happiness.

Da MANO. Luckiest man on earth Ohana @guinnessus A photo posted by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 23, 2016 at 7:24am PDT

Momoas family also felt the Guinness love (but probably didnt get to try any, because, you know, kids).

A photo posted by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 23, 2016 at 3:37pm PDT

Jason posted a photo of the whole family, and its so adorable and old-timey looking. Their outfits and style make them look like they traveled back in time, and were obsessed.

What a day. Mahalo @guinness @guinnessus one for the record. ALOHA da momoaz, he captioned the photo.

So. Freaking. Cute.

The post Jason Momoas family looks like they travelled back in time appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Libreville (AFP) - Gabon's leading presidential challenger Jean Ping is a career diplomat determined to wrest power from the Bongo dynasty in Saturday's election after serving the family for two decades.

Foreign minister of the small oil-rich nation from the late 1990s until being elected to the high-profile post of chair of the African Union (AU) Commission in 2008, he is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally.

The Paris university graduate was one of late president Omar Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers, holding a succession of prestigious posts before turning against President Ali Bongo who stepped in after his father's death in 2009.

Dubbing the regime that has run the nation on the Equator "a pure and simple dictatorship", Ping turned on Bongo junior in 2014 and now hopes to stop him winning a second seven-year term.

Launching his campaign in the central town of Lambarene in mid-August, the 73-year-old pledged that if elected he would ensure Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear".

The half-Chinese veteran of Gabonese politics has since secured the backing of other opposition heavyweights in a concerted bid to end the reign of the powerful Bongo clan.

Former prime minister Casimir Oye Mba and Guy Nzouba Ndama, who was a long-serving parliamentary speaker, have both agreed to back Ping for president, as has former intelligence chief Leon Paul Ngoulakia, also a first cousin to Bongo.

"I am here because you decided that we needed a single candidate to end this dictatorship that we've been living through," said Ngoulakia.

None of the other 10 candidates approved by the electoral commission have the stature of the old servants of the regime, whose show of unity is a first in a nation where the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has an entrenched powerbase.

Government spokesman Alain-Claude Billie By Nze however had denounced the "unnatural alliance", calling it "horse trading whose only aim is to share out privilege and power".

Story continues

- 'Like the Titanic' -

Fast-talking and vocal Ping, who made a host of friends during his AU stint, told the French daily Le Monde in March that "Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan."

"Gabon is like the Titanic, heading for an iceberg and the band is playing on. And that iceberg, if nothing is done, is civil war."

Bongo-friendly media have repeatedly focused on reports that Ping's son took commissions from a Chinese group bidding for public works contracts.

An extrovert equally at ease in English and French, Ping married Omar Bongo's eldest daughter, Pascaline, herself a senior politician. The couple had two children.

He later married an Ivorian woman, and is today a father of eight.

Before embarking on a ministerial career, Ping earned a doctorate in economics from France's Sorbonne University and was an international civil servant for the Paris-based UNESCO.

During his AU tenure, he built strong ties with Turkey, India and most notably China, which financed the $200 million (160 million euros) construction of the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

"While he's very weak at building cohesion within Africa itself, he does seem to have been much more effective than previous African leaders at building these key alliances externally," said Phil Clark, politics professor at London's School of Oriental and African Studies (OSSA).
Havana (AFP) - The US airline JetBlue will make the first direct commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than half a century next Wednesday, the Cuban authorities said Thursday.

The August 31 inaugural flight -- the first of its kind since 1961 -- is scheduled to take off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and arrive in the central Cuban city Santa Clara.

"The revival of regular direct flights is a positive step and a contribution to the process of improving relations between the two countries," Cuban Deputy Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodriguez told local media.

Wednesday's scheduled journey will kick off a new flight schedule that includes 110 daily trips, with 90 already authorized by both governments to nine Cuban airports, many of them in or near tourism hotspots.

Twenty daily routes to Havana are pending, with airlines requesting the US authorities to triple that number, Rodriguez said.

With regular commercial flights set to resume, communist Cuba's aging airports are under scrutiny after decades of isolation from the United States during which only charter flights were permitted.

Rodriguez called US skepticism of Cuba's airport safety "unfounded in fact," in line with a statement from the island nation's head of civil aviation security, Armando Garbalosa.

"I can responsibly assure you that the level of security at our airport installations complies with world standards, including the standards of the United States. There is nothing to fear," Garbalosa said last month.

According to the US Department of Transportation, the airlines designated to fly to the nine Cuban airports -- not including Havana -- are American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines and Sun Country Airlines.

Their flights will depart from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, slated to land in the Cuban cities Camaguey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Manzanillo, Matanzas, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba.

Washington and Havana agreed in February to restore direct commercial flights, one of the watershed changes initiated in December 2014, when US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro announced a thaw after more than 50 years of Cold War hostility.
Governor Vohra briefed Union minister Singh about internal security situation and the steps required to be taken for the restoration of normalcy in the Valley.

Several mainstream politicians also met the home minister during the first day of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

By Ashraf Wani: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, and state Governor NN Vohra held extensive discussions at the Raj Bhavan yesterday evening.

Governor Vohra briefed Union minister Singh about internal security situation and the steps required to be taken for the restoration of normalcy in the Valley.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi was also present during the discussions.

advertisement

Several mainstream politicians also met the home minister during the first day of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir. National Confernce (NC) delegation led by Omar Abdullah and Congress delegation led by the party's state chief GA Mir interacted with Singh in Srinagar. Both parties had earlier met Singh as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss Kashmir issue.

MEHBOOBA TO INTERACT WITH MEDIA

After 48 days of unrest in Kashmir, state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will interact with media for the first time in the aftermath of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani's killing in Anathnag district.

So far, 69 people have lost lives and more than 7000 are injured in ongoing clashes across the Valley including 3000 security personal.

The BSF has been called in after 12 years in Valley to maintain law and order in the violence-hit Kashmir valley.

ALSO READ:

Modi government to prep 50,000 Kashmiri youths for employment



--- ENDS ---
John Krasinski, whose movie The Hollars opens tomorrow, stopped by James Cordens The Late Late Show so the two men could reveal theyve been acting together in movies since 1939. Thats when they were cast in the lead roles in Gone With the Wind. As luck would have it, they were fired from GWTW  or, Gone With Three Hours Of My Life, as Corden calls it. This kept them from being typecast, Krasinski explained, opening the way for them to be co-cast in A Few Good Men and Pulp Fiction. Sadly, they were cut from all of the many film projects in which they appeared together.

Krasinski also guested on Jimmy Kimmels late-night show this week, as he was out promoting The Hollars, but appeared late in that broadcast, following Kimmels lengthy interview with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

In June, Krasinskis The Hollars was sold in a splashy deal to Sony Pictures Classics. The former The Office star, who made his feature film directorial debut with Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, made a deal with SPC to acquire all rights in the US and Asia to the pic Krasinski directed from a script by Jim Strouse (People Places Things).

The Hollars follows John Hollar (Krasinski), a struggling NYC artist, who returns to the small middle-American town he left behind to see his ill mother, where he gets swept up dealing with his dysfunctional family, high school rival, and ex-girlfriend, as he faces impending fatherhood with his girlfriend back in New York.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgIrTWKHum4&w=620&h=340]

Related stories

Britney Spears Debuts On Carpool Karaoke, Talks Men, Marriage, More Kids

Britney Spears' Carpool Karaoke Tease Approaches 2.6M Views As Full Video About To Go Public - Update

Jimmy Fallon Laps Late-Night Competition In Post-Rio Games Return To NBC Schedule
How many times can two guys say the word Hollars in a 20-minute interview? The over-under was set at 65, and were still waiting for a volunteer to tally up the final total, but were pretty sure we made it.

John Krasinski, the director and star of the comedic drama The Hollars, joined Yahoo Movies for a Facebook Live Q&A Tuesday, which you can watch above. In his second directorial effort, after 2009s Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, The Office alum plays John Hollar, a wannabe graphic artist in New York who returns to his small hometown after his mother (Margo Martindale) collapses and needs surgery. There, he finds his struggling father (Richard Jenkins) and loose-cannon brother (Sharlto Copley) aint in great shape, either.

Related: Watch John Krasinski and Charlie Days Awkward Encounter in an Exclusive Clip from The Hollars

You can watch the full live chat with Krasinski above, but here are a few highlights:

Krasinski said he personally cast the movie, which co-stars Anna Kendrick, Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Groban, Randall Park, and Mary Kay Place, by personally calling each. The very first person he hollared at, though, was Martindale, and Krasinski said he doesnt know he wouldve directed the film had she not signed on to play the familys ailing matriarch. Krasinski has a bit of history with Martindale: His first acting gig ever, as a featured extra in a 1999 commercial for the clothing retailer Marshalls, starred Martindale.

The Massachussetts native recalled the period in his life in between that 1999 gig and landing the Office pilot in 2004 when he was a struggling actor in New York. I was a waiter for I think nine different places, that would tell how good of a waiter I was, he laughed. I did everything. I did real estate, I showed apartments. I think illegally I cleaned the floors at a yoga studio because I couldnt afford to take yoga classes. I did all these crazy things.

Story continues

And then came The Office, the American spin-off of Ricky Gervaiss Brit-hit which came to a tearful close after nine beloved seasons in 2013. Expanding on what hed told The Insider about the possibility of bringing the Dunder Mifflin crew to the big screen: People have been asking me if I would do an reunion movie or The Office: The Movie, and my answer is 'Absolutely. The challenge will be, the show was so good and the stories were always so good, that I personally right off the top of my head cant think why those people in Scranton would all be getting together again. So if theres a good enough idea, if someone comes up with a real reason why we all had to get together again, I would totally do it.

And finally, Krasinski admitted that internet commenters are right when they say he laughs like a little princess girl. He explained: When I try to hold back my laughter, I go so high-pitched, I dont know where this comes from. Its like a weird dolphin something.

The Hollars opens in New York and Los Angeles on Aug. 26 before expanding nationally in September. Watch the trailer:
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard appear much more amicable now that their divorce is settled.

The 30-year-old actress was awarded $7 million in the divorce settlement with Depp, and chose to donate it all to charity. On Friday, ET confirmed that the actor had sent financial donations to the two charities chosen by Heard.

WATCH: Johnny Depp & Amber Heard -- A Timeline of Their Relationship, Divorce and Domestic Abuse Allegations

"Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge," his rep said in a statement. "Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected."

Last week, Heard explained to ET why she chose to give her settlement money to these organizations.



"The donation will be divided equally between the ACLU, with a particular focus to stop violence against women, and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where I have worked as a volunteer for the past 10 years alongside organizations like the Art of Elysium," she said in a statement. "Over the years, I have seen firsthand how more funding for staffing, better equipment and better medication can make the difference between life or death for a child."

WATCH: Amber Heard Enjoys a Night Out With Cara Delevingne and Margot Robbie in London After Divorce Settlement

Both charities have thanked the actress for her generous contributions. "I know these organizations will put the funds to good use and look forward to continuing to support them in the future," Heard concluded. "Hopefully, this experience results in a positive change in the lives of people who need it the most."

Story continues

The exes settled their lengthy case last week after Heard withdrew her request for a domestic violence restraining order against Depp, 53. "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love," they said in a joint statement. "Neither party has made false accusations for financial gains. There was never an intent of physical or emotional harm."

Related Articles
(Adds State Department comment, details about lawsuit)

Aug 25 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge ordered the State Department on Thursday to release by Sept. 13 any emails it finds between Hillary Clinton and the White House from the week of the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, among the thousands of additional emails uncovered by federal investigators.

The order came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation gave the department a disc earlier this month containing 14,900 emails to and from Clinton and other documents it said it had recovered that she did not return to the government.

Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, has been criticized for using an unauthorized private email system run from a server in the basement of her home while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, a decision she says was wrong and that she regrets.

The issue has hung over her campaign for the White House and raised questions among voters about her trustworthiness.

Judge William Dimitrouleas of the U.S. District Court in southern Florida made his order in response to a request by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which is suing the State Department for Clinton-era records under freedom of information laws.

Spokesmen for Clinton did not respond to requests for comment.

At least one other judge has said the department will eventually have to release all the newly recovered work emails, and at least some are expected to appear before the Nov. 8 presidential election.

After the system's existence became more widely known, Clinton returned what she said were all her work emails to the State Department in 2014, and the department released them in batches to the public, some 30,000 in all.

The FBI took her server in 2015 after it was discovered she had sent and received classified government secrets through the system, which the government bans.

Clinton has said she did not know the information was classified at the time.

After a year-long investigation, FBI Director James Comey said last month that Clinton should have recognized the sensitivity of the information and that she had been "extremely careless" with government secrets. But he said there were not enough grounds for a prosecution, a decision criticized by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and other Republicans.

Story continues

It remained unclear if there were any newly discovered emails that related to the September 2012 attack on a U.S. facility in Benghazi, Libya, in which four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed.

"Using broad search terms, we have identified a number of documents potentially responsive to a Benghazi-related request," Elizabeth Trudeau, a State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement. "At this time, we have not confirmed that the documents are, in fact, responsive. We also have not determined if they involve Secretary Clinton."

(Reporting by Emily Stephenson in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f189495%2ff061f0a199d5410cb42be668d2b0ccbd

A team of physicians and neuroscientists on Wednesday reported the successful use of ultrasound waves to jump start the brain of a 25-year-old man recovering from coma  and plan to launch a much broader test of the technique, in hopes of finding a way to help at least some of the tens of thousands of patients in vegetative states.

The team, based at the University of California, Los Angeles, cautions that the evidence so far is thin: They have no way to know for sure whether the ultrasound stimulation made the difference for their young patient, or whether he spontaneously recovered by coincidence shortly after the therapy.

But the region of the brain they targeted with the ultrasound  the thalamus  has previously been shown to be important in restoring consciousness. In 2007, a 38-year-old man who had been minimally conscious for six years regained some functions after electrodes were implanted in his brain to stimulate the thalamus.

The ultrasound technique is a good idea that merits further study, said Dr. Nicholas Schiff, a pioneer in the field of using brain stimulation to restore consciousness who conducted the 2007 study. Its intriguing and its an interesting possibility, said Schiff, a neuroscientist at Weill Cornell Medicine.

The UCLA procedure used an experimental device, about the size of a teacup saucer, to focus ultrasonic waves on the thalamus, two walnut-sized bulbs in the center of the brain that serve as a critical hub for information flow and help regulate consciousness and sleep.

SEE ALSO: Brain scans could predict recovery from coma

We found a way to jump start these circuits back into service, said the studys lead author, Martin M. Monti, a UCLA psychologist and neuroscientist who studies cognition and consciousness. He wrote up a case study, which was published online in the Journal of Brain Stimulation as a letter to the editor.

Story continues

A brutal brain injury

That jump-started brain belongs to Bradley Crehan.

A recent college grad, Crehan was leaving a bar in Santa Monica last February when he was struck by a car. He suffered a severe brain injury when his head hit the pavement. Id probably had a little too much to drink and wasnt looking, he said, though he still has no memory of the accident or the weeks that followed.

Crehan had part of his skull removed to relieve pressure and was placed in a medically induced coma to allow his brain to heal. Doctors attempted to wake him after about a week, said his father, Michael Crehan, but it didnt go well, so he was returned to the coma for another week. When he was brought out of that coma, he still wasnt very responsive: He could reach for objects, make small spontaneous movements, and open and close his eyes as if sleeping and waking, but showed little comprehension and no ability to communicate.

He was recovering but nobody could say for sure how the recovery would go, Michael Crehan said. They told us to expect five to six months in the hospital.

Bradley Crehan has little memory of coming out of the coma. My brain wasnt functioning well enough for me to be confused, he said. I felt an indentation in my skull and wondered where I was. I wasnt scared, just drowsy.

The experimental treatment involved about five minutes worth of ultrasonic pulses targeting the thalamus; doctors used an MRI to precisely guide the sonic beam. A day after the treatment, Crehan started recognizing objects, attempted to use a spoon, and could blink on command, Monti said. Three days later, Crehan understood questions and could reliably gesture yes and no.

He even gave me a fist bump when I was leaving, Monti said. He had emerged.

Crehans recovery was swift and smooth. He left the hospital in four months, faster than anyone expected. When I left, the nurses were saying, Whoa, youre leaving already? Crehan said.

Hes finished physical and occupational therapy and is now working to strengthen his memory. Hes driving, hitting the gym, applying for jobs, and hoping to enter the job market soon.

Monti cautions that the reason for Crehans recovery is unclear.

We could have been very, very lucky that we did our procedure just as he was spontaneously recovering, Monti said. It could be he would have recovered anyway, and our stimulation did nothing.

Crehans take: I know Im very lucky.

His favorite University of California school, he said, is no longer his alma mater Santa Cruz, but UCLA.

A difficult field

Research into disorders of consciousness has been halting, for several reasons  starting with a lack of understanding of the workings of basic humanconsciousness.

Doctors have also been frustrated by the unpredictability of brain injuries; one severely injured patient might spontaneously emerge from a coma relatively intact, while others linger in vegetative states for years and sometimes decades. Still others remain in a minimally conscious state; they show some awareness and may be able to smile, cry, and even give yes or no responses, but cannot function on their own.

Further complicating matters: Determining a persons level of awareness can be challenging because episodes of consciousness can be fleeting.

Monti, neuroscientist Adrian Owen, and other colleagues published a report in 2010 that found healthy-looking brain activity in patients in both vegetative and minimally conscious states. But experts still debate the extent of those patients awareness.

SEE ALSO: After another stumble, is fMRI brain scanning learning from its mistakes?

Large-scale trials have been conducted on two medications thought to help recovery. One is the sleeping aid Zolpidem, which sells under the brand name Ambien  and paradoxically, has been shown to ramp up brain activity in some vegetative patients. There have been a handful of amazing Ambien stories  people waking up to say Hello, Mum after years of silence  but a study of 60 patients with impaired consciousness failed to show any significant improvement on the drug.

Another drug that affects dopamine levels, Amantadine, was shown to speed recovery in a trial of 184 patients with impaired consciousness.

Researchers say its been difficult to get funding to study more ambitious treatments, such as implanting electrodes to stimulate the brain. It is also critical, they say, to include patients who have been minimally conscious or vegetative for years and are less likely to spontaneously recover. Crehan was treated just 19 days after his injury.

Cornell neuroscientist Schiff and his colleagues last month published a report of a second patient to receive thalamic brain stimulation via an implanted electrode: a 44-year-old male who had been minimally conscious for 21 years following a traumatic brain injury. This patient did not show the behavioral improvements that Schiffs first patient did, but the scientists were able to detect systematic changes in the sleep and wake cycle, showing the patients brain did respond to the treatment despite the severity and length of his injury, Schiff said.

But thats just a case study, not a full-scale clinical trial. Schiff estimated that a large study of his technique would cost $10 million to $12 million. Honestly, when we went to the federal agencies, people didnt want to pay for it, he said.

Some of the ambivalence, he said, may stem from the fact that even when treatments restore some consciousness, patients may still be left severely impaired and bedridden. By some estimates, more than 100,000 patients in the United States alone are trapped in states of minimal consciousness; these patients are often viewed as all but dead, their families urged to withdraw life support and donate their organs.

Schiff and Monti, however, argue that restoring even some consciousness can lead to a huge improvement of quality of life for patients, their families, and their caregivers.

Can you imagine, Monti said, a mother who doesnt even know if her son can hear her?

The ultrasound device used in the UCLA case was developed by Dr. Alexander Bystritsky, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA who directs the schools anxiety disorders program. He developed it as a potential treatment for anxiety and other brain disorders, such as seizures, Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease, and also as a research tool to probe the workings of the healthy brain.

Bystritsky has founded a privately held startup called Brainsonix in order to further develop the device and bring it to market. He donated the use of the device, but because of his role as manufacturer of the device, he was not allowed by UCLA to actively take part in the study.

I was peeking from behind the door, he said.

Monti said the portable device will make it much less costly to conduct trials on brain stimulation.

Anyone could undergo this, he said. They have nothing to lose.
Bold in red! Kate Middleton stepped out on Thursday for another day of charity work with Prince William looking stunning in a cherry red L.K. Bennett dress.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met with representatives of YoungMinds, a mental health charity helpline, in London, England. This marks the second day of events for the Royals, who have been working hard to promote their children's mental health initiative this year.

Getty Images

WATCH: Kate Middleton Wows in a Floral Dress at a Charity Event With Prince William: Pictures!

On Wednesday, the couple met with members of Youthscape, another organization dedicated to helping children with their mental health through therapy.

While at the Luton, England, location for the group, the Royals worked with one employee who has famous ties. Late night host James Corden took to Twitter on Wednesday to praise his sister, Ruth Corden, who was photographed showing the Royals around.

"That's my sister!!!!! So proud of her today and the amazing work she's doing. Go @Rudimuller," The Late Late Show host captioned the photo.

Check out my sister @Rudimuller here with some friends! So proud of the work she is doing. pic.twitter.com/8nCwYK7oB5  James Corden (@JKCorden) August 24, 2016

MORE: Kate Middleton and Prince William Officially Announce Royal Tour of Canada in September -- Check Out All the Details!

The official Kensington Palace Twitter handle responded to the British star's tweet, writing, "@JKCorden it was great to meet her  a lovely woman doing incredible work."

In addition to their charity work, William and Kate will also be taking an official Royal Tour of Canada in late September. It is not confirmed whether their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will be joining them.

Story continues

Related Articles
Separatist leader Mirwaiz also raised the issue of the killing of a teenager firing by security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

By Naseer Ganai: Hours after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that all those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome for talks with him during his two-day visit to Kashmir, the Hurriyat Conference responded by calling his appeal as a farce of dialogue.

After landing in Srinagar, the Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "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

advertisement

Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was first to reject the appeal though directed to all.

"Farce of Dialogue amidst BSF's takeover of schools & colleges, rattled by Resolve of people, only answer Govt has is more & more militarization," Mirwaiz tweeted.



Farce of Dialogue amidst BSF,s takeover of schools & colleges,rattled byResolve of people only answer Govt has is more & more militarization; Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) August 24, 2016

Later in the evening, hard-line separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani, rejected talks saying it was wastage of time.

"We don't accept Indian constitution at all, so talks within its framework are out of question. Till India accepts Kashmir as a disputed territory and start demilitarization, our struggle will continue come what may," Geelani said.

Mirwaiz also raised the issue of the killing of a teenager firing by security forces in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

"As India's Home Minister arrives in valley his Killer Forces shot 1more youth Amir of Pulwama who just scummed to his injuries," reads Mirwaiz's sharp tweet.

As Indias HomeMinister arrives invalley his Killer Forces shot 1more youth Amir of pulwama who just scummed to his injuries #kashmirkillings; Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) August 24, 2016

DEATH TOLL RISES



Soon after Rajnath Singh's landing in curfew-bound and strike-hit Kashmir, teenager Amir Gul Mir, 18, was killed after government forces opened pellet firing and tear smoke shells on stone protesters. Mir succumbed to his injuries on way to the SMHS hospital Srinagar. With his killing, the death toll has reached to 67, as curfew and strike in the valley enters 47th day today.

Later on in a separate incident yesterday afternoon, some unknown militants hurled a grenade at J&K Police near Pulwama at Degree College injuring additional SP, DSP headquarters, SHO Pulwama. In Srinagar, a police spokesman said, "Militants hiding in a mob fired and hurled two grenades on the deployment resulting in injuries to 17 police and CRPF personnel and some civilians."

CONGRESS MEETS RAJNATH



Rajnath Singh has held two meetings with civil society activists in Delhi, including a meeting on Sunday, with Rajya Sabha MP Shahid Siddiqui, former Jammu and Kashmir interlocutor MM Ansari, defence analyst Qamar Agha, Milli Gazette editor Zafarullah Islam Khan, before embarking on the present Kashmir visit. Earlier, he held a similar meeting with civil society activists on August 18 in Delhi.

advertisement

At Nehru Guest House, Congress delegation was first to meet the home minister. The party led by state president G A Mir urged the minister to initiate a comprehensive, meaningful and sustained political dialogue with all stakeholders in the state without any further loss of time. It said that raids and arrests should be stopped immediately and serious efforts should be made to win back the trust and confidence of the people.

ABDULLAH MEETS HOME MINISTER

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Rajnath Singh and discussed the prevailing situation in the Valley and ways how to restore normalcy. Since August 17 when Abdullah led all opposition parties meeting, he has been calling for dialogue.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA)m Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation have boycotted Rajnath's meet on grounds that if India is sincere in holding dialogue, it should talk to separatists and Pakistan.

MUFTI STATEMENT

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti advocated for dialogue to address the political issues saying violence has not changed anything in Kashmir but only brought miseries and bloodshed to the state.

advertisement

"Violence has changed nothing on political spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir, but brought mayhem, miseries, economic disaster, academic breakdown and social disorder to the State," the chief minister said addressing a function.

She said the majority of stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir want resolution of the issues through peaceful political means.

"Unfortunately, the some sections of the youth resorting to violence are impeding the resolution process instead of facilitating it," she said adding; "We have witnessed a gory era of death and destruction for the past 26 years. Has it changed anything on ground except inflicting deep and pestering wounds on Kashmiris?" she asked.

--- ENDS ---
On Wednesday night, American Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals home game against the Baltimore Orioles. She brought her medals from the Rio Olympics  four gold, one silver  with her out onto the field. This posed a problem when she needed to throw the ball, so she handed them to the Nationals Bryce Harper, who was only too happy to oblige.

This is the second time Ledecky has thrown out the pitch at Nationals Park. The Associated Press reports that her first was following the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where, at the age of 15, she won the 800-m freestyle.

I love this picture so much. pic.twitter.com/Spz1obC5NZ  Laura Schulte (@LorInBigD) August 25, 2016
Geneva (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Geneva late Thursday for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the situation in war-ravaged Syria.

Kerry, who was flying in from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he announced a new peace push for conflict-torn Yemen, arrived in the Swiss city shortly before 10:00 pm (2000 GMT).

He was scheduled to meet with Lavrov Friday morning for talks expected to focus heavily on the situation in Syria.

Earlier Thursday, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura described the meeting as "important" and said it could help his push to resume peace negotiations for the country.

De Mistura did not say whether he would be meeting with the two top diplomats while they were in town.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the Syria conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, which erupted in 2011 after President Bashar al-Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt.

Russian planes have also been carrying out raids on Syrian rebel groups, some of which are supported by the United States.

But the two countries have a common foe in the Islamic State group, and have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the jihadists.

Perhaps as a sign of tightening cooperation, Moscow vowed Thursday to work with the United States on a response after a UN investigation found that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical attacks.

"We have a joint interest in... preventing such things from happening, even in the fog of war," Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.

The two countries also co-chair a UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, which has been struggling to ensure access for desperately-needed aid across the country.

Aleppo, Syria's second city and former economic hub, has emerged as a top concern since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

Russia last week gave its blessing to a long-demanded 48-hour pause in fighting in the city to allow in aid, but de Mistura said Thursday other unspecified parties were still dragging their feet.
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry was holding talks with his Gulf counterparts and a British minister in Saudi Arabia on Thursday on the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Libya.

The coordination with Washington's major Middle East allies came on the eve of Syria talks in Geneva between Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

After a 30-minute meeting with Saudi King Salman, Kerry was to focus on the conflict in Yemen with UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Britain's Middle East undersecretary Tobias Ellwood, and his Saudi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterparts.

On Yemen, a senior State Department official said, Kerry wants "to share ideas and initiatives for getting the political discussions back on track and trying to get a political solution".

The aim is also to put in place mechanisms for delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid to the impoverished country neighbouring Saudi Arabia, 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.

Riyadh heads an Arab coalition that began air raids in March 2015 and later sent in ground forces to support Yemen's internationally-recognised government after Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies overran much of the country.

As the civilian death toll climbs following the suspension of UN-brokered peace talks, the kingdom has faced rising criticism from human rights groups.

The United Nations on Thursday called for the creation of an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations in Yemen.

In a new report, it laid out a long line of allegations of grave human rights abuses by all sides in Yemen's war which has left nearly 4,000 civilians dead.

Saudi-led coalition air strikes were suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths, while attacks by groups affiliated with the rebels were blamed for around a quarter of the deaths, the report said.

Story continues

Kerry's encounter with Salman followed a three-hour meeting overnight with the king's powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the Gulf belong to a US-led military alliance battling the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group which has seized large parts of Syria and Iraq.

The kingdom also backs armed rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

- Libya's GNA also on agenda -

Kerry was to update regional allies on efforts to end the heavy bloodshed in Syria "because they do have influence" over opposition groups, the State Department official said.

The secretary of state was due to head later Thursday for Geneva to meet Lavrov.

Moscow and Washington are on opposite sides of the five-year-old Syria conflict but have a common foe in IS, and they have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the jihadists.

IS has also claimed deadly bombing and shooting attacks against the Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia and its security forces.

The State Department official said earlier that Kerry's talks with the Saudis would likewise cover Libya, where a UN-backed Government of National Accord is challenged by a rival adminstration.

Pro-GNA forces are battling IS in Libya's coastal city of Sirte.

"What we're trying to do is to continue to support the GNA, work towards political solutions and making sure we're putting pressure on Daesh (IS) inside Libya," the official said.

Kerry was to focus on the same conflicts at a working lunch with ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council which groups Saudi Arabia with its neighbours.

The talks came after their regional rival Iran sent four warships close to two US Navy guided missile destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to American defence officials.

The USS Nitze shot warning flares, sounded its whistles and attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with the Iranian boats during Tuesday's incident, the US Central Command said.

The encounter occurred in international waters of the strait, a vitally important chokepoint into the Gulf with Iran on one side and the UAE on the other.
By Lesley Wroughton JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday he had agreed in talks with Gulf Arab states and the United Nations in Saudi Arabia on a plan to restart peace talks Yemen with a goal of forming a unity government. U.N.-sponsored negotiations to end 18 months of fighting in the impoverished country on Saudi Arabia's southern border collapsed this month and the dominant Iran-allied Houthi movement there resumed shelling attacks into the kingdom. Speaking at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Kerry said the conflict in which the kingdom has launched thousands of air strikes in favor of the exiled government had gone on too long and needed to end. Kerry said the Houthis must cease shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, pull back from the capital Sanaa which they took control of two years ago, cede their weapons and enter into a unity government with their domestic foes. Yemen's internationally recognized government, based in Saudi Arabia, has made similar demands but insisted that the Houthis fulfill all those measures before any new government was formed. However Kerry suggested they could move ahead in parallel. "We agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations with both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement," Kerry said. "The final agreement ... would include in the first phase a swift formation of a new national unity government, the withdrawal of forces from Sanaa and other areas and the transfer of all heavy weapons including ballistic missiles, from the Houthis and forces aligned to them to a third party." The reference to handing weapons to a third party also appeared to be a departure from the government demands. "This leaves nothing for future speculation," Kerry said. "This has a clarity to it about how confidence can be built, what the end game looks like, and how the parties get there." Jubeir said Saudi Arabia and the United States had agreed a way forward for Yemen and said the U.N. envoy to Yemen would take it up with the parties. "We managed to come out with a vision related to a roadmap for Yemen, which the U.N. envoy had discussed with us so there will be clarity on the final settlement which the U.N. envoy will discuss with the Yemeni parties," Jubeir told the news conference. CIVILIAN CASUALTIES Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, has come under stiff criticism from rights groups for air strikes that have repeatedly killed civilians in Yemen. The Yemen war has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced some 3 million. The United Nations human rights office said in report on Thursday that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for 60 percent of the 3,799 civilians killed in the war. During his 24-hour visit to Saudi Arabia, Kerry met representatives of the Gulf Arab countries who mostly back the kingdom's war effort. Saudi Arabia and its allies view the Houthis, who hail from a branch of Shi'ite Islam, as proxies of their archrival Iran. The Houthis deny this and say the exiled government and the Saudis are imperialist pawns of the West bent on dominating Yemen and excluding them from power. Jubeir denied this, saying the kingdom had "no interest, no claims in Yemen." Kerry flew to Jeddah on Wednesday night from Nigeria. His talks with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states were also due to cover possible U.S. military cooperation with Russia in Syria, a senior U.S. official said. Backing by Gulf Arab states for the Syria plan is vital because they wield influence over Syrian opposition groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Russia and Iran support Assad. In his 30-minute meeting with King Salman, Kerry exchanged words with the 80-year-old monarch about his health. Speaking through a translator in the first public comments on recent surgery in the United States, he complained about his back. "We're happy to see you in good form," Kerry said, before reporters were ushered from the room. (Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, writing by Noah Browning, editing by Sami Aboudi and Dominic Evans)
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.

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.

Story continues

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 was holding emergency closed consultations on the launch at the request of the United States and Japan.

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.
Two years before I ever met Michael Ovitz, I heard from him.

In 1988, Premiere - then a fairly new, gorgeous and glossy movie magazine (that eventually would collapse) - hired me to write a monthly column called "California Suite" about the film business. Premiere was partly owned by Rupert Murdoch, who a few years earlier had taken control of 20th Century Fox. The possibility that he would at some point want to alter or kill a story that embarrassed or inconvenienced his studio was so obvious that before I took the job, I asked the editor, Susan Lyne, not to hire me if she wasn't prepared to back me when things got sticky. She said she would. Right out of the gate, I found myself writing an item about Ovitz. In short order, Susan found herself on the line with Murdoch.

Ovitz was so powerful in that era - swathed in carefully manufactured mystery and highly inaccessible to the press. He had reinvented the agency business and built something sleek, disciplined and aggressive. Everyone in town called CAA agents "Moonies" because of the way they seemed to march in lockstep in Armani uniforms. Powerful executives and producers liked to accuse the media of creating a myth around Ovitz, but we only were reacting to their fear of him. And that fear wasn't unreasonable given CAA's formidable array of stars - Robert Redford, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts - who in those simpler times could open just about any movie. Crossing CAA could mean less access to crucial talent and material.

The agency was seen as so all-powerful that it came as a surprise, soon after I arrived at Premiere, when two agents defected, teaming up with a group from ICM to start a short-lived would-be competitor called InterTalent. Just like that, the story gods dropped a great item for my first column into my lap: A source told me that in a rare public loss of composure, Ovitz had walked into The Palm and loudly insisted that no InterTalent agent could be seated in one of the front four "power" booths. (This was when the restaurant was on Santa Monica Boulevard.) Ovitz was always about perception, and this petty yet quintessentially Hollywood demand spoke volumes. All I had to do was confirm it.

I had never eaten at The Palm, but I cold-called Gigi Delmaestro - a reigning Hollywood maitre d' of his time, though I never had heard of him - and asked him to comment. I was sure he'd hang up or deny the story, but much to my surprise, Gigi simply allowed that Ovitz had been "upset." Good enough; my next call was to CAA.

Masters, then writing for Premiere, had her first scuffle with Ovitz in 1988.

Ovitz, 42 at the time, had a functionary handling such calls, and I quickly got a denial that the incident had happened. I said that seemed unlikely as Delmaestro had confirmed that it did.

Poor Gigi. He called me and said he'd been trying to take a couple of days off in Palm Springs, but Ovitz had gotten hold of his number and was hounding him to convince us not to publish the story. "Tell him you did your best, but we're running it," I said, to which Gigi replied in his Italian accent, "He doesn't want to look like an asshole."

"Then he shouldn't act like an asshole," I said.

Gigi laughed heartily. "I like you!" he said. "Come to the restaurant, and we'll have lunch."

We didn't sit in one of the power booths but in front, by the plate-glass window. (Every time I walked into The Palm after that, Gigi greeted me with a smile and said, "Here comes trouble!")

Ovitz called Murdoch to demand that he kill the story. Murdoch in turn phoned Susan Lyne to ask what he was talking about. She read him the item and waited nervously for the response. There was a pause, and then Murdoch said with obvious relish: "Read it to me again. I'm going to dinner, and I want to tell it right."

So that was how a real titan responded to Ovitz. And after that, we were told, Ovitz never ate at The Palm again.

We Have Never Lied to You

Around that time, Ovitz was obsessing over the construction of the fortresslike $25 million I.M. Pei building at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards that the agency would occupy until 2007. That building was a white elephant; too small to house the agency even when it moved in. I upset Ovitz once again when I reported that he had brought in a feng shui master for the groundbreaking ceremony. This was before feng shui was a household term (the master spread rice mixed with alcohol and red coloring around the site). But Ovitz was Asia-centric almost from the beginning; it soon turned out that he was preparing to expand his portfolio and make a mint by helping usher two Japanese giants, Sony and Matsushita, into the acquisition of Columbia Pictures and MCA/Universal, respectively. At the time, Ovitz complained to Lyne that I was mocking religion. It wasn't clear whether he was referencing feng shui's association with Taoism, but that was beside the (obvious) point: Religion was not my target.

From left: Bill Murray with his date; Ovitz's wife, Judy; Matt Dillon and Ovitz at a 1999 event.

There were other miscellaneous issues that arose when his underlings misled us about stories that we were pursuing about projects or problems with movie-star behavior. At last, about two full years after The Palm encounter, Ovitz agreed to a face-to-face meeting. I still had never seen or spoken to him, even on the phone. He still was extremely press-shy in those days, and this meeting was a very big deal.

By then, I had a little secret: I was almost out the door. I had accepted a job at The Washington Post and was planning to move across the country and cover a different beat. No doubt Ovitz would have canceled if he'd known, but I hardly was going to announce it and miss the chance to sit down with the uber-agent at last.

By then, in early 1990, CAA had moved into the new headquarters, with its soaring atrium and curving interior walls. I found myself in the building for the first time, seated on a sofa in Ovitz's actual office, facing the man himself. The gist of the conversation, at first, was that we needed to open lines of communication. I said all we needed was a straightforward answer when we had a question, or at least a straightforward "no comment." At that point, Ovitz declared, "We have never lied to you."

I winced. "I don't want to dredge up old grievances - let's not revisit the past," I said. "But the fact is that sitting here on your couch, without having rehearsed this in my mind before I got here, I can think of several instances where CAA absolutely has  misled us." He insisted that I give him an example. So I did, reluctantly. His response: "We didn't think that was news."

"Here's the thing," I said. "You guys make lots of money and get great tables at restaurants. All we get is to decide whether something is news."

He asked for another example. I mentioned something about an upcoming Bill Murray project and how CAA had denied its existence. "That hadn't happened yet," he said.

Ovitz kept going, but after I offered a third example, he caved: "I swear to you on the lives of my children that we will never lie to you again."

I couldn't quite believe I had heard those words. His children were young, and I had a moment of fear on their behalf. But the idea that Ovitz could be theatrical wasn't all new. Just a few months earlier, screenwriter Joe Eszterhas had written a letter - leaked to me and most other reporters in town through the mail, by fax, shoved under the office door, or all three - in which he accused Ovitz of threatening in extraordinary language to ruin him for switching from CAA to ICM. (To give you a sense of the journalism of that time, it took a couple of weeks before any daily publication had the nerve to report this incident, though everyone had the letter. In the end, the now-defunct Herald-Examiner had the guts to go first, and the rest followed.)

Ovitz and client Steven Spielberg at a DGA event in 1991 in West Hollywood.

Eszterhas wrote that Ovitz had told him, "My foot soldiers who go up and down Wilshire Boulevard each day will blow your brains out." At the time, that seemed like it could be a colorful invention from a volatile guy who had, after all, written a movie called Jagged Edge. Eszterhas even had said in his letter that Ovitz's dialogue had seemed as if it was "out of a bad gangster movie." So I initially questioned whether Ovitz actually had said those words. But hearing him swear on his children's lives - I started to think Eszterhas had not exaggerated after all.

'Jews and Arabs Can Get Along'

Despite repeated attempts to forge a working relationship, it never really happened. I needed years to pass before I could figure out all the reasons an understanding was impossible. First, Ovitz had no sense of humor about himself at all. Unlike his supposed good friend Michael Eisner, he never could just roll with a story that didn't portray him exactly as he wished to be seen. Second, he just couldn't stop with the Oz, the Great and Powerful routine. While Eisner, who for years was chairman and chief executive of Disney, returned calls quite promptly and usually took a little time to banter, Ovitz would have his assistant phone and say something like, "If Mr. Ovitz were to ring you next Thursday between 2:20 and 2:25 p.m., would you be available?" This despite the fact that Eisner was dealing with theme parks and movies and television operations while Ovitz was just running a talent agency.

He also tried tactics that I would have to call off-putting. Once, when I was writing a story about him for Vanity Fair, Ovitz implored me to consider that some of my sources - notably David Geffen - were hoping to damage him. He was right: Geffen was discussing Ovitz on the record in unflattering terms. I responded that it was clear Geffen was no friend of his, but the key question was whether Geffen was telling the truth. "You've been to my house and you've been to David's house," said Ovitz. "Where would you rather leave your child - with me or with him?" My child was a toddler at the time, and while I didn't say this, the answer was a no-brainer. Geffen was richer, single and childless, and his house was a masterpiece of understated elegance. By contrast, Ovitz had two kids, and his Brentwood home displayed more art than good taste. And so if Geffen took a liking to a cute little child, then that seemed far preferable.

Above all, I realized the relationship would never work because when Ovitz told me something that seemed unlikely to be true - and that never stopped - I would get insulted that he expected me to believe him. Meanwhile, he was insulted that I didn't at least pretend that I did.

The truth is that Ovitz had been too successful, too ambitious, too heartless. By the time he failed as president of Disney in 1996 and botched an attempt to reinvent himself yet again (at the now-defunct Artists Management Group), the town long had been rooting for him to fall. He had built an agency that transformed Hollywood in a specific time and place, but that era had ended. If he has any consolation, besides his millions, it surely is that no agent ever will match the level of power that he attained.

I still have a handwritten note he sent me after one of our short-lived efforts at reaching a truce. "Kim," it reads, "Lunch today proves that Jews and Arabs can get along."

I've always wondered which one of us was supposed to be the Arab and which was the Jew. But the truce? It was over by dinnertime.

This story first appeared in the Sept. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
From Esquire

The American University of Afghanistan came under militant attack on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press photographer who was in class at the time. Massoud Hossaini 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 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.

Photo credit: AP

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. local time and that "we are trying to assess the situation."

Other witnesses say they heard explosions and automatic gunfire. Ambulances arrived at the campus in western Kabul, but it was not immediately clear how many people had been wounded.

Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi says security forces entered the campus and "are trying to search for the terrorists." He says police are also trying to evacuate all personnel from the campus. He had no further details on the nature of the attack.

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.

About 1,150 students are enrolled in American University in Kabul, which was established in 2006 on the outskirts of the city and modeled after liberal arts schools in the U.S., with classes taught in English. The university offers bachelors degrees in business administration, computer science, public administration, and political science.

Story continues

Photo credit: The Christian Science Monitor/Getty

You Might Also Like
Police arrested a Los Angeles mother after the dead body of her allegedly malnourished and abused 11-year-old son was found wrapped in a blanket in a closet in her home, PEOPLE confirms.



It's not clear how the boy died, but according to a statement from Los Angeles police obtained by PEOPLE, "The investigation revealed that the victim suffered from signs of malnutrition and physical abuse and had been deceased for a few hours."



The childas mother, 39-year-old Veronica Aguilar, was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment resulting in death, the statement said.



Officers discovered the body at the home in the Echo Park neighborhood Monday afternoon when Jose Pinzon, Aguilar's husband, called authorities and said his wife allegedly told him that her son (from another father) was dead.







Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics declared the boy dead at the scene.



 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.



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, Capt. Julian Melendez, commanding officer of the LAPDas Juvenile Division, said, according to the Los Angeles Times.



"In my 25-year career as a law-enforcement officer, this ranks as one of the worst cases I've seen," LAPD Detective Moses Castillo told ABC 7.



"It's really disheartening. No child, no matter the age, should ever have to experience this type of life and this type of end to his life," Castillo added.



Aguilar is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, police say.



Aguilar is expected to be arraigned Thursday and has not yet entered a plea, police say. An attorney for Aguilar could not be immediately reached for comment.
Kashmir trade bodies today refused to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is on a three-day visit to Kashmir saying that talks and violence go hand-in-hand.

By Shuja-ul-Haq : Kashmir's trade bodies and business chambers have refused to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying talks and violence go hand-in- hand.

Stating that nothing has changed on ground since July 9, Kashmir-based business community suggested that Singh, who is on a two-day visit to Kashmir, should talk to separatist leadership.

All trade bodies including KCCI, Federation Chamber of Industry Kashmir, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Federation, Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Association, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers' Union and others have unanimously decided not to participate in the meeting.

advertisement

Also Read

Kashmir unrest: All sides hope for breakthrough in talks ahead of Rajnath Singh's visit

Pakistan continuously trying to create unrest in Kashmir: Rajnath Singh



--- ENDS ---
Bethlehem (South Africa) (AFP) - Three days after leaving behind a cramped and dingy cage at the Khan Yunis zoo in Gaza, Laziz the tiger arrived in South Africa on Thursday.

Gaza zoo's last tiger was one of 15 animals rescued this week from what has been dubbed the "worst zoo in the world".

"When we decided to step in, it was a critical situation not only for Laziz but also for the other 14 animals," said Ioana Dungler, wild animals director at non-profit Four Paws.

The animals faced starvation or or the prospect of being traded or transferred somewhere else.

When Khan Yunis zoo opened in 2007, it housed more than 100 animals.

But with repeated wars and few visitors, the owners struggled to afford food and many of the animals starved to death.

"It was really a question of life and death. Not only because they would die of starvation, but they could also have been traded or transferred somewhere else and then nobody would find them again," Dungler said.

The nearly two million residents of Gaza also struggle to get permits to travel outside of the strip, which has maintained a blockade on the enclave for a decade.

"Its not very easy to provide proper food there because Gaza is under an embargo," said Dungler. "Even for people getting the right food, its an effort."

While his monkey, emu and porcupine co-habitants were sent to sanctuaries in nearby Israel and Jordan, Laziz (Arabic for "cutey") was bound for more distant shores -- some 6,700 kilometres (4,160 miles) away.

After a severely delayed nine-hour flight from Israel, the tiger and the Four Paws team arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday, where Laziz was inspected before beginning the next stage of his journey to LionsRock.

LionsRock a sanctuary for big cats deep in South Africa's Free State province outside of Bethlehem, three hours away from Johannesburg.

"He's very calm," veterinarian Marina Strydom said after examining him at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Story continues

- 'Calm and doesn't seem stressed' -

"He's been in the crate since Monday, so it's a long trip for him this far. But he seems calm and doesnt seem stressed. He's not agitated."

For months, vets from Four Paws had been visiting the Khan Yunis zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out.

And after his long journey, Strydom was anxious to see how the nine-year-old tiger would behave once released.

As his crate was opened, Laziz raised his head, looked over his shoulder at the enclosure behind him, and stayed firmly put, his back to the open space.

It took another 10 minutes -- and a chunky bribe of meat -- before he turned suddenly and slunk out of the box onto solid, grassy land.

He moved slowly, his body low to the ground, his legs stiff from the long journey in the small crate. The team will now observe his behaviour for a few weeks before releasing him into a larger space.

But it won't be the wilderness -- that option no longer exists for Laziz.

"He doesn't know how to hunt. He doesn't know how to be a tiger," said Dungler.
Legendary designer Sonia Rykiel passes away at age 86

Legendary designer Sonia Rykiel passes away at age 86

Revolutionary designer and fashion legend Sonia Rykiel has passed away at age 86, Womens Wear Daily reports. The French creator is greatly mourned in the world of style and beyond, as she transformed the way we think about and design womens clothes. Her Paris fashion shows were always a cause for excitement and she brought together the people of fashion in a way that was unique, and will never be forgotten.

Many are mourning Sonia Rykiels, and highlighting her legacy.

Sonia Rykiel was a revolutionary designer, Jean Paul Gaultier told WWD

We are extremely in love with her focus on feminism and womens liberation. Like, hell yes.

Sonia Rykiel - Runway - Ready To Wear Spring/Summer 1988-1989

She had this tremendous seduction: her eyes, voice, attitudes, words, Christian Lacroix told WWD

When you think of French girl fashion, youre thinking of Sonia Rykiel. Her world shaped ours.

French designer Sonia Rykiel flanked by

She was the link in between Vionnet, Schiaparelli, Chanel and her generation of women designers, with a modern, feminist, optimistic and free approach to fashion, the world and the times, Lacroix continued.

Her creativity and ideas influenced ours in unforgettable ways, whether you live for fashion or not.

Sonia Rykiel - Runway - Ready To Wear Spring/Summer 1988-1989

Daughter Nathalie Rykiel, a consultant to the brand, said,

Yes, yes, and yes. We are so about all of this, and so hopeful that more designers will rise to the task set by Rykiel.

Ready To Wear Spring Summer 98: Fashion Show On October 14th,1997 In Paris,France - Backstage

The brand was mostly passed on from Sonia Rykiel, with the current creative director, Julie de Libran, at its reins. Still, Rykiels influence remains, and she is remembered fondly. RIP, Sonia Rykiel. We thank you for helping style become what it is today.

The post Legendary designer Sonia Rykiel passes away at age 86 appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Allan was bitten on his lips and chin, following which he was taken to a local government hospital.

By Revathi Rajeevan: A 4-year-old boy in Kerala underwent a plastic surgery after he was bitten by a stray dog on Wednesday.

The incident took place when Alan B was playing outside his home in Ezhukone in Kollam in the morning. Allan was bitten on his lips and chin, following which he was taken to a local government hospital.

His mother Suja, who came to his rescue, was also bitten.

advertisement

"The dog bit my hand when I pulled it away from my son. I had to kick it. It bit my ankle too," Suja told media.

Allan underwent a plastic surgery and is likely to be discharged today.

The recent spate of incidents of attacks by stray dogs has left the people worried. People are now demanding culling of dangerous dogs.

However, each time the issue surfaces, activists and locals square up against one another.

Meanwhile, the government has come under criticisms by both parties for failing to take considerable measures against the menace.





--- ENDS ---
Lena Dunham has teamed up with her "Girls' co-star Jemima Kirke to star in lingerie brand Lonely's new campaign.

Photographer Zara Mirkin shot the actresses in Brooklyn, New York, for the candid campaign, with portraits posted on Lonely's Instagram account showing the pair hanging out in ordinary-looking bathroom setting, while modelling some of the label's laciest pieces. Dunham, perched on the bathtub, rocks the olive green Penny Mist and Winona Oxblood combination, while Jemima wears Bonnie Powder Blue and Gigi Underwire.

New Zealand-based brand Lonely has made a name for itself as an alternative player in the swimwear and underwear market, thanks to its unconventional marketing strategies. Designed "for women who wear lingerie as a love letter to themselves," the brand's campaigns center on the Lonely Girls Project,' a sort of visual diary that features women captured wearing its pieces in their own way. The candid images are unretouched and unapologetic, and aim to foster a sense of individuality and positive body image.

Dunham is, of course, something of a poster girl for modern millennial female empowerment, but Lonely's frank approach to advertising is part of a wider growing trend. Last year, fashion label & Other Stories unveiled a headline-grabbing unairbrushed lingerie campaign starring models with underarm hair, tattoos and scars, which went viral almost instantly. Meanwhile earlier this year, US lingerie and loungewear brand Aerie attracted attention for naming the UK plus-sized model and National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) advocate Iskra Lawrence as its new #AerieReal Role Model. The brand openly eschews retouching, its #AerieReal unairbrushed campaign concept has featured Emma Roberts in an unretouched intimates ad and a grand-scale unretouched selfie atop Miami Beach, featuring hundreds of real women in Aerie swimwear.
Berlin (AFP) - Libya's unity government has asked Washington, which is backing an air campaign against the Islamic State group in Sirte, to step up its military assistance, the US Africa Command said Thursday.

Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the Government of National Accord (GNA), made the request during talks Wednesday in Stuttgart with Africom's commander Thomas Waldhauser and US special envoy for Libya, Jonathan Winer.

"Discussions were held on ...the GNA's desire for US assistance with future enhanced military capabilities and defence capacity building," Africom said in a statement.

The US has been backing the GNA's efforts to retake the coastal city of Sirte from the IS group, with American jets pounding the jihadists' positions and equipment since the start of August.

"Waldhauser and Winer reiterated their support for GNA efforts and throughout the visit, the three discussed strategic options for Libya's future once Sirte is liberated," said Africom.

Pro-GNA forces began an assault in mid-May to expel IS from what had been its Sirte stronghold.

The jihadists had seized control of the city, which was the hometown of Libya's slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, in June 2015.
London (AFP) - Brandishing beach balls, towels and inflatables, around 50 people protested against the burkini ban in France Thursday by creating a fake beach outside the country's embassy in London.

After demonstrators spread sand on the pavement outside the embassy, a woman in a burkini and a child sat playing in it. Others wore bikinis as traditional French accordion music played in the background.

Protestors carried placards with slogans such as "Burkini ban is racist" and "Islamophobia is not freedom".

Many spoke of their shock at a photograph widely published by British media this week which showed a headscarved woman, surrounded by police on a beach in Nice in the south of France, who had to remove a top garment.

"Yesterday when I saw the images of the woman on the beach I felt sick to my stomach," said Esmat Jeraj, one of the organisers.

"In terms of this event, it was a bunch of very frustrated, very angry women coming together to demonstrate that this was unacceptable and that something needed to be done."

Rosalind Hayes, a 24-year-old student, said she had found the image "very resonant".

"It's just a concern, the increasing number of different curbs on people's ability to be in society without being controlled, going throughout Europe," she said, leaning on her bicycle.

A group of three women wearing black hoods over their heads and calling themselves the Sisters of Perpetual Resistance carried a placard saying "Liberte, Egalite, Sisterhood" -- a reference to France's national motto.

"Clearly it's outrageous," said one of the trio, who declined to identify themselves.

"I'm almost 60 years old, I've been fighting this shit all my life. Women should wear what they want to wear, where they want to wear it, without bloody men telling them what they should and shouldn't do."

Dozens of French towns and villages have banned beachwear that "conspicuously" shows a person's religion -- aimed at the full-body Islamic swimsuit but which has also been used against women wearing long clothes and a headscarf.
(Reuters) - Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has urged manager Juergen Klopp to deploy him in his favoured centre forward position, where he operates on "autopilot". The 26-year-old scored twice after coming on as a substitute in their 5-0 win against Burton Albion in the League Cup, but faces stiff opposition from the likes of Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino to play in the centre attacking role. Sturridge struggled to make an impact from the wing in the 2-0 defeat against Burnley last weekend, and the England international felt that he would be most effective when playing in front of goal. "Everyone knows where I enjoy playing the most," Sturridge told British media. "I'm a player who plays on instinct, and in the middle I have clarity on movements and things that I have been doing for years. I am on autopilot there. "Of course it is more difficult for me to play wide. Well, I have to do a job for the team. That's not saying I am happy to do it. That's saying I have got to do a job for the team." Liverpool face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in their next league game on Saturday. (Reporting by Nivedita Shankar in Bengaluru; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
London (AFP) - London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke out against the banning of the Islamic burkini swimsuit in France as he headed to Paris Thursday for talks with his French counterpart.

Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, spoke out after some 30 French towns banned the burkini, triggering a fierce debate about women's rights and secularism.

"I don't think anyone should tell women what they can and can't wear. Full stop. It's as simple as that," he told the London Evening Standard newspaper.

"I don't think it's right. I'm not saying we're perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it."

The highest administrative court in France was Thursday considering a legal appeal against the ban in one of the towns, Villeneuve-Loubet, near Nice in the south of France.

Khan is due to hold talks with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo covering the impact of Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union as well as trade and security.

"I'm here in Paris to make it clear that London is open -- open to the world, open to trade, open for new business ventures and collaborations, open to new ideas, new talent and people," Khan said ahead of the visit.

France has been hit by several major attacks in recent months, including in Nice last month when 86 people died after a lorry was driven into crowds of people during celebrations on a national holiday.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack was conducted by one of its "soldiers".

Investigators have found no proof of driver Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel's allegiance to IS but say he had a fascination with jihad and had planned the attack for months.
If youre searching to find ways to look younger on a budget, you are in luck! The Doctors share five fixes that cost under $5 dollars that could make you look 5 years younger.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Youn, author of The Age Fix, joins the panel to share his age-defying tips.

Botox Swap

Tape: Not that tape is going to reduce your wrinkles, but its about controlling the muscles of your forehead it will help to remind you not to make those wrinkles, and with time you can actually train your body not to do that, he shares.

Watch: Want to Look Younger? Gain a Few Pounds

Brow Lift Replacement

Tweezers: You can tweeze a brow higher you want to remove the hairs on the under surface of the eyebrow. That will effectively lengthen the distance between your eye and the brow, making it look like its actually lifted, Dr. Youn shares.

Puffy Eye Fix

Potatoes Steeped In Green Tea: The cold temperature will tighten up the skin under the eyes temporarily the green tea is full of antioxidants, those are going to fight those free radicals. Its an anti-aging effect. The caffeine will also provide a nice temporary tightening of the skin, he tells the panel.

Watch: Look Ten Years Younger

Stretched Earlobe Fix

Adhesive Earlobe Patches: Our ear lobes are the only part of the ear that do not have cartilage supporting it and these heavy hoop earrings, gauge earrings [will cause the lobe to stretch] if youre got a piercing thats torn through, you can still wear earrings and it doesnt stretch your earlobe out, he explains.

Watch: Fountain of Youth Cocktail

Tighter Jawline Fix

Powder & Brush: Take a powder that is 1 to 2 shades darker than the actual color of your skin and blend it all the way from your chin to the back of your ear. It makes it look like a shadow and will appear sharper than it actually is, he says.
Heres what it looks like when Disney World is demolished (to make way for Star Wars Land)

Heres what it looks like when Disney World is demolished (to make way for Star Wars Land)

In case you havent heard, because you were banished to the middle-of-nowhere Jakku for the last few months of your life, Star Wars Land is coming to both Disneyland AND Disney World. Both these lands will be very similar when it comes to layout and whats inside, but their construction process could not be more different. Disneylands Star Wars Land will be located in what was once just regular storage and parking space behind Thunder Mountain, so theres not too much to take down and destroy

As for Disney World, theyre actually knocking down buildings and destroying things to make way for the Millennium Falcon.

Construction is underway on both of these new lands right now, and while we dont have a whole lot of information on their progress, we can now at least see where they are in the process. Disney World is currently bulldozing lots and lots of things at Hollywood Studios, and it is a crazy sight to see.

Earlier this year, the Back Lot area of Hollywood Studios (including the Streets of America, the Back Lot Tour, and the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt show) was closed to make way for Star Wars (and dont forget Toy Story Land!!) and now the buildings and structures are coming down. Usually, when Disney sets out to change something, they just add on and refurbish; in this case, its an everything must go.

star wars land

star wars land two

star wars land three

six

WDW Today posted some video and pictures to YouTube of the demolition, and dont try this at home unless youve got a helicopter yourself.

This demolition process only started a week ago, and already theres been a ton of progress. Does this mean Star Wars Land will open up sooner rather than later? Oh hell no, its still going to take forever to build. But hey, at least we can see some clear progress!!

The post Heres what it looks like when Disney World is demolished (to make way for Star Wars Land) appeared first on HelloGiggles.
MORRISTOWN, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) today enters its second century as the preeminent custodian of the U.S.'s network of national parks. In the lead up to the centennial, Louis Berger has harnessed excitement around the NPS centennial to launch "Explorers Wanted," one of its most ambitious employee engagement initiatives ever.

"NPS is a long standing client of Louis Berger, but we wanted to give back to NPS by empowering Louis Berger employees, both individually and collectively, to memorialize the importance and beauty of their favorite national parks and to participate in efforts to preserve and beautify those parks," said Dana Otto, Louis Berger's senior vice president of environmental planning.

Over the past 15 months, through the Explorers Wanted initiative, Louis Berger employees (as well as their family and friends) submitted hundreds of photos capturing their experiences in more than 65 U.S. national parks across the mid-Atlantic region, New York State, Florida, California and even American Samoa, among other areas. The company organized a photo competition and prominently featured winning submissions on its homepage.

Due to the success of the Explorers Wanted initiative last summer, Louis Berger this summer launched "Explorers Wanted: 100 Volunteers for 100 Years." This phase of the initiative seeks to encourage employee volunteerism in national parks. To date, Louis Berger offices have organized multiple clean up/trash removal, painting and beautification group efforts in national parks near Denver, Colo., Kansas City, Mo., Morristown, N.J., Washington, D.C., and Elmsford, N.Y. Additional employee outings also are planned at national parks near Exton, Pa. and as part of virtual five-kilometer run at Louis Berger offices around the country.

For more information about NPS's centennial, the history of the U.S. national parks and how you can explore or volunteer at a national park in your own region, please visit NPS's Find Your Park site and follow them on social media (@NatlParkService, #FindYourPark and #NPS100). To peruse a sample of the national park photos submitted as part of Louis Berger's Explorers Wanted initiative, please visit this Facebook album.

Story continues

About Louis Berger

Louis Berger is a $1 billion global professional services corporation that helps infrastructure and development clients solve their most complex challenges. We are a trusted partner to national, state and local government agencies; multilateral institutions; and commercial industry clients worldwide. By focusing on client needs to deliver quality, safe, financially-successful projects with integrity, we are committed to deliver on our promise to provide Solutions for a better world.

Louis Berger operates on every habitable continent. We have a long-standing presence in more than 50 nations, represented by the multidisciplinary expertise of 6,000 engineers, economists, scientists, managers and planners.

Contact:

Regine de la Cruz

rdelacruz@louisberger.com

+1 202 303 2791

SOURCE: Louis Berger
The mission will focus on sustainable development of villages. The Gram Sabha will decide on the specific program needed for the village.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: After the Jal Yukta Shivar scheme, Maharashtra government today launched a mission to transform villages in the state. This will be a collaboration of the state government and the corporate sector.

The first meeting was held by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today in Mantralay. Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Amitabh Bachchan, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Sanjiv Mehta, Rajeshri Birla and other prominent names attended the meeting.

advertisement

DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CONVERGENCE

Addressing a press conference to announce the initiative, CM Fadnavis said "a company or trust will soon be registered that will implement the schemes as per the requirement of the villages by establishing governing council. The aim is to converge all government schemes and activities going on through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for transformation of the most backward areas of the state. In the first phase, we have planned to transform 1000 villages in the next two years. A corpus fund will also be made for which the state government and corporate will contribute equal share".

"This mechanism will be having funds, technical expertise, capacity building and proper planning through which targeted interventions will be made where they are really needed and all this will become possible when all scattered efforts will converge into a joint effort," Fadnavis added.

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan announced that he will lend his services to promote the mission.

"I have been associated with several govt campaigns related to health, Cleanliness , development etc but I feel that this initiative launched today is a truly a convergence of all these schemes... Awareness and promotion will be a key part of this initiative and that's where I will be lending my support to " said Amitabh Bachchan.

Tata Sons Ltd's chairman emeritus Ratan Tata noted that it is essential to focus on overall growth of rural areas.

"There is a growing realisation in the country that we should focus on the overall growth of rural areas. While cities and other areas have been industrialised, the rural areas have not received the attention. Tata trust is proud to associate itself with an initiative that will transform the hinterland of Maharashtra," he said.

Praising the initiative, Mahindra and Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra said, " The idea of transforming villages in not new, but the very idea of convergence differentiates it from other initiatives. This is not mere lip service, it has prototype that will not only guide villages in rest of Maharashtra but also country. Apart from Public- private partnership this initiative also has another P that stands for passion."

advertisement

Out of the total villages to be selected for the program, 25 per cent will be from the tribal region. Of remaining villages, 50 per cent will be chosen by the corporates and rest by the state govt based on the HDI ( Human development Index).

The mission will focus on sustainable development of villages. The Gram Sabha of village will decide on the specific program needed for the village and no program will be imposed.

The state has plans to start mission in 100 villages by Oct 2nd. CM also assured that any existing schemes of the sate for rural development will not be affected by this new mission, as all the schemes aimed at rural development schemes will be converged into one through this mission.

ALSO READ:

No separate Vidarbha proposal before Maharashtra government: Devendra Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis orders judicial inquiry in Mahad bridge collapse incident

Maharashtra government offers class one post to athlete Lalita Babar for her Olympic feat



--- ENDS ---
As the federal government and myriad charities hunt dollars to help Louisiana with its latest disaster, a Biblical flood, Louisiana is getting ready to help Hollywood with $37.7 million in state aid for a disaster movie, Lionsgates Deepwater Horizon.

Such are the breaks of the film incentives game, which sometimes has a way of taking money from those in need, and sending itat the least opportune momentto others who need or want it for purposes of their own. Something like that happened in 2008, when Louisiana contributed about $27 million to a Brad Pitt movie, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, even as Pitt and his wife, Angelina Jolie, had been raising millions to help rebuild Katrina-ravaged New Orleans through the Make It Right Foundation.

This time around, Deepwater Horizon, backed by Participant Media and Lionsgates Summit unit, has been both lucky and unlucky in its timing.

On the lucky side, the movieset to show at the Toronto Film Festival early next month, before its September 30 openingwas among the last high-budget productions to qualify for incentives before Louisiana, strapped for cash as oil markets and employment declined, tightened its generous movie tax credits program.

Directed by Peter Berg, with Mark Wahlberg in the lead as an oil worker coping with the disastrous Deepwater Horizon well blowout of 2010, the movie was initially certified for the Louisiana incentive on February 19, 2015. Just a few months later, the state would put a $30 million per-project cap on its incentives, among other restrictions. But Deepwater qualified under the old rules, which allowed incentives ranging up to 45% of some budget expenditures, without the cap.

The original certification described an overall budget of $156 million, with a Louisiana spend of $118 million. A final certification, issued on June 28, showed that Louisiana expenditures had grown slightly, to $122 million, which entitles the producers to total credits of $37,737,087.10.

Story continues

If it chooses, the producers can sell those credits back to the state at 85% of their face value, which would yield a cash payment of about $32 million, assuming Louisiana doesnt exceed a new overall film incentives redemption cap of $180 million a year. In return for the money, Louisiana, according to the movies original certification, was to get the benefit of about 2,500 jobs, including 85 welders who helped to build and maintain a replica of the original Deepwater Horizon rig.

(Paramounts Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and Oprah Winfreys Queen Sugar television series have also shot in Louisiana lately under the incentives program.)

But this is not the happiest moment to be taking money out of Louisiana; on Thursday, after all, President Obama was in the state, assessing flood damage and cash needs, and Donald Trump had already shown up to lend a hand.

Last Wednesday, the backers of an online petition asked the makers of Deepwater Horizon to donate a share of the films proceeds to nonprofit organizations still working on the oil-spill clean-up, and to show a trailer for The Rising, a documentary about the disaster, with screenings of the movie.

As of late last week, people briefed on the films release said Lionsgate and Participant were inclined to do neither; and Participant had yet to work out the dimensions of a social action campaign that is supposed to accompany the movie, as with every Participant project.

If that campaign were to take a stance against fossil fuels or high-risk deepwater drilling, it might put Louisiana and its residentsmany of whom were unemployed even before the new floodingin the position of funding a film that further undercuts a mainstay of its economy, the oil industry.

Far more likely, one suspects, is a campaign that will somehow return something to a state that is still sending money in Hollywoods direction.

Related stories

John Schneider Studios In Louisiana Begins Cleanup After Devastating Flood

Taylor Kitsch Enlisted To Join 'American Assassin'

Pivot's Demise: Death By Skinny Bundle, Millennials Fleeing TV Or No Must-See Programming?
(Adds details)

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Tiffany & Co's second-quarter comparable sales declined more than analysts expected due to lower tourist traffic and a strong dollar that eroded revenue from markets outside the United States.

Sales at the upscale jeweler's stores open for more than a year fell 8 percent in the three months ended July 31, dropping for the seventh straight quarter.

Analysts on average were expecting a decline of 6.90 percent, according to research firm Consensus Metrix.

"The global environment continues to reflect well known challenges that we believe have had broad effects on spending by local customers, as well as foreign tourists, especially from China," Chief Executive Frederic Cumenal said in a statement.

The company said sales were lower in continental Europe due to weak demand by foreign tourists and local customers, in contrast to better performance in the United Kingdom.

Tiffany's total net sales fell 5.9 percent to $931.6 million in the quarter.

Net income inched up to $105.7 million, or 84 cents per share, from $104.9 million, or 81 cents per share.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of 72 cents per share and sales of $934.74 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Don Sebastian)
Princess Cruises has revealed new details on its Majestic Princess, the company's first ship built specifically for Chinese guests who are poised to become the largest cruise market in the world.

After a short European tour, Majestic Princess will drop anchor in its home port of Shanghai beginning next summer, sailing to destinations in Japan and Korea.

It's parent company Carnival Corporation's latest foray into the Chinese cruise market, which has experienced skyrocketing growth over the last few years.

A recent report from the Cruise Lines International Association showed that between 2012 and 2015, passenger volume in Asia grew from 775,000 to nearly 2.1 million passengers.

This year has seen more than 1,560 ships and voyages scheduled, up from 1,095 in 2015.

With a guest capacity of 3,560, the Majestic Princess is hoping to steer Chinese holidaymakers away from the competition by capitalizing on its gastronomic reputation: Food and Wine magazine named the brand the best cruise line for food lovers.

At the Harmony space, for example, chef Richard Chen who helped the Wynn Las Vegas restaurant Wing Lei land a Michelin star -- a first for a Chinese restaurant in North America -- has reinvented classic Cantonese dishes.

At Le Bistrot, guests will be transported to Paris with a menu that serves traditional French fare like escargots, baguettes, tartines, tourtes and French pastries.

Other dining options include a steakhouse, Italian eatery and all-day buffet.

The Majestic Princess is designed with the affluent Chinese cruiser in mind, with an expanded shopping and retail space anchored by luxury brands like Cartier, Bvlgari, Chopard, Burberry and Gucci, and a private karaoke space.

Princess sister brand Costa Cruises also expanded its presence in China this year, giving Carnival Corporation a leading edge over its competition with six ships based in the country as of this year.

Meanwhile, when the Majestic Princess, which also goes by her Chinese name "Grand World" or "Grand Spirit," sails into Shanghai next summer, it will face off with Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Cruise Line's first cruise ship which is also tailor-made for Chinese customers and set to debut in July 2017.






By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) 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.

advertisement

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. (More) PTI SJK MNL RKS ARC

--- ENDS ---
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's transformation from a leader advocating "soft separatism" to a pro-Kashmir politician was complete today when she boldly declared that 95 per cent people of the state do not want violence and the government had to reach out to them.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's transformation from a leader advocating "soft separatism" to a pro-Kashmir politician was complete today when she boldly declared that 95 per cent people of the state do not want violence and the government had to reach out to them.

While holding a joint press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar, Mehbooba said, "There was a reason for 2010, Shopian (alleged rapes by security personnel) happened, innocents were being targeted by security officers. Don't you confuse that situation with what is happening here now. The young man setting a police station on fire now cannot be compared with someone protesting being shot at while going out to buy milk."

advertisement

Mehbooba has not only clearly set her agenda but also made it public even at the cost of her image. She has sought to prove that she is a true leader who is out to provide a direction to the government and the state. As a leader, she will not succumb to violence. She has decided to take it head on in the larger interest of the people of the state.

She has indeed taken a bold stance against the general mood of the people. She has gone against the tide at the moment. She may be looked at as a villain for declaring that the 5 per cent of Kashmiris inciting violence in the state since July are "anti-nationals" and not legitimate protestors with legitimate grievances. "You have to differentiate between people who want a dialogue and those who exploit young people to throw stones," she said.

Mehbooba's assertions now indeed present a contrast to her stand when she was in the Opposition. As against the BJP, the PDP has always been viewed as a pro-Kashmir party. Critics accused the PDP of promoting "soft separatism" and Mehbooba as a "militant mainstream politician". Their politics revolved around a settlement with Pakistan and Kashmiri separatist groups.

She visited the families of the militants who got killed by the security forces. She built a rapport with the local people by wailing and grieving at the homes of the militants. As an Opposition leader, she lent support to separatism but after the PDP's alliance with the BJP, she seems to have realised its futility.

This is the reason why she accused some elements of wanting the Valley's children to suffer and said these youngsters were being used by them as shields to attack Army camps. She rightly pointed out that there will be no resolution to the Kashmir crisis by throwing stones.

By being in power, Mehbooba now realises that throwing stones and indulging in violence are hindrances towards finding an amicable solution to the age-old crisis.

Her critics may call her approach as "opportunism" or "helplessness". She may be accused of changing her stance to suit her present position of being in power. She will also be charged with toeing the BJP's line without which her government cannot run.

advertisement

But Mehbooba cannot be alleged to a political opportunist. After her father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's death in January, she took nearly three months to agree to share power with the BJP. Had she been an opportunist or had she been helpless, she would have immediately grabbed power.

Secondly, she has set a task to fulfil her father's dream of bringing about peace in Kashmir. She also realises that the violence could be a conspiracy against her government hatched by Pakistan in consonance with the separatists who are in minority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to isolate Pakistan in the international community, particularly Saudi Arabia and the US, and rake up Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir must have worked in favour of the J&K Chief Minister taking a hard stance against the trouble makers.

Mehbooba has undoubtedly taken a calculated risk but she knows that a lasting solution can only found through dialogue and in a conducive atmosphere. Any support to separatism will be counter-productive, and, hence Mehbooba's goodbye to "soft separatism".

--- ENDS ---

advertisement
SINGAPORE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - AirAsia Bhd, Asia's biggest low-cost airline, values its wholly owned leasing arm at 4.1 billion ringgit ($1 billion), and aims to attract an equity investor to the unit by end-2016, it said in a presentation to analysts.

The Malaysian airline aims for its Asia Aviation Capital (AAC) to expand its portfolio to about 200 aircraft in five years from the current 55, AirAsia told analysts in the Aug. 15 presentation, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

Some 20 analysts were present at the presentation where group Chief Executive Tony Fernandes, AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar and other senior officials highlighted the company's plans.

AirAsia had no immediate response to a request for comment on the presentation from Reuters.

In the presentation, AirAsia said the fair value of the company's stock should be at least 6 ringgit a share after including the market value of AirAsia, AAC and stakes in other businesses such as its long-haul affiliate AirAxia X Bhd and loyalty programme joint venture.

AirAsia's share price closed at 2.86 ringgit on Thursday.

Reuters reported this month that AirAsia was looking to sell a majority stake in AAC and could value the business at about $1 billion, significant for a company that currently has a total market value of $1.9 billion.

($1 = 4.0180 ringgit) (Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Denny Thomas and Christopher Cushing)
By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Police who have renewed the search for a man suspected in two brutal murders in Michigan and Ohio more than 30 years ago have released a sketch of what the suspect could look like today and say he may be living in the Los Angeles area as a woman.

John Kelly Gentry Jr., who would now be 63, has not been seen since the April 1983 killings of a man and a woman who he was having relationships with at the time, according to police.

Now detectives from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Michigan say they believe Gentry may be living in Southern California and have issued an age-progressed drawing of him, hoping that members of the public may recognize him.

"The U.S. Marshals Service received information in the last five years that Gentry was possibly living in California as a woman, that dresses as a woman," Monroe County Sheriff's Detective Jeff Smith said.

Citing his "past history," without giving any details, Smith said the information came as no surprise to Gentry's family.

He also said Gentry may be dead since his fingerprints, which are recorded in an FBI database due to a prior criminal record, had not been flagged anywhere since the murders.

"If he's alive he's obviously living somewhat of a law-abiding life, because otherwise the prints should come back a match," Smith said.

Gentry's 25-year-old girlfriend, Barbara Gerber, was found stabbed to death at her home in Summerfield Township, Michigan on April 12, 1983. Gerber's car was stolen and later recovered in Toledo, Ohio.

Six days later, sheriff's detectives searching for Gentry found the body of William Veith in the basement of his Toledo rare coin shop. His car was also stolen and eventually found in South Bend, Indiana.

Smith said that Gentry had also been having a relationship with Veith, who was found bludgeoned to death with an ax handle. Gentry's fingerprints were found at the scene of Gerber's slaying.

Story continues

A month after the killings, Gentry sent postcards to a friend and to his father from California but has not been heard from since, Smith said.

Gentry served time in the Lucas County Jail in Ohio, where he met Gerber while she was working in the facility's kitchen.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Tom Brown)
A Minnesota man who previously survived a bridge collapse that killed more than a dozen people has been charged with conspiring to support ISIS, NBC News reports.

Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble is accused of traveling to Syria, joining the terror group and giving them more than $91,000 from his settlement in the bridge incident, the FBI told NBC News.

When Roble, now 20, turned 18 years old, he collected the money for injuries he received in the bridge collapse. He traveled to Istanbul and then China, according to court documents cited by NBC. Later, he went back to Istanbul and then to Syria, where he bought vehicles for members of ISIS.

He is part of a Minnesota-based group that worked to help ISIS, and his charges bring the number of men accused of conspiring to join the terror organization to 11. Prosecutors believe Roble is living in Syria.

[NBC News]
Global leader in the employment services industry, ManpowerGroup Inc. MAN has entered into an agreement with Ciber, Inc. CBR, a major global information technology consulting, services and outsourcing firm, to purchase its Norway operations.

ManpowerGroup has not disclosed the value of the deal. However, in the SEC filing, Ciber revealed that the value of the deal stands at $7 million. The deal is expected to close later this week subject to regulatory approval.

The acquisition of Ciber's business in Norway will help ManpowerGroup's Experis in meeting the increasing demand in the IT sector. Experis deals with professional resourcing and project-based workforce solutions. We believe ManpowerGroup, which has a strong presence in Norway, will benefit from this acquisition as Ciber Norway has 10 years of IT industry proficiency.

In Jun 2016, Professional Diversity Network entered into a partnership with ManpowerGroup Solutions, one of the major brands of ManpowerGroup. This alliance has been formed with the motive to provide diversified human skills to different organizations across the U.S. Professional Diversity Network provides job opportunities to various professionals through its online networks. This partnership will therefore enable ManpowerGroup Solutions to gain quick access to over 12 million candidates.

MANPOWER INC WI Price

MANPOWER INC WI Price | MANPOWER INC WI Quote

ManpowerGroups wide range of services makes the company a true global staffing firm. The company provides services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment, employee assessment and selection, training, outplacement, outsourcing and consulting. The companys brand value and strong global network allows it a competitive advantage and reinforces its dominant position in the market. It leverages a well-established network of approximately 2,900 offices across 80 countries and serves approximately 400,000 clients.

Story continues

Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider

ManpowerGroup currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks worth considering in the retail sector include Gee Group Inc. JOB and Staffing 360 Solutions, Inc. STAF. 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



GEE GROUP INC (JOB): Free Stock Analysis Report



CIBER INC (CBR): Free Stock Analysis Report



MANPOWER INC WI (MAN): Free Stock Analysis Report



STAFFING 360 SL (STAF): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
I used to work as a reporter for a newspaper, and space constraints were a very real thing. At the Los Angeles Times, we measured stories in inches, and if a story was too long, wed have to cut out some inches. Now, writing for the website of The Atlantic, there are no space constraints (!). I can write as much as I want for the interwebs without having to worry about how much room I have on a newspaper page.

Still, journalistic pieces cant go on forever. I dont think readers want all the information on a topic; they want me, as the journalist, to pick a representative and digestible amount of information, and pull it together into a story. As a journalist, every time I write a story, I have to figure out where to draw the line, what to put in and leave out.

On a recent trip to Portland, I wrote a story about Oregons racist past and did not include information about Latinos, Asian-Americans, or American Indians. The responses of some readers to this oversight are below. I agree with them that there are other racist parts to Portlands racist history that I did not include. But in my defense, I have to draw some limits, or else the stories will be even longer than they already are. And they are pretty long, by The Atlantics standards. Blame a former print reporter finally set free of space constraints, who is learning the limits of longform.

Recommended: The Stanford Rape Case Judge Steps Aside

This first reader, Andrew, is a longtime resident of Portland:

While your article has a fairly thorough history of anti-black racism in Portland, I am disappointed that it completely ignores the racism faced by Latinx, Asian American, Native American, and immigrant communities in Portland over the years. I dont say this to diminish the racism faced by African Americans, but if this is The Racist History of Portland, you really left out some incredibly terrible things other people of color have faced in Portland past and present. A lot of your article was pulled from local scholarship and reporting others have already done, so it seems incredibly lazy to ignore the five other chapters of the Coalition of Communities of Color report you cited on racial disparities in Portland, or the notorious incidents of internment, displacement, and murder that have occurred for other communities.

Story continues

More portions of that massive CCC report are featured below. Speaking of internment, another Portland resident, Lawrence, recommends a piece from The Huffington Post:

Heres an important aspect of history regarding Portlands hyper-support of the Japanese-American internments. Its a story the current daily newspaper whitewashes to this very day.

From an Asian American reader and former resident of the citys Northwest District:

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
In a move to uplift the minority communtiy, Modi-led government is planning to skill and employ 50,000 youths from Kashmir for immediate hiring.

The government is ready with the blueprint but the rollout has been delayed due to the turmoil in the Valley.

By Siddhartha Rai: The Narendra Modi government would be skilling and employing 50,000 youths from the Kashmir Valley in the next one year. The youths would be trained in such fields that would provide immediate employment. Those targeted are especially the school dropouts.

Minister of State for Minority Affairs (MoS) (Independent charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has come up with a slew of measures for the uplift of the minority communities, especially the Muslims, including the one for Kashmir.

advertisement

MODI AIMING AT THE UPLIFTMENT OF KASHMIRI YOUTH?



"So far under successive governments, only promises were made to the minorities of India and nothing substantial has come out of it as is evident from their dismal plight. The Modi government is making all out efforts to bring minority communities up to the contemporaty levels of development. In Kashmir Valley, unemployed youth will soon find themselves engaged in gainful employment," he said.

The ministry has identified thrust areas in the skilling programme. The top priorities are to train the youth to get employment in such areas as private security, hospitals and house-keeping, apart from areas of traditional craftsmanship that are native to the region, including artisanal training in brass-work, wood-work and carpet work.

BLUEPRINT IN PLACE, TO BE IMPLEMENTED AFTER SITUATION IMPROVES



The minister said a detailed blueprint had already been drawn, but had been delayed due to the ongoing turmoil and that the plan implementation would commence when the situation got nomalised. "We had conducted a comprehensive survey of the scope and feasibility of the plan, but secretively. Top officials had visited the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Kargil and made an indepth report."

1,000 COMMUNITY CENTRES FOR COMMERCE, TRADING



Meanwhile, in another move, the ministry has planned to come up with nearly 1,000 community centres in districts which have a high concentration of minorities to serve not just as function halls for the poor, but with a 360-degree utilization for trade and commerce centred around traditional arts- and crafts of the minority communities.

These halls have been named as 'Sadbhavana Mandapas' or Centres of Harmony.

"These centres will not just be marriage halls, but will serve as centres which the minority communities can use to showcase their products and earn. This way we can have several such melas as the Surajkund one," Naqvi said.

The sites for these buildings would be provided by state governments. Haryana chief minister Manohar lal has already proposed three sites, one each at Gurugram, Faridabad and Sirsa.

advertisement

Also read - Kashmir unrest: Clashes take a toll on education in the Valley



--- ENDS ---
It's been a bad week for Mylan.

The drugmaker is under fire after lawmakers including Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have spoken out about the price of the EpiPen, a device used to treat anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

The price of an EpiPen two-pack has risen to $600 from $100 in 2007, when Mylan acquired the drug as part of Merck's generics unit. For patients who have severe allergies  like a nut allergy, for example  EpiPen can be a lifesaving device.

And who knows more about catching the ire of lawmakers for raising the price of a potentially lifesaving drug than Martin Shkreli?

In an interview on CBS News that aired Tuesday, Shkreli said that, really, the insurance companies are to blame for these price increases in what are effectively generic drugs.

Screen Shot 2016 08 23 at 7.12.16 PM

"The fault here, and I don't love to blame my payers, lies with the insurance companies," Shkreli said.

"At $300 a shot, EpiPen is a pretty good deal. It saves you all of the costs of going to the hospital  just an ambulance ride can be $1,000  so for $300 you can save five-, or ten-, or twenty-thousand dollars. It's actually a pretty good bargain. If you're an insurer, you should love to pay for this stuff."

When pressed on whether we should be calling a potentially lifesaving medicine a "good deal," Shkreli said, "The point is, the patient should never pay a dime."

Shkreli came into the public eye around this time last year, when a New York Times report noted that his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, had raised the price of a drug called Daraprim to $750 a pill from $13.50  a roughly 5,000% increase. Turing's price hike, unlike Mylan's increase in the EpiPen price, came in one fell swoop.

epipen price under mylan

Shkreli added that, while we're talking about Mylan and the price it has put on EpiPen, no one is really thinking about the company's business more broadly.

Mylan is a generics company that usually sells drugs at a discount to branded alternatives. In this, the EpiPen is an odd product for it. "At the end of the day," Shkreli said, "Mylan's not doing that well."

Story continues

In an interview on CNBC that aired Thursday, Mylan CEO Heather Bresch sort of echoed Shkreli's comments that this is an insurance issue, though Bresch more broadly blamed the whole healthcare system for the price increase.

"This isn't an EpiPen issue. This isn't a Mylan issue. This is a healthcare issue," Bresch said. "The irony is that the system incentivizes higher prices, and it's the conversation that no one has wanted to have."

The broad outline here is that a higher-priced drug allows all of the people who touch the drug between the drugmaker and the patient  insurers, retailers, pharmacy benefit managers  to make more money. You can skim more off a $600 drug than a $100 drug, basically.

Bresch also compared the healthcare market to the mortgage market in 2007.

"This bubble is going to burst," Bresch said.

NOW WATCH: Watch Martin Shkreli laugh and refuse to answer questions during his testimony to Congress





More From Business Insider


MILAN (Reuters) - Italian broadcaster Mediaset (MS.MI) said that statements released by Vivendi (VIV.PA) on Thursday regarding a disputed pay-TV deal were devoid of any legal or commercial basis.

Vivendi last month rejected the terms for its purchase of Mediaset's pay-TV unit Premium, saying its analysis of Premium's financial forecasts differed from those provided by Mediaset.

The French media group implied on Thursday that time was on its side, saying the binding share-swap agreement it signed in April with Mediaset could be void after Sept. 30, citing the initial regulatory calendar to obtain the go-ahead from the European Commission.

Mediaset said Vivendi did not share with the Italian broadcaster the information it supplied to the European Commission, thus violating the contract's terms. It also added that under the agreement the Sept. 30 deadline is extendable.

It further reiterated that the deal signed in April was not preliminary but based on data that was "true, realistic and indisputable".

Mediaset had never shown any intention to renegotiate terms of the agreement, it added.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak)
From Cosmopolitan

Scoring a Victoria's Secret modeling contract is still considered really major for models (Kendall Jenner said it was a dream come true for her to walk in the fashion show last year), and Zuri Tibby can now count herself among the big time. Victoria's Secret announced Wednesday that Zuri is the newest PINK model, joining Rachel Hilbert as a face of the college-geared brand.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Victoria's Secret

Zuri was first discovered when she was 15 years old. She recently told Yahoo in an interview that before her big break, she was working in a cafe at a playground.

"I was walking around the mall after work and [someone from my now] agency came up to me," Tibby told Yahoo. "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. I'd never been approached and asked to model before, so it was a shock."

Photo credit: Courtesy of Victoria's Secret

Since taking on her modeling career, Zuri has appeared in Teen Vogue, Interview, and Cosmopolitan magazine. Tibby will now star in all of Victoria's Secret PINK's upcoming campaigns and events along with Rachel.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Victoria's Secret

Tibby's striking features are so gorgeous that I don't think they'll ever need Photoshopping - or even a filter, TBH. She's flawless!

Get non-boring fashion and beauty news directly in your feed. Follow Facebook.com/CosmoBeauty.

Follow Maya on Instagram and Twitter.
Meg Ryan might best be known as the queen of '90s rom-coms, but now she's got a new title: director.



The actress has stepped behind the camera to helm her first feature film, Ithaca, a coming-of-age drama that first debuted at the Middleburg Film Festival in Virginia last year.



Ryan also stars in the film as a recently widowed mother raising her children in the midst of World War II.



In an exclusive sneak peek from Ithaca, Ryan's onscreen son Homer (Alex Neustaedter) takes a job as a telegraph messenger in the hopes of supporting his mom after his eldest brother is drafted to fight in the war.







As Homer laments having to deliver a telegram to a woman about her son's death, Ryan's character tells him, "Everything is all right Homer, it's only that you are becoming aware of the world in which you've been a child."





RELATED VIDEO: What Do James Brolin and Tom Hanks Have in Common? A Son ... Well, Sort Of





Jack Quaid, Ryan's real-life son (with ex Dennis Quaid), also stars in the film as the oldest son fighting on the front lines, and the actress briefly reunites with her You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle costar Tom Hanks  marking the first time they've shared the screen in nearly two decades.



Ithaca hits theaters Sept. 9.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German politicians on Wednesday criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for saying that people with a Turkish background who live in Germany should show "loyalty to our country", calling her comment unnecessarily divisive at a particularly difficult time. Adding to mounting strains on relations between Germany and Turkey, a major partner in regional attempts to stem mass migration, a leaked government report last Wednesday alleged that Turkey was a hub for Islamist groups. German media have also reported that the Turkish government's MIT intelligence service had a network of 6,000 informants in Germany. In an interview published on Tuesday, Merkel had told the Passauer Neuen Presse newspaper: "We expect those with a Turkish background who have lived in Germany for a long time to develop a high degree of loyalty to our country." In exchange, she said, Germany was trying to be open to their concerns and to understand them. German integration commissioner Aydan Ozugus, a member of the Social Democrats that rule in coalition with Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats, criticized her comments in an interview with newspaper chain Funke Mediengruppe. She said a clear majority of those with a Turkish background "felt allegiance to our country" and should not be assumed to have conflicting loyalties. Volker Beck, migration spokesman for the Green party, told the Handelsblatt newspaper: "Questioning the loyalty of your own citizens without any particular reason is a practice that we generally see only in authoritarian regimes." He said people with a Turkish background needed to support German values such as human dignity and human rights, regardless of language, religion and ethnic origin, not declare "loyalty" to one country. Tensions are already high in the 3-million strong Turkish community in Germany between supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and those of a U.S.-based cleric he blames for a thwarted coup on July 15. Erdogan backers have demonstrated in several German cities since the attempted coup, shops have been boycotted by rival sides and hate mail has been sent to anti-Erdogan politicians. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Fresh off his dominating performance at the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Michael Phelps visited Americas Got Talent to give some golden advice to the remaining contestants. Americas most talented person told the slightly less talented people to enjoy the moment and remember to have fun. Of course, its much easier to have fun when youre winning all the time, so for all the kids watching at home, Michael shared some insight as to how he became so successful. Phelps said he started setting goals when he was nine years old and followed up with, I literally dreamt for the stars and dreamt for the biggest possible thing I could think of. Nick Cannon asked Michael to describe the moment when he won his 23rd gold medal. The greatest Olympian of all time was glad he was able to retire the way he did, but there was something else that made the moment even more special. Phelps said, But most importantly I had my first -- our first child in the stands.
Microsoft Word Flow

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence Apps and Platforms Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

Microsoft is taking aim at Google with a number of updates to its third-party iOS keyboard app, Word Flow.

Swiping left on the keyboard opens up a range of new options  including searching for GIFs, images, contacts, and the web  via Bing, Microsofts proprietary search engine. The move comes just months after Google launched its own third-party keyboard for iOS, dubbed Gboard.

Attaching a search function to iOS keyboards serves two purposes for the companies:

It could drive iOS users to their mobile search. The default mobile web browser on Apple products is Safari. This limits companies ability to track web usage on these devices and serve effective ads to users. Baking search into Word Flow and Gboard will help solve this problem by making it easier for iOS users to access their search platform whenever they want to type something.

It will help both Microsoft and Google remain relevant in the rapidly maturing mobile ecosystem. Users spend about 90% of their time on mobile devices in-app rather than surfing the mobile web, according to Flurry. This puts the two companies at a major disadvantage; the mobile web is often sidelined by other apps like Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat. Attaching the keyboard to a core iOS function (e.g. text) may help drive up the amount of mobile web searches. The draw is that the keyboards will provide a seamless and streamlined alternative to switching out of and between apps to search the mobile web. The need to remain relevant in the mobile space is particularly important for Microsoft, which recently has had a slew of failures in the space.

Keyboards play an important role within mobile operating systems. This is because they work across multiple apps and can collect keystroke data, which is some of the most valuable personal user data available. Google and Microsoft now have among the best third-party keyboards for the iPhone, according to Product Hunt. As a result, the companies may have found a way to capture at least some of the data users are inputting on iOS devices.

Story continues

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.





More From Business Insider


At least one person was killed and dozens injured in Bolivia on Thursday (August 24) after miners and riot police exchanged sticks of dynamite and tear gas during a protest to demand better work conditions. The National Federation of Mining Cooperatives of Bolivia (FENCOMIN), once strong allies of President Evo Morales, has decided to embark on an indefinite protest after negotiations overmining legislation failed. The FENCOMIN slammed the latest killing, blaming it on heavy-handed authorities. It is the second death since the upsurge in violent protests. But police have denied accusations of being rough-handed with protesters, saying miners are exchanging rifles to stir up violence. "Regarding what happened, we have a person who has died," said police commander, Rino Salazar. "This has set off a decline in order so they (protesters) have managed to distribute Mauser rifles," he added. Protesters are demanding better pay, working conditions, greater union representation and are denouncing what they refer to as the "neoliberal" agenda of Bolivian President Evo Morales. Miners vow to continue what they say is an 'indefinite' protest after several months of negotiations failed. "We will bring together all the (mining) cooperatives. It's not like it has been reported that the cooperatives are divided because we have gone out to blockade (roads). On the contrary we are unified, we have strengthened and we will participate in different blockades so as to support our fellow workers 100%," said this unidentified miner. FENCOMIN has presented a list of 10 demands to the government, among them the amendment of the Mining Act to strengthen workers' rights. The government has expressed its willingness to open dialogue, provided the protesters halt their violent actions like blocking roads, media has reported. In recent months, President Evo Morales' popularity has been damaged by revelations that a company that employs an ex-girlfriend had won lucrative government contracts. The problem was compounded when photos emerged showing the couple together last year, although he had said the relationship ended in 2007.
This Muslim family from Kanpur will be celebrating Janmashtami for the 30th year today and their main aim is to spread the message of peace and religious harmony.

By India Today Web Desk: At a time when religious disharmony has marred the secular fabric of our country, this Muslim man is doing his bit to turn things around. Meet Dr. S Ahmed from Kanpur, his family has been celebrating Krishna Janmashtmi for the past 29 years.

Dr S Ahmed, his wife and three children perform all the Krishna Janmashtami rituals with fervour. "Today, it will be the 30th year of celebration." he told ANI

UP: Dr. S Ahmed of Kanpur has been celebrating #Janmashtami in his home for last 28 years pic.twitter.com/HvJgMviplv ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 25, 2016

advertisement

"Every year, we pray to Lord Krishna not only for the happiness and prosperity to our family, but also for spreading a messge of love, peace and brotherhood in the locality. Everyone helps us in the decoration for the festival," he added.

He strongly believes that "celebrating a Hindu festival is a message against religious bigotry". People in the locality throng to see Lord Krishna's decorations set up by Ahmed at his house

--- ENDS ---
Jerusalem (AFP) - Swimmers wanting to avoid being stung by jellyfish may want to watch the sky as much as the sea after Israeli researchers found a link between their arrival and the phase of the moon.

The Israeli study found the lunar calendar is a key determinant of when jellyfish arrive on the Mediterranean country's shores.

In the middle of the lunar months -- the days before and during the full moon -- jellyfish are far more likely to swarm the beach, potentially stinging humans, the research found.

"We were surprised by our findings," researcher Avi Algazi told AFP. "We knew the moon has a big influence on a lot of things but we didn't so far have statistical data on the correlation between jellyfish and the moon."

The research was conducted by the Israel Electric Corporation in conjunction with the University of Haifa in northern Israel.

The jellyfish are a threat to Israel's power supply as they get sucked into the country's main power station, which uses sea water for cooling.

The researchers looked at when the power station was most badly affected by the jellyfish and correlated it with the moon and water temperatures.

In total, 94 percent of jellyfish swarms arrived after the middle of the year when the seas are warmer and during the second and third weeks of the lunar month.

The ideal water temperature for the jellyfish is between 28.2 and 30 degrees, the research found.

Algazi stressed the research so far only applied to local conditions but said he hoped "the results could be checked in other parts of the world."
For 40 years, the oil and gas industry has been a driving force in Norways economy  the country has 860 billion in its oil fund  but the drop of oil prices in the international market have drastically reduced the earnings: some 100,000 jobs have been lost, and 30,000 within the last year. But is film production Norways new oil? That question arose during a seminar at the Norwegian Intl. Film Festival in Haugesund when it was reported that the countrys 10-month old production incentives program drew two international features: Working Titles The Snowman, a U.K./U.S. production, and Alexander Paynes Downsizing, a U.S. title, with a direct $24 million expenditure in the country.

Despite the early success, no, film cannot possibly replace oil  the proportions are totally different, said Sindre Guldvog, managing director of the Norwegian Film Institute. The annual turnover of the Norwegian cinemas is $145 million, and the film industry nationwide employs only 5,000.

But Guldvog noted that film is one of the culture industries thats growing; both the government and parliament are interested in supporting filmed content, not only because it creates jobs and diversifies the economy but also because it contributes to national identity, culture, pride, and Norwegian footprint abroad.

The institute has estimated that we can handle four major international productions annually, and we are pleased that foreign companies want to use our film crews and natural resources. But the scheme has just been implemented and is still in development, so we must still consider whether it is the right way to spend money, he said. The Norwegian film industry has not backed the initiative unilaterally  it want to make sure that the incentives are not taken from subsidies for local productions. But according to the new film legislation which has just been passed there is still $58 million available for new Norwegian film projects.

The regulations have been simplified, and they are platform neutral: film, TV, digital. The government also emphasizes the track records of the filmmakers appplying for money. Filmmakers who have had successes artistically or financially will get a higher priority in the distribution of grants, he said.

Story continues

The institute will still support productions from an artistic evaluation by a film consultant, other from a more market-oriented potential estimate, to secure that Norwegian films maintain their high quality and reach a large audience, as stated in the film policy. We are all the time adjusting the numbers, he added.

A business economist, the institute chief has previously been head of JW Cappelen Publishing and Norwegian CEO of Swedens Bonnier Media, which owns 150 companies, including SF Studios. He was appointed managing director of the Norwegian Film Institute in 2013.

The institute will shortly open an office in Bergen, Norways second-largest city, on the Western Coast, to operate the new incentive scheme and also to be closer to undestanding what happens with the film industry in the regions, per Guldvog.

At the same time the institutes Oslo headquarters at the Film House has been divided into three departments: Production and Development (headed by Sveinung Golimo), Communication, Strategic Insight, International relations (Stine Helgeland), Audience, Distribution and Festivals (Julie Ova).

Pictured above: Sindre Guldvog, manaing director of the Norwegian Film Institute

Related stories

Prolific 'Cave' Helmer Looks Ahead to Three More Projects

Helmer Praises Spirit of 'The Lion Woman'

Nordic Co-Production Market Adds Heft With Eurimages Selection
By Abhishek Takle SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Aug 25 (Reuters) - French teenager Esteban Ocon steered clear of drawing parallels between his Formula One debut in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix and that of boyhood idol Michael Schumacher. Like the 19-year-old, who will be driving for Manor in place of cash-strapped Indonesian Rio Haryanto, Schumacher made his first appearance at Spa in 1991. "I have to do a good job, thinking about that (comparison) will put some pressure that is not needed," Ocon told reporters on Thursday, 25 years to the day since the German made his Grand Prix debut with the Jordan team. "It's great for me to start where he started, for sure, but I need to focus on myself and on the job I have to do." While there are similarities between their two debuts, most notably over the venue and from the fact both were Mercedes-backed drivers at the time of their maiden races, there are significant differences too. Schumacher's manager famously told team principal Eddie Jordan that the German had previously raced at Spa, when his only experience of the track had been a handful of laps on a bicycle. Ocon won at the daunting 7km layout in his GP3 career before being forced to forfeit the victory after a post-race penalty. Schumacher also had limited experience of a Formula One car, only driving the Jordan in a hurriedly-arranged test at Silverstone, while Ocon has had a significant amount of track time. The 2014 F3 and reigning GP3 champion has tested for Mercedes and drove in the opening practice session at the last three races for Renault, to whom he was on loan as reserve. Ocon will be hoping to make it a lot further on Sunday than Schumacher whose debut did not last a lap. "I feel like I've had the best preparation I could get," said the teenager who will partner fellow Mercedes-backed German Pascal Wehrlein. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)
The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards kick off Sunday, August 28, and all of the music industrys biggest names are ready to strut their stuff for the show. Check out where Britney Spears, Kanye West, Tyga and other celebs will settle in for the night.

PHOTOS: The Wildest, Most Iconic MTV VMAs Moments of All Time

Britney Spears



Call it a comeback. Spears is set to perform at this years awards show, her first time taking the stage at the VMAs in nearly a decade. Fittingly, the pop star, 34, will be seated just in front of her Make Me  collaborator, rapper G-Eazy (who will, in turn, be rubbing shoulders with Jaden Smith).

Kanye West

West and his wife, Kim Kardashian, will be  understandably  taking the best seats in the house at the VMAs this year, sitting in the front row. In fact, according to TMZ, the Famous rapper, 39, will even be given the stage for four minutes to do as he pleases before he performs. Anyone placing bets on what hes gonna say?

Nicki Minaj

Minaj and Ariana Grande arent just performing Side to Side together on stage at the 2016 VMAs, theyre also sitting side by side in the audience when theyre cooling their heels from what will no doubt be a fi-yah performance.

PHOTOS: Britney Spears' Most Iconic Moments: From a Sexy School Uniform to Dancing With a Snake and More

Michael Phelps



Who said the VMAs are just for industry folk? The 23-time Olympic gold medalist will be taking in the high-energy celebrations from his seat just behind Alicia Keys and Nick Jonas. Fingers crossed that baby Boomer makes an appearance!

The Final Five

The names Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian should sound familiar by now, given that the five athletes made headline after headline for dominating at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Now, the fierce Olympians will take on another frontier: the 2016 VMAs.





Related Content:
Myanmar earthquake The ancient Sulamuni temple is seen shrouded in dust after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Bagan on August 24, 2016 (AFP Photo/Soe Moe Aung)

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 Myanmars 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.

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. (AP)

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
Myanmar took stock of toppled spires and crumbling temple walls in the ancient capital Bagan Thursday after a powerful earthquake hit the country, killing three and damaging the top tourist destination.

Two young girls and a man died in Magway region where the 6.8 magnitude quake struck Wednesday evening, cracking buildings across the centre of the country and sending tremors that were felt as far away as Bangkok and Kolkata.

On Thursday Myanmar's new civilian president Htin Kyaw travelled to Bagan -- the country's most famous archaeological site -- to inspect some of the nearly 200 pagodas damaged by the quake.

The ancient city is home to a vast plain of more than 2,500 Buddhist monuments that are among Myanmar's most venerated religious sites and a top draw for its growing tourism industry.

Teams of government-dispatched engineers and architects spent the day surveying the wreckage, while workers cleared piles of bricks, swept the grounds and sorted through fragments of murals.

"We will take experts' opinions and then try to see what is the best way to restore it. But it will be a very lengthy process and quite expensive," the president told reporters after visiting several of the damaged stupas.

Zaw Htay, a government spokesman, said Myanmar's de facto leader and veteran democracy activist Aung Sang Suu Kyi has urged authorities "not to rush" in renovating the damaged temples.

"Police are taking measures to prevent the loss of our ancient heritage and cultural art works," he added in a statement on Facebook.

Bagan's sweeping expanse of centuries-old ruins -- which make for a staggering sunset vista -- have survived wars, earthquakes and tropical sun.

In the city's heyday, between the 9th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of a powerful kingdom and one of Asia's most important centres for learning.

"It's really heartbreaking. I cannot even eat," said Tin Hla Oo, a trustee of the three-story Htilominlo pagoda, which was badly damaged by the quake.

Story continues

"We are suffering because this is a great loss, as these (pagodas) are priceless."

- Haphazard renovation -

Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, which lies in a tectonically active region.

The last major quake to seriously damage Bagan struck in 1975 and was followed by a controversial restoration effort under the military junta that stepped down in 2011.

Experts said the haphazard renovation work, much of it hastily done with modern materials, significantly altered the original architecture and design of some monuments.

In recent years, as the country undergoes a democratic transition and opens up following decades of isolationist junta rule, UNESCO has worked directly with the government to safeguard the monuments.

"We believe this time the restoration will follow international standards," said Sardar Umar Alam, the head of UNESCO's office in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

The agency dispatched experts to Bagan Thursday and is working directly with government ministries, he added.

"It takes time to know how the structures are stabilised and how bad the actual damage is -- if a roof collapses, how much it affects different walls and mural paintings," said Alam.

Suu Kyi, the former political prisoner whose party swept landmark elections in November, is faced with the tough task of modernising an impoverished country whose economy was eviscerated by its former military leaders.

She is formally barred from the presidency by a junta-era constitution but has been ruling through her proxy president Htin Kyaw and her post as state counsellor, a powerful position her party crafted after taking office.

Travel to Myanmar used to be reserved for the well-heeled and intrepid, prepared to endure the travails of a country under junta rule with patchy electricity and limited communications.

But foreign tourists have poured in since the military stepped down, many of them making a beeline for Bagan.

This year Myanmar is on track to welcome 5.5 million tourists, nearly a million more than 2015, according to Tint Thwin, director-general of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) Indias High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna is set to head for Washington as Ambassador to the US, considered a high-profile posting.

Arun Singh, Indias Ambassador to US, is due for retirement and it is understood that Sarnas name has been finalised to succeed him.

It is learnt the Indias High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha may replace Sarna in the UK.

advertisement

Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1980 batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted to London in January.

The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the MEA. He had held the post between 2002 and 2008.

Sarna is likely to take up the new assignment in the midst of the high-voltage presidential campaign in the US and his main task will be to ensure continuity in Indo-US relations when a new dispensation takes charge in Washington.

Sarna is an author of many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life released last year. He was also Indias Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012.

For two years from August 2012, Sarna had served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations in the MEA.

Sarna had served at various Indian missions, including in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington.

Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner to the UK, is a seasoned diplomat and, in his career spanning 35 years, he has handled several important assignments at the MEA and in Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. PTI MPB SK

--- ENDS ---
The price of the EpiPen has soared 500% since generic drug company Mylan bought the treatment nine years ago. Yet Mylans controversial CEO Heather Bresch says she and her company arent solely to blame for the fact that patients are paying more for the must-have allergy medication. Another culprit, according to Bresch: President Obama.

On an earnings call earlier this month, Bresch blamed EpiPen sticker shock in part on Obamacare. She said that employers increased use of high-deductible plans, one of the side-effects of the law, has resulted in patients paying more out of pocket for the drug, and thats where youre seeing a lot of noise around EpiPen. Whats more, Bresch, citing the roughly $600 wholesale cost, added that when you look at other treatments, the EpiPen does not fall into the category of an expensive product.

Mylan is no stranger to controversy (see my profile last year, Why Wall Street Loves to Hate Mylans CEO). But EpiPen, a portable device that counteracts potentially life-threatening allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis, is supposed to be the companys shining success story. In fact, prior to the recent price hike backlash, Mylan was looking to make the EpiPen more expensive.

The company has been actively trying to renegotiate contracts with pharmacies and distributors this year that kept the EpiPen competitively priced with is biggest competitor, Sanofis Auvi-Q. But now that the Sanofi drug is no longer on the market--the company recalled its entire supply last fall, and has since abandoned it--Mylan is looking to ditch contracts that constrained EpiPens price. I think youll see opportunities for us to continue to have that price per pen increase, CEO Bresch said at a conference in May.

Mylan, already the most dominant maker of epinephrine auto-injectors, now enjoys a near-monopoly on the market since Auvi-Qs withdrawal: After the recall, EpiPens market share immediately jumped from 85% to 95% at the end of last year. That lead remains safe at least into 2017, after an attempt by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to release a generic version failed to pass FDA muster earlier this year. The only other product on the market, the lower-cost Adrenaclick by Impax Laboratories , has recently grown from 2% market share to 7%, but its still only considered interchangeable with EpiPen in 21 states, according to a research note Wednesday from RBC Capital Markets.

Mylan did not return Fortunes request for comment about the Obamacare connection. But in a statement on Monday, Mylan says it has tried to make EpiPen accessible and affordable to people who really need it, offering rebate cards that allowed 80% of patients with commercial insurance to get the product for free last year.

Still Mylan appears to be learning the same hard lesson this week that Martin Shkreli and Valeant learned last year: Investors love when pharmaceutical companies raise drug prices--until everybody else gets really upset about it. Shares of Mylan have dropped more than 11% this week, down more than 5% on Wednesday alone.

And the EpiPen controversy is drawing comments from some high-profile figures, including Hillary Clinton and Martin Shkreli himself, who tweeted that he thought the EpiPens price should even be higher. On Wednesday, Clinton said there was no justification for the price hikes. Her comments came shortly after the Senate Committee on Aging asked Mylan to provide information on the reasoning behind what it called the drastic price increase of EpiPen, and the American Medical Association urge[d] Mylan to rein in these exorbitant costs.

The pricing scandal is happening at the worst possible time for Mylan. This is typically the companys biggest season, driven by EpiPen sales, which peak during back-to-school shopping as parents and schools equip for the coming year.

And EpiPen is a huge point of pride for Mylan as well as for Bresch herself. Inside Mylan, executives including Bresch all refer to EpiPen as her baby: Its Mylans first billion-dollar drug, reaching $1 billion in annual sales in 2014 and 2015--making it what the pharmaceutical industry calls a blockbuster. Thats an even rarer feat for a generic drug maker such as Mylan, which makes most of its revenue not on brand-name drugs, but on cheaper, equivalent versions of other companies branded medications.

When Mylan acquired EpiPen as part of a transaction with in 2007, the drug had already been on the market for about 25 years--its initial approval in the U.S. was way back in 1939--yet it was such a no-name it wasnt even mentioned in the press release of the $6.7 billion deal. At the time, EpiPen was making less than $250 million in sales. This was a side show at best, Bresch told me last year.

Bresch, who at the time was overseeing the Merck integration as president of Mylan (she became CEO in 2012), saw EpiPen as a hidden gem. She poured marketing resources into the product, and embarked on an awareness and political campaign to get more EpiPens into schools and other public institutions. Today, 47 states have laws about making epinephrine auto-injectors available at school in case of an anaphylaxis incident, largely as a result of Breschs efforts. Mylan signed on famous spokespeople for EpiPen, including actress Sarah Jessica Parker and celebrity chef Amanda Freitag.

Under Mylan, sales of EpiPen grew at an average annual rate of 33%, more than doubling their 13% annualized growth rate before Bresch took charge. A lot of that growth came from increasing EpiPen prescriptions as the product became more mainstream: In the first seven years Mylan owned EpiPen, the number of patients using it grew 67%, according to Bloomberg.

But price increases also drove sales growth. In the first year Mylan owned EpiPen, its price increased nearly 5%, to about $99 for a set of two EpiPens. But the following year, in 2009, the wholesale acquisition price of EpiPen jumped 26%; since 2012, prices have increased almost 30% each year. In May, Mylan raised the price of EpiPen another 15%, to $608.61 for a pack of two, according to Elsevier Clinical Solutions Gold Standard Drug Database. In total, that amounts to a more than six-fold increase in the wholesale price of EpiPen since Mylan bought it.

Still, if anyone is equipped to defend Mylans unpopular moves--say, its tax inversion to the Netherlands last year--its Bresch. There's going to be good things that get you and there's going to be bad things that get you, so you better be willing and your skin better be thick, Bresch told Fortune last year, quoting her father, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. I try to look at it from the perspective of I should be flattered that so many people are trying to tear us down.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
By Toni Clarke and Ransdell Pierson

(Reuters) - Mylan NV said on Thursday it would reduce the out-of-pocket costs of its emergency EpiPen allergy injection for some patients amid a wave of criticism from lawmakers and the public over the product's rapidly escalating price.

The list price of the drug will remain the same, but the company said it would increase the maximum copay assistance program to $300 from $100 for patients who pay for the 2-pak in cash or who are covered by a commercial health insurer.

The price of EpiPen has skyrocketed to $600 from $100 since it was acquired by Mylan in 2007.

Mylan also said it is doubling the eligibility for its patient assistance program, which will eliminate out-of-pocket costs for uninsured and under-insured patients and families.

Government paid programs are not eligible for the copay assistance program.

Ronny Gal, an analyst with Bernstein, said when all is said and done he estimates a total price reduction for EpiPen of 32 percent. The price rose 27 percent in the second quarter of 2016 versus the same quarter a year ago.

"Thus we are basically rolling back the increase of the past year," he said. "In all, we estimate that today's news results in a 20-25 percent hit on EpiPen revenues." He expects that to translate into a 3-4 percent hit to Mylan's earnings per share over the next few years.

He estimates the company will earn $4.77 a share in 2016 and $5.58 in 2017.

Mylan is the latest company to be caught up in the growing outrage at apparently egregious drug price increases. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc and Turing Pharmaceuticals have both been publicly excoriated for similar price increases.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who has spoken out against escalating drug prices, "welcomes the fact that Mylan is now apparently open to taking steps to lower some of the cost sharing burdens imposed on families," Tyrone Gayle, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement.

Story continues

However, he added, "discounts for selected customers without lowering the overall price of EpiPens are insufficient, because the excessive price will likely be passed on through higher insurance premiums."

Clinton's view was echoed by Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Elijah Cummings, who said Mylan's move is nothing but a public relations stunt that does nothing to help the majority of patients who need the drug.

"Offering a meager discount only after widespread bipartisan criticism is exactly the same tactic used by drug companies across the industry to distract from their exorbitant price increases," he said in a statement. "Nobody is buying this PR move any more."

Mylan Chief Executive Heather Bresch, defending the price in an interview on Thursday on CNBC, said her company had spent hundreds of millions of dollars improving EpiPen, including making its needle invisible, since acquiring the device from German generic drugmaker Merck KGaA.

"When we picked up this product, they (Merck) weren't spending a dollar on it," said Bresch,

Bresch said Mylan recoups less than half of EpiPen's list price because pharmacy benefit managers, which often require discounted prices or rebates from drugmakers, are involved, along with insurers and others.

Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar said Mylan's action was a "welcome relief" to many who are struggling to afford the medication, but said it does not address the root of the problem of rising drug costs.

Earlier this year, Clinton chastised drug companies for exorbitant pricing and unveiled a plan that she said would cut costs, making the issue not only a hot election discussion topic but potentially an issue that could have policy implications if she is elected. On Wednesday, Clinton pressed Mylan to voluntarily cut the EpiPen price, sending the company's share price lower and pushing down biotech stocks.

Mylan shares fell more than 10 percent this week before rising 3.2 percent on Thursday after announcement of the discount program.

EpiPens are preloaded injections of epinephrine (adrenaline) used in case of a dangerous allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis that could cause death if untreated.

Anaphylaxis can occur in as little as a couple of minutes of exposure to the allergen, which can come in the form of food such as peanuts or insects such as bees. Certain medications or latex can also cause a severe reaction.

Symptoms include itching, swelling of the lips, tongue and roof of the mouth, tight chestedness and difficulty breathing. People who are susceptible to such reactions are frequently advised to carry an EpiPen, which can deliver an immediate emergency jolt of adrenaline to reverse the symptoms.

A group of lawmakers said on Wednesday they had written the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asking about its approval process for alternatives to the EpiPen.

FDA spokeswoman Theresa Eisenman said in a statement the agency is reviewing the questions posed in the letter "and will respond directly to the Congressional members." She noted that the FDA does not have the authority to review or approve drug prices.

Bresch, daughter of Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said she contacted members of Congress over the past two days and asked to meet with them to discuss what she called an "unsustainable" drug pricing system.

She said one of the calls was to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who recently wrote a letter to Mylan asking for an explanation of big EpiPen price increases.

(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson in New York, Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru, Toni Clarke and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Alan Crosby and Bernard Orr)
Los Angeles (AFP) - Two weeks ago, filmmaker Nate Parker had the world at his feet, readying for the release of "Birth of a Nation," a paean to racial equality tipped to sweep the Oscars.

His directorial debut on one of America's most important slave rebellions has generated huge buzz amid nationwide protests over police shootings of black youths and with America polarized over immigration and terrorism.

But there are doubts over whether Parker's passion project -- seven years in the making -- will get its release in October with the emergence of new details about a rape accusation of which he was cleared 15 years ago.

Parker, now 36, and his roommate and "Birth of a Nation" co-writer Jean Celestin, were accused of raping an 18-year-old woman at Penn State University in 1999 while she was unconscious after a night of drinking.

Parker was acquitted in 2001 but Celestin was sentenced to six months in prison for sexual assault before the conviction was overturned on appeal because the alleged victim refused to testify again.

A dark episode Parker believed was behind him, the case exploded across the front pages last week when Variety magazine revealed that the woman had killed herself at a drug rehab center in 2012.

Although there is no evidence linking her suicide at the age of 30 to the trial more than a decade earlier, questions have resurfaced over Parker's conduct after the woman made the rape allegations.

She alleged that he and Celestin harassed, stalked and publicly identified her after she went to police, and she sued the university for failing to protect her, settling on a reported cash payout of $17,500.

- 'Profound sorrow' -

Parker said on Facebook last week that he was "filled with profound sorrow" to learn of the woman's suicide, while at the same time maintaining his innocence.

"I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name," he said.

Story continues

Fox Searchlight bought "Birth of a Nation" for a record $17.5 million in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the grand jury prize, prompting predictions of Oscars glory.

It is due to screen in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, often a launchpad for the awards season, before it hits US theaters on October 7.

But Fox is reportedly monitoring press coverage, with a view to delaying its release if the publicity surrounding the rape case renders a nationwide promotional tour by Parker untenable.

In a first sign of choppy waters ahead, the American Film Institute said Tuesday it was postponing a screening and Q&A with Parker in Los Angeles slated for Friday, citing the many "passionate points of view" it had received about the film.

"'Birth of a Nation' will ultimately come down to how well Fox can manage the PR over the next few months," an industry analyst who asked not to be identified told AFP.

"Reviews are solid so far, so the film at least has that in its favor."

- 'Victim blaming' -

Parker may have hoped that his Facebook statement would draw a line under the issue, and he is not without support -- albeit off-the-record -- among fellow African American filmmakers.

Variety quoted two unnamed black directors on Tuesday who voiced suspicions over the timing of the scandal resurfacing, with one wondering out loud if it wasn't "a way to muffle a very important piece of work."

Meanwhile, civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton told African-American news site The Root that Parker should be allowed to get on with his life after being found not guilty.

But for some, Parker's acquittal does not absolve him from some of the more disturbing details of the case, not only during but also after the alleged attack.

"Right now, based on what I've read, I would not go to the movie," Academy member and Oscar voter Marcia Nasatir told the Hollywood Reporter.

The Women's Law Project, which represented the student in her suit against Penn State, issued a statement this week highlighting a "pervasive bias and victim-blaming" in the legal system's treatment of sex crime allegations.

A spokeswoman for the WLP told AFP its position on "Birth of a Nation" was "nuanced" but that it did not support a boycott, pointing to comments made last week by executive director Carol Tracy underlining the importance of free speech.

Tracy said that while it was important for Parker to be able to visit campuses and to discuss the film, he should also be prepared to address the alleged assault.
acadia national park

On August 25, the US National Park Service turned a century old.

To celebrate, President Barack Obama designated 87,500 acres of land in Maine as protected territory, creating the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument along the east branch of the Penobscot River.

The area comes as a gift from the family foundation of Roxanne Quimby, a philanthropist and the co-founder of Burt's Bees. Combining the value of the land ($60 million), an operations and maintenance endowment ($20 million), and a pledge to raise another $20 million, Quimby is effectively donating $100 million to the government.

The area features spots for fishing, camping, and trails for hiking, and now that the land is a national monument, the National Parks Service will manage and protect the wildlife and fauna that live there.Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument might end up being the last national park site created on the East Coast, since it's one of the last sprawling wild areas in the eastern US.

A photo posted by Acadia National Park (@acadianps) on May 3, 2016 at 6:28am PDT

The designation "will reinforce the need to continue protecting our great outdoors as we enter the second century of the National Park Service," the White House said in a statement.

It will be the only national monument that allows hunting, though not of bears, which was a provision in the foundation's deed to the government. More than half of the trails will allow snow-mobiling during the winter.

A photo posted by antoekneeohh (@antoekneeohh) on Aug 25, 2016 at 5:05am PDT

The monument will likely boost Maine's local economy in the area, and contribute to the national revenue earned through park tourism  which already totals about $646 billion. Over 3 million people per year currently visit the site, but its new recognition will likely bolster that number even more.

NOW WATCH: Once a year it looks like there's a river of fire pouring down a cliff in Yosemite  here's why





More From Business Insider


From Popular Mechanics

After years of debate, the U.S. Navy has decided that the first aircraft carrier-based unmanned aircraft will be a midair refueling tanker. The MQ-25 Stingray will carry fuel, not bombs, and its presence will allow the rest of a carrier's jets to operate at far greater ranges.

Navy Times quotes the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, as saying "(Stingray) will primarily be a mission tanker Those are the features that will drive the design of the airframe." The carrier drone will get limited intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance features only after the tanker requirements are hashed out. It will not be a strike aircraft, or a stealthy one.

In a 2015 report, retired naval aviator Henry Hendrix pointed out that the combat range of America's carrier-based strike aircraft had fallen from a maximum of 1,800 nautical miles during the Vietnam War all the way down to today's 496 miles. This was because of the U.S. Navy's standardization on the short-ranged F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet and the retirement of other aircraft that could serve as midair refueling tankers. The introduction of the larger, heavier F-35C Joint Strike Fighter to replace some of the Hornets will barely improve matters, as Hendrix projected the F-35's combat range to be approximately 550 nautical miles.

Meanwhile, other nations have been investing in long-range weapons to attack carriers. China has developed the much-hyped DF-21D "carrier killer" anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), a land-based weapon designed to target and sink flat-tops. The DF-21D has a range of around 810 nautical miles. A longer ranged version, the DF-26, has just entered service that has a projected range of 1,620 to 2,160 nautical miles.

In other words: To strike an ASBM before it is launched, a modern-day American aircraft carrier would have to steam well within the range of the missile. The carrier would endanger itself-and the 5,000 people onboard-just to shut down one missile. The problem is magnified if there are multiple mobile missile launchers.

Story continues

Navy planners gave considerable thought to having the service's first carrier-borne drone be a stealthy, long-range strike plane. A squadron of such planes would be a powerful addition to a carrier air wing. The problem is that while such an option gives you a dozen or so very capable planes, the rest of the carrier air wing is still stuck at the old range limit.

Instead, the Navy appears to reason using a dozen or so planes to give all 40 to 50 Super Hornets and F-35Cs a greater range. It's a smart move, and one that will bring more planes into the fight from farther distances. Carrier strike drones may be what everyone wants, but tankers-as unsexy a mission as midair refueling is-are what the Navy needs.

Via Navy Times.

You Might Also Like
NCI Building Systems Inc. NCS is set to report its third quarter fiscal 2016 results on Aug30, 2016, after the market closes.



In the last reported quarter, NCI Building posted adjusted earnings of 4 cents per share, reversing its prior year quarters loss. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.



Factors to Consider



On Jul 18, NCI Building scaled up its revenue guidance to a range of $458 million to $469 million for third-quarter fiscal 2016. It expects gross margin between 26.5% and 28% on the back of increased business activity. The company remains optimistic about its second half fiscal 2016 performance.



Though increasing steel costs will affect revenues in the to-be reported quarter, the company will benefit from its efforts to simplify the organizational structure. Share repurchase and a sturdy backlog are also likely to act as tailwinds.



Surprise History



NCI Building has beaten estimates on three occasions in the trailing four quarters. Overall, the company has posted an average positive surprise of 102.10%.

NCI BLDG SYSTEM Price and EPS Surprise

NCI BLDG SYSTEM Price and EPS Surprise | NCI BLDG SYSTEM Quote

What Our Model Indicates



Our proven model does not conclusively show that NCI Building is likely to beat estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below.



Zacks ESP: The Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, is pegged at 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 20 cents per share.



Zacks Rank: Though NCI Building has a Zacks Rank #2, an ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult.



Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or #5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Stocks to Consider



Here are some stocks you may want to consider as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases:



Louisiana-Pacific Corp. LPX has an Earnings ESP of +20.69% and it carries a Zacks Rank #2.



Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. JEC has an Earnings ESP of +1.30% and it carries a Zacks Rank #3.



Lennox International, Inc. LII has an Earnings ESP of +4.02% and it carries a Zacks Rank #3.



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



NCI BLDG SYSTEM (NCS): Free Stock Analysis Report



LENNOX INTL INC (LII): Free Stock Analysis Report



LOUISIANA PAC (LPX): Free Stock Analysis Report



JACOBS ENGIN GR (JEC): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
EXCLUSIVE: The Weinstein Company has set a January 15 start date for its remake of the French smash hit The Intouchables, after the movie came together quickly with Neil Burger to direct Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart in the lead roles. The script, a fresh take on the original concept, came in strong from Jon Hartmere, and the past week saw an array of meetings to lock it down between TWCs Harvey Weinstein and David Glasser with Burger, and Cranston and Hart, the latter of whom did it by phone while on his honeymoon. The film will most likely shoot in New York. This has long seemed like an ideal picture to remake; it grossed huge internationally with $416 million, but it only did $10 million domestic for the French language film. TWC released the original domestically and got remake rights as part of the bargain and has gone back and forth with several thesps and directors to tell the story about an aristocrat (Francois Cluzet) who, after being paralyzed in a hang-gliding accident, hires a young man (Omar Sy) from the projects to be his caretaker. The original film was directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano.

Hart and Cranston are an intriguing pairing. Cranston, who won five acting Emmys for Breaking Bad in the Oustanding Lead Actor category, is up for another for playing LBJ in the Jay Roach directed All The Way, that after an Oscar-nominated turn as blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo in Trumbo. Hart just paired with Dwayne Johnson in Central Intelligence and followed with Illuminations The Secret Life Of Pets, and is completing his feature-length stand-up pic Kevin Hart: What Now? Both actors are with UTA.

Burger, who made his directing breakthrough with TWC on The Illusionist and followed with the hits Limitless and Divergent, flirted with Intouchables as long as six months ago while other directors were circling. Burger has separately been writing Bride of Frankenstein, the Universal classic monsters franchise which has had Angelina Jolie circling. CAA reps Burger.

Related stories

'All The Way' Writer-Director Team On The 2016 Presidential Election, Politics As War & Their Road To Emmys

Pete Hammond's Emmy Handicaps 2016: Outstanding TV Movie

'All the Way' Makeup Designer Bill Corso Delves Into His Latest Emmy-Nominated Actor Transformation
Mike Pence and Donald Trump

Presidential candidate Evan McMullin, the independent running as a "Never Trump" conservative alternative, told Business Insider on Wednesday that Republican vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence had left him "confused."

When asked during a Wednesday interview about his initial thoughts on several individuals, McMullin seemed hesitant to deliver a one-word description of Pence, the Indiana governor who is Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's running mate.

"I'm confused at the moment by him," he said. "I'm not sure I have a one-word synopsis for him."

When asked later whether he could clarify the stance, McMullin expanded his answer.

"I don't know Mike Pence personally, but everyone I know who knows him says he's a good man," he said. "I believe that to be true. I'm confused about why he has joined forces with Donald Trump."

McMullin, who has been staunchly critical of Trump, called the real-estate mogul "bigoted" earlier in the interview.

McMullin decided earlier this month to embark on his independent candidacy after being dissatisfied by both Trump and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. He said Wednesday that he was the only true conservative candidate in the race.

He previously worked as a CIA operative and as a policy director for the House Republican Conference.

Watch Business Insider's full interview with McMullin below:

NOW WATCH: INSTANT POLL: Americans viewed Clinton's convention speech more favorably than Trump's





More From Business Insider


New Zealand native Joseph Herscher could not get the proportions right while making cocktails, so he created a cocktail maker using chain-reaction machines and it looks fun.

By India Today Web Desk: New Zealand native Joseph Herscher is a pro at creating comical chain-reaction machines and uses them to solve his everyday problems.

In 2009, he came up with the idea of a 'Cocktail Maker' because he was unable to get the proportions right while making drinks. "I am terrible at mixing drinks, I always get the proportions wrong. So back in 2009 I made this machine with 42 Below", Joseph wrote in a Facebook post recently.

advertisement

He uses familiar objects and creates a chain to get the work done. Joseph made his first machine when he was only five years old and named it the Lolly Machine. Later, he went on to create a contraption that covered his entire apartment, which had a hammer smash an egg in three minutes. This video garnered 3,000,000 views.

Since then, he has created many such videos with machines doing different tasks. He is currently living in New York and does workshops and creates machines for films and art festivals.

Watch his Cocktail Maker chain reaction here:



The video has a hit among social media users and received672,427 likes and more than8,000 shares.

--- ENDS ---
TMZ

TMZ

It is a universally known fact that neither Nick Diaz nor Nate Diaz have ever backed down from a fight, ever. Defending ones honor at all costs, but mostly by slapping a bitch is the Stockton credo, I believe, and one that has all but forced the Diaz brothers to throw down in post-fight interviews, pre-fight press conferences, UFC events they werent fighting at, hotel lobbies, and even hospitals.

So basically, youll have to pardon our skepticism over the report that a very well behaved Nick Diaz found himself getting jumped by four dudes outside of a Vegas nightclub early Wednesday morning. As TMZ reports:

A rep for the club tells us the UFC fighter went to a bathroom outside the club around 2:30 AM, and accidentally stumbled into another customer  who started talking smack. Were told Nick apologized and said he didnt want any trouble, but 3 other men then joined the first guy and jumped Nick  who tells us, I didnt start it. They didnt know who I was. He tried to defend himself, and got hit hard in the head  and then the fight spilled out of the bathroom, and out onto the Bellagios casino floor.

Apologized? Said he didnt want any trouble? BREAKING: Nick Diaz First Victim of Alien Body-Snatching Invasion

From there, Bellagios security were able to break up the fight and escort the four ungentleman-like figures out of the building. According to eyewitness accounts, Diaz refused to press charges against the group and that they had got the worst of it. Even crazier?

Spoke to a rep from the club who confirmed Nick wasn't the problem. Exact words, "Nick was very well behaved." https://t.co/Fs2HVwZHWj  Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 24, 2016

That spokesperson turned out to be Taylor Fisher of the Hyde Las Vegas, who added We enjoyed having Nick at Hyde Bellagio last night and never had any problems with him in the club.

You heard it here first, folks. Nick Diaz has gone soft.
Former U.K. Independence Party Leader Nigel Farage weighed in on the parallels between the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union and Republican nominee Donald Trumps anti-establishment presidential campaign.

The lessons, the parallels, are clear. What we did in the U.K. on the 23rd of June, was to strike the first really big blow against the professional political class working hand in glove with the giant multinationals and the big Wall Street banks, Farage told the FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney.

Farage then reacted to reports that polls on the morning of the Brexit vote showed the leave side was substantially behind despite ultimately ending the day with a victory.

The morning of the vote was quite remarkable, there was an opinion poll issued by what was a reputable polling company showing the remain side ten points in the lead. And I genuinely think that what went on at the end of that campaign was a deliberate media and establishment attempt to say to voters, look, Brexit isnt going to win so why bother to go out to vote for it.

Farage explained that this was a key part of his message to Trump supporters.

And what I was saying to Trump supporters last night is whatever gets said in the next 73 days in this campaign, even if they tell you that the Donald cant win, dont believe them, because what we saw was the deliberate attempt to fiddle the figures. Luckily we ignored it and we beat them.

Farage then weighed in on Obamas trip to Britain in April in which he told voters to support the U.K. remaining in the European Union.

When Varney pointed out claims that the British people resented President Obama traveling to Britain in April and telling voters to support the U.K. remaining in the European Union and that Americans might view Farages comments on the U.S. election in a similar way, Farage responded, I didnt tell anyone how to vote, I wouldnt dare do such a thing, I did suggest though that if I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary because nothing is going to change if that woman wins. She represents that corporate, media club that have had their own way over the last 20 or 30 years that have led us into an endless series of wars and led us into a world where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Story continues

According to Farage much of the same rhetoric used against Brexit would be used against Trumps campaign as well.

Frankly, what we were sold was a complete pack of scaremongering lies, it was called project fear and I said to the audience last night [at Trumps rally in Jackson, Mississippi] that you will hear the same thing. You will hear If Trump wins, well play into the hands of President Putin, well bring the world closer to war and there will be terrible economic ruin coming to America.

Related Articles
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)
* Nikkei has traded in narrow range over the past week

* Yellen comments expected to move market - analysts

* Weak oil prices pull down mining stocks

By Ayai Tomisawa

TOKYO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks edged down on Thursday as appetite for risk was checked by weakness on Wall Street and caution ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Friday, an event global markets hope will provide clues on the outlook for U.S. rates.

The benchmark Nikkei shed 0.2 percent to 16,562.49 in midmorning trade.

Fed officials including Vice Chair Stanley Fischer and New York Fed President William Dudley have expressed upbeat views on the economy in the past week, indicating a rate increase this year is likely and could come as soon as the September meeting.

Investors are now looking to Yellen's speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday for insight on the U.S. monetary policy outlook.

The Nikkei benchmark index has traded in a narrow 16,452.01-16,714.61 range over the past week, and could move back toward the 16,500-level depending on Yellen's remarks, traders say.

"The market is cautiously focused on whether Yellen adopts a hawkish or dovish tone," said Michiro Naito, executive director of equity derivatives at JPMorgan. "As Japan's recent monetary policy and fiscal policy changes have failed to meet market expectations, people expect the U.S. economic outlook to be the main catalysts for Japanese stocks for now."

On Thursday, weak oil prices dragged on mining shares. Inpex Corp dropped 1.3 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co shed 1.0 percent.

On the positive ledger, airline companies, which benefit from cheap oil prices, outperfomed. ANA Holdings rose 0.8 percent and Japan Airlines gained 1.8 percent.

Exporters were mixed, with Toyota Motor Corp up 0.1 percent, Nissan Motor Co rising 1.1 percent and Panasonic Corp declining 1.6 percent.

Taking a sharp downward move, Recruit Holdings Co tumbled more than 7 percent after the recruiting giant said its shareholders would sell up to 267 billion yen worth of its shares based on Wednesday's closing price, to diversify its shareholder base.

The broader Topix dropped 0.3 percent to 1,302.68 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 declined 0.3 percent to 11,706.69.

(Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
(Reuters) - Nine staff members at a state prison in Nebraska were injured during an altercation with inmates on Wednesday, a state correctional services spokeswoman said.

The staff members were taken to hospital, treated and released after the incident that put the Lincoln Correctional Center on lockdown, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith said in a statement.

The staff members were assaulted by inmates who refused to return to their housing units, she said.

It was unclear if any inmates were injured during the incident.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Paul Tait)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - There is no evidence that a Frenchman who shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is Greatest) as he stabbed a British woman to death at a backpackers' hotel in Australia was radicalised or under the influence of a political ideology, police said on Thursday. The dead woman has been identified as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21. A 30-year-old British man was in critical condition in hospital after the attack late on Tuesday in Queensland state, south of the tropical city of Townsville. The 29-year-old Frenchman was in Australia on a valid tourist visa and had no known links to radical groups such as Islamic State, police said. There was also evidence he had consumed cannabis before carrying out the attack, they said. "At this stage there is absolutely no, and I repeat, there is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any political motive in relation to this matter," Queensland Police Superintendent Ray Rohweder told reporters. 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. (Reporting by Matt Siegel; Editing by Paul Tait)
Vinay first took painkillers and thereafter tried to hang himself with a towel in the jail. He was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where his condition is said to be critical.

By India Today Web Desk: Nirbhaya gangrape convict Vinay Sharma today attempted suicide in Delhi's high-security Tihar Jail and was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

File photo of convict Vinay Sharma.

Vinay first took painkillers and thereafter tried to hang himself with a towel in the jail. He was caught in the act by a Tamil Nadu special police personnel on duty who stopped him. He is said to be out of danger now.

advertisement

According to sources, the convict was suffering from depression and was on medication.

Vinay, along with three others, had approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's 2014 verdict that observed their offence to be rarest of rare. The apex court on April 8 in a surprising move had appointed senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde to argue for Vinay and Akshay (another convict).'

Reports said, inmates at the jail had thrashed Vinay severely in 2013.



Twenty-three-year-old paramedical student Nirbhaya was gangraped inside a moving bus and her friend was beaten up in Delhi on December 16, 2012.

ALSO READ | Nirbhaya gangrape: Rs 10 lakh award if iron rod theory is proved, says defence lawyer



RAM SINGH SUICIDE CASE

Ram Singh was one of the key accused in gangraping and atrociously assaulting the physiotherapist.

In a similar manner, another convict Ram Singh (34) had hanged himself in Jail No. 3 at 5 am in 2013. He was one of the key accused in gangraping and atrociously assaulting the physiotherapist.

Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh and four other accused in the case had been charged with murder, gangrape, destruction of evidence, criminal conspiracy, dacoity, unnatural sex and common intent in the case.

However, legal experts had said that Singh's death did not undermine the prosecution's case against the other accused, which was largely based on DNA evidence and the testimony of the rape victim before she died and her friend.

Like millions of Indians in search of work and better prospects, Ram Singh's family had migrated to Delhi from Rajasthan in the 1990s.



Vinay's suicide attempt highlights the number of suicides at the jail. According to a report of the Department of Psychiatry, Central Jail Hospital, Tihar, around 20 prisoners committed suicide in Tihar Jail in the last 16 years. All were pre-trial verdict inmates, like Ram Singh, who had become the 21st inmate to die an unnatural death.

ALSO READ:

All you need to know about the brutal Nirbhaya-like rape case of Kerala







advertisement

--- ENDS ---
Sydney (AFP) - A Frenchman was on Thursday charged with stabbing to death a young British woman backpacker in Australia, but police found he showed no signs of radicalisation despite saying "Allahu Akbar" during the attack.

Twenty-nine-year-old Smail Ayad was accused of stabbing Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, multiple times late Tuesday at a hostel in Home Hill, a rural town in north Queensland state.

The attack also left a 30-year-old British man fighting for his life with critical head injuries, a 46-year-old local man with non-life threatening injuries, and a dead dog.

Ayad -- who is due in court Friday -- faces one charge of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault, Queensland Police said.

The French national is also accused of resisting police violently when he was taken from hospital where he had undergone a psychiatric assessment late Wednesday, with officers using a taser and capsicum spray on him.

But while police alleged Wednesday that Ayad said "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) during the attack and again when arrested, investigators insisted Thursday that there were no signs of radicalisation.

"We are certainly not ruling anything out but what I can say at this stage there is absolutely no -- and I repeat -- there is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any particular motive in relation to this matter," aDetective Superintendent Ray Rohweder told a press conference.

Rohweder -- who confirmed the names of the suspect and the victim -- said one line of inquiry was whether Ayad had a romantic interest in Ayliffe-Chung, although he stressed that so far there was no indication of a "romantic connection" from her point of view.

The detective said the suspect appeared to have shown "some form of change of behaviour" and there was "some stuff that was a bit out of character" on Tuesday night, adding that Ayad may have taken cannabis.

Story continues

State Police Minister Bill Byrne earlier called for calm after anti-immigration firebrand Pauline Hanson, a newly elected senator, was reported as saying the incident "could well be the first Islamic terrorist attack in Queensland".

"There will be those that seek to exploit this and I believe they will be unhelpful," Byrne was quoted by the Brisbane Times as saying. "What is required here is cool, calm, thoughtful consideration."

Canberra has been increasingly concerned about extremism and in particular about home-grown radicalisation, keeping the terror threat alert level at high since September 2014.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared a submarine-launched missile test the "greatest success", state media said Thursday, as the UN weighed a condemnation of the launch which appears to advance Pyongyang's nuclear strike capability.

The US mainland and the Pacific are now "within the striking range" of the North's army, the official KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying after Wednesday's launch.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Sinpo on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military. It flew 500 kilometres (around 300 miles) towards Japan, far exceeding any previous sub-launched tests.

The UN Security Council met for two hours on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's latest provocative move and agreed to consider a statement condemning the launch.

"There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council and therefore we will have to see how we would then be phrasing the press statement," said Ramlan bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, which currently holds the council's presidency.

However diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyang's main ally, over the wording.

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 Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.

Kim said the latest launch proved the North had joined the "front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability".

Pyongyang's KCTV aired brief footage shot from different camera angles, showing the missile soaring from underwater, igniting and surging almost vertically into the air.

The North's top newspaper Rodong Sinmun also carried 24 photos of him observing the launch, including one with his hands on his hips roaring with laughter at an observation post, and other watching through a pair of binoculars.

Story continues

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," it said.

- 'On track to hit Japan' -

Kim called for his nation's scientists to work towards mounting nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles and to be able to deliver them in order "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists".

"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," he was quoted as saying.

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system would take its 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.

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 and fully fuelled, it could travel over 2,500 km, the source said.

The agency had previously quoted a military source saying if fired at the optimum angle it could cover more than 1,000 km -- without mentioning if it was fully fuelled.

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its website, 38 North, that Pyongyang still faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile.

But the North is "on track to the capability to strike targets in the region -- including Japan -- by 2020", it said.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement following the launch that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions and that the latest test posed a "serious challenge" to security on the Korean peninsula.

The 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 drills on Monday.

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 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.
By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile and declared it "the greatest success," which puts the country in the "front rank" of nuclear military powers, official media reported on Thursday. North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Wednesday which flew about 500 km (300 miles) towards Japan. The South Korean government and experts said the launch showed technical progress in the North's SLBM program. "A test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile was successfully conducted under the guidance of supreme commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un," the North's official KCNA news agency said. "He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," KCNA said. "He noted with pride that the results of the test-fire proved in actuality that the DPRK joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability." DPRK, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is North Korea's formal name. North Korea has conducted a spate of military technology tests this year, including a fourth nuclear test in January and numerous ballistic missile launches, in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions that were tightened in March. North Korea said this year it had miniaturized a nuclear warhead to fit on a ballistic missile but outside experts have said there is yet no firm evidence to back up that claim or show it had mastered the technology to bring a live warhead back into the atmosphere and guide it to strike a target. North Korean state television on Thursday showed video clips of the launch of a missile from underwater at dawn, and still photographs of Kim on the dock at a port as a large crane unloaded an object onto a submarine. Kim is also seen jubilantly celebrating with military aides in photographs carried by the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper. REACHED JAPAN DEFENCE ZONE The Washington-based 38 North project said in a report that the missile was launched from the North's sole experimental missile submarine and a satellite photograph taken on Monday showed final preparations, likely after the missile had already been loaded onto the submarine using a heavy construction crane. The test showed the solid-fuel missile's control and guidance system as well as the atmospheric re-entry of the warhead all met operational requirements, KCNA said. The South Korean and U.S. militaries said the missile was fired from near the coastal city of Sinpo, where a submarine base is located. Japan said the missile reached its air defense identification zone, the first time by a North Korean missile. The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on Wednesday at the request of the United States and Japan to discuss the launch. Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev said the United States would circulate a draft press statement. The meeting comes after the Security Council was unable to condemn a missile launch by the North earlier this month that landed near Japan because China wanted the statement to also oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea. China said on Wednesday that it opposes the North's nuclear and missile programs. It had been angered by what it views as provocative moves by the United States and South Korea on the decision to deploy the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) anti-missile system in South Korea. (Additional reporting by Minwoo Park in Seoul and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
ruter-bus-oslo-norway

Keep an eye on Oslo if you want to see the future of public transportation.

The Norwegian capital city has plans to go car-free by 2019. It's also working to make its public transport as easy and as efficient as possible for passengers.

Frode Hvattum, the head of strategy for Oslo's public transport authority Ruter, told Streetsblog writer Clarence Eckerson Jr. that Ruter is aiming for 5% ridership growth per year. By comparison, New York City's sprawling transit authority can only boast half that growth at 2.6%.

Hvattum also explains how the city's bus system runs so well. For one, the vehicles are long and flexible, with folding bellows that help the buses make sharp turns. They also have four entry points, which make for easier and faster onboarding and off-boarding. And passengers have several ways to pay. They can seek out ticket machines at major tram and bus stations, order a refillable plastic card online, or pay through an app on their phone.

The public transit in Oslo is built on an honor system; Ruter assumes you've paid if you've boarded a bus. To deter fare evasion, Ruter authorities do occasional spot checks  when passengers are asked for proof of payment, they have to show paper receipt or a blinking confirmation on their phone.

Of course, it's important to note that Oslo has a relatively small population of around 650,000, so a similar honor system might not work for larger cities. Los Angeles, for instance, had trouble with the honor system on its light rail and subway lines.

On a smaller scale, though, Oslo's transportation system looks like it's going in the right direction.

Watch Streetsblog's interview with Frode Hvattum below.

NOW WATCH: The world's first self-driving taxis are now available in Singapore





More From Business Insider


You can now get chicken and waffles at this ~other~ major U.S. restaurant, but theres a twist

You can now get chicken and waffles at this ~other~ major U.S. restaurant, but theres a twist

Fall is literally just right around the corner and there is nothing more satisfying than bundling up in an over-sized sweater, enjoying the cool breeze, and indulging in some comfort food.

And if you thought Starbucks was the *king* of fall indulgements, I have to inform you that there is a new royal to take the throne. U.S. burger chain Red Robin just debuted their  wait for it  chicken and waffles BURGER just in time for fall.

According to the chains website, the Bees Knees Finest Chicken Burger is a mouth-watering twist on chicken and waffles featuring an all-natural, crispy, tempura-fried chicken breast glazed in Angry Orchard honey, spicy jalapeno relish, citrus-marinated tomatoes and onions with shredded romaine on a Belgian waffle bun.

Um, okay, threaten us with a good time, why dont you? That sounds absolutely incredible! And the comfort food perfection doesnt stop there! Red Robin is also offering Smores Sweet Potato Fries, which is exactly what it sounds like: crispy sweet potato fries topped with marshmallows, hot fudge, and a bit of sea salt. Theyre also offering a Smore milkshake to complete the holy comfort food trifecta.

Theres one catch here, though. These dishes are only available for a limited time through November 6, so grab them while you can!

The post You can now get chicken and waffles at this ~other~ major U.S. restaurant, but theres a twist appeared first on HelloGiggles.
When Lady Gaga arrived at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards clad in a revealing dress made completely of raw meat, the reactions ranged from awe to outrage from ardent animal activists. Now, six years later, her notorious dress  designed by Franc Fernandez and styled by Nicola Formichetti  is back, albeit in the form of a hot pot order in Beijing, China.

The unique menu item consists of a miniature replica of Gaga sheathed in a raw steak dress; as the slices of meat are removed to be cooked in the sizzling oil of the hot pot, the doll loses more and more of her clothes.

Like its predecessor, the hot pot pret-a-porter meat dresses come with their fair share of controversy  the main concerns stemming from disputes with sexism and cleanliness.

Chinese hot pot restaurant, taking the Lady Gaga #meatdress to whole new extremes # #becauseChina pic.twitter.com/jN0bL32T7w  Elyse Ribbons  (@iheartbeijing) August 21, 2016

As for Gagas original meat dress, which originated as a protest against the U.S. militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, it went on display in 2011 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after being preserved like beef jerky by taxidermists.
We can now watch the trailer for Lily-Rose Depps movie with this famous actress

We can now watch the trailer for Lily-Rose Depps movie with this famous actress

If you love contemplative, aesthetically pleasing films, youre in luck because Lily-Rose Depps new movie is full of gorgeous costumes, settings, and of course, dialogue in French. According to Nylon, the film (which is called Planetarium) is about two American medium sisters (meaning theyre able to communicate with the dead) who run about exploring 1930s Paris. The plot of the film thickens when the pair attracts the attention of a movie producer who wants to turn their talent into fame and fortune.

From the mystically eerie look of the trailer, were betting that this doesnt go quite how the girls expect.

While seeing Lily-Rose Depp on the big screen is exciting enough, many of us are equally thrilled to see what famous actress is playing her on-screen sister. Well none other than our favorite Natalie Portman is co-starring, and we personally couldnt be more excited to watch these talented, brilliant women work together. (And speak French! How sophisticated, are we right?)

As of right now, there is only a French-produced trailer, so were stuck figuring out the film via subtitles. Still, from what we can parse together, were already counting down the days till the premiere.

Check out the beautiful trailer below  and maybe start brushing through those old French books, while youre at it!

The post We can now watch the trailer for Lily-Rose Depps movie with this famous actress appeared first on HelloGiggles.
OTTAWA (Reuters) - The number of people who have traveled overseas from Canada and are suspected of involvement in radical activities has grown, security officials said in a report that found the number of women leaving to join Islamic State was also on the rise. At the end of 2015, 60 of what Canada calls "extremist travelers" had returned to the country, according to the annual report released on Thursday by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. These returnees are being monitored by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a top priority, Goodale's spokesman said. Goodale has overall responsibility for law enforcement, including the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The main security threat comes from individuals acting alone or in small groups who are inspired by militant groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda rather than directed by them. The report comes just two weeks after an Islamic State supporter who was in the final stages of preparing an attack on a Canadian city with a homemade bomb was killed during a police raid at his home in Ontario. At the end of last year, the government was aware of about 180 individuals with a connection to Canada who were abroad and suspected of "engaging in terrorism-related activities", the report said. That is up from approximately 130 individuals in 2014. More than half of the 180 are believed to be in Turkey, Iraq or Syria, where the ongoing conflict has destabilized the region. Women now make up about 20 percent of total extremist travelers from Canada, in some cases taking their children to conflict zones, the report said. Although it is commonly assumed that women travel abroad to marry extremists, some may take on secondary roles within militant groups, while others appear to be taking part in combat, the report said. It was the first major security report issued since the Liberal government came into power last year. The Liberals campaigned on a plan to scale back a 2015 law that gave increased powers to security authorities in the wake of two deadly attacks by homegrown radicals in 2014. Since the thwarted attack earlier this month, the government has said it will continue with its plans to reform the law and is beginning national security consultations. A gunman killed a soldier at Ottawa's national war memorial before launching an attack on Parliament in October 2014, while a man ran down two soldiers in Quebec, killing one, around the same time. (Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Bernard Orr)
As families across the U.S. get ready to send their children back to school, parents of kids with food allergies have a different sort of homework. They must make sure their kids are safe in the classroom, playground and lunchroom. For kids with nut allergies, does their school have a nut-free policy and, if it does, what does that mean?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for food allergies. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, management focuses on three things: education, avoidance of the allergen and immediate access to a life-saving epinephrine auto-injector. There is no "safe" amount of food, and even cross-contact with food preparation equipment can cause an allergic reaction in some children. Parents are often anxious at the thought of losing the ability to supervise what their child eats. They don't want to rely on a school's kitchen staff to be aware of potential allergens and to read all food labels carefully.

Managing food allergies in schools can be very challenging. With large numbers of students spread among different classrooms as well as moving through different locations during the school day, constant supervision isn't possible. Allowing food in the classroom for birthday or holiday celebrations, or through art projects, can increase the risk of reaction. Cafeterias, of course, are the main focus of concern, as meals pose the greatest risk for an allergic reaction.

[See: 8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies.]

In response, many schools have adopted nut-free policies. While this may provide reassurance for families sending their nut-allergic children to school, it can be a source of contention as well. A nut-free policy will not protect children who suffer from other severe food allergies. And families who rely on peanut butter as an inexpensive source of protein and nutrition are forced to find alternative lunch options. Anger can develop for the few that force a policy that affects all. This has become highly emotional on both sides.

Should all schools adopt nut-free policies? Should the decision be based on factors like school size, layout, personnel and composition of students? Should nut-free policies be abandoned altogether?

Here are some important points about nut allergies and nut-free schools:

-- In one study of 1,960 Massachusetts schools, rates of epinephrine use were higher in schools with nut-free policies compared with those without. Rates were lower in schools with nut-free tables in the cafeteria.

-- There are no randomized controlled studies (gold-standard for research) that have evaluated rates of food allergy reactions in schools with nut-free policies. More research is clearly needed.

-- Epinephrine is the only effective treatment for anaphylaxis -- a rapidly progressing and severely allergic reaction involving more than one organ system, such as hives and difficulty breathing.

-- Deaths from food allergy are very rare, and almost always due to lack of access to, or delayed use of, epinephrine.

-- 16 to 18 percent of children with food allergies have had a reaction at school.

-- 25 percent of food allergy reactions at school occur in a student without a known food allergy.

-- Food allergy symptoms happen immediately after eating a food, happen every time the food is eaten and with the same symptoms.

-- Typical symptoms can include itchy red hives, swelling, trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing and vomiting.

-- Symptoms may get worse with each reaction or over time, and may vary from one child to the next.

-- It is extremely rare for any exposure other than eating or drinking to cause a severe life-threatening reaction.

-- Removing food from a prepared dish (picking a nut off a brownie) is not safe and can still result in a reaction.

-- Soap and water or cleaning wipes do a good job of removing food allergens from surfaces and food preparation equipment. Hand sanitizers do not remove allergens.

Did that first point state that food allergy reactions are actually higher in schools with nut-free policies? According to one study, yes. School nurses and administrators say strict enforcement of nut-free policies is almost impossible. It requires scrutiny of every snack and meal brought into school by every student, every day. It is also possible that school staff let their guard down if a nut-free policy is in place. This may inadvertently cause staff to ease up on their focus and monitoring.

[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids' Health.]

So should schools adopt nut-free policies? For some schools, this is absolutely the best tactic. Other schools may choose a different approach. This is a decision that should be based on each school, including a careful assessment of resources, student population and discussions with concerned parents. Regardless of a school's decision to go nut-free, given the growing number of food allergies among children, schools should conduct an annual training for all staff to ensure proper understanding of food allergy management.

Debate will probably continue regarding the merits of nut-free policies in schools. But no one can argue that what matters most is that children with food allergies be able to attend school with their peers. They should not be excluded from any activities, and they should learn in a safe environment while minimizing risk of accidentally eating a known food allergen.

Resources for schools: In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control published "Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs." This is available online for free and offers an excellent review of essential strategies for schools to implement to help protect their food allergic students.

[See: 7 Lifestyle Tips to Manage Your Asthma.]

David Stukus, MD, FACAAI, is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and serves on the ACAAI Public Relations Committee. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Stukus' interests lie in dispelling commonly held misconceptions surrounding allergic conditions and dissemination of best practices to health care providers. You can find him on Twitter @AllergyKidsDoc.
By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today visited flood-affected areas in Patna district to take stock of the flood situation and relief camps. The Bihar CM visited Maner, Danapur, Didarganj and Bakhtiarpur areas on the outskirts of the state capital which are badly hit in the floods. Thousands of people living in these areas have been displaced in one of the worst floods. Many flood victims have now been brought to relief camps set up by the government. Patna DM Sanjay Kumar and other officials accompanied Nitish during his visit.

advertisement

Nitish went to the relief camps that was set up by the district administration and took stock whether the camps was functioning as per norms or not. Bihar CM last week had issued direction to the DM's of flood-affected districts to ensure that the people who are taking shelter in the relief camps are provided hygienic and nutritious food to eat in steel plates.



REVIEWED BASIC DETAILS

Nitish also reviewed whether small children at the relief camps were being provided milk or not. During the visit Nitish checked whether the new clothes for small children and sarees for women that was being distributed by the Patna administration was of standard quality.

Nitish twice earlier conducted aerial survey of the flood-affected districts and held review meeting but this was the first time on Thursday he went to take stock of situation on the ground. Nitish is believed to have directed the officials to ensure that flood-affected people in the relief camps are taken good care of. He also directed the district administration to appeal more and more people who are still stranded in riverine areas to be brought to relief camps.

MET PM MODI

Couple of days back, Nitish Kumar had met PM Narendra Modi and asked for central assistance to deal with the flood situation which had affected 28 districts in the state. RJD President Lalu Prasad also has been conducting ground survey and visiting flood-affected people.

In one of the worst floods that the state is facing post 2008 Kosi floods, more than 125 persons have lost their lives and more than 25 lack people displaced.

Bihar grapples with flooded Ganga, Lalu says victims lucky to get Gangajal at home



Nitish Kumar blames Farakka dam for floods, writes to PM Modi calling for it's demolition







--- ENDS ---
New York (AFP) - New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art said Thursday it is extending the hours of the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" exhibition that has drawn near-record visits.

The exhibit in the US museum's Costume Institute explores handmade and machine-made creation of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to wear in more than 170 ensembles, with the oldest dating to the early 20th century.

"Manus" -- hand -- and "Machina" -- machine -- has attracted more than 664,000 visitors since its May 5 opening, the Met said.

That has pushed it into the Costume Institute's second place for attendance, topping "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" in 2011, which drew slightly more than 661,000 visitors.

The department's most popular show, last year's blockbuster "China: Through the Looking Glass", attracted nearly 816,000 visitors and is the Met's fifth most-visited exhibition.

The Met said it was adding six more hours of viewing time on "Manus x Machina's final weekend. The museum will close at midnight on September 2 and 3, instead of its normal time at 9:00 pm. The exhibit ends on September 5.

The exhibit already was extended by three weeks from August 14.

The signature piece is a 2014 wedding ensemble with a six-yard (meter) train by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel made of scuba knit, a synthetic material, and hand-embroidered.

Among the other designers are names from some of the world's leading fashion houses, including Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent.

"Manus x Machina" was the inspiration for the Met's annual gala this year, whose star-studded attendees included Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Bradley Cooper and Johnny Depp.
The Obama Administration still expects to close the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before President Obama leaves office in January, the White House said Thursday.

Were going to do our best to try to get this closed and its our expectation that thats what well do, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a briefing.

Vice President Joe Biden had said earlier Thursday in Sweden that it is his hope and expectation that Guantanamo would be closed by the time he left office, according to pool reports.

Since Obama took office in 2009, the White House has made attempts to close the prison, which houses suspected terrorists, but has faced opposition from Congress.

One of the first orders Obama signed after he was inaugurated required the prison to be closed within a year. And this past February, Obama sent his most recent plan to close Guantanamo to Congress.

For many years, its been clear that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay does not enhance our national security  it undermines it, Obama said at the time.

The proposal would require a change in the law that currently prohibits detainees from being housed on U.S. soil  one that Congress has shown little evidence of altering.

The U.S. recently transferred 15 detainees from Guantanamo to the United Arab Emirates, but 61 still remain.
a-10 f-16 elephant walk warthog south korea

On Wednesday, the Government Accountability Office released a scathing report about the US Air Force's half-baked plan to replace the A-10, essentially concluding that the Air Force had no good end game in sight.

"The Department of Defense (DOD) and Air Force do not have quality information on the full implications of A-10 divestment, including gaps that could be created by A-10 divestment and mitigation options," the report from GAO, a nonpartisan entity, states.

The A-10, a relic of the Cold War era, flies cheap, effective sorties and is well suited to most of the US's current operations. But surprisingly, it's not really the plane itself that's indispensable to the Air Force  it's the community.

Ground forces know A-10 pilots as undisputed kings of close air support, which is especially useful in today's combat zones, where ground troops often don't have an artillery presence on the ground.

But there are other planes for close air support when it comes down to it. The B-1 Lancer has superior loiter time and bomb capacity compared to the A-10, but, it turns out, close air support is only one area where the A-10s excel.

The report finds that A-10 pilots undergo much more close-air-support, search-and-rescue, and forward-air-control training than any other community of pilots in the force.

gao a-10 training close air support

While the Air Force seems determined to replace this community and reallocate their resources elsewhere, the report finds that the cost estimates used to justify the retirement of the A-10 just don't make the grade.

According to the GAO, "a reliable cost estimate is comprehensive, well-documented, accurate, and credible."

The report finds that the Air Force's cost estimates for replacing the A-10 are almost comprehensive, minimally documented, and just plain not credible.

Indeed we have seen some pivots on the Air Force's official position on the A-10. At one point, they wanted to retire it, stating that the F-35 would take over those capabilities, but then the Senate told them to prove it.

Story continues

More recently, we heard that the Air Force wants to replace the A-10 with not one, but two new planes, one of which would be developed specifically for the role.

Warthog A10 aircraft Air Force Al Asad Air Base Iraq.JPG

What the GAO recommends, however, is that the Air Force come up with a better, more concrete plan to mitigate the losses in capability caused by the A-10's mothballing.

Lawmakers were not shy about the relief the report brought to the complicated question. Perhaps the best testimony came from Congresswoman Martha McSally, a former A-10 pilot herself:

"Today's report confirms what I've argued continuously  the Air Force's flawed and shifting plan to prematurely retire the A-10 is dangerous and would put lives in danger ... I've fought for and won full funding for our entire A-10 fleet and to make the retirement of any A-10 condition-based, not time-based."

NOW WATCH: The Air Force's A-10 Warthog targets ISIS fighters with this massive gatling gun





More From Business Insider


By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose 1 percent on Thursday on U.S.-Iran military tensions in the Gulf and speculation the dollar will fall on a monetary policy speech due from the U.S. Federal Reserve chair.

The market, however, gave back some gains after an interview by Saudi Arabia's energy minister with Reuters raised fresh doubts about a potential OPEC output freeze.

Crude futures rallied toward the close after a U.S. defense official said a U.S. Navy ship fired three warning shots after an Iranian fast-attack craft approached two U.S. ships in the northern Gulf on Wednesday.

The United States had reported on Wednesday another incident where it said Iranian vessels harassed a U.S. warship near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.

"These reports of confrontation between U.S. and Iranian vessels are giving cause again for oil markets to think about geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and what potential disruptions those could cause to oil traffic there," said Phil Flynn, analyst at the Price Futures Group in Chicago.

Earlier, oil prices rose on expectations that Friday's Fed policy speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming by central bank Chair Janet Yellen would hint at further delays in U.S. rate hikes. The dollar weakened slightly on Thursday and could fall further on Friday, traders said, boosting prices of oil and other commodities denominated in the currency. [FRX/]

Brent crude futures <LCOc1> settled up 62 cents, or 1.3 percent, at $49.67 a barrel.

U.S. crude's West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures <CLc1> rose 56 cents, or 1.2 percent, to settle at $47.33.

Oil pared some gains after Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih told Reuters he did not believe any significant oil market intervention was necessary as demand for crude was "picking up nicely" around the world.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers, as well as consumers, are to meet in Algeria on Sept. 26-28 on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum. Speculation has been rife that the meeting will agree to some sort of output curbs, after a similar effort for a production freeze failed in April.

Story continues

Al-Falih said there had been no "discussions of substance yet" on OPEC production levels.

His comments reinforced the belief of many market participants that the September meeting will not resort to any production curbs, especially with recent data showing the Saudis and fellow OPEC member Iran were pumping as much as they could.

"OPEC is producing at record high levels and the market is paying them to do it, with the way prices have risen today despite what the Saudi minister said," said Tariq Zahir, crude trader at Tyche Capital Advisors in New York.

(The story was refiled to correct the first paragraph to say Thursday instead of Friday)

(Additional reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York, Christopher Johnson in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; editing by Nick Zieminski and Tom Brown)
By PTI: From Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Aug 25 (PTI) Australian police have ruled out any links to extremist groups in the stabbing of a 21-year-old British woman to death at a backpackers hostel in the countrys northeast even as aromantic angle is being probed.

"What I can say, at this stage, (is) there is absolutely no ? and I repeat ? there is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any particular motive in relation to this matter," Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said.

advertisement

Yesterday,police said they were investigating links to any extremists groups in the stabbing to death of Mia Ayliffe Chung by 29-year-oldFrench national Smail Ayad who said "Allahu akbar" during both his arrest and the attack witnessed by a crowd of 30people.

"But were certainly far from reaching any positive conclusions as to motive or anything like that. We intend to attempt to interview the suspect today and I would imagine that we will be in a position to either charge or release the suspect," he added.

The stabbing incident took place on Tuesday at Shelleys Backpackers in Home HIll,100 kilometres south of Townsville by Ayad, whowas also staying at the hostel. He also attacked and injureda30-year-old British man who cameto Mias rescue.

Ayad underwent a psychiatric assessment and may have used cannabis prior to the attack, Rohweder said, adding police were probing if the suspect had anyromantic interest in Mia.

"There is certainly at this stage no indication ? from Mias point of view ? that there was any sort of romantic connection.

"We are certainly looking at everything thats occurred down there over the last couple of days. Stating that the suspect was violent with police officers," he said.

"When we transported the suspect from the Townsville hospital to the Townsville police station, the suspect behaved in an extremely violent manner, which necessitated police stopping the motor vehicle and attempting to restrain him.

"As a result of that, police received some injuries, including just cuts and abrasions but also a bite to the leg, and other police then arrived and assisted the two detectives, and he was subsequently placed in a van and taken to Townsville police station," he added. PTI NC AMS SAI AMS

--- ENDS ---
From Esquire

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Things were not as usual on Wednesday afternoon in John Marshall Park, a semi-shady oasis next to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Dead in front of the building, five Native American drummers pounded and chanted and chanted and pounded. The crowd around them, some in Native dress and some in T-shirts and jeans, and some in the biker leather of a Native motorcycle club from upstate New York, joined in. This was the language of the prairie and the hills come to the capital of the land of politics and the law.

Inside the courthouse, in Courtroom Number 19, where there were no seats to be had, District Judge James Boasberg was conducting a hearing in the matter of The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Corps of Engineers. At issue was an injunction which would delay the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline through the tribe's land. Ever since April, members of the Standing Rock nation in North Dakota have been demonstrating and blocking the construction of the pipeline, arguing that it is profaning lands that the tribe considers to be sacred. The pipeline is meant to carry Bakken oil from North Dakota through Iowa to Illinois.

Photo credit: Charles P. Pierce

The confrontations between the protesters and the people who are building the pipeline have grown increasingly touchy. Governor Jack Dalrymple, in charge of one of the continent's few petro-states, has declared the demonstrations to be a threat to the public order and has declared a state of emergency along the pipeline route. Electric power to the protest camp, as well as its water supply, have been cut off. In front of the courthouse on Wednesday, people who had come to Washington from North Dakota expressed concerns for their people back home, because nobody was quite sure what steps Dalrymple might take to enforce the state of emergency he declared.

There seems little question that the Dakota Access pipeline has replaced the defunct Keystone XL pipeline as ground zero for the multi-faceted battle over pipelines and, therefore, over energy policy going forward. After the president canceled Keystone, it seemed that a little of the air went out of the anti-pipeline forces. Major environmental groups moved on to other issues. However, on the ground in places like Iowa and the Dakotas, local grassroots activists looked at the campaign against Keystone and drew their own lessons from it. Purely through the dint of the efforts of local ranchers and Native tribes along the proposed route, the Dakota Access pipeline is the new Keystone XL.

Story continues

"Some of the environmental groups decided to focus their attention elsewhere, and after six years, I can understand that," said Jane Fleming Kleeb, the chairman of the Nebraska Democratic party who made her bones leading the fight against the Keystone project in that state. "What should have happened after Keystone got rejected was a huge influx of resources to local and state groups fighting pipelines, and that hasn't happened. What has happened is landowners and tribes on the ground are fighting with everything they have and there have been 20-plus projects that have been cancelled."

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related Story" customtitles="Another Pipeline, Another Environmental Disaster" customimages="" content="article.43669"]

Beyond the environmental questions regarding more pipelines carrying more carbon-based fuels to more places, Kleeb's key issue has been the shadowy use of the eminent domain power of the several states at the behest of private companies like TransCanada, the extraction behemoth behind the Keystone project and, in this case, Energy Transfer Partners, the company seeking to build the Dakota Access pipeline. Politically, it's a very shrewd idea; both liberals and conservatives have railed against the use of eminent domain ever since the Supreme Court's Kelo decision. You may recall that it briefly was an issue in the Republican primary debates. Jeb (!) Bush, in particular, hammered Donald Trump hard on Trump's own use of eminent domain in his various casino enterprises.

In fact, very much like what happened in Nebraska, the resistance in Iowa against the Dakota Access pipeline is led by ranchers furious at what they see as the state's complicity in a private land-grab. Earlier this week, a judge denied a stay on construction of the pipeline, kicking the decision over to the Iowa utility board. The plaintiffs in that case accused Energy Partners of blackjacking them into granting easements by threatening to have their land condemned, a charge that the company's lawyers denied, but one that is more than familiar to the people in Nebraska who fought TransCanada. "This has been the slow erosion of property rights," said Kleeb. "This is the only way that pipelines will be stopped. Construction companies will find ways to get around permits and other obstacles. That has to be brought through the courts."

This was the language of the prairie and the hills come to the capital of the land of politics and the law.

There are other problems as well. On Wednesday, The Des Moines Register ran a story in which farmers who were paid to allow an easement through their property along the pipeline's route in Iowa complained that the pipeline company had reneged on promises to restore the land once the pipeline got buried.

Instead, he's got a scar running across his soybean fields where the dark, fertile topsoil is being stacked on top of several feet of hard clay mixed with clay loam. The result, Goebel fears, will be soil less suited for growing crops-and much less valuable. "Nature separated those soils for a reason, that's the way I feel," said Goebel, who runs a 164-acre century farm in Sioux County. "If nature put it there, they should put it back the way it was." His complaint is one of several popping up across Iowa as work ramps up on the pipeline that will stretch from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota across Iowa to Patoka, IIl.

(Perhaps the most interesting speculation centers on the fact that, three weeks ago, Energy Partners sold its stake in the Bakken pipeline system to everybody's favorite disaster farm, Enbridge Energy Partners of Houston. A few cynical souls have noticed that this combination might allow not only the transport of Bakken crude to Illinois, but also, in conjunction with the existing TransCanada Upland pipeline, the development of a system that could reach the tar-sands moonscape of Alberta, giving us Keystone by another means.)

The hearing was long and polite, touching on the threat to delicate archaeological sites along the Standing Rock portion of the route and on whether or not the pipeline company had done due diligence as to its commitments and responsibilities to the Native people of the region. Judge Boasberg promised that he would render a decision on the injunction within two weeks.

Photo credit: Getty

Outside the courtroom, Bobbie Jean Threelegs, a member of the Standing Rock nation, spoke about how she had come to be involved in the resistance among her people. She is one of a group of runners who have run the length of the proposed pipeline in relays from South Dakota to Omaha in order to deliver a petition to officials of the Army Corps of Engineers, who did not accept them. Bobbie Jean and her fellow runners then organized a massive relay that brought them to Washington to sit in on the hearing.

"It took us 28 days," she said. "I got involved in the cause by my relative. She came back to the reservation, to each district meeting, informing people about the Dakota Access pipeline. I was involved with the youth then. This is an important issue for the youth because it will affect future generations."

They ran for 28 days in order to sit in witness at a two-hour court proceeding. Outside, the drumming and chanting went on and on, even after the lawyers all had gone home-the voice of the prairie and the hills come to the land of politics and the law, which has been so often deaf to it.

Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.

You Might Also Like
Lifetime has a Britney Spears movie in the works. Natasha Bassett, who recently appeared in the Coen Brothers Hail Caesar, will star as the Toxic popstar in a two-hour feature that the real Spears will not be contributing in any way, shape or form to nor does it have her blessing.

Production begins next month in Vancouver for a 2017 premiere, so get ready, Canada! You need to triple your supply of Juicy sweats and Starbucks Frappuccinos.

Spearss life has been an extremely public greatest hits of highs and lows, so we put together our own Top 5 Britney Moments Lifetime Cant Forget.

Number 5: Baby One More Time

Not only have you memorized the lyrics, you can still do most of the dance. The music video launched Spearss career in 1998, and eventually had to be retired by MTVs Total Request Live, because it made the countdown too many times.

Number 4: Madonna, Xtina, and the VMAs

Britney routinely topped the biggest moments of the Video Music Awards, but in 2003, she blew the Satisfaction striptease out of the water with a triple-kiss with Christina Aguilera and Madonna for a saliva-soaked passing of the torch.

Number 3: Justin

The greatest love stories ever told: Napoleon and Josephine, Romeo and Juliet, Britney and Justin. Britney first met the NSYNC frontman on the The Mickey Mouse Club in 1992, and their love blossomed into matching denim outfits at the 2001 American Music Awards.

Number 2: Kevin Federline

After Justin, another beau suddenly entered the picture, and three months later, Britney and K-Fed were engaged. And what better way to detail your nascent love than with a UPN reality show! Britney and Kevin: Chaotic only lasted five episodes, but it was enough to irreparably damage her career, and inspire Federline to release his own album.

Number 1: Late Night Barber

Maybe well never understand the circumstances of the late-night head-shaving incident, but we can at least revel in Lifetime shining a salacious spotlight on the shave seen round the world.

Story continues

Watch Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel ruin each others Emmy-nominated scene breakdowns

What are your Top 5 Britney Moments? Any that we forgot? Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
By Colleen Jenkins

(Reuters) - Two Florida hospitals will not seek payment of medical bills from the dozens of people treated for injuries suffered in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June, officials at the health facilities said.

The move leaves the hospitals with estimated unreimbursed costs topping $5.5 million, they said on Thursday.

Forty-nine people were killed and 53 were wounded by gunman Omar Mateen before police fatally shot him after a three-hour standoff inside the gay dance club on June 12.

U.S. authorities said Mateen was self-radicalized and acted alone, without assistance or orders from abroad, to commit the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

"It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting," said Daryl Tol, president and CEO of Florida Hospital. "We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando."

Florida Hospital treated 12 shooting victims at a cost of about $525,400, it said.

Orlando Health said in a statement that it expects to absorb costs exceeding $5 million after payments from funding sources such as insurance plans. Its main hospital, Orlando Regional Medical Center, treated 44 patients at its trauma center located a few blocks from the nightclub.

One patient hurt in the attack remains in guarded condition at the hospital, spokeswoman Sabrina Childress said in an email.

"During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals, and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support," Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said in a statement. "This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward."

The nightclub remains closed. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton made a quick stop at the memorial outside Pulse on Wednesday, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper reported.

(Reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Editing by Bill Trott)
The hospitals that treated the victims of June's Pulse nightclub shooting won't ask them to pay their medical bills, which could top $5 million, PEOPLE confirms.



A majority of those victims injured in the shooting were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center  and the hospital says none of those victims will see a bill. (Forty-nine people were killed and at least 53 more were injured at the gay-friendly hot spot in Orlando, Florida, when a gunman opened fire there on June 12, authorities have said.)



"Orlando Health has not sent any hospital or medical bills directly to Pulse patients and we don't intend to pursue reimbursement of medical costs from them," according to a statement obtained by PEOPLE from Orlando Regional's parent network, Orlando Health.



"We are exploring numerous options to help the victims of the Pulse nightclub tragedy address immediate and ongoing medical costs," Orlando Health said.







In the statement, officials noted that the hospital's total unreimbursed costs "could exceed $5 million."



 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.



A Florida Hospital Orlando official tells PEOPLE that they, too, will not charge the victims, but did not give details about the hospital's plans to cover the costs.



"It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting," Florida Health President and CEO Daryl Tol said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando."





RELATED VIDEO: Wounded Survivors of Orlando Nightclub Shooting Speak Out





Tol said that the hospital treated 12 of the shooting victims and the total bill amounts to approximately $525,400.



Nine people injured at the club later died at Orlando Regional, the Washington Post reports. The hospital treated 44 victims total.



Police say Omar Mateen was shot and killed by authorities hours after he attacked the club, in the nation's deadliest mass shooting, just after 2 a.m. on June 12.



"I can't stop crying," survivor Carmen Pena told PEOPLE soon after the massacre. "I feel so sick. It was awful."
Matthews Asian Growth & Income Investor Fund (MACSX) a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) was incepted in September 1994 and is managed by Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. MACSX seeks long-term capital appreciation. MACSX invests at least 80% of its assets in the convertible bonds and dividend-paying equity securities of companies located in Asia.

This Pacific - Equity product, as of the last filing, allocates their fund in four major groups; Emerging Market, Foreign Stock, Intermediate Bond and Large Growth. Further, as of the last filing, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, AIA Group Limited and Resorts World Berhad were the top holdings for MACSX.

The Matthews Asian Growth & Income Investor fund, managed by Matthews Asia, carries an expense ratio of 1.09%. Moreover, MACSX requires a minimal initial investment of $2,500.

MACSX has a history of positive total returns for over 10 years. Specifically, the funds returns over the 3, 5 year benchmarks; 3 year 1.81% and 5 year 3.99%. To see how this fund performed compared in its category, and other #1 and #2 Ranked Mutual Funds, please click here.

MACSXs performance, as of the last filing, when compared to funds in its category was in the top 20% in 1 year, top 78% over the past 3 years, and in the 27% over the past 5 years.

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 >>



View All Zacks #1 Ranked Mutual Funds

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



Get Your Free (MACSX): Fund Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
New York (AFP) - Paisley Park, Prince's state-of-the-art studio complex that held a mythic status for fans who entered it during the pop legend's life, will open to the public as a museum.

The "Purple Rain" star's estate said it was teaming up for the project with the company behind Graceland, Elvis Presley's home-turned-museum in Memphis that draws more than 600,000 visitors a year.

The 55,000-square-foot (5,000-square-meter) complex will open for tours on October 6, one week before fans descend on Prince's Minnesota hometown of Minneapolis for a memorial tribute concert at the new US Bank Arena.

Prince's sister Tyka Nelson said that the pop star had long hoped to allow the public into Paisley Park, which he opened in 1987 in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen and where he died on April 21.

"Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on," Nelson said in a statement Wednesday.

"Only a few hundred people have had the rare opportunity to tour the estate during his lifetime. Now, fans from around the world will be able to experience Prince's world for the first time as we open the doors to this incredible place," she said.

A plan submitted to the city of Chanhassen said that fans would go on 70-minute guided tours that cover Prince's recording and mixing studios, his concert hall and his so-called NPG Music Club, which he kept private.

In line with Prince's guidance when he threw parties at Paisley Park, the museum will serve only vegetarian food and no alcohol, the plan said.

The museum will also present thousands of Prince's personal items, including his often sensational concert outfits, musical instruments, cars and motorcycles and rare recordings.

Tickets will cost $38.50, with VIP tickets for special, smaller tours to run over $100.

- High-end but isolated studio -

Prince, fresh from the acclaim for "Purple Rain," invested some $10 million -- about twice as much in 2016 dollars -- to build a top-of-the line recording center at Paisley Park.

Story continues

Led by Los Angeles-area architects Boto Design, Paisley Park has four main studios with sound and vibration isolation so artists can record and perform simultaneously.

Prince initially rented out Paisley Park. Top artists including Madonna, Stevie Wonder and R.E.M. all either recorded or mixed there, making the isolated suburban complex an unlikely hub for the global music industry.

Prince a decade later made it his exclusive domain. Few fans were able to see Paisley Park for themselves, giving the complex an added aura for those who entered its gates.

But Prince late in his life opened the complex for periodic dance parties, generally announced at the last minute.

Prince briefly played at Paisley Park during one such party on April 17, his last performance before his death at age 57 from an accidental overdose of painkillers.

- Finding business model -

Bremer Trust, which administers Prince's affairs with the permission of his siblings, earlier told a court that it sought business projects out of fear that the estate would not be able to pay its taxes.

The court dismissed an objection, filed by a prisoner who says he is Prince's son, that it was premature to monetize Paisley Park amid disputes over heirship.

Bremer Trust said it expected 1,500 to 2,000 people to visit Paisley Park on peak days and that it was open to developing the site in the future, including potentially by allowing fans to stay the night.

Graceland, where Presley is buried, offers a model for building a successful business through a late star and has become a pre-eminent tourist attraction in Memphis, Tennessee.

When Michael Jackson, Prince's contemporary who was often seen as a rival, died in 2009, fans called for turning his Neverland Ranch into a memorial but the proposal floundered amid the prohibitive cost and the California estate is up for sale.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli soldier on Wednesday shot dead a Palestinian motorist who had stabbed him and 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. (Corrects headline to clarify incident) (Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; writing by Ori Lewis; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By PTI: London, Aug 25 (PTI) North Korea has ordered its ambassador in London to return home over the scandal around his deputy?s alleged defection to South Korea.

Hyon Hak-bong is being questioned by a team from North Koreas State Security Department, who are based in Berlin, the ?JoongAng Daily? South Korean newspaper reported.

Hyon and other diplomats based at North Korea?s embassy in west London face possible punishments for their failure to alert headquarters over the disappearance of Thae Yong-ho from his base.

advertisement

Thae went missing with his wife and two sons last month, following which South Koreas Unification Ministry confirmed on August 18 that the family had arrived in Seoul and were being protected by the government.

North Korea has ordered Ambassador Hyon to return to North Korea and filed a request with the British government to appoint a new ambassador.

The newspaper?s sources claim that the replacement proposed to British authorities is a former officer in the North Korean military.

Media reports suggest that as many as seven North Korean diplomats have defected so far this year, including a government official stationed at the embassy in Bulgaria, one from Russia and several based at missions in East Asia. PTI AK NSA UZM

--- ENDS ---
From Good Housekeeping

Most students come home from the first day of school with supply lists, syllabi and permission slips, but a Florida school system added a controversial form to the mix. Leon County asked parents whether their children should recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

"I understand my rights as a parent and I request that my child, noted above, be excused from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance," the waiver states. "This request includes standing and placing his/her right hand over his/her heart."

The surprising handout went viral this week on Facebook, with an honest opinion written in place of a signature. "This is the dumbest thing I've ever read and I'm ashamed of this," it says, and lots of people agree. The photo soon earned over 26,000 shares as commenters condemned the opt-out form.

"Our flag is the symbol of our country," an opponent wrote on Facebook. "Pledging your allegiance to our American flag means that you pledge to uphold our values of liberty and justice for all."

The massive backlash forced school administrators to apologize, but the option still stands. The school released the following statement to explain:

Leon County Schools values patriotism, civic responsibility and the Pledge of Allegiance. A change to Florida law this year requires all school districts to publish in the student code of conduct booklet the students' right to not participate in reciting the pledge of allegiance. In complying with the change in law, our staff developed a form for parents to use to exercise that right. Superintendent 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. We apologize for any confusion the form may have caused. We understand that approximately 400 paper copies were distributed before the superintendent stopped the process."

Story continues

That new Florida statute does require schools to notify students about "the right not to participate," but staying silent isn't anything new. The U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that mandating public schoolchildren to salute the flag violates the First Amendment.

"Most people assume that this a new prohibition, but almost everyone alive today went to school with the 'opt out' ability as part of their education," one commenter wrote. "The very thing that many of you claim ('this is America') is what allows people to opt out. History is a wonderful subject."

[h/t WTXL]
Four members of the Penn State community have released a statement in support of Birth of a Nation director Nate Parker and co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin, who have been at the center of controversy based on Parker's recent statements about a rape accusation that both faced in college.

"We were present during the entire trial and ultimate exoneration of both Mr. Parker and Mr. Celestin. At the time, we were college students, staff and alumni who were deeply involved with countering the violently hostile racial climate that thrived in the Penn State community," says the lengthy statement from LaKeisha Wolf, Dr. Assata Richards, Lurie Daniel Favors and Brian Favors.

In 1999, Parker and Celestin, both wrestlers at Penn State, were accused of rape by a female classmate. Parker was acquitted at trial while Celestin was found guilty, but his conviction was overturned on appeal. The trial transcripts have been shared in the media in recent weeks as the release of The Birth of a Nation nears, and Parker recently spoke out about the case. It also was recently revealed that the accuser killed herself in 2012.

Read more: 'Birth of a Nation' Director Nate Parker's College Rape Accuser Is Dead

The open letter, first posted on The Root, goes on to list several points about the case and issues with "the gross and blatant misinformation campaign regarding the events that took place during that time period."

"We believed some 17 years ago that Jean Celestin and Nate Parker were innocent of rape and we believe that now," the statement adds.

Read more: Nate Parker on Rape Accuser's Suicide: "I Am Filled With Profound Sorrow"

The full statement is below.

Who We Are and Why We're Making This Statement

We are members of the Penn State community who were present during the time when Nate Parker and Jean McGianni Celestin were accused and charged with the rape of a fellow Penn State student. We were present during the entire trial and ultimate exoneration of both Mr. Parker and Mr. Celestin. At the time, we were college students, staff and alumni who were deeply involved with countering the violently hostile racial climate that thrived in the Penn State community [pdf]. Today, we are educators, lawyers, professors, academics and entrepreneurs who are actively engaged in community development and advancing social justice. Since our time at Penn State we have dedicated our lives to doing the healing and restorative work for our community and will continue to do so.

Story continues

We have received several requests for comment on this matter by a wide array of parties and media outlets seeking additional information from people who witnessed the trial and were present during the time leading up to and after the trial. While we have refrained from making public statements, in light of recent media reports, we feel compelled to release this statement. To be clear: We are both dismayed and disappointed at the gross and blatant misinformation campaign regarding the events that took place during that time period. We feel compelled to speak truth to this situation as the media has cherry-picked the most salacious elements while ignoring the actual record.

Our goal in speaking out is to provide accurate information about what really took place during that time. We also hope to encourage our community to embrace as vibrant of a discussion about misogyny, misogynoir and toxic masculinity, as we do about racism and white supremacy.

It is important to note that as a group of people deeply involved in this case, we were saddened to learn of the death of the young woman involved from news reports last week. Even as we make this statement, we are deeply respectful of the pain and loss of her family and friends. We do not and cannot ignore the deep pain that this case, and so many like it, brings to everyone involved.

We believed some 17 years ago that Jean Celestin and Nate Parker were innocent of rape and we believe that now. This belief was supported by the evidence that eventually fully cleared both Mr. Celestin and Mr. Parker. Evidence that many media outlets have chosen to ignore, overlook or mischaracterize today.

Our belief in and support of Mr. Celestin and Mr. Parker was validated when we witnessed how racially biased the investigators were throughout the years leading up to the trial. This investigation took place during a time period of intense racial hostilities both on and off campus (which you can read more about in depth here [pdf]).

The trial was one of the longest non-murder trials in the history of the area. Here are a few key points related to the investigation and the trial:

1. The woman making the claim was a white college student and the criminal trial was decided by 11 white jurors and one black woman in Centre County, Pa. Nate Parker was fully acquitted at trial and Jean Celestin was wrongly convicted on one charge which he later successfully appealed.

2. Despite what's been widely reported, Jean Celestin ultimately served nearly two years in prison while he fought to clear his name. His conviction was later reversed by the Pennsylvania Superior Court of Appeals and he was fully exonerated. The court that reversed Jean Celestin's conviction overturned less than 15 percent of all the convictions appealed [pdf] in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania that year.

3. Witnesses were threatened by the investigators who were trying to build a case against Mr. Parker and Mr. Celestin. As a result of those threats, some witnesses (including one of the undersigned) had to seek legal protection from the very investigators charged with finding the facts.

4. A key prosecution eyewitness changed his statement several times after being threatened and coerced by police investigators.

5. The allegations of torture, stalking and intimidation of the woman involved in the case are absolutely untrue. Neither Mr. Parker, Mr. Celestin, nor any members acting on behalf of the Black Caucus ever stalked or harassed the young woman. As a routine part of the university and police investigation into this matter, both Mr. Parker and Mr. Celestin had bail orders that barred them both from certain parts of campus and from approaching the young woman involved. Had those orders been violated, both would have been arrested before their criminal trial. Neither the Black Caucus leadership, nor the group's academic adviser was ever contacted about any supposed harassment of the young woman by black student members.

6. From the date of their arrest until after their trial, both Mr. Parker and Mr. Celestin were under strict bail conditions to have absolutely no contact with the young woman. Had they violated that order, their bail would have been revoked. Claims of harassment were used to support a civil suit filed against Penn State University for payment after the criminal case. Neither Mr. Parker nor Mr. Celestin were named in the civil lawsuit, neither Mr. Parker nor Mr. Celestin were ever interviewed or contacted about that civil suit - nor were they able to defend themselves in that suit and were not aware of its existence until it was settled.

7. Contrary to repeated inaccurate media reports, there is nothing to suggest that the ruling had anything to do with prior intimate contact with the young woman involved. The jury made no mention of this when they rendered their verdict. The jury's decision was based on prosecution and defense witnesses and evidence in the court record that indicated that the young woman was both conscious and engaged during the evening in question.

8. Misinformation suggests that a spiral into depression was triggered by the alleged incident in 1999. However, court records and testimony by medical professionals revealed a history of chronic depression that dated back to childhood and the use of antidepressant medication that preceded this event.

9. Publications and the public have relied heavily on partial excerpts of one recorded phone call. There were multiple recorded transcripts calls. These multiple calls, in their entirety, were played in court for the jury to consider and to provide proper context to the narrative.

10. Celestin and Mr. Parker have always maintained that what happened that evening was consensual and never hid from the complexities of this even when they were facing more than 20 years in prison. Mr. Parker has spoken about this case dating as far back as 2008. Mr. Celestin wrote a memoir about his experience after he was exonerated which he plans to publish. He has spoken about his experience in the community for more than 10 years.

Copies of the relevant court documents that support the claims contained in this letter are located at factchecktoday.

It is unfortunate but still necessary to state that some of us are women who have survived sexual violence. We know that rape and sexual violence are rampant throughout our society. We also know that our society does not typically engage in discussions around this topic in ways that challenge notions of toxic masculinity. We know that most rape survivors never come forward because of how rape culture can prevent us from receiving justice.

Also, some of us also have family members who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit - including those who were ly accused and convicted of rape charges. Family members who spent decades in prison before being released. We recognize that racism and white supremacy have historically combined around notions of sexuality and at times have created climates where lynch mob mentalities resulted in the destruction of entire black communities and black lives. Many of us viewed this incident involving Mr. Celestin and Mr. Parker as yet another example of the blatant racism and violent hostility faced by black students on Penn State's campus. We ask that you read more about that time period here [pdf] to better understand the racial terror we faced.

Our belief in Mr. Celestin and Mr. Parker's innocence was validated as we sat through the court trial, heard all of the evidence and witnessed a justice system that was trying its best to lock both men up for as long as possible. But that system couldn't bury them completely. The facts that spoke to their innocence, and the community that was unwilling to allow two additional young black men to be wrongfully convicted of something they did not do, would not allow it.

While we were deeply disappointed with the personal choices in this matter, we stood with and supported Mr. Celestin and Mr. Parker then because we believed they were innocent of the crimes of which they were charged. Our disappointment also stems from our belief that far too many young men participate in patriarchal, misogynistic structures without consideration of the long-term implications. We acknowledge that we can be disappointed and desire that they had not been in that room, while recognizing that they should not have been jailed for something that they were not guilty of. The facts of their story (in their totality - not the snippets referenced by media outlets) made sense. We made the choice to stand up and speak out against injustice some 17 years ago, and despite those who may attempt to attack or discredit us again from near and far, we are choosing to make the same choice today.

Nate Parker and Jean Celestin have never shied away from this incident and have always taken accountability - we, members of their village, required them to take responsibility. And, they have owned this incident in their personal lives and have used this moment to empower themselves to be change agents in their communities ever since. Indeed, both of them have frequently spoken about this period in their lives in an attempt to influence others in our community to make better choices and to build healthier communities.

This story is Nate and Jean's testimony - one of growth and maturation. Though this story is a challenging one, we refused to leave them behind almost two decades ago or be silent now because we are committed to creating true justice. Indeed, we are talking about this moment in their lives precisely because this situation was not the end of their story. Now more than ever, our village will not allow their critically important and timely contributions to be derailed by a campaign of untruths or distorted perceptions. It is our hope and prayer that the outpouring of emotion and discussion that this topic has generated can ignite a process toward healing in our families and communities - a process that is so desperately needed if we are going to bring about true social change.

Sincerely,

LaKeisha Wolf, Artist & Entrepreneur, PSU Alumni

Dr. Assata Richards, PSU Alumni

Lurie Daniel Favors, Esq., PSU Alumni

Brian Favors, Education Consultant, M.Ed.; M.S.Ed, PSU Alumni
Film directors think they always have to be right, but some of us get lucky now and then when we turn out to be wrong. This was the observation of Arthur Hiller, who directed some 33 films, as he started working on Love Story some 46 years ago. Hiller, who died this week at 92, made some outstanding films over his career  some against his better judgment  but his philosophy about filmmaking ran counter to that of todays young auteurs.

Hiller was thoughtful and well read, but he didnt like second-guessing his screenwriters. Thats why gifted writers like Paddy Chayefsky and Neil Simon kept working with him on films like The Hospital and Plaza Suite. Hiller also believed filmmakers should work in many genres; hence he directed one of the first films about gays (Making Love) as well as one of the most memorable anti-war movies (The Americanization Of Emily). Hiller liked to shoot quickly and efficiently, and thus was willing to take on Love Story on a paltry $2 million budget.

Most of all, Hiller liked to work a lot and believed it was good for his craft, even though he sometimes found himself involved in projects he regretted. He shot a satire by Joe Eszterhas titled Burn Hollywood Burn, which dealt with a director named Alan Smithee, who made a terrible movie, then ran away with the negative to hide. Smithee is the code name used by directors when they take their credit off a film because they hate the final cut. Hiller himself ultimately hated the re-cut version of Burn Hollywood Burn and demanded that his credit be removed. That left Alan Smithee with the directors credit on a film about a director named Alan Smithee.

A gracious and sensitive man, Hiller never got into ego fights or yelling matches, though he worked with some of the toughest producers and studio chiefs in town. His skills at diplomacy won him the presidencies of both the Academy and Directors Guild.

As an admirer of Hillers work, I sent him the screenplay of Love Story in 1969. Larry Peerce had been set to direct the film, but withdrew because he felt the characters as written by Erich Segal were shallow. Hiller shared that view, but believed that the piece worked on its own level and would offer audiences a welcome diversion from the the hard-edged movies of the moment. Besides, Hiller had an open slot between The Out-Of-Towners and Plaza Suite, two Simon movies, so why not give this poignant romance a chance? His payday was $250,000 against 25% of the net profits.

Story continues

Love Story was a difficult shoot. Ali MacGraw was an inexperienced actress, having just completed Goodbye Columbus. Despite lengthy rehearsals, the shooting schedule proved skimpy and reshoots were needed. The ending of the film had to be changed in the final edit (the doctors dire verdict had come too early in the script). The theme by Jimmy Webb didnt work, and Bob Evans rushed to France to recruit Francis Lai who created a memorable score.

When the movie opened to lines-around-the-block business, Hiller conceded its success was a shock to him. Mindful that many stars (and other directors) had turned down Love Story, Hiller acknowledged hed taken on the project as a job; it was smart, he said, for filmmakers to take on jobs now and then. You never really know what films take on a life of their own, he told me. Thats part of the adventure.

Hillers cut of Love Story resulted in a $5 million windfall  a good reward for his adventure.

Related stories

Arthur Hiller Dies: Oscar-Nominated 'Love Story' Director & Former Academy President Was 92

Bart & Fleming: Selling Summer Sleepers Like 'The Fault In Our Stars,' 'Jersey Boys' 'Begin Again' And 'Boyhood'

Nielsen Pegs TV Households At 118.4M For 2016-17 Season
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f189770%2f804f5113a5e74d70a063266ffd328c2d

You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape companies wanting to deliver things via drone to you.

Domino's in New Zealand want to be the next to do so, announcing a partnership with drone delivery company Flirtey. Their mission? To transport pizzas through the air.

SEE ALSO: How to build a racing drone

While the idea certainly sounds great, the service is yet to receive regulatory approval from New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Domino's and Flirtey said they expect to be able to begin trial deliveries later this year, once (or if?) they get the "okay" from the authority.

Domino's Group CEO and Managing Director, Don Meij said in a statement, "These trial deliveries will help provide the insight we need to extend the weight carried by the drone and distance travelled. It is this insight that we hope will lead to being able to consider a drone delivery option for the majority of our orders."

Image: Domino's

"We are planning a phased trial approach which is based on the CAA granting approval, as both Domino's and Flirtey are learning what is possible with the drone delivery for our products but this isn't a 'pie in the sky' idea. It's about working with the regulators and Flirtey to make this a reality for our customers," he added.

Flirtey were behind the first-ever legal drone delivery, which was a drop-off of medication in the U.S. back in July last year. Since then, it's been behind a number of trial deliveries, but commercial drone deliveries are still largely fantasy.

It's a particular problem in the U.S., as new Federal Aviation Administration rules in June regarding drone weight, speed, etc. have almost dashed the hopes of companies wanted to deliver by air in the country.

A spokesperson from New Zealand's CAA confirmed to Mashable Australia that it "did approve a one-off UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) delivery service for a commercial that was filmed a few years ago," but hasn't approved any ongoing UAV drone services before.

Under current CAA rules in New Zealand, drones cannot be operated at night, they must remain in clear sight of the pilot, and they cannot have a total weight of more than 25 kilograms (55.1 pounds).

One day there may be pizzas flying in the air, but in the meantime, you'll just have to deal with the old-school way of getting food delivered by road.
By Rebecca Howard and Byron Kaye WELLINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) - A New Zealand pizza chain aims to become the world's first company to offer a commercial drone delivery service, a milestone in the once-unthinkable quest to save time and money with an air-borne supply chain dispensing with people. Some of the world's biggest companies including Amazon.com Inc and Google, or Alphabet Inc as it is known, have plans to make deliveries by drone and aviation authorities in the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand have been relaxing rules to allow air deliveries. Last month, U.S. convenience store chain 7-Eleven Inc conducted the first single commercial drone delivery - coffee, donuts and a chicken sandwich - as part of a trial. Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd conducted a demonstration pizza delivery by drone in the New Zealand city of Auckland on Thursday, and afterwards said it aimed to be the first company to launch a regular drone service, late this year. "We've always said that it doesn't make sense to have a 2-tonne machine delivering a 2-kilogram order," Domino's Chief Executive Officer Don Meij said in a statement. With clear skies and small population of 4.4 million, New Zealand last year became one of the world's first countries to clear commercial drone deliveries. "Our enabling laws and regulation means we have the ideal environment," New Zealand Transport Minister Simon Bridges said after the Domino's test flight. But Philip Solaris, director of another drone company, X-craft Enterprises, said that while New Zealand has accommodating regulations on drones, Dominos would be held back by a rule requiring drones to be kept in sight at all times. "I can't truly see how commercially viable that idea is because you would have to literally have somebody walking along to keep it in the line of sight, watching it at all times," Solaris said. Dominos service would still need to overcome "random hazards (like) power lines, moving vehicles, children in the backyard playing, he said. The Domino's and 7-Eleven deliveries both used drones provided by U.S.-headquarted Australian drone company Flirtey. Domino's said it is also looking at opportunities for drone delivery trials in Australia, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Japan and Germany. In Australia, drone deliveries will be legal next month, provided the drones stay at least 30 metres (100 feet) from houses. In the United States, drones will be allowed to make deliveries from Aug. 29, but not across state lines or over people. (Reporting by Rebecca Howard and Byron Kaye; Editing by Robert Birsel)
From Cosmopolitan

Women in Wisconsin will now have access to just two Planned Parenthood clinics, down from three, in the wake of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin's decision to permanently shut down the Appleton North clinic. The Appleton North clinic is the sixth Planned Parenthood clinic to shutter in Wisconsin since anti-abortion Gov. Scott Walker defunded the organization in 2011. According to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin CEO Teri Huyck, some women will now have to travel up to 300 miles to receive an abortion.

Madison outlet the Capital Times reports that a homemade explosive damaged the clinic in 2012 (no staff was injured), and in 2015, the clinic had to temporarily suspend abortion services because of staff shortages. Then anti-abortion extremist Robert Lewis Dear went on a rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado, killing three women. The attack prompted concerns at the clinic, which has now permanently shut down:

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin determined its Appleton North facility would not be able to meet the "more stringent and scrutinized approach" needed after the Colorado attack, said chief operating officer Chris Williams. The decision isn't a response to a specific threat, Williams said, but "constant threats" occur at all of the organization's sites, he added.

It is absurd that a facility that offers women pap smears, STD screenings, and yes, abortions, be expected to have Pentagon-grade security, but that speaks to the miserable state of abortion rights in America right now. Planned Parenthood representative Mary Alice Carter told Cosmopolitan.com via email that continued anti-abortion rhetoric has created a "toxic environment" against the women's health-care centers.

"Abortion is an incredibly safe procedure, both medically and in our facilities. Safety of our patients and our staff is our number one priority and one that we are always assessing," she wrote. "We need to be sure that we are working on all sides to destigmatize and normalize abortion care so we reduce the toxic environment around care."

Follow Prachi on Twitter.
Warsaw (AFP) - Global ratings agency Moody's warned Thursday that an escalating constitutional crisis in Poland is threatening to hurt investment in the EU's largest eastern economy and could affect its credit rating.

Moody's pointed to a probe launched by prosecutors last week against the Constitutional Court's chief justice and the refusal of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government to recognise the top court's rulings.

"This is credit negative for Poland because it escalates a constitutional crisis that began late last year and will likely increase tensions with the European Union, with a higher risk of further impairing Poland's investment climate," Moody's said in a statement.

The constitutional "crisis already appears to have left its mark" Moody's said, noting that "real investment contracted by 2.2 percent" in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 2015.

"Although we expect private consumption to support real growth of 3.0 to 3.5 percent this year, the impaired investment climate threatens to reduce growth," it added.

In May, Moody's cut Poland's outlook from stable to negative over "fiscal risks" posed by the PiS government, but left its A2 investment grade unchanged.

The change was Moody's first such move in over a decade and came after a deeper ratings cut in January by Standard and Poor's, which blamed the PiS government for "weakening institutions".

The European Commission has given Warsaw until the end of October to reverse its reforms to the Constitutional Court or face sanctions.

The Commission's ultimatum, issued in July, could eventually see Warsaw's voting rights suspended in the Council of Ministers, the EU's highest decision making body.

The Commission is demanding that the Constitutional Court's rulings are published and implemented normally.

PiS party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has lashed out at the EU disciplinary process, accusing the European Commission of acting illegally.
Dana Majhi said that despite several attempts, he failed to get a mortuary van from the hospital.

By India Today Web Desk: A tribal man in Odisha walked nearly 10 kilometres with his daughter, carrying his wife's body on his shoulder, after he was denied a mortuary van from a government hospital.

The incident took place in the backward district of Kalahandi when 42-year-old Amang Deis died of tuberculosis at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna on Tuesday night.

advertisement

On Wednesday morning, locals found Dana Majhi carrying his wife's body, which was wrapped in cloth. Majhi walked to his village Melghara in Rampur block which is about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.



It was not until some local reporters spotted the father-daughter duo that they called up the District Collector and arranged for an ambulance for the remaining 50 km of the journey.

Majhi said that despite several attempts, he failed to get a vehicle from the hospital.

"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 added.

The Naveen Patnaik government had launched the Mahaparayana scheme in February, offering free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to the residences of the deceased. As per the scheme, dead body carriers are supposed to be deployed at 37 government hospitals and a total of 40 vehicles were assigned for the job.

--- ENDS ---
Warsaw (AFP) - Two treasure hunters who have been digging for a Nazi gold train believed to be buried in southwest Poland said on Thursday they had given up after two weeks and zero results.

"There's nothing," said Andrzej Gaik, spokesman for the Polish-German team, which carried out the search near the city of Walbrzych using ground-penetrating radar, bulldozers and drills.

"Last night we shut down operations, which we have to admit, proved fruitless," he told AFP.

He added however that the team plan to resume their search in September at a site "right nearby" if they manage to secure authorisation.

The search results from a media frenzy sparked in August 2015 when German national Andreas Richter and Piotr Koper, a Pole, claimed to have located an armoured Nazi-era train using ground-penetrating radar.

They said they had discovered several carriages measuring 98 metres (320 feet) long, buried some eight to nine metres (26 to 28 foot) underground.

They said they believed the contents were mostly weapon prototypes, although local legend spoke of artwork, jewels and gold stolen by the Nazis.

The Nazis made prisoners of war dig a network of tunnels in the area -- and some locals have claimed the Germans tried to stash the loot there in early 1945 as the Soviet Union's Red Army closed in.

Since the duo's announcement, however, there has been little to back their claims.

Running tests in December, geologists from Krakow's prestigious AGH University of Science and Technology found no evidence for the train's existence.

But Richter and Koper ploughed ahead.
Donald Trump has characterized many undocumented immigrants as criminals or as people who take jobs away from struggling Americans. But a new Pew Research poll on immigration policy shows a majority of Americans dont agree with him.

Here are three areas where the public differs from Trump on immigration:

Jobs

Americans part ways with Trump on his assessment of immigrants taking opportunities away from Americans. At a campaign rally in 2015, Trump said of undocumented workers, Theyre taking our jobs. Theyre taking our manufacturing jobs. Theyre taking our money. Theyre killing us.

The new national survey, however, found that 76% of American adults, including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans, think that undocumented immigrants are as honest and hard-working as U.S. citizens. Just 24% of respondents said undocumented immigrants take jobs Americans want, compared with 71%, also including majorities in both parties, who said they mostly take jobs citizens wont do.

Crime

Most Americans dont seem to fear the same violence from immigrants that Trump does. Trump tells stories on the stump of American citizens who were murdered by immigrants; Jamiel Shaw, who Trump often mentions and whose son was murdered by an undocumented immigrant in 2008, even spoke at the GOP convention in Cleveland. People are getting hurt, Trump said in a 2015 interview with TIME. People are being decimated by illegal immigrants. The crime is unbelievable.

But in the Pew poll, 67% of Americans said that undocumented immigrants are no more likely than citizens to commit serious crimes. There was a partisan difference in the response, but still with majorities in both parties: 80% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans said they didnt think undocumented immigrants were more likely to commit serious crimes.

The wall

The public sentiment also skews against Trumps signature policy proposal: the Mexican border wall. 61% of poll respondents opposed the wall, compared to 36% in favor. A majority of white respondents (54%) said they opposed the wall, but even larger majorities of blacks and Hispanics said they opposed it: 76% each.

Story continues

However, there was a significant partisan split here. A 63% majority of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters support the wall, whereas 84% of Democrats are opposed to it.

Trumps limits

A breakdown of anti-immigrant sentiment by enthusiasm for Trump points to the limits of his appeal on immigration. Pew found that those who expressed strong support for Trump held much more negative views of undocumented immigrants even compared to those who moderately support the Republican nominee. For example, 59% of people who said they strongly support Trump thought undocumented immigrants were more likely to commit serious crimes; 42% who only moderately support or lean towards Trump thought so. 41% of people who strongly support Trump thought undocumented immigrants were taking jobs Americans want; only 29% of moderate Trump supporters thought so.

In other words, when Trump appeals to nativism, he is largely speaking to the people who are already in his corner. These new poll results show that to win over more moderate voters, speaking harshly of undocumented immigrants may hurt Trump rather than help.

The Pew Research poll was based on telephone interviews with 2,010 American adults conducted Aug. 9-16, 2016 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The respondents live in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Portugal's plan to pump nearly 5 billion euros (Exchange: EUR=) ($5.6 billion) into its biggest bank by assets is "another big step towards the stabilization of the Portuguese financial system," the country's financial minister told CNBC on Thursday.



The European Commission (the executive wing of the EU, of which Portugal is a member) and Portugal have agreed in principle to the recapitalization of state-owned Caixa Geral de Depositos.

"This is another big step towards the stabilization of the Portuguese financial system. This is a ... milestone in the process and we are looking for business plans. I think it will create necessary turnout not just in Caixa but also in the Portuguese financial system," Mario Centeno told CNBC.

The plan was agreed late on Tuesday afternoon. It would see Portugal pump up to 2.7 billion euros of state funds into Caixa, transfer 500 million euros of its ParCaixa shares to Caixa and convert 960 million euros of contingent convertible bonds into equity.

Meanwhile, Caixa will issue highly subordinated debt worth around 1.0 billion euros that will be compliant with regulatory capital ratios designed to bolster banks' ability to withstand financial shocks.

This follows negotiations with Brussels officials, aimed at ensuring the plan is not viewed as state-aid to the bank, which would add to Portugal's problematically high budget deficit.

Although the government would put money into the bank, the hope is that the returns for the state would outweigh the cash injection.

Portugal's budget deficit ran to 4.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, far above the 2.7 percent target agreed with the European Commission. The Commission opted against fining Portugal  or Spain, which missed its own target  but the country must still aim to get its deficit below a threshold of 3 percent of GDP.

"First it is very important, our relationship with the European Commission, and it is working very very well as the situation improves. We are looking at a very constructive relationship with Brussels," Centeno told CNBC.

Story continues

"Second, on the budget front, we are going to post data up to July in the budget and we see contained public expenditure, a big reduction in deficit vis-a-vis last year," he added.

The European Commission forecasts the Portuguese economy will grow by 1.5 percent in 2016  flat on 2015  and 1.7 percent in 2017.



"I think Portugal is now also making a turnaround in terms of its growth prospects. We do have information from the macro scenario pointing towards very good data," Centeno told CNBC.



Private sector indebtedness is a major problem in the Portuguese economy, which is one of the most indebted in the EU. Some say efforts to tackle the issue have waned since Portugal's Socialist Party took power at the end of 2015 on an anti-austerity platform.

"We have a stable political scene in Portugal," Centeno told CNBC. "We are working with old parties, the role of the president is very important. We do have a stable political system."



Portuguese sovereign bond yields (Exchange: PT10Y-PT) declined from recent highs on Thursday, with sentiment boosted by the Caixa plan. They spiked earlier this month after ratings agency DBRS warned on the country's credit rating, citing high debt levels and strains to the banking sector. DBRS is the only of the four major ratings agencies to rank Portugal's sovereign bonds as investment grade and losing that standard would make Portuguese debt ineligible for purchase by the European Central Bank through its main stimulus program.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.


She could hear her captors even when she was safely staying in a refugee camp in Iraq. Scared of getting raped again, this 17-year-old doused herself in gasoline and lit a match.

By India Today Web Desk: A 17-year-old girl scared by the thought of getting raped again by ISIS fighters, vowed to make herself undesirable.

Yasmin had been staying in a refugee camp in Iraq for two weeks when she imagined she heard voices of ISIS fighters outside her tent. Frightened of facing the same abuse again, this Yazidi girl decided to douse herself with gasoline and lit a match.

advertisement

"Their voice was in my ears," she says. "I could hear their voice, I was so scared."

The flames burned her hair and face, peeling away her nose, lips and ears, reported AP. She was 16 when she and her sister fled into the mountains to escape ISIS fighters but ended up getting captured. The two sisters spent 7 days in IS captivity. Even when Yasmin escaped she was terrified and always crying.

She was physically disfigured and mentally scarred when German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan found her in a refugee camp in northern Iraq last year.

Photo: AP

Germany's program that helps rescued women



When she heard from Kizilhan how he could help her in Germany, her face brightened. "I said, of course I want to go there and be safe, and be the old Yasmin again," she recounted.

Kizilhan helps run a program that is trying to address the trauma women face after they are rescued.

Now, Yasmin is 18 and has been living in Germany for a psychological treatment. She is one of 1,100 women, mainly of Yazidi religious minority, who escaped ISIS captivity and came to Germany. They are kept at undisclosed locations and are given extra security so that ISIS sympathizers cannot target them.

All the women and girls have permission to remain in Germany for two years and might get permanent asylum if they want. Kizilhan is also working on establishing a trauma institute in northern Iraq to provide similar services for those who could not be brought to Germany.

Photo: AP

ISIS swept Yazidi dominated region in 2014

In August 2014, ISIS fighters had captured the Sinjar region of northern Iraq. The region is dominated by the Yazidi community and when ISIS swept Sinjar, they made three groups- young boys who were made to fight for the militant outfit, older males who were killed if they did not convert to Islam and lastly, women and girls sold into slavery.

A United Nations expert panel had written that there are no free Yazidis in the Sinjar region now. "The 400,000-strong community had all been displaced, captured or killed."



advertisement

According to an estimate, 3,200 Yazidis are still in ISIS captivity in Syria.

"In the view of the Islamic State ideology, these people are not human beings," said Kizilhan.

Brave survivor's future



She wears loose-fitting clothes to protect her sensitive skin, and keeps a machine at her bedside that helps her breathe.

She hopes of going to school, improve her German and get a computer-related job.



--- ENDS ---
By Andrei Khalip LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal on Thursday asked Iraq to waive the diplomatic immunity of the twin sons of its ambassador after prosecutors sought their interrogation as formal suspects in the beating of a local youth who ended up in intensive care. The case, which risks escalating into a diplomatic row, caused an uproar in Portugal after the two 17-year-olds, who have acknowledged their part in the beating of 15-year-old Ruben Cavaco on Aug. 17, were swiftly released by police on the night of the incident. The foreign ministry said on Thursday that it had handed the request to the Iraqi embassy's charge d'affaires, and now awaited a response from the Iraqi authorities. Ambassador Saad Mohammed Ridha traveled to Baghdad on Tuesday. As family members of a diplomat the twins are protected from prosecution in the host country under international convention on diplomatic relations. The prosecutor general's office said in a statement earlier that it asked the foreign ministry to intervene after the investigation pointed to "facts that could potentially constitute the crime of attempted manslaughter". "With the pieces of evidence already collected and the investigation carried out so far, it is considered essential that the two suspects with diplomatic immunity be interrogated as formal suspects in order to clarify the facts," it said. The incident took place in Ponte de Sor in central Portugal where one of the brother is attending flying school. In an early statement the Iraqi embassy said the brothers, Haider and Ridha, had acted in self-defense and their attackers had shouted racist and anti-Muslim slurs, though the brothers themselves in later comments to media did not repeat this. They told SIC television channel on Monday they had first been attacked by a group of young men, including Cavaco, after a night of drinking at a bar. They said they were later confronted once more by Cavaco which is when they beat him. The brothers apologized to Cavaco and his family but said they were all "victims of circumstance" and that the media had exaggerated the case. After several days in a drug induced coma, Cavaco left intensive care unit on Tuesday. It is only possible for a diplomat's home country to waive immunity, but such cases are rare. Portugal can expel a diplomat or his family, but cannot question or detain the suspects. If Iraq refuses to waive immunity, it could still prosecute the two at home, if it so chooses. (Reporting By Andrei Khalip; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
(Adds FAA statement)

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted flights at Miami International and nearby airports around 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) on Thursday following a five-minute power outage at Miami's Terminal Radar Approach Control, a spokeswoman said.

Flight operations returned to normal after about 90 minutes, the FAA said. All systems resumed functioning with the help of a generator power, spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said in a statement.

The FAA said a problem "with an uninterruptible power system caused the power outage" and it was repaired this afternoon. The power was switched to backup engine generator power and began restoring air traffic control equipment after a five-minute power outage that ended at 11:29 a.m.

Planes in Miami, as well as those across the United States bound for the area, briefly could not depart, while those in the air were told to fly in a holding pattern until it was safe to land in South Florida.

Earlier, the agency said in an online advisory that pilots in the air could expect delays of up to 30 minutes. As of 1:25 p.m. EDT (1725 GMT), flight tracking website FlightAware.com showed 14 planes in Miami International and seven destined for the airport were delayed.

Bergen said the FAA was investigating the cause of the outage.

(Reporting by Timothy Ahmann and David Shepardson in Washington and Jeffrey Dastin in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler, Alan Crosby and Bernard Orr)
PPG Industries PPG will be displaying its entire range of advanced transparent coatings at the SID Vehicle Displays Detroit symposium and expo to be held in Livonia, MI, from Sep 2728.

PPG Industries will showcase the coatings used on display glass and plastic substances. The companys representatives at the event will also explain about the anti-smudge (AS), anti-glare (AG), anti-reflective (AR) and low-reflective (LR) coatings it manufactures. These coatings can be mixed into pre-engineered, pre-stacked and pre-packaged coatings solutions for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tier suppliers.

Additionally, PPG Industries will emphasize on its advanced conductive coatings, which include safe-on-substrate (SOS) alcohol-solvent-based coatings, Neptune Z Series water-based conductive paints, polymer thick film (PTF) ink products and thermosetting electrostatic discharge (ESD) coatings.

The symposium and expo, conducted by the Detroit Chapter of the Society for Information Display (SID), is visited by global producers of scientific, engineering and automotive products. Over a span of two days, leaders in the field share technical knowledge and technologies for advancement of in-car electronic-display.

Recently, PPG Industries also announced the display of its Duranar and Coraflon coatings range at Construct 2016, to be held in Texas from Sep 89. Additionally, the company will address an industry meeting and highlight a range of printed and digital color selectors, and specification tools at the event.

Shares of PPG Industries rose roughly 0.2% to close at $103.77 on Aug 18.

PPG INDS INC Price

PPG INDS INC Price | PPG INDS INC Quote

PPG Industries adjusted earnings of $1.85 per share for the second quarter of 2016 improved 10.8% year over year. Sales in the quarter were fairly consistent with the prior-year quarter, at $4,064 million. While earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, sales lagged the same. The bottom line was primarily boosted by the successful commercialization of innovative products, strong business and cost management as well as earnings-accretive cash deployment.

Story continues

Industrial Coatings segment sales were $1.44 billion, up 2.3% from the prior-year period and more than 4% in local currencies. Total sales volume grew over 3%, with all products witnessing a rise in sales volume. New technology in packaging coatings drove sales volume by mid-high single digits in every region. Net income for the segment was $292 million, up 12.3% year over year.

PPG Industries currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the chemical space include Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation MTLHY,Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. SHECY and Innospec Inc. IOSP, all sporting 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



PPG INDS INC (PPG): Free Stock Analysis Report



INNOSPEC INC (IOSP): Free Stock Analysis Report



MITSUBISHI CHEM (MTLHY): Free Stock Analysis Report



SHIN-ETSU CHEM (SHECY): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Aug 25 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** Canada's push to develop cuttingedge companies got a boost from the country's largest stock market operator on Wednesday, as TMX Group Ltd announced plan to launch the "Advancing Innovation Roundtable," a group that will search for ways to increase access to growth capital for companies. (http://bit.ly/2bPFr4P)

** Mayor Don Iveson's dream to knit Alberta's sprawling capital city together with light rail lines could be in jeopardy after the provincial government announced it will fund only 25 percent of infrastructure projects under a new federal program. (http://bit.ly/2bPEPMI)

** The United Auto Workers union has won a vote to represent workers at a Magna International Inc plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, giving the union another foothold at the Canadian auto-parts giant. (http://bit.ly/2bPEp8U)

NATIONAL POST

** For the second time in a row, a joint cap-and-trade auction held by California and Quebec has failed to sell most of the emissions allowances on offer. This could seriously impede Ontario's C$8.3-billion Climate Change Action Plan. (http://bit.ly/2bPESba)

** Tim Hortons said on Wednesday that Sami Siddiqui would take up the role of the president of the company. This marks the latest corporate shuffle since Restaurant Brands International Inc. took ownership of the company in 2014. (http://bit.ly/2bPEJo8) (Compiled by Gaurika Juneja in Bengaluru)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

U.S. in last-ditch effort to quash Brussels tax demand on Apple http://on.ft.com/2bHbTsC

Farage takes Brexit message to Trump fans http://on.ft.com/2bHclXI

Handelsbank to sell Industrivarden stake in further shake up http://on.ft.com/2bHczhF

Swiss banks join push to create start-up hub in Zurich http://on.ft.com/2bHdZZz

Overview

The U.S. Treasury department said on Wednesday that the European Commission was becoming a "supranational tax authority" that threatened international agreements on tax reform.

Nigel Farage intends to address a Donald Trump rally in Mississippi on Wednesday to push his message of how the "anti-establishment beat the establishment" to bring about Britain's impending departure from the European Union - and draw parallels with the Republican presidential candidate's insurgent campaign.

Swedish bank Handelsbanken said on Wednesday it planned to sell its 29.4 million shares in its parent Industrivarden to institutional investors.

Credit Suisse Group AG, UBS Group AG, Swisscomm AG have joined other local companies to invest 3.8 million Swiss francs ($3.9 million) to launch Kickstart, an "accelerator" that will help develop 30 start-ups from 19 countries in areas including financial technology, robotics, and drones.

($1 = 0.9669 Swiss francs) (Compiled by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- Detailed plans for stealth submarines being built by a French military manufacturer for the Indian navy have been leaked, raising concerns over the company's digital security just months after it signed a multi-billion dollar deal to build submarines for Australia. The data leak leaves France and India scrambling to assess the damage. http://nyti.ms/2bP1gSd

- Mylan's price hikes for the allergy treatment device - EpiPen - highlight a common tactic in the industry: raising prices just before a generic competitor reaches the market. http://nyti.ms/2bP1hpf

- The Williams Companies, which recently lost a court battle to preserve a takeover by another pipeline operator, is facing a new fight. This time, it is from a former director who owns a big stake in the company and has an unconventional plan to overhaul the entire board. http://nyti.ms/2bP2cWO

- The ride-hailing service Uber told drivers in four large American cities on Wednesday that it had teamed up with the robo-adviser Betterment to offer individual retirement accounts. http://nyti.ms/2bP131b (Compiled by Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru)
A trained projectionist but self-taught director, Henrik Martin Dahlsbakkens third feature, Cave, closes the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund. It will be the 27-year-old Norwegians third film in two years  and he has another three to come.

Of course it is a question of coincidences, but also of a will  and a need  to tell these stories. As long as you thrive with what you do, you can have a rather high level of production, said Dahlsbakken, who started making films when he was 8 years old.

My best friends father had a video camera, which we used to make slapstick comedies and horror thrillers. We took it very seriously and spent a lot of time working on it, he said. At 19, he tried to get into the Norwegian Film School in Lillehammer but was rejected as he was too young.

In retrospect, I couldnt agree more, said Dahlsbakken, who took courses in media science and film history at university, then learned by doing, directing several shorts  including The Time in Between (2009), and The Devils Ballroom (2012), which toured the festival circuit.

I see production as my film school, with everything I learned and all the mistakes I made, explained Dahlsbakken, who in 2015 premiered his first feature, the family drama Returning Home, which won the top prize at the Nordic Film Days in Lubeck.

Originally, Returning Home was going to be a short, but the helmer realized that it would work better as a feature. When I [got support] by a regional film fund, it became a full-length production, produced on a $145,000 budget. So was my next film, Late Summer, which I made with the same crew and budget, he said. Dahlsbakken has also made The Outlaws, which he describes as a timeless Bonnie and Clyde story with several musical elements, also based on real-life events in 1926, when two tramps kill two policemen after a failed train robbery and went on the run.

Cave, starring Heidi Toini, Mads Sjgard Pettersen, Benjamin Helstad and Ingar Helge Gimle, is an adventure thriller about a group of former military elites who set out to explore an uncharted abyss. It was based on a real-life event. I got the idea when I read about two Finns who were killed when they were [exploring around Norwegian town] Mo i Rana  it is obviously the most dangerous expedition you can make, to investigate underground. I developed the project in six months, and again made the film with the same crew, he said

Story continues

This autumn, Dahlsbakken will start principal photography for Cave 2, the second in a planned trilogy. Production will continue during the winter  it is a winter film  but unlike Cave, it will be action comedy with Western elements.

At Haugesunds New Nordic Films co-production and financing market for works-in-progress, Nordic Genre Boost, he will introduce his sixth feature, Substitute, a sci-fi thriller scripted by Jan Trygve Ryneland (Erik Poppes The Kings Choice).

Produced by Finn Gjerdum for Oslo-based Paradox, it is set in 60-70 years in the future, when it is possible to create human substitutes, when a person ddies, complete with most of the memories of the deceased. Dahlsbakken said he is very inspired from the 1970s U.S. thrillers.

Pictured above: Cave

Related stories

More Foreign Film Shoots May Be in Norway's Production Plans

Helmer Praises Spirit of 'The Lion Woman'

Danish Distributor LevelK Launches Sales of Norwegian Festival Thriller Cave'
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Aug 25 (PTI) Pakistan today unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform the status of militancy-hit Federal Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and integrate them with the rest of the country.

Officially called as Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and inhabited by 5 million people, the area lies between Afghanistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

advertisement

Its rugged mountains, ravines, thick forests, FATA provided an ideal location for militants to hide, train and attack inside Pakistan and Afghanistan across the border.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had set up a committee more than eight months ago, headed by advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, to suggest measures to reform the region.

The committee visited the seven districts of FATA, met locals, elected representatives and experts to propose reform which will end its current semi-autonomous status and change its judicial, legal, political and economic system.

Aziz told media that the trade and economic links and social and cultural consanguinity makes it appropriate to integrate FATA into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The committee proposed investment in a 10-year-FATA Development Programme covering all the sectors; it will include development of urban centers in all the agencies," he said.

Aziz said that the committee also proposed the holding of local government elections in 2017 and to execute up to 30 per cent of the FATA 10 Year Development Plan through the local councils.

He said economic reform would add another Rs 21 billion for development of FATA annually through the funds of federal government.

He announced to change Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) which was introduced by British in 1901.

He said the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Court shall stand extended to FATA.

At the same time the Jirga system will remain prevalent in criminal and civil disputes.

In order to address the security, 20,000 new posts of tribal police will be created.

He said an Advisory Council that includes all FATA parliamentarians will be established to advise the Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in development and administrative matters, including the progress of the integration process of FATA. PTI SH NSA

--- ENDS ---
The healthcare network Orlando Health and Florida Hospital will not charge any of the victims of the June 12 Pulse Nightclub shooting, they announced Wednesday.

Orlando Health has not sent any hospital or medical bills directly to Pulse patients and we dont intend to pursue reimbursement of medical costs from them, said Orlando Health, which covers the hospital where many victims were treated, in a Wednesday statement. Florida Hospital treated 12 victims, and said it will not bill the patients or their insurance holders for treatment or any follow-up procedures, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Orlando Regional Medical Center, part of Orlando Health, treated 44 victims wounded in the attack. The network will look into numerous ways to find funding for the care, including government funds, private insurance and donation-based victim funds such as One Orlando. The families of the nine victims who died after arriving to the hospital will not be charged.

The total unreimbursed costs for treating all the victims could around $5 million, officials have estimated.

[Orlando Sentinel]
PVH Corporation PVH delivered another strong quarter with second-quarter fiscal 2016 earnings per share surpassing estimates for the ninth consecutive quarter. Further, the company raised its earnings guidance for fiscal 2016, thus keeping the stock active in the after-hours trading session yesterday.



The companys adjusted earnings per share of $1.47 not only significantly beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28, but also exceeded its own guidance range of $1.25$1.30. Also, the bottom line rose 7.3% year over year, despite having borne the adverse effects of about 46 cents per share from foreign currency headwinds.



On a GAAP basis, PVH Corp. reported earnings of $1.11 per share that dipped 9% from $1.22 earned in the year-ago quarter.

PVH CORP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

PVH CORP Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | PVH CORP Quote

Quarter in Detail



PVH Corp.s total revenue gained nearly 4% to $1,933.3 million, but fell marginally short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,937 million. However, top-line growth was in line with the companys projections. On a constant currency basis, the companys total revenue rose 5%, coming in line with managements expectations.



Revenue growth was mainly driven by continued strength noted in the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands, particularly in international markets. The company is especially pleased with the spectacular performance of these brands in Europe and Asia. However, the top-line miss can be attributed to the persistent weakness in the U.S retail businesses due to soft traffic and consumer spending trends at its Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein U.S. stores located in international tourist locations.



Adjusted gross profit rose 4.7% year over year to $1,038.2 million, with the adjusted gross margin expanding 50 basis points, to 53.7%.



Segment Analysis



PVH Corp. reports its financial results under three business segments: Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Heritage Brands.



Calvin Kleins revenue escalated 12% year over year to $726 million. On a currency neutral basis, it was up 15%, driven by a respective 12% and 17% currency-neutral revenue increase in the brands North American and International business.



North American operations gained strength from solid wholesale business growth, which in turn was driven by robust performance across all businesses. On the other hand, the brands retail sales witnessed only modest upside as benefits from store expansions were partly offset by soft comparable-store sales (comps). Comps fell 4% year over year, on account of continued weak traffic and decreased consumer spending trends across the companys U.S. stores in international tourist locations.



The brands international business comps jumped 11% on the back of strength in its European and Asian operations.



Revenue at the companys Tommy Hilfiger segment increased 6% to $860 million, while it rose 7% on a constant currency basis, backed by 3% and 11% constant-currency sales growth in the brands North American International businesses, respectively.



Tommy Hilfigers North American revenue growth was attributed to strength in its wholesale business, offset by persistent softness in its retail operations. Evidently, comps for the brands North American business tumbled 7%, attributable to persistent softness in traffic and consumer spending trends at its U.S. stores in international tourist locations.



On the other hand, the brands international business continued to gain from strength in Europe and its Apr 2016 acquisition of the remaining 55% interest in TH China. Comps for the international business rose 8%.



The Heritage Brands segments revenues slumped 14% year over year to $347 million due to the ongoing rationalization of this business by exiting various lines of business. As a part of this, the company recently shut down its Izod retail division and discontinued numerous licensed product lines in its dress furnishing business. Additionally, quarterly results were hurt by weakness in the neckwear category and a timing shift of wholesale shipments into the third quarter this year compared with the second quarter last year. These were, however, somewhat offset by a 11% jump in its Van Heusen comps.



Financials



The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $741.7 million, long-term debt, excluding current maturities of $3,358.2 million, and shareholders equity of $4,803.5 million.



During the first half of fiscal 2016, the company repurchased about 1.4 million shares for roughly $129 million of common stock under its Jun 2015 authorization of $500 million, extending over a three-year period.



Fiscal 2016 Guidance



Though management is encouraged with PVHs solid quarterly performance, it remains cautious of adverse foreign currency movements, volatility in global consumer spending and a tough promotional retail environment, going forward. Nonetheless, the company remains confident of its strategic endeavors, which encouraged management to raise its fiscal 2016 earnings outlook.



The company now envisions fiscal 2016 adjusted earnings per share in the range of $6.55$6.65, up from $6.45$6.55 expected earlier. The latest guidance includes an expected $1.60 per share negative impact from currency headwinds.



However, the company retained its revenue projections for fiscal 2016, anticipating a 2% improvement year over year. On a currency neutral basis, revenue is expected to grow about 3% compared with the previous forecast of 2% growth.



Third-Quarter Guidance



For third-quarter fiscal 2016, the company expects total revenue to rise 3% on both year-over-year and constant-currency basis.



Adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter are expected to be in the range of $2.35$2.40, including 45 cents per share negative impact from currency translations.



Zacks Rank



PVH Corp. currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the same industry include Differential Brands Group Inc. DFBG and Ralph Lauren Corp. RL, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Another well-ranked stock in the apparel retail industry is Urban Outfitters Inc. URBN, with 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



URBAN OUTFITTER (URBN): Free Stock Analysis Report



RALPH LAUREN CP (RL): Free Stock Analysis Report



PVH CORP (PVH): Free Stock Analysis Report



DIFFERENTIAL BG (DFBG): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
RMDraft

One of the names that was frequently mentioned as a big performer during Oakland Raiders training camp has been undrafted rookie free agent Jalen Richard. The running back out of Southern Mississippi is an undersized back who reminds many in camp of rookie DeAndre Washington. But despite his diminutive size, hes impressed many onlookers and was seen as a potential 53 man roster guy early on.

But then Richard got injured and missed the first two preseason games of the year. Because of that, all we have at the moment is whispers of how good he looked during practice. On Tuesday, however, Richard returned to practice giving hope that we will finally get a look at him in the preseason.

But should we hope he plays on Saturday or would it be better if he just sat our the rest of the preseason?

AROUND COVER32

Power Rankings: Dak Prescott still leads rookie QB rankings

Hard Knocks: Rams football is a business

Twitter Tuesday: Madden developers troll Dez Bryant

Baseball: Tim Tebows tryout date is set

Raiders News: Predicting which UDFAs will make the Raiders roster.

Raiders News: A look at what makes the offensive line tick.

The Raiders clearly need an upgrade to their run game from 2015, in particular with depth. At the moment, the Raiders have Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington, Taiwan Jones, George Atkinson III and the two fullbacks, Marcel Reece and Jamize Olawale. Its purely a guess, but I dont imagine the Raiders will keep more than four running backs and one fullback this season. Thats just enough for this group considering the fact that they wont need to make a decision on a roster spot for Reece until after the third game of the year.

So, that means unless Richard has a good enough final two preseason games to beat out the likes of Taiwan Jones or George Atkinson III, he is destined to be cut. And if he gets cut after looking solid in the final two preseason games of the year, it will be hard for the Raiders to stash him on the practice squad. With two games of tape, the Raiders either have to run the risk of losing him to another team when they cut him, or they cut Jones or Atkinson and lose them.

Story continues

BUT, if the Raiders decide to hold Richard out of the final two games, they should be able to slide him onto the practice squad without anyone noticing. Then, he can continue to practice with the team and if at some point early in the year the team decides the run game isnt cutting it, they can cut one of the backs on the roster and bring up Richard for a boost to the run game.

It may be frustrating not being able to see Richard after a strong training camp, but in the long term, it might be better for the Raiders if they keep Richard under wraps where no one else can see what he has to offer so they can keep him around for a while.

The post Should Raiders hold Jalen Richard out of the remaining preseason games? appeared first on Cover32.
On the hot evening of August 20 in Gaziantep, Turkey, a still-unidentified person wearing an explosive vest laced with ball bearings navigated a series of narrow alleyways in the citys Akdere neighborhood. He approached a wedding put on by a Kurdish family from Siirt; they were hosting a Henna night, a traditional ritual where the hands of the bride-to-be are tattooed with temporary ink. At 10:50 pm, the young mans bomb exploded, killing 54 people. At least 31 were under the age of 18.

The Turkish government has blamed the Islamic State for the attack, with an unnamed senior official saying that the device used was the same type of suicide vest employed in two previous bombings in Turkey attributed to ISISincluding the deadly attack on a gathering outside of the Ankara train station in October 2015, which killed 103 people. Following the Gaziantep attack, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusgolu vowed to cleanse ISIS from the countrys border with Syria, a threat the Turkish military followed through with on the morning of August 24, sending in tanks and special forces alongside Syrian-Arab rebels to take the ISIS-held town of Jarablus, with air support from the United States. Planning for that well-executed offensive seems to have been underway long before the Gaziantep attack (although the possibility of Turkey simply issuing an ultimatum to the United States cannot be ruled out).

In a major setback for ISIS, Jarablus quickly fell. But ISIS may have actually made a tactical retreatsomething that, in other parts of Syria, has been followed by asymmetric attacks against advancing forces. Turkey is vulnerable to these attacks inside Syria if it chooses to leave forces behind following the Jarablus operation. ISIS is also capable of continuing its attacks against targets inside Turkey itself.

But while Turkeys government may blame ISIS for the recent attacks, it has long tolerated the group and the smuggling and recruiting infrastructure it operates within its borders. In repeated public statements, Ankara has also refused to distinguish between terror groups, lumping ISIS together with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the YPGwhich Turkey views as the PKKs Syrian branchalong with followers of Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-residing, exiled Islamic cleric that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for plotting the failed coup of July 15. According to the Turkish government, all terror threats are one. Turkeys pro-government media, meanwhile, has taken this one step further, suggesting that Gulen is using both the PKK and ISIS to destabilize Turkey, an assertion resting on the widely held belief in Turkey that the United States controls Gulen.

Recommended: Coming of Age in North Korea

Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), for its part, has wielded this anti-Americanism to deflect questions about its ISIS policy. This strategy may be politically beneficial. But it prevents Erdogans government from understanding why the Gaziantep attack happened, and from coming to terms with the permissive climate ISIS operated in for years.

With its eye on Kurdish militancy and creeping Gulenism, the Turkish government did little to control the smuggling of materiel and recruits flooding across its border with Syria, before changing its approach in early 2015. ISIS in Turkey benefits from its proximity to the war-ravaged country: It eases the smuggling of explosives from Syria to Turkey, as well as the groups ability to purchase goodslike ball bearingsuseful for the suicide vests being used to kill citizens in their home country.

Neither the Gaziantep attack nor its target were randomfacts that should have been well known to Turkish police. Yunus Durmaz, the man previously believed to be in charge of logistics for the Turkey-based ISIS cell, had identified weddings as a potential target in an electronic file and in emails Turkish police confiscated from his belongings after he blew himself up in a police raid on his apartment in Gaziantep. For years, this ISIS cell has been responsible for smuggling contraband into Syria. The groups reported former emir, Ilham Bali, used a series of underlings to ferry men and supplies across the border. He placed special emphasis on the procurement and transfer of ammonium-nitrate-rich fertilizer, the primary component in the vehicle-born improvised explosive devices (VBIED) ISIS uses to such devastating effect.

Recommended: France's High Court Overturns the Burqini Ban

Surprisingly, since 2012, Turkish police had been following Durmaz, Bali, and at least 17 others linked to the ISIS cell behind most of the attacks in Turkey. Durmaz eventually set up shop in Gaziantep, managing a handful of warehouses to store supplies before they were shipped into Syria, and a workshop for the manufacture of VBIED and suicide vestsone of which he wore most of the time, right up until he killed himself in a May 2016 police raid.

In the wake of the failed coup, Turkey has handicapped the institutions best-positioned to root out ISIS.

Despite its intelligence on the Durmaz group, though, the Turkish government failed to crack down on these men and many others until early 2015, choosing instead to passively investigate them for links to global jihadism. In July 2015, Seyh Abdurrahman Alagoz, a 20-year-old man who had previously traveled to Syria with his brother, returned to Turkey to explode a suicide vestmade in Gaziantepat a gathering of leftists waiting to cross the border to give aid to Kobane, the Kurdish-majority town that resisted an ISIS assault. Thirty-three died. In October 2015, Seyhs brother and an unidentified, non-Turkish national, carried out the attack on Ankaras main train station, using a similar device. Now, a third individual, wearing a suicide vest like the others, has carried out another attack in Gaziantep.

The Turkish government has increased border security, and reported crossings to Syria have dropped considerably since early 2015. But the ISIS threat persists. The group responsible for many of the recent attacks has suffered some losses, but many of its core leaders are alive, and reportedly in Syria.

Recommended: Trump Just Massively Betrayed Ann Coulter on Immigration

In the wake of the failed coup, Turkey has also effectively handicapped the institutions best-positioned to root out ISIS. Turkish security forces face the impossible task of disrupting and defeating three different sub-state groups: the PKK, ISIS, and suspected followers of Gulen. But the purge of thousands of police officers and members of the judiciary for their alleged links to Gulen have decimated Turkeys police intelligence organization: 6,500 out of 7,000 personnel have been purged from this body, the law-enforcement institution that would normally be expected to play a role in the ongoing investigation into the latest ISIS attack in Gaziantep. This multitude of factors points to longer-term security challenges for the Turkish government and, by extension, some of the potential political vulnerabilities the AKP now faces.

ISIS remains active in Turkey, and its Turkish members remain committed to carrying out attacks. The infrastructure for future attacks starts in Syria, but also draws on resources from inside Turkey, which places a severe burden on law enforcement to disrupt these networks at a time of major bureaucratic upheaval. The Turkish military has made impressive gains in Jarablus in a short period of time, but the next phase of the battle lies on the other side of the border.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
From Esquire

"Why does Tom Hardy have an Australian accent?" someone whispered behind me at a showing of Suicide Squad when Jai Courtney, the Hardy lookalike who plays Aussie superhero Boomerang, hit the screen. For a minute, I wondered the same thing. Then I caught myself, remembering that Hardy had exited the production in January 2015, reportedly due to his uncanny ability to spot a critical flop a mile off.

For the role of a superhero whose weapon is never the squad's first choice, Courtney had a swole Hardy build, some convincing muttonchops and a grunt to match Hardy's signature verbal tics. Was Jai Courtney effectively cast to fill a gaping, Hardy-shaped hole?

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

I'd had this feeling before. Earlier this year, when watching Logan Marshall-Green brood and mumble through Karyn Kusama's low-key thriller The Invitation; then again, watching Charlie Hunnam plod through last year's Crimson Peak. Not to mention the groundswell of Tom Hardys lying in wait: the young Brits Jack O'Connell and Dan Stevens are edging to swipe roles from Hardy. (To a lesser degree, actors like The Drop's Matthias Schoenaerts and Warrior's Joel Edgerton have all been compared to their formidable co-star.) Tom Hardy imposters have begun popping up everywhere, begging the question: Will the real Tom Hardy please stand up?

Photo credit: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

This recent Tom Hardy doppelganger rollout is a veiled marketing ploy to cash in on his rugged, but clearly duplicable, appearance. Yet he is peerless. The man's played his own damn twin in Legend, made time for award-winning British TV series Peaky Blinders, and starred in two of the most acclaimed films of 2015 (see: The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road). He's one of Hollywood's hottest properties. It makes sense for big studios and directors to pull at him from all sides-but there's only so much Hardy to go around.

This recent Tom Hardy doppelganger rollout is a veiled marketing ploy to cash in on his rugged, but clearly duplicable, appearance.

Story continues

Enter: lookalikes. Charlie Hunnam and Tom Hardy were both up for the role of Tarzan in Disney's toothless remake, a role that eventually went to Alexander Skarsgard (AKA Nordic Hardy). In a Reddit thread asking for answers about why the film-going proletariat "hates" Jai Courtney, the top comment read: "Assuming 'everyone' hates Jai Courtney, I would say it isn't because he's awful, but just because he's filler. It's easy to look at a movie and say, 'Man, Tom Hardy would have been much better than Jai Courtney here.'"

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

So as to get Tom Hardy without draining the budget, directors have to rely on Hardy clones to bring that unmistakable rawness to a role. They can't just, um, grunt the grunt-they have to walk the walk. "If a role was written with Tom Hardy in mind, certainly the director is going to want an actor who can bring the character to life in the way it was envisioned," says former casting director Alysa Wishingrad, who cast Larry Clark's Kids. "They might fulfill the visual ideal, but I don't think a director worth their salt would try to get another actor's performance out of someone."

Hardy prides himself on his ability to transform into other characters. His takeaway from acting school was that it's imperative to hit the stage with a minimum of seven distinct characteristics that will mask your identity, be it a crick in the neck or a pair of glasses. The Samuel L. Jackson method of playing yourself in every movie is one that doesn't appeal to him. "If you want to be you, then that's cool, and it's Tom Hardy in another movie," he told AV Club.

The paradox or irony here is that now I'm going to become Tom Hardy, the bloke who always does the silly voice. Someone will always want to put you in a box, and then you become the parody of yourself. The constant is, though, that I just want to make the effort to try and transform as much as possible from one character to another, so that people can immerse themselves into the story and not in my performance. That's my job, isn't it?

And it's his job everybody wants. Sure, Logan Marshall-Green may have grown out his hair and gotten pensive for his character in The Invitation and Courtney may have been tatted-up for Suicide Squad, but it's not fair to peg these great actors as Hardy wannabes. "I think to call them copycats is to do them a disservice," continues Wishingrad, explaining that this quasi-phenomenon of carbon copies is nothing new. "Tastes change, and every generation has its ideal leading actor/actress-scripts are written and pitched for that new ideal. Once upon a time, Tom Cruise was considered the ideal, and you could argue our screens (TV and movie) got filled up with low rent versions of Tom Cruise (think Scott Baio). Eric Stoltz was the original idea for Marty McFly; you could argue Michael J. Fox looked like him, or you could just say he fit the physical description in a different way."

Photo credit: Photo via Patrick McMullan.com

In fact, this doppelganger dilemma happens more frequently than you think. A composite photo of the male cast members on American Horror Story: Hotel was put together last year to point out the similarities between Matt Bomer, Finn Wittrock, Wes Bentley, Max Greenfield, and Cheyenne Jackson. It went viral. Even the crew got them confused. Jackson told Vulture, "I remember my second day on set, one of the [assistant directors] was like, 'Here, can you sign out here, Finn?' And I'm like, 'Oh, I'm not Finn.' And he's like, 'Oh, I'm sorry, Matt.' And I'm like, 'Nope. It's Cheyenne, actually.'"

See, the hoodwinks in Hollywood want to keep you guessing whether or not it's really Hardy you paid to see. For all of the hallmarks of Hardy's style that are easily parroted, there's only one Tom Hardy. What puts him at the head of the pack is the story he brings along with him. "He's very much who he is, not out to be like anyone else, and also not trying to hide who he is or where he's come from," says Wishingrad. "He's authentic, and in a time where popular culture (certain segments notwithstanding) is embracing authenticity, he is an ideal personification."

As for the others Well, imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery.

You Might Also Like
Refinery29 is spotlighting female filmmakers with the Aug. 28 debut of its ShatterBox Anthology short-film series.

On Sunday the digital media company will release the first of 12 planned short films created by female directors, writers and animators, kicking off plans to premiere a new film each month on its website and via Comcast's Watchable streaming video service.

The release of the first film in the ShatterBox series, a documentary called Watching You, Watching Me, is the culmination of seven months of work with female filmmakers to bring their short films to life. Refinery29 first announced ShatterBox at Sundance, revealing that it had teamed with the Sundance Institute on the yearlong project. The first project it announced was Chloe Sevigny's directorial debut, a short called Kitty that went on to premiere at Cannes. Refinery29 has since added filmmakers to the program, including Kristen Stewart and Gabourey Sidibe.

To distribute the films, Refinery29 is setting up a dedicated home on its website where viewers can watch the shorts and read more about women in film. Watchable, Comcast's one-year-old ad-supported streaming app that just announced plans to stream exclusive content for the first time, will also distribute the films. "The goal always was to get the films in front of as wide of an audience as possible," says Refinery29 chief content officer Amy Emmerich of the distribution plan. "We also looked for partners who believed in the mission of what we were doing and why we were doing it."

Each short explores the dynamic of power through the lens of a female storyteller. The series begins with Watching You, Watching Me. Written and directed by Pamela Romanowsky (The Adderall Diaries), the documentary explores the experience of being looked at from someone else's point of view.

Over the next several months, Refinery29 will release a number of projects, including The Statement, written and directed by Meera Menon about a Cuban American conservative living in Florida who decided to run for office, and Tiffany Shlain's documentary 50/50 Project, which explores the past, present and future of women in power.

Story continues

Sevigny's Kitty, which is adapted from a short story of the same name, debuts in November. Rounding out the year are Esprit, a documentary from Jessica Dimmock (The Pearl) about transgender women who travel from all over the country to attend the annual Esprit conference, and drama Pinky, from Roja Gashtili and Julia Lerman about a young girl who faces her impending adulthood during a slumber party. Emmerich says that Refinery29 will explore festival premieres for the second half of projects before releasing them next year.

Refinery29, which focused on lifestyle and news editorial and video programming for young women, has made female-fronted projects a focus of its video efforts. ShatterBox debuts on the heels of the launch of The Skinny from Jessie Kahnweiler, distributed in collaboration with Jill Soloway and Andrea Sperling's Wifey.tv.

Emmerich says that it's important for the digital video industry to push for more diversity among its projects, especially as the conversation around female representation in film remains an important issue in Hollywood. "We have to believe that anything is possible," she says. "Tech changes quite often, and you have to be very adaptable. The rest of the world isn't able to move as quickly."

Watch the trailer for Watching You, Watching Me here:
By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee today condoled the passing away of former Governor of West Bengal and Bihar A R Kidwai saying the nation has lost an eminent leader whose services to the nation will always be remembered.

96-year-old Kidwai passed away yesterday after brief illness. "I am sad to learn about the passing away of A R Kidwai, an esteemed colleague and a dear friend of long years. A freedom fighter, distinguished Parliamentarian and administrator, Kidwai served the nation in various capacities including as Governor of Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Rajasthan. "For his life-long services, the grateful nation honoured him with Padma Vibhushan in 2011. In his death, the nation has lost an eminent leader whose services to the nation will always be remembered," the President said in a message to Kidwais son, Monis Kidwai. PTI AKV SRY RG SRY

--- ENDS ---

advertisement
By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Global regulators will try to get more insight into why major banks are withdrawing from handling cross-border payments, making it harder for people to send money to relatives and loved-ones abroad.

Banks say it has become more costly to comply with tougher customer checks against money-laundering and terrorist financing, putting pressure on regulators to ease up.

The Financial Stability Board (FSB), which coordinates regulation across the Group of 20 economies (G20), says it is worried that fewer major banks are offering smaller banks correspondent relationships, the links which enable such remittances.

Banks' reluctance to handle smaller cross-border payments could drive some flows underground, potentially hurting economic growth and hampering financial inclusion, as well as damaging the stability and integrity of the financial system.

The FSB set out in March 2016 to implement an action plan.

"The FSB has identified... some areas where additional data and information is necessary to assess the scale of withdrawal from correspondent banking," it said on Thursday in an update on efforts to stop the decline in correspondent banking.

For example, the IMF has noted that in the Caribbean region at least 16 local banks have lost some or all of their correspondent banks.

Last November, the Australian Remittance and Currency Providers Association said the exit of major banks from the A$50 billion remittance sector is forcing more money "into the shadows".

Britain's Barclays began closing the bank accounts of Somali money transfer businesses in 2013, saying it did not want to do business with firms that don't have adequate controls.

This has forced some remittance firms to use intermediaries.

"Remittance commission has gone up and because there is no bank account, you have to collect the money physically, which increases overhead costs and expense," Micin Ali of Somali Money Services Associates said on Thursday.

Story continues

"The banks cite all the compliance, but they don't have any data. They just worry they get fined if anything happens," Ali said.

The FSB, chaired by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, said global regulatory bodies will consider revising guidance from October onwards on correspondent banking, and on anti money-laundering and terrorist financing rules.

This could include clarifying to what extent a correspondent bank should check on the ultimate recipient of a money transfer.

Regulators will also help countries affected by bank withdrawals to improve their anti money-laundering controls.

"Work under the action plan will continue in 2017 to address these issues, including continuing to monitor changes in correspondent banking to assess whether the plan is having the intended impact," the FSB said.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
It began like an ordinary purse snatching. The credit card reader on the gas pump at her Houston neighborhood station wasnt working, so Deborah Ford went inside to pay. By the time she returned to the car, her purse and wallet were gone. Ford filed a police report, canceled credit cards, and requested a new drivers license and health insurance card. She checked with the bank several times to be sure nothing was funny, then forgot about it.

Two years later, the retired postal worker received an unsettling call from a bail bondsman; she was about to be arrested for acquiring more than 1,700 prescription opioid painkiller pills through area pharmacies.

I had my mug shot taken, my fingerprints taken, she says. Ford suffers from psoriasis, and she was so stressed that she broke out in the signature rash. The policemen looked at my hands and said, Thats what drug users hands look like. They just assumed I was guilty.

Later, a judge dismissed the charges. What saved me from going to jail was that I had filed that police report, Ford says.

Turns out the thief altered Fords drivers license and used that and her stolen health insurance card to go to doctors to seek prescription painkillers. Eventually, Ford says, a pharmacist became suspicious and called police.

Boy, the thieves messed me up, Ford says now of her lengthy and expensive ordeal, which began with the theft in 2008 and didnt end until she got her name cleared of the arrest record last year. Once theyve got your identity, theyve got you, she says.

Inside Medical Identity Theft

Fords story is but one glimpse of what medical identity theft can look like these days and why it has become a fast-growing strain of identity theft, with an estimated 2.3 million cases identified in 2014, a number thats up almost 22 percent from the year before.

Your personal health insurance information, including your Social Security number, address, and email address, is valuable and vulnerable. When it gets into the wrong hands it can be used to steal expensive medical serviceseven surgeriesand prescription drugs or to procure medical devices or equipment such as wheelchairs.

Story continues

Your medical identity is a commodity that can be hijacked and used to falsify insurance claims or to fraudulently acquire government benefits such as Medicare or Medicaid. Your personal medical information may also be sold on the black market, where it can be used to create entirely new medical identities based on your data.

And more often than you might imagine, people outright share their own medical coverage with an uninsured friend or family member in need of care, which is against the law. (More on that later.)

Because current consumer protections arent specifically designed for medical identity theft, experts warn, people need to understand that they may have to take on extensive work to clear up fraudulent bills. Some frustrated victims of medical identity theft simply give up and pay the bills themselves.

But theres another, far more dangerous problem with medical identity theft: The thiefs own medical treatment, history, and diagnoses can get mixed up with your own electronic health recordspotentially tainting and complicating your care for years to come. And that isnt a hypothetical problem.

About 20 percent of victims have told us that they got the wrong diagnosis or treatment, or that their care was delayed because there was confusion about what was true in their records due to the identity theft, says Ann Patterson, a senior vice president of the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance (MIFA), a group of several dozen healthcare organizations and businesses working to reduce the crime and its negative effects.

Havoc in Victims' Lives

The long tail on medical identity theft can create havoc in victims lives. Take Anndorie Cromars experience. A pregnant woman reportedly used Cromars medical identity to pay for maternity care at a nearby hospital in Utah.

Soon, officials from child protective services assumed the infantborn with drugs in her systemwas Cromars baby, and Cromar says the state, not realizing her medical identity had been hijacked, threatened to take her own four children away.

A DNA test she took helped to get her name off of the infants birth certificate, she says, but it took years to get her medical records corrected.

That first stage was the most terrifying thing Ive ever experienced in my life, getting the call from CPS and having them say, We are coming to take your kids,  Cromar told Consumer Reports.

An Insidious Kind of Fraud

Financial identity theft is nothing new: Perhaps you or someone you know has had to deal with undoing the mess that happens when someone illegally obtains your personal financial information and uses it to drain your bank account or rack up charges on credit cards fraudulently taken out in your name.

Setting credit accounts back to normal can be a hassle, but your money is, for the most part, protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Youre liable for only $50, at most, of unauthorized charges on a credit card if you follow simple notification steps. And there are defined reimbursement rules if money is illegally withdrawn with a stolen ATM or debit card.

But when consumers become victims of medical identity fraud, stopping the damage and clearing up the bills is much more difficult and time consuming.

Deborah Ford had to quickly figure out what had been done in her name and try to undo the damage. She got on the phone and wrote letters and even tried to track down doctors the criminal had used. All I have is my name, my integrity, she says.

Investigators later told her that the thieves were savvy at knowing the system, always waiting 45 days between trips to the same pharmacy to avoid being identified by store video. They were so slick about it, Ford says. To this day, I dont know who they were. But they were slick, thats for sure.

Spotting It, Preventing it

Experts say detecting the fraud in the first place can be the most difficult part. Medical identify theft and fraud is much harder to spot than financial fraud, says Michelle De Mooy, acting director of the Privacy & Data Project at the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology. The bank calls you if they see charges in the system that raise an alarm. This kind of fraud is much easier to hide for a longer time.

Thats why consumers need to be especially smart and careful about how and when they share their personal, medical, and insurance information.

Here are a few basic ways you can safeguard your medical privacy and identity: Read those explanation of benefits letters as if they were bank statements. Carefully check all of the correspondence you receive from health insurers and healthcare providers for accuracy and for bills of service that you dont recognize. Also review your credit reports for unfamiliar debts. Be stingy with your personal health information, Social Security card, and insurance cards. If someone asks for them, inquire whether it is really necessary.

And dont post news of an upcoming surgery on Facebook or other social media outlets, Patterson recommends. You cant really be sure who might see it. Consider, for example, that a criminal could scoop up the notice of your impending hip replacement and add it to other information he or she can easily find about you online, creating a more robust, more exploitable personal profile. As Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the ITRC, says, Our rule of thumb is if its not something youd want plastered on a billboard, dont post it. Because essentially every single thing you post has that potential.

All in the Family

Ronnie Bogle, a museum supervisor from San Jose, Calif., says that for more than a decade, he had no idea that his brother Gary had been stealing his identity to secure healthcare across several states.

Gary had a simple routine, Ronnie says: He would move to a new town or city, purchase a picture ID, then present the IDalong with Ronnies Social Security numberto get treatment, often at hospitals. Gary often claimed to be uninsured when he sought care. After he was treated, the bills were later sent to his given address, not Ronnies.

Ronnie told Consumer Reports that he only learned what Gary was up to in 2010 after applying for a new credit card and being turned down. He says his credit report contained listing after listing of unpaid debtfor his brothers hospital visits and treatments over the years.

Eventually, Gary was arrested and pleaded guilty to 10 counts of criminal impersonation in California. Hes facing more charges in Washington state for allegedly stealing his brothers identity there.

It has taken two years for Ronnie Bogle to straighten out his credit and get his brothers medical bills off his financial record. He destroyed my credit history multiple times, Ronnie says.

So-Called Friendly Fraud

Sometimes victims of medical identity theft know exactly how the crime occurred, but for others it remains a mystery.

The Ponemon Institute, a private cybersecurity research firm, surveyed 1,005 people whose medical identity was most likely assumed by someone else. In the study, published last year, 10 percent of victims said their event was the result of a healthcare provider or insurer data breach, and an additional 12 percent believe they were tricked into giving up personal information via a fake email or phony website.

But 47 percent of respondents said that their identity theft was perpetrated by a relative or someone else they knew. Twenty-four percent said they had a situation like Bogles, where a relative stole their identity without their knowledge or consent. And surprisingly, an additional 23 percent of respondents said they willingly shared their credentials with someone they knew. Thats why the crime sometimes is referred to as friendly fraud.

Of those who said they shared healthcare credentials in that way, 91 percent reported that it was because the other person had no health insurance and 86 percent said it was because the other person couldnt afford medical treatment. Sixty-five percent said it was done in an emergency.

Most of the people who voluntarily let someone they know use their medical information said they didnt consider their actions wrong or criminal.

They think of it as a Robin Hood crimethat no one is getting hurt and that if a family member is ill, they can help them, says Larry Ponemon, chairman of the Ponemon Institute.

Those in our studies who did recognize it as a crime saw it as minor, like driving 5 miles above the speed limit. They dont recognize the cost burden to insurance companies or healthcare providers, or that it ultimately ends up in the lap of consumers.

Knowingly allowing a friend or relative to use your medical insurance is illegal, an act of fraud against insurance companies and health providers. And wrongfully sharing Medicare or Medicaid benefits is a crime against the federal government and state programs.

Pinpointing how much money fraud costs the medical industry each year is difficult. One estimate from 2012 put the total economic impact of medical identity theft in the U.S. at $41.3 billion.

Providers are working on new strategies to prevent it. Theyre using software to detect fraud in billing, training staff and consumers to recognize warning signs and asking for photo IDs, explains James Quiggle of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. He says consumers can expect to see more extensive verification screening in the future, such as the use of fingerprints or palm prints. And soon Medicare cards will no longer bear Social Security numbers.

A Dramatic Rise in the Crime

As recently as six years ago, your medical information was kept in paper files, but now it has a more robust virtual lifein electronic health records and in details you share online. All of that can increase the likelihood that the wrong people could gain access to your data.

Now theres electronic data traveling through all kinds of devices and networks, and its much harder to lock it down, Patterson says.

Big data breaches in the medical care industry have been on the rise over the past decade, including the hack of health insurer Anthem in 2015, when about 70 million of its records were reportedly stolen. And yet its still unclear how often medical identity fraud stems from those kinds of hacks, Patterson explains.

Most at Risk for Medical Identity Theft

What industry analysts do know is that some people are more likely to become targets, including people on Medicare. That Social Security number on the card is a gateway, not just to medical fraud but to all kinds of fraud, Patterson notes.

Older adults might also be more susceptible to scams because they tend to be less circumspect about giving up personal health information, she adds. Childrens health records are aggressively pursued by criminals, it turns out, because a minors credit reportwhich would list unpaid debtsisnt usually seen by parents until a child is old enough to secure credit in his or her name.

Also particularly vulnerable to medical identity theft, says Pam Dixon, executive director of the nonprofit World Privacy Forum, are new mothers, surgery patients, and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or serious illnesses such as cancer. Thats because the more interaction you have with the healthcare system, the more opportunity for records to be breached.

Anyone who casually puts a lot of personal information on social media sites and apps, such as millennials, might attract medical identity thieves, too. Criminals, Patterson explains, are very good at aggregating social media information and pairing it with health and other data theyve gotten, like dates of birth and addresses.

The Chaos in Care

The effects of medical identity theft can be far-reaching, costing victims time, money, and aggravation. A 2016 report from Javelin Strategy & Research found that, on average, identity fraud victims spent only $55 out of pocket to resolve financial account problems in 2015.

But 65 percent of the medical identity theft victims surveyed by Ponemon said they spent an average of $13,500 to pay the healthcare bills run up in their name, to recover their health insurance, and to pay lawyers fees, among other things. Ponemon also found that it took an average of more than three months for victims to even detect the fraud and more than 200 hours to undo the mess.

Mary Levine of Lake Charles, Louisiana, says she has been logging time on the telephone with the police, hospitals, doctors, and Medicaid almost every day since she learned in mid-June that someone had racked up some $20,000 in fraudulent medical bills using her identity. Although Levine is working closely with the nonprofit ITRC and her local sheriff's department, the bills continue to arrive, and her worries are mounting.

"I keep telling the hospital that I've never been there," says Levine. "I've been calling nonstop. They just say they have not clarified anything at all and they'll call me whenever they make a decision."

Theres much more to do to safeguard consumers from medical identity theft, experts say, including creating a defined process for resolving medical and financial problems.

But, says Orly Avitzur, M.D., M.B.A., Consumer Reports medical director, one thing that healthcare experts dont want is to completely lock up our medical data. Its important for doctors to be able to share your health needs, diagnoses, and treatment information with each other, and to do so quickly in the event of an emergency, she says.

Be Ever-Vigilant

Deborah Fords encounter with medical identity theft may have been extreme, but the way she handled it was impressive. Once she found out about the fraud, she got on italerting every entity involved and stayed on it until it was over.

They never used my credit card or checking account; I checked. But lo and behold, they did more than that. They got what they wantedmy insurance information, she says.

Still, it cost her $1,500 in fees and took five more years to expunge the drug arrest. On that day, Ford says, I got my name back.

More on Medical Privacy



Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the October 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.





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.
The word "adorable" might not be the first adjective that usually comes to mind in describing real-life Hercules, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but in this case, it totally applies.

The action star posted a video of himself playing with his 8-month-old baby girl, Jasmine, on Tuesday that will make your heart melt.

"Finally my big head is used for more than just a place to hang my hat," Johnson wrote. "The joys of being home w/my ohana and playin' one of our fav games -- slap Daddy's head 'til I can see his big scary face."

RELATED: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Destroys a Stack of His 'World Famous' Pancakes During an Epic Cheat Day

In the video, Jasmine drums on her 44-year-old father's head in bed while music plays behind them.

"Song playing in the background is 'O Tiare' (Justin Young). A song I started singing to her every day since she was one week old," Johnson explained. "Samoan lyrics are beautiful, 'La alofa le Atua, ma tausi ia te 'oe...' which translates to 'May God take loving care of you.' When Jasmine learns to talk, I'm sure she'll ask me to please stop singing. I must now go do something very manly and bad ass to counterbalance this post."

Johnson and his girlfriend, Lauren Hashian, welcomed their daughter in December. Johnson also has a teenage daughter, Simone, from his marriage to Dany Garcia.

RELATED: Dwayne Johnson's Daughter is Adorably Mesmerized By Her Daddy's Tattoos

Previously, Johnson shared a photo of his toddler being mesmerized by his tattoos.

"After we feed her, Jasmine just loves looking at Daddy's tattoos," he wrote. "I think it helps her digest."

Related Articles
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - Russia has agreed to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the divided Syrian city of Aleppo to allow aid deliveries, but security guarantees are awaited from other parties on the ground, U.N. officials said on Thursday. The United Nations has pushed for a weekly 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo to alleviate suffering for about 2 million people, but major powers back opposing sides in Syria's five-year-old civil war, complicating its implementation. "We have ... agreement now from the Russian Federation for the 48-hour pause, we're waiting (for) it from the other actors on the ground. That has taken more time frankly than I thought was needed," Jan Egeland, who chairs the U.N. humanitarian task force, told reporters. Egeland's boss, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, echoed his comments, saying Russia was on board but they were waiting for others parties to agree: "... we are ready, trucks are ready and they can leave any time we get that message." Russia is the main external supporter of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Rebel groups opposing Assad are supported by Western and Gulf powers. The White House on Thursday said it supported U.N. efforts to bring all sides together to deliver humanitarian relief to Aleppo and would welcome Russia's constructive engagement. The U.S. State Department said while Washington backed the 48-hour Aleppo cease-fire it was focused on achieving a broader country-wide cessation of hostilities, which would be the focus of talks in Geneva on Friday. "If the U.N. says they need 48 hours, of course we support the U.N. But ... our focus is on a nationwide sustainable cessation of hostilities," said State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau. She said that would let all Syrians have access to aid and provide a basis for a political transition. On Aug. 19, the main umbrella group for the Syrian opposition cautiously welcomed a proposal for a weekly truce in Aleppo, provided this would be monitored by the United Nations. De Mistura has been trying to bring government and opposition representatives back to the negotiating table this month to revive a shattered broader ceasefire. He said he awaited Friday's meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva before commenting further on his "political initiatives" to relaunch the political process. The U.N. relief plan for Aleppo entails simultaneous deliveries of food to the rebel-held east and government-controlled west, Egeland said. "First, a lifeline to eastern Aleppo, going cross-border from Turkey. Initially we would be ready in the first 48-hour weekly pause to have two convoys, of 20 trucks each, that would carry enough food for 80,000 people in eastern Aleppo," he said. Western Aleppo, where needs have "increased dramatically", would be supplied via Damascus, he said. There would also be repairs of the electrical system in the "disputed south" that powers water pumping stations serving 1.8 million people. Civilians in other encircled towns were also malnourished, Egeland said, singling out rebel-besieged Foua and Kefraya in Idlib and government-besieged Madaya near Damascus, which have not had U.N. food deliveries in 116 days. "Starvation is just around the corner," he warned. (Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Additional reporting by Ayesha Rascoe and David Alexander in Washington; Editing by Alison Williams and James Dalgleish)
Russia has released a Japanese citizen detained on a disputed island claimed by both countries, Tokyo's foreign ministry said Thursday, ahead of diplomatic talks on the long-running territorial dispute.

Tokyo and Moscow are working to resolve decades of tensions over four islands occupied by the Soviet Union in the closing days of World War II and now controlled by Russia.

The man, an interpreter who has not been identified, was visiting Kunashiri -- Kunashir in Russian -- one of the islands off northern Japan, as part of a visa-free visit programme that started in 1992.

The man was detained by Russian customs ahead of his scheduled departure and accused of trying to take cash off the island illegally, a Japanese ministry official said.

The Russian customs service has said on its website they found some four million Japanese yen ($40,000) in his bags, while only $10,000 can be taken out of the country undeclared.

The man had claimed that he was asked by a local resident to carry a package but was unaware it was cash, the official said.

"After questioning, he was found innocent," the official told AFP on customary condition of anonymity, adding he was released on Wednesday.

"We understand the Russian authorities have accepted his claim."

The Japanese government -- which had lodged a diplomatic protest -- is arranging for the man to return to Nemuro port on the country's northern main island of Hokkaido on Monday, he said.

The dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as part of the Kuril Islands, has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end wartime hostilities.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in May to rekindle talks aimed at resolving the territorial dispute.

On Friday in Moscow, Japan and Russia are scheduled to hold their second round of talks on the issue since the May summit.

Some Japanese media speculated that the man's fairly quick release came as the Russian side possibly tried to limit the diplomatic impact of the case.

Japanese media have reported recently that Abe and Putin will hold talks early next month in the Russian city of Vladivostok, though Tokyo has made no formal announcement.
"I will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of RSS. I stand by every single word I said, Rahul tweeted.

By India Today Web Desk: A day after Supreme Court agreed with Rahul Gandhi's statement that he never accused the RSS as an institution for Mahatma Gandhi's killing, the Congress vice-president hit out at the saffron outfit.

"I will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of RSS. I stand by every single word I said, Rahul tweeted today.

He also shared a video of his speech at Bhiwandi in which he had hit out at the RSS.

advertisement





At the election rally in March last year, Rahul had accused RSS members of killing Gandhi, who was gunned down by Nathuram Godse.

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.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today dismissed suggestions that Rahul Gandhi has done a U-turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said the party Vice President stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.

"No U-Turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. Person who killed was from RSS. It is the Ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi", the Congress General Secretary said in a series of tweets.

Never blamed RSS for Gandhi's killing, says Rahul. Supreme Court agrees



--- ENDS ---
Moscow (AFP) - Russia on Thursday launched large-scale snap military drills, putting its troops on full combat readiness in districts bordering Ukraine and the Baltic states, the defence minister said.

"In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (President Vladimir Putin), a spot check started today," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in televised comments.

Troops in the country's southern, central and western military districts, as well as the air force, northern fleet and paratroopers were in "full combat" mode as of 0400 GMT, he said.

The drills -- which are taking place in military districts that encompass the contested Crimea peninsula, the region that borders Ukraine and NATO members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as territory spanning from the Ural mountains to central Siberia -- are set to last until the end of the month.

Shoigu did not reveal how many troops are taking part in the exercises.

Relations between NATO and Russia have soured since Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula of Ukraine in March 2014, and eastern European countries are worried that they too could be targets of Russian aggression.

NATO vowed at a summit in Warsaw in July to bolster its eastern flank to counter a resurgent Russia, agreeing to deploy four battalions in Poland and the Baltic states.

Moscow slammed the decision, accusing NATO of working to counter a "non-existent threat."

Since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, Russia has stepped up its military presence in the peninsula, which is home to its Black Sea fleet.

Russia's most advanced air defence system, the S-400, was delivered to Crimea earlier this month.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia will work with the United States on a response after UN investigators found that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical attacks, Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Thursday.

"We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening, preventing such things from happening, even in the fog of war," Churkin told reporters.

An investigative panel set up by the UN Security Council said in a report Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad's forces had carried out at least two chemical attacks, one in 2014 and one in 2015.

It also found that Islamic State jihadists had used mustard gas in an attack on the town of Marea in northern Aleppo province in August 2015, according to the confidential report seen by AFP.

Previous reports from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an intergovernmental watchdog, had concluded that toxic gases have been used as weapons in Syria's five-year war, but stopped short of identifying the perpetrators.

The panel of inquiry, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), for the first time pointed the finger of blame at the Assad regime for chemical weapons use after years of denial from Damascus.

Churkin said he spoke to his US counterpart Samantha Power on Wednesday and that they had agreed to work together to follow up on the findings.

The United States has said it will seek to ensure consequences for those responsible for the use of chemical weapons.

Chlorine use as a weapon is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Syria joined in 2013, under pressure from Russia.

- Russia to study findings -

Describing the new report as "very thorough," Churkin said Russian experts would carefully study its conclusions, adding that the findings were "not as simple as that."

The council is due to discuss the report on Tuesday and could decide to impose sanctions on Syria or ask the International Criminal Court to take up the matter as a war crime.

Story continues

Western diplomats expect Russia, a Syrian ally, to try to shield the Damascus regime from punitive action.

Churkin, however, brushed aside suggestions that there could be confrontation at the council, saying that "it doesn't have to be the case."

The Russian ambassador described as "very important" the finding by the UN investigators of mustard gas use by IS fighters.

The panel found that the Syrian regime had dropped chemical weapons on two villages in northwestern Idlib province: 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."

The panel recommended further investigation of three other cases of suspected chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime.

There was insufficient information to reach a conclusion in the final three of the nine cases that the panel has been investigating for the past year.
(Getty Images)

According to multiple reports, Ryan Lochte will be summoned to testify in front of Brazils justice department, as police continue their investigation into the swimmers claims following a late-night incident with armed security guards at a Rio gas station during this summers Olympics.

Lochte had said that he and three other U.S. swimmers were pulled over in their taxi and robbed at gunpoint on their way home from a party on Aug. 14. Video evidence, though, showed that the swimmers were not pulled over and were instead approached by security guards who alleged that they vandalized a gas station bathroom. Lochte then apologized for his initial comments, saying he over-exaggerated parts of the story.

Police questioned the three other swimmers involved in the incident before allowing them to leave Brazil, but Lochte had already flown home before he could meet with authorities.

Lochte does not face a penalty if he chooses not to head back to Brazil to testify, but it would hinder his ability to make a plea deal in the case. No charges have been filed against Lochte as police continue their inquiry.

According to Fox News, Brazils civil police department is expected to conclude its investigation this week. Should charges be filed against Lochte, the Brazilian government could ask U.S. authorities to extradite him.
Members of Singapores scouting movement paying respects to the late S R Nathan at the Parliament House. (Photo: Yahoo Newsroom)



A president who was a champion of the underprivileged and the needy  that is how some Singaporeans who paid their last respects to the late S R Nathan on Thursday (25 August) recalled the former president.



Nathans charitable efforts were highlighted by Goh Yee Heng, an assistant area commissioner in the Singapore Scout Association. He was among the thousands of people who braved Thursdays afternoon heat to visit the Parliament House, where Nathans body lay in state.



Nathan, who was the chief scout of the Singapore movement during his time as president, attended all of the groups camps and jamborees, said Goh.

He helped us out a lot especially through charity and fund-raising activities to help our underprivileged cubs and scouts, he said. "He sometimes used his own money to sponsor our scouts and our activities.

The former president was also a symbol of hope for charity organisations according to Nelly Soh, a volunteer with St Josephs Home.

Soh, who was with four residents of the home, said that she was saddened by the news of Nathans death on Monday (22 August) night.



Rohani Dukiran, was supposed to go for her dialysis session on Thursday morning but decided to postpone it just to pay her respects to Nathan.

Accompanied by her two daughters, Rohani, joined the queue at 8.40am and was among the first few to say goodbye to the late former president.

"The last time I saw him was a few years ago. It was during a charity briyani event at one of the mosques and I saw him helping out, she said as she held back tears.

Former NTUC employee S. Dayanandan added that Nathans death was a great loss to the country.

He said it would be impossible to find another person as unique as Nathan, who was able to serve Singapore with the utmost dedication and pride.

Dayanandan, who also volunteered with Nathan at the Sri Mariaman temple at Beach Road, said, He was a very unique person and I will always remember him for his bravery during the Laju Incident, where he volunteered to accompany the hijackers back to Japan.

Story continues

The Laju Incident involved the attack on Singapores Shell oil refinery and subsequent hijacking of the Laju ferry by members of the Japanese Red Army and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine on 31 January 1974.



Nathan was part of the group of government officials who offered themselves to the hijackers in exchange for the ferrys crew members who had been taken hostage.



Retired driver Munisamay Rengasamy, who was at the Parliament House with his friend Reuban Rajakanu, said that the former president was a very kind and honest man.



When asked about Nathans contributions to the Indian community, Munisamy was quick to point out that Nathan was the peoples president.

He served everyone and contributed to everybody, he said firmly.

Related stories:



Tough but kind-hearted: Tan Cheng Bok

Former presidents love for home-cooked briyani

He put his nation before self: Lee Hsien Loong

Singapore mourns passing of former president S R Nathan

Singapores ministers lead tributes to ex-President S R Nathan

S. R. Nathan leaves lasting legacy in Singapore: Colleagues, analysts

Above all, Nathan was an LKY loyalist and believer

State funeral for S R Nathan on Friday

[PHOTOS] S R Nathans life in photos




Bogota (AFP) - A conservative politician from a rich family and a rural Marxist guerrilla are the lead players in Colombia's peace process, which has now produced a final deal to end five decades of conflict.

Here are short profiles of President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC rebel leader "Timochenko", former foes now on the verge of ending a conflict that has claimed more than 260,000 lives.

- Santos: fighter for peace -

Santos, 65, spearheaded a major offensive against the FARC as defense minister from 2006 to 2009.

After becoming president in 2010, he shifted tack and negotiated for peace.

"He made war as a means to achieve peace," said his brother-in-law and adviser, Mauricio Rodriguez.

"He weakened the FARC to make them sit at the negotiating table."

Santos comes from a wealthy, powerful family.

His great uncle was also head of state.

He was educated at the London School of Economics and previously served in various ministerial posts.

- Timochenko: convict negotiator -

The bearded, bespectacled FARC leader's real name is Rodrigo Londono, but he is better known by his noms de guerre Timoleon Jimenez and Timochenko.

He was born in a coffee-growing region and studied medicine in the Soviet Union and Cuba.

Timochenko, 57, is renowned as a strategist and former intelligence chief in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

He has been convicted in absentia for various attacks for which he has been sentenced to more than 150 years in jail.

He took over as FARC leader in 2011 after his predecessor, Alfonso Cano, was killed by the army.

The following year, he wrote to Santos proposing fresh peace negotiations after efforts by previous leaders had failed.

He agreed to one of Santos's key conditions, pledging to end kidnappings by the group.

"He is one of the most well-liked guys in the FARC," analyst Ariel Avila of Colombia's Peace and Reconciliation Foundation told AFP.

"He is the man who will go down in history for bringing the FARC into the peace process."
Natalie Portman has joined the ranks of actors turned directors, with her first feature film now in theaters. To make A Tale of Love and Darkness, Portman had to learn to move past her reluctance to speak up for fear of appearing difficult, something she talked about with RedEye Chicago. A person who turned out to be instrumental in helping her overcome that was none other than her Other Boleyn Girl co-star, Scarlett Johansson.
Natalie Portman has joined the ranks of actors turned directors, with her first feature film now in theaters. To make A Tale of Love and Darkness, Portman had to learn to move past her reluctance to speak up for fear of appearing difficult, something she talked about recently with RedEye Chicago. One person who was instrumental in helping her overcome this reticence was her Other Boleyn Girl co-star, Scarlett Johansson.

It all started when Portman was cold on set one day. Johansson noticed and asked why she wasnt saying something. I was like, I dont know, I didnt want to be a problem, Portman said, and she was like, Say youre cold! And it was good to have someone point it out to me that I even had a hard time making a very reasonable complaint about my own discomfort.

The Oscar winner said that while there are certainly men who might have felt the way she did in that situation, being a woman definitely contributed to the fact that she was nervous of saying anything. She says she thinks the gender inequality in Hollywood contributed. Its the kind of inequality she notices every time shes asked to talk about being a parent. I will always get the question about what it is to be a mother and what that means to me, and I do not think that men experience that to the same degree at all, she noted. Portman offered a possible solution: Ask men more about what it means to them to be a father (without necessarily asking women less about their experience of being a mother!).

Before you think Portman is down on Hollywood, you should know she does seem optimistic about the future. She told RedEye, Girls of today are growing up in a different environment. They have Lena Dunham on TV, writing, directing, producing, starring. So many wonderful other role models, too, that its part of their environment, but its still not 100 percent there.

Eddie Murphy Compares Himself to Another Hollywood Icon You Might Not Have Expected:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
The Scots are very proud of their food  and you would think that a cookbook dedicated to the Starzs hit series Outlander, which is set in the Scottish highlands, would celebrate that.

But instead, Outlander Kitchen, written by a Canadian chef and food writer Theresa Carle-Sanders, has become a subject of mockery among Scottish locals because it is packed full of American recipes.

While there are some Scottish dishes  including tattie scones, cock-a-leekie soup and Forfar bridies (meat pastry)  it has plenty of U.S. specialties like sweet potato pie, pulled pork, fish tacos, enchiladas and apple pie.

Also Read: 'Outlander' Season Finale: 'Dragonfly in Amber' Brings Things Full Circle

Carle-Sanders even has a recipe for french fries  which, of course, are called chips in Great Britain  and Mickey Mouse pancakes  that are totally baffling.

According to the Glasgow Evening Times, Carle-Sanders said that the books range of recipes was designed to represent the fluid nature of the television show, which travels between Jacobean Scotland and 1945, and claimed that people would not want to eat 18th century Highland cuisine every day.

But that did not sit well with Scottish critics, who described the book as a wasted opportunity.

Also Read: 'Outlander' Renewed for 2 More Seasons on Starz

To suggest people wouldnt want to eat Scottish food all year is wrong. This book sounds very confused, which is a real shame, Chef Mark Greenaway, Scotlands food and drink ambassador, told The Times.

Im all for other cuisines influencing our own foods, but dishes like pulled pork and sweet potato pie are not what Scotland should be known for and proud of.

Starring Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, and based on novels by author Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is shot in various Scottish locations.

Season 3 started filming this week, but Starz has not yet released a premiere date.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Starz CEO on 'Outlander,' 'Power' Emmy Snubs: 'It's Not a Level Playing Field'

'Outlander' Season Finale: 'Dragonfly in Amber' Brings Things Full Circle

'Outlander' Season 2 Wraps Filming: Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe Take a Commemorative Selfie (Photo)
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said that he "never blamed RSS for the assassination" and did not collectively denounce RSS.

By Harish V Nair: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took a sharp U-turn on Wednesday as he told the Supreme Court that he did not ever blame the RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi but had only said that a "few individuals in the organisation" were responsible for it.

The big climb down comes a month after apex court judges Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Nariman had categorically told Rahul's lawyer that a "collective denunciation" without any proof primafacie amounted to defamation and if he cannot establish that he had made such a statement "for public good", he will have to either apologise or face trial.

advertisement

RAHUL'S PREVIOUS CLAIMS



Rahul had approached the SC seeking quashing of a defamation case filed by RSS activist Rajesh Kunte, who alleged that the Congress leader had said at an election rally at Sonale in Thane district on March 6, 2014 that "RSS people had killed Mahatma Gandhi."

The court was hearing Rahul's plea challenging the March 10, order of the Bombay High Court which dismissed his plea.

Following Kunte's complaint, the magistrate in Bhiwandi had initiated proceedings and issued notice to Rahul directing him to appear before it.

RAHUL NEVER BLAMED RSS: SIBAL



His lawyer Kapil Sibal said on Wednesday, "Rahul Gandhi never accused RSS as an institution for the crime. He had only blamed certain individuals of that organisation for it. There is no collective denunciation of the RSS."

The bench then said the inference is that RSS as an organisation has not been maligned and he blamed certain individuals. The court however asked Sibal to state all these in an affidavit.

CRIMINAL DEFAMATION LAW UPHELD TO PREACH HARMONY OVER ANARCHY



Senior lawyer U R Lalit who appeared for Kunte said he required time to take instructions from his client if he was ready to withdraw the case against Rahul. The court has posted the case for further hearing on September 1 for Rahul's affidavit and Kunte's stand. Justice Misra had said on July 19: "We have upheld the criminal defamation law. The purpose of the law is to make people obey rules so that there is harmony rather than anarchy. The law is not against the right to freedom of speech. Freedom is not crippled or cut. Everyday a writer, politician will speak something and there will be litigation. The purpose of law is not to turn people to into litigants." To add to the drama, despite an earlier SC stay on proceedings, Rahul appeared in the Bhiwandi court on May 8 and later approached the High Court against the complaint. Rahul Gandhi's counsel tried to justify his remarks saying these are "historical facts and even part of the government records."

advertisement

The case reopened on May 14, when the SC, holding that "it is always better to mind your language as right to free speech does not mean defaming another" dismissed the plea filed by Rahul, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to decriminalise criminal defamation law.

Also read: Price rise a big issue, why is PM Modi silent: Rahul Gandhi in Parliament



--- ENDS ---
We issued an updated research report on the Cincinnati, OH-based Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. SNI on Aug 23.

Strong Advertising Sales in Q2

Scripps Networks reported mixed results in the second quarter of 2016; with earnings beating estimates while revenues missing the same. The bottom line expanded 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. The top line surged 21.9%. Advertising revenues in the US Networks division exceeded the $500 million level for the first time, exhibiting the strength of the advertising market for the companys lifestyle offerings. US Advertisement revenues climbed nearly 9% in the quarter which was more than the growth displayed by its peers like Time Warner Inc. TWX.

We are impressed by Scripps Networks strategy of growth through acquisitions. In a bid for further expansion, the company completed the remaining 35% stake buy in Travel Channel Media from Cox Communications earlier this year. Moreover, to reinforce its position in the European market as well as to enhance its advertising business, Scripps Networks acquired Polands popular multi-platform media company, TVN, last year. We are also encouraged by the policy of Scripps Networks to reward its shareholders through dividends.

Headwinds

We are, however, concerned about the high debt levels of the company. Scripps Networks exited the second-quarter 2016 with $185.9 million in cash & cash equivalents and $2,877.5 million of outstanding debt (less current portion). The debt-to-capitalization ratio stood at a high 0.57.

Moreover, mounting programming costs and foreign currency exchange rate risks continue to pose threats for the company.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Scripps Networks currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the broader Consumer Discretionary sector include Charter Communications Inc. CHTR and Lincoln Educational Services Corp. LINC. Both the stocks sport a Zacks Ranks #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



TIME WARNER INC (TWX): Free Stock Analysis Report



SCRIPPS NETWRKS (SNI): Free Stock Analysis Report



LINCOLN EDUCATL (LINC): Free Stock Analysis Report



CHARTER COMM-A (CHTR): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
(Adds buyer of divested asset, background on deal)

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - ON Semiconductor Corp has won U.S. antitrust approval to buy Fairchild Semiconductor International on condition that it sell an automotive ignition business, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday.

ON will sell its Ignition IGBT business to Chicago-based manufacturer Littelfuse Inc, the agency said.

ON Semi and its rivals' power-management circuits are used in everything from aircraft to home appliances and automobiles to computers. The deal was valued at about $2.4 billion.

The FTC, in a statement, said that without the sale the merged company would have controlled more than 60 percent of the market for insulated-gate bipolar transistors, or IGBTs - a type of semiconductor used in automotive internal combustion engines' ignition systems. That likely would have driven up prices and curbed innovation, it said.

Analysts said when the deal was announced in November that ON Semi's move for Fairchild was most aimed at keeping it out of the hands of a competitor, including China's Tsinghua Unigroup Ltd, which aims to be the world's No.3 chipmaker.

(Reporting by Tim Ahmann and Diane Bartz; Writing by Susan Heavey and Diane Bartz; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Bill Trott)
Seth Meyers does not appreciate Donald Trump waiting so long to take his offer to drop out of the presidential race and instead star in an NBC show called Chicago President. Meyers' solution? He bought Trump's book Art of the Deal and learned how to negotiate.

"What I realized after reading it is that leverage is key in a negotiation, and I realized that right now I have all the leverage," said Meyers, explaining that this was because Trump has gone from being close in the polls to trailing way behind.

"We are now decreasing our original offer," Meyers said, addressing Trump. "If you drop out right now, NBC will only offer you a six-episode series for $200,000 where you would play the vice president to - and I know you're not going to like this - President Chris Christie."

Meyers said it breaks his heart but that it could get even worse for Trump if he doesn't accept the offer. "You're tied in Georgia, Donald. Georgia."

The Chris Christie president show will also be entirely in Spanish. Meyers said that if Trump keeps performing badly in the election, the offer will be for a role as a White House janitor on Taxi TV, the content that plays on the screens in the back of New York City taxi cabs.

Read more: Seth Meyers Plays Donald Trump in Fake 'Chicago President' Scene
Kurdish female iraq

It almost seems inevitable.

With such an oppressive regime and a weakening infrastructure, the organization that touts itself as the caliphate is facing growing dissent within its civilian populace.

And it looks like this gap is widening, especially after the efforts of a secret group called the Mosul Battalions.

In Mosul, Iraqs second largest city and one of the few remaining ISIS bastions, this secret network has been causing disarray for ISIS members by carrying out assassinations and hit-and-run strikes against ISIS targets.

In a report by CNN, online video from the Mosul Battalion has shown the capture and assassinations of ISIS members and the bombings of the militant's checkpoints.

"The roadside bombs they used, they would steal from ISIS," Abu Ali, a Mosul Battalion intermediary told CNN. "ISIS puts bombs in certain areas and those who have previous military experience go and steal these bombs and place them to target ISIS."

After ISIS captured Mosul on June 2014, the jihadists conducted a search for weapons that were both abandoned by fleeing Iraqi soldiers as well as arms held by citizens; however, many remained hidden outside of ISIS grasp. It is with these rifles and pistols that the Mosul Battalion wreaks havoc for ISIS, Ali explained to CNN.

"Saddam militarized the population, all Iraqi people have weapons training, continued Ali.

ISIS Iraq Man Mourning

Risking torture and death, the organization claims to be so secretive that many of their members dont know the identities of others. Contacting each other via cell phone  a crime thats punishable by cutting the hand off the offender or even death  the rebels have developed a crude, yet effective, way of communicating.

Story continues

"They work in two-person formations and a third person is at a higher level to avoid compromising the group if one is captured," he said.

Initially established by two close friends, the Mosul Battalion now claims to have between 100 and 300 fighters, many of them youth and former military members. If this figure is correct, their efforts may be invaluable in the coming months as coalition forces begin their massive campaign to liberate the city from ISIS.

ISIS airstrikes Manbjj Syria

The Mosul Battalion claims to have also already provided intelligence and coordinates of ISIS positions for coalition airstrikes.

They wanted to work with the coalition for a couple reasons. So that the coalition is precise and doesn't hit civilian populations but also to accelerate the elimination of ISIS," said Ali to CNN.

Given how past failures of the Iraqi military and US-led coalition forces led to the unintended rise of ISIS, the presence of an organic and local anti-ISIS resistance movement will be critical to the continued success of beating the militants.

NOW WATCH: EX-PENTAGON CHIEF: These are the 2 main reasons ISIS was born





More From Business Insider


Shailene Woodley is taking a stand against the construction of an oil pipeline that will run through North and South Dakota.



The actress, 24, joined over 200 protesters earlier this month to protest the planned $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline, reports the Bismark Tribune. Activists fears the pipeline, which is set to run 1,100 miles through the Dakotas and across the Missouri River, will contaminate ground water.



On Wednesday, Woodley is expected to join a group of Standing Rock Sioux tribe activists and allies in protest outside the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., where a hearing has been scheduled to review an injunction request filed by the tribe against the pipeline's construction.



Woodley first joined the protest on Aug.9, supporting those who participated in a run from North Dakota to Washington, D.C.  and she plans to stay until a resolution is found.







"She plans to spend as much time there as possible in between her professional commitments for the release of Snowden," a source tells PEOPLE.



"I'll be here until we win, a week or a year," the actress told the Bismark Tribune. "I'm out here because I believe clean water is a right for everyone; I'm here because I'm a human being and I want to have children some day, so it's also my responsibility to make sure that all babies, all children have water."









She has chronicled her participation with the protest on social media, even sharing several Facebook Live videos of her "standing in solidarity" with fellow protesters.



"At the blockade standing in solidarity with the Standing Rock and Sioux tribes," she captioned a video of her standing among the crowd chanting.





Story continues





While there have been reports of arrests at the site, Woodley took to Instagram to insist that they are acting in a "peaceful" and "unifying" manner.



"All this talk of violence on the Reservation is as aggravating as it is hilarious...because it couldn't be further from the present truth," she wrote, urging more people to join in on their cause. "Come stand with those gathered here to see just how peaceful, unifying, and beautiful this movement is. if this pipeline breaks, it will effect EIGHTEEN MILLION PEOPLE who depend on the Missouri River for drinking water. check yo'self. this is about protecting ALL water. do you depend on the Missouri for drinking water? look it up. chances are a lot of you do, and just don't know it. united, we will win."









She also posted photos with her "brothers and sisters" in the fight.





had to fly to LA for three long days of jury duty. my heart and prayers were with the people up here in North Dakota the whole time. sure feels good to be back on the ground with these brothers and sisters. link in bio! #dakotaaccesspipeline #dakotaaccess #UpToUs #RezpectOurWater A photo posted by Shailene Woodley (@shailenewoodley) on Aug 18, 2016 at 11:27pm PDT







they are calling us protestors. but, they have it wrong: we are not protesting. we are p.r.o.t.e.c.t.i.n.g #RezpectOurWater #dakotaaccess #dakotaaccesspipeline #UpToUs link in bio A photo posted by Shailene Woodley (@shailenewoodley) on Aug 18, 2016 at 11:29pm PDT





"They are calling us protestors. but, they have it wrong: we are not protesting. we are p.r.o.t.e.c.t.i.n.g," she wrote on Instagram.



Fellow A-list stars including Susan Sarandon, Rosario Dawson and Riley Keough have also joined in the fight against the pipeline.



"The end is when they [the pipeline] pack up and leave," Woodley told the Tribune. "I stand in solidarity with these people."
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 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 shares of Hain 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, during the Class Period, 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
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:

To: All Persons or Entities who purchased AEP Industries Inc. ("AEP Industries") (AEPI) stock prior to August 25, 2016 .

You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of AEP Industries to Berry Plastics Group, Inc. (BERY). Under the terms of the transaction, AEP Industries shareholders may elect to receive $110 in cash or 2.5011 shares of Berry common stock for each AEP Industries share they own, subject to an overall 50/50 proration. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to:

http://zlk.9nl.com/aep-industries-aepi

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
Donald Trump

Donald Trump went off on Hillary Clinton on Twitter Thursday after the Democratic nominee wrapped up her address demonizing the Manhattan billionaire's "alt-right" support.

The Republican nominee called the speech "short" while saying the former secretary of state pandered "to the worst instincts in our society."

"Just watched recap of #CrookedHillary's speech," he posted. "Very short and lies. She is the only one fear-mongering!"

"Hillary Clinton's short speech is pandering to the worst instincts in our society," he continued. "She should be ashamed of herself!"

Clinton's speech from Reno, Nevada took aim at what she called a "fringe element" of dangerous nationalists that Trump has helped propel into the mainstream with his presidential ascendancy.

That element, the alt-right, favors nationalistic and ethno-centric policies.

"Hillary Clinton is using race-baiting to try to get African-American voters- but they know she is all talk and NO ACTION!" Trump later tweeted.

Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway released a statement of her own after the conclusion of the real-estate magnate's Twitter rant.

"Donald Trump is talking about issues; Hillary Clinton is talking about Donald Trump," she said. "Today, as she took a break from her Hillary-in-Hiding Tour, she missed another opportunity to talk about education, infrastructure, terrorism, healthcare, the economy and energy. Were living in her head rent-free, and that must terrify the political insiders who want to keep things exactly the way they are."

NOW WATCH: Trump rips a protester in Pennsylvania: 'Your mother is voting for Trump'





More From Business Insider


JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African-focused bullion and platinum producer Sibanye Gold posted a six-fold surge in interim earnings on Thursday on a sharply higher rand-gold price and said it was refocusing on safety after a spike in fatalities. "Regrettably there has been a regression in the Gold Divisions safety performance, with eight fatalities during the first six months of this year," compared with four in that period last year, the company said in a statement. The company said it had appointed veteran executive Peter Turner to head up safety for the group. "Sibanye management has taken urgent steps to address this regression in safety ... Immediate safety challenges will be addressed through stringent enforcement of standards and compliance in the short term," it said. Safety has been back in the spotlight in South Africa, home to the world's deepest mines, after an increase in fatalities across the industry this year after the death toll had fallen for seven consecutive years. Companies including Sibanye have also complained in recent months that the department of mineral resources was applying unnecessary safety stops to address the issue, impacting production. But the department on Tuesday said health and safety issues were "non negotiable." Sibanye's interim headline earnings per share leapt to 121 cents from 19 cents last year, in line with what it had flagged to the market. Group revenue rose 44 percent to 14.7 billion rand ($1.0 billion). "This was largely a function of the depreciation of the rand against the U.S. dollar in late 2015, with the average (rand) gold price increasing by 31 percent," the company said. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: [SGLJ.J] ($1 = 14.1222 rand) (Reporting by Ed Stoddard and Bengaluru Newsroom; Editing by Mark Potter)
Actor-politician Ramya was gheraoed by pro-Hindu organizations at the Mangalore airport for her what was construed as pro-Pakistan comment a few days ago.

By Pratiba Raman: Following her comment about Pakistan, actor-politician Ramya seems to be in trouble. She was heckled by pro-Hindu organizations at Mangalore airport on Thursday. Protesters even threw eggs at her car.



Protesters raised slogans against the former Congress MP. Police detained some of the protesters. Ramya had gone to Mangalore to attend a Krishna Janmashtami celebration programme, which was attended by a large number of people.

advertisement

However Ramya said, "I love Mangalore. I keep visiting this place. For election, this was the place I started my campaign. I won't get upset by what happened. Just because of this, I won't call Mangalore as hell. I didn't speak for or against Pakistan. I believe in peace and harmony. I request media to exercise responsibility. I am now slapped with a sedition charge. I will anyway deal with that case legally."



THE PAKISTAN COMMENT AND SEDITION CASE



Ramya was recently slapped with sedition case by a Karnataka lawyer, who moved the court. She had rejected Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement equating Pakistan to hell.



Referring to the Defence Minister's comment, Ramya said, "Pakistan is a good country, not hell. People are just like us. They treated us very well while attending the SAARC meet. Manohar Parrikar's comment is not true."RAMYA DEFIANT

Responding to the petition seeking sedition charge against her, the former Congress MP said, "Everybody is entitled to their views and that is what democracy is about, you can't force your ideology on anyone."



"Politicians want to polarise and spread hatred. Just because borders separate us we shouldn't hate others", Ramya aka Divya Spandana said.





WATCH Congress leader Ramya's car attacked by protesters with eggs over her remark, in Mangaluru.Protesters detainedhttps://t.co/DlZ7TGDcAR ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

Actor-politician Ramya, charged with sedition, says she won't apologise for 'Pakistan not hell' remark

--- ENDS ---
Assads chemical weapons. A U.N.-authorized investigation has concluded that both the Assad regime in Syria and the Islamic State have used chemical weapons in Syria in recent years, the first time that the United Nations has officially assigned blame for the use of outlawed weapons in Syrias five-and-a-half year conflict, FPs Colum Lynch reports. The Syrian government carried out at least two chemical weapons attacks in 2014 and 2015, while ISIS shelled a Syrian village with mustard gas in the summer of 2015, according to the report. A copy of the report, which is confidential, was obtained by Foreign Policy.

Turkey increases Syria ops. After its lightning strike into Syria Wednesday morning, it looks like Turkish forces may be planning to stay awhile. On Thursday, Turkey drove nine more tanks over the border into the Syrian town of Jarablus, increasing the number to about 20, while more gear looks to be on the way. We need construction machinery to open up roads a Turkish official said Thursday, and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armored personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed.

Kurds in the crosshairs. Soon after Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army rebels  some of whom are graduates of last years failed Pentagon program to train vetted Syrian fighters  took Jarablus from the Islamic State on Wednesday, it became clear who the real target of the op was: U.S.-backed Kurdish rebels. FPs Paul McLeary and Dan De Luce write that after the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces took the Syrian town of Manbij last week, Turkey felt it needed to stop them from pushing north. And given the need for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to flex some muscle after the failed military coup in July, it was strategically opportune and politically opportune to launch this now, Aaron Stein, a fellow at the Atlantic Council, told FP.

Kurds pull back. The Turks demanded the Kurds leave Manbij and pull east of the Euphrates River, and spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad, Col. John Dorrian tweeted Thursday that they did just that. The main element of SDF Manbij liberation force has gone east; some forces remain to finish clearing, IED removal as planned, he wrote, and they have moved east across the Euphrates to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa, Syria.

Defense officials told the Washington Post that the Turkey-based Syrian forces had been conducting small scale operations in Syria for months, and in keeping with an FP report this past spring, U.S. and Turkish special operations forces had continued recruiting Syrian fighters even after the original American train and equip program flamed out late last year.

Russia to Turkey: Thanks but no thanks. One thing that might make the whole situation just a bit less complicated is that Russian officials tell the Air Force Times that despite recent reports, they have no plans to start flying missions into Syria from Incirlik air base in Turkey, which the Turks had suggested earlier this month. Secretary of State John Kerry is set to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week to make one last effort to hammer out an agreement between the two countries, the AP reports, but before talks can begin, U.S. officials say it is imperative that Russia use its influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad to halt attacks on moderate opposition forces, open humanitarian aid corridors, and concentrate any offensive action on the Islamic State group and other extremists not covered by what has become a largely ignored truce.

Ludicrous speed! The U.S. Navys guided missile destroyer USS Nitze had a close call Wednesday when four Iranian small boats  with guns uncovered  approached at high speed while ignoring warnings to back off. The boats only held up once they were within about 300 yards, U.S. officials say. The incident occurred in international waters in the crowded Strait of Hormuz, (video here) and follows several other incidents in recent months. Last December, Iranian ships popped off several rockets near a U.S. warship, and a month later Tehran flew an unarmed drone over the USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf. The most serious event came in January, when the Iranians seized U.S. Navy sailors piloting two small patrol boats, holding them for several hours before letting them go after they strayed into Iranian waters. FPs Dan De Luce had the details here.

Toll rises. The U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday it may have killed civilians in an air strike near the Islamic States de facto capital in Raqqa, Syria. In a statement, the command said, a non-military vehicle drove into the target area after the weapon was released from the aircraft, and the vehicles occupants may have perished as a result of the strike. It is continuing the investigation. Last month, Centcom announced that between July 2015 and April, it had inadvertently killed 14 civilians in Iraq and Syria.

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

Colombia

In a historic deal, Colombias government and Marxist FARC rebels have finally reached a deal to end the 50-year war which has claimed the lives of 220,000 people. Under the agreement, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will lay down arms and begin the process of reintegrating its fighters into civilian life. The agreement 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, who was re-elected in 2014 on the promise of a peace deal.

Bots o war

The Army wants to turn its counter battery radar into a drone killer. IHS Janes reports that the service wants to use its AN/TPQ-53 radar system, which pinpoints the location of incoming small artillery, to spot small drones. The urgent operational requirement would add the capability to differentiate between targets, allowing operators to track and characterize drones in addition to its traditional responsibility identifying the origin of rocket and mortar fire.

Germany

The Germans are willing participants in the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but they might not be tenants of Turkeys Incirlik air base much longer. Berlin is looking for ways to reposition its six Tornado reconnaissance jets from the base given Ankaras continued refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit the facility. The scrap stems from Ankaras objection to a resolution passed by the German parliament in June that branded the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide. That, apparently, didnt go over well in Ankara.

A-10

The Government Accountability Office dropped a new report Wednesday declaring that the U.S. Air Force doesnt have enough information to support its decision to scrap its fleet of A-10 Warthogs. Flight Global writes that the news will likely fuel support on Capitol Hill, where US lawmakers have already fought the USAF to keep the A-10 in its inventory. The Air Force and Congress have sparred for years over whether to retire the aircraft and language in the Fiscal 2017 National Defence Authorization Act prohibits the A-10 divestment.

Photo Credit: Ensar Ozdemir/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
VIENNA (Reuters) - The re-run of Austria's knife-edge presidential election could produce a significantly different result, a poll published on Thursday found, as 17 percent of respondents said they would or might switch sides in a runoff vote that includes the far right. Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer narrowly failed to become the European Union's first far-right head of state when he lost the second-round vote on May 22 to former Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen by less than one percentage point. But the Freedom Party (FPO) successfully challenged the result before the Constitutional Court, which found that several rules were broken in the handling of postal votes as officials rushed to count the ballots that eventually swung the election. Although there have been few suggestions of foul play and candidates' positions are largely unchanged, a Gallup poll for tabloid daily Oesterreich found five percent of respondents said they would vote differently and 12 percent said they might. The survey of 600 people carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday gave a slight edge to Hofer ahead of the Oct. 2 re-run for the largely ceremonial post, but his lead was within a wide margin of error. Support for Hofer was between 48.5 percent and 57.5 percent, the mid-point being 53 percent, the poll said. Van der Bellen's backing was between 42.5 and 51.5 percent, or, on average, 47 percent. Oesterreich did not say how events since the original run-off vote in May have influenced public opinion. Britain's vote to leave the European Union appears to have worried voters, and Van der Bellen has sought to capitalize on Hofer's eurosceptic views. Militant attacks in Nice and Germany, however, as well as continuing concerns about Europe's migration crisis, are likely to play into the hands of the anti-immigration FPO, which has made law and order one of its central themes. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Swedish director Tomas Alfredsons U.K.-U.S. production of The Snowman, starring Michael Fassbender, and Downsizing from U.S. helmer Alexander Payne directly spent $24 million in Norway during their Norwegian location shoots. They were the first two international features shot in Norway to receive funding from the new state incentive program to attract foreign film and TV productions.

According to a preliminary report by Norways Olsberg SPI Consultancy, which was published Aug. 22 at a production seminar during the 44th Norwegian Intl. Film Festival in Haugesund, the two productions also created 142 full-time equivalent jobs with a total of $12.7 million payroll costs (generating $4 millon tax income for the state).

Financial consultant Andrew Barnes, of Olsberg SPI, presented the report, which was based on the budgets of the two films, recommending the incentive scheme be expanded from $5.5 million in the first year started March 1, 2016, to cover up to four international productions. It should also back a program to increase the skill level of local film workers.

International productions filming in Norway can apply for 25% reimbursement of approved expenditure in the country.

For the first round the Norwegian Film Institute received four applications totaling $46.6 million; The Snowman received the lions share of its budget, $5 million, while the money went to Downsizing.  The Snowman stood out due to the international market potential, the size and quality of the Norwegian share of the project, said Stine Helgeland, he institutes director of promotion and international relations.

Starring Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Val Kilmer and Charlotte Gainsbourg, with Norways Jakob Oftebro and Swedens Sofia Helin, The Snowman is scripted by Hossein Amini and Matthew Carnahan from Norwegian author Jo Nesbs thriller about the anti-authority, anti-sobriety Oslo detective Harry Hole.

Hole is searching for a missing woman  the only trace left of her is her pink scarf, worn by a snowman in the yard. He finds out that over the last decade, 11 women have vanished on the day of the first snow; then he receives an anonymous letter signed the Snowman.

Story continues

Shooting took place between Jan. 18 and early March with a 160 crew  including 100 Norwegians and up to 1,700 local extras  in Oslo, Bergen and Rjukan (in the Telemark region). Produced by the U.K.s Working Title and Hollywoods Universal Pictures, the film will open on Oct. 13, 2017.

Reducing the Norwegian shooting period after limited incentive funding, Paynes Downsizing was filming earlier this month August around the Troll fjord the Flo fjell in Western Norway, and Lofoten further up north. Payne and Jim Taylor wrote the social satire about a man who realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself. Matt Damon stars Kristen Wiig, Alec Baldwin, Christoph Waltz, and Neil Patrick Harris. Pic did the bulk of its shooting in Nebraska and other North American locations. Downsizing is produced by Annapurna Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and will be launched late 2017.

Related stories

Danish Distributor LevelK Launches Sales of Norwegian Festival Thriller Cave'

Haugesund: Scary Movies Get Showcase From Nordic Genre Boost

Norwegian Film Festival Celebrates Local Pics in Global Mix
* Internet firms "consciously failing" - British lawmakers

* Lawmakers want firms to hire more staff to block jihadists

* Report part of broader measures to counter radicalisation

By Paul Sandle

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Facebook, Twitter and YouTube should hire more people to monitor hate speech and material inciting violence as well as putting staff in police operation centres to remove offending posts faster, British lawmakers said.

In a report released on Thursday by parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee, lawmakers said major internet firms were "consciously failing" to stop groups such as Islamic State promoting violence on social media and they needed to take more responsibility for the impact of material posted on their sites.

The report said large internet companies should work with the government, police and security services to create an extensive round-the-clock hub to monitor and immediately shut down such online activity.

"Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle this threat and passing the buck by hiding behind their supranational status, despite knowing that their sites are being used by the instigators of terror," said Keith Vaz, chairman of the parliamentary committee.

The report said it was "alarming" that teams of only a few hundred employees at the internet firms were monitoring billions of accounts. It called on them to work more closely with the London police Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit, specifically by putting staff inside a 24-hour police operations centre to identify and remove hate posts more quickly.

The report, which focused on radicalisation in Muslim communities, said while there was no evidence of a single path or event that triggered changes in behaviour, the internet nevertheless had a "huge impact in contributing to individuals turning to extremism, hate and murder".

The proposals made in the report are expected to be part of new legislation, the Countering Extremism and Safeguarding Bill.

Story continues

NOT ENOUGH

For years, Facebook, Twitter and Google relied largely on user complaints to identify hate speech, rather than playing a more active role by hiring staff to monitor any abuse of their platforms. That changed late last year as social media firms began to step up their efforts. (http://reut.rs/1ljtisH)

With pressure growing for action, they agreed in May to tackle hate speech within 24 hours and reiterated on Thursday that they were already fully engaged in the battle to stop sites being exploited. Google and Facebook have moved to block violent propaganda videos automatically (http://reut.rs/28U55Vp).

In response to the parliamentary report, Simon Milner, Facebook UK's director of policy, said the company deals swiftly and robustly with any reports of abuse.

"In the rare instance that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, we'll also look for and remove relevant associated accounts," he said.

Twitter said last week it had suspended 235,000 accounts during the last six months believed to have links to militant groups such as Islamic State, double the number it suspended from the middle of last year to February.

"As noted by numerous third parties, our efforts continue to drive meaningful results, including a significant shift in this type of activity off of Twitter," it said.

YouTube said it would continue to work with the British authorities to see what other steps could be taken.

"We remove content that incites violence, terminate accounts run by terrorist organisations and respond to legal requests to remove content that breaks UK law," a spokesman said. "We'll continue to work with government and law enforcement authorities to explore what more can be done to tackle radicalisation."

Politicians in the United States and other European countries have welcomed the greater efforts made this year by Twitter and other internet firms though some want more action.

On Tuesday, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve praised the more aggressive efforts by companies to take down hate speech but called for them to be compelled to help security services intercept encrypted messages from Islamist militants. (http://reut.rs/2bio0Ko) (Additional reporting by Eric Auchard in Frankfurt; editing by David Clarke)
Photo: Getty Images

Sofia Richie is a big fan of chokers, branded clothing, and bandeau tops. If we didnt know better, wed say she was a 90s child. But she just turned 18so this 1998-born beauty never really got to experience the ingenuity that was 1990s fashion.

Justin Biebers alleged boo is making up for lost time though, by rocking 90s looks day in and day out.

A photo posted by Sofia Richie (@sofiarichie) on Aug 24, 2016 at 12:02pm PDT

Lets look at the evidence. For her recent birthday celebration, Richie chose track-style Adidas pants with the brand name plastered all over them (she wore a similar flashy jacket a few weeks before, and more track pants a few months before), paired with a spaghetti strap crop top and a thick choker. Thats looking a lot like Sporty Spice circa 1997. Just sayin.



The day after her birthday, she rocked a velour bandeau top, ripped jeans, a sweatshirt around her waist, and Rihannas fur slides. It could only get more 90s if those slides were Adidas instead of Puma.



A photo posted by Sofia Richie Updates (@richieupdates) on Aug 24, 2016 at 4:50pm PDT

To top of all off, shes been sporting a pair of cateye sunnies were pretty sure she borrowed from Julia Roberts 90s rom-com archives.



Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill.' See the resemblance? (Photo: Everett Collection)

And last, but most certainly not least, is this number we like to call, fourth grade or confused tomboy. A spaghetti strap dress over a long sleep camo shirt she wore for Vogue China.

A photo posted by Sofia Richie (@sofiarichie) on Aug 4, 2016 at 6:40pm PDT

Its as if she was the child of a music legend who made a major comeback in the 1990s and the little sister of a fashion mogul who was raised in the decadeoh wait

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.


Sofia Richie is keeping the party going. The daughter of Lionel Richie and Diana Alexander Richie was spotted outside a nightclub in Los Angeles on Wednesday night as she continued her 18th birthday celebrations.

Richie, who rocked a white crop top and a ripped denim jacket for the festivities, was snapped leaving the popular celebrity hotspot and appeared to be shouting and laughing at a group of photographers who had fallen over while trying to take her picture.

AKM-GSI

She then scurried into a car with her friends and headed off. Her rumored love, Justin Bieber, was also photographed leaving the club.

WATCH: Sofia Richie Has a Rough 18th Birthday: 'Anything Else Want to Go Wrong?'

AKM-GSI

Earlier in the day, Sofia was spotted out with friends, wearing a purple velvet crop top and ripped jeans while at a juice bar.

She posted a photo of the look to Instagram, writing, "18-new beginnings."

AKM-GSI

The day before her birthday juice bar trip, Sofia was spotted at RAWkin' Juice with the Biebs.

"He was very engaging with her the whole time, he was very attentive. They were the cutest little couple, there with a bodyguard," an eyewitness told ET. "You could just tell they were a couple and he seemed to really care about her."

Despite sharing that she was sick on Snapchat, Sofia has powered through to honor her milestone birthday with a slew of celebrations.

WATCH: Sofia Richie Reunites With Justin Bieber for Juice Date Ahead of Her Lavish 18th Birthday Party

To ring in her 18th year, Sofia had a wild bash with her friends on Tuesday night, hitting the town in a black tank top for an evening of fun. Earlier that day she was spotted visiting Bieber's house.

Bieber deleted his Instagram account this month after claiming his fans had threatened and insulted Richie. His comments sparked a feud between himself and exes Selena Gomez and Hailey Baldwin.

Related Articles
From ELLE DECOR

Six months after Prince's untimely death, his famous home and recording studio will open to the public as a museum. According to a press release from Bremer Trust, which is managing Prince's estate, Paisley Park will open for public tours starting on October 6.

Paisley Park is located in Chanhassen, Minnesota, about 30 minutes away from Minneapolis. According to plans submitted to the city, there will be guided tours through the main floor of the building, which includes recording and mixing studios, video editing suites, rehearsal rooms, a soundstage, and a concert hall where Prince held private shows. There will also be thousands of artifacts, like costumes, awards, instruments, cars, motorcycles, and rare audio and video recordings.

According to CNN Money, tickets will cost $38.50, and VIP small-group passes will cost $100 each. General tours will take place in groups of 25 to 30 people and last for about an hour. Graceland Holdings, which manages tours of Elvis Presley's home, will also help manage Paisley Park tours.

"Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on," Tyka Nelson, Prince's sister, said in the statement. "Only a few hundred people have had the rare opportunity to tour the estate during his lifetime. Now, fans from around the world will be able to experience Prince's world for the first time as we open the doors to this incredible place."

The mayor of Chanhassen released his own statement, adding that he believes that opening Paisley Park is what Prince wanted. "Much of his vision and design activity for Paisley Park as a museum is already in place," Denny Laufenburger said. "He knew exactly how to showcase his production studio for his fans in preparation for this eventual outcome."

Press Releases from Prince Estate and City of Chanhassen are at https://t.co/UIcCalJoPa Mayors statement #Prince pic.twitter.com/Pgi9PZavTI - Denny Laufenburger (@laufendh) August 24, 2016

Tickets will go on sale starting August 26, and you can sign up for more information on Paisley Park's website. Shortly after Paisley Park opens, there will also be an official family tribute concert at U.S. Bank stadium in Minneapolis on October 13. Prince never had a will, so Bremer Trust is also figuring out who, other than his siblings, should inherit his estate, USA Today reports. Those decisions will also include Prince's music catalog and any unreleased recordings.

You Might Also Like
The Ministry of Defence has asked Navy to seek a detailed report on the leaked papers from DCNS.

By Manjeet Negi: In a latest development, the Indian government, which has examined the reportedly leaked documents related to the ongoing Indian Scorpene submarine programme, said that the documents do not compromise security as vital parameters have been blacked out.

The documents were posted on the website by an Australian news agency.

INDIA TAKES UP THE MATTER WITH FRENCH GOVT

advertisement

The Indian Navy has taken up the matter with the Director General of Armament of the French Government. The navy expressed concern over the incident and requested the French government to investigate it urgently and share their findings with the Indian side.

An internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise is also being undertaken. The matter is being taken up with the concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports.

The government of India, as a matter of abundant precaution, is also examining the impact of the leaked documents. It is examining if the information contained in the documents, claimed to be available with the Australian sources, is compromised.

The detailed assessment of the potential impact of these documents is being undertaken by a high-level committee constituted by the Ministry of Defence.

The Indian Navy is taking all necessary steps to mitigate any probable security compromise.

MISMATCH BETWEEN AVAILABLE PAPERS AND SPECIFICATION MODEL



Primary analysis of the Navy on the Scorpene submarine information leak indicates that there is a mismatch between the papers available in public domain and the specification manual on which the boats are being made, top government sources said.

The primary analysis report has been shared with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. Claims have been made that 22,400 papers were leaked but actually only few papers are available in the open domain.

Though sources confirm that the leaked papers have similarity to one of the submarine versions discussed with the French naval contractor DCNS, many specifications were changed in the final version.

However, to avoid any chance, the Ministry of Defence has asked Navy to seek a detailed report on the leaked papers from DCNS. The matter will be taken up with DCNS through Ministry of External Affairs, the sources said.

LEAK DIDN'T HAPPEN FROM MDL



Meanwhile, the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), where the Scorpene submarines are being built, today said the data leak did not take place from its end and that it was assisting the Navy in the probe.

advertisement

A day after the data leak on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company came to light, an MDL official said there were stringent norms at MDL on data security.

"We are helping Navy in the probe. We are certain the data leak was not from our side," an MDL official said.

Reacting to reports of the massive data leak, he added, "It needs to be verified if the leaked documents are authentic."

There are stringent norms at MDL on data security, the official said. MDL head Rear Admiral Rahul Shrawat was not available for comments.

French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project.

MDL is scheduled to deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy early next year and the remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020.

According to media reports, the documents running into 22,400 pages detail the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines.

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.

advertisement

Parrikar had yesterday ordered the Navy Chief 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 had said.

(With inputs from PTI)

ALSO read | Scorpene submarine leak: French firm kept us in the dark, says government

Over 20,000 pages of classified data on India's Scorpene submarines leaked



10 things to know about India's most lethal Scorpene submarines



--- ENDS ---
By Mfuneko Toyana PRETORIA (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday he backed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan but was powerless to stop a police investigation into him, signaling a prolonged tussle that could rock markets further. Gordhan is facing an investigation over a suspected surveillance unit set up years ago when he was in charge of the tax service. The rand has tumbled 5 percent since Tuesday when news of the investigation broke, with analysts saying Zuma had offered only qualified support to Gordhan. The finance minister said on Wednesday he had done nothing wrong and had no legal obligation to obey a police summons linked to the probe into whether he used the unit at the tax service to spy on politicians including Zuma. News of Gordhan's summons this week compounded investors' worries about a power struggle between Zuma and Gordhan as Africa's most industrialized economy teeters near recession and credit rating agencies consider downgrading it to "junk". The main opposition party called for a parliamentary debate into what it called a "witch-hunt" against Gordhan. Investors and rating agencies back Gordhan's plans to rein in government spending in an economy that has been forecast by the central bank to register no growth this year. "President Jacob Zuma wishes to express his full support and confidence in the Minister of Finance and emphasizes the fact that the minister has not been found guilty of any wrong doing," the presidency said in a statement. "The Presidency wishes to also emphasize that President Zuma does not have powers to stop any investigations into any individual/s," it said, adding that Zuma could not bring a halt to the probe even if it was negatively affecting the economy. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said state agencies should not battle each other as it could destabilize the economy. "The minister of finance is today almost facing what could be arrest. It's something that should concern us," Ramaphosa said at a funeral service of a former cabinet minister in the Eastern Cape province where Gordhan was in attendance. TENSIONS WITH TREASURY A Zuma-backed plan to build a series of nuclear power plants, at a cost of as much as $60 billion, has caused tension with the Treasury for months and is likely adding to pressure on Gordhan's position, analysts say. The presidency said in May that Zuma was not warring with Gordhan. On Thursday, the presidency defended plans to give Zuma supervision over state-owned firms after Gordhan's allies said this would limit the finance minister's control. Zuma's team and the Treasury under Gordhan have disagreed about government spending, including at loss-making state companies like South African Airways, analysts say. Analysts also questioned the extent of Zuma's stated support for his finance minister. "It was an ambiguous vote of confidence in Pravin Gordhan which would suggest that the agencies supposedly investigating Pravin Gordhan will be given relatively free rein to continue these investigations," said Daniel Silke, a director at Political Futures Consultancy. NKC African Economics analyst Gary van Staden said: "Anybody who watches English football can tell you when the owner says he has confidence in the manager, the manager is out of there in a week." Political activists protested in the capital Pretoria outside the offices of the Hawks, the elite police unit that is investigating Gordhan. Two former officials of the tax service presented themselves to the police. It was not clear what line of questioning they faced. Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi declined to comment. A former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, said on Wednesday the economy would be "destroyed" if Zuma fired Gordhan, after he changed finance ministers twice in one week in December. (Additional reporting by James Macharia, Joe Brock and Tanisha Heiberg in Johannesburg; Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday he has full confidence in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is under police investigation over a suspected spy unit at the tax service. Zuma said he could not intervene in the investigations despite the negative impact the probe has caused on the economy, according to a statement released by the presidency. The rand, which had tumbled since Tuesday in response to the investigation, extended gains to 1.3 percent after Zuma's statement. (Reporting by James Macharia; editing by John Stonestreet)
South Korea said Thursday it will offer each surviving victim of Japan's wartime sexual enslavement 100 million won (US$89,581) using funds provided by Tokyo, an offer quickly rejected by some of the women.

The plight of the so-called "comfort women" is a hugely emotional issue that has marred relations between Seoul and Japan for decades and which, for many South Koreans, symbolises the abuses of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

Last December, the two nations reached a "final and irreversible" agreement, under which Tokyo offered an apology and one billion yen ($8.5 million) to open a foundation for the dwindling number of comfort women who are still alive.

With the disbursement of the one billion yen formally authorised by Tokyo during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, South Korea's foreign ministry said it expects the Seoul-based foundation to receive the money soon.

Ministry spokesman Cho June-Hyuck told reporters Thursday that a part of the money will be used for "individual" financial assistance, providing 100 million won each to the surviving victims and 20 million won for those who have passed away.

"The cash provision is intended to restore the victims' dignity and to heal their wounds," Cho said.

But the offer was rebuffed by some of the women, who have taken issue with Japan's refusal to accept formal legal responsibility.

"Japan refers to the money as humanitarian assistance and not legal compensation, which is why they won't take it," said Ahn Shin-Kwon, director of the House of Sharing, which is home to 10 of the ageing victims.

"The government is trying to placate them with money by offering the surviving victims much more than those who have died," Ahn told AFP.

There are currently 40 surviving victims in South Korea, although that number is quickly dwindling as most of the women are in their 90s.

The South Korean government has been under scrutiny by some of the victims and activists since last year's agreement.

An opening ceremony of the Tokyo-funded foundation in Seoul last month was met with angry protests, with the foundation's head ending up in hospital after being sprayed with liquid pepper spray.

Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.
By Tom Westbrook SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's north is forecast to receive above average rainfall over the next three months, the country's weather bureau said on Thursday, boosting cattle herds. The continent's tropical northwest has at least a 60 percent chance of above average rainfall from September to October, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said, with rains forecast to sweep from the Kimberley coast, southwest of Darwin, east to cattle grazing lands in Queensland. There is an even chance of a wetter-than-average spring across the rest of the country. "A wet spring for most of those cattle regions will mean the producers are able to hold on to stock for a bit longer because they'll have grass on the ground," said Matt Dalgleish, a livestock market analyst at agricultural advisory firm Mercardo. "That kind of rainfall and the prospect of that rainfall will support prices," he said, adding that he expected live export prices to retreat from near-record highs, though slowly as herd rebuilding limits supply growth. Australia's beef benchmark, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, on Thursday was at A$7.07 ($5.39) per kilogram, down from a record-high of A$7.26 earlier in the month. Favorable weather on the east coast, forecast to continue, increases expectations that 2016/17 output of wheat - the country's most significant rural export - will exceed official estimates, pegged in June at a five-year high of 25.4 million tonnes. Higher wheat output from Australia will pressure global prices that have fallen 3.7 percent this week and touched nearly 10-year lows earlier in the month. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Sri Lanka is seeking a partner from the Indian subcontinent to develop a port designed to be its deepest and accommodate the world's largest container vessels, Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said Thursday.

The Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) is looking for a foreign investor with about $400 million to complete the half-built East Container Terminal at the Colombo port, Ranatunga said.

"We are looking for an investor who should come in with a shipping operator from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh," the minister told reporters in Colombo.

He said the investor should partner a shipping line that could guarantee additional traffic of one million containers through the port of Colombo, which currently handles over five million containers a year.

The Sri Lankan government is keen to involve a company from the Indian subcontinent because about 75 percent of container traffic through Colombo is trans-shipment cargo from the region, the minister said.

He said the SLPA had spent $80 million to build 430 metres of a 1,200 metre-terminal which he hopes to complete with foreign capital.

"We have no money to invest, but we want a 15 percent stake in a joint venture to develop this mega container terminal," he added.

The project comes three years after the opening of the $500 million Chinese-built Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), which made Colombo the only mega port between Dubai and Singapore.

Ranatunga said the East Container Terminal will be about two metres (yards) deeper, when completed, than the CICT.
Leslie Jones is a stand-up comedian. But on Wednesday, the stars stood up for her.



Katy Perry, Ellen_Degeneres, Lena Dunham and Gabourey Sidibe are just a few of the celebrities who publicly sent their love and support for the 48-year-old Saturday Night Live star, whose personal website was hacked earlier in the day to show explicit photos and personal information.



In addition to violating Jones' privacy, the hackers also posted a picture of a gorilla on her site.



The website was quickly taken down.







In the chorus of praise for Jones was a battle cry against the racial implications of the attack. "Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled misogynoir crime," wrote Perry.





Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I #StandWithLeslie a KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 24, 2016



"These acts against Leslie Jones are sickening," said Roots frontman Questlove. "It's racist, sexist  it's disgusting. This is a hate crime. This ain't kids joshing around."



these acts against leslie jones....are sickening. its racist & sexist. it's disgusting. this is hate crimes. this aint "kids joshing round" a Questlove Gomez (@questlove) August 24, 2016



Her Ghostbusters director Paul Feig also came to her side, saying, "What's happening to [Jones] is an absolute outrage. Haters, trolls, 'comedians,' whoever the f--- you all are  you're just sad."



Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, Broad City star Ilana Glazer, and Holly Robinson-Peete were also among those who pointed out the racial implications of the hack.





This @Lesdoggg attack is troubling. The rampant racism percolating in society right now is shameful and sad. She made a movie, that's it! a octavia spencer (@octaviaspencer) August 24, 2016







maybe @Lesdoggg didn't expect to be a WARRIOR symbol in the face of violent racism and woman-hate, but she is. https://t.co/TANia6484q a ilana glazer (@ilazer) August 25, 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. a Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 24, 2016





so angry, disgusted and sad about this racist violent assault on leslie. a Aidy Bryant (@aidybryant) August 24, 2016



"If 101 percent of pop culture catered to white nerds instead of only 98.1 percent, then the cyber attacks like the one on Leslie Jones wouldn't happen," Patton Oswalt added.



Others, like Oscar winner Patricia Arquette and Project Runway All Stars host Alyssa Milano, warned users not to share the stolen intimate shots on the Internet.





Story continues

FYI sharing stolen intimate photos like @Lesdoggg 's is illegal. You are participating in a sex crime. a Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) 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 a Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 24, 2016



Kathy Griffin suggested some new photos to share.





She's great!!RT @hauntedscully: #LeslieJones doing things she loves and worked hard for. These r the pics WE share pic.twitter.com/wCpv2g1oWn a Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 24, 2016



DeGeneres, Anna Kendrick, Dunham, Sara Bareilles and others simply just lent Jones words of encouragement.



"You are beautiful and talented and bring laughter into a world that desperately needs it," DeGeneres wrote. "You are also my friend and I support you."



Today show anchor Tamron Hall became emotional as she spoke about the recent attacks on Jones.



"Last night, I did cry. It really hit me in a bad spot. Listen, people write dumb stuff everyday a but this is racist, this is sexist. It's abusive," she said on Thursday.



She added: "The idea of just a pack of people a it takes one wolf and then a bunch of sheep. And they follow, and they attack you."





. @Lesdoggg you are beautiful & talented & bring laughter into a world that desperately needs it. You are also my friend & I support you. a Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 25, 2016





I was terrified when I did SNL. Leslie Jones went out of her way to be open, warm, friendly, funny all week. She is a GEM. a Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) August 25, 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 a Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) August 24, 2016





. @Lesdoggg is better and stronger and funnier and more resilient than you and there is nothing you will ever be able to do about it. Sorry! a Chris Kelly (@imchriskelly) August 24, 2016





#TeamLeslie What she has to deal with is mortifying. You kick ass, @Lesdoggg a Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) August 24, 2016





We're with you @Lesdoggg, you are strong, the parents' basement trolls are not. a Nia Vardalos (@NiaVardalos) 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. a Taran Killam (@TaranKillam) August 24, 2016



Even New York City mayor Bill de Blasio got in on the action, saying "cowards who hide behind keyboards to attack the brilliant and talented Leslie Jones diminish themselves."





Cowards who hide behind keyboards to attack the brilliant + talented @Lesdoggg diminish themselves. #standwithleslie https://t.co/N5cvvbOCvP a Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) August 25, 2016



Perhaps the biggest question of all came from Sidibe.



"I truly don't know why people are so hateful towards her," she wrote. "Why? She's talented and wonderful. Why are people so pressed to be awful?"





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? a Gabby SidiBae (@GabbySidibe) August 24, 2016



Dunham, meanwhile, offered advice on how to best move forward.



"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 b-------," she suggested.





RELATED VIDEO: Leslie Jones Exposes Racist Internet Trolls on Twitter



This is the second time the Jones has found herself under attack on the Internet. Just last month, Jones found herself the target of a series of racist and offensive tweets which caused her to temporarily leave Twitter.



Previously, she spoke openly about her childhood insecurities to PEOPLE, saying she struggled with her height and skin color.



"People used to call me names so my mom had this beautiful African lady come talk to me. I was like, 'Oh my God if I'm going to look like you then I don't care what anyone says about me,' " Jones said.
Mira Rajput and Shahid Kapoor are all set to welcome their baby

By India Today Web Desk: Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput, if reports are to be believed, are all set to become parents a day earlier than what they had earlier thought. Mira, who is in her third trimester, was apparently rushed to the hospital Thursday morning (August 25).

ALSO SEE: This photo of parents-to-be Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput is too adorable to miss

advertisement

ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor confirms Mira Rajput's pregnancy, says haan main baap banne wala hoon

An eyewitness told the Times of India that Mira was taken to a hospital in Khar, Mumbai today. Shahid and Mira, who were expected to welcome their baby sometime mid-September, are apparently doing so earlier.

Yesterday, Shahid's parents Pankaj Kapur and Supriya Pathak were at the Haider actor's Juhu residence to visit the couple. Within hours, Mira is said to have been taken to the hospital.

Shahid and Mira have been making the most of their time before they embrace parenthood. Glimpses of their picture-perfect moments have been flooding Instagram ever since news broke that Mira was pregnant.

A few days ago, daddy-to-be Shahid posted this adorable photo of Mira and him on Instagram:



Moments A photo posted by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Aug 23, 2016 at 8:32am PDT

And 'chillies with the mommy to be':

Chillies with the mommy to be. A photo posted by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Aug 23, 2016 at 1:40am PDT

The couple tied the knot in July last year, an arranged marriage that got several tongues wagging given Shahid and Mira's 12-year age difference.

Over the last one year, Shahid and Mira have given their fans several relationship goals by being by each other through thick and thin. With their child arriving any day now, Shahid has been the perfect husband, putting everything else on the back burner.

On the work front, Shahid Kapoor will soon be seen on the silver screen in Vishal Bhardwaj's period drama Rangoon. Kapoor's last release, Udta Punjab, got the actor rave reviews from people all over the country.

--- ENDS ---
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Stans Energy Corp. ("Stans" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU") for an option to acquire 100% of Pervomayskiy GOK LLC ("PGOK"), a Russian limited liability corporation, the owner of a Lithium Mineralization Stockpile (the "stockpile"), the Zabaikalsky Mill (the "mill") and supporting infrastructure.

Under the terms of the MOU, Stans and PGOK (together the "Parties") have agreed on consideration for the possible development of the stockpile, re-commissioning of the mill and the addition of a lithium carbonate production facility. After preliminary evaluation of the in-house Technical Economic Assessment (the "TEA") prepared by PGOK according to Russian standards in 2015, Stans confirms its intention of conducting due diligence on the stockpile of lithium bearing mineralization, the renovation of the mill and the development of a process circuit for producing lithium carbonate, all according to NI 43-101 standards.

Stockpile and Mill

The stockpile and mill are associated with the historic mining operations from the Zavitinsky Lithium and Beryllium Mine (the "mine"), which is about 250 km from Chita City, located in the Trans-Baikal Region of Russia. A full array of infrastructure is available near the stockpile and mill including: electricity generating power station and substation, heat and water supply, tailings storage and railways terminals. The mill is directly connected with the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The mine was in production from 1942 through the mid 1990's, and was the Soviet Union's only active lithium mine. The mine and mill produced over 100,000 tonnes of lithium in concentrate form over its life span. A cut-off grade of Li0 of 0.3% was set by the state for mining operations, as the primary use of lithium at that time in the Soviet Union was for military purposes and market economics were not a consideration. The mill produced concentrates of both beryllium and lithium while the mine was in production, and after the mine was closed the mill continued to process fluorite, gold, and antimony ore through to 2010 when it was put under care and maintenance due to a lack of feed material. The stockpile contains approximately 19,000,000 tonnes of mineralized material grading at or below 0.3% Li0, which Stans will be confirming both the volume and grade as part of its' due diligence process. Upon completion of legal and technical due diligence, Stans will carry out a Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") to evaluate the new lithium carbonate production technology developed by VNIIHT (The Russian Leading Institute of Chemical Technology) and to determine the re-commissioning and upgrading costs and timelines of the mill.

Story continues

Memorandum of Understanding

The MOU establishes the Parties decision on phased implementation of this project under the following conditions:

Phase 1. Resource estimation and TEA confirmation

PGOK shall provide Stans with all legal and technical documentation on the stockpile, the mill, the over-all project, including new lithium carbonate production technology and PGOK corporate structure, on a timely basis. Stans shall then conduct a full geological audit of the stockpile to estimate the lithium mineral resources by the Canadian standards specified in NI 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Stans will earn the right to acquire a 5% participatory interest of PGOK in exchange for the satisfactory completion of due dilligence at Stans' expense (up to US$1million)

Phase 2. Definitive Feasibility Study design

Provided that the legal and geological due diligence is acceptable to Stans, Stans shall then be responsible to produce a DFS of the overall project and shall have an option to acquire an additional 25% of participatory interest in PGOK based on Stans completing the DFS at its expense (budget to be determined).

Phase 3. Construction and the start-up of the mine

Stans shall arrange for financing and construction of the stockpile processing operations and shall have an option to acquire up to 100% of PGOK ownership. The final decision of the structure of the participants' interests in PGOK and the number of Stans' shares to be owned by the PGOK shall be determined in good faith by the Parties.

"This MOU represents an exciting new opportunity for Stans and our stakeholders as we embark down a path of due diligence for the potential of developing a near term production lithium prospect. The intensive use of lithium and its down-stream products represent a fundamental pivot in global energy consumption and storage. We are proud to be part of this change and look forward to the challenges ahead. Stans' experience in the redevelopment of the Kutessay-II Mine and Kashka Rare Earth Processing Plant will be utilized in this challenging project, and we are confident that our technical team and Stans' management are up to the task," states Rodney Irwin, Interim President and CEO.

Notes: With regard to reported mineral resources in the stockpile, this press release contains historical information only. No National Instrument 43-101 compliant report on this property or stockpile has been prepared or is available. The property description is translated from Russian and taken from historical information.

The estimates disclosed are conceptual in nature, and there has been insufficient sampling conducted to NI 43-101 standards to define a mineral resource that may be categorized as an indicated, measured, or inferred resource.

The source and data of these historical estimates are from a Technical Economic Assessment of the stockpile and mill completed by PGOK in 2015.

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources, Stans is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources and the historical estimate should not be relied upon.

About Stans Energy

Stans Energy Corp. is a resource development company focused on advancing rare and specialty metals properties focusing on areas of Central Asia and Russia. Stans acquired, among other things, the right to mine the past producing rare earth mine, Kutessay II, in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2009 and the right to mine Beryllium at Kalesay. Steps subsequently taken by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to wrongfully to deprive the Company of those mining rights have required Stans to take actions at various international arbitration tribunals to protect the Company's rights and recover damages caused by the Republic's wrongful actions.

We seek safe harbour.

Contact Details

Rodney Irwin

Interim President & CEO

rodney@stansenergy.com

647-426-1865

David Vinokurov

VP Corporate Development

david@stansenergy.com

647-426-1865

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, use of proceeds from the Offering, the completion of the Offering, and the continued advancement of the company's general business development, research development and the company's development of mineral exploration projects. When used in this press release, the words "will", "shall", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intent", "may", "project", "plan", "should" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Although Stans Energy Corp. believes that their expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the potential that fluctuations in the marketplace for the sale of minerals, the inability to implement corporate strategies, the ability to obtain financing and other risks disclosed in our filings made with Canadian Securities Regulators.

SOURCE: Stans Energy Corp.
Starbucks_Food_Donation_Program_(6)

Baristas at every Starbucks in the US collectively trash thousands of sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, and cookies at the end of each day.

In March, the coffee chain announced that it would start donating that unsold food to those in need. The program, called FoodShare, is a partnership between Starbucks and the nonprofits Food Donation Connection (FDC) and Feeding America and aims to combat hunger and food waste.

As of August 25, Starbucks has donated more than 300,000 meals to local food banks. Over 1,150 locations currently participate, but the company says it will onboard all of its 7,600 US stores by 2019.

Every day, members from the FDC pick up Starbucks' surplus food, put it in refrigerated vans, and redistribute it to food pantries.

Starbucks estimates that the program will provide 5 million ready-made meals to charities in its first year. The company hopes to deliver 50 million meals by 2021.

Starbucks

The FDC is the largest hunger-relief nonprofit in the US and already works with chains like Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, the Cheesecake Factory, and Chipotle. The latter two companies donate food from all of their stores nationwide.

The new program is just one of many efforts geared towards minimizing America's food waste. Other larger wholesalers, like Target, Sam's Club, and Walmart, donate millions pounds of food to pantries in partnership with Feeding America.

Governments around the world are also trying to fight the problem. In February, the French parliament introduced a bill that forces the country's supermarkets to donate all of their unsold food to charity.

The US throws out approximately 40% of its food, with about 15% of it coming from cafes and restaurants. Globally, we waste about 2.7 trillion pounds of food a year.

"This food is going to make a difference, whether its a child not going hungry for the night or a family thats able to enjoy a protein plate that they would not have otherwise been able to afford at Starbucks," Kienan McFadden, a Starbucks store manager, said in a statement. "Rescuing food in this way from being thrown away will change lives."

Story continues

NOW WATCH: How to make a Pumpkin Spice Latte that tastes better than Starbucks





More From Business Insider


Paris (AFP) - Fierce storms which hit France in April will help to push wine production down almost 10 percent this year, the ministry of agriculture said Thursday.

Unseasonably cool weather through the spring and into the summer will drag overall production down to 42.9 million hectolitres from 47.8 million a year ago, according to the ministry's statistical service Agreste.

Agreste blamed "the spring freeze that hit certain winegrowing areas, recurring winds made worse by drought around the Mediterranean and damage stemming from frost."

Champagne was one of the worst hit regions after several bouts of spring frost and hailstorms which are forecast to drag output down by as much as one third, leading to harvesting being already a week behind schedule based on a 10-yearly average.

An even larger fall is likely to beset the Loire Valley.

The inclement weather means France, which has also had to battle outbreaks of rot and mildew, will likely remain behind Italy, which last year claimed the crown as the world's biggest wine producer.

Jerome Despey, who heads the wine division of agriculture ministry offshoot FranceAgriMer, told reporters the storms and accompanying fallout had been "spectacular," with hailstorms ravaging vast swathes of wine-growing areas "with an intensity which laid waste entire vineyards" in several regions.

The cold snap will also likely cut production in Bourgogne, Beaujolais and Charentes -- which lost some 3,600 hectares -- by around fifth with harvests lagging by ten days or more.

In Languedoc-Roussillon in the deep south frost hit some 2,000 hectares and production will likely slump nine percent with harvests of Chardonnay and some rose wines down some 40 percent.

Despey said drought was taking an additional toll so some producers may bring forward their harvest "to avoid a supplementary impact" with alternate dry and rainy spells allowing mildew to thrive.

Water shortages are also having an effect, including in the Bordeaux region -- a production bright spot with a forecast rise of one percent.

FranceAgriMer meanwhile announced it had authorised the planting of some 3,500 hectares of new vineyards nationwide -- barely half the maximum allowed under new European legislation unveiled in January.
An Arizona dog is swollen from head to tail after the poor pooch was attacked by hundreds of bees outside his Phoenix home.

Read: Pit Bull Shot and Left For Dead Walks Again Thanks to Vets: 'She Started Dragging Herself to Me'

Vets removed more than 400 stingers from Tramp, an 18-week-old puppy. The canine's swollen body is also covered in welts.

Dr. Cynthia Jones of Alta Vista Veterinary Hospital told KPHO that Tramp's survival is nothing short of a miracle.

With as many stings as he had, he had more than enough to kill 50 percent of dogs his size," the doctor told the station. He was having muscle tremors all over the place. It looked almost like he was having seizures."

The dogs owner, Jeremy DeNoyer had let Tramp and his other dog, Lady, out in the yard Saturday when he heard yelping. When he opened the door to bring them back into the home, he saw the swarm of bees attacking both dogs.

Lady was stung about 50 times but Tramp has more than 400 stings. DeNoyer himself was stung 20 times as he tried to bring his dogs to safety.

"I was pretty freaked out," he told KPHO.

The dogs were brought to the vet right away and are still recovering.

DeNoyer says the bees came from a hive on the unoccupied property next to his. The fire department sprayed foam in the area but the family is still paranoid.

Read: Cat Turns the Tables on 7 Pit Bulls in Shocking Attack, and the Dogs Don't Fight Back

"I don't ever want to see another bee again, and I would be OK," DeNoyer told KPHO.

He says he still sees bees at the home next door, and has left notes for the homeowner in hopes something will be done about the insects.

Watch: Cop Gives Lost Dogs a Ride, Tracks Down Owners By Posting Their Selfies Online

Related Articles:
Stranger Things super fan Aaron Paul wants to adopt Millie Bobby Brown

Stranger Things super fan Aaron Paul wants to adopt Millie Bobby Brown

Apparently, celebrities ALSO get just as starstruck as we mere common folk do when we meet our favorite stars! And oh my GOD, if this isnt the cutest thing you read all week then I honestly dont know what to tell you.

Mega hottie and all around sweetheart Aaron Paul stopped by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and talked about his *obsession* with Netflixs breakout series Stranger Things.

Dear Duffer Brothers,



Thank you.



Sincerely,



Everyone.#StrangerThings  Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) July 30, 2016

Im obsessed with them! he confessed to Fallon. Well, duh! Join the club! Fallon also told Paul that four of the shows stars, Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), and Caleb McLuaghlin (Lucas), would be on the show the following week.

OH MY GOD! Can I come? I would LOVE to! he gushed.

All of that is really cute and all, but by far the most adorable moment of the interview was when Aaron told Jimmy he got the chance to interview Mille Bobby Brown for Elle. The former Breaking Bad star said he was so blown away by the 12-year old actor that his wife wanted to adopt her.

My wife and I said that wed want to adopt hershe [Millie] said that we could.

He continued, Shes the best, but I was so terrified. She was on a family vacation in Spain and I was like, Ive got to make this good. She gets on the phone with her cute little accent  shes far more articulate than I and I was terrified.

Everyone all together now: Awwww! You can watch the full interview below!

The post Stranger Things super fan Aaron Paul wants to adopt Millie Bobby Brown appeared first on HelloGiggles.
From Delish

When we found out sushi-namely, raw scallops-was the cause behind a recent Hepatitis A outbreak, our skin crawled a little bit. And now we're gagging yet again as imported strawberries are suspected to be contaminated with the disease as well.

According to Food Safety News, Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture is investigating its exports to the U.S. after reports from Virginia claim 17 cases were linked to the fruit. More specifically, health officials suspect that those infected with Hepatitis A are linked to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which sources frozen berries from Egypt. The chain has since stopped using the strawberries at all of its locations as a precaution.

Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver. Symptoms develop sometime between 15 and 50 days after exposure to the virus, which occurs through direct contact with another infected person or by consuming food or drink that's been contaminated.

Virginia health officials advise that anyone who consumed smoothies with frozen strawberries at any restaurant in the last 50 days should watch for symptoms of Hepatitis A, which includes jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea.

Egypt is the largest strawberry exporter in the Persian Gulf, exporting 40 million tons of both fresh and frozen strawberries to 30 countries in America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. And though the country did not receive an official request from the U.S. government, it is taking random samples for signs of the virus. So far, no traces have been discovered but the hunt continues.

Stay tuned for more updates on this outbreak.

Follow Delish on Instagram.
The playground can be rough for some kids, but one students bright idea is sure to make it a little easier for kids feeling alone.

Elementary student Christian joins The Doctors and parenting expert Jo Frost to discuss the buddy bench, an idea he brought to his Pennsylvania school after finding out about the idea from a school in Germany.

The Buddy Bench is a tool for kids at recess who are lonely. They can go sit on the Buddy Bench and someone will come over to them if they want to play or talk, he explains. When I talked to my principal about the idea and he thought it was a great idea and really shortly after that we got a Buddy Bench on our playground.

Watch: School Lunches from Around the World

In addition to creating friendships, our guest co-host says the idea is creating an important conversation.

I think it is a beautiful way for us to talk about the importance of empathy in our society and really teach our children the importance, Jo points out.

Christian and his principal also spoke to The Washington Post about The Buddy Bench.

Watch: Back-to-School Tips

I didnt like to see kids lonely at recess when everyone is just playing with their friends, he previously said.

Roundtown Elementary Principal Matthew Miller says the concept of the friend-filled bench has caught on and is now at approximately 2,000 other schools and in 12 other countries.

Watch: Criminalize Parents for Kids Truancy?

Christian, who has traveled the country and given numerous speeches about the uplifting concept says, Amazing things happen when you share your hopes and dreams and you may end up helping more people than you can ever imagine.
Sumner Redstone and his National Amusements (NAI) theater chain asked a Massachusetts court today to dismiss a plea by his granddaughter, Keryn, to investigate last weeks deal to settle lawsuits by former Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman.

In filings ahead of a hearing tomorrow, the 93-year-old moguls team says that Keryns lawyers have strived mightily (but unsuccessfully) to initiate their own settlement discussions through every avenue imaginable.

But the granddaughter doesnt have standing to challenge the agreement, the lawyers say, because it involves Viacom  not the seven-member Redstone trust to which shes a beneficiary. The trust will control Viacom and CBS when Sumners deemed unable to do so.

As part of the agreement, Dauman and Viacom director George Abrams dropped their effort to remain on the trust. Keryn cant force them to hold positionsthat they have voluntarily resigned from and renounced any interest in holding, the Redstone and NAI filing says.

Keryn asked Massachusetts Probate and Family Court Judge George Phelan to launch a full inquiry into the settlement, noting that Dauman resigned as Viacoms CEO under conditions that entitle him to collect a $72 million payout provided for in his contract.

This has all the hallmarks of an improper, self-interested transaction, Keryns filing says. At a minimum, it demands this Courts close scrutiny and Plaintiffss forthright explanation under oath.

But Redstone says that Daumans contract at Viacom was unrelated to the Massachusetts case about the family trust, and there was no separate payment to Dauman in the Settlement Agreement, let alone any payment out of the Trust.

Keryns lawyers say that the agreement could have widespread and prejudicial implications for her as well as her enfeebled and preyed-upon grandfather. No one (other than Keryn) seems to have any interest in overseeing the fair, just and equitable administration of the Trust.

Story continues

Her team also says that negotiations to establish terms for a proposed September 1 deposition of Sumner have broken down over three issues.

Redstones team wants to limit questioning to 30 minutes. Since he grapples with a severe speech impediment, they want to pick someone who will interpret his comments. And they dont want Keryn to attend.

The time limit illustrates how Redstones team has conveniently run hot and cold when making representations about Sumners current condition, Keryns filing says. The time restriction would seem to contradict their position that hes alert enough to oversee a $40 billion media empire.

And Keryn has a fundamental right to be present at the deposition, todays filing says. Keeping her out is a misguided attemptto exercise control over the proceeding and, hopefully, dictate its result.

But Redstone and NAI say this is now a moot point. Dauman and Abrams suit created the exigency warranting a highly expedited trial about Sumners competence.

Now that theyve withdrawn their case, the court should take sufficient time to consider the motion to dismiss Keryns suit, or set a more reasonable schedule that will allow defendants to mount complete defenses in this case.

Related stories

Massachusetts Judge Calls On Redstones To Settle Family Dispute Privately

Viacom's Longtime PR Chief Carl Folta Exits

Philippe Dauman To Receive $58 Million In Severance Under Settlement Deal
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers have hit the streets against Delhi L-G VK Saxena over the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign. The Delhi government has claimed that the L-G office did not clear the file following which the campaign had to be postponed.
'The Hacker' Tells the Story of a 17-Year-Old Hacker who is Held Captive by a Government Official

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / Julia "JayEz" Schnorrer, a writer who has published over 50 works of fanfiction, is pleased to announce the upcoming release of her suspense film "The Hacker."

To read more about the short film and see a sneak preview, check out https://goo.gl/bsPUQT.

As Schnorrer noted, "The Hacker" tells the gripping story of a 17-year-old hacker named Colin who is handcuffed to a brand-new table in a barn. The film, which is inspired by her "Loyal in Adversity" Bondlock fanfiction story promises plenty of suspense and intrigue.

Colin is being held captive by a government official who has the ability to give the teen a second chance at life, or ruin it forever. Schnorrer expects that the newly released film will appeal to the passionate fanfic readers, as well as people who are already fans of the Bond-Sherlock inspired genre.

"I have gathered an energetic and highly-motivated cast and crew and together we will rehearse and shoot the nine-page script from September 5-8 in an actual, hand-built barn," Schnorrer said, adding that she is looking forward to the release of her second short film, which is being created with the help of a diverse team from Germany, the UK, and Mexico.

For people who are unfamiliar with the term "fanfiction," Schnorrer notes that it is fiction that is written about a previously existing work or source. In this case, "Loyal Adversity" is a crossover of both James Bond and Sherlock Holmes stories.

In order to help pay for the production costs associated with filming "The Hacker," Schnorrer recently launched a fundraiser on Indiegogo. She hopes to raise 5,050 through crowdfunding, and she is looking forward to having donors become part of the community that will fund the fanfic-inspired suspense film.

"Much like fandom and fanfic, filmmaking is a team effort. Just like every writer needs their beta, a 'low budget' project like ours wouldn't make it to the first day of filming without an inspiring community of supporters," she said.

Story continues

About "The Hacker":

"The Hacker" is a new fanfic-inspired short film about a teenage hacker named Colin who is being held captive by a government official. The film, which is based on the fanfic story "Loyal in Adversity," is scheduled to be released soon. For more information, please visit https://goo.gl/bsPUQT.

Contact:

Darryl Gray

admin@rocketfactor.com

(949) 555-2861

SOURCE: The Hacker
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - The Brazilian authorities have charged US swimming star Ryan Lochte with making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics, police said.

The 32-year-old gold medal-winner risks a jail sentence, Brazilian media quoted a police official as saying, although the judicial authorities had yet to confirm that.

"Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime," police said in a statement, adding that the case had been referred to the courts.

The police statement said they had recommended the courts issue a summons for Lochte to be questioned.

"Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months' prison," the news website G1 Rio quoted police official Clemente Braune as saying.

"If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused's absence until the final sentence is given."

- Vandalized bathroom -

Lochte apologized last week for saying that he and three teammates had been mugged on their way back from an all-night party by robbers pretending to be police.

Rio police chief Fernando Veloso later told a news conference that the swimmers were not robbed but detained when they tried to flee after vandalizing a gas station bathroom.

The tale humiliated first the Brazilian hosts of the Games and later Lochte's own Team USA after police contested his story.

Top sponsors such as Speedo and Ralph Lauren abandoned Lochte this week.

"I'm taking full responsibility for it," Lochte said in an interview broadcast late Saturday.

"I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn't be in this mess."

- Drunken urination -

Lochte had earlier issued a written apology that was widely ridiculed online as half-hearted.

In the later NBC interview, he also admitted he was still intoxicated when he gave his initial account of the incident, adding: "I let my team down."

Story continues

Following the incident, Lochte flew back to the United States, while the other three swimmers -- Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen -- stayed in Brazil.

Police last week released closed-circuit TV footage and other evidence about the events at the gas station.

The athletes, who appeared intoxicated, stopped in a taxi at the gas station to use the bathroom during the early hours of the morning.

Lochte and the others then vandalized the area near the bathroom and, according to the manager, urinated on the walls.

Confronted by a security guard, they tried to leave. When the confrontation escalated, the security guard took out his pistol and made them sit on the ground.

After paying around $50 in compensation for the damage, they left unharmed and returned to the athletes' village.

"There was no robbery of the kind reported by the athletes," Veloso said.

Lochte's claims embarrassed the Olympic authorities, highlighting security worries at the Olympics.

Brazil had deployed 85,000 police and soldiers to secure the Games.

Lochte could also face disciplinary action over the incident by USA Swimming and the International Olympic Committee.

One US company threw Lochte a lifeline on Thursday, however. Pine Bros. Softish Throat Drops said it would launch a series of ads featuring Lochte with the slogan: "Forgiving on Your Throat."
(UNITED NATIONS)  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 its report circulated on Wednesday.

The team, which was mandated by the U.N. Security Council a year ago to identify those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria, blamed the government for using chlorine gas in two attacks and Islamic State fighters for using mustard gas in one attack.

The report to the council by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, known as the JIM, said three other cases pointed toward government responsibility but werent conclusive. The three other cases it investigated were inconclusive.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power called the use of chemical weapons a barbaric tool, repugnant to the conscience of mankind, and urged the Security Council to take strong and swift action against the perpetrators.

She accused the Syrian government of violating a council resolution banning the use of chemical weapons and its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which the OPCW monitors.

The experts 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, Power said.

Frances 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 Assads government  but Moscow did support the establishment of the JIM to assess accountability.

Story continues

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 called for further investigation of several other cases it examined, and Power said the United States expects the international experts to continue trying to assess responsibility.

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.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels who seized Jarablus from Islamic State in a Turkey-backed operation on Wednesday have advanced up to 10 km (6 miles) south of the border town, rebel sources and a group monitoring the war said on Thursday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Kurdish-backed forces opposed by Ankara had meanwhile gained up to 8 km (5 miles) of ground northwards, apparently seeking to pre-empt advances by the rebels. The Turkey-supported operation aims to clear Islamic State from the Syrian-Turkish frontier in an operation Ankara says is targeting both the jihadists and the Kurdish YPG militia, which is part of a U.S.-backed alliance also fighting Islamic State. One of the rebel sources said the sides clashed at the village of al-Amarna, south of Jarablus, on Wednesday night as the insurgents advancing from the north met Kurdish-backed forces that had moved forwards from the south. The village was under rebel control on Thursday, the rebel source said. The Observatory said light arms had been used. A map forwarded by a second rebel source showed the Turkey-backed insurgents had advanced into Islamic State-held areas both to the south of Jarablus and to the west along the Turkish frontier. Turkey continued to oversee the operation, the rebel source added. (Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Mark Heinrich)
* Inspection to discover why NY state fined the branch

* To complete local investigation within two weeks

* Says received visit from Fed to discuss fintech, not Mega (Adds that a Federal Reserve spokesman declined comment)

By Faith Hung

TAIPEI, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Taiwan's financial regulator said on Thursday it will send inspectors to Mega Financial Holding Co Ltd's banking branches in New York and Panama in the government's latest probe into the state-run bank.

Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) also said it expects to complete its local investigation within two weeks.

The comments come after New York's state financial regulator fined Mega's New York banking unit $180 million for violating anti-money laundering regulations, including lax attention to risk exposure in Panama.

"We'll need consent from U.S. regulators to inspect the branches," FSC Chairman Ding Kung-Wha said at a news briefing. "If all goes smoothly, our people will leave for the United States next Monday."

The inspection is to discover what led to the fine and what the unit is working on to improve related issues, Ding said, declining to elaborate.

The FSC's Banking Bureau received a visit from the U.S. Federal Reserve in October to discuss topics such as financial technology, also known as fintech, said Banking Bureau Director General Austin Chan at the same press conference.

"We did not talk about Mega," Chan said.

A Federal Reserve spokesman declined to comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan's cabinet said it would tighten some of the island's anti-money laundering regulations to conform more closely to international standards.

(Reporting by Faith Hung; Additional reporting by Suzanne Barlyn; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Meredith Mazzilli)
From Cosmopolitan

Some two months after Hiddleswift made their world debut with some kissing snogging on a rock in Rhode Island, Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston have reached their first major bump in the road. Us Weekly reports that Taylor and Tom had a major argument earlier this month and according to one source, its related to his filming schedule for the new Thor movie. Says the source, There was so much going on so it was hard to make their schedules work, and they were upset they couldnt see each other. (Recall, Hiddleswift were everywhere earlier this summer, from dancing together at the Selena Gomez show in Nashville, to meeting each others parents, to holding hands in Rome. They were last spotted together in Australia in July when Tom started to work again).

Before you let this news upset you, Us says theyve already made up, with Tom flying out to see Taylor in Rhode Island for a quick two-day stay. As the source puts it, They are making it work. I hope this hasnt been too stressful for Meredith and Olivia Swift. They deserve everything, including joy.

Follow Peggy on Twitter.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View.
From Esquire

This week's lesson: At an airport, solidarity can turn into mass confusion.

That's what Team GB's Olympic athletes learned the hard way after they used team-provided luggage-all bright red. Everyone uses black luggage, after all, so it makes sense in theory. In practice? Not so much.

After a long, grueling few weeks in Rio, Team GB dragged their tired feet over to baggage collection in Heathrow...only to be greeted with this:

Can anyone find my red bag? It's identical to the other 900... What a fantastic problem to have!! #greattobeBAck pic.twitter.com/rpMZDhFEAO - Sophie Ainsworth (@SASailing) August 23, 2016

A moment of silence for Team GB.

You Might Also Like
By Dustin Volz

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A U.S. senator seen by Silicon Valley as one of the technology industry's main foes in Congress is fighting for his political life as Donald Trump's slumping poll numbers threaten to damage Republican candidates across the board.

Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is facing a strong and unexpected challenge from Democrat Deborah Ross.

Though tech policy is unlikely to decide the race, a Burr defeat would remove from the scene a lawmaker who has feuded with U.S. tech companies over digital privacy and encryption.

Ross, a former head of the state's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, is fighting an uphill battle.

North Carolina has voted Republican in every presidential election from 1980 until 2008, when it backed Barack Obama by a thin margin. The state went for Republican Mitt Romney in 2012.

Burr, 60, was not expected to face a challenge this year, in what he has said will be his last congressional campaign. But Republican presidential candidate Trump's numbers have slumped nationwide and in North Carolina, a battleground state in the Nov. 8 presidential election.

Declining support for Trump, a property developer and television personality who has never held elected office, has put Burr, who endorsed Trump, and other Republicans in jeopardy, said Carter Wrenn, a Republican consultant in North Carolina.

"We're not sure it's a wave here for Democrats, but it's beginning to look that way," Wrenn said. "Any Republican running down here ought to be very concerned about Trump's impact."

A poll from NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist in early August showed Ross leading Burr 46 percent to 44 percent, though other polls have given Burr a narrow edge.

Burr has been in Congress for more than 20 years and is distantly related to Aaron Burr, U.S. vice president in the early 1800s. If Burr were to lose, Democrats would be one seat closer to reclaiming a Senate majority from Republicans.

Story continues

APPLE VERSUS BURR

The concerns of companies such as Apple Inc, Google and Facebook are not a key issue for North Carolina voters, but the race's outcome could affect future handling of data encryption and privacy matters.

For a year, Burr has been crafting legislation that would force Apple and other companies to weaken the security of their products in a way that would give U.S. law enforcement access to encrypted devices and communications.

The FBI has said that the growth of strong default encryption makes it more difficult for investigators to access communications of criminal suspects, even with a warrant.

Silicon Valley, cyber security experts and civil liberties advocates say strong encryption is essential to ward off hackers and maintain the overall security of the Internet.

The encryption debate is decades old, but it boiled over earlier this year due to a dispute between Apple and the FBI over unlocking an iPhone linked to one of the shooters in a San Bernardino, Calif., rampage in 2015.

Several U.S. tech companies and privacy groups, asking not to be named because they do not typically take public positions on candidates, told Reuters they are eager to see Burr lose.

His efforts to require encryption backdoors in U.S. technology products are the main reason. While other lawmakers have been critical of Silicon Valley in the encryption debate, none has been as antagonistic as Burr, the sources said.

Andrew McLaughlin, a former White House technology official who now is head of content at the publishing site Medium, tweeted in May: "Trump's win endangers GOP Senators. America's tech community should rally to defeat Richard Burr, for his idiotic war on Internet security."

McLaughlin declined an interview request from Reuters.

Burr spokeswoman Becca Glover Watkins said the senator had worked closely with California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel on the encryption issue.

She said the two had worked on a "number of bipartisan national security issues including their encryption proposal" and Burr planned to continue engaging with tech companies "on the challenges posed by encryption and cyber threats."

ROSS UNCLEAR ON ENCRYPTION

Ross, a lawyer and former state legislator, has not clarified whether she sides with Apple in its dispute with the FBI. In a statement to Reuters, she said that "protecting our law abiding citizens' privacy doesn't mean sacrificing our security."

Tech interests, so far, have not donated sizeable amounts of money to Ross, according to a review of contributions.

However, Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, in June made an unspecified donation to Ross, according to U.S. Federal Election Commission records.

The political action committee that supports Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat, vocal defender of encryption and frequent opponent of Burr, gave $5,000 to Ross this year. Burr's PAC later gave $5,000 to Wyden's Republican challenger in Oregon.

At a national level, Apple CEO Tim Cook and other tech executives have helped raise money for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Silicon Valley has almost universally shunned Trump, troubled largely by his rhetoric on immigration and his stated desire to shut down the Internet to fight extremists.

(Reporting by Dustin Volz; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Alistair Bell)
IPS officer Raj Kumar Pandian has been discharged from the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case by a special CBI court in Mumbai.

By Vidya : The special CBI court in Mumbai on Thursday discharged IPS officer Raj Kumar Pandian from Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case. The CBI court came to the conclusion after a technical ground that sanction was not taken to prosecute him was pointed by defence.

Gangster Sohrabuddin and his wife kausar Bi were killed in an encounter by Gujarat Police on November 26, 2005. According to the chargesheet that was filed by CBI in the case, Pandian was part of the team of Gujarat Police led by D G Vanzara that had picked up Sohrabuddin and his wife, and had staged the encounter near Ahmedabad.

advertisement

CHARGES AGAINST PANDIAN

According to the CBI chargesheetm Pandian had played crucial role during each stage of the execution. He was also accused of eliminating Tulsi Prajapati, who was the eyewitness in the Sohrabuddin encounter case. These two cases were, however, clubbed together.

Pandian spent seven years in jail and had been granted bail with travel restrictions to Gujarat against which he had even gone to Supreme Court saying that he had an ailing mother to attend to.

PANDIAN, 12TH ACCUSED TO BE ACQUITTED

Pandian was reinstated by Gujarat Police in 2014 and rehabilitated as Liasioning Officer at the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation.

CBI had filed a chargesheet against 37 accused in the case including BJP chief Amit Shah, who was the first accused to be acquitted from the case in December 2014. Pandian became the 12th accused in the case to be discharged.

ALSO READ:



After 8 years of incarceration, Gujarat cop NK Amin given clean chit in Sohrabuddin fake encounter



--- ENDS ---
An activist protests outside the French Embassy during the wear what you want beach party in London, on Aug. 25, 2016. The protest was against the French clampdown on burkinis. (Photo: AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Authorities in 15 French cities have banned the burkini, a modest swimsuit designed to be in accord with Islamic traditions of dress, following terrorist attacks in Nice. Justifications include security concerns, an adherence to secularism, hygiene issues, and charges that the burkini is a symbol of womens oppression.

Photographs have since surfaced of women being forced to remove their clothing on the beach while onlookers jeer, triggering a heated debate in the news and on social media about a womans right to wear what she wants.

To American women, used to being targeted and judged when our clothing is deemed not modest enough, the burkini ban may feel like more proof that were damned if we do and damned if we dont.

Related: One Businessman Is Fighting the Burkini Ban by Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is

Al Jazeera journalist Christina Cerqueira tweeted a black-and-white photograph of a police officer measuring the length of a womans bathing suit on a beach next to an image of a Muslim woman being forced to remove her burkini by police, with the caption: This suit is too big. This suit is too small. When will it be OK for women to wear what they want? #burkini

This suit is too big. This suit is too small. When will it be OK for women to wear what they want? #burkini pic.twitter.com/fi1w4jwVy1  Christina Cerqueira (@cerqueic) August 23, 2016

Womens clothing (and swimwear) has always been a battleground for those looking to protect them by impeding their agency. Victorian swimwear wasnt much different from the burkini; women wore black knee-length dresses, stockings, and caps to swim. In 1907, Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman was arrested on a Boston, Mass., beach for wearing a one-piece suit that scandalously revealed her knees. When the bikini debuted in the 1940s (incidentally, invented by two French designers), many countries also banned it from their beaches, and the Vatican condemned the look.

Story continues

This kind of clothing policing is particular to women. There have never been laws created or mass panic in response to what men choose to wear to the beach. Worse, the burkini ban targets Muslim women specifically  to make that point, people are circulating pictures on social media of French nuns on the beach in habits and loose dresses, presumably without issue.

French Nuns frolic wearing head scarf, and a full body outfit. Why arent Police forcing them to strip? #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/aMgTUIYmXA  Jeff Campbell (@joxer) August 25, 2016

Related: The Bikini at 70: Everything You Need to Know About the Swim Style

Given that the burkini ban represents a full reversal from enforced modesty, many are concluding that the solution is just not telling a woman what she should be wearing, period.

I think its ridiculous to ban a woman from wearing anything she wants. I dont see how this helps women, tweets influential editor and fashion icon Mickey Boardman.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has explained his support for the burkini ban by saying that the garment contributes to the enslavement of women. But as this issue is making clear to the world, giving women fewer choices is rarely good for womens rights. Policing womens clothing and controlling womens bodies does not make them more free. And blatant discrimination against Muslim women, many of whom are being put in harms way by Frances display of intolerance, is definitely not what feminism is about.

As Muslim feminist Afra tweeted yesterday, forcing women to uncover is just as bad as forcing us to cover up.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
On Aug 24, 2016, leading Canadian telecom service provider TELUS Corporation TU was downgraded to a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) by Zacks Investment Research. Notably, TELUSs predicament comes due to intense competition both in the wireless and the wireline segments.

In the wireless segment, the company competes against Rogers Communications Inc. RCI and BCE Inc. BCE along with menacing small regional carriers across Canada. Additionally, Shaw Communications Incs SJR entry into the Canadian wireless market after its takeover of WIND Mobile will further put pressure on TELUS.

Dropping Subscriber Numbers

Intense competitive pressure resulted in reduced subscriber addition for the company in the second quarter. Net addition of postpaid customers was 61,000, down 19.7% year over year whereas net loss of prepaid customers was 21,000, up 61.5% year over year. Moreover, Shaw Communications decision to venture into the Canadian wireless market with the WIND Mobile acquisition escalates competition for TELUS.

Wireline Business

On the wireline side of the business, competition has increased with cable TV operators (such as Shaw Communications) shifting from offering phone service based on circuit-switched technology to the less costly Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP). Capital expenditure in the wireline segment includes investments in broadband infrastructure, to attract more business and residential customers directly under fiber optic cable.

Notably, for full-year 2016, TELUS projects capital expenditure of approximately C$2.85 billion, in comparison with C$2.577 billion recorded in 2015. Continuous network investments can adversely affect TELUSs cash flows, especially in a space where TELUS is already under massive strain. Moreover, during the second-quarter 2016, TELUS generated approximately $592.5 million of cash from operations, declining 5.4% year over year. Free cash flow, in the reported quarter, was around $97.8 million, down a significant 58% year over year.

Story continues

The Positives

TELUS continues to benefit from increased penetration of smartphones, higher average revenue per unit, accelerating wireless data services and growing wireline fiber optic networks. The company anticipates balanced growth for its wireless and wireline businesses owing to its investments in high-speed broadband technology and services along with its Customer First strategy. Also, with the Internet of Things (IoT) marketplace paving its way into Canada, TELUS is aims to consolidate its foothold in the IoT market. It has also introduced the TELUS Global IoT Connectivity platform to deliver seamless connectivity and simplified billing across 200 networks globally, to assist the expansion of Canadian business enterprises.

TELUS CORP Price

TELUS CORP Price | TELUS CORP 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



TELUS CORP (TU): Free Stock Analysis Report



BCE INC (BCE): Free Stock Analysis Report



SHAW COMMS-CL B (SJR): Free Stock Analysis Report



ROGERS COMM CLB (RCI): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Karkamis (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkey sent more tanks into Syria on Thursday and sternly warned a Kurdish militia to withdraw from frontline positions, a day after pro-Ankara Syrian opposition fighters captured a key border town from jihadists.

The tanks joined those which crossed the frontier on Wednesday in the so-called Operation Euphrates Shield, which Turkey says aims to rid the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and Kurdish militia.

Hundreds of Syrian rebel fighters -- backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces -- had on Wednesday taken the town of Jarabulus to end over three years of jihadist control.

But Defence Minister Fikri Isik warned the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia -- who also had designs on Jarabulus -- to move back east across the Euphrates or also face intervention from Turkey.

The new contingent of tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis, throwing up a cloud of dust in their wake before crossing the border, an AFP photographer said.

The operation is the most ambitious launched by Turkey during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict and has been carried out in full coordination with its NATO ally the United States.

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres (miles) south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013.

- 'Up to 15,000 troops' -

It was not immediately clear if the deployment of the new tanks on Thursday was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.

The well-connected columnist of the Hurriyet daily, Abdulkadir Selvi, said the aims of the operation included creating a security zone free of "terror groups" and limiting the advances of Kurdish militia.

He said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the offensive but this number could rise to 15,000.

Turkey has emphasised that the offensive was also aimed at the YPG, who Ankara sees as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Story continues

Ankara's hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

But US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates after recent advances or risk losing American support.

Turkey's defence minister told NTV television there was so far no evidence of any withdrawal and Turkey reserved the right to strike the YPG if it failed to move.

"If this withdrawal doesn't happen, Turkey has every right to intervene," Isik added.

"They have not yet withdrawn... Turkey will be following, moment by moment," Isik said, adding the withdrawal was promised within a week.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS tweeted that the "main element" of the Syrian Kurdish forces had already moved east although some remained for clean-up operations.

- Selfies on the way -

Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS but hardened its line in the wake of a string of attacks -- the latest a weekend bombing on a Kurdish wedding in the city of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children.

Continuing a European tour in Sweden, Biden said there had been "a gradual mindset change in Turkey" to realise that IS was "an existential threat" to the country.

"I think the Turks are prepared to stay in the effort to take out ISIL (IS) as long as it takes," he added.

The Jarabulus operation proceeded at lightning speed with the town captured from IS just 14 hours after it was launched.

The speed of the advance stood in stark contrast to the long, grinding battles it had taken for Kurdish forces to recapture towns from IS in northern Syria, such as Kobane and Manbij.

Television pictures showed the Syrian fighters walking into an apparently deserted and abandoned Jarabulus unchallenged and newspapers published pictures showing that the rebels even had time to take selfies along the way.

The apparent efficiency of the operation also marked a major boost for the Turkish army whose reputation had been badly tarnished by the failed July 15 coup against Erdogan staged by rogue elements in the armed forces.

With the civil war that has killed an estimated, 290,000 people still raging, 11 children were killed on Thursday in a barrel bomb attack carried out by government forces on a rebel-held neighbourhood of Syria's Aleppo city, a monitor said.
Her voice quaking with emotion, law student Ghazia recalled the horror of coming face-to-face with a gunman who stormed the American University in Kabul, as her terrified classmates leapt out of second-floor windows to save themselves.

Pandemonium broke out Wednesday when a militant drove an explosives-packed car into a university wall, shattering the balmy evening calm and paving the way for two gunmen to storm into the campus packed with hundreds of students.

Many of Ghazia's peers barricaded themselves inside classrooms, pushing chairs and tables against the doors, while others made a mad scramble to jump from windows, suffering grievous injuries.

Terrified, 21-year-old Ghazia chose instead to run into the corridor, joined by a couple of classmates, in a moment she thought was going to be her last.

She found some fellow students lying on the ground, their bodies covered in blood. The next moment was even more harrowing.

"As I ran, I turned around for one moment to find a gunman shooting in our direction," she told AFP.

"I thought I was going to die, but I kept running until I found myself near the exit.

"My classmates who stayed behind in the class were either killed or badly wounded."

Sixteen people died and dozens of others were wounded in the 10-hour raid, the first major militant assault on a prominent university in Afghanistan.

Taliban militants are suspected of being behind the assault, which has cast a pall on the education sector, seen as a rare symbol of hope for Afghanistan's youth at a time of rising insecurity.

The growing number of students attending university, especially women, has been hailed as a rare success story in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime, which banned women's education.

But Wednesday's attack could set back those hard-won gains, some observers fear.

- 'I am traumatised' -

"Education is one of Afghanistan's brightest achievements since the fall of the Taliban government," Kabul University professor Shahla Farid told AFP.

Story continues

"This attack shows our youth, already forced to curtail their movements because of insecurity, are not safe even inside classrooms. I fear this will be particularly devastating for women students."

But male students were also hit hard by Wednesday's tragedy.

"I am traumatised -- I cannot believe they are dead," a 23-year-old student, visibly shaken, told AFP.

He was referring to the death of fellow student Jamshid Zafar, who he was trading jokes with just minutes before he was gunned down.

He was killed along with Naqib Ahmad Khpulwak, a promising young lecturer in the university's law department who recently completed his master's degree in the United States and returned to Afghanistan to teach.

Amid the despair, students also paid tribute to Mohammed Akbar Andarabi, a police commander who was gunned down as his team guided hundreds of students to safety.

"He was one of our finest men. He died protecting the students from terrorists," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said about Andarabi, lionised by local media as "Afghanistan's Achilles".

The private university has been temporarily closed after the attack, as students were plunged into mourning.

But some also struck a note of defiance.

"I will go to university the first day it reopens," said student Tahmina Amanzai.

"I know I will be trembling with fear but I will definitely go. I can't let terrorists stop me from continuing my education," she told AFP.
Thailand's junta leader used emergency powers Thursday to suspend Bangkok's governor while he is probed for corruption, a major blow to the influential city politician who has faced growing censure.

Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a distant relative of Thailand's respected royal family, is under investigation for alleged graft connected to an expensive light display he set up outside city hall in December 2015.

The two-term governor was recently "disowned" by fellow Democrat party members over that case and string of other shady deals, with some MPs calling on the junta to axe him.

The pro-establishment Democrats are traditional allies of the military, which seized power in 2014 after it toppled the opposition Puea Thai Party.

"Although the current investigation is not conclusive yet, it is a high profile case," read the order signed by junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, adding that the governor would be suspended without pay while the investigation is ongoing.

Sukhumbhand has previously denied the graft allegations and defended the New Year's light installation, saying it attracted tourists and brought some 10 million baht to local food vendors and shopkeepers.

He was on a trip to South Korea when the junta order was released Thursday, a spokeswoman from his office told AFP.

His suspension was issued through Article 44, a controversial law that grants the junta chief sweeping powers to make any executive decision in the name of national security.

Prayut has used the law for a range of purposes since his 2014 power grab, from cracking down on land encroachers to doling out punishment to teenage motorcycle racers.

He has also vowed to clear the kingdom of graft, although his military government is now facing several corruption scandals of its own, including allegations that an army-built park was riddled with kickbacks.

The junta has also severely restrained free speech under its watch and jailed critics who have accused the regime of graft.
The National Park Service is inviting people to take part in the celebration of its 100th anniversary on Thursday.

Since 1916, the federal agency has been entrusted with the conservation of the United States national parks, national monuments and other protected areas. More than 275 million people visit these breathtaking preserved places every year.

One hundred years ago today, Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, which essentially established the National Park Service, and he did that explicitly to preserve and protect the natural resources of the country to make sure that future generations would be able to enjoy them, Tom Crosson, a spokesman for the National Park Service, said in a phone interview with Yahoo News.

The Organic Act of 1916 clearly states the agencys mission: to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic 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 the enjoyment of future generations.

To usher in the centennial, the service is offering free admission to all 412 national parks from Thursday until Sunday and holding special events across the country, including music performances, naturalization ceremonies, festivals and sporting events.

There are events happening all over the park service system. Just about every park out there is having some kind of event, from guided walks to concerts, Crosson said.

Related slideshow: Vintage postcards of U.S. National Parks >>>

Crosson, who is based in Washington, D.C., told Yahoo News that as he spoke roughly 1,000 people were gathering in the shape of an arrowhead at the base of the Washington Monument on the National Mall. The arrowhead has been the services official emblem since 1951.

To kick off the services second century, Yellowstone National Park is holding a sold-out event called An Evening at the Arch for 6,000 people on Thursday. The event will feature musicians such as Emmylou Harris and John Prine, as well as Teddy Roosevelt reenactor Joe Wiegand and various dignitaries. Yellowstone, the worlds first national park, is located mostly in Wyoming and actually predates the National Park Service. It was established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant.

Story continues

On Aug. 25, 2006, the services 90th anniversary, then-Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne spearheaded the National Park Centennial Initiative. The initiative consulted with experts, citizens, park partners and others to learn about what people envisioned for the park services second century.

The National Park Service held a series of more than 40 sessions where the publics vision for the parks was laid out. This helped to create five centennial goals, which were presented to then-President George W. Bush in a report titled The Future of Americas National Parks.

In the years leading up to this, we had a concentrated effort to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to find their park. You know, the park service has grown tenfold since its inception, Crosson said. We have not only natural resources that were responsible for but cultural and iconic resources as well, so there are a variety of different places that folks could go enjoy, learn. We just wanted to find new and creative ways to make sure people had an opportunity to do that.

The centennial celebration has picked up speed in the digital realm as well. On Thursday morning, #Happy100th and #NPS100 were trending on social media.

Americas best idea 100 years ago is still our best idea today. Happy birthday to the @NatlParkService. #NPS100 pic.twitter.com/0u7krunyLl  John Podesta (@johnpodesta) August 25, 2016

.@POTUS has conserved more land and water than any other president in history: https://t.co/MJVquf0ZQ4 #NPS100 https://t.co/51AjtMLAZ3  The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 24, 2016
Editors note: In honor of the National Park Services 100th anniversary, we are republishing this article from January 2015 about Theodore Roosevelts aggressive actions to protect American natural resources.

How far can a President go against the wishes of Congress by using an executive order? Back on January 12, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt tested his constitutional powers by protecting the Grand Canyon using a legal loophole.

Roosevelt was arguably the first modern President to use executive orders and presidential proclamations to set policies outside of the bounds of Congress, on a regular basis.

To be sure, prior Presidents used these presumed powers to make major policy decisions. Abraham Lincoln used his executive order powers to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, for example. Lincoln also suspended the right of habeas corpus during part of the Civil War.

But the ever-aggressive Roosevelt thought it was his destiny and right to provide leadership under the stewardship theory of presidential power. The theory remains controversial today, and it gives the President broad powers to take actions unless powers are specifically reserved to Congress and the states.

My belief was that it was not only [the Presidents] right but his duty to do anything that the needs of the nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or by the laws. I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power, Roosevelt said in 1913, after his failed bid for a third term a year earlier.

The course I followed [was] of regarding the Executive as subject only to the people, and, under the Constitution, bound to serve the people affirmatively in cases where the Constitution does not explicitly forbid him to render the service, he said.

A test of Roosevelts expanded powers came in an area deeply personal to him: the conservation of lands. After his first wifes death, Roosevelt spent extended time in the western part of the United States, and his love of nature was well-documented.

Story continues

Upon succeeding William McKinley in the White House in 1901, conservation quickly became an important policy area for Roosevelt. But certain conservation powers resided with Congress and the residents of states (or states themselves) that owned land.

In May 1903, President Roosevelt made his first trip to the Grand Canyon and spoke at a public event.

In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which, so far as I know, is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to do one thing in connection with it in your own interest and in the interest of the country to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is, Roosevelt said, aware of efforts to build on the land and to mine the region for minerals.

At the time, Roosevelt had few tools available to him personally for conservationist efforts. He used the Forest Reserve Act of 1891 to greatly increase the number of National Forests, with the help of his ally, Gifford Pinchot. But the power to create National Parks, with extended protective and federal land ownership rights, resided with Congress.

By 1906, Congress grew concerned with archeological vandalism in the western states region and it considered a new act that would allow for the creation of National Monuments by the President.

Robert W. Righter, a professor at the University of Texas, El Paso, wrote about what happened in a 1987 research paper. The majority of lawmakers agreed with the need for protection of Southwest prehistoric sites, but the idea of extending carte blanche to the executive branch worried some, particularly western congressmen, Righter said.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Roosevelt and it contained language that tried to limit National Monuments to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected.

It left the definition of the smallest area compatible to President Roosevelt and granted him the power to establish monuments by executive decree.

That was enough for Roosevelt to issue Presidential Proclamation 794 on January 11, 1908, establishing the Grand Canyon National Monument, in the Territory of Arizona. The order allowed for forestry protection in the monument area, and it barred settlement and the destruction of any feature of the monument.

Roosevelts order extended federal protection to the area, without involving Congress, but it also didnt please pro-conservation forces, who wanted the extended protection that only Congress could provide. Congress also declined to pass a law overturning Roosevelts proclamation and the Grand Canyon debate continued for another decade in Washington

Finally, President Woodrow Wilson signed an act naming the Grand Canyon as a National Park in 1919, giving the National Park Service jurisdiction over the region, instead of the Forest Service.

Roosevelts action in 1908 also set an important precedent for future Presidents to use for conservation efforts when there wasnt consensus within Congress to act.

The realization that the creation of national parks had more to do with presidential rather than congressional action calls into question the democratic origins of the national parks, Righter argued in his research.

In later years, Roosevelts fifth cousin, Franklin Roosevelt, fought a pitched battle with Congress over the Jackson Hole Monument approved by FDR. An outraged Congress fought back, and it passed a law overturning Roosevelts Jackson Hole executive order, but the President vetoed the bill.

A total of 177 National Monuments have been established since 1906, with President Barack Obama adding eight monuments in recent years.

Recent Stories on Constitution Daily

10 fascinating facts about the National Park Service

Take a constitutional road trip for the Park Services 100th birthday

Theodore Roosevelts bold Grand Canyon move
From House Beautiful

It's safe to say Airbnb never intended for their company to help burglars identify targets, but this scary strategy is becoming increasingly popular. Earlier this month, a 35-year-old Newark, New Jersey man was arrested for allegedly renting out a Mountain View, California home on Airbnb just so he could stake it out and ultimately burglarize it.

The alleged burglar, David Lefevre, rented an apartment on Calderon Avenue, but then abruptly cancelled his stay. This allowed him to know for certain that no one would be in the home when he later broke in and stole valuable items. And he would have pulled it off, if he hadn't later tried to steal the victim's identity.

"We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior and have removed this guest from our platform," Airbnb spokesman Nick Shapiro told SF Gate. He also said the company is cooperating with the investigation and will cover all damages and lost property, which is part of the company's Host Guarantee of up to $1 million.

But this isn't the first time an Airbnb host has become the victim of a robbery. In 2011, a host that goes by EJ said a guest broke into a closet and gained access to documents like birth certificates and Social Security cards. And earlier this month, a host in Anaheim, Ohio came home to find appliances, furniture and more had been stolen. So if you're currently a host on the popular website, consider yourself warned.

[h/t SF Gate]

You Might Also Like
[Photo: Getty]

France has had controversial policies towards niqabs and face-covering veils for a while now - and the burkini (body covering swimwear designed primarily for Muslim women) is now the latest item of clothing to be banned in some areas of the country.



Supposedly introduced to protect women from oppressive practices, the ban has resulted in women being ordered by police to remove their swimwear in public, and fined for wearing covering clothing on beaches.

In response, people are beginning to call out just how hypocritical the ban is.

[Photo: Amy Clancy]

Amy Clancy, graphic designer and press and communications manager at The Big Draw, portrayed this perfectly in her recent illustration.

Featuring three figures - one in a bikini and swimming hat, one in a wetsuit, and one in a burkini, the captions read oui (yes) for the first, oui for the second, and non (no) for the last.

It shows how illogical it is that individual items of clothing can be worn (legally) individually by a woman, but how as soon as theyre worn in combination, the outfit is breaking the law.

The picture has gained more and more popularity on Twitter, with more than 200 retweets and almost 200 likes.

In front of the French embassy for the #WearWhatYouWant protest against the #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/02G44Bga7j  Gianluca Mezzofiore (@GianlucaMezzo) August 25, 2016

Meanwhile over in France, others are protesting the ban by holding a burkini beach party outside of the French embassy.

The Wear What You Want Beach Party aims to show solidarity with Muslim women around the world as well as those in France.



Fariah Syed, one of the organisers, told Metro: The ban on burkinis, to us, contradicts all those values that France claims to uphold  liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Story continues

If a woman is free to expose her body, why isnt she free to cover it up?

Women should be allowed to wear what they want, when they want.



What do you think of the backlash towards the burkini ban? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK.

Is It Right To Ban Burkinis On Beaches?



One Businessman Is Fighting the Burkini Ban by Putting His Money Where His Mouth Is


By PTI: New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) AAP legislator Somnath Bharti today claimed that there was an attempt to kill his Labrador pet dog which was in the news for allegedly biting the MLAs wife.

The canine named Don is suffering from injuries on his hind leg and face.

Bharti also alleged that the police is refusing to investigate the cause of fire that took place last month in a building where he resides.

advertisement

According to the Malviya Nagar MLA, his dog was attacked outside his house while he was away in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

"Someone hit my dog with a stone that has hurt one of his hind legs and his face," Bharti said.

When contacted Bharti said he is yet to approach the police in this regard.

"FIR, Jail, fake cases, attempt on my life and now attempt on my dogs life. Police had refused to investigate fire in my building," the AAP MLA tweeted.

"The building where I stay was gutted by a mysterious fire. I have been asking the police to investigate the case, but to no avail," Bharti said.

Bhartis pet Don was given a clean chit by a local court in October last year over allegations of the canine biting his wife Lipika.

Lipika has alleged that the AAP leader had unleashed his dog on her during her pregnancy. PTI PR KUN

--- ENDS ---
TORONTO (Reuters) - Three people were killed in an attack involving a crossbow in Toronto's east end on Thursday and a man was taken into custody, a police spokesman said. Police also evacuated a building in Toronto's downtown core later in the day due to a suspicious package in an incident related to the crossbow deaths, Detective Mike Carbone told a news conference. He gave no details on how it was related or what the package contained. In the initial incident, police responding to a call about a stabbing found three people who appeared to have been injured by crossbow bolts, said another police spokesman David Hopkinson. The two men and a woman were pronounced dead. "We don't have any idea with regards to why this may have happened," said Hopkinson. CTV News, citing emergency services, said two other people were seriously injured. An undentified man, 35, was taken into custody, police said. Television footage showed police tape surrounding part of a residential street in Scarborough, a suburban area east of the city's downtown area. In 2010, a man shot his father in the back with a crossbow in a Toronto public library before smashing his skull with a hammer. Zhou Fang, who had suffered domestic abuse, was convicted of a lesser charge of second-degree murder. (Reporting by Allison Martell and Nia Williams; Editing by James Dalgleish, Bernard Orr)
Ottawa (AFP) - A 35-year-old male suspect was arrested Thursday in connection with an apparent crossbow attack outside Toronto, police said.

Police said officers responding to an emergency call Thursday found three deceased people on a residential street, on the east side of Canada's largest metropolis.

Nearby, police also found a crossbow. Authorities said however that it was not immediately clear that the weapon had been used in the attack.

Paramedics said the three victims, two men and a woman, appear to have died from "blunt force" trauma, a police official said.
(INDIANAPOLIS)  No serious injuries were reported after multiple tornadoes touched down Wednesday in central Indiana, tearing the roofs off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people.

Governor Mike Pence said he would be touring storm-damaged Howard and Montgomery counties on Thursday to assess the damage. He said he would remain in the state as long as we need to be to make sure that Hoosiers who have impacted by these storms have what they support they need.

Pence returned to his home state Wednesday evening. The Republican vice presidential candidate was campaigning in North Carolina when the twisters touched down in Indiana. Upon his return, Pence visited the states emergency operations center in downtown Indianapolis.

The governor also said he had a grateful heart that there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries.

About a dozen people suffered minor injuries as the tornadoes moved through the area, said State Police spokesman Capt. David Bursten. Most of those injuries were in Howard County and they included one resident who was trapped in their home by one of the storms.

Bursten said those injured included a 5-month-old child who suffered a laceration in Montgomery County. He attributed the relatively small number of injuries reported by 8 p.m. to residents taking the approaching storms seriously.

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said at a news conference Wednesday evening that there was substantial damage to property  a lot of trees are down in the city.

Eight funnel clouds were spotted throughout the afternoon but its unclear how many touched down, according to Howard County authorities.

National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Herold said a preliminary survey shows a EF-3 tornado with maximum winds of 165 mph struck Kokomo, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.

Its crazy. Its a madhouse, said Mitchell Carlson, a maintenance technician at the Park Place Apartments in Kokomo. He said the complex has 16 buildings and probably eight of them dont have a roof.

Story continues

But there have not been any injuries there, he said. So, I guess were all blessed at the Park Place.

He estimated 20 to 30 cars had been damaged by falling tree limbs and air conditioners.

Utility companies reported more than 32,000 customers were without power statewide as of 9:15 p.m.

The city of Kokomo and Howard County declared a joint state of emergency closing all roads to people and motor vehicles, apart from emergency vehicles, until 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman noted that the county and the city of Kokomo faced tornado damage in November 2013 when the region was hit by a twister that damaged homes and businesses and injured nearly three dozen people.

Kokomo and Howard County will bounce back once again, and once again weve got to reach in deep and do the work of recovery, Wyman said

Police officers in Indianapolis also spotted at least two funnel clouds close to the ground Wednesday just south of Interstate 70, according to Officer Jim Gillespie of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Television station WTHR showed images of a toppled Starbucks in Kokomo.

Starbucks released a statement on its website Wednesday evening, saying all partners (employees) and customers at the damaged coffee shop were safe.

Indiana University Kokomo canceled all events on campus Wednesday evening due to the severe weather. School officials in Avon, near Indianapolis, cited the severe weather in ordering all buses to return to the nearest school. The buses were allowed to start moving again a short time later.

Associated Press writer Rick Callahan contributed to this report from Indianapolis.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is battling falling popularity and increased pressure from Beijing as she approaches 100 days in office marred by controversy.

Since she took the leadership in May, Tsai has been faced with a litany of challenges, from a missile mistakenly fired towards to China, to labour protests and rows over personnel appointments.

Ties with rival Beijing -- which has a deep distrust of Tsai -- have become increasingly frosty, with China recently saying it has cut off official contact with Taipei.

The public support that swept Tsai into power by a landslide is now wavering. Her support ratings have fallen to around 50 percent in recent surveys, from highs of 70 percent.

Ahead of her 100th day in office Saturday, Tsai admitted her new government "hasn't done well enough".

"I hope that others do not use 100 days to judge the success or failure of my leadership," she told reporters last week.

"Reforms need time."

Voters backed Beijing-sceptic Tsai after many saw a rapprochement with China under previous president Ma Ying-jeou as benefiting big business, not ordinary Taiwanese.

There were also fears closer cross-strait relations would threaten Taiwan's sovereignty -- China still sees the self-ruling island as part of its territory to be reunified.

Since she took the reins, Tsai has apologised to the island's aboriginals for historic injustices, pushed for pension reform and launched a budget she says will boost new industries and social care.

But some voters feel she has focused on the wrong issues.

"Most young people can't save money or dare to think about buying their own homes with low salaries... This is the priority for us, not political reforms," said Taipei office worker Wang Chuan-yi, 26.

Others say the government has flip-flopped, including meeting the demands of recent labour protesters over working conditions and layoff compensation.

"Tsai's government frequently changes its policies once there are backlashes or street protests," said 45-year-old Taipei businessman James Lee, who also criticised her for expensive tastes, including hiring a personal cook.

Story continues

"Before the election she showed the image of being close to the people and ate at roadside stalls," he told AFP.

- Beijing backlash -

As Tsai fights fires on the domestic front, Beijing is also piling on the pressure for her to acknowledge that there is only "one China".

Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally pro-independence, has never backed that concept, unlike her predecessor Ma of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang.

As a result, Beijing has cut official communications and persuaded several countries to deport Taiwanese citizens to the mainland, despite the island's repeated objections.

Tsai said recently her government has "done what it can" to maintain ties and called on both sides to bear joint responsibility for cross-strait peace.

While the public is wary over ties with Beijing, it overwhelmingly supports peace between the two sides. However, Tsai also has to appease the staunch anti-China factions within the DPP.

To keep the party under control, she needs to maintain public support for her leadership, says Wang Yeh-li, a political scientist at National Taiwan University, something he feels she is struggling to do.

"Public discontent is rising as Tsai's policies are seen as fickle and aimed at pleasing certain minority groups that are long-term DPP supporters," said Wang.

Tsai was forced into an embarrassing withdrawal of her nominees for two top judicial posts earlier this month. That followed a backlash from members of her own party and other critics who said one of the candidates had helped silence dissent as a prosecutor under authoritarian KMT rule in the 1970s. The other was accused of plagiarism.

It is now time for Tsai to take control and re-connect with voters, said Shih Cheng-feng, a political analyst at National Dong Hwa University.

"She has yet to show strong leadership and hasn't sorted out her priorities to focus on things that resonate with the public...they will grow more and more impatient," said Shih.

However, some voters remain sympathetic.

"We need to give Tsai more time," said Taipei florist Catherin Kang, 38. "Many policies and infrastructure projects can't be realised right away."
From Cosmopolitan

Trevor MacDonald just wants to be the best dad possible for his son, Jacob. As a trans man, however, his version of fatherhood doesn't fit the picture typically painted by pamphlets and self-help books. When he and his partner decided to become pregnant, MacDonald knew he wanted to nurse his son despite having had his breasts removed. He recounts this struggle in a blog post, originally published on the Huffington Post: "I don't know how much I'll be able to breast-feed," he explained to the group of women during his first meeting with La Leche League. "But I really want to try."

Chestfeeding (a spin on "breastfeeding") is a term coined to include trans men who nurse their infants. And if it's new to you, that's understandable - it's not something typically talked about in mainstream pregnancy circles. But a recent article in The Atlantic shed a light on the obstacles trans men face when trying to chestfeed their children and how they're working to make the medical community more inclusive of the practice.

While Dr. Deena Blanchard of Premier Pediatrics is adamant (and most sane people agree) parents should be allowed to make their own decisions when it comes to breastfeeding, she tells Cosmopolitan.com there are benefits of skin-to-skin breastfeeding, as opposed to formula-feeding, that explain why a parent's ability to chestfeed is so important.

"There are immunological benefits," Dr. Blanchard explains. "In such that when you breast-feed, the immunoglobulins [the parent] is making get passed to the baby in the breast milk ... there has been research that suggests that babies who are breastfed get less ear infections, are less likely to get stomach viruses, and that kind of stuff." For many parents, however, it's emotional. "It's very cozy, it increases bonding," she continues.

The term "chestfeeding" is meaningful because it's a neutral term for something that is so often gendered, and recognizing this is the first step toward making chestfeeding more accessible. Here are five things you need to know.

Story continues

1. The term is applicable to everyone, but accommodates those who undergo a transgender mastectomy or an FTM top surgery. An FTM top surgery is the most common initial procedure for transmasculine patients, according to Dr. Scott Mosser, a cosmetic surgeon in San Francisco, whose work primarily focuses on chest and body contouring surgery.

Depending on the amount of loose skin and breast tissue, the FTM top surgery can be one of three procedures: keyhole surgery (a tiny incision along the border of the areola to remove all of the breast tissue), periareolar surgery (an incision all the way around the areola to remove some skin as well as the breast tissue), or a double incision procedure. The double incision procedure is more extensive, resulting "in a horizontal line across the two sides of the chest, usually located in a similar region to the lower border of the muscle, and then placement of the nipples as skin grafts into the proper location relative to where the muscle borders are on the chest."

Having this surgery, however, doesn't eliminate the possibility of breastfeeding. While milk production will likely be lower than usual, as was the case with MacDonald and many others, it's still completely possible. The bigger obstacle is the heteronormative medical system.

2. There's no one right way to breast- or chestfeed. "It's not an all-or-nothing," Dr. Blanchard says. "And that's where I think people get really tripped up about breastfeeding." There's a misconception parents either feed the baby on the breast or give them formula from a bottle, and nothing in the middle. When a parent is breast- or chestfeeding, this often is not the case.

"If you've had breast surgery and your milk supply is not adequate, you'll just do some supplementing with formula," she explains. "But you're still breastfeeding. So if the baby's drinking breast milk 50 percent of the time, 70 percent of the time, 30 percent of the time, 10 percent of the time, whatever it is, they're still getting the breast milk, and you are still a breastfeeding parent."

Dr. Blanchard believes we should remove the emphasis from one way or the other, and instead work on expanding our definition of breastfeeding so it covers every type of family and opportunity.

3. Like breastfeeding, chestfeeding can have complications. "Generally, if you've had surgery on the breast and it affects the nipple, it can affect your milk supply and often it does," says Dr. Blanchard. In the case of mastectomies or FTM top surgeries, this doesn't mean breastfeeding is impossible - it just comes with some complications.

MacDonald detailed some of these issues in a blog post. Getting his baby to latch, for instance, was solved through persistence. Getting enough milk was the next step.

"When he was four days old, it became clear that he wasn't gaining weight adequately, and that we needed to start supplementing him," MacDonald writes. The family used an SNS, or a supplemental nursing system, in combination with chestfeeding as a compromise.

Photo credit: Walmart

By giving Jacob both MacDonald's nipple and supplementing through the tube of the SNS at the same time, MacDonald created a "breast tissue sandwich" which was effective in giving Jacob the nutrients he needed while still allowing MacDonald to successfully chestfeed.

4. Medical professionals are often not prepared for it. The Atlantic details the necessary next steps toward making chestfeeding easier for trans parents. While an SNS is a helpful tool, there's nothing created specifically for trans parents. In the case of Emmett, who is referred to by first name only in a study conducted by MacDonald on transmasculine experiences with chestfeeding called "Transmasculine individuals' experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity," it was a struggle just getting access to the right clothes.

"I was producing a ton of milk," he said. "I had no way to stop the milk from leaking through my chest. I had no appropriate  male clothes for nursing."

Then, there are issues like mastitis (an infection of the breast tissue sometimes caused by a blocked milk duct) and engorgement. Some participants in the study reported their doctors weren't prepared to deal with those conditions because they assumed no milk would come in due to the chest surgery. This indicates trans health issues, especially in regards to pregnancy, are not universally taught.

5. It's not just a physical issue, it's a mental health issue. Two chestfeeding participants in MacDonald's study reported feeling "overwhelming gender dysphoria," struggling with the clash of feeling and presenting as a man, but participating in something we've been conditioned to believe is a solely feminine act. After spending their whole lives knowing they were men, and then undergoing surgery to lessen the dissonance between their mental and physical selves, chestfeeders may feel thrown back into a world of uncertainty, which takes a toll. This is often worsened by doctors who neglect to use inclusive and gender-neutral terminology when interacting with their patients.

This is exactly why MacDonald calls for further research. Not enough doctors are aware of chestfeeding and how to properly address trans patients who are making some difficult decisions. Dr. Mosser says his patients often cite "concerns about sensitivity of their medical practitioners toward their unique circumstances, and concern about having a hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries before making a final decision with regards to whether or not they want to get pregnant in the future."

Here's where there are some unanswered questions. MacDonald says the next step is to take a closer look at the effects of chest-masculinization surgery on lactation and milk production, as well as the effects of testosterone when it comes to nursing. Ultimately, everyone wants the same thing: a safe and healthy baby. It's just important doctors and the medical community acknowledge, facilitate, and celebrate the many ways to get there.

Follow Kathryn on Twitter.
Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan.

In early 2012, Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan turned into a tiny lane opposite the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai to reach the Mumbai Fertility Clinic and IVF Centre. Dr Jatin P. Shah, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) specialist, had been recommended to them by his former patients, Salman Khan's brother Sohail and his wife Seema, whose second child, Yohan, had been born through surrogacy in 2011. Gauri Khan, mother of two, had been trying unsuccessfully for two years to have another baby. The couple contemplated adoption but decided that surrogacy was the way to go.

advertisement

The baby, AbRam, was born prematurely on May 27 at the Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle, weighing only 1.5 kg. He was shifted to Breach Candy Hospital for special care. For over a month, Gauri stood vigilantly by his side to ensure that the child would come home healthy. Dr Shah, who has helped 80 couples have children through surrogacy in the last two years, is optimistic that the "courageous move" by Shah Rukh and Gauri will go a long way towards removing the stigma associated with surrogacy in several sections of society. AbRam's case, he hopes, will further the cause of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), first given a fillip by Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan, whose son Azad was born in 2011 through a surrogate mother. ART is a process of artificially stimulating pregnancy. It includes IVF and embryo transfer (ET), ICSI, ovarian stimulation with exogenous gonadotropins, surgical laparoscopy, and surrogate motherhood. In surrogacy, the womb into which the egg is implanted belongs to a third party.

Anjali Madan (name changed) 46, Surrogate mother, Delhi.

According to KPMG's LifeSciences wing, the fertility industry in India is today worth Rs 750 crore. Surrogacy, which forms roughly 7 per cent of that, stands at around Rs 54 crore. But experts say the numbers will grow when more such cases are reported. As of now, clinics don't need to declare if a baby is born through surrogacy or not, making it a grey area where the numbers are just estimates.

The much-anticipated Assisted Reproductive Technologies Bill, 2010, currently in the drafting stage, is expected to change things for the better. R.S. Sharma, deputy director of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), which framed guidelines for ART in 2005, has just begun overseeing the registration of IVF clinics in anticipation of the bill. "The problem in India is that clinics have been operating as banks (which source surrogates), leading to vested interests. The bill will separate the two. You will now have to choose whether you want to be a clinic or a bank," Sharma explains. ICMR has identified 1,200 IVF clinics in India, of which 504 have opted to function as clinics only, the rest serving as banks. Of these, only 150 are listed with ICMR as of now.

advertisement

Rakhi Babre, 30 Surrogate mother, Mumbai

In 1998, when Dr Himanshu Bavishi of the Bavishi Fertility Institute in Ahmedabad delivered his first baby by surrogacy, he heard a knock on the door well past midnight. It was the surrogate. She had been thrown out of her village for "selling her baby". Today, the institute performs 16 to 20 deliveries via surrogacy every month, and the levels of acceptability have evolved gone up. In the US, surrogacy came into focus in 1987 when 'Baby M' hit the cover of Time magazine because its surrogate refused to give it up. The case went to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, raising questions that had implications for the social and ethical repercussions of surrogacy. Debates raged and laws were framed as a result of it.

The laws in India have not yet caught up with the increasing instances of surrogacy, points out Dr Rajesh Parikh, 58, a neuropsychiatrist at Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital who psychologically evaluates women opting to be surrogates. In the last few years, for instance, Dr Anjali Malpani of the Malpani Infertility Clinic in Colaba, Mumbai, has noticed a trend in women wanting surrogacy for non-medical reasons. Malpani classifies them into three groups: Career-oriented women who want to climb the corporate ladder and don't want to risk maternity leave; models, actresses and socialites who don't want to 'spoil' their figure; and women who look at newspaper reports and think that surrogacy is a painless way to have a child. "We discourage them and give them counselling," says Malpani. Even women volunteering to be surrogates are looking at it as a means of quick money. "A woman from Delhi mailed me three years ago saying that she is willing to be a surrogate provided she got an apartment in Cuffe Parade for nine months."

advertisement

Nikki, 48, and Bobby Bains, 49 Surrogate children Daisyjhot and Dylan (Dhillon) City Essex, UK

But such cases are few and far between. Surrogacy is a medical solution to a medical problem. A common misconception is that it's a surefire conception method. "There is only a 50-70 per cent chance of success with surrogacy," says fertility expert and director of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Dr Firuza Parikh, 57.

A SURROGATE LIFE

Surrogates are typically women who have children of their own. This ensures that they are fertile, can bring the child to term, and acts as an insurance against the emotional reluctance to let go of the child after birth. Primary requirements in higher-end clinics such as Bavishi's or Dr Parikh's clinic at the Jaslok Hospital are fertility, physical stamina, psychological readiness and family support. All major clinics have a team of lawyers at hand to explain the terms to the surrogate, the intending parent and the associated families.

advertisement

Meenal Narang, 40, and Manoj Moorjani, 43 Surrogate child Aaliya Moorjani, Mumbai

Standing in the centre of Chanakya Palace, a small run-down colony in West Delhi, is a home where surrogates affiliated with WYZAX Surrogacy Consultants are accommodated. Here nine surrogate mothers share a three-bedroom apartment. Two CCTV cameras and a friendly Nepalese security guard ensure their safety and compliance to the various rules laid down by individual clients. The mothers, who are all residents of Delhi, are allowed to go out only with prior permission and can choose to keep their own children with them during their surrogacy period. While the husband may visit, he is not allowed to stay overnight.

Dr Firuza Parikh, Jaslok Hospital.

Dr Jatin Shah, Mumbai Fertility Clinic and IVF Centre.

From eating steamed fish and drinking banana smoothies every day to practising baby yoga and signing a no-sex-while-you-are-pregnant contract, Anjali Madan (name changed to protect identity), 46, has seen her share of demanding couples. But these expectations are a small price to pay for the Rs 3-4 lakh she receives for carrying a surrogate baby. "I don't feel any attachment to the babies. I never see or hold them once they are born," she says.

The Rotunda Clinic in Bandra, Mumbai, was the first to successfully deliver a child for two Israeli gay men in May 2008, and India quickly became a hub for same-sex couples. But the Government clamped down on it in late 2011, introducing a law that all couples have to be married for a minimum of two years. This effectively sealed the door on gay couples, single parents, and live-in couples conceiving via surrogates, many of whom had preserved embryos in Mumbai. In June 2013, the Government again declared that it would consider allowing visas for single parents opting for surrogacy provided DNA tests were performed on parent and child while exiting the country.

In the face of a lack of laws, surrogacy chugs along on the good intentions of everyone involved: Surrogate mothers, fertility experts, and intending parents. "We need the law to catch up with the science," says Dr Rajesh Parikh. "Making a baby is not just the parents' job anymore. It involves lawyers, doctors, surrogates, society and the state. When they are all in sync, the perfect baby is born."

--- ENDS ---
Not everyone was sweet on this Ken doll cake. (Photo: Facebook/FreeportBakery)

Marlene Goetzeler was so proud of the cake her bakery created for a client that she showed it off on Facebook a few weeks ago. The California-based Freeport Bakery co-owner hoped for feedback, but she wasnt prepared for the backlash the cake would incite  even though it was made using a Ken doll in an elaborate dress. Call me naive, Goetzeler said to the New York Daily News. I was shocked  that somebody would be offended.

The somebody she refers to was actually many people  so many, in fact, that she had to start deleting the more vicious comments in what was called an LGBT debate, and she even noticed her companys Facebook account losing fans. I started getting some negative comments, and a couple of days later I noticed that there was a big [jump] in unlikes, and so I was kind of surprised, Goetzeler said in a television interview with a California Fox News channel. The post  which shows the Ken doll outfitted in a pink dress made of frosting, a sash, a tiara, and jewelry  received more than 1,000 reactions.

We do doll cakes all the time, Goetzeler told the TV station. She mused, I guess I just thought this is a really cool cake and look at how great they did with the butter cream. Whats wrong with a Ken cake? The segment establishes that the cake was a custom creation, but the paying customer was not transgender and not trying to make a political statement.

A week after the controversy erupted, Goetzeler decided to stand her ground publicly. She updated the bakerys Facebook page with the same shot of the cake, accompanied this time with a message: Facebook Friends, After posting this we had a ton of people unliking our Facebook page. I deleted the rude remarks, thank goodness not too many. Our customer was thrilled. Share this for us! This time, with Goetzeler acknowledging the outrage, the reaction was markedly different. This time fans provided an outpouring of support for the controversial confection. The post has received almost 2,000 reactions  none of which show the laughing emoji, but the same cant be said for the original post  and more than 300 powerful comments.

Story continues

Bravo! Im from Montreal and liked your page in support of that fantastic and original artistic creation, one commenter said. Ken looks very nice and there is nothing wrong with being kind to everyone, including those who are different. Great job! someone else said. I applaud you for doing what your customer asked of you. Should I be in your area, and need something made, your bakery is at the top of my list! another chimed in. One parent claimed, This is how my six year old dresses her Ken. We dont care. She doesnt care maybe Ken wants to be fancy too she says.

Oh, I thought it was fantastic, said Chad Graham, a guest at the birthday party where the cake was served, to the TV station. Graham and the cakes recipient are part of a group that meets once a week for a dice game. I thought it was a little ridiculous. Its just cake, Graham told the reporter in reaction to the scandal. A woman unrelated to the incident who was asked for her first reaction to the cake said in the segment, I think its creative and amazing and gutsy.

For her part, Goetzeler is starting to get the gutsy part down pat. In the beginning I thought, Whats the big deal? she told the TV reporter. But now I realize how important it is to take a stand if you believe in something.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
JACKSON, Miss.  As he seeks to make inroads with African-Americans and other minority voters, Donald Trump dramatically escalated his rhetoric against rival Hillary Clinton, accusing her of being a bigot who does not truly care about blacks and Hispanics.

Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future, the GOP presidential nominee declared at a rally here Wednesday night. Shes going to do nothing for African-Americans. Shes going to do nothing for the Hispanics. Shes only going to take care of herself, her husband, her consultants, her donors. These are the people she cares about.

Trumps accusation, delivered before a overwhelmingly white audience in a heavily Republican state, was a variation of a line hes been using over the last week. Beginning with a speech last week outside Milwaukee, the GOP nominee has repeatedly condemned the bigotry of Hillary Clinton while arguing that Democrats have failed minority voters and taken them for granted.

The sharp jab punctuated an unusual and somewhat surreal rally here in the Deep South, where the celebrity businessman was joined onstage by Nigel Farage, the outgoing leader of the United Kingdoms Independence Party. Farage was an architect of the successful Brexit, in which the U.K. voted earlier this summer to leave the European Union.

Trump has repeatedly likened his own campaign to Brexit in arguing for peaceful regime change in the U.S. on Election Day. The mogul recently predicted that he would soon be known by the moniker Mr. Brexit.

Inviting the British politician to the stage at his Wednesday rally, the GOP nominee called it an honor to stand with Farage, who all but endorsed Trump as he likened his own campaign against the European establishment to the brash developers insurgent bid for the White House.

Donald Trump welcomes Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the U.K. Independence Party, at a campaign rally in Jackson, Miss. (Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP)

Speaking to audience members who appeared somewhat baffled at his presence, Farage spoke of how he and allies overcame opposition from the political establishment and even a set of foreign leaders that included U.S. President Obama. As the crowd here booed, Farage pointedly accused Obama of talking down to the British. He treated us as if we were nothing, Farage said. One of the oldest functioning democracies in the world, and here he was telling us to vote remain.

Story continues

As Trump stood over his shoulder, a smile on his face, Farage pointedly did not endorse Trump  but he came very, very close. I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election, he said. But I will say this, if I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me!

Farage urged Trump supporters to take advantage of the fantastic opportunity they face in November. You can go out. You can beat the pollsters. You can beat the commentators. You can beat Washington. And youll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain. We had our own peoples army of ordinary citizens, he said. Anything is possible if enough people are prepared to stand up against the establishment.

Walking back to the podium, Trump nodded, calling Election Day a chance for the country to re-declare its independence. Its time to recapture our destiny, he said.

Hillary Clinton responds to Trump calling her a bigot: "He is taking a hate movement mainstream" https://t.co/xyYjhBKRms  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 25, 2016

For her part, Clinton responded to Trumps bigot attack during a Wednesday night interview with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.

It reminds me of that great saying that Maya Angelou had, that, When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time, the Democratic nominee said. And Donald Trump has shown us who he is. And we ought to believe him. He is taking a hate movement mainstream.

Clinton added that Trump was someone who has questioned the citizenship of the first African-American president  who has courted white supremacists, who has been sued for housing discrimination against communities of color, who attacked a judge for his Mexican heritage, and promised a mass-deportation force. She said she would have more to say about this in a Thursday speech in Reno, Nev.
Washington (AFP) - The tone of the US presidential campaign turned darker on Thursday, with Hillary Clinton skewering Donald Trump as a man who flirts with racism and paranoid ideas, while he in turn labeled her a racist whose family foundation was a "criminal enterprise."

Speaking at a campaign event in Reno, Nevada, Clinton employed unusually tough language as she detailed a history of what she said were the Republican real estate mogul's discriminatory actions.

He had been sued as a young developer for failing to rent to black and Latino tenants, and by black employees of his casinos, the Democratic presidential candidate said.

The Republican nominee's recent choice of Steven Bannion, a firebrand conservative, as his new campaign chief showed Trump was embracing the extremist white nationalist stances of the so-called "alt-right" movement, she said.

"A man with a long history of racial discrimination who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of supermarket tabloids and the far dark reaches of the internet should never run our government or command our military," Clinton said.

Her speech came on a day when one poll showed her support reaching an important threshold -- backing from just over half of all respondents. The survey by Quinnipiac University gave her a 51 to 41 percent lead over Trump in a head-to-head race.

Trump has recently attempted to enlarge his tiny base of support among blacks -- it has been as low as 1 percent -- arguing that African Americans have "nothing to lose" by voting for him.

He met with a group of black and Latino supporters at his Trump Towers in New York early on Thursday.

Speaking in New Hampshire later, Trump lashed out at Clinton, saying she was accusing "the decent Americans who support this campaign, your campaign, of being racists, which we're not."

Calling it "a tired, disgusting argument," he said it was Clinton who was being a "racist" by viewing minorities merely as a source of votes while doing nothing for them.

Story continues

Trump also sought this week to moderate his earlier comments on immigration.

As president, he would focus on deporting the "bad" immigrants without uprooting the "good" ones, he said -- a sharp shift from his early insistence that all undocumented immigrants be deported.

Somewhat confusingly, however, he insisted again on Thursday that he would build a wall on the southern border and make Mexico pay for it.

Giving in to the persistent urging of party leaders, Trump has begun relying more on a TelePrompter, allowing for fewer troublesome off-the-cuff remarks.

That new discipline has enabled the Republican tycoon to concentrate his attacks on Clinton and his allegations that, as secretary of state, she trafficked in influence through the family's Clinton Foundation.

Recently released emails showed that donors to the foundation had been given greater access to Clinton and her staff, he said.

"This week the curtain was truly lifted," he said." The corruption was revealed for all to see. The veil was pulled back on a vast criminal enterprise run out of the State Department by Hillary Clinton."

Clinton, who has denied the influence charges, pressed the argument that Trump lacks the temperament to be president.

"Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," she said. "He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party.

"His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous."
By Amanda Becker and Steve Holland RENO, Nev./MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump on Thursday of fuelling America's "radical fringe" with racist rhetoric, even as her Republican rival sought to soften his image with an appeal to minorities. Clinton needs to retain support from black and Latino voters to win the Nov. 8 election, the same coalition that helped propel Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in 2008. Trump, whose support comes mainly from whites, is unlikely to be victorious unless he can cut into that support. "Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton said in a scathing speech in Nevada. "Hes taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of Americas two major political parties." "This is a moment of reckoning for every Republican dismayed that the Party of Lincoln has become the Party of Trump," Clinton said, referring to Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and championed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War that led to the abolition of slavery in 1865. Trump, who trails Clinton in national opinion polls, has polled poorly with minorities and has been criticized for his proposals on immigration, which include deporting millions of undocumented foreigners, building a wall along the Mexican border, and suspending Muslim immigration to shore up national security. He described some Mexican immigrants as "criminals and rapists" in a 2015 speech launching his candidacy and more recently questioned the impartiality of an American-born judge of Mexican heritage. On Thursday, the New York real estate mogul-turned-politician criticized Clinton before her speech, saying she and her party had let black Americans down with failed economic policies and were falsely labelling Republicans as bigoted. "When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: You're racist, you're racist, you're racist," Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire. "Its a tired, disgusted argument and is so totally predictable. At a Mississippi rally on Wednesday, Trump called Clinton a "bigot who sees people of colour only as votes, not as human beings." 'SHAME ON YOU' He argued on Thursday that Clinton's opposition to charter schools and vouchers locked minority students in failing jobs, that her tax policies would hurt black-owned businesses and that she would allow immigrants to take jobs from minorities. Trump said the Clinton attacks were not only an assault on him, but on all his supporters - people, he said, who want strong borders and security. To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words ... shame on you. A Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation poll for the week beginning Aug. 15 found Clinton beating Trump among Hispanic voters by 15 percentage points, and by 57 percentage points among black voters. Trump has tried recently to broaden his appeal to them, hinting at a softening of his hardline position on immigration. In comments broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday night, Trump said he would be willing to work with immigrants who have abided by U.S. laws while living in the country, backing away from his insistence during the primaries that he would try to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants. Trump also met with black and Latino Republican leaders at his headquarters in New York City on Thursday morning. Trump's efforts were unlikely to draw out minorities in his favour but could reassure some moderate Republicans worried about his views on race, said Bernard Fraga, a political science professor at Indiana University. "I dont think these efforts will do a lot to help him in minority communities," Fraga said. An association of 40 Latino organizations sent a letter on Thursday calling on him to "cease" his rhetoric and meet with their leadership to discuss ways he could improve his outreach to Hispanics. "As we have expressed numerous times, your rhetoric of relentless attacks against our community is an issue of serious concern and has had a significant impact, fuelling an alarming trend in our nation," the letter reads. CLINTON VIDEO Clinton released a video on Thursday ahead of her Nevada speech tying Trump to white supremacist groups. The video shows a Ku Klux Klan member praising Trump and plays a recording of former leader Klan leader David Duke calling on white people to vote for Trump. The video also shows newly appointed Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon, who ran the website Breitbart.com, which has been accused of stoking online racists. Bannon told the magazine Mother Jones during the Republican National Convention last month that the website was "the platform for the alt-right," a brand of U.S. political conservatism associated with white nationalism. Trump's campaign called for the Clinton campaign to withdraw the video. "This type of rhetoric and repulsive advertising is revolting and completely beyond the pale," Mark Burns, an African-American pastor who supports Trump, said in a statement. "I call on Hillary Clinton to disavow this video and her campaign for this sickening act that has no place in our world." (Reporting by Amanda Becker in Palo Alto, Calif. and Steve Holland in Manchester, N.H.; Writing by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney)
By Amanda Becker and Steve Holland RENO, Nev./MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump on Thursday of fuelling America's "radical fringe" with racist rhetoric, even as her Republican rival sought to soften his image with an appeal to minorities. Clinton needs to retain support from black and Latino voters to win the Nov. 8 election, the same coalition that helped propel Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in 2008. Trump, whose support comes mainly from whites, is unlikely to be victorious unless he can cut into that support. "Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton said in a scathing speech in Nevada. "Hes taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of Americas two major political parties." "This is a moment of reckoning for every Republican dismayed that the Party of Lincoln has become the Party of Trump," Clinton said, referring to Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and championed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War that led to the abolition of slavery in 1865. Trump, who trails Clinton in national opinion polls, has polled poorly with minorities and has been criticized for his proposals on immigration, which include deporting millions of undocumented foreigners, building a wall along the Mexican border, and suspending Muslim immigration to shore up national security. He described some Mexican immigrants as "criminals and rapists" in a 2015 speech launching his candidacy and more recently questioned the impartiality of an American-born judge of Mexican heritage. On Thursday, the New York real estate mogul-turned-politician criticized Clinton before her speech, saying she and her party had let black Americans down with failed economic policies and were falsely labeling Republicans as bigoted. "When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: You're racist, you're racist, you're racist," Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire. "Its a tired, disgusted argument and is so totally predictable. At a Mississippi rally on Wednesday, Trump called Clinton a "bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings." 'SHAME ON YOU' He argued on Thursday that Clinton's opposition to charter schools and vouchers locked minority students in failing jobs, that her tax policies would hurt black-owned businesses and that she would allow immigrants to take jobs from minorities. Trump said the Clinton attacks were not only an assault on him, but on all his supporters - people, he said, who want strong borders and security. To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words ... shame on you. A Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation poll for the week beginning Aug. 15 found Clinton beating Trump among Hispanic voters by 15 percentage points, and by 57 percentage points among black voters. Trump has tried recently to broaden his appeal to them, hinting at a softening of his hardline position on immigration. In comments broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday night, Trump said he would be willing to work with immigrants who have abided by U.S. laws while living in the country, backing away from his insistence during the primaries that he would try to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants. Trump also met with black and Latino Republican leaders at his headquarters in New York City on Thursday morning. Trump's efforts were unlikely to draw out minorities in his favor but could reassure some moderate Republicans worried about his views on race, said Bernard Fraga, a political science professor at Indiana University. "I dont think these efforts will do a lot to help him in minority communities," Fraga said. An association of 40 Latino organizations sent a letter on Thursday calling on him to "cease" his rhetoric and meet with their leadership to discuss ways he could improve his outreach to Hispanics. "As we have expressed numerous times, your rhetoric of relentless attacks against our community is an issue of serious concern and has had a significant impact, fuelling an alarming trend in our nation," the letter reads. CLINTON VIDEO Clinton released a video on Thursday ahead of her Nevada speech tying Trump to white supremacist groups. The video shows a Ku Klux Klan member praising Trump and plays a recording of former leader Klan leader David Duke calling on white people to vote for Trump. The video also shows newly appointed Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon, who ran the website Breitbart.com, which has been accused of stoking online racists. Bannon told the magazine Mother Jones during the Republican National Convention last month that the website was "the platform for the alt-right," a brand of U.S. political conservatism associated with white nationalism. Trump's campaign called for the Clinton campaign to withdraw the video. "This type of rhetoric and repulsive advertising is revolting and completely beyond the pale," Mark Burns, an African-American pastor who supports Trump, said in a statement. "I call on Hillary Clinton to disavow this video and her campaign for this sickening act that has no place in our world." (Reporting by Amanda Becker in Palo Alto, Calif. and Steve Holland in Manchester, N.H.; Writing by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Bill Trott and Peter Cooney)
Donald Trump responded to Hillary Clintons attempt to tie his campaign to hate groups by comparing her email scandal to one of the most infamous scandals in American political history.

Its Watergate all over again, Trump said at a rally in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday afternoon. A secretary of state sold her office to corporations and foreign governments, betraying the public trust putting innocent lives in danger  and then she went to great lengths to hide, delete, destroy and lie about the evidence. Just like her lie that she never sent any material marked classified. Lie after lie after lie.

This is the corruption we expect to see in a Third World country, but not in America, the Republican nominee continued. Just imagine the damage to our security, to our integrity, to our standing in the world, if Hillary Clinton is allowed to sell the Oval Office the same way she sold her office as secretary of state. We cannot let this happen. We must vote on Nov. 8 to keep the American government from being sold to the highest bidder.

Trump was making the allegations based on recent developments related to the Clinton Foundation. The conservative group Judicial Watch released emails earlier this week showing that a foundation official reached out to Clintons State Department for favors. And the Associated Press reported Tuesday that a number of people who met with Clinton when she was secretary of state also donated to her family foundation.

Clinton and her campaign have strongly pushed back on the insinuation that she had traded government favors for donations to the foundation.

Story continues

My work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces, Clinton said Wednesday on CNN. I made policy decisions based on what I thought was right, to keep Americans safe and protect U.S. interests abroad. No wild political attack by Donald Trump is going to change that. And, in fact, the State Department has said itself that there is no evidence of any kind of impropriety at all.

Trumps rally began shortly before Clinton was expected to deliver a speech in Reno, Nev., linking the Republican nominee to the so-called alt-right movement.

The news reports are that Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and the millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racists, Trump said. Its the oldest play in the Democratic playbook. When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument. Youre racist, youre racist, youre racist, they keep saying it. Its a tired and disgusting argument. Its the last refuge of the discredited politician.

They keep going back to this same well, he added. But you know, the people have become very smart. They have heard it too many times before. The well is dry.

Earlier Thursday, the Clinton campaign released a video showing white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan praising Trump, and the Trump campaign quickly fired back.

There's a reason the most hateful fringe of the right wing is supporting Donald Trump.https://t.co/AqB3DM2m0N  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 25, 2016

Hillary Clinton and her campaign went to a disgusting new low today as they released a video tying the Trump campaign with horrific racial images, the Rev. Mark Burns, a Trump campaign surrogate, said in a statement. This type of rhetoric and repulsive advertising is revolting and completely beyond the pale. I call on Hillary Clinton to disavow this video and her campaign for this sickening act that has no place in our world.

Trumps comments were hardly the only heated anti-Clinton remarks he has offered in recent days. At a rally in Mississippi Wednesday night, Trump called Clinton a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings.

In an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper moments later, Clinton returned fire by dismissing the insult as the latest in a series of Trump smears.

He is taking a hate movement mainstream, Clinton said. Hes brought it into his campaign. Hes bringing it to our communities and our country, and someone whos questioned the citizenship of the first African-American president, who has courted white supremacists, whos been sued for housing discrimination against communities of color, whos attacked a judge for his Mexican heritage, and promised a mass deportation force is someone who is very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia.

Hillary Clinton responds to Trump calling her a bigot: "He is taking a hate movement mainstream" https://t.co/xyYjhBKRms  Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) August 25, 2016

In her speech Thursday, Clinton is expected to make the case that the Trump campaign is led by people who propagate extreme and racist viewpoints.

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.
Washington (AFP) - Nigel Farage, the divisive politician at the heart of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, on Wednesday threw his support behind Donald Trump's bid to become US president, with a rabble-rousing speech.

Farage, the outgoing leader of the UK Independence Party, was instrumental in the surprise Brexit vote that rocked Europe in June, painting the decision as a chance for fed-up Britons to take back control of their country.

"Folks the message is there. The parallels are there," Farage told a rally for the upstart Republican nominee in Jackson, Mississippi.

"There are millions of ordinary Americans who have been let down; who have had a bad time; who feel the political class in Washington are detatched from them; who feel so many of their representatives are politically correct parts of the liberal media elite.

"They feel people are not standing up for them.

"So you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign. You can go out and beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, and you can beat Washington," Farage told a crowd of around 10,000.

Farage, who was in Ohio for the Republican convention in July when Trump was anointed party standard bearer, said the underdog campaign of the billionaire property mogul echoed his own fight to take Britain out of the EU.

"Everybody said we'd lose (but) we did it," he told a cheering crowd.

"If you want change in this country, you'd better get your walking boots on."

Farage, a privately educated former stockbroker who cultivated an everyman image during Britain's referendum campaign, acknowledged he could not vote in November's presidential election.

"But I will say this: If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me," he said, referring to the Democratic Party nominee.

"In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me," he said to laughs and cheers.

Story continues

It is unusual for a candidate for America's highest office to wheel out a foreign politician, but Trump's campaign has made a virtue of breaking with convention.

Taking to the stage after Farage's speech, the former reality TV star was effusive.

"Wow... what a job he did. Thank you Nigel. That was some job that he did," Trump said.

Trump's campaign has stumbled in recent weeks after a series of perceived gaffes, with commentators noting it appears to be struggling to make the transition from the scrappy party nomination fight to the battle to become US commander in chief.

An average of national polls from Real Clear Politics shows Clinton now leading 47 percent to Trump's 41.5 percent.
Donald Trumps campaign insists that he hasnt flip-flopped on illegal immigration despite backing down on his promise to deport all the estimated 11 million undocumented people living in the United States.

The Republican presidential nominees hard-line immigration stance and incendiary rhetoric swayed primary voters. This past week, however, the candidate has backpedaled on his more extreme measures and said hes open to softening immigration laws and potentially working with people who immigrated to the U.S. illegally but who have otherwise not committed any crimes. Trump even cited President Obamas approach to deportation as one he would also embrace.

On Wednesday night, Trump asked the audience at his town hall with Fox News Sean Hannity to tell him whether he should just throw undocumented immigrants out of the country or if he should work with them.

Can we go through a process, or do you think they have to get out? Tell me. I mean, I dont know. You tell me, Trump said to the crowd. Id like to know. Id like to know.

He then asked the crowd to cheer for the approach they preferred, almost as if they were on a game show.

This shift is striking, as Trumps absolutist approach to illegal immigration was a hallmark of his primary campaign, and the mogul had long accused rivals of supporting amnesty for favoring any position less strict than his own.

CNN panelists burst into laughter Thursday morning when Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson claimed that he had not changed his position on immigration. Hes changed the words hes saying.

Katrina, he has said, Get them out. Hes been very clear about his position. This is a change, this is a shift, this is a flip-flop, its an evolution  whatever words you want to use, CNN host Erica Hill replied.

Here are some of Trumps past statements that dont fully square with what hes said over the past week.

For undocumented immigrants, the entire family has to go

In August 2015, Trump told MSNBCs Chuck Todd that he would rescind the DREAM Act, which aims to let some people stay who illegally immigrated to the United States as minors.

Story continues

So youre going to split up families, Todd asked. Youre going to deport children.

Chuck, Chuck, no, no. Were going to keep the families together. We have to keep the families together, Trump said. But they have to go. They have to go.

What if they have no place to go? Todd asked.

We will work with them, Trump replied.

The U.S. would have a deportation force

In November 2015, Mika Brzezinski, co-host of Morning Joe, pressed Trump on the specifics of his plan to quash illegal immigration.

OK, conceptually I understand what youre saying and what youre describing. But still tell me the how. Are you going to have a massive deportation force? she asked.

Youre going to have a deportation force, and youre going to do it humanely, Trump said.

Shortly after, Brzezinski asked if people would face ramifications for not leaving or for harboring undocumented immigrants, to which Trump replied, People will leave.

Are they going to get ripped out of their homes? How? she asked.

Theyre going back where they came. If they came from a certain country, theyre going to be brought back to that country, Trump said. Thats the way its supposed to be. Now, they can come back, but they have to come back legally. They can come back, but they have to come back legally.

His comments were met with immediate pushback from many liberals, such as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The idea of tracking down and deporting 11 million people is absurd, inhumane, and un-American. No, Trump. -H https://t.co/uZyqAWXUdh  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 11, 2015

Deporting all undocumented immigrants is not mean-spirited

Shortly after his MSNBC interview, Trump told Fox News Bret Baier that his plan to deport all undocumented immigrants was not mean-spirited.

Mine is not mean-spirited. Mine is, its business. We have a country, he said. You dont have a country if people are allowed to walk in, cross the border, and stay here for as long as they want. You dont have a country, and everybody knows it.
Donald Trumps recent pivot on immigration should not have come as a surprise to anyone who knows about his career-long knack for giving the crowd what it wants, according to two Trump biographers.

Washington Post investigative reporter Michael Kranish and Washington Post senior editor Marc Fisher, authors of Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power, discussed Trumps evolving immigration stance in an appearance on Yahoo News Now with Stephanie Sy.

The Republican presidential candidate who during the primary called for a deportation force to round up the nations estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants has toned down his rhetoric over the past week. As the general election draws closer, hes meeting with leaders in the Hispanic community and even entertaining softening the immigration laws currently on the books.

For Kranish and Fisher, this change is more or less in line with a lifelong showman whos more interested in telling the people what they want to hear rather than developing a principled stance on a given issue.

Its another example of a basic fact about Donald Trump, which is that he is highly skeptical of ideology. Hes really not a conservative. Hes really not a liberal, Fisher told Sy. Hes someone who considers himself a bit of a provocateur, a man of the people, a populist, and so hes willing to do more or less what the crowd wants.

He said that the reality TV star knows how to read crowds and thinks of himself as someone who acts upon instinct.

Hes very loath to take a principled position because he loves to live life in the moment, as he puts it, Fisher said. So on an issue like immigration, hell follow the crowd. Hell follow whats needed politically in the moment.

Kranish pointed out that Trump was not always thought of as the anti-illegal-immigration firebrand.

In 2012, during a Republican presidential debate, then presidential candidate Mitt Romney suggested that the solution to illegal immigration was self-deportation. That was Romneys clunky term to describe the use of attrition instead of forcible deportation to reduce the population of people living illegally in the U.S. People would voluntarily return to their home country if the U.S. federal government made it more difficult to stay here, he argued.

Story continues

At the time, Trump called Romneys self-deportation policy crazy and maniacal and predicted that it would alienate Latino voters.

But when he launched his GOP primary campaign last summer, Trumps caustic statements about illegal immigration made Romneys proposal look meek in comparison. Among other things, Trump accused the Mexican government of sending rapists and criminals over the U.S. border.

When Donald Trump ran for president and talked about [how] hes going to have a forced deportation, it was a dramatic shift, Kranish said Wednesday. So if hes now going back to something thats closer to what Mitt Romney proposed, that is a good example of a pivot.
Surrogacy, which has been in the news recently due to a number of Bollywood celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan opting for it, will have stiffer regulations now that Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 has been put into effect.

By Neetu Chandra Sharma: Banning commercial surrogacy in India, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 that aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers.

According to the Bill all others except legally married Indian couples who otherwise would not be able to produce a child will be barred from opting surrogacy. The bill has a provision for a jail term up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for violations, such as abandoning the child and opting for commercial surrogacy.

advertisement

SURROGACY (REGULATION) BILL, 2016

As India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples from different countries, the government has framed the draft Bill.

"The new Bill proposes complete ban on commercial surrogacy. What had started in the name of necessity has become a fashion. Several celebrities have opted for surrogacy and it has become a trend. We have several examples of big celebrities who have their own children, two children a boy and a girl, still they have gone for a surrogate child," said Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs.

AIMS TO PREVENT EXPLOITATION OF RURAL AND TRIBAL WOMEN



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.

"As far as homosexual relations and live in couples are concerned, such relations have no legal sanctity. Such people, including single parents, can go for adoption," said Swaraj.

INCREASING RACKETS AND UNETHICAL PRACTICES



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. The government recently realised 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.

ALSO READ: Surrogacy Bill cleared: Single parents, gay couples can't opt for surrogacy, says Sushma Swaraj



--- ENDS ---
Donald Trump spent some time on Wednesday questioning Hillary Clinton's Hollywood support.

"People don't know where she is," he told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Tampa, Florida. "Her supporters have very little enthusiasm. The only people enthusiastic about her campaign are Hollywood celebrities. In many cases, celebrities that aren't very hot anymore."

The comment may have been in response to Clinton's recent trip to Los Angeles for a set of fundraisers that included a stop at Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel's home. The star-studded gathering was co-hosted by Jennifer and Tobey Maguire, Jennifer Aniston, Yael and Scooter Braun, Shonda Rhimes, and ICM Partners' Chris Silbermann.

The Democratic Convention was also a celebrity-filled event, where Meryl Streep, Lena Dunham, Elizabeth Banks, Katy Perry, Chloe Grace Moretz, Debra Messing, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, America Ferrera and more appeared in support of the presidential candidate.

Read more: Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel Share Photos From Their Hillary Clinton Fundraiser

Trump continued that Clinton's supporters were mostly "Wall Street donors, special interests, lobbyists, etc. that want to control government not to the benefit of our country but to the benefit of their wallet."

"Even her protesters don't have the spirit that Bernie protesters had," he told his supporters.

Later at a rally in Mississippi, Trump called Clinton a "bigot" and she responded to the comment on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360: "He is taking a hate movement mainstream" and he is "someone who is very much pedaling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia."

Hillary Clinton responds to Donald Trump calling her a bigot by saying Trump is "taking a hate movement mainstream" https://t.co/8ilwBAhFQ8

- CNN (@CNN) August 25, 2016
The previous 84 items in this series cover developments that might concern Donald Trumps opponents. Tonight we have one that might concern his most fervent supporters.

In an interview aired Wednesday evening with his supporter Sean Hannity, Trump showed that he understood the logic behind immigration-reform proposals like that of Marco Rubios Gang of 8. The starting point for such proposals has been the reality that millions of people are already in the United States without legal permission. Some are ordinary criminals, who if theyre caught are usually jailed or deported. But many others are parents, students, workers, or others who lead regular law-abiding lives except for their illegal immigration status.

What do you do with them? From George W. Bush to Barack Obama to the bipartisan members of the Gang of 8, the answer was: you dont pretend youre going to round them up and expel them. It cant and wont happen, and shouldnt. But Donald Trumps answer since the start of his campaign has been: Yes it can! And will and should! Find these illegals and send them home. That was the basis of his attack on softies like Rubio (who ended up renouncing the Gang of 8) and Jeb Bush. It was the logical complement to his talk about the wall. It has been to his campaign what standing up to the Soviets was to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Recommended: Trump on Immigration: Schrodinger's Candidate

But in the interview tonight Trump said, in effect, Never mind! You can read the whole extraordinary transcript of his talk with Hannity in this Twitter post by Sopan Deb of CBS News. Here is a crucial passage:

Transcript via Sopan Deb of CBS.

Its a very, very hard thing. Its so tough to think of throwing a family out. These are exactly the real-world concerns behind decades worth of reform efforts. Theyre the same concerns Trump has until now mocked as weak and loser-like. His hard line on deportation is what has attracted his most devoted supporters. One of those, Ann Coulter, had a pro-Trump book published this very day, in which she says: There is nothing Trump can do that wont be forgiven. Except change his immigration policies.

Story continues

Will his supporters still forgive him? Has his policy changed? Is it a policy at all? Well see. One way or another, this is a moment to note.

***

Three more details about the pivot:

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Early this month, a group of 50 national-security officials who had served in Republican administrationsNixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I, Bush IIreleased a statement opposing Donald Trump and saying that he would be the most reckless President in American history.

A few days before that, a former head of the CIA formally endorsed Hillary Clinton, saying that Trump had become an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation. That was a day after President Obama declared Trump unfit for the presidency, and a former prime minister of Sweden said Trump was a serious threat to the security of the West.

Today Ben Leubsdorf, Eric Morath, and Josh Zumbrun of the WSJ published the results of a survey of all living former members of the presidents Council of Economic Advisers, with service dating back to the time of Richard Nixon. Not one of them expressed support for Donald Trump. All of the Republicans who expressed a preference opposed him.

The story quoted a post by Gregory Mankiw, chairman of the CEA under George W. Bush:

I have Republican friends who think that things couldnt be worse than doubling down on Obama policies under Hillary Clinton. And, like them, I am no fan of the lefts agenda of large government and high taxes, Mr. Mankiw wrote. But they are wrong: Things could be worse. And I fear they would be under Mr. Trump.

Im not aware of anything like this having happened before. Noted for the record, with 74 days to go until the election, and with no tax returns or plausible health report yet on public offer.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Tegucigalpa (AFP) - The harsh anti-immigration stance of US presidential candidate Donald Trump has fueled a surge in the number of migrants from Central America trying to enter America before it's too late, officials in the region said.

Although Trump appeared this week to be rowing back some of his tougher language against undocumented migrants, the exodus was already underway, some officials said on Thursday.

"We have seen an increase in migration in the past few months and it is very clear that it has to do with the electoral process that is happening in the United States," Honduras' deputy foreign minister, Maria Andrea Matamoros, said.

"We have learned that the message 'coyotes' (people smugglers) are giving is: 'It's now or never. If you don't make it to the United States right now, you won't be able to, because they are going to build a wall," she said at a conference jointly organized with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

- Trump's 'wall' -

The migratory flow is essentially from Central America's so-called Northern Triangle made up of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Those three nations, prey to vicious gang violence, rampant corruption and poverty over the years have seen large numbers of undocumented migrants to the US.

Trump has become the Republican Party's candidate with promises that include having a wall built along the US-Mexican border to keep out unwanted migrants.

Although many analysts see the wall idea as unfeasible, and Trump reportedly has softened his tone somewhat since last weekend, Central Americans are already said to be in the pipeline headed to the US.

"More and more people argue... that they are getting information from certain places saying 'Come now because we don't know what's going to happen'," after the US elections, the IOM's mission chief for the Northern Triangle, Jorge Peraza, said.

Story continues

"However there are also people saying 'Don't come because it's not the right time because maybe the next president with bring in anti-immigration policies'," he added.

- Fleeing violence -

Peraza said factors encouraging some to make the journey to the US include a lack of jobs, the desire to be with family members already in America, and violence they face in their home countries -- a growing motivator.

Ricardo Puerta, a sociologist originally from Cuba who has studied migration issues for more than 30 years, said that 90 percent of Hondurans emigrated because of lack of employment. The other 10 percent leave to reunite with their families or to escape violence.

A researcher at a non-governmental group called Casa Alianza, Jaime Flores, said he had received many accounts from Hondurans saying they were leaving because of violence.

He noted cases where Honduran children were murdered because they refused to join gangs.

"Now some girls are forcibly grabbed to be 'collective women' for the gangs or the gang's boss, otherwise they will be killed or a member of their family will be killed," he said.

Puerta said promised US aid of $750 million to the Northern Triangle, to promote security and economic opportunities in the hope of curbing emigration, was "an inflated balloon."

The initiative, championed by outgoing US President Barack Obama, was announced in 2014 in the wake of a massive wave of unaccompanied Central American children entering the United States. That phenomenon persists, although at a lower level.

More than 68,000 children from the Northern Triangle countries headed to the US this year, according to authorities.
Voters during the presidential primaries, Los Angeles, June 7. (Photo: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

One of the many ways that Donald Trump has weakened the Republican Party is by doing little in his presidential campaign to target voters through the use of data, analytics and digital tools, a group of Republicans said Thursday.

I dont think theres anyone whos going to look at the Trump campaign and think that they ran a strong data operation, said Chris Wilson, who oversaw data analytics for Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential campaign.

Wilsons concern is that a presidential campaign is the biggest opportunity a political party has to create a culture that helps the party win elections up and down the ticket.

The last two campaigns, even though you may have had losing [Republican] campaigns, you had very solid operations for digital and analytics  the overall data side  that came out of those campaigns. I dont feel that theres anything that continues from the Trump campaign, Wilson said. We are losing the ability to grow our Republican ecosystem from a standpoint of the areas where we are already behind, and that is on the digital side and the data side and the analytics side.

Thats a shame, Wilson said during a panel conversation at Washingtons Howard Theater, convened by the Republican data firm Targeted Victory, which has handled some electronic payment processing for the Trump campaign this year.

After the 2008 and 2012 campaigns, Republicans vowed to improve their use of data in elections. President Obamas two presidential campaigns were lauded for their innovative uses of technology. Some press coverage of Obamas wizardry might have been overhyped, but smart Republican consultants understood that data and digital are important new tools that can make big differences in close elections.

Yet Trump has for much of his candidacy scoffed at the role of data and individualized targeting of voters. He dismissed it as overrated in May, and said his candidacy would succeed based on holding large rallies.

Since then, his campaign has paid a paltry sum of $100,000 to one data targeting group, Cambridge Analytics, according to the most recent federal disclosure forms. Cruzs campaign paid the same group almost $6 million in the primary.

Story continues

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton inherited the data-infused campaign culture built during Obamas two election cycles  people, best practices and information  and is currently preparing to maximize her vote totals in the increasingly important area of early voting.

Trump, by contrast, is not only woefully underprepared to run a ground game in most battleground states, but has also recently reshuffled his top campaign leadership for the third time this year. Now, with former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes advising him and preparing him for the fall debates with Clinton, he is betting everything on a mass media approach to the campaign.

David Carney, a Republican consultant who ran Rick Perrys 2012 campaign, drew laughs from the crowd inside the Howard Theater when he mocked the Trump campaigns lack of investment in data and digital.

His digital effort will be cost-efficient, Carney said. Money spent on digital and data per vote will be a record low.
From ELLE

Above, clockwise from left: Newspaper clippings and audiotapes from the La Mer archive; the kelp fermentation process; a 1960s-era jar of Creme de la Mer.

If there ever was a beauty product that could be considered truly legendary, it would be Creme de la Mer-not only for its cult cachet as one of the priciest, and most coveted, moisturizers in the world, but also because of its oft-related origin story: Max Huber, a German-born aerospace physicist, suffered severe burns in a lab explosion in the 1950s while working on a rocket stabilizer. He spent the next 12 years experimenting with Macrocystis pyrifera, a variety of kelp found in the ocean near his California home, until he finally created an elixir that healed his wounds and restored his skin to such lustrous health that all evidence of the accident was erased. Huber started selling his creation, christened Creme de la Mer (you know, Cream of the Sea), in 1965; after his death in 1991, Estee Lauder purchased the brand from Huber's daughter and turned it into the blockbuster luxury skin-care company we know today.

Go a little deeper, though, and you'll find what might be one of the weirdest tales in the history of cosmetics. One involving a complexion-transforming wonder cream that could be eaten with a spoon; a beauty executive who enlisted a medium to channel a dead scientist; a glamorous countess who once dated Frank Sinatra; a secret formula guarded by a single family and decoded with the help of a coterie of wealthy devotees; and, more recently, an Internet-fueled conspiracy theory throwing Huber's very existence into doubt, based on the fact that there are no records of his accident at NASA (which somewhere along the way became name-dropped as his employer; he actually worked for an aerospace company called Cal-Val Research and Development Corp) nor any Google-able obituary. Rummage around in official California death records, however, and you'll find him: Maximillian Albert Huber, born outside of the United States on January 13, 1925; died in Los Angeles on November 5, 1991.

Story continues

"Max Huber not real?" Seventy-seven-year-old Countess Lucienne von Doz, perched on a Louis XIVstyle sofa in her opulent all-beige living room, high in a luxury apartment building on Central Park West, throws back her head and laughs. "That's-excuse me-bullshit." Von Doz is a lively charmer with a TV-movie-worthy bio: She married an Austrian count at 20 and divorced him a few years later when she got "tired of being with bodyguards and being dressed by Chanel," was chummy with Pavarotti, learned to dance from Martha Graham, and at one point had to choose between "an Italian attorney who looked just like Dean Martin, and Sinatra"before dropping them both. She first sought out Huber in the 1980s after obtaining a sample of Creme de la Mer at Henri Bendel.

"I called the man and said, 'It's incredible! It's changed the texture of my skin,' " she says. "So the next time he came to New York, we met for lunch. He was tall and had the skin of a 12-year-old. And he just fell in love with me." From that point on, Huber sent von Doz an astonishing 200 jars of Creme de la Mer a month. "I asked, 'What am I going to do with all this cream?' And Max said, 'Just smear it all over!' " She loosens the collar of her crisp white blouse to reveal her neck and chest, which are extraordinarily youthful and smooth. "I'm telling you, the stuff is amazing. It even firms the bust," she says. "I have people stop me in the street all the time, wanting to know who my plastic surgeon is. I send them to the La Mer counter."

Von Doz welcomed Huber to her country home in New Hope, Pennsylvania-she shows me photos of the scientist posing in a path bordered by flowers, lounging in the sun with a fluffy white dog-and introduced him to her cousin, Mary Ellen Hecht, MD, then a prominent orthopedic surgeon in Manhattan. "Knowing what it had done for Max's burns, I started using the Creme on my post-op patients even one day after surgery, as long as the wound was closed," Hecht says. "And it was amazing how much it softened and soothed the scars. Max, of course, was pleased as punch."

Huber was by all accounts an eccentric, magnetic personality. For a start, Hecht says, "his eating habits were a little strange." He would customarily consume Creme de la Mer straight out of the jar or dollop it onto his dinner. "Lucienne and I often dined with Max at Laurent, which was then one of the most elegant restaurants in New York, and I swear to God, he would take his cream, mix it with applesauce, and eat it. He didn't blink an eye, and after a while you just got used to it."

The designer Ralph Rucci, also a friend of Huber's, recalls that when they first met, at an elite dinner party in the West Village circa 1988, "Max became hypnotic, telling his story. He had a small vial of Creme de la Mer at everyone's place setting, and he told us all, 'Put some in your mouth. Eat it. It's great for your digestion.' I had glasses on, and Max said to me, 'Do you have problems seeing? Take a small bit of this, dab your finger in water, and put it in your eye.' He went around the table performing these miraculous moments, and a cult formed. He was a dazzling, brilliant man, with so much charisma-always the life of a party, the center of attention. Everyone thought that they had found the fountain of youth when they found Max."

By the time of his sudden death at the age of 66-von Doz believes the cause was a post-dental-procedure heart infection-Huber had established Creme de la Mer as a word-of-mouth sensation, sold in department stores such as the now-defunct I. Magnin as well as by mail order (a 1991 ad, proclaiming "Your skin will feel alive," lists it at $85 an ounce). "It was a buzz cream," says Andrew Bevacqua, senior vice president of research and development at the Max Huber Research Labs, who started working at Lauder in 1986. "The Lauders always wanted to buy it, but Max wouldn't sell."

When Huber's daughter, Marley, who'd been taught the zealously guarded recipe by her father, sold the brand in 1995, Bevacqua traveled to the Creme's birthplace near Canoga Park, California. Walking through the doors of Huber's lab-the skin-care equivalent of the opening of Tut's tomb-Bevacqua says, "I saw all of these small pots, with copper plates in them and wires coming out of them going into an amplifier. And you had this strange noise-bubbling and gurgling-and there were all these flashing lights. It was like The Twilight Zone." To create what he called the "miracle broth" at the heart of the Creme, Huber fermented each batch of kelp in a fish tank for three months while continuously playing a soundtrack of sorts-the noise, recorded on a reel-to-reel, of the previous fermentation-and exposing it to pulsed light. "It was a process," Bevacqua says, "that I never could have imagined."

When Bevacqua returned to the Lauder labs, he re-created the miracle broth as taught-but when the results were tested, both in vitro and on human skin, they didn't rival the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency of the original. Huber's closest friends and VIP clients-including von Doz-were called in to evaluate each batch; trial after trial was rejected-the formula simply didn't live up to the cream they'd been using for decades. With only a year before the Creme's scheduled relaunch, the stakes were high: Lauder's head of R & D, Joseph Gubernick, even called upon a psychic to conjure up Huber from beyond.

Gubernick "came to me with notes," Bevacqua remembers. " 'Max says you didn't do this and this.' And I was like, 'How did you talk to Max?' He told me that a medium had channeled him. We went point by point through everything Max did, and Joe was like, 'You didn't mention light and sound energy. You need to go back and try it.' " It was only once Bevacqua added those elements-which he had initially skipped because, well, "they sounded crazy" (published studies have since shown that sound waves can act as catalysts to speed up the chemical reactions that occur during fermentation)-that the Lauder-brewed miracle broth finally matched the potency of Huber's original in clinical evaluations.

Ever since Bevacqua's breakthrough, the scientists at La Mer have followed Huber's process to a T, playing his original sound waves during every fermentation and seeding every batch with a culture of the previous batch, like a yogurt, so that a continuous strain runs through every La Mer product. The recently refurbished Max Huber Research Labs in New Jersey showcases newly unearthed items from the brand's archives, including equipment from Huber's California HQ: antique audiotapes of various fermentations, their sleeves marked with the physicist's notes chronicling astronomical alignments; his fish tank; and vials, now extremely murky, of 50-year-old kelp. "I still think that Max is," says Loretta Miraglia, senior vice president of global brand product development and innovation at La Mer. "I never met him, and yet he's very present. There are very few people who have that impact."

As the brand has expanded, Miraglia and Bevacqua have continued to be inspired not only by Huber's visionary work but also by the kinds of things that he, as a physicist, would have been inspired by himself. Ideas for new products have been galvanized by everything from Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes to flexible glass, and they contain ingredients ranging from positively and negatively charged water to magnetized hematite.

"We're constantly learning new things, even about the miracle broth," Bevacqua says. "In addition to having incredible anti-irritant properties, it also stimulates electricity in the skin cells that produces proteins like collagen and elastin."

Washington, DC, dermatologist Noelle Sherber, MD, whose mother "lined up in the street" to buy Creme de la Mer from Huber himself 50 years ago, says that the core benefit of La Mer products may be their ability to keep the skin's barrier robust. "Complexions become less reactive-and lose less water-when the barrier is functioning well," she says. "Skin is smoother, plumper, and more even."

When Huber concocted his potion, he likely had no idea that it could reach so far and have so many iterations. "People forget about Max," says von Doz, who traveled the world for a time in the late '90s as a La Mer ambassador, showing off her flawless skin. "Yes, this stuff comes from a lab-but there was a man behind it, a soul behind it. He wasn't interested in the money. He just believed in the miracle, and that was enough for him."

SOFT FOCUS: The newest addition to the La Mer range, the Moisturizing Soft Lotion, was inspired by Miraglia's interest in so-called superfluids, including futuristic liquid microchips currently being developed in Silicon Valley. The superlight, silky lotion features tiny gel-encapsulated moisture spheres; upon application, the gel dissolves, transporting the vital ingredients deep within the skin, where they deliver plumping, smoothing, and hydrating benefits.

This article originally appeared in the September 2016 issue of ELLE.

Have thoughts? We want to hear from you. Contact us at elleletters@hearst.com.
From Esquire

Chase Strangio is an attorney who lives and works in New York City. He is lead counsel in Manning's lawsuit against the Department of Defense for denial of care related to her gender dysphoria.

I landed in Kansas City, Missouri, to visit Chelsea Manning exactly three years after she publicly disclosed her identity as a woman named Chelsea.

August 22. I remember the first August 22 that I became acquainted with Chelsea. It was the day her lawyer at the time, David Coombs, read her "coming out" letter on the Today Show - one day after she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

"As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me," Chelsea wrote in that statement. "I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible."

Since that day, Chelsea has been fighting for that "realness" - to be seen, heard, understood. One of the many things that Chelsea has lost through her incarceration is her ability to publicly shape the narrative of who she is. She writes beautifully and contributes to the public discourse on government accountability and transparency, trans rights, and justice for prisoners. But she is scrutinized and literally locked away and cut off from the world so her voice is always mediated through something or someone else. That doesn't make her voice or her contributions less real, but for a person as beautiful and thoughtful as Chelsea, these mediums don't do her essence justice.

One of the many things that Chelsea has lost through her incarceration is her ability to publicly shape the narrative of who she is.

On this August 22, I came to Leavenworth, Kansas, to meet Chelsea in person for the first time, wondering if perhaps I could get a better sense of the "real" Chelsea so that I could better understand how to support and fight for her. This Chelsea-the person who spends hours supporting her friends on the outside process life's complexities, who sends letters of support to trans kids who write to her about their pain, who by 28 has lived through and survived enough pain for a dozen lifetimes - is so much more than any one identity characteristic or one action.

Story continues

I already knew these parts of Chelsea well, but there is something different about sitting across from someone and connecting in-person. When Chelsea attempted suicide last month, I was reminded of how tenuous our connection to her is and the power of the many forces she is up against. It shouldn't have taken the possibility of her death to remind me of the fragility of her life. But it did.

I wanted her to see, in person, that my love, support, and fight for her were unwavering. I wanted her to see me in all my messy humanness. Because that is what makes our support for people and human connection real.

We have been working together for the past few years , successfully fighting for her to receive hormone therapy, and now continuing to fight to ensure that she is treated as the woman that she is and not denied the health care that she needs to survive.

On calls recorded by the government, I have heard her cry, laugh, and rage against the injustices in the world. We talked at length after the government formally rejected her many requests to follow the hair-length and grooming standards applied to all other female military prisoners. Through her tears and the ones that I held back we worked through a plan. We spoke about queer organizing, resilience and tragedy on the Sunday after the Pulse nightclub shooting. We chat about books, politics, family, TV with both the levity and at times, intensity, of any friendship.

Manning is, like so many people, held under the unrelenting control of our carceral regimes, locked away from public view.

I know Chelsea but like so many people who love her, until yesterday I had never actually seen her. There are no current images of Chelsea or recordings of her voice or videos of her that we can see or hear or share.

She is, like so many people, held under the unrelenting control of our carceral regimes, locked away from public view.

The power of Chelsea is understated but undeniable. Her charm, charisma, and somewhat disarming earnestness is far more evident and captivating in person. So too are the pain and introspection that sit just behind her blue eyes and that smile. A smile that so strikingly reminded me of another friend and trans visionary, Dean Spade. Spade and Manning could be relatives - the shared mannerisms and facial expressions were striking. We talked about that and about how Dean had shaped both of our thinking.

I didn't ask if I was the only trans visitor that Chelsea has had. She is only allowed visits from attorneys and people who she knew prior to her arrest. It is a limited group, which means that many of the people who know her best and love her most fiercely may never see her.

After five and a half hours, my visit with Chelsea ended. No hugs allowed - another rule that serves to further the many invisible and visible mechanisms of government control and violence over the bodies of people in custody. I felt physically ill walking away from Chelsea. I wanted to stop time. To soak in her realness and to find a pathway to a world where she wasn't locked up - where no one was locked up. But that isn't our world and I drove away.

I feel sick writing this, thinking about Chelsea. Locked away.

The thing that always sits with me after visiting someone in confinement (prison, jail, detention, civil commitment) is that we are all responsible for this barbaric system. Our complicity, tax payments and votes, build this horror.

Photo credit: Chase Strangio

This is a system that descends directly from the chattel slavery that built this country. It is a mechanism of anti-Blackness that stretches into every corner of our national character. Our cages are our cages. We sit among them even as they are so strategically made invisible to most of us.

Leavenworth, Kansas, is hauntingly beautiful. But behind the corn fields and train tracks sit our most effective mechanisms of death.

Our captives can't take in that beauty and are instead served only rules designed to break them. Yet people so boldly and resiliently survive in the face of these systems designed to kill them.

I left Chelsea with thoughts of all my incarcerated community members. The many black and brown trans folks struggling, like Chelsea, to be seen. So many whose names we will never know - who may die by suicide, from neglect, through the slow administrative murder of our carceral systems.

It is for Chelsea and all those people whose names and stories will forever be kept from our consciousness that I resolve to keep fighting.

The real Chelsea is a human being just like the rest of us. She breaths life into our movements and is a gift to our advocacy and organizing.

We can't lose her.

This story originally appeared on Medium.

You Might Also Like
Turkey is conceding it has not sent any evidence to Washington linking Fethullah Gulen to the failed July 15 coup attempt, despite increasingly angry calls by Ankara for the United States to extradite the Pennsylvania-based cleric or suffer a severe downgrade in diplomatic relations.

In a statement to Foreign Policy, Turkish Embassy spokesman Naci Aydan Karamanoglu said evidence linking Gulen to the coup will be submitted in due time.

He added that it would be impossible to send so much evidence on the coup attempt just days after it happened.

But top Turkish officials have not been similarly patient when demanding the immediate deportation of Gulen, whom they call a terrorist.

Ahead of Joe Bidens visit to Turkey on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to tell the vice president that the U.S. does not have the right to hem and haw. You have to hand him over.

He previously warned the White House that it had to choose between Turkey and Gulen. Turkey, an important partner in the fight against the Islamic State, owns an airbase the U.S. uses to stage airstrikes in Syria.

Turkish demands for Gulens extradition have also given way to a wave of anti-American charges and criticism in the Turkish press, including unsubstantiated allegations that U.S. officials attempted to assassinate Erdogan or that the military putsch was planned by the Wilson Center, a U.S.-based think tank.

Gulen, an influential preacher and a onetime political ally of Erdogan and his AKP party, currently lives in a secluded compound in the Pocono Mountains. He and his lawyers deny any involvement in the coup.

During his visit, Biden said that it is totally understandable why the people of Turkey are angry, but noted that Americas system of government has separate and independent roles for the executive and judicial branches and the president could not simply order the extradition of Gulen unilaterally.

Turkeys admission that it hasnt sent evidence about Gulens activities related to the coup may have been prompted by an op-ed written by Biden in Turkeys Milliyet newspaper on Wednesday. In it, Biden said the U.S. would deport Gulen if Turkey can prove that he masterminded the coup but added that the U.S. has yet to receive any evidence from Turkey relating to the attempted coup.

Story continues

It seems like a calibration in response to Vice President Biden, said Steven Cook, a Turkey expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. For over a month they have been insisting that Fethullah Gulen was responsible for the coup and that they had evidence of his guilt.

Henri Barkey, a Turkey expert at the Wilson Center, said Turkey may have decided to jump the gun in demanding Gulens extradition in order to corner the U.S. in the Turkish public eye.

In an email exchange, Karamanoglu, the embassy spokesman, said that the U.S. has received an extradition request from Turkey based on Gulens activities before the July 15th failed coup attempt.

Fethullah Gulen was already under investigation for establishing a terrorist organization and illegal activities against the state among other charges before the coup attempt occurred, Karamanoglu said.

U.S. officials have never indicated that Gulen might be extradited for actions he carried out before the coup.

Aaron Stein, a Turkey expert at the Atlantic Council, said the idea that Gulen has been working to undermine the government has been around in Turkey since the 1980s. A warrant was issued for Gulens arrest in August 2000 as prosecutors claimed he had infiltrated key government institutions in order to remake the Turkish state. In 2006, a Turkish court cleared him of wrongdoing before he received a green card in 2008.

The accusations arent new, said Stein. I think what many people should be asking is, if he was such a threat, why was he such a close AKP ally for years.
Beirut (AFP) - Turkey's decision to send troops into Syria is a last-ditch bid to prevent the realisation of its worst nightmare: the creation of a "Syrian Kurdistan", analysts say.

On Wednesday, Ankara launched operation "Euphrates Shield", dispatching tanks and special forces to fight alongside pro-Turkish Syrian rebels to capture the town of Jarabulus from the Islamic State group.

The extremist group abandoned the border town almost immediately, but experts said Ankara's operation was directed less at IS and more at preventing further advances by Syrian Kurdish forces that control large swathes of the Syria-Turkey border.

Turkey considers the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) a branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it deems a "terrorist" organisation, and it has long warned against the creation of an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria.

"The Kurdish issue now seems to be topping (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan's list of priorities in Syria," wrote Aron Lund, a Syria expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"The prospect of an oil-funded and US-backed PKK statelet on its southern border is a nightmare for Ankara," he wrote.

Kurds, who make up about 15 percent of Syria's population, have largely avoided fighting alongside either the government or opposition since the country's conflict began in March 2011.

Instead, they have focused on building semi-autonomous institutions, in March declaring a "federal region" composed of three "cantons" in north and northeast Syria.

- Targeting IS and Kurds -

Backed by the US-led coalition against IS, the YPG has battled the jihadist group to secure territory equal to 18 percent of Syria, home to some two million people, about 60 percent of them Kurdish.

But two of its "cantons" remain separated from the third by territory under IS control, and Turkey has warned it would not allow advances by the YPG to create a single contiguous entity.

Story continues

That ultimatum was put to the test by the June 23 capture of Manbij by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed coalition of Arab fighters and the YPG.

After the success, the Kurds announced their plan to advance on the IS-held town of Al-Bab in a bid to link the cantons of Kobane and Afrin.

"What is obvious that SDF's liberating Manbij bothered Turkey very much and since then they were in some efforts to counter that move," said Kurdish affairs analyst Mutlu Civiroglu.

"If IS was really the target, Turkey should have done an operation a long time ago because IS has been controlling the city for a long time," he told AFP.

Turkey's intervention serves more than one purpose, said Aaron Stein of the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Centre for the Middle East.

"The Jarabulus plan achieves two interrelated goals: it pushes IS from your border, while denying Kurds the freedom to take Jarabulus and link up with Afrin," said Stein.

Civiroglu said he did not expect Turkey's intervention to halt Kurdish ambitions, and YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said Ankara had no right to intervene.

"The YPG are Syrians and the Turks cannot impose restrictions on the movement of Syrians on their land," said Xelil.

- Regime ambivalent -

Turkey has been a staunch backer of the Syrian opposition since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in 2011.

But Civiroglu said Ankara could count on relative ambivalence from Damascus now because Assad's government views "Kurds as threat, and Kurdish gains... have bothered them deeply."

"They know that except for a 'symbolic condemnation' there will be no reaction from Assad," he added.

Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute think tank, said Turkey would have to go further if it wanted to prevent the Kurds from creating contiguous territory.

"The Kurds can still connect Afrin to Manbij by a small corridor" if they take the town of Al-Bab from IS, he said.

"The capture of Jarabulus will not prevent the connection of the cantons unless Turkey sends its tanks further south to Al-Bab," he told AFP.

But he added that Assad ally Russia, which has recently patched up relations with Turkey, was unlikely to bless such an operation.

Stein said Turkey's force inside Syria remained small "so it appears, for now, there are no plans to take more territory."

Washington has also warned the Kurds against pushing west.

"The YPG could push for Al-Bab, but it is unclear if they would do so without US air support," Stein said.
Ankara (AFP) - One Turkish soldier was killed on Thursday when Kurdish militants opened fire on the convoy of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu but the opposition chief was unharmed.

Kilicdaroglu's convoy was driving through the northeastern region of Artvin when it came under attack from nearby woods.

"Terrorists fired on members of the gendarmerie who were protecting the convoy," Interior Minister Efkan Ala said in televised comments.

Ala said three soldiers were wounded. But the state-run Anadolu news agency later said one had died of his wounds.

The minister blamed the ambush on members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and said an operation had been launched against the rebels in the area.

Kilicdaroglu said he was safe and well after the incident. "There is no problem, we are fine, don't worry," he told CNN-Turk television by telephone.

He later sent an emotional tweet: "We only have one God-given life, so let it be sacrificed for this homeland, this nation, this people!"

- 'Won't damage unity' -

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim called Kilicdaroglu to offer their best wishes, with television pictures showing the shaken opposition chief taking the call from the president on his mobile phone.

Since the failed July 15 putsch, there has been greater harmony between the opposition and the government, with Kilicdaroglu meeting Erdogan and Yildirim several times.

Kilicdaroglu and other opposition leaders strongly and rapidly condemned the coup bid, winning plaudits from the government for their conduct.

Yildirim said the attack would not damage Turkey's unity, vowing that the "terrorists" would be punished.

"These terrorists will not damage the unity within Turkey... or achieve their ambitions. They will face the punishment they deserve."

Adding to the show of unity, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli offered his best wishes on Twitter.

Story continues

"To Mr Kilicdaroglu and the Republican People's Party community, I give my best wishes. We strongly condemn this terror attack."

The co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) -- Figen Yuksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas -- also telephoned Kilicdaroglu to wish him well and condemn the attack, the party said.

PKK militants have on occasion staged attacks in the northeastern area close to the Black Sea although it is outside their traditional region of operation.

Over 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK first took up arms in 1984 with the aim of carving out an independent state for Turkey's Kurdish minority, although now it focuses more on rights and demands for greater autonomy.

It is proscribed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

The HDP has so far been frozen out of the post-coup national unity talks, with the government accusing it of failing to break links with the PKK.
Baby boon: The Rajas with their twin team.

Shanthi Raja splashes an extra measure of Dettol to wash her hands and makes her husband M. Raja do the same. The couple go to the incubator where new-born twins are snuggling. They take a baby each and hold them close as if to let them hear what their heart's murmur: "Our children."

Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome is a painful one to spell. For women like Shanthi, living with it is even more harrowing. But thanks to a surrogate mother and a technological breakthrough at Chennai's Fertility Research Centre (FRC) she became a mother of two on January 19. What is MRKH? In a female foetus, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are fully developed at 22 weeks.

advertisement

Any abnormality at this stage leads to deformity or absence of the reproductive organs, though the ovaries are present. The person develops all secondary sexual characteristics but does not menstruate. Dr Kamala Selvaraj, who performed the new technique, says, "About 10 per cent of women have such deformities.

" FRC explored the possibility of a new technique of using a surrogate mother for the MRKH afflicted. Shanthi, 34, came to FRC in October 1999 and was taken as a model case for the venture. She has no uterus and her vagina was "constructed" or repaired. Her ovaries were stimulated with hormones to produce more eggs. The eggs were sucked out, fertilised with her husband's sperm and frozen.



Two months later when a surrogate was found, the embryos were thawed and kept in a carbon-dioxide incubator for 24 hours. Four embryos were transferred into the surrogate's uterus. (More than two embryos are transferred for increasing the probability of pregnancy).

Tests on the 11th and 13th days showed positive pregnancy. The elated doctors took no chances they went in for a caesarean section after 36 weeks. On January 19, the surrogate delivered two baby boys.

The cost incurred by the Rajas: Rs 5 lakh. For medical science in India it was a status elevation. "But for some institutes in Australia and in the West, not many can claim such a feat," says Meena Kesan, Dr Selvaraj's assistant.

The only one kept out of the celebrations was the surrogate. Hospital staff was given strict instructions not to reveal her identity. The nameless surrogate lay in a room below the incubator room where the twins were kept. "I was clearly told about the deal and I stuck to it," the frail 28-year-old said exclusively to INDIA TODAY. "And no, I don't want to see the babies. I was just a carrier," she added.

Dr Sharat Battina, fertility expert at Chennai's Apollo Hospital, says, "It will give a boost not only to women with MRKH but also to millions who are infertile." But he adds that our laws are outdated to deal with such a development.

Chennai-based lawyer K.M. Vijayan says potential parents should enter into a contract with the surrogate saying she has no claim on the babies. "The contract holds good in a court as there is no legislation opposing it."

advertisement

Hailing from a suburb of Chennai, the twins' surrogate is already a mother of two. And she is richer by "about Rs 1 lakh" for her troubles. Will she do it again? "Never. Never again," she claims. But for millions of wannabe mothers in India, it's women like her who are the hope-givers.

--- ENDS ---
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey had been planning a Syria ground operation for over two years before launching an offensive this week, but it was stalled by the military and various international disputes, an official said Thursday.

Turkish tanks and hundreds of opposition fighters thrust inside Syrian territory on Wednesday to retake the town of Jarabulus from Islamic State (IS) jihadists and keep Kurdish militia at bay.

The operation is Ankara's most significant move since the start of Syria's bloody civil war more than five years ago.

Jarabulus has been under IS control for three years, with the timing raising questions over why Ankara had not launched the operation sooner.

But the official, who did not wish to be named, said the government had "been working on a ground incursion for more than two years" but was "delayed" by several factors.

The official said Washington had questions over the feasibility of Turkey's plan to liberate Jarabulus, which was discussed with coalition allies in June last year.

"Their basic argument was that the number of moderate rebels was simply not enough to perform the task of liberating Jarabulus and other parts of northern Syria."

Ankara had in March given the White House a list of "moderate fighters" -- 1,800, but with the promise of 600 more -- that would efficiently perform the operation, the source said.

Elements in the Turkish army who had joined the July 15 failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had also blocked the military intervention in Syria.

Some "influential" senior personnel within the military linked to the coup held up the operation by coming up with "excuses", the official said, pointing to Brigadier General Semih Terzi, a prominent alleged plotter who was shot dead on the night of putsch.

And the crisis in relations with Russia sparked by Ankara's shooting down one of Moscow's warplanes in November 2015, had also been a factor.

Story continues

The risk of a further confrontation with Moscow put an end to all Turkish air operations over Syria that would have been essential for any ground operation.

"It became practically impossible to implement our plans due to a lack of air cover," said the official.

But in June, President Vladimir Putin accepted a letter from Erdogan expressing regret over the incident as an apology and after that "the ground incursion could practically go forward."
Karkamis (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkey shelled Kurdish militia fighters in Syria on the second day of a major military operation inside the country, saying they were failing to observe a deal with the US to stop advancing in jihadist-held territory.

Turkey sent a fresh contingent of tanks Thursday into Syrian territory, a day after a lighting offensive by hundreds of Syrian rebel fighters -- backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces -- took the Syrian town of Jarabulus, ending over three years of jihadist control.

Turkey says Operation Euphrates Shield -- its most ambitious offensive of the five-and-a-half year Syrian civil war -- is aimed at ridding the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and the Kurdish militia vehemently opposed by Ankara.

Defence Minister Fikri Isik warned the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia -- who also had designs on Jarabulus -- to move back east across the Euphrates or also face intervention from Turkey.

Hours later, Turkish artillery shelled targets of the PYD inside Syria, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, saying the group had violated a deal with the United States to stop advancing.

It quoted security sources as saying that the Turkish military would continue to intervene against the PYD until it began to retreat.

The Hurriyet daily said the PYD elements had been identified by a Turkish drone 10 kilometres (six miles) north of the Syrian town of Manbij.

The group of PYD elements was then fired on by Turkish Firtina howitzers from inside Turkey, it said. The group was "eliminated", it added, without giving further details.

- 'Every right' -

US Secretary of State John Kerry was due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva Friday morning for talks expected to focus heavily on the situation in Syria.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the Syria conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Story continues

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, which erupted in 2011 after President Bashar al-Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt.

Turkey sees the PYD and YPG militia as terror groups bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria and acting as the Syrian branch of its own outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Ankara's hostility to the YPG also puts it at loggerheads with the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates after recent advances or risk losing American support.

Turkey's defence minister told NTV television there was so far no evidence of any withdrawal and Turkey reserved the right to strike the YPG if it failed to move.

"If this withdrawal doesn't happen, Turkey has every right to intervene," Isik said. "Turkey will be following, moment by moment."

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS tweeted that the "main element" of the Syrian Kurdish forces had already moved east although some remained for clean-up operations.

- 'Mindset change' -

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013.

Around 10 Turkish tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis Thursday but it was not clear if the deployment was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.

The well-connected columnist of the Hurriyet daily, Abdulkadir Selvi, said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the offensive but this number could rise to 15,000.

Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS but hardened its line in the wake of a string of attacks -- the latest a weekend bombing on a Kurdish wedding in the city of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children.

The Jarabulus operation proceeded at lightning speed with the town captured from IS just 14 hours after it was launched.

Television footage showed the Syrian fighters walking into an apparently deserted and abandoned Jarabulus unchallenged.

The apparent efficiency of the operation also marked a major boost for the Turkish army whose reputation had been badly tarnished by the failed July 15 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan staged by rogue elements in the armed forces.
By Ece Toksabay ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's outlawed Kurdish PKK militant group attacked a convoy carrying the main opposition party leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in the northeast of the country on Thursday but he escaped unharmed, the interior minister said. Interior Minister Efkan Ala told Turkey's NTV news channel that three soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire with what he said were Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attackers. President Tayyip Erdogan has said he will root out and destroy the PKK, which seeks autonomy or independence. He sent tanks across the border into Syria on Thursday on a mission that appeared to be intended to stop Syrian Kurds he links to the PKK occupying border areas being yielded by Islamic State fighters. "They opened fire in front of the convoy," said Mehmet Bekaroglu, a lawmaker in Kilicdaroglu's secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) who was in the convoy of about 15 to 20 vehicles during the attack near the northeastern city of Artvin. NTV and CNN Turk television broadcast images of police firing at the alleged attackers. Kilicdaroglu was flown out of the area by helicopter, Bekaroglu said. "Don't worry about us. We are OK. We are currently in a safe area," Kilicdaroglu told Turkey's NTV channel. Kilicdaroglu's CHP party said one of the officers wounded had subsequently died but did not say who it believed was behind the attack. CHP's deputy leader Engin Altay simply called it a "terrorist attack", a comment echoed by the prime minister. NATO 'FRONT LINE' There was no immediate PKK comment on Thursday's incident. The attack adds to tensions in Turkey, a NATO state already on edge after last month's failed attempt by rogue soldiers to topple Erdogan and following a spate of bombings and other attacks authorities have blamed on Kurdish or Islamist militants linked to neighboring Syria or Iraq. The abortive coup has however narrowed some of Turkey's political divides, as the CHP joined Erdogan's AK Party in its condemnation of the action. Turmoil in a country in the forefront of Western operations to quell Islamic State is causing deep concern in other NATO capitals. The CHP has traditionally taken a hard line on Kurdish demands for separate status, though any national politician of the mainstream parties could these days become a target, especially in the east. The pro-Kurdish opposition party HDP, which Erdogan accuses of links with the PKK, said in a statement it condemned the attack "in the strongest terms". The government has accused the PKK of a series of attacks this month in the southeast of Turkey, where the group has fought a three-decade insurgency. The PKK have claimed responsibility for at least one of those attacks, which involved a strike on a police station. "The attack on Kilicdaroglu's convoy in Artvin is a vile terrorist attack targeting democratic stability and peace of the people," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a written statement, without naming any group behind the attackers. (Additional reporting by Asli Kandemir and Cagan Uslu; Editing by Edmund Blair)
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.
From Esquire

Twitter is many things, both good and bad (mostly bad; almost all bad). It is an efficient micro-blogging platform, an up-to-the-minute news service, a cocaine-pellet-dispensing operant conditioning chamber, and a torrential firehose of personal abuse. But for many, Twitter's purpose is much simpler: It is a global open-mic night where the club never closes and everyone can get on stage.

As with any art form, there are certain standards of behavior to which comedic Twitter practitioners hold themselves and each other. The provisions against joke theft, for example, are similar to real life, as is the idea that repeating yourself too often makes you a hack. You wouldn't go on stage and tell the same joke at the beginning and end of your set, so why would you do it online?

The analogy strains somewhat when you consider that not everyone reading your feed is the same "crowd" you were performing for earlier in the day. Nevertheless, that nagging feeling remains that repeating yourself is a sin. The introduction of the self-retweet function by Twitter earlier this summer further complicated what is already a conundrum-although an admittedly frivolous one, all things considered.

Previously, if a Twitter personality wanted to resurface a joke, either because they thought it wasn't seen by enough people or for a fleeting hit of e-serotonin, the process was unwieldy. You could explicitly state your purpose-"ICYMI here are some good tweets I did"-or reply to your own tweet with responses of diminishing humorous returns to bump it to the top of the feed. The new option has stripped away some of those steps, but the result is the same: Self-retweeting is a desperate cry for attention.

You wouldn't go on stage and tell the same joke at the beginning and end of your set, so why would you do it online?

Or is it?

I asked some of my favorite Twitter users where they stand on the practice, and while most agreed there's something pathetic about it, they also said they might do it themselves.

Story continues

"It's still new, so the mores around it may change, but it seems to me it was largely put in place for journalists, who are a main justification of why Twitter Is A Good And Powerful Thing," said user @pattymo. "I think for people like me, it's reminiscent of the self-linking bad old days, where people would just say, 'Hey, here's a few I liked from this week.'"

He continued, "I can see circumstances when re-upping a joke makes sense, but as someone who is hypercritical of myself, I can't see myself doing it with a straight-up self RT. And doing it just because not enough people faved this for my liking seems cheesy to me," he said.

I turned to @fart.

"Obviously, it has its uses in promoting an article or whatever, but when Joke Idiots retweet their own shitty jokes nine hours later to get more faves, that is shit to me," @fart (Jon Hendren) said. "You must admit there's a special kind of sadness when @Epic_Horse_Bacon wakes up the next morning excited to retweet his own weak-ass 'cop starts breakdancing' bullshit."

If you see me tied to a horse please know I don't own one so whoever robbed me has gone out of their way to make me look like a fool. - Ceej (@ceejoyner) August 20, 2016

"Imagine someone in real life reminding you of a joke they made 11 months ago," added @ceej. "There's a handful of people that can get away with it-a secret list of accounts that are above the law-but for the most part, it's a clown move, and I would rather die than do it."

Not everyone draws such a hardline. But even those who do find it corny said they would probably give in from time-to-time.

"Now, even people who aren't insufferable NYC media shitheads that you had on mute for four years can hit you with the ol' ICYMI joke," said @arr. "The self-retweet is the worst Twitter feature simply because it's the one most likely to be used by Jeb Lund"

That said, he admitted, "I'm probably going to do it all the time anyway, because what is Twitter even for other than getting way too amused by your own jokes?"

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related Story" customtitles="Twitter Tries to Solve Its Single Biggest Problem" customimages="" content="article.47806"]

Speaking of Jeb Lund: "Like quoting or bumping or threading your own tweets, self-retweeting is something that everyone thinks everyone else should be forbidden to do, except them, and every one of them is wrong. Except me," said Lund, also known as @mobute.

"It's kind of the worst," said @behindyourback. "We're all already shouting into the void, and now we have an amplifier to whine when we feel like we didn't get enough attention from the void." But, she added, it's also great, "because fuck yeah we didn't get enough attention, and why try to be cool? That's what we're here for."

"I'm totally fine with it, as I was with 'bumping' or 'favstar in the bio,'" said @NicCageMatch. "I get that it's cheesy or self-promoting or whatever, but let's not pretend we're not writing these jokes for as many people to see as possible."

I would have suggested they just use a regular volleyball, but I guess the Olympics are special. pic.twitter.com/Tz6Tt6l4jn - Jessie (@NicCageMatch) June 30, 2016

"I have said 60,000 things on here, and most of them are just awful-dated beyond recognition, insensitive and unfunny, or nonsensical out of context," said @bronzehammer. "Retweeting myself keeps me from adding to the digital trashpile, by dredging up one of the few things I said that was good."

Like many, he takes a "it's just Twitter" attitude. After all, we're all here playing grab-ass, and there are more important problems the company needs to address.

"I happen to like self-retweeting, but even if you didn't, I don't see how it would be in the top 10,000 things wrong with the service. It's just too broken," @bronzehammer continued.

@ambertozer summed up her feelings in a tweet a few weeks ago:

I wanna make fun of people who retweet their own tweets but I also wanna retweet my own tweets GODDAMN THIS LIFE - AmberTozer (@AmberTozer) June 30, 2016

"I think it's hilarious that people do it, like, This tweet is too good to not tweet it again. It just makes you look needy," she said. "I think when someone sees you retweet your own joke, they think, Ha, what a twat. But, having said all that, I'll probably do it at some point. I should actually retweet that tweet about retweeting."

You Might Also Like
(Reuters) - Two Catholic nuns were found stabbed to death on Thursday at their home in Durant, Mississippi, and officials told local media they are investigating the case as a robbery that escalated into murder.

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) confirmed the deaths of the two nuns, who worked at a medical clinic, and named them as Sister Paula Merrill, of the SCN in Kentucky, and Sister Margaret Held, with the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee.

"Pray in gratitude for the precious lives of Sisters Paula and Margaret ... They served the poor so well. Because we are gospel women, please also pray for the perpetrators," SCN President Susan Gatz said in a statement.

The two had not come into the clinic, about 60 miles northeast of Jackson, on Thursday morning. Their bodies were found in a check of the house by a co-worker, police told local media. No arrests have been made yet, they said.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has shown an evolving stance on immigration in recent days.

Originally, Trump took a hard stance on immigration and deportation, which has led many to believe he is softening his position on the issue. However, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Javier Palomarez said its too little, too late, during an interview on the FOX Business Network.

Donald Trump began his political career by denouncing immigrants, denouncing the Hispanic community, illegal immigrants, immigrants, the Hispanic community period. He has denounced them for the last year This is an act of a desperate, desperate candidate that knows he is going to lose in the African-American and Hispanic community.

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO added: Ultimately the losers here are the Republican Party, the American people. They had amazing choices in Jeb Bush and John Kasich. They elected a buffoon instead.

Trump visited Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, delivering a speech at a rally in the city which included comments about economic opportunities for African-American and Hispanic communities. But, Palomarez said he believes the GOP candidate should have visited elsewhere.

That economy, by the way, the Tampa job growth rate is the leading job growth in the state of Florida and it has been the last three years, he said. And by the way, Tampa is 52% minority. Donald Trump doesnt have any idea what hes talking about. He goes of all cities in Florida to go to, he goes to the one leading in job growth.

Related Articles
By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating a new incident involving actress Leslie Jones, who has been targeted by online abusers, after hackers posted nude photos and personal information on the "Ghostbusters" star's website. "The investigation is currently ongoing. In order to protect the integrity of the case, no further details are available at this time," Rachel Yong You, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said on Thursday in an email to Reuters. ICE, as the agency is known, is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. Representatives for Jones did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Wednesday, Jones' website, www.JustLeslie.com, was taken offline after nude photos and photos of the comedian's passport and driver's license were posted, reportedly accessed through her personal cellphone or iCloud account. The hackers also juxtaposed images of the actress with photos of Harambe, a deceased gorilla. Jones became a top trending topic on social media where many Twitter users including celebrities showed support for her. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was among those expressing encouragement on Twitter for the NBC Saturday Night Live co-star. "@Lesdoggg, no one deserves thisleast of all someone who brings us so much joy. I'm with you. -H," Clinton wrote online. Jones, who was a target of cyber bullying on Twitter in July, briefly quit the micro-blogging platform because she was bombarded by racist and abusive comments after starring in the female-led reboot of "Ghostbusters" this summer. Jones almost quit Twitter last month after receiving a barrage of sexist and racist abuse and harassment from a number of users. After Twitter Inc interjected and permanently suspended numerous users accounts for harassment, Jones returned to Twitter, where her humorous live tweets during the Olympics earned her an on-air contributor role in Rio de Janeiro for NBC. (Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Tom Brown)
By PTI: Mumbai, Aug 25 (PTI) An Air India flight from here to Newark, carrying around 300 passengers, was today diverted to Kazakhstan due to technical issues. The Boeing 777-300 ER plane had landed at the Aktobe international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after "some alarm went off" while it was on its way to Newark. The airline said all passengers are safe.

advertisement

A relief aircraft would be leaving from New Delhi to Aktobe at 1500 hours to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark. The aircraft is expected to reach Aktobe at 1830 hours, Air India said.

An airline spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added. In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of. "#AI CMD Mr Lohani spoke to Captain Aroob. The pax (passengers) are satisfied and happy that the flt (flight) safely landed in #Kazakhstan," Air India said in another tweet. Aroob is the captain of the flight that was diverted to Kazakhstan. Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has seating capacity for around 350 people. PTI RAM IAS MKJ

--- ENDS ---
PARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign minister said on Thursday the Security Council had to respond firmly after a U.N. probe found that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks. "The use of chemical weapons, which the Syrian authorities agreed to ban in 2013 under international pressure ... is an abomination that highlights the damning role played by the Damascus regime in the worsening situation in Syria," Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement. A joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog also found that Islamic State militants had used sulphur mustard gas, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters. "France calls for a response that measures the seriousness of this. The Security Council must not shirk its responsibilities and France is already working with its partners" on the matter, Ayrault said. 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. French diplomatic sources said Paris wanted to use the chemical weapons report to push for a resolution at the Security Council that would force Russia, the key backer to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to accept that its ally had used banned weapons and as a result would use its influence to back a credible ceasefire across the country. "We need to use this report to force Russia out of its ambiguity. If they were to veto such a resolution they would need to justify the use of chemical weapons," one senior diplomat said. 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. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Jon Boyle)
By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots toward an Iranian fast-attack craft that approached two U.S. ships, a Pentagon spokesman said on Thursday, in the most serious of a number of incidents in the Gulf area this week. "They did feel compelled ultimately to fire three warning shots and the reason for that is... they had taken steps already to try and de-escalate this situation," spokesman Peter Cook told reporters. Tensions have increased in the Gulf in recent days despite an improvement in relations between Iran and the United States. Years of mutual animosity eased when Washington lifted sanctions on Tehran in January after a deal to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions but serious differences still remain over Iran's ballistic missile program, Syria and Iraq. A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Squall patrol craft fired three warning shots from a .50 caliber gun in the northern Gulf on Wednesday after warning flares did not work. The incident started with three Iranian vessels, but there was only one around by the time the warning shots were fired, the official said. He described the Iranian behavior as "unsafe, unprofessional, and not routine." At one point, the Iranian vessel came within 200 yards (193 meters) of a U.S. ship, the official said. Another interaction took place between an Iranian and U.S. ship on Wednesday, the defense official said but gave few more details. The Pentagon earlier this week accused Iranian vessels of harassing a U.S. warship near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. On Thursday, Iran's defense minister said those Iranian vessels were just doing their job. If an American ship enters Irans maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them, Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said in a statement reported by the Iranian Students News Agency. A State Department spokeswoman said it was not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior was unacceptable. "We believe that these type of actions are of concern, they unnecessarily escalate tensions," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told a briefing. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Paul Simao and Alistair Bell)
By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) - Cigarettes are often cheaper at the very place that people shop for health supplies and fill medicine prescriptions, according to a new study in California. Compared to other types of stores, pharmacies charged customers less for cigarettes, more for bottled water, said lead author Lisa Henriksen of the Stanford Prevention Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto. Its surprising that stores that are supposed to promote health sell the worlds deadliest product of all, and even worse that they sell it at the cheapest price, Henriksen said. Pharmacies represent 7 percent of the 380,000 tobacco retailers nationwide, Henriksen and her colleagues write in the American Journal of Public Health, online August 23. Convenience stores sell many more cigarettes, but pharmacies offer them at cheaper prices, she told Reuters Health. Price is the single best predictor of use, with lower cigarette prices driving higher smoking rates, lower quitting rates, and higher rates of smoking initiation among teens, she said. The most vulnerable population groups are also the most price sensitive, which is why the findings about neighborhood disparities in prices are also important. Researchers found that among pharmacies, Newport menthol cigarettes, popular among African Americans, were among the cheapest brands, and they cost even less at stores in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of black residents. The researchers randomly selected more than 500 licensed tobacco retailers in California in 2014 and recorded the prices of their Marlboro cigarettes, Newport cigarettes and the cheapest cigarettes available as well as the price of bottled water. They gathered similar data from more than 2,000 retailers across the U.S. near schools with eighth, tenth and twelfth graders in 2012. In both studies, the least expensive cigarettes per store were cheaper in pharmacies  by $0.47 to $1.19, on average, in California. Bottled water, which may reflect the pricing of a range of other goods, cost more in pharmacies than in other stores, like convenience stores. While bottled water prices did not vary by neighborhood demographics, the cost of Newport and other cigarettes varied by race or neighborhood income and age profiles. Amanda Amos, professor of health promotion at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, told Reuters Health by email that she was shocked and bemused to learn pharmacies in the U.S. would sell cigarettes, which are the most lethal legal product on the market and kill half of all regular users. Pharmacies (in the U.K.) would never sell cigarettes as this does not fit in with their health promoting role, said Amos, who was not part of the new study. Rather, most pharmacies would see their role as helping smokers to quit through providing nicotine replacement products and support. Amos worked on two reviews for the European Commission that found increasing the real price of cigarettes was the most effective way to reduce smoking uptake in young people and increase adult quitting, she said. Henriksen noted that laws prohibiting tobacco sales in pharmacies are rare in the U.S., despite wide public support in polls. San Francisco passed the first law and 70 percent of Massachusetts residents live in jurisdictions with tobacco-free pharmacies. Apart from whether it decreases smoking, it has the added advantage of denormalizing tobacco and reducing its availability, she said. There are many more tobacco retailers than needed to meet demand for the product. For jurisdictions looking to reduce the number of tobacco retailers, pharmacies are an obvious choice, she said. Tobacco-free pharmacies are low hanging fruit for state and local tobacco control.
Travis Kalanick

Uber employees are apparently worried about the future of the company after self-driving cars become a real thing, and about the kind of money employees can make in a presumed IPO.

That's according to snippets of conversations sent to us from an Uber employee who likes to chat about the company via an anonymous app called Blind.

For instance, after news broke earlier this month that Uber's first self driving fleet is arriving in Pittsburgh this month, Uber employees took to Blind to chat about it.

One person worried that once self driving cars are a regular thing and Uber owns a fleet of them, Uber will become like an airline, including the low profit margins. Another believes that ride sharing will always be in demand, whether the cars drive themselves or not. And another said that Uber's core business will become just like a car rental business but that the company has to invest now in self-driving tech to "control our own destiny."

Uber employees also seem concerned about when the company will IPO and how much longer it can delay.

"I don't think engineers want to work for paper money," one person wrote.

Others say that Uber is attracting a different type of employee now that the company can afford higher base salaries and the risk of the company going out of business is lower.

"We have better success in hiring senior people now because they don't have to take the risk or a huge pay cut, while they can still make a few million bucks with their equity when Uber goes public," one said.

Another person disagrees, saying that it has become harder to hire senior people because "people would have to believe that Uber can still quadruple its valuation to make a few million bucks." And with Uber's current $68 billion valuation, that's not so easy to believe.

Perhaps the funniest snippet sent to us was a poll taken among all the people on Blind who work in the tech industry in which 16 people said that Uber was the "spawn of Satan."

Story continues

Blind Uber poll

What the heck is Blind?

This is the second time that an employee sent us some insight about employee chats gleaned from Blind. Business Insider doesn't have access to the app. People can only gain access if they work at a company with employees using the app.

Blind Alex Shin

So we talked with Blind's US general manager, Alex Shin, who tells us that Blind is being used at about 100 tech companies.

Blind requires about 150 employees at a new company to request to use the app before it opens it up to them, he says.

It is most popular with employees at Uber, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Yahoo, Intel, he says and some smaller companies like Glassdoor.

Blind launched in Korea and has since expanded to the US after it discovered the interest by tech employees.

Blind currently has no business model in the US, he says, though in Korea the company makes money via its job posting services. It's backed by Korean and Japanese investors as well as Yik Yak investor DCM Ventures, Shin tells us.

Blind verifies an employee's identity by requiring an employee to use an email address at the employer to register for an account. Once the account is established, that email address is separated from the Blind account and encrypted, meaning even the Blind employees can't match a user with a particular email.

Employees use the app to chat about job openings, job interviews, salaries and offers, or just to talk shop, Shin says.

NOW WATCH: Watch the Air Force drop 8 armored Humvees out of a plane from 5,000 feet





More From Business Insider


(Reuters) - Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] lost at least $1.27 billion before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the first six months of 2016, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The subsidies Uber grants its drivers was the main reason for the loss, finance head Gautam Gupta told investors in a quarterly conference call, Bloomberg said, citing sources. (http://bloom.bg/2bDGGI4)

Uber, whose investors include Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The company lost about $520 million in the first quarter of the year and another $750 million in the second quarter, Bloomberg said.

Uber, which is now valued at roughly $69 billion, lost at least $2 billion in 2015, the report said.

The company's net revenue increased to about $1.1 billion in the second quarter from $960 million in the first quarter, while bookings rose to more than $5 billion from more than $3.8 billion in the prior quarter, Bloomberg said.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - Global ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc will pull out of the gambling hub of Macau on September 9, less than 10 months after it launched there, Macau media reported, citing a letter they said was sent by Uber's Asia regional chief.

According to a copy of a letter uploaded onto Macau legislator Au Kam-san's official Facebook account, Uber's Asia Regional General Manager Mike Brown said the firm planned to exit the small China-ruled city, saying its drivers have been fined a total of 10 million patacas ($1.25 million) in the short time in which it has operated in Macau. [http://bit.ly/2bHtrER ]

Brown couldn't be reached by Reuters and Uber officials didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

There was no immediate response from the Macau government, and legislator Au couldn't be reached for comment.

Uber has around 2,000 full-time and part-time drivers in the territory, Macau's news agency TDM reported, saying drivers had been notified of the impending halt in operations.

While Macau isn't a large market with just 600,000 people, Uber's exit would be another blow for the fast-growing U.S. start-up's ambitions in the region.

In China, following a costly two-year battle to break into the potentially lucrative market, Uber sold its operations earlier this month to bigger local rival Didi Chuxing in a deal that will give Uber a one-fifth stake in Didi.

Meanwhile Taiwanese authorities have demanded Uber pay a sales tax bill, and may force it out of the island's market, while it has come under legal scrutiny in Hong Kong.

($1 = 7.9780 patacas) (Reporting by James Pomfret and Farah Master; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
(Reuters) - Global ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.UL) will pull out of the gambling hub of Macau on September 9, less than 10 months after it launched there, Macau media reported, citing a letter they said was sent by Uber's Asia regional chief.

According to a copy of a letter uploaded onto Macau legislator Au Kam-san's official Facebook account, Uber's Asia Regional General Manager Mike Brown said the firm planned to exit the small China-ruled city, saying its drivers have been fined a total of 10 million patacas ($1.25 million) in the short time in which it has operated in Macau. [http://bit.ly/2bHtrER]

Uber's Macau General Manager Trasy Lou Walsh declined to comment specifically on the letter or to clarify whether the firm would pull out of Macau in September.

"We are committed to continuing to serve the riders and drivers of Macau. We continue to seek opportunities to work with the government on modern ridesharing regulations that will give us the chance to keep serving the people of Macau," she said in a statement.

Brown couldn't be reached by Reuters.

There was no immediate response from the Macau government, and legislator Au couldn't be reached for comment.

Uber has around 2,000 full-time and part-time drivers in the territory, Macau's news agency TDM reported, saying drivers had been notified of the impending halt in operations.

While Macau isn't a large market with just 600,000 people, Uber's exit would be another blow for the fast-growing U.S. start-up's ambitions in the region.

In China, following a costly two-year battle to break into the potentially lucrative market, Uber sold its operations earlier this month to bigger local rival Didi Chuxing in a deal that will give Uber a one-fifth stake in Didi.

Meanwhile Taiwanese authorities have demanded Uber pay a sales tax bill, and may force it out of the island's market, while it has come under legal scrutiny in Hong Kong.

($1 = 7.9780 patacas)

(Reporting by James Pomfret and Farah Master; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
(Updates with Uber response in paragraphs 3-4)

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Global ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc will pull out of the gambling hub of Macau on September 9, less than 10 months after it launched there, Macau media reported, citing a letter they said was sent by Uber's Asia regional chief.

According to a copy of a letter uploaded onto Macau legislator Au Kam-san's official Facebook account, Uber's Asia Regional General Manager Mike Brown said the firm planned to exit the small China-ruled city, saying its drivers have been fined a total of 10 million patacas ($1.25 million) in the short time in which it has operated in Macau. [http://bit.ly/2bHtrER ]

Uber's Macau General Manager Trasy Lou Walsh declined to comment specifically on the letter or to clarify whether the firm would pull out of Macau in September.

"We are committed to continuing to serve the riders and drivers of Macau. We continue to seek opportunities to work with the government on modern ridesharing regulations that will give us the chance to keep serving the people of Macau," she said in a statement.

Brown couldn't be reached by Reuters.

There was no immediate response from the Macau government, and legislator Au couldn't be reached for comment.

Uber has around 2,000 full-time and part-time drivers in the territory, Macau's news agency TDM reported, saying drivers had been notified of the impending halt in operations.

While Macau isn't a large market with just 600,000 people, Uber's exit would be another blow for the fast-growing U.S. start-up's ambitions in the region.

In China, following a costly two-year battle to break into the potentially lucrative market, Uber sold its operations earlier this month to bigger local rival Didi Chuxing in a deal that will give Uber a one-fifth stake in Didi.

Meanwhile Taiwanese authorities have demanded Uber pay a sales tax bill, and may force it out of the island's market, while it has come under legal scrutiny in Hong Kong.

($1 = 7.9780 patacas) (Reporting by James Pomfret and Farah Master; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
(Adds analysts)

By Ana Nicolaci da Costa

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - British retailers reported their strongest sales in six months in August, industry figures showed on Thursday, adding to signs that consumers are, for now, taking the country's vote to leave the European Union in their stride.

The Confederation of British Industry said its sales volume index rose to +9, its highest since February, from an initial slump after the Brexit vote to -14 in July.

Sales in September were expected to moderate. The expected sales index was +3 for next month, up from -12 in August.

The release was in keeping with recent data showing consumers shrugging off the shock Brexit vote, with retail sales boosted by warm weather and by overseas buyers attracted by a cheaper pound.

"While the fall in sterling has boosted visitor numbers to the UK, it is likely to push up the price of imported goods over time, which will mean households will be more likely to rein back spending on non-essentials," Anna Leach, CBI Head of Economic Analysis and Surveys, said.

Price pressures in factories - which feed through into consumer prices - jumped in July as import prices rose at their fastest rate since 2011.

Samuel Tombs, an economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said he still expected growth in overall spending to slow sharply.

"Away from the high street, there are clear signs that (consumer activity is) ...slowing down - falling new car registrations and declining mortgage approvals show households are shying away from big-ticket purchases."

A survey on Wednesday showed the number of mortgages approved by British banks fell to its lowest in a year in July.

So far most data has shown less of a negative impact on the economy from the Brexit decision than some of the dire predictions made by supporters of remaining in the EU.

But Britain has yet to trigger the formal exit process that would start the two-year period for formal negotiations about the country's future relationship with the EU, leaving many companies uncertain about what Brexit will mean for them.

Story continues

The CBI said an index of orders placed with suppliers was -7 in August, up from -34 in July and was expected to improve further next month. Investment intentions rose to +15 in August from their most recent previous reading of -13 in May.

The survey was conducted between July 27 and Aug. 12 and 131 firms took part.

(Reporting by Ana Nicolaci da Costa; editing by William Schomberg and John Stonestreet; Editing by Toby Chopra)
In a bid to improve cultural relations between the two states, Telangana and the Malaysian state of Penang will be working closely in skill development and the manufacturing sector, in which Penang is a leader.

By Ashish Pandey: Telangana and the Malaysian state of Penang have agreed to work closely in the fields of high-end technology, manufacturing and in improving cultural relations between the two states.

The visiting Malaysian delegation led by the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang P Ramasamy on Wednesday met the Minister for Industries, IT, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Mines and NRI affairs KT Rama Rao and discussed issues relating to mutual cooperation and economic collaboration between the two states.

advertisement

TELANGANA TO STUDY MANUFACTURING MODEL OF PENANG



Telangana minister KT Rama Rao sought the cooperation of Penang in the manufacturing sector in which Penang is a leader. KTR said that a delegation from Telangana would visit the Penang Development Corporation to study the model adopted in creating employment opportunities.

The Penang Development Corporation is a self-funding statutory body aiming to enhance Penang's socio-economic development to create employment opportunities.

TWO GOVERNMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER



"The government is working to strengthen the manufacturing sector and create job opportunities. The government has identified fourteen sectors including life sciences, Information Technology and Defence and Aerospace as the focused sectors and sought investment in these sectors," KT Rama Rao said.



The visiting Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, Ramasamy, too expressed Penang's desire to cooperate with Telangana in the manufacturing sector and also in skill development.

He sought the cooperation of Telangana in the service sector and software development.

He said many leading Malaysian companies like IJM have invested in the state in the infrastructure sector. Both the states have deep rooted connections and cultural affinities.



--- ENDS ---
Geneva (AFP) - The UN special envoy for Syria said Thursday upcoming US-Russian talks could help his push to resume peace talks on the war-ravaged country.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday to discuss Syria's five-year-old conflict.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters the meeting would be "important" and have "an impact, certainly on the... political initiatives of the UN in order to relaunch the political process on Syria."

He did not say whether he would be meeting with the two men while they were in town.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, but have a common foe in the Islamic State group.

They have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the jihadists.

The two countries also co-chair a UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, which has been struggling to ensure access for desperately-needed aid.

Aleppo, Syria's second city and former economic hub, has emerged as a top concern since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

Speaking after a weekly meeting of the humanitarian taskforce, de Mistura hinted a long-demanded 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo could soon happen, since Moscow last week gave its blessing.

"The Russian Federation replied yes. We will wait for others to do the same," he said, without specifying which parties had yet to agree.

In any case, the UN was on standby with large convoys: "Trucks are ready, and they can leave anytime we get that message," he said.

Jan Egeland, de Mistura's deputy and head of the humanitarian taskforce, told reporters the aim was to secure a weekly 48-hour pause and deliver aid to both the rebel-held east and government-held west.

Story continues

He said the plan was to send two convoys of 20 trucks each, carrying enough food and supplies for 80,000 people, from Turkey and into eastern Aleppo.

Simultaneously, aid mainly coming from Damascus would go into western Aleppo "where needs have also increased dramatically of late," he said.

Efforts would also be made to repair the electrical plant in the disputed south of the city, which has been damaged in the fighting, cutting 1.8 million people across the city off from not only power, but also water, since electricity is needed to run the pumping stations.
The Nation's Oldest Medical Cannabis Dispensary Welcomes Its Newest Offering

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / August 25, 2016 / United Cannabis Corporation (CNAB) today announced that the award-winning products of its partner, Bubbleman, are now available at the Berkeley Patients Group ("BPG") in Berkeley, California.

Bubbleman products are sold under the Black Label Select, Black Label Reserve, and Blue Label brands. All Bubbleman products are made from locally sourced whole plant organic cannabis along with being lab tested for potency, terpenes, microbial, and pesticides. The cannabis resin is separated from the whole plant flowers with purified ice/water, and agitation utilizing a patented apparatus with a filtration system known as Bubblebags, then dried in a climate-controlled environment until all of the water has evaporated from the resin. Bubbleman Brand of products include a solvent-less quiver of Dry Sift, Full Melt Bubble Hash, Bubble Hash Rosin, Terp Rosin, and Terp Oils.

The Blue Label Terpene-Enhanced Melts, Rosins and Oils are created in collaboration with the Bubbleman Black Label "Reserve" Brand and Blue River Terpenes. Similar to the Bubbleman products, Blue River Terpenes exclusively utilize a solvent-less flower-extraction process that captures pure cannabis-derived terpenes. Cannabis-derived terpenes are responsible for the flavor, aromas, and effects associated with THC or CBD.

Marcus "Bubbleman" Richardson, a United Cannabis partner, went on to say, "The Berkeley Patients Group serves tens of thousands of patients annually and I am extremely happy to be a part of their team. These are people who share my ethics and morals in this industry and that's hard to find  I'm proud that our brand is now represented in their shops."

Victor Pinho, BPG's Marketing Director, commented on the announcement, "An important part of BPG's mission is to offer our patients a wide selection of high-quality, tested medical cannabis products. The Bubbleman products provide a broad range of cannabinoid and terpene options which complements our existing product menu and improves our ability to respond to our patients' needs."

Story continues

Serving patients since 1999, BPG is regarded as a model dispensary and industry leader. Open every day from 9am to 9pm, BPG is located at 2366 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, California. BPG's facility is bright and welcoming, ADA-accessible, and has on-site parking. Patients interested in learning more about the products and services offered at the Berkeley Patients Group can call 510-540-6013.

About United Cannabis Corporation

The Company's Prana Bio Medicinal products provide patients a simple, safe, accurate, and easy way to mix and match cannabinoids for therapeutic purpose. These products are broken into 5 easy to follow categories that are available in capsules, sublingual's, and topical delivery methods. The Company uses a patent-pending infusion process utilizing select fatty acids, lipids, and specific combination of cannabis derived terpenes to increase bioavailability. Prana Bio Medicinal products are NON-GMO, ethanol free, alcohol free, glycerin free, gluten free, 100% naturally derived, chemical-free, solventless, and hypoallergenic. For further information, please visit www.unitedcannabis.us.

About Bubbleman

The Bubbleman solventless saps are made from extracting whole plant cannabis resin utilizing a patented ice / water agitation apparatus with a filtration system known as Bubblebags. The resin is cryogenically cured and pressed thru filtration under low heat and pressure.

About The Berkeley Patients Group:

Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) is the nation's longest continuously operating medical cannabis dispensary. Over the past 15 years, BPG has provided safe and affordable access to quality medicine for patients suffering from AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and other serious illnesses. BPG provides quality-controlled medical cannabis to its registered members in an environment that is safe, comfortable, and professional. In addition to medical cannabis, BPG has provided free life-enhancing services to its patients, including therapeutic massage, acupuncture, support groups, peer counseling, educational events, legal assistance, and end-of-life palliative care. Visit BPG on its website at www.myBPG.com.

Contact:

Staff@UnitedCannabis.us

Phone: 303-386-7321

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and to Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and other results and further events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: United Cannabis Corporation
Washington (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Bangladesh and India next week for talks on trade and the fight against violent extremism.

One American was among the 22 people killed last month in an attack by a Bangladeshi Islamist group on a restaurant popular with foreigners, and Washington is keen to support the government response.

Kerry will be in Dhaka on Sunday then continue to New Delhi on Monday and Tuesday where he and US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will take part in the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
F-22

In an interview with USA Today, the pilots of the F-22s who chased away Syrian jets bombing close to Kurdish forces with embedded US advisers revealed that the Syrian pilots had no idea they were being shadowed.

I followed him around for all three of his loops, one of the American pilots, a 38-year-old Air Force major, told USA Today. He didnt appear to have any idea I was there.

Brig. Gen. Charles Corcoran, commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, told USA Today that once the F-22 made radio contact, "The behaviour stopped. We made our point."

The situation in Syria is tense, as the US has limited forces on the ground, but has employed air assets to defend them. So the US effectively has told Syria that it can't fly planes within a section of their own country.

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said that in the event that Syrian planes get too close to US and US-backed forces that they "would advise them to steer clear in areas where we are operating," adding that "we always have the right to defend our forces."

Fortunately, in this case, the warning was sufficient.

The big concern is really a miscalculation, said Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of US air operations in the Middle East told USA Today. It can happen on either side.

We made it very clear to our folks from the highest levels: Were not at war with the Russians or Syrians, Corcoran told USA Today. Were not here to shoot down Russian or Syrian airplanes.

But sending servicemen and women into combat with unclear, or delicate instructions is not an ideal case. Every second a pilot spends weighing the decision to fire or not could potentially cost that pilot's life.

F-22

Luckily, no life or death decisions had to be made.

Im thinking how do I de-escalate this scenario to the best of my ability and also keep us in a safe position while doing so, the other pilot involved told USA Today.

Story continues

It seems also that the pilot's leadership was behind them every step of the way. Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, the air commander in Qatar, made it clear he was ready to pull the trigger.

I wouldnt have hesitated, said Silveria.

Syria map

All I needed at that point to shoot them down was a report from the ground that they were being attacked, Silveria told USA Today. We were in a perfect position to execute that with some pretty advanced weaponry.

NOW WATCH: Watch newly released footage of the F-35B taking off, hovering, and landing vertically





More From Business Insider


San Francisco (AFP) - Volkswagen on Thursday reached an agreement to compensate US car dealers for the effects of an emissions cheating scandal as pressure rose for it to fix rigged three-liter diesel engines already on the road.

During a hearing in San Francisco, lawyers reported that they had reached "an agreement in principle" to resolve disputes between the German automaker and 652 dealerships in the United States over losses from the diesel-cheating scandal.

Details of the proposed settlement with dealerships were not disclosed in court.

Hagens Berman, the law firm representing VW dealers in the United States, said in a statement released after the hearing that the German automaker is offering to create a settlement fund that would dispense money to franchise dealerships within 18 months.

The size of the fund was not disclosed and Hagens Berman said that the payout formula was still being refined.

Terms of the proposed settlement also call for Volkswagen to buy back unfixable, used diesel vehicles on dealer lots under the same terms the company gives to consumers, the law firm said.

"These 652 mostly small business owners were blindsided by the diesel emissions scandal and have seen the value of their businesses plummet," the firm's managing partner Steve Berman said in the release.

"Our investigation has uncovered no evidence that VW dealers had any idea that VW was selling them cars that had defeat devices installed."

The proposed settlement with US dealerships will be submitted to US District Court Judge Charles Breyer in mid-September for consideration, the firm said.

- Deal or trial -

At the hearing Thursday, Breyer gave VW until October 24 to come up with a fix for three-liter diesel engines rigged to cheat emissions tests, or face trial.

Lack of an agreement on the issue would lead to a trial starting by the middle of next year, Breyer told attorneys.

"I want to have a strong sense of urgency," he said.

Story continues

Volkswagen got a preliminary green light last month on a $14.7 billion plan to compensate owners of some 480,000 cars with two-liter diesel engines.

That represents the bulk of the vehicles involved in the US scandal that emerged after VW admitted last year that it had used emission-cheating software.

Engines were configured to reduce harmful nitrogen-oxide emissions during official pollution tests, while allowing emissions of up to 40 times the legal limit during actual driving.

But the auto giant has yet to reach an agreement regarding 80,000 additional vehicles with three-liter engines.

"Volkswagen still believes it can fix the vehicles without affecting their performance," Robert Giuffra, an attorney for the car maker, told the judge.

Giuffra said he was confident Volkswagen could by early November provide the authorities with details of a way to fix some of the three-liter engines and the potential to apply the repair to the rest.

But Breyer moved the deadline up to October 24, saying he wanted to give the parties involved a "strong sense of urgency" along with a "sense of reality."

- Criminal probe -

A November 3 hearing date was set to give the court an update, and the judge advised all sides to begin discussing what would be done if repairing the three-liter motors was not possible.

Breyer also told attorneys to be ready with proposed dates for trial "during the summer" of next year if there was no agreement.

Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 that it had installed emissions test-cheating devices on nearly 600,000 diesel-powered vehicles in the United States and as many as 11 million worldwide.

Financial provisions related to legal implications of the scandal caused Volkswagen to record a 2105 net loss, its first in more than 20 years.

Agreements in Breyer's court would cover only civil litigation. VW is the subject of a criminal investigation in the United States and also faces a cascade of lawsuits and probes in other parts of the world, especially in Europe and Canada.
From Cosmopolitan

Usain Bolts longtime girlfriend, Kasi Bennett, has mostly kept mum about the viral photographs of the worlds fastest runner seemingly cheating on her with multiple women. With the exception of a couple tweets, Bennett seems to have decided to deal with the matter in private - but, as a few people have noticed, her likes on Twitter paint a pretty good picture of how shes feeling about the whole thing.

@usainbolt you traded your life with a #goddess @kasi__b for a one night fling with someone who will never even come close. I cant.

According to the Daily Mail, Bennett has liked multiple tweets from people offering their support, occasionally at Bolts expense. Tagging the runner on Twitter, one person wrote, You traded your life with a #goddess @kasi__b for a one night fling with someone who will never even come close. I cant.

@_Moyabads @kasi__b shes a strong Jamaican Womantheyll survive these false Propaganda

@kasi__b Their beauty is absolute , powerful as you are, dont waste your time looking at the trash, you are beautiful and wonderful

Bennett allegedly also liked a meme on Instagram, featuring side by side photos of her and one of the women Bolt supposedly had an affair with, Jady Duarte. The caption read: When you girl is Selfridges, and you cheat on her with Primark.

For the most part, however, Bennett seems to be getting on with her bad self as usual and truly deserves all the praise for how shes handled this unexpected, sudden spotlight.

Follow Gina on Twitter.

For more sports videos visit Yahoo View.
After hitting the promo trail for his latest film Hands of Stone, Usher could be rolling out his eighth studio effort Hard II Love (via RCA Records) next month. "That is the current plan, but it could change," a source tells Billboard of the project that popped up on an iTunes link in New Zealand with a cover and release date.

Originally titled Flawed per a Twitter video of Usher with New York artist Daniel Arsham posted in January, the album could include Usher's latest releases like the Young Thug collaboration "No Limit," "Crash" and "Champions" from the Hands of Stone soundtrack.

Watch Usher Bust a Move (Or Three) in 'No Limit' Video Feat. Young Thug

In June, Usher made an appearance during the Cannes Lions Festival and offered a bit about the album title, then called Flawed. "I find the inspiration every time I find a word: What is 'flawed?' It's something that is not perfect. It's a future relic of some sorts, to grow and blossom and gain texture," he explained. "But it is those things, those tumultuous occurrences and things that happen in your life that define what it is, and in our country and us as people. All of these things are standards, and I became the inspiration. Now I can't tell you yet at the end what it's gonna be, but right now it's Flawed."

The follow-up LP to 2012's Looking for Myself could drop Sept. 16.
In a clash between the fans of Telugu film star, Pawan Kalyan and those of Jr NTR, a man was stabbed to death. The deceased was a huge fan of Pawan Kalyan, who on Thursday morning left for Tirupati to meet the bereaved family.

By Pratiba Raman, Ashish Pandey: Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan travelled to Tirupati on Thursday to meet the family members of his fan, who was killed on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Vinod Royal, who was a huge fan of Pawan Kalyan for years.

The murder took an uglier turn when it became known that the accused was a fan of Jr NTR and that he stabbed Vinod Royal after an altercation over the star status of the two actors.

Vinod Royal, Pawan Kalyan's fan, who was stabbed to death.

advertisement

FANS: PAWAN KALYAN Vs Jr NTR



It is not a secret that Telugu cinema actors have some of the most diehard fan following in the county. They can go to any extent in celebrating the success of their favourite stars and protecting their image.



In one such incident of fans of Pawan Kalyan clashed with the fans of Jr NTR. The incident occurred in Kolar, Karnataka, where Vinod participated in an organ donation drive. During the event, Vinod shouted slogans in support of Pawan Kalyan and vowed to extend the organ donation to Tirupati.

This angered another Tollywood superstar, Junior NTR's fan, Sunil. Other guests present at the even tried to calm them down. But, only for a little while as the two fans again fought on the same night at a hotel, where Sunil's friend Akshay Kumar stabbed Vinod, who was rushed to the nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

ACCUSED ARRESTED



Police registered a case of murder against Akshay Kumar and the accused was soon arrested. Pawan Kalyan is the younger brother of Chiranheevi and popularly known as Power Star. Deceased Vinod hailed from Tirupati and had participated in the activities of Pawan Kalyan's political party, Jana Sena.

ALSO READ:

Ex-Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy meets Pawan Kalyan



--- ENDS ---
USS Squall

Just one day after video emerged of Iranian ships swarming and harassing the USS Nitze, Business Insider has confirmed a separate incident on Wednesday involving the USS Squall, a coastal-patrol ship, in the northern Arabian Gulf.

Cmdr. Bill Urban of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet told Business Insider that several incidents occurred where Iranian navy ships showed wanton disregard for safety and internationally recognized maritime law.

The USS Tempest and USS Squall were "operating in international waters of the northern Arabian Gulf when three IRGCN [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy] vessels approached at high speed." The vessels veered within 600 yards of the US Navy ships despite auditory and visual warnings from their crews.

Later on, Urban says a Naser-class fast-attack craft charged the Tempest and came within 200 yards. At this point the Tempest fired three flares at the Iranian vessel.

iranian ship

"This situation presented a drastically increased risk of collision," Urban said in an email to Business Insider.

"Ultimately, Squall resorted to firing three warning shots from their 50-caliber gun, which caused the Iranian vessel to turn away."

Finally, two of the same craft from the second encounter harassed the guided-missile destroyer USS Stout, repeatedly crossing in front of the ship's bow. The Stout maneuvered away without incident.

Urban stressed that the Navy had been operating in international waters and in accordance with international law.

Reuters notes that the recent uptick in incidents between Iranian and US vessels harkens back to the high tensions before the Iran nuclear deal somewhat normalized relations.

However, the hardline Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which has lobbied against the nuclear deal, has continued to seek to increase tensions with the US. In June, Iran briefly captured 11 US sailors in the same region and went on to frame the capture as a huge propaganda win.

Story continues

The US and Iran are currently at odds, as Iran staunchly supports Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, who Obama has called on to step down. Also, Iran is openly hostile toward Israel, a major US ally.

NOW WATCH: The US Navys most expensive war ship ever is experiencing more setbacks





More From Business Insider


To pay respect to the victims of the earthquake that tore apart central Italy on Wednesday, the 73rd Venice International Film Festival has said that its yearly opening-gala dinner and party will be canceled.

The grand festivities have taken place in recent years on the beach outside of the Excelsior hotel with a large buffet and cocktail reception honoring the opening-night film. The fest is set to run Aug. 31-Sept. 10.

This year, Lionsgate is bringing the global premiere of Damien Chazelle's new film La La Land to open the festival, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. There is no word yet if Lionsgate or the fest plans to donate to relief efforts in lieu of the festivities.

While helmer Chazelle, Stone and other castmembers including J.K. Simmons are expected to trek to Venice for the premiere, a musical in the spirit of old Hollywood films, Gosling will be busy shooting the Blade Runner sequel.

"Gala Dinner and cocktail party on the beach cancelled for the opening of #Venice73 in respect and solidarity to the victims of the earthquake," festival director Alberto Barbera tweeted Thursday.

Organizers expressed in a statement, "our deepest sympathies for the victims, as well as heartfelt solidarity and closeness to the hard-hit communities."

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the sleeping central Italy, destroying hundreds of homes and almost entire villages, with Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli being hit the hardest.

The death toll stands at over 250, and violent aftershocks on Thursday hampered relief efforts. The earthquake was felt in Rome and as far as Bologna to the north.

Donations to the Italian Red Cross can be made here.

Read more: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jerzy Skolimowski to Get Venice Film Fest Honors
Nearly six months have elapsed since the much-ballyhooed launch of Viceland, the A&E Networks and Vice Media joint linear TV network that was supposed to be a magnet for millennial viewers. One problem: The channel isnt proving much of a draw for any audience, regardless of age. This is both a bigger and smaller deal than it may seem.

The big deal: Vice Media CEO Shane Smith gave a plethora of pre-launch interviews to a number of outlets, explaining why Viceland would succeed where youth-skewing, socially conscious networks like Current TV (and, now, Pivot) had failed.

Twelve months from now well be on the cover of Time magazine as the guys who brought millennials back to TV, a cocksure Smith told the Hollywood Reporter.

Also Read: Why Viceland Doesn't Want You to See Its Ratings

In short, Smith set himself up as the Millennial Whisperer, or perhaps some sort of Pied Piper, leading the Youth to television instead of into a river to drown. After all, this was the man who built Vice into a digital powerhouse by giving young people the kind of content they really wanted.

But Viceland is only drawing an average primetime audience of 45,000 in the 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen data obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Worse, the median viewer age is 40, meaning that fully half of its total audience is far outside the millennial audience, widely considered to be 18-34.

Viceland was always a counterintuitive move from A&E and Vice. The companies were creating a cable TV network geared at people (millennials) who dont watch cable TV networks, in order to replace one geared toward people who do (Gen X and Baby Boomers).

Yet on Feb. 29, 2016, Viceland sprang onto the channel guide, full of piss and vinegar and shows about marijuana, replacing H2, the second History channel.

Also Read: Spike Jonze Is on Hiatus From Filmmaking While Working at Viceland

Prior to the channels launch, A&E and Vice struck a deal with Nielsen to suppress the reporting of Vicelands ratings for six months, ostensibly to give the network time to grow and evolve naturally, away from the prying eyes of acerbic critics.

Story continues

Naturally, A&E Networks CEO Nancy Dubuc was quick to point out to WSJ that huge linear TV ratings for Viceland arent really the point of the venture. That median viewer age of 40 is a good 17 years younger than the H2 audience (a result likely influenced by the loss of half the audience that watched H2), which represents a healthier future to program to. Thats network spin, yes, but theres truth there.

And Viceland really is just another way for Vice and A&E to distribute the video content produced by Vice. Insiders tell TheWrap that ad inventory for the channel is sold out for the next two years, and that much of the creative is being produced by Vices in-house ad operation.

Also Read: Ellen Page on 'Scary, Nerve-Wracking' Moment While Filming Viceland's 'Gaycation'

But the reason every media reporter worth their salt was digging around to get ratings data for Viceland wasnt because they doubted Vice and A&E would find a way to make money off a TV network.

It was the hubris of Smith proclaiming, in no uncertain terms, that he could do what no one else could, and that no one else had done it because they were too short-sighted.

Change has never been more important, never so crucial, especially in our industry, Smith told attendees at the Edinburgh Television Festival on Wednesday.

Which is why its so odd that Viceland, in and of itself, is about as much an agent of change as your Great-Aunt Mildred.

Also Read: Why the TV Industry Fears a Spread of Millennials' Viewing Habits (Guest Blog)

The truth is, an entire generation is turning away from linear TV. When TV viewership among 18-34s for the Olympic Games  one of the more widely watched TV events that theoretically appeals to all ages  is down as much as 33 percent on some nights, you know theres no going back.

Thats actually fine for a company like Vice. Smith  who, perhaps a little ironically, is a member of Gen X  built Vice Media into a digital powerhouse by creating content that seemed to appeal to Gen Y and putting it where they wanted to look at it (online), and by creating their own in-house ad agency.

That business model was the reason A&E shoveled a $250 million investment into Vice Media two years ago, and why Disney, which co-owns A&E with Hearst, decided to toss in an extra $400 million investment a year and a half later, valuing Vice at $4 billion.

Also Read: Live TV Loses to Digital Among Millennials, Study Says

But in creating a TV network to go after those big TV ad dollars, Smith ignored what made Vice so successful in the first place. As for why that elusive millennial audience remains elusive, all we have right now are theories.

It could be that most of the networks programming feels no different from anything else you could see on Vices YouTube channel, which are still racking up respectable, if not outrageous, view counts. (Reminder: YouTube considers any play longer than 30 seconds a view, and so any comparison to TV ratings, which indicate average viewership per minute, is bunk.)

Also Read: Millennials Go to the Movies Way More Than You Think, Study Says

Or maybe those younger viewers wont watch anything on TV, regardless of the quality or how much its designed to appeal to them? Looking at a network like Adult Swim, though, that argument doesnt hold up.

In 2015, Adult Swim averaged 669,000 viewers per day in the 18-49 demographic (it airs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.), or nearly 15 times Vicelands primetime 18-49 audience, and its median viewer age is 25.

This proves there is a way to attract almost a million 18-34 TV viewers a night, but Smith and Vice havent yet found it.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Vice Widens New Viceland Network to UK With Sky Deal

Why Viceland Doesn't Want You to See Its Ratings

Vice Media to Get U.S. Cable Network Viceland in A+E Deal (Updated)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts millions of visitors each year, as the religious faithful make their pilgrimage to Meccabut the country rarely opens its doors to Western tourists.

Mountain Travel Sobek has just announced a new guided tour to Saudi Arabia, one of the only ways to visit the country as a tourist. Saudi Arabia typically only issues visas for those on business trips or with family in the kingdom, although Mountain Travel Sobek has previously offered limited trips.

The tour will be lead by the companys CEO Kevin Callaghan, as well as Saudi Arabia expert and guide, Brid Beeler, who will lead a small number of adventurers on a guided tour of the secret wonders that lie behind Saudi Arabias borders.

Destinations will include a tour of the largest sand desert in the world, the Rub' al Khali, a trip to a date palm oasis, and a visit to the archaeologically rich city of Al Ula, a 2,000-year old ghost town on the former Incense Road, an important channel of trade between India, Egypt, and the Arabian nations.

Exploring Saudi Arabia's 2,000-year-old abandoned ghost town. #adventuretravel #desertlife A photo posted by Richard Bangs (@richardjbangs) on Mar 20, 2016 at 3:15pm PDT

Visitors will also get a chance to see Madain Saleh, a World Heritage Site closely related to the Jordanian archaeological wonder, Petra. The ancient city dates back to 1 B.C., and stood at the Nabatean crossroads and its citizens controlled the trade as caravans carried frankincense, myrrh, salt, gold, spices, and silks along its roads. Elephant Rock, a giant rock that lives up to its name, stands guard nearby.

The tour will also include a chance to explore Riyadh, the kingdoms capital and largest city, with visits to the Murabba Palace, the clay and mud brick Fort Masmak, the National Museum, and of course the citys souks filled with handmade carpets, oud dealers, golden swords, and the merchants chattering away.

The tour is scheduled for Dec. 1-9, 2016. While the cost isnt cheap at $11,195, it's a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to an amazing destination. More information is available on Mountain Travel Sobek's website.

Related Articles
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday.

The company and a lawyer for VW dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco, but declined to disclose the amount. The settlement, which followed talks that began in May, came as a judge ordered VW to move quickly to decide whether to fix or buy back 85,000 3.0 liter luxury vehicles with polluting engines.

The settlement includes $1.2 billion in payments for the reduction in value of VW dealerships and additional payments for vehicles that could not be sold, the sources said. VW has also agreed to continue to make certain incentive payments to dealers, they said.

"We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States, said Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of VW's North American region.

The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5 billion in total in the United States to address emissions issues, but by no means is out of the woods. Volkswagen still faces billions of dollars in potential civil and potential criminal U.S. fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines.

VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 U.S. states.

VW's U.S. dealers have been barred from selling new diesel vehicles for nearly a year.

The agreement in principle must still be approved by the court. Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to repurchase unfixable, used 2.0 liter diesel vehicles on dealers' lots under the same terms of a consumer buy-back, said Steve W. Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers at the hearing.

Story continues

The deal would help "heal the wounds between Volkswagen and the dealers," who "like consumers, have been financially hurt here," he said. "They have cars on their lots they can't sell, their franchise value has gone down and they've invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises."

As a result of the scandal, the automaker's U.S. sales are down 13.6 percent in 2016 after falling 5 percent last year.

VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines at a cost of up to $10.03 billion.

Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Volkswagen and federal regulators to start settlement talks to resolve the fate of 85,000 3.0 liter diesel vehicles that could include a buy-back offer for those Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles.

Buying the expensive larger cars and SUVs sold since 2009 could cost VW billions of dollars.

But VW lawyer Robert Giuffra said the automaker believes it can fix those vehicles. "We've got to persuade the government that we have a fix," he said, adding that the issue is extremely complex and involves "two million lines of code."

Breyer set a Nov. 3 hearing for an update on the status of the talks and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue. He said he wanted to ensure "a strong sense of reality" in finding a solution, calling it "intolerable" that the polluting cars remain on U.S. roads.

Breyer said VW will be forced to repair the polluting vehicles, buy them back or offer both options.

VW must submit by late October its specific plans to fix the 3.0 liter vehicles, which it said include a mix of software upgrades and emissions equipment modifications.

Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. The settlement is worth about $1.8 million on average per dealer, but Berman said in a statement that dealer payouts "under the proposed settlement will depend on the size of the dealership and the size of the market it serves, among other factors."

VW and the dealers told Breyer they plan to file details of the agreement by the end of September.

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with U.S. laws.

Reuters reported that VW held preliminary talks this month with the Justice Department to settle outstanding issues. It also agreed to open settlement talks with four states that have sued over environmental harms.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler and Meredith Mazzilli)
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG <VOWG_p.DE> has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday.

The company and a lawyer for VW dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco, but declined to disclose the amount. The settlement, which followed talks that began in May, came as a judge ordered VW to move quickly to decide whether to fix or buy back 85,000 3.0 liter luxury vehicles with polluting engines.

The settlement includes $1.2 billion in payments for the reduction in value of VW dealerships and additional payments for vehicles that could not be sold, the sources said. VW has also agreed to continue to make certain incentive payments to dealers, they said.

"We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States, said Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of VW's North American region.

The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5 billion in total in the United States to address emissions issues, but by no means is out of the woods. Volkswagen still faces billions of dollars in potential civil and potential criminal U.S. fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines.

VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 U.S. states.

VW's U.S. dealers have been barred from selling new diesel vehicles for nearly a year.

The agreement in principle must still be approved by the court. Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to repurchase unfixable, used 2.0 liter diesel vehicles on dealers' lots under the same terms of a consumer buy-back, said Steve W. Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers at the hearing.

Story continues

The deal would help "heal the wounds between Volkswagen and the dealers," who "like consumers, have been financially hurt here," he said. "They have cars on their lots they can't sell, their franchise value has gone down and they've invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises."

As a result of the scandal, the automaker's U.S. sales are down 13.6 percent in 2016 after falling 5 percent last year.

VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines at a cost of up to $10.03 billion.

Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Volkswagen and federal regulators to start settlement talks to resolve the fate of 85,000 3.0 liter diesel vehicles that could include a buy-back offer for those Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles.

Buying the expensive larger cars and SUVs sold since 2009 could cost VW billions of dollars.

But VW lawyer Robert Giuffra said the automaker believes it can fix those vehicles. "We've got to persuade the government that we have a fix," he said, adding that the issue is extremely complex and involves "two million lines of code."

Breyer set a Nov. 3 hearing for an update on the status of the talks and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue. He said he wanted to ensure "a strong sense of reality" in finding a solution, calling it "intolerable" that the polluting cars remain on U.S. roads.

Breyer said VW will be forced to repair the polluting vehicles, buy them back or offer both options.

VW must submit by late October its specific plans to fix the 3.0 liter vehicles, which it said include a mix of software upgrades and emissions equipment modifications.

Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. The settlement is worth about $1.8 million on average per dealer, but Berman said in a statement that dealer payouts "under the proposed settlement will depend on the size of the dealership and the size of the market it serves, among other factors."

VW and the dealers told Breyer they plan to file details of the agreement by the end of September.

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with U.S. laws.

Reuters reported that VW held preliminary talks this month with the Justice Department to settle outstanding issues. It also agreed to open settlement talks with four states that have sued over environmental harms.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler and Meredith Mazzilli)
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion (909.85 million pounds) to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday.

The company and a lawyer for VW dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco, but declined to disclose the amount. The settlement, which followed talks that began in May, came as a judge ordered VW to move quickly to decide whether to fix or buy back 85,000 3.0 liter luxury vehicles with polluting engines.

The settlement includes $1.2 billion in payments for the reduction in value of VW dealerships and additional payments for vehicles that could not be sold, the sources said. VW has also agreed to continue to make certain incentive payments to dealers, they said.

"We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States, said Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of VW's North American region.

The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5 billion in total in the United States to address emissions issues, but by no means is out of the woods. Volkswagen still faces billions of dollars in potential civil and potential criminal U.S. fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines.

VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 U.S. states.

VW's U.S. dealers have been barred from selling new diesel vehicles for nearly a year.

The agreement in principle must still be approved by the court. Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to repurchase unfixable, used 2.0 liter diesel vehicles on dealers' lots under the same terms of a consumer buy-back, said Steve W. Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers at the hearing.

Story continues

The deal would help "heal the wounds between Volkswagen and the dealers," who "like consumers, have been financially hurt here," he said. "They have cars on their lots they can't sell, their franchise value has gone down and they've invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises."

As a result of the scandal, the automaker's U.S. sales are down 13.6 percent in 2016 after falling 5 percent last year.

VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines at a cost of up to $10.03 billion.

Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Volkswagen and federal regulators to start settlement talks to resolve the fate of 85,000 3.0 liter diesel vehicles that could include a buy-back offer for those Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles.

Buying the expensive larger cars and SUVs sold since 2009 could cost VW billions of dollars.

But VW lawyer Robert Giuffra said the automaker believes it can fix those vehicles. "We've got to persuade the government that we have a fix," he said, adding that the issue is extremely complex and involves "two million lines of code."

Breyer set a Nov. 3 hearing for an update on the status of the talks and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue. He said he wanted to ensure "a strong sense of reality" in finding a solution, calling it "intolerable" that the polluting cars remain on U.S. roads.

Breyer said VW will be forced to repair the polluting vehicles, buy them back or offer both options.

VW must submit by late October its specific plans to fix the 3.0 liter vehicles, which it said include a mix of software upgrades and emissions equipment modifications.

Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. The settlement is worth about $1.8 million on average per dealer, but Berman said in a statement that dealer payouts "under the proposed settlement will depend on the size of the dealership and the size of the market it serves, among other factors."

VW and the dealers told Breyer they plan to file details of the agreement by the end of September.

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with U.S. laws.

Reuters reported that VW held preliminary talks this month with the Justice Department to settle outstanding issues. It also agreed to open settlement talks with four states that have sued over environmental harms.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler and Meredith Mazzilli)
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday. The company and a lawyer for VW dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco, but declined to disclose the amount. The settlement, which followed talks that began in May, came as a judge ordered VW to move quickly to decide whether to fix or buy back 85,000 3.0 liter luxury vehicles with polluting engines. The settlement includes $1.2 billion in payments for the reduction in value of VW dealerships and additional payments for vehicles that could not be sold, the sources said. VW has also agreed to continue to make certain incentive payments to dealers, they said. "We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States, said Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of VW's North American region. The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5 billion in total in the United States to address emissions issues, but by no means is out of the woods. Volkswagen still faces billions of dollars in potential civil and potential criminal U.S. fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines. VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 U.S. states. VW's U.S. dealers have been barred from selling new diesel vehicles for nearly a year. The agreement in principle must still be approved by the court. Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to repurchase unfixable, used 2.0 liter diesel vehicles on dealers' lots under the same terms of a consumer buy-back, said Steve W. Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers at the hearing. The deal would help "heal the wounds between Volkswagen and the dealers," who "like consumers, have been financially hurt here," he said. "They have cars on their lots they can't sell, their franchise value has gone down and they've invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises." As a result of the scandal, the automaker's U.S. sales are down 13.6 percent in 2016 after falling 5 percent last year. VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines at a cost of up to $10.03 billion. Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Volkswagen and federal regulators to start settlement talks to resolve the fate of 85,000 3.0 liter diesel vehicles that could include a buy-back offer for those Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. Buying the expensive larger cars and SUVs sold since 2009 could cost VW billions of dollars. But VW lawyer Robert Giuffra said the automaker believes it can fix those vehicles. "We've got to persuade the government that we have a fix," he said, adding that the issue is extremely complex and involves "two million lines of code." Breyer set a Nov. 3 hearing for an update on the status of the talks and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue. He said he wanted to ensure "a strong sense of reality" in finding a solution, calling it "intolerable" that the polluting cars remain on U.S. roads. Breyer said VW will be forced to repair the polluting vehicles, buy them back or offer both options. VW must submit by late October its specific plans to fix the 3.0 liter vehicles, which it said include a mix of software upgrades and emissions equipment modifications. Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. The settlement is worth about $1.8 million on average per dealer, but Berman said in a statement that dealer payouts "under the proposed settlement will depend on the size of the dealership and the size of the market it serves, among other factors." VW and the dealers told Breyer they plan to file details of the agreement by the end of September. The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with U.S. laws. Reuters reported that VW held preliminary talks this month with the Justice Department to settle outstanding issues. It also agreed to open settlement talks with four states that have sued over environmental harms. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler and Meredith Mazzilli)
At least 12 people were killed and dozens were injured in a militant attack on 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.

By AP: 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.

The dead included seven students, two police officers and a security guard, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but suspicion is likely to fall on the Taliban.

advertisement

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid would only tell the media that the group is "investigating."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The assault began just before 7 pm on Wednesday with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance. The blast breached the security walls and allowed two "terrorists" to enter the campus. They were armed with grenades and automatic weapons. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3.30 am. More than 150 students who had been trapped in university buildings had been rescued by special police units. One foreign teacher was among the wounded. "Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms," police spokesman Sediqqi said. At least 37 people were wounded, he said, including seven police officers.

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

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 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.

US ADVISERS

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.

advertisement

The US State Department condemned what it called "an attack on the future of Afghanistan."

The university, located on the edge of Kabul, was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modelled on the US system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

ALSO READ | 12 killed in American University attack in Kabul: Police



--- ENDS ---
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Africa's biggest shipping group Grindrod reported a first-half loss on Thursday, pressured by low global growth and declining dry bulk shipping rates but it expects demand for commodities to pick up this year. Africa's biggest shipping group, which is present in 37 countries worldwide, reported a headline loss per share of 50.8 cents for the six months to June 30 versus a profit of 43.6 cents a year earlier. Headline earnings per share, the main profit gauge in South Africa, strips out certain one-off items. The global shipping and freight industry is struggling through its longest downturn in three decades. In February maritime consultancy, Drewry, forecast that the global shipping container industry would loose $5 billion this year due to lacklustre freight rates and high operating costs. "We are cautious. Very cautious," Grindrod Chief Executive Alan Olivier said. "I don't expect commodity prices to ramp up at all. But I do expect to see some improvement in demand ... Cautiously optimist but it is going to be a gradual process." In a statement, Grindrod said the "recovery of the market continues to be weak despite increased Chinese iron ore imports and higher coal prices". Olivier told Reuters the company was focussing on delivering its capital projects, including dredging the access channel to the port of Maputo in Mozambique by the end of the year. Its shares were down 7.3 percent at 11.12 rand by 1120 GMT. (Reporting by Zimasa Mpemnyama; editing by Jason Neely and Susan Thomas)
By Suzanne Barlyn

(Reuters) - A Wells Fargo & Co mortgage unit will pay $3.45 million to some customers because of a processing error that delayed the mailing of letters to almost 8,000 homeowners in bankruptcy and shortened their notice period about changes to monthly mortgage payment amounts, according to a court document.

The unit, called Wells Fargo Bank NA, agreed on the sum in a pact with the Department of Justice's U.S. Trustee Program, which oversees the country's bankruptcy system, according to a letter from the bank filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Wells Fargo agreed to fix the mailing error and give credits and refunds worth $3.45 million to affected homeowners.

Inquiries by an independent compliance monitor hired by the bank as part of an $81.6 million settlement with the Justice Department last year uncovered the problem, said Cliff White, director of the U.S. Trustee Program's executive office, in a statement. [L1N13025Y]

In that agreement last year, Wells Fargo settled claims that it denied thousands of homeowners a chance to challenge mortgage payment increases imposed during their bankruptcy proceedings.

The latest $3.45 million deal reached with Wells Fargo supplements that settlement, the U.S. Trustee Program said. The bank also has agreed to expanded compliance monitoring.

A Wells Fargo spokesman said it self-reported the mailing delay to the U.S. Trustee Program upon learning of the problem and that it is providing timely delivery of documents.

(Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn; Editing by Bill Rigby)
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A scandal involving the alleged sale of falsely labeled Egyptian cotton products by an Indian textile manufacturer to U.S. big box retailers highlights a stiff reality facing the high-end fiber market: there isn't much Egyptian cotton any more.

The shortage of cotton from Egypt, which commands a premium due to its superior quality, creates an incentive to blend it with other types of cotton without disclosing it or to counterfeit the label altogether, cotton traders said, exacerbating a problem that has plagued the industry for years.

Welspun India has lost 42 percent of its market value in the three days since Target Corp said it would sever ties with the textile manufacturer, one of the world's largest, accusing it of substituting cheaper, non-Egyptian cotton into sheets and pillowcases.

Egyptian cotton is prized because much of it is "long staple" or "extra long staple," meaning the length of the cotton fibers is longer, resulting in a finer, lighter more durable fabric and longer-lasting, higher-end clothing.

While other countries including the United States and Australia produce larger quantities of high-end cotton than Egypt, cotton from the North African country has retained its prestige because of a long history growing the crop.

But Egypt's cotton output has been declining for the past decade after farmers failed to adapt to shifting consumer demand for mass-produced items made from short- or medium-staple fiber, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The decline has become a full-fledged crisis in recent years after the government removed cash subsidies, and many farmers replaced cotton acreage with rice, the USDA said.

Egypt will produce just 160,000 480-lb bales of cotton in 2016/17, down from 1.4 million bales as recently as 2004/05, accounting for less than 0.2 percent of expected global output.

This means some products marketed as containing Egyptian cotton almost certainly do not, or are blended with other types of cotton without proper disclosure, said Jordan Lea, chairman and co-owner of cotton merchant Eastern Trading in Greenville, South Carolina.

Story continues

"If you look at the volume of Egyptian goods that are for sale, and you look at the volume of Egyptian cotton that's produced, it would lead one to scratch one's head," Lea said.

A GOLD SEAL?

Long and extra long staple cotton is rare - it makes up just 2.5 percent of annual world cotton production of more than 100 million bales, according to the USDA - and trades at a substantial premium.

U.S. extra long staple cotton, or "pima," trades for 152.25 cents per lb, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data, a 125 percent premium over cotton prices on ICE Futures U.S., a contract that accepts cotton of a "strict low middling staple length".

Ron Lawson, a cotton industry veteran and broker with LOGIC Advisors in Sonoma, California, said he had "no idea" what Egyptian cotton prices were, which he said showed how much of a "novelty" item the fiber was.

Improper labeling of cotton products including clothing and bedding is a violation of the U.S. Textile Act and Rules, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

An FTC spokesman declined to comment on whether the agency was aware of Target's allegations or had started an investigation.

Egypt's cotton association appears to be aware of widespread counterfeiting. In April, its executive director told trade publication Home and Textiles Today that it had tested retail products labeled 'Egyptian cotton' and found that 90 percent contained no Egyptian cotton at all.

The Cotton Egypt Association lists Welspun as one of just three companies permitted to label its products with the association's "Gold Seal," which was launched earlier this year and is meant to ensure authenticity.

Mukesh Saviani, a Welspun executive, told the trade publication in February that the seal was "an assurance to retailers that they will not get into any compliance issues."

The scandal could leave big box U.S. retailers wary of dealing with products labeled Egyptian cotton, potentially providing a boon to growers of U.S. Pima cotton in places like California and Arizona.

"The Supima boys are doing backflips and pirouettes on their desks right now," Lawson said, referring to an association that provides a trademark indicating cotton products come from 100 percent American Pima cotton.

(Additional reporting by Nandita Bose in Chicago; Editing by Richard Pullin)
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A scandal involving the alleged sale of falsely labeled Egyptian cotton products by an Indian textile manufacturer to U.S. big box retailers highlights a stiff reality facing the high-end fiber market: there isn't much Egyptian cotton any more.

The shortage of cotton from Egypt, which commands a premium due to its superior quality, creates an incentive to blend it with other types of cotton without disclosing it or to counterfeit the label altogether, cotton traders said, exacerbating a problem that has plagued the industry for years.

Welspun India has lost 42 percent of its market value in the three days since Target Corp said it would sever ties with the textile manufacturer, one of the world's largest, accusing it of substituting cheaper, non-Egyptian cotton into sheets and pillowcases.

Egyptian cotton is prized because much of it is "long staple" or "extra long staple," meaning the length of the cotton fibers is longer, resulting in a finer, lighter more durable fabric and longer-lasting, higher-end clothing.

While other countries including the United States and Australia produce larger quantities of high-end cotton than Egypt, cotton from the North African country has retained its prestige because of a long history growing the crop.

But Egypt's cotton output has been declining for the past decade after farmers failed to adapt to shifting consumer demand for mass-produced items made from short- or medium-staple fiber, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The decline has become a full-fledged crisis in recent years after the government removed cash subsidies, and many farmers replaced cotton acreage with rice, the USDA said.

Egypt will produce just 160,000 480-lb bales of cotton in 2016/17, down from 1.4 million bales as recently as 2004/05, accounting for less than 0.2 percent of expected global output.

This means some products marketed as containing Egyptian cotton almost certainly do not, or are blended with other types of cotton without proper disclosure, said Jordan Lea, chairman and co-owner of cotton merchant Eastern Trading in Greenville, South Carolina.

Story continues

"If you look at the volume of Egyptian goods that are for sale, and you look at the volume of Egyptian cotton that's produced, it would lead one to scratch one's head," Lea said.

A GOLD SEAL?

Long and extra long staple cotton is rare - it makes up just 2.5 percent of annual world cotton production of more than 100 million bales, according to the USDA - and trades at a substantial premium.

U.S. extra long staple cotton, or "pima," trades for 152.25 cents per lb, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data, a 125 percent premium over cotton prices on ICE Futures U.S., a contract that accepts cotton of a "strict low middling staple length".

Ron Lawson, a cotton industry veteran and broker with LOGIC Advisors in Sonoma, California, said he had "no idea" what Egyptian cotton prices were, which he said showed how much of a "novelty" item the fiber was.

Improper labeling of cotton products including clothing and bedding is a violation of the U.S. Textile Act and Rules, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

An FTC spokesman declined to comment on whether the agency was aware of Target's allegations or had started an investigation.

Egypt's cotton association appears to be aware of widespread counterfeiting. In April, its executive director told trade publication Home and Textiles Today that it had tested retail products labeled 'Egyptian cotton' and found that 90 percent contained no Egyptian cotton at all.

The Cotton Egypt Association lists Welspun as one of just three companies permitted to label its products with the association's "Gold Seal," which was launched earlier this year and is meant to ensure authenticity.

Mukesh Saviani, a Welspun executive, told the trade publication in February that the seal was "an assurance to retailers that they will not get into any compliance issues."

The scandal could leave big box U.S. retailers wary of dealing with products labeled Egyptian cotton, potentially providing a boon to growers of U.S. Pima cotton in places like California and Arizona.

"The Supima boys are doing backflips and pirouettes on their desks right now," Lawson said, referring to an association that provides a trademark indicating cotton products come from 100 percent American Pima cotton.

(Additional reporting by Nandita Bose in Chicago; Editing by Richard Pullin)
Every year, more than 42,000 Americans die by suicide. If you see a selfie that looks like this in your newsfeed, its because your friend wants you to know its OK to talk.



Men around the world are sharing photos of themselves making the OK hand symbol to raise suicide awareness, as men are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than women. Now men want others to know its OK to speak up about mental illness.

Related: When Youre in the Gray Area of Being Suicidal

The #ITSOKAYTOTALK campaign was started on July 31, by U.K. rugby player Luke Ambler. My brother-in-law killed himself back in April and it was completely out of the blue, Ambler toldIndy100. I found it staggering  the impact it left on my kids, his family and friends. I decided something needed to be done, so I created a Facebook group called Andys Man Club UK where men feel its safe to talk.



Related: To the Strangers in Whole Foods Who Surrounded Me After News of My Fathers Suicide

After starting Andys Man Club, Ambler posted a selfie of himself making the OK hand symbol on Twitter, asking others to do the same. Shortly after posting his tweet, friends of Amblers and fellow rugby players followed suit. Within a week #ITSOKAYTOTALK was trending in the U.K. and Australia, making its way to the U.S.





Along with a selfie, some men are also sharing messages of encouragement as well as the suicide rates for men in the U.K. Blokes get depression. It happens. It doesnt make you weak or broken, but it means you need to talk to someone. Your mates, girlfriends and family are there for you. The single biggest killer of men aged under 45 is suicide. In 2014, 4623 took their own life. Thats 12 men every day, 1 man every two hours! 41% of men who contemplated suicide felt they could not talk about their feelings. Only 20% of people know that suicide is the most likely cause of death for men age under 45. Lets show men across the world that #ITSOKAYTOTALK and take a selfie with the [OK hand symbol] and lets get the message out there.

Story continues

Related: What the Starbucks Barista Didnt Know When She Wrote Smile on My Coffee

While #ITSOKAYTOTALK is raising awareness of suicide among men, its not just men sharing their selfies. Many women have joined in on the trend too.



Those interested in participating are encouraged to share a selfie on their preferred social media with the hashtag #ITSOKAYTOTALK, as well as tag five friends to keep the trend going.



By Jordan Davidson



More from The Mighty:

What Its Like to Have High-Functioning Anxiety

Grace Warnock Designs Accessible Bathroom Sign for People With Invisible Conditions in Scotland

To the Woman on the Beach Who Thanked Me for Rocking a Bikini
Washington (AFP) - Mobile messaging service WhatsApp on Thursday announced it would begin sharing subscriber data with parent Facebook, giving advertisers better access to information on WhatsApp's one billion-strong user base.

The company said the change would allow Facebook to target advertising at WhatsApp users who are also on the social media platform, and help WhatsApp fight spam on its service.

But the move was sure to raise eyebrows among privacy advocates.

"By connecting your phone number with Facebook's systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them," WhatsApp said in a statement.

"For example, you might see an ad from a company you already work with, rather than one from someone you've never heard of."

Microsoft's popular calling and messaging platform Skype, a WhatsApp competitor, already serves up advertising to users.

WhatsApp said the change would not involve third-party banner adds or other undesirable content.

The decision comes four months after WhatsApp rolled out strong end-to-end encryption as a default feature for all users, saying this made the content of their communications impenetrable to all but those sending or receiving a given message.

"Even as we coordinate more with Facebook in the months ahead, your encrypted messages stay private and no one else can read them. Not WhatsApp, not Facebook, nor anyone else," the company said.

Facebook acquired WhatsApp in February 2014 for $16 billion.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said it supported the United Nations' efforts to bring humanitarian relief to the divided Syrian city of Aleppo and would welcome Russia's constructive engagement. "What the United States supports is the U.N. effort to try to broker all sides to come together around some kind of agreement that would allow humanitarian assistance to reach people in the city who so badly need it," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters when asked about Russia's agreeing to a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire. "And we certainly would welcome the Russians and others engaging constructively in that process," he added. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Writing by Tim Ahmann)
Getty Images

Blondes may have more fun, as the saying goes, but thats not the only upper hand they enjoy. New research conducted by two business-school professors shows that blond women also tend to have more power in the U.S. In fact, a disproportionately large amount of women hold positions of power compared with the number of blond women in the actual population.

Just take a look at the famous examples presented by Jennifer Berdahl, who co-authored the presentation with Natalya Alonso, both of the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia: Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina, the first two women to be seriously considered as presidential candidates. Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice presidential candidate. Sandra Day OConnor, the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. All blondes  and those are just a few.

Or look directly at Berdahl and Alonsos research, which points out that 48 percent of female chief executives at S&P 500 companies and 35 percent of female senators are blond. And as Berdahl points out on her blog, the majority of female speakers at a recent Harvard Business School conference she attended also had light locks. So much for the dumb blonde stereotype, right? Well, not exactly.

A Really Important Melanoma Breakthrough Just Rocked the Science World

According to Berdahls essay, the passiveness associated with blond women could be the key to their success. Preliminary results from our first study suggest that, similar to The Teddy Bear Effect for black men, in which babyface features render black men less threatening and more warm, innocent and trustworthy, blonde hair may be disarming for women, Berdahl writes. Our data suggest that blonde women are not only assumed to be younger than their darker haired counterparts, but are also judged to be less independent minded and less willing take a stand than other women and than men.

Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman (Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Berdahl also calls this phenomenon the Glinda-the-good-witch effect. Blonde women might be assumed to be kinder and gentler than others, she writes. This, she suggests, makes blond women more palatable and seem less threatening in positions of power. The perception may have even rubbed off on toymakers at Mattel. Berdahl points to the new Female Interim CEO Barbie, a sharply dressed, put-together professional of a doll who also happens to have corn-silk tresses.

Story continues

Empowering: Mattel Just Released An Interim CEO Barbie! https://t.co/Vc7QbFXbLc via @clickhole

 philko (@pkollar) March 6, 2016

But its not just warmth, innocence, and trustworthiness thats associated with blondes  and favored in the boardroom and beyond. Berdahl also points to racial bias as a factor. Naturally blond hair is a Caucasian trait, she notes on her blog. Its also a symbol of youth, she writes  the younger a person is, the more likely she is to be towheaded. Finally  of course it would come down to this  blond women are simply viewed as sexier in American culture, according to Berdahl. And research shows that attractive people  both female and male  tend to be more successful.

That said, the blond statistic doesnt correlate to men in powerful positions. According to a 2005 study cited by the Huffington Post, a negligible 2.2 percent of male CEOs in the U.S. had blond hair. Considering that two percent of humans worldwide have blond hair; and 5 percent of whites in the U.S., according to the site, that makes sense. But when you translate these stats to the blond-women-in-power phenomenon, they simply dont add up. What about women who dye their hair blond, you ask? If women are choosing to dye their hair blonde, theres something strategic about the choice, Berdahl told the Huffington Post.

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty (Photo: Getty)

Khloe Kardashians Secret to Strong Nails Is Actually Made for Horses

She suggested that becoming blond, whether conscious or not, might be a way of tempering masculine behaviors like assertiveness  theyre deemed more acceptable coming from someone disarming and childlike, she explains. The same woman changes her hair color from blonde to brunette, and shes seen as a bitch, Berdahl told the Huffington Post.

Maybe it is all of the above, and women who meet the feminine ideal in North American culture of being white, attractive, young and accommodating are more likely to attain leadership than less ideal women, Berdahl concludes in her essay, even if these ideals have little to do with (or are seen as inversely related to) competence.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Value investing is always a very popular strategy, and for good reason. After all, who doesnt want to find stocks that have low PEs, solid outlooks, and decent dividends?

Fortunately for investors looking for this combination, we have identified a strong candidate which may be an impressive value; Anhui Conch Cement Co. Ltd. (AHCHY).

AnhuiConch Cement in Focus

AHCHY may be an interesting play thanks to its forward PE of 13.1, its P/S ratio of 0.4, and its decent dividend yield 1.85%. These factors suggest that Anhui Conch Cement is a pretty good value pick, as investors have to pay a relatively low level for each dollar of earnings, and that AHCHY has decent revenue metrics to back up its earnings.

ANHUI CONCH CEM PE Ratio (TTM)

ANHUI CONCH CEM PE Ratio (TTM) | ANHUI CONCH CEM Quote

But before you think that Anhui Conch Cement is just a pure value play, it is important to note that it has been seeing solid activity on the earnings estimate front as well. For current year earnings, the consensus has gone up by 20% in the past 30 days, thanks to 1 upward revision in the past one month compared to none lower.

This estimate strength is actually enough to push AHCHY to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is poised to outperform. So really, Anhui Conch Cement is looking great from a number of angles thanks to its PE below 20, a P/S ratio below one, and a strong Zacks Rank, meaning that this company could be a great choice for value investors at this time.

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



ANHUI CONCH CEM (AHCHY): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Save The Tiger organisation shared on Facebook the incident of an adult male tiger being killed in Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which triggered the debate of security measures here being ineffective.

By India Today Web Desk: "Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"

The 'tiger' William Blake was once in awe of has now been reduced to a lump of carcasses, reduced to the price quote of its highest bidder. Almost every day, we are coming across news of tigers in reserves being murdered, poached or dying from neglect. A toll that doesn't seem to fall.

advertisement

Most recently, Save The Tiger organisation shared on Facebook the incident of an adult male tiger being killed in Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve on August 12. As per the wildlife conservationists in the area, it was "a clear cut case of poaching".

Read more:



Machli of Ranthambore, most photographed tigress, dies

Photo finish: Last visuals of Machli, the tigress who ruled Ranthambore



Is 'lax ineffective patrolling measures' killing our tigers?

This happens to be the first time a tiger got murdered "despite a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) in place".

The report quotes the conservationists pointing fingers at the Forest Department. It's their believe that "the continuing delay in investigations and tardy progress" coupled with "lax and ineffective patrolling measures" is what led to the tiger's killing.

"They are sitting on the case, absolutely indecisive and clueless," said one of the conservationist. "By this time, they should have formed teams and nabbed the suspects. Inaction even after 10 days and inexplicable silence on the part of the District Conservator does not inspire any confidence about the future protection of our national animal."

Some NGO representatives believe the incident was "a planned event", and that based on the evidence, the poachers had all the "intention to kill the tiger".

"The STPF is based just four kilometres away in Maddur while an anti-poaching camp (APC) is nearby the killing spot," they said. "Usually the APC personnel are either drunk or sleeping. They neither keep a vigil nor follow leads left by offenders and because of this, we have lost one more tiger."

Naveen Kumar, the honorary wildlife warden of Chamrajnagar district, said, "It is a case of poaching. But irrespective of whether their target was a herbivore or otherwise is no consequence because the tiger has been clearly shot dead. Therefore, now they should be deemed as tiger poachers."

Read more:

Another tigress found dead in a reserve. Are we losing more tigers to unnatural deaths than we think?

International Tiger Day: Not many reasons to be happy for the big cats



The STPF at fault?

The report on Save The Tiger Facebook page makes some interesting points: "The 874-square-kilometre reserve has over 115 tigers and it has several anti-poaching camps as well as the 115-strong STPF."

That means, one STPF had to look out for roughly one tiger in the reserve.

advertisement

A wildlife activist claims the STPF had even got wind of a Sambhar poaching case a few days before the tiger killing incident.

And yet, the tiger died.

"The STPF would have a fair idea of the probable offenders in the nearby villages," said the activist. "Such suspects should have been arrested immediately and be subjected to vigorous inquiry about the possible involvement of locals."

"In fact, there is 100 per cent information coming out from nearby villages of poaching of sambar, deer and other herbivores. How does it stop them from progressing to big cats with support and links to gangs from north India?" he said.

Adding to that, honorary wildlife warden, Naveen Kumar, said, "With an anti-poaching camp located barely three fourths of a kilometre away, how did they not hear the gun shot in the stillness of the forest night."

"Further, they have also failed in detecting the fire at three places as also the hideout which the poachers had made to commit this offence.," he said, demading "stringent action be initiated against all the lax staff of the reserve involved in patrolling duties".

advertisement

The Tiger Reserve Director, in response said, "We have 114 personnel of STPF in place at two camps. I have also asked all Range Forest Officers to take stringent measures. We have also intensified our regular patrolling."

And those are the arguments that humans had to make in the wake of another tiger being killed for poaching.

The question now is, how long will this go on?

--- ENDS ---
When literary agency Rabineau Wachter Sanford & Gillett agreed to be acquired by WME, the decision represented a recognition that in a changing market, an independent books-to-film firm - even one as respected as RWSG - might not have the resources needed to thrive.

"Looking at the marketplace and seeing all the changes with distribution and networks wanting to own their own content and the amount of competition among the feature players, it felt like a crossroads," RWSG principal Sylvie Rabineau tells THR. So now Rabineau will co-head WME's book-to-film/TV division along with Jill Holwager Gillett, who joined RWSG in 2010 to build up its television business. Geoffrey Sanford also is joining WME and will continue to be based in New York, while the fourth name partner, Liza Wachter, is exiting.

Gillett and Rabineau attended WME's staff meeting Aug. 22, the day the deal was announced, and will be giving up RWSG's Westwood digs to move into their new agency's Beverly Hills offices by the end of September.

RWSG, known as literary tastemakers, bring such authors as Tom Perrotta, Roxane Gay, Jess Walter, Hanya Yanagihara and Jeff Kinney with them. They also put together the rights deal for one of fall's biggest movies in The Girl on the Train (plus TV projects The Leftovers and the upcoming Berlin Station). RWSG also has partnerships with European literary firms Salomonsson Agency and Ahlander Agency, which have helped drive the Hollywood influx of Scandinavian crime novels by such writers as Jo Nesbo and Olen Steinhauer.

Neither Rabineau nor Gillett is a stranger to big agencies; Rabineau worked at ICM before striking out on her own in 2000, and Gillett was at UTA and ICM. They emphasize that the co-agenting they have done with boutique book reps will continue, and the relationships their authors have with publishing agents will remain separate.

In fact, Rabineau and Gillett promise little will change in how they do business now that they work for WME-IMG co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell. "WME is acquiring us," says Gillett, "so we can do exactly what we do [but] be more integrated" with WME to put attractive packages together. For WME, the allure is having greater access to top intellectual property to package with its roster of actors, directors and writers. Notes Rabineau, "It takes a village to get a movie or TV series made these days."

Story continues

This story first appeared in the Sept. 9 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

Read more: WME Buys Literary Agency RWSG
When President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill establishing the National Park Service 100 years ago, on Aug. 25, 1916, the law had been preceded by an intensive journalistic campaign to convince people that such an agency was needed.

The leading writer behind this campaign to bring together the disparate management of the existing parks, Robert Sterling Yard, was a longtime New Yorker and prominent journalist then in his mid-50s. Prior to being chosen as a pro-wilderness promoter, he had little to do with the wild outdoors, at least professionally. But the city slicker had been handpicked by his longtime friend Stephen Mather, an industrial tycoon and nature-lover who had been appointed as a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, as the man for the job. And Yard felt strongly about the need for protected land: I, the treader of dusty city streets, he once said, boldly claim common kinship with you of the plains, the mountains, and the glaciers.

Mather and Yard reasoned that public support for a centralized management of the national parks would be a key step in making sure that the government took action. The duos ensuing campaign generated unprecedented press coverage and put pressure on Congress to create an independent parks agency, as told by Paul S. Sutters book Driven Wild: How the Fight against Automobiles Launched the Modern Wilderness Movement.

The cornerstone of the Mather-Yard public relations endeavor was the National Parks Portfolio, a collection of nine heavily-illustrated pamphlets that conveyed the grandeur and diversity of Americas natural scenery, and also suggested that visiting these national parks, aside from being enjoyable, was an act of good citizenship. The Portfolios 1916 first edition ran 275,000 copies, many of them distributed to prominent Americans, including every member of Congress. Millions of additional copies were circulated in a lower-cost version.

So how exactly did Yard make the argument for the National Park Service? By explaining that the parks were worth the effort. Stay with the wilderness and it will repay you a thousandfold, Yard promises in the Portfolio.

Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter

He touts Yellowstone National Park as the fitting playground and pleasure resort of a great people; it is also the ideal summer school of nature study.

He describes Crater Lake National Park as a gem of wonderful color in a setting of pearly lavas relieved by patches of pine green and snow white  a gem which changes hue with every atmospheric change and every shift of light.

About Rocky Mountain National Park, he declares that, There is probably no other scenic neighborhood of the first order which combines mountain outlines so bold with a quality of beauty so intimate and refined. Just to live in the valleys in the eloquent and ever-changing presence of these carved and tinted peaks is itself satisfaction. But to climb into their embrace, to know them in the intimacy of their bare summits and their flowered, glaciated gorges, is to turn a new and unforgettable page in experience.

About the Grand Canyon, which Native Americans saw as the road to heaven, Yard says: Even the most superficial description of this enormous spectacle may not be put in words. The wanderer upon the rim overlooks a thousand square miles of pyramids and minarets carved from the painted depths. Many miles away and more than a mile below the level of his feet he sees a tiny silver thread which he knows is the giant Colorado. He is numbed by the spectacle. At first he cannot comprehend it. There is no measure, nothing which the eye can grasp, the mind fathom.

Yard did more than just gush about Nature, though. His June 1916 article, Making a Business of Scenery, appearing in The Nations Business magazine, touts all the potential tourism money of our national parks, which, properly managed, could be quickly turned into an economic asset of incalculable value to this nation. Citing Switzerland  which lives on her scenery and makes it a business  as an example, he points out how this European nation perceived that snow-covered peaks were as good as gold mines; that glaciers and precipices paid like factories; and lake shores were as profitable as ocean fronts.

In Yards view, There are few Americans today who know, or hearing it, actually realize that American scenery in quality, variety and quantity outclasses Switzerlands decisively. He contends that, Our national parks have had little patronage because few have ever heard of them, and asks: What has the United States been doing [with its national parks]?

He then proclaims that he and other Americans in the know, want our national parks developedWe want roads and trails like Switzerlands. We want hotels of all prices from lowest to highest. We want comfortable public camps in sufficient abundance to meet all demandsWe want sufficient and convenient transportation at reasonable ratesWe want special facilities for nature study.

Yard concludes that such developments are a business proposition and must be built up soundly. We have the biggest and finest stock of scenery in the world and there is an enormous market for it.
Its robust overseas business will be its lucky card.

It seems like Singtel will not have anything to worry about should a fourth group successfully penetrate the city-state's telco scene.

Singtel's recent maneuver to deepen its overseas presence by boosting stakes in Thailand's InTouch Holdings and India's Bharti Telecom would likely be the key, research firm UOB Kay Hian said in its report.

"Singtel is the least affected by a fourth mobile operator in Singapore as its overseas

businesses account for about 70% of its bottom-line," the report stated.

The recent deal will increase Singtel's participation in Bharti Telecom from 39.8 to 47.1%. It will also raise its stake in InTouch's Advanced Info Service to 31.8%.

With the deal, Singtel's domestic market would likely shrink, according to a separate report by BMI Research.

"Over-relying on its smallest market by population is unlikely to produce sustained revenue growth, and Singtel has therefore established a healthy income mix with more than two-thirds of its net profits from overseas markets," BMI argued.

But this may be a good thing for Singtel if a possible telco successfully establishes its own place in the industry. UOB noted that Singtel has many regional mobile associates from which it can gain benefit from.

"Singtel will benefit from growth at its regional mobile associates, such as Telkomsel in Indonesia, Bharti Airtel in India, Advanced Info Service in Thailand and Globe Telecom in the Philippines," UOB said.





More From Singapore Business Review


Why Stranger Things is important to me as a sexual assault survivor

Why Stranger Things is important to me as a sexual assault survivor

Pop culture has a long tradition of portraying sexual assault victims as just that: victims. When I watched the incredibly popular Stranger Things, I was reminded of the times when I was sexually assaulted as a teenager. Although sexual assault isnt addressed in Stranger Things, the treatment and portrayal of the female characters reminded me how it felt  and how society views victims.

Eleven, Stranger Things hero, spends most of her life as a human guinea pig in a science lab controlled by male scientists.

elevenlab2

When she refuses to submit to their horrid demands, the scientists physically and mentally torture her. Elevens childhood is robbed from her, and the abuse she suffers has a tremendous effect on her life.

Despite her traumatic childhood, Eleven isnt portrayed as a one-dimensional victim. Shes not only a victim of abuse  shes also a monster slaying, waffle-loving, fiercely loyal human being who can make bullies pee their pants.

elevenwaffles

Nancy Wheeler  whose photo is taken without her consent as she undressesis more than her experiences of public slut-shaming.

nancywheeler

Both of these characters are complex and strong: two attributes that victims of abuse and sexual violence are seldom afforded in the media.

nancy wheeler2

Sexual assault marks you in many insidious, unshakeable ways  but one of the worst parts of the aftermath is the way society treats you. For years after my sexual assault, I stayed silent. I grew ashamed and fearful of how my family and friends would view me if they ever found out.

When I started opening up to friends about what had happened to me, I noticed a pattern: some folks looked at me as though the word victim was written in all-caps on my forehead from that moment on. While the worried looks may come from a good place, I know some people think of me as a victim  and nothing more.

But Im also lucky to have a family who supported me once I finally told them that I had been assaulted. My mom, my boyfriend, and my grandparents treated me differently after I told them  but in a good way. After opening up to them, they understood why I am the way that I am, and they shower me with care. Better yet, they see that Im a good student, a pop culture fanatic, and a writing geek  the things that make me human  despite my traumatic experiences.

Story continues

eleven

While its important to have supportive and understanding people in your life, its also nice to have role models in the media.

I found the most meaningful aspect of Stranger Things was that Eleven and Nancy could be both victims and powerful human beings. The show proves that being both a fully-formed person with agency and a victim of assault are not mutually exclusive.

Its an important life lesson for any sexual assault survivor  and for society at large. And it took me almost 10 years to learn. Being a victim of sexual assault doesnt make me a strong person  I always was one.

The post Why Stranger Things is important to me as a sexual assault survivor appeared first on HelloGiggles.
U.S. economic growth - or lack of it - can move financial markets, and it has become a key election issue for both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

However theres one problem, gross domestic product data-GDP for short-is a bit of a mess, warns Harvard Economist Martin Feldstein.

We are relying on a number that is not accurate, said Feldstein during an interview with FOXBusiness.com.

Feldstein, who served as President Ronald Regans chief economic advisor, explains that economists havent yet figured out a way to fine tune tracking new goods and services.

Most of the problems are in services, they dont have any way to calculate new products or services, Feldstein said.

To simplify his point, he cites widely used cholesterol drugs. If total drug sales rise and there is no change in the unit price, the government checks it off as an increase in real GDP. They do not include all the value these drugs provide in extending lives.

The silver lining in all this is that the quarterly number is probably better than the most recent 1.2% read on second-quarter growth. While Feldstein couldnt be specific on how much better, he says, it is higher by enough that it would really matter.

Feldstein was quick to not blame his cohorts at the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the Commerce Department which releases the GDP figures, and notes tracking these stats are very difficult. Plus, government economists are constantly tweaking data gauges in an effort to stay as accurate as possible.

However, those who want an accurate GDP reading will need to wait. For now, at a minimum, Feldstein is hoping to raise awareness about the so-called faux numbers ahead of his in-depth research paper set to be published in the Journal of Economic Perspective later this year. The goal is to highlight that the growth rates of GDP, productivity and real incomes are all underestimated

On Friday, the U.S. economy is expected to show second-quarter growth of 1.1% according to Thomson Reuters. This revised figure would be an improvement from the initial 0.8% figure.

Story continues

While GDP remains stubbornly low, Feldstein isnt worried.

Employment is very, very good he said pointing to the most recent jobs report that showed U.S. employers created 255,000 new jobs last month. That will lead to rising wages and a stronger economy in his opinion. That sentiment is shared by New York Fed President William Dudley who told FOX Business earlier this month that the U.S. economy is accelerating.

Potentially a sign that Feldstein is onto something.

Related Articles
A search and rescue team in New Zealand found a Czech woman alive Wednesday in a remote mountain cabin after her partner reportedly fell and died on a hiking trail, leaving her stranded for one month.

The couple, which police described as being in their late 20s to early 30s, began their hike on the picturesque Routeburn track in the countrys South Island on July 26. Two days later the man reportedly fell down a steep slope and died from his injuries shortly after, the Guardian reports.

The woman, who has not been named, then spent three nights in the wilderness before finding an unmanned wardens hut with supplies of food, firewood and gas. She told police that she was unable to leave the cabin because she was injured herself and there was heavy snowfall. She also said no other hikers passed the cabin in the month that she was there.

This is a highly unusual case, said the Otago Lakes central area police commander Inspector Olaf Jensen. It is very unusual for someone to be missing for such a long time in the New Zealand bush without it being reported. Authorities were alerted to the missing couple only last week when the Czech Consulate raised the alarm.

Intermediate hikers can typically walk the Routeburn track in about two to four days.

Police are currently working to retrieve her partners body.

[Guardian]
A Mississippi woman was astonished when she heard Donald Trump call Hillary Clinton "a bigot" at a rally in the state Wednesday night.

Read: There's Trouble Afoot: Ivanka Trump Rejects Claims She Ripped Off Shoe Design

"Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future," Trump said to a room full of predominantly Caucasian supporters during a rally in Jackson.

The unknown woman was sitting behind the GOP presidential nominee and her response was caught on camera.

Social media had a field day with her reaction.

This is like the guy after the Second Amendment comments all over again https://t.co/27Tk3JP2gx  Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) August 25, 2016

@CNN When Trump called @HillaryClinton a bigot, the expression of the woman sitting behind him said it all.  Osanna (@toxotis71) August 25, 2016

@Lawrence Review tape of #Trump snarling out "@HillaryClinton is a bigot" & face of woman 2 th left behind him appears shocked & rejected it  Sherrine Neely (@SherrineNeely) August 25, 2016

Later that night, Clinton denounced Trump's remarks on CNN telling Anderson Cooper: "He is taking a hate movement mainstream."

Read: Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake Host $33,000-Per-Ticket Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton

In the past, Trump has called for a wall to be built along the U.S.-Mexico border and even called Mexicans rapists. He has also called for a ban on Muslims entering America.

Watch: Ex-Miss Universe Who Says Trump Called Her 'Miss Piggy' is Voting For Hillary

Related Articles:
LONDON (Reuters) - Some 35 Muslim and non-Muslim women held a beach party demonstration outside the French embassy in London on Thursday, protesting against a ban on burkinis enforced in some coastal towns in France. Wearing bikinis and burkinis, the women sat on a pile of sand and played with beach balls in front of the embassy, some holding signs reading "Islamophobia is not freedom" and "Let them wear what they want". The protest was organized by two friends following the publication of a photograph of armed French police apparently telling a woman sitting on a beach to remove part of her burkini. "It is never right to tell a woman what she can wear or to take her clothes off. That is not for a man to say," India Thorogood, one of the organizers, said. "We wanted to show solidarity with Muslim women in France and call for a repeal of the ban." France's highest administrative court, the Conseil d'Etat, was meeting on Thursday to consider a complaint against the ban in one Mediterranean town. President Francois Hollande's government has backed the decisions taken by mainly conservative mayors, who argue the garment violates France's laws on secularism. French Muslims are concerned that the decisions could lead to further stigmatization of Muslims, the head of a body representing Muslims in France has said. (Reporting By Georgina Cooper; Editing by Dominic Evans)
Working Title Television has set a six-part drama series based on 2013 Man Booker Prize winner The Luminaries at BBC Two. Author Eleanor Catton will adapt her own novel. The period tale of adventure and mystery is set on the Wild West Coast of New Zealands South Island in the boom years of the 1860s gold rush. Its billed as an epic story of love, murder and revenge, as men and women traveled across the world to make their fortunes.

Working Title Television will produce for BBC Two with Catton and WTTs Andrew Woodhead, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner exec producing. Lucy Richer exec produces for the BBC. Shooting is due to start on location in and around New Zealand next year.

Kicking off in 1865, the story follows defiant young adventurer Anna Wetherell, who has sailed from Britain to New Zealand to begin a new life. There she meets the radiant Emery Staines, an encounter that triggers a strange kind of magic that neither can explain. But Anna must survive the dangerous world, where shipwreck and murder, blackmail and betrayal, greed, gold and false imprisonment all conspire to keep her apart from Emery. The star-crossed lovers begin to wonder: Do we make our fortunes, or do our fortunes make us?

Catton is the youngest winner ever of the Man Booker; a prize that twice went to Hilary Mantel whose Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies were adapted as Wolf Hall for BBC One. Catton was born in Canada and raised in New Zealand and The Luminaries is her second book following 2008s The Rehearsal, which was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and the Dylan Thomas Prize. Learning to write for television has been a bit like learning a new musical instrument: the melody is more or less the same, but absolutely everything else is different, she says.

BBC Two is the home of such hit dramas as Peaky Blinders, The Fall and the Working Title produced thriller London Spy. The production company also recently made Sky/NBC comedy-drama, You Me And The Apocalypse; Sky fantasy-comedy Yonderland; BBC Ones True Love and The Secrets; and NBCs About A Boy.

Story continues

Related stories

Ex-'Top Gear' Producer On "Perfect Storm" At BBC & Jeremy Clarkson's New Amazon Series - Edinburgh Video

Vice's Shane Smith To Big Media: "Open Sh*t Up" Or Alienate A Generation; Predicts M&A Frenzy; Talks Disney - Edinburgh

Channel 4 Orders 'The Bisexual' Comedy From Desiree Akhavan - Edinburgh
Waluscha will soon be seen as one of the judges on the panel of Miss Diva 2016 alongside actress and former beauty queen Lara Dutta.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Waluscha De Sousa, who after a successful modelling career ventured into Bollywood with a role in the movie Fan, will be on the panel of Miss Diva 2016 this year as a judge along with actress and former beauty queen Lara Dutta.

Also read:Shraddha Kapoor might soon be seen as a judge on a music reality show



advertisement

Waluscha, who has walked for designers like Rohit Bal and Wendell Rodricks, has been a part of the Miss India pageant in the past and won the title of Miss Body Beautiful. She says it is an "absolute pleasure" to be "back where it all started" for her.

Waluscha De Sousa with Randeep Hooda, Seher Latif and Lara Dutta. Picture courtesy: Instagram/waluschaa

"This time round as a judge with Lara (Dutta), Randeep (Hooda) and Seher Latif, I can relate to how the contestants must be feeling at this time. It takes a lot of bravery to put your best foot forward and then be judged. Needless to say that each one will come out a winner in their own way," Waluscha said in a statement.

Lara will be seen mentoring 16 finalists who will compete with one another to represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant.

Lara Dutta, Ujjwala Raut, and Shantanu & Nikhil at the launch. Photo: Yogen Shah

The journey of the contestants will be chronicled on Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva - Miss Universe India 2016, a six-part series which will be aired on Colors Infinity starting August 27. It was launched amidst much fanfare and glitterati in Mumbai on August 10.



--- ENDS ---
Commercial service may start in 2018.

Singaporeans in the city-states one-north business district are invited to hop in the worlds first public utility self-driving car as autonomous vehicle (AV) developer nuTonomy launched the initial public trial of its robo-taxis.

According to nuTonomy, select residents will get to try the ride-hailing smartphone app to book a free ride either in a Renault Zoe or Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle that has been configured for autonomous driving. A nuTonomy engineer will join the passengers inside the vehicle to observe system performance and assume control if the need arises.

The self-driving vehicle employs a sophisticated software integrated with high-performance sensing and computing components. It was May this year when nuTonomy completed its $16 million Series A funding to accelerate the delivery of this software.

nuTonomy has been conducting daily AV trials since April this year and has partnered with the Land Transport Authority to accelerate the development of the technology.

nuTonomys first-in-the-world public trial is a direct reflection of the level of maturity that we have achieved with our AV software system. The trial represents an extraordinary opportunity to collect feedback from riders in a real-world setting, and this feedback will give nuTonomy a unique advantage as we work toward deployment of a self-driving vehicle fleet in 2018, said nuTonomy CEO Karl Iagnemma.

Throughout the trial, nuTonomy will collect and evaluate valuable data related to software system performance, vehicle routing efficiency, the vehicle booking process, and the overall passenger experience, the company said.

Gathered data will enable nuTonomy to refine its software in preparation for the launch of a widely-available commercial robo-taxi service in Singapore in 2018, it added.





More From Singapore Business Review


Geneva (AFP) - The United Nations called on Thursday for the creation of an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations in war-torn Yemen.

In a new report, the UN laid out a long line of allegations of grave human rights abuses by all sides in Yemen's bloody conflict, which has left nearly 4,000 civilians dead.

"Civilians in Yemen have suffered unbearably over the years from the effects of a number of simultaneous and overlapping armed conflicts," UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

"And they continue to suffer, absent any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity," he said.

"Such a manifestly protracted unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community," he insisted, demanding the creation of "an international, independent investigative body".

The report listed numerous attacks on residential areas, market places, hospitals and schools, pointing out that in several cases investigators were "unable to identify the presence of possible military objectives."

It also condemned targeted killings -- including of at least six journalists -- the use of cluster bombs, landmines, and sniper attacks, and the rampant use of child soldiers.

As of August 23, an estimated 3,799 civilians had been killed and 6,711 injured since a Saudi-led Arab coalition began air raids in March last year in support Yemen's internationally recognised government and President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The government is battling Iran-backed Huthi rebels and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have seized control of large parts of the impoverished country since 2014 and still control swathes of territory including the capital Sanaa.

The World Health Organization says more than 6,600 people have died in all, counting combattants, while more than 33,000 have been injured.

Story continues

- Child soldiers -

Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition were suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths, while attacks by groups affiliated with the rebels were blamed for around a quarter of the deaths, Thursday's report said.

Islamic State group jihadists, Al-Qaeda and a range of other actors accounted for the remainder, it said.

Millions of people across the country lack food, clean water and adequate healthcare.

The UN rights office warned Thursday that some 7.6 million people, including three million women and children, were suffering from malnutrition, while at least three million had fled their homes.

At least 559 children were recruited to man checkpoints or to fight in the country between July 2015 and May 2016, it added.

Most of the recruitment allegedly took place in and around Sanaa, mainly by the popular committees affiliated with the Huthi rebels, the report said.

At least 620 children have been killed and 758 maimed since July last year.

In the face of such horrors, Yemen's government set up a national commission of inquiry last September, but the UN said it had been unable to conduct an effective investigation.

Noting "the gravity of allegations" and "the challenges faced by the national commission of inquiry", the report urged the creation of "an international, independent investigative body to carry out comprehensive investigations."

"The international community ... has a legal and moral duty to take urgent steps to alleviate the appalling levels of human despair," the UN rights office said.
You can tour Yosemite with President Obama  in VR

I was standing in the middle of Yosemite National Park hearing President Barack Obama talk about the place, which was funny since I havent been to Yosemite since 2001 and have never had a personal chat with the president.

I did, however, have a Samsung Gear VR headset strapped to my face, which teleported me from a Washington hotel room to the picturesque California park.

The occasion was an advance look at Through the Ages: President Obama Celebrates Americas National Parks. Obama may have welcomed a robotic giraffe to the South Lawn of the White House in 2014, but this is the first time hes appearing in VR production.

Spoiler alert: Yosemite is beautiful

The clip  available today on the Oculus store for Gear VR devices and via a Facebook 360-degree video on National Geographics page  is one of Obamas salutes to the 100th birthday of the service behind Americas national parks.

As VR productions go, this one  shot over six days, including Obamas Fathers Day visit to the park this year  looks pretty static. We see Yosemite from the Merced River to the tops of its mountains, but most of the shots keep us in one place. The video does a better job of capturing time, as seen in a panorama of sunset over Yosemites summits, than of the magnificent expanse of the park.

Yet being able to look around and up at Half Dome and El Capitan and hear the river trickling by still induced some powerful nostalgia for the place I last saw in August 2001.

It would have been nice to smell the pine cones and feel the wind in my face. But as Mad Mens Don Draper said while describing a Kodak carousel slide projector, VR done right takes us to a place where we ache to go again.

Obama shares his own nostalgia in the video when he talks to a park ranger about his childhood visit to Yellowstone National Park44 years old by the time President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act founding the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916. The president recounts his 11-year-old self being awestruck to see bison, moose and bears for the first time.

Story continues

Places like Yosemite make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves, Obama says. We connect not just with our own spirit, but with something great  with the spirit of America itself.

VIEW THE MAJESTY OF YOSEMITE FROM YOUR COUCH

Nostalgia may not be the only reaction this VR video elicits. It also features Obama defending action to slow global warming caused by carbon dioxide put into the air by human activity, a subject of disbelief among a large minority of Americans.

If youre not going to believe an overwhelming majority of scientists or even ExxonMobil, strapping a VR headset to your face probably wont convince you either.

Reality check: Most people cant try VR

On the other hand, most people arent even in a position to don a VR headset, much less in the formats Through the Ages supports.

Samsungs Gear VR is relatively cheap at just $100, but it remains a curiosity in the mass market. The Rift headset developed by Facebooks (FB) Oculus subsidiary, which will get a version of the Obama experience soon, may be better known, but its also $599.

Without a version of Through the Ages, for the more accessible Google Cardboard, most viewers will probably have to content themselves with Facebooks 360-video release, which has its own list of software requirements.

With all the hype over VR, its easy to forget how inaccessible the medium can be. You cant walk into a library or an electronics store and expect to try it out. Google Cardboard  a simple contraption that holds a phone before your eyes to allow stereoscopic vision of a VR vista  continues to be rare enough that I never have trouble giving any away when I speak before a computer user group.

I was reminded of this a day after my advanced look at Through the Ages when I visited a VR arcade in Washington. As far as I can tell, NotionVR is the only such arcade within 300 miles or so of the District; the next closest option may be an establishment called Ctrl V in Waterloo, Ontario.

The VR-development firm NotionTheory opened this arcade to show off the mediums possibilities. For $30 an hour, visitors can strap on an HTC Vive and experience titles like Halfbrick Studios Fruit Ninja VR and Googles Tilt Brush.

As a visiting journalist, I didnt have to pay, got to linger for more than 30 minutes and enjoyed every minute of it. If youll be around D.C. and want to check out VR, you might want to book time there yourself.

But if you want to regain a renewed appreciation for our national parks, step away from whatever device youre reading this on and go visit one this weekend. Itll be free, and if you take enough photos you can stitch them into your own 360-degree panorama.

More from Rob:

Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro.
From Seventeen

If you're a girl on the Internet, you've probably seen some pretty gross things. Sleazy comments from random creeps on Instagram, friend requests from old dudes you've never met, requests for nude photos from total strangers. Attention, creeps: back off. Can't we be online in peace?

Catrin Williams, a 17-year-old from Wales, Snapchatted her new headphones last week. She received a message from a guy she didn't know who had followed her on Snapchat awhile ago. In response to the innocent photo, he wrote, "You wearing those, and nothing else, that would be heaven."

Some people - usually people who haven't received these kinds of messages - think that guys hit on girls because they post sexy photos. But that's obviously not the case here. Catrin tweeted out his message along with a caption highlighting how ridiculous the situation was.

'Boys wouldn't send weird messages if you didn't put up such slutty photos' pic.twitter.com/rNMBJTPKTc - cat (@catttttt___) August 19, 2016

She didn't expect to get more than a handful of likes and retweets, but her tweet struck a chord with thousands of people. Five days later, it's been retweeted more than 36,000 times and favorited more than 62,000 times.

Men: don't do this, it's not cute https://t.co/vf3LVOVyHQ - Kayla Knapp (@KaylaKnappFOX) August 20, 2016

This is exactly what I was saying the other day.  I post something at a funeral & still get these kind of comments. https://t.co/DLdLGn2tgQ - Juicy J. (@Juw4n) August 20, 2016

How was that the first thing they thought of when they see headphones ?? https://t.co/cw8OFAICdm - Let (@TheLetsGK00) August 20, 2016

I CRINGE SO HARD WHEN I GOT MESSAGES LIKE THAT JDJDCCCJV https://t.co/OYR27Pw7xi - aphrodite (@KNIGHTinarmour_) August 20, 2016

If this isn't the damn truth I swear https://t.co/8cb6DAGmt3 - Spoiled_Princess1223 (@GainesLyn) August 20, 2016

"I've received messages like this before many times from different people," Catrin told Seventeen.com. "He's sent me one seedy message before this, but I'd just ignored it. But this one was such a ridiculous thing, I had to share."

Story continues

"He sent me a message a few days ago to say that my tweet had given him infamy but apart from that I haven't heard anything!" she said.

Catrin has been overwhelmed by the amount of support she's received since her tweet went viral.

"I think my favorite part is probably all the positive responses I've had," she said. "Both men and women have been so supportive and in agreement with me. It's really heartwarming to see so many people stand up against harassment. It's been so nice to see girls standing up together, and it's made me realize just how huge of a problem it is because I've had so many tweets of girls saying they've experienced similar things!"

But Catrin says not all the feedback has been positive. The Daily Star, a British newspaper, praised Catrin for being "sexy" and "stunning" - as if that's the most important part of her story - and tagged their article with the words "naked" and "teenager."

Here's an open letter to @Daily_Star btw about the misogynistic article written about me earlier pic.twitter.com/rh94Ntt7nP - cat (@catttttt___) August 23, 2016

"What's worse is that the headline then says 'A sexy student silenced seedy men,' can you really not see the irony in calling me a 'sexy student' in the same sentence as condemning 'seedy men?'" she wrote on Twitter. "Does calling me, a young girl you know to be 17, not make the writer a 'seedy man?'"

Dealing with sexual harassment online is one of the hardest parts of being a girl today - but know that you're never alone in the battle to fend off pervs.
By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri on Thursday called on Iraq's Sunnis to prepare for a "long guerrilla" war as Islamic State militants lost more land near their de facto capital Mosul. Islamic State (IS) has lost this year about a half of the territory it conquered in 2014 and 2015 in Iraq in battles against government and Kurdish forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition as well as Shi'ite militias supported by Iran. The ultra-hardline group is also retreating in neighboring Syria against an array of U.S.-backed Syrian and Kurdish forces and the government army backed by Iran and Russia. IS split from al-Qaeda in 2014 and its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi doesn't recognize the leadership of Zawahri who succeeded Osama bin Laden after his killing in 2011. Zawahri reprimanded Al-Baghdadi for an extreme interpretation of Islam and the ''bloodletting'' which, he said, gave ``Safavid Iran and its subservient government in Iraq ... a pretext to eradicate the Sunnis.'' "The Sunnis of Iraq should not just surrender upon the fall of (their) cities into the hand of the Shiite Safavid army,'' Zawahiri said in a video distributed by supporters, using a derogatory term for the army of Iraq's Shi'ite-led government. "Rather they should reorganize themselves in a long guerrilla war in order to defeat the new Crusader-Safavid occupation of their areas as they defeated them before." He also called on ``the heroes of Islam among the mujahideen of Syria to assist their brothers in Iraq in reorganizing themselves, because they are fighting the same battle.'' Zawahri did not say what specific group in Syria he was addressing his message to since the Al-Nusra Front cut its links with al-Qaeda last month and took a new name, ''Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.'' Zawahri's video was aired as Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced capturing the oil province of Qayyara, 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Mosul. "The liberation of Qayyara is an important step toward achieving the larger goal of restoring Mosul," Abadi said Iraqi forces last month captured the Qayyara airbase which it plans to use as a hub to support forces advancing on Mosul. Abadi hopes to take back Mosul this year, effectively defeating IS in Iraq. it was from Mosul's Grand Mosque that Baghdadi declared his 'caliphate' two years ago. (Additioal reportig by Stephen Kalin in Baghdad and Mostafa Hashem in Cairo; Editing by Ralph Boulton)
Lil Uzi Vert has been busy. The 22-year-old Philadelphia native released his Perfect Luv Tape at the end of July and immediately set off on a tour of raucous shows in front of adoring and sometimes unruly fans.

Somehow hes finding time to make new music because when you get a hold of a beat from Zaytoven you use it and pay that good fortune forward with a gift to the world. So Uzis latest track is the Zay-produced Buy It, a track full of bright, colorful sounds and classic Uzi-isms like They keep hackin my iPhone/ Bout to get a Sidekick/ I dont like to stand up, told that girl to ride it, that just might fuel a resurrection of everybodys favorite QWERTY phone with a trackball and a screen on a swivel amongst his retro-obsessed, millennial supporters.

Related Links:




By Zoe Cooney (Reuters) - New Zealand police rescued on Thursday a Czech woman traveler who spent nearly a month alone in a warden's hut by a remote mountain lake after her male traveling companion was killed in a fall. The two had become disorientated in heavy snow that covered up markers on their 32-km (20-mile) trekking trail in late July. The man fell as they were trying to make their way to safety and the woman spent three nights in the open before finding her way to the hut by Lake Mackenzie, in the country's South Island. "She's undergone quite a traumatic experience," Inspector Olaf Jensen of the district police told a news conference. "It's obviously a very unusual case given the length of time that the female was at the hut." The pair began their journey on July 26 and the man fell two days later. The woman reached the hut, which was stocked with food, firewood and gas to keep warm, on July 31, police said. The Czech consulate raised the alarm after the two travelers, believed to be about 30, were not heard from for some time. A recovery operation is underway to find the man's body. The pair had been in New Zealand since January on a working holiday. Next of kin in the Czech Republic had been notified, police said. (Reporting by Zoe Cooney; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's main opposition parties went to court Thursday to block police from disrupting a march planned for Friday, the latest of a string of protests in the southern African country.

The planned rally is to demand electoral reforms before 2018 when 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country for decades, will seek re-election.

The move to seek court backing came a day after police violently put down another march by opposition youths, firing teargas and water cannon and beating them as they staged a protest against police brutality.

Police tried to "discourage" Friday's march, saying the anticipated crowd of around 150,000 would disrupt business and traffic.

But the opposition was defiant.

"This is a peaceful march, it is not up to the police to choose which demonstration to encourage and which demonstration not to encourage," opposition spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told reporters.

"We have gone to the court... to make sure that the police do not disturb the peaceful demonstration."

Former cabinet minister Didymus Mutasa, spokesman of the National Electoral Reform Agenda which groups political parties pushing for the reforms, said the march was to demand "free and fair elections."

The opposition parties include the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) led by former vice president, Joice Mujuru and the Progressive Democratic Party of ex-finance minister Tendai Biti.

Zimbabwe's last elections in 2013 were won by Mugabe in a vote the opposition said was rigged.

The government on Thursday warned it would clamp down heavily on any protests.

"We will not tolerate any attempts, by any group of persons, political parties, civic organisations or individuals whose actions will undermine the peace and quiet that Zimbabwe enjoys today," Home Affair Minister Ignatious Chombo told reporters.

He said Wednesday's protests were "western sponsored."

Story continues

"Those regime change agents bent on trying to remove a democratically-elected government will face the full wrath of the law."

Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests over the past weeks, with demonstrators calling on 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.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday he has full confidence in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is under police investigation over a suspected spy unit at the tax service. Zuma said he could not intervene in the investigations despite the negative impact the probe has caused on the economy, according to a statement released by the presidency. The rand, which had tumbled 5 percent since Tuesday in response to the investigation, extended gains to 1.3 percent after Zuma's statement after starting a recovery on Thursday. News of Gordhan's summons this week compounded investors' worries about a power struggle between Zuma and Gordhan as Africa's most industrialised economy teeters near recession and credit rating agencies consider downgrading it to "junk" by year-end. In his first public comments on the matter since it surfaced late on Tuesday, Zuma said he had noted the concerns by individuals and various organisations over the investigation. "President Jacob Zuma wishes to express his full support and confidence in the Minister of Finance and emphasises the fact that the minister has not been found guilty of any wrong doing," the presidency said in a statement. "The Presidency wishes to also emphasise that President Zuma does not have powers to stop any investigations into any individual/s." "The negative effect of these matters on our economy, personal pressure on the individuals affected as well as the heads of institutions, however disturbing, cannot be cause for the President to intervene unconstitutionally." Gordhan said on Wednesday he had no legal obligation to obey a police summons linked to an investigation into whether he used the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to spy on politicians including Zuma. (Reporting by James Macharia; Editing by Dominic Evans)
A tourist from the Czech Republic battled harsh conditions for a month to survive in the frozen New Zealand wilderness after her husband fell down a steep slope.

By AP: A tourist from the Czech Republic, whose partner fell to his death, survived a harrowing month in the frozen New Zealand wilderness before being rescued, police said Thursday.

"Given her experience and the avalanche risk, she decided it was best for her safety to remain in the hut, and that was the correct decision to make," Jensen said.

He said the woman fashioned a letter "H'' in the snow outside to signal she needed help, and waited. But Jensen said hikers were avoiding the route and nobody came.

advertisement

Battling harsh conditions

"It was not passable," he said. "It was really extreme conditions."





Photo: Twitter/@NZStuff Photo: Twitter/@NZStuff

Jensen said it was almost a month before the Czech consulate finally raised the alarm on Wednesday. He said police found the couple's car at the trailhead and sent a helicopter along the route. He said the woman was relieved to see her rescuers after her traumatic experience.

"It's very unusual for someone to be missing in the New Zealand bush for such a long period without it being reported," Jensen said.The woman was found on Wednesday living in a park warden's hut on the snowed-in Routeburn Track, Inspector Olaf Jensen told reporters. She was admitted to a local hospital and found to be in reasonable health, Jensen said, although she remained upset from her ordeal.

32-kilometer hike in 3 days but husband dies on the second day

He said the young couple left July 26 to hike the 32-kilometer (20 mile) track, a route which typically takes three days. But Jensen said the couple became lost because the track markers were buried in deep snow.



He said that two days into their ordeal, the man fell down a steep slope and died. The woman then spent the next three nights living outside in freezing conditions before stumbling upon the hut and breaking in, Jensen said. He said she suffered from some frost bite, hypothermia and other minor injuries.

He said there was a radio in the hut but the woman couldn't get it to work.

Photo: Twitter/@AnacletoRomeroM



Treacherous tracks



Geoff Owen, the Wakatipu-area operations manager for the Department of Conservation, said the Lake Mackenzie Hut where the woman stayed had firewood and may have had some food left behind by the rangers. He said the woman may have also broken into another hut nearby to find more food.

The Routeburn Track, on the South Island, is listed among New Zealand's top 10 "Great Walks" and is popular with tourists during the Southern Hemisphere summer.

But during the winter months from June until August it can become treacherous. When there is deep snow, it's typically only tackled by climbers equipped with crampons and ice axes.

advertisement

Avalanche threat



Jensen said the couple was reasonably well equipped for a hike but not for the conditions they encountered.

Richard Forbes, the president of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club, said he was with a group of hikers that went to the Routeburn Track last weekend.

He said they were advised by Department of Conservation staff not to hike the alpine section of the track, where the woman was later found, because of the avalanche risk.

Police said they plan to try and recover the body of the man, who is also from the Czech Republic, later Thursday.



--- ENDS ---
Hillary Clintons new campaign ad calls out Donald Trump  whose campaign slogan is Make America Great Again  for not having his clothing line made in the U.S. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton has released a new television campaign ad putting the business of fashion front and center of the campaign trail.

In the ad, titled Shirts, Robert Kidder, the owner of New England Shirt Company in Fall River, Mass., explains that his factory has been in operation since 1883 and currently employs more than 60 people.

But Donald Trumps brand of shirts come from China, his suits from Mexico, his coats from India, Kidder says. Trumps products have been made in 12 other countries because he says theres no place in America that he can make them. Well, there is. You know, Donald Trump says hell make America great again while hes taking the shirts right off our backs.

This isnt the first time that the Clinton campaign has called attention to the fact that when it comes to the business of fashion, the Republican presidential candidate and former reality TV personality has taken his business elsewhere.

During the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the Democratic National Committee aired a Funny or Die-produced video titled Donald Decoded: Outsourcing, featuring Community and The Hangover star Ken Jeong learning that the Trump-branded clothing he had been admiring on his mannequin scene partner was all made outside of the United States.

Its a strange choice, to say the least, for someone who has built his campaign on the slogan Make America Great Again to not even make his own goods in America.

(Trumps daughter and frequent campaign surrogate Ivanka Trump also produces a clothing and accessories collection bearing her name; her line too is not made in America, but rather in China and Vietnam.)

And Trumps love of foreign fashion doesnt end there; he is also famous for only buying and wearing suits made by Brioni, an extremely high-end Italian designer. Clinton, in contrast, is equally well-known for her love of pantsuits, hers almost exclusively designed by American Nina McLemore, whose tailored jackets and pants have also been worn by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, and journalist Gwen Ifill.

Story continues

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014 the average American family spent $1,786 on clothing annually.

In other words, the significance of buying American-made clothes has the potential to have a real impact on the American economy.

Andy Green, the managing director of economic policy for the Center for American Progress Action Fund, tells Yahoo Style that in his opinion, the Shirts ad is symbolic of the stark differences between the Clinton and Trump campaigns.

These shirts are symbolic of the overall approach to manufacturing and the middle class and working families that youre seeing during this election cycle from both campaigns, Green says. The Clinton campaign wants to see manufacturing happen in the U.S. and knows these are important jobs to have here. Trump is talking a big game, but in reality, where the rubber meets the road or where the cotton meets your skin, its just not there.

Green notes that under President Obama, significant efforts have been made over the past few years in terms of reshoring, or bringing more jobs  especially in manufacturing  that were previously outsourced abroad back to the U.S. And, Green adds, Clinton has announced additional policy proposals to build on these efforts.

For years, people have thought that its not economically feasible to manufacture in the U.S., but because of changes in manufacturing patterns, advances in manufacturing, and having items being made closer to the markets where those items are sold, things are starting to change, points out Green. There is definite possibility and a lot of room for creativity and innovation in this area.

Green reiterates, At the end of the day, its really symbolic of putting your money where your mouth is and calling out those who talk a big game but have done nothing throughout a thirty- to forty-year career to make ordinary working families lives better and contrasting that with someone who for 40 years has been working every single day for the middle class and for the ability to join the middle class  something all Americans can participate in.

In a statement shared with Yahoo Style, New England Shirt Company says, We proudly consider our factory to be a slice of America. Our family of cutters, sewers, pressers, and staff is a diverse network of ethnic backgrounds, religious ideologies, and, of course, political leanings. As such, the same discourse and debate upon which our nation was founded occurs within our walls. New England Shirt Companys decision to appear in a Hillary Clinton campaign ad is not meant to reflect the beliefs of the employees  rather, it aims to illuminate a particular conversation that affects every member of our community: American manufacturing.

The statement continues: A commitment to the American worker is a commitment to American manufacturing and the NESC leadership finds Donald Trumps hypocrisy around this topic offensive to our heritage and to our tradition of craftsmanship. Our message to Mr. Trump is not meant as one of challenge but one of opportunity; we invite Mr. Trump to embrace the American workforce and to bring his production home to communities like ours.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
INTRODUCING AMPLITUBE ACOUSTIC: THE FIRST COMPLETE MOBILE ACOUSTIC TONE STUDIO

THE NO#1 TONE STUDIO HAS GONE ACOUSTIC! CONNECT YOUR GUITAR, UKULELE OR OTHER INSTRUMENT TO YOUR PHONE WITH iRIG ACOUSTIC AND PROCESS WITH 3 AMPLIFIERS AND 6 STOMPS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS!

AmpliTube Acoustic is a complete mobile tone studio for acoustic instrument recording and processing. Powered by AmpliTube technology, it lets you practice, play and record with a collection of acoustic-centric virtual gear that offers world-class tone and sonic sculpting flexibility anytime and everywhere.

Build your own custom rig with up to 6 stompbox FX and 3 amps. You can even drag and drop your stomps to sit before or after your amplifier (4 slots pre and 2 slots post).

Designed for use with IK's iRig Acoustic mobile acoustic instrument interface, it provides plug-and-play sound thanks to its built-in calibration system that sculpts iRig Acoustic's EQ response to suit your particular acoustic guitar. With the two combined, you can get studio-grade condenser microphone sound from an interface that slips easily into your pocket.

AmpliTube Acoustic gives you 6 creative stompbox effects and 3 amazing amps that are all tailored for acoustic instruments. Turn your acoustic into a jangling 12 string with the "12 String" simulator, add some low-end with the "Bass Maker" or even change your guitar's body from big to small (or vice versa) with the "Body Modeler." Feed your signal through solid state or tube amps and graphic EQs to get just the sound you want. Use the "Feed Kill," a special stomp, to have the app eliminate feedback for you through smart frequency filtering.

You'll be absolutely floored by the sound quality. AmpliTube Acoustic uses the same tone technology as the acclaimed AmpliTube 4 Custom Shop for OS X and PC. You'll hear the difference and understand why AmpliTube is an essential for so many professional musicians and recording studios.

Like to loop? Now you can get creative with loops in AmpliTube via its new Super Looper, which is available through in-app purchase. It makes it easy to record, play back, adjust levels and play along with up to 4 loops. Looper is controllable via MIDI or iRig BlueBoard. Looper feature is available for in-app purchase.

Need a drummer? Use the built-in Loop Drummer system to jam to killer drum tracks. Make your own rhythmic patterns or let it create some inspiring drums for you. Get more loops via in-app Style Packs.

Use AmpliTubes streamlined built-in 8-track recorder and DAW-style studio (available via in-app purchase) sections to record, edit and tweak and share your compositions via SoundCloud, FTP, file sharing or email.

Now you can use the power of AmpliTube with your favorite acoustic instruments.

AmpliTube Acoustic features:

 Lets you intuitively create acoustic instrument rigs with up to 6 stomps and 3 amps

 Includes 6 stomps and 3 amps

 Add more features via in-app purchase

 Included single-track recorder (in-app purchase unlocks up to 8-tracks)

 Studio mode for intuitive DAW-style editing (unlocked via in-app purchase)

 Loop drummer module that plays in sync with the recorder

 Includes speed trainer, metronome and tuner

 Inter-App Audio support (available on iOS 7 and above)

 Project sharing between versions and devices

 Import and play songs as backing tracks from your Music Library or computer

 Export audio via E-mail, SoundCloud, FTP or File Sharing

 MIDI controllable

 Low-latency for real-time playing

 FREE version available
Apple has been under fire from the EU over its tax system for quite some time, but up until now, we didn't know how bad things were. JP Morgan, one of Apple's investment banks overseeing the case, has put the potential tax bill at $19 billion. That's a ways over the previous estimates, and a healthy chunk of change even for the cash-flush Apple.

The news came at the same time as the US Treasury Department sought to intervene in the case. The government has entered the fight on Apple's side, accusing the European Commission of being a "supra-national tax authority."

DON'T MISS: New video goes behind the scenes of an iPhone 7 leak for the first time ever

As the BBC reports, a US Treasury Department investigation into the case accuses the European Commission (EC) of bias against US companies, saying that a different set of criteria is used to judge US companies, something that it finds "deeply troubling."

Apple is accused by the EC of using Ireland to shelter profits at a low tax rate, and avoid paying taxes in the country where the profits were actually generated. If the EC has its way, Ireland will be forced to collect back taxes from Apple, which according to JP Morgan, could total $19 billion.

Apple denies any wrongdoing in the case, telling the BBC "We have received no selective treatment from Irish officials. Apple is subject to the same tax laws as scores of other international companies doing business in Ireland."

The EC's focus on Apple is the latest in a string of high-profile tax investigations of American companies. Google, Amazon and Starbucks have all come under fire from the EU (or member states) in past years, usually accused of using tax loopholes to shift profit to one EU country with lower tax rates, such as the Netherlands or Ireland.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
With less than two weeks to go until the iPhone 7 unveiling, Apple has released another update for iOS 9, and this is one you're going to want to download as soon as you possibly can. According to The New York Times, Apple discovered that NSO Group, an intelligence gathering firm out of Israel, was taking advantage of multiple vulnerabilities that allowed them to read texts and emails, track calls, record audio, collect passwords and even track a user's location.

DON'T MISS: New video goes behind the scenes of an iPhone 7 leak for the first time ever

If you want to keep your private information secure, it's probably best to update immediately. In order to download and install iOS 9.3.5, either head to Settings> General > Software Update on your iOS device, or plug the device into your computer, at which point iTunes will alert you that an update is available.

If you want to know more about the vulnerabilities, Vice has an incredible (and incredibly detailed) account of how it was discovered:

"On the morning of August 10, Ahmed Mansoor, a 46-year-old human rights activist from the United Arab Emirates, received a strange text message from a number he did not recognize on his iPhone. New secrets about torture of Emiratis in state prisons," read the tantalizing message, which came accompanied by a link. Mansoor, who had already been the victim of government hackers using commercial spyware products from FinFisher and Hacking Team, was suspicious and didnt click on the link. Instead, he sent the message to Bill Marczak, a researcher at Citizen Lab, a digital rights watchdog at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs. As it turned out, the message wasnt what it purported to be."

You should absolutely read the full piece, but before you do, make sure that all of your iOS devices are updated to iOS 9.3.5.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
The prototype of the 3D printed THOR aircraft is pictured at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Schoenefeld, in June (AFP Photo/Tobias Schwarz) (AFP/File)

Eden Prairie (United States) (AFP) - New 3D printing technology unveiled this week sharply increases the size of objects that can be produced, offering new possibilities to remake manufacturing in the auto, aerospace and other major industries.

One application demonstrated by 3D printing machinery maker Stratasys would allow airlines to pick made-to-order airplane interiors that could be tweaked with the click of a mouse.

By turning the manufacturing plane vertical from the standard horizontal, the "printer" has the potential to create components of unlimited size.

"We're now talking about parts in feet and meters versus centimeters and inches," said Rich Garrity, Americas president for Stratasys. "It's not just a concept."

The advances, by Stratasys, Siemens and others, are beginning to push 3D printing well into the center of manufacturing from around the edges.

3D printing employs sophisticated computer simulations and software to direct "print" objects from powdered, molten and filament materials like nylon, resins, clays, thermoplastics and metals.

- Manufacturing 'game-changer' -

The technology has not always lived up to sky-high hype, but leading manufacturers remain bullish over its potential to shake up the factory floor.

"It is something that is going to be a game-changer," said Teresa Finchamp, director of operations and quality in Boeing's department for new technologies.

Benefits include the ability to reduce weight by substituting plastic compounds for metals. And by making use of a "digital toolbox" and made-to-order technology, it can also can reduce the need for warehouse space and many conventional manufacturing tools.

The ultimate prize is finished items equal in quality to today's goods, but which are cheaper and faster to make.

Siemens argues that 3D printing, along with an increased role of robotics, greater automation and other innovations are creating a "digital factory" that will force a day of reckoning among manufacturers.

Story continues

"These technologies all evolve so fast," said Andreas Saar, a vice president for additive manufacturing at Siemens.

"We believe if people don't connect, they're going to have a huge problem," he told AFP.

Boeing, Siemens and Ford are all corporate partners of Stratasys that joined a press tour of its factory in Eden Prairie near Minneapolis.

Stratasys on Wednesday showcased an "infinite build" printer that turns the plane of production on its side, allowing the printing of items of "practically unlimited part size," according to the company.

- Rocket parts -

Also on display was a 3D robotic demonstrator utilizing Siemens software that positions and rotates an item as it is printed.

The process, allowing for precise movements on an eight-axis motion system, is suited to produce lightweight components that must also be very strong.

During the visit, the device was building a black ribbed dome that could be used on a rocket.

Stratasys says the applications of the robotic technology are broad and could also be utilized in the oil and medical equipment industries.

Stratasys executives described the innovations as "step" changes but would not comment on a timeframe for commercializing the technology.

"We are confident where we are in terms of development and we wanted to be able to demonstrate to the market our intent and where we're heading," Garrity said.

Even if the Stratasys innovations can be made commercial quickly, there are other barriers to more extensive use of 3D printing.

A key challenge for the auto industry, a relatively high-volume sector, will be matching the efficiency of conventional manufacturing, experts say.

Ellen Lee, who is in charge of bringing 3D printing into the manufacturing process at Ford, also said the technology does not yet make use of materials robust and durable enough for the most important car parts.

Boeing's Finchamp said the aerospace giant planned to use larger 3D parts on commercial airplane interiors as soon as this year. But questions about material strength clouds the outlook for use on larger parts.

"We have to be very cautious," she told AFP. "We're very very conservative with how to get things onto planes."

Pete Basiliere, an analyst at Gartner who specializes in imaging and print services, said greater consumer interest in 3D printing could help boost the technology.

"As consumers start to realize that they can (customize) and not at tremendous cost, then you're going to see the demand jump," he said.
Everything You Need to Know About the Tesla Model S P100D Tesla's latest innovation improves the performance of the Model S and Model X while making it even more efficient.

Another day, another fast Tesla. Silicon Valley's automaker has released an update to its quickest offering, the Model S P90D: the P100D, a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive sedan that can out accelerate Europe's most potent supercars.

Available for $135,700, the Model S P100D will be the fastest-accelerating vehicle that Tesla has ever sold. It was a natural decision to also create a more powerful version of the Model X SUV, since it's so closely related to Model S. Both are available for pre-order now. Tesla will allow customers waiting for P90D orders to swap that battery pack for the P100D at a cost of 10 grand; current P90D owners can have theirs changed out for 20.

If you're wondering why a 10-kWh increase is significant for Tesla, consider that Nissan only recently introduced a 30-kWh battery for its aging Leaf EV. Is the P100D an evolution or a revolution? Here's what you need to know about Tesla's most recent news spectacle.

RELATED: First Drive in the Tesla Model X: 4 Things We Love

It's stupid fast.

Do you really need to hustle to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds on a regular basis? Probably not, but it's nice to know that you can. If the P100D is anything like the P90D, expect neck-snapping acceleration that is exciting, if not actually very pleasant.

It boasts the largest battery capacity of any production EV.

With traditional, gas-powered cars, more power usually doesn't have anything to do with longer range. But the larger, 100-kWh battery means that the Model S P100D can achieve a range of 315 miles per full charge, according to Tesla. That's an increase of about 15 miles per charge over the Model S 90D and P90D, and 300-plus miles-per-charge is a significant milestone for any electric car. According to Musk, most battery capacity in the EV industry improves by 8 percent per year. The 10 kWh upgrade from P90D to P100D represents an 11 percent improvement, outpacing Musk's own estimation. (Or was he lowballing the figure to begin with?)

Story continues

It lasts longer, no matter how you drive it.

Most EVs' anticipated range pales in comparison with a Tesla's, and the P100D is no different. Even with the A/C turned on, the biggest wheels installed, and the temperature above average, with your foot set to 70 mph, the P100D should still have a range of about 250 miles per charge.

RELATED: The 20 Best Cars to Buy Now

No kidding, it has Autopilot.

This isnt the first car to steer, accelerate, and brake without driver input. But by you giving up control to Autopilot mode, the system has nearly full autonomy to do the driving, and goes so far as to get you from point A to B by using only one radar camera and one sensor (most other cars systems require multiple sensors, at least). The semi-autonomous driving capability that we love to extol and criticize remains an option, even on the top Model S and Model X.

It's extremely kid-friendly.

It has child seat integration and a spacious rear bench, but If you love your children, don't subject them to a rear-facing experience when you quietly tear up and scorch the earth.

You can pre-order yours now.

A few months ago, a clever forum user noted a glitch in the Model S firmware that predicted the eventual appearance of a "P100D" model. Tesla is known for hiding Easter eggs in its software, but this was a significant and likely unexpected find.
By Christophe Van Der Perre SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The first driverless taxi began work on Thursday in a limited public trial on the streets of Singapore. Developer nuTonomy invited a select group of people to download their app and ride for free in its "robo-taxi" in a western Singapore hi-tech business district, hoping to get feedback ahead of a planned full launch of the service in 2018. "This is really a moment in history that's going to change how cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings," nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters. The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if necessary. The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows private testing that began in April. Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore government on the project, said he hoped to have 100 taxis working commercially in the Southeast Asian citystate by 2018. Nutonomy is one of several companies racing to launch self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms striking new alliances. Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a $300 million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber [UBER.UL] to develop a driverless vehicle. Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said its vehicle, developed with Delphi Automotive Plc, would be ready for production by 2019, while Ford Motor Co said its self-driving car was slated for 2021. (The story was refiled to fix a typo in the second paragraph to say "full launch") (Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Researchers have discovered a scarily effective piece of malware, authored by an Israeli "cyber arms dealer," that can completely hack an iPhone if the user clicks on one link. First found by a UAE human rights defender who was sent a malicious link, the spyware uses a series of zero-day exploits to thoroughly take control of a users' iPhone.

Ahmed Mansoor, the human rights defender in question, was sent the link earlier in August. It was in a text message which promised him information if he followed the link. Instead, he sent the link to researchers at Citizen Lab, who analyzed the malware installed after the link.

DON'T MISS: New video goes behind the scenes of an iPhone 7 leak for the first time ever

The spyware uses three zero-day exploits to jailbreak any stock iPhone, allowing secret access to data on the device and monitoring of the microphone and camera. In a blog post, the researchers discovered links to a private Israeli firm:

"We recognized the links as belonging to an exploit infrastructure connected to NSO Group, an Israel-based cyber war company that sells Pegasus, a government-exclusive lawful intercept spyware product. NSO Group is reportedly owned by an American venture capital firm, Francisco Partners Management."

Apple has been informed of the zero-day exploits, and has already fixed them. iOS 9.3.5, out today, is basically just a security update that patches those holes.

It's not just about those three exploits, though: the more worrying fact is that for enough money, anyone seems to be able to buy a hacking tool that can easily penetrate the most common smartphone in the world.

For now, the basic principles of staying safe on the internet remain the same: never click on a link unless it's sent from a specifically trusted source.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Wadi al-Salam cemetery, Arabic for "Peace Valley," is growing as people killed in the battle against Islamic State overrun the average rate of burials.

By India Today Web Desk, Reuters: The world's largest cemetery in Iraq is running out of space to bury the people killed in the war against the ISIS. Wadi al-Salam cemetery - Arabic for Valley of Peace - in Iraq's Shi'ite holy city of Najaf, covers an area of around 10 square kilometres and is the final resting place of five million people.

A boy digs a grave at the Wadi al-Salam cemetery Photo:Reuters

Photo: Reuters

advertisement

The pace of burials rose to 150-200 since the ultra-hardline Sunni militants overran a third of the country in 2014 Jihad Abu Saybi, a historian of the cemetery told Reuters. The rate was 80-120 a day previously, he said.

As land becomes scarce, the cost of a standard 25 square metre family burial lot has risen to about 5 million Iraqi dinars ($4100) almost double the amount paid for the same lots before violence escalated as IS exerted control over large swathes of north and western Iraq in 2014.

Residents visit the graves of their relatives at the Wadi al-Salam cemetery, Arabic for

Mourners carry the coffin of their relative during a funeral in Najaf Photo: Reuters

The sea of graves of different shapes lie in roughly 10 square km (4 square miles) cemetery and attracts burials from Shiites all over the world.

The graves are built with baked bricks and plaster and decorated with Koranic calligraphy. Some graves are above ground tombs, reflecting the wealth of those within.

Tombs are seen at the Wadi al-Salam cemetery Photo: Reuters

A woman prays inside the shrine of Imam Mahdi at the cemetery Photo: Reuters

The Wadi al-Salam cemetery, Arabic for "Peace Valley," has a special place in the hearts of Shi'ite Muslims as it surrounds the Mausoleum of their first imam, Ali Bin Abi Talib, a cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad.Shi'ite paramilitary often visit Ali's golden-domed shrine before heading to the frontlines to battle Islamic State, and request to be laid to rest in Wadi al-Salam should they be killed, as a reward for their sacrifice.The drone footage below captures scale of the enormous cemetery





--- ENDS ---
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f189863%2f573197df28564f72b27a47bf41e53bbf

In the beginning, it was just about getting rid of the keys to his office.

American biohacker Amal Graafstra, 40, decided in 2005 that he wanted to be done with such archaic technology "from like 700 BC." He looked at iris scanning and fingerprint reading as solutions for opening his office door, but decided those options were expensive and unreliable.

SEE ALSO: One man's quest to pay for lunch with a chip implanted in his thumb

Inspired by the way pets are commonly tagged, he settled on a safe radio-frequency identification (RFID) implant. "I used to say that if I was beaten up and naked in the back alley, I still want to get into my door," he told Mashable Australia.

More than decade later, Graafstra now travels the world talking about the underground world of biohacking  people merging their bodies with technology. In 2013, he founded a site that sells home implant kits, Dangerous Things, and in one particularly popular stunt, he modified a gun prototype so it could only be activated by one of his implants.

Amal Graafstra.

Image: Amal Graafstra/supplied

Visiting Sydney, Australia for an event on transhumanism sponsored by the video game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Graafstra arrived in the country with four sub-dermal implants. They include a near field communication-compliant (NFC) tag and a UKI chip on which various payment or transit applications can be loaded. Just picture your train card, but in your thumb.

Most implants can be installed with a needle, a process said to be about as painful as a bee sting.

According to Graafstra, there's been a steady rise in implant interest, but what he called the "killer app" is yet to emerge. That means implant technology with a use so helpful and ubiquitous that it will finally convince the public at large to have a small chip inserted under their skin.

"It's not going to be getting in your house, because there are so many locks and keys," he said. "The 'killer app' for me is payment and transit. If you can get rid of the keys and wallet with one device, then I think that's it."

Story continues

Body modification is an ancient custom, but one that's often been socially fraught. Plastic surgery is increasingly acceptable, but most people would probably still prefer friends and colleagues not know about their face lift.

In Graafstra's view, implants sit apart from cosmetic modification. Rather, it's about augmenting your body  giving it capabilities it never had before and never could have biologically.

"Aesthetic modification ... speaks to an idea that you weren't perfect to begin with," he suggested. "That's different from the dissatisfaction of somebody saying 'I don't have the ability to talk to machines.'"

"That's our dissatisfaction," he laughed.

An implant before insertion.

Image: Amal Graafstra

Attitudes are changing as people become more familiar with the idea of implants. "In the beginning it was people just saying 'you're crazy, or you're working for the government or the devil, or both,'" he said.

Now their objections are more mundane: "That's well and good for you, but it's not for me."

Through Dangerous Things, Graafstra has helped show that implants can be safely installed with the right precautions, and now he wants to push the boundaries further.

Graafstra wants to build a bridge between a person's biological identity and their digital identity by hacking the body.

"The idea is, you could go to a bank and open an account and load a banking app onto your implant," he explained. "Now that implant can do banking and transit, and maybe even secure your data, like your emails or communications."

He's also hoping to showcase the safety capabilities of implants. His modified gun made international headlines, but Graafstra's point was that a gun is a deadly weapon and should only be used by the intended operator  something implant activation could definitively ensure.

"If you have kids in your house, or a situation where someone breaks in, you don't want the wrong person operating it," he said. "Other smart guns that use fingerprint reading or use wrist bands or rings present a reliability problem. With an implant, you're never not going to have it."

Thanks to Hollywood and films such as the The Manchurian Candidate, one of the main concerns people raise when faced with an implant is tracking and privacy.

Graafstra emphasised that his implants aren't tracking him, they are logging, much like when you use a tap-and-go bankcard. Your credit card or train card isn't tracking you exactly  it only "wakes up" and hands over your data when held near a terminal that can read it.

There are of course privacy issues when using your implant outside the home with third parties, such as a cafe's payment station. In other words, he argued, an implant will not log you more than the credit cards and transit cards you use daily. It's just more convenient.

While there is still a stigma attached to implants and modifying the body, Graafstra believed the movement is starting to capture the attention of people of all ages. "The oldest person I've ever put an implant into was about 72-years-old," he said. "And I've personally done over 1,200."

Still, people are more likely to be comfortable with an implanted medical device, despite their insertion typically being more invasive.

"How a pacemaker works, or a deep brain stimulator, those kinds of devices are terrifying to me," Graafstra said. "That's a real serious integration with your biology."
By Jemima Kelly

LONDON (Reuters) - Financial technology groups from more than 20 cities across the world plan to form a federation of 'fintech' hubs this year in what would be the first attempt to coordinate and globalize web-based innovation transforming the financial industry.

Fintech is under the global spotlight because of its promise - or threat - to 'disrupt' traditional financial activity. One of fintech's fastest growing areas is the 'blockchain' protocol, which could enable the clearing and settlement of securities such as stocks and bonds without the need for intermediaries such as banks.

More broadly new products emerging from this sector seek to offer customers cheaper, faster and easier-to-use services, and to offer financial access to people who don't or can't currently use the banking system.

The sector has until now developed in a somewhat disjointed manner, as the incumbents of the financial services sector rush to compete with innovative start-ups by offering new services such as mobile instant-payment apps. Many start-ups have struggled to access clients outside their domestic markets.

Innotribe, the innovation arm of financial communications provider SWIFT, and Innovate Finance, the trade body for Britain's fintech sector, who have together set up the federation, believe that it will enable global hubs to share business knowledge, give start-ups access to new markets, and provide the the sector with a global voice.

"It's a group of equals," Fabian Vandenreydt, global head of Innotribe and the SWIFT Institute, told Reuters. "It's a group of people that globally support innovation for the benefit of the banks and the start-ups."

Development has accelerated in the last few years as smartphones have become widespread and as the global financial crisis shook consumers' belief in banks and sent them in search of alternatives.

Global financial and technology centers such as London, New York, Silicon Valley and Singapore have been competing for supremacy in the fast-emerging sector.

Story continues

For a graphic comparing global fintech hubs, click: http://tmsnrt.rs/2b7yr2S

But Innotribe and Innovate Finance say the new federation - which will be formally launched at next month's Sibos banking conference in Geneva - will be cooperative rather than competitive.

The federation will, however, rank the fintech hubs according to various criteria, such as the ease of doing business, the amount of capital and talent available, and the regulatory environment, so that those centers can see where they need to make improvements.

Bodies representing more than 20 fintech clusters from across the globe - including Shanghai, Nairobi and Istanbul - have signed letters of intent to join the federation, with the City of London itself also signaling support. Innovate Finance said it should help start-ups and institutions gain visibility in new markets.

"If you're looking for scale in LatAm, we want to connect you directly to the Sao Paulo hub," said Innovate Finance CEO Lawrence Wintermeyer. "We're hoping to really be able to accelerate the connection of fintechs (start-ups) and institutions to the source of knowledge."

The plan is for there to be an annual revolving chair so that each member hub can get a chance to lead the federation. It will be funded by sponsorship from professional services firms.

"Fintechs play an increasingly critical role in the finance industry and therefore, their advancement is of the utmost importance," said Hubertus Vaeth, head of trade association Frankfurt Main Finance, which will be a member of the federation.
Imagine Google Earth with TiVo capability. Thats how the impressive, and very high-tech, one company's real-time surveillance system is sold to interested parties. In short, Big Brother is here, and as time goes on itll get only better at seeing everything you do.

DONT MISS: iPhone 7: New leak may have just solved the only mystery left

Mounted on a Cessna plane that can hover above a city around the clock, an array of wide-angle cameras produce 192-megapixel images of an area that measures roughly 30 square miles, constantly beaming the images down to hard drives that store them indefinitely. Sitting at their desks, analysts can sift through the available images and move backward and forward thorough time to search for clues that might help law enforcement.

The system may not be able to identify a person, which measures about a pixel, and cant magically read license plates numbers by simply magnifying a blurry image like you see in the movies. Instead, its able to track objects and identify patterns. Analysts can tell police what a person did after he or she killed or robbed someone, for example. They can track a getaway car to see where it stopped, and they can go back in time to see how it arrived at the crime scene in the first place.

Police can then combine that data with street cameras and footage from other locations that offer local surveillance, giving them a better chance of apprehending suspects.

This isnt the plot of an Enemy of the State sequel. Its actually happening in the US right now, with a privately funded program underway in Baltimore, Maryland. At $2 million per year, the program is cheaper than police helicopters and it could help out with the citys aim of lowering crime rates. But in the wrong hands, the technology can be devastating, as its essentially invading the privacy of every individual in the city.

In Bloomberg Businessweeks massive expose, youll learn exactly how this type of surveillance came to be. It all started in Iraq for Persistent Surveillance Systems CEO Ross McNutt, where he provided a similar system that the Army could use to investigate bombings. Upon his return, he founded a private company that deals in professional surveillance. His object is to prevent crimes, and he says the system is designed in such a way that analysts looking at images would not be able to track targets for personal reasons, since everything is logged.

Story continues

However, as successful as the Baltimore project might be, its still something local police would not acknowledge. And something regular citizens might not appreciate because of the obvious privacy implications.

If this type of spying sounds similar, thats because law enforcement agencies have used similarly sophisticated surveillance systems mounted on planes in the recent past. Called StingRays, fake cell phone towers that can be installed on small plans can also help agencies spy on a community. And yes, before you ask, it appears that StingRays were also used in Baltimore as part of this new program.

McNutts firm isnt the only one selling surveillance to cities, and as camera and computer technologies evolve well only see more advanced systems ready to track everything we do from up above. Bloombergs story, complete with video, is available in full at this link. Definitely check it out.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Touch Disease is a thing and its ruining all sorts of iPhones and iPads

Touch Disease is a thing and its ruining all sorts of iPhones and iPads

If youre having issues with your iPhone or iPad touch screen not working, youre not alone.

Theres a glitch that has now been identified as Touch Disease that is frustrating Apple users everywhere.

I'm gonna try doing a hard reset with my iPhone to see if that fixes anything with the right side of the screen not working.  Phoebe Svoboda (@phoebecoraline) August 22, 2016

Having issues with my iPhone, my touch screen is unresponsive, has this happened to anyone else  Joey Martins (@joeymartins1990) August 21, 2016

Just threw my almost brand new iPhone 6 on the floor in a tantrum as touch screen not working. I am officially worse than my 3 year old.  Amy (@MrandMrsTplus3) August 20, 2016

My touch screen on my iPhone stops working at the worst time  Kudo (@Circa_Kudo) August 25, 2016

Touch Disease, as it was labeled by the tech blog iFixit, is defect present on all iPhone 6 and 6 Plus gadgets. It creates an unresponsive screen and basically renders your phone completely unable to do any tasks.

One of the major signs that your frozen phone is affected with Touch Disease is a gray bar on the top of your screen.

Getting very annoyed with my busted iPhone 6 Plus. Grey bar of death at the top and an unresponsive touch screen.  Rob MacLeod (@MacLeod27) August 24, 2016

Macworld points out that this bug unfortunately cant be fixed at the Genius Bar or simply replacing the screen. Even more worrisome is the fact that experts cant seem to pinpoint what exactly causes the issue, which the issue seems to come up from just regular use of the phone. So there could be a lot more users who experience this major issue in the near future.

Story continues

Macworld did say that you may be able to fix the glitch using a third-party, but just be aware that your Apple warranty will no longer be valid if you do so.

not cool

For now, if your device is affected by this so-not-cool issue (and youve tried turning it off, a hard reset, and everything you can possibly think of to fix it), Apple is offering a solution. If you mail in your glitchy phone, theyll send you a new phone.

Hopefully the new iPhone wont have such a serious issues whenever it *finally* gets here.

The post Touch Disease is a thing and its ruining all sorts of iPhones and iPads appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By PTI: Srinagar, Aug 24 (PTI) On a day union Home Minister Rajnath Singh came here, a youth died today in a clash with security forces while 18 security personnel, including three officers, were injured in a militant attack in Kashmir where life remained paralysed for the 47th consecutive day.

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.

advertisement

In a clash between stone-pelting mobs and security forces in Pohu village of Pulwama district this 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, militants targeted security personnel near the Degree College in Pulwama town by hurling a grenade and then firing. 18 security personnel, including a CRPF Commandant, an Additional SP and a DSP, 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 4.00 am tomorrow 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.

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.

Yesterday, 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. PTI SSB MIJ AAR DV AKK AKK

--- ENDS ---

advertisement
By PTI: Washington, Aug 25 (PTI) Zika may linger in the blood of an infected baby for more than two months, suggests a new study from Brazil that raises concerns about the potential of the virus to damage an infants brain even after birth.

Physicians at the Santa Casa de Misericordia and researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil described the case of a baby born with Zika infection in January, who remained infected by the virus even two months and one week after birth.

advertisement

This is the first reported case of prolonged Zika infection in newborns, researchers wrote in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The baby was 3 kg, 48 cm in length at birth, with the head perimeter of 32.5 cm, slightly smaller than the 33cm recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO).

At first, doctors did not detect signs of any neurological abnormality: the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and the exams of the eyes and the ears showed normal results.

Images taken by MRI, though, showed a reduced brain parenchyma, foci of calcification in the subcortical area and compensatory dilation of the supraventricular system.

These results and the fact that the mothers symptoms of Zika infection appeared in the seventh month of pregnancy - when it is thought that the damage to the foetus is less severe than when the infection occurs earlier in pregnancy - led to a first diagnosis of mild microcephaly.

After 54 days of life, the baby showed no illness or neurological impairment. However, at six months, doctors noticed delayed psychomotor development, with an abnormal increase in the muscle tone and reduced muscle stretchability.

Also, spastic hemiplegia (cerebral palsy) was detected. These characteristics imply a more serious condition than diagnosed before, researchers said.

The babys father travelled to the Northeast of Brazil and showed symptoms of Zika before his wife.

It may indicate that the virus could have been sexually transmitted. Serological tests confirmed the infection in both parents, researchers said. PTI SAR SAR

--- ENDS ---
Bringing Silicon Beach to San Francisco Bay



TechCrunch is sending you and a friend (total of 3 winners) from the LA Area to San Francisco via Surf Airs exclusive members-only airline to attend Disrupt SF this September. Upon arrival in San Francisco, youll check-in to your fabulous Marriott Hotel accommodations. After enjoining three days of networking, inspiration and innovation with the tech community at Disrupt SF, youll travel back to LA in style.




Brazils exports of footwear components up 48%

Brazil

Exports of Brazilian footwear components have increased 48% in the first half of 2016 compared with the same period last year, with China, India and Argentina as the key buying countries.

Through the Footwear Components by Brasil Program, carried out by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) in partnership with the Brazilian Association of Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear and Manufactured Goods (Assintecal), total footwear components exports amounted to US$130.2 million, representing a growth rate of 48% year-on-year.

Figures for the first seven months of the year, including July 2016, show a cumulative total of US$158.4 million; a 50% growth compared with the same period in 2015, and an increase of US$52.4 million in exports.

In July 2016 alone, total exports were US$28.2 million in value, representing a 19% increase over the previous month of June, and a 58% increase compared with July 2015.

Between January and July 2016, the Brazilian products were exported to 78 different countries, with China, Argentina and India accounting for nearly 50% of the total.
The earlier crackdown disrupted social media groups and launched criminal cases against dozens of people accused of supporting Western infiltration and undermining Irans Islamic identity through their contributions to a Western-style modelling industry in Iranian cyberspace. It was not immediately clear on Wednesday how many people were expected to face charges over the latest crackdown, or whether the number of affected individuals could be expected to grow in coming days and weeks. But the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boasted that 450 people had been questioned or warned about their activities just over the past few weeks.

Operation Spider II and this latest crackdown now stand as book-ends to a series of other government activities aimed at tightening the regimes control over the flow of information inside Iran. In July, the Basij civilian militia held a ceremony in which some 100,000 satellite dishes and receivers were destroyed. And law enforcement bodies have reportedly continued to actively confiscate dishes since then.

Over the course of the summer, the regime has also added to its volumes of political prisoners, including persons who hold dual nationality in Iran and in Western countries. The US State Department recently issued new travel warnings for American citizens and especially Iranian-Americans in response to the ongoing threat of arbitrary arrest. But many analysts and politicians continue to criticize the Obama administration for a permissive attitude toward Iran, including a tendency to remain silent on human rights issues that do not involve Western nationals.

The Kurdish news website Rudaw contributed to this criticism on Wednesday and extended it to Western countries as a whole. Echoing the sentiment of a variety of human rights organizations and activists, Rudaw argued that the Wests single-minded focus on preservation of last years nuclear agreement has prevented international attention from being focused on politically motivated arrests and Irans world-leading per capita rate of executions.

The article quotes Alex Vatanka of Washingtons Middle East Institute as saying that the human rights record of Iran is not on the top of the list in either Europe or in America, even as Iran appears to be using executions as a show of force in order to push back against domestic dissent. Naturally, the crackdowns on social media and traditional media serve the same purpose. Thus, the latest rounds of summons and arrests can be expected to stand alongside recent mass executions of Kurds and other minorities as fuel for ongoing criticism of the White House.

Meanwhile, in American political circles, that criticisms has in the past couple of weeks been particularly focused on the notion that the Obama administration has essentially encouraged some of Irans worst behavior, for instance by transferring money to the Islamic Republic at the same time that American hostages were released as part of a prisoner swap in January. Congressional Republicans and Obamas other opponents have described this as a ransom, and their account of the exchange was recently reinvigorated by the revelation of a follow-up payment that took place two days after the initial 400 million dollar cash transfer.

The Associated Press reports that on July 19, the administration sent 1.3 billion dollars to Iran to account for the interest portion of a debt settlement agreed between the two parties. Although it was known that the White House planned to pay a total of 1.7 billion dollars, it had not yet been revealed that the full amount was already in Irans hands. The new admissions have raised questions about how the latter transfer was carried out, as well as reiterating previous questions about whether the administration broke US sanctions laws in carrying out the exchange.

Those questions began to gain traction when it was revealed that the 400 million dollars had taken the form of stacks of foreign currency flown into Iran at the same time that three American-Iranian prisoners were flying out. It is not yet clear whether the 1.3 billion follow-up was also carried out in cash or as a more traditional bank transfer. If the latter is the case, it will undermine the White Houses claim that an initial cash payment was necessary in light of ongoing enforcement of laws barring contact between the Iranian and American financial systems.

But some critics of the Obama administration, including Kansas Republican Representative Mike Pompeo, have insisted that a cash delivery would be no more legally permissible than a direct transfer. Thus it is clear that the administration will be open to more intense scrutiny regardless of its answer to the question of how the 1.3 billion dollars was delivered. But it is also clear that answers to that question will not be forthcoming. The Washington Free Beacon reported on Wednesday that the White House was stonewalling an official inquiry seeking details of the second transfer.

Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal blog by post noted that Congress is still planning a hearing on the topic sometime in September. If this goes forward, it seems likely that there will be a great deal of discussion of the factual details of the incident even before Congress and the Obama administration discuss whether laws were broken or whether the money constituted a ransom for American prisoners. But the Wall Street Journal post claims that the issue of a paying for hostages may turn out to be the least of US concerns in the aftermath of the inquiry.

The author, Aaron David Miller, argues that the supposed debt-settlement will serve as another in a series of indicators of the US governments weakness in its dealings with Tehran. In other words, Miller suggests that the White Houses dedication to the nuclear agreement is not only making it less inclined to confront Iran over human rights abuses; it is also makes the White House fundamentally constrained by ascending Iranian power in the Middle East in general.

This type of criticism is quite familiar, and it appears to continually deepen with the advent of new information. For instance, a new book by Wall Street Journal reported Jay Solomon suggests that the Obama administration has been weak in its handling of Iran since even before nuclear negotiations were formalized. Bloomberg, in its review of Solomons The Iran Wars, explains that President Obama reportedly ordered the CIA to sever contacts with the reformist Green Movement in the wake of the massive protests against the disputed reelection of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

Solomon emphasizes that this move was apparently motivated by Obamas preference for pursuing a nuclear agreement with the existing regime, as opposed to pursuing a policy that might have led in the direction of regime change. Bloomberg suggests that the current situation in Iran and the Middle East might be much different if the White House had taken a different tack. But even if this is not the case, it appears that the neglect of the Green Movement set the stage for the current situation of apparent neglect for political imprisonment and other persistent human rights violations.
Stevenson, who was a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2014, said: The countrys infrastructure is crumbling and major cities like Baghdad have less than 2 hours of electricity supply daily. The gravity of the crisis is such that many Iraqis are now wondering where 13 years of oil income worth hundreds of billions of dollars has gone.

He notes that the corruption began with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who received the backing of the UN, the EU and the US despite warnings against it. Stevenson said that Maliki was controlled by the despotic Iranian Regime; including opening a route for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to enter Syria in order to bolster the Assad Regime and slaughter the Syrian people.

Stevenson, the former President of the European Parliaments Delegation for Relations with Iraq, argues that Malikis genocide of Iraqi Sunnis, which the Iranian Regime assisted in, is one of the causes for the spread of Daesh/ISIS in the area.

He also states the Maliki robbed Iraq of its oil wealth and continues to undermine the stability of the government of his successor, Haider al-Abadi.

He said:The Iraqi Commission of Integrity told the Parliament in Baghdad last year that Maliki stole a staggering $500 billion during his term in office between 2006 and 2014And yet the West insisted Maliki should remain as Prime minister, because he was the favoured candidate of the mullahs in Tehran and the UN, US and EU couldnt contemplate doing anything that might upset the mullahs.

According to Transparency International, Iraq is now considered as the third most corrupt country in the world, which backs up a statement by the former Vice President of Iraq, Ayad Allawi.

Allawi said: There are organised corruption syndicates running the country, let alone militias. I tell you very frankly, no Iraqi power can take action on this. [When he presented a plan to audit Iraqs books, he] was met by silence and blank stares. It was like a bomb went off in the room.

Abadi has attempted to expose government corruption and hold the guilty to account; actions which are encouraged by Iraqs revered religious leader, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose disapproval of cheating government officials is a central theme in his Friday sermons.

However, according to Stevenson, Abadi still has a long way to go.

Stevenson said: After 13 years of venal corruption, the concept of liberty has become almost as rare to Iraqis as the concept of peace. Corruption has brought Iraq to its knees and only a major onslaught against the criminal classes will have any chance of restoring order. Haider al-Abadi must start by ordering the arrest of his predecessor Nouri al-Maliki on charges of crimes against humanity, dishonesty and corruption. He should then systematically root out the senior government ministers, military chiefs and religious leaders who have robbed Iraq of its oil wealth and hold them to account. Only then, can there be any hope of restoring law and order and stability to the affairs of state.
About Me

Name: Carl in Jerusalem Location: Jerusalem, Israel

I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com

View my complete profile
[August 24, 2016] IBM Named a Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for its Flash Storage Solutions

ARMONK, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) has been recognized as a Leader for Flash Storage in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Solid-State Arrays (SSA).1 According to Gartner, "Vendors in the Leaders quadrant have the highest scores for their Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision. A vendor in the Leaders quadrant has the market share, credibility, and marketing and sales capabilities needed to drive the acceptance of new technologies. These vendors demonstrate a clear understanding of market needs; they are innovators and thought leaders; and they have well-articulated plans that customers and prospects can use when designing their storage infrastructures and strategies. In addition, they have a presence in the five major geographical regions, consistent financial performance and broad platform support." IBM's position as a leader comes after it announced the expansion of its FlashSystem portfolio, including DeepFlash and Storwize products, to help clients more quickly extract value from data for competitive advantage. Among the 380 patents that differentiate IBM's flash products and services are its FlashCore and MicroLatency technologies. Clients rely on these technologies to quickly access the mounting volumes. For example, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital (Henry Mayo), a not-for-profit community hospital and trauma center in Valencia, California, needed to imlement a storage solution that would deliver faster access to patient data for their electronic health records (EHRs) system. Henry Mayo required a solution for its medical teams who perform a wide range of healthcare and outpatient surgical services.



After thorough testing of information systems software, MEDITECH, Henry Mayo selected a combination of IBM flash technologies. To quickly access EHRs, the hospital selected IBM's FlashSystem V9000 all-flash array. The solution also includes the VersaStack converged infrastructure platform by IBM and Cisco using IBM's Storwize V7000 hybrid storage array. Key to its decision was that the IBM arrays would provide security through hardware level encryption and deliver the hospital's database administrators a single dashboard into its storage assets. "From arrival to aftercare, our medical teams are constantly viewing and updating EHRs, so delays or interruptions to retrieving data can directly affect their care, which is why we were committed to MEDITECH and wanted to deploy its latest release," said Cindy Peterson, Vice President/CIO, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. "It was therefore particularly important to implement IBM's FlashSystem V9000, which our testing proved could be relied upon for quick access of patient information."

Physicians at Henry Mayo are now able to access patient records more quickly, which helps them make faster, high-quality clinical decisions without delay. As a result, they may be able to spend more time with patients, leading to enriched patient care and improved outcomes. "Whether it's a hospital or retail organization, organizations across the globe understand the value that fast and reliable access to data will provide," said Michael Kuhn, Vice President of Offering Management, Storage Solutions. "Achieving this requires technology found in IBM's FlashSystem portfolio, which is proven to dramatically accelerate the movement of data when and where it is needed, while delivering the reliability and availability to keep data always accessible." We believe client testimonials like this help support the Gartner recognition. For more information about IBM Flash Storage, visit www.ibm.com/storage/flash and follow us on Twitter @IBMStorage. 1 Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Solid-State Arrays, August 22, 2016 Market Share Analysis: SSDs and Solid-State Arrays, Worldwide, 2015, Published: 19 May 2016 ID: G00296794, Analyst(s): Joseph Unsworth | John Monroe Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO Media contact:

Greg Vitarelli

(617) 455-9627

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-named-a-leader-in-gartners-magic-quadrant-for-its-flash-storage-solutions-300317910.html SOURCE IBM

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 24, 2016] Fitch Affirms Palestine ISD, TX's ULT Bonds at 'AA-'; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the 'AA-' ratings on the following Palestine Independent School District, TX (the district) bonds: --Issuer Default Rating (IDR); --$107 million outstanding unlimited tax general obligation (ULT) bonds; -- $6.2 million in outstanding maintenance tax notes, taxable series 2014. The Rating Outlook is Stable. SECURITY The ULT bonds are payable from an unlimited property tax levied against all taxable property within the district and 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). Maintenance tax notes are secured by a limited (operating) ad valorem tax pledge levied against all taxable property within the district, which cannot exceed $1.17 per $100 taxable assessed valuation (TAV). KEY RATING DRIVERS The 'AA-' IDR reflects the district's sound overall financial profile and limited economic base. The district's strong operating profile is supported by considerable expenditure flexibility and strong gap-closing capacity. Flat enrollment performance and ongoing population declines drive Fitch's expectation for slow revenue growth going forward. The district's moderate long-term liability burden is expected to remain manageable, given limited near-term capital plans. Economic Resource Base The district is located in Anderson County approximately 95 miles southeast of Dallas and 135 miles north of Houston. The city of Palestine serves as the district's population center and commercial hub. The enrollment base is small at 3,385 students in fiscal 2016. The area's economy is mainly rural and agricultural with below average socio-economic indicators. Assessed value (AV) has increased at a modest pace in recent years, suggesting slow but consistent economic growth. Revenue Framework: 'bbb' factor assessment A combination of local property taxes and state aid supports district operations. Slow revenue growth is expected to continue, given historical performance and modest enrollment growth forecasts, given ongoing population declines. 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 manageable near-term capital needs. The district's low carrying costs reflect state support for retiree benefits, bolstering spending flexibility. Long-Term Liability Burden: 'aa' factor assessment The combined burden of long-term debt and pension liabilities absorbs a moderate share of local personal income. Fitch expects debt levels to remain manageable, given the district's use of current resources to fund capital needs. Retiree benefit obligations do not represent a significant burden on the district. Operating Performance: 'aaa' factor assessment The 'aaa' operating performance assessment reflects the district's strong reserve funding levels relative to Fitch's expectations of revenue sensitivity, and a significant 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 currently strong expenditure flexibility and sound reserve levels, which Fitch expects it to maintain through a typical economic cycle. Draws on reserves beyond those currently expected could result in downward rating pressure. CREDIT PROFILE 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 distrct).



Approximately 55% of district operating revenues come from state aid, with the remainder generated by local property tax revenues. Enrollment, which is a key component of state funding, has registered minimal over the last decade, driving slow revenue performance. Expectations for future revenue growth will hinge largely on enrollment trends, as the district's tax rate for operations cannot be increased without voter approval. District revenues have grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 2.5% over the last decade, performing modestly above national CPI and below GDP growth. Fitch expects the natural pace of district revenue growth in future years to mirror or lag behind historical performance, given the expectations for slow enrollment growth and ongoing population declines in recent years. 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 current maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate of $1.17 per $100 TAV is at the statutory cap. The district levies a separate, unlimited debt service tax rate of $0.40 per $100 TAV, near the statutory cap of $0.50 per $100 TAV that cannot be exceeded for new debt issuances. Expenditure Framework The district spends most of its operating budget on instruction, while also funding some annual capital outlay from general fund resources for maintenance and repairs on facilities. Fitch expects the natural pace of spending growth to remain commensurate with revenues absent policy action. 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. The district's significant expenditure flexibility reflects substantial control over workforce costs, and very low carrying costs for debt service, pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) of 12.7% of fiscal 2015 governmental spending. Carrying costs benefit from state support for both debt service and the vast majority of school district pension and OPEB costs. Long-Term Liability Burden The district's long-term liability burden is very moderate at 10.4% of total personal income, and is made up almost entirely by the district's slow-amortizing outstanding debt load. The district's limited capital needs indicate that debt levels will likely remain low for the foreseeable future. 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 has maintained a financial cushion at robust levels despite recessionary pressures and state funding cuts, garnering an 'aaa' assessment. Fitch believes the district would use its considerable expenditure flexibility to maintain a satisfactory level of financial flexibility in a moderate economic decline scenario. The district has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting financial flexibility. Budgeting is conservative and management has been proactive in using excess revenues to limit debt issuance and boost reserves. The district used general fund resources to fund capital projects in fiscal 2015, reducing fund balance to $9 million, or a healthy 30.5% of spending. The district projects breakeven results in fiscal 2016 with similar results budgeted for fiscal 2017. 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=1010762 Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1010762 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/20160824006153/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[August 25, 2016] VMworld 2016: DataCore Introduces Second-Generation Universal VVols Software Functionality, Certified by VMware to Manage All Types of Storage

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DataCore Software today unveiled the second generation of its universal vSphere Virtual Volumes (VVols) software technology. DataCore is the only VMware-certified software vendor supporting universal VVols functionality, and these powerful new capabilities allow VVols to work across a wide diversity of other vendors solutions and all types of storage (disk subsystems, flash/SSD arrays, DAS, etc.). With VVols, server administrators can create policies and self-provision storage that suits their needs. DataCore adds the ability to provide a universal control plane that allows the instrumentation and administration of virtual machine-based storage policies to be easily managed across a mix of new and existing storage infrastructure investments from one or many vendors. This improves operational efficiency through a common management and policy platform where data services and performance service level demands are decoupled from any underlying deficiencies. "DataCore is a great example of a company that has taken the powerful capabilities of what VMware has done with VVols and developed a software-based universal control plane so VVols can be used by a wider-base of customers and architectures," said Rawlinson Rivera, principal architect, office of CTO at VMware. The challenges of managing storage for virtual environments have driven the need for simple policy based techniques and VMware's VVols technology has proven to be a major advance forward. However, many existing and current storage offerings are not yet VVols certified. Even with a growing number of storage vendors providing VVols support, each has their own offering and enterprises can face the issue of having multiple VASA (VMware vSphere API for Storage Awareness) providers. The misalignments created as different generations or storage from multiple vendors occupying the datacenter can lead to a sprawl of provider and storage silos. DataCore delivers a software-based VVols VASA provider, so that vSphere high availability and/or multiple VASA provider installations can provide full redundancy and availability across a full heterogeneous environment. DataCore's implementation of VVols creates a storage services platform that unifies data storage resources whether they are SAN, converged, hyper-converged or cloud. This provides one set of universal storage services across all storage devices regardless of type -- internal or external based storage. As a result, diverse storage platforms re now able to communicate seamlessly, reducing complexity and improving operational efficiency.



For example, DataCore's universal VVols VASA provider empowers vSphere administrators to allocate datastores from Western Digital's SanDisk InfiniFlash platforms using familiar VM provisioning and storage allocations without any special training on SanDisk or DataCore technologies. Behind the scenes, DataCore SANsymphony software pools capacity from multiple high-density InfiniFlash systems and synchronously mirrors data across them for high-availability. "By using DataCore's software, vSphere administrators can easily see and manage multiple petabytes of high-performance storage for rapidly expanding at-scale datacenters," said Gary Lyng, senior director of marketing, Data Center Systems business unit, Western Digital. "In addition, multiple SanDisk InfiniFlash platforms can be added economically and non-disruptively to fully redundant storage pools supporting growing high-performance and massive capacity demands of hyperscale and cloud customers."

The vendors that have no plans to support VVols in their current architecture simply cannot afford to retrofit equipment with the new VM-aware schema. DataCore software allows VVols to work universally across all types of storage -- regardless of whether the systems support VVols or not. This enables enterprises to benefit from VVols on popular storage systems and all flash arrays simply by layering storage virtualization software in front of them. As a result, vSphere administrators can self-provision virtual volumes from virtual storage pools  they can specify the capacity and class of service without having to know anything about the hardware. "The 'universalism in the datacenter' that DataCore is providing with its universal VVols support greatly improves storage provisioning, resulting in numerous benefits, including VM policy automation, a more logical process in setting up virtual machines, and the proper alignment of resources to storage demands," said Todd Mace, tech evangelist for DataCore Software. "We are enabling our customers to extract the maximum value out of their legacy storage and arrays even if their equipment does not yet support VVols." The benefits of using DataCore's universal VVols software technology include:



Only one VASA provider is needed for all disparate arrays

No firmware upgrades or special licensing is needed to support storage

Local storage and external array are fully supported with VVols

All FibreChannel and iSCSI based storage can now be VVols capable

Virtual Machine migrations VMFS > VVols or vice-versa are fully supported with no application down time

Full availability and redundancy for VASA providers

Up to 16,000 VVols per Protocol Endpoint are supported DataCore also now includes enhanced support for VVols' VM-centric storage policy-based management (SPBM) using multi-tiered storage pools. The new virtual disk templates can be tailored to establish different classes of service (storage profiles) that the vSphere administrators can choose from when creating virtual machines (VMs) or adding disks to those VMs. DataCore software becomes a universal adapter, providing universal data services where virtual machines can be based on a defined policy or through virtual machine provisioning when using SPBM. The data services that DataCore currently supports is aligned with the vSphere certification for the current VVols framework including multi-writer support, deduplication support, synchronous mirroring support, snapshot support and caching support. DataCore will be demonstrating its universal VVols software technology in booth #2406 at VMworld 2016, taking place from Aug 28, 2016 - Sept 1, 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Conference Center in Las Vegas. About DataCore DataCore is the leading provider of Software-Defined Storage and Adaptive Parallel I/O Software  harnessing today's powerful and cost-efficient server platforms to solve the IT industry's biggest storage problem, the I/O bottleneck. Visit http://www.datacore.com or call (877) 780-5111 for more information. DataCore, the DataCore logo and SANsymphony are trademarks or registered trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. Other DataCore product or service names or logos referenced herein are trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. SanDisk and InfiniFlash are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other products, services and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. CONTACT

For media & PR inquiries:

SVM on behalf of DataCore

Jill Colna or Sarah Anderson

401.490.9700

[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160329/348779LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vmworld-2016-datacore-introduces-second-generation-universal-vvols-software-functionality-certified-by-vmware-to-manage-all-types-of-storage-300318340.html SOURCE DataCore Software

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
SHELBYVILLE -- A desire to provide students with a good education and keep them living and working in Central Illinois when they grow up has an area school district partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a variety of projects at Lake Shelbyville.

Okaw Valley Superintendent of Schools Kent Stauder, along with high school and middle school principals Matt Shoaff and Ross Forlines, unveiled their Community Occupational Research Partnership at the Lake Shelbyville Visitors Center on Tuesday.

The agreement, signed by Okaw Valley and Col. Anthony Mitchell, the Corps' St. Louis District commander, gives the school access to 40 acres of land surrounding Lake Shelbyville for four years and provides opportunities for students to study agriculture, science, technology, engineering and math using real-life situations.

Over half of Americans never move more than 18 miles from where they grew up, Forlines said. Our students can stay here if we can prepare them to work in good jobs.

Stauder said administrators first discussed the plan early in the year. After contacting the Corps and getting encouragement, the three administrators, all of whom grew up in the area, used community connections to make the project a reality.

It was 17 days from inception to actual work, Forlines said. Students worked at Forrest 'Bo' Woods campground getting it ready for the spring season. We had so many partners offering to help us with the equipment we needed.

The students received two 20-acre plots to work with. One, OV Point near Findlay, is a mini ecosystem with students studying pollination and natural development to create a wildlife area. The other is a crop field with local businesses providing equipment, seed, fertilizers and other farming implements.

Donors also provided students with trail cameras, chain saws, and trimming tools. Administrators said they want every student at Okaw Valley to have access to the projects.

This beautiful area is in our backyard, said freshman Paige Coleman, 14. We can use it to our advantage to learn but also to help protect it and be good stewards.

It made sense for us to be involved, said donor Jeff Sloan of Sloan Implement in Assumption. We want to hire from a local pool of applicants.

Mitchell congratulated the students and educators for creating the project.

This is truly amazing to see and hear. The level of commitment, the energy and drive far exceeds anything I could have imagined, he said. We have plenty of land and to make it a living classroom is one of the best uses I can think of.
Yes, Simon's Cat is between the covers again The new book is called Simon's Cat vs the World and you can win your own copy, acco...
COLUMBUS  Daniels Produce will pay $250,000 in back wages to workers for violating the temporary work visa program.

The Columbus business must 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.
The Time Warner Cable brand and programming will disappear from Lincoln and southeast Nebraska by next summer at the latest.

Charter Communications, which bought both Time Warner and Bright House Networks earlier this year, said earlier this month that it will start transitioning markets later this year to its Spectrum brand and complete the transition by June.

Charter CEO Thomas Rutledge, in a conference call with financial analysts on Aug. 9, said more than 40 percent of the markets the company acquired will transition to Charter's Spectrum programming and packaging, and the rest of the markets will transition in the first half of 2017.

Rutledge gave no hint as to what markets will transition first, and the company said no information was available on when changes will come to Lincoln.

He also said the company will start transitioning Time Warner Cable business products to the Spectrum brand early next year.

Charter also has plans to convert all Time Warner Cable markets to digital starting next year. That process will take until the end of 2018, Rutledge said.

Once the company goes all digital, there will be no more analog channels and customers will have to have a converter box for each TV in their home. It also means all channels will be in high definition.

Based on the prices on its website, Charter appears to offer prices and packages similar to what Time Warner offers now in Lincoln, although speeds for its standard broadband internet are faster.

Windstream's Kinetic TV service is all digital, as is Allo Communications' service, which should be available to the first Lincoln customers within the next few weeks.
Legislative leaders are seeking more detail on why Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson's office chose not to file criminal charges against state Sen. Bill Kintner.

Kintner was fined $1,000 by the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission  a civil penalty  for misusing government property after he acknowledged using his state-owned laptop to have cybersex with a stranger last year.

The same state law that allowed for the civil penalty also includes a potential misdemeanor criminal charge, punishable by three months in jail and an additional $500 fine.

Peterson's office has said it did not charge Kintner because the misuse took place in Boston, outside Nebraska's jurisdiction.

Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley and Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers questioned that conclusion last week as members of the Legislature's Executive Board met to consider taking action against Kintner. The board will meet again Monday.

In the meantime, Executive Board Chairman Bob Krist has requested more information on the attorney general's review of the case.

"We would appreciate clarification as to why if Nebraska criminal statutes do not apply in this situation, then how can the laws and sanctions found in the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act apply?" Krist wrote in a letter to Peterson dated Aug. 19.

Peterson's office was still compiling a response to similar questions Wednesday from the Journal Star.

Chambers has called for an "objective" review of Kintner's case by attorneys outside Peterson's office.

Speaking of Kintner, Chambers said Friday, "When he brought that (laptop) back to Nebraska, he brought that misuse with him."
Two Georgia residents were arrested by Lincoln police after allegedly using stolen credit cards in local stores.

Christopher Morrison, 30, and Lotoya Furlow, 28, were found sitting in a car at SouthPointe Pavilions at 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday. Officer Katie Flood said police found 10 cloned credit cards in the car along with items they purchased with those cards, mainly gift cards to area businesses.

Police were notified by a store employee about possible fraudulent credit card use at the mall, who said the pair's behavior was suspicious.

The total loss to businesses was $3,231. Flood said police don't know if the victims of credit card cloning are from Lincoln.

Both were arrested on suspicion of criminal possession of a financial transaction device. Both remained jailed Thursday morning.
The prison where inmates attacked and injured nine staff members Wednesday evening needs a bigger staffing boost than any other Nebraska prison.

A six-person review team reached that conclusion following a yearlong study of staffing at Nebraska prisons, which ended this summer, the Journal Star has learned.

Across the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, the review team requested 138 new full-time custody positions  an $11 million to $14 million expense  for an agency that is already struggling to fill existing vacancies.

Nearly a third of that figure, 44 positions, would be for additional custody staff at the Lincoln Correctional Center, according to a summary of the review team's findings.

"While adding employees does not necessarily increase safety, a strong visible command and control of the facility has the ability to improve officer and inmate safety," the summary reads.

Late Thursday, Gov. Pete Ricketts told lawmakers he would consider raising salaries for corrections workers and making other changes to address retention if union leaders agreed to renegotiate their contract.

"We will be seeking additional flexibility to reward and retain job performers, increase base salaries, and provide alternative shifts," the governor said in a letter to legislative leaders.

Ricketts said he reached out to Mike Marvin, executive director of the state employee union, to immediately begin labor negotiations for corrections staff, independent of other state workers.

Lincoln Correctional Center was fully staffed at the time of Wednesday's incident, but a spokeswoman said some corrections officers were working overtime due to vacancies.

Rescue workers swarmed the medium/maximum security prison near Pioneers Park, at 3216 W. Van Dorn St., on Wednesday after a group of inmates refused to leave an isolated yard on the prison grounds and return to their cells shortly after 6 p.m., said prison spokeswoman Tammy Kluver. One inmate hit a staffer and others followed, assaulting several corrections officers and caseworkers before being restrained.

Nine staff members were taken to the hospital, treated and released overnight.

On Thursday, Corrections Director Scott Frakes said the incident "cannot be attributed to crowding or staffing levels."

"Inmates made the choice to harm staff," he said in a statement.

But key state lawmakers said violence at Nebraska's prisons appears to be getting worse.

"My overall concern is that it's escalating," said Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings, who heads the Legislature's Judiciary Committee along with a special committee investigating problems within the state Corrections Department.

Members of the special committee will quiz Frakes about staffing issues during a public hearing Aug. 31. Wednesday's violence will undoubtedly come up.

About a dozen inmates involved in the incident had been identified by early Thursday, Kluver said. They were placed in a segregated area, and the prison was locked down.

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol were reviewing video footage of the incident and working to determine if other inmates were involved, Kluver said. She confirmed they were looking into whether an inmate triggered the incident because he was upset about being transferred to another prison.

No injuries to inmates were reported.

One female staffer suffered "a pretty good cut to her head that they ended up stapling," Kluver said. She described the other injuries as cuts, swollen faces and sore backs.

State Sen. Colby Coash, whose Lincoln district includes the Lincoln Correctional Center, said he was told late Wednesday that "all hell (was) breaking loose" there.

"It's time to start listening to the line staff about what they need. They are the ones getting hurt," Coash said. "The ones I talk to don't feel listened to."

The governor canceled a town hall meeting scheduled in Lexington on Thursday to meet with Frakes and corrections staff, including some who were injured.

Coash said he was pleased with Thursday's announcement that Ricketts would consider a new labor deal with prison workers.

"I encourage the union to come to the table immediately and start to work these things out," Coash said. "It's a great start. And it needs to happen tomorrow."

Marvin, the union leader, couldn't immediately be reached late Thursday.

"It's getting frustrating because this just happens more and more and more," Marvin said earlier in response to Wednesday's assault.

Over the weekend, an inmate wrapped his arms around a staffer's neck at Lincoln Correctional Center, causing injury. The previous weekend, staff there used pepper spray to subdue an inmate after he began punching a caseworker in the head.

And earlier this month, an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary punched a corrections officer in the face and then hit two other officers who intervened. That incident, on Aug. 9, came a week after a tower guard at the penitentiary fired a warning shot to disperse inmates who had converged on staff and refused to leave the yard.

"The department seems to have no plan for how to deal with the escalating violence of the inmates," Marvin said.

Such incidents have a physical impact on those involved, but the mental toll can affect every corrections staffer, he said.

"You see your friend go down and then you start wondering, is it going to happen to me?" Marvin said. "I just don't think that these people are getting the mental support that they need."

The Corrections Department did provide counselors at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution following a Mother's Day riot there in 2015. That incident left two inmates dead and resulted in extensive reviews of safety and staffing within the state prison system.

By then, Nebraska's correctional system was already under scrutiny because of prison overcrowding and hundreds of inmates who were released early because of mistakes in calculating their sentences.

Lincoln Correctional Center is designed to hold 308 adult male inmates, but on Wednesday night it had 506 in custody.

The Corrections Department's latest update in June listed 252 unfilled positions across the prison system.

Fred Britten, who replaced former Warden Mario Peart at Lincoln Correctional Center after two convicted sex offenders escaped from the prison in June, complimented staff on their handling of Wednesday's incident and called violence against them "unacceptable."

Frakes said the Corrections Department is doing everything it can to prevent assaults on staff.

"We are thankful the staff members were released from the hospital and able to go home last night," he said.
Inmates refusing to return to their cells assaulted nine staff members Wednesday evening at the Lincoln Correctional Center, the Nebraska Department of Corrections said.

All nine were taken to local hospitals -- six by ambulance and three by state vehicle -- said prisons spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith. All were expected to be released soon.

No inmates were hospitalized, and Smith said she was unaware whether any were injured.

Rescue workers first responded around 6:40 p.m. to the medium/maximum security prison, located at 3216 West Van Dorn St., after the inmates refused to return to their cells.

Smith didn't say how many inmates were involved or where the incident took place within the prison grounds. She said staff reacted quickly and contained the situation.

Several staff members were pepper-sprayed in the assault, according to 911 radio traffic.

Lincoln Correctional Center spokeswoman Tammy Kluver told reporters the prison would remain on lockdown overnight. State troopers blocked off the prison entrance for about two hours after the incident.

A spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts referred questions to the Corrections Department.

Wednesday's assaults came just three days after an inmate wrapped his arms around a staffer's neck at the same prison, causing injury. Earlier this month, staff there used pepper spray to subdue an inmate after he began punching a caseworker in the head.

The facility for adult males opened in August 1979. It was operating at 163.6 percent of its design capacity in June and has been without permanent leadership for more than two months.

Fred Britten was appointed interim warden after former Warden Mario Peart was reassigned, then retired following the June 10 escape of two convicted sex offenders.

Escapee Armon Dixon was recaptured a day later after physically assaulting two women at a central Lincoln apartment complex. Timothy Clausen was arrested in Omaha on June 15.

Wednesday's violence is the latest in a series of incidents at Nebraska prisons since a riot erupted at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in May 2015. The Mother's Day riot left two inmates dead and resulted in extensive reviews of safety and staffing within the state prison system.

Even then, Nebraska's correctional system was already under scrutiny because of prison overcrowding and hundreds of inmates who were released early because of mistakes in calculating their sentences.
They waited patiently, lining up hours before the doors were to open.

The wait was long, but the gratitude showed by the patients only grew with time -- big hugs, kisses on the cheek and God bless yous."

From July 30 to Aug. 10, four University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate students in audiology worked to fit hearing aids in conditions they werent accustomed to. Their work took them to Nicaragua.

Stacie Ray, an associate professor of practice in the Department of Special Education and Communications Disorders at UNL, started HearU Nebraska in 2007. The program within the University of Nebraska Foundation provides hearing aids to children whose families cant afford them.

Last summer Ray and Hannah Ditmars, assistant professor of practice of audiology, visited Nicaragua for a needs assessment, and they couldnt ignore the lack of hearing care. They saw an opportunity to expand the program.

Theres only one full-time audiologist in the country of over 6 million people, Ray said. We really found out that hearing health care is nonexistent in the country.

And we thought, Well, lets see what we can do about that, Ditmars added.

They launched HearU International and with the help of a seed grant through the College of Education and Human Sciences, four students and the two professors set out for Central America this summer.

All hearing aids, ear molds, supplies -- everything needed to assist patients in Nicaragua -- were paid for through private Nebraska donors.

"I think thats pretty cool," Ray said. "Were representing Nebraska to its core. Were giving people, were a giving community, were a giving state. Were able to go share that now with people in Nicaragua."

They worked in three communities -- Jinotega, Leon and Quezalguaque, a town they believe has never had a hearing health care provider. The students did screenings, diagnostic tests and fit hearing aids at each stop. They saw 140 individuals and fit 115 for hearing aids -- beating their goal of 80. Ages served ranged from three months to those in their 90s.

The group did the most they could to cut down costs, working with the nonprofit International Humanitarian Hearing Aid Purchasing Program to buy hearing aids with simpler technology. According to the students who tested them, they work just as well as newer versions.

For around $250 per child, they were able to provide two hearing aids, two ear molds, care kits and a year's supply of batteries.

The challenges went beyond lining up supplies. Communication, given the profound hearing loss in some patients, the Spanish language and sign language unique to the Central American country, drew students out of their comfort zone.

It seems like in school Ive been focusing on myself a lot because I need to get through and get my degree, said Chad Bailey, a second year audiology graduate student. I spend a little more time thinking about how Im being evaluated than the patients sometimes.

"In Nicaragua, you really thought about the patients and you could really see how you had grown in school.

Their work isn't done. The group's main focus was sustainability -- making sure the patients are able to maintain hearing care. So they're staying in touch with the nurses and technicians they trained.

"So many groups tend to wanna just go and make their mark, but then they dont come back," Ray said.

Eventually, Ray and Ditmars would like to create a curriculum to train Central America citizens on more advanced hearing care.

Thats our dream, Ray said, with a laugh. Im hoping that they continue doing this long after I retire, and that they find another community and just keep building it.

To donate to HearU Nebraska, contact Todd Mattox at the University of Nebraska Foundation, 402-458-1238, or todd.mattox@nufoundation.org.
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? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy
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.

Weve 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 doesnt, then suddenly, I have sold out.

When this is all over, he mused, we have to go back. Theres got to be a reckoning on all this. Weve created this monster.

At a certain point," he added, "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, whens the last time you heard someone on the left called an arch liberal?

Thats 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.

Its gratifying to hear Sykes admit conservative culpability, but any temptation to gloat is drowned by the reality of Americas plight. Dont forget: Weve 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.
In the original version of this movie, set on the banks of the Potomac, one political party had control of the executive branch. The other party controlled the legislative branch.

They bickered, conspired among themselves and expended vast quantities of energy trying to make the other side look bad. Eventually, government ground to a near halt while problems festered in the hinterlands.

Now a sequel is playing on the banks of Salt Creek, where Mayor Chris Beutler, a Democrat, has vetoed the budget approved by an all-Republican majority of the City Council.

As Shakespeare wrote, A pox on both your houses.

As we opined earlier, if forced to choose between the budget approved by the council and the one proposed by Beutler, we prefer Beutlers. The mayor is right that it addresses problems including the pending devastation of the emerald ash borer now, rather than kicking the can down the road, to use a phrase that has been worn out by Washington.

But theres enough blame to go around for the dismal state of affairs at City Hall. The Beutler administration certainly should have informed the council about the $1.1 million federal grant awarded Aug. 12 that might be used to pay the salaries of firefighters. The grant had obvious budget implications.

Meanwhile Republican Party operative Coby Mach is preaching to the choir on his radio talk show on KLIN, egging on the four Republican council members and sowing bad blood.

Things could get even worse if the four stage a legal battle over whether they have the right to pass a tax rate lower than required by the mayors budget. That move would take dissension in City Hall to an entirely new level.

We hope they dont.

As issues go, this one is relatively minor. Its uncertain whether the mayors tax hike will even show up when the overall tax rate, including all taxing entities, is calculated a few weeks from now.

It should be reiterated that the mayor and all seven council members were elected on a ballot that did not identify them by party. Partisan advantage should not be part of the equation at City Hall.

In the city of Lincoln, a fast-growing political affiliation is nonpartisan. Last we checked on active voters in the Capital City, there were 64,646 Republicans, 60,942 Democrats, 1,254 Libertarians and 34,228 nonpartisans.

In other words, about one in five active voters in Lincoln is registered nonpartisan.

When the conversation turns to government, those are the folks we want to sit with at Saturday morning coffee, see on the next bar stool and chat with on the church steps after services. May their numbers continue to grow.
As a periodontist in Lincoln, I need to say this to those who rejoiced at the recent Associated Press report that found little scientific evidence backing the effectiveness of flossing: You should definitely still floss ("An Olympics for flossing? Id win the gold," Aug. 9).

While brushing removes plaque from the surface of your teeth, its the plaque and debris that gather in the hard-to-reach spaces between the teeth and along the gum line that can be rather insidious if a person is not flossing regularly. Prolonged exposure to plaque buildup can incite an inflammatory response in the gums, one that often leads to gum disease. This can then erode the bone supporting the teeth, leading to tooth loss. With a large body of research linking it to such systemic conditions as diabetes and heart disease, periodontal disease can go beyond the mouth and affect a persons overall well being.

Heres what we need to understand about the AP report: A lack of high-quality evidence is not proof of ineffectiveness. Much of the literature cited in the report was poorly designed. An ideal investigation of the effect of flossing on gum health -- research that has not yet occurred likely due to considerable expense -- would require thousands of participants and, because gum disease progresses slowly, would need to occur over the course of at least 10 years.

Until research like this is conducted, my fellow periodontists and I encourage Americans to floss on!

John Rutledge, DDS, MS, Lincoln
I was impressed by Donald Trump's diligence and imagination when he went hunting for four Nebraskans to serve on his ag committee ("Five Nebraskans on Trump ag team," Aug. 17).

Trumps campaign searched far and wide, across the breadth of Nebraska, to find four guys who would represent the states ag diversity on the committee.

First, the Trump campaign went to Falls City, where it found Charles Herbster, owner of the Conklin manufacturing company and one-time contender for governor of Nebraska.

Next, the Trump campaign went to Falls City where it found Dave Heineman, former Nebraska governor -- who now works for Herbster.

Then the Trump campaign went to Falls City where it found Beau McCoy, a Heineman clone who ran for governor on the checkbook of Charles Herbster -- and now works for Herbster.

Somehow, the Trump campaign got sidetracked and stopped in Lincoln to pick up Gov. Pete Ricketts, who has never lived or worked in Falls City but did include Falls City on his 2016 ag tour.

At least a tiny fraction of the state should be well-served on Trump's committee.

Bill Eddy, Lincoln
OMAHA Another one of the nine former Winnebago Tribal Council members charged in federal court with theft of tribal funds has pleaded not guilty.

Eight of the defendants have now pleaded not guilty. Thirty-eight-year-old Travis Mallory entered his not guilty plea on Wednesday.

The initial hearing for 70-year-old Morgan Earth has been delayed.

Prosecutors said the officials siphoned $327,500 over two years from the tribe's WinneVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. They took the money in the form of gift certificates and pre-paid debit cards issued by the casino.

All nine individuals were indicted last month after an FBI investigation.
A new school year means more children have increased access to regular meals. During the summer, food was not a certainty for 20,940 children who live in Southeast Nebraska. That is the estimated number of children who live in Food Bank of Lincolns 16-county service area and who are considered food insecure, according to a Feeding America study. The Food Bank of Lincoln collaborates with more than 90 schools to provide food to children and families who need it.

We are anxious to begin another school year, said the Food Banks Youth and Family Programs Director Alynn Sampson, because we know it can be a long summer for families who have found themselves with limited or reduced access to consistent meals. It brings some relief to know these programs are available and can offer some consistency to families.

The Food Bank of Lincolns Child Hunger programs began 13 years ago with the BackPack Program. It has expanded to include: Food Markets at middle and high schools, the LPS Emergency Pantry, the Student-Parent Voucher Program and the Produce Program. This year, we estimate we will serve more than 4,500 students and their families each month through our Child Hunger programs, Sampson said.

The BackPack Program provides food-filled backpacks each Friday for 34 weeks of the year. We are beyond grateful to all of our volunteers who will pack, deliver and distribute food to students throughout Southeast Nebraska during the current school year, Sampson said. An estimated 3,462 students and their families will receive a backpack each week. The cost to provide one backpack to one child for an entire school year is $262. Children who qualify for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program are eligible for the BackPack Program.

This year, two more schoolsPark Middle School and Lincoln Northeast High Schoolwill have Food Markets, bringing to 10 the total number of Food Markets. The expansion is possible in part because of financial gifts from Foundation for Tomorrow, TMCO Inc., and Southwood Lutheran Church, as well as contributions from the Food Banks Child Hunger Heroes Club members.

We are excited to get these market programs started at Park and Northeasttwo schools with a high percentage of students in the Free or Reduced Lunch program, said Food Bank Development Director John Mabry. These organizations are donating thousands of dollarsand volunteer timein the effort to provide more hope for students and families in need at these schools," Mabry said.
A Racine man has been accused of shooting a gun at another man. The suspect, who also faces drug charges, allegedly later claimed the man he shot at had been bullying him for years.
RACINE  A judge has dismissed all but one of the charges against a Racine man whose dog was shot by police after a four-hour SWAT team standoff outside his home in 2014.

Kurt M. Hanson, 57, was jailed for about eight months after a dispute with a neighbor on Nov. 1, 2014, sparked the standoff with police.

He was initially charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, failure to comply with officers attempt to take him into custody, obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon.

In late July, Racine County Circuit Judge John Jude ordered that the failure to comply with officers attempt to take him into custody and obstructing an officer be dismissed. The decision leaves Hanson facing a sole misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. The first-degree recklessly endangering safety charge apparently was dismissed earlier in the process.

We contested the motion to dismiss, but the court granted it, Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete said Wednesday of the decision.

Chiapete added that the state had contacted the state Attorney Generals Office to see if it would appeal the courts decision, but it declined.

The judges decision followed a request by Hansons attorney, Wendy Paul, that the charges be dismissed. Paul had previously argued that Hansons arrest had been illegal because police should have obtained a search warrant before entering his home.

Paul said Hanson was not a threat, noting he was intoxicated and fell asleep at one point during the standoff.

Attempts to reach Paul on Wednesday were unsuccessful, but Hansons sister, Karen Wyatt, said she hoped that the courts ruling would cause police to re-evaluate how they react to similar dispute going forward.

Noting that her brother has bipolar disorder and struggles with alcoholism, Wyatt said police should have used a crisis negotiator to defuse the situation.

Wyatt added that she would also like to see police better investigated when incidents such as that which happened with her brother arise.

They need a civilian task force that will investigate these things, Wyatt said.

The standoff

According to Hansons criminal complaint, the incident was sparked when a neighbor confronted Hanson about dog waste. The neighbors husband then went to Hansons house and Hanson reportedly pulled out a machete in a threatening manner and told the neighbor to leave.

When police arrived, Hanson allegedly refused to step outside to speak with them. A standoff ensued, lasting almost four hours. Hanson repeatedly threatened officers with a crossbow and said he would send his dog out to bite one of the officers, according to the complaint. When SWAT teams approached his home, he appeared in the doorway with the dog, named Angel, which was barking and growling, according to police.

A video shot by a neighbor shows the Australian cattle dog running toward police and stopping several feet from their armored vehicle. Angel turns away from officers and slowly walks back to the house, tail wagging, before shots are fired and the dog collapses in its front yard  just feet from the home.

The incident sparked outrage among some neighbors other community members who argued that police were wrong to shoot Hansons dog. A week after the standoff, about a dozen people protested outside the Racine Police Department, 730 Center St. The protesters, including Wyatt and her daughters, alleged police used excessive and militaristic force in defusing the situation. The state, however, noted that Hanson had made threats to kill officers during 911 calls.

During a status hearing in the case on Tuesday, Jude ordered that Hanson no longer had to wear a GPS monitor as a requirement of his bond. Other conditions of this bond remain, however, including an order that he have no contact with his neighbor, and continue to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

His next court date is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 13.
RACINE  A Racine man faces possession charges after he attempted to hide marijuana between his buttocks Wednesday.

Dorcas D. Tate, 26, of the 9000 block of Florence Drive, was stopped by officers on Grand Avenue near 17th Street around 6:22 p.m., according to the criminal complaint.

Officers observed Tate lower his body in his seat. When the officers reached the window, they reportedly observed Tate's hand inside his waistband and moving his arm around near his groin, the complaint said.

An odor of marijuana was allegedly smelled coming from the car. Tate was also discovered to have active commitments from the Racine Police Department and a hold from the Department of Corrections, according to the complaint.

Tate exited the vehicle and was searched by officers. Nothing was found; however, officers reportedly noticed Tate was clenching his buttocks during the search, the complaint said.

Tate was later searched and a knotted plastic baggie of 1.7 grams of marijuana was recovered from Tate, according to the complaint.

Tate faces one felony charge for possession of marijuana. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., September 1 at 9 a.m.
RACINE  A Racine man is facing his fourth operating while intoxicated charge after allegedly crashing his motorcycle into a vehicle late Tuesday afternoon.

Rodolfo R. Barrera, 41, of the 5300 block of Marboro Drive, was reportedly driving a blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he swerved to avoid a stopped vehicle at the intersection of Perry and Washington Avenues at about 5:23 p.m. Tuesday, according to his criminal complaint.

Once the bike fell on its side, the motorcycle slid into the rear passenger side of a vehicle causing scratches on car, the complaint said.

The first officer at the scene reported that Barreras motorcycle had scratches along the side and a broken rear turn signal. Barerra also emitted an odor of intoxicants, police said.

The officer sat Barrera down on the side of the road while waiting for other officers to administer field sobriety tests. After 10 minutes, Barerra allegedly stood up and started to walk away. Officers detained him in handcuffs and he was placed in the back of a squad car, the complaint said.

Barrera was taken to Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital to have blood drawn for the investigation, according to the complaint.

Barrera faces a felony charge for his fourth operating while intoxicated charge in less than five years. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 1 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

He remained in custody as of Wednesday night at the Racine County Jail, online records showed.
YORKVILLE  A second suspect in the assault of man at a Yorkville mobile home park on Aug. 9 has been charged in connection to the incident.

Jason T. Masiakowski, 20, of the 32000 block of 45th Street in Wheatland, is one of four suspects accused in the assault of one of the suspects girlfriends ex-boyfriend, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim was reportedly lured by his ex-girlfriend to the playground of the mobile home park located in the 15000 block of Durand Avenue. The vicitm was then taken to a nearby area, where he was taken to the ground by four men in masks and hoods, the complaint said.

The men allegedly punched and kicked the victim. The victim was wearing shorts without pockets, but the suspects nonetheless attempted to search him in an attempt to steal the items he had, according to the complaint.

The victim was bruised on both sides of his ribcage and his back and had cuts and scrapes on his arms and shoulders as well, the complaint said.

Nicholas Chetto of Oak Creek  identified as the current boyfriend of the girl  was detained soon after the incident after reportedly dropping his keys at the scene of the assault. Chetto was caught when he was in the midst of reporting that his keys had been stolen, according to the complaint.

Chetto faces one count of misdemeanor battery as party to a crime and one count of disorderly conduct. He has been assigned a pre-trial conference for Sept. 8 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center.

Though Chetto reportedly did not give up names, two other suspects involved in the assault, including Masiakowski, were discovered as participants.

Masiakowski faces a felony charge of attempted robbery with use of force and a misdemeanor charge for battery. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 31 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

He remained in custody as of Wednesday night at the Racine County Jail, online records indicated.
WIND LAKE  The Muskego-Norway School District on Thursday, Aug. 25, will offically celebrate the opening its new in-house employee health clinic.

Although a ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for today, district employees have actually been utilizing the new MNS Center for Health and Wellness located inside Muskego High School, W183 S8750 Racine Ave., since May.

We wanted it to be open in the summer in case staff wanted to utilize it, said Julie Kelly, the districts assistant superintendent for business, operations and human resources, noting they do have staff members who work year round.

The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a combined total for 20 hours.

Our goal with the clinic is to get as many people care when they need it, said Kelly. It gives (employees) another option ... we dont want people to sit and wait to see a physician.

The clinic offers a number of different services, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, conducting blood draws and providing preventative care advice. Kelly said teachers and staff can take advantage of the services during school when they have free time.

(Teachers) dont have to take a half-day off to go to the doctor, Kelly said, adding that on Wednesdays the clinic is open until 6 p.m. If anyone has a sick child, they can bring them in.

The district is working in partnership with North Carolina-based health care provider Health STAT, which provides the physicians who operate the clinic.

Kelly said employees covered by the districts self-funded health insurance plan can use the clinic for free; those who arent on the districts plan pay $20 for use of the clinic.

The district itself is the insurance company ... we set the premiums every year, Kelly said, adding that district officials work with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield when employees need care. We send Anthem a check for the (medical) claims.

Kelly said school districts can save money on health coverage expenses through self-funded health insurance.

A lot more (school) districts are moving to self-funded, Kelly said. If its set up correctly, it can be a cost-saving benefit.

Roughly 13 percent of the districts staff live in Racine County. The district serves students in Racine and Waukesha counties.
STURTEVANT  Bus service in Sturtevant might have reached the end of the line.

The Village Board this week discussed potentially cutting the cost of the service, supplied by Racines Belle Urban System, out of the 2017 village budget.

The village this year paid $42,600 to fund routes 20 and 27, which serves Waxdale, the state Department of Motor Vehicles, the Renaissance Center, the Grandview Business Park, and the Highway 20 park-and-ride near Interstate 94. Those stops are spread out over three communities  Sturtevant, Mount Pleasant and Yorkville.

Several Sturtevant board members said at a meeting on Tuesday that the number of riders on those lines doesnt seem to justify the cost, while others want the system to reconfigure the two routes to serve more residents.

We havent seen the service to residents, said Trustee John Johnson. Then you start the question whether it is worth the expense.

Currently, routes 20 and 27 run Monday through Friday. There is no weekend service for either route.

Trustee Carrie Harbach suggested running the line more down Highway 11, which is seeing more development. We need to make the bus accessible to everyone, Harbach said. Either it works for all of us or none of us.

Village President Steve Jansen said another issue is that the village has not received ridership figures from BUS to evaluate whether or not the expense is worth it.

The lack of data from BUS is a big sticking point, Jansen said.

But Michael Maierle, the transit and parking system manager for the City of Racine, said he shared ridership figures and costs with village officials in April.

The Sturtevant board and I discussed the 2016 service agreement in April. There were some unhappy people at the time, Maierle said. But we had a good talk then and decided to talk again.

Maierle said he is scheduled to talk about the 2017 service contract with the villages Finance Committee on Sept. 13.

I believe we have the answers for the ridership and possibly reconfiguring the route, Maierle said. We will provide the information they need to make a decision. Ultimately it will be up to them whether or not service is continued.

Business views sparse

Village Administrator Mary Cole said she sent a letter to village businesses asking them their thoughts on bus service. Only two firms replied, she said.

Some board members suggested that some of the biggest customers of the service  the state Department of Corrections, the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Gateways iMet Center  could help pay for the service.

Trustee Michelle Duchow sounded the only real affirmation for keeping the service. I think this is something we should be doing, she said.

Cole said she did not know how long the village has been had the bus service. In July 2006, service was reduced to only the area included in the villages tax increment district No. 3, which is basically the villages industrial area.

At the time, officials initially considered eliminating all bus service to the village, but compromised with the citys transportation staff on revised schedules and routes.
EVENTS

PRE-OWNED ART SALE: Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

DAVE HENKEL FUNDRAISER: Yardarm Bar & Grill, 920 Erie St. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Ten percent of total sales will be donated to HelpHopeLive in honor of Dave Henkel of Racine to pay for stem cell transplant-related expenses.

BURLINGTON FARMERS MARKET: Wehmhoff Square, Washington and Pine streets, Burlington. 3-7 p.m.

BROWNS LAKE AQUADUCKS WATER-SKI SHOW: Browns Lake at Fischer Park, Highway 11, Burlington. Junior show, 5 p.m.; main show, 6:30 p.m. Free.

OPEN MIC: Coffee House at Chestnut & Pine, 492 N. Pine St., Burlington. 6:30-9 p.m. No cover.

BELLA CAIN CONCERT: Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St., 7-9 p.m. Lakefront Brewery will be on site for guests 21 and older to sample Lakefront Brewery brews. Zoo members, $20; ages 21 and older, $25; ages 20 and younger, $15. Go to www.racinezoo.org or visit the Racine Zoological Society administrative office, 200 Goold St.

TEAM TRIVIA: Charcoal Grill, 8300 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant, 7-9 p.m., free; Roundabout Bar and Grill, 5844 Douglas Ave., Caledonia, 7-8:30 p.m., free; Charcoal Grill, 580 Milwaukee Ave., Burlington, 8-10 p.m., free; Toad Hall, 611 Wisconsin Ave., 8-10 p.m., free.

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: Mike DeRose at Uncorkt, 240 Main St., 5-8 p.m., no cover; JigJam with Saturday Night Preachers at McAuliffes Pub, 3700 Meachem Road, 8 p.m., $10.

MEETINGS

BURLINGTON AIRPORT COMMITTEE: 6 p.m., Municipal Airport Terminal Building, 703 Airport Drive.

CALEDONIA/MOUNT PLEASANT JOINT PARK COMMISSION: 6 p.m., Caledonia/Mount Pleasant Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave.
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.
18 Susta villagers face murder charge

Indian authorities have filed a murder case against 18 people of Susta, Nawalparasi.
Avoiding a fall

Only a spirit of compromise can avert an impending constitutional crisis
Cabinet Expansion: NC to send 12 ministers on Friday

In what seemed like a tug-of-war within the Nepali Congress, the major coalition has alas settled on internal distribution of ministries after party President Sher Bahadur Deuba gave in to the demands of Ram Chandra Poudel to hand over five ministries to his camp.
France 'burkini ban': Images of police on beach fuel debate

Pictures have emerged of French police appearing to enforce the controversial "burkini ban" on a woman on a beach in the southern city of Nice.
Govt planning to provide extra Rs 100k as housing grant

The government is planning to provide an additional Rs 100,000 to earthquake-affected families to rebuild their houses.
House panel directs govt to amend TRC Act

The Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of Parliament has directed the government to amend the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014 (TRC Act) and bring other necessary laws for smooth functioning of the transitional justice bodies.
In support of Mahabir

Nepals piecemeal approach to the development of science and technology becomes apparent from the paltry budget allocated to it
India hands over 17 fire tenders

Indian ambassador Ranjit Rae on Wednesday handed over 17 fire tenders to Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hitraj Pandey amid a programme in the Capital.
Infighting in NC stalls Cabinet expansion

Infighting has once again reared its ugly head in the Nepali Congress (NC), the key coalition partner in the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government, resulting in delay in the expansion of the Cabinet, which is yet to get the full shape even after three weeks.
Jagadamba launches Rhino 500D steel rebar

The Shankar Groups flagship company Jagadamba Steels has launched a brand new product, Rhino Steel Rebar, in Fe 500D grade with guaranteed ductility in the Nepali market. Rhino 500D is a new generation, high strength and ductile ribbed reinforcement bar.
Kabul raid: Seven students among 13 dead in university attack

Thirteen people, including seven students, died in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say.
Mahindra to unveil flagship motorcycle

Mahindra Two Wheelers is slated to roll out a new 300cc motorcycle in Nepal, the company has announced.
Man arrested with a pistol

Police arrested a man with a cache of marijuana and a pistol from Malhanawa VDC in the district on Wednesday.
Morcha: Dissolve local body restructuring commission

The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha has said that it cannot accept the report of the Local Body Restructuring Commission that proposes to form 565 local units (village and municipal councils) in the new federal set up.
NC resolves dispute over ministerial berths; Deuba faction to have 8 ministers, Poudel 5

Nepali Congress has resolved the dispute regarding the ministerial allocation between Sher Bahadur Deuba panel and Ram Chandra Poudel panel.
Nepal, China agree to check unlawful activities at Rasuwagadhi

Nepali and Chinese officials have agreed to control unlawful activities and heighten security at the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point.
Nepali handed life imprisonment in Bahrain for murder

A Bahrain court has sentenced a Nepali migrant worker to life in prison for the murder of his own friend, Nepali Embassy in Bahrain said on Thursday.
NFC accused of jacking up price of aid rice in Bajhang

People in Bajhang district have accused Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) of trying to sell rice sent by Bangladeshi government for the survivors of Gorkha Earthquake at high price.
NOC demands land for storage plants, pipeline

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has demanded the government provide necessary land for the development of two fuel storage plants and Amalekhgunj-Raxual cross-border petroleum pipeline.
PM Dahal shows interest in Sumargis frozen fund

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has shown interest in businessman Ajeya Raj Sumargis frozen funds. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has blocked Sumargis Rs 3 billion for more than last four years.
Power of numbers: Initiative to better address VAW launched

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday launched a three-year initiative to help countries in the Asia-Pacific region to measure violence against women.
Probe Dalit youths murder: PM

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and security agencies to form a committee to investigate the alleged murder of Ajit Mijar, a Dalit youth from Panchkhal in Kavre district.
Scientists find Earth-like planet circling sun's nearest neighbor

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.
Two held for extortion bid

Police have arrested two persons on charge of blackmailing the owner of a mineral water company.
UML demands govt make the letter public

The main opposition party CPN-UML has demanded that the government release the letter it sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modioffering assurances to address the demands of agitating Madhesi Morcha through a constitutional amendment.
Women stranded in Saudi: Nepali mission starts repatriation process

The Embassy of Nepal in Riyadh has said that initiatives are being taken to repatriate 24 Nepali women languishing in Saudi Arabia.
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
A new report by Action on Armed Violence offers a detailed analysis of the $40 billion worth of small-arms related contracts the Pentagon has awarded in an effort to arm Iraqi and Afghan security forces since 2001.

AOAV maintains that its analysis of these small arms contracts offer insight into the lack of transparency surrounding small arms bought by the US government and given to Iraq and Afghanistan  many of which the US government has lost track of.

A total of 79 companies were recipients of these small arms-related contracts that include everything from battle rifles to optics to ammunition. Ten companies won contracts that combined were worth 65 percent of the total DoD published contracts. Here are the top 10:

Alliant Techsystems  $21,977,118,613 (101 contracts);

DRS Technologies Inc.  $3,251,224,478 (8 contracts);

BAE Systems Inc.  $2,761,670,581 (8 contracts);

Knights Armament Co.  $1,782,974,456 (15 contracts);

General Dynamics  $1,626,048,701 (36 contracts).

Colts Manufacturing Company  Total Value: $1,372,567,795

FN Herstal  Total Value: $995,194,319

Insight Technologies Inc.  Total Value: $790,071,945

Olin Corp  Total Value: $ 612,415,840

American Ordnance LLC.  Total Value: $483,022,354

The largest contract listed by the DoD was for the procurement of ammunition and for the operation and modernization of Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, a deal potentially valued at $8,480,000,000.

Check out Military.com tomorrow morning for my full story on this report.
By Kim Jae-kyoung





Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore

SINGAPORE  Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said that the city state will seek to establish ties with South Korea's fintech industry to support global expansion of startups and investors.

"Korea has tremendous innovation potential and technological talent," Menon told The Korea Times on Wednesday. "Naturally, we would most welcome it (a fintech alliance with Korea)."

He agreed that Korea can be a good partner because the country is an IT powerhouse and its financial regulator is placing top priority on bolstering the fintech sector.

"Korea's financial regulator is very supportive of fintech. We have good relations with the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Bank of Korea," he added. "I agree there is scope for Korea and Singapore to work closer together on fintech."

MAS, which acts as the central bank of Singapore, supervises financial services firms, including banks, insurers, securities firms and the stock exchange. It also promotes Singapore as an international financial center.

He said that MAS has yet to have an internal discussion but indicated that it will come up with a plan soon, saying, "We should bring it up."

Singapore is seen as one of the frontrunners in the global race to become a fintech powerhouse.

Over the past year, the city state has signed regulatory agreements with the U.S., U.K. and Australia to create a fintech ecosystem by supporting international expansion of their fintech companies.

When asked whether Singapore is willing to sign a similar agreement with Korea, the managing director said, "Absolutely. When it comes to this kind of agreement this is a win-win."

Referring to its alliance with the U.K., he said, "We like to see our people in London and we like to see U.K. fintech come here. Likewise, Korea. If they want to come over here and make ties with our financial institutions or work in Singapore, by all these, we expect to gain, they expect to gain because of access to new markets."

In July, Korea signed a regulatory agreement with the U.K. to give fintech firms and investors from each country access to the other. The pact enables the regulators of the two countries to share information on fintech and regulatory issues.

The interview was conducted on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of MAS's FinTech Innovation Lab in the MAS building, Wednesday.

The lab, dubbed Looking Glass@MAS, will allow MAS to experiment with fintech at financial institutions, startups, and technology vendors.

The lab was also designed to facilitate consultations for startups and provide a venue for relevant training sessions and networking activities for the fintech community.

At the opening ceremony, Menon, who has helmed MAS since 2011, stressed that fintech is not something to be feared but to be embraced

"It appears that these technologies mitigate many traditional risks financial institutions are grappling with. It is not about whether fintech is risky or not risky," he said. "Fintech actually addresses many of the existing risks that financial institutions are facing."

He pointed out that the most important factors in becoming an international fintech center are "talent, technology, connectivity in the region, being open and building liquidity."

"All of which we are working on," he said. "We are now widely regarded as one of the top five financial centers in the world. We need to continue to grow on these."

He believes that in order to compete with ecosystems like New York and Silicon Valley, it is essential to build up talented workers and funds.

"We want to maximize the number of Singaporeans able to take the good jobs that will be created," he said.

Regarding funding needs, Menon said that MAS is reviewing the regulatory policy framework around venture capital firms as it seeks to draw more capital to the country's fintech startups.

"Regarding capital, we are lagging behind the leading centers," he said. "We just started the review so I can't say more, but hopefully this will encourage more of them to come here."
South Korea and Japan will hold a finance ministers' meeting this weekend to discuss various economic and financial topics, the finance ministry here said Thursday.



South Korea's Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso will meet in Seoul on Saturday, with 70 officials, including vice ministers, from the two countries having working-level sessions before and after the meeting, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.



The upcoming bilateral meeting will be the seventh talks between Seoul and Tokyo that have taken place on an annual basis since 2006, with some exceptions in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014.



"The two countries will hold the top-level meeting for two years in a row," Hwang Kun-il, director general of the international financial policy bureau at the finance ministry, told reporters at a briefing. "It will demonstrate that the economic relationship between South Korea and Japan is strong despite the current issues surrounding the two countries."



He said the top economic policymakers have no plans to discuss a possible resumption of a currency swap deal with Japan, which expired early last year, refuting recent news reports that the two countries are considering reopening the arrangement.



In February last year, Seoul and Tokyo agreed to end the $10 billion bilateral currency swap agreement that had been maintained since 2001.



A currency swap is an arrangement between two countries to exchange one currency with another at a specific rate of exchange in a bid to use the powerful foreign currency to soothe volatility in the currency market.



Instead, Yoo and Aso will discuss ways to enhance policy coordination in the face of global market changes, such as a possible U.S. rate hike, and to make concerted efforts to stabilize the Asian financial market.



They will talk about the two countries' increased participation in regional infrastructure-developing projects led by the Asian Development Bank and the International Development Bank.



Strengthening cooperation against wide-spreading protectionism is also on the agenda, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)




North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the North's launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine "the greatest success," saying his country has full capacity to carry out nuclear attacks, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday.



The North's leader observed the launch of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Wednesday, saying it was "the greatest success and victory," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).



Kim said the results of the test-fire showed North Korea "joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability," the KCNA reported.



The South Korean military said the missile flew about 500 kilometers toward Japan, making the longest flight by such a missile for the North.



A military source said the missile, launched at a high angle, could have flown more than 1,000 km if it was fired off at a regular angle, and is seen as an indication of the advances made in the North's missile program.



The KCNA said the test-fire was conducted under a high-angle fire system using a solid fuel engine. It claimed the latest launch proved the reliability and accuracy of its missile program.



On Monday, Seoul and Washington kicked off their annual joint military drill, which Pyongyang has long denounced as a rehearsal for northern invasion.



Tension is running high on the divided peninsula as North Korea threatened on Monday to wage a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on South Korea and the U.S. against their military exercise.



The KCNA said the North's leader stressed the need to put efforts toward mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles and developing means of their delivery in order to cope with nuclear war threats coming from the U.S.



North Korea has insisted that its nuclear weapons development is an act of nuclear deterrence for self-defense in the face of what it claims is Washington's hostile policy toward Pyongyang.



Wednesday's launch marked the sixth time that North Korea has tested its SLBM capabilities after its first attempt in May 2015. It also marked the third SLBM test launch this year.



North Korea's purported success of the SLBM launch could serve as a fresh threat to regional security, as it is difficult to detect ballistic missiles when launched underwater.



North Korea is seeking to develop a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting targets on the U.S. mainland.



If an SLBM is capable of carrying a small nuclear warhead, it can pose a formidable threat, as the North would be able to hit targets theoretically from anywhere and in a blitzkrieg manner, experts said.



Seoul and Washington are skeptical about the North's claim over the success of developing miniaturized nuclear bombs. But military experts said that Pyongyang seems to have made significant progress in making a nuclear warhead small enough to put on a missile.



Since the North's leader took office in late 2011, North Korea has test-fired more than 30 ballistic missiles, including an intermediate-range Musudan missile, which theoretically can fly as far as the U.S. territory of Guam.



The South Korean military had expected North Korea to be able to deploy SLBMs for combat use within two or three years, but experts said that the latest launch could enable the North to move forward its deployment to as early as late this year.



North Korea is banned from developing ballistic missile technology under relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. The UNSC slapped its toughest sanctions on the North over its fourth nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in the following month. (Yonhap)








The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is seeking to adopt a press statement to condemn North Korea's latest launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), officials said Wednesday following an emergency meeting on the issue.

Member countries of the UNSC agreed to push for the press statement after the council held an emergency meeting to discuss North Korea's latest SLBM launch at the request of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, the officials who attended the close-door meeting said.

"There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council," Malaysia's Ambassador to the U.N. Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, who chaired the meeting, told reporters.

The U.S. is drafting a press statement, and the UNSC members will consider the statement, Ibrahim said.

In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denounced the SLBM launch by North Korea, saying he is very concerned with North Korea's dismissal of international calls for an attitude change.

Ban said the latest launch is a clear violation of UNSC resolutions and it hinders peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

He called on the North to take necessary measures to ease tensions and come back to the negotiating table for its denuclearization.

In the early morning of Wednesday, North Korea launched an SLBM from the East Sea, the country's third SLBM test this year.

The missile flew some 500 kilometers before landing in waters near Japan, demonstrating an advance of performance from its previous SLBM launches.

Previous UNSC resolutions, including the latest one adopted in March, Resolution 2270, ban North Korea from tests or development of nuclear or ballistic missile technology.

The UNSC's former push to adopt a press statement on Pyongyang's defiant ballistic missile launch on Aug. 3 was thwarted by veto-wielding China's demand to include its opposition to Seoul and Washington's plan to deploy a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea.

The deployment of the U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system has been driving a wedge in efforts maintain a concerted response to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile programs. China has protested that the North Korean nuclear issue should not be a pretext for the deployment. (Yonhap)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 63F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.
LIGONIER  Indianas historic Lincoln Highway will receive some promotion for its stretch through Ligonier.

Mayor Patty Fisel told Ligonier City Council members Monday evening the Indiana Department of Transportation recently approved a map outlining the installation of signs along the Lincoln Highway, traveling east and west through northern Indiana.

The old highway was the first named road that allowed automobiles to cross the United States, from New York City to San Francisco.

The highway jogs through Ligonier on Cavin Street and Lincolnway West. The state  at no cost to the city  will put a sign near Pettit Memorial Park to point the way for those driving the route.

Fisel told the council the Noble County Board of Commissioners already approved the same signs on Kimmells portion of the highway, and that for Ligonier, INDOT would simply need the assistance of Street Commissioner Mike Burdette to find the appropriate placement of the sign.

Commending Indiana Lincoln Highway Associations Jeff Blair and his work in keeping the history of the highway alive, Fisel said the free publicity for the city can only be positive.

I think that it helps us. They promote the Lincoln Highway a lot, Fisel said. If you are designated as part of the Lincoln Highway route, you get promotion that youre not even aware of.

The council also heard an update from City Attorney Steve Hagen on his investigation into Ligoniers vicious dog ordinance, which was requested at the councils last meeting after a resident voiced concerns of a local pit bull attacking residents and other dogs.

Ligonier currently has a vicious dog ordinance that would place fines ranging from $100-$300 on the animals owner for instances where the dog poses a serious physical or health threat. Hagen told council members that of the 10 communities he researched, Ligoniers ordinance was the harshest.

Hagen suggested the next incident with a dog attack or bite should be dealt with under the states criminal statute, which could bring a Class C misdemeanor against the dogs owner.

Council members also approved on first reading a 2 percent wage increase for both city employees and elected officials, in line with a recent recommendation from consultant H.J. Umbaugh and Associates comprehensive city financial plan.
ANGOLA  Angola Mayor Dick Hickman was surprised Wednesday to learn the city is receiving the maximum $1 million Community Crossings Matching Grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

We werent sure theyd be giving out the maximum, he said.

The matching grant program provides funding to make improvements to roads and bridges. It was part of a compromise highway spending piece of legislation that made it out of this years session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Steuben County received a $415,674 grant, Clear Lake received $116,265 and Orland will get $44,150, said information from INDOT.

Hickman said the city will use the grant money to provide infrastructure at the proposed 40-acre state-certified technology park at the southeast part of the Interstate 69 and U.S. 20 interchange. The park is being developed by a group called Angola First thats made up of Jim Ingledue, Wayne Klink and Ken Wilson.

They want to extend the road in the technical park to C.R. 390W because they dont want a left turn onto U.S. 20. They also want to take water and sewer back there, Hickman said.

He was referring to reconstruction of Shoup Street that will be connected to a new access road. The property for the proposed park is east of the Angola Gardens mobile home park.

Hickman said the citys match of $1 million will come from Major Moves funding. That came from leasing of the Indiana Toll Road in 2006 with funding earmarked for infrastructure, roads and economic development.

Were hoping to start this fall. If not, spring. It all depends on bidding, Hickman said.

HWC Engineering, Indianapolis, has been hired for $188,040 for technology park infrastructure improvements.

Plans for a park were included in the citys strategic plan.

This is an opportunity on the east side to develop it as a certified technology park. We have to start somewhere, Angola Plan Director Vivian Likes said earlier. We have to be able to have access to the park.

The states certified technology parks program was created to support growth of high-technology business, says the states website, in.gov. The certification allows for local recapture of certain state and local tax revenue that can be invested in the developing park.

Steuben County Highway Engineer Jen Sharkey said theres a list of projects the county will use its matching funds for. They include:

 Milling and asphalt paving on C.R. 200W from C.R. 100N to C.R. 200N;

 Cape sealing, which is similar to chip and seal, on Old U.S. 27 from Angola city limits to C.R. 800;

 Asphalt overlay on Orland Road from C.R. 200W to C.R. 300W;

 Micro-surfacing (road preservation) on C.R. 100E from C.R. 200N to Angola city limits;

 Bioseal (asphalt preservation) on C.R. 100N from C.R. 200W to Landis Road;

 Micro-surfacing of C.R. 100N from C.R. 200W to Angola city limits; and

 Milling and asphalt paving of C.R. 200W from C.R. 200N to C.R. 275N.

Some of these projects have been completed but due to the nature of the grant program, could be included in the request for funds.

April Sanders, Orland clerk-treasurer, said the town will be using its money for chip and seal work on all of the towns 2 1/2 miles of roads. This does not include S.R. 120 and S.R. 327, which are state highways.

Thats what we applied for, Sanders said, referring to the fact that Orland received all of the funds requested.

Sanders said the town will put the work out to bid this year but the work might not get done until 2017 because it is so late in the construction season.
Communities in Noble and LaGrange counties will receive $2.8 million in grants through the Indiana Department of Transportations Community Crossings program, state officials announced Wednesday.

Seven entities  Noble County, LaGrange County, Kendallville, Rome City, Avilla, Cromwell and Wolcottville  were awarded funding.

Communities could apply for the 50/50 matching program using wheel tax revenue, an income tax distribution that the state returned to communities earlier this year or money saved in their rainy day funds.

The grant program was created as part of a road funding package state legislators approved last spring. More than $150 million was available for the statewide program, with 50 percent of it earmarked to go to communities with fewer than 50,000 residents.

The Noble County Highway Department received a maximum $1 million award. LaGrange County will receive more than $647,000, and Kendallville had the third-largest award of approximately $578,000.

Noble County is using its grant to pay for more than 50 different maintenance projects in unincorporated areas of the county, including subdivisions, county engineer Zack Smith said. Those projects involve crack-sealing, micro-sealing and paving roads. The grant also will cover one small bridge replacement.

The county spends about $1.5 million annually on road maintenance, but it increased that amount to $2.5 million for this year and 2017 with the hope it would receive the Community Crossings grant to support the work.

The award also should leave enough money in reserves to allow Noble County to apply for more matching grants next year, Smith said.

It supports everything in our transportation asset management plan  a lot of the material cost for stuff we do and some of the contracted services we use for preservation, he said.

Kendallvilles grant will be split among three large projects in the city.

According to Engineering Department administrator Scott Derby, $170,450 of the grant will pay for 50 percent of the street work recently completed by contractors Niblock Inc. and Pavement Solutions.

Another $271,000 will be put toward the estimated 50 percent local match for the cost of milling and resurfacing Main Street, from U.S. 6 south to Waits Road, in 2017.

Approximately $136,100 of the grant will be the 50 percent local match for adding a significant asphalt patch to Ohio Street, and then resurfacing the street from Main Street west to Weston Avenue.

We are thrilled to have additional funding for our streets, Mayor Suzanne Handshoe said in an email. Its great news.

These two street projects are in addition to next years annual street improvement program, expected to cost about $400,000, and the federally funded reconstruction of Fairview Boulevard, from Dowling Street north to U.S. 6.

Were going to have a lot of street work going on next year, Derby said.

Avilla was awarded $450,000, which will be used for rebuilding Main Street. The town plans to use the funds to replace pavement, curbs and sidewalks after installing new underground stormwater pipes.

LaGrange County will use its grant to repair two bridges, resurface Woodruff Road south of LaGrange and rebuild the S.R. 3 and Mill Street intersection in South Milford to better accommodate truck traffic to South Milford Grain.

I was really happy when I heard we got this grant, County Commissioner Terry Martin said.

Additional Community Crossings grants are expected to be awarded on an annual basis, funded by sales tax revenue from gasoline sales, Smith said. But this year there was more funding available to jump-start the program, he said.

There will be more funds down the road, but it will be more competitive because the pot will be smaller, Smith said.

News Sun reporters Dennis Nartker and Patrick Redmond contributed to this story.

Community Crossings grants awarded

Northeast Indiana communities were awarded nearly $5.5 million in grant funds through the new Community Crossings program.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced the following awards Wednesday morning:

Angola: $1 million

Auburn: $600,000

Avilla: $450,000

Butler: $90,000

Cromwell: $17,221.50

Garrett: $499,463.91

Kendallville: $577,699.50

LaGrange County: $647,221.20

Noble County: $1 million

Rome City: $55,000

Steuben County: $415,674.26

Waterloo: $72,866.50

Wolcottville: $59,165

Source: Indiana Department of Transportation
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind held off a challenge from the left in the Aug. 9 partisan primary, virtually ensuring the La Crosse Democrat an 11th term representing Wisconsins 3rd District.

Kind had 29,335 votes with nearly 90 percent of precincts counted; opponent Myron Buchholz, a retired teacher from Eau Claire, had 6,784 votes, or about 19 percent.

With no Republican or third-party candidate registered for the general election, Kinds will be the only name on the November ballot. It will be the first uncontested general election for Wisconsins 3rd District in 90 years.

First elected in 1996, the 53-year-old Kind is chairman of the centrist New Democrat Coalition and is ranked by the organization govtrack.us as one of the most conservative Democrats in the House.

Buchholz, 58, accused him of being disloyal to Democratic principles.

Kind, who declared victory shortly after 9 p.m. on election night, said he has no plans to change his bipartisan approach.

If Im not taking incoming from the far right and the far left, Im not adequately representing this district, Kind said. Im not surprised that Im going to get some criticism from far right opponents and far left opponents, but thats not the district I represent.

Buchholz, in his first bid for public office, ran as a progressive Democrat inspired by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. He focused largely on foreign trade, specifically Kinds support for the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multinational trade agreement that has become a lightning rod for economic anxiety.

Both Sanders and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton say they oppose the deal, as does Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Buchholz said trade agreements such as NAFTA have not resulted in prosperity for the average American. Instead, wages have stagnated and more than half of Wisconsin schoolchildren now qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

Kind, who was credited with corralling enough Democratic votes to get fast-track negotiation authority through the House, says the TPP is widely misunderstood and is crucial to establishing rules for trade that is already happening and ensuring U.S. companies have access to some of the worlds fastest-growing markets.

Buchholz, who decried the role of money in politics, was far outmatched by Kinds campaign war chest. Buchholz raised less than $27,000 and did most of his campaigning door-to-door. Kind, in his first primary challenge since 2006, brought in more than $1.6 million and reported spending more than $870,000 through the first half of the year.

Buchholz did not immediately respond to calls for comment.
Since 2006, various NGO and grassroots organizations have helped create a network of communal and private conservation areas promoting a wave of conservation contagion. Join Community Conservation (CC) for an evening presentation about these successful conservation efforts in Peru. This free presentation and discussion will take place Monday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m. at the Gays Mills Community Center.

Finding effective conservation solutions through local community participation is vital in areas of high human population density. Peru's northern montane (cloud) forests are a sub-center of endemism within the tropical Andes and one of the highest immigration and deforestation rates in the country. With the success of community conservation efforts, the regions now have approximately 700,000 hectares of forests protected under private or community management protecting more than 18 primate species including the critically endangered San Martin titi monkey and yellow-tailed woolly monkey.

CCs Executive Director Dr. Robert Horwich will be joined by colleagues Dr. Sam Shanee, Neotropical Primate Conservation and Nestor Francisco Allgas Marchena, biologist and president of Asociacion Neotropical Primate Conservation Peru, to discuss nearly 10 years of experience developing conservation initiatives and participant observation projects in Peru. Attendees will learn about the region, the primates, the advantages of their approach to conservation, as well as some of the obstacles they have experienced in this work.

The Gays Mills Community Center is located 16381 Hwy. 131, Gays Mills. Send an email to communityconservation@mwt.net with any questions.
Teaching dance always attracted Misty Lown  she was leading her own classes when she was 16, having started dancing at 3. But she thought dancing professionally was her true calling, and a dream that was within her grasp.

As a college student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Lown was accepted into a prestigious year-long training program with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

I thought, This is going to be my life, Lown said.

Before going to New York City, though, Lown went to Madison to see a performance by the Alvin Ailey troupe. During their closing number, Revelations, I had what I can only call a God-whisper on my heart that said, What will you remember of this performance a week, a month or a year from now? Lown recalled. Then she thought of the impact she could have on her dance students, imparting both art and life lessons that they might well pass on to more students themselves.

That was it for me, Lown said. I left that theater with tears streaming down my cheeks and knew the classroom would be my stage.

Over time, Lowns classroom grew. In 1998, barely into her 20s, she opened a dance studio, Mistys Dance Unlimited, in a brand new building in Onalaska. Nine years later, she built a bigger home that now has 800 students. Then she launched an organization to help other dance studios that now reaches 60,000 students a week. Now she has an ever-more demanding schedule as an inspirational speaker on leadership and entrepreneurship.

And now Lowns classroom is getting a lot bigger  again. In early July, Lown published a book called One Small Yes: Small Decisions That Lead to Big Results that in its first five days alone had more than 10,000 online e-book downloads on Amazon, hitting No. 5 on the list of most downloaded books during that period.

The book has an uplifting, empowering message, one that draws heavily on Lowns own life in an effort to help people find their own calling  as she did.

The message is centered on my belief that everybody was DNA-wired to do something great that only they can do. So you have a special calling in your life. Its the great privilege and responsibility of life to figure that out and then start making small yes choices in that direction, Lown said. If you can figure out, or at least ask the question  What am I here for?  and then make an earnest yes effort to move in that direction, I think thats where people get a lot of joy out of life.

Beginnings

My parents were doers, they just made things happen, Lown said of her childhood on La Crosses North Side. We didnt always have all the resources we might want ... but they made it happen.

She recalled when she was about 11 and her father, Paul Averill, lost his job as a truck driver. He was the familys sole breadwinner, but he insisted that rather than go on public assistance he was going to dig ditches for the railroad if he had to. And he was 40, so my age, Lown said. And that left an indelible mark on me. It made me realize everything is figure-out-able.

Her mother, Sandy Averill, had the same kind of can-do attitude, and Lown recalled that her parents were always quick to help anybody else who was going through a hard time. I just think compassion is important. When you see somebody has a need, you need to act on that, said Sandy, who has worked at MDU since it opened.

Lown saw her parents as great role models. They were so giving and they just faced each challenge, they just kept saying yes to the challenge of life, the daily grind of life, Lown said. If my dad was willing to go and dig ditches for me so we wouldnt lose our house, by golly, I owe it to him to face the challenges in my life. And I tell that story to my kids.

Her father did go to work on the railroad, but he put himself through railroad signal school and rose to the top of his field, the equivalent, Lown said, of going from the mailroom to a corner office on the top floor.

Starting dance lessons at Lorraines School of Dance when she was 3, Lown faced challenges of her own: asthma and a club foot. But the dancing helped her foot straighten out, Sandy said, and dance gave Misty a growing sense of confidence and helped develop her perseverance.

Lown proved to be a superlative dancer, and Paul Averill said he thought his daughter might end up a professional dancer. She was just a bright kid. I knew that whatever she wanted to do, shed succeed at it, he said.

Misty the teacher

Lown was on track to become a Spanish teacher  her bachelors degree is in Spanish, and she earned a masters degree in education from UW-L. But she knew that teaching dance was a way in which she could have more impact and more satisfaction.

I got into the Spanish classroom, and I thought, I could be turning cartwheels in here, and I dont think the kids would be very interested, Lown said. But when I go to the dance studio ... they cant wait to hear what I have to say.

At first, Lown taught most of the dance classes at Mistys Dance Unlimited. But, as she attracted more students, she taught new teachers to lead classes. Kristina (Smaby) Schoh was one of the many dancers turned teachers, teaching when she was just 15.

Schoh, a Miss Wisconsin Pageant winner, recalled praying at night when she was 9 or 10 to wake up and be Misty.

I so badly wanted to emulate her in every way  from a dancer to a teacher to a person, she said.

But Schoh said Lowns mentorship taught her she didnt need to be someone else, just her best self, and that was a message Schoh and other MDU teachers passed on to their students.

Shes unstoppable, invincible, Schoh said of Lown. Misty could have stopped at Mistys Dance Unlimited and she would have been defined as successful.  Its been really fun for me and empowering to see that you dont ever have to stop.

These days, Mistys Dance Unlimited draws about 800 dancers every week, and MDU reaches another 600 area kids through community outreach, including classes at Boys & Girls Clubs branches, preschools, community events and more.

Five years ago, Lown started More Than Just Great Dancing, a company that provides member dance studios with a template that can help them emulate Mistys Dance Unlimited.

I was out speaking on the national circuits, writing for a national magazine, and people were just really interested in how we built what we did, and how we did it without losing our families, our minds, or compromising kids, because those are pretty common things to happen in the industry, Lown said.

After five years, there are 164 affiliated dance schools in 34 states, Canada, Australia, Aruba and Dubai serving 60,000 young dancers every week. More Than Just Great Dancing has become a very full-time job for Lown, and she has 10 employees in the MTJGD enterprise, eight of them full-timers (including her sister, Alana Hess, nine years her junior).

Lown also has a reach beyond those 60,000 young dancers through an online magazine called More Than Dancers, which started a year ago. Last month, the site had 200,000 visitors (from more than 90 countries) with a million Facebook engagements, and More Than Dancers is among the top 10 most popular dance-related accounts on Twitter.

More Than Dancers is launching a new summer dance festival in the Twin Cities next year. Its expected to draw 500 dancers, mostly from MTJGD-affiliated schools. Unlike most large gatherings of dancers, its not a competition. The emphasis will be on learning and not just about dance. There will be breakout sessions to help participants work out their paths in life after high school.

Nobodys done a dance festival that has this life- and college-planning focus, and I think thats really necessary, Lown said.

More than busy

Lown also regularly speaks on business development, creating wow experiences for clients, marketing, community service, work-life balance and other business and entrepreneurial topics. She recently returned from speaking at a convention of mortgage bankers in the Virgin Islands.

Lown also takes part in four or five Dance Revolution events a year as a performer and teacher  basically 2-day Christian dance conventions.

All but two months this year have her traveling, but April and September on her calendar say no speaking  family time. Those months were strategically chosen, Lown said, for the beginning of school in the fall and for preparation for the annual MDU spring dance recitals, which draw thousands of spectators for multiple performances every year at Viterbo Universitys Fine Arts Center.

Family time is important to Lown. Shes had an extended break from teaching dance classes to make more time for her husband, Mitch (her high school sweetheart at La Crosse Logan), and their daughter and four sons: 15-year-old Isabella, whom Lown says is an even stronger dancer than she was at that age; 13-year-old Mason, an avid water skier; 11-year-old Sam, a talented dancer and member of the MDU competitive hip-hop team; 9-year-old Max, who is into all things sports, all the time; and 7-year-old Benji, who loves music and science and is extremely inquisitive.

As busy as she is between her family and ever-growing enterprises, Lown makes it a point to find time for charitable work. Most notably, she started and led for seven years the annual Dancing With the La Crosse Stars fundraising event that raised $400,000 in those years for the American Red Cross  and she won top honors in the first one with her dance partner, UW-La Crosse Professor Robert Richardson.

She also started a free adaptive dance class for youths with disabilities, launched a dance education program at the Boys & Girls Clubs along with scholarships for 10 BGC members per year to take classes at MDU. And a grant program she helped start in 2011 has given $25,000 to area schools so far, with students writing their own proposals for grants of up to $250. MDU also gave more than $200,000 in cash and in-kind scholarships before starting the Chance to Dance Foundation three years ago.

And these are just the public things. Sandy Averill said her daughter does a lot of things anonymously, something confirmed by Mike Desmond, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse.

(The Lowns) as a couple seem to really understand the meaning of what were all called to do, which is to make a difference in other peoples lives, especially the most vulnerable, Desmond said.

Now that all her children are in school full-time, shes going to ease back into teaching at the studio for the first time in five years with an advanced ballet class on Tuesday nights.

Thats my sweet spot, working with teenagers, because they are making those daily choices about who they are and what they stand for and what they want to be when they grow up, she said.

After her early July trip to the book launch in Washington, D.C., coming back home to the chaos of a five-child household helped Lown put life into perspective again after the dizzying success of her book launch.

You come home and theyre like, Hey, welcome home, did you pick up milk? Lown said with a laugh. My real life is very real, so it definitely keeps me grounded.

Writing a book

Last fall, Lown started writing a book called Eight Steps to a Better Dance Studio, with the thought she could help more studio owners and teachers than she can reach through her More Than Just Great Dancing organization. She was an old hand at writing, having written about 50 stories for various publications over the years.

Lown was about halfway through writing it when she sat down with key members of her team. She had some doubts about where the book was going and wanted their advice.

Her core team members  there are about 15 between the dance studio and MTJGD  pressed her on what studio owners ask her when they ask her for advice.

And they always ask, How did you do it, and I always say, Just take it one small yes at a time, Lown recalled. Then we had this a-ha moment as a team where it was like, well clearly Im writing the wrong book.

Lown enrolled in a three-month, online book writing course called Make a Difference through a publisher called Difference Press that focuses on publishing books meant to have an impact for good on readers. The course forced Lown to ask herself hard questions she hadnt considered.

You know, who is your ideal reader? Who is the audience? What is your purpose? Why are you doing this? We worked backwards through the outline, so it was really a reverse engineered process, Lown explained. They say the worst thing you can do when you want to write a book is to start writing. You have to build the structure.

What Lown came up with had implications well beyond how to build a successful dance studio business. This book is about creating a path between where you are and what you feel like you are called to do, she said.

For the launch of the book, Lown and the six other authors in her class gathered at the publishers office in Washington, D.C., for a launch party on July 7, Lowns 41st birthday. Difference Press launches books by offering free downloads on Amazon for five days. By the end of the launch, One Small Yes topped 10,000 downloads, by far the most of any of the 174 books published in the history of Difference Press.

Hitting the 10,000 mark was extra sweet for Lown because the publisher had offered a reward for hitting that: a $1,000 donation to Global Groundwork, the charitable initiative launched by Lowns husband in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake to establish a school in Port-au-Prince.

Shes our superstar, said Angela Lauria, the woman behind Difference Press and The Author Incubator, which put on the class Lown went through to write her book. I think the reason why her message was so appealing is it was so doable. So many people have these big messages about living your dreams.  I think her message is so accessible.

Lown was very happy about her books reception and the quantity of downloads. Weve had 90 five-star reviews, so I think its something people were glad they took the time to read, she said.

As far as Lowns mother is concerned, the book could not have been better. I thought it was very inspiring, she said. She just has a wonderful gift in telling her story in a way that people see themselves in it and they can relate to it.

Lown signed a publishing contract with Morgan James Publishing, which specializes in books on entrepreneurship. Some of my heroes of the entrepreneurial world were published by Morgan James, so for me, that was an especially sweet thing, she said.

For all the success of the book so far, Lown says she has tried to put that in perspective. My real reward is what I learned through the process, another layer of can-do. I can do this, I can discipline myself to get this done, and I can apply that discipline to something else.

Lown is quick to point out that the successful launch of the book, which will have a print edition that will be in Barnes & Noble stores next spring, went far beyond her own efforts. In addition to the editors and designers who helped get the book ready for publication after she had written it, there were also about 150 people on her launch team that read the book in advance and helped spread the word.

Success means many things to many people, but to me it means giving credit where credit is due and never forgetting the people who helped you along the way, Lown added. Ill talk about that as long as I have breath, and I think thats really important to model to kids.

One big yes

Lown certainly will never stop giving credit to Harold Deak Swanson, who gave Lown a big break and a big yes almost 20 years ago. In the fall of 1996, Lown won the Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Pageant, which shed entered the year before and finished as second runner-up. Not winning was disappointing, but looking back now it was the best thing that could have happened. It put her on the same path as Swanson, a well-known builder who was named festmaster in 1996.

Spending so much time together at parades and other events, they grew close. Swanson soon learned that Lowns dance students meant the world to her and that she had a big dream of having her own studio.

One day, Lown recalled, he said, I want to have breakfast with you at Marges. I said, What time? And he said 5 oclock. I said, In the morning? He said, Yeah, thats when you have breakfast.

At breakfast, Swanson offered to build Lown a dance studio on Braund Street in Onalaska.

He laid out a plan, and he gave me a job at his construction company, so I could save money for the things that would not be in the building but were still needed, a lot of other startup costs. He got up and shook my hand and said, Im going to build you that dance studio, Lown said. I mean, Im a kid, literally a 20-year-old kid from the North Side, and this guy takes a three-quarter-of-a-million-dollar gamble on me. No bank wouldve taken that chance on me, but Deak built me my first building on a handshake.

It didnt seem like a big gamble to Swanson.

She had a plan. It was a good plan, said Swanson, who after a year of Oktoberfest events saw Lown as family. Her foundation was good, and that was what was important.  I just wanted to help her out because I had a lot of empathy for her.

Swanson said he would have let the rent slide had Lown ever run into financial difficulties, but that never happened. Mistys Dance Unlimited took off in 1998 and grew by leaps and bounds. Lown bought the building from Swanson. Then she bought land from him on 12th Avenue South in Onalaska to build a new studio, an 11,000-square-foot building that opened in 2007.

Shes done extraordinarily well, Swanson said. She is so extremely focused on what she does. I am not amazed at all that she is so successful because she is so disciplined.

At MDU dance recitals, Lown regularly tells the story of how Swanson helped her get started. Swanson had long known about these shout-outs and had avoided going to the recitals. He didnt feel like he needed any kind of public recognition for his part in getting Lown started, especially in front of a full house in the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center, where MDU dance recitals are held these days, with six shows in a weekend.

But finally last year, Lown convinced Swanson to come. She had a plaque made and brought him up for a tribute and a hug.

I was kind of embarrassed. I didnt do it for the recognition, Swanson said.

Embarrassment aside, it was an emotionally touching moment, he said. I knew I had the daughter I never had.

Having Swanson at the recital was emotional for Lown, too. My favorite moment was after the show, Lown recalled. He comes by and he gave me this hug and he looks at me and says, You done good, kid. And then he walked off, and I just started sobbing my eyes out. To hear him say I had done well with what he had entrusted to me  there could be no higher praise.
With another 32 theses down, and dozens more to go, a Lutheran-Catholic document that caps five decades of theological discussions is considered another major step in repairing the rift between the denominations.

Were a long way from one church, but weve come together on so many things, said Bishop Jim Arends, head of the La Crosse Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are closer together.

The 931-9 approval of the document during the ELCAs recent Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans and its aftermath were so emotional that tears flowed among the delegates, said Arends, of La Crescent, Minn.

The 120-page document, Declaration on the Way: Church, Ministry and Eucharist, is the product of a task force created in 2011 as part of ecumenical dialogues between Lutherans and Catholics tracing back 50 years. As the 500th anniversary of Martin Luthers posting of his 95 theses disagreeing with Catholic teaching propelled the Protestant Reformation, the denominations continue to find common ground.

The document, which ELCA bishops and the Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops affirmed in October and forwarded for consideration higher up their theological chains, chronicles 32 statements that the denominations agree are not church-dividing.

Recognition of each others baptism and that members of both denominations are members of the Body of Christ are among the most vital, Arends said.

The phrase on the way is very important, he said, because it acknowledges that differences remain.

The pact is considered to be on a par with a 1999 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, one of the pivotal breaks Luther had with the church, along with his condemnation of indulgences as, in effect, tantamount to selling tickets to heaven.

In that decree, Catholics and some Lutheran bodies agreed that grace comes through belief in Jesus Christ, although their applications may differ.

Salvation by grace alone  we together understand that to be true, Arends said. The justification document was huge.

Contrasts remain, though, said Arends, whose synod includes 74 churches, partner camps, nursing homes and Lutheran campus ministries in southwestern Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.

We are still not ready to say we are one church body  and we cant say we are totally welcome at one anothers communion, he said.

After the vote, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton presented a communion chalice and paten to Catholic Archbishop Denis Madden of Baltimore, who co-chaired the Declaration on the Way task force.

I thank you for allowing me and my colleagues to join you in the Eucharist celebrations, which have been a great joy and always a remembrance that soon we will be celebrating these together as one body, Madden told assembly delegates.

For many of us, that was much more moving than the vote, Arends said.

The Rev. Kent Johnson of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent, one of the delegates, described the new document as one hurdle, but a significant one.

Older theologians never thought they would see this in their lifetimes, said Johnson, associate pastor at Prince of Peace.

Arends and Johnson lauded 20-year-old delegate Khadijah Islam of the town of Onalaska for her address at an assembly hearing about the significance of the document in general and for her personally.

To see this happen to Catholics and Lutherans, showing how they have things in common, is a super good model, Islam said during an interview Monday.

The practical application in her life is the fact that she is godmother to 2-year-old Emmalynn Passe, the daughter of a Catholic family friend, said Islam, a member of Journey Lutheran Church in Onalaska.

Emmalynns mother said I was important to the family in choosing her to be godmother, Islam said.

Islams paternal grandparents are Muslim, but her family is Lutheran, she said.

Overall, the assembly was absolutely amazing, she said. There are some really progressive things going on, such as repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery that had claimed native lands for incoming Europeans.

Rejecting the doctrine affirmed the rights of indigenous peoples, as did assembly initiatives supporting Black Lives Matter, said Islam, adding, I have a pretty strong heart for social justice.
Our grandchildren are enjoying their final summer vacation fling before they head back to the classrooms  two of them in Wisconsin and two in Colorado.

Their parents sent pictures that came to my phone over the weekend - the Wisconsin kids riding double on a white horse on a farm in upstate New York and the Colorado kids holding the leads of two llamas on a backpacking trip in Colorados Weminuche Wilderness.

I gazed fondly at the pictures while sitting on the deck Monday morning enjoying the cool breeze and cloudless blue sky, a break in the humidity in this lush green August. And then I did the math: in only six years, the eldest of the grandchildren will finish high school in Wisconsin. That brought to mind a recent program on Wisconsin Public Radio about college costs and student debt, and pretty soon, my sunny day had taken a gloomy turn.

Six years is not a lot of time to turn around a decades-long decline in state support for public higher education that has led to soaring costs for higher education. And only six years is a short time to fix a woeful mismanagement of the nations student loan program that started with such promise under both presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. The loan system has turned into a profit center for private investors, banks and even the governmentnot what the founders of the program had in mind.

Thats what James B. Steele, the guest on the WPR program, told listeners based on his reporting for the Center for Investigative Reporting (https://www.revealnews.org/article/who-got-rich-off-the-student-debt-crisis/). The report showed that if states overall had continued to contribute to public higher education at the rate they were doing in 1980, they would have contributed in excess of $500 billion. The centers analysis said that was roughly the amount of debt owed by graduates of public higher education institutions over the years.

Wisconsin is one of the leaders in racking up student debt, with some 70 percent graduating with debt by 2014. An analysis by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said that state support for higher education was $14.73 per $1,000 of personal income. By 2013, that amount was down to $5 per $1,000.

When Gov. Scott Walker took office, students paid about 37 percent of the cost of their education, compared with 47 percent at the end of his first term, according to the Journal-Sentinel.

So students in Wisconsin and nationwide have had to make up the difference in large part by student loans. Some 40 million Americans now are some $1.3 trillion in debt as a result.

Wisconsin was among the nations leaders in the growth of student debt in the decade 2004-14 with a growth of 74 percent, according to the Institute for College Access and Success and its Project on Student Debt.

Considering the long decline in public support for the higher education sytem in Wisconsin, the idea that a tuition freeze, which Walker proposes to continue into the next budget, is a solution to the affordability problem is laughable. The Regents of the University of Wisconsin System have approved a request for $42.5 million increase in funding for the 2017-19 biennium. But I agree with Tony Evers, state education superintendent, who cast the only vote against the proposed increase, saying it was not sufficient and returned only 17 percent of the $250 million cut from the university budget in the 2015-17 biennium.

UW system officials note that the investment in higher education returns $10 for every dollar invested. They acknowledge it will be tough to convince the governor and legislators of the need to increase investment in the next budget.

Whether Wisconsin will resume making that investment will be decided in the elections this year and in the years ahead. It will take political courage to support the investments that will be needed to make higher education affordable for our nations grandchildren, as it was for their parents and grandparents. But invest we must, just as we must invest in other neglected building blocks of the nations economy such as roads, bridges and a host of other infrastructure.
A judge Aug. 12 sentenced an Onalaska sex offender convicted of photographing a nude child to serve five years on probation.

Bryon Olsen, 28, has the mental capacity of a child and has complied with bond requirements for more than two years, La Crosse County Circuit Judge Elliott Levine said in supporting his decision for community supervision. The judge also imposed an eight-year prison term.

If you violate any of the rules, youll be going to prison, Levine said.

Onalaska police began investigating Olsen in early 2014 after a 7-year-old boy said Olsen took photographs of his genitals, although he claimed the child photographed himself, according to the complaint.

Police recovered two sexually graphic photographs of the boy on Olsens cellphone taken on Dec. 28, 2013. Olsen was convicted of a sex offense as a juvenile and told police he doesnt really understand sex offender rules but doesnt think he has done anyone wrong, the complaint stated.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of being a registered sex offender photographing a minor without consent and entered an Alford plea to causing mental harm to a child. The Alford plea means he admitted no wrongdoing but conceded a jury likely would convict him.

Multiple other charges filed against Olsen were dismissed, but considered by the judge at sentencing. Prosecutors dismissed a case that accused Olsen of molesting a 6-year-old girl in late 2013 or early 2014.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to recommend Olsen serve no more than five years in prison. Olsen, who already served prison time for sex offenses, is impulsive and refuses to accept responsibility for his conduct, assistant district attorney Noel Lawrence said.

The defendant has blamed everyone for what he does but himself, she said.

Public defender Tom Locante asked for probation, arguing Olsens compliance with bond demonstrates he can be safely supervised in the community. Olsen suffers from a low intelligence level and acts out as a cry for help, Locante said.

I think sending a person like this to prison would be unduly harsh, he said.

Olsen told the judge he plans to obtain a high school diploma and work as a mechanic while on probation. Levine also ordered him to comply with sex offender treatment and serve six months on electronic monitoring.

Every rule you put in front of me, Ill follow, Olsen said. I dont feel I would be safe locked up.
When Gail Meyer, executive director of ABLE, Inc., looks around the organizations new 12,000 square-foot office facility and rec center in Caledonia, its hard for her not to see a dream come true.

Meyers been with ABLE for 31 years. She originally started part-time as a direct care provider to earn money for a family vacation.

I was going to work here for six months, Meyer said. You can see how that worked out. Its been a great career.

The story of how the new facility came into being will likely be shared at its open house, scheduled for the afternoon of Sept. 25, but Meyer took time to tell the story in full detail on a tour of the new building.

Originally, this started because we had a house that was over by the courthouse, Meyer said. That was our offices, and two to three people there were sharing office space, and it wasnt accessible. We put a ramp in and tried to make it, but it really wasnt. People supported couldnt get in the upper level.

We had purchased that for office space back in about 2000. It used to be a bank and a chicken coup, and it was lots of things. It was wired, and it had been an office when we bought it, so it was kind of ready for us to move in, but weve just grown as an agency. Then we rented some space in the old hotel downtown for a rec center. We were making do, but even the rec center wasnt accessible. You know, we provide service to people with disabilities, and we needed accessibility, so it was time to bring everybody together. Thats been our dream. So, our dream has come true.

For the past five years, she said, the ABLE Foundation has been saving all their fundraising dollars just for this dream of a new facility. Donations were also sought.

People were generous, Meyer said.

ABLEs been in business for more than 35 years, she said, and theyve never asked for money. Small campaigns aside, the big ask hasnt come around often. Theyve waited until they really needed it.

We tried not to hit the community, she said.

When they went to their banks and vendors, however, they were met with generosity, understanding and support. Some of its over multiple years, she said, but it was enough to make the dream a reality.

And that reality cost $2.4 million.

It was a little bit more than we had hoped, Meyer said.

One of the bigger costs, she said, was the estimating. The soil in the area had to be hauled out and a lot of fill had to be brought back in. And that, she said, is typical of the area soil.

What went on that soil is nothing short of amazing. Full wings of offices extend down its corridors.

We spent about a year-and-a-half to two years designing the building, she said. Once we knew we wanted to pursue this, we started with an architect, and we got a lot of feedback from the staff, the direct care; we put plans out, people could write on them. You have to. We found that in La Crescent when we remodeled Lancer (House). It really worked well because there were things that the direct care, people who are working, think of that we dont. We wouldnt know. Like, That wall wont work here. Dont do this.

Lancer House was remodeled starting in 2008. It was completed two years later. People lived there while the remodeling was being completed. The La Crescent community offered a lot of support, including alternate locations to keep the programming and care going strong during remodeling, but it was a challenge to keep it a true location.

In Caledonia, as she stressed, a lot of care went into where people were placed. Support offices are on one end of the building. Those include directors, supervisors, maintenance, scheduling, and human resources. The nine houses, in-home services, are supported by the row of new offices.

ABLE owns those nine homes, with anywhere from two to four people living in them, and theyre staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Theres a large staff break room, several work stations, conference rooms  they got some grant money for support in their training room: TV monitors, technical requirements, and attendant necessities.

Were hooked up to our server, she said. Thats nice, because then if we have a meeting or want to pull up a document, we can do it all right here, just like we were at our computer.

They moved in, at least the first part of the offices, in June. The people they support, the TRC, came in a month later. Agency-wide, ABLE supports approximately 110 people; 250 employees work for the company.

Wed like to have a few more, Meyer said. Were hiring.

The centerpiece of the facility if a fully designed training and rec room, which comes with two accordion walls splitting the giant room into three, if needed. Two 50-inch TVs are in the room. They were scaled specially to fit into the space.

Some of our people supported are so excited because they can have movie nights here, she said.

The TVs also hook up to karaoke. Theres a rec club that meets once a month, and a social calendar is developed.

Exercise equipment is coming. Showers are there. Theres a full laundry facility. These are the tools some of those supported by ABLE need to learn. And, just off the room is an entire kitchen suite, fitted with home-like familiarity. There are two sinks, a built-in oven, a standard oven; all of it accessible for those in wheelchairs.

We havent bought everything were thinking here, Meyer said. Were not sure exactly yet.

Perhaps a living room set will be added.

Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job, really, she said.

Thats because ABLE wants to see as many of those who it supports able to get out into the community and live independently. Almost everything it does is designed to give them that chance, and the support that chance needs to thrive.

We really feel successful when weve worked ourselves out of a job, she said, because then somebodys on their own living independently.

Theres also a therapy room in the new facility, which can double as a quiet room. Theres grant money for a nearby exercise room. That will be filled in time. The grant money is key to that, too, becoming a reality.

We really pursued that during this project, she said.

While Meyer led the tour, and is a vocal advocate for the work and the new facility, she stressed that many people  from ABLEs board to its foundation to the community at large  were key to the success of the project.

They were almost all on hand when ABLE broke ground in September. Pictures were taken, and there were smiles all around. It was the smiles of joy and relief at a journey so long in the making, and determined in its outcome.

Its just been, Meyer paused. It was hard to know how to feel about it all. It was on my bucket list.

And, now, its marked: Completed. Dream come true.
One of the best suggestions I heard during the more than 30 years that I taught came from a principal in my first year of teaching. Dr. Wayne Jennings, an award-winning principal about whom Ive written before, recommended listening to and learning from families and students.

Jennings emphasized that these groups wouldnt always agree and that I also should use my professional judgment. But he explained that families and students could provide valuable insights, ideas and suggestions. He also noted that families of different backgrounds and heritages might have different recommendations.

As families and educators plan for the coming year, here are a few examples of how that advice helped and an example of unwisely not listening.

More than 40 years ago, a group of parents and teachers created a new district K-12 public school option in our community. Originally, the idea was that students of all ages would take courses throughout the building.

However, after a month, parents of kindergarten students asked the school site council to design a room for these students. Some of the educators disagreed and explained the schools philosophy. The parents agreed with the K-12 philosophy but wanted a safe place for the youngest students, many of whom were frightened by moving around a building with older, larger students. We did a quick verbal survey of the 5-year-olds, who agreed with their parents.

Fortunately, the site council of parents, teachers, students and administrators listened. We created a kindergarten-only room. Parents and students reported after a month that 5-year-olds were doing much better. We also agreed that after the first semester, if families felt their child was ready, the student could take one or two classes outside the designated room. So education was individualized. Some were ready to do this. Others werent.

Several years ago, the Minnesota Department of Education asked the Center for School Change to help share information with students about dual-credit courses. We asked students to write about dual-credit experiences. We published their essays in free booklets. Then we convened students to discuss next steps. While they liked the booklet, several explained that, YouTube is where its at for many teens. Students also suggested videos in different languages. We followed their advice, writing and producing videos with students from High School for Recording Arts, Migizi Communications, PACER Center and Neighborhood House.

Unfortunately, school districts sometimes fail to use information that could be valuable. For example, why are families leaving a school or district?

According to MDE statistics, the number of students living in St. Paul but attending other district or charter schools has increased from 9,149 in 2009-10 to 13,429 in 2015-16. Many people, including me, have urged the district over the last several years to survey families that left and report results so that the board and community can use this information. The districts public information director said via email that the survey data would be processed and available by June. As of Aug. 3, a report has not been completed. Several newly elected board members are committed to obtaining this information. Other communities may want to gather, share and learn from this kind of information.

Listening to and learning from parents and students can be very valuable. Professional judgment is important. But wise educators make at least some decisions only after gathering information from students and families.
John William Deal, 60, our good friend, son and brother, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2016, in the company of friends and in the tender care of Gundersen Health System caregivers.

John was born May 26, 1956, in Onamia, Minn., to Howard and Gloria (Thompson) Deal.

John was a pilgrim who traveled extensively, was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed camping and fishing. A clever poet, storyteller, and troubadour, John penned his own music and was an artful spinner of yarns. John was a protector who stood up for the underdog, the most vulnerable. He was sometimes a preacher with philosophical wanderings with the wit and wisdom of ages of sages. A musical minstrel he enjoyed playing and singing for passersby, especially in the park. John was a friend to many who was always proud of his service as a U.S. Marine. He was a man of integrity who dealt fairly, directly and honestly with others. In part, his legacy to the living will include his own music and the recordings he left behind. John is missed by his many friends from the downtown community.

He sometimes saw himself as the rebel of an old Christian hymn, He Pardoned A Rebel Like Me. Aware of his weaknesses, he believed there was compassion and pardon, even for one such as he. He now rests in the hands of the God who first gave him life.

John is survived by his father, Howard; brothers, Michael and Daniel; and sister, Kathleen.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Gloria; and grandparents, Howard Sr. and Kathleen Marguccio Deal, and Burrell and Gloria Thompson.

There will be a celebration of Johns life 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Wesley Methodist Church, at the corner of 8th and King Sts, La Crosse. Prior to the service, John will lie in repose in the church sanctuary. A reception will follow.

Gifts left in Johns memory can be directed to Coulee Council on Addictions Recovery Activities Program.
The John C. Bock Foundation has boosted the effort to protect the endangered bats of Kickapoo Indian Caverns with a $10,000 grant, according to Carol Abrahamzon, executive director of the Mississippi Valley Conservancy.

The conservancy, a La Crosse-based land trust that serves nine western Wisconsin counties, is more than halfway toward its goal of raising $435,000 to buy the cave complex located above the Wisconsin River near Wauzeka. Three species of bats hibernate in the cave.

The foundation, which supports preservation of woodlands and old-growth forest, said in its award letter the grant was slightly outside the foundations core mission, but the foundation recognized the importance of the project.

The 83-acre property includes native remnant prairie, limestone cliffs and rock outcrops, oak savanna, and oak-hickory forest, all located within the boundary of the Lower Kickapoo River Important Bird Area.

The old-growth forest and savanna include many sinkholes, providing a direct conduit to the groundwater and cavern system, according to the conservancy.

The late John C. Bock was former president and CEO of Bock Water Heaters, an employee-owned company in Madison, Wis.

Abrahamzon said the grant will assist with saving one of Wisconsins top five largest hibernating bat populations and one of the most spectacular caves in the Midwest.

The cave, which includes an underground river, numerous cathedral-like chambers, beautifully colored ribbon stalactites, provides hibernacula for the federally threatened northern long-eared bat and state threatened little brown bat and eastern pipistrelle.

Abrahamzon noted that without a conservation buyer the property is likely to continue in commercial operation, which threatens the bat population with continued exposure to white nose syndrome, a disease that has killed millions of bats in the northeast, Canada and central states since it emerged about a decade ago. It was confirmed in Wisconsin in 2014.
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.
VIROQUA  Xcel Energy will host two 60 Minutes of Solar meetings Tuesday in Viroqua for electric customers to learn about the Solar Connect Community program.

The first hour-long meeting will be at 1 p.m. at the Food Enterprise Center, 1201 N. Main St., Viroqua. The second will be at 5 p.m. at the Viroqua American Legion, 120 Rusk Ave. N. The meetings will cover the benefits and economics of community solar and include a question-and-answer period.
This week we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. As an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and father of two boys, I believe, as do many Americans, that our National Park System plays an important role in strengthening family relationships and traditions.

Ken Burns famously described the national parks as Americas best idea. Each and every American, by birth right or citizenship, is a proud owner of some of the most beautiful and expansive lands in the world. The national parks are for everyone to enjoy, protected from exploitation by the powerful or wealthy special interests.

My family and I have been strong supporters of our National Park System and go backpacking in a different park each summer. Throughout the years, my family and I have backpacked through Glacier, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Yellowstone National Parks.

The national parks provide families an affordable opportunity to experience firsthand our countrys most unique and inspiring natural treasures, and families enjoying nature together help pave the way for future conservationists. Wisconsin is home to a number of National Park Service areas, including the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and the Ice Age National Historic Trail.

I am proud to co-chair the Congressional National Parks Caucus and will continue to champion initiatives that support our parks. One issue we are working to address is the growing maintenance backlog throughout the National Park System. Investment in our national parks is a smart decision that results in generous returns to our communities. Research shows that every dollar invested in national parks generates $10 in economic activity, and visitor spending at our national parks contributes $29.7 billion to the U.S. economy. Additionally, we must continue to look for ways to increase accessibility for all Americans, especially the younger generation.

Protecting Americas natural legacy has been one of my top priorities while serving in Congress. When Teddy Roosevelt expanded the national forests in the West during his presidency, he understood that these parks were ecological treasures that were in danger of being lost. That is why I value responsible stewardship of our lands and wilderness to ensure that future generations of Americans have the opportunity to experience the wonders of our National Park System.

This year our family will once again be finding our park, and I encourage you to get out there and experience firsthand one of these national treasures.
A coalition of women backing Donald Trump's campaign in Wisconsin makes up for what it lacks in marquee names with fervent disapproval of Hillary Clinton.

Unveiled on Wednesday, the campaign's list of Wisconsin Women for Trump included just two current elected officials  budget committee co-chairwoman Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Senate President Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin. Lazich is not seeking re-election this year.

Not on the list? Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, the state's highest-ranking Republican officeholder next to Gov. Scott Walker. Kleefisch has appeared in Wisconsin with Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, but not with Trump himself, although she has said she supports the GOP ticket.

"It's a working list," said Sue Lynch of La Crosse, a member of the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women and a member of the new coalition.

Lynch told reporters on a conference call Wednesday she hopes the list will be updated soon with more names, including Kleefisch's.

Kleefisch is supportive of the coalition's efforts, but due to commitments as lieutenant governor and as chairwoman of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association was unable to join, said her campaign manager Charles Nichols. She "fully expects" to be at campaign events for Trump and Pence throughout the state, he said.

The coalition also includes UW Regent and former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow, Department of Administration Deputy Secretary Cate Zeuske and Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women president Charlotte Rasmussen.

"I'm here to do everything I can do to make sure that Donald Trump  not Hillary Clinton  is in the White House on Election Day," Rasmussen said. "Women across Wisconsin are responding to Donald J. Trump because of his clear message of strength and resolve to bring law and order back to our inner cities and secure the borders."

Pete Meachum, Trump's state director, said the party is "ready to unify" and use its "best-in-the-nation ground game" to back Trump, who he said will be a "better choice for women" than Clinton.

Electing Clinton would have a "devastating effect" on constitutional rights, said WFRW member Kathy Kiernan, of Washington County.

"Wisconsin's enthusiasm for Donald Trump is increasing on a daily basis. America needs to change direction," said former WFRW president Ginny Marshman, of Waukesha. "Hillary Clinton is not worthy of the presidency."

Two names on the list of statewide and county-level leaders on the committee raised eyebrows among those familiar with the John Doe probe into Walker's office during his time as Milwaukee county executive.

Darlene Wink was convicted of two misdemeanors for working on Walker's gubernatorial campaign as an employee of his county executive's office. Rose Ann Dieck was granted immunity to testify in the case, which resulted in six convictions.

Meachum, asked on the call whether the coalition ought to include Wink and Dieck, said the campaign is looking "to include women all around the state, including active women who are involved."

"Were looking for strong Trump support and people who are willing to work," he said.

Trump faces an uphill battle with Wisconsin women, if the most recent Marquette University Law School poll is to be believed.

Clinton leads Trump by 24 points among women who are registered to vote, while Trump leads by six points among registered male voters. Clinton's gap widens to 31 points for likely women voters and shrinks to five points for likely men voters.

Lynch dismissed those numbers and said she doesn't think the Marquette poll is a "valid poll at this point."

She also dismissed the weight of comments Trump has made about women that have attracted criticism throughout his campaign.

In the days leading up to Wisconsin's presidential primary election, an anti-Trump PAC aired an ad throughout the state featuring some of the comments Trump had made about women's physical appearances including "bimbo," "fat pig," and "piece of ass."

"Im not going to be distracted by those few comments, because I trust Donald Trump will put America first. Whats more egregious is than anything Donald Trump has said is the fact that Hillary Clinton continues to lie to the American people," Lynch said. "Donald Trump will hold himself accountable, where Hillary Clinton hasnt held herself accountable to anything shes done  thats whats wrong with American politics today."

But U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, said Trump's past comments ought to be remembered.

"Wisconsin women have heard Donald Trump repeatedly demean women," Moore said, responding on behalf of Clinton's campaign. "He opposes equal pay measures and supports defunding Planned Parenthood. Donald Trump is dangerously unqualified to be president. We just cannot trust him to manage the economy, keep us safe, or put Wisconsin families first."
Two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

- Luke 24:13-14

When I observe two walkers talking together as they make their way down the sidewalk or street, I can hardly keep from smiling. Even though I have no idea what the walkers are discussing, just seeing people in a conversation with each other reminds me of the gift and importance of being in relationship with others. It also makes me wonder where they are going and how long they have been walking.

For the past 50 years, Catholic and Lutheran theologians and scholars have been on a long walk together, discussing matters of faith and ministry. This walk has had many twists, turns and obstacles along the way. For some interested observers, it may have appeared that they were just standing still, not making any progress at all.

Two weeks ago, Lutherans and Catholics celebrated together a momentous and historic agreement after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly meeting in New Orleans overwhelmingly accepted the Declaration on the Way, a unique ecumenical document that marks a path toward greater unity between Catholics and Lutherans. Many who witnessed this historic event, including Catholic Auxillary Bishop Dennis J. Madden of Baltimore and ELCA Presiding Bishop Emeritus Mark Hanson, who co-chaired the writing of this document, could not contain their joy at reaching a milestone that they never expected to see in their lifetime. I, for one, could not keep from smiling.

At the heart of the Declaration on the Way document are 32 Statements of Agreement that outline where Lutherans and Catholics do not have church-dividing differences on topics about church, ministry and the Eucharist. In addition, the document also identifies the differences that remain. Without agreeing on everything, there is a renewed energy and commitment to continuing this journey of faith together. For that, we should all give God thanks and praise.

Even if you are not a Lutheran, Catholic or Christian of another demonination, I hope you will find inspiration by this accomplishment. If two churches that have experienced deep divisions for 500 years are now trusting the Holy Spirit to lead them down a path toward greater respect and understanding of each other, what else is possible? Can people of all religious beliefs risk doing the same?

I encourage your prayers for Catholics and Lutherans in the journey ahead. I also invite your prayers for your relatives and friends who may not share all your religious beliefs or even your political views. It is my prayer that you may be surprised by the joy you will find in this journey together.
I loved my family reunions when I was a child.

I got to play with my cousins for days as we camped for a week at Ham Lake in northern Wisconsin.

This was an extended family reunion for my fathers family, which branched underneath my great-grandfather who had 11 children. Many of them lived in the Milwaukee and Madison area.

Going to Ham Lake became a tradition, as it had a campground that we could basically take over and we had cookouts every night. As a kid I was welcome at every campsite. I learned and saw all sorts of new ways to camp out and cook food.

My cousin Donald was the first person I saw grill sweetcorn. Before I helped him grill up a batch, I had thought the only way you could prepare it was by boiling it. In fact, as he mixed himself a drink and sat in a lawn chair, he supervised as I prepared and cooked about four dozen ears of corn for him. I was about 10 years old. He started calling me the little chef. I felt 10 feet tall, and, of course, he got to put his feet up, talk with those around the grill and watch me work. I loved it.

The reunion was great, too, because I was surrounded by friends. I had all sorts of first cousins once removed, and second and third cousins all over the place. Wed play games and go hiking.

On rainy days wed hang out in somebodys camper and play board games or read comic books. Those are moments I remember during which I got to know my cousins and they got to know me.

Early one evening, after dinner just before the main nightly campfire, I was at my Great-Uncle Claudes campsight near the woods on the north side of the campground. From about 100 yards away inside the woods we heard the most awful, tortuous howling  as if a predator had caught its prey and began its dinner before the prey was dead.

As I stood with my mouth agape my dad and several of my great-uncles appeared at the campsite toting shotguns. When we went camping to Ham Lake we always had a shotgun behind the front seat and I never knew why. But my dad and great-uncles had hunted and spent many years in these woods. Not only were bears a concern, but there were other things in the woods much more nasty than a bear.

What exactly caused the incident was never revealed. Other than that rare dramatic incident, the family reunion was a series of euchre and sheepshead card tournaments, endless games of lawn darts and horse shoes and circles of people sitting in lawn chairs and enjoying themselves.

The final Saturday night of the reunion was a big party. For the adults there was a full bar and a keg of beer. For the kids there were metal bins filled with ice and every flavor of Jolly Good pop. As you can guess, food was overflowing.

The official meeting was held in which the family officers were elected to set up the next years event. The party included music, dancing and the telling of a great many stories. I went to bed hours before it was over. Sundays breakfast was always a sad time. Over scrambled eggs and bacon my cousins and I tried to have fun although I knew in many cases I would not see them again for a year.

The reunion at Ham Lake came to an end for my family in the mid-1980s. My folks had a vacation property they liked to visit in Adams County and slowly-but-surely, the weeklong family get-together faded off into the summer sunset. Whenever I think of summer, a splash of many beautiful, positive memories comes back to me. These memories are vivid and sharp, like watching the fireworks display just before kids bedtime arrived at the family reunion.
Donald J. Smith Sr., 92, of Tomah died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tomah. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, at Lighthouse Assembly of God, 762 W. Clifton Street, Tomah. Burial, with military honors, will be in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street, Tomah, and 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau recently released a memo comparing the level of state general aid for public schools for the previous school year to its levels in 2010. It reveals that funding for most school districts in the state remains well below the levels it was at when the Republicans took control of the Legislature and the governors office in 2011. In fact, 49 school districts statewide have lost more than half their general aid support.

This certainly holds true for most of the schools in the 24th State Senate District. General school aid for the Stevens Point Area Schools is down 11.3 percent from 2010 levels. Wautoma Area Schools are down 13.5 percent; Tomah schools are down 18.6 percent, and Tri-County schools are down 19 percent. Some of the smallest districts were hit hardest, with Pittsville Schools down more than 20 percent and Rosholt Schools down more than 30 percent. Of the 15 school districts in the Senate district, only two are receiving slightly more in general aid than they were six years ago before Gov. Walker and the Republican legislative majority took office.

And make no mistake  these cuts are having an effect on our childrens education. Area school administrators tell me that as a result of the cumulative effects of years of these budget cuts, they have been reducing and eliminating programs, putting off maintenance and struggling to keep up with technology demands and necessary support services for students.

In the school funding compromise reached in the late 1990s, limits were placed on the ability of school districts to raise property tax levies, in exchange for the state funding a larger share of school costs. This was intended to create property tax relief. But the state has not provided the two-thirds funding it promised, leaving schools ill-equipped to deal with the massive cuts under Gov. Walker and the Republican legislative majority. Across the state, more communities have voted to raise property taxes to make up for the cuts in state school aid. The number of school referendums climbed from 13 in 2012 to 35 last year. The result has been to shift more of the cost of educating our children on to the backs of homeowners and other property taxpayers.

Governor Walker and Republican legislators told us the historic cuts to public school funding were an unavoidable result of the Great Recession. But as the economy has slowly been recovering, state support for public schools has not. Instead, these leaders chose to fund massive tax giveaways that benefit the richest people in Wisconsin. Just one of these tax handouts will cost Wisconsin more than a half billion dollars over the biennium, more than twice what it was originally expected to cost. The Department of Revenue reports that 78 percent of the tax credits distributed through this program went to millionaires.

Governor Walker and legislative Republicans also found more than $50 million annually to fund unaccountable private schools, expanding the voucher program statewide and lowering eligibility requirements. The sad fact is that these leaders could have prioritized our childrens education by restoring funding to our public schools; they chose not to.

Wisconsin has to stop cannibalizing its public schools to pay for giveaways to the rich and subsidies for private schools. Our childrens future depends on our giving them the best educational opportunities we can. And the economic health of our local communities and businesses, as well as our entire state, relies on having a well-educated workforce. Our public schools are the bulwark of our childrens future, and that of our state. We have to give them our support.
Do you have a great internet connection? Less than what youd prefer? Makes it impossible for you to do your work or your childrens homework? No service at all?

Make your opinion known!

The state is taking a survey of how Wisconsinites connect to the internet. The survey is free  and ironically  available online. Those without internet  or such a slow connection they cannot fill out a survey  can let their voice be heard by calling the following toll-free phone number: 877-360-2973.

Home connections and businesses are measured in separate surveys. You can reach the residential survey here: https://www.research.net/r/WI_PSC_broadband_survey.

Businesses can voice their opinion here: https://www.research.net/r/WI_PSC_business_broadband_survey.

To prepare for the survey, make sure you know your internet provider and the number of electronic devices in your home or business that connect to the internet. The survey will ask for your address, the type of problems you experience, and if you have students in the home who also have Internet problems.

The Public Service Commission  the state agency responsible for supervising public utilities  is conducting the survey. The state must improve information on who is well-served and who is not. The current map of where broadband exists is based on information from the companies who provide the service, not from customers.

As a consequence, the state broadband map is inaccurate. Service in an area that appears covered on the state map can be very uneven.

Some companies inaccurately described both the areas they cover and the speed available. People complained about the inaccuracy of the state map and the illusion the map conveys to policymakers.

In conversations with the state broadband director earlier this year, I shared examples of how the map misinformed state leaders. For example, one company advertised speed with the modifier up to as in up to 10 mg. However, the company didnt tell the consumer the only way to get that speed is if he lives right next to the companys equipment and no other customer tries to get on the internet.

A few years ago, large companies successfully lobbied to remove state oversight of telecommunication companies. Consumer protections and penalties for companies not complying were removed. This makes keeping companies accountable very difficult. The lack of oversight encourages some companies to look for ways to appear to provide coverage without actually delivering it.

Some companies provide fabulous service at a very reasonable price. They do this despite the lack of oversight by the state. Many of these companies are local, customer-owned cooperatives. The co-op model provides accountability directly to local customers who serve as the co-op directors. People with problems call a local person or walk into a local office. In western Wisconsin, cooperatives are leading the way to build out reliable, high-speed broadband to rural customers.

Pitted against the smaller local companies are the large telecommunication companies with expensive lobbyists in Madison. The result of the uneven resources between small, local companies and large multi-national companies means the Public Service Commission often views the large companies as walking on water while having little information about the small local companies who are working the real miracles.

Broadband has become a necessary service to all communities. In the 21st century, broadband is as necessary as electric power was nearly 100 years ago. Businesses cannot function without broadband. Young people know more than many how vital fast internet is to life today. They are leaving rural Wisconsin because they do not have reliable, fast and unlimited access.

State and federal money has been invested in building out broadband. Too often, however, the large companies used the access problems in rural Wisconsin to apply for that money and then did not deliver the goods to our underserved areas.

Just tracking the companys progress in building out service is difficult for the state because there is no independent verification of new customers served.

If you have great service, poor service or no service at all, please take the time to fill out the survey and let your voice be heard. Your investment in time will help those working hard to bring Wisconsin into the 21st century.
The La Crosse County Board and the countys health department are so worried about the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources failure to oversee holders of wastewater discharge permits that the board passed a resolution urging the agency to follow whats already the law.

When roads are in bad shape, its easy to tell before things get to a crisis level. The ride gets bumpy, and motorists see cracks in the pavement.

Its different with water. Only regular testing and regulatory vigilance can guard against contamination of surface and groundwater from industrial, agricultural and municipal wastewater.

The county boards resolution was prompted largely by a report from the states nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau in June that revealed significant problems with the DNRs monitoring, enforcement and permitting of the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or WPDES.

(The DNR is) supposed to be doing certain things to make sure the state water supply remains pure, drinkable and healthy, said county board member Monica Kruse, who who is chairwoman of the boards Health and Human Services Committee. These are statutorily required services that are supposed to be provided at the state level, and theyre just washing their hands of them.

The Legislative Audit Bureau report, which looked at WPDES permits and enforcement for industrial, municipal and concentrated animal feeding operations from 2005 to 2015, included findings that the DNR was not issuing violation notices in the vast majority of cases when violations were found, was not reviewing permit renewals properly or in a timely manner while issuing permit renewals nonetheless, was falling short on required inspections of CAFOs, and was not keeping records in a way that ensured they were accessible to staff, let alone the public.

The countys resolution, which was sent to Gov. Scott Walker, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and local legislators, requested the DNR take the following actions for the 17 WPDES permit holders in La Crosse County:

Ensure the records of all inspections and determinations are electronically recorded and available in a timely fashion to DNR staff responsible for monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations.

Conduct inspections of permit holders within 12 months of expiration of their current permits and not reissue permits before inspections are conducted.

Reissue permits only when the permit holder is in substantial compliance as required by state statute.

Follow enforcement policy and issue notices of violations when permit holders violate the terms of their permits.

Provide the county with a report of the compliance status of all permit holders in the county.

The resolution is asking basically that the DNR follow whats already the law, said Jim Steinhoff, who supervises the countys Health Department lab operations. We have these laws and we know if you dont follow them the water gets contaminated and that causes illnesses.

In La Crosse County, the DNR has issued 17 WPDES permits. Of those, 11 are sewage treatment facilities ranging from the regional treatment plant in La Crosse to two facilities serving mobile home parks. The other permit holders include Xcel Energys waste-to-energy incinerator on French Island, the Metallics facility on Brice Prairie, Bills Pumping Service near Holmen, the U.S. Geological Survey operation on French Island, Stella Jones near Bangor, and Babcock Genetics, a concentrated animal feeding operation for swine near Holmen that has a permit for up to 4,100 animal units (a pig weighing more than 55 pounds counts as 40 to 50 percent of an animal unit).

Groundwater contamination has been a big issue in Kewaunee County, which has a large number of CAFOs and an underlying geology that allows manure and other contaminants to quickly migrate from the surface to the groundwater from which wells are drawing drinking water. Last fall, more than a third of the wells in the county were found to have unsafe levels of bacteria and/or nitrates, with CAFOs being the likely source of the contamination. In several towns, every well was contaminated.

Kruse said it was like the Wisconsin form of the Flint water crisis, referring to elevated lead levels in residential drinking water in Flint, Mich., caused by the city switching to a more acidic water source that readily leached the hazardous metal out of old pipes.

You should be afraid. You should be very afraid, said Sharon Hampson, vice chairwoman of the La Crosse County Board. Its a real and present danger.

In a way, Steinhoff said, Kewaunee Countys contamination could be worse than Flint because bacterial contamination can cause immediate health problems. It could very quickly be life threatening, he said.

Some communities in Kewaunee County (as well as Midwest Environmental Advocates) have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to have the DNR removed as the responsible agency for enforcing the federal Clean Water Act. Its probably unlikely that is going to happen, but it shows you the amount of concern a lot of people in that part of the state have, Steinhoff said.

According to Steinhoff, La Crosse Countys Babcock Genetics CAFO was referenced in the audit bureau report, noting that monitoring wells on the site had found nitrogen concentrations exceeding the limit starting in 2005. Steinhoff said the audit bureau asked the DNR specifically about the Babcock Genetics CAFO. The response was that theyre still studying it, he said. The question the people of La Crosse County should be asking is, How long does this take to come to some resolution.

Steinhoff found it especially disturbing that about 98 percent of the required 1,900 self-monitoring annual reports from CAFOs from 2005-14 were not electronically logged when they were received. That information is basically lost. People in the DNR who rely on that software, like managers in Madison, for example, would never see the information that was reported, he said. Basically, youre blind and dont know whats going on with water pollution because these reports dont go into their system.

The audit bureau report noted that the annual reports were not electronically recorded because staff members did not have time. DNR staff also told the audit that they do not have time to thoroughly review each annual report.

Although there were 558 cases from 2005 to 2014 where DNR policies called for issuing notices of violation (403 for exceeding effluent limits, 155 for late reporting), only 33 permit holders actually received violation notices, according to the audit bureau report, which disturbed both Steinhoff and Kruse. Lack of enforcement when violations are found coupled with a lack of monitoring basically sends a signal that WPDES permit holders dont have to worry about compliance.

Its carte blanche. They can do whatever they want, Kruse said. I think all of them should be held accountable.

Kruse puts the blame for the DNR shortcomings on Walker and the GOP-led Legislature, arguing that Walker and Republican lawmakers have never met a regulation they didnt hate and that the DNR has backed off on water contamination enforcement as a matter of policy to help the business community, especially big agriculture.

They are trying to be as business friendly as they can be, Kruse said. In the process, they are leaving the citizens of Wisconsin vulnerable to some very bad things.

State Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, agreed that the DNR under the Walker administration has had minuscule oversight. It seems like the message coming out of this administration and that agency is that there arent really penalties or consequences, said Shilling, who is the Senate minority leader. Its his department thats responsible for enforcing these rules, and there generally has been poor enforcement.

The audit, it should be noted, covers 2005 to 2015, and problems with the DNR enforcement predate the beginning of the Walker administration in 2011. DNR staffing has been on the decline for many years, falling 15 percent the past 20 years. Staffing reached a critical point in the summer of 2011, when a wave of resignations and retirements after Act 10 (which took away state employee bargaining rights) left one in five DNR positions vacant.

The DNR vacancy rate has improved but last summer it had climbed again to 14.2 percent after falling from 2012 to 2014. Not only were DNR managers not hiring staff to fill vacancies; they saw fewer positions authorized. In the most recent budget, Walker proposed trimming 67 jobs from the DNRs staff of 2,647 full-time equivalent positions; the budget bill he signed cut 92 jobs.

When the states Natural Resources Board brought discussed the LAB report with Stepp, she told the board that lack of money for staff was a big part of the reason why the DNR couldnt keep up with WPDES enforcement and permitting work. Also, she said, rules prevent the agency from bringing on new employees while experienced retiring staff members are still on board so they can help train the new hires.

Stepp told the board that an internal staffing analysis underway could improve WPDES enforcement.

Stepp did not respond to a request for a response to the La Crosse County Boards resolution, but James Dick, the DNRs communications director, said the county board will get a response from the DNR about supervisors concerns.

Dick defended the DNRs approach to WPDES violations, saying that the tiny number of violation notices doesnt mean that violations are being ignored or going uncorrected.

The DNR is committed to a step enforcement approach where we try to resolve violations at the level appropriate for the circumstances. Minor violations may be resolved first through an informal discussion or notice of noncompliance and can be escalated to a more aggressive approach, such as a notice of violation, Dick said. The goal is to achieve compliance, not set a record for the most NOVs issued.

Dick said the DNR is taking the LAB report seriously, even if there is some disagreement over some of the allegations. We are working on our electronic recording efforts while having our staff focus on maintaining or increasing the number of inspections. We set inspection goals that are approved by the EPA and those goals are being met, Dick said.

Walker has said he wouldnt rule out increasing funding for the DNR in the biennial budget that will be debated next year. In addition, State Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, has called for an increase in funding for the DNR by having more of the permit fee revenue it collects stay with the agency rather than going nto the general fund.

According to the audit bureau report, in 2014-15 only about $72,000 of the $5.4 million collected went into accounts dedicated to environmental management, and the numbers in the report were similar going back to 2005.

The disconnect between fees and amount spent on enforcement and permit oversight doesnt sit well with state Rep. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska. We are now basically shaking down these entities, but the service that is being provided doesnt seem to have any relationship at all to that fee, he said. That just to me feels wrong.

Doyle also is a member of the La Crosse County Board, and while he was not present for the vote on the boards resolution regarding WPDES enforcement, he said he fully supports the resolution. If other counties and municipalities follow suit as expected, it could make a difference come budget time.

This is part of a concerted effort to have a small voice turned into a much larger voice, Doyle said. Of course, he added, it really takes the majority party to pull the trigger and say something has to happen.

The scrutiny coming from the EPA could help, too. If the federal government starts to threaten to impose sanctions  that may be what it takes to make action finally occur.

Its important, Doyle said, that something be done to drastically improve WPDES enforcement and permitting processes before the EPA steps in to take over enforcement.

We shouldnt rely on the federal government to do the right thing, he said.
State-controlled media in China recently reported that the government is trying to reach an agreement with other nations on operations in the South China Sea.

Such a deal could reduce tensions in the area. However, talks on the agreement have been going on for more than ten years, with little progress.

The official China Daily reported that Chinese diplomats and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached agreement on some issues. The publication said they agreed to create a communications system for sea-based emergencies. It also reported that a temporary agreement on South China Sea operations would be written by the middle of next year. If a final agreement is reached, all the nations that sign it would have to obey international laws.



Some experts do not believe a deal will be reached. They note that China has increased its activity in the area since July. At that time, a United Nations-supported court dismissed most of Chinas claims that a large part of the Sea is its territory.

China has sent large ships close to disputed islands in the South China Sea. Satellite pictures that have been seen by experts show new buildings that can house fighter jets on some of the islands.

Harry Kazianis is an expert on defense policy at the Center for the National Interest, in Washington. He recently spoke on VOAs Asia Weekly podcast.

I think what they're trying to achieve is, is basically just to show their anger with the recent ruling that was in the Court of Arbitration in The Hague. And I think we have to break this down in terms of two sets of reactions: The first set of reactions is basically from what happened, whats happened from July and basically whats gonna happen until early September.

That is when the group of nations known as the G20 holds a meeting in China.

Kazianis says he believes China will not change its behavior.

Greg Poling is an expert on maritime issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in Washington. He says Chinas long-term goal is to control the area.

Poling says in 2014 China changed its behavior. He said before that time China had been pressuring its neighbors, including Vietnam and the Philippines. But, he says, in 2014 all of a sudden, we had Chinese artificial islands cropping up where previously there had only been submerged rocks (and) reefs. Poling says this island-building changed the balance of power in a basic way.



The United States does not accept Chinas claims to territory in the South China Sea. U.S. planes and ships have been patrolling near the islands, ignoring warnings from Chinese military officials in the area. China says foreign ships are illegally sailing in its waters. But the United States says they are international waters.

The U.S. Defense Department says China is making a lot of claims aimed at trying to limit the ability of foreign ships to move freely.

Poling says the United States and its allies must decide whether they are willing to challenge China if it continues to try to control large areas of the South China Sea.

If China is absolutely committed to this strategy -- no matter the diplomatic costs -- then its hard to see what the international community or those most involved -- like the U. S. and Japan -- can do."

Poling says ideas that could be considered include trying to stop China by force. But he says a longer-term plan might be to tell the world what Beijing is doing in the hope that Chinas leaders will understand that their behavior is hurting their own interests.

Poling says it is important to understand that the dispute may go on for many years, and that diplomatic pressure may be the only tool you have.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

Correspondent Steve Miller reported this story from Washington. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. Pete Heinlein and Mario Ritter were the editors.

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

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

maritime  adj. of or relating to sailing on the sea or doing business (such as trading) by sea

artificial  adj. not happening or existing naturally; created or caused by people

submerged  adj. under water

crop up  phrasal verb to come or appear when not expected

strategy  n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time
LEBANON  Two Sweet Home men were critically injured Thursday morning in a multiple-vehicle crash on Highway 20 near the Bauman Mill.
For years, CodeWeavers has been selling CrossOver software that lets you run some native Windows programs on Linux and Mac computers.

Now the company is getting ready to bring CrossOver to Android, making it possible to run Windows software (including games) on Android phones or tablets, as well as Chromebooks like the Acer Chromebook R11.

A tech preview of CrossOver Android will be available to a group of testers starting August 25th, 2016.

Update: Check out our follow-up article for a hands-on look at CrossOver for Android running on an Acer Chromebook R11.

CrossOver Android will only work on devices with Intel processors, which rules out the vast majority of Android phones and tablets. But there are a handful of devices with Intel Atom or Celeron chips that should be able to run the software, including the Acer Chromebook R11, which is the first Chromebook with an Intel processor to support Android apps.

CodeWeavers says supported software includes Microsoft Office, Quicken, and the Steam Game client as well as games that use DirectX.

Keep in mind that even on Mac and Linux computers, there are a lot of Windows programs that dont work with CrossOver. The list of unsupported software is even larger for CrossOver Android.

And some programs that do run might not run very well, thanks to the limited amount of RAM, disk space, CPU power, or screen space available on most Android or Chrome OS devices.

In order to test the tech preview of CrossOver Android, youll need to sign up to join the beta program using the email address linked to the same Google account youll be using to download the app from the Play Store.
Evan Blass may have retired from leaking details about upcoming phones and other gadgets two years ago, but hes still got great sources, and he still keeps sharing information about products before theyre officially launched.

Two of the latest? The LG V20 and the Sony Xperia X Compact. One will be the first phone to ship with Android 7.0 software and the other is a smaller version of Sonys latest flagship phones.

Sony Xperia X Compact

Sony has yet to actually acknowledge the existence of the Xperia X Compact, which makes this leak kind of exciting.

The company has released compact versions of its last few smartphones: Both the Sony Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z5 smartphones launched alongside compact editions. The key differences between the full-sized, 5.2 inch models and the smaller, 4.6 inch compact versions was the screen size, screen resolution, and battery capacity.

Its not yet clear what specs the Xperia X Compact will have: will it be a premium device like the Xperia X Performance with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor? Or will it be more of a mid-range device like the Xperia XA and Xperia XA Ultra?

LG V20

The LG V20 is a follow-up to last years V10, and according to the image shared by Blass, it looks like itll keep one of the key features from that phone: a secondary, ticker-style display above the primary screen.

LG is holding an event on September 6th to officially launch the phone, but we already know that itll be the first device to come with Android 7.0 Nougat pre-installed, and LG says itll have high-quality audio and camera features as well.


Ronald Reagan

The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.

Albert Einstein

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.

Winston Churchill





It isnt so much that liberals are ignorant. Its just that they know so many things that arent so.

With integrity nothing else counts; Without integrity nothing else counts.

Winston Churchill





Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.

Harvey S. Firestone





It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office. H. L. Menken



Referenda insure all have a voice in land use decisions.

U.S. Supreme Court

Listen carefully to first criticism of your work. Note just what it is about your work the critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping.

Jean Cocteau
Fandom came at a heavy price for this Pawan Kalyan fan.

A regular banter about which Telugu actor is better with a Junior NTR fan took a gory turn when he was stabbed to death.

The trouble began when Vinod Royal started to praise his idol at an organ donation camp in Kolar on Sunday.

The praises did not go down too well with Sunil, an NTR follower who got into an ugly fight with him. The duo took the fight outside the camp and at night Sunil's friend Akshay Kumar, another NTR fan stabbed him in the chest. Royal was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Reports suggest that the police arrested Kumar on Monday after registering a murder case.

The actor-turned-politician visited the victim's family to express his condolences at their residence in Tirupati on Thursday. Grateful for the support Vinod's sister tied a rakhi on the actor's wrist.

The victim, an active member of Kalyan's political party Jana Sena, was all set to go to the US in a week for his further studies.

Speaking against fandom of this nature, the actor has said to The Times of India, "Competition is always good in the industry, when it is healthy. I condemn this kind of activities that take place in the name of hero-worship."
New Delhi: India has time till November to respond to Cairn Energy's demand for $5.6 billion compensation in the retrospective tax case, said CEO of the British oil firm, Simon Thomson.

Cairn has initiated an international arbitration seeking $5.6 billion in compensation from the Indian government in case the retrospective tax demand of Rs 29,047 crore is not quashed.

"It is important for the arbitration to continue quickly," he said, after meeting Revenue Secretary Hashmukh Adhia here.

While Cairn has filed its Statement of Claims before a three-member international arbitration panel, the government of India has time till November to respond, he said.

"The important thing is to keep this arbitration moving," he said, adding that globally, investors are watching how India settles the legacy retrospective tax issue.

A tax demand of Rs 10,247 crore was imposed on Cairn over an intra-group restructuring undertaken in 2006 prior to the IPO of its India unit. Together with back-dated interest, the total demand is over Rs 29,000 crore.

"We are confident of our position. We have complied with all regulations and paid all taxes that were due," he said.

Cairn Energy sold majority stake in the India unit, Cairn India, to Vedanta Resources, but retains a 9.8 percent stake which has been attached by the income tax department.

Thomson said the attachment of shares is "unfair" and it is in the interest of all that the issue is resolved quickly.

Earlier this month, Cairn in its half-yearly earnings statement said it has commenced the proceedings under the UK-India Bilateral Investment Treaty as India's actions have breached the Treaty by "expropriating the company's property without adequate and just compensation, denying fair and equitable treatment... and restricting its right to freely transfer funds in connection with its investment".

The seat of arbitration has been agreed as the Hague in the Netherlands.

"Cairn has asked the arbitration panel either to order India to withdraw its unlawful tax demand and compensate Cairn for the harm suffered by the seizure of the Cairn India shares, being not less than $1 billion (plus costs) or, if the tax demand remains in place, compensate Cairn...," the statement said.
New Delhi - In another major step in fight against tax evasion, the Cabinet on Wednesday 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.

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 1 April 2017.
Nashik: A farmer from Karanjgaon village in Nashik district has claimed to have got the rate of 5 paise per kg for onions, prompting him to dump his produce of 13 quintals in his field in protest, even as a trader blamed "poor quality" of bulb for the low price.

Sudhakar Darade, who hails from Niphad taluka, said his onions got valued at Rs 5 per quintal (100 kg) at Saikheda sub-agriculture produce market committee (APMC) on Tuesday. He said his entire produce of 13 quintals was offered a rate of Rs 65 in total.

The distressed farmer said he incurred more than Rs 700 per acre for cultivating onions and paid Rs 780 towards transportation charges for bringing the produce to the APMC. Upset over the valuation, Darade returned home and threw 13 quintal of onion in his field.

Nashik district is known for production of red onions. The onion market in Lasalgaon in district is Asia's largest wholesale APMC for onions.

"I had cultivated onions on my 10-acre land in November-December last year. I stored around 1,000 quintals of onions at home, hoping that I will get good price in April. However, auctioning of onions got severely affected due to the 35-day strike at APMCs in district during June-July, as a result of which onions perished," he said.

However, sources at APMC said that condition of onions brought by Darade was bad and their size was small. "Onions are currently auctioned at Rs 600-700 per quintal in APMCs, but farmers are bringing wet onion stock. On Tuesday, one farmer (Darade) brought onions for auction at Saikheda. However, most of his produce was wet and rotten.

Still, some of his good quality onions were valued at Rs 25 per quintal, but wet and perished onions were valued at Rs 5 per quintal or 5 paise per kg," said Suresh Kamankar, an onion trader.

Meanwhile, protesting against the low price of onions, Nashik unit of NCP on Wednesday dumped onions on the premises of all taluka offices in the district, demanding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at Rs 2,000 per quintal.

"Onions are being sold at APMCs at Rs 600-700 per quintal. However, farmers are in distress as they could not recover even the production cost," said Nashik district NCP president Ravindra Pagar.
New Delhi: FDI in tobacco sector cannot be encouraged because of public health reasons and also it would be against India's commitment to the WHO, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said.

She said it is a health affecting sector and the country has certain commitments under the WHO as per which India has to proactively reduce the quantum of growth of tobacco.

"We, therefore, cannot encourage anything which is going to bring in encouragement (to grow tobacco)... If we allow FDI in this sector, there will be more cigarette producing companies in this country, which means farmers will be tempted to grow more," she told reporters.

The statement assumes significance as the ministry has proposed to completely ban foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tobacco sector.

At present, FDI is permitted in technology collaboration in any form, including licensing for franchise, trademark,

brand name and management contract in the tobacco sector. However, it is prohibited in manufacturing of cigars,

cigarettes of tobacco and tobacco substitutes.

Sitharaman said the Ministry constantly monitors how much FCV tobacco is produced in the country and there should be increase in that.

The Ministry deals with only FCV variety. It constitutes less than 20 per cent of the total tobacco produced in India. If the government encourage farmers to grow more, "I will be contradicting the commitments Of WHO. So that is one of the reason why Commerce Ministry cannot support FDI in the tobacco sector," she said, adding if anybody wants to export raw FCV, they can do.

"So that is why we are getting a cautious approach as regards FDI in tobacco related sectors," she said.

Anything that is directly encourage tobacco growing, "we can't afford to be there," Sitharaman said.

Talking about the warning being brought in to bring down Indian cigarette consumption, she said, "Cigarette

consumption per se has not come down in the sense that lot of illegal cigarette are coming into this country".

An official said that the quantum that is declared by customs about the impounded illegal cigarettes which have come into this country is far higher than what India sell legally. Those packets have no pictorial warnings and sometimes the warnings are not in English language, the official said.

The total number of cases of smuggling of cigarettes detected by field formations of the Customs Department across

the country during 2014-15 was 1312 consignments with a value of Rs 9.24 crore and during 2015-16, the number of cases was 2,731 with a value of Rs 16.16 crore.
A company with three "successfully failed" projects hits the jackpot with the fourth project and a year later is acquired by a US firm. That is the story of Profoundis Labs, a company started by four friends, all aged 27, in Kerala.

Profoundis' latest offering, Vibe caught the eye of US-based FullContact, a US-based contact management platform for professionals and enterprises, and acquired the startup for an undisclosed amount.

How it began

Getting acquired by a US company was not in the minds of the four co-founders-cum-college mates -- Arjun R Pillai, Chief Executive Officer, Jofin Joseph, Chief Operating Officer, Anoop Thomas Mathew, Chief Technology Officer and Nithin Sam Oomen, Chief of Data Research, when they set out on their entrepreneurial journey.

All the four studied in the College of Engineering, Chengannur. Pillai and Oomen studied electronics and communication while Joseph and Mathew pursed computer science and engineering.

We bonded over extracurricular activities  college festivals and the like, says Pillai.

In the college, the quartet indulged in 'side business', says Pillai. What that means is that they explored options to offer tech services. So they successfully built a website, provided servers and did web hosting for clients. The money they earned (though that was not their aim, clarifies Pillai) managed to pay their hostel expenses, food and allowed for 'small' treats.

Tasting success

Pillai, a volunteer with IEEE (pronounced I triple E), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - the world's largest association of technical professionals, says he tasted success when he along with five friends, including Mathew pitched in with a proposal to host IEEEs Asia Pacific Student Congress.

To his surprise, of the 13 applications in the final, College of Engineering, Chengannur and National University of Singapore made it. Since our sponsorship was low, we were allowed to co-host the event with NUS in the first time in its history.

Pillai co-chaired the event. The 'wild idea' that met with success in a global arena seeded in him the confidence to start up, he says.

In 2010, after their graduation, the four friends took up placement offers. Pillai and Joseph joined Infosys while Mathew and Oomen joined start-ups. A year later, Pillai wanted to start up and touched base with the others. All of them were game and a company was incubated at the Startup Village in Kerala.

We did not know the basics of how to start a business, registration, et al, but knew we wanted to be friends with data, says Pillai. Their specialisation is technology-enabled human verified data research platform.

The quartet bootstrapped pooling Rs 30 lakh each and kept up with the 'side business'  doing services and products side by side in India and outside -- Turkey, Middle East and the US. Three of their attempts failed. We were a young and stupid team who wanted to change the world and we did not have the right arrow in our quiver, says Pillai.

The team got selected for Microsoft Ventures programme, the first start-up to be selected for it from Kerala. It was here that they found they were working on a product that they thought was 'novel, only to be told by the programme CEO that around 350 start-ups were attempting the same. We tweaked it and yet the product did not lead to anything much.

How Vibe works

When customer sends the start-up an email through its chrome plugin, APIs or other solutions that Profoundis has, the start-up uses it as the starting point. Vibe is a search-based technology that collates data from social networks. It helps sales and recruiting professionals to do their prospect research. The same information is available in a Google search but will require several searches to get all the information which is crunched by Vibe on its app.

The idea got traction around night time on 4 February 2014, says Pillai, the date and time seared in his memory. We were taken aback when we saw 1500 people on the website, which was quite crappy then. Soon, we found we were being discussed on Twitter.

The founders decided to pivot the data for companies at a fee and provide it gratis to users.

The company began generating revenues in September 2015  7x in a years time, and decided to go in for an angel round from working professionals in Kerala and the US.

The acquisition

"We reached out to FullContact and we were able to make it a win-win situation for both our customers. When talks of an acquisition came about, Profoundis was game as it offered it a strategic value. With FullContact which can offer scale, reach and has deep pockets, we will be able to reach out to more people, Pillai hopes.

As a strategic partner, Profoundis has been instrumental to adding value and increasing the effectiveness of our data solutions for our clients, said Bart Lorang, co-founder and CEO of FullContact.

Together we can further accelerate the growth of FullContact as we continue to build the most powerful fully-connected contact management platform for professionals and businesses.

Pillai says they have now close to 100,000 users for the free version and the B2B version serves 220 companies.

When acquisition talks were going on, there was a fully term sheet pre-series A committed from investors in Kerala and the US. With this acquisition, we can scale up in a short time. That was interesting for us. It is a good deal, is all that Pillai is willing to say about the acquisition whose amount is undisclosed.

Pillai and Mathew will head to Denver, Colorado, by the end of the year. We wanted to be the worlds best contact data management. With FullContact, we want to be the default and invisible interaction  be in address book, on phone.

The reason, Pillai says, Profoundis succeeded was as a team all the four fought with each other in things that mattered and off the conference room, they were buddies. "We all had only aim: To make it a success. Quitting was never an option even when we did not succeed," he says.
Mumbai: Premier tech school IIT Bombay today blacklisted nine companies including startups like Portea Medical and Chinese firm Johnson Electric from placements for one year as a penalty for a variety of violations like, revoking the offers to some of its graduates.

The action follows a controversy over a host of companies, majorly startups finding the going tough, either revoking the offer letters or delaying joining dates which have impacted students.

Online pharmacy player Portea, which has reportedly raised $46.5 million in two rounds, has been blacklisted for one year for revoking an offer, the school said in an official statement.

Similarly, the NCR-based Peppertap that was into grocery sales, has also been penalised for revoking offers. Johnson Electric of China has also been penalised for revoking offers.

Others who faced action for revoking offers include GPSK and Cashcare Technologies, the statement said.

For delaying the joining dates of the selected candidates, consulting companies IndusInsight, and the Houston-based American company LexInnova have been barred from placements for a year, it said.

A company named LeGarde Burnett Group was also blacklisted for both revoking an offer and after it was found "fake" with no proper office address, it said.

Another company Mera Hunar was found to have come up with a different name and hired students for another startup, which attracted the penal action of one year.

It can be noted that since IITs have a centralised placement panel called the All IITs Placement Committee and in all likelihood, the action by IIT-Bombay will automatically bar the startups from approaching any of the IITs in the country for placements next year.
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."

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.
New Delhi: A travel insurance cover of upto Rs 10 lakh can be availed while booking a train ticket online by paying less than one rupee from 31 August.

A person booking a train ticket through the IRCTC website will be able to opt for travel insurance cover for a premium of 92 paise only from 31 August, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had in his budget speech announced that the railways will provide optional travel insurance for train journey at the time of booking.

The new facility will be available to all passengers excluding those travelling on suburban trains while booking online irrespective of the class. It will be started on a trial basis.

The cover will not be applicable for children upto 5 years of age and foreign citizens. It will be for passengers holding tickets such as confirmed, RAC and wait-listed ones, said the official.

The scheme offers travellers/nominees/legal heirs a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in the event of death or total disabilty, Rs 7.5 lakh for partial disability, upto Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses and Rs 10,000 for transportation of mortal remains from the place of a train accident or where an untoward incident, including terrorist attack, dacoity, rioting, shootout or arson, occurs.

However, no refund of the premium will be given in case of cancellation of the ticket.

The scheme is being implemented by IRCTC in partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Royal Sundaram General Insurance and Shriram General Insurance selected through a bidding process. A total of 19 companies had participated in the bidding process and 17 were found eligible.

The three selected insurance companies will get to issue the insurance policy on a rotational basis through an automated system.

IRCTC has engaged the firms for one year with the provision of extending the contract on a performance basis.
Welspun Indias image is likely to take a beating unless the company takes quick damage control measures beyond their statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange that they will appoint one of the Big Four auditing firms to scrutinise their systems and processes, say experts.

Indias largest home textiles exporter and Asias (excluding China) largest lost its second biggest customer, US retailer Target Corp which terminated all business after accusing the firm of using cheaper cotton in place of high-quality Egyptian cotton in sheets and pillowcases over a two-year period.

According to a Reuters report, Target pulled out 750,000 bedding products that were sold between 2014 and 2016 from stores and its website. Welspun India claimed they were made from Egyptian cotton, it said. It accounted for about $90 million, or 10 percent of the company's total business in the financial year through March, Welspun executives said in a conference call on Monday.

As a fallout of Target's decision, other companies have also turned apprehensive of Welspun's product and some of them have even started investigations. Bed Bath & Beyond has appointed an audit for textiles from Welspun. Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Welspun's third-biggest customer, is also reviewing the company's cotton certification records. The company's shares on the BSE fell more than 4o percent in the last four days.

Experts say that the company needs to do more than just appoint an external auditor. Most analysts refused to be quoted and spoke off the record about the company.

We do not yet know the extent of the problem and what remedial measures will be taken by Welspun. That is a major flaw that the company needs to correct immediately, said an analyst, adding that the stock price being impacted is a 'knee-jerk' reaction typical of stock markets.

The companys image will take a hit, most aver. Prashant Agarwal, Jt Managing Director, Wazir Advisors Pvt Ltd, a textile consulting firm, admits that 'trust issues' are important and that the companys image will not be 'tarnished as such. It is not that the company cheated the buyer though. Didnt the buyer place an order after testing the product on several parameters of softness, feel etc? he asks.

Agarwal says that what happens next is up to Welspun. It will depend on how quickly they conduct a damage control exercise, he said.

India is one of the largest exporter of textiles with it contributing to approximately 11 percent of the countrys total exports. Would the Welspun issue make international buyers wary of approaching India?

Business is not conducted through emotions, points out an analyst. He said that when Bangladeshs textile industry was hit by fire and hundreds of garment workers were reported dead or injured, the world did not turn its back on Bangladesh. Instead, the textile buyers 'seized' the moment to buy products at cheaper rates. Tragedy and human rights violation  with children being used at garment factories  do not deter people from conducting business, said a textile company owner.

A point of contention that some express is why it took Target two years to raise the issue. International audits are very stringent. So what kind of audit did they do when they okayed the product before buying it? What was the dealer doing for two years? Then it airs its complain in public by cancelling the order. Could it not have been easier to talk with the company instead?

Another expert pointed out that in the case of a 2-year duration with regard to Target, it is clear that the issue is systemic. Welspun cannot sit out and wait for the audit report to come out. It will have to take several measures to minimise the damage by giving larger discounts to its buyers and also talk to its clients. They could start out by apologising, he said, adding that that would go a long way in appeasing buyers and consumers.

According to Naishadh Parikh, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), what has happened with Welspun is damaging. However, he feels that nothing can be said unless the audit is done and the report revealed. The fact that the company has itself announced a third-party audit will help re-establish confidence in it."

Experts in the textile sector Firstpost approached for this article were gung-ho about the fact that it was only a 'matter of time' before Welspun would bounce back. They pointed out that several well-known companies such as Volkswagen were able to tide over the crises with the pro-active steps and going all out to address the issues.

Firstpost has contacted Welspun India for their comments on the issues raised and will update the article once we receive it.
New Delhi: Messaging service WhatsApp has updated its global privacy policy, under which it will now share phone numbers of users with its parent company, Facebook.

While the move will help Facebook offer more targeted advertisements on its own platform, WhatsApp will continue to be ad-free, a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

He added that this is the first time when WhatsApp has updated user privacy policy after being acquired by Facebook in 2014 in a $19-billion deal.

Privacy advocates had raised concerns that Facebook would start mining WhatsApp accounts for data. However, both the companies have maintained that WhatsApp would operate separately from the parent company and that its user data would not be shared without users' consent.

WhatsApp has over one billion users globally, with a significant chunk coming from India. Facebook also runs photo-sharing platform, Instagram.

"As part of the Facebook family of companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, this family of companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customise, support, and market our services and their offerings," the spokesperson said.

He added this helps improve infrastructure and delivery systems, secure systems and fight spam, abuse, or infringement activities.

WhatsApp will begin to "coordinate" accounts with Facebook by sharing WhatsApp users' mobile phone numbers and device information like the type of operating system and other details about the smartphone, he said.

This means that if a person has the apps of Facebook and WhatsApp installed on the same device, even with different phone numbers, Facebook will now be able to map the two in the background using the basic device information.

"However, it is important to note that WhatsApp messages will not be shared onto Facebook for others to see nor will it be shared with third parties. In fact, Facebook will not use user's WhatsApp messages for any purpose other than to assist

us in operating and providing our services. The communication on Whatsapp will continue to be encrypted end-to-end," he said.

Asked about how Facebook will use the information, the spokesperson said: "We may use the information on Facebook for things like making suggestions about friends, content or showing relevant offers and ads."

Another important change in the policy is that businesses will now be allowed to create accounts on WhatsApp.

"We will explore ways for users and businesses to communicate with each other using WhatsApp. This means that you may receive flight status information for upcoming travel or receipt for something you purchased. We want to test these features over the next several months, but need to update our terms and privacy policy to do so," he said.

The spokesperson said the focus will remain on ensuring that users are not spammed and that users can block such messages adding that "WhatsApp will continue to be ad-free".

Current users will have up to 30 days to accept the new policy terms. Once they accept, they would have 30 more days to opt out of sharing with Facebook.
Mumbai: A Newark-bound Air India flight, carrying around 300 passengers, from here was on Thursday diverted to Kazakhstan due to technical issues.

The Boeing 777-300 ER plane landed at an international airport in Kazakhstan at around 08.00 hours after "some alarm went off".

Air India is dispatching a relief aircraft from New Delhi to ferry the stranded passengers from Kazakhstan to Newark.

An airline spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.

AIUpdate: #AI191 #Mumbai - #Newark has been diverted to #Kazakhstan due to operational reasons. All pax are being taken care of.  Air India (@airindiain) August 25, 2016

In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.

Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has seating capacity for around 350 people.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday addressed the media in a joint press conference in Srinagar and said that all parties wanted peace in the state.

"Almost all political parties have sent their delegations to Kashmir," said Singh, as he stressed on the fact all political parties and people in India wanted peace in Kashmir where the death toll in the unrest, which began on 8 July after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, has now reached 66.

"I talked to over 300 people in two days," said the home minister. "Whether a Kashmiri youth or a security force personnel is killed, we are all pained by it," he further said.

"I want to appeal to all the people of Kashmir to not interfere with the future of the children of the state," he said. "Who are the people who hand stones to the children of Kashmir?" He also said that he wanted to see "books in the hands of the children of Kashmir, not stones."

"We cannot separate the future of Kashmir with the future of India. Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India cannot exist," Singh said.

He also said that the government wants to bring an all-party delegation to the state. "We want to bring an all-party delegation to Kashmir which talks to the people here," he said.

The home minister also said that there should be an alternative to pellet guns. "It was believed in 2010 that the pellet gun is a non-lethal weapon that does not do much damage. But today, we feel that there should be some alternative to pellet guns," he said, adding that "the expert committee report will be out soon and we will find an alternative to pellet guns."

Mehbooba stressed on the fact that it was only five percent of the population in the state that was creating trouble. "Let us differentiate between those people who want dialogue with the government and those who want to exploit children," she said.

She also stressed on the fact that 95 percent of the people in the Valley wanted peace. "There should be legal proceedings against the five percent of people in Kashmir who are creating trouble," Mufti said. "The situation in the Valley has worsened... We are all worried because of the 48 days of turmoil," she added.

Singh also said that the government had decided to appoint a nodal officer to listen to the problems of Kashmiris in India. "MHA is going to appoint a nodal officer so that Kashmiris can address their grievances from anywhere in the country," he said. He added that the government had asked the security forces in the state to keep a check on the force used and the personnel were, in fact, exercising restraint.

Singh also stressed on the fact that he was willing to talk to those who believed in 'Kashmiriyat, insaniyat and jamhooriyat' (Kashmirs pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy).

The press conference took a dramatic turn towards the end when Mufti became agitated as she explained the difference between the violence which took place in the state in 2010 and 2016.

She said that because of allegations of fake encounters and rape and killings in 2010, there was a strong reason behind the violence in 2010.

"But today, there was an encounter in which three militants were killed. What was the government's fault in that?" said a defiant Mufti.

"Please do not mix these issues," the Chief Minister angrily said.

#WATCH: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti explains the difference between 2010 and 2016 violence in Kashmir.https://t.co/loGeLu2Uv0  ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

"Five percent people in Kashmir use children as shields and attack camps of security forces," she also said, stressing on the fact that action needs to be taken against them.

As a clearly agitated Mehbooba Mufti finished talking, the press conference came to an end and she told reporters, "Chaliye, chai pi lijiye (Come, have some tea)."
Vinay Sharma, accused in 2012 Delhi gangrape, attempted suicide on Wednesday night by taking painkillers and then trying to hang himself with a towel inside the Tihar jail, reported CNN News18.

Sharma has been admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Delhi, the report said.

AP Singh, Sharma's lawyer, claimed that it was not a suicide attempt but attempt to murder.

"A few days ago, I met him in jail where he complained about torture inside the jail premises," Singh told IANS.

In 2013, Ram Singh, the main accused and the driver of the bus in which the 23-year-old paramedical student was raped, had also committed suicide in Tihar jail by hanging himself.

The victim was gang raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on 16 December, 2012. The victim and her friend were thrown out of the bus after the crime. The victim died of grave intestinal injuries on 29 December, 2012, at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay were awarded death penalty on 10 September, 2013, by a trial court in New Delhi in the gangrape and murder case, which was later confirmed by Delhi High Court on 13 March, 2014. Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court.

The case was followed by outrage and protests throughout the country, following which a fast-track trial was ordered into the case.

With inputs from agencies
Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts in the 16 December, 2012, Delhi gangrape case, tried committing suicide in Tihar jail on Thursday.

Sharma tried to hang himself from an iron grill of his prison cell around 9.30 pm on Wednesday night. A police personnel had spotted him and tried stopping Sharma. He was later taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where his condition is reported to be stable.

Sources in the jail told PTI that he has been suffering from depression and had consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants before trying to commit suicide.

Sharma's lawyer AP Singh, however, alleged that it was not a suicide attempt, but attempt to murder. "Few days ago, I met him in jail where he complained about torture inside the jail premises," Singh told IANS.

This is not the first such incident reported from the Tihar jail. In 2013, Ram Singh, one of the main accused in the case, was found hanging in his prison cell. Though the prison authorities said that he committed suicide using the clothes that he was wearing to hang himself, a magisterial inquiry was launched later.

In response to a question in Rajya Sabha in 2014, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary had said, "In Delhi orisons, 11 prisoners committed suicide and 16 attempted to commit suicide during last three years till 30th September, 2014, mainly due to mental stress due to their court cases."

According to The Times of India, Ram Singh's family and lawyers had alleged that he was murdered on the grounds that his shirt was torn in a scuffle that took place before his death. What was strange was that though Ram Singh shared his cell with three other inmates, it was the jail guards who found his body. Reports added that Singh had severely injured both his arms in an incident in 2009.

Sharma's attempted suicide has once again raised questions about the security arrangements in place for the inmates of Tihar jail. One of the largest prison complexes in South Asia, Tihar is overcrowded A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said that the prison population is double the permitted limit and is severely understaffed, reported The Indian Express in 2015. The report added that the ratio between prison guards and inmates was "1:11 and 1:14 against the ideal ratio of 1:6."

Apart from poor medical facilities and inadequate number of hospital beds, there are no CCTV cameras inside the individual cells, though cameras are installed throughout Tihar.

"I know he (Ram Singh) had a few complaints of jail authorities torturing him, but nothing that would make him take his own life. We can't rule out foul play," Singh's lawyer VK Anand told Reuters in 2013.

Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was the Home Minister then, had called the incident a "major lapse" in security.

These are not isolated incidents as gang wars and deaths due to violence inside Tihar have been reported in the past. According to The Hindu, "five deaths including a murder" was reported within a fortnight in September 2014.

The death of Biscuit King Rajan Pillai in 1995, who died due to medical negligence, was one of the first such cases which revealed the lack of infrastructure and mismanagement in Tihar. The Delhi High Court which granted Rs 10 lakh compensation to Pillai's family, had observed: The non-availability of specialist doctors on call coupled with the inability to promptly refer Rajan Pillai for treatment to a hospital nearby, the failure to have a properly equipped ambulance, the failure of the doctors to correctly diagnose the problem and treat it, were the factors that cumulatively caused the death of Rajan Pillai.

On 16 March this year, an undertrial prisoner, facing charges of dowry harassment and abetment of suicide of his wife, hanged himself to death at Tihar prison complex. Police said that he was found missing after morning prayer and after a search during breakfast time, his body was found hanging at the toilet block of Mulahiza ward where counseling is given to the prisoners.

Despite assurances in the past to upgrade the infrastructure and medical facilities, security of Tihar inmates has remained a concern.

With inputs from agencies
In a first-of-its-kind, the Narendra Modi government through its MyGov portal is directly engaging with citizens and providing them an opportunity to work for the government in various central ministries as 'experts'.

Terming it as 'Jan-Bhagidari' (participative governance), the MyGov portal, launched on 26 July, 2014, is directly seeking resumes from citizens and use their expertise in policy making across various fields.

"Carrying forward the spirit of government-citizen interface, MyGov proposes to create a data bank of resumes of various seniority levels and specializations. This data bank may be sourced by the government periodically to engage citizen experts in various domains for contractual services in various positions across ministries, departments, organizations, institutions, and specialized entities", the portal says.

As of now, the portal is seeking resumes for 12 positions with designations as varied as from 'editorial writers' to 'app developers'.

In order to apply, a candidate has to upload a detailed resume in a PDF format while notifying his field of expertise in the 'first page of the resume'. Further, while submitting, the uploader needs to 'use the Hashtag of the respective position in the comment box' while uploading his or her resume. For example, if one is interested in 'Editorial Writers', one has to use the hashtag #EditorialWriters while in the comments section while upload his or her resume.

However, the website has specified that 'submission of resumes in this forum does not guarantee engagement or employment'.

The website also notifies that 'compensation package will be discussed in the direct interactions' for the shortlisted resumes.

Ever since its launch, the MyGov portal has attracted more than 1.78 million users while receiving 10,000 posts-per-week on various issues 'which are analysed and put together as suggestions for the concerned departments'.
New Delhi: Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said that his ministry has received in a "sealed" cover the Roopanwal commission report on the death of Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula and will implement its recommendations after studying them.

Asked about reports that the report has held that Vemula was not a 'Dalit', Javadekar said he could not comment as he has not read the report yet.

The HRD minister said the report was with the UGC and had come on Thursday in a sealed cover.

"The sealed report has been received and we will open it today to see what are the recommendations. The main issue is

that such happening should not happen in the education world. No student should commit suicide and how such incidents should

be prevented needs to be learnt. We will also share an action plan in this regard," Javadekar said.

Asked why the report was not directly submitted to the ministry, Javadekar said it could be because the concerned officer who was serving the Commission was with the UGC.

The HRD minister when asked about whether he had met Justice Roopanwal, said he had not.

Sources said that among the recommendations of the commission are measures to create support mechanism for students and also augmenting of grievance redressal systems in educational institutes.
Kashmir witnessed fresh spate of violence on Wednesday during which an 18-year-old youth was killed and dozen others injured, as separatist groups issued a fresh protest calendar  a week-long protest plan  asking people to march towards the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar.

Unimpressed by Home Minister Rajnath Singhs Kashmir outreach, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference issued a fresh protest calendar intensifying their pro-Azadi protest by calling for a march to the sensitive Army headquarters on 27 August.

This is for the first time, since the unrest began in Valley that has close to 70 people dead and thousands injured, that a united Hurriyat Conference has asked people to March towards 15 Corps of the Indian Army at Badami Bagh in Srinagar.

The protest calendar comes on a day when Union Home Minister Singh arrived on a two-day visit to the Valley for holding talks with different groups and political parties.

As a delegation of mainstream political parties was in a meeting with home minister, the separatist groups asked people to march towards the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar on 27 August and ask the GoC to vacate the state.

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that issuing protest calendars was the only means of resistance against the oppression is peaceful protest, as a war has been waged against Kashmir by a mighty force," according to him, .

Yet individually and collectively we have to find ways and means of registering our protest, the protest calendar is our collective voice. Each one of us, especially our intelligentsia, artists, poets, writers, painters have to come forward and use their skills and creativity to express our pain and sentiment, he said in a statement.

The united Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik has asked the people to write letters to government forces, including Army, BSF, CRFP, ITBP, CISF to vacate Jammu and Kashmir.

Joint Resistance Leadership will march towards 15 corps of Indian Army at Badami Bagh, Srinagar and ask the GOC to vacate Jammu and Kashmir (sic) a statement by the united faction of the Hurriyat conference, said.

This fresh calendar has asked the protesters, for the first time, to march towards an Army installation, and that too the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar. Indian Army killed a college professor allegedly during a night raid in Khrew area of Pampore in Pulwama district, recently. The Armys northern command had regretted the incident and said it will launch an investigation into the incident.

Wednesday witnessed violence across Kashmir as an 18-year-old boy was killed after government forces fired pellets and burst teargas shells. Amir Gur Mir, a resident of Pinglina village of Pulwama district south of Kashmir, was killed after he sustained pellet injures in a clash between protesters and forces. With Mir's death, the toll in the ongoing Kashmir unrest has risen to 69, including two policemen.

Kashmir police said that on Wednesday, eight incidents of stone pelting were reported from Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.

The statement said during stone pelting near Degree College Pulwama, militants hiding in the mob fired and hurled two grenades on the deployment resulting in injuries to 17 police and CRPF personnel and some civilians.
Srinagar: Authorities on Thursday continued curfew and restrictions in Kashmir for the 48th consecutive day as the separatists extended the protest shutdown till 1 September.

"Curfew will remain in force in Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar districts while restrictions will continue in Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam and Badgam districts," a senior police official said.

The death toll rose to 69 after a teenager was killed in clashes with the security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama district on Wednesday.

Twenty-five people including three police officers were injured when militants who were part of a mob who hurled two grenades at the security forces in Pulwama town.

Union Home Ministe, Rajnath Singh arrived in Kashmir on Wednesday on a two-day visit where he held a security review meeting with top civil, police, paramilitary, intelligence and army officials.

Before leaving for New Delhi later on Thursday, Rajnath Singh is slated to meet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and other local delegations at the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar
Amid the ongoing strife in Kashmir, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) launched a preliminary probe to track transactions amounting to Rs 38 crore from 17 accounts in four banks of south Kashmir that is allegedly being used to fuel the militant and separatist activities, reported The Indian Express.

These accounts have come under the NIA scanner and are being investigated for suspected terror or separatist links.

As per the Indian Express report, NIA is looking into the dates of withdrawals made from these accounts, and tallying them with incidents of protests and blockades in the valley to establish links. While some withdrawals did take place on the eve of these protests, some of the transactions made could also just be cases of concealment of income.

However, the curfew and the shutdown in the city is proving to be a deterrent for the NIA, as the banks remain closed, reported India Today. With the state in a period of urgency, the NIA has decided to write to the chief vigilance officers to provide details of such accounts.

This development comes at an extremely crucial time with the Indian government blaming Pakistan for funding and fueling militant activities in Kashmir. In addition to this, Bahadur Shah, an LeT terrorist had made a statement confirming Pakistan's involvement in the Kashmir unrest.

India Today in July had shown a video of a stone pelting youth who had claimed to have been paid by a separatist leader for inciting violence in strife hit areas. Atul Karwal, inspector general, CRPF, was quoted as saying, "Most of these stone-pelters are unemployed youths. They are paid a certain sum of money, Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per day, for pelting stones. We need to do something about it."

Reports of militant organisations funding sympathizers using hawala channels, to avoid the risk of getting caught by Indian security, have also been confirmed by an NIA official, reported India Today. Militant organisations ensnare Kashmiris travelling to the Gulf for work. After getting brainwashed thoroughly they are persuaded to receive a certain sum of money in their bank accounts. Once the money reaches the account, it is withdrawn within a matter of few hours or days. A part of the entire sum is left for the account holder as commission, said NIA officials.

As per the report, the funds are transferred in small amounts to different accounts to avoid suspicion. Some people who received this cash in their accounts had no link to the depositors and the money was withdrawn within 48 hours.

According to The Indian Express, majority of the accounts that are being probed are held by small or mid-level businessmen. The NIA team will conduct inquiries with the account-holders, their relatives and bank officials to ascertain the source of funds, and the withdrawals made. Once the investigation is completed, based on the findings, a case against anti-national activities can be speculated.
New Delhi: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday dismissed suggestions that Rahul Gandhi has done a U-turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said the party vice-president stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated MK Gandhi was from the organisation.

"No U-turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. The person who killed Gandhi was from RSS. It is the ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi," the Congress General Secretary said in a series of tweets.

No U Turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. Person who killed was from RSS.  digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) August 25, 2016

It is the Ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi.  digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) August 25, 2016

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that he had never blamed RSS as an institution for killing MK Gandhi but persons associated with it were behind the assassination.

He had 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.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress vice-president, had 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.
The following chronological sequence of events deserves attention.

21 January, 2015: The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice identifies Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies as a Subject for examination and report.

28 January, 2015: The then Chief Election Commissioner, HS Brahma records a note stating Shri Nripendra Misra, Pr (Principal) Secretary to Prime Minister, informed me that there is a strong feeling of having simultaneous elections for both Parliament and the state assemblies. He mentioned that the repetitive state elections of all the 36 states and UTs causes lots of disruption, both in terms of implementation of various schemes as well as socio-economic scenario. There are states, for example erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, where between 2008-2013, there were 60 bye-elections held on flimsy grounds, where same candidate resigns and is re-elected after few months. This causes loss of public confidence besides tremendous financial cost to the state. After all, elections cost money, as reported in The Indian Express on 25 July, 2016.

5 March, 2015: Election Commission of India (ECI) sends its comment to the Parliamentary Committee on simultaneous holding of elections.

10 March, 2015: First meeting of the Parliamentary Committee.

21 March, 2015: Parliamentary Committee issues a Press Communique.

17 December, 2015: Parliamentary Committee submits its report.

3 February, 2016: Law Ministry seeks ECIs comments on the Parliamentary Committee report.

2 March, 2016: Law Ministry sends reminder to ECI for comments on the Parliamentary Committee report.

19 March, 2016: PM speaks At a closed door meeting of the BJPs national office bearers  just before the partys national executive meet was kicked off,  in laudatory terms for simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. Despite the meeting being closed door, the content was reported in The Hindu on 31 March, 2016.

5 May, 2016: ECI responds to Law Ministry 16, sending a copy of its letter of 5 March, 2015.

The substantive issue is whether it is feasibility, and advisable, to hold elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies simultaneously. While the merits and demerits of holding simultaneous elections can, and should, be discussed, what the above sequence of events highlights is the process that seems to be being followed.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee is perfectly within its rights to examine and report on any issue it likes. The Committee is also within its rights to seek views of all those who it thinks may be able to contribute to the examination and understanding of the issue. And since the ECI is the institution entrusted with the task of conducting elections by the Constitution of India, it is absolutely correct for the Committee to seek views of the ECI.

It is generally understood that though Election Commissioners are appointed by the President, obviously based on the advice of the Cabinet, the ECI, as a constitutional institution, is meant to function under the provisions of the Constitution and is not a department of the government, it is not meant to function under the government, and is therefore not answerable to the government of the day. Its accountability and allegiance is to the Constitution of India, as interpreted by the higher judiciary.

Based on this the event of 28 January, 2015, as recorded by the then Chief Election Commissioner seems very curious. With the Parliamentary Committee having taken up the issue for examination, why should the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister take it upon himself to inform the CEC of a strong feeling of having simultaneous elections for both Parliament and the state assemblies? It is even stranger to note that the senior functionary of the PMO considers 60 bye-elections (to be) held on flimsy grounds.

It is actually disturbing to note that elections are considered to be caus(ing) lots of disruption, both in terms of implementation of various schemes as well as socio-economic scenario. One wonders what might happen to democracy if elections are considered to disruptive elements!

Then there is a startling statement This causes  tremendous financial cost to the state. After all, elections cost money. Are elections an unnecessary expense in a democracy? And what exactly is meant by financial cost to the state? Where do the funds for the state come from? Usually they come from the people and elections are one and the only way for people to have a say in who should govern them and how. If the state finds elections to be unnecessary, it is frightening to think of what might happen to the people.

Yes, elections cost money but is there any greater priority in a democracy than to hold elections?

There is no doubt that the communication recorded by the then CEC has not broken any law but it does seem to raise the question of crossing the line of propriety.

Propriety is described by a dictionary as conformity to established standards of good or proper behaviour or manners, appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability, and rightness or justness.

One is left to wonder if such concepts have any place in India today!

Jagdeep S. Chhokar is a former Professor, Dean and Director in-charge of IIM, Ahmedabad. Views are personal.
Unsuspecting citizens are getting slapped with sedition cases every other day. We are fast turning into a republic run on fear and anxiety. The cases are coming in so thick and fast  and for such varied reasons  that the ordinary person on the street could be forgiven for not knowing what exactly constitutes the offense.

Just days after the Bengaluru police charged Amnesty International India with sedition under Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), actor-turned-politician Divya Spandana, popularly known as Ramya, was accused of sedition for a blog post she wrote on Pakistan. What is the treasonous act Divya is accused of having committed? She voiced an opinion contrary to Defence Minister Manohar Parikkars that "going to Pakistan is the same as going to hell". Divya wrote in her post that "Pakistan is not hell. People there are like us." If this constitutes sedition, then we might as well retire from being a democratic nation.

In the present atmosphere of relentless witch-hunting where all and sundry  political parties, their various affiliates, and self-styled guardians of nationalism  seem to be on a mission to sniff out "anti-nationals," the Prime Minister, too, is doing his bit to keep the cauldron brewing. Consider for instance, the message the PM sent out to his party workers a couple of days ago. Addressing the BJPs "core group" of top leaders from all states and Union Territories, Narendra Modi said: "Rashtravadi toh hamare saath hain, humein Dalit aur pichchde ko saath lana hai (The nationalists are with us, we need to reach out to Dalits and those who are backward)."

The absence of minorities  particularly Muslims  who have been at the receiving end of aggression by Hindutva forces in the recent past, is conspicuous to say the least. The BJP has made a habit of omitting minorities from the ambit of those they must include  perhaps because the party knows there is no votebank to be captured among these sections of the population. Equally insidious is the PMs assertion that "nationalists" are with the BJP which suggests that all those not with his party are "anti-national".

It is precisely signals such as these, emanating from the Prime Minister, that have exposed him to criticism. Modis critics have accused him of deliberately allowing combustive situations to continue and intensify. If his silences have become a trademark of Modis leadership, his delayed responses (couched in abstract generalities) fail to assuage the apprehension that shrill slogans of nationalism are, in reality, a fig leaf for propagating Hindutva. The BJPs electoral project, it seems, flows from its usual method of polarising communities.

Uttar Pradesh is, without doubt, the immediate ground for testing the potency of such divisive politics. Gearing up for next years assembly elections in the state, the BJP has launched Tiranga Yatras across the country to drum up sentiments of patriotic nationalism. Modi on Tuesday told his party colleagues that these ideas, notwithstanding attempts by some to defame the party, have unleashed a new energy among the people.

Do these comments serve to justify  even backhandedly  the present rush to slap sedition cases on all and sundry? Doesnt such a stance embolden organisations like the ABVP and others to use "nationalism" as a slogan for intimidating political opponents?

In recent times, the ground has become extremely murky. It is understandably difficult for anyone to anticipate what might incite a charge of sedition since any kind of contrarian point of view is being labelled seditious these days. By harping on a 'nationalists are with us' rhetoric, the PM and the ruling party are helping keep the flames burning. The basic right to speech, action, and thought in a democratic country is being threatened every day.

We can no longer use the word 'Pakistan' without saying 'hell' or 'terrorist haven' in the same sentence. The desire for 'azadi' has miraculously become synonymous with anti-nationalism. To speak of human rights abuses is to be hounded for defaming the nation. Cows are more sacrosanct than religious minorities because they, amazingly, yield votes like milk. Reading books by Marx or Lenin in public is probably an invitation to mob violence, as is academic research on social justice or discrimination. Mentioning Kashmir is a dangerous proposition unless it is accompanied by a paean to the armed forces. Criticising the Army is out of the question. Saying negative things about yoga is probably also a bad idea.

Everything is fine in India. Everyone is happy. Everyone is nationalist. There is wealth and prosperity all around. No one is angry, except for those who are paid foreign agents out to destabilise the country. Everyone else does yoga in the morning, drinks milk in the afternoon, and sleeps soundly through the night  after a hearty vegetarian meal.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats exhortation to Hindus to have more children has, not surprisingly, raised many hackles. But it should also raise a question of copyright: Whose idea was it first? The Catholic Church in Kerala has been telling its members to make more babies and be merry  and increase their figures  for at least ten years now.

Community leaders, who play 'population number' games on the basis of primeval fears and ignorant or perverted interpretation of statistics, only end up destroying the robust secular fabric which India takes pride in. Their bluff must be called.

Bhagwats preposterous idea reminds us of medieval chieftains urging their people to have more sons to fight rival tribes. While Bhagwat made the suggestion only in an oblique fashion, the Catholic Church in Kerala has been pretty open about it.

This is what Archbishop Andrews Thazhath told a Catholic news portal as long ago as 2007: Our community is shrinking day by day. Calling it a dangerous trend, he said, other communities were growing steadily and it should open our eyes.

Even a year before, in a pastoral letter that was read out in Keralas churches, Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil urged his people to procreate more.

The letter said: There is sin and injustice to society behind the decision of not having children by those parents who have the means and normal health. Children who have received life should become parents by imparting life. The future of the husband and wife is to be realised through their children. It is the love that is learnt in families that will flow into ones neighbours and society.

The 'make-more-babies' campaign got a big boost after Pope Benedict bemoaned low birth-rate among Christians in 2007, the year which was celebrated as the Year of Life by Keralas Catholics.

The Catholic Church that had taken the lead in ensuring family planning in Kerala in the 1960s and '70s  in a departure from its conservative beliefs  is now encouraging members to have four or more children to stem a decline in numbers, says this 2013 Indian Express report.

This campaign has been going on full steam ahead with the unwritten and unspoken slogan being that Christians should produce four or more children. The Church-run hospitals and educational institutions have been doling out significant concessions for the fourth child in Kerala.

The Church sermons dont openly talk of dwindling Christian numbers. Instead, they are camouflaged in the well-known Catholic antagonism to birth control with an obvious underlying fear.

According to the 2011 census, Christians constitute 18.38 percent of Keralas 3.3-crore population (against their nation-wide percentage of 2.16). Hindus make up 54.73 percent (79.8 nation-wide) and Muslims, 26.56 per cent (national: 14.23). The Church leaders claim that nearly 25 percent of the states population were Christians some 50 years ago, and their proportion had steadily dwindled to less than 20 percent now.

Clearly, the dwindling numbers of the Hindu community weigh heavily on the minds of Christian intellectuals. They also lose no opportunity to claim that census figures of Hindu population across India are bloated since these include tribes who, they imagine, are not Hindus. The ludicrousness of this claim arises from the simple fact that Hinduism, unlike Christianity and Islam, is not an organised and institutionalised religion but a confluence of beliefs that have existed for long. To say that tribals worshipping a variety of things in the remote crevices of India are not Hindus is to seek vicarious pleasure from a hallucination that the countrys majority community is not as numerically strong as it believes it is.

The bottom line is the unfounded fear even among both Hindus and Christians that their numbers are falling while those of Muslims are shooting up. The fear of a whopping boom in Muslim population is not based on acceptable logic, as you can see in this Firstpost article and analysis in The Hindu .

The decadal growth rates in the populations of both Hindus and Muslims have been slowing down. Demographers have predicted that the growth rates of the two communities are converging.

That an explosion in Indias Muslim population will lead to a takeover of the country by that community in future is a myth that should be busted once and for all.

And surely its not the population statistics that political and religious leaders like the bishops in Kerala or the likes of Mohan Bhagwat should worry about. What should be noted and debated with concern is that substantial sections of all communities are economically-backward; that despite their currently higher growth in population, Muslims suffer from more than their share of backwardness. Several studies have backed this.

Pointing a finger at the BJP for their backwardness again amounts to the petty politicisation of issues that can be resolved only by ideological honesty and not by silly population number games.

The author tweets @sprasadindia
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', the second part titled 'Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Maharashtra' and the third part titled 'Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Hyderabad' here. The fourth and concluding part follows:

Along with Maharashtra and the Hyderabad region, Kerala has attracted attention for the radicalisation of Muslim youths in favour of the Islamic State, or IS. In early July, 25 youths from Kerala left for Syria. It was inn July 2010, that indigenous Islamists chopped off the hand of Professor TJ Joseph for setting a question paper that was deemed to be blasphemous in context of Prophet Muhammad. Significantly, the attack was collectively carried out, not by a single person. Eighteen Muslims were acquitted, five are missing, but 13 members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were convicted in May 2015. The theological reason for chopping off Joseph's hand is exactly the same for which two brothers from Al-Qaeda, Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi, attacked the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine last year.

On a recent trip to Kerala, this writer was surprised by two expressions used by Keralites: Sunni Muslims and Mujahid Muslims. The Keralites view "Sunni Muslims" to be peaceful, the regular guy-next-door types. Internationally, the expression "Mujahid Muslims" will be understood as jihadis out to establish an IS-like state. But, in Kerala the Mujahid Muslims are seen as puritans engaged in unarmed conflicts with Hindus. The key organisation representing them is Kerala Nadwat-ul-Mujahideen (KNM) whose members describe themselves as reformist. Many non-Muslim journalists refer to them as reformist. However, the term "reformist" is contentious because of the two reasons: One, the KNM is a Salafi group influenced by Egyptian and Saudi theologians; two, all Islamic groups such as the revivalist Tablighi Jamaat describe themselves as reformist.

It is often argued that Islam in Kerala is peaceful because, in sharp contrast to the historical experience of north India where it arrived in the company of Muslim invaders, in Kerala it arrived in the era of Prophet Muhammad by means of trade. But, more than anywhere else, it is in Kerala that we see Islam's original model divided into two periods: First, the Meccan period during which Prophet Muhammad and his followers lived and preached peacefully in Mecca as they were in the minority and could not fight; second, the Medina period during which the prophet led raids from his base in Medina on the caravans of non-Muslim traders going to Syria and fought numerous wars against non-Muslims, and enforced Islam by demolishing the mosques built by munafiqeen (the hypocrites among Muslims).

In Kerala, Muslims were not the first to arrive from West Asia.

Long before the birth of Islam, there was a tradition of Arab traders arriving by ships from West Asia, assisted by the hospitable flow of the monsoon. Of them, Jews and Christians were naturally the first, followed by Muslims. Over the subsequent centuries, the Jewish population did not rise, but Christians and Muslims grew in population and influence, as is the case today. However, the first conflicts involving Islam began in Kerala after the arrival of the Portuguese led by Vasco da Gama in 1498 CE, who brought Islam-versus-Christianity idea from Europe. For reasons of trade and Hinduism's co-existence, the Hindus had supported Muslims until then and during conflicts with Europeans.

This can be described as the peaceful Meccan period in Kerala where Muslims were numerically insignificant. Two Muslim rulers who effectively ended the Meccan period of Islam in Kerala are: Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. In Kerala today, radicalisation can be noticed in the areas attacked by these father-son Muslim rulers. Hyder Ali invaded Malabar region in 1771 and Tipu Sultan in 1789. GK Suresh Babu, a senior journalist based in Thiruvananthapuram, points out that Hyder Ali was invited after Muslims ran into a conflict to build a dome on a mosque, a practice allowed at the time only for three Hindu temples, and Tipu Sultan was harsher as he forced Hindus to eat beef and converted them to Islam. The causes of their invasions could be varied, but Hyder and Tipu seeded the Hindu-Muslim conflicts, thereby introducing what can be described as the Medina period in the life of Kerala's Islam.

Mujib Rahman, a teacher based in Kozhikode who has been associated with the KNM, refuses to accept that the 25 Muslims who left Kerala last July went to join the IS in Syria. He points out that Keralite Muslims have been going to Yemen for a long period of time. Indeed, it is true that the Mujahid Muslims have been going to Yemen and Sri Lanka to practice puritan Islam, but the theological reason is troublesome, which is that India is not a Daru-ul-Islam (House of Islam) and therefore Muslims should move to Muslim lands. This is the theological idea due to which Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Maulana Abdul Bari, among others, delivered a fatwa (Islamic decree) that Indian Muslims should move to Afghanistan, which came to be known as the Hijrat Movement, an offshoot of the Khilafat Movement.

But it doesn't appear that the 25 Muslims left Kerala just to practice puritan Islam.

As per immigration records, there is evidence that some of these Muslims, who were known to each other, travelled to Afghanistan and Iran from where they intended to move to Syria. The fact that they followed the Tehran route could be for the following reasons: one, Iran-India relations are strong at this time and there is no likelihood of Iranian officials doubting the motives of Indians arriving there; two, visiting Indians can say they are Shia pilgrims headed to religious places in Iraq; three, there were women in the group which makes it difficult for Iranian immigration to suspect; four, the Iranian territory has indeed been used by Al-Qaeda and IS jihadis to travel to and from Afghanistan and Pakistan in the years after the 11 September, 2001 attacks.

On 12 August, Islamic cleric Mohammed Haneef was arrested from Peringathoor in the Kannur district for radicalising these youths. Some cases of radicalisation among Keralite Muslims are:a youth from Kovalam was recruited to fight in Jammu and Kashmir, where four Keralites were killed in 2008; at least two Keralites working in Qatar joined the IS; some youths returned to Kerala after being detected in the UAE, while at least four were deported; one journalist migrated to join the IS in Syria. On 6 August, it came to light that one IS recruiter indoctrinated 40 Keralite Muslims. A look at the pre-IS radicalisation indicates that Kerala's Islamists want to carry out attacks not within the state but outside Kerala, notably the 1998 Coimbatore blasts and the Bengaluru blasts of 2008.

For now, may the debate on peaceful Islam in Kerala rest in peace.

Here are the other parts of the series:

Part One: Radicalisation of Muslim youths in India

Part Two: Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Maharashtra

Part Three: Radicalisation of Muslim youths in Hyderabad

Former BBC journalist Tufail Ahmad is a contributing editor at Firstpost, and executive director of the Open Source Institute, New Delhi. He tweets @tufailelif
Bagan: Using brooms and their hands, soldiers and residents of an ancient Myanmar city famous for its historic Buddhist pagodas began cleaning up the debris on Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples.

At least four people were killed and as many as 185 brick pagodas were damaged in Bagan after a 6.8 magnitude quake struck the area on Wednesday. The tremor was centered about 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Chauk, just south of Bagan.

Bagan, also known as Pagan, 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.

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.

Bagan is home to 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 UN cultural agency Unesco.

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 worried the quake could endanger the livelihood of many who live there.

"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 who work in the area could be seen picking up broken red bricks with their bare hands and stuffing them into sacks. Others swept walkways leading to temples that had been engulfed in huge clouds of dust when the tremor struck; the iconic tips perched on the top of some of the pagodas had collapsed.

Local government officials were also inspecting the area and holding meetings about the damage.

On Wednesday, Myo Thant, general secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee, said other areas apparently were not badly affected.

Police officer Htay Win in Pakokku, about 70 kilometres (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.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement reported two other deaths in nearby Thitapwe village.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "saddened" by the loss of life and damage from the earthquake and expressed his condolences to the "people and government" of Myanmar.

He said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs was in contact with authorities in Myanmar and along with its partners stands 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 kilometres (180 miles) further north, and measured magnitude 6.9. It caused no reported casualties and only minor damage.
His first collection showcase back in the 1990s earned him the title "Guru of Minimalism" and later on he pioneered the concept of "resort wear" and "eco-friendly" garments in Indian fashion. After over two decades in the fashion industry, designer Wendell Rodricks has said goodbye to the runway and handed over his label to his protege Schulen Fernandes.

His collection at the opening day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2016 on Wednesday was his last runway presentation and he very proudly handed over his hat to Fernandes on the ramp itself.

Talking to IANS, Rodricks said: "It's an emotional day for me as from now on, she will represent me. Schulen was working with me since she passed out from college, she was my student."

"I think it's very essential that every designer plans to move. No point reaching at the crisis stage and then decide who is going to take over your label.... Because we don't want the label to die when the designer goes... So we want to actually put somebody in place. Schulen is the one for me."

Looking proud and confident, the Padma Shri awardee also pointed that there are many designers who have handed over their business to family members. But for him, Fernandes was the right choice.

"Some of them (designers) are older than me and they had in a way passed on their businesses and brands to their family members. Like Ritu Kumar did that with her son, but we didn't want to do it that way," Rodricks said.

"We wanted to give it to someone who knows our philosophy and Schulen knows it very well. She knows what my philosophy is, so it was an easy transition for me to leave the label with her because I know I am leaving it in trusted hands," he added.

So was the LFW stage actually his last fashion runway presentation?

"Yes, technically. Now you will see me as Wendell Rodricks for books and my museum (in Goa) from October," he said, and added that he will keep sharing his creative ideas whenever the brand needs him.

"Fashion is there and I will keep the passion for fashion very much alive in my head. If I get any ideas, I will share it with her (Schulen). I will still go to the studio and do one or two sample fits... To enjoy," he shared.

At the fashion gala, Rodricks along with Fernandes showcased a collection titled Trapezoid. The fabrics used in the collection were primarily linen, paper silk, silk crepe, malkha cotton, stripe chanderi silk dyed mul and more handloom ones.
What, pray, people of Odisha or Tamil Nadu have to do with what the Delhi government does with its schools? Nothing, right? The states are geographically far apart. There is not even a political thread to link Delhis ruling dispensation with them; the demographic overlap is not significant either. The import of the actions of the government in Delhi which have a strong local context is most likely to be lost on people far off. So, advertisements dealing with issues of local nature in the capital-state do have no business to be on the pages of newspapers in other states. The incompatibility between the message and the target audience is just too glaring.

But, of course, that is not how the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi thinks. Its spending on advertisements vaulted from Rs 25 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 81 crore in 2015-16. The CAG report which discusses the matter says the actual cost of advertisements this year may go beyond Rs 114.31 crore, given the committed liabilities of the government. For those not in the know, the government had earmarked a whopping sum of Rs 500 crore on publicity in its budget this year; it was subsequently slashed to Rs 100 crore in the revised estimate. According to the report, as quoted by the media, more than 85 percent of the spending on print media went to publications in others cities and states.

Whether a cash-strapped government is morally justified in spending such amount of money on publicity is not the debate we are going into right now. We are not even asking whether the money could have been put to more productive use  productive for the people that is. The question here is on the wisdom or the lack of it involved in the mindless spending of public money. On its part, the government has said it is not aware of the report and is prepared to discuss it when it is tabled. But the fact that a lot of Delhi governments advertisements have come out in media in far off states brooks no questions. How does the government explain that?

It would be instructive to get into the AAPs turbulent equation with the media before going further. Its a party which flourished amid immense media goodwill before it squandered it all in reckless attacks on the latter. The chill in the relationship coincided with the flight of media-savvy intellectual faces of the party such as Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan among others and the rapid dip in ideological content in the AAPs thought process. Also, it was the time when an influential section of the media had begun toeing party lines openly.

With support from the media far less than effusive and no hope of even its good work being appreciated, the AAP wanted to buy its way out of the situation. It spent huge amounts on its achievements in Delhi, particularly in the areas of school education and public health where it has earned some appreciation for its efforts. That the gap between the government and the party blurred in its advertisements and that rival parties moved court over it were a minor concern since there could always be a way around. Its a tactic every government resorts to.

It would have been okay if the advertisements reached to a defined target group. In the case of AAP, there appears to be no such clear target audience, particularly when the ads are published outside Delhi. If it involved a political strategy  for example, the party wants to expand in Punjab and already has a support base in the state to which it wants convey a message  it would still be fine, if not entirely acceptable. But why in states where you dont even have recollection value? And why messages that people outside would find difficult to relate to or identify with?

Of course, it is sheer wastage of public money. The AAP governments ad spend defies common sense.
Kolkata: Buoyed by the party's performance in the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year, BJP chief Amit Shah has asked the state leadership to prepare a road map for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"Recently, we had a meeting with Amit Shah ji in New Delhi and we have been asked to prepare a road map for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This will include the path to be followed to win maximum number of seats in the state in 2019," state BJP unit

chief Dilip Ghosh said.

A senior BJP leader said the party has reached the "saturation" point in various parts of the country by winning the maximum number of seats in the 2014 general elections.

"The results in these states might not be as good as it was in 2014. So in order to make up for the seats, we need to eye states like West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and southern India. We want the road to New Delhi in 2019 to be through eastern India," he said.

"West Bengal has 42 seats and if the party wins more than 20 seats in the state, it would be a big boost. So in the road map that will be prepared, we need to identify the seats where we are in a good position, the seats where we are neck and neck with other opposition parties and we need to work hard where we are not at all in a good position," he said.

BJP had put up a spirited show in the West Bengal assembly polls earlier this year and played spoilsport for the opposition Left Front-Congress alliance in more than 70 seats.

Though BJP's vote share in the state decreased from 17.5 percent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls to 10.2 per cent in the assembly elections, it was for the first time the party won three seats on its own in the state.

In the assembly polls, BJP not only garnered around 56 lakh votes  up from 19.5 lakh in 2011, it made its presence felt in 262 out of 294 Assembly segments where it polled more than 10,000 votes.
New Delhi: Attacking Congress for accusing the government of spreading the kind of hatred witnessed during the partition, BJP on Thursday alleged Congress divided the country in its lust for power and was now conspiring against the "pro-development" dispensation after being thrown out of power from the Centre and many states.

Now there will be no division of the country and if it happens, it will happen in our enemy country, BJP national secretary

said as he hit out at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks at an event to felicitate Muslim freedom fighters.

"BJP condemns his comments. History is witness that it was Congress which divided the country in its lust for power  Our government is committed to all-round development of the country. Congress is frustrated and conspiring against this government by levelling all kind of baseless charges," he said.

He alleged that a section of media is also involved in disinformation campaign against the government.

People rejected the Congress in 2014 and have thrown it out of power in many states, he said, insisting that the government is working for 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' but is being targeted as a part of conspiracy.

He noted that Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Salman Khurshid had targeted the Modi government from Pakistani soil with the former allegedly calling for toppling it.

"The least Congress can do is to not lecture us. We will continue to work for everybody's development," he said.

Azad had on Wednesday accused the Modi government of "creating distances" among people in the country, alleging that attempts were being made to spread hatred of the kind witnessed during the partition.
In a move that has been more celebrated than denounced in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led state government has decided to drastically decrease the number of dry days in West Bengal from 12 to 4.5.

On dry days, sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, the tenth day of Muharram, and Dol Jatra until 2 pm will be dry days in West Bengal. The alcohol-related moralism has now been lifted from Kali Pujo, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ashtami, Nabami and Bijoya Dashami of Durga Pujo, Eid-ul-Zuha, ninth day of Muharram and Mahavir Jayanti.

These new rules from the Excise Directorate of the West Bengal government will take effect immediately, with the festive season coming up soon. Additionally, bars in hotels rated 3 stars and above, and clubs will now be able to serve alcohol 365 days a year. While this decision may be spun as being pro-alcohol by the Opposition, the reasons are rooted in politics and fiscal realities.

The recent prohibition in Bihar by the JD(U)-RJD government had created a good amount of political buzz in neighboring West Bengal in its aftermath. Alcohol ban has been a demand of certain groups in West Bengal like Paschimbanga Muslim Buddhijibi Mahal (West Bengal Muslim Intellectual Circle), All India Sunnat Al Jamayat, Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj Abhiyans West Bengal branch and Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM West Bengal branch and others.

In the wake of Mamata Banerjee's massive victory in the recent Assembly elections, with solid support from West Bengals Muslim masses, the besieged combined Opposition of the Congress and the Left made an attempt to grasp at straws by supporting the fringe demand of alcohol ban, with a clear eye towards the Muslim vote. The only significant support pockets that the Opposition retains are in the Muslim majority districts of West Bengal.

Ali Imran Ramz, a Left MLA from Goalpokher of Uttar Dinajpur, a district where Muslims outnumber Hindus, demanded state-wide alcohol prohibition like Bihar, during the budget debates in June 2016. The leaders of the CPM and the Congress voiced strong support for the alcohol prohibition demand in the floor of the Assembly, asking the state government to follow Bihars footsteps. This cheap play with a well understood but veiled signal to minority sentiments clearly hasnt worked. Most Muslim MLAs of West Bengal are with Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress. This pre-judging of West Bengals Muslim sentiments and using that in general moralist, and law and order concerns drives politics towards communally sensitive dog-whistle type of issues and is a short-cut method of divisive politics for short-term gain and immense long-term damage. That dangerous game has fallen flat on its face with the Excise Directorate directive, for in whatever colours Mamata Banerjee can be painted in by the Opposition, anti-Muslim is probably the most absurd and untenable one.

What is the reality? A friend of mine who works in West Bengals Excise Directorate once told me that alcohol-related tax collection significantly goes down during the holy month of Ramzan. If that is true, it means that a good number of Muslims do contribute to alcohol consumption through the year, with a piety related dip in consumption during their holy month.

The heavily indebted and cash-strapped West Bengal government has earned nearly Rs 4,000 crores in alcohol-related taxes in the last two financial years and has set a target of Rs 4,698 crores for the financial year 2016-2017. The present announcement is a step towards that direction, of putting hard-nosed fiscal realities above the dangerous politics divisive moralism. If anything, West Bengals revenue collection from excise is less than 10% of the total state revenue, far under the more than 20% figure in states like Maharashtra. Additionally, 80% of the states alcohol is sourced from distilleries in Uttar Pradesh. It is only recently that West Bengal-based players like Pincon group and others have started getting a good share of the market through intelligent, culture-specific branding of locally manufactured alcohol.

Whether moralists like it or not, restrictive alcohol laws are also a dampener for the tourism and hospitality industry, a sunrise field where West Bengal has been focusing aggressively in recent years. West Bengal clearly doesnt want to follow the Gujarat model of tourism, which has been a dry state for more than half a century. In spite of Amitabh Bachchans best efforts in projecting Gujarat as a tourist destination, it doesnt even figure among the top 10 states when it comes to domestic tourist footfall. West Bengal is ranked at number 8. Similarly, as a destination for foreign tourist visits, Gujarat doesnt figure in the top 10. West Bengal is ranked at number 6, above the dry states of Kerala and Bihar.

Interestingly, Scotland has made its Scotch whiskey a serious draw for international tourism. However, the Scotch we have today is a sophisticated and well-distilled version of the liquor that used to be produced and consumed earlier in Scotland, which used to cause a huge number of poisoning incidents and death. That doesnt happen anymore, as their government supported the manufacturers there, not by driving them underground, but by upgrading a traditional craft by investments into distillation processes. All over Bengal and indeed all over the world, every ethnic group has its own alcoholic beverages. In the subcontinent and in Bengal, these traditions are dying precisely because these beverages are looked upon as poor peoples drink, not fit for consumption by the wealthy and powerful, which would rather consume vodka and whiskey, which used to be poor and universal peoples drink in white countries and still are.

In Bengal, excellent drinks like Tari, Mohua, Roshi and many others continue to exist, without any government support in their production and without any investment in their distillation process. In both questions of revenue and tourism, West Bengal could really move up in the value chain, if the production of such indigenous drinks could be standardised, given Geograohical Indication (GI) tags and made market ready, like how Feni of Goa has successfully accomplished. It is an opportunity to make money and strengthen our culture at the same time, something that is quite against the consumption trends in the post trade-liberalisation world.

Alcohol prohibition has long been a weapon of hypocritical and classist moralism, couched under the garb of concern for the masses. Alcohol consumption and abuse among the poor cannot be looked at being something that is divorced from the grueling physical realities and hopelessness of a life in poverty and arduous labour. The hypocrisy shows when rich peoples enclaves like top hotels and bars are exempted from alcohol prohibition and the usual picture of the typical alcoholic is a poor, drunk man who beats his partner and squanders away all his earnings leaving his children hungry. Such classist depictions of a problem as complex as alcohol abuse needs a broader nuanced understanding and approach as opposed to the playing-to-gallery techniques like alcohol prohibition.

Historically, alcohol prohibition doesnt work unless it is a totalitarian dystopia like Saudi Arabia, whose elite can afford to fly to Dubai and Europe to consume their own share of alcohol anyway. Prohibition leads to black marketeering and more dangerously boot-legging that results in greater amounts of spurious alcohol causing immense misery and death to people who the powers to be supposed want to save. Prohibition has always been a misguided and misconceived policy. That Mamata Banerjee has not fallen for it is a welcome sign and speaks more of her realist political connect and West Bengals socio-cultural attitude towards alcohol than anything else.
Srinagar: On Thursday, the Kashmir Congress welcomed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement that an alternative to pellet guns would be found in a few days, saying the Centre should ensure the replacement is non-lethal.

We welcome the initiative taken by Ministry of Home Affairs to ban pellet guns in Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president G A Mir said.

The party pressed for banning the pellet guns during the meeting with the Home Minister on Wednesday, besides recently during the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

The opposition has already demanded a ban on lethal pellets, as it has inflicted heavy damages, he added.

Mir said the Home Minister should effect the ban at the earliest and also ensure that the alternative is not lethal.

It will be good on part of the Home Ministry to effect the ban at the earliest, he said.

Mir also welcomed Singh's comments on an all-party delegation visiting Kashmir, saying although it was late, yet a welcome step.

Congress party, time and again, in both Lok Sabha and in Rajya Sabha has urged the Centre to send an all party delegation to Kashmir which will hold discussion with all shades of opinion, he said.

He termed the ongoing unrest in Kashmir as an outcome of backstabbing and betrayal to the people by the ruling PDP.

The agenda of alliance between the PDP and the BJP in which both the parties had promised enough could not even keep a single promise, Mir said.

The contradiction in the approach of both the parties towards the issues they had agreed to resolve at the time of formation of the government has exposed their dual standards, he said.

As a result, the Valley is seething in anger after having suffered heavy damages in every respect, he added.
It was supposed to be a "joint" press conference of Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti  her first open media interaction since the time the current bout of unrest hit the state 48 odd days ago.

While Singh did most of the talking and she spoke only a few sentences towards the end of the media briefing, in the end it was Mufti who was the newsmaker of the day. She was angry, yet very articulate, firm on her feet with facts and arguments. In one single stroke, Mehbooba discarded the tag of "soft separatist" that some in the media and outside had attached to her. She won the hearts and minds of ordinary Indians. How her statements will be taken in the state of Jammu and Kashmir  particularly in the Valley from where her party draws maximum strength  remains to be seen.

Mehbooba has clearly distinguished her position of chief minister as someone who is tasked to govern the most complex state, socially and politically, from the position she held earlier  that of an Opposition leader or as ruling party leader without governance responsibilities, during the time her late father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was at the helm.

She spoke in a language that is otherwise seen from the political leadership at the Centre, and from the security forces and intelligence agencies operating in Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, her brief intervention in the press conference was prompted by two questions asked by the journalists covering the event. And her response didn't seem any different from the line taken by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a speech delivered in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district a few days ago.

In fact, the contrast between her and Rajnath's approach in dealing with the current situation couldn't have been more apparent. So much so that the Union home minister was forced to calm her down no less than thrice. But she let her ire flow freely as she assessed the situation and also addressed the misleading narrative of the situation provided by some members of the media who put questions to her.

The chief minister was particularly angry with the aggressors' tactic to use children as shields while attacking security forces, so that if there was any retaliatory action by the security forces, it was the children who would get hurt or killed. "Aapko samajh nahi aati? (Can't you understand this?)," she asked, while showing a bit of irritation.

She did, however, make three pertinent points:

First, 95 percent of Kahsmiris wanted a peaceful resolution to the problem and only five percent were bent on creating trouble, supporting dahshatgards to bring a bad name to the state.

Second, those killed in police action were killed due to retaliatory action by the security forces when the protestors went on attacking the forces and 95 percent of the victims belonged to the poorer sections of society.

Third, the situations of 2010 (when the Kashmir Valley saw unrest for over three months) and 2016 are different. She took on the journalist who brought up 2010 (when Mehbooba was in the Opposition and spoke differently compared to today when she is chief minister) and 2016 to compare her position. She shot back that the two situations were not comparable. In 2010, three civilians were killed in a fake encounter and then there were charges of rape against security personnel. This time around, there was an encounter but under entirely different circumstances. The aggressors were pushing children in front of them to use as human shields.

After providing her point-of-view, she abruptly ended the "joint briefing" by saying, "Thank you very much".

She fully understands the responsibilities she has as head of government. She can't allow a misleading discourse to go on, without challenging it on facts. The alternate narrative had to be put across with the required force and authority. She did exactly what was expected of her.

Rajnath, who has been in Srinagar since Wednesday to meet various social political groups and review the security situation, by contrast appeared peaceful. His narration and response to tough queries thrown at him were mostly in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee mould  filled with meaningful pauses and soothing words.

The home minister said he was deeply saddened by the turn of events in the Valley and therefore, tweeted on his arrival that he was willing to talk to anyone to resolve the situation.

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

It pains him and the nation at large when a Kashmiri youth is killed. He stressed on how children were being used to pelt stones at security forces. Instead of pens, books and toys, they have been given stones in their hands. Who are these people who do that, he asked. He also spoke about development, the balm the Centre could provide and a list of measures that the government was taking including asking the expert committee to expedite its report on use of pellet guns.

"Hamari dil ki peeda ka ehsaas hona chahiye (All concerned must understand the pain we feel)," he said.

Minutes later, Mehbooba did exactly that, give a vent to pain that she has experienced after the way some people have misjudged her intent.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi seems one confused soul. A day after he made a U-turn and told the Supreme Court that he had never accused Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as an institution that killed Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi tweeted "I stand by every single word I said."

He also said that he will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS.

I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I saidhttps://t.co/bUWzTHrgHW  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 25, 2016

Earlier in July, the Supreme Court had told Congress vice-president 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 second-in-command 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, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi reportedly took on the RSS saying that "RSS people killed Gandhiji. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji".

As Dinesh Unnikrishnan points out in this Firstpost article, 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.

With his recent tweet, Gandhi seems to have dashed all efforts of Sibal in increasing the chances of the case being quashed. Earlier on Thursday before Gandhi came up with his tweet, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said wisdom has prevailed upon the Congress leader and although it may be a "U-turn", it was a "good turn".

Interestingly, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday dismissed suggestions that Rahul Gandhi has done a U-turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said the party vice-president stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.
Puducherry: On Thursday, the opposition AIADMK flayed the Puducherry government for not implementing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Mission in Karaikal, effectively.

Participating in the inconclusive debate on motion of thanks to Lt Governor's address to the House, the AIADMK member K A U Hasana, elected from Karaikal South, said, "The Swachh Bharat scheme is a good programme.

But, the Puducherry government is not implementing it properly in Karaikal."

Hasana further claimed that as many as 500 applications had been submitted to the municipal authorities in Karaikal seeking funds to construct toilets.

"Nothing has been heard so far about the sanction of funds.

In the circumstances, will it be possible for the government to achieve the goal of 'open air defecation- free Puducherry' by 2 October next year," he asked.

Hasana also alleged that Karaikal region had been neglected on several counts and the municipality there was lacking even dust bins to collect the garbage.

When Lt Governor Kiran Bedi visited Karaikal recently, around sixty dust bins were brought from Puducherry and deployed at several points in Karaikal to give an impression that basic facilities were available for people to dump the waste, he said.

Deputy Speaker V P Sivakolundhu adjourned the House till Friday for resumption of the debate.

Earlier in the day, members of the Puducherry Assembly observed silence for a couple of minutes in memory of former Deputy Speaker S Muthu, who passed away on 20 July, due to age related ailments.

Muthu was elected to the Assembly from Oulgaret constituency on DMK ticket in 1969 and served as Deputy Speaker.
There are three takeaways from 'The Rahul Gandhi Show' currently under way at a political theatre near you. First, the Congress vice-president has lost a great chance of being a martyr and resurrecting his career by produnova vaulting over RSS shoulders.

Second, U-turns have finally shaken off their stigma. It is now a legitimate political manouvre and we should totally thank Congress, its allies and media minders for it. At the bang of a hammer, the embarrassing retreat has been turned into a high art of realpolitik. U-turn, after what Rahul Gandhi did in court on Wednesday, is suddenly being called 'checkmate'.

Third and most important, blinded by its one-sided, unflinching propagation of 'The First Family', Congress has suddenly woken up to the reality that it is in danger of losing all its icons and their legacy to an aggressive BJP. Rahul's entire RSS 'gaffe' stems from this deep-rooted anxiety. But more of that in a bit.

Let us first consider a hackneyed Bollywood script. Hero woos heroine. But she remains unimpressed. Hero arranges for a classic 'damsel in distress'. The unsuspecting lady would be accosted by some troublemakers and he would  as heroes do  suddenly arrive at the scene, beat them up and earn her admiration. It's all staged but hey, all's fair in love and war. The moment finally comes. To everyone's surprise, instead of taking on the hired ruffians our hero beats a hasty retreat. It is promptly called a 'tactical withdrawal' by his spin-masters.

Okay.

When the Congress thundered last month that the Gandhi scion won't tender an apology over his "RSS people killed Gandhiji" remark made at an election rally in 2014 and will instead "substantiate" it with "historical facts and evidence before the court to support his claim", it was promptly taken as a sign of an unseen new steel in Rahul Gandhi's backbone.

The Supreme Court, hearing an appeal for the dismissal of a criminal case filed by RSS functionary Rajesh Kunte against the Congress vice-president, had said on 19 July that Rahul Gandhi must either apologise or face trial for making a collective denunciation against the organization.

"Why did you make a sweeping statement against the RSS branding everyone associated with the organization in the same brush?" the apex court had asked Rahul Gandhi during the hearing. "You can't make wholesale denunciation of an organization," the SC bench of Justices Dipak Misra and RF Nariman observed.

Congress took the battering, stuttered and then came out with a 'killer plan'.

The problem with Congress ideology is that it has no ideology. And in absence of an ideological mooring, the party depends solely on the Gandhi capital for unity and bankability. Though fast reducing, the party apparatchiks obviously thought that the optics of Gandhi scion walking towards the court while trying to defend his comments about "RSS people killing Mahatma Gandhi" would serve as a rallying point. The National Herald trial had recently showed that some empathy is still to be gained from footage of Gandhi dynasty members answering a court summons. It was used marvelously by the Congress to repeatedly adjourn Parliament sessions last year.

So Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala's reaction on the very day that the Supreme Court made its observations, was understandable.

"On a suggestion of Shri Rahul Gandhi expressing regret or apology, the question does not arise. Such a suggestion has been made in the past and not accepted by Rahul Gandhi He is a mature politician with intimate knowledge of historical facts. Congress party and Mr Gandhi will defend these remarks at appropriate forum."

However, for a "mature politician with intimate knowledge of history", it is curious how Rahul Gandhi made a spectacular climbdown before the apex court on Wednesday.

Did he undertake a crash course in history in the interim?

Gone was the boldness, the chest-thumping of testosterone-fuelled machismo. Seeking refuge in a legal technicality, Rahul Gandhi's lawyer Kapil Sibal told a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice RF Nariman that "The petitioner (Rahul Gandhi) never accused the RSS as an institution for the crime it is clear from my affidavit before the (Bombay) High Court."

What is this Bombay high court affidavit that Gandhi's counsel referred to?

In December 2014, the year Kunte took Rahul Gandhi to court, the Gandhi scion filed an affidavit before Bombay HC saying that though he "did mention RSS in the course of his speech at one place" but a "careful reading of the relevant part of his speech indicates that as per the petitioner 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 the RSS. He never accused (the) RSS as an institution of the crime," the affidavit had said, according to a report in The Telegraph.

Simply put, Rahul Gandhi's grand demonstration of bravado was meant for outside-the-court consumption. Once inside the premises, the Congress vice-president was trying to wriggle out of a defamation case filed against him. And that is fine.

But even the legendary Shane Warne would struggle to do what the Congress tried to do with a straight face on Wednesday  spin Rahul Gandhi's chickening out as a "checkmate" of the BJP/RSS.

There is a strong possibility, though the next hearing has been scheduled for 1 September, that the Congress vice-president might be cleared of the charges. The court seemed amenable to the idea and the complainant, whose lawyer asked for Rahul Gandhi's clarification to be put on record, may drop the charge.

But let there be no doubt that Rahul Gandhi has secured a pyrrhic victory. He may have avoided a protracted court battle  which ironically could have served to boost his image and rally the grassroot workers  but has taken a heavy beating in terms of perception.

Once the Congress vice-president refused to give a "decent burial" to the case by expressing regret and took the battle to the RSS by saying that he will fight on the basis of on-record evidence, merit and judicial precedence, the ante was upped and the bar placed high. From there, the denouement was a letdown of such epic proportion that it will be difficult for Rahul henceforth to pick up the topic again.

And yet he must. Because India's Grand Old Party can only helplessly watch as BJP, in their stated goal of making Bharat Congress-mukt, tries to appropriate the one thing they lack in their armoury  national icons. The BJP has a dominating present, a promising future but not much to show in terms of a glorified past. Laying ideological claim to the legacy of prominent leaders lends BJP the history it lacks, compared especially to the illustrious past of the Congress.

Hence there has lately been an untiring effort to appropriate the legacies of stalwart s such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, BR Ambedkar, icons who have been carelessly cast aside by the Congress which has been too busy promoting The Dynasty to notice anything else.

If we look at the excerpt of the speech, which Rahul Gandhi had delivered during a public rally in Maharashtra in 2014, the anger is obvious. In the short clip posted below he appears indignant that RSS ke logon killed Gandhiji and today their people talk of him They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji.

The appropriation of Congress icons by the BJP lies at the heart of GoP's heartburn. And its anointed prince, by refusing to take RSS head on in a court battle, just lost another chance to stem the tide.
Kabul: An attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended after two attackers were killed, a senior police officer said Thursday, after at least seven people were killed and more than 30 were wounded.

Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued.

Rahami said one foreign teacher had been wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university on the edge of Kabul. It was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the US system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi earlier said was still not clear if there were one or two attackers.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The US State Department condemned what it called "an attack on the future of Afghanistan."

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.
Kabul: At least 12 people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said on Thursday, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students.

Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began on Wednesday evening, just weeks after two university professors  an American and an Australian  were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government.

"Seven students, one university guard and a guard from the neighbouring vocational school for the visually impaired were martyred," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP, adding that three policemen were also killed.

At least 45 others were wounded, some of them critically, he said. It was not clear how many attackers mounted the assault but Kabul police said at least two of them were gunned down in the clearance operation.

Hundreds of trapped students were rescued during the overnight operation, many of whom tweeted desperate messages for help, with some using classroom furniture to barricade the doors.

The attack began just after dusk, 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," an anxious student told AFP by telephone, before fleeing the campus.

Many of the wounded were rushed into waiting ambulances outside the university on stretchers, as erratic gunshots rang out through the night.

Authorities refused to confirm whether any hostages had been taken.

Nato military advisers helped Afghan forces to respond to the attack, a US official said, without specifying how many troops were involved.

After the attack ended a few women students, some of them terrified and weeping, were escorted out of the campus at dawn by policemen.

"My brother-in-law's daughter, a student, has disappeared," an anxious woman told AFP outside the university. "We have been looking for her since the attack began, we have searched all the hospitals but there is no trace of her."

'Brutal attack'

The attack, apparently the first major militant assault on a prominent university in Afghanistan, has cast a pall on the education sector, widely seen as a rare symbol of hope for the country's burgeoning youth amid rising insecurity.

The growing number of students attending university, especially women, is hailed as a success story in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime, which banned women's education.

"Terrorist groups, by attacking civilians, educational institutions, residential areas, culverts, bridges, electricity stations... want to obstruct growth and strengthening of the values that Afghans believe in," President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement, condemning the "brutal attack".

The elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was long 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 7 August, as the kidnappers smashed the passenger window and hauled them away at gunpoint.

Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group so far has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions, the latest in a series of kidnappings of foreigners in the conflict-torn country.

The uptick in violence comes as the Taliban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation in Afghanistan since Nato forces ended their combat mission at the end of 2014.

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.
Beijing: China on Thursday hoped India could do "more" to maintain peace and stability on the border areas "rather than the contrary", following reports that New Delhi plans to deploy Brahmos missiles along its boundary with Beijing.

"To maintain peace and stability in the China-India border areas is an important consensus reached by the two sides. We hope that the Indian side can do more to benefit peace and stability along the border and in the region, rather than the contrary," Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Col Wu Qian said at a press briefing.

The remarks came in response to a question over a People's Liberation Army Daily commentary criticising the Indian government's decision to deploy advanced cruise missiles in areas along the India-China border.

According to reports, the Indian government has sanctioned induction of Brahmos supersonic missiles, with steep-diving capabilities, to be deployed on its eastern border with China.

The PLA Daily, the official publication of People's Liberation Army, warned that India's move could lead to counter measures from China.

The BrahMos cruise missile is a joint venture between Russia and India.
Nice: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve warned on Thursday 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.

On Wednesday, 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".
Paris: 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.

"But clearly, it is a reminder that, particularly in this digital world, cyber security is of critical importance," he told the Seven TV network.
After the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused his former ally and an avowedly moderate Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen of plotting the failed coup, the Turkish government sought his extradition from the US. But surprisingly, the US has now confirmed that Turkey has made a formal request for the extradition and has specified that it is not linked to the failed coup. The Deputy State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said, "We can now confirm that Turkey has requested the extradition of Gulen. But I wouldn't characterise the request as relating to the coup attempt."

Initially, Erdogan had said that "Sooner or later America will have to make a choice. Either Fethullah Gulens terror organisations, as the Turkish regime terms it, or the democratic country Turkey." But so far, the US has refused to hand over Gulen, saying Turkey would need to provide evidence, not allegations against him, in order to have him extradited. Recently, Washington has sent investigation teams to obtain an evidence-based extradition request.

But Erdogan wants Gulen's immediate extradition. The latest formal request of extradition from Ankara for the US-based modernist Islamic scholar is clearly an escape from the scrutiny that Erdogan was asked to carry out. One wonders why the extradition is now delinked from the July coup the Turkish regime blamed Gulen for.

Gulen, who has lived in a reclusive self-exile in the US since 1999, repeatedly stated that he is ready for an international investigation into the coup and if found guilty on the basis of irrefutable evidence, he would willingly submit to the judiciary. Gulen has also written several articles in the international media, strongly denying any involvement in the failed putsch. He writes in one of his opinion pieces:

"Twenty minutes after the coup attempt, even before the real actors were known, President Erdogan hastily blamed me It is troubling that an accusation was issued without waiting for the event's details and the perpetrators' motives to emerge As someone who has suffered through four coups in the last 50 years, it is especially insulting to be associated with a coup attempt. I categorically reject such accusations Even though I distanced myself from the idea of political Islam, I praised the democratic reforms undertaken by Mr Erdogan and AKP leaders during their first term in power throughout my life, I have stood against military coups and intervention in domestic politics."

But despite these categorical and unequivocal clarifications, the Turkish government did not give up blaming Gulen. It has rather declared all the educational, humanitarian and even interfaith dialogue NGOs inspired by Fethullah Gulen, as terrorist organisations (FETO).

Recently, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited India and claimed that Fethullah Gulen's Hizmet movement is a "global terrorist outfit which has also infiltrated India." Cavusoglu also accused the Hizmet of being a secretive transnational criminal network operating in India through schools and associations. Prior to this, Turkish Ambassador to India, Burak Akcapar, also confirmed that his country has asked India to shut down activities and institutions run by the Gulenists. However, Turkeys tremendous urge for Gulenists extradition clamping down their activities has put India into a dilemma.

In this backdrop, The Indian Express published a detailed report titled, FETO in India? All you need to know about the organisation. It explores the activities of the organisations inspired by Fethullah Gulen working across the world, which are now branded as FETO by the Turkish government. The report says:

It is a transnational Islamic civic society movement inspired by Gulens teachings It has attracted supporters in Central Asia and other parts of the world and has been characterised as a moderate blend of Islam Within Turkey, FETO keeps its distance from established Islamic political parties, but is active in areas like education, interfaith dialogue, civic opportunities, humanitarian aid, media, finance, and health. FETO also runs many charity and humanitarian aid organisations including the famous Istanbul-based Kimse Yok Mu Association (KYM). KYM which campaigns to help those in need in different parts of the world. The Turkish government has accused FETO of being involved in the ongoing Ergenekon investigation. However, its supporters call it a pretext by the government to neutralize dissidents in Turkey.

Notably, Gulen has also been proactively engaged in a serious brainstorming in his effort to prepare a counter-narrative against the political Islamist ideology. He calls for replacing the extremist, intolerant, retrogressive and chauvinistic precepts of the hardcore Islamists with universally applicable, progressive and egalitarian values. He has redefined exclusivist Islamic edicts coined in the medieval era which are instrumental today for the jihadist recruiters harbouring an exclusivist worldview of us versus them. For instance, the medieval-minded Islamists divided the world into two sharply distinguished parts  Islamic caliphate vs. un-Islamic countries, including the democratic, republican, communist and all nation states. They coined the terminologies like Dar al-Kufr (land of infidelity) and Dar al-Islam (land of belief) which are instrumental for the present-day jihadists and are detrimental to the survival of the democrats in the world.

But Fethullah Gulen, as a sagacious modernist Islamic scholar, urges to replace all such obscurantist and dichotomous terms with the spiritual Islamic concepts. In this effort, he replaced the doctrine of Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Kufr with Dar ul-Hizmah (abode of service) and named his movement as Hizmet. He stressed Prophets mystical tradition that says that the entire mankind is as one family of God (ayal al-Allah). And this is the key concept behind the the Hizmet movement which is inspired by Gulens spiritually-inclined progressive interpretation of Islam.

A critical analysis of Gulens rebuttals of the extremist Islamist doctrines reveals that his moderate description of Islam, which the Hizmet espouses and enhances, is an antidote to the radical Islamists theological underpinnings behind the creation of a worldwide Islamic caliphate. No wonder then, Gulen is now facing an unjust onslaught of Erdogan, the political Islamist president of Turkey who appears to create an Islamic caliphate of his own, something that does not go down well with the advocate of religious pluralism living in self-exile in the US.

The current Turkish regime is hell-bent on crushing down Hizmets worldwide advocacy for a pluralistic, dialogic and progressive Islam; a sane voice which is abysmally minimal in the Muslim community the world over. More distressing is the widespread united support of the worlds political Islamist leaders like Al-Qaradawi for the Turkish President Erdogan extolled as ammer-ul-moimineen (chief of the believers) and a divinely-appointed leader of the Islamic ummah who is backed by God, the angels and the entire ulema fraternity.

This religious zeal for the endorsement of Erdogans Islamic caliphate also echoed in India in the garb of democracys victory in the failed coup attempt. Two days after the failed putsch in Turkey, an Indian Islamist leader and cleric of Darul Uloom Nadwa, Maulana Salman Hussaini Nadvi wrote a letter on 17 July praising Erdogan and denouncing Fethullah Gulen as the mastermind of the Turkey coup.

It should be recalled that Maulana Salman Hussaini Nadvi was the first Indian cleric who also wrote letter of appreciation and allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State militant group, when he announced his self-imposed Islamic caliphate in Raqqa, Syria. However, he later backed out of his support when faced with a strong international reaction against him.

One thing is evident from the political Islamists zealous support for Erdogan and the ideology of Erdoganism: their ulterior motive is to back the emerging political Islamist leader in Turkey to create a future Islamic caliphate, not to sustain democracy in the country.

At a time when the Turkish government has urged India to ban the Hizmet calling it a terrorist outfit and a secretive transnational criminal network', one should be amazed at the naivety of the Indian government if it falls prey to this blatant falsification. Indias External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup has said, The Indian side is sensitive to Turkish concerns and Indian security agencies are looking into Ankara's demand for closure of associations connected with FETO which were carrying out illegal activities, as per the news reports.

Since its inception in India, Hizmet is known for its peace activism, interfaith dialogue and counter-extremism. Operating in the country through interfaith dialogue centres, educational institutions and cultural associations, it is articulating an evolving narrative of peace, pluralism and non-violence based on the spiritual ideas and principles of Gulens progressive and dialogic narrative of Sufism, as this research paper also elaborates.

In 2005, the Hizmet activists in India, also known as the Gulenists, established Indialogue Foundation, which is an action-oriented research foundation operating in several parts of the country. The foundation was conceived by a group of Turkish and Indian people. The official website of the Indialogue Foundation clearly states its prime concerns: to champion proactive studies, to pioneer international, intercultural and interfaith dialogue initiatives and to promote universal values as love, respect, harmony, co-existence, cooperation, care and peace.

Indian scholars and students of all faith backgrounds, along with the Turkish activists of the Hizmet, are also engaged in dialogue activism at the Indialogue Foundation ushering in a culture of dialogue and co-existence among scholars of all faith traditions with major focus on shared spiritual values.

Indian government must take an account of all this ideological discourse in a deeper way, since Turkey has urged India, like the US, to shut down all the Hizmet activities. It should not overlook Gulens democratic and secular ideas, his counter-terror narrative as well as the current Turkish Presidents inclination towards the political Islamists ambition of an Islamic caliphate. Only then the country can take a right democratic course of action in this respect.

The author is a scholar of Comparative Religion, Classical Arabic and Islamic sciences, cultural analyst and researcher in Media and Communication Studies. He tweets at @GRDehlvi. Email: grdehlavi@gmail.com
Accumoli: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that shook central Italy rose to 247 on Thursday, officials said, as rescuers desperately searched for survivors in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Hundreds of others were injured, some critically, and an unknown number were trapped under the ruins of collapsed buildings after Wednesday's pre-dawn quake.

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were determined to attempt to pluck more survivors from the ruins.

Rescuers had pledged to work through the night in the hope of finding people alive in the mangled wreckage of homes.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier warned that the toll would likely rise after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

Hundreds of people spent 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 L'Aquila, 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.

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.

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.

Renzi said it was too early to consider 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.
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared a submarine-launched missile test the "greatest success", state media said on Thursday, as the UN weighed a condemnation of the launch which appears to advance Pyongyang's nuclear strike capability.

The US mainland and the Pacific are now "within the striking range" of the North's army, the official KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying after Wednesday's launch.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Sinpo on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military. It flew 500 kilometres towards Japan, far exceeding any previous sub-launched tests.

The UN Security Council met for two hours on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's latest provocative move and agreed to consider a statement condemning the launch.

"There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council and therefore we will have to see how we would then be phrasing the press statement," said Ramlan bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, which currently holds the council's presidency.

However diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyang's main ally, over the wording.

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 Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.

Kim said the latest launch proved the North had joined the "front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability".

Pyongyang's top newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried 24 photos of him observing the launch, including one with his hands on his hips roaring with laughter at an observation post, and other watching through a pair of binoculars.

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," it said.

Kim called for his nation's scientists to work towards mounting nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles and to be able to deliver them in order "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists."

"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," he was quoted as saying.

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system would take its 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.
Bagan: It was a time of conquest and conversions. Above all, it was a time of construction, on a scale never seen before. Over 250 years, from the 11th century onwards, the rulers of Bagan built more than 10,000 magnificent religious monuments.

The stupas, temples and monasteries became the defining emblems of Bagan, the capital of the Pagan Empire that ruled Myanmar from roughly 1044 to 1287.

On Wednesday, scores of the monuments  of which only about 2,200 remain  were damaged in a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake. Yet much of what fell was modern material, sanctioned by Myanmar's former army rulers who had put top priority on restoring the temples with little regard for the original architectural styles.

King Anawratha, who unified the country formerly known as Burma, and his successors built the temples in a frenzy, believing they would gain spiritual merit. Still, piety didn't stop them from making war or killing to gain power.

One king, Narathu, slew his father, elder brother, and one of his wives. He also killed the architect of the magnificent Dhammayangi temple so he couldn't repeat the feat, and chopped off the hands of sloppy workmen.

As more and more monuments rose in the dusty plains of central Myanmar, Bagan became the political, economic and cultural center of the empire, promoting religious as well as secular studies, including philosophy, astrology, medicine, law and Pali, the language of Buddhist scriptures. The city became an educational destination for monks from as far away as India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

But Bagan declined as rapidly as it rose.

It was abandoned around 1287 for reasons not entirely clear, and the city  once home to up to 2,00,000 people  was reduced to the status of a small town. Some historical accounts cite Mongol invasions but others dispute that, saying the Mongol armies may not have reached the city.

But the dead city left a legacy that future generations are benefiting from.

Bagan covers more than 80 square kilometers (32 square miles) of a flat plain. It is the country's biggest tourist attraction, and along with Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Indonesia's Borobudur temple, the temples of Bagan are considered one of Southeast Asia's major historical landmarks.

Yet, unlike those Southeast Asian archaeological cousins, Bagan is not listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco due to a tangled modern tale of neglect followed by a fervid if misguided effort at renovation in the 1990s, partly to restore damage from a 1975 earthquake.

As the ground shook on Wednesday, the tremors dislodged spires, loosened bricks and cracked the mortar, revealing modern material that was the result of haphazard restoration by the former military regime.

These efforts drew widespread international condemnation and forced Unesco to deny Bagan the World Heritage Site stamp, even though it acknowledged that "these monuments represent the outstanding artistic and technical achievement of an original and innovative Buddhist school of art".

Much of the blame lies with the junta that took power in 1988, after crushing a pro-democracy movement. By 1995, restoration was in full swing to complete the work before the 'Visit Myanmar Year' in 1996, which the generals of this once-pariah nation hoped would bring in much-needed tourist income.

The plan was a limited success, due to still underdeveloped infrastructure and a boycott call by human rights groups against the military regime, which had placed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. The country emerged from military rule this year after Suu Kyi's party won to become the country's de facto leader.

Pierre Pichard, a Unesco consultant who had long been associated with Bagan, said impressing visiting generals rather than cultural priorities dictated restoration while military-ordered excavation has been done "hastily, without proper preparation and without the requested scientific methodology and records."

Unesco was even more disturbed when a 60-meter (198-feet) -high viewing tower opened in 2005, saying it's out of scale and detracts visually from the historical monuments.

State tourism authorities responded that the tower would prevent tourists from climbing on fragile pagodas and stupas and damaging them.
New Delhi: On Thursday, the Navy said it has taken up the Scorpene document leak matter with France's Directorate General of Armament and has asked the French government to investigate the incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side.

An internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise is also being undertaken, the Navy said in a statement, a day after it stressed that the leak appears to be "from overseas and not in India".

"The documents that have been posted on the website by an Australian news agency have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out," the Navy said.

Interestingly, The Australian, a newspaper based in Australia, had put out only few of the 22,400 pages that is in its possession. Citing security concerns of India, the paper had itself blackened out vital information.

On Wednesday, officials had sought to play down the impact of the leak.

They had argued that the leaked documents are outdated technical manuals and don't constitute sensitive information and is very different from specifications of the Scorpene subs being built for India.

In today's statement, the Navy said it has taken up the matter with Directorate General of Armament of the French government expressing concern over this incident and has requested the French government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side.

The matter is being taken up with concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports, it added.

"The government of India, as a matter of abundant precaution, is also examining the impact if the information contained in the documents claimed to be available with the Australian sources is compromised.

"The detailed assessment of potential impact is being undertaken by a high level committee constituted by the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Navy is taking all necessary steps to mitigate any probable security compromise," the statement by the Navy said.

Defence experts had on Wednesday raised concerns over the leak, irrespective of the leak compromising Indian security or not.

Defence analyst Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Policy Studies, had said that 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," he said.

Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd), a submariner who once headed naval operations, had said the breach of security of data should not have happened.

"The loss of data is a serious issue," he had said.
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has declared a recent submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test the "greatest success", Pyongyang's state media said.

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 on Thursday 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.

Kim saw the launch first hand, KCNA reported, although it was not clear where his alleged observation post was.

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 all types of ballistic missiles and to develop the 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.

Kim issued the order for the test-fire, with the submarine rising to a depth suitable for firing and before launching the ballistic missile, the news agency said.

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.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency cited a military source as saying yesterday's launch had been made at an acute angle to limit the missile's range.

If fired at the optimum angle and fully fuelled, it could over 2,500km, the source said.

The agency previously quoted a military source saying if fired atthe optimum angle it could cover more than 1,000km  without mentioning if it was fully fuelled.

The test-launch proved that "the core technical indexes of the ballistic missile" met "all requirements for operation", KCNA said.

Kim added that the "US vicious nuclear threat and blackmail against the DPRK (North Korea) only resulted in bolstering up its nuclear attack capability hour by hour", according to KCNA.
Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alleged that the eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed American safety and undermined its freedom and independence.

"Eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed our safety and undermined our freedom and independence," he said at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday.

"Our jobs have moved overseas, Islamic terrorism has spread within our shores and an open border has crushed low- income workers and threatened our security.

"The issues we face here in America are similar to the issues faced in Britain during their referendum on membership in the EU. This is the movement known as Brexit," Trump, 70, said as he continued to lash out at the policies of outgoing US President Barack Obama and his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, 68.

Trump alleged that Clinton has been on the wrong side of history in every major decision she has ever made and got this one wrong too.

"Now, Hillary wants to surrender America to globalism. She wants a country without borders. She wants trade deals written for the benefit of foreign corporations. She wants a government that ignores the will of the people.

"She wants to sell out American security to the Clinton Foundation for a pile of cash. It is hard to tell where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. According to the AP, more than half the meetings she took as Secretary of State from outside government were with Foundation Donors. Hillary Clinton doesn't believe in America First. She believes in Donors First," Trump alleged.

Trump said that Clinton would rather give a job to a refugee from overseas than to an unemployed American Veteran.

"The job of a public official is to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. Not illegal immigrants, not foreign nationals seeking entry, but the people living here lawfully today  including millions of African-American and Hispanic citizens," he said.

Trump said his focus will always be on the well-being of the more than 300 million American citizens who call this country home.

"I will fight for their security, I will fight for their jobs, I will fight for their families. One American Nation. Hillary Clinton has betrayed her duty to the people. 8th November is our chance to re-declare American Independence," he said.
All hell broke loose for the Indian Navy and Defence Ministry on Wednesday when over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced Scorpene submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French company DCNS were leaked.

Reports said that the leaked document covers a variety of details including the secret stealth capabilities of the submarines  including, but not restricted to the frequencies at which they gather intelligence, what noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance.

There are reports which have also said that the leaked document may not have that great an impact on the submarine project. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also said he does not suspect the leak to be 100 percent, since a lot of final integration lies with India.

But keeping in mind that the efficiency of submarines is based on stealth, a crucial document getting leaked is probably the worst thing which can happen for the submarines, the first of which 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.

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.

However, as we ponder on the importance of information security and how this massive breach took place, a very important question arises: Was it India's poor cyber security standard which was responsible for the leak or was it something else?

Till now, news reports have indicated that the onus of the leak probably lies on the French company DCNS.

The Indian Navy has said that the source of the leak was from overseas and not in India. An NDTV report explained in detail how Navy officers checked which officers had accessed the document and where the documents had been moved to for finding out possible points of leakage.

The Indian Navy's cyber experts, considered to be some of the best cyber experts in India, also looked for traces of possible leaks from computers in India and the cyber trail of the documents published by newspapers.

It was after this intense initial investigation that the Indian Navy came to the conclusion that the leak did not take place in India.

Another report in The Times of India said that a former French naval officer working as sub-contractor for the DCNS may have been behind the data leak, as suggested by a report in The Australian.

Even though DCNS initially suggested that the onus of the leak lied on India, what makes this highly improbable  apart from the initial investigation by the Indian Navy  is that DCNS's plans to sell frigates to Chile and an amphibious ship to Russia are also part of the leaks and are not linked to India's Scorpene deal.

This makes it all the more probable that the leak took place from DCNS' end.

The defensive statement by DCNS after the leak also suggest the onus of the leak lies on the company. It had said on Wednesday that it may have been the victim of "economic warfare".

The leak has raised doubts about the security of DCNS' 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 submarines.

But even though the leak seems to have taken place overseas, this incident only highlights the importance of cyber security, something which India has not been good at regulating. In 2010, the government suspected a massive Chinese espionage operation targeting the computers of the Prime Minister's Office, including the infection of the national security advisor's personal laptop.

An article in Hindustan Times also said that since India continues to import almost all of its military needs, the high number of players involved means a higher chance of leaks and hacks.

"Cyber security remains a policy domain fragmented among over a dozen agencies. Recommendations for a cyber security command remain on paper," the article further said.

With inputs from agencies
Tamils continue to face discrimination in Sri Lanka, a UN committee stated recently, and questioned the island-country if Indian Tamils were allowed to get back to their homeland  while reviewing a report on the anti-discrimination efforts undertaken by the country.

No cases of sexual violence  during the horrific civil war in Sri Lanka  had been submitted, even though this had affected thousands of women, said Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, committee member and country rapporteur for Sri Lanka, during a review of Sri Lanka in the 90th session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Last week, CERD concluded the examination of the combined tenth to seventeenth periodic report of Sri Lanka  on its implementation of provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

The Tamil population continues to suffer discrimination, including through lack of access to public services in their own language, and the fact that police agents in the north of the country did not speak Tamil, he noted. People continue to live in fear due to the big military presence.

The recently-promulgated Law for Witness and Victim Protection had no dedicated funds for the mechanism to facilitate its implementation on the ground.

What measures have been taken to protect Tamil women from multiple discrimination, the Guatemalan expert who has been on the Committee since 2004, asked, warning that discrimination against Tamils, particularly for not having access to public spaces to bury their dead would continue to hinder lasting peace and reconciliation.

Since 2009, there have been several issues that have remained unaddressed, brought about by violations of humanitarian laws and human rights by both sides, leading to anxiety, fear and suspicion, said Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the UN office at Geneva, while presenting his country report. Successive governments have failed to reach a political settlement with the groups.

Aryasinha referred to the various steps that have been taken since the Maithripala Sirisena government assumed power in January 2015, including the introduction of the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution  which imposed a two-term limit for the mandate of President and recognized national reconciliation as a duty of the President. The amendment also established a special Presidential Task Force on Reconciliation and an Office for National Unity Commission for Truth, Justice, Reconciliation that would consult with South African authorities.

Both Sinhala and Tamil were made the languages of administration and of the courts, he added. Article 22, per the provisions of the 16th amendment to the Constitution, ensures that Sinhala will be the official language in all provinces except in the north and east where Tamil will also be used.

Replying to questions by experts on application of customary laws, the Sri Lankan delegation said that any change of customary law had to change from the communities themselves. As such, those people of Islamic faith have the option of subscribing to Muslim personal laws (including statutes) while Tamils hailing from the Jaffna Peninsula fall within the ambit of the Thesavalame Law.

Any Sri Lankan had the right to return  and the Government had re-established the possibility for dual citizenships  said the Sri Lankan delegation, replying to a question from a human rights expert that if Indian Tamils were allowed to return to their country.

The CERD members said that the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons, war widows, inter-ethnic violence, reconciliation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and the lack of human rights education were all issues of concern for the Committee.

Reports presented by civil society organisations and the UN human rights mechanisms along with UN resolutions, offered a very different picture of the current situation than that presented by the Sri Lankan government  the discrepancies were concerning, Tzay stated.

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Mendez, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Monica Pinto, were on an official visit to the Buddhist nation this year.

Both the experts had said that more reforms are needed before Sri Lanka can be considered to be on a path to sustainable democratisation.

Severe forms of torture continue to be used, although probably less frequently, while both old and new cases of torture continue to be surrounded by total impunity, Mendez had said.

Reiterating her concerns on the issue of massive rape by the military, a CERD expert noted that many of the perpetrators were still in the north of the country, and emphasised the need for newly-recruited Tamil elements there.

Experts were concerned about the 18-month period for pre-trial detention, and raised a number of questions in relation to the application of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Suspects are subjected to lengthy remand periods with many being detained for years, some even up to 15 years before trial, Mendez had said after his Sri Lankan tour.

The Act allows for arbitrary detention without charges, admissibility of statements obtained under duress in courts and limits access to a lawyer.

The Sri Lankan government, however, maintained that persons arrested under the PTA were entitled to all safeguards, including visits by family members and the National Human Rights Commission.

Questions were also raised by the UN committee on risks of political interference, referring specifically to the removal of judges for politically-motivated reasons, urging the country to adopt better provisions for ensuring the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

Pinto had also stated that the government needs to reinforce the independence and impartiality of the justice sector during the drafting of its new Constitution.

This is the first interaction between the Sri Lankan government and the CERD experts since August 2001, when the last formal meeting took place in the midst of hostilities perpetrated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

CERD is a body of independent human experts monitoring the implementation of ICERD by the state parties.
United Nations: The UN Security Council has agreed at an emergency meeting to consider issuing a statement on the latest North Korean missile launch.

Malaysia's UN Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, the current council president, told reporters on Wednesday 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."

After North Korea's previous missile test, the US also proposed a press statement, but diplomats said China insisted on language linking it to US plans to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea. So the US dropped the statement, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

The Security Council in March imposed the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades, reflecting growing anger at Pyongyang's latest nuclear test and rocket launch in defiance of a ban on all nuclear-related activity.

China, Russia and others expressed hope when it was adopted that the sanctions would lead to the immediate resumption of six-party talks aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. North Korea withdrew from the talks in 2008.

But the North has continued to launch ballistic missiles and tensions have mounted. Wednesday's's launch came two days after the US and South Korea began military exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as an invasion rehearsal.

Russia's deputy UN ambassador Petr Iliichev, asked about Wednesday's meeting, said there was the "usual condemnation for violation of resolutions."

But he said council members also stressed the "responsibility of the regional actors" for not implementing the March resolution and finding a way "for stabilisation (and a) political, diplomatic, political solution to the problem."

The US and Japan called for the emergency meeting after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine earlier on Wednesday.

South Korean officials said the missile flew about 500 kilometres, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon.
Washington: Zika may linger in the blood of an infected baby for more than two months, suggests a new study from Brazil that raises concerns about the potential of the virus to damage an infant's brain even after birth.

Physicians at the Santa Casa de Misericordia and researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil described the case of a baby born with Zika infection in January, who remained infected by the virus even two months and one week after birth.

This is the first reported case of prolonged Zika infection in newborns, researchers wrote in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The baby was 3 kg, 48 cm in length at birth, with the head perimeter of 32.5 cm, slightly smaller than the 33cm recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO).

At first, doctors did not detect signs of any neurological abnormality: the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and the exams of the eyes and the ears showed normal results.

Images taken by MRI, though, showed a reduced brain parenchyma, foci of calcification in the subcortical area and compensatory dilation of the supraventricular system.

These results and the fact that the mother's symptoms of Zika infection appeared in the seventh month of pregnancy - when it is thought that the damage to the foetus is less severe than when the infection occurs earlier in pregnancy - led to a first diagnosis of mild microcephaly.

After 54 days of life, the baby showed no illness or neurological impairment. However, at six months, doctors noticed delayed psychomotor development, with an abnormal increase in the muscle tone and reduced muscle stretchability.

Also, spastic hemiplegia (cerebral palsy) was detected. These characteristics imply a more serious condition than diagnosed before, researchers said.

The baby's father travelled to the Northeast of Brazil and showed symptoms of Zika before his wife.

It may indicate that the virus could have been sexually transmitted. Serological tests confirmed the infection in both parents, researchers said.
SALAMANCA, Mexico and MCLEAN, Va. -- Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) continues its expansion in Mexico by announcing the opening of its newest property, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Salamanca. The 128-room hotel joins the Hampton by Hilton family which also includes Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton hotels. The property is owned and managed by Aptiva S.A. de C.V.

Hilton Worldwide currently has a portfolio of 45 hotels open and welcoming travelers to Mexico. The company is actively pursuing additional growth opportunities throughout the country and has more than 20 development projects planned in Mexico.

"We are eager to extend Hamptonality to leisure and business travelers visiting the city with the opening of Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Salamanca," said Enrique Rodriguez, general manager. "Our strategic location, quality amenities and friendly service, backed by the Hampton 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, will make us the first choice of travelers visiting the area."

Conveniently located between Irapuato and Salamanca, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Salamanca provides easy access to several industry parks, such as the Mazda plant, PEMEX refinery and Inforum Irapuato. Leisure travelers can tour the city's vast array of cultural attractions and architecture including the Saint Agustin Temple, the former convent of San Juan de Sahagun and its church, the former parish of Saint Bartolome Apostol and the Temple of the Lord of the Hospital, among others. Guests can also enjoy complimentary transportation to Via Alta Mall and nearby parks.

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Salamanca offers an outdoor patio and grill area, an outdoor semi-Olympic pool, fitness center, complimentary Wi-Fi, business center, and three executive meeting rooms and one meeting room for over 70 persons. Guestrooms are equipped with the brand's signature Clean and fresh Hampton bed, 40-inch HDTV, and comfortable work desk. Guests can also upgrade to a two-bedroom suite offering a living area with sofa sleeper, and full kitchen. The new hotel also features free daily On the House hot breakfast, and a 24-hour snack and essentials shop.

Hampton by Hilton fosters a unique culture of hospitality called Hamptonality. This term describes each hotel's approach to friendly customer service, anticipating guests' needs and providing travelers with helpful suggestions about area attractions, historical facts and fun things to do around town. Additionally, hotels are infused with local photography and artwork, highlighting each property's connection and support to its own community.

Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton participates in Hilton HHonors, the only guest-loyalty program that allows members to earn Points & Miles for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at its properties worldwide. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels receive instant benefits, including an exclusive member discount that can't be found anywhere else, free standard Wi-Fi and digital amenities like digital check-in with room selection and Digital Key available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app.

For more information or to make reservations, please visit Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Salamanca or call +52 464 643 5100.

Read more about Hampton by Hilton at www.hampton.com and news.hampton.com.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,800 properties and more than 1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2021 World's Best Workplaces list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. In 2021, in addition to opening more than one hotel a day, Hilton introduced several industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the nearly 128 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Jennifer Hughes

Director, Brand Public Relations - Hilton Worldwide

+1 901 374 6518

Hilton
GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here.
TWIN FALLS  Clif Bar has extended an invitation to the community to come out to its Twin Falls bakery on Tuesday.

The bakerys ribbon cutting celebration in Twin Falls kicks off at 3:30 p.m. with free food and live music by Clif Bars Grove Valve Orchestra. Attendees are encouraged to carpool or ride their bikes.

Childrens activities, including a bounce house and face painting, will be set up during the event, which concludes at 6:30 p.m.

We will have a kids climbing wall as well, company spokesman Alfred Torres said.

Adults 21 and older are welcome to sample wine from Clif Family Winerys Velo Vino. All attendees will be able to take Clif Bar products and promotional items home.

(Its) really a thank-you to all the people in the Magic Valley for supporting our business, Torres said. Were really excited to be there.

Speakers include Clif Bar & Company owners and co-chief visionary officers Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, and CEO Kevin Cleary. Idaho Gov. C.L. Butch Otter, Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Twin Falls Mayor Shawn Barigar are also expected to attend.

Clif Bar Baking Company of Twin Falls, 3438 Eldridge Ave., officially began operations June 14 and has approximately 214 employees, Torres said.
TWIN FALLS  Pat Weber quietly, slowly scanned the Snake River through binoculars  then suddenly came to life.

Theres a tern! Yay! Its a Caspian tern, Weber said. Then she added for my sake: Thats a good one.

Fellow birder Jan Simpkin didnt need the explanation. Weber swung her scope and its tripod to her shoulder, and both women hustled downstream for another glimpse of the tern.

This is where you walk fast, Weber said over her shoulder.

Until that moment, speed wasnt important on the morning of Aug. 10, as Weber and Simpkin watched and listened along the road to Auger Falls Heritage Park.

Breeding season is long past, but the lull before fall migration still offers good birding  and surprising close to the citys busy streets. I asked Weber to recommend three late-summer birding spots close to Twin Falls, then I tagged along as she and fellow Prairie Falcon Audubon members visited each one.

Novice birder? Download the Cornell Lab of Ornithologys free Merlin Bird ID app and head out to one of these spots at sunrise.

Road to Auger Falls Heritage Park

Where: From Blue Lakes Boulevard North at the north end of Twin Falls, take Canyon Springs Road west and down into the Snake River Canyon. Just after passing the citys wastewater treatment plant, park in one of the pullouts beside the road and continue on foot.

When: Weber chose 7 a.m., before traffic to the park picked up. (Then again, she chose the magic hour of 7 a.m. for each of our outings.)

The experience: Walking northwest on the gravel road, we had two habitats to watch: a steep sagebrush slope on our left and the tree-lined Snake River on our right. Before the sun broke the canyon rim, a Chi-ca-go call announced the presence of California quail, American white pelicans flew along the river and American crows appeared on the rim.

Oh, wow, look at them all  coming up along the ridge, said Weber, already tapping entries into her eBird app.

Spring and early summer are the best times to watch the swallows whose nests line the canyon walls cliffs here, she and Simpkin told me, but still they identified northern rough-winged swallow, violet-green swallow and barn swallow that morning.

More birdsong started popping as the first rays of sunlight descended the canyon wall onto the brush.

In this whole symphony of song, picking them out is kind of difficult, Simpkin said. Then a mallards quack broke in. That ones easy.

I reported a flash of bright yellow in the trees, and Simpkin suggested it might simply be sunlight on the wings of a mourning dove. But soon I was vindicated.

Oh, there he is! Weber said. Its a yellow warbler.

Good eye, Simpkin told me. I totally missed that.

These are encouraging companions for a novice. And Simpkin, a College of Southern Idaho biology professor, was handy for explaining the turkey vultures characteristic flight pattern or why all those double-crested cormorants were sunning themselves on rocks in the river.

This really should be how you start every morning, she said.

When Webers Caspian tern sighting dialed up the excitement and sent the women hurrying downriver, they were rewarded instead with another unexpected treat in the bushes on the bank.

Bushtits. How cool, Weber said.

Theres several of them in there. See how the bush is just shaking? Simpkin added. Then, after a pause: Wouldnt mind seeing that tern, though.

As Weber announced it was time to start back, the tern made another brief appearance on the wing.

Oh, come back, honey, she said, then she consoled herself: OK, I wasnt making it up.

That mornings bird list: 26 species, including red-tailed hawk, northern flicker, rock wren, canyon wren, yellow-breasted chat, song sparrow, spotted towhee and ring-billed gull.

Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite

Where: The grounds of the historical homesite at 3715 E. 3200 N., south of Hansen, are open to the public. You can wander through the trees behind the house, and from the road out front you might watch ravens, Swainsons hawks and red-tailed hawks on wheel lines in the nearby farm fields.

The experience: Weber recruited Simpkin and fellow biology professor Randy Smith for our Aug. 13 outing on the Stricker property. After focusing their binoculars on kestrels, robins and swallows from the parking lot, the three soon left the manicured lawn for the tall grasses among the song-filled cottonwoods, willows, elms and box elders.

Traditionally, Simpkin said, birders have seen a pair of nesting great horned owls behind the house; they didnt make an appearance that morning, but a couple of barn owls did. Nineteen white-faced ibis passed through in a ragged V above our heads. The birders lingered happily over a western wood pewee, watching a closeup of its behavior on the phone attached to Webers scope.

I struggled to point my borrowed binoculars at a black-chinned hummingbird, and Simpkin offered advice: Keep your eyes on the bird, then move the binoculars up to your eyes.

That makes sense, of course.

It does, she replied, but somebody always has to tell you.

Weber and Simpkin paused, puzzling over an unfamiliar call, before Weber suddenly identified it: Oh! Its a sprinkler.

Oh, for crying out loud, Simpkin said.

Weber turned to me and my notebook: Dont you dare.

Later, as we walked back to our vehicles, Simpkin asked Weber to play a recording of a male pheasants call on her Sibley eGuide to Birds app.

How about a sprinkler? Weber said. Would you like me to play a sprinkler, too?

That mornings bird list: 23 species, including great blue heron, belted kingfisher, yellow warbler, black-headed grosbeak, Bullocks oriole, house finch, house sparrow and rock pigeon.

CSI wetlands

Where: On the north side of the college campus, a series of settling ponds helps to clean the irrigation water of the Perrine Coulee on its way to the Snake River. Planted in cattails, bulrushes and other riparian plants, the wetlands attract a lot of red-winged blackbirds. Deer leave hoof prints, a trail camera has caught raccoons, and a fox has raised her litters there.

From North College Road, turn north into the same gravel parking lot that serves the Twin Falls Farmers Market. A fence separates the wetlands from the parking lot, but the public is welcome to enter a pedestrian gate and walk the wide dirt path that winds among the ponds.

The experience: The three birders of my previous outing returned Aug. 17 for our 7 a.m. date at the CSI wetlands, joined by Cindy Rapp, Sarah Harris and Austin Young. Rapp reported seeing an otter at an earlier visit to the ponds, and Simpkin quizzed her to determine whether it might instead be a muskrat. That conversation was inconclusive, but the sighting still earned the biology profs interest.

This years reconstruction of North College Road at the Cheney Drive intersection brought the road right up against the riparian area, and Smith expects to see roadkill.

That road smashed through some sweet habitat, Young said.

About to head off for his first year of college, Young has earned the respect of older birders with his ability to identify species by ear. Weber consulted him on the swallows  Barn swallows are kind of squeaky, he said  and he tried to teach me to distinguish a yellow warbler. I wasnt a great birdsong student while also taking notes and photos, but I didnt want to admit it on the spot.

Everyone exclaimed over a western tanager.

See, Weber said, you always get a surprise bird.

That mornings bird list: 20 species, including lazuli bunting, yellow-headed blackbird, goldfinch, mallard, killdeer, belted kingfisher, kestrel and crow.
Training  Local nonprofit Niche Assistance is holding a free Volunteer Training Workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17 at Heritage Alliance Church, 401 Sixth Ave. N., Twin Falls. Lunch will be provided. The workshop will help prepare volunteers to work with struggling individuals who want to make their lives to become more self-sufficient and successful. If you plan to attend the workshop, contact Phyllis Berg by Aug. 28, at 208-329-3796 or nicheassistance@yahoo.com.

Volunteers  Hospice Visions Inc. is looking for volunteers to visit with patients and their families, do minor home modifications such as grab bars, and also volunteer Light Touch Massage therapists, hair dressers, meal assist volunteers, and to play music and games with hospice patients. Volunteers are needed with licensed certified therapy animals to love our hospice patients in their own homes or assisted living centers. Hospice Visions is looking for volunteers interested in doing art projects with patients or filming and creating a Life Legacy Video, or to take someone to the store, run an errand or out for a drive. Veterans can become a Vet-to-Vet Volunteer and visit with other veterans. Volunteers are also needed to assist with fundraising events and provide office assistance. Information: Nora at 208-735-0121 or nwells@hospicevisions.org.

Volunteers  Idaho Home Health and Hospice needs volunteers who will bring compassion, support and dignity to those facing a serious, life-limiting illness and their families. Volunteers can choose between offering respite to family caregivers or provide support with administrative tasks. Information: Heidi Walker, 208-734-4064 or Heidi.Walker@LHCgroup.com.

Volunteers  Interlink Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) provides volunteers to help elderly, disabled and chronically ill people to live safely and independently at home. Volunteers are needed in the Mini Cassia area and Magic Valley to help build wheelchair ramps and install grab bars. Volunteers are also needed to help with light housekeeping. Volunteers are reimbursed for mileage and covered with excess auto liability insurance. Commitment is flexible with no minimum hours required. Information: Edie, 208-733-6333 or ivcofmv@gmail.com.

Drivers  The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteer drivers for its Road to Recovery program in Twin Falls. Volunteers will drive patients to and from medical treatments. Commitment is flexible. Information: Renae Delucia at renae.delucia@cancer.org or 702-891-9023.

Volunteers  The Twin Falls County Historical Society is seeking volunteers for various programs and general support. Volunteers are needed to paint, weed, clean or work on docent projects and fundraising. No minimum amount of hours, commitment is flexible. Fill out an application at the Twin Falls County Historical Museum (Union School at Curry), open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Information: 208-736-4675.

Volunteers  St. Lukes Home Health and Hospice is looking for new volunteers to join its team to share compassion and care and increase the quality of life for patients and their families. The program is designed to offer companionship and socialization to patients as well as respite and support for the caregivers. Information: Marie Sharp, 208-814-7603 or sharpm@slhs.org.

Drivers  The Twin Falls Senior Center needs drivers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Twin Falls Monday through Friday, and the routes take an hour or less to complete. Commitment is based on your availability. Volunteers must be 18 years of age with their own car, and have proof of liability insurance and a background check. Drivers receive 54 cents a mile fuel reimbursement. Information: 208-734-5084.

Volunteers  St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center is in need of volunteers for a variety of positions from shuttle drivers to care volunteers to gift shop volunteers and more. The medical center is looking for pleasant, and friendly individuals with a sincere interest in voluntary services offered to patients, visitors, employees and guests. Meet new people and learn new experiences and challenges. Information: Kim Patterson at 814-0861 or kimpa@slhs.org, or visit the Volunteer Services Office, lower level at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center; 801 Pole Line Road W., Twin Falls. Applications are available at the Front Information Desk.
TWIN FALLS  A Jerome man has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of a 20-year-old woman whose body was found Sunday in Twin Falls.

Detectives arrested Glenn Joseph Tures, 44, about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the slaying of Anessia Shaye Winterholer, the Twin Falls Police Department said in a statement issued at 5:15 p.m.

Tures was arrested in Twin Falls and is expected to be arraigned Thursday in Twin Falls County Magistrate Court, County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said.

It was a first-degree murder arrest, but he wont be charged until tomorrow, and that could change, Loebs said. But my belief, based on what I know, is it will be charged as first-degree murder.

Police and prosecutors declined to discuss a motive or Tures relationship to the victim.

Winterholers body, which had suspicious markings, was found by a property manager about noon Sunday in a basement workshop in a building near Filer Avenue and Harrison Street.

Winterholers body underwent an autopsy in Boise earlier this week.

Were treating it as a homicide simply because we dont have any information surrounding the circumstances of her death, Twin Falls County Coroner Gene Turley said Monday.

Evidence led authorities to a more definitive position by Wednesday, culminating in Tures arrest. How, though, is still unclear.

The prosecutor declined to speculate on the suspicious markings , saying only that Winterholer was found in an unusual place for her to be and not where youd expect her to be.

Loebs said he expects to almost certainly argue for no-bond.

If its a capital punishment issue, its no-bond by law. Its the default on first-degree murder, Loebs said. We wouldnt argue for anything less.

Tures has no prior criminal history in Idaho. The only court records available show he was issued a citation last August in Blaine County for a seat-belt violation. That record lists his home address as Henderson, Nev.

The coroner sat in with detectives when Tures was questioned Wednesday. Turley said he didnt direct any questions to Tures but expects his office to be more involved in suspect interviews in the future.

We think about the medical side while police think about the criminal side, Turley said. In the future, we might be able to help out with questions that police might not think to ask.

In a statement, police extended thanks to all those in our community who have assisted us with this investigation by providing us with information.

The Twin Falls Police Department, Twin Falls County Prosecutors Office, and Twin Falls County Coroners Office wish to extend our sincere condolences to the family of Anessia, the statement said.

Tures is expected to be arraigned 1 p.m. Thursday at the Twin Falls County Courthouse.

His is the first arrest in any of the citys three homicides this year.

The two unsolved cases include the stabbing death of Joseph Lee Mohlman, 38, of Twin Falls, who died Feb. 2 inside a home at 351 Seventh Ave. N.

A couple was arrested at the home that morning on unrelated drug charges but never faced charges in the slaying. Police and prosecutors have hinted that it was a justified killing, most likely in self-defense.

In the other case, Vason Lee Widaman, 15, of Twin Falls, was killed in a drive-by shooting May 7 while riding his bike on North College Road, just blocks from where he was finishing his freshman year at Canyon Ridge High School.

Police have said solving Widamans killing remains a top priority.
TWIN FALLS  Three days after a 20-year-old woman was found dead in the basement of a home on Filer Avenue, a man walked into the Twin Falls Police Department and confessed to murdering her, police said.

Glenn Joseph Tures, 44, of Twin Falls told police Wednesday he strangled Anessia Shaye Winterholer, court documents said. Tures is charged with first-degree murder and was arraigned Thursday afternoon.

Deputy Prosecutor Stan Holloway asked that Tures be held without bond, while Chief Public Defender Marilyn Paul, seated next to Tures at the jail, reserved the right to argue bond at a later date.

Magistrate Judge Calvin Campbell granted the no-bond hold and set a preliminary hearing for Sep. 2.

Glenn Joseph Tures came to the Twin Falls Police Department on his own accord and confessed to me that on August 20 he led the victim to the basement of 458 Filer Avenue and killed her, Detective Jonathan Wilson wrote in a sworn affidavit.

He said he decided to strangle her once they were in the basement. He described placing his hands around her throat and squeezing until she stopped resisting and stopped breathing.

Court documents do not describe a motive for the killing, and Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs declined to comment on the possible motive.

There are so many things we dont know yet, Loebs said. I dont know anything about (their) relationship yet.

While there were discrepancies in the court documents about where Tures lives, one address listed his residence as a home on Van Buren Street, less than two blocks from where Winterholers body was found.

Several vehicles were parked in front of the Van Buren Street home about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, but nobody answered the door.

During his confession, Tures told detectives he wiped his face with a towel and left it in the basement and took a note from his pocket and left it on a chair near Winterholers body, court documents said. He also described where he left a pair of gloves and a box cutter knife on the floor of the basement.

Detectives went to the home Wednesday to search the basement again.

All of these items were found where he described he left them, Wilson wrote.

The detectives did not miss those items during the initial investigation, the prosecutor said, but their significance wasnt apparent until Tures confessed.

Everything was cataloged, noted and photographed the first time they went there, Loebs said.

The prosecutor could not comment about the message on the note but clarified that detectives did not miss any clues.

You take pictures of everything, but you dont always seize everything, Loebs said. These items, these are things that could be in anybodys basement. The significance becomes apparent as the investigation goes on.

Timothy D. Hodge, co-owner of the home at 458 Filer Ave., called police about noon Sunday to report finding Winterholers body in his basement, but the prosecutor said he doesnt know exactly when she was killed.

I dont think we have a precise time, but thats something were working on, Loebs said.

Its not immediately clear why Tures and Winterholer were in Hodges basement. The prosecutor said theres no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved. A woman who answered the door at the home Thursday declined comment.

Earlier this week, County Coroner Gene Turley described the basement as a workshop area, and Loebs called it an unusual place for (Winterholer) to be, and not where youd expect her to be.

The coroners description of the basement as a workshop area seemed to match well with the outside of the home, which was littered with tools and machinery Thursday afternoon.

Final autopsy results on Winterholers body, which the coroner said had suspicious markings, are not expected for six to eight weeks as examiners await the toxicology report.

Several members of Winterholers family attended Tures arraignment Thursday, a quick hearing in which few details emerged.

Holloway told the court that his office had not made a decision whether to seek the death penalty, which is unsurprising. Prosecutors have 30 days to decide if they will seek capital punishment, and more time if continuances are requested. The last such decision in Twin Falls dragged on for nearly a year before the defendant, Jacob Lyn Marshall, pleaded guilty in part to avoid that possible sentence.

Tures has no prior criminal history in Idaho, and his history and residency in the state is unclear.

Prosecutors said Tures was from New York and has been in the Twin Falls area for about eight months. Court records from Blaine County, where Tures was stopped for a seat-belt infraction last August, show his address as Henderson, Nev. One document filed Thursday listed his home address as Jerome while another document listed his address as the home on Van Buren Street.

The murder charge is the first this year in Twin Falls, though there have been two other homicides.

The February slaying of 38-year-old Joseph Lee Mohlman and the May drive-by killing of 15-year-old Vason Lee Widaman remain uncharged.
TWIN FALLS  In the more than six years since Valentin Calvillo was indicted by a Twin Falls grand jury on 10 child-molestation charges, the Twin Falls man has burned through at least three attorneys, had three judges hear his case, twice stood trial, once fled to Mexico and been convicted by two Twin Falls juries.

On Tuesday, the 55-year-old Twin Falls man was sentenced for the second time after a jury found him guilty in June on seven child-molestation charges. And for the second time, a judge sentenced Calvillo to 30 years in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years.

Wednesdays sentencing marked the tentative end of Calvillos prolonged court saga, though if history is any indicator, hell likely appeal his conviction.

It was a saga that began in May 2010, when he was first charged, and included the two trials and the ever-rotating cast of defense attorneys and judges. It also included Calvillo absconding to Mexico on the day he was supposed to testify during his first trial and being convicted in absentia.

In June, after years of legal wrangling, Calvillo got a second trial after he argued successfully last year that his first attorney provided inadequate representation. That attorney, Doug Nelson, did not call any witnesses or offer a closing argument once Calvillo fled the country.

Calvillo stuck around for his entire second trial, though he did not testify, but the result was the same.

Six years ago, 12 Twin Falls residents found this man guilty of abusing a little girl, Twin Falls County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Suzanne Craig said Wednesday. Again this year, 12 Twin Falls residents heard this little girl, now as a bigger girl, tell what Valentin did to her. And they again found him guilty.

The jury convicted Calvillo of six counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one count of sexual abuse of a child under 16. The jury found him not guilty of one count, and the court dismissed two counts during trial.

With a 15-year fixed portion of his sentence, and with 5  years credit for the time hes spent in prison and jail, Calvillo could potentially be up for parole as soon as 2026.

But as his attorney explained Wednesday, Calvillo will likely have to serve the entire 30-year sentence because he vehemently maintains his innocence and thus has refused to accept responsibility, show remorse or undergo rehabilitative efforts.

Any tail, any indeterminate sentence that you impose, is tantamount to a fixed sentence for Mr. Calvillo, Brad Calbo told District Judge John Butler. If Mr. Calvillo is, as he says, an innocent, unjustly accused man, he cannot program. Its literally impossible for him to program, because hes innocent, so he cannot admit any wrong doing  and hell never parole.

That argument seemed to have little effect on Butler, who told Calvillo he wished he could sentence him to life in prison. But, the judge said, he did not want to exceed the original sentence.

I dont find any offense more serious, except perhaps first-degree murder, Butler told Calvillo. There is nothing more traumatic for a young girl than to be subject to sexual abuse of any kind.

The mother of the victim gave a statement in Spanish that was translated into English for the court, saying Calvillo had blinded and manipulated her and her family.

We want justice, the mother said.

Calvillo also made his statement in Spanish, and he too asked for justice. But he painted himself as the victim, talking about how his victims mother stole from him and how hes been held in Boise since the June trial without contact from his family or attorney. He did not accept responsibility or show remorse, and instead claimed hes been accused of many charges that the state was not able to prove.

The judge rebuked that claim.

The fact of the matter is that the state has proven its case and the jury has found you guilty, Butler told Calvillo. You no longer stand accused  you stand guilty of multiple counts.

Calbo told the judge his client wanted to request a sentence of five years and two months. Knowing that wasnt likely, the attorney argued for a minimum sentence of less than 10 years, with no maximum sentence.

The defense attorney also said Calvillo will be deported as soon as his sentence ends and will be subject to severe federal prosecution if he re-enters the United States.

Calbo also revealed that just days before the June trial, prosecutors offered Calvillo a plea deal with a five-year prison sentence, meaning with his credit for time served, he would have already finished his prison term.

Instead, Calvillo took his chance with the jury and could now be in prison for the next 25 years.
TWIN FALLS  Hiring a reading intervention coordinator. Adding hours to summer school. Buying extra classroom materials.

Magic Valley school districts are taking new steps to help kindergarten-through-third-graders who struggle with reading.

Research shows if students arent reading on grade level by third grade, theyre likely to fall behind and have a higher risk of becoming high school dropouts.

By third grade, that is a critical year for students because once they hit fourth (grade) on up, its more like they are reading to learn, said Sandra Miller, assistant superintendent of the Cassia County School District.

State legislators appropriated $9.1 million this year for a new literacy initiative to help elementary schoolers who score below grade level on the Idaho Reading Indicator.

Its up to individual school districts how to spend the money.

Some Magic Valley districts dont have a plan yet. But teams of educators are meeting and anticipate finalizing plans soon.

In Jerome, the school districts literacy plan should be ready by October, Superintendent Dale Layne said.

Elementary educators are working with a consultant from Education Northwest to figure out how to spend about $213,000 this year.

State funding is based on a three-year average of how many children dont meet benchmarks on the IRI. The larger number of students who are behind, the more money a school district will receive.

In Jerome, about 75 percent of children enter kindergarten testing below grade level.

Weve got a lot of makeup to do in those first few years, Layne said.

Options for how to use literacy money in Jerome include summer school and purchasing materials.

Some discussion has centered on a longer-term plan for optional all-day kindergarten, Layne said. But right now, theres not enough funds to do that.

Under the new literacy law, Idahos public schools are required to provide extra help for children who score basic or below basic on fall IRI tests.

School officials must also contact parents if their child isnt reading at grade level.

Students who score basic must receive an extra 30 hours of reading help, while those who score below basic must receive 60 extra hours.

Kindergartners who test below basic cant name three letters of the alphabet in one minute.

Improving reading proficiency is among 20 recommendations from Gov. C.L. Butch Otters Task Force for Improving Education.

In addition to the $9.1 million appropriated by the Legislature, theres $2.3 million in state funding for remediation based on IRI scores.

In Cassia County, the school district will use its literacy money for programs such as Imagine Learning, Reading Horizons and Write Tools.

Imagine Learning is an internet-based program students can use in the classroom and at home.

Reading Horizons is a program teachers can use to help children with reading fluency, spelling and comprehension.

It helps to pinpoint phonetic weaknesses, Miller said.

Cassia County elementary schools are also using the Write Tools program.

The teachers will learn, in essence, how to better teach writing to our youngsters, Miller said.

And, some money will be allocated to each school. It will be used on offerings such as extended-day programs, with before- or after-school tutoring.

In the Twin Falls School District, a team of elementary school educators plans to meet Tuesday about the literacy money.

Theyll start to talk about how the funding should be used, district spokeswoman Eva Craner said.

The Kimberly School District is also working on a literacy plan. The district estimates it will receive $73,500 this school year.

The districts proposal calls for hiring a reading intervention coordinator, whod work with teachers and parents to help struggling students get up to grade level.

Money may also be used to expand summer school to include more reading instruction.
JEROME  Bill Palaber graduated from Jerome High School nearly 60 years ago, but he still keeps up with his alma mater.

On Wednesday night, he toured a new wing at Jerome High.

Ive been curious about what it would look like in here, Palaber said. A lot of time and money went into improvement projects, he added. The 1958 Jerome High alumnus didnt go to school in this building, which opened about two decades after he graduated.

Its much larger than the Jerome High he attended. Well, the gym is almost as big as the (old) school, he said.

Palaber and his wife, Maxine, also a 1958 grad, were among more than 100 people who attended a dedication ceremony and open house Wednesday night for a new wing at the high school.

Money for the upgrades came from a nearly $24 million bond voters approved in March 2014. The bulk of the bond money, $18.46 million, was spent at Jerome High.

It helped modernize and expand the 1970s-era campus as enrollment in the Jerome School District continues to grow.

Were meeting the needs and growth of the community, Superintendent Dale Layne told the crowd during a ceremony outside the new wing.

Attendees included community members, students, parents, alumni, a few state legislators and city officials. Representatives were also in attendance from Starr Corp. and LKV Architects, who worked on the project.

Layne and school board members stood underneath new letters on the side of the building: Home of the Tigers and a piece of Tiger artwork, a nod to the schools mascot.

Layne thanked attendees for their support of the bond, which passed with about a 70 percent approval rate.

It just indicates a support in our community for education, he said.

Jerome High principal Nathan Tracy told visitors that groups of Jerome High students would lead tours and answer questions.

This is an amazing facility and I think youll be very pleasantly surprised when you go in, he said.

The first phase of renovations started about a year ago.

Projects included creating a second gymnasium, new cafeteria, new science, art and drama classrooms, a new administrative office, renovating the auditorium, adding new classrooms and revamping parking lots.

Layne told the crowd he gets a lot of questions about whether projects are on schedule and on budget. Yes, we are, he said.

The remainder of the projects at Jerome High  including the auditorium remodel and new administrative office  are slated for completion by the end of December.

Currently, the schools administrative office is on the buildings second floor, making it difficult to keep track of visitors coming in. To address security concerns, the existing cafeteria on the first floor is being converted into an administrative office.

Once school officials move into the new administrative office, work will begin to remodel the old office into classrooms.

When all the work is done, Jerome High will have 16 more classrooms.

The bond also paid for work at four other Jerome campuses, including new four classrooms at Summit Elementary School; eight new classrooms at Jerome Middle School; a revamped parking area, bus lanes, a drop-off and pick-up area, fire sprinkler system upgrades and new roof at Horizon Elementary School; and seven new classrooms at Jefferson Elementary School.

During Wednesday nights event, Megan Williams with the school districts education foundation unveiled a piece of Tiger artwork on the outside of the new wing.

She said the foundation wanted a visual way to demonstrate the communitys support for the school district.

Freshmen Madison Deadmond, 14, and Sydney Ohlensehlen, 14, led two couples, Jerome High alumni, on a tour after the ceremony.

Sydney held open the doors to the new gymnasium. It can seat up to 2,100 people, she said.

The girls answered questions from the adults, such as when the remaining projects will be completed and how many students attend Jerome High.

As a first-year high schooler, Sydney is learning to navigate the larger building. And older students are doing the same thing.

She went over her class schedule multiple times until she was confident in finding her classes.

As the tour wrapped up, Palaber told Madison and Sydney: You just about covered the whole program.

Sydney told the group shes excited for all of the projects to be completed. Were all looking forward to December.
TWIN FALLS  There are still slots open in a new after-school program for teenagers, organized by the College of Southern Idahos Herrett Center for Arts and Science.

The free program  open to students in ninth through 12th grades  is funded by the Idaho Humanities Council and is the first of its kind in Idaho.

Participants will go on field trips and hear presentations from guest speakers.

Field trips will include the Minidoka National Historic Site, Massacre Rocks State Park, a private tour of the Idaho State University Museum of Natural History archaeology collection, Jerome County Historical Society, Stricker Ranch Site and a private tour of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation Museum.

The teens will have a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Herrett Center with a diverse group of new peers, Herrett Center Education Facilitator Laura Browarny said. Were creating a safe place for open dialogue about the past, present, and future of southern Idaho.

There will be time for teens to connect with each other and share their opinions, she said. Snacks will be provided.

The After School Teen Community for the Humanities will meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for 12 weeks starting in mid-September at the Herrett Center on the CSI campus in Twin Falls. A few Saturday field trips will take the place of weekday meetings.

Space in the program will be limited to 25 students. Transportation to and from the Herrett Center may be arranged.

Applications are being taken now through Sept. 6. Members will be notified of their acceptance to the program by Sept. 9.

The program website and online applications can be found at http://herrett.csi.edu/teens/. For more information, call 208-732-6664 or email lbrowarny@csi.edu.
BOISE  Former gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, said Wednesday that hell run an upbeat campaign to help remind Idahoans that life, even politics, can be good again, despite the nasty rhetoric thats dominating national campaigns.

He said hell make potential for Idaho a theme of his campaign to convince voters to pick him as governor in 2018.

Idaho is one of those states that has the real potential and capacity to shine on a nationwide level, Fulcher said. Weve got incredible wealth within our state and were not performing the way that we should. And what youll hear as the next year-and-a-half unfolds is ways to do that.

Fulcher declined to give details on policies hell back, but he said hell make management of state resources, tax policy and a right-sized relationship with the federal government cornerstones of his campaign.

Fulcher was runner-up to incumbent Gov. Butch Otter in 2014s Republican primary. He lost to Otter by 12,085 votes, or less than eight percentage points.

Two months ago, Lt. Gov. Brad Little announced that hell run for governor in 2018.

Fulcher has plenty of time to get his campaign going. He said he announced his candidacy so early because it was just important to let people know.
TWIN FALLS  It was nearly noon and a line was starting to form in the hallway outside the Salvation Armys kitchen.

Every weekday at noon, people line up to eat a free hot lunch. For many, it is the only meal they will have all day.

Thats why this service and many more the Salvation Army provides in Twin Falls is important. But none of it would be possible without the work of volunteers, and more are needed.

Dawn Nutting, family services coordinator, said volunteers are especially needed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There are certain groups, like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assign days to volunteers, but Mondays through Wednesdays need the most help.

Monday is the biggest day because there is no lunch on the weekends, Nutting said. People on Monday are hungry.

Often, people who come to eat lunch will get seconds, because that know they wont get dinner.

The Salvation Army may serve 75 people a day, Nutting said, but really its like feeding 150 because of that extra helping of food.

In addition to kitchen volunteers, people are needed to a variety of other tasks.

I have lots of work to do, Nutting said. There is pulling weeds, mowing the law and trimming the shrubs. I try to line people up with their abilities.

Liyah Babayan, a member of the Salvation Armys advisory board, said she is working to have refugees who have lived in the area for a number of years volunteer at the nonprofit at least once a month. She is also reaching out to civic groups in the community to get involved. On Thursday, some contestants from the Miss Africa Idaho pageant were set to volunteer in the kitchen.

It helps so much, Nutting said. As workers, we are spread pretty thin, and we get such a line of people going through the door.

Martin Babayan, Liyahs father, worked at the Salvation Army 11 years ago. He was a cook, janitor and anything else they needed. His family came to Twin Falls as refugees in 1992. When she was a teenager, Liyah said she often volunteered inside the kitchen where her father worked and attended the nonprofits after-school program.

While Martin doesnt work at the Salvation Army anymore, he came back to volunteer Wednesday. He helped Patrick Ellis, kitchen supervisor, prepare the days spaghetti lunch.

I want to thank Salvation Army, Martin said.

Ellis said he welcomes new volunteers. He especially needs people from about 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to serve and clean up.

It doesnt take a whole lot of your day, Ellis said. It goes fast.
Judie House was only 9 years old in 1956 when her father, Twin Falls County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Tom Alworth, ran for Idaho attorney general.

Although he lost the election, the year remained an important one for Alworth: He hosted an Oct. 22 visit to Twin Falls by two political giants.

That year, Frank Church won the nomination for U.S. senator on the Democratic ticket, and U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy from Massachusetts came to Twin Falls that summer to raise support for Churchs campaign.

Church had run in 1952, but lost to long-time Republican Sen. Herman Welker, who was so closely tied to to Sen. Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism that he was often referred to by Senate colleagues as Little Joe from Idaho.

Church and Kennedy spoke to crowds at City Park and at the Roxy Theater, then attended a luncheon at the Turf Club. Houses mother, Dorothy Doss Alworth, sat with Kennedy.

After the event, Kennedy came out and spent the rest of the day at the Alworth Ranch, north of Curry, said House, office coordinator for the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

Church won the election, and he and Kennedy served together in the Senate until Kennedy won the presidential election in 1960.

My dad was kind of special, House said. When my father passed in 1959 John Kennedy sent my mother roses.

In 1976, Church sought the Democratic nomination for president and won primaries in Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon and Montana. To date, he remains the only Idahoan to win a major-party presidential primary election. Church, who attended Houses wedding in 1968, served in the Senate until losing to Steve Symms in 1980.
BOISE  More than 320 Idaho borrowers may receive money from the HSBC Mortgage settlement, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced last week.

Those whose loans were serviced by HSBC Mortgage and who lost their home to foreclosure because of servicing abuses may receive a payment from the companys $59.3 million national foreclosure fund.

Eligible borrowers will receive written information in the next few weeks with regards to how they can file a claim with the settlement administrator, Wasden said in a statement. The amount of the payments likely will exceed $780, depending on how many borrowers file claims.

Following receipt of a claim packet by September, a claim form should be completed and sent to the administrator by Nov. 15. Details regarding eligibility requirements and the payment process are available at nationalmortgagesettlement.com.

The administrator likely will begin mailing checks to eligible borrowers in late February 2017.
MALTA  The Cassia County Sheriffs Office is continuing to investigate a horrific single-vehicle rollover crash Sunday night near Malta that killed a Burley mother and two of her four child passengers.

Patricia Marina Curiel, 34, of Burley was killed in the crash along with two girls, 11 and 10, Cassia County Undersheriff George Warrell said.

The 11-year-old was Curiels daughter and the 10-year-old was a friend of the family, said Curiels mother, Maria Ronquillo.

Curiels two other children, a 3-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl, were also injured, Ronquillo said. The teenager was released from the hospital the night of the crash, but the toddler is still recovering at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

We still have him up here in the trauma center, Ronquillo said Thursday from Pocatello. Hes a tough little guy. For being just 3, hes tough. Hes already walking again.

The family hopes the toddler will be released in time for his mothers funeral, scheduled for next Friday.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the crash, reported about 10:10 p.m. on Idaho 81 near mile post 18.

Curiel was driving southbound on Highway 81 in a 2004 GMC Envoy when, for unknown reasons, she left the roadway, Warrell said. She overcorrected and the vehicle rolled, ejecting five people.

Curiel and the 10-year-old family friend were declared dead at the scene, Warrell said. Curiels 11-year-old daughter was taken by medical helicopter to Portneuf, where she later died.

The 3-year-old boy also went to Portneuf in the helicopter. His 13-year-old sister was taken by ambulance to Cassia Regional Medical in Burley and was released from the hospital that same night.

The week has been tough, but the family is still standing, Ronquillo said.

But she knows the funeral will be the hardest part.

The worst is yet to come, Ronquillo said.

The Cassia County Sheriffs Office and Idaho State Police responded to the scene along with Malta Ambulance, Life Run Ambulance and Lifeflight.

UPDATE: An earlier version of this story included the wrong middle name of Patricia Marina Curiel.
BURLEY  On June 11 Jessica Alexandria Brice was awarded a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine.

Brice will soon head to San Diego, CA to begin her emergency medicine residency at UC San Diego Medical Center.

Brice hails from Burley, Idaho. She is the daughter of Robert and Xana Brice, granddaughter of Charles and Billie Park and Gene and Marvis Brice. She was class valedictorian at Burley High School, and completed her undergraduate degree at Whitman in Walla Walla, WA.

Graduating from medical school with honors, Dr. Brice was accepted into the Washington Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) national Honor Medical Society.

Peers and faculty called Brice kind and naturally gifted, along with being a dedicated student who never missed class and was at the top of her class, during an awards dinner.

In late May, Brice, one of 17 graduating students from Idahos WWAMI Medical Education Program, a partnership with the UW School of Medicine, participated in the annual hooding ceremony in Seattle with the 202 UW School of Medicine graduates from across the WWAMI region. The Hooding Ceremony formally acknowledges the achievements of the students and, through the administration of the Hippocratic Oath reminds the students of the high standards of performance and behavior to which each aspires and with which each is challenged as they enter upon professional careers as physicians.
POCATELLO  A Rupert man pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexual exploitation of a minor child.

Erik Rodriguez, 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pocatello on Nov. 24.

In April 2015, Homeland Security special agents, working with Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force officers, downloaded a sexually exploitative video of a minor from Rodriguez. According to the plea agreement, a search of Rodriguezs home revealed numerous computers and electronic devices being used to view and store child pornography, and Rodriguez admitted to possessing and producing child pornography.

Agents found about 133 images and 302 videos of child sexual abuse material on Rodriguezs devices, in addition to the sexually explicit images Rodriguez produced of a girl under 10 years old.

The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by at least 15, and up to 30, years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and five years, up to a life term, of supervised release.

Rodriguez is set to be sentenced Nov. 8, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations, the Minidoka County Sheriffs Office and the Idaho ICAC Task Force.
Idaho needs to catch up and give our students the opportunity to compete with rest of the United States and the world.

Fact: The Idaho Legislature is still at funding education at a 2009 level.

Fact: Between 2009 and 2016, the student population has increased by 16,000 students.

Fact: Idaho spends 3.5 times more to support prisoners in the state than our students.

Fact: The Idaho Education Association reports we are now 50th in the nation in student investment; passing even the state of Mississippi.

Wake up voters! Idaho students cannot compete in today's economy, meet expanded requirements, enable them to obtain a job and afford a lifestyle that keeps citizens free of government dependence.

This is nothing new for the Idaho Legislature. They would rather spend monies to defend doomed lawsuits and tax breaks for the top 1 percent. Some legislators woke up to this fact during the past session. Now that they are awake, they will need to act

Catherine Talkington is willing and very capable to take action and advocate for our students. A vote for her opponent, Stephen Hartgen, will only continue his nine-year track record of support of the status quo.

It's time for a change! Vote Talkington for progress, not the same old story

Kevin C Dane

Twin Falls
Heres the Real Reason Behind Closer Russia-Turkey Ties

BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Tuesday. It is not clear what came of it, but it is clear what is at stake.

Russia is weakening. The state of the economy is now the main issue (read my extensive overview of Russias geopolitical situation) Ukraine remains at the center of its strategic concerns. Turkey is an emerging power. It is managing its internal crisis effectively, if brutally.

Both face a very powerful United States that is uncertain of what to do with its power. It can be unpredictable.

For Russia and Turkey, their next moves can have existential consequences. So they are measuring their options as precisely as possible. In the short term, they have common interests.

Each wants to maintain its freedom by deflecting the United States. They dont want to directly confront it. Each watches as the EU tries to figure out what it is and what it plans to do.

Europes uncertainty gives both countries breathing room. At the same time, it instills great unease. Neither knows what European power will look like five years from now. The chaos may intensify, or a powerful country or coalition might emerge.

What happens in Europe matters to Russia and Turkey.

Armenias role in the chess game

On the surface, Russia and Turkey appear to have common interests. In fact, there are signs that these common interests are bearing fruit.

Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia has had a close relationship with Russia. This allowed Armenia to defeat Azerbaijan in a war in the early 1990s and seize Azerbaijani land.

The region it took is called Nagorno-Karabakh. It is still a flashpoint for the two countries.

Azerbaijans foreign policy is complex. Caught between Iran and Russia, its policy has been to preserve its independence without threatening either country. Its relationship with Turkey was relatively strong. Turkey shares cultural and ethnic ties with Azerbaijan.

Also, both countries had a common enemyArmenia. Turkey was concerned about the Armenians because they helped shape US policy toward Turkey and brought Russian forces into the region.

Russia has long been the guarantor of Armenias national security. This was one of many things that divided Turkey and Russia.

Russia and Turkeys relationship seemed to be shifting even before the coup attempt in July. Since then, there has been growing evidence that Russia is about to change its policy on Armenia.

Putin has met with the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. Instability has broken out in Armenia, with anti-Russian forces taking to the streets. The protests werent huge, but the fact that they were anti-Russian is telling.

It seems like Russia may force a deal on Nagorno-Karabakh and reduce its support for Armenia. This will make the Azerbaijanis and the Turks quite happy. They will also be in Russias debt.

What does Russia get out of it?

Russias concern is the United States intensifying relationships with Romania and Poland. Turkey has worked with Poland and Romania on defense issues for a while, particularly after it shot down a Russian plane. Russia obviously doesnt want to see Turkey join the US-sponsored alliance.

Turkey has been uneasy about being subordinate to the US. With Russia hostile, Turkey would have no choice but to align with the Americans. Now, the Turks have a choice.

Turkey and Russia could build trust with a deal. Russia would sponsor a settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Turkey would pull away from Poland and Romania. This would strengthen the Turkish position in the Caucasus and Russias position to its west.

But skepticism is still healthy

This could be a first step. But the long-term basis of this relationship is still doubtful. Both countries have big internal problems. Neither can simply disregard or oppose the United States. There are too many ways the US could harm them.

And there is a geopolitical tension built into the Russian-Turkish relationship. They have never trusted each other. Russia cant let Turkey be the dominant power in the Black Sea. Turkey cant allow Russia to dominate the Bosporus.

In the short run, this reconciliation works. In the long run, the probability of Russia and Turkey not clashing is minimal.

Alliances triggered by short-term events like the Turkish coup can only last if the parties have a basic reason for the relationship in the first place. That reason has never existed for Russia and Turkey.

It is there now only because of passing events. Their alliance can last for years, but in geopolitics that is not very long. It is serious but will not define our time.

Join 250,000 readers of George Friedmans Free Weekly Newsletter

George Friedman provides unbiased assessment of the global outlookwhether demographic, technological, cultural, geopolitical, or militaryin his free publication This Week in Geopolitics. Subscribe now and get an in-depth view of the forces that will drive events and investors in the next year, decade, or even a century from now.

John Mauldin Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Turkey launched on Wednesday a military operation baptized Euphrates Shield aimed at eliminating threats posed by militants of the Islamic State and Kurdish fighters from the northern Syrian town of Jarbulus close to its border.

The operation has been condemned by the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, which stated that Turkey should abandon its anti-Kurdish stance in Syria and should not meddle in Syrian affairs by military means.

Defense minister Fikri Isik said Ankara has no plans to halt the operation as he stressed that the Kurdish fighters must move to the east of the Euphrates (river). He warned that if the kurds fail to adhere to the request, Turkey has every right to intervene in neighboring Syria militarily. He hinted that the condition was based on a prior agreement with the U.S. which is leading the international airstrike campaign against IS.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who was on a visit to turkey Wednesday and who met with President Erdogan, also urged Kurdish fighters to stay on the eastern part of the river if they want to continue enjoying Washingtons support.

There are reports that the Kurds have already started to desert the eastern part of the river but Ankara demands that they should leave within a week.

Spokesman Redur Xelil of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia group, told AFP that they are not worried about the operation because its fighters are Syrians and they are present on Syrian land before adding that Turkey cannot impose restrictions on the movements of Syrians on their land. YPG cooperates with NATO to fight IS on the ground but Turkey is wary of the groups intention to establish an independent Kurdish state or at least an autonomous region in Syria.

Turkey considers such an ambition detrimental to its national security.

The US Vice-Presidents visit was aimed at reassuring Ankara that Washington is committed to its NATO ally.
A senior Hamas official, Salah al-Bardawil, has accused Egypt of kidnapping some members of his movement together with other Palestinians and holding them in security detention centers and said their liberation is conditioned by harsh demands.

He said the latest Hamas delegation to visit Cairo discussed the issue with Egyptian authorities but in vain as he called for bringing the detainees before court if they are accused of committing any crime.

The leader of the groups arm wing, al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaeda said that they have not forgotten the case of those four jihadists (Hamas fighters) and that the leadership is doing all it can for the return our kidnapped sons.

The demands for the release came a few days after a picture showed almost nine detainees in an Egyptian security building. The picture was published by Al Jazeera, which claimed that two of the photographed individuals were identified by their family members as Abdel Daym Abu Labda and Yasser Zaytoon. They are part of the four Hamas fighters who were ordered to come down from a passenger bus by armed personnel while crossing the Rafah border into Egypt on August 19, 2015.

Cairo has neither confirmed nor denied allegations that it is holding the four Hamas fighters. Yet, President Sisi told a state-owned newspaper recently that there arent any detainees in Egypt except people who are imprisoned in certain trials and blatant charges, such as terrorism.
Prime minister-designate of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and head of the Presidency Council Faiez Serraj stressed in a statement that they would respect the vote of no confidence of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) and their demands.

He urged the parliament to reassemble for another session after the completion of the formation of the government and proposed that the GNA and the Presidency Council continue their work while they align themselves with the parliaments requirements. The statement noted that the cabinet, which failed to obtain a vote of confidence is not considered final as four ministers from eastern Libya continue to boycott the cabinet.

The HoR approved the Presidency Council (PC) with the condition that its members are limited to just eight ministers within the next 10 days and rejected the GNA for being incomplete amongst other reasons.

UN special envoy Martin Kobler welcomed the resumption of the HoR sessions for the first time in five months and urged the PC to hold broad consultations with political and civic actors to maximize support for the GNA.

Serraj has given a one-week deadline to the Ali Gatrani and Omar al-Aswad to end their boycott and rejoin the PC or else they will be replaced. Kobler said it is imperative that they return to the council.

The vote is seen as a blow to the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) reached in Morocco last year but Kobler called on the Tobruk-based parliament to remain within the framework of the LPA and relevant security resolutions.

Only a single MP of the 101 present at the HoR session had voted for the GNA while 61 voted against and 39 abstained.
The newly appointed Secretary General of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, will be visiting Oman and Iran before the International Energy Forum (IEF) scheduled to take place in Algeria from September 26 to 28.

A source familiar with the dossier said Barkindo would hold discussions with Omani and Iranian officials in order to facilitate an agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC members for a production freeze in order to boost oil prices.

OPEC members will be holding a meeting on the sidelines of the IEF but Omani oil and gas minister Mohammad bin Hamd al-Rumhy doesnt see the need to attend the meeting in Algeria because he is not expecting it to reach any agreement. Oman, a non-OPEC oil producer, is disappointed by the (OPEC) groups failure to address the issue of low oil prices. The Omani minister criticized Riyadh for believing that everything will be fine as difficult times are proving them wrong.

Barkindo has been touring major oil producing countries deeply affected by the low oil and gas prices.

He has thus held talks with the Venezuelan oil minister this week but details of the meeting, considered private, were not revealed.

The OPEC Secretary Generals visit to Tehran is expected to focus on convincing the country to cap its production, as the issue was a crucial factor for the breakdown of the April talks in Doha between Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. A spokesman for Irans oil ministry said under the condition of anonymity Iran might delay making a decision until the day before the gathering as authorities remain undecided over the issue.

The developments considered as positive signals have already boosted prices to more than $50 per barrel but a source at the Iranian ministry said reports of Tehran planning to cap its production are all but speculation. Last months data showed that Irans production reached 3.6 million barrels per day making analysts believe that it should soon agree to a freeze.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Tuesday, appointed a retired Dutch Major General to lead a months independent probe into the July 2016 violence in South Sudan capital, Juba.

The investigation will review reports of incidents of attacks on civilians and cases of sexual violence that occurred within or in the vicinity of the UN House Protection of Civilians (POC) sites in Juba, the UN Chief said.

The investigation will also determine the actions of UNMISS and whether the Mission responded appropriately to prevent these incidents and protect civilians within its resources and capabilities at the time.

A power sharing deal between the South-Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his main rival Riek Machar to end over two years of civil war broke down, as renewed fighting erupted on July 8 at the Presidential Palace compound in Juba.

Rebel leader and former first vice president Riek Machar has fled to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) days after the violence.

So far, thousands of people were killed and more than three million forced to flee their homes in the war, which broke out only two years after the country seceded from Sudan to become the worlds youngest nation.

The UN Secretary-General has earlier this month urged the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the country after the United Nations warned against attacks on civilians and its staff.

He also pushed for sanctioning the leaders and commanders who are blocking the implementation of the peace process and for strengthening UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
The World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday said it requires $52 million to continue providing life-saving assistance to people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

Boko Harams six-year insurgency has devastated northeastern Nigeria and has spread to Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

The humanitarian situation relative to food insecurity in the region is classified as being in the emergency phase, the WFP said in a statement.

According to WFPs Regional Director for West Africa, Abdou Dieng, the news comes as tens of people have been killed or injured in Nigeria and in neighboring Chad, Cameroon and Niger in the past days alone, an indication that Boko Haram violence is set to keep pushing more people into hunger and suffering.

WFP noted that its current response was aiming to reach 700,000 people with food and cash assistance in the coming months. Out of the figure, 150,000 children under five will be given specialized nutritious food.

Nigerias Borno State has recently confirmed receipt of a cash donation of $1 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The funds are meant to support victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

About 40,000 households were targeted to benefit from the ongoing humanitarian relief efforts. Each household will get a bag of rice and a bag of beans.
Police in Madagascar have arrested seven suspects in relation to Sundays murder of two French volunteers in the Indian Ocean Island.

The bodies of the two French citizens, a man and a woman aged in their 20s, were found on Sunday on a beach of Sainte-Marie with head injuries.

The two young French volunteers were working for a local environmental non-profit organization.

According to local media, four of the suspects are said to have been in the same nightclub with the victims, although investigators have not yet established firm links with the murders.

A French citizen living on the resort island of Sainte Marie is among the three other suspects arrested on Tuesday.

Clues were found, but for now, we cannot say we have found the perpetrators of this crime. There are some situations that are beyond the reach of the Malagasy authorities and we may have to request the help of our colleagues in France and the Reunion, said French Honorary Consul to Sainte Marie, Jean-Jacques Ravello.

In 2012, a French couple was found dead on a beach in southern Madagascar.

A year later, two Europeans were attacked and killed by a mob on the northwest island of Nosy Be, suspected of involvement in the death of an eight-year-old local boy.
The United States Secretary of State on Monday said the fight against corruption should be pursued as a global security priority of the first order.

John Kerry who was speaking during an official visit to Nigeria said corruption costs the global economy $2.6 trillion a year.

Its not just a disgrace and a crime. Its also dangerous, Kerry said, addin g that the money being lost to corruption across the world was enough to provide decent livelihood for people.

The U.S. top diplomat said he was satisfied that Buhari understood the evil of graft in his country and was working assiduously to stem the tide, describing Nigeria as a regional leader in the fight against corruption.

Nigeria is also a role model in the ongoing global efforts to fight corruption and I acknowledge measures being taken by the Buhari administration to entrench morality, transparency, honesty and good governance in the country, he said.

Kerry particularly lauded Nigerias efforts at recovering stolen funds, saying that there was need for all government institutions, including the military, other security agencies and the judiciary, to support the anti-corruption drive.

He assured Nigeria that the U.S. was fully committed to fighting corruption and entrenching good governance globally. Apparently taking a swipe at those angling for the split of the country, Kerry said, One of Nigerias strength is diversity of culture and religious tolerance.


:    9         

         2013 .         9          .    .
Asia's population is ageing faster than anywhere in the world, a study said Thursday, warning the swelling ranks of the elderly will cost the region $20 trillion in healthcare by 2030.

Health systems, businesses and families across Asia-Pacific will come under huge pressure as some 200 million people pass the age of 65 by then, according to the Singapore-based Asia Pacific Risk Center.

Yearly spending on caring for the elderly is expected to reach $2.5 billionfive times the cost in 2015the study said.

"The Asia-Pacific region is ageing at a faster rate than any other region in the world," said APRC executive director Wolfram Hedrich.

Surging growth in Asia over the past few decades prompted an baby boom in many Asia-Pacific countries, creating a large and cheap labour force that in turn boosted productivity and incomes.

But that trend is now reversing as the baby-boomers age, leaving the young to look after themeither by staying at home or paying for their care.

"Many Asia-Pacific countries are transiting from a period when they reaped a 'demographic dividend' to one where they face the prospect of paying a 'demographic tax'," the study said.

By 2030, there will be 511 million elderly people in the region, out of 3.8 billion, according to the study.

Japan will become the first "ultra-aged" country, with elderly people accounting for 28 percent of its population, while a fifth of people in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan will be 65.

The APRC warned governments would need to invest heavily to care for their ageing populations, warning current levels are "unsustainable" as medical costs are growing faster than the economy in many countries.

Asia's ageing rate is "an unprecedented challenge," said the study, which covered 14 Asia-Pacific markets.

"The problem is big, it's very urgent," said Hedrich, adding that finding solutions will be complex.

"What we want to achieve with this report is to act as a broad call of action for governments, individuals, insurers, healthcare professionals and organisations to start acting now."

Explore further World Bank says Asia aging faster than anywhere else

 2016 AFP
Hong Kong authorities reported the city's first Zika virus infection Thursday, which they described as an imported case of the disease blamed for birth defects.

The Zika-infected patient was said to be a 38-year-old female who had travelled to a Caribbean island, before complaining of pain in the joints and red eyes.

"Initial investigations show that the patient had travelled to the island of St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean Sea from August 6th to the 20th...she remembered that she was bitten by a mosquito," Leung Ting-hung, head of the Centre for Health Protection, told reporters late Thursday.

The woman underwent a blood and urine test at an outpatient clinic at a private hospital on August 23, Leung said, describing her as a "foreigner" who lived in the rural district of Tseung Kwan O and worked in the financial district of Central.

Test results revealed she had Zika virus Thursday.

Leung said she is now being treated under quarantine in hospital and is in a stable condition.

"We will carry out relevant preventive and control measures to prevent further spread of the disease, as this is essentially a mosquito-borne disease, so the most important thing is to control the mosquito population in Hong Kong," Leung said.

Until now, global health authorities have been primarily concerned with the danger Zika poses to pregnant women and their foetuses.

Zika causes only mild symptoms for most people. But in pregnant women, it can cause microcephaly, a deformation in which babies are born with abnormally small brains and heads.

The virus has also been linked to a disorder known as Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can lead to nervous system problems such as weakness and paralysis.

However, new research earlier this month using lab mice showed for the first time that Zika may damage adult brain cells involved in learning and memory.

The outbreak of the virus began in Brazil in early 2015 and has spread to neighbouring countries.

In southern United States, the state of Florida has reported a total of 524 Zika cases, most of them brought in by people who were infected while travelling to Latin America.

Thirty-six cases were locally transmitted, according to the state department of health.

Hong Kong is particularly alert to the spread of viruses after an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) swept through the city in 2003, killing 299 people and infecting around 1,800.

Bird flu scares in the past two years have seen mass culls of up 20,000 birds in Hong Kong.

Explore further Zika linked to birth defects in six US cases

 2016 AFP
Opioid abuse is a growing public health crisis, affecting up to 36 million people worldwide. Many of these individuals first get hooked on prescription painkillers that target mu opioid receptors in the brain. A study in rats published August 25 in Cell Reports suggests that a different approach that targets delta opioid receptors on sensory neurons in peripheral tissues might avoid the side effects and high abuse potential of currently available pain relievers.

"People living with chronic pain have few innovative analgesic options available to them outside of systemic opioids. Prolonged use of these opioids can result in respiratory depression, tolerance, addiction, and overdose," says senior study author Nathaniel Jeske of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. "Being able to increase the responsiveness of peripheral opioid receptor systems could lead to a reduction in systemic opioid administration, thereby reducing the incidence of side effects."

Most clinical opioids currently available target mu opioid receptors, including those located in the brain, and therefore have a high potential for abuse. By contrast, drugs targeting delta opioid receptors in the peripheral nervous system rather than the brain and spinal cord produce fewer side effects in animals and have a much lower abuse potential. However, delta opioid receptors in peripheral tissues only become activated in the presence of inflammation. Because it has not been clear how to overcome this need for an inflammation trigger, the development of peripherally restricted drugs targeting delta opioid receptors has been limited.

In the new study, Jeske and first author Allison Doyle Brackley of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio set out to address this problem. They found that a protein called GRK2 binds to and prevents delta opioid receptors on rat sensory neurons from responding normally to opioids, but when these peripheral neurons were exposed to a natural inflammatory molecule called bradykinin, GRK2 moved away from the delta opioid receptors, setting off a biochemical reaction that restored the functioning of these receptors. Moreover, rats with reduced GRK2 levels in peripheral sensory neurons regained sensitivity to the pain-relieving effects of a drug that activates delta opioid receptors without the need for an inflammatory trigger.

The findings expand the known function of GRK2 to include a role in inhibiting the function of delta opioid receptors in peripheral sensory neurons. Moving forward, the researchers will attempt to replicate the findings using human tissues. "By shedding light on how inflammation activates delta opioid receptors, this research could potentially lead to the development of safer, more effective opioids for the treatment of pain," Jeske says.

Explore further Cyclic opioid peptides
Credit: PLOS Blogs

It is now blatantly clear that a woman's increased vulnerability to developing PTSD is closely linked to that fact that, when compared to a man, she is much more likely to be the victim of the toxic traumas of childhood sexual abuse, rape, and intimate partner violence. More recently another type of trauma that women are uniquely vulnerable to enduring is garnering increasing attentionthe psychological trauma associated with giving birth.

Dr. Rebecca Moore is the lead psychiatrist for the Tower Hamlets Perinatal Mental Health service based in London, U.K. Her clinical interests include PTSD and birth trauma, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), the treatment of anxiety and depression in the perinatal period, and supporting the parent infant bond. Dr. Moore is passionate about improving services for women traumatized by birth and hosts an annual forum on Birth Trauma in London in December each year. Her goal is to form networks with those working with families with Birth Trauma around the world to share knowledge and innovative practices.

I recently spoke with her to understand more about Birth Trauma and PTSD.

Dr. Jain: You are a perinatal psychiatrist who specializes in treating psychological aspects of birth trauma. Can you start by talking a little bit about what a perinatal psychiatrist does and why there is a specific need for this type of expertise for pregnant women? Can you comment specifically on your work with immigrant/refugee populations who may have high rates of mental health problems to begin with?

Dr. Moore: Perinatal psychiatrists work with women with new onset or preexisting moderate to severe mental health diagnoses through their pregnancy and up to a year after birth.

We are community based and work with women and their families to support their mental health through this vulnerable time period. This includes regular outpatient review, community nursing support, psychological support, and expertise around prescribing medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding, alongside monitoring the developing parent infant bond.

Perinatal services recognize the fact that for some women, pregnancy is a challenging time period and that certain disordersAnxiety or Bipolar Disorder, for examplehave high rates of relapse.

There is an increased risk of suicide after pregnancy, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of maternal death in the first 42 days after birth in the United Kingdom, as highlighted by the last MBRRACE-UK release "Saving Lives, Improving Mothers' Care  Surveillance of Maternal Deaths in the UK 2011-13."

Perinatal disorders often develop rapidly, and our team provides a rapid specialist response to these crises and can facilitate rapid treatment and admission to local Mother and Baby Units if needed. London has three Mother and Baby Units, but many areas of the country still have no provision at all, such as Wales or Northern Ireland.

I work within Tower Hamlets, a very deprived area in East London, with a young population who have higher than average numbers of children. Our population is growing rapidly, it is expected to grow by 26% over the next twenty years, and there is a high birth rate, around 5500 births per year, so the demand on our service grows yearly.

50% of our referrals are Bangladeshi women, which reflects our local population. We have a hugely transient population with people moving in and out of our area, and we have women within our service from all over the world who have often been exposed to war or huge trauma. We often work with interpreters and have to be extremely mindful of the cultural and spiritual aspects of our care.

Dr. Jain: When researching this topic of Birth Trauma, I ran into some issues regarding definitions: there appears to be considerable variability regarding what this term means. Can you offer a definition of Birth Trauma and also comment on how this is different from Postpartum PTSD?

Dr. Moore: You are right, there is not yet any standard diagnostic definition, and this can cause confusion as there is a significant difference between Birth Trauma and Postpartum PTSD regarding symptoms and treatment.

When a woman has a traumatic birth, I mean that there was something subjective about the birth that was traumatic. This does not have to be life threatening or medically traumatic. We are thinking of the psychological impact of that birth experience on the mother.

Birth Trauma definitions include "a negative and disempowering physiological & emotional response to a birth" or "when an individual (mother, father, or other witness) believes the mother's or her baby's life was in danger, or that a serious threat to the mother's or her baby's physical or emotional integrity existed." I love Rachel Yehuda's use of the term trauma as "a watershed event, an event that kind of divides your life into a before and after."

Common themes include feeling unheard or not listened to, a lack of compassion from medical professionals, and feeling out of control or helpless.

Around 25% of all births in the UK are identified by women as being traumatic. This really strikes me, as it is such a high rate. In fact, if we look at the annual birth rate in the United Kingdom, this means around 173,000 women are traumatized after delivering per year.

Only 1% of births in the UK result in infant death or life threatening near-miss episodes, indicating that subjective understanding of the birth event is crucial.

One third of women present with sub-clinical trauma, and I believe it is essential to perceive trauma responses as being on a continuum.

For many women, these birth experiences will never be discussed or explored. Although women may not develop a diagnosable disorder, they will often experience significant levels of distress and symptoms may persist for many years without treatment. There is often a significant impact on women's future pregnancies and birth experiences, and I have met women who only have one child because their first birth experience was so negative and they cannot contemplate coping emotionally in another pregnancy.

When we talk about Postpartum PTSD, we are talking about women who had a traumatic birth who then go on to develop all the diagnostic criteria we would expect in PTSD.

Around 1-6% of women who have a traumatic birth will go on to develop a diagnosable clinical episode of PTSD.

It's also important to mention and think about birth partners who can also be traumatized by birth as well as mothers.

Dr. Jain: In your experience, what are the common pitfalls surrounding diagnosing Postpartum PTSD? How is it distinguished from the more well-known Postpartum Depression? What are the clinical markers for who is more vulnerable to developing Postpartum PTSD, and what are the associated resiliency factors?

Dr. Moore: Unfortunately, this is an issue we see time and time again in clinical practice. Many professionals know little about Birth Trauma or PTSD following birth, and services in the UK are very much focused on identifying Postnatal Depression.

If we think about the criteria needed to make a formal diagnosis of PTSD, there are clear differences in the symptoms needed to make a diagnosis of Postnatal Depression.

With Postpartum Depression we would look for core symptoms of pervasive low mood or anxiety, fatigue, and anhedonia, with possible altered sleep and appetite or suicidality.

In PTSD we would expect to see the key features of avoidance, intrusive memories, labile mood, nightmares, or flashbacks, and taking a history of the birth experience in depth would be key.

Research has been carried out into what makes someone more likely to develop PTSD following childbirth. These risk factors can be thought of as those that exist before the birth; the birth itself; and the type of support and care women get after birth.

Some women will be more vulnerable to a traumatic birth because of pre-existing problems, such as women with a history of psychiatric problems or previous trauma. There is also evidence that women with a history of trauma will be more vulnerable to PTSD following birth if they have inadequate support and care during the birth.

During birth, certain complications or events may be more stressful to women than others. Broadly speaking, women are more likely to get PTSD if they have an emergency cesarean or assisted birth (forceps or ventouse), although PTSD can develop after a vaginal delivery.

Other stressful aspects of birth, such as blood loss, a long labor, a high level of pain, or a large number of interventions, are not conclusively related to getting PTSD.

Women who feel out of control, helpless, or overwhelmed by events during birth, or who have poor care and support from midwives and doctors, are significantly more likely to get PTSD.

Following the birth, support from friends and family, and possibly that from healthcare professionals, may help women resolve their experiences and recover from a traumatic birth.

Studies have also highlighted an increased risk of developing postpartum PTSD with a stillbirth, the birth of a baby with a disability resulting from birth trauma, or a baby requiring a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

One of the strongest risk factors we know of is when women dissociate during birth. One woman I worked with spoke of dissociating in pregnancy and "losing all track of time" and "feeling like she was in a fog." She believed her baby "had been born" and "taken out of the room without her consent" and felt overwhelmingly anxious, until suddenly she looked down and saw her pregnant bump and realized she was still pregnant.

The literature regarding resilience is unclear, and we still do not fully understand why some women develop PTSD after birth and some do not. Women come into labor with their own unique genetic make up, personal history, and own expectations of their labor and how it will proceed. To my mind the issue that often makes the most difference regarding the outcome is that psychological expectation and understanding of birth and how it is addressed and handled during labor. I have seen women who had long distressing labors with numerous physical interventions or complications who have not gone on to be traumatized as they have had one amazing healthcare professional with them through the whole process explaining, listening, and comforting them and hearing their fears or wishes voiced.

Dr. Jain: It appears to me there are a couple scenarios of how Postpartum PTSD might occur: A woman already has PTSD (treated or untreated) and the psychological stressors associated with pregnancy/giving birth trigger a relapse of her PTSD symptoms; or the actual experience of giving birth is traumaticeither the mother's life is threatened or she witnesses a threat to the life of her newborn. This trauma then serves as the stressor, which can, in some cases, lead to PTSD. Can you speak about other scenarios?

Dr. Moore: These are the most common routes to PTSD after birth that we see; the variance is in the individual stories and responses to trauma that we hear.

I think it's important to flag up here that the woman's life might not actually be in danger, it is her response to events that she perceives as traumatic, so she might have a non life threatening bleed but find that traumatic or it may be the after care that is traumaticcare on the postnatal ward, for example. What medical professionals might class as "normal" may be far from normal to the mother involved. Women have repeatedly spoken to me of this issue.

It is important to distinguish between women who feel angry about their birth experience and have irritability and intrusive thoughts about their birth, but who lack the other symptoms of PTSD.

Subclinical symptoms are really important in my opinion and incredibly common, and these women may not have diagnosable PTSD but must still be heard and listened to and supported.

Dr. Jain: If one does a Google search for Birth Trauma or Postpartum PTSD, it is impossible to ignore the number of self-help organizations, patient advocacy groups, and online support forums that pop up. Indeed, prevalence statistics for Postpartum PTSD from Western studies are approximately 1 to 3%. From an epidemiological standpoint, this would make it quite common. Yet Postpartum PTSD is something that receives very little attention in medical schools and psychiatry training programs. Is this a case of medical science needing to catch up with what is happening every day on the frontlines?

Dr. Moore: Absolutely!

I think at present this is a really neglected area of teaching and training whilst being something that affects thousands and thousands of women each year here in England.

My sense is that this is changing. Certainly here we are starting to see Birth Trauma being discussed and talked about, and networks of professionals are coming together to push for more training and better awareness.

It's something that I feel really passionate about, and locally I run a Birth Reflections Clinic to allow women to debrief after a traumatic birth and an Annual Birth Trauma Conference in London (this year December 9th 2016, which all are welcome to attend free of charge). I lecture medical students, psychiatrists, health visitors, and midwives, and I feel this is an area that should be a key part of the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum.

Here in the UK we are really fortunate to have some amazing web forums, such as MatExp, which allows members to share best practices and knowledge. There are many excellent blogs by women writing about their own Birth Trauma, such as Unfold Your Wings or Ghostwritermummy, which helps raise awareness. There are also some nice sites sharing good birth experiences, which can be empowering for first time mothers to read and prepare for birth, such as tellmeagoodbirthstory.com.

Dr. Jain: Related to this, there appear to be some very real social and systemic phenomenon that may be exacerbating the issue of Postpartum PTSD: Unrealistic images/perceptions of what birth and motherhood should be driven by popular media/culture (similar to the propagation of unrealistic body images for women); the very high tech and invasive medical environment where many women in high income settings give birth; and advances in neonatal care and NICU care that have changed the way we treat and care for premature babies.

Dr. Moore: A question that is often asked is whether women have too high expectations of achieving a natural or drug-free birth, contributing to them being traumatized when birth does not go as expected. The answer to this is complex, but research studies point towards it not being the case. Firstly, women's expectations are found, on average, to be similar to their experiences. That is, if a woman has broadly positive expectations, she is more likely to have a positive experience. Secondly, if unrealistic expectations were linked to PTSD, we might expect to find more trauma responses in first time mothers. This has been found, but subsequent analysis suggests it is due to the higher rate of intervention in these women. Finally, one study looked at this question directly and found that a difference between expectations and experience in the level of pain, length of labor, medical interventions, and level of control was not associated with PTSD symptoms. However, a difference between expected support from healthcare professionals and the level of care experienced was predictive of PTSD symptoms. Women don't seem necessarily to be traumatized by the events of birth not happening as they expected, but are more affected when they do not receive the care they expect.

For many women I meet there is a real lack of honest conversations about the process of birth, and my sense is many women enter their labor emotionally unprepared for what might happen and have high expectations of what they want to happen, which may or may not be realistic.

I think there is a much greater need for midwives and obstetricians to have repeated conversations with women about birth and listen to women's fears, hopes, and preferred choices.

The issue that comes up time and time again here is a lack of continuity of care and that women often see a different midwife at each visit, which means that these discussions don't happen.

I personally encourage women to think in depth about their birth and the choices they may or may not like, whilst grounding any discussion in the reality of what might happen.

I personally think if women can afford it and would like it, that using an independent midwife or doula can be really beneficial and help provide a constant support and advocate throughout pregnancy and birth.

In 2013, Youngblut et al looked at parent health and functioning 13 months after infant or child NICU/PICU death. Parents (176 mothers, 73 fathers) of 188 deceased infants/children were recruited from 4 NICUs, 4 PICUs, and state death certificates 2 to 3 weeks after death. Data on parent physical health (hospitalizations, chronic illness), mental health (depression, PTSD, alcohol use), and functioning (partner status, employment) were collected in the home at 1, 3, 6, and 13 months after death. Thirteen months after infant/child death, 72% of parents remained partnered, 2 mothers had newly diagnosed cancer, alcohol consumption was below problem drinking levels, parents had 98 hospitalizations (29% stress related) and 132 newly diagnosed chronic health conditions, 35% of mothers and 24% of fathers had clinical depression, and 35% of mothers and 30% of fathers had clinical PTSD. More Hispanic and black mothers than white mothers had moderate/severe depression at 6 months after infant/child death and PTSD at every time point.

Lefkowitz et al looked at the prevalence of PTSD and depression in parents of infants in the NICU, identifying 86 mothers and 41 fathers who completed measures of acute stress disorder (ASD) and of parent perception of infant medical severity 3-5 days after the infant's NICU admission (T1), and measures of PTSD and Postpartum Depression (PPD) 30 days later (T2).

35% of mothers and 24% of fathers met ASD diagnostic criteria at T1, and 15% of mothers and 8% of fathers met PTSD diagnostic criteria at T2. PTSD symptom severity was correlated with concurrent stressors and family history of anxiety and depression. Rates of ASD/PTSD in parents of hospitalized infants are consistent with rates in other acute illness and injury populations, suggesting the relevance of traumatic stress in characterizing parent experience during and after the NICU.

There is a wealth of excellent resources online for parents with babies in the NICU/Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), such as Bliss, Headspace Perspective, and Tommy's. These all offer a wealth of practical advice, including telephone support and local groups or buddy schemes.

Dr. Jain: What psychological interventions work for Postpartum PTSD? What about preventative measures (e.g. identifying high risk women or screening programs) or debriefing interventions?

Dr. Moore: There isn't a standardized screening program as of yet in the UK. We screen women in our service but they only represent a minority of women. One also wonders how a woman may feel about being identified as "high risk" for developing perinatal trauma, and care would need to be taken to fully explain this risk in a nonthreatening or frightening way.

Psychological interventions that work in the postnatal period include the usual trauma focused psychotherapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and Compassion Focused therapy approaches are also frequently used.

Debriefing can be used and can help some women but not allit very much depends on who is doing the debriefing and how it is done. Studies into the efficacy of debriefing have not identified any clear link with it leading to reduced maternal morbidity, and formal debriefing is not recommended. In 2011, Professor Ayers from City University, a leading expert in this area, found that 46 women with PTSD who had formal debriefing had reduced PTSD over time and a greater reduction in symptoms overall than women who had not been debriefed. Debriefing also led to reduction in negative appraisals but did not affect symptoms of depression. Therefore, results suggest that providing debriefing as a treatment to women who request or are referred to it may help to reduce symptoms of PTSD.

In my service we have a specialized pathway of care for women with a prior traumatic birth or those at risk, which includes regular review and having these long detailed discussions about birth. We have a specialist team of midwives who co-work cases with us to give extra support and an obstetric lead who reviews women prior to birth.

We offer informal debriefing postnatally and really take time and care to listen to women's birth stories, and this is crucial. If needed we can then also add in specialist timely therapeutic interventionswe offer CBT, Compassion Focused Work, Yoga Therapy, Art Therapy, and Music Therapy in my service.

Dr. Jain: Finally, are there any biological or physiological factors associated with the act of giving birth itself (e.g. hormonal shifts, changes in adrenaline, cortisol, serotonin, or dopamine) that may be implicated in increasing vulnerability for developing PTSD during that particular life event?

Dr. Moore: That's a very complex question that we don't yet fully understand the answer to. There is as of yet little research on the specific area of perinatal PTSD, and we have to try to piece together what we know about the etiology of PTSD along with the large evidence base for depression after birth related to hormonal shifts.

Of course I am sure your readers will know the existing literature purely relating to PTSD that suggests that lower baseline cortisol at the time of a psychological trauma may facilitate over-activation of the central CRH-NE cascade, resulting in enhanced and prolonged stress responses which could then be accentuated by poor regulation of GABA, serotonin, and NPY. Altered norepinephrine and stress hormone activity may be involved in learning and extinction. This mixture of elevated noradrenergic activity and relative hypocortisolism may lead to the enhanced encoding of traumatic memories and the lack of inhibition of memory retrieval, both of which then trigger the re-experiencing phenomena in PTSD.

My own interest lies more in the role of the HPA axis in pregnancy and after birth. Much of the literature relates to depression, but there are studies now focusing on PTSD. It is likely that prenatal hormones are both markers of risk and causal factors in the development of postpartum depression.

During pregnancy the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis undergoes dramatic alterations, due in large part to the introduction of the placenta, a transient endocrine organ of fetal origin.

Models are suggested, such as those by Professor Vivette Glover, where the positive feedback loop involving the systems regulating the products of the HPA axis results in higher prenatal levels of cortisol and placental corticotrophin-releasing hormone. Greater elevations in placental corticotrophin-releasing hormone are related to a disturbance in the sensitivity of the anterior pituitary to cortisol and perhaps to decreased central corticotrophin-releasing hormone secretion. Secondary adrenal insufficiencies of a more extreme nature may predict an extended postpartum hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal refractory period, which in turn would represent a risk factor for the development of postpartum depression

During pregnancy we see a rapid rise in plasma estrogen and progesterone, coupled with a very large increase in plasma corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), and an increase in cortisol. Levels of all these hormones drop rapidly at birth, as do serotonin levels. We can also assume that for most women, adrenaline levels will be raised for some of their birth experience.

We also need to add into this discussion the literature on the role of estrogen, and its role in fear conditioning and fear extinction. Estrogen calms the fear response in healthy women and, as illustrated by the work of Kelimer Lebron-Milad, the same is true for women suffering from PTSD. The higher the estrogen was in their blood when they trained on a fear-extinction task, the less likely women were to startle.

Progesterone is also known to have antiglucocorticoid properties and thus interfere with the HPA axis reactivity to stress. Studies have demonstrated a higher neuroendocrine response to stress (i.e., higher cortisol levels after ACTH administration) in women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, indicating that the negative feedback of the HPA axis may be somewhat affected.

Further research is needed to understand the impact that changes in sex hormone levels may have on subjects' behavioral and neuroendocrine ability to respond to stress. It could be plausible that abrupt changes in hormone levels (such as that observed in the immediate postpartum period) would alter not only the HPA axis response to a stressful event, but also the negative feedback necessary to avoid potential damages induced by prolonged exposure to "stress hormones."

How all these strands connect is not yet fully understood, but to my mind women entering labor are subject to momentous physiological and psychological changes over a rapid time frame, which to some can lead to the development of their perinatal PTSD.

Explore further Researchers pioneering new research into maternal trauma and wellbeing

This story is republished courtesy of PLOS Blogs: blogs.plos.org.
Graphical definition of stem cells. Credit: Cancer Research UK

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time the 'perfect storm' of conditions that cells need to start forming cancer, helping to explain why some organs are more susceptible to developing the disease, according to a new study published in Cell today.

The research, carried out by scientists at Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Institute at the University of Cambridge and St Jude's Children's Research Hospital in the United States, shows that cancers are more likely to start in stem cells - special cells that copy themselves so the body can grow new cells, repair damaged tissue and replace old cells.

But while these stem cells are more susceptible to developing into cancer, they also need to have accumulated DNA mistakes and be replicating to repair damage or wear and tear for cancers to start.

These DNA mistakes can happen randomly as stem cells replicate and they tend to build up with age, which is why cancer gets more common as we get older. They can also be caused by things in our environment such as tobacco smoke or UV radiation.

To find out how cancers start in different organs the researchers tagged one particular group of cells in mice with a fluorescent dye to track their behaviour. They then introduced DNA mistakes linked to different types of cancers into these cells.

Importantly, they found that DNA mistakes by themselves were not enough to cause cancer. In organs where DNA mistakes were introduced into dormant stem cells, there were no signs of cancer.

New research has demonstrated how cancers can start in stem cells. Credit: Cancer Research UK

Yet, in other organs that are exposed to lots of wear and tear - like the bowel - introducing DNA mistakes into the replicating stem cells caused cancer to start.

Professor Richard Gilbertson, lead researcher based at Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Institute at the University of Cambridge, said: "We can now say that cancer most likely starts in stem cells but is not just down to 'bad luck'. The development of cancer involves a 'perfect storm' of stem cells containing DNA mistakes that are replicating in response to damage or wear and tear.

"Although stem cells can sometimes go wrong by chance, our research shows that things in our environment that lead to more DNA mistakes or that damage organs, causing these stem cells to divide, increases the chances of the 'perfect storm' brewing. That's why behaviours like smoking or UV exposure raise the risk of developing cancer.

"Our work also shows why some types of cancer are more common than others, with tumours more likely to develop in organs with lots of replicating stem cells, for example the bowel."

"We hope finding out more about the way in which cancer develops will help us, and other scientists around the world, develop new ways to prevent and treat cancer."

Professor Karen Vousden, Cancer Research UK's chief scientist, said: "The study looks at the perplexing question of why we get cancer more often in some organs than others. This risk seems to be dictated by a combination of mutations in cancer-causing genes in stem cells, stem cell proliferation and tissue damage - which vary between different organs."

Explore further Nanofiber scaffolds demonstrate new features in the behaviour of stem and cancer cells
Researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have traced the roots of humane medical practices to a pioneering French physician who treated people with deformities as humans instead of "monsters," as they were commonly called.

The physician, Andre Feil, established practices that have become health care norms more than a century later. Feil wrote a 1919 medical school thesis on cervical abnormalities defying long-held opinions about people with "monstrous" deformitiesthat their conditions resulted from moral failure or supernatural causes. Feil and his mentor, Maurice Klippel, described patients with congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae, a rare condition now known as "Klippel-Feil syndrome."

"This was a real revolution in terms of thinking about these patients," said Dr. Mark C. Preul of Barrow, who oversaw the research paper published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery. "They come in to see you, and they've got problemsand they may be horrific problems to look atbut it doesn't matter. They're human.

"That's really the ultimate message of Feil's thesis," said Barrow's Dr. Preul. "You treat everybody who comes to you with dignity and honor, and you do the utmost that you can when you're treating them." Barrow is part of Dignity Health's St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz.

Barrow researchers discovered Feil's thesis, which they described as "a medical gem," at the University of Paris, Dr. Preul said. The city was at the vanguard of advances in neurology and psychology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

"In addition to practicing the science of medicine, (Feil) highlighted the importance of humanism to medicine, and we have inherited his legacy for care and consideration for those we might term 'handicapped,' " Barrow Dr. Evgenii Belykh wrote in the paper. "Although his name is not often encountered in the annals of history, there is no denying that Feil played a critical role in attempting to change a sociocultural mind-set rooted in ignorance and fear."

Dr. Preul said modern-day reminders of Feil's groundbreaking work are common; one example is the public's view of disabled people, including military veterans.

"One example is that the Olympics used to show what we would call normal athletes," Dr. Preul said. "But I've noticed advertisements for Paralympic athletes. These people are fantastic physical specimens. There's some real thought and advanced scientific efforts about how we can help these people achieve a normal integration into society again. This attitude just didn't start yesterday, but our ability to provide it technologically has been lacking. This is a long time in coming."

Explore further Barrow researchers prove utility of imaging tool in surgeon's hand
Temporary Administration is Appointed by NBG in Caucasus Development Bank-Georgia

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) adopted a decision to appoint a temporary administration in the Caucasus Development Bank-Georgia.According to the NBG, their decision was not a result of any problems of the bank operating in Georgia, but by the processes developed around the Azerbaijan-based mother bank. The assets of the Caucasus Development Bank-Georgia amount 0.14% of total banking assets. The bank still continues serving the clients.According to the NBG, the banks liquidity and capital level is rather high and in the case of needs, the administration is ready to meet the demands of creditors and depositors.At the same time, we declare, that Georgian financial sector is healthy. It is regulated by the international practice and all decisions of NBG serve to stabile and sustainable development of the sector, the NBGs statement reads.The two banks have become bankrupt in Azerbaijan. Atrabank and Caucasus Development Bank were officially announced as bankrupt. Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) was appointed as a liquidator of banks.
NGOs condemn spread of prison torture videos

By Messenger Staff

A group of non-Governmental Organisations in Georgia have released a special statement in which they said that footage reflecting torture and inhumane treatment in Georgian prisons taking place under the previous state leadership, are still spreading on internet , which causes additional moral and psychological trauma to the people who suffered.The video footage of the torture of prisoners was released in such a way that everyone was able to identify the individuals depicted in the video.Unfortunately, no one thought to take down those videos and solve this issue, reads the statement.The NGOs stated that such crimes have not been given adequate legal assessments and most of the people behind the wrongdoings remain unpunished.That is why the topic still can be used for manipulations, reads the statement.In response Georgias Chief Prosecutors Office has released a statement, where the body said 60 people were charged for committing alleged illegalities in detention facilities, high-ranking prison figures among them.The Office continued on to say that out of the 60 people, the court delivered guilty verdicts to 42 individuals.Videos reflecting torture, rape and inhumane treatment in Georgian prisons were released prior to the 2012 parliamentary elections, which caused a significant public backlash and was one of the main reasons why the current ruling Georgian Dream coalition defeated the nine-year rule of the United National Movement party in 2012.The current authorities also found thousands of other videos reflecting the private lives of public figures.The majority of the videos were destroyed in 2013; those which remained were only spared if they were deemed to be valuable as evidence in other crimes.However, some of the videos reflecting torture and private lives emerged on the Internet under the current state leadership.There were cases when Internet users managed to download such videos before they were deleted from Youtube.Protecting human rights is one of the essential duties of a democratic state. The current authorities are obliged to prevent any such videos appearing online, but their recent slow reaction to prevent and remove the recent uploads has led to speculation over ulterior motives.
The News in Brief

Foundations being laid for second terminal at Tbilisi airport



The construction of the second terminal building at Tbilisi International Airport is proceeding as planned.



Currently, the foundations are being laid, spokesperson for the airport told DFWatch.



The need for a second terminal is evident in the steady growth in passengers, which last year passed 1.8 million.



This triggered a clause in operator TAVs contract with Union of Georgian Airports obliging the Turkish company to build another terminal.



When the new terminal is finished in the end of 2017, the airport will be able to service 3.5 million passengers a year.



The new terminal will have an area of 12,000 square meters. Construction work started June 27, and about 500 people will be employed in the construction project.



The new building is part of a renewal which also includes the rehabilitation of the runway and taxiway, five new parking areas for departures and boarding bridges for passengers.



On July 14, an upgraded runway was opened at Tbilisi airport after 12 weeks of work that cost 70 million lari (USD 30 million). Apparently the runaway will operate for 20 years before the next refurbishment.



TAV Urban Georgia has operated Tbilisi International Airport since October 31, 2005. It has the right to operate the airport until November 2027. (dfwatch.net)







Georgian Dream launches active election campaign



Majoritarian (single mandate) MP candidates of Georgian Dream  Democratic Georgia Party will launch active election campaigning from today.



The candidates held a meeting in the party's central office yesterday. Head of the election headquarters, Kakha Kaladze, met the party's majoritarian candidates from all over the country.



"The meeting discussed organizational and coordination issues. We are entering a very active phase of the pre-election phase. Fortunately, our positions are very strong. We discussed specific plans for improving coordination," one of the candidates, Mairam Jashi, said.



Another majoritarian candidate, Nino Goguadze, stated that the meeting discussed issues related to the election campaign. According to her, the candidates are launching active election campaign from today. (1tv.ge)







Tskhinvali government says up to 200 tons of agricultural production is daily sent to Tskhinvali from Georgia



Up to 200 tons of agricultural production is imported to South Ossetia from Georgia everyday via the Mosabruni (Razdakhani) checkpoint that is located in Akhalgori district, - Sputnik Ossetia is reporting.



According to Sputnik Ossetia, this information was provided by Akhalgori police head Robert Bitarov to so-called vice PM Dmity Kozaev.



Within the framework of the visit Kozaev told the agency to find out why the imported Georgian production is sold far more expensively than it costs.



Ossetian border guards and representatives of the so-called security committee will conduct monitoring at the checkpoint, which is crossed by 700 people every day. (IPN)







Burjanadze Meets Russias State Duma Speaker in Moscow



Nino Burjanadze, leader of Democratic Movement opposition party, met Russias State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin in Moscow on August 17.



Prospects of bilateral relations between Russia and Georgia, as well as the situation in the Black Sea and South Caucasus region as a whole were discussed, the State Dumas press office said.



It was Burjanadzes fourth visit to Russia for talks with Russian officials since July 2015.



Burjanadzes campaign for the October 8 parliamentary elections centres on the proposal to give Georgia non-bloc status, implying rejecting joining any kind of military bloc, be it NATO or any other military alliance.



This meeting [with Naryshkin] has vindicated me once again as to how important it is to have direct dialogue with high level Russian officials. I assure you that after the elections I will spare no effort to have high level dialogue with Russia, Burjanadze told journalists upon arrival back from Moscow. (civil.ge)




NBG appoints temporary administration to Azerbaijani bank

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) is appointing a temporary administration at the Caucasus Development Bank Georgian branch following the bankruptcy of its headquarters in Azerbaijan.The NBG explained the best way to ease the challenges currently facing the Azerbaijani bank was to send a banking expert from Georgia to oversee operations in Azerbaijan.Despite the Azerbaijani banks bankruptcy, NBG assured the public there were no problems facing theGeorgia branch of the bank.The Caucasus Development Bank, with assets amounting to 0.14 percent of the total banking assets of Georgia, continues to serve its clients, stated NBG today.Capital and liquidity levels of the bank are quite high and, if needed, the temporary administration can fully meet the requirements of creditors, including depositors, said NBG.Hereby, we would like to state that the Georgian banking sector is healthy, regulated in compliance with the best international practice and all decisions of the NBG aim at the sustainable and stable development of the banking sector, the Bank added.This week, two Azerbaijani banks - the Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank  were declared bankrupt. The licenses of both banks were revoked by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) in January 2016, announced Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF).ADIF, which has been appointed the liquidator of the two banks, said the decision on the banks bankruptcy was made recently by the Baku Administrative-Economical Court No 1.The CBA revoked the two banks licenses on January 27, 2016. At the time the CBA said the two banks licenses were revoked because their total capitals did not correspond to the minimum requirement of 50 million Manats (almost $31 million USD). The banks also could not fulfill its obligations to creditors, CBA explained.The Caucasus Development Bank started operating in 1999, while it launched in Georgia and opened a branch in Tbilisi in 2013.
Govt awards winners of Rio Olympic Games

By Messenger Staff

The Government of Georgia has decided to award the winners of the Rio Olympic Games and allocate a certain amount of money for them.Georgian Olympic champion Talakhadze will receive 170,000 Gel from the government as a reward for winning his gold medal.According to the decree issued by the Georgian government, silver medal winners will receive 102,000 Gel and bronze medallists will receive 68,000 Gel.According to the same decree, the Georgian athletes received other bonuses of 3,800,000 Gel in total, as before the Olympics the sportsmen achieved success in world, European and other international tournaments.Meanwhile, the Sveti construction company handed over apartments in Batumi to Lasha Talakhadze, Irakli Turmanidze and Shmagi Bolkvadze.Prior to the Olympic Games, Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Georgia would make history at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, as a record number of athletes represented the country at this year's prestigious sporting competition.Thirty-nine athletes  30 men and nine women  competed in 13 disciplines at the Rio Olympics.Georgia can be proud of its sport achievements and the country respects it athletes. However, some people believe Georgia could have done better and earned more medals.It is possible that during the competitions, Georgian athletes lacked psychological readiness, which hindered their performances.Physical and psychological training and readiness are equally significant when one takes part in such a high-level contest.It would be better in the future relevant bodies show more interest in the issue and provide high-level psychological support for Georgian athletes prior to and during significant sporting events.
The News in Brief

Burjanadze Meets Russias State Duma Speaker in Moscow



Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Democratic Movement party, met with Russias State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin in Moscow on August 17.



Prospects of bilateral relations between Russia and Georgia, as well as the situation in the Black Sea and South Caucasus region, were discussed, the State Dumas press office said.



It was Burjanadzes fourth visit to Russia for talks with Russian officials since July 2015.



Burjanadzes campaign for the October 8 parliamentary elections centres on the proposal to give Georgia non-bloc status, implying rejecting the joining any kind of military blo,c be it NATO or any other military alliance.



This meeting [with Naryshkin] has shown once again how important it is to have direct dialogue with senior Russian officials. I assure you that after the elections I will spare no effort to have high-level dialogue with Russia, Burjanadze told journalists upon arrival back from Moscow.

(Civil.ge)







200 tons of produce enters Akhalgori every day



Every day, about 200 tons of agricultural products are brought from Georgia into the Akhalgori district of South Ossetia, Sputnik Ossetia reports.



Akhalgori is a part of the breakaway region which was under Georgian control until the war in 2008. Many people cross here on a daily basis, through the checkpoint at Mosabruni, or Razdxn in the Ossetian language.



But until now, the extent of this flow of people and goods has not been measured. This is because the border guards are not performing custom checks here, and neither tracking the number of people nor volume of goods.



But recently, the breakaway regions Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozaev instructed a representative of the Interior Ministry of the de facto republic in Akhalgori, or Leningor, district to find out why agricultural products from Georgia to South Ossetia are sold three to four times more expensive.



The border guards were instructed to carry out monitoring for a week and write their findings in a report.



The conclusion was that every day, about 700 people cross the Mosabruni checkpoint, which has been in operation since 2010. According to Sputnik Ossetia, the people who cross are mostly vendors who bring fruits and vegetables from Georgia in order to sell it in Akhalgori.

(DF watch)







The California of the Caucasus  New York Times on Tbilisi



The New York Times has published a long article about Georgia entitled The California of the Caucasus.



The article begins with U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kellys words: When I was studying in Leningrad in the 70s, says Ambassador Ian C. Kelly, currently stationed in Georgia, a group of us were taken to Tbilisi. Arriving there was like arriving in Oz  suddenly everything went from black and white to colour.



The article reads about Tbilisis ancient culture, thermal baths and quality meals.



Having survived civil war in the early 90s, then a peaceful, pro-Western revolution in the aughts, Tbilisi has rebounded mightily, and newfound ambition is visible everywhere, reads the article.

(IPN)







Global Innovation Index: Georgia promoted to 64th place



Georgia is now enjoying a better position in the Global Innovation Index thanks to the countrys recent push in innovation-oriented policies and opening of new facilities that support entrepreneurship and creativity.



The annual Global Innovation Index (GII), published this week, ranked Georgia 64th out of 128 countries. This was a promotion of nine places compared to last years results, where Georgia positioned in 73rd place.



The Global Innovation Index ranked the innovation capacity and performance of 128 countries and economies around the world, based on 82 indicators.



The Government of Georgia invests heavily and pays huge attention to developing innovations and technologies in the country. There are number of interesting projects that have been implementing in Georgia that contribute to the development of innovations, said head of Georgias Innovation and Technology Agency Irakli Kashibadze.



Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency, Technology Park, Start-up Georgia and different laboratories have opened recently that each promotes innovative projects. As a result Georgia enjoys a better position in the international rankings, he added.



The GII was annually published by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and evaluated countries according to various criteria such as innovation orientation, economic growth and business development.



Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and Finland retained the top five positions in the GII survey, as they did last year.



Meanwhile Turkey was ranked 42nd, Russia was 43rd and Ukraine gained a ranking of 56th. Armenia placed 60th while Azerbaijan ranked 85th.

(Agenda.ge)




THE STAGGERING COST OF ALL THAT 'CHEAP' LABOR: Encouraging both legal and illegal mass immigration continues to be a primary aim for both politicians and organizations on the left. Breitbart News previously revealed that the wealthy Ford Foundation poured an astonishing $114 million into organizations that push for mass immigration and amnesty. Spencer Lindquist
Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog.
Sometimes predictions are wrong and sometime they are correct. Well, a month ago I wrote that I thought that this years Chinook salmon season on Fort Peck Reservoir would be the best they have had since the mid 1990s. I was correct and for good reason.

There are still a few anglers still around who remember the great salmon fishing back then and the ones I have spoken with believe this year it just might be the best, based on their catch rate the past few weeks. I didnt fish salmon back then on Fort Peck, but I have more than made up for it this year. For the past four weeks I have been fishing salmon every chance I get. My fifth wheel RV has been my home away from home this past month in Fort Peck  in fact I have spent more nights in its bed than I have in my bed at home in Missoula.

The reason for this is simple. I like to fish when the fish are biting and Chinook salmon are biting. I have always loved to fish salmon on Fort Peck, but most of the time in years gone by, I have not been rewarded like I have this year.

I remember one year I traveled over to Fort Peck after hearing the bite was on and fished for three days, 12 hours a day and didnt even have a release on my downriggers. That is the salmon fishing I have been used to at Fort Peck, and needless to say, I probably missed fishing for a year or two because the salmon were to elusive.

Last year was a good year for Downrigger Dale and me as we ended up boating six salmon in a five-day period. I know that doesnt sound like a lot of fish to catch, but when you get one of these aggressive fighters that can weigh up to 27 pounds take out line on your fishing reel drag, you get what I call Black Jaw Fever. There is nothing quite like it and it is hard to describe the excitement that you get by reeling one of these fighters into the net.

This year I have fished with my girlfriend, Berny, sister Debbie, brother-in-law Tim Frost, brother Dan, Downrigger Dale, and Steve Hellegaard. Every time we have gone fishing we have caught not one salmon, but usually multiple salmon. It has been a blast and it is about to come an end. The days are winding down and that is why I am writing about this now.

The week leading up to Labor Day weekend will probably be the peak. If you are interested in fishing Fort Peck for salmon next week, then I would get your reservations for your accommodations now. If you plan on staying in a motel and want to stay by the lake, then I would recommend The Lakeridge Lodging and Bait shop as well the Historic Fort Peck Hotel.

If you have an RV, there are public campgrounds as well as the Lakeridge and the Fort Peck Marina that offer camp sites near the lake and the main boat ramp.

There are also boats for hire if you want to learn how to fish for salmon or would like to hire an outfitter. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at captain@montanaoutdoor.com and I will try to help you. Good Luck and here is hoping you get The Black Jaw Fever.
HAMILTON  A Florence physician facing hundreds of felony charges for allegedly providing his patients with illegal prescriptions appeared in court Wednesday with an attorney by his side.

It marked the first time that Dr. Chris Christensen has had legal representation since the Public Defenders Office asked to be taken off his case in December after finding the doctor had too much money to qualify for state-funded counsel.

With Christensens monthlong trial set to begin in a little less than two months, his attorney Josh Van de Wetering said he would need more time to prepare his clients defense.

There is no way I can be ready for trial in a case of this magnitude by Oct. 20, Van de Wetering said.

Van de Weterings appearance coincided with the deadline date for Christensen to provide pretrial materials to the court.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Thorin Geist said the state opposed any continuance.

We filed our information just over a year ago and the state has worked diligently to bring this case to trial, Geist said. At almost every step along the way, Mr. Christensen has moved to frustrate that.

Christensen was arrested in August 2015 after he allegedly provided hundreds of illegal prescriptions to his patients, including two who died from overdoses. He faces 400 felony charges, including two counts of negligent homicide.

Since losing his public defender, Christensen has routinely told the court that he was seeking legal representation and had no plans to represent himself. He told the court he intended to file for bankruptcy in order to be able to obtain a public defender. Last spring, he asked that his trial be delayed for another year to give the time he needed to find legal representation.

The trial had already been delayed from February to October.

In July, Ravalli County District Judge Jeffrey Langton denied Christensens request for a years delay. At that time, Langton noted that Christensen had yet to file for bankruptcy and not done enough to find a new attorney.

On Wednesday, Van de Wetering said he understood that the court may be frustrated by the delays in this case.

I am essentially asking the court to make a pragmatic decision, he said. I have to ask for a substantial amount of time. I think I need a year given the size of the case.

Van de Wetering said his fee was not going to be paid by Christensen.

Im hired by a third party, extended family on his wifes side, Van de Wetering said. To suggest that Mr. Christensen has simply chosen not to hire an attorney is flat wrong.

Van de Wetering said Christensen came to see him last winter, but couldnt afford his fees.

I quoted him my rates and he just didnt have the money, Van de Wetering said. He still doesnt have the money.  So I would disagree that he has been dilatory. He has done what he can to come up with the multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars that he simply doesnt have, or get poor enough to get a public defender and theres no guarantee that he would even get one.

I dont think this is an issue of whether or not to punish him, the attorney said. This is an issue of whether or not he gets a fair trial. If we go on Oct. 20, I dont think he gets a fair trial.

Geist reminded the judge that he had told Christensen in his recent ruling that if the doctor planned to retain counsel, he needed to do that with haste.

Here we are a little over a month later and coincidently Mr. Van de Wetering appears at a pretrial conference, Geist said. The state is ready to go to trial.

The state has already subpoenaed 50 witnesses, including 12 experts who come from different towns and states, Geist said. Those witnesses include a federal inmate. In addition, the court has summoned 120 potential jurors and the jury instructions have been approved.

It would be a substantial prejudice to the states case to postpone the trial at this point, Geist said.

Geist said he is pleased that Christensen elected to hire an attorney.

I dont envy what Mr. Van de Wetering has signed up for.  I think if the courts hold us to this trial date  and I think it should  Mr. Van de Wetering is looking at some long days and late nights to get ready for this.

I dont think its fair to the state that the defendant gets a do-over on that because he finally elected to get an attorney, Geist said.

Langton gave Van de Wetering a week to file a request for a continuance on the trial. Geist said he would have an answer to that request two days later.

Christensen, 67, faces a prison sentence of up to 388 life terms, plus 135 years and fine up to $20 million if convicted on all charges. He remains free on a $200,000 bond.
The city of Missoula can afford to buy Mountain Water Co.  and pay the legal bills  without raising rates, and with $33 million to spare.

That's according to a detailed estimate of finances that chief administrative officer Dale Bickell presented Wednesday to the Committee of the Whole of the Missoula City Council.

Based on current water rates, the city of Missoula can borrow up to $145.3 million, according to the presentation from Bickell.

The amount means the city can pay for the water company at $88.6 million and still afford a bundle of other related costs, including legal fees and capital improvements at some $6.35 million a year.

The finance sheet Bickell provided estimated the city's legal and professional fees at $8.5 million, and it estimated the city would borrow $8.3 million for capital improvements.

Earlier this month, the Montana Supreme Court affirmed the district court's ruling that ownership by the city of Missoula was "more necessary" than ownership by a private owner, then-defendant The Carlyle Group. Carlyle has since sold Mountain Water to the subsidiary of Canadian company Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp.

Councilwoman Emily Bentley, who supported the city's successful bid to force a purchase of the water system, said the financials show how much money was leaving the community under private ownership.

"We were being taken by a ride by Carlyle and Algonquin," Bentley said.

Mayor John Engen introduced the topic. He didn't make extensive comments, but he smiled for a while after Bickell shared the assessment the city "still has a lot of capacity" even at current rates.

***

Some costs are still up to judges in Missoula County District Court. For instance, the city must pay "necessary" legal bills for defendants, but the city is arguing that the defense overspent. A judge will determine the amount the city must pay.

The presentation estimated the city would pay $3 million for the defendants' legal bills.

In a separate case, a group of developers are arguing they are owed some $22 million they fronted to the utility to extend water lines into new developments. A judge will determine if Mountain Water has to pay the developers out of the $88.6 million it's getting from the city.

Councilman Bryan von Lossberg said the finances presented Wednesday include payments to developers in case the city ends up having to foot that bill. He said it's important that those developers get paid because they are operators in this community.

"We want to make sure that they are properly compensated," von Lossberg said.

Going forward, Councilwoman Michelle Cares said she would like to talk more about Mountain Water employees and details such as pensions. She said "murkiness" still surrounds the transition with staff.

Last week, the city of Missoula filed a motion to take possession of the water company and related assets, and the motion is pending in Missoula County District Court.
Firefighters declared the Colorado Gulch fire in Missoulas Grant Creek valley completely contained on Wednesday and moved attention to several other wildland blazes burning in the northwest part of Montana.

All area closures were lifted on Tuesday afternoon after the fire burned about 15 acres in a heavily wooded neighborhood north of Missoula. Its cause remains under investigation.

The Copper King fire produced minimal growth on Tuesday when cool, cloudy weather covered the Thompson Falls area. Much of the work has concentrated on the fires northwest edge where crews may attempt to burn off vegetation and tie some roads and control lines together. On the northeast, other ground crews are connecting several road networks into fire lines.

No structures have been lost in the Copper King fire, although 45 residences have been evacuated and another 130 homes are in pre-evacuation status. The fire has burned 21,617 acres and employs 516 firefighters.

Were looking to do some good work in the next few days, especially on the north and northeast sides, fire spokesman Tom Rhode said Wednesday. Its cool and there are no winds now, but no precipitation either.

Thompson Falls residents may see some new law enforcement officers in the area this weekend as sheriffs deputies from Lewis and Clark and Flathead counties assist Sanders County Sheriffs Office personnel during the Sanders County Fair. Local deputies are patrolling many of the rural roads and evacuation zones, requiring mutual aid from neighboring agencies, according to Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel.

The Bierney Creek fire west of Lakeside stands at 80 acres and had fire line around 70 percent of its perimeter on Wednesday. It has a crew of 108 assigned.

Due to the high number of spot fires, the interior of the fire still contains a large amount of unburned fuel, fire spokeswoman Alicia Ulwelling said. So overall containment is considered low. Fire managers estimate that approximately 75 structures are within a half-mile of the fire line. No structures have been lost.

Hamiltons Roaring Lion fire continued to put up smoke Wednesday but reported little growth. Much of the valley haze was attributed to the Moose and Cedar fires burning farther west near the border of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Firefighters stationed near Ward Mountain continued mop-up activity Wednesday on the fires northeast retardant line. After burning 8,540 acres, Roaring Lion is considered 70 percent contained and has a crew of 94 assigned.
The money for final construction at the county courthouse as well as a massive new park was approved Wednesday by Missoula County commissioners as part of the fiscal year 2017 budget, pending a formal adoption next week.

Although the countys fiscal year ends June 30, the Montana Department of Revenue doesnt release the updated mill values until August each year, making for a delayed final budget approval, almost two months after the new fiscal year began.

We pretty much ate our way through every meeting, Commissioner Stacy Rye said. This was a labor of love.

Chief Financial Officer Andrew Czorny reported on the FY17 budget and budgeting process for the final time after a lengthy process, which included misunderstandings over the sheriffs department budget, the largest single department in Missoula County.

Czorny was happy to say he was wrong, about his projected mill value increases for FY17.

He predicted a 2 percent increase for county-wide mills and a 1 percent increase for county-only and open space mills.

Mills are valued from the taxable value of each parcel of land, which changes each year, hence the revenue departments updating of values and the countys reliance on those new numbers, said Anne Hughes, director of county communications and projects.

County-wide mills actually increased by 2.48 percent, making each mill worth $206,364, while county-only mills increased by 3.80 percent, valued at $93,232, much more than the 1 percent Czorny predicted.

We couldnt figure out why we had a $4 million increase in county-only, when most of the construction was in the city, he said.

Czorny found that Northwestern Energy was funding large construction projects outside city limits, raising the value of the county-only mills.

Open space mills increased by 2.79 percent, valued at $202, 209. The growth in newly taxable property from FY16 to FY17 was about $1 million.

The county was able to fund more programs and lower the mills related to new taxes, Czorny said, although county-controlled mill increases produced a total tax increase of 2.38 percent.

That increase will give an owner of a $230,000 home living in Missoula city limits an annual tax increase of $57.02, while Missoula County residents outside city limits will pay $63.01 per year, an increase of about 8 percent over FY16.

Most of the increased tax cost came from voter-approved open space bonds, which included construction of Fort Missoula Regional Park, although citizens may be more excited to see the final pieces  such as paint, new trees and heated sidewalks  put on the Missoula County Courthouse and grounds.

The sheriffs office and detention center received the most county-wide mills in FY17, at 1.88, to increase operation costs. This increase will go toward Sheriff T.J. McDermotts plan to stabilize the Missoula County Jail, hiring more staff to reduce overtime and decrease guard fatigue from overworking.

Public works received the most county-only mills, with two assigned to replace and repair 30-year-old vehicles.

After no public comments asking for changes to the budget, the commissioners passed the document and expressed relief at being done with the arduous process.

It was painful, but I think we ended in a good spot, Rowley said.
HAMILTON  For the fourth time in the past five years, the lower end of Lolo Creek has run dry.

The Clark Fork Coalitions Jed Whitely estimates that about a mile and a half of the stream has no water.

Theres a pretty significant fish kill, Whitely said. I would estimate that about 1,000 have been lost. Its a mix of whitefish, trout and some native minnows.

Upstream irrigators have told Whitely that they have already cut back voluntarily in hopes of keeping some water in the lower portion of the creek.

I was out there this morning trying to find water that doesnt exist, Whitely said. Theres just not much there to try to bring down.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Fisheries Manager Pat Saffel said that portion of the creek has been a difficult reach for several years.

In a dry year like this one, what water makes it down to the lower reach of the creek often seeps down through the gravelly streambed.

Its a losing reach of stream, Saffel said.

In low water years, the combination between upstream irrigation demands and the fact the lower reaches doesnt hold water well ends up creating a dry section.

Its not an uncommon sight in the Bitterroot Valley.

There are several streams in the Bitterroot that go dry in low water years, Saffel said. We get quite a few phone calls from people asking us if there isnt something we can do. We have to reply, Well, no. 

In Lolo, the creek is close to town and a lot of people see it.

We share their concerns, he said. We like to find ways to keep water in streams. If we can work with irrigators, we do. But we also know that they have to make a living, too.

The water situation on Lolo Creek is being studied by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Montana Techs Bureau of Mines.

Its going to be a really good study that will help us understand what happening here better, Whitely said.

The DNRC portion of the study will look at all the water inputs and outputs along the stream. The Bureau of Mines is taking a hard look at the groundwater situation.

We will be able figure out where all the water is going and where its coming from, Whitely said. And then well be able to tie all of that in with whats happening with the groundwater.

Longtime irrigators have told Whitely they believe there is a substantial interaction between ground and surface waters in the drainage.

Over the years, there have been a lot more water wells installed in the drainage.

We call it carriage water, Whitely said. If that groundwater starts dropping, theres no water to carry that surface water down the creek.

The Clark Fork Coalition is looking for innovative ways to address the issue. It has leased some instream water rights, but Whitely believes it will take some creative approaches in dry years like this.

This situation of the creek going dry is fairly new, he said.

Whitely talked with an 80-year-old woman who had lived in the drainage almost all of her life. She said it had been the past 15 years or less that the stream really started to dry up.

Irrigators arent withdrawing more water, he said. Weve had our snowpack come off early two years in row. Some creeks are actually worse off this year than last even through we had a little bit better snowpack. We think it could be a cumulative impact.

Whitely is fairly certain that the lower reaches of Lolo Creek will remain dry for the foreseeable future.

Well have to wait until the irrigation season ends or we have some really sizeable rain events, he said.

Its not only the fish that suffer.

Just today, I saw that the invertebrates were being impacted too, he said. The mayflies and stoneflies were dying. Its going to impact the production of that portion of the creek.
A Missoula man remains in jail on $20,000 bail after prosecutors say he assaulted a young girl last year.

On Wednesday, 23-year-old Jonathan Davis Lamphere made his initial appearance in Missoula County Justice Court on a felony charge of assault on a minor.

According to a court affidavit, a 9-year-old girl told a staff member at her school in November that Lamphere assaulted her in July 2015.

He was taken into custody Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest on Aug. 12. Deputy county attorney Brian Lowney said the case against Lamphere involved multiple interviews with a variety of people.

In court Wednesday, Lowney asked Justice of the Peace Marie Andersen to keep the $25,000 bail specified in the warrant. Andersen set bail at $20,000, allowed Lamphere to be screened for pretrial supervision, and said he is not to have contact with the girl or any witnesses.

In 2014, Lamphere was charged with cruelty to animals after Missoula County Animal Control found he was keeping dogs in a gutted trailer without heat or water in February, when temperatures with the wind chill were estimated to reach 20 degrees below zero.

Lamphere eventually pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge, and was sentenced to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, both of which were suspended.
Committee approval of a Missoula city ordinance that would license "tourist homes" was delayed Wednesday after lengthy debate and a few public comments stretched the panel's meeting past its one-hour time slot.

The ordinance, introduced by Ward 4 representative John DiBari and Ward 1 representative Bryan von Lossberg, suggested a legal process for permitting Airbnb-style homes, which are generally residential homes, condos or apartments rented out to guests for short periods of time by the owner. The city's Land Use and Planning Committee considered the proposal Wednesday.

The latest proposal took into account several concerns brought up by the council and members of the public during Mondays City Council meeting. On Wednesday, council members brought up a slew of new, and repeated, concerns, in the 70-minute meeting.

Committee president and Ward 3 representative Emily Bentley was forced to cut the meeting well short of its probable length, while asking council members repeatedly to only comment on the proposed amendment at hand.

The reminder didnt dissuade any comments.

DiBaris proposal said more than 200 units are rented out as tourist homes in Missoula, and several members of the council and public commented they know of at least one on their street.

Currently, tourist homes are only allowed in commercial zoning districts, making most of the homes DiBari found online illegal. His goal with the ordinance was to allow the homes to continue to operate, as long as they comply with proposed permitting guidelines.

The proposed ordinance would require tourist home operators to obtain a city license, allowing the city to track how many such rentals exist in Missoula.

Homeowners who rent or wish to rent their home out in short-term increments would have to file an application with the citys development services office, provide contact information for the person responsible for maintaining the property, apply for a public accommodation license from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and apply for a lodging facility tax permit from the states Department of Revenue.

A main source of contention concerned the proposed division of tourist homes into two categories: occasional use and primary use.

With no quantifiable difference between the two categories, aside from the tourist home operators word, council members were unsure how to define the difference.

Ward 2 representative Harlan Wells didnt like the idea of someone owning a home whose primary use would be to rent out, Airbnb-style, to several people per year, operating more as a bed-and-breakfast than occasional-use tourist home.

He proposed such operations register as commercial properties.

If these tourist homes are talking like a duck, walking like a duck and flying like a duck, could bed-and-breakfasts change their use to residential? Wells asked.

Ward 3 representative Gwen Jones said that distinction might be more useful down the line, once the city has collected data on how many tourist homes are occasional and primary. She summed up the afternoons debate shortly after.

There are a lot of subtleties that need to be addressed, Jones said.

Discussion of the ordinance will resume Aug. 31 at 1 p.m., in a three-hour time slot.
Immigrants to the United States inspire people who are already living here with their dreams, and they challenge them with their hard work and sacrifice, said Clem Work, of Soft Landing Missoula.

"They remind us that in a broken world, there are answers, there are solutions, there are ways to make things work," Work said.

Work and others spoke in support of a resolution that Missoula join the national "Building Welcoming Communities Campaign" to help some of the 60 million people displaced by war and conflict around the world. Their comments came Wednesday at a Committee of the Whole meeting of the Missoula City Council.

Councilors Marilyn Marler and Emily Bentley sponsored the measure.

"Be it resolved that the city of Missoula is committed to doing our part to make the United States a welcoming environment for refugees and declares Missoula to be a Welcoming City," said Bentley, reading from the resolution.

" ... Be it further resolved that the city of Missoula promotes the dignity and respect of all residents and is committed to publicly standing up against hateful rhetoric, condemning hate threats, and condemning crimes motivated by hate."

In tears, Councilwoman Heidi West said she lived in Germany after the fall of the Soviet Union, and she saw a lot of refugees, but her childhood home was not welcoming.

"The city I grew up in didn't end up receiving any refugees because the response was so overwhelmingly negative," West said.

She said she's pleased Missoula is already housing one family.

Councilman Jon Wilkins said he wholeheartedly supports the resolution, and he doesn't understand the hateful emails he has received over his support.

"You can look on TV and you see people just suffering, and I don't know how anybody could look at that and then deny them to come here. That's just beyond my comprehension," Wilkins said.

He also had words for people who have sent him hate mail: "I want people to look in the mirror because if they don't know what a bigot is, they'll see it in the mirror."

Councilman Harlan Wells was the only dissenting vote in committee. Wells said he isn't "a bigot or a racist or a xenophobe," but he wouldn't be forced into supporting the resolution to prove it.

"Wholesale, unchecked immigration still makes me a little nervous," Wells said.

Marler, though, said it's important to note that standards exist; the resolution notes "the process for a refugee to enter the United States is one of the strictest vetting process(es) for any person to cross a border worldwide."

"It's really important that people who support helping other people speak up because there's a lot of negative rhetoric out there," Marler said.

At least Wednesday, more people offered positive words.

Alysha Goheen Jannotta said she and her husband returned to Missoula because it has a commitment to inclusiveness, and she's pleased to talk with her young daughter about the community.

"It makes me so proud that I can say to my child that Missoula as a city is opening our hearts to the world and doing our small part to address this tremendous suffering," Jannotta said.

The full council is scheduled to take up the resolution at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 12.
The opioid epidemic confronting the nation leaves few areas untouched, including here in Montana where families know too well the tragic effects of opioid addiction.

Montanas children have one of the nations highest rates of prescription drug misuse. Almost 10 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 report misusing prescription pain relievers. According to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, from 2011 to 2013 prescription drug overdoses took the lives of more than 360 Montanans.

That is why the Montana Medical Association partnered with the states attorney general and colleagues in the insurance industry to create the Know Your Dose campaign to help educate patients and physicians and other health professionals about ways to reverse this epidemic.

Big Sky Country is a great example of how states  with elected leaders collaborating with those in the medical community  can develop real-world solutions. As physician leaders, we must do what is necessary to reverse this epidemic. Know Your Dose provides practice and policy-related solutions to make a difference.

We are making a difference.

Montana physicians made 42 percent more inquiries to the Montana Prescription Drug Registry in 2015 compared to 2014, checking it nearly 160,000 times. The registry contains helpful information on whether a patient is receiving multiple prescriptions from multiple pharmacies. Physicians are committed to using it as part of the clinical decision-making process.

Thanks to the MMA and its partners, Montanas physicians can enroll at no cost for a pain management course designed to help medical professionals provide the best treatment for their patients, while preventing them from becoming addicted to opioids. We urge all Montana physicians who prescribe controlled substances to go to KnowYourDoseMT.org, take this course and use the other resources available for patients and health care providers.

Resolve Montana is an educational campaign developed by the state Attorney Generals Office that illustrates why it is vital to use medications as instructed, to safely store and dispose of unused medication, and how to recognize signs of a potential substance use disorder. If you or someone you know has a substance use disorder, talk to your physician today about getting help.

For our part, we understand the tremendous interest in reducing the supply of opioids. We know prescribed medications wind up being used by someone other than the intended patient. More than 70 percent of individuals misusing opioids are getting opioids from other sources, including friends or family members. From 2013 to 2015, Montanas physicians decreased opioid prescriptions by 10.6 percent. Montanans have a proud history of judicious use of resources and are applying that philosophy to how opioids are prescribed.

These steps will help reverse the course of the epidemic, but we also must put increased energy into two key places. We need to ensure that our patients with pain receive comprehensive  and compassionate  treatment. While the nations opioid supply will almost certainly continue to decrease, we need to ensure that we continue to work with our colleagues in the insurance industry to provide patients with a full range of evidence-based, non-opioid and non-pharmacologic treatments.

Similarly, patients with substance use disorders need treatment just like any other chronic, relapsing medical condition. We would never put treatment limits or prior authorization restrictions on diabetes care or heart disease, so we need to ensure our patients with substance use disorders have access to affordable, timely care that does not run out or is financially beyond their reach.

Another key element to saving lives is for our state to enact laws increasing access to naloxone and provide strong Good Samaritan protections to those who help someone experiencing an overdose. Montana is one of only a few states without naloxone access provisions. These laws have helped save tens of thousands of Americans. Its time for Montana to enact these laws.

Montana has made progress  theres no doubt about it. The state has stepped up to lead a strong, diligent fight against opioid misuse, overdose and death. We must continue the positive trends  and work even harder.

The American Medical Association is proud to support the work of the MMA and other leaders in this critical effort. The lives of our patients depend on it.
Thank you, Mayor John Engen for your thoughts on welcoming refugees to Missoula (Aug. 19).

This spring, we had the good fortune to work at the Diavatta Refugee Camp outside of Thessaloniki, Greece. The camp housed approximately 2,300 people - families from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The families were there en route to Europe, or so they hoped, but this was after many European countries had closed borders so their lives were in limbo.

One family we met escaped from Mosul, Iraq, a place the U.S. spent countless days and lives back in 2004 and the city is under siege again with ISIS fighting for control. They were happy to have escaped terrifying circumstances but uncertain as to their future.

These are people just like us, who only want what is best for their families - to be free, unafraid and happy. The angry rhetoric from our fellow community members is disheartening to say the least. Even though the U.S. has our share of problems, it remains a place where people can live freely, without fearing for their lives.

Our hope is that Soft Landing Missoula will be a huge success and we know that there are many good people out there willing to help. Please, before you judge, get to know these people and look at their story.

Sue and Tim Furey,

Missoula
Greg Gianforte is the GOP candidate running for governor, and he supports Donald Trump for president. Thats the same Donald Trump who would defund Planned Parenthood and even advocated for shutting down the entire federal government just to block people from accessing care.

If youre wondering where Greg Gianforte stands when it comes to funding critical preventive care at Planned Parenthood, I am too. He hasnt told voters where he stands.

Here is what I do know, though:

The Gianforte Family Foundation contributed thousands of dollars to crisis pregnancy centers.

CPCs are anti-abortion organizations that attempt to dissuade women from making their own health care decisions. A report showed that 89 percent of CPCs in Montana were providing biased and medically incorrect information to women. Need examples? They told women that birth control leads to breast and cervical cancer, and that condoms are ineffective at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Yet, Gianfortes foundation gave thousands of dollars to them.

Those are the people Gianforte stands with, not the women of Montana. I stand with Planned Parenthood. Stand with me and vote to re-elect Gov. Steve Bullock.

Melissa Barcroft,

Missoula
BUTTE - U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday he believes the consent-decree negotiations on the Butte Superfund cleanup should be conducted in public.

The negotiations on a consent decree covering Butte Priority Soils, involving BP/ARCO, the Environmental Protection Agency, two state agencies and Butte-Silver Bow, are being held in secret, under the terms of a federal-court confidentiality order.

Tester, a Democrat from near Big Sandy and Montanas senior U.S. senator, applauded The Montana Standards efforts to open the hearings, saying, What have they got to hide?

Tester, speaking to The Standards Editorial Board, said the negotiating sessions need to be open. All of government needs to be transparent. He added, Its only complicated if you make it that way. Get it out there so people can understand it.

Tester said he would speak with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about the transparency issue. Dont back off an inch and I wont either, he told the board.

He said the Butte cleanup is already on (McCarthys) radar, adding that hes had discussions about it with her recently.

Tester touched on a number of other points in the wide-ranging discussion with The Montana Standard:

Health care: Tester said its a huge issue for Montanans as well as for the rest of the country, and he said its up to Congress to act. I keep hearing how Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act and go back to the old system, he said. Well, the old system didnt work either. We need to work together and fix it, not repeal it. Its not a matter of who gets the credit  Republicans or Democrats. If we grab hands and work together and fix it, well both get the credit.

Congressional inaction: He decried the current lengthy recess, saying, We didnt deal with Zika, we didnt deal with the VA Choice issues, we didnt deal with (Supreme Court nominee) Merrick Garland. Tester said coming home to his farm, at least I can get stuff done.

Money in politics: Election cycles never quit. Theres too much dark money, he said. While he would support a constitutional amendment to deal with the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, he added, thats an awfully high bar and I doubt it can be done that way. The best solution to changing election-finance laws, he said, Is by getting another Supreme Court justice. He said after meeting with Garland, a good guy, he would have no problem with him being on the court.

Moving the Title and Registration Bureau: Tester said that while I dont think its a very smart decision to move the facility from Deer Lodge to Helena, it is a state issue, not a federal one, and up to Attorney General Tim Fox. Hes the AG, Tester said. He can do what he wants. But I bet it wont make our license plates any cheaper next year.

The proposed VA facility in Butte, and other VA issues: Tester said prospects arent immediately bright for getting the planned Butte facility funded, but he will continue to push for it. Theyve got so much deferred maintenance across the country, he said, that dollars for the new construction are hard to come by. He also said the VA desperately needs more doctors. He added that hes been told a new VA boss for Montana should be named shortly.

MSE: Tester says he knows the research facility in Butte is hurting, and hes trying to secure more clean-coal research projects for the firm, but added that the loss of earmarks, or the ability for Senators or members of Congress to aim specific funds at certain projects in their home states or districts, has hampered his ability to help.
HAMILTON  The 27-year-old Florence woman who pleaded guilty earlier to negligent homicide in the death of a well-known Bitterroot Valley animal advocate was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service Thursday.

Ravalli County District Court Judge James Haynes imposed a deferred six-year sentence  meaning her record will be clean if she stays out of trouble during that time  on Meggie Jean Morgan, with the requirement that the woman tell others about the moment that her life changed forever on Sept. 27, 2015.

On that day, 64-year-old Judy Paul was driving two Labrador puppies to her canine rescue home near Corvallis, where she had already successfully found new homes for hundreds of dogs after founding the Montana Companion Animal Network.

Morgan had been at a birthday party that day. After buckling in her three children in the back seat of her car, Morgan drove through the stop sign at the intersection of South Kootenai Road and U.S. Highway 93.

Paul and one of the puppies died in the resulting crash.

Morgan was severely injured and taken to a Seattle hospital. Her children escaped the collision without a serious injury.

A test would later determine that she had the active ingredient of marijuana in her bloodstream. Morgan used medical marijuana to treat pain from an earlier vehicle accident.

In June, Morgan pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, three counts of felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

On Thursday, a tearful Morgan was back in court for the sentencing hearing.

Family and friends told the judge that Morgan was a good person whose life had been shattered as a result of the wreck that took the life of Paul.

I hold her. She cries that it should have been her, said her mother, Janice Raymond of Florence as she wept on the stand. She hurts very bad. I dont know how to ease her pain. Im her mom. She just feels horrible  She is very, very sorry.

William McNulty of Stevensville said Morgan was a person who always had a smile on her face and would light up with her positive energy.

Thats changed since the wreck.

McNulty said Morgan was devastated about Pauls death. He said she may struggle with that guilt for the rest of her life.

That heart of gold has been shattered, McNulty said.

Her lawyer, Paul Ryan, told the judge that he had never seen anyone so devastated by an incident in his 24-year career.

This is not an act, Ryan said. This is not some presentation for court. This is every day. Shes a shattered individual psychologically. She needs the support of her family and friends to work through this.

When it came time for Morgan to speak, she stood and faced the four women who had been close friends with Paul. With tears in her eyes and a voice filled with emotion, she told them she was sorry.

I realize what a wonderful person she was, Morgan said. The world needs more people like her. I would never do anything intentionally to hurt someone, especially endanger their life or take their life. My entire world was in the back seat of the car that day. It was not my intention to hurt anyone.

Judith and her legacy, I want to carry them on. Do good things. I want to live a life that she would be proud of. I am so sorry. It seems so menial, but it is from the depths of my heart. I hope that you can see that. I hope that you can see that I truly am remorseful. I will live my life keeping her legacy alive and do whatever I have to do to do that.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Meghann Paddock recommended a sentence of 10 years with eight years suspended to the Montana Department of Corrections on the negligent homicide charge.

Paddock told Haynes that no one was seeking any kind of restitution.

This isnt something that money can make whole, she said.

While there is a lot of empathy for Morgan from family, friends and even people close to Paul, Paddock urged the judge to not forget that a life was lost.

We need to take into account that she chose to ingest that marijuana, Paddock said. She chose to put herself and her three children in that car. She alone flew through that stop sign that caused the crash that took Ms. Pauls life.

Morgan has not served any jail time.

I simply dont think it is appropriate, judge, to allow her (to) walk out of court without serving any time after taking Ms. Pauls life, she said. As noted in court, Ms. Paul was an amazing human. She contributed greatly to the lives she touched and to our community. Her life had value and that value needs to be recognized.

Haynes said theres no resolution thats going to be satisfactory.

In this case, we have two good people and one tragic result, Haynes said.

In 2006, Haynes said he sentenced a young man guilty of negligent homicide after an alcohol-fueled accident to 1,000 hours of community service that required him to speak about the dangers of drinking and driving. His decision back then was driven in part because neither side wanted to see the man go to jail.

In this case, Haynes said he received only one letter asking for jail time.

Haynes told Morgan that he hopes that her story will have an impact on other young drivers. But for that to happen, the judge said she needs to quit saying that she doesnt remember driving through the stop sign.

Quit making excuses for your behavior, Haynes said. You need to own it. You need to own it in order to send the right message. You need to own it for yourself. You need to own it for your children. Certainly you need to own it for the victims loved ones.

Carrie Storrow is one of those loved ones. She worked with Paul to found the MTCAN.

Storrow came away from the sentencing hearing with mixed feelings.

I couldnt see any purpose in putting her in jail, Storrow said. I would like to see something from her moving forward that proves she deserves this chance.

Its difficult because there are no winners, she said. She will have to live with this for the rest of her life. I hope she actually does pay it forward. I hope she does learn from this.
The Department of Justices decision not to renew contracts with private federal prisons will not affect the 95 federal prisoners held in Montanas private prison, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Melissa Hornbein.

Montana is home to no federal prisons  privately or government run  but federal prisoners are held at Crossroads Correctional Center, a privately run mixed-security state prison in Shelby. Ninety-five of the prisons 550 beds are reserved for federal prisoners.

Those federal prisoners come courtesy of the U.S. Marshals Service, not the Bureau of Prisons, and therefore dont qualify under the DOJs decision.

The federal inmates in the prison are contracted out to the U.S. Marshals Service for holding prisoners either prior to sentencing or once theyve been sentenced but before theyve been assigned to a federal facility, Hornbein said.

Crossroads is operated by Corrections Corporation of America, the countrys largest private prison company, which has 85 facilities across the U.S., including 13 private federal prisons. Crossroads is the only private prison in Montana, and CCAs only facility in the Northwest.

Crossroads was built in 1999 under the condition it would house only Montana prisoners, with the state Legislature passing a bill banning prisoner import, according to past news stories. CCA officials at the time said they would not need out-of-state prisoners to keep the prison at capacity and above water.

That changed when the state removed prisoners from Crossroads in 2002 to save money, dropping the prison population below profitable levels. With the prison 35 percent empty, Crossroads laid off dozens of employees, and risked closure.

CCA lobbied the Legislature to override the 1999 prisoner import ban and allow federal and out-of-state inmates at Crossroads in 2003. The Legislature passed the proposal after stripping the bill of a three-year sunset clause for importation.

Crossroads population now exceeds capacity, with 50 temporary beds for prisoners, according to the Department of Corrections Wednesday population report.

Montana Department of Corrections communications director Judy Beck said her office has zero involvement with the federal prisoners held at Crossroads, and that those inmates are under the purview of the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Attorneys Office.

The DOJ announced its decision to end involvement with federal prisons in a memorandum from Sally Yates, deputy attorney general for the U.S., on August 18. The memo stated private prisons do not meet the same level of safety and security as government-run prisons, and do not save substantially on costs.

These concerns echo the findings of an investigation into private prisons by the DOJs Office of the Inspector General, released a week before the memo.

Beck said the Department of Corrections had not yet reviewed the Inspector Generals report, and cannot comment at this time.

Crossroads did not respond to requests to comment on federal prisoners held at the facility, and in a press release CCA condemned the Inspector Generals report as flawed.

The state's 20-year contract with CCA expires in 2019, requiring the state to extend the contract or purchase the prison.

The DOJ decision affects only a fraction of the nations inmates in private prisons, as most are held in state, not federal private prisons.

According to the Congressional Research Service, Montana imprisons the second largest percentage of prisoners in private prisons, 36 percent.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday he believes the consent-decree negotiations on the Butte Superfund cleanup should be conducted in public.

The negotiations on a consent decree covering Butte Priority Soils, involving BP/ARCO, the Environmental Protection Agency, two state agencies and Butte-Silver Bow, are being held in secret, under the terms of a federal-court confidentiality order.

Tester, a Democrat from near Big Sandy and Montanas senior U.S. senator, applauded The Montana Standards efforts to open the hearings, saying, What have they got to hide?

Tester, speaking to The Standards Editorial Board, said the negotiating sessions need to be open. All of government needs to be transparent. He added, Its only complicated if you make it that way. Get it out there so people can understand it.

Tester said he would speak with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy about the transparency issue. Dont back off an inch and I wont either, he told the board.

He said the Butte cleanup is already on (McCarthys) radar, adding that hes had discussions about it with her recently.

Tester touched on a number of other points in the wide-ranging discussion with The Montana Standard:

Health care: Tester said its a huge issue for Montanans as well as for the rest of the country, and he said its up to Congress to act. I keep hearing how Republicans want to repeal the Affordable Care Act and go back to the old system, he said. Well, the old system didnt work either. We need to work together and fix it, not repeal it. Its not a matter of who gets the credit  Republicans or Democrats. If we grab hands and work together and fix it, well both get the credit.

Congressional inaction: He decried the current lengthy recess, saying, We didnt deal with Zika, we didnt deal with the VA Choice issues, we didnt deal with (Supreme Court nominee) Merrick Garland. Tester said coming home to his farm, at least I can get stuff done.

Money in politics: Election cycles never quit. Theres too much dark money, he said. While he would support a constitutional amendment to deal with the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, he added, thats an awfully high bar and I doubt it can be done that way. The best solution to changing election-finance laws, he said, Is by getting another Supreme Court justice. He said after meeting with Garland, a good guy, he would have no problem with him being on the court.

Moving the Title and Registration Bureau: Tester said that while I dont think its a very smart decision to move the facility from Deer Lodge to Helena, it is a state issue, not a federal one, and up to Attorney General Tim Fox. Hes the AG, Tester said. He can do what he wants. But I bet it wont make our license plates any cheaper next year.

The proposed VA facility in Butte, and other VA issues: Tester said prospects arent immediately bright for getting the planned Butte facility funded, but he will continue to push for it. Theyve got so much deferred maintenance across the country, he said, that dollars for the new construction are hard to come by. He also said the VA desperately needs more doctors. He added that hes been told a new VA boss for Montana should be named shortly.

MSE: Tester says he knows the research facility in Butte is hurting, and hes trying to secure more clean-coal research projects for the firm, but added that the loss of earmarks, or the ability for Senators or members of Congress to aim specific funds at certain projects in their home states or districts, has hampered his ability to help.
A $300,000 donation from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation will provide free Butte YMCA memberships to all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in area schools and sponsor academic clubs for them

The grant from the foundation, in conjunction with Montana Resources, is allowing the YMCA to expand its Active 6 program for sixth-graders to all middle-school students in the Butte area, according to the Y. It will now be called Active Teens, and the grant will be $100,000 for each of the next three years.

The first two goals are simple, but reaching them is more challenging these days with so many youngsters consumed by the Internet and video games and cell phones.

The first is to get them physically active, Phillip Borup, executive director of the Butte YMCA, said Thursday. The second is to enjoy the natural surroundings and outdoors around Butte. We have some of the most beautiful surroundings there are.

The YMCA offers activities such as trail-walking, hiking and rock-climbing and partners with the U.S. Forest Service for some of that.

We need to get them away from the TV and off the couches and get them outdoors to enjoy all of that.

Getting them physically active and involved socially also can help them resist temptations to drink alcohol and use drugs at a time when peer pressure has the most negative impact in their lives.

Mike Halligan, executive director of the Washington Foundation, said the YMCA plays a tremendous leadership role in the community.

The Butte YMCA has the professional staff, community partners and facilities to make a difference in childrens lives, and were proud to be able to support their new Active Teens Program, he said.

The YMCA started the Active 6 program, which in part provides free memberships to sixth-graders, four years ago, and the Washington Foundation has given $35,000 toward it in each of the past three years. PPL Montana donated $17,000 to it over the past two years.

Borup said of about 350 sixth-graders, about 50 had YMCA memberships through their families and more than 100 signed up through the program. They were allowed to use all of the YMCAs amenities, including its indoor pool, for free.

It really did improve the number of kids who were participating, he said. The problem we had is what to do for the seventh- and eighth-graders. Maybe we should expand our program and help them in their academics.

So thats what theyre doing.

They are partnering with the Butte School District and East Middle School to provide tutoring and academic clubs and extracurricular activities before and after school. Some of the grant money will be used to hire an Active Teens director to organize and oversee the clubs, and that person will have an office at East Middle School.

Jim ONeill, curriculum director for Butte Schools, said the YMCA helps children develop healthy minds and bodies in a safe environment, which are essential building blocks in youth development and success in the classroom.

Other dollars will be used to pay for supplies and transportation costs for the clubs and trips to and from the YMCA, Borup said. Teachers who help run the clubs likely will be paid something, too.

Borup said studies show middle-school students who participate in academic clubs and extracurricular activities are about 25 percent more likely to later graduate high school and go to college. Their initial goal is to have 35 percent of all middle-school kids in the Butte area be active in the program. That would be about 400 students.

He said he was extremely grateful for the support from the Washington Foundation and Montana Resources.

Through our partnership with the foundation, we will continue our commitment to area teens, helping them enjoy good health, stay connected to their families, and gain a sense of value within our community, Borup said.
The lead article on the Faith & Values page of The Billings Gazette on Aug. 8 (and in The Montana Standard on Aug. 22) described the path of Eda Lorello being ordained a priest. The group known as Roman Catholic Womenpriests does claim to ordain women as priests, but in doing so separate themselves from the Roman Catholic Church. With regard to women being ordained as priests, early on in his papacy and consistent with settled Roman Catholic doctrine, Pope Francis clearly stated: "The church has spoken and says no ... That door is closed." While Lorello may be a loving and caring person, as far as the Roman Catholic Church is concerned, her ordination has no validity.
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.

We looked at all our different options and they send the ballots out Aug. 25, he said. Thats not enough time to appeal. Zabawa 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. Lodya 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.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Two men charged in connection with the robbery of an elderly Fruitland man's home pleaded guilty on Wednesday.

Devin Ganzer, 21, of Walcott, and Lance Krystofer Moeller, 25, of Wilton, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

Moeller also pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, according a blog post by Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren.

Moeller contacted a prosecution witness and used harassment in an attempt to discourage the witness from cooperating with the case, according to Ostergren.

He was sentenced to a period not to exceed 37 years, and will be required to serve seven years before he will be eligible for parole, according to the blog post.

Ganzer's sentencing will be held at 9 a.m., Oct. 12, in Muscatine County District Court.

"I am very pleased with this outcome," said Ostergren on the blog post.

"This was a serious crime which had a high risk of physical harm to the victim. To invade a person's home and steal by force is a terrifying and brutal crime. The Muscatine Police Department did an outstanding job investigating this case. Their great work is why we were able to get such a great result in court. I would particularly like to complement the work of the lead investigator on this case, Det. Joe Roseman."

Paige Marie Frantz, 26, of Muscatine, who has also been charged in alleged connection with the case, has entered a plea of not guilty. Her pretrial conference has been set for 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in Muscatine County District Court, according to online court records.

The three allegedly broke into an elderly Fruitland man's home Tuesday, July 5, and threatened the victim with a firearm, according to the criminal complaint.

Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal
MUSCATINE, Iowa  The August 4 house fire at 614 E. Seventh St. was determined to be intentionally set following an investigation conducted by the Muscatine Fire Department.

The cause has been classified as incendiary although who started the blaze remains under investigation the Muscatine Fire Department said in a release Thursday.

The structure was valued at $85,000 with the loss of contents estimated at $15,000. The home will likely be a total loss.

The determination was the result of investigation of the scene, interviews, and laboratory analysis of samples taken from the scene.

Police and fire officials responded about 10:31 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, to a report of a fire at 614 E. Seventh St.

Upon arrival, the home was found fully engulfed in flames. It was unoccupied at the time of the incident.

Contact the Muscatine Fire Marshal at 563-263-9233 or Muscatine Police Department detectives at 563-263-9922 with any information that may assist in the investigation.

The Muscatine Police Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office have also been assisting with the investigation.

Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal
The Board of Water, Electric, and Communications Trustees of the City of Muscatine, Iowa, will hold their regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30 in the Muscatine Power and Water's Administrative Building, 3205 Cedar Street, Muscatine.
Is it possible that Donald Trump would never live to be President if it looks like he will win? There are those who have written this is a possible scenario. I certainly would not put anything past the Clintons. We already have a trail of unexplained and suspiciously positioned dead Clinton associates in the wake of the Clinton political machine.

The Clintons would have made mob leaders like Capone quake in their boots if they had been contemporaries. Capone would have been working for them. The Clintons, Obamas, people like George Soros and even many self-proclaimed Republicans have a total disregard for the laws and people of this country.

The Democrats have shown the world what they think of our country and the law at their convention when they did not have an American flag on the floor of the convention and mothers of criminals were honored instead of the families of slain policemen. They hid behind the skirt of a Gold Star Muslim mother of one slain Muslim soldier while ignoring the multiple family members of the military personnel slain by a Muslim soldier at Fort Hood. I mean no disrespect to the brave Muslim soldier killed defending our country. His mother certainly has the right to support anyone she wants and speak any opinion she has (if she is allowed to speak) but this is a battle for the survival of this country and once a person chooses to stand on a national stage with the other side, he or she needs to be prepared to receive no quarter during the battle. It is time we stop letting people hide behind the skirts of political correctness.

Like the Japanese realized after December 7, 1941, Trump has awakened a sleeping giant and we will not go gently into that good night. There are still good people in Washington like Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Rod Blum, Steve King, David Young, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and many others but they need us to speak up and support them. They need us to give them Donald Trump so they have a leader they can work with and support. I dont know if Trump is the rowboat God has provided us to weather the rising flood waters of liberalism drowning this country but at the very least, he is a life preserver until the boat comes along.

People do not get the seriousness of this election. This election is all about the Supreme Court. Issues such as borders, the economy, trade deals, abortion, gay marriage, prosecuting our dishonest government, stopping radical Islamic terrorism or even in which bathroom a person feels safe will all be lost if Hillary wins. In a matter of months, the Supreme Court will be a solidly left wing, radically liberal court that will not change for at least 30 if not 40 years. Hillary and her cronies already care little if any for the law. What will happen when the most powerful court in the country is in her back pocket?

Yes, I want to get all of our local, state and federal candidates elected or re-elected. That is always important. But if Hillary wins, I believe it will not matter who is in charge of our local and state governments. When the Supreme Court says Hillarys department of labor can enforce a $15 per hour national minimum wage, what will our local or state officials do? How much are you willing to pay for a Caseys pizza or a MacDonalds hamburger; that is, if they can stay in business? When the Supreme Court rules Hillarys immigration orders are legal, what will our local or state officials do? When Hillary issues executive orders restricting our 2nd amendment rights and the Supreme Court rules this is constitutional, what will our local or state officials do?

When the Supreme Court rules our priests and ministers are required to marry same sex couples in our churches, what will our local or state officials do? When the Supreme Court rules Hillary can re-institute and strengthen the fairness doctrine which will silence the only part of the media that is conservative, what will our local or state officials do? And when a priest or minister is charged with hate speech when delivering a sermon on homosexuality, abortion or same sex marriage, what will our local or state officials do?

There is only one way to stop the impending civil war and that is by supporting and electing Donald Trump as our next President. Whether he is a life preserver or the actual row boat does not matter. He is what stands between the survival of the United States as it was originally intended and the final destruction of our beloved country by Hillary and the people who would be our masters.

I do not believe Trump is our savior and in the early part of the process, did not feel that he was the most qualified of all the Republican candidates for the job. But the people spoke and Donald won. And he is certainly vastly more qualified (and honest) than Hillary Clinton. Now the rest of the people had better wake up and understand that no matter what side they are on right now, if Hillary wins, their lives will never be the same. In the end, no group will escape the tyranny of an oppressive Clinton regime.

There is one fact in this campaign and that is either Trump or Clinton is going to be President. No third party candidate, no matter how much noise he or she makes, has a chance. If we care at all about this country we need to put on our big boy pants and quit pouting about being called names or having our egos bruised. We need to stop worrying about Trump using nuclear weapons against our enemies and start worrying about Hillary nuking our Constitution with the help of a liberal Supreme Court. We need to understand this really is the most important election we will ever face. If we dont regain the White House and retain congress, we are looking at a checkmate, game over situation.

The Supreme Court will rule in favor of every bad gun law/executive order, homosexual rights legislation/executive order and any open borders legislation/executive order. Any laws protecting the unborn will be struck down and executive branch departments such as the EPA, BTAF, OSHA, Dept. of Education, etc., will be totally unchecked with the backing of the Supreme Court. The IRS will continue to be openly used as an enforcement tool for the executive branch much as Obama did only this time there will be no one to stop it. Does anyone really think a Clinton DOJ will investigate anything? If you are one of the many who thinks Obama has overreached his constitutional authority, wait until Hillary is President. You aint seen nothin yet.

Its time for the Republican elite to realize the people, their bosses, have spoken. The economic failures of our Republican elite Presidents George Bush Sr. and Jr., both of whom I supported, gave us Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Senator McCain could not have beaten Obama with the campaign he ran if John the Baptist had been his running mate. And the fact that Romney could not beat an incumbent Obama who was riddled with a failed economy, failed foreign policy and drenched in scandals, is a total travesty and indictment of the failure of our elite Republican leadership to at the very least listen to the people. I also supported both of these candidates.

Its time for these same elitists to put this country before their own personal gain and position of power. It is time for them to listen to us and support our candidate and stop the destruction of the greatest country to ever exist on this planet. Or is it just that these elite Republicans are as much a part of the problem as the left, the Clintons and Obama? Possibly even willing accomplices. For the sake of all Americans, I hope that is not the case.

So lets go out and get all of our local and state candidates elected. These are all important elections. But at the same time we do this, we need to stress the importance of the national races with Trump being the most important candidate on the ticket this year followed by Senator Grassley, Rep. Blum, Rep. King, Rep. Young, Iowas 2nd district candidate, Dr. Christopher Peters and all of our Senate and Congressional candidates throughout the United States.

WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD FOUR (much less eight) YEARS OF A CORRUPT CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND 40 YEARS OF A LIBERAL SUPREME COURT THAT IGNORES THE CONSTITUTION.

Thank God we have people like Jeff Kaufmann as leaders of the Republican Party in Iowa. I can only hope our national leadership and the leadership of the other states use Jeff as a role model.
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 []
ANKARA, Turkey  Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and gave Syrian Kurdish forces a week to scale back their presence near the Turkish border, a day after it launched a U.S.-backed cross-border incursion to establish a frontier zone free of the Islamic State group and Kurdish rebels.

Skirmishes broke out between Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, raising the potential for an all-out confrontation between the two American allies that would also jeopardize the fight against the Islamic State group in the volatile area.

Turkeys incursion Wednesday to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkeys role in Syrias war and adds yet another powerhouse force on the ground in an already complicated conflict.

But Ankaras objective went beyond fighting extremists. Turkey is also aiming to contain the expansion by Syrias Kurds, who have used the fight against ISIS and the chaos of Syrias civil war to seize nearly the entire stretch of territory along Syrias northern border with Turkey.

Above all, Ankara seeks to avoid Kurdish forces linking up their strongholds along the border. The U.S. has backed its NATO ally, sending a stern warning to the Syrian Kurds with whom it has partnered in the fight against ISIS to stay east of the Euphrates River. The river crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarablus.

The U.S. is interested in stopping this from becoming a confrontation between the YPG and Turkey. That would be a huge detriment to the anti-ISIS campaign, said Chris Kozak, a Syria researcher at the Washington-based Institute of the Study of War, referring to the main U.S.-backed Kurdish faction fighting ISIS. Turkey accuses the group of links to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Kozak said an open confrontation between Turkey and the Kurds in Syria would undo much of the progress made working with the Kurdish forces against ISIS in northern Syria. If there are direct clashes, the U.S. would be forced to take sides, he said, and Washington would likely side with its NATO ally, whose air base is used to launch coalition airstrikes against the extremists in Syria and Iraq.

Also, if the Syrian Kurdish forces are distracted in clashes with the Turks and have to shift resources toward front lines with Turkey or with Turkish-backed opposition groups, that buys (ISIS) some breathing space, Kozak said.

On Thursday, Turkish officials said Syrian Kurdish forces had started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River. The news was relayed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.

Syrian Kurdish officials contacted by The Associated Press would not confirm or deny that their forces were withdrawing east. Instead, the main Syrian Kurdish faction, the YPG, said its troops had returned to their bases after helping liberate the northern Syrian city of Manbij from the Islamic State group earlier this month. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Jarablus, and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw.

The Kurdish forces statement said they handed control of the city to a newly-established Manbij Military Council, made up mostly of Arab rebel fighters from the town.

By day break, at least 10 more Turkish tanks crossed into Syria, Turkeys private Dogan news agency reported. An Associated Press journalist saw three armored vehicles cross the border, followed by a heavy construction vehicle. Explosions reverberated across the border, followed by billowing gray smoke.
BEND, Ore.  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.

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.
Relatively mild weather over the last week has growers excited about the prospects for the 2016 harvest.

All signs point to another early harvest, correspondents agree, and yields should be up from last year. Grapes for sparkling wine have been harvested, and a few correspondents report picking other early varietals like sauvignon blanc, semillon and some chardonnay, but most are just letting the cool temperatures continue the slow ripening process.

This is as ideal as it gets, said Matt Crafton of Chateau Montelena.

Heres the first installment of the 2016 harvest report, organized by American Viticultural Areas:

Calistoga  Matt Crafton, Chateau Montelena  Were definitely in hurry up and wait mode here in Calistoga. The brutally hot temperatures in early August pushed the few Upvalley acres of sauvignon blanc and semillon to ripeness but we havent seen many picking crews out over the last 10 days. The mild weather pattern that moved in last week should continue the recent trend of slow ripening. This is as ideal as it gets.

Howell Mountain  Pat Stotesbery, Ladera Vineyards  At this time last year folks were starting to pick sauv blanc; not this year. While still ahead of most years, they are a bit behind last year. SB should start late next week but probably in small amounts. As for reds, there are still people who have not finished a green drop, so things are still weeks away from excitement. Fewer but larger clusters for reds so quantity looks generally typical.

Diamond Mountain District  Dawnine Dyer, Dyer Vineyards  Its mostly quiet on Diamond Mountain where theres near unanimous agreement that it will be mid-September before we see any real action. Budbreak was early but a cooler May delayed bloom and put us pretty much back to normal by the time we had berry set. Cluster counts are a little down but the set was good and veraison finished rapidly. The current weather is near perfect and all is in place for a successful harvest. Stay tuned!

Chiles Valley District  Alexander Eisele, Volker Eisele Family Estate  Rainfall for the past season was average for our district: 28.5 inches since the end of last years harvest. Fortunately, the spring frost was minimal and not too much water was needed for frost protection. The past week saw the first fruit being harvested: sauvignon blanc, average Brix 23.5, as well as a little semillon at 22.5. Both varietals are showing average to above average yields with very nice clean fruit. Everything is pointing to another early year. This week we will see more sauvignon blanc and semillon being harvested and the first hillside zinfandel is getting close.

Spring Mountain District  Stuart Smith, Smith-Madrone Winery  Spring Mountain Winery is the first to start on the mountain. Theyve harvested some sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and chardonnay. Stony Hill and Smith-Madrone will likely start toward the end of this week, with Keenan, Schweiger and Pride Mountain still some ways off for chardonnay. Early trends seem to be a very good merlot crop, a below average crop for cabernet sauvignon and a longer than normal veraison for reds.

St. Helena  Elizabeth Tangney, Saint Helena Winery  We are enjoying the calm before the storm. This is the time to get the winery ready to receive the grapes we have worked hard to prepare all season. The steady temperature in the low 90s has been a relief from the 100-plus days we saw earlier this summer. We will start tasting the grapes for ripeness and hope to harvest without any curveballs from Mother Nature.

Rutherford  Kristin Belair, Honig Vineyard & Winery  Happy Harvest everyone! At Honig, our first sauvignon blanc crossed the crush pad on Aug. 9, five days later than last year. Over the past two weeks, we have had time to test out all of the equipment while bringing in roughly 10 percent of our sauvignon blanc fruit. With our first Rutherford sauvignon blanc being picked today (Aug. 22), the leisurely warm-up is quickly accelerating to a steady, rapid albeit measured pace! We could easily have the remaining 90 percent of our sauvignon blanc in before Labor Day! The forecasted mild weather has been optimum for flavor development and maintaining sugar and acid balance. Crop levels so far look to be average to just below average.

Yountville  Bill Nancarrow, Goosecross Cellars  Here in Yountville we have seen some fervent activity the past two weeks as grapes destined for sparkling wines have been picked. Some sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc, pinot gris, and flora have been harvested as well. By all accounts yields are good, and the wineries are ecstatic with the condition and character of the fruit. The current weather pattern looks ideal for balanced ripening, perhaps giving us all time to head to R&D for a Crispy Chicken Sandwich for lunch this week.

Atlas Peak  Melissa Apter, Antica Napa Valley-Antinori Family Wine Estate  Here in Atlas Peak we know that when the valley floor starts waking up, we have a few weeks to finish our preparations for the new vintage. It is time to finish cleaning picking bins, get our tractors in line and sanitize the cellar for the 2016 fruit. Most of us are finishing up with our green drop passes and overall the yield this year looks great. There is more uniformity overall compared to last year and even ripening in all varietals. We are anticipating a great 2016 harvest and are excited to get started!

Mount Veeder  Sander Scheer, Hess Collection  The 2016 Mount Veeder crop looks to be coming together nicely. Growing conditions have been favorable this vintage. Flavors are beginning to take shape in the chardonnay and yield is up this year. We should start picking in the next 10 to 14 days. We are excited to get going with harvest.

Oak Knoll District  John Ruel, Trefethen Vineyards & Winery  After the warm spring got the vines off to a very early start, the mild summer slowed them down a bit. The harvest for sparkling wines was early, but not as early as last year. Growers around our area have begun picking their earliest blocks of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. How quickly the picking pace picks up will depend on the weather, which, for now, looks like more of the same  foggy mornings and sunny afternoons.

Carneros  Chris Hyde, Hyde Vineyards  After a winter with average rainfall, the Carneros AVA had a mild, almost completely frost-free spring. With cluster counts looking promising, we experienced two mild rain events during bloomtime in May. July and August, typically the hottest months of the year, have been mostly moderate temperature in Carneros, with foggy mornings and cool wind in the afternoon, leading into cooler nighttime temperature, ideal for slow ripening.

Wild Horse Valley  John Newmeyer, Heron Lake Vineyard  After a rather late budbreak, a decently warm and dry spring and early summer got the Wild Horse Valley grapegrowing season going nicely. By late July veraison was well underway, disclosing a crop that was lighter than usual but far better than the extremely low 2015 levels. As of this past weekend, the pinot noir was at 21 Brix and the chardonnay at 19. It appears that  once again!  harvest will be quite early.
St. John the Baptist Catholic School had become whole again. And on Wednesday afternoon  two years to the day the Napa earthquake rocked and cracked the historic downtown schoolhouse  it was time to celebrate its rebirth.

With prayers, speeches of thanks and a priests sprinkling of holy water at the entrance, school leaders rededicated a building where thousands of children received their early education over nine decades, until damage from the 2014 quake left four classrooms and the principals office off limits.

We did it! Congratulations, everyone! principal Nancy Jordan called out with a wide grin to nearly 200 students, faculty members and friends in the courtyard. Before them stood the stucco-coated edifice, its walls now free of cracks, its classrooms open once more.

The celebration marked the completion of $800,000 in repairs and overhauls for St. John the Baptists 90-year-old home at 983 Napa St., one of the casualties of the magnitude-6.0 quake that caused extensive damage to downtown landmarks on Aug. 24, 2014. Students began returning to its classrooms earlier this year from temporary trailers in the playground, and the building has fully reopened for the new school year that began Aug. 17.

Earlier quake-proofing work had largely prevented the toppling of shelves and furniture and limited the loss of teaching materials, but when I saw the cracking, the plaster damage, I knew we were in for a long repair process, Jordan recalled of her first walk-through several hours after the quake. I know this wasnt all coming together within a week.

In the following months, repair workers injected concrete to stabilize the buildings four corners from foundation to roof and repaired extensive cracking on exterior and interior walls. The project also included replacement of plumbing, light fixtures and ceiling tiles  all of it guided by stringent state rules to protect the integrity of a building listed on the citys registry of historic resources.

Classes at St. Johns, which teaches 165 children from kindergarten through eighth grade, began shifting late last school year from the two temporary trailers, which were removed in May.

Three-fourths of the repair bill was covered by post-quake funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with the school raising the remaining $200,000.

Though Bella Wells said the students nearly two years in temporary rooms wasnt horrible, the eighth-grader, who has attended the school since kindergarten, still appreciated being able to finish her time at St. John the Baptist in the main building.

We finally got to go upstairs, she said of the top-floor classrooms for older students. Everyone in the sixth, seventh, eighth grades had the fantasy of going up the stairs, being the older kids at the school.

The measure of the repair projects success may have been the sense of peaceful normalcy within the schoolhouse walls, two of the projects leaders said while strolling through the hallways after the dedication.

Each of these rooms was hours and hours  days, really  of work to put all the plaster back in, contractor Gary Taylor recalled, strolling past the principals office, a science lab and the old teachers lounge. Lath-and-plaster walls appeared freshly painted and unmarred, with no trace of the gaping cavities the quake had ripped within seconds.

Upstairs, Chris Jonas, principal for ZFA Structural Engineers, stopped in front of a history classroom filled with boys in khakis and polo shirts, and girls in plaid skirts and red blouses, watching a video documentary on the Roman Colosseum. What a difference now, he said, briefly looking through the door. On day one, this place was a mess.

Minutes before the pupils headed back to their desks, two nuns from the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael  the order that founded the Napa school in 1912  stepped forward with a pair of scissors toward a red ribbon strung across the front archway, snipping it in two and opening the path for boys and girls to return to class  but not without one more send-off from one of the students, Araceli Martinez.

Have a great future, St. John the Baptist Catholic School!
Four decades after their family members were murdered at Cal State Fullerton, survivors are still fighting to keep the killer behind bars.

Edward Charles Allaway, the man responsible for killing seven people and injuring two others at the university on July 12, 1976, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed into the state hospital system.

Although he has spent much of the last 40 years at Atascadero State Hospital and Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, he was recently transferred to Napa State Hospital, according to Patricia Almazan, whose father, Frank Teplansky, was killed by Allaway.

The transfer worries her because it could mean Allaway is a step closer to being released, Almazan said. She also argues that Napa State Hospital is less secure than Patton.

Ken Paglia, spokesman with the Department of State Hospitals, would not confirm or deny the transfer. Paglia said that the department cannot disclose whether someone is or isnt a patient in a state hospital program and that they are not required to notify a county if a patient is transferred from one hospital to another.

The Napa State Hospital has a secure treatment area that is surrounded by fencing and topped with razor wire, Paglia added.

Moreover, it "is not our practice to transfer a patient from one hospital to another in anticipation of, or preparation for, the release of a patient. Each hospital has its own program to prepare patients for conditional release and no release of a forensic patient is possible without a court order, Paglia said.

Allaway was a janitor when he stormed the universitys library with a rifle that day in 1976. The Los Angeles Times reported that Allaway chased two custodians, Debbie Paulsen and Donald Karges, down a narrow, windowless hall that day and shot them. He then fired at Bruce Jacobson, an audio technician, as well as professor emeritus Seth Fessenden and photographer Paul F. Herzberg.

Allaway went downstairs and shot into the graphic arts studio, hitting Almazans father twice in the back and once in the head. Allaway also shot Stephen Becker, a library assistant and the son of one of the universitys founders.

Allaway fled, but then called the police and asked to be picked up.

According to reports, Allaway believed that homosexual men were using the schools library for sexual liaisons and were plotting to kill him. After the shooting, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Since Allaway was found not guilty by reason of insanity today he is a patient, not a prisoner. He is eligible to request his release every year. He has made this request five times, but each request was denied by courts except one, which was withdrawn by Allaway.

During a sanity hearing in 2001, Allaways lawyers argued that his schizophrenia went into spontaneous remission without the help of medication or counseling, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Psychiatrist Mark J. Mills testified that Allaways illness went into remission shortly after entering the state mental hospital and that its possible the delusions that caused him to kill have vanished, the Times reported. However, Mills could not guarantee that Allaway would never be violent again.

Mills, who has held positions as a professor at Stanford University, Harvard University, UCLA, and Columbia University and served as the Commissioner of Mental Health in Massachusetts, continues to work as a forensic psychiatrist. He said on Wednesday that, although he hasnt seen Allaway in more than five years, that he remembers him well.

Based on his observations at the time, Mills said that Allaway was a reasonably competent guy. Because Allaway hasnt had any psychotic episodes since the shooting, Mills said that it may have been his worst and last psychotic episode. There is no cure for schizophrenia, he said, but he described Allaway as having an acute psychotic disorder and noted that he had at least one other episode of paranoia before the crime.

For his period of incarceration, he has not been violent, Mills said. If a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity means anything, he added, the plan should be that when a patients mental state is restored, they are released. By that logic, Allaway should be gradually released but continue to be closely monitored as needed, he said.

It really is an important case on both sides, he said. What he did was so horrific and so sad that of course the families are going to be incredibly weary and concerned.

Last month, Almazan attended a candlelight vigil at Cal State Fullerton to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the event. Just weeks later, she discovered that Allaway had been transferred after hearing something brief about it on the radio. It wasnt about Allaway, she said, but it jolted her mind.

Almazan called Patton State Hospital where she said a social worker divulged the truth  that Allaway had been transferred to Napa State Hospital.

It was a sneaky move, Almazan said.

During a press conference on Friday, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said that neither he nor the victims families were notified of the transfer.

If Edward Allaway gets his way  (he) will soon become the first mass murderer in recent American history to be released from custody, Rackauckas said.

Allaway has petitioned for his release before, he said, and his treatment team has repeatedly recommended his release noting that he has been without symptoms for over 20 years.

Each trial causes a firestorm of controversy in Orange County, the district attorney said, reasonably alarming citizens of the possibility of a mass murderer returning to their streets.

Every time Allaway petitions for release, it re-victimizes surviving family members, brings back old emotions, and their fear that he may someday be free.

His victims, he said,  are in complete fear of finding Allaway on their doorsteps in ambush.

Paul Paulsens sister, Debbie, was one of seven people murdered by Allaway.

For 40 years, he said, we have had to endure the loss of our loved ones to a vicious, calculating killer and then regularly endure the legal and psychiatric maneuverings of his team to get him released.

Paulsen said that he objects to Allaways transfer and that it is irreprehensible that the department of state hospitals did not notify interested parties, including himself, Almazan and Rackauckas office.

God help us all if he is ever released in any way, shape or form, he said.

Rackauckas said that it looks like the Department of State Hospitals is trying to quietly facilitate his release by moving him to less secure Napa State. Theyve been trying to have him released for years, he said. If thats the recommendation, Orange County will again find itself gearing up for another expensive trial and wondering how the state hospital system could be so blind to the magnitude of the risk that this rampage killer poses.

Rackauckas said that he would be contacting Patton State Hospital, Napa State Hospital and Gov. Jerry Brown to discuss current policies and procedures within the Department of State Hospitals.

I think they need to know certainly that there isnt going to be anything quiet about releasing a mass murderer like Edward Allaway, he said. Allaway should never be released. Period.

Rep. Mike Thompson (5th District) was a state senator when the Department of State Hospitals attempted to move Allaway to Napa State in the 1990s. Thompson intervened and Allaway remained at Patton State. Given his history with the issue, Thompson said he was a little upset that he wasnt notified by the department either.

Thompson, who has reached out to the Department of State Hospitals, said that they have guaranteed Allaway will not be released and that he is in a secured area of the hospital.

He was informed that patients are often reassigned within the state system in order to match patients with appropriate facilities, he said. In Allaways case, Thompson said he was told that he was transferred to make room for another patient who needed a room at Patton. Thompson was told that Allaway is in a place where he cannot harm others and that escape is not a concern.

Thompson said he is still waiting for these guarantees to be confirmed in writing.

I dont think theyre playing any games, he said. If what theyre telling me is true and theyre willing to stand by that, I think our concerns will have been met.
The Middle East remains the most dangerous, most complicated, and perhaps most controversial element in the Obama administration's 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 Obama's Middle East policies in depth. It is not only a polished, sober assessment of the actions and interests of the Obama administration, it's a surprising one, too - it's rare that a White House insider and counsel to the president gives us such insight into how off-base much of Obama's approach to the region is. As ambassador to Turkey and Iraq during the Obama administration's first term, I had a front row seat as much of that approach developed.

To be fair, I have few quibbles with Malley's rendition of Obama's actions. His account of the Syrian chemical weapons denouement gives more credit to the administration's 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 president's priority . . . must be to defend America's 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 didn't 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 Malley's 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 America's 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 administration's balancing act, but does not dwell on what seemingly should be a central objective. That's understandable, perhaps, as the administration put little emphasis on its role in maintaining global order in the Middle East. Initially Obama's White House team did not have to prioritize these issues, as the focus was - apart from Iran's nukes - nonstate actors and the Arab Spring. But recently we've witnessed serious challenges to that order: the rise of the Islamic State; the Bashar al-Assad regime's slaughter of its population and subsequent fallout; the refugee tidal wave across the Middle East and into Europe; Iran's infiltration of four Arab states; and Russia's 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 Russia's 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 America's partners. In response, Malley makes the point that Washington's 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 America's Iran policies can't overcome their "conventional wisdom." Don't 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 Malley's 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 Washington's Iran policy as hopeless opponents of a reasonable (and here I agree with Malley) nuclear deal. But aside from Israel's 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 Washington's 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 Obama's failure to respond effectively to threats to the regional order by Iran, the Islamic State, and now the Russians is the administration's obsession with Malley's 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. Malley's emphasis on "testing" the Russians, his assumptions that Putin could bog down in Syria where Assad can't 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 president's word, not Malley's) the region with those anti-status quo forces now helping turn it into a nightmare. In this regard, Malley's most worrisome words refer to the end of Obama's time in the White House: "six months is a long time . . . there is still so much to be done."

James F. Jeffrey is the Philip Solondz distinguished visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
The police log is a source of endless amusement (surely you noticed the loose turtle last week), but many of the calls are quite serious indeed. Police Officer Ramon Jovel recently stopped by the Star with word that someone had maliciously cut a vineyard irrigation line near Fulton Lane. He stressed how much damage such vandalism could do to the vines, which are our economic lifeblood. He implored citizens to call the Police Department if they see any suspicious activity in or near a vineyard. Their number is 967-2850. Never hesitate to dial it at the first whiff of trouble.

***

Ramon also warned of the fraudulent phone scams that continue making the rounds, often targeting seniors. The bogus caller might claim to be an IRS agent alleging unpaid taxes, a mysterious grandson pleading for bail money, or a member of law enforcement. They might threaten to visit your house, arrest you, deport you or turn off your power. Calistoga residents have even been receiving fake calls that appear to be from 911. Bottom line: If you get an unsolicited phone call from someone asking for money or threatening you, hang up and call the police right away. Dont be a victim of those scoundrels.

***

The Grand Lodge of California Free & Accepted Masons will hold a public cornerstone dedication ceremony for the new St. Helena Performing Arts Center from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the high school. A public open house and reception will follow from 1 to 5 p.m. at Napa Valley Lodge No. 93, 1335 Main St. Disabled access is available via the back elevator.

***

Wondering when the city is going to sweep your street? The city has released a map on its website showing its sweeping schedules for Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Go to CityOfStHelena.org, click Public Works under City Departments, and scroll down to find the link that says Street Sweeping Map 2016.

***

Dan Sund (that conscientious school crossing guard pictured on the front page of last weeks Weekly Calistogan) reminds me that the Low Vision Group of the Upper Napa Valley meets at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Rancho de Calistoga Recreation Hall, 2412 Foothill Blvd. in Calistoga. The speaker will be Patricia Jefferson, vision rehabilitation instructor for the Earle Baum Center of the Blind in Santa Rosa. Feel free to drop in or RSVP to Dora Devorak at 942-4780.

***

Do you ever get fed up with the trash you see along the bed of Sulphur Creek? Well, get your gloves on. Jemma Williams of the Napa County Resource Conservation District (who made the front page of the Star in July) sends word of a Coastal Clean Up day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 17. There are events all over the county, but the most important one (not that Im biased, Dear Readers) is at Meily Park on Pope Street. For details on how to help, contact Tobias Barr at 968-2746 or tbarr@cityofsthelena.org.

***

Looking for some summer reading? Try American Heiress, Jeffrey Toobins well-researched, crisply written account of the Patty Hearst kidnapping. Those of us who lived through it remember how strange the whole saga was, and the behind-the-scenes story is even more bizarre. The book is a compelling blend of tragedy and farce  and virtually impossible to put down until youve reached the last page.
Trinchero Family Estates have launched their newest brand, Pacific Heights, in addition to an on-premise only brand, Cloudfall.

According to a press release, "The Pacific Heights line highlights some of the greatest growing regions in California along the Pacific Coast."

The wines are available at nationwide retailers this month.

Pacific Heights portfolio includes a Sonoma Coast pinot noir (suggested price, $25) and a Russian River chardonnay ( $20).

Chardonnay is currently the No. 1 varietal in the wine category, and 22 of the top 50 chardonnays are sourced from Sonoma County. Pinot noir continues to grow at 11 percent, according to AC Nielsen figures, for 26 weeks, ending May 21.

Pacific Heights is about owning the Pacific coast. The name came to life because the brand is about finding the best expression of what each region along the coast has to offer, said Wendy Nyberg, vice president of Marketing for Trinchero Family Estates. Winemaker Christine Marchi has had a longtime passion for coastal terroir, and now has the opportunity to explore coastal vineyards with Pacific Heights and Cloudfall wine brands, she said.

Cloudfall is a coastal wine brand, exclusively on-premise, inspired by a collaboration between Marchi and Trincheros executive chef James Houghton.

Sourced from Monterey County, these wines include a chardonnay ($10), sauvignon blanc ($10) and a pinot noir ($10).
Gab friend, photographer George Strohl, was lucky enough to attend the Thompson Square show in Decatur, Illinois this month. Heres his review and a few pictures.

Thank you to George for always getting us some great shots.

On August 5th Thompson Square played the Decatur Celebration in Decatur, Illinois. I got the opportunity to photograph not only the Meet N Greet but the show  They have been in this area before a few years ago but had not played the Decatur Celebration until this time. They were so nice having to work with them at the Meet N Greet, they took the time to meet everyone and shake their hand and of course pose for a photo. Then it was show time!! The crowd was large and ready to hear them perform. They came out and gave a great show!! I hope you enjoy some of the photos from the event.

[LBS id=23038]
Premier: CSTO should plan force operation, restore Armenias territorial integrity

Armenia PM: All countries consider Karabakh to be part of Azerbaijan

Armenias Pashinyan: CSTO does not exist

Armenia premier: We need to know, ultimately, what Russian peacekeepers are doing in Nagorno-Karabakh

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
Molly Fannon, Director of International Relations at Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., speaking to the Voice of America Armenian service, said Armenia has a rich culture.

In her view, however, this is not only the cultural masterpieces, but the peoples lifestyle, oral stories, dance, and food.

The Smithsonian Institution studies Armenias ancient and rich culture, and endeavors to preserve it and convey to the world. To this end, the Smithsonian Institution has launched the My Armenia project, with US government funding and in collaboration with the Government of Armenia.

In addition, the Smithsonian Institution plans to devote the 2018 cultural festival in the US entirely to Armenia.

Fannon added that they also wish to develop Armenias cultural sector by linking it to tourism, and create new jobs in cultural tourism.

Molly Fannon noted that their respective objective is to bring new tourists to Armenia, who will spend most of their time outside capital city Yerevan, and get familiarized with the Armenian folk cultural heritage.

Furthermore, this project plans to digitizein 3D formatthe masterpieces of Armenian culture and history.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has been established as a state formation: it exists, possessing all the attributes of a state.

Director of the Institute of Diaspora Studies and Integration (Institute of CIS countries) Konstantin Zatulin said the aforementioned in an interview with Noyan Tapan newspaper.

According to him, not only the presence of its own army or own security services is indicative of this, but also the fact that democratic processes are taking place during the entire conflict in Nagono-Karabakh. ''Elections and re-elections take place, most of which I have attended as an obsrver since 1994,'' the director stressed.

These were both presiedntial elections and parliamentary ones. People in Nagorno-Karabakh don't have a hereditary power, but they struggle for national representation in a democtatic way, he added.

In Zatulin's words, although the economy of Nagorno-Karabakh certainly suffers from blockade and also other consequences of the conflict, it will gain many points as compared to many so-called recognized states, since the people [there] are used to and want to work, they have the suppoort of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora and favorable natural and climatic possibilities are present there. In this respect, Nagorno-Karabakh is a much more self-sufficent state as compared with an entire group of officially recognized UN member-states.

''All the attempts to present Nagorno-Karabakh as a ''marionette state'' and a ''non-state'' or a black hole, which are exerted by the Azerbaijani authorities in terms of propoganda, are in my opinion based on jealousy, sorrow of losing these territories and shame for the losses in the military clashes of the 90s. But they do not objectively reflect the reality. And I am sure that no conflict resolution is possible without the final word of Nagorno-Karabakh,'' Zatulin noted.

In his words, Armenia definitely provides serious support to Nagorno-Karabakh, but it is still a question who impacts more the domestic life  Armenia influences Nagorno-Karabakh or otherwise. ''As we know, there is wide scope of opinions on this among the Armenian community.''
There is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Director of the Institute of Diaspora Studies and Integration (Institute of CIS countries) Konstantin Zatulin said the aforementioned in an interview with Noyan Tapan newspaper.

''The Gordian knot already existed in history. Alexander the Great managed to solve the task by cutting it. The issue concerns the method and inputs. I am sure that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, shift to quiet life and status-quo can be achieved,'' Zatulin noted.

In his words, the events of the 80-90s were based on the Nagorno-Karabakh's will to reunite with Armenia or achieve self-determination on another basis, but never as part of Azerbaijan. ''And this will dominates today as well; it is the basis of all the options and models of settlement. It cannot be ignored. The manifested will of the Karabakh people towards the Nagorno-Karabakh self-determination passed through trials and came out on top in the bloody conflict of 1989-1994,'' the Director noted.

According to Zatulin, from the military standpoint, it is apparent that the mountain heights of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied by the Armenians allow the republic to feel relatively unalarmed about the safety of the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. ''And as the recent military adventure during this April proves, any attack won't achive significant results, even in conditions of renewing the weapon structure, redeployment, conversion training and other actions,'' he added.

''In my opinion, there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. There is a package of recommendations, which I have presented many time. I think that any sensible politician, striving to adhere to objective positions must stem from today's realia: the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh has been achieved, it has been achived. The recognition is certainly an important issue, but it isn't a mandatory condition for its existence. I think the final formula of the settlement must consider the following circumstances: the first one is the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, the second one being the return of majority of people from the Azerbaijani regions under the jurisdiction of the Azerbaijani Republic, which today constutite the so-called security belt round Nagorno-Karabakh. Of course, the fate of Lachin and Kelbajar corridors, which are also regions round Nagorno-Karabakh, remains disputable. They weren't previously included in its administrative border, but currently serve as security guarantors of the Armenian population, since they link Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. This is a schematic option of compromise,'' Zatulin said.

Responding to the question on why this compromise hasn't been achieved for so many years, Konstantin Zatulin noted that there is no confidence between the conflict parties, the April developments only worsening that distrust.

''Because the Azerbaijani side, which feels pinched by the results of the 1994 military actions, hasn't lost hope that by military way or as a result of military or diplomatic blackmailing, it will manage to force Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia to actually capitulate, abandoning the idea of the Nagorno-Karabakh independence. I think sensible Azerbaijani politicians realize very well that Nagorno-Karabakh is a self-sufficent state, but because of domsetic policy circcumstances, they do not want, cannot or are not going to to acknowledge this. Hence the standoff in negotiations, which also arose as a result of the fact that Azerbaijan is constantly speaking of a boundless autonomy of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, something which teh Armenian side will never allow. The Armenian position was more flexible, although it is also not free from domestic policy curcumstances, the recent events in Armenia confirming this,'' Zatulin noted.
Azerbaijan leads itself into deadlock by its military rhetoric and military preparations.

Director of the Institute of Diaspora Studies and Integration (Institute of CIS countries) Konstantin Zatulin said the aforementioned in an interview with Noyan Tapan newspaper.

In his words, apart from the distrust between the parties to the conflict, there is also another level of distrust: there is a lack of complete confidence between the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which include Russia, U.S. and France. Although it seemed that exactly in Karabakh conflict the positions of these countries are closer than ever, since they do not support military solution, non-use of force and continuation of the negotiation process being an absolute imperative for them. Together with this, Azerbaijan constantly states about its readiness to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by military means. In reality, Azerbaijan is certainly bluffing, since everyone understands that its current economic possibilities - oil and gas cushion  are vulnerable. Throwing everything into the scale of serious large-scale war, which will inevidently lead to the interference of external forces, will be a suicide, including for the Azerbaijani political regime,'' Zatulin noted.

''The peaceful settlement will make both sides to the conflict beneficiary parties. One side will receive the confirmation and recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh independence, whereas the orther will get the territories. I think this settlement recipe in the emerged political and psychological atmoshpere can be dictated by superpowers. The conflicting parties realize that the compromise consists of exactly this, but they are not ready to agree with that due to domestic policy reasons,'' he noted.

In Zatulin's words, a destabilizing factor in this conflict is the interest of Turkey, which did Azerbaijan's bidding in the case related to the Armenian-Turkish protocols. ''Due to this story, the Azerbaijani authorities formed an illusion that they can manipulate Turkey, since all the powerful were behind the Armenian-Turkish protocols. Afterwards, Azerbaijan focused on Russia, thinking that the latter is more pliable and it will be possible to influence the opinion of the country's leadership. These efforts are exerted today as well: success has been achieved in individual cases, to which I also attribute my resignation from the post of the First Deputy Head of the [Russian State Duma] Committee for CIS Affairs and Ties with Compatriots in 2011. In 2010, I was declared persona non grata in Azerbaijan. Baku treats my speeches very fervently: for instance, blogger Bahram Batdiev, whom I don't know pesonally, is simply specializes in attacks in my address, commenting on each of my words. That would be sad if not funny,'' he added.

Zatulin also stressed that Russia understands the problem and all the responsibility for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement: ''Adhereing to priority ally relations with Armenia, it is trying to support good relations with Azerbaijan. Russia not only keeps Azerbaijan from creeping into an anti-Russian front, but also stems from the fact that good relations with Azerbaijan are eventually beneficial not only for itself but also Armenia, by keeping Azerbaijan away from rash acts. Unfortunately, this logic of Russia went through facings in April, when against the backdrop of dramatic deterioration of Russian-Turkish relations, Azerbaijan went to the length of military adventure.

As it is known, Russia is slammed in Armenia now for infatuating the 'hawks' in Azerbaijan by its military supplies. The balance might have indeed been disrupted. But it should be stressed that the entire responsibility for the April developments is born not by Russia, but Azerbaijan. Russia made conclusions, firstly by forcing to stop the military actions, and secondly through publicly announcing about its military supplies to Armenia, which are carried out on completely different terms almost free of charge  than for Azerbaijan. Today Russian President exerts active efforts towards moving the Karabakh settlement off the dead center.''
Emory's fall semester courses bring critical insights to current events and offer new approaches to familiar subjects.

Students will explore high-profile topics like the presidential election, the refugee crisis, Islamophobia and the global struggle for human rights, while also gaining unique perspectives from Emory resources such as the WaterHub and the upcoming display of Shakespeare's First Folio, which Emory was selected to host for the state of Georgia.

Here is a sample of fall classes, from first-year seminars to graduate courses, that are timely, creative or just plain cool.

Appcology: New Commerce Infrastructure

Instructor: Benn Konsynski, George S. Craft Distinguished University Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management

Cool factor: With the assistance and experience of actual app developers, we will explore the design and creations of these "snacksize "applications for mobile and desktop environments. The course will consider the opportunities for new patterns of communication between organizations and their mobile stakeholders.

Course description: The course will explore issues associated with the emerging types of applications and services, changing forms of software ecosystems and commerce interactions. It will involve both design and development of real apps, gizmos and widgets.

Department and school: Goizueta Business School graduate program

Christianity and Politics

Instructors: Robert M. Franklin, James T. and Berta R. Laney Professor in Moral Leadership; Letitia M. Campbell, lecture series coordinator

Cool factor: Students are required to volunteer for a political campaign, keep a journal of their experiences and thoughts, and prepare three-minute media commentaries on ethical and religious dimensions of the campaign, election and aftermath, which students will send to media outlets or post on social media. This practical experience will build students confidence as public intellectuals. The course includes a public, evening lecture series, "Faith and Politics," featuring religion and politics scholars and public intellectuals.

Course description: Given the unique role of Christianity in the formation of America, the course examines the role of its religious ideas, dispositions, values and behavior in shaping public policy and general standards of public morality. It also examines how political campaigns appeal to the imagination, mythmaking and responses to American hunger for meaning and community, as well as how candidates assume and manipulate religious leadership roles such as charismatic prophet, preacher, pastor, priest and servant leader. Special emphasis will be given to how religious communities can help to heal a nation polarized by partisan loyalty, class, race, region and religious identity.

Department and school: Candler School of Theology; should draw interest from those in political science, religion, sociology, history, law and psychology.

Controlling Crime

Instructor: Robert Agnew, professor of sociology

Cool factor: Special attention is devoted to several promising crime control strategies, including community policing, police crackdowns focused on hot spots, and restorative justice. Special attention is also devoted to the extent to which law enforcement agencies discriminate and the police use of deadly force.

Course description: This course provides an overview of the nature, extent and causes of crime; examines, using evaluation research, how researchers determine whether programs and policies are effective in controlling crime; and focuses on the four major strategies for controlling crime: the get tough strategies of deterrence and incapacitation, which have dominated crime control efforts in recent decades, and the strategies of rehabilitation and prevention. A central theme of the course is that efforts to control crime are effective to the extent that they address the causes of crime.

Department and school: Sociology in Laney Graduate School

Film, Media and Social Activism

Instructors: Edward L. Queen, Center for Ethics; Carlton Mackey, Center for Ethics and Department of Film and Media Studies.

Cool factor: Creative student teams will collaborate with leading Atlanta-area filmmakers, photographers and community nonprofit organizations to plan, develop and produce thought-provoking collaborative art projects addressing important social issues. The course is part of the Center for Ethics Southwest Airlines Art and Social Engagement Program, engaging art in all its forms designed to support meaningful student/community experiences.

Course description: Students will explore the function and role of film and media in social change movements and their role in addressing major social issues. Class sessions will first engage with the topic of art and social engagement. In the latter half of the semester, students will work in creative teams with area filmmakers and photographers to produce a short documentary film, blog, website, etc. engaging the work of a local nonprofit.

Department and school: Film Studies, Environmental Studies and Visual Arts in Emory College

Glial Neurobiology: Your Brain Beyond Neurons

Instructors: Kristen Frenzel, senior lecturer, Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology; Brilee Coleman and Michelle Giddens, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Cool factor: This original course aims to demystify the other half of the brain with its focus on glia, which constitute approximately 50 percent of the brain and contribute to most neurological diseases. Students will write a submission-quality National Science Foundation grant proposal, a product that could jumpstart the next phase of their career.

Course description: Explore the many roles of these important cells  the most common and least talked about cells in the brain  in development and human disease. Study primary literature in the realm of glial neurobiology. This class is open to any interested students and will be particularly useful for students planning to pursue research in the future.

Department and school: Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology in Emory College

How Do We Know That? 2,500 Years of Great Science Writing

Instructor: Douglas Mulford, senior lecturer, Chemistry

Cool factor: What did Darwin actually say? Einstein? Mendel? Should we clone humans? Can chocolate cause weight loss? What is the placebo effect anyway and why do I care? Was Galileo just a really big nerd? (Yes!) The course will look at how humans learn by looking at the original words of scientists throughout history. Occasional demonstrations, explosions and liquid nitrogen ice cream provided.

Course description: This is not a science class but scientific learning will be the framework for this study. This discussion-based first-year seminar will focus on how humans have learned knowledge throughout the history. Discourse will examine humans ways of discovery by looking at 2,500 years of great science writing to discover how science is done and how human knowledge as a species grows.

Department and school: Chemistry in Emory College

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Human Rights

Instructors: Dabney P. Evans, assistant professor, Rollins School of Public Health; David Davis, associate professor, Emory College; Edward Queen, Center for Ethics

Cool factor: Co-taught by three instructors from different units of the University to students from across the University, the course sparks conversation about how views of human rights intersect across disciplines. Cases, incorporating these interdisciplinary perspectives to contemporary human rights issues, will be developed.

Course description: This graduate seminar examines the theory and practice of global human rights from an interdisciplinary perspective, including issues of the history, origins and legitimacy of universal human rights. The seminar will also examine human rights across a variety of substantive issues areas, including conflict, development, globalization, social welfare, religion, race and ethnicity, medicine, public health, and rights of women and other vulnerable groups.

Department and school: Laney Graduate School, School of Law and Rollins School of Public Health

Islamophobia In America

Instructor: Erik Love, visiting fellow, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference

Cool factor: This course looks at Middle Eastern American advocacy around the myriad problems of racialized Islamophobia in America. This follows a look at the histories and contemporary portraits of several Middle Eastern American communities, and we examine the details of discriminatory programs, policies and practices.

Course description: Despite rapid migration from the Middle East to the United States after the turn of the 20th century, Middle Eastern American communities are among the least studied and most misunderstood. In recent decades, hate crimes, discrimination and more have emerged in a familiar American pattern of racial scapegoating. This course concludes by considering the efforts of social advocates working to confront Islamophobia.

Department and school: Sociology and Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies in Emory College

The Migrant & Refugee Crisis: Borders, Mobility and the Making of Il/legality

Instructor: Isabella Alexander, visiting assistant professor, Anthropology

Cool factor: Integrating ethnography, journalism, film and other forms of popular media, this course begins with an exploration of the current migrant and refugee crisis in Europe then explores the lesser-told stories of migration, deportation and detention unfolding on the periphery. Students will work together to build an interactive website on these issues for popular audiences.

Course description: This class begins with the premise that border regions, located at the cultural and geographical intersection of nation-states, offer an ideal place for questioning the construction of new individual and national identities. Students will be asked to think and write critically about how new identities are established, embodied and challenged, and how borders create a continual negotiation of the self and the other. Drawing on anthropological and popular media representations of the migrant and refugee crisis, the course will create a picture of the current state of transnational migration and note the distinctions established between the migrant, the citizen and the refugee.

Department and school: Anthropology in Emory College

Race and the American Presidency

Instructor: Brett Gadsden, associate professor, African American Studies and History

Cool factor: How did Lyndon B. Johnson, a son of the Texas Hill Country and a product of the Jim Crow South, become the standard bearer of presidential liberalism? Faced with an intransigent Congress, how did he win groundbreaking civil rights legislation and a great expansion of the American welfare state? This course is designed to answer these questions and explore what lessons can we apply from Johnsons political career to the current political climate.

Course description: Students will trace the arc of Lyndon Johnsons political career through the lens of American race relations. This course takes as its starting point Johnsons modest Texas origins and his rise to power as the Senate majority leader in the early 1960s. Students will then study his political labors after he assumed the presidency, which resulted in the passage of historic civil rights legislation and produced the Great Society that was designed to address the problem of poverty. Students will consider Johnsons political legacy and his relevance to contemporary political events.

Departments and school: History and American Studies in Emory College

Real Shakespeare?

Instructor: Patricia Cahill, associate professor, English

Cool factor: Students can immerse themselves in Shakespeare this year, which is the 400th anniversary of his death. They can contemplate rare books like the First Folio, which is visiting Emory from the Folger Shakespeare Library from Nov. 5 through Dec. 11, plus archival materials attesting to the many afterlives of Shakespearean drama. They can also contemplate Shakespearean art, study live and film performance, and create an exhibit using Shakespearean evidence they have excavated from the archives.

Course description: This new, interdisciplinary first-year seminar is organized around the question of where and how to locate the genuine Shakespeare and what evidence means in Shakespearean drama and for Shakespeare scholars. Reading plays that showcase delusions, errors, conspiracies and lies will prompt consideration of why some people ask whether Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare and why some contemporary directors want to re-create the actual conditions of performance in Shakespeares day. Students will spend time in the Rose Library pondering the material evidence of Shakespeares impact.

Department and school: English in Emory College

Understanding Community: Oxford Encountering Oxford

Instructor: Lyn Pace, Oxford College chaplain

Cool factor: The class will begin with a dinner where students meet local Oxford residents. Following the dinner, students will set up a time to interview a community member. The interview, including the residents own understanding of community, will form the basis of each students mid-term paper. Also during this unit, local residents and leaders will guest lecture and introduce students to the landmarks and stories of Oxford, Georgia.

Course description: A major focus in this course will be on the city of Oxford and interaction with local residents. The course will engage students in a critical exploration of the concept of community to formulate their own ideas of community, identify various structures of belonging in communities, and develop a more profound understanding of multiple communities to which they have been and are connected, including communities of origin, the Oxford campus community, virtual communities, communities of self-interest, intentional communities, and the city of Oxford, Georgia.

Department and school: American Studies in Oxford College

Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries

Instructors: Christine L. Moe, Eugene J. Gangarosa Professor of Safe Water and Sanitation, and Eddy Perez, professor of practice

Cool factor: This course talks about poop, fecal sludge, diarrheal disease, toilets, menstrual hygiene and other taboo topics, introducing students from all disciplines to global water, sanitation and hygiene challenges. Innovative approaches to provide clean water and sanitation  like LifeStraw, Pee Poo Bags, Arbor Loos, household-level biogas systems, and PUR  are taught. Field/lab assignment includes a tour of the Emory WaterHub and testing microbiological quality of wastewater samples from both ends of the treatment system.

Course description: This course provides an overview of key water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) issues in the developing world and strategies to address these challenges. It includes discussions of behavioral determinants of WASH practices, WASH policies, human rights and inequities in WASH services for the poor, the relationship between WASH and diseases, gender issues and how poor WASH in schools impacts girls education and economic opportunities, WASH in emergencies and provision of services to displaced populations, and the challenges of sustaining WASH services and infrastructure. Students learn through collaborative projects and develop proposals with innovative solutions to WASH challenges in specific settings.

Department and school: Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health
Theaster Gates

Artist and social activist Theaster Gates will return to Emory University in September for a series of talks on art and activism, hosted by the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. These programs would not be possible without the generous funding support from the Schwartz Artist in Residency Program.

Gates, an award-winning Chicago potter and artist who blends art installation with social practice, is best known for turning abandoned buildings in neglected neighborhoods into vibrant cultural hubs that serve the community. Gates is director of arts and public life at the University of Chicago, where he is a professor of visual arts.

Theaster Gates embodies an engagement with art, activism, and archives that energizes all of us, says Rosemary M. Magee, director of the Rose Library. It will be a privilege to have him present on campus during the month of September to collaborate with students, faculty and members of the Atlanta area community in pursuit of new knowledge and inspiration.

Free public events include:

Saturday, Sept. 3, at 3 p.m.

A Race of Artists: Examining Art and Social Activism, an ArtDBF panel with Theaster Gates and other multi-disciplinary artists, moderated by Christeene Alcosiba, Rose Library manager of operations and public programming, co-sponsored by ArtsATL.

First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage

Decatur Book Festival in downtown Decatur

Friday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m.

Are Artists Activists?

Theaster Gates conversation with Rose Library director Rosemary Magee

Teaching and Learning Studio, Rose Library

Emorys Woodruff Library, Level 10

Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.

UPDATE: This event has been postponed and will be rescheduled for Spring 2017.

Theaster Gates: Social Practice and Social Justice

Theaster Gates closing presentation

Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts

1700 N. Decatur Rd., Atlanta 30322
30,000 hectares of land in Bobi community, Mariga Local Government Area, Niger State, was on Monday allocated as grazing reserve for herdsmen.

This was disclosed by the State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, during a meeting with the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Minna.

According to Bello, the Bobi grazing reserve is enough to accommodate half of the cattle in the state. The Governor said facilities such as veterinary clinic, water and adequate feeds would be put in place at the Bobi grazing reserve.

In his response, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Mohammed Kiruwa, commended the Governor for the gesture, saying the grazing reserve initiative would end the farmers/hersmen's clash across the country.

Kiruwa said so far 10 state Governors had allocated land as grazing reserves in their respective states.

He said the association was working towards ending the incidences of cattle rustling through collaboration with stakeholders in the cattle business.

The Miyetti Allah President also revealed that as a way of curtailing the rising cases of cattle rustling, the association was collaborating with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and cattle traders in identifying real herdsmen .

Governor Bello also promised to open up additional grazing reserves in designated locations across the state to sort out farmers/herdsmen's problems in the state.
Reacting to the incident of the killing of 8 people in Zamfara over alleged blasphemy, renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has described the dastardly act as barbaric and condemnable.

Falana said the suspected killers should be arrested and treated as murderers, and urged the police to immediately commence investigation and bring the suspects to book.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria lamented that the killing was one too many, even though he stated that it was not surprising because the Nigerian security forces had consistently indulged in similar extrajudicial killings.

Referring to the killing of hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi'ites by some soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State last December, Falana said in any country where the rule of law was absent, anarchy would usually be the order of the day.

He said, "The extrajudicial killing of eight unarmed Nigerians on allegation of apostasy is very barbaric and unacceptable.

"The police must move in speedily to investigate, arrest the suspects and charge them to court without any delay.

"Much as the brutal killing is condemnable, it is not new given the fact that security forces in our country have consistently engaged in extrajudicial killings of criminal suspects and other innocent demonstrators without any justification.

"In other words, if a Government can announce publicly that its soldiers killed 248 citizens and buried their body in a shallow grave, what do you expect?

"This is one killing too many. From the North to the South and from the East to the West, it is the killing of demonstrators."
The requested page is currently unavailable on this server.

Back to [RTHK News Homepage]
Automotive technology donations  Michael Behrmann, chair, Southern Illinois University Carbondales Department of Automotive Technology, discusses the benefits of donations by Navistar International Corp. and Rush Enterprises, Inc. to the program. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

Donations benefit automotive technology students

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A partnership linking business, industry and education was celebrated at Southern Illinois University Carbondale today (August 25) with the announcement of donations to the universitys automotive technology program.

Over the past year, Navistar International Corp. has donated nine newer model commercial trucks that include their Durastar, Workstar, Prostar, Transtar and Lonestar models, in addition to several engines, transmissions, driveline components and emission control components. Rush Enterprises, Inc., is supporting the partnership by providing licenses to Diamond Logic Builder, a software package that automotive students will use in labs to configure and program truck body controllers.

The donations are integral to the university programs success -- providing an important educational resource that meets industry needs and students demands, Andy Wang, dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, said.

This college accomplishes its mission through its dedication and commitment to addressing the academic needs of students seeking opportunities to acquire high-level skills in specific technical areas for rapid entry into a global workforce. The donations from Navistar and Rush Enterprises will help CASA to advance its academic offering to achieve its mission, Wang said.

Michael Behrmann, department chair, said the donations have a positive impact on student learning.

These donations will allow our students to have access to the latest industry technology as they learn to develop diagnostic processes and problem-solving hypothesis testing, he said.

The donations also represent industry support in technical education, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at SIU Carbondale, Behrmann said. Both companies recruit SIU graduates.

The program is considered the nations premier automotive training program in providing technical and management graduates that are helping drive the transportation industry forward, he said.

Navistar International Corp. is a leading manufacturer of commercial trucks, buses, defense vehicles and engines.

STEM education is our top philanthropic focus at Navistar and as a company that makes highly technical products, our future depends on people -- like engineers, finance professionals, technicians and others with strong science, technology, engineering and math backgrounds, like the Southern Illinois University students and graduates of the Automotive Technology program, John McCuistion, global powertrain and chassis engineering director of Navistar, said. We are proud to count Southern Illinois University among our philanthropic partnerships.

Rush Enterprises, Inc. owns and operates Rush Truck Centers, the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States, representing numerous truck and bus manufacturers.

Rush Truck Centers is honored to partner with Navistar in support of Southern Illinois University, which is training the next generation of professionals in the commercial vehicle industry, Shelby Howard, regional general manager, Rush Truck Centers, said. Like Navistar, we strive to work with people with strong technical skills and a focus on finding innovative solutions for our customers. The educational experience in this automotive technology program prepares students for exceptional careers in our industry.

SIU Carbondale provides one of the few automotive technology baccalaureate degrees in the nation and the only four-year degree of its kind in Illinois. Established in 1952, the competitive admission program has 285 national and international students with more than 80 graduates each year.

More information about Navistar is available at http://www.navistar.com/navistar/. More information about Rush Enterprises is at http://www.rushenterprises.com/. Additional information on SIUs automotive technology program is at http://automotive.siu.edu/.
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
Twelve people, including seven students, were killed in an attack on the American University in Kabul that sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic, police said early today, before the assault ended when two gunmen were shot dead.The attack began at around 6:30 p.m. local time (1930 IST) yesterday 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 pupils were working.Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed during the attack, the second incident involving the university this month.Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded."The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team."The Afghan Public Health Ministry said no foreigners were reported among the wounded.Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, told Reuters that police had evacuated between 700 and 750 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan''s elite.DESPERATE ESCAPESTerrified 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," he said.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 Afghanistan 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 August 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 swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.The United States said it was closely monitoring the situation in Kabul following the university attack and that forces from the US-led coalition were involved in the response in an advise-and-assist role.State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the US Embassy was working to account for all of its personnel and to locate and assist any US citizens affected by the attack.REUTERS JW PM1021 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-902925.Xml
More offices of the MQM party were sealed by police in Karachi city after its chief Altaf Hussain's anti-Pakistan remarks led to violence in the Pakistani business capital. The offices of Muttahida Qaumi Movement party were sealed on Wednesday night. Its headquarters "Nine Zero" were locked shortly after Hussain on Monday called Pakistan a "cancer" to the entire world, Geo News reported. The police on Wednesday also arrested two women who were involved in the August 22 attack on ARY News offices. The MQM workers who were protesting outside the Karachi Press Club against "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of workers", on Monday ransacked two television stations in a rampage that left one person dead and eight injured. Hussain, by appearing to incite his followers to attack the media for not covering his speeches, triggered an unprecedented challenge to his control over the party that has dominated the politics and commerce of Karachi for decades. He had made controversial statements while addressing the party activists here over telephone from London -- the usual way he keeps contact. Hussain 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." The remarks led to violence across the country with people calling Hussain an Indian spy who was out to destabilise Pakistan. MQM Pakistan has distanced itself from the controversial statements with Deputy Convenor Farooq Sattar taking control of the party leadership. Sattar said future decisions would be made by the MQM Rabita Committee in Pakistan, and Hussain on Wednesday handed over the party powers to the committee. Pakistan has also asked the British government to take action against Hussain for inciting violence in the port city. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan 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". Also on Wednesday, jailed MQM leader Waseem Akhtar was elected as Karachi's new mayor by a big margin with his party sweeping the local municipal elections. Akhtar, who was arrested on July 19 for sheltering and providing medical treatment to militants, will run the city with the help of "video links" from prison. The MQM is a political party registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan in the name of Farooq Sattar and established by Hussain in 1984. The party has long dominated the city through the loyal support of Karachis Muhajir community -- relatively well-off Urdu speakers who migrated from India after Independence in 1947, and their descendants. --IANS py/dg ( 449 Words) 2016-08-25-15:45:57 (IANS)
Yes, that is correct. Instead of Mr Jaitley, Mr Shaktikanta Das is attending the two-day Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) meet of Finance Ministers at Islamabad, a senior Finance Ministry official told IANS.

The two-day FMs meet is being held at Islamabad from Thursday.

The possibility of Jaitley attending the meet was clouded with India-Pakistan relations touching a new low after Home Minister Rajnath Singh was given a cold shoulder by Pakistan authorities when he visited Pakistan earlier this month to attend the Saarc Home/Interior Ministers' conference.

"Ultimately, it is the government's decision whether the Finance Minister goes to Islamabad or not. I think this is one way to snub Pakistan," Bharatiya Janata Party National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh had told IANS earlier.

Apart from Jaitley, Bangladesh Finance Minister Abdul Maal Abdul Muhith is also missing from the Saarc meet, Pakistan's Daily Times reported.

While Das is leading the Indian delegation, M.A. Mannan, State Minister for Finance is representing Bangladesh, it reported.

India-Pakistan ties touched a low after a raging controversy emerged after Rajnath Singh's two-day visit to Pakistan earlier this month.

India had strongly objected to Pakistans "restrictive approach" in denying visas to Indian journalists to cover the Saarc Home/Interior Ministers' conference.

Media persons who accompanied the Home Minister were not allowed in the (meeting) room and a number of those who had applied for visas (to cover the event) did not get them, India's External Affairs Ministry had said.

"Naturally this restrictive approach by Pakistan even for a multilateral event is not helpful in promoting close ties between Saarc countries," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said.

Indian journalists accompanying the Home Minister to Islamabad were denied entry inside the venue hall where Rajnath Singh lashed out at Pakistan over its alleged support to terrorism.

Reports also said that the Pakistan government censored Rajnath Singh's speech and didn't allow it to be covered live.

--IANS mm/vd/dg

( 372 Words)

2016-08-25-17:53:55 (IANS)
It was a show with a difference as ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra took a digital leap on the opening day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2016 with Bollywood's young faces -- Shraddha Kapoor and Sushant Singh Rajput -- walking for him. Malhotra took the digital route for the show on Wednesday here in association with Etihad Airways. Malhotra unveiled festive glamour collection at the LFW runway, that began at St. Regis Hotel. However, the designer's offsite show at ITC Grand Central was no less of a treat. What was unique about the Malhotra's show this time was that it will premiere as a Virtual Reality experience after the fashion gala. So, the LFW ramp got a glimpse of the virtual aspect in a very sparkling way. The fashion house showcased its signature resham threadwork, clustered sequins and intricate hand-embroidery on dramatic trails and off-shoulder capes, alongside floral motifs. There were jacket-saris; lehengas paired with sheer crop blouses and draped dupattas on contemporary anarkalis. Elaborately detailed long tunics worn over cigarette pants and flowing backless gowns effortlessly brought the classic and contemporary style together. On other aspects of the event, there was some dissatisfaction over the seating arrangement as those sitting at the back were heard complaining about not getting a proper view, but fashion enthusiasts who saw the entire range were left mesmerised with the designer's creativity. The designer infused extra glamour quotient on the ramp with Sushant and Shraddha, especially the former, who was glad to walk for Malhotra. "I was excited and nervous at the same time, but who doesn't want to walk for Manish Malhotra, and I did it. I have four sisters and all are fans of his; including me, so, today I am standing here with his clothes on. Life can't be better than this," Sushant told reporters after show. For Shraddha, it was a dream come true. "I always dreamt of walking for him one day. When I was in Cape Town, Manish called me and asked if I will walk for his show tonight and I took no time to say yes. I landed here and came directly for his show," she said. Talking about her outfit, the actress said: "This dress is so awesome, beautiful and gorgeous." She wore a lehanga teamed up with an embroidered blouse. There was a glamorous edge to the range with statement accessories, including bejewelled belts and pill-box clutches. Crafted in silks, sheer net and lace -- in hues of pure white, baby pink, lime green, lilac, Champagne nude, metallic grey and honey mustard -- the ensembles were worn with fine jewellery by Anmol Jewellers. For the modern gentleman, the collection presented textured velvet bandhgalas, structured jackets and vests paired with Jodhpur pants. The elegant outfits were styled with pocket-squares, jewelled buttons and embroidered silk scarves. And Sushant, who was making his ramp debut, was walked the runway in one of these looks. Speaking about the collection, Malhotra said: "Lakme Fashion Week is very special to me -- both my label and my association with LFW turn 11 this year. Label MANISH MALHOTRA is also the first Indian brand to present a Virtual Reality experience with Etihad Airways." There was a big Bollywood turnout yet again to support the designer and his showstopper and some of the faces included Sushmita Sen, Zayed Khan, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Dia Mirza, Padmini Kolhapure, Krishika Lulla, Ashish Chaudhary and his wife, Shraddha Kapoor's brother Siddhanth Kapoor and many more. Karan Kundra, along with his girlfriend Anusha Dandekar, were also enjoying the show. They were spotted cuddling each other with Anusha sitting at Karan's lap and clicking pictures of the glittering new collection. Etihad's association with Malhotra is the latest initiative by the Abu Dhabi-based airline following its recently-announced global agreement with WME | IMG to become the fashion industry's preferred airline. Malhotra is the second designer that the airline has partnered with globally, after Oscar de la Renta at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Australia earlier this year. (The writer is in Mumbai at the invitation of LFW organisers. Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in) --IANS nv/sug/sac ( 695 Words) 2016-08-25-12:13:56 (IANS)
Former National Commission for Women (NCW) member and woman activist Shamina Shafiq on Thursday welcomed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, and hoped that the proposed bill would keep the interest of surrogate mothers in mind before being passed as law. "I think, in totality, one has to look as to what the Bill exactly talks about. If it is keeping the interest of the surrogate mothers ino mind, then I think it's a welcome move," Shafiq told ANI. Shafiq, however, raised apprehension on one of the provisions of the bill which prevents homosexuals from accessing altruistic surrogacy, stating that the government cannot impose its choices on others. "But, if there is a question on individuals identity and the way one is leading one's life, for example homosexuals, they also deserve to live a normal life, one can't question their choices," she said. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the introduction of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016. Under the provision of the Bill, single parents, homosexual couples and live-in relationship couples are not allowed to access altruistic surrogacy. The Bill aims at prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical surrogacy to needy infertile couples. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said that the bill was introduced as India has emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples, but cautioned that the government is aware of unethical surrogacy practices. Criticising the practice of commercial surrogacy, Swaraj said, "What started as a need has now turned into a hobby." The Bill will be introduced during the winter session of Parliament. (ANI)
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has cautioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make it clear that India will not interfere in Balochistan's internal affairs in the wake of protesting Baloch activists taking to the streets with pictures of Modi and holding up Indian flags. The NCP warned that Modi needs to issue a clarification on what it termed as a 'passing remark' made during is Independence Day address, or else, expect India's position to become more awkward as time passes by. NCP leader Majid Memon told ANI, "So, India should not be brought into the issue with such a degree. This is not in favour of the nation. The Prime Minister should clarify that he was not trying to interfere in their internal matters, but only convey that India broadly wants that human rights must not be violated across the globe. I don't think that the Prime Minister wanted to land in the middle of issues in Balochistan. If he does not clarify, then India's position will become more awkward later." He said that this kind of an agitation where India has been shown to have jumped in, is not in the best interest of the country, and added that if this is allowed to go further, then it will be understood that India is meddling in Balochistan's affairs and is acting highhandedly. "It would be better for the Prime Minister to clarify that he does not mean to take one side in one group against another. We are not a party there and we need to keep a distance," Memon added. Days after Baloch leaders' in-exile hailed Prime Minister Modi for highlighting the atrocities committed on their people by Pakistan, Baloch Republican Party (BRP) activists showered praise on him while holding the Indian flags and his pictures in their hands and vented their ire against Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri for declaring Brahamdagh Bugti a traitor. Holding up pictures of the Prime Minister, late Baloch leader Akbar Bugti and his son Brahumdagh Bugti, the protestors, including children, with their faces covered, raised slogans against Islamabad and also burnt Pakistan's national flag. The protestors raised slogans against Zehri for declaring Bugti a traitor and thanked the Indian Prime Minister for making references to Pakistan's mistreatment of the people of Balochistan. Challenging Zehri, one of the protestors dared the former to visit the Quetta market without security. "Zehri said that Bugti cannot even assemble 50 people. We want to tell him that Bugti lies not just in the hearts of just 50 or 50,000 people, but over 50 lakh people. If you are a man, then we challenge you to come to the Quetta market leaving your security, then we will see if you are a Baloch or not. Thousands of Baloch people are ready to sacrifice their lives just on Bugti's one gesture. But Zehri makes such statements just to satisfy and please his bosses," he said. "He should stop seeing us as slaves. Then he will get to know who is in the majority. I want to tell him that the Baloch people are with Bugti," he added. The protests have been going on for the past four days in Sui, Dera Bugti, Jafarabad and Nasirabad among other locations in Balochistan province. Speaking on his country's 70th Independence Day, the Indian Prime Minister signalled a distinct hardening of posture against Pakistan by raising human rights violations in Balochistan and PoK. He said that 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 rejected by New Delhi. (ANI)
Hitting out at the Congress for coming down on the Centre over the Scorpene submarine data leaks, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday asserted that it was a ploy by the grand old party to divert attention from the 'embarrassment' caused to it by party vice president Rahul Gandhi's defamation row. "As soon as the information regarding the leaks came to light, talks of a probe were in motion, all efforts were made and are still being made to garner as much information as possible. Will the Indian government ever want national security to be threatened in any way? Prime Minister Modi's government will never want such a thing," BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI here. The Congress has been insisting on a probe headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge in the matter. Kohli described the demand as ludicrous, and pointed out that every prominent scam that had occurred in the country so far, had taken place under the watch of the grand old party, amd no action had been taken until the apex court stepped in. "Why is the Congress raising such a demand? In the last 70 years, many scams have taken place and they are all under the Congress rule, including the defence sector. They must be feeling a little embarrassed about the Rahul Gandhi defamation case, so they are trying to divert focus," Kohli said. Yesterday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar 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 it is related to us, and anyway, its not all 100% leak," he told ANI. The Indian Navy, in a statement said on Wednesday, said 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 USD 3 billion. The first of the submarines built at the Mazagon Docks in Mumbai began sea trials in May. A report in the 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 includes details of the secret combat capability of these submarines, including underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems. (ANI)
Congress leader and Member of Parliament Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday urged the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government to work in tandem to tackle the crisis in the valley and urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is currently on a two-day visit to Kashmir to not only talk with all stakeholders, but also with representatives of non-mainstream parties and youth. "I hope the Home Minister will not only hold discussions with mainstream political parties, but also hold talks with non-state political parties, stakeholders and different communities," Azad said. The senior Congress leader also said there is a need for dialogue to end the violence in the Valley, not weapons. He said, " A lot of bloodshed has taken place, many have been injured, including 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, dialogue should be adopted." On Wednesday, the Congress Party, the National Conference and the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP)-led delegation met Rajnath Singh and discussed the situation in the valley. 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. Prime Minister Modi has asked all political parties to work together to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problems in the state. (ANI)
Ratan had been missing since Sunday when the complaint was filed against him.

An FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections covering rape and criminal intimidation has been registered against Ratan.

Following the shocking development, Ratan was expelled from the All India Students' Association (AISA).

The AISA had released a statement earlier announcing their decision to expel Ratan from the party and that they will reflect on and deal with it with the firmness it deserves.

"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. The fact that a leading activist of ours is accused of sexual violence, calls for serious introspection and re-invigorating the process of sensitisation against sexual violence within and outside the organisation," the statement said. (ANI)
Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts in the December 16, 2012, Nirbhaya gang-rape, was being treated at a city hospital after he tried to commit suicide by hanging himself inside his cell in Tihar Jail, an official said on Thursday Sharma was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital (DDU) after he consumed pills and tried to hang himself from the ventilator of his cell by using a towel on Wednesday night. "Tamil Nadu Police security personnel prevented Vinay from commiting suicide after they saw him trying to hang himself in his cell around 9.30 p.m. He was immediately taken to DDU hospital for treatment. He is now reportedly out of danger," Tihar Jail Superintendent Bijendra Kumar told IANS. The officer said that Sharma has been lodged in Jail No.8 of the high security ward in Tihar. He, however, said the reason for the attempt was not known. "I cannot say why he tried to commit suicide as we immediately sent him to hospital for treatment," Kumar said. Asked if Sharma was being harassed inside the jail which led him to take such step, Kumar said: "We did not get any such complaint from his side." Sharma's lawyer A.P. Singh claimed that it was not a suicide attempt but attempt to murder. "Few days ago, I met him in jail where he complained about torture inside the jail premises," Singh told IANS. Sharma had in 2013 demanded extra security in jail, claiming that he was being beaten up by other inmates and police officials. Sharma, Mukesh, Pawan, Akshay Thakur and Ram Singh, along with a juvenile, were accused of gang-raping and brutally assaulting a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a private bus. The victim and her friend were thrown out of the bus after the crime. The victim died of grave intestinal injuries on December 29, 2012, at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital where she was airlifted for specialised treatment. Vinay, along with three others, had approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's 2014 verdict that described their offence as "rarest of rare" and handed them death penalities. Sharma is the second among the all gang-rape accused who tried to commit suicide. In 2013, Ram Singh, the prime accused in the case and the driver of the bus in which the gang-rape occurred, was found dead in the Tihar Jail. --IANS rak/ksk/sac ( 404 Words) 2016-08-25-12:19:56 (IANS)
In his message for the day, President Mr Mukherjee called upon people to followthe path of virtue, righteousness in thoughts and words and deed. Mr Mukherjee said "Warm greetings and good wishes to all my fellow countrymen onthe joyous occasion of Janmashtami..,..Lord Krishna's life and teachings emphasize the importance of performing one's duty without thought of reward".

"Lord Krishna's life and teachings also emphasize the importance of different paths leading to the same goal", the President said adding "On this auspicious day, let us commit ourselves to following the path of virtue & righteousness in thought, word & deed".

Prime Minister Mr Modi also greeted people on the occasion. "Jai Shri Krishna ! Janmashtami greetings to all", Mr Modi wrote on his twitter handle. Greeting people on the festive day, Congress Vice President Mr Gandhi tweeted "Wishing you all on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami".UNI SS ADG 1210

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-903037.Xml
This is President Sisi's second visit in less than a year. He had come here in October last year to take part in the third India-Africa Summit.

The visit is in continuation of Mr Modi's agenda for deepening engagement with the West Asian and African region. He had visited the UAE and went to Qatara, Saudi Arabia and Iran this year.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had visited Egypt last year.

President Sisi, whose visit is taking place at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, officials and business leaders.

India is Egypt's sixth largest trading partner.

Mr Mukherjee will receive the Egyptian President and host a banquet in his honour. Besides, Vice-President M Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would call on him.

He is expected to meet business leaders of both India and Egypt during his visit.

''India and Egypt enjoy excellent relations marked by strong, traditional and civilisational ties and contribute towards peace and development in the world,'' the Ministry of External Affairs said here.UNI NAZ RSA RJ 1434

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-903247.Xml
Since dawn, devout Hindus thronged temples in the two states to offer special poojas on the occasion.

Unending queues of devotees waiting to participate in the Janmashtami celebrations were seen since 0400 hours at the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple at St.John's Road in Secunderabad.

Religious organisations put up cultural shows in which tiny tots dressed up like Balakrishna took part to the delight of devotees.

Chief Ministers N.Chandrababu Naidu (AP) and K.Chandrasekhar Rao (Telangana) greeted the people on the occasion.UNI SMS CS 1408

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-903223.Xml
Chennai city police have filed a case against former TNCC President and ex-Union Minister E V K S Elangovan, TNCC spokesperson Gopanna and five others for allegedly holding out a threat toTamil Nadu Youth Congress President Vijay Elanchezhian. A police statement here today said, cases were booked under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 352 (assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 506 (2) (Criminal intimidation). Mr Elangovan said the FIR had been filed following an incident two daysback when the Youth Congress President wanted an office of his own at the TNCC Headquarters Sathyamoorthy Bhavan. He said he had asked him to wait till the new TNCC president was appointed. Without heeding his words, Elanchezhian broke into the office meantfor media, though the room keys were with the office manager, he added. UNI GV CS 1431 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-903264.Xml
A movie based on the events, which occurred in the aftermath of the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, will release in theatres across the country on October 7.Directed by National award winning filmmaker Shivaji Lotan Patil, '31st October', featuring Soha Ali Khan and Vir Das, is a depiction of events in the aftermath of Ms Gandhi's assassination, which affected millions in India and abroad.The flick is based on a true story of a Sikh family and their journey against all odds for survival.Announcing the release date of the film, Writer-producer Harry Sachdeva and co-producer Anand Prakash said, ''We are proud to bring this subject on the big screen and we are glad that after crossing all the hurdles, our film '31st October' will be released worldwide on October 7.'' Talking about the flick, which is to be released worldwide by Panorama Studios, Director Shivaji said, ''it was a great opportunity for me to direct this subject. It's the first film ever on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination and it's a film for the world audience''. According to Kumar Mangat, Chairman of Panorama Studios, ''Panorama Studios is proud to be associated with the film 31st October. The flick has a global appeal and is a must watch human interest story, especially for the youth. I appreciate the efforts of the filmmaker to attempt such a bold and a brilliant subject and bring it to the big screen''. The movie, which was stuck with the Censor Board for long, was recently cleared by the CBFC after suggesting nine major cuts.UNI AR CJ RJ 1446 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-903238.Xml
Telangana IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan today said that the Hyderabad will take over Bangaluru in startups arena by 2020. Replying to a question at a press conference convened on the occasion of the 4th Edition of the 'August Fest' scheduled to be held on September 3 and 4 here, Mr Ranjan said some reports says that the Hyderabad is potential for over taking Bengaluru in startups arena during the next four years. The Study done exactly because we have terrific infrastructure, pool of mentors, presence of lot of academic institutions collaborating each others to support startup innovations in a very big way. We also focused sector based incubators. Lot of private incubations also coming. Government policies in also very supportive for startups and most important is T.Hub. We will celebrate first anniversary of T.Hub on November 5, this year. On the occasion government will release its annual report. Several companies sending their representatives regularly to the T.Hub. " Our focus is not just on T-Hub alone. I am on the board of the T-Hub, which recently decided that start-ups which are outside the ambit of T-Hub also should get the same benefits as those in the T-Hub Incubation", he said. The IT Secretary said, when August Fest organised its first conference in 2013, nobody knew what start-ups. Today it is a different situation. The August Fest has contributed immensely in developing Startup Ecosystem in the city, he said. He said the state government continue to support the various activities of the August Fest. " We are bringing the best of the minds from across India and the world to Hyderabad for August Fest with 107 speakers and 12,000 participants participating. There will be 125 Startup pitches and 20 workshops this year", said Kiran Maveric, the founder of Eat, Sleep, Drink(ESD) Startup which has conceptualized the August Fest. A first of its kind activity that showcases many products in India. We have invited Limca book of records team to evaluate, Kiran said. Some of our speakers include Carman Chan - Hong Kong - Investor in over 25 companies including Spotify, Meetup.com and Palantir Technologies, Ernest Sanchez - Spain - Entrepreneur and Investor who is looking to set up an accelerator in India, Soundarya Rajinikanth - Entrepreneur, Film Maker and daughter of Rajinikanth, Charu Sharma - Founder of Pro Kabaddi League, Shobu Yarlagadda - Producer of Baahubali. And Neal Cross - Singapore - Innovation Head at DBS Bank.UNI VV CS 1613 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-903436.Xml
As many as 300 retrenched PWD employees were today arrested when they attempted to picket the legislative assembly which is in session, demanding their reinstatement. According to police, the retrenched employees, who are on a series of agitations to press their reinstatement, gathered on the Ginjee Saalai to march to the Assembly and picket it. However, police denied them permission. They later resorted to a road blockade and courted arrest. It may be noted that over 2500 part time and voucher employees of the Public Works Department (PWD) were terminated during the assembly election here on a direction from the Election Commission of India, as they were reportedly appointed violating the Model Code of Conduct of election.UNI PAB CS 1636 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-903507.Xml
Reiterating her stand that only five per cent of the population is creating violence in Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said that 95 per cent of the people living in the valley want resolution to all the issues through dialogue and peaceful means. ''Ninety-five per cent people of the state don't want violence, they want resolution to all problems through dialogue and peaceful means. They don't want to throw stones, they don't want violence. They don't want to accomplish an objective by attacking an establishment,'' Ms Mufti said, while addressing a joint press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit. Asserting that five per cent population engaged in violence will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law, Mr Mufti said they will not be allowed to disrupt the life of people, who want to live in peace. ''Youngsters of the Valley are being used as shields to attack Army camps by some elements, who want our children to suffer,'' she added. Expressing hope that the Centre will reach out to the larger section of peace loving population in the valley, she said ''let us differentiate between those people who want resolution of a problem through dialogue, reconciliation and people, who are exploiting small kids and making them attack camps and pelt stones on roads.''I'm hopeful that the Home Minister will concentrate with the larger portion of the population, who want resolution of all issues through peaceful means,'' she added. The Chief Minister, making a distinction between the situation in 2010 and now in 2016, said at that time, there was a Machil fake encounter, when people were very angry about it. ''Whatever happened in 2010, there was a reason. There was a fake encounter and people were angry that is why they took to streets. What is happening now is totally different. Don't compare 2010 and 2016. The unrest has no reason. What is the fault of my government? Three militants were killed, there is nothing new, it has been happening in Kashmir. Why the protests?,'' the Chief Minister asked. In reply to a question, she said security forces opened fire, when their camps and police stations were attacked. ''Don't tell me that teenagers had gone to purchase a toffee or milk, when they attacked security force camp and police stations.''It was me, who rescued the youths from south Kashmir from being taken to bonded labour by security forces in 2000. I saved them from Task Force of Jammu and Kashmir Police,'' she claimed. However, the Chief Minister assured that there will be an enquiry into the killing of a lecturer, who was allegedly beaten to death by security forces at Khrew in Pulwama. ''I also want inquiry into the death of the lecturer,'' she said.UNI ABS CJ RJ 1509 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0404-903345.Xml
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat reached here today for his six-day stay in this Uttar Pradesh capital.The RSS chief is camping in UP for the past several days. He recently also stayed in the Taj city of Agra. According to RSS officials here, this is the annual visit of the Sarsanghachalak, during which he reviews the functioning of Awadh, Kashi and Kanpur regions.All the meetings would be held at Saraswati Kunj headquarters of Niralanagar in the state capital. "The RSS chief will separately talk to the office bearers of different regions on separate days," official said.The RSS chief is spending much time in UP in the recent past and it is being viewed as an effort to garner the cadre in support of BJP, for the crucial UP polls early next year.UNI MB CJ RJ 1903 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-903850.Xml
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today announced that a "Nodal Officer" would be designated in the MHA to address the grievances of people of Kashmir directly. The officer would report directly to the Home Minister and the Home Secretary and also would be in direct touch with the administrative machinery of J&K. The Officer would be of rank of Joint Secretary or even more and he would be made accessible easily to all Kashmiri youths and for this purpose, a separate number would be allotted to him. The Home Minister, who was on a two-day visit to Kashmir, announced it during a media address in Srinagar. Mr Singh visited there in a renewed effort to reach out to the people of the State and to talk to the Opposition parties in order to seek an end to the ongoing turbulence. During the second day of his visit to Srinagar, Mr Singh met J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who had detailed discussions with him on the Kashmir situation and its security. The infiltration across the border was also discussed in length. The two leaders, after the meeting concluded that 95 per cent of Kashmir people wanted peace in the Valley. They also pointed out that stringent action would be taken against those remaining five per cent, the miscreants, who would attack the security forces, and instigate the local innocent people against the Centre disturbing peace and harmony in the State. After meeting with the Chief Minister, the Home Minister met about 20 delegations of civil society, some more political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals. Of these, a six-member delegation of the resident Sikh community discussed with the Home Minister the concerns of minorities in the state. Besides, a three member delegation of Panthers Party and delegation of Coordination Committee of the Janata Dal (United) also met the Minister. Mr Singh also met delegations of all major political parties, including the state's ruling PDP and BJP, main Opposition National Conference, besides Congress, CPI(M), regional People's Conference, People's Democratic Front and Democratic Party Nationalists who held talks with him. UNI XC RSA RJ 1923 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-903859.Xml
A Delhi court today sent JNU student Anmol Ratan in 14-day judicial custody for allegedly raping a 28-year-old fellow student in the university hostel. Ratan, an All India Students' Association (AISA) activist, was accused of raping a first-year PhD student on August 20. The PhD student in her complaint alleged that she on a Facebook post enquired about whether anyone had a copy of Marathi film 'Sairat', the accused messaged her and claimed to have the CD and asked her to come to his Brahamputra hostel. On the pretext of giving her the CD on August 20, he took her to the hostel and offered her a spiked drink and raped her, the complainant alleged. The victim filed a police complaint against Ratan at Vasant Kunj (North) police station. On the basis of her complainant, the police have registered a case under section 376 (rape) and section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant has recorded her statement before Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The accused had surrendered before the police last night Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal heard the anticipatory bail application moved on behalf of Ratan and adjourned the further hearing on August 27 on the request of prosecution. A Duty Magistrate at Patiala House courts complex today after hearing the submission on behalf of Delhi police sent the accused to 14-day judicial custody when the police decided not to seek his police custody. UNI XC SHS SW 2104 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-904093.Xml
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today called upon minorities from all over the country to raise awareness among Kashmiri youth against terror elements. Addressing Minority Youth conclave, organised by Delhi BJP's Minority wing here, Mr Naqvi said youth of Kashmir were being misled and people must expose those who were running 'bankrupt shops of terrorism' and trying to mislead Kashmiri youth. He said the Narendra Modi-led government has given a corruption and fear free atmosphere in the country. ''We have raised India's pride world over with developed countries craving to reach out to India and to invest and work here. Be it emperor of Saudi Arab or people of Afghanistan all have decorated Mr Modi with their national awards,'' he said. Hailing the Prime Minister's pet schemes like Start up India, Mudra Yojna and Skill Development, the Minister said he will soon organise Progress Panchayats especially for minority youth to take benefits to the doorsteps of minorities. He said Muslim participation in government administration was growing speedily under the Modi regime, claiming that it was 7 per cent in January 2014 while today it is 9 per cent and by 2017 end, it will go up to 11 per cent. The event witnessed more than 1,000 Muslims joining the saffron party amid the presence of Minority wing national president Abdul Rasheed, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay and other senior BJP leaders. UNI RG SW 2042 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0377-904092.Xml
Sharma said famous Jain Muni, Tarun Sagar Ji Maharaj, will deliver 'Kadve Pravachan' at the Vidhan Sabha complex on the first day of the assembly's monsoon session which starts on Friday.

This was unanimously decided at an all-party meeting held here recently, Sharma said.

"I had requested him to address assembly members. The 'Kadve Pravachan' programme will be held at Vidhan Sabha at 3 p.m. in which Chief Minister Manohar Lal, all ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and other MLAs will be present," Sharma said.

Haryana has a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government since October 2014.

--IANS js/kb/vt

( 131 Words)

2016-08-25-21:03:57 (IANS)
Three women were among the wounded. According to the Emergency Hospital in Kabul, three people were critically injured, TOLOnews tweeted.

Ahmad Samin, a Chemistry teacher said that he was lecturing when the assailants struck the American University of Afghanistan, CNN reported.

The attackers opened fire and detonated explosives on the campus. Quickly, the lights went out in Samin's classroom.

"It was very dark, (and) everyone was running. Everyone started screaming," Samin was quoted as saying.

Amid black smoke, he took off running with the students and other faculty.

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.

--IANS sku/

( 200 Words)

2016-08-25-03:11:56 (IANS)
Citing Italy''s national news agency ANSA, CNN reported that at least 159 people were killed as rescue operations were underway in the Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto towns of Italy.

Earlier in the day Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that at least 120 people were killed and 368 injured in the disaster.

"This is not a final toll," Renzi warned.

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.

The Prime Minister had 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.

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.

The town is popular with holidaymakers and most of the 2,500 people left displaced by the earthquake were said to be visitors.

The Italian branch of the Red Cross sent at least 20 ambulances and sniffer dogs to affected areas alongside the Italian Defence Ministry.

--IANS sku/

( 296 Words)

2016-08-25-07:39:56 (IANS)
A defence expert has said that the praise showered on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by activists of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and their move to hold up his pictures and wave Indian flags in their territory, increases India's responsibility towards realising the goal of delivering freedom to the people of Balochistan. M M Khajuria told ANI that the Baloch people expect Prime Minister Modi and the Indian media to lend them a helping hand and support their cause internationally. "They have come out into the open to resist and declare that they appreciate what the Prime Minister of India and the Indian media is doing for them, and they expect them to lend them a helping hand and support their cause in the world forum. This, in fact, increases our (India's) responsibility towards the freedom movement in Balochistan, and, I think, India must devise ways and means of coming up to their expectations," Khajuria added. While the protests have been going on for the past few days in several locations in Balochistan, protesters in Dera Bugti held up pictures of the Indian Prime Minister, late Baloch leader Akbar Bugti and his grandson Brahumdagh Bugti, and raised slogans against Islamabad. They also burnt Pakistan's national flag. Slogans were also raised against Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri for declaring Bugti a traitor and thanking the Indian Prime Minister for highlighting the atrocities meted out to the people in the region by Islamabad. Stating that the freedom movement in Balochistan seemed to have got a fillip after the Indian Prime Minister's reference, Khajuria said, "The kind of acceptance of reality that the people of Balochistan are fighting for their freedom, this is the recognition of the support that the people of Balochistan expect from India, the international forum as well, in awakening world opinion about what they are going through and what they have gone through since 2002." On the United States State Department's expression of concern over human rights violation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Khajuria said that Washington has been forced into doing so after India raised the issue. The Prime Minister, in his concluding remarks at a recently held all-party meeting to discuss the flare-up in Kashmir in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant 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 added. During nation's 70th Independence Day speech, 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.(ANI)
Outgoing UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader and Brexit backer Nigel Farage has urged Republicans to "get your walking boots on" and drum up support for presidential nominee Donald Trump. Farage, joined Trump on stage at a rally in Jackson, Mississippi on Wednesday night to draw similarities between the UK's vote to leave the European Union (EU) and Trump's insurgent campaign and to re-declare American independence, CNN reported. Trump introduced Farage as the man who "brilliantly" led the UKIP's campaign to secure a vote on the future of the UK's 40-year membership of the EU. Although Farage, who attended the Republican convention in Cleveland last month, declined to endorse Trump, he freely opined on the US presidential election. "I will say this: If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me," CNN quoted Farage as saying. Trump, who is trailing his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the opinion polls, backed the UK's exit from the EU that took place on June 24. In a tweet last week, Trump said: "They will soon be calling me Mr Brexit", BBC reported. Farage said he had a "message of hope and optimism" for the Republican Party. He drew on parallels between Mr Trump's bid for the White House and that of the Brexit campaign's "people's army of ordinary citizens", which he said engaged successfully with the public prior to the UK's referendum vote on whether to leave the EU, the BBC reported. "If you want change in this country, you better get your walking boots on, you better get out there campaigning," Farage said. Farage's visit comes as Trump continues to struggle in the polls, and the conservative British politician also sought to encourage Trump supporters not to despair, pointing to polling in the UK that hinted at defeat for the referendum to leave the EU, CNN noted. "And actually they were all wrong," Farage said, adding "Remember, anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment." --IANS ksk ( 358 Words) 2016-08-25-08:29:55 (IANS)
The US State Department condemned the attack today on the American University of Afghanistan in the strongest possible terms, calling it an attack on the future of Afghanistan.State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the US Embassy was working to account for all of its personnel and to locate and assist any US citizens affected by the attack.REUTERS DS0001 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-902792.Xml
An earthquake flattened towns in central Italy in the early hours today, 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 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 dollars) 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 RUBBLEPatients 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 US 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. REUTERS DS0010 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-902798.Xml
The US State Department today strongly condemned North Korea's latest submarine-launched ballistic missile test and called upon Pyongyang to refrain from actions and rhetoric that raise tensions in the region.State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said US commitment to protect its allies in the region from North Korea's threats remained "iron-clad," and called yesterday's test the latest "in an accelerating campaign of missile tests" that violate UN Security Council resolutions barring such activity. REUTERS DS0015 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-902800.Xml
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump threatened today to slap tariffs on Chinese products to show Beijing that the United States is "not playing games anymore" when it comes to leveling the field on trade.Addressing a rally in Tampa, Florida, Trump said that if he was elected in November, he would instruct the US trade representative to bring cases against China both in the United States and at the World Trade Organization.Tariffs would be necessary in some cases "because they have to understand that we're not playing games anymore," he added. Trump had previously pledged a 45 per cent tariff on Chinese goods.Trump said today that the trade deficit with China was more than 500 billion dollars, although the figure given by the US government put it at 367 billion dollars in 2015. The United States has brought cases against China at the WTO, and US officials have frequently slapped antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese products under US law based on complaints brought by US producers.Trump, who is running behind Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in opinion polls, has pledged to return manufacturing jobs to America, although many economists believe that the "China shock" has long since passed.Economists at the Federal Reserve and elsewhere estimate that the "China shock" in the wake of the country's accession to the WTO cost 800,000 to 1 million jobs in the United States. By way of comparison, US manufacturing has shed 5 million jobs since 2000. REUTERS DS0150 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-902820.Xml
The German military is preparing for a possible withdrawal of six Tornado reconnaissance jets from Turkey's Incirlik Air Base given Ankara's continued refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit the facility, Der Spiegel magazine reported today.The magazine said the German Bundeswehr was evaluating whether it could move the warplanes and refuelling aircraft, which are supporting the US-led coalition's aerial attacks on Islamic State targets, to Jordan or Cyprus. It quoted unnamed military sources as saying such a move would interrupt the reconnaissance flights for at least two months.The German Defence Ministry gave no details about its plans."We would like to continue the mission from Turkey, but there are alternatives to the base in Incirlik," the magazine quoted a ministry spokesman as saying.The Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government, are now insisting that Germany should withdraw its aircraft and troops from the base given Turkey's refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit the base."The German government must immediately find other bases for the German soldiers," the magazine quoted Rainer Arnold, defence spokesman for the Social Democrats in parliament, as saying.Turkey, angered by a resolution passed by the German parliament in June that branded the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces as a "genocide", has denied German lawmakers access to the base.Tensions between the two NATO allies have spiked after the thwarted July 15 coup, with Turkey angry about what it called Germany's sluggish response in condemning the putsch and expressing concern about those killed. Senior German officials have sought to reassure Ankara while continuing to raise concerns about Turkey's crackdown on alleged coup supporters.Merkel last month said the parliamentarians must be allowed to visit the 250 soldiers at the base, although she stopped short of threatening to withdraw the troops.Arnold said he viewed an extension of the parliamentary mandate for the German military mission in Turkey as impossible. Without the approval of the SPD, the government cannot extend the mission when it expires in December.Turkish officials blocked a visit to the base by several German lawmakers earlier this summer, and last week told reporters that they would not approve a separate visit planned by members of the German budget committee in October.Arnold said the dispute would also prevent Germany's participation in a separate NATO AWACS airborne warning mission from a different Turkish base.Without German participation, the NATO mission would be difficult to execute, the magazine reported, noting that all 16 of NATO's AWACS jets are based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, and a third of all crews are German soldiers.REUTERS DS0526 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-902853.Xml
Afghan security forces killed two gunmen who attacked the American University in Kabul, police said early today, ending an assault on the compound that killed at least one person and sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic.The attack at around 6:30 pm local time (1930 IST) yesterday 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 pupils were working.Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded."The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team. More details will be announced soon."Information on casualties remained uncertain, but the Afghan Public health Ministry said one guard was killed and at least 21 people were wounded, six critically. No foreigners were reported among the wounded.Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Reuters earlier today that security forces had rescued around 500 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan's elite.DESPERATE ESCAPESTerrified 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," he said.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 August 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 swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.The United States said it was closely monitoring the situation in Kabul following the university attack and that forces from the US-led coalition were involved in the response in an advise-and-assist role.State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the US Embassy was working to account for all of its personnel and to locate and assist any US citizens affected by the attack.REUTERS DS0703 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-902866.Xml
Myanmar sent truckloads of soldiers and squadrons of police to protect and rebuild centuries-old Buddhist pagodas around the ancient capital of Bagan today, a day after at least 187 of the brick temples were damaged in a powerful earthquake.The Fire Department and authorities scrambled to assess the full extent of the damage from the 6.8 magnitude quake that shook buildings across the Southeast Asian country yesterday.But the overall damage and impact on local residents appeared limited, government officials said. Most reports were of damage to the famed pagodas in central Myanmar, particularly around Bagan, and smaller, basic buildings.Red Cross officials said they received reports of three people who died in the tremor - two children and one resident from two towns close to the epicentre.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck near the town of Chauk, south of Bagan, about 175 km (110 miles) southwest of the country's second city Mandalay at around 5 p.m. (1600 IST). Tremors were felt as far away as Thailand, Bangladesh and India.Amanda George from the International Red Cross in Myanmar said that while the organization continued to provide help and assistance in search and rescue operations, it was not treating it as a major emergency situation."The government-run National Emergency Operation Centre stood down at about 8 p.m. last night. We normally follow their lead and coordinate closely," said George."We continue to provide assistance to injured people, but we don't see this as a major disaster."Reuters witnesses saw trucks of soldiers moving into Bagan on Thursday morning. Police officers cordoned off most the damaged ancient pagodas.Bagan, the centrepiece of Myanmar's fast-growing tourism industry, 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 Southeast Asia's premier archaeological site."I am very sad because our ancient pagodas are damaged and some have collapsed now. I hope nothing like that happens again," said Aung Naing Win, 32, a craft maker from Bagan."But perhaps the authorities should leave some damaged ones unrepaired so that future generations can see such disasters happen," he said.Myanmar is in a seismically active part of the world where the Indo-Australian Plate runs up against the Eurasian Plate. A magnitude 6.9 tremor hit northwestern Myanmar in April but caused no major loss of life.The Fire Department and police in the town of Pakkoku - the biggest of the towns close to the epicentre - said many buildings were cracked and it has sent several trucks to assess the damage.In Chauk, one building had nearly collapsed and was sealed off, according to a local official from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party."Other buildings have visible cracks, but apart from that there's no extensive damage," said Maung Maung Kyaw.REUTERS JW PM1125 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-903000.Xml
The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy rose sharply to almost 250 people early today after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.The provisional toll jumped to 247 from the 159 dead listed last night, national and regional officials said as a wave of aftershocks rattled a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome.The strong 6.2 magnitude quake struck early on Wednesday as people slept, razing homes and buckling roads. It was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, both more than 220 km (135 miles) from the epicentre.The sun rose on Thursday on many people who had slept in cars or tents, the earth continuing to tremble under their feet. Two powerful aftershocks registered 5.1 and 5.4.Officials said the death toll seemed destined to rise further. The toll appeared likely to surpass that from the last major quake to strike Italy, a temblor that killed more than 300 people in the central city of L''Aquila in 2009.At least 368 injured people had been taken to hospital by late on Wednesday, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.One hotel that collapsed in the small town of Amatrice probably had about 70 guests and only seven bodies had been recovered so far, said the mayor of the one of the worst-hit towns.Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her alive from the rubble where she had lain for some 17 hours in the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto.Many other children were not so lucky. A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when their house imploded in the nearby village 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.Renzi said the Cabinet would meet on Thursday to decide measures to help the affected communities."Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction," he told reporters late on Wednesday.MANY VICTIMS VISITORSAerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy''s most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the quake. Inhabitants of the four worst-hit small towns rise by as much as tenfold in the summer, and many of those killed or missing were visitors.The civil protection agency said it was trying to determine how many people were staying in the Hotel Roma, Amatrice''s best-known accommodation that mayor Sergio Pirozzi said had collapsed.Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio bearing 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.Italy''s earthquake institute, INGV, said the epicentre was near Accumoli and Amatrice, which lie between the larger towns of Ascoli Piceno to the northeast and Rieti to the southwest.The quake was relatively shallow at 4 km (2.5 miles) below the earth''s surface. INGV reported 150 aftershocks in the 12 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 most deadly temblor 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.REUTERS JW RK1155 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-903015.Xml
Managing labour concerns. MoS @Gen_VKSingh w/SL FM at inaugural of 5th Ministerial Consultation of Colombo Process,External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Addressing a shared need. MOS speaks on overseas employment & contractual labour for countries of origin in Asia, he stated in another tweet.

The ministerial consultation is a process that was started by the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) with the Sri Lankan government in 2003 in Colombo to look into the issues relating to workers from south and southeast Asia migrating mostly to Gulf countries and also to North America, Europe and other Asian countries.

The 11 participating member nations are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Thursday's meeting, being held under the chairmanship of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Thalatha Athukorala, comes at a time when a large number of expatriate workers in the Gulf are facing problems due to an economic slowdown caused by falling oil prices.

The IOM and the Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation are the main hosting organisations of the meeting being held under the theme Migration for Prosperity: Adding Value by Working Together.

--IANS ab/vm

( 231 Words)

2016-08-25-12:39:56 (IANS)
Russia today launched a largescale surprise check for combat preparation of the country's armed forces in the Southern, Western and Central military districts, in the Northern Fleet and also in major commands of the Aerospace and Airborne Forces. The week-long surprise check of combat readiness of armed forces in these military districts will be held from August 25 to 31."Today, another snap check has started in Russia, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces (President Vladimir Putin) ," Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with military leadership."The forces of the Southern, a part of forces and means of the Western and Central military districts, the Northern Fleet, the major command of the Aerospace Forces and the command of the Airborne forces are put on full combat alert from 0700 hrs Moscow time," Mr Shoigu said.He added that the surprise combat readiness check will allow to assess how the three military districts would react to crises in the country's southwest."The check will be conducted on August 25-31. I order Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov to inform military attaches of foreign states about the surprise overall combat readiness check of forces," Shoigu said."During regrouping, the Southern Military District's readiness to promptly deploy self-sufficient forces to localize crises will be assessed. The capabilities of the Western and Central military districts to increase efforts in the southwestern strategic direction will be checked," he said.He noted that during the first 24 hours, it is necessary to check the "military's ability to perform specific combat readiness activities." Later, military units would leave for firing ranges and training areas to prepare to solve the tasks within the framework of the exercises, the Defence Minister added.UNI XC JW CJ RJ 1445 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-903204.Xml
A 29-year-old man has been charged with murder as an alleged infatuation with a British woman emerged focus of a police investigation into her stabbing death at an Australian backpackers hostel. French-Algerian man Smail Ayad had met Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, just days earlier as her roommate at the hostel in Home Hill, where he was arrested on Tuesday for stabbing her, the Guardian reported. Ayad allegedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" -- God is greatest in Arabic -- during the attack, in which two men who came to Ayliffe-Chung's aid were wounded, including a British man with critical injuries. However, detective superintendent Ray Rohweder said on Thursday there was "no indication whatsoever that any radicalisation or any political motives existed to cause him to attack the people that he did". Ayad faces a charge of murdering Ayliffe-Chung and one of the attempted murder of Briton Tom Jackson. He also faces a serious animal cruelty charge over the fatal wounding of a dog and charges allegedly relating to serious assaults on 12 police officers following his arrest. He will appear in Townsville magistrates court on Friday by videolink. Ayads assaults in custody include biting one officer. Police used a stun gun and capsicum spray to subdue him in the Townsville watchhouse. Rohweder said this arrangement was agreed to by Ayads legal representatives. Rohweder said Ayad, who had consular assistance from the French government, had declined to be interviewed by the police before being charged. Jacksons father was due to arrive from Britain to visit his critically injured son in Townsville hospital on Thursday night who remained "very ill", according to Rohweder. He also said a toxicology test result on Ayad was not yet available but police, who were examining whether mental health or drugs misuse issues were factors in the incident, said he had smoked cannabis on the night of the attacks. Body cameras worn by police recorded him again uttering "Allahu Akbar" when he was arrested at Shelleys Backpackers, but French nationals who witnessed the incident have told police Ayads shouted speech that was incoherent and nonsensical. Ayad, who had been in Australia on a temporary visa since March, allegedly told fellow hostel guests he planned to marry Ayliffe-Chung in the days before the attack. The alleged attack was witnessed by up to 30 onlookers, some of whom are understood to have recorded the incident on their mobile phone cameras. Ayliffe-Chungs mother paid tribute to her from England, describing her as an amazing, adventurous and sassy daughter. Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire in Britain, was days into a three-month stint doing casual labour on farms in the area -- a condition by which working holiday makers can extend their visit to Australia. Queensland police had sought the involvement of the Australian federal police in the investigation in response to Ayads alleged cries of "Allahu Akbar". --IANS py/dg ( 480 Words) 2016-08-25-16:03:58 (IANS)
Akbar was at the time of his death leading a Crisis Response Unit team in the university to safely evacuate the students there, reports Tolo News.

Also known as "Akbar e Daraz", he was likened to the historic Greek mythological warrior "Achilles" for his courage and decisiveness.

He had since 2009 participated in over 30 high profile attacks in Kabul, including the attack on the Pashtani Bank, the Ministry of Justice, the Intercontinental Hotel, the Serena Hotel attack, Kabul airport attack, Parliament, Green Village guest house and many more.

He had also been involved in numerous intelligence-led night raids in various provinces of Afghanistan and had successfully led his team in helping retake Kunduz city last year. (ANI)
Thirteen people, including students and a professor, were killed in an attack on the American University in Kabul that had students leaping from the windows in panic, the Afghan government said today.The attack began yesterday evening with a large explosion from what officials said was a car bomb followed by gunfire, as suspected militants stormed into the complex where foreign staff and pupils were working.It ended early today when two gunmen were shot dead by Afghan special forces who surrounded the walled compound and worked their way inside, interior ministry officials said.The Afghan presidential palace said in a statement that seven students, three security force personnel, two security guards and one professor were killed in the attack, the second incident involving the university this month.Islamist militant groups, mainly the Afghan Taliban and a local offshoot of Islamic State, have claimed a string of bomb attacks aimed at toppling the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.But there was no claim of responsibility for the raid.Ghani, in a statement, called the assault "a cowardly attempt" to hinder progress in Afghanistan. Such attacks would only strengthen the government's resolve to fight terror, he said.The university said it was working with authorities to make sure everyone was accounted for.Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police criminal investigation department, told Reuters that police had evacuated between 700 and 750 students from the university, which is popular with the children of Afghanistan's elite.The Afghan presidential palace said initial findings by the intelligence services showed that the attack was planned in neighbouring Pakistan. Afghanistan frequently accuses militants it says are in Pakistan for attacks on its soil.Pakistani government and army spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment. Authorities in Islamabad have long rejected accusations that Pakistan has provided support and sanctuary to militants who would attack Afghanistan.DESPERATE ESCAPESThe gunmen got into the building despite armed guards and watchtowers.Students recounted barricading themselves in classrooms or jumping from windows to escape when the attack started."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," he said.Others used an an emergency exit, scaled walls and jumped to safety.It was the second time this month that the university or its staff had been targeted.Two teachers, an American and an Australian, were abducted at gunpoint from a road near the university on August 7. They are still missing.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 the security 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 foreign troops remain to train and assist Afghan forces, while several thousand other US 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 attack and that forces from the US-led coalition were involved in the response in an advise-and-assist role.REUTERS SHS VN2026 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-904084.Xml
"To maintain peace and stability in the China-India border areas is an important consensus reached by the two sides. We hope that the Indian side can do more to benefit peace and stability along the border and in the region, rather than the contrary," Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Col Wu Qian said at a press briefing.

The remarks came in response to a question over a People's Liberation Army Daily commentary criticising the Indian government's decision to deploy advanced cruise missiles in areas along the India-China border.

According to reports, the Indian government has sanctioned induction of BrahMos supersonic missiles, with steep-diving capabilities, to be deployed on its eastern border with China.

The PLA Daily, the official publication of Peoples Liberation Army, warned that Indias move could lead to counter measures from China.

The BrahMos cruise missile is a joint venture between Russia and India.

--IANS ask/rn/vt

( 198 Words)

2016-08-25-21:37:56 (IANS)
Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria today and demanded Kurdish militia fighters retreat within a week as it seeks to secure the border region and drive back Islamic State with its first major incursion into its neighbour.Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes yesterday entered Jarablus, one of Islamic State's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border. Gunfire and explosions echoed around hills in the region today.Some of the blasts were triggered as Turkish security forces cleared mines and booby traps left by retreating Islamic State militants, according to Nuh Kocaaslan, the mayor of Karkamis, which sits just across the border from Jarablus.Three Syrian rebels were killed during the operation to take Jarablus, one of them when he opened the door of a house rigged with explosives, Kocaaslan told reporters. There were no casualties among the Turkish troops.President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made clear the aim of "Operation Euphrates Shield" is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG militia seizing territory and filling the void left by Islamic State as about eliminating the radical Islamist group itself.Turkey, which has NATO's second biggest armed forces, demanded that the YPG retreat to the east side of the Euphrates river within a week. The Kurdish militia had moved west of the river earlier this month as part of a US-backed operation, now completed, to capture the city of Manbij from Islamic State.Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to Kurdish militants waging a three-decade-old insurgency on its own soil. It has been alarmed by the YPG's gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.Turkey's stance has put it at odds with Washington, which sees the YPG as a rare reliable ally on the ground in Syria, where Washington is trying to defeat Islamic State while also opposing President Bashar al-Assad's government in a complex, multi-sided five-year-old civil war.The Syrian Kurdish force is one of the most powerful militias in Syria and regarded as the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance formed last October to fight Islamic State.Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said preventing the Kurdish PYD party - the political arm of the YPG - from uniting Kurdish cantons east of Jarablus with those further west was a priority."Islamic State should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must. But it's not enough for us.... The PYD and the YPG militia should not replace Islamic State there," Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV."The PYD's biggest dream is to unify the western and eastern cantons. We cannot let this happen," he said.EUPHRATESUS Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu by phone today that YPG fighters were retreating to the east side of the Euphrates, as Turkey has demanded, foreign ministry sources in Ankara said.A spokesman for the US-led coalition against Islamic State also said the SDF had withdrawn across the Euphrates, doing so "to prepare for the eventual liberation" of Raqqa, the radical group's stronghold in northern Syria, which is to the east.Isik said the retreat was not yet complete and Washington had given assurances that this would happen in the next week."We are closely following this ... If the PYD does not retreat to east of the Euphrates, we have the right to do everything about it," he said.The offensive 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 came four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.US Vice President Joe Biden, who met Erdogan during a trip to Turkey yesterday, said Turkey was ready to stay in Syria for as long as it takes to destroy the radical Islamist group."I think there has been a gradual mind shift ... in Turkey, with the realization that ISIL is an existential threat to Turkey," he told reporters during a visit to Sweden, using an acronym for the militant group.A Turkish official said the ground incursion had been in the works for more than two years but had been delayed by US reservations, resistance from some Turkish commanders, and a stand-off with Russia which had made air cover impossible.Turkey had made the case more strongly to Washington over the past few months, had patched up relations with Russia, and had removed some of the Turkish commanders from their posts after finding they were involved in the coup attempt, paving the way for the operation to go ahead, the official said.The incursion 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 Turkey blames for staging last month's failed coup.Washington says it needs clear evidence of Gulen's involvement and that it is a matter for the courts, a position that has sparked an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any role in the coup attempt.REBELS ADVANCEThe sound of gunfire, audible from a hill on the Turkish side of the border overlooking Jarablus, rang out early on Thursday and a plume of black smoke rose over the town. War planes flew overhead.A senior Turkish official said there were now more than 20 Turkish tanks inside Syria and that additional tanks and construction machinery would be sent in as required. A Reuters witness saw at least nine tanks enter today, and 10 more were waiting outside a military outpost on the Turkish side."We need construction machinery to open up roads ... and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armoured personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed," the official said.Erdogan said yesterday that Islamic State had been driven out of Jarablus and that it was now controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who are largely Arab and Turkmen."The myth that the YPG is the only effective force fighting Islamic State has collapsed," Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter, reflecting Turkish frustration at how closely Washington has been working with the Kurdish militia.Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, said on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the YPG, said the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs".After seizing Jarablus, the Turkish-backed rebels have advanced up to 10 km south of the border town, rebel sources and a group monitoring the war said.But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said Kurdish-backed forces opposed by Ankara had gained up to 8 km of ground northwards, apparently seeking to pre-empt advances by the rebels.REUTERS SHS VN2158 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-904165.Xml
ACCRA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The staff of the Electricity Company (ECG), Ghana's major power distributor, on Wednesday began a three-day boycott in protest of the government's plan to allow private sector participation in the company.

The boycott is supposed to last for three hours each day across all regional offices of the firm.

On Wednesday, the workers, clad in red and black attire, reported to their offices but refused to work in the morning to indicate their resistance towards the planned privatization.

The protest left clients who had visited the offices to transact businesses stranded.

According to the workers, who are members of the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), should the concessionary deal be allowed to go through, it would have dire consequences.

"Privatization comes with its own problems. Enough is enough, they have privatized a lot of government institutions and nothing has changed," said Richard Nyaba, Deputy General Secretary of the PUWU.

But the government has defended the proposed takeover of the management of the company by a private entity under a concessionary deal following years of ECG's failure to remain solvent.

President Mahama has said privatizing the company is the best way to ensure its smooth operation even though the trade unions of Ghana have kicked against the move, calling on the government to rescind the decision.

Thirty-three companies have already expressed interest in the concession arrangement to operate ECG for 25 years from 2017.

Under the deal, government's partnership with the private sector will help the ECG collect its debts more efficiently and transform it in terms of technology and efficiency in power distribution. Enditem
LONDON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A committee of British MPs called Wednesday for cosmetic companies across the world to be banned from using plastic microbeads in bathroom products.

Thy say the microbeads commonly used in exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste and shaving gel, causes marine pollution.

MP Mary Creagh, who chairs the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, said in a report issued in Westminster: "Trillions of tiny pieces of plastic are accumulating in the world's oceans, lakes and estuaries, harming marine life and entering the food chain.

"The microbeads in scrubs, shower gels and toothpastes are an avoidable part of this plastic pollution problem. A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean," according to the report.

"Cosmetic companies' voluntary approach to phasing out plastic microbeads simply won't wash. We need a full legal ban, preferably at an international level as pollution does not respect borders," urged the MPs.

"If this isn't possible after our vote to leave the EU, then the government should introduce a national ban. The best way to reduce this pollution is to prevent plastic being flushed into the sea in the first place," added the report.

The committee's report says microplastic pollution comes from the fragmentation of larger pieces of plastic waste, small synthetic fibers from clothing and the microbeads used in cosmetics and other products. It is estimated that as much as 86 tonnes of microplastics is released into the environment every year in Britain from facial exfoliants alone.

The report says most large cosmetics companies have made voluntary commitments to phase out microbeads by 2020.

"However, the committee found that a legislative ban would have advantages for consumers and the industry in terms of consistency, universality and confidence. The committee would like to see a national ban on microbeads by the end of 2017," added the report.

It said the industry is failing to label products containing microbeads clearly, adding: "If the government fails to introduce a ban, the committee is calling on it to introduce a clear labelling scheme for microbeads during the transitional period of a voluntary phase out to provide transparency for customers."

The report describes microplastic pollution as potentially more environmentally damaging than larger pieces of plastic because it is more likely to be eaten by wildlife. Microplastics also have a greater surface area with which to transfer chemicals to and from the marine environment. Relatively little research has been done so far either on potential impacts to marine life, human health or the marine economy.

Creagh added: "Most people would be aghast to learn that their beauty products are causing this ugly pollution. Cosmetic companies need to come clean and label their products containing plastics clearly."

According to the report, microbeads are a significant and avoidable problem, with between 80,000 and 219,000 tonnes of microplastics entering the marine environment across Europe per year.

The report estimates that 15-51 trillion microplastic particles have accumulated in the oceans, and have also been reported at the sea surface and on shorelines worldwide. They are also present in remote locations including deep sea sediments and in arctic sea ice.
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- If the zero fee increases continued, about 19 South African universities would become dysfunctional in 2018, a senior official said Wednesday.

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande said this while briefing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education about the work undertaken on university fee increases for 2017.

Chairperson of the Committee, Connie September, said consideration needs to be given to create lasting stability at institutions of higher education.

"As yet, no decision has been taken on university fee increases and thus there is no need to threaten closing institutions of higher learning," September said.

She called on all stakeholders in the sector to collectively work towards consensus to improve education for all.

The Committee has recommended a 6.3 percent fee hike for the next academic year, saying a zero increment will put a lot of pressure on the institutions of higher learning.

But students demand zero fee increases, threatening to disrupt universities if their demand is not met.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. The government later suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall. Enditem
GARISSA, Kenya, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says more than 24,000 Somali refugees have been repatriated from Kenya since a tripartite deal was signed in 2014.

Speaking at the Dadaab refugee camp in northeast Kenya on Wednesday, UNHCR Kenya Deputy Representative, Wella Kouyou, said some 18,000 Somali refugees returned home this year as UNHCR stepped up the voluntary repatriation.

Kouyou said UNHCR would work closely with the Kenyan and Somali governments to ensure that return of refugees is not only voluntary but done in dignified manner.

Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp, was set up some 20 years ago to house people fleeing conflict in Somalia.

The Kenya government earlier this year said it would close the camp and repatriate all the more than 300,000 Somali refugees living in it, citing enviromental and security concerns.

The government claims Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants have hideouts in Dadaab. A savage Al-Shabaab attack at Garissa University College in northeast Kenya last April killed 148 people, most of whom are students.

UNHCR, Kenya and Somalia signed a tripartite agreement on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees in 2014, but the process has been slow until this year.

However, Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Nkaissery, said on Sunday that the repatriation was facing uncertainty as the government must adhere to UN conventions and protocols.

Nkaissery said that although the government was determined to carry out the exercise, dialogue on the matter was still ongoing.

Nkaissery said Kenya had to make sure that Somalia is adequately prepared to receive its people, hinting a softened position on the Dadaab closure.

He said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will next month lead a Kenyan delegation to the UN General Assembly, where the modalities of the repatriation process will be discussed, with the hope that Kenya's stand on the issue will be supported. Enditem
RAMALLAH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that several countries, including Russia, seek to hold Palestinian-Israeli talks.

Riad Al-Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, told the official Palestinian radio station that several states are seeking to host preparatory meetings for Israeli and Palestinian officials in order to pave the way ahead of an international peace conference, but he named none other than Russia.

Al-Malki said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is exerting efforts to hold such a meeting in Moscow, but others are also exerting parallel efforts.

"The Palestinian leadership is not against any of those meetings, but they must be prepared very well. It must also be accompanied by an Israeli decision to halt settlement activity in the Palestinian areas and honour its commitment to releasing the fourth batch of veteran Palestinian prisoners imprisoned by Israel since before 1993," he said.

The top Palestinian diplomat said the Palestinian leadership will not attend meetings that Israel would use for media or political consumption, but would only agree to join meetings that would serve the efforts for the international peace conference.

Egypt's President Sisi told journalists on Monday that Putin is willing to extend an invitation to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold direct talks.

Sisi said Egypt backs such efforts that urge to push the peace process and positively interact with such efforts.

Russian Special Presidential Envoy and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with Abbas in Amman last Wednesday, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

Bogdanov gave Abbas a written letter on behalf of Putin discussing peace efforts and developments in the region.

Paris hosted an international ministerial meeting on June 3, attended by the foreign ministers of 25 countries, including four Arab countries, which debated the revival of the stalled peace process between Israel and Palestine.

The peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been stalled since April 2014. The U.S.-sponsored talks that lasted for nine months achieved no tangible results.
NAIROBI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and Uganda on Wednesday agreed to form a joint police force on the Migingo Island, which is claimed by both countries along their commom border.

Kenya's police chief Joseph Boinnet told journalists in Nairobi that the joint police force to be deployed on the island in Lake Victoria will enforce the law without favor or discrimination as to the nationality of the offenders.

"We have agreed that we shall undertake joint patrols and other joint missions on the island and on the waters," Boinnet said.

"The police officers in liaison with local leaders from both countries should ensure that all residents of the island are registered to avoid infiltration by criminals," he said during a media briefing together with visiting Ugandan police chief, Kale Kayihura.

Boinnet said that during the joint patrols, the maximum number of police officers to be deployed by each nation will not exceed 12 at any time on the tiny island.

The move comes in response to media reports that residents on the island are facing harassment from police officers of both nations.

The two countries also agreed to form a joint special police unit to focus on the Northern Corridor, which links Kenya's Mombasa port to landlocked Uganda. Enditem
VIENNA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The illegal drug trade in Austria appears to have increased significantly in 2015, a new report from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) revealed on Wednesday.

The report showed the amount of confiscated drugs for the year was with street value of nearly 28 million euros (about 31.6 million U.S. dollars), up from 18 million euros in 2014.

This included a 90 kg increase in the amount of cocaine that was seized.

The most popular drug on the streets, however, remained marijuana.

A further 172 new chemical substances were also reportedly seized by authorities.

There were also 2,657 more drug-related offences for the year, taking the total to just under 33,000, the highest in a decade.

About half of all dealers arrested were said to have foreign backgrounds. Those of Serbian and Nigerian origin were more prominently active in Vienna, while Afghan nationals were found to be dealing in the towns of Styria, and Moroccans in Tyrol.
KABUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least one student was killed and nearly 20 persons injured after a car bombing and ensuing gunshots rocked a private college in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday evening, sources said.

"The terrorists attacked American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), by a suicide car bombing followed by gunmen firing on security guards and students. The initial findings showed that one student was killed and 20 others injured by the attack which occurred at roughly 07:00 p.m. local time," a security source told Xinhua anonymously near the site.

"About three attackers were involved in the incident. One attacker destroyed the building's perimeter by a car bombing to open the way for the second squad of gunmen," the source said, adding the exchange of fire between Afghan Special Operation Forces and attackers lasted for nearly three hours.

The targeted building is located along the four-line Dar-ul-Aman road which leads to the parliament building. At least three female students were among the injured, resident Mohammad Salim told Xinhua.

"The blast caused panic among the people. Some 100 students were rescued by security forces. Several students were trapped inside safe-rooms at the building during the clashes. As we heard the AUAF was threatened by Taliban militants over the past couple of years. Two AUAF teachers were kidnapped a couple of weeks ago. They are still missing," Salim said.

The students mostly working in NGOs and government offices were arriving for evening classes before the attack took place, he said.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the attack.

"I condemn this coward attack on AUAF. Attacking schools, universities and innocent people is a war crime. We cannot bear it," he tweeted.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming amid the absence of official statement.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

About 1,600 civilians were killed and more than 3,560 others wounded in conflict-related violence and Taliban-led attacks in the first half of the year, according to UN mission officials in the country.
JERUSALEM, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military announced on Wednesday it will not investigate seven cases of Palestinian civilians' death and possible looting of Palestinians' possession during Israel's 2014 Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) Military Advocate General (MAG) announced his recommendations on Wednesday, regarding "exceptional incidents" that allegedly occurred during the two-month war in the enclave, which resulted in the deaths of more than 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and over 70 Israelis.

Among the cases that will not be investigated is the bombardment of a residential building in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Aug. 1, 2014, in which 15 citizens were killed.

"The decision to strike was taken by the competent authorities and the attack was aimed at military targets -- an active command and control center of the Hamas terror organization and the military operatives who were manning it, among them a senior military operative," the MAG wrote in his report, issued by the IDF spokesperson on Wednesday.

He also added that the strike was carried out "alongside precautionary measures," including the choice of munition, which aimed to "minimize the potential for harm to civilians in the vicinity of the structure," and he therefore did not find "reasonable grounds for suspicion of criminal misconduct" in this case.

Another case the MAG chose not to investigate further is the deaths of between seven to 15 citizens near a school run by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) in Rafah on Aug. 3, 2014.

The MAG found that Israeli soldiers attacked three Palestinian militants riding on motorbikes. According to the IDF, as the forces followed the bikers, the militants switched lanes and the soldiers did not recognize the group of civilians standing outside the school nearby.

Some looting allegations were dismissed as well.

The incidents were reported by Israeli human rights organizations. Overall 360 unusual events were reported to the IDF. Three soldiers were indicted in a case of looting at a house in the Palestinian neighborhood of Shuja'iyya at the eastern part of the city of Gaza last year.

Israel occupied the Gaza Strip, along with the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, in the 1967 Mideast war, and withdrew its settlements and forces from the enclave in 2005.

The Islamist Hamas organization took over the strip in 2007, and Israel had since placed a blockade on the enclave, amid constant rocket fire, and has been limiting the entry and exits of goods and people.

Israel and Hamas had fought several rounds of fighting in the Gaza Strip in the past decade, leaving it in ruins and turning thousands of Palestinians homeless.
TIRANA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Five Albanian citizens were among those injured after a major quake hit several towns in central Italy, leaving at least 120 people dead and hundreds wounded, the Albanian foreign affairs ministry informed Wednesday.

Five Albanian nationals were among the nine injured people taken to Rome's Agostino Gemelli hospital by helicopter. Fortunately, the five wounded are not suffering from life threatening injuries, according to the Albanian Embassy in Rome.

The deadly quake, estimated to have struck at around 3:30 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Wednesday morning, was felt across a broad section of central Italy.

The economic and material damage seem to be enormous as half of the town of Amatrice is under ruins while thousands of houses have been totally destroyed. According to local authorities, even the death toll is expected to increase as many people are still reported missing or are under the ruins.

Following the news, Albanian President Bujar Nishani sent his condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and the families of the victims, saying Albanian people shared the grief with those affected by the earthquake. Enditem
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.
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday that he is under no legal obligation to report to the police's anti-crime unit, the Hawks, in connection with the so-called "rogue unit" at the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

Gordhan confirmed that his attorneys received a letter from the Hawks, or the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, requesting that he present himself at their offices on Thursday.

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 allegedly involved in or have had knowledge of the unit's activities.

In a statement on Wednesday, Gordhan said he had been advised by his legal team that the assertions of law made by the Hawks "are wholly unfounded on any version of the facts".

The minister said he has provided a comprehensive account of matters which the Hawks had raised earlier in their 27 questions.

"I therefore do not intend to present myself for a warning statement for many considerations," Gordhan said.

But he said he remains committed to assisting the Hawks in any bonafide investigation.

"I have a job to do in a difficult economic environment and serve South Africa as best I can. Let me do my job," said the minister.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) warned Tuesday that the arrest of Gordhan would be a disaster for South Africa as it would shatter investor confidence, risk a sovereign ratings downgrade and be a disaster for the already fragile zero growth in South Africa. Enditem
RABAT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- An ex-employee at an Italian-owned circus in the Moroccan city of Kenitra on Wednesday stabbed an Italian national to death and injured four others, Moroccan police said in a statement.

The police said the attack caused serious injury to the owner of the circus, while his 18-year-old son has succumbed to his injuries, both of them Italians.

Three other employees, all of Portuguese nationality, also suffered serious injuries, the police said.

According to the initial investigation, the assault was motivated by a personal dispute between the attacker and the owner of the circus, who had earlier fired him.

Investigations are underway to trace the attacker, who is still on the run. Enditem
TALLINN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Member states of the European Union(EU) should not rush into making decisions after Britain leaves the bloc, local media quoted German Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying on Wednesday.

Merkel arrived in Tallinn on Wednesday for a two-day visit, as part of a longer trip in preparation for the first EU summit to be held without Britain, the Estonian Broadcasting Corporation (ERR) reported.

At a joint press conference after meeting with the Estonian Prime Minster Taavi Roivas, Merkel stressed the fact that, following Brexit, the EU must be given a new direction.

"Member states must be given time to discuss matters, and prior to the summit in Bratislava, the future of Europe must be discussed with all member states", she said.

"This is a period for listening to one another, understanding and learning from one another in order to find and develop a new balance in the 27-member EU," said Merkel.

"If the UK, who made up 15 percent of the EU's GDP, leaves (the EU), this means the departure of an important partner, and from the start we must act collectively and very calmly to build up a new, 27-member EU again."

Speaking about the ongoing refugee crisis, Merkel repeated her earlier standpoint that European states must be united, but first and foremost combat its underlying causes.

"We must combat the root causes of (refugees') flight - human trafficking, crime," said Merkel.
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday released a follow-up note to the 2015 report of an Independent Panel of Experts that was established to examine and assess new information regarding the death of former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold.

Stephane Dujarric, Ban's spokesman, said in a statement that the follow-up note includes responses from Belgium, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States to the requests made by the secretary-general, following up on the pending questions of the Panel to the countries and as mandated by the General Assembly.

"I would again urge all member states to continue their search for relevant documents and information, and to review for potential disclosure information which remains classified or undisclosed for other reasons," Ban in the follow-up note.

"I have declassified those archives of the UN for which I am responsible under the relevant rules and regulations, some of which were, at the time of the report of the Panel, still classified at a confidential or strictly confidential level," he added.

The General Assembly also requested that the secretary-general explore the feasibility of establishing a central archival holding or other arrangement that would enable access to relevant records with a view to ensuring their preservation and access.

There is sufficient reason to investigate if the aircraft carrying then-UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold on an African peace mission in 1961 was shot down by another plane, killing all aboard, Ban said in July 2015.

The panel, which Ban established in March to examine new allegations regarding the crash, near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, of the Swedish-operated Douglas DC6 carrying Hammarskjold and 15 others, last year sent its finding to the secretary-general who later forwarded it the 193-member UN General Assembly along with his recommendations to investigate some of the allegations further.

Hammarskjold served as the UN chief from April 1953 until his death at the age of 56 in the plane crash along with 15 others in September 1961.

Ban reached out to individuals and institutions that may hold relevant information to request that they provide an inventory of such information. It noted that responses continue to be received, the statement said.

Both the secretary-general and the General Assembly have previously stated that a further inquiry or investigation would be necessary to finally establish the facts of the matter.

The statement adds that any further inquiry or investigation would benefit from an assessment of potential new information, including from South Africa or other sources.

Ban has recommended that the General Assembly appoint an eminent person or persons to review new information which may exist. Such a person or persons would then be able to determine the scope that any further inquiry or investigation should take.

The statement recalled that Ban has said previously that the most likely source of any additional material would be the files and records of member states, saying that "To this end, (the secretary-general) has again urged all member states to continue to search for and disclose relevant documents and information."

"Ultimately, it is for the General Assembly to decide on any further action," the statement added.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government sent its official condolences on Wednesday to Italy, where an earthquake killed at least 159 people in the early hours of the day.

"The Brazilian government expresses its solidarity to the families of the victims, the people and the government of Italy," said the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, adding "The embassy and the consulate-general in Rome are monitoring the situation."

So far, there has not been news of Brazilian citizens among the many casualties, the government said.

The magnitude-6.2 earthquake hit the central region of Italy overnight. Local news outlets reported that a significant share of the town of Amatrice was destroyed in the earthquake.

Authorities updated the earth toll to 159. Some 300 people were injured and over 100 others are still believed to be under the debris.
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/Yao Qilin)

PYONGYANG, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has recently guided a successful test-firing of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile "Pukguksong", the official news agency KCNA reported Thursday.

The test-firing, which was conducted at a high angle in the maximum launching depth, reconfirmed the stability of the SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) system, the starting character of the high-power solid fuel engine and phased flying kinetic feature, the state media said.

"The core technical indexes of the ballistic missile including the reliability of the phased heat separation and the control and guidance system and the working accuracy of the warhead in the re-entry section perfectly met all requirements for operation," it added.

Kim was satisfied with the result and expressed gratitude to the officials, scientists and technicians in national defense and munitions factories for their efforts to develop the SLBM technology.

Kim said the test-firing has proved the DPRK "joined the front rack of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability" and that the U.S. mainland and military bases in the Asia Pacific are now within the striking range of the DPRK's military.

The supreme leader strongly slammed the ongoing military drills jointly carried out by South Korea and the Untied States and threatened to "deal merciless blows with nuclear hammers," once an opportunity is given.

He also stressed the need to speed up mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles and to focus efforts on the development of the delivery means.

The DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile at about 5:30 a.m. local time (2030 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province, according to South Korean defense ministry.

The ballistic missile flew about 500 km and fell into the waters inside Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, said South Korean local media. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a grave threat to security and said Japan has lodged strong protest through diplomatic channels.

Seoul believed the DPRK's SLBM technology has progressed compared with previous launches as the military has allegedly regarded the flight of more than 300 km as successful.

The launch came just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off their joint annual war games, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). Pyongyang has denounced the drills as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, which the two allies claimed to be defensive in nature.

The previous SLBM test by the DPRK came just a day after Washington and Seoul announced on July 8 the decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in South Korea.

Experts are worried that the THAAD deployment may accelerate the DPRK's efforts to develop its SLBM technology as THAAD's X-band radar cannot detect and track ballistic missiles fired from a DPRK submarine that moves deep under the waters.

Related:

S.Korea sees DPRK's submarine-launched missile technology as significantly improved

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's military on Wednesday saw the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s submarine-launched missile technology as significantly improved as its flight distance far exceeded what Seoul's defense ministry regards as a success.

A DPRK ballistic missile was test-fired earlier in the morning from a submarine off the country's east coastal town of Sinpo into the East Sea. It flew about 500 km towards Japan, longer than any previous test-firings. Full story

S.Korea slams DPRK's test-firing of submarine-launched ballistic missile

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Wednesday slammed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its test-firing of a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea.
BRASILIA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's former Foreign Affairs Minister Celso Amorim on Wednesday slammed the government for rejecting Venezuela's turn at the helm of trade bloc Mercosur.

"You cannot exclude a country because you don't like its politics," Amorim told the state-run Agencia Brasil news agency.

Such political scuffles with neighboring countries can additionally have negative economic impacts, he warned, calling for dialogue.

Brazil's right-leaning government has balked at socialist-ruled Venezuela taking over the rotating presidency of the five-member Southern Common Market (Mercosur), as it was set to do after also-member Uruguay ended its six-month turn in July.

Argentina and Paraguay joined Brazil in rejecting Venezuela's leadership stint, and the tussle is threatening to sink one of South America's oldest trade and integration blocs.

Last week, Brazil's current Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Serra went as far as to welcome members of Venezuela's right-wing political opposition in Brasilia.

Serra accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of heading "an authoritarian and anti-democratic regime" that failed to uphold Mercosur's democratic principles.

Brazil's position on Venezuela could have "a grave impact on Mercosur" and "in reality violates a basic article, which is that the presidency of Mercosur must pass from one country to another in alphabetical order. Nowhere does it say that it has to be by consensus," said Amorim.

Amorim served as foreign minister under former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), and as defense minister during the first term of Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff (2011-2014).
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Four Iranian vessels carried out a "high-speed intercept" of a U.S. destroyer on Tuesday around the Strait of Hormuz, local media reported on Wednesday.

Citing a U.S. Navy official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Fox News reported that the United States deemed the incident "unsafe and unprofessional", adding that two of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze.

The USS Nitze, navigating in what the U.S. official described as "international waters" at the time of the incident, was forced to change its course, Fox News reported.

The incident took place seven months after 10 U.S. sailors were detained by Iran for about 15 hours after their vessels drifted into Iranian territorial waters early this year.

A Navy investigation later found that faulty navigation equipment did not indicate the vessels' position in Iranian waters. Furthermore, one of the vessel had mechanical problems that delayed their potential transit out of those waters.
HAVANA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the insurgent Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced Wednesday that they have reached the final peace agreement to conclude the peace negotiations that has been held since November 2012 in Havana.
HANGZHOU, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Featuring the image of a bridge, supplemented with the imprint of a traditional Chinese seal, the logo of the upcoming G20 summit was born in an abandoned cement plant in the suburb of the host city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Eight years ago, these deserted plants were turned into a cultural and creative industry park and Yuan Youmin of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou moved his design studio there.

In 2007, Hangzhou began to dream of becoming a cultural and creative center. Nine years on and creative industries represent some 22 percent of local GDP.

Born in 1971 in Anhui Province, Yuan first came to Hangzhou as a high school graduate. "At that time, the West Lake impressed me most with its arched bridges looming from the mizzle," he said.

Hangzhou's bridges were praised by Italian traveler Marco Polo in the 13th century who called Hangzhou with its 12,000 bridges a city built on water.

"Some have asked me which bridge inspired the logo. Well, I should say that it is a bridge of the spiritual level," Yuan said. The logo combines openness, inclusiveness, understanding and communication. Bridges connect people and places in many different ways, "just as the G20 brings East and West together in dialogue," he said.

The bridge is composed of 20 lines, and the arch of the bridge forms a circle with its reflection. "The 20 lines represents the 20 members of the group, and the round arch implies that it is a round table meeting in which all are equal."

The red seal of the characters of "China" besides the bridge is not only a symbol of culture, but also carries the meaning of promise, as seals represent contractual relationships, he said.

"We want to present Chinese elements in a poetic, natural and concise way," Yuan added.

After the release of the logo on December 1, 2015, the design team spent another three months making a set of handbooks detailing the various manifestations of the logo on different objects and occasions.

Yuan said, graphic design in China has been growing from simple copying of Western styles 30 years ago to exploring distinctive Chinese motifs.

"Hopefully our G20 logo can heighten public awareness of graphic design," he said. "A good design is a carrier of culture, boasting both utility and beauty."
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed a deal reached by the Colombian government and rebel group to end the armed conflict which lasted more than 50 years in Colombia.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) beheaded a local captive in Sulu of Southern Philippines after its ultimatum to comply with their ransom demand lapsed Wednesday afternoon, authorities said on Thursday.

The kidnap victim identified as Patrick Almodovar, 18, a native of Jolo, Sulu who was abducted July 16 this year just outside their home.

Police said the victim was executed about 3 p.m. Wednesday, the same date of the ultimatum imposed by the Abu Sayyaf for the victim's family to comply with its 1-million-peso ransom.

The Abu Sayyaf group since last week posted its video on social network site with Almodovar speaking in Tausug dialect pleading for help from Sulu Governor Abdusakur "Totoh" Tan II to help him pay the ransom as the militants have only given until August 24 exactly 3 p.m. to comply with the demand.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said reports reaching them disclosed a decapitated head believed to be of Almodovar was recovered by the police elements about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night at Kilometer 2, Katian village, Indanan town.

Tan said the decapitated head was wrapped in a plastic bag and was left behind by 3 unidentified men onboard a motorcycle.

Tan said recovered decapitated head was brought to the Indanan police and being processed by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) to determine if it belonged with Almodovar.

Police and military forces were still searching for the headless remains of Almodovar.

It will be recalled that three hostages, including two Indonesians and a Filipino woman, either escaped or were released since last week and on Monday respectively from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf group.

The Abu Sayyaf militants are still holding captive 16 foreigners, including a Dutch national, Norwegian, seven Indonesians and five Malaysians. The Abu Sayyaf group is also holding six local hostages.

"The AFP, together with every sensible and peace loving Filipino, including our Muslim brothers whom we work with in peace and development efforts, condemn this barbaric murder perpetrated by this terror group," Tan said.

"The beheading of an innocent man done by the ASG is an absolute affront to the peace loving Moros in the Philippines," he added.

According to Tan, the military exhausts all necessary efforts and intensified focused military operations are being conducted along with the combined efforts from our soldiers, civilian counterparts, and the community will continue until all victims are rescued.
by Tamara Treichel

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At first glance, little may set Duncan Clark apart from other foreign business executives in Beijing's CBD, with his dapper appearance and Mandarin-peppered English. But in fact, he has worked as an adviser for Jack Ma, the maverick founder of Alibaba Group, when China's largest e-commerce company was founded in a small apartment back in 1999.

Now Clark, who comes from Britain, has written a book about Ma and his monolithic company, "Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built."

Clark, in a crisp blue business shirt, sat down with Xinhua recently for an exclusive interview in the office of his consulting firm next to the CCTV "big pants" building to talk about his book on the eve of the G20 summit to be held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou -- incidentally, Ma's hometown in Zhejiang Province. Ma, who chairs the B-20 SME Development Task Force, is expected to attend the summit.

So what is the book about? Clark put it in a nutshell. "The book is really about two things: the Internet coming to China, the rise of the private sector. The combination is like an explosion, and Ma Yun is the guy with the match," Clark said.

Then of course there is "Jack" himself, as Clark mostly referred to Ma Yun, Alibaba's larger-than-life founder and chairman. After all, what good would a book on Alibaba be without mentioning Jack?

"His sense of humor is the first thing you notice," Clark said, adding that Jack would say "crazy things," for example that his company would be bigger than Amazon's or that he would rule the world -- all big visions while sitting in a little room. "You had to laugh. But somehow you didn't laugh at him, you were laughing with him ... but somehow, there was something about him that just seemed different."

Though he appeared to be a bit of an oddball, Clark said Jack proved himself to be "a team leader and a great communicator." Also, Jack had a knack for telling stories and "making people feel relaxed ... he makes you feel like he's talking to you, even if you're in a room of 3,000 people." Yet behind his Forrest Gump-like facade, Jack is actually "very strategic," a man who is always "looking, learning, building ideas."

In fact, Jack is a pragmatist at heart. Born into a modest background in China's Zhejiang Province, one could say that Jack was also born right into China's merchant culture. Bad in math, he "turned to his sense of imagination and his ability to be a performer" while hawking plastic carpets to supplement his income from teaching and translating. "He understands what it is to be a small merchant," Clark said. Also, he said, Jack understands his customers. "The success of Alibaba is really Taobao (Alibaba's consumer-to-consumer portal). The key to understanding Taobao is understanding the customer." A true-blooded business tycoon, "he'll do anything to get the deal."

And Jack is ambitious. "The strongest thing about him is ambition. The weakest thing about him is his ambition," Clark said, citing Alibaba's massive money market fund, Yu'e Bao, as an example, which shocked banks and had people turning against him. Still, thanks to Jack's strong communication and motivation skills, others "follow him into battle."

Clark mentioned Tencent as a foil to Alibaba. "Tencent is much more strategic, is much more cautious, and more focused. Alibaba is doing big things in finance, in media, in global... so ambition is the strong point and the weak point of the company." A double-edged sword indeed. "Investors sometimes love too much ambition, sometimes they're afraid, so it's a balance."

Clark said he was brought on board to advise Alibaba on its international expansion during the company's infancy as a contractor and "foreign friend." Clark also indicated that Alibaba was to a certain extent supportive in his writing the book, yet he emphasized he had worked independently on it.

"I did not have that sit-down with him," Clark said. In other words, he didn't conduct lengthy interviews with Jack, but he did have some time with Jack's number two, Joe Tsai.

Clark said he talked to current and former Alibaba employees as well as competitors. It was hard to find critical voices because Jack has "a very different management style" than Steve Jobs, Clark said, referring to the founder of Apple who wasn't known for his people skills. He wanted to steer clear of gossip about Alibaba's founder while making sure he was not producing a "puff piece."

Clark said his book is now being translated into 14 languages. "Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia -- a lot of people actually buy stuff on Alibaba's websites, so they are interested in the company and also his story," he said.

Yet his book is not only about technology. "People don't love technology, they love people," the author said, and as such, a story about Alibaba's charismatic leader would attract more readers.

Clark aims to both entertain and inform. "I think Alibaba is a window into a deeper understanding of China," he said, hoping his readers can learn more about what is going on in China, for example as regards the Internet, its entrepreneurs and Zhejiang Province. Clark said that Jack had helped make Hangzhou, China's Silicon Valley, a major tech hub and further raised commerce in Zhejiang. "I hope one of the things of this book is it kind of opens people's eyes to the power of Zhejiang. The G20 will do that even more."

For Clark, finding some old Australian friends of Jack's -- the Morley family who had come to China in 1980 -- was a highlight. To track down David Morley, who is now running a Yoga studio in Australia, Clark conducted some "investigative journalism." "Nobody had told that story," Clark said. Now, Jack's friend David is also Clark's.

"The most fun part was building a friendship with David Morley. Actually, we've never met, but we send messages all the time," he said, adding that Jack has now started talking about the Morleys as well.

Another surprise that his book had in store for him after its publication was receiving a call from Wall Street Journal that a pirated copy of his book was available -- on an Alibaba marketplace. "The funniest thing was when my book was copied on Taobao," Clark said, amused. Alibaba later removed the links.

When asked how Jack benefited from the development of the Internet and China's opening-up, Clark suggested that Jack was born in the right place at the right time, as Hangzhou opened early to tourism and has a long tradition of commerce. Moreover, Jack "has benefited from certain crises. Actually, if you look back, crisis has been his opportunity."

Clark cited SARS as an example, when many people had to stay home and used their new broadband connection to shop online. That was exactly the time when Taobao was launched in 2003. The 2008 global financial crisis helped open up the Chinese market for him, as a lot of factories could not export to the United States.

Now, Clark said Jack can help facilitate China's shift from a manufacturing to a consumer-driven society. "Jack is offering a solution to China ... how to move from a made-in-China to a consumed-in-China or designed-in-China," he said. "Ma Yun can sell Alibaba as a way to actually move up the development of the middle class, give them more choice ... and create more innovative products. That's a dream."

Clark also addressed the subject of innovation and said that there has always been a history of copying among nations. He said while the private sector has to lead innovation, governments can create the conditions for it, such as education and intellectual property laws. "People in the West want to understand what is happening in China that might be original, or might be not just copycat," he said. Actually, he said Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall platforms are themselves innovative to a certain extent.

As for Alibaba's foray into overseas markets, Clark said there would have to be a wait-and-see approach. Although its e-commerce website AliExpress has taken off in Russia without Alibaba's even opening a single office, Clark is not so sure that success can be replicated in the United States with its highly sophisticated retail sector. He mentioned Amazon.

"Amazon is doing things differently from Alibaba. Amazon buys products and sells them, so they have inventory; Alibaba is just a market place, so they just connect buyers and sellers." However, Clark said that Amazon is now building its own products, which might pose a threat to its biggest customers yet harbor opportunities for Alibaba to compete with Amazon.

Looking forward, Clark said Alibaba's top future challenge is human resources, so it is trying to recruit its own foreign talent for its expansion through the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy. Young foreigners work for Alibaba in Hangzhou, become immersed in the company culture and are then dispatched overseas.

Ironically, Clark called Jack, the homegrown Hangzhou entrepreneur, "more of a global player" than Baidu's U.S.-educated Li Yanhong and said Jack has been actively involved in the globalization debate. Alibaba's founder has also been visiting Davos. "Jack was one of the earliest to start talking about corporate social responsibility, environmental responsibility because he tends to be ahead of where other people are," Clark said. So far, this has been a smart move for Alibaba's PR.

"For Alibaba going overseas, we will learn do they make the same mistakes that the West made coming here (to China)," Clark said. He suggested that a key to Alibaba's past success lies in Jack's flexibility, which may also serve him well in the future. "He tries to be all things to all people, and he's doing pretty well."

(Xinhua reporter Chen Xuelian contributed to the story.)
BRASILIA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazil and China are set to sign an agreement to expand cooperation in trade and services on the sidelines of the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit to be held in China in September, a senior Brazilian official said on Wednesday.

The deal will benefit sectors accounting for up to 58 percent of Brazil's gross domestic product (GDP), said Brazilian Minister of Industry, Trade and Services Marcos Pereira, adding he had discussed the proposed agreement with interim President Michel Temer.

"I spoke with the president about the memorandum we have signed with China's Trade Ministry, a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the areas of trade and services," he said.

Pereira attended a gathering of G20 trade ministers in June in the Chinese city of Shanghai, where Brazil and China discussed bilateral cooperation on trade and services.

Temer is expected to attend the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou early next month. The Brazilian government is to present a briefing Thursday on its delegation and schedules at the summit.

Brazil is China's 10th largest trading partner, and is also China's biggest investment destination in Latin America.
MAPUTO, 24 Aug (Xinhua) -- Mozambique held its 9th cultural festival in the central province Sofala Wednesday to call for peace and repudiate atrocities in the country.

"Let us make our cultural diversity a source of strength and wealth, and mobilize our counterparts to love their brothers, to love working," said Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi when addressing the festival.

More than 900 representatives from all over the country participated in the event held in the city of Beira, Mozambique's second largest city after the capital Maputo.

The festival venue is one of the epicenters of the political tension between government forces and the former rebel movement Renamo which is allegedly attacking civilians.

The normal circulation of people and goods in the region can only be guaranteed with the escort of Mozambican armed forces.

"We salute all Mozambicans present here. They were brave enough and moving forward," said the president.

Minister of Tourism and Culture Silva Dunduro appealed to the participants to make the event a mechanism for expressing their dissatisfaction with the political instability facing the country.

He said this festival is not only a demonstration of different national feelings but also a representation of the African identity which has been relying on oral transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Despite Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's emphasis on the harmful effects of immigration, there has been no surge in the percentage of Americans wanting to see immigration levels decreased, Gallup found in a poll Wednesday.

Thirty-eight percent of U.S. adults say the level of immigration should be decreased, similar to recent years, while an equal percentage saying immigration should be kept at its present level. The relatively small percentage of Americans who want immigration increased, however, has edged down this year to 21 percent, Gallup found.

Despite the strong rhetoric on immigration emanating from the Trump campaign, there has been no uptick in the past year of those wanting to see immigration decreased, suggesting that Trump is not so much changing public opinion, Gallup found.

The poll comes as immigration is one of the main focal points of the 2016 race for the White House, with Trump saying he wants to build a wall to keep out illegal migrants from the southern border and saying he wants to deport the millions of illegals already in the United States.

Trump has also proposed restricting legal immigration among those who come from certain regions of the world with a history of exporting terrorism, who don't pass an ideology test or who identify with the Muslim faith, Gallup noted.

Since 2012, Americans generally have remained split between maintaining the current level of immigration and decreasing immigration, with less interest in increasing immigration. By contrast, before 2012 -- and particularly in the years immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington -- Americans tended to be more in favor of decreased immigration, Gallup found.

Republicans and conservatives are most likely to want immigration decreased, while Democrats and liberals are least likely to want it decreased, Gallup found.

A separate question in the poll confirms that most Americans, at 72 percent, believe that immigration is a "good thing for this country today."
This aerial photo taken on May 12, 2016 shows the wetland of the West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- In east China's Hangzhou city, a land of beauty, delicacy and booming new economy, leaders of the world's 20 major economies, Group 20, will gather there for their annual summit early next month.

The city, praised by Italian traveler Marco Polo in the 13th century as "the world's most magnificent and noble city," is little-known compared with Beijing and Shanghai, but has much to offer and is a window on new trends in China.

LAND OF PARADISE

File photo taken on April 27, 2016 shows an aerial view of the West Lake in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)

With a history of over 2,200 years, Hangzhou is known as one of China's seven ancient capitals. It boasts two world heritage sites: the West Lake and the Great Canal.

As the most renowned scenic spot, the West Lake has inspired generations of poets and painters throughout Chinese history. The two most popular love stories of China, "The Legend of the White Snake" and "Butterfly Lovers", both originated from Hangzhou.

The Great Canal, which goes all the way north from Hangzhou to Beijing, is still a vibrant shipping route as well as local residents' relaxing site. Take a boat and listen to the lapping of waves while passing under bridges one after another, you are experiencing one of the greatest pleasures a boat can give you. A leisure stroll through the Hefang Street in the old town would provide you a picture of the traditional culture and life in Hangzhou.

Thanks to its abundance of scenic attractions, Hangzhou has been awarded the title of "Oriental Capital of Leisure" by the World Leisure Organization, and "The Best Tourist City of China" by the National Tourism Administration.

DELICACIES

Visitors look at lifelike artificial dishes displayed at the Chinese Hangzhou Cuisine Museum in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, March 20, 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)

A famous Chinese poet Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, praised nearly one thousand years ago that Hangzhou cuisine was the best banquet in the world. The most well-known Hangzhou cuisine Dongpo Pork is named after Su.

When dining in restaurants, there are some representative dishes that you must order: Beggar's Chicken, West Lake Grass Carp in Vinegar Sauce, Longjing Tea Shrimp, Sister Song's Fish Soup, West Lake Water Shield Soup and Braised Bamboo Shoots, to name just a few.

Besides these relatively formal cuisines, there are also local snacks worth trying. Here are some from a huge variety of local delicacies unique to Hangzhou that may entertain your taste buds: congbaohui, or fried dough sticks wrapped in thin pancake, Dingsheng cake, xiao long bao, or small steamed dumplings, Wushan pastry and spring roll.



BOOMING NEW ECONOMY

Thomas Dirksen from Germany shows his empty pocket after taking a bullet train to arrive in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Xu Kangping)

If you have only one mobile phone and without any cash, in which city can you survive? The answer must be Hangzhou.

Thomas Dirksen, a German citizen who lives in Shanghai, has just finished his unforgettable day of living without cash or credit card in Hangzhou. Dirksen has used mobile pay on almost anything he encounters in Hangzhou: from shopping, ordering a meal, taking a cab to riding on a bus.

"I have been to more than 30 countries in the world, and none of the cities can be as convenient as Hangzhou. Even when you buy from a vendor on the street, mobile pay is available," said Dirksen.

According to the statistics released by Ant Financial Services Group, China's most valuable financial technology company, 98 percent of the cabs in Hangzhou can be paid through mobile phone, and Alipay, Alibaba's third-party online payment platform, is available at over 95 percent of the supermarkets and convenience stores.

Thomas Dirksen from Germany uses his mobile phone to pay for a pancake in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Xu Kangping)

Hangzhou's economy grew by 10.8 percent in H1, outpacing almost all major Chinese cities and well above the 6.7 percent registered by the country as a whole. Alibaba announced revenue growth of 59 percent in H1, the fast growth since raising 25 billion U.S. dollars in its 2014 IPO.

Thousands of other smaller online shopping businesses are clustered in the city. Two years ago there were 470,000 e-commerce businesses there, one seventh of China's total. Last year, China's online retailers made sales of 588 billion dollars, with 115 billion dollars reported in Zhejiang. In Hangzhou alone, cross-border e-commerce rocketed from less than 20 million dollars in 2014 to 3.5 billion dollars in 2015.

Inspired by the city's vibrancy, Bostonian Richard Jackson quit his job as an English teacher in 2015 and became communications manager in AI start-up Rokid.

"Hangzhou is establishing itself as a high-tech center. Rokid is a very good example of the new Hangzhou, and it shows the spirit of innovation-driven development," he said.

Photo taken on Oct. 22, 2015 shows the Qianjiang New CBD in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

With the economy on fire and a long tradition of entrepreneurship, local magnates are taking the fight around the globe. Automaker Geely became a global name in 2010 when it bought the ailing Swedish brand Volvo from Ford for 1.8 billion dollars.

Today China's listed companies are targeting acquisitions in automobiles, electronics, chemicals and bio-medicine in Europe and North America. From 2012 to 2014, Chinese enterprises made 29 acquisitions in automobile, 10 of which were done by companies in Zhejiang.

"A major motive of overseas acquisitions by leading Zhejiang companies is to get their hands on the technology needed to increase value-added and move up the ladder," said Chen Feiqiong of Zhejiang University.

"The spillover effect will buoy up the local economy, essential for China to transform itself from the world's run-down factory to a modern manufacturing power by 2025, as the government plans," she said.
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed a deal reached by the Colombian government and the country's largest rebel group to end their armed conflict which lasted for more than five decades.

The secretary-general "warmly congratulates" Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Timoleon Jimenez, and their negotiating teams in Havana, capital of Cuba, for their hard work and patience, said a statement issued by Ban's spokesman.

Ban "also congratulates the many Colombian organizations and citizens who have contributed to the talks with their proposals and encouragement," the statement said.

The Colombian government and the FARC announced Wednesday that they have reached the final peace agreement to conclude their peace negotiations that have been held since November 2012 in Havana.
WELLINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will continue to develop security relationship with China, which has seen the two militaries increase cooperation in recent years, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Thursday.

China was pivotal to security in the Asia-Pacific region, which stood to benefit from a prosperous and peaceful China as an active and positive participant in international systems, Brownlee said in a published speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington.

People's Liberation Army engineers had participated alongside New Zealand and the United States in the New Zealand-led humanitarian and disaster relief exercise, Tropic Twilight in Tonga last month.

Chinese officers also participated alongside representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force and the United States military in the humanitarian and disaster relief exercise Cooperation Spirit held in Wellington earlier this month.

"Further afield, we welcome China's extensive peacekeeping contributions, and in particular the force protection it has provided to New Zealand troops as part of the United Nations peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan," said Brownlee.

"Despite relative differences in our strategic outlook and in the sizes of our two defense forces, New Zealand and China are developing a constructive and resilient relationship," he said.

"Our interactions with the People's Liberation Army allow for real issues to be discussed openly."

There were challenging issues to navigate, Brownlee said, citing the South China Sea issues.

"Continued China-United States engagement and cooperation is indispensable to security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond," he said.

New Zealand was optimistic about the continuing military engagement by both countries, he said, referring to high-level exchanges last year and this year.

"New Zealand is acutely aware of the dynamic between China and the United States, but we do not see our defense relationships as mutually exclusive," said Brownlee.
KABUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and 32 injured after a car bombing and ensuing gun shoots rocked a private college in western Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday evening, a senior police official said Thursday.

At least seven people were killed, including one student, three policemen and all the three attackers, and 32 injured including nine policemen, about 700 students have been rescued, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, Chief of Kabul police, told reporters on the site early Thursday.

The gunfire ended at around 06:30 a.m. local time on Tursday, lasting roughly 10 hours.

"The terrorists attacked American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), by a suicide car bombing followed by gunmen firing on security guards and students, " a security source told Xinhua anonymously.

"About three attackers were involved in the incident. One attacker destroyed the building's perimeter by a car bombing to open the way for the second squad of gunmen," the source said.

The targeted building is located along the four-line Dar-ul-Aman road which leads to the parliament building. At least three female students were among the injured, resident Mohammad Salim told Xinhua on Wednesday evening.

"The blast caused panic among the people. Several students were trapped inside safe-rooms at the building during the clashes. As we heard the AUAF was threaten by Taliban militants over the past couple of years. Two AUAF teachers were kidnapped a couple of weeks ago. They are still missing," Salim said.

The students mostly working in NGOs and government offices were arriving for evening classes before the attack took place, he said.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the attack Wednesday evening.

"I condemn this coward attack on AUAF. Attacking schools, universities and innocent people is a war crime. We cannot bear it," he tweeted.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

About 1,600 civilians were killed and more than 3,560 others wounded in conflict-related violence and Taliban-led attacks in first half of the year, according to UN mission officials in the country.
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) -- The death toll hit 159 in a major earthquake in central Italy as rescuers were working through night to search and dig out survivors on Wednesday.

At least 368 others were injured, said Italy's civil protection department, warning the number could climb further as some people are still unaccounted for.

The powerful 6.2 magnitude quake struck the mountainous area near the city of Rieti, some 140 km northeast of Rome, at 3:36 a.m. local time (0136 GMT) Wednesday, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV).

Amatrice and Accumoli, two small towns in Rieti province, were among the hardest hit.

In Amatrice, five bodies were pulled out from its famed Hotel Roma, with about 10 guests still missing, the rescuers said.

Local officials believed over 30 people were staying at the hotel when the earthquake hit.

At least 60 lives were claimed in Amatrice, civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio told reporters while visiting the town.

At least another 20 people were killed in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in the eastern Marche region.

Rescue workers were digging with their bare hands in Amatrice 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.

Amatrice 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, adding the death toll is expected to rise.

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 the 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.

Dozens of people, including children, were pulled out alive across the quake zone.

In Pescara del Tronto, a 10-year-old girl was rescued after some 17 hours under the rubble.

In Accumoli, very close to the epicenter, three-quarters of the buildings were destroyed and some 2,500 people evacuated, mayor Stefano Petrucci told local media.

The Italian army, police, plus dog units were added to civil protection officers and firefighters in a massive rescue operation. Tents were set up around villages and towns for thousands of homeless people.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who visited the quake zone, pledged help and reconstruction efforts. The Italian cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss measures to help the quake-hit regions.

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.

The INGV said the epicenter was near Accumoli and Amatrice with a relatively shallow depth of four km below the surface. Some 150 aftershocks were registered in the 12 hours following the initial quake, it added.

The quake is being compared to the one that hit the city of L'Aquila in 2009, which killed over 300 people.

Wednesday's quake was "about two to three times smaller, in terms of energy released, to the one in L'Aquila," INGV seismologist Alessandro Amato told a press conference in Rome.

Related:

6.1-magnitude earthquake hits central Italy

ROME, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy early Wednesday, with strong tremors felt in Italy's capital Rome, according to reports from Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology.

Rome is some 170 km southwest of the epicenter of the quake near the central city of Rieti. Full story

Strong earthquake in central Italy kills at least 38

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A 6.0-magnitude earthquake devastated several mountainous towns in central Italy early Wednesday, killing at least 38 people.
The head of the delegation of the Colombian government for the peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Humberto de la Calle (R) delivers a speech during the announcement by the Colombian government and FARC of reaching the final peace agreement, in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 24, 2016. The Colombian government and the insurgent FARC announced on Wednesday that they have reached the final peace agreement to conclude the peace negotiations that have been held since November 2012 in Havana. (Xinhua/COLPRENSA)

by Chris Dalby, Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- After four years of peace talks, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) finalized their peace agreement on Wednesday.

This marks an end to the five-decade long conflict in Colombia which left hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions displaced.

Very few world leaders ever get a chance to declare the end to a long and painful conflict. That opportunity fell to Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos who addressed the nation after the deal was signed.

"Today, I speak to you with a deep emotion and great happiness. Today marks the end of suffering and pain, the end of the tragedy of war. On Aug. 24, 2016...this national hope has become reality," said a jubilant Santos.

"We have reached a final, complete and definite agreement to put an end to the war of the FARC," he added.

According to the president, "the FARC will cease to exist and will become a political movement without guns."

He vowed that there would be no impunity for those responsible for the worst crimes, either in the FARC or in Colombia's armed forces. However, Santos pledged that members of the FARC, once they lay down their weapons, will be able to enter democratic political life.

In a major statement, Santos revealed that "the FARC has promised to break off all links they may have had with drug trafficking and to collaborate...to the solution of this problem."

The next stage of the peace process will come on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote in a plebiscite as to whether to accept or reject the contents of the agreement.

To allow the Colombian people to vote fully informed, Santos said that the full text of the agreement will be published on Thursday in the media, on government websites and on social networks.

"We can close the chapter of the war with the FARC and begin the new chapter of peace," he vowed.

Before Santos' address, negotiators from the Colombian government and the FARC, accompanied by observers, revealed the agreement had been finalized in a ceremony in Havana, Cuba, where talks have been held since November 2012.

"Today, we have met the challenge. The signing of a final agreement with the FARC guerrillas has ended the war. This marks a new beginning," said the Colombian government's chief negotiator Humberto de la Calle during his speech at the presentation of the peace agreement. "It is the moment to give peace a chance."

"We all would have liked something more, but this is the best degree possible," added de la Calle. "The guns will not remain in the hands of the FARC."

The agreement means the FARC will begin to transform into a legitimate political party, which de la Calle invited to compete equally for the support of the Colombian people, once it completed its responsibilities in the agreement.

The FARC's top envoy to the talks, Ivan Marquez, said that "we have concluded the most beautiful of all battles, building the basis for peace."

Shortly before the announcement, the FARC issued a video interview with their leader, Timoleon Jimenez, alias Timochenko, saying that "the uncertainty is over. The last few days have seen hard work. I understand the expectations and worries of every Colombian as to whether we would reach this agreement or not."

Timochenko said that Colombia "must not go back to murdering anyone, kidnapping anyone... We will begin building this country together, from today."

The peace deal commits Colombia's government to carrying out aggressive land reforms, reorient its anti-narcotics strategy, allow the FARC to become a legitimate political party, and protect demobilized rebels and leftist activists, who have traditionally been targeted by right-wing paramilitary groups.

The FARC has agreed to a six-month disarmament process with its troops gathering at a number of "safe zones" across Colombia to surrender their weapons under the UN supervision.

Now, the agreement must be approved by the Colombian people in the plebiscite. Santos has been buoyed by a survey conducted by polling firm Invamer released on Aug. 16, which showed that 67.5 percent of Colombians would vote in favor of the peace deal, with 32.5 percent opposing it.

Should the people vote in favor of the agreement, it will be presented to Congress for ratification.

Leading the opposition, former president Alvaro Uribe has regularly lambasted Santos for giving too much away.

One provision of the deal is that any guerrilla fighters or Colombian soldiers confessing to crimes would be spared jail sentences and face amnesty.

This has proved unpopular with a certain section of Colombian society, which fears some people may not be punished for crimes of murder.

Related:

Colombian gov't, FARC agree on forming tribunal for peace accord

HAVANA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the guerrilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), agreed on Friday to create a tribunal to prosecute war crimes committed during the country's decades-long armed conflict.

The parties announced the tribunal in a joint statement in Havana, where negotiators have been holding peace talks since 2012 to yield a final peace agreement to end the conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people. Full story

Colombian gov't, FARC provide new details about peace plan

HAVANA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla announced on Friday a protocol and time-frame to implement the ceasefire and disarmament agreements signed in June.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- An Air India flight flying from Mumbai to Newark of the United States was forced to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan Thursday, officials said.

All the passengers on board the Boeing 777 were safe and the flight was diverted due to "operational reasons", according to Airline officials.

"Air India 191 from Mumbai to Newark has been diverted to Kazakhstan due to operational reasons," an airline spokesman said, "All the passengers are being taken care of."

Reports said the plane was forced to make an emergency landing after a fire alarm in its cargo hold went off.

The aircraft was being inspected to find out reasons that caused the fire alarm to go off, the spokesman said.

The flight took off from Mumbai airport at around 2:25 a.m. (local time) and landed in Kazakhstan at around 8:00 a.m. local time.

The flight will be allowed to proceed to onward destination of Newark only after a thorough check up, the spokesman said.
by Xinhua writer Zhu Junqing

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Following the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting held on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan's National Security Advisor Yachi Shotaro on Wednesday kicked off a highly anticipated visit to China, trying to mend the Japan-China relations strained by Tokyo's distorted view of history and its right-leaning government.

During his stay, the key political adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to attend the third China-Japan high-level political dialogue and meet senior Chinese officials, including Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

But if the envoy is expecting a fruitful trip, he is highly advised to bear three things in mind.

First of all, at the third high-level political dialogue, it is hoped that Japan will maintain the positive momentum in the rapprochement with China, overcome obstacles and interruptions, and focus on the "four-wheel drive" to promote cooperation in politics, economy and trade, culture as well as sustainable development.

It serves both countries to accumulate political mutual trust, properly handle sensitive issues, step up security dialogue and policy consultation, and promote mutual understanding and trust.

As the world's second and third largest economies, the two countries' cooperation will achieve win-win results, speed up the integration of East Asia, and contribute to regional peace, development and prosperity.

Secondly, Japan should abide by the four-point principled agreement it reached with China, and make their differences controllable.

On the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, the two sides need to bear in mind the big picture of bilateral relations and common interests, enhance mutual trust and control differences. China is firm to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maintain marine rights and is willing to properly solve the problem through dialogue.

On the South China Sea disputes, Japan, as a non-claimant country in the South China Sea, should be prudent in words and deeds and refrain from actions that may jeopardize regional peace and stability.

Thirdly, historical issues are closely related to the political foundation of China-Japan ties and the national sentiment of 1.3 billion Chinese people. China hopes its neighbor can face history squarely, take history as a mirror and look into the future.

On this point, China has set a good example for Japan. Though their bilateral ties have been clouded by Tokyo's illegal claim over the China-owned Diaoyu Islands and its interference in the disputes over South China Sea islands, China's belief that differences should be solved through dialogue has never been shaken. Its attending of the trilateral foreign minister meeting is a proof.

Now the ball is in Tokyo's yard. It is time for Japan to act as a responsible player.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday spoke over phone with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos to congratulate him on finalizing a peace agreement with Colombia's largest rebel group to end decades of a civil war.

In the phone conversation, Obama "recognized this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement that can advance security and prosperity for the Colombian people," the White House said in a statement.

Obama also pledged to continue the U.S. bipartisan tradition of support for strengthening Colombia's institutions and improving the lives of the Colombian people, the statement said.

"The two presidents agreed to maintain close collaboration between our governments in the coming months and to continue joint efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics trafficking," it added.

The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced late Wednesday the conclusion of a final peace agreement to end the half-century-old civil war.

The conflict, which started in the 1960s as an uprising for land rights, has left about 260,000 people dead, 45,000 missing and nearly 7 million displaced, according to official figures.
BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's latest peer-to-peer (P2P) lending regulations will help prevent financial risks, protect investors' legitimate interests and foster inclusive finance.

In a document released by the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) on Wednesday, 13 restrictions on P2P platforms were introduced, prohibiting them from accepting public deposits, pooling investors' money for their own projects, providing guarantees for lenders, or selling financial products.

P2P lending, lending without a traditional financial intermediary such as a bank, has grown fast in China over the past few years, as investors seek higher returns and small businesses and individuals find it easier to secure funds online.

But there are inherent risks, as regulations have not kept up with the sector's development.

At the end of June, there were 2,349 lending platforms in normal condition. And 1,778 others had operational problems, accounting for more than 40 percent of the total.

Outstanding loans issued by P2P platforms (in normal condition) reached 621.3 billion yuan (about 93.6 billion U.S. dollars) at the end of June, according to CBRC data.

To prevent credit risks, the CBRC has set limits on the total value of loans borrowers are allowed, in accordance with their risk management capability.

An individual is allowed to borrow up to 200,000 yuan on one P2P platform, and up to 1 million yuan over several platforms. For companies and organizations, the ceilings are set at 1 million yuan per platform and a maximum of 5 million yuan over several platforms, according to the document.

The limit will guard against the credit risks brought by very large loans, said Zeng Gang, a banking researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The principle of lower loans should be followed in the regulating of Internet finance, as it can cater to small businesses that are sometimes not covered by traditional financial services, said Li Junfeng, an official with the CBRC.

Under the regulations, P2P platforms should leave investors' money in the custody of banking institutions.

Platforms must also disclose basic information about borrowers and financial projects to lenders, and their websites must include information on the number and volume of transactions and the bad lending rate.

The rules will return P2P lending entities to their core business and provide security to investors, said Yang Dong, a law professor with Renmin University of China.

The CBRC rules also emphasize that P2P platforms will not be allowed to operate offline. The CBRC will supervise the daily operations of P2P platforms and be responsible for the formulation of industry policies and regulations. Local financial authorities will also be responsible for the supervision of local P2P platforms.

The move strengthens the role of the CBRC in supervising online lending platforms, and such supervision is stricter and more effective, said Yin Zhentao, a banking researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In addition, the CBRC released a negative list for online lending platforms, clarifying exactly what kind of business P2P lending firms can undertake.

Prohibited services include financing for stocks investment, futures contracts, debt assignment and other high-risk services.

The tightened rules will lead to a massive industry reshuffle, which comes as good news for those online lending platforms that follow the rules and having better qualifications, said Yang Yifu, one of the founders of online lending platform Renrendai.
KABUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- About 15 people were killed and 45 others injured in a terrorist attack on a private American-run university in Kabul on Wednesday night. Seven students were among those killed while 36 college staff and students wounded in the suicide car bombing and ensuing gunfight, police said Thursday.

The following is the listing of major attacks in Kabul since January this year.

On Aug. 1, a truck bombing followed by shooting attack rocked North Gate, a foreign companies' compound, in the eastern part of Kabul, killing one policeman and three militants and injuring three officers. The massive blast destroyed several buildings.

On July 29, a senior employee of Afghan parliament was killed, two people were injured and three cars destroyed in a bomb attack near a crowded overpass in western Kabul.

On July 23, 84 persons mainly from Hazara ethnic minority were killed and 305 injured when three suicide bombers hit a street protest in Dehmazang neighborhood. The IS militant group claimed responsibility.

On June 30, twin Taliban suicide bombers hit a five-bus convoy carrying police graduates in western Kabul. The attack killed 32 police and one civilian and injured 79 others.

On June 20, 13 Nepalese and two Indian security guards of the Canadian embassy were killed and nine people injured after a suicide attacker targeted a minibus in Jalalabad road east of Kabul.

On June 20, Attaullah Faizani, a provincial council member, and eight civilians were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in southern Kabul.

On June 5, Shir Wali Wardak, an Afghan lawmaker, was killed and 11 civilians were wounded in an IED blast in western Kabul.

On May 25, one suicide attacker targeted a minibus, killing 11 personnel of a local court and injuring 10 passersby in Bagh-e-Dawood locality of the city.

On April 19, a massive truck bombing was detonated near an intelligence agency office in Pul-e-Mahmood Khan area, killing 64, including 10 civilians, and injured nearly 350 others.

On April 11, two employees of Education Ministry were killed and seven ministry's staff were wounded in an IED explosion in Kamari district, southeastern Kabul.

On March 28, three rockets landed in Afghan parliament compound, causing no loss of lives.

On Feb. 28, 15 persons, including 11 Defense Ministry personnel, were killed and 31 others wounded in a Taliban suicide attack on a bus outside the ministry's compound in central Kabul.

On Feb. 1, 20 people, mostly police officers, died and 29 others were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive jacket at the gate of the Civil Order Police station in Dehmazang.

On Jan. 20, seven media workers and one passerby were killed and 24 others wounded after a Taliban suicide bomber struck a minibus belonging to Kaboora, an Afghan media production, in western Kabul.

On Jan. 4, three civilians died and 57 people were injured in a truck bombing against Camp Baron, a residential compound of foreign civilian contractors near the Hamid Karzai's International Airport.

On Jan. 1, a suicide car bomb struck French Restaurant in Qala-e-Fatullah, near a diplomatic district in central Kabul, killing three civilians and injuring 18 others.
FLASH: AT LEAST 18 POLICEMEN KILLED IN TWIN SUICIDE BOMBING ATTACKS IN IRAQ -- REPORT
BOGOTA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group, was finalized Wednesday, capping the four years of peace talks and ending 52 years of fighting.

The accord still has to be ratified by a referendum to be held in October.

The following is a chronology of the peace talks held in Havana, Cuba, since November 2012.

2012:

On Nov. 6, the government and rebel negotiators met face to face in Havana to lay the groundwork for peace talks, which officially began on the 19th.

On Nov. 19, the FARC marked the start of the historic talks by announcing a unilateral two-month ceasefire to begin on Nov. 20.

The next day, Colombia's then Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon announced government security forces would continue to strike rebel targets despite the ceasefire.

2013:

On Jan. 21, a round of negotiations began between the government and the FARC to reach a ceasefire.

On May 26, a partial agreement was reached on agricultural development, one of the six points of the agenda.

On Nov. 6, a second partial agreement was reached on the political participation of former guerrillas.

2014:

On May 16, a partial agreement was reached on a solution to the fight against drug trafficking.

On June 15, President Santos was re-elected for four years with 50.9 percent of the vote after an intense campaign in which he pledged to seal a peace agreement.

On July 15, negotiations began concerning the victims of the conflict, surrounding three important themes: reparations, truth and justice.

On Aug. 21, the Historical Commission on the Conflict and Its Victims was formed.

On Nov. 16, talks were suspended after the FARC's 34th Front kidnapped Colombian General Ruben Dario Alzate.

On Nov. 30, General Alzate was released, along with two other hostages.

2015:

On Feb. 12: the FARC announced it would cease recruiting children under 17 into its ranks.

On March 7, the Colombian government and the FARC reached an agreement on a demining campaign to be carried out by the Colombian army, with the help of Norway.

On March 10, President Santos announced bombings of FARC bases would stop for a month.

On April 15, FARC members attacked an army unit in the southwestern department of Cauca, killing 11 soldiers. The government resumed bombing the campaign, leaving 26 rebels dead.

On May 23, the FARC declared an end to its unilateral truce.

On June 5, the Truce Commission was created to establish responsibility for crimes against humanity during the conflict.

On July 20, the FARC declared a new unilateral truce.

On July 25, Santos re-ordered suspension of the bombing campaign against the FARC.

On Sept. 17, the FARC announced their willingness to become a mainstream political movement.

On Sept. 23, President Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, alias "Timoleon Jimenez" or "Timochenko", met in Havana. They signed a transitional justice agreement and stated that the peace agreement would be finalized by March 23, 2016.

On Oct. 17, negotiators agreed to work on a mechanism to alleviate the suffering of the families of the missing and agreed to exchange information about the victims of the conflict.

On Dec. 12, the government and the FARC announced that an agreement had been reached on the victims of the conflict. The guerrilla group agreed to apologize for its actions.

2016:

On Jan. 18, the Colombian government pardoned 30 FARC guerrilla fighters.

On Feb. 4, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would ask the U.S. Congress for more than 450 million U.S. dollars in aid for Colombia's peace process, through a new program named "Peace Colombia."

On March 1, Santos and Timochenko were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The winner will be announced on Oct. 7.

On March 22, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with the Colombian government and FARC negotiators in Cuba.

On June 22, the Colombian government and the FARC announced a deal on a definitive bilateral ceasefire, marking a major step towards ending the half-century conflict.

On June 23, Santos and Timochenko met in Cuba to sign a bilateral ceasefire.

On Aug. 24, a final peace agreement was reached. Santos addressed the nation to declare the war is over and that the Colombian people will vote in a plebiscite scheduled for Oct. 2 on whether to accept or reject the agreement.
SYDNEY, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian share market has closed in the red, dragged lower by resource sector amid another flurry of mixed company earnings results.

At the close on Thursday, the S&P ASX/200 index was down 19.8 points, or 0.36 percent, at 5,541.9 points and the All Ordinaries was down 22.2 points, or 0.39 percent, at 5,631.4 points.

CMC Markets chief market analyst Ric Spooner told Xinhua a weak U.S share market was the main reason for a lower close at the Aussie index on Thursday.

"Apart from that, there was a general selling in the four banks but Woolworths actually had a strong day despite (posting a) loss because the underlying results were better, as signs of the supermarket starting to stabilize its sales brought relief to investors," said Spooner.

At the close, ANZ was down 0.81 percent, the National Australia Bank fell 0.75 percent, Westpac declined 1.27 percent, while the Commonwealth Bank of Australia dropped 0.62 percent.

BHP Billiton plunged at 1.82 percent, rival Rio Tinto retreated 1.45 percent while gold miner Newcrest tumbled 2.67 percent.

Oil Search sank 3.31 percent, Santos lost 2.20 percent while Woodside Petroleum surged 1.39 percent.

Wesfarmers soared 2.42 percent while rival Woolworths increased 3.92 percent.

Qantas slumped 2.61 percent while telecommunication giant Telstra's fell 0.94 percent at Thursday's close.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The ashes of Truman Capote, one of the 20th Century's most celebrated literary figures and author of "Breakfast At Tiffany's," will be auctioned in a month, a U.S. auction house announced Wednesday.

"Have a few thousand bucks to burn? Then Truman Capote's ashes could be yours," Julien's Auctions, the Los Angeles-based auction house, tweeted.

The portion of Capote's ashes, which has an estimated value at up to 6,000 U.S. dollars, was once owned by Johnny Carson's ex-wife Joanne.

Johnny Carson was an American television talk show host and comedian, best known for his 30 years as host of "The Tonight Show," in which Capote was a frequent guest and therefore became a friend of the couple.

Capote died in Bel Air, Los Angeles, in 1984, at the home of Joanne Carson. Since then, his ashes were kept there in an urn but was reportedly stolen twice. Fortunately, the ashes were safely recovered on both occasions.
Duncan Clark and Alibaba's Group's founder and chairman Ma Yun, also known as Jack Ma. (Credit: Duncan Clark)

by Tamara Treichel

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At first glance, little may set Duncan Clark apart from other foreign business executives in Beijing's CBD, with his dapper appearance and Mandarin-peppered English. But in fact, he has worked as an adviser for Jack Ma, the maverick founder of Alibaba Group, when China's largest e-commerce company was founded in a small apartment back in 1999.

Now Clark, who comes from Britain, has written a book about Ma and his monolithic company, "Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built."

Clark, in a crisp blue business shirt, sat down with Xinhua recently for an exclusive interview in the office of his consulting firm next to the CCTV "big pants" building to talk about his book on the eve of the G20 summit to be held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou -- incidentally, Ma's hometown in Zhejiang Province. Ma, who chairs the B-20 SME Development Task Force, is expected to attend the summit.

So what is the book about? Clark put it in a nutshell. "The book is really about two things: the Internet coming to China, the rise of the private sector. The combination is like an explosion, and Ma Yun is the guy with the match," Clark said.

Then of course there is "Jack" himself, as Clark mostly referred to Ma Yun, Alibaba's larger-than-life founder and chairman. After all, what good would a book on Alibaba be without mentioning Jack?

"His sense of humor is the first thing you notice," Clark said, adding that Jack would say "crazy things," for example that his company would be bigger than Amazon's or that he would rule the world -- all big visions while sitting in a little room. "You had to laugh. But somehow you didn't laugh at him, you were laughing with him ... but somehow, there was something about him that just seemed different."

Though he appeared to be a bit of an oddball, Clark said Jack proved himself to be "a team leader and a great communicator." Also, Jack had a knack for telling stories and "making people feel relaxed ... he makes you feel like he's talking to you, even if you're in a room of 3,000 people." Yet behind his Forrest Gump-like facade, Jack is actually "very strategic," a man who is always "looking, learning, building ideas."

In fact, Jack is a pragmatist at heart. Born into a modest background in China's Zhejiang Province, one could say that Jack was also born right into China's merchant culture. Bad in math, he "turned to his sense of imagination and his ability to be a performer" while hawking plastic carpets to supplement his income from teaching and translating. "He understands what it is to be a small merchant," Clark said. Also, he said, Jack understands his customers. "The success of Alibaba is really Taobao (Alibaba's consumer-to-consumer portal). The key to understanding Taobao is understanding the customer." A true-blooded business tycoon, "he'll do anything to get the deal."

And Jack is ambitious. "The strongest thing about him is ambition. The weakest thing about him is his ambition," Clark said, citing Alibaba's massive money market fund, Yu'e Bao, as an example, which shocked banks and had people turning against him. Still, thanks to Jack's strong communication and motivation skills, others "follow him into battle."

Clark mentioned Tencent as a foil to Alibaba. "Tencent is much more strategic, is much more cautious, and more focused. Alibaba is doing big things in finance, in media, in global... so ambition is the strong point and the weak point of the company." A double-edged sword indeed. "Investors sometimes love too much ambition, sometimes they're afraid, so it's a balance."

Clark said he was brought on board to advise Alibaba on its international expansion during the company's infancy as a contractor and "foreign friend." Clark also indicated that Alibaba was to a certain extent supportive in his writing the book, yet he emphasized he had worked independently on it.

"I did not have that sit-down with him," Clark said. In other words, he didn't conduct lengthy interviews with Jack, but he did have some time with Jack's number two, Joe Tsai.

Clark said he talked to current and former Alibaba employees as well as competitors. It was hard to find critical voices because Jack has "a very different management style" than Steve Jobs, Clark said, referring to the founder of Apple who wasn't known for his people skills. He wanted to steer clear of gossip about Alibaba's founder while making sure he was not producing a "puff piece."

Clark said his book is now being translated into 14 languages. "Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia -- a lot of people actually buy stuff on Alibaba's websites, so they are interested in the company and also his story," he said.

Yet his book is not only about technology. "People don't love technology, they love people," the author said, and as such, a story about Alibaba's charismatic leader would attract more readers.

Clark aims to both entertain and inform. "I think Alibaba is a window into a deeper understanding of China," he said, hoping his readers can learn more about what is going on in China, for example as regards the Internet, its entrepreneurs and Zhejiang Province. Clark said that Jack had helped make Hangzhou, China's Silicon Valley, a major tech hub and further raised commerce in Zhejiang. "I hope one of the things of this book is it kind of opens people's eyes to the power of Zhejiang. The G20 will do that even more."

Duncan Clark with Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang holding a copy of Clark's new Alibaba book. (Credit: Duncan Clark)

For Clark, finding some old Australian friends of Jack's -- the Morley family who had come to China in 1980 -- was a highlight. To track down David Morley, who is now running a Yoga studio in Australia, Clark conducted some "investigative journalism." "Nobody had told that story," Clark said. Now, Jack's friend David is also Clark's.

"The most fun part was building a friendship with David Morley. Actually, we've never met, but we send messages all the time," he said, adding that Jack has now started talking about the Morleys as well.

Another surprise that his book had in store for him after its publication was receiving a call from Wall Street Journal that a pirated copy of his book was available -- on an Alibaba marketplace. "The funniest thing was when my book was copied on Taobao," Clark said, amused. Alibaba later removed the links.

When asked how Jack benefited from the development of the Internet and China's opening-up, Clark suggested that Jack was born in the right place at the right time, as Hangzhou opened early to tourism and has a long tradition of commerce. Moreover, Jack "has benefited from certain crises. Actually, if you look back, crisis has been his opportunity."

Clark cited SARS as an example, when many people had to stay home and used their new broadband connection to shop online. That was exactly the time when Taobao was launched in 2003. The 2008 global financial crisis helped open up the Chinese market for him, as a lot of factories could not export to the United States.

Now, Clark said Jack can help facilitate China's shift from a manufacturing to a consumer-driven society. "Jack is offering a solution to China ... how to move from a made-in-China to a consumed-in-China or designed-in-China," he said. "Ma Yun can sell Alibaba as a way to actually move up the development of the middle class, give them more choice ... and create more innovative products. That's a dream."

Clark also addressed the subject of innovation and said that there has always been a history of copying among nations. He said while the private sector has to lead innovation, governments can create the conditions for it, such as education and intellectual property laws. "People in the West want to understand what is happening in China that might be original, or might be not just copycat," he said. Actually, he said Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall platforms are themselves innovative to a certain extent.

As for Alibaba's foray into overseas markets, Clark said there would have to be a wait-and-see approach. Although its e-commerce website AliExpress has taken off in Russia without Alibaba's even opening a single office, Clark is not so sure that success can be replicated in the United States with its highly sophisticated retail sector. He mentioned Amazon.

"Amazon is doing things differently from Alibaba. Amazon buys products and sells them, so they have inventory; Alibaba is just a market place, so they just connect buyers and sellers." However, Clark said that Amazon is now building its own products, which might pose a threat to its biggest customers yet harbor opportunities for Alibaba to compete with Amazon.

Looking forward, Clark said Alibaba's top future challenge is human resources, so it is trying to recruit its own foreign talent for its expansion through the Alibaba Global Leadership Academy. Young foreigners work for Alibaba in Hangzhou, become immersed in the company culture and are then dispatched overseas.

Ironically, Clark called Jack, the homegrown Hangzhou entrepreneur, "more of a global player" than Baidu's U.S.-educated Li Yanhong and said Jack has been actively involved in the globalization debate. Alibaba's founder has also been visiting Davos. "Jack was one of the earliest to start talking about corporate social responsibility, environmental responsibility because he tends to be ahead of where other people are," Clark said. So far, this has been a smart move for Alibaba's PR.

"For Alibaba going overseas, we will learn do they make the same mistakes that the West made coming here (to China)," Clark said. He suggested that a key to Alibaba's past success lies in Jack's flexibility, which may also serve him well in the future. "He tries to be all things to all people, and he's doing pretty well."

(Xinhua reporter Chen Xuelian contributed to the story.)
The head of the delegation of the Colombian government for the peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Humberto de la Calle (R) delivers a speech during the announcement by the Colombian government and FARC of reaching the final peace agreement, in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 24, 2016. The Colombian government and the insurgent FARC announced on Wednesday that they have reached the final peace agreement to conclude the peace negotiations that have been held since November 2012 in Havana. (Xinhua/COLPRENSA)

by Chris Dalby and Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla finalized their peace deal after nearly four years of negotiations Wednesday, ending their 50-year conflict.

The accord stipulates the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as an armed organization and will allow them to become a political party or movement in the South American nation.

Other issues like land reforms, victims of the conflict, justice, counter-narcotics strategy, mine clearance and the search for missing persons were also agreed by the parties.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos addressed the nation after the deal was signed here, delivering his promise to end the war this year.

"Today, I speak to you with deep emotion and great happiness. Today marks the end of suffering and pain, the end of the tragedy of war. On Aug. 24, 2016 this national hope has become reality," said a jubilant Santos.

According to the president, the FARC guerrilla will cease to exist and will become a political movement without guns.

He vowed not to grant impunity for those responsible for the worst crimes, either in the FARC or in Colombia's armed forces.

The Colombian government's chief negotiator Humberto De La Calle also said "Today we have reached the goal, signing a final agreement with the FARC is the end of the armed conflict. It proved the way to finish off the war was sitting down to talk about peace. The war is over."

The agreement means the FARC will begin to transform into a legitimate political party, which De La Calle invited to compete equally for the support of the Colombian people, once it completed its responsibilities in the agreement.

"We can proclaim that today ends the war with arms and begins the debate of ideas. We have concluded the most beautiful of all battles, to lay the foundations for peace and coexistence," said the rebels' top envoy to the talks Ivan Marquez.

The peace deal commits Colombia's government to carrying out aggressive land reforms, reorient its anti-narcotics strategy, allow the FARC to become a legitimate political party, and protect demobilized rebels and leftist activists, who have traditionally been targeted by right-wing paramilitary groups.

The next stage of the peace process will come on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote in a plebiscite as to whether to accept or reject the contents of the agreement.

"We must wait until the referendum and let Colombians decide on this great effort both sides have made. We have worked very hard for the peace of our nation," Sergio Jaramillo, Colombia's high commissioner for peace, told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Judith Simanca, a top negotiator for the guerrilla, told Xinhua that a new road begins after almost four years of talks over issues that added up over 50 years.

"We must build peace in Colombia and this agreement is the starting point of a new society. We have an immense hope in our people," she said.

For Venezuela, an accompanying nation in the process, the agreement sealed many years of tireless efforts by former President Hugo Chavez and incumbent President Nicolas Maduro to contribute towards ending the armed conflict.

"This is a historic day after decades of suffering and death. Peace is now at hand, and this is a lesson for all those that never believed in the talks and wanted to continue the violent war," Roy Chaderton, Venezuela's envoy to the peace talks, told Xinhua.

If the agreement is approved by the Colombian people in a plebiscite it will be presented to Congress for ratification.

According to a recent poll, 67.5 percent of Colombians would vote in favor of the peace deal, with 32.5 percent opposing it.

Nevertheless, the peace process is till facing some challenges.

Leading the opposition, former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has regularly lambasted Santos for giving too much away.

One provision of the deal is that any guerrilla fighters or Colombian soldiers confessing to crimes would be spared jail sentences and face amnesty.

This has proved unpopular with a certain section of Colombian society, which fears some may go unpunished for murder.

The conflict in Colombia has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions since 1964.

Related:

Colombia, FARC announce final peace agreement, ending over 50 years of conflict

HAVANA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- After four years of peace talks, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) finalized their peace agreement on Wednesday. Full story

Colombian gov't, FARC agree on forming tribunal for peace accord

HAVANA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the guerrilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), agreed on Friday to create a tribunal to prosecute war crimes committed during the country's decades-long armed conflict.

The parties announced the tribunal in a joint statement in Havana, where negotiators have been holding peace talks since 2012 to yield a final peace agreement to end the conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people. Full story

Colombian gov't, FARC provide new details about peace plan

HAVANA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla announced on Friday a protocol and time-frame to implement the ceasefire and disarmament agreements signed in June.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday conveyed its serious concern to Dr. Peter Lavoy, Special Assistant to U.S. President Barack Obama, over the halt of 300 million U.S. dollars in military aid to the country, officials said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter decided this month against making a certification to Congress stating that Pakistan is taking sufficient action against the Haqqani network, a Taliban affiliate blamed for attacks on U.S. and allied personnel in Afghanistan, according to Washington Post.

Dr. Peter Lavoy, who is also Senior Director for South Asia at the U.S. National Security Council, held talks with Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry in Islamabad, amid tension over the blockade of the military aid, the Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier the U.S. Congress also blocked the subsidized sale of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan.

The U.S. Administration had provisionally approved to the sale of eight F-16s in February, however, a sub-committee on Asia and Pacific of the U.S. Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs blocked the subsidized deal earlier this month.

"The Foreign Secretary lamented that despite Pakistan's indiscriminate action against all terrorist groups, included the Haqqani Network, the U.S. Administration had decided not to certify the concerted and forceful measures taken by Pakistan," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Chaudhry also reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani leadership to not allow anyone to use Pakistan's soil against any country and apprised the Obama's envoy about the progress achieved during the military offensive in North Waziristan tribal region.

"Referring to certain recent developments that had placed a strain on the bilateral relationship, the Foreign Secretary stressed that continued engagement was important to resolve the differences of perception and understanding," the Foreign Ministry further said.

In his remarks, Dr. Lavoy noted that the U.S. Administration recognized the efforts and sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism, the Pakistani statement said.

"He also appreciated Pakistan's outreach to Afghanistan and efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in Afghanistan."

He added that given the imperatives of peace, stability and security in the region, continued close cooperation between Pakistan and the United States was very important to successfully fight terrorism and to attain the objectives shared by both countries.

The Foreign Ministry said Dr. Lavoy's visit is part of the regular high level exchanges between the United States and Pakistan.
GUIYANG, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Qiu He, a former senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in southwest China's Yunnan Province, stood trial on Thursday for accepting bribes.

Qiu, former deputy secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, is accused of taking advantage of his official posts from 2008 to 2015 to seek benefits for others in construction projects, loans and job reassignments.

Personally, he accepted bribes worth over 24.3 million yuan (3.7 million U.S. dollars), according to the indictment.

The People's Procuratorate of Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou Province in southwest China, filed the charges with Guiyang Intermediate People's Court.

A total of 60 people, including journalists and members of the public, attended the hearing.

The court was adjourned to deliberate a verdict on another date.
WELLINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said Thursday that it is investing in sheep milk research with the aim of building new export markets, particularly in Asia.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said the government had agreed a six-year partnership between the privately-run Spring Sheep Milk Co. and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) with a value of 31.4 million NZ dollars (22.98 million U.S. dollars).

"It will involve new genetics, new farming systems and developing high premium niche products. New Zealand operators will be involved in all parts of the value chain," Guy said in a statement.

"There is increasing demand for sheep milk products, particularly in Asia, where many people are intolerant to cow's milk. We have a massive opportunity to tap into this market, and further position New Zealand as a producer of premium products," he said.

"The program is expected to generate annual revenues of at least 200 million NZ dollars (146.38 million U.S. dollars) by 2030 from sheep milk and new, high-value related products like ice-cream. This return could be as high as 700 million NZ dollars (512.33 million U.S. dollars) if the program hits its aspirational targets."

The global sheep milk industry was estimated to be worth 6.5 billion NZ dollars (4.75 billion U.S. dollars) and was growing strongly.

MPI would be investing 40 percent of the value of the program, which would allow open access to improved dairy sheep genetics and knowledge.

Spring Sheep Milk Co. chief executive Scottie Chapman said Asian consumers liked the nutritional value, flavor and digestibility of sheep milk.

To achieve a sheep milk industry delivering domestic and export returns at the upper target, New Zealand would need up to 55 farms managed by farmers with specific sheep milking expertise, Chapman said in a statement.

"The current farming model in New Zealand won't achieve this, which is why this joint investment between ourselves and MPI is so critical," he said.
MOSCOW, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed forces have started snap military drill involving three of the country's four military districts, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"The check will be held from Aug. 25 to Aug. 31," Shoigu said at a meeting with senior commanders of the Armed Forces, without providing numbers of the troops and equipment participating in the drill.

He said the exercise would focus on the full cycle of the Armed Forces to "defend Russia's interests amid growing security threats."

In the course of the drill, troops in the Southern Military District will demonstrate their capacity to rapidly deploy self-sufficient groups of forces for containing crises, Shoigu said.

Also to be checked will be the ability of the Western and Central military districts to beef up forces in the southwestern strategic sector, he added.

The Airborne Forces will exercise transportation of troops to unfamiliar areas using various means of landing from aircraft and helicopters, the minister said.

The Central, Northern, and Southern military districts cover most of the Russian territory except for eastern Siberia and the Far East.
SYDNEY, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- More Malaysians are being barred from entering Australia by authorities after it was assessed that they were attempting to enter the country to work illegally.

On Thursday, the Australian Border Force issued a statement saying that its officers had refused the entry of 11 Malaysians at the Gold Coast airport on Aug. 20 as it was believed that they would work illegally once they were allowed in. All 11 have been deported to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since.

Assistant Commissioner Strategic Border Command Clive Murray said these successful removals further demonstrate that the ABF is alert to those who try to enter Australia to work illegally.

"This is a significant issue and ABF officers have the expertise and access to intelligence to ensure that illegal workers are stopped before they enter the country," Murray said.

"There are avenues for people who wish to come to our country to work legally; however, if you are caught trying to do so illegally you will be returned to your country of origin," he said.

These returns were in addition to the 44 illegal workers refused entry to Australia at Gold Coast and Perth Airports on July 30 for the same reason.

This is the second time in a week that a group of Malaysians are being reprimanded by the Australian immigration authorities.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Australian authorities had arrested 34 Malaysians for working illegally at a farm in Coffs Harbor, New South Wales upon receiving a tip-off.

All 34 are currently detained and are awaiting deportation.
COLOMBO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's army commander Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, on Thursday denied claims that former Tamil Tiger rebels who were rehabilitated after the war had been injected with poison.

The commander insisted there was no evidence to back the claims and so the claims were baseless.

A former Tamil Tiger cadre, also known as the LTTE, was reported to have made the allegation that several former LTTE cadres were injected with poison before being released into society after being rehabilitated.

The issue was later discussed at the Northern Provincial Council and Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran was to meet Prime Minister Ranul Wickremeinghe to discuss the issue.

Wigneswaran is also reported to have sought US assistance to investigate the issue but the US had turned down the request.

The Northern Province Chief Minister said that he has advised doctors in the North to look into the issue and submit a report.

The government had said earlier it is prepared to investigate the allegations that former LTTE cadres were injected with poison if the details of such former LTTE cadres is submitted to the relevant authorities.

Minister of National Dialogue Mano Ganeshan said this week that there is no need for Wigneswaran to take the issue to the international community as it can be investigated locally.
by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A massive flooding in India's eastern state of Bihar has affected over 2.9 million people with water inundating several areas, officials said Thursday.

During the last 24 hours seven deaths, five from Samastipur district and one each from Khagaria and Nalanda districts, were reported. The districts are located east of Patna city, the capital of Bihar.

The state has been hit by floods since June this year and during the two rounds of deluge, officials said 127 deaths were reported so far.

"In the current round so far 29 people were killed," a local government official said. "The first round claimed 98 human lives."

According to disaster management officials in Bihar, of the state's 38 districts, 24 are affected with flood waters.

"In the 24 affected districts across the state, 4222 villages are inundated," the disaster management officials said. "And in the flood-hit areas, a population of more than 2.9 million people have been affected."

The flood water according to officials have breached embankments and entered the residential areas and agricultural land. Estimates made by local government officials said flooding has affected 3.8 million hectares of crop land and damaged residential structures mostly thatched cottages.

"The deluge has damaged 86 solid houses, 199 partially solid, 1955 mud houses, 4614 partially mud structures and 11185 thatched huts," a government official said.

Local residents say parts of Bihar which were hardly ever flooded in recent past were currently under water. The residents have to wade through the flooded streets to reach safer places.

"It is for the first time I am seeing huge water entering our village and into our houses," Shubham Das, a resident from Patna told Xinhua over telephone. "All the people here have left for safer places to take shelter in relief camps and higher grounds."

According to Das, it is after more than 30 years that such massive flooding has hit the district and surrounding areas.

Reports said the flood waters are now entering the districts located along the downstream of the river Ganga.

"Munger, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Khagaria are at high risk," officials said. "According to central water commission, river Ganga is flowing above danger mark at almost all places and current spate was caused by river Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra and Kosi."

Authorities have deployed teams of disaster response force to carry out relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. Officials said the rescue teams deployed across affected districts help people to reach safer places.

Local officials have said around 300,000 people have been evacuated and 262 relief camps were set up in the affected areas to provide food and medicines to the displaced people.

Meteorological department officials said the current precipitation is 14 percent below the normal.

On Tuesday day the state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in wake of the worsening flood situation in the state. Kumar said that his state has received 14 per cent less rain than is standard for the monsoon and described the devastation "man-made."

Kumar conveyed Modi that current flooding is due to the Farraka barrage (dam located in West Bengal) that has led to silt or sediment piling up all along 400 km river bed to Patna, making it much easier for the water to spillover during frequent rains.

"The Farraka barrage that has been built on river Ganga has resulted in deposition of slit upstream," Kumar told reporters. "We are stuck in a situation,that river coming from neighbouring areas of Nepal, Madhya Pradesh and Jarkhand flows into Ganga through Bihar."

Modi according to reports has agreed to dispatch a team of experts to look into the process de-silting in and around Patna.

As the state government is battling to carry out relief and rescue operations, a senior leader in Bihar has to face backlash for his remarks.

"It's a fortunate and welcome sight to find the Ganga at one's doorstep. You are fortunate that the Ganga has reached your homes. It does not always happen. In most cases you go to it," Laloo Prasad Yadav, chief of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party told media.

Yadav's party is a coalition partner in the state government led by Kumar.

Many Hindus consider river Ganga as sacred and believe that water from Ganges has the power to wash away sins of humans.

Last month floods hit India's northeastern state of Assam affecting over 1.2 million people. The deluge claimed 28 human lives, apart from perishing around 200 wild animals inside state's Kaziranga national park.
COLOMBO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government is making efforts to facilitate investments in the country, according to businessmen attending a hospitality forum here.

Thilan Wijesinghe, director of Ceylon Tea Trails, which operates boutique hotels, said the new government is aware of red tape problems and trying to speed up approvals of investments.

"There is an acute recognition within the government of procedural delays investors face," he said. "New laws have been mooted and the proposed agency for development will be given power to cut through red tape."

Mohamed Khaleel, chief operating officer of Reollo Investments, quoted in local media, said there is still far too much red tape in Sri Lanka.

"You have a lot of red tape in the country - lengthy procedures to buy land, legal procedures are more complicated than in other countries," he said.

But he noted that conditions are improving and that is why international brands are entering the country.

Sri Lanka's Board of Investments, in a statement last month, said the tourism sector has been experiencing an impressive growth after restoration of peace in the country.

As a result of presence of international brands such as Shangri-La, Sheraton, Marriott and Grand Hyatt, investor confidence has grown immensely, the Board of Investments said.

There are seven new agreements that have been signed to set up hotel projects with an estimated investment of 133 million U.S. dollars and will create 950 direct job opportunities, the board said.
RAMADI, Iraq, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least five security members were killed and eight others injured in a suicide car bomb attack by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source said on Thursday.

A suicide bomber detonated his car bomb near military positions in Jazirat al-Khaldiyah area, a sprawling agricultural land northwest of Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, leaving five troops dead and eight others injured, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Another bombing attempt was foiled when a suicide car bomber was stopped and killed by troops in the nearby area of Albu Bali, the source said.

Earlier in the month, security forces conducted an offensive to flush out IS militants from rural areas northeast of Fallujah, including Jazirat al-Khaldiyah and Albu Bali.

The offensive was designed to drive out IS militants from the rural areas in north of Euphrates River after government troops and allied militias previously reclaimed key cities and towns, including Ramadi and Fallujah.

However, extremist militants, from their hideouts in the desert area in the northern part of Anbar province, managed to carry out sporadic attacks against security forces in the rural area.

Iraq has witnessed worsening violence since the IS took control of parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence and the rise of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003, under the pretext of seeking to destroy weapons of mass destruction in the country.

The war led to the ouster and eventual execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but no such weapons have been found.
HANOI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese cuisine is famous all over the world and Vietnam is no exception particular in the capital city of Hanoi where it is easy to find a restaurant offering a flavorful journey through the Chinese culinary world.

Located on a busy street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Xing Hong Kong Cafe is famous among locals for its outstanding Hong Kong-styled dim sum and hotpot menu.

Vu Manh Tung, one of the restaurant's shareholders, told Xinhua that he started his business nearly three years ago, based on his great passion for Chinese culture and food.

"By decorating the restaurant identically to cafes in Hong Kong, we aim to give visitors an authentic 'Honk Kong' experience," said Tung.

Guests are greeted at the entrance of the little restaurant by the warm smiles of the waiters and can, through a small transparent glass kitchen at the entrance, see the chef display his amazing cooking skills.

Thanks to the kitchen, customers can see how little, cute dumplings are made step-by-step, from mixing the flour and the filling, shaping the dumplings, and then steaming them in small bamboo steamer cages.

The enticing display of cooking skills lures customers into the restaurant, which is decorated with many brightly lit red lanterns that provide a feeling of coziness and is reminiscent of scenes from famous Chinese movies.

As one of the most well-known Chinese dishes, dim sum is a local favorite and dominates the menu.

According to the restaurant manager, they "have made a thorough study on which Chinese dishes to offer to local customers. The dishes must be delicious, easy to eat and suitable to Vietnamese people's tastes."

Dim sum meets these requirements and for Vietnamese diners it's a firm favorite, Tung explained.

"Our customers are diverse, ranging from students to company employees and public officers. The younger customers particularly enjoy Chinese dim sum items such as fresh shrimp dumplings and Lan Kwai Fong deep-fried meat dumplings," said Tung.

In addition to dim sum, hotpot is also popular in Vietnam, as it can be enjoyed on any occasion and at both luxurious or ordinary restaurants. "Chinese hotpot is different from the ones we serve here in terms of ingredients, mixing and seasoning," Tung told Xinhua.

In Tung's restaurant, customers can choose from a variety of Chinese traditional dishes, some of which might sound strange, others familiar, but all equally delicious.

The most beloved food item among local diners, however, is the fresh shrimp dumplings, which are prepared in small portions and served in small steamer baskets.

Each basket holds three or more delectable soft, chewy dumplings with crusts so thin that the filling inside can actually be seen.

In order to make such authentic, artful dumplings, the chef of the restaurant had to go to Hong Kong to learn the unique technique.

Chef Kim said that "Chinese cuisine has three features: color, flavor and form. Chinese dishes are well-cooked and beautifully and decoratively served. China's Hong Kong and Guangdong localities have many things in common with Vietnam in terms of culinary culture. As a result, Chinese restaurants are extremely popular among Vietnamese people," he explained.

Some Chinese dishes that also earn great applause from local customers, include Peking duck, crab hotpot, chicken feet with black bean sauce, or steam rice rolls.

However, the chef said that he tweaks his dishes to suit the palettes of local Vietnamese.

Kim told Xinhua that all the ingredients are imported from China to bring an authentic taste to the dishes, but added that he also tries to modify certain dishes with Vietnamese ingredients, to give them a unique flavor.

"For example, in a crab hotpot, I add a dash of Vietnamese fish sauce to make it more charming, and Vietnamese diners seem to enjoy the change," Kim said.

Having traveled to Hong Kong several times, Nguyen Hong Anh, a 25-year-old diner, said she loves Hong Kong-styled food.

Anh said in between mouthfuls of scrumptious food, "I just love the steamed rice-roll with shrimps as it's a concerto of such delicious flavors."
CONAKRY, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Guinean police have seized about three tonnes of cannabis in the capital Conakry since March, the country's police authority said.

Speaking during a ceremony held in Conakry, police spokesman Mamadou Alpha Barry said the drugs were seized in joint operations by the police and the customs.

A total of 27 suspected traffickers have been arrested during the operations, Barry said.

He said the drugs came from as far as the country's border regions with Sierra Leone.
N'DJAMENA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- N'Djamena Prosecutor Alghassim Khamis said he had closed the case of suspected disappearance or death of about 60 soldiers during the presidential elections, saying all of them were found alive.

On April 18, 2016, opposition presidential candidates led by veteran opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo alleged that about 60 soldiers who had voted against incumbent President Idriss Deby Itno had been killed or were missing.

The allegations were quickly picked up by the media and human rights groups. On April 20, N'Djamena prosecutor decided to probe into the allegations.

"During the conduct of investigations, all the people alleged to have died or disappeared, physically presented themselves to the media and later to the investigators who confirmed their identity," Khamis said.

"It has been established that the soldiers who were said to be dead or missing are alive. Consequently, there is no need for further investigations," he concluded.
SINGAPORE, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Steady stream of Singaporeans on Thursday went to the Parliament House to pay their respects to former President S R Nathan who passed away on Monday at the age of 92.

The casket bearing Nathan's body left his family residence at Ceylon Road at 8: 45 a.m., and the hearse was received by Speaker of the Parliament Halimah Yacob as a nine-man coffin bearer party transferred the casket into the building and onto the bier.

In the highest honor accorded to a leader, the state flag was draped over the casket, with the crescent and stars lying over the head and close to the heart of Nathan, who was Singapore's sixth and longest-serving president.

The stream of people started to enter the Parliament House at 10:00 a.m., close to 14,000 people have paid their respects as of 18:00 p.m. on Thursday, according to the State Funeral Organizing Committee.

Among the stream of the public were Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife Mary Tan. President Tan said former President Nathan will be sorely missed by Singaporeans.

"His heart and commitment to Singapore is an inspiration," added President Tan, after paying his respects.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, as well as other Singaporean leaders also paid their respects to former President Nathan at the Parliament House.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made a stopover in Singapore en route to Kenya, also paid his respects to former President Nathan accompanied by PM Lee.

There will be a state funeral procession for the late former President S R Nathan on Friday.
by Osama Rady, Omar Othmany

GAZA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Laziz the tiger and 14 other animals were taken out of the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip on Wednesday by an international animal welfare organization after living in cages for years in the local zoo.

Aboard a truck of Four Paws, which rescues animals in Third World countries, the 15 animals, which also included monkeys, turtles, an emu, porcupines, a pelican, a deer and eagle buzzards, left Khan Yunis Zoo in southern Gaza and headed for new homes in Jordan and South Africa.

This was the third relief mission this year for Four Paws to help animals at the Gaza zoo, where has been suffering a lack of food and medicine and other basic supplies.

It was a sad day for owner Mohammed Oweda, who will close the zoo after the departure of the 15 animals.

"I feel so sad for this, but the lives and safety of the animals are more important than closing my business," Oweda said.

Oweda blamed the closure of Khan Yunis Zoo on the Israeli blockade and the frequent wars between Israel and Hamas, which has been ruling Gaza since 2007.

Dozens of animals died during a 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in 2014, while many suffered injuries and mental problems.

Oweda said the majority of the animals in his zoo died and that he suffered an estimated loss of 20,000 U.S. dollars.

The evacuation of the 15 animals has not been easy for the rescuers at Four Paws, which conducted lengthy negotiations with zoo owners over the rescue mission.

A 13-member Four Paws team arrived in Gaza two weeks ago for the operation, and work to catch and load the animals into crates started Tuesday.

"It has been a very long day for the team. We succeeded in spite of the challenges," Amir Khalil, a veterinarian with Four Paws and member of the rescue team, told Xinhua.

Throughout the night, the team guarded the truck with the 15 animals in their crates and monitored their vital signs regularly to make sure they are well.

Most of the animals will find a temporary home in a protection center called New Hope in Jordan. The only tiger, named Laziz, will be loaded in a new transport crate once in Israel. By Thursday, Laziz is expected to arrive in Four Paws Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.

This was Khalil's sixth visit in Gaza.

"I first came to help animals at Bisan Zoo after the war in 2014 and we transferred three lions to a rescue station in Jordan," he said.

Khalil said his organization's most recent mission was transferring two lion cubs from Rafah City in Gaza to Jordan last year.

It has not always been possible to move animals out of Gaza, but Four Paws is doing its best to achieve positive solutions for the animals, Khalil said.

Four Paws is now working to get a large piece of land from the Palestinian government in Gaza to build a sanctuary in the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

The organization estimates that Gaza is home to hundreds of animals that have been smuggled into the enclave over the past nine years.
ABUJA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese technology firm Huawei has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian government to assist the country in nurturing its local talents in information and communications technology (ICT).

The leading global ICT solutions provider, while signing the agreement with the Nigerian government on Tuesday, said it aims to promote knowledge transfer, improve people's interest in and understanding of the telecom industry through its "Seeds For The Future" initiative.

The agreement will give Nigerian government officials the benefit of partaking in the "Seeds For The Future" program, Huawei's flagship corporate social responsibility project since 2008, the ICT firm said in a statement released in Abuja.

The company is launching the program for Africa's most populous country at a time the Nigerian government is pushing hard to deepen ICT uptake, penetration and use, especially through discovering and training of young talents and government officials in ICT-related areas who are viewed as the hope of the country's future.

Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million people, shows demographics of young population of around 50 percent.

Huawei said it is desirous of promoting the ICT industry for the development of Nigeria through innovation and self-reliance for development.

Commenting on the MoU signing, secretary to the Nigerian government, Babachir David Lawal, said the authorities recognize the acquisition and development of ICT skills as a major contributor to the success so far achieved in the ongoing fight against corruption, insecurity and insurgency.

"It is also a major employment enabler and wealth generator for the teaming masses of unemployed Nigeria youths. I will therefore wish to assure Huawei of government's unflinching support for the success of this program and that the government is indeed very grateful," he added.

Last April, 20 young Nigerians were sent to China to participate in "Seeds For The Future" (students) program during the first state visit to China of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ten Nigerian officials have been selected to participate in another batch of the program in China, designed particularly for officials.
BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- China expresses deep condolence to the passing of former President S. R. Nathan of Singapore, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said Thursday.

Nathan, who died on Monday night at the age of 92, was the sixth and longest-serving President of Singapore. He was in office from 1999 to 2011, serving two terms.

"China offers sympathy to the government and people of Singapore, as well as the families of Mr. Nathan, who contributed to our bilateral relations during his presidency," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press conference.

Senior Chinese diplomats will mourn the former president at the Singaporean Embassy in Beijing, Lu said.
A trainee works at the China-Kenya Solid State Lighting Technology Transfer Center in an industrial park in Machakos county, Kenya, April 24, 2015. Chinese and Kenyan investors on Friday launched a technology transfer and training center to promote assembling of solar lighting systems so as to meet a huge demand for green energy sources in the East African nation. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

KIGALI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have called on African governments to increase investments in science and technology to break the cycle of poverty as Africa focuses on achieving Agenda 2063.

They made the call last week during the first annual regional science and technology meeting in the Rwandan, Capital Kigali.

It focused on developing a guiding framework for the development and application of science, technology and innovation to accelerate the socioeconomic development in the region.

Agenda 2063 is the African continent approach to effectively learn from the lessons of the past, build on the progress and strategically exploit all possible opportunities available to ensure positive socioeconomic transformation within the next 50 years.

Rwanda hosts the forum from August 22nd to 26th under the theme: "Science, technology and innovation for socioeconomic development, regional integration and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals."

It has brought together scientists, scholars, international research partners, policymakers and entrepreneurs, and civil society, from Africa and beyond.

"African governments should consider investing massively in science and technology in order to achieve tangible social and economic transformation on the continent," said Gertrude Ngabirano, executive secretary of East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO).

A trainee works at the China-Kenya Solid State Lighting Technology Transfer Center in an industrial park in Machakos county, Kenya, April 24, 2015. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

"In the developed world, countries that have invested in education, science and technology have managed to break the cycle of poverty," said Ngabirano.

She told the meeting that the entire continent of Africa is blessed with rich resources, but due to inadequate knowledge in science and technology, resources remain largely unexplored leaving Africans in dire poverty.

The meeting organized by EASTECO, Rwanda's National Commission of Science and Technology (NCST), and the Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI) will provide a platform to participants to share knowledge on how to transform Africa using the power of science and technology.

According to Ignace Gatare, Director General of Rwanda National Commission of Science and Technology, science, technology and innovation can provide answers to the challenges of the global technology evolution.

"Africa still lags behind other regions of the world when it comes to the development of science and technology but it can be overcome with clear vision, commitment and firm determination," he added.

Gatare called for a critical look at regional and international cooperation for implementing collaborative science and technology projects.

The meeting highlighted a number of critical challenges facing the development of science and technology in Africa, including low science and technology capacity, low investment in research, poor infrastructural development and a lack of access to helpful scientific ideas.

Emilia Afonso Nhalevilo, vice-president of Africa engagement, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), called for the need for science and technology to be more gender responsive as Africa is yet to fully exploit the great potentials of using science and technology as an engine of growth and development.

"Science and technology in Africa is largely dominated by males, we need to support the inclusion of females as African governments increase their spending on science, technology and innovation," she said.
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. 25 (Xinhua) -- A China-built secondary school in South Sudan's capital Juba has helped kept the aspirations of students despite the uneasy environment in the war-torn nation.

The China Friendship School, which was constructed in 2013 by a Chinese company, currently accommodates over 2,000 students.

Solomon Michael Abas, a 17-year-old Form Three student, said he feels encouraged by the good learning facilities he enjoys at the school.

"My being here has encouraged me to become a gynecologist in future. I hope one day the Chinese will come here to give us science tips because what they did to build this school proofs that one day they will come back," Abas told Xinhua earlier this week.

The school's deputy head teacher, Onesimo Uonyi Loguya, told Xinhua that the 14-classroom structure had helped thousands of poor and vulnerable students to continue with their education because of its affordability and secure learning environment.

"We are really very thankful to the Chinese government for having done their best to erect this school in Munuki Payam because this is the only government (run) secondary school here. Before, students were getting difficulties to get to school," Loguya said.

Loguya said the school had recorded increased number of student enrollment since 2014 and it was becoming congested.

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)

Wani Sule Ladu, Jubek State education minister, said China had played a major role in supporting South Sudan in the infrastructure and education sectors, adding there were several China-funded schools throughout the state.

Elizabeth Juru, another Form Three student, called on authorities to upgrade facilities at the school to meet certain standards.

"What makes me happy about this school is the good learning environment that we enjoy. I want to be a doctor in future. But currently the science students lack books and a laboratory for doing practical work, which is making learning difficult," Juru told Xinhua.

South Sudan's education indicators remain among the worst in the world. The country's education sector remains critically under-resourced, according to the Ministry of Education. Official data shows annual allocation to education stood at 7 percent for 2013-2014.

This has contributed to high number of school dropout, low primary completion rate, scarce teaching and learning materials and inadequate school infrastructure, with a large number of open air classrooms.

The adult literacy rate stands at 27 percent, and 70 percent of children aged between six and 17 have never set foot in a classroom -- with only 33 percent of girls in schools, one of the lowest in the world, according to the UN children's agency (UNICEF) report released in March.

Michael Lopuke, Undersecretary for Education, said the country was seeking funds for reconstruction of learning institutions.

South Sudan has been blighted by a more than two-year civil war that erupted in December 2013, and there are renewed clashes between the two factions involved in the war.
Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows an excavator working after the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy has risen to 247, Italian authorities confirmed early on Thursday. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy has risen to 247, Italian authorities confirmed early on Thursday.

A 6.0-magnitude tremor on Wednesday 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 places hardest hit were the towns Amatrice and Accumoli in Rieti province, and the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Peschiera del Tronto in the eastern Marche region.

At least 190 people were confirmed dead in the first two towns, and at least 57 in the villages, the Italian civil protection emergency chief Titti Postiglione told a press conference in Rome early on Thursday.

Some 274 injured people are currently in hospitals, she added.

The official toll is expected to rise further, however. Civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio warned that figures were still fluid, as rescuers are still digging under the rubble and dozens of people remain unaccounted for.

The number of victims might in fact exceed 200 in the town of Amatrice alone, mayor Sergio Pirozzi told local media on Thursday morning.

Thousands of homeless spent the night in tents set up all around the quake-stricken villages and towns.

Meanwhile, central Italy continues to tremble. A 4.5-magnitude quake was registered in Rieti province at 3:17 a.m. local time (0317 GMT), and could be clearly felt across the Lazio and Marche regions, the INGV stated. No new casualties were reported yet.

Some 460 aftershocks overall have followed since Wednesday morning, Seismology experts said.

The quake swarm is increasing fears and unease among the displaced, and creating more risks to those who kept digging in a desperate search for last survivors.

Overall, some 4,000 officials are involved in the rescue mission, according to the civil protection authorities.

The Italian cabinet will hold an emergency meeting later on Thursday afternoon in order to deliver the provisions necessary to allocate a first tranche of 50 million euros (56 million U.S. dollars) as immediate aid to the stricken areas.

On Wednesday, the economy ministry pledged 234 million euros (263 million U.S. dollars) from the national emergency fund to assist those in the towns and villages destroyed by the quake.
BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Maritime issues were not discussed during the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, held in Tokyo on Wednesday, said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Thursday.

"The three parties have not discussed the maritime issue during the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting," said spokesperson Lu Kang, responding to a question at a press conference.

Lu, however, confirmed that the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers did have an in-depth exchange of views on the East China Sea issue during a separate bilateral meeting.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made clear China's stance and said that both sides should properly manage their differences and stick to the four-point principle agreement that the two countries reached in November 2014, said Lu.

Wang called on both sides to give full attention to existing mechanisms of dialogue and consultation, Lu said, adding that the discussion was constructive and meaningful.

Lu also said that the South China Sea issue was not the topic of the bilateral meeting between Wang and his Japanese counterpart and had not been discussed.

Related:

Japan risks being more isolated on South China Sea: China

BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China said on Thursday that Japan should reflect why it has become the "small minority" on the South China Sea issue, otherwise it will get increasingly disappointed and isolated. Full Story

China's sovereignty, maritime rights in South China Sea part of post-WWII int'l order: ambassador

LONDON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are part of the international order established after the Second World War, Chinese ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said. Full Story

Commentary: China not alone in South China Sea issue
YANGON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of Myanmar Buddhist monks left here for Beijing to pay a five-day goodwill visit to China on Wednesday night.

At the invitation of Lingguang Temple in Beijing and the Buddhist Association of China, the 10-member delegation will pay homage to Buddha tooth relic enshrined in the Lingguang Temple.

A Myanmar senior monk, Sayadaw Badana Sandima Bewontha, who is a member of the State Buddhist Monks Organization, said the visit will enhance exchange of Buddhist culture as well as China-Myanmar friendly ties.
COPENHAGEN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Denmark's opposition Social Democratic Party has proposed to offer more financial incentives to refugees willing to return to their home countries voluntarily, local media reported Thursday.

Instead of the current "cash-for-repatriation" offer of some 130,000 Danish kroner (about 19,697 U.S. dollars), the Social Democrats want to give refugees and immigrants 200,000 kroner in cash together with a one-way ticket back to their home country, according to Danish news agency Ritzau.

"We must ensure that people who would rather go home and rebuild a life have the opportunity to do so," the Social Democratic Party's integration spokesman Dan Joergensen was quoted as saying.

He also described the measure as "hitting two birds with one stone", indicating that it can provide savings in Denmark as it is expensive to take care of refugees in the country.

"I am pleased that the Social Democrats also focus on repatriation. We do as well," Denmark's Integration Minister Inger Stoejberg said of the proposal.

While the Danish People's Party is in favor of all the incentives that encourage refugees and immigrants to go home, the government's support party the Conservatives also have a positive attitude towards the proposal.

Joergensen said it is a voluntary scheme and the success criterion is that "everyone who wants it must be given the opportunity."

He also acknowledged that a large part of the refugees will choose to stay in Denmark out of the conviction that they have the brightest future here, but not in a war-torn homeland.

In recent years, the number of refugees accepting a cash bonus offer from the Danish state to return to their home countries has fallen.

Data from the Danish Refugee Council, which administers the repatriation scheme, shows that the number of people accepting the cash offer of some 130,000 kroner has fallen from 261 in 2011 to 152 in 2015. (1 U.S. dollar = 6.6 Danish kroner)
ANKARA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 more Turkish tanks crossed the border into Syria on Thursday, joining an anti-Islamic State (IS) operation by the Turkish military and U.S.-led coalition forces, local media reported.

Turkish tanks and construction machinery were deployed from units in Karkamis, a Turkish town across the border with Syria, CNN Turk reported.

The tanks had reportedly only entered up to two kilometers inside Syria before returning to Turkish territory, reports said.

Earlier on Wednesday, 15 to 20 tanks and armored vehicles crossed the border following artillery shelling and airstrikes by Turkish and coalition aircraft as part of "Operation Euphrates Shield."

Turkish soldiers, including some from mechanized units and special forces, participated in the operation to help Ankara-back Syrian rebels to flush IS militants from Jarablus, a Syrian town south of the border with Turkey.

Along with coalition air support, 17 Turkish planes are taking part in the operation, including 11 F-16s.

In addition to fighting IS militants, the Turkish operation also aims to drive members of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), to the east bank of the Euphrates, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
Photo taken on Jan. 21, 2016 shows the dried up farmland in rural Gutu in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. Most communal farmers have lost their livestock due to the unusual drought brought by the El Nino affecting many parts of southern Africa this rainy season.(Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- It's just after 13:00, and Helena Iitope from a far-flung village in northern Namibia, had just returned from collecting cow dung which she uses as an energy source to cook.

"In fact, I had to go beyond the village boundaries into another village, hoping to collect enough cow dung to prepare both lunch and dinner for the family," she said.

Rocked by drought, the Namibian government declared a drought emergency two month ago.

It's not only the loss of crops and livestock that has been the immediate effect on farmers, but hidden from view is the energy crisis hard-hitting rural households, who are dependent on firewood and natural resources for energy.

In 2005, for Iitope, the supply of firewood and other energy sources such as cow dung were accessible within a distance of 100-500 metres from her home.

As climate change took its toll on the environment, Iitope this year bemoans of a lack of firewood, let alone sufficient cow dung as an energy source -- all lost to drought.

These days, like many farmers in rural Namibia, as firewood becomes scarce, cow dung is used as substitute for firewood.

However, the search for cow dung, according to Iitope, is synonymous to looking for a needle in a stack of hay as the cattle perished early this year.

"The cattle died, trees vanished, withered, and so even energy source (cow dung) is limited," she said. "Consequentially, drought is crippling the source of energy for me and fellow rural dwellers."

Iitope's is not alone. Many farmers in Namibia's northern region face the same dilemma.

Another villager Selma Ileni said the lack of natural energy sources has also put constraints on household budget.

"We have to spend the little funds left on buying firewood from town. Imagine you have to buy grass for the animals, food for children, cover medical expenses and on top of that still cover for firewood. But we have no other choice," Ileni said.

"We depended on farming for survival but now the perishing of all of our livestock leaves us socially and economically disadvantaged. We have no source of income nor means of production within our reach due to the dry spell," Ileni bemoaned.

As Iitope sets fire with cow dung to prepare lunch, she said she can only hope for better rain, and Namibia's implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially on climate change to sustain her livelihood.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- India has for the second time turned down Pakistan's invitation for foreign secretary-level talks on the diputed region of Kashmir, saying that it is willing to discuss cross-border terrorism instead.

Sources said Thursday that Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar rejected his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry's fresh invitation of talks in Islamabad this month-end, in a letter that was handed over by Indian envoy in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale to Chaudhry Wednesday.

The latest letter, dated Aug.19, was the Pakistani Foreign Secretary's second invitation of talks to his Indian counterpart in the last 10 days. The earlier one was also turned down by India.

The invitations came amid tensions between India and Pakistan over the ongoing unrest in Indian-controlled Kashmir since the killing of 22-year-old Burhan Wani, terror outfit Hizbul Mujahiddin's poster boy for new militancy, by the Indian security forces last month.

While Pakistan has eulogized Wani as a martyr, India has accused its neighbor of sponsoring terrorism in Indian-controlled Kashmir over which the two countries have fought at least three major wars in the past 65 years.
MOGADISHU, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN Development Programme (UNDP) will support Somalia's development, peace-building and state-building, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said during her visit to the country on Wednesday.

Among the topics of her discussions with Somali leaders were Somalia's 2016 electoral process and the upcoming launch of the country's first national development plan in more than three decades.

Clark said that with elections coming up and the national development plan nearing finalization, Somalia's development was gaining momentum.

"I take away a positive message from my visit about what is being achieved," said Clark, according to a statement issued in Mogadishu on Thursday.

Clark urged Somali government leaders to support achieving the 30-percent target for women members in both houses of the country's next parliament due to be elected later this year.

Somalia is set to hold presidential election on Oct. 30, and parliamentary elections from Sept. 24 to Oct. 10.

Clark said UNDP was very much involved in supporting the elections and promoting women's political participation and representation.

The three-year national development plan is due to take effect at the beginning of next year.
DAMASCUS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kurdish forces announced Thursday their withdrawal form Manbej, a north Syrian town they captured from the Islamic State (IS) group two weeks ago.

The People's Protection Units (YPG) said the allied forces of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) left the town after completing the mission of liberating it from the IS.

The YPG said it handed the military command of the town over to the Manbej Military Council, a coalition formed by local fighters from seven groups affiliated with the SDF.

The Military Command of Manbej will assume the power in that town along with the Arab members of the SDF, it said in a statement.

Both the SDF and the YPG are supported by the United States.

The Kurdish forces' withdrawal from Manbej, an Arab town near Turkey, came apparently against the backdrop of the recent American-Turkish reproachment, as Ankara has long expressed its deep opposition to the advance of Kurdish forces near its borders.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was in Ankara on Wednesday on a visit seen as part of Washington's efforts to ease the tension following a July 15 coup attempt.

At a joint press conference, Biden reportedly said that the YPG would lose U.S. support if it does not withdraw to the eastern side of Euphrates River.

On Wednesday, Turkish tanks, special forces and Anrkara-backed Syrian rebels crossed into the Syrian side of the borders, capturing the city of Jarablus, the last IS stronghold near Turkey.

The move was seen aimed primarily at capturing the city before the Kurdish forces could do so, as Jarablus was the Kurds' next declared goal after capturing Manbej.

The Turkish operation was covered by the U.S-led airstrikes, which helped in enabling the Syrian rebels to capture Jarablus.

On Thursday, Ankara sent in more tanks to support the Syrian rebels after capturing Jarablus.

Now, the Turkey-backed rebels are expected to move toward Manbej to take over the reign of power there.

The Syrian government has vehemently condemned the Turkish military intervention in Jarablus, saying Ankara was replacing one terror group with another, referring to the Turkey-backed rebels.

Observers believe that the Kurds may pay the price of stronger alliances between the U.S. and Turkey, as Washington finally gave Turkey the green light to secure northern Syrian areas against the advance of the Kurds, who have made sweeping progress under U.S. support recently.

Other analysts expressed worries that Ankara could be playing its long-declared goal of establishing a safe-zone in northern Syria to protect against the ambitious Kurdish fighters.
Photo taken on Aug. 25, 2016 shows a corridor in a building after an attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Around 15 people including seven students were killed after militants attacked a private American-run university in Kabul Wednesday evening. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned the terrorist attack at the American University in Kabul which claimed over a dozen lives after 10 hours of fighting.

In the deadly attack which was launched at 07:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to a statement of Afghanistan's Interior Ministry released on Thursday, 15 people including three attackers were killed and 36 others injured.

"We extend our profound condolences with the Government and the people of Afghanistan and the families of those who lost their loved ones in this brutal terrorist attack. We also pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

A Foreign Ministry statement said Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
ANKARA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The leader of Turkey's main opposition party escaped unharmed when his convoy was caught up in a shooting in the northeastern province of Artvin, authorities said.

Three soldiers were wounded in the shooting, one seriously, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said, blaming the attack on members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The convoy of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was not directly attacked but was stuck in clashes between assailants and soldiers guarding the convoy, who foiled a rocket attack, local media reported.

Security forces have launched anti-terror operations in the region, with helicopters being dispatched, the interior minister said.

Kilicdaroglu and the CHP delegation, who were on the way to an event in the province, were later transferred to a secure area with armored vehicles, reports said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the CHP chairman to express sympathy and inquire about the incident, while Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus condemned the attack.
HELSINKI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Thursday decided to recall Jarmo Viinanen, Finland's ambassador in Stockholm, Sweden.

The action will take effect on Sept. 19. The ambassador became a controversial figure after Finnish media allegations about sexual harassment.

The ambassador denied any improper behavior and said his rights were not respected in an investigation by the Foreign Ministry.

Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini said the possibility of Viinanen to "handle his duties had been impaired."

A month-long media focus has brought to light the internal life of Finnish diplomatic missions. Peter Stenlund, the highest civil servant at the Foreign Ministry, admitted to media that inappropriate behavior is known to have taken place in Finnish embassies earlier, but staffers have not been brave enough to report it to Helsinki.

Stenlund specified the accusations regarding Viinanen to have dealt with the "inviolability of a human being" but refused to say further.

Media reported that Viinanen had taken action against the practice of passing tax free liquor to non-diplomats and thus antagonized his staffers. Media suspected that his strict adherence to the alcohol rules had contributed to opposition against him. Alcohol tax in Sweden is high, but accredited diplomats can buy it tax free while locally-recruited employees cannot.

Although Viinanen is a senior career diplomat, he was not known to the general public in Finland. The media frenzy has now made him a household name in Finland as he gave interviews and appeared in the media.

Aged 57, Viinanen will be given a new job at the Foreign Ministry. He has not been dismissed.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar President U. Htin Kyaw will arrive in India this weekend on his first official visit to this country, the External Affairs Ministry has said.

The president will be on a four-day state visit from Saturday, at the invitation of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. He will be accompanied by his wife Daw Su Su Lwin, and several ministers and top officials.

"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 visit will help to further strengthen and expand traditionally close ties between the two countries," the Ministry said.

The announcement of the visit by the Myanmar President to India since taking office in March after Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy came to power, comes just three days after Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited the neighboring country. Enditem
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (2nd R) co-chairs the third China-Japan high-level political dialogue with Japan's National Security Advisor Shotaro Yachi (2nd L) in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Thursday hoped Japan would play a constructive role in the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Hangzhou.

Yang made the remarks when co-chairing the third China-Japan high-level political dialogue with Japan's National Security Advisor Shotaro Yachi in Beijing.

As the world's second and third largest economies, cooperation to ensure the success of the summit is in the interests of all parties, said Yang.

The improvement of China-Japan ties has been continuously disturbed by various problems, especially the issues related to East China Sea and South China Sea, which is in the interests of neither side, he said.

He hoped that Japan could match its words with deeds, adopt a positive and friendly policy toward China, and do addition to win-win cooperation and do subtraction to disputes, so as to create favorable conditions for the improvement of bilateral relations.

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.

Yang hoped the two sides could seize the opportunity of the two anniversaries and continue to abide by the principles defined in the four political documents and the four-point principled agreement reached between the two sides.

He suggested the two sides maintain political contact, deal with major issues in a prudent and proper manner, enhance pragmatic exchanges and cooperation, and create favorable public atmosphere, in a bid to promote the steady development of China-Japan ties.

Yachi said Japan hopes to constantly push for improvement and development of relations with China.

Japan attaches great importance to the significance of the four political documents and the four-point principled agreement reached between the two sides, he said.

He said Japan is willing to strengthen dialogue with China, deepen mutual trust, properly cope with problems in bilateral ties, and beef up cooperation in areas of finance and environmental protection, in an effort to advance Japan-China relations.

Japan supports China in hosting a successful G20 summit in Hangzhou, he added.
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants have been attempting to tighten the siege of Lashkar Gah the capital of the restive Helmand provincial capital in south Afghanistan amid government forces' counter-offensives to dislodge the attacking militants.

The armed insurgents who already are in control of Baghran, Musa Qala, Deshu and Nawzad districts have intensified activities over the past couple of months and presently are fighting in Garmsir, Nawa, Nad Ali and Marja districts to overrun these areas and pave the way for the collapse of Lashkar Gah the major city in the south Afghanistan.

Taliban militants have captured some areas and tightened the noose around Helmand provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

The armed militants, according to locals, have overrun Ainak area in Nawa district just three kilometers away from Lashkar Gah in south and Chah-e-Anjir neighborhood eight kilometers north of the Lashkar Gah city.

Taliban militants have also blocked the major highway linking Lashkar Gah to the neighboring Kandahar province and thus undermining the government supplying road to send reinforcement in Lashkar Gah, according to locals and officials.

However, Afghan forces launched operations against Taliban outfit based on Lashkar Gah-Kandahar road on Wednesday and have killed 20 insurgents, commander of highway police in the southern region Abdul Sattar Norzai said Thursday.

Meanwhile, officials in the besieged city of Lashkar Gah have downplayed the Taliban threat and advances towards Lashkar Gah, saying the armed militants is deemed to defeat.

Helmand's provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat in talks with media recently categorically stated that the government forces would soon dislodge militants from their hideouts and government control would be extended throughout the troubled province.

Fighting for the control of Helmand province, which is notorious for growing poppy, and insurgency have left hundreds of people including militants, security forces and civilians over the past couple of months besides forcing hundreds of families to leave their houses for safer places.

"I am confident that Lashkar Gah won't collapse and the armed militants would certainly be defeated," commander of police in the southern zone General Mohammad Hakim Angar told reporters recently.

Spokesman of Defense Ministry General Dawlat Waziri has also downplayed Taliban threat, saying neither Lashkar Gah nor any other city would fall to militants.
ABIDJAN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A proposal by Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara to draft a new constitution has opened a floodgate of speculations and assumptions, fuelling controversy among the country's political class and the legal fraternity.

During celebrations to mark Cote d'Ivoire's 56th independence anniversary on Aug. 7, Ouattara said it was imperative to change some constitutional articles which had caused conflicts witnessed in the country in the last two decades.

"The 1999 coup d'etat, the 2002 armed rebellion and the 2010 post-election crisis have exposed the weaknesses of the current Constitution which was adopted in 2000," the president said.

The condition of eligibility to contest for the presidency, especially article 35 that provides for "ivoirite (ivorianness)," which excluded any one who did not have both parents of Cote d'Ivoire origin, was always the genesis of the different crises.

"If we want to finally turn the page of our past, we must learn the lessons from it and write new pages of our history," Ouattara explained.

"To achieve this, we must move forward on the basis of new ideas," he added, calling for a "new social contract."

Ouattara has proposed the creation of the position of vice-president, "elected directly together with the president to guarantee peace and stability."

"In case of a vacancy in the office of the president, the vice-president will guarantee continuity of the state on one hand and respect for electoral calendar on the other," he affirmed.

He further proposed the creation of a senate, hence making Cote d'Ivoire's parliament "bicameral," something he believes will cement the supremacy of the country's parliament.

"All these reforms are aimed at giving Cote d'Ivoire a modern constitution and establish coherent, strong and respected institutions that will be able to protect people's freedoms," Ouattara said.

The president has already set up a committee of experts to come up with a draft constitution.

Even though the experts have not submitted their copy, questions are being raised on the structure of the proposed law and the indications given by the president have raised more speculations.

A REVIEW OR A NEW CONSTITUTION

Immediately after setting up a committee of experts, the former head of the Constitutional Council Francis Wodie blasted the president for his initiative.

According to him, the reforms proposed by the president were illegal because "the current constitution does not have provisions for writing a new supreme law."

"Ask the people to know what they want; whether you want to revise the current Constitution and which articles, or whether you want the country to have a new Constitution, it is the people to decide," he said, calling for a referendum on Ouattara's initiative while at the same time denouncing the "illegitimacy" of the committee of experts.

However, according to Cisse Bacongo, a former minister who is a member of the committee of experts, "the initiative is aimed at writing a new Constitution and not a review of the existing one."

Bacongo said the move by Cote d'Ivoire's president to set up a committee of experts was not isolated case.

"The Constitution of the 5th Republic of France was drafted in the same manner as the current process in our country; through a committee of experts," he said.

His position is supported by Epiphane Zoro, a judge who is close to Ouattara's party, for whom the process initiated by the president respects democratic requirements.

"The president has initiated broad consultations with the civil society, traditional and religious leaders as well as political parties to get their contributions which will be sent to the committee of experts who will be expected to draft the proposed constitution," he said, adding that "Parliament had already passed a referendum law which will allow people to directly express their opinion on the final document."

However, the country's civil society groups have voiced their opposition for the president's initiative, arguing that it was not a priority.

In a statement released recently by the Civil Society Platform for Election Monitoring in Cote d'Ivoire (POECI), the groups said "social reforms, national reconciliation and the fight against high cost of living were of a higher priority for most people in the country."

"The initiative to reform the constitution is not a priority for citizens," POECI said, adding that the proposed position of vice-president and creation of a senate will increase the government wage bill.

OPPOSITION PARTIES REJECT CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

A total of 23 political parties that form the Coalition of Democratic Opposition Parties (CODE), have strongly opposed the constitutional reforms which they termed as "undemocratic, illegal and illegitimate."

The opposition has rejected the position of vice president, arguing that Ouattara was using this avenue to "choose his successor."

It has equally rejected the creation of a senate where a third of its members will be nominated by the president.

They accused the president of applying "authoritarian" tactics and failing to consult the opposition in the drafting of the new constitution.

According to Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the president of the Cote d'Ivoire Popular Front (FPI), "the time is not ideal for drafting a new constitution since the country is divided following the 2010 post-election crisis.

FPI and its allies have called for a total rejection of Ouattara's initiative and have threatened to organize street protests if the initiative is not halted.

RULING COALITION SUPPORT PRESIDENT'S INITIATIVE

Speaking recently on the controversy, Joel N'guessan, the spokesman for the president's party, Rally of Republicans, termed the position taken by opposition parties as "bizarre."

"They have not even seen the document. We have not even submitted the proposed constitution to members of parliament and they say they do not support the initiative," he said.

With regards to the timing, Government Spokesman Bruno Kone said the time was ideal for writing a new constitution.

"In 10 years, we shall continue saying the time is not ideal, because there will be a number of unresolved problems at the national level," he said.

Kone affirmed that "there is no nation which first resolved all its challenges before writing its Constitution."

In fact, the best thing to do is write a constitution at a time when there are difficulties, he said.

Within the greater family of the ruling coalition, Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, after several weeks of disagreement on the president's initiative, peace seems to have been restored.

The coalition leaders recently vowed to move across the country campaigning for the passage of the new constitution in the referendum scheduled to take place in October this year.
WAKISO, Uganda, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Scientists in Uganda are in labs and paddies searching for high-yield varieties to feed Africa's increasing demands for rice.

Scientists, policy makers and rice traders all agree that rice has a long value chain, which employs many people from farmers, millers to the traders. They also hail the crop's crucial role in feeding the food insecure parts of the continent.

Researchers from Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana are using genetic modification (GM) to create rice varieties capable of withstanding depleted soils, drought and give a high yield.

In Uganda's National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), scientists are working on a rice variety inserted with barley genes to make it more efficient in utilizing nitrogen. Nitrogen is critical to the proper growth of a crop.

"We are harvesting a trial which started in April this year. The trial is concerned with understanding new rice varieties that were developed using transgenic methods under low, moderate and high nitrogen levels," Jimmy Lamo, a rice breeder at NaCRRI told Xinhua.

"We transformed variety Nerica 4, which is about 70 percent of the upland rice grown in the country but frequently gets yield penalty due to drought and low soil fertility especially nitrogen."

The trials are being carried out under strict scrutiny by the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST), a state agency responsible for regulating genetic modification technology.

Uganda is in the process of enacting a biotechnology law that will regulate the use of GM technology.

Figures from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) show that Africa can only produce up to 50 percent of the rice it consumes while the rest needs to be imported.

"We import over 13 million metric tonnes per year, which comes to 5.6 billion U.S. dollars per annum. That is a lot foreign exchange that we lose," Sani Kayode a Project Manager at AATF told Xinhua in an interview.

The lost revenue could be used for other development in Africa if the continent was producing enough rice, he said.

Kayode said African countries like Nigeria and Ghana that have a bio-safety law in place could go ahead and start planting the rice so that farmers can benefit.
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- There is nothing sinister or new about the establishment of the Presidential State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Coordinating Council, the Presidency said on Thursday.

The council was announced by Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, at the conclusion of a cabinet meeting earlier this week.

There has been intense speculation since the announcement, with some commentators and journalists suggesting some sinister motives behind the establishment of the council, according to the Presidency.

The Mail & Guardian newspaper said on Tuesday that the move could be seen as a strategy to neutralise Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has since 2014 had the political oversight of the SOEs. It will also give Zuma more say in as far as the bailing out of parastatals is concerned.

In the past there has been tension between Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan regarding the direction of SOEs, the report alleged.

"Such speculation is baseless and false," the Presidency said in a statement.

The recommendation to establish a SOE Council of Ministers was made by the Presidential Review Committee (PRC) on State Owned Enterprises which was appointed in 2010. The PRC's recommendations were approved by Cabinet in April 2013.

Zuma appointed the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), which is chaired by his deputy Ramaphosa, to oversee the implementation of the PRC's recommendations. In the recently held cabinet meeting, the IMC recommended that the Presidential SOCs Coordinating Council be established to give effect to the PRC's recommendation of a SOE Council of Ministers.

"As the statement issued by Minister Radebe a few days ago indicates, the Presidential SOCs Coordinating Council is one of the measures that are being introduced as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the shareholder model of State-Owned Companies in order to improve their performance," presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

One of the reform measures currently being developed by the IMC is the establishment of a Presidential SOCs Coordinating Council, which will allow for better oversight and coordination of state owned companies, according to Ngqulunga.

This measure is part of a comprehensive overhaul of the shareholder model of State-Owned Companies being led by the IMC in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Review Committee on State Owned Entities, he said.
MANILA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government is expecting the leftist rebel group to extend its ongoing seven-day unilateral ceasefire in response to the "smooth and cordial" talks, a senior government official said Thursday.

Silvestre Bello III,the Philippine labor minister and head of the government negotiating team, said if the "body language" of their counterpart from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Atmy-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is to be considered, "all indications" point to prolonging the truce.

"Although, of course, the decision remains with them (NDF)," Bello said.

NDF peace panel head Fidel Agcaoili, however, said they have yet to decide on the possibility of extending their ceasefire declaration.

The CCP has declared a unilateral ceasefire from Aug. 21 to 27 while President Rodrigo Duterte issued a unilateral open-ended ceasefire starting Aug. 21. The respective sets of truce were declared as formal peace talks have been ongoing in Oslo, Norway.

Bello also said both sides have agreed to accelerate the peace talks with the hope to forge a final peace pact after a year.

"We are right on schedule and the talks are proceeding smoothly. We expect a final peace agreement after one year so we can devote five more years of President Rodrigo Duterte's term in implementing the reforms agreed upon by both parties," he said.

The CPP-NPA-NDF has been waging war against the government for over four decades.
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (5th R) attends a reception commemorating the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A reception to mark the 25th anniversary of the dialogue relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held here on Thursday.

Before the reception, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with ASEAN ambassadors and representatives in Beijing, saying bilateral relations have made big strides over the past 25 years and contributed to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

China is willing to work with ASEAN to hold a successful commemorative summit marking the 25th anniversary of the dialogue relationship in September this year and to advance bilateral relations to a higher level, Yang said.

The ASEAN diplomats said China is the most active dialogue partner for ASEAN and ASEAN will work with China for a better relationship.

Yang and the ASEAN diplomats also visited an exhibition featuring China-ASEAN relations and unveiled a commemorative envelop to mark the 25th anniversary of the relationship at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
GENEVA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Since Yemen's civil war broke out in March 2015, 3,799 civilians have lost their lives and a further 6,711 were injured, a report published Thursday by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) found.

"All sides are responsible, there was targeting of civilian objects protected by international law such as markets, wedding ceremonies, hospitals, and other facilities," said OHCHR's Middle East and North Africa Section chief Mohammad Ali Alnsour.

"The report covers the use of indiscriminate weapons, bombs, and cluster bombs in addition to landmines by parties to the conflict, as well as the recruitment of children for military operations," he added.

In many cases where potential military objectives were identified, casualties and damage to structures including residential buildings and other public and private infrastructure was found to be possibly excessive.

The report, which looks into violations of international humanitarian and human rights law between July 1, 2015 and June 30 this year, also warned that civilians had a lack of food, water and basic services such as medical care.

According to the report, at least 7.6 million people are currently malnourished in the war-torn country.

Some three million people have been displaced as a result of protracted fighting between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels.

"For us, all victims are equal. We think that the Office of the High Commissioner should remain the voice of the victims no matter who committed the violation," Alnsour reminded.

The report will be submitted to the Human Rights Council (HRC) at the HRC's 33rd session in September.
BAGHDAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament on Thursday passed a vote of no-confidence against Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, as the Iraqi forces are battling the Islamic State (IS) militants to free Mosul, the group's last major stronghold in Iraq, official TV reported.

"The Council of Representatives (Parliament) voted in majority to withdraw confidence from the defense minister Khalid al-Obeidi after the lawmakers found his answers unconvincing during an earlier questioning session," al-Iraqiya state television said.

Out of 262 lawmakers present in the 328-member parliament, 142 voted for the no-confidence motion, according to the TV.

On Aug. 1, the parliament summoned Obeidi to respond to allegations of huge graft in his ministry.

However, he revealed that officials including Speaker Salim al-Jubouri and other lawmakers had blackmailed him on weapons contracts.

Jubouri immediately denied such allegations, and told a televised news conference that Obeidi's charges against him and other lawmakers were "baseless."

On Aug. 9, the Iraqi parliament voted to strip its speaker and two lawmakers of immunity from prosecution over the corruption allegations revealed by Obeidi, but hours later, the Iraqi judiciary cleared Jubouri of such charges.

"The judicial panel, tasked with examining the claims of corruption against the Speaker of the Council of Representatives Salim al-Jubouri, decided to dismiss the case against him due to lack of evidence," the judicial spokesman Abdul Sattar al-Biraqdar said in a statement.

But Biraqdar's statement did not say if the decision included the two other lawmakers also accused of corruption by Obeidi.

Observers say Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces, would probably serve as the acting defense minister after Obeidi was officially sacked.

The parliament's decision came hours after the Iraqi security forces freed Qayyara, a strategic town 50 km south of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh.

Regaining control of the town and the airbase would help government troops' effort to free Iraq's last major IS stronghold in Mosul, which is located some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, has been under the IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.
BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- China plans to lift the quality and standards for consumer goods through more market-oriented efforts and adopting a wider range of global standards within the coming five years, as part of the country's supply-side structural reform and boosting domestic consumers' confidence.

A new guideline on improving consumer goods' standards and quality (2016-2020), initiated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, was approved during the State Council's executive meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

The new guideline is in line with the country's ongoing economic transition from an investment-driven economy to a more consumption-driven one. Final consumption already contributed 73.4 percent to China's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first half of 2016.

"Government departments should better enhance coordination, while enterprises need to have stronger emphasis on quality, branding, R&D and marketing. They also need to fully set up awareness of branding," Li said. "It is important that the quality of consumer goods made in China can withstand the test of the market."

Further steps will be taken to upgrade the standards for consumer goods, improve quality and enterprise competence, and develop more domestic brands with global appeal.

According to the new guideline, by 2020, more than 95 percent of consumer goods in major sectors will meet international standards.

There are issues yet to be addressed though. For example, the present criteria for consumer goods still lag behind the growing demand of domestic consumers. Meanwhile, Chinese brands still have a lot of work to do to build up their competitiveness.

During the meeting, Li highlighted the importance of product safety.

"Product safety comes first and foremost for improving consumer goods' quality and standards," Li said. "We should not leave product safety a matter of concern for consumers. The government should also innovate our supervisory methods."

Major efforts in the coming five years include upgrading the present standard of consumer goods, improving consumer goods' quality, building brands with a global reputation and optimizing the market environment. Next to such efforts, the government will also provide more financial and regulatory support for developing the sector.

Efforts in branding will be enhanced with the country's stronger protection and regulation of intellectual property rights, especially for patents and trademarks. Counterfeit and shoddy goods will also be primary targets for law enforcement. At the same time, consumer good producers will be inspected more regularly, and there will be more random checks.

The premier pointed out that upgrading consumer goods would go hand in hand with developing the equipment manufacturing industry.

"By improving the consumer goods sector, we will force the upgrading of equipment manufacturing," Li said. "The manufacturing industry is the cornerstone of the country's entire industry."

Li said that companies must make more efforts to train more highly skilled workers through cooperation with vocational educational institutions.

"We need to train more highly skilled workers and foster a culture of craftsmanship," the premier said.

Chinese consumption overseas reached 1.5 trillion yuan (226.15 billion U.S. dollars) in 2015, of which about half was spent on shopping, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least six persons including five security personnel and a gov't official were killed and two others injured in a firing incident in Pakistan's southwest district of Gwadar on Thursday evening, officials said.

Commissioner of the district, Shoaib Ahmad Gola, said that the incident took place when some unknown gunmen opened fire at a vehicle of Balochistan Levies (a paramilitary force) in Jiwani area of Gwadar, a coastal district in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan.

Security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the district hospital of Gwadar.

Five personnel of the Levies force and a revenue official were among the killed, while the injured include one major and a soldier.

According to the official, the gunmen armed with automatic guns ambushed the vehicle of the security personnel when they were coming back after attending a grand meeting of local elders over a land dispute in Jiwani area.

Security forces have cordoned off the region and launched a search operation to arrest the terrorists.

No group had claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that the United States is nominating Jim Yong Kim as president of the World Bank for a second term.

"Re-electing President Kim will allow the World Bank to continue to build on ... important initiatives and reforms," Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement.

Lew praised Kim for his efforts to address global development challenges such as reducing extreme poverty, tackling inequality and combating climate change.

The U.S. Treasury Department also supported the reforms at the World Bank Kim had launched, which have drawn criticism from World Bank employees.

"President Kim spearheaded needed reforms at the World Bank to better leverage knowledge within the Bank and enhance the use of the financial resources that shareholders provide," said Lew.

The World Bank Group said Tuesday that its board of executive directors decided to kick off the selection of its chief, following notification from its current president Kim that he would be interested in a second five-year term. Kim's current term expires on June 30, 2017.

Nominations for the position will open on Aug. 25 and close on Sept. 14, said the World Bank. Following the close of the nomination process, the bank's executive directors will decide on a shortlist of up to three candidates for interviews.

Kim became the 12th president of the World Bank on July 1, 2012. Before this post, he served as president of the famous U.S. academic institution Dartmouth College.
TEHRAN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh will take part in a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algeria next month, Iran's Petro-Energy Information Network (SHANA) announced on Thursday.

Reportedly, in the meeting, the Iranian delegation will encourage the OPEC member states for an agreement on the curb of oil output aimed to create balance in the market.

Oil prices in the market have fallen to below 50 U.S. dollars a barrel from some 100 dollars in 2014.

The OPEC members will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF) in Algeria on Sept. 26-28.

The OPEC will probably revive talks on freezing oil production levels when it meets non-OPEC nations in Algeria, according to SHANA. Enditem
LOME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Ministers on Wednesday instructed the Minister of Posts and Digital Economy to consider the attribution, by call for tenders, of three new licenses to Internet services providers for the West African country.

"The coming of new operators will help develop competition, enhance the quality of Internet services and reduce costs significantly", the council said in a report issued late on Wednesday.

"The decision is to support major projects currently executed so as to enhance the access and the quality of Internet connection in our country", the council explained.

It is also to foster the construction of a data center, the setting up of Internet exchange point, the construction of 140 kilometers of optic fiber network.

In addition, the release said, this will help pool the efforts of the national operators Togo Telecom and Togo Cellulaire.

Further, in a communication to the council of ministers, the minister of Posts and digital economy exposed the attribution of the 4G license to the current mobile phone operators Togo Cellulaire and Moov.

The minister was instructed, the release said, to engage discussions with the operators so as to achieve that goal.

According to the government, this was in line with the objective to make Togo the digital hub in the sub-region and to ensure broadband availability to be a highly accessible services nationwide. Enditem
RIYADH, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry revealed on Thursday in Jeddah a new U.S.-Saudi initiative to revive the standstill Yemeni talks, local news channel Al Arabiya reported.

The initiative aims to convince the Yemeni militias to hand over their weapons and form a national unity government, according to Kerry.

He said the initiative will be implemented following a negotiation between UN Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and all Yemeni political parties.

Kerry urged the Yemeni minority Houthis to accept the new initiative, saying both political and military solutions to the Yemeni crisis are possible options by Gulf countries.

The U.S. official said more efforts could be made to battle the Islamic State (IS) militants and al-Qaida only if the conflicts in Yemen are ended.

Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country rejected any civil putsches in Yemen and the crisis should be solved peacefully.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces launched combing operations after an attack on a university in Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan, based on mobile phone numbers that were used during the attack, according to military here on Thursday.

Pakistan Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif, told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani through telephone that "Pakistani soil would not be allowed to be used for any type of terrorism in Afghanistan."

Raheel Sharif strongly condemned terrorists' attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul and expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families, according to the army's information wing.

He said Afghan authorities have shared three mobile telephone numbers allegedly used during the university attack who were on contact with the attackers.

"It may be mentioned here that based on these three Afghan cell numbers provided by Afghan authorities, Pakistan Army carried out a combing operation in suspected area closer to Pak-Afghan border to verify presence of miscreants," Raheel Sharif informed Ghani.

He told the Afghan leader that the outcome of the operation so far has been shared with Afghan authorities, adding further technical evaluation of the cellphone numbers, all Afghan, is being carried out.

For his part, Ghani called for "serious and practical measures against the terrorists," according to the president's office, while the Pakistan army chief assured Ghani of all-out cooperation on availability of further information from Afghanistan.

Afghan Interior Ministry said that 12 people, including seven students of the university were killed and 36 others were injured in clashes between the militants and security forces. No group has claimed the attack on late Wednesday.
SKOPJE, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Macedonia and Greece have different views in regard to Macedonia's name issue but agree to create a climate of increased confidence between the two sides and better bilateral cooperation, Macedonia's Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said after a meeting Thursday with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

The latter paid a visit to Greece with the aim of further developing the bilateral relations and economic cooperation as well as promoting confidence between the two countries.

"An important step forward was the establishment of the confidence-building measures being promoted by our two sides, whether these concern connectivity in the sectors of transport, economy, universities, or whether they concern cooperation in the areas of security, fire-fighting, dealing with natural disasters and emergency situations," the Greek minister said.

Kotzias was received also by the Macedonian Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev and later on by President Gjorge Ivanov. The issue of the settlement of Macedonia's name was not part of the discussions at the meetings.

The name issue is a political dispute regarding the use of the name Macedonia between the Balkan countries of Greece and the Republic of Macedonia. The dispute has escalated to the highest level of international mediation, involving numerous attempts to achieve a resolution.

The two ministers also agreed to further systematize cooperation in economy and finance and to see how Greece and Macedonia can get joint projects through the European Union funding mechanism.
RIGA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than half of the asylum seekers who have received protection in Latvia since April this year have already left the Baltic country, the Latvian Red Cross informed.

The Latvian Red Cross, whose employees have been mentoring the refugees Latvia has been taking in under an European Union-wide relocation program, said the main reason for the trend was the refugees' unrealistic expectations about life in Latvia.

The humanitarian NGO has been working with 63 people relocated to Latvia from other EU member states as part of the scheme, as well as a number of other asylum seekers who had arrived in Latvia illegally.

Employment issues have been the main reason causing the refugees to leave Latvia, Red Cross representatives said at a news conference.

"Employers have been very cooperative. We have a whole list of employers offering job vacancies," said Uldis Likops, secretary-general of the Latvian Red Cross.

However, only two labor contracts have been concluded so far, he said.

The main reason for the problem is the refugees' poor knowledge of Latvian, differences in work culture and a desire to maintain the status they had in their country of origin, Red Cross representatives said.

"They represent various professions. There are also teachers, physicians and very many entrepreneurs among them, perhaps this is what prevents them from starting from scratch here," said social mentor Raimonda Jakobsone.

As for housing, it has been provided to all asylum seekers who have been granted protection in Latvia. Refugee children have been enrolled in schools or registered for admission in kindergartens.

According to Red Cross data, 45 asylum seekers have been granted official protection in Latvia since April. About 20 of these people, or four families, have stayed in Latvia. The others have left.

"They were surprised to find that not all member states of the European Union are alike, that Latvia is not so rich. They did not know or had not been informed about it, although this is what we always tell them when we first meet them, that Latvia is different," Likops said.

Latvia is expected to admit 531 of the roughly 120,000 asylum seekers currently living in Greece and Italy. The first two families of asylum seekers arrived in Latvia in early February. Enditem
DAMASCUS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 5,000 people, including armed rebels, are set to evacuate the besieged town of Daraya west of the capital Damascus on Friday, after a deal concluded recently between the opposition forces and the Syrian army, local media said Thursday.

Over 4,000 civilians will be evacuated to displacement shelters in government-controlled areas, while 700 rebels will hand over their heavy and medium weapons which will be transferred to the northwestern province of Idlib, a stronghold for the rebels' Jaish al-Fateh, or the Army of Conquest, state news agency SANA reported.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said the deal came after four years of insurgency in Daraya.

According to the deal, the Observatory said, the rebels who don't want to evacuate can stay inside the town, after settling their criminal records with the government.

The civilians who want to stay will be provided with medical aid.

Meanwhile, a source familiar with the situation said calm prevails the town after concluding the deal.

Daraya has been out of the government control since 2012 and was later laid under a tight siege by the Syrian government forces.
A Syrian man pushes a wheelbarrow past collapsed buildings in the northern Syrian town of Manbij as civilians go back to their homes on August 14, 2016 more than a week after the Arab-Kurdish alliance, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), pushed the Islamic State (IS) group out of the city. (AFP/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 5,000 people, including armed rebels, are set to evacuate the besieged town of Daraya west of the capital Damascus on Friday, after a deal concluded recently between the opposition forces and the Syrian army, local media said Thursday.

Over 4,000 civilians will be evacuated to displacement shelters in government-controlled areas, while 700 rebels will hand over their heavy and medium weapons which will be transferred to the northwestern province of Idlib, a stronghold for the rebels' Jaish al-Fateh, or the Army of Conquest, state news agency SANA reported.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said the deal came after four years of insurgency in Daraya.

According to the deal, the Observatory said, the rebels who don't want to evacuate can stay inside the town, after settling their criminal records with the government.

The civilians who want to stay will be provided with medical aid.

Meanwhile, a source familiar with the situation said calm prevails the town after concluding the deal.

Daraya has been out of the government control since 2012 and was later laid under a tight siege by the Syrian government forces.
Photo shows Chief Chukuemeka performing the Libation ritual during the libation ceremony in Liverpool, on August 23,2016. (Xinhua/Larry Neild)

LIVERPOOL, Britain, Aug. 25 (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.
BUJUMBURA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Rwandan police have sent 12 Burundian women back home after it was revealed that they were on their way to arab countries as victims of human trafficking, Burundian police sources said Thursday.

"This week, the Rwandan police sent us 12 women who were victims of human trafficking. Nine of them were brought back home via Akanyaru border post in Ngozi province, while the other three used the Ruhwa border post in Cibitoke province," said Burundian Police Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye.

According to him, one of the human traffickers who was taking them to arab countries was arrested along with those women.

Nkurikiye added that two of four Burundian women who were already in Oman as a result of human trafficking were brought back home since the beginning of this month.

"The Burundian foreign affairs ministry and the Burundian national police are doing their best to repatriate the two remaining women who have been crying for help as all other Burundian women who are victims of human trafficking in arab countries," he said.

Human trafficking is a serious issue, according to organizations in charge of children's rights promotion.

By mid June, the Burundian police arrested seven persons over human trafficking accusations and identified 11 companies involved in human trafficking in the east African nation.

The arrested persons included three Burundians and four Kenyans.

Four of the 11 companies or organizations involved in human trafficking are based in Burundi, while the other four companies are based in Saudi Arabia and two others are based in Oman while the 11th one is based in Kenya.

Nkurikiye indicated that the four Burundian companies had been collaborating with the remaining seven foreign companies in the human trafficking business.

He indicated that since mid April this year, at least 280 persons, most of them girls, were victims of human trafficking.

The Burundian police suspected that those girls do sex work when they arrive at their destinations. Enditem
BEIRUT, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major-General Michael Beary on Thursday chaired his first tripartite meeting with senior officials from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He said he is encouraged by the Lebanese and Israeli representatives' "determination to maintain peace and stability, and by their strong commitment to the provisions of Resolution 1701," a statement by the UNIFIL said.

It said the discussions focused on issues related to the implementation of UNIFIL's mandate under UN Security Council resolution 1701, air and ground violations, situation along the Blue Line and its ongoing visible marking, as well as the issue of withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Ghajar.

Beary said he looks forward to carrying on the good work of the historical forum in a constructive manner.

"I count on your partnership and support both inside and outside of this room, as we forge ahead to bridge obstacles and find agreeable solutions within our mandate on contentious issues along the Blue Line," Beary said.

On the ongoing developments in the Shab'a Farms area, which has led to a rise in tension in north of the Blue Line, he said "the UNIFIL's priority is to prevent tension and escalation and to de-conflict potentially dangerous situations on the ground."

He called on the parties to refrain from unilateral actions that can jeopardize the calm and stability in the area.

The tripartite meetings have been held regularly under the auspices of UNIFIL since the end of the 2006 war.

It has become an essential conflict management and confidence-building mechanism between the parties.
BAGHDAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday met with the visiting Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and discussed the war against the Islamic State (IS) militants and the security of the border areas between the two countries.

Abadi received Muallem in his office and the two discussed "means to boost bilateral ties and the war against the IS as an enemy to both countries, the region and the world," a statement of his office said.

Abadi also discussed with Muallem and his accompanying delegation means to secure the border areas between the two countries, especially after the Iraqi security forces came closer toward the border line after the recent victories against the IS militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar, according to the statement.

During his visit, Muallem held meetings with Iraqi President Fuad Masoum and Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

After meeting with Jaafari, Muallem said at a joint press conference that "Iraq and Syria are defending themselves, and are fighting on behalf of the world countries, because terror will not stop in a country or a society but is trying to prevail in the whole world."

"There is nothing that would stop cooperation between us (Iraq and Syria), which would extend wherever there is a need," Jaafari told reporters.

For his part, Muallem said "we are standing with Iraq at one trench, and we are defending our people against hateful Takfiri terrorism."

Muallem also stressed on the willingness of the two countries on deepening cooperation on different fields.

Earlier in the day, Muallem arrived in Baghdad with the aim of holding meetings with Iraqi top officials to discuss bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region, according to the state-run Iraqiya channel.

Iraq's Shiite-dominated government has maintained close ties with the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.
Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows Turkish military vehicles 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)

ANKARA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish military on Thursday hit the Kurdish fighters of People's Protection Units (YPG) with artillery fire in northern Syria, as the group ignored warnings and moved towards south of Jarablus, local media reported.

The Turkish military launched the attack late on Thursday, after entering Syrian town of Jarablus as part of the Euphrates Shield operation to back Syrian rebels expeling the Islamic State (IS) militants off the border.

The assault hit a YPG unit near the north of Manbij, another Syrian town controlled by the U.S.-allied YPG, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The Turkish forces opened fire at 6:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) after intelligence showed the YPG militants were advancing despite a promise by the U.S. that the Kurdish militia would retreat, Anadolu said.

The shelling by howitzers occurred near Manbij after the militants did not heed a warning from Turkish forces, CNNTurk reported.

An Turkish security official told Daily Sabah earlier that the presence of the IS or the Syrian wing of the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the Syrian town on the Turkish border was "unacceptable."

The YPG has declared in a statement on Thursday that they have pulled back from Manbij to prepare for another move on the IS, after Turkey and the U.S. warned the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) to return to the east of the Euphrates river.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a telephone conversation with the Turkish foreign minister earlier on Thursday to discuss the withdrawal of the Syrian Kurdish forces, Turkish diplomatic sources told the Hurriyet Daily News.

"Kerry emphasized that the PYD/YPG forces have been withdrawing to the east of the Euphrates," said a senior Turkish official.

The YPG, a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance, has been a partner in the U.S.-led campaign against the IS in Syria.

Ankara has frequently voiced its concern over the YPG's activity along the Turkish border and has been rigid in its stance not allowing the PYD militant group to found any kind of de facto Kurdish state in northern Syria.

The Turkish government claims the PYD enjoys close connections with the PKK including militant and ammunition support through underground tunnels.
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday warned of the devastating consequences of the Boko Haram insurgency on children in Africa's Lake Chad Basin, saying that years of violence by the extremist militants have led to a worsening humanitarian crisis that has displaced 1.4 million children and left at least one million still trapped in hard-to-reach areas.

Almost half a million will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year, UNICEF said in a report released on Thursday, adding that an estimated 38 children have also been used to carry out suicide attacks in the region so far this year.

The Lake Chad Basin is the largest endorheic drainage basin in Africa, centered on Lake Chad. It has no outlet to the sea and contains large areas of desert or semi-arid savanna. The basin spans seven countries, including most of Chad and a large part of Niger.

Across the Lake Chad Basin, the UN estimates that more than nine million people need humanitarian assistance, the United Nations said.

UNICEF said that humanitarian needs were outpacing the response, especially now that new areas previously unreachable in north-east Nigeria have become accessible. The UN agency has received only 13 percent of the 308 million U.S. dollars it needs to provide assistance to the families affected by Boko Haram violence across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

"The Lake Chad crisis is a children's crisis that should rank high on the global migration and displacement agenda," said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF regional director for West and Central Africa. "Humanitarian needs are outpacing the response, especially now that new areas previously unreachable in north-east Nigeria become accessible."

The report was issued ahead of the United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants, which is to be held on Sept. 19 to draw more world attention on children on the move and children left behind. The report also touched upon at the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on children in Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad and Niger and its devastating toll on children.

In addition to the 2.6 million people currently displaced, an additional 2.2 million people -- more than half of them children -- are feared to be trapped in areas under the control of Boko Haram and need humanitarian assistance, the report said.

An estimated 38 children have been used to carry out suicide attacks in Lake Chad basin so far this year, bringing to 86 the total number of children used as suicide bombers since 2014, said the report.

An estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year, it said.

In northeast Nigeria alone, an estimated 20,000 children have been separated from their families, the report said.

Meanwhile, the report also noted that most of the displaced population -- more than eight in 10 people -- are staying with families and neighbors, putting additional strain on some of the world's poorest communities.

"Local communities are sharing the little they have to help those in need in an act of humanity that is replicated in thousands of homes across the conflict-affect areas," said Fontaine.

UNICEF is working with partners to meet the basic needs of children and their families in the conflict-affected areas. So far this year, nearly 170,000 children received psychosocial support, almost 100,000 were treated for severe acute malnutrition and more than 100,000 took part in learning programmes.

The UN agency is appealing to the donor community to step up its support for the affected communities. Additional resources will help UNICEF and its partners scale up the response, particularly as access to areas previously under Boko Haram control is revealing growing humanitarian needs.
Congress people take part in the Brazilian Senate's session, during which the final stage of the impeachment process against suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is started, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Aug. 25, 2016. The Brazilian Senate began Thursday the impeachment trial of suspended president Dilma Rousseff. (Xinhua/Andre Dusek/AGENCIA ESTADO)

BRASILIA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Senate began Thursday the impeachment trial of suspended president Dilma Rousseff.

Rousseff was accused of seeking to hide public budget deficits through fiscal irregularities, such as delaying loan payments to public banks and ordering additional loans without congressional approval.

Kicking off proceedings at 9:33 a.m., Ricardo Lewandowski, president of the Supreme Court, read out the order of proceedings to a sparsely filled Senate chamber, with only 28 of 81 senators present.

Then, the witnesses for the prosecution have begun to be heard. These include Julio Marcelo de Oliveira, a public official from the federal accountability office (TCU) who made the allegations against Rousseff, and Antonio Carlos Costa D'Avila, the chief auditor of the TCU.

According to daily O Globo, de Oliveira's testimony saw him accuse Rousseff of violating the Constitution through fiscal manipulation.

"Excess revenues, despite coming from a specific course, can only supplement a provision for future expenditure, if authorized in the budget. (In this case), there was no legislative approval, which means it was a violation of the Constitution," he was quoted as saying.

De Oliveira added that the TCU also never allowed such actions to be taken in 2014 or 2015.

The rest of Thursday and Friday will be dedicated to hearing witnesses. This process may continue into the weekend, if needed.

The defense has presented six witnesses, the maximum permitted. These include Rousseff's former planning minister Nelson Barbosa, her former budget secretary Esther Dweck, a leading economist Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo, the former political investment secretary, Gilson Bettencourt, the former executive secretary of the ministry of education, Luiz Claudio Costa, and a law professor from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Geraldo Prado.

The declarations of each witness will be heard individually, followed by three minutes allotted for questions from each senator and three minutes for answers.

On Monday, Aug. 29, Rousseff will appear and provide her testimony while the prosecutors and defense lawyers will present their cases. On Tuesday, Aug. 30, the senators will express their opinions about the case.

The final vote into whether to impeach Rousseff or not could be held on Aug. 30, if time allows, or the next day.

Rousseff was temporarily suspended for up to 180 days on May 12 and her Vice President Michel Temer took over the presidency on an interim basis.

A two-thirds majority, 54 out of 81 senators,is needed to fully remove her from office. If this level of support is not obtained, Rousseff will immediately return to power and the case against her will be dropped.

Should Rousseff be impeached, Temer would complete her mandate until the end of 2018 and she would be ineligible to stand for public office for eight years.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on the Gwadar Free Zone signed on Thursday, in presence of Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, at the Business Introduction & Consultation Seminar held at a Karachi hotel.

The Seminar was organized by the Ministry of Ports & Shipping, hosted by the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), and China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC).

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), North South Transport Network (NSTN), Hascol Petroleum Limited (HASCOL), and Wuhan DongChuan Pipeline Company signed the accords with COPHC at the event.

Acting Chinese Consul General in Karachi, Mu Yongpeng, Chairman Gwadar Port Authority Dostain Khan Jamaldini, Khalid Pervez, Federal Secretary Ports and Shipping, were also present on the occasion.

Chairman COPHC Zhang Bao Zhong kicked off the seminar with a detailed presentation on various incentives offered for the foreign investors at the Gwadar Free Zone, which included competitive handling charges, assurance no demurrage charges, assurance of safety and security of cargos, speedy custom clearance, free storage for up to three months, and a land transport security. He emphasized on the strategic location of the Gwadar Port and invited investors to take advantage of the immense opportunity.

Dostain Khan Jamaldini, Chairman Gwadar Port Authority, shed light on the Gwadar Free Zone policies and incentives and urged the investors to cash in on the opportunity.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, hailed the Chinese government's help in realizing the dream of Gwadar Port. He recalled that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had come up with the idea of developing a port in Gwadar on the lines of Shenzhen. He mentioned that the port will help revive economic activities in the Balochistan province. He also paid glowing tribute to the Pakistan Army for ensuring foolproof security to Chinese engineers and investors in Gwadar. Enditem
Egyptians visit the 3rd China Trade Fair in Egypt at the Cairo International Convention Center in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

by Ahmed Shafiq, Wang Xue

CAIRO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The third edition of China Trade Fair Egypt has registered 100 percent growth in exhibitor number, featuring 500 Chinese leading companies and over 20,000 products.

The three-day fair, held at Cairo International Convention Center, kicked off on Thursday.

Looked like a mini-China, the fair gathered hundreds of Chinese business men showing their products at the hall that was decorated with red slogans and signs, reflecting a taste of Chinese culture.

Key product sectors at the show include textile and garments, home appliances, lighting, building material, gifts, household, hardware, tools and food.

"This is the third China Trade Fair in Egypt, the growing exhibitor number reflects the keen interest of Chinese supplier to do business with their Egyptian counterparts," Zhou Chunxiang, project manager with Meorient international exhibition company which organized the exhibition, told Xinhua.

"We hope to build a platform not only in Egypt, but also in Africa and the Middle East to help the Chinese companies enter the market and satisfy the demand in the regions," she said.

She said the exhibition provides the buyers and sellers with different kinds of services, including a market matching zone, translation and consultation.

China Trade Fair is a series of trade show held in nine countries including Poland, Turkey, South Africa, Jordan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Egypt, the UAE (Dubai) and India; it is a part of the official platform of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

The close ties between China and Egypt enjoy a further strength where such fairs made it possible for Egyptian traders to interact with quality manufacturers from China, and at the same time give more opportunities for Chinese companies to start business in North Africa's most populous country.

Chen Sheng, a project manager with Dongguan Lontion industrial company that focuses on digital production, said it is a good chance to market the company's products in Egypt.

He said his company mainly manufactures solar air lantern which can be used for eight hours after charged. They also make solar bags which are suitable for safari journeys.

"We hold great expectations to find some trade opportunities here, because in Egypt, a country with great sunshine but in lack of energy, these solar products will really improve people's life. Meanwhile, the solar energy is a kind of clean energy," Chen told Xinhua.

Another Chinese businessman named Qian Guanjun showed colorful electric torch in his exhibition space, attracting many customers.

"I didn't expect so many visitors," Qian told Xinhua, "my company really wants to take this chance to enter Egyptian market."

Just like Qian and Chen, more Chinese businessmen are seeking overseas market with high quality products.

This attitude provided Egyptian businessmen with confidence in the Chinese traders who flew all the way to Egypt to offer face-to-face meetings and business discussions for true partnership.

Mohammed al-Sayyed, an importer of home curtains, has reached a business deal with a Chinese company in less than half an hour.

He said this was the fastest business deal he has ever done as an importer, adding that the exhibition helped him save money as he planned to travel to China to order some products for his business in Egypt.

"I have done this here... the real costs were the money I paid for the translator and the fuel for my car," he said with a smile.
Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows damaged houses after an 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)

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 250 people died, and thousands were displaced in Italy, after a major earthquake that struck the central Lazio and Marche regions on early Wednesday, the authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The hardest hit places were the towns of Amatrice and Accumoli in Rieti province, and the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Peschiera del Tronto in Marche region.

Of the total 250 victims confirmed so far, some 193 were in Amatrice, 11 in Accumoli, and 46 in Arquata del Tronto, the civil protection department said.

The number of people injured and hospitalized rose to 365, it added.

The Italian government declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, after holding an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon.

"The reconstruction of quake-stricken hamlets is a priority, and a moral obligation towards those communities," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told a press conference after the meeting.

The state of emergency will allow allocating an immediate first tranche of 50 million euros (56 million U.S. dollars) to assist those displaced.

On Wednesday, the Economy Ministry had overall pledged 234 million euros (264 million U.S. dollars) from a national emergency fund to help people living in the destroyed towns.

Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan would now provide tax exemption to the families living in the areas.

In Amatrice, Accumoli, and Arquata, rescue teams kept digging for survivors all day long. The 6.0-magnitude temblor that struck on Wednesday at 3:36 a.m. local time (0136 GMT) obliterated most of these centers.

The death toll also needed to be constantly updated, since many remained unaccounted for.

The affected area was a popular destination for holidaymakers, and the population swelled in summer, making it harder to exactly estimate how many people were present at the time of the quake.

Meanwhile, several tent cities were set up around Accumoli, Arquata and Pescara del Tronto. In Amatrice, displaced families spent last night in the town's main sport facility.

Overall, some 3,400 places were made available since Wednesday, and about 1,200 people were accommodated there, according to Italian civil protection emergency chief Titti Postiglione.

Many families preferred to spend the first night after the quake in their cars.

As time goes by, the chance to find someone still alive under the rubbles would grow weaker. Furthermore, over 600 aftershocks have been registered since Wednesday, and some of them intense, making search activities more risky.

A 4.3-magnitude quake was indeed registered in Rieti province at 2:36 p.m. local time (1236 GMT) on Thursday, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV).

It made some damaged buildings in Amatrice tremble dangerously, and more ruins collapsed where rescuers were at work.

Overall, nine quakes of magnitude between 4.0 and 5.0, and one exceeding magnitude 5.0 have occurred till Thursday mid-afternoon, the INGV stated.

After the emergency meeting, Renzi noted the country's need to improve its seismic safety.

Criticism have rose among people and media analysts for the lack of sufficient buildings safety standards in the affected areas, all of them known for centuries for being at high seismic risk.

Renzi stressed that a serious long-term plan of reconstruction was needed.
CHICAGO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) grains futures closed lower Wednesday, as a widely watched crop tour reported bumper prospects across the U.S. Midwest.

The most active corn contract for December delivery was down 4.25 cents, or 1.26 percent, to 3.32 dollars per bushel. December wheat delivery fell 2.25 cents, or 0.53 percent, to 4.2375 dollars per bushel. November soybeans fell 29.75 cents, or 2.96 percent, to 9.755 dollars per bushel.

The annual four-day Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour observed on Thursday soybean crop prospects in southern Minnesota that were above average, and in line with last year. Soybean potential in eastern Iowa looked on par with recent years.

Late on Wednesday, the tour reported above-average soybean pod counts in Illinois and the western portion of Iowa.

Soybeans are trading at a price about three times greater than corn, higher than the traditional ratio that is a key pricing benchmark, traders said. Domestic and export demand for soybeans may fall short of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projections, and yields look to be growing.

"Soybean prices had been pushed higher because of Chinese demand for U.S. shipments, but the supply picture is very favorable," said Phin Ziebell, agribusiness economist at National Australia Bank.

The International Grains Council on Thursday raised its forecasts for world corn and wheat production in the 2016-17 season to record highs.

Export demand limited corn's losses. USDA reported weekly export sales of 71,100 tonnes of old-crop corn, below trade expectations, and 1,059,900 tonnes of new-crop corn, above expectations. Enditem
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that both sides of the Kosovo issue will continue with their high-level political dialogues to achieve a lasting solution, a Chinese envoy to the United Nations said Thursday.

China appreciates the vigorous efforts undertaken by the government of Serbia in seeking a political solution to the question of Kosovo, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told a Security Council meeting.

"We hope that both sides will continue with their high-level political dialogues, seek a lasting solution to the question of Kosovo and strive to maintain peace and security in the Balkans and Europe at large," Wu added.

The envoy noted that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 is "the important legal basis" for the question of Kosovo.

"A proper solution acceptable to the parties concerned must be reached through dialogue and negotiations pursuant to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions," he said.

Wu stressed that parties concerned must effectively protect the legitimate rights of all ethnic communities of Kosovo, promote ethnic reconciliation and avoid taking any actions that might complicate the situation.

Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between Belgrade and Pristina. Serbia categorically refuses to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008, though most leading European countries and the United States have exchanged diplomats with Kosovo.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo Zahir Tanin told the council meeting that the situation in Kosovo over the past three months had been more stable, adding that the threat of security and political tensions remained beneath the surface. He said that the younger generation is in need of clearer directions and better employment opportunities if stability and prosperity are to be achieved.
Ukrainian military tanks attend the military parade in Kiev, Ukraine, Aug. 24, 2016. Ukraine celebrated its 25th anniversary of independence on Wednesday with a large-scale military parade in the capital Kiev. (Xinhua/Sergey)
Vital to cut expenditure says economist

Business as usual will not work and all hands on deck are required as we recalibrate the economy moving forward. He said Imbert should set his revenue target at between $45-$55 billion and, if possible, closer to $50 billion and the budget should be based on a price of US$35 for a barrel of oil.

Hosein said the price of oil and gas will most likely remain dormant over the next few years and that in the period 2017 to 2021 the country can expect an oil price in the bracket of US$40 to $45 or even US$40 to $50 and the price of gas will remain similarly dormant to what it is at present so that the economy getting bail-out from a price increase does not seem likely.

At the same point in time, the State seems to be waiting for the price of oil to increase and this is not likely to happen, so in turn what needs to be pushed is the production of natural gas. Increasing natural gas production is a very useful strategy but it will not immediately lead to the type of diversification benefits other forms of intervention would trigger.

Indeed, the State would probably need to consider an overhaul of the formula for the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund so a greater amount of savings can take place from any revenues generated by the energy sector to help the economy cater for rainy days as we are now in. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has projected that demand for oil in 2017 is likely to grow at a slower rate than this year, due to a weaker global economic outlook. The IEA said in a report that global demand for oil will grow by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2017, down from 1.4 million bpd this year.

Hosein said the price of oil has declined substantially in the last 18 months and particularly in 2016 the price of oil was even lower than what was budgeted.

He said, What all of this means is that the current account balance in the economy will likely worsen.

And if the price of oil continues to be around $40-$45 per barrel in the next five years the consequence is that the current account balance is likely to remain in deficit. If the current account balance remains in deficit and the stock of international reserves are as a consequence eroded then this would put pressure on the economy.

The exchange rate could depreciate and this is something that the State needs to look at carefully. He added that the Government has been borrowing to enhance the amount of revenue which is at its disposal, but expenditure continues to remain at or around $60-$63 billion and with revenues at or around $40-$43 billion, it means that the economy is running at about $20 billion in deficit in terms of the gap between its revenues and what it is spending.

Hosein said continuous borrowing cannot be the solution because before we know it our stock of external debt would increase considerably.

The solution has to be in some way to live more within our means so that our expenditure will have to be cut at some point in time and brought to a more manageable level.
Start education funding preparation as early as possible

Food, clothing, shelter and. transportation were likely some of. your basic expenses that followed. that pattern and you likely live in fear. that the gas subsidy will be further. reduced in this years budget, fuelling. another wave of increases.

Now, with less than two weeks. left to the start of the school term. you are faced with the prospect that. in a years time, you may be losing. part of your childs tertiary education. funding through changes in the GATE. programme.

If your household income falls. between that middle income. bracket of $10,000 to $30,000. per month, you are going to have. to pay 25 percent of your childs. tuition expenses.

Anthony Garcia, Education. Minister, has assured this sum is. much smaller than it sounds (see. table) and that government still. assumes 80 percent of the cost of. tertiary education. Garcia has also. said that none of the amendments. made to GATE have been set in stone. and as economic conditions improve,. the programme could become more. inclusive again.

The above, however, only hold. true if certain assumptions are made.

What if a middle income family has. more than one child at university?. That may double or even triple the. monthly amount needed to be put. aside. With competing demands on. the familys income or unexpected. financial challenges, it is not always. certain parents may be able to. put aside the requisite amounts.

What if your child wants to do a. more expensive degree at a private. institution, or even wants to go. abroad? Remember also, GATE only. covers tuition, what about the other. expenses, food, clothing, rent?. To this, Winston Williams, financial. advisor, added what if assumptions. about economic turnabout through. an energy price increase are wrong?. Where this will all end is anybodys. guess. Will oil prices rebound in a. year? Two years? Five. Some experts. believe it will take seven years before. oil goes back to above $70 a barrel.. What should be the concern of. every parent is if low prices should. at last five or six years, could the. government continue to draw down. on the Heritage and Stabilisation. Fund and to borrow money on. the international market? Can we. continue to service these loan and. still support social projects?. Williams told Business Day that. parents should always assume that. they may have to bear the full cost. of their childrens education. He. also said for middle income families. to prepare for multiple children at. university, both home and abroad,. they need to realise that time, is of. the essence.

The thing is, it takes a child 18. years to get to the point of university.

So start preparing. Sometimes. you need to start preparing from. conception. Putting aside something. every month is going to make a. difference.. Recognising the need to start early. is not enough by itself though, said. the financial adviser. Getting proper. advice on how to set up your savings. plan and the investment instruments. you need to grow your childs tertiary. education money is also critical.

Williams said even though stock. offers higher returns, they are riskier.

The fact is no one can give you. guarantees with the stock market.. he said, Even if they create a blend. of funds and try to diversify. If you. have 20-30 percent of your portfolio. invested this way and something. happens three, or even five years. before your child goes to university,. you can never recover.. Williams said this is why parents. should consider relatively safer. investments such as money market. instruments or bonds, but this should. be done very early in the childs life. as the safer the investment, the lower. the rate of interest paid out. The. investment would therefore need. more time to grow.

It is a matter of restructuring. your priorities and allocating your. resources over a period of time than. trying to do it over one or two years.

You are going to pay for it one way. or the other. Are you going to give. yourself 15 years or will you take. another loan or sell off an asset?. Preparation is key to this.. Parents may also want to consider. life insurance options.

Life insurance policies with cash. value options that allow for interest. earning on your investment also. provides for a number of other things.

What if the parent dies before the. child enters university? The only. product that ensures the money. is there if this is the case is life. insurance.. To decide if one option or the. other, or even a combination of the. two is best, Williams said talking to a. financial planner was the best thing.

He said parents should avoid banks. when looking for financial advice. and be discerning when talking to. insurance salespersons since not all. of them were knowledgeable about. investment.

An advisor would be able to. structure a plan for you based on your. current financial situation, he said.

You may not be able to put aside all. that you need right now, but he or. she should be able to design a graded. programme that allows the parent to. add in a structured or ad hoc manner. as their financial situation changes.. Working with the advisor, parents. can get a better sense of their. monthly cash flow and their debt. service ratio and how those can be. leveraged to create future funds for. their childrens education.

.
Public services must be fit for the future

People look towards their governments for the creation of effective and sustainable improvements to their country.

But crucially they look for them to demonstrate accountability and transparency of public funds.

Most recently, Trinidad and Tobago received an addition to their public spending budgets to support the inequalities they face.

The Development Bank of Latin America or Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) announced it will give US$300 million (TT$2 billion) to the Ministry of Finance to aid the Support Programme for the Medium-Term Fiscal Consolidation Strategy.

This is a huge investment to support a special programme designed to bolster tax revenue and cushion the reductions of subsidies. It also complements the governments efforts to increase the efficiency of public spending and prompts economic diversification across our twin island, which is crucial for the future.

Governments and finance professionals must work together to ensure public services are fit for the future. Their partnership influences how the funding is used to address national and local priorities, the availability of resources for investment and the effectiveness of public services.

Finance professionals play a pivotal role in promoting public confidence and trust in the stewardship of public finances as they navigate through operational, governance and risk management issues.

This is public financial management and good public financial management instils trust.

Trust is created when the public are able to understand how their money is spent, and on what.

To ensure that the public is able to hold public sector organisations to account, this information needs to be understandable, accessible, clear and timely. Practices of disclosure and reporting, whilst retaining accuracy and precision, should be communicated with their interests firmly in mind. Financial management in the public sector must also strive to ensure that the public receive the best possible service.

Like other organisations, finance professionals need to be efficient to identify and mitigate financial risk. An efficient department means that financial planning, monitoring and control are integrated in performance management, so that there is a strong emphasis on budgetary control, reporting and decision making.

Another is to ensure that budgets are effectively linked to policy objectives and that value for money is secured, as well as to improve the credibility of financial reporting.

Given the pace of change and size of expenditure, it is critical that finance professionals working within the public sector are equipped with the right skills to deal with the challenges ahead.

ACCA is well placed to help as we the largest international membership, working in 181 countries around the world in the public and private sectors. This means that organisations benefit from having finance professionals who adhere to a strong ethical code and are equipped with both private and public sector skills.

More specifically, our members in the public sector work across a diverse range of organisations, including government departments, regulators, healthcare providers and in regional and local governments, and are well placed to spread best practice, experience and knowledge on a host of technical issues.

Public services do go overlooked and people sometimes take what they do for granted. The finance professionals that support them are often forgotten about too, but they do very important work to ensure a number of community needs are supported.

The ability to communicate the meanings and implications of financial realities in a useful way to key decision-makers, for example, is something provided by a well-trained finance team. Great technical skills are a given, but a top finance team also brings strong leadership skills, effective decisionmaking and change management skills to the public sector.

The Caribbean economy is still facing slow economic growth, in spite its strong tourism growth. With these challenging circumstances ahead for the economy, innovation is essential for finance professionals in the public sector to solve the problems with smaller public budgets.

The Caribbean public service sector will continue to grow so long as there are finance professionals spearheading its financial prudence and accountability. These ethics are essential to ensuring high professional standards in the public sector.
blink|bmobile staff provide back-to-school supplies for children in need

Through the blink|bmobile Foundations Staff Book Buddies Programme; an employee volunteer initiative, staff at TSTT register internally to satisfy the book lists of children most in need. Thriyzl Nandoo, who has been volunteering since the Programmes inception in 2009, stated, I feel as though we have a responsibility to make the lives of those around us better. Children are innocent and they really deserve the best life and one of the ways to ensure that is through education. Beyond the academic impact, the act of giving also shows the children that they are loved and respected despite the social, physical and emotional hardships they might have endured in the past. Thriyzl added, Education is powerful tool; a gateway to transform lives and convert dreams into reality. The children that we help live in homes and I give back because I want them to know that there are adults; people in the world, who genuinely care about them and are invested in their future and seeing them succeed.

This year, similar to the years gone by, Thriyzl and many other employees fulfilled the book lists of four students and also volunteered to pack the books into backpacks for the children. Purchasing the books and school supplies is like writing a cheque. Its impactful and goes a long way but I feel more involved when I go the extra mile and prepare the backpacks for the kids. I do it with love and good intentions which makes that aspect of the process important to me. noted Nandoo.

Camille Campbell, TSTTs Chief Marketing Officer (Ag) commended the employee volunteers on their commitment to shaping the future by stating, It takes a village to raise a child and for the last eight years, the staff at TSTT not only selflessly give to those most in need but invest in our nations future.

At TSTT, we believe that each child has the potential to change the world so if we can use our resources to harness their potential, we undoubtedly will. While many of the staff volunteers feel fulfilled by giving back, the biggest winners in this initiative are the students who will use the back-to-school supplies to build their futures. Some of the Childrens homes that will benefit from the Book Buddies Programme include, The Cyril Ross Nursery, The Islamic Childrens Home, Marian House (Living Water Community), St.Dominics Childrens Home and the SWAHA Vishok Bhavan Childrens Home.

This year, TSTT also partnered with blink|bmobile Brand Ambassador, Dwayne Bravo who donated proceeds from his annual charity event to purchase the textbooks and school supplies for the children at Bridge of Hope Childrens home in Sangre Chiquito.
Night in jail for outburst in court

Told that the fine should be paid within two months and that he was free to go, Kevon King, 28, of Bayshore, Marabella, unleashed a barrage of criticisms against police officers and, even as he exited the court, his shouts were heard by San Fernando First Court magistrate, Nanette Forde-John.

King was warned by police officers but he persisted. He was arrested.

The charges against King were laid by Police Constable Andre Rodriguez of the San Fernando CID. He had pleaded not guilty and, since 2010, the trial had been pending, with the defendant back and forth in court.

On Monday last, the trial began before Forde-John in which the court police prosecutor, PC Ramdath Phillip, prosecuted. King testified that he did not have the marijuana. But Rodriguez testified that he was on police patrol when he had cause to intercept a car and search King who was an occupant of the vehicle.

The case was adjourned for decision yesterday and Forde-John told King that, based on the evidence, he was guilty as charged on the two counts.

King began to shout, This is a frame case; God doh sleep. Is better you plead guilty. The magistrate, however, proceeded to fine him $300 for possession of the marijuana, and, $500 for resisting arrest.

But after she did so, King shouted, This is a frame-up case; it have ah God. I had no marijuana on me. While walking out of the court, police officers warned him about the shouting in the precincts of the courthouse, but he shouted This is unfairness, but it have a God. When King descended the steps of the courthouse, there was a scuffle and police officers attempted to arrest him, but he tried to fight them off.

PC Dustin John, who was trying to hold on to King, was pushed backwards and fell on the pavement injuring his knee.
Licensing officer wants 16-year-old corruption charges out

Two of the States witnesses have since died and the Licensing officer Ricky Samlal, cannot seemed to locate his own - a senior colleague who has long retired.

Samlal is charged with two counts of corruption and two counts of misbehaviour in public office. The charges emanate from an allegation, that on March 21, 2000, he solicited $500 from two persons.

In a motion filed by attorneys Prakash Ramadhar and Michael Rooplal, they contend that the charges had been pending until six years after when the preliminary inquiry was heard.

Samlal was committed to stand trial on August 21, 2006.

The indictment was filed on March 5, 2008, the attorneys stated, paving the way for the file to reach the High Court. But since then, the case has been pending and Samlal is still awaiting his trial.
Funeral today for murdered 9 year-old boy

Paul, of Byron Street, La Romaine, a pupil of the La Romaine RC School, was shot dead while he was walking along the Southern Main Road, La Romaine, a short distance from his home last Friday night. Paul was accompanying a young relative to purchase hot dogs at a nearby businessplace.

Reports are that, upon reaching a service station along the Southern Main Road, several gunshots rang out. Cyon and his relative turned around and started to run but Cyon collapsed in the driveway of a businessplace. He was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital in a police vehicle, but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

Police said at the time of the shooting, scores of patrons liming in front of a nearby bar scampered for safety. An autopsy performed at the Forensic Science Centre in St James revealed that Cyon was shot once, the bullet deflected off his left arm, before entering the left side of his chest and perforating his left lung. Paul would have turned ten on September 25.

At yesterdays weekly press briefing hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service at its Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, senior officers vowed to set up a 24-hour police post in the La Romaine area.
Police officer shot by robbers at his home

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), Williams sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound after being ambushed at his Edinburgh 500 home by two men armed with guns around 2.30 pm.

Williams was in his driveway in the company of fellow officer, PC Adesh Mano, when they were confronted by the assailants who attempted to carry out a robbery. There was an exchange of gunfire and PC Williams was struck in the right foot, following which the men sped off in a waiting vehicle...

described as a white AD wagon, the TTPS stated. Williams was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Centre and subsequently transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he was receiving medical treatment as of press time yesterday.

PC Adesh was unhurt in the incident.

Officers from several units including the Central Division Task Force, Central Division Operations, Canine and the Air Support Units responded to the report.

One of the suspects was held in the Monroe Road Flyover area, after the duo abandoned the getaway vehicle and attempted to continue with their escape on foot.

A combined search was continuing for the second suspect as of 7 pm yesterday.

PC Williams is attached to the Inter Agency Task Force and was not on duty at the time of the incident while PC Mano, who is attached to the Guard and Emergency Branch, is currently on leave.
CEPEP questions millions spent in Oropouche projects

In an immediate response, Moonilal said, I have spoken to my lawyers and intend to sue CEPEP for defamation. Moonilal also said he intends to report the CEPEP board to the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General. He said the projects in question, were done at least two years before the election. Moonilal charged it was obscene for CEPEP to be spending taxpayers money on these kinds of ads, no such practice took place when he was CEPEPs line minister and this was an attempt to distract attention away from plans to dismiss contractors and 12,000 workers.

C EPEP said as Moonilal attempted to draw what he perceives to be newsworthy speculation, its management has discovered this misappropriation of funds. The company said it was a clear deviation from its mandate, that CEPEP constructed the Bunsee Trace Community Centre at a cost of $30 million. CEPEP also said it spent, $6.9 million in the construction of box drains in the constituency, in the months leading up to the 2015 general elections. The company said, This illegal spending contributed to more than ten percent of the CEPEP companys $300 million debt inherited by the current board and management. CEPEP added this, played no small part in depriving more citizens of the opportunity to participate in the Programme. CEPEP said another clear deviation from the programme involved 90 percent of CEPEP contractors being given new contracts in the weeks leading up to last Septembers general elections and in some cases, on election day itself.

CEPEP said this happened even though the former board and management knew that most of the contractors involved in the programme were not paying statutory deductions to the State, on behalf of their employees as required by their contracts with CEPEP and in accordance with the law. CEPEP said its former board and management took no action against contractors, who misappropriated or embezzled as much as $500,000 in some cases.

CEPEP said contractors who have been engaged with and graduated from the three year programme will be released. The company said this will enable other deserving contractors to get an opportunity to become entrepreneurs. Indicating that it has been open about realigning the programme with its original objectives, CEPEP said staff whose jobs were made redundant under the emerging organisational structure, will be screened for suitability in other areas of the company and subject to their acceptance, will be deployed to those suitable positions.

CEPEP said where there is no satisfactory fit or an offer is declined, it will be using industry-standard best practices to ensure that departing staff are fairly treated. The company also said while the overall level of employment will be maintained, the intent of CEPEP is to provide short-term income support for the employees of contractors while upgrading their skills through training, to promote self-sufficiency and self-reliance rather than long term dependency on the Government.

Stressing the need for fiscal prudence as the financial year end, CEPEP said its current plans will be subject to the availability of funding in the 2016/2017 Budget.

With respect to flooding, CEPEP said it continues to maintain the same environmental services as it has previously done.
Equal opportunity for judges too?

In coming weeks, the Court of Appeal is set to hear what will be a landmark case that has been making its way through the court system for the last two years.

The case has come about as a result of a disagreement between the Director of Personnel Administration (DPA) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

Over the years, the EOC and the service commissions have disagreed on the question of whether this countrys anti-discrimination statute applies to the Public Service. As a result, in 2014, the EOC asked the High Court to resolve the question of how the law should be interpreted once and for all.

In action CV 2014-00477, the EOC  represented by attorneys Haran Ramakaransingh and Aleyya Gafoor-Ali  asked a judge to rule on whether the definition of employer under the law includes the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission.

Because these commissions work in more or less the same way as the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC)  which appoints, promotes, transfers and disciplines judges  the court has expressed the view that the anti- discrimination law could also extend to cover the JLSCs practices.

The case, which is due to be heard by the court on September 26, comes during a period of heightened activity by the EOC and the EO Tribunal (EOT), its adjudicative body. Several EOT judgments are also due in September, after a series of judgments were handed down earlier this month.

The importance of the case is such that it has seen the Ministry of the Attorney General intervene as a party. Submissions were also filed by the EOC this January, followed by submissions by the DPA in February.

While the JLSC is not a party to the proceedings, a legal source said yesterday the ruling will have implications for that body.

It would stand to reason that if you fall under the jurisdiction of the JLSC then that body is to be regarded as your employer for the purpose of the filing of a complaint under the Act, the lawyer said.

The Court of Appeal will have to determine whether High Court Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh was correct to rule that the commissions fall under the anti- discrimination law.

The commissions cannot simply say they are not employers for the purposes of a complaint under the Act when they are clearly considered as part of the State, the judge ruled in October 2014, saying the law had to be applied in a purposive and practical way.

He rejected arguments which stated the commissions do not, technically, employ.

To adopt the interpretation the DPA urges would defeat the purposes of the Act, the judge said.

Making the service commissions answerable to the EOC does not in any way take away from the independence of the service commissions or the constitutional protection of them.

Their independence is preserved in the manner of the appointment of members and the conditions under which the members of the commissions serve. The judge further remarked, Being accountable for the way in which they perform their functions ought not to be seen as an attempt to reduce their value. It is rather to enhance and make more tangible the protection offered to citizens. Two recent judicial appointments have been announced after an unprecedented JLSC recruitment process which saw two posts on the Court of Appeal advertised.

The new law term is due to open on September 16.
Garcia: Provisions for gifted students soon

Garcia said, One of the things that we have been looking at in our education system, is making provisions for the gifted students. And certainly this young boy is a gifted child. We have been having discussions with our Student Support Services Division dealing with, not only the children who have challenges, but they are also about to put things in place for the gifted child. And certainly, during the term, well be discussing with the principal officers at the Ministry of Education to ensure that things are put in place where we can cater to children with special abilities. As he congratulated Thomas, Garcia said he hoped the boys success could serve as an inspiration to other students.

Newsday was yesterday told of another student, 14 year-old Anna Singh, a Form 2 student of the St.Augustine Girls High School, who recently completed four subjects at the CSE C level  Math, Principles of Business, English A and Social Studies  and received passing grades in all, including a distinction in math.
Fishermen ask Avinash, you fraid Gary Aboud?

The statement was made while Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Avinash Singh, was addressing fishermen at the Orange Valley Fishing Depot in Freeport. While most repeated stories about the drastic decrease in sales, their inability to feed their families and purchase books and stationery for their children as school is close to re-opening, all of them demanded an answer to one question in particular.

Is Gary Aboud going to be held accountable? Despite multiple reports released by the EMA, IMA, and CARIRI that they found no evidence of a toxic cause for the fish kill, Aboud remains adamant that the chemical dispersant Corexit 9500, which, according to Aboud, was used by Petrotrin to clean up after the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Paria in 2013.

Is Gary Aboud right, or is he wrong? asked Ian Maharaj, President of the Trawlers Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

If he is right, what steps are being taken by the government to compensate fishermen for loss of sales? If he is wrong, who is going to hold him accountable? Maharaj expressed disbelief that one man was being allowed to hold the entire country to ransom so easily.

According to Jason Binda who buys fish in Mayaro to sell along the road from Sangre Grande to Mayaro, it is not only the fishermen along the west coast being affected, but all across the country
N. Korea submarine missile launch shows improved capabilities in quest to target U.S., Japan

(NationalSecurity.news) North Korea launched another ballistic missile from one of its submarines this week that flew about 310 miles, marking the longest distance thus far for such a weapon, Seoul officials said, which puts all of South Korea and perhaps parts of Japan within range.

As reported by The Associated Press, Pyongyang already possesses a variety of land-based ballistic missiles capable of reaching all of South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military installations in both countries. However, the Norths development of sub-launched ballistic missiles that are reliable would give it the capability of deploying systems that are harder to detect and destroy before launch.

Seouls military condemned the launch, as did Japan and even China. South Korean officials called it an armed protest against regularly scheduled annual drills with the United States, but they also acknowledged that the missile test was a marked improvement over earlier ones.

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 was fired by a submarine off North Koreas eastern coast, near the town of Sinpo. It flew into Japans air defense identification zone, officials in South Korea said. U.S. Strategic Command told the AP that it had tracked the launch of what was presumed to be a KN-11 missile, which landed in the Sea of Japan.

Officials said if fired close enough to shore the missile could hit virtually any part of South Korea. But it could also strike portions of Japan and the U.S. military installations on the island of Okinawa, given the operational range of North Koreas Sinpo-class subs, which are capable of sailing about 620 miles underwater at a time.

Pyongyang launched two missiles from subs earlier this year, but defense officials in South Korea said they likely blew up in midair after flying less than 18 miles.

The latest launch comes amid a series of missile, rocket and other weapons tests this year by the North, which is rushing to develop and deploy reliable weapons that can strike targets as far away as the United States.

Following a string of failed tests, in June the North launched a mid-range missile that flew more than 870 miles high. Defense experts and analysts said at the time that it demonstrated North Koreas progress in its effort to target and strike U.S. forces throughout the region.

More:

(c) 2016 USA Features Media.

Submit a correction >>
Vice President releases the book 'Patriots, Poets and Prisoners: Selections from Ramananda Chatterjee's The Modern Review, 1907-1947'

New Delhi, Thu, 25 Aug 2016 NI Wire

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 President's 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 India's 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 Nehru's 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 Nehru's 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.

Source: PIB
Surviving The Competition Will Not Be Easy For Vivo V3!

New Delhi, Thu, 25 Aug 2016 NI Wire

Vivo, a renowned Chinese company, earlier had come up with its V3 and V3Max models that were released in the month of April.

Ever since then, V3 model has seen a reduction in its price and has now come down to a price of Rs. 15,000. Now this reduction in price has brought the device close to the league of budget smartphones in the country. And as we know, the craze for budget smartphones is only rising.

So, let's here have a look and see how well the V3 fits in the budget friendly zone.

Design and Build

One look at the new Vivo V3 and you will find it identical to its larger counterpart but not the V3Max. We're talking about the model that came earlier. The company logo at the front makes it distinguishable; else it appears as Oppo F1.

The device comes with non-backlit capacitive navigation buttons along with a curved glass edge. It comes with Gorilla Glass and has a pre-installed screen guard. The device has a 5 inch display and resolution of HD (720x1280). Its text and icons come with jagged edges, but luckily it's not that noticeable. Its metal frame is sturdy, and the button placement is ergonomic. It features a dual-SIM tray at the left, with a microSD card slot (up to 128GB) on the top. The device has powerful speakers with amplifier chip. This enhances your experience when you listen to your favorite music tracks and videos.

Specifications and features

Vivo V3 comes powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core SoC, and has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It also has dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM radio, USB OTG and 4G LTE on Band 1, 3, 5 and 40. The device has fingerprint sensor on the back which does a great job.

V3 runs on Funtouch OS 2.5, a custom fork of Android Lollipop. The fact that the device lacks Marshmallow update is slightly unsatisfactory.

Vivo's apps has i Theme for visual customizations; i Manager allows monitor data usage and helps to manage apps and their permissions; EasyShare helps transfer files over Wi-Fi Direct; and Vivo Cloud is helpful when backing up your bookmarks, contacts, messages and notes.

Performance

V3's interface is slightly confusing but it does work smoothly. You can easily multi task with the device and it is capable of handling heavy apps and games. As the phone size is quite small, it's easy to carry.

Long hours of gaming ad video watching does heat up the device; which we believe is pretty common with smartphones these days.

It has a 13MP rear camera decked with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) that allows quick locking on to subjects. When images are taken in broad daylight, they do sound good. But zooming in brings out the imperfections.

For selfies, it has 8MP camera which is pretty okay. Though its video recording resolution tops out is 1080p but quality is not that good.

As for battery, V3 has 2550mAh battery. While it may not be very large but it does works good all because of the low screen resolution and well-organized SoC. Even if you play videos continuously, the phone will last for 11 hours and 31 minutes, so regular use will make it last for more than just a single day. It doesn't have the super charging feature but the battery won't take much time get fully charged.

Verdict

Vivo V3 is an upright product but sadly, it can't survive the tough competition. Moto G4 Plus, Redmi Note 3 and LeEco Le 2 are in the same price bracket and all of them offer far better camera, display and performance as compared to V3.

The only area where V3 takes a lead is the battery life and commendable speakers. It can only be given a shot for these features, only if you desire them strongly!
Nimish Shah Label 'Shift' Presented Fashion Nostalgia at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2016

Mumbai, Thu, 25 Aug 2016 NI Wire

null

Mumbai: The 'Shift' label by Nimish Shah, which celebrated half a decade in the business of fashion has always been inspired by thrifty looks, sharply cut dresses along with a mix of Anglo Kolhapuris and other fashion regulars. Using printed, solid and some bright fabrics for Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2016; Nimish showcased his quaintly titled collection 'Housewives of Alibaug'. His ode to the urban housewife of the 1970 refracted through a 90's prism was an interesting take on fashion for the coming season.

The highlights of the collection were some long dresses that had conservative sexual undertones along with, as the designer described, the 'interior designer' work wear.

A few dresses were ideal for a lunch date but intentionally revealed a slightly unkept look. The use of luxe crepe de chine, velvet and the signature knits were the basis of the garments. Heady beading added a hint of glitter to the oversized travel coats ideal for casual dressing.

Keeping the next season's colours in mind Nimish used saturated tones like ash, chalky pink and then added marigold, teal, emerald and purple. The print story was a repeat of the previous seasons and remained true to the motifs that gave fashion continuity to the 'Shift' brand.

Floppy tops were ideal for striped black/white dress, while the double breasted cropped jacket and off-shoulder midi created nostalgia. Waist lines moved from low to elasticised; but midis looked feminine with off- shoulder silhouettes. The long sleeved shirt dress with the cute Peter Pan collar, the panelled full-buttoned dress, velvet mini skirt with knitted sweater and the velvet coat over a midi added variety to the show. A hint of glitter was brought in with the white dress and the comfy smock, while the formal wear scene was restricted to the bare shoulder maxi and the long sleeve bolero gown.

For classic urban fashion with a hint of nostalgia, trend setters can turn to the 'Housewives of Alibaug' by Nimish Shah when it comes to interpreting great retro style quotients.

null
Never send a cop to do a man's job
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.
The tourism industry in many North African countries was affected this year by the terror threats as travelers avoid popular destinations such as Egypt, Tunisia, Turkeytargeted by terrorists.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, Egypt is one of the worst hit places, with tourist arrivals down nearly 50 pc so far this year. Last year, the travel and tourism industry accounted in this country for 11.4 pc of gross domestic product and 10.5 per cent of employment, some 2.6 million jobs.

The heavily indebted North African country saw its current account deficit jump 37.5 per cent year on year in the first quarter, forcing it to seek $12bn bailout from the IMF, as the fall in tourism arrivals led to a severe shortage of foreign currency.

The decline in tourist arrivals follows an explosion on a Russian plane shortly after taking off from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in October 2015. The bombing, which killed all 224 passengers and crew on board, was claimed by Isis jihadis.

In Tunisia, the number of foreign tourists also plummeted 18.7 pc in the first quarter of the year. The decline comes in the wake of two terrorist attacks targeted at tourists in 2015, the slaughter of 38 foreign tourists in the resort of Sousse in June and an attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March that left 23 people dead.

Tunisia is even more reliant than Egypt on travel and tourism, with the sector accounting for 11.5 per cent of jobs and 12.6 per cent of GDP last year, despite its contraction, according to the WTTC.

Turkey has also seen a decline in its tourism sector. According to World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals fell 9.9 pc year on year.

However, experts say Turkey might recover more quickly than either Egypt or Tunisia due to the expected increase of Russian tourists after Ankaras decision to move closer to Moscow as its relations with the West soured following the military coup.

France has also been affected by a recent spate of terrorist attacks. On the flip side, places like Spain, Portugal, Italy and other sunny European nations have seen a big boost in tourist numbers.
Calls are mounting within the Algerian civil society for a normalization of ties with Morocco. This time the Algerian Consumers Association called for opening an air route between the eastern Moroccan city of Oujda and the Western Algerian city of Oran to ease traffic for many border families who are looking forward to visit their relatives on the other side of the border.

In this respect, the Association sent a letter to Algerias Premier Abdelkader Sellal calling for the setting up of an air link between the two cities, the Moroccan press reported.

The letter points out to the suffering of several families living in border areas who cannot cross to Morocco through the land border post in view of the continuing closure of borders by Algeria. Hence, taking an air route remains the only alternative, although an expensive and complicated one that takes long time.

The Association says that establishing an air route between Oran and Oujda- only 200 kilometres away from each other- has a humanitarian dimension, as it will ease travel for people willing to visit their families in urgent moments such as funerals.

The President of the same association has also called on the Algerian Communication Minister to lower call fares to Morocco, which remain expensive compared to other countries.
Following the operation launched by Moroccan authorities to clear the border area with Mauritania of all trafficking and illegal commercial activities, the Royal Armed Forces strengthened their level of vigilance in the southern provinces in light of intelligence reports warning of a potential attempt by the Polisario to smuggle an arms cargo into the Kingdom.

The operation to counter all trafficking and criminal networks also aimed at averting any attempt at smuggling weapons, after intelligence reports pointed out to Polisarios involvement in sending arms to the southern provinces where it intends to remote control attacks undermining the kingdoms security, said Moroccan daily Assabah.

The paper added that the intelligence reports urged equipping the military units in charge of surveillance along the security wall by advanced reconnaissance capabilities and defense equipment against potential chemical and biological attacks that may be perpetrated by trafficking networks whose possession of nonconventional weapons is becoming a certainty.

In light of the eminent danger posed to regional security by trafficking networks, Moroccan security services are cooperating closely with Mauritanian peers in order to clear the areas long considered by traffickers as a no mans land. In this respect building and securing a road linking the border post of Guergarat to Mauritania will bar the road to the Polisario militias from taking advantage of an area that has the status of a buffer zone under the UN-brokered 1991 cease-fire agreement.

The Polisario tried in vain to portray Moroccos clampdown on illegal activities and criminal networks as a breach of the ceasefire agreement alleging that the Kingdom mobilized troops beyond the berm. These allegations were categorically refuted by the UN, which confirmed that the operation is not military in character and that the UN mission to the Sahara is closely following the operation without noting any breach of the cease-fire.

To many observers, Polisario is one of the biggest losers of any operation aiming to curb trafficking in North Africa. The Algerian-backed separatist militia is engaged in all sorts of trafficking including the embezzlement of humanitarian aid. A 2007 reports by the EU anti-fraud office condemned Polisarios trafficking in connivance with Algerian authorities.
Trumped. Photo: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

In his campaigns first gesture of outreach to liberal bloggers, Donald Trump humiliated Ann Coulter on Wednesday night. During a town hall with Sean Hannity, the GOP nominee outlined a kinder, gentler plan for keeping 11 million undocumented people in a state of legal purgatory  just as the far-right thinkfluencer was holding the book launch for her new screed, In Trump We Trust:E Pluribus Awesome!

Theres nothing Trump can do that wont be forgiven. Except change his immigration policies, Coulter writes in her suddenly mistitled opus.

As news spread of Trumps proposal to grant some longtime undocumented U.S. residents the status of second-class non-citizens (as opposed to siccing the deportation force on them), the mood at Coulters book launch turned dim.

Ladies and Gentlemen, theres been a slight change of plan. pic.twitter.com/SRASORpp7D  Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) August 25, 2016

The author proceeded to pass through the first two stages of the Kubler-Ross model of grief at lighting speed.

Its just rhetoric but its still annoying, Coulter told The Hill. I think he panicked and he had to say [it]  I dont think he is softening. I mean the big thing is the wall.

Just an hour later, denial had given way to anger.

Only part he left out was the "hoops" they'll have to jump through! Trump:"No citizenship. Let me go a step furtherthey'll pay back-taxes"  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 25, 2016

Trump: "they have to pay taxes, there's no amnesty" [Pro Tip: "Back taxes" means we pay illegals $30k apiece in EITC.}  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 25, 2016

It's not "amnesty." It's "comprehensive immigration reform"!!!! Trump: "they have to pay taxes, there's no amnesty."  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 25, 2016

Well, if it's "hard," then nevermind. Trump: "... to take a person who's been here for 15 or 20 years ....It's a very, very hard thing."  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 25, 2016

Meanwhile, other immigration hardliners have already found their way to acceptance.

Im not disappointed, Joe Arpaio, Americas favorite fascist sheriff, told CNN on Wednesday. Hes going to  study the law, and hes going to follow the law, and see where that takes us on enforcing the illegal immigration problem that we have.

Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, one of the foremost opponents of amnesty on Capitol Hill, told Fox and Friends he could get on board with Trumps new position.

Hes saying, lets fix this problem, lets fix it and then well wrestle with the people who have been here a long time, Sessions said on Thursday.

But theres one bit of good news for Ann Coulter: Even as her closest allies reveal themselves to be cucks in nativist clothing, her sworn enemy is preparing to remind Trump of where he comes from. On Thursday afternoon, Hillary Clinton plans to highlight the GOP nominees roots in the cesspool of reactionary nihilism called the alt-right.

Coulter has to hope that Clintons speech will make Trump remember who his real friends are  provocateurs of white racial grievance who are rapidly fading from relevance.
Now you too can set the candidates immigration policy. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

The Founding Fathers were famously wary of mob rule, and Donald Trump brought their concerns to life rather literally on Wednesday when he polled the audience at a Fox News town hall to help decide whether he should forcibly eject 11 million people from the United States.



An impossibly tough stance on immigration  including an ideological test, a deportation force, and a big, beautiful border wall  has been the foundation of Trumps campaign since day one. However, over the past few days hes signaled that hes not actually interested in deporting undocumented immigrants en mass. As New Yorks Eric Levitz notes, no one has any idea what that means, because hes described the new policy solely through a series of contradictory adjectives. All we know is that his new plan is humane and efficient, very firm, really fair, and very, very tough.



In the second half of his town hall meeting hosted by Sean Hannity, which aired Wednesday night, Trump essentially admitted that hes been vague because there is no new immigration policy  at least, not yet.



When asked about how hed handle someone who came to the country illegally but has been living here for 20 years and committed no other crimes, Trump said, we have to follow the laws of our country. When pressed to give a real answer, he turned to the audience. Can we go through a process or do you think they have to get out? Tell me, I mean, I dont know, you tell me.



The audience responded with some incomprehensible cheering, and at Hannitys urging, Trump posed the question again: You have somebody that has been in the country for 20 years. He has done a great job, has a job, everything else, okay? Do we take him and the family  her or him or whatever  and send them out?

Following more shouting, Trump said we can all agree that the bad ones, the gang members, have to go. But again, what about the person whos been here for decades, an upstanding person, the family is great, everyone is great  Do we throw them out or do we work with them?

He gave the crowd two options: Number one, well say: throw out. Number two, we work with them.

When Hannity tried to bring the focus back to what the candidate thinks, Trump said hes definitely against citizenship. Let me go a step further theyll pay back taxes, they have to pay taxes, theres no amnesty, as such, theres no amnesty, but we work with them, he added. But as the Wall Street Journal notes, a path to legalization that includes paying back taxes is exactly what opponents of immigration reform are referring to when they complain about amnesty.



Trump then turned to the audience for a seventh and an eighth time, asking people whether or not they want them thrown out. Trump and Hannity praised one man who shouted that he wants illegal immigrants booted from the country. Well, look, this is like a poll, this is like a poll, Trump said. And I love that guy that stood up and said  where is that guy? I love this guy. This is my guy.

Trump concluded by promising, Were going to come out with a decision very soon, and earlier in the day he said, Im going to announce something over the next two weeks, but its going to be a very firm policy.

So really, this is just like Hillary Clintons listening tour. Except before asking for public input, Clinton immersed herself in dense briefing papers and academic tomes, and consulted hundreds of experts. And she started finalizing her detailed policy plans more than a year ago, not 77 days before the election.


Trumped for words. Photo: Sarah Rice/Getty Images

Donald Trump has been running for president for 14 months. The signature issue of his campaign is immigration. And yet, trying to discern his position on that issue remains an analytical exercise akin to interpreting the Talmud.

This past week, the GOP nominee disavowed the policy of mass deportation that he campaigned on for more than a year. But instead of laying out a clear counter-proposal for dealing with the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, Trump has chosen to describe his new policy solely through a series of contradictory adjectives.

Over the weekend, Trump told his Hispanic advisory council that he would adopt a humane and efficient solution to the crisis of the undocumented. He stipulated on Monday that this policy would also be very firm, and really fair. On Tuesday, Trump added further nuance to his proposal, explaining that his immigration standards will be very, very tough, and yet, they could also, potentially, allow for a softening.

Is there any part of the law that you might be able to change that would accommodate those people that contribute to society, have been law-abiding, have kids here? Sean Hannity asked Trump at a town hall event Tuesday night.

There certainly can be a softening because were not looking to hurt people, Trump told Hannity. We want people  we have some great people in this country. We have some great, great people in this country.

One might reasonably interpret this statement as meaning, Yes, we certainly can adjust existing laws to accommodate the great undocumented immigrants who contribute to our society.

And yet the very next words out of Trumps mouth were: But, so, were going to follow the laws of this country. What people dont realize, we have very, very strong laws.

If were going to follow existing laws then those great people have no legal right to reside in the United States.

Trump did little to clarify matters in an interview that aired on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning, saying, Were going to have very, very tough standards. You come into the country, its tough.

To explicate the subtext of Trumps remarks, CNN solicited the expertise of GOP congressmen  and master of Trumpian semiotics  Steve King.

When you balance [all] that together, I think what it says is that if people are anticipating that there would be a deportation corps that would be deployed across this country, that softening means thats less likely, King explained. His answer then was there could be some softening, which I didnt quite hear as hed be willing to change the law  If asked further on this, I think he would come back to this point: we have to restore the respect for the rule of law in America. And part of that is to enforce the laws that we have.

Asked whether, in his exegesis of Trumps teachings, enforcing the law requires denying all undocumented immigrants legal status, King replied, I would say yes. And the reason is theyre not law abiding in the first place. By crossing the border illegally, theyre by definition criminals. And he has said he wants to remove the criminals in this country.

All right, enough subtlety. Heres my subtextual analysis: The fact that a Republican congressman must meditate on the connotations of softening to deduce the GOP nominees position on immigration  which, again, is the central issue of the nominees campaign  is a humiliation for our democracy.

Trump has been campaigning on a Dada platform of ludicrous, ever-changing policies for so long now, its easy to forget just how offensive to the concept of self-government his shtick is. Trumps flip-flops are so frequent and extreme, they dont merely betray his supporters, but rather, the idea of public-policy debate itself. The Clinton campaign has given up trying to hold Trump accountable for his contortions, because by the time one drafts an attack, hes often flopped back to the position he began with.

But the press needs to hold Trump accountable. At this point, it doesnt really matter what Trump decides to say his immigration position is. The fact that the GOP nominee thinks its acceptable, this far into his campaign, to say he is working to come up with an answer concerning the fate of 11 million people should be a scandal.

There cant be any softening. We need to have very, very tough standards for those who want to come into the Oval Office.
Photo: SuperStock/Getty Images

Mrs. Fratarcangelis third-grade students sit and squirm at tables so short I have to sit on my knees to meet them at eye level. Barely a kid in the class, at a charter school in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, can stay silent or still. It doesnt help that Im an interloper, interrupting science-fair time to ask them about the topic of all topics  what they think about the presidential election, and New Yorks own Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Theyre eager pundits, and the question-and-answer session starts out smoothly enough: some ums, a shrug, and a dad who likes Trump.

Then, not even three kids in: Wait, um, is Donald Trump a racist?

Oh, shit, I think. I say, I dont know. Thats a hard question to answer.

Its been asked many, many, many times, just not often as bluntly as by a precocious 8-year old. I punted the question back to the teacher; what I thought was ask your parents. But thats probably exactly where that idea  Donald Trump is a racist  got burrowed into this boys brain. It could have been a comment passed between Mom and Dad at the dinner table, maybe a grandparent muttering while watching the evening news.

Thats because for kids this age  about 7 to 12 years old  politics is very personal. When theyre in this stage, theyre really thinking about how is whats happening around me in the world going to affect me and how I live my life, explains Amy Jordan, a professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication and author of Children, Adolescents, and the Media. Theyre still thinking in black-and-white terms and still trying to figure out their place within their friendship groups, within their family, within their community.

Child-development psychologists often refer to this as concrete operational phase. Kids are able to think logically and reason with facts. An 8-year-old could probably tell you that Hillary Clinton is a Democrat. But kids in this age group have a harder time thinking in the abstract, so it might be tough for a child to explain what exactly Democrats tend to believe, or the positions the party stands for generally. They latch onto those nuggets of information thanks to parents, friends, home, school, and the memes and funny videos that theyre seeing on the internet. That doesnt necessarily sound so different from how adults view politics. Indeed, these early introductions to politics are all part of political socialization  the kind of blanket term for how people learn political values. A 7-year-old is just getting introduced his familys beliefs  but those ideologies are mutable as life experience builds. By the time that kid becomes an adult, new friends, college, jobs gained and lost, travel, volunteer work, marriage  each is going to tweak and transform his political views. But a young kid, naturally, has a very limited lens from which to view election drama.

Which is why children are particularly sensitive to the cues and discussion at home. In a 2003 study, researchers examined the effects of 9/11 media coverage on third-to-fifth graders and picked up an interesting pattern. The scientists interviewed parents and teachers and found that most of the students first learned about the 9/11 attacks in school. But not according to the kids themselves. The majority of the self-reporting children, in spite of good documentation that they had first heard the news in school, the researchers noted, positively endorsed the item my parents told me about it when asked how they first learned about the events. The study focused on one specific traumatic event, but advised more broadly that parents talk directly with kids because theyre looking for answers from them, anyway. Children are also going to pick up parents emotional reactions. If Mom or Dad is stressed, a child might start feeling stressed, too.

Take something like Trumps immigration stance. Hes bringing black people back to the old country instead of New York, Stevens, a 9-year-old in that Brooklyn class, said. Stevens told me his family was from Haiti. He [Trump] doesnt want any black people in New York, he wants them back in their own country. That remark is equally jarring  and not correct either, at least based on Trumps proposed policies so far. But, Jordan says, its likely Stevens, or any other kid anxious about deportation, didnt just come up with the idea. Theyre hearing it from adults in their lives, who are extrapolating it from the news, she says. That fear of dislocation, real or imagined, Jordan hypothesizes, can cause a lot of anxiety. They may hear all kinds of content about what Hillary Clinton said, or what Donald Trump said, Jordan explains, But whats going to stick for them is, okay, that affects me.

But kids this age are also plenty capable of making their own judgments about the candidates. Kenneth Rubin, a professor of developmental science at the University of Maryland, says we often underestimate kids instincts. Even very young children learn quickly about who in their world are the leaders, or the popular people, or the likable ones. They know who the bullies are, and they know whos being bullied. That translates to presidential candidates, too. But unlike adults, of course, they dont bring with them the baggage of party affiliations or political biases. Rubin suggests that if you removed parents from the equation, kids would evaluate the candidates temperaments fairly objectively, with an eye to how they react to adversity. Perhaps theyd see Trump getting angry when asked a question about Clinton, or Clinton getting anxious when asked about her email server. Children probably wouldnt have a clue as to the context  but theyd pretty easily be able to describe candidates behaviors. A child might not evaluate Trump or Clinton as presidential, but he or she might say whod theyd rather have as a friend, or a parent. Odds are, they wouldnt want a bully as their mom or dad.

Ultimately, kids are picking up on the same things their parents notice. Even if theyre not able to articulate it, theyre probably a little bummed out by this election, too. They hear the name-calling and insults. They may see the Trump rallies and hear the chants of Lock her up!  but they also see protestors outside those rallies who shout insults and slurs at those coming out the doors. Theyre watching what adults are doing and theyre watching whats happening in the media, Jordan says. Seeing that aggression on TV  sometimes being rewarded  is confusing and stressful to a kid whos 9 or 10, and just learning to deal with conflict in his or her own life. It has an effect on the way children see the world, and their level of comfort, she says.

The Interviews Science of Us interviewed dozens of children at a charter-school in Brooklyn; a soccer camp in Charlottesville, Virginia; and schools in Chicago and outside Seattle, Washington, to see exactly how they were understanding a presidential race and a political climate that feels, at least in the moment, nuttier and nastier and more consequential than any in recent memory. Consider it a public-opinion poll, in miniature.

Hebrew Language Academy, Mill Basin, New York

Matan, Age 9

Science of Us: Have you been watching the presidential election?Matan, 9: I dont know the channel of the election, so usually when my parents watch it, I watch it with them.

What have you noticed so far?

Ive noticed that theyre always trying to get more people to vote for them. I seen the news this morning and it said during the past week Donald Trump has got in 432 additional votes, and Hillary Clinton has only got 105.

Thats pretty specific. What do you think about that?

I think it is wrong. I think Donald Trump, hes just running to be president because hes rich.

Oren, 9: And his hair looks like corn hair.

Matan: Its, like, boyishly white.

Oren: His hair looks like corn hair.

Samuel, 8: And hes racist.

Oren: Thats why I hate Donald Trump, because his hair looks like corn hair.

Mikayla, 8: Its, like, orange, and hes as tan as the table.

Omario, 8

SOU: Have you been watching the presidential election?

Omario: Every single day.

What have you noticed?

I noticed that Trump was beating Hillary, and I was like oh, no! I really want Hillary to win. But the next day she got more votes and I was so, so happy. I want Hillary to become president because every time I listen to her speak, its so persuasive.

Why is she so persuasive?

Im persuaded about helping the community. Im about helping the state and the countries cooperate with each other. Shes very persuasive.

Why dont you like Donald Trump?

Hes racist, and he wants to kill all black people. Its mean.

Rohn, 9

What do you think about the presidential race?

Rohn: I think about the presidents. I hope a president is going to win like Hillary Clinton. Not really Hillary Clinton. I think Hillary Clinton is going to go to war or something.

Why do you think shes going to go to war?

Because I think for Hillary Clinton words are lies.

Jahnia, 8, and Safiyah, 9

SOU: What do you think about the election?

Jahnia: Donald Trump should not be president.

Safiyah: Yes.

J: Because he would tell people to go back to their countries and stay.

S: We would not want that because we have many friends here whod we want to stay with.

J: Yea.

Does that scare you?

J: To me, not really, but I dont want him to become president because he would 

S: Separate us.

J: Separate us.

S: We would be separated from all our friends.

What would you tell someone who wanted to vote for Donald Trump?

S: Dont vote for Donald Trump because if you have a friend who has a different skin color and a different kind of  if youre African or Israeli then you wouldnt want to get separated from them because then you would miss them a lot.

J: I would say theyll separate your best friend.

S: Like us.

J: Who would want to be separated from your best friend? Like us. Shes Haitian, and Im Jamaican, but Im kind of Haitian because of half of my family. So were probably going to be separated because Im more Jamaican.

Steeve, 9

SOU: Whats the weirdest thing youve noticed about the presidential race?

Steeve: That Donald Trump is going to become president.

Why is that weird?

My country posts a lot of pictures of him and say he looks like a pig.

Whats your country?

Haiti.

They dont like him in Haiti?

Because hes racist.

Why do you think that?

Because he wants to kill all black people.

When did you hear him say that?

On the news. That was probably four, three weeks.

How does that make you feel?

Scared. Because I dont want to go back to my country. I dont.

Nicole, 9

SOU: Who would you vote for?

Nicole: If I would have to vote for Donald Trump.

Why?

Hes really funny, if he would do it he would probably make a lot of people laugh when he would talk.

Is that the most important thing about being president?

Not really. The most important thing is to know how to solve problems.

Do you think Donald Trump is going to be the best at that?

Yes.

Why?

Probably because if he knows how to make people laugh. He would make them laugh when theyre in a fight.

Shiloh, 8

SOU: Do you have any opinions about the presidential race?

Shiloh: Yes. I dont think Donald Trump people should be president because hes going to send all the black people to Africa. Thats what my mom told me.

How does that make you feel?

That makes me sad because I dont want to go to Africa. I dont know what it looks like or what it feels like.

Michael, 8

SOU: What do you think about Donald Trump?

Michael: He is nice. I believe my dad that hes going to change the world.

Why does your dad think that?

Because he likes Donald Trump.

Why?

I dont know, when he heard of him, he said, I think hes gonna win, blah blah blah. Hillary Clinton is not going to win, blah blah blah. He doesnt like Hillary.

Why not?

No idea. I dont know.

Why do you think Trump will be a good president?

Because sometimes he can get mad, sometimes he can get nice. If he gets mad Im voting for Hillary. Im going to vote for him. I heard that hes going to, like, not let the Mexicans go to America. Hes going to make a big wall to block [them]. Someone told me about it. When I was in a different class, all of my friends say, Im voting for Hillary Clinton. The only person who wanted to vote for Donald Trump was me and my friend. The Mexicans dont have good water and you can get sick.

So we should build a wall?

Build a wall for water. I went to Mexico before and I tried the water and my stomach started hurting.

Southwood Soccer Camp, Charlottesville, Virginia Gibson, 7 SOU: Do you think Donald Trump should be president?

Gibson: No, because hes mean. What makes him mean?

Because hes a bad fluence. Hes a bad influence? Why?

One time, Im watching this on news, and he got sent to jail. He got sent to jail? Do you know what he did to go to jail?

He was riding in the car without a license. Do you like Donald Trumps hair?

I want it. You want it?

But my mom wont let me get it.

YMCA Day Camp at Hamilton Elementary School, Lakeview, Chicago

Jackie, 8

SOU: What do you know about [Donald Trump]?

Jackie: He lies a lot.

What does he lie about?

He says to the Mexicans I am going to let you in and then he says behind their backs, Im not going to let them in, Im not going to let them in.

Claire, 8

Claire: People in my class do not like Donald Trump.

Why dont they like Donald Trump?

I dont know. Hes just like  he does a lot of things, like, for reasons; he should stay with what he has, like whenever his wife gets old her divorces her and marries someone else.

And, you dont like that?

No, because like people want to live with him but cant when they get old.

What advice would give to people who are going to go out and vote?

I wouldnt tell them who not to vote for because they might really want Donald Trump and I would respect that, but I would say dont vote for someone who is just trying to say stuff that you think will help but know wont, because that is only bringing bad luck to the country and us and everyone else.

Grand Ridge Elementary School, Issaquah, Washington Gabe, 6 What do you think about Hillary Clinton?

Gabe: I think she would make a good president. Why do you think she would make a good president?

I think she would because like the only thing I dont really like about her is she is kind of a liar. But I still think she would make a better president than Donald Trump. What do you think Hillary Clinton has lied about?

When she said I believe Ive never lied she said that once, that was a lie. That was the lie. That shes never lied before?

She has, definitely; as humans, every human on Earth has lied before.

Additional reporting by Taylor Harris and Alexis Myers.
DVD menu for The Bourne Identity.

The boom in micro-targeted social-media content  Only 90s Kids Will Remember; 23 Things Only New Yorkers Will Understand  has been over for years, but the internet is still in many ways a machine designed to reconstruct individual experience into shared cultural identity. There is an odd vertigo to be generated when you realize that memories you imagined to be idiosyncratic are in fact common to thousands, if not millions, of people. Such as:

all this does is trigger the anchorman DVD menu  tom schwartzs transition lenses (@rachelmillman) August 24, 2016

idk how to talk about how DVD menus are the root of sexual memories without inviting the worst crap to my @s  tom schwartzs transition lenses (@rachelmillman) August 24, 2016

Yikes! I found these tweets chilling both because, like, ha ha, wow, right? Lost: Season One, anyone? but also because this particular reference is obsolete by a decade already. The first DVD players were available in the U.S. in 1997 and not widely adopted in dens and dorm rooms until a few years later. Hulu was introduced in 2006; Netflix began streaming movies a year later. The window for teenagers and 20-somethings to form, uh, complicated memories regarding the DVD menu for Lord of the Rings: The Extended Edition was narrower than ten years. Before that, your closest analogue is probably the automatic ejection of a VHS tape; afterward, its Netflix menus.

Its a minor touchstone, but its a telling one. Among the most striking effects of the accelerated pace of technological change is the rapidity with which shared social experiences suddenly become obsolete. Remember what it was like to go to high school with a dumb cell phone? Unless you were one of the relatively few people born into that particular moment where cell phones were widespread but smartphones were not  probably not!

I mean, yes, right, Im woke; I know that generations are nothing but loose schema used by corporations to market products. But even by those debased standards, millennial is meaningless. My experience of high school was hugely different from the experience of people just five or six years younger than I am, for whom the fraught social dynamic of adolescence was mediated not through AIM and text messages but through Facebook and smartphones. New Yorker writer Nathan Heller suggests that millennials be divided into Builders  who were adolescents on September 11  and younger Firebrands. (New York Times Magazine editor Willy Staley proposes the more succinct, and possibly more accurate, Good and Bad millennials.)

But thats not even enough, is it? As technology makes itself central to daily life, generational taxonomy stops being about your temporal relationship to defining world-historical events (Woodstock! The fall of the Berlin Wall! The launch of OK Soda!) and more about, well: When did you get on Facebook? When did you get on Snapchat? Did you steal music by shoplifting CDs, by torrenting album releases, or by listening to YouTube rips? Were the most fragile and hormonal moments of your psychological development ineluctably corrupted by the deleterious effects of the internet? Do you think Dat Boi is funny or baffling? Are you a Netflix-and-chill millennial, or a Fumbling-DVD-Menu-Sex millennial?
Photo: Molly Wiedemann

Outside of a rarefied top tier, it can be extremely hard to make money in creative fields online. Writers are continually asked to work for pennies or, even worse, exposure. Artists may have it even worse. Clients want to pay a paltry sum for work that can take hours  and is then snatched and put to use by third parties without credit or payment.

But there is still at least one online community that treats artists with respect and pays fair prices for original work  one community that artists can rely on when editors, publishers, and social networks make it more and more difficult to get paid. When it comes to commissioning original works of art, nobody can match the furries.

At an unsteady time to be a professional creative, furry commissions offer stable supplementary income for many artists. Sara Jensen, a 28-year-old artist in Minnesota, estimates that she makes around $500 drawing ten or so illustrations per month. Some people make a lot more than me, some people make just, you know, I want to go out tonight, can I take a commission so I can go to a movie or whatever.

-original work to keep chugging



-fanart to draw attention to your original work



-furry commissions to pay the bills  Colin Spacetwinks (@spacetwinks) March 7, 2016

Either way, the furry fandom is a reliable place to find work. The demand in the furry community, such as it is, is a very different thing than in other fields and groups that want/need art, writer and self-described furry community historian Colin Spacetwinks explained to me over Twitter DM. The main reason is that furries, people interested in anthropomorphic animals, often have animal alter-egos known as a fursona. Say youve got a fursona, Spacetwinks says. Youve imagined it. You know in your head what they look like, you think they look pretty cool, and you think to yourself, Gosh, Id like to see that somewhere other than in my own brain. But you cant draw. Theres only one way youre going to get that: Someone else draws it for you.

Because fursonas are unique for every person, its practically impossible to get a rendering of ones fursona without paying money for it. (Dressing up as ones fursona is also common practice, but high-end costumes can run thousands of dollars.) Using generic images is frowned upon in the community, and using a drawing of someone else is practically begging for punishment. Id say that [getting a drawing of your fursona is] pretty much expected, to be honest with you, Ted, who goes by Doctor Fox online, tells me. Not having a drawing of your fursona, according to Ted, would kind of be like having a Facebook profile with no picture. Just because you have your name on there, your friends are gonna be like, Uh, whos this? He estimates that 99 percent of furries have something theyve commissioned from an artist.

Illustrator Amber Hill, who goes by Vantid online, says that she took her first furry commission when she was 19 years old. Shes now 33. When I accept new work, its usually about a quarter to a half of my income, she wrote over email. While she wasnt comfortable discussing specifics, she said that furry commissions were enough to support my mortgage habit, ha-ha.

Katie Hofgard, a full-time freelance illustrator, uses her income from furry commissions and a variety of other projects to support both herself, her boyfriend, and their cat. People in the furry fandom usually want a depiction of one of their personal characters, usually an anthropomorphic animal or fantasy animal of some kind, she said over email. Its their imagined world, which I get to bring to life for them. Maybe theyre exploring a ruin, going for a peaceful walk, enjoying a cup of tea, or enacting a part of their story.

I really enjoy hearing the backstories behind each character I paint for people, she admitted. Some people just make characters that are fun to look at and draw, and some have volumes of tales for each of their characters.

(The furry art economy isnt static, either  it goes through trends. When the show BoJack Horseman debuted, getting your fursona drawn in the style of the shows character designer, Lisa Hanawalt, was super popular. The trend right now, according to Ted, is getting custom stickers to use on the messaging app Telegram. One that I have is my character in front of the American flag, to replace the American-flag emoji, and then one of my other hobbies is shooting, so I have my character with a pistol in one of them, Ted explained.)

Furry commissions arent one-and-done. By his own estimate, Ted spends between $500 and $700 a year on commissions (put in perspective, thats about as much as daily delivery of the New York Times). He says he gets a new commission every two or three months, usually by browsing FurAffinity or through word of mouth. He describes it as Oh, I have $50 in my rainy-day funds, this artist is open, I really wanted this from them so Im gonna go ahead and spend my money.

The lowest pricing tiers are generally black-and-white sketches and head shots for around $25, but if you wanted something more painterly, or a full-body sketch, it could run you hundreds of dollars.

For this piece, I briefly considered asking artists if they wanted to contribute work for free, before immediately realizing how hypocritical that was. So after deciding on Select Alls fursona (my colleague Madison suggested a raccoon because we dig through internet trash), I emailed artist Molly Wiedemann and commissioned a piece. Six hours, and one $50 PayPal transfer later, I had the beautiful specimen  a raccoon using our blue-and-yellow color scheme  that you see at the top of this page. A painless process that, if for some reason I need a bespoke anthropomorphic animal drawn, Id gladly go through again.

One thing that I really like from working with furries versus working with other people is furries are really easygoing, which is awesome, Jensen admitted. A lot of the time theyll be like, You can do whatever you want, or theyll give me a really general theme and I can draw what comes to mind.

Which is not to say that she doesnt get interesting requests. One of the weirdest ones I got was someone who was like, Hey, do you draw My Little Pony? Im like, Of course I do. I draw basically anything. And theyre like, Would you draw a  just a normal My Little Pony, but like super muscle-y? And I was like, What? Yeah, Ill do that.

Hill said that the only type of requests that qualify as weird are the ones that ask her to work for free or exposure.

Hill, who does not consider herself a furry, was ebullient in her praise for the fandom. The furry fandom has been remarkable to me, and I am so thankful for the people who are a part of it, she wrote. Ive become dear friends with some of my clients, traveled the world with a few. In 2008, I was commissioned for a piece of art with a coyote and a raven. In 2014, I married that client  and I still owe him some artwork!! Ha!
A surfer wearing a burkini in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images

The so-called burkini was never meant to be a political statement, but the recent controversy over its use in France has apparently given a massive boost to online sales for the swimsuit. The burkinis creator told the New York Times that sales have gone up 200 percent for the full-body swimsuit.

The burkini, which leaves only the face, hands and feet exposed, was initially designed as merely another option for women to wear to the beach or during sports, its designer, Aheda Zanetti, told the Times. Yet, the burkini has become a controversial symbol in France, where fear of terrorism from Islamic extremists has grown since the attacks in Nice and other European cities. In reaction, 15 towns in France have banned the burkini with the full support of the prime minister, who called it a form of unpatriotic clothing that is based on the enslavement of women.

Making any sort of political statement, or even limiting the burkini to Muslim women, though, was never the intent, Zanetti told the Times. I wanted to introduce a full range of clothing to suit a Muslim woman  or any woman  that wanted a bit of modesty and wanted to participate in any sporting activities, Zanetti told the paper. It was also my aim for them not to be judged for who they are, or where theyre from, and who people think theyre representing.

So far, the biggest demand for the burkini has come from Australia, Europe, and Canada. Skin-cancer patients have also started buying the burkini in order to prevent further sun damage, Zanetti said.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/kimkardashian

Against all odds, the 2016 presidential campaign is still going. And with it, weve got another unbelievable sound-bite from one Donald J. Trump about Hillarys celebrity supporters. Take it away, Donald:

The only people enthusiastic about her campaign are Hollywood celebrities, in many cases, celebrities that arent very hot anymore Trump said at a rally today.

Trump: Only people excited by Clinton are celebrities, "in many cases celebrities that aren't very hot anymore" https://t.co/X2p0Zj0n8E  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 24, 2016

Not that it should be relevant at all, but has Donald Trump seen Meryl Streep?




Ontd what is your fave little Debbie snack cake

Reply

Thread

Link

Omg these are so good <3

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I just had one for the first time last week & it was a spiritual experience

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

This is OT?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

No, the porn scene in question is a creme pie scene

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

2 cups is my fave tbh





Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I am cackling at this lmaoooooo





But those are so good tho

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Mmm, that's a good one. My fave when I was a kid was the Swiss Rolls, but I've grown to love the Nutty Bars more as an adult (although I like the Swiss Rolls as well)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

these and those zebra cakes were my faves, i would be excited to get them during middle school lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i used to microwave them for about 10-15sec before eating, so good. lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Well damn. I wanna see the receipts. Makes me feel sorry for his wife Melissa Fumero from B99 (and formerly OLTL) if this is an actual scandal. He was hot back in the day. Not sure about now.

Reply

Thread

Link

I really really hope it's not the same guy, if only for my bb Melissa's sake. :(

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

My first thought. And they have a baby, too :(

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

oh man. i just saw a commenter below write that he was in mariah's honey video. when i was younger and that video came out, my mom told me her gay friend knew the guy in the video and he was gay. i never really realized who he was or even put it together till right now. i hope it's not true for melissa.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

This is kind of a barrel night, but I'll take it.

Reply

Thread

Link

I don't even remember him on OLTL lol

Reply

Thread

Link

He played Christian for like a decade.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I didn't watch for that long before the show went off the air.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

You don't remember Christian who dated sisters Natalie and Jessica and had a brother Antonio



Also, he is in the Mariah Carey's Honey video

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link











Edited at 2016-08-25 01:03 am (UTC) ummm...he is married to Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 99 though. they just had a baby. i hope it's not really him. they've been together forever.

Reply

Thread

Link

Oh no, I thought her name sounded familiar. :(

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

OH SHIT!!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Oh no

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

nooooo

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Why do you hope it's not him? Maybe it is. Maybe it happened before they were together and she knows. Just because he did porn doesn't mean it has any impact on their relationship.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

They've been together for ten years so it wasn't before they were together. In the small likelihood she knew and is cool with it then, awesome, I am totally down and they should do their thing. But it's also highly unlikely that the lead actress on a top tier sitcom is cool with her husband doing gay porn.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I hope not considering he's married to Melissa Fumero (from B99)...

Reply

Thread

Link

isntsdaveone Kinda makes me misswhen he did the weekly soap stuff and always knew about these things

Reply

Thread

Link

omg yes!!! and he had all the latin america chisme!! RIP

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Pretty sure Dave was a girl... Or am I wrong

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Such an iconic and informative member of ontd. Now we all have left is trolls.



Edited at 2016-08-25 01:27 am (UTC)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

What happened to her

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link





@AXfromMN i will be running the video thru several filters to try & get a good look at face, but imo it's not a big-timer from the 4 soaps.  IsntDaveOne (@IsntDaveOne) August 25, 2016

It's okay, I've got isntdaveone on the case.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I know Billy. Waiting on a text reply. Hopefully I'll have a scoop!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Fridays were my favorite day because of him.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Wait as in Melissa Fumero's husband?

Reply

Thread

Link

omg, i just checked the source and that update wasn't even there when i had submitted this post 3 hours ago lmaooooo

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

It sounds like his explanation was he didn't want a witch hunt against other people, since he wasn't ID'd by name.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Ooooof if this is true poor Melissa/Adriana

Reply

Thread

Link

The videos looks too professional and like they know their being filmed. And it could be anyone really. If just some random people are like, he that looks like so and so then I'm gonna take it w/a grain of salt. Unless there's proof its him then I can't go there.

Reply

Thread

Link

Not Amy Santiago's husband!

Reply

Thread

Link

ugh I would hope not. Poor Melissa.

Reply

Thread

Link

I lold :(

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

it's shot from below so you don't really see his shoulder (i checked though!)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

you can't see it at that angle, just part of his face and the underside of his dick. His arms are positioned out of frame

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

he is hot tbh.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

daaamn

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
Who's playing Christina Aguilera?

Reply

Thread

Link

rude

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

He wishes

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

LMAO

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

This would be a pretty plum role for Demi Lovato if she was up to it. She looks nothing like Xtina but this girl don't look anything like Britney either lol

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

chloe grace moretz

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

mini-Xtina Ariana Grande

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

legend-X herself tbh



maybe she can re-enact her and brit's kiss

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Ariana Grande

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Ariana Grande

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Jamie Lynn Spears

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i hope she's getting bank from this



also natascha looks nothing like brit

Reply

Thread

Link









anyway i hope they cast like Mac Miller as KFed. I hope to god they show popozao lmao



Edited at 2016-08-25 01:02 am (UTC) mteanyway i hope they cast like Mac Miller as KFed. I hope to god they show popozao lmao

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Mac Miller as KFed made me spit out my drink

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

From everyone trooping in to say that she looks nothing like Britney, I was expecting something very different from this picture. I actually see a resemblance. I mean, obviously its a cheap Lifetime movie so its not perfect, but its reasonable if you dress her up like Britney.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

This girl looks like what Melanie Martinez might look like when she's not done up

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

She looks like Ivanka Trump...

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Her eyes are basically the same.



mac miller as kfed...i'm dead

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Should be Tinashe tbh

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

does britney/her team have to approve this kind of stuff?

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link





This BS look alike should do it!



Agreed! Just googled the girl and was disappointed.. she looks nothing like her.This BS look alike should do it!

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link









Edited at 2016-08-25 02:16 am (UTC) do you see it ONTD?

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Derrick Berry should do it.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Isn't it a little too soon to make a biopic about her?

Reply

Thread

Link

nah, her career has been dead for years

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

there are more parallels between britney and jill stein than i realized!

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

i think it'll give a lot of insight into the younger generation. she's truly iconic to be getting a biopic at age 34, and nowhere near dead. #queen

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

well its lifetime, the 2016 equivalent of straight-to-DVD

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

proves how big of an icon she is!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

The amount of promo she's been getting though. Living for Resurgence-ney!

Reply

Thread

Link

i love how it's through all different media channels too!! hitting all dem markets/demos!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

will this flop like her X-Factor and E! Special stints? or will it be the new #Lemonade ??????

Reply

Thread

Link

not sure if the source material or lifetime's take on it will be messier

Reply

Thread

Link

But who will play Justin?

Reply

Thread

Link

shawn ashmore should

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link







I wanna guess Austin from Ally and Austin

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I'm cackling cuz he might and he should

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Rofl

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

just confirmed sebastian stan will be jt

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Lance Bass

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

bieber

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

idc who plays them. I just want them to rock the caramel popcorn afro jt did

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

A bowl of ramen noodles.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

w h a t is happening

Reply

Thread

Link

lol let me settle in

Reply

Thread

Link

Their bio movies are always a mess. I watched the full house story the other day and it was a mess.

Reply

Thread

Link

True, even though I kind of liked the 90210 one oops. Ok maybe not liked, but it was endurable. "You're like a shark and a tornado" still makes me lmfao

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link



and it gave me this





i was like

i googled her natasha basset was with the - cause i copypastedand it gave me thisi was like

Reply

Thread

Link

LMAO



I'd watch though

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

lmfao wouldn't be too far off for lifetime

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I thought they were tryna break barriers with this casting idk i was so confused

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

LOL screaming!!!





Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

This would be a better casting choice

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

that gif is killing me omg

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

hahahahaha this comment is everything

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Ahahahaha Angela Bassett was the first thing to pop into my mind before I corrected myself. I would watch that TBH.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

No fucking thank you

Reply

Thread

Link

Please be as good as the 90210 and Clueless movies. And the Wendy Williams one.

Reply

Thread

Link

There was a lifetime movie for clueless?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
This guy is a good actor buuut, he doesn't look like Pablo Escobar at all, and his paisa accent is bad, like I'm colombian and when I try to do it , it sounds cringe worthy, that accent isn't easy.



I hope that in S2 they show how the Pepes were involved in his capture and not idealize the DEA and the bloque de busqueda.

Reply

Thread

Link

I didnt watch Narcos, but from I remember even here in Brasil people complain about his accent.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Lmao, is that bad, I watched like 1-2 episodes but I'm so tired about narco shows and specially about this guy, the guy is a good actor but this role should have been for a colombian.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I'm always torn because Wagner Moura is an amazing actor, I'm very proud of him as a Brazilian and I hope he succeeds in everything.



Buuuuuut this role should have gone to a Colombian.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Yeah I'm brazilian and I love Wagner but I couldn't get past his obvious accent :(

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i'm not colombian but as a native spanish speaker i could tell portuguese was his first language lol. andres parra doesn't really look like escobar imo but he was *really* good at playing him. actually, that guy is fun to watch in just about anything (i like his character in el cartel de los sapos).

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

aw can't watch the video now but I love him <3



I couldn't really get into Narcos tho, it isn't bad just idk... and I'm happy for him and all but I think a Colombian actor could do the accent better

Reply

Thread

Link

Not only the accent, like the guy doesn't even look like him and it's shitty that people use our story, that still haunts us, even more than 20 years later and they don't even consider a colombian,it makes me mad.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

My friend was at the premiere last night, i thibk she met him.

Reply

Thread

Link

I loved what he said on Ryan and the Olympics.

Reply

Thread

Link

doesnt if feels weird to be starting the last part of the impeachment today already? it was like two weeks of bliss. and now the horror.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I'm in denial about it.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

And we've the first debate today too. With Bolsonaro son fainting lol. I hate going back to reality.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Can't wait for season two. As an international viewer I don't get the accent being bad. I like him and hope to see him in more projects.

Reply

Thread

Link

same

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I feel bad for the people who hate his accent on the show because I literally cannot tell what's wrong with it.



As a west indian, I can understand butchered accents though.



I am so excited for new season.



Reply

Thread

Link

I'm colombian and yeah, it's bad, Wagner speaks portuguese and even tho both languages are very alike our accents are very different , hell, between hispanoparlantes all accents are very different, so for a brasilian to emulate our accent and viceversa is hard.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I love him! His analogy about what brazil is going through and hosting the olympics being like when you're fighting with your wife and guests come over is perfection lol

Reply

Thread

Link

I don't speak Spanish so I don't understand the accent thing, but I can totally understand the frustration. I really can't wait for this season. Narcos is probably my favourite series on Netflix besides House of Cards.

Reply

Thread

Link

"He's an idiot!" Let me agree with you, Jimmy.

Reply

Thread

Link

I love how everyone in Brazil is super proud of Wagner Moura, he's like a national treasure. I really love him, I hope he gets to be a part of other projects in the future.



But I agree with everyone who said the role should have gone to a Colombian actor. My Spanish sucks so I can't tell the difference between accents, but I understand how frustrating it is :(

Reply

Thread

Link

Atill blows my mind that he didn't know spanish before the show. Meanwhile i spent 8 months in spain and know shit

Reply

Thread

Link

aw. don't feel bad- im sure him being fluent in portuguese was a major boost lol.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Spanish and portuguese are soo alike, so for a spanish speaker and viceversa is kinda easy to learn the other language lol, don't feel bad.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Is Narcos worth watching?

Reply

Thread

Link

I keep trying to get my dad into watching this because he wants to watch more shows where Spanish is spoken in them but he refuses. I've even told him one of the actors is also from Chile and he seems unimpressed, lol



The show is good for me in that it helps me practice my Spanish, I guess.

Reply

Thread

Link

LOL @ it's not a spoiler!



I'm sure it wasn't convenient for anyone to cast a non native speaker as the lead, though it just makes me think even more that he really, really was the absolute best choice for the role (and it shows). I'm pretty sure there are a number of Colombians on the show, and they are fine actors who could have been *easier* to cast, but they just couldn't do Pablo like this guy does.

Reply

Thread

Link

honestly, the director/creator of the show is brazilian. Jose Padilha. and around the time he had done 2 hugelly sucessfull movies with Wagner, like the biggest movies in brasil ever. about our policial stuff.



netflix got him because of those movies. and he is really close to wagner, he wanted him in the job even before discussing with netflix. they basically cast him and got him in colombia before even speaking to netflix lol he is a great actor, everyone loves him here.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Lmao, they could, already did, there was a colombian production of Escobar and the guy NAILED it, so yeah, they could have found a colombian guy but they did not because they were lazy.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
My first reaction is "FUCK THE BRITISH EMPIRE"

so i think i'll like this

Reply

Thread

Link

That's my first thought every morning too. Then I plot how to further lead to its decay.



Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

SAME. about to show this to my tanzanian mother & watch her weep from joy~

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

this looks incredible. i can't wait to see it!!!

Reply

Thread

Link

Looks great

Reply

Thread

Link

looks cheesy

Reply

Thread

Link

IA, tbh. Hopefully it's just the trailer

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

yeah. and ik that they're not the same, but it's interesting to compare the direction of this film to loving (esp after reading one review that says the direction of loving is subdued compared to how most directors would take those themes/that story)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

but i'll still watch AUK. i can enjoy cheesy.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I think a lot of the potential Oscar contenders are having really cheesy trailers coming out rn, so maybe that's why I don't find this one to be that cheesy in comparasion lol.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I'm a sucker for these types of movies so you know i'm gonna watch this.

Reply

Thread

Link

prayer circle for david's first oscar nomination pls. this looks really good.

Reply

Thread

Link

I still can't believe he wasn't nominated for Selma.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

me fucking too, he deserved it.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

me neither, i still don't get it. he was shafted big time.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

yas employ my fave, Amma!!!

Reply

Thread

Link

Oh god, this looks overwrought, but I have a high threshold for epic love stories, so I'll see this.

Reply

Thread

Link

meh on the trailer. I'm only watching this for Amma.

Reply

Thread

Link

this looks good. but not as good as it could, considering all the talent involved

Reply

Thread

Link

david is such a fucking good actor. i still have yet to watch selma or even 12 years a slave. I want to so bad but like mentally I have to prepare for those kinds of movies and I haven't had the time yet lol

Reply

Thread

Link

Ya'll picky lol. I enjoyed the trailer, I'm intrigued

Reply

Thread

Link

of course you rejected my post

Reply

Thread

Link

oops, i thought you were the mod that rejected my post

my bad

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

So which one will get more Oscar love - this or Loving? Cause one of the two is definitely gonna be left in a dust.

Reply

Thread

Link

Loving definitely.



This doesn't have a U.S. distributor yet vs. Loving which has Focus that is already pushing it for awards. Plus Jeff Nichols is already very respected and loved vs. Amma who doesn't have a lot of critical support or love.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i got an email from a US PR team who are handling this movie, so i think someone's got it lmao

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

tbh probably Loving

Focus Features is distributing it and they're pretty solid campaigners

plus Oscar voters are largely America-centric so the familiar American story will probs resonate more

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Probably Loving, but AUK might have better chances at the BAFTAs

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

unfortunately this will probably be the one left in the dust, just like Belle </3

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Moonlight

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
I'm screaming at that picture

Reply

Thread

Link

Love your picture choices op!

Reply

Thread

Link

OMG that pic OP. Tell me that's a recent unphotoshopped pic of him.

Reply

Thread

Link

I think its one of those "if celebs were white trash" mish mashes, but his looks legit only slightly worse than he already is so.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I mean he is trash so it fits

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Just think, the rate he's going, the day may yet come that that won't be photoshop.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link





Johnny looks like don't NEED no instructions to know how to ROCK.

Reply

Thread

Link

LMAOOOO

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i love this comment lmaoooo

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

so accurate lmao

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

o m f g LOL

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

LMAO

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

SCREAMING

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

HAHHHHH CARL!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

OMG what is this?

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

...('til the break of dawn)

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

OP doing the Lord's work with that side-by-side, bless you sis.

Reply

Thread

Link

Most accurate picture of Depp there is!



Are people still calling her a gold digger/greedy/other things that aren't true at all?

Reply

Thread

Link

Absolutely. I pointed out that she was giving every penny she got to charity, and of course the response was "tax deductionn!1111"

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

But does she get the tax deduction? Because I don't think she does.



Even if she doesn't, it doesn't matter because she's still a gold digger!!

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

The one I heard most was "Do you REALLY think she's gonna give it all away and that she isn't just saying that for good press?" But since it looks like Johnny personally is sending the money, they'll have to bend over backwards to come up with a new reason to call her a lying gold digger.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

I made the mistake of reading the comments on the yahoo article and they were all saying that he made the payments himself because she couldn't be trusted not to keep the money for herself and whatnot

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

yep. i even had an uncomfortable situation this weekend where i said in front of some friends that he was a wife beater and they went on about how she is lying and can't be trusted and they don't believe she would donate the money

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Yup! I see a lot of "I won't believe it until there is 100% proof that she has donated this money!!!" or they think she's doing it for tax deduction reasons like someone above said.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

yup. She's recently been seen hanging out (seemingly platonically and in groups of friends) with some billionare, and all the comments on the articles about it are "no wonder she gave her money to charity, she knew she had another cash cow waiting in the wings!!"



It's so infuriating, it makes me absolutely rage. Especially considering, while it is wonderful that she is donating her settlement like this, she shouldn't have had to do it in the first place, just to prove that she wasn't lying. It's all so frustrating, ugh.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

WHAT IS THAT PICTURE lololol

Reply

Thread

Link

jesus christ that is the worst picture of him i've ever seen



you are doing the lord's work OP

Reply

Thread

Link

dammit i was hoping it was real



though his actual looks aren't much better so it's still pretty accurate in that sense

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Those Nicole Kidman and Madonna ones are going to haunt my dreams...

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

the level of checking and releasing statements for her giving this money to charity makes me sick. I can't believe she has to prove herself this much. she shouldn't feel the need to give any money, even if its only an 'on paper settlement' deal, to charity to clear her name or help Depp look better when she did nothing wrong. society sucks.



I'm surprised they haven't staged a photo op of Johnny Depp handing the children's hospital a giant check ala Price Is Right.



and as always OP, your photo choices slay.

Reply

Thread

Link

ia

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I choked on my soul at that pic lmao





Reply

Thread

Link

did we cover that Amber isn't happy (rightfully so) because since he's sending them directly that means it's tax deductable for him?

Reply

Thread

Link

this is news to me. I feel terrible for her. People are just going to ignore that and continue spewing misogynistic bullshit ofc.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

But if she were to receive the money and then send it to charities wouldn't she have to pay taxes on it?

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

LOL that picture! Is it real?! It's really, really bad, even for current Johnny Depp.

Reply

Thread

Link

lmfao that pic

Reply

Thread

Link

omw @ that photo of him.

Reply

Thread

Link

http://www.tmz.com/2016/08/25/amber-heard-johnny-depp-charity-donation/



apparently amber's team wants him to pay $14 mil bc with him paying directly to the charity he gets a tax deduction and they don't want him to do installment payments, they want him to pay it all at once. apparently amber's team wants him to pay $14 mil bc with him paying directly to the charity he gets a tax deduction and they don't want him to do installment payments, they want him to pay it all at once.

Reply

Thread

Link

Seems about right for that douchebag. I wondered why he was sending the funds on her behalf as if she could not do that herself. He's disgusting.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Continued control over Amber. I wouldn't be surprised if he continues to mess with her.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

he can't do anything right.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Knew it, something about not paying directly to her was making me super uncomfortable.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
The Iraqi government is asking international oil companies operating in the country to continue to produce oil, but to get used to lower oil prices.

Iraqs oil minister Jabbar al-Luaibi sent a letter to several foreign oil companies, asking them not to rein in their ambitions on producing oil. "In light of the current environment of the oil price and its forecast in the next year[s], we [the Ministry of Oil and contractors] should be prepared to live with the prevailing circumstances," the letter said, according to S&P Global Platts. The minister wants them to "modify and adjust, accordingly, the field enhanced redevelopment plans/final development plans."

But the problem is that the oil contracts in Iraq are structured in such a way that oil companies are paid/reimbursed by the government to produce oil. That means that they need to be assured they receive payment before they go and spend large sums of money. Last year, the Iraqi oil ministry sent requests to oil companies to lower their spending budgets because the government was unable to pay for them.

Now, the oil ministry is effectively asking the companies to drill and produce aggressively, but suggested that it cannot guarantee proper payment. The letter apparently argues that Iraq would have more financial resources with which to pay the companies if the companies produce more oil.

However, the companies involved likely view the issue differently. "We're not a bank," an unnamed official from one company operating in Iraq said, according to S&P Global Platts. Related: Can Oil Break Out Of Its Narrow Band Anytime Soon?

Separately, Iraq recently announced that it would increase oil exports by 150,000 barrels per day after resolving an issue with three oilfields in and around Kirkuk. The stepped up exports will allow Iraq to restore some output, a factor that helped put a temporary halt to the oil price rally earlier this week. Iraq is the second largest oil producer in OPEC, producing 4.78 million barrels per day in July, which is up sharply from a few years ago.

And Iraq is not giving up hopes on higher output. The Iraqi Prime Minister said this week that Iraq has not yet reached its full oil market share, dampening hopes around a potential OPEC deal in Algeria in September. "And the capping, we are not open to that because Iraq is still below what it should produce," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told reporters, according to Reuters. That stance echoes Irans position on the freeze deal. Oil prices did rally on Tuesday following reports that Iran had agreed to attend the meeting, but both countries hitherto reluctance to sign on to any freeze deal creates a major obstruction to an agreement from the OPEC meeting. Related: Can Fire Ice Replace Both Oil And Renewables?



While short-term oil price dynamics often revolve around the ability of OPEC members to cooperate, or by changing levels of oil production in the U.S. and the extent to which shale can or cannot weather the oil price downturn, over the longer-term Iraq will be a key factor in global oil supplies. For years, the IEA has put Iraq at the top of the list in terms of potential oil supply growth. Long-term projections about the ability of oil producers to meet demand depend very heavily Iraqs success in boosting production  Iraq will be much more important in terms of supply growth than U.S. shale, and even other OPEC producers.



Nevertheless, Iraq will struggle to continue to post impressive production gains without heavy investment from foreign oil companies. Several years ago, Iraq had hoped to dramatically ramp up oil production to 12 mb/d by 2020, a ridiculously ambitious target. Even the revised 6 mb/d target by the end of the decade looks out of reach, especially if the government cannot offer the necessary payments to companies in order to achieve that goal. The Iraqi government has been hit hard by the collapse of oil prices and the ongoing fight with the Islamic State, major problems that have now stretched into a third year.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Comments made by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday indicate that the United States believed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would have connected Europe to Russia was a bad deal for European Countries, a new report by Reuters says.

Gazprom, one of Russias major state-run energy companies, originally agreed to build the pipeline in partnership with several European firms last year, but Gazprom just cant seem to catch a break.

Earlier this month, news broke that Gazproms partners, which included Dutch Shell, OMV, French Engie, and German Uniper and Wintershall had pulled out of the joint venture due to pressure from Polands anti-monopoly watchdog.

The regulator said the consortium would increase Gazproms already substantial influence over the Central European energy market and create an environment that could encourage unfair competition.

Russian sources have attributed the partners withdrawal to the companys worries regarding its existing business contracts in Poland.

And thats not the first pushback the project has received. Since talks about the project began, several eastern and central European countries have criticized it, citing concerns over the lines potential to limit supply routes and endanger the continents energy security.

In March, nine central and eastern Europe (CEE) European Union member states submitted a letter to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker objecting to the construction of the line from the Baltic Sea to Germany.



Related: Could A Lithium Shortage De-Rail The Electric Car Boom?



The letter, signed by the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, and Croatia, noted that development of the pipeline would perpetuate a dependence on Russian energy already acute amongst the CEE states.

Many CEE states were formerly under control of the Soviet Union. Since the dissolution of the USSR, Russia has maintained tight control of the newly independent countries energy supply via infrastructural developments  or a lack thereof.

This continued dependence would go against the European Energy Unions goal of diversity of energy suppliers to alleviate national security concerns.

Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
New research from the International Workers Federation (IWF) is claiming that big oil players in the North Sea, including Chevron and Chinas Nexen have avoided paying significant sums in taxes through a scheme involving a secretive corporate structure.

The structure, which includes hundreds of subsidiaries in tax havens, has allowed the companies to direct money to those same tax havens, substantially reducing their tax burdens, according to the reports findings.

The IWFs general secretary Steven Cotton said that the scheme originated with Chevron, but has been copied by a host of other oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea. Chevron alone, said Cotton, had as many as 200 subsidiaries in Bermuda alone.

The findings of the report can explain, at least in part, the major drop in oil tax revenues in the British budget. Another part of the explanation has to do with tax relief aimed at stimulating the industry in times of hardship. Says Cotton, This at a time when there has been a dramatic reduction in tax revenue from the North Sea. In the mid 1980s, taxes on North Sea oil production accounted for nearly 9% of all tax receipts collected by the UK Government - today it is just 0.7%.

A special case in point is the plunge in Scotlands oil tax revenues, which plummeted to just US$79 million (60 million) in the 2015-2016 fiscal year from the massive US$2.37 billion (1.8 billion) in 2014-15. The drop highlighted the effects of the global oil price slump but tax avoidance schemes may have also had something to do with this sharp fall in tax revenues.

Steve Cotton called on the British parliament to launch an investigation into the findings of the IWF study and the call was echoed by Unite, the largest trade union of oil workers in the North Sea. Its Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said The UK government needs to investigate and step up action to clamp down on any inappropriate tax loopholes being exploited by Chevron to make sure UK taxpayers arent taken for a ride and it pays its fair share.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Russia is on track to pump record oil volumes this year, with production expected to rise by 1.5-1.6 percent annually to 539 million-540 million tons, experts at local RIA Rating agency said on Thursday.

Even though output could decline in the second half of the year, the country is still set to post a new record for full-2016, with a rise of some 6-7 million tons over 2015, the experts say.

In the first half this year, Russias oil production increased by 3.1 percent on the year to 272.4 million tons.

Oil output may be at all-time highs, but Russias oil refining volumes are declining. This is partially due to increased exports of crude and therefore, reduced supply of crude to the local refineries, RIA Rating experts say.

Earlier this week, the Russian Economy Ministry said that it expected crude oil prices to remain stable at their current range of US$45-50 over the next two years, with a sustainable improvement beginning in late 2017.

The latest rally in prices, according to a statement by the ministry, has a speculative nature and will not last long. The Economy Ministry went on to add in the statement that oil fundamentals were moving in line with basic forecasts; that is, the market is on its way to rebalancing, with the glut gradually easing. But this process will take time.

While speculation and rumors are mounting on what Iraq and Irans next moves will be ahead of OPECs informal meeting in late September, Russia is among the producers vitally interested in a production cap, as it is heavily dependent on oil revenues.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
AUGUST 23, 2016 BY PATRICK ANDENDALL

Intro by Patrick Andendall:



"In my previous piece on Turkey, written as the coup attempt was underway, I noted that should the coup fail, Erdogan would simply accelerate Turkish democracy's death march he had already put in motion for some time. Sadly, things have been utterly predictable since the end of the coup, which ended up failing quickly, and resoundingly so, except for perhaps the fact that Erdogan is pressing his post-coup advantage even more forcefully than expected in a purge unprecedented in recent global memory. At stake is the survival both of Turkey's democracy and of the NATO alliance as we know it. And both Tocqueville and Orwell can shed some light on all of this."

By Brian E. Frydenborg (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter @bfry1981)

AMMAN -- Since the failure of the dramatic coup attempt in Turkey, we are witnessing the methodical destruction of everything democratic about Turkey, save the exception of the majority's ability to impose its will on the nation as a whole through periodic voting: a true Tocquevillian "tyranny of the majority" empowered and sustained through Orwellian means.

Erdogan's Mob Rule: The Tyranny of the AKP Majority

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is increasingly using rhetoric that credits he and the people with "victory" over the coup plotters. The lesson: Erdogan is the people, and the people are him; they are one: he speaks for them, they speak for him.

Using such rhetoric, Erdogan for weeks exhorted his followers to engage in nightly demonstrations since the coup failed, providing free public transportation to--and free food and water at--the rallies throughout to encourage mass attendance and culminating in series of final, massive rallies in 80 cities on Sunday, August 8th, including one with millions of people in Istanbul that might have been the nation's largest rally ever. Though these rallies received robust support and encouragement from the government, the country's main Kurdish political party--the HDP, the third-largest party in Turkey's parliament--was excluded. Considering that many other demonstrations not favorable to Erdogan's agenda are banned and met with force at the hands of the police, considering that Erdogan's ruling AKP party is using government funds to stage repeated, continuous political rallies that exclude a major party representing a minority with which the government is in a brewing mini-civil war (or insurgency, if you like, which is claiming lives even now) in Turkey's southeast, this must certainly be considered an improper use of power in a country that is supposedly a "democracy."

Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service via AP

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Reprinted from Nation of Change

With *Dennis Bernstein

On August 5, Donald Trump announced the formation of his Economic Advisory Council. Aside from a token academic that he'd never actually bothered to meet prior to the announcement, the all-male panel read like a rogues list ripped straight from the pages of Billionaires & Ballot Bandits by investigative reporter Greg Palast. Trump's inner circle, which, after an outcry over the glaring sex bias, was supplemented by eight women, features some of the worst offenders when it comes to political power-brokering for personal gain. But that's just pay-to-play politics, and is therefore not so surprising. What did raise some eyebrows was Trump's decision to embrace a group of guys he'd previously lambasted for "getting away with murder" due to their super-sized tax breaks: hedge fund managers, whom he'd also said half the time had "luck more than talent." But The Donald can no longer afford to be picky, since the billionaire on "reality" TV only needs some actual real cash to fund his floundering campaign. In this week's Best Democracy Money Can Buy: Election Crimes Bulletin, Flashpoints' Dennis J. Bernstein gets the lowdown from Palast on Trump's new hedge fund BFFs and the hidden payoff that's facilitating their cozy relationship.

Greg Palast: You don't have much of a sense of humor, Dennis. Don't you ever tell assassination jokes?

DB: Am I not subtle enough?

Palast: Well, you know, I figured that was a loaded question -- bang!

DB: So Trump manages to keep the headlines, but maybe that's better for him because if people really start delving behind the scenes, look into who supports him, what he's been up to, this is where his real trouble is.

Palast: I'd like to think so. I'd like to think that instead of parsing his seventh-grade sense of humor that we would be looking at the billionaires behind him. It's fascinating because it was Donald Trump who told us, when billionaires like me write checks, we expect something back from the politicians, and a lot more than we put in. Now that he's been exposed as not a billionaire -- he just plays one on TV -- he's gone to the very guys that he's attacked.

When I say the very guys he's attacked, I don't mean just other billionaires, he's now created a counsel of 13 economic advisers. I love the way our lamestream press has said these are wonderful guys -- really? Almost all of them are hedge fund managers, that is speculators. These are the very guys that Donald Trump said are lazy, are just gamblers, that they get tax breaks for gambling. Sometimes they're lucky, sometimes they're just losers, they don't create a single job, and then we give them tax breaks for taking our money. He's blasted these guys all over the place as basically scum. He made Bernie Sanders sound like Adam Smith when he went after these guys. And he says, I'm going to take away their biggest tax break.

Bernie Sanders said the billionaires' tax break for hedge fund speculators -- known as "carried interest" -- in a Sanders presidency, they'd go. So Hillary Clinton had to go along and she said, okay, whatever Bernie says, me too -- for now. She's going to get rid of carried interest and Donald Trump said he would get rid of carried interest -- because it's one of the few tax breaks that he as a real estate billionaire has no access to. He doesn't get any of that. It's not his tax break, it's for these hedge fund speculator scum that he doesn't like.

Now he's appointed the hedge fund speculator scum to be his economic advisers, including, at the very top of the list, John Paulson, JP. That's the guy we've actually had two podcasts on. He's so dark and dangerous, and I'm going to use the word "evil" -- I don't usually make statements like this but I kind of have to. He's a major target in my investigation in my upcoming film, Best Democracy Money Can Buy. JP is the guy that pushed the mortgage market over the cliff and made $5 billion in a single year, more money than any human since the pharaoh, by destroying the US housing markets and pushing foreclosure. And he then made another billion bankrupting the Royal Bank of Scotland. He sold them bad mortgage securities, knew that they were bad, knew they would go bankrupt, so then he bet the company he knew he was going to bankrupt, he bet that they would go bankrupt. He bet against mortgages that he knew were bad so he made sure they went bad. The Security Exchange Commission busted his assistant and charged his company that he worked with, Goldman Sachs -- Charged them $500M, which is couch coins for these guys.

He made $5 billion in a year from that, then he took down the General Motors auto parts division, Delphi. Took it over -- every single union job was eliminated -- every one! 35,000 workers, all their jobs were sent to China. All of them. Not one union job remained. So he bankrupts and destroys the auto parts division at General Motors, makes billions off crashing the mortgage market, makes another billion crashing the biggest bank in England, which had to be bailed out by their tax payers. This is Trump's adviser, whom he personally attacked before. But, dig this, JP, the foreclosure king, held a big fundraiser for him at Cipriotti, which is actually inside the New York Stock Exchange. It's in the bowels of the Stock Exchange and it has these chandeliers that cost more than all your ancestors made in nine generations, Dennis.

So he held a fundraiser. If you wanted to be a host, like JP, you paid a minimum of $350,000 if you wanted to break bread with the Donald and JP. Who was the other guy that set this up? Steven Mnuchin. Now, I want to spell his name because I want you to know, for those of you who are Second Amendment aficionados. MNUCHIN. By the way, that's a joke.

Steven Mnuchin, he is the head of the fundraising enterprise for Donald Trump, who said he didn't need any money and would self-fund his own campaign. Now he's getting money from Mnuchin, who was a marauder from guess where? Goldman Sachs. No points for guessing that one. Another Goldman Sachs cat who then went out and started his own creepy illegal foreclosure operation, where he's having robo-signings of mortgage foreclosure notices and all that.

The Feds came down on this guy, but he still has billions in his pocket. He's the guy that produces the X-Men films. He's put together this whole panel for Trump. He's given a half million dollars to Trump -- that's the legal limit. Another half million dollar donor is Harold Hamm, who is from Continental Energy, he's the fracking king. That's not a surprise because Trump has said we should just drill everywhere, including in your grandma's grave. That's not a surprise, what is a surprise are all these hedge fund guys.

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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 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).
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

America has been committed to supporting the veterans of its wars since long before it had "United States of" in front of it. "It was a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire... horrible was the stink and scent thereof," William Bradford wrote after soldiers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony massacred a village of native Pequots. Later, the Pilgrims gave thanks to their veterans by passing a law to support wounded soldiers of the campaign. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) traces its spiritual roots to this ur-moment in 1636.

Today, citizens of the United States directly bear the burden of more than 150 years of warfare. As of May 2016, the VA was still paying benefits to one dependent of a Civil War (1861-1865) veteran, 88 dependents of Spanish-American War (1898-1902) veterans, nine dependents of veterans of the military campaign along the Mexican border early in the twentieth century, thousands of dependents of World War I (1917-1918) veterans, hundreds of thousands of World War II (1941-1945) veterans and dependents, hundreds of thousands of Korean War (1950-1953) veterans and dependents, around 1.8 million Vietnam War-era (1964-1975) veterans and dependents, and millions of veterans and dependents of the Gulf War (1990-1991) and of the ongoing War on Terror campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere (2001 to the present).

When President Abraham Lincoln took office in 1861, there were an estimated 80,000 veterans living in the United States. By 1865, the final year of the Civil War, there were so many more veterans in need of assistance that Lincoln called on Congress "to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan." Lincoln didn't live to see the end of that war and probably couldn't have imagined we'd still be paying the direct costs of his request in 2016. Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't live to see the end of the war he presided over either, but according to VA projections, 13,000 World War II veterans -- to say nothing of their dependents -- will be receiving benefits as late as 2034.

Given that the U.S. was still paying benefits to a dependent of an American Revolutionary veteran in the 1910s and to a Civil War widow as late as the 2000s, it's anyone's guess how long Americans will be paying the price of the dependents of all the veterans whose hearts were touched by fire in post-9/11 wars. In 150 years, will some writer be tallying up the number of widows and children still collecting on the wars, interventions, attacks, and raids in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, and elsewhere? Will these conflicts be as dimly remembered as the campaign against Pancho Villa along the Mexican border in the 1910s? Or will they still be fresh in the minds of Americans as a never-ending intergenerational campaign sees grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren fighting for elusive victories in the greater Middle East?

Today, TomDispatchregular Ann Jones, author of the highly praised They Were Soldiers: How The Wounded Return from America's Wars -- The Untold Story, takes up the questions of what and how we will pay (in every sense of the word) for the veterans of our current wars. In an adapted version of the keynote address she recently gave to the annual convention of Veterans for Peace, Jones takes aim at schemes seeking to use veterans for corporate interests and dismantle the VA system in the name of privatized profits. Caring for veterans is a burden whose long-term costs have rarely been considered in the context of America's penchant for ceaseless warfare, but the costs of not properly caring for them, as Jones makes perfectly clear, may be even more dire. Nick Turse

How Veterans Are Losing the War at Home

Making America Pain-Free for Plutocrats and Big Pharma, But Not Vets

By Ann Jones A friend of mine, a Vietnam vet, told me about a veteran of the Iraq War who, when some civilian said, "Thank you for your service," replied: "I didn't serve, I was used." That got me thinking about the many ways today's veterans are used, conned, and exploited by big gamers right here at home. Near the end of his invaluable book cataloguing the long, slow disaster of America's War for the Greater Middle East, historian Andrew Bacevich writes: "Some individuals and institutions actually benefit from an armed conflict that drags on and on. Those benefits are immediate and tangible. They come in the form of profits, jobs, and campaign contributions. For the military-industrial complex and its beneficiaries, perpetual war is not necessarily bad news." Bacevich is certainly right about war profiteers, but I believe we haven't yet fully wrapped our minds around what that truly means. This is what we have yet to take in: today, the U.S. is the most unequal country in the developed world, and the wealth of the plutocrats on top is now so great that, when they invest it in politics, it's likely that no elected government can stop them or the lucrative wars and "free markets" they exploit. Among the prime movers in our corporatized politics are undoubtedly the two billionaire Koch brothers, Charles and David, and their cozy network of secret donors. It's hard to grasp how rich they really are: they rank fifth (David) and sixth (Charles) on Business Insider's list of the 50 richest people in the world, but if you pool their wealth they become by far the single richest "individual" on the planet. And they have pals. For decades now they've hosted top-secret gatherings of their richest collaborators that sometimes also feature dignitaries like Clarence Thomas or the late Antonin Scalia, two of the Supreme Court Justices who gave them the Citizens United decision, suffocating American democracy in plutocratic dollars. That select donor group had reportedly planned to spend at least $889 million on this year's elections and related political projects, but recent reports note a scaling back and redirection of resources. While the contest between Trump and Clinton fills the media, the big money is evidently going to be aimed at selected states and municipalities to aid right-wing governors, Senate candidates, congressional representatives, and in some cities, ominously enough, school board candidates. The Koch brothers need not openly support the embarrassing Trump, for they've already proved that, by controlling Congress, they can significantly control the president, as they have already done in the Obama era. Yet for all their influence, the Koch name means nothing, pollsters report, to more than half of the U.S. population. In fact, the brothers Koch largely stayed under the radar until recent years when their roles as polluters, campaigners against the environment, and funders of a new politics came into view. Thanks to Robert Greenwald's film Koch Brothers Exposed and Jane Mayer's book Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, we now know a lot more about them, but not enough. They've always been ready to profit off America's wars. Despite their extreme neo-libertarian goal of demonizing and demolishing government, they reportedly didn't hesitate to pocket about $170 million as contractors for George W. Bush's wars. They sold fuel (oil is their principal business) to the Defense Department, and after they bought Georgia Pacific, maker of paper products, they supplied that military essential: toilet paper. But that was small potatoes compared to what happened when soldiers came home from the wars and fell victim to the profiteering of corporate America. Dig in to the scams exploiting veterans, and once again you'll run into the Koch brothers.

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).
Sen. Tim Knopp and Sen. Betsy Johnson

Salem, Ore.  Recognizing that significant Oregon challenges require strong bipartisan teamwork and solutions, Senator Betsy Johnson (D  Scappoose) and Senator Tim Knopp (R  Bend) invite interested Oregonians to participate in a Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group to study and make recommendations to address the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) funding crisis. Currently, state and local governments face an $885 million increase in PERS costs starting July 1, 2017. Editorial boards across the state have called for leadership to address this issue.

PERS cost increases in 2017 could result in fewer teachers and school days, larger class sizes, and the inability to fully fund other critical government services in 2017, said Senator Knopp. We must adopt fair, constitutional PERS solutions during the 2017 session that reduce costs and strengthen our K-12 education system.

Oregon needs bipartisan PERS solutions that are legal, fair, and protect our schools, said Senator Johnson. A public work group will allow a thorough vetting of all proposals informed by advocates from diverse perspectives.

The new Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group will hold public hearings and craft a comprehensive PERS solutions package that is bipartisan, fair, constitutional, and that protects government services. Representatives from schools, local governments, public employee unions, businesses, and other concerned Oregonians will be invited to serve as members. The work group will hold its first meeting during September legislative days to hear from experts on PERS unfunded liabilities, impacts of upcoming PERS cost increases, savings options that reduce unfairness in the PERS system, constitutional guidelines, and take input from local governments and PERS members.

The Oregon Supreme Court has made clear that it is unconstitutional to take away accrued benefits, but prospective PERS changes are legal. As such, Senators Johnson and Knopp noted, In compliance with the Oregon Supreme Courts constitutional interpretation, no PERS solutions can affect retired PERS members, and all PERS changes must be prospective.

If you have an opinion on PERS, we want to hear from you, said Senators Johnson and Knopp. The Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group continues Oregons long tradition of transparent, bipartisan teamwork on big problems facing our state. Please join us.

The first meeting of the Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group will be September 21 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Oregon State Capitol Building in Hearing Room 174. At the first meeting, the work group will hear presentations about how the PERS system works, its current financial situation, upcoming rate increases, and Oregon laws governing the PERS system. Any interested Oregonian is welcome to attend.

Anyone interested in serving as a member of the work group should email Senator Betsy Johnsons Office at [email protected] or Senator Tim Knopps Office at [email protected]

Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group First Meeting

September 21, 3-5 p.m.

Hearing Room 174

Oregon State Capitol Building

900 Court St. NE

Salem, OR 97301
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.
Please click here in order to read our guidelines on commenting to the blog.
Contact Oyster Radio any time:





We can be reached at 850-670-8450.

You can also e-mail us at
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...
The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
President John Dramani Mahama has said God will not allow any form of violence in Ghana before, during and after the upcoming December 7 general elections. This he said is because of Gods love for the nation.



Speaking to Ghanaians at Zabzugu-Tatale in the Northern Region as part of his campaign tour of the area, President Maham said God will not allow such to happen; God will not allow all die be die to befall Ghana.



Despite tension in the country during election season, a number of times, after the elections, there is no violence because God loves Ghana. God will not allow such to happen; God will not allow all die be die to befall Ghana. Everyone will go and cast their ballots in peace and God will choose the right person for Ghana, he said.



President Mahama who kick started his campaign tour last week is hopeful Ghanaians will retain him on December 7, to enable him continue what he calls Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana agenda.



Flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, was widely rebuked for his infamous all-die-be-die remarks in the heat of the 2012 election campaign.



Speaking to party faithful at a rally in Koforidua in 2011, Nana Addo accused the NDC of intimidating people during the Atiwa by-election and thus charged NPP supporters to match the NDC boot for boot in the 2012 election.



You must understand that this party was formed by courageous people. Our leaders who formed this party that has now become the biggest political movement in Ghana were not cowards. So in 2012, we need to be courageous because all die be die. All die be die, he said.



The NPP flagbearers comments were condemned by the NDC and some members of the public, who accused him of inciting his supporters to violence and threatening the security of the country.

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




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?



Las verdades son simples



Opinar es un peligro



Ejemplo de dignidad



El Nuevo Orden Mundial



Historica foto para el record Guinness







Se pegaron un tiro en el pie



Si palabras



Ya no enganan a nadie



No hacen falta palabras







Lo volvio a hacer



Capitalismo=embuste



Historico Bitcoin



La bateria mas grande de Holanda



El futuro es solar



Nec plus ultra, nec variatur



Fisica y culturalmente



Jamas nos callaran



Sin ellas, no seremos



Deja vu



Nada que celebrar



Hasta cuando?



Colombia Hoy



Para nunca olvidar



'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England



Sin palabras



La UE le apunta a la paz



Cada vez mas solo



LULA y su Pueblo



Bye Bye



Homenaje al genial Quino



Fueron ellos



Una imagen que resume



Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero?



Porky y el Nene (archiconocido narcotraficante)



Ladrones al poder



Asi mira el perrito a su amo



Crazy



Clamor popular



La nueva inquisicion



Bolivia



Chile Hoy



Eso es todo amigos!



Piensalo!



Pinerachet



No More Trump



Adios Macri, hasta nunca



La Marioneta se desinfla



Asi o mas cinico



Almugre



Mexico en 1794



Mas arrastrado imposible



Hasta cuando!



La pura verdad



Solidaridad con Palestina



Serie Capitalismo



Espejismos de la clase trabajadora



Asi es!



Comerciantes o delincuentes



No pasaran!



Asi es la vida



USA HOY



01/01/1959



La avaricia no tiene limites



AYUDA HUMANITARIA?



Chile Hoy



Asi son las cosas



Mapa Electoral de Venezuela



Patagonia argentina?



Un aniversario mas del mayor genocidio de la Humanidad



Retrato del franquismo en Espana



Visca Catalunya!



El Chulo de Madrid



Cuando la policia se roba la democracia



Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras



La purita verdad



Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia



Mi pobre clase media



Como Chavez nadie



Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear

Programa de la MUD



Asi o mas clarito



Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte?



Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio?



Una verguenza nacional



La luz que nos guia



La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz?



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?



USA TODAY



USA HOY 6



USA HOY 5



USA HOY 4



USA HOY 3



USA HOY 2



USA HOY (1)



Insaciable



Cronologia de un agresor



Guarimbear en USA



Mexico hoy



Bolivar y Chavez



Primero Amargado



Dios los cria y ellos se juntan



USA hoy (III)



USA hoy (II)



USA hoy



Mexico hoy



Mexico hoy



Mexico hoy



Obama



La verdad sea dicha



Los ricos



Que no nos vea Obama



Pobre Obama



SOS PALESTINA



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



VICMAN



Archivo del blog Archivo del blog marzo (4) abril (9) mayo (8) junio (10) julio (11) agosto (10) septiembre (17) octubre (11) noviembre (15) diciembre (10) enero (9) febrero (10) marzo (8) abril (5) mayo (6) junio (8) julio (13) agosto (10) septiembre (7) octubre (12) noviembre (8) diciembre (15) enero (17) febrero (11) marzo (11) abril (12) junio (6) julio (11) agosto (15) septiembre (5) octubre (15) noviembre (14) diciembre (11) enero (13) febrero (9) marzo (10) abril (8) mayo (7) junio (12) julio (12) agosto (8) septiembre (8) octubre (4) diciembre (8) enero (35) febrero (20) marzo (29) abril (19) mayo (21) junio (27) julio (21) agosto (28) septiembre (40) octubre (47) noviembre (21) diciembre (34) enero (62) febrero (81) marzo (117) abril (141) mayo (114) junio (111) julio (126) agosto (98) septiembre (160) octubre (234) noviembre (493) diciembre (319) enero (219) febrero (267) marzo (230) abril (291) mayo (347) junio (223) julio (179) agosto (191) septiembre (239) octubre (350) noviembre (406) diciembre (353) enero (284) febrero (202) marzo (274) abril (250) mayo (232) junio (251) julio (188) agosto (249) septiembre (230) octubre (178) noviembre (141) diciembre (164) enero (187) febrero (147) marzo (211) abril (190) mayo (199) junio (164) julio (162) agosto (174) septiembre (182) octubre (225) noviembre (114) diciembre (132) enero (223) febrero (147) marzo (133) abril (108) mayo (387) junio (465) julio (785) agosto (748) septiembre (485) octubre (681) noviembre (754) diciembre (805) enero (708) febrero (896) marzo (735) abril (831) mayo (723) junio (555) julio (658) agosto (619) septiembre (457) octubre (455) noviembre (295) diciembre (269) enero (534) febrero (556) marzo (205) abril (119) mayo (194) junio (255) julio (294) agosto (182) septiembre (207) octubre (340) noviembre (351) diciembre (281) enero (114) febrero (128) marzo (216) abril (195) mayo (116) junio (141) julio (182) agosto (181) septiembre (50) octubre (72) noviembre (104) diciembre (88) enero (168) febrero (102) marzo (151) abril (207) mayo (43) junio (72) julio (35) agosto (146) septiembre (54) octubre (46) noviembre (48) diciembre (57) enero (133) febrero (218) marzo (196) abril (177) mayo (156) junio (158) julio (264) agosto (456) septiembre (524) octubre (435)

Chavez Cuanto te queremos!



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!


A new research project from Plymouth University aims to improve successful prisoner resettlement by enhancing social acceptance through wider community engagement with the processes of desistance.

Dr Julie Parsons, Lecturer in Sociology within the University's School of Law, Criminology and Government, has been awarded an Independent Social Research Foundation Mid-Career Research Fellowship to conduct a pilot project with prisoners and men on community licence (trainees) working at a rural land-based resettlement scheme (RS).

It will enable trainees at the RS to compile a photographic diary of their activities as they work towards release or completing a community licence. Dr Parsons will also work with trainees to develop a narrative around their photographs and these will be shared with the scheme's supporter network, which includes officials from restorative justice agencies, police, justice service and the local community.

The aim is to give trainees an additional focus and a new skill alongside other existing opportunities at the RS. But it has also been designed to enable trainees and the wider community to engage with each other, in order to challenge some of the negative stereotypes of prisoners and to enable trainees to demonstrate the efforts they are making towards resettlement.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice in 2013 estimated that reoffending as a whole costs the economy an estimated 13 billion each year, and Dr Parsons believes a large part of that is down to prisoners' struggles for acceptance on their return to society.

Since September 2015, she has been conducting research funded by a Sociology of Health and Illness Foundation (SHI) Mildred Blaxter Post-Doctoral fellowship award, examining the benefits of a shared community lunch at the RS, for both trainees and visitors.

She said: "Something that has come out of this research is that community members wanted to know more about the trainees they were meeting over lunch. There has always been an appetite for prisoners and the community to engage more widely, but the difficulty has been in finding appropriate avenues for it. This new research project therefore has the potential to engage the community in the trainee's photographic narrative journeys as they work through the resettlement scheme."

The year-long Photographic electronic Narrative (PeN) project will launch in September and trainees will learn to use digital cameras, help in the creation of a supporter's blog, and develop a narrative around their photographs that will capture individual, reflexive, personal and creative developments. The narratives accompanying the photographs will be shared with supporters through the blog.

The supporters will then become co-contributors in the trainee's resettlement journeys, as they post comments on the blog, gain insight into what trainees do at the RS and develop dialogues directly with trainees when they visit.

The resulting material will be curated into an exhibition of photographs at the annual supporters' event in September 2017, with an album produced for trainees, and the potential for contributions to continue beyond them leaving the resettlement scheme.

Dr Parsons added: "There are two inter-related aims of the PeN project. Firstly, it enables trainees to create a visual, self-reflexive narrative of their resettlement journey and secondly, it engages the wider community with this journey. It incorporates human, social and cultural capital models of desistance among a group with low literacy skills and encourages wider community dialogue. In taking part, trainees may also increase their interest in improving literacy and develop new skills which could further aid their reintegration into society."

Explore further Nurses can perform colonoscopies as well as docs
Woolly mammoth. Credit: Tracy O (Flickr) via Wikimedia Commons

Can the woolly mammoth be brought back from the dead? Scientists say it's only a matter of time.

In fact this year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature issued its first official set of guidelines on resurrecting extinct species. What's more, university research labs and non-governmental agencies have projects in motion to bring back extinct species. But is all of this a good idea?

A new paper by UC Santa Barbara researchers explores de-extinctionthe process of resurrecting an extinct speciesas a potential win for conservation and suggests how to make it so.

In an analysis in the journal Functional Ecology, UCSB ecologist Douglas McCauley and colleagues recommend several ways in which the science of de-extinction would have to evolve in order to make it maximally benefit ecological communities and ecosystems.

"The idea of de-extinction raises a fundamental and philosophical question: Are we doing it to create a zoo or recreate nature?" said co-author Benjamin Halpern, director of UCSB's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. "Both are reasonable answers, but restoring species to a natural state will be a much, much harder endeavor. We offer guidelines for how to make ecological de-extinction more successful and how to avoid creating 'eco-zombies.' "

Bringing back species useful for conservation requires big-picture thinking. For example, the grassland ecosystem in which the mammoth once lived looks totally different today. For a variety of reasonshuman population expansion among themsome areas where these creatures once roamed cannot be restored to their former ecology.

UCSB graduate student Molly Hardesty-Moore and ecologist Douglas McCauley. Credit: Sonia Fernandez

"What some are proposing to do with de-extinction will be like manufacturing a part from the engine of a Model T and trying to shove it into a Tesla," said lead author McCauley, an assistant professor in UCSB's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology. "You just can't take a part and put it into a brand new system and expect it to work without considering how its ecological context has changed.

"Good conservation is a holistic science that acknowledges the fact that many species interact in complex ways," McCauley added. "The rules in that complex web of life don't stay static but evolve dynamically."

The UCSB team developed three recommendations for restoring ecological function through de-extinction. The first suggests resurrecting recently extinct species rather than those that disappeared thousands of years ago. These creatures may fit more seamlessly into their ecosystems because there has been less time for change to occur. The researchers offer several examples of these "young" extinctions, including the Christmas Island pipistrelle bat, the Reunion giant tortoise and Australia's lesser stick-nest rat.

Secondly, the group advises choosing animals whose ecological jobs are truly irreplaceable. For example, the Christmas Island pipistrelle bat was once the only insect-eating bat in its habitat. Its de-extinction would plug a hole in an ecosystem that nature would otherwise have a hard time filling.

Ditto for the Reunion giant tortoise, which dispersed seeds throughout its Indian Ocean island habitat before being driven extinct by hungry mariners. Those plants still exist, although they are moving closer to extinction without the tortoises to perform their ecological function as seed distributors.

The third guideline, according to co-author Molly Hardesty-Moore, a graduate student in McCauley's lab, is to bring back species that can be restored to functionally meaningful abundance levels. "You need to have enough individuals to perform their function well enough to affect the ecosystem," she said. "One wolf hunting and killing has minimal impact, but hundreds of wolves performing that function will change the ecosystem."

Rather than oppose de-extinction outright, the UCSB scientists hope to start a conversation in the scientific community about how to make the process more ecologically smart. "Can we thoughtfully use this tool to do real conservation?" McCauley asked. "Answering that question is going to require a lot of perspectives, not only from the geneticists who are leading the process, but also from other types of scientistsecologists, conservation biologists, ecosystem managers."

More information: Douglas J. McCauley et al. A mammoth undertaking: harnessing insight from functional ecology to shape de-extinction priority setting, Functional Ecology (2016). Journal information: Functional Ecology Douglas J. McCauley et al. A mammoth undertaking: harnessing insight from functional ecology to shape de-extinction priority setting,(2016). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12728
Underground pipe inspection vehicle uses ultra-wide band (UWB) pulsed radar technology developed at Louisiana Tech University to detect fractures, quantify corrosion and determine the presence of voids in the surrounding soil. Credit: Louisiana Tech University

An innovative underground radar technology developed at Louisiana Tech University is helping the City of Slidell in south Louisiana to identify and document underground infrastructure damage that had gone undetected in the months and years following Hurricane Katrina.

This radar technology is a pipe-penetrating scanning system based on a new technology called ultra-wide band (UWB) pulsed radar. UWB allows for the inspection of buried pipelines, tunnels and culverts to detect fractures, quantify corrosion and determine the presence of voids in the surrounding soil often caused by water leaks and flooding.

Developed at Louisiana Tech's Trenchless Technology Center, this technology incorporates leading-edge simulation, electronics, robotics, signal processing and three-dimensional (3-D) renderings in a package that can be mounted on existing pipe-inspection robots.

Dr. Arun Jaganathan, associate professor of civil engineering and construction engineering technology at Louisiana Tech, began developing this technology as the basis for his Ph.D. dissertation research. Partnering with fellow Louisiana Tech researcher Dr. Neven Simicevic and others, his vision was to eventually develop it into a tool that municipal engineers can use for their routine pipeline condition assessment.

"Our UWB technology was based on recognizing the need within the trenchless industry for an advanced pipeline inspection tool that can quantify the structural integrity of buried municipal pipes like sewers and storm drains, and be able to see through the pipe wall," said Jaganathan. "The radar system emits ultra-short electromagnetic pulses from inside of a sewer pipe and captures the signals 'back-scattered' from the pipe to determine the condition of various layers hidden behind the wall which we cannot directly see using visual tools such as a camera. The radar is integrated into a robot which crawls through a pipe and relays the data back to the operator in real time."

Jay Newcomb, City of Slidell Council Member for District F and a Louisiana Tech alumnus, learned of this technology and the possibilities for partnership through his connections with his alma mater.

"During my campaign for City Council, myself and many others all espoused a need in the city for small, high tech, clean industry," said Newcomb. "I was already well aware of what Tech was doing with the business incubator on campus and, though we have no university to attach an incubator to, we took a trip to Tech in September of 2010 to check things out and make ourselves be known to any interested companies.

"At that time, Louisiana Tech's radar technology was still in the developmental stages, but the research team said that if the innovation proved useful in lab tests, Slidell would be used as a Beta site in actual field studies."

Following successful testing and development, Jaganathan and other researchers came to Slidell in the summer of 2013 to pinpoint the spots in the city that would be most beneficial for using the UWB, and to test and investigate the underground infrastructure issues. As had been predicted by the group in their initial research, compromised infrastructure was able to be seen using the UWB technology and, most importantly, became provable.

"While we were aware of the depth and breadth of the problems that plagued our underground utilities and we knew surrounding communities had experienced similar problems, I believe it wasn't until we made the trip to Ruston in 2010 and then saw the results of the UWB investigation that we actually realized we could have quantifiable evidence of the scope of that damage," said Newcomb.

As a result of the work of Jaganathan, Simicevic and the Louisiana Tech researcher team, and consultations with other engineering firms, the City of Slidell was able to secure $75 million in funding from FEMA to begin the underground utility restoration process.

"Our FY2017 total budget for the City of Slidell is just under $43 million," said Newcomb. "We have almost two whole budgets to spend on streets, drainage and sewer thanks to the collective efforts of many, beginning with the research conducted by Louisiana Tech University."

"This technology is unique in its capability to generate high resolution images which allow engineers to inspect a particular spot in detail," Jaganathan said. "Unlike many other radars, our system does have to be in contact with the pipe wall and this provides capability for rapid inspection to finish scanning a long pipe in a timely manner."

Jaganathan says this project demonstrates the value of academic research at Louisiana Tech.

"What started as an academic research ultimately led to the development of a practical tool that our municipal engineers can use on a daily basis for the betterment of our infrastructure and society, as a whole," says Jaganathan. "The sophistication and complexity of electronics involved in this system speaks to the capability of Louisiana Tech researchers to design and develop advanced sensing technologies."

"As for the State of Louisiana, I think they would be wise to look closely at what is going on at such a dynamic institution as Louisiana Tech and its dynamic leadership team," Newcomb says. "I truly believe that far too municipalities' first response to problems is, 'Who do we hire to consult/fix this?', instead of asking, 'I wonder if any of our public universities have researched this topic or have any prior experience dealing with a similar situation?'"

"I am glad the City of Slidell asked for help from Louisiana Tech. All we had to do was just ask!"
Proteins fulfill vital functions in our body. They transport substances, combat pathogens, and function as catalysts. In order for these processes to function reliably, proteins must adopt a defined three-dimensional structure. Molecular "folding assistants", called chaperones, aid and scrutinize these structuring processes. With participation from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a team of researchers has now revealed how chaperones identify particularly harmful errors in this structuring process. The findings were published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell.

Chaperones are a kind of Technical Inspection Authority for cells. They are proteins that inspect other proteins for quality defects before they are allowed to leave the cell.

If a car does not pass its technical inspection, it implies that it has severe defects that could lead to serious accidents. If a protein folds into a faulty structure, this may lead to serious diseases. Examples of these are neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, but also metabolic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and diabetes.

Matthias Feige, professor for cellular protein biochemistry at the TUM, worked within a team headed by Linda Hendershot at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis/TN, USA, to investigate how chaperones identify structurally flawed proteins. In the study, the scientists focused on proteins which are produced in a part of the cell called the endoplasmic reticulum. "We are mainly interested in cellular protein folding", explains Feige. "How the self-organization of proteins occurs at the molecular level - and how cells identify errors in this process - is a truly fascinating question."

Defective proteins need to be eliminated by the cell

The endoplasmic reticulum consists of a network of hollow spaces and tubules. It is specialized in protein folding and the quality control for this process, and a third of all human proteins are produced here. Just like in any production process, errors may occur: Proteins form a folding core mostly made up of hydrophobic (water-repellent) amino acids, around which the rest of the protein is able to structure itself. However, if errors occur in the folding process, these hydrophobic areas may not be buried in the core, but instead be exposed on the surface of a protein where they may result in proteins clumping together. This can become hazardous to the cell or the entire organism.

Into the cell via a shuttle

Thus far, scientists knew that chaperones were able to identify general hydrophobic amino acid sequences if they remained exposed on protein surfaces. However, not all proteins which present such sequences should necessarily be degraded. That is because not all proteins with hydrophobic amino acid sequences on the surface are defective. How exactly the cell decides if a protein is so dangerous that it needs to be eliminated remained a mystery.

The researchers developed a new method which made it possible to observe the behavior of chaperones in the living biological system of the cell. To do this, they inserted precisely defined sequences of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, into a shuttle system that transported them into the endoplasmic reticulum within the cell. Via this ingenious trick, they were able to observe, under biologically relevant conditions, which sequences the various chaperones recognized.

Two classes of chaperones

What they discovered was that there existed not only one, but two classes of chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum, each of which identifies different types of hydrophobic amino acid sequences. Furthermore, the sequences identified by the chaperones of the second class, which are described in this journal article for the first time, form particularly dangerous clumps in the cell. Once they are identified, the proteins possessing them can be eliminated rapidly.

"This is an important piece in the puzzle of how molecular quality control functions", says Feige. "Follow-up studies will now be required to see how the chaperones recognize their target sequences on a structural level."

This research is also important for the biotechnological production of proteins, such as antibodies. In order to prevent these pharmaceutical products from being broken down by the body too quickly, biotechnologists can now ensure that the corresponding sequences do not appear on the surface of the proteins.

Explore further Molecular bodyguards for immature membrane proteins

More information: Julia Behnke et al, Members of the Hsp70 Family Recognize Distinct Types of Sequences to Execute ER Quality Control, Molecular Cell (2016). Journal information: Molecular Cell Julia Behnke et al, Members of the Hsp70 Family Recognize Distinct Types of Sequences to Execute ER Quality Control,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.07.012
Credit: NASA

NASA scientists and two research aircraft are on their way to a unique natural laboratory off the Atlantic coast of southwest Africa to study a major unknown in future climate prediction.

The coast of Namibia is one of three places on Earth with persistent low-level clouds, and the only such location with a steady supply of tiny aerosol particles in the form of smoke from inland fires that mix with the clouds. NASA's Observations of Aerosols Above Clouds and their Interactions (ORACLES) mission will observe and measure how these particles interact with clouds and change their ability to warm or cool the planet.

"This is the perfect natural laboratory to study aerosol-cloud interactions, which are some of the largest uncertainties in the prediction of future climate," said Jens Redemann, ORACLES principal investigator at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

Some aerosols, such as dust and sea salt, have a natural origin. But others, such as soot and smoke released by fires and industry, are the result of human activities. Once aerosols enter the atmosphere, they can cause either a warming or cooling effect.

"Human activities currently are estimated to be responsible for perhaps half of all the aerosol particles in the atmosphere," said Robert Wood, a cloud scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle and ORACLES deputy principal investigator. "Smoke particles both reflect sunlight back to space, thus cooling the Earth, and absorb sunlight, which has the opposite effect of warming the Earth. When aerosols encounter clouds, they also change the properties of the clouds they are ingested into."

NASAs ORACLES airborne science campaign will operate from Walvis Bay, Namibia (top left corner). Credit: NASA

Understanding which effect is dominant, and under what conditions, is essential for improving the regional and global computer models that predict what may occur with future climate change. Changes in the properties of the cloud layer caused by aerosols could also have an effect on regional coastal fisheries by altering the amount of sunlight reaching the ocean surface that drives currents and ocean upwelling.

The initially separate cloud and aerosol layers off the Namibian coast are relatively stable. As the cloud layers thicken away from shore like a wedge, it gradually mixes with the aerosol layer. The result is a range of steadily changing conditions that allow the ORACLES science team to probe several different types of cloud-aerosol interactions.

The ORACLES field campaign is based out of Walvis Bay in Namibia, where faculty and students from Namibian universities will be working alongside the ORACLES team. The project team has built new relationships with African colleagues, in particular, the Namibia University of Science and Technology in Windhoek. University personnel support logistics for ORACLES field work and will collaborate in data analysis and modeling. The Gobabeb Research and Training Centre in the Namib Desert, which previously has worked with NASA using the desert as an analog for the surface of other planets, is providing ground-based remote sensing of the atmosphere.

"Science is a great unifier," said Bernadette Squire Luna, ORACLES project manager at Ames. "We are building relationships with Namibian scientists that will outlast this project and will lead to yet more science and more interactions. We're connecting our countries in a very grassroots way."

The Namibian coast of southwest Africa (far left) is a unique natural laboratory with both persistent low-level clouds and a steady supply of tiny aerosol particles in the form of smoke from inland fires that mix with the clouds. Credit: NASA

NASA's P-3 aircraft, managed by the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, carries five remote sensing instruments and flies through the cloud and aerosol layers at up to 20,000 feet to gather direct measurements from more than a dozen cloud and aerosol probes attached to the wings and inlets on the windows. NASA's ER-2 aircraft, managed by the agency's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, will fly at 65,000 feet with instruments that make measurements similar to those acquired from satellites.

ORACLES flights will complement and validate current satellite observations of aerosols and clouds, and test instruments that may fly on future satellites, by making detailed observations that are impossible to make from space with current capabilities.

Unlike a satellite, which generally gets one pass per day over a certain location, both aircraft will be able to sample clouds and aerosols throughout the day over the entire study area to see how they evolve. Together, data from the two aircraft will provide a comprehensive picture of how aerosols behave in the presence of clouds  and how aerosols directly or indirectly change how clouds behave.

ORACLES is a collaborative research effort that involves more than a hundred scientists from five NASA centers, two national laboratories, 10 U.S. universities, and five African research institutions. It's a multi-year NASA Earth Venture suborbital investigation to probe Earth system processes that are not completely understood. These flights from Namibia are the first of several planned field seasons for the mission. Earth Venture investigations are part of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder program managed at the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Explore further UM researcher embarks on field campaign to study effects of smoke on Earth's climate

More information: For more information about ORACLES, visit: For more information about ORACLES, visit: espo.nasa.gov/oracles
NASA analyzed the rainfall and cloud heights in an area of low pressure designated as System 99L that bringing rains and gusty winds to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos and other islands in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Caribbean Sea today, Aug. 25.

On Aug. 25 at 3:16 a.m. EDT (0716 UTC) the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core observatory satellite had an excellent look at an area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave moving past the northern Dominican Republic.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been monitoring this area of disturbed weather for potential development into a tropical cyclone. This low pressure area is predicted by the NHC to produce heavy rainfall as it continues moving toward the northeast. The development of a tropical storm or hurricane moving in this direction could pose future danger to the Bahamas and the southeastern United States.

Rainfall data derived from data captured by the GPM satellite's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments showed the extent of heavy precipitation in the tropical disturbance. GPM's DPR showed that some extremely powerful thunderstorms northeast of the Dominican Republic were dropping rain at a rate of almost 248 mm (9.8 inches) per hour.

The GPM satellite's radar (DPR Ku Band) was used to create 3-D views of rainfall structure within the violent storms northeast of The Dominican Republic. DPR revealed that some storm tops in these intense storms were reaching altitudes above 16 km (9.9 miles).

On Aug. 25 at 3:16 a.m. EDT the GPM core satellite showed that some extremely powerful thunderstorms northeast of the Dominican Republic were dropping rain at a rate of almost 248 mm (9.8 inches) per hour where storms were reaching altitudes above 16 km (9.9 miles). Credit: Credits: NASA/JAXA, Hal Pierce

The numbering and (and letters) are simply a code designation that is used to initiate model runs and is used in all basins. At the start of the hurricane season the first disturbance the National Hurricane Center (NHC) wants to run track and intensity models for in the Atlantic would be designated System "90L." They just keep rolling sequentially then restart when 99 reached. When a system is named, the name replaces the 9 designator for identification.

At 8 a.m. EDT the NHC said that "the area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave was centered just southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The wave is producing gale-force winds over water to the north of Hispaniola, however, satellite images indicate that the shower and thunderstorm activity is well removed from the area of lowest pressure. Surface data also indicate that the low continues to lack a well-defined center."

NHC said that conditions are expected to become a little more favorable for development by the weekend of Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 and this system could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days.

"Regardless of development, heavy rains are likely over Puerto Rico today, and strong winds and heavy rainfall are likely over portions of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, and the southeastern and central Bahamas during the next couple of days," NHC noted. These rains could lead to flash floods and mudslides.

Residents in the northwestern Bahamas and Florida should monitor the progress of this disturbance since it is increasing likely that some impacts, at a minimum heavy rains and gusty winds, will occur beginning this weekend.

The NHC gives System 99L a medium chance to develop into a depression in the next two days and a high chance through 5 days.
It looks like the state Department of Environmental Conservation is ready to undo the longstanding ban on smelt bait use and fishing on Lake George.

The agency released its proposed fishing regulations changes for next year, and a reversal of the smelt ban was among them. The DEC would allow anglers to fish for smelt and use them as bait, provided there is no significant backlash during the public comment period on rules changes that ends Oct. 7.

The health of the lake's smelt fishery has been a topic of concern since smelt fishing was banned in 1986 amid a decline in the small, silvery fish that are an important food source for the lake's trout and salmon.

Smelt numbers have rebounded well over the past decade, to the point where the Washington County Federation of Sportsmen lobbied the DEC in 2011 to lift the ban. The call was rejected at the time, but further data showed that smelt numbers continue to be strong.

There were no other major proposed changes in this year's DEC release, which is pasted below.

-- Don Lehman

DEC Announces Proposed Changes to Freshwater Sportfishing Regulations

Public Comments Accepted Through October 7, 2016

Regulations to be Effective April 2017

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is accepting comments on proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations through October 7, 2016, Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today.

DEC modifies freshwater sportfishing regulations approximately every two years as part of DEC's commitment to enhance fishing opportunities and protect the State's freshwater resources.

"New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation, and the continuous assessment and modification of sportfishing regulations ensure that this remains the case for generations to come," said Commissioner Seggos. "I encourage anglers to review what is being proposed and provide input during the public comment period."

DEC assessed the status of existing freshwater sportfish populations and the desires of anglers in developing these proposed regulations. Many of the proposed changes are the result of an effort to consolidate regulations and eliminate special regulations that are no longer warranted or have become outdated. The new freshwater sportfishing regulations are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2017. Once enacted, the new regulations will be included in the 2017-18 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide.

The proposed regulations were first provided for informal public review on the DEC website in February 2016. The early feedback helped DEC determine which regulation changes to advance or eliminate.

Comments on the proposed regulations should be sent by email to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov or mailed to Gregory Kozlowski, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753.

The full text of the proposed regulations are also available on DEC's website. The proposed changes include:

Great Lakes Proposals:

 Clarify that St. Lawrence River tributaries in Franklin and Clinton counties are exempt from Great Lakes regulations.

 Define the portion of Cattaraugus Creek subject to Lake Erie and tributary fishing regulations from Lake Erie upstream to the Springville Dam.

 Expand the Lake Erie and tributaries 20-inch minimum size limit one fish daily limit black bass regulation to December 1 through the Friday before the third Saturday in June.

 Improved language for interpreting combined trout and salmon creel limit in Lake Ontario.

 Reduce the daily limit from five to three northern pike for St. Lawrence River and define boundary between Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

 Clarification of boundary between Lake Ontario and the Salmon River.

 Provide an exception allowing access for fishing to the closed section of the Salmon River on Salmon River Hatchery property by permit.

Walleye, black bass and northern pike proposals:

 Establish an 18-inch minimum size limit and daily creel limit of three walleye for Titicus Reservoir (Westchester County); Sacandaga Lake and tributaries and outlet and Lake Pleasant and tributaries (Hamilton County); Kiwassa Lake, St. Regis Falls Impoundment, and Little Wolf Pond (Franklin County); Putnam Pond (Essex County); Cazenovia and DeRuyter lakes (Madison County); Waterport Reservoir (Orleans County); Rio Reservoir (Orange and Sullivan counties); East Sidney Reservoir (Delaware County); Taghkanic Lake (Columbia County); Canadarago Lake (Otsego County); and additional portions of the Seneca River (Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Wayne counties).

 Eliminate 18-inch minimum size limit and daily creel limit of three walleye in Chautauqua Lake (Chautauqua County) and Franklin Falls Flow (Essex County).

 Clarify that the 22-inch minimum size five fish daily limit for northern pike regulation applies to the Wayne County portion of the Seneca River.

 Clarify that statewide black bass regulations apply to the Hamilton County portion of Fourth Lake.

 Eliminate the special regulation for black bass in the Hamilton County portion of the Hudson River.

Trout and salmon proposals:

 Decrease the minimum size limit for trout at Colgate Lake (Greene County) from 12 to 9 inches.

 Eliminate special trout regulation on Whey Pond (Franklin County).

 Eliminate the special regulation for landlocked salmon for Piseco Lake (Hamilton County).

 Decrease the minimum size length for lake trout in Woodhull Lake (Herkimer County) from 21 to 18 inches.

 Change the end time anglers are allowed to fish Spring Creek on the Caledonia State Fish Hatchery property from 4:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

 Eliminate the 9-inch minimum size limit for trout in the Carmans River (Suffolk County) in Southaven County Park as well as the catch and release section of the Carmans River for brown and rainbow trout.

 Reduce the number of brown trout and rainbow trout that can be kept as part of a five fish daily limit in Skaneateles Lake to no more than three of either species.

 Reduce the allowable daily harvest of brown trout and rainbow trout from five of each to three of each and increase the allowable daily harvest of lake trout from three to five as part of the five in any combination daily limit regulation for trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon at Cayuga and Owasco lakes.

 Increase the minimum size limit for rainbow trout from 9 to 15 inches at Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco Lake tributaries.

Gear and use of gear proposals:

 Eliminate the allowance for spearing bullheads and suckers in all Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne county tributaries to Lake Ontario.

 Allow for the taking of suckers by snatching (but not blind snatching) from January 1 through March 15 in specific portions of the Otselic and Tioughnioga rivers in Cortland County.

 Eliminate the allowance for lake whitefish snatching and blind snatching at Piseco Lake in Hamilton County.

 Continue to restrict the number of devices allowed for ice fishing on Bigsby and Copperas ponds (Essex County), Upper Saranac Lake (Franklin County), and Fawn Lake (Hamilton County).

 Allow for ice fishing in Rushford Lake in Allegany County.

 Re-open Crane Pond (Essex County) to ice fishing.

Baitfish and non-game fish proposals:

 Remove the prohibition on the use or possession of smelt in Lake George and allow for harvest of smelt by angling.

 Clarify that taking and possessing sauger and mooneye is prohibited in Lake Champlain.

Fishing prohibited proposals:

 Prohibit fishing at any time on Buttermilk Creek from mouth to Fox Valley Road Bridge.

 Close two short sections of Fish Creek and Indian River in St. Lawrence County to fishing from March 16 until the opening of walleye season.

 Close a section of the Grasse River in St. Lawrence County to all fishing from March 16 until the opening of walleye season.

 Clarify the portion of the Bouquet River that is closed to fishing at any time.

 Eliminate the angling and dipnetting prohibited regulation on Dutch Hollow Brook in Cayuga County.

Several non-substantive regulation modifications are also proposed to remove duplicate regulations and to make structural changes designed to allow for easier modification of regulations in the future.
This is the latest is a series of posts about the 1916 presidential election between Democratic incumbent Woodrow Wilson and Republican challenger Charles Evans Hughes, a Glens Falls native.

Electing Charles Evans Hughes would bring an old-fashioned family to the White House, the Plattsburgh Daily Press reported on Aug. 5, 1916, quoting from a Leslies magazine article about the demeanor of Antoinette Hughes, wife of Charles.

Mrs. Hughes' interests are educational, religious and domestic. Family life in the substantial brick house on Sixteenth Street radiates more from the library than the drawing room, the article states. 

Mrs. Hughes is a slender, blue-eyed woman whose dark hair is slightly threaded with gray. She is about 52 years of age, but because of the slenderness of her figure, she looks ten years year younger. 

She is essentially a college woman, is a connoisseur in old engraving and has a taste for music.

The article can be read on the New York State Historic Newspapers web site, a project of public libraries.

Clear here and here to read more about Mrs. Hughes.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.

(Post-Star politics writer Maury Thompson is on vacation until Monday.)
In the weeks after the 9/11 attacks, Nicole Clements 3-year-old son built towers out of blocks and crashed his toy planes into them.

It was on TV for weeks and weeks, the South Glens Falls mother of three and stepmother of four said about news coverage of the terrorist attacks. I just had to tell him there are bad people in the world.

In this summer filled with bad news  the Orlando nightclub massacre; racial tension and violence against police officers; Syrian refugees; suicide bombers and war in the Middle East; economic instability in the European Union; a contentious presidential race; even the Olympics, a respite from the worlds horrors, were marred by an alleged false report of crime  its difficult to know how to talk to your children about the scary world in which we live.

The most important thing you can do is to make sure your children feel safe, said Caroline Knorr, senior parenting editor at Common Sense Media, a California-based nonprofit organization that aims to help children thrive in a media-saturated world.

A childs biggest concern is Am I safe? Are my parents safe?, so you want to reassure them, Were OK, she said.

Thats something that was difficult to do after 9/11, Clement said. The biggest thing at that point, I tried to make him feel safe, but it was tough because we didnt feel safe; we didnt even want to go outside, she said.

According to Knorr, children dont develop a concept of a wider world until theyre about 8 years old. They absolutely think about themselves as the center of the earth, and their families as the center of the earth.

So, dealing with younger children, its important to let them come to you, said Jamie Powers, program director for the Center for Children & Families at Glens Falls Hospital.

Let them lead with their questions, she said. You want to do your best to answer honestly while being mindful not to overwhelm them with too much information. Try not to give too much graphic content, or things that arent age-appropriate.

Brittany Anderson of Glens Falls takes that tact with her 11-year-old daughter.

I prepare myself, I keep up with the news, she said. Im aware, not so much to give advice immediately, but I wait to see what questions she has.

That is important to help work through childrens feelings, Knorr said.

Ask, What have you heard? What makes you feel afraid? Ask them those types of open-ended questions to get them to talk about what theyve heard and what theyre thinking and feeling, Knorr said.

With children 8 or older, Knorr said its OK to say the news makes parents sad.

You want to take the opportunity, if its something thats happening in the news that goes against your familys values, its important to take that chance to reassert your values, she said.

When Andersons daughter came home from school with questions about the June 12 shooting in Tampa, in which 49 people were killed and more than 50 were injured at Pulse, a gay nightclub, Anderson said she struggled.

In this day and age, she is accepting of different lifestyles, Anderson said. I had to tell her that some dont share the same views we do. She understood, but not why (the shooter) had to be violent.

Anderson said her family, which includes 4- and 6-year-old sons, doesnt have a television, which helps limit exposure to bad news. But as her daughter gets older, she learns more from other media and from friends at school.

Its absolutely worse than when we were kids, she said. Theres too much being thrown at us all the time.

It just seems like theres a lot more exposure to things I dont remember as a kid, said Powers, of Glens Falls Hospital.

As preteens and teenagers get information from different sources, they are likely ready to discuss the news cycle, fact versus opinion and objectivity, Knorr said.

You can talk to your kids about what we call media literacy, helping your kids understand the stuff thats in the news and analyzing it and taking it apart, so they really get that people use the media in certain ways to manipulate you, she said.

She used the presidential campaign as an example of opposing viewpoints vying for media attention.

You can also talk to your older kids, around 11 and 12, about fact versus opinion, which is definitely really helpful for the stuff in the political season, she said.

Kids between ages 11 and 13 are probably ready to consider who a message is for. Media literacy skills are great to talk about because then kids can understand context and have a perspective on whats happening, she said.

As older children interact on social media and start using it as a source of information, Knorr suggests a discussion on credible news sources.

You can talk to your kids about how the stuff theyre seeing is really skewed because its only going to a certain audience, she said.

For younger children interested in current events, Knorr recommends several kid-friendly sources of news, including nbclearn.com, htekidsnews.com, newsela.com and timeforkids.com, among others.

News on such sites, Knorr said, is uplifiting. Kids like the feeling that they can do something about a crisis, where they can donate or help out in some way, she said. Thats a wonderful place to turn to when you feel as a parent, I dont know what to do.

Clement, the South Glens Falls mother of three, said her children hear the news every night in the background as they eat dinner.

Theyre concerned and they want to give, they want to help in some way, she said. Theyre more empathetic and I think that makes them a better person. You cant grow up and think everything is roses and peaches, because its not.
Police around upstate New York are investigating a rash of fake checks that seem to originate from a Connecticut group that is sending homeless people to bank branches in rural areas to try to cash their bogus checks.

A Hartford, Connecticut, man was arrested this week in connection with an attempt to cash a fake check for around $1,900 at the Glens Falls National Bank Branch in Argyle last fall.

The suspect, Nigel A. Anglin, 26, was charged with felony counts of attempted grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument for trying to cash a fake check for about $1,900. The teller became suspicious and would not cash it and Anglin fled, but not before he had shown identification to try to get cash, according to State Police.

State Police also have investigated similar complaints at banks in Greenwich and Queensbury, and at least two arrests were made earlier this year.

Jessica L. Alon, 41, of Coventry, Connecticut, and Felicia M. Fowler, 24, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, have both been charged with felonies in Warren County as well.

Investigators believe an organized ring was producing checks and paying people from Connecticut to travel to banks outside the area to try to cash them, according to State Police in Greenwich.

At least one of the people who tried to cash a check indicated they were homeless, and one of the fake checks was created on a government bank account, police said.

The investigation into who was responsible for producing the checks and enlisting the people to try to cash them was ongoing as of this week.

Anglin, who voluntarily surrendered himself, was released pending prosecution in Argyle Town Court after his arrest Tuesday.
GRANVILLE  A Vermont man was jailed Wednesday night after he was allegedly found to have heroin and prescription drugs during a traffic stop, police said.

Jordan P. Green, 29, of Lewis Road, Poultney, was arrested after he was stopped on Middleton Road for passing through a stop sign without stopping, according to Washington County Sheriff's Office.

He was found to have 44 bags of heroin, the prescription drug Suboxone without a prescription and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Green was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, police said.

He was arraigned and sent to Washington County Jail for lack of bail.

Sheriff's deputies Josh Whitney, Cory Hurlburt and Paul Trottier investigated the case, assisted by canine officer Odin.
GLENS FALLS  Representatives of three organizations on Thursday called on U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik to unequivocally oppose a trade deal they say would kill jobs and hurt the environment.

Representatives of the Working Families Party, Citizen Action of New York and CWA-IUE 81539 held a brief protest outside Stefaniks Glens Falls office to urge the congresswoman to stand strong against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, trade deal. Fifteen people attended.

The pact between the United States and 11 other nations would eliminate more than 18,000 tariffs on U.S. exported goods. The nations involved are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Opponents worry that the agreement would depress U.S. wages, lead to jobs being shipped overseas and allow companies to overrule environmental regulations.

Stefanik, R-Willsboro, has said she would not support the agreement in its current form and the deal should be renegotiated in the next Congress. Following Thursdays protest, a representative from Stefaniks Washington office reiterated that position.

Stefanik has not said what part of TPP she would like to see changed. The entire agreement is bad and would hurt workers, according to Jamaica Miles, Capital District organizer for Citizen Action of New York.

Miles said the law gives power to these multinational corporations to challenge laws they say would hurt their bottom line.

Were talking about putting profits over people. Were talking about health and safety of individuals. Theyre saying its OK to set those laws aside, he said.

Walt Lynd of Buskirk, political coordinator for CWA-IUE 8153, said bad trade agreements such as NAFTA, have resulted in a growing trade deficit and stagnating wages. The country does not need outsourcing and job-killing policies, he said.

When profit is the goal, your good job is just another structured cost, he said.

Joe Seeman of Ballston Spa, who is involved with Citizen Action and Working Families Party, said Stefanik should be pressed for specifics about how she feels about TPP. She has taken money from business interests that are pushing for this trade deal.

Excuse me for being a little skeptical, Seeman said.

Phillip Leber, Hudson Region political director of the Working Families Party, said the trade deal would allow corporations to seek waivers from relations in certain countries. It can supersede domestic courts.

That really shows how powerful this provision of the TPP is, he said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has said the deal is not being brought to the floor for a vote in this session.

Stefanik is running against Democrat Mike Derrick, a retired Army colonel, and Green Party member Matt Funiciello, a bread company owner and political activist from Hudson Falls.
Syrian opposition figures said Israeli warplanes struck targets belonging to the Shiite terror group Hezbollah in the Qalamoun Mountains along the Syria-Lebanon border, on Wednesday, according to Hebrew news sites citing Arab media.





The reports gave few details, saying only that the targets had been hit from the sky three times.

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday night it will not comment on the reports of a strike in Syria.

A Twitter account linked to Hezbollah denied that there had been any attack on its headquarters in Qalamoun.

The Qalamoun range is considered a key stronghold for Hezbollah, linking Damascus to eastern Lebanon, and is suspected to be used as a supply route for arms transfers between the regime and Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside President Bashar Assads forces.

Hezbollah has thousands of fighters in Syria, providing military might to help Assads regime put down the insurgency.

In May, Hezbollah said its top commander in Syria, Mustafa Badreddine, was killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike.

In April, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had carried out dozens of strikes against Hezbollah to prevent the group from obtaining advanced weapons  a rare Israeli admission of involvement in air attacks in Syria.













Damascus denounced Turkeys joint military operation with the Syrian rebels aimed at re-taking the Syrian border town of Jarablus from Islamic State militants (IS, former ISIS/ISIL). Damascus said it considers Turkish troops incursion into Syria a violation of its sovereignty.

Damascus condemned Turkish incursion into the Syrian territory after Turkeys tanks and Special Forces supported by the Turkish and US aircraft and Syrian rebels launched an offensive on the Syrian northern border town of Jarablus, calling it a national security issue.

Syrian government officials said that any side willing to fight terrorism on the Syrian territory should cooperate with the authorities and the Syrian Army, which has been fighting terrorism for over five years, as reported by SANA news agency. which has been fighting terrorism for over five years,

Syrian government called the Turkish operation a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Syria, adding that replacing Islamic State with other terrorist organizations backed directly by Turkey cannot be regarded as a fight against terrorism.





What is happening in Jarablus now isnt fighting terrorism as Turkey claims - rather it is replacing one type of terrorism with another, a Syrian government official told SANA and once again called on the UN to put an end to this aggression and to make Turkey and the US-led coalition fulfill the UN resolutions related to closing the borders and preventing the terrorists from receiving funding and support from abroad.





Meanwhile, Russia also expressed its concern over the Turkish actions in Syria. Moscow is deeply worried by the developments on the Syrian-Turkish border, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that a possibility of the further deterioration of the situation in the conflict zone as well as potential losses among the civilian population and the aggravation of  antagonism between Kurds and Arabs is a source of primary concern.

The ministry also once again stressed that the Syrian crisis could be resolved only through peaceful means, including a broad interethnic dialog that should particularly involve Kurds.

Turkey managed to successfully hit the previously identified IS targets during its operation in the town of Jarablus, Turkish envoy to the UN said in a statement. He also said that the operation was aimed at liberating the Syrian territory bordering Turkey from terrorists and strengthening Turkish border security.

Earlier, Syrian rebel groups supported by Turkish tanks and special forces, as well as US airpower, said they had entered Jarablus and now control about 50 percent of the town that had been held by Islamic State since 2013, according to Reuters. Rebel sources told the agency that most IS fighters had fled the town, while some had surrendered.





A spokesman for the YPG Kurdish militia, Redur Xelil, denounced Turkeys move as 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.

In the meantime, the Kurdish Firat news agency (ANFNews) reported that 29 civilians have been killed by the advancing Turkish and allied troops so far.

Turkey launched a ground operation in northern Syria at 4 am local time (02:00 GMT), which involved tanks and Special Forces, after its artillery shelled targets across the Syrian border. The operation, called Euphrates Shield, was also supported by Turkish air forces, as well as A-10S and F-16 warplanes from the US-led coalition.













According to US defense officials, the guided missile destroyer USS Nitze was intercepted by four Iranian vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

The American destroyer was operating in international waters alongside the USS Mason when officials say four Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels performed a "high-speed intercept" of the Nitze. "These sorts of unsafe and unprofessional actions can lead to escalation and miscalculation, which may necessitate additional defensive measures," said Cmdr. Bill Urban, public affairs officer for US Naval Forces Central Command, according to Stars and Stripes .





The US destroyer allegedly attempted to make radio contact with the vessels, but received no response. Crewmembers then sounded the Nitzes ship whistle, a naval signal meant to express that the ship is unclear about another vessels intentions. The destroyer then fired ten flares toward the Revolution Guard vessels, still without response.

According to the statement, the Revolutionary Guard forced the Nitze to change course in order to avoid a potential collision.

After coming within 300 yards of the Nitze, the Iranian vessels left.

The incident is under investigation, and is reminiscent of the instance in January in which two US Navy patrol vessels drifted into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. Crewmembers were apprehended by the Revolutionary Guard and nearly sparked an international incident in the midst of the Iran nuclear negotiations.




The air and ground offensive  the most ambitious launched by Ankara in the Syria conflict  made rapid progress towards Jarablus, with rebel fighters already proclaiming victory by the late afternoon, just 14 hours after it started.

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.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized 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 Jarablus.

Jarablus 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.

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.

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 operation  named Euphrates Shield  began at around 4:00 a.m. with Turkish artillery pounding dozens of IS targets around Jarablus.

Turkey has long been alarmed about the activities inside Syria of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Washington sees as an ally but Ankara regards as a terror group.

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.

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.

The effects of one air raid on the northern outskirts of Jarablus were easily visible, sending up a cloud of black smoke and sand.













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.

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.








Rubber is a native of the Amazon basin and introduced to countries in the tropical belts of Asia and Africa during late 19th century.

It can be termed as the most far reaching and successful of introductions in plant history resulting in plantations over 9.3 million hectares.

The crop also known as the Para rubber tree after the Brazilian port of Para, is a quick growing, fairly sturdy, perennial tree of a height of 25 to 30 meters. The rubber tree may live for a hundred years or even more. But its economic life period in plantations averages 32 years  7 years of immature phase and 25 years of productive phase.

The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has been at the forefront of financing rubber cultivation in Ghana with support from Government of Ghana, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), and the World Bank with Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) as a Technical Operator.

The bank has been the Financial Operator in four out of the five phases of the Rubber Outgrower Plantation Project (ROPP). The Phase I of the project was launched in 1995 and was co-financed by the Government of Ghana, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and the World Bank.

Phase IV of the Project (2010-2012) involved a direct (Non-Sovereign) on-lending financing from AFD to Agricultural Development Bank and resulted in the cultivation of 10,700 hectares of rubber by 2,800 Outgrower farmers. ADB through a non-sovereign on-lending arrangement is presently financing the Phase V component of the project involving the cultivation of additional 7,000 hectares of rubber by 2,465 Outgrower farmers in over 400 communities in 33 districts across the Western, Central and Ashanti regions of Ghana.

ADB since 1995 has provided on-lending and other facilities totaling about Euro 32.0 million to support the rubber subsector. This has contributed to an increase in the area under cultivation from about 10,000 hectares in 1995 to about 57,000 in 2015.

The banks financial intermediation to the rubber value chain has resulted in production and processing of 12,572 metric tons of rubber valued at GHS20.87 million (US$5.22 million) in year 2015 for export . The annual production of rubber from farms financed by ADB is expected to increase to about 19,288 metric tons of dry rubber annually when production from the last two phases (IV and V) peaks.

In a bid to further improve the standard of living of rubber farmers, the bank has developed a specific product to cater for their non-farm needs. Non-farm loans are advanced to farmers to enable them carter for their domestic needs including payment of fees of their wards to the tertiary level.

The bank through the financing of these projects has also immensely contributed to the improvement of the environment through carbon sequestration.
The minority expressed those fears after parliament amended the Bank Of Ghana Act allowing the government to borrow not more than 5 % of the previous years revenue contradicts the earlier agreement.

READ ALSO:

He said the delay by the IMF Board to sanction the release of the 116 million dollar third tranche might lead to the deal in totality being called off.

The IMF demanded a zero financing of government deficit by the Central Bank as part of the program under the memorandum for financing and economic policy .

Ghana entered into a 3-year extended credit facility program with the IMF in February 2015 to help turn the ailing economy around.

Addressing the fears of the Minority, deputy Minister of finance Cassiel Ato Forson said , IMF said or asked government to create an opportunity to do 2-5% in terms of emergency financing .

He said despite the recent amendment , the government has not borrowed from the Central Bank this year .
The Bank is one of the largest networked Banks in Ghana with over 40 Branches. Societe Generale Ghana is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and is a member of the Ghana Club 100 of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

Societe Generale Ghana has more than 11,000 Business customers and 216,000 Retail Customers. As a subsidiary of Societe Generale Group present in 19 African countries, the Bank offers Universal Banking services to its clients and the opportunity to directly transact business in the sub-regional and African market.

Societe Generale Ghana is happy to support the rehabilitation of Ghanas Missions abroad with this financing of $50 million. The signing of this Credit Facility Agreement has come at an opportune time to support the Ghana Government to address some of the challenges faced by the Ghana Foreign Missions.

It is Societe Generale Ghanas desire to partner Ghana in the socio-economic development of the country and to strengthen the already cordial business relations that have existed for many years between the Societe Generale Group, Societe Generale Ghana and the Government of Ghana.

All observers acknowledge that there is rule of law and respect for human rights in Ghana and that the countrys democracy has deepened. Therefore as a true development partner of Ghana, Societe Generale Ghana and the Societe Generale Group have financed various Government of Ghana projects to the tune of USD600 million between 2009 and 2016.

Some of the projects Societe Generale has financed totally or as a participating bank in a syndication include the Aboadze Thermal Plant; Fire Tenders for the Ministry of Interior; Steel Bridges for the Ministry of Roads & Highways; E-Government Project for the Ministry of Communication; 2 GRIDCo Transmission Projects; the Accra Streets Asphalting; the Kwame Nkrumah and Kasoa Interchanges and the Ghana Cocobod Cocoa Syndication since 1997 to date.
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!
Empowerment is also about giving people a voice, so they can speak up against oppression and injustice. Throughout history, there has been one empowerment program after the other. As long as inequality remains, there will always be the need for the strong to lift up the weak. Be it the empowerment of Black people, or of women, of sexual minorities, or of street children  there is always a need for someone to rise up and say it is your time to speak up; you can lay claim to any resource around you, just like everyone else.

Empowerment is important because it tries to do away with the coercive and oppressive relationships of power that often exists in some societies. It is really doubtful that anyone would find faults with empowerments honest need to give a voice to the oppressed and to make their lives matter.

Nevertheless there is a paradox in empowerment agendas that can result in the abuse of the very people whose interests it seeks to protect.

I will clarify this paradox with an illustration. Mr. Mensah is an oil magnate while Budu sells cigarettes on the rough streets of Accra. Driving home from work one day, Mr. Mensah meets Budu and decides that Budu will be better off if he gets off the street. He does this because he sees the potential for success in Budu, so takes Budu home with him. Mr. Mensah believes that Budu will make an excellent lawyer someday, so he quickly enrolls Budu in the university. Budu is grateful, of course; Mr. Mensah has given him a new chance at life, he has given him a voice, he has empowered him; something no one ever did for him. Where empowerment failed is this: Mr. Mensah never asked Budu what it was he really wanted. Had he asked, Mr. Mensah would have known that Budu had always wanted to learn sculpturing at the community polytechnic. Mr. Mensah gave Budu a voice, but it was a voice Budu couldnt sing with.

The illustration of Mr. Mensahs relationship with Budu is to establish that no matter the magnanimity of empowerment, power still remains in the hands of one the strong. That is, within the very structures of empowerment is the possibility of domination.

Empowerment comprises of two parties; the weak/oppressed who needs saving and the strong/free who takes upon himself the role of giving hope to the hopeless. Weak and strong, poor and rich  that is the dynamics of empowerment. Any displacement in the balance that exists between the weak and the strong will result in a new form of oppression, where the saviour becomes the tyrant.

Can Budu ever complain if Mr. Mensah employs him as his lawyer personal lawyer? Can he ever say no if Mr. Mensah instructs him to forge documents and perjure himself in court? No he cannot; he owns most of his success to Mr. Mensah.

Tyranny can be cloaked as empowerment, and it is often the case when benevolent NGOs, civil societies and donor agencies fall into the delusion that they know more about the needs of the poor than the poor themselves do.

With the argument that empowerment can serve as a tool for oppression, it is important to understand poor doesnt necessarily mean dumb. Can saviours overcome the seductiveness of a new form of oppression? What will be the motive of empowerment, teaching the hungry man to fish for himself, or teaching him to fish so he calls you Master?
The embattled pastor was sent from the Police Headquarters to a new place on Wednesday after his followers gathered at the Police head office in Accra demanding his release.

Lawyer for the embattled pastor, Atta Kyea said Bishop Daniel Obinim may go to court to demand bail for his client if the Police fails to grant them the request.

Obinims followers protested against the preachers arrest but the Police managed to disperse them with water cannons and batons.

Atta Akyea said he is not happy with the way his client is being treated.

"...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 told Class FM.

A video which has gone viral shows Bishop Obinim whipping the two teenagers in the full glare of his congregation and questioned why the jobless man got the girl pregnant.

After he meted out the punishment, Obinim ordered his junior pastors to remove their belts and also flog the two.

Read also: Bishop Obinim in police custody for defrauding man
According to him, The Staff never informed us, all we heard is that they were on a so called 3-hour strike punishing ordinary Ghanaians just because you think you have issues with the concession that is very unfortunate."

Read more: ECG staff threaten nationwide blackout on Friday

Aggrieved workers of ECG 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.

See also: Director of ECG installed chief of Gomoa Techiman

But John Jinapor said, Lets be very fair to ourselves, can you do that in a private company where staff decide that we wont serve customers. I think we ought to be guided, we ought to be cautions and we ought to respect the labour laws.

The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), 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.
Aggrieved workers of ECG 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.

Read more: ECG staff warned over nationwide dumsor

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.

But Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby said I disagree with the ECG workers and I am not in favour of the agreement between government and the American Company. Government has employed them so they dont have the right to say they will shut power for the whole nation or you will not work as a result of the governments decision to privatize the ECG.

He said a worker does not have the right to say they will stop work and will put out light but if they do what they threatened to do, it will amount to sabotage and breach of contract between the government and the employee.

Speaking on Accra-based Onua FM, he said, "If you want to protect your work that is natural but you cant say you are dictating to the one who employed you so everyone who will sabotage the ECG should be sacked."

See also: ECG staff threaten nationwide blackout on Friday

The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), 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.
Obinim was on Tuesday handcuffed and sent to the National Police Criminal Investigations Department, Accra for allegedly defrauding a man of GHC11.6 million.

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 was later taken back to the CID headquarters where he spent a second night.

Hundreds of his church members gathered at the Police headquarters to offer intercessory prayers for their founder and leader.
According to him, the presidents use of his prerogative of mercy, in this case, has provided a legal opportunity for clarity on the exercise of the Article 72 powers granted by the constitution.

The president, late on Monday, August 22, 2016, freed the three men.

READ ALSO: Montie 3 Pardon

A statement signed by the Communications Minister Dr Omane Boamah said the decision was taken on the advice of the Council of State and was on compassionate grounds.

The decision has not gone down well with some sections of the public, who believe that the authority of the Judiciary is being undermined.

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.

Ace Ankomah subsequently argues that the exercise of the Presidents Article 72 powers had to be tested against the standard for the exercise of all constitutional donated powers. The exercise must be fair, it must be exercised in a candid manner, it must not be capricious, arbitrary or based on bias.

Every power that is donated by the constitution is not absolute and that if the test under the constitution is not met, the court then has the power to do a judicial review of it, the legal practitioner told Accra-based Citi FM.

The contempt proceedings came after the three threatened the lives of Supreme Court judges who sat on the Abu Ramadan and Gary Nimako versus the Electoral Commission case.

A petition book was subsequently opened by pro-government group Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) to collect signatures of Ghanaians to implore the president to exercise his prerogative of mercy powers to free the three contemnors.
Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy writes...............RECKLESS COMMENTS ON MUNTIE PARDONS MUST STOPLet me begin this by restating that I was and remain opposed to the President's pardon because while constitutional, it was not prudent.However, the reactions to it have been over the top and reckless. Indeed, these reactions have the chance to do more harm to our constitutional order than the pardons. If the courts charged with dispensing justice can be merciful, why cant the President who has the mandate to show mercy be merciful?You would think the President just staged his second coup, with apologies to the title of his first book.The leaders of the Judicial Service workers issued a statement that "we will not allow this to dampen our spirits". Really? And their spirits have never been dampened by the pardon of murderers? Was their spirit dampened by the corrupt judges?Then Hon. Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney General and counsel for Sir John, who immortalised himself before court in his plea for mercy invoking "Gbesie" opined that the pardons showed that the President is only a President for NDC members. Really, honourable? If you had lost the plea for mercy on behalf of Sir John, would you not have asked for a Presidential pardon? A lawyer who would plead for mercy before the courts but will not plead it before the President is a bad attorney and that is not Ayikoi Otoo.John Ndebugre thinks it sets a bad constitutional precedent. What about all those pardons for murderers? What about joining the PNDC regime that overthrew an elected government, comrade?While all these were egregious, Hon. Atta Akyea, whose client went to jail for contempt takes the cake. He described the pardon as "constitutional lawlessness"!! Ebei, lawyer Atta Akyea. I did not go to Achimota and I am more familiar with a stethoscope than syntax but how can something that is constitutional be lawless?All these lawyers should be explaining to us laypeople why the President's action is constitutional and consistent with the biblical and Shakespearean injunction to "temper justice with mercy", instead of confusing us. As for the NPP, it should be careful about the traps it is laying for future NPP presidents!!We should focus on the learning points of this episode. The case should have been prosecuted by the AG before another court. The lawyers for the accused should have been more vigourous in their advocacy before the Supreme court.The National Media Commission and media houses, together with GJA, should police the profession better. And finally, nobody who is not a government employee should be getting a paycheck from the government -- As Mugabe is alleged to be getting.God bless you all and Ghana.
A swarm of Bishop Daniel Obinim supporters yesterday charged on the premises of the CID at police headquarters in Accra as police officers used water cannons and baton charges to dispel them, albeit unsuccessfully.

MAHAMA ATTACKS NANA AGAIN

President John Mahama has made the opposition NPP standard bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, his target in his re-election bid as he launches personal attack on him (Nana Addo).

ECG WORKERS PROTEST SALE

OBINIMS SUPPORTERS CLASH WITH POLICE

The police yesterday used water cannons to disperse defiant members of the International Gods Way Church and other sympathizers who had besieged the CID Headquarters to demand the release of their spiritual leader, Bishop Daniel Obinim.

ECG WORKERS DISRUPT OPERATIONS

The Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) yesterday commenced a three-day demonstration across the regional and district offices of the ECG to put pressure on the government to back down on its intention to give the ECG out to a private investor.

DANIEL OBINIM'S ARREST FOR FRAUD: SUPPORTERS LOCK DOWN POLICE HQ

ECG workers down tools for three hours
READ ALSO : UN agency to use Ghanaian app in the fight against HIV

Ghana is a pioneer in Africa independence we are also ready to assist the Electoral Commissioner on the upcoming elections, Gettu said in an exclusive interview with Pulse.com.gh.

The UNDP has provided support to Ghana during its previous elections and as such will do same towards the upcoming elections come 7 December.

He commended Ghana for being the center of stability, peace and democracy and because of that we shall continue to support Ghanaians and the government in the smooth running of the elections to be transparent.

ALSO READ : New report paints dark future for world's poorest children

The UNDP has been a long standing partner of Ghana. It has helped in many sectors of the Ghanaian economy and also continue to partner agencies that associate with their vision.

The UNDP has been in Ghana for the past 50 years and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at Alisa Hotel in Accra. In attendance were some ministers of state and UNDP officials.

A number of documentary shown at the venue demonstrating the numerous contribution UNDP has made towards changing lives in Ghana with some areas including development project in education, health agriculture and the environment.
He again attacked Akufo-Addo's character at a rally in Bimbila in the Northern Region, describing him as a "dictator" and a "divisive" figure.

He further told voters the NPP flagbearer is too "dangerous" for the destiny of the nation to be entrusted into his hands.

However, the NPP flagbearer has said he will not respond to the president's "insult" and "innuendos" during recent tour in the Greater Accra.

The president sustained attack on the NPP leader follows a bitter internal party politics which led to the suspension of three national executives and the death of the party's Upper East Regional Chairman of the party.

But a political scientist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, says there is a need for the the NPP leader to respond to Mahama's attacks but not in the way the president goes about his.

I dont expect him to reply back on the same measure, but he must find a way to allow his publicists deal with critical issues that bothers on the leadership of president Mahama, he told Accra-based Class FM.

He continued: When you look at the fact that the NPP itself has internal challenges just as any other political parties have it, you cannot tell me that Paul Afoko is at peace, you cannot tell me that the other NPP members of the NPP fraternity who are unhappy with the outcome of that decision are entirely happy today."So when the president begins to speak in a certain manner, what he is doing is to appeal to the conscience of such persons who are aggrieved within the NPP."
"Insults will not create jobs or fix the economy Mr President. Since officially launching [its] campaign in Cape Coast recently, the National Democratic Congress, led by President John Dramani Mahama, has made it clear how they intend to wage their campaign."

He added: After eight straight years in office and seeking to extend it to 12 years if elected this Decemberthe NDC intends to once again prosecute a campaign of lies and insults against Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo."

President Mahama has recently upped his attacks on Akufo-Addo, saying he behaves like a dictator who can not stand criticisms.

What we need in Ghana is an understanding president. The era of dictatorship is gone: we are not looking for a dictator, somebody who cannot stand criticism in his own party," President Mahama said at a campaign rally in Bimbila Tuesday. If you criticise him, he will sack you.  That is not the kind of leader we are looking for. We are looking for a leader who can bring people together.According to Mr Boadu, the president speaks as though he is "possessed" while describing Akufo-Addo as the lead campaigner against dictatorship in Ghana.
He further told voters the NPP flagbearer is too "dangerous" for the destiny of the nation to be entrusted into his hands.

The president sustained attack on the NPP leader follows some internal party politics which led to the suspension of three national executives and the death of the party's Upper East Regional Chairman of the party.

But addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, 25 August, Mr Boadu said the NPP is at peace.

We wish to tell the president that the New Patriotic Party is not divided; we wish to tell him that the only fight that the NPP is involved in is the fight to rid Ghana of his bad leadership.All the people who contested against Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the ... presidential primaries are at the forefront of the NPP campaign today. Alan Kyerematen is at the right side of Nana Akufo-Addo travelling up and down the country preaching a positive message of change to the suffering masses of Ghana. Addai-Nimoh, Joe Ghartey, Osei Ameyaw, and all of them are fully committed to an Akufo-Addo victory. The party that gives its leader over 94 per cent of its grassroots support cannot be said to be split in the middle. No amount of voodoo mathematics, can change this fact. This is 94 per cent of competitive elections and not election with one self. The NPP is a peaceful political party, he said.
The Regent said a Wednesday evening in the Yendi Municipality ahead of the Presidents visit signifies victory for the National Democratic Congress on whose ticket the President is contesting the elections.

READ ALSO:

President Mahama who is on a campaign tour of the Northern Region, had visited the Regent to seek his blessing ahead of the polls on December 7. Before he addressed the charged crowd at the Gbewa Palace, the Regent in his welcome message assured President Mahama of victory.

The rain signifies your pure heart and good deeds, we have seen your works and today just like some years back, I and the entire Dagbon know you have won already, the Regent said.

He further revealed plans to upgrade the Yendi Municipal Hospital to ensure patients receive quality healthcare.

The president also promised to continue construction of the Eastern Corridor road.
The Oyokohene of New Juaben, said the Council of State advised President Mahama after they considered the various dynamics involved in the case.

Nana Kesse said on Accra-based Starr News that they took that decision knowing that everybody deserves a pardon irrespective of what they are guilty of.

he added.

Nana Kesse said he was not surprised at the reaction from the general public 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.

A statement released on Monday (August 22) and signed by the Minister of Communications Dr Omane Boamah said President Mahama granted the remittance in consultation with the Council of State.

The three were initially supposed to serve a four-month jail term after they were sentenced by the Supreme Court on July 27, 2016.

A petition book was subsequently opened by pro-government group Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) to collect signatures of Ghanaians to implore the president to exercise his prerogative of mercy powers to free the three contemnors.
Bishop Daniel Obinim spent two days in police cells for allegedly defrauding a man to a tune of Ghc 11.6m.

He had a rousing welcome by family, friends and church members.

Lawyer for the embattled pastor, Atta Kyea revealed that Bishop Daniel Obinim has been granted bail.

According to him, Bishop Obinim was granted bail with two sureties for each of the offences for which he was arrested. It is unclear the bail bond or the amount involved.

Supporters were excited after Obinim was bailed.

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.

However, the teenagers involved in the fornication saga that led to the arrest of the Founder and General Overseer of the International Gods Way Church, Bishop Obinim have confessed, saying they only had sex once.
In the West, many regard traditional Muslim dress like the hijab as a sign of oppression, with women forced to wear the garments by men. But it is not as simple as that: many women choose to wear the hijab as a sign of faith, feminism, or simply because they want to.

Recently, 19-year-old Egyptian volleyball player Doaa Elghobashys decision to wear a hijab while competing against Germany caused a stir. Her and partner Nada Meawads team uniform of long sleeved tops and ankle length trousers were already a stark contrast to the German competitiors' bikinis, yet it was Elghobashys hijab that media attention focused on.

Elgobashy and Meawad were the first team to represent Egypt in volleyball at the Olympics and, in the words of Elgobashy, the hijab which she has worn for ten years doesnt keep me away from the things I love to do.

The determination and sporting prowess that Elgobashy displayed is a polar opposite to the assumption that all hijab-wearing Muslim women are passive and oppressed. The support and celebration that Elgobashys hiajb has also received is in direct contrast to the banning of burkinis in several French towns  though to look at both outfits, they cover the same amount of the body.

1. Women are not forced to wear hijabs

Some women choose to wear the hijab because it is a national tradition of their country of origin, or because it is the norm in their local area, city or country. Others wear it to demonstrate their commitment to dressing modestly and for religious reasons. Like any item of clothing, some women wear the hijab for specific occasions, such as for family or community events, or during particular times of day but take it off at other times, such as wearing the hijab to and from school or work but taking it off while studying or working.

A very small minority may claim to be forced to wear the hijab. However, many studies show that in fact Muslim women choose to wear the hijab as a way of showing self-control, power and agency.

2. Youre not sexually oppressed

Many hijab wearers have said that they wear the veil not as a symbol of control by a man, but rather to promote their own feminist ideals. For many Muslim women, wearing a hijab offers a way for them to take control of their bodies and to claim a stance that challenges the ways in which women are marginalised by men.

Research has shown that for young Muslim women, wearing a hijab says little about the likelihood of them having a boyfriend or participating in a sexual relationship. Indeed, some young women have said they would wear the hijab to give them more space to engage in such activities.

3. Youre not more likely to be linked to terrorism

Since 9/11, negative media coverage of Muslim communities, alongside government counter-terrorism policies in many Western countries, has further demonised Muslims. British research has shown that government policies have resulted in Muslims receiving unjustified attention in airport security, for example. They have also been shown to have created extra tensions and divisions between Muslim communities and the police.

For some hijab wearers, the hatred towards Muslim communities pushed them to stop wearing the veil after terrorist incidents, like the 7/7 London bombings, in order to minimise the chance of them experiencing racism. However, at the same time others started to wear the hijab to show their commitment to their religious faith. The hijab therefore cannot be a fixed symbol, but is far more flexible and changeable  and certainly cannot be deemed a marker of terrorism.

4. Its not a West versus rest division

There are many different styles, colours and shapes of hijab including different ways of wearing it. There is also a rising transnational Muslim fashion trade focusing particularly on younger women. In many respects, the hijab is similar to any other item of clothing with businesses marketing different styles and brands in order to maximise sales.

This global fashion trade transcends national and regional boundaries. It is about maximising the market rather than reinforcing divisions between the West and the Muslim rest. Rather than asking why a women is wearing a hijab to reinforce difference, we should ask what high street store or online retailer she purchased her clothing from and what attracted her to this brand. For some wearers, this is far more pertinent and telling of their personality.

5. The hijab is not something to be feared

A recently published report of anti-Muslim abuse in England found that more than 60% of victims are women, and 75% of these women were visibly Muslim so were likely to be wearing some form of head-covering. Women were also more likely than men to suffer anti-Muslim attacks on public transport or when shopping. The vast majority of the perpetrators in these incidents were white men, motivated by stereotypes. So rather than being feared, its more likely that women wearing hijab might fear others.

Muslim women wear the hijab for many different reasons all of which can change over time. This applies if the wearer is a community activist, an Olympic athlete like Elghobashy, a PhD student, a mother of young children or some or all of these. Any assumption that society attaches to the veil will never be right for each individual wearer, and it is for that very reason that we need to start changing the way we view it.
Blog Archive Oct 2022 (58) Sep 2022 (60) Aug 2022 (61) Jul 2022 (55) Jun 2022 (60) May 2022 (73) Apr 2022 (60) Mar 2022 (58) Feb 2022 (65) Jan 2022 (69) Dec 2021 (106) Nov 2021 (84) Oct 2021 (58) Sep 2021 (67) Aug 2021 (62) Jul 2021 (54) Jun 2021 (50) May 2021 (58) Apr 2021 (44) Mar 2021 (57) Feb 2021 (64) Jan 2021 (93) Dec 2020 (82) Nov 2020 (62) Oct 2020 (50) Sep 2020 (45) Aug 2020 (51) Jul 2020 (56) Jun 2020 (53) May 2020 (70) Apr 2020 (66) Mar 2020 (169) Feb 2020 (211) Jan 2020 (184) Dec 2019 (54) Nov 2019 (56) Oct 2019 (55) Sep 2019 (63) Aug 2019 (54) Jul 2019 (69) Jun 2019 (56) May 2019 (65) Apr 2019 (68) Mar 2019 (72) Feb 2019 (76) Jan 2019 (62) Dec 2018 (55) Nov 2018 (69) Oct 2018 (90) Sep 2018 (82) Aug 2018 (58) Jul 2018 (36) Jun 2018 (47) May 2018 (44) Apr 2018 (64) Mar 2018 (63) Feb 2018 (68) Jan 2018 (92) Dec 2017 (85) Nov 2017 (64) Oct 2017 (82) Sep 2017 (54) Aug 2017 (89) Jul 2017 (60) Jun 2017 (86) May 2017 (84) Apr 2017 (62) Mar 2017 (86) Feb 2017 (91) Jan 2017 (113) Dec 2016 (109) Nov 2016 (100) Oct 2016 (82) Sep 2016 (95) Aug 2016 (84) Jul 2016 (84) Jun 2016 (99) May 2016 (93) Apr 2016 (106) Mar 2016 (145) Feb 2016 (125) Jan 2016 (103) Dec 2015 (83) Nov 2015 (80) Oct 2015 (100) Sep 2015 (111) Aug 2015 (94) Jul 2015 (98) Jun 2015 (151) May 2015 (125) Apr 2015 (109) Mar 2015 (122) Feb 2015 (113) Jan 2015 (135) Dec 2014 (131) Nov 2014 (115) Oct 2014 (146) Sep 2014 (112) Aug 2014 (128) Jul 2014 (94) Jun 2014 (104) May 2014 (140) Apr 2014 (132) Mar 2014 (81) Feb 2014 (89) Jan 2014 (141) Dec 2013 (100) Nov 2013 (96) Oct 2013 (99) Sep 2013 (94) Aug 2013 (95) Jul 2013 (95) Jun 2013 (91) May 2013 (139) Apr 2013 (179) Mar 2013 (73) Feb 2013 (76) Jan 2013 (85) Dec 2012 (59) Nov 2012 (71) Oct 2012 (85) Sep 2012 (70) Aug 2012 (71) Jul 2012 (53) Jun 2012 (51) May 2012 (52) Apr 2012 (52) Mar 2012 (69) Feb 2012 (76) Jan 2012 (70) Dec 2011 (60) Nov 2011 (54) Oct 2011 (57) Sep 2011 (75) Aug 2011 (72) Jul 2011 (64) Jun 2011 (76) May 2011 (56) Apr 2011 (73) Mar 2011 (114) Feb 2011 (71) Jan 2011 (80) Dec 2010 (92) Nov 2010 (82) Oct 2010 (73) Sep 2010 (95) Aug 2010 (86) Jul 2010 (81) Jun 2010 (76) May 2010 (71) Apr 2010 (74) Mar 2010 (74) Feb 2010 (82) Jan 2010 (101) Dec 2009 (108) Nov 2009 (182) Oct 2009 (136) Sep 2009 (102) Aug 2009 (120) Jul 2009 (151) Jun 2009 (136) May 2009 (180) Apr 2009 (145) Mar 2009 (113) Feb 2009 (113) Jan 2009 (124) Dec 2008 (108) Nov 2008 (69) Oct 2008 (89) Sep 2008 (76) Aug 2008 (75) Jul 2008 (87) Jun 2008 (80) May 2008 (99) Apr 2008 (93) Mar 2008 (115) Feb 2008 (147) Jan 2008 (162) Dec 2007 (124) Nov 2007 (95) Oct 2007 (67) Sep 2007 (42) Aug 2007 (78) Jul 2007 (75) Jun 2007 (123) May 2007 (110) Apr 2007 (108) Mar 2007 (92) Feb 2007 (136) Jan 2007 (119) Dec 2006 (41) Nov 2006 (34) Oct 2006 (12) Sep 2006 (13) Aug 2006 (13) Jul 2006 (16) Jun 2006 (12) May 2006 (21) Apr 2006 (38) Mar 2006 (27) Feb 2006 (25) Jan 2006 (18)
The TV host was at the launch of "Ethan & Harriet" at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos today.

He took to Instagram sharing various cheeky photos of himself along with comedian Chigurl and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

"And OBJ tried to dab! Starring: @theonlychigul @layoleoyatogun and BABA himself plus ME! Stil at the "Ethan & Harriet" launch at the Oriental Hotel," he captioned a photo of them trying to dab.

"Goofing around with BABA OLUSEGUN Aremu Okikiola OBASANJO!

He is such an amazing sport! And he complimented my hair and asked me to lend him my Akpola boots!
This is due to the latter's decision to donate the $7 million settlement she received from her litigation battle with him.

Heard had reportedly made a promise to give out her court settlement proceeds to two charity organisations, American Civil Liberties Union (AMLU) and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

The amount is to be divided into two, making it a sum of $3.5 million each for the recipients.

A representative of Depp told TMZ that the actor was happy that his ex wife went through with her announcement to make the donations she earlier promised.

"Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge."

"Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected", the source concluded.

The pair broke off their marriage following reports of domestic abuse by Johnny Depp.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Children's Hospital of Los Angeles each received cheques on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, from Johnny on behalf of Heard, TMZ reports.

ALSO READ: Actress accuses Johnny Depp of stalling divorce process

Each organisation will be receiving $3.5million.

Last week actress Amber said the huge sum "played no role" in her split from the star. Recall Heard who filed a restraining order against Johnny Depp accusing him of domestic violence, announced her she was donating to charityin a statement to Us Weekly, on Thursday, August 18, 2016.

Johnny Depp has made good her claims to give away the millions she received from him.

A rep for Johnny told TMZ, "Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge."

ALSO READ: Actress to provide proof of domestic violence against Johnny Depp
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!
ALSO READ: 12 things Charles Novia said about telenovela

She holds a Bachelors degree in English from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, also Masters degree in Human Resources Management from TIME Universite Tunis, Tunisia and an MBA training from University Jean Moulin, Lyon France. Meg worked at African Development Bank in Tunis, Tunisia, several years before moving back to Nigeria to pursue her passion as an actress.

Meg who hails from the Idoma speaking area of Benue State, Nigeria was nicknamed the Chameleon because of her mastery of her roles, Vanguard Newspaper describes her as a phenomenally gifted artiste. She is also a lover of languages, speaks and writes English, French, Hausa, Idoma, Spanish and Yoruba, fluently.

The talented Nollywood actress made her Nollywood debut in the dance film "Ill Take My Chances" in 2011 and has since moved on to major roles in some of Nollywoods biggest movies. She was also cast in Kunle Afolayans AMVCA award winning hit movie, October 1, she also starred as Aisha in the popular series B430. Her other major credits include Charles Novias Atlanta, Gidi Culture, Ojuju, Kpians (Festival of Souls) and others.

ALSO READ: Michelle Dede joins telenovela as Omowunmi Banjo
According to a Facebook user, Ossai Ovie Success, the boys who were caught with two boxes filled with used female panties, old mats, used female wigs and brassieres, and other items used for the rituals were apprehended by policemen during a stop and search operation.

The Yahoo Boys busted

Photo Credit: Facebook

During interrogation, they allegedly confessed to making the trip for ritual purposes to make their fraud effective.

This is what Success posted on his Facebook wall:

"Mobile police apprehend some group of Ghana Burgers at Koko Junction. According to the visuals and photo of evidence, we find out that these guys, according to their confession, went to Oyo State for rituals.

They used two Ecolax buses and boarded the vehicle from Benin and asked the driver to move straight to Sapele. said his name is Simeon and he stays at Uruhakpa and Otefe Poly student.

According to their own confession after police interrogations, they said they went for rituals at Oyo State."

"The two Ecolax buses contain the following items.

1. Four used girls pants

2. Old mat

3. Used girls wig

4. Used girls brassier

And other concoction items."

The Ghana Burgers in soup
He was released from the Ibara Prisons, Abeokuta, on Thursday, August 25, 2016, four days after an Ota Magistrate Court granted him freedom on bail.

His inability to fulfill the requirement for his release made him stay in jail longer than expected.

ALSO READ: Trader who named dog Buhari cries out from prison

Trouble began for him when a neighbour of his reported him to the police for naming his dog Alhaji Buhari, who he claimed was his late father.

The complainant had directed life threats at him, promising to kill the accused if he is released from police custody.
The suspect who worked as a security guard in the Mushin area, it was gathered, had reportedly visited the shop, Finest Couture Boutique, on June 20, 2016, on the pretext that he wanted to buy jeans, shirts, and shoes, and while negotiating the prices of the items with the salesgirl identified as Juliet Aghedo, he was said to have lured her into a corner in the shop and squeezed her neck until she passed out.

Okoh then carted away a lady's bag, 56 pairs of jeans, 36 pieces of women leggings, 15 shirts, 13 wristwatches and four mobile phones, all valued at the amount, and escaped from the shop before the lady regained consciousness.

It was the owner of the shop, a lawyer identified as Francisca Osomiha, who made the matter known to the police through a petition she wrote to the State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.

According to the petition, Okoh, an indigene of Delta State, had earlier visited the shop on June 16, and pretended he wanted to buy jeans but left without buying anything because the price he quoted did not meet the going price for the items.

However, before he left, he gave the shop attendant his phone number, promising to call when he had enough money on him.

Two days later, he called Aghedo on the phone that he was around the shop to buy the goods but did not show up till the shop closed for the day.

Then on June 20, just as Aghedo was opening for the day, Okoh entered the shop, pretending he had come to buy the goods.

He then lured the lady into the inner shop where he knew nobody would hear her screams, held her neck till she lost consciousness, before packing away the items, including a cash of N280,000, cash not knowing that the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) installed in the shop had captured him.

The police used the phone number he had left and his image captured by the CCTV and traced him to his hideout where he was nabbed.

In his confessional statement to the police, Okoh said he sold the stolen items to one Francis at Computer Village, Ikeja, adding that he took to stealing sometime in 2010 while in Benin, Edo State.

I am a security guard at Mushin. I have been robbing at plazas in Ikotun for some time now. I sold the jeans I stole on that day to Francis at Computer Village for N1,000 a pair. He bought four pairs of canvas for N2,500 each. I was introduced to stealing when I was in Benin.
The development was confirmed by Mr Olusola Amore, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who revealed that the suspect committed the offence in company of his friends.

He made this known on Wednesday, August 24, 2016.

ALSO READ: Fake prophecy gang arrested by police

It was reported recently that five people were killed in Tsaragi. Well we have been able to arrest the ring leader of that dastardly act."

"We also recovered all the guns they used. Five others are on the run but we have the ring leader with us."

The person arrested is from Share community. He felt that he was wronged by the killing of his brother and destruction of their property during the December clash between them and the people of Tsaragi."

He alone called for his friends and went on the revenge mission. They were never backed by the community and that is why you notice it happened when there was no disagreement between the two communities.
This was confirmed by its Zonal Manager, Uwem Udoh, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Udoh revealed that the activities that led to this was carried out on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, in Ojo, Somolu and Festac town of the state.

ALSO READ: Fake prophecy gang arrested by police

The commission carried out raids in Alaba Market , Festac town and Somolu about two months ago and we arrested several pirates.

We arrested 15 pirates in the last seven months.

The total estimated value of seized pirated goods in the first and second quarters of the year is about N60 million.

The NCC executive also disclosed some suspects who were arrested during a recent raid at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, have been charged to the court to answer for their crimes.
Daily Trust reports that Dr. Nwachukwu was arrested after some of the victims reported to the police that he was in the habit of inducing them with drugs during tests and then raping them inside his office.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mustafa Mohammed, while speaking at a press conference where he addressed the arrest of Dr. Nwachukwu, confirmed that the suspect had already confessed to the crime and has already been charged to court.

Investigations also revealed that the suspect uses drugs to induce his victim in order to have intercourse with them, therefore corroborating the allegations brought up against him.

The suspect, in his statement, confessed to having had sexual affair with some of his female patients who come to him for treatment or consultation in his office and other locations.

He is presently in prison. He has to be stripped of his license and as part of our investigation, we have written to Nigeria Medical and Dental Council, NMDC and he has been arraigned in court.

I learnt that four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), are trying to take him away from the prison but we are going to do our very best to gain conviction because it is a very serious case of somebody abusing the ethics of his profession."

"We seize this medium to advise members of the public to ensure they carry out a thorough background check on the credibility of the doctors they intend to engage as their personal or family physician.
Quadri, who is the Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area in the state, made this bold declaration while receiving a delegation of Rotary Club of Akowonjo 9110, led by its District-Governor, Patrick Ikheloa, and President, Shola Abidakun, stressing that the APC administration in Lagos swung into agro-business to ensure food security for its people.

By the end of this year, or first quarter next year, things will change in Lagos. Already, we are into agro-business in Kebbi State. We have massive land on which we planted grains, among which is rice, our peoples staple food. And it is expected that the truckloads of rice will storm Lagos soon."
Fani-Kayode in a recent article titled "John Kerry's unadulterated Garbage & his new-found friends," called on the Christian Association of Nigeria to fight for the Christian faith until its too late.

The politician cited the US Secretary of State's recent meeting with northern Muslim leaders in Nigeria, 19 northern governors, 16 of whom are Muslims and the new Islamic Development Bank in the country as pointers that Buhari, whom he described as "Muslim-fanatic and sharia-loving" is systematically pushing the Islamic agenda in Nigeria.

The article reads:

"Mr. John Kerry, the American Secretary of State, President Barack Obama's confidante and Mrs. Hilary Clinton's successor in office, came to Nigeria the other day.

The first meeting that he had was with the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the supreme leader of the Fulani Caliphate, the spiritual leader of all the Muslims of the north and the man who said, only last week, that "Christians commit wicked acts and crimes against humanity" and that "the wearing of the hijab is the right of every Muslim".

The second was with the the 19 northern governors, 16 of whom are Muslims.

The third was our Muslim-fanatic and sharia-loving President who has refused to call his kinsmen, the Fulani herdsmen and militants, to order or to arrest and prosecute even one of them for mass murder and genocide.

On the very same day that all this was happening the Islamic Development Bank visited the President and opened their first office in Nigeria.

The government has also quietly put two separate pieces of legislation before the National Assembly for consideration which, if passed, would on the one hand legalise criminal sharia law and on the other give grazing land to the Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt and the south.

The Christians of Nigeria should make of all this what they will.

I wonder whether they still "love and trust" the "liberal" Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama?

I wonder if they still believe that Clinton and Obama love ALL Nigerians and not just those that they helped to get into power last year?

Think hard and think deep Christian before it is too late and you are overwhelmed.

Consider the religious war that took place in Lebanon years ago and that is taking place in Syria today.

No-one wants a war because war is the ultimate evil yet the bitter truth must be told.

And that bitter truth is as follows: if the radical salafist and wahhabist Muslim fundamentalists of the core north, with their powerful friends in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Obama's America push us over the edge and such a war ever happens here, it will be 100 times worse than those two put together. Worse still it will go on from generation to generation.

Do those that wish to Islamise us and wipe out our faith think it would be worth all that?

Are they prepared to pay such a terrible price by trying? The truth is that they are playing with fire.

They are playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun and the single bullet that is in the barrel is about to go off in their faces.

The Bible says that knowledge is power. How many Nigerians know that Egypt and Turkey were once nations which were 100 per cent Christian until they were islamised through the back door?

It took hundreds of years but, slowly and surely and as a consequence of the total acquisition of political power by the Muslims in both of those countries coupled with the continous display of complacency, ignorance, weakness, indolence, fear and cowardice on the part of successive Church leaders and leading members of the Christian community, they were totally and completely islamised.

Today the Christians in both Egypt and Turkey constitute a pitiful and tiny minority: 10 per cent in Egypt and 0.4 per cent in Turkey.

I hope that the new leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as they prepare for their first meeting in Maiduguri, Borno state on the 26th of August, are taking note of all this.

May God forbid that we should ever allow it to happen in Nigeria.

Yet one thing remains clear: the Christians of Nigeria are not like their counterparts that once constituted a majority in Turkey and Egypt. They are much more resilient and they are much stronger. They are also much more capable of defending themselves when pushed to the wall.

Despite consistently turning the other cheek and constantly striving to keep the peace, they are not ignorant, weak, cowardly, complacent, fearful or indolent.

When push comes to shove, unlike the Christians of Egypt and Turkey, they will not go down without a fight.

A word is enough for the wise.

As a graphic reflection of the anger that is slowly building up amongst Christians in the land, Mr. Kingsly Okah, a public commentator, wrote the following on Facebook. He wrote:

"John Kerry came for the Sultan of Sokoto's birthday and not a state visit. He came to perfect the western seed of discord foisted on us by the ouster of President Goodluck Jonathan. He came to lay credence to the American support of an Islamic agenda in Nigeria. He came to endorse genocide being commited by some reprobate Muslims whose foot soldiers are Fulani herdsnen and their grand patron Buhari".

To butress the point Mr. Aboki Galadima of the Christian Information Network, which is a powerful and fast-rising Christian platform on the social media, went further by writing the following to it's members. He wrote:

"This is such a significant event that minority nationalities and Christians all over the country MUST digest and act.

1. John Kerry has just confirmed that spiritually, Nigeria is now an lslamic State.

2. His inspiring attacks on corruption, bad governance and all that stuff are thrilling but only a facade. He and the government of the United States of America are here to divert attention from the real thing.

3.They are pushing the absurd narrative that we should blame past governments, who they claim did not tackle poverty etc., for the rise of lslamic terrorism in the north and that the Sokoto Caliphate has always been the region which provides Nigeria with decent human resources for good governance.

Haba!! Please somebody advise me to halt for now. These diversions should be rejected and resisted. The legality of using lslam to kill and destroy in Nigeria must be challenged. This Network should keep this fight alive and on the front banner of national discourse".

Both Mr. Okah and Mr. Galadima have spoken the minds of many in the Christian community. It would be most unwise for those that are now in power and their misguided friends and supporters to ignore them, attempt to silence them or to dismiss their concerns with the usual, insults, arrogance and contempt.

I say this because there can be little doubt that Mr. John Kerry spoke nothing but unadulterated garbage.

Permit me to end this contribution with the following.

Mr. Jude Chijoke Ndukwe, a writer, a public affairs analyst and one of the most courageous and formidable intellectuals of the new generation of Nigerian leaders captured the mood rather well when he wrote the following in a powerful contribution a few days ago. He wrote:

"A man named his dog 'Buhari', he was promptly arrested and prosecuted. 8 people are killed in Zamfara by Islamic fundamentalists, as usual no single arrest is made.

Unless leaders of the Hausa-Fulani core north change their ways and mentality about religion, education, girl-child and women's rights etc, their region will remain Nigeria's most impoverished, most illiterate, most diseased, most malnourished and most backward even if Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin, Theresa May, John Kerry, Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton et al visit the Sultan on a daily basis".
The group said those trying to bring down Jonathan, are prominent figures in the Buhari administration.

The Ijaw youths also alleged that the same set of politicians do not want a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Niger Delta.

Speaking further, the groups spokesman, Eric Omare said The desperation came to the pinnacle with the media report that intelligence report indicated that Jonathan was one of the persons behind the formation of the NDA.

The characters behind this desperate plan are politicians of Niger Delta extraction who are in the current government and do not want a peaceful resolution of the renewed militancy in the region.

They prefer a military option that would result in the killing of innocent Niger Deltans. These frivolous accusations against former President Jonathan started after he visited President Buhari few weeks ago.

Secondly, they dont also want Jonathans intervention to resolve the crisis for obvious political reasons. So, this is the reason why they have orchestrated all sorts of lies to drag Jonathan into the formation of NDA. It is deliberate and we are sure the top hierarchy of government knows this fact.
BIM also alleged that most of the projects the Governors claim to have carried out in the media, are not in existence.

According to the Biafra Zonal Information Director, Anselm Ogbonna, the Governors have not added value to the lives of people.

He said l really mean my word, they should vacate their political offices now because they have lost focus. They have fed the citizens with the dividend of lies instead of dividend of democracy. Workers salaries are being paid over the radios and on the pages of newspapers; not in the offices.

Pensioners who worked with their blood to uphold the integrity of Nigeria are neglected; the politicians abandoned their pension payment. This has resulted in their death on a daily basis. Youth empowerments to these leaders of tomorrow are tricycles and motorcycles on hire purchase. Behind them, they will give out contracts to their loyalists to hunt the Okada riders and Keke NAPEP operators who would pay a huge amount of money. This makes it difficult for them to be free from the Okada and Keke NAPEP hire purchases they have collected. In other words, they are slaves to this contract. They are slaves in order to find their daily bread.

Adding that Majority of these politicians have tactically supported the grazing bill because they have cattle which these Fulani are raring for them. The worst of it all is that these Fulani are raping women of those communities at gunpoint. I want to tell them that if such continues in any of the communities in Igbo land, we must hold these politicians responsible.
According to Sani, kidnapping 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.

Kidnappers are embolden and encouraged by our silence, our resignation and our submissive resort to payment of ransom to secure our freedom.

The Senator also said 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.

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.

Sani also called on the Federal Government to provide funds and technology for security operatives to fight the growing trend.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Electronic Media to the governor, Simeon Nwakaudu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Wike said this while addressing the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 9 at the Institute of Security Service (ISS), Abuja, on Wednesday.

He also said that his administration had revived the state judiciary and made it more functional and independent.

The governor stated that the State House of Assembly also enjoyed independence, while the state civil service had been revived by his administration.
This is coming after President Buhari condemned the killings, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.

The JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement said We reiterate that human lives are sacred and therefore must be dignified. That has been the position of Islam.

The Sultan of Sokoto and JNI President-General call on all and sundry to remain calm and avoid all actions that could jeopardise peaceful co-existence, especially at this trying time of nation building.

The Muslim group also consoled the families of the dead people and called for those involved to be brought to book.

In June 2016, a Christian, Francis Emmanuel, a 41-year-old carpenter, was stabbed by a group of youths for eating during the Ramadan fast.

Another woman, undefinedby an angry mob on Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Kano over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed.

On Saturday, July 9, 2016, Evangelist Eunice Olawale was found in a pool of her blood in the Abuja suburb of Kubwa, along with a Bible and megaphone, after she was murdered by suspected Muslim radicals.
The Ekiti governors comments were contained in a statement released by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday, August 24, 2016.

The statement reads:

The fact that Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso is of the ruling APC should worry well-meaning Nigerians because it appears no one will be spared by these anti-democracy agents that have taking over Nigeria.

When they invaded the Akwa Ibom State Government House with armed men of the Department of State Services, I raised the alarm then and I did warn that Nigeria was being returned to 1984 when President Buhari ruled the country like a maximum ruler.

When I said Nigerians, irrespective of their political parties, should rise in condemnation of President Buharis emerging dictatorship, many of our friends in the APC opted to keep silent.

Some even hailed the DSS when it invaded the Ekiti State House of Assembly and abducted a member of the House. Last week Wednesday, when the police sealed off the venue of the Peoples Democratics Party National Convention in Port Harcourt and blocked the road leading to the Old Presidential Lodge of the Rivers State Government House where I and other PDP leaders were accommodated, our friends in the APC kept silent. Some even hailed the police.

However, as a Nigerian and an ardent lover of democracy and the rule of law, I have elected to, once again, condemn yesterdays armed policemens invasion and sealing off of the private residence of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and I hope that this time around, our friends in the APC will realise that no one will be spared by the time this emerging dictatorship reaches its peak.

Nigerians should realise that with the bullying of Kwankwaso, a two-term governor, former minister of defence and serving senator, it is now very clear that the APC government will even be intolerant of opposition within the party, not to talk of external opposition. Men of good conscience should prevail on President Buhari to caution the security agencies to be mindful of foisting a tyranny on Nigerians.
The allegation was made by the factional leader of the Imo PDP, Chief Charles Ezekwem during a press conference in Owerri on Wednesday, August 24, 2016.

The gory socio-political and economic situation in our beloved Imo State today, easily gives any right thinking person, goose pimples. There is unarguably, a total collapse of virtually every government institution in the state, as nepotism, favouritism and high level of corruption, have become the trademark of the present APC administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha," Ezekwem said according to Vanguard.

Today in Imo State, it takes about one hour to get to World Bank Housing Estate from Ama JK or Bank Road. Our China roads have all been washed away at just the beginning of rainy season. There is an avalanche of abandoned projects littering everywhere.

Workers are being owed salaries, while the pensioners are left to wallow in penury and disease and at the mercy of God, he added.
The fund was last paid in 2013 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration while 2014 (N220 billion), 2015 (N220 billion) and 2016 (N110 billion) outstanding have not been paid.

The union said that government attitude to funding education is killing the industry and making it difficult for it to be globally competitive and causing massive brain drain.

ASUU wondered why out of the capital budget allocated to education in the 2016 budget 38percent went to Federal Government secondary schools while only 5percent, 3percent and 8percent was allocated to Federal Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Universities respectively.

ASUU further tasked the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to attend to issues of Earned Academic allowances, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU/FGN agreements, Staff Salaries, Academic Pension, TSA and University Autonomy and budgetary allocation to Education raised at their previous meetings before the university system is plunged into industrial crisis.

In a release jointly signed in ibadan by the Zonal coordinator, Ibadan Zone of ASUU Dr Ade Adejumo and Chairman UI, Chapter, Dr Deji Omole respectively, ASUU said Federal government must inject funds in education for Nigerian universities to be globally competitive.

They asserted government cannot expect any miracle from its grossly under-funded universities to compete with adequately funded universities and highly motivated academics around the globe.

According to ASUU, it was said that the present Government rather reduced budgetary allocation to education to worsen the sector from 11percent in 2013, 12percent in 2014, 11percent in 2015 to 8percent in the 2016 budget.

The duo further lashed out at government officials for always shedding crocodile tears at university convocation where they decry low ranking of Nigerian universities while they take their children to study abroad.

The Ibadan zone of ASUU also carpeted the present administration for fractional, irregular, non-payment of salaries and other personnel emoluments adding that the union will resist any further attempt to erode university autonomy.

While noting that no country can develop beyond her educational institutions, ASUU cautioned the federal government against taking the union for granted.
"A car bomb exploded at Banadir beach restaurant at Lido beach and there is exchange of gunfire. We have no other details so far," Major Ahmed Ibrahim, a police officer, told Reuters.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab's military operation spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab claimed responsibility for the attack.

"We attacked the Banadir beach restaurant and now our fighters are fighting inside it," he told Reuters.

Al Shabaab, has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Somalia to try to topple the Western-backed government.

In January, its militants stormed another restaurant on Lido beach, killing 17 people.

On Sunday, more than 20 people were killed when its suicide bombers detonated two car bombs at a local government headquarters in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region.

On Thursday, Reuters witnesses near the scene of the beach attack said the restaurant had been sealed off by security officers and that the attackers had lobbed grenades at the officers and fired at them.

They said they had also seen two bodies lying on the ground.
Clinton needs to retain support from black and Latino voters to win the Nov. 8 election, the same coalition that helped propel Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in 2008. Trump, whose support comes mainly from whites, is unlikely to be victorious unless he can cut into that support.

"Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton said in a scathing speech in Nevada. "He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties."

"This is a moment of reckoning for every Republican dismayed that the Party of Lincoln has become the Party of Trump," Clinton said, referring to Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and championed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War that led to the abolition of slavery in 1865.

Trump, who trails Clinton in national opinion polls, has polled poorly with minorities and has been criticized for his proposals on immigration, which include deporting millions of undocumented foreigners, building a wall along the Mexican border, and suspending Muslim immigration to shore up national security.

He described some Mexican immigrants as "criminals and rapists" in a 2015 speech launching his candidacy and more recently questioned the impartiality of an American-born judge of Mexican heritage.

On Thursday, the New York real estate mogul-turned-politician criticized Clinton before her speech, saying she and her party had let black Americans down with failed economic policies and were falsely labeling Republicans as bigoted.

"When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: You're racist, you're racist, you're racist," Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire. "It's a tired, disgusted argument and is so totally predictable."

At a Mississippi rally on Wednesday, Trump called Clinton a "bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings."

'SHAME ON YOU'

He argued on Thursday that Clinton's opposition to charter schools and vouchers locked minority students in failing jobs, that her tax policies would hurt black-owned businesses and that she would allow immigrants to take jobs from minorities.

Trump said the Clinton attacks were not only an assault on him, but on all his supporters - people, he said, who want strong borders and security.

"To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words ... shame on you."

A Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation poll for the week beginning Aug. 15 found Clinton beating Trump among Hispanic voters by 15 percentage points, and by 57 percentage points among black voters.

Trump has tried recently to broaden his appeal to them, hinting at a softening of his hardline position on immigration.

In comments broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday night, Trump said he would be willing to work with immigrants who have abided by U.S. laws while living in the country, backing away from his insistence during the primaries that he would try to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants.

Trump also met with black and Latino Republican leaders at his headquarters in New York City on Thursday morning.

Trump's efforts were unlikely to draw out minorities in his favor but could reassure some moderate Republicans worried about his views on race, said Bernard Fraga, a political science professor at Indiana University.

"I don't think these efforts will do a lot to help him in minority communities," Fraga said.

An association of 40 Latino organizations sent a letter on Thursday calling on him to "cease" his rhetoric and meet with their leadership to discuss ways he could improve his outreach to Hispanics.

"As we have expressed numerous times, your rhetoric of relentless attacks against our community is an issue of serious concern and has had a significant impact, fueling an alarming trend in our nation," the letter reads.

CLINTON VIDEO

Clinton released a video on Thursday ahead of her Nevada speech tying Trump to white supremacist groups. The video shows a Ku Klux Klan member praising Trump and plays a recording of former leader Klan leader David Duke calling on white people to vote for Trump.

The video also shows newly appointed Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon, who ran the website Breitbart.com, which has been accused of stoking online racists.

Bannon told the magazine Mother Jones during the Republican National Convention last month that the website was "the platform for the alt-right," a brand of U.S. political conservatism associated with white nationalism.

ALSO READ: Donald Trump supporters retaliate, launch naked statues of Hillary Clinton

Trump's campaign called for the Clinton campaign to withdraw the video.
A statement issued by Shamrock Fofo Ahiable, Convener of VOYA on Thursday, 25 August, said: While applauding President John Dramani Mahama for his giant decision in freeing the Montie 3, Volta Youth Alliance, VOYA, by this release strongly condemns NPP apparatchiks, agents, assigns, privies, and their  rented media for attacking the presidential decision.

READ ALSO:

The Alliance is appalled by some archaic and unprincipled media commentaries that characterised the president's well-considered and apt decision.

VOYA is by this medium, calling on all acerbic-tongued NPP operatives to desist from unleashing vitriolic commentaries on President Mahama's government.

The president, late on Monday, August 22, 2016, freed the three men.

READ ALSO: Montie 3 Pardon

A statement signed by the Communications Minister Dr Omane Boamah said the decision was taken on the advice of the Council of State and was on compassionate grounds.

The decision has not gone down well with some sections of the public, who believe that the authority of the Judiciary is being undermined.

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.

The Montie three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase alias Mugabe were sentenced to four months in prison by the Supreme Court following contempt proceedings against them.

The contempt proceedings came after the three threatened the lives of Supreme Court judges who sat on the Abu Ramadan and Gary Nimako versus the Electoral Commission case.

A petition book was subsequently opened by pro-government group Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) to collect signatures of Ghanaians to implore the president to exercise his prerogative of mercy powers to free the three contemnors.
The senator, Leila de Lima, who has criticised the surge of killings and called for the Senate investigation, appealed to Duterte in a news conference to "stop this madness".

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Duterte's war on drugs since he came to power seven weeks ago, according to police figures. Police say the toll of about 36 people a day is a result of drug dealers resisting arrest or gang feuds.

Duterte, who won a May election on a promise to wipe out drugs and dealers, last month named about 160 officials, judges, police and soldiers who he said were protecting drug traffickers or selling drugs in their communities.

On Thursday, he turned his anger on De Lima.

"De Lima, you are finished," Duterte told a news conference in Davao City in the south of the country where he used to be mayor and built his reputation as a ruthless crime fighter.

Duterte handed the media a diagram purportedly showing links between officials and politicians and big drug dealers locked up in the country's main prison.

At the top of the list was de Lima.

"De Lima is undergoing a nightmare now," Duterte said.

'MADNESS'

De Lima later held her own news conference and denied the president's accusations as "nonsense and baseless". She said the diagram showing her atop a web of graft and drugs was "garbage".

She said was the only one speaking out against Duterte's war on drugs and she would not be threatened.

"Stop this madness," she pleaded to the president.

"It's as if this war against drugs has turned into a war versus de Lima ... It's like he's really bent on destroying me at all costs. I hope he stops it."

This month, Duterte said de Lima was having an affair with her driver. She declined to comment on the issue.

Also on the president's diagram was a congressman, who is also a retired police general and former provincial governor, a former deputy justice minister and his brother, a former prison official, and a civilian, who was de Lima's driver.

The United States, a close ally of the Philippines, said this week it was "deeply concerned" about the reports of extra-judicial drug killings and it urged Duterte's government to ensure that law-enforcement efforts "comply with its human rights obligation".

The crackdown and some strongly worded criticism Duterte has made of the United States since coming to power present a dilemma for Washington, which has been seeking to forge unity among allies in Asia in the face of an increasingly assertive China, especially in the strategic South China Sea.

Last week, two U.N. human rights experts urged Manila to stop the extra-judicial executions and killings. Duterte responded by threatening to leave the United Nations.

The Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador this week to explain reports that traffickers were bringing narcotics from China.
Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind
A Davenport man pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, to charges stemming from a bank robbery and two attempted bank robberies last year.

Terrance L. Hicks, 41, will be sentenced Jan. 17 on charges of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge, according to a plea agreement filed Wednesday.

According to the plea agreement:

At 10:06 a.m. Oct. 24, Hicks went to Northwest Bank & Trust in the 1400 block of West Locust Street in Davenport, approached a teller and handed her note demanding 10 grand and no dye bags or security buttons.

The teller yelled for another teller, and Hicks left the bank.

At 12:53 p.m. Oct. 24, Hicks went to Wells Fargo Bank in the 1600 block of Main Street in Davenport. He approached a teller and handed her a note demanding 3 grand and no dye bags or buttons. The teller grabbed $2,000 in $100 bills and $1,000 in $50 bills. Hicks then left the bank.

At 4:22 p.m. Nov. 10, Hicks intended to go back and rob Wells Fargo again. A Davenport police detective was working off-duty in uniform at the bank.

The detective saw Hicks walk from the parking lot to the door of the bank. Just before Hicks went in, he saw the detective and turned and walked away. The detective followed him and arrested him.

The detective found a demand note written in green ink in Hicks front sweatshirt pocket. A green ink pen was found in his pants pocket, according to the plea agreement.

In 2003, Hicks was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in Scott County to second-degree robbery. Court records show that he was released from the Davenport Work Release Center in October 2012.

Hicks has prior convictions in Scott County for second-degree burglary and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, which landed him on the Iowa Sex Offender registry.
A Milan man has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a methamphetamine-making conspiracy.

Chad W. Kutzman, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday in Rock Island County Circuit Court to aggravated participation in methamphetamine manufacturing.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dismissed one count each of aggravated manufacturing of methamphetamine less than 15 grams and possession of methamphetamine precursor and three counts of methamphetamine manufacturing materials.

Following his plea Thursday, Kutzman was taken to Scott County, where he faces charges of conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony and possession of pseudoephedrine.

The Scott County Sheriffs Department, with help from agents from the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, searched Kutzmans home in the 300 block of East 12th Avenue on March 10.

There, agents seized a one-pot methamphetamine lab and about 2 grams of finished methamphetamine, along with meth-making materials.

Earlier in the day, sheriffs deputies arrested his co-defendant, Cynthia Lynn Reed, 50, of Bettendorf. Investigators say Reed purchased pseudoephedrine 33 times from Oct. 26, 2012, through March 1, in both Scott and Rock Island counties.

Reed gave pseudoephedrine to Kutzman to make methamphetamine, according to investigators.

She pleaded guilty in June in Scott County District Court to possession of pseudoephedrine. Earlier this month, she given a deferred judgment and placed on two years of probation.
The trial for a Moline man charged with fatally shooting one man and seriously injuring another in 2015 has been delayed until Oct. 11.

Lamaree E. Wilson-Neuleib, 18, was to be tried Aug. 30 on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in the death of Zachary M. Phillips, 18, and the shooting of Erik Roberson, 21.

Rock Island County Assistant States Attorney Heidi Weller said during a short hearing Wednesday at the Rock Island County Justice Center that prosecutors need more time after receiving a notice from the defense that they may present an alibi at trial.

In a notice filed Friday, defense attorney Dora Villarreal said the defense may present evidence that Wilson-Neuleib was at a home in the 5000 block of 45th Avenue Court in Moline at the time of the shooting.

She also listed a possible alibi witness.

Frankly, that took the state by some surprise, and were asking for additional time to conduct some investigation into that defense, Weller said during the hearing.

Villarreal said after the hearing that she may not elect to use the possible alibi at trial. However, the defense had to file the notice within 14 days of the trial if they want to use it.

It can be withdrawn at any point in time, she said.

She also said she plans to call a retired DNA expert from the Illinois State Police Lab in Morton, who will testify to DNA that does help the defendant.

Wilson-Neuleib will be back in court Oct. 7 for a hearing on pretrial motions.

Police say Wilson-Neuleib, then 17, fired multiple shots at Phillips and Roberson, both of whom were in the front of Phillips vehicle in the 4700 block of 53rd Street in Moline about 10:35 a.m. May 20, 2015.

Phillips was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after the shooting. Roberson was hospitalized but survived. A third person in the back seat was not injured.

Wilson-Neuleib pleaded guilty to the charges in October and was sentenced Nov. 25 to 50 years in prison on the murder charge and 10 years on the aggravated battery charge.

In May, Associate Judge Norma Kauzlarich allowed Wilson-Neuleib to take back his guilty plea and vacated his sentence after prosecutors said he was not properly informed at the time of his plea that he faced a mandatory 25-year firearms enhancement to his sentence.
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.

"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."

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?

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.
There's a lot to like about Sen. Mark Kirk. And then he opens his mouth.

The Republican U.S. senator from Illinois is an odd case in a truly bizarre election cycle. He's the kind of guy who shows independence amid unprecedented partisanship. He's the type of official who stands in solidarity with pro-gay marriage protesters. He's the form of politician with the self-awareness and temerity to admit a mistake and unendorse his party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Then, Kirk comes unglued, like he did last week when speaking with the editorial board of the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Illinois. President Barack Obama is the nation's drug dealer in chief, he said, pointing to $400 million released in January to Iran.

Was reaching out to scorned Donald Trump supporters really worth it, Senator?

This is coming from a guy who has been less than honest about his military service record, denigrated black neighborhoods and used "ho" to refer to women into a hot mic in the U.S. Senate.

Kirk isn't the first gaffe-prone official to hold federal elected office. But few have ever been so prolific. Saying dumb things, which neuters his effectiveness, is Kirk's primary claim to fame at this point. It's becoming a disservice to Illinois.

Let's tackle the topic that set Kirk off: Some $400 million alleged "ransom" paid in January to Iran, which led to the release of three Americans stuck in that country's prisons. It's a narrative shouted from the rooftops of the right-wing pseudo-journalists working so hard to get Trump elected. Too bad; it's false. That $400 million was Iran's money, withheld due to sanctions. Those sanctions were rolled back as part of the 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and six world powers, including the United States.

Throughout the negotiations with Iran, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle demanded the inclusion of the release of American prisoners prior to any deal. Instead, Secretary of State John Kerry signed it. And the Obama administration then withheld the cash to broker their freedom.

The key here is leverage. That's not a ransom. And it's the exact outcome lawmakers and pundits spent years demanding.

Debating the merits of the Iran deal is one thing, but Kirk's most recent comment isn't about policy. Slinging ridiculous, unfounded attacks at the White House is another. It's about wallowing in the political mud.

We get it. Kirk is in a tough re-election bid. Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth is capable, well-funded and willing to aim for the throat. Members of his own party wonder if, politically speaking, he's a dead man walking. Kirk is a Republican in a blue state in a year where the GOP's standard-bearer is making conservative bastions such as Georgia and Arizona suddenly in play.

Kirk needs each and every vote. And, no doubt, his un-endorsement of Trump's candidacy angered a slew of hardliners and faithful partisans. But statements such as last week's negates all the good Kirk has accomplished in his time in office. Again, he's been willing to take stands counter his party's official position. There's honor in his willingness to stand with the socially isolated and oppressed. There's courage in rebutting his party's maxims, while remaining fiscally conservative.

Some days, Mark Kirk is the type of Republican this country desperately needs. On others, he personifies what's broken within the Party of Lincoln.
SPRINGFIELD  A federal judge has ordered the Illinois State Board of Elections to allow David Gill to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District.

After collecting 8,593 of the 10,754 valid petition signatures he needed to earn a ballot spot under state law, Gill challenged the requirement in federal court.

The Bloomington physician and former four-time Democratic congressional candidate argues that the requirement is unconstitutional because its out of line with whats required of major party candidates for Congress and independent candidates seeking other offices. A group of voters from the 13th District joined with Gill in the lawsuit.

While not ruling on the overall merits of the case, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough issued the order late Thursday morning, a day before the elections board is scheduled to certify the ballot, because Gill showed he would suffer irreparable harm if he was excluded and because the state failed to show a compelling reason for leaving him off.

An otherwise qualified candidate suffers irreparable harm if he is wrongfully deprived of the opportunity to appear on an election ballot, Myerscough wrote in her 26-page opinion. Similarly, voters who would have voted for the candidate would also suffer irreparable harm.

Gill said he wasnt sure what to expect after a Wednesday court hearing, but he was pleased with the ruling.

I always thought that our case was extremely strong and was hoping that she would consider the many details that are associated with a case such as this, said Gill, who last ran as a Democrat in 2012 against now-U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville.

Arguing on Gills behalf, Springfield attorney Sam Cahnman noted that his client had to collect nearly 15 times as many signatures as the major party candidates, Davis and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur, who each had to collect fewer than 740 signatures. Independent candidates for U.S. Senate, meanwhile, have to collect five times as many signatures as their major party rivals.

Cahnman also argued that no independent congressional candidate in Illinois has ever gathered as many signatures as were required of Gill and withstood a challenge at the elections board.

Myerscough noted all those facts in her ruling.

Representing the elections board, Assistant Attorney General Sarah Newman argued that the state has an interest in preventing ballot overcrowding and potential voter confusion, which is the intent of the higher signature requirement for independent candidates.

While acknowledging legitimacy of that interest, Myerscough said the argument is undermined by the fact that Illinois allows candidates who havent collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot unless someone challenges their nominating petitions.

Gill was found to be short on signatures after Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks challenged his petitions, paving the way for the lawsuit.

Spokeswoman Annie Thompson said the Illinois Attorney Generals Office is reviewing the judges order and will decide quickly what the next steps should be.

Wicklund said he was disappointed with the ruling but expected it to go the way it did after reading reports about Wednesdays hearing.

He said he doesnt buy Gills argument that the signature requirement is an insurmountable obstacle.

This is a candidate thats run four times previous, Wicklund said. He knows how to circulate petitions to get signatures.

Davis campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but the Illinois Republican Party issued a statement from Chairman Tim Schneider, calling Gill, who has never held elected office, a failed career politician who has been running for Congress for 12 years.

David Gill is no independent; he is an extreme liberal who will clearly do or say anything to get elected, Schneider said.

Gill said hes weighing whether to continue pressing the lawsuit and vowed to campaign hard over the coming weeks.

The whole purpose of this was to win the election in November, he said. I wasnt pursuing this just to make a statement.
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 who previously ran 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 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, who is 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.
DES MOINES  The state utilities board has denied landowners request to delay construction of a crude oil pipeline through Iowa.

The three-member Iowa Utilities Board on Thursday afternoon unanimously rejected the emergency motion filed by 14 landowners who wanted construction halted while the courts consider a lawsuit they have filed to stop the project.

Board members said they rejected the request because they think the landowners lawsuit is unlikely to succeed, and because any lengthy delay in the project may cause substantial harm to Dakota Access, the Texas-based company building the pipeline.

The landowners said they will appeal the boards decision in court.

The board sustained a short-term order to halt construction on the 14 landowners property until Monday.

Plans call for a $3.8 billion, 1,168-mile underground pipeline from North Dakotas Bakken oil fields to a distribution hub in Illinois. The pipeline would transport up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil daily and cross from northwest to southeast Iowa, spanning 347 miles and 18 counties.

Construction began on the project in Iowa in June. So far, 22 percent of the piping has been laid in the state, the company said in a court filing this week. Roughly three-fourths of the route through Iowa has been cleared, and half has been graded, the company said.

Pipeline construction in South Dakota is nearly complete, and is 63 percent complete in North Dakota and 62 percent complete in Illinois, the company said.

Opponents of the project cite environmental safety concerns and question the authority of a private company to use eminent domain to acquire land for the project.

The state utilities board heard arguments earlier Thursday on the landowners request for a delay.

Attorneys for Dakota Access said landowners have missed their legal opportunity to halt the project and should no longer be allowed to stand in its way.

Bret Dublinske, an attorney for Dakota Access, said landowners could have taken legal steps to halt the project after multiple board and court rulings earlier this year and accused them of going first to the courts in an attempt to sidestep the board.

Dublinske said seeking board action now threatens to cause financial harm to the company and the project.

As (the district court judge) pointed out, the only emergency is of their making.  Theyve made no effort until we were on their doorstep, Dublinske said, accusing a small fraction of zealous landowners of sitting on their rights.

An attorney representing 14 Iowa landowners in the pipelines path argued the board must put the project on hold until the dispute between those landowners and the pipeline company is resolved by the courts, because if the courts rule in favor of landowners after the pipeline is already laid on their land, those landowners lose their constitutional right to due process.

William Hanigan, an attorney representing the landowners, noted the list of petitioners originally included 15 landowners, but by Thursdays hearing, that number was reduced to 14 because pipeline construction finished on one of the landowners property.

If you dont (grant the emergency stay), then the petition for judicial review is meaningless, Hanigan said.
Eagle Sales of the Black Hills and Eagle Sales of Chamberlain have been sold and the two Anheuser-Busch InBev beer distribution business will now be operated by Nebraska-based Quality Brands Distribution.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close on Friday.

Tom and Mary Helland have been the owners of Eagle Sales of the Black Hills for the past 12 years, and Eagle Sales of Chamberlain is a division of Chamberlain Wholesale Grocery Co. Inc., which has been an Anheuser-Busch distributor for the past 81 years.

The parent company, Chamberlain Wholesale Grocery Co., will not be sold and will stay with the current ownership, servicing their customers in central South Dakota as they have for the past 110 years.

Quality Brands Distribution is owned and operated by the Gillick family. Tony Gillick has been in the beer business for 40 years and remains involved in the day-to-day operations along with his son Anthony and daughter Abbey.

Tony purchased Double Eagle Beverage of Lincoln, Neb., in 2002, now known as Quality Brands of Lincoln, and acquired Quality Brands of Omaha in 2011.

With the addition of Quality Brands of the Black Hills and Quality Brands of Chamberlain the company will employ more than 300 people and service 3,100 retail accounts.

Im very excited for the Gillick family, I couldnt have picked a better company to continue our legacy of bringing the best national, regional and local beers to the western South Dakota market, said Tom Helland, in a news release.

Anthony Gillick, his wife Ashley, and their daughters are moving to the Rapid City area where he will assume the role of branch manager.

Tom and Mary Helland will continue to live in Rapid City. Tom is upcoming chairman of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce and said he looks forward to being able to devote more time to that and other organizations in the area.
A retrial is likely of suspended Meade County Commission Alan Aker on felony property damage charges after a Lawrence County jury on Thursday told the judge the panel could not agree on a verdict.

Aker was acquitted of a misdemeanor trespassing charge by the same jury, which deliberated for four hours on Thursday after a two-day trial.

But the issue is not settled, as the prosecutor in the case said after the hung jury ruling that a retrial will be held on the felony theft charges. A Sept. 6 motions hearing was set in the case.

Here is the text of the Journal's reporting on the case and jury trial as of late Wednesday:

Suspended Meade County Commissioner Alan Aker admitted while on the stand at his jury trial Wednesday that he had personally and purposefully cut 50 feet of hand-hewn log railing from the deck of a customer when the client refused to make a final $2,600 payment for his work.

But in further testimony, Aker said he did not trespass or steal when he took the railing because he had permission to be on the property in question and had not been paid what he was owed by who he described as a difficult customer.

Aker was indicted by a Lawrence County grand jury in April on two felony property-damage charges and a misdemeanor trespass charge.

Aker was charged with Class 5 and Class 6 felonies, in the alternative, meaning he could be found not guilty of the charges or be convicted on one, but not both of the charges alleging intentional damage to property.

If convicted, the Class 5 felony has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, while the Class 6 charge carries a maximum two-year sentence. Aker also faces a misdemeanor trespassing charge which, if found guilty, carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Property owner William Hegg testified that he hired Aker Woods Co. in 2014 to install a wooden deck railing and replace rotting posts at his rural property on Elk Creek Road in Deadwood. Hegg said he had expected the $13,600 in work to be completed over the winter months and when it dragged on to more than a year, the work still wasnt done in an acceptable manner.

Hegg stated that Aker and his crew spilled stain on his existing decking, placed new poles that were loose and below grade, allowing water to wick and create the same condition that caused the original vertical logs to rot, and that when Aker was done, the deck leaned and it still does.

The most damaging evidence presented by Lawrence County Dep. States Attorney Brenda Harvey in Wednesdays start of a two-day trial revolved around numerous emails and texts that allowed the eight-woman, five-man jury to understand the evolution of the dispute between Hegg and Aker.

In a series of text exchanges between the pair during the fall of 2015, Hegg repeatedly expressed his concern over a variety of issues tied to Akers work at his luxury vacation home south of Deadwood.

Alan, the job your firm did is not acceptable, Hegg stated in one, adding that he wouldnt pay the final invoice until issues had been corrected. When Aker threatened small claims court action, Hegg responded, I am comfortable with that. Let the court decide.

In a Nov. 20, 2015, text message, Aker asked if he could correct the issues and requested a written list. When Hegg responded with three bullet points, a week later, on Nov. 27, Aker texted that he and his crew would get the work done when his schedule and weather permitted.

But Hegg testified that after that text, he didnt hear from Aker again until Feb. 6 of this year, when he received a text from the contractor informing him that Aker had removed 50 feet of railing Hegg had not paid for.

In place of the railing, Hegg said Aker left 50 feet of bright orange snow fence.

Following testimony from Dennis Hoover, a handy man who cares for Heggs property and horses when hes not at his home, log home contractor Tom Schrammel said the railing would cost $3,275 to replace.

Lawrence County Sheriff's Sgt. Nathan Davis investigated the matter.

For the defense, Aker's attorney Jeffrey Connelly of Rapid City asked Judge Randall L. Macy to acquit Aker on all charges.

Macy denied the motion.

In 20 minutes of testimony, Aker took the stand and argued that he had completed the work as he and Hegg had agreed, and that Hegg simply refused to pay him for the work he had performed. He said Hegg continually changed the scope of work, leading him to suggest to Hegg that he find another contractor to finish the job.

I did not like working for the man, Aker said.

Eventually in court, he said he visited Heggs home in February and retrieved the railing in exchange for the amount he was still owed, about $2,660. He said he subsequently sold the sawed-off railing to another customer for $1,000.

In other testimony, Aker testified that he visited with Hegg about the outstanding bill when Hegg was mowing his yard in December. When he asked to be paid, he said Hegg responded, I dont have my check book.

I said, `Youre not going to pay me are you? Aker stated. He just grinned.

Aker continued, I said, 'Do I need to take my railing back?' He said, `I dont care.

Aker said that exchange led him to believe he had permission to remove the railing, indicating he had permission to be on the property and could not have trespassed, as a misdemeanor count against him contends.

Mr. Hegg was looking for reasons not to pay, he said. He was looking for excuses not to pay me.

Under cross examination, Aker admitted he had used small claims court before and he spent time explaining the nuances of a mechanical lien, commonly used by contractors to ensure eventual payment.

Called back as a rebuttal witness, Hegg said he didnt return to his Black Hills home until Christmas Eve, and couldnt possibly have been mowing his yard in December, when Aker claimed the two talked. Following the Nov. 27 text from Aker about removing the railing, I never saw him after that, period.

At the conclusion of Wednesdays court proceedings, defense attorney Connelly once again moved for immediate dismissal of all charges facing his client, which Judge Macy summarily denied, telling the defense counsel and the courtroom that the jury would decide the matter.
Authorities arrested eight men in an undercover sex-trafficking operation during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally earlier this month, the South Dakota Attorney Generals Office announced Thursday.

This is the fourth year in a row that local, state and federal authorities have conducted the operation, which targeted people willing to pay for sex with underage males and females.

Despite the intense publicity and focus on human trafficking these past few years, these undercover operations serve as a somber reminder that some people will throw caution to the wind and succumb to their perverted instincts, U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler said in the release.

All suspects but two are from South Dakota. They are:

 Marshall Brown, 26, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

 Duane Hosek, 61, Rapid City, S.D.

 Ryan Kammerer, 26, Box Elder, S.D.

 Brendan Leiter, 24, Elkhart, Ind.

 Noah Schottenstein, 27, Rapid City, S.D.

 Andries Snyman, 42, Isabel, S.D.

 Cody Two Lance, 33, Rapid City, S.D.

 Joel Zupnik, 51, Ft. Collins, Colo.

The men have been charged in federal court with attempted enticement of a minor using the internet. The offense carries a mandatory prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life.

Brown, Hosek and Two Lance each face an additional charge of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Brown, Kammerer, Snyman and Two Lance are detained at the Pennington County Jail. The other suspects have been granted release by the court while their cases are ongoing.

The Sturgis undercover sex stings from 2013 to last year nabbed a total of 18 men, according to information from the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Dakota.

Fourteen of the defendants have either pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of various federal charges, including commercial sex trafficking and attempted enticement of a minor using the internet.

The 11 who have already been sentenced received prison time ranging from two to 15 years.

One case was dismissed because the defendant died, and the rest are still going through court proceedings.
The Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., is accusing the congresswoman of lying about having support from all of South Dakotas agricultural groups prior to her departure from the House Ag Committee.

Paula Hawks, who will face Noem in the Nov. 8 general election, made the accusation Wednesday in a news release.

The accusation is based on comments from Noem that were published Aug. 11 in the Watertown Public Opinion. The newspaper asked Noem to respond to criticism from Hawks about Noems move off the House Agriculture Committee last year in favor of an appointment to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Noem was quoted as saying, in part, that all of the ag organizations in the state advocated and supported me getting on the Ways and Means Committee.

So by her criticizing that, Noem continued, in reference to Hawks, shes criticizing every single ag organization in the state of South Dakota.

Noems comments elicited an op-ed piece Monday in the Farm Forum newspaper from Doug Sombke, president of the South Dakota Farmers Union.

I want to make it clear that South Dakota Farmers Union neither advocated nor encouraged Rep. Noems decision to leave South Dakota without a seat on the Ag Committee, Sombke wrote.

Based on Sombkes revelation, Hawks accused Noem of lying about having support for the move from all of the states ag organizations.

If it wasn't clear before, it is now, Hawks said in her written statement. The Ag industry did not support Kristi Noem's decision to abandon the Ag Committee. Kristi Noem should apologize for misleading the public, lying to the Watertown Public Opinion and endangering our agricultural industry.

Noems campaign spokesman, Justin Brasell, issued a written statement of his own when asked by the Journal for a response.

The South Dakota Farmers Union has been a wing of the Democratic Party in South Dakota for years, Brasell said. They were opposed to Kristi's candidacy when she was on the Ag Committee, so their support for Hawks and attacks on Kristi now are not surprising.

Kristi spoke with ag leaders across the state ahead of her decision to join the Ways and Means Committee, and there was resounding support from those who understand how things get done in Washington. They knew that Kristi would bring the perspective of a lifelong South Dakota farmer and rancher to the tax, trade and health care policy decisions before the most powerful committee in D.C.

South Dakotas Department of Agriculture touts ag as the states No. 1 industry, with a $25.6 billion annual economic impact on the state. There are 19 million acres of cropland and 23 million acres of pastureland in the state, the department reports, and an estimated 122,000 South Dakotans work in ag-related jobs.

Both Noem and Hawks, who is a state legislator and former teacher, were raised on farms in the eastern part of the state.

While South Dakota is not currently represented on the House Ag Committee, the state is represented on the Senate Ag Committee by Republican Sen. John Thune.
PIERRE | Several directors for the South Dakota High School Activities Association said Wednesday they dont like individual school representatives voting on policies at the associations annual meetings.

The discussion came on the heels of a 26-5 vote at the annual meeting last April.

School representatives blocked the directors from going ahead with a plan to transfer some of the ongoing revenue received by the association, including corporate sponsorships, and invest it in the associations foundation.

There are 181 member schools. Ten schools are necessary to be represented for a quorum at the annual meeting.

Floor votes on association policies are decided on a majority of the member schools represented at the annual meeting.

By contrast, the association requires a 60 percent majority of all member schools to approve an amendment to the associations constitution.

The boards nine directors are elected. They are considering what change if any should be made regarding floor votes.

Steve Morford, the new chairman, said there should continue to be an annual meeting.

But Morford said he doesnt understand how a relatively small number of people who attend the annual meeting can make decisions that overrule the board.

Ive never really liked that, said Morford, principal of Spearfish high school.

He said he would prefer the 9-member board always make the decisions other than constitutional amendments.

Another board member, Sioux Falls superintendent Brian Maher, said all of the directors are elected and they represent their member schools.

I hope nobody feels like they dont have a voice, because we are the voice of the member schools, Maher said.

He said it makes sense that superintendents want to know more and to have a committee that looks in-depth at how the money is received and spent by the association.

Maher said he likes the annual meeting because every member school can voice an opinion, but the directors should make the decision.

I think the vote at the annual meeting should go away, Maher said. I think the finance committee should stay in place.

He advised having a conversation about the future roles of a finance committee.

Morford said the member schools should know when the association is $80,000 ahead, as is the current case, and what the money would be used for.

During the April annual meeting, officials representing Tri-Valley, Canton, West Central and Avon high schools led the effort to block the transfer to the foundation.

There was a split in the associations ranks several years ago when the directors decided to raise ticket prices for playoff events by $2, with $1 to flow directly into the foundation account.

The directors rescinded the automatic funding for the foundation after complaints from school officials. Their complaints led the Legislature to require the association follow South Dakotas open-meeting law.
The potential for corruption in South Dakota is a real problem, and one we must take seriously. We should support Initiated Measure 22, South Dakotas Anti-Corruption Act because it brings to South Dakota true reform that is long overdue. Among other things, IM-22 will put a lid on unlimited gifts and political contributions from lobbyists. And that is why out-of-state millionaires and billionaires are spending so much money to defeat the Anti-Corruption Act.

Isnt it odd that we are hearing so many histrionic political ads about IM-22 when the election is still nearly three months away? Already, a cadre of political insiders are rushing to warn the public about IM-22. The fact is, these monied interests dont care much about South Dakota. They care about themselves and preserving the power they have to influence elections with their money.

Give me a break.

This gang of lobbyists and mega-donors are fiercely campaigning to protect the status quo for a simple reason: todays system, shot through with loopholes and easy ways to hide money, works for them. Theyre prepared to bludgeon the public with scare tactics and half-truths until Election Day because theyre terrified that if South Dakotans learn the truth about IM-22, they may finally break the establishments vice grip on political power.

Heres what a yes vote on IM-22 will actually do for you and your fellow South Dakotans:

IM-22 will eliminate the practice of lobbyists giving gifts to politicians without limit or oversight. South Dakota is the only state where its still legal for lobbyists to give politicians anything they want to earn influence.

IM-22 puts tough new transparency rules on government, lobbyists and politicians. Of course, mega-donors would prefer to keep things the way they are.

And IM-22 introduces a new campaign finance system that enables regular South Dakotans to run for office without being indebted to large donors who may think they are buying influence. Who can be opposed to that? Answer: the large donors themselves and the politicians who are addicted to their succor.

For four decades, Ive watched our political system decline, so that serving in public office is no longer seen as respectable. That reduces the incentive for well-qualified candidates to run. IM-22 offers a chance to make things right.

I'm a Republican. My Democrat co-chair Darrell Solberg and I, along with the 20,000 South Dakotans who put IM-22 on the ballot, have proven that South Dakotans can put aside our political differences to do whats right.

Having lived in Rapid City since 1952, I grew up with animated but civil and respectful conversations about politics. Ultimately, voters decided based on who had the best argument, not who had the biggest bank account. Our system didnt work perfectly then, and it wont be perfect after IM-22 becomes law.

But I am too proud a South Dakotan to think it is too late to make our political system more idealistic and less materialistic. I cant wait to vote yes on 22.
Moscow court arrests land plot of WADA informant Rodchenkov

MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul)  The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has arrested a land plot belonging to Moscow's anti-doping laboratorys ex-head Gregory Rodchenkov who is involved in a criminal case over abuse of office, RAPSI learned from the courts press-service on Thursday.

On May 12, The New York Times published an article citing Rodchenkov, who maintained that at least 15 Russian athletes winning gold medals in Sochi were involved in a Russian doping program aimed to dominate its home Olympics.

Later a criminal case over alleged abuse of office was launched against Rodchenkov.

Earlier the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that Rodchenkov, who escaped to the U.S., was unlawfully selling prohibited medicines and deliberately destroyed doping tests of Russian athletes.

This May, the Investigative Committee launched a probe into mass media reports about violations of anti-doping rules by Russian athletes.
Defendant in Culture Ministry embezzlement case pleads guilty

MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) - Director of the Culture Ministrys department of property management and investment policy Boris Mazo has pleaded guilty to embezzling 100 million rubles ($1.5 million) allocated for restoration of cultural heritage objects, RAPSI reported from the courtroom on Thursday.

According to his attorney Aleksei Kupriyanov, Mazo made a plea deal with investigation. Such agreement involves giving evidence against accomplices, in accordance with the law.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Culture Grigory Pirumov, director of the Ministrys department of property management and investment policy Boris Mazo, head of the Center of restoration Oleg Ivanov, head of BaltStroy Dmitry Sergeyev and the companys manager Alexander Kochenov, businessman Nikita Kolesnikov, head of a state-owned Directorate for construction, reconstruction and restoration Boris Tsagarayev and project manager of companies Stroykomplekt and Baltstroy Vladimir Svanbek have been arrested and put in detention in the so-called case of restorers. Kochenov was released from jail and put under house arrest in June.

Moreover, the court ordered seizure of assets belonging to Mazo and Pirumov.

The defendants stand charged with embezzlement of more than 100 million rubles (about $1.5 million). The investigation has presumably started basing on a report by the Auditing Chamber on restoration of the Izborsk Fortress in the Pskov region presented yet in 2013; however, it may also involve such cultural heritage sites as the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, as well as works carried out at the Ivanovsky Convent in Moscow, and a theater in Pskov.
Corruption case against high-ranking investigators was opened lawfully - court

MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  The Moscow City Court on Thursday confirmed the legitimacy of instituting a bribery case against the First Deputy Head of the Investigative Committees Moscow Directorate Denis Nikandrov and his alleged accomplices, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

The court also upheld a lower courts refusal to consider an appeal filed by Nikandrov seeking transfer of the case against him from the Federal Security Service to the Investigative Committee of Russia.

On July 20, the head of the Investigative Committees Internal Security Directorate Mikhail Maksimenko along with several of his high-ranking colleagues, including Nikandrov, and Maksimenkos deputy Alexander Lamonov, were detained till September 15. Earlier, they have been arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of receiving a large-scale bribe.

According to the official website of the FSB, the agency, along with the Investigative Committee, is carrying out a probe into the criminal case against the suspects over alleged abuse of office and receiving bribes from some representatives of the criminal community.

In late July, various media outlets reported that Maksimenko and his colleagues were arrested by the FSB as a part of the investigation into the criminal case over extortion of 8 million rubles ($123,400) that involved gang leader Zakhariy Kalashov also known in the criminal world as Shakro Molodoi.
Investigation into Yukos case extended until December 2

MOSCOW, August 25 (RAPSI)  Investigation into the oil giant Yukos case has been extended until December 2, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday.

The Yukos case was launched in 2003. Later cases against company ex-owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his former business partner Platon Lebedev and other high-ranking Yukos employees, some of them were put on the wanted list or convicted in absentia, have been singled out for considering them in a separate procedure.

In 2005, Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were sentenced to nine years in prison for fraud and tax evasion. Later the terms were reduced to eight years in prison. The second trial commenced in March 2009 and concluded with a guilty verdict in December 2010. The Khamovnichesky District Court of Moscow sentenced both men to 14 years in prison for oil theft and money laundering.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order releasing Khodorkovsky, who spent 10 years in prison for fraud and embezzlement, on December 20, 2013. The same day Khodorkovsky went to Berlin on a chartered flight. Lebedevs sentence was mitigated to the served term; he was released in January 2014.

In June 2015, Russias Investigative Committee reported reopening of investigation into the murder of Nefteyugansk mayor Vladimir Petukhov.

According to investigators, a criminal group killed several people between 1998 and 2002, including Petukhov, on orders from former Yukos shareholder Leonid Nevzlin. In 2009, Nevzlin, who moved to Israel in 2003, was sentenced in absentia to life in prison. Alexei Pichugin, Yukos former security chief, was found guilty of murdering Petukhov and received a life sentence in 2008.

The murder of Petukhov provoked a public outcry 17 years ago, when several media outlets speculated that he was directly involved in the re-division of Russias oil assets.

In December, Khodorkovsky was charged with organizing the murder of Petukhov. Later the Basmanny District Court of Moscow issued an arrest warrant for Khodorkovsky and put him on the international wanted list.

Khodorkovsky who is currently abroad earlier said that he would not participate in another criminal trial of him in Russia.
BOZEMAN, Mont.  Meat raised by Montana State University students will soon be served at the universitys own tables.Thanks to a partnership between the MSU College of Agriculture and the Montana Made Program, meat from steers in the colleges Steer-A-Year program will be served in Miller Dining Commons and at other university events, and profits are used to benefit agriculture students.Through Steer-A-Year, students care daily for steers that Montana ranchers have donated to the university, according to Hannah DelCurto, instructor and program manager. The steers live at MSUs Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm, or BART, farm.DelCurto said the students are responsible for everything from feeding the animals to health checks to vaccinations. In addition, the students provide data about the steers  such as average daily weight gain, carcass information when the meat is harvested and even genetic testing  to the ranchers who donated them.In the past, meat harvested from the donated steers was simply available for anyone to purchase. With a larger program this year, however  the program grew from eight animals last year to 25 this year  there was more meat to sell.So, Steer-A-Year donors suggested selling meat to MSUs University Food Services through the universitys Montana Made Program, which seeks to increase access to local food products. With the help of Montana Made, approximately 20 percent of the food purchased for the university last fiscal year  or approximately $1.5 million worth of products  came from local vendors.Were really excited about this opportunity, DelCurto said. We think it will be a really neat partnership.Approximately 3,600 pounds of beef from the Steer-A-Year program will be served at MSU, according to Amy Bordeau, coordinator of the Montana Made Program. Pioneer Meats near Big Timber, which is owned by MSU alumnus Brian Engle, processed the meat.Bordeau said Montana Made is pleased to partner with the College of Agriculture for several reasons. First, MSU students and faculty are requesting more local food.We are happy to provide our community with fresh and delicious foods from Montana, Bordeau said.Also important is that Montana Made is committed to supporting the local economy, she said.In addition, profit from sales of the steers will fund student activities in the College of Agriculture, and Bordeau said Montana Made is glad to support students directly in that way.Finally, DelCurto noted that because of the partnership, students have the opportunity to learn not only about agriculture, but also about business and economics.From an educational standpoint, the students are involved in every step of creating the product, even in getting the product to the consumer, she said.
BUTTE - 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.
Although classes started Monday, internet fiber access for students, teachers and staff at Darby schools will not be available until October, just a few weeks behind the date it was predicted to arrive.

The school is getting fiber optic cable, said Century Link Policy Director John Bemis.

The team is plowing the 17 miles from Hamilton to Darby and theyve been working feverishly to get done. The school is phase one and the priority for us at this time. 

Darby Superintendent Loyd Rennaker said the funding for the increased internet infrastructure is coming from the Archie and Sue Lorentzen Gift.

Shelby Rogala, community outreach coordinator for Darby School, said the school is excited about the opportunity to connect.

Were excited to get it up and running, Rogala said. Generally it means that were transitioning to utilizing more technology with our students allowing them to excel and make the connections they havent been able to before. Our curriculum will be technology-heavy.

Rennaker said the project will provide the school with 20 times faster service, which will provide students with opportunities like quicker research and more access to information and educational materials. The school is offering students the ability to have personalized learning plans.

There have always been students wanting to graduate earlier, Rennaker said. Darby students now have access to 10 dual credit classes. With better access to the internet and more flexible schedules students can take core university classes from here.

Rennaker is hoping the ability for students to have a personalized schedule will help build enrollment. Students could graduate from high school early or stay and earn college credit at a reduced cost.

We want them to go through their high school courses so they can take college credits and start working to complete their college requirements, Rennaker said. Our teachers still teach the class but have put their information online. If a student is sick or wants to take a trip with their family, they can access their lessons. We still want kids here learning with our teachers and with their peers. More bandwidth provides more flexibility.

Rennaker said he is excited for the Darby community to have internet access.

The broad band to the community will be next with the Connect American Fund, the FCCs rural broadband for underserved communities program, Bemis said. Once the fiber is installed it opens the opportunity to start the expansion.

Bemis said the community project could be just months away because of how the company is installing the lines now.
America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance!


Michael Curtis

It is welcome news when perpetrators of evil are brought to justice. The civilized world will delight in the fact that in the last month, two Islamist terrorists, one repentant, the other defiant, have been prosecuted and convicted for their infamous deeds in courts, one in The Hague and the other in Britain.

The avowed and now repentant terrorist, Ahmad al-Mahdi, made history on August 22, 2016 for a number of reasons. He was the first jihadist to appear before an international court. He was the first defendant to plead guilty at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, and he will be sentenced to a prison term of between nine and eleven years.

In a momentous event for history, Mahdi was the first person to be tried on a "war crimes" charge, the main charge, for attacking historic and cultural monuments. At the Nuremberg war crimes trials, no charge of cultural destruction had been brought against the Nazis. However, after World War II and in recognition that preservation of culture is important, international understandings were reached.

The1954 Convention for Protection of Cultural Property was concerned to protect the culture heritage of countries in the event of armed conflict. The World Heritage Convention in 1972 called for the preservation of cultural properties and the protection of national heritage.

Mahdi, like all jihadidts, took no heed of these international agreements, though he later apologized to his country and to the world for destroying religious monuments in the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali, a city of 333 saints founded in the 11th century by Tuareg tribes and honored as a world historic site by UNESCO in 1988.

Mahdi , a 40-year-old former civil servant in the Department of Education in Mali, was responsible as head of Ansar Dine, a Tuareg terrorist unit linked to al-Qaeda, for directing and participating in destroying tombs that were the embodiment of Mali history. Timbuktu was once an important cultural center, the home of a great civilization with a university that had 25,000 students and important libraries with precious 12th- to 16th-century manuscripts.

In 2012, rebels of the Tuareg tribe, allied with al-Qaeda and armed with weapons looted from Libya, had attacked the city of Timbuktu. In the area of the city they captured, they imposed sharia law, banned music, forced women to wear burquas, forbade girls to go to school, and attacked shrines and monuments of Sufi society. They ruled until French-led troops liberated the city in 2013.

When Mahdi and his extremist companions committed their acts in 2012, he declared he was in charge of fighting superstitions. In 2016 he admitted he had acted in the name of the extremists of al-Qaeda and Ansar Dine. Mahdi admitted responsibility for destroying nine mausoleums and a door of a mosque dating to the 15th to 16th century that had been closed for hundreds of years. The destruction was termed by UNESCO director-general Irene Bokova "a genocidal project." She offered wise words: "Our cultural heritage is not a luxury good; we must protect it from desecration and ravages."

All of the destroyed artifacts had great religious and cultural importance and embodied the common heritage of the people. Mahdi expressed deep regret and asked for forgiveness. In a message that should be heard by all potential as well as actual jihadists, Mahdi said, "We need to speak justice even to ourselves. We have to be truthful, even if it burns our own hands."

This case brings up an interesting problem. While the destruction of precious cultural artifacts is offensive, is it a "war crime"? Can the Allied destruction during World War II of Monte Cassino, or the Caravaggio paintings in the museum in Berlin, be considered war crimes? Today, atrocities of this kind committed since the formulation of cultural international rules might be so regarded. Among them would be the Balkan warlord attacks on Dubrovnik, the famous bridge at Mostar, and the national library at Sarajevo in the 1990s. The civilized world was horrified by the destruction by the Taliban of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan in 2001 and by the ISIS barbarity against the Assyrian statues in Nineveh and the Roman ruins in Palmyra.

The case is strong. Cultural destruction should now be treated as a war crime.

The other person receiving retribution by being convicted is Anjem Choudary, a 49-year-old Muslim social and political activist. He had not been brought to justice for 20 years since he was, apparently, part of an MI5 investigation. Perhaps there was some valid reason for this, but his record of Islamist activism shows him to be the very model of a modern jihadist. He was linked to at least 500 British Muslims who had left Britain to fight for ISIS. He had praised the terrorists of 9/11 in the U.S. and 7/7 in Britain.

Choudary believes that his Muslim faith should dominate "the whole world." He has been linked to at least 15 terror plots since 2000, to attacks in London and other places, and to the murder of a British soldier. He delivered a series of talks on YouTube encouraging support for the terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun. Though he has stated he does not accept British law, in London on July 26, 2016, he was convicted of inciting support for ISIS.

By now everyone should be aware of the evil of Islamist terrorism, but some seem hesitant to accept reality. In August 2016, the judges of the British Special Immigration Appeals Commission deliberated on the case of six Algerian terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda who were living in Britain. Citing the Human Rights Act, the commission allowed them the right to live in Britain on the irrelevant basis that it was "not inconceivable they would be subjected to ill treatment" if deported to Algeria.

It is not dismaying news that British prime minister Theresa May is planning to double British efforts to defeat terrorism, especially since she believes that an attack on Britain is highly likely. It is even more important for her to institute a ban on Islamist preachers spreading their evil message in mosques, universities, and community groups.
BEIJING - China did not fabricate its unemployment data and it can keep it stable despite redundancy pressures.

The urban registered unemployment rate was 4.05 percent in June, almost flat from 4.04 in March. The urban surveyed unemployment rate for 31 major cities was 5 percent in June, slightly down from 5.02 in May.

Unemployment reflects the performance of an economy and influences policy.

China, which is in the midst of economic restructuring, needs its unemployment data to be more-precise-than-ever as redundancies are the last thing the government wants, and whitewashed rates could mislead policy makers.

The monthly surveyed unemployment rate began in 2009 to complement the quarterly registered rate and make the resultant data more accurate, although practically, no calculation can include all job losses.

It is undeniable that redundancies in China are increasing due to the slowdown in the broader economy and particularly the shutdown of steel mills, coal mines and other overcapacity enterprises.

From 2016 to 2020, about 1.8 million steel and coal workers will possibly be laid off and they need to be reemployed. The wider use of industrial robots could make things worse.

In addition, more than 7 million college graduates every year are looking to join the workforce.

However, China's unemployment rates did and will not hike up because the total employed and unemployed will also increase.

In the first half of 2016, 7.17 million jobs were created in Chinese cities, accounting for 71.7 percent of China's annual target of 10 million urban jobs.

Official data in July showed that for every job seeker there was an average of 1.05 positions, indicating more than ample room for the workforce.

In addition, China's farmer-turned workers can go back to their land or start small businesses in their hometowns. This flexible two-way migration can add urban labor supply and mitigate unemployment pressure in difficult times.

The growing service sector, as a result of the economic restructuring, has provided an increasing number of jobs.

In 2004, the service sector employed 30.6 percent of China's workforce. This rose to 40.6 percent in 2014 and is expected to increase to 50 percent by 2020.

Internet-based businesses are among the biggest employers. On-demand mobility company Didi said it had created about 3.9 million jobs in 17 provinces facing the arduous task of capacity cuts.

Alibaba had created more than 15 million jobs by the end of 2015. The number of people working in the logistics sector increased from 600,000 in 2010 to 2.03 million in 2015.

China's economic fundamentals rule out hikes in unemployment rates and the government will not sit by and watch large-scale redundancies.
From: "Kanak Dixit"

Himal Southasian magazine to suspend publication

Press note: 24 August 2016

The Southasia Trust regrets to announce the suspension of publication of Himal Southasian, the pioneering magazine promoting across-border journalisma in the region. A decision to this effect was taken by the Trustas Executive Board on 22 August, due to non-cooperation by regulatory state agencies in Nepal that has made it impossible to continue operations after 29 years of publication.

Reflecting the trend in other parts of Southasia in terms of independent media and civil society organisations, Himal is being silenced not by direct attack or overt censorship but the use of the arms of bureaucracy to paralyse its functioning. Though Nepal has been a leader of free press since the introduction of democracy in 1990, continuous socio-political chaos over two decades has progressively weakened the commitment of the political class to open society.

Relying as it does on external funding support, Himalas publisher The Southasia Trust has adhered to the strict regimen of rules and regulations that govern its day-to-day functioning. Government officials in the various regulatory departments privately admit that the Trust has been in full compliance but regret their inability to process papers due to apressuresa , citing powerful state entities who they refuse to name on the record.

With no notification or explanation, grants meant for Himal were not approved over seven months of waiting, obtaining work permits for non-Nepali editorial staff became impossible, and there were unreasonable delays in processing payments for international contributors. Our dwindling workforce tried to overcome these and other challenges, but in the end suspension was the only option.

The decision to suspend publication was not sudden. We continued in the production of high quality journalism in print and on the web despite repeated challenges over the past three years. We persevered through the repercussions of the political attack on Himal in Parliament in April 2014, as well as the escalating targeting of Kanak Mani Dixit, Himalas founding editor and Trust chairman over the past year.

Himal Southasian will continue to publish till November 2016 and meet all its outstanding obligations before suspension of operations. The editor Aunohita Mojumdar and her team remain committed to independent journalism and Himal will resume publication when circumstances in Nepal (or elsewhere) make it possible. We will keep our subscribers as well as the larger public informed about developments through notices at www.himalmag.com.

Signed: S. Mishra, Member-Secretary, for The Southasia Trust Executive Board

(Himal started publication in 1987 as a Himalayan journal and converted to a Southasian magazine in 2006. The Southasia Trust is a non- profit entity registered in Lalitpur, Nepal.)

Enquiries: Phone: + 977-5552141, email: info[at]himalmag.com
Moroccan security services have recently intercepted a convoy of weapons bound to the southern provinces of Morocco, via the no mans land labeled Kandahar, between Guergarat and northern Mauritania.

The weapons were destined to the separatists settled in the Moroccan Sahara who are controlled by the Polisario front from the Rabouni camp in Tindouf.

The arms shipment was intercepted thanks to tips from Moroccan and foreign intelligence services. These services reported the pending arrival in this region of the extreme south of the Kingdom of a group of arms smugglers coming from the uncontrolled Sahel-Sahara zone.

Daily Assabah, which reported the news in its Wednesday edition, said the weapons were destined to Polisario militants, instructed to carry out armed actions in the southern provinces of Morocco.

To stem all trafficking of weapons and other prohibited items in the border area between Morocco and Mauritania, Moroccan security services launched as of August 14 a large scale combing operation in the area, become a hotbed of smuggling and trafficking of all kinds, the daily recalled, adding that the Moroccan security services work closely with their Mauritanian counterparts to definitely clean up this area.

To bar the way to traffickers and smugglers who roam in the region, authorities of the Dakhla wilaya started paving a 3.8 km long stretch of the road connecting the Guergarat border crossing to the Mauritanian territory.

According to Assabah, the intelligence services suggest in their reports to equip the military units deployed along the defense wall with electronic surveillance devices and arms detection systems to combat the trafficking of conventional arms or even chemical and biological weapons from the Sahel.

Similarly, a report by the British Institute of Studies TechNavio has warned the countries of the region about the risk of terrorist attacks, and called on Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria to take the necessary steps to anticipate any threat.

Through the large scale combing operation near the Guergarat border post and Kandahar, Morocco will permanently ban access to the Atlantic Ocean for traffickers and smugglers, including Polisario militiamen, who, under the cover of transhumant Touareg, frequently come to the area to sell weapons purchased in northern Mali and goods of humanitarian aid diverted in the Tindouf camps.
Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. This article is part of an editorial partnership between Womans Day and Kaiser Health News.




Now that the curtain has come-down on the second straight summer meet at Laurel Park, this blogger has decided to take this opportunity to look back on lessons learned over the 7-week, 24-day summer meet at Marylands track by the tracks smack dab between Baltimore and DC.









BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME





It was the first full meet after $20 million in renovations and improvements at Laurel Park and fans embraced the upgrades turning out in droves to experience all that the new and improved Laurel Park has to offer.





The most visible of those upgrades is the huge 36 foot by 56 foot LED, high-definition video and tote board that graces the infield that fans can see from almost anywhere from the paddock to the barn side of the grandstand.









Not to mention the continuing efforts to upgrade the racing experience in the grandstand and the construction of more of those new big white barns with brand spanking new stalls for the stars of Laurel Park, the top horses in the Mid-Atlantic if not along the East Coast.





To that end, total handle on Laurel Parks summer meet was up 20.2 percent over the previous year while average and in-state handle also increased. Total handle on Laurels 24-day summer meet  the same number of days as last year  was $63.2 million compared to $52.6 million in 2015.





Average handle increased 12.4 percent from $1.7 million to $2.1 million while in-state handle increased by 14.2 percent from $18.1 million to $20.7 million.









TELLING TURF





The summer of 16 at Laurel Park will always be remembered for its incredible turf course offerings. It seemed as though each and every day there was amazing racing on what is now recognized as one of the best turf courses not only on the East Coast, but across the nation.









When the racing offices condition book called for a race on the turf this past summer meet it was a pretty good bet that not only would it be a full-field, it would also be a field filled with quality horses from far and wide that would provide plenty of memories of voracious runs to the wire.









New Maryland Jockey Club Turf Course Superintendent extraordinaire Gonzalo Herrera has done an amazing job taking the incredibly well-manicured turf that Robbie Mitten cared-for for so many years and making it the gold standard for Thoroughbred racing turf courses far-and-wide.









COLOSSAL COLONY





Great racing attracts great jockeys. And that was defiantly the case for the summer meet at Laurel Park as you would be hard pressed to find a better young jockey colony at any racetrack anywhere.





Were talking about a jockey colony in Maryland that is now being mentioned in the same breath as those in NY at Saratoga and Belmont and in California at Del Mar and Santa Anita.









A week didnt go without the likes of Trevor McCarthy riding his heart-out not only at Laurel but also in bigtime stakes races up and down the East Coast. A summer that saw Jevian Toledo win an amazing 12 races over the course of the last 5 days of the summer meet to take the jockeys riding title.









And who knows how it would have turned-out if red hot Victor Carrasco hadnt been thrown in a post parade with a few weeks to go in the meet.





That said, Feargal Lynch continued to make a mark in his new surroundings as the Irish rider finished a close second to Toledo in the jockey standings. A meet that included a 4-win day for Feargal on the Clemson-themed Rub The Rock. Dabo Swinney would be proud!









And how about Forrest Boyce taking it up another notch this summer not only by riding some great mounts at Laurel but also posting her first career win at Saratoga.









And what a thrill it was this summer to also see some of the top veteran riders in the nation throughout the summer meet at Laurel Park including Hall of Famer Edgar Prado, my gym buddy Horacio Karamanos (above) the very talented Julian Pimentel (below), Alex Cintron and that cagey veteran Taylor Hole.









The summer meet also marked the return of one of the most talented and popular riders these parts has seen in decades, Sheldon Russell. Midway through the summer meet Sheldon returned from a torn labrum and fractured shoulder to the delight of railbirds and handicappers alike at Laurel Park.





The summer meet also saw the return of popular apprentice jockey Darius Thorpe who did it in fine style winning his first race back in the saddle at Laurel.









Not to mention some also just as awesome racing by the likes of Alex Gomez, Xavier Perez, Omar Orlando Ortiz and Angel Serpa, to name a few.









TK AND HAMMY









GAUDET GOLD





It was a summer at Laurel Park that saw the 20-something daughter of a Maryland racing legend take the reins of her familys stable in a big way.





Lacey Gaudet established herself as a trainer to be reckoned with her in Maryland. And it was a summer to remember for Eddie and Lindas daughter and Gabbys sister.





Be it saddling back-to-back winners on a Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park with The Pulse (below) in the 3rd and Ruston Vow in the 4th.









Be it saddling her first ever starter at Saratoga and cashing-in a show ticket thanks to a great performance by Pret Say Eye.





Or be it saddling John Jones (below), the 43-1 longshot that knocked-off the mighty Bens Cat and the rest of the field in the Mister Diz Stakes on the last weekend of the summer meet at Laurel.









BTW, John Jones is the same horse that Lacey shrewdly claimed this summer at Laurel for what now looks to be the bargain price of $25,000. It goes without saying that it was a summer to remember for Laurel Park trainer Lacey Gaudet and Team Gaudet Racing.









And for the second straight summer, Laurel Parks summer meet Friday twilight racing and Gallop Hour proved to be a big hit with its 3:40 pm first post time, its bands on the apron and food and beverage specials. And while it wasnt twilight, the August Saturday crab feast was once again a big hit.









STAN THE MAN





With his colleague Gabby Gaudet handling Saratoga Live racing analyst duties at the Spa for the better part of the summer, Stan Salter stepped-up in a big way during Laurel Parks summer meet hosting Today At The Races with a team of special guest analysts that included track announcer Dave Rodman, oddsmaker and Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle and award winning turf writer Vinnie Perrone.





Stan has done it all at the track from exercising horses in the morning back-in-the-day to now representing Maryland racing to fans here in Maryland and across the nation and providing valuable information that can out a smile on the face of any race fan and handicapper.









JIM & JERRY





And not to mention all the great Laurel Park summer meet photos that the great Jim McCue shot through the lens of his cameras from the finish line to the winners circle along with his friend and colleague and man about the track photographer Jerry Dzierwinski.





This photo of Jerry shooting out on the turf course is from the Maryland equine photographer Dottie Miller .





She did a great job all summer documenting the summer meet at Laurel Park.









For all of those reasons (and more) it goes without saying that it was a special summer meet to remember at Laurel Park. Kudios to Sal Sinatra, Georganne Hale and all the talented and hard working Maryland Jockey Club staff who make it such a pleasure to enjoy all that Laurel Park has to offer.





And the best thing is we only have to wait just a couple weeks until Dave Rodman says they off again at the tracks by the tracks for the September 9th return of live racing at Laurel Park.





Until then, grab a corn dog and enjoy the next couple weeks of Maryland State Fair racing at Timonium.

As good as the jockey colony is at Laurel Park, the line-up of trainers who flocked to run horses at the "track by the tracks" was once again amazing over the last 2 months. The summer trainer's title has become a very coveted prize and this summer it ended in a photo finish.In fact it was a dead heat as two of the real good-guys at the track tied for the title. Both Hanny Smith and Tim Keefe ended in a first place tie with 10 wins each.And those are some kind of bragging rights for that pair of conditioners as each day at Laurel Park they were sending out horses against the likes of Hall of Famer King Leatherbury, Graham Motion, Kieron Magee, Rodney Jenkins, Wayne Potts, Katy Voss, Jamie Ness, Jerry Robb, Lacey Gaudet, Mary Eppler, the Capuano brothers, Ferris Allen, Phil Schoenthal, Linda Albert, Rudy Rodriguez, John Salzman, Ollie Figgins, Mike Trombetta, Geirge Weaver...and the list goes on!
A muscular thriller, Don't Breathe manhandles a vaguely familiar premise into a fresh, frenzied experience.

Directed by Fede Alvarez (2013's Evil Dead), the setup is brisk. Three Detroit teenagers (Jane Levy, Dylan Minette, Daniel Zovatto) have made an art out of breaking into the homes of rich people, vandalizing and looting as they go. They're in and out quick, thanks to knowledge they've secretly gained about each house and the people who live there.

Levy and Zovatto are planning to move to California as soon as possible. Levy lives in a trailer park and has good reason to get out. Minette, besotted with Levy but locked in the friend zone, is the key to their success with home invasions. Zovatto is big and tough, he thinks, a white gangster type with primal instincts.

They learn of a new target with, they deduce, sufficient cash on hand to fund their California getaway. Minette is reluctant but soon acquiesces -- this is an action movie, after all -- and the gang of three case out the joint. Working in their favor, they believe, is that their target is a blind man (Stephen Lang) who lives in a conveniently abandoned neighborhood. The blind man is a Vietnam veteran, and anyone who's seen Rutger Hauer in Blind Fury knows that the kids have severely underestimated their intended victim. Nonetheless, they proceed with their plan.

Though it's easy enough to guess the broad outlines of what will take place, director Alvarez goes from zero to 60 at a furious pace, steering away from the plot holes and contrivances that almost inevitably arise. Alvarez cowrote the original screenplay with Rodo Sayagues, and the dialogue is as efficient as most of the action sequences. The writers draw from several genre favorites, borrowing plot devices and twisting them to their own advantage.

That being said, the writers come up with a couple of their own outrageous ideas that are true howlers, threatening to throw the entire movie into the realm of the ridiculous. Alvarez's direction makes an effort to lasso those tendencies, which is not entirely successful.

With only four principal characters, locked mostly in a house, Don't Breathe depends mightily on the performances to succeed, and the steely presence of Stephen Lang goes a long way toward making it all somewhat believable. He is the proverbial force to be reckoned with, a pure, sustained burst of terrifying energy who is somehow both the victim and the villain.

Jane Levy roots the "heroic" side of the equation with far much than simple pluck. Her motivation may feel forced, as if the writers realized, 'Oh, she should have a good reason for smashing the law and trying to steal this guy's loot,' yet Levy expertly rides the tumultuous tides of her character. Dylan Minette, who was a winning good guy in Goosebumps, takes a somewhat similar character for a walk on the wild side. He is a prototypical cautious child; he's always saying, in effect, 'don't go in the basement,' and with good reason. Still, he's a winning, sympathetic character. Daniel Zovatto is stuck in a more narrow personality, gaining little empathy except for those smitten by good-looking, stupid and brutal bad boys.

Don't Breathe speeds through tight turns with wild abandon and crashes off cliffs on more than one occasion, yet somehow lands on its feet. It's good fun.

Review originally published after its world premiere at SXSW in March 2016. The film opens in wide release on Friday, August 26.
If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE).


Notoriously anti-gay reggae artist Sizzla, a.k.a. Sizzla Kalonji, who is nonetheless one of the most prolific and popular contemporary reggae musicians in the world, was set to perform at SoMa nightclub 1015 Folsom on September 23 as part of his "Back in the USA" tour, until 1015's owner Ira Sandler decided to put a stop to it. Sandler tells Hoodline that the booking "slipped through the cracks" during a period in July after he had just suffered a heart attack and double bypass surgery. "Im a very hands-on owner, and I always vet artists who are potentially controversial," he says, adding that 1015 has "had a long love affair with the LGBTQ community" and after Hoodline called out Sizzla's homophobic lyrics, "there was no hesitation in my heart to do the right thing and cancel this show."

Sizzla, who is from Jamaica, has produced 71 solo albums in his 20-year career and is known for "murder music," which is a strain of reggae music that openly encourages the killing of homosexuals. Other artists like Buju Banton and Bounty Killer are also known for writing in this genre. In particular, Sizzla's tracks "Murder Dem" and "Nah Apologize" have caused controversy around the world and gotten Sizzla's shows canceled in the UK, Canada, and elsewhere. In 2010, Sizzla traveled to perform in Zimbabwe, where he was apparently awarded with a plot of farmland by notoriously anti-gay dictator Robert Mugabe.

Sizzla's appearance in the Bay Area was first brought to the attention of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who quickly campaigned to get the event at 1015 canceled after tickets went on sale last week. On Facebook, Sister Roma writes, "Props to Ira Sandler and 1015 for canceling this hate-filled, homophobic monster's concert," adding, "Sad part is, he's probably gay..."

Earlier this month, Sizzla headlined the Reggae on the River festival in Humboldt County, and efforts to remove him from that lineup were unsuccessful.

According to BandsInTown, Sizzla has shows confirmed in Santa Cruz on September 26, and at Petaluma's Mystic Theatre on September 27.

Back in 2009, similarly homophobic Rastafarian Buju Banton came to the Bay Area, and an appearance at the Rockit Room in the Richmond was met with protest. Banton had been known for his anti-gay lyrics dating back to his 1992 song "Boom Bye Bye."

The Miami New Times reports that Sizzla told fans his US work visa had been reinstated in July, after it had been revoked by the government back in 2008.

Ironically, Sizzla told the paper of his ongoing tour to expect "More love, peace, more vibrations, and unity. Expect the fans to turn out in numbers in the hundred thousands."
In what is either a brilliant exploration of the line between graffiti tagging and public art, or else a typical case of a couple of dudes with too much time and spray paint on their hands, the new Hayes Valley Shepard Fairey mural depicting Cesar Chavez has been (choose one) embellished/defaced.





Hoodline was the first to report on the turn of events, which SFist confirmed with our own camera this morning. Fairey, the popular artist behind the Obey clothing line and the Obama "Hope" poster, visited San Francisco recently to paint two murals here (with the help of assistants) as part of a project called "American Civics." That set of works focuses on what Fairey considers the "abiding issues of our time:" In Hayes Valley, that was Chavez symbolizing workers' rights, and in the Mission at Alabama and 20th Streets it was voting rights, as symbolized by Fannie Lee Chaney, whose son was killed by the KKK in 1964 for registering black voters.



Caleb Pershan/SFist

Fairey and his team completed the Chavez mural on the 10th, just over two weeks ago. Thanks, "Ryan" and "Ecks," for giving it that extra something, and teaching us something about the way in which Fairey's work has been elevated in the process. Fascinating stuff.

Previously: Photo Du Jour: Shepard Fairey Mural Of Cesar Chavez Takes Shape

Shepard Fairey Painting Two New Murals In SF This Week
The Inner Mission is one of the citys busiest neighborhoods, alive with a diverse mix of residents, lifestyles and cultures reflected in the copious amount of destination restaurants and shopping for every budget and taste.

The homes in the Inner Mission are just as diverse as its residents. The housing options are a mix of Victorian-style single-family homes and flats, newer condominiums, and trendy live-work lofts, with low-rise condominium developments that are spiking up across the San Francisco real estate market.

Restaurants cover every main drag ranging from longtime local eateries to the newest and most adventurous in epicurean culture. The streets are brimming over with chic furniture, vintage clothing, fabric, costume jewelry, and every other store imaginable. The neighborhood is loved by its residents, a diverse group heavily represented by the Hispanic community, who welcome the waves of students, young couples, artists, hipsters, and entrepreneurs looking for rooms to rent.

Two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations service the Inner Mission in addition to numerous city bus lines making public transportation accessible from every corner of the neighborhood. Valencia Street on the western border of the neighborhood is one of the citys most well-known corridors for its spirited transformation. Thrift stores, dive bars, coffeehouses, bookstores, art galleries, theaters, clothing stores, and boutique shops all attract heavy foot traffic, day and night.

The Inner Mission leaves little to be desired, as far as city living standards go. The balance between grit and glamour has made this neighborhood a gratifying haven for its dwellers. For the latest Inner Mission listings, check out Zephyrre.com.

Inner Mission is one of 89 neighborhoods in San Francisco. With so many distinct areas, understanding the Citys real estate market requires a nuanced and highly local approach. As a business operating in San Francisco since 1978, with nearly 400 agents, Zephyr Real Estate is specially positioned to cater to your real estate needs, whether buying or selling.

Have a question about the Inner Mission or larger San Francisco market? Contact Zephyr at Zephyrre.com or 1.415.278.9600. They'll match you up with a team member to help.

This post is brought to you by Zephyr Real Estate.
BART police are investigating a stabbing that took place at or near San Francisco's Civic Center BART station, after the victim of the attack was discovered on the platform Wednesday night.

The Bay Area News Group reports that BART police were called to the station at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, on reports of "a person with stab wounds...at the station." According to ABC 7, the victim was "discovered on the platform" (that is, the downstairs area where BART riders wait for their train), prompting a closure of the entire station until 11:40 p.m.

According to BART police, it's unclear exactly where (geographically, not on his body) the man was stabbed.

"We're still investigating what happened  if it happened in our station or at the street level," BART police Lt. Mike Hayes told BANG.

No details have been provided on any possible suspects or the victim by BART, which did not return a call from SFist as of publication time. According to KRON 4, the victim was male, and "The extent of the victims injuries is unknown at this time, but as of 3 a.m., he is still at the hospital."

As of Thursday morning, no arrests have been made in the case. If you have any information on the stabbing, BART's tip line for criminal investigations within the BART system can be reached at 510-464-7040.
Meet Matt Janzen, the photographer behind State of Craft Beer. This 26 year old waved goodbye to a promising career at a local advertising agency in August 2015 to travel 30,000 miles chasing his passions: photography & craft beer. If you ask Matt why craft beer, hell answer like most people who love the industry: he loves beer. And he loves local and thinks the craft beer industry in Wisconsin does an amazing job of supporting this.

Matt walked me through telling his parents what he was going to do, and, as every mom would be, she was worried but ultimately supportive. And like any supportive dad with internet access, Matts facebook page was soon filled with craft beer memes.

Then I asked how someone can live on the road for a year. Matt disclosed with a chuckle and one word: frugally; cashing in his 401k and couch surfing as much as possible, with the occasional night sleeping in his car. Matt never planned to to create a book from his experience, just show his love for craft beer and its industry.

 Expand Barley harvest. Photo by Matt Janzen

Matts pictures capture moments of the people behind the beer. Not just brewers but delivery drivers, hop farmers and tap handle makers. Matt expresses that Wisconsins land and climate are just right for growing barley and hops. Wisconsin beer lovers are fortunate enough to have speciality companies that create beer bottle packaging and brewing systems in our state for breweries across the United States, speciality products like local beekeepers where breweries get honey, and groves of maple trees where brewers will go tap the trees and use its sap in beer. Matt has visited over 120 locations across the State of Wisconsin. All have their place in the industry. All come with their own set of skills and knowledge and hard labor.

 Expand Photo by Matt Janzen

Meeting 95 brewers is an amazing accomplishment for someone not even in the industry! Some, Matt explains, have transferred from one brewery to another. No matter where the brewer is or what time they brew; theyre friendly, fairly laid back and sometimes offer coffee. Matt answered my question about his favorite breweries pretty carefully as hes enjoyed the uniqueness each brewery and their employees offer. But some of his most memorable moments come from meeting Steve at Hinterland Brewery, Beau at South Shore Brewery , Tanner & Tyler at Sand Creek Brewing ,and head brewer, Allyson, at Thirsty Pagan Brewing. Not to mention a fondness for time spent with Deb at New Glarus Brewing Co. and Jean at Biloba Brewing Co. Matt also briefly shared about his time at Raised Grain Brewing in Waukesha. He went for a brew day and ended up hanging out with the whole crew and some of their family that had stopped by!

The kickstarter for Matts coffee table book, State of Craft Beer, has another six days and several different levels of support, starting at five dollars! Check out his campaign HERE and show your support. Also, though there arent official plans, Matt expresses interest in exploring other states and diving into their State of Craft Beer.
DES MOINES | The state utilities board has denied landowners request to delay construction of a crude oil pipeline through Iowa.

The three-member Iowa Utilities Board on Thursday afternoon unanimously rejected the emergency motion filed by 14 landowners who wanted construction halted while the courts consider a lawsuit they have filed to stop the project. Some of the petitioners have land in Cherokee County.

Board members said they rejected the request because they think the landowners lawsuit is unlikely to succeed, and because any lengthy delay in the project may cause substantial harm to Dakota Access, the Texas-based company building the pipeline.

The landowners said they will appeal the boards decision in court.

The board sustained a short-term order to halt construction on the 14 landowners property until Monday.

Plans call for a $3.8 billion, 1,168-mile underground pipeline from North Dakotas Bakken oil fields to a distribution hub in Illinois. The pipeline would transport up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil daily and cross from northwest to southeast Iowa, spanning 347 miles and 18 counties.

Construction began on the project in Iowa in June, and thus far 22 percent of the piping has been laid in the state, the company said in a court filing this week. Roughly three-fourths of the route through Iowa has been cleared, and half has been graded, the company said.

Pipeline construction in North Dakota is nearly complete, and is 63 percent complete in South Dakota and 62 percent complete in Illinois, the company said.

Opponents of the project cite environmental safety concerns and question the authority of a private company to use eminent domain to acquire land for the project.

The state utilities board heard arguments earlier Thursday on the landowners request for a delay.

Attorneys for Dakota Access said landowners have missed their legal opportunity to halt the project and should no longer be allowed to stand in its way.

Bret Dublinske, an attorney for Dakota Access, said landowners could have taken legal steps to halt the project after multiple board and court rulings earlier this year and accused them of going first to the courts in an attempt to sidestep the board.

Dublinske said seeking board action now threatens to cause financial harm to the company and the project.

As (the district court judge) pointed out, the only emergency is of their making.  Theyve made no effort until we were on their doorstep, Dublinske said, accusing a small fraction of zealous landowners of sitting on their rights.

An attorney representing 14 Iowa landowners in the pipelines path argued the board must put the project on hold until the dispute between those landowners and the pipeline company is resolved by the courts, because if the courts rule in favor of landowners after the pipeline is already laid on their land, those landowners lose their constitutional right to due process.

William Hanigan, an attorney representing the landowners, noted the list of petitioners originally included 15 landowners, but by Thursdays hearing, that number was reduced to 14 because pipeline construction finished on one of the landowners property.

If you dont (grant the emergency stay), then the petition for judicial review is meaningless, Hanigan said.
SIOUX CITY | Bernie Ketelsen on Aug. 31 ended a 44-year career of working for Woodbury County, after a long time as manager of Little Sioux Park near Correctionville, Iowa.

Ketelsen was the longest-serving employee of the Woodbury County Conservation Department. Department Director Rick Schneider said Ketelsen has been a devoted worker who many people see as the face of Little Sioux Park.

Ketelsen began his employment with the county on July 15, 1972, as a conservation assistant for the Little Sioux Park and Fowler Forest Preserve areas. In 1975 he became the park officer for Bigelow Park-Browns Lake, and returned to Little Sioux Park in 1978 as the head park manager.

Ketelsen managed the Northeast District for the Conservation Department, which includes Little Sioux Park, Shagbark Hills, Midway Park, Walling Access, Curtin Timber and Dixon Bridge Access. He also oversaw the Union Bridge Trail and Stub Gray Shooting Range.

Over his career Ketelsen mentored hundreds of summer employees who worked park maintenance, summer ranger and lifeguard positions. He worked with summer youth training programs and with area school classes during environmental field trips to the park.
SIOUX CITY | With golden shovels in hand, members of the Sioux City Council and Cone Park Committee turned up inaugural dirt Thursday at the future site of the all-seasons park.

The groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the beginning of construction for the project, which has been in the planning and fundraising stages for more than a decade. Contractors will officially move in next week to begin dirt work on the first phase of the $4 million project.

"It's a big day for Sioux City Parks and Recreation and the city of Sioux City," Matt Salvatore, the city's parks and recreation director, said following the groundbreaking. "Its been a lot of hard work for all of our staff."

About 60 people gathered Thursday morning at the future park site, which lies just east of the IBP Ice Center parking lot, near Lewis and Clark Park. Along with the groundbreaking, city leadership recognized Cone Park Committee members, Parks and Recreation staff and donors who have helped with the project.

Among those breaking ground Thursday was Craig Berenstein, who was mayor of Sioux City when the project began in 2006 and has co-chaired the Cone Park Committee since leaving office nearly a decade ago.

"This feels tremendous," Berenstein said after the ceremony. "To realize that we're here today with a phenomenal opportunity with Cone Park and with all of its components -- it's really a fantastic feeling."

Expected to open in December 2017, Cone Park will include a tubing hill, day lodge, 1.5-mile trail and an ice-skating rink that will double as a splash pad in the summer. Organizers project the park will cost approximately $4 million.

The largest source of funding for project comes from a trust fund established by the family of Ruth Cone in 1981 for the purpose of establishing a new park in Sioux City. With interest, the trust has grown to approximately $2.9 million.

City leadership formed a committee to plan the park more than a decade ago, after the funds became available to the city. Since then, the project has received contributions from the city and county, along with numerous grants and donations. In May, the Vision Iowa board awarded a $300,000 grant, helping put the fundraising over the top.

Construction will officially begin next week, Salvatore said, with paving of a road extension to begin in the spring. Salvatore said the bids for the day lodge and the ice-skating rink and splash pad will come before the council later this year.

"We'll get a lot done before the end of the year," Salvatore said. "Every week I think you'll see a lot of progress."
SIOUX CITY | U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said Thursday she believes Republican Donald Trump's presidential campaign is "going strong" despite the recent resignation of his campaign chairman and polls that show him trailing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Ernst, R-Iowa, commented on Trump's campaign to reporters following a tour of the 185th Air Refueling Wing's base in Sioux City Thursday morning.

"I think he's going strong, I'll be honest," Ernst said of Trump. "You'll see any campaign goes through growing pains and challenges and shifts. That's normal."

Trump will headline Ernst's annual "Roast and Ride" event Saturday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Though Clinton has a solid lead nationally, most polls in Iowa show a tight race.

Trump's chairman Paul Manafort resigned last week amid a shake-up in campaign staff leadership.

Ernst has been a supporter of Trump's campaign since Trump became the presumptive nominee earlier this year. Ernst was considered by national media to be among the top candidates for Trump's vice presidential selection, and in June she received a prime-time speaking slot on the opening night of the Republican National Convention.

Ernst said she was pleased to have Trump back in Iowa Saturday and is optimistic about the future of his campaign.

"I am excited about his opportunities, and I think hes going to do very well, she said.

Ernst's visit to the 185th Thursday came on the heels of an Air Force inspection the unit passed with flying colors last week.

Following a tour of one of the wing's aerial refueling tankers, Ernst congratulated the wing on the passed inspection and said the Iowa National Guard continues to be a leading example for other states to follow.

"The maintenance and the high-quality craftsmanship, the care that goes into these planes -- it's exemplary," she said. "And this is typical of the Iowa Guard."

Ernst, a retired Iowa National Guard officer who in 2014 became the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate, said she also received valuable feedback from airmen and their families during the visit, specifically regarding the challenges of the wing's deployment cycle. She said she asked airmen to bring her more information on that topic.

"One of the comments was that deployments are based more on an Army model than, perhaps, an Air Force model," Ernst said. "Certainly because our equipment's different, our mission's very different."

Ernst followed her morning stop in Sioux City with an afternoon trip to Mid-Sioux Opportunity Inc. in Remsen, Iowa. The visit to Woodbury and Plymouth counties was part of her tour of all 99 Iowa counties.
SIOUX CITY | Four people involved in the arrest and prosecution of Jamal Dean were honored Thursday in Washington, D.C.

During the 20th Annual ATF Awards Ceremony, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives presented the Distinguished Service Medal to ATF Special Agent Todd Monney and the ATF Honor Award to Assistant U.S. Attorney Forde Fairchild, Sioux City police detectives Troy Hansen and Kevin McCormick.

The four were recognized for their work in locating, apprehending and prosecuting Dean, a Sioux City gang member with a lengthy history of violent crime in the Sioux City area.

Dean, 24, was sentenced to life in prison in January 2015 after being found guilty in federal court of several charges in connection with two separate robberies of cash, drugs and cars from drug dealers in April 2013. He's also serving 25 years in prison on a state charge of attempted murder for the April 29, 2013, shooting of Sioux City police Officer Kevin McCormick during a traffic stop.
SIOUX CITY | For the third straight year, graduating seniors at Sioux City's three public high schools scored higher on the ACT exam.

Test scores also rose for the class of 2016 at Dakota Valley High School, while scores for Bishop Heelan High School and Sergeant Bluff-Luton remained stable, according to data released this week by the ACT. The latest ACT results for South Sioux City High School students were not immediately available Wednesday.

The ACT, which tests students in English, math, reading and science reasoning, is an academic benchmark commonly used in the Midwest for college admissions and many scholarships. A perfect score is 36.

Students at East, North and West combined for an average composite score of 20.9 on the 2016 exam, up from 20.7 the previous year, and a tad above the national average of 20.8. School officials did not provide a break down of scores by high school.

Weve been proud of our growth, Superintendent Paul Gausman said Wednesday. We still have work to do to continue to grow the compositebut we will celebrate its greater than the nations average.

Gausman said the students showed considerable growth in the reading portion of the test. He said thats been an area of focus.

But the superintendent said theres still room for improvement. He said the district will continue to help students prepare for the ACT and offer more preparation opportunities.

The average composite score in Iowa in 2016 was 22.1. That's a mark bested by both Bishop Heelan High School and Sergeant Bluff-Luton.

The average composite score at Bishop Heelan was 23.1, down from 23.8 in 2015. Bob Geary, director of guidance, said the decrease is likely a product of more students taking the test than the year before. He said 96 percent of the 2016 graduating class took the test, compared to 92 percent in 2015.

The class of 2016 at Sergeant BluffLuton posted an average composite score of 22.8, a decrease from last years mark of 23.1. Superintendent Rod Earleywine said hes pleased the district achieved its score, but said theres always room for growth.

Although our students score well on the ACT, we are always reviewing our student's results and looking for opportunities to make improvements, Earleywine said in an email Wednesday.

The average composite score for Dakota Valley students in 2016 was 22.8. That's down from 22 in 2015, but above the 2016 averages of 21.9 in South Dakota, as well as the Iowa average of 22.1 and the Nebraska average of 21.4, Superintendent Jerry Rasmussen noted.

"We feel strongly that our ACT scores and our student performance being consistently above 22 is the result of a strong K-12 team effort to prepare our students to be college and career ready," Rasmussen said in an email Wednesday.

Rasmussen cautioned the ACT is only piece of data that helps guide the district's instruction and curriculum. "One single piece of data should not be used to compare different classes or districts," he said.

The national ACT average dipped from 21 to 20.8 as more states mandated the exam for its students. Twenty states administer the ACT to all 11th graders. In Nebraska, all juniors will begin taking the test this school year.

Scores typically decrease as more students who are not college bound and have not taken preparatory courses for the ACT are required to take the exam.

There seems to be some drop across the board and thats pretty much attributed to more students taking it than ever, Geary said.

Nationally, the average of students who took the test that met college readiness standards in three of four subjects dropped to 38 percent in 2016, from 40 in 2015.
South Sioux City | A man flipped a Land Rover Range Rover "a couple times" near the Scenic Park Campground Wednesday evening.

South Sioux City Police Sgt. Steve Heide said the incident happened around 7:50 p.m.

Heide said the man was traveling eastbound on Riverview Drive and started drifting over, and hit the curb causing the vehicle to rollover "a couple of times" before landing on its side.

"Sounds like the possibility alcohol was involved," Heide said.

Authorities would not release the man's identity.

The man "complained of some pain" and was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical CenterSioux City, Heide said.
HORNICK, Iowa | A second person involved in a two-vehicle accident Sunday in rural Woodbury County has died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Kay Crowl, 70, of Hornick, died Thursday at Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City, Iowa State Patrol Lt. Jay Smith confirmed.

Crowl was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her husband, Mark Crowl, 73. Mark Crowl was pronounced dead soon after arriving at the hospital Sunday night.

The couple was traveling east on Old Highway 141 at around 8:15 p.m. when another vehicle, traveling west, drifted into the other lane preparing to turn left on 300th Street, near Hornick, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The second vehicle struck the Crowl's vehicle, with both vehicles coming to a stop on the east end of the intersection.

The driver of the second vehicle was identified as Shayna Schelm, 17, of Hornick.

The Crowls were airlifted to Mercy and Schelm was taken by ambulance to the hospital for minor injuries.

Funeral arrangements for the Crowls are pending with Meyers Brothers Morningside Chapel in Sioux City.
SIOUX CITY | The 185th Air Refueling Wing passed a recent rigorous Air Force inspections with flying colors.

Col. Larry Christensen, the wing commander, said 20 Air Force inspectors came to the Iowa Air National Guard base in Sioux City last week and analyzed the 185th's level of readiness if called into the line of duty at a moment's notice.

"These inspections are really important, because thats when the big decision makers decide which units stay alive and which ones dont," Christensen said in an interview Wednesday.

The 185th has been preparing for the visit since the Air Force implemented a new inspection system 2 1/2 years ago. Instead of having a large group of inspectors come at one time, the Air Force mandated each unit must have an Inspector General on site to keep the group at the highest possible readiness level everyday.

The unit, which has about 950 full and part-time members, has eight KC-135 Stratotanker refueling tankers, which can each hold 30,000 gallons of fuel.

The unit's Inspector General, Lt. Col. Scoop Latimer, said the inspectors came out and watched the processes the unit goes through during various scenarios, and provided feedback.

"It was an excellent educational tool for my team, and they were very, very, impressed with what they saw," Latimer said.

The big thing the inspectors were impressed with by the 185th, was their open lines of communication across rank, Latimer said.

"People don't like to tell their commanders or bosses they are having problems in the air," Latimer said. "They were interested in the fact that we have open lines of communication, where a young airman can come say, 'Hey, I think I can do this better if I can do this.' And then the commander gives him the latitude, or her the latitude to say, 'Hey try it out and see if it works."

The inspectors gave some minor recommendations on how the unit can improve their readiness, but Latimer is on top of it.

"We already lined up our next round for next week," Latimer said about the implementation of the recommendations. The next Air Force inspection is set for 2018.

"My folks worked really, really hard and I couldnt be prouder of them," Christensen said. "Putting this whole thing together, from the (IG) team to everybody out there that participated, they put on a heck of a lot of work and they did a great job. I couldnt be happier, prouder of being with the 185th Air Refueling Unit."

The 185th's main mission is to refuel planes-- while in the air-- for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and NATO. They are "involved in everything you see on TV, whether it has to do with Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, too many to mention," Christensen said.

In a constant rotation, the 185th has an aircraft with 20 unit members in Qatar, and one just returned from Estonia. A couple of aircraft are scheduled to leave for Guam in a few months, he said.
WASHINGTON -- 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.

"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."

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?

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.
Breaking (bones) and entering (jail)

INWOOD, Iowa | Today I learned: Itd probably be pretty embarrassing to get arrested for vandalism and injure yourself while committing said vandalism.

Christopher Herman, 42 of Inwood, Iowa, was arrested Monday and charged with criminal mischief, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The Lyon County Sheriffs Office said an Inwood resident reported that an intoxicated male had damaged his window.

Law enforcement arrived and noticed Herman had injured himself striking the window.

He was treated at a Rock Rapids hospital and later charged with criminal mischief.

Bland theft auto

SIOUX CITY | Remember that video game Grand Theft Auto? One thing I learned while playing that is to never steal a taxi cab, and definitely don't do so with a fake gun. Apparently, not everyone learned that lesson.

A Waterbury, Nebraska, man was arrested Monday morning following a short pursuit in a stolen taxi cab.

LeRoy Russell McNaughton, 38, was taken into custody after the taxi was spotted on Interstate 29 by Woodbury County Sheriff's deputies. McNaughton was charged with robbery and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent. A gun was also located and it was determined to be an airsoft gun that had been used in the robbery.

At approximately 2:20 a.m., the Sioux City Police Department responded to a robbery call at a rest area by mile marker 137 in Sioux City. A cab driver told authorities that he had picked up a man at the South Sioux City Wal-Mart and was driving him to Love's Travel Stop in Sioux City.

During the ride, the cab driver said the suspect pulled out a gun and told him not to stop. The driver got out of his vehicle at the rest area where he was assisted by another motorist.

McNaughton reportedly fled the rest area in the taxi, according to the Sioux City Police Department.
Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now...
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.
WASHINGTON

(Aug. 25, 2016)The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to local Navy activities., is being awardedfor delivery order 0007 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) to provide consumable and repairable spares and trainer aircraft common equipment components in support of the E-2 D Advanced Hawkeye program. This order includes the procurement of consumable spares in support of 25 E-2D aircraft and trainer aircraft common equipment components in support of the E-2D training program. Work will be performed in Waltham, Massachusetts (30 percent); Greenlawn, New York (20 percent); Woodland Hills, California (15 Percent); Redwood City, California (10 percent); Plano, Texas (5 percent); Menlo Park, California (5 percent); Dayton, Ohio (5 percent); El Segundo, California (5 percent); and Goshen, Indiana (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2018. Fiscal 2014 and 2016 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,030,000 are being obligated on this award, $9,342,913 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is being awarded afirm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Man Transportable Robotic System MK 2 post-production support. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $31,694,088. Work will be performed in Waltham, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by August 2017. If all options are exercised, work will continue through August 2019. Fiscal 2016 operation and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at time of award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). Foster Miller Inc. is the only company who has the ability to provide post production support for the Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) MK 2 because the government has limited and restricted data rights, and does not own the technical data package in full for the MTRS MK 2. Foster Miller owns all data rights to the MTRS MK 2. The, is the contracting activity (N00174-16-D-0001)., is being awardedfor modification 0058 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (N00019-15-C-0031) for the procurement, delivery, installation, configuration, and integration of a Korea Multi-spectral Database in support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the government of South Korea under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida (98 percent); and Fort Worth, Texas (2 percent). Work is expected to be completed in July 2018. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $7,424,950 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity., is being awardedfor modification 0006 to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-15-D-0022) to exercise an option one for contractor-owned and operated business jet training services in support of contracted air services' basic training, large national exercises, and small, single unit training exercises. Missions include maritime air patrol, low/slow terrorist aircraft, air interdiction training, and air intercept/anti-submarine training. These services support training requirements through air intercept control, anti-submarine tactical attack control, tracking exercises, electronic warfare missions, banner tows and target tows. Work will be performed at the Virginia Capes Training Ranges, Virginia Beach, Virginia (50 percent); North Island Naval Base, Coronado, California (40 percent); and Kauai, Hawaii (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds will be obligated at the time of the award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The, is the contracting activity.
Lin Bin, president of Xiaomi introduces the Redmi Note 4 to the audience at the launch ceremony of the device in Beijing on August 25, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Xiaomi launched a new handset, the Redmi Note 4 Thursday morning with China Mobile to speed up sales in the remaining months of this year.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, said that this is the third such cooperation with the country's largest telecom carrier and that he hopes this partnership will keep up the good sales.
Three (3) or more qualified applicants are still being sought by the Commissioners of St. Mary's County interested in serving on the St. Mary's County Building Code Board of Appeals.Requirements include: individuals should be licensed professional engineers; licensed master electricians; master plumbers or master natural gas fitters; heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration contractors holding a master license; and individuals with expertise in the building trades. Those appointed to the board will serve a three year term. No compensation is provided.Pursuant to Resolution No. 2016-24, the St. Mary's County Building Code Board of Appeals shall hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by a building inspector and may grant modifications for individual cases.Appointees will be expected to attend all meeting, some of which may be telephonic.Citizens interested in volunteering to serve on the board should complete an online application available on the county website at co.saint-marys.md.us/voluntr/ . Applicants should be sure to attach a resume with their online application. All applications should be received by close of business on September 5, 2016.As the summer season winds down, the Great Mills Swimming Pool's maintenance season is gearing up. Seasonal maintenance will close the pool from Tuesday, September 6 through Friday, September 16. The pool will reopen for normal operation on Saturday, September 17.During this time, the pool's air supported "bubble" structure will be installed, transforming the pool into an indoor facility. Other seasonal maintenance and staff training will also occur during this time.Recreation and Parks regrets any inconvenience the temporary closure of the pool may cause.For more information, please contact the Great Mills Swimming Pool, located at 21100 Great Mills Road, in Great Mills, at 301-866-6560. For information on activities and programs at the Great Mills Swimming Pool, visit the Recreation and Park website at www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/aquatics August 26, 1920 stands as a momentous day for women across the United States. It was on that day they were granted the right to vote with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Ahead of the 96th anniversary of that occasion, the Commissioners of St. Mary's County paused to recognize Women's Equality Day in the county.Women's Equality Day commemorates the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment and serves as a symbol of the continued struggle for equal rights for all."The women of St. Mary's County are to be commended for their efforts to promote local organizations and activities in the political arena and are encouraged to continue to exercise their hard-won right to participate fully in the political process," said Commissioner Tom Jarboe (1st District).The commissioners call all St. Mary's County citizens to acknowledge the milestone and to continue to strive for global equal rights.
Shannon Ashley Cronin, age 28, of Churchton, Md. (booking photo via SMCSO)

LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.

(Aug. 24, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office released the following incident and arrest reports.POSSESSION: On August 22, Deputy M. Beyer responded to a call for a disturbance in progress at the Super 8 Motel in California. A witness reported observing a male suspect throwing a female suspect to the ground. The female's purse was located in a hotel where she was staying. In her purse, deputies recovered suspected cocaine, paraphernalia, and Suboxone. Units later located the female suspect identified as, Shannon Ashley Cronin, age 28, of Churchton. Cronin was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center where she was charged with Three Counts of CDS Possession: Not Marijuana, CDS Possession: Paraphernalia, and Prostitution General. CASE# 43439-16ROBBERY AND SEXUAL ASSAULT: On August 23, at approximately 9:23 PM, deputies responded to the area of Nicolet Park in Lexington Park for the report of a robbery and sexual assault. A male and female victim were located by deputies and transported to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital for the treatment of minor physical injuries. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) responded and continued the investigation.Detectives learned from the victims an unknown male suspect approached them while they were in the park after closing time. The suspect physically and sexually assaulted the victims before robbing them of personal property and fleeing the scene on foot. The suspect is described as an African-American adult male, approximately 5'9 to 5'11 with short hair and a muscular build. He was wearing a white shirt and dark pants.Detectives are asking anyone with information about this crime to contact Detective Cory Ellis at 301-475-4200, ext. *8125) or via email cory.ellis@stmarysmd.com. Callers may also call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333 (callers can remain anonymous, or text a tip to "TIP239" plus your message to "CRIMES" (274637).SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT: Deputy T. Siciliano responded to the area of Chancellors Run Road and Rutherford Boulevard in Great Mills, for the report of an unknown object striking and shattering the passenger side window of a moving vehicle. CASE# 43346-16
Gina Garcia bowled 156 in two games on Saturday -- not professional level by any means but that didnt matter to the Fort Lauderdale resident.

Im very proud of my score, Garcia said at the conclusion of Poverellos Bowl-a-Thon. We all sucked but we had a good time.

The 26th annual event, held at Sawgrass Lanes in Tamarac, raised more than $108,000 for Poverello, an organization that provides food and basic living essentials to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Garcia bowled for T-House, a project initiated by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County.

I like to support all the community events, said Garcia, a chemical engineer. This was very well organized and its for a great cause.

Deanna Muniz agreed. Muniz, a substance abuse treatment counselor from Sunrise, participated in the Bowl-A-Thon with her transgender son. Like Garcia, Muniz bowled for the T-House team.

I bowled a 130, I did pretty good, I guess it was beginners luck, Muniz said. This is a wonderful cause and so good to see our community come together.

RELATED: HUNTERS HOSTS LIP SYNC BATTLE

In addition to bowling activities, prize packages and gift bags were auctioned off and multiple raffles were held. Nicole Halliwell, a South Florida character illusionist, emceed the event and DJ Aj Reddy spun tunes as bowlers took to the lanes under low lighting.

The event received support from numerous corporate sponsors, including AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Bank United, Macys, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gay Mens Chorus of South Florida and Wells Fargo.

Its so exciting to see so many community members come together, said Mitch Bloom, treasurer for the board of directors at Poverello. This was an awesome turnout.

Bloom estimated around 250 people attended the Bowl-A-Thon, one of Poverellos signature events.

Nobody else does what Poverello does, Bloom said. It has been a part of the Wilton Manors community for many, many years.

Due to high demand for lane access, the Bowl-A-Thon was moved out of Wilton Manors westward to Tamarac. Sawgrass Lanes has 56 lanes and all were used on Saturday.

We love this tournament, said Roger Keel, marketing director and coordinator for school activities at Sawgrass Lanes. The big thing is everyone coming together to have a good time. These guys spend money here when they come so that helps.

For those who could not make the drive into western Broward County, bus transportation from Wilton Manors was arranged. At Sawgrass Lanes, hosting LGBT inclusive events is nothing new. In January, FLIRT, a local gay bowling league, is sponsoring an invitational at Sawgrass Lanes.

Gay or straight, we want everyone to come here and have a good time, Keel said.

More Info On The Web:

Poverello: www.poverello.org

T-House: www.T-Houseonline.com

FLIRT: www.FLIRTBOWL.com
A new website has surfaced seeking stories of business dealings with Donald Trump.

The website, TrumpScrewedMe.wpengine.com is looking for people who have been victimized by a Trump run business. In asking for information, the website makes the following plea:

If you have been personally screwed by Trump, or have a friend or relative who has been taken advantage of by Trump, we want to hear from you! Telling your story will help make sure that others like you are not abused by Trump. Together, we can put an end to Donald Trumps aggressive business tactics that hurt hard-working Americans while hes padding his pockets with your blood, sweat and money.

Related: OpEd: An Indictment of Donald J Trump

The website was created by Progress Florida and American Bridge. Trump, the Republican Partys Presidential nominee, has been hounded by allegations that he has stiffed contractors on his various construction projects.

In June, USA Today reported an Atlantic City, New Jersey cabinet-maker was cheated out of $316.400 by the Trump Organization. The contract, negotiated during the mid 1980s, called for work involving cabinets, bars, slot machines and registrations desks at Harrahs in Trump Plaza.

The worst part was dealing with the Trumps, Paul Friel, son of Edward Friel, Jr., owner of the Philadelphia company told USA Today.

Stories of Trump dragging out legal disputes in court are not hard to find. The USA Today report showed Trump to be involved in more than 3,500 lawsuits in the past three decades, including projects in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties.

Related: Column: Harvard Republican Club Repudiates Donald J. Trump

During his rise in the Republican debates, Trump repeatedly boasted of his ability to escape the Atlantic City bubble with minimal damage.

Atlantic City is a disaster. And I did great in Atlantic City. I knew when to get out. My timing was great, Trump said during a GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in September of 2015.

Others were not so impressed.

Five thousand people lost their jobs, remarked former New York Governor George Pataki. You know people in this difficult economic time who have lost their job and the pain that causes. He (Trump) didnt lose anything. Five thousand lost their jobs. He will do for America what he did for Atlantic City.
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.




NASA International Space Station On-Orbit Status 24 August 2016. NASA

Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams established a new record for most time spent in space by a NASA astronaut today, surpassing 520 days in space over his four missions.

Williams will have a total of 534 cumulative days by the time he lands Sept. 6 in Kazakhstan. Former astronaut Scott Kelly had set the record on his year-long mission, and still holds the record for longest single spaceflight by a NASA astronaut at 340 days.

The International Space Station raised its orbit today ahead of Williams departure Sept. 6 with cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexey Ovchinin. After the trio undocks in their Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft, ending Expedition 48, they will parachute to a landing in Kazakhstan about 3-1/2 hours later.

SpaceXs Dragon will depart the station first early Friday morning for a splashdown in Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California. Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins continue loading Dragon with gear and science samples for analysis on Earth. Rubins and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi will be at the controls of the robotics workstation when they command the Canadarm2 to release Dragon at 6:10 a.m. EDT Friday.

In parallel with the upcoming spacecraft departure activities, the crew continues to dedicate time to research a multitude of space experiments taking place on the orbital laboratory. The crew conducted research looking at heart function, plant growth in microgravity and executed a variety of student designed experiments. Researchers use the data collected from the advanced space experiments to improve health treatments on Earth, benefit a wide variety of industry sectors and help NASA plan journeys farther into space.

On-Orbit Status Report

ISS Reboost: This morning, an ISS reboost was performed using 63P R&D thrusters. This reboost was to set up for 46S landing.

Biological Rhythms 48 Holter Start: The crew began the operations phase of the Biological Rhythms experiment by attaching the Digital Walk Holter Electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrodes and initiating the first of two 24-hour measurements. The objective of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Biological Rhythms 48 is to study the effects of long-term microgravity exposure on heart function by analyzing an astronauts electrocardiogram for 48 hours.

Mouse Epigenetics Transfer and Reconfiguration Operations: Crewmembers detached the Mouse Habitat Cage Unit from the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) Incubator Unit (IU) Micro-G and 1G and transferred mice from Mouse Habitat Cage Unit to Transportation Cage Unit. The crew also reconfigured the CBEF video cables for the Image Processing Unit (IPU) and the Video Compression and Recording Unit 2 (VRU2).

NanoRack Module 9: The crew completed the last of the 5 NanoRack Module 9 experiment sessions by activating, deactivating, and shaking the mixture tubes to facilitate the experiment. Module-9 is a collection of student research projects utilizing the NanoRacks Mixsticks. Student teams from across the United States design their own experiments using flight approved fluids and materials. The investigation consists of several science experiments flown in a NanoRacks Module on board the ISS.

Plant Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) Regulation Preparation: To prepare for the Plant RNA Regulation investigation run that begins next month, the experiment containers on the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) Rotors A and B were replaced with new experiment containers. Plant RNA Regulation studies the first steps of gene expression involved in development of roots and shoots. Scientists expect to find new molecules that play a role in how plants adapt and respond to the microgravity environment of space, providing new insight into growing plants for food and oxygen supplies on long-duration missions.

Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator (MERLIN)1: Last week MERLIN 1 was automatically safed after a false Payload Potential Fire warning annunciated due to out of limit temperature sensors. Today MERLIN 1 was repowered for troubleshooting. The temperature sensors are now in the expected range and will be monitored for 24 hours. Assuming no anomalous signatures during the monitoring period, the unit will be configured to an operational state tomorrow.

Dragon Packing:

 Polars 2 & 4 ISS to Dragon Transfer: The crew uninstalled and transferred Polars 2 and 4 from the EXPRESS Rack and install into Dragon.

 Payload Card Multilab Card Cube Removal: The crew removed the Multilab card(s) from the Payload Card Multilab facility for return.

 Lithium HydrOxide (LiOH) R&R: The crew replaced LiOH bags on Dragon in preparation for life support operations after ISS departure.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: In preparation for the Trailing Thermal Control Radiator (TTCR) EVA planned for September 1, the CDR and FE-6 completed a procedures review. Following the review, the crew participated in a conference with ground teams.

Todays Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

MORZE. Evaluation Using SPRUT-2

MORZE. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake / r/g 3186

ISS Crew/SSIPC (Space Station Integration And Promotion Center) Conference

EMCS Valve Open

NANO Mixture tubes activation and shaking

CBEF Cable Reconfiguration

??? Maintenance

MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Tsentrovka, SENSOR Tests

On MCC Go Collecting condensate water samples from ???-?2? before Gas-Liquid Mixture Filter (???) into Russian Samplers, start / r/g 3195

BLR48 Starting Measurement

MOUSE Equipment Transfer Review

KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL r/g 3181

Relocate Double Coldbags for access to Dragon Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) Enclosure

Evaluation of Orthostatic Stability with LBNP (without display and control panel)

DRAGON. Transfers

Dragon Lithium Hydroxide Filter Bag Remove and Replace

KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Copy and Downlink Data / r/g 3181

Countermeasures System (CMS), Sprint Exercise, Optional

MOUSE Epigenetics Item Gathering for the upcoming mouse ops

KULONOVSKIY KRISTALL. Hardware Teardown / r/g 3181

Evaluation of Orthostatic Stability with LBNP (without display and control panel)

DRAGON. Transfers

WRS Water Sample Analysis

Soyuz 720 Samsung Tablet Recharge, initiate

VCA1 Camera Adjustment

Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Tank Drain

Plant RNA Regulation (PRR) Replacement of Experiment Container (EC) European Modular Cultivation System Experiment Container (??CS)

DOSETRK Questionnaire Completion

ALGOMETRIA. Experiment Ops / r/g 3182

Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Drain Part 2

Dragon Cargo Operations Conference

Terminate BSA Battery Stowage Assembly Maintenance Cycle

EMU Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly (REBA) Removal

MORZE. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake / r/g 3186

Installation of REBA batteries

PAO hardware setup in LAB

Diagnostics of FGB Power Supply System ??-2 Filter Unit and ???-2 Main Bus Assembly r/g 3168

REBA powered equipment test

MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Strelau Test

Crew Prep for PAO / r/g 3193

CBEF Cable Reconfig

TV Conference with Teatral Magazine Editor r/g 3193

EVA Procedure Review

CALCIUM. Experiment Session 11 / r/g 3183

Terminate EMU LIB Battery Charge Operations

MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: Cattells Test

EMU Metal Oxide (METOX) Canister Installation

EVA Procedure Conference

Polar 2 Transfer to Dragon

MORZE. Closeout Ops

WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV

Crew Departure Prep

Polar 4 Transfer to Dragon

SPLANH. Preparation for Experiment / r/g 3191

EMCS Valve Closure

TOCA Data Recording

OBT Dragon Departure Review

CONTENT. Experiment Ops / r/g 3184

WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV

CMS ARED Quarterly Maintenance

MORZE. Psycho-physiological Evaluation: SUPOS Test

IMS Delta File Prep

OBT, ROBoT onboard simulator, Release

POLAR Transfer Review

Evening Work Prep

CONTENT. Experiment Ops / r/g 3189

WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV

PAYLOAD CARD MULTILAB CARD (PCML) Card Removal

MORZE. Experiment setup / r/g 3172

Soyuz 720 Samsung tablet recharge, terminate

Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS) Recycle Tank Fill Part 3

POLAR Transfer Review

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire

CUCU Check

WRS Recycle Tank Fill from EDV

MORZE. Logging Liquid and Food (Medicine) Intake / r/g 3186

Completed Task List Items

None

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Dragon departure OBT

Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Thursday, 08/25: Biological Rhythms 48, Double Cold Bag packing, Mouse Habitat Unit transfer for return, Dragon egress

Friday, 08/26: Dragon unberth, Biomolecule Sequencer ops, Biological Rhythms 48, Fine Motor Skills, HMS Fundoscope exam, Crew departure prep

Saturday, 08/27: Crew off duty

QUICK ISS Status  Environmental Control Group:

Component  Status

Elektron  On

Vozdukh  Manual

[???] 1  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1)  On

[???] 2  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2)  Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab  Standby

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab  Idle

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3  Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)  Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)  Norm

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab  Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3  Full Up
Fossilized River University College London

Extensive systems of fossilised riverbeds have been discovered on an ancient region of the Martian surface, supporting the idea that the now cold and dry Red Planet had a warm and wet climate about 4 billion years ago, according to UCL-led research.

The study, published in Geology and funded by the Science & Technology Facilities Council and the UK Space Agency, 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. This led some to believe that Mars was never warm and wet but was a largely frozen planet, covered in ice-sheets and glaciers. Weve 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, explained lead author, Joel Davis (UCL Earth Sciences).

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 NASAs 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 revealed 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. Arabia Terra was essentially one massive flood plain bordering the highlands and lowlands of Mars. 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, added Joel Davis.

These ancient Martian flood plains would be great places to explore to search for evidence of past life. In fact, one of these inverted channels called Aram Dorsum is a candidate landing site for the European Space Agencys ExoMars Rover mission, which will launch in 2020, said Dr. Matthew Balme, Senior Lecturer at The Open University and co-author of the study.

The researchers now plan on studying the inverted channels in greater detail, using higher-resolution data from MROs HiRISE camera.

Reference: Extensive Noachian Fluvial Systems in Arabia Terra: Implications for Early Martian Climate, J. M. Davis, M. Balme, P. M. Grindrod, R. M. E. Williams & S. Gupta, 2016, Geology [http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2016/08/23/G38247.1.abstract]. The team involves researchers from UCL; Open University; Birkbeck, University of London; Planetary Science Institute (Arizona, USA) and Imperial College London.
Its a story weve told countless times over the years on Sprudge: A passion for coffee leads to a career change. From his start as a hobbyist with a corporate job, Michael Marinelli has fallen further and deeper in love with coffeeso much so that now hes got his own place, serving up coffee hes roasting and cupping by hand. This is Orazure Hand Roasted Coffee.

As told to Sprudge by Michael Marinelli, founder of Orazure Hand Roasted Coffee.

For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Orazure Hand Roasted Coffee is based in Magnolia, Texas and began four years ago. While traveling to the Middle East for my corporate job, having left my wife and newborn daughter at home, I decided it was time to start my own business. I was the guy at work who brought his personal French press to the office, making coffee at my desk because I couldnt stomach the stuff in the kitchen. So I learned how to roast and started selling online and at craft shows. I grew the business by making great coffee, offering personal touches, and educating my customers and perseverance. A goal was always to open a shop when the time was right.

What is your approach to coffee?

We want our coffee to taste better than any coffee our customers have ever tried. So we start with the highest-quality green coffee and look for unique flavor characteristics and high cupping scores in the lots we purchase. Then we roast every batch by hand, cupping after each roast and making adjustments until the roast profile brings out what is truly special in each coffee. Our entire roasting operation is visible at our shop. We are introducing specialty coffee to most of our customers, so we want to educate them as well as surprise them with the taste. We have a large tasting table for special events and customer seating right at the bar for increased personal attention. We want the coffee to shine and our customers to appreciate the difference.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

We have an upscale, light industrial look characterized by lots of light, cheery colors, the luxury of walnut, galvanized metal accents, and polished concrete. For us, by hand is an idea that goes far beyond how we roast our coffee and includes most of the shops interior. My father can build or fix about anything, and he built the entire coffee bar for the shop, as well as all of the tables and bar seating along the window. It is all made of solid walnut, much of which he chopped down himself in Ohio when I was a kid. Theres artwork on the wall created by my wife. And a stand-out original, fifty-square-foot painting hangs above the roaster painted by a young artist in Houston whom I commissioned to create a canvas which tells the artisan coffee story. Even all of our food will be made by hand and from scratch. My wife is a very talented baker and many of her special secret recipes will be on the menu.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Our espresso machine is a 1996 La Marzocco Linea Classic. It has been completely refurbished, also by my father. Ill run our most popular coffee, Black Eldorado Blend (named after my dream car, a 1976 Cadillac) as well as single-origin espressos through it. I have been roasting on a small Diedrich machine since I started. Dad offered to build me a bigger roaster, but I opted for a new Diedrich IR-12 instead.

Whats your hopeful target opening date/month?

We are excited to open in August 2016.

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention?

Albert Marinelli, my father, is our craftsman and machinist. Stephen Lee is the artist in Houston. All the other work inside I did myself, learning as I go. Now I can install plumbing and typically with the third attempt it stops leaking.

Photos courtesy of Michael Marinelli.
We in the antiwar movement demanded that the president present the evidence to back up his claims of Syrian government responsibility, but he never did, Cobban noted. And we were able to persuade enough members of Congress to withhold their approval for military action That was in the context of the Russian offer of negotiating a chemical weapons-removal plan, which went ahead.

Obamas public proclamation that Damascus's use of chemical weapons would be a "red line" triggering direct US military involvement had provided a powerful incentive for all the anti-government forces active in Syria to simulate such an attack or orchestrate a "false flag" chemical weapons attack, Cobban suggested.

University of Illinois Professor of International Law Francis Boyle told Sputnik that the Syrian UN envoys allegations this week had to be assessed in the context of the failure to find any hard evidence to implicate the Damascus in the Ghouta attacks.

He noted that UN inspectors in their report at the time admitted they were under the control of the opposition in order to make their inspection of Ghouta [and] this was a rush job designed to meet an artificial deadline of questionable significance. He summed up their report as completely slipshod and worthless.

Boyle agreed that the issue of who really carried out the chemical attacks at Ghouta remained an open question.
The study will attempt to determine the way some of the recovered parts of the plane crossed the ocean following the crash, according to an operational search update released on Wednesday. In particular, research will focus on the drift path of an MH370 flaperon, a wing part found on Reunion Island off Madagascar coast last year.

"On its own this information will not be able to identify the precise location of the aircraft," the center wrote. "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."

The notification also reported that the search efforts will be prolonged into December 2016, from an original deadline set for the end of summer.
According the South Korean military, this is the longest flight by the missile of the kind for North Korea.

Since the start of this year, North Korea has been at the center of international attention in view of its active missile testing. Pyongyangs January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February resulted in the tightening of sanctions against North Korea in a new UN Security Council resolution adopted in March.

The United Nations previously imposed sanctions on North Korea for three tests it carried out in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Gunmen attacked the university late on Wednesday reportedly detonating an explosive device and opening fire. The attack lasted 10 hours to end early on Thursday. According to earlier media reports, seven people were killed and 30 were injured in the attack. Two attackers were also reportedly killed by the police.

"The attacker used the Visually Impaired Vocational High School to enter into the university. They [the attackers] broke the entrance door by an explosive-laden vehicle," Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said, as quoted by the TOLO News broadcaster.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The US diplomatic mission in Afghanistan is ready to help the Afghan authorities with a probe into the deadly attack on the American University in Kabul, the embassy stated in a release on Thursday.

"The US Embassy stands ready to assist Afghan authorities with their continuing investigation in bringing those responsible to justice," the release said.

On Wednesday, gunmen attacked the American University in the capital of Afghanistan, reportedly detonating an explosive device and opening fire. According to media reports, at least 13 people died in the attack that lasted 10 hours.
The Chinese want to buy everywhere and the acquisition of the Dutch company will help meet this growing demand, Wang Zhiming said.

In January, Cofco Corp, snapped up the Hong Kong-based grain trader Noble Group paying $750 million to acquire a 49 percent stake previously owned by its rivals.

In an interview with Sputnik Yakov Berger, a leading expert at the Institute of the Far East in Moscow, said that with the Nidera deal signed, Cofcos will now be able to buy more grain and oil seeds in Latin America thus bolstering its status as one of the worlds leading grain traders.

China is 95 percent sufficient in grain and most of the corn it buys abroad is used to feed cattle. The Chinese people now eat more meat, hence their growing stock of meat and dairy cattle. However, China is 70 percent dependent on soy beans imports from the US, thats why the acquisition of the Dutch company will improve the countrys food security, Berger said.

Sergei Khestanov, a Moscow-based market analyst, said that the purchase of Nidera stock reflects Chinas ongoing effort to gain access to advanced western technology.

In February, Chinas National Chemical Corp. snapped up Swiss seed giant Syngenta AG in a $43.2 billion takeover, approved by the US industry watchdog  the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS). Many in the United States considered the deal a threat to the nations security because about a quarter of Syngentas sales come from North America.

Meanwhile, Beijings economic expansion goes beyond agriculture. Chinas National Offshore Oil Corporation (Cnooc) recently took control of two of the North Seas biggest oilfields and China General Nuclear Power Company has offered to financially participate in the construction of Britains new Hinkley Point nuclear power station.


ANKARA (Sputnik)  Republican Peoples Party (CHP) President Kemal Kilicdaroglu was left unharmed when his convoy was ostensibly targeted by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters in the northeastern province of Artvin.

Terrorists opened fire on a gendarmerie escort car, injuring three members, one of whom is in serious condition, Ali said in remarks broadcast by the NTV news channel.

Ali said an operation was launched to hunt down PKK members who fired at the CHP motorcade near the village of Yanikli on the northeastern edges of the province.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  Three Gendarmerie officers were wounded, one of them critically near the northeastern village of Yanikli when Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members shot at Republican Peoples Party (CHP) President Kemal Kilicdaroglus convoy.

"One of those wounded in the Artvin province attack has been martyred," Ibrahim Kalin said as quoted by the NTV broadcaster.

Kilicdaroglu was left unharmed in the attack, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said, clarifying that the separatists opened fire at the Gendarmerie escort car.
Meanwhile, observers point out that China's intention to accelerate the construction may be associated with the implementation of the county's geopolitical objectives in the region. In particular, it can be connected to China's plans to use Pakistan as a bridge to the Middle East. According to Deputy Director of the CIS Institute and military expert Vladimir Yevseyev, the Pakistani Gwadar Port could become a new regional service point for Chinese warships, after the creation of such a base in Djibouti:

"According to the available information, Chinese Navy warships enter the territory of the Gwadar Port without a formal declaration. It can be assumed that Gwadar is already partially used as a Chinese naval base. It is still difficult to say whether it will be officially documented or not."

Nevertheless, China's presence in the port actually refers to its presence not only in South Asia but in the Middle East as well, the expert said.

"This indicates that China goes beyond its national borders not only as the world's leading economy, but also as a new center of power, which begins to create military bases in the necessary regions of the world," Yevseyev told Sputnik, noting that the base in Djibouti is being built in close proximity to the one that belongs to the US, allowing China to control its activity and conduct technical reconnaissance.
Previously, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said she'd expected the UK's soon accession to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) after Britain voted to part ways with mainland Europe. EFTA currently consists of the four non-EU European nations: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Norwegian exports to the UK, aside of natural gas, include seafood, primarily salmon. Norway supplies roughly 40pc of all natural gas used in the UK, whilst the Norwegian government-controlled wealth fund, backed by the oil and natural gas revenues, is a prominent foreign investor in Albion.

"We're just not any old trading partner," Aspaker said. "We have some special links between our two countries that will probably be to our advantage as the queue forms for negotiations."

Norway, however, has to pay hundreds of millions in euros for the access to the EU's internal market. EFTA, however, is a mechanism easing this burden somewhat and if the UK joins EFTA, it could greatly reduce the expenses associated with the access of British goods and services to the EU market. EFTA member states exercise their trade with the EU via the European Economic Area framework.

Norway is currently the largest economy within EFTA, largely determining the lion's share of the group's internal agenda. The UK's accession to EFTA could dramatically shift the balance of power within the group, potentially setting an alternative integration model for Europe. Also, as the UK controls significant oil and gas resources in the North Sea, as does Norway, EFTA could become increasingly powerful economically on the international scale, given the City of London's status as the world's largest hub for global finance.

However, it is yet unclear whether Norway is ready to welcome the UK into EFTA, and the sentiment in Westminster does not seem to be decided also.

"We are in a phase where we have no answers, only a lot of questions," Aspaker said. "We have to do our homework to find out what Norway's interest are and how we should prepare ourselves as well as possible for the negotiations."

By having mentioned the "long time" the British-Norwegian negotiations might take, Aspaker simply emphasized the greater concessions Norway is expecting from London in exchange for the UK's inevitable dominance in the Northern European affairs.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller hosted Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui at the companys headquarters in Moscow earlier in the day.

"Key items on the agenda are deliveries of Russian pipeline gas to China. The sides confirmed their full compliance with the schedule of the gas supply project through the eastern route, and discussed the progress of negotiations on the western route delivery project," the company said.
While both major US presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, oppose the treaty, President Barack Obama continues to push hard for TPP ratification.

Prominent Malaysian economist, who served as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram spoke to Radio Sputnik about the TPP deal.

Obama administration has set the point of its efforts to isolate China, particularly economically. Most countries including US allies are supporting participation and are actively participating in launching the Asian Infrastructure Bank, Sundaram said.

He further said that as far as the United States is concerned this is probably one of the least effective ways for advancing its strategic interest.

TPP is an agreement which will basically advance corporate interest in a number of areas most importantly it will advance US corporate interest rather than say, Japanese corporate interest. The private arbitration process that TPP provides for is a system which is in many ways a very biased system. It puts smaller countries at great risk and it is something to be avoided.

He further said that it is fortunate that a number of developed countries have signed on to it thinking that they will benefit significantly from the TPP.

Although there might be some slight advantage for the developed countries to participate in the TPP, but in the longer term the developing countries will be much worse off because the public interest, especially in the area of public health will be greatly compromised, Sundaram said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russian Emergencies Ministry has sent its 55th humanitarian aid convoy for residents of Ukraines crisis-hit southeast, a ministry spokesperson informed.

"They [convoy vehicles] are carrying over 600 tonnes of humanitarian cargo," the spokesperson said in the early hours of Thursday, adding that most of the aid is food items such as grains, butter and juice, but medicine and school textbooks are also included.

The convoy was put together at the Donskoy rescue center of the Emergencies Ministry, located in Russias Rostov region.
ATHENS (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, reports emerged that the Turkish military officer, allegedly involved in the recent military coup attempt in Turkey, reached the Samos island by a jet ski and applied for asylum.

"There is no such Turkish national in Greece," a source in the government told the Skai television broadcaster.
For us, Europeans, to move right into this potential flare point? No, sir! I believe that we would be much better off joining forces, both security and political, with the Eurasian Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to restart our cooperation and give the world a real chance to put a damper on local wars and conflicts, Jan noted.

When told that Bohuslav Sobotka had in mind using the EU army primarily to ensure European security, Jan Miklas said that he had no idea how this could possibly be done.

If we are talking about terrorist attacks and the migrant crisis caused by total inactivity on the part of the EU bureaucracy, then where does the army come in here? What can it do when faced with such specific tasks? To patrol borders and protect the EUs outside frontiers? But we already have enough military and security potential to do this, Jan argued.

When asked why the Czech Republic, Hungary and partly Slovakia are holding out for a European army, while Germany, Poland and some other countries flatly reject the idea, Jan said that after the role they played in WWII, the Germans are fully aware of European jitters about their military presence on the continent.

Poland prefers closer military cooperation with the US, whose bases they see as a guarantor of their security. As for the Czechs, Hungarians and Slovaks, they are so scared by the terrorists attacks in Europe and the migrant crisis that they are ready for everything just to feel safe, Jan said, adding that the European army was being set up as an additional military force against Russia.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in August, the municipal authorities in a number of French coastal cities on the French Riviera, such as Nice, prohibited the burkini, a Muslim swimming suit covering the whole body, due to safety concerns. The authorities of 15 town have taken the measure since that time.

"Everything that can be seen as a wish to execrate, reproach Islam is reprehensible. The implementation of such bans should be done with prudence," Valls said as quoted by the BFM television broadcaster.

According to the French prime minister, such bans are necessary because it creates risk of public order violation, though, the main idea of banning burkini is fight for women's dignity.
ROME (Sputnik)  The earthquake struck the mountainous regions of Umbria, Lazio and Marche in the early hours of Wednesday, causing extensive damage and scores of aftershocks.

At the moment, the death toll in the earthquake is not 247, but 241, spokeswoman Immacolata Postiglione said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier this summer, burkinis were banned from municipal beaches in 15 French towns, including Nice that suffered from a terrorist attack in July that killed 84 people.

Im quite firm on this. I dont think anyone should tell women what they can and cant wear. Full stop. Its as simple as that, Khan told the Evening Standard during a visit to Paris.

Meanwhile, the Highest Administrative Court of France will today examine a request by the French Human Rights League to cancel the burkini ban.
The 48-year-old women said she didn't want to remove her headscarf in the presence of men. The mayor therefore said she could not offer her an appropriate working environment.

Thomas de Maiziere, Germany's interior minister recently announced that the full Islamic face veil "does not belong in our cosmopolitan country," further stoking the debate surrounding Islamic dress and with it xenophobic tensions.

Photographs recently emerged of armed police in France ordering a woman to remove her burkini, a full-body bathing costume, on a beach in Nice, displaying the full level of intolerance towards Muslims on the French Rivera.

However, rather than stocking fear and prejudice, police in Scotland have announced that the hijab, a head scarf worn by many Muslim women would become an official optional part of the force's uniform, diffusing and perhaps preventing any escalating tensions towards ethnic minorities.

The hijab is now an optional part of Police Scotland uniform. More at https://t.co/IeOAJGsORZ #PolScotRecruit 1/2  Police Scotland (@policescotland) August 23, 2016

Serving officers could previously wear the religious headscarf with prior approval  but now it has been formally constituted as part of the force's uniform, allowing Muslim female police officers the freedom to wear a headscarf. The force hopes the announcement will encourage more Muslim women to join its ranks.

"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," Police Scotland, chief constable Phil Gormley said.

"I hope that this addition to our uniform options will contribute to making our staff mix more diverse and adds the life skills, experiences and personal qualities that our staff officers and staff bring to policing the communities of Scotland.

"Like make other employers, especially in the public sector, we are working towards ensuring our service is representative of the communities we serve," chief constable Phil Gormley said.

In France, the burkini ban has been imposed on at least 15 towns.
The German Ministry of Defense stated that it is willing to continue the mission from Turkey, but stressed that "there are alternatives to the Incirlik base".

According to the magazine, Germany could alternatively deploy its contingent at the bases in Jordan or Cyprus. However, the redeployment of Tornado aircraft will interrupt the reconnaissance flights over Syria and Iraq for at least two months.

In addition, the maintenance of the aircraft and the military in Jordan and Cyprus will be more expensive and technically more complex than in Turkey, the magazine wrote. The decision might be related to the recent deterioration in relations between Brussels and Ankara.
"I think the solution [to all this] is to listen. Where we have a question about why a person is wearing something or follows a certain creed, the first response is to ask them and listen to them, and find out why."

However, not everyone was happy about the protest. One lady, a French national, stood in front of the campaigners and shouted that the protest was in fact, a waste of time.

"If you really want to stand up for equal rights why don't you discuss the fact so many young girls in the world are not educated," the lady shouted.

As she ended her speech, the campaigners responded with: "Sisters united will never be defeated." One of the campaigners, a Muslim lady from London, said that she was here to voice her anger.

"What the French police are doing to people who are wearing a burkini is deplorable. I can speak for myself and I am sure the women of France can speak for themselves as well. I am really hoping that the French government listens and takes this into account as they will start to isolate people," she told Sputnik.

Last month France experienced another terror attack, where hundreds of people were mowed down by a terrorist in Nice as crowds celebrated the Bastille Day parade.

The day after the tragic events, Sputnik visited the French embassy in London to try and speak to people who had lost their loved ones or those who wanted to pay their respects, however there was nobody there that day No campaigners, bikinis or burkinis  and certainly no sand. Just a couple of small flower bouquets.
MOSCOW, August 25 (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, media reports emerged that in the coming days Norway would start building a fence about 660 feet long and more than 10 feet high at the Storskog Arctic border post near Russia to deter refugees.

"The Norwegian government has decided to upgrade the technical infrastructure at Storskog crossing point to be able to fulfill all the requirements when it comes to controlling the land border with Russia, it is a part of an obligation to be able to have effective border control and border surveillance. It is a measure of precaution," Tom Brunsell said.

He explained that it was planned that the border fence would be erected "before the ground is freezing," and that the move was in no way connected to any assumptions that more migrants might try to enter Norway via the so-called Artic migration route.
The meeting with the President turned lively and very informative for the visitor, with an emphasis on agriculture, according to the media. Steven Seagal was taken to the fields to check out the most popular Belarusian crops: beets, cabbage and carrots. The first tasting took place right in the fields: Lukashenko peeled a carrot for the actor with his own hand, saying "Enjoy it; it is very good for your health!"
Vukasin Obradovic fully concurred saying that Jelena Milics actions fly in the face of democracy and civilized bebehavior.

All media have the right to attend public events and it is the organizers job to guarantee equal access for everyone, he complained.

Ratko Dmitrovic called the ban a logical step and said he felt honored.

This is something she is paid for. Her aim is to bring Serbia into NATO and move it away from Russia. Unlike all the rest she is at least sincere. In short, I dont expect anything else from her, he added.

By the way, it is none other than Jelena Milic who, in June 2014, famously said that Unfortunately, Russia is still there. Modern Russia, Putins regime.


Slovakia's key priorities for its six-month presidency, according to its website, include building: "Sustainable migration and asylum policies: The current migration crisis is putting enormous pressure on the EU's external borders and on the asylum systems of the Member States."

It is also calling for a "globally engaged Europe" and says it will be actively involved in developing relations with the strategic partners of the EU, which  from the state that was part of Czechoslovakia, within the former Soviet bloc  suggests better relations with Russia.

The timing of the meeting in Moscow is important in that Fico travels to Warsaw the following day (August 26) to meet his other Visegrad Group partners  the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary  together with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is against the lifting of sanctions against Russia.

The Visegrad Four (V4) are pressing for a complete rethink of the EU machine, saying in a statement ahead of next month's EU summit in Bratislava, it will "start the necessary political reflection on the EU and its future."

Turkish Conundrum

Turkey will also be high on the agenda, which is an extremely challenging diplomatic conundrum for Fico. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Putin on August 9 in an attempt to warm up relations again, following the downing of a Russian fighter jet by the Turkish air force.

Turkey is a member of NATO (as is Fico's Slovakia), which makes use of a number of Turkish airbases, including Incirlik Air Base, which is strategically important to the US and NATO in the fight against Daesh.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The letter was written by Konstantin von Notz and Martina Renner from The Greens and The Left respectively, German news agency DPA reported.

"Questioning by video and hearing Edward Snowden in Moscow are not the same as questioning in Berlin," Renner said, adding that deposing Snowden in Russia would present security and protection of information problems.
In fact, the new classes are said to have "elements of foundational national security."

"I think that the uproar was caused precisely by the word "patriotic". We called this class "legal" and "national" and one of these words was used by the press out of context,' Reluga explained.

The classes are designed for students interested in becoming firefighters, police officers, border guards or soldiers. The school principal says that these classes in Poland are not new, but the idea of creating them in Milanowek emerged as a result of the great interest on the part of young people, both boys and girls.

According to the school's principal, 30 young people  14 girls and 16 boys  have already send their applications, which is even more that one class can hold.

"Young people want to have such occupations, because they are stable, there are available jobs and there is an interest. In addition, young people crave adventure. The instructor who will lead these classes has enough time to work out the program. We collaborate with various organizations, including the military, as well as other educational institutions," Reluga said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, in preparation for the upcoming EU summit in Bratislava in September, Merkel arrived to Prague for an official visit.

The protesters, who gathered outside the Office of the Government in the Czech capital, were whistling, shouting "Merkel must go" and holding insulting posters with police present at the scene, as reported by Radio Praha.

The Czech Republic opposes the implementation of the mandatory EU quota scheme to relocate thousands of refugees throughout the bloc since it was proposed in May 2015 amid the deteriorating refugee crisis.
STOCKHOLM (Sputnik)  The Swedish police recorded a sharp increase in the incidents involving hand grenades, local media reported Thursday citing police sources.

"The scale of the hand grenades use in Sweden is unbelievable. In all other comparable countries, both inside and outside the European Union, illegal grenades are not used at all," the sources told Radio Sweden.

In 2014, police registered only eight cases involving storage or use of the hand grenade-related cases, while there were 45 similar cases in 2015 and 20 such cases were registered within the first six months of 2016, the radio reported.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a nation-wide ban on the burkini, a type of Muslim swimwear that covers most of the womans body.

"I refuse the burkini on the beaches of France and in the pools of France, I wholeheartedly support the mayors of both right and left, who, to preserve public order, have banned it," Sarkozy said on Thursday, as quoted by Europe1 radio, adding "I demand a prohibition law on the entire territory of the Republic."

In fragments of an interview with the Figaro magazine, to be published on Friday, Sarozy, who announced on Monday that he would run for president, called the burkini "a political act" and "a provocation."
Reiner Arnold, defense spokesman for the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) said, "If we are not allowed to visit our soldiers, the continuation of the mandate is impossible."

But Ankara has held its position despite pressure from Berlin.

"The German government must immediately find other bases for the German soldiers," said Arnold. Pulling out of Turkey has been called a "nightmare," as it would raise costs, present daunting logistical challenges and end sorties against Daesh for at least two months. German troops would also be separated from US forces, who are leading the mission.

The German Defense Ministry has not confirmed any plans to remove the tanker jets and Tornados from the Turkish base. One ministry spokesman was quoted as saying, "We would like to continue our mission from Turkey, but the Incirlik base is not the only option."
"There is no room for winners or losers when you achieve peace through negotiations," FARC negotiator Rodrigo Granda tweeted. "Colombia wins, death loses."

The agreement must be approved by voters in a plebiscite before it can take effect. A vote is expected to take place in October. Negotiations were finalized on Tuesday.
This model of a separate institution for the GBT population is not practiced only by the state of Ceara  activists around the whole country are fighting for this right for homosexuals, explained Dediane Souza, one of the heads of Grupo de Resistencia Asa Branca, an organization involved in various projects of health and human rights for LGBTT: lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites, transsexuals and people struggling with AIDS.

"Brazilian LGBTT movement has long been fighting for a special law, for example, for transgender and transvestites whose gender identity is often not respected within the prison system. Having a place where these prisoners have a guarantee of security and human respect is very important. This is a very important initiative," Dediane Souza told Sputnik in an exclusive interview.

"The violence in ordinary prisons can be very different: from the collective rape and unrecognition of gender identity of these people, to the refusal to treat people suffering from AIDS. There is a whole variety of rights violations, to which these people are exposed within the prison system. State is obliged to protect the dignity of these people within the system," the activist said.

Ideally, it is necessary to discuss civil rights in general, not just for people who are in prison, but for all the people who daily face infringement of their rights, she suggested.

"Murder rates of the LGBTT people in Brazil are very alarming. It is necessary to fight for the public policy, which would include civil rights discussion. This project solves the extreme problem, but not the whole problem. We are not fighting for creating of LGBTT prisons, but we believe that the state should accept such extraordinary measures to reduce rights violations in prisons," Souza concluded.
Ingredientes para Milanesa de carne

8 Filetes de Nalga con 1cm de grosor, 1 Barra de Pan rallado cantidad necesari pic.twitter.com/INdjIyswst  Boutique de la Carne (@CarneBoutique) 6  2016 .

Ingredients for Milanesa: 8 fillet 1 cm thick, one bar of breadcrumbs is necessary

However, analyzing consumption per capita, first place goes to Uruguay, a country with population of only 3.4 million people.

According to the study, in 2012 each Uruguayan consumed about 60.6 kg of meat. In second place was Argentina with 59.1 kg and third place was Brazil with 39.4 kg per person).

Eating meat is a Uruguayan tradition, which becomes stronger every year. In our culture, meat products are always present. We adore asado, meat cooked on the grill or open fire. Without doubt, the products high quality affects our crazy love for meat, Mabel Puig, president of the Rural Durazno Province Association, told Sputnik.

Not surprisingly, another Latin American country holds the record for cooking the largest asado dish in the world. Argentinian city, General Pico in La Pampa Province, is known as the world capital of asado."

"Sunday roast."

In 2011, Argentinian local cooks served the worlds largest asado dish. 13,713 kilograms of beef was roasted over a slow fire by 58 chefs.

#Lo sabias? En 2011 Gral Pico entro al Guinness por el asado mas grande del mundo https://t.co/RlvzUtXLDL pic.twitter.com/7Swy52bMLg  Agroapasionados (@Agroapasionados) 16  2016 .

Did you know? In 2011 Gral Pico entered the Guinness by the worlds largest roast.

Earlier, in 2008, Uruguayan chefs cooked 12 metric tons of meat and held the worlds record until 2011.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States calls on Russia and Iran to join efforts to seek accountability for those responsible for using chemical weapons in Syria, White House National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said in a press release.

"The United States will work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms," Price stated on Wednesday. "We urge all UN member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort."

Earlier in the day, Price noted, the UN and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons released the results of a probe into chemical weapons attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015 that implicate the Syrian government and Daesh terrorist group.
"Israels Mossad, a very capable intelligence service with surely many assets in Syria, would be another possible source, as would Turkish intelligence and the Saudis," he said.

The Syrian rebel groups probably could not have carried out the operation given their lack of sophistication in the use of such weapons, but they might have been involved as a partner with one or more of the others, Paul suggested.

"The attack was generally reported to have been the responsibility of Assads military forces, and it nearly led a military attack on Syria by the United States, the UK and France. Eventually, the attack was called off and there followed an agreement under which Syria gave up its chemical weapons," he recalled.

Paul pointed out that the source of the attack was never determined with certainty.

"UN weapons inspectors confirmed that toxic chemicals had killed many people and injured more, but they were not able to determine the source of the attack," Paul noted.

Paul questioned why Syrian government forces would have carried out such an attack on the very day that UN chemical weapons inspectors were in Damascus.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The attacks were staged in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Hama, according to the statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

"In the course of 24 hours in the city of Aleppo terrorists fired from multiple rocket launchers," the statement says, adding that several districts of the city, as well as a shopping mall and southern farms were shelled.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh), as well as Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or al-Nusra Front) are not part of the deal. Both groups are banned in a range of other countries.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  At least seven people were killed and more than 30 others were wounded in an attack on the American University in Kabul, the Stars and Stripes newspaper reports.

The newspaper cited Simonetta Gola, a spokeswoman for the medical nonprofit Emergency, as saying on Wednesday that the organizations Kabul facility had received 18 patients, including five women. Three of the injured are in very critical condition.

Some Wednesday media reports have suggested that up to a dozen people could have been killed in the attack and over 40 could be injured.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  The Turkish armed forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear the Syrian town of Jarablus of extremist militants in the early hours of Wednesday.

"The Syrian opposition took control of Jarablus and has started to control other settlements in the area. But the entire area around Jarablus must be freed of the Syrian Kurds self-defense forces," Yildirim said on Haberturk TV on Wednesday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the operation in Jarablus was aimed at stopping the threats posed by Daesh, as well as Kurdish militants in Syria, which Ankara considers to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) branded a terrorists organization in Turkey.
Bilateral relations soured following an unsuccessful attempt to depose Erdogan on July 15. Ankara has been discontent that Washington has been unwilling to extradite Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in a self-imposed exile in the US since 1999. For its part, the West has criticized Turkish leadership for the massive purges that saw approximately 80,000 people fired, detained or placed under the investigation following the botched putsch.

Melamedov also said that "Turkey seems to be genuinely determined to tackle Daesh. This card has already been played. Clearly Daesh will be destroyed, if not in six months, then in twelve."

Turkish MP Metin Kulunk of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) told Sputnik that Daesh activities and the US-led counterterrorism operation help the Kurds in Syria and across the region to gain more power. This is something that Ankara will try to stop.

"In the long run Daesh's activities in the region strengthen the Democratic Union Party (PYD). At first Daesh carries out an assault, prompting the US to conduct an operation against the jihadists. Washington then gives the territory freed from the militants to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the PYD. We will not accept and cave in to this scheme," he said.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  US Secretary of State John Kerry assured Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a phone talk that Syrian Kurdish forces are withdrawing to the east from the Euphrates river, a spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

"During the talk with our minister, Kerry underlined that Kurdish defense forces have started retreating to the east from the Euphrates river," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.

Earlier on Thursday, the countrys Defense Minister Fikri Isik said Turkey expects Syrian Kurds to leave the western bank of the Euphrates within the next week.
ALEPPO (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, Turkish armed forces backed by the US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed "Euphrates Shield" to clear the northern Syrian town of Jarablus in Aleppo of extremist militants in the early hours of Wednesday.

"Forces allied with Turkey are attacking Aleppo from southern and south-western directions. Now the Turkish force have entered [the province] from the north and of course they will not stop until they reach Al Bab [city northeast of the provinces capital]. Thus, Aleppo will end up in their grip. Turkey will negotiate aggressively, having the Aleppo trump card at hand," Rejzan Hedu told RIA Novosti.
ALEPPO (Sputnik)  The governmental troops are trying to surround the logistics and artillery academies from the eastern and western sides. The Syrian artillery troops attacked terrorists's positions and places of hardware congestion during the night.

Terrorists, who have captured the training facilities, are showing a strong resistance. Militants are conducting intensive mortar fire and using heavy machine guns. There are wounded servicemen among the governmental troops.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups, which maintain a heavy presence in Aleppo, are not part of the deal.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, the Turkish armed forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, launched a campaign dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear Jarablus of extremist militants.

"Our main goal is to clear Jarablus of the Daesh terrorist group militants. The second goal is to prevent Syrian Kurds from taking control of the area after Daesh clear-out. Jarablus is an important point in both a short and long-term perspective. We have to defend our borders by ourselves as Syria does not have an effective government. And we are within our right to stay in the area until the Free Syrian Army regains control over the situation there," Isik was quoted as saying by the NTV broadcaster.
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 Jarabulus of Daesh jihadists. The Daesh group is banned in many countries, including Russia.

Later that day, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and US Vice President Joe Biden said they reached an agreement that forces of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) must not move to the west of the Euphrates river. Biden added that the Kurdish forces would no longer get US support if they did not return.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) condemned the Turkish Armed Forces' ongoing military operation in northern Syria and urged the country's authorities to stop meddling in Syrian affairs, the party said in a statement on Thursday.

"Turkey should not meddle in Syrian affairs by military means," the statement reads, going on to stress that Ankara should "abandon its anti-Kurdish stance in Syria."
The military report said that shortly before the school was hit, the Israeli Air Force was following three Palestinian fighters on a motorcycle in Rafah, a southern Gaza town. A decision was made to target them with a low-explosive missile. However, the report claimed that just after the missile was launched, the motorcycle veered off unexpectedly at a roundabout with multiple exits, toward the school gate, at which point, it was too late to stop the missile.

Another case that was closed on Wednesday, was another airstrike on Rafah, two days earlier on 1 August 2014. Fifteen members of the same family, the Zoroubs, were killed.

The Israeli military investigation said that the building was used by Hamas  the militant group that dominates Gaza and which Israel denounce as a terrorist organization  as a command and control center.

While its statement acknowledged that the civilian casualties were higher than expected, it argued that the airstrike was in line with international law, which can allow attacks on homes used for military purposes. The investigation named Nazmi Zoroub, which Israel said was a senior Hamas commander.

Adel Zoroub, whose sister's home was destroyed, has rejected Israel's findings.

Human rights groups, like Amnesty International, have gone further, rejecting Wednesday's findings and accusing the Israeli military prosecutors of shielding their troops from justice. Amnesty International said it was "unacceptable" that so few criminal cases have been prosecuted.
On Wednesday, Ankara launched the Euphrates Shield military operation with aerial support from the US-led coalition to liberate the town of Jarabulus in northern Syria from Daesh terrorist group.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the operation in Jarabulus is aimed at neutralizing the threats posed by both Daesh and Kurdish militants in Syria, which Ankara considers to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorists organization in Turkey.
"The Americans are still pursuing their main goal, to weaken the government of Bashar Assad. All coalitions the US supports are temporary," Sergei Balmasov, an expert at the Institute for Middle Eastern Studies, told Svobodnaya Pressa

He added that if Turkey drags further into the Syrian war it would only destabilize situation in the region.

Washington has a clear tactical objective  to make some military advances in Syria and Iraq before the presidential election in November, military expert Anatoly Nesmiyan pointed out.

"The US is now building various, sometimes unexpected coalitions, in an attempt to gather as many forces as possible to advance on Raqqa. Meanwhile, Kurds are not ready to die for Raqqa because its not their land. I think that the US would support Ankara to have the possibility to bargain with Kurds in the future," he suggested.

The operation came amid US Vice President Joe Bidens visit to Turkey. Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said the coincidence was symbolic.

"Taking into account the fact that ties between Ankara and Washington have reached the bottom over the past two weeks, this operation is a way to draw attention from exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen and show that the US and Turkey remain strategic allies," Pukhov told the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States and the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom have agreed on a new plan to resolving the ongoing conflict in Yemen, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

This morning, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States met to discuss ways to break impasse in YemenTogether with UN Special Envoy Ismail [Ould Cheikh Ahmed], we agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations with both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement, Kerry said.
"The name of the offensive, Operation Euphrates Shield, indicated that these activities are aimed against the Kurds, the people of Rojava," also known as Western Kurdistan, he said.

The Turkish politician pointed to the timing of the campaign that was launched early on Wednesday. It came after the Syrian Democratic Forces, mostly made up of Kurdish fighters, pushed the militants out of a strategically important city.

"Firstly, they liberated Manbij. Then they cut communications between Jarablus and Raqqa," the de facto capital of Daesh's caliphate, he said. "Right after that Ankara made a decision to launch a military operation in Jarablus. Why was Turkey OK with Daesh's [presence in the region] for years? Ankara's true intentions are obvious."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, Ankara launched the "Euphrates Shield" military operation with aerial support from the US-led coalition, with the stated aim to eliminate threat from the Daesh and Kurdish forces in Jarablus. The Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.

"This attack across the Syrian border towards Jarablus is a violation of Syria's sovereignty. Ankara does not have any legitimate right to send forces. For example, all Russian airstrikes are launched in coordination and under the agreement with the Syrian government. If the Turks really want to fight against Daesh they need to coordinate their actions with the legitimate Syrian government," Ahmad said.

Syria has been engulfed in a conflict for more than five years. Various opposition and terrorist groups  including the notorious Daesh and al-Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia  are fighting the Syrian Arab Army in an attempt to topple the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The US decision to order its Kurdish allies in Syria out of the Euphrates River town of Jarablus before the arrival of Turkish tanks and troops reflected a bid to ease tensions with Turkey, a more important US ally, according to a report by the private intelligence firm Soufan Group on Thursday.

"Tensions have been at unprecedentedly high levels between the United States and Turkey since the failed coup on July 15," the report explained. "Vice President Biden made clear that the United States supported the Turkish push into Syria, framing it as a welcome addition in the fight against the Islamic State."
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 Jarabulus of militants from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. The Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.

"This is essential for our national security But the steps we have taken for our national security are at the same time essential for the security of the EU and world," Celik was quoted as saying by Yeni Safak newspaper, as he spoke at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Michael Roth.
Article 146 of the Iranian constitution does not allow a foreign nation to establish a military base in the country.

The expert underscored that Moscow has no plans to deploy a military base in Iran.

Moscow and Tehran are working together to reach a common goal  destroying terrorism in Syria and Iraq.

"It is a partnership. Moscow and Tehran are sharing information with each other and providing support. As for Hamadan, Iran provided an airfield for temporary purposes," Shurygin said.

The expert also recommended not paying much attention to the buzz around Russian aircraft and the Hamadan base.

"Hysteria is fueled by the United States and its allies. Terrorists use it to drive a wedge between Russia and Iran," he said.

Shurygin suggested that in the future Russian warplanes could return to Hamadan.

"It is very important that Iran never offers the base to Russia. The point is that Russia could use it as a temporary airfield for conducting airstrikes. The base fully complies with Iranian law. But if needed, Tehran may let Russian aircraft use Hamadan for airstrikes in Syria because Moscow and Tehran have a common goal," he concluded.
When they say that Syria produces drugs, it is necessary to determine the location of production of amphetamine tablets, Captagon and other drugs that were used by the so-called revolutionaries at the beginning of the events [in Syria, approx.] to suppress basic human instincts, Al-Akhmad said.

He further said that, They [Saudi Arabia] initially knew about the production of such narcotic pills and stood behind this production in the literal and figurative sense.

The anti-drug services in Syria work around the clock keeping an eye open on the amphetamine issue but there is information that in the territories under the control of Islamist groups there is the production and export of narcotic drugs.

It is precisely those groups that are openly financed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It does not matter whether they are funding these groups for the production of drugs, or improvised explosive devices, or for human organ trafficking, Al-Akhmad said.

The official representative further said that all their activities are immoral and directed against humanity.

If Saudi Arabia really wanted to solve the problem [drug shipments from Syria to Saudi Arabia] it would help solve the Syrian crisis and restore the integrity and ability of the Syrian government to become fully operational.

The official representative of the Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia, Mansour Al-Turki, said that Syria is the largest country for the production of amphetamine in the region. According to him, the largest supply of amphetamine in the kingdom passes through the northern border and hashish through the southern, Er-Riyad newspaper published Al-Turki as saying.

Over the past 6 months, security forces arrested 1,461 people, including 512 Saudis, 364 Yemenis, 86 Pakistanis, 64 Ethiopians, 54 Bangladeshis, 51 Egyptians, 42 Indians, 31 Somalis, 25 Chadians, 23 Syrians, 22 Palestinians, 21 Filipinos and nationals of other countries, Al-Turki said.

All of them were arrested on charges of establishing connections for the import, promotion and distribution of drugs, including through social networks.
Talking to Sputnik in an interview, Muslim said, I have just recently returned from Jarablus, where I met with soldiers and commanders of the FSA. Currently, in the city there are more than 1,500 Syrian opposition fighters. They are engaged in defusing mines and booby traps. Life in the city is slowly returning to normal.

The representative further said that the civilians have not yet returned to their homes, but it is possible that they would do so in the near future.

The town has battalions of fighters from Sultan Murad, Damascus Front, Turkmen groups as part of the FSA. It is expected that later on around 200 fighters will remain in the city, 15 of them will provide security at border posts of Jarablus, while other fighters will take part in the operation, Muslim said.

He said that currently the FSA troops have advanced 10 km west of Jarablus. Their immediate tasks involve freeing the territory from Jarablus to Chobanbey village.

Last night, in the south of Jarablus there was a short face-off between FSA and Kurdish troops. In the near future there is a plan to hold an operation to release Al-Bab, which is located south of Chobanbey. Turkey will provide massive support in the framework of this operation, the representative said.

Muslim also stressed the need for stripping the entire border area of Daesh and noted that the militants during an operation in Jarablus were unable to resist the attacks.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Defense Department officials said the Iranian fast-attack boat was harassing two US navy ships and a Kuwaiti Navy ship on Wednesday, CNN reported.

The report added that the Iranian boat circled the US ships, came within 200 yards of them, and would not leave the area when asked.

On Tuesday, two Iranian naval vessels approached within 300 yards of the US destroyer Nitze while transiting waters near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to Pekin, the operation was launched in Jarablus after reaching an agreement with the United States, Russia, Iran, and Syria.

Turkish troops entered Syrian territory through Jarablus and will likely move towards Manbij. This is done in order to prevent the possibility of Syrian Kurds from moving onto the territory of Manbij.

He further said that through operations in Jarablus, Turkey intends to ensure the security of the border areas, as well as to prevent the formation of the Kurdish corridor.
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 Jarabulus of militants from both Daesh and Syrian Kurdish fighters.

"Its important to note that Kurdish forces are a critical component of the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces]," Trudeau stated. "Well continue to support all components of the SDF, Arab, Kurd, Turkmen, all, as we look to pressure ISIL [Daesh] and ultimately liberate Raqqa."

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the operation in Jarabulus is aimed at neutralizing the threats posed by both Daesh and Kurdish militants in Syria, which Ankara considers to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorists organization in Turkey. The Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.


"These were incidents that the crews deemed unsafe," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told reporters on Thursday.

"These are incidents that carry a risk of escalation and we dont desire any kind of escalation. Our ships have been operating in that part of the world for years."

Separate encounters involved two US destroyers, the USS Nitze and Stout, and a another patrol ship, the USS Tempest.

During the first reported incident, Iranian vessels came within 300 yards of the Nitze after crewmembers made a series of attempts to make their presence known. Attempts at making radio contact failed, and crewmembers sounded the ships whistle, a naval signal meant to express that the ship is unclear about another vessels intentions. The Nitze also fired ten flares, without response.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Syrias representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafery told Sputnik earlier this week there was evidence French intelligence was involved in the 2013 Ghouta sarin attack, prompting the UKs Independent to respond with an article outlining the case against the Syrian government.

"The sarin used then [2013] was by rebel groups and likely involved the support of outside intelligence organizations It is old information," Johnson pointed out. "This latest news burst appears to be part of a continuing propaganda operation to try to isolate Syria and bolster support for the rebels."

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh documented external involvement in the Syrian chemical attack in an article published in the London Review of Books back in December 2013, Johnson explained, adding that Hershs account was "absolutely correct."
ANKARA (Sputnik)  The Turkish military opened artillery fire on Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters to the south of the town, wiping out the group, Turkish channel NTV said, citing military sources.

Ankara announced on 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 militants from the Daesh jihadist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the operation in Jarablus was aimed at stopping the threats posed both by Daesh and Kurdish militants in Syria, which Ankara considers to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) branded a terrorists organization in Turkey.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Snap combat readiness checks will take place on August 25-31 in Russia's Southern, Western and Central military districts, as well as the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Troops, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"Today, another unannounced inspection begun in accordance with a decision by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Forces of the Southern [military district], as well as parts of the forces of the Western and Central military districts, the Northern Fleet, the High Command of the Aerospace Forces, the command of the Airborne Troops are set on full combat readiness starting 7:00 Moscow time [4:00 GMT]," Shoigu said at a meeting with military leadership.

According to the minister, the inspection will allow to assess how the three military would react to crises in the country's southwest.
The pledge to deliver 1,900 spies for the UK to be able to protect itself against terrorism has come under severe criticism from opposition figure and Deputy Leader of the Labour party, Tom Watson, who has highlighted the failure of the British Government to deliver.

The government, according to Mr. Watson, has failed to bolster Britain's security following a string of terror attacks across Europe.

"In the wake of the Paris attacks, the government was very clear about the need to hire an extra 1,900 security and intelligence staff to deal with increasing terrorist threats," Mr. Watson said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The August 25-31 inspections are running across Russia's Southern, Western and Central military districts, as well as the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Troops.

"Special attention in the course of snap inspections is paid to the actions of commanders and headquarters in managing, collaborating and organizing communication between units, and countering the simulated enemys sabotage and reconnaissance groups," the press service said.
Tactical Missiles Corporation also confirmed that the company is now working on the Kh-32 missile.

First of all, the newest missile will be aimed at destroying enemy warships, radar stations and targets that seriously distort radar signals for bombers, including bridges, military bases and power stations, military expert Dmitry Kornev said.

"After launch, a Kh-32 missile reaches an altitude of 40 km, and then it flies horizontally, approaches the target and attacks it from above," he explained.

Since the Kh-32 has an inertial navigation system and a target seeker with a radio-radar station, it has an outstanding accuracy and does not rely on GPS/GLONASS data, Kornev explained.

The missile is expected to have a firing range of up to 1,000 km and reach speeds of no less than 5,000 kmh. The combination of speed and trajectory makes the Kh-32 almost invincible to enemy air defenses and interceptors.
The signing of a deal between India and the US on the purchase of M777A2 lightweight howitzers for the Indian Army is likely to be stalled once again.

Sources from Indias Defense Ministry told Sputnik that the government is planning to seek an extension of the deadline for the deal that was to be signed before September 5 if India was to purchase the guns at the original price quoted by BAE. According to sources, BAE has demanded a 10 percent increase in price if India chooses to sign the deal after the September 5 deadline. This is the second time India would be seeking a deadline extension.

The original deadline for signing the deal was August 5, which the US had extended by one month following a request made by India. The Defense Acquisition Council, the apex decision making body of Indias Defense Ministry, had given its approval to buy 145 M777A2 howitzers for the Indian Army under the Foreign Military Sales route.
Some of these battle groups have already been formed, but the structure for a fully-realized military organization is far from complete.

"Those that exist have never been tested," Camporini said. "When will we follow the NATO example and have annual exercises?"

While British involvement was thought to be crucial, given the military standing of the UK, a decline in naval capabilities means that the UK is no longer a priority.

"If anyone had proposed building a European capability in 1999 without the UK, I would have said they were crazy, but during the last few years, UK governments have been greedy with the peace dividend and they gave up their sea projection capability, which they will not get back before their new carriers arrive," Camporini said.

The idea of establishing an EU army has a number of critics who point out that it would be redundant at best, given the role of the NATO alliance, and only serve to escalate tensions, at worst.
The Mayan civilization existed for several millennia leaving plenty of abandoned cities and cultural monuments on the Yukatan peninsula. The society suddenly passed after people left their cities. Scholars have long discussed the reasons for both the rise and demise of the Mayan civilization. In 2012, scientists discovered a complex system of water reservoirs and tunnels proving the hypothesis that droughts led to the decrease in population of many Mayan cities.

But there is strong evidence that an innovative reservoir system which allowed Tikal to grow to a metropolis and flourish could have aggravated the dry spells.

Linda Kuil and her colleagues from Vienna University of Technology studied the link between water shortage and the Mayan decrease. They created a computer model of a typical Mayan city populated with 80,000 to 100,000 people. The model included several other models of different aspects, such as the relationship between water level and survival, between population growth and food/water resources, etc.
Meth dealers also face the death penalty. According to statistics, 8 out of 10 people who are executed are drug dealers. Benefits from private and government rehabilitation services seem of no use as the relapse rate is 85%.

Surprisingly, cracking down on meth dealers can be dangerous. In Basra, Iraq, 95 percent of the police are corrupt. Impoverished districts full of bandits are controlled by their affined security forces. If they know what we are working on we will be shot here in the middle of the street,- one of the detectives told the Guardian.

The dismal economic situation in Iraq forces Basras residents to buy meth. As the purchase of alcohol is restricted, cheap meth helps people deal with the grim reality. Bandits in Basra used to sell oil but when crystal meth appeared on the other side of the border, meth became the new oil.

The governments policy along with economic devastation, corruption and loose borders could lead to the spread of the meth crisis throughout the entire country.
Norway has become the first NATO member to introduce compulsory military service for women as well as for men. The first female recruits have already joined the ranks in the Norwegian Armys Armored Battalion in Setermoen, northern Norway.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Thursday, Biden arrived in Stockholm with a one-day visit. According to the Svenska Dagbladed newspaper, the energy security is expected to become part of the talks agenda among other issues.

Sweden can be forced to act against the construction of the pipeline over the US and some EU states' concern that it will increase Europe's dependence on gas supplies from Russia, the publication reads. Though, there is no indication that Stockholm will proactively act to obstruct implementation of the project, according to the media outlet.

The Nord Stream 2 project aims to deliver 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas a year to the European Union across the Baltic Sea to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, the Baltic nations and Poland. The gas pipeline project plans to use the original Nord Stream pipeline for 86-percent of the route before branching off. Denmark is expected to join the project in 2017.
"The Turks are saying that they are ostensibly bombing Daesh targets to keep this corridor. In reality they are conducting airstrikes against Syrian Kurds," he said. "This campaign is primarily aimed at retaining control over this stretch of border to provide assistance to anti-Assad groups, particularly in Aleppo."

The corridor that Ivanov mentioned stretches from Jarablus in the east to the Syrian city of Azaz in the west, located 32 kilometers (20 miles) north-northwest of Aleppo. The international community has long urged Turkish leadership to seal the area that radical groups, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front have used to resupply and rearm, but Ankara is apparently not interested.

"Turkey cannot allow this stretch of border to be sealed. Should this happen, the balance of power in Aleppo could shift in favor of Damascus-led forces and the Kurds, not the pro-Turkish groups. If the Kurds take this corridor under control, they will link their enclaves and create an autonomy" in northern Syria, the analyst explained.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The BBC broadcaster quoted Yameens spokesperson as saying that the presidents office was aware of the planned overthrow and said it would be "clear breach of international norms."

Government sources reportedly described the planned coup as a "formal attempt at 'legally' overthrowing the government."
The politician also stressed that the West shouldn't forget that the Russia is a European country, which one must cooperate with. According to him, without Moscow the West won't be able to solve any global problems.

"Russia is rightly proud of the fact that it has contributed to the cultural development of Europe. There is a large common ground. Despite all problems, we should use this opportunity for the sake of our common future and prosperity. Yes, Russia is different, but we belong together," the politician stated.

A number of other German politicians earlier stressed that the dialogue between Russia and the West is a necessary precondition for ensuring security on the European continent. Thus, Germany's Coordinator for Intersocietal Cooperation with Russia, Central Asia and the Eastern Partnership Countries Gernot Erler told Sputnik that he hoped Russia and NATO would continue discussions of the crucial issues within the framework of the NATO-Russia Council.

A similar point of view was expressed by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter-Steinmeier. According to him, the NATO-Russia Council mechanism must be used, particularly in difficult times, to improve relations between both parties.
Well-pronounced anti-American sentiments have been a distinctive feature of the Turkish society for decades. As many as 90 percent of the Turks held an unfavorable view of the US, according to a study released in 2012. A report, published by the Pew Research Center in July 2014, showed that more than 63 percent of Turkish people had an unfavorable view of the US in the past decade.

Interestingly, anti-Americanism, according to Kadercan, is "shared by all ethnic, religious and political groups, and cannot be explained by differences in education or income levels."

However, the analyst maintained that these sentiments are "harmless" and do not affect Ankara's foreign policy. In other words, Turkey will not break up with the West simply because public opinion seems to favor such a move.
PRAGUE (Sputnik)  Zeman, who has repeatedly criticized the EU sanctions on Russia, cited remarks by French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in support of removing the sanctions.

"The sanctions expose our helplessness. If politicians want to support our agricultural [sector], the Czech Republic should express its position, which has been indecisive so far, in a clear way in the European Council, joining the countries that support the sanctions' removal," Zeman said at the opening of an agricultural trade fair in the town of Ceske Budejovice.

"There are still people in the European Council who are afraid to make a decision and lift the sanctions," Zeman added.
In an interview on The John Batchelor Show Stephen F. Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies at New York University and Princeton University, said that these developments provide ground to assume that the new Cold War has "become more dangerous" than the last one.

"Remember that Finland was a classic case, along with Austria, of a neutral country during the preceding Cold War. Finland prospered by siding neither with the Soviet Union, nor with NATO. And the security arrangement was just fine for Russia," he recalled.

Many Finns came to Russia on a 48-hour visa, the professor added.

"I think that Finland is dry or partially dry or was at that time. They would go to what was then Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) for a long weekend. They'd bring hard currency. The Soviet authorities abetted this. Finns were heavy drinkers. And if you went to Leningrad for the weekend, you saw them," he explained.
In his publication, Steinmeier once again stressed the necessity to cooperate with Russia and ignore those who are trying to humiliate the so called "Russia-understanders" and present them in a negative way.

"It is our duty to maintain conversation in order not to only minimize the risk of military misunderstandings, but, even more, to facilitate the process of trust building," Steinmeier wrote. "Where do we get in foreign policy when the desire to understand is being labelled as a dirty word?"

The German Foreign Minister repeatedly called for maintaining dialogue with Moscow, viewing anti-Russian sanctions introduced by Western countries as inefficient. He suggested that the sanctions should be relieved in case there is progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreement on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
"I'm just going to make clear that we're going to continue to provide the air support we need for our coalition forces and our partnered operations to make sure that they are as safe as possible in Syria," he added.

Commenting on the matter, Iran's Fars News Agency nailed the Pentagon for hypocrisy, stressing that any "exclusion" zones or "no-fly" zones will throw a wrench into the Russo-Syrian fight against Islamists in the region.

Dr. Paul underscored the establishment of "no-fly zones" is de facto an attack on the national sovereignty. He recalled that Hillary Clinton has long been a promoter of no-fly zones in Syria. It appears that she has finally got one, the former congressman remarked.

The situation is getting messier and messier for the US in Syria, Dr. Paul believes. He referred to the fact that although the US has long been supporting the Kurdish militants, Washington has now involved in restraining the former allies.

The Wall Street Journal points out that during his visit to Ankara, Joseph Biden "delivered an unusual public denunciation of the Kurdish forces," claiming that if the Kurds do not keep their commitment to return to their strongholds on the eastern side of the Euphrates "they cannot-will not-under any circumstances get American support."
The parliament speaker is likely to talk to Merkel at a dinner given in her honor in Prague, the news outlet said.

Earlier in the day, Czech President Milos Zeman urged Czech statesmen to voice publicly their discontent with EU sanctions against Russia.
The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) now controls vast territories in northern Syria, along the Turkish border. Regardless of the fact they have been proven to be capable fighters, they are "not well positioned to lead the fight to take Raqqa," according to Ford.

Remarkably, the US-led anti-Daesh coalition signaled Thursday that the SDF is moving east across the Euphrates and preparing to liberate Raqqa. Earlier the SDF forces retook the Syrian town of Manbij from Daesh.

However, in the context of Ford's narrative the pledge to liberate Raqqa may turn into a hot air.

On the one hand, "it is far from clear that [the YPG], for all their battlefield successes, have the logistical capability to support the kind of ambitious offensive operation that would be required to take Raqqa," the captain notes highlighting that in fact the Kurds do not have appetite to fighting for the Daesh stronghold.

"The Kurds, who make up the bulk of the force [SDF] and nearly all its top commanders, are keener on capturing the towns on the west of the Euphrates river to link the Kurdish-held territories of Kobane and Afrin," the Arab Weekly reported in mid-June.
PARIS (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 Jarabulus of militants from both Daesh and Syrian Kurdish fighters.

"Turkey itself wanted to infiltrate the territory of Syria to fight against Daeshand we can understand this attitude regarding the terrorist crimes committed by Daesh in Turkey. But at the same time we must ensure that this action demonstrates a common desire to move toward negotiations," Hollande said as quoted by BFM TV broadcaster.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the operation in Jarabulus is aimed at neutralizing the threats posed by both Daesh and Kurdish militants in Syria, which Ankara considers to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorists organization in Turkey. The Syrian Kurds and Damascus accused Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  On Tuesday, two Iranian naval vessels approached within 300 yards of the US destroyer Nitze while transiting waters near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

"It is not clear what the intentions of the Iranian ships were, but the behavior is not acceptable," Earnest told reporters. "These types of actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions."
Ukrainian authorities organized a large-scale military parade in Kiev dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the country's independence, celebrated on August 24. Although this year's Independence Day celebrations featured a massive military parade, featuring about 200 pieces of military equipment making their way through the center of Kiev, the event was not attended by any representatives of the international community, with the exception of Poland.

"I was very surprised about the visit itself, because, besides Andrzej Duda, no leader of a foreign country came to Kiev on August 24!" Pietka told Sputnik. "Since Western leaders didn't arrive in Kiev for celebrations, it means that Ukraine is becoming a big problem for the West. The West made it clear that Ukraine's hopes to join the EU and NATO are illusory. Ukraine scares [Western countries] away by the continuing slump of its economy, while at the same time the prospect of upcoming riots and social upheaval is growing," he added.
GENEVA (Sputnik)  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss the results of the consultations between the military experts from both countries on Syria on August 26, a diplomatic source told RIA Novosti Thursday.

"The ministers will discuss, among other issues, the results of the expert negotiations on the stabilization of situation in Syria and Aleppo region, and possible military cooperation in Syria," the source said.

The source added that the expert consultations lasted three days and finished in Geneva on Thursday.
In recent years, many countries have updated their civil aviation regulations to allow the use of smart phones onboard aircraft. Those countries include the US, 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.
GENEVA (Sputnik)  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived on Thursday in Geneva for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the results of the consultations between the military experts from both countries on Syria on August 26.

The expert consultations on the stabilization of situation in Syria with focus on Aleppo region and possible Russian-US military cooperation in Syria lasted three days and finished in Geneva earlier on Thursday.
GENEVA (Sputnik)  UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on August 26 will have separate meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the Syria settlement, a source in de Misturas office told Sputnik Thursday.

Staffan de Mistura will have separate meetings with each minister tomorrow. We are agreeing the time at the moment, the source said.

Earlier in the day, de Mistura told reporters that he planned to present Lavrov and Kerry with the UN-led initiatives to get the Syria political process back on track.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russia and Slovakia are capable to reverse the setback in bilateral trade, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, there have been the setback in bilateral trade for several years, however I believe that we have a chance to restore our trade," Putin said, as he met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow.

Putin reminded Fico that Russia is one of Slovakia's major trade partners.
Marcus Papadopoulos:  There is no direct link between the coup and Turkey-US relations, which are at their worst point since Turkey joined NATO in 1962, but this affects bilateral relations, not necessarily relations between Turkey and NATO.

Can a NATO member develop its own foreign policies without the agreement of other NATO members?

Marcus Papadopoulos: Yes, they can. We mustn't get carried away with the talk that Turkey is going to break its relationship with America, with the West in general, and with NATO. That sort of talk reflects ignorance and naivety. Turkey is a willing partner of America and the West in general and of NATO. Turkey depends on the West tremendously, economically, militarily, and is a staunch ally of the United States. If we have a look at Turkish foreign policy in decades gone by, Turkey has been allowed to do things that other countries cant get away with. Because America has given Turkey a blank check. So Turkey today has sent its army into Northern Syria, with America's blessings, that is a violation of Syrias independence and sovereignty. Turkey, ever since the end of the first Gulf War has been crossing into North Iraq to fight the Kurds, again, that is a violation of Iraqs independence and sovereignty, also in July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, partitioned parts of the island, destroyed churches, graveyards, monasteries etc, and it has been allowed to get away with all of that.

Does a Russian-Turkish rapprochement have important geopolitical implications?

Dr. Pieper: Improving relations with Russia makes a lot of sense for Turkey; it can start to export food again to Russia and welcome Russian tourists. But we hear that Turkey is entering the Syrian arena with implications that this will run counter to the efforts of Russia and Iran

Marcus Papadopoulos: Let us not exaggerate the significance of the rapprochement between Turkey and Russia. First of all, historically speaking relations between Russia and Turkey have been difficult. Whilst Erdogans position has been bolstered by the purges following the failed coup, he does feel a little bit encircled. I think he feels that in Syria, the conflict is probably going to be won by the Syrian government, and then he has antagonized Iran and of course he has antagonized Russia. So he feels weakened and so he is trying to strengthen his position in the region by making amends with Russia and Iran and possibly reaching out to Damascus. So the relationship between Russia and Turkey is not a genuine friendship, it is a business association. It is quite telling that it was Erdogan who went to Putin, not the other way round For the sake, probably not of Turkey so much, but of Erdogan. I believe that Erdogan considers himself to be Turkey and Turkey to be himself He is just thinking about his survival as a leader.

Is Erdogan just a really smart showman and is playing off one side against the other?

Dr. Pieper: Foreign policy is always a complex area, especially for a country in such a vital location like Turkey that is facing problems on all sides that may create a foreign policy that seems ambiguous.

Marcus Papadopoulos: There is absolutely no chance of Turkey leaving NATO.When Erdogan accused America of taking part in plotting the coup, he said that in public. He has to satisfy a core section of his support, but if he really meant that, I would say this to him: leave. Turkey is allowed to break international law, to violate the UN charter because of its close strategic relationship with America and with NATO.

Isnt NATO compromising its core values by continuing to support Turkey? Isnt democracy one of the core values of NATO?

Dr. Pieper: we still have to redefine the structural nature of NATO 25 years after the end of the Cold War. The role of NATO is changing, and as we have seen recently in the latest NATO warsaw summit in July. There have been many conflicts of interest. For example, the Leading from Behind campaign in Libya. However NATO members decide what NATO policy should be.

Marcus Papadopoulos: Anyone who actually believes that NATO is committed to democracy, to human rights, to international law is living in cloud cuckoo land. When has NATO respected public opinion in members states? Let's go back to the 1990s when NATO bombed the then Yugoslavia without public approval, without approval of the UN Security Council. There was a NATO led invasion of Iraq once again without U.S. Security Council approval. In Libya they overstepped their mandate by bombing the forces of the Libyan government, now in Syria we see NATO countries, principally America, Britain and France assisting terrorist groups operating in Syria. This is a clear violation of Syrias independence and sovereignty. We have today a Turkish incursion into Northern Syria which is not been invited by Damascus. NATO is major force unto itself. It is there to ensure America's global hegemony; it is there to stop any country around the world holding an independent foreign policy against America that is the reality of NATO
Turkey's military has directly intervened in Syria without the invitation of the Syrian government to retake the town of Jarablus from the so-called Islamic State with U.S. cooperation. Clashes have also erupted in recent days between the Kurdish YPG and Syrian Army. Alliances are shifting fast in Syrias ever-deepening five year war.

Vice President Joe Biden has met with Turkish President Erdogan, but was their meeting enough to mend the relationship that was terribly damaged after last months coup attempt? Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government claimed is the coup mastermind, is safe in the United States  for now. Becker is joined from Ankara by professor and journalist Dr. Bilal Sambur.

Secretary of State John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia where he is discussing the war in Yemen. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 Yeminis staged a mass protest against the Saudi bombing campaign. Massoud Shadjareh, founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, joins Becker to talk about the role of the west in the Saudi-led war.
Rozsa details what he sees as a moral case against Trump, that requires a vote for Clinton, even if his policy preferences are more closely aligned with someone like Green Party nominee Dr. Jill Stein. "When you juxtapose the possibility of a Clinton presidency with that of a Trump presidency," he argues, "you can see how policies they would implement on issues ranging from immigration, to taxes, to business regulations, would affect people directly. So when you say 'I don't see much of a difference between Clinton and Trump, and therefore I'm willing to risk the election of someone like Trump,' you are minimizing or ignoring how his policies would impact real people in this country."

But, he goes on to explain, there is a way to support third-parties in such a way that they can serve to crack the stranglehold of the two-party system and potentially even become viable at the Presidential level. "If you're going to try to empower third-party candidates, you shouldn't be indifferent for most of the four-year period, and then a few months before the general election say, 'oh, I don't like either of these alternatives, I'm going to vote third party to make that stance clear'. That doesn't accomplish anything. The way to really achieve this change is to be invested in the process constantlyeven when it's not an election year," he says.

It's an interesting, detailed and history rich conversation, in which Rozsa and I disagree on a few key points, while agreeing on others. Please give it a listen and share your thoughts in comments.

Finally, don't count your chickens yet, Democrats. Trump regains the lead over Clinton in swing-state Florida, according to a new poll [PDF] out today from the Sunshine State

You can find Brad's previous editions here.

And tune in to Radio Sputnik one hour a day, five days a week.
Todays main stories: President of Columbia Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the FARC Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia announced yesterday, a historic peace deal following talks in Havana, marking a huge step forward in concluding a decades long insurgency within Columbia. We talk to Oscar Palma, Professor of Political Science and Government at the National University of Columbia.

Yesterday evening, a 15,000 strong crowd of activists gathered in Jackson, Mississippi to hear Donald Trump speak. But this rally had a special guest  the Republican Party presidential candidate was joined on stage by the UK Independence Party's Nigel Farage.

You can find previous editions of World in Focus here.
"Either the radar has to be extremely powerful, or the antenna extremely large, otherwise it wont be able to pick up the radio waves bouncing back from the Earth," said Professor Zhou Yiguo, a radar technology researcher with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Electronics.

"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."

The scientific advantages could be worth the effort. The station would be able to provide incredibly detailed weather monitoring. It could also oversee global earthquake activity and, perhaps most importantly, monitor melting polar ice caps.

In addition, to maintain the facility and power plant, astronauts manning the base would be responsible for processing the 1.4 gigabytes of information that the radar would gather each second, "a volume far exceeding the bandwidth of current long-distance space communications technology," according to the South China Morning Post.

Its a crazy idea, but it could be crazy enough to work.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, a scientific magazine published an article on the discovery of a terrestrial planet candidate, located 4.2 light years away from Earth which could potentially harbor life and is close enough to be reached by space missions.

"As for similarities with Earth and, especially, on the suitability for life, they went too far, of course. At the moment, we can only be sure that this planet does exist. It is, perhaps, a part of the Proxima Centauri, but so far the experts have no solid conviction. It is interesting, that it is indeed the closest exoplanet to us. But as of today, more than 2,000 similar systems, although located further, have been discovered. And every time, when they discover one more, the media is ready to report that there is a planet similar to Earth, and it is possible that the little green men are there," Leonid Ksanfomaliti told RIA Novosti.

He added that the star Proxima Centauri, which Proxima-B orbits, is quite cold and unstable and therefore "it would be quite hard to survive for us, to put it mildly."
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The security flaw left iPhone users vulnerable to a sophisticated espionage product called Trident.

[Two research firms] worked directly with Apple to fix the vulnerabilities, the release stated. Apple was very responsive and patched Trident in its update. All iOS users should update to this version immediately.

Lookout explained that the malware allowed hackers to spy on users by collecting personal information through popular apps such as Skype, Gmail, FaceTime and Mail.Ru.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian President Vladimir Putin has no hidden assets and searching for them in the wake of the Panamanian offshore leak would never reveal anything about the president, the head of Russia's VTB Bank, Andrei Kostin, said.

You will not catch Putin with these things. He doesnt have cars or money Do you think that when he retires, you will find him in Monaco, sailing a 200m yacht? For the rest of his life hes doomed to spend quite a modest life, because the whole world knows him. The people who are trying to find Putins accounts  they could spend the rest of their lives but they would never find it, Kostin said in an interview with The Financial Times newspaper published Wednesday.

In April, Germanys Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper published materials it claimed came from the Panamanian Mossack Fonseca company, exposing alleged involvement of a number of world leaders and their circles in tax havens schemes. Some individuals, including musician Sergei Roldugin, who had been reportedly close to Putin, were mentioned in the report.
"It's not a secret spy plane," he said, as reporters pressed him for an explanation. "There's no conspiracy to not disclose it."

Persistent Surveillance Systems founder, Ross McNutt, in hopes to gain a long-term contract with an American metropolitan police department, made the claim that his company's product is capable of reducing urban crime by 20 percent. He is now hoping that tests in Baltimore will prove him right and that more deals will follow.

"I don't have good statistical data yet, but that's part of the reason we're here," he told Bloomberg, suggesting that the company itself, in using Baltimore as a testbed, is the sponsor of the urban surveillance aircraft.

According to McNutt, the technology, which he described as "Google Earth with TiVo capability," would more effectively deter crime if the police agency using it was transparent about its implementation. But transparency has so far turned out to be a deal-killer.
One of the more damning subjects of the emails is correspondence between Clinton aides Doug Band and Huma Abedin, suggesting a "pay to play" apparatus in place at the Clinton Foundation for corporate interests and foreign powers.

Loud & Clear Host Brian Becker noted that the Clintons announced that their foundation will no longer accept foreign or corporate donations, if she becomes president. Becker asked Jonas whether he thinks this will help mitigate some of the fallout and "stop the bleeding."

"Nothing is going to stop the bleeding," Jonas replied, postulating that the damage has already been done to the Clinton campaign and that Republicans, lacking a coherent platform otherwise, will exploit the controversy at every opportunity. "The Clinton Foundation could shut down tomorrow, they could give back all the money and it wouldnt matter. The Republicans could still use it to run against her."
Duke became a mayor of Cormorant, population 1,000, two years ago. He defeated Richard Sherbrook, the owner of a local store, through write-in votes. Duke was 7 at the time and can now boast of being the first mayor in the US to have taken office at such a young age.

For the third straight year, Duke the dog has been elected mayor: https://t.co/tKLyZPb3eJ pic.twitter.com/j8NYntiUhl  The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) August 24, 2016

Mayor Duke winning his reelection is the only good thing that's happened in America all year pic.twitter.com/wemlQjg1QM  Ryan Broderick (@broderick) August 24, 2016

The dog won his third election in a row, held Saturday during the 6th Annual Cormorant Daze Festival. Duke attended the event wearing a patriotic star-spangled bandanna around his neck and a small black top hat.

"I don't know who would run against him, because he's done such great things for the community," Cormorant resident Karen Nelson told Detroit Lakes Online.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Martin Sieff  Anti-EU campaigner Nigel Farage and the UK Brexit vote set an example for the United States to follow in breaking free of multinational corporations and a world without borders, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told a rally in Jackson in the US state of Mississippi.

"On June 23, the people of Britain voted to declare their independence from international government," Trump said on Wednesday night. "They voted to break away from rule by large corporations and media executives who believe in a world without borders The same thing is happening in America."

Trump welcomed at his rally Nigel Farage, former leader of the UK Independence Party who was one of the main campaigners for the Brexit vote.
Kayla Marisa Seloff, 22, and Joshua Gene Leal, 27, were arrested early Saturday after neighbors reported activity in an empty house. A neighbor on his way to work noticed a man and a woman entering the building, saw lights turn on, and then called police.

The officers arrived at the scene, entered the house through a window, and discovered Seloff and Leal having a passionate rendezvous on the floor, according to the police report.

The two first told the police that they were married and had just purchased the property. Asked to show ID, Seloff returned to her car, and an officer claimed he saw a pipe and some pot inside the vehicle. The woman confessed that she had sold the house, and was not the new owner.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pledged to release new "significant" documents from US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons campaign before the election is held in November.

"We are working around the clock, we have received quite a lot of material," Assange told the Fox News broadcaster.

When asked whether the US electorate will see the new leaked documents before the election is held, Assange said "Yes, absolutely."
They will soon be calling me MR. BREXIT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2016

Appearing before 15,000 activists in Jackson, Mississippi, Trump said:

"On 23 June, the people of Britain voted to declare their independence  which is what we're looking to do also, folks!  from international government."

Enter, Nigel Farage: a British politician who spent years agitating for the UK to get a referendum to exit the EU. In June this year, he got his wish, earning the praise of right-wing conservatives across the world from Trump himself, to Marine Le Pen of France's National Front.

.@realDonaldTrump brings @Nigel_Farage on stage in MS after stating, "November 8th is our chance to redeclare American independence!"  Official Team Trump (@TeamTrump) August 25, 2016

Trump introduced Mr. Farage as a man who "brilliantly" led the UK Independence Party's to gain control over the UK's political future.

Mr. Trump is hoping for his own political reckoning to sweep the US, but he has poll after negative poll to contend with.

The message from Farage? Forget the polls.

"You can beat the pollsters. You can beat the commentators Remember, anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment," he said.

Despite his full-throated support of Trump at Wednesday's rally, Farage has previously admitted that he is not entirely comfortable with some of Trump's outspoken rhetoric.

In July, he admitted to British journalists that Trump's policies on opposing gun controls and blocking Muslims from entering the US, left him feeling decidedly "left wing" and confused.

"I think it's absolutely mad that you can go to a supermarket and buy a rifle without basically proving who you are. I think some of that stuff [on gun law] is really strange We may speak the same language, but the cultural differences are really big," he added.

Nigel Farage to share platform with Donald Trump tonight: YouGov found 31% UKIP voters have favourable view of Trump https://t.co/fPitSSY6a7  YouGov (@YouGov) August 24, 2016

And a British YouGov poll earlier this month, found that only 31% of UKIP voters have a favorable view of Trump.

As far as political endorsements go, it's unclear how much of a boost Farage's appearance at a Trump rally will give the embattled Republican candidate. It's unlikely that many of Trump's Mississippi supporters had ever heard of Nigel Farage before he delivered his speech.

Farage is a confusing guest for Trump as he tries to court minority votes. He was repeatedly accused of racism and fear mongering in UK.  Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) August 25, 2016

Since the UK referendum, Mr. Farage has stepped down as UKIP leader and maintained a lower profile domestically, and on the world stage.

So, as well as forgetting US pollsters, Trump supporters may very quickly forget Farage altogether as well.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Selva further explained that while the Jarabulus operation is still "ongoing," the United States continues its relationship "with willing fighters in Syria, including Kurdish fighters and we intend to keep doing so."

"We have supported our Turkish allies in their effort to secure their border," Selva stated at a defense forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

On Wednesday, Turkish troops, with US air support, launched "Euphrates Shield," described by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a military operation to neutralize the threat of both Daesh and Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militants in Syria.
The two billboards are meant to look like chalkboards and begin with a reference from the Quran 5:32, in the form of a simple quote: Life is sacred.

"Hey ISIS, you suck!!! From: #ActualMuslims, the attention grabbing billboard states.

The organization paying for the billboards, the Sound Vision Foundation, first placed one in their home-base city of Chicago on a highway heading to the famously busy OHare Airport. This week a second billboard went up in downtown Phoenix.
SEATTLE (Sputnik)  Seleznev, 32, who is the son of Russian parliament member Valery Seleznev, has been charged with 40 counts of bank fraud, hacking into secured computer networks, possession of illegal hacking devices as well as aggravated identity theft.

When he was arrested in 2014, US federal agents discovered that Seleznev had illegally obtained the data of more than 1.7 million credit card holders. According to investigators, Seleznev caused around $170 million in damage to several small businesses.

According to the court ruling announced by US District Judge Richard Jones, Seleznev's sentencing will be pronounced on December 2.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Seventy-six migrant farm workers have been awarded $576,000 in back wages that were lost in forced kickbacks to a farmer in the US state of Minnesota and a labor recruitment firm, the US Department of Labor announced in a press release on Thursday.

"Lining your pockets with the hard-earned wages of foreign workers is unacceptable and undermines the foreign visa programs value to supply thousands of workers to the American agricultural industry," the Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division Administrator David Weil said in the release.

From 2010 to 2015, Minnesota vegetable farmer John Svihel kept a percentage of the workers wages  totaling about $90,000  that he spent on personal travel and leisure, the release explained.
Social media users have posted videos and questions about low-flying helicopters weaving through buildings, but have not received many answers.

 Addison Hoover (@addisonhoover) August 24, 2016

This is a planned exercise in cooperation with local authorities and is not in response to any current world events. The exercise is expected to have minimal impact to the public, according to a posted advisory from the Boston Police Department.

 Addison Hoover (@addisonhoover) August 24, 2016

In stunning footage captured by NorthEndWaterFront.com, there appears to be four darkened Blackhawk helicopters flying from Bostons Logan Airport, across the harbor, through the North End, and landing on top of a skyscraper in the financial district.
On Thursday, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said that the current administration is determined to complete the task before the end of Obamas term.

"We're going to do our best to try to get this closed and it's our expectation that that's what we'll do," he stated at a news briefing, adding that a lot of diplomatic work needs to be done.

Currently, some 61 detainees remain in the facility. Of that number, 15 will be transported to the United Arab Emirates, as announced by the Pentagon this month. Another 20 have been approved for transfer, but no country has agreed yet to accept them.

The Cuban island detention center was established in 2002 for the interrogation and prosecution of war criminals, under former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Since that time the prison has become notorious for detaining people without trial and for the use of torture.
Lochte, 32, could face up to six months in prison if convicted on the charge.

"Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime," police said in a statement, which also said that they had recommended that the court issue a summons for him to be questioned.

If Lochte fails to return to Brazil for his hearing, the trial will go on in his absence.
Earlier this month, Chinese officers also took part in a humanitarian and disaster relief exercise titled Cooperation Spirit, held in Wellington, along with representatives from other countries.

The minister had high praise for China's significant peacekeeping contributions, including the force protection it has provided to New Zealand troops as part of the UN peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan.

"Despite relative differences in our strategic outlook and in the sizes of our two defense forces, New Zealand and China are developing a constructive and resilient relationship," he said.

The minister admitted the challenges brought by recently-escalating tensions caused by China's reclamation of land in the South China Sea, but observed that he is optimistic about the continuing military cooperation by both China and the US.

"This issue will continue to test the international legal system. Continued China-United States engagement and cooperation is indispensable to security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond," he said.
Rain Cloud Hanover returned to her winning ways in Grand River Raceway's $7,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace on Wednesday night, August 24.

Returning to the Preferred 3 class she had won two starts ago on August 3, Rain Cloud Hanover ($4.50) was the 6-5 favourite and didn't disappoint her backers. Driver Paul MacKenzie sent Rain Cloud Hanover off the gate from post two and carved out fractions of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:27.3 en route to the 1:56.1 triumph for owner/trainer Chris Nicol. Moremunkybusiness advanced first up against the front-stepping Art Major mare and finished three-quarters of a length behind in second while War Filly followed along the inside lane off a pocket trip for third-place honours.

Rain Cloud Hanover earned her 12th career win and pushed her earnings to $125,893. She has earned half of those victories in her current five-year-old campaign after going winless in 15 starts last year.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
After a busy week of Old Home Week racing on Prince Edward Island, live harness racing will make its triumphant return to Saint John's Exhibition Park Raceway this Saturday afternoon (August 27).

Horse Racing New Brunswick will showcase a five-dash card that will kick off with a first-race post time of 1:00 p.m. The program will include a $1,350 Preferred 1 that has been carded as Race 5.

Haunto, owned by Jeff DeFazio and Gordon White, will look for Post 1 to give them the edge in the field for driver Mark Haig. They will be asked to take on one of the hottest stables from the region. Dr. Mitchell Downey and his father, Mike, will send out two starters, Stare Down and City Of The Year.

Magical Alex and Cecils Express will round out the race.

Horse Racing New Brunswick and its partners will host the prestigious Maritimer stake as part of the Exhibition Week of racing at the Saint John half-mile track.

First-race post time is 1:00 p.m.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at EPR, click the following link: Saturday Entries  Exhibition Park Raceway.

(HRNB)
Contact: Media Office , +41 79 507 6363

GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 25, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- In a letter issued on 25 August, addressed to Rev. Luca Negro, president of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit offered "heartfelt condolences to the people who lost family members and friends." The letter follows the massive earthquake that hit central Italy in the morning hours of 24 August, taking hundreds of lives.

"We are saddened by the images of the devastating destruction of villages and the stories of survivors mourning for loved ones they lost or still hoping for others to be rescued out of the rubble," said Tveit. "We thank God for all those who come to help and continue to search for those who might be still alive."

As the number of victims is still rising, Tveit reached out to the global fellowship of churches, to pray and offer support to those affected. "We call on sisters and brothers in the global fellowship of churches to pray for the bereaved families of those who are killed and injured and affected with their loss of property due to this devastation."

Turning finally to people and churches in Italy, Tveit concluded, "We gather with all of you under the cross of Christ. In Christ we take refuge and find hope in the middle of such death and despair. May Christ be with you all and strengthen you as you face the consequences of this natural disaster."

Full letter by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit

Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy

WCC member churches in Italy
Priest's Music Honors Blessed Teresa's Life and Canonization

Contact: Kelcee Marcum, OCP, 503-460-5358, kelceem@ocp.org



PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 25, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- When Jesuit Father Bob Fabing first met Mother Teresa in 1983 in Calcutta, he had no inkling the meeting would be the start of a decades-long friendship.

That friendship culminates next month, when Father Fabing concelebrates Mass with Pope Francis as Blessed Mother Teresa is canonized in early September in Rome.

Over 14 years, Father Fabing met with Mother Teresa more than 80 more times all over the world, giving retreats and spiritual counseling, and working with the Missionaries of Charity, the international religious congregation founded by Mother Teresa to care for "the poorest of the poor."

These meetings are ultimately what inspired him to write the Mass for Teresa of Calcutta, published by OCP. At the canonization events next month, people across the globe will join together to sing the direct and welcoming Mass that captures her spirit.

Father Fabing said the canonization Mass will be the pinnacle of his musical life. Pope Francis will declare Blessed Teresa a saint at the Vatican Sept. 4. Her first feast day Mass will be celebrated the following day at St. Peter's Basilica.

To honor Mother Teresa on the occasion of her canonization, OCP has compiled an MP3 album with Father Fabings Mass for Teresa of Calcutta and other songs inspired by her selfless acts. That digital playlist, titled Songs for St. Teresa, can be found at www.ocp.org/st-teresa-music.

The album includes the song, "Your Song of Love," which Father Fabing wrote for Mother Teresa and sang at her funeral in Calcutta and at her beatification by Pope John Paul II in October 2003. The lyrics of the song include the poignant lines, "May your hands touch the poor again. May your arms hold the sick again. May your smile fill each heart again through who I am."

For media requestsincluding review copies and interviewsor to learn more about Songs for St. Teresa of Calcutta or music by Father Bob Fabing, please contacts Kelcee Marcum, 503.460.5358 or kelceem@ocp.org.

About OCP

OCP, a not-for-profit publisher of liturgical music and worship resources based in Portland, Oregon, has been in operation for more than 90 years. Worship programs produced by OCP are used in over two-thirds of Catholic churches in the United States and are distributed worldwide. Find OCP on Facebook at Facebook.com/OCPmusic.
It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
Cowlitz County hasnt voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1980. But some say the regions demographic provides fertile ground for Donald Trump in this years November general election.

Cowlitz County Republican Party chairman Arne Mortensen said there has been an overwhelming demand for Trump paraphernalia  hundreds of yard signs and bumper stickers have been passed out, and people keep calling for more.

All the Trump stuff just flies out the door, Mortensen said.

Trump received 80 percent of Cowlitz County votes in the Republican primary in May. He did even better in Wahkiakum County with 84 percent of the votes, the second-highest in the state.

Trump is especially popular among working-class white men with less education, according to nationwide polls. And white males without college degrees make up about 37 percent of the countys population, according to U.S. Census data in 2014.

But Mark Smith, a political science professor at the University of Washington, said that group is far from uniform.

Union members also have a large  and powerful  presence in the area, and they tend to vote Democratic. But Hillary Clinton hasnt won them over.

Historically unions have been incredibly important in both local and national elections as they represented a large swath of the voting public, Chelsea Vaughn, a history instructor at Lower Columbia College, wrote in an email. In a place such as Longview that still has a strong union presence, a unions endorsement of a candidate can have an important impact on election results.

Shawn Nyman, president of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council and organizer for SEIU Local 925, said some union members support Trump largely because of concerns for their Second Amendment rights. Cowlitz County overwhelmingly votes against gun control measures, and all three Democratic state legislators have fought against them.

But an even larger sticking point with union members is one of President Barack Obamas big trade deals, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pact among 12 countries meant to boost trade growth that critics say will harm or reduce union jobs.

Clintons recent Democratic opponent, Bernie Sanders, spoke out against the TPP and had strong support among union members, Nyman said.

We collectively were disappointed when our own unions endorsed Hillary, Nyman said. I just liked Bernie. I liked what he stood for and his toughness and being forthright. To me it isnt about having a woman president, its just having a president that I could relate to.

Smith said there are other factors that play a role in whether Trump will do well in Southwest Washington. Trump appeals to working-class non-union members and those with fewer degrees, as well as social conservatives who tend to vote Republican for religious reasons.

A new study by Gallup senior economist Jonathan Rothwell, who surveyed nearly 90,000 nationwide, also said Trump supporters have not necessarily experienced economic hardship and can come from high-income brackets. The lack of frequent contact with minorities, he said, is a better predictor.

Mortensen, who was originally voting for Ben Carson but now supports Trump, said he resents the analysis that Trump only appeals to uneducated white men. He said the polls dont reflect what he has been seeing at the Republican Headquarters, which include some Democrats and new voters.

I still think Trump is going to surprise people in the poll. I think he will win by a large margin, Mortensen said. One of the seemingly magical things about Trump is that while he is a billionaire, he could walk on the floor of the steel mill and get along with everybody. That is something we typically dont have with politicians, certainly on that level.

BreAnna Gordon, 29, of Castle Rock began volunteering for the Cowlitz County Republican Party about a month ago. She said she wanted to get involved because this election was especially important to her.

If Hillary Clinton becomes president, its going to be four to eight more years of progressiveness, she said. Her husband is a Marine currently based in Japan, and she said she sees Trump as a true patriot and military supporter.

Paul McLain, chairman of the Cowlitz County Democrats, said votes showed a race down to the wire. But he said Clinton has the most experience, both in foreign diplomacy and working with people.

He said hes a pragmatist, and that Sanders had a lot of forward movement and a lot of good ideas. However, I think he would have had a really tough time had he made it through the presidency.

In the Democratic primary, Wahkiakum produces just as polarizing results, with Bernie Sanders receiving 90 percent of the delegates in the county. Sanders received 77 percent of the delegates in Cowlitz County.

Nyman said more union members wont vote for Trump because of his history with his own businesses. But she said few trust Clinton either, and whats going on behind closed doors when it comes to the TPP.

She will not be voting for Trump. But she said she hasnt decided whether she will vote for Clinton.

Ill know when my ballot comes, and I truly feel that way, she said.
In front of friends and family, as well as the jury, Brian Kitts tearfully recalled how the last time he saw his aunt, Sharon Cox, she was alive and well  and cleaning the floor of her home.

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.

I loved my Aunt Sharon very dearly, Kitts said on the stand, his voice quavering. When youre adopted, some members dont accept you off the bat. Sharon took me in immediately and loved me.

A Washington State Patrol crime lab found large amounts of Kitts DNA on the rifle used kill Cox, along with the collars of her shirt and sweater.

Defense attorney Kevin Blondin fought for two key pieces of evidence that point to Allen as Coxs killer to be heard by the jury.

The first was a previous statement made by Allens prison cellmate, Christopher Miller, who in 2001 said Allen had confessed the details of killing his mother. The second was a phone call between Cox and her daughter, Vickie Wulf, less than three months before her murder.

Jurors on Wednesday also heard emotional testimony from Kitts adoptive mother, Coxs sister, Cindy Helms Jarrell, and Coxs daughter, Vickie Wulf.

Wulf spoke of the tumultuous relationship between Cox and her son. Recalling a phone conversation she had with her mother in mid-November 1999, Wulf said Cox told her that Allen had threatened to kill her (Cox). Describing Cox as hysterical and scared, Wulf said Cox said she had never seen him like this before.

Allen shared a cell with Christopher Miller for less than a month, between Jan. 18 and Feb. 12, 2001. In March 2001, Miller made a statement to then Det. Dean Stafford claiming Allen had confessed to killing his mother with striking detail.

When Miller was brought to the stand, however, he said he didnt recall the conversation.

State Deputy Prosecutor David Phelan argued that evidence from a jailhouse snitch is unreliable. Phelan noted that physical evidence showed no phone cord being used to kill Cox, which was inconsistent with Allens alleged statement to Miller.

However, Blondin said much of Millers statement had and alarming consistency with the physical evidence, including a broken rifle stock, the location of Coxs glasses and chair in the room, as well as the description of Allens 911 call.

Allen served 16 years in prison for the murder of his mother before Cowlitz County Prosecutor Ryan Jervakainen dismissed the charges. While much of Blondins defense focused on Allen, he said its very unlikely hed be tried again. I think theyd lose all credibility, Blondin said.

During a break in the proceedings, Kitts spoke quickly to his mother, telling her, I love you. Itll all work out.

The jury will begin deliberation after a final defense witness testifies and closing arguments are presented Thursday.
The Lummi Nation House of Tears Carvers will be displaying its latest totem pole in Longview Friday as part of its journey through the Pacific Northwest.

The tribe is transporting the 22-foot western red cedar totem pole  carved and donated by master carver Jewell James  nearly 5,000 miles over 18 days to oppose coal export docks, according to a press release.

The totem pole is destined for the city of Winnipeg, in Manitoba, Canada. It has a bald eagle with wings spread on top with a medicine wheel on its chest, according to a press release. Below is a buffalo skull, a wolf, a coyote, an Indian chief with a war bonnet facing a medicine man and a peace pipe with smoke rising above it.

This visit is happening just one month before the Army Corps of Engineers is slated to release its federal draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Longview coal export terminal.

Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview LLC is proposing to build a 44 million-ton coal export terminal at the former Reynolds Metals Co. aluminum plant west of Longview. The totem pole journey is intended to build relationships and solidarity between tribes and communities pushing back against the recent flood of fossil fuel export proposals throughout the region, according to the press release.

Fridays event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Longview United Methodist Church, 2851 30th Avenue. It will include a presentation and spiritual blessing of the totem pole as well as a celebration.
KALAMA  About 35 people crowded into the Port of Kalamas commission meeting Wednesday evening to sound off on the proposed methanol plant.

Although nothing was formally scheduled, the public comment period had the feeling of a hearing on the methanol plant, with each side making an appeal to commissioners on Northwest Innovation Works proposed $1.8 billion project.

Proponents, including at least two state legislators, organized the informal event Wednesday to show their support for the project. It was largely a response to opponents, who have for the last few months attended commission meetings donning red shirts to express their concerns.

Ive been a little bit troubled by some of the misrepresentations and misconceptions associated with the project, particularly the issue of explosions, said Brent Winters, director of health, safety and environment for Northwest Innovation Works.

Ive heard claims that methanol tanks can explode at blast range of six miles. These claims are simply factually not true, Winters said. Explosions of that size only happen when liquid is under pressure, and the methanol at Northwest Innovation will not be pressurized, he said.

Sen. Dean Takko said the project would bring much-needed jobs and tax revenue to the region. He also questioned the criticism that opponents have raised about the plant being owned and operated by a Chinese-backed company.

Ive had the opportunity to travel quite a bit around this world and Ive seen (American) corporations all over this world.  Its a bit disingenuous that we can go out and build these plants in other countries, but not accept one that wants to do the right job here, Takko said.

Theres more at stake here than just the methanol plant, argued Ted Sprague, president of Cowlitz Economic Development Council.

Future projects depend on how this project goes, Sprague said.

Opponents werent buying those arguments.

Linda Leonard of Kalama said she is concerned about the plants high water use, air pollution and the risk of spills.

When you look at a 245-foot floor stack, your view has been taken over, she added. Port of Kalama has the power to stop NWIW from continuing with this project. Were a small town, Kalama. We deserve better than to be known as the largest (methanol) refinery in the nation.

Connie Dean of Kalama said she worried about health risks.

Im angry. I cant help but be angry. Its like you guys dont care about the people, Dean told commissioners. Yes theres going to be pollution in the air, in the water and the river and the soil  so yeah, things are going to happen, but maybe not what youre hoping for.

Its hard to say whether the public testimony Wednesday swayed commissioners in any direction.

Until all the information is in and digested, we have to maintain an open mind,Commissioner Randy Sweet said.
The port isnt out the picture for the Kelso airport yet, but commissioners dont want to keep the status quo either.

Port of Longview commissioners this week confirmed their commitment to participating in the Southwest Washington Regional Airport; however, they want to set new limits on how the airport is funded and managed.

The airport is funded through an interlocal agreement with City of Kelso, Longview, Cowlitz County and Port of Longview.

In a 2-1 vote in February, commissioners voted to back out of the contract, giving nine months notice. Two of the commissioners said they didnt like the existing contract and that they needed to focus on the port rather than an airfield. Since then, the port and airport board have been going back and forth trying to find a way for the port to stay involved in the airfield.

Losing the ports backing would cost the airport about $76,000 in revenue, forcing it to delay maintenance, according to Steve Taylor, the interim airport manager and Kelso city manager.

The City of Kelso, which is now the primary agency managing the airfield, requested that the port rescind its termination of the agreement. The port declined that request this week and instead offered a new list of requirements that would need to be met before it signs on to support the airport again.

I want to support the airport, but I also want to the port to have a voice, Commissioner Doug Averett said.

Under the terms proposed by the port, the new agreement would set a $65,000 cap on each agencys contribution. The money would have to be approved by at least three of the four agencies.

Yet this past year, the airport found that it needed additional maintenance money and approached each of the agencies for additional $11,000 each. Commissioner Bob Bagaason wants to set limits on those extra expenses by requiring that those special requests be approved unanimously by all the agencies.

Are you willing to allow another entity to come in and boost (the) budget in the middle of the year?  How do you justify that when were supposed to follow a budget? Bagaason said at a port workshop Tuesday.

Commissioner Jeff Wilson thought the port would overreach its authority to require a unanimous vote. Wilson and Commissioner Doug Averett approved of the proposed terms Wednesday, but Bagaason voted against them because those limits on extra requests were not included.

However, all three port commissioners did agree on a few key points: That a new interlocal agreement should be shortened from five years to two and not automatically renewed; that an unelected at-large position on the airport board be eliminated; and that the airport must complete a strategic plan in 2017.

It will be up to the other three government agencies to respond to the ports proposal. The existing interlocal agreement doesnt expire until February. In the mean time, City of Kelso has hired Christopher Paolini of Long Beach, California, to start as the new airport manager in October.
Two arrests have been made after a drive-by shooting on Ocean Beach Highway late Tuesday afternoon had residents taking refuge inside their homes and shut down traffic on one of the citys main thoroughfares.

The Longview Police Department urged residents between 42nd and 46th avenues on Ocean Beach Highway, on the west side of Longview, to stay indoors Tuesday after receiving several reports of a drive-by shooting.

Longview police received a call at 4:36 p.m. stating that shots had been fired in the 3100 block of Ocean Beach Highway. The shots came from a moving vehicle headed westbound. Two suspects were located just eight minutes later, and no one was injured, according to police officials.

More than 20 officers from different agencies helped with the search for the suspects, including LPD, the Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office, Department of Corrections, and Washington State patrol.

By 5:25 p.m., Longview police had the shooting suspect in custody. By just after 6 p.m., police had arrested the second suspect.

The Longview Police Department reported at 5:25 p.m. that they had arrested the shooter. And by 6:10 p.m., LPD had both suspects in custody and had reopened the road to traffic and allowed residents to go outside.

William Darris Johnson, 21, of Lebanon, Oregon and Alex Quintana Jr., 19, of Longview were arrested on suspicion of drive-by shooting.

We suspect that there might be up to two other persons involved, Blanchard said. The identities of the two suspects had not been confirmed as of Wednesday afternoon.

Police believe the target was not another vehicle, but rather pedestrians or a house near the highway.

We believe there is gang involvement in this case, Blanchard said. The persons involved in this, we think they know each other, and may be affiliated with local gangs.

The same section of Ocean Beach Highway where the shooting occurred was closed again for approximately 10 minutes Wednesday morning so police could further investigate the crime scene.
Letters to the Editor

Zapping Zika

We see on the evening news and read in the paper about this Zika virus spread by mosquitoes. We see counties from coast to coast spending millions of dollars for spray and families spraying their children, according to the national news, with gosh knows what for what they say is protection.

Our PUD will love this, every household buys an 80-watt bug zapper light that fries the little critters. We had a bug zapper years ago; I bought one a month ago and it works great, no toxic spray.

Peter L. Moore

Castle Rock

Mayo gets it

Wayne Mayo understands that increasing government debt should always be a last resort and seldom  if ever  done. Unfortunately, we in Columbia County have increased our debt to the point that we are the most indebted county in the state of Oregon. I was shocked when I recently learned about our debt situation from a newspaper article. What do we have to show for all this debt? Its clear that our countys debt is not due to lazy or uncaring county workers. It is the responsibility of our county commissioners to plan and make sure the county is run efficiently, and does not take on unnecessary risks or debt.

We need new leaders with new ideas and different ways of looking at things if we want things to get better.

Wayne has owned a small business for decades, and he knows what it takes to balance a budget and not needlessly go into debt.

Brian Rosenthal

Scappoose, Ore.

Reality of CAFTA

Both Bernie and The Donald have railed against unfair trade agreements and have cited NAFTA and CAFTA (The Central American Free Trade Agreement) as examples of domestic job killers. Ive treated NAFTA elsewhere, so what about CAFTA? The argument is not serious on the face of it. The CAFTA countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica) have a collective GDP (in 2015) estimated at $243 billion. That is about 1.31 percent of our GDP of about $18.5 trillion. By comparison, the state of Washington has a GSP (Gross State Product) of approximately $450 billion or 2.43 percent of our GDP. In other words, the economy of the state of Washington is 85 percent larger than the collective economies of CAFTA.

In 2015, our exports to CAFTA countries were estimated at $28.7 billion and imports at $23.7 billion, a trade surplus. To put these numbers in perspective, our total exports to all countries are around $2.35 trillion per year. If you do the math, CAFTA is about 0.13 percent of the total. Are we serious about dealing with real issues? Do we really want to penalize poor countries trying to escape poverty? Judging by the political furor the answers to these questions are no and yes.

Edward Phillips

Kalama

Seeking sanctuary

I read online where Cowlitz County is a sanctuary county. Why and who made that decision? Who are they trying to protect by not cooperating with the federal government?

Cy Romag

Longview

Co-opted by materialism

Sundays Letter to the Editor, Guns in the Bible, ended rather prophetically. Lynn Harper emphasized get informed by reading the Bible and the Constitution. Sadly our young at all levels of education are being taught a foundationless education through Common Core. Our schools have been co-opted by materialism and socialistic thought.

Paul M. Shannon

Rainier
hidden

The Philippines has banned Pokemon Go in government offices following similar decisions by Southeast Asian neighbours 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 fulfil 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 neighbourhoods 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.

Reuters
hidden

Actress Alia Bhatt has been roped in as the brand ambassador of Chinese smartphone maker Gionee. She is super excited about the association. The Udta Punjab actress will be the face of the brand for all the upcoming campaigns. She will also be endorsing the next line of products that the brand will launch.

I am super excited to be part of such a youthful and lively brand that's making India smile. I am looking forward to having an amazing association with Gionee in the coming years and be part of some awesome innovations, Alia, who has been signed by Gionee for the next two years, said in a statement. Arvind Vohra, Country CEO, Gionee India, feels Alia is an actor filled with enthusiasm and zest, characteristics that reflects Gionee's beliefs.

She adds freshness to the brand and associating with the actor will definitely bring the brand closer to the consumers and will make the brand more relatable, Vohra said. The brand entered India in February 2013.

IANS
hidden

More than 500 sets of equipment for making unauthorised radio broadcasts were seized in China over the past six months in a national campaign aided by more than 30,000 airwave monitors; the media reported on Thursday. The campaign launched on February 15 by the State Council, resulted in 1,796 cases related to illegal radio stations, after 301,840 hours of monitoring from February to July, according to an online statement by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The number of incidents was down by 50 percent from April to August; the China Daily quoted the statement as saying. So-called pirate radios have appeared in most parts of China since 2015 and this "has been a channel for criminals to defraud and promote aphrodisiacs, along with counterfeit and poor-quality medicine", according to the Ministry of Public Security's Criminal Investigation Department.

The operating cost of a pirate radio is low, but profit can be high. A pirate radio station that broadcasts advertisements for aphrodisiacs can pocket more than 70,000 yuan ($10,500) a month, with an overhead cost of no more than 10,000 yuan, investigators said in a post on Sina Weibo. It said most spare parts for broadcasting equipment could be bought on the internet. "The broadcast power of pirate radio stations can be 2,500 to 5,000 watts, which is several hundred of times that of commercial radio, and the signal can be received 300 km away," the China Daily reported citing the department as saying.

Pirate radios may also pose a threat to communication between aircraft pilots and ground controllers as their frequency band neighbours that of flight navigation signals and can create interference, the department said. Under Chinese law, the unauthorised use of radio frequency bands can attract up to seven years in prison.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

A few months ago, Creo was one among several smartphone entrants in the market. However, the Bengaluru-based startup decided to distinguish itself from others by focusing on the software with updates every month. It's been four months and four software updates are out as promised.

Creo's approach has been user friendly by taking feedback of local users to make a better product every month. This is an undertaking that they cannot go wrong on. The Mark 1 is a software based phone, and Creo plans to open up the software platform they are making better every month, available to other manufacturers as well. Every effort Creo has taken in this months update, is aimed at improving the user experience. Whether it works or not, this is a customer-centric effort at differentiating their product from an overcrowded smartphone market. Let's take a look at them one by one.

Update 4

Creo's latest update comes to one of the most basic feature  calling. The latest updates bring to users a faster Dialler and smoother Sense experience with optimisations and fixes. Besides, other improvements include some bug fixes related to importing contacts, echo and call recording, and improvements on network stabilisation, among others.

Update 3

The latest company update brings two new features  Lock apps and Hidden media.

App Locking: Lock apps feature lets you lock and unlock the device using a pattern or pin. We tried using the feature, which worked quite well. The feature is handy when a user has to pass on the device to someone and don't want them to even accidentally snoop on content. Under notifications, there's a simple toggle that lets you opt for App locking. In case you forget the password, Creo will instantly let you access your content. For instance, it instantly sent use an image of the password pattern on the registered email id.

Hidden Media: We all have some wacky images that we don't want friends to sneak into while browsing through our Images Gallery. Creo has introduced 'Hidden Files'to enable just that. The file or data once moved will be accessible or viewable only in the hidden files folder that is protected by a lock pin.

Update 2

In the form of its second update, Creo added customisable Audio Effects. It let users natively change sound effects for apps and also system software such as games, streaming and so on. It introduced a new and quicker way to enhance media listening experience. It comes with five presets namely Balanced Acoustic, Bass Boost, 3D Surround Sound and Clear voice. These settings can be used as starting points to fine tune the audio settings as per ones liking and can also be saved as multiple Custom Audio Effects to work across apps and beyond.

Update 1

The company released a slew of updates a month after launching the product. Take a look at each one of them below:

Data Manager: The Data Manager allowed users to get granular control over what applications use data. A doughnut chart showed how much data was consumed in the previous month, with a breakdown of how much of that data was consumed by apps running in the background. The app also shows a handy list of how much data each app consumed while in background mode. You can toggle whether or not the application is allowed to download data when in the background mode. Toggling these settings will interfere with the updates and notifications of the particular applications.

Enhance: This is a photo manipulation utility with filters similar to Instagram. A simple to use menu allows adjustments, transformations and vignettes. After manipulating an image as per requirement, the whole set of edits on an image can be saved as a filter. The sequence of edits are added as a filter in the default menu, and then you can tap on the particular filter once, to apply the same set of edits on any other image. This gives some kind of rudimentary batch editing feature, allowing users to conveniently edit a series of photos that require the same treatment.

Echo: Echo is the in-built answering machine. At the launch of the phone, there was only one default pre-recorded voice prompt, in English. With the update, the company added more languages. Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telegu, Marathi and Bengali have been added. You can also record and keep custom welcome messages. These can now be served according to the caller, or groups of callers. For example, friends and colleagues can have different welcome messages. If you regularly schedule your meetings on Google Calendar, then the phone automatically reroutes all incoming calls to the answering machine.

Selfie Flash: This is a feature that boosts exposure through software algorithms. There is no front flash, but in low light conditions, there is now a one tap flash button on the side, that prevents the photos from being too dark.

Sense: Sense is an advanced search feature. It is modeled on the search functionality of the iPhones. There are some utilities that sense does not seem to recognise as of now, the homescreen widgets are an example we found. Sense now supports WhatsApp integration, after this update. The Sense interface has also been updated with a space for pinning most used contacts, so you can just bring them up with a two finger swipe down any time. There are as some new enhancements that take Sense in a direction even Apple has not gone. Sense took some baby steps into become some kind of universal input space for all kinds of tasks. You can enter a number and add a contact from the search bar. It is also possible to feed in arithmetic, and use Sense as a calculator.

There were minor fixes on a screen flickering issue in the adaptive brightness mode, and battery drain enhancements.

In order to update FUEL OS, Creo users can head to the ReFuel app on CREO Mark 1, tap on the top left menu followed by the Updates Tab and then Check for updates.
hidden

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.

IANS
hidden

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 15 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."

IANS
hidden

While governments the world over are concerned about how to tackle growing cyber crimes, Indian firms are more vulnerable to data breach because poor investments in adopting and implementing top-of-the-line security solutions, a top executive of US-based network security company FireEye has said. "If we had to compare countries, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute ranks India lower in cyber security maturity than Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, China and Vietnam," said Vishak Raman, Senior Regional Director for India and SAARC, FireEye.

"It is important to see the bigger picture and not see vulnerability as a horse race between regions. The US cyber security far outpaces India's and yet, the US is routinely plagued by massive cyber challenges," Ramn told IANS as FireEye released its first "Mandiant M-Trends Asia-Pacific" report on Thursday. "In some ways, India is more vulnerable to advanced attacks and in some, we are less vulnerable because cyber security is increasingly becoming a priority for our leaders," he noted.

The report highlighted that the Asia-Pacific organisations were breached for a median period of 520 days before discovering it, trailing European and US counterparts. "We can all agree that 520 days is far too long for attackers to be lurking inside organisations," Raman said. The report shared statistics and insights from Mandiant - a subsidiary of FireEye -- investigations in the region in 2015 and examined the latest cyber trends and tactics threat actors used to compromise businesses and steal data.

Most breaches in the Asia Pacific region never became public. Unlike in markets with greater security maturity such as the US, most governments and industry governing bodies lack effective breach disclosure laws. According to the findings, the Asia-Pacific organisations are often unprepared to identify and respond to breaches. They cannot defend their networks from attackers because they frequently lack basic response processes and plans, threat intelligence, technology and expertise.

Determined attackers can do significant damage. It is imperative that organisations bring together the threat intelligence, technology and expertise necessary to effectively combat these threats, Raman noted. While the RBI's cybersecurity framework, released in June this year, has emphasised the need for banks to develop a cyber crisis management plan and prepare for zero-day attacks, remote access threats and targeted attacks, other industry sectors in India do not have similar guidelines, the FireEye executive commented. FireEye's earlier research showed that about 24 percent of Indian organisations were exposed to advanced threats, compared to 15 percent globally.

IANS
Anirudh Regidi

A designer pops down to India and decides that he wants to create a mobile workshop to help disseminate the Maker spirit. He builds said mobile workshop. We go to check it out, as well as the people who helped him do it. In the process we stumble upon a creative community unlike any we've encountered before.

If that sounds like a fun way to pass the time, read on.

Mumbais Makers Asylum is located in Andheri (East), a stones throw from the Passport Seva Kendra over there. Its an out of the way place, I know, but more importantly, its packed to the gills with equipment (3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking tools, etc.) and people willing to help you learn to make things.

The aforementioned mobile workshop, called Makers Auto, was parked outside the place. Its a regular auto-rickshaw, the type you see plying the streets around you every day, but this one has a few tricks up its sleeve. Coby Unger, a designer whos worked with the likes of Instructables and Autodesk, is the man responsible for the auto.

Unger is quick to point out that it wasnt entirely his idea and that his team were heavily involved in the ideation and creation of the vehicle.

The idea behind the Makers Auto was to create a mobile platform for conducting workshops on public art, design thinking, collaborative hacking and making. Why an auto? Unger says its because auto-rickshaws are a culturally significant part of India and the symbolism mattered.

Makers Asylum acquired an auto-rickshaw, stripped out the rear, modified the chassis and built a kind of tool rack on the back. They added gull-wing doors (they look really cool on an auto-rickshaw, by the way) and threw an assortment of regular and power tools into the racks.

The Makers Auto was meant to travel to various parts of Maharashtra, spreading the Maker spirit and igniting young minds. That was the dream anyway.

The reality of liaising with RTO officers, security concerns and myriad issues has hampered progress, but Unger and Rodrigues assure us that they are working hard to get the project on our streets as soon as possible. Unger also adds that they expect to have the Auto on the road by early next month and that the Auto will be handed over to the Maker's Asylum team soon.

The red tape is a minor setback, but it's nothing that warrants concern. Maker culture is, after all, about learning-through-doing in a social environment.

When asked about the commercial benefits of the project, Rodrigues explains that the Makers Asylum isnt a place thats been set up to make money; its a place where people come to make things, and to learn to make things. Thats all.

Autodesk had a large part to play in getting the Makers Auto project off the ground and theyre also a big part of the Maker movement themselves. Pradeep Nair, Managing Director of Autodesk India and SAARC Operations, told us that Autodesk is a part of the Maker movement because Autodesk is a company that likes to help people make things. Their software enables this, and theyre willing to support any initiative that propagates that spirit.

The Maker movement, Autodesk and their other partners want to democratise technology by enabling innovation and indulging creativity. The Makers Asylum and Makers Auto seem like as good a place to start as any.

Makers Asylum is essentially a makerspace. As Wikipedia puts it, its a community-operated workspace where people with common interests, often in computers, machining, technology, science, digital art or electronic art, can meet, socialize and collaborate.

To be a part of the Maker community and to take advantage of all that the Makers Asylum has to offer, one must take a membership. Full details can be found here and Ill tell you right now, given the potential of whats on offer, those fees are more than justified. Students even get a discount.

So what are you waiting for? Start making!

Editor's Note: The article originally stated that the Maker's Auto project failed to achieve its target and that it could be considered to be a failure. The Maker's Asylum team has assured us that this is far from the truth and that they fully intend to have the Auto on the streets as soon as possible. The article has been updated accordingly.
hidden

Global messaging service WhatsApp says it will start sharing the phone numbers of its users with Facebook, its parent company. That means WhatsApp users could soon start seeing more targeted ads on Facebook although not on the messaging service itself. The move is a subtle but significant shift for WhatsApp, which has long promised to safeguard the privacy of more than 1 billion users around the world. WhatsApp is giving users a limited time to opt out of sharing their information with Facebook, although they must take the extra step of unchecking a box to do so. It also says Facebook wont post phone numbers online or give them out to anyone.

But the giant social network has been looking for ways to make money from WhatsApp since it bought the service two years ago, in an eye-popping deal ultimately worth $21.8 billion. At the same time, Facebook has pledged not to interfere with a longstanding promise by WhatsApps co-founders to respect users privacy and keep ads off its messaging platform. WhatsApp on Thursday offered a glimpse of its plans for turning on the money spigot, releasing new documents that describe the companys privacy policy and the terms of service that users must agree to follow. The documents are the first revision of those policies since 2012, before Facebook acquired WhatsApp.

One change follows through on previous hints by WhatsApp executives, who have said theyre exploring ways for businesses to communicate with customers on WhatsApp. That could include using WhatsApp to provide receipts, confirm a reservation or update the status of a delivery. Companies could also send marketing offers or messages about sales to individual customers, according to the new documents, which note that users will be able to control or block such messages. WhatsApp says it will continue to bar traditional display ads from its service.

We do not want you to have a spammy experience, the company tells users in a summary of the new policies. Another change is potentially more controversial- WhatsApp says it will begin coordinating accounts with Facebook by sharing WhatsApp users mobile phone numbers and device information, such as the type of operating system and other smartphone characteristics. The company says Facebook will employ the phone number internally to better identify WhatsApp users on Facebook, so it can recommend friends or show targeted advertising.

The ads would come through a Facebook programme called Custom Audiences, which lets a business upload lists of customers and phone numbers or other contact information the business has collected from warranty cards or other sources. Facebook matches the list to users with the same information and shows them ads. Facebook says it doesnt give out users information to advertisers.

WhatsApp phone numbers are valuable to Facebook. While the social network already has many phone numbers, it doesnt require users to provide them, and doesnt always have the most current number for everyone on Facebook. But anyone on WhatsApp must provide a current phone number because thats how WhatsApp knows where to deliver messages.

The coordination of accounts may draw fire from privacy advocates. WhatsApp has long promised not to employ user data for advertising. Its acquisition by Facebook two years ago sparked complaints from activists who worried the new owner would start mining WhatsApp accounts. Though both companies pledged WhatsApp would operate separately from its parent, the Federal Trade Commission warned them publicly, in a 2014 letter, against changing how they employ WhatsApp user data without users consent.

WhatsApp says current users have up to 30 days to accept the new policy terms or stop using the service. Once they accept, they have 30 more days to opt out of sharing with Facebook. Privacy groups have praised WhatsApp for building powerful encryption into its services, making it impossible for the company or anyone else to read users messages. WhatsApp promises that encryption will remain, so neither WhatsApp nor Facebook would be able to use message content for advertising purposes.

Associated Press
Kingston is a well-known computer memory brand manufacturer. Though they arent purely into memory chips, they do support computer related products like headphones, gaming sponsorships and the like.

Today we have Kingstons HyperX Cloud Core headset for review. We werent particularly keen at first noting our lustreless experience with the previous Cloud Drone headset. However, the Cloud Core headset is higher up in the ladder and looks a lot more interesting.

Build and Design: 8.5/10

The headset is really sturdy. The all metal frame is made of lightweight aluminium and can take a lot of beating.

The lightweight design and memory foam on the headband as well as the leatherette ear cushions are very comfortable, certainly a lot more than the original Audio Technica M50. Funnily, the M50 weighs a little lesser but feels a lot heavier than this headset. It speaks volumes of the weight distribution and design.

In the box, you get the headset with a shorter 1m cable that can be plugged directly into a laptop or used as a phone headset, a detachable mic, and a long 2m cable extension for desktops with separate mic and headphones capability. It is a thoughtful package that covers the essentials well. All cables are sturdy braided ones that dont entangle at all and can stand a lot of pulling and tugging.

Performance: 8.5/10

The performance was tested on a Windows 10 desktop with onboard audio for the mic, for music with FiiO Q1 DAC + Amp and with/without DFX Audio enhancer. For gaming, Steam was used with multiplayer and co-op games.

From the gaming standpoint

The HyperX Cloud Core headset has very good sound. It does have a good wide soundstage to pick out those footsteps easier, though not as good as an open-ended headphone. The gun shots, the booms, and the voices all sounded really good and clean.

From the Music Standpoint

The headset is on the warmer side and sounds wonderful. It is well-balanced without skewing towards bass for cheap thrills.

Objectively, the HyperX Cloud Core has enough bass but not too heavy and neither does it lean far too much towards mids (previous model HyperX Cloud Drone did). The highs arent sibilant and mids dont feel too recessed. Soundstage is wide for a closed cup design.

Subjectively, I was impressed by the sound for the price and that too in a headset. Many headsets love to boost the bass to sound boomy and gimmicky but not the HyperX Cloud Core. I liked the sound and the lightness more than my very own old trusty Audio Technica M50 (which are studio monitoring class). Quite the shocker for me. Also, the M50s do tend to lean a little more towards bass but not this headset. The M50 does have a narrow soundstage causing the music to come all from one spatial space whereas the Cloud Core has a much better soundstage.

Voice quality: 7.5/10

I loved the fact that the mic is detachable and can be easily manoeuvred towards your mouth, below or away as you deem fit.

The quality is good, the mic catches all sounds including background noise, though sound cards nowadays use noise suppression to minimise the effect. Overall, listening to other players over the headset and more importantly, other players had no issue with the quality of the voice output. Though none of the players mentioned as to whether there was a change in quality, just a little louder due to the better positioning of the headset. Dont expect the mic in this cost to be of excellent quality, it is typically average but gets the job done well.

Im a bit concerned with the detachable 3.5mm connector for mic as well as extendable cable, as experience has shown over time, these tend to get loose and cause static pop issues. However, there is no way to verify this during testing but something to be aware of nonetheless.

Verdict and Price in India

This headset is a solid recommend. For a street price of Rs 3,600, you cannot get a better one at all. The entire Kingstons HyperX Cloud line other than the 40mm Drone headset has the same awesome sound quality though with varying prices due to differences such as 7.1 sound card in the Cloud II headset.

Apparently, the sound performance should be of no surprise, the HyperX Cloud line is based on the famous QPAD gaming headsets. The styling, the looks, and the sound are all the same! The interesting bit is that QPAD headsets arent available in India at all, however, with Kingston merrily rebranding these we have no reason to complain and that too with a solid two-year warranty. This indeed is a good deal.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
tech2 News Staff

Zurich will be hosting 30 international startups for Kickstart Accelerator, which is an initiative of DigitalZurich2025. The startups selected will be meeting the programmes 25 corporate partners and mentors including French multinational insurance firm AXA, Swiss multinational financial services companies Credit Suisse, among others.

The startups have been picked from about 850 applicants, and the 11 week program will help them develop their ideas and products. These products are across categories: Fintech, Smart & Connected Machines, Future and Emerging Technologies and Food.

Marco Abele, Head of Digitalisation, Credit Suisse, says, The Kickstart Accelerator initiative shows that companies across different industries in Switzerland want to join forces to drive forward the digitalisation process. Credit Suisse has a strong tradition of innovation  from when the bank was first established to the more recent launch of a wide variety of new products. We are convinced that the close dialogue and collaboration between the startups and companies participating in Kickstart Accelerator during this three-month programme and beyond will have a positive impact on both sides.

When we support corporate clients on their digital transformation, they are often surprised by the complexity and level of integration that they need to consider, said Marcel Stalder, CEO of EY Switzerland.

The accelerator will be operated by Impact Hub Zurich, a part of the largest international network of entrepreneurship and innovation centres. The official opening is to take place at ewz-Unterwerk Selnau, the old transformer station in the city centre which has been specially renovated for Kickstart.

As part of the accelerator, the participating companies will get the opportunity of Proof of Concept trial with one of the corporate partners to test practical application and scalability of their products in a working and demanding corporate environment.

Partnering with the selected startups for a Proof of Concept will be mutually beneficial for the participating startups and corporates; the startups will receive valuable input as they look to finalise their products and will get a sense of the relevance of their offering. The corporates will be able to test new services and alternative processes in real-life situations, in a way similar to parallel prototyping, which is less disruptive than implementing one big transformation, Stalder continued.

Kickstart aims to bring the best international startups to Switzerland by building bridges between the strong corporate network that Switzerland has to offer and innovative, disruptive startups worldwide, says the press release. Kickstart will not be taking any equity from those startups participating in the programme. In fact, it will be providing up to 25,000 Swiss francs to each startup in grant-funding, a monthly founder stipend, and masterclass sessions with mentors.

Stephan Kuester, Managing Director, DigitalZurich2025 commented, We believe the Kickstart Accelerator programme can help by making critical connections: providing established organisations with access to the digital talent they desire and start-up pioneers with the access to funding, infrastructure and market access that too often can be out of reach. For us, Kickstart is an important building block as we work towards connecting the old and the new, for innovation, for better business, and for sustainable growth for the Swiss economy and society at large.

The programme was launched on 22nd August and a mid-term Demo Day is on 21 September, and the closing event taking place on 4 November.
Whoopi Goldberg is looking to take her menstrual marijuana business north of the border.

Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ran on a platform which included marijuana legalization. As of now, Canada is set to make weed legal in 2017. Goldberg, most known for Sister Act and currently hosting The View, is aiming to jump on the legalization train. She wants to take her medical marijuana company Whoopi & Maya across the border and sell products in Canada.

Whoopi & Mayas current line contains marijuana-infused body rubs, bath salts, and THC Tincture. Goldberg told the Canadian Press it wont be easy to launch her product in Canada without overcoming some hurdles, but admitted were just getting our toenails wet

Goldberg was complimentary of Trudeau calling the 44-year-old smart.

Your new guy is so smart  young baby Trudeau, Goldberg said. Hes so smart at this. I just want to make sure that were talking to people so that we can bring our product.

There will be challenges for Goldberg and her business partner to overcome since marijuana wont be legalized in Canada until sometime next year and theyre an American brand. However, looking at options now and planning ahead of time is a smart way to get themselves familiar with the market and be ready to launch in Canada when the appropriate time comes.

Goldberg knows cannabis will be great for the economy and wants in on the action. Shes a shrewd businesswoman.

[Canadian Press]
Italy quake death toll nears 250 as rescuers search demolished towns

The interior of an house is seen in Amatrice, following an earthquake, central Italy, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Reuters, Italy : The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy reached at least 241 people on Thursday and could rise further after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns. The 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome early on Wednesday as people slept, destroying hundreds of homes. The Civil Protection department officially revised the death toll down to 241 from a previous 247 given earlier on Thursday morning. Officials said they expected to confirm more deaths as the search operation continued. Trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes, including one in which a dusty doll could be seen lying on top of tonnes of debris. On Thursday, the sun rose on frightened people who had slept in cars or tents, the earth continuing to tremble under their feet from aftershocks, hundreds of which have struck since the quake. Two registered 5.1 and 5.4, just before dawn. "I haven't slept much because I was really afraid," said 70-year-old Arturo Onesi from the town of Arquata del Tronto, who spent the night in a tent camp for survivors and rescue workers. The earthquake was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, both more than 220 km (135 miles) from the epicenter. Many of those killed or injured were holidaymakers in the four worst-hit towns - Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli - where populations increase by up to tenfold in the summer. That makes it harder to track the deaths. One Spaniard, five Romanians, and a number of other foreigners, some of them care-givers for the elderly, were believed to be among the dead, officials said. Aerial video taken by drones showed swathes of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, completely flattened. The town, known across Italy and beyond for a local pasta dish, had been filling up for the 50th edition of a popular food festival this weekend. The mayor said the bodies of 15-20 tourists were believed to be under the rubble of the Hotel Roma, which he said had about 32 guests when it collapsed on Wednesday morning. GIRL FOUND ALIVE About 270 people injured in Wednesday's quake were hospitalized, the Civil Protection department said, adding that about 5,000 people, including police, firefighters, army troops and volunteers, were involved in post-quake operations. Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her alive from the rubble where she had lain for about 15 hours. Many other children were not so lucky. A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when a church bell tower toppled into their house in nearby Accumoli. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's cabinet was meeting on Thursday to decide emergency measures to help the affected communities. "Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction," he told reporters late on Wednesday. The death toll appeared likely to rival or surpass that from the last major earthquake to strike Italy, which killed more than 300 people in the central city of L'Aquila in 2009. While hopes of finding more people alive diminished by the hour, firefighters' spokesman Luca Cari recalled that survivors were found in L'Aquila up to 72 hours after that quake. Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio bearing the brunt of the damage and the biggest toll. Neighboring Umbria was also affected. All three regions are dotted with centuries-old buildings susceptible to earthquakes. Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe. The country's most deadly earthquake 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 Antonella Cinelli, Giulia Segreti and Roberto Mignucci; Writing by Philip Pullella; Editing by Pravin Char and Peter Graff)
More Turkish tanks head to Syria after IS-held town seized

China military providing medical training for Syria

A Turkish tank heads towards the Syria border as Turkey launched operation \"Euphrates Shield\" aimed at ridding the area of Islamic State (IS) extremists.

AFP, Karkamis :At least 10 more Turkish tanks on Thursday crossed the border into Syria a day after pro-Ankara Syrian opposition fighters ousted jihadists from the town of Jarabulus in a lightning operation.The tanks were set to join those which had crossed the frontier on Wednesday in the so-called Operation Euphrates Shield, which Turkey says aims at ridding the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and Kurdish militia.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the offensive had expelled IS from the Syrian town of Jarabulus, and pro-Ankara rebels reported the jihadists had retreated south to the town of Al-Bab.The new contingent of tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis, throwing up a cloud of dust in their wake before crossing the border, an AFP photographer said.They were then followed by around 10 armoured vehicles.The operation, the most ambitious launched by Turkey during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict, has seen Turkish special forces deployed on the ground and jet fighters striking IS targets.They are supporting a ground offensive by hundreds of Syrian rebels who on Wednesday marched into Jarabulus and a neighbouring village after meeting little resistance."Syrian opposition (fighters) settled in Jarabulus and have started to take control of the villages and towns," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Haberturk television in an interview.It was not immediately clear if the deployment of the new tanks on Thursday was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.But a Turkish official said on Wednesday that Ankara would "continue operations until we are convinced that imminent threats against the country's national security have been neutralised."Meanwhile, China's defence ministry today said it has been providing medical training for Syria, following a visit to the war-ravaged country last week by a senior Chinese officer.While relying on the region for oil supplies, China tends to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely the United States, Britain, France and Russia.But China has been trying to get more involved, including sending envoys to help push for a diplomatic resolution to the violence there and hosting Syrian government and opposition figures.Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Syrian Defence Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij in Damascus last week and discussed personnel training.
N Korea test-fires sub-launched missile close to Japan

AFP, Seoul :

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.

"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.
DIY disaster sends Australia's Woolworths to record loss

AFP, Canberra. :

Woolworths, Australia's biggest supermarket chain, has reported a record annual loss of A$1.2bn (690m), following its decision to quit the DIY market.

The company made a profit of A$2.1bn in the previous year.

The results were hit by a A$1.8bn write off from quitting its Masters hardware joint-venture with US firm Lowe's.

The retailer issued a series of profit warnings last year amid intense competition in the grocery market.

The financial year had been one of "unprecedented change for Woolworths", said chief executive Brad Banducci. The company's decisions had had a "material impact" on the results but were "necessary to begin the rebuilding of Woolworths", he added.

"We are seeing early signs of progress as we work to restore our competiveness and improve our culture in Australian food. We have also addressed significant issues facing the Group with the decision to exit Home Improvement and decisive action taken on BIG W [discount department store chain] to reposition the business," he said.

Mr Banducci took over earlier this year when his predecessor stepped down over the decision to abandon the controversial hardware venture.

Reform plans

On Wednesday, Woolworths announced it was quitting three of its home improvement businesses.

That decision is part of Mr Banducci's reform plans following on from February's announcement of the company's first half-year loss in 23 years.

Home Timber & Hardware is to be sold to smaller competitor Metcash.

All the Masters hardware stores will close by December and the properties sold to investor group Home Consortium.

Woolworths plans to concentrate on its supermarket business so it can compete more effectively against rival Coles, as well as discounters such as Aldi and Lidl - both relatively recent entrants to the Australian market.

"We expect trading conditions to remain highly competitive in (the coming financial year) but are confident that we have a clear plan and set of priorities," said Mr Banducci.

Shares in Woolworths jumped by more than 7% following the announcement.

Woolworths said it would pay a final dividend of 33 cents, down from 72 cents the previous year.
German business confidence falls post-Brexit

Business confidence in Europe's biggest economy, Germany, has fallen unexpectedly after the UK Brexit vote, according to a closely watched survey, reports BBC.

The Ifo business confidence index, based on about 7,000 company responses, fell to 106.2 points for August from 108.3 in July.

It was the steepest monthly fall in more than four years and took the index to its lowest since December 2014.

Despite the gloom, the euro was up slightly against the pound and dollar.

'Delayed reaction'

The latest drop follows a much smaller decline in confidence in July immediately after the UK voted to leave the EU.

Economist Carsten Brzeski at ING-DiBa said the ongoing decline "suggests that German businesses have suddenly woken up to Brexit reality".

"It is not the first time that the Ifo reacts with a delay of one or two months to global events," he said, adding that at present, the German economy remained in a "virtuous circle".

Across the sectors it examines, the Ifo found confidence had fallen in all but construction and services.

"The German economy has fallen into a summer slump," Ifo president Clemens Fuest said.

Other official figures released earlier this month showed the German economy grew 0.4% in the second quarter compared with the previous three-month period.

That was a slower pace than the 0.7% growth in the first quarter, but double what economists had expected.
Russian envoy calls on DU VC



Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Ignatov called on Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique on Tuesday at his office of the university.

He was accompanied by attache, of the embassy Anastasia Nemova.

During the meeting they discussed matters of mutual interest.

Russian Ambassador informed the vice-chancellor that Russia would give 500 rare books on various subjects including literature, culture, history and science to the university soon.

They also discussed ongoing joint collaborative academic and research programmes between Dhaka University (DU) and various universities in Russia.

Such collaboration especially with Nuclear Engineering Department of DU would be enhanced, Russian ambassador said.

Prof Arefin thanked the guests for their visit to the university and showing keen interest in its academic and research activities.




Countering violent extremism

Obi Anyadike :

A strategy that has its roots in counter-terrorism called Countering Violent Extremism, or CVE, is a massive growth area in the aid industry and has become an accepted component of a dizzying range of programmes. But what evidence is there that it works?

The breadth of what is included under CVE was outlined in the UN's plan of action presented by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in January. He made more than 70 recommendations for member states to include in national CVE programming, ranging from development policy initiatives, good governance, human rights, to youth empowerment, gender equality, and the role of social media.

And yet there is no consensus on what counts as "violent extremism". Naz Modirzadeh, director of the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict points out that Ban failed to provide a definition, and worries that as states and institutions "run headlong" into CVE programming much remains unclear.

"Policymakers should disaggregate even the most radical movements and look for opportunities to end violence"

"What is CVE? What isn't CVE? Is there sufficiently strong evidence upon which to base CVE approaches? What is lost by dedicating resources to CVE, and therefore away from other initiatives?" she wrote.

Extremism-proof One of the underlying assumptions of CVE is that societies can be extremism-proofed by providing jobs, public services, and education for all.

But J.M. Berger, an author and analyst studying extremism at George Washington University, doubts this premise.

"Decades of research have found that correlations between structural development factors (such as high unemployment or low levels of education) and terrorism are at best unclear and often contraindicated," he notes.

A "whole-of-society" approach to dealing with a problem of extremism that may engage less than one percent of the population seems extravagant. But CVE is increasingly where the donor money is; its lack of precision and squishy boundaries make it tempting to rebrand so many existing programmes and pet projects - from poverty alleviation to cultural exchanges - as now on the counter-terrorism frontline.

CVE has become rapidly institutionalised within national bureaucracies, and internationally through bodies like the Global Counterterrorism Forum, and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund. But the coherence problem means that among international partners there is no clear agreement on the alternative ideology to be promoted, and the charge of hypocrisy against the West and its allies is an ever-present marketing problem.

"Consider the coalition against ISIS (so-called Islamic State), which includes liberal democracies and authoritarian dictatorships, as well as conservative religious societies such as Saudi Arabia, where state-sponsored religious ideology is distinguished from ISIS perhaps most importantly by its lack of military adventurism," Berger points out.

Grievances

According to Rami Khouri at the American University of Beirut, the fight against extremism can be blind to the grievances that have stoked the violence, with the obvious example of the Middle East. Moreover, promoting well-intentioned messages of tolerance for fragile states to adopt may appear insincere when juxtaposed against the headlines chronicling deepening xenophobia in Western countries.

Be careful what you wish for

CVE initiatives stand or fall on the basis of the vitality of state-community relations. CVE is the "soft power" approach to counter-terrorism, but it is not always used gently by governments "to nurture relationships, build trust, and define shared objectives with community interlocutors", notes Peter Romaniuk of the Global Centre of Cooperative Security.

The embrace of a distrusted state can delegitimise moderate voices within the community; or conversely lead to missed opportunities for engagement with more radical elements. The perception that certain communities or minorities are being targeted can also be stigmatising.

Extremism is no crime. But there is a tendency to equate protest, rebellion, and radicalism as somehow related to the problem of "violent extremism". Yet even the most hardline groups have many in their ranks who have joined for a range of non-ideological reasons, and so much is still unknown about how and why people become radicalised.

"Policymakers should disaggregate even the most radical movements and look for opportunities to end violence, not lump others in with them," says a report by the International Crisis Group on al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Does CVE work?

CVE's definition problem is important. Is the goal to prevent violent behaviour by disengaging individuals from violent groups; or is it to inoculate people against radical thought, part of a grander counter-radicalisation social engineering project? The lack of clear parameters is one reason measuring CVE success is extremely hard.

But based on what evidence is publicly available, Romaniuk describes CVE as a "field that has risen to prominence in a manner disproportional to its achievements".

The first wave of CVE programming in the West was generally aimed at building community resilience to extremist ideas, and was inevitably a case of trial and error - with far more lessons on what not to do than examples of what worked.

"Encouraging governments towards inclusion and gradual reform is usually the most valuable contribution allies can make"

Increasingly, the "battle of ideas" approach is being dropped in favour of more individual-level interventions to address behavioural radicalisation. The evaluation of more recent initiatives will take time but, overall, the proof of CVE's worth remains thin.

"The record offers some pointers for more effective programming going forward but commends moderate expectations overall," is Romaniuk's careful wording.

No one can deny that tackling the grievances that underpin violent extremism is the right thing to do. Failures of governance, of opportunity, condemn so many to desperate, undignified lives. Resistance, with the intention of building a better future, can therefore seem to some an almost logical response. But the approach must also be measured, more carefully than it is now.

"Encouraging governments towards inclusion and gradual reform is usually the most valuable contribution allies can make to preventing crises that open opportunities for extremists," the ICG advises.

(Obi Anyadike is the Editor-at-Large, IRIN)


Strikers adamant

Cargo transports stop: Govt's meetings with vessel workers, owners fail

Water transport workers continue their strike for the 3rd consecutive day on Thursday to press home their demands leaving cargoes at different terminals stuck.

Staff Reporter :

The indefinite strike in the country's riverine routes continued for the third consecutive days on Thursday as strikers remained adamant to realise their demands, including enhance of their salaries.

Earlier in the day, a meeting between government officials and water vessel owners failed to get any solution to end the deadlock. To get a solution, the officials concerned of the Department of Labour sat with Vessel owners at Sramo Bhaban in the city to discuss the issue.

Officials said the meeting was called with a view to ending the ongoing deadlock situation in waterways transport where cargo transport is almost stopped at different rivers and sea ports.

Director of the Department of Labour SM Ashrafauzzaman said the owners have placed some proposals in the meeting. "At present, we are scrutinizing the proposals. We will sit with workers separately again to solve the problem," he said.

On Wednesday night, the Department of Labour sat in another meeting with the workers on the same issue. In the meeting, the vessel workers' leaders placed their 15-point demand, including hike of minimum wages.

Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan categorically blamed the vessel owners for the deadlock situation.

"It was planned to arrange a meeting between owners and workers where State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu was scheduled to be present. In the meeting, the workers' leaders took part but the owners did not attend it. As a result, we did not get any fruitful result. It's completely the owners' fault," the Minister said yesterday.

Official sources said the government had formed a committee headed by Secretary to the Labour Ministry following a strike called on April 24 by the vessel workers demanding to enhance their salary and wages. The concerned ministry also had fixed a salary structure. But two owners filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the government decision. Referring to the issue, Shipping Minister said: "Your [owners] earnings have increased, so the salary and wages of the workers must be enhanced." He, however, expressed dissatisfaction for enforcing the strike by the workers without any notice.

On the other hand, the leaders of vessel workers said it was not a strike; rather it's a work abstention.

But its impact was tremendous while all sorts of cargo and passenger vessels stopped plying from different southern districts, including Chandpur, Barisal and Bagerhat. Hundreds of passengers yesterday suffered due to shortage of launch. Besides, goods unloading at outer anchorage of Chittagong Port have remained suspended yesterday also.

Inspector [River Vessel] of Dhaka River Port Dinesh Kumar Saha yesterday said, "Only 22 launches arrived in Dhaka and only six launches left the terminal.'

President of River Vessel Workers' Federation Md Shah Alam said the strike will continue until their demands are fulfilled. The launches those now running in the riverine routes are not linked with worker's federation, he claimed.

The water transport workers went on indefinite work abstention across the country at 12:01 am on Tuesday to press home their 15-point demands including --a minimum monthly wage of Tk 10,000 for workers, increase in overtime pay, festival bonuses and other benefits, ensuring security and maintaining navigability on waterways.
Trump's Russia connection backfires

Abu Hena :

On Friday,22 August, Donald Trump, Republican presidential nominee released his first campaign ad, featuring an image of a polling site with the word "rigged". U.S. election law officials have expressed concern that Trump's incendiary word will create a self-fulfilling prophesy. "It went from being laughable to be what I consider to be dangerous", said Richard L. Hasen, a professor and election expert at the University of California, School of Law. Prof. Hasen said that while it initially seemed Donald Trump was seeking an early scapegoat for a possible loss, his language had turned darker. The ad came two years after Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea and began preparing for yet another military confrontation with the pro-Western government of Ukraine. Over the past weeks Russia had deployed additional military forces and weapons near Ukraine's borders creating threat of a crisis and causing tensions. Then on Ukraine's Independence Day, fighting broke out between the Ukrainian forces and Russian backed separatists in the East, killing 13 Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian President condemned Russian shelling saying ,"Putin wants whole Ukraine". With Europe focused on a refugee crisis and Britain's exit from the EU, and America riveted by a presidential election, this is the opportune moment for Putin to raise the threat of a wider conflagration to achieve economic and political goals. The Obama administration has already made serious concessions to the Russian President on Syria's civil war and now for obvious reasons Kremlin has chosen this time to destabilize and covertly weaken the United States.

The "Gerasimov doctrine" holds that modern conflicts are not waged with guns so much as by dirty tricks. " In practice", says Russian analyst Konstantin Sivkov,"You can say that hybrid warfare can be successful when the opponent's political system is unstable." By that standard, the U.S. presidential election presents both a fitting target and a satisfying spectacle. Putin's antipathy for Hillary Clinton is a matter of record. He publicly blamed her, then Secretary of State, for encouraging the massive street protests against him in Moscow in 2011. Now Russia came back with a dirty trick by posting nearly 20,000 DNC emails, some acutely embarrassing to Clinton. Her campaign sustained most of the initial damage. But the cyber-war, "equivalent of an armor-piercing shell" has clearly exposed Donald Trump's insidious Kremlin connection. There are similarities between the foreign policy priorities of Putin and Trump. "Trump presents a different narrative, which in many ways corresponds to what Putin has always said," notes Fyodor Lukyanov,a Russian expert on foreign policy, with close ties with Kremlin. " So yes, people here view his chances , at the very least, with a certain level of interest."

Trump has pointedly refused to say that he will honor the NATO charter and guarantee U.S. support for countries like Estonia - a fellow NATO member that borders Russia-were the Baltic nation to come under military attack by Moscow. During the Republican Convention trump aides watered down language that originally called for "providing lethal defensive weapons" to Ukrainians fighting Russian forces. The softer language inserted by the Trump campaign called for "appropriate assistance". In the wake of a resurgence of Russia after the cold war debacle, Trump appears to have developed link with Vladimir Putin back in 2013, when announcing the Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow he asked ,"Do you think Putin will be goingif so, will he become my new best friend?" Trump has maintained his trademark pro- Kremlin stand while most Americans are alarmed by mounting evidence that a foreign power penetrated and pillaged one of the nation's major political parties. The latest Russian hacking took place in the New York Times, currently under investigation by FBI. U.S. officials are convinced that Russia was behind the cyber-war. Experts inside Russia acknowledge that the Kremlin has the capability to root through the files of the Democratic Party, and worse.

Putin will be interested to create a nightmare situation by producing some miraculous election results on 8 November. Russia has the capability to hack the ballots, and U.S. experts believe they are certainly probing in a very active way the vulnerabilities as the Election Day approaches .That's a dangerous possibility and any tilting of the scales would just be a bonus for Russia and a great damage to the United States ."The Kremlin team does take pleasure, as does the Russian establishment more generally, in Trump's brutality," says Gleb Pavlovsky, Putin's one time political adviser. "The fact that this brutality is not directed at Russia is enjoyable in itself." Instead, Trump's brutality is directed against Hillary Clinton, Secretary John Kerry currently negotiating with Russia, the U.S. democracy and its citizens.

Trump relies on aides who are deeply involved in Russian affairs, almost giving the impression that they had undergone the Russian vetting. One of his campaign advisers, Carter Page, was an adviser to Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy goliath. His former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was a strategist for Putin's puppet, former Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovych , who was overthrown by a popular movement in 2014 and now lives under his protection in Moscow. The fact that he received $12.7 million from Yanukovych proves that he had more shady Russian connections than a James Bond villain. Trump's new CEO Steve Bannon is known as the "Most Dangerous Man in America ."He made his former Breitbart a white nationalist manifesto. Yet Trump's support among white men, the linchpin of his presidential campaign, is showing surprising signs of weaknesses that could foreclose his only remaining path of victory in November, reports the NYT. "This is an electoral disaster waiting to happen," said Whit Ayres, who has advised Republican presidential candidates for 25 years .Two national polls have recently put his support from African-Americans at an astonishing 1 percent. The latest poll of Latinos, conducted by Fox News left Trump with just 20 percent support .The most recent ABC News/Washington Post/Reuter poll of registered voters had Clinton beating Trump in a nationwide race, 50 percent to 42 percent. Still there are American apprehensions that Russia could steal the White House using cyber-weapons and helping Donald Trump win.

[Writer was elected MP in the 7th and the 8th Parliaments]


More SUST students involved with militancy

M M Jasim :

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has reportedly become an important place for carrying out militant activities.

Several students have been arrested in the last two months by the law enforcing agencies on charge of their alleged involvement in the militancy activities.

At the latest, two students of the university were arrested in connection with the militancy on Thursday.

The students have been identified as Rokonuzzaman Rana, a fourth-year student of Petroleum and Mining Engineering (PME) Department, and Mehedy Hasan Tuhin, a second-year student of Industrial Production Engineering (IPE) Department. Students Welfare Adviser of the university Professor Rashed Talukder said a team of law enforcers wearing plain clothes arrested the two students after informing the university authorities. Rana was arrested from Tapoban residential area and Tuhin from Surma residential area of Akhalia in the city in the afternoon, Rashed Talukder said.

On August 18, the police arrested Sadman Abedin, a fourth year Computer Science and Engineering Department of SUST from the campus for his suspected links with militancy.

On August 3, police arrested Iffat Ahmed Chowdhury, a fourth year student of Industrial and Production Engineering Department (IPE) for his alleged involvement with militancy.

On July 18, a team of police's Counterterrorism unit arrested Abdul Aziz, a student of Industrial and Production Engineering Department.

The police also arrested Jewel Ahmed, a masters student of the university for the same reason.

Police claimed that Abdul Aziz was the SUST coordinator of the militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) at Sust and Jewel Ahmed an active member of Hijb-ut-Tahrir.

The details of Iffat and Sadman were not revealed, but all four are in custody now.

Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Professor Abdul Mannan told The New Nation on Thursday that the involvement of the SUST students in militancy is regrettable and matter of deep thinking.

"The militancy is not the problem of the country's public and private universities. It is the 'generation problem.' Earlier, we blamed the teachers and the students of madrasas. But now we see that the students from affluent families are getting involved in militancy activities. Only social awareness can prevent the militancy and protect the young generation from this curse," Professor Mannan said.

"We have asked the public and private university authorities to form anti-militancy monitoring team to combat it. I know the SUST authorities formed a monitoring team and have been working in this regard," he said.

The UGC Chairman also thanked the law enforcing agencies for their relentless drives to nab the militants and requested to continue it in the interest of the country.


BD, KSA further military coop stressed

UNB, Dhaka :

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have underscored the importance of further strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

The emphasis came when visiting Saudi Deputy Minister of Defence Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Aish paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban here on Thursday morning.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said various aspects of cooperation in different sectors, including defence, came up for discussions at the meeting.

They expressed happiness at the state of cooperation between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia right now.

"We would like to move ahead further for boosting military cooperation, and there could be high-level visits of defence personnel between the two brotherly countries," the Saudi deputy minister was quoted as telling the Prime Minister. Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh's commitment protecting the two holy mosques of Saudi Arabia. "We would extend all sorts of cooperation for protecting of the Masjid-Al Haram in Makkah and Masjid-e-Nababi in Madina," she said. Describing Saudi Arabia as a great friend of Bangladesh, Hasina said Saudi Arabia has a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshi people.

The Prime Minister said her government is actively considering the Saudi request

for participating in the development of Saudi defence infrastructures like mine sweeping, construction of military barracks, airfields and bunkers. When the Saudi Deputy Minister said his country wants to protect its border, Hasina said there is an academy of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) through which the Saudi border guards could be provided training.

The Saudi deputy minister also sought Bangladesh's technical cooperation for the development Saudi Air Force. Referring to the development and construction of roads and bridges in hilly region by the army personnel, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has enough experts to construct such roads and Saudi Arabia could utilise them in building such roads and other infrastructures in their country.

Hasina conveyed her greetings to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz through the Saudi deputy minister.

Abdullah Al-Aish also recalled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Mahfuzur Rahman, military secretary Mian Mohammad Jainul Abedin, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Masih and Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka Abdullah HM Al Mutairi were present.
JCD procession attacked by BCL men: 7 hurt

Jhenaidah Correspondent :A procession of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) was allegedly attacked by the activists of the ruling Awami Leaguebacked Bangladesh Chhatra League in Jhenaidah town on Thursday noon, leaving seven JCD activists injured.The injured were district unit Joint Convener Mostaque Ahmed, Municipal Unit President Abidur Rahman Nayan, Vice-President Proloy Hossain, Government College unit President Abdus Samad, Upazila unit Vice-President Daud Hossain, activists Sohanur Rahman, Rahmat Ali and Sakib Hossain.JCD Jhenaidah district unit Joint-Convener Mostaque Ahmed said, they brought out a protest procession at the Post Office intersection of the district town on Thursday morning to censure the arrest-warrant against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Just then, some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League swooped on the rally and injured seven of the JCD workers without any instigation. Mostaque said, as a part of the central programme of the JCD, they were demonstrating on Thursday morning at about 11.30 am. When the rally arrived at KP Bashu Road of the district town, police intercepted them. When the JCD men were delivering speech at the meeting, the activists of BCL attacked them with sticks and brickbats without any provocation. The injured JCD activists were given first aid in different clinics. When contacted Assistant Superintendent of Jhenaidah Police Gopinath Kanjilal expressed his ignorance in this regard. He added that they would look into the matter.
Aman, Azam step down from BNP's local body

Staff Reporter :

BNP Chairperson's advisers Amanullah Aman and Ahmed Azam Khan have stepped down from their posts.

To fulfill the party's latest decision that one leader should not be allowed more than one post, the leaders have stepped down from the local body posts.

Amanullah Aman stepped down from the post of General Secretary of Dhaka district BNP unit, while Azam from President of Tangail district unit.

They submitted their resignation letters to party chief Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday night.

They have been made members of BNP chairperson's advisory council member in recently formed central committee.

Earlier, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also stepped down from the post of the party's Thakurgaon district unit President as he was made BNP's Secretary General.

The party's senior leader Md Shahjahan also resigned from Noakhali district BNP unit President post as he was made a Vice Chairman of the party.

BNP in its council held on March 19 amended its charter incorporating a provision that one leader will get only one post.
Bangabandhu murder case plaintiff Mohitul dead

Staff Reporter :The plaintiff of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, AFM Mohitul Islam, died at the age of 63 on Thursday.Mohitul, a Receptionist-cum-Resident Personal Assistant of Bangabandhu, breathed his last in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at 2:55 pm. Mohitul Islam left behind his wife, a daughter and a host of relatives, admirers and friends to mourn his death.Family sources said that the body had been kept in the ICU unit as his burial plan was yet to be finalized. "No decision has been taken about his burial as yet", Asifur Rahman, a grandson of Mohitul said. President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Law Minister Anisul Huq mourned the death of Mohitul Islam and conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family. They also prayed for salvation of his departed soul. Mohitul Islam was admitted to the BSMMU in May with kidney complications. Since then, he was in the intensive care.He could also not be taken abroad for better treatment because of his critical health condition.Doctors said that his kidneys needed repeated dialysis. The infection in his lungs was also critical. His brain, too, was also becoming dysfunctional in the end.Mohitul Islam was the then Resident PA of the then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the key witness to his assassination by a group of misguided army officers on August 15, 1975.He lodged the murder complaint with Dhanmandi police station. The delayed trial process began after Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina returned to power in 1996 general elections and scrapped the infamous Indemnity Act which until then protected the killers from justice.Mohitul also appeared as the plaintiff or key-witness to the trial while his testimony set the course of the case.After trial, five of the killers of the Bangabandhu were executed in January 2010.Six others are still hiding execution as they are living abroad, but no significant headway is visible in the government's efforts to bring them back.
Trump calls Hillary a 'bigot'

BBC Online :Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of being a "bigot" in his latest appeal to minority voters.Speaking at a Mississippi rally, he said his opponent "sees people of colour only as votes not as human beings worthy of a better future". Mr Trump added that Mrs Clinton and the Democratic party had taken advantage of the African-American community.Mrs Clinton fired back, saying "he is taking a hate movement mainstream". The Democratic presidential nominee called out Mr Trump for questioning the citizenship of President Barack Obama and for failing to disavow former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, adding that he was "peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia". Mr Trump took aim at Mrs Clinton during a campaign stop in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday, where he was joined by Britain's outgoing UKIP leader Nigel Farage.Mr Farage, who is viewed as a major force behind the UK's exit from the EU, told Trump supporters to "get your walking boots on" and begin campaigning. In recent days, Mr Trump has attempted to court African-Americans after failing to gain support among this key voting bloc.Only about 2% of black voters say they will vote for the New York businessman, according to current polls.It's a standard part of the American political playbook not just to try to exploit your campaign opponent's weaknesses, but also to diminish his or her perceived strengths. George W Bush adviser Karl Rove mastered this manoeuvre, best displayed in the 2004 attacks against John Kerry, a decorated veteran, for his Vietnam military service. So it's not exactly stunning that Donald Trump is attempting to undermine what a bedrock of Hillary Clinton's campaign - her support among minority voters, particularly blacks.The trick, however, is there has to be some appearance of substance behind the charges for them to stick. The reason Kerry was so damaged in 2004 was because the hits came from his fellow veterans and not Mr Bush.Mr Trump's calling Mrs Clinton a bigot in a few speeches will likely bounce of the Democratic nominee if that's all there is. A wealthy - white - New York billionaire telling blacks how terrible their lives are under Democrats is just not likely fly. Indeed, attempting to paint the Democratic Party as unconcerned with minority issues, when the party's rank-and-file is close to a majority minority and its top elected official, Barack Obama, is black is a very tough lift indeed. Last week, Mr Trump made a direct appeal to black voters during a rally in Michigan, where he told a nearly all-white crowd that African-Americans "are living in poverty" and "their schools are no good". In an unscripted plea, he added: "What do you have to lose?"
Two anti-terrorism tribunals soon

Md Joynal Abedin Khan :

The members of the different law enforcing agencies have almost successful in fighting against the terrorists and extremists after the recent series of attacks, mainly the Gulshan and Sholakia incidents.

The law enforcers have stepped up their all-out efforts to apprehend and bring to justice those who have declared war against the countrymen, intelligence sources said.

Meanwhile, the government has already finalized to form two anti-terrorism special tribunals to accelerate the judgment process and those will be set up in Dhaka and Chittagong, Law Ministry sources said.

They said at least 12 posts for the each tribunal were approved in a 'Secretariat Committee' meeting in the conference room of the Cabinet Division on August 9. The Law and Justice Division will publish a government order in this connection within a few days, they said.

Law and Justice Division Affairs Secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Md Jahirul Haque told reporters, "The tribunals will be formed to make delivery of judgment of the cases in connection with terrorism under the Anti-Terror Act in a short time."

He added that, district and session judges will lead the tribunals, the Secretary said.

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has launched its Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit on February 16 this year and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Monirul Islam has been made its chief.

The CTTC unit will have 600 members, including one DIG, one additional DIG, four deputy commissioners (DC), 10 additional DCs and 20 assistant commissioners.

The intelligence sources further said the militants and extremists are now changing their addresses to avoid the arrest by the law enforcers from the city to remote areas of the country.

The arrest of the terrorists and others miscreants is now a common phenomenon as the law enforcers have become more technical and skilled by taking different innovative steps, they added.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), AKM Shahidul Hoque, has told reporters at his office, "The security forces have almost succeeded to check militancy and their raids for apprehending those involved in terrorism and militancy."

He said, the law enforcers must show zero tolerance against militancy so that all plots to carry out militant attacks in the country can be thwarted.

Meanwhile, Police Headquarters instructed its field-level officials to take all-out measures to dismantle militant networks and prevent them from getting fresh recruits, the Home Ministry sources said.

They said, the Superintendents of Police of all the districts were given a list of 4,000 suspected militants in their areas and asked to hunt them down.

On July 26, the law enforcers confirmed shot dead of at least 9 militants by an-hour drive 'Operation Storm-26' in the city's Kallyanpur.

They also conducted a 13-minute commando drive called 'Operation Thunder Bolt' and rescued al least 13 people after 11-hours hostage in the Gulshan cafe where 20 people were killed.

Also the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 19,499 criminals since 2004. Of them, 1182 are terrorists and 617 JMB men.

Police have submitted final reports in 17 cases and charge sheets in 143 cases. In the charge sheets, 1,157 JMB leaders and activists have been made accused, according to an estimate of the Police Headquarters.
Sixty-two missing Bangladeshi fishermen, rescued by Indian Coast Guard from the Bay of Bengal, were returned to country along with two fishing trawlers by Bangladesh Naval Ship Prattaya and Kopotakkho.
Banks grappling with toxic loans

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

Banks are grappling with a vast pool of toxic loans as companies and borrowers fail to meet their pay back obligation in the wake of an adverse business climate.

This has significantly impacted on lending ability and profitability of the commercial banks, leaving a knock-on-effect on the economy, according to banking experts.

"The commercial banks are now dealing with huge amount of bad loans despite repeated large loan restructuring facility offered by the central bank," Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, told The New Nation on Friday.

He said aggressive lending is mainly responsible for the high level of toxic loans. This is weighing heavily on their financial health, crippling lending ability to new ventures and undermining economic growth.

"Despite central banks policies in recent years, the hangover of toxic debt is still persisting as companies and large borrowers struggle to pay off the money that they borrowed from their corresponding banks," he noted.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said even the borrowers are failing to meet their periodical pack back obligation, pushing up the overall defaulted loans at the banking system

Commercial banks reported a total of Tk 63,365 crore defaulted loans in their books at the end of June 30, up from the Tk 59,411 crore three months earlier, according to central bank statistics.

Banking experts said the total defaulted lons at the commercial banks could be more if the toxic loans were accommodated in their balance sheets.

"The defaulted-loan ratio at the country's commercial banks rose over the second quarter of 2016 as a slowing business climate has left many corporate borrowers struggling to repay old debt. This in turn pushed up banks' soured loans and ate their profitability," a senior executive of a public bank told The New Nation yesterday, requesting not to be named.

Defaulted loans accounted for 10.06 per cent of the total outstanding loans of commercial banks at the end of June 30, compared with the 9.92 per recorded at the end of March 31, showing 0.14 percentage points increase in such loans over three months.

In the second quarter (April-June), the default loan situation at six public banks deteriorated further rising by Tk 2,788 crore to Tk 30,077 crore.

Defaults accounts for 25.74 per cent of their total outstanding loans.

The default loans in private banks, in the second quarter, dropped by Tk 16 crore standing at Tk 25,315 crore or 5.44 per cent of their total outstanding loans.

"Banks are now under the surface of toxic loans that could sap the strength of an economy of a country like Bangladesh for years to come," Dr Ibrahim Khaled, former BB Deputy Governor told The New Nation yesterday.


MPs foreign tours with money from ministries destroying their oversight power

MEMBERS of Parliamentary Committees taking foreign tours with financial support of concerned Ministries are breaking moral discipline and weakening their watchdog function on such Ministries. At least 100 MPs of 15 committees so far traveled abroad 24 times over last two years highlighting widespread corruption at high places of the government. A Bangla daily reported on Thursday that these tours performed in the last two years were described as 'experience gathering' and 'learning tours.' But what experience they gathered or what useful purpose they served can't be found in the record of Parliament Secretariat or at concerned Ministries. It is known that Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury is skeptical about these tours of Parliamentary Committee members with fund collected from Ministries or their subordinate agencies such as RAJUK. In her view these are not justified but influence peddling, corruption and indiscipline are so rampant in our Parliamentary System that such tours are going non-stop. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith is reported to have sought cooperation of the Speaker to discourage foreign tour but so far in vain. Meanwhile those members who could not yet avail of foreign trips through committees are continuing pressure to concerned Ministries for funding. It is well known that Parliamentary Standing Committees are integral part in Parliamentary System of government. These committees are mandated to monitor the activities of concerned Ministry and ask to correct mistakes if there is any. Standing Committees also investigate irregularity and corruption in the concerned ministry and make recommendation. But if members of the committees take money from the Ministries for foreign tours their oversight capacity must become weak. They lose their moral strength to demand compliance. Thus the committees cannot perform their duty freely and rather working with the ministries to misuse funds of different development projects and thereby becoming rich overnight. In Parliamentary democracy like India and Britain there are separate policy for foreign tour of Parliamentary Committee members. In those countries Parliament members visit abroad with the fund of Parliament. Separate allocation is made in annual budget for the purpose. But no such system exists in Bangladesh to suggest that our Parliamentary System is not yet to become fully institutionalized in our country. In our Parliamentary System without any credible opposition in the House, MPs are free to misappropriate government funds and misuse their power. There is no accountability of any sort when their only job is to keep the government in power. We are afraid the intermingling of MPs with executive branch of the government is multiplying corruption and destroying oversight capacity of Parliament.
Guangxi Normal University Press singed a strategic agreement with Croatian publisher Djecja Knjiga at the Beijing International Book Fair. [Photo by Li Xianyang/China Daily]

Guangxi Normal University Press singed a strategic agreement with Croatian publisher Djecja Knjiga at the Beijing International Book Fair on Wednesday, marking another step to go global.

Djecja Knjiga, founded by Kasmir Huseinovic and Andrea Petrlik Huseinovic in 2006, is the largest professional publisher of children's books in Croatia.

GNUP agreed to set up a subsidiary Magic Elephant Books in Croatia in November and invite Kasmir Huseinovic to join it as the manager, said Liu Yang, founder of the Magic Elephant childrens books brand under GNUP.

Illustrator and writer Huseinovic will do the major creative work, said Liu.

"With Magic Elephant Books, GNUP will start a business of children's books in Europe," said Zhang Yibing, president of GNUP Group said.

The cooperation is the latest move for GNUP group to go global after it purchased Australia's Images Publishing Group in 2014 and Britain's The Antique Collectors' Club Publishing Group earlier this month.
The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
I may get paid for ads or purchases made through links in this post.

So are you in the mood for a blissful overdose of Vintage Rustic Charm? Check out some of my favorite Arizona Antique Stores!

On the hunt for the best antiques in Arizona? If youre in the mood to go junkin and load up on some fun vintage treasures, a visit to these 5 top Arizona Antique Stores is an absolute must!

Youll love be in vintage heaven hunting for your diamond in the rough

Arizona Antique Stores

Sweet Salvage

Location: 4648 N. 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85013 (sweetsalvage.net)

Open just one Thursday  Sunday per month, each vintage and antique home decor show is based on a certain theme. Check their Facebook page or Website (sweetsalvage.net) for more information on upcoming events.

Its classy, beautiful, and kind of like a little vintage heaven. Youre going to LOVE it it is definitely worth putting on your calendar!

Brass Armadillo

Location: 12419 N. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85029 (brassarmadillo.com)

The Brass Armadillo in Phoenix contains the largest collection of antique dealers in town that are all in one location  600 to be exact. This place is big, really big and there is always something to find.

Bring your walking shoes, something to drink (try the QuikTrip next door) and some free time. If you go slow, you can find some really cool stuff here.

My finds? Ive found two adorable vintage cameras, loads of antique books, and some really fun old coffee cans here.

Mesa Antique Plaza

Location: 114 W Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201 (antiqueplazamesa.com)

The Antique Plaza is the oldest Antique store in Mesa and houses over 150 antique dealers. Sometimes bigger is better when you get this kind of selection.

Some of our favorite finds here are 100+ year old books, rustic license plates and vintage coins. There is a lot more than that available, but hey, I am a Frugal Girl after all!

My finds? This is one of my favorite places to find old books for decorating. Ive found so many at really great prices here!

Theres a lot more to do than just antiquing in Phoenix, so be sure to check out even more of the Best Things to do in Phoenix Arizona

Be sure to also check out these Phoenix AZ Best Restaurants! {where to eat}

Get ready for some FREE fun in Phoenix with these Phoenix AZ Free Things To Do {What You Cant Afford to Miss!}

Here are even more fun Arizona travel tips

Best Sedona Travel Tips {8 Cant Miss Spots}

Before you head to Sedona, make sure you dont miss the best parts! Check out these best Sedona Travel Tips!

45 Grand Canyon Travel Tips You Cant Afford to Miss!

Plan your next trip to the Grand Canyon with these Grand Canyon Travel Tips for where to eat, play and stay!

37 Tucson Travel Tips  Best Things to do in Tucson Arizona

Dont miss the best parts of this beautiful city in the Sonoran Desert, read these Tucson Travel Tips before you go!

Winter Family Vacation Ideas {Epic Warm Destinations!}

Is it time to get out of the cold and score yourself some warm sunshine?

101 Frugal Travel Tips and Best Kept Secrets

Planning a vacation doesnt need to break the bank. Put these fun and Frugal Travel Tips to use to plan your next fabulous adventure!

So dont miss out! Follow along for more fun Travel Tips, Recipes + more with The Frugal Girls here

So do YOU enjoy antique shopping? What are some fun treasures youve found?

Leave a comment & share!
Wikimedia

Thousands of south Louisiana residents remain stuck in shelters, living in hotels or staying in the spare bedrooms of family and friends after flooding ravaged their homes, creating a housing crunch that may bring back temporary housing units like those that dotted the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

Just don't call it a FEMA trailer.

The much-maligned travel trailer that filled front yards and miles of vacant property in south Louisiana and Mississippi a decade ago became a symbol of everything that had gone wrong with the federal disaster response to the destructive 2005 hurricane. Families were crammed into tiny trailers that drew health worries after toxic levels of formaldehyde were found.

Gov. John Bel Edwards stressed that he prefers a quick way to make homes habitable to get residents back inside, though he acknowledged some sort of modular housing could be needed that people can set up in their yards while repairing flood-damaged property.

The Democratic governor plans to unveil a package of transitional housing programs Wednesday afternoon that his administration and the federal government have developed as an alternative for Louisiana's latest residents displaced by disaster.

The housing problems are widespread. Entire neighborhoods were inundated with water, making homes uninhabitable, filled with mildewed carpets and warped cabinets. People have spent days gutting houses, stripping out furniture, walls and flooring. But some houses still could take days or weeks to dry out  and repairs could take even longer.

Described as the worst disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, a storm that started Aug. 12 dumped as much as 2 feet of rain in some areas over two days, blamed for 13 deaths. Edwards estimated the flooding damaged more than 100,000 homes. About 2,600 people remained in shelters Wednesday, and more than 119,000 people have registered for federal aid.

Displaced by the flooding, Margaret Krumholt would welcome a trailer  or whatever type of mobile housing FEMA and the state want to offer  so her family could move back to their damaged property.

Krumholt, 46, and two of her children have been staying at a hotel in Hammond since their Denham Springs house flooded. Her husband is staying with his mother and the family's two dogs.

"We barely see each other. Our family is just kind of scattered right now," said Krumholt, in line at an aid distribution center outside of a flooded church where food, clothing and other supplies were being distributed.

Photo by Win Henderson/Wikimedia

President Obama toured the flood damage Tuesday and promised an effective and rapid federal response. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro will travel Thursday to Baton Rouge to meet staff working on recovery and survey flood damage. HUD has 24 disaster recovery and housing experts on the ground in the region.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate has pledged that any temporary housing units that will be offered are "much improved models" and "not the FEMA travel trailers" of old.

Earlier this year, FEMA unveiled what it described as "new and improved" trailers, eschewing the term trailer in favor of "manufactured housing units." The agency says the temporary housing  used in California after wildfires last year  meets tougher federal standards and is built to house storm victims much longer than the travel trailer used after Katrina.

Jessica Jones, 39, greeted the idea of a FEMA trailer without objection Wednesday. The single mother of three has been staying at her boss' home in Baton Rouge, with no long-term plans of where she'll go since her Livingston Parish home was damaged in the flooding.

"It's very important that we stay where we're at. I don't have a lot of family down here," she said.

Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry said he would appreciate the FEMA mobile homes in his city, where he estimates 90 percent of homes were damaged in the flooding. Landry said it will be crucial to get these mobile homes in place before schools begin to reopen.

"If we can put a family in some sort of a housing facility in their yard, at least it would give the children some sense of normalcy," he said. "I'm looking for every option where we can keep everybody here, keep our community together as much as we possibly can."

Kunzelman contributed to this story from Denham Springs.
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:
After spending a wonderful week in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, exploring both the quirky modern architecture, the ancient Ottoman cobbled streets and even attending a protest against the governmentwe wanted to escape the chaos of the city and have a true adventure in the Macedonia countryside. From the capital a day trip to Matka Canyon is a popular local adventure our hosts recommended to us. So we headed off on a short bus trip deep into this stunning gorge for a day to remember and a highlight of backpacking the Balkans and a perfect off the beaten track Europe spot.

Matka Canyon

Matka canyon is actually a man made gorge just to the west of Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. By man made what we mean is that the stunning lake that sits in this mountainous canyon is a result of the dam built right at the main entrance! The rest is a wonderful display of the beauty of nature and a real off the beaten track Europe highlight.

Steep peaks surround the waterside which can be traversed on the many constructed paths. Some take a gentle stroll clinging to the steep walls, whereas others require a strenuous hike up to the various vantage points dotted with centuries old monasteries! It is possible to do a Matka canyon tour but also unnecessary too, especially if you are backpacking the Balkans.

Matka canyon is a popular area for the capitals residents to escape the city and head to the hills for some adventure as well as those backpacking the Balkans. The sheers walls of the gorge are home to many rock climbing routes (if only we brought our gear!) as well as regular ferries, kayak, SUP hire and one of the worlds largest cave systems, hows that for off the beaten track Europe!

Built in 1935 the dam created the thin Matka lake that now covers a roadway used to travel through Macedonia, called the Road of Strength. Along this route many churches and monasteries where built to provide spiritual reflection to the rich merchants bringing goods to sell in Skopje.

The narrow Matka canyon is actually the oldest artificial lake in Macedonia and a highlight of our time backpacking the Balkans and in many ways reminded up of our epic ferry ride through a similarly created mountainous lake in Albania: Koman!

Kayaking down the gorge

Having left our harness out of our already heavy backpacks we decided to instead rent out one of the many kayaks and explore the lake and Matka canyon in a more intimate manner. Instead of taking one of the many tourist ferries that run up and down the length of the canyon we headed for more of a real adventure!

The 6km long lake is wedged between huge limestone towers that at times sit almost impossibly close. As we set off down the canyon the once crowded and noisy lakeside retreated into silence. The sheer amount of wildlife surrounding the lake became more evident than ever as birdsong filled the air and the wind blew through the colourful wildflowers.

In the beginning we took the paddling very easily, not really having much of an understanding of just how far we had to go if we wanted to make it down Matka canyon! The beauty of the 800ft cliff faced plunging into the turquoise lake took our attention just a little! As the canyon walls grew and grew the walls stood towering above us only a few feet wide! We had found paradise!

After around half and hour on the water swanning our way down the stunning gorge, past tiny settlements, tree houses, deep forests and awe inspiring cliffs we realised just how far we still had to paddle! The narrow lake would wind its way around the gorge walls, corner after corner of amazing viewsbut no sign of the cave in sight!

The periodic ferries going past to explore this natural underground wonder were beginning to thin out! Had we gone too far and missed the hidden entrance to the Matka Cave? Had we even gone the right way? (We did get lost an awful lot backpacking the Balkans!) No longer surrounded by people either on the water or on the narrow walkways high above and having paddled for over an hour we felt somewhat isolated in the incredible Matka canyon!

But on we went, beginning to tire as the sun rounded the corner and beat down on us. Our wet hands on the slippery paddles were getting sore and we had not seen a soul in the last half an hour of our hour and a half long journey down the Matka canyon. Passing a dead forrest drowned by the rising water we eventually reached the dock for the Matka cave! Here at last! A spot many dont get to see and real off the beaten track Europe!







Exploring the cave hidden in Matka canyon

There is no other way to get to the amazing Vrelo Cave than the water. One of Europes most impressive cave systems much is still unknown about what really lies underneath the ground here. We were lucky enough to time our visit on the kayaks with that of a passing tourist ferry boat. The captain on which kindly switched the lights on for his guests just as we entered!

This meant we could explore the Suva section of these beautiful caves with the benefit of the lighting system fitted down here. Once powered up it reveals the amazing nature of the huge stalactites and stalagmites this cave is known for including the massive Pine Cone right in the centre of the main chamber. Our backpacking the Balkans adventure was all about seeking out these amazing highlights of off the beaten track Europe!

The once hot air from the Matka canyon atmosphere outside of the cave had become cold and damp down here. We could see our breath as we explored at our own pace every corner of this mysterious subterranean system.

The cave system is relatively small above the water but at the far end of the cave sits two perfectly still lakes reflecting like a mirror the amazing detail of above. The underwater sections of the Matka cave are some of the deepest in the world and still have yet to be fully explored. So far divers have reached depths of almost 1000ft below the surface and more is still to be explored. Currently the cave is the deepest in the Balkans and may even be the deepest in the world! Its crazy really what lies below!

How to get there/ How to rent kayaks

Getting to Matka canyon from Skopje:

Take the number 60 bus from Skopjes main public bus station (the red buses)

The journey takes between 45 and 60 mins depending on traffic and costs around 35 Denars each way (0.50/ $0.62)

The buses run quite often but do check the return time. We missed one and would have had to wait a hour for the next, so instead we hitchhiked back to the city. Hitchhiking is easy and common in Macedonia and the Balkans as a whole and most people will be heading back towards the capital from Matka canyon.

Renting kayaks/ getting to the cave on a ferry:

You can either rent kayaks and paddle 1.5hrs to the cave or take the tourist ferry.

Kayak rental:

You can rent out either a double or single sit on top kayaks from the start of the canyon.

Rental is 200 Denar per hour (2.77 / $3.50) per person but this is slightly cheaper for the double kayaks.

Taking a tour?

Another option is to combine visiting Matka Canyon with a tour of the surrounding countryside or a guided tour of Skopje if you are short on time. Taking the bus back to Skopje after visiting can sometimes be troublesome given the limited schedule so for those wanting to be sure to fit a visit in and get a more in depth look at the surrounding area then a tour might be the best option.

Tips:

* Be sure to bring with you a dry bag to keep your camera, wallet etc. dry as its quite easy to get everything wet or capsize!!

* Try to find out the time of the buses back and time it, you can be waiting an hour so you might as well spend that time in the canyon.

* Wear some good shoes as the cave is slippery and muddy, you also might want to do some of the hikes if you have time.

Ferry:

The ferry takes around an hour and includes entrance to the cave and a tour of Matka Canyon. The price is 400 Denar each (5.50 / $7.10)

Book your accommodation here

Hey, youve got your Travel Insurance sorted havent you?

Travelling and especially backpacking is a wild adventure, but make sure you are covered just incase something goes wrong, which if youre living it up to the fullest its always a possibility!

Check travel insurance prices with World Nomads here!

Have you ever visited Matka canyon or heard of the amazing caves here?

Related posts:

A guide to Skopje: The modern, quirky & politically charged Macedonia capital with hidden history!

We protested the government in Macedonia as part of the Colourful Revolution in Skopje!

See more from this county:

See more from our backpacking adventures:
Translate From English To German Example sentences, synonyms and various meanings from collins. Translationly let you translate your text from german to english for free. R everso offers you the best tool for learning german, the english german dictionary containing commonly used words and. You need an online machine translator to quickly translate german to english. We hope that our german to.

Harley Davidson Farmington Nm Visit this motorcycle dealer in farmington. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for harley davidson locations in farmington, nm. Chrome plus a black leather seat with a back.

The Lakes At Town Center 5.0 out of 5 stars. The lakes at town center. There's so much to explore here at lakeside at town center. Australia, new zealand, papua new guinea. Get the inside.

300Sl For Sale Find mercedes 300sl at the best price. * if the price does not. This high specification 300sl sports the iconic colourway of signal red (568) with beige leather (275) and.

Rims For Dodge Charger 2013 Dodge charger 2008 rims cardomain wheels load. There are multiple tire sizes for your 2013 dodge charger that depend upon the trim level. 9 pics about 20 inch 2013 2014 dodge challenger charger oem black chrome wheel rim. 20 inch rim fits dodge challenger hellcat replica wheel dg15 20x9 gloss black. We have the hottest 2013 dodge charger rt max awd rims in the most popular sizes, finishes, and styles all at the best prices in town.

Henry J Car For Sale The henry j was the idea of henry j. For sale  13 comments. We have 10 cars for sale listed as 1951 henry j, from just $12,500. 1951 henry.

Action Rent To Own No one has rated this place yet. Book at the #1 vacation rental in ciracas,. 2111 w 3500 s west valley city, ut 84119. Review action rent to own loans.

Gma Book Club Jodi picoult and jennifer finney boylans mad honey is the latest pick for the good morning america book club. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5.

Ritz Carlton Seattle A luxury and business hotel soaring high above downtown jakarta. 3150 south st nw, washington, dc 20007. Our hotel is also near iconic local attractions,. we are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen. the company announced today a newly designed logo and brand voice. Because of this happy accident blue became a status symbol in 1920s boston.

Apartments For Rent In Wooster Ohio 2400 weaver dr #2400, wooster, oh 44691. View 0 photo of this $575, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom home at 5011 settlers trce apt 5, wooster, oh 44691. Compare rentals, see.

Barrett Jackson Results Please tick the box if you are happy for us to use such cookies [ ] 2021 lexus lc 500 convertible sold for $2,000,000*. In addition to the millions. Like.

Rent A Rolls Royce Driving away in a rolls royce hire is something that cannot truly be described in words. Our supercar fleet includes the rolls royce wraith and the rolls royce ghost for.

Toyota Rent A Car Currently, traveloka provides hiace car rental services in jakarta. Toyota rent a car services for ana mileage club members. Rent a toyota was designed to assist dealers in offering quality, temporary transportation for their. You only need to check prices and choose a hiace rental partner in jakarta through the traveloka lifestyle superapp. Toyota today launched a new service, kinto rent, expanding offerings under the kinto brand to offer mobility services across australia beyond traditional sales of new.

Pet Lodge Chow Hound Skip to main content for security, click here to clear your browsing session to. Automatic dog feeders are manufactured from tough galvanized steel for durability. About press copyright contact us.

Houses For Rent In Selma Ca Search 1 single family homes for rent in selma, california. Default (undisclosed address), selma, ca 93662. Homes.com has [listing count] houses for rent in selma, ca. Looking for houses for.

Houses For Rent In Weatherford Ok Nice, clean 3 bed 2 bath home with central heat and air. 4 houses rental listings are currently available. View 1421 saber ln 73096 rent availability including the monthly rent.

Craigslist Create Account Youll find it at the top right of the. Follow the steps below to submit a free post to craigslist without using an account. Craigslist provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, for sale, services, local community, and events Make a new post from the account homepage. A craigslist posting software comes in the form of an addition to the post page which allows you to save all of your ads under categories and labels which you set up as you.

Great Clips Clifton Park Hair stylists beauty salons hair supplies. What hair salon services does great clips brighton park in frankfort provide? 5 clifton country rd ste 1, clifton park, ny 12065. 5 clifton.

Home Depot Trailers 5X8 Our 5 x 8 ft. ( 148) add to cart. Check out my retired home depot rental trailer. This is a 5x8 trailer with a solid metal floor and a.
Coal executives visiting with The Southern Illinoisans editorial board on Wednesday said they are confident the industry, despite the challenges facing it, will have a future in the region for decades to come.

Joshua Carter, the vice president and chief operating officer for Knight Hawk Coal, noted that his company has grown steadily during the past roughly 18 years into a sizable employer in Southern Illinois.

Knight Hawk Coal began operations in 1998 near Ava with 15 employees, he said. Today, the company, which later expanded into Perry County with a second mine, employs about 400 workers directly, as well as another 250 or so over-the-road contract truckers.

Knight Hawk Coal is, by many measures, a Southern Illinois success story. A large portion of the coal the company mines here is shipped to East Coast states, such as Florida and the Carolinas, where coal-fired power plants have been equipped with sulfur dioxide scrubbers.

But Carter and Phillip Gonet, president of the Illinois Coal Association, said during the hour-long-plus conversation that there are many regulatory and political pressures facing the coal mining industry, making it difficult to compete.

Gonet attributed the industrys most recent decline to what he deemed Obamas war on coal and new regulations issued by President Barack Obamas Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the low natural gas prices suppressing the demand for coal.

The Obama war on coal mantra is a popular one in Southern Illinois, a rural region that has bled coal-mining jobs over the past 20 years and not seen those opportunities replaced, particularly not with options that come close overall in terms of salary and benefits.

Its the economic conundrum that makes people nostalgic for the days when thousands of hard-hat-wearing Southern Illinois men made daily treks underground, lunch pail in hand, and emerged from a hard days work with coal-stained faces and money in their pockets.

But statistics show, specifically as it relates to Illinois coal production, that the Obama war on coal is a gross oversimplification of the economic woes facing the regional coal industry, specifically, and Southern Illinois economy generally.

According to statistics provided by Gonet, the most significant decline in Illinois mining followed implementation of the 1990 Clean Air Act passed by Congress and signed by President George H.W. Bush. About 10,000 people were employed in mining jobs that year in Illinois, he said, and the state mined about 62 million tons of coal. That was cut roughly in half by 2003, when Illinois produced 31 million tons and employed only about 3,500 workers.

But Illinois coal production began growing rather dramatically again in 2010  during Obamas first term in office, though this is attributed to the growth in coal-fired power plants adding scrubbers in states where a regulated energy market made it financially advantageous, allowing them to accept higher quantities of Illinois coal that is heavy in regulated sulfur, yet also more efficient to burn.

Illinois mined about 58 million tons of coal in 2014, which declined slightly in 2015, to about 56 million tons. But even as output climbed close to pre-Clean Air Act levels in 2014, the number of jobs did not rebound  and that is almost entirely attributed to, not presidential policies, but improved technologies and efficiencies changing the manpower-output ratio.

Still, Gonet points out that 1,630 coal-mining jobs have been lost in Illinois in 2015 and the first half of 2016. That means there are about 2,825 coal-mining jobs left in Illinois at this time, putting the state below 2003 employment levels when output dropped to its lowest point in recent history. Most of the states coal mines are in Southern Illinois and south-central Illinois.

Gonet laid this job loss at the feet of the EPAs regulations, namely the agencys so-called MATS, which stands for Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, and Obamas Clean Power Plan.

"We fought it because we have the most stringent air emission standards laws in the world," Gonet said. "We dont need to make them any stricter. In fact, the benefit that you gain of fewer emissions is not worth the cost to do it."

For its part, the EPA claims MATS will prevent up to 570 premature deaths in Illinois while creating up to $4.7 billion in health benefits in 2016 by limiting mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants. The Clean Power Plan, according to the EPA, is intended to reduce pollutants  sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide  that contribute to soot and smog and can make people sick. Implementation of that plan was stayed by the Supreme Court in February pending a judicial review.

We would hope a (Donald) Trump administration would pull the plug on the Clean Power Plan and the MATS rule, Gonet said. Our other contention is the president has overstepped his constitutional authority. We clearly do not believe that EPA has the authority under Clean Air Act to control for carbon dioxide.

Gonet said the Illinois Coal Association doesnt make endorsements, but he still tells everyone theres only one candidate in the 2016 presidential race who is supportive of the industry: Donald Trump.

We see Hillary Clinton as continuing the Obama policies, Gonet said.

Meanwhile, in recent days a large billboard has gone up on U.S. 51 in Carbondale that includes a large photo of Trump and reads, Dont Let Hillary Shut Down Our Coal Mines. Vote Trump.

It was not immediately clear to the newspaper who placed the billboard. The Illinois Coal Association was not involved, Gonet said.

Gonet said the EPA regulations issued during Obamas presidency have led to companies closing several dozen coal-fired power plants equating to roughly 100,000 megawatts of capacity. But Gonet said in a follow up interview he could not say what portion of power plants may have been taken off line because of age, or other market forces, including increased competition from natural gas and a depressed global market for U.S. coal.

During the interview at The Southern, Carter said, We oversupplied the market place as an industry. Supply and demand are well out of balance. At this time, he said, the export market is non-existent. Theres no outlet valve there.

Gonet said he could not differentiate how much of the decline in coal output in 2015 and the first half of 2016 may be attributed to a leveling off of the industry following overproduction versus expensive EPA policies. While opposing the regulations, he did concede that other market forces also likely contributed to the industry downturn.

Further, some market experts have opined that while the EPAs policies under the Obama administration have had an impact, the coal industry also was impacted by the risky bets some large coal companies made on global markets that didnt pan out to the degree expected. Locally, workers and retirees have been affected by the Chapter 11 bankruptcies of Arch Coal and Peabody Energy that, as part of reorganizations, have sought to shed promises to pay worker benefits.

On the other hand, Knight Hawk Coal, while affected by domestic regulations and suppressed global markets, has built a reputation as a company that has taken the slow and steady road to expansion.

Carter said he is certain the export market will play a part in the future of coal mining in Illinois, and specifically for Knight Hawk Coal. He noted that the expansion of the Panama Canal will increase access to Asia from Gulf of Mexico and Eastern-based U.S. ports. But when and how future exports will affect Illinois mining, and to what degree, is a difficult thing to predict. The export market is kind of finicky, he said.
WEST FRANKFORT  The West Frankfort City Council voted Tuesday to amend the city's liquor ordinance to allow the serving of alcohol in buildings owned or controlled by the city.

Reached by phone on Thursday, Mayor Tom Jordan said the council chose to amend the ordinance in order to attract a potential vendor to the city-owned West Frankfort Outlet Mall.

The amendment will allow alcohol to be served in city-owned buildings as long as theres a valid liquor license.

Up to this point, we havent owned any commercial structures, Jordan said.

The city purchased the mall, located at 1000 Factory Outlet Blvd.  just off Interstate 57 in West Frankfort  for $1.8 million in 2015 in an effort to spur economic development in the region.

Jordan said he couldnt say which retailer is interested in a space at the mall, only that its a restaurant hes excited about.

Its going to be really nice. Its going to be something thats really going to pop, he said.

The council also voted to authorize the leasing of a space in the West Frankfort Business Incubator to DaVinci Beverages, Inc.

DaVinci Beverages is part of a network of linked private enterprises that supports Morthland College, a small liberal arts college based in West Frankfort. The company produces smart drinks  energy drinks designed to "boost cognitive function"  and debuted two new flavors this summer.

Leigh Caldwell, director of community engagement at Morthland College, said sales have been increasing steadily and that they have outgrown their current warehousing space.

We look at this as a temporary situation, Caldwell said. We know that were going to continue to grow, and eventually well have to find a warehousing solution of our own in West Frankfort.

If the drink continues to flourish in the marketplace like it has been, we might be talking about a bottling plant or distribution center in West Frankfort. The skys the limit. Its really exciting, Jordan said.
SPRINGFIELD  A federal judge has ordered the Illinois State Board of Elections to allow David Gill to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District.

After collecting only 8,593 of the 10,754 valid petition signatures he needed to earn a ballot spot under state law, Gill challenged the requirement in federal court.

The Bloomington physician and former four-time Democratic congressional candidate argues that the requirement is unconstitutional because its out of line with whats required of major party candidates for Congress and independent candidates seeking other offices. A group of voters from the 13th District joined in Gill in the lawsuit.

While not ruling on the overall merits of the case, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough issued the order late Thursday morning  a day before the elections board is scheduled to certify the ballot  because Gill showed he would suffer irreparable harm if he was excluded and because the state failed to show a compelling reason for leaving him off.

An otherwise qualified candidate suffers irreparable harm if he is wrongfully deprived of the opportunity to appear on an election ballot, Myerscough wrote in her 26-page opinion. Similarly, voters who would have voted for the candidate would also suffer irreparable harm.

Gill said he wasnt sure what to expect after a Wednesday court hearing, but he was pleased with the ruling.

I always thought that our case was extremely strong and was hoping that she would consider the many details that are associated with a case such as this, said Gill, who last ran as a Democrat in 2012 against now-U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville.

Arguing on Gills behalf, Springfield attorney Sam Cahnman noted that his client had to collect nearly 15 times as many signatures as the major party candidates, Davis and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur, who each had to collect fewer than 740 signatures. Independent candidates for U.S. Senate, meanwhile, only have to collect five times as many signatures as their major party rivals.

Cahnman also argued that no independent congressional candidate in Illinois has ever gathered as many signatures as were required of Gill and withstood a challenge at the elections board.

Myerscough noted all those facts in her ruling.

Representing the elections board, Assistant Attorney General Sarah Newman argued that the state has an interest in preventing ballot overcrowding and potential voter confusion, which is the intent of the higher signature requirement for independent candidates.

While acknowledging legitimacy of that interest, Myerscough said the argument is undermined by the fact that Illinois allows candidates who havent collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot unless someone challenges their nominating petitions.

Gill was found to be short on signatures after Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks challenged his petitions, paving the way for the lawsuit.

Spokeswoman Annie Thompson said the Illinois attorney generals office is reviewing the judges order and will decide quickly what the next steps should be.

Wicklund said he was disappointed with the ruling but expected it to go the way it did after reading reports about Wednesdays hearing.

He said he doesnt buy Gills argument that the signature requirement is an insurmountable obstacle.

This is a candidate thats run four times previous, Wicklund said. He knows how to circulate petitions to get signatures.

Davis campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but the Illinois Republican Party issued a statement from Chairman Tim Schneider calling Gill, whos never held elected office, a failed career politician who has been running for Congress for 12 years.

David Gill is no independent; he is an extreme liberal who will clearly do or say anything to get elected, Schneider said.

Gill said hes weighing whether to continue pressing the lawsuit and vowed to campaign hard over the coming weeks.

The whole purpose of this was to win the election in November, he said. I wasnt pursuing this just to make a statement.
MURPHYSBORO  The seven commercial tractors and two trucks that Navistar International Corp. has donated to Southern Illinois University are to the automotive technology student what the cadaver is to a medical student.

This major donation to SIUs Department of Automotive Technology, announced by school and company officials on Thursday morning, represents an opportunity for students to dissect the latest technology hitting the highways. Navistar additionally donated several engines, transmissions, driveline and emission control components.

The availability of the trucks will allow students hands-on learning in the processes of diagnostic testing and code interpretation to determine where and what a problem is on a truck when things go wrong, said John McCuistion, Navistar's global powertrain and chassis engineering director.

The most critical element of the availability of the trucks on SIUs campus is that it provides access to the latest technology so that students are on the cutting edge when they graduate into the workforce. This is the technology that is really going to be quite beneficial, he said.

The partnership additionally includes commercial truck and equipment retailer Rush Enterprises Inc., which has donated licenses to Diamond Logic Builder diagnostic software.

Officials from SIU, Navistar International and Rush Enterprises officially celebrated the public-private partnership at an event held Thursday morning at SIUs expansive Transportation Education Center located on the grounds of the Southern Illinois Airport near Murphysboro.

Dozens of undergraduate automotive technology students attended the gathering. Aaron Weckhorst, a senior from Champaign, said that its a boon for students because it allows them to get closer to the advanced technology they will be working with post-graduation in the automotive industry.

Its definitely a huge advantage to work on these (tractors and trucks) as opposed to what we used to have, he said. The new vehicles are a lot more advanced than the previous one that we had so its a big benefit.

Commercial truck technology is rapidly evolving. Advances are in large part driven by federal government regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving fuel economy standards, McCuistion said.

SIU and Navistar officials did not have an exact dollar figure to attach to the donation, but it is significant, to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars, McCuistion said. Just one truck can sell for upwards of $100,000, though the trucks donated to SIU are not licensed for the roadways.

SIU Chancellor Brad Colwell said students expect and deserve no less than the best and that the Department of Automotive Technology is an example of that commitment to excellence. As part of fulfilling that promise to students, Cowell said, higher education also needs access to the greatest technology, technological advances and business practices. And he said public-private partnerships such the one between SIU, Navistar International and Rush Enterprises give students that access.

Colwell also took a moment to note the beauty of the beasts parked behind him as he spoke at the podium  one in particular sporting SIUs colors. I love this particular truck behind me. Its got a great grill, dual-smoke stacks, and its maroon in color. And if you dont mind, Im going to take it home for just a quick test drive, he said, laughing. But its probably worth more than my annual salary so I wont do that.

The event was attended by four state lawmakers  Sens. Gary Forby and Rep. Brandon Phelps, both Democrats, and Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, and Rep. Terri Bryant, both Republicans.

During his turn at the microphone, Luechtefeld noted the dire financial situation facing the state and the uncertainty that has created at public universities including SIU. Given all the angst, Luechtefeld said it was nice to celebrate good news. Looking out at the automotive technology students in the audience, he said they are the people who will absolutely lead this industry into the future, and of the department, he said, this may be as good as it gets when it comes to educational programs in the field.

Michael Behrmann, chairman of the Department of Automotive Technology, said students graduate from the program well prepared for a variety of jobs in the industry, in both government and the private sector. He said undergraduate students are trained in the latest technology, diagnostic techniques, and development of diagnostic procedures. As well, they are trained in soft skills that include management of technology and personnel, marketing and business practices.

The program is pumping out some of the brightest in the industry, Behrmann said. He also noted that the program further opens opportunities for Southern Illinois to draw employers in the automotive industry to Southern Illinois that may be attracted by the proximity of a well-trained workforce, vast land resources and access to interstates and railways.

Behrmann said he works closely with economic developers to market the region to decision-makers in the industry looking for places to start up or expand.

This region is primed for future development and expansion of these companies when theyre looking at opportunities and locations, he said. Southern Illinois is a prime location for them to consider.
The news from the road gets worse.

As the nation inches toward the end of summer and Labor Day, a new report reflects a trend that could make the holiday weekend the deadliest since 2008.

The National Safety Council is predicting that 438 people will be killed on the nation's roads over the three-day Labor Day weekend that begins Sept. 2.

The NSC forecast, as reported by The Associated Press, is based on what happened on U.S. roads in the first six months of the year. Traffic fatalities were up 9 percent through June 30 compared with the same period last year.

That continues a surge in deaths that began two years ago as the economy improved and travel picked up. An estimated 19,100 people were killed on U.S. roads from January through June, said the council, a congressionally chartered nonprofit that gets its data from state authorities. That's 18 percent more than two years ago at the six-month mark. About 2.2 million people also were seriously injured in the first half of this year.

At that rate, annual deaths could exceed 40,000 fatalities this year for the first time in nine years, the council said. More than 35,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, making it the deadliest driving year since 2008, when more than 37,000 were killed.

In South Carolina, the news is better for 2016  but not a lot.

As of Aug. 21, 600 people had been killed on the highways, down from 608 a year ago. But 2015 deaths were up 15 percent from the year before. And 600 deaths is more than two people a day.

Locally, Orangeburg County has 20 deaths in 2016, up from 19 a year ago. At four, Bamberg County has doubled its 2015 toll. Calhoun County has had five people die in crashes compared to nine at this time in 2015.

Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety offices, said the situation is really getting to the crisis level.

He is right.

It has been assumed that technological advances like more automated safety features in cars  and ultimately self-driving cars  would go a long way toward solving the problem of traffic fatalities since driver errors are responsible for 94 percent of all deaths, Adkins said.

"But we are still a long way away from fully autonomous vehicles and need to really hone in on the unsafe driver behaviors that are still so pervasive, including distraction, drowsy and drunk driving, speeding, and failure to buckle up," he said.

As quoted by The AP, Deborah A.P. Hersman, the safety council's president and CEO, offers words for every driver: "Our complacency is killing us. Americans should demand change to prioritize safety actions and protect ourselves from one of the leading causes of preventable death."
EUTAWVILLE -- State Sen. John Matthews, D-District 39, presented Eutawville Mayor Jefferson Johnson and the town council members with a $200,000 check for infrastructure improvements during council's August meeting.

I understand the problems faced by small towns, Matthews told those at the meeting. I represent 21 small towns and I always do the best I can to help them. I believe that if we work together, we can make tremendous progress.

Senator, I just learned about you when I became part of this town, Johnson said. Please keep doing what youre doing. You dont make a big noise when someone asks for help. You just do the best you can, and I do appreciate what youve done for this town since I became mayor.

Later in the meeting, Johnson said he hoped to use at least a portion of the subsidy to acquire the old Croft and Hughes grocery store building and transform it into a municipal court and town hall. The building has lain dormant for many years.

The council also heard from another authority in funding community revitalization, Michelle Mapp, chief executive officer of the South Carolina Community Loan Fund.

We are whats known as a U.S. Treasury-certified community development financial institution, Mapp said. We are a nonprofit that operates as a community development bank. We provide loans throughout South Carolina for the development of affordable housing, healthy food enterprises, community facilities and community-based businesses."

We make loans up to $1 million to local governments, nonprofit organizations and small business owners and developers, she said. We get our capital from the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Department of Agriculture; then we borrow money from financial institutions and foundations at favorable terms and re-lend that capital out for projects at rates anywhere between prime and four points over prime.

Mapp encouraged those at the meeting to spread the word about the financial assistance available through her organization to local citizens and organizations that might qualify.

Council members also received reports that Eutawville officials are:

Working to maintain roads and rights of way.

Awaiting word from state officials as to what can be done to mark parking areas and repaint lanes on Eutawville streets.

Preparing signs to make people aware of new hours for the town parks. Parks will open at 7 a.m. and close at sundown -- with sundown defined as the time when local street lights turn on. Council members put approval of the signs on hold until the cost of the signs could be confirmed.

Pleased that water system operations have gone smoothly this summer. Councilman Fred Mallard said fire hydrant discharges will be ongoing throughout the summer because of the need to make sure the system properly regulates chlorine and chlorine gets from the town water tower to the lowest areas and areas farthest away from the tower.

Still seeking another police officer to bulk up the towns police force.

Before the meeting was adjourned, Mallard announced he would resign from his seat on the council at the end of August. Mallard will pursue a new career opportunity that will require him to move to Jacksonville, Florida.

It has been a huge, enormous experience serving you and the townspeople of Eutawville, Mallard said. I will never forget Eutawville. My family is here. I will always be coming back. Thank you all. It has been great.

Eutawville Town Council's next regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at the Eutawville Community Center.
Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn on Wednesday declared the War on Poverty has not failed, citing the success of a local agency celebrating its 50th year.

Clyburn's remarks came Wednesday during the golden anniversary celebration of the Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc. OCAB, a private, nonprofit entity, began as the Orangeburg Area Committee for Economic Progress in August 1966.

President Lyndon Johnson launched a set of domestic programs in the nation from 1964 to 1965 called The Great Society. In his plan to defeat poverty, Johnson developed the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. As part of that act, more than 1,000 community action agencies were established at the local level to implement Great Society programs.

Government, community, civic and church leaders gathered at Edisto Fork United Methodist Church Family Christian Center to help OCAB celebrate the milestone.

EOA initiatives included, but were not limited to, programs including Head Start, Job Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Neighborhood Youth Corps and work-study programs for university students.

Clyburn said the continued viability of such programs is proof that the War on Poverty has not failed.

"Just take some time to read the history of the creation of the Office of Economic Opportunity. It was mandated that there be community involvement. Head Start mandated community involvement to make sure we did not have those programs run like businesses," the congressman said.

"They were not there to make a profit. They were there to give children a chance. They were there to keep communities uplifted. They were there to give people experiences, and that's why they exist to this day," Clyburn said.

"In order for this community to work, in order for this state to work, in order for this nation to work, we have to learn to respect everybody's experiences. ... If you go back and you read the principles of which community action agencies were created, you will find those were the principles," Clyburn said.

Citizens developed and delivered special services for disadvantaged residents in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties through OCAB's early beginnings as the Orangeburg Area Committee for Economic Progress. The committee received a $66,000 planning grant from the federal Office of Economic Opportunity and the initially sponsored programs included: neighborhood service centers, Operation Mainstream, Neighborhood Youth Corps and Summer Head Start.

"There were a lot of dire predictions as to what the future held for these economic opportunity programs that started with the creation of the Economic Opportunity Act back in 1964. That was 52 years ago," Clyburn said.

He said Congress passed more than 400 pieces of legislation in 1965 to deal with the issue of poverty.

"There were all kinds of predictions that it wouldn't last, it would destroy the country. Among those things that wouldn't last and would destroy the country was Head Start. Last time I checked, Head Start is still with us," Clyburn said. "What idiot would say Head Start is not good?"

"If you listen to a certain television stations, the War on Poverty failed. You've been hearing it all year, but the War on Poverty did not fail. Some communities failed to be a part of the effort to make our communities better places. ..."

"Government exists for the common good. ... Government is not in existence to make a profit. Government is in existence in order to serve the common good of all ... in a collective way. We are the government. We make it up, and we should insist that the governmental agencies be effective," Clyburn said.

He said he appreciates the way OCAB Executive Director Calvin Wright, who has served in the position since 1983, runs the agency. He also touted the importance of community involvement.

"We want to have a government that everybody can participate, everybody can be a part of and find common good. You can't find common good with one person making all the decisions, and that's what community action agencies are all about," Clyburn said. "They're about bringing the community into the process."

The theme of the celebration was "Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future."

State Rep. Jerry Govan, whose first job out of college was at OCAB as a business recruiter, and state Sen. John Matthews presented Wright with a resolution in recognition of OCAB's 50 years of service to the community.

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright and County Councilman Willie B. Owens also presented Wright with a resolution recognizing the agency's service.

In addition, Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler and City Councilman Bernard Haire presented the executive director with a proclamation designating Aug. 27 as OCAB Day in the city.

Wright recognized his staff and 16-member board, along with former executive directors and board members.

OCAB Board Vice Chairman Aaron Bryan said, "We could not be more proud of such an outstanding organization such as OCAB. OCAB has been and continues to be committed to doing the important work of helping people help themselves in our communities."

Wright presented plaques of appreciation to Clyburn; Vernita Dore, deputy under secretary of USDA Rural Development; and Michelle Cardwell, state director of USDA-Rural Development.

Cardwell said her office has invested nearly $7 billion in the state since 2009 for projects related to housing, schools, libraries and water and sewer projects in the Edisto area. She said the agency is looking to invest $800 million in South Carolina.

Cardwell noted that her agency has had a relationship with OCAB since 1996 and has invested nearly $9 million in new facilities and other amenities, including smart boards for Head Start.
Are we watching an American presidential campaign or the pilot episode of a bizarre new TV series? Or both? The hallmark of "reality TV," of course, being its extreme unreality.

The Trump campaign invites sheer disbelief. Recently, Ivanka Trump, the statuesque daughter her father talks about dating, posted an Instagram photo of herself sightseeing in scenic Croatia with Wendi Deng Murdoch.

The New York Daily News explains that "Deng, who was divorced from Rupert Murdoch in 2013 ... has been linked romantically to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin." The newspaper adds that "the optics of the photo could raise further questions about the relationship between Ivanka's father and Putin."

Geez, you think? Maybe I'll ask Boris and Natasha. Those are my pet names for the Russian operatives who started sending me obscene emails after a recent column critical of Trump. The subject line in Boris' latest reads, "TRUMP SHOULD (DEFECATE) IN YOUR TRAITOROUS MOUTH!"

With impressive tradecraft, Boris calls himself "Jason Larenzen," a name that appears not to exist in the United States.

Anticipating the latest Fox News fantasy theme, Natasha (masquerading as "Karyn") asks, "Will lying c**t Hillary last to the election before brain blood clot ruptures?" Her IP address links to Yandex.com, which a Google search locates in Moscow, within walking distance of the Kremlin.

They aren't even subtle about it.

Of course, in Putin's Moscow, offending journalists get shot dead in the street, so I shouldn't complain. Besides, having grown up in New Jersey, profanity makes little impact on me.

Yo, Natasha, you eat with that mouth?

But think about it: Russian operatives are openly intervening in an American presidential election: hacking Democratic Party emails and harassing obscure political columnists.

Always on Donald Trump's side. You've got to ask yourself why.

One possible answer may have appeared in the New York Times. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's name turned up 22 times on a secret ledger detailing $12.7 million in illegal payola handed out under deposed Ukranian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Supposedly, Manafort was also involved in a "murky" $18 million deal to sell Ukrainian cable TV "to a partnership put together by Mr. Manafort and a Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of President Vladimir V. Putin."

Him again.

So when candidate Trump expresses a Russia-friendly foreign policy agenda -- musing aloud about recognizing Putin's illegal occupation of Crimea, and hinting that President Trump might refuse to defend NATO allies against Russian attack, it's reasonable to wonder what's being said behind closed doors.

Or when Trump invites Boris and Natasha to conduct cyber-warfare against his Democratic opponent. "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," Trump said in July.

Later, of course, the candidate alibied that he was being sarcastic. He's a great kidder, Trump. Something blows up in his face, it was a joke.

Washington Monthly's David Atkins poses the million ruble question: "How much does (sic) Trump and his team need to do before we start asking serious questions about whether they're a Manchurian Candidate campaign actively working on behalf of a foreign nation?"

Basically, that depends upon how big a piece of Trump Russian oligarchs own -- one big reason we'll never see his income taxes.
A blog for students in my introductory classes in government, and any interested passersby. You'll find news items and random stories that illustrate any of the topics we cover in class. Special attention will be paid to the constitutional issues associated with contemporary issues and disputes. Feel free to send me stories you find important. Please note that due to spam, I'm limiting the ability of people to comment on these pages. My apologies.
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.
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. [Photo/Xinhua]

TOKYO - 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.
ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday that Turkey is ready to provide all kinds of support for military operations against the Islamic State (IS) in the Syrian town of Jarablus, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in Ankara, Cavusoglu said that Turkey does not want the IS to exist in Iraq and Syria, and Turkey will provide all contributions to cleanse the terrorist organization from neighboring countries.

"We provide all kinds of logistical support for coalition countries and we actively participate in the fight against the IS," the Turkish foreign minister said.

"We have killed more than 650 IS terrorists in (northern Iraq's) Bashiqa camp alone with artillery fire," he added.

Earlier on Monday, he 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, the last significant town held by the jihadist group on the border with Turkey.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

"SMM 2016 Business Breakfast" project has kicked off in Baku.

The project, organized by the Youth Foundation under the Azerbaijani President and "ASAN Kadr" will feature workshops on such topics as PR, Marketing, Branding, Digital Marketing etc.

"SMM 2016 Business Breakfast" will end with business lunch in friendly atmosphere, featuring interviews and discussions.

During the event, heads of the companies will give a task to the teams that must be finished in time.

The best team will be sent for training at "ASAN Kadr" Career center.

Laman Akhmadova, head of the Career Center said that the project aims to organize SMM training program and to attract SMM professionals on labor market.

For more information, please contact:

http://goo.gl/RI92B1

Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, and Azernews.az.
By Azertac





Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order providing additional funding for the construction of Sinjan-Khachmaz-Filfili highway in Oguz district.





Under the presidential order, 1.55 million manats were allocated from the 2016 State Budget for the completion of the construction of the road, which links six residential areas with the total population of 11,000 people.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The Azerbaijani Navy have held another stage of command and staff exercise with live-firing, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on August 24.

The exercises are held on the instruction of Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev and in accordance with the approved plan of the combat readiness.

The exercises involve about 3,000 servicemen, over 30 warships, boats, up to 20 combat aircrafts, helicopters and more than 20 rocket and artillery installations.

During the main stage of the exercises held on August 24 commanding staff of the Defense Ministry on the command and control ship in the sea range observed the maneuvers and live-firing of forces and means carrying out training tasks.

In the first stage of the exercises carried out with the participation of the Naval Forces, Air Forces, Rocket Forces, Artillery and Special Forces the measures of bringing the Navy into the state of combat readiness, withdrawal of ships and military units in the areas of concentration, and integration and combat coordination were successfully implemented.

Next stage of the exercises involved planning of operations for the protection of energy infrastructure in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and bringing combat missions into the forces participating in the exercise.

At the last stage combat aircrafts and helicopters of the Air Forces, forces and means of the Rocket Forces and Artillery located along the shoreline and also Special Forces in conjunction with each other carried out training and combat missions to liberate the oil platform and merchant vessel captured by terrorist and sabotage group, as well as the destruction of ships illegally penetrated into the Caspian Sea operational area.

Targets of simulated enemy were destroyed and the tasks have been successfully completed during the main stage of the exercise carried out with combat firings.

Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov highly appreciated the professionalism, level of practical, moral and psychological readiness of military personnel and the readiness of units involved in the exercise.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The Russian Armed Forces started sudden check of combat readiness on August 25. The surprise check in the Southern, Western and Central military districts, the Northern Fleet and the Aerospace Force and Airborne Troops is part of preparations for the Kavkaz-2016 exercise due in September, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.



The surprise check is being held under a general plan for preparations for the strategic command and staff exercise Kavkaz-2016. Drills will be held at ground test sites and also in the Black and Caspian seas, TASS reported with reference to the ministry.



The surprise combat readiness check will end on August 31.

Currently, the participating troops are getting the equipment, weapons and ammunition, taking military vehicles to the column formation areas and get the equipment ready for marches to railway stations and airdromes.

The Kavkaz-2016 exercise will be held in the Southern, North Caucasus and Crimean federal districts. Earlier, preparations for the Kavkaz-2016 exercise were held in the Southern Military District, including the Volgograd Region, the Krasnodar Territory, North Ossetia and Crimea with 2,500 troops and 350 pieces of military equipment taking part.

Russia has the worlds second most powerful military, according to the annual ranking made by Global Firepower, an analytical website exploring the military power of different countries. Having an active personnel of more than 3 million people, the Russian Armed Forces possess over 15,000 tanks, 3,500 aircraft, and more than 1,200 helicopters.
By Azernews





By Gunay Hasanova

The Syrian city of Jarabulus has been completely liberated from militants of the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the Kurdish political party), Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, Anadolu Agency reported on August 25.

The villages surrounding Jarabulus city have also been liberated, Yildirim added.

On August 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.

Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said that the most important issue in the region was the fight against terrorism whether Daesh, the PKK, the PYD or FETO, adding that it is impossible to make distinctions between those organizations since terrorists are terrorists.

In reference to the PYD, which is reportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, Erdogan stressed that one terrorist organization fighting with another one does not justify it.

Pentagon spokesman Adrian Rankine-Galloway told Anadolu Agency that the U.S.-led coalition's air strikes were in support of Turkey's operation and vetted Syrian opposition forces seeking to clear Daesh from Jarabulus.

In addition, Turkey's Euphrates Shield operation received support from Europe as well.

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said that the Euphrates Shield operation was a part of international efforts to overcome Daesh in the region.

We respect this position. We believe Turkeys struggle against terrorist actions is legitimate and we support Turkey in this regard" he added.

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.
By Azernews





By Gunay Hasanova

Turkey has called on the European Union not to make distinctions between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorist group, Turkish minister for EU affairs Omer Celik told TRT Haber TV channel on August 25.

Celik added that unfortunately, PKK easily continues its activity in the EU countries, emphasizing that Turkey does not see any difference between the PKK and the IS.

Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the most important issue in the region was the fight against terrorism whether Daesh, the PKK, the PYD or FETO, adding that it is impossible to make distinctions between those organizations since terrorists are terrorists.

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.

A ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK ended last year and clashes have since claimed hundreds of lives on both sides.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Qatar's capital Doha and Turkish capital Ankara have signed a twin cities agreement to exchange expertise.



Speaking to the press after signing the agreement in the Turkish capital, Qatar's Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said Doha has turned into an advanced smart city with the latest technological enhancements.



The minister and his accompanying delegation toured Ankara and visited Haci Byram and Anka theme park, a Qatar News Agency report said.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Labor and Social Development and Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to train and support Saudi nationals to work in mobile sales and maintenance shops.



According to the MoU, the telecom company would provide training to around 6,000 Saudi males and females across the kingdom.



Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr Mufrej Al-Haqbani attended the signing ceremony where a number of officials and representatives from the company were present. They included Dr Abdulrahman Al-Oraini, director-general of Yesser, and Mobily chairman Sulaiman Al-Gwaiz.



The trainees will acquire necessary skills to join the phone market through apprenticeship to master salesmanship, marketing, accounting basics, warehouse management and maintenance basics, in addition to dealing with play stores and solving technical issues relating to services, products and systems.



The move, a part of Mobily's CSR initiatives, is in sync with the directive that targets the total Saudization of all sales outlets and maintenance shops of mobile phones and their accessories with the aim of providing employment to Saudis.



The signing ceremony was led by Dr Ibrahim Al- Shafiei, director of the guided nationalization programme, and Mulfi Al-Marzooqi, chief human resources officer of Mobily.



Al-Haqbani said the apprenticeship programme will enable Saudi nationals to enter the labor market.



Mobily's CEO Ahmed Farroukh extended his thanks to the ministry for signing the MoU with the company which represented the keenness of both parties to support positive initiatives. - TradeArabia News Service
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has agreed to sell its small molecule antibiotics business to Pfizer 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 US 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 .FTSE.  Reuters
Around 1,200 companies will be exhibiting at glasstec, a leading trade fair for glass technology, to be held from September 20 to 23 in Dusseldorf, Germany.



Mechanical engineering company Grenzebach will present data spectacles at glasstec that are capable of revolutionising remote maintenance.



Today, remote maintenance is a standard feature, particularly with large machines and systems. Manufacturers can monitor their situation permanently using various parameters, and can intervene if necessary. The problem will then either be solved on site by the system operator or the manufacturer will send his service technician. Nevertheless, any form of remote maintenance has its limitations.



Markus Gruber, responsible among other things for the new business area at Grenzebach, said: "We can only recognise as much as this technology allows".



It is precisely here that the new development takes effect. At glasstec, Grenzebach will present a system that makes it possible to see and hear precisely what the technician on site can also see and hear. This is achieved through spectacles, fitted with a mini-camera and microphones among other things, that are worn by the technician on site.



The corresponding picture sequences appear on the manufacturers' monitors. Direct communication is also ensured. But that is not all. Building or construction drawings, required for repairs, can be superimposed in the field of vision of the spectacle wearer, and codes such as DataMatrix imported.



"We use a serial product", explains development manager Roland Jenning. "The important thing is however not so much the spectacles themselves but the application. And we develop this ourselves", said Jenning.



High-quality support

The advantages of the new system are obvious. Necessary information is quickly made available. Reaction times are significantly reduced. Maintenance and service are made easier and, as Gruber explains, there is "easier and quicker rectification of defects".



In addition, communication with the system operator is significantly improved overall. This ultimately all leads to support of a very high quality. Grenzebach will demonstrate how the new system works in practice at its stand in Hall 15.

In addition, two experts from the company will speak at the Glass Technology Forum and the gtl Symposium, organised by Messe Dusseldorf on the second day of the trade fair (On September 21), where they will explain how innovation and safety are compatible in the context of Industry 4.0.



Silk screen printing

Mechanical engineering company Benteler will have a surprise waiting in Hall 15. The company is venturing into the business of silk screen printing machines. It will be presenting a system for printing car windscreens that is completely self-developed and self-built.



"We have developed the machine with a focus on the display area", says Joachim Korswird, director with responsibility for the glass area. It is also possible to print on thin glass without any major additional workload. However, the current priority is auto glass."



The market for display glass is highly competitive and is dominated above all by non-European companies. Only a small part of the global production of display glass comes from the EU. It is above all Japanese and Korean companies that call the tune.



Everything from a single source

At Benteler, the venture into the business of silk screen printing machines is seen as an extension of the existing product range. In the past, it built machines for cutting, breaking and grinding, among other things.



According to Korswird, the silk screen printing machines enable the company to cover the entire pre-processing. The customer therefore gets everything from a single source. The fully automatic system on display at the trade fair, which also permits edgeless printing, has a manually adjustable positioning table. It is suitable for glass up to dimensions of 900 x 1350 mm and a thickness of 2 to 6 mm. The cycle times are below 10 seconds.



As Korswird explains, the glass is moved directly from the positioning area to the printing area without any intermediate step. This makes it possible to avoid the imprecision that can occur in the otherwise normal two-step process as well as reducing the cycle times. The speed of the doctor blade is continuously adjustable, and a pull-out carriage ensures that the screen can be easily removed, cleaned and re-inserted.



In addition to the silk screen printing machine that is also suitable for printing building glass, Benteler will also be presenting a device for screen and glass alignment. The laser and camera-assisted system ensures that the screen is always placed on the plate with a precise fit.



Further information, not only on the new printing machine but also concerning the processing, cleaning and screen printing of ultra-thin glass, will be available during the two-day conference "Function meets glass". It begins one day before glasstec on September 19.



New belt grinding machine

German company Bohle AG, global market leader in hand tools for glass processing, will exhibit its new Master Belt belt grinding machine for the first time at its stand in Hall 9.



Like its predecessor, it is available in two versions: with one speed (11 m/sec.) or alternatively with two speeds (11/22 m/sec.) The ball caster table, previously available only as an option, is now included as a standard feature.



"The machine has been designed as overall even more user friendly", said sales manager Ralf Ackermann. This is the case, among other things, as regards the adjustment of the belt tension and the changing of the grinding belt. Belt grinder machines of the Master Belt series have been on the market since 1990, and have been continuously improved ever since.

Ackermann siad: "The Master Belt is the standard grinding machine for the glass workshop." TradeArabia News Service
Volkswagen AG announced on Thursday that it has reached a deal in principle to compensate its 650 US dealers in connection with the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal.



The automaker and a lawyer for VW brand dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco. The amount of the settlement fund was not disclosed.



VW's US dealers have been barred from selling polluting diesel vehicles for nearly a year.



Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. VW and the dealers told U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer they plan to file the details of the agreement by the end of September.



The German automaker has been taking a number of steps to resolve outstanding issues related to the emissions scandal.



VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 US states.



The US Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with American laws.



VW faces potentially billions of dollars more in costs in the United States if it is forced to buy back 85,000 3.0-liter Audi, Porsche and VW cars and SUVs sold since 2009. - Reuters
Huawei, a global ICT solutions provider, has announced plans to launch its new flagship device, the Huawei honor 8 in the Middle East.



The smartphone will be launched on September 5, and is available for pre-order from 25th August on HonorArabia.com.



Hot on the heels of its global launch in China, as well as its US debut today, honors latest release has received a raft of impressive reviews from users, particularly praising the exquisite craftsmanship and design, as well as the world class dual camera features, a statement said.



Honor features a two-sided 2.5-D glass body, 3D grate design and 15-layer craftsmanship on the back of the handset.



Chris Sun Baigong, VP of Huawei honor Middle East CBG said: By listening to our end-users and paying attention to the smallest details, we have taken the holistic approach and created something truly distinctive. honor 8 has a design that is beautifully stylish coupled with excellent usability, an essential aspect that contributes to its outstanding day-to-day user experience.



George Zhao, president of Huawei honor, said: After three years of developing the brand worldwide, honor has matured and gained acknowledgement for focusing on our end-users and product quality first and foremost over revenue, which are the strategic winning points for the brand. The latest launch of our flagship honor 8 reflects this approach, and we are confident in its success with our end-users, as well as our growth as a brand this year - so stay tuned.- TradeArabia News Service
In the lead up the Eid Al Adha holidays in September, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism is looking to visitors from Gulf countries to offset the recent slump in the nations tourist numbers.



Tourism is a critical source of Turkeys gross domestic product (GDP)  the sector generated $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 Turkeys 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 nations total employment. - TradeArabia News Service


Hotels in the Middle East reported mixed results across key performance metrics in July. Occupancy rates jumped 58 per cent while average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) dropped 5.9 per cent to $161.82 and 11.9 per cent to $93.88 respectively compared to July 2015, said a report.



Kuwait recorded increases across the three key performance metrics: occupancy (over 5.1 per cent to 38.0 per cent), ADR (over 0.8 per cent to KWD66.36/$219) and RevPAR (over 5.9 per cent to KWD25.21/$83.2). Performance was primarily driven by a 25.9 per cent increase in occupancy in the Kuwait Area submarket. However, in the Kuwait City submarket, occupancy fell 3.8 per cent, showed data released by STR, a leading provider of global hotel data.



Qatar reported decreases in each of the three metrics. Occupancy in the country fell 6.6 per cent to 53.3 per cent; ADR was down 0.8 per cent to QAR491.68($135); and RevPAR dropped 7.3 per cent to QAR261.93 ($71.9). According to STR analysts, the months performance was mostly affected by an 8.0 per cent year-over-year increase in supply.



Performance of featured markets for July 2016



Beirut, Lebanon, saw a 7.3 per cent increase in occupancy to 60.2 per cent. However, ADR was down 12.8 per cent to LBP234,510.72 ($155), and RevPAR dropped 6.4 per cent to LBP141,258.21 ($93.4). The absolute occupancy level was the highest for a July in Beirut since 2011. The markets ADR, however, has decreased year over year for all seven months in 2016, due in part to a 2.9 per cent year-to-date increase in supply.



Dubai, UAE, experienced increases in occupancy (over 17.6 per cent to 67.5 per cent) and RevPAR (over 7.5 per cent to Dh365.08/$99.3), while ADR dropped 8.6 per cent to Dh540.60 ($147). The markets demand was up 24.6 per cent year over year with a lift from Eid al-Fitr festivities. At the submarket level, the highest absolute occupancy levels were reported in Jumeirah Palm & Beaches (74.9 per cent) and the Deira & Airport Area (72.0 per cent). ADR continues to be affected by new supply (over 5.9 per cent in July).

Meanwhile Africa experienced a 4.6 per cent increase in occupancy to 56.9 oer cent, a 10.8 per cent rise in ADR to $103.42 and a 15.9 per cent spike in RevPAR to $58.89.



Johannesburg, South Africa, reported a 5.9 per cent decline in occupancy to 59.2 per cent, but an 8.7 per cent rise in ADR to ZAR908.85($64.6)pushed RevPAR up 2.3 per cent to ZAR537.74 ($38.2). The devaluation of the South African Rand has made the country an attractive tourist destination, and Johannesburg hoteliers have capitalised with increased rates, according to STR analysts. ADR has grown in year-over-year comparisons for 36 consecutive months. STR analysts cite political tensions prior to the August 3 elections as a reason behind lower occupancy for July 2016. - TradeArabia News Service
Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village
The Wyoming Highway Patrol arrested a Minnesota man Tuesday after he swiped at a trooper with a knife in a Cheyenne parking garage, the agency reported.

Jeffrey Larson, 37, of Andover, Minnesota, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the patrol reported. No one was injured in the incident.

Troopers responded about 1 p.m. to the state parking garage on West 24th Street after receiving multiple calls about a shirtless man acting strangely, according to the patrol. One caller said the man had tried to steal his wallet.

A trooper found Larson seated in a car. He tried to speak with Larson but Larson swiped at him with a knife while remaining in the car, the patrol reported. The trooper drew his handgun on Larson, who immediately dropped the knife in the car and locked the cars doors.

After a five-minute negotiation, Larson surrendered and was taken into custody. He was taken to the Laramie County Detention Center.

Troopers are planning to increase patrols in the area after the incident, the patrol said.
CHEYENNE  To help the state raise revenue, lawmakers are considering expanding Wyomings sales tax by eliminating some exemptions and requiring that some untaxed services be taxed.

But some industries are worried that losing exemptions could harm economic development in the state.

In May, the Legislatures Joint Revenue Interim Committee voted to have legislation drafted that would remove many sales tax exemptions.

The decision was in response to a massive drop in revenue related to extraction and fossil fuel industries.

According to the Revenue Committees September agenda, two bills are on the table: one removing exemptions for economic development incentives, and the other broadening the state income tax to cover services not currently taxed.

The intent is for the committee to discuss and justify each exemption at its upcoming meeting and decide whether each exemption should continue.

According to an estimate prepared by the Wyoming Department of Revenue, removing exemptions, taxing services and implementing a sales tax on contractors could bring in more than $200 million annually to state coffers, with about half going to local governments.

But some industries could be adversely affected by not having a sales tax exemption, creating the possibility that business could leave the state or that future business wouldnt be attracted to Wyoming.

Thats especially a concern with tax benefits that are repeated in other states.

One exemption at risk of being removed affects Laramie Countys growing data center industry.

Computer equipment for data centers is currently exempt from sales tax, saving companies thousands of dollars.

Shawn Mills, the president of Green House Data, a data center in Cheyenne, said the sales tax exemption is one of the biggest factors in where a data center chooses to locate.

Without that incentive, these companies wouldnt be here in Wyoming, he said.

Computer equipment for data centers can cost from hundreds of thousands of dollars to well into the millions, depending on the size of the center, Mills said.

That hardware can equate to five times the cost of the building, he said.

Thus, the sales tax exemption is a perk that can trump a regions other benefits, like low power costs. Further, not having the exemption would likely mean less, if any, future data center investment in the state.

This industry is growing in Wyoming, Mills said. Itd be an unfortunate turn of events to stifle that growth.

Equipment used for manufacturing is also exempt from Wyoming sales tax  a benefit also available in several dozen other states.

That saves manufacturers cash when buying large pieces of equipment, which can add up to big savings.Removing the exemption would put existing state manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage with companies in other states, said Robert Jensen, Wyoming director of government affairs and public relations for Holland and Hart, which is representing the new Alliance of Wyoming Manufacturers.As with the data center exemption, the manufacturing exemption is one of the biggest incentives that make Wyoming competitive with other states, Jensen said.Another exemption that could be cut is a break for costs related to the repair of railroad rolling stock.That industry could be in bigger jeopardy of leaving Wyoming if the exemption is removed, Jensen said, because railroad rolling stock is, of course, on rails, so it can be easily moved to another state.All those jobs in Gillette and Evanston and Shoshoni, and even Cheyenne, are at risk, Jensen said.Anja Bendel, president of the Wyoming Economic Development Association, said that organization will have a representative at the Revenue Committee meeting.

Economic development organizations use the sales tax exemptions as a tool to recruit businesses, she said, as the tax climate of a state is one of several major factors in a business making a decision to relocate or even stay in Wyoming.

Were all competing on the same market, and we have different things we can bring to the table, said Bendel, who also is director of business development for Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County.In addition, decisions on tax exemptions could affect decisions by existing businesses.Its also going to make existing companies here evaluate  if theyre going to invest in Wyoming, she said.Bendel said the Economic Development Association is not taking a position on individual exemptions, but the state needs to be careful which ones, if any, end up being cut.The Revenue Committee will meet Sept. 22 and 23 in Buffalo, with the sales tax discussion on the second day.If the committee decides to remove exemptions, it will need to introduce a bill to the full Legislature, which will have the final say on the matter in 2017.
CHEYENNE  Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said Wednesday that he is alerting state agency directors to brace for further budget cuts in the face of falling revenues.

Mead early this summer cut roughly $250 million from the $3-billion state general fund budget legislators approved earlier this year.

He said in an interview its not yet clear how much more agency directors will still have to cut in the two-year budget cycle that started in July.

I am letting them know there is a real possibility the Legislature may require additional cuts, Mead said.

State agencies will not be allowed to make supplemental funding requests in the legislative session starting early next year except in emergency cases, he said.

Earlier budget cuts were at the low end of the budget shortfall of $250 million to $500 million that state analysts announced this spring.

State financial experts with the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group will update their formal state revenue estimates in October.

Meanwhile, interim revenue reports show Wyoming state revenue has continued to fall since the last formal revenue forecast in January.

CREG will issue its next revenue estimate report in October but Mead said agency budget cuts will not be imposed until the Legislature convenes at the beginning of 2017.

In a revenue update last month, CREG said that while coal prices have remained in line with a January forecast of $13.50 a ton, production in Wyoming is falling.

The state is the top U.S. coal-producing state and surface coal production dropped from 91 million tons the last three months of 2015 to 65 million tons in the first three months of 2016.

Federal figures compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration show Wyoming produced 170 million tons of coal this year through Aug. 13. Thats down from 231 million tons for the same period last year.

CREG had forecast that Wyoming would produce about 365 million tons of coal this year.

At the current rate of production, however, officials say the state is on track to fall about 100 million tons short of what was expected. If production remains at that level over the two-year budget cycle, state revenues would come in about $100 million a year below Januarys projections.

Several large coal companies have sought bankruptcy protection in recent months and Wyoming has seen sizeable layoffs among miners working in the Powder River Basin.

Were seeing a real realignment in the global coal industry right now, said Travis Deti, assistant director of the Wyoming Mining Association. And while I wouldnt go as far as to say things are looking up, I think its fair to say that were starting to see some stabilization.

Several lawmakers said it is obvious that the state will be forced to make more budget cuts when the Legislature convenes early next year.

Things are not shaping up well, you dont have to be a rocket scientist to know that, said Sen. Tony Ross, R-Cheyenne, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Ross said the state faces a shortfall of about $150 million for the two-year budget cycle that ended in June, and that holes got to be filled.

Sen. Bruce Burns, R-Sheridan, another Senate Appropriations Committee member, said the budget we put out from this last session was just the beginning of cuts.
As the fall semester begins, parents, students, taxpayers and donors should be made aware of official college practices that should disgust us all.

Hampshire College will offer some of its students what the school euphemistically calls identity-based housing. Thats segregated housing for students who  because of their race, culture, gender or sexual orientation  have historically experienced oppression. Id bet the rent money that Hampshire College will not offer Jewish, Irish, Polish, Chinese or Catholic students segregated housing.

Because there is no group of people who have not faced oppression, Hampshire College is guilty of religious and ethnic discrimination in its housing segregation policy.

University of Connecticut administrators think that more black men will graduate if they spend more time together. According to Campus Reform, they are building a new residence hall to facilitate just that.

Dr. Erik Hines, the faculty director for the program, said that the learning community is a space for African-American men to ... come together and validate their experiences that they may have on campus. ... Its also a space where they can have conversation and also talk with individuals who come from the same background who share the same experience. By the way, Hampshire College and the University of Connecticut are not alone in promoting racially segregated student housing.

Then theres an effort for racial segregation in classes. Moraine Valley Community College attempted it in a class titled College: Changes, Challenges, Choices. It mandated that some class sections be limited to African-American students. The college defended racially segregated classes by saying that they make students feel comfortable. After facing massive national notoriety, the college just recently abandoned its racial segregation agenda.

Suppose a student at Ripon College enrolls in a chemistry, math or economics class. What do you think ought to be the subject matter?

Zachariah Messitte, Ripons president, who is also a professor in the politics and government department, has encouraged fellow professors to disparage Donald Trump, arguing that its fine for professors to acknowledge Trumps narrow-minded rhetoric in class, suggesting that Trumps bigotry is a valid topic for most any course.

For professors to use their classes to proselytize students  and for a college president to urge it  is gross academic dishonesty.

Ive been a college professor for nearly a half-century. I challenge anyone to find a student who can say that anything other than microeconomic theory, with a bit of physics and biology thrown in now and then for good measure, was discussed in my class.

Adding to campus lunacy are classes such as Lady Gaga and the Sociology of the Fame at the University of South Carolina. Cornell Universitys physical education department offers a class titled Recreational Tree Climbing.

At Georgia State University, the English department offers a course called Kanye vs. Everybody. At Tufts Universitys Experimental College, one can take a class called Demystifying the Hipster. Skidmore Colleges sociology department offers The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media. Frostburg State Universitys physics department offers The Science of Harry Potter, where it examines some of the tales magic. Georgetown University offers Philosophy and Star Trek, arguing that Star Trek is very philosophical and adding, What better way, then, to learn philosophy, than to watch Star Trek, read philosophy, and hash it all out in class?

That these and other nonsense classes exist may reflect several things. There is the notion of shared educational governance, wherein presidents and boards of trustees have little say-so about what passes for college education. The faculty runs the show.

Students may be academic cripples and require such nonsense. Those are the most optimistic assessments.

Or such academic nonsense may indeed reflect that presidents, academic administrators, faculty members and students actually believe that such classes have academic merit.

College administrators like to keep campus barbarism under wraps. One of the best means to throttle their hideous agenda is for students to use their electronic devices to expose it to public scrutiny.
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.
Tucson police are searching for a man who pointed a handgun at a teller Wednesday during a robbery of a midtown credit union.

Shortly before 1 p.m., a man entered the Arizona Central Credit Union at 787 S. Alvernon Way, according to a Tucson Police Department Facebook post. The business is north of East 22nd Street, near a police department substation.

The man approached the teller and pulled out a handgun. He aimed the gun at the teller and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount, states the post.

Police searched the neighborhood but did not find the man.

The robber was captured on a surveillance camera. He was described as white, and about 30 or 40 years old. He was about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds.

Anyone who sees the man, or has information is asked to call 911or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster hotline.
John Marchello

One of the University of Arizonas longest-serving former faculty members will be sentenced for stealing from the school later this year, but that may not end the legal problems he and his wife face as a result.

Animal sciences professor John A. Marchello, who faced 10 felony counts of skimming proceeds from a student-run meat store he oversaw, recently agreed to plead guilty to one count of theft and to pay the UA about $83,000 in restitution, less than half of the money that went missing.

His sentencing hearing is set for Nov. 21. He faces anywhere from probation to one to 3 years in prison. The remaining charges were dropped as part of the Aug. 11 plea deal.

In a complex scheme, Marchello misdirected almost $223,000 from U of A meat sales and meat processing, a portion of which he kept for his own benefit, said a statement from the Pima County Attorneys Office, which prosecuted the case.

UA students sell butchered livestock at the schools agriculture center on North Campbell Avenue as part of their education in animal husbandry.

Marchello, 80, who worked for the UA for half a century, retired from his $106,000-a-year position about a month after his indictment last year.

Authorities said he diverted proceeds by using a false invoice scheme that funneled meat store payments into non-UA checking accounts he controlled.

While Marchello agree to pay $83,000 in restitution as part of the criminal case, the state is pursuing him for much more in a related civil lawsuit that also names his wife, who still works at the UA, as a co-defendant.

Authorities want toseize the couples northwest-side home, personal bank accounts, vehicles, and other assets totaling nearly $223,000  money that would go toward repaying the university and helping to cover the cost of prosecution.

The Marchellos are fighting the effort and the lawsuit is on hold until after John Marchellos criminal case concludes.

Elaine V. Marchello, 53, was not criminally charged in the case, however the states civil suit alleges she would have benefited financially from her spouses wrongdoing.

From 2009 to 2015, Elaine Marchello was the UAs assistant dean for agriculture academic programs at a salary of $106,000 a year.

Six months after her spouse was indicted, she took a lower-paid position in a different area of the university and now makes $88,000 a year as an assessment coordinator.
Fewer insurers and higher rates are expected on the federal health insurance marketplace, where more than 150,000 Arizonans bought plans last year.

Last year, five insurance companies sold marketplace plans to 31,161 Pima County residents. Open enrollment begins Nov. 1 for coverage in 2017.

So far this year the number of insurers expected to sell to Pima County on the marketplace is two  HealthNet and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Twelve Arizona counties are expected to have just one insurer selling plans.

And there has not yet been a commitment from any company to sell marketplace plans in Pinal County, where 9,600 consumers bought marketplace plans last year.

At the moment, Pinal County appears to be the only county in the country without any insurers selling on the marketplace.

But a federal report released today says consumers who purchase insurance on the marketplace, created through the Affordable Care Act, shouldn't worry.

The important thing for consumers to know is that if rates go up, federal subsidies to help consumers pay for their insurance will also go up, federal officials say. Even if all insurers hike their rates by 50 percent, 68 percent of Arizonans would still be able to purchase coverage for less than $75 per month, the report says.

All marketplace premiums will be finalized and public in October. Enrollment is set to begin Nov. 1. Some insurers have said they are pulling out of the marketplace, including insurance giant Aetna, which announced earlier this year it would be pulling out of Arizona and several other states.

"The simple story is, it ain't over until it's over. It appears there are discussions going on regarding Pinal," said Allen Gjersvig, director navigator and enrollment services for the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers.

"We are not panicking...People do want answers but sometimes you have to wait until the process runs its course."

Officials from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona said today that they have been part of many conversations with the federal government since learning that Pinal County would have no marketplace plans. The company is currently re-evaluating its 2017 plans, spokeswoman Anne Christensen wrote in an email.

With fewer choices, the market doesn't work as well and premiums go up, says health policy expert Dr. Dan Derksen of the University of Arizona's Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health .

Yet Derksen remains optimistic about Pinal County, and about the marketplace for Arizonans.

He says that the people most vulnerable to rate hikes  those earning 250 percent of the federal poverty level or less  won't see big jumps in their premiums due to subsidies and cost sharing.

This year is an unusual one, he added. Next year the marketplace could be looking more like it did in 2015.

"The fourth open enrollment period starts this Nov. 1. Another big event happens Nov. 8. I don't think it's a spurious correlation that large insurers are exiting right before the national election," he said.

"In chess they call it a gambit...The market stuff is a little brutal but this is more than just a bit coincidental."

The enthusiasm around former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and his support of a public option for health insurance is not going to be forgotten under a new administration, Derksen added.

"If there are no choices then the public option needs to be one of those so populations don't go without coverage," he said.

Some people refer to the marketplace as "Obamacare insurance." It's where working age individuals and families purchase commercial insurance and depending on their income, can qualify for federal subsidies to help pay for it.

Most Americans don't get their health insurance via the exchange. If you are on Medicaid, Medicare (or any government insurance) or have employer-sponsored insurance, you don't need to use the exchange.

While some states have created their own marketplaces, often called exchanges, Arizonans use the federal marketplace. The website is healthcare.gov. Nearly 180,000 Arizonans are currently covered by marketplace plans.

Most Arizonans who bought insurance through the insurance exchange last year qualified for federal subsidies to help them pay for it.

Federal subsidies for marketplace plans are offered to individuals and families who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($47,520 per year for a single person, $97,200 per year for a family of four) Those subsidies act as a protection to consumers to keep coverage affordable, Gjersvig said.

If premiums go up, then more people will receive greater amounts of tax credits in Arizona than in previous years, he said.

In the first year of the marketplace, Arizona premiums were some of the lowest in the country and as a result, tax credits here were also lower. This year, they are likely going to be higher, Gjersvig said.

"It is not yet final and there is a very good probability that one organization or two will offer plans in Pinal County. And the coverage that people have now stays in place until Dec. 31, as long as you pay your premiums," he said.

"We're watching very carefully to make sure that Arizona consumers using the marketplace understand their options."

Gjersvig said some families will also have a new option for covering their children this year  KidsCare, which is a government insurance program for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to affordably pay for commercial health insurance.

Monthly premiums for KidsCare start at about $10 and go up to approximately $70 per month based on income and family size. Enrollment in the program was frozen in 2010 but reactivated this year.

While there have been grim headlines about insurers pulling out of the marketplace and massive rate hikes, that does not always reflect what consumers pay, federal officials told reporters on Wednesday,

Last year, the average Arizona premium increased $4 per month for HealthCare.gov consumers with tax credits, and seven out of 10 marketplace consumers could purchase 2016 coverage for less than $75 per month, the federal report says.

And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is stressing that prior to the Affordable Care Act, many Americans were barred from coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Also, those who did have insurance through the individual market were often trapped in a plan, since people with even small health problems could be denied coverage or charged an exorbitant price if they tried to switch plans.

The federal report also says that independent researchers recently calculated that 2016 marketplace rates are anywhere between 12 and 20 percent below what the Congressional Budget Office initially predicted.

At the same time, the administration is working to develop, "new, innovative ways of paying for care that align payment with improved outcomes and can help sustain and build on the slowdown in health care costs," a federal news release says.
PHOENIX  Foes of requiring employers to pay their workers at least $12 an hour asked the Arizona Supreme Court Wednesday to block a vote on a deficient initiative.

In a petition to the justices, Attorney Roopali Desai pointed out that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Joshua Rogers judge had concluded that more than 50,000 of the signatures turned in to put Proposition 206 on the ballot should not be counted. She said that would have left the measure far short of the 150,642 needed to put the measure on the November ballot.

Desai said, though, that Rogers effectively nullified his own findings by concluding that the Arizona Restaurant Association waited too long to challenge the petitions, making the question of disqualified signatures legally moot.

Desai said Rogers got it wrong and the high court now needs to intercede.

The outcome of the appeal  and the ballot measure  ultimately will turn on how the Supreme Court interprets the phrase five days.

Thats the number of days after a measure is certified for the ballot that challengers have to file suit.

Desai argues that state lawmakers must have meant five business days. That excludes Saturdays and Sundays.

If the justices agree, then her petition would have been filed on time. That would mean the 53,175 signatures that Rogers said were gathered illegally could no longer be counted.

Hanging in the balance is a proposal to hike the minimum wage to $10 an hour beginning next year, eventually going to $12 by 2020. The measure also would require employers to give workers five days of paid leave a year.

The current state minimum wage is $8.05 an hour; there are no legal requirements for paid leave.

Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant Association, said the measure would cause financial harm to his members.

The appeal drew an angry reaction from Suzanne Wilson, spokeswoman for Arizona Healthy Working Families, the group that crafted the initiative and hired paid circulators to get it on the ballot.

This is another unseemly tactic by the opposition to deny thousands of Arizonans their right to vote on raising the minimum wage and earn paid sick days, she said.

Wilson sidestepped repeated questions on whether the initiative backers  and the firm they hired to gather signatures  was not to blame for its legal problems.

The outcome turns on two legal points.

First is that question of what does five days mean.

Desai points out the same statute on election challenges mentions five calendar days when referring to a different deadline. She said that the reference to five days in this case must mean something else, specifically, five business days.

Rogers said that, absent that missing word business, he has to assume that lawmakers mean exactly what they said. And five days, he said, is five days.

Desai hopes to convince at least three of the five justices otherwise. If they agree, that goes to the second point.

A new state law requires paid petition circulators and those from other states to both register with the secretary of states office and provide an Arizona address where they can be located.

Rogers found repeated instances where that had not occurred. He said that means any signatures they gathered cannot be counted. Ditto, the judge said, for circulators who had been convicted of felonies as well as those who were subpoenaed for trial but did not show up in court.

Desai said, that disqualified 53,175 signatures.

Backers submitted nearly 272,000 signatures. But after a preliminary review and a random check of signatures by county election officials, Secretary of State Michele Reagan concluded the final tally was just 176,47.

If the justices reinstate the lawsuit as filed on time, then Rogers original ruling prevails and the 53,175 come off the total, leaving it short.
Help India!

By Shafeeq Hudawi, Twocircles.net

Kochi: Kerala Minister for Haj KT Jaleel has asked Muslim outfits and pilgrims to give up Haj subsidy before the Central government eliminates it completely. While addressing the media persons at Cochin International Airport before flagging off the first Haj flight, the minister said that the Muslim outfits must take a decision on the Haj subsidy.

Support TwoCircles



The subsidy is being slashed by the in a phased manner following the 2010 Supreme Court order directing the Centre to curtail it within 10 years. Islam is quite clear that the pilgrims cannot not use money from other sources to perform the holy pilgrimage. We hope that the pilgrims would meet their expenses without governments support, the minister said. According to him, the subsidy amount, which had been R45,000 in 2010 was slashed to R15,200 in 2016.

First group leaves for Saudi Arabia

The first group of pilgrims left for Saudi from Cochin International Airport on Monday. The Haj flight took off from the airport at 3.20 pm with 450 pilgrims onboard, including 229 women. Saudi Airlines will operate 24 flight services between Kochi and Madina over a 16 day-period starting from Monday with pilgrims from Kerala, Lakshadweep and Mahe. A total of 10,527 pilgrims, including 285 and 28 Haajis from Lakshwadeep and Mahe respectively will embark on the pilgrimage under government supervision from Kerala this year.

The State Government has set up a temporary camp at the airport with elaborate facilities. The camp has rooms and conference halls, besides other facilities required for pilgrims. Minister for Haj KT Jaleel flagged off the flight. Haj committee chairman Kottumala Bhappu Musaliyar and MLAs V K Ibrahim Kunju and Anwar Sadat were also present.

Earlier, the Haj camp was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The inaugural session was attended by the representatives of all Muslim organisations ranging from IUML young leader Syed Munavvarali Shihab Thangal to All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar.
These days, Bollywoods filmmakers add sizzling hot item numbers in their movies. It seems that the Item Songs have become a must part of every Bollywood flick, and are used to tempt the viewers. These Bollywood actresses are ruling the industry and have the most number of item songs. It would not be wrong to call them the item girls who always make the headlines because of their perfect dance moves and hot personalities.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone is one of the most successful and hottest Bollywood divas. Her item number Dum Maro Dum has recently made the news.

It is true that Padukone is not only a talented performer but also a graceful dancer. She is always the first choice of directors when it comes to choosing an item girl. Reportedly, she has refused the offers of doing more item numbers this year. In an interview, Deepika told that she does not want to expose herself, and always focuses on her acting rather than wasting her time on some low-quality item numbers.

Kareena Kapoor

One of the hottest Indian actresses Kareena Kapoor Khan is known for her dazzling look. She is widely considered the right fit for high profile item numbers. No doubt, her performance in Dons Yeh Mera Dil has been incredible. Later on, Kapoor rose to the limelight with her dazzling dance in Dil Mera Muft Ka, Fevicol Se, Halkat Jawani, and Chammak Challo.

This daughter of Randhir Kapoor and Babita should now stop doing such dance numbers because she is pregnant with the baby of Saif Ali Khan. The two married in 2012.

Katrina Kaif

This British-Indian model and actress has appeared in a number of item songs. Katrina Kaif is widely known for her item number Sheila Ki Jawani from the movie Tees Maar Khan.

In this song, Akshay Kumar has rocked the dance floor alongside Kaif. She was brought to Bollywood by her ex-boyfriend Salman Khan. So far, Katrina has made appearances in songs like Race Sason Ki, Chikni Chameli, Kamli, and Bang Bang.

Sunny Leone

Sunny Leone is one of the hottest and most attractive Bollywood females to date.

She is originally from Canada. She used to be a YouTube celebrity before starting her career in B-Town. She has appeared in a variety of movies including 2012s Jism where she was paired with Randeep Hooda. In this film, Leones bold performance was acclaimed for months. Her top item numbers are Laila, Baby Doll, Pink Lips, Shake That Booty, and Desi Look.
Independence Day of Ukraine was marked with a further aggravation of the military situation across the boundary line. In the evening, in Stanytsia Luhanska which is in the Luhansk sector, militants shelled ATO forces twice. It was quite in the area of Shyrokyne. Near the Bakhmut road, across the front line stretching from Krymske to Novotoshkivske, militants applied mortars, 152-mm artillery and a tank. The number of shells fired at Ukrainian positions summed up to dozens. A similar situation occurred in Popasna, where the enemy used 152-mm howitzers for several times.

In the Donetsk sector, military situation was much more difficult. Russia-backed militants used heavy weapons  tanks, mortars, and cannons  across the front line stretching from Troitske to Krasnohorivka, both day and night. Traditionally, militants shelled not only Ukrainian positions at the front line, but also in the rear with heavy artillery.

In Shyrokyne that is in the Mariupol sector, at dawn, the enemy shelled Ukrainian positions having released within one hour over 120 shells. In the evening, enemy mortar attacks were held in Krasnohorivka, Novohryhorivka, Starohnativka and Shyrokyne. Also, militants were actively violating cease-fire regime in other areas of the frontline, especially Maryinka and at the front line stretching from Pavlopil to Vodiane.

Yesterday in the ATO area, three flights of enemy UAVs were recorded.

Over the previous day, Ukrainian Armed Forces did not incur any casualties; three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action.

Yesterday, confirmed losses of the enemy made up to seven wounded militants.
The Statue of Samora Machel in front of the Maputo municipal building. Samora Machel is the first president of Mozambique after the country gained independence in 1975. [Wang Chao / China Daily]

MAPUTO - Mozambique held its 9th cultural festival in the central province Sofala Wednesday to call for peace and repudiate atrocities in the country.

"Let us make our cultural diversity a source of strength and wealth, and mobilize our counterparts to love their brothers, to love working," said Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi when addressing the festival.

More than 900 representatives from all over the country participated in the event held in the city of Beira, Mozambique's second largest city after the capital Maputo.

The festival venue is one of the epicenters of the political tension between government forces and the former rebel movement Renamo which is allegedly attacking civilians.

The normal circulation of people and goods in the region can only be guaranteed with the escort of Mozambican armed forces.

"We salute all Mozambicans present here. They were brave enough and moving forward," said the president.

Minister of Tourism and Culture Silva Dunduro appealed to the participants to make the event a mechanism for expressing their dissatisfaction with the political instability facing the country.

He said this festival is not only a demonstration of different national feelings but also a representation of the African identity which has been relying on oral transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
Authorities stop illegal broadcasts Updated: 2016-08-25 07:35 By HOU LIQIANG(China Daily)

More than 500 sets of equipment for making unauthorized radio broadcasts in China were seized in a national campaign aided by more than 30,000 airwave monitors.

The campaign, launched on Feb 15 by the State Council, resulted in 1,796 cases related to illegal radio stations, after 301,840 hours of monitoring from February to July, according to an online statement by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The number of incidents was down by 50 percent from April to August, the statement said.

So-called pirate radio has appeared in most parts of China since 2015 and "has been a channel for criminals to defraud and promote aphrodisiacs, along with counterfeit and poor-quality medicine", according to the Ministry of Public Security's Criminal Investigation Department.

The operating cost of pirate radio is low, but profit can be high. A pirate radio station that broadcasts advertisements for aphrodisiacs can pocket more than 70,000 yuan ($10,500) a month, with an overhead cost of no more than 10,000 yuan, investigators said in a post on Sina Weibo. It said most spare parts for broadcasting equipment can be bought on the internet.

In a recent case in Shanghai, an operator of a pirate radio station bought eight sets of equipment for less than 10,000 yuan via the QQ instant messaging platform.

Another person, who was in the same QQ group with the seller, helped the operator record the audio advertisements and charged 380 yuan for each piece, according to a media report. The suspect bought a certain medicine for 9.9 yuan per box, which he then sold for 330 yuan through the radio broadcast.

"The broadcast power of pirate radio stations can be 2,500 to 5,000 watts, which is several hundred of times that of commercial radio, and the signal can be received 300 kilometers away," the department said.

In the Shanghai case, the suspect rented an apartment to accommodate the equipment. The electromagnetic radiation of the equipment was so high that the refrigerator of a nearby family malfunctioned, with TV screens flickering frequently. The suspect didn't live in the apartment but used his cell phone as a remote control to turn equipment on and off.

Pirate radio may also pose a threat to communication between aircraft pilots and ground controllers, as its frequency band neighbors that of flight navigation signals and can create interference, the department said.

"The development of e-commerce and social networks has facilitated the criminals in selling" illegal equipment for pirate radio, Zhang Jianming, director of Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau, told CCTV.

Zhang said the public should be cautious when listening to radio advertisements, and he also called on the public to report suspicious activity to the police.

Under Chinese law, the unauthorized use radio frequency bands can bring up to seven years in prison.
New experts named to counselors' office to assist national policy Updated: 2016-08-25 07:51 (China Daily)

Six high-caliber experts have been hired by the State Council's Counselors' Office, bringing to 56 the number of the top consultants to the nation.

Those who newly joined the ranks are: Xu Xianping, a former deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission; He Xiurong and He Maochun, economics professionals; Shi Yong and Hu Peiyuan, who specialize in data research; and Ke Jinhua, who studies philosophy.

The office serves as a platform for other political parties to play a supervisory role over the nation's major policies and acts as a united front for the Communist Party of China to associate with other political parties in China.

Counselors have been providing advice to the central government on a wide range of issues relating to important policies since the office was established in November 1949, soon after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The Counselors' Office, a think tank for the central government, began to hire professionals from the CPC over the past decade. Before that, most of the counselors were members of non-Communist parties, high-ranking officials of the Kuomingtang who supported the leadership of the Communist Party of China and former senior government officials with no affiliation to any political party.

In 2011, eight of the newly appointed consultants were experts renowned for their innovative social affairs management concepts.

One of them, Li Lei, is head of Beijing No 2 Experimental Primary School and a trailblazer in primary education in the capital. Li was included as a consultant to facilitate education reform.

Last week, four people were hired as members of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History of the CPC. The institute provides honorary positions for culture and history professionals, especially for those who are members of other political parties in China.



Quick facts

 The State Council's Counselors' Office was set up in November 1949 by China's former top leaders. The Central Research Institute of Culture and History of the Communist Party of China was set up in July 1951. Both departments served as a united front for non-Communist senior scholars and dignitaries. The two departments use the same office building.

 A working ordinance was introduced in January 2010 limiting the term of every consultant to five years. The document also says consultants should be between 55 and 65 years of age when they are hired for the first time. The age for a sitting consultant should not exceed 70. Consultants should be mainly non-Party members or politically unaffiliated.

 In November 2008, a guest research fellow system was set up allowing the Counselors' Office to hire researchers in professional fields. At present, 23 people are employed as guest research fellows.

 To date, 219 people have been hired as consultants and 309 as members of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History of the Communist Party of China.
New leader raises hopes of rejuvenation Updated: 2016-08-25 08:20 By Liu Ce and Wuyong in Shenyang(China Daily)

Wang Menghui, Party chief of Xiamen, Fujian province, was appointed on Tuesday as Party chief of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province.

Wang, 56, replaced Zeng Wei, who served in the position in Shenyang for eight years.

Wang had been Party chief of Xiamen since 2013. His political career has previously been tied to southern China.

Wang, who was born in Jiangsu province in 1960, graduated from Tsinghua University in 1983. He became a deputy mayor of Panyu, Guangdong province, in 1993.

Since then, he rose through the ranks in Guangdong, becoming the deputy head of the Guangzhou district of Zengcheng, mayor of Shanwe i, Party chief of Yunfu and, in December 2011, vice-governor of Fujian province.

In May 2013, he was appointed as Party chief of Xiamen.

Last year, Xiamen's gross domestic product increased by 7.5 percent to 347 billion yuan ($52 billion), with a per capita GDP of $14,500. The city's revenue also increased by 10.2 percent, breaking the 100 billion yuan benchmark.

Shenyang, as well as the rest of Liaoning province, is under heavy pressure to reform its traditional manufacturing industries. Liaoning was the only province to report a negative GDP growth rate, minus 1 percent, in the first half of this year.

With the phenomenal success in Xiamen, netizens believe Wang may be able to rejuvenate Shenyang's economy. The new Party secretary is also confident.

"Shenyang is a city with a glorious history and rich culture that plays an important role in national strategy," Wang said on Tuesday at a meeting in Shenyang to announce his position.

"I'm proud to work here and also keenly aware of the great responsibility on me," he added. "I will devote all my efforts to my job and, together with all of the power of the city, to promote Shenyang to pioneer in the new round of revitalization of Northeast China."

An economics researcher in Liaoning who requested anonymity said: "Most of the officials in Liaoning are from the province. This is easy to fall into a deadlock. Since Wang is from the more developed and open area, he may bring some new thoughts, which may break the fixed mindsets of the city."

Zhang Zhihao in Beijing and Hu Meidong in Fuzhou contributed to this story.
A virtual vision of Shanghai lures NY Updated: 2016-08-25 08:22 By Xinhua in New York(China Daily)

A visitor watches a promotional video for Shanghai using virtual reality technology, in New York on Tuesday. WANG YING/XINHUA

Shanghai launched a tourism campaign in New York City on Tuesday with the debut of a virtual-reality promotional video showcasing spectacular panoramic views of the metropolis.

The campaign was kicked off by a delegation from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, which introduced new tourism products and the city's latest policy updates to a room of travel industry insiders.

The updates include new direct air routes, landmark skyscrapers, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, 144-hour visa-free entry for transit passengers and the new tax refund policy.

"Shanghai is a city of rich and unique details," said Cheng Meihong, deputy director of the tourism administration. "There is so much to explore in the city, and we encourage tourists from the US to come and experience it firsthand."

The event featured a promotional video powered by virtual reality technology. Starring Shanghai's tourism ambassador, actor Hu Ge, and the rising bel canto band Vocal Force, the video presents Shanghai's charm from multiple aspects.

The US is one of the largest sources of inbound visitors to Shanghai, Cheng said. The city saw more than 636,000 tourists from the United States in 2015, up 0.61 percent from 2014.

As a part of "China-US Tourism Year" programs, Shanghai and New York signed an agreement on July 14 for a two-year tourism partnership.

Under the agreement, both cities will promote each other and provide tailored travel products.
Talks with Manila at early date expected Updated: 2016-08-25 09:04 By MO JINGXI(China Daily)

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 that talks on the South China Sea dispute are likely within a year.

Speaking to reporters 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 Reuters.

Ties between Beijing and Manila suffered after the Philippines, under its former leadership, initiated an arbitration against China.

The ruling issued in July by the Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, which China called biased and illegal, has harmed bilateral ties and put pressure on Duterte.

"We welcome Duterte's remarks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

He said China has always been committed to solving disputes over the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation with the countries directly related, including the Philippines, in order to maintain regional peace and stability.

"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," Lus aid.

"China expects that bilateral talks between the two sides could be conducted at an early date," he added.

Jia Duqiang, a researcher of Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the new Philippine president has taken a series of steps to adjust his policy toward China, including former Philippine president Fidel Ramos' recent visit to Hong Kong.

"Duterte's remarks show that Manila wants to break the current deadlock over the South China Sea, and this is also what China wishes to see," Jia said.

Chen Qinghong, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Duterte has realized that the previous government's confrontational policy toward China cannot be continued.

"The bilateral relations between China and the Philippines are moving in a good direction," he said.
Student suffers fatal cardiac arrest after telephone scam Updated: 2016-08-25 09:18 (chinadaily.com.cn)

Xu Yuyu, a college-bound student, died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest on Sunday after funds her family had raised for her tuition fees were swindled in a telephone scam.

The 18-year-old girl from Linyi, Shandong province, scored 568 points on her college entrance exam this year and was admitted to Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

On Aug 19, Xu received a phone call from an unknown person notifying her that she was due to receive 2,600 yuan ($390) in student funding. She had received an official phone call from the education authority the day before, so her family did not question the authenticity of the second call.

Following the call, Xu wired a 9,900-yuan "activation fee" into the scammer's bank account, hoping the money would appear in her student account, but it never did.

After discovering they had been cheated, the family immediately reported the incident to the police, but Xu was said to be devastated. On their way home, she suddenly fainted and despite doctors' best efforts to revive her, she passed away.

According to reports, Xu was healthy.

Her family is poor and they depend solely on her father's income. They had to save for almost a year to raise funds for her tuition fees.

"She never misspent her money and always saved what little she had," said Li Ziyun, Xu's mother. "The scammer has taken my baby girl!"

Pan Baojian, Xu's class adviser, expressed regret over losing a great student. "She is outgoing, well-mannered and always on top of her studies. It is a shame she passed away this early."

An investigation into the case is ongoing.

With admission season underway, telephone scams have spiked recently and police have warned college-bound students to be more vigilant.


School to compensate parents of students studying in US Updated: 2016-08-25 14:11 By Ma Lie(chinadaily.com.cn)

A court in Beijing on Tuesday ordered a private school in the city to partially reimburse the tuition fees of four students studying in the United States, who were said to be living in very poor conditions.

Beijing Shuren-Ribet Private School had signed a contract with parents of three middle school students and a 9-year-old pupil to arrange the students' accommodation and transportation in the US, the Beijing News reported.

The school had promised the parents that their children would be afforded comfortable living conditions and three meals a day worth $9, for which the parents of each child paid between 100,000 yuan and 330,000 yuan ($15,000 and $49,500).

However, when some of the parents later visited their children in the US, they found more than a dozen students lived in one room and did not have enough food to eat.

"Sometimes, even one egg a day cannot be promised," a parent was quoted as saying.

The school reportedly spent only $3.30 per day on meals for each child, almost one-third of the promised amount.

Parents brought a lawsuit against the school, seeking compensation, and brought their children back to China.

More families are sending their children to study abroad, but parents should be careful when making such decisions, said Huang Haitao, a judge at the Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court.

Education authorities should also consider adopting new rules to regulate the industry, Huang added.
Tourists walk on the glass bridge spanning Zhangjiajie Canyon, in Central China's Hunan province, on Aug 20. Xinhua

China has a thing for glass-bottom footbridges, which seem to be gleefully constructed with the intention of frightening visitors while at the same time reassuring them all is well.

The highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world opened in Hunan province on Aug 20.

Spanning a quarter-mile across Zhangjiajie Canyon, it is 984 feet high and features 99 panes of three-layered glass (each layer 1.9 inches thick) as its walkway.

Designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan and built by China Construction Group, the bridge is 430 meters (1,400 feet) long and is wedged between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park. The mountain range is said to have inspired James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar.

A maximum of 8,000 visitors (paying $20 apiece) are allowed to traverse the bridge daily, which is about 20 feet wide, and 600 are allowed on at one time. There are three other glass bridges in the Tianmen Mountains in the Zhangjiajie scenic area - including the "heaven seeking avenue", which takes hairpin turns around cliffs.

Before the bridge opened, 20 volunteers were given the chance to swing sledgehammers at the glass bottom to test its sturdiness. It withstood the pounding.

As for how the new bridge stacks up with some in North America, the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona is 69 feet long and720 feet above the canyon's bottom.

"Visitors of the Grand Canyon Skywalk can walk over the western rim of the Grand Canyon on a clear, glass-floored structure built to withstand over 71 million pounds of weight, and experience the sensation of seeing the canyon fall straight away below their feet," the attraction's website says.

The Glacier Skywalk in Alberta, Canada, which opened last year, is 400 meters long. It extends 115 feet from a cliff and is 918 feet above ground.

If you weren't scared enough, the Zhangjiajie bridge will offer the highest bungee jump in the world. (The current title-holder is the 233-meter Macau Tower.)

I think my concern with crossing these bridges would not be because they have glass bottoms but how stable the supporting cables are, for instance, when it gets windy.

So what is the attraction to such a dizzying attraction?

"It is the relationship between emotionally driven fear and the logical understanding of safety," architect Keith Brownlie told the BBC in January. "These structures tread the boundary between those two contrasting senses, and people like to challenge their rational mind in relation to their irrational fear."

Uh, that fear isn't always irrational. Another glass-bottom walkway in China, this one attached to the side of a mountain in Henan province (3,540 feet above the ground) cracked as tourists were crossing in October 2015.

"I yelled out loud, 'It cracked, it really cracked', then pushed the people in front of me to leave. [I was] terrified," a young woman posted on Weibo, the Daily Mail reported.

Yuntai Mountain Scenic Spot management said that staffers had noticed some cracks near the exit of the 853-foot-long walkway. A sharp object falling onto the glass was blamed for the cracks, but management said there was no cause for alarm because there are three layers of glass. (I hope sledgehammer-swinging isn't allowed at Yuntai Mountain).

Contact the writer at williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com
Surgeons educated for Silk Road Updated: 2016-08-25 11:03 By Amy He at the United Nations(China Daily USA)

Neurosurgeons in particular are rare in developing countries; China is helping

Neurosurgeons are rare in developing countries, and as part of the One Belt One Road Initiative, China is stepping in to help train the next generation of doctors in the specialty in countries along the old Silk Road, said Dr Ling Feng, one of China's top neurosurgeons.

"As one of the most difficult medical fields, being able to train young neurosurgeons can help save a lot of lives. For some diseases - stroke, hypertension-related hemorrhaging - if you cannot offer emergency treatment, patients can die immediately," she told China Daily on the sidelines of the 2016 NGO Global Summit for UN Sustainable Development Goals, which his taking place in New York from Aug 24 to 26.

Ling is one of the lead participants in a program that's devoted to training young medical students in the latest neurological techniques and know-how.

The focus of the effort, sponsored by the Chinese government, is to provide an "upgrade or refresh" for medical professionals before they return to their countries, where they will hopefully have an impact on local lives.

Now in its third year, the program has so far trained 176 doctors from 42 countries, Ling said.

"We have the capability now. It's completely different from 50 years ago" when resources were limited and doctors could not demonstrate their real capabilities and techniques, she explained.

"But now we have developed these techniques [to a much higher standard] than before, and we have the good equipment and facilities to use to demonstrate these advanced techniques. We also have marvelous experience because we have such a large population of experts," she said.

Ling is a research professor at the Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing and a board member of the Geneva-based World Federation of Neurological Societies. She was also one of the pioneers of neurosurgery in China, establishing the country's first neurology intervention center in 1983.

Ling said she is a believer in sharing medical expertise - a better way to establish strong relations with other countries than perhaps other channels.

"Science doesn't discriminate," she said. "For doctors, all lives are equal and valuable. Every life, no matter your political perspective or religion or attitude, is equal, and it is the doctors' job to always try their best to save them."

"The person who has been saved, he might carry with him certain political attitudes or ability to help somehow, and he'll try the best he can to reciprocate," she said.

Ling, who joined the army at a young age and worked in various hospitals across China throughout her career, said the most important aspect of her role is to disseminate aid in whatever way she can to those who can benefit.

"As a large country, we have certain big country responsibilities. As President Xi Jinping has said, big country responsibilities do not necessarily entail politics or military might, it's in other areas - to help with infrastructure, aid, healthcare. Those are the things we can contribute."

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com
China emerges as market for US natural gas Updated: 2016-08-25 11:03 By Paul Welitzkin in New York(China Daily USA)

A potentially vast export market for America opened this week when the first shipment of liquefied natural gas from the US sailed into China.

The cargo of US gas arrived on Monday at the Chinese port of Yantian and came from the Sabine Pass export facility in the Gulf of Mexico, according to S&P Global Platts, a provider of energy and commodities information.

Liquefied natural gas or LNG, is a clear, colorless and non-toxic liquid which is formed when natural gas is cooled to minus 259 degrees Fahrenheit to make it easier to transport and store.

Stuart Elliott, a senior writer at Platts, which is a unit of Standard and Poor's Financial Services LLC, said demand for LNG in China - unlike in Japan and South Korea - is rising so the US will likely be targeting the Chinese market for LNG exports in the future.

"Total Chinese LNG imports so far in 2016 are up by around 18 percent year on year. US LNG is relatively cheap compared with other sources of LNG due to the shale gas boom in the US," Elliott wrote in an email.

China imports LNG from several countries "but the more alternatives you have, the cheaper you can procure your LNG," added Elliott.

Monday's shipment came via an expanded Panama Canal. New locks at the canal that opened earlier this summer permit larger ships to pass.

"Exports to the key markets of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China were made considerably more economic with the opening of the expanded Panama Canal," said Elliott.

"Currently, the cost of shipping to Japan/Korea through the canal is $1.11/MMBtu (per one million British thermal units), compared to $1.56/MMBtu via the Cape of Good Hope and $1.71/MMBtu through the Suez Canal."

Charlie Riedl, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, an industry trade group, said in an email that an expanded Panama Canal will help American LNG producers serve the Asian markets by shaving days off of shipping time.

"Travel time from the US Gulf Coast to Japan will be reduced by 11 to 14 days per voyage, depending on the route taken," he said.

Riedl said the majority of US exports will come from liquefaction terminals located on the Gulf Coast and the East Coast.

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
Merkel calls for more understanding among remaining EU states after Brexit Updated: 2016-08-25 08:55 (Xinhua)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia, August 24, 2016.[Photo/VCG]

TALLINN - Member states of the European Union(EU) should not rush into making decisions after Britain leaves the bloc, local media quoted German Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying on Wednesday.

Merkel arrived in Tallinn on Wednesday for a two-day visit, as part of a longer trip in preparation for the first EU summit to be held without Britain, the Estonian Broadcasting Corporation (ERR) reported.

At a joint press conference after meeting with the Estonian Prime Minster Taavi Roivas, Merkel stressed the fact that, following Brexit, the EU must be given a new direction.

"Member states must be given time to discuss matters, and prior to the summit in Bratislava, the future of Europe must be discussed with all member states", she said.

"This is a period for listening to one another, understanding and learning from one another in order to find and develop a new balance in the 27-member EU," said Merkel.

"If the UK, who made up 15 percent of the EU's GDP, leaves (the EU), this means the departure of an important partner, and from the start we must act collectively and very calmly to build up a new, 27-member EU again."

Speaking about the ongoing refugee crisis, Merkel repeated her earlier standpoint that European states must be united, but first and foremost combat its underlying causes.

"We must combat the root causes of (refugees') flight - human trafficking, crime," said Merkel.
Mozambique holds cultural festival to call for peace Updated: 2016-08-25 10:38 (Xinhua)

MAPUTO - Mozambique held its 9th cultural festival in the central province Sofala Wednesday to call for peace and repudiate atrocities in the country.

"Let us make our cultural diversity a source of strength and wealth, and mobilize our counterparts to love their brothers, to love working," said Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi when addressing the festival.

More than 900 representatives from all over the country participated in the event held in the city of Beira, Mozambique's second largest city after the capital Maputo.

The festival venue is one of the epicenters of the political tension between government forces and the former rebel movement Renamo which is allegedly attacking civilians.

The normal circulation of people and goods in the region can only be guaranteed with the escort of Mozambican armed forces.

"We salute all Mozambicans present here. They were brave enough and moving forward," said the president.

Minister of Tourism and Culture Silva Dunduro appealed to the participants to make the event a mechanism for expressing their dissatisfaction with the political instability facing the country.

He said this festival is not only a demonstration of different national feelings but also a representation of the African identity which has been relying on oral transmission of knowledge from generation to generation.
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.
HCM CITY  Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue has called on all provinces and cities to set up a centre to support businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

His call came at a ceremony in HCM City yesterday where the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) signed an agreement with 33 central and southern provinces and cities for creating a business-friendly environment.

The centres will provide all kinds of support - with legal procedures to incorporate or close down companies; incorporation procedures; import-export activities; approaching the market; setting up a business project; technology; tax and land issues; and accounting.

SMEs and micro enterprises cannot have an accounting department because they cannot afford it; the centre will help them do it, Hue said, citing an example.

This would encourage SMEs and micro enterprises to develop, he said.

The Government would subsidise 40-60 per cent of the centres operation costs with the rest covered by fees paid by companies, he said.

Hue, who is also head of the Steering Committee for Business Renovation and Development, called on the VCCI to create a Business Support and Development Index to rate provinces and cities based on the number of enterprises, new ones and ones that recommence business after suspending operations.

The benefit that companies brought a province  a combination of the profits they make and their workers incomes  should also be an important basis, he said.

The index will not be used to compare all provinces and cities; it will be used for a comparison with themselves or with others at the same level.

He called on the VCCI to create the index this year so that it can be applied from next year onwards.

Developing local credit guarantee funds was the Governments other requirement from the VCCI and provinces.

Many SMEs and micro enterprises cannot get bank loans since they lack assets to mortgage, so they need help from the fund, Hue said.

Ha Noi and HCM City had efficient funds, he said, hoping other provinces and cities would follow.

Signing ceremony



Agreement signed to support businesses

The deal between the VCCI and the provinces was in response to the Governments Resolution No 35 in May to support and develop businesses by 2020.

With the signing, the 33 provinces and cities have pledged to carry out the Governments resolutions in improving the investment environment.

They are committed to implementing programmes and establishing models to support local companies and help them overcome difficulties.

Resolution 35 lists five tasks: reforming administrative procedures to improve the business climate; creating advantages for start-ups; ensuring a level playing field for all companies; helping reduce businesses costs; and protecting businesses rights and benefits.

VCCI chairman Vu Tien Loc said companies were happy with the determination of the Government and provinces to create a good business climate.

According to the VCCI, it has signed agreements with 40 provinces and cities, including Ha Noi, HCM City, a Nang, ong Nai, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri, to support local businesses. -- VNS
AUSTRIA  Vietnamese and Austrian enterprises attended at a business-to-business platform in Austria on Tuesday to seek partners in the fields of clean energy, banking, telecommunications and garments, besides food.

Representative of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Nguyen Hoang Thang described this event as a good opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to get updated information about the European Union market and then draw up their business strategy to access the market more effectively.

Participants at the event said Austria would be a good gateway for Vietnamese businesses to penetrate the lucrative European Union market. Meanwhile, Viet Nam will help Austrian firms to enter potential markets in Southeast Asia.

In his speech, Georg Brunauer, CEO of Novapecc Co, which specialises in hi-tech industries, said his company planned to enter the Vietnamese market as soon as possible.

Currently, Austria ranks seventh among the 10 largest importers in the European Union of Vietnamese goods such as footwear, smart phones, electronics and garments, with a turnover of US$2.2 billion in 2015.

Viet Nam, meanwhile, is the largest trade partner of Austria in Southeast Asia. Austrias total turnover from exports, including machinery, electronics, steel products and medicines, to Viet Nam hit $412 million in 2015.

The business exchange in Austria was organised as part of a Vietnamese business delegations trip led by the VCCI to the European Union from August 18 to 28. - VNS
HCM CITY  Investment and asset management company VinaCapital Group has tied up with Shinhan BNP Paribas Asset Management (Shinhan) to provide Vietnamese investment products to the latters clients in Korea.

The two companies will outline co-operation plans to set up funds to be invested in Vietnamese assets for Korean investors as well as introduce Shinhans products to the Vietnamese market.

VinaCapitals first engagement with Shinhan is a delegated investment management mandate for one of Shinhans Korea-domiciled funds.

In addition, the two partners will work together to launch the VIP Equity Fund, which will invest in publicly-traded Vietnamese companies as well as in Indonesia and the Philippines.

The fund is expected to launch in September.

VinaCapital and Shinhan will also work together to develop a Vietnamese multi-asset fund for investment in equities, fixed income, real estate and other assets, leveraging the long-standing success of VinaCapitals Vietnam Opportunity Fund.

Don Lam, VinaCapital CEO, said: We are excited to work with Shinhan, one of Koreas leading and well-respected financial service firms, and we look forward to offering their clients a way to access this and other dynamic markets in the region. -VNS
HCM CITY  The HCM City government yesterday ordered an investigation into a complaint by a businesswomen that US$1.17 million from her account in Viet Nam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VP Bank) went missing last year.

In a letter to the Department of Public Security and State Bank of Viet Nam, HCM City Peoples Committee deputy chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen said they should carefully investigate the case and report to the administration.

Tran Thi Thanh Xuan, the woman, sought help from Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper, saying the bank has disowned responsibility while an VP Bank employee that she suspects to have stolen the money has stopped working for the lender.

Her account had been tampered with by the employee, Doan Thi Thuy Hang, with the signature changed, she alleged further.

Xuan, the director of Quang Huan Investment and Development Company based in Cu Chi District, opened an account at the bank in March last year to receive payments from customers.

An estimated VND26 billion was paid into it.

But four months later, when she went to withdraw the money, she was told there was hardly anything left in the account.

The bank staff also requested her to sign a form again since her signature had been mysteriously changed.

Details are sketchy about how the money was withdrawn from her account, but she said she did not get SMSs from the bank for the withdrawals despite paying for it.

The State Bank of Viet Nams city branch told online newspaper VnExpress that it has sought a report from VPBank and ordered it to co-operate, adding that it has not received a complaint from Xuan.  VNS
Vinamilk, Viet Nam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company, expects to reach its target of becoming one of the top 50 global dairy firms in the next three years after it has shown strong development over the past 40 years.

Mai Kieu Lien, Vinamilk Chief Executive Officer, told the Vietnam News Agency about Vinamilks successes in production and business strategies as well as challenges it has faced and targets for the future on the occasion of Vinamilks 40th birthday.

You have worked at Vinamilk for four decades and you have also been the captain of Vinamilk for 26 years. What experience have you shared to local firms to expand your business to the global market?

To enter the world market, practice has shown me that I must become an international expert in my field. To become an expert, knowledge is very important because if you have the knowledge you will decide what work to do and when, as well as predict the future. If you do not have the knowledge you will face many difficulties, especially in the context of present globalisation.

I think only Vietnamese firms that have the knowledge and suitable targets will have a chance of development. That is one of six principles that Vinamilk requires of its managers. It is that managers must be an international expert in their field at their working environment.

Therefore, Vinamilk must become an expert in the dairy industry before developing foreign investment. Is that right?

Viet Nams dairy industry is still young in the global context, while many dairy firms were founded hundreds of years ago. Vinamilk has produced and also taken on board lessons and experiences from other firms to improve the quality of its products to reach international standards.

When enough conditions are met, Vinamilk will consider investment into foreign markets, as well as study the opportunities carefully before taking on investment activities abroad, due to its inherent risks in geographic distance, culture and management styles.

In addition, Vinamilk must make investments according to long-term strategy but not in each company or in each nation. The firm has invested in a milk powder production factory in New Zealand because the nation is a supplier of milk for the world market. When having a stable supply, Vinamilk will be more confident in implementing large plans on the world market.

Meanwhile, Vinamilk has bought Driftwood dairy factory in the US to supply milk products made in Viet Nam to the US market and will also meet conditions to sell organic milk products in the US because domestic conditions have not permitted us to produce organic products.

The firm has opened a representative office in Poland to distribute its products to the European market in the future while it has built a factory in Cambodia recently after many years of developing market shares there.

In the future, Vinamilk will continue expanding operation in the world market and pursue merger and acquisition strategies to develop further.

A company needs many factors to be successful in production and business. What are the important factors for success at Vinamilk?

I started working in Vinamilk in 1976. In that year, Vinamilk had two condensed milk factories with old technology and small revenues. Vinamilk was equitised in 2003 with market capitalisation at VN2.3 trillion (US$104.5 million). Now, Vinamilks market capitalisation increased to VN205 trillion by August 15, 2016. The firm became the listed company with the largest market capitalisation on Viet Nams stock exchange.

State-owned capital at Vinamilk after equitisation in 2003 accounted for 80 per cent, or VN1.84 trillion. In 2016, the State capital reduced to 44.73 per cent of the firms total capital worth VN91.5 trillion.

In addition, the State has gained revenue of VN14 trillion from selling its shares and receiving dividends. Value of the State capital at Vinamilk has increased by 57 times from 2003 to now.

Vinamilk has set plans to control the domestic market and then enter the world market.

In Viet Nam, it is a difficult task to conquer domestic customers because Vinamilk has not had experience in dairy production. Meanwhile, Viet Nam has not had favourable conditions to develop the dairy industry, including climate, input of material and land. Therefore, to develop dairy production in Viet Nam, the company must have specific plans and a flexible application of international technologies for dairy production.

The firm has also diversified its products for the local market. In 1987, it recovered production of Dielac milk powder for children and now it has produced suitable dairy products for children.

The company has taken time to change peoples habit of consuming foreign milk products and then expanded its market share on the local market.

The dairy industry is one of industries that will suffer the most negative impacts from Viet Nams joining of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). How will TPP affect Vinamilks development plans when the agreement comes into effect?

It is true there will be difficulties but the company has solutions. For instance, other countries have cold and dry climates supporting the raising of cattle and have a high capacity of milk, while Viet Nam is hot and humid, being disadvantaged for similar development. Vinamilk has applied new technology to change those disadvantages. Of course, it must also have strong financial resources for investment in technology.

Another difficulty is the small scale of feeding cattle at farming households. In other countries, farmers have fed at least 100 units of cattle while Viet Nams farmers have fed 2-3 units per household. Vinamilk has faced difficulties in managing them, so it must change the situation.

By 2018, about 8,000 farming households co-operating with Vinamilk will have qualified herds of cattle, with high capacity thanks to Vinamilks support which ranges from providing varieties to upgrading technology.

The company will plan to build a factory in New Zealand to supply stable material for milk. It also will develop milk processing factories on a large scale and with the use of modern technology to reduce production costs.

Now, Vinamilk exports its products to 40 markets worldwide with an export value of $250-270 million per year. To remain in existing markets in the future, especially after TPP comes into effect, it must have high quality products with competitive prices.

When Vinamilk grows further, the firm could be bought by large multinational corporations. What is your opinion on this issue?

Vinamilk is a national brand. Of which, foreign investors hold 49 per cent of its shares, 45 per cent are owned by the State and 6 per cent owned by domestic individuals and organisations.

No foreign investor at Vinamilk has control, while SCIC is representative of the State to keep 45 per cent of State capital at the company. When the State withdraws its capital from Vinamilk, the State will still ensure the States benefit from Vinamilks development in the future.

I think Vinamilk has set up development plans to remain and expand its market shares for all product lines at home and abroad in the future.

If the company works well, there is no chance for multinational corporations to buy the company. - VNS
QUANG NAM  Urbanisation in Viet Nam reached 15 per cent growth  a double increase over past two decades, making a 75 per share of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but it needs a big change in earning green growth over the next period.

Deputy minister of construction, Phan Thi My Linh said this at the opening ceremony of Viet Nam Forum on Urban Planning and Development toward Green Growth on Climate Change Resilience in the central province on Tuesday.

Linh said urban areas should give top priority and efforts to green targets, which requires capacity improvement of green gas house reduction.

The national urban system in Viet Nam has seen positive changes over the past 20 years with 800 urban areas. The rapid urbanisation has created new challenges in land use and planning, infrastructure, competitiveness and service among urban areas, Linh said as she opened the conference.

Viet Nam is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and this is worsening the situation and creating new challenges for urbanisation, said the deputy minister, who chairs the Co-ordination Committee of the Viet Nam Urban Forum.

"Urbanisation in Viet Nam needs to target green growth, and it asks for changes to the leaderships awareness on low carbon industries and urban services as well as planning," she said .

Viet Nam encourages investment from the private sector in urban infrastructure and housing that meets green growth standards.

The conference sent Viet Nams message in the Paris Agreements implementation that the country made global commitment and signed agreements in terms of sustainable development, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change resilience at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris.

The United Nations Human Settlements Development Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Viet Nam, Nguyen Quang said urban sustainable development had seen remarkable development in 2016.

He said the conference would be an opportunity for participants to share experiences, lessons and skills in developing urban areas in a sustainable way.

He said the two-day conference would approve Viet Nams 2016 urban development initiative  Tam Ky Initiative.

Senior official of the World Bank, ang uc Cuong said the World Bank would grant an average fund of US$2 billion for Viet Nams annual growth development.

The conference, which was organised in collaboration with UN-Habitat, Ministry of Construction and Quang Nam Province, aimed to promote local initiatives towards the implementation of sustainable cities and communities under sustainable development goals, and contribute to the discussion of New Urban Agenda during Habitat III as well as strengthening implementation of the Paris Agreement.

It also helped introduce key green growth and climate change resilience principles, guidance in urban planning and development and sharing international good practices of green cities for local application.

The conference, which drew the participation of 150 deputies, closed yesterday.

As scheduled, Viet Nam will take part in the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (or Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador this October, and the country will publish its Habitat III Country report in order to measure achievements, and identify new challenges and strengthen political commitments in term of sustainable urban development.

On the occasion, Tam Ky City, the capital of Quang Nam Province, was recognised as the second class urban area in the central region.

The provinces green-growth strategy has been added into the national strategy for green development until 2020, with strong emphasis on climate change adaptation, social welfare and full development of local economic potential.

The province is the only location in Viet Nam with two UNESCO- recognised world heritage sites, Hoi An ancient town and the My Son Sanctuary, as well as the world biosphere reserve of the Cham Islands.

A survey showed that 27 per cent of international tourists visited the province to learn about the culture and history of Hoi An, My Son and Cham Islands.

Hoi An was chosen for the 2013 Townscape Award by the UN-Habitat Regional Office in Asia.  VNS
JERUSALEM  A jazz festival within rocket range of jihadist fighters might sound offbeat but organisers of Israels 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 on 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 festivals artistic director Eli Degibri told AFP.

Calm in Israels southernmost city has in the past been shattered by rockets fired from neighbouring Egypts 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 years 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 Americas 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 years festival  pianist Shai Maestro, Cohen, trumpeter Avishai Cohen (no relation), guitarist Gilad Hekselman and Degibri himself  are acclaimed worldwide.

"Thats the beauty of it, that nowadays Israeli musicians are international musicians," Degibri said.  AFP
The Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD) will present two screenings of the Vietnamese award-winning documentary Chuyen i Cuoi Cung Cua Chi Phung (The Last Journey of Madam Phung).

The 84-minute documentary is a production by independent filmmaker Nguyen Thi Tham, who wrote, directed and shot the film. Tham spent a year following madam Phung and her art troupe consisting of transgenders to remote provincial fairgrounds. The documentary exposes the hard life of transgender entertainers, who have to bear discrimination, especially in rural areas, despite rapid changes in societal attitudes toward LGBT issues over the last several years.

The documentary has been presented at several film festivals in the US, France, Canada, and Viet Nam. It won the special award at the second Chopshots  Documentary Film Festival Southeast Asia in 2014.

The screenings will take place on Saturday and Sunday, at 7pm. The film will be presented in the original Vietnamese language with English subtitles. Tickets cost VN40,000 at the door.

The TPD is on fourth floor, 51 Tran Hung ao Street.

On August 26, Indika Saigon will host Party with Pride on August 26 to celebrate Pride Month in Viet Nam.

The event, which celebrates and supports the Sai Gon LGBT community, will feature a live music performance by New York-based duo Adrienne Mack-David and feliciacruz.

The duo has toured the US and now lives in HCM City. They have performed at more than 10 Pride events worldwide.

The party will take place from 5 pm to 11 pm at 43 Nguyen Van Giai Street in District 1. Entrance fee is VN100,000.

 VNS
by Chi Lan

Most Vietnamese, even students, dont usually give a second thought to what they sometimes hear on the news or read in the paper: public universitys financial autonomy. The idea is somewhat vague, distant at a macro-level and generally holds no direct link to common folk. It was not until the prominent National Economics University (NEU) last month introduced a tuition hike of up to 30 per cent for the upcoming academic year did it dawn on people what financial autonomy really means.

The fee increase was and will never be pleasant for students, just like how we complain every time electricity or petrol prices shoot up. Despite our complaints, they are unlikely to go down.

Many potential NEU freshmen discarded the university as a school choice as soon as the news hit, while a number of current university students threatened to drop out when the tuition fees rise far beyond their means.

Vietnamese undergraduates in public schools have enjoyed relatively low tuition fees for decades, with the exception of the teaching professions students who were spared all fees.

Public college students only had to pay between VN7.4 million and VN8.7 million (US$328-386) for the 2016-2017 year. The costs for higher education were rather affordable when looking at the gross domestic product per capita last year, which reached about VN45 million.

The Government might have tried to keep college tuition low in order to encourage the young to study at higher levels and later contribute bigger values to the countrys development. Or perhaps it wanted to realise its educational manifesto, of which everyone should be granted equal opportunity to take on college study regardless of their socio-economic status.

The third possibility, the least noble of them all, could simply be that the Government intentionally controlled public universities via financial ties. Costs to run public universities were disproportionately allocated from the national budget, which was rather limited, and the majority of colleges were not allowed to receive any other kind of financial support, other than the collection of tuition fees.

It might be either reason, or all three combined, or possibly even something else behind the scenes that I was yet to spot. Regardless of which is the case, the low tuition policy, which sounded so beneficial for the masses, turned out to be more than met the eyes.

In a 2012 World Bank regional report on undergraduates skills in seven countries in East Asia, Vietnamese employees were deemed to have sub par creative thinking and lacked various skills in information technology, leadership and problem solving.

English proficiency was another Achilles heel for Vietnamese undergraduates, with most finding it difficult to use the global language at work, especially listening and speaking skills.

Such skill disadvantages might go some way to explaining why undergraduates accounted for the highest proportion of unemployed of late. The number of unemployed undergraduates reached an average of 190,000 last year, or roughly 49 per cent of the average 386,000 unemployed workers who had a post-high school education background.

Low tuition fees in tandem with the blooming of universities in recent years resulted in a mass flow of around 400,000 undergraduates to the labour market each year, but their quality is rather questionable.

Yet it may have been too much for us to look forward to a generation of highly-skilled employees who also excel at language and soft skills when the input resource, the money in particular, failed to accommodate any ambitious universities in the realisation of their educational goals. They could not afford to pay for highly-qualified professors, have courses with satisfactory outcomes, equip themselves with the proper infrastructure for the students or fund their own research projects.

After the NEU pulled the trigger and became a harbinger for a wave of other public universities raising their tuition fees, many criticised the decision and cited Germany or Finland as quintessentially successful nations in keeping their educational quality world-class while having students pay little to nothing for it.

I personally find this comparison to miss out on some context, as they leave out the big gap in taxes between the countries, which is the key to pulling off such a beneficial educational policy. The personal income tax in Germany averages around 42 per cent, let alone many other taxes. Finland also rests at the top of high-tax countries with various kinds of taxes the residents have to pay besides income tax. The amount of taxes collected in a developed nation can help its government subsidise not only the educational system but other social security services.

There are some other countries which also have high-tax policy like the UK and the Netherlands, but they refuse to subsidise the higher education system. Yet those two are also famous for outstanding educational quality in prestigious universities which are private and autonomous in their finances. That means they can run the university as a business with the students as customers. They charge high fees, to some outrageous extent, but also offer high quality classes lectured by prominent professors, a privileged studying environment and guarantee that the students will walk out of the gates ready for their future careers.

Not every well-funded college is a great one, but there is no great college without the green back.

Viet Nam is unlikely to follow the high-tax policy like Germany or Finland but it has started to push for the latter option. The Government last year granted full financial autonomy for 14 top universities and colleges, one of which is the NEU.

I have reason to believe that the tuition increase in those educational institutions will be quick and sharp in a few years, as government funding is completely withdrawn. They have to consider tuition as their main source of income, before other funding resources, from the business sector for example, start to flow in.

Students of course have their own reasons to protest the increased tuition. Many of them come from farming families in rural areas, and struggle all year around just to stay fed. The low tuitions used to open doors for them to access a university degree and offer a life-changing chance for them and their families.

Yet I wonder, what is the point of spending four years on a degree if you remain unemployed because the quality of your education is too poor for a proper job that brings home the bacon?  VNS
by Thu Hang

HCM CITY  A year ago, Quach Tinh was released from prison with only the clothes on his back.

He wanted to start over, but he did not know how he could get his life back on track.

Without educational certificates and skills, he was desperate to find a job.

After being unemployed for six months, he managed to open a small motorbike wash shop with a loan taken out from a programme that helps inmates re-enter society.

Now, as a peer educator, he is confident about sharing his story with local teenagers to help them lead an honest living.

Le ang Gia of HCM Citys District 4, who once was in jail, also received a loan to open a coffee shop after re-entering society from a rehabilitation centre in 2011.

Gias coffee shop is located near the Community Consulting Centre in District 4s Ward 8.

It helps me raise my family as well as support the rehabilitation of drug addicts, he said.

Over the last few years, he has given part of his income to help addicts register for voluntary rehabilitation.

Everyone is likely to yield to temptation at some time or another. The most important thing is that you need a strong will and determination to start over, he said.

Gia and Tinh are only two of the thousands of young people who have received job and financial assistance from the re-entry programme, called Hanh trinh cua niem tin (The Journey of Faith) over the last five years.

Initiated by the Viet Nam Youth Union, the programme provides not only financial and employment support but also vocational training as well as legal consultation to young inmates and addicts.

As part of the programme, the HCM City University of Laws Legal Consulting and Training Centre, for the last five years, has organised dozens of legal consultation sessions for inmates about to leave jail.

The sessions are about the Residence Law, Law on Citizen Identification, procedures for removing previous criminal convictions, marriage and family law, and civil sentence enforcement, according to Duong Hoan, deputy director of the centre.

Legal knowledge is presented in a simple manner and comfortable setting.

The knowledge is crucial for the rehabilitation process. Once released, the very first thing you need is somewhere to live and to work, he told inmates at Chi Hoa Prison during a consultation session held last week.

Twenty-one inmates who will be released in early September attended the session, which distributed names of people for them to contact for free employment and legal consulting.

Ten young volunteers organised quizzes and music performances to create a warm and friendly atmosphere during the sessions.

Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, a student at the HCM City University of Law, said that she burst into tears when she read the writing of some of the inmates.

They had all expressed their dreams: I wish one day I can visit Dads grave. Dear darling, please forgive me and I will return home soon. My son, wait for Dad.

Inmates are in dire need of forgiveness, sympathy, support and encouragement from their family and the community, said Phuong, who has participated in the programme for two years. I think their dreams will come true if they are determined to start over.

Pham Thi Thanh Hang, one of the inmates, said the legal information, particularly about the marriage and family law, had helped her understand her rights.

I often feel confused about my situation. After the consultation, I felt more confident about reintegrating into society, said Hang, who had worked as a prostitute.

Once released, ex-inmates face huge challenges on the outside such as unemployment, discrimination and abandonment by relatives and partners, Hoan, the lawyer, said. In the very first days after getting out of prison, they have a mixture of anxiety and a guilt complex.

Many fail to start over and end up back behind bars or relapse into addiction not long after re-entering society, he said.

In addition to legal information, they are given psychological consultations.

Every year, the Viet Nam Youth Union in co-ordination with the university and the HCM City Public Security organises legal consultation courses at five prisons in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.

Since it was launched in 2011, The Journey of Trust programme has assisted more than 2,400 young former addicts and 1,600 former inmates to get jobs, Ho Tan at, deputy chairman of the union, said.

Between 2011 and 2015, 13 legal consulting sessions were held at nine prisons with the participation of more than 1,100 inmates. This year, five sessions have been organised at four prisons.

About 200 inmates in Long Hoa Prison in southern Long An Province and 150 inmates in Bo La Prison in southern Binh Duong Province will receive legal consultations on August 27 and 30, respectively. The inmates will be granted amnesty ahead of National Day which falls on September 2.  VNS
The life of a badly injured five-year-old child was saved after she received blood donated by doctors at Thach Thanh District General Hospital in the central Thanh Hoa Province yesterday.  Photo tinmientrung.com

THANH HOA  The life of a badly injured five-year-old child was saved after she received blood donated by doctors at Thach Thanh District General Hospital in the central Thanh Hoa Province yesterday.

The child had been hospitalised after a road accident, with injuries to her internal organs that required immediate surgery and blood transfusion, hospital Director Nguyen inh Tam said.

The hospital called for blood donations from hospital staff to save the childs life, as the hospital had run out of blood group B.

The child was recovering well after a three-hour surgery, he said.

Tam said the hospital usually faced a severe shortage of blood and so had formed a group of employees who voluntarily donated blood in emergencies. The lives of many patients have been saved with the donated blood.  VNS
Ha Nois Peoples Committee has urged the Peoples Committee in Soc Son District to review their management of agricultural land after local households have reportedly illegally built houses on farmland.  Photo giadinh.net

HA NOI  Ha Nois Peoples Committee has urged the Peoples Committee in Soc Son District to review their management of agricultural land after local households have reportedly illegally built houses on farmland.

In a document sent to Soc Son authorities, chairman of the citys committee Nguyen uc Chung required the local committee to re-examine the illegal building of houses on agricultural land and propose punishment for violations.

Organisations and individuals involved in the misuse of local farmland would take responsibility for the illegal building. The report must be submitted to the committee before August 30, he said yesterday.

The move was made after local press found houses in Soc Son Districts Viet Long Commune that had been built without licences on farmland, many of which were built years ago without the supervision of the local peoples committee.

Nguyen Tien ich, a resident in the commune said that he signed contract to hire 756 square metres of land from Tang Long Agricultural Services Corporative in 1995 and built a temporary house on it five years later.

Last July, he decided to re-build the house. Although the construction process was suspended, ich completed the house early this year.

ich admitted that the house was built without a construction licence or a land use right certificate. However, he said he has just upgraded the house.

ich said he has been paying fees for the use of non-agricultural land for years.

Nobody asks for permission to build houses here, he said, were farmers, and we build houses when we have money.

Nguyen Thi Dung and Nguyen Van a, two residents in the commune, also built their houses on agricultural land in 2014 although local authorities attempted to halt the construction.

Figures from the communal Peoples Committee showed that nearly 30 houses were built on farmland.

Nguyen Ngoc Chuyen, chairman of the communal Peoples Committee said that the committee had inspected the situation and reported to the district authority.

Last October, the district Peoples Committee required the households to suspend construction. However, many continued building.

Chuyen admitted that the local authority found it hard to crack down on the construction as many have been paying fees for non-agricultural land for the land theyve been using.

o Minh Tuan, vice chairman of Soc Son Districts Peoples Committee said that the committee revised land documents to specify the area of agricultural land in the district and the origin of the land these houses were built on, affirming that violations would be fined.  VNS
NGHE AN  An explosion at a coal gasification furnace in the central Nghe An Provinces Trung o Granite brick factory killed two workers, a factory manager said yesterday.

There was a sudden explosion at about 1.45pm on Tuesday at one of the factorys four coal gasification furnaces. Workers panicked and at least two workers -- Le Van Linh, 36, and Nguen Van Tung, 30 -- suffered serious burns.

They were immediately given first aid at Nghe An General Hospital and then moved to the Ha Noi-based National Burns Hospital. But both died on Tuesday evening due to severe burn injuries.

Answering reporters questions about the cause of the explosion, the factory leader said all four furnaces were under an automatic operation control system. The explosion could have occurred during the operation process, with a faulty electronic alarm, because of which the machine did not show any parameters, the leader said.

However, relevant officials were investigating the cause of the explosion.

The factorys directors came and helped families to arrange for the victims burials.  VNS
AC NONG  ak Nong Provinces traffic police yesterday evening seized a truck that was transporting dozens of cubic metres of logs of unclear origin.

The truck was travelling through a section of the Ho Chi Minh Highway in Gia Nghia Districts Quang Thanh Commune in the Central Highlands province.

After his vehicle was stopped for an administrative check, the truck driver Nguyen Phuc An, 27, from Binh Phuoc Province, failed to show any documents relating to the vehicle and the logs it was carrying. The police then seized both the vehicle and its cargo to investigate illegal logging and wood trafficking.

The seizure happened after Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reporters informed the police about the suspicious truck, which had set out from the abuttals between uc Hoa and ak Moi communes in ak Song District.

The VNA reporters also saw many other trucks allegedly carrying trafficked logs passing through forest management and protection checkpoints without being stopped for checks.

According to the reporters, this situation happens every day. Illegal loggers are openly cutting down forest trees in the area of ak Song District for wood and farmland. The land in natural forests is even publicly put up for sale.

The reporters said large parts of the forests had been destroyed right near forest management and protection checkpoints in ak Song Districts ak Moi Commune.

They said it had been happening for years, but had recently accelerated, with an estimated hundreds of hectares of trees being chopped down.  VNS
HAVANA  Colombias government and FARC rebels announced on Wednesday that they have reached a historic peace deal to end their half-century civil war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

After nearly four years of negotiations in Cuba, the two sides announced a final deal, which President Juan Manuel Santos said would be put to a decisive referendum on October 2.

"The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord... on ending the conflict and building a stable and enduring peace," the two sides said in a joint statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez.

"We dont want one more victim in Colombia."

In a national address just after the announcement, Santos - who has staked his legacy on the peace process - said the deal marked "the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war".

He immediately launched his campaign for a "Yes" vote in the referendum, which he said would be the most important election of voters lives.

"This is a historic and unique opportunity... to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren," he said.

Marathon finale

The conflict began with the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964, at a time when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America.

Over the years, it has killed 260,000 people, uprooted 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing.

Along the way, it has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fuelled the violence in the worlds largest cocaine-producing country.

Three previous peace processes with the FARC ended in failure.

But after a major offensive by the army from 2006 to 2009 - led by then-defence minister Santos - a weakened FARC agreed to come to the negotiating table.

Over the past few days, the two sides had been discussing a range of unresolved topics, and worked late into the night Tuesday to draft their joint statement, sources from the two delegations said in Havana.

Six-point deal

The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations.

They cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and the implementation and monitoring of the accord.

Under the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The FARC will then become a political party. Its weapons will be melted down to build three peace monuments.

Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict.

An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.

Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

Santos insisted tahere would be no impunity for such crimes.  AFP
Rescue and emergency services personnel carry a survivor on a stretcher during search and rescue operations in Amatrice.  AFP/VNA Photo

ACCUMOLI, Italy  The death toll from a powerful earthquake that shook central Italy rose to 247 today, officials said, as rescuers desperately searched for survivors in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Hundreds of others were injured, some critically, and an unknown number were trapped under the ruins of collapsed buildings after Wednesday's pre-dawn quake.

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were determined to attempt to pluck more survivors from the ruins.

Rescuers had pledged to work through the night in the hope of finding people alive in the mangled wreckage of homes.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier warned that the toll would likely rise after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

Hundreds of people spent 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 L'Aquila, 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.

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.

"There's no sound from them, we only heard their cats," he said 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.

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.

Renzi said it was too early to consider 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.

Bodies in playground

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.

The tremors were strong enough to be felt 150km 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 children's 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 considered home of amatriciana, one of Italy's 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 (0136 GMT).

Three minutes later the clock on the village's 13th-century tower stopped.

'Out of the blue'

The first quake measured 6.2, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

It measured 6.0 according to Italian monitors, who put the depth at only four kilometres. A 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later.

Italy is vulnerable to earthquakes and the 2009 tremor in L'Aquila 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 the shallowness of Wednesday's quake had made it more destructive.

But he added: "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."  AFP
Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad (SIBM-H) is launching an incubation zone to promote innovative startups. The institute seeks to support ten startups from the International University(SIU) in the initial stage.
UN General Assembly President-elect Ambassador Peter Thomson will travel to India early next week during which he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and discuss the ambitious SDGs.

Thomson, the Permanent Representative of Fiji elected in June as President of the UNGA's upcoming 71st session, will visit China later this week and will then travel to India.

On August 29, the President-elect will be in New Delhi where it is planned that he will meet with Modi, Swaraj and Secretary for External Relations, Sujata Mehta, a press release from the office of the President of the UN General Assembly said on Wednesday.

"Coming from the Asia-Pacific nation of Fiji, I am pleased to have this opportunity to visit the two biggest countries in the regional group to which I belong," Thomson said, adding that he looks forward to the "high-level" talks he will have with the Governments of China and India.

"My main interest will be to discuss how the United Nations can assist and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he added.

He will attend official meetings in Beijing on Friday and is expected to meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, State Councillor Yang Jiechi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Swaraj willtravel to New York later next month to attend the high-levelGeneral Debate of the 71st session of the General Assembly. She will address global leaders from the iconic lectern of the General Assembly on September 26.

Modi, who had addressed the UN General Assembly sessions in 2014 and 2015, will not be attending this year's UNGA session.

Thomson's visit to India assumes significance against the backdrop of New Delhi leading efforts for early completion of the long-pending reforms of the UN Security Council.

In July, India's push to achieve urgent reforms of the 15-nation Council by this year and secure a permanent seat on the horse-shoe table had suffered a setback when the 193- member General Assembly decided to roll over discussions on reforming the world body's top organ to its 71st session.

India had been pushing for completing reforms of the UN Security Council in the 70th session of the General Assembly, which will end next month.

Thomson will preside over the 71st session, which will begin on September 13, amid expectations from a majority of member states that the UNSC reform process will accelerate and concrete results will be achieved in reforming the most powerful organ of the UN.

India along with the G4 nations had said it was "unfortunate" that momentum could not build up over UNSC reforms in the 70th session.
03:10 Obama hits the campaign trail to help Democrats before the US midterm elections Former US president Barack Obama is on the midterms campaign trail in an attempt to give Democrats a boost in critical areas.

02:28 Twitter CEO and CFO fired, following Elon Musks $44 billion takeover Twitters Chief Executive and CFO has been fired and escorted from the building, following Tesla CEO Elon Musks $44 billion takeover of...

03:17 Vic Liberal government will commit $1.5 billion to build new road infrastructure Victorias Opposition leader Matthew Guy says the Liberal  Nationals government will commit $1.5 billion to build some of the new pieces...

02:00 Energy ministers discuss possible cap on what suppliers can charge Energy ministers discuss a possible cap on what energy suppliers can charge - ahead of forecasted increases to gas and electricity bills next...
WATERLOO -- Black Hawk County has been awarded federal funds through the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Black Hawk County has been chosen to receive $58,199 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The selection was made by a national board chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency, with representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; the Jewish Federations of North America; the Salvation Army; and United Way Worldwide.

A local board is charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in highneed areas around the country.
WATERLOO -- Sajjad Chaudry had never fired a gun before.

The manager at Rays Supermarket on Franklin Street said a police officer had once showed him how operate the .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol that was kept at the store.

That quick lesson came into play on the night of Nov. 18, 2015, when he found himself in a shootout with an armed robber.

Authorities said Chaudry wounded the assailant during an exchange of gunfire. Prosecutors allege the robber was Charles Earl Jones, the 21-year-old Waterloo man who was found across town with a gunshot wound minutes after the botched supermarket robbery.

Charged with first-degree robbery, going armed, carrying weapons and false reports, Jones has pleaded not guilty, and his trial began Wednesday in Black Hawk County District Court.

Defense attorney Dennis Guernsey said Jones wasnt the robber and had been walking around listening to music on his phone with his headphone when he, himself, was robbed and shot.

Mr. Jones was nowhere near Rays Supermarket, sometimes called Save More Food, on the evening of Nov. 18, Guernsey said.

Chaudry testified that he was taking a short nap behind the counter while another employee helped customers toward closing time. He said he woke to the voice of someone demanding money.

He said give me money, give me money. I woke up that time, Chaudry told jurors.

He looked up to see a man in a hooded sweatshirt was pointing a gun at the other worker and telling him to hand over the cash. The robber had his face covered, he said.

He didnt see me before. When he saw me, he pointed the gun to me and said dont move, Chaudry said.

He said the gunman then turned his attention back to the clerk and told him to empty a second cash register, and thats when Chaudry reached for the semi-automatic and loaded it.

The robber looked back and Chaudry and started firing his 9mm when he realized the manager had moved.

What did you do when he shot at you? Assistant Black Hawk Count Attorney Brad Walz asked Chaudry.

I just sat down, Chaudry said.

What happened next? Walz said.

Next then, I stood up and at that moment, I fired, the manager said. He sat down again, and the gunman was gone when emerged again.

Walz said the robber had been hit and bolted out the door, pushing the glass door open as he left.

Fourteen minutes later Jones was found with a gunshot wound to his armpit area at the intersection of Leavitt and West Eighth streets.

Walz said Jones told police he had been robbed of his coat and headphones and shot, but there were no shell casings or other evidence in the area to back his account.

Jones also told police that before the shooting, he had been walking around Irving Elementary School to find a Wifi internet connection, but the schools surveillance videos showed no one matching his description had passed through, Walz said. Jones also told police he had been shooting guns the day before when investigators asked to check his hands for gunshot residue.

Jones was arrested after his palm print found on the supermarkets glass door.
WATERLOO (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 he received.

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 press conferences, make disclosures to civil rights groups or mention the deal on social media.

The Associated Press obtained the confidentiality agreement from the city under the Iowa open records law.

Randy Evans, director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, says it may be illegal for an Iowa government agency to demand confidentiality and goes against the public interest.

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 Generals Office has long advised government agencies that in government, settlements are not secret.

After Waterloo settled with Anderson, the Associated Press requested the agreement. The city instead released a summary of the $100,000 deal that didnt 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 safety services director Dan Trelka told radio station KXEL this month, So much progress has been made in this community. 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 whats been accomplished.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man is among the 10 people sentenced earlier this week in connection with a ring that received high-grade meth from Mexico and California for distribution in Iowa.

Austin Bertch, 31, of Waterloo, was sentenced to 14 years and four months in prison on Monday after pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the investigation into the Murillo-Mora drug trafficking organization.

Evidence during court proceedings showed that in the spring of 2013, Mario Murillo-Mora, 41, of Michoacan, Mexico, began building a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing pounds of ice methamphetamine.

At least 250 pounds of ice methamphetamine was distributed by various members of the group, and Murillo recruited various individuals to assist with transporting, storing and distributing meth, as well as collecting money and wiring drug proceeds back to sources of supply. The meth arrived in Marshalltown from Mexico and California concealed in vehicles. Once transported to Marshalltown, the methamphetamine was broken down and repackaged for further distribution.

Court records allege Bertch bought meth from Murillo in one-pound quantities for about $18,000 per pound. Investigators using undercover operatives bought an ounce of meth from Bertch in July 2014 and another ounce in August 2014. That same month, police found a digital scale with meth residue in Bertchs vehicle during a traffic stop, and a scales, drug notes and a loaded 9mm handgun while searching his home in January 2015.

Bertch also introduced Murillo to Derrick Plunkett two build connections between the two.

Others sentenced in the investigation include:

Murillo, 21 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Jeff Richardson, 50, from Cambridge, 21 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Gustavo Gonzalez-Torres, 26, from Marshalltown, 14 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Rafael Avalos-Castellanos, 41, from Michoacan, Mexico, received 12 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Jason Gauthier, 41, from Marshalltown, nine years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Rachel Berrones, 26, from Marshalltown, eight years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Vania Guadarrama, 30, from Chicago, six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Jessica Ceniceros, 26, from Marshalltown, five years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Ragan Victor, 34, from Marshalltown, three years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

All defendants were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. A special assessment of $100 to $200 was imposed on all defendants and they must also each serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program and investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, the Mid-Iowa Task Force and the Tri-County Drug Task Force.
PARKERSBURG -- One person was killed and another injured in a car-semitrailer accident in Grundy County south of Parkersburg shortly after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.

Grundy County Sheriff Rick Penning said the accident occurred a mile and a half west of Iowa Highway 14 on County Road D-17, or 10th Street, about four miles southwest of Parkersburg.

The driver of the car, Daniel Lacour, 29, of Aplington, was pronounced dead at the scene. His vehicle was totaled.

The semi driver, Steven Schipper, 57, Parkersburg, was taken to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo with minor injuries. His truck sustained $30,000 damage.

Penning said Lacour was eastbound on D-17, crossed the center line and was struck by Schipper's westbound semi.

The accident remains under investigation by the Grundy County Sheriffs Office. Assisting agencies included: Parkersburg fire and ambulance, the Butler County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

Parkersburg is in Butler County, but the crash happened across the Grundy County line.
By The Associated Press Aug. 23, 2016 | 10:53 AM | FRANKFORT, KY

Gov. Matt Bevin's attorney says he will appeal a judge's ruling that temporarily reinstates a member of the Kentucky Retirement Systems board of trustees.

Steve Pitt told reporters Tuesday the governor does not believe Thomas Elliott should serve on the board of trustees. Bevin removed Elliott by executive order, and then abolished the entire board and re-created it as a board of directors. Bevin then threatened to arrest Elliott if he tried to participate in board meetings.

Elliott sued, and was joined by Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear. Monday, Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ordered that Elliott should stay on the board, at least until the lawsuit is resolved. Shepherd also called Bevin's threat to arrest Elliott a "flagrant abuse of executive power."
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 (6) May 28 (7) May 27 (7) May 26 (6) May 25 (4) May 23 (6) May 22 (6) May 21 (4) May 20 (7) May 19 (9) May 18 (4) May 17 (6) May 16 (5) May 15 (7) May 14 (3) May 13 (3) May 12 (9) May 10 (3) May 09 (7) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (5) May 05 (8) May 03 (9) May 02 (1) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (8) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (7) Apr 26 (12) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (8) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (1) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (6) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (2) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (2) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (3) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (10) Apr 04 (2) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (9) Apr 01 (7) Mar 31 (10) Mar 30 (6) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (10) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (10) Mar 22 (6) Mar 21 (5) Mar 20 (11) Mar 19 (8) Mar 18 (5) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (7) Mar 13 (7) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (6) Mar 07 (8) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (12) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (8) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (8) Feb 28 (7) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (6) Feb 25 (7) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (6) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (1) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (2) Feb 15 (5) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (6) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (6) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (2) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (8) Jan 30 (2) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (1) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (4) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (2) Jan 20 (2) Jan 19 (3) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (2) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (6) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (1) Dec 31 (5) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (2) Dec 17 (1) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (2) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (7) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (2) Dec 08 (2) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (1) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (5) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (10) Nov 28 (6) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (6) Nov 19 (2) Nov 18 (5) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (2) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (5) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (9) Oct 30 (9) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (6) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (6) Oct 22 (4) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (5) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (4) Oct 12 (7) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (10) Oct 07 (1) Oct 06 (10) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (8) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (1) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (6) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (5) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (6) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (4) Sep 06 (8) Sep 05 (6) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (5) Aug 31 (8) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (6) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (1) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (7) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (7) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (8) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (4) Aug 08 (8) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (10) Aug 02 (9) Aug 01 (8) Jul 31 (1) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (11) Jul 27 (10) Jul 26 (10) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (8) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (1) Jul 16 (10) Jul 14 (7) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (11) Jul 11 (7) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (8) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (6) Jul 03 (7) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (2) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (5) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (8) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (3) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (7) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (8) Jun 08 (8) Jun 07 (8) Jun 06 (10) Jun 05 (14) Jun 04 (6) Jun 03 (6) Jun 02 (8) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (7) May 30 (2) May 29 (7) May 28 (7) May 27 (2) May 26 (4) May 25 (5) May 24 (4) May 23 (5) May 22 (5) May 21 (5) May 20 (3) May 19 (10) May 18 (6) May 17 (3) May 16 (6) May 15 (2) May 14 (3) May 13 (5) May 11 (1) May 10 (5) May 09 (3) May 08 (4) May 07 (2) May 06 (4) May 05 (6) May 04 (5) May 03 (5) May 02 (1) May 01 (6) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (7) Apr 28 (8) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (14) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (1) Apr 21 (8) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (1) Apr 15 (8) Apr 14 (1) Apr 13 (7) Apr 12 (10) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (2) Apr 09 (2) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (6) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (4) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (9) Mar 26 (4) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (11) Mar 23 (10) Mar 22 (9) Mar 21 (10) Mar 20 (11) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (7) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (6) Mar 13 (9) Mar 12 (6) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (6) Mar 07 (13) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (7) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (6) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (5) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (6) Feb 23 (9) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (8) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (5) Feb 14 (7) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (9) Feb 08 (8) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (10) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (2) Feb 03 (8) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (5) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (7) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (7) Jan 26 (8) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (6) Jan 23 (5) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (8) Jan 17 (12) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (8) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (6) Jan 10 (7) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (6) Jan 05 (9) Jan 04 (9) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (6) Jan 01 (8) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (8) Dec 26 (4) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (12) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (7) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (1) Dec 15 (7) Dec 14 (10) Dec 13 (7) Dec 12 (12) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (6) Dec 08 (7) Dec 07 (12) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (13) Dec 04 (6) Dec 02 (8) Dec 01 (8) Nov 30 (6) Nov 29 (7) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (8) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (11) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (6) Nov 16 (11) Nov 15 (10) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (5) Nov 11 (12) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (14) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (11) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (11) Nov 03 (9) Nov 02 (10) Nov 01 (8) Oct 31 (12) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (5) Oct 28 (5) Oct 27 (11) Oct 26 (13) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (10) Oct 23 (8) Oct 22 (5) Oct 21 (11) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (5) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (6) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (9) Oct 13 (10) Oct 12 (11) Oct 11 (9) Oct 10 (10) Oct 09 (7) Oct 08 (5) Oct 07 (10) Oct 06 (9) Oct 05 (14) Oct 04 (9) Oct 03 (12) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (9) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (7) Sep 28 (13) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (7) Sep 22 (10) Sep 21 (12) Sep 20 (12) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (11) Sep 15 (8) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (8) Sep 12 (8) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (10) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (9) Sep 07 (8) Sep 06 (11) Sep 05 (2) Sep 04 (8) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (9) Aug 31 (9) Aug 30 (7) Aug 29 (9) Aug 28 (4) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (5) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (2) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (6) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (6) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (4) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (9) Aug 07 (7) Aug 06 (7) Aug 05 (7) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (11) Aug 02 (6) Aug 01 (9) Jul 31 (11) Jul 28 (7) Jul 27 (11) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (5) Jul 24 (1) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (2) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (8) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (7) Jul 15 (4) Jul 14 (2) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (10) Jul 11 (11) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (5) Jul 06 (6) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (6) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (3) Jun 30 (8) Jun 29 (5) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (11) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (7) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (6) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (8) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (8) Jun 06 (7) Jun 05 (5) Jun 04 (7) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (9) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (8) May 30 (7) May 29 (5) May 28 (5) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (3) May 23 (5) May 22 (2) May 21 (3) May 20 (7) May 19 (11) May 18 (1) May 17 (7) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (4) May 11 (11) May 10 (2) May 09 (6) May 08 (6) May 07 (2) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (8) May 02 (4) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (13) Apr 28 (5) Apr 27 (7) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (2) Apr 23 (7) Apr 22 (9) Apr 21 (11) Apr 20 (2) Apr 19 (2) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (6) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (2) Apr 12 (9) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (6) Apr 09 (5) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (10) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (9) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (6) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (8) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (10) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (6) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (6) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (9) Mar 08 (10) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (2) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (8) Feb 26 (9) Feb 24 (11) Feb 23 (8) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (8) Feb 20 (7) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (6) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (11) Feb 13 (2) Feb 12 (5) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (10) Feb 08 (9) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (2) Feb 05 (9) Feb 03 (7) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (7) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (5) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (7) Jan 24 (8) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (14) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (10) Jan 18 (11) Jan 17 (9) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (10) Jan 06 (8) Jan 05 (7) Jan 04 (9) Jan 03 (8) Jan 02 (5) Jan 01 (14) Dec 30 (13) Dec 29 (13) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (5) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (7) Dec 24 (4) Dec 23 (5) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (8) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (8) Dec 18 (9) Dec 16 (8) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (8) Dec 12 (4) Dec 11 (17) Dec 09 (8) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (10) Dec 06 (12) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (8) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (7) Nov 30 (9) Nov 29 (6) Nov 28 (11) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (15) Nov 24 (7) Nov 23 (15) Nov 22 (9) Nov 21 (6) Nov 20 (11) Nov 18 (11) Nov 17 (13) Nov 16 (8) Nov 15 (13) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (7) Nov 12 (3) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (13) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (6) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (8) Nov 03 (9) Nov 02 (8) Nov 01 (6) Oct 31 (10) Oct 30 (8) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (8) Oct 27 (15) Oct 26 (10) Oct 25 (10) Oct 24 (13) Oct 23 (9) Oct 21 (8) Oct 20 (13) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (8) Oct 16 (14) Oct 14 (9) Oct 13 (11) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (13) Oct 10 (7) Oct 09 (15) Oct 07 (7) Oct 06 (11) Oct 05 (18) Oct 04 (14) Oct 03 (1) Oct 02 (10) Sep 30 (11) Sep 29 (11) Sep 28 (11) Sep 27 (15) Sep 26 (7) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (11) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (17) Sep 20 (20) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (11) Sep 16 (10) Sep 15 (12) Sep 14 (9) Sep 13 (12) Sep 12 (14) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (8) Sep 09 (9) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (13) Sep 06 (15) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (11) Sep 03 (10) Sep 02 (12) Sep 01 (12) Aug 31 (14) Aug 30 (14) Aug 29 (8) Aug 28 (8) Aug 27 (9) Aug 26 (12) Aug 25 (6) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (12) Aug 22 (6) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (6) Aug 19 (9) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (7) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (2) Aug 14 (12) Aug 12 (15) Aug 11 (11) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (7) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (7) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (5) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (9) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (8) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (6) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (6) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (15) Jul 15 (14) Jul 14 (5) Jul 13 (6) Jul 12 (12) Jul 11 (8) Jul 10 (3) Jul 09 (11) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (10) Jul 05 (4) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (7) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (10) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (7) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (7) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (11) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (14) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (8) Jun 09 (9) Jun 08 (11) Jun 07 (14) Jun 06 (16) Jun 03 (8) Jun 02 (12) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (7) May 30 (15) May 28 (7) May 27 (5) May 26 (21) May 25 (14) May 24 (10) May 23 (7) May 22 (8) May 21 (11) May 20 (5) May 19 (4) May 18 (10) May 17 (11) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (7) May 13 (12) May 12 (10) May 11 (7) May 10 (13) May 09 (4) May 08 (7) May 07 (3) May 06 (6) May 05 (9) May 04 (14) May 03 (7) May 02 (10) May 01 (10) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (9) Apr 28 (5) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (8) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (14) Apr 22 (16) Apr 21 (11) Apr 20 (7) Apr 19 (16) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (8) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (11) Apr 12 (10) Apr 11 (8) Apr 10 (12) Apr 09 (5) Apr 08 (13) Apr 07 (9) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (15) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (15) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (11) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (10) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (7) Mar 27 (12) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (8) Mar 24 (7) Mar 23 (15) Mar 22 (17) Mar 21 (9) Mar 20 (8) Mar 19 (4) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (8) Mar 16 (19) Mar 15 (13) Mar 14 (7) Mar 13 (20) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (11) Mar 09 (13) Mar 08 (13) Mar 07 (7) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (9) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (16) Mar 02 (16) Mar 01 (13) Feb 29 (8) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (16) Feb 26 (10) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (12) Feb 23 (14) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (8) Feb 19 (12) Feb 18 (12) Feb 17 (11) Feb 16 (8) Feb 15 (9) Feb 14 (7) Feb 13 (10) Feb 12 (11) Feb 11 (13) Feb 10 (5) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (13) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (11) Feb 03 (7) Feb 02 (19) Jan 31 (21) Jan 29 (11) Jan 28 (10) Jan 27 (13) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (2) Jan 23 (8) Jan 22 (13) Jan 21 (11) Jan 20 (9) Jan 19 (13) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (11) Jan 15 (7) Jan 14 (13) Jan 13 (9) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (7) Jan 08 (7) Jan 07 (6) Jan 06 (11) Jan 05 (7) Jan 04 (7) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (8) Jan 01 (5) Dec 31 (10) Dec 30 (9) Dec 29 (7) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (1) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (6) Dec 23 (6) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (6) Dec 20 (7) Dec 19 (13) Dec 18 (16) Dec 17 (10) Dec 16 (13) Dec 15 (11) Dec 14 (8) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (9) Dec 11 (10) Dec 10 (12) Dec 09 (10) Dec 08 (13) Dec 07 (7) Dec 06 (12) Dec 05 (8) Dec 04 (11) Dec 03 (12) Dec 02 (16) Dec 01 (14) Nov 30 (10) Nov 29 (11) Nov 28 (15) Nov 27 (16) Nov 26 (11) Nov 25 (9) Nov 24 (13) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (1) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (11) Nov 17 (11) Nov 16 (10) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (10) Nov 13 (14) Nov 12 (8) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (10) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (9) Nov 07 (11) Nov 06 (12) Nov 05 (17) Nov 04 (12) Nov 03 (11) Nov 02 (5) Nov 01 (12) Oct 31 (11) Oct 30 (11) Oct 29 (10) Oct 28 (18) Oct 27 (16) Oct 26 (11) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (12) Oct 23 (11) Oct 22 (14) Oct 21 (12) Oct 20 (17) Oct 19 (12) Oct 18 (13) Oct 17 (15) Oct 16 (14) Oct 15 (10) Oct 14 (16) Oct 13 (12) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (8) Oct 10 (12) Oct 09 (21) Oct 08 (22) Oct 07 (19) Oct 06 (18) Oct 05 (6) Oct 04 (17) Oct 03 (13) Oct 02 (14) Oct 01 (13) Sep 30 (14) Sep 29 (15) Sep 28 (12) Sep 27 (11) Sep 26 (15) Sep 25 (13) Sep 24 (9) Sep 23 (10) Sep 22 (12) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (4) Sep 19 (12) Sep 18 (12) Sep 17 (16) Sep 16 (21) Sep 15 (14) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (10) Sep 11 (16) Sep 10 (7) Sep 09 (8) Sep 08 (10) Sep 07 (7) Sep 06 (5) Sep 05 (8) Sep 04 (9) Sep 03 (8) Sep 02 (11) Sep 01 (10) Aug 31 (4) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (1) Aug 28 (10) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (8) Aug 25 (14) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (13) Aug 20 (9) Aug 19 (13) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (8) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (12) Aug 11 (9) Aug 10 (8) Aug 09 (14) Aug 08 (6) Aug 07 (1) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (8) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (2) Aug 01 (6) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (6) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (6) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (9) Jul 14 (2) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (1) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (8) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (13) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (7) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (7) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (9) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (3) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (7) Jun 17 (7) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (11) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (10) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (2) Jun 05 (9) Jun 04 (8) Jun 03 (9) Jun 02 (6) Jun 01 (4) May 30 (7) May 29 (9) May 28 (13) May 26 (8) May 25 (5) May 24 (2) May 23 (8) May 22 (9) May 21 (7) May 20 (4) May 19 (6) May 18 (7) May 17 (8) May 15 (9) May 14 (5) May 13 (8) May 12 (6) May 11 (6) May 09 (7) May 08 (6) May 07 (11) May 06 (7) May 05 (4) May 04 (11) May 03 (5) May 02 (4) May 01 (9) Apr 30 (6) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (9) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (10) Apr 22 (8) Apr 21 (9) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (4) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (6) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (6) Apr 10 (2) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (5) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (2) Apr 05 (2) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (7) Apr 02 (7) Apr 01 (12) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (1) Mar 28 (2) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (2) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (4) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (6) Mar 20 (9) Mar 19 (9) Mar 18 (8) Mar 17 (9) Mar 16 (7) Mar 15 (11) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (12) Mar 11 (9) Mar 10 (12) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (5) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (11) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (8) Feb 27 (9) Feb 26 (9) Feb 25 (8) Feb 24 (6) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (10) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (7) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (2) Feb 14 (8) Feb 13 (12) Feb 12 (8) Feb 11 (10) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (2) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (11) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (8) Jan 29 (12) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (8) Jan 26 (13) Jan 24 (8) Jan 23 (12) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (10) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (11) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (6) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (6) Jan 06 (4) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (4) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (5) Dec 18 (8) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (9) Dec 15 (7) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (10) Dec 11 (9) Dec 10 (10) Dec 09 (11) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (9) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (8) Dec 02 (10) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (1) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (9) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (7) Nov 25 (12) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (8) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (6) Nov 18 (10) Nov 17 (12) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (12) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (8) Nov 10 (7) Nov 09 (6) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (9) Nov 03 (6) Nov 02 (14) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (6) Oct 30 (7) Oct 29 (9) Oct 28 (9) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (8) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (2) Oct 19 (11) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (7) Oct 15 (7) Oct 14 (8) Oct 13 (5) Oct 12 (8) Oct 11 (6) Oct 10 (5) Oct 09 (11) Oct 08 (10) Oct 07 (8) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (8) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (10) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (7) Sep 29 (6) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (8) Sep 26 (11) Sep 25 (11) Sep 24 (15) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (9) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (9) Sep 18 (10) Sep 17 (10) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (8) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (7) Sep 04 (11) Sep 03 (7) Sep 02 (7) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (1) Aug 29 (10) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (10) Aug 25 (6) Aug 24 (9) Aug 22 (11) Aug 21 (8) Aug 20 (12) Aug 19 (8) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (4) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (8) Aug 11 (7) Aug 10 (12) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (6) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (8) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (4) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (6) Jul 30 (12) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (8) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (8) Jul 20 (6) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (8) Jul 17 (2) Jul 16 (7) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (9) Jul 13 (10) Jul 11 (9) Jul 10 (8) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (7) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (7) Jul 05 (10) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (5) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (1) Jun 27 (15) Jun 26 (10) Jun 25 (9) Jun 24 (16) Jun 23 (6) Jun 22 (12) Jun 20 (6) Jun 19 (8) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (7) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (13) Jun 12 (7) Jun 11 (14) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (7) Jun 06 (16) Jun 05 (7) Jun 04 (18) Jun 03 (12) Jun 02 (8) May 31 (3) May 30 (6) May 29 (6) May 28 (7) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (6) May 23 (4) May 22 (8) May 21 (5) May 20 (6) May 19 (2) May 18 (9) May 17 (1) May 16 (5) May 15 (5) May 14 (7) May 13 (7) May 12 (7) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (5) May 08 (10) May 07 (4) May 06 (13) May 05 (4) May 04 (10) May 02 (2) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (9) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (9) Apr 25 (9) Apr 24 (7) Apr 23 (11) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (10) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (6) Apr 15 (7) Apr 14 (11) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (9) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (6) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (10) Apr 03 (9) Apr 02 (9) Apr 01 (12) Mar 31 (4) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (10) Mar 28 (7) Mar 27 (8) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (15) Mar 24 (11) Mar 23 (8) Mar 22 (7) Mar 21 (14) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (11) Mar 18 (11) Mar 17 (12) Mar 16 (8) Mar 15 (8) Mar 14 (13) Mar 13 (8) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (8) Mar 10 (7) Mar 09 (3) Mar 08 (12) Mar 07 (15) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (9) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (12) Mar 02 (20) Feb 28 (11) Feb 27 (8) Feb 26 (11) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (14) Feb 23 (5) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (8) Feb 20 (11) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (8) Feb 16 (11) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (10) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (10) Feb 11 (7) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (6) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (5) Jan 29 (2) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (3) Jan 26 (2) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (7) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (5) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (7) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (4) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (3) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (6) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (1) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (6) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (6) Dec 30 (1) Dec 29 (5) Dec 27 (1) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (8) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (1) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (8) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (4) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (4) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (7) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (2) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (10) Dec 04 (9) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (2) Dec 01 (8) Nov 29 (5) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (5) Nov 26 (9) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (5) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (12) Nov 20 (12) Nov 19 (10) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (8) Nov 15 (7) Nov 14 (7) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (12) Nov 11 (6) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (5) Nov 05 (9) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (10) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (11) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (7) Oct 25 (6) Oct 24 (7) Oct 23 (11) Oct 22 (2) Oct 21 (7) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (7) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (7) Oct 11 (20) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (21) Oct 07 (20) Oct 06 (34) Oct 04 (24) Oct 03 (21) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (7) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (5) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (5) Sep 26 (6) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (2) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (4) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (9) Sep 19 (11) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (7) Sep 16 (6) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (8) Sep 12 (11) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (6) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (6) Sep 06 (10) Sep 05 (7) Sep 04 (7) Sep 03 (5) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (8) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (7) Aug 29 (10) Aug 28 (7) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (8) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (6) Aug 21 (8) Aug 20 (8) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (7) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (4) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (6) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (6) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (12) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (4) Aug 01 (10) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (6) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (7) Jul 23 (10) Jul 22 (8) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (7) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (10) Jul 16 (11) Jul 15 (5) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (9) Jul 11 (11) Jul 10 (12) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (8) Jul 06 (9) Jul 05 (10) Jul 04 (8) Jul 03 (10) Jul 02 (12) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (5) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (23) Jun 27 (18) Jun 26 (12) Jun 25 (14) Jun 24 (15) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (11) Jun 21 (15) Jun 20 (9) Jun 19 (8) Jun 18 (11) Jun 17 (7) Jun 16 (6) Jun 15 (6) Jun 14 (6) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (6) Jun 11 (9) Jun 10 (10) Jun 09 (9) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (2) Jun 06 (6) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (6) May 31 (3) May 30 (5) May 29 (8) May 28 (7) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (8) May 24 (7) May 23 (6) May 22 (9) May 21 (6) May 20 (5) May 19 (6) May 18 (9) May 17 (10) May 16 (11) May 15 (5) May 14 (11) May 13 (6) May 12 (7) May 11 (7) May 10 (5) May 09 (3) May 08 (10) May 07 (8) May 06 (11) May 05 (5) May 04 (9) May 03 (3) May 02 (2) May 01 (5) Apr 30 (5) Apr 29 (8) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (4) Apr 26 (9) Apr 25 (11) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (11) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (7) Apr 19 (10) Apr 18 (8) Apr 17 (10) Apr 16 (8) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (5) Apr 13 (7) Apr 12 (11) Apr 11 (6) Apr 10 (7) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (9) Apr 05 (10) Apr 04 (7) Apr 03 (2) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (4) Mar 31 (3) Mar 30 (4) Mar 29 (3) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (10) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (7) Mar 22 (6) Mar 21 (9) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (9) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (8) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (10) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (2) Mar 10 (1) Mar 09 (6) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (7) Mar 03 (6) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (9) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (7) Feb 24 (3) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (2) Feb 17 (1) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (5) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (7) Feb 11 (2) Feb 10 (2) Feb 09 (5) Feb 08 (5) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (4) Feb 05 (9) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (3) Feb 02 (10) Feb 01 (9) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (8) Jan 29 (5) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (6) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (7) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (8) Jan 15 (7) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (1) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (1) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (2) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (8) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (4) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (7) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (6) Dec 17 (4) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (8) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (8) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (4) Dec 07 (7) Dec 06 (7) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (6) Dec 03 (7) Dec 02 (1) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (8) Nov 28 (16) Nov 27 (7) Nov 26 (5) Nov 25 (2) Nov 24 (6) Nov 23 (5) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (15) Nov 19 (8) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (7) Nov 14 (6) Nov 13 (9) Nov 12 (7) Nov 11 (8) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (5) Nov 08 (8) Nov 07 (9) Nov 06 (9) Nov 05 (1) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (8) Nov 02 (6) Nov 01 (3) Oct 31 (6) Oct 30 (7) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (8) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (1) Oct 22 (6) Oct 21 (1) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (6) Oct 18 (10) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (15) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (5) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (7) Oct 10 (1) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (8) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (7) Oct 02 (6) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (8) Sep 29 (6) Sep 28 (13) Sep 27 (10) Sep 26 (8) Sep 25 (8) Sep 24 (8) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (9) Sep 20 (7) Sep 19 (8) Sep 18 (4) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (8) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (7) Sep 12 (7) Sep 11 (9) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (10) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (12) Sep 06 (13) Sep 05 (15) Sep 04 (5) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (9) Aug 31 (7) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (8) Aug 28 (11) Aug 27 (2) Aug 26 (6) Aug 25 (15) Aug 24 (6) Aug 23 (8) Aug 22 (5) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (7) Aug 19 (2) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (9) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (7) Aug 07 (9) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (4) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (9) Aug 01 (10) Jul 31 (11) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (11) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (8) Jul 22 (5) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (6) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (7) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (7) Jul 12 (8) Jul 11 (6) Jul 10 (14) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (5) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (9) Jul 05 (8) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (8) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (8) Jun 25 (3) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (14) Jun 22 (11) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (8) Jun 19 (7) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (12) Jun 15 (12) Jun 14 (10) Jun 13 (10) Jun 12 (9) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (12) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (12) Jun 06 (6) Jun 05 (7) Jun 04 (6) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (8) May 31 (4) May 30 (3) May 29 (8) May 28 (7) May 27 (4) May 26 (3) May 25 (5) May 24 (9) May 23 (16) May 22 (12) May 21 (11) May 20 (7) May 19 (10) May 18 (8) May 17 (8) May 16 (10) May 15 (8) May 14 (5) May 13 (1) May 12 (6) May 11 (9) May 10 (9) May 09 (10) May 08 (9) May 07 (6) May 06 (5) May 05 (7) May 04 (10) May 03 (7) May 02 (9) May 01 (10) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (9) Apr 28 (12) Apr 27 (9) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (5) Apr 24 (9) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (7) Apr 21 (8) Apr 20 (9) Apr 19 (6) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (2) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (10) Apr 14 (7) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (7) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (7) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (7) Apr 07 (10) Apr 06 (8) Apr 05 (8) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (4) Apr 01 (4) Mar 31 (11) Mar 30 (12) Mar 29 (16) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (10) Mar 26 (12) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (9) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (12) Mar 20 (14) Mar 19 (8) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (8) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (9) Mar 12 (6) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (8) Mar 08 (10) Mar 07 (12) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (2) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (12) Mar 01 (8) Feb 29 (11) Feb 28 (5) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (13) Feb 25 (10) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (10) Feb 22 (9) Feb 21 (18) Feb 20 (6) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (5) Feb 16 (9) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (8) Feb 09 (5) Feb 08 (8) Feb 07 (10) Feb 06 (7) Feb 05 (7) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (11) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (12) Jan 30 (7) Jan 29 (7) Jan 28 (7) Jan 27 (12) Jan 26 (7) Jan 25 (11) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (6) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (12) Jan 20 (11) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (6) Jan 17 (11) Jan 16 (9) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (6) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (9) Jan 10 (10) Jan 09 (5) Jan 08 (10) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (6) Jan 05 (8) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (8) Jan 02 (7) Jan 01 (7) Dec 31 (10) Dec 30 (11) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (10) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (5) Dec 24 (7) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (9) Dec 21 (8) Dec 20 (8) Dec 19 (5) Dec 18 (1) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (6) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (13) Dec 13 (8) Dec 12 (7) Dec 11 (9) Dec 10 (12) Dec 09 (7) Dec 08 (11) Dec 07 (9) Dec 06 (11) Dec 05 (10) Dec 04 (6) Dec 03 (8) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (14) Nov 30 (7) Nov 29 (8) Nov 28 (8) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (9) Nov 25 (10) Nov 24 (12) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (10) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (8) Nov 17 (9) Nov 16 (9) Nov 15 (12) Nov 14 (6) Nov 13 (9) Nov 12 (3) Nov 11 (9) Nov 10 (10) Nov 09 (10) Nov 08 (7) Nov 07 (8) Nov 06 (10) Nov 05 (8) Nov 04 (7) Nov 03 (10) Nov 02 (11) Nov 01 (10) Oct 31 (5) Oct 30 (8) Oct 29 (8) Oct 28 (8) Oct 27 (11) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (9) Oct 24 (10) Oct 23 (5) Oct 22 (14) Oct 21 (10) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (11) Oct 18 (13) Oct 17 (7) Oct 16 (6) Oct 15 (9) Oct 14 (7) Oct 13 (12) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (9) Oct 10 (8) Oct 09 (9) Oct 08 (7) Oct 07 (12) Oct 06 (8) Oct 05 (13) Oct 04 (11) Oct 03 (7) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (14) Sep 30 (12) Sep 29 (12) Sep 28 (11) Sep 27 (11) Sep 26 (7) Sep 25 (10) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (7) Sep 22 (8) Sep 21 (8) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (7) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (14) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (11) Sep 14 (13) Sep 13 (11) Sep 12 (9) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (13) Sep 08 (11) Sep 07 (11) Sep 06 (16) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (10) Sep 03 (8) Sep 02 (8) Sep 01 (7) Aug 31 (1) Aug 30 (6) Aug 29 (2) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (6) Aug 26 (8) Aug 25 (5) Aug 24 (5) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (7) Aug 21 (6) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (9) Aug 18 (7) Aug 17 (7) Aug 16 (10) Aug 15 (2) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (8) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (12) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (7) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (14) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (13) Jul 28 (10) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (7) Jul 25 (7) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (12) Jul 22 (14) Jul 21 (6) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (12) Jul 18 (9) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (6) Jul 15 (8) Jul 14 (15) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (10) Jul 11 (6) Jul 10 (6) Jul 09 (6) Jul 08 (6) Jul 07 (9) Jul 06 (15) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (10) Jul 03 (6) Jul 02 (6) Jul 01 (11) Jun 30 (7) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (8) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (11) Jun 24 (9) Jun 23 (10) Jun 22 (8) Jun 21 (8) Jun 20 (6) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (15) Jun 17 (8) Jun 16 (13) Jun 15 (15) Jun 14 (11) Jun 13 (6) Jun 12 (15) Jun 11 (7) Jun 10 (7) Jun 09 (18) Jun 08 (20) Jun 07 (17) Jun 06 (9) Jun 05 (9) Jun 04 (12) Jun 03 (13) Jun 02 (14) Jun 01 (8) May 31 (13) May 30 (8) May 29 (6) May 28 (8) May 27 (17) May 26 (8) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (9) May 22 (4) May 21 (4) May 20 (11) May 19 (14) May 18 (6) May 17 (10) May 16 (4) May 15 (5) May 14 (28) May 12 (9) May 11 (17) May 10 (15) May 09 (12) May 08 (5) May 07 (4) May 06 (10) May 05 (8) May 04 (10) May 03 (5) May 02 (6) May 01 (8) Apr 30 (8) Apr 29 (12) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (11) Apr 26 (12) Apr 25 (6) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (5) Apr 22 (10) Apr 21 (19) Apr 20 (13) Apr 19 (11) Apr 18 (11) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (12) Apr 15 (11) Apr 14 (17) Apr 13 (6) Apr 12 (16) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (18) Apr 08 (14) Apr 07 (6) Apr 06 (10) Apr 05 (21) Apr 04 (12) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (13) Apr 01 (8) Mar 31 (10) Mar 30 (11) Mar 29 (10) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (12) Mar 25 (15) Mar 24 (10) Mar 23 (12) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (8) Mar 20 (4) Mar 19 (11) Mar 18 (7) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (9) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (2) Mar 12 (14) Mar 11 (13) Mar 10 (7) Mar 09 (9) Mar 08 (17) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (7) Mar 05 (13) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (14) Mar 02 (12) Mar 01 (18) Feb 28 (8) Feb 27 (2) Feb 26 (9) Feb 25 (13) Feb 24 (17) Feb 23 (13) Feb 22 (12) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (11) Feb 19 (16) Feb 18 (17) Feb 17 (15) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (15) Feb 14 (10) Feb 13 (8) Feb 12 (10) Feb 11 (15) Feb 10 (11) Feb 09 (13) Feb 08 (10) Feb 07 (9) Feb 06 (6) Feb 05 (15) Feb 04 (15) Feb 03 (11) Feb 02 (14) Feb 01 (15) Jan 31 (11) Jan 30 (9) Jan 29 (19) Jan 28 (9) Jan 27 (9) Jan 26 (16) Jan 25 (19) Jan 24 (17) Jan 23 (8) Jan 22 (15) Jan 21 (9) Jan 20 (11) Jan 19 (7) Jan 18 (9) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (12) Jan 14 (9) Jan 13 (14) Jan 12 (11) Jan 11 (13) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (8) Jan 08 (20) Jan 07 (11) Jan 06 (11) Jan 05 (8) Jan 04 (14) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (7) Jan 01 (7) Dec 31 (14) Dec 30 (15) Dec 29 (7) Dec 28 (10) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (11) Dec 24 (9) Dec 23 (9) Dec 22 (15) Dec 21 (12) Dec 20 (11) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (16) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (12) Dec 15 (14) Dec 14 (11) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (10) Dec 10 (17) Dec 09 (11) Dec 08 (12) Dec 07 (16) Dec 06 (11) Dec 05 (5) Dec 04 (12) Dec 03 (15) Dec 02 (15) Dec 01 (12) Nov 30 (16) Nov 29 (7) Nov 28 (11) Nov 27 (13) Nov 26 (13) Nov 25 (16) Nov 24 (15) Nov 23 (10) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (8) Nov 19 (9) Nov 18 (16) Nov 17 (11) Nov 16 (11) Nov 15 (10) Nov 14 (9) Nov 13 (6) Nov 12 (10) Nov 11 (12) Nov 10 (15) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (10) Nov 07 (6) Nov 06 (7) Nov 05 (12) Nov 04 (14) Nov 03 (10) Nov 02 (13) Nov 01 (9) Oct 31 (9) Oct 30 (11) Oct 29 (18) Oct 28 (13) Oct 27 (23) Oct 26 (12) Oct 25 (14) Oct 24 (20) Oct 22 (18) Oct 21 (18) Oct 20 (19) Oct 19 (12) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (5) Oct 16 (18) Oct 15 (8) Oct 14 (11) Oct 13 (9) Oct 12 (13) Oct 11 (6) Oct 10 (7) Oct 09 (27) Oct 08 (14) Oct 07 (10) Oct 06 (9) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (10) Oct 03 (6) Oct 02 (9) Oct 01 (13) Sep 30 (12) Sep 29 (13) Sep 28 (8) Sep 27 (9) Sep 26 (8) Sep 25 (14) Sep 24 (4) Sep 23 (14) Sep 22 (20) Sep 21 (11) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (9) Sep 18 (14) Sep 17 (8) Sep 16 (17) Sep 15 (6) Sep 14 (11) Sep 13 (9) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (7) Sep 10 (14) Sep 09 (12) Sep 08 (17) Sep 07 (12) Sep 06 (13) Sep 05 (9) Sep 04 (20) Sep 03 (16) Sep 02 (16) Sep 01 (10) Aug 31 (13) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (9) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (8) Aug 26 (11) Aug 25 (10) Aug 24 (14) Aug 23 (12) Aug 22 (13) Aug 21 (10) Aug 20 (13) Aug 19 (15) Aug 18 (8) Aug 17 (10) Aug 16 (8) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (11) Aug 13 (12) Aug 12 (15) Aug 11 (10) Aug 10 (17) Aug 09 (6) Aug 08 (13) Aug 07 (11) Aug 06 (13) Aug 05 (11) Aug 04 (11) Aug 03 (10) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (6) Jul 31 (10) Jul 30 (21) Jul 29 (14) Jul 28 (13) Jul 27 (16) Jul 26 (10) Jul 25 (15) Jul 24 (17) Jul 23 (15) Jul 22 (15) Jul 21 (19) Jul 20 (17) Jul 19 (9) Jul 18 (7) Jul 17 (26) Jul 16 (18) Jul 15 (20) Jul 14 (16) Jul 13 (19) Jul 12 (11) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (13) Jul 09 (11) Jul 08 (8) Jul 07 (12) Jul 06 (16) Jul 05 (9) Jul 04 (5) Jul 03 (15) Jul 02 (11) Jul 01 (14) Jun 30 (13) Jun 29 (19) Jun 28 (8) Jun 27 (9) Jun 26 (16) Jun 25 (22) Jun 24 (17) Jun 23 (11) Jun 22 (15) Jun 21 (14) Jun 20 (8) Jun 19 (17) Jun 18 (10) Jun 17 (10) Jun 16 (17) Jun 15 (13) Jun 14 (14) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (13) Jun 11 (15) Jun 10 (25) Jun 09 (10) Jun 08 (23) Jun 07 (14) Jun 06 (20) Jun 05 (10) Jun 04 (11) Jun 03 (12) Jun 02 (21) Jun 01 (14) May 31 (10) May 30 (14) May 29 (8) May 28 (23) May 27 (20) May 26 (16) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (10) May 22 (18) May 21 (14) May 20 (12) May 19 (18) May 18 (14) May 17 (13) May 16 (4) May 15 (7) May 14 (16) May 13 (13) May 12 (8) May 11 (18) May 10 (8) May 09 (7) May 08 (13) May 07 (11) May 06 (15) May 05 (18) May 04 (17) May 03 (7) May 02 (5) May 01 (11) Apr 30 (19) Apr 29 (21) Apr 28 (18) Apr 27 (16) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (11) Apr 24 (9) Apr 23 (20) Apr 22 (23) Apr 21 (5) Apr 20 (16) Apr 19 (13) Apr 18 (6) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (16) Apr 15 (18) Apr 14 (13) Apr 13 (14) Apr 12 (9) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (16) Apr 09 (14) Apr 08 (12) Apr 07 (18) Apr 06 (7) Apr 05 (11) Apr 04 (9) Apr 03 (19) Apr 02 (17) Apr 01 (16) Mar 31 (16) Mar 30 (22) Mar 29 (16) Mar 28 (16) Mar 27 (19) Mar 26 (31) Mar 25 (25) Mar 24 (26) Mar 23 (27) Mar 22 (22) Mar 21 (22) Mar 20 (13) Mar 19 (21) Mar 18 (20) Mar 17 (24) Mar 16 (18) Mar 15 (9) Mar 14 (9) Mar 13 (29) Mar 12 (15) Mar 11 (11) Mar 10 (11) Mar 09 (20) Mar 08 (12) Mar 07 (6) Mar 06 (21) Mar 05 (22) Mar 04 (19) Mar 03 (9) Mar 02 (20) Mar 01 (11) Feb 28 (11) Feb 27 (27) Feb 26 (15) Feb 25 (18) Feb 24 (17) Feb 23 (19) Feb 22 (24) Feb 21 (10) Feb 20 (14) Feb 19 (25) Feb 18 (16) Feb 17 (19) Feb 16 (23) Feb 15 (8) Feb 14 (11) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (16) Feb 11 (12) Feb 10 (18) Feb 09 (12) Feb 08 (14) Feb 07 (8) Feb 06 (27) Feb 05 (28) Feb 04 (24) Feb 03 (17) Feb 02 (20) Feb 01 (23) Jan 31 (16) Jan 30 (20) Jan 29 (26) Jan 28 (17) Jan 27 (21) Jan 26 (24) Jan 25 (16) Jan 24 (14) Jan 23 (16) Jan 22 (17) Jan 21 (19) Jan 20 (21) Jan 19 (17) Jan 18 (13) Jan 17 (14) Jan 16 (10) Jan 15 (21) Jan 14 (16) Jan 13 (19) Jan 12 (30) Jan 11 (14) Jan 10 (11) Jan 09 (8) Jan 08 (23) Jan 07 (13) Jan 06 (21) Jan 05 (15) Jan 04 (18) Jan 03 (9) Jan 02 (12) Jan 01 (15) Dec 31 (18) Dec 30 (7) Dec 29 (13) Dec 28 (11) Dec 27 (8) Dec 26 (6) Dec 25 (8) Dec 24 (28) Dec 23 (12) Dec 22 (12) Dec 21 (17) Dec 20 (19) Dec 19 (19) Dec 18 (22) Dec 17 (24) Dec 16 (17) Dec 15 (29) Dec 14 (22) Dec 13 (12) Dec 12 (22) Dec 11 (24) Dec 10 (25) Dec 09 (18) Dec 08 (15) Dec 07 (21) Dec 06 (24) Dec 05 (30) Dec 04 (28) Dec 03 (26) Dec 02 (22) Dec 01 (33) Nov 30 (23) Nov 29 (9) Nov 28 (18) Nov 27 (25) Nov 26 (17) Nov 25 (23) Nov 24 (27) Nov 23 (12) Nov 22 (10) Nov 21 (15) Nov 20 (23) Nov 19 (23) Nov 18 (24) Nov 17 (21) Nov 16 (20) Nov 15 (13) Nov 14 (15) Nov 13 (27) Nov 12 (23) Nov 11 (19) Nov 10 (21) Nov 09 (13) Nov 08 (16) Nov 07 (16) Nov 06 (32) Nov 05 (24) Nov 04 (20) Nov 03 (29) Nov 02 (12) Nov 01 (15) Oct 31 (20) Oct 30 (22) Oct 29 (27) Oct 28 (20) Oct 27 (23) Oct 26 (21) Oct 25 (15) Oct 24 (23) Oct 23 (26) Oct 22 (27) Oct 21 (28) Oct 20 (24) Oct 19 (13) Oct 18 (9) Oct 17 (30) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (20) Oct 14 (14) Oct 13 (17) Oct 12 (16) Oct 11 (8) Oct 10 (19) Oct 09 (22) Oct 08 (16) Oct 07 (18) Oct 06 (23) Oct 05 (7) Oct 04 (15) Oct 03 (21) Oct 02 (17) Oct 01 (22) Sep 30 (25) Sep 29 (20) Sep 28 (17) Sep 27 (13) Sep 26 (20) Sep 25 (15) Sep 24 (24) Sep 23 (23) Sep 22 (18) Sep 21 (20) Sep 20 (11) Sep 19 (24) Sep 18 (25) Sep 17 (25) Sep 16 (19) Sep 15 (21) Sep 14 (15) Sep 13 (10) Sep 12 (23) Sep 11 (23) Sep 10 (25) Sep 09 (25) Sep 08 (17) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (17) Sep 05 (14) Sep 04 (24) Sep 03 (16) Sep 02 (11) Sep 01 (19) Aug 31 (20) Aug 30 (11) Aug 29 (24) Aug 28 (24) Aug 27 (16) Aug 26 (26) Aug 25 (21) Aug 24 (15) Aug 23 (19) Aug 22 (15) Aug 21 (25) Aug 20 (27) Aug 19 (19) Aug 18 (24) Aug 17 (14) Aug 16 (10) Aug 15 (15) Aug 14 (16) Aug 13 (21) Aug 12 (30) Aug 11 (19) Aug 10 (8) Aug 09 (12) Aug 08 (17) Aug 07 (21) Aug 06 (26) Aug 05 (23) Aug 04 (21) Aug 03 (12) Aug 02 (7) Aug 01 (19) Jul 31 (21) Jul 30 (25) Jul 29 (29) Jul 28 (23) Jul 27 (17) Jul 26 (11) Jul 25 (21) Jul 24 (14) Jul 23 (15) Jul 22 (19) Jul 21 (15) Jul 20 (9) Jul 19 (10) Jul 18 (15) Jul 17 (22) Jul 16 (18) Jul 15 (21) Jul 14 (20) Jul 13 (7) Jul 12 (9) Jul 11 (29) Jul 10 (19) Jul 09 (17) Jul 08 (26) Jul 07 (21) Jul 06 (18) Jul 05 (14) Jul 04 (20) Jul 03 (17) Jul 02 (24) Jul 01 (23) Jun 30 (23) Jun 29 (18) Jun 28 (16) Jun 27 (16) Jun 26 (17) Jun 25 (23) Jun 24 (32) Jun 23 (29) Jun 22 (8) Jun 21 (17) Jun 20 (25) Jun 19 (28) Jun 18 (19) Jun 17 (25) Jun 16 (23) Jun 15 (9) Jun 14 (11) Jun 13 (14) Jun 12 (22) Jun 11 (19) Jun 10 (17) Jun 09 (15) Jun 08 (16) Jun 07 (7) Jun 06 (29) Jun 05 (27) Jun 04 (24) Jun 03 (22) Jun 02 (22) Jun 01 (13) May 31 (9) May 30 (26) May 29 (19) May 28 (15) May 27 (15) May 26 (23) May 25 (13) May 24 (12) May 23 (24) May 22 (13) May 21 (21) May 20 (18) May 19 (16) May 18 (7) May 17 (12) May 16 (25) May 15 (24) May 14 (23) May 13 (19) May 12 (17) May 11 (8) May 10 (6) May 09 (14) May 08 (21) May 07 (26) May 06 (14) May 05 (14) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (24) May 01 (13) Apr 30 (15) Apr 29 (24) Apr 28 (24) Apr 27 (11) Apr 26 (8) Apr 25 (13) Apr 24 (27) Apr 23 (15) Apr 22 (21) Apr 21 (19) Apr 20 (17) Apr 19 (8) Apr 18 (20) Apr 17 (27) Apr 16 (27) Apr 15 (21) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (8) Apr 12 (7) Apr 11 (7) Apr 10 (22) Apr 09 (15) Apr 08 (15) Apr 07 (17) Apr 06 (14) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (12) Apr 03 (19) Apr 02 (17) Apr 01 (19) Mar 31 (25) Mar 30 (13) Mar 29 (9) Mar 28 (16) Mar 27 (23) Mar 26 (22) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (25) Mar 23 (16) Mar 22 (13) Mar 21 (24) Mar 20 (27) Mar 19 (20) Mar 18 (24) Mar 17 (17) Mar 16 (11) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (20) Mar 13 (28) Mar 12 (30) Mar 11 (20) Mar 10 (21) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (8) Mar 07 (17) Mar 06 (20) Mar 05 (19) Mar 04 (15) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (12) Feb 28 (16) Feb 27 (17) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (23) Feb 24 (15) Feb 23 (8) Feb 22 (10) Feb 21 (24) Feb 20 (14) Feb 19 (24) Feb 18 (19) Feb 17 (27) Feb 16 (13) Feb 15 (11) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (13) Feb 12 (13) Feb 11 (21) Feb 10 (16) Feb 09 (15) Feb 08 (10) Feb 07 (17) Feb 06 (21) Feb 05 (17) Feb 04 (14) Feb 03 (23) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (8) Jan 31 (17) Jan 30 (22) Jan 29 (23) Jan 28 (10) Jan 27 (24) Jan 26 (12) Jan 25 (9) Jan 24 (12) Jan 23 (19) Jan 22 (19) Jan 21 (14) Jan 20 (21) Jan 19 (12) Jan 18 (8) Jan 17 (20) Jan 16 (14) Jan 15 (23) Jan 14 (8) Jan 13 (20) Jan 12 (9) Jan 11 (7) Jan 10 (18) Jan 09 (11) Jan 08 (18) Jan 07 (13) Jan 06 (12) Jan 05 (12) Jan 04 (11) Jan 03 (10) Jan 02 (9) Jan 01 (9) Dec 31 (12) Dec 30 (11) Dec 29 (6) Dec 28 (9) Dec 27 (13) Dec 26 (15) Dec 25 (8) Dec 24 (6) Dec 23 (8) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (6) Dec 20 (14) Dec 19 (17) Dec 18 (14) Dec 17 (14) Dec 16 (13) Dec 15 (9) Dec 14 (9) Dec 13 (11) Dec 12 (16) Dec 11 (18) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (24) Dec 08 (11) Dec 07 (19) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (26) Dec 04 (15) Dec 03 (20) Dec 02 (17) Dec 01 (11) Nov 30 (10) Nov 29 (18) Nov 28 (21) Nov 27 (10) Nov 26 (22) Nov 25 (16) Nov 24 (12) Nov 23 (8) Nov 22 (18) Nov 21 (9) Nov 20 (17) Nov 19 (16) Nov 18 (16) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (9) Nov 15 (21) Nov 14 (17) Nov 13 (20) Nov 12 (16) Nov 11 (13) Nov 10 (9) Nov 09 (10) Nov 08 (16) Nov 07 (15) Nov 06 (18) Nov 05 (19) Nov 04 (16) Nov 03 (11) Nov 02 (5) Nov 01 (17) Oct 31 (17) Oct 30 (21) Oct 29 (9) Oct 28 (16) Oct 27 (6) Oct 26 (6) Oct 25 (16) Oct 24 (18) Oct 23 (14) Oct 22 (17) Oct 21 (10) Oct 20 (6) Oct 19 (8) Oct 18 (11) Oct 17 (12) Oct 16 (14) Oct 15 (19) Oct 14 (15) Oct 13 (11) Oct 12 (9) Oct 11 (10) Oct 10 (23) Oct 09 (13) Oct 08 (15) Oct 07 (20) Oct 06 (13) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (16) Oct 03 (17) Oct 02 (17) Oct 01 (20) Sep 30 (17) Sep 29 (9) Sep 28 (8) Sep 27 (14) Sep 26 (20) Sep 25 (19) Sep 24 (13) Sep 23 (11) Sep 22 (9) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (21) Sep 18 (12) Sep 17 (20) Sep 16 (16) Sep 15 (10) Sep 14 (6) Sep 13 (18) Sep 12 (14) Sep 11 (24) Sep 10 (17) Sep 09 (16) Sep 08 (16) Sep 07 (10) Sep 06 (20) Sep 05 (13) Sep 04 (23) Sep 03 (14) Sep 02 (12) Sep 01 (11) Aug 31 (11) Aug 30 (13) Aug 29 (18) Aug 28 (14) Aug 27 (21) Aug 26 (10) Aug 25 (8) Aug 24 (10) Aug 23 (17) Aug 22 (15) Aug 21 (14) Aug 20 (20) Aug 19 (20) Aug 18 (7) Aug 17 (9) Aug 16 (11) Aug 15 (12) Aug 14 (14) Aug 13 (19) Aug 12 (14) Aug 11 (6) Aug 10 (12) Aug 09 (7) Aug 08 (18) Aug 07 (16) Aug 06 (16) Aug 05 (20) Aug 04 (12) Aug 03 (8) Aug 02 (12) Aug 01 (14) Jul 31 (16) Jul 30 (16) Jul 29 (11) Jul 28 (8) Jul 27 (9) Jul 26 (17) Jul 25 (20) Jul 24 (17) Jul 23 (11) Jul 22 (18) Jul 21 (7) Jul 20 (10) Jul 19 (14) Jul 18 (11) Jul 17 (15) Jul 16 (12) Jul 15 (10) Jul 14 (8) Jul 13 (8) Jul 12 (17) Jul 11 (18) Jul 10 (16) Jul 09 (13) Jul 08 (10) Jul 07 (12) Jul 06 (8) Jul 05 (16) Jul 04 (14) Jul 03 (17) Jul 02 (13) Jul 01 (16) Jun 30 (19) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (19) Jun 27 (21) Jun 26 (27) Jun 25 (23) Jun 24 (23) Jun 23 (12) Jun 22 (9) Jun 21 (18) Jun 20 (15) Jun 19 (24) Jun 18 (21) Jun 17 (13) Jun 16 (9) Jun 15 (9) Jun 14 (18) Jun 13 (24) Jun 12 (18) Jun 11 (23) Jun 10 (25) Jun 09 (24) Jun 08 (27) Jun 07 (5) Jun 06 (25) Jun 05 (30) Jun 04 (23) Jun 03 (22) Jun 02 (16) Jun 01 (17) May 31 (18) May 30 (19) May 29 (17) May 28 (23) May 27 (15) May 26 (10) May 25 (19) May 24 (16) May 23 (16) May 22 (27) May 21 (20) May 20 (26) May 19 (6) May 18 (8) May 17 (20) May 16 (8) May 15 (18) May 14 (5) May 13 (21) May 12 (9) May 11 (8) May 10 (12) May 09 (18) May 08 (11) May 07 (27) May 06 (12) May 05 (16) May 04 (19) May 03 (14) May 02 (18) May 01 (18) Apr 30 (25) Apr 29 (27) Apr 28 (11) Apr 27 (10) Apr 26 (18) Apr 25 (10) Apr 24 (29) Apr 23 (29) Apr 22 (14) Apr 21 (15) Apr 20 (20) Apr 19 (22) Apr 18 (16) Apr 17 (32) Apr 16 (12) Apr 15 (21) Apr 14 (21) Apr 13 (15) Apr 12 (13) Apr 11 (14) Apr 10 (16) Apr 09 (20) Apr 08 (36) Apr 07 (22) Apr 06 (11) Apr 05 (28) Apr 04 (20) Apr 03 (29) Apr 02 (32) Apr 01 (18) Mar 31 (12) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (15) Mar 28 (22) Mar 27 (24) Mar 26 (17) Mar 25 (17) Mar 24 (13) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (12) Mar 21 (15) Mar 20 (18) Mar 19 (19) Mar 18 (16) Mar 17 (10) Mar 16 (6) Mar 15 (18) Mar 14 (24) Mar 13 (18) Mar 12 (18) Mar 11 (17) Mar 10 (13) Mar 09 (12) Mar 08 (18) Mar 07 (25) Mar 06 (16) Mar 05 (16) Mar 04 (22) Mar 03 (17) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (23) Feb 29 (19) Feb 28 (25) Feb 27 (26) Feb 26 (23) Feb 25 (12) Feb 24 (13) Feb 23 (15) Feb 22 (26) Feb 21 (31) Feb 20 (12) Feb 19 (21) Feb 18 (15) Feb 17 (10) Feb 16 (15) Feb 15 (19) Feb 14 (15) Feb 13 (25) Feb 12 (20) Feb 11 (9) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (28) Feb 08 (20) Feb 07 (22) Feb 06 (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)
Parasol Mushrooms are everywhere. It is that time of the year. Most are pushing up under thick grass and thus struggling to get shown, but if you walk the fields, you will see that they are full of these mushrooms

Many types of these mushrooms and some are edible and some are poisonous. I do not care, I simply enjoy looking at them and taking pictures. I am not much of a mushroom person and the thought of getting a poisonous mushroom is too strong in my, Not wanna eat then die list! That I simply stay away from eating mushrooms from the wild. Well except when morel season is here. I am a good ole boy from Missouri and we ate morels deep fried in real butter and salt and peppered to taste

* * * * * * * * * *

Finally finished the gate. Well.it has been built awhile, but never painted. It is now painted and I think it looks pretty good. It is side by side gates, to allow us to drive in if necessary and has a removable center post and bench seat. This is how I tell people, Welcome to our home!

My friends and I sit here and discuss world problems 

* * * * * * * * * *

Svetochka takes such wonderful images. This little guy just slept away as she took as many pictures of him as she could. After she was done he just woke up and ran away. If I tried that, he would hiss at me and run away, even before I could get the camera out. Sveta has a way with taking pictures and all around her seem to love for her to do it

* * * * * * * * * *

If you dont want a man unhappy politically, dont give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, top-heavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag. Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of noncombustible data, chock them so damned full of facts they feel stuffed, but absolutely brilliant with information. Then theyll feel theyre thinking, theyll get a sense of motion without moving. And theyll be happy, because facts of that sort dont change.  Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

And that is a quote of truth, from one of the greatest SciFi writers ever

WtR
WELLINGTON - New Zealand will continue to develop security relationship with China, which has seen the two militaries increase cooperation in recent years, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Thursday.

China was pivotal to security in the Asia-Pacific region, which stood to benefit from a prosperous and peaceful China as an active and positive participant in international systems, Brownlee said in a published speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs in Wellington.

People's Liberation Army engineers had participated alongside New Zealand and the United States in the New Zealand-led humanitarian and disaster relief exercise, Tropic Twilight in Tonga last month.

Chinese officers also participated alongside representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force and the United States military in the humanitarian and disaster relief exercise Cooperation Spirit held in Wellington earlier this month.

"Further afield, we welcome China's extensive peacekeeping contributions, and in particular the force protection it has provided to New Zealand troops as part of the United Nations peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan," said Brownlee.

"Despite relative differences in our strategic outlook and in the sizes of our two defense forces, New Zealand and China are developing a constructive and resilient relationship," he said.

"Our interactions with the People's Liberation Army allow for real issues to be discussed openly."

There were challenging issues to navigate, Brownlee said, citing the South China Sea issues.

"Continued China-United States engagement and cooperation is indispensable to security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond," he said.

New Zealand was optimistic about the continuing military engagement by both countries, he said, referring to high-level exchanges last year and this year.

"New Zealand is acutely aware of the dynamic between China and the United States, but we do not see our defense relationships as mutually exclusive," said Brownlee.
Aug 25, 2016 | By Alec

UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Of all the initiatives and developments in the 3D printing world, none have caused as much headaches as 3D printed guns. And regardless of where you stand on the issue of gun rights in America, its no secret that completely untraceable plastic guns are bringing security issues to the table. Especially law makers in the US have been scratching their heads about what to do with them. Among others, the US State Department has been trying to limit the spread of 3D printable gun designs, while a new law passed in California last month requires 3D printed guns to be registered.

But the issue of 3D printed guns transcends second amendment debates, according to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. During a speech on the global proliferation of weapons, he listed 3D printing alongside a number of technologies that can be used by terrorists and that facilitate the production of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and other biological and technological threats.

Mr. Ban was speaking during a UN Security Council debate on The non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and reminded those present that eliminating weapons of mass destruction was one of the founding principles of the United Nations. I call on all States to focus on one overriding truth: the only sure way to prevent the human, environmental and existential destruction these weapons can cause, is by eradicating [these weapons] once and for all, Mr. Ban said. We  the international community  must ensure the disarmament and non-proliferation framework is universally and completely implemented, and is resilient and versatile enough to grapple with the changing environment.

UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

During the speech, he also called for more multilateral treaties that, like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, are robust and tested. Nonetheless, the challenges to non-proliferation and disarmament architecture are growing, the Secretary-General pointed out. Vicious non-State actors that target civilians for carnage are actively seeking chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, he argued. In particular, the recent outbreaks of Ebola, MERS and Yellow Fever revealed that the world is not adequately prepared to prevent or respond to biological attacks.

However, the Secretary-General also discussed the global threats that emerge from the misuse of science and technology. The digital world, he argued, is unavoidably accompanied by new challenges to human safety, and the international community must respond to them. Information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and synthetic biology have the potential for massive destruction, he said. The nexus between these emerging technologies and WMDs needs close examination and action.

Whats more, Mr. Ban is not alone in seeing digital innovations such as 3D printing as potential terrorist threats. Gregory Koblentz, the director of the Biodefence Graduate Program at the George Mason University in Virginia, also warned for the dangers of cyber terrorism. We should not be just one click of the mouse away from a cyber Chernobyl, he said, adding that computer viruses can easily attack chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear facilities. In 2014, a seized ISIS laptop was found to contain a manual on biological weapon development, while the Nuclear Threat Initiative previously found that 20 nations with weapon-grade nuclear material or nuclear power plants did not meet basic cyber security requirements.

Gregory Koblentz, Associate Professor and Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at George Mason University, addresses the Security Council open debate. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

3D printing can certainly also play a role in digital terrorism, Koblentz added. 3D printed drones offer low-cost opportunities to attack or explore nuclear facilities or chemical storage sites, and can theoretically also deliver WMDs to targets. Its no secret that ISIS, Hamas and Hezbollah are already looking into drone technology. But 3D printed plastic guns, that can evade security scanners, can also be used for small-scale terrorist attacks. While such guns are known to be dangerous to the wielder as well, that is not a big concern in suicide attacks. But more generally, 3D printers can be used to manufacture items that are otherwise unobtainable for people on terrorist watch lists.

So what can be done to counter the threats posed by 3D printing? While neither Ban Ki-moon or Koblentz are calling for laws against 3D printed guns, it is imperative to properly prepare defense frameworks. Disarmament and non-proliferation instruments are only as successful as Member States capacity to implement them, the Secretary-General noted while encouraging council members to devise counter measures that support their disarmament and non-proliferation commitments.

Koblentz, meanwhile, argued that specialists need to extensively study possible threats posed by 3D printing and other digital technologies, and prepare against them. It would be far preferable to predict how these emerging technologies could be misused and take steps to minimize that risk, Koblentz said. The digital revolution clearly brings its own threats with it.

Posted in 3D Printing Technology

Maybe you also like:









Liberty4All wrote at 8/27/2016 4:10:42 PM:The idea that "banning something" will eradicate it from the earth is ridiculous. When you ban something, the law abiding citizens disarm themselves because they don't want to disobey the law. Criminals don't disarm themselves and don't abide by the law precisely because they are criminals. You are arrogant and ignorant to think otherwise. Look at guns in places like Chicago. The laws are so strict they mine as well be banned, and yet it mine as well be a war zone. People die every day from guns... And yet, they are "banned". Banning something just means that every day "Joe's" get disarmed while the guns go on the black market and now only criminals have them. All because government officials think they know what is best for you. I completely agree with Tin Foil Hat. Tangible objects don't commit crimes. People kill people with hammers, bows and arrows, knives, etc. Bad people kill and bad people will continue to kill regardless of your "ban" on "weapons". Get your head out of the sand before you are put in the sand because of you reckless thinking. If you want to give up your guns, go right ahead, no one is stopping you. (And that especially goes for your armed security!!) Robin Leech is right. They just want a monopoly on force and power, just like ruthless dictators. But freedom means that you can't take my property or safety away from me. Get out of our lives!!Tin foil hat wrote at 8/26/2016 3:37:00 AM:They just want more control of everything. Yesterday there was a crossbow attack that killed 3 in Ontario. Next thing you know they're going to say access to hand tools is dangerous and could be leveraged for small scale terrorist attacks by enabling us to create crossbows. We'd all have to register with the government how many saws and screw drivers we own and have serial numbers on everything so they can keep track of who has the ability to sharpen a stick into a bolt.RobinLeech wrote at 8/25/2016 9:33:57 PM:The world is inevitably a dangerous place and it's arrogant and foolish to think we can possibly NERF everything, or that anyone has the authority to do so. Nuclear disarmament treaties only apply to those that actually follow them for example. Just because a nation like Russia says they won't build it, doesn't mean they will comply. When guys like Ban Ki-moon say things like this, they're really advocating a monopoly of force, where only those really bad guys and tyrants have these capabilities. He's saying that because these developments threaten the current social and political order, we should limit them. That limitation is really where the largest threat comes from, as can be seen in the "Gun Free Zones" being shot up by psychopaths here in the USA. If they really cared about the people, they'd be pushing an agenda that puts us all on equal footing. They'd be saying we need public gun libraries and initiatives that put this technology into the hands of "Joe Public".mick wrote at 8/25/2016 6:17:40 PM:Don't forget the devastation 3d printing will have on jobs to manufacturing dependent countries.




Stephanie Forrest and Melanie Mitchell in Communications of the ACM:

As a descendant of the cybernetics era, he was influenced by the work of John von Neumann, Norbert Wiener, W. Ross Ashby, and Alan Turing, all of whom viewed computation as a broad, interdisciplinary enterprise. Holland thus became an early proponent of interdisciplinary approaches to computer science and an active evangelist of what is now called computational thinking, reaching out enthusiastically to psychologists, economists, physicists, linguists, philosophers, and pretty much anyone he came in contact with. As a result, even though he received what was arguably one of the world's first computer science Ph.D. degrees in 1959,23his contributions are sometimes better known outside computer science than within.

Holland is best known for his invention of genetic algorithms (GAs), a family of search and optimization methods inspired by biological evolution. Since their invention in the 1960s, GAs have inspired many related methods and led to the thriving field of evolutionary computation, with widespread scientific and commercial applications. Although the mechanisms and applications of GAs are well known, they were only one offshoot of Holland's broader motivationto develop a general theory of adaptation in complex systems.

Here, we consider this larger framework, sketching the recurring themes that were central to Holland's theory of adaptive systems: discovery and dynamics in adaptive search; internal models and prediction; exploratory modeling; and universal properties of complex adaptive systems.

More here.
A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure. ~Czech proverb





Margarita Mix-Off + Taco Knockdown

The four-day Eat Drink SF festival is best known for its Grand Tastings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but our favorite event is Thursday's Taco Knockdown and Margarita Mix-Off at Folsom Street Foundry. A dozen local chefs will vie for the taco title in a live competition, with a panel of expert judges to determine the best overall winner. Grazing guests will also be voting for the People's Choice winner. Meanwhile, the Milagro Margarita Mix Off will feature four local bartenders facing off with their creative takes on the margarita. Tickets are available online for $85 each and include tacos, beer, wine, and cocktails. // 1425 Folsom St. (SoMa), eatdrink-sf.com





California Rum Festival

Before the American War of Independance, rum was the most consumed spirit in the U.S. If The Rum Lab has its way, history will repeat itself this weekend. The organizers of the 2nd California Rum Fest are convening more than a dozen rum brands and experts including distillers, mixologists, and historiansfor two rum-soaked sessions at SOMARTS Cultural Center. Friday's Rum Aficionado Session ($70) includes seminars, tiki cocktails, and access to a tasting room with more than 60 expressions of rums. Saturday's Rum Bazaar is a 5-hour rum market featuring tropical rum cocktails ($5-$10), local arts and crafts, and live music. Tickets are available online. // 934 Brannan St (SoMa), californiarumfestival.com





ThirstyBear's 20th Birthday Beer Bash

ThirstyBear Organic Brewery is turning 20, which is an excellent excuse for San Francisco's longest operating brewery-restaurant to host a big ol' beer bash this Saturday, from 1pm to 5pm. The anniversary party will feature whole-roasted pigs, festival-sized paellas, artisan cheeses, live bluegrass music, flamenco dancing, specialty cocktails, 40+ craft beers, and a special wet-hopped, nitrogen-conditioned anniversary ale crafted by brewmasters Ron Silberstein and Brenden Dobel. ThirstyBear will also release its last barrel of Dark Agea strong, vintage, barrel-aged beautyand pour cask conditioned ales, sours, seasonals, hop-bombs, and barrel-aged beers from two dozen local breweries. Tickets are available online for $45. // 661 Howard St. (SoMa), thirstybear.com





Drake's Brewing Hosts Patio Party for 27th Birthday

Drake's Brewing Co. is also celebrating an anniversary. The San-Leandro-based craft brewery is turning 27 and throwing a parking lot party to commemorate the occasion. On Friday from 4pm to 9pm, guests can enjoy live music from a Prince tribute band, unlimited tastings of Drake's brews and guest beers, and food from Slow Hand BBQ, Docs of the Bay and Drake's Brew! Kitchen. Attendees will get a first taste of this year's five Aroma Series brews and can try beers from eight alumni brewers. In addition, the Drake's team will hold specially-timed tappings and tastings of rare barrel-aged and sour brews from the cellar. Admission is $35 in advance, $75 pre-sale for VIP packages , or $40 at the door. Bring along a designated driver (for only $10), or take advantage of the free shuttle from (and back to) the San Leandro BART station. // 1933 Davis St. Bldg. 177 (San Leandro), drinkdrakes.com





21st Amendment's expansive new tasting room in San Leandro. (Courtesy of 21st Amendment)

21st Amendment Launches AugustFest
Laws crafted by those elected should do most good for most people
LOS ANGELES  Leslie Jones, the black Saturday Night Live and Ghostbusters actress-comedian, is again the target of racist and sexist online attacks.

Jones personal site was taken offline Wednesday after it appeared hackers posted explicit photos of Jones and her drivers license and passport. The hackers also appeared to have inserted a video of deceased Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe and images of Jones posing with such stars as Rihanna, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West.

A spokesman for Jones didnt respond to messages Wednesday seeking comment. And Jones hasnt posted about the incident on social media.

Several celebrities supported Jones on social media Wednesday following the incident. Ghostbusters filmmaker Paul Feig called it an absolute outrage, while Girls star Lena Dunham asked followers to turn our anger at trolls into love for Leslie Jones and into strategies to protect all the heroines who dont deserve this (expletive).

Jones SNL cast mates also expressed outrage about the hacking. Aidy Bryant said she was so angry, disgusted and sad about this racist violent assault on Jones. Taran Killam said the hackers are the worst of humanity, where she is the best.

The celebs online rallying wasnt enough for Rebecca Carroll, author of such books as Saving The Race and Sugar In The Raw. She said people in positions of power need to go deeper.

Where is the practical response to this grotesque, debilitatingly mean-spirited violence? she wrote on theguardian.com . Its one thing to offer her digital apologies for others racism. Its another to actually take a stand to help eliminate it from our society.

Jones briefly quit Twitter last month after facing racial slurs, obscene photos and comments about her appearance. She called on the social networking service to do more to curb harassment on the platform.

Twitter banned several users, including conservative provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, the technology editor of the right-wing site Breitbart News.

Yiannopoulos initially posted Wednesday on Snapchat that karmas a (expletive) but then said just heard about Leslie Jones and ignore that karma thing.

I was distressed to hear that Leslie Jones had been hacked and naked pictures of her have found their way online, Yiannopoulos said in a statement. I know we had our differences after my review of Ghostbusters, but I wish her all the best at what must be a deeply upsetting time.

After actively posting about the Olympics on social media, Jones was tapped by NBC to contribute to the networks coverage of the event in Rio de Janeiro. While in Brazil, Jones stood up for herself and African-American gymnast Gabby Douglas, who was also criticized online.

Sue Scheff, an advocate for cyberbullying victims and author of Shame Nation, expects Jones to rebound from this incident.

I think Leslie is a tough cookie and will come back stronger than before, said Scheff. I think she should stand tall and be a role model for everyone who has ever faced this kind of abuse. Theres only one way to go  and thats up.

In recent years, Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis, Kaley Cuoco and Kate Upton have been among Hollywood actresses whove had stolen nude images of themselves posted online.

Ultimately, the only way to prevent this from happening is not to take nude photos, cautioned Scheff. If you dont take them, they can never be shared. Theres no rewind button online.

TMZ first reported Jones hacking.
WARSAW, Poland  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 legend has sparked a gold rush, drawing in drawn explorers and treasure hunters from across Europe to Polands southwestern town of Walbrzych, and prompting local authorities to dream about a great inflow of tourists and money.

The 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 World War II.

Last week two explorers  Andreas Richter, a German, and Piotr Koper, a Pole  moved 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 trains 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 spokesman, Andrzej Gaik, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that they found no train, no tunnel there and that the machines were covering over the three pits that cost 140,000 zlotys ($37,000) to dig.

Saying hope dies last, Gaik 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, Gaik said.

Legend holds that an armed train loaded with treasure disappeared after entering a complex of tunnels under the Owl Mountains, a secret project known as Riese  or Giant  which the Nazis never finished.

The area belonged to Germany at the time, but has been part of Poland since the borders were moved in the postwar settlement.
PHOENIX  The Arizona attorney general is accusing a Phoenix advocacy group for the disabled of abusing the court system and suing businesses for monetary gain.

Attorney General Mark Brnovichs office filed a motion Wednesday to intervene as a defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Advocates for Individuals with Disabilities Foundation against the owners of a parking lot.

According to the office, the case is one of roughly 1,500 the foundation has initiated since February against businesses that allegedly violated disability law.

The office also says the foundation cannot collect a settlement in matters that the state is authorized to investigate.

Peter Strojnik, an attorney for the foundation, says the only way to enforce the civil rights of minority groups such as the disabled community is through private litigation.
Hell or High Water, which follows Toby and Tanner Howard (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) as they begin robbing branches of the bank thats about to foreclose on their mothers home, as well as Texas Rangers Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham), is the best movie Ive seen in 2016.

Using a clever heist story, writer Taylor Sheridan and director David Mackenzie manage to find a new, queasy angle on the Great Recession and an unnerving metaphor for the decline of certain American communities. In the movies best scene, Alberto, who is half-Mexican and half-Native American, tells Marcus that the white people who conquered the West are now simply experiencing their inevitable decline and fall, rather than riding into the sunset with their sense of racial superiority intact.

So I jumped at the chance to talk to Sheridan about Hell or High Water, the economic collapse and the stories about Native Americans that he thinks Hollywood desperately needs to tell.

Q: This is a story about people who self-mythologize and tell stories about themselves. Im thinking particularly of that early scene where Marcus talks about going out in a blaze of glory. Were there stories you wanted to set up or tropes you wanted to set up early precisely so you could play with them?

A: The funny thing is Marcus is playing with them. Hes being facetious when he says that. And theres a lot of self-awareness in Marcus and then a tremendous lack of it. Which I think probably is true of anything, or for a lot of people. Where theres elements of your life that you understand completely and then theres elements of it where you have almost no understanding and no awareness that you dont understand. And, of course, one of the things that he does learn in this journey is that failure to effectively communicate his affection and friendship for another man, the ways in which he chooses to do that are rendered obsolete by the end of this journey, and hes going to have no way to ever reconcile the insensitivity he showed his only friend on their last ride together.

Q: Thats a really interesting thing about it for me. Its such a tender movie in so many ways. I feel like the Western is one of the few genres that lets men experience some of that tenderness while also grappling with the limits of the available language for them.

A: Ive said before I think the spirit of the West kind of encapsulates the very best and the very worst of man simultaneously. And someone said in an interview, they talked about the films that really turned the genre upside down. The best of those is Unforgiven, to the point that it seemed like no one could ever make another one after that came out. And I really wanted to play with the notions of genre within the framework of today, but still give a real sense of the remainder of the spirit of the West (that) still exists, even though Im not sure that anyones aware of where it came from. And then deal with present-day issues in a very 19th-century manner.

Q: I wanted to ask about the process of designing Toby and Tanners scheme. Since obviously it relies on a relatively complex financial product, having the interaction with the reverse mortgage creates this revenge narrative. Were you specifically interested in saying something about reverse mortgages, or did you want to do a heist and then find something that fit?

A: Look, Ive gotten loans, a number of loans. And I wasnt preyed on in any way. But I wasnt preyed on in any way not necessarily because I wanted the best product for that bank or for that banker, but because I just had the time and options ahead of me to really investigate. So I think its more, I would say, if we were to really put a microscope to it, its probably more damning of these specific bankers who chose to sell this loan to someone who is very desperate than it is an institution, even though I think there was certainly, especially from the crash in 08, some institutional preying going on.

But one thing people havent picked up on, which Im surprised, because a film that feels like it has so much social awareness. They call them Robin Hood, at first, Toby does. Tobys really sacrificing himself to set his family up. His experience in life and looking at his family, is that it is impossible to get out of deep poverty. Whether hes wrong or not, hes robbing the bank to ensure the deed so he can benefit from a lease to an oil company. Its not as though hes this altruistic figure doing something for the greater good. Hes robbing from a bank to pay off a reverse mortgage he cant afford to pay off so he can make a lot of money off oil leasing.

Q: Its an interesting movie in the way it sits between those ideas, rather than coming down squarely on the idea that the banks are evil. I assume it was a choice to make it a small Texas bank, rather than to make it Bank of America, or Chase, or one of the big, big corporate banks, but instead to make it local so the impacts are more direct.

A: Yeah, and I mean, look, at the end of the day, I tried very hard to not impart my politics. I cant stand paying money to go to the theater and having the artists preach me their values. I try very hard to avoid that. When I tell a story, or when I write a screenplay, to be perfectly honest, its really hard for me to put my finger on what my point of view here is.

At the end of the day, theres accountability for actions. And bankers arent exempt from that, nor are the thieves. I think its worth noting that there are people with advanced degrees who spend all day trying to figure out how to make this thing that will make them money. And theyre going up against people who work 40 hours a week and have three kids and have about 45 minutes online to do their research. So its not necessarily a fair fight, and not every bank, by the way, there were banks, I believe, that never involved themselves in certain types of loans.  The point that Im really trying to make is individuals have a choice, the choices still exist. The choice may not be easy to make. And there are certainly instances where the deck is stacked against someone whos in a financially desperate situation. I tried to imagine one that didnt exactly fit our preconceived notion of who that is, and he got taken advantage of. So he took advantage of them. Certainly, robbing banks is never justified under any circumstances. Im not saying that 

I know what most people know, and so, I think, I guess the point that I want to make here, is I think weve all pretty much come to the conclusion that banks offered a wildly enticing product that allowed people to buy things they shouldnt buy. And protected themselves to a certain degree in the fine print that was predicated on the people who couldnt afford to buy the things somehow paying for the thing when the price went way the hell up. It didnt work, and everyone suffered. There are a number of big banks that arent banks anymore as a result. There are a lot of people who lost their house as a result.  I think we should reexamine a lot of things, the way we lend, and the way we borrow.

Q: I wanted to ask you about the process of writing and editing and filming Albertos big speech when theyre staking out the bank branch. That to me was one of the most interesting moments in the movie, the idea that white people who set themselves up as the sort of superior conquerors of this territory are going the same way as the people who came before them.

A: I mean, its really interesting to me. Its one of those things, I cant believe its not taught in middle school. If you really look at the entire settlement of the entire planet (its) predicated on that entire methodology of one group garners strength, and conquers, assimilates or destroys another group, whatevers left of that group moves on and attempts to do the same to someone else, to garner some place to live. This is fascinatingly how we spread across the globe! We can look at it really acutely in North America because it happened so recently, and it happened at a time when it was greatly questioned in the East.

Weve evolved socially, and weve started to recognize, if you make a statement like All men are created equal, how can you say All men but those men? Or those men that have those things that we want? Or why is it just men? And that awakening was happening in the middle of westward expansion. And so I thought it was a really interesting point and a powerful point, and a very astute challenge by Alberto, who Marcus is kind of playfully ribbing, to sit there and go, Hey, buddy. Were exactly the same. Whats happening to these people happened to my ancestors, and it happened to your ancestors. Its the cycle of expansion. I cant believe this point isnt common knowledge, or that it isnt commonly discussed. Because as soon as you make that point and you recognize it, any false notion of some type of societal superiority instantly disappears.

Q: I think its a notion that Americans have a really hard time accepting, right? I mean, if the entire national identity is predicated on American exceptionalism, how do we accept an idea like that without rethinking everything about ourselves?

A: Because we did it 130 years ago, its squarely in our lap, to sit there and say, Well, were here, what do we do now?  The majority of the people who moved West were not upper-class, upper-middle-class Caucasians from Georgia and New York.  If you were to travel through Texas, its a fascinating thing youll notice, youll find these enclaves where its almost exclusively the descendants of German immigrants. And then youll go an hour and a half north to where my familys from, and its exclusively descendants of Norwegian immigrants. And you can continue on like this and find these areas where everyones Irish.

Its a pretty telling methodology of the way Texas was settled, of these various immigrant groups coming over from Europe, leaving wherever they were from because life was pretty rotten, and trying to carve out a new life here, and then in order to do so, had to take land from people that were already there. And I think that there was probably an idea from religion and a disparity in technology that make it feel like you were superior to the people you were taking it from, which is a massive rationalization. So when you shrink it down to a family trying to do something better, Im not condoning it, just attempting to explain it. Which as soon as you understand it, you can talk about well, how do we make right the things that we did wrong 130 years ago without swinging the pendulum the other way? Its a really heavy conversation that I dont have answers to. If I did, Id have stuck them in there.

Q: I wanted to ask you about the scene with Tanner and the other gambler in the casino (where Tanner declares that he is like the Comanche, because he is also now a Lord of Nothing.)

A: Ive spent a lot of time in my 20s and still on reservations and with Native people, and the first thing, when I became close to a number of people on the rez, that they, unknowing, demolished my kind of romantic notion of what it meant to be Native American. I thought that it was kind of important to showcase, because its been an ignored, largely ignored, minority.  Here in Tanner we have someone who has romanticized in his mind what it means to raid, and what it means to go to war. And I wanted to place him in a situation where, had he listened, he would have recognized that it was a big opportunity to sort of realize the kind of foolhardiness of his justifications for who he is and what he is. But he didnt listen, and even took strength from it.

Q: It was interesting to hear about your personal experience (with Native Americans).  Its amazing how theres basically nothing, and at a moment when theres a lot of discussion about representation in Hollywood, that strikes me as an area where pop cultures really lacking and where the conversation is lacking, too.

A: Theres a lot of conversation lacking. Someone much smarter than me told me that all political and social change starts with the art. Its really a true statement, its a pretty profound statement, and its a lot of responsibility for an artist to not try to force the change, but simply hold the mirror up. I think that people are inherently good, and I think that people generally are a lot smarter and more intuitive than we give ourselves credit for, and presented fairly with a representation of the world, they dont need to be forced to change; they change on their own. The only change that I can hope to bring with this film is just perspective.

Q: Youre also giving people jobs. Native American actors hardly get to work at all, so giving people work is not nothing either.

A: Yeah, but not in a patronizing, token standpoint. They have to think about, to be perfectly honest if you look at the Comanche, for example, an incredible story, and what an incredible achievement they made in a very brief period of time, to dominate the greatest swath of the Great Plains ever dominated. If you were to look at the Lakota, people still argue thats the only true example of a working, truly Communist economy. They were based solely on giving to the community. Its a wildly harmonious group, and the most warlike and dominating of the Northern plains. Theres so much, and were intertwined, historically and socially, and it shouldnt be ignored.

Q: I just think theres a lot of story thats getting left on the table, and some folks are maybe not getting the opportunities they would have to work if good stories were getting told.

A: The story I just finished, the film I directed, Wind River, takes place on a reservation, with the vast majority of the cast being Native. Some of the most talented young actors and actresses working in Hollywood, theyre Native people. And as we become so introspective as a nation, and we start looking at ourselves, there are so many great stories that we can tell about us to help us evolve; many of those stories will involve Native actors.
Reliable electricity is the backbone of society and will make a difference in how we move this state out of a lingering recession.

Thats why the Recommended Decision (RD) in the PNM rate case, which could effectively eliminate nuclear-produced electricity as an option for New Mexicos future, was so stunning. If adopted, it could be the precursor to higher rates and a dilemma for electricity production in our future.

PNM is a regulated monopoly, which means it is the sole provider of electricity in its service territory. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is charged with oversight of monopolies to ensure New Mexicans get a fair deal, and it is specifically required, by statute, to balance the interests of consumers, investors and the public.

Unfortunately, the process at the PRC seems to be moving away from one that is fair and balanced. This is evident in the RD for PNMs rate case and, if not corrected by commissioners, will have a huge bearing on our future.

Last fall, after several years of discussion and planning, the PRC approved a plan for PNM to close two of its four coal plants. That closure will reduce the plants usage of coal, water and carbon emissions by 50 percent. In exchange for these environmental gains, PNM had to seek additional generation sources to replace the lost power.

To maintain affordable, reliable service that is available 24 hours per day, PNM sought to diversify its energy portfolio to include more natural gas and nuclear energy. Solar and wind will help make up part of the lost generation, but they are unable to provide the round-the-clock service that weve all come to rely upon.

The problem with the RD in this case is that the hearing examiner disallowed all cost recovery for leases at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Electricity generated at Palo Verde is our most reliable, economical, carbon-free source of generation.

What is the true cost of the RD, if the PRC fails to set it aside and do the right thing for New Mexicans?

For starters, PNM would be faced with the unsavory decision of whether or not to sell its interest in Palo Verde to recover its costs.

Second, this bad decision would set precedence where PNM and other utilities in New Mexico would probably not invest in nuclear energy again for fear of not recovering all of the associated costs. In 2023, PNM will have the opportunity to purchase Palo Verde capacity that it is now leasing. PNM has stated it will not purchase any more leased capacity when opportunities arise, if this RD stands.

And what would fill the gap of lost nuclear power? It would have to be another type of base-load generation, such as natural gas, because of reliability issues with solar and wind. Unfortunately, natural gas is also under attack by the keep it in the ground  100 percent renewable energy activists.

Third, if we lose nuclear power, PNM will need to build new generation facilities to provide for its base-load requirements. New generation facilities can be expensive and will drive rates up.

Palo Verde is the top electricity producer in the nation and regularly sets safety records. U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that nuclear energy remains by far the biggest source of carbon-free electricity.

Why would there be any desire to rid New Mexico of electricity from this valuable resource?

There are some who would like to see New Mexicos electricity be provided 100 percent by solar and wind. Its possible that we could see increased use of these sources if an economical means of storing produced electricity becomes viable. But the fact is solar and wind only produce about 30 percent of the time and will never cover 100 percent of our electrical needs.

NMUSA urges the PRC commissioners to do the right thing for New Mexico by setting aside this decision. Commissioners should allow PNM to recover all costs associated with Palo Verde so that it can continue to produce the 24-hour power we need for our homes and businesses.

The New Mexico Utility Shareholders Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing shareholders interests of utility companies operating in New Mexico. More information is available at: nmusa.org.
Cities around the nation are touting their pet-friendly status, and as we enter the 21st Century, our great city is leading the way.

The citizens of Albuquerque have long enjoyed the benefits of a city that caters to their outdoor activities with walkways, parks, bikeways and hiking trails. Many of those activities include our best friends, our companion pets. It takes a concerted effort of engaged civic leaders and a community willing to actively participate to create a pet-friendly city.

Thankfully, our city has both. Albuquerque consistently ranks very well on several pet friendliness scales:

Barkpost.coms Fido-Friendly Cities: No. 1

Smartasset.coms Most Dog-Friendly in America: No. 5

Blogestately.coms Best US City for Dogs: No. 6

Albuquerques entrance into the ranks of our nations most pet-friendly cities began with the 2009 change in administration. We have always had a large pet-oriented population and very stringent pet laws.

However, it was only after the change in leadership with Mayor Richard J. Berry that our city was able to effect major changes in how we care for and treat our homeless pet population. Together with a concerned and very pet-friendly City Council, the administration has managed to create and maintain an environment where pets are considered a part of our families.

In 2009, the city took in nearly 27,000 homeless pets and was able to get just over 16,000 out alive while only euthanizing 10,000. Our desire to improve has driven the creation of innovative and nationally recognized animal welfare programs.

Examples like no-cost spay and neuter for low and moderate income families, Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR), off-site adoptions, partnerships with and transport to other rescues, and a very important foster program have dramatically reduced our shelters homeless pet populations and dropped euthanasia to historic lows.

In 2015, the Animal Welfare Department saw a 31 percent drop in homeless pet admissions and an incredible 76 percent drop in euthanasia. That needs repeating, a 76 percent drop in euthanasia! For an open admission shelter, taking in all animals brought in from our area, this is nothing short of amazing.

Outside of the shelter we are seeing an increase in the number of pet-friendly establishments across Albuquerque  Flying Star, ONeals, Petco, PetSmart, Long Leash on Life, Boofys Best, etc.  allowing people to share their active lives with their four-pawed family members. Our city has become a shining example of how civic leadership and businesses can work together to create an environment that encourages more pet friendly environments.

For example, how often can you take your pooch to a fancy dinner? On Sept. 10 you can do just that at the Mayor and First Ladys Dog Ball. If youre up for this much fun, call Desiree Cawley at 764-1164 for details.

Looking to the future, we intend to continue successful programs like TNR and our three-year partnership with ASPCA and Animal Humane of New Mexico. We will also continue to develop new programs like focusing spay and neuter efforts on animals seen most often in our shelters, hospice fostering and streamlining pet licensing. These are all part of making our city even more pet friendly than we already are. Our vision even includes the fall 2016 reconstruction of one of the oldest kennels at our Eastside Complex to provide the best possible care for our pets.

What can you do to help? Adoption is always the best way, but if you are not quite ready for that, we are in desperate need of more foster homes. Providing temporary places for our animals to recover from traumatic events, medical issues or just a quieter place than our shelters can make all the difference in adoptability.

Fostering not really in your future? How about donating time as a volunteer or even making monetary donations to Kennel Kompadres (kennelkompadres.org)? Or, your business could donate a door prize or silent auction item to help us raise money at the Dog Ball. If you are willing to help us save lives, please contact 311.
Apparently things are running so well in the land of Bernco Bernie  what with a serious budget crisis and a deepening scandal involving abuse by jail guards  that a trio of commissioners has decided to do what it can to muck up things in the city of Albuquerque.

On a partisan 3-2 vote, Commissioners Debbie OMalley, Art De La Cruz and Maggie Hart Stebbins muscled through a move to put a non-binding, politically motivated question on this years general election ballot.

The question  which could go into a civics book as an example of how government should NOT work  would ask city voters if they would like a chance to vote for or against the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project. To be clear, they will not be asked if they do or dont support ART, but only if they support getting to vote for or against ART somewhere down the line.

Its ridiculous in its premise, since ART is a city project years in the making and supported recently by the City Council on a 7-2 bipartisan vote. Bernalillo County has zero say in the matter.

It would be like the City Council approving a municipal ballot question asking voters if they want to vote on whether the county should spend $13 million to move into new office space Downtown.

So who wins as a result of the county ART decision?

Not the federal government, which is funding most of the project after vetting the nine-mile network of bus-only lanes and median bus stations on Central from Coors to around Louisiana.

Not the Albuquerque City Council, which voted recently to accept an additional $69 million in federal money for the project.

Not Mayor Richard Berry, a Republican, who has spent six years championing the project and sponsored more than 20 public hearings on its merits.

Not business groups and businesses on record as supporting the project, including the University of New Mexico and Presbyterian Healthcare Services.

Not Albuquerque residents, who are paying $20 million of the projects price tag.

Not ART construction crews, who are set to start work next month.

Not voters, who once again are being handed a ballot bait-and-switch courtesy of OMalley, Hart Stebbins and De La Cruz.

Its the same trio that put nonbinding marijuana and mental health tax questions on the ballot in 2014. As with those questions, the ART question will have no force of law and will only take up space on an already crowded general-election ballot. In addition to president, every New Mexico congressional district and state Senate and House seat is up for grabs.

But at least in the mental health case, the county used the results to justify imposing a tax hike. In the case of ART, the county has zero to do with the project.

This amateur stunt wont even help ART foes, except to give them a political talking point, because no matter what the results are, they will not stop construction.

Commissioner Wayne Johnson, who voted against the ballot question along with fellow Republican Lonnie Talbert, says, I think a ballot is the place for decisions and choices, and not polls. Hes right.

So back to the original question: who wins with Bernalillo Countys exercise in ART futility on the Nov. 8 ballot?

Answer: Nobody but a trio of partisans attempting to pander to ART opponents.

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.
State regulators voted unanimously Wednesday to reopen hearings in a contentious utility rate case  if Public Service Company of New Mexico agrees to certain conditions  giving PNM the chance to provide the cost-benefit analysis a hearing examiner said was lacking from its rate request.

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.

PRC attorney Michael C. Smith said it is unclear how the case will move forward if PNM does not agree to the terms of the order.

PNM spokesman Pahl Shipley said the company would not comment on the order until it had 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. The company has said it will have to lay off up to 300 employees if the recommended decision stands.

The company has also said it plans 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.

Under the new order, the PRC would have until Dec. 15 to rule in the rate case instead of the current deadline of Sept. 30. PNM must file its response to the order by Monday afternoon.

Much of the controversy in the case stems from Glicks decision to exclude the Palo Verde transactions and the San Juan pollution control costs 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 for $163.5 million, extended several leases at Palo Verde for $19.5 million per year and installed $52.3 million worth of 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, Glick said at last weeks hearing.

PNM maintains that the investments Glick excluded from the rate calculation were prudent and appropriately analyzed. After the orders were passed Wednesday, Commissioner Patrick Lyons apologized to Glick for accusing her of being biased against nuclear energy at last weeks public meeting.

When you make assumptions, you make mistakes, Lyons said. It was a mistake on my part, and I apologize for that.

Glick thanked Lyons for his apology.
Hand over the hard drive, a federal judge told to the city in no uncertain terms in a Wednesday order in the wrongful death case filed by the family of Ashley Browder, commenting at one point that the citys actions are tantamount to bad faith.

Browder was killed in a collision after then-Albuquerque Police Department Sgt. Adam Casaus ran a red light on the West Side.

The familys lawyers asked the court to compel the city of Albuquerque to cough up the information on the computer and hard drive maintained by the former APD records clerk, Reynaldo Chavez, who has his own lawsuit against the city.

U.S. District Judge Robert Brack noted in the new order that hed already sanctioned the city in May for (its) gross negligence in failing to preserve potentially critical evidence and ordered city officials to turn over any and all documents relevant to Casaus APD issued cellphone  whether it came from the criminal case against Casaus, an internal affairs investigation or the civil suit.

He also imposed sanctions on the city for losing video footage from the intersection where the accident occurred.

A day after that May order, Chavez came forward with a sworn statement saying that he anticipated requests for documents related to the accident while working as records custodian, and that he had contacted agencies, gathered materials and kept copies of records such as Casaus personnel file, training file, digital transcripts of communications, dispatch audio recording and videos.

And they were backed up on a hard drive.

He also said in the affidavit that hed met in person with former Deputy City Attorney Kathryn Levy, Assistant Chief Robert Huntsman and Deputy Chief Eric Garcia and recalled Levy saying something like, Were not releasing anything.

The city responded with affidavits from those three individuals disputing Chavezs statements and denying speaking with him about Inspection of Public Records Act requests.

Chavez submitted another affidavit. He explained that hed had an ongoing stream of interactions with those officials, not a single encounter.

Chavezs computer and hard drive have played a starring role in several unrelated lawsuits against the city, Brack notes, including the lawsuit seeking details on the police investigation of attorney Mary Hans death, Chavezs own whistleblower case, the lawsuit by the family of 19-year-old Mary Hawkes, who was fatally shot by Officer Jeremy Dear in April 2014, and the Browder family case.

Attorneys for the Hawkes family allege the city clearly has pertinent records, presumably in Chavezs computer, that it hasnt turned over.

Brack, who is also the judge on the U.S. Department of Justice consent decree with APD and city, says the city has not only failed to comply with his May order, but also tried to make it look like theyre obeying while attempting to distinguish certain items as not being pertinent to the order.

The court finds the citys position to be untenable and tantamount to bad faith, he wrote.

The new order tells the city put a litigation hold on the computer, hard drive, disks, printed documents and anything else Chavez referred to in his state court case, and it cant alter, destroy, redact anything.

He orders lawyers on both sides to set up a date so Chavez can go with them to make an inspection of the computer-related materials within the next 10 days. The city can provide technical personnel as necessary, but the city may not hinder the search,the order says.

Brack also says the city must provide copies of all evidence relevant to Casaus cellphone and lost video footage.

He reserves ruling on attorney fees for the motion to force the citys hand.
Caitlyn Roth will never forget riding a mule down into Arizonas Grand Canyon.

It was magnificent, Roth said, speaking of the experience and not necessarily the mule.

Hallie Neuhaus was at the Grand Canyon in May.

I was just there for a day and did some hiking, Neuhaus said. It was beautiful. I would like to go back and do some rafting there.

On Wednesday, Roth and Neuhaus joined fellow Environment New Mexico organizers Sarah Lukins and Hannah Perkins and Environment New Mexico state director Sanders Moore in urging President Obama to protect Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining by creating a national monument out of 1.7 million acres around the park.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing places on Earth, and its part of what makes Arizona so special, Perkins said during a news conference at Central Avenue and the Rio Grande. But without action to stop it, reckless uranium mining could ruin this area for generations.

Supporters of the proposed national monument maintain that old mines around and inside Grand Canyon National Park have contaminated water in the area and that new mines could do more harm to the Colorado River, which provides drinking water to more than 25 million people downstream.

Mining is not permitted within Grand Canyon National Park itself, and a 20-year moratorium, initiated by the Obama administration in 2012, prohibits new mining in the area outside the park. But Environment New Mexico said recent increases in uranium prices has mining companies working for the abolishment of the moratorium.

Moore likened the threats posed to the Grand Canyon by uranium mining to potential damages caused by the proposed extraction of oil and gas near New Mexicos Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

Oil and gas would like to drill right outside Chaco, she said. There are thousands of archaeological sites outside (Chaco) as well as people who live in that area.

Environment New Mexico; its parent organization, Environment America, and other state affiliates are citizen-funded groups whose mission is a cleaner, greener future.

The organization chose this week to push the proposal because today is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The Grand Canyon is the countrys 15th-oldest national park. More than 50 organizers focused campaign efforts in Albuquerque and eight other cities in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

Roth said efforts in Albuquerque had resulted in 600 petition signatures and 100 calls to the White House. When added to numbers generated in other cities, Environment America said the push produced 4,350 petition signatures and 1,300 phone calls.

Weve seen this week how thousands of young people want President Obama to say, Yes We Canyon, and create this national monument, Perkins said.
While New Mexicos public schools grades improved slightly, the states largest school district saw a significant drop in its school grades, according to data the New Mexico Public Education Department released Wednesday.

For Albuquerque Public Schools, 89 schools received 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.

Statewide, 38 percent of schools, a total of 325, reached the top two grade levels, compared with 37 percent, or 315, at the bottom.

Thats better than 2015, when only 35 percent of schools earned As or Bs, and 39.8 percent had Ds or Fs.

Its one more set of bad statistics for APS, which also has struggled with low graduation rates and standardized test scores.

Superintendent Raquel Reedy said she is taking a hard look at what went wrong, seeking extra help, making changes.

We cant ignore these grades, she wrote in an online statement. They are how our state has chosen to measure public school progress. However, we also know that these grades are not a consummate reflection of whats happening in our schools, nor are they truly representative of individual achievement, determination and grit.

Reedy highlighted a few successes. APS earned 12 As and 25 Bs out of 158 schools. About a dozen schools performed better than last year, including five middle schools  Ernie Pyle, Garfield, Harrison, James Monroe and Polk  and Rio Grande High.

But a number of schools dropped as much as two grades. Bellehaven Elementary went from a C to an F; Comanche Elementary dropped from a B to a D. Del Norte High is now failing. In 2015, it earned a C.

Reedy noted that 17 APS schools lost a grade because they didnt meet the mandatory 95 percent participation rate for the states standardized test, PARCC.

Overall, the superintendent was clearly unhappy with the results and asked parents to offer suggestions for improvement.

If youve ever taken a test you felt sure you did well on, only to find out you didnt, you know how Albuquerque Public Schools feels this week about the grades assigned to our schools by the state Public Education Department, she wrote. We are disappointed. We are frustrated.

State Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera said she believes New Mexicos progress has been generally good, particularly among districts that embrace reform.

A few outliers posted tremendous gains  Desert View Elementary, at 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. Altogether, 18 schools improved by three or more letter grades, nearly all in rural areas with high percentages of English language learners, Native American and low-income students.

We are not cherry-picking kids, Skandera said. These are the kids some have said cant learn. I fundamentally disagree. These principals are proving that.

She noted that the turnaround districts are using state programs like principal and teacher mentoring. Only one APS school has chosen to participate in these programs.

Across New Mexico, some districts soared, while others stumbled:

Rio Rancho Public Schools, traditionally a bastion of solid grades, received Ds for Sandia Vista Elementary and Colinas Del Norte Elementary. Last year, the district earned only As, Bs, and Cs at its 18 schools. 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 cut its Fs from eight to five but earned 11 Ds, more than double the five it had in 2015.

PED has calculated school grades annually since 2012 based on a variety of growth and proficiency measures, including standardized test scores like the controversial PARCC assessment. Over the past four years, the number of A and B schools had gone up by a third, improving education for roughly 30,000 New Mexico students out of more than 200,000.

Im very encouraged, Skandera said. On all measures, we are seeing the improvements.

On the other end of the spectrum, more than 100 New Mexico schools have earned Fs at least twice, with a few failing for four straight years, including three Albuquerque elementary schools  Hawthorne, Los Padillas and Whittier.

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 to ensure parents are aware of it.

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-performers, 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 reflects 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.
LAS CRUCES  A Las Cruces man suspected of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old hitchhiker who he picked up in Arizona has been arrested, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

Ignacio Salcido, 38, of the 5000 block of Emerald Street, is charged with one count of criminal sexual penetration of a child, a second-degree felony.

On Tuesday, Las Cruces police learned of allegations purporting to suggest that Salcido had sex with a 14-year-old girl whom he allegedly met Monday as she hitchhiked in Arizona.

Police said Salcido was traveling from San Diego to Las Cruces with his 10-year-old son and a 23-year-old woman who he met at a mall in San Diego.

On Monday, police said, Salcido met a 14-year-old girl who was hitchhiking and reported as a runaway in Phoenix while traveling to Las Cruces. Salcido offered to give the girl a ride and she accepted, according to police.

Salcido initially drove his three passengers through Las Cruces and to Juarez late Monday evening or early Tuesday morning, police said. He then drove back to his home in Las Cruces, where they all went to sleep early Tuesday morning.

Detectives learned that sometime Tuesday morning, the 14-year-old girl awoke on the sofa to Salcido sexually assaulting her.

Salcido was detained for questioning Tuesday and subsequently charged with the crime. He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center, where he was being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.



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.

_____
Amr Arafa doesnt pay attention to any incendiary rhetoric about immigrants and Muslims playing out on the 2016 election stage.

The 34-year-old from Egypt thinks immigration is about more than politics: Its about making vulnerable newcomers to the country feel at home. And the onus of that, he says, isnt on lawmakers, but everyday people.

Over the past year, Arafa has opened his studio apartment in Washingtons Foggy Bottom neighborhood to refugees and domestic violence victims free of charge, and hes launched a website to help Americans across the country do the same. The concept of his site, called EmergencyBnB, resembles Airbnb, where people list their homes or a bedroom for travelers to rent by the night. But on EmergencyBnB, no money is exchanged and the people looking for places to stay are often in a crisis with nowhere to go.

The website is in its nascent stages and Arafa is working to build up a stable of hosts before connecting them with those in need. No one has booked a room through his website yet, but Arafa hopes that will change soon.

EmergencyBnB is not about the government giving you a place to stay, Arafa said. Its about the fact that your neighbors care about you.

Arafa moved to the United States in 2005 for graduate school and has spent much of the past 11 years on temporary education and work visas that must be renewed annually. He now owns his own business management consulting company and, in 2015, secured a green card, which let him visit his mother in Egypt without fear that his temporary visa would be denied in the United States.

His return home coincided with a viral 2015 video of a Hungarian woman tripping a Syrian refugee holding his child while running from police. The video resonated with Arafa, and, with his green card in hand, he decided it was time to help.

It started when I got this green card. I got this incredible dosage of stability. That card allowed me to see my mother for the first time in eight years, Arafa said. That one month home in Egypt, I came back with this new positive energy. I just wanted to help people get this sense of stability.

Arafa first listed his apartment on Airbnb in November for the cheapest possible amount -$10  and noted that only refugees and domestic violence victims could stay. (He later refunds the $10.)

A Syrian couple living in Texas responded and asked to stay for a week while they were in D.C. to attend a court hearing for an asylum case. Arafa was traveling that week and allowed them to use his apartment.

On the Fourth of July, a woman who responded to his Airbnb posting said she needed to get away from an abusive roommate. Arafa asked her for a copy of a police report and handed her his apartment keys. When he has a guest, he either books a hotel for himself, stays with friends or is traveling.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was nervous to sleep in a strangers apartment, but felt she had no other option.

Staying at a strangers place is not something I would have normally done, but you get to a place of desperation, the woman said. I dont think anyone could do this because it takes trust on both sides. Hes taking a risk, and Im taking a risk. It made me realize that people like him are rare, but they do exist.

Arafa soon realized that Airbnb wasnt an effective platform for his mission. He frequently received messages from travelers who wanted a free place to stay, then Airbnb would take down his posting for rejecting too many people. So he took the next step: Using his computer science background to create a website through which domestic violence victims and refugees could connect with people willing to share their homes.

Arafa still posts his apartment on Airbnb, but he is getting more hosts to sign up on EmergencyBnB each week. Hes asked friends around the country to list their homes and has attracted other hosts through publicity of his mission.

Im always interested in getting to know other people and cultures, and having people come into your home seems like a great opportunity to do that, said Steve Graybill, who listed a spare bedroom in his Silver Spring, Md., home. Graybill and his wife read about Arafas project in Street Sense, a D.C. newspaper largely written by homeless and previously homeless people. Its a scary thing to open your home to a stranger. Its OK to be afraid, but we shouldnt let those fears control us.

Arafa doesnt yet have a vetting system in place to ensure that refugees and domestic violence victims are who they say they are. He said he talks to each guest before he allows them to stay and asks for government documentation to verify their stories. Because domestic violence victims often seek privacy, Arafa doesnt list his address and only gives it out when he agrees to let someone use his home.

Crammed with piles of clothes and other trinkets, Arafas studio has more of a bachelor pad feel than that of a hotel. He says its important that people in vulnerable housing situations feel like they have a warm home that is welcoming to them, as opposed to a sterile hotel room.

Alysha Tagert, a social services program coordinator for the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition, said its difficult to find housing, particularly in the D.C. area, for the victims her organization encounters. She works with refugees  mostly from African countries  who are in the process of seeking asylum.

Tagert said that in many cultures, opening your home to a stranger is a normal and familiar occurrence. Since learning about EmergencyBnB, she said her organization is interested in finding clients temporary housing through the site.

Its incredibly difficult to get a bed anywhere in the city, she said. Public shelters are sometimes very dangerous environments. Were talking about sometimes very traumatized people going into dysfunctional environments. It would be a very natural welcome for an individual if they were staying in a home. I think its important for enculturation, for feeling like you belong.

More than 63,000 refugees have entered the United States since Oct. 1, 2015, according to the Pew Research Center. The real challenge, according to Arafa, will be to find people willing to open their homes.

It completely changes your mood, knowing that youre capable of giving. Its a value add, he said. Im not attempting to resolve the refugee crisis, but I know that there are refugees here today and you have to make them feel welcome here.

refugees-shelter
MADRID  A small Spanish town has come under fire for alleged cruelty to animals after a video showing young calves being taunted, stabbed and eventually killed in the towns festival was much criticized on social media.

The town of Valmojado, located southwest of Madrid, issued a statement Thursday defending the spectacle as a legitimate part of Spains bullfighting culture. It said the video had been manipulated and misrepresented the event held earlier this month, which involved at least four calves.

The town also protested the barrage of insults it says it and its residents have received since the video was posted this week by the Spanish animal rights group PACMA.

PACMA, which campaigns for a ban on bullfighting and related events, said it had never witnessed such animal cruelty at a festival.

The video shows young people in a bull ring taunting calves with bull-fighting capes and sticking lances in their backs. It shows how one is stabbed with a sword in matador fashion and another being finished off with a knife, as often happens in professional bullfights.

In its statement, the town hall said it wished to reiterate our absolute rejection of all types of animal mistreatment, adding that it was seeking legal advice regarding the insults, which it said tarnished the good name of Valmojado, its history and traditions.

Events involving running with and taunting bulls, cows and calves are typical of many Spanish town summer festivals. The most famous is Pamplonas San Fermin running of the bulls, which attracts tens of thousands of foreign tourists each year.

__

Online

PACMA video: https://vimeo.com/178295810

___

This story has been corrected to clarify that the video involves clips of several calves, not just one
A popular bakery in Northern California is caught at the center of a heated debate on social media over a transgender Ken Doll Cake that it said it made for a customer.

Freeport Bakery, a well-known business in Sacramento, posted a picture online nearly two weeks ago showing a special-ordered cake that depicted Ken wearing a puffy pink dress, flowery sash and a tiara.

The cake triggered controversy on Facebook, with people calling it truly disgusting and claiming that the owners were putting their morals n standards for sale.

Naively, I guess I just thought this is a really cool cake, and look at how great they did with the butter cream, Marlene Goetzeler, co-owner of the bakery, told Fox affiliate KTXL. Whats wrong with a Ken cake?

In 1987, Walter and Marlene Goetzeler bought Freeport Bakery and grew it into a booming business, according to their website. Over the years, it has been named best bakery by Sacramento Magazine readers.

After Freeport Bakery posted the picture on Aug. 13, Marlene Goetzeler said, she started seeing negative comments and soon noticed that she was losing Facebook fans.

The owners admitted on social media that they first deleted the ugly comments from the Facebook page because they didnt want drama. Only a handful of negative comments remain with the photo.

The bakery also said that, after a flood of support for the owners, some of the negative commenters took down their posts.

I was shocked that somebody would be offended, Marlene Goetzeler told KTXL.

A customer requested a Ken doll cake and we were happy to make it; she loved the cake when she picked it up, Walter and Marlene Goetzeler said in a statement. We were especially proud of its buttercream detail so we decided to post a photo of it on our Facebook page, as we do with many of the cakes we design and adore. We got some lovely responses along with some negative feedback.

We reposted the picture asking for support from our Facebook friends, the owners said. Luckily, we have received that support and so much more from our fans, devoted customers and staff.

Amid an intense debate the past several years over LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage, businesses across the country have made news for refusing to serve same-sex couples.

Last year, Azucar Bakery in Colorado was accused of violating a customers civil rights for declining to decorate a cake with anti-gay messages, including, God hates gays. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies later ruled that the bakery had the right to do it.

The past week, supporters have been urging Freeport Bakerys owners to ignore the haters.

Amazing! one wrote. Love this bakery and love that you are inclusive and welcome ALL.

Another added: With a lot news reports saying in other states refusing to make wedding cakes for same-sex marriages, you make me proud to live in a diverse and accepting community! You have my support!

One person said such a controversy over a cake was silly.

By societys definition Im transgender and that fact is I am also human, the commenter wrote. We as a educated society should stop acting so ignorant. We should be more civilized than this. Dont hate the creator of the cake because for those who are religious and take offense would you hate our creator God? Remember God makes no mistakes. As true as that is I say he has quite the sense of humor when he created me.

Some customers outside the bakery seemed to take a more neutral stance.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Karen Dixson told NBC affiliate KCRA.

Theres always going to be two sides, Ashley Nelson told the station. People support it or they dont.

Chad Graham, who told the station that he attended the birthday party for which the Ken Doll Cake was created, said the recipient is neither transgender, nor attempting to make some sort of statement.

I thought it was a little ridiculous, Graham said about the issue. It was just cake.

transgender-cake
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.
(Bloomberg) When the European Union pressured Switzerland to scrap tax breaks for foreign companies, Geneva had the most to lose. Now, the canton thats home to almost 1,000 multinationals is set to use tax to burnish its appeal.

Geneva will on Aug. 30 propose cutting its corporate tax rate to 13.49 percent from 24.2 percent, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. For an interim period of five years, the rate will be a slightly higher 13.79 percent, said the people who asked not be named as the matter hasnt been made public. While thats 2.2 percentage points higher than the average preferential rate currently offered to many foreign firms, the new regime will improve the Swiss citys competitive position, according to Credit Suisse Group AG.

I could see Geneva going up very high in the ranks, said Thierry Boitelle, a lawyer at Bonnard Lawson in the city. International companies will be glad to have some certainty when the new rate is finally implemented.

Like the rest of Switzerland, Geneva has been buffeted by the strong franc and concern over immigration quotas, while the demise of banking secrecy has hurt the citys financial industry. The stakes are high for the politicians contemplating a tax rate to underpin the French-speaking cantons allure: multinationals from Procter & Gamble Co. to commodity trader Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. account for 76,000 jobs and 40 percent of the economy.

Economic Risk

Its the mother of all battles for us, says Vincent Subilia, deputy director of international affairs and arbitration at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services. We cant afford to lose it because the attractiveness of Geneva and the shape that our economy will take for generations to come are at risk here.

A rate of about 13 percent would see Geneva jump 13 places to become the third-most attractive of Switzerlands 26 cantons, trailing only Zug and Zurich, according to a study by Credit Suisse.

Geneva and the western part of Switzerland will be even more attractive for firms, especially compared to France, said Thomas Ruehl, head of regional research at Credit Suisse. We see the corporate tax reform as a big opportunity for Geneva.

France, which borders the canton to the south, east and west, has a tax rate of 33.33 percent, according to figures published by KPMG. Within Europe, Genevas rate would only exceed a number of smaller economies such as Irelands 12.5 percent and Montenegro, which has the regions lowest rate of 9 percent. That will mean Geneva competes with Ireland, the Netherlands and the U.K. as a low-tax jurisdiction, while it may also provide Zurich with stiffer competition for Swiss corporates, said Boitelle.

Still, tax alone wont be enough to turn Genevas fortunes around, according to the lawyer, who highlights the need for Switzerland to resolve the issues caused by voters backing a referendum in 2014 to introduce quotas for EU migrants.

Tax reform wont change that, said Boitelle. Genevas appeal lies in a good business culture, plus quality of life, a well-educated workforce and stability. They need to come up with some kind of solution for the immigration issue.

The new taxation regime will also leave a projected 459 million-franc ($475 million) hole in Genevas finances, according to the people familiar. The shortfall is likely to be something close to that, said Roland Godel, a Geneva finance department spokesman, who declined to comment further on the reform before next weeks announcement.

Referendum Looms

The real challenge will be on the budget side, said Elias Hafner, an economist at UBS Group AG, adding that Genevas higher ratio of public officials to residents than other parts of Switzerland provides scope for cuts.

Thats a concern for Romain de Sainte Marie, head of the Socialist Party in Genevas cantonal parliament.

We need an attractive tax rate and we do want to retain most jobs in Geneva, but we must also guarantee the same level of public service, said de Sainte Marie. For Genevas attractiveness, the quality of public services is just as important as the corporate tax rate.

Opposition to the new rate from left-leaning political parties will probably trigger a referendum as it would only require 500 signatures.

In a March plebiscite in the neighboring canton of Vaud, 87.1 percent of voters backed cutting the corporate tax rate to 13.79 percent from 21.65 percent. That change will probably mean fewer resources to spend on theaters, museums, street-cleaning and creches in the cantons main city Lausanne, according to municipal councilor Florence Germond.

Failure to agree on a competitive tax rate in Geneva could result in an exodus of multinationals, cutting cantonal revenues by an even greater margin, said Denis Berdoz, a partner at Baker & McKenzie in Geneva, who specializes in tax and corporate law.

They dont really have a choice, said Berdoz. If the companies leave, the loss could be much higher.

With assistance from Giles Broom, Zoe Schneeweiss and Catherine Bosley
(Bloomberg) The U.S. is stepping up its effort to convince the European Commission to refrain from hitting Apple Inc. and other companies with demands for possibly billions of euros in underpaid taxes.

In a white paper released Wednesday, the Treasury Department in Washington said the Brussels-based commission is taking on the role of a supra-national tax authority that has the scope to threaten global tax reform deals.

This shift in approach appears to expand the role of the commissions Directorate-General for Competition that goes beyond enforcement of competition and state aid law, the Treasury wrote in the paper. The cases cited by the commission do not give taxpayers prior notice that the commission would interpret its powers in this way or that selectivity would no longer be a meaningful precondition to a finding of state aid.

Rules that bar European Union states from giving tax benefits to selected companies that are not available to others have been in place for a long time, the commission said in an e-mailed statement. When such benefits have nonetheless been granted, the member state concerned must recover the unfair advantage, according to the statement.

Targeting Questioned

The commission has initiated investigations into tax rulings that Apple, Starbucks Corp., Amazon.com Inc. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV received in separate EU nations. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew has written previously that the investigations appear to be targeting U.S. companies disproportionately.

The commissions spokesman said Wednesday that EU law applies to all companies operating in Europethere is no bias against U.S. companies.

Treasury officials are concerned that if European authorities hit U.S. companies with major repayments, theyll reduce potential tax collections in the U.S., the white paper said. U.S. law allows companies to defer paying taxes on their overseas income until they return those earnings to Americaor repatriate them. Then, the companies can apply credits for foreign taxes paid to reduce their bills. Currently, U.S. corporations have about $2.4 trillion accumulated offshore.

Deeply Troubling

There is a possibility that any repayments ordered by the Commission will be considered foreign income taxes that are creditable against U.S. taxes owed by the companies in the United States, the paper said. If so, the companies U.S. tax liability would be reduced dollar for dollar by these recoveries when their offshore earnings are repatriated or treated as repatriated as part of possible U.S. tax reform.

Treasurys white paper called that potential outcome deeply troubling, as it would effectively constitute a transfer of revenue to the EU from the U.S. government and its taxpayers.

President Barack Obama has proposed taxing companies accumulated offshore profit at a 14 percent rate, well below the U.S. statutory rate for corporate income tax, which is 35 percent. House Republicans have proposed an even lower rate, 8.75 percent, as part of a reform effort aimed at ending the U.S.s global approach to taxation. (Its the only developed economy that attempts to tax companies foreign earnings.)

Trumps Proposals

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump proposes taxing companies accumulated earnings at a 10 percent rate, while ending their ability to defer paying such taxes. Trump also wants to lower the corporate tax rate to 15 percent. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton hasnt specified any proposals related to international corporate taxes.

The commission may wrap up a probe into Apples tax deal in Ireland as soon as next month. Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock declined to comment beyond the companys earlier statement to an EU tax panel in March that it had paid all of its taxes due in Ireland.

European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, who met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew in July, is due to visit Washington next month to speak at a Georgetown Law conference.

The conflict over trans-Atlantic tax practices escalated in February as Lew complained to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that U.S. firms are unfair targets of state-aid investigations.

The Treasury secretarys letter came after EU regulators focused on fiscal pacts international companies got in Europe and opened probes into Apples tax affairs in Ireland, and tax arrangements that Amazon and McDonalds Corp. got in Luxembourg. The companies all say they acted within the law.

With assistance from Aoife White, Stephanie Bodoni, Lynnley Browning and Alex Webb
When considering industry awards, many production companies, post-production houses, editing facilities and music and sound companies are under the belief that if an agency enters their work, there is no reason for them to enter the work as well.

It may make some practical sense in theory no need to duplicate if the work is already submitted, right?

Wrong.

The world of advertising awards was built around celebrating the idea, not the execution. But 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 other companies from production to music and sound 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, explains, 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 has no mandatory creative credit fields, so even if a piece of work wins big in any category, this doesnt guarantee a production company proper recognition for their part in it. Time and time again the agencies do not credit any company or creative individual except for those within the agency.

The entrant company is the only one that receives a statue, as well as any credit in press releases, explains Levy. The TV/ Cinema/ Online Film Jury, which is where most of the agency work entered ends up, is looking for new ideas and creativity, not at technique.

Neil Davies is ECD of The Mill, who were named Post-Production Company of the Year at LIA 2015. Its important for all areas of the creative process to be recognised, from the sheer brilliance of an initial idea to the craft involved that helps bring the idea to life, explains Davies. Whether it be created by an agency, production company or post-production studio, its great to be able to celebrate everyones individual contributions as well as to appreciate the piece of work as a whole.

As both a juror and a production company owner, Gregory would love to see more production and post-production companies entering their own work  especially in LIAs technique categories. Frankly, a great idea will be entered into relevant award categories by the agency, but craft will often fall out of their budget unless they have a sure-fire winner. With budgets for award shows crushed globally, its often the production, music and post companies who miss out on vital recognition for the team whove fulfilled their role to perfection, she adds.

Whilst finding the money to enter an awards show like LIA may seem daunting to craft companies, who lack the big-budgets of network agencies, Gregory has a possible solution: I think more production, editing, post and music companies should pool their funds to enter more work, collaborating on the strongest categories.

The subsequent recognition from this collaboration could only benefit all involved. Being acknowledged in this way really is the highest accolade we can receive, says Darren OKelly, MD at The Mill. Like the directors and production companies we partner with, we care passionately about what we do and our role in creating truly memorable work.

LIA recognises creativity in all forms, celebrating skill and artistry across all disciplines, adds Davies. 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.

Gregory emphasises companies risk of missing out on the credit they deserve for their part in campaigns. From singing animals, to underwater cinematography, to outdoor activation  so much work goes into making these great ideas a reality, we have a duty to honour the craft.

Concludes Gregory, A carefully entered piece of work will find gold if its craft is exceptional and, while I cant give you any tips, you all know when the work is exceptional.

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 October 6 to 14. The shortlists will be announced as each judging session concludes, with Winners being announced on November 2.
The campaign includes 3 films, conceptualised by Famous Innovations.

Sikkim Manipal University - Distance Education has launched a new campaign that takes a humorous stance on common career hiccups and offers their courses as a solution. The campaign features three 30 second spots, each showcasing a character who is struggling with his/her career.

The first film is centred around a "Hazel from HR" who is moving in slow motion, much to the wonderment and misery of her colleagues. The second one features "Ojas from Operations" who is trying to walk towards his friend but is oblivious to the fact that he isn't moving forward. And in the last one we see a "Mithun from Marketing" sinking inside an office cafeteria floor. All three characters are saved by their peers, who advise them to pursue a course by SMU-DE.

Hayden Scott and Sumit Chaurasia, Creative Directors, Famous Innovations said, "There is always a thin line between 'fun' and 'silly.' With these films, we had to be very mindful of that balance because while they are quirky and humorous, they are also making an important statement. This kind of work hasn't been done in the education category in India so far, our attempt was to do something different and fresh."

Anand Ramabhadran, Senior Vice President ,Manipal Global Education servicescommented, "This campaign taps into a very real and recurrent concern among our audience. It is simple, yet insightful and therefore humanises the brand. SMU-DE is an approachable solution, personified well by the peer advisor in each film. We hope the disruptive visual elements will give us the desired cut-through in a cluttered media environment."

The campaign is live on web and TV since 16th July, and will be supported by Print and Social media amplification.

Credits:

Client  Sikkim Manipal University  DE

Agency  Famous Innovations

Director  Vijay Maurya

Production House  Hot Films
PARIS, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 24, Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi reiterated that it is imperative to hold an international probe into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran and to bring its perpetrators to justice.

The President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran made the call during a tour of an exhibition in Paris Municipality 2nd District displaying photos of the massacred political prisoners.

Mr. Jacques Boutault, mayor of Paris's 2nd District, Jean Francois Legaret, mayor of Paris's 1st District, and a number of French personalities including Rama Yade, former Minister of Human Rights took part and addressed the exhibition. Former Columbian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt also spoke at the event.

Paris Municipality 2nd District issued a statement on the exhibition and the visit that read in part:

"This exhibition especially commemorates the sad anniversary of the massacre of some 30,000 political prisoners during the summer of 1988 in Iran. This terrible episode in modern history is now back on the front burner with the revelation a few days ago of an audiotape recounting conversations that occurred at the highest level with those directly responsible for the killings.

While condemning the crimes of the previous era, Jacques Boutault, mayor of the 2nd district, said it was urgent to pressure the Iranian regime to stop executions in Iran, and to condition relations with that country on significant improvement in respect for human rights, including at the end of the death penalty. Jacques Boutault believes the waves of executions that occurred in recent months in Iran are an extension of the 1988 massacre.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, paid tribute to the heroes and heroines of the French Resistance and victims of the Nazi occupation.

She said the exhibition reflected the arrests, torture and executions of prisoners. She denounced the conspiracy of silence that hung over these crimes, calling it a painful silence for the Iranian people and especially the thousands of families who lost loved ones in the massacre. She urged the international community, including the UN, to bring Iran's ruling mullahs to justice.

Throughout the exhibition, witnesses of the crimes, particularly former political prisoners, shared their painful experiences with visitors. They also relayed stories about the courage and steadfastness of the Iranian Resistance.

Jacques Boutault said: "Our borough today commemorates the liberation of Paris, which ended four years of occupation by Nazi Germany. If European countries were able to sustain the end to the dictatorship, it is because they have the ability to remember the past so it would not be repeated. This unspeakable episode in Iranian history would only result in continuation of what is unspeakable. That is why the town hall of the 2nd District is honored to host this exhibition and listen to the witnesses of this inhuman episode in Iranian history. "

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iran-news-update---iran-opposition-leader-calls-for-international-investigation-of-massacre-of-political-prisoners-300318040.html

SOURCE Iran News Update
BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McGlinchey Stafford, a national law firm with offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana, has launched the Flood Law Blog, www.floodlawblog.com, a new legal resource for businesses affected by recent flooding.

Thousands of companies operating in Louisiana have been affected by the catastrophic storms and flooding of August 2016. These companies have been impacted in many ways, including by flood water damages and by interruption in their day-to-day commerce. This natural disaster will inevitably lead to a sharp rise in legal questions, activities, and disputes as these businesses attempt to navigate the recovery process.

McGlinchey Stafford, which created the Hurricane Law Blog after Hurricane Katrina as a free service to help guide the business community through that disaster's resulting legal thicket, is now similarly publishing the Flood Law Blog with the goal of assisting companies with their recovery challenges arising from the 2016 flood.

The Flood Law Blog seeks to offer the business community a central repository for information about flood-related legislation, litigation, and regulatory issues affecting companies that operate or conduct business in the flood-impacted regions. As recovery efforts progress throughout these areas, the Flood Law Blog aims to offer readers current news, forward-looking articles, opinion, and commentary concerning legal issues of interest to the business community in their rebuilding efforts.

"We always strive to provide unprecedented legal services to our clients, and right now countless businesses throughout Louisiana seek to find answers on post-flood legal issues," said Rudy Aguilar, Managing Member of McGlinchey Stafford. "We hope that this new free resource will help both our clients and the broader business community on their path to recovery."

ABOUT MCGLINCHEY STAFFORD

McGlinchey Stafford is a full-service law firm providing innovative legal counsel to business clients nationwide. Guiding clients wherever business and law intersect, McGlinchey Stafford's 200 attorneys are based in 13 offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Washington, DC. To learn more about McGlinchey Stafford, visit www.mcglinchey.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcglinchey-stafford-launches-flood-law-blog-business-source-for-louisiana-flood-recovery-legal-news-and-opinion-300318138.html

SOURCE McGlinchey Stafford PLLC
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
Since an Ebola outbreak was declared in Uganda on 20 September, health assistant Nyangoma Kirrungi has been on the frontline of the countrys response day in and day out, working as a contact tracer in Madudu sub-county, one of the areas affected by the outbreak.
Its an image that will haunt India for many days. In one of the countrys poorest districts in Odisha, a man walked 10 km with his wifes body on his shoulder, his weeping 12-year-old daughter by his side.



Dana Majhi had no vehicle to take home his wifes body after she died of tuberculosis at a government hospital in Kalahandi, about 60 km from his village. He says he pleaded for a vehicle, but was refused one.

So he wrapped his 42-year-old wife Amang Deis body in a sheet, hoisted it on his shoulder and began to walk home. His daughter walked by his side, holding a bag with their meagre belongings, weeping.

I told the hospital authorities that I am a poor man and cannot afford a vehicle. I kept requesting them but they said they could not help, Mr. Majhi said to a television crew that found him after he had walked about 10 km with the body.

The TV crew reportedly called up a senior officer and arranged an ambulance for the remaining journey to Mr. Majhis village.

Kalahandis District Collector Brunda D has alleged that Mr Majhi left the hospital in the middle of the night without informing anyone. If he had asked for help, we would have provided it, she said adding that the administration has now offered him help with the funeral under a government scheme.

Odisha had also launched the Mahaparayana scheme in February, offering to transport bodies from government hospitals free of charge, but that service was not available to Mr. Majhi.

Brunha D said that Manjhi did not wait for the ambulance which was being arranged. She said that the authorities would have sent the body in a vehicle only if he had waited. The official also added that Manjhi has been sanctioned Rs 2,000 from the state governments funeral assistance scheme and an additional Rs. 10,000 from the District Red Cross Fund.

Baijayant Jay Panda, Member of Parliament of the states ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), tweeted that the scheme is being expanded.

The Naveen-Patnaik-led BJD government has been severely criticised. It is cruelty there is no dignity of life, said the Odisha BJPs Bijoy Mahapatra, lamenting the lack of health services in the state.

However, after he had walked with the body for more than 10 km, some youth saw him and informed the local officials. An ambulance was soon arranged and sent to Manjhi for transporting the body to Melghar village.
An Air India flight carrying over 300 people from here to Newark was today diverted to Kazakhstan after detection of fumes in the cargo hold that triggered a fire alarm.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said all passengers are safe and that there was no reason for worry while a relief aircraft is already on the way from New Delhi to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark.

The Boeing 777-300 ER plane had landed at the Aktobe international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after some alarm went off while it was on its way to Newark.

An Air India spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.

An airline source said that fire alarm was set off after fumes were detected from the cargo hold of the plane. The fumes were possibly from some perishable items that might have been treated with chemicals, the source added.

Since the fire extinguisher is being used in the slow mode, it would take quite sometime before the aircraft is declared as again fit to be airborne. Hence, a relief aircraft is being dispatched, the source said.

In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.

A relief aircraft has left from New Delhi to Aktobe to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark.

Our Ambassador Shri Harsh K Jain has informed me that all passengers are safe. There is no reason for worry, Swaraj said in a tweet.

Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has a seating capacity of around 350 people.

#AI CMD Mr Lohani spoke to Captain Aroob. The pax (passengers) are satisfied and happy that the flt (flight) safely landed in #Kazakhstan, Air India said in a tweet. Aroob is the captain of the flight that was diverted to Kazakhstan.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government plans to transform 1,000 villages with the help of corporate sector, and the civil over the next few years.

He said corporate sector is already working with the government in various sectors through the CSR and we thought of using their resources, knowledge, technology and planning and implementation skills.

He said the corporate sectors expertise would be used to set up an institutional mechanism to amalgamate work done by different companies in different areas to transform 1000 villages in collaboration with the state government.

He was addressing reporters here after his meeting with industrialists Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Fadnavis said currently, scattered efforts are being made by the corporate sector which will now be consolidated and villages will be transformed within a specific time frame.

He added that 50 per cent of the villages will be chosen by partnering agencies where some work is currently underway and the remaining would be those villages that score low on the Human Development Index.

Rajashree Birla (of Aditya Birla Group) has already shown her intent of taking 300 villages (out of 1000) to develop them. Similarly, we have got tremendous response from others as well, he said, adding the government is looking at working on at least 100 villages by October 2.

He further said no programme will be forced upon villages and the Gram Sabhas would decide the kind of work required by their respective villages and the government will only assist them.
Turkey on Thursday said it had every right to intervene if Syrian Kurdish militia do not withdraw east of the Euphrates River in Syria, as promised by the United States.

The Syrian Kurdish forces must move to the east of the Euphrates and Turkey is following this very closely, Defence Minister Fikri Isik told NTV television.

He was speaking a day Ankara launched an operation in Syria on Wednesday aimed both at the Islamic State group (IS) and Syrian Kurdish forces.

If this withdrawal doesn`t happen, Turkey has every right to intervene, Isik added.

Turkey has said the operation in Syria is aimed not just at IS jihadists but also the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People`s Protection Units (YPG) militia.

Turkey sees the YPG as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Ankara`s hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates and would no longer receive American support if they did.

But the minister said there was as yet no sign of the withdrawal.

They have not yet withdrawn but we are watching and monitoring whether they will withdraw. Turkey will be following, moment by moment, Isik said, adding the withdrawal was promised within a week.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS had tweeted that the Syrian Kurdish forces have moved east across the Euphrates to prepare for the eventual liberation of the IS stronghold of Raqqa.
As the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir continued for the 48th day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said an alternative to pellet guns will be proposed within a few days in the wake of widespread criticism of the crowd-control device that has left thousands of people in the Valley blinded.

Singh said, the Centre as well the state government are committed to bring peaceful solution in Kashmir.

The Home Minister, who is on a 2-day visit to the Valley said, since Wednesday he has met 300 people from different sections of the society.

Expressing grief over the deaths in Kashmir, Singh said, those who died in the recent days, whether it was security official or a local, they are our own people.

Declaring there is no future for India without Kashmir, Singh again invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayees policy of Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat (Kashmirs pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy) again to signal that the NDA government was ready for dialogue with anyone.

We want to shape future of India. If future of Kashmir is not shaped, future of India cannot be shaped too, Singh, with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by his side said.

There was a reason for 2010, Shopian (alleged rapes by security personnel) happened, innocents were being targeted by security officers. Dont you confuse that situation with what is happening here now. The young man setting a police station on fire now cannot be compared with someone protesting being shot at while going out to buy milk, Mehbooba said at a joint press conference with home minister Rajnath Singh.

Mehbooba added emphatically that the five per cent of Kashmiris inciting violence in the state since July are anti-nationals and not legitimate protestors with legitimate grievances. You have to differentiate between people who want a dialogue and those who exploit young people to throw stones, she said.

The chief minister was particularly angry with the aggressors tactic to use children as shields while attacking security forces, so that if there was any retaliatory action by the security forces, it was the children who would get hurt or killed. Aapko samajh nahi aati? (Cant you understand this?), she asked, while showing a bit of irritation.

95 per cent of Kahsmiris wanted a peaceful resolution to the problem and only five percent were bent on creating trouble, supporting dahshatgards to bring a bad name to the state, added CM Mufti.
An Indian Navy continues to probe the extent of threat to its security, a report suggested that a former French naval officer may be responsible for the leak of sensitive data related to Scorpene submarine.

A report by The Australian suggested that the former French naval officer, in question, was working as a sub-contractor for the DCNS  the French company  and he might be behind the leak of the sensitive data which were written in France in 2011.

The French firm had initially suggested the leak might be at the Indian end, saying it supplies but does not control access to technical data.

The government has asked French shipbuilder DCNS which designed the six Scorpene submarines for $3.5 billion for a report on the leak, which exposes information including the combat systems of the fleet.

Naval sources said they were confident that the 22,000 pages reported by The Australian newspaper on Wednesday were not provided by sources here and do not compromise one of the worlds largest defense projects. On the second point experts disagree, stating that the information that has been released is a huge problem for India.

Following the furore over the leak of documents related to Indians 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 in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asserted that Indias national 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.

Its perhaps the biggest defence disaster of recent times. This scandalous leak has put a question mark on Indias 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.
Social media has exposed fake stories published by Indian vernacular digital media. Dainik Bhaskar and Jansatta had published false reports about Qatar Princess Sheikha Salwa being caught having sex with seven men in London. The media websites that published this fake news credited it to British newspaper, Financial Times. However, there is no authentic record of Financial Times reporting about any Qatari princesss sexual scandal. When AV tried to contact editors of both the news sites, one responded and said they had done the needful whereas other editor failed to respond.

Netizens had condemned the false reports published on websites and sought apology from respective editors. They also demanded a clarification from the editors for publishing fabricated stories. Many of them called editors and even trolled them on social media.

Deep Halder, Editor of DB post (Dainik Bhaskar group) said, We carried this news after referring to the reports published in some two three news websites. We attributed the websites also. Later, we removed the links from our website after learning that reports were false. We apologised for the goof-up on the website.

Vijay Kumar Jha, Editor of www.Jansatta.com (Indian Express group) remained unavailable for comment inspite of several attempts.

When we spoke to journalist Parvez Khan he said, This is an example of bad journalism. Fake reports claimed that during the police raid, princess was found in a compromising position with seven men in a room in Excelsior London Hotel. The lady, whose photo has been published in the report is not Sheikha Salwa. She is Alia Al Mazrouei, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai based Mazrui Holdings. Media need to check facts before reporting about any story. They should refrain from publishing false stories.

Mallik Shaikh said, Qatar should seek legal action against newspaper agencies for trying to defame a dutiful princess who is the pride of the Arabic nation. Vernacular news websites have published fake news. Qatar citizens are known for following traditions and values in life. The government must ban such newspapers.

Former Journalist Mohammad Anas appealed to people to call those irresponsible editors and seek apology for publishing fake news. His post went viral and editors were shamed.

When AV contacted Michael Lindsay, Editorial Assistant, Newsroom of Financial Times through email he replied, We understand that the article mentioned by you was originally published on www.awdnews.com, which is not our website. The Financial Times is not responsible for false article published by AWD. Further, it is not the case that the Financial Times has published any such news report, or been involved in any such events, as are mentioned in AWDs false article.








Web Toolbar by Wibiya

Are you searching for the right small business benefit plan? If so, take a look below to see why so many Canadians have chosen Benecaid.

Benecaid administers a range of small business benefits for numerous employees throughout Canada. Healthcare is one of the most defining features in Canada because its something that everyone needs; wants and uses. Since 2000, Benecaid has been an industry leader when it comes to providing flexible small business plans.

Why Benecaid?

The President of Benecaid Health Benefit Solutions Inc., Marla Schwartz, spent more than 20 years in the financial industry before joining the Benecaid team. Her decision was largely motivated by her experience with Benecaids small business benefits plan, and she was extremely impressed by the companys level of sustainability and innovation. Schwartz also truly believes in the companys mission.

Once of the most overlooked benefits that can be enjoyed when partnering with Benecaid is the level of access it grants business owners to small business benefit plans experts. Benecaid assists numerous employers, especially small business owners who arent able to have a resident expert in-house due to budget constraints. A large number of small companies simply dont have the expertise required to design a small business benefits plan from the bottom up, which is where Benecaid comes in.

The first thing Benecaid does is try to understand what a small business owners needs are. While some employers may want deluxe healthcare packages, others just want something basic that will protect their group, enable employees to remain healthy and that fits into their budget. As a result, Benecaid will always ask what a small business owner needs from a health benefit plan and start planning from there.

Take Advantage of Custom Plans

Benecaid unbundles traditional health plans and repackages them to ensure that sustainable options are created for small business owners and their employees.

These plans help small business grow in many ways. Employers will ensure that workers remain healthy, which has a direct effect on productivity levels. A small business benefits plan will also be highly beneficial when the time comes to hire new employees, because these plans will prove to be highly attractive to top notch employees who are able to choose employers based on the benefits that each of them offers.

How you can build the Best Small Business Benefits Plan for your Employees

While you are in the process of trying to determine what type of plan youd like to offer employees, its essential to know how they will be using it. All employees have different needs and wants when it comes to medical care, which is why the team at Benecaid wants to ensure that your money is being spent wisely.

If you are ready to take the next step and find out more about the range of small business employee health benefits plans that we have on offer, contact the team at Benecaid today to discuss your options. We will be able to design tailor-made plans for you and your employees.








Web Toolbar by Wibiya

According to the recent report, half of the population of England now consists of Pagans. Most of the people are following paganism than Christianity. Numbers of pagans have increased horribly in past decades. Christianity was once considered the main religion of England but now this place is gradually capturing by Paganism. It shows that churches have been failed in keeping people with their Christian beliefs. It is mere responsibility of the priests to guide people towards the right path.

Protestant Reformation in early 1500 is actually responsible for all this happening as they were completely against clergies and priests; so that would have given rise to Paganism in coming ages. Hence, Protestantism is believed to be the root of cause Paganism. Now people are giving up Christianity to start following other religions and Paganism is one of them.

Stephen Bullivant, senior lecturer in theology and ethics at St Mary's Catholic University in Twickenham said: "The main driver is people who were brought up with some religion now saying they have no religion. What were seeing is acceleration in the numbers of people not only not practicing their faith on a regular basis, but not even ticking the box. He further added,The reason for that is the big question in the sociology of religion.

According to the recent survey that was conducted in England and Wales found that 48% people defined that they are practicing no religion. These numbers are quite big than surveys of previous years. Both Anglican and Catholic churches are trying hard to bring people back towards Christianity.

A spokesperson for the Church of England said: The increase in those identifying as no faith reflects a growing plurality in society rather than any increase in secularism or humanism. We do not have an increasingly secular society as much as a more agnostic one.

Most of the cradle Catholics had also abandoned their belief and embraced Paganism. Four out of 10 adults, who were actually brought up as Anglicans revealed themselves as Pagans. This is a horrible situation and authorities must take any step to prevent people from being atheists.


This article originally appeared here.

Jeff Greenwald, an Oakland-based photojournalist, author, and founder of the nonprofit Ethical Traveler, has been photographing in Nepal since 1979. He first visited Camp Hope, one of Kathmandus most progressive earthquake refugee camps, in the fall of 2015.



Camp Hope is home to 
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.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi told Japan's National Security Advisor Shotaro Yachi that Japan should "play a constructive role" in the success of the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit in China.

Yang made the comments when co-hosting the third China-Japan High-level Political Dialogue in Beijing on Thursday.

Yachi is a key advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the first and second dialogue were held last year.

The summit is scheduled on September 4-5 in eastern China's Hangzhou city.

As China and Japan are respectively the second and third largest global economies, their cooperation in ensuring the success of the summit "serves the common interest of all parties", Yang said.

On the bilateral relationship, Yang said currently the process of its improvement is "still disturbed by various issues", and particularly maritime issues have taken a higher profile recently.

"This does not serve bilateral interests," Yang said, adding that Japan should match its words with actions and tangibly fulfill positive and friendly policies toward China.

Japan, it is hoped, will make more "pluses" when it comes to cooperation and achieving win-win situations, and less "minuses" when it comes to contradictions and divergences, Yang said.

As next year marks the 45th anniversary of China and Japan normalizing their diplomatic ties, Yang said the two sides are expected to take the opportunity to further uphold the four bilateral political documents and their four-point principled consensus.

Both sides should maintain political and diplomatic contacts, cautiously and appropriately tackle major issues, reinforce pragmatic exchanges and cooperation and create an enabling atmosphere of public opinion to achieve the steady progress of China-Japan ties, Yang added.

Yachi said Japan hopes to consistently improve and develop ties with China, it values the great significance of the four key documents and four-point principled consensus.

Japan is ready to boost communication with China, strengthen mutual trust, appropriately tackle issues facing the two-way ties, and reinforce pragmatic cooperation in fields including finance and environmental protection.

Tokyo supports China's hosting the G20 summit in Hangzhou, Yachi added.
August 24, 2016

Egyptian politicians and media figures are calling on their government to grant political asylum to Fethullah Gulen and supporters of the Gulen movement.

The Turkish government accuses Gulen, a Turkish cleric who lives in the United States, of being behind the failed July 15 coup in Turkey, and is calling on American authorities to extradite him.

Egyptian parliamentarian Imad Mahrous recently presented a draft statement to his government proposing political asylum for Gulen. After discussions with a number of parliament members, he told Al-Monitor by phone, The Egyptian government was not opposed to granting Gulen and his supporters political asylum.

He clarified that Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail had confirmed on more than one occasion that the Egyptian authorities were not opposed to taking this step and completely understood the security threats being faced by Gulens supporters inside Turkey, [especially] after all of their institutions were closed and [their members] were subjected to a campaign of arbitrary arrest.

Mahrous said a number of Egyptian representatives are currently seeking to open a direct line of communication with Gulen and coordinate with his followers inside Egypt on a standing basis, as well as support them during the crisis they are facing with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan.

In their view, Erdogan is supporting terrorist gangs across the world and seeking to undermine Egypts national stability by harboring the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey, and [by] financing a number of Brotherhood channels that have sprouted up over Turkish territory with the official backing of Erdogan and other Arab states, Mahrous said.

He added that the idea of hosting Gulen will be accepted not only among the official circles of the Egyptian government, but at the popular level as well, along with wide swaths of Egyptian society that believe him to be a modern man of faith who repudiates religious extremism and believes in the importance of dialogue and tolerance.

Turkeys Justice Ministry and Foreign Ministry have both officially requested Gulens extradition from the United States. Gulen moved to the Poconos region of Pennsylvania in 1999. A number of his students followed him to the area.

Orhan Kaskin is a Turkish businessman residing in Egypt who founded a series of international schools affiliated with the Gulen movement inside Egypt. He dismisses the possibility that Gulen might relocate from his voluntary exile in Pennsylvania to anywhere else.

[Gulen] prefers not to move around a great deal even within America, for personal reasons pertaining to his desire for voluntary seclusion with a number of his students in the mountain region where he resides, Kaskin told Al-Monitor by phone. He deliberately puts distance between himself and construction, people and traffic, partially owing to his health situation, which makes it difficult for him to move. He suffers from heart disease, diabetes and other ailments stemming from his advanced age. Gulen is 75.

He also noted, It would be very difficult for [Turkey to compel] Sheikh Gulens extradition from the United States, in light of the absence of evidence to substantiate any of the charges against him.

American authorities, according to Kaskin, understand that the movements activities are peaceful and undertaken in hundreds of countries around the world.

Kaskin, who has lived in Egypt since the early 2000s, said that many countries seek to host Gulen, despite the recent tensions. He believes their governments understand that Gulen has called on his followers to distance themselves from religious extremism.

Ishaq Inci, the chief editor of the Turkish publication Zaman Arabic, known for its ties to Gulen, said in a phone conversation with Al-Monitor that Gulenists enjoy stability inside Egypt; we can safely move about, and we have found Egyptian officials welcoming of our presence on Egyptian territory. He added, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is a respectable president who behaves like a true head of state in his foreign policies.

Inci, who resides in Egypt, said, Thousands of Turks will flee from Turkish territory to escape the ongoing violations perpetrated by Erdogans oppressive administration toward anyone who belongs to Gulens movement.

He stressed that the Turkish officials who are accusing Gulens followers of being terrorists and are closing all of Gulens institutions inside Turkey are themselves the ones who used to praise these institutions and, when they were first inaugurated, would sit in the front row [during dedication ceremonies].

Inci said the Gulen movement has not suffered any constriction in its presence inside Egypt recently at the hands of Egyptian authorities, which confirms there are no ties between us and Erdogan. He anticipates that in the near term many of the movements followers will be transferred to Egypt, especially given the state of political and security stability in Egypt.

Gulens movement may be benefiting from the political strains between Turkey and Egypt, according to Bashir Abdel-Fattah, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies.

He believes the proposal to host Gulen inside Egypt is part of a context of ongoing political recrimination between Turkey and Egypt, and is set against the background of the state of tension in relations between the two states.

Many high-ranking members of the Muslim Brotherhood have taken refuge in Turkey, and now many in Egypt wish to return the favor, he said. However, in his view Egypts foreign policy with Turkey must transcend these political spats, particularly since Egypts problem with Turkey is limited solely to the fact that Erdogan remains in power.

Abdel-Fattah also told Al-Monitor, The security agreements that relate to extraditing suspects between Turkey and the United States prevent America from extraditing Gulen. The United States is unlikely to take this step in any event, because they view Gulen as being a more modern version of political Islam that can curb extremist elements on a religious level.
August 24, 2016

BAGHDAD  Iraqi parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri issued a warning against involving the tribes in political disputes Aug. 14. His warning came a few days after the tribes affiliated with Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi and parliament member Mohammed al-Karbouli interfered in a political dispute as the two exchanged accusations of corruption during the Aug. 1 parliamentary session.

Jabouri seemed greatly concerned about the involvement of Iraq's tribes in political conflicts. During a visit by a tribal delegation to the parliament, he told a number of Iraqi tribal leaders, "Preserving the independence of the tribes in Iraq is an important and essential safeguard. The ongoing attempts to drag the tribes into side conflicts are designed to undermine the building of Iraqi society and the Iraqi state.

Iraq's tribes are social institutions that have preserved many customs and traditions that run contrary to the laws of the state. The tribes manage their issues, even serious crimes such as murder, under a "blood money" system. A majority of Iraqi politicians seek to please them, as they represent large numbers of voters in local and parliamentary elections.

Athir al-Jassour, a political science professor at Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, told Al-Monitor, Since the Iraqi state was founded, there have been problems regarding the division of power, and customs and traditions have defined many of these problems, in determining both political and social approaches to them. He added, Among the various conflicts within Iraqi society, power was divided between religion, tribes and the rule of law, and the balance of power is tipped in favor of the one who can influence and protect.

Iraqi politicians' complex relationships with their tribes must be managed with a law regulating tribal affairs. The adoption of this law is an attempt by the Iraqi parliament to control growing tribal strength.

Jabouri and other politicians fear tribal involvement in political conflicts, as the tribes' power threatens to undermine the authority of the state. The majority of the tribes are armed, and some even possess heavy weapons, which means that the outbreak of any tribal fighting could lead to divides no less dangerous than sectarian ones. Because of these tribal institutions' complex relationships with each other, their involvement in politically motivated fighting may drag other tribes into armed conflict.

Obeidi and Karbouli's is not the first political dispute to reach the tribal councils. What makes this time different and more dangerous is that the tribes have offered their absolute support to their affiliated politicians against other politicians. The defense minister made his appreciation clear by posting a video clip of his tribe meeting on YouTube.

The tribe of Karbouli, who has been accused by the defense minister of using blackmail in his efforts to make deals, did not take long to reply to the Obeidi tribes escalation. The elders of Karboulis tribe held a press conference to deny the charges made by Obeidi against their son Karbouli and announce that they would stand firmly against anyone who dares to attack one of their members.

Iraqi writer and journalist Omar al-Shaher, known for his analysis of the affairs of the Sunni-dominated Iraqi provinces, explained to Al-Monitor why politicians, particularly from the Sunni community, turn to their tribes for support.

He said, There is no longer a major Sunni political bloc able to provide protection to Sunni politicians. After the disintegration of the Iraqi National Forces Alliance, the largest Sunni alliance in parliament  to which Obeidi and Karbouli are affiliated  and the grinding conflicts between the alliances components, a politician can only find shelter in his tribe.

He added, The Sunni politicians who know that they have influence on the street must have an alternative to the political alliances that [once] ensured their survival in office. The tribes emerged as an alternative.

He downplayed the tribes' potential influence, saying, I do not think that tribes will have an important or permanent [political] role. There are no large and cohesive tribes that have entered the political scene. Rather, there are only small tribes whose roles are temporary.

While Shaher was optimistic about the future of the tribes in the political process, Jassour was less so, stating, The tribes direct intervention in political affairs strengthens its role and promotes the sense of belonging to this tribe by its members and those who believe in its power, enabling it to become a strong alternative to the authority of the national law.

Jassour expressed concern that tribal authorities may aspire to a major role in various political events such as elections. He said rule of law is being undermined as a result of interference by multiple authorities, including tribes.

He also said he fears the tribes would support corrupt politicians from among their members. He said, This means that no matter how corrupt a politician is, he will find those who defend him and protect his corruption, which would encourage him to become even more corrupt and to disregard any opposition.

Indeed, many of the tribal authorities' customs are inconsistent with democratic laws, and one may say that tribes do not believe in laws at all, since they do not rely on them but rather their own customs to manage the affairs of their members.

Resorting to tribes to resolve political differences undermines the law, and prompts Iraqi citizens to withdraw into tribalism. Why would the citizens respect the rule of law while two of the top politicians in the executive and legislative branches are solving their disputes among their tribes?
August 25, 2016

A May 15 letter sent by the Israeli Education Ministrys pedagogic administration to school principals throughout the country announced that 50 Years of a Unified Jerusalem will be the theme of the upcoming school year, which starts Sept. 1. The heads of the educational institutions were informed that they will have at their disposal a program to deepen the students affinity and connection to Jerusalem. The letter stated, The program is designed for the countrys entire student body with certain adaptations for the unique characteristics of various population groups. It would be interesting to know how the program is being adapted for Arab students who are Israeli citizens. Even more interesting would be the unique adaptation for the school children of the annexed Shuafat refugee camp.

The government was quick two years ago in forming a steering committee composed of representatives of government agencies and the Jerusalem municipality to prepare 50th-anniversary celebrations for the unification of Jewish West Jerusalem and Palestinian East Jerusalem. On Aug. 11, the Cabinet approved the recommendation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also communications minister, to issue a stamp denoting the 50th anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem and a stamp marking 50 years of Jewish settlement in the Golan Heights and in the Jordan Valley and Judea and Samaria. The Jerusalem municipality, the Yesha Council (settler umbrella organization), the settlements and wealthy right-wing organizations such as Elad, which effectively controls the eastern part of Jerusalems Holy Basin, are already in the throes of preparations. The leadership of the Labor Party, whose past leaders initiated the 1967 annexation of Jerusalem and established the first West Bank settlements, will surely be guests of honor at the celebrations.

There are many in Israel for whom June 2017 will mark the unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem and of dozens of its surrounding villages. For them, the settlement beyond the Green Line runs counter to the interests of a Jewish and democratic State of Israel, not to mention constituting a prolonged display of human rights violations against the Palestinians, who have been living in these areas for generations. As far as they are concerned, the settlement enterprise constitutes an obstacle to peace with their neighbors.

This is the time to ask the Israeli public whether 50 years of occupation are enough. Can a people be ruled forever without being granted civil rights? Do the Jewish Zionists really want their great grandchildren born 50 years from now to live in a state where a Jewish minority rules over a non-Jewish majority?

Close monitoring of the activities within the left-wing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War already suggests a totally missed opportunity. The long years of occupation have given rise to countless peace and human rights organizations. Hundreds of salaried employees and volunteers, largely well-intentioned people, are dedicating their time and energy to fanning the embers of peace and Palestinian rights. They are not deterred by hostile legislation and wild incitement on the part of the prime minister and his band of associates. They are the ones warning the international community about the injustice of the Israeli occupation and maintaining whats left of the belief that Israels Jewish citizens are intent on peace.

As Shlomi Eldar wrote Aug. 12 in Al-Monitor, almost every such NGO has a foreign minister tasked with expanding ties with international organizations and with governments that exert influence over Israel. The piece cited Rabbi Arik Ascherman, who recently left Rabbis for Human Rights  an important organization that he established and led  to set up a rival organization, Khakel: A Covenant of Human Rights Defenders. The founder of Ir Amim (City of Nations or City of Peoples), Danny Seidemann  one of the countrys leading experts on Jerusalem  established a group called Terrestrial Jerusalem. Retired Maj. Gen. Amnon Reshef founded Commanders for Israels Security, which competes with a group called the Peace and Security Association.

A quick scan yields no fewer than a dozen organizations dedicated to promoting peace based on a two-state solution, dialogue between peoples and the Arab Peace Initiative. A similar number of organizations are actively promoting human rights for Palestinians in the occupied territories: Peace Now, the state-funded Peres Center for Peace, the Geneva Initiative, Israel Peace Bloc (Gush Shalom), Blue White Future, the Israel Initiative, the Regional Initiative, Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information, Combatants for Peace, Parents Circles  Families Forum, Women Wage Peace, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, BTselem, Yesh Din, Hamoked, Ir Amim, Terrestrial Jerusalem, Bimkom, Mahsom Watch, Ta'ayush, Rabbis for Human Rights, Khakel, Gisha and Breaking the Silence. This is only a partial list.

The only initiative by the peace camp on the horizon ahead of the 50th anniversary of the occupation is coalescing around Peace Now. The vague slogan chosen for the campaign  Deciding at 50  is designed to appeal to concerned Israelis from the political center and moderate right who are put off by controversial definitions such as left, occupation and apartheid. The fate of initiatives to organize peace rallies and protests against the occupation in June 2017 hangs in the balance.

The right is marketing victory celebrations, while the left plays the role of the doomsday prophet and party pooper. In recent weeks, the various peace organizations have held discussions on how to rise to this challenge. The right has at its disposal an abundance of public funds, a mass circulation and free daily newspaper (Israel Hayom, owned by the US billionaire and Netanyahu patron Sheldon Adelson), populist television channels (such as Channel 20), an obedient education system, Jewish donors, generous evangelists and assorted tax-exempt organizations. The left-wing organizations are chasing a handful of donors and must deal with significant funding cuts by the European Union and its member states following the economic crisis on the continent and the need to help masses of refugees from the Middle East. Civics teachers are careful not to bring up values that are perceived in todays Israel as being leftist, such as equal rights, and subscribers of the daily Haaretz are considered virtual traitors.

In the absence of an effective partisan opposition, civil society is the last remaining hope of the peace and democracy camp. It is too important and too weak to be split. The 50th anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem presents a rare opportunity to close ranks in the defense of values that were once Israels inalienable assets.
August 24, 2016

Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafar Dowlatabadi announced Aug. 16 that Iran had arrested another dual national in the country. According to Dowlatabadi, the individual had links to British intelligence and was active in the economic field. Dowlatabadi did not share any other information about who the person is or when the arrest took place.

On Aug. 23, conservative website Nasim Online published a thinly sourced article claiming that the arrestee's name is Abdol Rasul Dori Esfahani, a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team. According to the article, Dori Esfahani was in charge of banking affairs during the nuclear talks and was arrested for selling economic information to foreign countries.

A January article in the Financial Tribune referred to him as the financial and banking representative in Irans nuclear delegation. Immediately after Nasim published its article, Iranian social media networks were flooded with pictures of Dori Esfahani at the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

Adding a twist to the story, on Aug. 24, Bank-e Mardom published an interview with Dori Esfahani in which he claimed he was not arrested. Im speaking to you now from the Central Bank and I have not been arrested, he said. All of my efforts during my life have been to serve Iran and promote my country and it will remain so. Dori Esfahani said the reports of his arrest are completely false," adding, "I do not know why and with what goal they are doing this.

The interview was quickly deleted without explanation. Nasim Online published a second story claiming that Dori Esfahani had been out on bail when he conducted the interview with Bank-e Mardom.

In its original article, Nasim reported that rumors about the arrest of a member of the nuclear negotiation team had been circulating on social media for days. According to Nasim, Dori Esfahani had used his access to financial institutions in Iran to pass information to American and British officials, for which he allegedly received 7,500 British pounds ($10,000) a month. He also was alleged to have been linked to the exorbitant salaries scandal in Iran.

After the publication of the first Nasim article, various Iranian meida outlets cited a source at the Foreign Ministry as denying any individual involved with the implementation of the nuclear deal had been arrested. Sayed Yaser Jebraili, a researcher and analyst for Fars News, responded to the Foreign Ministry denial on his Telegram account, stating that while it was true that no member of the implementation team of the nuclear deal had arrested, it was true that Dori Esfahani, who was a negotiator in charge of banking affairs, had been arrested for spying. Jebraili was the first journalist to confirm Dori Esfahanis arrest.

Interestingly, neither Tasnim News Agency nor Fars News have reported on the arrest.

Conservative Iranian parliamentarian Javad Karimi-Ghodousi went one step further and implied that Dori Esfahani was still traveling with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. According to Karimi-Ghodousi, Dori Esfahani had accompanied the Iranian delegation to Turkey recently, but a warrant for his arrest kept him from disembarking from the airplane in Turkey and he returned to Iran.

Karimi-Ghodousi referred to Dori Esfahani as a spy" and added that in addition to receiving payment from the Central Bank of Iran and Saman Bank for serving on their boards, Dori Esfahani was receiving money from the United States and the United Kingdom as well.

Bahram Ghassemi, spokesman for Irans Foreign Ministry, denied that Dori Esfahani had been on the flight to Turkey with the foreign minister. Ghassemi said the reasons for Karimi-Ghodousis baseless claims" are "completely clear and said that the Foreign Ministry was not going to sacrifice national and security interests for the sake of partisan or personal goals. Whether or not the reports about Dori Esfahani are true, Ghassemi may be on to something in suggesting that those behind the accusations are conservatives who oppose the nuclear deal.
August 25, 2016

TEHRAN, Iran  The politics of the Middle East are undergoing rapid changes, as demonstrated by recent developments in Turkey's domestic and foreign policies. These shifts will undoubtedly impact the regional and foreign policies of Turkey's neighbors, in particular those of Iran. For Tehran, the two primary factors are Turkeys decision to redefine its ties with Israel and Russia and the diminishing of Ankaras power as a key player in the Middle East and a rival of Iran.

These days, Iran sees itself as Russia's strategic partner in the Middle East. Of importance, the two countries are supporting the same side in the Syrian war. Neither West nor East remains part of the Islamic Republic's lexicon, but Russia has always enjoyed a better position in the country relative to the United States and other Western powers. In this vein, increased military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran is evidence of how important this partnership is for Iran. This month, the Islamic Republic for the first time allowed Russia to conduct military air operations from one of its air bases, perhaps a show of Tehrans wish to maintain its pivotal position in Moscow's regional policies.

As some have recently argued, Iran's allowing Russia to use its Hamedan air base can be considered a message to its opponents in Syria, such as Turkey, who are attempting to court Russia. Indeed, Iran wants to signal that while Russia might talk to different players about Syria, such as Turkey and the United States, at the end of the day, it is Iran that Russia views as trustworthy. This bottom line has been lost amid the storm of criticism from Iranian lawmakers and negative public opinion about the sorties from Hamedan that led Tehran to announce Aug. 22 that Russian military operations from Iranian soil had been halted.

Although Iran and Russia have supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the war in Syria erupted, their red lines in the country do not fully overlap. Ali Akbar Velayati, who serves as foreign policy adviser to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had previously stated that keeping Assad in power is Iran's red line in Syria. In contrast, Russia's red line is maintaining the regime but not necessarily Assad. As such, the Turkey-Russia rapprochement, in the context of Ankara distancing itself from the West, may cause concerns in Iran about the possibility of a Turkish-Russian deal on Assad's fate.

Nasser Hadian, a professor of international relations at Tehran University, told Al-Monitor that the impact of the July 15 coup attempt on Turkeys future has three basic dimensions. Generally, the coup has weakened the Turkish position in the region and the world, but it has strengthened President Recep Tayyip Erdogans power within the Turkish political system, while also limiting the role of the army, he said.

With Turkey's internal turmoil weakening its position in the region, Hadian said, Ankara's power to act in the Middle East will be limited. This in turn could provide Iran, as a key regional player, with more opportunities as Turkey focuses on internal challenges for the foreseeable future.

Nonetheless, given the interconnected nature of security in the region, Hadian believes that Iran is in fact concerned about the security situation in Turkey. Indeed, Iranian officials' prompt condemnation of the coup attempt as it unfolded and backing of Turkeys democratically elected government could be seen within this framework.

As for any potentially negative implications stemming from the new twist in Turkish-Russian relations and the possibility of Turkey surpassing Iran as Moscow's regional ally, Hadian said, I believe that [the situation] is not a zero-sum game, and [Iran] should not be concerned about this issue. He thinks that the impact of the rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow on Iran's regional policy will notably be seen in developments in Syria.

It is likely that Turkey will close its borders [with Syria] to stop equipping Assads opponents, and it may probably agree with a transitional period [as part of a peace deal], with Assad remaining in power during that period, he said. The realization of this scenario is consistent with Irans regional objectives.

Iran has consistently backed the Syrian government and fought Assads opponents throughout the 5-year-long civil war. Unlike Western countries and Turkey, Iran and Russia see no difference between the Islamic State (IS) and the moderate opposition to Assad. As such, if Russia can persuade Turkey to effectively seal off its southern border and stop arming Assads opponents, both Moscow and Tehran will move closer to their common objectives in Syria.

There are several reasons for Turkey's possibly being receptive to Russian influence. Although the coup attempt has caused instability in Turkey, the country was already suffering from instability related to the Syria war and the situation in Kurdish areas in the southeast. This has put Turkey in a weaker position vis-a-vis Russia. Furthermore, the United States and Russia are reportedly coordinating their efforts in the fight against IS in Syria. Given these developments on the ground, Russia has a good opportunity to persuade Turkey to decrease its support to Assad's opponents. In return, Russia is likely to pay more attention to Turkeys security concerns, and in this regard, likely reduce its support for Kurdish forces in Syria. Finally, unlike complex security issues that have proven difficult to resolve, common economic and commercial interests favor both Russia and Turkey expediently improving their ties.

While Turkey is unlikely to do a complete U-turn of its Syria policy, cooperation between Tehran and Ankara will likely improve, while the relative strengthening of Irans position in the region in the aftermath of the coup attempt is likely to continue regardless of the improvement in Turkish-Russian relations.
August 25, 2016

The Turkish government has made a new move in the Syrian war, continuing its involvement in the conflict. The small Syrian city of Jarablus, located 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the northeast of Aleppo and 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the west of Kobani, has become the symbol of the fight against the Islamic State (IS). On Aug. 24, groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and trained by the Turkish military entered and took control. For the first time, IS militants handed over a city without putting up a fight.

Before the IS occupation, Jarablus had a population of 100,000. The Syrian regime's forces left the city and FSA groups took control on July 15, 2012. Afterward, al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra took control with the support of the Turkish government. In this process, 10,000 Kurds were forced to leave and their houses were seized. Jabhat al-Nusra handed over the city to IS on Dec. 14, 2014. IS terrorized anyone who did not obey it and massacred many members of the ethnically Arab Cedawra tribe, which is influential in the region. The Turkish government raised not the slightest objection to IS back then. IS blew up the only bridge connecting Kobani and Jarablus over the Euphrates River on March 5, 2015, which made it difficult for Kurdish forces to access the area. The Turkish armys artillery attacks disrupted the attempts of Kurdish forces to enter, and the Turkish state thus blocked the People's Protection Units (YPG) from liberating Jarablus from IS.

So why and against whom did Turkey move? Although its code name is "Jarablus," the operation has a larger goal. First, Turkey and its affiliates want to create a safe zone within the Jarablus-Azaz-Marea triangle. Azaz and Marea are currently under the control of FSA-affiliated groups, which have now captured Jarablus. The goal is to transform this safe zone into a military and political base against Aleppo and northern Syria, which the Kurds call Rojava. The Damascus regime has been inflicting heavy blows against FSA groups in Aleppo. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurdish forces, took control of Manbij and are advancing toward al-Bab in northern Syria. All of these developments reduced Turkeys influence in the region. The SDF took the first steps toward opening a Kurdish corridor, a development that terrifies Turkey. The Turkish government had supported IS to prevent such a development, and prevented the Kurds from liberating Jarablus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first politician to object to the Kurds liberation of Tell Abyad.

Turkey has adopted a dual position of fighting against IS but also shelling the groups that inflict the heaviest blows against IS. As it sent FSA groups to Jarablus, Turkey, which claims that it is fighting IS in the city, shelled SDF and Kurdish forces' positions in and around Manbij.

Although Turkey pretends to take action against IS, many suspect its main target is the Kurdish people. Kurdish officials have issued several statements to this effect, among them YPG spokesperson Redur Xelil.

A few hours after the operation began, Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim declared that their main goals were against IS and the Kurds.

Turkey and the FSA groups will not stop at Jarablus. SDF commander Dijwar Xebat has stated that these groups aim to advance toward the south, which is under SDF control, and that if they do, clashes could happen between the SDF  jointly established by Kurdish, Arab and other peoples  and the FSA, raising tensions in the region.

What will happen to IS in this scenario?

Groups affiliated with Turkey and SDF forces have been defeating IS in various locations. However, IS fights back against the SDF but not the FSA. In the end, IS will seek refuge in Raqqa once it is expelled from the border between Syria and Turkey. Who will be fighting against IS in Raqqa will then be a major discussion point. Turkey and its affiliates cannot reach Raqqa physically at this moment and would have to pass through the Kurdish region. Due to these forces hostility toward the Kurds, it is more likely that they will fight against the Kurds instead. IS could take this opportunity to attack the Kurds and their allies, who would in turn protect themselves from IS in the south and Turkey-backed FSA groups in the north. Turkey works toward making this probable scenario a reality.

The groups Turkey describes as the "moderate opposition" are no different from Jabhat al-Nusra or IS. The Sultan Murat Brigade is composed of Turkmens who are trained in Turkey, and the group's spokesperson has made several anti-Kurdish statements. There are also other groups such as Nureddin Zengi Brigade that are radical Islamists at their core. Turkey and the United States are making a historic mistake and taking a major risk when they describe these groups as moderate and present them as an alternative to IS.

Kurds in Syria argue that Turkey supports these radical fundamentalist groups and fuels the war. The Turkish government, however, views the opening of a Kurdish corridor in northern Syria as a threat to its national security. Many Turks believe that the developments in Syria will have consequences for the millions of Kurds inside Turkey. For this reason, they do not want Kurdish people to gain status in Syria. However, Kurds have always argued that such an occurrence would pose no threat to Turkey.

A critical round of the Syrian conflict has just begun. Turkey, which has been floundering in Syria since 2011, has retaken its place on the stage alongside the US-led coalition forces, Russia, the FSA, IS, the Kurds, the Damascus regime and several regional powers. Will Turkey attack the Kurds and their allies from the area it recently took over? How will the United States respond? We will soon find out, because Turkey will not be satisfied with control over a small town and some villages.

Yildirim suggested that Turkey is in agreement with the United States regarding the YPG. US Vice President Joe Biden announced that the YPG should retreat to the eastern shores of the Euphrates River. In response, the YPG declared that it would not retreat from the area to the west of the Euphrates.

In this case, how will the United States continue its partnership with both the YPG and Turkey? Will the YPG and the United States, who have fought IS together so far, have a falling out and impact the fate of the region?

Currently, Kurdish forces and their allies are advancing toward al-Bab to the southwest of Manbij. From there, they plan to open a corridor to the Kurdish town of Afrin. If this plan is implemented, will we witness the bloody results of a regional Kurdish-Turkish conflict?

Turkeys biggest problem is its Kurdish phobia. Because of it, Turkey takes meaningless and unnecessary steps and spreads its enmity toward the Kurdish people in the region. As a result, the political and military conflict between the Kurds and Turkey is gaining momentum in Turkey and Syria.

The majority of the Kurds think that the Turkish state chooses to treat the Kurdish people as its enemy, as Syria and the Middle East are being reshaped. Will the Kurds defiance mean the continuation of the chaos and violence in the region? Unfortunately, this seems to be the case at the moment.
August 25, 2016

Israels Arab sector has undergone another week of carnage. On Aug. 23, Amna Yasin from Tamra, who was nine months pregnant, was stabbed to death. Reportedly, her husband is the prime suspect. The next day, a 24-year-old woman was shot by an unknown person in Shefaram, and severely wounded as a result. Additional shooting incidents were recorded later on in the week in Jaffa, Jaljulia and Kafr Makar, where a security camera documented an attempted murder by automatic weapons.

Data published by the Aman Center - the Arab Center for Safe Society in Israel in May shows that 20 members of the Arab sector were slain in the first four months of the year in incidents involving firearms; three of the victims were women. There have more deaths since. According to data collected by the Aman Center, 1,182 people have been killed since 2000 and more than 3,300 have been wounded in shooting episodes within Arab localities.

Roni Alsheich, the inspector general of the Israeli police, said that 59% of murders in Israel in 2015 took place in the Arab sector, even though the sector's residents only constitute 21% of the population.

Haaretz newspaper reported that according to the members of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, Arab localities endure a Wild West reality, saying that the Arab-Israeli society in its entirety is on a slippery slope to internal collapse. They blame law enforcement authorities, headed by the police, for powerlessness vis-a-vis a shocking phenomenon: that a reported one in three households in the sector have illegal firearms.

Arabs are killing Arabs, and this isnt a story that sets off alarm bells or worries law-enforcement authorities like a murder in the Jewish sector, Arab Knesset member Issawi Frej (Meretz Party), a resident of Kafr Qasim, told Al-Monitor. According to Frej, when an Arab is suspected of murdering a Jew, the murderer is apprehended within a short time period. But when Arabs murder other Arabs, far fewer cases are solved. Arab society is a closed society and usually the residents know who the murderer is  and even talk about it among themselves. Everyone knows who the murderer is, except for the police, he said.

This week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a sweeping operation to uncover workshops for weapons production and military equipment in the West Bank, and to confiscate illegal weapons. The operation was conducted in the Hebron and Bethlehem areas: five battalions were involved that confiscated 54 guns and uncovered 22 lathes. Many of the guns confiscated were "Carlo" rifles (a simplified version of the Carl Gustav rifle), which are manufactured in the territories and are very prevalent in Arab localities in Israel. The number of firearms that were confiscated in the IDF operation was an object of ridicule in the Arab sector; there were those who argued  perhaps with certain exaggeration  that such a number can be easily found in almost every Israeli-Arab household.

The Israeli-Arab political leadership has long since warned the police that the improvised Carlo gun can be purchased for only a few thousand shekels. They said that something must be done to uncover the weapons workshops in the territories that threaten our society, but no one has expressed any interest, Frej said.

According to Frej, Israel only woke up and began to conduct raids on weapons factories when improvised firearms started being used in terror attacks. All these weapons factories were an open secret to everyone in the [Arab] sector, but no one went to close them down (before the terror attacks) and nothing was done to avert the next murder in our sector. Why? he asked.

After a resident of the Israeli-Arab village of Arara committed a terror attack in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff street Jan. 1, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to the scene of the attack and declared that he would not accept two states in Israel  a law-abiding state for most of its citizens and a separate lawless enclave. Despite the accusations directed by Netanyahu at the entire Arab sector, the members of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee had hoped that law enforcement authorities would wake up and conduct operations to put an end to the illegal weapons phenomenon in the Israeli-Arab sector. But, they claimed, the authorities limited themselves to several local raids.

Reda Jabar, an attorney who is the director of the Aman Center, told Al-Monitor that the rising violence in Arab society should be viewed in a broader perspective. We have internal violence that the state is connected to in a major way, he said. Jabar said the violence erupted due to governmental neglect in maintaining public order in the Arab localities, a shortage of police, nonenforcement of the law, housing shortages, severe poverty and a deficient educational system, and unemployment, among other issues. He argued that these social phenomena increased greatly in recent years, causing internal unbridled violence.

Jabar rejects the argument that the violence should also be attributed to the violent character of Arab society, in which men who murder their wives are treated leniently. That isnt true, he said. There is great public opposition to the murder of women and a heightened [public] awareness of the issue. The result is a drop in the number of [Israeli-Arab] women who were murdered, when compared with previous years.

Frej, too, rejects the argument that violence in Arab society stems from cultural elements. Violence is not genetic, he said, using the Palestinian Authority (PA) as an example. He said that although Palestinian society in the West Bank is less affluent than us, less educated, fewer people are murdered there than in the Israeli Arab sector. How come? he asked. Were talking about the same Arabs.

According to Frej, the answer lies in the lack of enforcement of the Israeli establishment with regard to Arab localities.

Netanyahu said that he will not allow the existence of a [lawless] state within a state, Frej concluded. But it does in fact exist and no one is doing anything to change this bleak state of affairs.
Cummings Research Park selects P W

A view of Cummings Research Park. (File)

City leaders will decide this evening whether to approve a rezoning request that would allow more commercial growth in Cummings Research Park.

CRP Director Erin Koshut said rezoning a 12.46-acre vacant parcel on the east side of Wynn Drive and north side of Old Madison Pike would open the property to more uses beyond office and research facilities and educational activity.

If the Huntsville City Council authorizes the request, Koshut said rezoning CRP as a Research Park Commercial District also would provide more key services, including shopping, lodging, food and beverage, to companies and employees within and near the park.

"This rezoning for that specific area would support key activities/amenities identified as part of our master plan effort and will spur redevelopment of the surrounding areas," she said.

In late May, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County unveiled its new master plan for the park with help from architecture and design firm Perkins+Will. One idea in the plan includes a new startup village where entrepreneurs can gather to discuss ideas and grow their businesses.

The master plan said the old Chrysler building near Calhoun Community College's new campus could be transformed into a "catalytic Maker-Hacker Village with facilities, equipment and programs to incubate creativity around cyber-physical endeavors, fabrication and prototyping."

Koshut said the area up for rezoning at tonight's council meeting is directly adjacent to the proposed Maker-Hacker Village in the master plan.

"That startup area within the master plan calls for mixed-use to support that facility and redevelopment activity around it so it is in line with the recommendations for that area," she said.

CRP has more than 300 companies and 29,000 employees. It the second-largest research park in the U.S. and fourth-largest in the world.

The council meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Huntsville City Hall. Click here for the full agenda.

To read the full master plan, visit hsvchamber.org/crp.html or click through the document below.
Alabama coal miners have recently faced mine closures, job losses and benefits reductions, and two recently awarded federal grants aim to ease some of the problems the industry decline has caused.

The federal government's Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded two groups in Alabama grants to help the industry figure out what's next.

Southern Research in Birmingham received a $60,202 grant to develop a strategic plan to increase entrepreneurship in Alabama's counties that have been most impacted by the decline of coal.

"We're going to have an energy industry in the state. What's it going to be for the next 100 years?" Southern Research's Director of Energy and Environment Corey Tyree said. "For the last 100 years, coal was a big part of that. I don't see an economic driver that's going to bring that back."

Tyree estimates that since the industry's peak in 1990, Alabama has lost 21,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in the coal sector throughout the entire supply chain. Tyree used Energy Information Administration data to develop that estimate.

"Coal is an important part of our historical economic base," Tyree said. "This region, like others in the Appalachian region, was disproportionately affected by the downturn in the industry."

The plan will focus on how to use existing research and development assets in the energy and agricultural sectors to encourage small business growth.

The Shoals Entrepreneurial Center in Florence was awarded a $997,150 grant for the "Shoals Shift" project. The funds will fund entrepreneurial programs to increase profitability of area companies and startups through more efficient use of broadband technologies.

ARC estimates the project will create or retain 110 jobs, start 20 new business, and leverage $10 million in private estimates.

Last year alone was a devastating blow to the Alabama coal industry, following a long history of decline in the coal industry. Walter Energy eliminated hundreds of jobs last year as it navigated bankruptcy, but it was far from alone. North American Coal Corporation closed its Jasper operation, and Cliffs Natural Resources laid off more than 200 workers.

Alabama is one of nine Appalachian states to receive grants totaling nearly $39 million that are expected to create more than 3,000 jobs. The other eight states to receive grants are Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Appalachian Regional Commission estimates that 23,000 Appalachian coal jobs have been lost between 2011 and 2015.
Henrietta Don Pepe on Motorcycle.jpg

Henrietta Boggs and Jose 'Don Pepe' Figueres. ("First Lady of the Revolution")

(Picasa)

The remarkable story of Alabama resident and former First Lady of Costa Rica, Henrietta Boggs Macguire, and her role in the 1948 Revolution will hit the big screen this weekend as part of the 2016 Sidewalk Film Festival.

"First Lady of the Revolution" tells of the 1948 Revolution in Costa Rica from the viewpoint of one of its most improbably figureheads, Henrietta Boggs. As a young woman, Boggs met and fell in love with Jose 'Don Pepe' Figueres and left her home in Birmingham behind to play an important role in the shaping of Costa Rica's democratic identity.

Through her marriage to Figueres, who would ultimately become president of Costa Rica, Boggs acted as First Lady and became an integral part of a decade of activism, politics and lasting reform.

"First Lady of the Revolution" Director Andrea Kalin said she felt compelled to document Boggs' story after meeting the 98-year-old during a party in 2009. Kalin said she, along with most of the guests, were captivated by Boggs immediately thanks to her unique look on life and mesmerizing storytelling skills.

"She is just this study of contrast," said Kalin. "She calls herself a revolutionary, and she calls herself a southern lady, but she kind of defies all categorization. I found her fascinating, and her story is so novelistic. You can't make this kind of stuff up."

Kalin said she was eager to create a film that offers a different vantage point of the 1948 revolution. While there are plenty of educational resources that can offer information about the revolution and Figueres, Kalin said there are some moments only Boggs was able to experience.

"It's like if Martha Washington wrote a tell-all," said Kalin. "She was present with this man, who is this legendary figure that was making these bold, visionary steps in this very tumultuous time. You have a southern belle who just, on a whim, dropped into this incredibly exciting sequence of events. Seeing it through her eyes, it offers these very rare insights into it all."

Kalin said one of her plans for the film is to use it as an educational tool to promote exchanges between students in Costa Rica and the South through Skype classrooms. After watching the documentary, students will be able to communicate about their cultural differences and will hopefully take away a message of empowerment.

"I love how she connects with generations today," said Kalin. "She, in her story, made a point to not be a lemming to circumstance. She chose to use her voice, use her capabilities and defy her restrictions. I think that's what one of the major themes of the film is, despite your circumstance, you can do more than you might think."

Given that Boggs was once a resident of Birmingham and studied at Birmingham Southern College, Kalin is hopeful that viewers at this weekend's Sidewalk Film Festival will be able to recognize Boggs as a local who made important contributions to history on a global scale.

"It's important to know about the women who have contributed to both their local communities and globally by making a difference and pursuing their passions. Because it's Sidewalk Film Festival and in Birmingham, I want people to know that there are other local heroines besides Harper Lee and Zelda Fitzgerald."

Beyond her local connections, Kalin said Boggs is an inspiration to all women thanks to her determination to remain strong and vibrant in a time when women were often penalized for speaking up.

"We don't often get a chance to meet someone that's nearly 100 years old and utterly captivating," said Kalin. "She lived through so many major transformative movements so she has this very profound, yet approachable, way of looking at life. How she found a way to make a difference, it's incredible."

"First Lady of the Revolution" will premiere at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday at First Church Birmingham. You can learn more about the film here.
An investigation into possible voter fraud in the city of Brighton mayoral election has been turned over to the Alabama Secretary of State's Office.

Bill Veitch, district attorney for the Bessemer Division of Jefferson County said there's evidence of an unspecified number of signatures being forged on absentee ballot applications, two absentee ballot requests from state inmates and about 80 applications asking for ballots to be mailed to mayoral candidate Brandon Dean's home address.

John Bennett, a spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office said he couldn't comment on a possible investigation.

"We are investigating everything that came into our office," he said. "We will share information once there is information to share."

Bennett confirmed on Wednesday that the Secretary of State's Office received a complaint late Tuesday night in regards to absentee voting in the Brighton municipal election. He said he couldn't disclose any additional on the complaint.

Dean won the Brighton mayor's race on Tuesday with 376 votes. Eddie E. Cooper came in second with 195 votes.

Veitch said there were 108 total absentee ballots cast in the race, and Dean received 99 of them.

Dean said he and his campaign staff never intended to do anything "unlawful or deliberately deceitful."

He said he learned after the 80 applications for absentee ballots were mailed to the city clerk that the ballots couldn't be mailed to his residence.

Dean said he and his volunteers went to those 80 voters after learning of the issue, and 56 of them voted in-person absentee prior to Tuesday's election.

Of the 99 absentee votes cast for him, Dean claims all but seven were cast in person.

In regards to one of the signatures allegedly forged, Dean said he personally went to this voter's house to have her fill out the absentee voter application. Dean claims another candidate also went to the same voter's house, and the voter's grandson signed another application for the woman.

Dean said the inmates who requested to vote absentee aren't convicted felons and are still eligible to vote.
Havana, Cuba  In a historic moment FARC rebels have agreed to a peace deal with the Colombian government, bringing to an end decades of conflict and setting in motion a process of reconciliation.

During the negotiations in Havana, Cuba, Al Jazeera spoke to Judith Simanca Herrera, a FARC commander also known as Victoria Sandino, who recalled how she joined the rebel movement as a 25-year-old.

It was 1990 and Sandino had just graduated with a degree in journalism from a university in Bogota, more than 800km from her small hometown of Tierralta, located in the department of Cordoba, a region that was mostly under the control of armed groups. Her parents had been displaced five times, forced to flee fighting between the groups.

It was a time of political turmoil in Colombia, during which efforts to rein in multiple armed groups  criminal organisations, left-wing rebels, and right-wing paramilitaries  and achieve a national reconciliation were marred by political corruption, assassinations and social injustice.





The war between the Colombian military and the armed groups had been raging since the early 1960s  the various parties fighting each other for influence.

I needed a turning point in my life, the now 51-year-old recalled, thinking back to the factors that shaped her decision to join the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). She wanted to make a difference in her country, to change what she viewed as an unjust system.

Established in 1964, the FARC is an armed group with a Marxist ideology that has vowed to defend the interests of Colombias peasants in the face of great social inequality.

READ MORE: War and peace  Colombias unreconciled narratives

FARC rebels have spent more than five decades organising military raids, kidnappings and bombings throughout Colombia to achieve their goal, financing these actions in part by being one of the worlds largest cocaine exporters. They have justified (PDF) these acts by arguing that there is no other way to fight for land reform and the rights of the poor.

I met a friend and told him that I had decided to immerse myself in the jungle  I needed to actually do something for this country, Sandino said.

A week later  with the blessing of her parents and the guidance of an acquaintance  she boarded a bus for the more-than-400km journey to join the rebels in the jungles of the southern department of Caqueta, where the FARC were operating at the time.

More than 20 years later, in April 2013, Sandino  as the commander of FARCs Block 21  would lay down her arms and travel to Cuba to sit at the negotiating table with the Colombian government.

Paving the path towards peace

Today, Sandino no longer wears the green army attire she donned for more than two decades.

For the past four years, commissions from both sides have been paving the way for a peace deal to end the five-decade-long bloodshed between the Colombian government and the guerrilla group, a meaningful move in a country where at least 220,000 people have been killed, 80 percent of whom were civilians. Some six million have been displaced and 40,000 have gone missing.

The peace talks reached a breakthrough on June 23, 2016, when Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos and the head of the FARC, Timoleon Jimenez, signed a historic ceasefire agreement. With the peace deal, the group has agreed that its estimated 7,000 foot soldiers and commanders will hand over their weapons, which will then be melted down to make three peace monuments.

The agreement will be finalised in a decisive referendum on October 2.

Colombians: the decision is in your hands. Never before have our citizens had within their reach the key to their future, declared President Santos, who was re-elected in 2014 on the promise of a peace deal.

Today I can say  from the bottom of my heart  that I have fulfilled the mandate that you gave me, Santos said, addressing the people of Colombia.

Colombia and FARC rebels reach historic peace deal

For Sandino, however, while the peace process has come a long way, there are still some loose ends.

You might think that its an irreversible process, but the reality is different, she said before the peace agreement was reached. Sitting in a hotel lobby adjacent to the convention centre in Havana where the peace negotiations were taking place, she explained: Implementing the agreements that have been reached in Cuba wont be an easy task.

According to Sandino, it will be possible only if the Colombian government makes the institutional changes that are needed in the country. But, she added, that is not going to be easy because they said that there wont be any [structural] changes.

I thought I wasnt going to be able to withstand it

Sandino recalled her first few days with the group.

It felt like a party to me, she said, smiling.

I enlisted in FARC with the conviction that with them I could help produce the changes that were needed in Colombia.

When she immersed herself in the jungle, she left behind a despondent society and became part of a family guided by strength, brotherhood and solidarity, she said.

Although she considered herself to be a strong person, she was unprepared for the gruelling physical demands of the group. I thought I wasnt going to be able to withstand it, she confessed, explaining how FARC members, both male and female, undertook long treks carrying heavy loads through mountainous terrain.





According to Sandino, some of their backpacks weighed as much as 75lb (34kg).

I couldnt carry that much weight, she said. While walking, I would slip or fall. People would make fun of me, and the guys would push me around.

The contents of the packs varied. Books, I always carried books. A camera and video cassettes. Womens stuff; make-up, creams and lotions. And groceries, like rice, panela, milk, pasta and whatever they would give me.

According to government estimates, in 2005 women and girls were thought to make up about 30 percent of the FARCs ranks. In the field, they are expected to carry out the same duties as their male counterparts.

The war doesnt care if youre male or female, Sandino said.

During clashes with the army, there were times we couldnt bathe for five, six, seven, 10 days, she explained. That can be troublesome for menstruating women because it might lead to skin irritations.

GALLERY: FARC rebels in the Colombian jungle

Getting to the top

The FARC has a well-defined structure and chain of command that is broken up into geographic fronts, with each soldier assigned political and military duties. Sandinos journalism skills helped her gain ground and position herself within the organisation.

From the beginning, my job was to produce FARCs propaganda, as we would call it within the organisation, she said. I filmed, edited videos and taught writing classes.

Sandino explained how she and her team produced images that showcased FARCs military strength.

She became a commander during the failed 1999-2002 peace talks, when she was part of the security detail for the now-deceased commanders Alfonso Cano and Raul Reyes.

The expression on Sandinos face changed when asked if the FARC had ever made mistakes.

Weve made mistakes, very painful ones, she admitted. What happened in Bojaya is an example.

On May 2, 2002, FARC rebels seized the town of Bojaya by launching gas cylinder bombs. Approximately 119 civilians were killed, and 98 were wounded by the explosions.

But weve had the integrity to own up to them, she added. Communities like this one need to be redressed by the Colombian government  because these mistakes are consequences of the war.

Sandinos loyalty to the organisation is absolute. Ive lived life to the fullest, and I dont regret anything that Ive done, she said. I feel strong, filled with much love, affection and wisdom.

But she is homesick and welcomes the relief that comes with the possibility of peace. I am dying to go back to Colombia. I havent been to my hometown in 29 years. I want to spend time with my parents, she said.

If the changes that the country needs actually take place, we will be able to work closely with our communities. Thats the peace that were seeking.

The International Womens Media Foundation supported Juanita Ceballos reporting as part of the Adelante Latin America Reporting Initiative .
More then 268,000 refugees have crossed the Mediterranean Sea this year with over 3,100 dying or missing, according to the latest numbers from the UN refugee agency.

The world currently faces its largest global displacement crisis since World War II. The European refugee crisis continues with rising numbers of people making the desperate journey to the European Union to seek asylum, both by sea and land.

The central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy is considered the most dangerous route with more than 23,000 people dying since 2000.

Sea-watch is a private initiative of several families from Germany who decided to help by sending a 30-metre ship, Sea Watch 2, to patrol the international waters off the Libyan coast and participate in the rescue of refugees who are trying to cross into Europe via the Mediterranean route.
Karkamis  On Wednesday Turkish troops and special forces backed by the Free Syria Army launched operation Euphrates Shield against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) to liberate the strategic Syrian city of Jarablus on the border with Turkey.

About 40 Turkish tanks and 2,000 Free Syrian Army fighters have entered into Jarablus around midday, shortly after Turkish air forces conducted raids targeting ISIL positions in Jarablus.

The Turkish army ordered the evacuation of Karkamis, a Turkish town on the border with Jarablus, a day before the operation began.

The battle for Jarablus lasted 14 hours before the FSA announced on its Twitter account that they captured the city and raised the Syrian Revolution flags over its buildings.

Euphrates Shield operation is considered to be the first Turkish ground intervention in Syria since the Syrian crisis started in 2011.
Police records and data gathered by Al Jazeera show close to 6,000 killed since new president took office on June 30.

*This story was first published on August 25. Last updated on December 13.

*Police records show 5,882 people were killed across the country since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office on June 30. Of that number 2,041 drug suspects were killed during police operations from July 1 to December 6, while another 3,841 were killed by unknown gunmen from July 1 to November 30, according to a local website. Among the latest fatalities was a seven-year-old child on the island of Cebu, who was hit by a stray bullet on December 3, while unknown gunmen were chasing a teenage boy accused of selling drugs.

*Based on other sources collected by Al Jazeera, there have been an estimated 5,946 deaths. The number does not include cases still to be reported by police or news outlets in the provinces after December 6.

*Al Jazeera has gathered the information of 1,485 people who were killed and the cause of their deaths.

Almost six months into the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, police records and data gathered by Al Jazeera show the death toll in his anti-drug war has almost reached 6,000.

Despite the mounting toll, Duterte was quoted as saying on Monday that fewer people were being killed, adding most of them have been finished off anyway, I am not kidding.

On Tuesday, he announced the release of $20m to fund the medicine for patients undergoing drug rehabilitation.

Recently, human rights groups and activists have denounced the Philippine leader for steamrolling the rule of law.

Top clerics of the Catholic Church have also stepped up criticism against Dutertes drug war policy, while expressing opposition to his plan to re-impose the death penalty on heinous crimes, including drug-related offences.

INFOGRAPHIC: Whos liable for the mounting death toll?

In August, Duterte hailed his anti-drug campaign saying of the three million suspected drug dependents in the country, 600,000 have turned themselves in to authorities.

While saying it does not condone extra-judicial killings, the office of the president said the country should seize the momentum in its campaign against illegal drugs.

Duterte took his oath as president on June 30 and has vowed to keep his campaign promise of solving the countrys illegal drug problem, saying, I dont care about human rights, believe me.

As of December 13, an Al Jazeera investigation has collected information from 1,485 people who were killed across the country.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sun Star Newspaper, Philippine Star, GMA News TV, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Abante Tonite
In many places, where the ranks of those in need are enormous, the ranks of those willing to help them also grow.

War, mass murder, fanaticism, bigotry, racism, hatred, environmental devastation: these are depressing times we are living through.

However, scratch beneath the surface of the headlines and beyond the escalating news cycle of violence and you can find human beauty even in the most wretched of places at the most wretched of times.

Part of the culture

This was driven home to me by what seems to be a startling statistical finding. Iraqis are the most likely people in the world to help a stranger, according to the World Giving Index (WGI).

Let that sink in for a moment. This is a country that was shocked and awed by the United States and Britain into almost total state collapse, endured years of civil war, is supposedly prey to sectarian and ethnic hatred and is at the mercy of rival militias and warlords  including the infamous and bloodthirsty Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

Against such a backdrop and in a world where the relative trickle of refugees into Europe is causing continent-wide panic, you would expect people to fear strangers, to suspect that a passer-by in apparent need is actually part of an ambush or a ploy, to keep what little they have for themselves and their nearest and dearest.

Despite this, four out of five Iraqis report having helped a stranger in the past month. How is this possible?

Conflict and war zones bring out both the worst in humans and the best. by

Part of the reason may be cultural. Arab societies possess elaborate and nuanced social codes demanding often excessive generosity and hospitality to visitors and strangers.

This is encapsulated in the ancient Arab proverb: A guest is greeted like a prince, held like a captive [to your generosity] and departs like a poet [to sing your praises].

But culture is only part of the story. Necessity, after all, is the mother of generosity. There is a universal human tendency to respond to need and the needy  and a sense of guilt when we do not.

In places such as Iraq, where the ranks of those in need are enormous, the ranks of those willing to help them also grow, though they can never keep up with the runaway demand.

Affection for others

Conflict and war zones bring out both the worst in humans and the best. This, to my mind, was symbolically embodied in a single recent incident in Iraq. An ISIL suicide bomber was on his way to take the lives of many innocent worshippers in Balad.

Najih Shaker al-Baldawi intercepted the suicide bomber and hugged him tight, not out of affection for him but out of love for the strangers flocking to a local shrine.

By preventing the mass murderer from entering the shrine and by taking much of the initial impact of the blast, al-Baldawi committed perhaps the supreme act of generosity: he gave his life to save dozens of others by reducing the carnage.

And despite Europes current  partly unjustified  reputation for selfish individualism, wartime Europe was replete with stories of similarly self-sacrificing generosity and solidarity, from the suicidal heroics of World War I trenches to the death-defying resistance to Nazi occupation in World War II and the sheltering of fugitive Jews destined for Adolf Hitlers death camps.

OPINION: Ramadan is the strongest antidote for Islamophobia

Religion also seems to play a role in generosity. When it comes to the frequency of giving money, Myanmar and Thailand top the World Giving Index. Experts attribute this to the Buddhist practice of Sangha Dana, which encourages people to make donations.

But one must not overestimate the role of religion or assume that secular societies are less giving than pious ones.

In the example above, Myanmar was assumed to be the most generous country because a higher percentage of its citizens had given money over the preceding month. But we know nothing of the amounts given and how they relate to income.

Different types of giving

So it is entirely possible that in another country where people give away large sums to charity but do so only once or twice a year, citizens would donate a larger proportion of their incomes yet appear less generous on the World Giving Index.

For example, research has repeatedly found Americans to be the most generous charitable donors in the world as a percentage of income, giving away around 2 percent of the gross domestic product.

However, this does not make the US the most generous country in the world. Like in developing countries with low taxes and huge income disparities, the visible poverty all around forces wealthy people of conscience to give.

OPINION: Refugee crisis  Where are the Gulf countries?

In more egalitarian societies, that need is less because of the disguised or invisible forms of collective generosity that do not appear in the index or statistics on charitable donations.

In high-taxation societies with a generous social safety net, giving is a legal duty, not an individual choice.

For instance, in the European Union, where such a social model remains prevalent, at least nine countries spend more than 30 percent of their gross domestic product on social protection.

In addition, although foreign aid is woefully inadequate and wealthier countries are generally reneging on their obligations, a number of countries donate significantly above the benchmark 0.7 percent of GDP target.

These include Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (PDF).

This shows how generosity comes in many shapes and sizes, from the individual to the collective.

Next time you feel despondent at the selfishness and destructiveness of the world, look around for the everyday examples of giving which may not capture headlines but do capture a spirit of generosity that may just save humanity from itself.

Khaled Diab is an award-winning Egyptian-Belgian journalist, writer and blogger. He is the author of Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land. He blogs at www.chronikler.com.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
UN body blames Arab coalition for majority of civilian deaths, but stops short of accusing either side of war crimes.

The United Nations has called for the creation of an independent international body to investigate a series of human violations in the ongoing war in Yemen.

Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the UNs human rights chief, said in a statement on Thursday that air strikes by the Arab coalition in Yemen were responsible for the majority of 3,799 civilian deaths.

Houthi rebels and allied forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who rule the capital, Sanaa, have carried out rocket and mortar attacks on residential areas and used landmines, the UN Human Rights body said in its report. These also constituted documented violations that should be addressed, it said.

The UN human rights chief said that Yemenis were suffering unbearably [without] any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity.





Hussein said that such a manifestly protracted unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community, and called for the creation of an international, independent investigative body to carry out comprehensive investigations.

But the UN stopped short of accusing either side of war crimes, saying that it was for a national or international court to decide.

We are investigating, monitoring the violations but we cannot decide that this is a crime or not, this is for a tribunal or for a specific body to decide. We cannot have this assertion that there is a crime or war crime, Mohammad Ali Alnsour, chief of the Middle East and North Africa section of the UN human rights office, told Reuters news agency.

Yemen descended into chaos after the 2012 removal of long-time president Saleh, whose forces are now fighting alongside Houthi rebels.

Security deteriorated further after the Houthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and pushed south, forcing the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee into exile.

In an attempt to return the exiled president to power, a coalition led by Arab countries began an air campaign in March of 2015.

Since then, more than 2.8 million Yemenis have been driven from their homes and at least 14 million people, more than half of the population, are in need of emergency food and life-saving assistance.

Last week, the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders, evacuated its staff from six hospitals in the north of the country after a coalition air strike hit a health facility operated by the group, killing 19 people.

The 16-month conflict has also taken a horrifying toll on the countrys youth, with UNICEF warning that an estimated 320,000 children face life-threatening malnutrition.
After nearly four years of negotiations, the two sides announce final agreement, which will be put to a referendum.

The Colombian government and the leftist FARC rebel group have reached a historic peace deal to end five decades of fighting that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

After nearly four years of arduous negotiations in Cuba, the two sides announced on Wednesday a final agreement under which the rebels will lay down weapons and reintegrate into civilian life.





The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord  on ending the conflict and building a stable and enduring peace, the two sides said in a joint statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez.

We dont want one more victim in Colombia.

The deal will now be put to a decisive referendum on October 2.

Colombians: the decision is in your hands. Never before have our citizens had within their reach the key to their future, Santos, who was re-elected in 2014 on the promise of a peace deal, said in a televised address.

Today I can say  from the bottom of my heart  that I have fulfilled the mandate that you gave me.

The final text of the deal will be sent to Colombias 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 after 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.

Six-point deal

The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations.

They cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and the implementation and monitoring of the accord.

Under the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The FARC will then become a political party. Its weapons will be melted down to build three peace monuments.

Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict.

An amnesty will be granted for less serious offences. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.

Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

Santos insisted there would be no impunity for such crimes.

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 Colombias capital, Bogota, several hundred people gathered around a giant screen in the rain to listen to the announcement, waving Colombian flags and banners.





Im so happy. It was time to end the war, Margarita Nieto, a 28-year-old accountant, told the Reuters news agency. I know what is coming will be hard, but together we can cope.

Others are more sceptical 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, Susana Antequeria, 30, told Reuters. But Ill put up with it for peace.

US President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on the deal, the White House said.

Sustainable peace

More than 220,000 people were killed in the conflict, tens of thousands disappeared and millions fled their homes because of the violence.

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 swaths of the country.

But the leftist rebel group were hit hard by Uribes government from 2002, when he launched a US-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.

Key to securing a sustainable peace is additional investment in Colombias poorer, rural areas, though deep infrastructure problems across the mountainous nation may stymie progress.
Proposed bill to prohibit homosexuals, unmarried couples and foreigners from hiring Indian women to have a baby.

Indias government has unveiled a draft law to ban commercial surrogacy, a move that would block homosexuals, single parents, live-in partners and foreign couples from hiring Indian women to have a baby.

Sushma Swaraj, Indias foreign minister, said on Wednesday the new law would prohibit prospective gay parents as homosexuality went against the countrys values.

While we need regulations to ensure that no women are forced into surrogacy, an outright ban isn't logical by Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Fertility and IVF consultant, Nurture Clinic

We do not recognise live-in and homosexual relationships  this is against our ethos, the Indian Express newspaper quoted Swaraj, a member of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, as saying.

WATCH: The baby makers

In 2013, Indias Supreme Court reversed a 2009 high court decision to decriminalise homosexuality. According to Article 377 of the Indian penal code, homosexuality is a crime, which can attract punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

Swaraj also said that foreigners, including non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin were barred from opting for surrogacy as divorces are very common in foreign countries.

Only infertile couples who have been married for at least five years could seek a surrogate, who must be a close relative.

There will be a complete ban on commercial surrogacy, Swaraj said.

Childless couples who are medically unfit to have children can take help from a close relative, in what is an altruistic surrogacy.

She said the ban would be introduced 10 months after the bill, which will now go to parliament for approval, to allow pregnant women already in arrangements with couples time to give birth.

Some 2,000 infertile couples hire the wombs of Indian women to carry their embryos through to birth every year, according to the government.

READ MORE: Trying to tame the Wild West of surrogacy in India

Divided opinions surfaced on Indian social media, with tweets criticising as well as backing the proposed bill.

Rubbishing of paternity leave & new surrogacy law show this is our most socially conservative govt yet, re-establishing old gender equations

Rubbishing of paternity leave & new surrogacy law show this is our most socially conservative govt yet, re-establishing old gender equations  Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) August 25, 2016

Swaraj was also critical of couples, who already have a son and a daughter of their own, for opting for surrogacy. She blamed celebrity culture, in a jibe at Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who have both had children through the procedure.

We have several examples of big celebrities who have their own children, two children  a boy and a girl  still they have gone for a surrogate child, the minister said.

#Surrogacy bill introduced by Cabinet. Clinics will have to be registered. Milestone moment for India? https://t.co/MVqjA9DXqx #SushmaSwaraj  DailyO (@DailyO_) August 24, 2016

The commercial surrogacy industry criticised the Indian governments move as over the top, saying couples desperate to have children would be left with few options.

While we need regulations to ensure that no women are forced into surrogacy, an outright ban isnt logical, Archana Dhawan Bajaj, fertility and IVF consultant at New Delhi-based Nurture Clinic, told the AFP news agency.

Surrogacy mothers last year held protests against the governments plans, saying they would be denied an income, usually about $5,000 per pregnancy.
Victory over group in Qayyarah seen as key step towards reclaiming Mosul, ISILs de facto capital in the country.

Iraqi forces, backed by coalition air strikes and tribal fighters, have pushed the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant from Qayyarah, a northern town considered strategic for any future offensive against the groups last stronghold of Mosul.

We control all parts of the town and managed, in very limited time, to root out Daesh [ISIL], Lieutenant General Riyadh Jalal Tawfik, who commands Iraqs ground forces, told reporters in Qayyarah on Thursday.

The commander said engineering units were now clearing the town, which lies about 60 kilometres south of Mosul, of unexploded ordnance and booby traps.

Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi, the commander of the anti-terrorism agency, earlier said that Iraqi security forces killed about 250 fighters including leaders of different nationalities in the conflict over Qayyarah.

Qayyarah tribes also played a major role in liberating the town through cooperating with security forces and offering them intelligence about Daesh, he said.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a statement hailing what he said was a key step towards reclaiming Mosul, ISILs de facto Iraq capital and the countrys second city.

Our heroic forces achieved a big victory, an important step towards the liberation of Mosul, Abadi said.

READ MORE: Is ISIL on the back foot in Iraq?

I present my congratulations to the Iraqi people for the liberation of the strategic town of Qayyarah and neighbouring areas, he said.

The operation to retake Qayyarah was launched on Tuesday and led by Iraqs elite counterterrorism service.

Iraqi forces had already recaptured a nearby airfield and Qayyarah is expected to become one of the main launchpads for an assault on Mosul in the coming weeks or months.

Some analysts say the armed campaign against ISIL is entering its final phases in Iraq and Syria.
Italian rescuers worked for the second day in a row to pull survivors from the rubble as death toll crosses 250.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake that hit and flattened central Italian towns climbed to at least 267 as rescuers worked for a second day to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.

Italy has declared a state of emergency after Wednesdays pre-dawn earthquake razed homes and buckled roads in a cluster of mountain communities 140km east of Italys capital, Rome.

It was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, each more than 200km from the epicentre.

The US Geological Survey said that it was a 6.2 magnitude quake that hit near the town of Norcia, in the region of Umbria.

An army of emergency workers using sniffer dogs clambered over piles of debris trying to find anyone still buried beneath, while cranes removed huge slabs of fallen masonry and trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes.

On Thursday afternoon, a violent aftershock measuring magnitude 4.3 sent rescuers fleeing from debris and stones that fell from the severely damaged bell tower of the 15th century church of St. Augustine in Amatrice.

Many of those killed or injured were holidaymakers in the four worst-hit towns  Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli  where seasonal visitors swell populations by up to tenfold the summer.

Aerial video taken by drones showed swathes of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italys most beautiful historic towns, completely flattened. The town, known across Italy and beyond for a local pasta dish, had been filling up for the 50th edition of a popular food festival this weekend.

The mayor said the bodies of 15-20 tourists were believed to be under the rubble of the towns Hotel Roma, which he said had about 32 guests when it collapsed on Wednesday morning.

One hotel that collapsed in Amatrice probably had about 70 guests, and only seven bodies had so far been recovered, said the mayor of the town that was one of the worst hit by the earthquake.

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.

There is a massive rescue operation going on in the town of Amatrice. Thousands of workers from the region participate in the efforts. The town is full of rubble, Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler said, reporting from the quake-hit town.

About 365 people injured in Wednesdays quake were hospitalised, the Civil Protection department said, adding that about 5,000 people, including police, firefighters, army troops and volunteers, were involved in post-quake operations.

Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness overnight saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her alive from the rubble where she had lain for about 15 hours.

Many other children were not so lucky. A family of four, including two boys aged eight months and nine years, were buried when a church bell tower toppled into their house in nearby Accumoli. Local magistrates opened an investigation into whether there had been any negligence over the recently restored tower.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzis cabinet was meeting on Thursday to decide emergency measures to help the affected communities.

Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction, he told reporters late on Wednesday.

The death toll appeared likely to rival or even surpass that from the last major earthquake to strike Italy, which killed more than 300 people in the central city of LAquila in 2009.

WATCH: Return to LAquila  Broken Promises

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 [of the earthquake] is quite shallow, about four kilometres. Usually the typical depth is in the order of 10 kilometres.

Saccarotti said it was difficult to predict whether there would be another earthquake or more aftershocks.

The last major earthquake to hit Italy struck the central city of LAquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people.
Students vow to remain resilient following the attack on American University of Afghanistan which left at least 12 dead.

The night before the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul came under attack, Abdullah Latifi, an undergraduate student of business administration, had a sudden urge to skip his chemistry class and stay at home, with his family.

But attending the class was important, so he shrugged off the feeling and left to go to school.

Soon after, however, his fears turned into reality when armed gunmen attacked the elite university packed with students and professors.

When fighters entered the university building, I decided to jump off the window in panic, but when I looked out of the window, it was too high, Latifi said, his voice shaking as he recalled Wednesday nights events.

So I lied down on the floor, playing dead. I could feel shattered glasses piercing into my back and I was bleeding. After 10 hours of battle between the fighters and the armed forces, I came out alive as one of the last survivors of the attack, he told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Civilians caught in crossfire of war against Taliban

Latifi recalls an armed gunman speaking over the phone, reporting to someone on the other side saying, we have killed hundreds of people here, in Pashto, one of the two main languages of Afghanistan.

They shot one of my friends in the head, who was lying right beside me, playing dead, the 24-year-old said, breaking in tears.

The sound of that bullet pierced my heart.

At least 12 people were killed in the university attack late on Wednesday. The assault ended in the early hours of Thursday when two gunmen were shot dead by the security forces and that is when Latifi was rescued.

The attack began with a large explosion that officials said was a car bomb followed by gunfire. Fighters battled into the complex where many of the students attend part-time classes.

Another student, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that the attackers were Afghan Taliban, claiming that he had heard them speaking in Kandahari Pashto.

No group, however, has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Al Jazeera that seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed in the assault.

We have blocked the area off to investigate the brutal attack on students and professors, Rahimi said.

READ MORE: A secret school for Afghans in Iran

We cannot give any information at the moment until our investigation is completed.

Local police, however, said that NATO military advisers were helping Afghan forces in their operation to end the siege.

Most of the 40 people wounded were in a critical condition, hospital sources told Al Jazeera.

Unlucky nation

Naqib Ahmad Khpulwak, an assistant professor of law at the university, who had studied at the Stanford Law School and the Old Dominion University in the United States, was one of those killed.

My brother was highly educated and always wanted to educate the people of his country. He returned back to Afghanistan for this purpose, Naqibs brother, Masoud Ahmad, told Al Jazeera.

Losing people like Naqib is a big loss to this country, to us. We are the most unlucky nation alive, Masoud said on route to his hometown of Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan, where he was taking his brothers body for the funeral.

Im broken. My friend, fellow Fulbrighter & #AUAF lecturer Naqeb Khpalwak killed. Didnt answer my messages & calls. pic.twitter.com/Cc1T4Vr34M

I'm broken. My friend, fellow Fulbrighter & #AUAF lecturer Naqeb Khpalwak killed. Didn't answer my messages & calls. pic.twitter.com/Cc1T4Vr34M  Bashir Ahmad Gwakh (@bashirgwakh) August 25, 2016

Among the victims was also the Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, Massoud Hossaini, who was said to be wounded and managed to escape with some students.

Civilians under threat

Civilians are constantly being targeted in Afghanistans ongoing battles as the Taliban seek to gain territory.

Despite air support from US and Afghan warplanes, government troops are struggling against the Taliban, with senior government officials saying the fighters are becoming better trained and better equipped.

Civilian casualties hit a record high in the first half of 2016, according to the UN, with a particular surge in the number of children killed or wounded.

The security problems facing Afghanistan are also being compounded by a growing political crisis within the Kabul government. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistans chief executive, recently criticised President Ashraf Ghani for failing to work collaboratively, saying he was undeserving to serve the government.

READ MORE: American, Australian kidnapped in Afghanistans Kabul

Wednesdays attack on the university came after two of its professors  an American and Australian  were kidnapped in Kabul earlier this month.

Despite his ordeal, Latifi remained defiant, saying the attack had made him even more determined to continue his studies.

When I returned home with my clothes stained in blood, my mother and father started crying and kissing me saying they thought I was dead, he said.

Being the last survivor has made me strong, there is hope indeed, Latifi added.

I will continue my education for this country.

Shereena Qazi is on Twitter, Follow her on @shereenaqazi
Located just four light years away from the Earth, Proxima b could be within the so-called habitable zone.

Scientists have discovered an Earth-sized planet orbiting the star nearest to the Sun, potentially a major step in the quest to find out if life exists elsewhere in the universe.

The planet, known as Proxima b, is located just four light years away from the Earth, around the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, a team of European scientists led by British researchers wrote in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

The scientists, who collected data over 16 years, discovered the planet with data from the European Southern Observatory telescope in Chile by monitoring shifts in the light from the star to determine presence of the planet.

READ MORE: Earth 2.0  NASA finds planet that matches our own

Proxima b has a mass around 1.3 times that of Earth, but orbits much closer to its star, circling it every 11 days.

Given that the star itself is weaker than the Sun, Proxima b could be within the so-called habitable zone, where it is neither too hot nor too cold to support life and where temperatures could allow the presence of liquid water, the researchers said.

Lead author Guillem Anglada-Escude, an astronomer at Queen Mary University of London, described the finding as the experience of a lifetime.

It is not unlikely that this planet is quite similar to Earth. The spectacular finding about this, of course, is that this system is so close to our Earth and solar system, said Angsgar Reiners, a German scientist who is among the researchs co-authors.

However, it is not clear if the planet has an atmosphere or if it contains water, but the existence is plausible, he added.
US, UN and Gulf Arab states agree to offer Houthi rebels participation in unity government to end 18-month conflict.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has announced a new initiative to restart Yemen peace talks, offering Houthi rebels participation in the countrys unity government in exchange for a transfer of their heavy weapons to a third party.

Kerry said on Thursday that the fair and sensible approach to end the 18-month conflict was agreed in talks with Gulf Arab states and the United Nations in Saudi Arabia.

The bloodshed  has gone on for too long, he said, speaking at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the Saudi city of Jeddah. It has to stop  There is no military solution.

Kerry said that the restoration of stability to Yemen was vital in order to ease the suffering of the civilians and to prevent the armed groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group from taking further advantage of the power vacuum.

It is essential for Yemen, for countries in the region and for the world community in general to agree on a plan to end the fighting and achieve a lasting peace, he said.

Kerry said UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed would immediately begin series of consultations with Yemens warring sides to push for the renewed peace talks.

The final agreement  would include in the first phase a swift formation of a new national unity government, the withdrawal of forces from [the capital] Sanaa and other areas and the transfer of all heavy weapons including ballistic missiles, from the Houthis and forces aligned to them to a third party, Kerry said.

The conflict has killed at least 6,500 people, half of them civilians.

A Saudi-led Arab military coalition started air strikes against Houthis in support of the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in March 2015.

Yemen descended into chaos after the 2012 removal of long-time President Ali Abdullah Saleh, whose forces are now fighting alongside Houthi rebels.

Security deteriorated further after the Houthis swept into Sanaa in September 2014 and pushed south, forcing Hadis government of to flee into exile.

The government returned to Yemen after coalition air strikes started, turning Aden city into a makeshift capital.
Gunmen detonate a car bomb and storm a beach restaurant in the capital Mogadishu, killing at least 10 people.

At least 10 people have been killed after al-Shabab fighters attacked a beach restaurant in the capital Mogadishu with a car bomb before entering into a gunfight with security forces, according to police and the group.

A car bomb exploded at Banadir beach restaurant at Lido beach and there is exchange of gunfire. We have no other details so far, Major Ahmed Ibrahim, a police officer, told Reuters news agency on Thursday.

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group claimed responsibility for the attack.

We attacked the Banadir beach restaurant and now our fighters are fighting inside it, Abdiasis Abu Musab, its military operation spokesman, told Reuters.

The Associated Press news agency reported that a car bomber had prematurely detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the new Turkish embassy compound in the capital, according to a Somali police officer.

Al-Shabab has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Somalia to try to topple the Western-backed government.

In January, its fighters stormed another restaurant on Lido beach, killing 17 people.

On Thursday, Reuters witnesses near the scene of the beach attack said the restaurant had been sealed off by security officers and that the attackers had lobbed grenades at the officers and fired at them.

They said they had also seen two bodies lying on the ground.





Internal Security Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed said on his Twitter account: Warning: People near the blast scene should stay in the hotels and in their houses in which they are inside. Cars should not enter Lido beach area.

Al-Shabab was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but has remained a potent threat in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government.

In a separate incident in southern Somalia, a roadside bomb believed to have been planted by al-Shabab fighters wounded at three people in Baardheere town in Gedo region, Colonel Hussein Nur, a police officer in the town, told Reuters by phone.

Al-Shabab was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but has remained a potent threat in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government.

On Sunday, more than 20 people were killed when its suicide bombers detonated two car bombs at a local government headquarters in Somalias semi-autonomous Puntland region.
Popular initiatives aim to help Sudanese affected by the floods to rebuild their lives.

Khartoum  For Sumaiya Haroun, 43, it was business as usual on Saturday. Her two sons were at school, her older daughter and ailing husband at home, while Haroun embarked on her daily trip to Bahris central market where she sells food.

When she returned home that day, her house, located in the middle of farms by the riverbank and made mostly with mud and bricks, had been reduced to a pile of crumbled walls. The scene was devastating.

I cried when I saw the cupboard I bought with my savings broken into pieces and our clothes strewn out of it, said Haroun, her tearful eyes fixed on the ruins. Our belongings, all of them, are now just a pile of garbage. We have to start from scratch, she told Al Jazeera as she sat in a makeshift tent.

Thousands of Sudanese families, like Haroun, were left homeless. According to government figures, there are more than 80.000 people affected by the flooding so far.

Two months of torrential rain have killed more than 110 people in Sudan  and more rain is forecast. More than 160,000 people have been affected and 14,000 houses destroyed. Many, like Haroun, have hardly the means to rebuild their lives.

WATCH: Death as villages wash away in Sudan floods

Ali Hamdoun, a father of two girls, aged three and five, says his house, located in southern Khartoum district by the White Nile river, had been flooded but was still standing.

Our belongings, all of them, are now just a pile of garbage. We have to start from scratch. by Sumaiya Haroun, food seller

There was no thing I feared more than losing my daughters if the house collapsed during their sleep or while I was at work, he said, adding that he sent his family to his parents house two weeks ago.

A few days back, I toured the house with water up to my knees. I could repair some of the damage, I told myself, because we simply cannot afford to move to a new house.

Residents in Kassala, Sennar, South Kordofan, West Kordofan and North Darfur were most affected by the floods.

A report, recently issued by Sudans Humanitarian Aid Commission, an agency under the Ministry of Social Welfare, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, describes floods as being common in Sudans rainy seasons.

The predominant types of floods are localised floods caused by exceptionally heavy rains, run-off (flash floods), widespread floods caused by overflow of the Nile, its tributaries, Gash River and other rivers.

According to the Voluntary and Humanitarian Work Act issued in 2006, the government has the primary responsibility for assessment and response. It should lead efforts in providing the numbers of those affected by floods, coordinating response, and directing NGOs to where help is most needed.

In June, the government reactivated the Flood Task Force at federal and state levels. The task force includes representatives from Sudans Humanitarian Aid Commission, the Civil Defence Authority, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and UN agencies.

We conduct response and protection effort through building fortifications along the river Nile where there are residential areas, said Hashim Hussein Abd Al Majid, director of the Civil Defence Authority, an agency under the Ministry of Interior. We also coordinate the effort of local popular volunteers, he added.

Several popular initiatives have mobilised volunteers to distribute aid to affected areas in a phenomenon known as Nafeer.

The group of several hundred volunteers that calls itself Nafeer joined the relief efforts shortly after the floods occurred.

Nafeer is a congregation of volunteers that provides real-time solutions and responses to needs arising from urgent crises, said Ahmed Ghandour, of Nafeers media committee. It is an initiative from the people to the people, a grassroots tool to provide help during times of great need, Ghandour told Al Jazeera.

Nafeer acts as an intermediary between those who can provide support and those in need, added Ghandour.

According to organisers, the idea behind this initiative comes from the commonly held concept of social solidarity where people mobilise themselves  without a central command  to secure help for those who need it most. The groups Facebook page has more than 65.000 followers and its Twitter account, @NafeerCampaign, includes updated information on the numbers of affected persons and their needs.





We have teams that conduct field surveys, fact-check data, and then send an estimate of needs to Nafeers storage committee. Shortages are reported to the campaigns financial committee, Ghandour added.

Another campaign member explained that Nafeer has volunteers with quality experience from previous work at NGOs and organisations; those include doctors, engineers, etc.

Abdel Rahman Khurafiya, a leading member of the Nafeer campaign, explained that among the most-needed materials are tarpaulins, shelter items, food, medications for diseases related to rain and flooding, such as malaria and diarrhoea, as well as vaccines and serums against scorpion and snake bites, and, most importantly, clean drinking water.

Nafeer also coordinates with other bodies such as the Marine Scouts who dispatch search-and-rescue boats to affected areas. They also provide support for local organisations, particularly in Kasala state, reported to be in most urgent need.

Currently, Nafeer has a caravan dispatched to the villages of Wad Alzaki and Ed Aldukhun, in White Nile State, carrying mosquito nets, tarpaulins and food for 253 families, or about 1,518 people. We are prepared to go the whole nine yards, and this caravan is an all-out effort test run to gauge what we can do, said Ghandour.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, The National Federation of Sudanese Youth and local neighbourhood societies, such as Shambat Emergency. are in the field conducting similar efforts.

Aid groups say they remain vigilant since more rain is forecast.

Meanwhile, as Haroun continues to pick the little that remains from her destroyed home, she confirms that her family were offered a tarpaulin, flour, cooking oil, lentils, rice and sugar by the Sudanese Red Crescent. I still have to pay my husbands medical bills, I have to make sure my children are fed and go to school. My head almost exploded as I was thinking of what to do and where to begin, she said.

But we have to wait and see when the water will pull back to start thinking about what to do next.
Thousands of residents and rebels to exit Daraya in deal that cedes control of besieged suburb to government forces.

Hundreds of rebel fighters and thousands of civilians are to evacuate the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya after rebels and the Syrian army agreed to a deal, a rebel leader and a state news agency have said.

Thursdays development ended one of the longest standoffs in the Syrias five-year war.

Seven hundred armed men with their personal weapons will leave Daraya to head to the [rebel-controlled] city of Idlib, while thousands of men and women with their families will be taken to reception centres, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

One rebel official in the suburb told AFP news agency that the civilians would be transferred to regions around Damascus under government control.

The rebels would have to surrender other armaments to the army.

A military source told AFP that the army would enter Daraya after the evacuation of the rebel-held town.

We reached agreement on the evacuation of all of the people of Daraya, civilians and fighters, said Captain Abu Jamal, head of Liwa Shuhada al-Islam, the largest of two main rebel groups inside Daraya.

The evacuation, which is similar to deals concluded in several besieged areas throughout the course of the conflict, could start as early as Friday and last for two or three days, he said.

READ MORE: Syrian Civil War Map

Its difficult to describe my feelings, we kept holding on for four years to the last breath. The city was destroyed over our heads and we are now not leaving a city but a pile of rubble, said Hamam al Sukri, a resident who had been living in a basement with his six-member family, told Reuters news agency.

In 2012, several hundred people were killed in Daraya, including civilians, many execution style, after security forces stormed the suburb after locals took up arms. Both the army and rebels blamed the other.

Rebels and local council sources said around 5,000 people would be evacuated from the suburb that, before the war, was home to a quarter of a million people.





This would include around 1,000 fighters who would be evacuated with their light weapons to rebel-held areas in northern Syria. The army would reassert its control over the city and seize heavy weapons, state media said.

Abu Jamal said the deal was reached after a ceasefire on Wednesday was followed by talks that led to the authorities agreeing to rebel terms for an evacuation.

We got the freedom of getting civilians to leave freely to liberated areas or wherever they want. Otherwise it would have been a final surrender with the regime taking us as prisoners of war and sending civilians to an unknown fate, Abu Jamal, the rebel commander, said.

The Syrian army has surrounded rebels and civilians and blocked food deliveries in Daraya since 2012, regularly bombing the area only 7km from President Bashar al-Assads seat of power.

Authorities agreed in June of this year to allow food deliveries into the suburb under a ceasefire deal, but only one shipment has been made since then.

In the past few weeks the army has escalated its bombardment of the rebel-held bastion, intensifying the use of barrel and incendiary bombs. Last week Darayas only remaining hospital was hit, rebels and aid workers said.
Defence Minister said Iranian vessels accused of harassing a US warship were doing their job.

Tehran has warned Washington against deploying warships in Iranian territorial waters in the Gulf, after a close encounter earlier in the week between Iranian and US naval ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan said on Thursday that every US ship that entered Iranian waters would first be warned, but if the intrusion was considered an invasion, there would be a confrontation.

If an American ship enters Irans maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them, he said in a statement reported by the Iranian Students News Agency.

The warning follows an incident on Wednesday when a US warship and Iranian ships faced off near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.

US Navy spokesman Bill Urban said on Thursday that a US Navy patrol boat in the Persian Gulf fired three warning shots after an Iranian vessel approached head on, coming within 200 metres of the US ship.

During Wednesdays incident, the USS Squall resorted to firing three warning shots from their 50-caliber gun, which caused the Iranian vessel to turn away, he said.

Earlier, a US defence official said that four vessels from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a high-speed intercept of the warship in the Strait of Hormuz.

The official said two of the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze in an incident that was unsafe and unprofessional, underlining the tensions that remain more than a year after Washington and other Western powers reached a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and lifted sanctions.

While the US claims its ship was in international waters, Iran says the vessel was in Iranian waters and therefore violated the countrys sovereignty.

A similar incident in January resulted in the arrest of 10 US marines, who were quickly freed after urgent diplomatic negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart John Kerry.

In May, a senior Iranian military commander said that Iran would close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a passageway through which a third of the worlds oil is transported, unless the US and its allies stop threatening it.

If the Americans and their regional allies want to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and threaten us, we will not allow any entry, state media quoted Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, as saying on Wednesday.

Without elaborating on what he and other leaders would consider a threat, Salami said that Americans should learn from recent historical truths, most likely referring to the January capture of US sailors who entered Iranian waters in January.

Washington and Tehran have not had diplomatic ties for more than 35 years, but Kerry and Zarif have been in regular contact since 2013 when the international community started hammering out a nuclear deal

with Iran.
Video captures the moment a coffee shop is destroyed by severe storms in the city of Kokomo.

The moment a Starbucks cafe in the US state of Indiana was destroyed by a tornado has been captured on camera.

The video, shot on Wednesday on a mobile phone through the window of a bar across the street, shows the entire front wall and facade of the building in the city of Kokomo collapsing.

As well as destroying the coffee shop, the tornado also caused substantial damage to the nearby Markland shopping centre  only two of many buildings in the area to be hit by the storms.

A total of 42 tornadoes were reported in the Midwestern states of Indiana and Ohio.

They caused significant damage, including tossing vehicles into the air, tearing down power lines and ripping roofs off buildings, and left more than 33,000 people without power.

The severity of the tornado in Kokomo prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency.

This is not the first time that the city has been hit by a powerful tornado  in November 2013, two twisters caused severe damage.

But similarly to 2013, the latest tornadoes seem to have avoided causing any serious injuries.
Syrian rebels backed by Ankara continue to make gains against ISIL, while Kurds follow Washingtons demands to retreat.

Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and demanded Kurdish fighters retreat within a week as it seeks to drive out the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from the border region in its first major incursion into the war-torn county.

Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters, along with Turkish special forces and tanks, and supported by Turkish and US air power, took over the ISIL-controlled town of Jarablus on Wednesday, pushing the group back to its last stronghold in northeastern Syria  al-Bab.

Syrian rebel and Turkish forces pressed on past Jarablus on Thursday in attempt to clear the border area of any ISIL presence.

The Free Syrian Army now is in total control of Jarablus and the area surrounding it, and they say that they are now going to try to move forward to recapture the territory that is now under ISIL control  particularly in al-Bab, said Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Karkamis, just across the border from Jarablus.

But Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made it clear that the aim of Operation Euphrates Shield is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG from seizing more territory along the border and filling the void left by ISIL, also known as ISIS, as it is about eliminating the hardline group itself.

Turkey demanded that the YPG retreat to the east side of the Euphrates within a week. The Kurdish fighters had moved west of the river earlier this month as part of a US-backed operation, now completed, to capture the city of Manbij from ISIL.

But just hours after the YPG said it had withdrawn east of the Euphrates, Turkish state media reported that Turkish artillery had shelled YPG fighters south of Jarablus, claiming they had advanced westward.





Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting Turkish forces for the past three decades.

It has been alarmed by the YPGs gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of its own Kurdish rebels.

Turkeys stance has put it at odds with Washington, which sees the YPG as its strongest ground force in the war against ISIL. It is one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria and regarded as the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance formed last October to fight ISIL.

Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said preventing the Kurdish PYD party  the political arm of the YPG  from uniting Kurdish cantons east of Jarablus with those further west was a priority.

Islamic State should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must. But its not enough for us  The PYD and the YPG militia should not replace Islamic State there, Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV.

The PYDs biggest dream is to unify the western and eastern cantons. We cannot let this happen, he said.

The Euphrates River

US Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu by phone on Thursday that YPG fighters were retreating to the east side of the Euphrates, as Turkey has demanded, foreign ministry sources in Ankara said.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against ISIL also said that the SDF had withdrawn across the Euphrates, but had done so to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa, ISILs stronghold in northern Syria.

Isik said the retreat was not yet complete and that Washington had given assurances that this would happen in the next week.





We are closely following this  If the PYD does not retreat to east of the Euphrates, we have the right to do everything about it, he said.

Speaking during a visit on Wednesday to Turkey, US Vice President Joe Biden also tried to soothe Turkish concerns about Kurdish territorial gains in Syria.

He said there should be no separate Kurdish entity in northern Syria and the country should remain united.

Kurdish fighters would not receive US support if they failed to pull back east of the Euphrates as promised, he said.

The Turkish-backed offensive comes four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to ISIL killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.

Rebels advance

A senior Turkish official said there were now more than 20 Turkish tanks inside Syria and that additional tanks and construction machinery would be sent in as required. A Reuters news agency witness saw at least nine tanks enter on Thursday, and 10 more were waiting outside a military outpost on the Turkish side.

We need construction machinery to open up roads  and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armoured personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed, the official said.

Erdogan said on Wednesday that ISIL had been driven out of Jarablus and that it was now controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels.

OPINION: Joe Bidens visit to Turkey and solving pressing issues

The myth that the YPG is the only effective force fighting Islamic State has collapsed, Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter, reflecting Turkish frustration at how closely Washington has been working with the Kurdish fighters.

Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, said on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a quagmire in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the YPG, said the intervention was a blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs.

After seizing Jarablus, the Turkish-backed rebels have advanced up to 10 km south of the border town, rebel sources and a group monitoring the war said.
Its one of Africas most bitter, if often forgotten, conflicts.

In 2011, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan following a 2005 peace deal that ended Africas longest-running civil war.

After a referendum, in which an overwhelming majority of South Sudanese voted to secede, Africas newest country came into being, the first since Eritrea split from Ethiopia in 1993.

But two Sudanese provinces, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the people of which predominantly wanted to become citizens of the new nation, were excluded from the deal.

The SPLM-N, the northern affiliate of Sudans Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) in South Sudan, consequently took up arms against the Sudanese government of President Omar al-Bashir, and fighting has continued on and off ever since.

Five years ago, as the war got under way, People and Power sent reporter Callum Macrae to investigate allegations of war crimes committed by the Bashir regime in the region. Last month he went back.

FILMMAKERS VIEW

By Callum Macrae

To the northeast of rebel-held territory in the Nuba mountains of South Kordofan, in Sudan, there stands a small symmetrical hill, called Al Azarak. It is surrounded in the rainy season by lush green land which used to provide a good living for the small farmers who lived here. But no longer.

Last April it was seized by the forces of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a multi-pronged offensive designed to overwhelm the forces of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army North (SPLA-N) in this central area of the Nuba mountains.

The offensive failed, and Bashirs forces were driven back on most fronts. Their only significant gain was this small hill, which is today the focal point of a tense military standoff. It now seems inevitable that when the fighting season resumes with the end of the rains in a couple of months, the trigger for renewed conflict will be the fight for this rather beautiful little hill.

This forgotten war began five years ago, just a couple of weeks before the partition of Sudan and the creation of the worlds newest state of South Sudan. The Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile had fought with the south in Sudans long and bitter civil war, but were left in the north after partition.

READ MORE: A journey deep into Sudans foresaken Blue Nile

The people of these two areas had been promised a public consultation on their future. But instead, Sudan launched a pre-emptive war against them. The SPLA-N fought back. Today they, and their political movement, the SPLM-N, insist that they have no desire to be part of the newly independent South Sudan, run by their bitterly feuding former comrades.

Instead, they say they want the overthrow of Bashir, and the creation of a new, democratic Sudan, in which the decades of discrimination against the Nuban people is ended.

I visited the rebel-held areas in 2011 just as this new war began. In those days, although Khartoum had banned anyone from entering the territory, it was still possible to fly in and land on an improvised runway cut from the bush. Today Bashirs bombs have made that impossible. Instead you must travel illegally, overland, from South Sudan  and in the rainy season that can only be done on quad bikes, a journey that can take the best part of two days.

A war against civilians

This is a cruel war, being fought on two fronts by the Sudanese government. The first is their conventional war with the SPLM Norths army, the SPLA-N. That is a war no one is likely to win. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are far larger and far better equipped than the SPLA. They are also backed by a large number of mercenaries and militias. But the SPLA know the area, are much fleeter of foot and, as they will often insist, they are volunteers fighting for their homeland. After five years of bitter fighting neither side has made significant gains.

But the governments second front is far less conventional. It is a war against civilians. A war fought using bombs dropped randomly on civilian targets, effectively rolled out of the back of old Russian Antonov transport planes.

While we were there we passed schools, hospitals and farmsteads destroyed by government bombing. In Kauda, the rebels administrative capital, the government hospital has been abandoned after three huge parachute bombs failed to explode. Today they still sit there, embedded in the ground, a permanent, lethal threat. And there is no one who can disarm them because all NGOs, including de-mining companies, are banned by Khartoum.

Further north, on the way to the frontline at Al Azarak, we met Fatana Kodi and Abduraman Alom. Two months ago their four young children were playing with two friends in their small farmstead when two government jets flew overhead and shelled their home. All six children died instantly. There was no conceivable military target in the area. As we arrived we could hear the drone of an Antonov plane above  a constant threat.

But there is another tactic that Khartoum is accused of employing, and perhaps the most sinister of all. Locals say the government is deliberately preventing humanitarian access to the area, using the denial of food and aid as a weapon of war.

They also accuse the government of targeting agricultural land  as at the hill of Al Azarak  in an attempt to starve out the population. Locals warn of a growing incidence of malnutrition and epidemics caused by the lack of medical facilities and vaccination programmes.

The Sudanese government rejects these claims completely. A spokesman accused the SPLM-N of terrorising the population. He described them as a branch of the SPLM that misrules South Sudan, and claimed that arms and salaries are transferred through the porous border.

Last month, Khartoum announced a unilateral ceasefire, describing it as a chance for the SPLA-N to join the peace process and surrender their arms. It played well internationally but was dismissed as meaningless by people in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile who say fighting is largely suspended during these months anyway because the rainy season renders the governments heavy artillery immobile.

Last week the African Union-mediated peace talks stalled after Khartoum rejected the SPLMs calls on Khartoum to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid and allow access via Ethiopia. The government said the route could be used to supply weapons to the rebels. The SPLM-N, which believes Khartoum would use exclusive controls over humanitarian access strategically as a weapon of war, suggested a compromise whereby 80 percent came via the government and only 20 percent via Ethiopia, but that was rejected.

And so the people of both South Kordofan and the Blue Nile are preparing once again for the fighting to restart. It would mark the start of year six of this forgotten war.
University Police is advising students to be cautious after receiving a report of a man impersonating an Uber driver and specifically targeting female students.

On Sunday, a woman reported hearing from her Uber driver that a man driving a gold- or cream-colored Chevy Malibu had been soliciting rides around UFs campus, said Capt. Jeff Holcomb, UPDs community service division commander.

The woman told police the car had a broken taillight and Uber stickers on it, according to a statement issued by UPD.

While no one has reported seeing the driver since the department issued the statement, Holcomb said officers are using this case as an opportunity to reinforce safety tips for students who use Uber.

We just want to make sure we can keep a crime from possibly occurring, Holcomb said.

Susan Hendrick, a spokeswoman for Uber, declined to say how often people impersonate Uber drivers, adding that police investigate such instances.

She said students should only request rides through the companys smartphone app, and that Uber drivers are not allowed to solicit rides.

When an Uber driver arrives at a users location, Hendrick said, the user should check that the drivers license plate, photo and the make and model of the car matches the information displayed on the app.

Ensure all those things match up, she said. It protects the drivers, and it protects the rider.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now
Police charged a Gainesville man Tuesday with having more than 4 pounds of marijuana and $35,000 in his shed.

At about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, members of Gainesville Polices Special Operations Unit searched 27-year-old John Paul Bittner IIs home in the 1400 block of NW 41st Road, according a police report. Officers had obtained a warrant to search the home.

In Bittners shed, officers found three vacuum-sealed bags containing 3.75 pounds of weed stuffed in a red backpack and a cloth Publix bag, according to the report. Additional bags within these contained more than half a pound of weed.

The Publix bag also held 53 syringes with .93 grams of weed resin extract in each, according to the report.

Elsewhere in the shed, inside a blue shoebox, officers found more than $35,000 in cash, according to the report.

The money was in multiple bundles and denominations, which police said is consistent with narcotic sales.

Strands of red hair, the same color as Bittners, were found in the Publix bag and shoebox, according to the report.

Inside his house, officers found a small bag of cocaine, two digital scales, two cannabis pipes, two grinders and about 5 more grams of weed, according to the report.

Bittner told police the weed and pipes in the house belonged to him, while the cocaine likely belonged to his roommate, according to the report.

He denied ownership of the money and marijuana in the shed. His landlord, the only other person with a key to the shed, told police none of the seized drugs and equipment belonged to him, according to the report.

Police arrested Bittner on two charges of possessing marijuana with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a convenience store, one charge of possessing cocaine and another charge of possessing drug equipment.

Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail, where he was released Wednesday evening on a $50,000 bond.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now
Hey, Florida, we did it. For the first time in forever (Any Frozen fans out there?), something crazy and nationally humiliating happened, and it wasnt in our state. Here, here: Drinks on us, everyone. According to the local Channel 8 News, police arrested a man they found publicly masturbating and acting like (a) gorilla at Giant Eagle Plaza in Warren, Ohio.

Were going to delve into how this story is just so naturally funny but also pretty disappointing from a societal standpoint  little bit o good news and then some bad news.

This story is the kind of wild stuff you cant make up. After leaving Leavittsburg, Ohio (eh?), Timothy Cook whipped out his eagle on Giant Eagle Plaza and began masturbating. According to the news report, By the time officers arrived, they said they found Cook sweating profusely in the parking lot, acting like a gorilla by squatting on all fours, punching the blacktop, jumping up and down, screaming non-coherently and growling.

Correct us if were wrong, but generally what follows masturbating is a magical feeling of release and warm, sweet fuzziness or deep shame and regret. But squatting on all fours, punching the street, screaming and jumping? It looks like someone never sat through those marvelous Just Around the Corner sex-ed classes from middle school. Or maybe he did, and this is simply the best American sex ed has to offer.

Also, why do the police and others compare this guy to a gorilla? When did gorillas suddenly fall under the same category as wild public masturbators frantically jumping about? Gorillas are decent people. Sure, King Kong has a bit of an anger issue and a strange obsession with white women in dresses (arctic fever, much?). But unless theyre defending their territory or trying to woo a mate, gorillas are super chill.

Put it this way: Back in May at the Cincinnati Zoo, a 4-year-old boy slipped into a gorilla enclosure, and all that happened was one of the gorillas, Harambe, reportedly carried the boy around the habitat for about 10 minutes. That boy wouldve been in way more danger with this Ohio masturbator stomping about and screaming incoherently than with Harambe.

So, lets stop saying this guy acted like a gorilla when he more closely resembles a mix between the Norman Parking Garage serial masturbator our very own Martin Vassolo reported on back in February and the Florida man who reportedly threw a chair at his mailman for not having mail.

OK, we discussed the absurdity of this story, but why is it kind of depressing again? This story is really only funny because said masturbator is a man and not a woman. Its the reason why we even feel comfortable writing about this story so sarcastically.

Our culture teaches us that male sexuality is to be out and in the open, which is why we can joke around when some guy in Ohio decides to masturbate in a parking lot.

Just try to imagine how this story would unfold if a woman of equal description  32 years old, and lets say somewhat attractive, even though the actual guy kind of looks like an ugly Eminem.

If that story even made it to national press, shed be written off as deranged, unladylike and called every derogatory name for a woman there is. Our society over-sexualizes women all the time, yet simultaneously expects women to go about their lives keeping their sexuality reserved, else they be called this and that.

It aint right, and we have to acknowledge these minor oppressions and work to change them. The fight wont be over until we can laugh at all public masturbators alike.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now
Where is Frank Ocean? Thats the question weve been asking ourselves for the past three years. Frank released his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra in 2011 and his album Channel Orange in 2012. He made few appearances and features over the next few years, turning his back to the music world and the public eye. After teasing his album, called Boys Dont Cry, in July 2015, he seemed to have vanished, leaving us in constant speculation on his whereabouts and the status of his album. Finally, after four long years, vague hints, a strange live broadcast on his website and countless memes, Frank Ocean is back. Blonde was released Saturday, and after having it on repeat over the past five days, Im ready to review it.

The album starts off with a cool melody on Nikes that leads into the first vocals, which are high-pitched, taking you by surprise. The first verse is sung in an altered voice before the vocals shift to Franks normal voice. The hook and the first verse are about materialistic items, such as Nike shoes and rings, whereas the second verse is Frank speaking on more emotional and personal levels. Paired with the stunning visuals for the music video, Nikes is a moving song that starts off Blonde and sets the tone for the rest of the album.

Nikes goes into Ivy, which features production from Jamie xx, and it wastes no time, beginning with the chorus right off the bat. Frank details when a past lover, who was a friend of his, tells him unexpectedly that hes in love with him, leaving Frank unsure how to react. While the relationship didnt work out, Frank feels that it wasnt a waste of time. Frank Ocean has a special way of sharing his emotions and feelings through his songs and bringing out those same emotions and feelings in ourselves in ways we didnt know possible.

Pink + White follows and is a little more upbeat than the first two records. At first listen, you can easily hear production from Tyler, The Creator, who helped in the making of this track along with Pharrell Williams. Pink + White follows the central theme of Blonde: past lovers and drug usage. Beyonce, who Frank Ocean has worked with before, has uncredited vocals on the outro of this song as well. Who doesnt love a feature from Queen Bey?

After a short skit that is a voicemail from Franks mom about staying away from marijuana and alcohol, Blonde continues with Solo. Frank spits a verse over a simple, mellow instrumental. Franks ability to rap and contribute his own high-note background vocals is a reminder of how extremely talented he is, as if we ever needed a reminder. Skyline To is the next song, which, despite being three minutes long, serves as a sort of interlude for the album. Listen closely enough and youll catch Kendrick Lamar throughout the song, although he only contributes one or two words at a time in-between Franks lines.

Perhaps my favorite track on Blonde comes next with Self Control. The songs chorus features 18 year-old Austin Feinstein of the California indie-rock band Slow Hollows, as well as Yung Lean, a 20-year-old Swedish rapper, who is the albums most unique feature, in my opinion. Self Control is a heartfelt track where Frank addresses bad timing in relationships, in which he wants to be with a past lover who he is unable to be with at the moment. The song is Frank Ocean in his most vulnerable state; you can hear the heartache in his raw singing.

Nights is one of the cooler tracks on the album; it has two parts but a few different beat switches within those parts, making it feel like multiple songs in one. Part I has a rap-singing mixed verse before the pre-hook that adds some percussion, which helps transition the song into more of an R&B record. Part II has more of a laid-back, hip-hop beat as Frank Ocean tells us how he fell in love with someone in Houston after he and his family were evacuated from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. He ends the song with the same hook from Part I but performed differently.

Andre 3000 makes an appearance on a track of his own on Solo (Reprise). This song shifts the mood on Blonde for the moment as Andre casually comes out of retirement to give his thoughts on a number of issues, from police killings of innocent African-American citizens to the use of ghostwriters in todays hip-hop.

Following another interlude, Blonde continues with a very unique song in Pretty Sweet. Frank Ocean lays down a verse over a frantic instrumental as a choir provides additional vocals. Just like Frank Ocean himself, the song is random, unpredictable and insanely brilliant.

White Ferrari might be the most beautiful song on Blonde, with writing credits given to Paul McCartney and John Lennon (for the use of Here, There and Everywhere as a sample), Bon Iver and James Blake. The symbolism of a white Ferrari could represent either drugs (cocaine) or innocence/purity. Frank sings from the point of view of his 16-year-old self to someone he loved at the time.

First performed during a tour stop in Munich, Germany, in 2013, Siegfried begins the homestretch of the album and is a sad, slow song where Frank discusses a breakup. The song is simply poetic, and the delivery is flawless.

In the Boys Dont Cry magazine that was released in conjunction with Blonde, Frank Ocean describes Godspeed as a short story he wrote where he reimagines his boyhood. Frank again speaks to his former self, who struggled as a young, closeted gay man constantly on the move, trying to figure out his purpose in life. He wishes those going through similar instances in their lives Godspeed in the years to come.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now

The last song on the album is Futura Free, which might be my favorite song along with Self Control. A piano riff accompanied by a soft bass line begins the end of the album. While different than the voice on Nikes, Frank Oceans voice is once again altered  ending the album similar to the way it began. Throughout the song, Frank addresses several different topics, such as religion, fame and sexuality. The third verse is comprised of short liners over strung-out piano chords until a dope beat drop that continues, until a silent interlude before a pre-recorded interview with his brother ends the album.

Frank Ocean essentially disappeared for more than three years without a trace of when hed return. He had a master plan to share his masterpiece with the world, and while it may have taken longer than we had hoped, he came through.

I absolutely loved Blonde from start to finish. The instrumentals are refreshing; Franks voice is soothing, the sampling and sneaky features are creative and the songs are meaningful and well put together. As of now, Blonde is a frontrunner for album of the year.
Approximately 37 million adults in the United States  a number roughly equivalent to the population of California  do not have a checking account. Some of those individuals have never relied on traditional banking. However, our research shows the majority previously had bank accounts. The primary reason these "unbanked" consumers gave up on traditional bank accounts? Overdraft penalty fees.

Instead of accounts associated with surprise fees, unbanked consumers have been using prepaid cards. The product, which lets consumers load funds via direct deposit or with cash, can be used to withdraw funds from ATMs or to make purchases at retail outlets  just like checking accounts. But unlike checking accounts, prepaid cards have predictable, upfront costs without unexpected charges such as overdraft fees. The pricing model needs to stay that way.

As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau prepares to finalize its rule on prepaid cards, there have been many comments  including in the media  on whether to allow overdraft fees on prepaid products. Some of the discussion concerning the bureau's impending rule has underestimated the impact of overdraft fees on consumers. Industry advocates argue that overregulation has limited free checking options, thereby causing consumers to abandon checking accounts.

However, any discussion about how to provide better financial services to the public has to start with understanding that overdraft fees drive people away from banks  and this has consequences. Specifically, once consumers leave the banking system  either because they don't want to pay the high fees or because their account is delinquent  their options for affordably and safely managing their finances are limited.

This is supported with data. For a typical fee of $35, most U.S. banks allow consumers to overdraw their accounts  often referred to as a negative balance  when they don't have sufficient funds to cover debit card point-of-sale and ATM transactions. However, the CFPB has shown that most debit card purchases that incur the fee are under $25.

Prepaid card products with transparent pricing and no risk of overdraft fees can help solve this problem. In nationally representative surveys, consumers say they rely on prepaid accounts to avoid debt, manage their spending, and  notably  escape overdraft fees.

Allowing overdraft programs on prepaid accounts would not level the playing field or ensure consumer access to needed financial products. Rather, it would endanger consumers' ability to use prepaid cards as a way to get back on track and build a secure financial future. It is essential for the agency to follow through on its proposal that effectively bans overdraft fees on prepaid cards.

To be sure, some commentators have raised legitimate concerns about the bureau's proposed rule. For example, the rule, as it is written, could be interpreted to punish prepaid providers when a consumer's account inadvertently drops to a negative balance. If this scenario happened, heavy burdens could be placed on providers to maintain only positive balances on all accounts at all times.

The solution to this problem, however, is simple: The CFPB should prohibit imposing fees or other charges as a result of negative balances. Further, the agency should allow providers flexibility to honor transactions, such as preauthorized account withdrawals, that periodically take account balances slightly negative.

The prepaid market has thrived for years as a safe haven for consumers who were not well-served by traditional banking products. For the most part, the bureau's proposed rule mandates policies that most providers already follow voluntarily. Prohibiting overdraft fees would not derail the prepaid market because so few providers currently offer overdraft protection. The bureau should move forward expeditiously to finalize its proposed rule and clarify that automated overdraft products are not allowed on prepaid accounts. Doing so will provide marketplace certainty and better protect consumers.

Thaddeus King is an officer with the consumer banking project at The Pew Charitable Trusts.
When Robots Take Over the World: Artificial intelligence and robo-banking will dislodge 110 million full-time workers around the world by 2025  and while that's a huge blow to banking jobs it is particularly significant for women in banking, says Christine Duhaime, a Toronto lawyer and founder of the Digital Finance Institute. It hasn't hit people yet, she said, but soon they'll realize bank teller jobs have lost to programmers and database administrators. And who loses? "We don't have enough women in the space, and there aren't enough teenagers thinking about it who are girls," Duhaime said, adding that women should be encouraged to pursue this field. "They can be part of the discussion, part of the driving force behind it, as opposed to what I'm really afraid is going to happen, which is they'll have no seat at the table in artificial intelligence for a whole lot of years. I don't think we want a society like that, but I think we'll get one if we don't change something quickly."

Outsourcing Innovation: Is the biggest opportunity for bankers outside the banks? Banks are "essentially... outsourcing innovation," Sallie Krawcheck says, by partnering with fintech startups that are much better at the innovation game than large institutional banks, whose collective culture tends to embody anything but simplification, inclusiveness and approachability. "The last real innovation that came out of a big bank was the ATM, Krawcheck said. "I remember that, after Citi had gotten through its latest round of regulatory issues, I remember the CEO at the time saying, 'Now it's time to innovate.' How do you do that? Just because you say it  doesn't mean it's easy."

Life Lessons from Ex-Bankers: Leave like you're never going back and grow up before you go big. Those are the things Maureen Sherry, former Bear Stearns managing director, and Shauna Mei, former Goldman Sachs banker, say they wish they had known before they left their Wall Street careers. "When you're walking out the door, don't keep one eye on the rear view mirror," said Sherry, who since leaving Bear has authored Opening Belle, a comedy about a woman juggling family life and a Wall Street career in 2007. "If you leave the corporate world with the attitude that it's all over between you two, your new career will get your full attention." Mei left Goldman to launch her own company, an online luxury marketplace called AHAlife. Her advice to new entrepreneurs is to focus on the product instead of the business. The corporate world teaches different skill sets than running a startup does (Blythe Masters and Sallie Krawcheck can attest to that). "A company is a like living person, first you have to grow up properly, know who you are and what defines you before you can decide who else you want in your life to help you continue to flourish," she said.

Reverse Culture Shock: Remember Sam Polk, the ex-banker who blasted Wall Street bro talk in a New York Times op-ed last month? He gave a wide-ranging interview this week about why he left Wall Street and life since then. He said to change (many) women's experience in finance, "we need to change the culture. And that requires men first understanding that inappropriate comments, even when no women are around, contribute to a negative, disrespectful, non-inclusive culture for women. The next step to the solution will be men speaking up and taking on responsibility for creating a more respectful culture towards women." In his original piece he said much of workplace sexism happens when women aren't in the room, and often comes from bosses in a form of male bonding that's culturally accepted and even expected.

Role Call

Mary Ann Deignan, co-head of global equity capital markets at Bank of America, will soon join Lazard's corporate preparedness team to do activist and corporate governance advisory work. Deignan spent 11 years in equity capital markets, syndicate and institutional sales at B of A, then joined UBS for seven years, becoming head of America equity capital markets; she maintained that role when she rejoined B of A in 2011.

National Australia Bank has hired Michelle Toy as head of marketing and corporate affairs. She was formerly head of marketing and communications for the securities services business at BNP Paribas.

Old Dominion National Bank in McLean, Va., has hired Stephanie Lykins-Harvey, formerly of Cardinal Bank in McLean, as director of retail banking.

Beyond Banking

Tech Tools for Building Confidence: A startup called Variable Labs is tackling the gender pay gap with a virtual reality tool designed to train women to be more comfortable asking for the compensation they deserve. Its platform is a "360-degree, immersive, cinematic VR experience" that simulates salary negotiations in which women can practice pitching to and dealing with a resistant boss. Women still make 79 cents for every dollar earned by men  progress since 1964 when the average was 59 cents, but nevertheless concerning that there has been just a two-cent improvement in the last decade. A recent study found that just one in eight women negotiate, compared with one in two men.
Community banking Banks Close Branches, Adjust Hours as Storm Approaches JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America and others in the path of Hurricane Sandy continued Monday to calibrate their responses to the storm. October 29

Community banking Bankers Apply Lessons from Katrina to Latest Storm Gulf Coast bankers say they were better prepared to handle the onslaught of Hurricane Isaac, which slammed into Louisiana on Wednesday. Bankers are better prepared seven years after Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, learning how to run their banks remotely and keeping plenty of cash on hand. August 29

Bankers in the Northeast must remain flexible and ready to roll up their sleeves in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

That was the sweeping message from bankers from areas along the Gulf Coast and Florida who have been through a fair share of catastrophic storms. As the Northeast begins to crawl out from Sandy's damage, hurricane veterans offered a few lessons and tips from their experiences on how to get back to business.

"Titles largely go away," says John Hairston, a co-chief executive at Hancock Holding (HBHC) in Gulfport, Miss. "You should be out in the field understanding the hardships your people are dealing with and getting those addressed."

Hancock lost 42 buildings during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hairston recalls being so busy in the weeks after the storm, that he and Carl Chaney, Hancock's co-CEO and president, didn't have time to shave. "If your job description starts with 'chief' before the storm, it becomes 'whatever it takes' after the storm," Hairston says.

Get the banks reopened as soon as possible, advises Rusty Cloutier, the chief executive of MidSouth Bancorp (MSL) in Lafayette, La. That effort starts with determining if a building is safe. He says challenges could include total destruction, limited access to buildings and a lack of electricity. To that end, bankers might have to put competition aside and make friends with their brethren.

"Look for a buddy bank if you can't reopen yours," Cloutier says. "At one point, we had four additional banks. We gave them teller windows so that they could re-establish their banks."

Bankers must understand that not all of their staff will be able to make it to the branches.

"One of the biggest challenges after the storm involved locating your employees," says Dennis Hudson, the chief executive of Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida (SBCF) in Stuart. The company found itself in a double-whammy in 2004, after hurricanes Frances and Jeanne ravaged the region within a three-week span.

"We opened back up with probably 80% of our staff," Hudson says. Seacoast used a phone tree system to identify associates who had severe problems. "We had a number who lost their roofs or literally had no place to live."

With a limited staff, employees must be empowered to look to their company's culture to make decisions, Hairston says.

"In a disaster, you can't call a meeting and get in a conference room and decide what to do. Your core values have to be the guiding light for making decisions in the field," Hairston says. "Make sure you tell your people, 'if you're cut off from your chain of command, look to our values in dealing with our clients, other team members and vendors'."

Efforts to minimize water damage can also save branches. "I think that is something they are going to have a lot of problems with in the Northeast," Hudson says. "My number one tip ... is to get people in those facilities quickly to start removing the water, [and get] dehumidifiers and fans going to prevent further damage."

Several bankers says that the community becomes a cash society very quickly because of power outages and fear. Hudson says that, despite stocking up on cash, Seacoast faced a crunch because demand was high and its armored courier's operations were hampered.

"Even with our preparation where we increased cash throughout the system, it wasn't enough," Hudson says. Seacoast turned to its large retail customers to make their deposits. In some cases, the bank went to them to get cash. "We sent some of our associates along with the burliest guys we have to go pick up cash from gas stations," he says.

Cloutier shares a similar story about driving $500,000 in cash to Beaumont, Texas, to pay city employees after Hurricane Rita in 2005.

Those tales are a part of a "do what you got to do" attitude that bankers used to survive storms. Hancock washed, dried and ironed cash that was flooded in underground vaults in New Orleans after Katrina.

After Katrina, several banks opened remote centers in Texas and central Alabama to serve as command posts in case something happened to their headquarters.

Though Hurricane Sandy is a rarity for the Northeast, Cloutier says he expects the storm to trigger changes in how Northeast banks prepare for future storms. "I would bet a lot [of bankers] are going to see a need for a second universe," he says. "I know this stuff happens once every 15 years, but can you afford the risk?"
Hurricane Katrina taught Robert Kottler a lot  including how to text message.

"I got a text from a friend asking, 'How are you?' I thought, 'What's this?'" said Kottler, director of retail, small-business and mortgage banking at Iberiabank. During Katrina he was an executive of Hibernia National Bank. "I text back, 'Who are you?'"

Eleven years later flooding near Baton Rouge once again has banks in southern Louisiana in emergency-response mode. The damage is less widespread than it was during Katrina but still devastating for those in the flood zone, and the way banks, their employees and customers are responding shows just how much technology has shaped what happens in crises.

"In the last five to seven years, the adoption of mobile technology in the general population has changed a lot.  People have become accustomed to leaning on mobile," said Ann Pickren, the president of the commercial division of Emergency Communications Network, a provider of messaging services to businesses and governments. "It has created a new perspective of how you communicate to critical resources such as employees or citizens."

Indeed, two years ago Iberiabank, of Lafayette, La., adopted two-way messaging technology provided by MIR3, a company acquired by Emergency Communications this month, as part of its business continuity plan. New employees are prompted to give several ways for the company to reach them, including personal cellphones and email addresses. When crises hit, the company reaches out to account for its people and the employees are able to respond. Each year employees are required to update it.

"One of the challenges during Katrina was that people scattered to all parts of the country, and we had a rather static contact list," said Bart Bragg, chief information officer of Iberiabank. He was also at Hibernia during Katrina. "This new solution is interactive and gives us a lot more flexibility."

For instance, the employees can hit "1" if they are OK, and so forth.

Pickren added that increasingly, crisis communication evolves into the norm. In other words, typically when a crisis occurs the spike in usage her network sees becomes the norm.

"What that says to me is that many companies are starting in a place of using technology to communicate in an emergency but then transition to using it as day-to-day use," Pickren said.

Also in the years following Katrina, banks have sought more back-office solutions that ensure their operations will not be disrupted if their main offices are out of order. More services are hosted in the cloud, and several banks have secondary offices elsewhere.

Iberiabank recently opened a center to handle much of its information processing during hurricane season  June 1 to Dec. 1  in Little Rock, Ark. During the off-months, the processing shifts back to Louisiana.

"In today's world, we can move technology around so much easier," Bragg said. "Say we had a call center in Baton Rouge  in the past, if our people couldn't get to work, the call center wouldn't be open. We now have options."

The way Iberiabank is interacting with customers is different. Beth Ardoin, the director of communications of Iberiabank, said it is using targeted emails to contact customers in the affected areas. In her estimation, customers are more trustworthy of emails from their bank than they were a decade ago  even if banks still encourage customers to be mindful of phishing attempts.

Today customers are reliant on mobile banking  underscoring the importance of making sure the bank is operational. In 2005, two years before the release of the iPhone, mobile banking largely did not exist. A whole channel has emerged since then.

"There are more self-service functions. They can check their balances, move money, make deposits," Kottler said. "The biggest change is that they largely can take care of themselves."

While banks cannot take credit for this, the reliability of cell service has also markedly improved in the last decade.

Customer behavior is also challenging the notion that cash is king in times of crisis. Several Louisiana bankers have tremendous stories about getting and moving cash during the 2005 hurricane.

"During Katrina, we had a lot of conversations making sure the ATMs had enough cash," Kottler said. "We've had very few of those this time."


U.S. Bank jumped into the robo world by striking a deal with FutureAdvisor. It plans to make the digital investment service available to its customers next year.

The Minneapolis bank is planning to aim its robo service toward "upcoming investors," which often will be millennials, but not necessarily so, said Mark Jordahl, president of U.S. Bank Wealth Management. The new service will combine technology from FutureAdvisor with a dedicated team of advisers from U.S. Bank. That combination was especially interesting to the bank, he said.

Clients increasingly want to use technology to access information and investments, but as their financial picture becomes more complex, they also take comfort in the fact that there's another person involved, he says. "We find that's more and more what people want."

Although he was quick to add that some clients may well decide to stick with the robo and not move on to a full adviser relationship, and that's perfectly fine with him. In fact, he views the deal as just one step in the ongoing process of using technology to enhance the overall client experience.

Robos have made major strides in the banking industry in the past 18 months or so. In private conversations and at conferences, robos were initially cast as a threat to their business. Indeed, many bank advisers still view robos as a threat to steal lower-end clients.

But as the industry has shifted to more of a fee-based model, thanks in large part to the fiduciary rule, robos are more likely now seen as a way to reach more customers. The hope is that this will enable advisers to focus on fewer, higher-end clients in fee relationships, while establishing relationships with robo customers who may require more sophisticated financial needs over time.

Robos received a major stamp of approval when Vanguard and Schwab, two titans of inexpensive investing, announced they were getting into the market. Other institutions that have discussed plans for their own robos, in various stages, include Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch Morgan Stanley and Capital One.

The new robo service from U.S. Bank, FutureAdvisor, was acquired by BlackRock in October with an aim to making the service available to financial institutions. As such, this is the fourth deal it's penned, after announcing partnerships in recent months with BBVA Compass, RBC Wealth Management and LPL.

"Digital advice is here to stay and will play a larger role as the combination of digital and human advice, packaged appropriately together, continues to improve outcomes for both financial advisors and their clients," said Bo Lu, co-founder and CEO of FutureAdvisor, in a press release announcing the U.S. Bank deal.


ClearXchange has access to a majority of the market's online banking accounts as it takes on Venmo, but there's one thing it may not have.

"If you look at Venmo, it's as much a verb as it is a noun'venmo' me the money. It's tough to turn clearXchange into a verb," said Richard Crone, a payments consultant whose firm also researches marketing.

The bank-led clearXchange system is expected to launch a new brand for its P-to-P service, "Zelle," according to the Wall Street Journal. The paper attributed the report to unnamed sources, and Early WarningclearXchange's operatordid not return a request for comment by deadline.

"Zelle has a new hip flair to it and it can be easily translated into a verb," Crone said. "'Zelle me the money' almost sounds like 'show me the money.'"

The name is not final, the Journal reported, but as of now it's scheduled to be unveiled in October. The paper also said clearXchange, which has operated for several years, has not been promoted as a consumer brand.

JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Well Fargo founded clearXchange as a way to attract consumers to an easy-to-use money transfer systememail or mobile phone numbers are all that's required to route most transactions.

The three founding banks cover more than half of the online banking market, and clearXchange has added other banks over the past four years, including community banks such as FirstBank and larger banks such as U.S. Bank.

Early Warning, a bank-driven risk management initiative that includes many of the same banks behind clearXchange, merged the two systems in 2015 to broaden the scale and scope of both ventures.

The bankers behind Early Warning and clearXchange also have broader ambitions for the service, including catalyzing faster payments and corporate disbursements. Getting P-to-P right in particular is considered a gateway for banks wishing to grab a broader share of corporate transactions such as payroll, health care and insurance payments.

The banks also hope to counter PayPal's Venmo social P-to-P app, a product that has proven popular with younger consumers. Like the banks, PayPal also sees mobile P-to-P as a pivot, including expanded in app mobile payments and improved collaboration with the card brands.

ClearXchange is attracting usersit handled 46 million transactions in the first quarter, or $16 billion, well exceeding Venmo's $3.2 billion. But the popularity of the potential social aspect of P-to-P among retailers may be the real prize for the mobile P-to-P apps such as Venmo or 'Zelle.'

ClearXchange has a substantial advantage because of its size, though Venmo is expanding rapidly, Crone said, adding the social nature of Venmo is popular with retailers. A more 'active' brand like Zelle could be easier for retailers to pitch to consumers, similar to Facebook or Twitter, Crone said.

"Retailers want a public posting of their payments, and that is what Venmo has," Crone said. "Retailers fight and plead for that, for you to like them on Facebook or follow them in Twitter or view their videos on YouTube."


A director at Citizens Independent Bancorp in Logan, Ohio, resigned after members of management chastised him for an email security breach.

The $181 million-asset company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that Michael Shawd resigned Aug. 18 as one of nine directors of the company and Citizens Bank of Logan. "Mr. Shawd resigned due to a disagreement with the Company's board of directors regarding his violation of the Company's Information Security Policy in using an unsecured email server to send confidential bank information to the other directors on the board," the filing said.

In his resignation letter to the board, Shawd said that none of his actions, "in part or in total, deserved discussion of being forced out. I consider it pretext for cultural issues with executive management."

Shawd went on to cite a "harassment charge" he called "meritless" and said he doubted he is "the only director that mistakenly sent bank emails to an unsecured server." He also charged that the company's management operated "without proper checks and balances" and put its "self-interest ahead of the bank and its shareholders."

According to the filing, the directors unanimously "disagree with Mr. Shawd's contentions." The company said it did not plan to replace him on the board "at this time."

Shawd and the company did not return requests for comment.

Shawd joined the board in April 2013 and was chairman of the company's audit committee. He was also a member of the board's executive loan committee.

Shawd owns Goddard-Shawd Insurance Agency in Barlow, Ohio, according to the bank's website.
Union Bankshares in Richmond, Va., said Wednesday that John Asbury, formerly of First National Bank of Santa Fe in New Mexico, will be its next CEO.

The $8.1 billion-asset company said Asbury will succeed William Beale as chief executive on Jan. 1. Asbury, 51, will become the president of the company and president and CEO of its Union Bank & Trust subsidiary on Oct. 1 of this year.

Asbury was president and CEO of First National Bank of Santa Fe from February 2015 until he resigned on Aug. 19  to pursue another career opportunity, a First National spokeswoman said last week. The bank's holding company, Strategic Growth Bancorp in El Paso, Texas, announced in July that it had agreed to merge with the $1.8 billion-asset Sunflower Financial in Salina, Kan.

Asbury has also worked for Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., from 2010 to 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Beale, 66, has been president and CEO of Union Bankshares and its predecessor companies since 1991. He will be executive vice chairman of the company and the bank until March 31. He will remain on the company's board and will stand for re-election in 2017.

Union is hoping to get over the $10 billion mark in assets. It said in June that unless it made an acquisition it likely would not reach $10 billion until 2019. It doubled its assets by acquiring the $3.1 billion-asset StellarOne in Charlottesville, Va., about three years ago.

Bankers and industry experts once held fast to a belief that institutions had to leap over the $10 billion threshold to generate enough scale to offset the toll of regulation, including caps on interchange fees and mandatory stress testing, waiting on the other side. Several banks even elected to be sold before crossing the mark.


WASHINGTON  The American Bankers Association has fired back at a White House research note that argued the Dodd-Frank Act was not driving community bank consolidation.

In an Aug. 24 letter to Jason Furman, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, ABA President Rob Nichols said the council's conclusion that community banks are not being affected by the 2010 banking law flies in the face of the experience of the trade group's members.

"A conversation with any community banker would dispel this forced conclusion," Nichols said. "The thousands of new regulations that have been imposed on community banks is an enormous driver of decisions to sell to a larger bank."

The Aug. 10 research note said while institutions with less than $10 billion of assets remain mostly viable, smaller banks "have faced longer-term structural challenges dating back to the decades before the financial crisis."

But Nichols' letter noted that the compliance pressures on community banks since the passage of Dodd-Frank have driven many from their traditional businesses, such as mortgage financing. The ABA conducted a survey earlier this year of members that found that the new rule combining mortgage disclosure regimes of the Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act has delayed loan closings. In another survey, 72% of community banks said the ability-to-repay mortgage underwriting rule has limited their ability to extend credit. What is more, Nichols said, the paltry number of new banks that have been chartered since Dodd-Frank speaks to how unattractive the business is for new entrants.

"If this trend continues unabated, there will be fewer financial services in communities and less economic growth," Nichols said. "Whether intended or not, the Dodd-Frank Act has added fuel to industry consolidation, reduced flexibility for product offerings, and increased the cost of providing financial services  a cost that is ultimately  borne by customers."

The impact of post-crisis regulations on community banks is a major flashpoint in the competing political narratives about the impact of Dodd-Frank. The number of small banks with assets of less than $10 billion has been declining for decades, driven to consolidate in order to capture the market efficiencies that size confers.

The Obama administration has repeatedly emphasized the extent to which new rules are "tailored" to either exempt community banks or reduce their compliance costs substantially relative to those of the larger, riskier banks. But Republicans and many in the industry have argued that those measures are not enough to outweigh the compliance burdens that community banks have faced since the passage of the law.
Credit unions are lining up with banks in opposition to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's plan to rein in arbitration clauses, a surprise given their historical reluctance to use them.

Because credit unions are member-owned cooperatives, they are often more closely aligned with consumer advocates' views that consumers should have the right to sue over disputes.

But they have warmed to arbitration clauses in recent years, in part because more credit unions have been hit with class-action lawsuits.

"Credit unions generally stand for consumer-friendly policies but class-action lawsuits are expensive to defend," said Doug Fecher, the president and CEO of Wright-Patt Credit Union in Beavercreek, Ohio. "We've always been able to resolve disputes with our members," but if a credit union "gets a few words wrong in a disclosure, we can be hit with a frivolous lawsuit."

The change in position has not gone unnoticed by consumer advocates.

"It is disappointing the position that credit unions are taking," said Christine Hines, the legislative director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. "The actions of their Washington representatives are more aligned with the big banks than they are with what their members need, which is the ability to go to court when a dispute arises."

Credit union representatives defend the change of heart, noting they do not support mandatory arbitration clauses  something many banks use. But they are also concerned the CFPB's plan would go too far by effectively getting rid of arbitration altogether.

The CFPB's proposal, released in May, would ban the use of mandatory arbitration clauses that prohibit consumers from bringing class-action lawsuits. Though arbitration could still be used to resolve disputes, banks and financial institutions have said they cannot afford to operate both an arbitration process and set aside reserves for class-action litigation. As a result, many in the industry believe arbitration will simply fall by the wayside.

Historically, credit unions have rarely used arbitration clauses at all; they tend to work out issues directly with their members. Only one credit union out of the top 12 prohibited its customers from taking a legal dispute before a jury, according to research in 2012 by Pew Charitable Trusts.

Moreover, the Credit Union National Association even has a 2007 article on its website by a consumer advocate titled "Arbitration Clause Denies You Your Day in Court."

Leah Dempsey, CUNA's senior director of advocacy and counsel, said credit unions started putting arbitration clauses into consumer agreements after the Federal Communications Commission issued guidance last summer.

That guidance spooked many credit unions because it limits how often a financial institution can contact a customer by phone or text. Many institutions feared the potential for being sued based on how they reached out to customers, and began adding arbitration agreements as a result.

"A credit union could essentially send a text message out to its members and [get hit with] statutory damages from $500 to $1,500 per call, which could put any credit union and its members in jeopardy," Dempsey said.

Bruce Pearson, a senior partner with Styskal, Wiese & Melchione, a Glendale, Calif., law firm that represents 300 credit unions, said arbitration clauses started being used by California credit unions in 2015 after the California Supreme Court affirmed their use following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2011 ruling in AT&T Mobility LLC v Conception.

The court ruled in that 5-4 case that the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925 pre-empts state law and that businesses with class action waivers can require consumers to being only individual claims, not class actions.

"This is not about righting wrongs, it's about predatory behavior by the plaintiff's bar," Pearson said.

As an example, he cited a purported class action against a credit union that alleged harm because consumer disclosures did not delineate between actual and available balances on overdraft charges for which a consumer was charged a $28 overdraft fee.

Without an arbitration clause, settling that individual lawsuit would cost a credit union anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000, Pearson said, with the cost running upwards of $1 million if it were certified as a class.

"If my client writes a $2 million check for attorney's fees and disgorgement, who pays for that?" Pearson said.

Carrie Hunt, the executive vice president of government affairs and general counsel at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, said credit unions have never supported mandatory arbitration clauses. The distinction is an important one because credit unions have never sought to ban class actions but rather want to maintain the ability to resolve disputes directly with members.

"We want to prevent arbitration from being eliminated as an option," Hunt said. "Our concern" is that the CFPB's proposal "in practice will make people not use arbitration at all."

A recent NAFCU survey found that only 15% of credit unions used arbitration agreements; none were mandatory.

"We are not going to say that consumers should be prevented from the right to sue. We believe consumers should have any right they are entitled to under the law," Hunt said. "Do we think it's a positive thing for plaintiff's attorneys to encourage litigants to file litigation that is baseless and costs our members money? No. Litigation may not be the best option."

Fecher at Wright-Patt Credit Union said that being hit with a class-action lawsuit is an "unproven but legitimate fear."

"It would seem like arbitration clauses would be unnecessary for consumer-responsible financial organizations but these lawsuits can be filed over the most mundane things," Fecher said. "If we make a mistake that injures a member, we're going to make it right."


In the 2012 book titled Stalin's Secret Agents by M. Stanton Evans and Herbert Romerstein, there is a chapter detailing Franklin Delano Roosevelt's serious and obvious decline of health as he entered the pivotal Yalta talks at the end of World War II. FDR's health had been an issue "from the day in 1921 when he was struck down by polio, as a result of which he would never walk again unaided." While the Washington press corps concealed his infirmity from the public, there were,

however, other health problems of a more daunting nature in terms of his official performance. These concerned not the paralysis of his lower body or even his physical health in general, but involved instead his mental balance, judgment, and powers of comprehension.

In recent decades this information has become more publicly available. But at the time,

"...hundreds of persons, high and low, reported that [FDR] looked bad, his mind wandered, his hands shook, his jaw sagged and he tired easily." Notwithstanding the fact that FDR couldn't "survive another presidential term" he went to Yalta and "seemed to have made 'absolutely no study of the German problem'" facing the group. In fact, Labor Secretary Frances Perkins recalled the change in Roosevelt "with the oncoming of a kind of glassy eye, and an extremely drawn look around the jaw and cheeks, and even a sort of dropping of the muscles of the jaw and mouth [.]"

Nonetheless, all of these concerns about FDR's health "were kept secret from the public." In fact, Roosevelt's own physician maintained that "there had been no previous signals of a [health] disaster." Yet, Churchill's personal physician maintained that "[w]henever FDR was called on to preside over any meeting, he failed to make any attempt to grip it or guide it, and sat generally speechless, or, if he made any intervention, it was generally completely irrelevant." At one point, FDR made the outlandish comment that in dealing with Middle Eastern issues, there was one concession that might be made and that "was to give Saudi Arabia's King Ibn Saud the six million Jews in the United States." One explanation of this response was a kind of aphasia -- the lack of the sort of mental filter that keeps people from blurting out impulsive statements."

Moreover, there were times when Roosevelt "signed or agreed to things of which he later said he had no knowledge. Thus, many of the cables and memos issued in his name during the last year of Roosevelt's life were routinely the work of others." It appears that Roosevelt's administration was, "in its last months, a kind of ghost ship, running on inertia."

So who was carrying on behind the scenes to keep the executive branch functioning?

Clearly the "identity and nature of Roosevelt's advisers [were...] matters of the first importance."

Enter Alger Hiss, who though billed as a low level "note-taker" was anything but. In fact, as Whittaker Chambers states,

In a situation with few parallels in history, the agents of an enemy power were in a position to do much more than purloin documents. They were in a position to influence the nation's foreign policy in the interest of the nation's chief enemy [.]

So what does this have to do with Hillary Clinton? Recently, it has become clear that Hillary Clinton is not well. Various explanations have been suggested ranging from multiple sclerosis to "...long-lasting symptoms stemming from a concussion and blood clot which could severely impact her cognitive abilities." According to Breitbart, there are "...sources who have commented about Clintons health problems, which have even impacted her ability to walk to her car after delivering a speech."

Moreover, "a number of New York Democrats, very prominent, well-known, wealthy New York Democrats, [have indicated]... that Hillary had very significant health issues and that they were surprised that she was running in view of her health problems and her lack of stamina [.]"

And Clinton's close confidante Huma Abedin has commented in an email that Hillary "is often confused."

Whoa!

Let us connect the dots. Grave concerns about Huma Abedin go back quite a few years. Huma Abedin has been a

Notwithstanding the very close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, it is unclear whether Abedin has ever been properly vetted. In "June 2012, five Republican lawmakers (most prominently Michele Bachmann) sent letters to the inspectors general at the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State, asking that they investigate whether the Muslim Brotherhood was gaining undue influence over U.S. government officials." One letter, noting that Huma Abedin's position with Hillary Clinton "affords her routine access to the secretary [of state] and to policymaking," expressed concern over the fact that Abedin 'has three family members -- her late father, [her] mother and her brother -- connected to Muslim Brotherhood operatives and/or organizations.'

Walid Shoebat has documented the connections with Huma Abedin and the Muslim Brotherhood but they have been summarily ignored and those who have pressed for further investigation have been scurrilously demeaned.

Is it far-fetched to consider the possibility that, should the health-afflicted Hillary Clinton become the 45th president of the United States, the country will be governed by Abedin and company echoing what happened with Roosevelt and Hiss?

Obama has already laid the groundwork, with Muslim Brotherhood operatives consulting him; transparency is nonexistent in this administration and Clinton, with her penchant for lying, will continue in that tradition; in addition, the Muslim Brotherhood has its own political party in the United States; and actions are being perpetrated that keep the United States military and security personnel in the dark about jihadist philosophy and operational tactics. In fact, many official records bearing critical data about jihadists have been destroyed, echoing the "disappearance of many official records" during the Cold War era.

Apart from the need for Clinton to clarify her medical condition, there should be a hue and cry about the overweening influence of Muslim Brotherhood operatives at all levels of the United States. I don't want to wait another 65+ years to read that we should have taken much more seriously the doubts and questions about who is really going to be in charge of day-to-day policies at the White House come 2017. In the same way that "the power to influence policy has always been the ultimate purpose of the Communist Party's infiltration" so, too, would it be the jihadist's dream come true to have such incredible sway.

Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com
There's nothing like knowing Arabic  that is, being privy to the Muslim world's internal conversations on a daily basis  to disabuse oneself of the supposed differences between so-called "moderate" and "radical" Muslims.

Consider the case of Egypts Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb. Hardly one to be dismissed as a fanatic who is ignorant of the true tenets of Islam, Tayebs credentials and career are impressive: he holds a Ph.D in Islamic philosophy from the Paris-Sorbonne University; formerly served as Grand Imam of Egypt, meaning that he was the supreme interpreter of Islamic law; formerly served for seven years as president of Al-Azhar University, considered the worlds leading institution of Islamic learning, and is currently its Grand Imam. A 2013 survey named Tayeb the most influential Muslim in the world.

He is also regularly described by Western media and academia as a "moderate." Georgetown University presents him as "a strong proponent of interfaith dialogue." According to The National, "[h]e is considered to be one of the most moderate and enlightened Sunni clerics in Egypt." In February 2015, the Wall Street Journal praised him for making "one of the most sweeping calls yet for educational reform in the Muslim world to combat the escalation of extremist violence."

Most recently he was invited to the Vatican and warmly embraced by Pope Francis. Al Azhar had angrily cut off all ties with the Vatican five years earlier when, in the words of U.S. News, former pope Benedict "had demanded greater protection for Christians in Egypt after a New Year's bombing on a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria killed 21 people. Since then, Islamic attacks on Christians in the region have only increased."

Pope Francis referenced his meeting with Tayeb as proof that Muslims are peaceful: "I had a long conversation with the imam, the Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar University, and I know how they think. They [Muslims] seek peace, encounter."

How does one reconcile Tayeb's benevolent image in the West with his reality in Egypt?

For instance, all throughout the month of Ramadan last June, Tayeb appeared on Egyptian TV explaining all things Islamic  often in ways that do not suggest that Islam seeks "peace, encounter."

During one episode, he reaffirmed a phrase that is almost exclusively associated with radicals: in Arabic, al-din wa'l-dawla, meaning "the religion and the polity"  a phrase that holds Islam to be both a religion and a body of rules governing society and state.

He did so in the context of discussing the efforts of Dr. Ali Abdel Raziq, a true reformer and former professor at Al Azhar who wrote a popular but controversial book in 1925, one year after the abolition of the Ottoman caliphate. Titled, in translation, Islam and the Roots of Governance, it contains Raziq's argument against the idea of resurrecting the caliphate, saying Islam is a personal religion that should no longer be mixed with politics or governance.

Raziq was vehemently criticized by many clerics and even fired from Al Azhar. Concluded Tayeb, with assent:

Al Azhar's position was to reject his position, saying he forfeited his credentials and his creed. A great many ulema  in and out of Egypt and in Al Azhar  rejected his work and its claim, that Islam is a religion but not a polity. Instead, they reaffirmed that Islam is both a religion and a polity [literally, al-din wa'l-dawla].

The problem with the idea that Islam must govern the whole of society should be obvious: sharia, or Islamic law, which is what every Muslim including Tayeb refers to when he says Islam is a polity, is fundamentally at odds with modern notions of human rights and, due to its supremacist and "anti-infidel" aspects, the source of conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims the world over.

That this is the case was made clear during another of Tayeb's recent episodes. On the question of apostasy in Islam  whether a Muslim has the right to abandon Islam for another or no religion  the "radical" position is well known: unrepentant apostates are to be punished with death.

Tayeb made the same pronouncement. During another Ramadan episode, he said, "Contemporary apostasy presents itself in the guise of crimes, assaults, and grand treason, so we deal with it now as a crime that must be opposed and punished."

While his main point was that those who do not follow Islam are prone to being criminals, he especially emphasized those who exhibit their apostasy as being a "great danger to Islamic society. And that's because his apostasy is a result of his hatred for Islam and a reflection of his opposition to it. In my opinion, this is grand treason."

Tayeb added what all Muslims know: "Those learned in Islamic law [al-fuqaha] and the imams of the four schools of jurisprudence consider apostasy a crime and agree that the apostate must either renounce his apostasy or else be killed." He even cited a hadith, or tradition, of Islam's prophet Muhammad calling for the execution of Muslims who quit Islam.

Meanwhile, when speaking to Western and non-Muslim audiences, as he did during his recent European tour, Tayeb tells them what they want to hear. Recently speaking before an international forum, he asserted that "[t]he Quran states that there is no compulsion in religion" and that "attempts to force people into a religion are against the will of God." Similarly, when meeting with the Italian Senate's foreign policy commissioner, Pier Ferdinando Casini, and his accompanying delegation, Tayeb "asserted that Islam is the religion of peace, cooperation and mercy. ... Islam believes in freedom of expression and human rights, and recognizes the rights of all human beings."

While such open hypocrisy  also known as taqiyya  may go unnoticed in the West, in Egypt, human rights groups often call Tayeb out. The Cairo Institute for Human Rights recently issued a statement accusing Al Azhar of having two faces: one directed at the West that preaches freedom and tolerance and one directed to Muslims that sounds not unlike ISIS:

In March 2016 before the German parliament, Sheikh al-Tayeb made unequivocally clear that religious freedom is guaranteed by the Koran, while in Cairo he makes the exact opposite claims. ... Combating terrorism and radical religious ideologies will not be accomplished by directing at the West and its international institutions religious dialogues that are open, support international peace and respect freedoms and rights, while internally promoting ideas that contribute to the dissemination of violent extremism through the media and educational curricula of Al Azhar and the mosques.

At any rate, if Tayeb holds such draconian views on apostasy from Islam  that is, when he's speaking in Arabic to fellow Muslims  what is his position concerning the Islamic State? Last December, Tayeb was asked why Al Azhar refuses to issue a formal statement denouncing the genocidal terrorist organization as lapsing into a state of kufr  that is, of becoming un-Islamic, or "infidel." Tayeb responded:

Al Azhar cannot accuse any [Muslim] of being a kafir [infidel], as long as he believes in Allah and the Last Day  even if he commits every atrocity. ... I cannot denounce ISIS as un-Islamic, but I can say that they cause corruption on earth.

Egyptian talk show host Ibrahim Eissa pointed out, "It's amazing. Al Azhar insists ISIS are Muslims and refuses to denounce them. Yet Al Azhar never ceases to shoot out statements accusing novelists, writers, thinkers  anyone who says anything that contradicts their views  of lapsing into a state of infidelity. But not when it comes to ISIS!"

This should not be surprising, considering that many insiders accuse Al Azhar of teaching and legitimizing the atrocities that ISIS commits. Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Nasr, a scholar of Islamic law and Al Azhar graduate, once exposed his alma mater in a televised interview:

It [Al Azhar] can't [condemn the Islamic State as un-Islamic]. The Islamic State is a byproduct of Al Azhar's programs. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic? Al Azhar says there must be a caliphate and that it is an obligation for the Muslim world [to establish it]. Al Azhar teaches the law of apostasy and killing the apostate. Al Azhar is hostile towards religious minorities, and teaches things like not building churches, etc. Al Azhar upholds the institution of jizya. Al Azhar teaches stoning people. So can Al Azhar denounce itself as un-Islamic?

Similarly, while discussing how the Islamic State burns some of its victims alive  most notoriously, a Jordanian pilot  Egyptian journalist Yusuf al-Husayni remarked on his satellite program that "[t]he Islamic State is only doing what Al Azhar teaches." He went on to quote from textbooks used in Al Azhar that permit burning people  more specifically, "infidels"  alive.

Meanwhile, Tayeb  the face of and brain behind Al Azhar  holds that Europe "must support all moderate Islamic institutions that adopt the Al-Azhar curriculum," which "is the most eligible one for educating the youth." He said this during "a tour [in Germany and France] to facilitate dialogue between the East and the West."

As for the ongoing persecution of Egypt's most visible non-Muslim minorities, the Coptic Christians, Tayeb is renowned for turning a blind eye. Despite the well documented "severe persecution" Christians experience in Egypt; despite the fact that Muslim mobs attack Christians almost "every two to three days" now  recent examples include the burning of churches and Christian homes; the coldblooded murder of a Coptic man defending his grandchild from Muslim bullies; and the stripping, beating, and parading in the nude of a 70-year-old Christian woman  Tayeb recently told Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros that "Egypt represents the ultimate and highest example of national unity" between Muslims and Christians.

Although he vociferously denounces the displacement of non-Egyptian Muslims in Buddhist Myanmar, he doesn't have a single word for the persecution and displacement of the Copts  that is, his own Egyptian countrymen. Instead, he proclaims that "the Copts have been living in Egypt for over 14 centuries in safety, and there is no need for all this artificial concern over them," adding that "true terrorism was created by the West."

Indeed, far from speaking up on behalf of Egypt's Christian minorities, he has confirmed that they are "infidels"  that same label he refused to describe ISIS with. While he did so in a technical manner  correctly saying that, as rejecters of Muhammad's prophecy, Christians are infidels (kafir)  he also knows that labeling them as such validates all the animosity they feel and experience in Egypt, since the mortal enemy of the Muslim is the infidel.

This is consistent with the fact that Al Azhar encourages enmity for non-Muslims, specifically Coptic Christians, and even incites their murder. As Egyptian political commentator Dr. Khalid al-Montaser once marveled:

Is it possible at this sensitive time  when murderous terrorists rest on [Islamic] texts and understandings of takfir [accusing Muslims of apostasy], murder, slaughter, and beheading  that Al Azhar magazine is offering free of charge a book whose latter half and every page  indeed every few lines  ends with "whoever disbelieves [i.e., non-Muslims] strike off his head"?

The prestigious Islamic university  which co-hosted U.S. President Obama's 2009 "A New Beginning" speech  has even issued a free booklet dedicated to proving that Christianity is a "failed religion."

One can go on and on. Tayeb once explained with assent why Islamic law permits a Muslim man to marry a Christian woman but forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a Christian man: since women by nature are subordinate to men, it's fine if the woman is an infidel, as her superior Muslim husband will keep her in check, but if the woman is a Muslim, it is not right that she be under the authority of an infidel. Similarly, Western liberals may be especially distraught to learn that Tayeb once boasted, "You will never one day find a Muslim society that permits sexual freedom, homosexuality, etc., etc., as rights. Muslim societies see these as sicknesses that need to be resisted and opposed."

To recap, while secular Western talking heads who don't know the first thing about Islam continue squealing about how it is being "misunderstood," here is arguably the Muslim world's leading authority confirming many of the cardinal points held by ISIS. He believes that Islam is not just a religion to be practiced privately, but rather a totalitarian system designed to govern the whole of society through the implementation of its human rights-abusing sharia. He supports one of the most inhumane laws, punishment of the Muslim who wishes to leave Islam. He downplays the plight of Egypt's persecuted Christians  that is, when he's not inciting against them by classifying them as "infidels" (the worst category in Islam's lexicon)  even as he refuses to denounce the genocidal Islamic State likewise.

Yet this well credentialed and respected scholar of Islam is considered a "moderate" by Western universities and media, from Georgetown University to the Wall Street Journal. He is someone whom Pope Francis trusts, embraces, and quotes to reassure the West of Islam's peacefulness.

In all fairness, Tayeb is neither a "moderate" nor a "radical." He's merely a Muslim trying to be true to Islam. Put differently, he's merely a messenger.

Critics would be advised to take it up with the message itself.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of The Al Qaeda Reader and Crucified Again, is a Shillman fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center and a Rosen fellow at the Middle East Forum.
It is welcome news when perpetrators of evil are brought to justice. The civilized world will delight in the fact that in the last month, two Islamist terrorists, one repentant, the other defiant, have been prosecuted and convicted for their infamous deeds in courts, one in The Hague and the other in Britain.

The avowed and now repentant terrorist, Ahmad al-Mahdi, made history on August 22, 2016 for a number of reasons. He was the first jihadist to appear before an international court. He was the first defendant to plead guilty at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, and he will be sentenced to a prison term of between nine and eleven years.

In a momentous event for history, Mahdi was the first person to be tried on a "war crimes" charge, the main charge, for attacking historic and cultural monuments. At the Nuremberg war crimes trials, no charge of cultural destruction had been brought against the Nazis. However, after World War II and in recognition that preservation of culture is important, international understandings were reached.

The1954 Convention for Protection of Cultural Property was concerned to protect the culture heritage of countries in the event of armed conflict. The World Heritage Convention in 1972 called for the preservation of cultural properties and the protection of national heritage.

Mahdi, like all jihadidts, took no heed of these international agreements, though he later apologized to his country and to the world for destroying religious monuments in the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali, a city of 333 saints founded in the 11th century by Tuareg tribes and honored as a world historic site by UNESCO in 1988.

Mahdi , a 40-year-old former civil servant in the Department of Education in Mali, was responsible as head of Ansar Dine, a Tuareg terrorist unit linked to al-Qaeda, for directing and participating in destroying tombs that were the embodiment of Mali history. Timbuktu was once an important cultural center, the home of a great civilization with a university that had 25,000 students and important libraries with precious 12th- to 16th-century manuscripts.

In 2012, rebels of the Tuareg tribe, allied with al-Qaeda and armed with weapons looted from Libya, had attacked the city of Timbuktu. In the area of the city they captured, they imposed sharia law, banned music, forced women to wear burquas, forbade girls to go to school, and attacked shrines and monuments of Sufi society. They ruled until French-led troops liberated the city in 2013.

When Mahdi and his extremist companions committed their acts in 2012, he declared he was in charge of fighting superstitions. In 2016 he admitted he had acted in the name of the extremists of al-Qaeda and Ansar Dine. Mahdi admitted responsibility for destroying nine mausoleums and a door of a mosque dating to the 15th to 16th century that had been closed for hundreds of years. The destruction was termed by UNESCO director-general Irene Bokova "a genocidal project." She offered wise words: "Our cultural heritage is not a luxury good; we must protect it from desecration and ravages."

All of the destroyed artifacts had great religious and cultural importance and embodied the common heritage of the people. Mahdi expressed deep regret and asked for forgiveness. In a message that should be heard by all potential as well as actual jihadists, Mahdi said, "We need to speak justice even to ourselves. We have to be truthful, even if it burns our own hands."

This case brings up an interesting problem. While the destruction of precious cultural artifacts is offensive, is it a "war crime"? Can the Allied destruction during World War II of Monte Cassino, or the Caravaggio paintings in the museum in Berlin, be considered war crimes? Today, atrocities of this kind committed since the formulation of cultural international rules might be so regarded. Among them would be the Balkan warlord attacks on Dubrovnik, the famous bridge at Mostar, and the national library at Sarajevo in the 1990s. The civilized world was horrified by the destruction by the Taliban of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan in 2001 and by the ISIS barbarity against the Assyrian statues in Nineveh and the Roman ruins in Palmyra.

The case is strong. Cultural destruction should now be treated as a war crime.

The other person receiving retribution by being convicted is Anjem Choudary, a 49-year-old Muslim social and political activist. He had not been brought to justice for 20 years since he was, apparently, part of an MI5 investigation. Perhaps there was some valid reason for this, but his record of Islamist activism shows him to be the very model of a modern jihadist. He was linked to at least 500 British Muslims who had left Britain to fight for ISIS. He had praised the terrorists of 9/11 in the U.S. and 7/7 in Britain.

Choudary believes that his Muslim faith should dominate "the whole world." He has been linked to at least 15 terror plots since 2000, to attacks in London and other places, and to the murder of a British soldier. He delivered a series of talks on YouTube encouraging support for the terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun. Though he has stated he does not accept British law, in London on July 26, 2016, he was convicted of inciting support for ISIS.

By now everyone should be aware of the evil of Islamist terrorism, but some seem hesitant to accept reality. In August 2016, the judges of the British Special Immigration Appeals Commission deliberated on the case of six Algerian terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda who were living in Britain. Citing the Human Rights Act, the commission allowed them the right to live in Britain on the irrelevant basis that it was "not inconceivable they would be subjected to ill treatment" if deported to Algeria.

It is not dismaying news that British prime minister Theresa May is planning to double British efforts to defeat terrorism, especially since she believes that an attack on Britain is highly likely. It is even more important for her to institute a ban on Islamist preachers spreading their evil message in mosques, universities, and community groups.
Germanys a mess thanks to Angela Merkel and others who breathlessly embrace those who wish to destroy the country  killing, raping, and wreaking all manner of havoc as they go. No matter how much violence Muslim imports heap upon the populace, immigration policy does not shift. The policy seems to be founded on the idea that the sooner the country can be destroyed, the better.

Go figure.

Among countless issues along the path to hell is that of rising sexual assault perpetuated by Muslim barbarians against German women and girls.

But not to worry. Germany has devised an answer to nip this escalating problem in the bud: temporary tattoos.

Yes, thats right. Temporary tattoos are being placed on the arms of young girls in public swimming polls to fend off would-be attackers. The terrifying tattoo says: No! The potentially life-saving message (/s) is bracketed by an image of angel wings.

If only Germans would realize that their new Muslim friends are more concerned with 72 virgins than angels, but thats beside the point.

Is this insane? (Answer: yes.)

As a quick aside, Muslim colonizers in Germany are referred to as the new citizens. Gee, that was quick. They went from being migrants to immigrants to citizens in a heartbeat. Then again, as noted at the outset of this blog, Germany is in a rush to get her demise over and done with, so I guess it makes sense to get these barbarians on the citizen fast track.

But I digress.

The genius who came up with the tattoo idea is quick to point out that she doesnt want her tattoo campaign to be associated in any way with migrants because, you know, there have always been problems with sexual assaults in swimming pools across Germany. Translation: I love dishonest moral equivalence and please, new citizens, dont target me.

This dumbbell also said she hopes the tattoos will serve as an incentive for young girls to think about what is normal and what is abnormal interaction and what does or doesnt need to be reported.

Right. Great. Put the onus on girls who just want to go swimming and have fun without having to worry about some Muslim goons trying to grope them. Or worse.

The Daily Caller reported that [i]n July, a manager of 6,000 pools in Germany commented on the migrant sex assault epidemic and that a leaked police report from one German city stated that sexual offences are recording a huge increase while singling out a significant uptick in rape and sexual abuse of children at bathing establishments.

But, but, but the tattoo-brain said Germany has always had problems with sexual assault at swimming pools, well before migrants started arriving. Damn reality! It really messes with the leftist-Islam-apologist-cowardly-dhimmi meme.

Looping back to unreality and in closing: who knew a person could fend off a sexual assault simply by having the word no written on her arm? Leave it to the left to figure it out, clever little lads and lassies that they are. (Or is it vads and vassies?)

Editor's note:

Richard Terrell offers his own commentary on effective methods:

Hat tip: Atlas Shrugs, UK Express
Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble, a Somali immigrant, became the 11th Minneapolis man to be charged with giving material support to the Islamic State.

Roble is thought to be in Syria fighting with ISIS. His uncle, who was tried in abstentia and convicted, was also thought to be in Syria but is rumored to have been killed. Nine other Somalis have been sentenced to jail terms of varying lengths.

Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble, the young I-35 bridge collapse survivor thought to have used thousands of dollars in settlement money to travel to Syria and join ISIL, has become the 11th Twin Cities man charged with providing support to the terror group. Roble was 10 years old when he became one of 145 people injured in the August 2007 bridge collapse. He collected $91,654 in settlement money on his 18th birthday. According to federal charges filed Wednesday, those funds financed his 2014 travel to join the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and helped pay for cars and weddings for fellow jihadists in Syria. Federal authorities believe that Roble, who previously lived in south Minneapolis, is still alive in Syria. The charges are part of an ongoing FBI investigation into terrorism recruitment in the Twin Cities Somali-American community. Nine other young Twin Cities men await sentencing after being convicted on charges related to their own attempts to join ISIL abroad. Until Wednesday, Abdi Nur, who is Robles uncle, was the only man in the case charged in absentia after making it to Syria. According to testimony at the May trial of three co-defendants, Nur is believed to have since been killed while fighting for ISIL, although his death has not been publicly confirmed. Roble, 20, is charged in the complaint with conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL, for travel preparation in August 2014, and with providing material support to the organization when he allegedly crossed into Syria in December 2014.

Roble spent money freely when he traveled first to China, then Turkey, and finally Syria. He bought cars and electronics for fellow jihadists and even financed a few weddings.

It doesn't appear that Roble was ever "radicalized," or if he was, there is no discernible transition from peaceful Muslim to warrior for god.

Roble's indictment raises troubling questions for the largest Somali community in America. If there are 11 ISIS supporters we know about, how many are there that we don't know about? If there are, indeed, many more radical ISIS supporters in that community, it shows that authorities are getting little if any assistance from leaders in the Somali community. These terrorists were not turned in voluntarily by Somalis. They were secretly recorded by another Somali who turned informant after being arrested.

None if this reassuring if you're living in the Twin Cities.
Iran keeps showing its gratitude toward the United States for Obama allowing it to develop nuclear weapons, giving it $150 billion, and last week another $400 million in ransom for four Americans.

Reuters, via Idries Ali, reports the following harassment of U.S. Navy ships by Iran on Tuesday, August 23:

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.

Earlier this year, Iran captured a U.S. Navy boat and humiliated our sailors. Upon their release John Vichy Kerry thanked Iran for releasing American sailors who should never have been captured and humiliated.

This incident clearly shows the effects of Obama/Hillary's weak foreign policy of appeasing Iran and doing very little about ISIS. Iran, and the terrorists whom Iran supports, view Obama and the U.S. as weak. We did nothing when they captured our sailors, and we gave Iran $400 million to ransom four Americans.

Iran and the terrorists have seen that Obama/Hillary use the terrorist attacks in the U.S. to attack the Second Amendment rights of Americans instead of clearly identifying and destroying the terrorists.

Iran and the terrorists do not fear or respect Obama and the USA.
The most mobile red line in the history of Western civilization just moved a little again. The United Nations issued a damning report that confirmed that Syrian president Bashar Assad has used chemical weapons at least twice since 2013, including one incident involving mustard gas.

Of course, this isn't possible. President Obama made a deal with Vladimir Putin to take possession of all Syrian chemical weapons in exchange for pulling Obama's rear end out of a sticky situation where he would have to make good on his "red line" promise to strike Assad if he used WMD.

Politico:

Even after he supposedly turned over his entire stockpile of chemical weapons three years ago, Bashar Assad is still crossing Barack Obama's "red line," a U.N. investigation has found. U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday that the probe had determined that the Syrian president and his regime were responsible for at least two cases of the deadly use of chlorine in the Arab country's civil war since 2013. Investigators also blamed the Islamic State terrorist group in an incident involving mustard gas. The findings give ammunition to Republicans critical of the U.S. president's handling of the crisis in Syria, especially his decision not to militarily intervene in 2013 even after it became clear Assad was not heeding his warning that using chemical weapons would cross a "red line." The investigators' findings also could set up a showdown between the U.S. and Russia, which has long backed Assad, as the U.N. Security Council decides what to do in response. Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, issued a stern statement on the report, condemning the "horrific and continuous use of chemical weapons by Syria." "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. "It is essential that all state and non-state actors immediately cease any chemical weapons use. We strongly urge all States to support strong and swift action by the Security Council." The White House, however, issued a more measured response, that, while condemning the chemical weapons use in the "strongest terms," did not emphasize the need for an urgent reaction from the international community. "The United States will work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, including through the United Nations Security Council and the [Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]. We urge all U.N. member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort," said Ned Price, spokesman for the White House-based National Security Council.

The last time President Assad was accused of using chlorine gas, the White House claimed  with a straight face  that chlorine is not a chemical weapon. While chlorine has multiple uses in industry, it's a chemical weapon when it is used as such  the deliberate use of the gas to kill people.

No such weasel words are possible when it comes to mustard gas, a substance with no earthly use except to kill people.

Few people are advocating that President Obama bomb Syria. It's far too late for U.S. intervention to have any effect except to show how pathetically weak our policy has been. Russia doesn't care if Assad gases his own people. If they thought they could get away with it, they'd probably use them, too. (They did in Afghanistan.)

No doubt our next move will be to send the dreaded "strongly worded letter" to President Assad, who will use it to light his cigar. Assad is winning the war, and with Russia behind him, he can safely ignore what the rest of the world thinks of him.
In late 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation aimed at increasing the nationwide availability of epinephrine in schools. After passage of The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, twelve states now require schools to stock this medication, while, with the exception of Hawaii, forty-seven states recommend making it available.

Epinephrine helps prevent adverse reactions and even fatalities in children with severe allergic reactions that result in anaphylaxis. The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act structured the legislation as an incentive rather than as a mandate; however, states that require schools to maintain a supply of the medication delivered through an EpiPen and permit trained school personnel to administer it will receive preference for federal asthma treatment grants.

Today, the largest supplier of EpiPen to schools, hospitals, and individuals, with 95% market share, is a Netherlands-based public company called Mylan Laboratories. Mylan, on August 24, 2016, came under intense criticism from members of Congress, Democrats, and Hillary Clinton. This criticism centers on the fourfold price increase, from 2012 to 2016, of the companys easy-to-administer EpiPen device to approximately $640.

How did this come about, and who is really to blame for the price level of EpiPens in the United States? How should we award innovative market-dominant companies that produce life-saving products that are safe and easy to administer?

The answers can be divided into regulatory overreach, market demand created by the regulators, and the opaque nature of pricing within the drug distribution channels

In 2015, The FDA made a series of decisions that effectively led to limited options for patients needing epinephrine and created a virtual monopoly for Mylan Labs. This was accomplished by stiff-arming Adamis Corporations pre-filled epinephrine syringe, asking for more data and demanding an expanded patient usability study including product stress testing before the original application. Back in November 2015, France-based Sanofi Corporations Auvi-Q product hit a wall when an injector fault triggered a hefty recall. Ultimately, the pharmaceutical giant yanked Auvi-Q from the market. More recently, the FDA handed generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical a rejection for its generic version of EpiPen, flagging certain major deficiencies in its letter to the Israeli pharmaceutical corporation. With serious issues to work through, Teva said earlier this year that it expects its product to be significantly delayed  meaning it doesnt expect a rollout before 2017.

A secondary reason for Mylans market dominance and $1.3-billion revenue stream can be attributed to the implementation of The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act and the state mandates that followed. Schools have become a significant source of demand for the stocking of Mylans EpiPen product, as school boards, administrators, legislators, and health advocates have pushed for its availability.

Lastly, with regards to Mylans profitability from the EpiPen, it has been largely flat for the last several years despite a fourfold price increase at the retail customer level. This tells the average person, at a high level of analysis, either that most of the sales increase benefits the various distributors and intermediaries who sell EpiPen to the retail stores and schools or that there are significant price rebates being provided to large customers of EpiPen based on volume or relationship.

Many of the critics also need to pause and reflect as to why the price of EpiPen, after four years of sequential price increases, has suddenly become so controversial. The answer resides within Obamacare and the large deductibles that individuals have to pay out of pocket before meeting the $6,000 under a conforming bronze health insurance plan. At $150, the EpiPen was moderately priced as an out-of-pocket purchase with no insurance reimbursement. At $640 per dose, the EpiPen has become an extremely expensive life-saving drug for middle-class households.

Editor's Note: The author will appear on CNBC's Power Lunch today.

Jim Thornton is managing partner at Kamuela Partners in Issaquah, Washington.
When it comes to their cloud services, Google is extremely cautious. Just about every piece of data is backed up to multiple networked machines in some form, and things are kept running with thousands of different nodes. This strategy didnt do them much good a while back when a wayward software bug knocked their entire Compute Engine platform offline for part of a day, but definitely paid off on August 11. On that day, something happened to Googles cloud-based App Engine that set alarm bells ringing and error messages flying for Google, and resulted in users of their platform seeing apps error out or take longer to load then normal. The whole incident lasted about two hours before Google managed to get a handle on things, and in typical Google fashion, theyve embraced accountability and clarity by explaining all the gory details of what happened.

The whole ordeal took place between 1:13 PM and 3:00 PM Pacific Time. The incident took place during a routine moving of app cores between data centers to balance out traffic. Usually, the apps cross over in bits and pieces, and once the core apps are on the target servers, their traffic starts getting rescheduled, or sent over to the new server automatically. On this occasion, however, a cluster of routers that happened to be the one playing man in the middle for the app migration chose right then to update their firmware, which triggered a mass restart. Normally, such a thing would last until the routers were rebooted, but the programming for Googles app servers doesnt exactly factor in errors and failures like this. When requests had to be routed around the bum routers and started taking longer, the automation processes started thinking that the target computers were ignoring them, and sent multiple duplicate requests. This made things incredibly unstable when the routers woke up and found themselves inundated with millions if not billions of requests.

Normally, this would have resulted in the routers crashing outright and servers traffic coming to a grinding halt; in short, total bedlam. Googles people were luckily on top of it from the start. To fix the crash, Google engineers who were watching it all happen killed as many of the duplicate requests as they could, and redirected the original ones to servers not linked to the rogue routers. The servers they chose, however, were in use for another project, and shoehorning Googles App Engine traffic onto them resulted in significant slowdown. At 3:00 on the dot, engineers finished making a temporary configuration change to the new servers, and traffic started flowing back to the initial target servers. For all intents and purposes, things were normal. To prevent this sort of thing in the future, Google plans to modify the systems retry behavior and add in more routers, ensuring that they are on different schedules so that an entire cluster doesnt suddenly go dark like in this incident.
China is still the largest smartphone market in the world, by far. India might be the fastest growing such market out there, but its nowhere close to China in size, at least not yet. Tons of smartphone manufacturers sell their devices in China, and even though domestic OEMs are still the most popular ones, Apple and Samsung are still amongst the top 10 brands in China. That being said, weve seen a number of reports this year regarding Chinese market share and sales, but none of those reports was as informative as the one well cover in this article, read on.

If you take a look at the gallery down below, youll notice that there are three charts down there. The first chart will give you an overview of H1 2016 sales in China quarter-by-quarter, youll get to see which company did best in which quarter, and overall, of course. These are overall sales for H1 2016, while the second and third charts show off separate online and offline sales for H1 2016, respectively. Now, if you take a look at the first image, youll notice that Huawei is the undisputed leader in the Chinese smartphone market, as pretty much every other report said this year. That company won in pretty much every quarter since the beginning of the year, which was to be expected. Some people expected Xiaomi to challenge Huawei in this regard, but it seems like that company did not really manage to keep up, and is currently the fifth-placed smartphone manufacturer in China as far as smartphone sales go. Now, according to this info, Huawei had managed to sell 43,779,772 smartphones in the first half of the year, which are great numbers for the company, especially if you consider that they were able to sell 108 million units worldwide last year. These numbers look really promising for Huawei, and chances are they will beat last years results by the end of this year.

Now, Huawei is followed by OPPO, Apple, Vivo and Xiaomi, while Samsung is a 6th-placed company on this list, and is trumping the 7th-placed Meizu. Oppo has sold 29,024,172 smartphones in the first half of this year, and is trailing behind Huawei quite a bit. Apple has been able to ship 27,661,172 units, while Vivo did really well by selling 25,551,791 smartphones. Xiaomi is close to Vivo actually, the company has sold 23,659,004 smartphones, which are not great numbers for Xiaomi, but well see what happens by the end of this year. Samsung has sold 10 million smartphones less than Xiaomi, and 30 million less than Huawei in the first half of the year, the company had sold 11,247,043 units. Now, Meizu is doing fairly well, theyve been able to sell 11,247,043 units thus far, and if you consider the fact that theyve sold 20 million devices last year, these are solid numbers for a company which is aiming to ship 25 million units by the end of 2016. A number of other companies are listed in the first charg, and if youre interested in checking out the separate online and offline sales charts, take a look at the 2nd and 3rd chart in the gallery down below, results are considerably different in those sections, Xiaomi is leading the online sales, while OPPO is in the lead if only offline sales are concerned.
This year the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 raised the build quality bar to new heights and unlike the previous models in the series, it boasts an IP68 certificate for dust and water resistance. Furthermore, the smartphone is mostly covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back panels, and early drop tests have shown that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has what it takes to withstand some undeserved abuse. Nevertheless, fans of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 who may have purchased the device or are waiting for the smartphone to be launched in their region might be interested in adding an extra layer of protection on top of their newest acquisition, and to this end Itskins recently unveiled its latest series of air cushioned protective bumpers and cases for the Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners who may be looking for third party cases for their latest flagship phone might be interested in Itskins latest product lineup designed for the said device. The case manufacturer has prepared several models for the Galaxy Note 7, including the Spectrum clear type case available for $19.99 and in a total of 10 flavors, ranging from grey and dark grey to purple, olive, and pink. Alternatively, prospective customers who may want to protect the front-end of the phone as much as the back panel can acquire a Spectra Vision transparent flip case for $29.99, available in grey, dark grey, and pink. Its worth noting that the Spectra Vision cases flip (clear) panel is touch sensitive, so users can utilize the smartphone without having to flip the cover open. Otherwise, the manufacturer has the Spectra cases in store for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners who prefer non-transparent designs. The Spectra flip cases come in different colors as well as various materials and designs for the front cover itself, and is available for $29.99.

Last but not least, while the Spectrum, Spectra, and Spectra Vision cases are already available for purchase, Itskins also offers a fourth option for customers who are willing to pre-order, namely the Atom DLX cases. These are non-flip cases featuring an urban-style design, built from two different materials  carbon or wood  for supreme protection. Much like the Spectra Vision and Spectra cases, the Atom DLX protective shells are available for $29.99.
A judge has cleared activity tracking device manufacturer, Fitbit, of stealing competitor Jawbones trade secrets. The decision follows Jawbones case against Fitbit, which started in July 2015, whereby Fitbit was accused of stealing Jawbones secrets by infringing on six patents and poaching employees in part for their knowledge and awareness of Jawbones plans, future devices and technologies. Jawbone was hoping to ban Fitbits activity trackers under the Tariff Act but Judge Dee Lord, of the U.S. International Trade Commission, explained in the ruling that there has been no violation of the Tariff Act because no party has been shown to have misappropriated any trade secret. As such, Jawbones complaint has come to nothing: Fitbit is still able to sell its market leading activity trackers and the six patent infringements Jawbone claimed had been broken by Fitbit were either withdrawn (for two) or invalidated (the remaining four) in a trial back in May 2016.

The news that Jawbones complaint has been rejected by a judge is the latest round in a number of legal battles between Fitbit and Jawbone, which have also been jostling for market position for some years now. Each company manufacturers a range of activity tracking wearable devices, which synchronize with a smartphone or tablet to a cloud-based system. Fitbit has gained the upper hand, perhaps because it has a broader portfolio of wearable devices from simple bracelets through to smartwatches: the company has become the worlds leading activity tracking manufacturer. Jawbones UP brand has been losing market share and is no longer one of the worlds top five activity tracker companies. Fitbits Chief Executive Officer, James Park, highlighted this in a statement explaining how Jawbones allegations were false and an attempt to disrupt Fitbits momentum to compensate for their own lack of success in the market.

Meanwhile in the courtroom, a patent infringement case by Fitbit against Jawbone was concluded in July when a judge ruled Fitbits patents were invalid. At the time, Fitbit appealed by asking the full trade commission to review the ruling. Whilst it is important for businesses to actively defend their patents  because an undefended patent is essentially pointless  it is also important that the same business continues to do its day to day operations. In this case it does appear that Fitbit has been more successful than Jawbone, but of course Fitbit needs to keep its eyes on the market, which is evolving with both new entrants and how activity trackers are becoming more and more commonplace, which is encouraging some consumers to move towards smartwatches.

Advertisement

UPDATE: Jawbone has since provided the following statement:

We intend to seek review of todays ruling before the full Commission. The case in the ITC involved a very small subset of Jawbones trade secrets asserted against Flextronics and Fitbit because of the limited jurisdiction of the ITC. Jawbone is continuing to pursue its much broader trade secret case against Fitbit, which is headed to a jury trial in California state court. The California court already has granted a preliminary injunction and rejected Fitbits efforts to dismiss the case. Jawbone is confident it will prevail when the full scope of its claims is heard by the jury.
If you use Swiftkey as your main keyboard of choice for all of your Android typing needs, youll want to grab the most recent update to the application as the company has highlighted that the issue with sync errors which have been plaguing a decent number of users has apparently been fixed. For those that dont use Swiftkey, the third-party keyboard app for Android devices was having a problem which resulted in users receiving synced predictions that actually belonged to other users. Naturally this was causing some confusion along with what was likely a little bit of frustration and annoyance from the keyboard trying to offer up incorrect predictions. More so than anything else though, it was a cause for some users to worry about the privacy of their personal information.

Due to the nature of the problem, and likely the issues with privacy which resulted from it, Swiftkey suspended the cloud sync service back on August 1st until they were able to remedy the errors. While the lack of the cloud sync functionality no doubt was causing some inconvenience for users that relied on it quite often, it seems to have been a necessary evil in order for Swiftkey to not only fix the issue but ensure that no other users would be receiving the synced predictions that werent theirs.

It is worth noting that while the cloud sync service errors have been fixed according to the update, Swiftkey has left the email and number predictions offline for the time being, with no mention of how long theyll remain in this state, unfortunately. Having said that, its entirely possible that Swiftkeys next app update will re-introduce these features once again. In addition to the sync error fix, the update also introduces support for eight new languages, which includes Kurdish, Aragonese, Maltese, Nynorsk, Frisian, Luxembourgish, Faroese, and Asturian. A couple of other fixes are included in this update version n addition to the fix on the sync error, such as the fix for Samsung Galaxy S7 users which improves the typing experience on the device, as well as fixes for users that rely on the Accessibility and Talkback functions.
If you havent been living under a rock for the last couple of days, youre well aware that Google had started rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat to the existing Nexus devices. Android 7.0 Nougat has been announced a while back by Google as Android N, and earlier this year the company had confirmed that the full version of this update will be Android 7.0 Nougat, while the update is now on its way to the existing Nexus devices. This is actually a new approach by Google considering the fact that the company usually rolls out a new update with new Nexus devices, and the rumored Nexus Marlin and Sailfish smartphones are still not official.

That being said, the two devices are rumored to launch next month, as its usually the case with Nexus smartphones, they usually arrive in September. Well, according to the latest report, Google might not launch the two Nexus devices as soon as we think. David Ruddock, who is a managing editor at Android Police, and also a man who has leaked tons of info when it comes to the upcoming Nexus devices, tweeted out something really interesting recently. Mr. Ruddock said that the new Nexus devices might launch with Android 7.1 Nougat, also known as Nougats MR1 release. If thats going to be the case, then the two Nexus devices might not arrive for another couple of months considering the fact that the Android 7.1 Nougat is expected to land until the fall. According to rumors, Google is already testing the update, but its release is not that close to being released.

Now, as part of the Android 7.1 Nougat update, Google is expected to officially release the leaked Nexus Launcher, and Google Assistant which was introduced at this years Google I/O in San Francisco. As many of you know already, the rumored Nexus Marlin and Sailfish devices are going to be manufactured by HTC, and both of them have already been certified by the FCC in the US. This rumor might not sit well with those of you who have been looking to purchase one of the two Nexus devices, though do keep in mind that this is just a rumor at this point, so take it with a grain of salt.
It was only last week when Uber announced that they would be allowing the public to take advantage of their new self-driving taxis in Pittsburgh before the end of the month leaving many vehicle experts shocked and excited at the prospect of the self-driving revolution happening much earlier than anticipated.

Incredibly, though  and in a pretty surprising move  a company that goes by the name of Nutonomy has just pipped Uber by rolling out their own electric self-driving taxis in Singapore and actually picking up their first real customers in the process. The rollout, which has begun in Singapores One-North business park, will allow riders to use Nutonomys app to order an electric Mitsubishi i-Miev or a Renault Zoe, with the fleet hopefully increasing to a dozen vehicles within the next few months. In case you are hesitant about being taxied around in one of Nutonomys self-driving vehicles the company is offering one incentive  the whole ride is completely free and, currently, the tests are open-ended with the companys CEO stating that they plan to keep offering rides as long as we continue to learn new things from the data.

The pilot is going to allow us to collect technical data, but equally importantly, its going to allow us to find out if people enjoy riding in driverless cars, says Karl Iagnemma, Nutonomys CEO. When people get into the car, some will love it, some will be indifferent and some wont like it. But how many wont like it 3% of the ridership, or 30%? We want to know that number. And Uber wants to know that number, too

Advertisement

As stated above, just like with Ubers tests this is only a controlled experiment for now, with each car having their own safety driver behind the wheel in the case of an emergency. Experiment or not, this is currently the only place in the world where anybody can catch a ride from a self-driving vehicle on public roads. For those of you wondering who Nutonomy actually are  the company was founded in 2013 by ex-MIT engineers and has received funding from the likes of the Singapore government and Ford chairman Bill Ford. In conclusion, it seems the company is just as serious as Google or Uber when it comes to autonomous transport and want to make the most of its benefits. What do you think of all of this? Let us know in the comments below.
Many people know Nokia as many different things. Some remember the futuristic, highly capable early smartphones of the mid-2000s, while some remember the colorful Lumia handsets that they made for Microsoft. Still others think of invincible brick phones from the 1990s and early 2000s that could survive a two or three story drop. Nokia has also made laptops and tablets. Which one of those an old Android-based Nokia device of some sort from the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean era would have been is anybodys guess, but the device is certainly an oddball. It showed up on Geekbench recently, where it showed off a fair amount of power thanks to some fairly uncommon specs. A Snapdragon 800-based Nokia 5320 running Android 4.4 KitKat with 2GB of RAM was also shown off, but never ended up being released. Further details like screen size, battery and such were unavailable, since the devices only went through Geekbench.

To address the oddball; for starters, the thing runs on an x86-based AMD processor. Specifically, the same AMD A8 quad-core processor that powers mid-range laptops from around 2011, most of which can still be found for around $300 to $500 online. The chip is already a low-voltage processor, but had to be dumbed down a bit to not overheat a mobile device, or drain the battery in a matter of minutes. The processor only uses two of its cores, and only runs at 500 MHz. Paired with 2GB of RAM and some sizeable L1 and L2 cache sizes, however, it still manages to pull down a respectable 1,669 multi-core score on Geekbench, with the single-core score sitting pretty at 972. This puts it about on par with the Xperia Z and Nexus 4, and that x86 processor could have given it the ability to run desktop Windows apps, with a bit of hackery, or by waiting for CrossOver to release.

The device at hand could well have been an Android-based Nokia laptop of some sort, built for battery power, or may very well have been a phone. The still-relevant AMD A8 processor used could have been inside a phone or tablet with no issues, with the way it was hobbled. Battery life could have gone either way, since x86 processors can be very power-hungry or very power-efficient, depending on how well theyre optimized. As for the Nokia 5320 variant, Nokias Windows Phone models from back in that era were colorful, fun to hold, built to last, and had some seriously good battery life, leaving many an Android owner envious. One can only wonder how well it would have run, what the battery life would have been like, and how well it would have sold. While those questions will never be answered, we did get the Nokia Z tablet , with some phones reportedly on the way.
Telecom Application Developer Hackathon heads to South Africa

MTN South Africa has announced that it is bringing the international telecom developer hackathon TADHack to Africa for the first time from 14 - 16 October. The mobile operator says the contest makes it possible for local developers to enter and compete against the best developers in 30 countries around the world.

TADHack South Africa will be staged at the MTN Innovation Centre in Johannesburg, according to MTN which adds that local developers will be put in line to benchmark themselves against the best in the world, and stand a chance of winning prizes.

The Global TADHack challenge will see developers creating hacks using the global sponsors' resources. This year's development theme will encourage hacks in particular topics, such as BOTs, AI, IoT, Enterprise Communications, NFV, and open source contributions.

Benjamin Marais, Chief Information Officer at MTN says developers are expected to champion African solutions during this year's edition of the competition. "MTN believes this is an opportunity for local developers to decode Africa, meaning we expect them to showcase Africa's ability to solving African problems. Local developers participating in TADHack 2016 have the capacity to debunk the misconceptions about a lack of developer skills in Africa. The platform will showcase Africa's capabilities within the app development space, highlighting our own creative thinking and the amount of knowledge and innovation that is based in our continent."

Developers will participate in two categories, namely Hackathon category and Showcase category. The Hackathon category allows developers to come up with new ideas or answer a sponsor's challenge, while the Showcase category allows developers to showcase advanced development or commercial products to put themselves in line for prizes and industry recognition.

TADHack has the support of global sponsors including MTN Business, IBM, Huawei, ZTE and Comviva.

"MTN is bringing this prestigious global event to South Africa for the first time, as part of our ongoing campaign to stimulate innovation and development capacity in the country. Through our ongoing developer and start-up engagements and support initiatives, we have noted the phenomenal innovation and development skills exist in the country, and we believe challenges like TADHack help to bring them to the fore," concludes Marais.

www.itwebafrica.com
Mia Ayliffe-Chung: Smail Ayad, Allahu Akbar and mental illness

The Townsville Bulletin has more on the alleged murder of Mia Ayliffe-Chung. We dont why she was killed. We may never know, let alone understand the alleged killer motives. Its alleged yelled Allahu Akbar as she struck. One line is that he did this because he might be mentally ill.

Smail Ayad, 29, had fawned over Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, for several days, telling other backpackers at the Home Hill hostel the pair were deeply in love and married  Furious at the unrequited love, he allegedly stabbed Ms Ayliffe-Chung multiple times while screaming Allahu Akbar, leaving her to die on the floor of her Shelleys Backpackers room.

Hes been arrested and charged:

Yesterday afternoon as police transferred Ayad from hospital to the watchhouse, he allegedly bashed two police officers, after they had to pull over on Woolcock St as he was lashing out in the back of the police paddy wagon. Both officers were hospitalised. Police were forced to use capsicum spray on Ayad to subdue him and the Bulletin understands it took seven officers to get Ayad into a padded cell, as he continued to scream Allahu Akbar.

And the police continues to say::

Queensland Police Minister Bill Byrne described the stabbing attack as tragic and disturbing but sought to distance the incident from extremism. Despite police being unable to rule out radical links to the murder, Mr Byrne said the attacks were not about race or religion.

What they dont know and what they do know.

The Guardian:

Queenslands police minister Bill Byrne has called for an end to opportunistic commentary on extremism following the fatal stabbing of a British backpacker in the states north Byrne said there was no immediate evidence to suggest extremism as a motive for the attack. As police continued to interview 30 witnesses who saw the shocking attack, federal politicians began to link the incident to a debate on immigration. One Nation senator Pauline Hanson used the tragedy to reissue calls for a moratorium on Muslim immigration. Im not going to be silenced on yet another attack involving Islamic extremism  especially one occurring in the state I am representing in the Senate, she said While not referring to any politician specifically, Byrne said some of the commentary from predictable sources was highly speculative and unhelpful. Therell be those that seek to exploit this incident, he said. What is required here is cool, calm and thoughtful consideration.

More to follow

Anorak

Posted: 25th, August 2016 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
Russia to discuss UN chemical weapons report with US UN envoy Vitaly Churkin to talk to US counterpart Samantha Power

(ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, AUGUST 25 - Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin will discuss possible reactions to the UN report on chemical weapons use in Syria with his US counterpart Samantha Power, Churkin told Russia's TASS news agency.



"We have a common interest in discouraging" these types of attacks, Churkin said.



The UN report alleges chemical weapons use in Syria by pro-government forces backed by Russia as well as by ISIS.



Moscow has criticised the report, which is scheduled to be discussed by the UN Security Council on August 30.(ANSAmed).




Italy-Turkey cooperation "has great potential", Calenda says Rome meeting anticipates World Energy Congress in October

(ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 25 - Italy wants the situation in Turkey to return to normal also in the interest of growing cooperation between the two countries, Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said Thursday.



"Italy and Turkey share an interest in a growing industrial, financial and commercial partnership. We therefore hope that the situation in Turkey might soon return to normal in full compliance with human rights and fundamental liberties," Calenda said on the sidelines of a Italy-Turkey business forum in Rome. "The potential for increasing industrial, financial and commercial cooperation is very large. Besides, our country is already present in Turkey with approximately 1,300 companies operating in all the strategic sectors of the economic system," he added.



The meeting in Rome was organised to update the Italian business community on recent political and economic developments in Turkey, Confindustria vicepresident Licia Mattioli said. It anticipates the World Energy Congress in Turkey in October, when Italy "will be able to deepen its bilateral relations particularly in the energy sector, in which the Turkish government plans to invest heavily", she added.



(ANSAmed).




Turkey to remain in Syria until Jarablus under FSA control Kurds to withdraw from area 'within two weeks' - minister

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, AUGUST 25 - Turkey "has the right to remain" with its army in northern Syria until the Jarablus area is entirely under the control of Free Syria Army rebels, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik told NTV on Thursday. ISIS forces reportedly evacuated the border city on Wednesday evening.



The Turkish military presence will also continue until all Kurdish forces have withdrawn to east of the Euphrates river, Isik added. The minister said the Kurds had started to leave the area and should complete their withdrawal "within two weeks" on the basis of an agreement with the US. (ANSAmed).




Erdogan looks toward leading role in Syrian conflict Airstrikes follow rapprochement with Iran and Russia

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, August 25 - Following the rapprochement with Iran and Russia, main allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey is now mending its relations with the United States, whose forces are fully collaborating in the attack on the Syrian city of Jarablus.



Turkey's recent diplomatic activism, extending into military action, confirms Turkey's ambition not only in safeguarding its interests in Syria, but also in carving out a central role in the solution of the conflict there.



On Wedensday American-led coalition jets conducted airstrikes with Turkish jets on ISIS forces in northern Syria.



Turkey also gained an important political concession when US Vice President Joe Biden said that Kurdish YPG militants must retreat to east of the Euphrates, leaving the city of Manbij, which they took from ISIS in a US-backed operation about ten days ago.



Biden said if the YPG militants don't retreat, they won't have the support of the United States.



The militants have thus far been Washington's main allies in the fight against ISIS, but Turkey sees them as tied to Turkish Kurds of the PKK who are fighting for their independence, and therefore considered terrorists by the Turkish government.



One of Turkey's main objectives in the offensive on Jarablus is to prevent the city from falling into the hands of Kurdish militants with an advance from Manbij, about 40 km south.



That would allow the Kurds to establish wider control in northern Syria, which runs for hundreds of kilometres along the Turkish border.



Concerns that this situation could produce a domino effect on other Kurdish populations doesn't rest only with Turkey but also with Iran as well as Syria, whose troops were engaged in recent days in unprecedented fighting against YPG forces in the region of Hasaka.



Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu have had long talks in recent days both in Ankara and Tehran.



Dialogue between the two countries is set to be strengthened in an upcoming visit to Iran by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.



"In the region it's important that there's effort by the US, Russia, Turkey and Iran to stop the threats" of terrorism, and to "protect the territorial integrity of Syria," said Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wedensday. (ANSAmed).




Photographs by Scianna and Burri on show in Venice The first focuses on Jewish Ghetto in its 500th anniversary

(by Nicoletta Castagni).



(ANSAmed) - ROME, AUGUST 25 - Photography buffs can enjoy two major exhibitions opening on Friday at the Casa dei Tre Oci in Venice. The first is a show of previously unpublished pictures by Ferdinando Scianna of the Jewish Ghetto in the lagoon city to mark the 500th anniversary of its foundation. The Sicilian photographer has realised a photographic reportage focusing on daily life in the Ghetto that also includes portraits and pictures of architectural details, domestic interiors and places of worship. In it, the symbolic, historical and ritual dimension linked to places and gestures and the present and ordinary coexist.



The second exhibition is a show of photographs by Rene Burri dedicated to 20th century architecture and its protagonists. 'Rene Burri. Utopia' running until January 8, 2017, brings together over 100 photographs by the Swiss artist who died in 2014 and who was president of the prestigious Magnum photographic agency in 1982. The exhibition has been organised to coincide with the 2016 architecture biennale in Venice. (ANSAmed).




Morocco cops nab suspect in Italy teen's murder Alessandro Lauciello, 18, stabbed to death yesterday

(ANSA) - RABAT, AUGUST 25 - Moroccan police on Thursday arrested a suspect in the murder of an Italian teen who was stabbed to death yesterday.



The suspect aged 28 was arrested in his native city of Casablanca 12 hours after the killing of Alessandro Lauciello, 18, at dawn on Wednesday in the northern port city of Kenitra, a popular summer resort for wealthy Moroccans living abroad.



The man has a record for petty offences and had worked as a custodian at the Lauciello family's Massimo Circus, but had been fired.



The victim's father Massimiliano Lauciello, who comes from Italy's southern Puglia region, was seriously wounded in the attack and is hospitalised in the capital, Rabat.



Three Portuguese circus employees were slightly injured. Police say the younger man died trying to shield his father from the attacker, who may have had accomplices.



The Lauciello family moved to the North African country in 2014 because the victim's mother, Samira, is Moroccan.




Ten more Turkish tanks cross border into Syria, media Day 2 of operation against ISIS and Kurds

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, AUGUST 25 - At least another 10 Turkish tanks entered Syria on Thursday on day two of the operation Euphrates Shield to "secure" the border against ISIS and Kurdish forces, local media report. On Wednesday around 20 tanks and a similar number of armoured vehicles crossed the border, paving the way for Free Syria Army (FSA) rebels to wrest the strategic city of Jarablus from ISIS control. (ANSAmed).




EU deploys election observers in Jordan Vote scheduled for September 20

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, AUGUST 25 - The European Union Observer mission for Jordan elections today deployed long term election observers to monitor Jordan election scheduled for September 20.



By this, the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to Jordan's political reforms, further democratization and stability. The EU EOM is lead by Chief Observer Jo LEINEN, a Member of the European Parliament from Germany.



"I thank the Jordanian authorities for inviting us to observe this important election, a fundamental step in Jordan's reform process", said Chief Observer Jo LEINEN at a press conference in Amman. "It is the second time that the EU deploys an Election Observation Mission to Jordan. As in 2013, we will neither interfere or supervise the electoral process in any way, nor seek to legitimize the results. This is the election of the Jordanian people. We hope to contribute to an overall credible, transparent and inclusive process with our impartial and objective assessment to be published after the election day", the Chief Observer added. The EU EOM arrived on 13 August in Amman with a Core Team of nine analysts. A second group of 26 long-term observers joined the EU EOM on 20 August and was deployed today across Jordan.



Additionally, 40 short-term observers will join the EU EOM before Election Day together with a delegation of the European Parliament. A number of locally recruited short-term observers from diplomatic representations of EU Member States in Jordan will also take part in the observation. The EU EOM will comprise more than 80 observers from all 28 EU Member States, Switzerland and Norway. The EU EOM will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process based on a long-term observation, in line with domestic law as well as regional and international standards.



This analysis includes aspects such as the legal framework, the performance of the election administration, the campaign, the respect of fundamental freedoms, the conduct of the media, the voting and counting, the complaints and appeals process and the announcement of the results. EU EOM observers are bound by a code of conduct which does not allow any interference in the process. The EU EOM will publish its initial findings in a Preliminary Statement, which will be presented in a press conference within two days after the election day. A Final Report will be published within two months of the completion of the electoral process and will include recommendations - offered for consideration to the authorities - for possible improvements of future elections.



The EU has signed two Memoranda of Understanding with the IEC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs guaranteeing freedom of movement to all EU EOM observers and access to all polling stations and relevant information. The EU EOM is independent from any EU institutions or Member State and is committed to remain neutral and abide by the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, the Code of Conduct for international observers and the Jordanian laws. (ANSAmed).




"Impossible to deny" use of chemical weapons in Syria, US White House urges Iran and Russia to "seek accountability"

(ANSAmed) - WASHINGTON, AUGUST 25 - It is now "impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people" in violation of UN Security Council resolution 2118, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported that both President Bashar al-Assad and ISIS had "perpetrated chemical attacks in Syria". Washington also appealed to Russia and Iran to participate in efforts to "seek accountability" through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, including through the UN Security Council and the OPCW.



"The findings by the UN and the OPCW present yet another opportunity for all nations to speak with one voice to address these heinous crimes and to make it clear that the use of chemical weapons is intolerable," the statement read. (ANSAmed).




Kerry and Lavrov to meet in Geneva, UN Syrian envoy says To talk about humanitarian ceasefire in Aleppo

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, AUGUST 25 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet in Geneva, most likely on Friday, to talk about a possible ceasefire in Syria, said UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in a briefing held in Geneva and carried live on Al Jazeera.



Kerry will arrive in Geneva from Riyadh, where on Thursday he held talks with Saudi authorities and representatives of other Gulf countries backing Syrian rebels.



De Mistura reiterated the request for a 48-hour ceasefire to bring humanitarian aid to civilians in Aleppo.



"Russia has said yes; now we're waiting for the others. The trucks are ready to depart," De Mistura said.



Various media sources have said that the talks between Kerry and Lavrov could go beyond that of the ceasefire to include the possibility of cooperation in anti-ISIS operations.



The meeting is scheduled to take place amidst an increasingly complicated climate in which Turkish forces are now intervening in northern Syria against ISIS and US-backed Kurdish militants.



On Thursday Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed concern for the "armed escalation" between pro-government forces and Kurdish militants in the northwestern Syrian city of Al-Hasakah.



"The Russian side is undertaking energetic efforts through various channels to put an end as soon as possible to the fratricidal clashes that help only the terrorists and those who would like to completely destroy Syria," Zakharova said.



De Mistura's Special Advisor Jan Egeland said humanitarian aid convoys would head for the eastern rebel-controlled side of Aleppo, departing from Turkey. Convoys for the pro-government-controlled western side of the city would come from Damascus. (ANSAmed).




BEIRUT - US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday proposed a peace plan for Yemen that would include the presence of Houthi rebels in a national unity government.



The announcement came following meetings in Saudi Arabia with representatives of Riyadh, Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates. Kerry said the Houthis would be required to give up their heavy weapons to a third party, including ballistic missiles from Iran deployed at Saudi Arabian borders.



"We now encourage the Houthis and their supporters to back this plan," Kerry said, referring to Iran, the main ally of the Shia rebels that have controlled the country's capital city Sanaa since September 2014. The government recognised by the international community is that of President Abd Rabbo Mansur Hadi, which has its provisional capital in the southern port city of Aden and is allied with Saudi Arabia. Kerry expressed concern for the "deteriorating humanitarian situation" in Yemen and the civilian victims of bombings "from wherever they are caused". He was referring to Saudi-led Arab coalition airstrikes that since March 2015 have targeted the Houthis and their military allies still loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.



Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has accused the coalition of bombing four of its hospitals in less than a year.



The most recent of these attacks, in Hajjah province, killed 19 and left 24 wounded.



The civil war has been going on for nearly two years and has brought more than 9,000 deaths, of whom 3,800 were civilians, as well as displaced three million people.



Kerry announced another 189 million dollars allocated for the Yemeni population, highlighting that the US is already the leading donor country.

According to reports, recently Houthi rebels and ex-president Ali Saleh formed a Supreme National Council in Sanaa and called on Saudi Arabia to direct negotiations in an attempt to bypass stalled UN-sponsored peace talks.
ISTANBUL- Turkey "has the right to remain" with its army in northern Syria until the Jarablus area is entirely under the control of Free Syria Army rebels, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik told NTV on Thursday. ISIS forces reportedly evacuated the border city on Wednesday evening.



The Turkish military presence will also continue until all Kurdish forces have withdrawn to east of the Euphrates river, Isik added. The minister said the Kurds had started to leave the area and should complete their withdrawal "within two weeks" on the basis of an agreement with the US.
Chinese Taipei has agreed to voluntarily contribute USD 500,000 in additional funding for APEC members collaborative efforts to boost regional economic integration and protection against borderless threats to their peoples lives and livelihoods.

A Memorandum of Understanding on the donation was signed on Thursday in Lima by officials from Chinese Taipeis Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the APEC Secretariat in Singapore, which administers member projects that turn the sustainable growth priorities of the regions Leaders and Ministers into action.

The move will fund projects through the remainder of 2016, including those advanced by APEC Senior Officials meeting here this weekend to open up new economic opportunities and improve standards of living across the region. It will also fund research conducted by the APEC Policy Support Unit to bolster policy development in support of these goals.

Since joining APEC as a full member in 1991, Chinese Taipei has made every effort to be a constructive partner of and effective contributor to the APEC family, said Ambassador Pei-yung Hsu, APEC Senior Official for Chinese Taipei. We cherish every opportunity to work with the APEC Secretariat and other member economies.

It is our firm belief that, through meaningful contributions, significant progress can be made in efforts to realize common goals and visions, Ambassador Hsu explained.

APEC member economies fund around 100 projects annually to bridge their knowledge and resource gaps, and better position them to adopt new policy solutions. In 2015, they contributed more than USD 9 million for projects such as technical workshops, training sessions and research. Over 2,000 have been undertaken since APEC initiated project work and founded a Secretariat in 1993. Up to 150 projects may be under implementation at any given time.

Through APEC projects, Chinese Taipei is mobilizing public-private collaboration to enhance the digital competencies of small and medium enterprises that employ over half of the labor force in APEC economies, promoting their development and participation in cross-border business and trade. Enhancing natural disaster resilience within the sector as risks grow due to climate change is a parallel focus.

Chinese Taipei is further creating impetus in APEC to reduce food losses and waste across industry supply chains, helping to keep up with demand as income and consumption levels rise. It is also cultivating regional initiatives for strengthening energy security strained by these phenomena, with attention to clean, renewable energy development and improvements in efficiency standards vital to green growth.

The rise in scrutiny of trade and globalization is encouraging governments and the private sector to break new ground to ensure that policy regimes more closely align with changing public needs and expectations, noted Dr Alan Bollard, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.

Chinese Taipeis latest donation to the APEC Support Fund, Human Security Sub Fund and the Policy Support Unit is welcome news, he concluded. The increased availability of funds for capacity building initiatives in APEC will enable Chinese Taipei and other member economies to take policy innovation another step forward.

# # #

For additional information, or to arrange possible media interviews, please contact:

David Hendrickson +65 9137 3886 at [email protected]

Michael Chapnick (in Lima) +65 9647 4847 at [email protected]

More on APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found on. You can also follow APEC onand join us on




To all owners and financiers of large aircraft, new regulation has been introduced, is coming into force soon and it affects you very personally.

Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 (the Basic Regulation) entered into force on 8 April 2008. Operators and personnel involved in the operation of certain aircraft have to comply with the relevant essential requirements set out in Annex VI to this EASA Air Operations Regulation. The rule applies to non-commercial operators of complex aircraft with a principal place of business or residence in a Member State of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Therefore it applies to EASA and non-EASA registered aircraft.

The new Implementing Rules (Regulation EU 965/2012 & EU 800/2013) came into force on 28 October 2012. However, Member States have the flexibility to postpone the applicability of the rule by up to two or three years. For those states who decided to opt out, the final cut-off date is 25 August 2016, by which time the non-commercial operation of business jets and other complex motor-powered aircraft will have to comply with a new regulation colloquially called Part-NCC._ _

Most professional operators will have been aware of the impending rules for some time and will have already adapted their systems, procedures and manuals accordingly. In the case of aircraft which are not managed by a professional operator or indeed managed by an operator who is not up to date on the new changes, the owners and financiers and operators of such aircraft are at risk.

The regulation has highlighted an underlying risk within private and corporate aviation and the resulting exposure to financiers and owners. Furthermore, the regulation extends beyond EASA registered aircraft  the focus is instead on the operator. If your N Reg aircraft is based in the EU and operated from the EU, this regulation will apply to you. If the aircraft is not operated by a professional operator, responsibility for the safe and proper operation of the aircraft usually defaults to the owner and that owner must ensure compliance with the regulation. Not knowing what standards are required will not protect these owners from legal responsibility. More worryingly however in the case of many privately managed aircraft, there is no certainty as to who is in fact the operator of the aircraft and if not properly defined, the default position will most likely be the owner.

Private operations - who is the legal operator?

Article 3(h) Reg 216/2008 defines an operator as

a_n_y_ _l_e_g_a_l_ _o_r_ _n_a_t_u_r_a_l_ _p_e_r_s_o_n_,_ _o_p_e_r_a_t_i_n_g_ _o_r_ _p_r_o_p_o_s_i_n_g_ _t_o_ _o_p_e_r_a_t_e_ _o_n_e_ _o_r_ _m_o_r_e_ _a_i_r_c_r_a_f_t_. Depending on the underlying or surrounding operation and management of the particular aircraft, the definition can apply to many different people who oversee the day to day operation of the jet including the pilot, the flight department within a corporate group, aircraft managers or consultants, or the owner itself.

The operator has full legal and regulatory responsibility for the aircraft and each flight. The operator is responsible for such things as:

i. Maintenance management

ii. Employment of flight crew

iii. Preparation and maintenance of operations manual

iv. Responsibility for entering into contracts for particular operations

v. Flight planning, fuelling and repairing the aircraft

vi. Keeping the required aircraft records e.g. log books

vii. Briefing the flight crew

viii. Control of the operation in the sense of deciding when the aircraft will take off, where it will go, and what it will carry

ix. The ability to abort the operation

x. Compliance with regulation and laws

xi. Safety oversight and systems

In the event that any supporting functions are contracted out the owner may still retain overall responsibility: full operational control of private aircraft cannot be easily contracted out and the ability to do so depends on many factors, not least the state of registration of the aircraft. For example if the aircraft is registered as a private aircraft with the FAA, Part 91 of the FAA regulations confirms that the owner retains full operational responsibility for the aircraft at all times and this responsibility cannot be fully transferred from the owner (with some carve outs for leases and fractional ownership models). The possibility for a legal nightmare arises in the context of a Part 91 aircraft based in Europe. If the FAA say the operator is the owner and he lives in the US but EASA say the operator may be the manager based in the EU, which regulation applies? Sadly this is not clear and is an issue EBAA will be tackling in the coming months at various working groups organised on topic.

Private use

When an aircraft is operated privately, in very general terms it means that the aircraft cannot be used for charter or Commercial Air Transport. In such cases the aviation authorities have relaxed certain rules around the operation of these jets - the main reasons owners tend to want to keep the aircraft as a privately operated aircraft are as follows:

1. Flight time limitations - flying privately does not have the same restrictions on flying hours for pilots so effectively you can push them to fly for longer.

2. Runway length - some runways are deemed too short for commercial aircraft but you can land privately (e.g. Cannes).

3. Cabotage - a commercial aircraft is obliged to request flight permissions to fly point to point within a territory. So for example an EU registered aircraft would need permissions to fly point to point within the US. The permissions tend to be readily granted but the paperwork is an additional task.

In many cases, the structures put in place to manage and operate these aircraft remained unscrutinised by the regulatory authorities. Not only that, many owners have not engaged the services of professional advisors when putting these structures in place and are not aware that they may have exposed themselves to full responsibility for the operational control of the jet when they thought they had passed it off to the aviation consultant they trusted to do the job, usually at a very modest cost. An owner is at liberty to hire whoever he wants to operate the jet and in

many cases many owners hired ad hoc consultants who provided varying services to keep the aircraft flying. Which one of them is the operator? Do you as an owner really want to wait to find out that it was you all along?

EASA has quite rightly identified the potential risk of allowing owners to do whatever they want with complex machines and under the new regulations the requirements for proper and safe operation of private aircraft (referred to in the regulations as non-commercial complex aircraft) has been increased. For example, all operators of such aircraft will be required to create and maintain an Operations Manual, a Safety Management System (SMS) and will be required to submit their aircraft to a CAMO. If the owner is the operator, this responsibility falls squarely on him.

There are many areas of risk for owners and operators of privately operated jets quite aside from the new responsibility introduced by the EASA Air Operations Regulation. Some examples are set out below.

1. When an aircraft is operated privately the owner is on board or guests of the owners may be on board provided they are not paying for the flight. At EASA level, any payment for the flight is illegal unless the aircraft is operated by an AOC holder that is a licensed operator with an Air Operators Certificate (AOC). In the UK, the Air Navigation Order uses the definition of public transport which is a similar concept to commercial air transport save that any consideration may include non-cash payments. For example if I let you fly on my jet in return for a free room in your hotel, this is considered to be valuable consideration for the flight. If the flight is not operated by an AOC holder, technically it is an illegal flight, known colloquially as grey charter.

2. When aircraft are operated privately, the default position by law is usually that the owner is the legal operator. It is possible to delegate this responsibility to a professional operator but under many regulatory systems, the owner remains liable for the safe operation of that flight and is deemed by law to be in operational control of the flight. This goes way beyond the authority of the pilot in command  the person having operational control has regulatory responsibility and is accountable for safety and all other aspects of the aircraft operation. Many professional operators will agree to provide management services for the operation of an aircraft privately but the wording of such contracts is deliberately construed to ensure that the owner remains the legal operator. Certain services will have been delegated or subcontracted to the professional operator but the owner remains ultimately responsible and answerable if for example aviation regulation were breached in any way. It is very important in negotiating these agreements that the owner does hire an operator to provide management services and then unwittingly absolve the professional operator of all responsibility by acknowledging that the owner remains ultimately responsible.

3. Many owners have historically bought aircraft in their own name or even in the name of a company with other assets. This person or company becomes the owner and the legal operator and is the responsible party for the due and safe operation, maintenance and control of the aircraft. The buck stops with you. If you do not use special purpose vehicles to protect yourself from claims or the consequences of a major loss, now is certainly the time to review your holding structures. Even if you delegate the responsibility you will never be able to delegate it completely. If your corporate service provider tells you they will become the operator and they even allow you to register the aircraft with their name on the register as the operator, this will not help you. For one they are not really aircraft operators and calling them an operator wont fool the regulators. You may not have divested operational responsibility (see above) and you certainly would have some awkward questions to answer as to why you think hiring a CSP as an operator instead of a professional aircraft operator should divest you of corporate (or Directors) responsibility for the safe operation of the jet.



4. In many cases, owners run their own flight departments which will at least consist of one or two pilots. If the aircraft has always been operated as a private aircraft, it is very unlikely these people will know or be sufficiently experienced to ensure the aircraft as an NCC aircraft is operated to AOC standards. Being licensed to fly an aircraft does not necessarily translate into being an expert on operational requirements and to some degree it is unfair to expect this of the pilots. However, if the owner is the operator, the fact that the flight department does not work to the requisite standard is an exposure for the owner. Non-compliance and the resulting breach of regulation exposes the owner to penalty but even more seriously has the potential to negate the insurance policy, a pre-condition of which tends to be that the aircraft be operated to aviation regulatory standards. Similarly the on-going covenants of most financing documents require proper and safe operation to the requisite regulatory standard and failure to do so is an immediate breach of the loan or lease entitling the financier to repossess and in most cases sell the aircraft. This is particularly the case in finance leases where the lender is the legal owner of the aircraft. The finance documentation ensures that operational responsibility passes to the borrower. Many financiers do not appreciate that it may not be legally possible to divest all operational responsibility for the safe and proper operation of an aircraft. The financier as the legal owner may be the legal operator and is ultimately responsible.

Grey charter  who is the legal operator?

An aircraft which is intended to be offered for third party charter (i.e. operated commercially or for public transport) must be operated by a professional operator with an AOC. As soon as the aircraft is added to the AOC, that operator becomes the operator and the owner is absolved of operational responsibility.

Many privately operated aircraft should be on an AOC because they are unwittingly breaching the rules and regulations surrounding charter of aircraft. Quite simply, if consideration passes for a flight, that is commercial air transport and the aircraft must be on an AOC with a professional operator. Failure to do so is illegal and will negate the underlying insurance policy. One of the biggest underwriters in the aviation insurance market told us recently that if they were aware of an incident involved an illegally operated aircraft, they may not even have a choice in terms of whether they would cover the loss. Insurance cannot cover illegal acts. If the act is illegal, the underwriter is restricted by insurance law from paying out.

So when is the flight illegal? Most immediately consider the flagrant breach of regulation as the obvious example. I own a jet which is registered on a private register and I advertise that jet as being available for charter. This is a clear breach.

The grey aspect of illegal charter can however arise in the context of charge backs for flights. So for example a corporate owns an aircraft and charges throughout the Group for the use of the jet  this is a sensible corporate policy and is a way of defraying both the fixed and operational costs of running the aircraft. The Group benefits from the use of the aircraft for the benefit of the business as a whole and no one subsidiary has to carry the on-going costs. The problem arises when the Group is not really a group. The definition of Group in the context of aviation regulation does not necessarily marry with the definition of Group within IFRS accounting rules. The definition is quite restricted and generally includes wholly owned subsidiaries of a common parent company. Affiliates are not included where the equity share falls below 51%. Any company outside that definition is not within the Group for aviation regulation purposes and charging that entity for a flight is third party charter. If the operation of that flight is not carried out by an AOC holder, it is illegal. Taking an unconnected client on board the aircraft and allowing them to share in the fuel cost is illegal. Allowing the same client to pay for the hotel room in return for the flight makes the

flight an illegal charter. In some countries even conducting a business meeting on board the aircraft whereby some benefit passes is valuable consideration and potentially illegal.

The potential exposure to the owner of the aircraft is immense  the owner is the operator and if the owner has allowed illegal charter on the aircraft, the owner is ultimately responsible. The Directors of that owning company have a duty of care to the company and to the shareholders and hiring a flight department will not absolve them from liability. If the illegal flight has an incident, the owning entity will be responsible as the operator and the Directors will need to answer some very difficult questions surrounding their approved operation. If you are one such owner and you have never audited your flight department now is the time to do so. In many cases the flight department themselves have not appreciated the legal subtleties. This is even more pronounced in comparing EASA and FAA regulation. The FAA has quite sensibly introduced a type of licensing or oversight of privately operated aircraft (Part 91) and permits what is known as time share agreements. Under these agreements, sharing the cost of fuel on the flight in certain circumstances is permitted (up to two times fuel). In an EASA context, this is illegal because somebody who is not connected to the owner is paying for the flight.

So how do you resolve it? You either audit your flight department thoroughly or re-assess your charge back systems throughout the Group or you place the aircraft with an AOC holder and you can charge whoever you want for the flights with the comfort of knowing someone else has taken legal responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft. If your passengers pay market rate for the charter and you use that to defray the fixed costs, this is all permissible and even helps with any benefit in kind issues created by your Directors and management using the jet. The added bonus is that there are some very attractive tax reliefs and structures available for commercially operated aircraft.
The Hajj kits will be offered to all passengers travelling for pilgrimage on the airlines flights to Jeddah and Medina during the Hajj season, starting from 25 August 2016.

The Hajj kits were first launched by Qatar Airways in 2015 and each Hajj kit includes items that are beneficial to pilgrims as they make their journey through the Holy sites. The kit contains a prayer counter, prayer beads, prayer mat, stone bag, socks and wet wipes, conveniently packaged in a bag that can also be used to carry shoes.

Qatar Airways, senior vice president, customer experience, Rossen Dimitrov, said: Qatar Airways flights to Jeddah and Madina offer convenient travel for those passengers who wish to make their Hajj pilgrimage. Qatar Airways introduced the Hajj kits as a way to provide pilgrims with items that would be of value to them during their religious journey and in recognition of the importance of this spiritual time. Providing our passengers with an exceptional journey is a priority for Qatar Airways, and we are delighted to be able to offer them a gift tailored to their specific needs while experiencing Hajj.
Turkish Technic and Onur Air signed Airbus A320 component pooling contract in 2012 and agreed to extend the contract till 2021.

The contract comprises component supply and repair on ATA Chapter basis. Components will be supplied from Istanbul main base and Turkish Technic pooling stations worldwide. Repair work of the components will be done at the Turkish Technic new state-of-art facility in Sabiha Gokcen Airport Istanbul/Turkey. The contract also enhance strong business partnership between parties.

Onur Air CEO Teoman Tosun, expressed Onur Air trust in Turkish Technics quality of services and also feeling appreciation to have the support of the leading MRO of the world. Teoman Tosun added We are recognized for high quality services of Turkish Technic to support our component supply. We assume that this will be an ideal solution to our Airbus A320/A321 operations.



Turkish Technic CEO Ahmet Karaman said We thank Onur Air for extending contract with Turkish Technic for component pooling. This is a new clear indication that we keep our services at the highest level and ensure operators satisfaction, We reached a fleet size more than 700 aircraft in component pool market.
A 100-year-old blacksmiths forge, rescued and transformed by 2020 Architects in Northern Ireland creating a modern, sustainable and super insulated straw bale and timber frame extension. Nestled into its existing terrain along the Portrush peninsula, this family home opens up to spectacular, uninterrupted panoramic views from Scotland through to Donegal. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the building takes its queues in both form and materials from the agricultural heritage of its surroundings.

The site consisted of a 100-year-old derelict blacksmiths forge and the crumbling ruins of an attached blacksmiths cottage sitting on the edge of a country road, but benefitting from some of the best coastal and rural views on the North Antrim Coast, with uninterrupted panoramic views from Donegal to Scotland.

The concept behind the Ballymagarry House project was conservation of the old forge and rebuilding the ruins of the original dwelling creating a visual barrier for a modern, highly glazed, curved roof living accommodation block to sit behind.

These two blocks are only visible together gable on. The two gables create strong basic shapes that can be seen in the agricultural buildings throughout the Irish Countryside. 2020 Architects and the planners wanted to retain as much of the original forge as possible, conserving the character which would help to ground the design in the Irish vernacular. The curved roofed element of the extension was a solution to the need for two storeys while still being lower than the roof of the original forge. The two strong forms are divided by a flat roofed section planted as a wildflower meadow. Due to the sloping nature of the site, the building increases in height as you drive along the road from west to east, this is an original feature used to enhance the drama of design internally.

The completed house creates a guided journey from the moment a visitor arrives on site; it unfurls slowly leading the visitor through differing scenes. The dwelling is approached from the lower western gable where the flat roof of the dividing section is at eye level. On opening the door, a 16m long wall of natural unpainted stone pulls your eye into the depth of the house, this 500mm thick stone wall was partially rebuilt using the original stone from the site and utilising traditional masonry skills. The wall is a touch stone for the house; it can be viewed from all but one room and continually ties the modern house back to the history of the site. The wall increases in scale as you walk down a corridor created by the wild flower roof above and between the two strong competing forms of the building. The tension of these two spaces sets up much of the drama of the house, the curving wall of the modern extension pushing against the heft of a massive stone element. The stone wall is punctured as little as possible to form openings to bedrooms & utility spaces beyond. The house is on seven different levels ensuring that it integrates discreetly into the undulating fields beyond.

A timber structure was used for the Ballymagarry House project due to the environmental implications and also the natural beauty of timber, which 2020 Architects wanted to use as one of the defining features of the house.

Due to the open-plan nature of the design and the curved shape of the roof, the curved glulam structure was always going to be one of the most important components of the project. The decision to expose the timber glulam beam structure and use it as one of the main features of the house, made it a unique and innovative solution. The curved glulam beams, don't just break up the long cylindrical ceiling, but bring a natural beauty and warmth to a largely blank canvas.

2020 Architects believe that this particular project demonstrates the flexibility of design that timber can provide. That the structure of a building should not only be seen as a means to supporting the roof and walls, but can be integrated into the design as a main focal point and a thing of beauty.

The Ballymagarry House is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and stunning builds in Northern Ireland. As winner's of the 2016 RICS Award for Best Residential Project, it has also been shortlisted for the National Award. With the choice of timber structure and straw bale insulation, this project has demonstrated that contemporary design and sustainability can go
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh says overnight August 24-25 the Azerbaijani forces made 30 ceasefire violations by firing more than 430 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions in Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Defense Army forces mainly adhered to the ceasefire regime and took counter measures only in case of strict necessity.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The death toll in the Italian earthquake has risen to at least 247 as thousands of rescuers continue efforts to find survivors, BBC reported.

Dozens are believed trapped in ruined Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in mountainous central Italy.

The search went on through the night, and there was a strong aftershock which rocked already damaged buildings.

More than 4,300 rescuers are using heavy lifting equipment and their bare hands.

Many of the victims were children, the health minister said, and there were warnings the toll could rise further.

The 6.2-magnitude quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT) on Wednesday 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome.

The latest death toll was given on Thursday morning - 190 deaths in Rieti province and 57 in neighbouring Ascoli Piceno province.

Rescuers said they had pulled five bodies from the ruins of the Hotel Roma in the historic town of Amatrice. Officials said about 35 people had been staying at the hotel and most had managed to get out. About 10 people were still unaccounted for, a local fire official said.

Late on Wednesday there were cheers in the village of Pescara del Tronto when a young girl was pulled alive from the rubble after being trapped for 17 hours. Almost all the houses there had collapsed, the mayor said.

The quake struck small towns and villages in the mountainous area where the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche meet.

People there spent the night outside or in tents provided by the emergency services.

Among the victims was an 18-month-old toddler, Marisol Piermarini, whose mother Martina Turco survived the deadly 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila and moved away from there after the experience, Italian news agency Ansa reported.

Turco was being treated in hospital after being pulled from the rubble in the village of Arquata del Tronto, Ansa said.

The area has also been shaken by strong aftershocks, including a 4.7-magnitude tremor with its epicentre about 7km east of Norcia, according to the US Geological Survey.

The mayor of Amatrice said three-quarters of the town had been destroyed and no building was safe for habitation.

Many of those affected were on holiday in the region. Some were in Amatrice for a festival to celebrate a famous local speciality - amatriciana bacon and tomato sauce.

The country is no stranger to earthquakes: the 2009 L'Aquila tremor killed more than 300 people and in May 2012 two tremors nine days apart killed more than 20 people in the northern Emilia Romagna region.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook central Myanmar on Wednesday, damaging scores of ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist attraction, officials said, LA Times reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, which hit around 4:34 p.m. local time, was centered about 15 miles west of Chauk, an area west of Bagan. It was located fairly far below the Earth's surface at a depth of about 52 miles, it 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 in a statement. Bagan, also known as Pagan, has more than 2,200 structures, including pagodas and temples, constructed from 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.

The vast site is the country's 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.

Myo Thant, general-secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee, said that other areas apparently were not badly affected and that there were no reports of deaths in connection with the quake.

However, police officer Htay Win in Pakokku, about 45 miles from the epicenter, said one person there had been killed, and one was injured. "The person was killed by falling bricks from a building," he said.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement reported two other deaths in nearby Thitapwe village.

Vincent Panzani, a staff member in Pakokku for the aid agency Save the Children, said colleagues in the area agreed it was the strongest earthquake they had 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. There have also been reports of damage to smaller, more basic buildings including a collapsed wall and a destroyed roof."

The epicenter is an area where earthquakes are fairly common, but usually don't cause many casualties because there are no large, densely populated cities. However, reports of damage from remote villages often are slow to arrive.

Staff members of the London-based international charity Save the Children in Pakokku, about 45 miles from the epicenter, said they felt heavy shaking when the earthquake struck and hurried outside, according to Evan Schuurman, a spokesman for the group. He said they reported moderate damage in the area, including tilting pagodas and buildings with large cracks.

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 immediate reports of serious damage in the city.

The quake also was felt in half a dozen states in neighboring India, where people rushed out of offices and homes at several places. It caused buildings to sway in Bangkok, Thailand's capital, several hundred miles to the east. There were no immediate reports of damage in either country.

The last major quake in the area occurred in April about 180 miles farther north, and measured magnitude 6.9. It caused no reported casualties and only minor damage.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. 25 year old Shiraz H. has voluntarily surrendered a 5.6mm caliber improvised firearm and 5 rounds of 5.45mm caliber to the Gavar Police Department, the Press Service of the Police told ARMENPRESS.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Citibank office located at 15 Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street 800 meters from the Kremlin was seized at about 18:30 Moscow Time on Wednesday. The man who called himself Aram Petrosyan, born in 1961, threatened to blow the office up, TASS reported.

On his neck was a box wrapped in yellow sticky tape with wires inside. He told hostages to call the police and asked them to spread information about what was happening by means of social networks. He demanded that the current law on personal bankruptcy be canceled and that "a personal bankruptcy institution" be established to address the problems of bankrupt businessmen.

The hostage taker said he was an entrepreneur and had been manufacturing first aid kits but went bankrupt. He presented the kits to bank employees and visitors who became his hostages.

The man was saying he had 2 million rubles ($30,700) worth of loans, but not in Citibank, and that he had no complaints about that lending institution. He explained that he had chosen Citibank as an international bank to attract the maximum attention.

When the man entered the bank, there were six people inside: three clients, two cashiers and a security guard. A female employee was the first to be freed: she told the hostage taker that she is pregnant and could suddenly feel bad, and he let her go. After that, the security guard fled the building.

By 22:00 Moscow Time, the perpetrator freed all hostages and surrendered to police.

Law enforcers said the perpetrator had no real explosive device. The box was a mockup.

A law enforcement source said the hostage taker demanded that his address be shown on television, after which camera crews of federal TV channels approached him. "After that, he said he had no explosive device, the box contained salt, and he handed it over, saying he was surrendering," the source said.

The man was behaving calmly and apologized for what happened. "He explained that he would not have resorted to that measure should he have settled financial issues with the authorities earlier," law enforcement agencies said.

The suspect has been detained, he will soon be questioned by Investigative Committee investigators.

Criminal proceedings were launched under Article 206 of the Russian Criminal Code (hostage taking).
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Twelve people, including seven students, were killed in an attack on the American University in Kabul that sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic, police said early on Thursday, before the assault ended when two gunmen were shot dead, Reuters reported.

The attack began at around 6:30 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Wednesday 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 pupils were working.

Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed during the attack, the second incident involving the university this month.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded.

"The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team."

The Afghan Public Health Ministry said no foreigners were reported among the wounded.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, told Reuters that police had evacuated between 700 and 750 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan's elite.

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," he said.

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 destabilizing Afghanistan 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 swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Embassy in Italy set a hotline for Armenian citizens affected by the earthquake in Italy and need assistance, the Armenian MFA writes on Facebook, Armenpress reports.

The Armenian citizens can call at +390687788654.

Earlier it was reported the MFA clarifies whether or not Armenians were among the victims of the earthquake in Italy.

The Armenian Embassy is in constant contact with the local authorities.

BBC reported the death toll in the Italian earthquake has risen to at least 247 as thousands of rescuers continue efforts to find survivors.

Dozens are believed trapped in ruined Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in mountainous central Italy.

The search went on through the night, and there was a strong aftershock which rocked already damaged buildings.

More than 4,300 rescuers are using heavy lifting equipment and their bare hands.

Many of the victims were children, the health minister said, and there were warnings the toll could rise further.

The 6.2-magnitude quake hit at 03:36 (01:36 GMT) on Wednesday 100km (65 miles) north-east of Rome.

The quake struck small towns and villages in the mountainous area where the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Le Marche meet.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have signed a historic peace accord, putting an end to more than five decades of conflict, BBC reported.

Both sides have agreed to work together to address social exclusion, to deliver justice to the victims of the conflict and build a stable and enduring peace.

The announcement was made in the Cuban capital, Havana, where peace talks were launched in November 2012.

The conflict has killed an estimated 220,000 people and displaced millions.

"The Colombian government and the Farc announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord," they said in a joint statement.

The head of the Colombian delegation, Humberto de la Calle, and the chief Farc negotiator, Ivan Marquez, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Cuba.

"We have reached our goal," said De la Calle.

"The war is over but also there is also new beginning. This agreement opens the door to a more inclusive society," he added.

The two sides had signed a bilateral ceasefire in June, paving the way for a final agreement.

"It has been a difficult job, with bright and dark moments," said Marquez.

"But we have worked with our hearts. And we can say now it is possible to take our country forward," he added.

President Barack Obama phoned his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, to congratulate him on the deal.

"The president recognized this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement that can advance security and prosperity for the Colombian people," said the White House in a statement.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Farc will give up its armed struggle and join the legal political process.

The Farc has agreed to renounce its armed struggle to join the legal political process.

"There is no room for winners or losers when you achieve peace through negotiations," tweeted Farc negotiator Rodrigo Granda, known as Ricardo Tellez. "Colombia wins, death loses."

Earlier on Wednesday, Farc's leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, had tweeted that "at 18:00 in Colombia (24:00 BST) we will announce the end of the talks and the conclusion of the [peace] accord".

Santos had also promised to give "historic, very important news to the country" later on Wednesday.

The left-wing rebels have been fighting Colombian government since 1964. It is the longest-running conflict in Latin America.

Over the past four years, peace negotiators have managed to reach agreement on six areas: land reform, the Farc's involvement in drug trafficking, justice for the victims, disarmament, future political participation and implementation of the accord.

The deal will need to be approved by Colombians in a popular vote, which will take place on 2 October, Santos announced.

"It will be the most important election of our lives," he said on national television shortly after the deal was signed.

Former President Alvaro Uribe is leading the campaign to get the agreement rejected.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. In an interview with TASS, Eurasian Economic Commission Board Chairman Tigran Sargsyan talked about the negotiation process with China over the trade-economic cooperation, as well as the further integration prospects of the EAEU member states, Armenpress reports.

He recalled that the Eurasian Supreme Economic Council has made a decision in May, 2015 to start negotiations with China over signing the trade-economic cooperation agreement. Sargsyan said the Chinese side, as well as the EAEU member states view the agreement as a component of the organization and the combination process of the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) Chinese initiative.

SREB is a global project which includes various components such as economy, trade, transportation, culture, education, etc. It is important to state that any Chinese Ministry or company are not assigned to implement the SREB projects. The Commission works with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce towards the signing of the trade-economic cooperation agreement, although not only the Ministry, but also the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Silk Road Foundation and other structures are responsible for the SREB, Tigran Sargsyan said.

Speaking about the terms set for the negotiations, Tigran Sargsyan said the sooner the agreement is signed, it will be more beneficial for the sides, but there is no need to hurry since it might harm the agreement and the interests of the sides.

He said the trade-economic cooperation agreement will not replace the relations of EAEU separate member states with China. Quite the contrary, the agreement will contribute to the institutionalization of the relations of the EAEU all member states with China.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. More than 40 thousand first graders will start school in the upcoming school year, Narine Hovhannisyan  Director of Public Education Department of the Education and Science ministry told a press conference in ARMENPRESS.

Two years ago the number of first graders was 38 thousand, last year around 40 thousand, this year based on forecasts I can say more than 40 thousand first graders will start school. This September 1st will be different from the first day of other school years, because this is the September 1st of the 25th anniversary of Armenias Independence. On this occasion various events are planned, she said.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Nagorno Karabakh convened an extraordinary session on August 25 during which the issue related to the NKR Presidents proposal to declare amnesty on the occasion of 25th anniversary of the NKRs declaration was discussed, press service of the NKR Parliament told Armenpress.

Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghoulyan said typically amnesty is declared during the Republics memorable anniversaries, and the amnesty act is the 6th and 4th on the occasion of the NKRs declaration.

All the MPs voted in favor of (28 votes) the Parliaments decision which will come into force after its official publication.

Summarizing the session the Parliament Speaker congratulated the MPs over the upcoming holidays.

The 25th anniversary is the best summary of our past. We have suffered many hardships on this great path and reached the current realities through many sacrifices. The major hero of this is the NKRs citizen, Ashot Ghoulyan said.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. A man detained for seizing a bank in downtown Moscow and taking several people hostage on August 24 evening has told investigators he admits his guilt, senior aide of the head of the Main Investigative Department in Moscow Yulia Ivanova told Interfax.

She said the man gave incriminating testimony. Ivanova said a motion over his arrest will be submitted to the Court on August 26.

Earlier TASS reported the Citibank office located at 15 Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street 800 meters from the Kremlin was seized at about 18:30 Moscow Time on Wednesday. The man who called himself Aram Petrosyan, born in 1961, threatened to blow the office up.

On his neck was a box wrapped in yellow sticky tape with wires inside. He told hostages to call the police and asked them to spread information about what was happening by means of social networks. He demanded that the current law on personal bankruptcy be canceled and that "a personal bankruptcy institution" be established to address the problems of bankrupt businessmen.

The hostage taker said he was an entrepreneur and had been manufacturing first aid kits but went bankrupt. He presented the kits to bank employees and visitors who became his hostages.

The man was saying he had 2 million rubles ($30,700) worth of loans, but not in Citibank, and that he had no complaints about that lending institution. He explained that he had chosen Citibank as an international bank to attract the maximum attention.

When the man entered the bank, there were six people inside: three clients, two cashiers and a security guard. A female employee was the first to be freed: she told the hostage taker that she is pregnant and could suddenly feel bad, and he let her go. After that, the security guard fled the building.

By 22:00 Moscow Time, the perpetrator freed all hostages and surrendered to police.

Law enforcers said the perpetrator had no real explosive device. The box was a mockup.

A law enforcement source said the hostage taker demanded that his address be shown on television, after which camera crews of federal TV channels approached him. "After that, he said he had no explosive device, the box contained salt, and he handed it over, saying he was surrendering," the source said.

The man was behaving calmly and apologized for what happened. "He explained that he would not have resorted to that measure should he have settled financial issues with the authorities earlier," law enforcement agencies said.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov comprised of the MPs Gagik Melikyan and Vahram Mkrtchyan visited military positions in Tavush Province on August 24, got acquainted with the latest technical acquisitions, and discussed a number of important issues with the command staff.

Afterwards, the parliamentarians visited Paravakar, Norashen and Choratan communities. During the meeting in Paravakar community the villagers presented a number of issues, pertaining to drinking water, grape harvest and purveyance. The National Assembly Deputy Speaker noted that there will be no problem with the purveyance of grape as an arrangement has been made with the brandy factory, and the villagers will have an opportunity to deliver the grape crops.

I assure you that your problems are in the centre of our attention, as Armenia starts from the border. Unless your problems are solved and you are strong, we will be weak in Yerevan . That is why we came here according to the National Assembly Presidents assignment to listen to your problems, - Eduard Sharmazanov stated.

Among the raised issues in Norashen community a 78-year old combine operator Yerjanik Atoyan talked about having a new combine. A villager Gor Abrahamyan mentioned that sown areas had been expanded and serious problems emerged during the harvest. We will consider this issue by all means, and in case of lack of reserve funds, the MPs will try to make donations,- said the Deputy Speaker.

The residents of Norashen asked to raise at the National Assembly the issue of recognizing Norashen as a border community. We came here to familiarize ourselves with issues of bordering communities to raise them at coming National Assembly sittings. The most important fact is that people have no problem with grape harvest and storage. The second is the issue of education. I think we should pay great attention to the educational centers in border communities. The Motherland starts with the border. Our country and people have 3 pillars: first, our Apostolic Christian religion and our cross; second, Mesrops alphabet and literature which is our education and science, third is our sword, which means our security. If we are able to provide the cohesion of our cross, Armenian pen and sword, we will be invincible, - stated the Deputy Speaker.

The MPs also visited Tavush Textile factory and got acquainted with the factory with new technological system and the daily activities of its 150 employees. It should be noted that the number of the employees in the factory is planned to be doubled.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Russian Armed Forces General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov will on Friday meet in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, Armenpress reports, citing TASS, the Anadolu news agency reported Thursday.

"According to available data, General Gerasimov will tomorrow (August 26) visit, jointly with the delegation, the Turkish Armed Forces General Staff at 11:00 and hold talks with General Akar," the statement said.

The agency does not cite any other details.

TASS does not have an official confirmation of the report on the part of Russias Defense Ministry.
Best Food & Beverage Products and Services

Would you like to submit an article in the Food & Beverage category or any of the sub-category below? Click here to submit your article.

Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us.
Back in April, before the Brexit vote, Heathcote Williams wrote a merciless pamphlet , subtitled A Study in Depravity, about the most notorious cheerleader for the British exit from the European Union. Completely factual, replete with scores of footnotes, it was circulated to friends and then taken up by the London Review of Books, which republished it after the LRBs bookshop customers began asking for it. Of course it did no good. The little Englanders  as Williams says Orwell would doubtless have called the anxious xenophobes  won the vote. But the pamphlet and its author, a radical dissenter in the Shelleyean mold, refused to go away. Williamss extraordinary text, now updated and expanded, is being brought out in a stunning new edition titled Brexit Boris: From Mayor to Nightmare , featuring brilliant cartoons by Andy Davey Steve Bell , with illustrations by Ralph Steadman and Gerald Scarfe

To get an idea of the new edition, have a look at these pages. (Click each of them for enlargement.)



Theres no substitute, though, for the book itself. As great as these pages look on onscreen, even as oversize enlargements, theyre still no match for the impact they make on the printed page. Its not even close.



The cartoons by the U.K.s top political cartoonists are gems of satirical wit. But a hundred years from now its the text that will be remembered for making clear what the stakes and issues were.
Think about American art in the 1930s. Does anything come to mind? Maybe the Regionalism of Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood. But there was so much more to the decade than that. For one thing, art was subsidized via the Works Progress Administration in the second half of the decade, probably creating a bigger volume and more artists than usual. These years were a hotpot of creativity in many modes, like social realism, surrealism and other modernist styles.

Yet this is an understudied and underexposed period. America After the Fall: Painting in the 1930s at the Art Institute of Chicago does some way toward redressing this, as I learned when I visited the exhibition earlier this month. I reviewed it, positively, in todays Wall Street Journal, where my piece is headlined Bullish on Creativity. Im sorry I didnt get to Chicago sooner, because the exhibit runs only until Sept. 18. Thenanother good sign for American art appreciationit moves to LOrangerie in Paris and then to the Royal Academy in London. It will be the first time, curator Judith Barter tells me, that Woods American Gothic leaves these shores.

I wont summ up the exhibition for you; let me just set the stage and quote from the catalogue. Even as citizens faith in America was shaken, American artists strove to develop a national art.

The result was artistic sparring throughout the 1930s between those who wanted an American art based on realism and those who felt that abstraction was a universal language that pushed beyond nationalism. Many artists sought a new realist aesthetic language aimed at the people; others tried to express the inner world of dreams and imagination. Some used their work for social protest and to address politics; still others tried to create new forms of art and politics that could repair a democracy damaged by economic chaos.

It must have been hard, then, for Barter to choose just 50 works of art. This show could have sprawled in an attempt to show everything. But I am so glad she did have the discipline to pick only what she thought was best. Not everything is to my taste, but the quality is very higheven though some works were pulled from museums storerooms.

If you click on the WSJ link, you can see Aaron Douglass Aspiration. So let me post two works that are not well known, but which I liked a lot. Up top is Joe Joness Roustabouts, from 1934, and below is Helen Lundebergs Double Portrait of the Artist in Time, from 1935.

I can think of only one flaw, but I cant attribute it to the curator, as I didnt ask: There is music playing in the galleries. Woody Guthrie, for example. I like music; I like Guthrie. But I found it to be distracting and tried to blot it out. Lets not have this mini-trend spread.
An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2022 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in Singapore, compiled by the professionals at Dezan...
All the latest Ashbourne news. Ashbourne is an historic market town in Derbyshire. Situated on the southern edge of the Peak District, it is known as the 'Gateway to Dovedale' and the 'Gateway to the Peak District'. Ashbourne is famous for the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match, which has been played since at least 1667, although its origins may date back centuries earlier. Ashbourne became a Fairtrade town in March 2005. The popular Tissington Trail, which follows the route of the former Ashbourne to Buxton railway, starts on the edge of town. Keep up to date with the latest news from the town by signing up for our newsletter.
by Kamran Chaudhry

Pakistan ranks as the fourth most dangerous country for journalists with 115 killings between 1990 and 2015, 28 just last year. Activists and journalists rally in support of Ary News workers whose offices were attacked two days ago.

Lahore (AsiaNews) - Several journalists and activists gathered yesterday at the Lahore Press Club to demand greater protection for media workers in war zones.

The rally comes just a few days after members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) stormed the headquarters of Ary News in Karachi, a coastal city in south-eastern Pakistan, attacking journalists for not covering their week-long hunger strike.

During the clashes with police that followed, one person died and dozens of others were wounded.

The attack against the TV station occurred last Monday. The violence followed the telephonic address by the MQM leader who has been in exile in London for the past 24 years.

He incited his party members by saying that "Pakistan is a cancer on the whole world" and condemning the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of [MQM party] workers.

At the TV station, attackers went on a rampage and held people hostage for several hours, fired in the air and threw stones at police.

In response, Pakistani rangers raided the party headquarters and arrested its leaders.

Lahore Press Club president Shahbaz Mian expressed deep concern over the climate of extremism in which journalists are forced to work.

Many have died covering terror attacks; those who were injured live with handicaps. Media owners dont care for their families; only care for headlines, he said.

The camera is insured but the cameraman has no life insurance. The bullet proof jackets are only for those who are being recorded or broadcast. There is no capacity building or training for teams who are sent off to war zones. The government has failed in protecting us.

According to a report issued by the International Federation of Journalists, Pakistan ranks the fourth most dangerous country in the world for journalists, with a total of 115 killings from 1990 to 2015.

Last year, 28 journalists were killed and 23 injured whilst performing their professional duties in the country.

Mubashar Luqman a senior anchor person, called for greater unity in the journalistic community.

The competing news channels do not name one another when reporting about killing of media workers, who die a nameless death. At least acknowledge them. They should also ban anti-state speeches as well as speeches against any faith, he said.

Rawadari Tehreek (Movement for tolerance) chairman Samson Salamat, a Christian, also expressed solidarity with journalists. As part of civil society, we stand by those who give their life for freedom of expression, he told AsiaNews.

For Civil Society Network President Abdullah Malik, The terrorists target journalists to draw attraction. The state also has a mindset against media that expose those who incite violence, highlight corruption and bad governance as well as speak up for marginalised communities.
Dispute between government and Christian minority is settled after Copts criticised amendments to draft bill prepared by Egyptian Churches. For Coptic leaders, the new proposal is a step towards religious freedom. An armed man attacks a church in Cairo, wounds guard. Motives are still unknown. Christians back President al-Sisi.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church says it has reached an agreement with the government over a long-awaited draft law on the building and restoration of churches.

Government authorities and Church leaders had been at loggerheads over the long overdue and repeatedly postponed law.

Only a few days ago, the Church had described some of the changes as "unacceptable amendments" and "impractical additions" to the draft bill, which had been jointly prepared by Egyptian churches.

But following an extensive meeting of 105 of its bishops yesterday, and recent discussions with President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Sherif Ismael, the Church says it now sees eye to eye with the government on the matter.

The "Holy Synod announces, in good faith, reaching a compromise formula [of the law] with government representatives," the Church said in a statement early Thursday.

The 10-article law is now expected to be sent to the cabinet for approval, then referred to parliament for final ratification.

In the past, Christians and Muslims were clearly treated differently. Now the Church says it hopes the bill will prove a "step forward" in terms of freedom and equality of worship, facilitating the hitherto complex and lengthy process to build a church or Christian place of worship.

In recent days the Coptic Orthodox community had criticised amendments proposed by the government, like allowing the construction of churches provided they have no outside cross or dome or that church size be "proportional" to the number of faithful in an area, a difficult task that lends itself to manipulation.

In recent years, attacks on Egypts minority Coptic Christian community have increased.

The rise has coincided with the community siding with the military after the July 2013 popularly backed military coup that unseated Muslim Brotherhood-backed President Mohammed Morsi.

Scores of churches were burnt and looted following Morsis ouster, with the majority of attacks taking place in southern Egypt.

The Christian community in Egypt makes up around 10 percent of the countrys 91 million population.

In fact, extremist groups or individuals continue to attack Christian places of worship or targets.

A knife-wielding attacker was shot dead yesterday after stabbing a guard at the Virgin Mary Coptic Church in Nozha, a Cairo suburb.

Egyptian authorities are investigating the incident, but the attackers identity and motive have not been made public.

Last month, in response to an attack on the Coptic community in Minya, President al-Sisi called for thorough investigation into the matter and the punishment of perpetrators.

One of the first measures was the removal of the head of security in the area.

Al-Sisi also vowed that the state would do everything to protect Christians and ensure the equal treatment of citizens, although there are things within the dominant culture that require change, and this needs time.

Despite the attacks and uncertainties over the new law, the Coptic community maintains its support and appreciation for the president's words on the subject of religious freedom and equal rights.

It is not uncommon, in fact, to meet people Egyptians who share the views of Samiyah, a Christian Coptic woman in her 70s, from Mar-Girgis Church in Heliopolis.

She is used to pray for her family and "especially those of my children in Canada and Australia, and of course for my country.

She is also praying that nothing bad will happen to President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, because she thinks that he is the one who saved Egypt at a time of ordeal.

However, she is certainly disturbed over the idea of a possible angry reaction from the masses who might be back in the streets to protest the harsh economic conditions, threatening the generals hold on power.

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, Samiyah said.

She would like to see protection for the Christian minority, especially in Upper Egypt, as well as equality in religion because the constraints on church building are not the same for mosques.

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, she explained.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The government presents a bill imposing new rules. Only Indian couples married for at least five years can resort to artificial insemination and surrogate mothers should be parental relatives. They exclude singles, foreigners and homosexuals.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - It will no longer be possible to exploit the female body for commercial purposes. This was decided yesterday the Government of India, presenting the new bill that regulates the practice of surrogacy to the public.

According to the legislation, that still has to be debated in Parliament, only infertile Indian couples can resort to surrogacy pregnancy and the surrogate mother must be a close relative of the couple. In an effort to put an end to a practice that has made India the world capital of the womb-for-rent industry, the government has ruled out entirely singles, gays and foreigners.

Dr. Pascoal Carvalho, a Catholic doctor and member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, told AsiaNews: "This law is a step forward towards the traditional values of the family. Subrogation is a manipulation of embryos".

In recent years India has become a top destination for medical tourism, particularly for the in vitro treatment or surrogacy. Each year the assisted fertilization industry netted an estimated 5 billion dollars [4.4 billion euro] and the country has more than 500 clinics.

Couples with fertility problems, especially foreign parents usually from rich countries, come to the country in search of surrogates mostly belonging to the poorer classes, who "rent" their wombs in exchange for money and frequently are victims of exploitation.

The commodification of the female body has created a burgeoning market, also accentuated by the "cheaper" costs of pregnancies compared to Western countries: between 18 thousand and 30 thousand dollars (one third of the price in the US), of which about 8 thousand belong to the woman who carried the embryos donated by couples in her womb.

The Indian authorities have decided to fight the industry of commercial surrogacy, ruling that the practice must be a kind of "altruistic surrogacy". Presenting the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016, yesterday Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has defined new conditions: the couple must be married for at least five years; the uterus donor should be a relative and not receive compensation for the altruistic task; clinics that operate in the sector must be registered.

Also anyone who breaks the new law, unlawfully taking advantage of mothers or manipulating embryos, will be punishable by imprisonment up to 10 years and fines of up to one million rupees (more than EUR 13 thousand). Dr. Carvalho concludes: "Surrogacy is a threat to the intrinsic value of human dignity".
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck yesterday afternoon 25 kilometers from Chauk. Shock also felt in Thailand, India and Bangladesh. 171 pagodas of the ancient capital damaged.

angon (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the central region of Myanmar yesterday, killing at least three people and damaging dozens of pagodas within the Bagan archaeological site, the largest in the country.

According to the US geological agency, the quake occurred 25 kilometers from the city of Chauk (north-west of Naypyidaw), at a depth of 84 kilometers, and was also felt in Thailand, India and Bangladesh.

Two of the three confirmed victims, a girl of 7 and a girl of 15, were killed in the Magway region. The third victim is a young man of 22.

Soe Win, a politician in Chauk, said: "In the city more than eight pagodas have collapsed. Two other buildings were destroyed and the inhabitants are still very scared".

The Bagan archaeological site is just 30 kilometers from the epicenter, in the Mandalay region. The Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs stated that at least 171 ancient pagodas, stupas and temples have been stilted by the shock. Local authorities are still making site inspections to quantify the damage.

Bagan (former capital of the Burmese kingdoms) contains about 2,500 monuments, many pilgrims and tourists each day ascend the steps of its facilities. The Buddhist temples - ranging from the 10th to the 14th century - are one of the major attractions of Myanmar, an emerging country in tourism.

Myanmar is a country with a medium to high seismic risk. In 2012 an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck the center of the country, killing 26 people and wounding hundreds.
This August 28 the first priest native to Mongolia will be ordained. The Apostolic Prefect, the Nuncio and the Bishop of Daejeon where the young man attended the seminary will preside. Missionary to Arvaikheer: "His testimony will help young Mongolians who are experiencing a process of vocational discernment." Joy and satisfaction of the local community: "If he has done it, we can do it too."

Arvaikheer (AsiaNews) - The Catholic community of Mongolia "is happy and proud of its first priest. Joseph Enkh-Baatar is faced with a great task: that of being a bridge between the Catholic culture and Mongolian culture. We'll we will support him as much as possible: I am sure that he will be able to face the challenges facing this young Church with the right sensitivity", Giorgio Marengo, Consolata missionary tells AsiaNews. He has lived in Mongolia since 2003 and from 2006 in Arvaikheer: the area is 400 kilometers from the capital Ulaanbaatar, and in fact is an outpost of the Catholic mission in Mongolia.

This August 28, in the Cathedral dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar, the first ordination of this community will be celebrated. Born July 10, 1992 with the arrival of three missionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), the Mongolian Church counts little more than 1,000 faithful. Together with them almost 25 foreign missionaries and about 50 religious.

The ordination will be presided by the Apostolic Prefect, Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla (one of the first three missionaries to reach the country); Concelebrating with him, Archbishop. Lazarus YouHeung-sik, bishop of Daejeon (South Korea) and Msgr. Osvaldo Padilla, apostolic nuncio to Korea and Mongolia.

The ceremony will also feature the regional superior of the Maryknoll, Fr. Gerard Hammond, who helped the Korean Catholic community in preparing the future priest. Joseph has in fact attended the seminar in Daejeon, and was ordained a deacon there.

The mission in Arvaikheer, resumes Fr. Marengo, "is home to 15 of us. We are reciting a novena asking the intercession of St. Paul for him, while Enkh is in retreat. The common feeling is of joy but also of satisfaction: many of our parishioners live this ordination as the deepening of a journey of faith, which has enabled us to reach an important goal. And I hope that in some way this celebration can help other young Mongolians to follow his example".

Although still a very small community, in fact, the Mongolian Church has for some time a "Vocational Team" which follows a group of young men and women: "The sisters and fathers who accompany these young people do not want in any way to force their hand. It is a journey of discernment, which must continue in truth. Of course, Enkh's ordination stimulates this search. The important thing is to present it and live it in the right way: it is a first for the country, we have to make sure that it is understood that the priesthood is not a career but a calling".

With regards the vocation of the new priest, Fr. Marengo has great hope: "He knows Mongolian history, culture, religion and tradition. This is a peculiar people, proud and full of an ancient spiritual tradition. I hope he can become a bridge between the Church and the Mongols, that he can help them understand and can be understood by them. The Mongolian sensitivity is very strong, made up of many facets that often a foreigner cannot grasp".
by card. Oswald Gracias*

The archbishop of Mumbai issued a message for the memorial day on 30 August. This year the fiercest anti-Christian violence by Hindu radicals will be commemorated. "May their blood suffering bring many fruits to the Church in Odisha.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Latin Bishops in India (CCBI), said that he hopes to see the victims of the anti-Christian pogroms in Kandhamal in 2008 "may soon be raised on the altar of the martyrs".

The prelate to spoke to AsiaNews a few days before the first memorial day dedicated to the victims on 30 August. The Church in India continues to call for full justice and proper compensation for those who survived the fiercest persecution of Christians to have ever struck in the country.

The Supreme Court accepted the request for appeal by the late Mgr Raphael Cheenath, archbishop emeritus of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who with tireless commitment managed to gain more compensation for damaged properties. Mgr John Barwa, the current archbishop of Odisha, has continued his predecessors fight for compensation for the hundreds of churches, monasteries and places of worship destroyed by the fury of the Hindu radicals. The cardinals message follows.

The Church in India stands in prayerful solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Odisha. It has been eight years since the horrific attack on our Khandhamal Christians, and the Indian Church suffers the painful anguish of the orchestrated communal violence. We continue to seek justice for survivors and victims.

At the National Eucharistic Congress held in the Archdiocese of Bombay last November, we shared the pain of a weeping Kanak Rekha Nayak, wife of Parikhit Nayak, one of the victims of Kandhamal. The assembly requested that they may soon be declared martyrs. May they soon be raised to the altar as martyrs.

Just last week, in the Archdiocese of Bombay, a funeral was held for Archbishop Cheenath, archbishop emeritus of Cuttack Bhubaneswar, Archbishop John, after thanking his predecessor, who during the in the time of Kandhamal riots, with courage and clarity stood for justice and accompanied the victims of communal violence with sympathy and dignity.

Archbishop John Barwa also brought a letter sent by Sr Meena Barwa, the nun who suffered a grave violation at that time. Our heart and prayers are with you Sr Meena and all our people.

We thank Jesus for their powerful witness of faith and may their blood suffering bring many fruits to the Church in Odisha and India.

In this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, we pray for the healing of our wounds and that Our Merciful Father may bless our country with peace, social justice, reconciliation, harmony and fraternity in our society for the building of our beloved nation."

God Bless India.

* Archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Latin Bishops in India (CCBI)

(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)
by Zhao Nanxiong

A new article by the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai after his "U-turn" on the role of the Patriotic Association. The prelate emphasizes the work of the great Jesuit missionary, who married the Chinese "Classics" with the Gospel. Today we must proclaim the faith with commitment "without interfering in politics.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - In recent days, another article has appeared Msgr. Ma Daqin's blog in praise of the figure of Matteo Ricci and his role in the evangelization of China. This is the first work penned by the bishop after the long series of articles in which he hailed the Patriotic Association and its role in the relationship between Catholics and State. The article was viewed by many in China and abroad, as a betrayal of the prelate.

This latest article by Msgr. Ma is a balanced study into the figure and method of evangelization of Fr. Matteo Ricci.

At first glance it appears to be the work of a diligent and respectful scholar (devoid of any contrasting opinions) of China and the Chinese culture, making it seem that the the Christian doctrine and Church in no way oppose it.

In the brief analysis of Fr. Ricci's book 'The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven' Msgr. Ma stresses how well Ricci knew and assimilated the contents of Chinese Classics, which shames himself and other Chinese Catholics today.

Fr. Ricci's main method was not the direct preaching of the Gospel but, conscious of its Christian culture, he intended to fully assimilate it in harmony with Chinese society: that is, he intended to Christianize Chinese culture and sinicize Christian culture.

Fr. Ricci's humanistic attitude made him use friendship (rather than the negative attitude of judgment) in an effort to reach out to people, to gain respect and appreciation but also to influence them positively: this still stands as a model given that 99% of the Chinese still view the Catholic Church negatively, because of the consequences of Rites Controversy and the colonial period.

He concludes by underlining the need to proclaim the Gospel with commitment, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23, but without wishing to interfere in the authority of politics nor aspire to secular powers.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Suhadi Cholil, a professor with the State Islamic University in Yogyakarta, called on state schools to teach students about religions other their own. For years, others have been working on friendship between Christians and Muslims through curricula and shared life experiences.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Suhadi Cholil, a professor at Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University in Yogyakarta, has proposed that Indonesian public schools offer courses to help students learn about religions other their own so as to promote mutual understanding between faiths and lower sectarian hatred.

He made the proposal today at an international conference on religious education on Ambon, Maluku Islands. However, others have already been working on the issue to foster friendship between Christians and Muslims through school curricula and life sharing experiences.

Kyai Hajj Eko Susilo Pramono runs an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) for students in Klaten (Central Java). He believes that experiencing Indonesias ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity can build a spirit of tolerance.

Over the years, his pesantren has hosted dozens of people from various religions, including Catholics and Chinese Indonesians.

A few weeks ago, Kyai welcomed some students from the minor seminary of Mertoyudan in Magelang (Central Java) as well as other Catholic and Protestant groups from universities and parishes.

"Our facilities are not just a place to socialise, Kyai said. They lead to mutual respect, to discussions over issues that touch Indonesias diversity. All this happens in a natural way, without any political overtone."

Other places have seen similar experiences of friendship. In early August, scores of Jesuit seminarians from the Driyarkara Higher Institute of Philosophy (Central Jakarta) spent a few days at a pesantren of Garut (West Java).

Together with local students, the seminarians engaged in various activities, from education to work. "From our Muslim friends, said Agung, one of the seminarians, we learnt how to cultivate the land and respect nature."

Fr Joseph Kristanto Suratman is the rector at St Paul seminary in Yogyakarta. "I strongly support our programme called SITI (intensive studies of Islam and its communities), in which dozens of diocesan seminarians and some Protestant theologians live for a period of time in an Islamic community.

The first phase of the programme "consists of ten days in which seminarians are in contact with local Muslim students. We noted that these experiences are very useful to minimise bad feelings between the different communities."

"As candidates to the priesthood, he explained, our seminarians must have a lot of respect and love for the various groups, since we live in a country with a Muslim majority."
Ankara sends tanks, warplanes and military vehicles to support the rebel offensive. Fundamental also the US air cover. Biden in Ankara to boost the alliance between Turkey and the United States. But still the unresolved issue of extradition of Islamic leader Fetullah Gulen.

Jarablus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian rebels, with the support of the Turkish military and air cover from US fighter jets, have wrested the city of Jarablus, near the Turkish-Syrian border from the Islamic State (IS) .

The final assault began at dawn yesterday, when warplanes, tanks and Ankara's special forces have crossed the border and hit Daesh positions [Arabic acronym for the SI] (and Kurdish). Most jihadists withdrew from the area.

Turkey claims that its operation targeted IS militants and the alliance between Kurds and Syrians who are trying to win over increasingly large portions of land in the area Jarablus.

Commenting on the military operation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that the rebels have recaptured the city "along with people of Jarablus". The Turkish leader added that "Euphrates Shield" operation aims to "put an end" to the problems along the border.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is on a diplomatic mission in Ankara, has confirmed that the United States has guaranteed air support to the operation. He is the highest American official to visit Turkey since the failed coup of July 15, with the aim of dispelling any doubts on the links and solidarity between the Nato ally and Washington.

An activist linked to rebel groups, Ahmad al-Khatib, has published some pictures that portray fighters of the anti-Assad front in the center of the city, posing next to buildings with the effigy of the IS. With the Jarablus defeat, the self-styled jihadist Caliphate has lost control of the last border point with Turkey under their direct control.

The Turkish military operations across the border in Syria not only aim to target IS militants. An anonymous source in the US government claims Ankara intends to create "a buffer zone to block the advance of the Kurds". In recent days, Kurdish YGP militias (People's Protection Units) had defeated the IS in the city of Manbij, taking control of the area.

The Turks fear the advance of the Kurds on Syrian territory which could favor the creation of a Kurdish autonomous region. They believe this would ultimately also affect the area south-east of the country. In response to the Turkish offensive in Jarablus, Kurdish military leaders say that even now Turkey is involved in all effects "in the Syrian quagmire" and that they will soon be defeated as were the IS.

Meanwhile, the US Vice-President Biden arrived in Turkey to revive the alliance with Ankara at historic lows after the coup in mid July and Erdogan's visit to Russia, which relaunched the economic and energy relations between the two countries.

Ahead of the visit Turkish President Erdogan announced that once again he ask the American counterpart for the extradition of the Islamic leader Fetullah Gulen, considered the mastermind of the attempted coup. On being asked about this Biden said that Washington "has no interest in protecting someone who has done wrong, but we must first guarantee the minimum legal standards according to our laws."
'Cocks Not Glocks' Becomes Largest Anti-Gun Protest In Texas History

Trending News: A UT Anti-Gun Protest Became The Largest In Texas History

Why Is This Important?

Because dildos and anal plugs can sometimes be more useful than a handgun.

Long Story Short

Students of the University of Texas protested a law that states students are now allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus, by distributing wearing and waving sex toys #CocksNotGlocks.

Long Story

Your first day of college is an exciting and sometimes scary day, but what if instead of being greeted with a helpful smile from your peers, you drove onto campus to a sea of 4,500+ sex toys?

Earlier this week, students of University of Texas protested a new state law that allows concealed handguns in college classrooms, buildings and dorms, by waving around sex toys during a campus rally. The hashtag #CocksNotGlocks went viral as protesters flooded the Texas university with oh so many dildos.

#COCKSNOTGLOCKS ??? A photo posted by ? SAILOR POON ? (@sailorpoonband) on Aug 24, 2016 at 5:38pm PDT

Texas has allowed concealed carry in the state since 1995, but colleges were kept gun-free until this year, a decision that caused countless students to protest, and even caused Fritz Steiner, prominent dean of the School of Architecture, to resign after 15 years because he could not be a part of an organization that allowed this type of legislature to pass.

"We are fighting absurdity with absurdity," Jessica Jin, leader of the protest told CBS News. "Texas has decided it is not all obnoxious or illegal to allow deadly concealed weapons on campus. But walking around with a dildo could land you in trouble."

Proud to be a Longhorn ?? #cocksnotglocks A photo posted by s h a y a n a s g h a r n i a (@shayanhathaway) on Aug 25, 2016 at 8:22am PDT

Reuters reported that on Monday, a U.S. district judge denied a motion from three University of Texas professors who wanted to ban guns in their classrooms.

"It's scary to think that at any moment you could be next to a person carrying a gun. And if they go off their rocker, like a lot of people do in college, it is game over for anyone nearby," said Bianca Montgomery, a second year student.

This is hilarious: "Students at the University of Texas think the new law allowing guns in classrooms is absurd. To highlight the absurdity, they are displaying dildos all over campus. Forty-five hundred were given out today, and more will be distributed at a rally tomorrow afternoon, during the first day of classes. Ordinarily, I wouldn't welcome dildos in my classroom, but I'm much more amenable to a student exercising their first amendment rights by displaying a sex toy as a symbol of protest than I am to students exercising a second amendment right that only exists in the imagination of gun rights extremists. History lesson: James Madison, the same man who WROTE THE SECOND AMENDMENT, also WROTE THE BAN ON GUNS ON CAMPUS at the University of Virginia. #CocksnotGlocks" A photo posted by Jonathan Sexsmith (@jonathansexsmith) on Aug 24, 2016 at 11:30am PDT

Chemical engineering junior Forrest Sullivan told KEYE TV that, in his opinion, the university campus was no different to the rest of the state and as a state institution, it should receive no exemptions.

Theyre accepting public money. Theyre a public institution so they are beholden to the laws of the land and the constitution, Sullivan said.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

I get what the protesters were trying to do, but is this actually going to help their cause?

Disrupt Your Feed

Next step is selling guns in the bookstore, and theyd probably be cheaper than that chemistry book you have to buy for class.

Drop This Fact

Since 2013, there have been at least 190 school shootings in America  an average of nearly one a week.
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.
Lars Rasmussen has invested in Australian Legal start-up LawAdvisor believing the company has global potential.



According to The Australian Financial Review, LawAdvisor has raised more than $1 million in seed funding from a group that includes the investment of the Google Maps co-founder.



Rasmussen told the publication that he has been very interested for quite a while in the problem LawAdvisor is tackling.



I do quite a bit of work with lawyers myself and it was this area where we're held back using tools that are decades old, he said.



Apart from co-founding Where 2 Technologies in Sydney which was later acquired and evolved by Google to Google Maps, Rasmussen worked on Google Wave which provided users with collaboration tools among other things.



Apart from being a platform to connect lawyers with clients, LawAdvisor also has a suite of document sharing and collaboration tools that enable lawyers to work in the cloud while complying with legal local data storage requirements.



Rasmussen said that he is excited Brennan Ong, who founded LawAdvisor in 2015, and his team are working on the problem.



It's a big solution Brennan and his team are trying to build. You can use LawAdvisor as a place to manage your case and construct a document. Eventually the whole process will be able to take place on more modern tools, and possibly at a better price, he said.



Rasmussen, who also worked as Facebooks engineering chief, has two other investments in Australian start-ups, the AFR notes.



Ong told StartupSmart that he pitched Rasmussen at the Danes house in London.



He was very attracted to LawAdvisors mission to better disseminate legal knowledge and democratise law, as well as empowering lawyers with modern-day tools, Ong said. He couldnt get that out of his mind  thats what won him over.



Ong told AFR that LawAdvisor now has more than 25 consultations a day and more than 1,000 registered lawyers who come from different backgrounds from being barristers, solo practitioners to working at mid- and top-tier firms.



The start-up is looking for ways to expand and improve its service, said Ong.



As part of our next stage of evolution, we've been contacted by some industry heavyweights in the corporate space who want us to further develop it to become a modern-day tendering service and so that counsels can more easily communicate with their firms and people can compare and contrast lawyers, he said.
A federal court in Darwin on Wednesday awarded $3.3 million to the traditional owners of Timber Creek township land who have lost their native title rights.The significant ruling  the first time in two dozen years since the Mabo decision wherein the federal court determined how to award compensation to traditional owners  stems from a 2011 lawsuit brought on behalf of the Ngaliwurru and Nungali people who now stand to benefit from the compensation.According to The Guardian, federal court judge John Mansfield ordered compensation of $3,300,261, including $512,000 for the economic value of the extinguished rights, more than $1.48m in interest, and another $1.3m for pain and suffering.We're very buoyed with the court's decision today, it's obviously a very important judicial decision to award compensation through native title and to allow that to proceed has been an immense opportunity for traditional owners around the country, Joe Morrison, CEO of the Northern Land Council, told ABC.According to the publication, the native owners secured a 2006 victory after a seven-year battle for native title in some parts of Timber Creek. However, the court said that those rights had been lost in some land due to acts by the Northern Territory and commonwealth governments.For example, the NT government built a concrete bridge over the dingo dreaming site that runs through Timber Creek, noted ABC. Traditional owners said hurt them and caused bad omens among their people.Furthermore, the site where the towns water tank was built is along an important story line, locals have said.It's a very important step for native title claimants to pursue native title compensation and now we've got a formal decision recognised by the courts, Morrison said.The decision is not only significant because of the compensation award, it may be more important because it has offered a way to determine how to value the loss of cultural attachment to traditional land.The ABC noted that the decision will boost the number of native title rights loss compensation claims. Ashurst partner Gavin Scott told the news organisation that the claims could amount to billions.Timber Creak is just 23 square kilometres in size, a speck compared to the total area of land where resolution of native title rights had been needed.If you look at other similar native title determinations around Australia there's about 2.3 million square kilometres of country that's subject to native title determinations, Scott said.
Publicly-listed Slater & Gordon is set to post what is believed to be the largest-ever annual loss in the legal sector.The firm has filed a report with the Australian Securities Commission warning that the loss for the year ended 30 June 2016 will be more than a billion dollars (AU$1,017.6 million) after tax.Most of the loss came from the goodwill writedown in the firms UK division following its acquisition of Quindell but there is still a loss of almost $60 million for the second half of the year.Slater & Gordon is under pressure in its UK business due to proposed changes to the personal injury legislation and the drop in the pound post-Brexit.Teams from Sydney and Brisbane offices of Norton Rose Fulbright have advised Conergy on the development and financing for Australias first solar and battery storage project.The Lakeland SV project in Northern Queensland is to receive funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and debt financing from NordLB.The NRF team was led by global head of energy Simon Currie and included partners Emanuel Confos and Noni Shannon, special counsel Chris Baker, senior associates Steven Choi, Juliette King, Jenida Satem and Kelly Davies, associate Thomas Bramah and graduate Ben Foster.General counsel have seen pay increases but believe they are worth more according to a survey by legal recruiters Barker Gillmore.Average salary increases for GCs across all industry sectors were 4.2 per cent but 44 per cent of respondents said their compensation package was less than other GCs get and 40 per cent said they would look for another job as a result.General counsel in finance and healthcare were most satisfied with their compensation package the survey found.
Scientists at Western Sydney University have used the worlds only whole tree chambers to measure the respiration of trees under proposed climate change conditions.

The worlds trees and plants absorb more than 120 Gt of carbon from the atmosphere every year, and about half of that is returned back to the atmosphere as trees respire. Current models predict that rising temperatures will increase the amount of carbon that trees respire for every unit of carbon they absorb, leading to a positive feedback loop where rising temperatures promote increased carbon release, leading to further temperature increases.

Using the worlds only whole tree chambers in which trees can be grown in the ground up to 9 metres high under precisely controlled temperatures, a team led by Dr John Drake measured carbon exchange and water usage of wholly-enclosed forest red gums (Eucalyptus tereticornis) at temperatures 3C above the outside temperature.

Current models indicate that warming of 3C would see respiration of CO2 exceed uptake of CO2 by photosynthesis, resulting in a net transfer of carbon from trees to the atmosphere, thus accelerating climate change. However, Drakes research, published in New Phytologist, indicates that warming of 3C tends to reduce photosynthesis, but trees are able to change their physiology and maintain respiration at a lower level as...
Residues from the medicines we take are increasingly finding their way into our drinking water, according to James Cook University scientists who are attempting to use ultraviolet and natural light to remove pharmaceutical leftovers from the environment.

Theres ongoing debate over what impact small amounts of pharmaceuticals in the water supply have on the environment and ultimately humans, said A/Prof Michael Oelgemoeller. But studies have shown serious concerns regarding their accumulation in water supplies. The effects range from impacts on animal behaviour and populations to the enhancement of bacteria resistances.

Oelgemoeller said the latest therapeutic drugs were designed to be more stable so they lasted longer in the body and were more effective, but this had a downside. Newer compounds are better able to resist metabolism by the human body. But when these compounds are released into the waterways, they now persist longer and in more powerful concentrations.

A recent environmental study has shown the presence of drugs has a significant impact on the feeding behaviour of fish. So in addition to the possible threat to humans, having pharmaceutical agents in the water could be seen as a threat to the Great Barrier Reef, the aquaculture industry and ultimately public health.

He said evidence was emerging that even the most modern...
A recent Academy of Science project found strong consensus for a future Australia that is more caring, community-focused and fair than present-day Australia. That would be a truly lucky country, a wonderful legacy to future generations.

Donald Horne described Australia in 1964 as a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck. The phrase the lucky country quickly became part of the language, though its message was often misrepresented by people who had not even read the book, or who had certainly not grasped its ironic meaning.

Hornes 1964 book sounded three loud warnings about Australias future: the challenge of our geographical position, the need for a revolution in economic priorities and the need for a discussion of what sort of country we wanted to become. Those warnings are even more urgent today after 50 years of inaction by our second-rate leaders. An additional complication is the accumulating evidence that we are not living sustainably.

The need for change was underlined by a 2015 United Nations report on sustainability. Australia ranks 18th among the 34 OECD countries  below the UK, New Zealand and Canada  based on 34 indicators covering economic, social and environmental progress. We are among the worst of the affluent countries for indicators such as our resource use, waste production, greenhouse gases...
Consumers of Asian medicine derived from Australian marine life may be inadvertently consuming toxins, according to research that identified the presence of toxic substances in devil and manta rays and traced the trade of these animals across Asia.

Devil and manta rays are some of the worlds most biologically vulnerable fishes, and their dried gill plates have become a valued commodity in alternative medicine markets, said Dr Kathy Townsend of The University of Queensland (UQ).

Vendors recommend gill plates for ailments ranging from acne to cancer, and as a general health tonic, even though it is a new addition to traditional medicine literature and rarely prescribed.

A UQ study published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems found that Guangzhou in China accounted for 99% of trade in devil and manta rays in 2011. While recent Chinese government policies have since seen the trade of gills decline in mainland China, Hong Kong has experienced dramatic increases.

The most common sources of gill plates are Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan and Indian waters. While Australian waters are regarded as a high-end product, Townsend last year revealed in Marine Pollution Bulletin that one-quarter of live devil rays caught near Lady Elliott Island in Queensland display lead levels that exceed international food safety...
While Australia is generally considered as a good country for people from other countries to live and work, the largest ever survey of recent migrants has found that some experience high levels of dissatisfaction and discrimination.Most happy and prosperous of recent migrants were those arriving in Australia on a 457 Business visa, with 90% satisfied with life in Australia. In contrast, many arriving on an Independent Skill visa struggle to find work, and nearly half indicate they are just getting along or struggling to pay bills. The Australians Today report from the Scanlon Foundation, produced in partnership with Monash University and the Australian Multicultural Foundation, involved 10,000 people born in Australia and recently arrived covering 20 different countries of origin.Report author, Professor Andrew Markus, found that the difference in satisfaction levels between 457 visa holders and those on Independent Skill visas is significant. 'The proportion of Independent Skill visa holders indicating a measure of difficulty is more than double that of 457 visa holders. A likely explanation is that 457 visa holders have work arranged before they come to Australia,' he explained.Among those least satisfied are New Zealand Special Category Visa holders, with some 50% indicating that they have experienced racism or discrimination in Australia, the highest level among the visa categories analysed.'New Zealanders are not considered migrants and are not accepted as permanent residents, even though large numbers base their lives in Australia. These visa conditions also contribute to a low sense of belonging in Australia,' Markus pointed out.Recent arrivals, however, are optimistic in their outlook. When presented with the proposition that 'Australia is a land of economic opportunity where in the long run, hard work brings a better life,' of those who arrived in the last five years just 6% disagreed, much less than the 13% recorded in 2001/2005 and 18% from the 1991/1995 survey.In similar terms, the most recent arrivals, who have been in Australia for less than five years, indicate a higher level of trust than those who have been in Australia for between 10 and 14 years in the federal parliament, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and Centrelink.When asked if they had a sense of belonging in Australia, just 9% of recent arrivals indicated 'not at all.' Close to 65% of arrivals since 2001 indicate a sense of belonging to a 'great' or 'moderate' extent and identification increases with length of residence as it was 82% for arrivals between 1991 and 2000 and 88% for arrivals between 1981 and 1990.Further evidence of the high level of identification is provided by the uptake of citizenship, a key indicator of a person's long term commitment to Australia. Some 50% of those who have been resident for between five and nine years indicated that they have become Australian citizens, 59% resident between 10 and 14 years, and 82% resident between 15 and 19 years.A higher proportion of those who have taken up citizenship indicate that they are satisfied with life in Australia when compared with those who have not at 81% compared to 74%.The report explains that one factor differentiating current immigrants from earlier generations is enhanced connectedness with their former home country. Of arrivals between 2011 and 2015, some 71% keep in contact with friends or relatives by SMS or social media daily or several times a week, up from 65% of arrivals from 2001 to 2005.Those in the Independent Skill and some other visa categories are able to meet the requirements for entry into Australia, but encounter significant difficulties when seeking employment in their area of qualification and work experience, or in obtaining employment at all.Obstacles include difficulties of navigating unfamiliar institutional requirements and lack of local experience. Many recent arrivals and those who have been settled for a number of years are of the view that the job selection process discriminates on the basis of ethnicity and perceived religion. Many immigrants discussed a level of difficulty that they had not expected to encounter.The research also found that there is a range of views within the Australian population on immigration policy and cultural diversity, as on all issues of political significance. While the majority support current policy, there are minorities with strongly held views, evident at elections and in public campaigns.Advocacy of the benefits of Australia's diverse immigration programme and the policy of multiculturalism has not changed the level of entrenched opposition, which by some indicators has grown, it points out. Indeed, a relatively high proportion of almost 20% of Australian born people consider that the least favourable aspect of life in Australia is the high level of immigration.
Hi everyone I just want say that my schedule 3 has been waived off in the tribunal results.I applied partner visa on June 6 2014,iam just wondering Wether the immigration will grant me directly permanent residency or temporary residency....please help
Thanks JandE. i totally agree with you. I have to decide whether it is worth to pay the application fee again and also consider the time aspect.



As I am pregnant, i can get the medicare card if i apply for onshore application and cut the cost related to child birth. Moreover, later we can claim family tax benefits as well.



I appreciate that you have given greater insight with the timeline of your visa application but at this stage I am more inclined to apply onshore.



Please let me know:

Do I need to withdraw my existing application of offshore partner visa first or I can apply onshore partner visa application without withdrawing the offshore application?



I am asking this because i want to know that can i leave both application to process in parallel. Because later on, when offshore visa application get processed and i am in condition to travel then i can get offshore visa by leaving country for a week or so and withdraw onshore application. It is like i am paying for two dishes and will eat whichever get served first.
This love of cars was born out of the need for transportation, but has evolved into a statement, and now it lives as something in between. Some people love cars and everything about them, others see automobiles as appliances.In the world of social media, you are instantly connected with more people than you could have ever met in real life, and a keen observer can make some interesting notes.This is the case of Auto Nation , who made a study to find out what cars are the most posted on Instagram with the hashtag #NewCar. They went through 100,000 Instagram images to determine the brands of the vehicles displayed, and their Geotagged locations of the same hashtag were used to find out where the pictures were taken.Googles Cloud Vision API helped, says Auto Nation . Their methodology involved a random selection of 100,000 #NewCar posts, so the results may not refer to all-new vehicles, but to cars that are new to the poster, as in second-hand cars that have just been acquired.The study shows that BMW is the most popular automaker when it comes to Instagram posts that contain the hashtag #newcar. It is not an astonishment, as the German premium brand makes vehicles that almost anyone would want to show off, especially when they just bought or leased a new one.The second-most popular name is also German and premium, in the form of Mercedes-Benz. Just like BMW, the Stuttgart automaker builds vehicles that make people take pride in owning them. The third-best ranked brand is Jeep, which accounts for half of the posts made regarding the #newcar hashtag.The fascination of the off-road brand from America is evident, and it makes sense for Jeep to be big in the USA on Instagram, as well as in real life.The next three brands are Toyota, Chevrolet, and Nissan, which are more affordable than the first three, but people still praise their new acquisitions. After Nissan comes Audi, which tops Honda, Mazda, and Volkswagen in the top 10 most popular #newcar posts on Instagram.The most surprising discovery is that Tesla owners do not post pictures on Instagram with their vehicles, or at least they do not do it with the #NewCar hashtag.The American automaker specialized in electric vehicles is the least present brand in this chart. The second-least favorite company on Instagram with this hashtag is Buick, followed by Chrysler in third.Surprisingly, Range Rover comes in as the fourth least-popular #NewCar brand posted, followed by Mitsubishi, Volvo, Infiniti, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Subaru, and Rolls-Royce.As you can observe, there are several exclusive brands in the chart, but their owners are probably not as many as those that buy new BMW cars and post pictures of them with the #NewCar hashtag. There is also a possibility that the pictures of those models were published with other hashtags.The middle of the rating has brands like Ferrari, Lexus, Acura, Porsche, Maserati, Hyundai, Ford, and Fiat. The Italian brand from Torino is the most affordable of the lot, and we believe most posts with the #NewCar hashtag featured the 500 model in them.As we explained above, owners of exclusive models life those built by Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche probably were not as many as those that published pictures of new BMWs with the same hashtag.While BMW was the most popular brand when it came to counting the number of posts that included its products and the #NewCar hashtag, the German premium brand was not the most popular #NewCar on an American level. The brand from Munich only claimed five state victories, all of them in the Northeast.Meanwhile, the second-most popular #NewCar, Mercedes-Benz, was dominant in 11 states, which makes it the most popular foreign brand in this category.Toyota scored a victory in seven states, while Dodge, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen were each the most popular in one state. Ford was popular in two states, but the most popular #NewCar brand in the most states was Jeep, which collected 17 victories.Among the impressive wins is Subaru, which claimed victory in Alaska, and Lamborghini, which was number one in North Carolina. The latter is surrounded by states where Mercedes-Benz was more popular than others. Jeep seems to win on an overall level if you look at the map (it is in the photo gallery).Since the states where certain brands were most popular have been established, and the most popular brand posted with the #NewCar hashtag is determined, it is time to find out what are the cars that are most likely to get you more likes.Evidently, picture composition matters, but some brands will win over others because of the design of their models, as well as overall popularity.By far, the most popular brand on Instagrams #NewCar hashtag is Lamborghini. Posts with models from this brand got an average of 890 likes.The second-most popular was Aston Martin, with 294 likes on average. Maserati and Ferrari are close, with 258, and 256 likes on average, respectively.Mercedes-Benz comes fifth, with 123 likes on average, just ahead of Porsche, which has 116 likes on average for the #NewCar posts studied. BMW, Audi, Infiniti, and Lexus complete the Top 10 of this category.We presume that more affordable models could get more likes than those given to mainstream brands, but only with expert photographers using phones to post on Instagram. In theory, take a good picture and you will get more likes.Wyoming is the U.S. state where Instagrams #NewCar hashtag is most common. Vermont comes in second, with Alaska third. Delaware and Montana complete the top five.Interestingly, the number of posts regarding the purchase of a new car does not correlate with The US Department of Transportations statistics. Well, not entirely.Alaska, for example, is the last state for car registrations, but the third in the popularity ranking of #NewCar. Delaware is the fourth spot concerning the number of posts with the same hashtag, but is second in the USA for car registrations.Meanwhile, Vermont is second in the number of posts that refer to the purchase of a new car, but 19th in the number of vehicle registrations. Wyoming is number one, as we mentioned above, when it comes to posts, but only 21st when it comes to IRL vehicle registrations.Montana, on the other hand, is the last in the top five regarding posts, but second in U.S. filings.
beheading

or fracas

It appears that The Grand Tour s first season will have a Clarkson visit on the set of the popular series . The news comes from Andy Wilman, the Executive producer of The Grand Tour.Apparently, Mr. Wilman was present at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, and he made a statement that announced that filming of the seventh season of the popular series was 90% complete, and that it is all in 4K resolution.However, Wilmans announcement regarding Game of Thrones is not the main reason you clicked on this story. As Digital Spy notes, Jeremy Clarkson will make an appearance on the set of Game of Thrones. Unfortunately for those that despise him, Clarkson will not be beheaded in a brutal scene of GoT.Instead, Jeremy Clarkson will drive through the set of Game of Thrones for a scene that will be aired on The Grand Tour. At the time, it is unclear which part of the GoT universe will be Clarksons track.If filming locations in the United Kingdom were the only ones considered, Jeremy could visit Castle Black, Winterfell, the North, The Wall, and The Iron Islands. Also, the Riverlands and the Vale of Arryn are close.We believe that Clarkson will drive through Kings Landing, which is the capital of the Seven Kingdoms depicted in George R.R. Martins famous series. In the case of Kings Landing, the real-world set of this realm is placed in Dubrovnik, Croatia.Also in Croatia, Clarkson could meet up with Emilia Clark, the actress that plays Daenerys Targaryen, which has a throne room in Mereen, represented by Diocletians Palace in Split, Croatia.Unfortunately, we will not know for sure until someone leaks a picture of Clarkson on one particular location. We could also do this the old-fashioned way , through waiting to see it on The Grand Tour. We can only hope that fans of both series will be happy with the appearance.
On Wednesday, France s Environment Ministry has responded to the story, which was denied entirely. The French Government was accused of the said coverup because it owns a 20% stake in Renault , and it would have been in its interest to hide such a scandal from the public. However, the representatives of the French government claim that they have not concealed anything.Moreover, the French government decided to remind everyone that they had set up an independent commission to check all car brands after it found out about the Volkswagen case, and that they had tested all car brands on the French market to make sure they comply with their homologated figures.The French Environment Ministry has published results of all 86 car models it tested, and the DGCCRF, the French states body in charge of competition, consumer affairs, and fraud launched an investigation regarding all anomalies detected during the tests.Renault has also issued a declaration on the story published in Financial Times, and it stated that the company strictly complied with regulations and that its cars were not equipped with any emission-tampering software or devices. Automotive News reports that the French brand has also added that its experts have provided the government and relevant authorities with all technical explanations that were requested.As we previously reported, Renault suffered a 17% drop in share value because of the suspicion of emissions fraud . The French company was found to be clean of any tampering with the emission control systems found on its vehicles.The DGCCRF tested 25 vehicles from Renault during its inquiry. None of the models made by the manufacturer were found with any problems regarding their emission control systems.
The most recent case surfacing the Internet comes from Miami, where a girl on a scooter gets involved in a crash after irresponsibly riding what it looks to be a Vespa scooter. According to the video description, these types of accidents involving rental scooters and improperly trained riders happen each day in South Beach.Around the 20-second mark, youll see the lady trying to exit the parking on the other side of the intersection. Another scooter manages to exit first and continue along the road with no problem, but our miss here stumbles a couple times and then somehow manages to whiskey-throttle the tiny scooter.Next come a few wobbles and brake attempts which finally led to a spill on the crosswalk diagonally opposed to the place where she left. Fortunately, it happened at a low speed, and no one got hurt in the process.Whiskey-throttling is one of the most common mistakes among beginner riders and usually occurs when accelerating without being aware of what happens next. The scooter/motorcycle jerks forward while the riders body tend to remain behind which in turn pulls even more on the gas.In such a scenario, the untrained rider will panic and wont let go of the throttle, pulling it harder and harder until totally losing control and crashing into the closest obstacle.So there you go - classy looking Vespas might seem cute and inoffensive, but threat it wrong and it will sting right off the bat. Take care of yourselves, people! Follow some riding classes before throwing a leg over any two-wheeled motorized vehicles.
ABS

Well, it seems the Nurburgring is the next target, with the LM scheduled to attempt a Nurburgring lap record as part of a Nordschleife-infused development process set to take place by the end of the year.We'll remind you that, in order for a "regular" P1 to become an LM, it has to be massaged by McLaren racing partner Lanzante Motorsport, which also came up with the P1 GTR racecar's road-legal conversion before introducing the even-faster LM (friends call it Le Mans).The British track activities specialist talked to Autocar , throwing in the mandatory dose of caution for announcing such a stopwatch adventure. Remember, the time to beat is the 6:57 of the Porsche 918 Spyder.We dont have the finances or the time to do something like Porsche [Zuffenhausen used a complex Nurburgring program involving three drivers], Dean Lanzante, the head of the company and son of the man who won Le Mans in an F1 GTR back in 1995, said. If it rains, the track isnt fast enough, so we cant do a lap. And we dont want to do a KoenigseggUnorthodox talk aside, Lanzante refers to thefailure-determined crash that saw the One:1 development car getting crushed in its Ring record quest earlier this year - Angelholm has delivered an analysis of the accident and is now rebuilding the car.Returning to the P1 LM, we'll remind you that the 986 hp gas-electric McLaren wasn't the fastest car to lap the tight 1.12 mile Goodwood Hillclimb this year. Nevertheless, while the McLaren's 47.07 was one-upped by a 46.29 run delivered by a time attack-prepped Subaru Impreza WRX STI driven by British racer Olly Clark, the STI didn't bother with the street-legal modifications, so the two competed in different classes.Speaking of which, Swedish racing driver Kenny Brack, who pulled the said Goodwood stunt , will also be manhandling the P1 LM on the Green Hell.
When the French brand presented the Clio RS16 Concept , the manufacturer made it clear that this hot hatch wonder is a nod to forty years of Renault Sport. The entity that started life as a simple merger between Alpine and Gordini now handles Renaults involvement in motorsport, including F1.Patrice Ratti, managing director of passenger vehicle division of Renault Sport, adds considerably more fuel to the fire: "We all recalled the impact made by Clio V6. We wanted to create a technical concept car with extraordinary performance levels but which was more realistically priced. We, therefore, had to keep our feet on the ground and use simple, ingenious solutions to achieve a vehicle that could be type-approved.Now, though, three months after the concept cars unveiling, Caradisiac reports that a close source to the project let it slip that a decision regarding production will be made before the Paris Motor Show opens its doors. If things work out in our favor, then Renault is expected to announce that 500 units of the manual-equipped Clio RS16 will be made available to buy.The publication also reports that each unit will cost 40,000, which works out at 20 million for the whole lot. In American dollars, thatll be $45,100 and $22.5 million, respectively. A regular Renault Clio RS 200 EDC is half that.Theres a catch with that, though. To make the Clio RS16 a production-ready reality, Renault Sport engineers need to modify the front axle, retest, recalibrate, and so forth. I mean, how else could they shoehorn the 2.0-liter engine from the Megane RS 275 in a bay developed around a 1.6-liter unit?On that note, a subcompact hatchback with 271 horsepower (275 PS) sent to the front axle sounds like a good idea to me. Dear Renault, do it!
Ave Maria Teen Tests Positive for Travel-Related Zika Virus

Details Published on Wednesday, 24 August 2016 20:51

Ave Maria resident Joseph Dauphinais is one of five newly-confirmed cases of the Zika virus in Collier County, all of which state health officials say were contracted overseas.



The Ave Maria was tested for Zika when he began showing symptoms after returning from a mission trip to Nicaragua in July with some other students from the Donahue Academy. After weeks of waiting, and after he fully recovered, he was told he tested positive for Zika, according to a report in the Naples Daily News.

There are no other cases of Zika in Ave Maria known to have been reported.



Click here for story from Naples Daily News
Armenias Central Electoral Commission has registered as a mayoral candidate an arrested member of an armed group that seized and held a police station in Yerevan for two weeks in a deadly standoff with security forces last month.

Arayik Khandoyan, a prominent veteran of the 1992-1994 Armenian-Azerbaijani war in Nagorno-Karabakh also known to the public as Lone Wolf, will stand for leader of his Tsaghkahovit community in Armenias western Aragatsotn province in the September 18 vote against incumbent mayor Yervand Khachatrian, who represents the ruling Republican Party of Armenia.

His other opponent will be a non-partisan candidate, Norayr Hakobian. Another candidate, Ashot Hakobian, representing the parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party, has pulled out of the race living up to his promise to do so should Khandoyan be registered as a candidate.

Khandoyan, 45, was wounded, among other gunmen, in an apparent shootout with police during the siege of the police station, but refused to be hospitalized until the surrender of the Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) group to the National Security Service on July 31.

Three police officers were killed and several others were wounded during the dramatic events that unfolded against the backdrop of pro-gunmen protests near the standoff venue attended by hundreds of activists and ordinary citizens.

Sasna Tsrer, a group loyal to a fringe opposition movement, Founding Parliament, presented political demands to Armenias leadership, including the release of their imprisoned leader Zhirayr Sefilian and other oppositionists it viewed as political prisoners. The group also sought the resignation of President Serzh Sarkisian and reconsideration of a purportedly conciliatory position of the current administration in negotiations on the settlement of a protracted Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The gunmen held several police officers and ambulance workers hostage for days before letting them go. Khandoyan, who claimed they treated the people they held inside the police compound with respect and did not consider them to be hostages, is currently charged with hostage-taking and illegal arms possession.

Earlier this week, the Founding Parliament, which has avoided participation in elections under the current government, insisting that its members and loyalists should instead push for political change through street protests, urged Khandoyan to withdraw from the race.

In an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am), leading Founding Parliament member Alek Yenigomshian said Khandoyan had decided to run for mayor without consulting the group. He said the groups jailed leader, Sefilian, and other members also would discourage Khandoyan from running.

The period for the withdrawal of candidacies is not over yet, he pointed out.

Armenias law allows people facing criminal charges, including those in pretrial detention, to participate in elections as candidates as long as they are not convicted.

Opposition member Nikol Pashinian exercised this right when he unsuccessfully contested a parliamentary by-election in 2010 while being in pretrial detention.

Incidentally, an appeals court in Yerevan on Thursday rejected Khandoyans request for the lower courts decision on his pretrial detention to be revoked.
Armenias government is working at an accelerated pace on the establishment of an Armenian-Iranian free economic zone in the countrys southernmost Meghri region, Economy Minister Artsvik Minasyan told media on Thursday.

He, at the same time, found it difficult to mention a particular date when the zone will start functioning.

The creation of a free economic zone with Iran will make available a good platform for the production of goods and rendering of services especially at the border sector, said Minasian, adding that it will stimulate relations both between Iran and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of which Armenia is a member as well as will provide goods produced in the free economic zone with an opportunity to enjoy preferences of Armenias trade regimes with Europe, the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Japan as with countries of the GSP system.

This, the minister said, will make it possible to expand both production and export of goods.

Plans for the free economic zone with Iran were first announced by Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian on Monday.

Addressing participants of a pan-Armenian youth camp, Baze-2016, he said that the free economic zone will open a new opportunity for developing Armenias economy.

During the latest meeting in Sochi of the prime ministers of the EEU member states, we agreed to create a free economic zone at the Armenian-Iranian border, in the Meghri area. This is a very important project, which opens up a new opportunity for the development of our economy, the head of the Armenian government said.

He, in particular, stressed that the project will also allow Iran to establish joint ventures with EEU member states in the free economic zone and start exporting goods to the common EEU market.

Economy Minister Minasyan said: This agreement was reached at the Eurasian Economic Commission at the suggestion of the Armenian prime minister. Now our main task is to have legislative underpinnings [for the project]. To that effect, a draft piece of legislation on the creation of the free economic zone is in circulation now. It is now at the stage of coordination and its directions and objectives will be more clearly defined in the near future.
25 August 2016 10:28 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Today, Armenia remains outside of all regional projects, confessed Secretary of the Armenian National Congress Aram Manukyan at a press conference on August 23.

A country is independent as far as it has connections and relationships with other countries, particularly its neighbors. For Armenia these countries are Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. But, today Armenia is left out of all regional projects, and nothing is expected in the future, said Manukyan.

Currently, Russia improves relations with Turkey and Iran, as well as forms excellent multilateral cooperation. On the other hand, Azerbaijan and Russia create strong strategic relations. Our regular ally Iran, now establishes far better relations with Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenian agency NEWS.am reports.

On the background of the expanding regional cooperation, Armenia is left out of all projects. Due to the current authorities, Armenia became nothing, and Armenia has no influence on these players in order to strengthen its independence. That is the real loss of independence. Today there is no country that would completely support Armenia and its interest, complained Manukyan.

Meanwhile, the only potential of Armenia on the international trade arena is transit. But this possibility is also limited because of Armenias occupation policy.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. The occupation caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.



The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.



Peace talks, mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs, dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely fruitless so far.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 18:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Over the last couple of years, Armenia, a poor South Caucasian nation, gained a global attention thanks to its unenviable corruption records. President Serzh Sargsyan, whose brother, ironically, even has a nickname 'Sasha 50/50',as he squeezes a half of profits of all businessmen - no matter whether it is a large or small business, announced a large anti-corruption fight.

However, contrary to the latest statements of the government about achievements in fight against the corruption in the country, more and more officials waste budget funds collected from ordinary Armenians. Citing Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who continues to spend millions on business class tickets, as an example, Armenian newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak doubts about the achievements.

Recently the Armenian Foreign Ministry spent over $3,000 for a single Yerevan-Paris-Munich-Moscow-Yerevan ticket. Then the Ministry paid $2,000 for another ticket of the same route and $8,500 for six tickets of other itinerary.

The further we go, the more figures revealed  one ticket of business class for Nalbandian en route Yerevan-Paris-Geneva-London-Yerevan costs $7, 500, the newspaper reports, emphasizing that it can show a countless number of such examples.

But, corruption and waste of public funds do not limit to the Foreign Ministry.

Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hermine Naghdalyan is one of the old-timers of Armenian Parliament  she is sitting in the deputy chair since 1995 and has always been in the ranks of the ruling fraction of Armenia.

However, the vice-speaker is also known to the public as a business, woman who earns several million dollars a year at the states expense, Armenian newspaper Zhoghovurd states.

The newspaper found out from official documents that this year the company Sisian BUAT owned by Hermine Naghdalyan received a government order on road construction works at the cost of over 636 million drams ($1.3 million).

She and her husband Davit Beglaryan, managing the government affairs, have always hold office incompatible with business activity. However, the spouses annually receive an income of hundreds of millions of drams from their companies that exclusively engaged in the implementation of road construction- and other works carried out on government contracts, the newspaper states.

Local media believes that Yerevans failure to achieve a political stability is also connected to the damaging effects of corruption, which undermines the legitimacy of political leaders and public institutions, and thus the capacity of the state to realize any economic reforms.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 11:20 (UTC+04:00)

The Armenian armed units shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 13 times throughout the day, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry reported.

Armenian armed forces subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces located in Kamarli and Balajafarli villages in Gazakh region.

The ceasefire was also violated in Garakhanbeyli, Ashagi Seyidehmedli villages in Fuzuli region, as well as in nameless hills in Goronboy region.

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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 15:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Russias Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has allowed four Azerbaijani companies to export meat and dairy production to Russia, Azerbaijans economy ministry reported.

Pal Food and Bilasuvar Argo (producers of dairy products), Gabala poultry farm and Sahliyali (producers of meat products) will now be able to export their products to the northern neigbor.

The number of Azerbaijani companies that are allowed to export their agro-production to the Russian market currently amounts to 14 including, Gabala poultry farm, Seba, Zahmat Ruzi, Bilasuvar Argo, Pal Food, AzFP Co. Ltd, Milk-Pro, Atena, Sahliyali, Ujar Argo, Caspian Fish Co, Gandja Sud, Baku Sea Fishing Port, Khazar Fish.

The ministry also reported that it will continue to work in the direction to expand the list of these companies.

Agriculture is one of the fast growing and largest employing sectors of economy in Azerbaijan. The fertile lands, abundance of water and climatic diversity create favorable conditions for a strong agricultural sector in the country and provides for the production of high quality products.

Azerbaijan ranks fifth in Russia's foreign trade with the CIS countries (following Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan).

Azerbaijan, which has long ago got a well-established place on the Russian market, enjoys a good potential to export a wide range of food and agricultural products to Russia. The northern neighbor is one of the largest importers of Azerbaijani agro-products.

Azerbaijan and Russia are tied by firmly based ties, which were officially established in 1992. Cooperation between the countries is based on the principles of mutual respect and good neighborly relations.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

YARAT Contemporary Art Space is delighted to invite everyone the life music evening, which will be held on August 31, 2016.

The guest of this evening is Araz Humbatli, who is the French and Azerbaijani musician, talented composer and also Azerbaijani representative in the Voice France 2016.

From early childhood Aras had great passion to music. At 11 he took saxophone classes and had his first solo show in 2006. A year later, Araz founded Red Sky rock-group, with whom he produced his first album. During Arazs years in France, he returned to his ethnic roots. This resulted in his decision to take tar lessons upon his return to Baku. His musical style can be defined as ethno-fusion-psychedelic genre. Araz Humbatli has met with great success performing our national songs abroad. According to Araz, his songs take listeners on a journey through our spirituality.

The venue is YARAT Contemporary Art Centre, Multifunctional Room. Entrance is free.

YARAT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to nurturing an understanding of contemporary art in Azerbaijan and to creating a platform for Azerbaijani art, both nationally and internationally. Based in Baku, YARAT (meaning CREATE in Azerbaijani) was founded by Aida Mahmudova in 2011.

YARAT realizes its mission through an on-going program of exhibitions, education events and festivals. YARAT facilitates exchange between local and international artistic networks including foundations, galleries and museums. A series of reciprocal residencies further fosters opportunities for global cultural dialogue and partnership. Educational initiatives include lectures, seminars, master classes, and the Young Artist Project ARTIM (meaning PROGRESS in Azerbaijani).

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 14:52 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko on the occasion of Ukraines Independence Day.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and the people of your country on the occasion of the national holiday of Ukraine  Independence Day, said Aliyev in his letter.

Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations have good traditions, he noted. I believe that the traditionally friendly ties, bilateral cooperation that binds our countries and peoples will continue developing and expanding.

I recall with pleasure your recent visit to Azerbaijan, said the president. I am confident that the meetings and discussions that we held during the visit will open up new opportunities for the development of our bilateral relations.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health and success in your activities, and the friendly people of Ukraine peace and prosperity, added President Aliyev.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 13:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Zenith Energy Ltd., a Canadian energy company specialized in the oil and gas exploration and production, has extracted the first volume of oil within the framework a deal signed with Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR on the development of on-shore blocks of Muradkhanli, Jafarli, Zardab oil fields.

The first volumes of oil in Azerbaijan hit approximately 300 barrels per day.



This milestone marks the successful completion of the handover process and the transfer of operatorship to Aran Oil Operating Company, an entity jointly created and owned by Zenith Aran Oil Company, a 100 percent subsidiary of Zenith Energy ltd (Zenith Aran) and SOCAR, the company reported.



In proportion to their ownership of Aran, Zenith Aran, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zenith, will hold a 80-percent participating interest in current and any increased future production, while a SOCAR Oil affiliate company, fully owned by SOCAR, will retain 20 percent of production.



These companies were created to fulfill the Rehabilitation, Exploration, Development and Production Sharing Agreement (REDPSA) for the production, development and exploration of the 642.4 square kilometer onshore concession encompassing the three fields of Muradxanli, Cafarli and Zardab in Azerbaijan.



The REDPSA between Zenith Aran and SOCAR was signed on March 16, 2016. The duration of the REDPSA is 25 years, with a potential extension of five additional years.



Andrea Cattaneo, CEO of Zenith Energy said the company is confident that Azerbaijan represents an unprecedented opportunity for energy development and are committed to a long term relationship.



"We now enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to demonstrate Zeniths strengths as an operator in one of the largest and most-storied oil and gas countries in the world and have already turned our focus to increasing the daily production of oil from the Muradxanli, Zardab and Cafarli fields, Cattaneo said.

The Muradkhanli-Jafarli-Zardab bloc is located in the oil and gas area of the Yevlakh-Agjabedi-Imishli region of Azerbaijan.

The bloc covers a total area of 642.4 square kilometers and offer Mesozoic sediments. Moreover, a small volume of natural gas is produced at the bloc. The area is divided into rehabilitation and exploratory parts, according to the contract.

Zeniths main focus is the acquisition of large oil acreages in countries that offer foreign investors a strong protection of their assets and hold a business atmosphere that is conducive to profitable activity.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan produces three grades of crude oil - Azeri BTC, Azeri Light, and Urals. Azerbaijan exports not only crude oil, but also petroleum products. The only producer of oil products is SOCAR, which owns Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev.

Some 24.7 million tons of oil and gas condensate was extracted in the country in January-July 2016. The index is 0.7 percent higher than the rate fixed in the same period of 2015. The country extracted 41.69 million tons of oil and gas condensate in 2015, as against the volume of 41.9, extracted a year earlier.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 16:06 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijans state energy company SOCAR announced about plans to increase capacity of its underground gas storages.

The decision was taken during a panel meeting of SOCARs Azneft Production Union dedicated to the results of works implemented in the first half of 2016. The company is planning to carry out works on reconstruction and expansion of gas storages, as well as development of new gas wells, modernization of existing infrastructure and provision of domestic requirements.

Azneft is developing 34 oil and gas fields, 20 of which are onshore and 14 of which are located in Azerbaijans sector of the Caspian Sea. The syndicate's two underground gas storage facilities (Garadag and Kalmaz) play a major role in ensuring a steady year-round supply of gas in Azerbaijan.

Some 1.56 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas was pumped to the gas storage facilities as of August 22, while the volumes are expected to reach the level of 3.2 bcm. Currently, active gas volumes in underground gas storage facilities amount to 2.5 bcm. Maintenance operations were carried out in some 26 wells in 2016.

Garadag and Kalmaz gas storages facilities, which are on the balance of SOCAR, have a capacity of approximately five bcm of gas.

Meanwhile, Irans Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Amir Hossein Zamani Nia earlier expressed willingness of his county to pump its gas to the underground gas storages of Azerbaijan in the nearest future.

Gas is supplied from high pressure Gazi-Mammad-Baku pipeline by two branch lines. Kalmaz storage started its operation in 1976 and was the first storage developed in the South Caucasus region.

Gas production forecast for 2016 stands at the level of 5.6 bcm while the level forecast for 2017-2018 is 5.8 bcm.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 17:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan is fully committed to invest in Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), including the Shah Deniz-2 project, and continues to meet its financial obligations on time, said SGC CEO Afgan Isayev.

Isayev, talking to Natural Gas Europe, said that Southern Gas Corridor Company invested $5.212 billion, while in total, Azerbaijans share in financing SGC and Shah Deniz-2 project is estimated at $11.454 billion.

Therefore, Azerbaijan has already realized 45.5 percent of its financing obligations, Isayev said.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor project. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.

As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and TAP.

Isayev further said the sources of funds, which Azerbaijan has allocated to SGC are following: issue of bonds by SGC to the sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ, for a total amount of $2.5 billion; equity injections from the finance ministry and state oil concern SOCAR for a total amount of $1.7 billion; inaugural eurobond in the amount of one billion in March 2016.



SGC is willing to raise debt financing to fund its committed capital investments to the projects until 2019. The net funding need amounts to $6.2 billion, he said.

Isayev also added Azerbaijan is negotiating with World Bank to attract credits for SGC.

Our projects are attractive and financial entities are interested in Azerbaijans energy projects. It is hard to name any concrete figure, which would be allocated by international finance sources, because both them and Azerbaijan should reach a common point in credit terms. However, we believe that the terms of credits must be soft and the payments period should be at least 10 years, because these projects are not only in favor of Azerbaijan, but a big region would benefit economically from these projects, Isayev said.

He said that Azerbaijan is expected to allocate $2.809 billion in 2016, of which 55.7 percent or $1.566 billion would be spent on the TANAP. About 30.2 percent, or $847 million, would be allocated to the Shah Deniz-2 project, while TAP will take about $278 million and South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion (SCPX) will take $118 million.

Isayev added that the capex of these projects for Azerbaijan rose by $1.474 billion year-on-year, while the figure for 2014 was only $227 million.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 13:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

The Syrian city of Jarabulus has been completely liberated from militants of the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the Kurdish political party), Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, Anadolu Agency reported on August 25.

The villages surrounding Jarabulus city have also been liberated, Yildirim added.

On August 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.

Jarabulus is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said that the most important issue in the region was the fight against terrorism whether Daesh, the PKK, the PYD or FETO, adding that it is impossible to make distinctions between those organizations since terrorists are terrorists.

In reference to the PYD, which is reportedly fighting Daesh in Syria, Erdogan stressed that one terrorist organization fighting with another one does not justify it.

Pentagon spokesman Adrian Rankine-Galloway told Anadolu Agency that the U.S.-led coalition's air strikes were in support of Turkey's operation and vetted Syrian opposition forces seeking to clear Daesh from Jarabulus.

In addition, Turkey's Euphrates Shield operation received support from Europe as well.

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said that the Euphrates Shield operation was a part of international efforts to overcome Daesh in the region.

We respect this position. We believe Turkeys struggle against terrorist actions is legitimate and we support Turkey in this regard" he added.

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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 11:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Ukraine and Iran are considering the possibility of oil deliveries to refineries of Ukraine and Europe, a source in Ukraines Energy and Coal Industry Ministry told Trend.

Currently the ministry and Iranian side are studying the possibility of deliveries of Irans oil to meet the needs of Ukrainian oil refineries, as well as processing plants located in the Central and Eastern Europe, the source said.

Nevertheless, the source didnt not provide any details of negotiations, particularly those connected with delivery routes of Iranian oil and economic indices of the project.

Ukransnafta, national operator of Ukraine that provides services on oil transportation by pipelines to the Ukrainian refineries and its transit to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, has recently reported about its intention to consider possibilities for the use of the companys transport infrastructure to carry out transit of Irans oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe as well as supplies of raw materials for processing in the domestic market.

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh earlier said that Ukraine is interested in transiting Irans oil and gas to Eastern Europe, mentioning that Iran needs to study if it is economically justified to export a part of Islamic Republics gas and oil to Czech Republic and Slovakia through Ukraine.

Iran, which is considered to be one of the worlds top oil and gas producers with the world's fourth-largest proved crude oil reserves and the world's second-largest natural gas reserves, currently produces 3.65 million barrels per day (mbd), about 0.85 mbd more than in the sanctions era and still about 0.2 mbd less than pre-sanctions level.

Before the sanctions were introduced, Iran exported 2.3 mbd. The sanctions reduced the figure to 1 mbd. The economic sanctions against Iran were lifted on January 16. The Islamic Republic increased output by 0.4 million bpd following the lifting of sanctions and resumed exports to Europe, Asian buyers have also increased purchases.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 12:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Turkey has ratified an agreement with China on use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, the Official Gazette reported on August 25.

The agreement signed in Beijing between Turkey and China in 2012, has been ratified by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources previously reported that three nuclear power plants will be built in the country.

Then, it was reported that China was interested in constructing the third nuclear power plant in Turkey, and China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) already started talks on constructing the third nuclear power plant.

Turkey plans to construct the first plant in Akkuyu province jointly with Russia.

The intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Turkey on cooperation in the fields of construction and operation of the country's first nuclear power plant Akkuyu near the city of Mersin in southern Turkey was signed in 2010. The plant's construction is expected to be completed in 2020.



The second nuclear power plant in Turkey will be built in Sinop province on the Black Sea coast.



The agreement on constructing the plant in Sinop was signed between Turkey and Japan in 2013. It is planned to complete the project's implementation by 2023.

Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak during his recent visit to China stated that the two countries will focus on joint investments and cooperation, adding that Turkey, because of its location is an important bridge in energy for China.

China and Turkey signed eight cooperation agreements related to trade, cultural and technical exchange and marine cooperation.

Previously, Prime ministers of both countries announced their intentions to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2015 and to cooperate in building high-speed rail to link Ankara to Istanbul.

China is Turkey's third trade partner after Germany and Russia.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Russia and the U.S. have been informed about the beginning of Turkeys military operations in Syria, said Fikri Isik, Turkish National Defense Minister, Milliyet newspaper reported on August 25.

In addition, Isik said that later Iran was also informed about the military operations, adding that Ankara failed to inform Damascus about the beginning of military operations because of the lack of relations with theSyrian government.

On August 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force with the support of the coalition aircrafts launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo city.

Jarabulus is located five kilometers (three miles) from the Turkish-Syrian border.

The operation was carried out under the name Shield of the Euphrates.

Previously, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the main point of the operation is to combat Daesh as well as other terror groups and build a Syria where all ethnic groups like Kurds, Arabs and Nusayri people live together by protecting Syria's territorial integrity.

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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 15:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Five employees of the Constitutional Court of Turkey have been detained, the Anadolu Agency reported on August 25.

The detainees are suspected of having ties with the Fethullah Gulens movement. Gulen is accused of being involved in the organization of the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest 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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 17:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The US should do what it promised to do regarding separating the moderate Syrian opposition from terrorists instead of making claims regarding Damascus allegedly using chemical weapons, Sputnik reported on August 25 citing Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On Aug. 24, the US called on Russia and Iran to join efforts to seek accountability for those responsible for using chemical weapons in Syria, after the United Nations released the results of a probe into chemical weapons attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015 that implicated the Syrian government and the Islamic State terrorist organization (aka IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh).

They should look in the mirror and do what they have been promising to do since January  to separate the opposition which they consider loyal from terrorists. They cannot do this, they are either unable to do this or do not want to do it, Lavrov told reporters.



Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. On Feb. 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups, which maintain a heavy presence in Aleppo, are not part of the deal.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
25 August 2016 10:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Have you ever wished to start your day waking up with chant of birds in a forest of ancient trees, take a meal near a lively river, observe a waterfall of dozens meters height, pass from enormous gorge and then climb to a mount of thousand meters, visit buildings that were used as residences of great rulers, have a snack of ripe apples and drink a cup of tea on a carpet of 500 years old? You can enjoy all this in a great district of Azerbaijan  the region of Guba.

Guba, landmark region of the Land of Fire, remains to be a favorite destination of hundreds of tourists every year  it is one of the most visited Azerbaijani districts in general.

Mount Shahdag with its snowy peak and intensively flowing Gudialchay river, starting from Tufandag mount and stretching over 108 kilometers, embellish this prospering region of Azerbaijan since antique times. There are over 100 more rivers in Guba, with the most gorgeous being Agchay, Qarachay, and Velvelechay. Gudialchay bridge -- a glorious bridge built over the main river of the district in 1910 -- is still one of the longest and ancient bridges of Azerbaijan. The bridge made of annealed bricks is 275 meters in length and 8 meters in width.

One of the main exported goods of Guba district is apples. They are famous not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other countries. Guba is known for its healing herbs as well, that are widely spread all over the region. Griffon vulture, an eagles species habitating in the district, is listed in the Red Book.

Khinalig is the most popular place to visit in Guba. Almost every tourist visits this settlement when coming to the district. It can be said that Khinalig is located right under clouds  at the height of 2,100-2,200 meters above the sea! Another interesting fact is that the population of the village has its own language that is very hard to understand for strangers, even for the ones who know Azerbaijani  the language they talk is unlike with any other language.

Glorious history

Guba rose to prominence in the 18th century. In 1747 Hussein-Ali, the Shah's designated ruler of the region, decided to unify the Azeri khanates as an independent kingdom. One of his first steps was moving his capital from the less defensible Khudat in the Caspian lowlands to Guba where he built a fortress. Hussein-Ali died in 1757 and his son Fatali Khan carried on the expansion with Guba reaping the riches of its status as the capital. However, upon Fatali Khan's death in 1789, the city's fortunes began to turn. In 1806, the khanate was occupied and soon absorbed by the Russian Empire. Some years later Guba could gain independence within Azerbaijan, taking its honorable place in the country's politics.

Unique culture

Modern Guba contains at least 134 historical and archeological monuments. These include the temple of Fire-worshippers near Khinalig, tombs of Aghbil village (of 16th century supposedly), the Mosques, such as Sakine Khanum, Hadjy Djafar and Djuma of Guba which dates back to the 19th century, and the Gumbezli bath house.

Overall, red colored buildings can be met almost at every step of the district. This fact highlights the region among other parts of Azerbaijan. A famous French writer, Alexandre Dumas, who was keen on visiting Azerbaijan, was in Guba as well. He bathed in Chukhur Hamam, another pearl of Gubas architecture made of red brick.

The region is rich with carpets which are being made here from ancient times. It would be hard to find a single tourist who comes to Guba and leaves it without a carpet. Their sizes vary much  from fairly miniature rugs to enormous carpets. Zeyve, Golu-Chichi, Alpan, Oruj, Khan, Yerfi, Jimmi, Pirabadil are just a little piece of all the quantity of Guba carpets made for centuries. All of them are weaved by a traditional national method. Golu-Chichi, which was woven in 1712, is stored in Metropolitan museum of New-York now. Furthermore, people from all over the world make offers to Guba carpets and rugs manufacturers.

Multiethnic society

Guba region spreads over 2,574 square kilometers and is located in the northeastern part of the country, quite close to the Russian-Azerbaijani border. The capital of the region has the same name  Guba, which is home for over 38,000 people. The number of the whole districts residents is more inspiring  161,434 by a census of 2014.

Guba presents a multiethnic society with rich demographics combining several ethnic groups. The main ones are Azerbaijanis, Lezgins, Tats and Khinalugs. Moreover, Guba district is home to Azerbaijan's largest community of Mountain Jews, who live in Krasnaya Sloboda (Red Town). The famous Azerbaijani writer, historian and philosopher of the 19th century, Abbasgulu agha Bakikhanov, and a well-known playwright, Sakina Akhundzadeh also lived in Guba.

Cuisine

Guba differs for its amazingly rich cuisine because of the variety of nations living there  Guba txmas, spicy kebab, sac and tandir kebab. One of the main meals of the region is sac. This delicious meal is prepared from lamb, eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and onion.

In conclusion, I would firmly recommend you to come to see this precious region of Azerbaijani nature, architecture and history. Guba and its people are always hospitable for tourists, some of which keep coming here for every year to enjoy its beauty. The number of Gubas annual visitors is increasing rapidly, and a great deal of that figure is made up by foreign tourists. So, if you are yet to decide a place to visit for your vacation, choose Guba  a really splendid host!

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Anyone whos ever decided its easier to park on the street than to eke out space in a packed-to-the-rafters garage can empathize with what th
Related Info

New rental rates

The museum board approved new rental rates at a meeting Monday. A list of current rental prices was not available for comparison, but CEO Zoot Velasco said the new rates were determined by the size of the spaces, their popularity and other considerations.

Also new: An eight-hour minimum on all rentals, which until now were rented by the hour.

The rates cover May 1 through Oct. 31. No rates were given for the remainder of the calendar year.

Business hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The minimum after-hours rental price is $750. All rentals must conclude by 11 p.m. and renters must be off the property by midnight.



The full grounds  $6,500 on Saturday; $5,500 Friday, Sunday; $4,500 Monday-Thursday.



Chapel interior  $500 on Saturday; $400 Friday, Sunday; $320 Monday-Thursday.



Chapel Green, Standard School Green, Log Cabin Green  $1,000 on Saturday; $800 Friday, Sunday; $640 Monday-Thursday



Fellows Hotel interior  $1,200 on Saturday; $960 Friday, Sunday; $768 Monday-Thursday



Neon Courtyard  $1,800 on Saturday; $1,440 Friday, Sunday; $1,152 Monday-Thursday



Central Park, Batey Gardens  $2,800 on Saturday; $2,240 Friday, Sunday; $1,792 Monday-Thursday
The Jordan Park community in south St. Petersburg is coming under government control, again.

Jordan Park, a lower income housing community, is in disrepair

Facilities will go under St. Petersburg Housing Authority in September

Residents are optimistic, but remain skeptical

The St. Petersburg Housing Authority plans to take back control of the low income housing community next month. Even after the city's decision was announced, residents made sure officials at Thursdays meeting knew exactly how despicable the current living conditions are.

Sylvia Norris has lived in the community since 2005. She said WINN, the private company that manages the community, didnt keep up with renovations and maintenance.

All that black over there, she said, gesturing to the ceiling, that's carbon monoxide.

Residents also complained to the board about wood that was painted over instead of replaced following an infestation.

Board Chair Delphinia Davis said the housing authority's hands were tied as far as getting the developer to do anything.

Due to contractual agreements in the past, we weren't in a position to do that," stated Davis. "Now we are in a position to do that and we want to help the residents.

Officials plan to move forward with repairs and renovations quickly, but residents remain skeptical.

All we can do is wait and see," said Norris. "But we're not gonna stop doing what we're doing. We're gonna keep on until it gets better like it should be. Because we deserve to feel at home where we live.


Mostly sunny skies will become parlt sunny this afternoon.



Low 90s today



Similiar pattern for Thursday and Friday



Tropical wave may impact Florida weather by Sunday

A breezy northeast wind 10-15 mph will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to our area this afternoon and this evening. The rain chance is highest in the southern areas of Tampa Bay and lower in our northern counties.



High temperatures will be in the low 90s this afternoon.



A few scattered storms will move into the Gulf this evening. It will become partly cloudy to mostly clear overnight.



Low temperatures will be in the low 70s in our northern counties and the mid to upper 70s in Tampa Bay.

Rain coverage could increase over the weekend depending on the track and development of any tropical system that might impact the state. We will keep you posted on that possibility with our regular Tropical Update.



With the area of high pressure still to our north on Friday, we expect a similar day with morning sunshine then scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Fridays rain chance is around 50 percent.



It will be breezy at times the next few days with a persistent northeast to east wind due to the strong high pressure to our north.



We continue to watch a broad area of low pressure northwest of Puerto Rico this morning.



While it is currently disorganized, conditions are expected to become more favorable for development during the next couple of days. Its still too early to know exactly what impacts will be felt in Florida this weekend and early next week.



&amp;amp;nbsp;


Red Flag Warning for Oregon Coast, Heat Advisory in Coast Range

Published 08/24/2016 at 5:51 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast)  As various heat advisories and fire danger warnings go up for the state, even the Oregon coast is getting a red flag warning through Thursday night, while the coast range is under a heat advisory. Temperatures on the Oregon coast will remain in the low to mid 70's, but the danger for fires is extreme, as illustrated by a forest fire near Depoe Bay that is still not contained as of Wednesday afternoon. (Above: Manzanita - be cautious with beach fires).

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland issued the red flag warning for all of Oregon, including Portland, eastern and southern Oregon, along with the beach towns. Most of the state is under a heat advisory as well, except the coast, with temps shooting up into the upper 90's on Thursday and Friday.

The red flag warning is in effect for the entire upper half of the Oregon coast, including Florence, Yachats, Newport, Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, Oceanside, Tillamook, Manzaita, Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach.





The heat advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. on Thursday until Friday at 8 p.m. for even the Oregon coast range. For those living in inland Oregon or traveling to and from the coast, the NWS said a heat advisory means a period of hot temperature is expected that may cause heat illnesses. (Above: Depoe Bay, where a forest fire is still burning as of this publication time).

An upper ridge of high pressure will extend over the Pacific Northwest through Friday for increasingly hot weather, the NWS said. Weak east winds will intensify heating Thursday and Friday. Hot weather will increase the risk of heat related illness or injuries.

The red flag warning means you should use extreme caution in Oregon coast forests or areas of dense brush. Keep beach bonfires far from beachgrass. Fire pits while camping in state or county parks will require extra attention.

Don't park over grassy areas in Oregon coast or coast range forests, as cars can start fires this way.

Fire starts will have the potential for rapid spread, the NWS said. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

The NWS said relative humidity drops to 16 percent just a few miles from Oregon coast towns. High temps could reach close to 100 in the coast range and areas just east of the valley. More Oregon Coast Weather.









More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Coastal Spotlight



LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net

All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

The Texas Rangers on Wednesday said they continue to look into the possible misuse of federal grant funds by Silsbee police chief Mark Davis, even though district attorneys in two Southeast Texas counties have declined to prosecute.

"The Texas Rangers will continue to work with local prosecutors and explore other possible options," Lt. Craig Cummings, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in an email.

The allegations involve "misconduct by the Silsbee police chief," Cummings said.

The Enterprise last week anonymously received a copy of a Texas Rangers internal memo and a recording of a phone conversation between Davis and a police equipment dealer. Taken together and authenticated by officials, the items sketch the outline of the inquiry to date.

The June 30 memo, from Texas Rangers Lt. Robert Smith to a superior, details Smith's efforts to determine whether the matter was under investigation and bring it to the attention of prosecutors in Hardin and Jefferson counties.

The nine-minute recording is of a May 5 conversation between Davis and a representative of Code Blue Police Supplies in Beaumont. In it, Davis, who also is the presumptive Hardin County Sheriff-elect, asks the vendor to overcharge the police department by about $500 for several items and issue a credit to spend the rest of the grant on later department purchases. It is not known whether the transaction actually occurred.

Gary Reaves, chief prosecutor for the Public Integrity Unit of the Jefferson County District Attorney's office, verified that the memo referred to the audio recording.

Because prosecutors declined to pursue the case, Smith did not recommend that a "special investigation" - required in the case of elected officials - be initiated, according to the memo. The disposition of that recommendation is unknown.

Davis said the memo is proof no crime was committed and that he welcomes further inquiries.

"I've got nothing to hide here," Davis said. "We stand by the positive things we're doing here in Silsbee, and I plan for that to carry over into my next role as Hardin County sheriff."

Code Blue owner Tony Cervantes, speaking on behalf of the company, declined to comment Wednesday. Cervantes said he generally does not comment on items his store sells to law enforcement.

Reaves told Smith that Davis' actions "appeared inappropriate but did not warrant a criminal investigation," according to Reaves and to the memo. Reaves told Smith it was a matter for Homeland Security's Grants Division, both said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Office of Inspector General have been notified of the allegations against Davis, Cummings said Wednesday. The DHS is the source of the grant funding awarded to the Silsbee Police Department.

The Homeland Security grant funds in question are distributed through the governor's office, a spokesman said. The spokesman did not respond to further questions about the grant and whether Davis' actions were improper.

Davis and Reaves both said this week they believe the audio was originally obtained illegally - before The Enterprise received it in an unmarked envelope. Neither would not comment on specifics of their allegations.

The memo was released earlier to an unknown requestor under the Texas Public Information Act, Cummings said. He said it was not leaked. He did not comment on the audio recording.

On June 9, Aimee Snoddy, director of the Homeland Security grants division, passed along an anonymous "allegation of potential fraud" involving federal grant funds to the Texas Rangers, according to the June 30 memo.

When reached by phone, Snoddy declined to comment on the complaint.

Several local, federal and state agencies also received the complaint, according to the memo.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Beaumont told Smith no federal investigations were pending regarding the anonymous complaint, according to the memo. Malcolm Bales, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, said in a telephone interview this week he was unfamiliar with the complaint.

Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel and Hardin County Attorney Rebecca Walton each confirmed to Smith that they had listened to an audio recording brought to their attention by the complainant. Both told Smith they were unaware of any active investigations of the complaint, according to the memo.

Smith met on June 27 with Hardin County District Attorney David Sheffield, who said he was aware of the complaint, according to the memo.

Smith wrote that he asked Sheffield if he would prosecute any criminal violations related to the complaint that were turned up by a Texas Ranger Special Investigation.

Sheffield told Smith his office wouldn't prosecute for two reasons - first, because he had donated $1,000 to Davis' campaign and therefore had a conflict and second, because "the vendor involved" was located in Jefferson County, Smith wrote.

"It probably would not be proper for me to do it," Sheffield said in a telephone interview this week.

In the audio recording, which is electronically dated May 5, Davis asks the vendor's representative to mark up the cost of police vests by $59 each to bring the order to $21,474, closer to the full amount of the grant. He asks him to keep track of - but not record on the invoice - a credit of $531 for the department to spend later.

The invoice, Davis said in the recording, did not need to say "anything about credits or nothing else."

"I want to spend as much of (the grant monies) as I can," Davis said on the recording. "I don't want to leave $500 out here. So we'll come back.  Just make you a mental note somewhere."

Davis agreed with the vendor to buy more duty gear, such as boots.

Earlier in the recording, Davis and the vendor's representative discussed how to label a purchase listed on the purchase quote only as pouches. He asked that they be marked as radio pouches. He also ordered nine vests and ballistic plates.

"It's finicky, but my grant will not pay for anything that is weapons systems or weapon-related," Davis says in the phone conversation. "And if a pouch is designed to hold something for a weapon, or an (ammunition) magazine pouch, they won't pay for it. So I don't need it to say anything to do with ammunition."

Davis has been Silsbee's police chief since 2011. He started his career in law enforcement as a sheriff's office dispatcher in 1986.

In May, Davis became the Republican nominee for sheriff after winning a runoff election, which set up a clear path to the county's top law enforcement position. No Democratic challenger is on the November general-election ballot.

BScott@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/BrandonKScott
A Houston mother accused of drowning two of her children in a bathtub earlier this month has been put in isolation in the Harris County jail after her life was threatened by other inmates, her attorney said Thursday.

Defense attorney Alvin Nunnery said the move will help protect Sheborah Thomas, 30, who is charged with two counts of capital murder for the death of each child under the age of 10.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A federal judge upheld Louisiana's ban on same-sex marriages on Wednesday, a rare loss for gay marriage supporters who had won more than 20 consecutive rulings overturning bans in other states.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman also upheld the state's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states. His ruling was the first to uphold a state ban since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year.

In 2004, 78 percent of Louisiana voters approved an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage. Gay marriage is legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Feldman said gay marriage supporters failed to prove that ban violates equal protection or due process provisions of the U.S. Constitution. He also rejected an argument that the ban violated the First Amendment by effectively forcing legally married gay couples to state that they are single on Louisiana income tax returns.

Feldman sided with the state, which had argued that the nation's high court, in the Defense of Marriage Act decision, recognized the rights of state voters and legislatures to define marriage.

"Although opinions about same-sex marriage will understandably vary among the states, and other states in free and open debate will and have chosen differently, that does not mandate that Louisiana has overstepped its sovereign authority," he wrote.

The conservative Louisiana Family Forum praised the ruling

"This ruling confirms that the people of Louisiana  not the federal courts  have the constitutional right to decide how marriage is defined in this state," Gene Mills, the group's president, said in a news release.

However, gay marriage supporters vowed to appeal. They had argued that the ban violated constitutional due process and equal-protection rights.

"Every citizen of the United States deserves protection of their rights, uphill climb or not," said Mary Griggs, chairwoman of Forum for Equality Louisiana.

Feldman said the Supreme Court decision "correctly discredited" the Defense of Marriage Act's effect on New York law legalizing same-sex unions. But, he also noted language in the decision outlining the states' historic authority to recognize and define marriage.

He also said that neither the Supreme Court, nor the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, have defined gay people as a protected class in discrimination cases.

"In light of still-binding precedent, this Court declines to fashion a new suspect class. To do so would distort precedent and demean the democratic process," wrote Feldman, a 1983 appointee of President Ronald Reagan.

It is unlikely Feldman's ruling will derail gay marriage's path to the Supreme Court, as observers have long said the issue of whether gay and lesbian couples have a fundamental right to marry would ultimately need to be decided by the nation's high court.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is currently considering arguments over six gay marriage cases from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Two other appellate courts, the 10th Circuit in Denver and the 4th Circuit in Virginia, have overturned statewide gay marriage bans in Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia. However, those rulings and others overturning gay marriage bans have been put on hold while appeals are considered.

___

Associated Press reporter Janet McConnaughey contributed to this report.
Utah Department of Insurance confirmed Humana will stop offering plans on the state's individual insurance marketplace next year, according to Desert News Utah.

Here are five things to know:

1. With Humana's exit, Utah residents will only have three payers to choose from  Molina, SelectHealth and University of Utah Health Plans.

2. While a Humana spokesperson did not comment on the move, a Utah Department of Insurance spokesperson confirmed the news, saying it is a "robust market that will not be adversely affected by Humana's decision to cease offering individual health insurance plans."

3. Nearly 9,000 residents will have to find new coverage on the federal marketplace.

4. Humana will offer coverage in the small group market, according to the Utah Department of Insurance spokesperson.

5. In 2014, Utah had six carriers with leading payers around the nation exiting Affordable Care Act exchanges to combat huge losses.

More articles on coding & billing:

Startup insurance company Oscar Health pulling out of exchanges in 2 states: 6 thoughts

UnitedHealth's value-based care reimbursement model improving patient outcomes

When prices surpass benefits  CMS' proposal may bring the Medicare Part B drug payment system up to speed
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin offered his proposal to transform the state's Medicaid program, according to The Hill.

Here are seven things to know:

1. In his proposal to the HHS, the Republican governor suggests offering a much more conservative Medicaid program.

2. Gov. Bevin proposes all Medicaid enrollees be required to work or volunteer up to 20 hours weekly.

3. The Obama administration will likely resist Kentucky's proposal, as it has historically blocked work requirements for Medicaid enrollees.

4. Gov. Bevin also wants enrollees to pay premiums.

5. Under the Affordable Care Act, Kentucky expanded Medicaid, increasing eligibility up to 138 percent of the poverty line.

6. The state's uninsured rate was 18.8 percent in 2013, and it came down to 6.8 percent in 2015.

7. Despite the dive in the uninsured, Gov. Bevin argues the state's current Medicaid program is not sustainable.

More articles coding, billing & collections:

Physicians Health Plan pulling out of Indiana exchanges, ending all individual coverage: 5 thoughts

Humana departs from Utah individual marketplace, leaving 3 carriers to operate in the state  5 things to know

1st wave of states approve huge premiums hikes  One Tennessee plan has 62% jump  5 takeaways
The following hospitals announced in the last week plans to expand, upgrade or renovate their facilities.

1. State approves Erlanger Hospital's plan to build $25M mental health hospital

The Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency approved Chattanooga, Tenn.-based ErlangerHospital's proposal to build a $25 million, 88-bed mental health hospital, according to the Times Free Press.

2. Regional Hospital to build $15M heart center

Regional Hospital of Scranton (Penn.) is constructing a $15 million heart care center, reports The Times-Tribune.

3. 3 things to know about Mount Carmel Health System's proposed medical campus

Mount Carmel Health System is expected to start construction in September on a $50 million medical campus in Hilliard, Ohio, according to a Hilliard Northwest News report.

4. Gundersen Health System to build hotel on hospital campus

La Crosse, Wis.-based Gundersen Health System will build an $8 million hotel on its hospital campus where a parking lot used to be, according to WEAU News.

5. Winner Regional Healthcare Center plans $23M expansion: 4 things to know

Winner (S.D.) Regional Healthcare Center is planning a $23 million, 28,000-square-foot expansion of its facility, reports The Daily Republic.

6. Lima Memorial Health System opens center for Medicaid, uninsured patients

Lima (Ohio) Memorial Health System opened a healthcare center for uninsured and Medicaid patients on its campus, The Lima News reported.

7. St. Vincent to add 4 micro-hospitals

St. Vincent Health in Indianapolis said it will open four freestanding micro-hospitals as the system continues to expand its footprint in ambulatory and retail health markets, reports IndySTAR.

8. 3 things to know about South Texas College's new nursing facility

Construction of the new nursing facility at South Texas College in McAllen, Texas, broke ground Aug. 23, The Brownsville Herald reported.

9. Cook Children's Hospital opens $14M ED

Cook Children's Hospital in Forth Worth, Texas, unveiled its new $14.2 million emergency department, which is now the largest in the county, according to CBS.

10. Billings Clinic completes $20.9M expansion

After more than three years of construction, Billings (Mont.) Clinic finished its almost $21 million renovation project.

11. Staten Island will be home to New York's first integrated health campus

Recognizing that lifestyle and environment can play a huge role in chronic disease prevention and management, the New York City Economic Development Corp. unveiled plans for the city's first health-focused, mixed-use development in Staten Island: Sea View Healthy Community.

12. Calif. awards $3.1M grant to Orange County for psychiatric emergency centers

Thanks to a $3.1 million grant awarded by the state of California, Orange County will establish two emergency medical centers tailored to treating patients experiencing sudden psychiatric episodes.

13. Good Samaritan Hospital plans second ER expansion in a decade

To improve efficiency and accommodate a growing number of emergency room visits each year, Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind., plans to add more emergency bays in its second expansion in the last decade, according to the Vincennes Sun-Commercial.

14. St. Mary's Medical Center contributes $2.5M to expand nearby psychiatric hospital

Grand Junction, Colo.-based St. Mary's Medical Center pledged $2.5 million to a campaign to fund the expansion of West Springs Hospital, a psychiatric facility also in Grand Junction, as part of an effort to fill the mental health resource gap in the region, according to The Business Times.
To improve efficiency and accommodate a growing number of emergency room visits each year, Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind., plans to add more emergency bays in its second expansion in the last decade, according to the Vincennes Sun-Commercial.

The hospital will add three "fast-track" bays to its ER, which will serve less acute patients who don't require extensive or time-consuming care. Patients will be seen by a physician assistant or nurse within the new space.

On Tuesday, the hospital's board of governors awarded a $163,000 contract to Wolfe Construction to lead the project. The renovation will begin in September and is expected to take about nine weeks to complete, according to the report.
Despite economic pressures, 52 of Massachusetts' 65 hospitals ended fiscal year 2015 with a net profit, reports The Boston Globe.

Massachusetts' center for health information and analysis collects and reports on annual and quarterly financial data from acute care hospitals across the state. The department issued its annual report for FY 2015 Thursday.

Below are four findings.

1. Hospitals overall posted a median operating margin of 3 percent of revenue. Average net profit margin, including investment income, was 3.7 percent in FY 2015 compared to 4.2 percent in FY 2014.

2. Hospitals' median current ratio, or their liquidity, remained consistent with FY 2014 at 1.6 percent.

3. Among the state's most profitable hospitals were Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. The hospitals' net incomes in FY 2015 were $201.1 million, $76.8 million and $60.8 million, respectively.

4. Hospitals remained profitable despite a spike in medical errors last year. Full-service hospitals disclosed 1,313 errors in 2015 compared to 788 errors in 2014, or about a 60 percent increase, according to the Massachusetts health department.
Here are six recent news updates on key health IT companies.

1. Joining athenahealth's More Disruption Please program is HealthAsyst's CheckinAsyst, a platform that streamlines the patient check-in process.

2. McKesson plans to sell its headquarter building in San Francisco and lease back a portion of it for its office space.

3. A hospital in Ontario, Canada, plans to adopt MEDITECH's latest web-based EHR platform.

4. Cerner and athenahealth are among CommonWell Health Alliance members who plan to allow patients to directly access their health data.

5. Apple confirmed it bought Gliimpse, a digital health company that allows users to aggregate their medical data.

6. Penn Highlands Clearfield, part of DuBois, Pa.-based Penn Highlands Healthcare, is implementing Cerner's EHR.

More articles on health IT:

From the Hippocratic Oath to HIPAA: A history of patient privacy

6 recent vendor contracts, go-lives

Judy Faulkner named among 'Richest People in Tech'; Cerner CEO cashes $26.9M in stock options; GE Healthcare at Olympics  5 health IT key notes
Many frustrations with EHRs stem from the disconnect between developers of the technology and those who are using it: Clinicians often voice frustration that their needs and workflows were not considered when such technologies were designed. So one pediatrician based in Washington state detailed his ideal EHR on a post for The Health Care Blog.

Niran Al-Agba, MD, practices in Silverdale, Wash. He writes EHRs, generally, need to be user-friendly, free or low-cost and effective at reducing their workload. These are all characteristics many providers similarly desire in EHRs. In his post, Dr. Al-Agba detailed exactly what such an EHR would look like.

He writes his ideal EHR would look like a paper chart on a computer screen, with the first page resembling a standard intake form with general health background, medical and surgical history, allergies, immunizations, medication lists and relevant family history. The second page would be the problem list and the following pages would be growth charts and immunization records. Dr. Al-Agba suggests those pages would be accessible via tabs on the left side of the screen.

A click on one of those tabs would permit the physician to review those notes. There would also be tabs on the right side of the screen that would include lab results, radiology reports and quick notes from consulting physicians.

Dr. Al-Agba also writes of a dictation offering that would convert a spoken memo of an office visit into a SOAP format: subjective, objective, assessment and plan.

Electronic records should also be always available and usable, resistant to crashes and glitches, according to Dr. Al-Agba, who writes his medical office has been open throughout natural disasters and inclement weather, during which paper records were always accessible and usable.

Dr. Al-Agba also writes of the relationships between patients and providers that paper records hold, a tangible way to look back on an individual's life.

"Medical records are more than metadata on a computer screen; they are a sacred chronicle of our enduring connection with our patients in life, and even in death," he writes. "When an EMR can do that, I will be thrilled to embark on a digital journey. Until then, give me paper or give me death."

More articles on EHRs:

The EHRs used at US News' 10 top hospitals

3 challenges inhibiting EHR use for patient safety research

From novelty to care tool: The evolving usability of EHRs
As healthcare shifts toward the outpatient arena, urgent care centers remain popular with patients and consumers looking to receive convenient and affordable treatment for minor conditions, imaging and blood tests.

Given this trend, the urgent care industry is poised for growth. In a 2014 whitepaper from McGuireWoods and Urgent Care Association of America, one industry professional predicted the urgent care industry will see a lot of activity through 2019 and beyond, since some large metropolitan areas could support two to three times the number of current urgent care providers.

This prediction is demonstrated in the recent acquisition of SCP Urgent Care, doing business as Fast Pace Urgent Care, by Revelstoke Capital Partners. The transaction closed Aug. 22.

Highlighted below are seven things to know about the transaction as well as urgent care growth.

1. One of the players in the transaction is Brentwood, Tenn.-based Fast Pace, a provider of urgent care and primary care services. Since 2013, the company has grown from seven clinics in Tennessee to 36 clinics in Tennessee and Kentucky. The growth came primarily through opening 26 new locations and acquiring three locations. Fast Pace is a portfolio company of Shore Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on microcap healthcare investments.

2. The other player in the transaction is private equity firm Revelstoke, which focuses on building healthcare and business services companies. Since the firm's inception in mid-2013, Revelstoke has raised more than $700 million in equity commitments across its various investing entities and has completed 23 acquisitions totaling over $1.2 billion in enterprise value, according to an announcement of the transaction.

3. Houlihan Lokey advised Fast Pace on the acquisition. The company said its healthcare group provides advice to healthcare services, managed care, seniors housing, biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies. Including Fast Pace, Houlihan Lokey has advised on four urgent care transactions.

5. Scott Becker, publisher of Becker's Healthcare, said, "The deal is reflective of the high amount of interest in the urgent care area."

6. For instance, Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America in November acquired Urgent Care Extra's Nevada operations, which include 14 urgent care centers in Las Vegas.

In February, San Francisco-based Dignity Health announced it is teaming up with Atlanta-based GoHealth Urgent Care in a joint venture to bring consumer-focused urgent care to the Bay Area. And Last August, Boston-based Partners HealthCare announced plans to open up to 12 urgent care clinics in the next three years to cater to patients who need medical care, but don't need to go to an emergency room.

7. These investments are driven partly by the rise in active patients older than 50 who desire convenient care for injuries and illness, but want to be connected to a larger system where their regular physician may practice and where urgent visits can become part of their medical record, Tom Charland, CEO of consulting firm Merchant Medicine, told The Wall Street Journal.
Anthony Puorro, former COO of now-shuttered Sacred Heart Hospital in Chicago, was sentenced Wednesday to one year in prison, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In April 2013, federal authorities arrested Sacred Heart's owner and CEO Edward Novak, its former CFO, Roy Payawal, and four physicians for their alleged participation in a kickback scheme. After the arrests, CMS suspended reimbursements to Sacred Heart, and the hospital closed in July 2013.

In October 2013, Anthony Puorro, who was COO of Sacred Heart for two years, and Noemi Velgara, the hospital's former vice president of geriatric services, were indicted in the case. However, they both cooperated with the federal investigation, including wearing recorders to tape conversations. In December 2014, Mr. Puorro and Ms. Velgara entered into a plea deal with prosecutors, which involved each of them pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and receive kickbacks.

In addition to his prison term, Mr. Puorro was fined $25,000. He was the eighth defendant sentenced so far in connection with the kickback scheme, according to the report.

More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits:

Former CEO of West Virginia hospital sued for defamation

Federal judge orders Walker County to pay Erlanger $8.7M in hospital loan dispute

Calif. hospital to pay 3 former employees $1.7M in harassment suit
A federal judge threw out a lawsuit filed against the state of Arizona by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that challenged a controversial 2015 statute requiring physicians to inform women that a drug-induced abortion could be reversed, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Judge Steven Logan dismissed the lawsuit after legislators made changes to the language in the original statute.

The 2015 law said physicians must inform women at least 24 hours before the procedure 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. The 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, according to the article.

The law specifically deals with medication abortions where women are given two drugs: one to kill the fetus and a second one to expel it from the womb.

Legislators removed the language relating to pre-procedure warnings. New legislation says clinics have an obligation to tell women who are unsure about following through with their abortion that the first drug alone is not always effective and a patient should immediately consult a physician if she would like more information, according to the article.
Three hospitals that are part of New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System have agreed to pay a total of $2.95 million for delaying repayment of more than $800,000 in Medicaid overpayments, according to the Department of Justice.

In June 2014, the federal government intervened in a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging Continuum Health Partners in New York City  now part of Mount Sinai  had failed to return Medicaid overpayments to the government within the 60-day period required by the Affordable Care Act.

Under the 60-day repayment rule, any entity that receives an overpayment from the state or federal government must report and return the overpayment within 60 days.

The government alleged that between 2009 and 2010 Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt erroneously submitted claims to Medicaid for payment due to a software error.

The New York State comptroller notified Continuum of the software glitch in 2010. In February 2011, Robert Kane  the employee who filed the whistle-blower suit  provided a list of the claims affected by the software error to Continuum. It took the system nearly two years to complete its repayments for the 444 erroneously billed Medicaid claims in violation of the 60-day repayment rule.

In a ruling last August that preserved the whistle-blower's case against the hospitals, U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos said an overpayment is identified when a healthcare provider is put on notice of a possible overpayment. "After Kane put defendants on notice of a set of claims likely to contain numerous overpayments, defendants had an established duty to report and return wrongly collected money," Judge Ramos wrote in his decision.

More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits:

Former CEO of West Virginia hospital sued for defamation

Federal judge orders Walker County to pay Erlanger $8.7M in hospital loan dispute

Calif. hospital to pay 3 former employees $1.7M in harassment suit
Larry Jones, a 65-year-old X-ray technician formerly with King's County Hospital in New York, has been terminated from his position and arrested for the alleged sexual assault of two female patients on separate occasions during the same day, according to News 12 Brooklyn.

An 83-year-old woman told police that after being admitted to the King's County's emergency room for X-rays, Mr. Jones pulled down her underwear and assaulted her. A 57-year-old woman relayed a similar story to officers. Both assaults allegedly occurred on Aug. 20.

Mr. Jones was arrested and arraigned on Sunday and is being held on $7,500 bail, according to News 12.
The mother of a 15-year-old psychiatric patient filed a lawsuit against Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health and Services claiming the health system should have done more to prevent a nurse from engaging in a sexual relationship with her underage son, according to The Olympian.

Lawyers on behalf of the alleged victim's mother filed a civil suit Aug. 25. in ThurstonCounty Superior Court.

The document alleges Stefani Martin, RN, a nurse at Olympia, Wash.-based Providence St. Peter Hospital, was given unrestricted access to the teen's room on the adult medical floor and allegedly smuggled drugs to him during his stay. Ms. Martin also allegedly gave the teen her personal cell phone number following his discharge and the two engaged in a sexual relationship after his release.

The lawsuit claims the lack of professional oversight by Providence St. Peter Hospital staff allowed nurse Martin to continue her psychological pressure and grooming," according to the article.

The lawsuit also alleges the company was negligent in their hiring and screening practices and that other hospital employees should have reported the inappropriate relationship between Ms. Martin and the teen, according to the article.

Ms. Martin was charged with three counts of third-degree child rape, one count of third-degree child molestation and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. The case is scheduled to go to trial in October, according to the article.

The health system declined to comment on pending litigation.
The Supreme Court of South Carolina said it will not issue a declaratory ruling on Greenville (S.C.) Health's System's business plans as it transitions to a partially private hospital, according to the Upstate Business Journal.

Specifically, GHS requested the court declare whether the restructured GHS board of trustees has authority to lease assets to the Upstate Affiliate Organication. GHS filed the request in October 2015, according to the Greenville Journal.

The Supreme Court's ruling also prohibited state legislators from issuing an injunction to prohibit GHS from reorganizing into a private hospital.

In January, the court refused to rule on the legality of GHS' restructuring plan. After the decision, GHS trustees voted to continue with the restructuring changes.

State representatives asked the court to prevent GHS from transitioning because doing so would undermine local accountability, according to the article.

GHS officials said the transition would improve outcomes, reduce costs and enhance the patient experience, according to the report.
Nancy Retzlaff, chief commercial officer at New York-based Turing Pharmaceuticals, has filed a federal complaint against the company, claiming she was sexually assaulted by one of Turing's founders and then retaliated against by company leaders, according to The New York Times.

The accusations follow a string of bombshells in the story of Turing Pharmaceuticals, whose former CEO Martin Shkreli was arrested on securities and wire fraud charges in December 2015.

In her lawsuit, Ms. Retzlaff claims she and other Turing executives traveled to Washington, D.C., in March for a hearing before Congress. Ms. Retzlaff alleges she was sexually assaulted by Turing co-founder Edwin Urrutia while at a hotel. She did not report the assault, according to the article.

After that incident and other sexual advances at a number of other company functions, Ms. Retzlaff said a co-worker reported Mr. Urrutia to Turing, which launched an independent investigation that substantiated her claims of assault. Mr. Urrutia resigned in "in lieu of termination," according to the report.

However, following Mr. Urrutia's resignation, Ms. Retzlaff alleges others at Turing retaliated against her for causing Mr. Urrutia to leave. She claims that following his departure, executives told her she was no longer an eligible candidate for CEO.

The complaint also accuses Mr. Shkreli of "sexist and vulgar behavior [which] set the tone for the office atmosphere," despite leaving the company before the incident.

In a phone interview with the NYT, Mr. Shkreli denied accusations of sexism at the company and denied Ms. Retzlaff's claims that she had been retaliated against. He also praised her as a talented executive.

Ms. Retzlaff, Mr. Urrutia and Turing Pharmaceuticals declined to comment on the allegations.
Kentucky Governor Mat Bevin submitted an updated waiver proposal to the federal government in an effort to curb public criticism of the state's proposed Medicaid expansion plan, according to the Lexington Hearld-Leader.

Gov. Bevin said in a statement to reporters that there isn't much room for compromise on his part if HHS asks him to make even more changes to the revised plan, Kentucky HEALTH.

Kentucky legislators said the changes could reduce expected expansion costs from $37.2 billion to $35 billion.

Under the revised waiver, Medicaid would cover allergy testing and private-duty nurses and individuals determined to be medically frail would be exempt from premiums and co-pays. The waiver also expanded the list of acceptable community engagements, according to the report.

The governor did not change certain policies that have sparked controversy among public health advocates. These include mandatory premiums and co-pays and a requirement that able-bodied adults engage with their communities for at least 20 hours each week to be eligible for coverage. Dental, vision care and over-the-counter prescription drugs would be enhanced benefits Medicaid recipients can only earn by performing various tasks. Medical transportation for beneficiaries will also no longer be covered except in cases of emergency, according to the article.

The HHS has repeatedly warned it will not approve proposed waivers that limit access to benefits through work requirements or other hurdles.
Here are 5 statistics that track how Affordable Care Act exchanges across the U.S. have fluctuated between 2014 and 2017, according to Vox.

1. In 2017 there will be 687 counties with only one insurer selling individual health plans on the ACA market compared to 500 counties in 2014.

2. Only 182 counties had one insurer in 2016. That number is expected to quadruple next year.

3. In 2016, 66.8 percent of counties boasted three or more insurers selling individual plans on the ACA market. In 2017, only 44.3 percent of counties will have the same level of competition.

4. Arizona has experienced the greatest decline in payer competition between 2016 and 2017. Currently, PinalCounty outside Phoenix does not have a government coverage option for next year.

5. Alabama and Wyoming will have only one insurance option on the exchanges next year, compared to three insurers in 2016.
Drug enforcement officers suspect a supercharged form of heroin is to blame for 50 overdoses in Indiana and Ohio since Tuesday and more than 75 total since Friday, reports USA Today.

In Ohio, the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition reported more than 30 overdoses Monday. Since Tuesday, 33 more overdoses were reported in Cincinnati, including one fatal overdose, according to the article.

Officials in Jennings County, Ind., responded to 14 overdoses late Tuesday and early Wednesday, including one that was fatal, Jennings County Sheriff's Department and Seymour Police said in the report.

Authorities are trying to determine whether a specific source of heroin was tainted or cut with something that caused the users to overdose, according to the article.

Law enforcement officials suspect the heroin was laced with fentanyl, or possibly carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer that's 10,000 times more powerful than morphine.

Authorities have recently tied carfentanil to an increase in overdoses in several states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida.

In July, police indicted a Columbus, Ohio, man for passing off a batch of the drug as heroin, causing nine overdoses and one death.

Police Chief Tom Synan of Newtown, Ohio, who heads the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition, told The Cincinnati Enquirer the exact cause of Cincinnati's most recent spate of overdoses is not yet known.
A man stricken with Zika-related paralysis has died in Puerto Rico. It is the first case of Zika-related death due to paralysis in the territory, according to state epidemiologist Brenda Rivera-Garcia.

The victim  a man between 35 and 45  was afflicted with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which has been linked to the Zika virus. Guillain-Barre causes the immune system to attack the nervous system, which results in rapid-onset muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

According to an Associated Press report relayed by The Guardian, Dr. Rivera-Garcia said it was unusual that the victim was so young. "What does this tell us?" said Dr. Rivera-Garcia. "That all of us are susceptible?"

As of Aug. 17, more than 8,000 people in U.S. territories have been infected with the Zika virus. Among the states, there have been more than 2,200 people infected.

More articles on the Zika virus:

Up to 270 babies may be born with Zika-related microphealy in Puerto Rico

CDC updates guidance for Zika infant care: 4 things to know

Miami Beach mosquitoes now transmit Zika, new cases show
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is the newest political figure urging Mylan to voluntarily lower the price of its life-saving EpiPen injection, reports Reuters.

The medication, which can cost up to $700, has increased in price by more than 400 percent since 2007.

"That's outrageous  and it's just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers," Ms. Clinton said in a statement. "It's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them."

Ms. Clinton joins a group of senators vocalizing their unfavorable opinions of the price hike. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) recently wrote a letter to Mylan, asking the company to explain the price hikes. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) even called for a federal investigation of the Canonsburg, Pa.-based company's pricing practices.

The White House took a more cautious approach when addressing the topic, criticizing the overall issue of rising drug costs.

"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," said Josh Earnest, a spokesman for the White House, at a news briefing.

More articles on supply chain:
To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below
Dalata plc is in talks about acquiring a stake in Dublins Double Tree Hilton

Irish hotel firm Dalata plc, which owns Northern Ireland's Maldron and Clayton hotels, is in talks to acquire part of the former Burlington Hotel in Dublin.

The landmark Ballsbridge hotel is now a Double Tree Hilton.

Yesterday Dalata announced it is in exclusive discussions about acquiring an interest in the venue, formerly dubbed the 'Burlo'.

It has 502 rooms and has long been a popular hotel for Ireland rugby fans from Northern Ireland attending games at the Aviva Stadium.

The company said it was in talks with another party about buying the five-star venue.

In a statement to the Irish Stock Exchange, Dalata said that "in collaboration with another party who is negotiating to purchase the property, (it) has entered into exclusive discussions to acquire operating interests in and to commit to a leasehold interest in the hotel".

The statement added that the deal was subject to further due diligence and that there was no guarantee it would go ahead.

It would also be subject to the approval of the Republic's competition watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

The venue was bought by developer Bernard McNamara for 288m (345m) in 2007 - and sold for 67m (57m) to private equity house Blackstone in 2012.

Speaking at the time, Paul Collins of CBRE Hotels said it was "probably the most important sale of any hotel in Ireland since the banking crisis here in September 2008".

Dalata also owns The Maldron Hotel at Belfast International Airport, and also bought the former Holiday Inn in Belfast's Ormeau Avenue, which it renamed the Clayton Hotel.

It is now Ireland's biggest hotel operator, with 40 hotels which it owns, leases or manages. It was founded in 2007 by Pat McCann.
Gareth Loye of M&M Contractors, which has bought part of Mascott

Entrepreneur Gareth Loye has snapped up the assets and equipment of insolvent building firm Mascott Construction, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

It's understood his firm, M&M Contractors, paid a "substantial" sum to buy parts of the Belfast-based Mascott business, which went into administration earlier this month with the loss of around 30 jobs.

M&M chief executive Mr Loye said: "Mascott is a wonderful brand with some wonderful projects. We are a growing company and we believe that we have saved Mascott and can return it to being the company it once was."

M&M, based in Belfast, offers telecommunication and electrical infrastructures in civil engineering and construction projects.

Mascott Construction Ltd remains in administration, with the deal relating only to assets and equipment.

It became one of the most recognisable names in construction in Northern Ireland, carrying out major work including the building of the MAC Theatre in the Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.

Mr Loye had set up new company, Mascott Construction Europe, in the days after administrators EY were appointed by a lender to run the firm - suggesting the name could be revived under his ownership.

And a spokesman for M&M said last night it had bought "a portion of Mascott Construction Ltd's assets and equipment".

He added: "The company is also pleased to have secured the assignment of some of the company's existing contracts and looks forward to completing these projects in the coming months/years."

But the firm would not say which contracts had been assigned.

Earlier this week, outsourcing company Mount Charles Group announced that it was now looking for new contractors, one month after appointing Mascott Construction to carry out work on its new premises at Maxol House on the Ormeau Road in Belfast.

M&M's spokesman added: "The acquisition of these assets is a very positive development for our business, as well as the contracts that we have been able to take on, which we look forward to seeing through to completion.

"It will also greatly enhance our service offering by enabling us to continue providing the complete construction management solution to clients right across UK and Ireland as we continue to grow and expand our business."

No-one from EY was available to comment on the deal last night.
The EU Commission has been in regular contact with US authorities over the probe, a spokeswoman said

The European Union has rejected concerns raised by the US government that it is unfairly targeting American firms as part of investigations into sweetheart tax deals.

Responding to a US Treasury white paper, European Commission spokeswoman Lucia Caudet said: "EU law applies indiscriminately to all companies operating in Europe - there is no bias against US companies."

The commission has opened tax probes into Apple in Ireland, Starbucks in the Netherlands and Amazon in Luxembourg as part of a crackdown on the practice in which EU governments offer low corporate tax rates to multinationals.

The US Treasury said the investigations could cost American taxpayers if companies are forced to pay higher taxes in Europe because businesses get US tax credits for foreign tax payments.

Ms Caudet added that the EU Commission has been in regular contact with US authorities over the probe and that it "remains available to offer all necessary further clarifications" about European state aid law.

"The commission welcomes that the fight against tax evasion and tax avoidance is high on the political agenda on international, EU and national levels," she said.
Simon Cowell left his fellow judges Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger to launch the next series of The X Factor.

Show boss Cowell missed the event at a central London hotel to focus on America's Got Talent.

And returning judge Sharon Osbourne was also absent, due to "filming commitments".

The ITV singing programme returns for its 13th series on Saturday night.

Last year's show, featuring Rita Ora, DJ Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Cowell, fell flat - and was even beaten by Countryfile in the ratings - leading to a shake-up.

Long-time presenter Dermot O'Leary is also returning to this year's series.

Cowell previously handed presenting duties to Caroline Flack and Olly Murs, but it was Murs' gaffes that made the headlines.

This year, auditions are taking place in small rooms instead of on stage.

In the forthcoming series, viewers can expect acts including a "living doll" and a woman who stormed into the audition room uninvited.

Scherzinger, who is making her return to the panel, has defended the judging line-up against criticism that it is "too old".

The former Pussycat Dolls star, who pulled out of Cats on Broadway to join the show, is the youngest judge at 38.

Scherzinger, who was partly responsible for the formation of boy band One Direction, has confirmed she will perform during the new series of the ITV programme.

Rylan Clark-Neal and Matt Edmondson will be hosting a new-look spin-off show, The Xtra Factor Live.

Formerly The Xtra Factor, this year's companion programme - which airs on ITV2 after each episode - will be live for the first time.

They are taking over the reins from last year's presenters Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom for the revitalised show.

The duo will be joined in the studio by contestants who have appeared on the preceding main show, as well as a panel of celebrity guests, to share their thoughts along with the audience and viewers at home via social media.

Rylan Clark-Neal, who was at today's launch, said the new series was going back to its roots.

"It's The X Factor everyone fell in love with all those years ago," he said.

"The judging panel is perfect. It's a really good laugh."

He joked that Cowell was a "horrible" boss and added: "I don't even think he knows I'm doing it yet."

He said of his own spin-off show: "I think The Xtra Factor Live is what's going to make this year."

Fellow presenter Edmondson added of Cowell: "He's very distant. You very rarely see him."

And he said of the show: "It doesn't feel real yet, and we're live in two days."
Animal magic: Simon Cowell gets up close and personal with two of the guests at his sanctuary in Leatherhead, Surrey

Animal magic: Simon Cowell gets up close and personal with two of the guests at his sanctuary in Leatherhead, Surrey

Wildlife crusader Simon Cowell can often get better tables in restaurants because he shares his name with a certain music mogul.

But that's where the connection ends. He's never met his more famous namesake, and his life couldn't be further removed from that of the X Factor impresario.

In his all-encompassing job as head of his charity Wildlife Aid, he's been bitten by hedgehogs, gored by deer, and had an owl's talons embedded into his scalp while on air. Many of these anecdotes are charted in his memoir, My Wild Life.

"Once, an antler just missed the side of my jugular by about an inch," recalls the 64-year-old. "But when you corner an aggressive deer with big antlers, they think you're going to kill them so would fight back as you would."

Cowell had to rebuild the rescue centre after a blaze in 1996, caused by a faulty freezer, razed it to the ground, but remains undeterred and passionate about his cause.

A forthright, witty character not averse to swearing - charity patron Ricky Gervais once described him as 'David Attenborough with Tourette's' - Cowell is a rocket, one moment rescuing foxes, badgers, birds or other creatures with his team of 350 volunteers, the next rallying to raise funds or starting a new campaign.

He rarely takes a holiday, works seven days a week, and admits his long-term girlfriend Stani puts up with a lot.

"I'm like a blunderbuss. I'm all over the place but I love the challenges, especially when you are rescuing something. You never know what you are going out to. It's all about thinking on your feet.

"This morning we had a call about a deer with a broken leg, I went out to look at a fox, it's been mad."

He always talks calmly and softly to the animals he is rescuing.

"A calming voice helps and I think it's a gift I have. I hate using the word 'whisperer' because that's a load of b*******, but I have a synergy that I can't explain and I'm lucky to have it."

Hundreds of animals are housed at his centre at any one time, including injured ones and orphans, nursed and fed until they're fit enough to be released.

He has strict rules never to befriend them, because as soon as they develop a relationship with a human it drastically reduces their chances of returning successfully to the wild.

Cowell's latest vision is to build a wildlife hospital, next to a commercial veterinary hospital near a major teaching unit with wetlands and marshes (he needs to raise 5.5m).

It's a far cry from his life in the Eighties as a commodities trader in the City, making huge amounts of money and living the high-rolling lifestyle that went with it. He admits he neglected his (now ex) wife Jill and didn't see his two daughters grow up. "Looking back, I loved money," he reflects.

But while his colleagues blew their bonuses on designer gear, in 1980, Cowell set up a wildlife sanctuary in the grounds of his stockbroker belt home in Leatherhead, Surrey, which, seven years later, became Wildlife Aid.

In the early days, Jill ran the centre during the day, and Cowell would go out on rescues at weekends. But the strains of working in the City took their toll. "The pressure was just horrendous and it creeps up on you, and it all went hugely wrong" - and he suffered two nervous breakdowns.

"They called it executive burnout; I rather like that," he muses. "I blacked out on a train, then went to pieces and they kept taking me to hospital. I just cracked up. The thing that nipped that in the bud was when I was fired. I felt my shoulders rise about six feet higher than they had been."

He was eventually sacked, and only then did he realise that rescuing animals was really what he wanted to do.

At 42, Cowell answered his calling. Not only did he run the charity, but he also presented, wrote and produced Channel 5 and Animal Planet series Wildlife SOS for 16 years until the show was axed.

Demands for more sensational wildlife stories are ever-growing, he says.

"They want the stupid stuff, the man being bitten by an alligator, or something ridiculous happening, which I think is sad. We need to portray wildlife with reality.

"I don't think you should fudge it or make it up. Steve Irwin is a typical example. He did an incredible amount of good but in the end he had his zoo - and don't get me started on zoos because I hate them with a vengeance.

"But the picture they had in the paper the day after he died was of the whole family with a cheetah on a collar and lead in front of them. That just makes me want to bang my head against the wall because it's the wrong impression to give.

"He went up to animals and he goaded them. You should only ever approach a wild animal when it's in trouble. If it's doing its own thing and is happy, watch it from a distance.

"I really rate The Blue Planet," he continues. "I want to be the next David Attenborough. I would love to get another TV series."

He says around 70% of the animals which go into his rescue centre are released back into the wild. The other 30% are euthanised, if they cannot be released or fail to recover from injuries.

"It sounds hard. We will do anything to get that animal back regardless of species, but if that animal cannot survive in the wild, I'm not going to keep it in captivity for the next five or 10 years."

He's seen horrific things on his travels, from lions in Zambia who are taken by poachers and bred for trophy-hunting, to the bear bile industry in Vietnam - the bile is used in Chinese medicine - where bears are stuck in cages having bile painfully extracted from their gall bladder every week.

He hopes exposing these practices will help educate the public, which is the only real way to bring about change.

He is starting a new campaign this year called I DOT (I Do One Thing), to encourage everyone to do one action to help the environment.

"If everybody did one action, say picking up a rubber band once a day or moving a bit of glass, or planting something insect-friendly, then that would be 29 billion actions a year in the UK alone," says Cowell.

"That is starting to make a difference."

My Wild Life by Simon Cowell is published by Michael O'Mara, priced 12.99. Available now
The Muddlers Club in Belfast was awarded best newcomer in Co. Antrim

The Old Schoolhouse Inn on the Ballydrain Road in Comber.

Wine and Brine in Moira was crowned best newcomer in Co. Down

What Northern Ireland eateries are in the Good Food Guide? [Photos] Close

A Northern Ireland restaurant in its first year of trading has been named UK winner of the Good Food Guide Local Restaurant of the Year Awards.

Wine & Brine, located in the picturesque small market town of Moira and overseen by husband and wife team Chris and Davina McGowan, has only been open since December.

Chris previously worked alongside top chefs, such as Richard Corrigan and Gary Rhodes, in London, before returning back home to Northern Ireland after two decades away.

Waitrose Good Food Guide editor Elizabeth Carter said Wine & Brine was a worthy winner.

"A role-model of its kind, Chris McGowan's relaxed restaurant has a big heart, friendly, laid-back staff and generous cooking of fresh, seasonal and local ingredients at ridiculously reasonable prices," she added.

"A hive of endeavour, it is no wonder that Wine & Brine has a huge and very vocal fan base. Every town should have a restaurant of this standard."

Davina McGowan said: "To say we are delighted by this accolade is a great understatement.

"We are such a young business, it makes it all the more profound for us. We are trying to make good food accessible to everyone, using local suppliers. We only have one draught beer, and that's from a brewery a few miles away. Our butcher is within a five-mile radius, as are most of our suppliers."

Belfast Telegraph food writer Joris Minne said the accolade was "very well deserved".

"I'm delighted for Chris and Davina, who offer Michelin standards at affordable prices," he added. "I wish he would open three more restaurants."
An internet pornography expert has offered to deliver classes to Northern Ireland children on the dangers of addiction to sexually explicit material.

Lawyer Mary Sharpe hit the headlines recently after it emerged that Tony Blair's former school will provide "porn awareness" classes amid fears over the negative effects sexually explicit material can have on pupils.

Fettes College in Edinburgh, one of the UK's most exclusive public schools, has invited Ms Sharpe, founder of the Reward Foundation charity, to address students there at the beginning of next year.

And now plans have emerged to introduce such classes here in an attempt to wean pupils off pornography by warning them about the potential consequences of their addiction.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Darryl Mead, Ms Sharpe's husband and chair of the Reward Foundation, which promotes healthy relationships, told the Belfast Telegraph that Northern Ireland was on the agenda.

"Mary and I give joint presentations in schools and we're very interested in doing training sessions across the province," said Dr Mead.

"We haven't yet got any specific institutions in mind, but Northern Ireland is on our to-do list and we're very open to giving classes in primary, secondary and grammar schools.

"We're also happy to give separate sessions to boys and girls because they have different requirements when it comes to learning about pornography."

Ms Sharpe told Radio Ulster's Nolan Show yesterday that, although they currently deal primarily with 16 and 17-year-olds, they aimed to start educating children in their final year of primary school.

"Research shows that the average age kids start looking for naked pictures and the like is aged 10," she said.

"Today the internet gives them everything at the click of a mouse or swipe of a finger, so if we want to protect the kids' brains when they're at their most malleable, we've got to make them aware now."

The barrister said that while "just looking at porn and nudity wouldn't do any harm", there was a danger of it becoming a gateway to more explicit, potentially damaging material.

"The brain gets bored with something after it's seen it a few times and it demands novelty and it's very easy to escalate to hardcore porn and violent porn and kids get aroused by that," she said. "They're learning all the wrong stuff from the internet and it does them damage."

Depression and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) were just two of the mental health issues Ms Sharpe linked to pornography.

She also referred to a growing problem of erectile dysfunction among 20-year-old men "because they've been looking at porn in their teens".

"They stop being excited by their partners or by normal sexual arousal because their brains are used to hyper-arousing stimulus on the internet," she said.

"Instead of learning about how to chat up girls and hold hands and do all the normal gentle steps, they're being exposed to extreme material."

DUP MLA Nelson McCausland welcomed the move to make the classes available to local children, saying it was "right that young people should be educated about the dangers of pornography".

"There is great awareness today about the pernicious nature of such material and the way in which it affects the human brain," he said. "Anything that helps young people to have a more healthy lifestyle and be aware of such dangers is a good thing."
Joseph Murphy, a victim of the Troubles, and his wife Mary were buried together

A husband and wife who died on the same day 45 years apart have been buried together, after the widow passed away as his remains lay in a morgue following exhumation.

Joseph Murphy, who was shot dead in the Northern Ireland Troubles in the early 1970s, was exhumed last year by order of a coroner investigating the disputed circumstances of the killing.

His widow Mary, 83, died on Monday after a battle with cancer as her husband's remains continued to lie in a Belfast morgue. It was the same date Mr Murphy died in 1971.

He was one of 10 civilians shot dead by British soldiers in west Belfast in an incident known as the "Ballymurphy massacre".

The victims, including a Catholic priest and a mother-of-eight, died in an Army operation that saw paratroopers storm republican strongholds to arrest IRA suspects following the introduction of internment without trial.

Mrs Murphy and her family had long campaigned for justice and requested the exhumation to get to the truth of claims Mr Murphy was fired on a second time when in Army custody.

While in hospital before his death, Mr Murphy alleged he was first shot in the upper thigh on the streets of Ballymurphy, but he claimed soldiers then brought him into a nearby barracks and shot him again through his open wound.

A suspected bullet fragment was found among his remains after his exhumation. The findings will factor in a new inquest into the 10 deaths.

The coffins of Mr and Mrs Murphy were carried together into Corpus Christi church in Ballymurphy for requiem mass.

Parish priest Darach Mac Giolla Cathain noted the extraordinary chain of events that led the couple to be reunited in the church.

"When Joseph's body was exhumed early on October 27 2015 it was Mary's fervent desire that he have mass offered for the happy repose of his soul before he was reburied," he said.

"Little did she think that he would be buried 45 years to the day when he was first buried.

"More than that, that she would have the grace when she died that they would be side by side in the church and be laid to rest together."

He added: "God's timing really is perfect."

After the service, the couple were buried in the family plot in the nearby Belfast City Cemetery.
Two of the tweets sent by the Chief Constable which caused a storm

Two of the tweets sent by the Chief Constable which caused a storm

Police officers come to the aid of an injured colleague as trouble flares at a Twelfth of July parade in Belfast last year

Chief Constable George Hamilton has spoken exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph about the "dry your eyes" Twitter row that has rocked the PSNI - and insists he is completely committed to supporting his officers and staff.

Furious rank-and-file officers accused bosses of failing to support them after Mr Hamilton told one who complained about the pressures of the job to "dry your eyes" during a late night social media spat at the weekend.

Mr Hamilton also told the officer to "stop wallowing in self-pity" or "seek another job". He later apologised for his outburst.

The exchange has led to a wider debate about the role of police and the support provided to those who have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Writing in the Belfast Telegraph today, Mr Hamilton concedes that his use of language was inappropriate and says the debate was "poorly handled on my part".

He adds: "I am whole-heartedly committed to supporting my officers and staff. We are here to serve our community and we need people to be engaged and fit to do that."

Meanwhile, Mr Hamilton's deputy revealed there was an attack on police in Northern Ireland every three hours, but insisted that the PSNI was doing all it can to support its policemen and women.

Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris, whose police officer father was murdered, said: "I can 100% identify with and understand the pressures that affect officers.

"The terrorist threat places additional stresses and strains on officers.

"Every year officers are having to move because of the threat to them. They are dealing in far more prevalence with instances of child abuse etc. Even just look at the number of assaults on police. We have assaults on police every three hours."

In the last financial year there were 2,900 assaults on officers. The level of attacks on police in Northern Ireland is around double that of England and Wales, Mr Harris pointed out.

More than 60 of these attacks included attempted murder, assault occasioning actual bodily harm or assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Mr Harris said the PSNI spent 2.4m on occupational health and welfare provision each year to support officers.

"That is clinical, expert medical assistance for officers. It is bespoke to the profession we are in and is around early intervention and early identification so that should an individual avail of sick absence we can mitigate the length that might be, and more and more prevent people going sick in the first place," he said.

Mr Harris added: "We invest a lot in that and we provide a very comprehensive service. We probably provide the best service in the public sector in the UK. Other organisations come to us to look at how we provide our occupational health service."

However, he admitted that in terms of psychological help for officers suffering from PTSD and mental health problems due to the job, some were waiting 18 weeks to see a counsellor.

Mr Harris said he can identify with officers who have been affected by traumatic incidents they have had to deal with as part of the job. "I have almost 33 years of service in the police and I have seen a lot of unpleasant things and some of these things can't be unseen, and so you have to be very mindful of your own health and wellbeing," he added.

"Now we do more and more about identifying stresses and strains, making sure that there's peer support immediately available to officers and flagging up immediately an issue we think needs dealt with, like post-traumatic incident management.

"Policing is by its nature stressful and difficult at times and we have little control over what comes through our door. I have seen awful things, awful things. All of us are different and our ability to deal with things are different. That's just the reality of the human condition. I think, probably, when I look back at some of the instances which were truly dreadful I have been always able to find a way through. I would have looked for something positive in the days that followed, got support from my family and friends."

Asked why an officer felt the only way his concerns could be addressed was by tweeting a message to the Chief Constable, Mr Harris said: "There are lots of routes for an officer to raise concern. They can raise concern with their own line managers or the federation. What the police officer was identifying on Saturday night was around the ever-widening role of police.

"It is something we are acutely aware of as well. More and more we have to prioritise our work towards vulnerability, harm and risk because those are real things that are happening out on the ground."

He advised officers with concerns: "If you are feeling in a position where the organisation has abandoned you then you must speak to your supervisor. If you are not happy about doing that, speak to your fed rep. Come forward and seek assistance because there are lots of routes into that assistance."
Some of the items stolen from Stevie Martins home

Some of the items stolen from Stevie Martins home

The family of late Derry musician Stevie Martin have called the theft of musical instruments from his home in Londonderry "deplorable."

Mr Martin, known by his stage name Rainy Boy Sleep, was found dead on a Co Sligo beach on August 13 after going missing. It has now emerged that as friends and family searched for him, thieves broke into his empty home on Great James Street in Derry.

Police say the burglary occurred between 10.30am on Thursday, August 11 and 11.30am on Friday, August 12.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Martin's younger brother Sean (27) said the break-in had added to their suffering.

He said: "As you can appreciate it is a distressing time and this has only added to our stress and our grief.

"With having to deal with a burglary, such a deplorable act, the last fortnight has been a blur."

He urged people in the Derry area to keep an eye out for the five missing items. They include a Blue Fender Stratocaster guitar, a Roland Microcube amp, a Yahama EZ-200 keyboard, a Saffire Pro 24 soundcard and a Fender Deluxe amp

The PSNI are keen to speak to anyone with information on the robbery, or who may be offered similar items for sale in suspicious circumstances, to contact police at Strand Road on 101, quoting reference 470 on August 12, or to call Crimestopers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Maze escaper Gerry Kelly, who is now an MLA

An IRA bomber was granted a royal pardon for an attack on a Belfast pub that killed five people.

Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane was pardoned by the Queen for bombing the Bayardo Bar in 1975.

Four Protestant civilians and a UVF member died when an IRA gang led by McFarlane targeted the pub, just off the Shankill Road.

But three explosives convictions linked to the attack were commuted by the Royal Prerogative of Mercy to enable his extradition to Northern Ireland.

McFarlane had been on the run with Gerry Kelly, now a Sinn Fein MLA, after the 1983 Maze Prison escape. The pair were returned from Holland in 1986.

Part of the agreement with Dutch authorities involved the men being granted the royal pardon.

The move was used to overcome legal difficulties, which had held up their extradition.

But it caused disquiet for officials, one of whom warned it was likely to be "misinterpreted and misrepresented".

The papers are contained in previously classified files released today by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

McFarlane, now a senior member of Sinn Fein, was given five life sentences for the Bayardo Bar attack.

He and two accomplices placed bombs in the bar before opening fire as people fled. Two died in the hail of bullets while the explosion killed three and injured 68.

Kelly, meanwhile, was serving two life terms for his part in car bomb attacks on the Old Bailey and Scotland Yard in 1973.

The pair were part of the mass breakout from the Maze in 1983.

The prisoners used smuggled guns and knives to overpower staff before hijacking a lorry.

Prison officer James Ferris died after being stabbed. Another officer was seriously injured.

A huge search operation was mounted within minutes of the breakout, and half of the prisoners were caught soon after.

Kelly and McFarlane were arrested in Amsterdam in January 1986.

The Dutch Supreme Court rejected an application by British authorities to extradite Kelly on the basis of charges for which he had already been convicted. However, they did allow the extradition to go ahead on charges linked to the Maze escape.

In the case of McFarlane, his extradition was admissible in respect of the five murder convictions resulting from the Bayardo Bar attack.

But three explosives convictions from the same incident were ruled not to be admissible.

A confidential memo dated November 12, 1986 states: "I agree we should accept McFarlane on the conditions set out by the Dutch Supreme Court which provide for him to continue to serve his life sentences for murder and to face charges for certain less serious offences in connection with the Maze escape.

"I assume action under the Royal Prerogative will be necessary to implement this decision, i.e. to remit his sentences for the three convictions for explosives offences for which he is held to be not extraditable."

The same memo outlines unease at having to give Kelly and McFarlane pardons.

It acknowledges that it is the result of "genuine legal reasons".

But it adds: "Nevertheless, the use of the Royal Prerogative to set aside Kelly's (and McFarlane's) life sentences will be extremely controversial and is quite likely to be widely misunderstood, misinterpreted and misrepresented: 'London bomber given Royal pardon etc' in the headlines."
He's been dubbed the PSNI's "best looking policeman" but it's just "another day at the office" for Detective Bobby.

Following media appearances ahead of Tennent's Vital, Detective Superintendent Singleton became somewhat of a poster boy for the PSNI - sparking an internet frenzy.

Hordes of people commented on his smouldering appearance on the PSNI's official Facebook page.

A flurry of comments came from ladies whipped into a frenzy prompting them to start planning their life of crime in a bid to meet him.

Such was the popularity of the social media posts that they even made national news.

But responding on Twitter, Detective Bobby said "Just another day at the office lol."

He added: "My colleagues are ensuring I'm kept well grounded."

Hundreds of comments were posted on the PSNI page including, "Well done to the PSNI for keeping the recruitment of SuperHot Bobbys to a minimum! I feel I speak for a large percentage of the female population in NI when I say, if more police officers looked like that - I'd find a new rule to break every weekend... And three on a bank holiday."

Another read: "He can arrest me any day" while another claimed: "That's the best looking policeman I've ever seen".

And the PSNI have spotted a window of opportunity in the online attention and have used the Detective Superintendent as a recruitment drive.

PSNI Bangor have urged those who have become a bit hot under the collar, to change their tactics for meeting the officer.

It said: "Instead of turning to a life of crime to meet Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton which I have seen several ladies threaten. Why not join the PSNI and run into him in a chance meeting in the canteen or during an arrest at custody. (No thats not my plan at all)

"Granted a chance to meet the Supt isnt a great reason to join up. If you want to make a difference and serve the community. Have a career rather than a job and become part of our PSNI family, why not give it a go. Boys most welcome also.

"Recruitment is opening in the New Year, you never know how many more Bobbys we have tucked away."

PSNI Bangor's post had received more than 2,000 likes at time of writing and had prompted hundreds of comments.
One of the stealing sprees was carried out while he was waiting sentence for the earlier thefts.

A man with Asperger syndrome who stole nearly 1,000 worth of goods from Tesco stores has been jailed for 10 months.

Daniel Kerr took PlayStation controllers and trolley-loads of goods during three separate raids on branches in Carrickfergus and east Belfast.

One of the stealing sprees was carried out while he was waiting sentence for the earlier thefts.

The 23-year-old, of Salia Avenue in Carrickfergus, was granted bail pending an appeal against the prison term imposed.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he entered a Tesco in his hometown on May 5, filled a trolley full of items valued at 480 and left without paying.

Less than two weeks later he targeted another branch in Newtownbreda along with two other suspected thieves.

Prosecutors said they filled two trolleys with a range of items worth approximately 200 and exited.

Kerr was identified on CCTV footage and later admitted both thefts. But earlier this month he carried out a further raid on the supermarket's branch in Carrickfergus.

He was arrested after taking PS4 controllers valued at 294 and pleaded guilty once again.

A defence lawyer stressed Kerr's "traumatic history" of being diagnosed with Asperger's and severe drug problems.

"He became addicted to everything he could get his hands on," she told the court.

"This young man is crying out for help."

Ordering Kerr to serve four months in prison for the first two thefts, District Judge Liam McNally imposed a further six-month term for the latest stealing incident.

He told the accused: "Not only did you fail to attend probation, but you committed a further offence whilst awaiting sentence."

Bail was then fixed pending an appeal to be heard at a later date.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) made 44 disruptions of child sexual exploitation, drugs and money laundering gangs in Northern Ireland 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 the province.

Ongoing investigations are being held into the sale of Northern Ireland assets owned by the Republic's Nama bank for bad property loans.

The NCA has also provided child protection training for teachers and helped reinforce the security of locally-issued banknotes 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 do 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.

Officials from the NCA briefed members of the Policing Board recently.
Northern Ireland Office 1986 correspondence about Gerry Kelly was released by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland

A British official reluctantly agreed to a royal pardon for Maze prison escapee Gerry Kelly rather than see him freed in Holland, state files from 1989 have revealed.

The future Sinn Fein Stormont minister was arrested in the Netherlands in 1986 - about three years after the biggest prison escape in UK history - and extradited back to Northern Ireland to face charges relating to the attempted murder of a prison officer.

Conditions set by the Dutch meant he could not face charges relating to London bombings for which he had already been convicted and was serving life sentences, leading the British authorities to cancel the sentence.

Northern Ireland Office (NIO) 1986 correspondence about Mr Kelly was released by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

A senior NIO official wrote: "With considerable reluctance, however, I accept that the balance of advantage overall lies in our taking Kelly on the conditions offered rather than refusing to take him with the prospect of his then being released in the Netherlands."

The Maze housed some of Northern Ireland's most notorious paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles.

Mr Kelly, now a senior member of Sinn Fein who represents North Belfast in the Stormont Assembly, had been jailed for life in 1973 for the Old Bailey and Scotland Yard bombings.

He was among 38 IRA inmates who fled the Maze in Co Antrim in September 1983. They used smuggled guns and knives to overpower prison staff before hijacking a food lorry and driving to the main gate.

After his capture in Holland, a court prohibited Mr Kelly's extradition on grounds of his life sentences for explosives offences, permitting it only on the charges of attempting to murder a prison officer, causing grievous bodily harm and certain others.

The NIO official wrote: "I find this case much more difficult."

He added: "If we accept him on the conditions set out by the Dutch Supreme Court, I assume action will be necessary under the royal prerogative to remit his life sentences."

He acknowledged there were genuine reasons for the Dutch not extraditing Mr Kelly on the bombing convictions.

"Nevertheless, the use of the royal prerogative to set aside Kelly's (and McFarlane's) life sentences will be extremely controversial and it is quite likely to be widely misunderstood, misinterpreted and misrepresented: London bomber given Royal Pardon etc, in the headlines."

The royal prerogative of mercy, commonly known as a royal pardon, allows changes in sentences without the backing of or consultation with parliament.
Soldier Ciaran Maxwell was arrested in England in connection with dissident republican weapon hauls

A Royal Marine from Larne is being questioned by detectives investigating terrorism, understood to be connected to two major dissident republican arms finds.

The 30-year-old serviceman - named locally as Ciaran Maxwell - was arrested in a pre-planned swoop at his base near Taunton, Somerset, shortly after noon yesterday.

The operation involved searches at a house in Exminster and a wooded area nearby in south Devon.

In Northern Ireland officers simultaneously searched a number of properties in Larne, Co Antrim, near the two forest parks where the weapons dumps were discovered earlier this year. One of the properties searched is believed to belong to the arrested man.

Army bomb disposal officers were involved in the searches, and officers were seen taking a ladder inside and bringing bags of material out.

One eyewitness described seeing aerosol cans, computers and a metal documents case being carried.

The man was detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism. He is being held in a West Country police station for questioning.

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 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.

Councillor Paul Reid told the Belfast Telegraph that he had visited the scene of one of the Old Glenarm Road searches, just a few minutes from Larne town centre.

He said that he feared lives could have been put in danger, and neighbours had been very upset.

"The presence of the bomb disposal unit suggests there could have been something potentially fatal found. It beggars belief," he said.

"This is a main road into Larne, with a lot of traffic and is in a built-up area.

"It is a shock to hear that someone who took an oath to serve Queen and country has been arrested in relation to something that could have led to the death of his colleagues."

Larne is predominantly unionist 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 yesterday 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. It's understood MI5 was also involved.
Andrew Cromie's lawyer said he made up claims of sleeping rough while wielding samurai sword and hammer

A teenager who brandished a samurai sword in north Belfast and told police he planned to frighten a man was just "fantasising", a court heard today.

Andrew Cromie's lawyer said he also made up claims of sleeping rough while wielding the weapon and a hammer in a bid to get arrested.

The 19-year-old, of Alliance Road in the city, was ordered to complete 18 months probation and 80 hours community service.

Belfast Magistrates' Court was told police were alerted late at night on May 11 to a man wielding weapons in the Ardoyne area.

Officers then discovered Cromie wearing a balaclava and gloves and brandishing the sword and hammer, prosecutors said. They remained in their car for a period when he unsheathed the blade on their arrival.

He was later arrested and claimed to have been sleeping in Ballysillan Park for the previous two weeks. A prosecution lawyer said Cromie told police he had spent hours in Ardoyne as part of a plan to frighten a man who had committed an offence against someone he knew.

Cromie pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Defence solicitor Matt Higgins insisted his client was neither sleeping rough nor targeting anyone. "This was all a fantasy because he wanted to get arrested," he argued. Mr Higgins revealed that Cromie has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a serious drug problem that "spiraled into the events of this evening".

The lawyer continued: "He wasn't menacing people, as soon as police came he put the weapons down.

"This was a classic cry for help."

Imposing probation and community service, District Judge Liam McNally warned Cromie that any failure to comply will result in him being jailed for four months.
The comedies were announced by Channel 4 at the Edinburgh TV Festival

New comedies about a teenage girl growing up during The Troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1990s and about a bisexual New Yorker navigating the London dating scene have been announced by Channel 4.

Derry Girls will be set in the run-up to the ceasefire and will be based on the experiences of writer Lisa McGee.

The six-part sitcom will follow 16-year-old Erin and her friends in 1994 and will show armed police in armoured Land Rovers, British Army checkpoints and "peace" walls while detailing the daily ups and downs of her life, including romantic and family dramas, conflicts at school and body insecurities.

McGee, who grew up in Londonderry at that time, said: "Anything set during the Troubles tends to be a bit grim and bleak, but that just wasn't my experience of Derry as a child and a teenager, it was a joyful place.

"I'd like to celebrate that. It was also hugely matriarchal, so I was keen we have a large and varied cast of female characters.

"There were other things going on in Northern Ireland at that time, there were other stories, I'm excited to have the opportunity to tell some of them."

The show was announced by Channel 4 at the Edinburgh TV Festival, and Nerys Evans, deputy head of comedy at the channel, said: "Derry Girls may have a unique setting but it's a really warm family sitcom, seen through the eyes of teenager Erin. Lisa's writing is truthful, brave and laugh-out loud funny."

The channel also announced new comedy The Bisexual, about the difference between dating men and women from the perspective of someone who does both.

Created by Girls actress Desiree Akhavan, who will also star, the series will follow New Yorker Leila as she adjusts to the dating scene in London after breaking up with her girlfriend.

Leila will swap her luxurious life as part of a power couple for a house-share with a British male flatmate who becomes an unlikely wingman who helps her navigate her new life dating men.

The show will offer an outsider's view of Britain, as Leila navigates the discrepancy between what the English say with what they feel, Channel 4 said.

Akhavan said: ''Getting to play in the sandbox with such intelligent collaborators at Sister Pictures and Channel 4 is an absolute dream come true. They're the perfect partners in crime for a taboo sex comedy. And by that I mean they're all perverts."

Evans, who commissioned the show said: "We are thrilled to be working with Desiree on her series The Bisexual. She has such a brilliantly unique viewpoint on finding love in your thirties.

"We love her candid observations, both on being an outsider in a strange city as well as the sexual politics encountered when you are neither straight nor gay. She's honest, authentic and brilliantly funny in her delivery."
Competitors in the 200kg Duck Walk event during the UK Strongest Man 2016 heats at Belfast City Hall

Pa O'Dwyer from Ireland lifts a log during the UK Strongest Man 2016 heats at Belfast City Hall, Belfast. PA

The UK's strongest men lifted the equivalent of two people above their heads as they battled to be crowned the mightiest in the country.

Eddie Hall, from Staffordshire, bench-pressed a 150kg log 19 times in an effortless show of power with only a puff of the cheeks before the last repetition in front of a crowd of hundreds in Northern Ireland.

And the towers of strength waddled along the "duck walk" outside Belfast's City Hall while clutching 200kg stacks of metal in the most gruelling of races.

Organiser Glenn Ross said: "People's muscles will be on fire for this Rudridge Ultimate Strongman Weekend."

Other challenges included a centuries-old pole push wrestling test and lifting sackloads of weight into vehicles.

Aaron Page and Pa O'Dwyer dropped the log on their heads. For another the bulky weight would not budge at all.

This was the 13th year of the strong man competition.

Expand Close Competitors in the 200kg Duck Walk event during the UK Strongest Man 2016 heats at Belfast City Hall / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Competitors in the 200kg Duck Walk event during the UK Strongest Man 2016 heats at Belfast City Hall

Pulling trucks and flipping mammoth tyres are among the challenges which await competitors who make it to the next round. The victor will be crowned on Saturday.

Other competition venues include the Titanic Quarter and Crumlin Road Gaol.

Strong men eat a 10,000-calorie mountain of food every day and consume about a kilogramme of steak daily. The shopping bill can come to up to 400 a week.

Expand Close Ed Hall from England lifts a log during the UK Strongest Man 2016 heats at Belfast City Hall, Belfast. PA PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Ed Hall from England lifts a log during the UK Strongest Man 2016 heats at Belfast City Hall, Belfast. PA
RNLI and Coast Guard teams have also been joined by volunteers from the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team

Hundreds of people have now joined a massive sea, land and air search for a solider missing off the Co Donegal coast since Tuesday.

More than 120 colleagues of the missing Defence Forces corporal have been joined by colleagues from the naval service and Air Corps.

RNLI and Coast Guard teams have also been joined by volunteers from the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team as well as the Garda Underwater Unit as the search to recover the soldier was extended today.

The missing corporal was swept out to sea after getting into difficulty at Tullan Strand in Bundoran around 6pm on Tuesday.

The soldier has been named locally as Corporal Gavin Carey from Kilcullen, Co Westmeath.

He is based in Athlone but had been attending an overseas deployment course at Finner Camp, outside Ballyshannon.

Two other soldiers from 2nd Field Artillery Regiment based at Custume Barracks were rescued during the incident.

The search was intensified this afternoon and extended further up the coast towards Rossnowlagh.

Inland Fisheries Ireland vessels and a number of fishermen have also joined the search.

An RNLI spokesman said there is a determination among those involved in the operation to recover the soldier from the sea.

Derek Flanagan from Malin Head Coast Guard said conditions had improved today.

We will continue the search operation from 7am to 9pm each day until hopefully its conclusion, he said.

Irish Independent
We are in the midst of a decade of centenaries and this year a great deal of attention has been focused on the Irish republican rebellion in Dublin and the Battle of the Somme. This decade will continue through to 2021 and the centenary of Northern Ireland.

However, we are also at the start of a period of 50th anniversaries. We can look back 50 years to 1966, which marked the start of what is generally known as the Troubles and which was also the 50th anniversary of 1916. The two anniversaries are not unconnected.

Exactly 50 years ago this month, in August 1966, an article appeared in Tuairisc, the newsletter of the republican Wolfe Tone Societies. These had been set up Cathal Goulding, the IRA chief of staff, and the membership included communists and other Left-wing nationalists, as well as republicans.

They were used as a means of disseminating and developing support for the ideas of the Connolly Association, a front organisation linked to the Communist Party of Great Britain and its guru, Desmond Greaves, an English communist with Irish roots.

Several of his proteges, such as Roy Johnston and Anthony Coughlan, who had been members of the Connolly Association, became leading figures in the Wolfe Tone Societies, where they mingled with members of the IRA.

Coughlan was the author of the article, that set out a strategy to undermine Northern Ireland using a civil rights campaign and Johnston became the IRAs director of education, with a seat on the Army Executive.

Then, on August 13-14, a secret meeting was held in Maghera in the home of Kevin Agnew, a solicitor and a member of Sinn Fein. It was held under the auspices of the Wolfe Tone Societies and Cathal Goulding and other senior IRA officers were present.

Coughlan was unable to attend, but a paper he had written, an expanded version of the Tuairisc article, was read at the meeting.

Two years were to pass before the first civil rights march from Dungannon to Coalisland in August 1968 and that led on to Londonderry and Burntollet, but the secret meeting in Maghera was the seminal event in the emergence of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.

Later, there were public meetings to establish a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, but it was there in Maghera that the Greaves strategy to undermine Northern Ireland and establish an all-Ireland Republic was unveiled and discussed.

The Wolfe Tone Societies had agreed that one of their elderly members, Alec Foster, an eccentric former headmaster of Belfast Royal Academy, should be the chairman of the seminar, a decision that was probably intended to reassure some possible waverers.

Other people at the Maghera meeting included Liam McMillen, the leader of the IRA in Belfast, and Jack Bennett, a member of the Communist Party of Northern Ireland.

Bennett was an interesting character, who worked as a journalist in Belfast.

However, he used the pseudonym Claude Gordon when he wrote an anti-unionist column in the Dublin-based Sunday Press and, when he died in 2000, he was described by Sinn Fein as one of the most incisive political thinkers and commentators of his generation.

He was from a Protestant background, the son of an RUC officer, but had joined the Communist Party when he was 16. There he fell under the influence of Greaves and joined the Connolly Association, a front for the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Today, we hear much about the past and the need to address the legacy of the past. Unfortunately, that process has been distorted, to the delight of Sinn Fein, who want a one-sided process that will rewrite the past and erase the guilt of the IRA.

For that reason, we must not allow these 50th anniversaries to pass unnoticed.

Moreover, they help us to understand the often forgotten roles of organisations such as the Communist Party in fomenting a situation that led on to the Troubles.
Separatist factions in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday rejected the governments offer of a dialogue, even as New Delhi sought to end a weeks-long logjam following the killing of a separatist leader last month.

We reject the assertion by the Indian government that Kashmir is an integral part of India. We are not ready to engage in a dialogue under Indias constitution, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a senior member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of 26 separatist groups seeking Kashmirs independence since 1993, told BenarNews.

If it really intends to resolve the vexed issue by way of a meaningful dialogue, India must first accept Kashmir as a disputed territory. It should put an end to civilian killings in Kashmir and start the process of demilitarization, he said.

Geelani made those remarks just hours after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who wrapped up his two-day visit to the conflict-torn Jammu and Kashmir state, told reporters in Srinagar on Thursday that New Delhi was ready to hold talks with anyone as long as they were within the parameters of his countrys constitution.

Singhs visit to the Himalayan region  claimed in its entirety by India and its arch rival, Pakistan  came amid continuing clashes between pro-freedom protesters and the Indian armed forces since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The latest cycle of violence has left 68 people dead, including two security personnel, and left more than 7,000 injured in the Kashmir Valley, according to official figures.

On Thursday, security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse a mob in Bandipora district, injuring a protester. A day earlier, one person died and at least 40 others were wounded when security personnel fired pellets to quell a protest in south Kashmirs Pulwama district, where a grenade attack injured nine policemen.

During the last seven weeks, deaths and injuries have been caused by pellets fired by security forces, Singh conceded.

The use of pellet-firing shotguns was considered non-lethal. But as we have been seeing, that is not the case, Singh said, adding that an alternative method to deal with stone-pelting protesters will be implemented soon. He did not give details about the alternative.

We have already directed our security forces to exercise maximum restraint. Among those injured are 4,500 of our security personnel, he said.

Indias future includes Kashmir

The Indian-controlled side of Kashmir, a Himalayan region claimed by both India and Pakistan, has endured a separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 70,000 lives since the late 1980s.

I appeal to my Kashmiri brothers and sisters to help restore peace. Dont spoil the future of your children by coaxing them to throw stones at our security personnel, Singh said.

We cant think of Indias future without Kashmirs future. The people of India are pained by the killings in Kashmir. Children who should have pens, books and computers in their hands, are now holding stones, he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who joined Singh at the press conference, said that only a few people were responsible for the violence.

I can tell you that 95 percent of the Kashmiri people want a peaceful solution to the issue through dialogue. Its the 5 percent of anti-national miscreants who are provoking children to indulge in violence against Indian security forces, Mufti said.

Separatist skepticism



But Asiya Andrabi, who heads the regions only all-women separatist group, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, described the address by the home minister and state chief minister as meaningless.

His (Singhs) visit is nothing but a deceptive tactic to make the international community believe that the Indian government is concerned about the prevailing situation in Kashmir, she told BenarNews.

Mufti states that only 5 percent of Kashmiris are agitating. It is a clear indication that she has assumed the chief ministers post by selling civilian lives to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Andrabi said, referring to the alliance between Muftis Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Indias ruling nationalist party.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, was detained late Thursday and taken to a police station near Hazratbal, after he called for a protest march on Friday to Eidgah, a public square in downtown Srinagar, police confirmed.

Farooq, who has claimed to be under house arrest since Wanis killing, was taken to a police station in Srinagars Hazratbal area, according to News World India.

Terming the unrest in Kashmir a political problem that required a political solution, Farooq on Wednesday said all stakeholders, including Pakistan should be included in any proposed dialogue.

Its always separatists, Pakistan or traitors who are blamed (for problems in the valley) and never the Indian establishment, he said.
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.


For Immediate Release, August 25, 2016 Contact: Dr. Abel Valdivia, (510) 844-7111, avaldivia@biologicaldiversity.org Chambered Nautilus, 'Living Fossil' Depleted by International Shell Trade, Moves Toward Endangered Species Act Protection OAKLAND, Calif. The National Marine Fisheries Service today announced it will consider giving Endangered Species Act protection to the chambered nautilus, an ocean mollusk threatened with extinction due to overharvest for the international shell trade. In response to a petition submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Fisheries Service issued a finding that endangered species protection may be warranted for this iconic animal, whose unique, spiraling shell has made it a popular commodity for collectors in the United States and Europe. Over the past 16 years, nearly 1.7 million nautilus shell products were imported into the United States. Chambered nautilus photo by Greg J. Barord. Photos are available for media use. This is fantastic news, because without help, the chambered nautilus is facing extinction. Were lucky to share a planet with these ancient creatures, and Im hoping we can ensure that our fascination with their beguiling, fractal shells doesnt lead to their demise, said Dr. Abel Valdivia, a marine scientist with the Center. A relative of squid and octopi, the chambered nautilus grows to about 8 inches long, with a spiral shell and about 90 tentacles it uses to catch prey. Its often called a living fossil because of its striking resemblance to ancestors that swam shallow seas half a billion years ago. Although nautiluses have survived five major mass extinctions, today theyre threatened with extinction due to excessive overfishing and trade. For example, one population in the Philippines declined more than 80 percent in just 15 years. The future of the nautilus is also threatened by ocean acidification, which can impair the ability of mollusks to build the shells they need to survive. The Centers petition seeks to curtail imports of chambered nautilus shells and help prevent the extinction of populations in the Indo-Pacific. It also calls for the U.S. government to encourage the Philippines, Indonesia and other Indo-Pacific countries to enforce their environmental laws and stop the unsustainable harvest of chambered nautiluses. Recently the United States joined with Fiji, India and Palau in proposing to list the entire nautilus family under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which would also be an important step in curbing international trade. The parties to CITES will make a decision on the nautilus proposal at their October meeting in South Africa. The chambered nautilus is being collected and sold into extinction for jewelry and other trinkets, Valdivia said. Its a tragedy. The protection of the Endangered Species Act could play a lifesaving role for these incredible animals. More information on the chambered nautilus can be found here. 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


For Immediate Release, August 25, 2016 Contact: Nick Cady, Cascadia Wildlands, (314) 482-3746

Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, (503) 484-7495

Bob Sallinger, Portland Audubon, (503) 380-9728 Lawsuit Filed to Protect Threatened Marbled Murrelet From Logging on Former Elliott State Forest Logging Highlights Controversy Over Ongoing Privatization of Public Forest EUGENE, Ore. Cascadia Wildlands, the Center for Biological Diversity and Portland Audubon filed a lawsuit in federal court today seeking to block Scott Timber Company from logging a portion of a 355-acre parcel of land that until 2014 was part of the 93,000-acre Elliott State Forest and provides habitat for the threatened marbled murrelet. The Endangered Species Act strictly prohibits take (harm, harassment or killing) of threatened species like the murrelet, which, unlike any other seabird, nests on the wide branches of large, old trees, making a daily trip of up to 35 miles inland to bring fish to its young. The groups are seeking emergency relief to stop logging that under state law could begin as soon as Sunday. It was illegal for the state of Oregon to log the marbled murrelets habitat and it is illegal for Scott Timber Company to do the same, said Nick Cady, legal director at Cascadia Wildlands. We intend to hold the landowner accountable to the law to ensure this imperiled species receives the protections it needs. In 2012 the three groups sued the state of Oregon for illegally logging marbled murrelet habitat on the Elliott and other state forests. The state settled the suit in 2014, agreeing to drop 26 timber sales and stop logging in occupied murrelet habitat. But following the loss, the state sold three parcels totaling 1,453 acres, even though they contained mature and old-growth forests that are occupied by the murrelet, including the 355-acre Benson Ridge parcel. By trying to log, then sell occupied marbled murrelet habitat, the state of Oregon has completely disregarded its duty to protect these unique birds and the remaining old-forest they need to survive, said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center. This shortsighted action on the part of the state not only endangers the survival of the birds, but shortchanges Oregonians whore counting on the state to protect our natural heritage. At the time of the sale, the groups notified Scott Timber and other buyers that in purchasing the land, they were taking over the responsibility of ensuring the survival of the murrelet, and that logging of its habitat would violate the Endangered Species Act. Scott Timber responded that it had no immediate plans to log the Benson Ridge parcel it had purchased, but has now proposed a timber sale in habitat where murrelets have been documented in recent years. The marbled murrelet has lost most of the old-growth habitat it needs to survive in the Oregon Coast Range and is facing degraded ocean conditions due to climate change and other factors, said Bob Sallinger, conservation director at the Audubon Society of Portland. Flagrant violations of the Endangered Species Act in addition to these factors are a recipe for disaster for these birds. The controversy over the Benson Ridge parcel exemplifies why the public is so outraged about the privatization of public lands. Currently Oregons State Land Board, made up of the governor, treasurer and secretary of state, is in the process of disposing of the rest of the Elliott State Forest. This unfortunate situation should send a clear message to Governor Kate Brown, Treasurer Ted Wheeler and Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins that further privatization of the Elliott will directly threaten imperiled salmon and wildlife, old-growth forests, recreation opportunities and other values that Oregonians hold dear, said Cady. Our leaders in Salem must stand up for Oregonians, and halt the ongoing privatization of the Elliott State Forest. In June the groups sent a petition to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife requesting uplisting of the murrelet from threatened to endangered under the state Endangered Species Act, and to the Board of Forestry requesting that it identify and protect important forest sites critical to the murrelets survival  a requirement of the state's endangered species law that has never been met. Cascadia Wildlands represents approximately 10,000 members and supporters and has a mission to educate, agitate and inspire a movement to protect and restore Cascadias wild ecosystems. 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. Audubon Society of Portland was founded in 1902 to promote the understanding, enjoyment and protection of native birds, other wildlife and their habitats. Today it represents over 16,000 members in Oregon.


For Immediate Release, August 24, 2016 Contacts: Amaroq Weiss, Center for Biological Diversity, (707) 779-9613, aweiss@biologicaldiversity.org

Tim Coleman, Kettle Range Conservation Group (509) 675-3556, tcoleman@kettlerange.org

Mike Petersen, The Lands Council, (509) 209-2406, mpetersen@landscouncil.org

Danielle Moser, Endangered Species Coalition, (503) 975-0482, dmoser@endangered.org Conservationists Express Outrage That Entire Pack of Wolves,

12 Percent of State Population, to Be Killed for Preying on Livestock on Public Lands OLYMPIA, Wash. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has indicated it plans to kill the entire Profanity Peak wolf pack over conflicts with livestock on national forest lands in northern Ferry County. This is the second time in four years that an entire pack of endangered wolves has been slated for death due to the grazing of privately owned cattle on publicly owned lands. Washington currently has a confirmed population of 90 wolves, and killing the Profanity Peak pack, which consists of 11 known wolves, would result in the eradication of 12 percent of the states endangered wolf population. Diamond pack female wolf courtesy Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Photos are available for media use. At least two of the packs wolves, including the breeding female, have already been killed as part of this operation. Washingtons state wolf plan seeks to recover this endangered, majestic species, and by no stretch of the imagination can killing 12 percent of the states tiny population of 90 wolves be consistent with recovery, said Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf organizer with the Center for Biological Diversity. We cant keep placing wolves in harms way by repeatedly dumping livestock onto public lands with indefensible terrain, then killing the wolves when conflicts arise. These allotments should be retired by the U.S. Forest Service  or livestock losses should simply be expected, and wolves shouldnt have to pay for it with their lives. In 2012 another entire wolf pack, the Wedge pack, was the target of an agency kill order near where the Profanity Peak pack now ranges, for conflicts with livestock owned by one of the same ranchers as in this instance, on both public and private lands. Aiming to kill the entire pack, state officials succeeded in killing six of the packs eight members. If the Profanity Peak pack is eradicated, this will bring to 17 the number of state-protected endangered wolves killed on behalf of one of the two livestock operators grazing in the packs territory in the Colville National Forest. Cows grazing in thick forest and downed trees in the Colville National Forest are in an indefensible situation where preventative measures crafted with the help of the Washington States Wolf Advisory Group  a diverse group of stakeholders  have been ineffective, said Tim Coleman, executive director for Kettle Range Conservation Group, which is a member of the WAG. We believe the wildest areas of our national forests should be a place where wolves can roam free. Washingtons wolves were driven to extinction in the early 1900s by a government-sponsored eradication program on behalf of the livestock industry. Since the early 2000s, the animals have started to make a slow comeback by dispersing into Washington from neighboring Idaho and British Columbia. But wolf recovery is still in its infancy, with only an estimated 90 wolves at the end of 2015. In 2012 nearly the entire Wedge pack was killed over livestock conflicts that occurred partly on federal public land, and in 2014 the agency sought to kill members of the Huckleberry pack  and did kill the packs breeding female  over livestock conflicts that occurred partly on state-owned lands. The Profanity Peak pack, first confirmed as a pack in 2014, ranges across territory that includes multiple public lands grazing allotments in northern Ferry County. Wolves are an integral part of the American landscape, including right here in eastern Washington, and were once hunted to the very brink of extinction, said Mike Petersen, executive director of the Lands Council. Now that wolves are returning, there need to be places they are safe, and the Kettle River range is one of those places. Under Washingtons wolf plan, livestock owners who have had wolf-caused losses are eligible for taxpayer-funded compensation, and, as is the case here, are eligible for double compensation when the livestock were grazing on areas of 100 or more acres. Taxpayers have also funded the radio collars placed on pack members to help the agency with the species recovery, which have now been used to locate and kill the packs members. This practice is commonly referred to as the use of Judas wolves because the collared wolves unknowingly betray the location of their family members, who are then killed. 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. The Kettle Range Conservation Group seeks to defend wilderness, protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems of the Columbia River Basin. The Lands Council preserves and revitalizes Inland Northwest forests, water and wildlife through advocacy, education, effective action and community engagement. The Endangered Species Coalition is a national network of hundreds of organizations and more than 175,000 activists working to protect imperiled species.
Mewing is a TikTok trend that has blown up in the last few months. It is claimed that it can help shape your jawline as well as cure other ailments by actively pressing your tongue to the roof
LAGOS, Nigeria - Converging technologies, expanding connectivity and telecom mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are predicted to be the main drivers of investment and deal activity in Sub Saharan Africa in 2016 and 2017, according to global news and events company, TMT Finance.

Image by 123RF

These topics will top the bill at the inaugural TMT Finance Africa in Lagos 2016 conference on September 20, which will gather over 60 international and regional CEOs, CFOs, strategy heads, private equity chiefs, and senior investment bankers, consultants and lawyers to discuss the latest investment strategies for telecoms, media and technology across Africa.

TMT Finance is teaming up with IHS Towers, the mobile telecommunications infrastructure provider in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, to bring an international audience to Africas technology hub, Lagos, for the first event of its kind in Nigeria.

Ben Nice, director TMT Finance Africa in Lagos, said: With now just a month to go we are really excited to be holding this event at such a critical phase for investment and M&A in Nigeria and Africas telecom, media and technology sectors. Lagos is the hub for innovation in Africa and the conference will act as a crucial dialogue between local, regional and international stakeholders and decision makers in the sector.

Among the main themes on the agenda are: African Telecoms M&A and Financing, Africa Broadband Infrastructure Investment, Digital Africa Strategies, Venture Capital and Private Equity in Africa TMT, the Evolution of the African Towerco, Protecting Risk, Datacenters and Enterprise Cloud services, and Connecting the Unconnected.

Our team of TMT Finance News journalists have been reporting on a number of themes and specific situations across Africa this year, including the strategic review of Millicoms regional assets; the sale of Neotel to Liquid Telecom; Googles fibre rollout projects in various countries; Oranges consolidation in West Africa; MTN Nigerias IPO; and a number of fundraisings for flourishing digital media and technology-based companies throughout Africa. It really is a captivating time for the sector, Nice added.
The design-boosting power of collaboration, moving beyond fear of data to implementing insights that create better user experience and using digital disruption to your own business benefit were all hot topics on the first day of #BODCT.

The Spring 2016 session of Business of Design Cape Town was held on a clear chilly morning at the Inner City Ideas Cartel. Attendees mingled on the rooftop with coffee and pastries to warm us up before we got ready for two full days focused on all things design... Sadly I only attended the first day, with just a handful of my speaker highlights listed below.

Kicking off the first day, Business of Design's head of programme Tracy Lynn Chemaly welcomed attendees by speaking of the conferences' growth over the years, with 50 extra seats added for this version.

On the unorthodox design business

She then introduced the day's first speaker, Trevyn McGowan, Business of Design cofounder, who spoke of working the business of design. McGowan mentioned that her and her husbands company is in a time of expansion, currently responsible for 12 platforms. They decided they needed to retrofit themselves as the holding brand for those companies and as such will soon rebrand collectively as The Guild Group, with an associated culture of pioneering adventure and excellence.

On that note, McGowan said culture is more important than strategy, particularly for a design business. If you really stand for something and are true to your core values, in that will come your true success.

McGowan said as our experiences change the way we behave and the world keeps changing around us, designers need to focus on how to achieve business goals while still doing things differently from that designer mindset. The theme of collaboration was strong in her talk, with McGowan explaining its crucial to collaborate both with the people you work with and people outside your own company.

To bring this message home, her presentation included a TEDtalk by Brazilian CEO Ricardo Semler on building corporations in radically unorthodox ways and running them almost without rules:

Trevyn MCGowan of @SouthernGuild shares Ricardo Semler's TEDtalk on running a business with almost no rules: https://t.co/MvPkCPiAPj #BODCT  Business of Design (@busofdesign) August 23, 2016

It's about how to run your business with more focus on the work you get out of it than on the hours logged to do the work. McGowan linked this to the principle of doing things differently, and of the design industry in particular allowing workers to govern themselves.

On industrial design and material appropriateness

I never thought I'd be keen on industrial design, but the presentation by Brian Steinhobel, founder of Steinhobel Designs, was a true eye-opener. Steinhobel pointed out that design can be challenging and diverse, ranging from the highly technical to the highly aesthetic and even sculptural, which he says comes together to make it the best job in the world.

Speaking on the true value of design and unlocking your own ROI, Steinhobel said most people go to Austria to ski, but their technology is insanely awesome and inspiring to designers, so to go and experience that, if you can. Its not just about the big idea either, as those small ideas can prove hugely profitable. That said, he feels many young designers leave the station on the wrong platform. They need to realise that good design is a combination of compromises to make the best possible product. In doing so, finding the appropriate material and technology to get it to work is crucial. Moving on to the topic of polymer plastics, carbon fibre and the cost of pretty design, Steinhobel says to take the mundane and make it remarkable, and to redefine the existing through design with a differentiating factor, as that's how you disrupt. It costs the same to make something pretty as it does to make something ugly.

Watch the talk embedded below for more on Steinhobels design thinking:

Its an excitingly diverse and technologically challenging field, and designers simply cant afford to ignore augmented reality innovation or that of 3D printing technology, which can be done at 100 times the speed of normal layering as the product grows organically.

Carbon 3D will disrupt the world, mark my words, exclaimed Steinhobel.

On crowds and clouds: 21st century creative organisations

Another top talk on the day was presented by Trevor Wolfe, cofounder of delvv.io. He confessed to not being very creative, as he is from the start up world, but he did confess to many parallels between the paradigms. The crux of his presentation was on the fact that designers do a lot more than design, especially if theyre also running their own business. Thats why its beneficial to future-proof your business by getting as much of the admin as possible done through automation. Take the Tyler Sofa for example. You visit the website, choose different colours and sizes, and a paper version of the couch is sent to you, that you can unfold in your lounge  all this without any human interaction or hefty fabric books making an appearance.

He also spoke of the fact that as a creative professional, you can only serve a limited number of clients. Crowdsourcing offers you independent individuals distributed across the globe who offer creative that transcends what an individual within an organisation can do. Execution of that ideation then spills over into concepts like outsourcing: If you own an online marketplace with quality individuals, use them to service your existing clients. You can use an automated bot process to do so, but remember that the process of creativity benefits from external eyes and peer feedback.

Ending off his session on the benefits of collaboration, Wolfe recommends asking the following four questions:

What tasks do you dislike that you think a computer could do as well as you? If certain tasks were taken off your plate, how would you invest that extra time? What task, if automated, would let you bring pricing down while maintaining values? What elements of your business would best benefit from collaboration?

On digital disruption

Then, rounding out this handful of top talks on the day was Scott Gray, experience director at Quirk, who spoke of thriving in a digitally enabled world and the six things he knows to be true.

The first of these is that there is no more status quo. Disruption takes centre stage, especially as digital technology enables new flows of value with little regard for what was before, much like the geographical formation of an oxbow lake.

He spoke of Clayton Christensens book The innovators dilemma in which he explained that the disruption wave is really all about being too focused on what you do to look at new ways of doing  Christensen also explains this in the video embedded below:

Making stuff people want is more important than making people want stuff, reminded Gray. Then, switching to stronger marketing focus, Gray said to remember that youre a consumer at heart, beneath your designer/creator/innovator hat. Were on our digital devices all day, not just checking emails twice a day as was the case a few years ago. That pane of glass on which we do everything from banking to private messaging is thus hugely important. Also remember that nothing is perfect, it only gets better as were in a state of continual evolution, testing, measuring, learning and iterating what consumers are all about. With digital, your designs are instantly distributable in real time, and you can see how people engage with your product or service instantly as each and every interaction is traceable. It gives a window of how people are engaging and how to make their user experience more pleasurable.

A strong message for all attendees  use those insights to create more impactful designs than ever before, in any industry.

Click here for Jessica Tennant's overview of Ian Fuhr of Sorbets talk at the JHB version of Business of Design Spring 2016, here for her #WomensMonth-themed Q&A with The Creamery founder Kate Schrire, and here for her interview with Business of Designs head of programme, Tracy Lynn Chemaly.
A nutritious version of Nutella has earned six Stellenbosch University food science students second place in the International Union of Food Science and Technology's (IUFoST) Food Science Students Fighting Hunger product development competition.

The award was presented to Cenette Bezuidenhout, Carin-Marie Engelbrecht Nicholas Grobbelaar Taryn Harding Shannon Howell and Megan Kleyn at the IUFoST World Congress of Food Science and Technology in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday.

Their Scool Beans sandwich spread tastes like chocolate and hazelnuts, but is actually crammed with highly nutritious sweet potato and sugar beans -and has less than half the sugar of traditional chocolate spreads.

The spread is high in protein and contains the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to ensure the development and growth of children.

And if the reactions of the conference delegates who tasted it are anything to go by, the "veggies by stealth" spread is a winner. "Where can I buy it?" many of them wanted to know.

It was not on sale, the students having made a small batch of SCool Beans in their universitys food science department lab, but its retail cost will be around R20 for a 400ml jar.

That is if it makes it into mass production. The students aim is to get the spread into school feeding schemes, where it will have the most impact.

"Thats our dream  to get it to the people who need it the most, but of course wed love to see it on supermarket shelves as well, as all children will benefit from it," said Engelbrecht.

The award will certainly increase the chances of that happening. Already several South African corporates have approached the students with a view to commercialising the product.

"I think that the prize that we received today proves that other people in the food industry have the same vision for SCool Beans as we do," Engelbrecht said. "And that food scientists in SA have what it takes to compete with the best in the world."
The Skip Fashion Exchange, featuring as a pop-up shop at Melrose Arch from 9am - 6pm on 26 August to 4 September 2016, offers participants a unique chance to exchange their high-end clothes for premium replacements. Amanda Du Pont, Palesa Mahlaba and Roxy Burger have all contributed to the exchange, so there are some celebrity fashion items in the mix.

The idea behind the exchange is to drive sustainability in the fashion industry. Skip brand manager Portia Gumede says, We have an obligation to reduce wastage everywhere and it makes sense on every level to get into a new habit of swapping top-of-the-line clothes, which have been well cared for and have plenty of future use in them.

The exchange offers clothes in three categories - High Street, Premium and Luxury. Participants can register their items in advance online or at the pop-up store in Melrose Arch. Fashion Exchange staff will check each item and then facilitate equal value swaps.

Gumede says Skip ran the Fashion Exchange at Tygervalley in Cape Town last month and got a fabulous response. The sustainability message is clearly landing and any concern about previously worn items in a high fashion market is equally clearly evaporating, especially if the clothes have been looked after really well.

For more information, go to SkipFashionExchange.co.za.
Undeterred by Brexit, South African entrepreneur Lauren de Swardt launched her franchise, Kids Emporium in Guildford, England. While the store only officially opened in July 2016, it is already creating a stir in the UK.

Having learnt much along the way in getting to this point, de Swardt shares her insight into what makes a brand stand out in a foreign country.

There was much that went on behind the scenes in the months leading up to the launch, which led to the positive outcome. de Swardt, who pinpoints London as one of her favourite cities in the world, lived in the UK for two years and remains a regular visitor. In 2015, she spent time over a two-week period paying careful attention to the behaviour of the local market to get a feel for High Street shopping.

I saw obvious gaps in the market, where there was a definite need for a brand such as Kids Emporium. The UK is certainly not short on baby boutiques, but I noticed that many of them stocked the same brands and often relied purely on those brands to make their businesses work. The difference with my business concept is that Kids Emporium provides shoppers with a good variety of brands from one access point, and is backed by excellent service.

Partnership opportunity

Shortly after her visit to the UK, a Kids Emporium supplier and owner of Ruby Rabbit, Storm Copestake, contacted her about the idea of launching Kids Emporium in the UK. Originally from Zimbabwe, Copestake had likewise spent much time in the UK. She had always wanted to own her own store and, as a fan of the Kids Emporium brand, she jumped at the opportunity to initiate discussions with de Swardt when she, similarly, identified the gap.

Storm and I spent hours talking through logistics and operations, I shared my research with her, we pinpointed our synergy and finally we agreed that it made perfect sense to run with the concept. Subsequent to our agreement, I went on two trips to the UK and I had weekly virtual meetings with Storm. A year later, here we are: Storm is the master franchisee of the UK store and I can say that this store  as much as I adore each of our South African franchises  has taken first prize in my eyes as my dream store.

She believes that this is primarily because she and her team have learnt valuable lessons over the 13 years during which Kids Emporium has been operational and have been able to apply their knowledge to the launch of the UK store, ensuring standards match or top international standards. It is her ultimate goal to represent South Africa well and to display the countrys local design talent to the global market.

Understanding local conditions

However, the journey did not come without a hiccup or two. de Swardt realised rather soon after the development of the store had been initiated that landlords operate somewhat differently in the UK, which caused a slight delay in the process but she chose to accept this challenge as a case of now we know for next time. Other than this, she proudly reports that  although it was the business first export attempt  there were no glitches in this sense, and all the goods arrived in perfect condition and on time. This she attributes to thorough research.

If I could give any form advice to budding entrepreneurs who wish to expand their businesses across borders, it would be: research, research, research! It is so important to understand your market. To give you an example, the customers that we target locally generally have one to two children, whereas in the UK it is completely the norm for parents to have three or four children, often very close together in age.

One of the most prominent aspects of the Kids Emporium store offering that stands out in the UK is that it follows an owner-driven approach. While England is considered to be a pioneering, first-world country, de Swardt maintains that the old world charm associated with the brand goes a long way in creating happy customers. Kids Emporium is known locally  and now, abroad  for its focus on customer engagement and its commitment to making its customers feel that they have been met with genuine service and an interest in relationship building.

We assist expecting parents along their entire journey, from finding the comfiest and most stylish maternity wear to decorating their babys nursery and finding a lifestyle-compatible travel system, to name a few examples.

She describes expecting parents these days as forward-thinking, tech savvy and hungry for information and says that the questions that franchisees are asked by parents are endless. This, however, is exactly what Kids Emporium is about: providing answers, showing customers various options in terms of the items they are looking for and assisting them to make the most informed decision that best suits their lifestyle.

Parenting is tough, and at Kids Emporium, we tell it like it is. More often than not, our customers appreciate our honesty and  in light of the fact that most of our franchisees are also parents  they are warmed by franchisees willingness to share their own experiences.

de Swardt already has plans to open stores in a number of African countries and she says that there has been much interest from Australia and the US, but that the focus will remain on the UK and Africa for now.

For more information, go to www.kidsemporium.co.za or www.kidsemporium-guildford.com.
The Responsible Fisheries Alliance (RFA) is calling on the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to reconsider the recent decision to allocate an additional 8,000 tonnes of experimental quota in the horse mackerel fishery.

The RFA is a partnership between environmental NGOs WWF South Africa and BirdLife South Africa, and five major fishing companies, namely Irvin & Johnson (I&J), Oceana Group, Pioneer Fishing, Sea Harvest, and Viking Fishing,

Although the causes are not well understood, current indications suggest that there is a need for a cautionary approach with regards to the horse mackerel resource. Catch per unit effort (a standardised measure for measuring fisheries) has been unexpectedly low since 2014 with the reasons for this dramatic drop in catches still unclear. Due to this decline in resource availability, of the 58,000 tonnes of allowable catch in 2015, only 12,433 tonnes were caught across all sectors. This resulted in the species being downgraded to Orange on WWFs Southern African Sustainable Initiative (SASSI) list.

No research done

While the RFA says it is supportive of the departments efforts to identify additional socio-economic opportunities in the fisheries sector, it believes this must be done within the constraints of ecologically sustainable and precautionary limits, as prescribed by the Marine Living Resources Act. To date, no research has been done to suggest that additional horse mackerel could be sustainably harvested in this fishery, nor has there been an explanation provided by the department as to the objective, approach, specifications or restrictions of the proposed experiment. At present the experimental right is also not subject to the effort restrictions that have been placed on the existing rights-holders as a result of concerns around the status of the resource.

Given the uncertainty surrounding the status of this resource, responsible fisheries management requires that we employ a precautionary approach to manage this valuable fishery. The allocation of an additional 8,000 tonnes, over and above the current total allowable catch and without any effort limitations, is irrational and threatens not just the ecological status of the fishery but the livelihoods of those who are involved in the fishery at present, says the RFA.

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries

As a signatory to the 2002 Implementation Plan for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, South Africa has made global commitments to implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) across all of its fisheries. Globally, the EAF is considered the main reference framework for responsibly managing fisheries and implementing the principles of sustainable development. As such the approach requires a science-based, participative and transparent approach to decision-making and recognises the need to take account of uncertainty by applying a precautionary approach to protect the ecosystem in cases where science is unclear.

The RFA was founded with the goal of promoting an EAF in the belief that healthier marine ecosystems will continue to provide more ecological, social and economic benefits to society for longer. The RFA believes the departments decision must apply the key principles of the EAF. The alliance members, as such, do not support the allocation of the experimental right until it is shown to be ecologically sustainable and scientifically justified and that the awarding of such a right follows a transparent and consultative process.
Afrika Tikkun's Phutaditjaba centre in Alexandra is set to benefit this year from high-speed quality bandwidth provided through a partnership between Workonline Communications and Business Services IT (BSIT).

Workonline Communications is a pan-African wholesale network service provider; Business Services IT (BSIT) is a Johannesburg-based IT solutions company with 15 years' experience and an extensive wireless network in Gauteng.

The two joined hands to provide improved internet access for the centre, which supplies crucial life skills development and work readiness training to the greater Alexandra community, north of Johannesburg. Slow internet previously presented a challenge to the organisation, impairing their efforts to provide quality online education and training to the community.

Cradle to Career

Afrika Tikkun is focused on developing young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, from Cradle to Career, through a support model that focuses on education, holistic development, skills development and work placement. Afrika Tikkuns Computer Skills Development Programs provide children, youth and their communities with opportunities to interact with technology and learn how to use the systems and software that are necessary to lift themselves out of poverty and become productive members of the modern workforce. Marc Lubner, CEO of Afrika Tikkun explains, Broadband access to the internet is becoming more and more necessary for participation in the economy  its where you find opportunities to work, to develop skills and expand yourself. Without the privileges access to worldwide connections and information provides, low income families will be left even further behind.

Access to high-speed internet is vital in order for these centres to truly live out their potential, in making a difference in the lives of these communities, explains Edward Lawrence, director of Business Development at Workonline Communications. At Workonline, we believe everyone should have access to the internet. It is an essential part of everyday life and is irreplaceable in its ability to assist people in developing skills, expanding knowledge and even finding work. Thus, it is one of the most important vehicles in allowing people to become, and remain, valuable members of society in terms of their contribution to the development of the economy.

Extending internet reach

While Workonline sponsors the bandwidth from their network, BSIT provides the last-mile connection for the Alexandra centre. Wayne Redelinghuys, MD at BSIT explains that the company is committed to extending the reach of the internet across underserviced areas in Gauteng and they are excited to be part of the project.

We have a strong relationship with Workonline, as our trusted wholesale bandwidth provider. We had been exploring opportunities to support a deserving community project, and when Edward told us about the Afrika Tikkun project, we immediately wanted to be involved. It is so rewarding to be part of worthy projects, such as this, that allow us to contribute positively to the country and provide our services where they are truly needed, he says.

Lawrence explains that Workonline remains committed to improving the quality of internet in Africa, which is best carried out through strong partnerships, reliable infrastructure and dedicated staff.

BSIT has enabled us to get closer to our goal, and contribute positively to the lives of others. More so, together, we are assisting Afrika Tikkun to continue to empower the community and grow the reach and impact of their programmes, he concludes.
When one hears names like Celiwe, Harry, Moya and Rita, you would not think these are names for rhinos, but at a reserve in the Eastern Cape these prehistoric species are part of the family.

Another crucial member of this family is Cathy Dreyer, whose 18 years in nature conservation is assisting in protecting the endangered rhino.

"About 50% of my work centres around rhino management, which includes rhino monitoring, tracking and keeping up to date with antipoaching initiatives," says Dreyer.

"I fell in love with rhinos when working at the Addo National Park, where part of my job included capturing rhinos for tracking and moving purposes," she says.

"We would place them in bomas (wooden holding pens) prior to relocation and get them tame enough so that they could drink from a bottle and you could feed them by hand to avoid them being traumatised while being transported over long distances or treated for injuries.

"When you boma-train rhinos you have to spend as much time as you can with them initially, as you are taking a completely wild animal which has never been in a confined space and putting it in a little box. I often sit and read books out loud to them so they can get used to my voice and smell.

"Sometimes I sleep outside the boma so they can smell that I am there with them - this has earned me the nickname 'Rhino Whisperer'," she says.

The fight to protect SA's rhinos has seen Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency staff such as Dreyer and her team focusing on areas such as law enforcement and ensuring the infrastructure keeps poachers at bay. Dreyer is also a qualified dog handler who uses her dog to track poachers.

Thomas Schaefer, chairman and MD of Volkswagen Group SA, says rhinos are crucial for the ecosystem and the tourism sector as they form part of the big five, a major tourist attraction.

"At Volkswagen, we are proud that our vehicles are being used to safeguard our most vulnerable wildlife species," Schaefer says.

Six Volkswagen Amaroks (Amarok means Wolf) are used in anti-poaching initiatives such as rhino notching and monitoring, and also for the training of field rangers. "This R3m sponsorship forms part of Volkswagen's corporate social investment and commitment to supporting people such as Cathy safeguard SA's national treasures," says Schaefer.

The Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative was started by the Wilderness Foundation in 2011 as a response to the rhino poaching crisis and now, together with the Amaroks, they are on the frontline in the battle against rhino poaching.

Source: Business Day
A sovereign credit rating downgrade to junk status in December 2016 or even earlier is highly probable if minister of minance, Pravin Gordhan, suffers a similar or worse fate than his predecessor Nhlanhla Nene.

According to Dr Conrad Beyers from the Department of Actuarial Science at the University of Pretoria, 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. 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, Beyers says.

 Le Moal Olivier 123rf.com

On the positive side, the importance of political risks in South Africa implies that positive government action can contribute significantly to create confidence and to provide reassurance to the business community and rating agencies about South Africas economic prospects. Such positive action by deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Gordhan, in collaboration with prominent South African business figures - the so-called Team South Africa - indeed helped to avert a seemingly inevitable ratings downgrade earlier in 2016.

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, and the rating agencies apparently gave South Africa the benefit of the doubt. However, a similar chaotic exit by Gordhan will illustrate that the Nenegate event was not once-off and that more such shocks are likely in store for the future. In the light of the dominance of political risks in credit rating agency assessments of South Africa, a rating downgrade will most likely be a no-brainer in the case of a second irrational shock to the treasury.
Her CV is impressive and eclectic. Cathy Lammas has served her country as a lieutenant colonel in the air force, trained as a style consultant and currently holds the position of business development manager with Glacier, where she consults with clients and financial intermediaries on investments.

You've had quite a diverse career path, the military, fashion and now finance. What do you think each of these aspects bring to where you are now?

Lammas: Ok so to be clear, the term career in fashion is a rather generous use of the word career. In reality I have an intense interest in the subject and qualified as a style consultant  but only did it to understand how style and personal presentation can enhance ones corporate career. My real career experience has been fighting (military experience) and finances.

Growing up I was never really sure what I wanted to do but was always sure what I wanted to be  an independent woman specifically in the financial sense. All of my choices have been driven by that desire for independence.

I joined the air force because it seemed like such an exciting opportunity and was hoping to study at the military academy. Unfortunately my academic path took several years before coming to fruition because, based on gender, my applications were repeatedly rejected. I started studying part time and took a gap year.

When I returned to South Africa, policy had changed, making it possible for women to attend the military academy.

The military also exposed me to extreme situations very few people get to experience. The base at which I was stationed came under rocket fire one night and we all had to rush to the bomb shelters. Everybody grabbed whatever they could as they ran for cover and my item of choice was my make-up bag. Clearly whatever happened, I had decided I was going down glamorous.

Being able to push through gender barriers and eventually rise to the rank of lieutenant colonel gave me a tremendous sense of achievement, but the greatest gift the military gave me was a sense of belonging, fantastic camaraderie and a network that is still in place to this day. Indeed the doors to the corporate world were opened for me by a previous air force colleague.

What do you love most about your job?

Lammas: My job gives me the freedom to be as creative as I wish. I carry massive business targets, but how I achieve them is entirely up to me. I have the option to conduct training sessions, host business lunches, do power point presentations or hang from a tree handing out marketing material. As long as I am delivering results for my company.

I also love the fact that my career brings me in contact with an issue that is directly relevant to everybody  money. Whether one is materialistic or not is irrelevant; money is the currency which dictates so much of the quality of our lives , and crucially  how much we save for retirement. Sadly less than 7% of South Africans are saving enough to comfortably put up their feet and relax at the end of their working lives.

Theres so much work to be done in the field and my career gives me an opportunity to be part of that. Women in particular do not save enough and to some degree still feel it is socially unacceptable to be forceful in striving for wealth.

What advice would you give to a girl/woman who looking to start out in the world of business?

Lammas: Being nice is overrated. Of course a good attitude is important, especially in a team environment, but for too long women have been expected to be nice and anything to the contrary is viewed with suspicion.

Instead I would encourage women to get up, dress up, show up and be brilliant, hard-working and dedicated, but most of all to be real and to be kind.

I would also advise women to put effort into constructing a professional capsule wardrobe. Research has shown that women who put effort into their appearance, advance further in their careers. Unless youre Mark Zuckerberg, a hoodie and t-shirt just wont cut it in the boardroom.

Who inspires you?

Lammas: Of course I love the idea of success, but Im even more inspired by people who have been really successful, suffered major and often painfully public setbacks, but have then come back better and stronger than ever.

My all-time favourite is Joan Rivers. She was an actress, comedienne, jewellery designer, fashion critique, star and host of several hit television shows, winner of Celebrity Apprentice, author of 13 New York Times best sellers, and still socially relevant the time of her death with over two million twitter followers. But her life wasnt all plain sailing. She contemplated suicide as she faced bankruptcy and alienation with nobody wanting to employ an old woman. But she turned her life around. At the time of her death she had amassed a personal fortune of close to $200m. Joan is proof that things dont happen to you, they happen for you.

Name three things on your bucket list and why they are there?

The company for which I work hosts an annual Womans Day. It is still in its infancy, but I would love it to grow to the size where we fill a rugby stadium with women all keen to take their lives to the next level, especially financially. Ideally it should be a paying event where all proceeds go towards helping young working women put together a professional capsule wardrobe suitable to their chosen field of employment.

On a personal level I would love to sky dive again. Years ago I did about six accelerated free-fall jumps but bad weather interrupted my training. During that time I built up a huge resistance to jumping again. I need to get over that and get back in the sky. Every single jump is a huge triumph in overcoming personal fears.

Id also love to visit as many countries as I can, go to the New Orleans Jazz festival, and plant at least a thousand trees before I die.
Over the last year, an intense drought in Southern Africa - the worst to hit the region in at least 35 years - has left tens of millions of people in need of food aid. And the problem could actually get worse before it gets better. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) warns that without the means to produce enough food to feed themselves, 40 million people in Southern Africa will be struggling with some level of food insecurity by early 2017.

John Wollwerth via 123RF

Unfortunately, this situation could become a preview of things to come across sub-Saharan Africa.

The build-up of greenhouse gasses caused by human activity is altering weather patterns around the world. But Africa may be hit especially hard. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that a failure to limit greenhouse emissions today could cause global temperatures to increase by 2.6 to 4.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. In much of Africa, the IPCC fears that temperatures will climb even faster, rising by at least 2 degrees by 2050, with the regions arid zones especially feeling the additional heat. IPCC experts also worry that if emissions continue to rise, average rainfall will steadily decline in Southern Africa. They further warn that weather extremes - heat, drought, and flooding - all could become more common across the continent.

Weather extremes hit African farmers particularly hard because they already face a daunting array of challenges. Their existing vulnerabilities include a lack improved crop varieties, severely depleted soils, poorly defined land rights, a reliance on rain instead of irrigation (only about six percent of African agricultural lands are irrigated), and insufficient access to financing, safe crop storage, markets, extension services and crop insurance.

Falling yields, higher food prices and other impacts from climate change

Here are just a few examples of how climate change could impact food production in Africa.

Unless farmers can adapt to shifting growing conditions, experts warn that yields - the amount of produce and grain harvested per hectare or acre - for all major African food crops will sharply decline. A 2015 report from the Montpellier Panel found that by 2050, the average yield of maize, sorghum, millet, groundnut and cassava will decline by 22%, 17%, 17%, 18% and 8% respectively. Some areas could see even sharper declines.

Maize yields in South Africa and Zimbabwe could be hit especially hard, with potential losses of 60% or more.

Several countries could see overall crop yields fall by 50%. In addition, rising temperatures are expected to drive an expansion of pests and crop diseases while stressing livestock.

At the same time, lower productivity would cause food prices to rise. The Montpellier Panel report estimates that climate change on average will cause maize prices to increase by 4%, rice by 7% and wheat by 15%.

Rising sea levels caused by melting glaciers could inundate African coastal areas, ruining soils with salt water, contaminating groundwater and forcing large-scale population movements as predominantly agrarian communities seek out new farmlands.

Fighting back: how African farmers can survive and even thrive

Africans farmers are not powerless in the face of climate change. There are many ways in which they can survive and even thrive despite the dramatic shifts in growing conditions they are likely to endure.

Africans can invest in developing and adopting new agriculture innovations - from improved seeds to new ways of connecting to markets - with the zeal they have displayed for innovating and adopting mobile telephone technology. For example, more funding for crop breeders would enable them to take new varieties of drought-tolerant maize and heat-tolerant beans and develop seeds that match local growing conditions across the region.

Existing telecom networks could become the foundation for agriculture information services that create virtual markets and empower remote, rural farmers by giving them real-time insights into pricing and potential buyers for their produce.

Existing approaches that are already helping farmers increase productivity in an environmentally sustainable way can become core climate change adaptation strategies. They include well-established land management practices that help farmers retain water in their soils and water harvesting techniques that allow farmers to store water for future needs.

More reliable weather forecasts and better insights into upcoming climate trends can help farmers prepare for the future by selecting crop varieties that are likely to provide the biggest harvest as growing conditions shift.

Expanding extension services to provide technical advice on adaptation alternatives is critical. Today, many farmers in Africa are not even aware of climate change, even though they are experiencing its effects almost daily.

Existing gender inequalities on the farm will be intensified by climate change. Thus, it will be important to focus on women farmers, particularly when it comes to land rights, business skills, and market access.

Increasing income-earning opportunities can help farmers adapt to climate change, as income is itself a form of resilience. Farmers who have access to processing and storage options, pricing information and reliable and affordable forms of crop insurance are often able to increase their income or at least minimize losses significantly even in the midst of stressful weather.

Many African farmers already adjust to variations in rainfall by changing the crops they plant. Farmers in Zambia, for example, regularly trade maize for cassava, which is more drought-tolerant, when rains are scarce. Many African farming households also regularly engage in a variety of water conservation techniques as rainfall decreases. While these approaches are not by themselves sufficient to avoid food loss, increasing support for existing household strategies can become a part of the overall package of adaptation measures.

African allies in the fight against climate change

The international community is increasingly aware of the challenges climate change poses for food production in Africa. Today, there are a half-dozen or more international programmes that eventually will have billions of dollars available for African countries to tap for adaptation efforts. These include the World Banks Climate Investment Funds, the Clean Development Mechanism, the Global Climate Change Alliance and the Green Climate Fund.

In addition, there are several initiatives underway through the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). They include the NEPAD Agriculture Climate Change Programme, the NEPAD Climate Change Fund, the Africa Gender Climate Change Agriculture Support Programme, the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance and the TerrAfrica Partnership for Sustainable Land and Water Management.

Its critical that all of these various initiatives are carefully coordinated work in concert to address the many different ways climate change could undermine food production in Africa and, by extension, the economic aspirations of all Africans, said AGRA president Agnes Kalibata. The majority Africans work in agriculture, and agriculture remains Africas best pathway to prosperity. But the setback from the drought in Southern Africa is a warning sign. Climate change is a serious threat to building a better future for Africa, and it demands our immediate attention.
An Eastern Cape government decision to ask Sanral to improve the province's road network is finally paying off.

The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) has spent more than R1.4bn in the financial year, which ended in March, to upgrade 13 major roads in the province.

The roads upgraded between April and March this year include:

The construction of Baywest interchange in Port Elizabeth along the N2, at a cost of R350m;



Resealing the N2 between Qumbu and Mt Frere  R55m;



Maintenance of the R72 between Keiskamma River and the East London Airport, and between Fonkesteinkloof and Alexandria;



A R130m R61 upgrade between St Barnabas and the Ntlaza CBD (about 20km from Mthatha);



Rehabilitation of the R61 between Draai River and Elinus  R80m;



Upgrade of the R61 between Qumanco River and All Saints (Ngcobo)  R209m;



Resealing the R61/N6 to Upper Tsojana  R60m; and



A R98m upgrade of the R63 between Alice and King Williams Town.

Sanral southern region manager Mbulelo Peterson said the projects would benefit economies by laying the foundation to further improve the attractiveness of the region for foreign and direct investment.

Peterson said in the 13 projects finalised at the end of March, 1988 jobs had been created, and 459 more people benefited from Sanral's training initiatives.

Public Works provincial spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said: "In this 2016-17 financial year, Sanral plans to spend R5bn on our provincial roads."

It will include the upgrading of:

The R390 from the N10 from Cradock through Hofmeyr to the R56 near Steynsburg;



The R396 linking the R56 in Maclear to the N2 outside Tsolo, north of Mthatha;



The R391 from the R56 between Steynsburg and Molteno to the R58 in Burgersdorp; and



The R392, R410 and R58 from the N6 in Queenstown through Lady Frere and Cala to the R56 south of Elliot.

Source: Herald
New rules regulating the use of drones are now in effect after having been signed by the Minister of Transport.

"The regulations governing the use of drones in South Africa are welcome because they bring clarity," says Philip Smerkovitz, MD of TeleEye SA, a distributor of FLIR thermal imaging systems and DJI gimbals designed to be bolted onto drone models.

The imaging systems use infrared technologies that detect infrared radiation, or heat, enabling the drone operator to see in total darkness, and all weather conditions. Power-in and video-out connections, and MAVlink (Micro Air Vehicle link) compatibility, allow for the integration of FLIR Vue thermal imaging systems onto drones.

Smerkovitz explained that the promulgation of the RPA regulations last year means it is now impossible to fly drones near national key points without prior permission. A current list of national key points is available on the web and is maintained by the Right2Know campaign.

Legal use

The good news, according to TeleEye SA, is that it is completely legal to use drones on private property, for search and rescue, firefighting, security, agriculture, roof and solar panel inspections, aerial surveys and photography, and a host of other applications.

Drones cannot, however, be flown within 50m above or close to a person or crowd of people without prior approval. This has obvious implications for crowd control applications and sporting events.

Drone operators should be aware that they need to have a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved remote pilot licence and a letter of approval which is valid for 12 months. Drones furthermore cannot fly more than 120m above the ground, nor within in 10km of an airport. While the rules also stipulate that visual contact must be maintained with the drone, this doesn't apply to night operations.
Marriage is undeniably a life-changing event, but because it is contractual it also affects property ownership - and should be discussed before the romantic side of "I do" is finalised. Home ownership is not always shared equally between spouses. It depends on the marital contract, and ownership can be affected by whether the purchase was made before or after the marriage occurred.

Tim Johnson

With more and more couples waiting until later in life to get married, it is not uncommon for one or both parties to already own property before the wedding takes place. Couples may even share ownership of a property if they have been cohabiting and have a contract in place to define their ownership rights and responsibilities. However, these pre-existing contracts may be superseded by a marriage contract.

Check the contract

Rather than assuming that the same agreement will carry through once they become spouses, it is important to check the contract to determine how the ownership of assets is assigned to each spouse during the marriage and in the event of either death or divorce.

In South Africa the default marital contract is in community of property. However, most couples now choose to draw up an antenuptial contract before the wedding. This contract will govern the marriage. If a contract is not drawn up, the couple marries in community of property, meaning they agree to share all marital and premarital assets equally. This means both spouses will be equal and joint owners of any property bought before or after the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title deed. They will also both need to consent to any future property sales or purchases.

When choosing to be married with an antenuptial contract, this contract will stipulate either with or without accrual. The term accrual basically means anything bought or earned during the marriage, otherwise known as a marital asset, will be divided equally between the spouses should the marriage end for any reason. With regard to property, this would mean that any property bought after the marriage will be considered jointly owned in the event of death or divorce, unless it has been specifically excluded in the contract. Assets bought or earned before the marriage, including property, will belong to the original owner alone.

Antenuptial contract without accrual

If a couple jointly owns a property before marriage, the original ownership division should be specified in the antenuptial agreement. By doing this, if the marriage should end, each spouse retains the shares agreed upon when they made the purchase.

Marriages by antenuptial contract without accrual do not share ownership of any marital or premarital assets. In this case, whoever bought the property owns the property. However, it can get complicated if both spouses contribute to the cost of ownership.

Marriages by antenuptial contract, whether with or without accrual, do not require consent from both spouses for property purchases or sales. This is because all property remains individually owned until the dissolution of the marriage, at which point the assets are divided according to the agreement in place.

There is no one right way to handle property ownership when you marry. It is therefore something that all partners should discuss with each other in order to find what is the best solution for them.

In the midst of the better, one still has to keep in mind the potential worse  it is exceptionally important to make sure you understand how your property/or properties will be affected if a death or divorce possibly occurs.
According to Clay Gregory, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley who will be a headline speaker at The Business of Wine and Food Tourism Conference in Stellenbosch on 1 and 2 November, "Stellenbosch has the potential to become as significant as the Napa Valley."

Clay Gregory

He believes South African already has the skills and assets, but lack the investment. "You have the wine, the people, and the natural beauty to rival any wine tourism region of the world. But South Africa first needs to spend more on marketing and getting the region top of travellers minds, he says.

Wine travel market

Market research by Destination Analysts of San Francisco, on behalf of Visit Napa Valley, showed that 3,3 million tourists visited Napa Valley in 2014, an increase of 11% on the prior year, spending $1,63 billion (R22,82 billion), of which $1,2 billion (R16,8 billion) was spent in hotels. By contrast, Conningarth Economists estimated the entire wine tourism industry of South Africas Western Cape to be worth R4,8 billion ($358 million) in 2013.

The size of the global wine travel market alone is estimated to be $17 billion (R238 billion), and the culinary travel market is estimated as $25 billion (R350 billion). This has encouraged local tourism entrepreneur Margi Biggs to convene South Africas inaugural The Business of Food and Wine Tourism Conference. Her goal is to provide insights and practical information that not just Stellenbosch, but all of the local industry can use in growing business to realise the still vastly untapped potential.

Potential to lure food/beverage travellers

In a recent article published on Hotel Business Review, Erik Wolf, executive director of the World Food Travel Association, explains: if we look around our entire planet, there are a few destinations that stand out with the underdeveloped potential to lure food/beverage travellers. These destinations include Poland, Ecuador, Chile, South Africa, Finland and Iceland, just to name a few. What qualifies these as up-and-coming destinations? The reasons are many and include quality, diversity or uniqueness of local products; entrepreneurial proclivity of food/beverage manufacturers and providers; and destination readiness to receive foodie travellers.

Joubert Tradauw deli

Gregory is one of four international speakers who will take the stage at the conference. Australian Peter McAtamney who runs an international wine business consultancy will present on creating and delivering a world-class wine, food and tourism experience, including how South Africa can promote its key points of competitive advantage. Other international speakers are Felicity Carter, editor of the authoritative Meiningers Wine Business International, based in Germany, and Dr Robin Back, a US-based academic who conducts wine tourism research in both South Africa and the US.

A bright future

Currently, tourism in South Africa provides employment for 4,5% of South Africas workforce nationally, and in the Western Cape accounts for 204,000 formal jobs. The Western Cape Governments Provincial Strategic Plan has set a goal to grow employment in this sector by 60%, adding another 120,000 formal jobs by 2019.

"With the wine industry working together with government, who are set to launch the first-ever National Wine Tourism Strategy at the conference, the future looks bright," says Biggs.
According to Kushal Dutta, the managing director of Jumia Travel Nigeria, if the African Union (AU) passport is adopted by the country's legislators, Nigeria's tourism and hospitality industry might overtake the downstream sector by 2021. He further said the Pan-African Passport will allow for free movement of domestic tourists in the country.

Dutta made the remark last weekend while fielding questions from journalists on the potential of the Nigerian tourism and hospitality industry as an alternative to boosting the countrys economy. According to him, the opportunities presented by the unified African passport supersede the threats, especially now that Nigerias mainstay which is oil might not be sufficient to grow the economy; if the countrys Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved.

He also noted that the reality of the dwindling oil prices as a result of the fall in foreign exchange is now being felt across all sectors and as such, many industry experts are daily brainstorming on diversification opportunities to prevent the country from going into recession.

In Nigeria, industry leaders have highlighted the hospitality industry among the sectors with the most opportunities for growth in the next five years. Breaking the barrier of free travel for other African countries to come to Nigeria is a potent way of enhancing the growth of the hospitality industry. Although, there is no gainsaying that the unified AU passport will also have some demerits such as unmonitored inflow of migrants and perhaps criminals from one country to another, he said.

Opportunities for the continent

Kushal also touched on the opportunities the AU passport will bring for the African continent, stating that, there will be an increase in domestic tourism in the continent and this will pave way for increase in job creation.

He cited the 2015 report on Travel and Tourism Industry in Africa which indicated that the industry generated approximately nine million jobs directly (3.0% of total employment) and a growth forecast of 0.3% in 2016 (2.9% of total employment). This includes employment by hotels, restaurants, travel agents such as Jumia Travel and airlines among others. It is predicted that by 2026, the industry will account for about 11.7 million jobs directly in Africa - an increase of 2.5% per annum over the next decade.

Qi Feng via 123RF - Nigerian artist performa folk music

It will be recalled that the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) recently rolled out a number of measures, including technical assistance, capacity building and the revision of the countrys Tourism Master Plan, as part of efforts to ensure the development of tourism in Nigeria. The UN Agency made the announcement at the end of a two-day meeting between the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the global tourism agency in Madrid, Spain.

In the same vein, President Muhammadu Buhari, at the 2016 National Summit on Culture and Tourism in Abuja, stated that Tourism and Culture, which had been neglected in the past, would soon be the bedrock of Nigerias economy.
British Airways and kulula.com (operated by Comair) took first and second place, respectively, in the Domestic Airline: Business category of the 2016 Sunday Times Top Brands survey.

sjr4x4 via pixabay

It's an accolade which spokesperson Shaun Pozyn says underpins the value offered by the airlines in the Comair stable and which is consistently rewarded by their customers' loyalty.

Accolades like this are very encouraging, especially in a tough economy, when business and business travellers need to maximise value for their money. Its also a good indicator that customers recognise not only our brands but the operational efficiency that allows us to offer competitive fares, Pozyn adds.

Bob Adams via Wikimedia Commons

He notes: The Sunday Times Top Brands survey is prestigious and authoritative, so winning this category makes us very proud. Its a useful benchmark of the high standard of our airlines offering, management, and staff.

Customers know when a brand values them and their business. Thats why recognitions such as this is a great indicator of how we are performing. Leadership, integrity, and innovation are fundamental to success in our business and these enduring relationships are a testament to the commitment of the airlines teams to those qualities."

Pozyn points out that this year marks the 70th anniversary of British Airways (operated by Comair) and kulula.coms holding company, Comair Limited, and the 20th anniversary of Comairs franchise agreement with British Airways. An essential ingredient of our success has been on building strong, lasting partnerships, such as our franchise agreement with British Airways, which offers the Executive Club Frequent Flyer Programme for business travellers.

British Airways (operated by Comair) and kulula.com were placed second and fourth respectively in the Top Domestic Airline: Consumer category. The Sunday Times Top Brands Awards polls are conducted through a customer survey, allowing them to make personal and honest choices about which brands they rate most highly.

The awards were announced on 23 August and full results will be published Sunday, 28 August.
During April and May this year, the Sandton Convention Centre hosted four major events that brought 7,000 room nights to Sandton.

The Sandton Convention Centre Interior

The events were Forever Living Products Internationals Global Rally, from 17-22 April; the Africa & Middle East Conference of the Junior Chamber International, from 4-7 May; an ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams) annual event, from 12-21 May; and the Arnold Classic Africa 2016 multi-sport festival and expo, from 27-29 May (its first in South Africa and attended by Arnold Schwarzenegger).

We hosted these four events that were all significant in their own right over a six-week period, says Debra de Sousa, Sandton Convention Centres operations manager. Were proud that we could be of service to organisations of such high calibre, as well as contribute to tourism and the local economy with the influx of international visitors.

We are proud of the success of these major international events over a relatively short period, says De Sousa, but were not resting on our laurels for a moment. We are concentrating on the next series of big events. This includes CITES CoP17 at the end of September, which is the first time that a CITES Conference of Parties meeting will be held in Johannesburg, and the DISCOP - TV loves Africa expo in early November, which will provide insight into the future of film, television programmes, adaptation rights and packaged channels across Africa.

For more information, go to www.saconvention.co.za.
'Mad Mike' Whiddett has drifted a car up a mountain range in his native New Zealand and powerslid across a frozen lake in Japan, and now he's set to excite South Africa's drifting enthusiasts as he heads to local shores in September.

Source: Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool

Ive heard so much about the South African fans and I cant wait to get out there. I've seen the local SA drift scene in clips and it looks like a whole lot of fun, said Whiddett from Japan where he was participating in Formula Drift.

Whiddetts car, a 2004 Mazda RX8 dubbed the Badbul, is being shipped directly from his appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Badbul is our three-rotor turbo machine, equipped with the best products on the market. It has just finished wowing the crowds in the UK for Goodwood Festival of Speed where we took home the coveted 'Driver of the Event' award, Whiddett said. High horsepower, killer sound - I know it will be well received in South Africa."

The Mad Mike moniker hails from early on in his motorsport career  something he was called whilst participating in a freestyle motocross event. Although he hated being called Mad Mike in the beginning and thought it was pretty cheesy, it stuck. He thinks its rather cool now.

Whiddett will be in South Africa to appear at two events  Wheels of Fury on the 17 September at Grand West in Cape Town and then the SupaDrift Series at Carnival City on 24 September. Hell also be filming an episode of his reality series My Mad Mike Life while in the country.
"Whenever I am with energetic young people, I feel like a recharged battery," Nelson Mandela once said. The youth of Africa was to the fore in the mind of billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates too, when he delivered the annual Nelson Mandela lecture in Pretoria recently.

Image Source : African Agri Council - Stephen Kangwa (seated, 15) with friends Mwansa and Rabat. (Image taken by photographer Andrew Barker in an Irish Aid backed Self Help Africa project in remote Northern Zambia.)

Youth and innovation

Highlighting data that predicts that two billion babies will be born on the African continent in the next 35 years, Gates spoke about the role that young people, as innovators, can play in Africas future. Young people are better than old people at driving innovation because they are not locked in by the limits of the past, he said.

Africa has the youngest population in the world, with approximately one in five on the continent aged between 15 and 24 years. Thats over 200 million people. This demographic represents both a great opportunity and a great challenge for the region.

When we speak about youth and innovation, we think of the urban environment, of technology and startup businesses. But at Self Help Africa, we see the vast potential that youth holds for Africas rural areas and, in particular, for its farms.

Africas farming sector needs the resource of youth more than any other food producing region on earth. Although the continents population is the youngest in the world, its farmers are the oldest  with the average age of land-holders in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa reaching almost 65 years. In the West, thats retirement age.

A challenge facing farm production in Africa

Therein lies a significant part of the challenge that faces farm production in Africa.

I recently returned from Uganda, where Self Help Africa has just started work on an EU-backed project that seeks to create employment and income-generating opportunities for 3,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 27 years in the countrys northwest. The three-year project will work with 1,500 young men and 1,500 women, and create job and self-employment opportunities for these people within their home region.

In Northern Uganda, as in many remote parts of Africa, there is frequently a disconnection between young people and the land, which is the most likely source of income and opportunity they are likely to find. But many young people in Sub-Saharan Africa have a negative view of farming. Its hard work, challenging, and, undertaken mainly with hand tools, has historically represented a grinding struggle just to survive.

The fact that in many instances, young people do not have access to land  for reasons of social hierarchy  encourages them to turn their attentions elsewhere, in the hope of making their way in the world. As a direct consequence, in the early 21st century Africa has some of the fastest growing cities, and impoverished shanty towns, in the world.

Work needs to be done

I believe that the young people of Africa are a vital element in the ongoing effort to drive growth in the agricultural sector, and create a future for the continents young population.

But work needs to be done at a State level to unlock opportunities for young people in rural Africa, by facilitating access to land ownership and to financial services  startup finance being one of the major obstacles to starting activities on a farm.

The non-profit sector, too, has a crucial role to play. We can support rural young people to achieve their full potential by training them to grow improved and sustainable crops. But thats not enough. By also linking young farmers to markets, we can help them transform their farming activities into profitable businesses, improving their livelihoods on the long-term.

Innovation will also be key if we are to succeed in the challenge of driving Africas young labour force into the agricultural sector. New technologies can allow us to reach individuals in remote areas and to give them access to extension services and early weather warnings.

In late 2015, the new Sustainable Development Goals announced by the United Nations set a target of ending hunger by 2030. I believe that this target will be missed if the youth is left behind in our global development efforts.
With mobile marketing so focused on the usual metrics so integral to campaigns, sometimes it's worthwhile to take a step back and focus on the bigger picture.

The long-term growth potential of our industry is assured when one considers that way back in 1995, less than one percent of the world's population had Internet connectivity.

123RF

In that specific year, mobile was just one year old in South Africa, having been launched commercially in 1994 after a test phase in 1993. Today, 40 percent of the seven billion human beings alive today are connected to the web and by far the majority are connected via their mobile phone browsers.

Let's take a look at some other 'big picture' facts and stats relating to mobile. Sometimes, birds eye views can bring us back down to earth by helping to ground us in the fundamentals of our discipline:

The web is growing, the mobile web is exploding

Yes, the Internet has grown, but the mobile Internet has grown many, many times faster. In 2016, there will be well over two billion mobile users, IDC estimates. Thankfully, cellphone manufacturers have come to the party with devices that make browsing a breeze.

Media consumption is moving to mobile

Marketers should note that users are engaging with different channels and average time per user by channel is following the trends you would expect. In other words, digital and mobile usage are increasing and television, radio and print are diminishing. A cursory look around any coffee shop will reveal no-one under 40 years of age reading a hardcopy newspaper they actually took the trouble to buy.

Social is king on mobile

Something else you would expect, ComScores recent ranking of top US smartphone apps has Facebook (77.7 percent) and Facebook Messenger (61.7 percent) listed as the top two used apps by a wide margin. This reinforces the fact that social is king on mobile. In addition, while the marketing and advertising industry would have us believe there are other social media platforms being accessed by the masses, it's really Facebook that remains tops by a massive margin. So the next time someone mentions social media as if they are all-knowing, sit back and smile safe in the knowledge that they're really just admitting to being Facebook Fundis.

Two mobile operating systems dominate

Googles Android continues to dominate while Apples iOS is the other dominant player. This is overseas stats but should equally be the case in African markets. The good news here is that with only two dominant platforms to focus on, there should be fewer concerns when it comes to supporting app testing and user experience.

The majority of email opens are on mobile

Finally, while in most marketers minds, email is its own separate channel, its worth noting that more than 50 percent of emails are opened on a mobile device, according to email service provider Litmus. This is critical for mobile marketers, because, in most cases, the way an email renders on a mobile device is radically different from the way it renders on a desktop or laptop.
JUBA, South Sudan - USAID's Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) has contributed an additional US$17 million to support IOM's emergency operations across South Sudan, where more than 6.1 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

With millions facing severe hunger and displacement, humanitarian needs in South Sudan are the highest they have been since the crisis began.

With USAIDs support, IOM will continue and expand lifesaving aid operations for more than 605,300 displaced and vulnerable individuals at the UN protection of civilians (PoC) sites in Bentiu and Malakal, as well as in Renk and other high-need locations.

With millions facing severe hunger and displacement, humanitarian needs in South Sudan are the highest they have been since the crisis began. USAIDs contribution and partnership allows IOM to continue lifesaving assistance as we strive to meet the growing needs, which have only been exacerbated by renewed fighting in recent months, said IOM South Sudan chief of mission, William Barriga.

Some US$5.7 million will help IOM ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) maintain access to safe drinking water and liveable hygiene and sanitation conditions in the Bentiu and Malakal PoC sites, where 94,800 and 33,000 people, respectively, are currently seeking protection from the ongoing conflict.

An additional US$5.4 million will enable IOM to continue operating primary health clinics at the Bentiu and Malakal PoC sites and scale up harmonised health and hygiene promotion activities focused on preventing the spread of disease in the congested sites.

IOM will also maintain static health care clinics in Renk, near the border with Sudan, providing medical care for IDPs, host community households and returnees. The project will also support health rapid response teams, which can quickly deploy on missions across conflict-affected states, increasing IOMs flexibility to reach vulnerable populations located far from PoC sites.

A further US$845,800 will scale up psychosocial support (PSS) activities in the Bentiu PoC site and roll out PSS programming in the Malakal PoC site, where psychosocial and protection needs are high, particularly following the attack on the site in February 2016.

USAID/OFDA is also providing US$5 million to extend the IOM-managed Rapid Response Fund (RRF) project, which has served as a flexible funding mechanism since 2010 to enable quick disbursement of funds to humanitarian organisations able to respond to emergencies as they arise.

The RRF has played a particularly critical role in responding to the rapidly expanding humanitarian needs in Wau, following the violence that broke out in the area in late June, which displaced more than 80,000 people from their homes.

The RRF has enabled three NGOs and IOM to quickly provide camp management, child protection, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene support at displacement sites across Wau town.

Since the humanitarian crisis erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, the US government has contributed over US$1.7 billion in humanitarian funding to support operations across South Sudan and for refugees in neighbouring countries.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The African Union is looking to identify ways in which African artists and the African Union, through the Citizen's Diaspora Directorate's facilitation, can collaborate and add value to ongoing continental initiatives.

Image by 123RF

The Citizens Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission under the leadership of Ahmed El-Bashir, acting director of CIDO received a delegation from ASIKO International Arts School.

This delegation was led by Bisi Silva, the founder of ASIKO and Dr Desta Meghoo, CEO of DYMDC Creative Consultancy and liaison officer to the African Diaspora Forum.

The group of artists, drawn from 12 countries got an overview of CIDOs objectives and activities particularly the revival of Encyclopaedia Africana which aims to provide knowledge about the history, cultures, and social institutions of African people and people of African descent. They also received an in-depth presentation of the AUs flagship development agenda: Agenda 2063, particularly on free movement within the continent and integration, a culturally strong continent and economic development.

The CIDO departments director challenged the delegation of artists to look for ways in which they can help disseminate key messages using their respective art of choice regarding issues of health, economy and education, among others, on the continent. CIDO recognised the power of the Arts as a medium of communication and a driver of development on the continent, calling art the Africa Unions fifth language.

The discussion also touched on how African artists can look at the value chains of the arts and get involved in other related fields like policies, laws and trade through arts. Of note, the artists wanted to know the frameworks put in place by the AU to ensure that AU member states were motivated to ratify the Charter for Cultural Renaissance and how they could get financial help from the AU.

The delegation of artists were advised to organise themselves into registered CSOs to make it easy to partner and collaborate with Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) and CIDO; facilitate the tapping into financial grants; and track implementation of policies that deal with the arts within the AU. They were also encouraged to engage with local governments in their respective artistry so as to strengthen Aspiration no. 5 of Agenda 2063 which seeks to see an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics.

This meeting in part, set the ball rolling for the next Workshop to be facilitated by CIDO in conjunction with DYMDC and Diaspora African Forum, slated for September.
Continuously create content

Periodically, Google checks in on your website to see if the content youre publishing is relevant, but so do customers and potential clients. All the basic information, like business hours and contact information, should be updated as it changes, but new content should also be published. Whether its posting to the blog on a regular basis or updating social media channels, new content should always be appearing. Businesses should find a tool that makes the process of updating and adding content to their site seamless, said Jack Berlin, CEO, Accusoft. Mom-and-pop restaurants, for example, could change their menu weekly depending on the produce they get from local farmers in the area. By updating the new menu offerings through the web each week, theyll increase the likelihood of customers searching for a specific menu item in the area and finding their restaurant. New content can increase your business rank on Google.

Have fun and personalize your branding

While good digital marketing can generate business leads, it doesnt always do so without a little fun. If your SMB has a Twitter or Instagram account, think if it makes more sense for you to share photos or quick text-based updates, and be sure to have fun with it. Follow the one-third rule: equal parts company branding, industry-related news and fun content. Fun content can be anything from the inside scoop on company culture or anything happening at your business, not relate to work. Humanizing your presence online is key to building trust with customers, said Berlin.

Implement the right tools for your website

There are a number of tools out there that can make your website better, said Berlin. While a number of CMS options offer SEO capabilities, document sharing sites, like edocr, automatically convert PDFs into searchable HTML files, doing the job of an SEO specialist for you. Implementing Google Analytics can also help SMB owners understand the usability of their website and gauge site traffic month over
Petr Fiala, Chair of the Czech Civic Democratic Party: EU pro-refugee policy is suicidal

25. 8. 2016

cas cteni 1 minuta





The Czech government must reject the nonsensical immigration policy of the European Union. It must reject the EU refugee quotas and not allow the arrival of migrants into the Czech Republic, who are a security risk, said Petr Fiala, the Chair of the Czech Civic Democratic Party. The Civic Democratic Party used to be the main right wing political party in the Czech Republic, currently it has the electoral support of around 10 per cent of the Czech citizens.

The European Union should choose selected refugees from hotspots abroad and it should stop "illegal migration" into Europe. The external borders of the Schengen area must be fully controlled, said Petr Fiala, adding that he disagreed with Angela Merkel's assertion that refugees are not bringing terrorism into Europe:

"Facts tell us something else. Migration of course is linked with radical islam. Muslim communities and new migrants do support radical islam. Europe has failed to integrate migrants even in the previous, rather weak immigration waves. What is happening now is greatly increasing the security risks. Many EU countries are now pursuing an openly suicidal immigration policy," said Fiala and demanded that the Czech state should greatly increase investment into anti-refugee security measures:

"When EU solutions fail, it is the duty of the nation state to protect the security of its own citizens," added Fiala.

Source in Czech HERE

0
The Burma Army has been launching offensives against military camps controlled by KIA Battalion 3 (under Brigade 5) in the Sadung area near the Myitkyina-Kampaiti road.

Residents told the KNG that the attacks have been waged on Ngwa Le camp that is strategically located near the Chinese border and Bum Sen and Lai Hpawng Bum camps near Sadung town.

Skirmishes were also reported this Tuesday near Mang Shang Kahtawng Village and Bum Sen Mountain, five miles north of Sadung.

The fighting has driven several hundred civilians over the border to China where they have sought refuge with limited food support near border mile post 6 and 7, said U Kham Rod, a resident of Sadung.

Over 200 people from Chan Maw Khan and Bu Khan villages have fled to the Chinese side. There isnt anyone to assist them at the border.

KIA supporters claim that they spotted the Burma Army transporting soldiers in civilian clothing and heavy artillery to the conflict areas from Myitkyina and nearby Waingmaw--increasing fears that fighting will get worse.

The Burma Army has allegedly requested for the proxy group New Democratic Army - Kachin led by U Zahkung Ting Ying, to be on standby.

Reporting by KNG

Translated by Thida Linn
The project, called Naung Pha dam, will produce 1,200 megawatts, of which 90% will be exported directly to China.

Naung Pha is backed by Chinas state-owned Hydrochina Company.

The project has gone ahead despite local communities and human rights organisations protesting against the development.

While all eyes were on the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam, Burma has quietly sold off the Salween to China, Sai Khur Hseng, a Shan environmentalist, said. We fear there has been a trade-off.

The Naung Pha project is in an area of conflict, with ongoing skirmishes between ethnic Shan armed groups and Burmese government soldiers.

A statement by local Shan human rights groups said that an Australian company, the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC), had been Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Naung Pha dam in secret. The business relationship between SMEC and Hydrochina is at this stage unclear.

Since the government gave the project the green light, local communities have been rallying to oppose the dam.

On August 5, about 250 villagers from nine village tracts in Tangyan, as well as the local Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) MP, staged a protest against the dam. While on August 21, about 60 community leaders from nearby areas staged another protest in the town of Hsenwi.

The go-ahead for the dam project comes as Aung San Suu Kyi wrapped up a visit in China last week. The dam project is especially controversial because the majority of the power produced goes to China.

If China really wants peaceful co-existence with Burma, why is it pushing ahead with unpopular dams which will stoke war? Sai Khur Hseng said.
Saw Kyaw Swar, with a community based group (CBG), said the workshop that was attended by the government, Burma Army, Karen National Union, Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) and CBGs was important because it brought the views of each group together.

Naw Blooming Night Zan, KRC financial officer, told KIC News that The Validation Workshop on Return & Reintegration of Displaced People in Karen State focused on the main challenges the government and aid organisations face in returning IDPs to their villages. These include security, health, employment and education.

This workshop was a draft plan to prepare for the resettlement, and that factors such as suitable times and locations, need to be determined before this process is started.

However, the meeting entirely focused on IDPs, Naw Blooming Night Zan said, and that nothing has been done for the refugees yet.

According to anonymous sources, government attendees proposed that the other participants try to persuade the refugees to return home.

There are an estimated 140,000 people living in refugee camps mainly along the Thai border. Most are ethnic Karen that fled from fighting between the Burma Army and Karen armed groups over the last 20 years.

Although the government has been making some preparations for their return, the majority of the refugees are concerned about their security if they return. In some cases, the Burma Army have set up camps near their former villages. Meanwhile, significant cuts being made to food rations are making life in the camps even more unbearable for residents.

Reporting by Nan Wai Phyo Zar for KIC News

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by BNI staff
The upcoming by-election has to be held in constituencies left out of the previous election and for vacant seats left by representatives that have been appointed as cabinet members.

Polling during the 2015 General Election was cancelled after the Burma Army launched a series of offensives against ceasefire group Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army in Mong Hsu, Kyethi, and Tangyan townships.

More than 40,000 voters from Kyethi Township; over 50,000 voters from Mong Hsu Township; and voters from 8 village-tracts in Tangyan Township lost their right to vote in the election due to the fighting.

Forty-two village-tracts in Hopang Township in Shan States Wa Self-Administered Division controlled by United Wa State Army (UWSA) were also excluded for different reasons. As were townships, Pangkham, Pang Wai, Nah Parn and Mong Ma, in Special Region 2, also controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), and Mongla, part of Special Region 4 controlled by New Democratic Alliance Army  Eastern Shan State.

Reporting by Sai Aung Saing for SHAN

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by BNI staff
Nan Noon Mo said: Our Shan brothers from Tamu told us that they have come in search for the Shan tribe in the hilly region because Shan language and literature have been used in their area for many generations but that youths these days dont know much about it anymore.

Over 20 representatives from the Shan Literature and Culture Association in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region were invited by the Taunggyi Shan Literature and Culture Association.

Their trip that was arranged by the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) office in Taunggyi and sponsored by the Shan State literature and culture association and the Philanthropic Association Chairperson U Tun Mya has included visits to weaving workshops in Taunggyi, Pindaya Cave, and Inle Lake.

Next on the itinerary is the Pang Lai Saing Shan Language School in Namhsan Township and Kaw Tai School in the town of Kali.

There are an estimated 250 Shan villages in Sagaing Region that borders with India.

Edited by Nan Sai Phoo for SHAN

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by BNI staff
Decoration Ideas For Krishna Idol: Janmashtami Spcl Decor oi-Anwesha

Janmashtami is a very special occasion for the devotees of Lord Krishna. The biggest USP of this festival is that it has a pan-Indian appeal. Almost all Hindus in India celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna in their homes. So discussing decoration ideas for Krishna idols is a part of the Janmashtami experience. Now that Krishna Janmashtami is just around the corner, decoration ideas is what everyone is looking for.

Lord Krishna is a god who loves to dress up. That is why; people pay so much attention to the decoration ideas for Krishna Janmashtami. There can be several different themes and motifs to adorn the Lord Krishna idols. You can have floral decoration ideas, pearl decoration theme or decoration with peacock feathers.

As you know, Janmashtami is all about baby Krishna or bal gopal. So baby Krishna has to be placed in a palna or jluha during Janmashtami. That is why; the Janmashtami jhula decoration is also very important. If you are celebrating Janmashtami with grandeur at your home, then you can surely find the following decoration ideas for Lord Krishna useful.

Makhanchor You can bring home the most quintessential idol of Lord Krishna in the form of bal gopal stealing butter from his mother's earthen pot. There is little need for decoration for this idol. The Blue Lord Lord Krishna is often symbolised with the faint blue colour. And a string of pearls to the idol as a tiara and you have a simple decor idea. Bandini Decor You can decorate your Krishna idol by making it clothes out of red bandini fabric. Paint Me Yellow If mythology is to be believed then yellow is Lord Krishna's favourite colour. So you can make yellow silk clothes for your Krishna idol. Floral Decoration Use garlands made of marigold to adorn the idols of Krishna and his consort Radhika. Golden Jewellery Lord Krishna is a fancy god. He loves to get decked up for this birthday. So you can adorn your Krishna idol with gold jewellery. Orchid Decoration Orchids not traditionally used to decorate Hindu gods and goddesses. However, you can give Lord Krishna on modern makeover with these purple orchids. Purple Hues Purple is a colour that looks great on the dark lord Krishna. Use purple silk to deck up your Krishna idol. The Peacock Feather Baby Krishna looks really cute with the peacock feather in his hair. Lighting You can decorate your Krishna idol by placing fairy string lights around it.
This month America celebrates the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, the organization which protects the great natural and historical treasures of the United States. There are a number of NPS locations in the fiveA borough areas. Throughout the next few weeks, we will focus on a few of our favorites. A For more information, you can visit National Parks Centennial click here .

On June 24, 2016, President Obama  who had conjured the name of Stonewall Inn in his 2013 inaugural speech  designated the location of the 1969 Stonewall RiotsA as a National Monument, to be overseen by the National Park Service.

Twelve days earlier, a gunman walked into aA gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and killed 49 people. It was the deadliest terrorist attack since September 11, 2001, and certainly the greatest single attack uponA the American LGBT community in history.

For days after, a makeshift memorial to the Orlando victims sat in front of Stonewall Inn. Even today, as you enter the building, a list of their names greets you upon the wall, next to an older sign that states THIS IS A RAIDED PREMISES, a vestige of a time when gay bars were diminished, not decorated.

ThusA is the power of Stonewalls symbolism, the dignity and community represented in the air around this stumpy, architecturally unspectacular structure.

Recognizing the enigmatic atmosphere of this place, Stonewall National Monument is actually the building proper and the portion of Christopher Street which sits in front of it, as well as the entirety of triangular Christopher Park. A This includes one very relevant piece of art  the four human statues known as the Gay Liberation Monument (placed here in 1992)  and one somewhat random inclusion  a statue to Union general Philip Sheridan.

But perhaps the most unusual aspect to the National Park Services newest acquisition is that Stonewall Inn is still very much an active bar, even more so now for its fame. Its Big Gay Happy Hours are but one of many things which sets this NPS site apart from, say, Grants Tomb.

Theres a constant police presence in front of Stonewall Inn. On a given night you may even see armed guards out in front, a curious dichotomy with the drag queens who perform on the second floor. I cannot wait to see how they incorporate a temporary ranger station and a visitor center.

Its unfortunate that Stonewall  a historicA symbol of safeA space  should feel like slightly less of oneA because of current events. But this situation does provideA another, more hopeful optic: the image of an alert and engaged law enforcement, entrusted in keeping a gay bar safe and secure.

If you could somehow go back in time to tell the men and women who were arrested in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, about this, they would have laughed (and maybe spit) in your face.

InA the 1960s the mob had a veritable monopoly on the Greenwich Village gay scene, tucked invisibly down the neighborhoods side streets. No bar catering to gays and lesbians could stay open without paying bribes (to both the mob and the police), and complaining bar owners had a funny way of finding themselves arrestedaor worse. Indeed, police detectives sometimes posed as gay men to corner alleged ahomophiles.a

One of these dank and unappealing bars on Christopher Street was the Stonewall Inn. Its history was long and colorful: A former stable, it became a notorious ateahousea in 1930, then a somewhat respectable restaurant, then was gutted in a fire before becoming a darkened-window dive bar catering to homosexuals in 1967. There was nothing especially notable about the Stonewall, with its watered- down drinks and its hat-and-coat check. There was dancing and a jukebox and a good mix of white, African American, and Hispanic patrons just looking to have fun. Wouldnat you be upset if they kept shutting you down for no good reason? This is precisely what the police attempted just after 1 a.m. on June 28, 1969, when uniformed and undercover cops raided the packed bar and prepared to arrest the patrons. Protesters gathered in the streets outside the Stonewall Inn in the days following the riots on June 28. But people were not having it. A crowd outside the bar began heckling the officers as they started their arrests, pulling patrons from the bar and loading them into wagons. One woman in handcuffs fought fiercely, inspiring an extraordinary coalition of street youths and drag queens to push back against restraint. The crowds swelled as patrons from other bars joined the fracas, filling Christopher Street and pushing back against police harassment until well after four in the morning. What began as proper ariotingaaor aimless anger in the streetsagrew more focused over the next several days, as hundreds of marginalized New Yorkers returned to the street in front of the Stonewall with a newfound sense ofA solidarity. Their example inspired people throughout the cityaand around the country. One year after the raid, activists would gather in front of the Stonewall and march up to Central Park, an event that would become the cityas annual LGBT Pride March.


An underwater ballistic missile of India being test launched from the Bay of Bengal in this file photo.

HYDERABAD (PTI): India is steadfastly marching towards complete self-reliance in missile systems and technologies, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister G Satheesh Reddy has said.



"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 presented with prestigious IEI-IEEE Award for Engineering Excellence-2015 on Wednesday in recognition of his significant national contribution towards Missiles and Aerospace technologies at Bengaluru, an official release said.



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.




INS Kalvari of Indian Navy.

NEW DELHI (PTI): 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 US$ 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 their main weapon -- the heavy weight torpedoes.



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 torpedoes 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.




MC-21 fuselage. Photo: Irkut Corporation.

MOSCOW (BNS): Irkut Corporation delivered the MC-21 fuselage to Central AeroHydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI), designated for static tests to confirm the strength characteristics of the new aircraft and to provide certification of the type for static strength.



The MC-21 fuselage was delivered to Zhukovsky from Irkutsk by An-124 freighter. Other parts of the airframe will arrive soon to TsAGI. Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of Irkut Corporation where MC-21 fuselage was assembled, will hand over auxiliary power unit compartment, according to a news release by Irkut Corporation.



Irkut Corporation's specialists, together with the employees of TsAGI and cooperation companies, will perform airframe assembly.



The first stage of the airframe test includes leaks inspection. Later, TsAGI specialists will initiate static tests which include simulation of structural loads in all flight modes with registration of stress-strain state of the aircraft structure.



The purpose of tests comprises experimental verification of static strength, checks of correctness of calculation methods of strength, and fine-tuning of the finite element models based on experimental data.



TsAGI has already conducted tests of a large number of elementary and structurally-similar patterns, including several types of panels, cross and longitudinal joints.



Tests of fuselage compartment, structurally-similar patterns of tail and fin box are being held. The preparation for the isolated testing of composite-made wing box, stabilising fin and high-lift device is being performed.



Ongoing and planned tests are performed to verify the ability of the new MC-21 aircraft structure to perceive design loads without breaking and without receiving unacceptable permanent deformations. This is an important part of a comprehensive test plan, implemented to perform the first flight of MC-21 and its subsequent certification, the release added.






BEIJING (PTI): 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 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, multi-functional 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.


Starting this Thursday, Aug. 25, come out to the African American Performing Arts Center & Exhibition Hall for the first day of the New Mexico Black Expo. On Thursday there will be a "Build Your Resume" workshop from 8-10am, followed by a career fair (10am-2pm) featuring over 50 employers. On Friday, Aug. 26, at the Embassy Suites, Gene Grant hosts a panel discussion on the benefit of black-owned business on the New Mexico economy. On Saturday, Aug. 27, come to the Albuquerque Civic Plaza for a FREE cultural extravaganza from 3-9pm, featuring a hair battle (barbers and beauticians compete on a stage) and musical performances by The Walls Group and the Dazz Band. African American Performing Arts Center, Expo NM  Thu Aug 25  3pm  View on Alibi calendar
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A pair of Brandon University students have doubled up on their international exchange options to earn a coveted semester abroad, studying human rights and international policy development at The Hague University in The Hague, the Netherlands.

And for Ursula Geisler and her boyfriend Drew Spicer, just arranging the exchange provided some lessons in international negotiation  including a virtual stop in Green Bay, Wis.

Because BU doesnt have a direct exchange agreement with The Hague University, Geisler and Spicer first secured an exchange from BU to the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay. Then, as registered students at Green Bay, they applied for and were accepted into the programs they wanted at The Hague.

So, although theyre considered Green Bay students, they wont ever go to Wisconsin. Instead, theyll travel directly to learn in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, theyll continue to pay tuition to BU.

It becomes very convoluted, laughed Spicer.

The convolutions dont stop there. Because the Dutch educational calendar doesnt line up precisely with BUs dates, Geisler and Spicer had to carefully choose which classes theyd take at The Hague to ensure theyd be back in Brandon in time to start their second semester.

And, the credits they earn in The Hague will first have to be transferred back to Green Bay before being transferred from there back to BU.

They courses, they say, are well worth all that trouble.

It will be very beneficial, said Geisler, who is going into her third year of an applied disaster and emergency studies degree  a program she sought out at BU from her and Spicers home in Whitehorse. In the future, she says she hopes to be involved in an international response team.

At The Hague University, she and Spicer will be taking courses with a focus on European studies, through the faculty of management and organization.

Its tailored to Europe, and the way Europe functions, with some public relations, media and politics, Spicer said. There are media relations, lots of business, and courses to do with human rights law  The Hague is a centre for that. And a mandatory course thats an introduction to Dutch language and culture.

Spicer, in his second year at BU with his eye on a future in rural and community development, says The Hagues courses with a legal and analytical focus intrigue him.

Im very interested in sustainable policy development. For me, its interesting to go there to look at human rights law and how a large bloc like the European Union can affect migration.

David Rowland, director of international activities at BU, says the university encourages international exchanges like this one, which is run through a non-profit consortium called the National Student Exchange.

The National Student Exchange program is a fantastic opportunity for our students to spend a term or a year abroad and experience new cultures through academic study and social interaction. Its an experience that our students can bring back and share with the entire BU community, Rowland said.

This initiative is open to all students who have earned their first 30 credit hours in good standing, and complements the international objectives that are outlined in the universitys overall academic plan.

With a network of nearly 200 accredited, baccalaureate-granting colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, National Student Exchange institutions are able to provide exchange opportunities for undergraduate students for whom an overseas experience is not appropriate, comfortable or affordable.

Established in 1968, NSE has provided exchange opportunities to more than 105,000 students.

Students interested in participating in the National Student Exchange for fall 2018 should contact Rowland at rowlandd@brandonu.ca or drop by the office of international activities in the lower level of McMaster Hall (G-13) for more information.

An info session for students will also be provided on Oct. 4 from 12:40 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Elephant Room.

This winter, BU will be welcoming its first-ever NSE participant, who is coming from Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, Geisler and Spicer spent the summer back at home in Whitehorse to earn money for their semester abroad and are about to drive back to Brandon for their trip to the Netherlands.

Were both very excited, Spicer said.

 Submitted
Already have an account? Log in here 

Canadian pop-punk band Marianas Trench will be making a stop in the Wheat City in November.

We need your support!

Local journalism needs your support!

As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.

Now, more than ever, we need your support.

Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.

or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.

Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A teen from Shilo took another big step forward in her quest to become a professional model this summer, drawing the attention of several industry professionals at the competitive Top Model Search Canada.

Dana Fraser arrived back in Westman on Monday after a week at the Toronto event, where she tested her modelling chops against more than 100 of her peers. In several categories, she made an impression.

The 16-year-old Vincent Massey High School student landed the best overall award for the swimsuit competition, and Top 5 finishes in the Beauty Female and Commercial Photo categories. She has since landed three callbacks from agents interested in hiring her.

Photo courtesy of Erwin Loewen Dana Fraser, show here during a photo shoot at Top Model Search Canada. The 16-year-old from Shilo recently made waves at the contest in Toronto, earning accolades and several callbacks from agents in the modelling industry.

One looks pretty promising right now  I dont think I can really say too much, she said. Shell know more in the next few weeks about her plans.

Fraser, who was awarded a $1,500 scholarship to attend the event after logging a Top 20 finish at the Miss Teenage Canada contest last year, said developing her confidence was key to her success this year.

It takes a bit to get on stage in a bathing suit and show that youre confident. With runway  theres a lot that goes into it, you have to cross your steps, you have to stand tall and think about what your face is doing, too.

In the span of the week, Fraser took part in photo shoots; a fashion show where models had to quickly model clothes assigned to them without previous warning; and an agent showcase  the most important night  where models work to attract the attention of agents.

Fraser figures shes primed to kick off a professional modelling career, perhaps doing commercial photography for catalogues and online retailers.

Ive been told by a few of the agents there that I would do well in the Asian market  so they could send you to places like Seoul or Taipei, she said.

E-commerce has become such a big thing with modelling  people shop online so much, theres a big market for that.

She said the week in Toronto gave her a true feel for what to expect in the industry.

Its really exciting, its a learning process because its not all glamorous  theres a lot that goes into it that people dont expect, she said. Its sort of nice for me to learn more about the industry itself and what it takes  the amount of work that needs to go into it.

 tbateman@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @tombatemann
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Westman toddler was crowned Baby Miss at the National Canadian Girl, Teen & Miss Pageant earlier this summer.

Nineteen-month-old Nuala Harkness of Virden competed along with 72 other delegates at the three-day event, held at Edmontons West Edmonton Mall.

Nualas mother, Stefanie Harkness, said she was drawn to the pageant because of its focus on building self-esteem, confidence and lasting friendships.

Photo courtesy of Eve DuPree Nineteen-month-old Nuala Harkness of Virden was crowned Baby Miss at the National Canadian Girl, Teen & Miss Pageant held in Edmonton earlier this summer.

Theyre supposed to be competitors, but theyre more like friends, Harkness said. Kids all different ages, they play together. The older ones help out the younger ones  it was a very positive experience.

Nuala has been participating in Canadian pageants since she was six months old. Harkness said her daughter enjoys the experience, and they have connected with families from across the country through the process.

This past weekend, we met up with one of the other contestants  and enjoyed a full day at the zoo, Harkness said.

The age range of participants was from eight months old to 55 years old. A total of 12 winners were crowned, ranging from Baby Miss to Ambassador.

She just really enjoys being out there and waving and smiling with the audience, Harkness said.

According to ncgpageant.com, the focus is to build self-esteem, teach good sportsmanship, teach poise and public speaking, and the importance of being involved in your community.

NCGTM is an All Natural Pageant that is judged on personality, ability to speak in public, and is not a Beauty Pageant, states the website. Any girl who lives in Canada between the ages of 0-59 is welcome to compete. Any size, shape, ethnicity, ability, etc  is welcome here.

A major aspect of the event is encouraging volunteerism and giving back to the community. The Harkness family sold used books and donated proceeds to the The Childrens Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. They also handed out necessity kits for local people in need, containing daily personal items such as soap, oral care, towels, Kleenex and hats and mittens.

Nuala was appointed the title of Baby Miss Manitoba 2016 earlier this year, after the provincial event was cancelled.

Winners receive a scholarship award, as well as other prizes. Harkness explained they receive half of the scholarship at the time of the event, and the remainder at next years national pageant, which will be held in Vancouver.

 jaustin@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @jillianaustin
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/08/2016 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The recent decision by city council to not become a Blue Dot community  a proposal recommendation put forward by Brandons own environmental committee  I find disgusting and disturbing. In what, at first glance, seemed like a no-brainer became an issue that our city councillors found worrisome, a slippery slope, were doing enough already, so why do we need this, it might cause more problems later, legal ramifications, economic costs to city.

Maybe Im not getting it, but enshrining the right to breathe clean air, have safe, accessible clean water, the right to consume safe food, the right to know about pollutants and contaminants released into the local environment, seems to be a no-brainer. Then why the struggle resulting in the voting down of the recommendation?

Lets read between the lines. What I find disturbing is the right-wing conservative way of looking at issues, to not have in place bylaws or regulations that will interfere with big business. They would prefer that there is less and less government interference with the marketplace. To make it clear, clean air, clean water, and safe food and not have pollutants released into our environment means that we have in place standards and regulations and inspectors. To meet these standards big business will complain that it will really cut into its bottom line or how much money they will be making.

So, if I can translate, the majority of our city councilors would prefer to look out for business interests than enshrine the right to our common good.

Scott Blyth

Chairman Council of Canadians, Brandon/Westman Chapter
A husband and wife from the North who died on the same day 45 years apart have been buried together, after the widow passed away as his remains lay in a morgue following exhumation.

Joseph Murphy, who was shot dead in the Troubles in the early 1970s, was exhumed last year by order of a coroner investigating the disputed circumstances of the killing.

His widow Mary, 83, died on Monday after a battle with cancer as her husband's remains continued to lie in a Belfast morgue. It was the same date Mr Murphy died in 1971.

He was one of 10 civilians shot dead by British soldiers in west Belfast in an incident known as the "Ballymurphy massacre".

A family photo of Joseph and Mary Murphy.

The victims, including a Catholic priest and a mother-of-eight, died in a British Army operation that saw paratroopers storm republican strongholds to arrest IRA suspects following the introduction of internment without trial.

Mrs Murphy and her family had long campaigned for justice and requested the exhumation to get to the truth of claims Mr Murphy was fired on a second time when in British Army custody.

While in hospital before his death, Mr Murphy alleged he was first shot in the upper thigh on the streets of Ballymurphy, but he claimed soldiers then brought him into a nearby barracks and shot him again through his open wound.

A suspected bullet fragment was found among his remains after his exhumation. The findings will factor in a new inquest into the 10 deaths.

The coffins of Mr and Mrs Murphy were carried together into Corpus Christi church in Ballymurphy for requiem mass.

Parish priest Darach Mac Giolla Cathain noted the extraordinary chain of events that led the couple to be reunited in the church.

"When Joseph's body was exhumed early on October 27 2015 it was Mary's fervent desire that he have mass offered for the happy repose of his soul before he was reburied," he said.

The funeral of Joseph Murphy and his wife Mary in Belfast today. Pic: PA

"Little did she think that he would be buried 45 years to the day when he was first buried.

"More than that, that she would have the grace when she died that they would be side by side in the church and be laid to rest together."

He added: "God's timing really is perfect."

After the service, the couple were buried in the family plot in the nearby Belfast City Cemetery.
Joyce Fegan

The head of the Rose of Tralee, Anthony OGara, has said he is delighted the Sydney Rose expressed her opinions, one of which is a desire to have a referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

The young women involved are exceptional people, they are independent obviously, and it would be a bit silly to expect that they wouldnt have opinions, controversial or otherwise, on different things, said Mr OGara.

I am delighted that people express their opinions and that there is reaction and let that flow.

On Monday night, Brianna Parkins, 25, told Rose of Tralee host Daithi O Se that she hoped there would be a referendum held on the Eighth Amendment, to give women a say in their own reproductive rights.

Mr OGara, the executive chairman of the festival, said it was a great thing that contestants expressed their opinion. He assumed that more people held similar opinions to Ms Parkins.

I think its a great thing that you know that, if someone has an opinion, they will express that opinion. When you have 65 women from different parts of the world together I would presume a significant number of them share her opinion, he said.

Its a bit like any other part of society; you ask any of the escorts their views I think youd get a mixed opinion. But we have to deal with the reality.

Mr OGara also said the festival was about celebrating the wider Irish family.

Sometimes in our views, we are very narrow in what being Irish is. Very often an American or an Australian girl might be pilloried because they speak in a different accent with a different attitude about things.

He said it was time to wake up to the reality that there were strong Irish people around the world, who were just as Irish as anyone else, whether they are first or fourth generation.

His views are at odds with the chair of the judging panel, Mary Kennedy, who said the Rose of Tralee stage was not the place for Ms Parkins to express her opinion on the Eighth Amendment.

Meanwhile, RTE has said the crowning of the Chicago Rose as the new Rose of Tralee drew a peak of 743,800 viewers.

Over the two days a reach of over 1.7m people tuned in to watch the Rose of Tralee, making it one of the highest rating programmes of the year, said RTE.

This story first appeared on IrishExaminer.com
Ryanair has carried more international customers than any other airline this year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Figures released by the IATA show that Ryanair carried 101.4 million international passengers last year, almost 40m more than second placed easyJet who carried 62.6 million.
An elderly American tourist feels like she is being held hostage by the Irish healthcare system after sustaining a serious injury in Cobh more than three weeks ago, writes Kelly O'Brien in Cork's Evening Echo.

Retired lawyer Robyn Coyle has hit out at the severe lack of communication between doctors and patients, claims she still is not entirely sure what her injury is or what her treatment will be, and thinks facilities are of an unacceptable standard.

The 66-year-old said that in three weeks she has not once been allowed to have her hair washed, and has not even had a ward TV to distract from her intense pain.

Robyn came to Cork at the start of the month on a cruise ship, accompanied by her husband Richard, a fellow retiree who used to work in IT. The pair went on a day trip to Blarney but, upon returning to the vessel, Robyns mobility scooter overturned when she attempted to drive it up the gangplank.

The Californian woman fell from the vehicle, landing on her side and shattering her hip. She was subsequently brought to Cork University Hospital.

Robyn Coyle being loaded onto a stretcher after her accident.

Some 22 days later and Robyn is still here. She claims doctors have not yet made a firm decision on whether or not to operate on her, or to put her on a financially crippling air ambulance back to the US.

Initially, said Robyn, doctors at CUH told her she would have to have surgery on her hip, but said they were not comfortable doing the operation at the facility. As such, Robyn was taken to Tallaght Hospital and was scheduled for surgery there.

At first they told me that in order to do the surgery I had to have been here for ten weeks. Thats just to get the surgery, not including recovery time afterwards. Im not sure why, they didnt tell me, said Robyn.

Then they said they would do the surgery and after seven to ten days recovery I could go home. But they kept flipping back and forth about it. Then they were going to do the surgery, and I was made to fast, but on the day the doctor said he reviewed my bloods and X-Rays and was not going to do the surgery after all. I dont know why. Ive never gotten a straight answer.

As yet, the surgery has still not taken place. Robyn has been transferred back down to CUH and has since been informed that she needs to get an air ambulance back home  a service which may cost the Coyles as much as $100,000.

Robyn still feels, however, that her treatment plan is not set in stone and could change at any moment. She said she could deal with the physical pain and the financial burden better if she knew for certain what was going to happen.

She said she has experienced a severe lack of communication in hospitals here so far, and does not have any faith in our healthcare system.

Ive been in hospital in the US and the communication there was better. Communication is 90% of why its so miserable for me here. Theres no communication here at all. We dont know whats going on and they wont tell us, she said.

And this sounds a bit like Im being a spoiled brat, but theres not even a TV in here, in the ward. Theres a bracket for a TV, but no TV. They dont have one here and they didnt have one in Dublin. What more can you do all day other than lay here and look at your toes?

Robyn said that if she knew exactly what her diagnosis was, she would find her situation easier to deal with.

We called the embassy and they said they couldnt do anything. I feel like Im being held hostage. Ive never given my permission to stay here.

Financially, Robyns insurance will pay for some of the costs, while her husbands insurance will cover others. If they add their own retirement savings to this, they will just about have enough to cover all medical costs.

Our primary insurance provider is essentially saying the emergency is over. Shes not in a life-threatening position any more, so theyre not going to pay for everything. They pay when youre out of the country for emergencies to get you into a stabilised condition, said Richard.

This was supposed to be my retirement cruise. I just retired in May and this was my celebration. Now we have to use all our savings to pay for medical costs. We might even have to refinance the house.

Robyn and Richards family have set up a fundraising page to help them. Anyone who would like to donate can go to www.gofundme.com/2hq6t9k4.

This article first appeared in today's Evening Echo.
A ceasefire has been agreed between government forces and rebel factions in a key rebel-held Damascus suburb, Syrian state TV and opposition activists said.

Under the terms of the agreement, 700 gunmen will be allowed safe passage out of Daraya to the northern province of Idlib, state media said.

Around 4,000 women and children will be taken to shelters outside the town.

Daraya has been besieged and blockaded by government forces for nearly four years, with only minimal food deliveries allowed to reach the district.

The town is south-west of Damascus and has been pummelled by government air strikes, barrel bombs and fighting over the years.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the agreement, under which rebels will give up all medium and heavy weaponry.

Meanwhile, activists in Aleppo said at least 13 people, mostly children, were killed when suspected government helicopters dropped barrel bombs into a crowded residential area.

Osama Abo Elezz, a doctor from the rebel-held part of Aleppo, said the bombs fell in the city's Bab al-Nayreb district, hitting more than one building.

He said the unguided explosives killed 10 children, including a two-month-old baby and a three-year-old girl.

Activist group the Aleppo Media Centre said at least 13 were killed.

Dr Abo Elezz said rescue teams were still working to pull survivors from under the rubble.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 15, including 11 children, and four women.
SAN FRANCISCO: US tech titans looking to the future are seeing growth take a beating in the face of foreign...
KARACHI: Gold prices on Friday continued to gain more value on the local market, traders said. Gold went up by Rs...
PARIS: Iranians took to the streets around the country again on Friday to protest against the killings of youths in ...
LAGOS: More than 600 people are now known to have perished in the worst floods in a decade in Nigeria, according to...
BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday rebuilding Ukraine was a generational task that must start...
They make the comments in an opinion piece published today, where they point to a 2010 auction of land in Molonglo as compelling evidence of the way prices are pushed up. Just 100 blocks were offered to 1600 bidders in an initial auction, setting an artificially high price as the benchmark for the suburb.

"It will be disingenuous to suggest that LDA is only selling land at market price; being a monopoly, it is the price setter," the pair write.

Mr Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed said the agency had made a "clear departure" from the 2007 affordable housing plan which was designed to ensure an adequate supply of land and competition in the market.

Former chief minister Jon Stanhope and a former top-ranking Treasury official have called for a wide-ranging review of the Land Development Agency, accusing the agency of focusing on maximising land prices and pricing Canberrans out of the housing market.

Mr Stanhope was chief minister at the time and said he had been so "disturbed" by the auction that he had sought detailed economic analysis from the public service about the price of land, its implications for affordability and its impact on the ACT economy. The advice had not been delivered by the time he retired in 2011, he said.

Now citing housing affordability as his single biggest regret, he said by the time a high price had been set, "it's virtually impossible to turn back. The best you can do is seek to stabilise and we haven't even been able to achieve that. Not only has no progress been made in relation to affordability, but I believe we're probably going backwards."

A spokesperson for Mr Barr said every year the Government released sufficient land for predicted demand.

Last year it had delivered a record number of housing blocks to the market, making Canberra the the most affordable jurisdiction to buy or rent, he said. Over four years another 17,000 sites would be released, with 20 per cent for affordable housing.



"The government recognises there are Canberrans who feel housing pressure, and you'll see more from us during the election to help those in the bottom half of the income scale to afford the decent home every Canberran deserves," he said.



Stamp duty cuts were removing the biggest barriers to getting into the ACT housing market.

Echoing Mr Stanhope's criticisms, the Master Builders Association said this week it was not the cost of homes that had increased, but the cost of land.

In 2011, a first-home buyer could buy a house and land package in Franklin for about $370,000  made up of $150,000 for the land and $220,000 for the house, he said. In 2016, a similar house and land package in Throsby could easily cost $620,000  $370,000 for the land and $250,000 for the house, according to the group.
FIRESIDE FESTIVAL The event is back on for 2016, celebrating everything winter. Until August 31 there's a program of degustation dinners, wine tastings, performances and special exhibitions in Canberra and the surrounds. Full program and tickets at thepoachersway.com.au/ .

Check out the musical Anything Goes Credit:Jim McMullen

TRUFFLE FESTIVAL Canberra's truffle season is in full swing, with the festival running until the end of August. There's local black truffles on the menu at restaurants all around town, plus special dinners, events, cooking classes and of course hunts with the dogs to unearth truffles. For the full program and tickets, visit trufflefestival.com.au.

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Mozart's opera of love, wit and weddings, complete with lavish costumes and a clever set. Canberra Theatre. $29-$109 +bf. See canberratheatrecentre.com.au

WRITERS FESTIVAL The first Canberra Writers Festival allows you meet novelists, journalists and more. Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi, is the headline act. See canberrawritersfestival.com.au

Friday August 26
Some of you may be asking, 'We have a town crier"?

And yes, yes we do. In fact, if you've been to a charity or community event in Canberra over the last five years, chances are you've heard the booming voice of the city's official town crier, Alan Moyse.

Alan Moyce was working in the federal public service five years ago when he won the position of Canberra's town crier. Now the time has come to hand over the bell to his successor. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

He has fulfilled the role in a voluntary capacity since 2011, even getting a costume made at his own cost.

The role originated from a campaign by radio station MIX 106.3 which believed Canberra needed a town crier.
A woman who was the victim of a violent armed robbery in north Canberra more than 15 years ago felt the cold metal of the offender's gun pressed into her face, a court has heard.

The robber, Michael Reginald Baker, 49, had stolen a car from Tumut before he drove to Dickson TAB the night of December 30, 2001.

The female cashier was the only person inside when he approached the front glass doors with a gun in his hand about 8pm.

Baker pointed the gun at the woman through the glass and demanded she open the doors before he kicked his way inside and pointed the gun at her.

She tried to call for help but Baker knocked the phone out of her hands with the firearm.
The government will soon consider a proposal from its Productivity Commission which would decimate Australian publishing by allowing overseas publishers to flood the market with their works, and also their editions of Australian writers' works: the so-called "parallel" imports. Publishers don't want this and booksellers don't want it. For writers, the proposal could be catastrophic. Let me describe what this means for me, and for others whose works are published overseas as well as here.

When my book All That I Am won in 2012, though I was far away, I felt that the love I have for my country was somehow, mysteriously reciprocated. Writers have a home team, and our home team is our nation. We are, all of us, of a nation, in the same way that we are of our parents; inevitably, eternally in DNA and psyche, shaped by both. Much as Watson and Crick discovered the helix inside us, writers reveal our cultural, our national DNA.

The Miles Franklin Literary Award will be announced on Friday night. It is Australia's most prestigious literary prize. Even as a child I knew that the books that got the gold sticker tapped into something profound about humanity and about this country. This prize recognises the noble art of making a world out of language, to show us things that are wonderful or terrible or funny about life, which life itself can't tell us. A world that shows us who we are.

Miles Franklin Literary Award-winning author Anna Funder. Credit:Dan Callister

My books Stasiland and All That I Am are published in 20 countries, including several English-language ones. If the government's proposal is adopted, Australian booksellers would be legally able to import editions from the US, the UK, Canada, or wherever. For those imports, I would receive what's known as an "export royalty". Most often, because overseas publishers are allowed to calculate this after all their costs have been taken out, the export royalty is nothing. Nothing would be paid to me for my books sold here. This would be instead of the $2.60 or so per book I currently receive.

And nothing, too, would be paid to my Australian publisher, who would therefore be unable to invest in Australian writers, especially if there were any risk that the writer would be published overseas. (So strange, the government proposing to punish "export quality" in this way.) For my next book I would have to publish first overseas, most likely in the UK, meaning a UK publisher would make money instead of my Australian one. This takes us back to the pre-1970s era when Australian writers published first in the UK, and Australia was just an export market for the UK company. If these proposals are adopted, Australia will be once more a colony, exporting but not profiting from our own product.

Markets, as any economist will tell you, are created. Sometimes this requires legislation, sometimes choices are made to subsidise them. The Australian government subsidises many markets: car manufacture for years; submarines; and now some $580 million in proposed subsidies to the milk industry. The banking industry benefits to the tune of some $4 billion because of government regulation and guarantee. Why would the government  ostensibly pro-innovation, pro-business, pro-export  be seeking to destroy an industry that is completely unsubsidised?

So, who benefits? The only argument seems to be that book prices will be cheaper. But there is no evidence that this is true, or even an issue for readers who can always buy direct from Amazon. And a $2.2 billion industry  which, as I say, takes no subsidy, makes money, pays tax, and employs some 22,000 people will be destroyed.
There will be a greater number of female MPs when Parliament returns next week despite the drop in numbers of conservative women.

The number of women in the House of Representatives has risen to 43 (29 per cent of lower house members) up from 40 (27 per cent) at the end of the 44th Parliament which was dissolved when the July election was called. The number of women in the Senate has increased by one to 30 senators (39 per cent of upper house members).

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with female members of the ministry after the swearing in ceremony at Government House in July. Credit:Andrew Meares

The overall number of women in Parliament is now 73 (32 per cent) up from 69 which is comparable to similar countries such Canada, where women make up 29 per cent of the parliament, and New Zealand, where women make up 31 per cent of the parliament.

There are now two female Labor MPs for every one Coalition MP. The Labor Party has 42 female MPs while the number of women Liberal Party MPs dropped from 22 to 18. There are three female National Party MPs.
High-profile Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, one of Parliament's most outspoken critics of offshore detention, has been stripped of the immigration portfolio by Greens leader Richard Di Natale despite wanting to stay in the job.

Senator Di Natale announced his post-election reshuffle on Thursday afternoon, saying he wanted to give several of his colleagues "new challenges".

Tasmanian senator Nick McKim will take on the immigration portfolio while Senator Hanson-Young takes on education and finance.

Neither Senator Hanson-Young or Lee Rhiannon, who Senator Di Natale stripped of the higher education portfolio last year, are factionally close to the Greens leader.
Deputy Premier Troy Grant called a meeting of stakeholders in the lockout law debate on Tuesday, a week before the anticipated delivery to government of former high court judge Ian Callinan's review of the contentious regime.

Rather than being designed to signal the government's position on its willingness or otherwise to tweak the laws, some participants are left still wondering precisely why the meeting was called.

They did walk away with one important piece of information: that whatever Callinan's recommendations, the government won't be reacting with any haste.

Grant confirmed to the participants that, when the report is delivered, it will be made public, but without a concurrent government response.
Queensland's police minister has criticised "predictable" political voices seeking to "exploit" the brutal killing of a British backpacker with hyperbolic comments about terrorism.

Controversial senator Pauline Hanson seized on the attack on Thursday, demanding answers about what "could well be the first Islamic terrorist attack in Queensland".

Accused attacker Smail Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman, allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" as he stabbed Englishwoman Mia Ayliffe-Chung to death, left fellow Briton Thomas Jackson fighting for life, hurt an Australian man and killed his dog on Tuesday night.

The Arabic phrase, meaning "God is great", is commonly spoken by millions of Muslims worldwide but has also become associated with terrorist attacks.
"You know you've caught a good one when people want to call Photoshop."

Fiji-based Australian spear fisherman Jaga Crossingham has won plenty of fans since images of his monster, 57-kilogram wahoo emerged on social media last week. But also his share of doubters who queried whether the image was digitally manipulated.

The shot that had the internet doubting...and another angle that verifies it. Credit:Eric Furukawa

Fortunately the Aussie has more photos to share that help verify the fish's immense size - and also a nice little tale to offset some of the queries about whether the magnificent creature was going to waste once caught.

"They are very edible...really good eating," Crossingham said of his Fiji record, which came in the "wild" waters some 160 kilometres off the south coast of the island country.
Wearing bikinis and burkinis, the women sat on a pile of sand and played with beach balls in front of the embassy, some holding signs reading "Islamophobia is not freedom" and "Let them wear what they want". Activists protest the burkini ban outside the French embassy in London. Credit:AP The protest was organised by two friends following the publication of a photograph of armed French police apparently telling a woman sitting on a beach to remove part of her burkini. "It is never right to tell a woman what she can wear or to take her clothes off. That is not for a man to say," India Thorogood, one of the organisers, said. "We wanted to show solidarity with Muslim women in France and call for a repeal of the ban."

Debate rages in Europe The debate over the burkini ban encapsulates the difficulties secular France faces as it grapples with a response to homegrown jihadists and foreign militants, following Islamist attacks on Nice and a Normandy church in July, and major deadly attacks in Paris last year. Security and immigration are now central issues in the presidential election campaign. Former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy, who joined the presidential race on Monday, told the Figaro magazine that France under President Francois Hollande had become too timid. "The burkini is a political act, a militant act, a provocation. Women who wear it are testing the Republic," Mr Sarkozy told the magazine in comments to be published on Friday. In a demonstration of how the burkini controversy has reverberated abroad, British author JK Rowling tweeted: "So Sarkozy calls the burkini a 'provocation'. Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we're always 'asking for it.'"

France is not the only country where restrictions on face and head coverings are back in the spotlight, and debate on assimilation is raging in Western Europe after a wave of militant strikes and an immigration crisis that has forced a rethink of Europe's internal open border policy. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives want a partial ban on the niqab, or face veil, while in Austria right-wing politicians have called for a ban on the burqa, which covers the face and body. In Switzerland there are calls for a popular vote on a ban on the burqa. On a visit to Paris on Thursday, London's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, condemned the ban, saying no one should tell women what to wear. "I don't think it's right," Mr Khan told the Evening Standard newspaper. "One of the joys of London is that we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it."

Ban 'encourages IS recruiters' The burkini has been banned by at least 15 French towns from Corsica to the northern coast but most restrictions have been enforced in the southeast, an area where the far-right is strong and which is a gateway and home for many immigrants. It has also been a fertile zone for Islamist militant networks recruiting would-be jihadists to fight in Syria. The stigma caused by the ban "would only encourage Islamic State's recruiters", said Abdallah Zekri of the National Observatory against Islamophobia. At least two ministers came out in open disagreement with the government's stance on the burkini bans on Thursday. "To pretend that swimming veiled or bathing on a beach dressed is in itself threatening to public order and the values of the Republic is to forget that those (secular) values are meant to allow each person to safeguard their identity," Health Minister Marisol Touraine wrote on her website.

Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said she opposed burkinis but dismissed the argument of Prime Minister Valls that the ban was a useful tool in France's fight against militants. "There is no link between the terror attacks of Daesh and the dress of a woman on the beach," Ms Vallaud-Belkacem told Europe 1 radio, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. While Mr Valls on Thursday rejected the idea the ban might fuel sympathies for militant groups, some government officials are worried. One senior French government official warned that missteps would only exacerbate tensions heightened since a Tunisian drove his truck through a crowd in Nice last month, killing 86 people, and youths slit the throat of a Catholic priest in Normandy. "We have several million Muslims in France who are mostly moderates or non-practicing. If they feel that it is the only subject in public debate they won't feel at home and will be tempted to withdraw to their communities," the official said.
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

Call him nonplussed.

Brooklyn Bridge Park could have had a permanent pool by now, but officials turned their backs on a proven plan for a barge-based swimming hole when a zany, much-hyped proposal for a high-tech floating facility called +Pool came along, claims the architect behind the original plan.

The creator of the Floating Pool Lady barge  which thrilled park-goers when it moored there in summer 2007  claims park honchos were on board to build a full-time version to replace the green spaces temporary pop-up pool, which will close at the end of this summer. But when the sexier alternative came along, they said it could no longer raise funds for his bulky industrial design because +Pool had stolen all his thunder.

We had proposed the floating barge pool four years ago, said Jonathan Kirschenfeld. But the park said well never be able to raise the money as long as +Pool is everybodys idea of a pool.

Kirschenfelds Floating Pool Lady  a seven-lane lagoon atop a re-purposed barge  was so popular when it toured the city in 2007 that the park and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy applied for a permit to build a permanent version there in 2011.

But the next year, momentum shifted to +Pool  a proposal from design firms Family and PlayLab for an Olympic-sized public bath in the shape of a plus that will use filtered water from the East River. It raised more than $300,000 on Kickstarter and received breathless coverage from media outlets around the city (including this one), and Kirschenfeld claims the conservancy then told his team to sink their plan.

The Floating Pool Lady cost $3.5 million  which was provided at the time by social welfare organization the Neptune Foundation  and is still up and running in the Bronx, but Kirschenfeld says hed need between $14 and $17 million to create a more long-lasting incarnation, which he could have finished in two years.

Were ready to go, somebody just needs to give us the go, he said.

The +Pool, by comparison, would cost approximately $19 million  $1 million of which has been raised from donors so far  and will take four years to build, according the projects spokeswoman Kara Meyer. It could never have been ready in time for next summer, as +Pool didnt start testing its design until 2014.

The company may not even station the pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park, as it is considering nine other locations including Transmitter Park in Greenpoint and the new Domino Sugar Factory development in Williamsburg.

Meyer said the firm meets with reps from the potential sites regularly, though Brooklyn Bridge Park spokeswoman Belinda Cape refused to say how often its management speaks with the +Pool people and if it meets with Kirschenfelds group at all.

Kirchenfeld says the park should stop chasing after its dream pool and focus on a bringing a proven concept to the green space as soon as possible, especially since the +Pool has a host of places to drop anchor.

When +Pool is built, there are plenty of places to put it, he said. Right now, for Brooklyn Bridge Park, we really need to get started on a pool that can be built in the next year or two.

Cape declined to comment on Kirschendfelds allegations of pool partisanship, though park honchos have maintained they are open to the idea any floating pool within the open space  though so far, they havent found funding for either design, and say the park cant afford to pay itself.

Meyer also refused to weigh in on claims of favoritism, but applauded the Floating Pool Lady for providing a proof-of-concept and paying homage to New Yorks rich history of floating swimming holes.

We love the Floating Lady and take a lot of inspiration from the project, she said.

Reach reporter Lauren Gill at lgill @cngl ocal.com or by calling (718) 2602511. Follow her on Twitter @laurenk_gill
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams

Is Bay Ridge backsliding to the bad old days?

Residents are demanding the 68th Precinct deploy more officers to patrol Shore Road in response to a slew of recent tire-and-rim thefts. Police sent out more plainclothes officers in March to crack down on the ride raiders, but that did not put much of a dent in the thieves ambitions, said one local.

The police need to step it up, said Joe Mullaney, a lifelong Ridgite who regularly parks along Shore Road. Theyve become more brazen. Its definitely more frequent, Id say I see one car on cinder blocks with no wheels a week.

Still, precinct brass feels the situation is improving, a community affairs officer said. Up to five plainclothes officers are roaming the three-mile stretch on any given shift  thats in addition to the usual patrol  and police point a recent lack of reports as a sign of progress, he said.

But many Ridgites dont bother filing a police report due to the hassle, so the full extent of the issue remains unclear, according to Community Board 10 district manager Josephine Beckmann.

Often times, Ive spoken to people whove just replaced it and didnt want to deal with it, said Beckmann. The challenge is making the police aware of it, and its hard to do that when reports are not being filed.

The thieves are targeting Japanese cars  predominantly Hondas and Toyotas  along Shore Road, according to police. And the verdant stretch is convenient for crooks for whom park foliage provides cover to do their dastardly deeds, said one local.

Its quiet and dark down there, said Joe Domante, who lives in Bay Ridge and parks his car in the area. Its a perfect spot for them.

There may be a lack of reports, but Ridgites are quick to document and circulate photos of cars marooned on concrete blocks on social media. And residents have complained to the community board about the thefts as recently as Aug. 24, Beckmann said.
A fully improvised performance of short form games with comedians Elena Warden, Tito Dameron, Jason Weiler, Ian van Deusen, Felipe Jeantete, Will Bolt, Marty Adamsmith and Kir Kipness.

The premier public performance of a troupe that put the fun on a bun at a surprise birthday party last month. They couldn't quit when the cake was cut, so here they are for you, in a fully improvised, comedic performance of short form games!

The cast:

Elena Warden performed with Rumble in 2015. She hosts a standup comedy-focused open mic at Boese Brothers Brewery at 7pm on Sundays.

Tito Dameron has performed with The Arcade, as a detective in Dinner Detective, and hosts the Boese Brothers open mic with Elena.

Jason Weiler is a stage and film actor who has performed as a special guest with The Show at The Box.

Ian van Deusen has studied improv at The Box since 2015. He loves to see night-to-night variety in improv performances and risk-taking on stage.

Felipe Jeantete has performed with Comedy?, The Arcade, and Dinner Detective in Albuquerque.

Will Bolt studied improv in Japan, performed with the Pirates of Tokyo Bay, and appeared on Japanese television. He performed with Comedy? in Albuquerque.

Marty Adamsmith is an artistic associate at the Aux Dog Theatre where he opened for touring comedian Dusty Slay. He's happiest when he makes someone cry from laughing.

Kir Kipness is performing improv for the first time with Fool's Gold, after many years of using it in teaching children's theatre. She received her BA in theatre education from the University of New Mexico.
Who killed Jennifer Windham? Thats the big question going into American Gothics The Veteran in a New Field. But soon, Madeline, the mayor and Garrett are all suspects in the SBK case.

Is The Mayor The Killer?

American Gothics The Veteran in a New Field begins with the aftermath of Jennifer Windhams death. Brady and Cutter go to the crime scene and Brady thinks its a copycat while Cutter thinks its the real accomplice. Every detail is the same from the old murders. The bell even has the same indentation as the other bells, which was never released to the public. So Madeline and Garretts lawyer work to get Garrett released from prison.

Madeline goes to Alisons office and tells her the charges are being dropped. Alisons a little preoccupied, though. She feels guilty over Jennifers murder. Just then Cutter shows up and asks for the guest list at Mitchs funeral. She also says shes suspicious of Alisons involvement in Jennifers murder. She wants to question Alison, but Alison refuses so she threatens to go to the press.

American Gothic Recap: What Was Garrett Doing In The Woods? >>>

Eventually, an FBI agent comes to take over the case. Brady, meanwhile, notices Cutters questioning Alison. Cutter thinks Alison killed Jennifer because she slept with Tom. Bradys pissed that Cutter didnt tell him she brought Alison in, but with the FBI coming in, its everyone for themselves. Alison then says that only Brady can question her. So Brady and Alison talk alone. But first, Alison has Brady close the blinds. Then she says Jennifer was murdered because of her and she knows who the killer is.

Alison tells Brady she thinks Mayor Conley is the killer. She admits to working with Jennifer and then shows him the pictures of the mayor and Cutter together. Jennifer followed up on that and found something big on SBK. She was going to report it right before she died. Brady needs more proof, but if the mayor is working with Cutter, anyone could be involved. Brady cant trust anyone.

So Brady and Alison decide to work together. Brady calls the mayors assistant, who is very vague about where the mayor was the day of Jennifers murder. So they go to investigate at Jennifers apartment.

They go through the apartment and find a safe behind a picture on the wall. They try every combination they can think of until they try 12, 12, 12, because she worked for channel 12. Inside, they find a recording. Jennifer bugged the mayor. So Alison calls the mayor to her office and Brady brings Cutter. They download the recordings Jennifer got. Cutter apparently destroyed some evidence that tied the mayor to the crime scene.

The mayor admits he was at David Morales house the night he was murdered. He had helped him in the past, so he wanted help with his political campaign in return. David said no and they argued. The mayor left and found out David was killed the next day. Then he realized he lost a cufflink there. He went to Cutter because her dad was losing his house and he needed help. So the Mayor paid her $25,000 to take care of it. They were never supposed to talk about it again but the mayor got paranoid. He didnt kill Jennifer though. He was coordinating with his Super pac when she was killed. Thats not as bad as killing someone, at least.

Garrett Comes Clean

Garrett tells Tessa hes leaving prison. Shes not happy, though, because Garrett still killed someone. She had always defended him and believed in him, but he treated her with kid gloves. She demands answers, so he tells her about his friend El Jenkins. Hed never told anyone about that before, but Tessa tells him theyre family and they should be open with each other. So Garrett decides hes in a sharing mood and tells Tessa that Christinas pregnant and he really wants this baby.

Garrett finally gets out of jail. Tessa picks him up and says she couldnt get a hold of Christina. Her phone is disconnected, shes taking time off from work, and she may not be in Boston anymore. Tessas confident it will all work out though.

American Gothic Recap: Who Was Mitchs Accomplice? >>>

Cam Completes Rehab

Cam finally finishes rehab and asks April out, but she thinks that will increase his chance of relapsing. She does give him some daily aspirations, though.

Cam comes home and bonds with Jack. Madeline, meanwhile, tells Cam he should try to get sole custody.

So Cam takes Jack to Sophies. Theyre working on a history project, but theyre making some creepy art project with decapitated dolls. Cam then tells Sophie the lawyer is sending some paperwork over.

Later, Garrett tries to get his keys from Cam. Cam knows hes about to take off and begs Garrett to be there for Jack, but Garrett leaves.

Who Is Madeline Hiding?

Madeline notices some strange things at the house, like all of these belts lined up on the couch.

At the same time, the FBI agent takes a bunch of photos and stuff from Mitchs funeral from Madeline. They think the killer went to the funeral. This makes Madeline nervous. She calls someone and tells them that they shouldnt have been at Mitchs funeral after everything that went on with them. Tessa overhears. Cryptic.

So Tessa asks her about it and Madeline just says they need to be united. Tessa is very suspicious, though, and starts investigating.

Later, as shes leaving for Jacks history night, Madeline grabs her purse and a bunch of silver bells fall out. Tessa then reveals that she looked up the man Madeline called. Hes Caleb OConnor, the man Madeline was having an affair with. Madeline says they need to trust each other. Even Garrett shows up to Jacks presentation. And with Sophies help, it goes really well.

Tessa and Alison decide to meet up with Caleb. He says he went to the funeral to see Madelines face again. They were high school sweethearts, but it went past high school. They couldnt let go of each other. Mitch found them and beat him up. But Mitch didnt drag him down the stairs like they were told. He never even made it inside the house that day.

Tessa and Alison tell Cam what happened. His dream about someone dragging a body down the stairs has nothing to do with Madelines affair. So they all tell Madeline they know shes been lying to them.

Brady And Garrett Face Off

Brady continues his investigation and says that they need to reconsider Garrett. He has new evidence that the knife really was his all along. The FBI agent, though, says Brady shouldnt be working on this case since hes married to Tessa. So hes on temporary leave.

However, Brady shows up to Jacks presentation and notices Garrett looking suspicious. Hes clearly not giving this case up.

Garrett goes to buy a new corn grinder. Then he digs up a body  presumably his friends  and starts to grind it up, which isnt incriminating in the least. Of course, thats when Brady shows up with his gun drawn.

Will Cam Go After Sole Custody?

After the presentation, Cam says hes not going after sole custody. Garrett also tells Jack to to be himself. April also decides to come and they agree to be platonic, but thats obviously not happening. Sophie sees them and gets jealous.

The next day, though, Cam learns that Sophie had been using Jack to buy drugs posing as candy. He confronts her over it and she says Jack never knew. Cam says hes using this as ammunition to get custody and she begs him not to. Then he tells her to make a new life for herself and make peace that Jack wont be a part of it. She completely breaks down.

American Gothic airs on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. on CBS

(Image courtesy of CBS)
Ajay Piramal, Chairman of Piramal and Shriram groups, and Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of TVS Motor and Sundaram Clayton joined the board of Ltd, the holding company of the Tata group of companies, as non-executive directors effective today.
Investments in Asia-Pacific financial technology (fintech) ventures reached $9.62 billion as of July 31, more than twice the $4.26 bn invested in the region in all of 2015, according to an Accenture analysis of CB Insights data.
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.
Taxi-hailing aggregator on Thursday said the West Bengal transport department has been issuing a limited number of commercial licences, leading to a lesser number of cars joining its platform in the state capital.

"Not many cars are joining the platform in Kolkata for the last six months. The state transport department has been issuing commercial licences in a restricted manner which has been the cause," Ashwin Dias, GM (east) of India, told PTI.

Dias said that Uber had already obtained the ODTTA (On Demand Technology Transportation Aggregators) permit from the transport department, adding that cars willing to join the platform would have to first obtain the commercial licence.

"Commercial licences are not being given like before. Since the last six months, there has been a substantial fall in the number of cars joining Uber," he said.

He said that Uber was in talks with the transport department, adding that ensuing festival season was a major cause of worry when the demand for such hailing services increases.

Uber, which started operations in Kolkata two years back, had helped around 10,000 individuals to generate income by joining the platform.

"We also have many partners who had availed of the state government's 'Gatidhara' scheme where a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh was been given for purchasing a vehicle," Dias said.

"In Kolkata, we will like to have more cars. During Pujas, we are expecting a lot of cars, but we are not seeing the visibility in the number of cars," he said.

Dias said the target was to open 20,000 more such economic opportunities in the next two years subject to the state government relaxes the restriction in the issue of licences.

On the contentious issue of surge pricing, he said, "Our intention is to minimise surges. It is a practice which is followed by Uber worldwide."

"We are also planning to encourage women to join the Uber platform as partners," he said.
Ajay Piramal, chairman, Piramal and Shriram groups, and Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor and Sundaram Clayton joined the board of Ltd, the holding company of the Tata group of companies, as non-executive directors effective Thursday.

Billionaires Piramal, 61, and Srinivasan, 63, will join the high profile board, which has Ishaat Hussain, former CFO, Tata Sons, Vijay Singh, former defence secretary of India, Nitin Nohria, the dean of Harvard Business School, Ronen Sen, former Indian ambassador to the US, and Farida Khambata, global strategist, Cartica, as other directors. Cyrus Mistry is the chairman of the board.

When contacted, Srinivasan declined to comment on his appointment. Piramal was not immediately available for comment as he was abroad. Srinivasans wife, Mallika Srinavasan, 56, is already a director on the board of Tata Steel and Tata Global Beverages.

The appointment of two top Indian industrialists on the board of signifies the groups move to bring in more experienced talent at the holding company level at a time when the $103-billion revenue group is facing headwinds with a few of its group like Tata Steels European operations and Tata Teleservices.

Both Tata and Piramal groups are building financial services business separately and are competing. Srinivasan, the maker of TVS brand of two-wheelers, and the Tatas do not compete directly.

Analysts say the choice of both is good as both have immense experience in running businesses in India.

Take for example, Piramal, an alumnus of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management. He had sold his pharmaceutical business to Abbott in 2010 for $3.72 billion, and is, since then, building a real estate empire, apart from investing in the financial services business of the Chennai-based Shriram group. Piramal also invested in Vodafone India Limited and exited with a hefty profit in 2014. The Piramals and the Mistry family are close and have common interest in real estate and construction business, said a Mumbai-based corporate analyst.

Srinivasan, an alumnus of College of Engineering, Chennai, and Purdue University, served as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) for 2009-10, the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) for from 1999 to 2001, and the chairman of the National Safety Council of the Government of India



The appointment will strengthen Mistry, who, at the recent summit of Tata group CEOs in Mumbai, said by 2025, the group will become amongst the 25 most-admired corporate and employer brands globally, with a market capitalisation comparable to the 25 most-valuable in the world. In the last three years, the group has invested more than $28 billion  making it one of the biggest investors in India.

The group currently earns 69 per cent of its revenues from its global operations and is selling non-core assets across the world. The Tatas are also gearing up to invest in the defence business which has been identified as a core business for investment by Mistry.
US retailer Bed Bath & Beyond said it ordered an external audit of textiles from India, putting more pressure on the embattled Indian bedding and towel maker that has seen nearly half its market value wiped out this week.

has been caught in a maelstrom after US retailing giant Target last week accused the Indian manufacturer of passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton for two years.

Target has said it is severing ties with the company, prompting other clients, including Wal-Mart Stores and JC Penney, to also probe the manufacturer.

Welspun shares fell 10 per cent at the open on Thursday, and hit the daily lower limit for a fourth day. At Thursday's low, Welspun had a market value of 53.55 billion rupees ($798 million), nearly half the market value it had last Friday.

The stock recovered to trade largely flat by midday on Thursday after Welspun sent a clarification to exchanges reiterating that an external audit of the supply chain has been sought and would be completed in 6-8 weeks.

Bed Bath probe

Bed Bath & Beyond spokeswoman Leah Drill said the retailer will pursue an investigation and take appropriate action.

The company's announcement came after Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, 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 said on Wednesday it is also monitoring the situation.

Target on Wednesday said it is in the process of taking out all products made 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 probe. Target declined to comment on how this product quality issue was not caught by its internal buying team for two years.

Target is offering a refund, in the form of a gift card, to affected customers, who either have a loyalty card or bought the products online.

On Monday, Welspun said it would hire a major 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 firm's probe.
A scandal involving the alleged sale of falsely labelled Egyptian cotton products by an Indian textile manufacturer to US big- box retailers highlights a stiff reality facing the high-end fiber market: there isnt much Egyptian cotton any more.

The shortage of cotton from Egypt, which commands a premium due to its superior quality, creates an incentive to blend it with other types of cotton without disclosing it or to counterfeit the label altogether, cotton traders said, exacerbating a problem that has plagued the industry for years.

India has lost 42 per cent of its market value in the three days since Target Corp said it would sever ties with the textile manufacturer, one of the world's largest, accusing it of substituting cheaper, non-Egyptian cotton into sheets and pillowcases.

Egyptian cotton is prized because much of it is long staple or extra long staple, meaning the length of the cotton fibers is longer, resulting in a finer, lighter more durable fabric and longer-lasting, higher-end clothing.

While other countries including the US and Australia produce larger quantities of high-end cotton than Egypt, cotton from the North African country has retained its prestige because of a long history growing the crop.

But Egypts cotton output has been declining for the past decade after farmers failed to adapt to shifting consumer demand for mass-produced items made from short- or medium-staple fiber, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The decline has become a full-fledged crisis in recent years after the government removed cash subsidies, and many farmers replaced cotton acreage with rice, the USDA said.

Egypt will produce just 160,000 480-lb bales of cotton in 2016-17, down from 1.4 million bales as recently as 2004-05, accounting for less than 0.2 per cent of expected global output.

This means some products marketed as containing Egyptian cotton almost certainly do not, or are blended with other types of cotton without proper disclosure, said Jordan Lea, chairman and co-owner of cotton merchant Eastern Trading in Greenville, South Carolina. If you look at the volume of Egyptian goods that are for sale, and you look at the volume of Egyptian cotton that's produced, it would lead one to scratch one's head, Lea said.

A gold seal?

Long and extra long staple cotton is rare - it makes up just 2.5 per cent of annual world cotton production of more than 100 million bales, according to the USDA - and trades at a substantial premium. US extra long staple cotton, or pima, trades for 152.25 cents per lb, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data, a 125 per cent premium over cotton prices on ICE Futures US, a contract that accepts cotton of a strict low middling staple length.

Ron Lawson, a cotton industry veteran and broker with LOGIC Advisors in Sonoma, California, said he had no idea what Egyptian cotton prices were, which he said showed how much of a novelty item the fiber was.

Improper labeling of cotton products including clothing and bedding is a violation of the US Textile Act and Rules, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

An FTC spokesman declined to comment on whether the agency was aware of Targets allegations or had started an investigation. Egypts cotton association appears to be aware of widespread counterfeiting. In April, its executive director told trade publication Home and Textiles on Thursday that it had tested retail products labelled Egyptian cotton and found that 90 per cent contained no Egyptian cotton at all. The Cotton Egypt Association lists as one of just three permitted to label its products with the associations Gold Seal, which was launched earlier this year and is meant to ensure authenticity.

Mukesh Saviani, a executive, told the trade publication in February that the seal was an assurance to retailers that they will not get into any compliance issues. The scandal could leave big box US retailers wary of dealing with products labelled Egyptian cotton, potentially providing a boon to growers of US Pima cotton in places like California and Arizona. The Supima boys are doing backflips and pirouettes on their desks right now, Lawson said, referring to an association that provides a trademark indicating cotton products come from 100 per cent American Pima cotton.
At the end of his two-day visit to Jammu & Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said he met more than 300 people from all walks of life to assess the sense among the people of the Valley that has witnessed unrest for the last 47 days. Singh said the Union government was open to dialogue, that an all-party delegation would visit the Valley soon and an alternative to pellet guns, which have left scores with eye injuries, is being looked at.


The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, (IIT-B) released a statement on Thursday saying it had blacklisted nine companies, including health care start-up Portea Medical, for delaying or revoking placement offers to students.
Premier tech school IIT Bombay on Thursday blacklisted nine companies including startups like Portea Medical and Chinese firm Johnson Electric from placements for one year as a penalty for a variety of violations like, revoking the offers to some of its graduates.

The action follows a controversy over a host of companies, majorly startups finding the going tough, either revoking the offer letters or delaying joining dates which have impacted students.

Online pharmacy player Portea, which has reportedly raised $46.5 million in two rounds, has been blacklisted for one year for revoking an offer, the school said in an official statement.

Similarly, the NCR-based Peppertap that was into grocery sales, has also been penalised for revoking offers.

Johnson Electric of China has also been penalised for revoking offers.

Others who faced action for revoking offers include GPSK and Cashcare Technologies, the statement said.

For delaying the joining dates of the selected candidates, consulting companies IndusInsight, and the Houston-based American company LexInnova have been barred from placements for a year, it said.

A company named LeGarde Burnett Group was also blacklisted for both revoking an offer and after it was found "fake" with no proper office address, it said.

Another company Mera Hunar was found to have come up with a different name and hired students for another startup, which attracted the penal action of one year.

It can be noted that since IITs have a centralised placement panel called the All IITs Placement Committee and in all likelihood, the action by IIT-Bombay will automatically bar the startups from approaching any of the IITs in the country for placements next year.
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.
On a warm evening in June, the thirsty crowd milling about a Brooklyn event space might have gladly sipped glasses of white wine, or crisp gin & tonics. Instead, all held drams of golden whisky in their hand. The event was to celebrate the introduction of Toki, a new offering from Japanese whisky maker Suntory, with gentle almond and grapefruit accents and no age statement. It's just one of a growing number of what we're dubbing "whisper whiskies"-pale-hued, refreshing spirits with a deliberately light, mellow flavour profile, offering an antidote to bold bourbons and ...
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here and said that the elements which were misleading the youth of Kashmir needed to be identified.

Chief Minister Mufti asserted that only five per cent of Kashmiris were engaged in the agitation.

Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the state in the wake of violent protests triggered after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8, took stock of the security situation in the Valley.

Addressing the media in a joint conference with Mehbooba Mufti, the home minister also said that an alternative would be found to pellet guns soon and that a committee was looking into the matter.

"We are willing to hold a dialogue with anyone who believes in Kashmir's pluralist ethos, humanity, and democracy," said Singh.

He added that the Centre would appoint a Nodal officer to help Kashmiris in distress living anywhere in the country.

Responding to a question at the conference, Mufti said: "There were reasons behind the protests in 2010, there was a fake encounter in which civilians were killed, there was the Shopian rape case. People had a reason in 2010. This time, militants were killed by the security forces in an encounter. Today, most of the people who have died or been injured are children and belong to poor families. Most of the casualties took place during retaliatory fire by security forces. Do not compare then and now."

Singh also told reporters that the government would send an all-party delegation to the state soon. Further, he asked the people of Kashmir to remember the contribution of the armed forces during the recent floods.

Earlier in the day, the home minister also met members of civil society who apprised him about the situation in the state. They also told him about the difficulties faced by the common citizen in the wake of protests and curfew.

This is Singh's second visit in a month to the state.

The home minister's 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.
The Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), where the are being built, on Thursday said the data leak did not take place from its end and that it was assisting the Navy in the probe.

A day after the data leak on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company came to light, an MDL official said there were stringent norms at MDL on data security.

"We are helping Navy in the probe. We are certain the data leak was not from our side," an MDL official told PTI here.

"It needs to be verified if the leaked documents are authentic," the official said, reacting to reports of the massive data leak.

There are stringent norms at MDL on data security, the official said.

MDL head Rear Admiral Rahul Shrawat was not available for comments.

French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project.

MDL is scheduled to deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy early next year and the remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020.

According to media reports, the documents running into 22,400 pages detail the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines.

The combat capability of the being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of $3.5 billion by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, "The Australian", put the details on the website.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday ordered the Navy Chief 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 had said.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by against its verdict which had held that the newly carved out state cannot claim "absolute" right over institutions, merely because they are located in its capital Hyderabad which is now being shared by Andhra Pradesh also.

A bench of Justices V Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra rejected the application for open hearing of the review petition and dismissed the plea saying no case of review is made out.

On March 18, the apex court had set aside a High Court verdict upholding freezing of bank accounts of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) on the ground that now APSCHE assets belonged to State Council (TSC) of Higher Education, as it is located in Hyderabad.

Noting that has claimed ownership over the entire funds and assets of the APSCHE, the apex court had said "this could surely not have been the intention of the legislature while enacting the Reorganisation Act, 2014.

"The main thrust of the argument...Is that the successor State of Andhra Pradesh has absolutely no right over the institutions in the city of Hyderabad, by virtue of the fact that Hyderabad falls in the successor State of Telangana.

"We are wholly unable to agree with this contention advanced on behalf of the State of Telangana. If this contention is accepted, it would render Section 47 of the Act, which provides for apportionment of assets and liabilities among the successor States, useless and nugatory."



Referring to the 2014 Reorganisation Act that had paved the way for creation of Telangana, the apex court had said that the issue of bifurcation of states was "both sensitive as well as tricky".

The apex court, in its verdict, had said, "the action of the Banks of freezing bank accounts of APSC is wholly untenable in law, which must be set aside.

"By no stretch of imagination can it be assumed that the complete takeover of assets of the erstwhile APSCHE by TSC, on the ground that the State institution happens to be in Hyderabad, which is now a part of Telangana, was what the legislature had in contemplation while enacting the Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The green nod for commercially cultivating genetically-modified (GM) mustard has reached the penultimate stage, with a technical sub-committee of the Union environment ministry giving a positive report on it. The nod from the statutory Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) of the government could come as soon as September.
The has approached the finance ministry seeking its approval to raise $500 million (about Rs 3,300 crore) through rupee-denominated bonds or masala bonds to invest in infrastructural projects, A K Mittal, chairman of the Railway Board, told Business Standard.
With facing shortage of experienced staff for internal audits, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday allowed them to hire their retired officials for up to three years for assistance in conducting Risk Based Supervision (RBS).
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday retained the classification of State Bank of India and ICICI Bank Ltd as Domestic Systemically Important (D-SIBs) in 2016 and maintained their bucketing structure as it was last year.
The much-hyped Unified Payments Interface (UPI) went live for customers of many banks on Thursday. However, the countrys largest lender, State Bank of India, will join the UPI platform about a month later.

The brainchild of Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, UPI is expected to revolutionise the way consumers make payments.

NEWER AVENUES UPI makes sending money easy with real-time money transfer

It will allow users to transfer money through a unique virtual address, or mobile number, or Aadhaar number

With UPI, users need not know the payee's bank account details

It will also facilitate raising payment requests

Apps of all the 21 banks, which have been permitted by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), will be available on Google Play Store within three days, NPCI executives told Business Standard. UPI apps of Axis Bank, Union Bank of India, Vijaya Bank and United Bank of India were available on the Google Play Store on Thursday evening.

Thursdays launch came more than a month after the original NPCI deadline of July 31 because most banks took longer-than-expected to get technology-ready.

The launch had to be deferred as NPCI had said that only lenders that had 1,000 pilot customers, 5,000 transactions and 90 per cent success rate would be allowed to go live. Initially, 29 banks had tied up with NPCI for the launch. However, only 21 banks have been able to meet the criteria so far.

Banks UPI apps are interoperable, so a customers multiple bank accounts can be added to a single banks UPI app.

Some big lenders like SBI have not been able to meet the deadline. When asked, an SBI official said, App for the UPI is ready. It has to be tested thoroughly to avoid glitches before making it available to millions. Bank has largest retail customer base in the country and we do not want complaints to grow exponentially by going live in a hurry. SBI will further examine the app with closed-user group and may go live in about a months time, the official added.

An NPCI official also confirmed the timeline indicated by SBI. Given the scale of SBIs operations, fool-proofing the system is necessary. The UPI launch was awaited as it is expected to give a significant boost to mobile money transfers. UPI is built on the existing Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) that allows real-time transfer of money 24x7 and is also interoperable across banks which, giving it a leg-up compared with other money transfer applications.

By using the UPI app, one can transfer money to another person through a unique virtual address (virtual addresses are aliases to a bank account allowing a customers account to be uniquely mapped), or mobile number, or Aadhaar number. Neither the payer nor the payee will have to share their bank account details, IFSC code, etc with each other. The other advantage is that a seller can also raise a payment request. As a result, it is also supposed to be used by merchants to raise invoice requests.
Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh met about 20 delegations of civil society, some more political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals on the second day of his visit to Srinagar today. A six-member delegation of the resident Sikh community discussed with the Union Home Minister the concerns of minorities in the state. A 3-member delegation of Panthers Party also met Shri Rajnath Singh. Earlier a delegation of Coordination Committee of the Janata Dal (United) also met the Union Home Minister..

.

Later, the Chief Minister of J&K, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti met the Union Home Minister. The two leaders held detailed discussions on security situation and reviewed development projects. The Union Home Minister also held a meeting with the Governor Shri NN Vohra and State Cabinet Ministers led by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh. Interacting with the media before winding up his visit, Shri Rajnath Singh announced that a nodal officer will be designated in MHA to address the grievances of the people of Kashmir directly..

.

Shri Rajnath Singh, accompanied by the Union Home Secretary Shri Rajiv Mehrishi and Senior Officers of MHA, returned New Delhi later this afternoon. During his two-day stay at the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar, the Union Home Minister held over ten meetings yesterday with a wide spectrum of political parties and chaired a meeting of Senior Officers of Security Agencies and State Government to review the security situation in the Kashmir Valley. Delegations of all major political parties including the states ruling PDP and BJP, main opposition National Conference, besides Congress, CPI(M), regional People's Conference, People's Democratic Front and Democratic Party Nationalists held talks with Shri Rajnath Singh..

.

During his two-day visit the Union Home Minister met about 400 persons in 30 delegations and received their inputs on the J&K situation. He also appealed to the people to help maintain law & order and restore peace. .

.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has roped in Brexit leader Nigel Farage to canvass for him, a rare occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed an election rally in the US for one of the presidential candidates.

"I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election... I will say this. If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me," Farage told Trump supporters at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday.

In his speech, Farage from the UK Independence Party, who was responsible for the UK leaving the EU, drew comparisons between Brexit and the US presidential election.

He urged people to defeat pollsters, the media and the Washington establishment.

"I think you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign. I come to you from the UK with a message of hope and a message of optimism. It's a message that says if the little people, if the real people, if the ordinary, decent people are prepared to stand up and fight for what they believe in, we can overcome the big banks," Farage added.

This is one of the rarest occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed a public election rally in the US canvassing for one of the presidential candidates.
A New Zealand pizza chain aims to become the world's first company to offer a commercial service, a milestone in the once-unthinkable quest to save time and money with an air-borne supply chain dispensing with people.
After a sting video allegedly showing him accepting money from a party volunteer surfaced, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to "remove" its Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chottepur.

The party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is likely to meet at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Friday to take a final call on his removal, said well-placed AAP sources.

In the meantime, AAP convener and party's Punjab affairs' in-charge Kejriwal purportedly refused to meet Chottepur and asked him to file his clarification before the party's Punjab state committee.

Sources said the Punjab State Committee has written to Kejriwal to remove Chottepur after the sting video showing him accepting bribe surfaced on social media.

However, Chottepur in a tweet said that he had reservations on the last two lists of candidates in Punjab announced by the party and wanted to meet Kejriwal. "Have reservations on second AAP candidate list too, waiting to meet Kejriwal," he tweeted on Tuesday.

Chottepur later in a statement issued on Thursday said that he would be holding a press conference in this connection on Friday to bring out the truth before the people of Punjab.

"I have been working day and night to strengthen this party. But some of my party colleagues are trying to tarnish my image by levelling false and baseless allegations. I will be holding a press conference in this connection to bring out the truth before the people of Punjab," he said.

Chottepur had earlier dared the AAP leadership to make the video clip of him accepting money public to prove that it was corruption.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One of Afghanistan's leading crack commanders, Lieutenant Mohammed Akbar, was killed in Wednesday night's attack on the American University in Afghanistan.

Akbar was at the time of his death leading a Crisis Response Unit team in the university to safely evacuate the students there, reports Tolo News.

Also known as "Akbar e Daraz", he was likened to the historic Greek mythological warrior "Achilles" for his courage and decisiveness.

He had since 2009 participated in over 30 high profile attacks in Kabul, including the attack on the Pashtani Bank, the Ministry of Justice, the Intercontinental Hotel, the Serena Hotel attack, Kabul airport attack, Parliament, Green Village guest house and many more.

He had also been involved in numerous intelligence-led night raids in various provinces of Afghanistan and had successfully led his team in helping retake Kunduz city last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former law minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal has rubbished the defamation case filed against party vice president Rahul Gandhi by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), and clarified that the latter did not mention the organisation, but its ideology with reference to the RSS alleged role in the assassination of Father of The Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

Sibal further said that assassinator Nathuram Godse's brother, Gopal Godse, had himself claimed that the killing happened.

The RSS, the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed a defamation case against Gandhi for his speech at a rally in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra in 2014. Rahul had alleged that RSS members had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948.

"We have clearly said that we did not talk about a particular institution and that Mahatma Gandhi was killed by one ideology and this topic is not of today. Whatever Rahul Gandhi said is still available in written form. Rahul Gandhi has said that whatever is present in his speech should been seen as a context. Things which are true are true and we stick to it," Sibal said.

Highlighting that the circular of the Government of India on February 2, 1948 clearly mentioned that Gandhi was killed by the people of the RSS, Sibal said, "Even few historical researchers have instead taken the byte of Nathuram Godse's brother Gopal Godse that they were all in RSS. And, he agrees that that killing happened. Gopal Godse himself accepts that he is from the RSS and he was sentenced for that," Sibal added.

Sibal further opined that many writers have spoken about the same, but no case of defamation has been filed against anyone, not even on Gopal Godse.

He added that the defamation case does not justify anything other than it clearly being a game of political oneupmanship.

"This case has come forward because of its political perspective. Let's see what happens next," he said.

The case of defamation against Gandhi was by filed by RSS worker Rajesh Kunte in a Maharashtra court for allegedly blaming the RSS for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will come together to play the men's doubles event for Europe against the Rest of the World in the inaugural edition of the Ryder Cup-style event, Laver Cup to be held next year.

While admitting that he was feeling great with the idea of not facing the big forehand, Federer said that it would be unbelievable situation for him to be on the same side of the net as Nadal.

Meanwhile, former Grand Slam heavyweight champions Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the European and World teams respectively for the first three years of the tournament, which is named after Rod Laver, the last man to achieve the calendar Grand Slam in 1969.

According to the Sport24, the organizers of the tournament have also been trying hard to rope in the current top two players in the world - Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray for the event.

According to the format of the Laver Cup, the tournament will be played every year except in an Olympic season and will feature four matches each day, including three in singles, one in doubles.

The inaugural edition of the tournament is slated to be held in Prague from September 22- September 24 next year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Questioning India's defence preparedness following the leak of details related to the French-made Scorpene submarine, the Congress on Thursday asked the Centre to form an independent probe body, or let the Supreme Court investigate the matter.

"Rather than taking it upon itself, the Defence Ministry or the NDA government should consent, that let an independent body or let a Retd. Supreme Court judge or serving Supreme Court judge look at the entire episode holistically, because ultimately what is the point of having a submarine whose operational capability is compromised," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told ANI.

Tewari described the entire episode as extremely unfortunate and disturbing and added that the enquiry is must as the DCNS would never admits to its alleged culpability, because of its other contracts across the world.

On Wednesday, 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.

Parrikar said the government would come out with more information over the next couple of days.

On Tuesday, a report in Australian media revealed that sensitive information related to India's Scorpene submarines had 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.

The Indian Navy informed today that documents posted on the website by The Australian, don't pose any security compromise as vital parameters have been blacked out.

"Matter has been taken up with the DG of Armaments of the French Government. We have requested their government to investigate with urgency and share findings with India. An internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise is also being undertaken," the Navy said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained today by the Srinagar police ahead of his 'Eidgah Chalo march', that was to be carried out the in old city on August 26.

He has been taken to Nigeen Police Station near Hazratbal here.

Meanwhile, 48 days since the Valley erupted in never-before-seen protests, the situation in the interiors of south Kashmir remains tense.

The protests and shutdowns against Wani's killing show no signs of dissipation. Surprisingly, as seen in the unrest in previous years, this time, people have shown no signs of fatigue despite hardships due to strikes and loss of livelihood.

The protest calendar comes on a day when Union Home Minister Singh arrived on a two-day visit to the Valley for holding talks with different groups and political parties.

As a delegation of mainstream political parties was in a meeting with home minister, the separatist groups asked people to march towards the Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar on 27 August and ask the GoC to vacate the state.

Protests have been so intense that besides major towns of Kashmir, people in villages have come out on streets to register their anger. The mood remains so much against India that the police and paramilitary forces have hardly been able to reach the rural areas, as they fear consequences due to brewing anger among people after Wani's death.

Unimpressed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh's Kashmir outreach, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference issued a fresh protest for a march to the sensitive Army headquarters on 27 August.

This is for the first time, since the unrest began in Valley that has close to 70 people dead and thousands injured, that a united Hurriyat Conference has asked people to March towards 15 Corps of the Indian Army at Badami Bagh in Srinagar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Security forces foiled yet another infiltration bid by a group of terrorists in Tangdhar sector of border district of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir today.

Security forces fired at the unidentified persons who were attempting to cross the LoC and in the gun battle that ensued, at least one jawan was reportedly injured.

The alert troops fired at group of terrorists trying to infiltrate, forcing them to flee back.

Meanwhile, a search operation is being conducted to ensure that no untoward elements are still active in the area.

Last week, the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar by killing three militants.

The three militants, according to army, were involved in recent attack on BSF post in the sector in which three border guards were injured.

Army and BSF have increased vigil along LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir to foil infiltration attempts by militants from across the border.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan will head the advisory commission aimed at finding a long-term solution to solve the communal violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

The State Counsellor's Office said yesterday that it would sign an MoU with the Kofi Annan Foundation soon, reports the Myanmar Times.

The advisory commission is composed of three international experts - including Kofi Annan - and six Myanmar nationals, including Myanmar National Human Rights Commission chair U Win Mra and representatives from the Buddhist and Muslim communities.

The commission is tasked with finding preventive measures for conflicts, ensuring humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation, establishing basic infrastructure and promoting development plans in the state.

It will submit its findings to the government through the state counsellor and will release that report to the public within one year.

The Rakhine State has been tensed after violence erupted between the Buddhist and Muslim communities there in 2012, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of residents, the displacement of hundreds of thousands and the destruction of infrastructure.

Since then, anti-Muslim sentiment has been widespread across the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vinay Sharma, one of the five convicts sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Nirbhaya in a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012, attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself last night in Tihar Jail.

He has been admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where his condition is said to be critical.

Vinay, earlier in 2013, had claimed that he was beaten up by other inmates in the jail and had demanded extra security.

He is though not the first convict in the case who have attempted suicide, Ram Singh, the driver of the bus in which the student was brutally raped and tortured by six men, was found hanging in his cell in Tihar in 2013.

The jail authorities had said he had committed suicide but his family had then alleged that he had been murdered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A defence expert has said that the praise showered on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by activists of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and their move to hold up his pictures and wave Indian flags in their territory, increases India's responsibility towards realising the goal of delivering freedom to the people of Balochistan.

M M Khajuria told ANI that the Baloch people expect Prime Minister Modi and the Indian media to lend them a helping hand and support their cause internationally.

"They have come out into the open to resist and declare that they appreciate what the Prime Minister of India and the Indian media is doing for them, and they expect them to lend them a helping hand and support their cause in the forum. This, in fact, increases our (India's) responsibility towards the freedom movement in Balochistan, and, I think, India must devise ways and means of coming up to their expectations," Khajuria added.

While the protests have been going on for the past few days in several locations in Balochistan, protesters in Dera Bugti held up pictures of the Indian Prime Minister, late Baloch leader Akbar Bugti and his grandson Brahumdagh Bugti, and raised slogans against Islamabad. They also burnt Pakistan's national flag.

Slogans were also raised against Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri for declaring Bugti a traitor and thanking the Indian Prime Minister for highlighting the atrocities meted out to the people in the region by Islamabad.

Stating that the freedom movement in Balochistan seemed to have got a fillip after the Indian Prime Minister's reference, Khajuria said, "The kind of acceptance of reality that the people of Balochistan are fighting for their freedom, this is the recognition of the support that the people of Balochistan expect from India, the international forum as well, in awakening opinion about what they are going through and what they have gone through since 2002."

On the United States State Department's expression of concern over human rights violation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Khajuria said that Washington has been forced into doing so after India raised the issue.

The Prime Minister, in his concluding remarks at a recently held all-party meeting to discuss the flare-up in Kashmir in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant 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.

During nation's 70th Independence Day speech, 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.)
Portugal star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been out of action since injuring his knee in the successful Euro 2016 final, has vowed to return soon after stepping up training at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training base.

Posting a video of sweat-soaked running drills, the 31-year-old confirmed through his Instagram account that the recovery has been going pretty well.

"Looking good. Soon I will be back," he wrote.

Ronaldo, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner, sustained the knee injury during the early stages of the match and eventually made a premature exit from his side's 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts France last month.

The Real Madrid striker is expected to make a return in Saturday's match against Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu, goal.com reported.

Ronaldo has had a wonderful 2015-16 season as he scored 51 goals in 48 appearances he made for Real Madrid, who finished as runners-up to Barcelona in La Liga and claimed Champions League glory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after Rahul Gandhi's counsel told the Supreme Court that he had never blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for killing Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress vice president on Thursday put an end to the doubts on his 'u-turn' regarding the matter and said that he will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS.

"I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said," Rahul said in a tweet.

Earlier, RSS ideologue MG Vaidya had said that Rahul must come clean on in what sense were those who killed Mahatma Gandhi associated with the Hindu nationalist organisation, and what was their position and credentials.

"If he now says the RSS was not involved, but the people who were involved in Gandhi's murder were RSS-affiliate, then he must come clean on his statement that in what sense they were associated with the RSS and what was their position and credential in the organisation," the RSS patriarch said, seeking an explanation from the Congress vice president as to how the assassin was affiliated to the organisation.

"He is twisting it now. He must show his generosity by offering apology for his statement and should accept before the court that what he had said was wrong," the former RSS spokesperson and ideologue told ANI.

Following Rahul's submission, a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and RF Nariman said if the complainant agrees to the submission, it will take the statement on record and dispose of the petition.

Senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, 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," the senior advocate had told the Court.

In his complaint, RSS Bhiwandi secretary Rajesh Mahadev Kunte alleged that Rahul told in an election rally in Sonale on March 6 last year that "the RSS people killed Gandhiji".

He alleged that the Congress leader had sought to tarnish the reputation of RSS through his speech.

The case is pending before a magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Social activist and eminent lawyer, Abha Singh on Thursday blamed the judiciary for not providing adequate security drills to prevent Vinay Kumar, one of the accused in the Nirbhaya case, from attempting suicide in the Tihar jail.

"It shows that justice was delayed for so long that the accused had been harassed and bullied in the prison. Not only that, security is not in the right sense, that is why they are being beaten up. It is necessary that any person who is in jail is provided due security, but, nonetheless, this suicide attempt raises a question on the judiciary of this country that why are the cases geting delayed," said Singh.

Singh stressed that a proper time frame should be allotted to the Nirbhaya case so that justice is delivered to the victims in a timely manner.

"It is necessary that a timeframe of all appeal cases from the high court and the supreme court should be made maximum three months, because there are appeals in death penalty in SC for 10 years to 15 years. This very fact defeats the purpose. Hence it is necessary that the Nirbhaya case gets decided as fast as possible and a special bench be created if the judiciary says that it is overburdened with cases," she said.

Former Commission for Women (NCW) member Barkha Shukla Singh criticised Vinay for attempting suicide, saying that feeling guilty about the act now does not give space to commit suicide.

"I am not surprised by this act at all. He might have felt guilty because of the kind of crime he committed. But that doesn't give space to commit suicide. He must undergo the punishment he was sentenced to," Singh told ANI.

She, however, said there should be an investigation to find out whether anyone conspired or the accused attempted to committ suicide out of guilt.

Sharma, one of the five convicts sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Nirbhaya in a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012, committed suicide by hanging himself last night in Tihar Jail.

He has been admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where his condition is said to be critical.

He is not the first convict in the case to have attempted suicide. Ram Singh, the driver of the bus in which the student was brutally raped and tortured by six men, was found hanging in his cell in Tihar in 2013

While jail authorities said, he had committed suicide, his family alleged that he had been murdered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US-India Council (USIBC) has concluded a Food and Agriculture Executive Mission to India with a focus on ways to increase farmer income and productivity through mechanization and modernization techniques as well as ways that industry in both the US and India can work with the central Indian and state governments to achieve mutually beneficially solutions in the food and agriculture sector.

In meetings with US and Indian Government officials, USIBC members discussed ways to partner with the Indian government to advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent call to double farmer income by 2022.

Discussions centered on finding efficiencies in water use, improving soil health, introducing new crops to foster productivity across planning seasons, best practices, and mechanization solutions for small hold farmers

"We had some very productive and open discussions during the mission" said Chief Operating Officer of Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE), T.R. Kesavan.

"We were particularly encouraged by the government's desire to examine the ease of doing agribusiness in India, both at the central and state level. If we can create a sustained conversation about how to make farming and agribusiness easier for everyone, we can make real progress towards the Prime Minister's goal of doubling farmer income in six years," added Kesavan.

During the mission, USIBC members were able to connect with government and reinforce industry's position as a collaborator with shared interests in advancing India's agriculture economy and improving farmer productivity and income over the long term.

The delegates held meetings with NITI Aayog and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, as well as with officials at the Secretary and Joint Secretary level from the Ministries of Agriculture; External Affairs; Commerce; and Science and Technology as well as with officials from the U.S. Embassy.

Following the mission, USIBC will continue to dialogue with the Government of India on securing a strong future for India's farmers. The Committee has several follow up items to present to the Government of India, including preparing a document on the ease of doing agri- in India at the request of NITI Aayog.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bosch said it has fixed 6 September 2016 as the record date for the proposed buyback offer of the company. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 August 2016.

InterGlobe Aviation will be watched. With reference to news report stating that Tigerair will take back the 12 jets subleased to Indigo, InterGlobe Aviation clarified that Tiger Airways has not asked for any of the airplanes leased to the company to be returned before the end of the contracted lease terms. The expiry of the lease of the first of these airplanes is during the second half of the calendar year 2017. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 August 2016.

InterGlobe Aviation is the operator of low cost passenger airline IndiGo which is India's largest airline with a market share of 38.10% in June 2016.

Britannia Industries will be watched. With respect to news report stating that ITC has moved court over Britannia copying Sunfeast biscuit packaging, Britannia Industries clarified that ITC has filed a suit against Britannia Industries at Delhi High Court alleging that Britannia is copying the color combination of ITC's "Sun Feast Farmlite Digestive- All Good" Biscuit Packs for its "Nutri Choice Digestive Zero" biscuit packs. The matter came up for hearing before Delhi High Court on 22 August 2016 and 24 August 2016. The next date of hearing is 31 August 2016. No injunction (stay) has been granted as of now. As the matter is sub-judice, the company cannot comment further on this matter, Britannia Industries said. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 August 2016.

IDBI Bank said that the bank proposes to issue an additional Tier 1 bonds amounting to Rs 1500 crore with deemed date of allotment on 30 August 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 August 2016.

PNC Infratech's net profit jumped 145.59% to Rs 64 crore on 22.05% rise in total income to Rs 532.44 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 August 2016.

Century Plyboards (India) said that the company has disinvested its entire shareholding in its subsidiary Innovation Pacific Singapore Pte. (IPSPL). Consequently, both IPSPL and step-down subsidiary Vietnam Innovation Pacific JSC has ceased to be subsidiaries of the company with effect from 24 August 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 24 August 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.)
India, took another major step in the fight against tax evasion, "round tripping" and "base erosion/profit shifting". The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Agreement and the Protocol between the India and Cyprus for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income.

This step follows the recent amendment of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Mauritius. As in the case of Mauritius, the treaty with Cyprus 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. Negotiations with Singapore are also underway for similar changes.

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 the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine.

The MoU will provide structured frame work 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.

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 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.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sales decline 31.29% to Rs 1.01 crore

Net profit of Haryana Financial Corporation declined 89.70% to Rs 0.51 crore in the quarter ended June 2016 as against Rs 4.95 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2015. Sales declined 31.29% to Rs 1.01 crore in the quarter ended June 2016 as against Rs 1.47 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2015.1.011.47-42.57-43.540.605.050.514.950.514.95

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Monsanto India fell 2.57% to Rs 2,374.20 at 14:20 IST on BSE on reports the company's parent firm has withdrawn application seeking approval for the next generation genetically modified cotton seeds in the country because of regulatory uncertainties.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 154.71 points, or 0.51%, to 27,916.38

On BSE, so far 6,925 shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average daily volume of 17,909 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 2,454.90 and a low of Rs 2,372.05 so far during the day. The stock had hit 52-week high of Rs 2,772 on 25 August 2015. The stock hit 52-week low of Rs 1,520 on 11 April 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 24 August 2016, rising 1.55% compared with Sensex's 0.3% rise. The scrip also outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 11.37% as against Sensex's 6.42% rise.

The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 17.26 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

As per reports, Monsanto India's parent firm Monsanto Company, USA strongly objected to a government proposal that would force the company to share its technology with local seed companies. The company is also at loggerheads with government over how much it can charge for its genetically modified cotton seeds, costing it tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue every year, reports indicated.

Monsanto India's net profit fell 9.86% to Rs 56.60 crore on 9.14% decline in net sales to Rs 236.08 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015.

Monsanto India, a subsidiary of the Monsanto Company, USA is a seed company focusing on maize and agricultural productivity. Monsanto Company, USA, currently holds 72.14% stake in Monsanto India (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.)
Sales decline 9.32% to Rs 313.72 crore

Net profit of Nava Bharat Ventures declined 32.05% to Rs 29.21 crore in the quarter ended June 2016 as against Rs 42.99 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2015. Sales declined 9.32% to Rs 313.72 crore in the quarter ended June 2016 as against Rs 345.96 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2015.313.72345.9621.6919.1375.4166.1352.9945.9429.2142.99

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On 02 September 2016

Punjab & Sind Bank has been informed by Indian Bank's Association (IBA) that All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officer's Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and All India Bank Officer's Confederation (AIBOC) have given a call for strike in the Banking Industry on 02 September 2016.

If the strike materialises, a certain section of the Bank's employees may participate in the proposed strike on the said date, in which case, it is likely that the normal functioning of the branches / offices of the Bank may get affected.

The Bank is taking all necessary steps in terms of the existing guidelines for smooth functioning of Bank's branches / offices to deal with the strike.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twelve people were killed in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, a spokesman for the Chief of Kabul Police told CNN on Thursday.

Seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed in the attack on the American University campus, Basir Mujahid, the spokesman said.

Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC.

Police searched the American University of Afghanistan early Thursday about 10 hours after the assault began and killed two of the attackers who stormed the campus with guns and explosives.

The gunmen detonated explosives and fired guns, witnesses said, causing some students and faculty to flee. Others hid inside buildings, a senior State Department official told CNN.

No group has claimed responsibility.

Police described the attack, which began at about 7 p.m., as "complex". Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers, the BBC said.

One of those trapped inside the university for several hours was Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, who tweeted his experience and pleaded for help.

Student Ahmad Mukhtar told the BBC that he was 100m away from the university's main entrance on his way home when he heard "six or 10" shots and a "huge" blast.

The explosion created so much light that it momentarily lit up the surrounding area, he said.

"I climbed a six-metre wall to escape," Ahmad said.

Other trapped students and staff tweeted or posted on Facebook their desperate pleas for help.

The attack comes two weeks after two university staff - one American, one Australian - were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

The school opened in 2006. It's the only private, nonprofit coed university in the country and has about 1,700 full- and part-time students, CNN reported.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met with Brian Deese, senior advisor to US President Barack Obama, in Beijing on Wednesday, agreeing to cooperate more closely on climate change.

Zhang said China-US cooperation on climate change had become a bright spot in bilateral relations, Xinhua reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US 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 was quoted as saying.

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 US.

The US is committed to implementing the three joint statements on climate change and promoting the comprehensive implementation of the Paris Agreement, he said.

--IANS

sku/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Colombian government and the outlawed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reached a historic agreement to conclude the peace negotiations that started nearly four years.

The final document was endorsed on Wednesday by the chief negotiator of the FARC delegation, commander Ivan Marquez, and his government counterpart Humberto de la Calle, followed by the representatives of the guarantor countries, Rodolfo Benitez of Cuba and Dag Nylander of Norway, Xinhua news agency reported.

De la Calle stressed the significance of the deal to end the suffering of the Colombian people, saying that "the best thing we did to end the war was to sit down to talk about peace".

"It is the moment to give peace a chance," he added.

The peace accord will be submitted to a popular plebiscite for the Colombian people to have the final say on the end of a 52-year civil war.

The negotiating process, which began in November 2012 in Havana, saw Colombia and the FARC reach agreements on mechanisms for access to land for poor farmers, on transforming the guerrilla movement into a political party, on the fight against drug trafficking, on mine clearance, and on the search for missing persons.

The conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC started in the 1960s as an uprising for land rights.

It has left about 260,000 people dead, 45,000 missing and nearly 7 million displaced, according to official figures.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Continuing the exodus from opposition parties to the Trinamool Congress, a host of Congress leaders and elected representatives switched over to West Bengal's ruling party on Thursday.

Former state Congress president and ex minister Manas Bhunia also kept alive speculations that he would also cross over to the Trinamool, saying "it was difficult to say what will happen".

Bhunia's brother and West Midnapore district Congress president Bikash Bhunia joined the Trinamool along with seven busloads of Congress leaders, elected rural body representatives and activists from Sabong block.

A total of 23 members of the Sabong panchayat samiti also pitched their lot with the Trinamool, giving the latter a majority in the panchayat samiti (middle tier of the three-level panchayat or rural body system in Bengal).

One Zilla Parishad member in Sabong, who had won on Congress ticket, was also among those who was admitted to the Trinamool at its state party headquarters here.

Bikash Bhunia said he had decided to cast his lot with the Trinamool to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and to ensure the massive development initiatives taken by the state government covered his block.

Manas Bhunia, who represents Sabong in the state assembly, blamed state Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury for the desertions from the party ranks.

"I could not contact Bikash Bhunia or other leaders. But some workers told me that Chowdhury and the state Congress leadership had not cared to keep in touch with them as the Sabong workers ran from pillar to post and even could not stay in their houses," he said.

Manas Bhunia was apparently referring to police making him, Bikash Bhunia and a number of other Congress leaders and workers accused in connection with the murder of a Trinamool worker Joydeb Jana at Sabang in April during the assembly polls. A court recently turned down their application for anticipatory bail.

However, Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, who welcomed the Congress leaders into the party fold, said the administrative and legal issues should not be confused with .

"The administration will chart its own course. Law will run its own course. We respect the court. If politically, some leaders wants to join Trinamool to be a partner in the development activities being carried out throughout Bengal, we welcome them. I cannot talk about administrative and legal matters."

Manas Bhunia, now at loggerheads with the state Congress leadership over his continuance as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "I always regarded Congress as 'ma' (mother). I do the same till date. But the way things are moving, it is difficult to say what will happen".

State Congress president Chowdhury said the desertions from the Congress ranks in Sabong was a "foregone conclusion".

"Everybody knew Bikash Bhunia will join Trinamool. Some other Bhunia may go. We are prepared. Anybody can go. It is always easy to enter or exit Congress.

"Everybody knew lot of leaders from Sabang will leave the party. If necessary, the Congress will begin from scratch in Bengal."

Meanwhile, Trinamool wrested control of two other panchayat bodies by roping in Left Front and Congress representatives.

An All India Forward Bloc councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation - Shamima Khan - and another AIFB councillor from Siliguri Municipal Corporation - Durga Sinha - also joined the Trinamool.

--IANS

ssp/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts in the December 16, 2012, gang-rape tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with a 'gamcha' from the ventilator of his cell in Tihar Jail on Wednesday night but was prevented from doing so by Tamil Nadu policemen. He was hospitalised and is now back in jail, said police.

Sharma used the gamcha, a long thin cotton towel, to tie a noose around his neck to hang himself inside his cell in the high security ward of Jail No. 8 on Wednesday around 9.30 p.m. However, he was spotted by the Tamil Nadu police, who have been tasked to provide security in the inner corridor of the prison, where his cell is located.

Sharma, a former gym instructor, was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital at night. He was discharged on Thursday evening after treatment for the bruises around his neck.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Pushpendra Kumar told IANS that "He had minor bruises around his neck, but he was all right. There were no other injury marks on his body."

Kumar also discounted reports that Sharma had consumed any anti-depressant pills.

Sources in Tihar Jail told IANS that Sharma in order to convert his death sentence to life imprisonment, had planned the suicide. The source said that Sharma started shouting on Wednesday night that he wanted to kill himself and had consumed some pills. He later tried to hang himself.

His co-prisoners raised the alarm, and the Tamil Police arrived on the scene.

Reacting to Sharma's suicide attempt, the father of the 23-year-old rape victim on Thursday said they wanted to see "all the convicts dead so that they could heave a sigh of relief".

"It is good. It is a big thing that he is still alive, he should die very soon. He has to die in future, if he dies today, it would be a tribute to our daughter," said the father of the young woman, venting his anger. His daughter, a paramedical student, died on December 29, 2012, of the grave intestinal injuries inflicted on her during the gruesome rape here. She was airlifted to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where she died.

Tihar Jail Superintendent Bijendra Kumar told IANS that "Tamil Nadu Policemen prevented Vinay from committing suicide after they saw him trying to hang himself in his cell."

Asked if Sharma was being harassed inside the jail which led him to take such a step, Kumar said: "We did not get any such complaint from his side."

Sharma's lawyer A.P. Singh gave a different version, claiming that it was an attempt to murder his client. "Few days ago, I met him in jail where he complained about torture inside the jail premises," Singh told IANS.

Sharma had in 2013 demanded extra security in jail, claiming that he was being beaten up by other inmates and police officials.

Sharma, along with Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Ram Singh, and a juvenile, was accused of gang-raping and brutally assaulting the woman inside a moving private bus. The victim and her male friend were thrown out of the bus after the crime.

Sharma, who is the only educated member among the convicts, had along with three other convicts, approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court's 2014 verdict that handed them death penalty, describing their offence as "rarest of rare".

Sharma is the second among the gang-rape accused who tried to commit suicide.

In 2013, Ram Singh, the prime accused in the case and the driver of the bus in which the gang-rape took place, was found dead in Tihar Jail. Investigators said that Singh had committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell, while his family and defence lawyer claimed he was murdered.

The juvenile was released in December 2015 after completion of his three-year term in a juvenile observation home.

The news of Sharma's suicide attempt has thrown spotlight on the case again and acted as a cruel reminder to the victim's parents of the incident that shook the entire nation.

In a telephonic conversation with IANS, the victim's father, in his late 50s, said that "It is good for such people to die as they are dangerous for society and the country."

"If he was committing suicide, he should do it. Not only he, I want to see all the convicts dead so that we can heave a sigh of relief," the father added.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the victim's mother when she spoke to IANS.

"The sin of these people (the convicts) will not allow them to live. My daughter survived without water for 13 days. She faced extreme pain and brutality," the mother told IANS.

--IANS

rak/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seven months into his term as India's High Commissioner to UK, Navtej Sarna is being asked to move to Washington as the country's next ambassador, as the US prepares for a presidential transition, well-informed sources said.

Sarna's name was discussed and cleared at the highest level, these sources told IANS.

He will take over from Arun Kumar Singh who retires by month-end. Both Sarna and Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington's closest allies.

Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002.

Before moving to London, Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting last October of the India-Africa Forum Summit that was attended by a record number of 53 African countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally very happy with the organisation of the Summit and had congratulated External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for it.

It is clear Modi wanted someone in Washington he was confident would be able to steer the multi-faceted India-US relations into a new phase with a new administration.

Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu.

Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' that was released last year. He was a big hit in London's literary circles and had also become, in a short span, a popular figure in the Indian community in the UK.

--IANS

sac/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After good monsoon rains, pastures and fields of Braj, the land of Lord Sri Krishna, looked appropriately verdant on Thursday, providing a great setting for the celebration of Janmashtami.

Braj area lies around Mathura and Vrindavan towns in Uttar Pradesh, to which millions gravitate round the year to soak themselves in Sri Krishna 'bhakti'.

And Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, is the culmination of their devotions, observed with fasting, special pujas and prayers until midnight, when the god is believed to have been born.

Mathura and Vrindavan presented a dazzling spectacle on Thursday: Thousands of Krishna devotees hailing not only from India but also abroad, many in their traditional dresses, chanting 'Hare Krishna' and 'Radhey Radhey' as they go through the worship, prayers, paying obeisance to the god, and performing other colourful rituals.

The most venerated site in Mathura is the Sri Krishna Janambhoomi temple, where the god is believed to have been born. The temple will host the mid-night puja of Lord Krishna, to be presided over by Ayodhya's Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

At Mathura's Dwarkadheesh temple preparations are in full swing for the gala around mid-night.

The Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan is also attracting thousands of pilgrims with hardly an inch of space left.

Public devotion to Lord Krishna has always been characterised by not just spirituality but also colour, show and tinsel -- what could be best termed in modern lexicon as the "Krishna merchandise".

Manufacturers and traders in Mathura and Vridavan do business worth millions of rupees in such products. Thousands of units, many employing Muslims, make dresses and decorations for Lord Krishna.

Demand for flowers has soared with suppliers from as far as Kolkata and Bangalore chipping in.

The temples across the Braj area -- whose boundaries go across districts of Mathura, Agra, Hathras (all in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatpur (Rajasthan) and even beyond -- and much of north India are all decked up.

Despite the Yamuna flowing to the brim, the ghats of Mathura have been overflowing with crowds of pilgrims who started to arrive here days before the festival.

The whole season around Janmashtami witnesses a series of programmes: Kirtans, Satsangs and 'Ras Leelas' which are enactment of Lord Krishna's dalliance with his companion Radha and other gopis with dance and drama.

"Around Krishna's birthday, there is such divine ambience that fills your heart with the spirit of devotion and celebration," says Vrindavan's musician Acharya Jaimini.

"There's song in the air, the colourfully decorated boats in Vrindavan and Mathura's Vishram Ghat, the crowd of bhakts at the Gokul and Mahavan ghats..." Jaimini rhapsodises.

He adds: "I imagine it's only after Janmashtami, when Sri Krishna's father Vasudev transports the newly born across the river, that Yamuna will start receding."

The legend has it that Krishna was born on the eighth night of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapad. On that rainy night, Vasudev had escaped from a prison in Mathura, carrying the infant Krishna in a basket on his head, and crossed the flooded river to prevent the baby from being killed by his uncle Kamsa.

This is but one of the chapters in LOrd Krishna's life that comes alive on Janmashtami.

At the Sri Krishna Janambhoomi campus, additional companies of police and Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed alongwith personnel of the bomb disposal squad and specialised security agencies.

Barricades have been raised to regulate the flow of traffic, and CCTV cameras have been installed to keep an eye on any suspicious activity, senior officials said.

The Uttar Pradesh Roadways is to run extra buses to ease passenger rush at Mathura and Vrindavan. The Railways are running a set of extra trains for the pilgrims on a temporary basis.

(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted on brij.k@ians.in)

--IANS

brij/kb/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The flood situation in many parts of Uttar Pradesh continues to be grim, but rain stopping at many places has brought hope for authorities and people, while the raging Ganga and Yamuna have stopped their advance into Varanasi and Allahabad in the past 24 hours, officials said.

Allahabad District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar said that the flood situation in Allahabad would improve considerably if there were no further rains and that no water was released from any dam. He also said that water levels have stabilised but that both rivers were still flowing above the danger mark.

As many as 53 relief camps have been set up for the flood-affected in which more than 30,000 people have taken refuge. More than 1,500 kgs of relief material including food, medicine and other essentials have been dropped by IAF choppers in flood-affected regions of Allahabad city, an official told IANS.

In Banda however the situation is precarious as continuous rains in the past four days has razed more than a thousand mud huts in Raghuvanshi Dera, Shivpal Dera, Bhuragadh, Chakchatgan and Darda. Residents have been settled at safer places. More than 11,00 lunch packets have been dropped in the area but remain insufficient for the displaced population of more 25,000.

Flood situation continued to be cause of worry in Varanasi, which is also the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime minister's office (PMO) officials are coordinating with the local district administration in rolling out rescue and relief measures, while the National Disaster Response Force teams are working to rescue people from flood-hit areas.

All the major ghats are submerged in flood waters and cremations in major places like the Manikarnika Ghat have been shifted to a terrace and in the lanes, which at many places are knee-deep under water.

--IANS

md/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the UN committed to empowering women and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proudly declaring "I am HeForShe", a protest by women in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir offering him bangles as an insult was lost in translation here and failed to ignite ire.

Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said nonchalantly, "We are fully supportive of everyone's right to demonstrate their opinions peacefully about issues that they care about," when a reporter asked him about women offering Ban their bangles "as a kind of insult".

On Tuesday hundreds of women held a march against the UN and India in Muzzafarabad, the main city in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, holding up their bangles and placards saying the ornaments were for the UN, according to media reports. A protester was quoted as explaining that if Ban couldn't act on Kashmir he should wear the bangles -- a symbol of femininity.

While portraying a man as acting like a woman is considered an insult in some parts of the world, it does not translate in the same way at the UN. The world body is committed to empowering women and changing the traditional portrayal of women.

When UN Women, the organisation for empowering women launched its campaign to engage men in its gender equality campaign, Ban was the first to declare, "I am HeForShe".

Earlier this year, Ban proudly accepted "Delivering for Girls and Women" award from a group called "Women Deliver" for his role in championing the rights and health of women.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

al/rn/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Tripura government has ordered a magisterial probe into the ethnic violence here on August 23, an official said on Thursday.

"A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the state government to ascertain the facts on the violent attacks and clashes in Agartala on August 23," West Tripura district magistrate and collector Milind Ramteke said.

"The prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC which has been imposed in five police station areas in Agartala soon after the violence, would continue till midnight of Thursday. All kinds of public meetings and rallies have been disallowed during this period," he said.

The DM said that huge troopers of Assam Rifles, Border security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Tripura State Rifles and state police have remained vigilant over the situation.

"The situation in the capital city and its outskirts remained normal and no report of any fresh troubles has been reported from anywhere in the city," Ramteke claimed.

An official release said that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio, held meeting with Chief Secretary Yashpal Singh, police Chief K. Nagaraj and other top officials and reviewed the situation.

Opposition parties specially Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the Agarala incident and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge.

At least 24 people, including five policemen, were injured in Agartala after activists of a tribal party -- Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) -- attacked civilians, traders and vehicles indiscriminately without provocation on Tuesday.

The situation turned violent as hundreds of tribals owing allegiance to the IPFT took out a rally and attacked passersby, including women.

The IPFT has been agitating for the creation of a separate state, carved out by upgrading the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council area. Tribals constitute a third of Tripura's four million population.

--IANS

sc/ksk/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Non-signatory armed groups of the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA) in Myanmar on Thursday decided to attend the 21st Century Panglong Ethnic Conference here on August 31, authorities said.

All UNFC member organisations will join the Panglong conference with the aim of building a federal union through political dialogue, Xinhua news agency reported.

Represented by the United Nationalities Federal Council's (UNFC) Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN), the decision was made after an emergency and extended meeting over the past two days, which re-assessed the current peace process and the country's political status.

Last weekend, the DPN met government's Preparatory Committee over 21st Century Panglong Conference and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) in Yangon's National Reconciliation and Peace Centre, reviewing the political framework for the peace process.

The UPDJC agreed to allow the non-signatory armed groups to the NCA to join the Panglong conference.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also Chairperson of the UPDJC, called for mutual trust and unity to successfully hold the Panglong conference.

The former Myanmar government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 signed the NCA on October 15, 2015, leaving seven other armed groups yet to sign the accord.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is likely to address the upcoming Panglong conference and all international organisations assisting Myanmar's peace process, UN agencies and resident foreign diplomats in the country will be invited to the conference.

--IANS

sm/py/dg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sustainable development will be high on the agenda when General Assembly President-elect Peter Thomson visits India next week and meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"My main interest will be to discuss how the UN can assist and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said in a statement before his departure Wednesday.

The 2030 Agenda is a set of 17 goals for global development adopted in 2015 by world leaders with 2030 as the deadline for meeting them.

Thomson, who is currently Fiji's permanent representative to the UN, was elected in June as the president of the Assembly's 71st session that starts next month. He will succeed Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark.

During the next Assembly sessionm Thomson will play a crucial role in reviving the Security Council reform process -- an issue of importance to India -- that has stalled in the current session after a promising start. He has in the past criticised the slow pace of Council reform and called for greater efforts by UN members to deal with it.

On Monday, he is scheduled to meet Modi, according to the Assembly president's spokesperson Dan Thomas. Meetings have also been set up with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sujata Mehta, the ministry's Secretary West.

Before going to Delhi, he will visit Beijing to meet Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"Coming from the Asia-Pacific nation of Fiji, I am pleased to have this opportunity to visit the two biggest countries in the regional group to which I belong," he said.

The Assembly president's office has a limited budget, which constrains the official's activities and in the past has led to presidents seeking outside help. Last month India contributed $250,000 to a fund to assist with running the president's office independently.

Handing over the contribution, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said that as a fellow developing nation from the Asia-Pacific region, India was supporting the president's office.

Thomson has a wide range of international leadership experience. He was the vice president of the General Assembly in 2010-11. He has also been the chair of the developing nations' Group of 77 to which India belongs, and the chair of the executive boards of both the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

al/ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has warned that his team would soon release "significant" material about US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, with 75 days left before voters pick a new president.

Assange told Fox News that Clinton might be forced to respond to his remarks.

He promised that it would "absolutely" come out before the November 4 election.

His team was "working round the clock" on "a lot of material" from the Clinton election campaign -- and his findings were "significant", Assange said on Thursday.

He also declined to elaborate what it was that WikiLeaks would be releasing, but that "thousands of pages" of material were being read through at the moment by his team.

Those documents came from "various institutions connected to the election campaign", he said.

Assange added that there were "some quite unexpected angles that are quite interesting -- some even entertaining".

"I think it's significant," he said. "Ah, you know, it depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media," he added when Fox news asked whether the information could be a "game-changer" for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Assange also said that his team was taking pains to check the veracity of the data so they wouldn't spoil, what he called, a "perfect ten-year record".

As proof of his form, he pointed to his team's leaking of documents ahead of the Democratic National Convention that showed negative talk about then-candidate Bernie Sanders among DNC staff.

That ultimately led to DNC officials resigning, including chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Assange, who was speaking from an undisclosed location as he still faces extradition to Sweden for alleged sexual assaults in 2010, refused to specify exactly when the information would be released, the Daily Mail reported.

--IANS

ask/rn/dg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kannada actress-politician Ramya, in the eye of a storm after a sedition case was slapped against her for stating that Pakistan is not hell, is unfazed.

The actress says she won't apologise "come what may" and not allow herself to be "bullied into submission". The former Congress MP says she is in fact keen to go back to Pakistan to foster peace and engage in dialogue.

The sedition case after against Ramya seemingly disagreed with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's comment that going to Pakistan is like going to hell. She said that Pakistan is certainly not hell and the people there are very hospitable.

Excerpts of a conversation with Subhash K. Jha

Q: By accusing you of sedition for saying Pakistan is not hell, are we displaying new levels of intolerance?

A: Yes, all 'hell' has broken loose (laughs). A lawyer has filed a complaint and he cited Section 124 A which is the section on sedition. It remains to be seen if the court accepts his complaint. But yes, you are right this is a new level of intolerance. This is a gross misuse of an old, outdated law that is completely not required in a democratic country in the first place.

Q: Do you think this case should be a cause to relook at sedition laws?

A: I think we seriously need to look at the sedition law. Either we should seriously modify it or do away with it. Otherwise I will not be the last person to be harassed in this way, let me tell you that.

Q: Do you think there is a political conspiracy behind this?

A: It seems like it. Because a copy of the complaint went to the media first. How did that happen? The lawyer wanted the media to first know about how anti-national I am (laughs). The BJP has been up in arms against all those who are opposed to their ideology. Right-wing extremists are the only section supporting the sedition allegation against me.

By and large, off and online people have supported me. Even individuals from the BJP have supported me. But the good thing is, this is what democracy is about -- discussion, dissension. Hopefully there will be an amendment in some of the archaic laws that allow individuals to slap outrageous charges. That is the positive takeaway from this controversy.

Q: But it can't be so positive for you and your family?

A: I was coming to that. For the person at the receiving end, there is no positive takeaway. This is the price of freedom in a country like India. I think we should be just happy that we have the freedom to say anything about anybody and get away with it. Our national leaders fought to get us freedom and this is how we are misusing it. This is not how you uphold the principles that our founding fathers laid down their lives for. Luckily, most people have been very supportive.

Q: And the media?

A: The local Karnataka television channels have been unnecessarily sensationalising the issue and putting out headlines like 'Ramya Supports Pakistan'. We can't blame them. There are 20 competitive news channels in Karnataka. I am better off than Kanhaiya Kumar. They put out an entire morphed video against him to prove he was seditious.

Q: Do you think celebrities get targeted for being celebrities?

A: I think so. During earlier days film actors were not supposed to be taken seriously. And they never spoke about, let alone take a stance on, political issues. Now when actors like us do participate in some people can't handle it. We've very politically active actors. So many female actors like Jayalalithaa, Nagma, Khushboo, Radhika from the South have made a mark in . And I love Jaya Bachchan. She is so vocal and passionate in Parliament.

Q: To digress a bit what got got you interested in

A: I was always interested in working for the betterment of our country. I grew up caring about our country. I do care. Is it okay to do that? Today, in 2016, we have Dalits being oppressed, people getting killed for eating beef. Even a girl drinking a beer in a pub is reason for violence. Homosexuals are illegal in our country. There is a so much that needs to change. If I keep quiet just because it's convenient then I negate all that my parents stand for.

Q: We've our Defence Minister saying Pakistan is akin to hell...

A: Is this a responsible statement to make for a man appointed to protect and defend our country at a time when hostility with our neighbours is at an all-time high?

Q: What took you to Pakistan?

A: It was a SAARC young parliamentarians' conference in Islamabad. And I found Pakistanis are just like us. We look like siblings.

Q: Are we supposed to say all Pakistanis are monsters?

A: It seems like it. But I won't. And I won't apologise, come what may. I've the freedom to talk peace with our neighbours. I don't think I should allow myself to be bullied into submission. The ranters probably think it's easy to bully me since I am a woman. But I won't succumb. If I allow these voices to smother me I'll be doing disservice to other fearless voices in politics.

It takes courage to not be shouted down. It's just so much easier to say what people want to hear. That's what politicians do during elections. And they continue to do it for five years. In a subverted way it is a compliment to be called seditious if you talk of cross-border peace. Gandhiji, Nehruji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak they were all slapped with sedition. So I am in august company.

Q: Will you go back to Pakistan?

A: To foster peace and engage in dialogue? Yes. Definitely.

--IANS

jha/rn

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There's a fight Down Under over manuka honey, the so-called superfood famed for its antibacterial qualities. On one side, New Zealand beehive owners say they should have exclusive rights to the manuka name. On the other, Australian producers say the manuka tree that gives the sticky stuff its name is an Aussie native and their honey is just as super as its Kiwi cousin. Manuka honey is a favourite of celebrities like Novak Djokovic and Kourtney Kardashian. More importantly for the honey industry, the product is in high demand in China, where middle-class shoppers suspicious of ...
There are instances where traditional systems of medicine have come to the rescue where modern medicine couldn't. Speaking several years ago at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, Prathap C Reddy, the founder of Apollo chain of hospitals, observed that 25 years from then, the present system of medicine would become an alternative system.
With reference to Archis Mohan and Veena Mani's article, "Draft Bill to ban commercial surrogacy" (August 25) the "altruistic surrogacy" provisions of the Bill are in line with the Indian social ethos. The ethical stand here is the child is not a product of transaction, that is, it prohibits commodifying childbirth.
The trickiest question for contemporary capitalism is unpicking the distinction between what's fair and what's permitted. Europe's pursuit of companies like Apple, Amazon and Starbucks for under-paid taxes, and the angry response of the US Treasury on Wednesday, show the problem, and why there is little prospect of a global solution.
The new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) by National Payments Corporation of India is expected to make mobile payments much easier. But, there is an obvious question: What will UPI change? The question becomes all the more important because it also uses the same Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) platform that all existing mobile payment platforms already use.
Two women Naxals carrying cash rewards totalling Rs 9 lakh on their heads were arrested while another in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur surrendered today citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), police said.

"Those arrested were identified as Sonay Potai (32), associated with the military wing of Maoists, and Soni Potai, an area committee member," Narayanpur Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Soni told PTI over phone.

Police had received inputs about frequent movement of rebels in interior villages under Benoor police station area of the district reportedly to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on important routes to target security personnel, he said.

Acting on the information, a joint operation was launched by District Reserve Group (DRG) and district police force in the region, located around 350 km from here.

While cordoning off jungles between Matla and Dandvan villages, the police personnel spotted the women cadres and arrested them, the ASP said.

A country-made revolver, one muzzle loading gun, Naxal literature and uniforms, medicines and commodities of daily use were seized from their possession, the officer added.

Cases related to murder, attempt to murder, loot and attacks on police parties were lodged against the duo in different police stations of the district, he said.

Sonay and Soni Potai were carrying cash rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively, on their heads, the police officer said.

During interrogation, the two revealed they were tasked with recruiting new cadres and devising strategy to carry out attacks on security forces, he added.

In a separate incident, a woman Maoist 'deputy commander', carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh on her head, surrendered before the ASP Soni at Narayanpur district headquarters.

Phulo Salaam turned herself in citing disillusionment with the "hollow" ideology of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and their wrong policies, the ASP said.

She will be provided assistance under the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state government, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five young Sri Lankan-origin men who were on a day trip to a packed beach in southeast England have mysteriously drowned on a day that was Britain's hottest day of the year so far.

Three of the victims were airlifted from sea yesterday and two other bodies were discovered washed ashore later the same day at a popular beach resort of Camber Sands in East Sussex.

While formal identifications remain pending, the men have today been named locally as Nitharsan Ravi, Inthushan Sri, Kuru Anna and brothersKobi and Ken Nathan.

All five are believed to be in their late teens and early 20s and belong to the British Tamil community in southeast London.

Friends began paying tribute to the victims today, with messages such as "RIP" and "Miss you" posted on their Facebook pages.

Ravi's cousin said the family were still waiting "but the police have contacted us and we think it's him".

Sussex Police has since indicated that so-called "rip tides", or fast flowing bodies of water that can drag even experienced swimmers into deep water, may be the cause of the mysterious deaths.

The force's Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: "People need to understand that although the sun is shining and the sea is lovely to play in there are dangers there that you need to know about.

"My first reaction to this was there are rip tides that happen at Camber Sands and people do not understand about rip tides."



Thousands of sunbathers on the beach had watched in horror as the bodies of three men were lifted from the sea yesterday, which was Britain's hottest day of the year.

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly of Sussex Police said: "We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day.

"We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area. These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day.

"This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six militants were killed today in Egypt after security forces foiled a terrorist attack that targeted a security checkpoint in the restive North Sinai region, officials said.

The terrorists opened fire on the checkpoint and clashed with the forces in el-Masoura checkpoint in Rafah, the officials said.

Four security personnel were injured in the clashes. The injured were transferred to hospital for treatment.

Egypt's North Sinai witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 following massive protests against his rule.

Over 700 security personnel have been reported killed since then.

The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have seized 8.23 quintal of 'ganja' worth Rs 1.50 crore in the international market from a truck in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district last night, DRI officials said today.

Acting on a tip off, a DRI team raided a container truck near Maithi toll plaza on Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga National Highway under Gaighat police station area and recovered the ganja from the truck, a DRI official said.

This was the biggest haul of ganja by any agency in Bihar in the last two years, sources said adding the value of 8.23 quintal of ganja was estimated at Rs 35 lakh in the local market, whereas its value in international market would be around Rs 1.50 crore.

Three persons have been arrested with the contraband in this connection, officials said.

Those arrested have been identified as Desh Raj, Sonu Kumar and Pawan Kumar, all residents of Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district.

The truck in which the ganja was hidden, was coming from Guwahati and heading for Varanasi when it was stopped at Maithi toll plaza of Muzaffarpur.

With the enforcement of total prohibition in Bihar since April, security agencies have been on extra-alert against such smuggling.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress today attacked AAP saying the party should first prove itself in Delhi and fulfill the "tall" promises it has made there, before thinking to make a political foray into Goa.

"AAP is yet to prove itself in Delhi, where they formed the government with complete majority. Now, they are dreaming of Goa. Let them first prove to the people of Delhi before even thinking of coming to Goa," Congress member and Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Pratapsinh Rane, told reporters here.

Rane, former chief minister of Goa, also said Congress is not scared of AAP and its campaign in the state for 2017 Assembly poll.

"Let Kejriwal first take care of the people in Delhi, where he made tall promises to come to power. In Goa, too, he has started a similar game plan. However, the people of Goa very well know the situation in Delhi," Rane said.

On AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's recent statement that Congress would be wiped out from Goa in the 2017 polls, Rane said it is difficult to shake the base of the oldest political party in the state by a novice political front.

"I admit that our party is not perfect, it has flaws... but it is so in case of all the political parties," he said.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Luizinho Faleiro, who was also present, said AAP should first prove itself "then only it can sell the dreams in Goa".

During his Goa visit on Sunday, Kejriwal had said Congress would not be able to win even a single seat in the 40-member House in the next elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government has rejected the proposal of Adani Food and Agro-processing Park to set up a pulses processing unit in a SEZ on the grounds that export of the commodity is prohibited.

The decision regarding this was taken by the Board of Approval (BoA), headed by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia, at its meeting on August 12.

Adani Food is co-developer of a mega food park in the Adani Ports and SEZ in Gujarat. It had sought BoA's nod to set up a pulses processing unit there.

"After deliberations, the board rejected the proposal with observation that procuring pulses from DTA (domestic tariff area) by SEZ amounts to exports," the minutes of the BoA meeting said.

It said that exports of pulses are in the prohibited category of outbound shipments.

As SEZs are treated as foreign entities or outside the customs bonded area, any supply or buying of goods or services from these zones are treated as exports and imports.

Adani Food and Agro-processing Park Pvt Ltd had proposed that the pulses processing unit would be involved in procurement of pulses from DTA and then it would process the same into split dal and besan.

They submitted that their proposed unit does not intend to export pulses/split dal till export of these goods is prohibited by the government.

Export of pulses was initially prohibited for six months in 2006, and the ban extended from time-to-time. It has been extended till further orders.

Although India is the largest producer of pulses, it has to import about 3 million tonnes (MT) of pulses to meet the domestic demand.

Price of this commodity is very sensitive issues in the country.

Scrambling to control prices of pulses that have touched Rs 200/kg, the government had approved doubling of import of tur and other dals from Mozambique to 2 lakh tonnes per annum in next five years.

Pulses production fell to 17.06 MT in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June) from 17.15 MT in the previous year. In 2013-14, output was over 19 MT.

The government had also decided to enhance the buffer stock limit of pulses to 8 lakh tonnes for making market intervention when prices firm up in retail markets.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pellet guns, which has caused large-scale injuries in the 47-day unrest in Kashmir, are likely to be replaced soon with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today saying an alternative to this crowd control device for security forces will be given in the coming few days.

Singh, who is in restive Kashmir for the second time in a month as part of Centre's outreach, also said it was willing to talk to anyone on the problems faced in Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of 'Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat' (Kashmir's pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy).

With Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by his side, Singh told reporters on the second and final day of his visit to Kashmir that an all party delegation from Delhi will be going to the Valley and that a nodal officer is to be appointed in the Union Home Ministry to address any concerns of Kashmiris who are living in other parts of the country.

As the unrest in Kashmir entered the 48th day, Singh also declared that India's future was linked with Kashmir's future.

"If future of Kashmir is not safe, India's future cannot be safe as well," he said.

On the contentious use of pellet guns as crowd control mechanism, the Home Minister said the report of the expert committee on this is expected within three to four days. Besides injuries, hundreds of people have been also left blinded in pellet firing.

"In the coming few days, we will give an alternative to the pellet guns. These guns were earlier considered non-lethal but some incidents have taken place ... We formed an expert committee a month back which was expected to give report in two months but it will be coming very soon," he said.

He said the security forces exercised restraint while dealing with protesters in the Valley. More than 4,000 jawans have been injured while dealing with the situation, he added.

Singh said people of India were pained when anyone -- be it local youth or security jawans -- get killed.

"Cannot we take Kashmir out of this situation? I appeal to everyone in Kashmir not to play with the future (generation) of the Valley," he said.

As many as 66 persons, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousands injured ever since the turmoil broke out after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

"In 2010, it was said pellet gun is a non lethal weapon



which can cause least damage but now we feel that there should be some alternate to this," Singh said.

Replying to questions, he said the Centre wanted to bring an All Party Delegation to Kashmir in the coming days.

"I have told (Chief Minister) Mehbooba Mufti about it and asked her to make arrangements so that the delegation can meet the people here."



The Home Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was concerned about the situation in Kashmir and had expressed his pain recently.

"He is constantly in touch with me over the situation in Kashmir".

Singh said the youth of Kashmir should have books and pens in their hands, instead of stones. "Who is forcing them to take stones in their hands? Will they guarantee their future?"



Asserting that the government was concerned about the Kashmiri youth, he said, "we see future of Kashmiri youth like we see the future of youth elsewhere in India".

Singh said it was the duty of citizens of the country to protect and respect the people of Kashmir who might be studying or working in other parts of the country. "Kashmiris have to be treated as our family members."



He said there was a need to identify the trouble mongers and also counselling the "misguided youth" against taking to violence.

He said the Centre wanted to see the killings in Kashmir come to an end and sought cooperation from people from all walks in this regard.

"We want the killings to stop. Who would not want it to stop?" he asked.

Asked if the Centre was treating Kashmir as a social problem instead of a political issue, Singh said "do not question our understanding of the situation. We understand it in right perspective and are trying to find a solution."



In response to another question, the Home Minister said there was no need for creating unnecessary controversy about deployment of the BSF in place of CRPF in the city.

"(These) forces have been deployed in the past as well. We should not look for any indications in it," he added. Singh was responding to a question whether the BSF had been brought in to "discipline" the CRPF which was accused of harassing people.

The Home Minister reiterated that the Centre wanted to develop Kashmir and that BJP's Agenda of Alliance with the PDP would be adhered to.

"We are committed to the Agenda of Alliance. We want to develop Kashmir. The Chief Minister has announced recruitment of 10,000 SPOs.

"We will be recruiting one battalion of central armed paramilitary force," he added.
Actress Amy Schumer has revealed she had to shut down production on a film for a week after she got bronchitis.

The 35-year-old "Trainwreck" star was filming with Goldie Hawn in Hawaii when the respiratory disease struck, forcing producers to cancel filming for seven days as she recovered in hospital, reported Female First.

"I just finished filming a movie, I was in Hawaii all summer with Goldie Hawn... I got really sick there. I got bronchitis, and I was exhausted, I was in the hospital, we had to stop shooting for a whole week.

"It was rock bottom. I couldn't speak. I coughed so hard I fractured my own ribs. So, that still kind of smarts," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress today said Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik should apologise to a tribal man in his state who had to walk 10 km carrying his wife's body on his shoulder after failing to get a vehicle from a government hospital.

Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the incident was such a "shocking" one that the chief minister besides ordering an inquiry, should personally apologise to the man.

"Is this the Odisha that BJD promised for the people, where even basic dignity is denied to the people?" he wondered.

Authorities today ordered a probe to ascertain the circumstances which led to the incident.

Locals found Majhi carrying his wife Amang Dei's body along with his 12-year-old daughter.

The 42-year-old woman had died of TB at the district headquarters hospital at Bhawanipatna.

Majhi has said despite all efforts, he failed to get any help from hospital authorities and had no other alternative than to wrap the body in a cloth and start walking to his village Melghara in Rampur block, about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has warned that his anti-secrecy campaign will release new documents concerning Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which could be "significant" for the election.

Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Assange, who has been sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 while fighting extradition, said WikiLeaks was combing through thousands of pages of material.

A variety of documents from various institutions that are associated with the election campaign had yielded "some quite unexpected angles, that are quite interesting, some even entertaining," he said.

Assange reported the documents would "absolutely" be released before the November 8 election.

Asked whether the leaks would be a game changer for the vote, Assange said: "I think it's significant. It depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."



Ahead of the Democratic National Convention last month, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails gleaned by hackers who apparently raided the accounts of seven DNC leaders.

The emails showed the nominally neutral party staff trying to undermine Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders's campaign and caused the resignation of Democratic Party leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"In the case of the DNC leaks for example, we pushed as fast as we could to try and get it in before the Democratic Nomination Conference, because obviously people had a right to understand who it is that they're nominating," Assange said.

"The same is true here for the US electoral process," he added.

Assange, 45, recently marked the start of his fifth year inside Ecuador's mission in Britain in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.

The anti-secrecy campaigner is wanted there for questioning over a 2010 rape but fears that he could then be extradited to the United States to be tried over publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended today after at least 13 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabul's outskirts, a government spokesman said.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the country's capital, Kabul.

The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to Afghan authorities. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the interior ministry said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban. The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, would only tell the media that the Taliban are "investigating."



President Ashraf Ghani laid the blame on neighboring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting the Taliban in sanctuaries across the border, and saying the attack had been "organized" in Pakistan.

Ghani spoke by telephone with Pakistan's army chief, Raheel Sharif, and demanded "serious action," his office said. Pakistan's foreign ministry "strongly condemned" the attack.

Ghani's statement also raised the death toll to 13, saying that a teacher, identified on social media by the as Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed.

"Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms," said Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers.

The assault began just before 7 pm last night, a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university, with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance.

The blast breached the security walls and allowed two other "terrorists," beside the driver of the vehicle, to enter the campus, Sediqqi said.

They were armed with grenades and automatic weapons. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3.30 am, he added.

More than 200 people, mostly students who had been trapped in university buildings were rescued by special police units.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An attack on the American University of Afghanistan has ended, a senior police officer said today, after at least seven people were killed and more than 30 were wounded.

Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued.

Rahami said one foreign teacher had been wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university on the edge of Kabul. It was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the US system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi earlier said was still not clear if there were one or two attackers.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The US State Department condemned what it called "an attack on the future of Afghanistan."



The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australia will have towork outside its "normal comfort zone" of security partnerships to engage with India as a major partner in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, according to a new report which identified key areas like maritime security for further cooperation.

A report titled 'Australia, India and the United States: The Challenge of forging new alignments in the Indo-Pacific' released this month byUS Studies Centre at University of Sydney,has suggestedAustralia to adopt a new approach towardsIndia.

The report said the relations between thetwo nations, which were seen as'the odd couple' ofthe Indian Ocean, are changing and evolving recently.

"Australia has begun to see India as an important partner. Australia's evolving view of India is intimately linked to its strategic reorientation towards the Indo-Pacific," it said, adding Australia, India and Japan could anchor an alignment of Indo-Pacific democracies that could also include other democracies in the region.

"India's perspective too, Australia is increasingly recognised as an important partner as it builds networks across the Indo-Pacific to balance China. India is probably more attracted to Japan as a 'peer' Asian security partner, but it is also increasinglyrecognising Australia as a partner in Southeast Asia and across much of the Indian Ocean region," it said.

The report said that whileIndia was likely to become a major security partner for Australia in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia,Australia needed to work outside its "normal comfort zone" of security partnerships, having regard to India's unique strategic perspectives and traditions.

It said thatAustralia should consider how its relationship with India fittedwith ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty) alliance and theUS-led alliance system and alsofacilitate India's participation in a web of security relationships in Asia Pacific, as an important contribution to regional stability.

"Australia and India can work together to mobilise new partnerships and ad-hoc coalitions among the middle powers of the Asia Pacific and Australia should find new ways of helping to connect India into the Asia Pacific order," the report said.

Australia should consider using the Five Power Defence Arrangement as the core of a new maritime security arrangement in Southeast Asia that includes India, it said.

"In the long term, Australia needs to look towards an



evolving Indian Ocean order in which the United States, India, Australia and others will all play significant roles," it further said.

"Building an Australia-India-US security partnership in the Indian Ocean Australia should promote trilateral security cooperation with the USand India with a primary focus on Indian Ocean," it said.

The report also highlighted key areas for trilateral Australia-India-US security cooperation including joint exercises at sea and on land, shared use of training facilities in northern Australia to promote multilateral interoperability among regional partners, building a system of shared maritime domain awareness in Indian Ocean, including shared access to Australian and Indian facilities.

Citing concerns of Australian side,the report saidthere wasstill scepticism in Canberra about the ability of India to become a "useful" partner willing to make practical contributions to regional security and the expectations that India would open its economy to trade.

"Australian defence officials may look for immediate returns or reciprocity in the relationship with India, which is often lacking," it noted.

Ondefence cooperation,thereport said, "Australia would also benefit from the conclusion of a logistics sharing arrangement in the nature of the arrangements India has with Japan and the US."



It also noted that while Australia was keen to ink thelong overduefree trade agreement with India, it needed toapproach its economic relationshipdifferently from other Asian economic partners.

"Australia should also not make the mistake of thinking that India regards a comprehensive economic relationship as an essential foundation to a security relationship - in fact, economics and security tend to follow quite different trajectories in Indian thinking," it said.
In a refreshing change, the employees union at Bata India's Batanagar factory near here has asked the management to invest and modernise the unit to improve productivity at the company's oldest facility.

"We have asked the Bata management to invest and modernise the Batanagar factory for raising productivity and also to recruit more people on the rolls," said Subir Chakraborty, General Secretary of Bata Mazdoor Union, the sole bargaining agent at the (Batanagar) factory.

The union comprises elected members from major political parties like the Trinamool Congress, Congress and CPI(M).

He said that the factory, which was set up more than 80 years back, was still the biggest facility of the company.

Bata India, which has also has manufacturing units at Patna, Bangalore and Faridabad, once manufactured 3.5 crore pairs per year at the Batanagar factory.

Now, the production at the factory has come down to almost one crore pairs a year, but more than the combined output of all the other units, he told reporters here today.

"We are happy that the management has started investing in the factory and we assure that there will be no problem in future," he said.

Bata India, which started from Kolkata, later shifted its headquarter to Gurgaon following major trade unionism issues.

The Batanagar unit was employing 1,574 workers and another 1,000 indirectly.

"It is in the interest of West Bengal that the Batanagar factory should flourish," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh has been invited to speak at a Hindu congregation in the USA next month, where he would deliberate, among other issues, on the problem of infiltration in Bengal from Bangladesh.

"During my visit to the US, I'll speak about the rise of fundamentalism and how constant infiltration from Bangladesh is changing the demography of the state and in turn putting an enormous pressure on Indian economy. I'll also highlight how vote bank politics is helping the fundamentalists," Ghosh told PTI.

"I'll also spread the message of India and our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji in the US," said the former RSS Pracharak who will be on a 10-day trip to the country.

Other speakers in the programme include BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy and Hukum Singh, party MP from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh.

The program is being organised by US based Hindu groups.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 65-year-old woman died of Dengue in West Bengal today, taking the death toll due to the vector-borne disease to 23 in the state.

A total of 510 new Dengue cases have also been reported in the state in the last 24 hours.

The woman from South 24 Parganas, who was suffering from Dengue, died this morning at a private hospital.

"With her death, the total number of persons dead due to Dengue in West Bengal since January rose to 23," state Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy told PTI.

In the last 24 hours, 510 patients tested positive for the vector-borne disease, taking the total number of persons affected by Dengue in the state since January to 5,639, he said.

"This 510 seems to be quite high, but there are backlog reports of many cases which were reported today. That's the reason the number is so high," Satpathy said.

Most of the cases were reported from districts like Howrah, Hooghly (Sreerampore municipal area), North 24 Parganas (South Dum Dum) and South 24 Parganas (Sonarpur), the health official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There was no let up in flood fury in Bihar with eight fresh deaths reported today but water in major Uttar Pradesh rivers are receding though they are still flowing above the danger mark.

West Bengal's Malda and Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district witnessed one death each in flood and rain-related incidents.

With the fresh death, the flood toll rose to 37 in Bihar, with Bhojpur district accounting for the maximum 12 deaths.

The floods, caused by several overflowing rivers- the Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra, Kosi and others- have affected 31.33 lakh people in 1,934 villages in 12 districts.

The affected districts are: Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Munger, Vaishali, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar.

The Ganga is flowing above danger mark at seven places in four districts including Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, and Buxar.

A total of 3.44 lakh people were rescued, an official release said. It said 433 camps were being run, giving shelter to 1.74 lakh people.

Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, where 28 districts have been affected by floods, water has been receding in major rivers but they are still flowing above danger mark.

A Central Water Commission report said a relatively less amount of rainfall caused the decrease in water levels of Ganga and Yamuna at some places.

The Ganga's water level is decreasing in Allahabad, Varanasi and Ballia. Yamuna river's water level is decreasing at Kalpi, Hamirpur, Chillaghat (Banda) and Naini (Allahabad).

However, the rivers are still flowing above danger mark in these places. River Sharda is rising in Palliakalan (Kheri), where it is one meter above the danger mark.

8.7 lakh people in 987 villages in Varanasi, Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia are affected, officials said.

In the national capital, light to heavy showers kept the mercury two notches below normal but high humidity troubled people. The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.2 degrees Celsius while the minimum settled at 26.8 degrees Celsius.

In eastern state of West Bengal, flood situation remained grim in parts of Malda district where a child was swept away.

Twenty-nine villages were flooded by the swollen Ganga, which was flowing at an extremely dangerous level in the area.

Several gram panchayat areas in the district including Manikchak, Birnagar, Krishnapur were partially under water.

The flood waters gushed over the two roads disrupting vehicular communication. Boats were being pressed into service in the submerged areas to ferry the stranded people.

In Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, a man was killed after a tree uprooted due to rain fell over him.

Debris from landslides triggered by rain has blocked a number of roads in different districts. The Rishikesh-Gangotri highway is blocked at Dharali, Songarh and Dabriani.

The relative humidity levels oscillated between 60 and 90 per cent.

In Punjab and Haryana, the maximum temperature hovered close to levels normal for this time of the year at most places. Chandigarh's maximum settled at 35.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above the over normal level.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after a protest outside the Vidhan Bhawan, BJP today filed a police complaint demanding FIR against Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and police officers for "brutal lathicharge" on party workers.

BJP's state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters here that party MPs, MLAs, office-bearers and workers were 'brutally cane-charged' by police while they were protesting the declining law and order situation in the state.

He said, following the incident, a complaint has been registered by state BJP vice-president Ramnaresh Rawat at Hazratganj police station.

"Scores of workers are now undergoing treatment in hospitals as they suffered serious injuries," Maurya said.

He warned if FIR is not lodged, BJP workers would launch an agitation and move to court.

The state unit chief claimed that despite their absence from the protest site, some of the leaders---general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak, organisational general secretary Sunil Bansal and an MLA--were named in the FIR lodged by the police yesterday.

"Pathak was in Mumbai, Bansal was in Karnataka and the MLA was sitting inside Vidhan Sabha," he said.

Maurya claimed he was even stopped by the police in Vidhan Sabha when he tried to meet Akhilesh.

"This is contempt of privileges of an MP," he said adding that and he would raise the issue in Parliament.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reel World

Bubonic On

The 48th annual Bubonicon science-fiction and fantasy convention teleports down to Albuquerque this Friday through Sunday, Aug. 26 through 28. This years theme is Rockets, Robots & Rayguns. More than 50 artists, authors and filmmakers will be among this years special guests, headlining panel discussions, book signings and more. As always theres a decent selection of film- and TV-based events scattered throughout the weekend. Friday at 9:30pm will see the return of the popular, annual cult film panel, this time titled For the Love of Cheese: Attack of the Cheese Magnets Revenge. Ben Bova, Adam J. Brown, Craig Butler, Vic Milan, Scott Phillips and Robert Vardeman will take part in the discussion moderated by John Jos. Miller concerning the worst, most beloved cult movie double-feature the participants can imagine. On Saturday at noon, Lori Jansen will host a fan program titled Smells Like Nirvana: Science Fiction & Fantasy TV of the 90s. Noted Texas author Joe R. Lansdale is coming to the festivities this year to serve as Bubonicons prestigious Toastmaster. Over the years, Lansdales written works have been translated into both films (Bubba Ho-Tep, Cold in July) and television series (Sundance Channels recent Hap and Leonard). You can catch Lansdale giving a one-hour talk on Saturday at 4pm. At 10:30pm on Saturday evening, Adam J. Brown presents his annual late-night movie shindig. This years feature is Glenn Berggoetz no-budget action comedy To Die is Hard, in which a well-read English professor fends off a gang of terrorists who have invaded a college campus. Berggoetz is famous for being the director of the lowest-grossing movie of all time, 2011s The Worst Movie Ever (it made $11 its first weekend of theatrical release). Additional short film and internet shenanigans will accompany the feature. For a complete schedule of Bubonicon 48 events, go to bubonicon.com. All festivities will take place at the Albuquerque Marriott Uptown (2101 Louisiana NE). Passes are $45 for the entire weekend or $15 for Friday, $25 for Saturday and $15 for Sunday.
Shrinking loan portfolio and deposit base squeezed total business of state-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) by nearly Rs 90,000 crore in 2015-16 despite a robust GDP growth of 7.6 per cent during the fiscal.

While the banking industry saw a loan growth of 9.3 per cent, and 8.6 per cent for deposits during the fiscal, Bank of Baroda's credit growth rate slowed 10.3 per cent and that of deposits decelerated 7 per cent.

As far as nationalised banks sans SBI and associates are concerned, their credit grew 1.4 per cent and deposits 3.1 per cent in 2015-16.

The total business, mix of deposits and advances, came down by staggering Rs 87,817 crore in the period under review as against the previous fiscal, as per BoB's latest annual report.

Total business of the bank declined to Rs 9,57,808 crore at the end of March 2016 compared with Rs 10,45,625 crore a year ago.

Total deposits declined to Rs 5,74,038 crore in 2015-16, from Rs 6,17,560 crore in the previous fiscal while advances slipped to Rs 3,83,770 crore (Rs 4,28,065 crore).

Profit before tax also declined to Rs 8,815.57 crore in the said period as against Rs 9,915.10 crore a year ago.

There was a loss of Rs 5,395.55 crore during the year as compared to Rs 3,398.43 crore net profit in the year-ago period.

In order to improve functioning of public sector banks, the government roped in professionals from the private sector last year.

Even during the June quarter of 2016-17, Bank of Baroda posted a 60 per cent plunge in net profit at Rs 424 crore on account of a surge in bad loans. Net profit stood at Rs 1,052 crore in the year-ago quarter. In January-March, it had reported net loss of Rs 3,230 crore as asset quality worsened.

Total income declined to Rs 11,877.91 crore in the quarter ended June, from Rs 12,243.720 crore a year ago.

The spike in bad loans meant the gross NPA ratio rose to 11.15 per cent from 4.13 per cent a year ago and 9.99 per cent in the March quarter. Net NPAs more than doubled to 5.73 per cent at the end of June from 2.07 per cent a year earlier.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accusing the Centre of neglecting and ignoring the issues of Bodo people, three leading groups involved in the Bodoland statehood movement here today announced that they would relaunch their agitation from next week.

All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) and People's Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement said on Tuesday they will block the national highways across Assam for five hours demanding solution to the problems of Bodo people.

"We had met Rajnath Singh before 2014 Lok Sabha election. He had assured that if BJP came to power, it would look into our demand of separate statehood and so we supported the party and suspended our agitation since January, 2014.

"But after coming to power, BJP is just neglecting and ignoring us," ABSU President Pramod Boro said.

Only a single round of talks were held in June last year "despite meeting Rajnath Singh seven times and Kiren Rijiju 10 times", he claimed.

"We are continuously contacting the Government of India. We spoke to Kiren Rijiju earlier this month and he assured us that talks would start after August 15, but nothing has started yet. We are mainstream people. How can they neglect us so much?" the ABSU leader asked.

As the three groups are left with "no option", they would relaunch their "democratic non-violent movement", he said and invited all Bodo groups across Assam to join it.

Boro said four rounds of talks had taken place under the erstwhile UPA government at the Centre although there was no policy guidelines during the discussions on the statehood demand.

"Now we feel that the last few months of Congress were better than the BJP rule. They (Cong) held four rounds of tripartite talks in four months. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls we should have supported Congress," he said.

On the Centre's 'zero tolerance' policy towards militant groups, Boro said "Is it for only one group or for all extremists ? We are against (use of) all forms of illegal arms. But what is the governments' policy? After an incident, the government launches operations and kills some militants."



Lack of job opportunities, poverty and creation of huge wealth overnight by surrendered militants are forcing youths to join underground organisations across Assam, he claimed.

NDFB(P) General Secretary Govinda Basumatary said the



Centre has held 14 rounds of formal talks and 25 informal discussions with the group on statehood demand in the last seven years, but no solution was found.

"We have opposed the interlocutor P C Haldar. He is not interested in solving the problem. R N Ravi is the interlocutor for the Naga problem and within two years an agreement was signed...We do not have any problem in having Ravi as our interlocutor," he added.

Basumatary also expressed concern over the future of NDFB cadres, who are in camps for years after bilateral ceasefire was declared to hold talks.

Out of 1,150 NDFB(P) cadres, the government pays Rs 3,000 per month to only 836 persons, he said and asked, "Now the NDFB(R) cadres have also come and joined the ceasefire.
The impeachment trial of Brazil's first woman president Dilma Rousseff got underway today with high expectations that the suspended leader of Latin America's biggest economy will be sacked within days.

The Senate trial was opened by Supreme Court president Ricardo Lewandowski half an hour late in the blue-carpeted chamber at 9:30 am.

The proceedings in the capital Brasilia were considered almost sure to result in Rousseff, 68, being found guilty of cooking the budget books to mask the depth of economic problems during her 2014 reelection campaign.

If she is removed from office, her former vice president turned rival Michel Temer will be sworn in to serve until 2018, shifting Brazil to the right after 13 years of leftist rule under Rousseff's Workers' Party.

Rousseff, who was tortured and imprisoned by the 1970s dictatorship for membership in a Marxist urban guerrilla group, swore to resist what she calls a coup.

"We will fight to reinforce democracy in our country with the same force that I fought against the military dictatorship," she told supporters yesterday in Brasilia.

The trial will climax Monday when the president, who was suspended from office in May, addresses the Senate herself for the first time. A vote is then expected within 48 hours, with a two thirds majority of the 81 senators required to bring Rousseff down.

Senator Raimundo Lira, a Temer ally and strong backer of impeachment, told AFP that senators "have already made up their minds and I don't think there will be any change at the vote.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reaffirming its support for India's NSG membership bid, Canada today said the scope of the deal between the two countries for supply of uranium can be further "expanded".

Speaking on a range of issues, Canadian High Commissioner to India Nadir Patel said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to visit the country in the "not so distant future" and that dates are being worked out.

"The date has not yet been set. The challenge is simply scheduling and nothing else. I am working with both the Prime Ministers' offices to try to secure a window. But we are certainly highly anticipating that visit happens in the not so distant future," he said.

Patel said the movement of uranium consignments from Canada to India which began last year is progressing "extremely well".

Asked about its possible expansion, he said, "There are provisions for that to happen." Patel was interacting with a select gathering at the Foreign Correspondents Club here.

Patel emphasized that Canada's "strong support" on India's bid to enter the 48-member Nuclear suppliers Group, resisted by China, was "clear and vocal".

"We have come out vocally. We have made that very clear. We have advocated for India to join as we feel there's a lot to gain from India joining in terms of global collaboration as well," he said.

Gujarat born Patel said, "There is something different right now" in Indo-Canada ties that had not been experienced in the past.

"There's a transformation happening both in India and Canada. We can coexist with common and shared values and have very significant differences of opinion," he said.

Replying to a query on free trade agreement and Intellectual Property Rights, he said problems on the front of IPR are "workable" and not a stumbling block.

He stressed on the need for speeding up economic reforms by opening up more sectors of Indian economy.

"There are other areas that are creating quite a challenge for us to navigate. We subscribe to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of economic reforms but frankly I don't think there has been much progress in a real policy matter. Although some sectors have opened up. Much more needs to be done," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Many filmmakers might have stood up against the guidelines of the CBFC, but director Shoojit Sircar says he never had any face-off with the Censor Board as it has always "treated" his films nicely.

Lately, the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) has had many run-ins with leading Bollywood directors due to its demand for multiple cuts in the films, which according to the makers, kill the crux of the content.

Shoojit who has directed films like "Yahaan", "Vicky Donor", "Madras Cafe" and "Piku", however, says he never faced objections from the board.

"I have done four films and all have been sensitive. But the censor board has not objected anything to my films. People say censor board is this or that I would say I have never faced any (trouble)," the filmmaker told PTI.

"They (board) have always understood the intention behind the films that we make. We have positive feeling about the Censor Board. They have certified my four films and have treated them nicely. I have faith in them."



WEShoojit, who is gearing up for his upcoming home production film "Pink" feels CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) has always been good and supportive to him.

When asked if the board has suggested any cuts for his upcoming production "Pink", Shoojit said, "We have shown them the film. And there have been no objections yet (raised by them). We are in healthy discussions with them."



The director-producer is hoping that the CBFC will give a U/A certificate.

Featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu in lead roles, "Pink" is an upcoming courtroom drama-thriler, which revolves around three girls who are trapped in a criminal case. They are tried in the court for an attempt to murder case and defaming some men.

The film that unravels in the courtroom, also show that the three girls were possibly sexually assaulted by the men who are now being held as the victims.

"'Pink' is a thrilling subject and it touches on some women related issues. It is real life story, inspired by what happens in society," Shoojit said.

It has been directed by directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.

While Aniruddha was keen on making "Pink" in Bengali,



Shoojit was adamant that the story of this film deserved a wider release.

"The subject of 'Pink' was with us since 2013, but we were figuring out things. For the film we have taken inspiration from real life cases of working women across the country, we looked at several incidents," Shoojit said.

According to the "Piku" director, the court room scenes in his upcoming film are close to reality.

"We went to a sessions court and we tried to be as honest and real as we could. There is no unnecessary shouting."



Besides getting the story in place, Shoojit and his team spent lot of time on deciding the title - "Pink".

"We worked very hard to get the perfect title. It took long time for us to get the title. Our writer for the film came out with the title and we jumped at it. It is a contemporary title," he added.

The film will open in cinema houses on September 16.
China's military will provide training for Syrian armed forces, a spokesman for Beijing's defence ministry said today, adding it would take place on Chinese soil.

Beijing is a longstanding backer of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which has engaged in a bloody war that has left more than 290,000 people dead and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations.

Last week senior Chinese military official Guan Youfei met with Syria's defence minister in Damascus and said he wanted closer military ties with the Syrian government, state media reported.

"The Chinese military will provide the Syrian side with medical and nursing professional training," defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing.

The training would take place in China, he added, and was intended "to ease the humanitarian crisis in Syria".

The Chinese military has already provided Syrian authorities with medical equipment and medicines "to help reduce the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people", Wu said.

"For a long period of time, China and Syria have helped each other. And China has been pushing for a political solution of the Syrian conflict and we have always supported the independence of Syria," he added.

As well as supporting Assad's government, Beijing is close to Moscow, which has carried out strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo, as have Assad's forces.

After Guan's visit to Damascus, China's state broadcaster questioned the authenticity of a harrowing video showing a stunned-looking four-year-old boy covered in blood and dust after an air strike in Aleppo, alleging it may have been faked as part of a Western "propaganda war".

The footage brought worldwide attention to the plight of children in the bloody siege of the city, and sparked diplomatic disagreement, as Russia denied carrying out the attack, and Chinese media said the group that shot the video had links to the British military.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hillary Clinton will paint her White House rival Donald Trump as the candidate of the far right today, claiming "a radical fringe" has taken over the Republican Party.

After releasing a hard-hitting ad that tethered Trump to the Ku Klux Klan, Clinton will use a speech in Reno, Nevada to argue he has brought racism to the political mainstream.

"From the start, Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton will say, according to excerpts released by her campaign.

"He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties."

As Trump strives to temper his hardline anti-immigrant message in a bid to halt collapsing poll numbers, Clinton's campaign has been at pains to remind voters of the New York tycoon's more controversial views.

Trump has in the past described Mexicans as rapists and drug dealers, and vowed to round up illegal immigrants and build a wall on the southern border  for which he would make Mexico pay.

In New Hampshire, Trump trashed Clinton's claims about him and his supporters.

"She paints decent Americans as racists," he said to angry jeers.

Clinton has accused "decent Americans who support this campaign, your campaign, of being racists, which we are not" he said to angry jeers from the crowd.

"It's a tired, disgusting argument."

Trump also accused Clinton of being behind a "vast criminal enterprise run out of the State Department," suggesting that she had sold valuable access to those who donated to her family's Clinton Foundation.
Against the backdrop of close ties between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan today said that any cooperation between them should not be against it.

"Such cooperation should not be to the detriment of Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said today during a weekly briefing while responding to a question about Indian arms supply to Afghanistan.

India has supplied four Mi25 helicopters to Afghanistan besides providing training to Afghan security forces.

Zakaria's remarks came days after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said India is not engaged in any proxy war in Afghanistan and has been carrying out reconstruction work there, as he slammed Pakistan for "encouraging" radicalism and not containing terror groups operating from its soil.

The spokesman said Pakistan has been emphasising that politically negotiated settlement is only viable solution of Afghan issue.

Zakaria said the Afghan government should give an unambiguous message in favour of reconciliation and offer incentives for the purpose, Radio Pakistan reported.

He also sought support for Pakistan's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, saying Pakistan meets the criteria required for membership of the elite group.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming the judicial commission's report on Rohith Vemula's suicide as politically motivated, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice at University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Thursday said such conclusion was aimed at weakening the case against varsity Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile and others.

"Through media reports it was learnt that the one-man commission constituted by the Ministry of HRD has declared a non-Dalit. It is shocking to see such a conclusion. The District Magistrate of Guntur had already submitted a report to the Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) which declared as Hindu SC-Mala," the JAC stated in a release.

Declaring Vemula as non-Dalit is a politically motivated conclusion and not on the basis of set procedures, it said.

It informed that the NCSC had approved the report of the District Magistrate, Guntur, on the caste confirmation of Vemula.

JAC's statement came in response to the reports that the one-man judicial commission of former judge of Allahabad High Court A K Roopanwal, has observed that Vemula did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

Vemula's suicide on January 17 at the UoH had sparked massive nationwide protests, resulting in a fierce political slugfest, with a string of political parties and Dalit organisations siding with students and accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party and varsity administration of being anti-Dalit.

UoH has been witnessing sporadic protests since Vemula's death, with students demanding removal of Appa Rao from the VC's post. Appa Rao and others were earlier booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment of Vemula's suicide.
Attacking Congress for accusing the government of spreading the kind of hatred witnessed during the partition, on Thursday alleged Congress divided the country in its lust for power and was now conspiring against the "pro-development" dispensation after being thrown out of power from the Centre and many states.

Now there will be no division of the country and if it happens, it will happen in our enemy country, secretary Shrikant Sharma said as he hit out at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks at an event to felicitate Muslim freedom fighters.

" condemns his comments. History is witness that it was Congress which divided the country in its lust for power. Our government is committed to all-round development of the country. Congress is frustrated and conspiring against this government by levelling all kind of baseless charges," he said.

He alleged that a section of media is also involved in disinformation campaign against the government.

People rejected the Congress in 2014 and have thrown it out of power in many states, he said, insisting that the government is working for 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' but is being targeted as a part of conspiracy.

He noted that Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Salman Khurshid had targeted the Modi government from Pakistani soil with the former allegedly calling for toppling it.

"The least Congress can do is to not lecture us. We will continue to work for everybody's development," he said.

Azad on Wednesday accused the Modi government of "creating distances" among people in the country, alleging that attempts were being made to spread hatred of the kind witnessed during the partition.
As Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with political leaders in Kashmir, Congress today pitched for dialouge with non-state political parties and all stakeholders, including students.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said no one from the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have appealed for peace in Kashmir which has been on boil for more than a month now.

"We hope that Home Minister not only talks with political parties, there are others as well, non-state political parties and other stakeholders. He should hold talks with students, trade unions and different communities. There should be peace.

"He should appeal for peace as well. I have never seen any minister or the Prime Minister appeal for peace, neither inside or outside Parliament nor in Kashmir. Least they can do is to appeal," Azad said.

Meanwhile, JD(U) said the key question was how much effort would the Home Minister invest in taking forward what he talked about.

"I am happy that the Home Minister has finally understood that there is a need to begin a political engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. The key question here is how much effort will he invest in taking forward what he has said.

"What is the kind of engagement that would be planned, so that the current impasse and sense of alienation, particularly amongst the youth, and the current involvement of Pakistan in Kashmir can be stemmed. We need to carefully watch the next step that this government takes," party leader Pawan Verma said.

As part of Centre's outreach, the Home Minister yesterday 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 rthe state.

The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has now climbed to 66.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On death row in the December 16 gangrape case of a paramedical student, one of the convicts Vinay Sharma allegedly tried to commit suicide in Tihar jail last night but his attempt was foiled by vigilant guards, over three years after the prime accused was found hanging in his cell at the facility.

Sharma has now been kept under round-the-clock observation for 24 hours at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) hospital here.

"He has been found fit and fine in the medical examinations but doctors have kept him under observation for next 24 hours to watch his activities as a precautionary measure," said Pushpendra Kumar, DCP (west).

Sharma tried to hang himself from an iron grille of his cell using a thin towel (Gamchha) around 9.30 PM last night inside jail number 8. He was caught in the act by Tamil Nadu Special Police(TSP) personnel on duty who stopped him and informed the jail authorities," said a senior Tihar official.

Sharma also claimed to have consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants before trying to hang himself, jail sources said. However, jail officials rubbished his claim.

Immediately after he was found trying to hang himself, he was taken to the jail dispensary where a doctor examined him and declared him medically fit, said the jail official.

"However, as a precautionary measure, he was taken to DDU Hospital. He even walked up to the ambulance which took him to the hospital. At the hospital also doctors said he was fine. But he has been kept on 24 hour observation as further precaution," he said.

Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in the gangrape case of a paramedical student, who was given pseudonym 'Nirbhaya' by many media organisations, had complained twice about being assaulted by jail inmates in 2015 and was under enhanced security.

The doctors attending on Sharma said on the condition of anonymity that he was fine but whether he had consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants could be verified after further tests.

Sharma's father Hari Ram Sharma, who reached the DDU hospital after getting the news, told reporters that he had met his son about 15 days back and he did not show any suicidal tendencies.

"I had met him 15 days ago and found him in a normal condition and there were no signs that he was going to do anything like that," he said.

The 23-year-old victim was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012, triggering nation-wide shock and outrage. She was later shifted to a Singapore Hospital where she died.

Four convicts - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta were sentenced to death in the case.

Prime accused Ram Singh was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were subsequently abated. A juvenile accused in the case was convicted and sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reformation home. He was released from there in December last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Assembly Secretary Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara has been given a two-year extension of his deputation by Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, rejecting public broadcaster Prasar Bharti's request to repatriate the officer.

Delhi government officials said the Speaker has the power to extend deputation of any officer working in the assembly secretariat.

"We have given him (Suryadevara) extension of two years. Mr Prasanna is going nowhere. He will work with us till 2018," Goel told PTI.

In a letter to Delhi government's Services Department last month, Prasar Bharti had stated that Suryadevara should be repatriated with immediate effect as it is facing acute shortage of staff.

Suryadevara, an official belonging to Newsreader-cum- Translator (Telugu) cadre, was appointed to the post of Delhi Assembly Secretary in July last year, initially for a period of one year.

When his one-year deputation period ended this July, the Assembly Speaker had requested the Prasar Bharti to extend his stay in the current position.

However, Prasar Bharti expressed inability to extend Suryadevara's deputation and asked Delhi government to repatriate him, saying it was in dire need of experienced professionals.

Suryadevara had served Lok Sabha for five years and Rajya Sabha for over six years through the offices of Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman respectively.

Questioning Prasar Bharti's move, a Delhi government official wondered why such request was not made when Suryadevara was working for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

In a letter to Services Department, Prasar Bharti's Deputy Director (Administration) V Sripathi had said, "As this Directorate is in dire need for expressed professionals, like Prasana Kumar Suryadevara, NRT (Telugu), the Directorate expresses its inability to concur with the desire of Speaker, Delhi Assembly for the absorption of Prasana Kumar Suryadevara.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra Director General of Police to depute a senior officer not below the rank of Deputy Director General of Police to trace the 11 missing former inmates of Thane Central prison, who were witness to custodial death of a fellow inmate in 1996.

The direction was given by a division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka yesterday on a public interest litigation alleging that witnesses in the case were not traceable and had gone missing because of which the trial had not progressed in the last few years.

"We direct the DGP of Maharashtra to appoint an officer not below the rank of Deputy DGP to trace the witnesses," said the bench.

The high court also ordered that an inquiry should be conducted against jail officers who were in-charge at the time of incident and if it is found that they were allegedly involved in dereliction of duty then action should be initiated against them.

According to police, the 11 witnesses, who were in Thane jail, had been released after their term expired and are now not traceable.

Public Prosecutor Mankkuwar Deshmukh informed the court that the crime branch police had submitted their addresses and efforts would be made to trace them.

The case pertains to Robert Almeida, who was arrested by police for assaulting his father in their suburban Vikhroli house while he was under the influence of alcohol. He was confined to Thane Central prison on August 30, 1996.

Two days later, he was found dead with injury marks on his body. Post Mortem revealed he died of brain hemorrhage.

However, a police inquiry revealed that he was mentally unstable and had hurt himself.

However, an activist, N R Soni, wrote a letter to the high court referring to three deaths in the prison. His letter was suo motu (on its own) converted into a PIL by the High Court and is being heard now.

The letter alleged that Almeida was thrashed by police with belts and sharp objects as a result of which he died.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Launching a scathing attack on Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, disqualified Rudraprayag MLA Harak Singh Rawat today alleged that the Chief Minister is 'playing into the hands of liquor mafia' in return for money.

He also alleged several irregularities in PWD tenders in CM's constituency Dharchula as several tenders have been awarded to Rawat's close aides.

"The mafia are calling the shots everywhere. The chief minister and his entire machinery is playing into their hands. It is not surprising as liquor mafia are paying Rs 30 crore per month to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) out of which Rs 20 crore goes to the chief minister and the rest to his advisors," said Harak who joined the BJP after revolting against Rawat along with eight other Congress MLAs.

He also leveled allegations against the Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal, saying that his daughter, son and son-in-law had all been given jobs in the Vidhan Sabha.

Talking to reporters after his return from a tour of Kumaon region where he addressed public meetings as part of BJP's ongoing 'Pardafash Rally,' Harak claimed his gatherings in CM's and Speaker's constituencies received overwhelming response as people are 'totally fed up' with government's policies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The downturn in aluminium sector due to overproduction and declining prices is ebbing with prices of the metal stabilising, indicating a revival in global commodities market, a senior government official said.

However, the official said India has to exhibit caution as there has been a significant rise in cheap imports lately that needs to be analysed before devising a strategy for the revival of the industry in the country.

This comes in the wake of aluminium prices appreciating at the London Metal Exchange (LME).

"International prices are looking up. Although they are still in the process of stabilising, but it gives a positive direction about revival of the commodities market in general and non-ferrous in particular," Mines Ministry's Economic Advisor Sudhaker Shukla told PTI.

Shukla added that with stabilisation of prices and changing demand scenario, the capacity utilisation in aluminium sector is bound to increase in the coming months.

"The downturn in aluminium has ebbed. Now prices are rising. If the demand in China also picks up further then this (price) will further strengthen," Shukla said.

Aluminium prices have appreciated by 9 per cent to USD 1,629.83 per tonne on an average in July at the LME as against USD 1,494.29 a tonne in December 2015.

In April, May and June this year, average prices of the metal stood at USD 1,524 a tonne, USD 1,556.33 and USD 1,592.2, respectively.

On the supply-demand side, data from Mines Ministry showed that in April-June, global consumption of aluminium was 15.43 million tonnes (MT) against a production of 14.47 MT, leaving the market with a deficit of almost 1 MT.

The Mines Ministry attributes the price rise to increasing demand, whereas the production of the metal remained at the same level.

Shukla, however cautioned over the rising aluminium imports in the last few months, which can impact the sales and profits of domestic producers.

"With rise in international prices, imports of aluminium have also shown a sudden jump in the last few months. This needs to be carefully analysed before going ahead with remedial steps for the complete revival of the aluminium sector," he cautioned.

According to industry data, aluminium imports rose by 12 per cent to 404 kilo tonnes (KT) during April-June as against 389 KT in the year-ago period.

The domestic primary producers have been lobbying with the government to initiate counter measures to check cheap imports from China and some countries in the Middle East.

Last week, industry body Aluminium Association of India 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 Minimum Import Price (MIP) on aluminium products.

China, world's largest producer and consumer of metals, is exporting surplus aluminium amid a weak domestic demand. Besides, the situation is alarming as 50 per cent of the metal consumed in India is coming through imports, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: BJP today said it has drawn the attention of the Union Home Minister to the style of functioning of Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, which is 'sowing the seeds of communalism and violence' in the union territory.

The party's local unit president V Saminathan alleged that Narayanasamy, heading Congress government in Puducherry "has been functioning in such a way that he sows seeds of communalism and violence' in the Union Territory.

He had brought this to the notice of the union home minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to Delhi to participate in BJPs high level committee meeting, he said.

Saminathan said the style of functioning of Narayanasamy 'is targeting vote bank politics in Puducherry'.

The Chief Minister had been adopting lop sided approach on several issues right from the day he assumed office, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two youths have been arrested for allegedly beating to death a mechanic in a fit of rage over a tiff during purchasing of golgappas in northwest Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area earlier this month, police said today.

Police had on August 4 found Irfan lying unconscious at Kachchi Gali, near Singhaniya Glass godown in Bhalswa. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, said Vijay Singh, DCP (north west).

Preliminary inquiry revealed that Irfan, who lived in Rajiv Nagar, was dumped there by two unidentified motorcyclists. Further probe led the investigators to Swaroop Nagar police station area where a quarrel was reported between two groups of motorcyclists on the issue of purchasing of golgappas on that day, he said.

On scanning the CCTV footage of the area, police identified the accused as Sunil Kumar (21) and arrested him from his home in Bhalswa area. On his information the other accused, Lucky (21), was arrested from Jahangirpuri area yesterday, the DCP said.

During interrogation, the accused admitted to beating Irfan to death over a tiff while buying the snack, in a fit of rage, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eggs were today hurled at actress-turned-politician Ramya's car during a protest by BJP's youth wing here against her 'Pakistan is not hell' remark, for which she is also facing a complaint in a court on sedition and other charges.

Black flags were shown to the former MP as she came out of theairport by BJP Yuva Morcha activists who shouted "down down Ramya" and "Ramya go back" slogans.

After this, while on her way to the city, some eggs were thrown at her car from a distance, police said.

Police personnel who were present at the spot in good strength rounded up the protesters and whisked them away.

Ramya is in the city to attend Krishna Janmashtamievent. Her car was accompanied by a police escort vehicle.

Some Morcha activists said their protest against Ramya was in reaction to her alleged comment to a TV channel yesterday,where she had called Mangaluru "hell".

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 had come as an apparent counter to comments of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who while lashing out at Islamabad for promoting terror, had said last week, "Going to Pakistan is same as going to hell."



The 33-year old multi-lingual actress' comments had triggered a bitter backlash but she stood her ground saying that she would not apologise for her position.

An advocate had filed a complaint in a court at Somwarpet in Kodagu district, seeking action on sedition and other charges against Ramya for "insulting" Indian patriots by her remarks.

Advocate K Vittala Gowda filed the complaint before the Somwarpet Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court, which admitted it and posted the matter for hearing on August 27.

The complaint has sought a direction to police to book Ramya, an ex-Congress MP, under IPC 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).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Even as there were concerns over trade after Britain's exit from the EU, Indian engineering exports to the UK, Germany and France have not been impacted, signalling a positive growth to the manufacturing and high-tech exports.

"The sentiment hit by Britain's decision to leave the European Union has not come in the way of India's engineering exports to UK and other two big markets of Germany and France, as these destinations defied the general declining trend, giving positive growth to the manufacturing and high-tech exports," EEPC India Chairman T S Bhasin said in a statement issued here.

Engineering exports to Britain went up by over 12 per cent to USD 215 million in July from USD 192 million in the same month of the previous year.

Shipments to Germany were even better close to USD 200 million, rising by over 19 per cent year on year from USD 168 million in July 2015. Exports to another key market, France were moderately higher by 2.29 per cent to USD 86 million from USD about USD 84 million for the period under review.

"Somehow, the reality has sunk in. Besides a quick decision on the change of Prime Minister in UK too helped calm the nerves. New Prime Minister Teresa May is well respected, giving a re-assurance to the business community," he said.

He said the engineering exports to the UK are in line with the trend of the Britain's economy defying concerns which centered around the outcome of the June 23, referendum in that country.

Besides, another key indicator of the UK retail sales in July also showed 1.4 per cent increase.

"From the engineering exports point of view, it is important to see that our shipments went up to UK despite about 11 per cent trade-weighted drop in prices of Pound Sterling, making Britain's imports expensive," Bhasin added.

According to EEPC, despite reporting a rise in overall exports for the consecutive two months of May and June 2016, it slipped yet again in July contracting by 12.11 percent as against a positive growth by 2.57 percent in the previous month.

Cumulative engineering exports continued to decline as engineering exports for the first four months of the current fiscal dropped by 5.82 percent to USD 20.27 billion in April-July 2016-17 from USD 21.53 billion during April-July 2015-16.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former model Jeanne Martin, ex-wife of actor Dean Martin, has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 89.

She died yesterday at her Beverly Hills home, her family announced, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Their youngest son, musician Ricci Martin, died earlier this month.

Born Dorothy Jean Biegger on March 27, 1927, in Coral Gables, Florida, she went by Jeanne when she began modeling in Miami. She was voted Orange Bowl queen in 1947.

A year later, she came to the Beachcomber Club in Miami to see a New Year's Eve show starring Martin and Lewis.

Jeanne maintained she had never heard of either entertainer until that night.

A week after Martin was granted a divorce from first wife Betty McDonald, he and 22-year-old Jeanne Biegger wed on September 1, 1949.

Matriarch of their large family, she gave birth to three of Dean's children while raising four more from his previous marriage.

For 20 years, they were viewed as one of Hollywood's happiest couples until on December 10, 1969, Jeanne issued a statement that they were parting ways.

Their break-up in 1969 caused nearly as much distress to Martin's fans as his professional split with partner Jerry Lewis had in 1956.

The divorce wasn't finalised until 1972. Dean Martin was wed once more, to Catherine Hawn, a hair-salon receptionist, and legally adopted her daughter, Sasha, but that union ended in 1976. Jeanne never remarried.

The pair became reacquainted in 1987 when one of their sons, actor Dean Paul Martin, was killed at 35 while piloting a military jet. Jeanne and Dean remained on good terms until his death from respiratory failure on Christmas Day 1995.

Eldest daughter Claudia Martin died of breast cancer in 2001. Their youngest son, musician Ricci Martin, died on August 3.

She is survived by son Craig Martin; daughters Gail Martin Downey, Deana Martin Griffeth and Gina Martin Romano, and 11 grandchildren. Funeral services will be private.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A female journalist working with a national channel was allegedly harassed by four persons while she was returning from an assignment in Andrewsganj area of south Delhi.

The incident happened last evening when the reporter was returning from Dhaula Kuan after the assignment and heading to her office in Noida.

The police said they have arrested one of the accused.

The four persons, who were in a vehicle, kept pace with her office cab and passed lewd comments and harassed her throughout her journey from Dhaula Kuan to Andrewsganj, a senior police official said.

He said the accused started following her in their vehicle from near Hyatt Hotel at around 7.30 pm.

Initially, she tried to avoid them but they sang vulgar songs and made obscene gesture towards her, police said.

At the Andrewsganj bus stand, she took out her camera and mike which scared the accused and three of them fled while driver of the vehicle, Puneesh, was caught on camera and arrested by the police on her call to PCR.

A case under IPC sections 354-D (stalking) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) has been registered at the Defence Colony police station and efforts are being made to nab the other accused, they said.

Later, the journalist tweeted the photographs of the accused in their vehicle and captioned it as "Meet these brave hearts of the national capital, fearlessly passes lewd comments & gestures @ prime locations.Heroes!(sic)".

She termed commuting on Delhi roads as "nightmare".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'Hare Krishna Hare Rama' reverberated across the country today as millions celebrated Janmashtami, the birth festival of Lord Krishna, with gaiety and devotional fervour.

Thousands of people gathered on streets of Maharashtra to enact the Dahi Handi episode from Lord Krishna's childhood. 14 'govindas' were injured as some 'mandals' in the state allegedly flouted the 20-foot ceiling for human pyramids mandated by the Supreme Court.

In north India, songs and dance marked the celebrations. At night, the statue of Lord Krishna was bathed and placed in the cradle amid blowing of conch shells and beating of drums.

People sang 'bhajans' throughout the night and worshippers offered prayers since early morning in adorned temples and took out colourful processions.

In the deity's birth place of Mathura and Vrindavan, lakhs of pilgrims paid obeisance in the main temples and performed circumambulation of hillock Goverdhan. The temples of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) too attracted large congregations.

Tight security arrangements were made for the festival and additional security personnel were deployed in sensitive places.

Devotees flocked the Iskcon temple in New Delhi, where the celebrations began with an aarti early in the morning. The Lakshmi Narayan temple, also known as Birla Mandir, and the Gouri Shankar temple in old Delhi were specially adorned for the occasion.

Children dressed in colourful attires as Krishna and Radha, while some people celebrated the day by flying kites on their rooftops in Jammu. Special shoba yatras were held to mark the occasion.

In Rajasthan, hundreds of devotees gathered at the famous Govind Devji temple in Jaipur.

Shri Sandhooran Devi Mandir, an all-women temple in Punjab's Phagwara district, opened its door to male devotees on the occasion. Men's entry is restricted into the temple throughout the year but allowed only on Janamashtami.

In Tamil Nadu, houses were decorated with Lord Krishna's portraits and the deity were offered delicacies such as 'seedai', made of milk, ghee and butter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Air India flight carrying over 300 people from here to Newark was today diverted to Kazakhstan after detection of fumes in the cargo hold that triggered a fire alarm.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said all passengers are safe and that there was no reason for worry while a relief aircraft is already on the way from New Delhi to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark.

The Boeing 777-300 ER plane had landed at the Aktobe international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after "some alarm went off" while it was on its way to Newark.

An Air India spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.

An airline source said that fire alarm was set off after fumes were detected from the cargo hold of the plane. "The fumes were possibly from some perishable items that might have been treated with chemicals," the source added.

Since the fire extinguisher is being used in the "slow mode", it would take quite sometime before the aircraft is declared as again fit to be airborne. Hence, a relief aircraft is being dispatched, the source said.

In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.

A relief aircraft has left from New Delhi to Aktobe to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark.

"Our Ambassador Shri Harsh K Jain has informed me that all passengers are safe. There is no reason for worry," Swaraj said in a tweet.

Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has a seating capacity of around 350 people.

"#AI CMD Mr Lohani spoke to Captain Aroob. The pax (passengers) are satisfied and happy that the flt (flight) safely landed in #Kazakhstan," Air India said in a tweet.

Aroob is the captain of the flight that was diverted to Kazakhstan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A fire broke out in one of the shops located at Mauryalok complex, located in the heart of the Bihar capital near Dak Bungalow roundabout.

Three fire tenders were pressed into service to control the fire.

Kotwali police station SHO Avinash Kumar said the fire broke out at one of the shoe shops located at Mauryalok shopping complex around 11:30 am and efforts are on to douse the flames.

Only one shop was damaged in the fire but there was no report of any injury, he said.

The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Floods caused by torrential rains led to substantial damage to prehistoric cliff paintings in China's northwestern region.

Some of the paintings have been damaged by mud and silt while others have peeled off or cracked due to the rain.

The paintings in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region carved on individual rocks were more seriously damaged as floods washed the rocks away.

An employee with the scenic area, which has about 6,000 cliff paintings, told state-run Xinhua agency that about a dozen paintings on individual rocks remained unaccounted for.

The unusually heavy rain resulted in rare floods in the mountain.

Most defenses were destroyed by the powerful water flows, resulting in the devastating damage to the cliff paintings, said Hu Zhiping, deputy director of Helan Mountain Cliff Painting Administration in Yinchuan City, capital of the region.

The extent of the damage is still being investigated. Protection measures will hopefully minimize the losses, according to Hu.

Helan Mountain has around 20,000 cliff paintings carved by the nomads that once lived in northern China.

The paintings are scattered over several hundred kilometers. The paintings depict herding, hunting, sacrificial rites and life episodes of the people who lived 3,000 to 10,000 years ago.

Images of animals dominate the paintings, followed by figures, vehicles, plants, planets, fingerprints, written characters and abstract signs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Animals evacuated this week from a zoo dubbed the "world's worst" in the Palestinian Gaza Strip have arrived at an animal shelter in Jordan, an AFP photographer said today.

Two turtles, two eagles, two porcupines, a pelican, an emu and a deer arrived late yesterday near Amman after travelling from Gaza via Israel, said Amir Khalil, a vet from the charity organising the transfer.

Animal welfare charity Four Paws yesterday said it evacuated 15 animals -- including Gaza's last tiger Laziz -- out of the Khan Yunis zoo, as they headed for a new life outside the Israeli-blockaded territory.

The tiger was put on a plane and flown to South Africa where it arrived today, while five monkeys remained in Israel, Khalil said.

The animals that arrived in Jordan were placed in quarantine at the New Hope Centre, a shelter near Amman, "while waiting to be transferred somewhere bigger", the vet said.

The animals would now have access to food and necessary treatment, Khalil said.

Dozens of animals had died at the Khan Yunis zoo, some of starvation, and badly stuffed bodies of dead crocodiles, lions and others were left in the open, surrounded by piles of bones.

Four Paws 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."



There were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo in the years after its 2007 opening, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers.

The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypt's closed border have suffocated its economy, making it increasingly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A special CBI court here today discharged Gujarat IPS officer Rajkumar Pandiyan in connection with the alleged fake encounter killing case of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati.

Special CBI judge M B Gosavi discharged Pandiyan on the ground that there was no sanction (permission to prosecute) against him and hence he cannot be prosecuted.

According to CBI, Pandiyan was the part of the team of Gujarat ATS that picked Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi. The agency said he also took active part in the conspiracy right from its inception stage.

Pandiyan, who is now serving as liaison officer at the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation in Mumbai was reinstated in 2014. He was earlier placed under suspension in 2007 after his arrest in the encounter case.

The court has so far discharged BJP president Amit Shah, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat Police chief P C Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri, Gujarat Police officer Abhay Chudasama, Gujarat Police official N K Amin, Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patel (both senior office-bearers at the Ahmedabad District Co-Operative Bank) from the case.

Sohrabuddin, a gangster whom Gujarat Police claimed had links with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted by Gujarat ATS from Hyderabad on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra.

He was killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005 after which his wife disappeared and was believed to have been done to death.

Tulsiram, an aide of the gangster and an eyewitness to the encounter, was killed allegedly by police at Chapri village in Banaskantha district in Gujarat in December 2006.

The Sohrabuddin killing case was transferred to Mumbai in September, 2012 at CBI's request for a fair trial. In 2013, the Supreme Court had clubbed Prajapati's encounter killing case with that of Sohrabuddin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Unidentified attackers killed six people, including five police officers, when they ambushed a convoy in Pakistan's troubled southwest today, officials said.

The attack occurred near Gurdan area in oil and gas rich, but desperately poor Balochistan province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

"The convoy headed by a senior local administration official, Naeem Gichki, was passing by an abandoned checkpost of the tribal police...In two vehicles when they were attacked by a group of up to seven people, who were hiding in the post," provincial home secretary Akbar Harifall told AFP.

He said the assailants fired rockets at the vehicles in the convoy and Gichki and five local tribal policemen were killed and three others injured in the attack.

Another senior local administration official Qurban Magsi confirmed the incident and casualties.

No group immediately claimed responsiblity but Balochistan is plagued by roiling insurgencies and hit by regular militant attacks.

It is also the site of China's ambitious $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor infrastructure project linking its western province of Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi High Court has asked the AAP government to look into allegations of corrupt practices, including collection of donations from parents, against a government-aided school here, its Principal and other staff members.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asked the Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government to "take a decision within three months" on a PIL which has made the allegations against the school.

"The petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent (DoE) to look into the matter and consider it. The order be communicated to the petitioner in three months," the court said.

The petition, by Arun Kashyap and M R Mahapatra, has alleged that the Principal of PGDAV Senior Secondary School here connived with other staff to collect money from parents of students during examination time.

The petitioners, who claim to be social workers, have contended that the grants and aid given to the school by the government was being "misappropriated and misused" by the institution which was also collecting donations from parents during examination and admission time.

In their plea, filed through advocate Anup Kumar Das, they have claimed that they had sent two complaints to the government which had forwarded it to DoE, but no action has been taken till date.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coming to the rescue of an 84-year- old man, whose land worth Rs 8 crore in the city was encroached, the Madras High Court has directed police to immediately remove the encroachers and restore the property to him.

Dismissing a petition by the alleged encroacher seeking to prevent the police from interfering in the matter, Justice P N Prakash ordered that sufficient police personnel be deployed for removal of the land grabbers.

Claiming that he was the owner of the property, petitioner P M Elavarasan had sought a direction to police not to interfere with its peaceful possession and enjoyment.

The third respondent, octogenarian V V V Nachiappan, who is the actual owner of the property in Vadapalani here, submitted that the land was grabbed by S N Padmanathan and a few others in 2011 by creating forged release and sale deeds.

On a complaint from him, registration authorities later cancelled the fraudulent release and sale deeds.

However, suppressing the fact, Padmanathan created another sale deed dated April 17, 2013 in favour of his accomplice P M Elavarasan, though registration officials did not register the document since the previous sale deed had been cancelled.

When Nachiappan had gone to inspect his land in February, he was threatened by a few anti-socials allegedly engaged by Elavarasan.

Following this, Nachiappan had moved the high court seeking police protection and the court had then passed an order directing the police to take action.

Elavarasan filed the present petition. When it came up for hearing yesterday, the judge directed the police to immediately restore the property to the possession of Nachiappan by removing the encroachers by using necessary Police force and posted the matter for compliance to Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A home guard of Jharkhand Police was seriously injured by some miscreants at Devipur in this district, police said today.

Krishna Roy, who was visiting his native village, was attacked with sharp weapons when he was sleeping on the veranda of his house last night, a police official said.

Roy was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata.

The reason for the attack was yet to be ascertained, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and police in a joint raid seized a huge cache of explosives from Ghatampur area today and arrested four persons here while one person was arrested from Jhansi in connection with the case.

"30,000 detonators, 20,000 gelatin sticks and 600 kg of ammonium nitrate were seized and five persons, four from Kanpur and one from Jhansi, were arrested," Inspector General of Police, Aseem Arun said.

"A 14-year-old boy was also detained during the raid but was later released," he added.

The accused arrested from Kanpur have been identified as Nirbhaya Mishra, Vikrant Singh, Om Narayan and Pankaj Singh, all hailing from Sasaram, Bihar.

During interrogation, they told police that they used to buy explosives from one Charan Singh of Jhansi and would supply them in other parts of the country.

"A police team was rushed to Jhansi and Charan Singh was arrested," the IGP said, adding some explosives were also recovered from his possession.

"On the occasion of Eid some explosives were recovered in the city following which a joint team of ATS and Kanpur crime branch was formed to unearth the gang dealing in explosives," said Arun.

"A police team will soon rush to Bihar for further investigation. Efforts are underway to nab other gang members," the IGP added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and police in a joint raid seized a huge acche of explosives from Ghatampur area today and arrested six persons.

30,000 detonators, 20,000 gelatin sticks and 600 kg of ammonium nitrate were seized and six persons, five from Bihar and one from Jhansi, were arrested earlier today, Inspector General of Police, Aseem Arun said.

During interrogation, they told police that they used to buy explosives from one Charan Singh of Jhansi and would supply them in other parts of the country.

A police team was rushed to Jhansi and Singh had been arrested, the IGP said, adding some explosives were also recovered from his possession.

On the occasion of Eid some explosives were recovered in the city following which a joint team of ATS and Kanpur crime branch was formed to unearth the gang dealing in explosives, Arun said.

A police team will soon rush to Bihar for further investigation, the IGP said, adding efforts are underway to nab other gang members.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dismissing suggestions that he had made a U-turn on RSS role in killing Mahatma Gandhi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today insisted that he stood by "every single word" said by him.

"I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said," he tweeted.

His tweet came after media reports said that he took a U-turn yesterday when he told the Supreme Court that he did not ever blame the RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi but had only said that a "few individuals in the organisation" were responsible for it.

Before Rahul's tweet, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in the morning that wisdom had prevailed upon the Congress vice president.

"Good, Rahul finally admitted before Supreme Court that RSS is not accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

"Wisdom has prevailed. It may be a U-turn but a good turn. RSS a patriotic organization. RSS - Ready for Self Service anywhere any time," Naidu tweeted.

Rahul yesterday chose to set the records straight by telling the top 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.

Senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, 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," the senior advocate had told the Court.

Earlier today, Congress leader Digvijay Singh had dismissed suggestions that Rahul has made a U-turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said the party vice president stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.

"No U-Turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. Person who killed was from RSS. It is the Ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi", the Congress General Secretary said in a series of tweets.

(REOPENS DEL40)



Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said what has been stated by Rahul at the rally is exactly what was articulated in the court and even put on the affidavit before the Bombay High Court.

"So, there is no inherent contradiction at all. The difficulty is that the RSS and the BJP believe in fighting political battles in the court of law and therefore the legal battles will be dealt legally.

"When they believe in fighting political battles in the court of law, they believe in using defamation as a tool of interpretation. The BJP would be well advised to look at the advice which the Supreme Court yesterday gave to Jayalalithaa government that stop using instruments of coercion and intimidation in order to fight your political battles," he said.

Tewari added that as far as the political fight is concerned, it has been made explicitly clear as to where the Congress Vice President stands.
Controversial Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, who has pro-separatist leanings, today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and said the only way to resolve Kashmir issue is to hold "plebiscite" on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

Rasheed, who led a five-member party delegation of his Awami Ittihad Party which met the Home Minister, said the government of India needs to understand that passing the buck and avoiding the resolution is the only reason why Jammu and Kashmir is "bleeding" since 1947, a spokesman of the party said in a statement.

The MLA claimed that seeking "right to self- determination" does not violate Constitution of India and also does not amount to separatism, the spokesman said.

The delegation narrated how the successive governments broke their promises from time to time and played blamegame, the spokesman said.

"When we talk of resolving Jammu and Kashmir dispute, we never say so on communal lines but believe that people of both parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh should be given right to self-determination and issue needs to be seen in totality and not on regional, religious or ethnic basis," he said.

The spokesman said Rasheed reminded Singh that it was in the same Nehru Guest House, where the Home Minister was meeting various deputations, that the Centre held talks with five militant commanders.

"So, Union of India has no logic to justify not talking to real representatives including militants for the resolution of the dispute," Rasheed said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chinese military today said India should not do anything "contrary" to the consensus reached between the two countries to maintain peace and stability in border areas, a remark which comes in the backdrop of reports that India plans to deploy Brahmos missiles along the border with China.

"To maintain peace and stability along the India-China border is an important consensus reached by the two sides," spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defence Colonel Wu Qian told a media briefing.

"We hope the Indian side can do more for peace and stability in the border region rather than contrary," Wu said.

His comments came after reports said the Indian government has sanctioned induction of additional BrahMos supersonic missiles, with steep dive capability and 290 km range, to be deployed in the Eastern sector to ramp up its capabilities along the border with China.

Defence sources in New Delhi had said the government has cleared the fourth BrahMos regiment at a cost of over Rs 4,300 crore.

Responding to a question about a commentary in the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military, criticising the decision to deploy the Brahmos missiles at the border, Wu also played down threats of countermeasures mentioned by the commentary.

Quoting reports, The PLA Daily commentary said the Indian government has approved the Army's procurement of nearly 100 upgraded-version of Brahmos supersonic missiles that will be deployed in the northeastern region of the country.

"This has gained widespread attention. India's move to deploy missiles at the national boundary has already exceeded its defence needs and poses a serious threat to Tibet and Yunnan," it said.

"The deployment of Brahmos missile is bound to increase the competition and antagonism in the China-India relations and will have a negative impact on the stability of the region," it said.

(Reopens FGN 18)



"Brahmos supersonic cruise missile has a superior strike capability and is suitable for use in the mountainous terrain of China-India border. The missile has spear-type aerodynamic layout and its body is coated with Indian 'radar absorption coating' which enhances its stealth performance and penetration ability," the commentary written by a PLA expert said.

Also, Brahmos has the capability to skirt anti-missile systems.

"However, Brahmos has several flaws. One, as a tactical missile in high altitude trajectory, Brahmos has a maximum range of only 290 KM. Also, if we consider factors such as the terrain then the effective range reduces to 100 KMs".

"If we consider the above shortcomings than it can be said that the actual impact of Brahmos missile deployment is limited. Because of its short-range capability, the missile cannot pose a threat to regions deep within China's borders," it said.

"If mounted on an aircraft, its combat effectiveness would be weakened. At the same time, in the tough terrain of south Tibet, Brahmos can pose a threat only to large fixed targets", it said.

"It is not difficult to see India's counter-balancing and confrontational thinking behind the deployment of Brahmos missiles. Within India, the 'String of Pearls theory' and 'China threat theory' has become very popular. These only reflect false alarm and a panic state of extreme nervousness," it said.
Hardening its stance further, India has once again virtually rejected Pakistan's latest invitation for talks on Kashmir, saying it is willing to discuss cross-border terrorism which was its "core concern".

Replying to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry's fresh invitation of August 19 to visit Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss Kashmir dispute, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said in a letter he was willing to discuss terrorism emanating from Pakistan's territory which was India's core concern.

According to sources, Jaishankar's letter was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to Chaudhry yesterday. The reply again stressed on the need for earliest possible vacation of Islamabad's illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), they added.

Chaudhry's August 19 letter, second in the last ten days, invited Jaishankar to visit "Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, with a view to finding a fair and just solution, as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and aspirations" of the people of the state. He had first written to Jaishankar on August 15 for talks on Kashmir.

Pakistan has also called for "putting an immediate end to the human rights violations against the innocent people" of Jammu and Kashmir and for providing medical facilities to the injured, "including the permission for doctors and paramedics to travel."



The sharp exchange of words comes amid strain in bilateral ties between the two nations over the continuing unrest in Kashmir with Islamabad issuing provoking statements on the turmoil following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month.

Wani was hailed as a martyr by Pakistan, which also tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the country's foreign office writing to a host of countries besides the United Nations, while India has been maintaining that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the Valley is the root cause of the turbulence.
India will lose their second position in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Team Rankings if they suffer a 0-2 defeat against two-time World champions West Indies in the two-match series in Florida, USA on August 27 and 28.

India are currently placed on 128 points, four points behind table leader New Zealand, while third-ranked West Indies is on 122 points.

Led by new captain Carlos Brathwaite, who had smashed four consecutive sixes in the ICC World Twenty20 final against England in Kolkata, the West Indies can move to second place on 127 points with a 2-0 win and push India to third place on 124 points.

However, a 2-0 win for India, captain by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will help it join number-one ranked New Zealand on 132 points but the Asian side will be ranked second when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

In this scenario, the West Indies will slip to fourth position with 118 points, one point behind South Africa.

A 1-1 series draw will keep India ahead on 128 points with West Indies on 123 points.

The individual performances in the series will also be keenly watched with a player from either side leading the player rankings for batsmen and bowlers.

India's Test captain Virat Kohli heads the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for T20I Batsmen with 837 points. With Australia's Aaron Finch only 34 points behind, Kohli will be looking to consolidate his position at the top.

Rohit Sharma is the next-highest ranked India batsman in 23rd position, while Dhoni, who had led India to victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 title in 2007, is in 50th position but the likelihood of getting more batting opportunities could see him rise in the ranks.

For the West Indies, big-hitting opener Chris Gayle (eighth) and experienced batsman Marlon Samuels (17th) will be looking to move up the ranks with Lendl Simmons (31st), Dwayne Bravo (37th) and Andre Fletcher (48th) also trying to climb the ladder.

The West Indies has two slow bowlers up in the table as top-ranked leg-spinner Samuel Badree and fourth-ranked off-spinner Sunil Narine will be out to garner points with medium-pacer Dwayne Bravo (39th) the next best on the list.

For India, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is in second position in the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for T20I Bowlers after a creditable show in Zimbabwe a few months ago when India won the T20I series 2-1. Ravichandran Ashwin is the other India bowler inside the top 10 in seventh position, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is in 19th spot.

Marlon Samuels is the best-ranked all-rounder from either side at fifth position.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian-origin Muslim woman in South Africa has been ordered by a court to return jewellery worth over USD 24,000 (3,50,000 rands) to her former husband's family after a ten-year-long legal battle.

The couple, who cannot be named as per South African divorce law, were together for less than a fortnight before the wife returned to her parents.

They were divorced by the Islamic rite of talaq two years later, but the woman, then 20, refused to return the 29 pieces of jewellery.

A number of them were passed down for several generations after originally being brought into the country from India by the first immigrants in her husband's family.

At the end of the acrimonious court case, Judge Jacqui Henriques had to decide on the argument put forward by Islamic jurists.

They argued that in the Hanafi School of Thought in Islam, to which both parties belonged, such a process was a tradition which made the bride the custodian of the jewellery, and not the owner, as it was intended that she pass it on to her own future daughter or daughter-in-law.

The matter went to court after a mediator failed to get the woman's father to return the items.

"I am satisfied that the jewellery was handed over (in custody to the bride) and the family are entitled to get it back," the judge ruled.

Amid uncertainly on whether the items were still in the possession of the woman or her father, the judge ordered that they pay the groom's family the cash value of the items.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Oil Corp (IOC), nation's largest oil firm, will next week consider issuing bonus shares to its shareholders to capitalise part of the reserves.

The board of IOC will meet on August 29, "to consider issue of Bonus Shares," the company said in a regulatory filing.

IOC will be the second state-owned oil company after Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) to consider issuing bonus shares following a government directive.

HPCL board had last month approved issuing two bonus shares of Rs 10 each for every existing one. This helped capitalise reserves to the extent of Rs 677.25 crore.

The government had written to all profit-making public sector units to consider buying back shares or issuing bonus shares to put their surplus cash to use and giving their owner, the government, more value.

IOC is India's largest commercial enterprise, with a sales turnover of Rs 3,99,601 crore (USD 61 billion) and profits of Rs 10,399 crore (USD 1.58 billion) for the year 2015-16.

It is ranked 161st among the world's largest corporates (and first among Indian companies) in the prestigious Fortune 'Global 500' listing for the year 2016.

The government owns 58.28 per cent stake in IOC, which controls nearly half of India's fuel market, 35 per cent national oil refining capacity and 71 per cent of downstream sector pipelines.

IOC owns and operates 11 of India's 23 refineries with a combined refining capacity of 80.7 million tonnes per annum as well as a pipeline network spanning about 11,750-km.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Oil Corporation will invest around Rs 650 crore in expanding its storage and bottling capacity in Tripura over the next three years as it looks to prevent fuel crisis in the state.

IndianOil-AOD, the company's North East division, will also start moving a convoy of 20 tankers by the end of this month to the North Eastern state for the first time via Bangladesh to avoid the dilapidated NH-44 in Assam.

"Apart from exploring new routes to supply fuel for ending the crisis in Tripura, we are looking to increase the storage capacity in the state. We are working on both the possibilities so that common people do not suffer there," Indian Oil Corporation Executive Director (IndianOil-AOD) Dipankar Ray told PTI.

For this purpose, the company will set up one Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) depot and a new bottling plant in Agartala, he added.

"The POL depot will incur an investment of around Rs 500 crore, while Rs 143 crore have been estimated for setting up the bottling plant over the next 2-3 years. The investment includes land cost as well and the land parcels have already been identified for both the units," Ray said.

In Tripura, the company has a POL depot at Dharmanagar with a capacity of around 6,000 kilo litre (kl) and an LPG bottling plant at Bishalgarh with a capacity of 30,000 million tonnes per annum in double shifts.

"The existing two facilities are not enough to cater to the growing demand of fuel in Tripura. So we have decided to expand our capacities by setting up new units.

"The new POL depot will have an installed capacity of 32,000 kl, while that for the bottling plant will be 60,000 million tonnes a year, expandable up to 1,20,000 million tonnes," he added.

During monsoon in May-June this year, Tripura faced unprecedented fuel crisis as supply was badly hit due to pathetic road condition of NH-44 at Barak Valley in Assam and thousands of tankers were stranded on roads for weeks.

The situation forced IOC and Tripura government to scout for alternate ways to supply fuel in addition to augment the storage capacity.

"One of the options that we already started is roll-on roll-off, where tankers are transported by open rail wagons from Bhanga in Assam to Churaibari in Tripura. However, this system is not economical for us as transporting 24 tankers one way cost us Rs 3.9 lakh," Ray said.

Informing that NF Railway has made two trips with oil



tankers so far, he said the company will use this mode only in extreme cases.

"Meanwhile, we identified a road route via Bangladesh. Within just one and half month, everything is finalised and we have already signed an agreement with concerned authorities in Bangladesh. We will send the first batch of 20 tankers to Tripura by the end of this month," Ray said.

The distance for transporting POL and LPG from IOC's Betkuchi depot in Guwahati to Dharmanagar depot in Tripura via Bangladesh will be 366 km, including 126 km in the neighbouring nation, against 386 km long-route through the Barak Valley.

The convoy will enter Bangladesh through Dawki point in Maghalaya and re-enter India at Kailashahar in Tripura.

"As per the agreement, we will pay 1.02 Bangladeshi Taka per tonne per km along with 200 Bangladeshi Taka for entry and exit charges. The MoU also says that at any point of time, not more than 160 tankers will be plying on Bangladeshi roads," the Executive Director said.

The company will have to pay around 1,500 Bangladeshi Taka to the neighbouring nation per vehicle, which will be about Rs 1,300 in Indian currency.

Ray said the agreement is valid till September this year, but will be reviewed and renewed after examining the success of the process in one month.

"This entire exercise will open various options to use Bangladeshi territories in future. We can further explore our neighbour. Besides, this step will strengthen India's bilateral relations with Bangladesh," he added.
Moroccan police have launched a manhunt for an ex-circus employee suspected of murdering the 18-year-old son of the troupe's Italian owner, state media reported today.

The troupe's owner and three Portuguese performers were also wounded in Wednesday's knife attack in the Atlantic coastal city of Kenitra, the official MAP agency said.

The suspect being sought by police had been fired from the circus and is believed to have been motivated by revenge.

An Italian source told AFP that the circus had been making summer tours of Morocco for several years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy rose to 247 today amid fears many more corpses would be found in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Rescuers sifted through collapsed masonry in the search for survivors, but their grim mission was clouded by uncertainty about exactly how many people had been staying in communities closest to the epicentre of Wednesday's quake.

Hundreds of people spent the night sleeping in their cars, in hastily-assembled tents or as guests of families in nearby areas less affected by the quake.

Monica, a survivor from the tourist town of Amatrice, told of her numbed response when a 4.5-magnitude aftershock rattled the area just after 5.00 a.M. (0300 GMT).

"We are sleeping in the car and there were shocks all night. When the biggest one came, the car started moving and shaking.

"But what have we got to lose now? We have lost our house. So many friends and family are dead. We have lost everything, even our fear," she told AGI agency.

The damage to smaller, more remote hamlets has left their very existence in doubt in an area that has suffered decades of depopulation and already has numerous "ghost" villages.

"If we don't get help, l'Arquata is finished," said Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata del Tronto, which accounted for 57 of the confirmed deaths to date.

Petrucci said it was impossible to say exactly how many people were in the 13 hamlets comprising his community when the disaster struck.

"Here in the winter, the village is practically uninhabited but the population doubles or triples when people come back to their family houses in the summer," he said.

In Pescara del Tronto, which was virtually razed by the quake, there only four permanently resident families.

But Petrucci said there could have been up to 300 people there yesterday.

Some may have fled back to Rome, the mayor said, appealing for them to get in touch. "Otherwise we could be trying to dig out ruins where there is no-one," he said.

Measuring 6.0-6.2 magnitude, the quake's epicentre was near the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, occurring at the shallow depth of four kilometres (2.5 miles), according to monitors.

But it was only the latest in a long string of killer quakes in the central Apennines, part of the mountainous "spine" that runs down Italy. Records dating back seven centuries attest to tens of thousands of deaths.

The Civil Protection agency which is coordinating the rescue effort said that in addition to the dead, 264 people had suffered injuries serious enough to be hospitalised. Several of them are in a critical state.

Although firemen and volunteers on the ground were pessimistic about the chance of finding any more survivors, several of them recalled that the last survivor of a 2009 in nearby L'Aquila was pulled from the rubble some 72 hours after it struck.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A powerful earthquake shook central Italy, leaving at least 159 people dead and a trail of destruction across several mountain villages packed with holiday makers.

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 further, officials warned yesterday.

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were preparing to work through the night in the hope of plucking more survivors from the ruins.

The rescue efforts "won't slow down during the night", the head of the civil protection agency Fabrizio Curcio told public broadcaster Rai, giving an updated toll of 159 dead.

He did not say how many people were still thought to be missing.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had earlier said at least 120 people were killed in the earthquake. "This is not a final toll," he had warned after visiting the badly hit village of Amatrice.

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 L'Aquila, 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.

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.

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.
An Asian-American student has filed a complaint over being 'unfairly' rejected by Columbia University and Cornell University, prompting a coalition to seek a probe over allegedly discriminating against him and an Indian-American.

Hubert Zhao, an Orlando-based Asian-American student, was unfairly rejected by the two universities, the Asian American Coalition for Education said in a letter to Catherine Lhamon, Assistant Secretary of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), US Department of Education.

"It is worth pointing out, in his high school of 700 graduating students, only Hubert and another Indian-American student qualified as National Merit Semifinalists," the letter said.

"However, neither of them was accepted by any of America's top 20 ranked universities. Other students from different racial groups in his high school, with objectively and often significantly lower academic and extracurricular credentials, were admitted by some of those top 20 universities, the letter claimed.

The Indian-American student has not been identified in the letter nor has he or she filed a complaint against the alleged discrimination.

"What happened to Hubert Zhao is another example of the widespread and systematic illegal discrimination against Asian American students by many colleges," said Jack Ouyang, Vice-president of AACE.

"The very fact that Hubert is the son of YuKong Zhao, the president of AACE, and that Hubert was rejected by all three Ivy League schools he applied to, raises a serious concern if Hubert was evaluated unfavourably by those Ivy League schools because of his father's courageous act of leading Asian Americans' fight against Ivy League schools' discrimination on college admissions," he said.

"The members of AACE are outraged by such blatant discrimination. Yukong Zhao's child is not alone - tens of thousands of talented Asian American children are treated as second class citizens who are less 'diverse' solely because of their race," the letter said.

"OCR must launch an impartial investigation into the admissions processes of Colombia University and Cornell University to ensure that Hubert Zhao's equal rights under the law are protected. Asian American communities demand an answer," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Janmashtami, the birth festival of Lord Krishna, was today celebrated across Gujarat with religious fervour and enthusiasm as lakhs of devotees visited temples to offer their obeisance.

Apart from ISKCON temples in Ahmedabad, Rajkot and several other cities of Gujarat, devotees in large numbers thronged the two main temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, one at Dwarka in Devbhoomi-Dwarka district and another at Dakor in Kheda district.

Since early morning, VIPs and common people flocked to the temples to offer prayers to the Lord and seek his blessings.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani visited a temple in Bhadaj area in the outskirts of Ahmedabad, while his Deputy Nitin Patel performed 'aarti' at the ISCKON temple in the city.

Devotees celebrated the festival by participating in 'dahi handi' event, where people form a human pyramid to reach an earthen pot having buttermilk and strung at a height.

More than two lakh devotees visited the famous Dwarkadhish Temple at Dwarka, around 450 km from here.

Construction of a suspension bridge over Gomati river at Dwarka on lines of Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh and inaugurated about three months ago facilitated the visit by such a huge number of devotees to the temple also known as Jagat Mandir.

The cable-stayed 166-metre-long pedestrian bridge, 'Sudama Setu', has come as a blessing for pilgrims, Parimal Nathwani, vice-chairman of the Dwarka Temple Management Committee said.

The bridge connects Jagat Mandir in mainland Dwarka with Panchnad Tirth (an island). Till now, pilgrims had been using boats to cross the river to reach Panchnad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japan's All Nippon Airways said today it is cancelling some Boeing Dreamliner flights owing to a problem with the plane's engine, and warned of more groundings.

The carrier, the biggest worldwide Dreamliner operator with a fleet of 50 jets, said nine domestic flights scheduled for tomorrow would be halted so it could fix a problem with a Rolls Royce-produced engine.

The move came after ANA grounded a domestic Dreamliner flight earlier today, also citing an unspecified engine problems.

"We will definitely cancel nine flights tomorrow and more afterward but we don't know the specifics yet," an ANA spokeswoman said.

In February, a Tokyo-bound ANA Dreamliner flight was forced to return to Kuala Lumpur due to engine trouble, marking another hit for an aircraft plagued by setbacks.

Rival Japan Airlines, also a major Dreamliner customer, has nearly 30 of the aircraft but the engines are produced by General Electric.

The Dreamliner, built largely with lightweight composite materials that reduce fuel use, has been hit by a series of problems during development and production as well as since its first commercial flight in late 2011.

In 2013, the Dreamliner was grounded globally over an electrical problem.

Early that year several planes experienced problems with batteries overheating that caused a fire on one aircraft. Changes were made to prevent recurrence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gabon's leading presidential challenger Jean Ping is a career diplomat determined to wrest power from the Bongo dynasty in Saturday's election after serving the family for two decades.

Foreign minister of the small oil-rich nation from the late 1990s until being elected to the high-profile post of chair of the African Union (AU) Commission in 2008, he is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally.

The Paris university graduate was one of late president Omar Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers, holding a succession of prestigious posts before turning against President Ali Bongo who stepped in after his father's death in 2009.

Dubbing the regime that has run the nation on the Equator "a pure and simple dictatorship", Ping turned on Bongo junior in 2014 and now hopes to stop him winning a second seven-year term.

Launching his campaign in the central town of Lambarene in mid-August, the 73-year-old pledged that if elected he would ensure Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear".

The half-Chinese veteran of Gabonese politics has since secured the backing of other opposition heavyweights in a concerted bid to end the reign of the powerful Bongo clan.

Former prime minister Casimir Oye Mba and Guy Nzouba Ndama, who was a long-serving parliamentary speaker, have both agreed to back Ping for president, as has former intelligence chief Leon Paul Ngoulakia, also a first cousin to Bongo.

"I am here because you decided that we needed a single candidate to end this dictatorship that we've been living through," said Ngoulakia.

None of the other 10 candidates approved by the electoral commission have the stature of the old servants of the regime, whose show of unity is a first in a nation where the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has an entrenched powerbase.

Government spokesman Alain-Claude Billie By Nze however had denounced the "unnatural alliance", calling it "horse trading whose only aim is to share out privilege and power".

Fast-talking and vocal Ping, who made a host of friends during his AU stint, told the French daily Le Monde in March that "Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan."



"Gabon is like the Titanic, heading for an iceberg and the band is playing on. And that iceberg, if nothing is done, is civil war."



Bongo-friendly media have repeatedly focused on reports that Ping's son took commissions from a Chinese group bidding for public works contracts.

During his AU tenure, he built strong ties with Turkey, India and most notably China, which financed the USD 200 million construction of the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
English actress Eleanor Tomlinson says Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence has for opening up a whole category of films for women.

Lawrence, 26, has been praised by 24-year-old "Poldark" star Tomlinson for showing casting directors that women can spearhead genres typically associated with male stars and that they can be more than just a love interest, reported Female First.

"Jennifer has really opened up a whole category of films for women. There are now superhero movies fronted by women and I think directors generally are moving away from that stereotypical woman's role that is just about being flirted with by a man before falling into his arms," Tomlinson said.

"I'm not interested in being the damsel in distress; I want someone who has her own storyline and her own mission - not a woman who, to use a comedy term, is just there to provide the feed line to someone else's joke.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A five-member gang, disguised as policemen, today robbed four jewellery store employees of Rs 3.9 crore near the city outskirts.

The incident took place around 4.30 AM at Nilambur bypass when the four persons were returning to Kerala from Chennai with the cash they got from the sale of gold ornaments, police said.

The disguised policemen intercepted the car under the pretext of checking it and then asked the occupants to accompany them in their jeep with the cash.

They were forcibly dropped off at a road junction and the gang then fled with the cash and car, police said.

The jeweller then lodged a complaint with police, who formed two special teams to track down the gang.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The mobile phones of both the 28-year-old JNU PhD scholar, who has alleged that she was raped by an AISA activist from the university, and the accused have been seized by police for forensic tests.

The victim and the accused had first started interacting on Facebook and were also in touch over phone which have been seized for forensic tests, a senior police officer said today.

Accused Anmol Ratan, who last night surrendered at the Vasant Kunj(North) police station, was questioned for several hours during which he maintained that the victim is his friend but denied the allegations against him, the officer said.

The accused was today remanded in 14 days judicial custody by a Delhi court.

The victim's statement was recorded by a magistrate yesterday, wherein she stood by her charge of rape against the accused.

She had accused Anmol of raping her in a JNU hostel after offering her a spiked drink on August 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kerala Congress(M) supremo K M Mani today categorically said his party, which left the Congress-led UDF in the state earlier this month, would not join any political alliance in the state. Mani also hit out at the CPI, a day after the Left party opposed any move to bring KC(M) in the fold of Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPI(M).

"I have made it very clear that we (the KC-M) will not join any political alliance. I don't understand why CPI is scared of us," he told reporters in his hometown Pala near here. Attacking the CPI, which has been opposing any move to welcome KCM into the LDF fold, Mani said his party did not need any advise from the Left party, "which has a history of selling its Lok Sabha seat" during a general election. A state Committee meeting of the CPI held in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday had decided to convey its stand to the LDF that the party was against any move to bring KC(M) and Muslim League in the fold of ruling alliance. The party discussed the issue in detail after some positive vibes being sent to the KC(M) and Muslim League by some CPI(M) leaders recently.

Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (Jacob), a minor partner in the Congress-led alliance, today urged Congress high command to take initiative to bring KC(M) back to the UDF camp. Party senior leader and ex-MLA Johnny Nellore said the UDF has lost its strength following KC(M)'s decision to quit the alliance.

Earlier this month, the KC(M) had pulled out of the Congress-led UDF of which it was a part for more than three decades.

The party would be "equidistant" from Opposition UDF, ruling CPI-M-led LDF and BJP-led NDA, Mani has said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kenya Power and Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt Ltd (TTDI), a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, have entered into a pact for implementation of a pilot project aimed at decreasing distribution losses in the national grid.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will guide installation, testing and evaluation of equipment that will be supplied by TTDI, on a trial basis, to improve efficiency and reduce both technical and commercial losses in the distribution network, a press statement said.

"As the network grows in tandem with the rapid increase in the number of customers, we experience both technical and commercial losses. We are focused on bringing down the system losses from the current 19 per cent to single digit figures in the medium term," Kenya Power Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer Ben Chumo was quoted as saying in the statement.

The pilot project will involve installation of new type of transformers (amorphous distribution transformers) manufactured by TTDI in the distribution network, to of enhance efficiency, the statement said.

In addition, TTDI, under guidance from Kenya Power, will supply safe and eco-friendly solid insulated switchgears and gas insulated transformers to fight vandalism.

"TTDI has made concerted efforts to understand and respond to the needs of Kenya Power. I believe this MoU reflects KPLC's positive evaluation of TTDI's high quality products and of our proposal to contribute towards achieving stable electricity supply," TTDI chairman & MD Katsutoshi Toda said.
Kerala will be declared as open defecation-free state on its formation day on November 1 with the CPIM-led LDF government planning to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend a function here.

A decision to this effect was taken at the state Cabinet meeting here today, an official statement said.

The Cabinet decided to invite Modi, who has launched the Swachh Bharat mission for a Clean India, to attend the state-level function to be held here, it said.

A total of more than 1.90 lakh toilets are being constructed across the 941 gramma panchayats in the state, including in individual houses, located at critically challenged and hilly terrains, as part of the sanitation programme by the state government.

Suchitwa Mission, the state nodal agency for sanitation, which is implementing the plan said work on 35 per cent of the toilets had already been completed and the state would achieve the new milestone by November.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State John Kerry today announced a fresh international peace initiative for Yemen aimed at forming a unity government to resolve its 17-month-old conflict.

"This war needs to end and it needs to end as quickly as possible," Kerry said after a meeting in Saudi Arabia with Gulf counterparts, a British minister and the UN peace envoy to Yemen.

He said participants "agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations" between the Saudi-backed government and Iran- supported rebels, after three months of talks in Kuwait ended earlier in August without making headway.

Kerry lashed out at Iran, saying its arms shipments to the Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen posed a threat to the United States.

"The threat potentially posed by the shipment of missiles and other sophisticated weapons into Yemen from Iran extends well beyond Yemen and is not a threat just to Saudi Arabia and... The region," Kerry told reporters in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

"It is a threat to the United States and it cannot continue."



The new peace approach will have "both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement", said Kerry, adding that Gulf states had "agreed unanimously with this new initiative".

He said details of the initiative would be finalised by the "parties themselves".

But the final agreement, in broad outline, would initially include a "swift formation of a national unity government with power shared among the parties".

It will also include the "withdrawal of forces from Sanaa and other key areas", and the "transfer of all heavy weapons including ballistic missiles and launchers from the Huthis and forces allied with them to a third party".

A Saudi-led Arab coalition in March last year launched a military campaign against Huthi rebels as they closed in on UN-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in his southern refuge in Aden.

The intervention helped loyalists push the rebels out of five southern provinces, including Aden, but the rebels still hold onto many regions, including the capital Sanaa.

More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Geneva for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the situation in war-ravaged Syria.

Kerry, who was flying in from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he announced a new peace push for conflict-torn Yemen, arrived in the Swiss city shortly yesterday before 10:00 pm (Local Time).

He was scheduled to meet with Lavrov Friday morning for talks expected to focus heavily on the situation in Syria.

Earlier yesterday, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura described the meeting as "important" and said it could help his push to resume peace negotiations for the country.

De Mistura did not say whether he would be meeting with the two top diplomats while they were in town.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the Syria conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, which erupted in 2011 after President Bashar al-Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt.

Russian planes have also been carrying out raids on Syrian rebel groups, some of which are supported by the United States.

But the two countries have a common foe in the Islamic State group, and have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the jihadists.

Perhaps as a sign of tightening cooperation, Moscow vowed yesterday to work with the United States on a response after a UN investigation found that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical attacks.

"We have a joint interest in... Preventing such things from happening, even in the fog of war," Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.

The two countries also co-chair a UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, which has been struggling to ensure access for desperately-needed aid across the country.

Aleppo, Syria's second city and former economic hub, has emerged as a top concern since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

Russia last week gave its blessing to a long-demanded 48-hour pause in fighting in the city to allow in aid, but de Mistura said yesterday other unspecified parties were still dragging their feet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jeddah today ahead of wider talks focusing on the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Libya with other Gulf Arab officials.

The flurry of meetings come as UN-mediated peace talks to bring an end to the nearly 18-month-long war in Yemen were suspended earlier this month.

They also fall on the same day that the UN human rights chief called for an international investigation of rights abuses and violence in Yemen's civil war, which has killed more than 9,000 people, including nearly 3,800 civilians, and displaced 3 million.

The US has provided logistical and intelligence support to a Saudi-led coalition of nine Arab countries in their bombing and ground offensive 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.

A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said he was expected to raise U.S. Concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen during his meetings in Saudi Arabia.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.

Kerry's meeting with King Salman lasted roughly half an hour. The two spoke briefly about the monarch's health and an operation he had in the U.S., apparently for back pain. It was not clear when the surgery was performed.

After his meeting with the Saudi monarch, Kerry wrote on Twitter that they discussed the "need to reach a political solution (and) address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen," as well as the war in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states back rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, and are members of the U.S.-led coalition bombing IS in Iraq and Syria.

Kerry also met today with UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The two later met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, British Under Secretary at the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, and the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to exchange ideas about reaching a political solution in Yemen.

The night before, Kerry met for three hours with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister.

He is also set to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah before a meeting with other Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Oman is the only country of the six-nation GCC that is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State will travel to New Delhi to attend the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, according to the State Department.

"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 yesterday.

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. This will highlight the longstanding and broad US-Bangladesh relationship, she said.

"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, 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.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today denied any wrongdoing following an Australian media report that claimed his adviser had allegedly demanded a kickback to approve a project during his tenure as Cabinet minister.

The Sydney Morning Herald had carried a story on an Australian police investigation that Sirisena's Coordinating Secretary had demanded a kickback to approve a project when he was a minister in the Cabinet in 2011.

Presidential media unit said that the President had denied the allegation and said that he had advised the Attorney General to take necessary action on the allegation.

"I have at no time in my public life had engaged in corruption," Sirisena was quoted by the presidential media unit as saying.

The statement came as the Anti-Corruption Movement, which had backed Sirisena in the presidential election, demanded an explanation on the accusation.

The internal investigation in the Australian company under question had found no evidence of any bribe being paid, the report however had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"Ghsotbusters" star Lesli Jones' official website has been leaked, with her alleged nude pictures and private information leaked online.

Photos of 48-year-old Jones' passport and drivers license were released in a gross invasion of privacy, in addition to the nudes, reported Variety.

The photos reportedly originated from her iCloud account. The site was taken down shortly after the leak. No motive has been announced yet.

Jones, who is quite active on Twitter, has not responded yet. Her reps did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier this summer, she was harassed by trolls on social media, including editor Milo Yiannopoulos.

Twitter had banned Yiannopoulos after he posted racist comments about the comedian. Jones had called the harassment "gross and mean and unnecessary."



"Ghostbusters" director Paul Feig defended Jones and condemned the fresh attack in a response on Twitter.

"What's happening to [Leslie Jones] is an absolute outrage," he wrote. "Alt right, haters, trolls, 'comedians', whoever you are, you're just sad."



Many female stars like Patricia Arquette, Lena Dunham and Katy Perry soon rallied in support for Jones.

Arquette posted, "FYI sharing stolen intimate photos like @Lesdoggg 's is illegal. You are participating in a sex crime."



"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," tweeted actress Alyssa Milano.

"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," wrote Dunham.

Perry tweeted, "Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I #StandWithLeslie.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stepping up its attack on the Delhi government over its liquor policy, Swaraj Abhiyan, led by Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, will hold another public hearing against an alcohol vend in Uttam Nagar, the Assembly constituency of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan.

This will be third such public hearing to be held in the national capital after Karawal Nagar, the Assembly constituency of Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, and Kotla-Mukabrakpur in Kasturba Nagar, which is represented by Madanlal, a parliamentary secretary to the Delhi government.

The public hearing will be organised near the Nawada Metro Station in West Delhi and attended by Bhushan.

Balyan, who represents Uttam Nagar, is the one of the AAP MLAs, whose candidature was opposed by Bhushan and Yadav when they were in the Aam Aadmi Party. The duo had demanded that Balyan not be given the party ticket after his name cropped up in a liquor controversy ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls.

Bhushan and Yadav, who were later expelled from AAP for "anti-party" activities, had also demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

Swaraj Abhiyan, however, denied that the public hearing had anything to do with the controversy.

"There was demand from people for closure of the liquor shop," Swaraj Abhiyan's media in-charge Anupam said.

The organisation has been attacking the AAP government over its liquor policy and has demanded immediate closure of 11 alcohol vends in the national capital that were allegedly opened without public approval.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Latur in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, which had become the face of the unprecedented drought and water scarcity in the state this summer, is now emerging as a role model for collective effort to revive the rivers.

Residents of the city in the last two to three months collected more than Rs six crore to desilt Manjara and Rena rivers.

District Collector Pandurang Pol said with this desilting through people's participation, the two rivers now have enough water in the reservoirs along their courses to last for at least another eight months.

The district hit national headlines when the government started providing water by railway waggons to the Latur town from the second week of April.

While the government was busy supplying water, the locals decided to take the matters in their own hand to make the city drought-proof in coming years.

Social activists Mahadev Gomare, Dr Ashok Kukade, B B Thombare, Makrand Jadhav and Trimbakdas Zawar formed 'Jalyukta Latur' committee.

"We called a meeting of all the major associations of traders and professionals, convinced them about need of public participation to resolve our own issues, registered our committee and started collecting funds," Gomare said.

Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, his brother and local



Congress leader Amit Deshmukh and the local BJP unit donated Rs 25 lakh each, while the doctors association and Cap Gemini contributed Rs 40 lakh each.

"Agriculture Produce Market Committee and RSS's Jankalyan Samitii contributed Rs 11 lakh each," said Gomare, who is a farmer.

The rest of the money came from common people.

"The cost of desilting was estimated at Rs 7.5 crore. School students, teachers, professors, lawyers and others contributed. Even the youngsters who sell knick-knacks on the footpath contributed Rs 1 lakh. A sanitation worker who had retired from the municipal council contributed his first pension amount of Rs 18,000," Gomare said.

The oil companies offered the diesel required for the work at a concessional rate. "People provided machinery at cheap rates and we worked for 22 hours a day. All this saved us Rs 1.50 crore and the project got completed in only Rs 6 crore," he said.

As of today, Manjara river is full of water along a stretch of 15.5 km and Rena for a stretch of 6 km. There are several barrages across the two rivers which are now full.

Pol said the government spent nearly the same amount for water conservation and desilting work on Manjara river (from beyond the point where the people's committee carried out desilting).

The collector agreed that the committee proved that the work through public participation can be done more swiftly and at a less cost. "We hope at least for the next eight months, the reservoirs along the rivers will provide sufficient drinking water to the city and its surroundings," he said.
Logix Health, an emergency department coding and billing solutions company, today said it would start operations in the city from December this year.

Entering Coimbatore has been in line with the business growth of the company, which has achieved close to 10 million coding and billing jobs, its Senior Vice President (Operations) Peter Coakley told reporters here.

Logix Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of LogixHealth, USA, forayed into the country in 2013 by launching operations in Bengaluru. The company now has two offices and 800 employees. It had been growing 20-30 per cent year on year, Coakley said.

Coakley, who was here to inspect work on the new 50,000 sq feet facility in Saravanampatti, said the company was investing USD 15 million in the initial phase and would hire and train 1,000 people.

Claiming that the company is into coding and billing solutions for physicians and hospitals in the US, with a range of solutions from coding to claims management, Coakley said, "We are looking to hire and train science graduates for our voice and non-voice services."



To a query on business in India, the company's Associate Vice President Muralimohan said that close to 30 per cent of the company's business was from the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the state government plans to transform 1,000 villages with the help of corporate sector, and the civil over the next few years.

He said corporate sector is already working with the government in various sectors through the CSR and "we thought of using their resources, knowledge, technology and planning and implementation skills".

He said the corporate sectors' expertise would be used to set up an institutional mechanism to amalgamate work done by different companies in different areas to transform 1000 villages in collaboration with the state government.

He was addressing reporters here after his meeting with industrialists Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Fadnavis said currently, scattered efforts are being made by the corporate sector which will now be consolidated and villages will be transformed within a specific time frame.

He added that 50 per cent of the villages will be chosen by partnering agencies where some work is currently underway and the remaining would be those villages that score low on the Human Development Index.

"Rajashree Birla (of Aditya Birla Group) has already shown her intent of taking 300 villages (out of 1000) to develop them. Similarly, we have got tremendous response from others as well," he said, adding the government is looking at working on at least 100 villages by October 2.

He further said no programme will be forced upon villages and the Gram Sabhas would decide the kind of work required by their respective villages and the government will only assist them.

Fadnavis said the government intends to build a



sustainable development model under which initiatives would be taken to improve indicators like health and education in each village.

"For every village, aspects like education, health, water conservation and skill development will be covered. We do not have a package. We will only provide what a specific village needs," he said.

"The existing schemes will be converged and this initiative will only complement their work and lacunae will be filled," he said.

Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata who was also present at the press briefing said it has been a great realisation for the government to develop rural hinterland.

"While we have industrialised cities, rural communities have not received the same attention. This initiative is a forward looking move which will make hinterlands a profit making part of the nation," he said.

Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra said, "What excites us is the clear purpose of convergence, clear intent of private sector collaboration and the CM's passion. If this works, it will be a prototype for the nation."



Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan said, "For someone like me involved in several campaigns, this initiative seems to be a convergence of all of them. I feel awareness and communication is an important element. If my face and voice can create an awareness, I will be most happy.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today mourned the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake in Italy.

"My thoughts are with the families who lost their lives in #ItalyEarthquake Over 247 dead. Sad," she tweeted.

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that shook central Italy in pre-dawn hours yesterday rose to 247 today.

Banerjee is scheduled to go on a four-day visit to Italy and Germany next month to attract foreign investment in the state.

During her stay, she will attend the sainthood ceremony of Mother Teresa in Vatican City.

Rome's first woman Mayor Virginia Raggi has invited the Chief Minister to a special reception during her visit to Vatican City where many top businessmen will be present.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi court has discharged a 37-year-old man, accused of raping his 63-year-old ex-wife, a German national, saying there was an inexplicable delay of three years in lodging FIR in the case.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Kumar, while discharging the accused, a Delhi resident, also noted that there was no medical evidence to support the allegations of rape against him.

"The delay of one or two days in lodging the FIR may be bonafide, reasonable and justified in the facts and circumstances of a given case. However, in the present case there is a delay of about three years in lodging FIR," the judge said.

"After examining the documentary as well as oral evidence ...It is not showing that accused committed the alleged offences for which he is being prosecuted because there is no valid justification for delay in lodging the FIR.

The court further said the evidentiary value of medical evidence is zero and the consent was obtained on pretext of marriage, so it cannot be said to result from misconception of fact in the facts and circumstances of this case."



"I am of the opinion that the materials placed before the court do not disclose the grave suspicion against the accused for framing a charge against him for committing offence punishable under section 376 of the IPC," the judge said.

The court's order came on a complaint of the German woman alleging that she came to India in 2001 and met accused in a hotel at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and they married each other in 2005.

However, they got divorced in 2007, but later in September 2012, they met again and accused established physical relation with her against her consent with a promise to remarry her, but again ditched her, the complaint said.

An FIR in the case was lodged in 2015 on the complaint of the woman under sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating) of IPC.

The court discharged him under section 376 but directed him to appear before another magisterial court to be tried for the offence of cheating.

The accused, while denying the rape allegations, had contended that the physical relations between them after divorce were consensual.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Contribution of small towns -- known as beyond the top 15 cities (B15) -- to mutual funds' asset base in India has surged 19 per cent to Rs 2.02 lakh crore in last fiscal.

Mutual funds' assets under management (AUM) from B15 grew from Rs 1.7 lakh crore in March 31, 2015 to Rs 2.02 lakh crore at the end of March this year, data available with markets regulator Sebi showed.

A major portion of the products sold within this fast growing pocket of the industry are equity-linked unlike the top 15 space, where institutional dominance tilts the balance towards fixed income products, an industry expert said.

The growth in the asset base could be attributed to a positive outlook in domestic markets along with well-timed initiatives by Sebi to re-energise the mutual fund industry.

During 2015-16, Sebi has taken a slew of regulatory reforms including introduction of mandatory stress testing of liquid fund and money market MF schemes; modification of product labelling; tightening of exposure limits on investments by MFs and enhancement of scheme related disclosures.

Besides, the number of folios or investors' accounts in B15 cities rose by 16.1 per cent to 2.09 crore during the period under review. Currently, the overall folio base stand at 4.92 crore.

B15 cities are those which are beyond these top 15 cities - New Delhi (including NCR), Mumbai (including Thane & Navi Mumbai), Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Panjim, Pune and Surat.

To increase penetration and popularise MF products in rural areas, Sebi had in 2012 mandated fund houses to go to 'B15' cities.

At present, all the mutual fund houses together manage assets worth over Rs 15 lakh crore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US biotechnology major Monsanto today said it has withdrawn application seeking approval for the next generation genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in India because of regulatory uncertainties.

The application seeking environment clearance for commercial cultivation of 'Bollgard-II Roundup Ready Flex technology' was withdrawn on July 6.

"Our decision to suspend this introduction in India is an outcome of the uncertainty in the business and regulatory environment, which includes the regulation of trait fees and introduction of the draft compulsory licensing guidelines," Monsanto Spokesperson said in a statement.

This decision has no impact on our current cotton portfolio being sold in India, it said.

In March, Monsanto had warned of re-evaluating its presence in India and holding back new technology if the government cuts trait fee of Bt cotton seeds drastically through "arbitrary and potentially destructive" interventions.

But the government went ahead and capped royalty for the new GM traits at 10 per cent of the maximum sale price of BT cotton seeds for the first five years.

In May, the government withdrew a notification capping royalty for new genetically modified (GM) traits amid opposition from crop biotech industry.

Monsanto sells cotton seed in India via Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd (MMBL), a joint venture with Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds. MMBL has sub-licensed Bt cotton seed technology since 2002 to various domestic seed companies.

Monsanto, however, said it is committed to Indian



agriculture and plans to continue bringing innovative research in corn seeds, vegetable seeds and crop protection chemistries.

"We plan to continue bringing innovative research in our businesses in corn seeds, vegetable seeds and crop protection chemistries, enabling farmers by providing high quality seeds and solutions as they make their planting decisions," the company said.

Monsanto claimed that its Bollgard cotton technologies have transformed India from a net importer in 2002 to becoming the second largest producer of cotton globally.

The technology has helped farmers increase cotton yields from 302 kg per hectare lint in 2002-03 to 552 kg per hectare lint in 2013-14, thereby generating additional farm income, it added.
India's High Commissioner to UK Navtej Sarna is set to head for Washington as Ambassador to the US, considered a high-profile posting.

Arun Singh, India's Ambassador to US, is due for retirement and it is understood that Sarna's name has been finalised to succeed him.

It is learnt the India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha may replace Sarna in the UK.

Sarna, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1980 batch, was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs before he was posted to London in January.

The 59-year-old diplomat was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the MEA. He had held the post between 2002 and 2008.

Sarna is likely to take up the new assignment in the midst of the high-voltage presidential campaign in the US and his main task will be to ensure continuity in Indo-US relations when a new dispensation takes charge in Washington.

Sarna is an author of many fiction and non-fiction books, with the most recent being 'Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life' released last year. He was also India's Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2012.

For two years from August 2012, Sarna had served as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations in the MEA.

Sarna had served at various Indian missions, including in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva, Thimphu and Washington.

Sinha, tipped to be Indian High Commissioner to the UK, is a seasoned diplomat and, in his career spanning 35 years, he has handled several important assignments at the MEA and in Indian diplomatic missions in South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chhattisgarh police today said they have arrested a senior Naxal leader who had abducted the IAS officer Alex Paul Menon from Sukma district in 2012.

"Bheema alias Akash, a divisional committee (DVC) leader of Maoists who was carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head, was yesterday nabbed by a special wing of the state intelligence branch," Special Director General of Police (anti-Maoist operations) D M Awasthi said today.

A native of Palamadgu village near Polampalli, a Naxal stronghold in Sukma, Bheema was under the scanner of special smart team (SST), a special unit of SIB, for a long time. He was nabbed from the forests of south Bastar adjoining Andhra Pradesh and Telangana yesterday, said Awasthi.

Bheema joined the Naxals in 2002 when he was 18. After he executed the abduction of Menon, who was then posted as Sukma collector, Bheema was elevated as DVC leader.

During the interrogation Bheema revealed that he was directed by the Naxal leader 'Erra' to abduct Menon from Manjhipara where the collector was to meet villagers on April 21, 2012, said Awasthi.

"A 16-member team of Naxals led by Bheema was camping close to Manjhipara from April 19. They had decided that if seven or eight gunmen accompanied the collector, then the abduction plan would be dropped.

"However, Naxal recce party informed that only one gunman was with the officer," the SDGP said.

The team led by Bheema attacked and shot down the collector's bodyguard who was carrying an AK-47. Another guard fired back with his pistol, but he too was shot dead.

The Naxals then took the collector to Sirshetti village, about 6 km from Manjhipara, and stayed there for a night. They reached Pamlur village onApril 27,and onApril 29, Menon was handed over to Naxal battalion number 1 commanderHidma.

Menon was released on May 4, 2012.

According to the SDGP, Bheema was also involved in the



powerful IED blast at Borguda village on Sukma-Konta highway in June 2010 in which seven CRPF personnel were killed.

On May 19, 2012, he executed a blast at Iptaguda in Bastar region in which two police jawans died, Awasthi said.

Bheema also told the police that he underwent medical training and since 2013 he gave medical help to the injured and ill colleagues, beside looking after the supply chain of the Maoists, the police officer said.
At least nine people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said on Thursday, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students.

Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began on Wednesday evening, just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government.

"Seven students were martyred, and 30 other students and lecturers were wounded," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP, adding that two policemen were also killed.

Hundreds of students were rescued during the overnight operation, he said, many of whom tweeted 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.

The attack began just after dusk, 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," an anxious student told AFP by telephone, before fleeing the campus.

Authorities refused 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.

Many of the wounded were rushed into waiting ambulances outside the university on stretchers, as erratic gunshots rang out through the night from inside the complex.

"We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those killed and our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded," the US National Security Council said in a statement, strongly condemning the attack.

The elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrolls 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 was apparently the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan.
North Korea has ordered its ambassador in London to return home over the scandal around his deputy's alleged defection to South Korea.

Hyon Hak-bong is being questioned by a team from North Korea's State Security Department, who are based in Berlin, the 'JoongAng Daily' South Korean newspaper reported.

Hyon and other diplomats based at North Korea's embassy in west London face possible punishments for their failure to alert headquarters over the disappearance of Thae Yong-ho from his base.

Thae went missing with his wife and two sons last month, following which South Korea's Unification Ministry confirmed on August 18 that the family had arrived in Seoul and were being protected by the government.

North Korea has ordered Ambassador Hyon to return to North Korea and filed a request with the British government to appoint a new ambassador.

The newspaper's sources claim that the replacement proposed to British authorities is a former officer in the North Korean military.

Media reports suggest that as many as seven North Korean diplomats have defected so far this year, including a government official stationed at the embassy in Bulgaria, one from Russia and several based at missions in East Asia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih today conveyed the state's inability torelease Cauvery water for farmers in Tamil Nadu due to deficit rainfall in the riverbasin area.

"There is deficit rainfall in the Cauvery basin area, so in the present situation it will be difficult to releasewater for irrigation purpose," he told a delegation of farmers from Tamil Nadu who met him here.

According to the CMO officials, Siddaramiah said if there were goodrains in the days to come and the situation improved, water would be released.

The farmer leaders, who met the Chief Minister athis residence, requested him to release water for samba crop in ninelakh acres, stating that in the absence of water, they might have to face difficultydue to crop damage.

Pointing out that the water level at dams in the Cauvery basin area had not reached expected levels, Siddaramaih saidthe situation was such that there would be difficulty in providing drinking water.

"In this circumstance, we will be unable to release water even under distress formula. Please understand our situation," he told the farmers.

Siddaramaih has called the meeting of floor leaders of the state Legislative Assembly and the Council on August 27 todiscuss Tamil Nadu's repeated demands for release of water and the situation in Cauvery basin area due to deficit rain fall.

Union ministers from the state and district-in-charge ministers from Cauvery basin area have also been invited for the meeting, officials said.

The Tamil Nadu government has moved theSupreme Court to get its share of Cauvery water. Siddaramaih had recently said his government wasalso ready for the legal battle.

Speaking to reporters on the issue, Karnataka Water Resources minister M B Patil said the state government will apprise the Supreme Court, Centre and Cauvery Supervisory Committee about the situation.

"Tamil Nadu is demanding the release of water. Chief Minister has already said that water is not sufficient for drinking water supply. We have cautioned our farmers about the situation and crops they are going to undertake, but Tamil Nadu is asking for Samba crop. It is a very difficult situation," he said.

On the proposed Mekedatu dam project across Cauvery River, which is being opposed by TamilNadu, Patil said Detailed Project Report (DPR) was readyand the draft of it will be placed before the Cabinet nextweek.

It would be a Rs 5,900 crore project and therewould be no shortage of funds, he said, adding it would not affect Tamil Nadu's interests.

Patil said the dam would have a capacity of 67 TMC, bigger than KRS (Krishna Raja Sagar) which can store 45 TMC of water.

Noting that Tamil Nadu was having objections to the project, Patil said, "We will disclose the project to the Supreme Court, Central Water Commission and concerned Central government ministries. We will proceed with the project legally, convincing every one. The project we have prepared is very clear,it is practically feasible."



Stating that the project will be initiated in this government's tenure itself, Patil added it will also have a 300 MW power generation facility.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Peter Sutcliffe, a notorious serial killer who was dubbed the "Yorkshire Ripper" after he brutally murdered 13 women, was today moved to a prison after more than three decades at a psychiatric facility in the United Kingdom.

A health tribunal found 70-year-old Sutcliffe no longer needs treatment for any mental disorder at Broadmoor hospital, a high-security and expensive facility in the east of England.

In 1981, he was convicted of 13 murders and seven attempted murders of women between 1976 and 1981 and given 20 life sentences.

He was transferred to Broadmoor in 1984 after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Sutcliffe, who now calls himself Peter Coonan,will continue to be monitored at his new prison.

"Peter Coonan will remain locked up and will never be released for his evil crimes. Decisions over whether prisoners are to be sent back to prison from secure hospitals are based on clinical assessments made by independent medical staff," a UK Ministry of Justice spokesperson said.

"The High Court ordered in 2010 that Peter Coonan should never be released. This was upheld by the Court of Appeal. Our thoughts are with Coonan's victims and their families," he added.

Sutcliffe hails from Bradford in the West Yorkshire region of England, which led to him being referred to as the "Yorkshire Ripper".

Most of his victims were prostitutes who were mutilated and beaten to death.

He was caught when police found him with a prostitute in his car.

Before he was moved to Broadmoor, the killer spent three years at Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A person was today charred to death and two others, including a youth hailing from Saudi Arabia, sustained severe burn injuries in an explosion and fire which followed a collision between two motorbikes here.

The victim was identified as Rajendra Bhidwa, a resident of Beed in Maharashtra, Inspector of Jawar police station, B P Awasthi said.

Bhidwa was riding a bike which ran into the other bike, which Seena (22) and Nidha (19) from Mumbai and Osama (17) from Saudi Arabia were riding. The accident took place on Mundi road, 10 km from here.

Seena and Osama sustained severe burn injuries, Awasthi said. They have been admitted to a hospital.

Nidha escaped unhurt.

The trio were going to Hanuvantia, a tourist spot, while Bhidwa was heading for Khandwa.

According to the eye-witnesses, the collision was so massive that it caused an explosion in which both bikes flew into the air and turned into balls of fire.

Further probe is underway in the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan on Thursday asked the world community to play its role in the peaceful resolution of the issue, saying it wants to resolve it in a peaceful manner and through result-oriented and sustained dialogue.

"Pakistan would continue its moral, diplomatic and political support for peaceful struggle for right to self- determination," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said on Thursday during a weekly briefing.

Noting that the Pakistani diplomats have been briefing the world community about alleged plight of Kashmiris, he said the community should play its role in the peaceful resolution of the issue.

The spokesman said that in view of delicate situation in the Valley, Pakistan has already extended an invitation to India for dialogue.

Asserting that remains the top issue on negotiating table, he said Pakistan wants to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner and through result-oriented and sustained dialogue, which is not fragile enough to break down after some incident.

Responding to a question, he claimed Pakistan and India discussed Kashmir issue bilaterally several times during the last six decades but the dialogue did not meet success due to Indian intransigence.

He said Shimla agreement does not prevent taking the issue to the UN as under the accord the two countries upheld supremacy of the UN charter in the conduct of their relations.

He added that relevant UN resolutions on Kashmir are still outstanding on the Security Council agenda.

Replying to another question, he claimed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Balochistan in his bid to divert attention from gruesome situation in Kashmir but the world is not naive and understands Indian machinations.

He said large-scale reaction against Modi's remarks in Pakistan especially in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan also exposed Indian designs.

The spokesman said preparations are on for hosting of 19th South Asian Association for Regional Coperation summit in Pakistan in November this year. He hoped that the summit would focus on relevant issues and give better results according to expectations of people of the region.
Pakistan has conveyed its disappointment to America that despite its "concerted and forceful" campaign against all terrorist groups, including the dreaded Haqqani network, the US did not "certify" its actions and blocked the USD 300 million military aid to the country.

In a meeting with US President Barack Obama's envoy Peter Lavoy, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary expressed concerns over the halt to the military aid.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year.

In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked the release of USD 300 million military aid to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US operations in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said Chaudhary "lamented that despite Pakistan's indiscriminate action against all terrorist groups, included the Haqqani Network, the US administration had decided not to certify the concerted and forceful measures taken by Pakistan."



Referring to "certain recent developments" that had placed a strain on bilateral ties, Chaudhary stressed that continued engagement was important to resolve differences of perception and understanding.

The Haqqani network - a guerilla insurgent group using asymmetric warfare to fight against US-led NATO forces and the Afghan government - has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets.

The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The Pakistan visit of Lavoy, who is also Senior Director for South Asia at the US National Security Council, is part of the regular high-level exchanges between the US and Pakistan.

The Pakistan foreign secretary in his meeting with Lavoy also reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani leadership to not allow anyone to use Pakistan's soil against any country.

Lavoy "noted" that the US recognised the efforts and sacrifices made by Pakistan and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism.

He acknowledged Pakistan's outreach to Afghan government and efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan today unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform the status of militancy-hit Federal Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and integrate them with the rest of the country.

Officially called as Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and inhabited by 5 million people, the area lies between Afghanistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Its rugged mountains, ravines, thick forests, FATA provided an ideal location for militants to hide, train and attack inside Pakistan and Afghanistan across the border.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had set up a committee more than eight months ago, headed by advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, to suggest measures to reform the region.

The committee visited the seven districts of FATA, met locals, elected representatives and experts to propose reform which will end its current semi-autonomous status and change its judicial, legal, political and economic system.

Aziz told media that the trade and economic links and social and cultural consanguinity makes it appropriate to integrate FATA into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The committee proposed investment in a 10-year-FATA Development Programme covering all the sectors; it will include development of urban centers in all the agencies," he said.

Aziz said that the committee also proposed the holding of local government elections in 2017 and to execute up to 30 per cent of the FATA 10 Year Development Plan through the local councils.

He said economic reform would add another Rs 21 billion for development of FATA annually through the funds of federal government.

He announced to change Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) which was introduced by British in 1901.

He said the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Court shall stand extended to FATA.

At the same time the Jirga system will remain prevalent in criminal and civil disputes.

In order to address the security, 20,000 new posts of tribal police will be created.

He said an Advisory Council that includes all FATA parliamentarians will be established to advise the Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in development and administrative matters, including the progress of the integration process of FATA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Pakistani soldier was fatally shot by unidentified men here as he tried to stop them from robbing two Hindus.

Police said the soldier, who was off-duty in plain clothes spotted unidentified men on a motorcycle trying to rob two brothers, Mahesh and Pawan Kumar.

"The robbers shot at the two brothers and wounded them. They tried to escape but the soldier caught hold of one of them and in the grapple he was shot in the chest," one police official said.

The soldier had later died at the PNS Shifahospital.

"He died of wounds to his chest," a doctor said.

Karachi has one of the highest street crime rates in Pakistan with daily muggings and street crimes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan today condemned a terror attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul that left at least 12 people dead and several others injured.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack at the American University in Kabul this morning in which many precious human lives were lost while a number of people were injured," the Foreign Office said in a statement here.

"We extend our profound condolences with the Government and the people of Afghanistan and the families of those who lost their loved ones in this brutal terrorist attack. We also pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded," it said.

Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations, the statement added.

The dead included seven students, three police officers and two security guards.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicion is likely to fall on the Taliban.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NCSC Chairman P L Punia today rejected the reported finding of the Roopanwal Commission that Rohith Vemula did not belong to the SC community as "totally wrong".

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman said the statutory body and the district collector have, in separate reports, found that the Hyderabad Central University research scholar belonged to the Dalit community, and not Other Backward Class (OBC).

"The issues raised by the Congress were sidelined and now the report is being presented that Vemula was not a Dalit," Punia told reporters here yesterday.

The Congress MP alleged that the commission was set up to justify what BJP ministers had been saying from day one that Vemula was OBC and not a Dalit.

He said that the suicide by the Dalit scholar was "painful and unfortunate". Vemula 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 Justice (retd.) A K Roopanwal Commission, which was constituted by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death, has submitted its report.

According to reports, the commission has said that the 26-year-old research scholar did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

(REOPENS DES17)



"The commission was formed to find out why Rohith Vemeula committed suicide and who were responsible for his death. Instead of working as per the mandate, the commission was trying to find out the caste of Vemula and that is unfortunate," Punia told
Personal wealth of Union Food Minister and his wife has increased by over Rs 14 lakh to Rs 1.21 crore in 2015-16 on back of higher cash and bank balance.

According to the declaration of assets and liabilities for 2015-16 posted on the PMO website, Paswan and his wife's total personal wealth, including movable and immovable assets, stood at over Rs 1.21 crore in 2015-16 as against about Rs 1.07 crore in the previous year.

Out of Rs 1.21 crore wealth, Paswan held assets worth over Rs 52 lakh and his wife the rest Rs 69.56 lakh.

According to the declaration, Paswan's deposits/FDs in two bank accounts increased to Rs 30.50 lakh in 2015-16 from Rs 24.58 lakh in the previous year. His wife's deposits rose to Rs 34.11 lakh from Rs 26.92 lakh in the said period.

The minister's cash in hand fell to Rs 50,000 from Rs 56,000, but his wife's jumped to Rs 78,500 from Rs 43,000 in the same period.

In the case of immovable property, LJP chief Paswan  a key ally of the NDA government  owns 15 acres of agri-land in Khagaria district of Bihar. The valuation of the agri-land has remained unchanged at Rs 15 lakh in the previous financial.

The minister also owns a 2,432-sq ft flat in Patna worth Rs 6,00,000 while his wife has a 4,500-sq ft house in Mehrauli, Delhi, valuing Rs 7,00,000. The value of these two properties has not increased in 2015-16.

Paswan's wife holds 700 grams gold jewellery worth Rs 20.30 lakh which she had inherited from her mother-in-law. There is no change in the value of the gold in the period under the review.

She also has a proprietorship firm named C N Enterprises, the valuation of which has increased to Rs 7,35,689 in 2015-16, from Rs 6,50,000 in 2014-15. She also owns a petrol pump in Delhi.

Paswan is a senior Cabinet minister holding food, public distribution and consumer affairs portfolio in the NDA government led by Narendra Modi.

His ministry is responsible for implementation of the landmark Food Security Act, under which highly subsidised foodgrains are supplied via ration shops to the poorest of poor. He is also responsible for ensuring availability of essential commodities at a reasonable price.
The changing demographics of the US does not support the views of the Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, a former senior US official on Thursday said even as he termed restraint as the leitmotif of the President's Obama policy.

Ashley Tellis, a senior advisor to the Ambassador at the US embassy in New Delhi, said the policies of President Obama has definitely helped India.

"The trajectory of India-US relationship is set and has seen a steady progress irrespective of whichever President has come to power in Washington. It is also unlikley to change," he said delivering a lecture on 'America and the World: Obama's Strategic Legacy' organised by Carnegie India.

Tellis, who is believed to have played a crucial role during the nuclear cooperation agreement, said New Delhi recognises that the US is important to aid India's rise in power.

He, however, admitted that the US failed to gauge the genesis of the Islamic State, but once it did, a fair amount of success was achieved in destroying the terror group.

Noting that restraint has been the leitmotif of Obama's grand strategy, Tellis said, the success of American engagement will not come from greater restraint but from assertiveness and any successes arising from Obama's policies are only transitory and not permanent.

He said Obama successfully avoided entry into major wars, not succumb to temptation of military intervention especially in the Middle east and successfully put a break on the Iranian nuclear programme.

Tellis, however, added that Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton will be more assertive, if voted to power as she deeply believes that if the US leadership is not forthcoming then even the collective actions or solutions will fail.

"She is more comfortable to use the American power than President Obama," said Tellis, who served on the National Security Council staff as special assistant to the president and senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia.

Asked about the impact on the Republican party if Trump loses, he said, if that happens marginally then the party will gravitate to the view held by Trump and if he is defeated resoundingly, then it will have to rethink on its ideology.

"Whatever views are presented by Trump the changing demography of America simply does not support that ideology. It's after all the arithmetic that will kill the party," Tellis said.

The former senior US official said Obama believes that an exercise of American power does not include nation building.

He said despite the rise of other powers including India and China, the US will remain the sole superpower and it will remain for sometime and added, assertiveness, which is missing in the Obama's foreign policy will make a return with the change of regime.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ruled that decisions on the transfer of 600 employees taken by a machinery, set up by Railways to settle disputes, should be implemented.

Justice G Rajasuria, judicial member of CAT, who disposed of the original applications filed by Southern Railway Mazdoor Union last week, said the minutes of the meeting did not disclose what transpired during the discussion and what points and suggestions of the union were turned down by the administration.

Pulling up the union for failing to record the minutes, the judicial member said, "When a union like SRMU participates in a discussion, it should prepare a written submission in the form of a booklet and also set out the objective facts before the railway administration for consideration."



"I am of the view that it is for the applicant to submit their detailed suggestion in the form of dossiers to the railway administration, following which there could be fruitful discussions between them and a conclusion could be arrived at," he observed.

However, he said the administration could hold discussions with the union and finalise on pin-pointing posts.

SRMU had approached the tribunal against the orders of the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager and Senior Divisional Personal Officer 'unilaterally' pin-pointing posts in the commercial department in Madras division and effecting more than 600 transfers on periodical grounds.

The union had contended that the orders were contrary to decisions taken by the Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM), wherein the General Manager had agreed to some norms and that his decision cannot be sidelined by the subordinate officers in the commercial department.

The tribunal which heard the application directed the railway administration to undertake the work study and after discussion with the union, finalise the 'pin-pointing'.

PNM is a machinery set up by Railways with a view to settle disputes arising between organised labour and railway administration.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Rajasthan Government has signed an agreement with strategic investment firm Rise India, to set up large state-of-the-art driving training centres in the state.

According to the MoU, the organisation will also provide skill training in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry.

Rajasthan government with the Department of Skills, Employment and Entrepreneurship (DSEE) will extend support to Rise India in setting up skill centres at major cities including Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, Bharatpur and Jhalawar.

Rise India, through its entity RVS Rise, would set up centres of excellence to impart training in Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy Technology and Animal Husbandry across the state in partnership with DSEE.

At the centres, candidates would go through training in soft skills, IT skills and basic financial skills to help them become independent and earn a livelihood for themselves.

"Rajasthan has a pulsating industry with a huge demand for skilled workforce. Together with the state Government, Rise India will be developing a strong network of skill centres, equipped with cutting-edge technology, to provide employable skilled youth to the industry," Ajay Chhanagni, CEO, Rise India said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Directing banks for strict compliance to expand reach of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), Reserve Bank has asked them not to be lax on entering details of farmers in the portal for corp insurance managed by the Agriculture Ministry.

RBI said it was brought to its notice that entries of the farmers were not being made by the bank branches in the portal meant for crop insurance.

Earlier in March, RBI had directed banks to ensure strict compliance of the provisions of Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme as well as ensure coverage of 100 per cent of defined loanee farmers.

They were also asked to ensure coverage of good number of non-loanee farmers to achieve the defined objectives and targets fixed under the scheme.

According to the PMFBY operational guidelines, banks are also expected to capture all relevant data including land and crop details of all loanee farmers and non-loanee farmers availing crop insurance through the branches.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare had advised all banks to enter farmer details in the unified portal for crop insurance -- www.Agriinsurance.Gov.In.

However, as the entries are not being filled, RBI said the Agriculture Ministry as well as state governments are not able to cull out any data leading to difficulties in assessment of coverage of crops insured, premiums deducted etc.

"You (banks) are therefore advised to issue necessary instructions to your branches to feed the relevant data in the portal at the earliest," RBI said in a notification.

Under the crop insurance scheme, farmers are required to pay only minimal premium and can claim compensation for losses caused by natural calamities up to 14 days after the harvest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the PMFBY in January this year.

Last week, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh expressed hope to cover four crore farmers under the scheme in the current fiscal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With an aim to reduce risk in banking sector, RBI has proposed to limit exposure of a bank to a business group to up to 25 per cent of its capital, down from the existing 55 per cent.

"The Large Exposure (LE) limit in respect of each counterparty and group of connected counterparties, under normal circumstances, will be capped at 20 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively of the eligible capital base," RBI said in a Draft Large Exposures (LE) Framework.

The eligible capital base will be defined as the tier 1 capital of the bank as against capital funds at present, it said.

A group of connected large borrowing companies will be identified on the basis of control as well as economic dependence criteria, it said.

While inviting comment from public, it said, the proposed 'Large Exposure' (LE) framework will be fully applicable from March 31, 2019.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) too recognised the need for banks to measure and limit the size of large exposures in relation to their capital.

The RBI's proposal is in line with BCBS standards (BASEL norms on capital adequacy).

The exposure framework has been released at a time when bad loans or non-performing assets are on the rise. Gross NPAs of PSU banks are Rs 4.7 lakh crore as on March, 2015, up from Rs 71,080 crore in 2011.

"Since the LE Framework is constructed to serve as a backstop to and complement the risk-based capital standards, it must apply at the same level as the risk-based capital requirements are to be applied, that is, a bank shall comply with the LE norms at two levels: (a) consolidated (Group1) level and (b) Solo2 level," it said.

The application of the LE framework at the consolidated level implies that a bank must consider exposures of all the banking group entities (including overseas operations through branches and subsidiaries) under regulatory scope of consolidation, to counterparties and compare the aggregate of those exposures with the banking group's eligible consolidated capital base for the purpose of complying with the norms, it said.

"Banks must gradually adjust their exposures to abide by the LE limit with respect to the eligible capital base (effective amount of Tier 1 capital)... Banks should avoid taking any additional exposure in cases where their exposure is at or above the exposure limit prescribed under this Framework," it said.

It noted that a bank's exposure to its counterparties may result in concentration of its assets to a single counterparty or a group of connected counterparties.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RBI today retained 'too big to fail' tag for the state-owned SBI and private lender ICICI Bank for the second year in a row, calling them systemically important banks for 2016 requiring higher level of supervision.

In 2015, these two were identified for the first time as the domestic systemically important banks.

Systemically important banks are subjected to higher levels of supervision to prevent disruption to financial services in the event of any failure.

Based on the Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) Framework and data collected from lenders as on March 31, 2016, these two have again been declared D-SIBs in 2016.

"RBI has identified State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) in 2016 and has retained their bucketing structure as it was last year," the central bank said in a statement.

The additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) requirement for D-SIBs has to be done in phases. For these two, it has already been phased in from April 1, 2016, and will become fully effective April 1, 2019.

"The additional CET1 requirement will be in addition to the capital conservation buffer," RBI added.

Additional CET 1 requirement as a percentage of risk weighted assets (RWAs) for SBI and ICICI Bank stands at 0.6 pr cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively.

As per the framework, RBI will determine a cut-off score to determine which banks make the cut.

Banks are plotted into four different buckets and will be required to have additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital requirement ranging from 0.2 per cent to 0.8 per cent of risk weighted assets, depending on the bucket they are plotted into.

The framework requires RBI to disclose the names of banks designated as D-SIBs every year in August.

Systemically important banks are perceived as ones that are 'too big to fail (TBTF)'. This perception of TBTF creates expectation of government support for them in distress. These banks also enjoy certain advantages in funding markets.

However, the perceived expectation of government support amplifies risk-taking, reduces market discipline, creates competitive distortions and increases probability of distress in future.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rebel AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar has moved a breach of privilege notice against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, accusing him of resorting to "falsehoods" while defending the Delhi government on the liquor issue.

Pushkar, who represents the Timarpur constituency, moved the notice yesterday, claiming Sisodia's replies to two starred questions posed by him in the Assembly were factually incorrect and were intended to "hide" the Delhi government's "misdeeds".

In reply to Pushkar's question on whether there was any public consultation before granting licences to new vends in the last one year, Sisodia had said as per current rules there is no such requirement.

This, Pushkar claimed, was "false" as relavant sections of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010 make the Deputy Commissioner liable to take all reasonable steps to "ascertain the opinion of persons, who reside or have property in the neighbourhood and are likely to be affected by the proposal".

"If any objection is preferred to the proposal, the Deputy Commissioner or a gazetted officer deputed by him, shall enquire into it..." Pushkar told reporters today, quoting Section 24 of the rules.

Pushkar's second question was whether the consent of the local MLA is required before opening of a new liquor vend in an area, to which Sisodia had said replied in the negative.

"Whereas the fact remains that while granting L6 licence (retail vends), as per the excise policy of the Delhi government, the area MLA should have given his positive opinion. An NOC from the area MLA is required for L2/L10 vends before the opening of a liquor shop," he said.

Pushkar's move assumes importance as Swaraj Abhiyan, led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan which the MLA has actively backed, has raised the issue in a big way, in its first major intervention in Delhi politics.

Under the new excise policy announced by the AAP dispensation, no new liquor store, except in malls, will be allowed in Delhi in the current financial year. It has also empowered the mohalla sabhas to decide on whether to shut down the existing ones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rejecting the judicial commission's report on Rohith Vemula's suicide as "fake and fictitious", the Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P L Punia on Thursday said the deceased Hyderabad University research scholar was a Dalit.

Punia's remarks came in response to the reports that the one-man judicial commission of former judge of Allahabad High Court A K Roopanwal, has observed that Vemula did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

"The commission was formed to find out why Rohit Vemula committed suicide and who were responsible for his death. Instead of working as per the mandate, the commission was trying to find out the caste of Vemula which is unfortunate," Punia, Chairman, Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) told PTI.

"Its findings are fake and fictitious. The final authority on caste is District Collector, and the Collector with conclusive evidences has given us report that he is a Scheduled Caste (person) and does not belong backward class," Punia added.

Amid a nation-wide outrage on educational campuses over Vemula's suicide, the Roopanwal commission was constituted to probe the reasons for it. Vemula had been suspended by the university a few days before he committed suicide.

The Roopanwal panel had recently submitted its report to the UGC. Though its contents are yet to be made public officially, some reports said the commission has held Vemula was not a Dalit.

Punia said the suicide by the Dalit scholar was "painful and unfortunate". Vemula 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.
In a major haul, customs officials in Chennai have seized foreign worth Rs 7 crore allegedly smuggled by declaring the cargo as plywood sheets.

The seizure was made when Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths, on a tip-off, carried out the search of a container at a yard in New Manali near Chennai. It had been sent by a Singapore-based private firm to a local importer.

The cigarettes, kept concealed under plywood sheets, were seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 and the officials have launched a hunt to nab the importer who is absconding, a DRI release said on Thursday.

The importer  Thivya Agencies  has declared the cargo as 'Malaysian core veneer' plywood sheets. However, DRI officials found 700 cartons containing seven lakh sticks of Indonesian 'Djarum Black' kept concealed under the plywood sheets.

The cigarettes, worth Rs 7 crore, were systematically arranged in the cartons and did not contain the mandatory pictorial warning, it added.
on Thursday launched large-scale snap military drills, putting its troops on full combat readiness in districts bordering Ukraine and the Baltic states, the defence minister said.

"In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (President Vladimir Putin), a spot check started today," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in televised comments.

Troops in the country's southern, central and western military districts, as well as the air force, northern fleet and paratroopers were in full combat mode as of 04:00 GMT, he said.

The drills  which are taking place in military districts that encompass the contested Crimea peninsula, the region that borders Ukraine and NATO members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as territory spanning from the Ural mountains to central Siberia  are set to last until the end of the month.

Shoigu did not reveal how many troops are taking part in the exercises.

Relations between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and have soured since Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula of Ukraine in March 2014, and eastern European countries are worried that they too could be targets of Russian aggression.

NATO vowed at a summit in Warsaw in July to bolster its eastern flank to counter a resurgent Russia, agreeing to deploy four battalions in Poland and the Baltic states.

Moscow slammed the decision, accusing NATO of working to counter a non-existent threat.

Since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, has stepped up its military presence in the peninsula, which is home to its Black Sea fleet.

Russia's most advanced air defence system, the S-400, was delivered to Crimea earlier this month.
Scotland Yard is examining if London-based MQM leader Altaf Hussain's speech incited violence in which one person was killed and several others injured in Karachi earlier this week.

Hussain, 62, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the UK for more than 20 years, addressed supporters in Pakistan via telephone calls that were broadcast to his followers.

"Where evidence of criminal activity is found we will consult with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said.

Pakistani authorities say Hussain described the country as a "cancer" and incited his followers to attack two media stations that he accused of bias.

He allegedly called on his supporters to "move" on ARY and Samaa, two private television stations in Pakistan, to "get justice".

According to the 'Guardian', the Met police have also been examining previous speeches made by Hussain, who holds dual British-Pakistani citizenship.

In September 2010, MQM's deputy leader Dr Imran Farooq was beaten and stabbed to death outside his north London home, triggering a murder investigation that is still open.

"Detectives from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command are investigating Farooq's murder and remain committed to putting before the courts those responsible," the Met spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, today applauded the US Postal Service for issuing a stamp on Diwali, the festival of lights.

"I applaud the Postal Service for this meaningful recognition of Diwali, a holiday important to Indian-Americans in Texas and across the country," Cornyn said in a statement.

Cornyn and Senator Mark Warner, other Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, had introduced a resolution to commemorate Diwali with a US Postal Service stamp last year.

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 holiday now joins other religious festivals honoured with a commemorative stamp, including Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Eid al-Fitr.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foreign travellers to India arriving on e-tourist visa are likely to get a SIM card from September-end, with the Home Ministry giving its nod and roping in state-run BSNL for the purpose.

"We had a number of meetings with the Home Ministry with regard to providing SIM card to foreigner tourists when they land in India. The ministry has finally agreed to our proposal. Now, it will take some time to start the facility," Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said.

The move is aimed at projecting India as a global tourist destination among foreign travellers as well as addressing the security concerns by equipping the tourists with mobile phones to make calls in case of any distress, an official said.

Foreign tourists face problems while procuring a SIM card, making them dependent on telephone booths. The facility would address this concern as well, he said.

The SIM card, preloaded with talktime amount, will come with a 'welcome kit' which would also consist of 'dos and don'ts list', maps, tourism booklets with information about various tourist destinations and details of whom to contact in case of emergency, the official said.

However, according to a source, the amount of money to be loaded in the SIM card it is yet to decided.

"The e-tourist visa holders could get the welcome kit which would include a SIM card from BSNL counter as soon as they come out the airport. BSNL has agreed...The last level discussion is going on," Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said.

"I think the facility would be launched by September-end, probably on World Tourism Day (which falls on September 27)," he said.

Under the e-tourist visa scheme, an applicant receives an email authorising him or her to travel to India and he or she can travel with a print-out of this authorisation. On arrival, the visitor has to present the letter to the immigration authorities who would then stamp the entry into the country.

Launched on November 27, 2014, the facility was initially available for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India. From February 26, the scheme was extended for citizens of 37 more countries.

The e-tourist visa facility is gaining popularity among foreign travellers. It recorded over 200 per cent rise, with 68,400 people availing the facility in July compared to 21,476 during the corresponding month last year.

Last month, the UK occupied the top slot in availing the e-visa facility, followed by the US and France.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Music mogul Simon Cowell plans to formally invite current US presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, on his show "America's Got Talent."



The 56-year-old creator of "The X Factor" wants them to show their talent on his reality competition and revealed that the invitation process is in work, reported People magazine.

"I think we can take it a stage further in addition to the debates, why don't we invite them on? They can sing, dance, whatever they want.

"I only just thought of it now, it sort of just came into my head. So we're going to put the invite out and it sort of changes the election process a little bit. It would be good, right?," Cowell said.

Cowell said he got the idea of calling them after he heard Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine playing several tunes on the harmonica recently, including Bob Dylan's "Wagon Wheel".

He is currently on the judging panel of "America's Got Talent" alongside Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, which is hosted by Nick Cannon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five hours of sleep deprivation may harm your memory as it leads to a loss of connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with learning and memory, a new study has found.

"It is clear that sleep plays an important role in memory - we know that taking naps helps us retain important memories," said Robbert Havekes from University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

"But how sleep deprivation impairs hippocampal function and memory is less obvious," said Havekes.

It has been proposed that changes in the connectivity between synapses - structures that allow neurons to pass signals to each other - can affect memory.

To study this further, researchers examined the impact of brief periods of sleep loss on the structure of dendrites, the branching extensions of nerve cells along which impulses are received from other synaptic cells, in the mouse brain.

They first used the Golgi silver-staining method to visualise the length of dendrites and number of dendritic spines in the mouse hippocampus following five hours of sleep deprivation, a period of sleep loss that is known to impair memory consolidation.

Their analyses indicated that sleep deprivation significantly reduces the length and spine density of the dendrites belonging to the neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.

They repeated the sleep-loss experiment, but left the mice to sleep undisturbed for three hours afterwards. This period was chosen based on the scientists' previous work showing that three hours is sufficient to restore deficits caused by lack of sleep.

The effects of the five-hour sleep deprivation in the mice were reversed so that their dendritic structures were similar to those observed in the mice that had slept.

Researchers then studied what was happening during sleep deprivation at the molecular level.

"We were curious about whether the structural changes in the hippocampus might be related to increased activity of the protein cofilin, since this can cause shrinkage and loss of dendritic spines," said Havekes.

"Our further studies revealed that the molecular mechanisms underlying the negative effects of sleep loss do in fact target cofilin," he said.

Researchers found that five hours of sleep deprivation leads to a loss of connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with learning and memory.

"Lack of sleep is a common problem in our 24/7 modern society and it has severe consequences for health, overall wellbeing, and brain function," said Ted Abel from University of Pennsylvania in the US.

When subjects have a chance to catch up on much-needed sleep, they are rapidly remodelling their brain, he said.

The findings were published in the journal eLife.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Korea will be the "focus" country at the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Goa this November.

"It has been decided that South Korea would be the focus country for IFFI this year," a senior official told PTI adding that movies from the country will be showcased and eminent film personalities from that country may attend the festival.

Last year, Spain was the focus country at the 11-day festival and its films and eminent personalities were part of the film event.

Officials said that the government has been paying special attention to films as a part of its "cultural diplomacy."



There have been a series of events in which the government has focused on films to strengthen the country's softpower, an official said.

In July this year, a four-day long film festival of Iranian films was held, which was soon followed by an eight-day long festival of European films.

Important dignitaries from these countries like EU Ambassadors, Deputy Heads of Mission attended these festivals. And soon another important event - the BRICS Film Festival will be held on September 2.

I&B minister M Venkaiah Naidu had yesterday unveiled the official poster for the five-day film festival which will screen films from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa besides India.

I&B officials said that keeping in line with this policy, India has also decided to work with Bangladesh for the production of documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh.

India will also facilitate the production of a 'mega movie' by Bangladesh to mark the 100th birth anniversary of its Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Telangana Congress today said it will organise a meeting of experts here tomorrow to "expose" Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's "lies and false claims" on irrigation projects in the state.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy in a press release here said the Chief Minister has "mortgaged the interest of the state by deciding to shift the main project from Thummadihatti to Medigadda".

"This will cause a huge loss to the interest of Telangana farmers. We will convene an expert talk and discussion on 'Pranahita Chevella/Kaleshwaram project' at 3 pm on Friday at TPCC Headquarters, Gandhi Bhavan," he said.

"We have invited retired engineers and several irrigation experts for discussion on the Chief Minister's false claims on three major projects on Godavari river. We will expose how the shifting of main project from Thummadihati to Medigadda is detrimental to the interest of Telangana," it further said.

Two days back, Maharashtra and Telangana signed three agreements related to irrigation projects.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Rao signed the agreements facilitating construction of three barrages with a total storage capacity of 19 tmc (thousand million cubic ft) of water.

Slamming the ruling TRS party on the move, Congress alleged the CM (Rao) is behaving like an "agent" of the BJP government in Maharashtra.

According to a Government release issued earlier, the Medigadda barrage, which is a part of Kaleswaram project, will help Telangana tap the Godavari water.

When completed, the projects will provide water to 40 lakh acres in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Warangal districts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When I returned from working (very briefly) in Italy a few years ago, I was desperate for food that was just somewhat comparable. It felt like forever, but eventually I found my savior at Amore Neapolitan Pizzeria at their original location. Amore moved to Green Jeans Farmery less than a year ago, but business is booming already. I really like everything that Green Jeans has to offer but I really dont like how crowded it gets on the weekend nights. Its incredible how many different things are there (restaurants, a cafe, bars, a clothing store and a gym), but it is reflected in the size of each spacemost places are tiny. On weeknights, its great. Theres plenty of space without a ton of people there and great views of the city. Its one of the most communal spaces Ive found in Albuquerque.

The new Amore location is tiny in comparison to their old locationit reminds me of the allotted area in front of food truckstheres no space in the restaurant to eat, so you have to go into the shared indoor space that holds about 10-12 tables, the patio, balcony or one of the bars where they bring you your food order (the pizza pairs best with drinks from Santa Fe Brewerys Taproom). Its very convenient if youre with a group of people and everyone wants different things; just decide on a meeting spot and everyones food can be delivered there.

The final pizza was my favorite: the Margherita S.T.G. Whenever I try a new pizza place for the first time, this is the pie I order to see if the restaurant is legit. Its such a simple thing to make, but so much can go wrongthe kitchen staff doesnt really care, the ingredients arent quality, or the cooks just dont know what theyre doing.

As someone whos been loyal to this restaurant for years, I know what I like. For you readers, though, I decided to try a couple of new things. From the incredibly friendly and helpful staff, I ordered meatball sliders ($6), the classic (and very familiar to me) Margherita S.T.G. (, $9) and Diavola ($11). After a short wait my food was delivered to me on the patio.

I had been craving meatballs recently, so I was particularly excited to finally try the meatball sliders. Presented on a medium sliced piece of bread similar to bruschetta, it threw me off. When I hear sliders, I think mini-burgers. My doubt was corrected when I took my first bite: The bread was toasted well, not too crunchy and not soft, and between the bread and the meatball was a slice of mozzarella with grated Parmesan. The mozzarella is made in-house, like many places in Italy, and it shows. Though a tad rubbery, it is so delicate and perfectly mild that every time I have it Im nearly in complete bliss. The meatballs were perfect. Dreamily savory, tender and earthy, they are some of the best meatballs Ive ever had within memory. All of those things combined, I think this may be my new favorite dish from Amore.

Next was the Diavola, which contained tomato sauce (with tomatoes sourced from Italy), house-made mozzarella, Italian salami, pecorino Romano and Hatch red chile. The base of the pizza was something Ive had mixed feelings about. Dont get me wrong, its good, but its so soft and ... well, floppy. Ive never been a pizza folder before but I felt like I had to fold the pizza to keep everything on the pie. I had no issue with the crust; it had a slight crunch on the outside and was soft and warm in the center. I had to rip it with my teeth and could still do that after it had been refrigerated with no real change in effort. It was just the center of the dough: I liked it. I liked that it absorbed the flavors of the pizza ever so slightly and without losing its clean flavor; I just didnt like that it wasnt firm enough to hold its toppings. Aside from that small issue, it was great. The tomato sauce was slightly acidic and had a hint of sweetness, but with the mozzarella achieved a delicious balance of marginally acidic, sweet and sour. The salami was wonderful. It wasnt too dry but still tore apart easily and was pleasingly spicy. The pecorino Romano was sharp and salty. The entire thing was topped with Hatch red chile powder so the entire pizza was satisfyingly spicy.

The final pizza was my favorite: the Margherita S.T.G. Whenever I try a new pizza place for the first time, this is the pie I order to see if the restaurant is legit. Its such a simple thing to make, but so much can go wrongthe kitchen staff doesnt really care, the ingredients arent quality, or the cooks just dont know what theyre doing. Since Ive been going to Amore for years now, Im sure you can guess how they handle this classic: I love their Margherita pizza. It contains all the basic, yet high quality ingredients that Amore uses to elevate their pizzas: their dough, tomato sauce and mozzarella, plus the bold flavor of basil.

Though I have mixed feelings about the venue, I highly recommend visiting Amore at their new location.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen urged the island's army to improve its performance after a string of accidents, promising to help upgrade equipment as she presided over military drills on Thursday.

The war games in the southern county of Pingtung, the first of Tsai's presidency, are part of an annual military exercise which simulates incoming attacks from China, the biggest threat to Taiwan's security.

Relations with the mainland have been frosty since Tsai won the island's presidency in January.

Beijing is highly suspicious of Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally pro-independence, and has warned her against any attempt at a formal breakaway.

Tsai said Thursday that Taiwan's army needs a set of firm directions and instructed the defence ministry to work on updating its military strategy.

"Some of the challenges faced by our army come from external structural limitations, others are because our bad performance," she said at a Pingtung army base after watching fighter jets and tanks fire live rounds.

Today's war games included more than 100 paratroopers mimicking enemies attempting to invade an army base.

Wearing a bullet-proof vest and helmet, Tsai told soldiers and spectators that the military has been too slow upgrading its equipment and pledged to make the issue a priority.

The president's comments come as the military struggles with its image after back-to-back missteps since she came to power.

During her speech, Tsai paid respects to four soldiers who died last week when their tank slipped and plunged into a river during heavy rains.

The incident follows the accidental firing of a supersonic aircraft carrier killer missile towards China last month, which sparked an uproar in and a stern rebuke from Beijing.

Tsai also pledged to further develop the military's capabilities. currently buys most of its weapons from the United States.

Late last year, Washington announced a massive $1.8 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the first to the island in four years.

China  which has 1,500 missiles aimed at  insists the island is part of its territory awaiting reunification.
Eyeing 40 per cent annual growth in cloud operations, is planning to set up necessary storage infrastructure in countries of operations to win over local business by addressing its concerns on overseas data storage.

Data sovereignty is going to be more critical and the governments will look to introduce more stringent regulations around this element of storage in cloud, Srinivasan C R, senior vice-president, global product management and data centre services, Tata Communications, told PTI.

He flagged government concerns about accuracy of data being stored, going forward. Building your datafarms in one location limits your ability to work with enterprise customers. Data residency is a big concern, Srinivasan said.

Various governments, including India, have been pushing to set up their servers locally so that most of the data transmitted through e-mail or messaging services and stored online do not go out of the country.

Most e-mail services, internet browsers and softwares for various online services have been developed by foreign companies, specially those based in the US.

There have been apprehensions that data stored overseas may be intercepted or hacked in an unauthorised manner. "Our focus is to expand to more than 13 countries and a lot more granular locations... Our data centres are present in 43 locations. We are partnering with data centre to provide service locally. Year-on-year, we will be adding new geographies," Srinivasan said.

He said the company is looking at expanding cloud services in Europe and the Asean region.

data centres are located in various countries, including Australia, Singapore, Japan, Spain, Austria, the US, Canada, South Africa and India.

According to Srinivasan, the company is investing in new technologies to help its customers digitise their business.

"There is no choice. Digitisation is at door. The number of applications on smartphones has increased significantly compared to a few years ago. We want to grow more than 40 per cent. Global IT market is USD 1.5 trillion. Cloud is very small part of it. Global market size is huge," he said.

expects its new services business like mobility, unified communications, video streaming and the like will significantly push data services and cloud business.

"We have a target to double our business in 5-10 years. We grew 34 per cent last year. Our target is to grow more than 34 per cent," said Anthony Bartolo, President of Mobility and Collaborations Services at Tata Communications.
An Air India flight from here to Newark, carrying around 300 passengers, was today diverted to Kazakhstan due to technical issues.

The Boeing 777-300 ER plane had landed at the Aktobe international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after "some alarm went off" while it was on its way to Newark. The airline said all passengers are safe.

A relief aircraft would be leaving from New Delhi to Aktobe at 1500 hours to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark. The aircraft is expected to reach Aktobe at 1830 hours, Air India said.

An airline spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.

In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.

"#AI CMD Mr Lohani spoke to Captain Aroob. The pax (passengers) are satisfied and happy that the flt (flight) safely landed in #Kazakhstan," Air India said in another tweet.

Aroob is the captain of the flight that was diverted to Kazakhstan.

Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has seating capacity for around 350 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 17-year-old girl was injured when terrace of a single-storey building collapsed in Ranhola area of West Delhi this morning.

A Delhi Fire Service officer said they received a call about the collapse at 10.46 AM and two fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Besides Fire Service personnel, various other agencies including police and MCD, also took part in the rescue work.

Roshni was injured and is currently in hospital. Her parents did not sustain any injury, police said.

They said the owners of the house had built a washroom on the first floor although the foundation of the building was weak.

"The cause of the collapse is suspected to be the rickety nature of the building. It was an old building and had a quite weak base. They had constructed a bathroom in a shed on the top floor which had put further pressure on the building," said a police officer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha today suspended Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra after a graft probe was launched against him.

The order asked government agencies concerned to conduct a graft probe against 63-year-old Sukhumbhand and said he would be reinstated if the probe cleared him. The graft probe was launched following allegations of corruption and misbehaviour in office.

Invoking Section 44 gives junta leader and the Prime Minister absolute power to give any order deemed necessary to "strengthen public unity and harmony" or to prevent any act that undermines public peace.

Prayutinvoked the article in his capacity as the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order.

The order, which was published in the Royal Gazette, stated that Sukhumband was suspended from his duty but he has not yet been removed from his post until further notice.

Sukhumbhand has been hit with a series of scandals.

An unnamed source, quoted by local media, from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said the governor was at Hong Kong airport for a transit when the order was issued.

He was on his way to Seoul to attend an event to celebrate Twin City between Bangkok and Seoul.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee today claimed that there would be no sign of the Congress and the CPI-M in West Bengal by the end of this year.

"Please wait for a few more days. I can just tell you that there will be no sign of the Congress and the CPI(M) by the end of this year," Banerjee, nephew of state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asserted.

Over the past few months a large number of elected representatives of the Congress and Left Front constituents switched over to the Trinamool Congress and several Zilla Parishads and municipalities controlled by the Left Front and the Congress have gone to the TMC fold.

The TMC has now set its eye on the Left Front-controlled Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Congress-controlled Murshidabad Zilla Parishad.

Only today a councillor of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation today joined the TMC.

In Murshidabad, a Congress stronghold and bastion of state president Adhir Chowdhury, the party is facing a serious challenge to defend its zilla parishad as eight of its members, one of CPI(M) and another from AIFB had recently joined the TMC, taking the number of TMC members to 29 in the 70-member council.

The opposition parties are crying foul over the development as they alleged that the ruling party was out to finish the Opposition in the state which is detrimental for a healthy democracy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trinamool Congress will get the status of national party very soon, its vice-president Mukul Roy today said.

"Very soon the TMC will get the status of the national party. Recently an official of the Election commission had communicated it to me. Apart from West Bengal, Trinamool Congress has presence in states such as Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura," he said.

The Election Commission has recently decided that for a political party to get the status of a national party it has to win two per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different states in the latest general election.

Or, it has to poll in a Lok Sabha or Assembly election six per cent of the total valid votes in at least four states, in addition to winning four Lok Sabha seats. Or, it has been recognised as a state party in at least four states.

At present, BJP, Indian National Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI and CPI(M) are the six recognised political parties. Besides, there are 64 recognised state parties in India.

The Election Commission on Monday amended rules whereby it will now review the national and state party status of political parties every 10 years instead of the present five.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two persons have been arrested for assaulting and robbing a Kenyan woman here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today.

"There was a report that a Kenyan lady was victim of assault and robbery on 22 Aug. We called for a report from Delhi Police.

"A case under S.394/34 IPC was registered and both the accused have been arrested by Delhi Police," she tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court has upheld a Madhya Pradesh High Court decision holding that two Indian firms, Sasan Power Ltd and North American Coal Corporation India Pvt Ltd (NACCIPL), may conduct outside India and under a foreign law if there was an agreement to that effect.

"We see no reason to interfere with the conclusions recorded by the courts (HC) below. The appeal is, therefore, dismissed with costs," a bench of Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre said while dismissing the plea of Reliance Power-owned Sasan Power Ltd which operates Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) at Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh.

The UMPP has a dispute over certain clauses of agreement executed between it and NACCIPL.

Sasan Power Ltd had moved the apex court challenging the High Court verdict holding that when parties have agreed to resolve all their disputes through arbitration, they cannot be permitted to avoid .

The UMPP took the stand that the proceedings between two Indian entities cannot be seated in a foreign country and the arbitration Act is quite clear on domestic arbitration between two Indian parties.

The apex court did not find fault with the decision of the High Court that the arbitration proceedings between the firms can be undertaken in London and under the English law.

"It is settled law that an arbitration agreement is an independent or 'self contained' agreement. In a given case, a written agreement for arbitration could form part of another agreement, described by Lord Diplock as the 'substantive contract' by which parties create contractual rights and obligations," the court said.

The court added, "Notwithstanding the fact that all such rights and obligations arising out of a substantive contract and the agreement to have the disputes (if any, arising out of such substantive contract) settled through the process of arbitration are contained in the same document, the arbitration agreement is an independent agreement."



The 3,960 MW ultra mega project was set up by Reliance Power-owned Sasan Power Ltd, which had executed a Memorandum of Understanding with NACC-US in January 2009 for technical consultancy related to coal mining and related activities.

Based on this, in April 2011, the US firm assigned its rights, liabilities and obligations under the agreement to its Indian subsidiary, NACCIPL.

Later, NACCIPL issued a letter of termination in respect of the associate agreement and filed a request for arbitration with the International Council for Arbitration (ICC), claiming a compensation of over $17 million along with compound interest.

Sasan Power challenged this before a district court at Singrauli which dismissed the plea.

Sasan Power argued that the dispute between the two Indian should be decided by the Indian judicial system and not the arbitral tribunal in London under the auspices of the ICC.

North America Coal Corporation, on the other hand, argued that it has to be heard at the ICC. It was permissible for two Indian parties to have a foreign seat and this is was contemplated within the scheme of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, its Indian subsidiary had argued.
The UN Security Council has agreed at an emergency meeting to consider issuing a statement on the latest North Korean missile launch.

Malaysia's UN Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, the current council president, told reporters yesterday 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."



After North Korea's previous missile test, the US also proposed a press statement, but diplomats said China insisted on language linking it to US plans to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea. So the US dropped the statement, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.

The Security Council in March imposed the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades, reflecting growing anger at Pyongyang's latest nuclear test and rocket launch in defiance of a ban on all nuclear-related activity.

China, Russia and others expressed hope when it was adopted that the sanctions would lead to the immediate resumption of six-party talks aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. North Korea withdrew from the talks in 2008.

But the North has continued to launch ballistic missiles and tensions have mounted. Yesterday's launch came two days after the US and South Korea began military exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as an invasion rehearsal.

Russia's deputy UN ambassador Petr Iliichev, asked about yesterday's meeting, said there was the "usual condemnation for violation of resolutions."



But he said council members also stressed the "responsibility of the regional actors" for not implementing the March resolution and finding a way "for stabilisation (and a) political, diplomatic, political solution to the problem."



The US and Japan called for the emergency meeting after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine earlier yesterday.

South Korean officials said the missile flew about 500 kilometres, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Public sector lender Union Bank of India plans to raise Rs 750 crore by issuing Basel III compliant bonds.

"We wish to inform you that the bank intends to raise capital funds through issuance of Basel III compliant tier II bonds," Union Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Crisil Ratings has assigned 'Crisil AAA/Negative' to the bank's proposed Basel III compliant tier II bonds of Rs 750 crore, it added.

In view of implementation of global standard Basel III Capital Regulations, banks need to improve and strengthen their capital planning processes.

The norms are being implemented to mitigate concerns on potential stresses on asset quality and consequential impact on performance and profitability of banks.

Being implemented in phases since April 1, 2013, India is expected to fully implement Basel III standards by March 2019.

This will align full implementation of Basel III in India closer to the internationally agreed date of January 1, 2019.

Share of the bank closed 1.25 per cent down at Rs 134.20 on BSE.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man unsuccessfully tried to rob cash from an ATM of South Indian Bank at a town near Kottakal after damaging the machine, two CCTV cameras and a sensor, police said.

The incident took place early this morning at Othukkungal near Kottakkal in the district today.

The bank manager informed police around 7.30 AM and also told them that the money was safe.

Though he damaged the CCTVs, it captured images of his face, police said, adding he had not yet been identified.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will arrive here next week to attend the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD).

During her India visit, from August 29 to 31, she will also attend the US-India CEO Forum, a statement of the US Department of Commerce said.

"Secretary Pritzker will co-chair the S&CD with US Secretary of State John Kerry, India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman," it said.

In January 2015, US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to elevate the existing US-India "Strategic Dialogue" to the "Strategic and Commercial Dialogue" to reflect the growing significance of the economic relationship between the two countries.

This is the first time the S&CD will be held in India.

"Secretary 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 statement said.

The CEO Forum brings together CEOs and government representatives from both the 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.

"While in New Delhi, Secretary Pritzker will also meet with Indian entrepreneurs and participate in an event celebrating US-India cooperation on travel and tourism," it said.

In June 2016, Obama and Modi had announced that the United States and India will be Travel and Tourism Partner Countries in 2017.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rejecting GVK Group firm Alaknanda Hydro Power Company's contention that the 2013 cloudburst and floods in Uttarakhand was an "act of god", the National Green Tribunal has directed it to pay a compensation of Rs 9.26 crore to the persons affected by the disaster.

The green panel held the company liable for lack of proper care in storing muck from a construction project, which allowed the material to flow during the floods to the Srinagar town of the Pauri Garhwal district in June 2013.

It directed Alaknanda Hydro Power to deposit Rs 9,26,42,795 within 30 days as compensation with the Emergency Relief Fund Authority, which should be paid to the victims of the disaster.

"An act of god provides no excuse unless it is so unexpected that no reasonable human foresight could be presumed to anticipate the occurrence, having regard to the conditions of time and place known to be prevailing....We, therefore, reject the plea of the respondent no. 1 that the damage caused to the residential area was the result of 'Act of God'," a bench headed by Justice U D Salvi said.

While one per cent of the amount is to be remitted to the Registrar of the NGT under the provisions of the 2011 National Green Tribunal Rules, the remaining amount is to be distributed by the District Magistrate of Pauri after verifying the claims.

"The human habitation was affected due to the silt and the muck. Going by the geochemical analysis, the muck that was found was about 30 per cent. This certainly is a footprint of the involvement of the respondent no 1 (company) in the occurrence resulting in damage caused," the bench said.

The NGT held that it is undisputed that 2013 floods were due to cloudburst in the upper reaches of river Alaknanda near Kedarnath, unlike the floods in 1894 and 1970 as per a report published by Ministry of Environment and Forests.

"However, it was within the knowledge of Alaknanda Hydro Power Co Ltd that the project is situated in geologically sensitive area of Himalayas, where cloudburst is not a rare phenomena and, though the environment clearance did not mandate plan for muck disposal, MoEF has sounded an alarm as regards the muck disposal vide direction dated June 30, 2011.

"Having regard to these known conditions, human foresight could have reasonably anticipated that laxity in taking timely protective measures such as slope dressing, terracing, toe walls covering the top soil at the permanent muck disposal sites would prove disastrous to the environment, particularly to the human beings who are the components of environment," the bench, which also comprised expert member A R Yousuf, said.

The judgement came on a plea filed by Srinagar Bandh



Aapda Sangharsh Samiti and one Vimal Bhai, convenor of Matu Jansangthan, seeking compensation for damages suffered by their members and for restoration of the area.

The petitioners claimed that Alaknanda Hydro Power Ltd had inappropriately dumped large quantity of muck generated from the construction of the project just after the gates of the dams, without taking necessary measures.

According to the applicants, due to the heavy rains between June 16-17, 2013, the reservoir of the project was filled up and, with the dam gates being kept closed, led to creation of a huge reservoir of water.

The opening of the gates led to a massive flow of water suddenly sweeping away the muck dumped on the river body and carrying it to the villages and the already flooded areas.

Srinagar town was hit by the cloudburst causing wide- spread flooding which led to an eight foot high wall of muck from the hydroelectric site being deposited there.

GVK had developed a 330-MW hydro project on the river Alaknanda in Tehri/ Pauri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand. It has a 90 metre high dam.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed in February 2006 with Uttar Pradesh under which 12 per cent output was to be given free to Uttarakhand.
The verdict in British teenager Scarlett Keeling death case will be pronounced on September 23, eight years after her semi-nude and bruised body was found at Anjuna beach in Goa.

A local barman Samson D'Souza, working on a shack, and one Placido Carvalho, also a local, were tried on charges of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving the teenager to die on the beach, where her body was found on February 18, 2008.

Goa Children's Court president Vandana Tendulkar said the verdict would be pronounced on September 23 with the final arguments in the case concluding today after two days.

The prosecution has examined 31 witnesses, including the mother of the deceased, Fiona Mackeown during the trial.

Carvalho and Samson have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging.

Mackeown has flown to Goa from Davon (UK) to be present in the court. She has already deposed before the court.

The case, initially investigated by Goa Police, was later handed over to CBI after Scarlett's family accused the local police of hushing up the matter.

CBI Special Public Prosecutor Ejaz Khan banked his arguments on the 'last-seen-theory' as Scarlett was allegedly seen with Samson, three hours before her body was found on the shore.

"The accused (Samson) in his statement has not revealed what has happened during the three hours after he was last seen with the girl. The accused is trying to deny his presence at the scene," Khan said.

According to CBI, Scarlett was administered drugs in a shack where Samson was working, in presence of Placido on the fateful day.

"Both the accused should be punished. One committed the offence, and other helped him hiding it," the SPP argued.

He dismissed the contention that CBI framed Samson under "some influence".

"Common people like a barman cannot pressurise CBI which is a national agency of repute. What benefit will CBI get by entangling a barman?" Khan told court.

Defence lawyer Mervin D'Souza said Samson was being targeted as he was defenceless.

During the arguments, he submitted that there was no involvement of the accused in the crime, claiming "largescale interference" in the investigation, which, he said, is "evident" from the discrepancies in the statements of the witnesses.

D'Souza said the "death of the girl (Scarlett) was



accidental. There was interference in the investigation in the case so as to target Samson and second accused Placido".

"In (Scarlett's) autopsy, morphine was found along with cocaine in her body, which indicates that she was already intoxicated when she arrived at the shack where Samson was working and Placido was sitting," he said.

He said the investigating agencies (Goa Police and CBI) were "purposely blind to the fact that she was already drugged and they failed to probe who had administered her the narcotics".

D'Souza said the detailed forensic examination by experts from Delhi-based AIIMS proved that there was no abnormality in Scarlett's brain, skull, vagina and heart, "which proves there was no scuffle by her".

"Medical examination of her body conclusively proves that there was no abnormality in her body, which means that it was an accidental death," he argued.

He said Scarlett's lifestyle was not like that of a normal child in India.

However, the judge interjected, saying this aspect (about lifestyle) has nothing to do with the current case.

The defence has claimed that Scarlett's death was caused by "external forces".

Placido's advocate Pravin Naik said there was no witness on record to state that his client had administered drugs to Scarlett in the shack where she was last seen before her death.

"There is nothing on record to prove that Carvalho provoked her to take drugs," he told the court.

The case had grabbed international attention as Britishers used to be the largest number of tourists visiting Goa.

Scarlett's mother had said on Tuesday, "I do hope that justice would be done."



She had said she wanted the two accused to be charged with murder "because I believe she was murdered, but the charge is of culpable homicide, which still is a good enough".

Accusing the erstwhile Congress government of supporting the police in hushing up the case, she blamed the prosecution for its "failure" to ensure deposition of a crucial eyewitness Michael Mannion, a British national, before the court.
DMDK chief Vijayakanth today celebrated his 65th birthday with his party functionaries and leaders of People's Welfare Front including MDMK cheif Vaiko and VCK's Thirumavalavan.

Vaiko, Thirumavalavan and CPI State Secretary Mutharasan called on Vijayakanth at the DMDK headquarters here and greeted him with shawls and garlands on his birthday.

A cake was cut on the occasion and saplings were distributed to DMDK workers as part of their party chief's birthday celebrations.

Speaking to reporters later, Vaiko said constituents of PWF (MDMK, CPI, CPI-M and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) would together fight the civic polls expected to be held by October, as decided earlier. "Preliminary work for fighting polls is on at the district level," he said.

Thirumavalavan said while MDMK, VCK, CPI and CPI(M) would face civic polls together, he said he was not sure about the decision of DMDK.

DMDK fought the May 16 assembly polls in alliance with PWF like former Union Minister G K Vasan's Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar). After the poll debacle, Vasan walked out of the alliance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 22-year-old newly married woman was allegedly murdered by her husband and her sister in southwest Delhi.

Pooja had been married to Rahul Solanki (23) for one-and-a-half months when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with her sister Rinky (20), said a senior police officer.

When Pooja objected over the relationship, Rinky and Rahul allegedly hatched a plan to eliminate her so that they can get married, the officer said.

The duo yesterday strangulated Pooja with her dupatta at their home in Palam, he said.

She was rushed to a hospital in an unconscious state where she was declared brought dead.

A case was registered at Palam Village police stationin the matter, he said.

Rinky and Rahul were today arrested after investigation and questioning of family members, the officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yoga is gathering tremendous increase in popularity by changing people's lifestyle that could help in reducing the present day conflicts based on ideologies, culture and religion, Baba Ramdev has said.

"It is not only changing people's life style, but is also becoming a positive business. Now the next phase would be yoga in action," he said.

This would help in reducing the present conflicts based on ideologies, culture and religion, he told PTI over phone from Toronto.

Ramdev, who has been coming to the US and the West for the past several years, said there has been tremendous increase in popularity of yoga in this part of the world.

He also spoke about this year's US presidential election and said the polls could witness increasing political conflict between cultures and civilisations.

The same thing is happening in Europe and happened recently in the UK, he said.

"In India, there is no conflict between cultures and civilisations but vested interests are trying their best to do so," he added.

Ramdev, who was chief guest at the India Day Parade in New York over the weekend, felt that there is need to make the prestigious annual event more professional and better coordinated but did not elaborate.

Talking about his company, he said in the next three years, Patanjali Ayurveda and other allied companies which is facing a tough competition will defeat other multinational companies.

Ramdev, currently on a trip to North America, travelled to Houston after the Parade and reached Toronto yesterday.

He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising concern over the situation in Balochistan during his Independence Day speech.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four-year-old Yug, whose skeletal remains were recovered earlier this week from a municipal water tank after being kidnapped two years ago, was subjected to inhuman torture for seven days before he was murdered in cold blood, a CID team investigating the case said today.

A CID (Crime Branch) team conducting the investigation revealed that the accused Chander, Tajender and Vikrant, who are on five days police remand, "starved the boy, kept his hands tied and physically tortured him."



The CID team recovered a mobile phone from one of the accused and found that some clips had been had been deleted. The clips, later restored by forensic experts showed a little boy whose hands were tied and mouth gagged.

The accused had allegedly dumped the boy in the water tank after tying him with a stone in semi-conscious condition and the skeleton was taken out eight months ago when the Municipal Corporation staff was cleaning the tank in the wake of jaundice outbreak.

The municipal workers did not inform the police about the skeleton but the accused reportedly told the investigators about dumping the body in water tank in posh Kelston area.

The CID team today took the accused to all the spots, the transport used, place where he was held captive and the water tank to verify the information extracted during interrogation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Zika may linger in the blood of an infected baby for more than two months, suggests a new study from Brazil that raises concerns about the potential of the virus to damage an infant's brain even after birth.

Physicians at the Santa Casa de Misericordia and researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil described the case of a baby born with Zika infection in January, who remained infected by the virus even two months and one week after birth.

This is the first reported case of prolonged Zika infection in newborns, researchers wrote in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The baby was 3 kg, 48 cm in length at birth, with the head perimeter of 32.5 cm, slightly smaller than the 33cm recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO).

At first, doctors did not detect signs of any neurological abnormality: the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and the exams of the eyes and the ears showed normal results.

Images taken by MRI, though, showed a reduced brain parenchyma, foci of calcification in the subcortical area and compensatory dilation of the supraventricular system.

These results and the fact that the mother's symptoms of Zika infection appeared in the seventh month of pregnancy - when it is thought that the damage to the foetus is less severe than when the infection occurs earlier in pregnancy - led to a first diagnosis of mild microcephaly.

After 54 days of life, the baby showed no illness or neurological impairment. However, at six months, doctors noticed delayed psychomotor development, with an abnormal increase in the muscle tone and reduced muscle stretchability.

Also, spastic hemiplegia (cerebral palsy) was detected. These characteristics imply a more serious condition than diagnosed before, researchers said.

The baby's father travelled to the Northeast of Brazil and showed symptoms of Zika before his wife.

It may indicate that the virus could have been sexually transmitted. Serological tests confirmed the infection in both parents, researchers said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The commerce and industry ministry is in the process of setting up a grievance redressal mechanism to look into complaints of brick-and-mortar players against leading e-retailers such as Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon offering hefty discounts in alleged violation of foreign direct investment (FDI) norms.

ALSO READ: E-tailers asked to strictly comply with e-commerce guidelines following complaints from retailers







Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday that after getting representation from traders bodies like Confederation of All India Traders (Cait), a meeting was convened to discuss the issue. The meeting was attended by Enforcement Directorate officials, Niti Aayog members, consumer affairs ministry officials and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).



ALSO READ: GST: Are states ready?



Sitharaman said that 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 that people can raise their issues and the ministry's team along with officials of the consumer affairs ministry would respond to those complaints.

THE DIPP would train the staff of the consumer affairs ministry on handling such grievances taking on board e-commerce companies alleged to have hurt traders. DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek has also discussed the matter with e-commerce companies and asked them not to violate e-commerce guidelines, Sitharaman added. "Some companies responded by saying that they are not giving those discounts. We are still a marketplace model. Companies whose products are coming on their platform are giving that and it is not in violation of the policy," she added.

Sitharaman said that the mechanism will temporarily be part of #mociseva and after that, consumer affairs ministry 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 it is a commercial transaction between a consumer Grievance redressal mechanism being set up to look into complaints against e-tailers ' As per the guidelines issued by the DIPP, foreign direct investment has not been permitted in inventory-based model of e-commerce. Discounts in firing line as festivals near and a company," she explained.

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 Cait."

Cait had in its compliant on August 10 said that these companies via big advertisements in the media were announcing sale on their platform, which is a violation of FDI guidelines on e-commerce. These companies are allowed to do B2B business but they are doing B2C for which they are not authorised, the complaint had alleged.

In March, the government had allowed 100 per cent FDI through automatic route in the marketplace format of ecommerce retailing. As per the guidelines issued by the DIPP, FDI has not been permitted in inventory-based model of e-commerce.

The guidelines also state that such entities will not directly or indirectly influence sale price of goods and services and shall maintain a level playing field. It had asked the ministry to "take immediate action against these companies".

"The policy seeks to provide a level playing field. In defining the marketplace based model of ecommerce, it states that a marketplace should be a technology platform. Based on this, marketplaces cannot anymore claim to be retailers or online stores," a senior official had said.

The policy also lays down the condition that an e-commerce firm will not be permitted to sell more than 25 per cent of total sales from one vendor or its group companies in order to prevent marketplaces from behaving like pseudo retailers and ensure that they stay true to their claim of being technology platforms.

In association with Mail Today Bureau


The government on Wednesday nodded to a Bill that proposes a complete ban on commercial surrogacy.

If approved, the law will be applicable throughout India except for Jammu and Kashmir.



ALSO READ: 'India poised to become one of world's largest aviation markets'





Eligible couples will then have to turn to close relatives or family friends for altruistic surrogacy - where no money exchanges hands between the commissioning couple and the surrogate mother. Here are those who can opt for surrogacy: 1. Legally wedded Indian couples 2. Childless couples who are medically unfit to have children. The couples who are going for surrogacy will have to produce a certificate proving one of them is unfit to bear a child.





ALSO READ: Need to go Dutch with your friends, roommates? Walnut app will make it simpler



Here are those who will be barred:

1. Couples already having one child

2. Foreigners

3. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders

4. Live-in-Partners

5. Single people

6. Homosexuals

7. Widows

The surrogate mother, who should be married and have borne a healthy child, needs to be a close relative of the couple. She should be within the age of 23 to 50 years and her husband should be between the age of 26 to 55 years.

The bill states that the surrogate child will have equal rights like any other biological or adopted child over property.

(With inputs from Mail Today)


His small and functional office in a narrow street off the main road at Ameerpet in Hyderabad hardly evokes the picture of a company whose enterprise value has been pegged at $1.35 billion. But that is not to say that he was not being noticed. Not just across the street by Dr Reddy's, Indian pharma major and others in India, but also in China by Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, which eventually bought a controlling stake in Gland Pharma for $1.26 billion. Ravi Penmetsa, Managing Director of Gland Pharma, who has been avoiding media interviews, spoke to Business Today on how the deal happened, why he feels Gland is a very valuable company and how Fosun could leverage Gland's facilities not only in India but also in the lucrative global markets, especially the US. Penmetsa said that he is not exiting the company and remains excited about the growth opportunities for Gland as its new CEO. Here are the excerpts:

Can you describe us Gland Pharma and its operations? What strengths does it have to justify this valuation?

Gland Pharma was set up by my father P.V.N. Raju in 1978 as a company that made heparin API. Later we made heparin injectables which we still sell in India. Heparin is a blood thinner that finds applications in heart surgeries and in dialysis. Later, we got into contract manufacturing of injectables, which makes for about 10 per cent of our revenues today. Bulk of our revenues today - about 85 per cent - comes from the injectables we develop and licence out through a B2B arrangement to pharma companies , who we see also as our marketing partners. The balance 5 per cent of revenues are from direct marketing in India as a B2C. Today, Gland is among the fastest growing global pure-play injectable companies with products being sold in over 90 countries. It has had a long-standing track record of regulatory compliance with major regulatory bodies. Our current portfolio (In US) is of more than 160 ANDA filings including 72 approved ANDAs and on-going development work that will result in the filing of an additional 140 ANDAs within next 5 years. These are complemented with a strong global platform of registrations as well (Asia/Middle East and North Africa (MENA) - 311, Africa - 328, Latin America - 340, EU - 33, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - 50, Australia and NZ- 29. This robust portfolio and pipeline of products include presence in highly-attractive segments such as high-value generics, sterile injectables, oncology and ophthalmics.



What about your revenues? And what makes you think the current valuation is justified?

Gland has a dynamic growth profile with strong revenue CAGR of 30 per cent between 2009/10 to 2015/16 with improving margins. We feel the valuation is fairly reasonable if you look at Gland's strengths and the EBITDA multiples at which pharma companies are trading both in India and in China. Gland's revenue stood at $168 million (about 1,023 crores) in 2014/15, which grew to $213 million (Rs 1,384 crores) in 2015/16, while the EBITDA grew from $57 million (Rs 345 crores) in 2014/15 to $83 million (Rs 539 Crores) in 2015/16. Our net profits stood at $34.5 million (Rs 209 crore) in 2014/15 and $48.2 million (Rs 314 crore) in 2015/16.

Also, note that about 86 per cent of our revenues are from exports (65 per cent of revenues come from US); 14 per cent domestic (5 per cent from our own marketing and 10 per cent from contract manufacturing). The future growth will be propelled by invested capacity coming on-stream along with new product approvals in key markets. The fact that nearly 75 per cent of revenues forecasted for 2019/20 comes from products that have already been filed, talks of the strong footing Gland is on.

Why Fosun? How will it take the story further and how did this deal come about?

We have been thinking on these lines for sometime now but the process has been on for about six months starting January, though the formal process began only in March. Many companies, including Fosun, reached out to us. Chinese companies today, as you would have seen, are eager to be truly multinational and Fosun is a conglomerate with over 800 scientists (we have over 200 scientists, we will double that in the next three years in terms of R&D capability). It is a company that has a growth model like global healthcare major Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which is also a well diversified company with interests in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and consumer health. And if you see J&J's growth in the past, it also built itself through continuous acquisitions. Fosun also has, in a sense, a similar diversified growth approach. It is present in pharamceutical manufacturing, pharamceutical distribution and retail, medical devices, diagnostics and also in health services. Fosun has also had an impressive track record with acquisitions. It has managed to complete over 30 acquisitions since 1999. We have total seven facilities of which four are injectables and three are APIs. It has high quality, regulatory-compliant injectable facilities. Leveraging these and driving growth by taking the products deeper into the global markets also matches well with the aspirations of Fosun. We feel, Fosun is best placed today to take Gland Pharma into a higher growth orbit, something that would have taken us very long if we would have done it all by ourselves. We felt, we have created a footprint and a platform that now needs a bigger company to drive future growth.



It's a big deal and you will get a lot of money, even post taxes, there will still be a large sum of money at your disposal, what do you plan to do with it?

I continue to be the CEO of the company and the promoter family has a 10 per cent stake in the company, which is not small and I see a lot of potential here and will continue to focus here. However, as far as promoter family funds are concerned, I am open to pursuing my entrepreneurial pursuits and we could look at investing across sectors depending on the opportunities.

What is your view on the injectables space, is it getting crowded with more pharma companies setting up their own capacities, making it a good time to exit?

There is still a shortage of injectables worldwide and in the US and as new plants are coming up some of the older ones are shutting down, so overall, the demand for injectables is going up. Thus, we don't see over supply happening any time soon. Also, lot of new drugs and biologics and oncology drugs are all expected only in injectables.

Why are you exiting then?

I am not exiting. What's important to remember is that we have created a footprint, a large enough one, and in order to take Gland to the next level of growth, we felt there was a need to get in a larger company with more resources and more products in its pipeline.

Also, we have created a new USFDA-approved facility near Hyderabad with over $100 million (around Rs 700 crore) investment but it is not functional currently. So, production from there may take time and it may be better if this could be leveraged by a larger company that could get its own pipeline here.



What happens to your existing contract manufacturing clients like say Dr Reddy's and relationships with them?

We currently have such relationship with over 10 companies. We will honour all those commitments and there is enough capacity to fulfil that. Fosun has also committed that it will honour all the existing relationships.



The generic injectables space is currently described as a huge $17-billion business, globally. How do you see it evolve and what implications can that have for companies that make injectables in India.

As Mabs (monoclonal antibodies), biologics and more oncology products start becoming generic, if you can call it that way, you will only see this space growing and who knows it could well become a $50-billion or even a $100-billion market.



How are the dynamics in China that are important for this deal?

Chinese companies are eager now to be truly multinational and have been making strategic acquisitions across sectors. Fosun is a conglomerate with global aspirations and a rich pipeline of products that are expected to drive future revenues and margins. For instance, Fosun has in its pipeline oncology products and mAbs (monoclonal antobodies which very loosely are antibodies that are made by identical immune cells that are clones of the parent cell in the body) and these would mostly be injectables and therefore some of these as finished products could get made out of Gland Pharma facilities.
India has seen a rush of regional airlines in the past two years. By the end of 2014, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices began to fall, which helped domestic carriers in a big way. Many airlines that were bleeding started to generate profits. The low ATF prices also lured people to start regional carriers. Airlines such as Trujet, Air Pegasus, and Air Costa have started operating in the past three years.

The new civil aviation policy talks about improving the regional connectivity by developing regional airports, and capping the fares for one hour (regional) flights at Rs 2,500 per passenger. Making fares affordable and face-lifting airports are important steps to give the initial boost, but the whole push of regional connectivity has to be backed by consistency in services. Apparently, most of the regional carriers are facing financial problems. Air Costa, for instance, cancelled all its flights on August 3 due to payment issues with its lessor. A month earlier, Air Pegasus did a similar thing after its planes were reportedly repossessed by its lessor over non-payment. It seems Air Costa is still operating while Air Pegasus is taking online bookings.

The weak financial performance reflects on the operations side as well. The data shows consistently poor performance of regional carriers on several fronts. Take the case of cancellations. Airlines such as Air Costa, Trujet and Air Pegasus have consistently topped the charts in cancelling flights. In July, for instance, Air Pegasus cancelled 29.67 per cent of its flghts. That's roughly one in every three scheduled flights. The corresponding figure for Trujet was 17.38 per cent. Things were much worse in March when cancellation rates for Air Pegasus and Air Costa stood at 40.34 per cent and 18.28 per cent, respectively.

ALSO READ: Jet Airways offers flights for Rs 949; fliers can reserve preferred seats

The financial problems of regional carriers, or most airlines in general, can be segmeted into five areas: high fuel prices, high airport charges, choice of aircraft, choice of routes and inability to gradually grow the fleet. Low ATF prices seem to have given a breather to airlines for now. The other areas require more careful planning. The choice of aircraft is important. Air Pegasus, for instance, has ATR 72-500, which is a twin-engine turboprop. Turboprops are ideal for short-haul regional flights but then the airline should aim for higher occupancy. High number of empty seats can be taxing. Air Pegasus' PLF (passenger load factor) has been steadily growing - from 76.6 per cent in March to 84 per cent in July.

ALSO READ: Jet Airways denied me job for lack of good personality: Irani

The route selection is also crucial. Private airports in India have high airport charges that can go up to Rs 1,000 per passenger. When AirAsia India started operations, it shunned cities like Delhi and Mumbai due to high airport charges. However, it had to start flghts in these two cities later on. That's because an airline cannot restrict its operations to a few cities beyond a point. The demand for regional travel tends to grow slowly. As large carriers increase their regional connectivity, and more regional airlines launch, existing regional airlines struggle to fill up their seats, leading to a cash crunch. The government's plans to financially support regional carriers is expected to reduce their pressure to grow beyond smaller cities and deal with high airport charges.

Another problem with regional airlines is their inability to grow fleet. Airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir have done well because they were able to grow their fleet. Each airline has two cost components: variable and fixed. Variable cost largely includes ATF whereas fixed costs include staff expenses, operating airport stations, etc. As fleet size increases, the fixed costs remain almost the same, and the airline could fly more passengers.

The regional aviation market will see some more action. There are reports that three more regional airlines - Fly Easy, EasyAir and Air Kerala - are planning to start operations, and another airline - Air Carnival - has started off this year. However, it is going to take some time before the government's policy is implemented. Till then, regional airlines are expected to be on a wing and a prayer.
RBI on Thursday retained 'too big to fail' tag for the state-owned SBI and private lender ICICI Bank for the second year in a row, calling them systemically important banks for 2016 requiring higher level of supervision.

In 2015, these two were identified for the first time as the domestic systemically important banks.

Systemically important banks are subjected to higher levels of supervision to prevent disruption to financial services in the event of any failure.

Based on the Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) Framework and data collected from lenders as on March 31, 2016, these two have again been declared D-SIBs in 2016.

"RBI has identified State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) in 2016 and has retained their bucketing structure as it was last year," the central bank said in a statement.

The additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) requirement for D-SIBs has to be done in phases. For these two, it has already been phased in from April 1, 2016, and will become fully effective April 1, 2019.

"The additional CET1 requirement will be in addition to the capital conservation buffer," RBI added.

Additional CET 1 requirement as a percentage of risk weighted assets (RWAs) for SBI and ICICI Bank stands at 0.6 pr cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively.

As per the framework, RBI will determine a cut-off score to determine which banks make the cut.

Banks are plotted into four different buckets and will be required to have additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital requirement ranging from 0.2 per cent to 0.8 per cent of risk weighted assets, depending on the bucket they are plotted into.

The framework requires RBI to disclose the names of banks designated as D-SIBs every year in August.

Systemically important banks are perceived as ones that are 'too big to fail (TBTF)'. This perception of TBTF creates expectation of government support for them in distress. These banks also enjoy certain advantages in funding markets.

However, the perceived expectation of government support amplifies risk-taking, reduces market discipline, creates competitive distortions and increases probability of distress in future.
Do you often get hassled with splitting bills among friends and roommates? Walnut, a personal finance management mobile app has just launched an app that will help you manage shared expenses and quick money transfer in a simpler way.

The company has announced smart features like bill split over chat and real time P2P (Peer to Peer) money transfer to bank accounts using only Debit cards - eliminating the need to remember and exchange account numbers and IFSC codes.

The app works in collaboration with Visa and ICICI Bank. It uses Visa APIs and ICICI Bank payment gateway. These innovative features make it convenient for millions of debit card users in India to transfer money and move to cashless payments.

"Young professionals and college students travel to different cities and live with roommates and friends. Managing shared expenses and quick money transfer is a task critical for them, but it is time consuming. The new Bill split and pay features make the experience fast and simple, eliminating the friction around paying friends.", says Amit Bhor, CEO, Walnut.

If you wish to split a restaurant bill with a friend, all you need to do is select the expense that is automatically tracked by Walnut, and choose friends to split with. In order to settle an expense or do a P2P money transfer, a user needs to enter his own debit card. There is no exchange of bank account numbers/IFSC codes or mobile wallets in between.

Users without Visa debit cards can also use the bill split & money transfer feature on Walnut. Walnut has also launched an iOS version of its app called WalnutPay, which enables users to split bills and send/receive money from friends.
Irish homebuilding company, Cairn Homes have today announced the Companys interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.

The results show total revenues of 16 million, generating gross profits of 2.6 million and a gross profit margin of 16.5%.

The core land-bank portfolio now consists of 27 separate sites, on which the Company will develop in excess of 11,500 units with 90% of those units located in Dublin and the Dublin commuter belt.

Cairn Homes are active on five sites (Parkside, Albany, Marianella, Ashbourne and Hanover Quay), which will deliver in excess of 1,150 units.

Cairn Homes claim sales continue to progress well at Parkside and Albany with 112 houses now sale agreed and 64 of those sales completed with 39 of those completions taking place during the first six months of 2016.

Commenting on the results, CEO, Michael Stanley said, "Having executed our successful site acquisition phase, Cairn continues to accelerate its home-building operations. We have assembled a talented and experienced team to drive forward with our plans."

He added, "We are currently building new homes on five sites, with a further five developments commencing within the next 12 months. By mid 2017, we will support over 1,000 construction jobs, including apprentices, leveraging the substantial economies that that we will benefit from as a home-builder of significant scale."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
Bank of Ireland has today announced that the Big Blue Box Volunteering Challenge will tour Irelands Ancient East from September 2 to 16.

The unique volunteering challenge sees Bank of Ireland staff and members of the local community travelling by bike across the route which will involve communities from 29 towns.

Local fund-raising events will take place in each town along the route. All funds raised during this challenge will go directly to support the Irish Heart Foundations new Mobile Health Unit with Bank of Ireland promising to match funds raised in the local communities.

The cycle routes that will be undertaken during the challenge were put together with the help of Failte Ireland and will visit many of the beautiful sights of Irelands Ancient East along the way.

Speaking ahead of the event, Head of Irelands Ancient East, Jenny De Saulles explained, "We are delighted to see Bank of Ireland incorporate Irelands Ancient East into The Big Blue Box event. Irelands Ancient East is an initiative firmly rooted in our past and our stories and by designing the route around the region participants are sure to deepen their appreciation of the heritage and history that surrounds Irelands Ancient East as they enjoy the many wonderful sights and experiences in the areas."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
LOGAN  Crews have begun to gain containment on the Peterson Hollow Fire as winds have pushed flames away from the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort and into southern Idaho.

MaryEllen Fitzgerald, Fire Information Officer with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said the fire has grown to now 1000 acres and is 9% contained.

The fire, which started east of the ski resort, has doubled in size and was pushed northeast by strong winds, low humidity and dry fuel.

Fitzgerald said around 200 firefighters are working on the fire. They were helped Wednesday by three air tankers that dropped retardant on hot spots.

Roads and trails in the area continue to be closed, including Peterson Hollow, Highline, Swan Flat, Beaver Creek and Sink Hollow. Franklin Basin Road remains open but crews are asking that everyone adhere to closures for both the publics and firefighters safety.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has also asked that motorists, driving through Logan Canyon, avoid stopping or parking along US-89. They are advising motorists that Utah Highway Patrol troopers can cite anyone stopping between the Franklin Basin Road turn-off and the canyon summit.

The fire was first reported Sunday afternoon. The cause is still unknown.

Fitzgerald said structure protections remain in place for Beaver Mountain and crews are hoping to have the fire contained within a week.

<hr /><p style=text-align: center;>will@cvradio.com
Philippe Poutou: "Certainly not a hero"

Published on August 25, 2016

Story by Matthieu Amare Translation by: Kath Burns

en

fr

de

it

es

pl

Philippe Poutou is back. The New Anticapitalist Party member announced his intention to stand in France's 2017 presidential elections. In the 2012 elections Poutou, who's a mechanic by trade, picked up 1.15% of the vote and a positive reputation as a guy who rails against injustice. Today, he's still protesting, but he continues to dream "every day."

cafebabel: The world can be complex. How would you describe to a child what you do?

Philippe Poutou: I'm involved in manufacturing car parts (at the Ford automobile plant in Blanquefort, south-west France, ed.). Unfortunately, my work makes selfish bosses rich, whereas the main objective of the economy should be to meet the needs of the people. My colleagues and I are fighting against this deeply unfair economic system, so that everyone is able to live a decent life and feed themselves, find somewhere to live and take care of themselves. The answer is simple: the people  the oppressed and the exploited  need to take power and implement equal rights for all women and men.

cafebabel: We can all be heroes, just for one day. What have you always dreamed of doing?

Philippe Poutou: Certainly not of being a hero, or even a superhero. There are no supreme saviours. Nonetheless, dreaming and hoping are part of everyday life  dreaming, fully awake, of a great mobilisation of the people, with millions out in the streets, calling for the right to live in dignity and an end to injustice.

cafebabel: For lots of people, Europe can be a pain. How can we make it more appealing?

Philippe Poutou: By proposing a Europe that's the opposite of the one we have now  in other words, a Europe of the people and of their revolt against power, against the theft of bankers and financiers and against a power that's deeply undemocratic. We need a Europe without borders. We need to establish freedom of movement, ensure co-operation of the people, put an end to so-called free and undistorted competition and standardize social rights from the top down.

cafebabel: What outrages you most in the world today?

Phlippe Poutou: What outrages or appals me? The situation of migrants who are escaping war and massacres committed by their dictatorships. Refugees find themselves facing the brutality of European leaders, who build enormous fences to stop them coming in and who condemn them to death by drowning in the sea or suffocating in trucks.

cafebabel: The world seems to accept nothing less than perfection, but what weakness are you most willing to indulge?

Philippe Poutou: I can't see any perfection in this world. On the contrary, cynicism, hypocrisy, individualism, every man for himself, the law of the jungle and indifference about the fate of others seem to be permanently extolled. We're far from perfection.

cafebabel: The internet seems to know everything. Let's test it  tell us something about you that Google doesn't know.

Philippe Poutou: You want me to reveal something private  a secret? That really doesn't appeal. Sorry.

cafebabel: Imagine that one day, you become the representative of all young people across the world. What would be your main message?

Philippe Poutou: I can't imagine that sort of thing or even force myself to. However, if I had to send out a message, it would be: "Rise up against the capitalist world. Above all, dont relinquish or accept any form of oppression. Fight for equal rights for all women and men."

cafebabel: What's the first thing you always do in the morning?

Philippe Poutou: I get up, as usual.

cafebabel: If you could bring back something that no longer exists, what would it be?

Philippe Poutou: I would bring back things that plenty of people have already thought of: things that would solve famine and poverty, and cures that would unite humankind and make it antimilitarist, preventing wars and violence. But in the meantime, we could bring back general strikes and revolutions.

cafebabel: In the style of Martin Schulz, what would you say to a racist?

Philippe Poutou: I'm not sure about Martin Schulz, but racism must be condemned and fought without fail. Racism is not genetic or innate, so we have to combat the society that creates it. Unequal and oppressive social relationships lead to division, prejudice and hatred. For a start, I would say: "Don't mistake who your enemies are. Don't let your anger lead you astray."

---

There are a fair few Big Fish swimming in European seas, and some of them deserve to put their head above water. With our new series of interviews, cafebabel is fishing deep into the lives of the continent's big names.

Story by Matthieu Amare Je viens du sud de la France. J'aime les traditions. Mon pere a ete traumatise par Seville 82 contre les Allemands au foot. J'ai du mal avec les Anglais au rugby. J'adore le jambon-beurre. Je n'ai jamais fait Erasmus. Autant vous dire que c'etait mal barre. Et pourtant, je suis redacteur en chef du meilleur magazine sur l'Europe du monde.

Translated from Philippe Poutou :  Surtout pas un heros 
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Judge David Stith speaks during a Texas Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on family violence interim charges Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development.

SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Domestic violence survivor Shirley Esparza testifies during a Texas Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on family violence interim charges Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES State Rep. Abel Herrero, the chairman of the criminal jurisprudence committee, listens during a committee hearing on family violence interim charges Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES The Texas Legislature's Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence held a family violence interim charge hearing at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES State Rep. Joe Moody asks domestic violence survivor Shirley Esparza a question during a Texas Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence hearing on family violence interim charges Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development.

By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times

There are two ways to go about enforcing the GPS monitoring of a domestic violence offender: doing so actively and passively.

Susan Trevino, chief operating officer of the Women's Shelter of South Texas, said Nueces County tackling it in a passive manner.

"What we learned is the process in our county is just not set up for active (GPS monitoring of an offender)," she said of lacking an established notice to police when an offender gets too close to a victim. "And that's up to us to work on our processes."

Trevino provided testimony on the value of enforcing a 2009 statute that allows for pretrial GPS monitoring during a Wednesday hearing hosted by the Texas Legislature's criminal jurisprudence committee. But the statute needs some polishing and now is the time for the committee to help improve its effectiveness.

The committee, chaired by state Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, on Wednesday gathered testimony in preparation for the 85th Legislature, which convenes in January. State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, also sits on the seven-member committee. Legislators will use input gathered during a Wednesday hearing to draft statutory recommendations and budgetary requests for the Legislature.

Among five other interim charges, the committee was tasked with examining the feasibility of jointly issuing GPS monitoring of domestic violence offenders and protective orders, studying domestic violence programs and identifying best practices on its intervention and prevention, as well as considering statutory changes that can deter domestic violence.

The committee has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and penalties; probation and parole; criminal procedure in the courts across the state; revision or amendment of the Penal Code; and several state agencies.

Several other community leaders, including Nueces County District Attorney Mark Skurka; Corpus Christi Police Department Capt. Jason Brady; and Shirley Esparza, a victim assistance coordinator for the Nueces County District Attorney's office, provided testimony during the more than four-hour hearing.

The Caller-Times began a series in early 2015 to explore domestic violence, including how law enforcement investigates the attacks, how prosecutors pursue offenders in court, how advocates help victims heal, and what the community must do to reverse the deadly trend.

Herrero is the author of Mary's Law, which passed in 2009 and allows for GPS monitoring of domestic violence offenders.

Nueces County 319th District Court Judge David Stith, who also spoke at the event, is part of a group formed to assist in implementing Mary's Law. It wasn't being regularly used locally until community leaders realized a woman's life could have been saved in 2014 if it were. Stith provided lawmakers "a view from the ground level."

For example, he suggested the statute clearly delineate when a GPS device should be issued. The task force formed to enforce Mary's Law determined it's best for a judge to issue the device upon magistration, which was authorized locally by the Council of Judges.

"I don't think that's being done all over. If we do it the way (we've been doing it), and have judges looking at it six months from (the arrest), you're missing a very crucial time period upon when family violence is likely to occur again," he said. "If you as legislators want to make substantive changes I believe we need to make big changes."

Twitter: @CallerBetty
Associated Press photo Spectators wave as the disabled Carnival Splendor cruise ship approaches the dock in San Diego on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.

SHARE

By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times

Local leaders told a state committee South Texas can handle a cruise ship terminal even before the massive Harbor Bridge replacement project is completed.

Politicians and area business leaders gathered Thursday in Corpus Christi for a hearing of the Joint Interim Committee to Study the Cruise Industry. The bipartisan panel took testimony that spelled out the merits  and challenges  of bringing the cruise industry to the Texas coast, somewhere between Calhoun and Cameron counties.

Overwhelmingly, the speakers promoted the theory South Texas' massive growth creates a deep pool of customers and potential employees, making it ideal for the cruise industry. They also said the region will be even better prepared when the bridge project is finished.

The $930 million construction project aims to replace the aging metal span with a new cable-stayed bridge that will have a minimum vertical clearance of 205 feet. The current bridge has a clearance of 138 feet, which is too shallow for cruise liners.

Committee chair State Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, a Republican from Brenham, predicted South Texas would have a cruise ship terminal within five years, coinciding with the bridge project's time line.

Dock space for cruise ships in the meantime is available near Ingleside for use as a temporary berthing place until the new bridge is complete, said San Patricio County Judge Terry Simpson, who testified during the hearing.

"It gives us something else to attract to the area. It gives us jobs for people living here," Simpson told the Caller-Times. "It's another way of diversifying our economy."

Demand for cruising has increased 68 percent industrywide in the past 10 years, according to a report by the Cruise Lines International Association, which estimated 11.2 million passengers in North America took a cruise in 2014. In the United States, the industry is valued at $21 billion, much of it passing through departure ports in California and Florida.

At the moment, Texas only has one cruise ship terminal, located in Galveston.

Mayor Nelda Martinez said Corpus Christi is ideally situated to serve as a cruise ship hub, given its straight-shot highway access to such places as Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico.

Martinez said the 41-county region that makes up South Texas is home to 4.8 million people, and that its employment has grown 14 percent since 2010, compared with a rate of 8.5 percent nationally. The robust population offers strong potential for customers and a hospitality workforce.

"It makes sense to have the cruise ship industry in this ready-made area for cruise ships," Martinez said.

Committee co-chair State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, has been promoting the idea of using South Texas ports for leisure cruising for years. Last year, he authored House Concurrent Resolution 108 that led to the committee's creation. .

"It's a great time and great opportunity to look at this for South Texas," Hunter said.

Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam

WHO ATTENDED

Joint Interim Committee members

Co-chair: Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi

Co-chair: Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

Vice Chair: Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen

Vice Chair: Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville

Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston

Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston

Sen. Eduardo Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville

Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown

Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood

Rep. Ed Thompson, R-Pearland

Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston

Rep. Hubert Vo, D-Houston



Those who testified

Nelda Martinez, Mayor of Corpus Christi

Stella Herrmann-Chandler, Former Mayor of Ingelside

Charles R. Bujan, Mayor of Port Aransas

Pete Saenz, Mayor of Laredo

Burt Mills, Aransas County Judge

Terry Simpson, San Patricio County Judge

Mike Pusley, Nueces County Commissioner

Luis Ajamil, Bermello, Ajamil & Partners

John LaRue, Executive Director, Port of Corpus Christi

Wes Hoskins, Port of Corpus Christi Commissioner

Jennifer Stastny, Director of Operations, Port of Victoria

David Teelm, President/CEO, Texas Travel Industry Association

Paulette Kluge, CEO, Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tom Schmid, President/CEO, Texas State Aquarium

Rocco Montesano, Executive Director, USS Lexington

Mark Escamilla, President, Del Mar College

Flavius Killebrew, President, Texas A&M University  Corpus Christi

Annette Medlin, President/CEO, Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce

Ann Vaughan, President/CEO, Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau

Diane Probst, President/CEO, Rockport Chamber of Commerce

Rosie Gonzalez Collin, Chair, Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Iain Vasey, CEO, Corpus Christi Economic Development Corporation

Foster Edwards, CEO, San Patricio Economic Development Corporation

Dale Fowler, CEO, Victoria Economic Development Corporation

Russell Cain, Real estate developer, Calhoun County
When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Harmony-Soleil Clemmons, 6, meets City Manager Margie Rose during a meet and greet for Rose hosted by the NAACP on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Oveal Williams Senior Center. Rose spoke about her desire to be a good role model for girls.

SHARE Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Terry Mills, president of the Corpus Christi chapter of the NAACP, presents City Manager Margie Rose with blue roses during a meet and greet hosted by the organization on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Oveal Williams Senior Center. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times City Manager Margie Rose introduces her husband Erskine Rose during a meet and greet for her hosted by the Corpus Christi chapter of the NAACP on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Oveal Williams Senior Center. She said that is was time to introduce her husband and he did indeed exist. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Curtis Clark takes a photo with City Manager Margie Rose during a meet and greet for Rose hosted by the Corpus Christi chapter of the NAACP on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Oveal Williams Senior Center. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Corpus Christi Police Chief Mike Markle (left) speaks about City Manager Margie Rose during a meet and greet for Rose hosted by the Corpus Christi chapter of the NAACP on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at the Oveal Williams Senior Center.

By Kirsten Crow of the Caller-Times

In City Council chambers, it was an appointment.

But Wednesday, lauded by colleagues between bursts of applause from the audience, Margie Rose's recent promotion to city manager of Corpus Christi was a celebration.

The event, put on by the Corpus Christi chapter of the NAACP, brought about 100 people to the Oveal Williams Senior Center to meet Rose and recognize her service and her new position. She is effectively CEO of an organization staffed by more than 3,200 employees, and a proposed operating budget of $874 million for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

It was a well-deserved promotion, local leaders told the crowd, describing Rose as a hard worker with integrity and extensive experience.

A unanimous council named Rose  who has been a member of the city's executive team for 14 years  as its new city manager in July. She has 30 years of experience in local government.

Rose on Wednesday described commitment, telling the crowd that "when I'm in, I'm all in, not halfway."

"There are so many things that we're going to do, very positively, in this community," she said. "I am so pleased that I am the city manager that will be a part of helping us, along with all of you, take us to that next level."

Rose is the first woman and the first black person to serve as Corpus Christi's city manager. She is a role model, local leaders have said.

Rose said she was hopeful she could "help make a difference in many lives."

"I want children, especially young ladies, to aspire to be the city manager and whatever else they want to be in this community."

Rose replaced Ron Olson, who resigned with little warning in the midst of a high-profile, citywide water boil advisory in May. His sudden departure immediately made Rose acting city manager. She was later appointed by the council as the interim city manager, and a few weeks later, the city manager.

Among other assets, council members cited her experience, institutional knowledge and commitment as reasons to endorse her for the permanent position.

Rose first served as city manager in Inkster, Michigan, after working her way up from accounts payable. She also was the first woman to serve as that city's manager. She later worked in county government in Michigan before taking a job at the city of Corpus Christi.

Earlier in the afternoon, Terry Mills, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, lauded Rose's appointment.

"She's going to turn this city around and make it better for everybody," Mills said.

An event Thursday hosted by the local chapter of the League of Women Voters will also recognize Rose as part of its Women's Equality Day Celebration. The theme for this year's celebration is "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Woman in Public Service and Government,"according to the flier.

Twitter: @CallerCrow
| BY Ricki Green |

After three years as senior producer at Eight, Lib Kelly (left) has taken on the role of executive producer, Australia. Kelly will work alongside managing director and executive producer, Katie Millington to further expand the business in Australia. The appointment coincides with the Eight rebrand (formerly 8com) and the launch of their new website www.eight.com.au.

Says Millington: Lib has been the backbone of our Sydney office since we moved to Surry Hills three years ago. Shes that rare combination of experience, logic, creativity and humour. Shes everything Eight is about and this new title is both well deserved and long overdue.

Says Kelly: Im thrilled to take on the EP role with Eight. I love and respect the brand and I value the companys commitment to providing an enjoyable production experience for everyone involved, from crew to agency and client. Im excited to work with Katie and our directors to move our company forward into new areas, whilst keeping a strong foothold in the world of high end TVCs and content.
| BY Ricki Green |

Specialist social video content marketing agency, Emotive, has continued to expand the strategy and activations team with the announcement of Sarah Clifton as content strategy and activations director.

Clifton has worked both client and agency side in Australia and the UK over the last 8 years, joining Emotive most recently from Westfields purpose built agency Sibling. Prior to that, Clifton was brand project lead on Coca-Colas successful #colouryoursummer campaign.

Cliftons commencement reflects yet another multi-skilled appointment for Emotive. She will work closely with the Emotive content strategy team whilst overseeing the delivery of integrated social video content programs with key clients.

Says Simon Joyce, CEO and founder, Emotive: Sarahs appointment is another reflection of our business momentum. We continue to offer clients new ways of navigating the content marketing world and I have no doubt that Sarahs experience will be well received by our clients.
| BY Ricki Green |

INK Digital Agencys Melbourne office has announced its partnership with new client, law firm Sayer Jones for a digital refresh.

With plans to elevate the digital profile of family law specialist Sayer Jones well under way, INK will recreate the year-old firms current online presence to be more in-line with its growing reputation as a forward-thinking, yet approachable legal team.

Says Helen Darlington, founder and head of creative strategy at INK: We loved meeting Ben Sayer of Sayer Jones and were really looking forward to providing a fresh approach, without any gimmicks, to elevate the brand digitally. We understand the business objectives and were excited to help these great guys achieve their goals.
The government had already announced free Wi-Fi in the Tuggeranong centre, upgraded the Tuggeranong Town Park and opened a new Canberra Institute of Technology campus in the town centre, as well as spending $36 million to clean up Lake Tuggeranong, he said.
Mr Gibbs, a 34-year Fire and Rescue veteran, and Sam Evans, a station officer at Chisholm who started his career two years before the 2003 disaster, are among the public faces of the "ACT on Fire" campaign which is intended to make bushfire readiness an election issue in the lead up to October's Territory poll.
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".
"The margin of error for injury or death on a construction site is not measured in metres or centimetres, it's measured in millimetres. They dropped a large panel of pre-cast concrete 3000 millimetres off the ground, that's the same distance the crane [at UC] was carrying the generator."
Officers swapped the illicit substance with a fake alternative, and sent the package on to Kaleen, where it was allegedly picked up by Igwebuike and taken to a second address in the same suburb.
Courtesy of the artist

is the name of a band that conjures a variety of esoteric references from Biblical to sensual. Their music is something else. Their sound is otherworldly; it's mystically inclined with deft instrumentation, passionate vocals, stunning guitar work and enough Middle Eastern and prog-rock influences to fill their growing audiences with grateful wonder.

The seven piece outfit, led by long-time, Israeli-born, Santa Fe resident and rhythm guitarist/composer Sharon Eliashar also features the talents of axe-man Marc Mann, a dude whose work with George Harrison, Oingo Boingo and System of a Down adds deep rock influence to the proceedings.

In concert and on recordings, Rubi Ate The Fig have an effect that is intimately, intoxicatingly intense as well as captivating, bridging the gap between rocanrol and its Middle Eastern and Asian antecedents with poly-rhythmic aplomb.

Rubi Ate the Fig also features an A-list of players that include Polly Tapia Ferber, a drummer that specializes in hand percussion of the Middle East; drummer Danny Montgomery, a session man who has worked with Taj Mahal and Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads; Souren Baronian, a clarinetist who has recorded with jazz greats Phil Woods and Steve Gadd; composer and oud player Adam Good and bass player Kenny Blye, who among other impressive aural experiences, studied with Motown legend Jamie Jamerson.

In concert and on recordings, Rubi Ate The Fig have an effect that is intimately, intoxicatingly intense as well as captivating, bridging the gap between rocanrol and its Middle Eastern and Asian antecedents with poly-rhythmic aplomb.

Eliashar stopped by Weekly Alibi to chat about the ensemble's upcoming AMP Concerts gig at The Cooperage (7720 Lomas NE) on Wednesday, Aug. 31. We chatted blithely and with positive energy about where she has been musically, where she intends to gobacked by one of the finest groups on Earthand how all of that complexity fits together to create a soulful and singular sound.

Weekly Alibi: So I asked around town about your band. The folks I've talked to say you all are an essential live experience, with dancers, ornate sets, Middle Eastern prog-rock, y todo. Tell me about all of that.

Sharon Eliashar: My husband, Leo Hubbard; is an architect; he designed the sets. When you come to our show, it's like entering The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. You are entering a faraway place. The sets create that first impression. We're primarily a rock band, but the Middle Eastern rhythms, Middle Eastern modes, solos that focus on traditional instruments and expressions are different from rock music. Yet in many ways, we're a straight-ahead rock band. With Western compositional techniques and rock instruments, we really create an unique fusion. My whole vision of the band was to create a new world, another world for audiences to explore.

What's your musical background?

Ok, so, I've had this band for many years now. It has morphed over time, people have come and gone. This particular group has been playing together since 2013. The players literally live all over the world. So it's a special thing to bring us all together. I studied classical music, but have a degree in mathematics. But I was always into music. When I moved to Santa Fe, I decided to focus on music. I studied with Joseph Weber at the College of Santa Fe. What was great about that experience was his honesty. He told me to write honestly. He said if you're from the farm write about the farm. If you're from the city, write about the city. So I had this big realization. I'm from the Middle East, but I was raised on rock and roll. So, that's what I ended up writing about, that is what informed my compositional style. I started studying with Polly [Tapia Ferber] and Souren [Baronian]. They became my teachers. I wanted to play the Arabic drum in a rock band. They're much better players than me and became part of the ensemble. As I was coming from math, classical music, rock and roll and the Middle East, I started to form this idea about a fusion of those influences. At a certain point, I said, here are my players, this is my dream ticket.

Why this band and where did the name come from?

Everyone wants to know about the name [Sharon laughs heartily]. It's kind of a mystery. We don't tell people where it came from. It alludes to an alternate story for Eve. It evokes the Old Testament. I've spent a lot of timeI was born in Jerusalemin the Sinai Desert, living among the Bedouins. All my music and lyrics come from those encounters. So I draw from being in the desert, from the Song of Songs to evoke ideas about eroticism and the sensuality of human experience. The poet Rumi also plays a role, has an influence in what I write about. Ultimately, it's a type of math rock, but not in the typical sense. But the compositions are filled with a lot of time odd changes and poly-rhythms. I don't write intellectually, though. I write organically. In ensemble, with the players in the band, the process is seemless.

Besides creating a mysterious presence, all of this forward movement has resulted in a Western tour this year. What's that about?

Our first gig is at the Cooperage at the very end of August. It's a small tour. After Burque, we head up to Colorado and play in Salida and Boulder. We have a big show booked in Denver. Then we have a really big show in Santa Fe at the Scottish Rite Temple. That happens the weekend Fiestas de Santa Fe peaks. It's a coincidence, but a cool one. Our dancer, Travis Jarrell, will be performing with the band that night.

The dancer part, along with the sets, speak to an all-inclusive sonic and sensory experience for participants. How important is that to your work?

It is, overall, a theatrical experience. Our intention, when the listener comes to our show, is to provide an entrance to another world. We transport you to another place. We go. We go to the desert, we go to outer space. And we bring our audiences with us.
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.
Educomp introduces educationists to SmartSTEM: a new interdisciplinary approach in science, technology, engineering and mathematics



Over 50 prominent principals and teachers attend the seminar

New Delhi, 24th August, 2016: Educomp Solutions Ltd., India's largest education company and the pioneer of Smartclass education in India, held its education development School Conclave at Hotel Le Meridien in New Delhi.

The Educomp School Conclave is an annual initiative by Educomp to discuss the key challenges faced by today's education system. The Conclave seeks to help schools identify, discuss and solve key issues facing them in imparting high quality education.

The School Conclave involves educationists, principals and school management from various city schools to discuss and find solutions to key challenges for schools of the 21st century.

Over 50 principals of leading schools in New Delhi attended the School Conclave to jointly discuss the problems and possible solutions. This year, the theme was Science and Mathematics.

Based on the previous interactive discussions with principals and administrators on filling some of the critical gaps in education delivery that today's schools face, participants were exposed to new technology platform that can create an eco-system that schools can use to deliver, monitor and meet outcome targets in Science and Mathematics.

On the occasion, the school community of New Delhi got a chance to witness Educomp's latest offering in innovative learning called SmartSTEM.

Educomp SmartSTEM brings a whole new perspective to Science and Mathematics by evolving and embracing a learning mechanism that is globally recognized and followed - STEM education.

This works towards building a sound knowledge base in areas of science and mathematics by integrating them into the curriculum through a cohesive learning approach. SmartSTEM is a unique teaching tool that focuses on Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

It is a unique blend of technology with traditional teaching methods, in which the teacher led tools enable in-depth learning for students via 3D animations, 3D interactivities and simulations. The students grasp the content by watching realistic 3D animations, simulation and engage in quizzes and 2D/3D interactivities to apply that learning.

Speaking on the sidelines of the School Conclave held in the city, Ruchika Kapoor, State Business Head, at Educomp Solutions Ltd. said, "The aim of the Educomp School Conclave is to update schools with the latest teaching modules and technologies. The Conclave looks to enable the educators to be future-ready with state of the art technology integration, which will revolutionize the way education is imparted."

She further said, "STEM education is a concept-driven approach that strengthens a student's analytical skills, problem-solving abilities and enables creative thinking that helps them pursue excellence in different fields in these subjects. We are happy to introduce schools in New Delhi to Educomp SmartSTEM which aims to make experiential learning of Science and Mathematics both fun and insightful."

Over 4000 schools across India are expected to participate in this year's Educomp School Conclaves. To be held across 85 Indian cities/towns, the conclaves will cover all four regions of the country as well as the North East.

Representatives from schools will be taken through extensive models and presentations to inform, educate and update the education fraternity on the benefits of SmartSTEM and how this teacher-led program enables in-depth learning for students via 3D animations and interactive modules.

About Educomp Solutions Limited (http://www.educomp.com/)

Educomp Solutions Limited is the largest education company in India and the only company spread across the entire education ecosystem. From schools to skills, over last two decades, Educomp group has empowered over 30 million learners and educators across over 65,000 schools to imagine, think and create a better future.

Educomp's presence in each of the education verticals is marked with technology-enabled products, highly qualified people, structured processes and entrepreneurial leadership, that come together to deliver unmatched value.

From pre-school toddlers to competitive high school exams, from core curriculum subjects at the school level to vocational and employability skills for young adults, Educomp reaches out to the entire education life cycle. Founded in 1994 by the first generation entrepreneur, Shantanu Prakash, the company today has 23 offices across major states of India, one in Singapore and two in the United States.

Educomp works with India's largest K12 content library with over 20,000 modules of rich 3D multimedia educational content and has reached out to over six million students across 12000 private schools and 17.5 million students across 35000 government schools. Educomp also runs over 350 Little Millennium pre-schools, 45 brick and mortar K12 schools, and 63 Test Prep centers.

Educomp is a publicly traded company on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, India.
Mumbai - ITM-Group has signed an MOU with Kotak Education Foundation, a social initiative for the underprivileged children and youth by Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The main objective of the partnership is to help the underprivileged students by offering the best opportunity possible. ITM on its part will provide the students of KEF with a fully funded scholarship for undergraduate courses at its campuses in Mumbai, Baroda and Raipur. Whereas, KEF will help the bright eligible students of ITM to further their education and in charitable work being undertaken by ITM.

Nitin Putcha, CEO, ITM Group said, "We are honoured with this association with a likeminded company like Kotak and we are hopeful to take all the initiatives that ITM is already doing to ensure that education is accessible for deserving students who could not study further due to lack of money. We are very proud to announce that through this tie up, it is not only quality education that would be provided to deserving students but also an entry to dream job with top companies on successful completion of the chosen Undergraduate Program".

Commenting on the tie-up, Kotak Education Fund representative said, "Education is the pillar of our country and we would like to thank ITM for providing the kids an opportunity that will benefit them as well as our country".

A total number of 13 students have been offered scholarship under this MOU, in various courses like Engineering, BSC-Nursing, BSC-Optometry, Medical Laboratory Technician and Interior Design. In the long run, many more such initiatives will be provided to the underprivileged youth for a better future.

What does the MOU say?

As per the latest KPMG report for NSDC, over 85% of the population had not progressed beyond higher secondary schooling, while a meager 2% of the population are graduates or above. This alarming number states that the need of providing opportunities to the deserving candidates is the need of the hour.

ITM Group of Institution has recognized this need state, and has collaborated with Kotak Education Fund (KEF) which supports children and youth from underprivileged families through different education based interventions so as to empower them and provide employable skills. Some of the sectors in which the scholarships will be offered are-

o B.Sc Nursing

o Optometry

o Hotel Management

o Fashion Designing

Keeping in mind that the private entities are equally responsible and play a pivotal role in catalysing sustainable economic growth that can deliver equitable development for all, ITM has taken this initiative to provide the students of KEF with a fully funded scholarship for undergraduate courses at its campuses in Mumbai, Baroda and Raipur.

PG Merit Scholarship For University Rank Holders By UGC
Students of XLRI - Xavier School of Management, Jagruti Vojjala and Anunay Arora have won the International INF Challenge organized by Global Innovation Company - 3M. The global competition was held at 3M Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA in July, 2016.

The XLRI Student team was adjudged winner among competing B-School students from 13 other countries including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Japan, Panama, Poland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and United States of America.

The winners Jagruti and Anunay have been offered six-month mentorship with a 3M senior leader and mentorship opportunity besides a vast international exposure. Both winners have also received a pre-placement offer from 3M India.

Reacting to her victory, Jagruti Vojjala, a second-year business management student at XLRI-Jamshedpur said, "It's been a long journey and I have thoroughly enjoyed each part of it. This is a platform where my ideas were appreciated and that felt even better than winning."

What Are The Benefits Of Interning Abroad?

The XLRI team represented India at the global competition after winning the National Case Competition - Invent a New Future Challenge (INF) 2016 organized by 3M India. The competition sought to recognize extraordinary thinking of B-school students saw participation through video entries from top business schools in India such as IIFT, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, SPJIMR, NMIMS, NITIE, XLRI among others.

Fr. E. Abraham S.J., Director, XLRI commented, "This win is the result of our students' sincere effort and their passion for excellence. I am extremely happy for our student team and congratulate them for this achievement".

About 3M India:

3M was established in India in 1988 and has completed more than 25 years of operations. 3M India headquarters is based in Bengaluru with branch offices at Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai. 3M leverages its global innovation expertise to develop home-grown solutions that address unique needs of diverse customers in the Indian market. 3M has invested in Innovation Centers at Bengaluru and Gurgaon to boost local product development and its manufacturing footprint is spread across Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.For further information, visit www.3mindia.in

About 3M:

3M is the global innovation company that never stops inventing because we are passionate about making progress possible. Our people capture the spark of new ideas and transform them into thousands of ingenious products and practical applications that help make people's lives better. With $30.8 billion in sales and operations in more than 70 countries, 3M sells more than 55,000 products and employs more than 88,000 people worldwide who collaborate actively to design, manufacture and engage in the delivery of innovative products & services. For further information visit, www.3m.com

About XLRI:

XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur is a premier, private management institute in India founded in 1949 by Fr Quinn Enright, S.J. in the 'steel city' of Jamshedpur. For further information visit www.xlri.ac.in

MAXI-XLRI Jamshedpur Hosts Legalize 6.0
We know that Bugattis Vision Gran Turismo concept was revealed to preview the Chiron, but is there a chance the concept could make its way into production?



According to Alejandro Salomon, that could very well be the case, following discussions hes had with Bugatti and some of its loyal customers.

It is thought that Bugatti is considering building around 20 units of the Vision Gran Turismo, slightly modified to meet road regulations and priced from between $5 million and $7 million. If true, that would make the Vision GT easily the most expensive production car of all time and make the $2.6 million Chiron look like chump change.

As if that wasnt enough, it is claimed that Bugatti could enter the Vision GT into the Le Mans 24 Hours in about five years time looking to mimic the success of the iconic McLaren F1 GTR.

Demand for the car to hit the production line is thought to have come from loyal brand customers whove been blown away by the one-off concept that was recently sold to a Saudi prince.

As the Vision Gran Turismo shares the same underpinnings as the Chiron, it wouldnt be difficult for Bugatti to produce it in limited numbers. Wth a price over double that of the Chiron and demand exceeding supply, it makes for a sound business case, too.

VIDEO
The Grand Tours producer, Andy Wilman, recently opened up about Amazons new show and what Clarkson, Hammond and May will be up to once the series launches this fall.



First, weve learned from Digitalspy that the new Amazon Prime show will launch with a 70-minute episode. Second, it seems that well get to see Jeremy Clarkson drive through an actual Game of Thrones set  though we cant be sure which one.

While speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Wilman also revealed that 90% of the series has already been shot and that all of it will be rendered in excellent 4K quality.

The producer went on to say that hed prefer the show to be a weekly occurrence on Amazon since it doesnt have a boxset/binge appeal and that he still hopes they can get a secondary run on a traditional TV channel for it.

Furthermore, Wilman mentioned that working on The Grand Tour has been fantastic but really demanding, and that recent reports of the show actually costing around $4.5 million per episode are bollocks.

If youre curious to know what he thought about the new Top Gear, the shows former producer actually said he didnt watch it, but that he would not with them one second of ill.

Video
Photo: Contributed

Hanna Parker is this week's Volinspire Volunteer of the Week.

What first inspired you to volunteer?

Honestly, I started volunteering only to complete the required hours for school, but I quickly realized that there was more to it than that. Volunteering has become something I enjoy and I like being able to say that I'm not just volunteering for school hours. The benefits of volunteering are tremendous, especially for a young high school student like myself.

Which cause are you most passionate about and why?

Education is one cause that I feel very passionate about because it is something that both myself and others have taken for granted. We as a society often forget that there are others who don't have the same opportunities as those in more economically developed countries. Education provides a platform for students that allows them to reach new places and gain new opportunities, and it's unfair that some people are denied this.

Which organization do you most commonly volunteer for?

I volunteer the most at Cottonwoods Care Centre as a Candy Striper.

What does a typical volunteer shift look like for this organization?

During a shift, I deliver water to the residents. I chat and spend time with them, which has resulted in bonds and friendly relationships with a couple of residents there. I help out the nurses if I can with small jobs and favours. It is a very friendly and flexible environment which teaches me about responsibility and I appreciate that. I get to meet and interact with interesting people that I normally wouldn't have the opportunity to. Life inside an assisted living facility is quite different, which was an eye-opener to me.

What impact have you seen volunteers make in the community?

Volunteering is a way for people to feel good about themselves. I have found that volunteers are generally very kind and positive people. This goes a long way in the community, because those who volunteer tend to spread their kindness and positivity to others around them, whether they are actively volunteering or not. A little commitment from volunteers can go a long way into helping those in need and creating a brighter future for those around us.

What is the most memorable moment or experience you've had while volunteering?

My best volunteering memories are from when I helped organize OKM's Car Smash for Fort McMurray. I was working with a great bunch of people, and we had tons of fun leading up to the event. On the day of our fundraising event, we rolled an Oldsmobile onto the back field and charged students to smash it to raise money for the families in Fort McMurray. The best part was when I got to destroy the side windows with a crowbar. Smashing an old car to smithereens felt awesome, and I highly recommend it as a stress reliever!

What support does your organization currently need, and how can people learn more or get involved?

I have volunteered for many organizations, yet all of them need one thing in common... More volunteers! There are very few organizations out there who can honestly say that they have more than enough volunteers; they are always on the lookout for bright and friendly people.

The best way to get involved is to get online. I found that simply going onto the organization's website or checking out their profile on Volinspire will give me enough information to contact an organizer.

Is there anyone else you would like to recognize that has helped support you to make a difference?

Cottonwoods Care Centre and Interior Health. It given me the experience of working at a care facility, and volunteering there has helped open my eyes to new possibilities. I also want to say thank you to Volinspire and Interior Savings, because their help and support is what made the OKM Car Smash possible.

Special shout out to my fellow Volinspire Amassadors  Madelyn Miyashita, Emma Van Demark, Kristian Oppenheim, Andrew Kates, Natalie Waynert. They helped raise more than $7,000 from our event to support the Canadian Red Cross.

Get Volinspired! Learn more about Volinspire and local volunteer opportunities at volinspire.com.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Tim Hortons Canada has named a new president for the second time since being acquired by Restaurant Brands International (TSX:QSR) in late 2014.

Replacing David Clanachan as president is Sami Siddiqui, who was head of finance for Tim Hortons.

RBI said Clanachan has been elevated to chairman of RBI Canada.

Clanachan has been chief operating officer at Tim Hortons since August 2012 and was appointed president in December 2014.

Prior to joining Tim Hortons at the outset of 2015, Siddiqui had been a senior director of global finance for Burger King.

RBI is the parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons.
Photo: Twitter Cameron Uganec

A conference designed to look at future growth and the direction of the Okanagan will be held next month in Kelowna.

The conference, being put on by the Urban Development Institute, is titled Our Future City.

We wanted to put something on that would help spark the conversation around some of the important decisions our community will have to make and some of the key topics and issues that will have to be grappled with, said UDI president Andrew Gaucher.

The hope is that we can help to catalyze some interesting and thoughtful conversation around some of these important issues as well as explore potential solutions and directions to take."

The conference, Sept. 9 at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, will feature a keynote address from Cameron Uganec, a senior director at Hootsuite.

He will speak on the rapid technological change shaping cities and opportunities this offers to both Kelowna and the Valley.

Other topics of discussion include:

Future architectural styles in the Okanagan

Leading Edge Initiatives coming out of the University of British Columbia and Okanagan College

Future approaches to building cities, communities and homes

Improving community health and sustainability by incorporating active living and local food production into our living spaces

Demographic shifts and the future of retirement housing needs in the Okanagan

Density and its implications around housing affordability, market demand, transportation and parking considerations.

Tickets are $100. Click here for ticket and conference information.
Photo: Getty Images

It's that time of the year parents love best  back to school.

Across B.C., more than 600,000 students head back to class Tues. Sept. 6.

Students in kindergarten to Grade 9 will all be learning under a new curriculum this fall.

The B.C. government says students will learn the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic in a way that connects them to the collaboration, communications, and critical thinking skills needed in college, university, and the work force."

The government also has a program to help parents kick-start education savings. Parents can apply here for the $1,200 BC Training and Education Saving Grant.

The new school year is exciting for parents and students alike and everyone wants a stress-free start to the year. We are investing a record $5.1 billion for public education this year, said Education Minister Mike Bernier.

Meanwhile, BC Children's Hospital has tips on how to deal with junior's back-to-school anxiety.

Adjusting to a new routine, new teacher, pressure to make new friends and bullying can all take a toll.

Taking time to acknowledge your childs worries about the new school year and problem solve solutions can help them shift their focus to the positive aspects of school," said Dr. Susan Baer, psychiatrist in the mood and anxiety disorders clinic at BC Childrens.

Parents have their share of stress, too.

According to marketing research company Field Agent, Canadian parents are only 53 per cent done their back-to-school shopping.

Field Agent polled more than 200 parents last weekend and found they are only about half done shopping.

Based on its findings, Field Agent expects a busy couple of weeks at Canadian retailers.

Check out the full findings here.
Photo: CTV

After being hit by a car, a black bear had be euthanized by police in Port Coquitlam.

The Mary Hill Bypass was partially shut down late Tuesday to deal with the incident.

Witnesses wanted to help the bear, but stayed in their cars for safety.

RCMP say the injured animal had to be put down.

"We were just driving, and I saw a shadow in front of me," Ness Hanbury told CTV. "There was a car in front of me that swerved around something."

Two cars collided during the sudden stop.

Hanbury called 911 when he saw the bear had blood on its face and was staggering around.

"It's unfortunate, and it's very sad that the people that hit the bear continued driving away without doing anything about it," Hanbury said.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: Contributed

Kelowna parents can access a range of early learning, health and family services in one location with the opening of Central Okanagan Family Hub.

One of the provinces new BC Early Years Centres, the hub is now open at Pearson Road Elementary School.

We are very excited to open the doors to the Family Hub at Pearson Road Elementary, a one-stop shop where families are at the centre of all services, said Ellen Boelcke, executive director for Kelowna Community Resources.

We believe that investing in the early years is where we can make the biggest impact  early prevention pays back tenfold. It is our vision to transform young lives for future success.

The hub is a collaborative network of local agencies that promises to support, inform and connect families with young children to community services.

Staff will provide referrals to parenting and early learning programs, emergency shelter or food, health services and other supports available in the community.

This Family Hub is a concept utilized in several B.C. communities and we are thrilled to be not only a major funder but a community partner in its evolution, said Shelley Gilmore, executive director with United Way Central South Okanagan-Similkameen.

We are very much in support of collaborative community solutions, and United Way and its donors want to be a part of building stronger communities through these collective impact initiatives. Its a very exciting project, one that we know will have an incredibly positive impact on the community.

The Kelowna location is one of 47 BC Early Years Centres throughout the province.

Westbank First Nation has also been designated for an Early Years Centre that will open in the near future.

The creation of this community hub will help bring people together to tackle complex problems through a neighbourhood lens, said Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country.

The Family Hub is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the grand opening scheduled for late September.

For more information click here.
Photo: northernhealth.ca

UPDATE: Thursday

A man who died in a confrontation with police in Terrace had just been Tasered.

Police said they tried to negotiate with Nicolas Allan Jeppeson as he stood outside the local hospital, and then used a conducted energy weapon to subdue him.

He died a short time later.

The death is under investigation.

ORIGINAL: Wednesday

Nicolas Allan Jeppesen, 29, has been identified as the man who died following interaction with Terrace RCMP earlier this month.

On Aug. 21, police responded to a complaint near Mills Memorial Hospital.

They encountered Jeppesen, a local resident, near the hospitals helicopter landing pad. During the interaction, Jeppesen was injured and died a short time later at the hospital.

The BC Coroners Service and Independent Investigations Office continue to investigate the death.

The mandate of the IIO is to investigate whether any offences may have been committed by the police officers involved.

The mandate of the BC Coroners Service in such cases is broader, and the coroners investigation may look at the events which led up to the final fatal outcome and whether there are reasonable and practical recommendations that could be made which might prevent future deaths in similar circumstances.
Photo: Contributed

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has delivered some encouraging news about its potential offshore oil and gas resources, saying new seismic data is pointing to huge reserves in West Orphan Basin.

Premier Dwight Ball announced Wednesday that an independent assessment of nine parcels in the basin found they could contain 25.5 billion barrels of oil and 20.6 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, which regulates the province's offshore industry, has already issued a call for bids that closes in November 2016.

Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady says the data have revealed 350 leads and prospects  more than 50 of which are in the West Orphan Basin.

Ball says the new estimates should encourage more oil and gas exploration, despite the dramatic downturn in the industry.

"We do recognize that exploration is down globally due to current challenges in the oil and gas industry," he said in a statement.

"Still, we are cautiously optimistic about positive results of the licensing round in November 2016. We are fully expecting more exploration work by the leading oil and gas companies in the world."

The assessment was conducted by Beicip-Franlab, based in Paris.
Photo: Contributed Kasimir Tyabji-Sandana

The son of former Kelowna MLA Judy Tyabji is in more hot water.

Kasimir Tyabji-Sandana, 28, has been charged with assault stemming from an incident nearly three months ago in Powell River.

At the time, Tyabji-Sandana was out on bail after he was arrested and charged with importing fentanyl in July 2015. He is scheduled to stand trial on that charge in Calgary next September.

He was under house arrest, living with a family friend in Powell River.

The latest incident occurred at the government house of the Tlaamin Nation on June 9.

Tyabji-Sandana is alleged to have struck a person in the face.

He is to appear in court again next month in Powell River on the assault charge.

Judy Tyabji was the youngest MLA in B.C. history when she was elected to represent Okanagan East in 1991. She was 26 when she was elected.
Photo: The Canadian Press

It appears contract talks at Canada Post have stalled as a strike mandate for more than 51,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is set to expire.

The postal agency's biggest union has until midnight Thursday to serve the Crown corporation with a 72-hour strike notice.

The union is accusing Canada Post of continuing to make unacceptable demands.

The added urgency of the strike mandate deadline saw federal Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk directly intervene in the negotiations Tuesday by sitting at the table after the bargaining teams held days of intensive talks.

CUPW national president Mike Palecek has scheduled a news conference for Thursday to provide an update to the union's perspective of the negotiations.

But the union's bargaining team told members that, unless Canada Post backed away from its proposals, it would serve notice of an impending work disruption.

"If nothing changes between now and tomorrow, we will be issuing our 72-hour notice of strike activity," the CUPW negotiating team told its members.

Should the union pull the plug on bargaining, there could be disruptions to mail delivery by Monday, although it wasn't clear Wednesday what action would be taken.

Once the strike mandate expires, Canada Post employees would likely have to vote again on an extension.

That vote could take upwards of two months to complete, setting the timeline for a potential delivery disruption at the start of the busy Christmas mailing season.

The Crown corporation also has the option to lock out workers after Thursday.

"After 9 months of negotiations, including 60 days of conciliation followed by more than 70 days with the help of mediators, both sides remain far apart," said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton.

"The union continues to press for more than $1 billion in demands with no appreciation for the current and troubling future state of the postal service caused by declining mail volumes and increasing pension obligations.

"Canada Post remains committed to negotiating agreements that are fair to our employees, and allow us to continue to provide affordable pricing and service to Canadians."

A pay equity issue pitting rural and urban carriers against each other and a proposed move from a defined benefit pension plan to a defined contribution plan for new employees are the main stumbling blocks in the dispute.

The union claims rural postal workers earn, on average, nearly 30 per cent less than city carriers.

"Canada Post's proposal on pay equity (for rural carriers) was nothing more than an attempt to complicate and delay that process," the union told its members in a statement.

"Canada Post wants to drag out pay equity with binding arbitration, a process that could take years or even decades."

Other issues include "precarious part-time and temporary employment, no improvements in staffing, the ability to close all 493 protected CUPW staffed retail locations eliminating up to 1,200 full-time jobs," the union said.
Photo: Contributed

A credit union is forecasting that British Columbia's housing market will remain strong for the next two years as a growing population and limited housing supply continue to push prices up, particularly on Vancouver Island.

However, Central 1 Credit Union says a new tax on foreign buyers will cause a substantial but temporary 10 per cent drop in Metro Vancouver sales that will extend into 2017.

Senior economist Bryan Yu says the tax puts further downward pressure on a market that has already been slowing after a very strong spring.

He expects Metro Vancouver sales to rebound due to the strong local economy and lack of supply, although he says prices will grow at a much slower rate than they did in the first part of 2016.

The annual median price of a home in the region grew nearly 20 per cent this year to $705,000, but Yu says prices will rise just 4 per cent in 2017 and 4.4 per cent in 2018 to $765,000.

He says the declines in Metro Vancouver are being offset by gains on Vancouver Island and, to a lesser extent, in Interior B.C., where people are relocating for work and more affordable housing.

"You're also seeing the in-migration flows, not only from other provinces, like Alberta ... but also I think from Metro Vancouver, pushing into these more affordable areas," Yu says in an interview.

During the recession, few new homes were built in these regions and they suffered from excess supply, he says. But now, most of the extra housing stock has been sold off.

At the same time, Victoria has seen two per cent employment growth, with lifts in tourism, the film and television industry, and the public sector.

All these factors are helping to drive a 20 per cent annualized rise in home prices in Victoria, while Nanaimo is seeing an eight to 10 per cent bump, Yu says.

"I'm a little bit more cautious about Kelowna because they have a relatively weaker job market," he says, adding that job losses in Alberta's oilsands continue to impact Interior B.C.

In late July, the B.C. government announced a 15 per cent tax on Vancouver-area properties purchased by foreigners. The levy has caused uncertainty, likely prompting some foreign buyers to pull out of the market and impacting local confidence in real estate, Yu says.

But he says the bigger picture is that B.C.'s economy is still doing very well. Employment in the province grew 3.5 per cent over the past year, while in Metro Vancouver it grew 5 per cent.

Housing starts are projected to remain above 40,000 units in 2017 and 2018, he says.

After a year of runaway unaffordability in Metro Vancouver, Yu stresses that price deceleration would actually be quite healthy.

"We don't want to see 10, 15 per cent growth year over year. It's largely unsustainable," he says.

"We will see a decline in sales that will cool the market, and will decelerate prices, but I don't think it's going to be as drastic as some others may be believing."
West Kelowna fire crews were already battling several issues throughout the city Sunday night when the call came for a wildfire that had sparked near Bear Creek Provincial Park.

Assistant Fire Chief Darren Lee was attending a home that a large tree had fallen on after strong winds picked up across the Okanagan valley. While Assistant Fire Chief Brent Watson was dealing with an elevator rescue and a houseboat that was tipping over into the lake.

Both were brought in to help firefighters from Wilsons Landing and the North Westside Fire Rescue, to get a handle on the blaze that started just before 10 p.m.

Watson says crews were experiencing extreme fire behaviour by the time he arrived on scene.

There were multiple structures at threat, literally surrounded by fire, he said. At that time I got the call to make another attempt through this 'blow-up' if you will. I made it through, it was super hot, no visibility at all.

Just as Watson made it through to the north side of the fire, a large cedar hedge came crashing down behind him.

Lee says his biggest concern for the firefighters was the threat of a power pole burning or a power line falling.

I could see we were going to get pushed out by the fire, which is a new experience for me, said Lee. I have had great training, great experience around the Okanagan, the province and in the U.S., but I have never been pushed out into a safe place that is basically fuel free, and actually stop firefighting until the fire did its thing.

Watson describes the fire as very intense, as the embers showered down in the night onto the crews.

The reality is though, it was great team work, a really great effort by Wilsons Landing, North Westside, by Peachland, by Kelowna, all of the departments that responded. It really shows how the region pulls together to work on these things.

More than 100 homes were evacuated along with campers from Bear Creek Provincial Park and Lee credits Wilsons Landing and North Westside firefighters for their effort in handling the evacuation.

They just didnt quit all night.

The BC Wildfire Service was also called into assist with the blaze.

Currently the Bear Creek wildfire is in mop up stages and all evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted.
The official song for this Olympic games should be Dean Brody's Canadian Girls.

I would like to extend a congratulations and a huge thank you to all our Canadian Olympic athletes for putting themselves out there to represent our maple leaf. For me it is not just about the hardware, but the sacrifices, sweat and dedication of all these young people.

The light in me bows to the light in you.

Pamela Leco
Photo: Getty Images

This week, much of the news coming out of Ottawa has been focused on extravagant and wasteful spending involving Liberal cabinet ministers.

The spending relates to thousands of dollars spent on luxury limousine service, paid access to an elite airport lounge and revelations of an expensive personal photographer being hired to promote the minister of the environment.

Although the sums of money involved are not in the millions, the intense media focus serves as a reminder of the need for elected officials to always be vigilant whenever spending tax dollars and rightfully so.

At the same time we should also not overlook that when the media is largely focused on a single issue; other issues of importance may be overlooked.

One particular issue that has received little attention (with the exception of Huffington Post reporter Althia Raj) relates to the ongoing discussions, which in reality is negotiations, between the federal government and the provinces for a new Canada health accord.

The negotiations are going so poorly that the Quebec minister of health is quoted as suggesting the discussions are currently stuck in a Mexican standoff-like situation.

At the core of the issue is, as is often the case with any government provided service, is money.

"We don't think that $3 billion over three or four years is nearly enough to reflect the growing need of the older Canadians, particularly in British Columbia," said B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake.

Considering the capital budget alone for the new Penticton Hospital Care tower expansion now exceeds $300 million, it is easy to understand why Canadas provincial health ministers are concerned given our aging demographics.

In 2004, former prime minister Paul Martin announced a 10-year Canada Health Accord agreement that increased funding by six per cent a year.

In 2014, former prime minister Steven Harper extended this agreement until the 2016/107 fiscal year.

After that the increases were set to rise at a minimum rate of three per cent a year or greater in the event GDP growth exceeded this rate. So far, the Liberal government has not announced any changes to the current three per cent funding rate that is tied to potential GDP increases.

The provinces believe this annual increase in funding will not be sufficient to cover constantly rising health care costs.

The Canada Health Transfer from the federal government to Canadian provinces has gone from roughly $20 billion annually a decade ago to over $34 billion a year today.

For some provincial perspective, B.C. health care budget in 2000 was under $10 billion annually and is forecast to hit over $19 billion by the 2018/2019 fiscal year.

This rate of increased provincial health spending means that providing health care now consumes a greater percentage of the overall B.C. budget and that leaves less revenue for other important services.

Based on these facts, it is easy to understand why Canadian health ministers are extremely concerned over long-term funding and rising health care costs.

At the same time, we must not overlook that over the next two decades the number of Canadian citizens over the age of 65 will basically double from roughly 4.7 million to over 9.3 million by 2030. This will seriously increase long-term health care costs.

It should also be recognized that the ratio of workers still in the workforce is declining over the same time frame.

I mention these facts because increased debt today carries rising interest costs that also eat into future budgets and likewise decisions to restore the age of OAS eligibility from 67 to 65 will add significant costs pressures at a time when scarce health care dollars will be even more in demand.

Ultimately, I believe more long-term strategic budgeting is essential and necessary to protect the sustainability of our Canadian health care system.

While restoring the age of OAS was politically popular, the prime minister has yet to provide a plan to address the long term needs of our aging population and required health care funding.

The current Mexican standoff over our new Canada Health Accord is a serious concern and I welcome your views on this subject.

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free at 1-800-665-8711.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
During the media Q&A session following our August 2nd council meeting, the question was raised, Who reads the local paper at least 4 times per week?. Out of seven individuals, I was the sole member of council without a raised hand. Conversation ensued and finally a brief article titled Penticton passes on reading newspapers ended up in the news.

For those unaware, several platforms are available to source your local news from. These range from social feeds, such as Facebook and Twitter, to online sources such as Castanet and Infotel, or others including Google Alerts, which curate news articles from the web sending them directly to my email.

With this extremely relevant portion of the conversation omitted, one can only assume this article was printed with the intent of painting the picture of an ignorant and arrogant councillor, with little regard for Pentictons citizens or their voice. I am not surprised or offended by the backlash in the letters to the editor or the many angry emails sent my way, as I too would be angered by this.

Ive spent 35 years growing up in this town and believe Penticton is the greatest place on earth, therefore I will continue to work hard during my term to build it up. I will also absolutely refuse to support a business that, in my opinion, happily rips it apart in an attempt to generate more profit.

Ive been advised to never start a war of words with someone who buys ink by the barrel and rest assured, ignoring this advice is not my goal. I am very aware that submitting this could have my name dragged through the mud for the remainder of my term. With that being said, I simply felt the need to defend myself and clarify this situation.

If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: President Cant Swim. - Lyndon B. Johnson

Max Picton

Councillor

City of Penticton
Photo: The Canadian Press

A federal U.S. judge has thrown cold water on a lawsuit that claimed Starbucks defrauded customers by adding ice to its cold beverages.

Judge Percy Anderson tossed out the potential class-action lawsuit because a reasonable customer would know that a portion of iced coffee or tea would include ice and they'd be able to see it through the clear plastic cups the beverages are served in. In fact, he said, even a child would get it.

"As young children learn, they can increase the amount of beverage they receive if they order 'no ice,'" Anderson said in a ruling issued Friday in U.S. District Court. "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 ... some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered."

Alexander Forouzesh sued Starbucks Corp. in May for fraud, breach of warranty and false advertising, among other claims.

The Los Angeles man said the chain was cheating customers out of iced coffee and tea by filling cups as much as halfway with ice.

Forouzesh said Wednesday that he plans to appeal and was insulted by the judge's remarks about children.

"Any child can figure out that they're being deceived by Starbucks, as well," he said. "It's not right. The whole point is that we're being deceived."

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the company was pleased with the decision and the judge's remarks.

A similar case is still percolating in Chicago's federal court. The coffee company is due to file its defence in that case Thursday.
Photo: The Canadian Press

More than a dozen homes were damaged and at least three people injured Wednesday evening amid multiple reports of a possible tornado touching down in southwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada said an eyewitness saw a tornado near LaSalle, a bedroom community near Windsor, at about 7:10 p.m.

The agency described the storm and possible tornado as a "dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation" before lifting its tornado warning at about 8 p.m.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said about 15 homes had been damaged in the storm and that the Red Cross and city agencies were trying to determine how to best help the affected residents.

"We're just trying to assess what needs to be done to make sure those folks are taken care of by the way of accommodation for this evening."

Dilkens also told a late night news briefing at a city fire station that three people suffered non-life threatening injuries.

"There were three people transported to hospital ... the injuries were reported as not life-threatening, not critical injuries, but they were taken to hospital as a precaution."

Windsor police were warning residents to avoid the Deziel Dr. area because of damage.

They also reported that hydro poles had been knocked down and there were some live wires as a result.

Lasalle resident Tom Greer said he was on his back porch with his girlfriend watching the storm when he saw funnel clouds forming in the distance.

"I've never seen anything like it before," said Greer, adding that he saw tree branches and other debris swirling around.

He said the area with the most damage was just a kilometre from his home.

"We went for a drive afterward and some houses had the roofs torn off," Greer said of the homes on Victory Street  the area that he said sustained the most damage.

A spokeswoman for Environment Canada said a team would be in the area early Thursday to assess the damage and confirm whether a tornado had touched down.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The Canadian-Italian community is mobilizing to help after a deadly earthquake in central Italy killed at least 247 people and left thousands homeless on Wednesday

The 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:36 a.m. and reduced three towns in central Italy to rubble.

Bob Sacco, president of the National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations, says that while it's still early, his organization is looking at options to support recovery efforts.

"I got a lot of calls from our chapters in Montreal and various chapters across Canada that basically said, 'How can we help?' The first step is really to figure out who the right people are to have an idea and do an effective plan," he said.

Sacco was previously involved with fundraising after a powerful 2009 earthquake in Italy's Abruzzo region, which killed more than 300 people. At that time, the Abruzzo Earthquake Relief Fund was established, raising $2 million for a new medical research facility at the University of L'Aquila, in one of the towns hit hardest by the earthquake. Another $400,000 was donated to the Red Cross.

"The Italian community stepped up to the plate when that happened there and I'm sure they'll do that this time as well," Sacco said.

He added that his organization will likely follow a similar plan to raise money for the towns affected by the recent earthquake. But for now, he said rescue efforts are most important.

"Some of those towns, they go back thousands of years with churches and architects. That's part of that rebuilding process  how you recapture what's lost," he said. "But first of all you have to make sure everybody's safe."
Photo: Twitter

Favourable weather conditions helped crews make progress Wednesday against a series of wildfires in Eastern Washington that have burned at least 18 homes this week.

A fire burning on the Spokane Indian Reservation was 30 per cent contained. That fire covered more than 27 square miles and had destroyed at least 13 homes on the reservation, said Jamie Sijohn, a spokeswoman for the tribe.

"The devastating fire jumped the Spokane River from Lincoln County onto the Spokane reservation in three separate locations," Sijohn said.

It roared toward the town of Wellpinit, forcing the evacuation of the entire town on Sunday. But that order has since been lifted, Sijohn said.

Meanwhile, a fire near the town of Davenport in Lincoln County covered 6.5 square miles, and was 20 per cent contained.

Another fire south of Spokane, in the Valleyford area, was 50 per cent contained. It had burned more than 10 square miles and destroyed at least five homes, officials said. Mandatory evacuations ended on that fire on Tuesday night.

In California, authorities say a wildfire that destroyed 45 homes on California's central coast was not intentionally set but they are still trying to determine the cause.

Cal Fire says arson has been ruled out in the 10-day blaze that has charred 64 square miles of dry brush and timber.

A fast-moving rangeland wildfire in eastern Idaho expanded to nearly 70 square miles Wednesday, forcing evacuations, threatening a windfarm and burning habitat needed by sage grouse, a federally protected bird.

The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office says evacuations are in place, with up to 70 buildings along U.S. Highway 26 threatened.

In central Idaho, a 160-square-mile wildfire in a remote, mountainous area continues to defy containment and burn through timbered slopes that are difficult for firefighters to reach.
Photo: Google Maps

Egypt's Foreign Ministry says the family of an Egyptian boy who crossed the Mediterranean Sea on his own to find medical help abroad for his sick brother, will leave for Italy within days to join him there.

The 13-year-old sneaked out of Egypt with the help of human traffickers earlier this month, carrying with him only medical records of his brother who has a rare blood disorder.

Thursday's remarks by ministry's spokesman, Ahmed Abu-Zeid, are Egypt's first confirmation of the teen's dangerous sea crossing.

Earlier, Abu-Zeid said the boy's family could not be located. He says authorities later learned from Italy that it's granting visas to the family members, including the sick boy who is to get treatment in Italy.

Thousands of illegal migrants have made the dangerous sea voyage.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended early Thursday after at least 13 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabul's outskirts, a government spokesman said.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the country's capital, Kabul.

The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to Afghan authorities. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the interior ministry said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban. The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, would only tell the media that the Taliban are "investigating."

President Ashraf Ghani laid the blame on neighbouring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting the Taliban in sanctuaries across the border, and saying the attack had been "organized" in Pakistan. Ghani spoke by telephone with Pakistan's army chief, Raheel Sharif, and demanded "serious action," his office said. Pakistan's foreign ministry "strongly condemned" the attack.

Ghani's statement also raised the death toll to 13, saying that a teacher, identified on social media by the as Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed. Earlier in the day, 12 were reported killed.

"Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms," said Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers.

The assault began just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university, with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance.

The blast breached the security walls and allowed two other "terrorists," beside the driver of the vehicle, to enter the campus, Sediqqi said.

They were armed with grenades and automatic weapons. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3.30 am, he added.

More than 200 people, mostly students who had been trapped in university buildings were rescued by special police units.

The university, located on the western edge of Kabul, was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

The university remained closed on Thursday and it wasn't clear when it would reopen. Faculty leaders could not immediately be reached for comment.
Photo: The Canadian Press

It's been a decade since 70-year-old Stephanie Stewart vanished while working alone at a wildfire lookout in dense mountain forest in northwestern Alberta.

RCMP determined the healthy and adventurous senior, an experienced fire spotter who spent many summers living in the bush, was most probably a homicide victim.

Spokesman Cpl. Hal Turnbull says tips continue to come in about the case, but there have been no arrests.

Her body has never been found.

"It's a very puzzling thing," Turnbull says.

"We're moving forward the best we can on what we have. Some cases are more difficult than others. And this is just a very difficult case."

It was a sunny Saturday morning on Aug. 26, 2006, when Stewart was reported missing.

The woman, who had spent the last dozen summers working at a lookout near Hinton, had last talked with a family member the night before. When she failed to make her scheduled radio check-in for work that morning, another fire spotter was sent to her lookout to see if she was OK.

She was gone.

A pot of water had been left boiling on the stove and her truck was still parked outside.

Some items were missing from her cabin: two pillows with blue covers, a burgundy bed sheet, a Navajo-patterned duvet and a gold watch.

Turnbull says forensic evidence and other information gathered during the early days of the investigation led officers to rule out that Stewart was attacked by a animal, died in an accident or suffered a medical episode that caused her to wander away.

They concluded she was killed by someone.

Marc Symbaluk, a volunteer with Hinton Search and Rescue, managed the initial search for Stewart. It was one of the largest undertaken in the province, he says, and the group remains ready to help investigators if it gets the call.

"Stephanie has a special place in my heart," says Symbaluk, who adds that from the back deck of his home he can see the lookout tower where Stewart worked.

He thinks of her often, he says.

There are 127 fire lookouts in operation in Alberta. The provincial government added safety features to them after Stewart disappeared.

Signs that used to point visitors toward popular lookouts have been taken down. Lookouts with road access now have locked gates. Staff are also trained in self-defence and are equipped with hand-held radios with panic buttons.
Photo: Health Canada

Health Canada is calling almost 6,000 strollers sold under the brand name Safety 1st.

The Step n Go Travel Systems strollers were manufactured in China and distributed by Mississauga, Ont.,-based Dorel Juvenile Canada.

The federal agency says a tray folding mechanism can partially disengage on one side when an infant car seat is attached, posing a fall hazard.

Health Canada says about 5,787 of the affected strollers were sold in Canada between May 2015 and June 2016. Dorel Juvenile Canada has eight consumer reports about the trays disengaging but there are no reports of any injuries.

Health Canada says anyone who owns one of these strollers should stop using it with a car seat attached and contact the company for a free repair kit.

Three models are affected, identified as 01451CCYA, 01451CDGI and 01451CDGJ. The numbers are on a sewn-in label at the back of the stroller.

The recall also covers some 20,000 units which were sold in the United States.
Photo: The Canadian Press

CIBC is reporting a big jump in third-quarter profit, which rose nearly 50 per cent from a year ago to $1.44 billion, partly due to the sale of its minority investment in American Century Investments.

The Toronto-based bank had $978 million of net income during the same quarter last year.

CIBC says that without the gains from the American Century Investments sale, its profit was up eight per cent to $1.07 billion from $990 million.

On a per-share basis, net income for the three months ended July 31 was $3.61  up from $2.42 in last year's third quarter.

After adjustments, CIBC earned $2.67 per share, up from $2.45 a year ago.

Revenue for the quarter was $4.14 billion, up from $3.52 billion during the same period last year.
Photo: Contributed

Police were called to a restaurant near the intersection of Harvey Avenue and Pandosy Street in Kelowna Wednesday night, after staff were threatened by a customer.

According to Const. Jesse ODonaghey, a man walked into the establishment carrying a brick and was mumbling to himself.

Staff called police, and when officers arrived, they found the man inside, sitting with the brick at his feet.

He appeared to be sweating profusely and asked for medical assistance, said ODonaghey.

Emergency Health Services were called to the scene, assessed the man and transported him to Kelowna General Hospital for further treatment.
Photo: Flickr/RCMP

Four people were pulled from the water and taken ashore without injury after their canoe and kayak overturned Sunday on Indian Arm.

Coquitlam RCMP were alerted by the Coast Guard shortly after 1 p.m. that a sudden squall had caused the two vessels to overturn, leaving four people stranded in the water.

All four were located near the south end of Crocker Island by police. With the help of a charter vessel, they were taken ashore and provided with dry clothes and hot food at a privately owned inn.

Everyone was wearing the proper safety equipment or else the outcome could have been far more tragic, said Cpl. Justin Abels.

Police advise paddlers to wait out a storm rather than fight against it and always check the forecast prior to heading out on the water.
Photo: The Canadian Press

At least one Canadian is confirmed to have died during this week's devastating earthquake in central Italy.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion revealed the news in a statement, though he did not identify the Canadian or provide other details.

"I was extremely saddened to see the tragic loss of life following the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which now includes the death of a Canadian citizen," Dion said.

"We share in the grief of the lives cut short by this terrible event."

At least 240 people were killed and countless more injured when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy on Tuesday night.

Dozens of people are believed to be still trapped beneath the rubble in the affected area, where rescuers are frantically working to save them.

Officials say there were 3,876 Canadians registered with Global Affairs Canada as being in Italy, with 72 in the areas affected by the earthquake. The numbers, however, are likely low as many Canadians never register with the department while travelling abroad.

Dion said he had spoken with his Italian counterpart to express Canada's condolences and support, and officials said the government is waiting for any request for assistance.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Workers at Vancouver's supervised-injection site have been faced with a higher-than-normal number of drug overdoses this week.

A spokeswoman with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority says it's unclear why Insite saw 14 overdoses on Tuesday.

Carrie Stefanson says no one died.

She says the number of overdoses is double the six to seven that are the norm on the day social assistance cheques are distributed.

So-called welfare Wednesday came a day early this week, with cheques going out on Tuesday.

Insite has launched a six-month pilot program that will see the facility remain open around the clock from Wednesday to Friday once a month when welfare payments go out, which it says is associated with a spike in drug activity.

British Columbia's chief medical officer declared a state of emergency earlier this year following an increase in drug overdose deaths, many of which were linked to the dangerous opioid fentanyl.
Photo: City TV

Toronto police say three people have died in what they are calling a homicide that may have involved a crossbow.

Police say the bodies of two men and one woman were found Thursday afternoon in an east-end garage and at least two had what appeared to be crossbow wounds.

They say a crossbow was found nearby on the floor.

Const. Jennifer Sidhu says there were other "things" found in the area that could have been used in the incident.

Paramedics say another person was taken to hospital.

Police say a man has been taken into custody.

Numerous police and paramedic vehicles were at the scene of a home, and what appeared to be blood was visible from aerial footage shot by local TV station CP24 on the driveway outside a garage.

Police blocked off streets and cordoned off an area around the home as they investigated.
Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

UPDATE 2:14 p.m.

The woman who fell from a cliff near Crawford Falls has been airlifted out of the area by the Penticton Volunteer Search and Rescue using a helicopter.

She was quickly taken to an awaiting ambulance and rushed to the hospital.

She was conscious, but appeared to be in some pain, when she was put in the ambulance.

UPDATE 12:55 p.m.

Search & Rescue crews from Penticton volunteer SAR team have been called in to assist with the rescue at Crawford Falls.

The Penticton team are equipped with a Human External Transport System.

They were requested by the unified incident command consisting of Kelowna Fire Department and BC Ambulance Service.

Meantime, the woman who fell, a 31-year-old Kelowna resident named Christine, fell approximately 40 feet to the base of Crawford Falls.

Russ McCrone, one of three people who were hiking at the falls, said she seems to be doing better although she is holding her hip.

He said another hiker friend is with her.

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m.

The focus of a rescue operation underway at Crawford Falls is a 31-year-old woman.

Witnesses at the scene say three hikers were on a walk at the scenic spot in Kelowna's Upper Mission area.

At least one of the hikers attempted to free climb a rock wall.

It's not known how far the woman fell, but it is believed she may have broken her hip.

She is conscious, the witness said.

Rescuers are still trying to get to the woman.

 with files from Jen Zielinski

UPDATE: 12:15 p.m.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue has been called in to assist in the rescue at Crawford Falls.

A high-angle rescue is being set up at the upper falls.

To reach the hiker, first responders will have to descend from the top of the rock face to the base of the waterfall.

ORIGINAL: 11:50

Emergency services are responding to a fall from a cliff in the hills above Kelowna's Mission district.

A hiker apparently fell from a trail at Crawford Falls.

Fire and ambulance first responders are converging on an area near the upper falls.

The falls are located off a challenging hiking trail that leads from Canyon Falls Court.

There is no word yet on the hiker's injuries.

Castanet has a reporter heading to the scene, and we will update the story as more information comes in.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Former prime minister Stephen Harper has been awarded one of Ukraine's highest honours.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko granted the Order of Liberty to Harper to mark the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence this week.

Past recipients of the award, which recognizes contributions towards strengthening Ukraine's sovereignty, include top diplomats of NATO and the European Commission.

Harper led the charge to have Russia booted out of the G8 following that country's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

As prime minister, he also pledged millions in military trainers and other forms of aid to Ukraine, which was also one of the last countries he visited before last fall's election.

Harper was not the only Canadian honoured by the Ukrainian government for their contributions this week  others included his fellow Conservative MP Jason Kenney, Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj and other members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community.

Harper said he was deeply honoured by the award.

"I look forward to the day when Ukraines freedom and territory are no longer threatened by the Putin regime," read a message on his Twitter account.

"We must continue to stand with the people of Ukraine."

Harper is expected to remain involved in international issues after he resigns his seat as a member of Parliament, a move expected by the time Conservatives gather in Halifax in September.

His next steps include the full launch of a consulting business that will have a foreign affairs component to its work.
Photo: VPD

The family of a man who was killed in a hit-and-run in April is asking for the public's help in finding the person who killed their son.

Ryan Barron, 30, was skateboarding with a friend on Heather Street near West 54th Avenue in Vancouver at 2:30 a.m. on April 17.

He was out celebrating a recent promotion at work. He was planning on giving his mother from Ontario a tour of the city when she came and visited him in a couple months.

Barron was hit by a vehicle and later died in hospital. The driver of the car fled the scene.

Two days later, police found the vehicle they believe was involved in the crash, a silver 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer, at a home in the east side of Vancouver.

Vancouver police released a picture of the vehicle Thursday, showing the extent of the damage.

Make no doubt about it: the driver of this car would be very aware that they hit somebody, said Sgt. Randy Fincham at a press conference.

They also know that they left the scene of that collision and made an attempt to hide that vehicle from police.

Police were unable to locate the driver of the vehicle, but are certain there are people in the community that know the driver's identity.

They have spoken to the registered owner of the vehicle in question, but say they need more evidence to 100 per cent identify the person who was driving that evening.

Barron's family gathered in Vancouver Thursday to share the impact his death has had on the family.

Our family has changed forever because of this devastating accident, and we are still struggling with the grief and lack of closure, said Lynn Stuart, Barrons aunt.

I know Ryan will be with us in spirit, but sometimes thats just not good enough.

Fincham made it very clear Thursday that the person responsible for Barron's death would be found.

To the driver of this car: We dont close files. This will remain an active, ongoing investigation until youre arrested. You will not know when were coming for you  it may be at a family gathering, it may be at a place of employment  but there will be a day when we close this investigation with your arrest. So we are coming for you, he said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the VPD at 604-717-3012 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

- with files from CTV Vancouver
While vehicles line the drive thru, classic cars line the parking lot at Capri Centre for the eighth-annual A&W Canada Burgers to Beat MS Day.

August 25 is MS Day. All across Canada today, $1 from every teen burger sold will be donated to help end multiple sclerosis. All the proceeds go towards MS research and trying to help beat the disease, said Graham Mann, area manager.

Today at Capri Centre we will be having two car show events, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Mann says everyone is invited down to have a root beer float, enjoy a teen burger for a good cause and enjoy the car show.

We have classic cars, we have a couple jet boats, we have modified new cars. It is all kinds of cars. All kinds of things that go fast, said Mann. Anything flashy, lots of colour, anything to bring people down and raise awareness.

Last year Canadians helped raise $1.6 million to help beat MS, a number A&W hopes to top this year.

It's a big success every year, said Mann. Every year it gets a little bit better, more and more awareness goes out every year and it just gets a little bit better and better. Donations go up, awareness goes up and hopefully one day we will be able to beat this thing.

Mann says MS is an important cause.

MS is a tough disease to have to deal with. I personally know people that have been touched by it, he said.

Come down, buy a float, check out the car show, come in and buy some teen burgers and help a great cause.

Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world, with one in 280 individuals living with MS, making it Canadas disease.

MS is one of the most common neurological diseases among young adults in the country, attacking the central nervous system, and affecting vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility.
Photo: RCMP

A bicyclist has been killed in Prince George after being hit by a semi truck.

The cyclist was hit near 15th Avenue and Carney Street just after 9 a.m. Thursday morning.

Police arrived to find the cyclist had already died. They do not believe the rider was wearing a helmet.

Prince George RCMP, the BC Coroners Service and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement unit were called to the scene and are investigating the crash.

Police say it is too early in the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

The intersection of 15th Avenue and Carney Street is expected to remain closed for several hours during the investigation.

Police have asked those with any information about the fatal crash to call the RCMP at 250-561-3300.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
CDC continues to support Florida in response to Zika outbreak

Press Release For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Contact: Media Relations

(404) 639-3286

CDC has and will continue to provide support to Florida to address the Zika outbreak. CDC experts in epidemiology, surveillance, and vector control have been on the ground for weeks supporting the state of Floridas response.

CDC has provided $35 million in federal funds for Zika and emergency response, including public health and emergency preparedness funds for both FY 2015 and 2016 that can be used to purchase items for Zika prevention kits. CDC also has provided 10,000 bottles of DEET for the kits.

CDC is also providing support for Zika lab testing. To date, CDC has shipped enough material for about 2,000 Zika lab tests, the number of tests Florida said would allow them to be at full capacity for Zika testing. After learning this week that Florida needed more materials, CDC is sending another shipment expected to arrive on Thursday, August 25. This gives Florida the ability to conduct 6,300 Zika antibody tests. CDCs Fort Collins laboratory is also testing specimens from pregnant women for the Florida Department of Health and is working with Florida on other possible support for Zika lab testing.

###

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon
Discussion

The findings in this report suggest the need to improve fentanyl death surveillance with a focus on distinguishing deaths involving IMF and PF, and enhancing public health support of persons using heroin through increased access to medication-assisted treatment and expanded access to the opioid antagonist naloxone. Although toxicologic panels cannot distinguish IMF from PF, the findings suggest that the surges in fentanyl deaths in Florida and Ohio during 20132015 were closely related to increases in the IMF supply, as opposed to diverted PF. This is supported by multiple factors including 1) the stability in prescribing and dispensing of PF in Florida and Ohio, even as fentanyl deaths sharply increased; 2) the implication of acetyl fentanyl and beta-hydroxythiofentanyl, both illicitly produced fentanyl analogs, in a significant number of fentanyl deaths in Florida; 3) recent DEA reports linking most U.S. fentanyl deaths to IMF (4); 4) demographic characteristics of fentanyl decedents in Ohio and changes in the demographic characteristics of fentanyl decedents from 20102012 to 20132014 in Florida were similar to heroin decedents nationally; and 5) interviews with persons using illicit drugs in Ohio indicating that fentanyl appears to be mixed with or sold as heroin. DEA reports have noted that IMF is often mixed with heroin, and then sold as a heroin product on the illicit market (1,4). In Ohio and Florida, a substantial proportion of fentanyl decedents tested positive for heroin (39% and 19%, respectively); it is likely that this represents an underascertainment, because heroin is quickly metabolized to morphine, thus morphine-positive fentanyl deaths can indicate prescription morphine or metabolism of heroin (5).

The changing demographics of fentanyl decedents in Florida from 20102012 to 20132014 and the demographics of fentanyl decedents in Ohio in 2014 mirror the evolving demographics of persons who use heroin in the United States. Risk profiles changed notably during the current epidemic, with fentanyl deaths in Florida increasing almost 2.5 times faster among men (163%) than women (68%), with the most rapidly increasing rate among persons aged 1434 years. In contrast, U.S. death rates involving prescription opioids are highest among persons aged 4554 years, a slightly older group than this cohort of fentanyl decedents (6). In addition, the demographic of fentanyl decedents in Ohio closely matched those of heroin overdose decedents, but diverged from prescription opioid overdose decedents.

The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, since toxicologic panels cannot distinguish between PF and IMF, this study does not provide precise counts of overdoses involving IMF compared with PF. Second, the numbers and rates of fentanyl deaths are underestimated because not all overdose deaths were tested for fentanyl and testing for fentanyl analogs is not systematic statewide in either state. Third, NFLIS data might vary over time and geography because of differences or changes in law enforcement testing practices and enforcement activity. Fourth, part of this investigation was limited to abstraction of information collected during the medical examiner and coroner death investigation, and information collected might vary among counties within both states. Finally, analysis of medical examiner and coroner records was limited to high-burden counties in Ohio, and findings might not be generalizable to the entire state.

The rapid increase in fentanyl deaths indicates the need for timely surveillance and response. The relationship between fentanyl deaths and fentanyl submissions in both Florida and Ohio suggests that fentanyl submissions data could act as an early warning system to identify changes in the illicit drug supply. Distinguishing whether an overdose involves IMF or PF is critical for targeted interventions because overdose risk profiles differ. Additional work is needed to determine the extent to which medical examiners and coroners can use decedents substance use history, scene evidence (e.g., white powder consistent with IMF or patches consistent with PF), toxicology (e.g., presence of heroin or cocaine), and prescription drug monitoring program data to distinguish IMF from PF overdoses. Similar to national NFLIS data, Florida began detecting increases in fentanyl analog submissions in 2015. Because the lethality of fentanyl analogs vary, increased testing for analogs in areas experiencing large numbers of fentanyl deaths or increases in overdose deaths might be needed.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched an initiative to reduce opioid misuse and overdose by expanding medication-assisted treatment, increasing the availability and use of naloxone, and promoting safer opioid prescribing. Past misuse of prescription opioids is the strongest risk factor for heroin initiation and use, particularly among persons who report past-year dependence or abuse (7).

The rapid increase in fentanyl deaths in Florida and Ohio illustrates the high potency of fentanyl, with the possibility of rapid death (8), highlighting the importance of quickly recognizing an overdose, calling 9-1-1 promptly, facilitating rapid administration of 1 naloxone doses, and the need to expand naloxone availability. The presence of bystanders in Ohio suggests the opportunity to improve overdose response including increasing support for community naloxone distribution programs. In Ohio, naloxone was administered in four of 10 cases. Multiple doses of naloxone and/or emergency medical treatment might be needed to reverse a fentanyl overdose. Community members might want to have several naloxone doses available and should be instructed to call 9-1-1 immediately, even when administering naloxone (2).***

Linkage and access to treatment and to naloxone are needed for persons at high risk. In Ohio, a significant percentage of fentanyl deaths involved persons recently released from an institution and persons with a current diagnosed mental health disorder, placing both groups at increased risk for overdose. Persons recently released from an institution are at particularly high risk for opioid overdose because of lowered opioid tolerance resulting from abstinence during residential treatment or incarceration (9). Interventions such as provision of naloxone and continuation of medication-assisted treatment after release have been shown to be effective for this group (10).
Dateline: Germany

An angry German man did the most stereotypical German thing he could think of when he attacked another mans car with a sausage. Police in Neubrandenburg were called out on Saturday, Aug. 13, around 7pm after complaints of insults and threats between two men. Turns out an unnamed 49-year-old pedestrian got into an argument with a 47-year-old motorist regarding the inconsiderate parking maneuver he performed with his BMW. The 49-year-old then allegedly struck the vehicle with the only weapon he had, a 30-centimeter (nearly 12-inch) long sausage. According to the police report, the hefty wiener was so large it cause a 1-centimeter (just under half an inch) dent in the cars rear right door. According to Germanys The Local newspaper, authorities are pursuing charges of verbal abuse against both men. The sausage-tosser will also face a charge of property damage.

Dateline: Sweden

Two teenage Pokemon GO players were reportedly traumatized after they apparently stumbled across a couple having sex in a park while dressed as pigs. The incident took place in Insjon, located in central Sweden. The teenage siblings ran home and reported the surprising encounter to their mother. They wore rubber masks depicting pigs heads and they started screaming and waving a green laser, the mother told local newspaper Dalarnas Tidningar. Pointing at someone with a green laser can cause injury if it hits the eyes, officer Daniel Hagthorpe helpfully pointed out to the press. The unusually amorous couplewho were also wearing T-shirts identifying themselves as King and Queenwere later spotted having a sexual encounter near a village waterwheel. This evidently caused a traffic jam after shocked motorists stopped to witness the masked lovemaking. Despite making the rounds, the couple have yet to be identified or arrested.

Dateline: Florida

An intoxicated woman is accused of using the underwire from her bra to attack officers at the Palm Beach County Jail. Palm Beach Post reports that Julia Epshteyn, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 14, after allegedly causing a disturbance at a Boca Raton night club. Boca Raton police officers were called by security staff at the Blue Martini Lounge after an extremely intoxicated patron caused a disturbance. The 47-year-old Epshteyn was ordered to leave the premises but refused, saying she wanted a lawyer. Officers arrested her and took her to a holding cell at Boca Ratons booking facility. During a 15-minute observation period, Epshteyn was seen trying to stick something into her left forearm. When an officer intervened, Epshteyn allegedly kicked him in the chest and poked him above the left eye with a metal objectwhich turned out to be the underwire from her bra. Epshteyn was charged with battery on an officer and trespassing and later released on a $5,000 bond.

Dateline: Nebraska

According to the Omaha World-Herald, a local father accidentally consumed four pot-laced brownies and then said mean things to his pet cat. Police were called to an Omaha home around 9:45pm on Tuesday, Aug. 16., for a possible drug overdose. Paramedics who checked the man found his vital signs to be normal. But they did note in their report that he was crawling around on the floor, randomly using profanities and calling the family cat a bitch. The man reportedly told paramedics, Im trippin. It turned out the man had consumed four brownies he found in the back seat of his car. While police were at the house, the couples son arrived and told officers that the brownies belonged to his sister and that he was pretty sure it was just marijuana in the brownies. The paramedics helped the man to his bedroom, and he got into bed. No charges were filed. Speaking to the World-Herald after he came down from his bad high, the fatheridentified only as Mikesaid the whole incident was pretty funny in retrospect. He also denied hurling verbal abuse at the cat and speculates he was just trying to warn the paramedics that the animalidentified as Kippercan sometimes be unfriendly.
Discussion

In 2015, coverage with each HPV vaccine dose increased among males, however, among females, 1-dose HPV vaccination coverage increased only modestly, and no change was observed in coverage with 2 and 3 HPV doses. During 2015, as in previous years, coverage with 1 HPV vaccine dose was lower than coverage with Tdap and MenACWY, two other vaccines routinely recommended at age 1112 years. These gaps in coverage demonstrate ongoing missed opportunities for HPV vaccination at visits when other recommended vaccines are administered. A revised Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure will be implemented in 2017 to assess receipt of Tdap, MenACWY, and HPV vaccines by age 13 years in both females and males combined in one composite indicator (2), enabling health plans to evaluate their performance in administering these vaccines to adolescents.

Each year in the United States, an estimated 24,600 newly diagnosed cancers are attributable to the two high-risk HPV types targeted by all currently licensed HPV vaccines, and an additional 3,800 are attributable to the five additional high-risk HPV types included in the 9-valent HPV vaccine (3). Improvement in HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents is needed to decrease the number of future HPV-associated cancers (4). Strong clinician recommendations for HPV vaccination, and coadministration of the first HPV vaccine dose with Tdap and MenACWY vaccine at age 1112 years during the same visit, would improve HPV vaccination coverage. Reasons for low HPV vaccination coverage, particularly among younger adolescents, include lack of a strong clinician recommendation for HPV vaccine at age 1112 years, recommending vaccination inconsistently based on perceived risk for adolescents HPV exposure, or not recommending coadministration of routine vaccines (5,6). Clinicians also might overestimate parental concerns and underestimate HPV vaccine demand (7). Resources for clinicians to facilitate optimal communication with parents and adolescents regarding HPV and other recommended vaccines are available at http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/.

At a national level, 1 and 2 HPV and 2 varicella vaccination coverage estimates among adolescents living below the federal poverty level were higher than among those living at or above the poverty level. Coverage with other vaccines was similar by poverty status. Differences in HPV vaccination coverage by race/ethnicity and poverty status have been observed previously (8). Higher HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents living below the poverty level might, in part, be because of the routine provision of strong recommendations for HPV vaccination and consistent coadministration of vaccines by clinicians caring for adolescents from lower income households (5,6). Other factors might include clinicians participation in, and adolescents eligibility for, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program*** and differential vaccine acceptance by poverty status.

Many states and local areas achieved increases in HPV vaccination coverage. In 20142015, CDC provided technical assistance and Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) resources to immunization programs and national partner organizations to implement interventions for improving HPV vaccination coverage. Activities included clinician education, clinical practice quality improvement strategies (e.g., CDCs Assessment, Feedback, Incentives, and eXchange programmatic initiative [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/afix/index.html]), patient reminder/recall (9), communication campaigns, and stakeholder engagement. Measurable impact of quality improvement activities at a clinical practice level can be achieved in short time horizons, but the impact of programmatic interventions on population-level vaccination coverage outcomes can take time to occur and be difficult to sustain. Also, because NIS-Teen assesses vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 1317 years, the impact of activities targeted at improving HPV vaccination at the recommended age of 1112 years will not be measurable until at least 12 years after implementation. However, evidence suggests that multifaceted interventions that emphasize providing strong recommendations for routine, on-time vaccination at age 1112 years might be effective in improving HPV vaccination delivery (9,10).

The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, the overall household response rate was 33.0% (56.4% for the landline and 29.8% for the cell phone samples), and only 53.4% of landline-completed and 48.9% of cell phonecompleted interviews had adequate provider data. Second, bias in estimates might remain even after adjustment for household and provider nonresponse and phoneless households. Weights have been adjusted for the increasing number of cell phoneonly households over time. Nonresponse bias might change, which could affect comparisons of estimates between survey years. Third, estimates stratified by state/local area and those stratified by race/ethnicity might be unreliable because of small sample sizes. Fourth, multiple statistical tests were conducted, and a small number might be significant because of chance alone. Finally, 2-dose MenACWY coverage likely underestimates the proportion of adolescents who receive 2 MenACWY doses. Adolescents might receive their second MenACWY dose after age 17 years (1); because NIS-Teen includes adolescents aged 1317 years, receipt of MenACWY at age 18 years cannot be captured in coverage estimates.

Widespread improvement in HPV vaccination coverage among males was observed in 2015 suggesting that clinicians are increasingly administering HPV vaccine to males in accordance with ACIP recommendations. However, HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents remains lower than vaccination coverage with Tdap and the first MenACWY vaccine dose, demonstrating that HPV vaccine is not consistently coadministered with other recommended vaccines, and that missed opportunities for HPV-associated cancer prevention are occurring. A revised HEDIS measure planned for implementation in 2017 will enable improved assessment of receipt of Tdap, MenACWY, and HPV vaccines by age 13 years among adolescents covered by U.S. health plans (2). Resources are available to help clinicians effectively communicate with parents and adolescents regarding the importance of HPV vaccination. Tools are available for immunization programs and partner organizations, including cancer prevention stakeholders, to improve awareness of and demand for vaccines recommended for adolescents, including HPV vaccine. Interventions aimed at improving HPV vaccination coverage are ongoing. To optimize protection of adolescents against vaccine-preventable diseases, including HPV-associated cancers, it is important for clinicians to consistently recommend and coadminister Tdap, MenACWY, and HPV vaccines at age 1112 years.
[] :2016 20160826 02:07:19 

Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Notice No: 2016-062



Short Form of the Stock: Daleng Gufen; Daleng B







Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



Notice on Holding the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders General

Meeting of 2016







The Company and its whole members of Board of Directors ensure that the public notice is real,

accurate and complete, and there are no any fictitious statements, serious misleading or important

omissions carried in this notice.







I. Particulars about holding the meeting



1. The period of board session: The 2016 3rd extraordinary shareholders meeting



2. Convener: The Board of Directors of the Company, holding the Shareholders General Meeting

after the deliberation of 8th Meeting of 7th Session of the Board.



3. The meeting is in line with the relevant laws and administrative regulations, departmental rules

and regulations, regulatory documents and relevant provisions of articles of association of the

Company



4. Date of the meeting:



(1) On-site meeting: 3:00 pm, 13 September 2016



(2) Internet polling: the poll through network via trading system of SZSE will be at 9:3011:30

am and 1:00-3:00 pm dated 13 September 2016; any time from 3:00 pm 12 September 2016 to

3:00 pm 13 September 2016 will available for polling through internet poll system of SZSE.



5. Way of holding: On-site votes plus network polling .The Company will provide a voting as an

internet form to whole shareholders through the trading system and internet poll system

(http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn) of SZSE. Shareholders should participate in voting any time in the

network polling during the above mentioned time period.



According to the Listed Company Equity Incentive Management Measures from CSRC, before

the Shareholders General Meeting of the listed company exams the equity incentive plan, the

independent director of the Company should solicit voting right from all shareholders of the

Company. So, Mr. Liu Jiwei, the independent director of the Company, has published the

Statement for Independent Directors to solicit voting right, to solicit voting rights from all

shareholders of the Company, which was published in China Securities and

http://www.cninfo.com.cn/ on the same day.



6. Attendance



(1) All shareholders of the Company whose names appear on the register of the Shenzhen Branch

of China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited while the close of trading at

noon on 6 September 2016. The above mentioned shareholders of the Company have the right to

attend the meeting, they can attend the meeting through proxy by trust deed and shareholder of the

Company wouldnt be necessary as the proxy.





(2) Directors, supervisors and senior executives of the Company



(3) Attorney engaged by the Company



(4) Other people the Board of Directors of the Company agreed to attend



7. Place of the meeting



The conference room on 8/F of the Company (No. 888 Southwest Road, Shahekou District, Dalian

City)



8. The way of attending the meeting



One of the polling ways between on-site voting and internet polling is available for the same share

only. If repeat votes occurred in the same voting, the first valid voting result shall prevail.



II. Particulars about examination of the meeting



1. Name of proposal





serial



The content of proposals



Proposal 1



The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company



1.1



The conditions and scope for the incentive objects



1.2



The source, quantity and distribution of the restricted stock



1.3



The valid period, grant day, lock-up period, unlock period and blackout period of

the incentive plan



1.4



The grant price of the restricted stock and its determining method



1.5



The conditions of granting and unlocking the restricted stock



1.6



The procedure and method of adjustment for the restricted stock incentive plan



1.7



The accounting treatment of the restricted stock



1.8



The procedure of implementing of the restricted stock incentive plan



1.9



The right and obligations of incentive objects and the Company



1.10



The dispose method while changes occur to incentive objects and the Company



1.11



The principle of buying back and writing off of the restricted stock



Proposal 2



The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive

Plan of the Company



Proposal 3



The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting of the Company

for authorizing the board of directors to handle related matters of 2016 Restricted

Stock Incentive Plan of the Company.







The proposal 1, 2, 3 must be adopted by shareholders present at the meeting representing more 2/3

of the voting right.



2. Particulars about information disclosure



Details of the proposal could be found in the notice on resolution of the Board of Directors

published in China Securities, Hong Kong Commercial Daily and http://www.cninfo.com.cn/ on 5

August, 2016, and 26 August, 2016.



III. Registration way of spot meeting





1. Registration way:



(1) Personal ID card accompanied by the shareholding certificates and stock account card must be

taken for individual shareholders. If attended the meeting by proxy, the attendant must hold the ID

copy of the client, power of attorney, shareholding certificates, stock account card along with

agents ID card for registration;



(2) For corporate shareholders, the copy of the business license, certificate of identity of the legal

representative, power of attorney, shareholding certificates along with ID of proxy must be

necessary.



(3) The shareholders in other places can register in way of letter, fax or e-mail.



2. Registration time



From 7 September 2016 to 13 September 2016, until the host announced the end of the meeting

registration on the spot meeting.



3. Place of registration



The Securities and Legal Affairs Department of the Company



IV. Operational process of network polling



In the shareholders general meeting, shareholders can participate in voting through the trading

system and internet polling system (http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn) of Shenzhen Stock Exchange.



(I) Vote via trading system of SZSE



1. Voting code: 360530



2. Voting abbreviation: Daleng voting



3. Voting period: 9:30-11:30 am, 1:00-3:00 pm 13 September 2016



4. On the voting date, the number showed on the yesterday closing price of Daleng voting is the

total number of the proposals.



5. Registration way of voting via trading system of SZSE:



(1) To input Buy instruction to begin voting



(2) To input the proposal serials under the item of Entrustment price. RMB 100.00 represents

the general proposal, RMB 1.00 represents proposal 1, RMB 2.00 represents proposal 2, and so on.

Every proposal should be declared with the entrustment price.



For the No.1 proposal, there are many sub-proposals under it.The 1.00RMB represents all the sub-

proposals under the No.1 proposal,and the 1.01 RMB represents the No.1 sub-proposal of the No.

1 proposal, and the 1.02 RMB represents the No.2 sub-proposal of the No.1 proposal, and so on.



Details are as follows:



serial



The content of proposal



entrustment

price



general proposal



All of the following proposals



100.00



Proposal 1



The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company



1.00



1.1



The conditions and scope for the incentive objects



1.01



1.2



The source, quantity and distribution of the restricted stock



1.02



1.3



The valid period, grant day, lock-up period, unlock period and

blackout period of the incentive plan



1.03









1.4



The grant price of the restricted stock and its determining method



1.04



1.5



The conditions of granting and unlocking the restricted stock



1.05



1.6



The procedure and method of adjustment for the restricted stock

incentive plan



1.06



1.7



The accounting treatment of the restricted stock



1.07



1.8



The procedure of implementing of the restricted stock incentive plan



1.08



1.9



The right and obligations of incentive objects and the Company



1.09



1.10



The dispose method while changes occur to incentive objects and the

Company



1.10



1.11



The principle of buying back and writing off of the restricted stock



1.11



Proposal 2



The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted

Stock Incentive Plan of the Company



2.00



Proposal 3



The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting of

the Company for authorizing the board of directors to handle related

matters of 2016 restricted stock incentive plan of the Company.



3.00







(3)To input voting result under the item of entrust volume.



1 share for voting for, 2 share for voting against and 3 share for abstention



Type of results



Entrust volume



For



1 share



Against



2 share



Abstention



3 share







(4) The shareholder vote for general proposal means the same voting result for all proposals



If the shareholder voted for general proposal and for individual proposal at the same time, the first

effective voting should prevail. If the shareholder voted for general proposal after relevant

proposal voting, the voting result for relevant proposal should prevail, and other un-voted

proposals would base on the result voting for general proposal. If voted for relevant proposal after

voting for general proposal, the result voting for general proposal should prevail.



(5) The first declaration for the same proposal shall prevail and cannot be cancelled.



(II) Voting via internet poll system



1. Voting period: The voting via internet poll system will start at 3:00 pm 12 September 2016, and

close at 3:00 pm 13 September 2016.



2. Shareholders voting via internet poll system, according to the regulation of Business

Implementation of Network Service Identity Verification for Investors of SZSE, shareholders must

choose the digital certificate or service password for identity verification.



(1) Application process of service password



Log in the password service on http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn; input relevant information. Set up a

service password. The service password can be use after activated via the trading system.



(2) Application process of digital certificate



Digital certificate should apply to Shenzhen Stock Information Company or its entrusted agent





certification organ. For the specific operation, please refer to the columnCertificate Services of

internet poll system (http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn).



3. The shareholders may vote on-line via logging in http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn with service

password or digital certificate.



V. Other business



1. Contact way of the meeting



Contact telephone number: ( 86-411)-86538822



Fax: (86-411)-86654530



Contact Person: Ms. Du Yu



Contact Address: No. 888, Southwest Road, Shahekou District, Dalian City



Securities and Legal Affairs Department, Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



Post Code: 116033



2. Conference expenses: The spot meeting will be a period of half a day. Transportation and

boarding expenses for attendance shall be paid by the participants themselves.



VI. Documents available for reference



1. Resolution and Announcement documents of the 8th Session of the 7th Board of Directors of

the Company;

2. Other relevant documents according to the SZSE.









Board of Directors of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



26 August, 2016

















Enclosed: Authorized Letter of Attorney







Authorized Letter of Attorney







Hereby entrust Mr. /Ms. to attend the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders General

Meeting of 2016 of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd. on behalf of himself or herself and execute vote

rights on behalf.







Consigner (signature): ID No. of consigner:







Shareholder account No. of consigner:







Amount of shares held by consigner: A/B







Consignee: ID No. of consignee:







Date of entrustment:







The term of validity for the entrustment:







Consigner (signature or seal):







Consignee (signature):







The exercise of voting rights are as follows



The attorney should be filled by  in the voting result







Serial



The content of proposals



Type of voting result



For



Against



Abstention



general proposal



All of the following proposals















Proposal 1



The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company















1.1



The conditions and scope for the incentive objects















1.2



The source, quantity and distribution of the restricted stock















1.3



The valid period, grant day, lock-up period, unlock period and

blackout period of the incentive plan















1.4



The grant price of the restricted stock and its determining method















1.5



The conditions of granting and unlocking the restricted stock





















1.6



The procedure and method of adjustment for the restricted stock

incentive plan















1.7



The accounting treatment of the restricted stock















1.8



The procedure of implementing of the restricted stock incentive

plan















1.9



The right and obligations of incentive objects and the Company















1.10



The dispose method while changes occur to incentive objects and

the Company















1.11



The principle of buying back and writing off of the restricted

stock















Proposal 2



The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted

Stock Incentive Plan of the Company















Proposal 3



The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting

of the Company for authorizing the board of directors to handle

related matters of 2016 restricted stock incentive plan of the

Company.

























 Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Notice No: 2016-062Short Form of the Stock: Daleng Gufen; Daleng BDalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.Notice on Holding the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders GeneralMeeting of 2016The Company and its whole members of Board of Directors ensure that the public notice is real,accurate and complete, and there are no any fictitious statements, serious misleading or importantomissions carried in this notice.I. Particulars about holding the meeting1. The period of board session: The 2016 3rd extraordinary shareholders meeting2. Convener: The Board of Directors of the Company, holding the Shareholders General Meetingafter the deliberation of 8th Meeting of 7th Session of the Board.3. The meeting is in line with the relevant laws and administrative regulations, departmental rulesand regulations, regulatory documents and relevant provisions of articles of association of theCompany4. Date of the meeting:(1) On-site meeting: 3:00 pm, 13 September 2016(2) Internet polling: the poll through network via trading system of SZSE will be at 9:3011:30am and 1:00-3:00 pm dated 13 September 2016; any time from 3:00 pm 12 September 2016 to3:00 pm 13 September 2016 will available for polling through internet poll system of SZSE.5. Way of holding: On-site votes plus network polling .The Company will provide a voting as aninternet form to whole shareholders through the trading system and internet poll system(http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn) of SZSE. Shareholders should participate in voting any time in thenetwork polling during the above mentioned time period.According to the Listed Company Equity Incentive Management Measures from CSRC, beforethe Shareholders General Meeting of the listed company exams the equity incentive plan, theindependent director of the Company should solicit voting right from all shareholders of theCompany. So, Mr. Liu Jiwei, the independent director of the Company, has published theStatement for Independent Directors to solicit voting right, to solicit voting rights from allshareholders of the Company, which was published in China Securities andhttp://www.cninfo.com.cn/ on the same day.6. Attendance(1) All shareholders of the Company whose names appear on the register of the Shenzhen Branchof China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited while the close of trading atnoon on 6 September 2016. The above mentioned shareholders of the Company have the right toattend the meeting, they can attend the meeting through proxy by trust deed and shareholder of theCompany wouldnt be necessary as the proxy.(2) Directors, supervisors and senior executives of the Company(3) Attorney engaged by the Company(4) Other people the Board of Directors of the Company agreed to attend7. Place of the meetingThe conference room on 8/F of the Company (No. 888 Southwest Road, Shahekou District, DalianCity)8. The way of attending the meetingOne of the polling ways between on-site voting and internet polling is available for the same shareonly. If repeat votes occurred in the same voting, the first valid voting result shall prevail.II. Particulars about examination of the meeting1. Name of proposalserialThe content of proposalsProposal 1The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company1.1The conditions and scope for the incentive objects1.2The source, quantity and distribution of the restricted stock1.3The valid period, grant day, lock-up period, unlock period and blackout period ofthe incentive plan1.4The grant price of the restricted stock and its determining method1.5The conditions of granting and unlocking the restricted stock1.6The procedure and method of adjustment for the restricted stock incentive plan1.7The accounting treatment of the restricted stock1.8The procedure of implementing of the restricted stock incentive plan1.9The right and obligations of incentive objects and the Company1.10The dispose method while changes occur to incentive objects and the Company1.11The principle of buying back and writing off of the restricted stockProposal 2The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted Stock IncentivePlan of the CompanyProposal 3The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting of the Companyfor authorizing the board of directors to handle related matters of 2016 RestrictedStock Incentive Plan of the Company.The proposal 1, 2, 3 must be adopted by shareholders present at the meeting representing more 2/3of the voting right.2. Particulars about information disclosureDetails of the proposal could be found in the notice on resolution of the Board of Directorspublished in China Securities, Hong Kong Commercial Daily and http://www.cninfo.com.cn/ on 5August, 2016, and 26 August, 2016.III. Registration way of spot meeting1. Registration way:(1) Personal ID card accompanied by the shareholding certificates and stock account card must betaken for individual shareholders. If attended the meeting by proxy, the attendant must hold the IDcopy of the client, power of attorney, shareholding certificates, stock account card along withagents ID card for registration;(2) For corporate shareholders, the copy of the business license, certificate of identity of the legalrepresentative, power of attorney, shareholding certificates along with ID of proxy must benecessary.(3) The shareholders in other places can register in way of letter, fax or e-mail.2. Registration timeFrom 7 September 2016 to 13 September 2016, until the host announced the end of the meetingregistration on the spot meeting.3. Place of registrationThe Securities and Legal Affairs Department of the CompanyIV. Operational process of network pollingIn the shareholders general meeting, shareholders can participate in voting through the tradingsystem and internet polling system (http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn) of Shenzhen Stock Exchange.(I) Vote via trading system of SZSE1. Voting code: 3605302. Voting abbreviation: Daleng voting3. Voting period: 9:30-11:30 am, 1:00-3:00 pm 13 September 20164. On the voting date, the number showed on the yesterday closing price of Daleng voting is thetotal number of the proposals.5. Registration way of voting via trading system of SZSE:(1) To input Buy instruction to begin voting(2) To input the proposal serials under the item of Entrustment price. RMB 100.00 representsthe general proposal, RMB 1.00 represents proposal 1, RMB 2.00 represents proposal 2, and so on.Every proposal should be declared with the entrustment price.For the No.1 proposal, there are many sub-proposals under it.The 1.00RMB represents all the sub-proposals under the No.1 proposal,and the 1.01 RMB represents the No.1 sub-proposal of the No.1 proposal, and the 1.02 RMB represents the No.2 sub-proposal of the No.1 proposal, and so on.Details are as follows:serialThe content of proposalentrustmentpricegeneral proposalAll of the following proposals100.00Proposal 1The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company1.001.1The conditions and scope for the incentive objects1.011.2The source, quantity and distribution of the restricted stock1.021.3The valid period, grant day, lock-up period, unlock period andblackout period of the incentive plan1.031.4The grant price of the restricted stock and its determining method1.041.5The conditions of granting and unlocking the restricted stock1.051.6The procedure and method of adjustment for the restricted stockincentive plan1.061.7The accounting treatment of the restricted stock1.071.8The procedure of implementing of the restricted stock incentive plan1.081.9The right and obligations of incentive objects and the Company1.091.10The dispose method while changes occur to incentive objects and theCompany1.101.11The principle of buying back and writing off of the restricted stock1.11Proposal 2The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 RestrictedStock Incentive Plan of the Company2.00Proposal 3The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting ofthe Company for authorizing the board of directors to handle relatedmatters of 2016 restricted stock incentive plan of the Company.3.00(3)To input voting result under the item of entrust volume.1 share for voting for, 2 share for voting against and 3 share for abstentionType of resultsEntrust volumeFor1 shareAgainst2 shareAbstention3 share(4) The shareholder vote for general proposal means the same voting result for all proposalsIf the shareholder voted for general proposal and for individual proposal at the same time, the firsteffective voting should prevail. If the shareholder voted for general proposal after relevantproposal voting, the voting result for relevant proposal should prevail, and other un-votedproposals would base on the result voting for general proposal. If voted for relevant proposal aftervoting for general proposal, the result voting for general proposal should prevail.(5) The first declaration for the same proposal shall prevail and cannot be cancelled.(II) Voting via internet poll system1. Voting period: The voting via internet poll system will start at 3:00 pm 12 September 2016, andclose at 3:00 pm 13 September 2016.2. Shareholders voting via internet poll system, according to the regulation of BusinessImplementation of Network Service Identity Verification for Investors of SZSE, shareholders mustchoose the digital certificate or service password for identity verification.(1) Application process of service passwordLog in the password service on http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn; input relevant information. Set up aservice password. The service password can be use after activated via the trading system.(2) Application process of digital certificateDigital certificate should apply to Shenzhen Stock Information Company or its entrusted agentcertification organ. For the specific operation, please refer to the columnCertificate Services ofinternet poll system (http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn).3. The shareholders may vote on-line via logging in http://wltp.cninfo.com.cn with servicepassword or digital certificate.V. Other business1. Contact way of the meetingContact telephone number: ( 86-411)-86538822Fax: (86-411)-86654530Contact Person: Ms. Du YuContact Address: No. 888, Southwest Road, Shahekou District, Dalian CitySecurities and Legal Affairs Department, Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.Post Code: 1160332. Conference expenses: The spot meeting will be a period of half a day. Transportation andboarding expenses for attendance shall be paid by the participants themselves.VI. Documents available for reference1. Resolution and Announcement documents of the 8th Session of the 7th Board of Directors ofthe Company;2. Other relevant documents according to the SZSE.Board of Directors of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.26 August, 2016Enclosed: Authorized Letter of AttorneyAuthorized Letter of AttorneyHereby entrust Mr. /Ms. to attend the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders GeneralMeeting of 2016 of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd. on behalf of himself or herself and execute voterights on behalf.Consigner (signature): ID No. of consigner:Shareholder account No. of consigner:Amount of shares held by consigner: A/BConsignee: ID No. of consignee:Date of entrustment:The term of validity for the entrustment:Consigner (signature or seal):Consignee (signature):The exercise of voting rights are as followsThe attorney should be filled by  in the voting resultSerialThe content of proposalsType of voting resultForAgainstAbstentiongeneral proposalAll of the following proposalsProposal 1The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company1.1The conditions and scope for the incentive objects1.2The source, quantity and distribution of the restricted stock1.3The valid period, grant day, lock-up period, unlock period andblackout period of the incentive plan1.4The grant price of the restricted stock and its determining method1.5The conditions of granting and unlocking the restricted stock1.6The procedure and method of adjustment for the restricted stockincentive plan1.7The accounting treatment of the restricted stock1.8The procedure of implementing of the restricted stock incentiveplan1.9The right and obligations of incentive objects and the Company1.10The dispose method while changes occur to incentive objects andthe Company1.11The principle of buying back and writing off of the restrictedstockProposal 2The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 RestrictedStock Incentive Plan of the CompanyProposal 3The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meetingof the Company for authorizing the board of directors to handlerelated matters of 2016 restricted stock incentive plan of theCompany.
[] : 20160826 02:07:37 

Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Short Form of the Stock: Daleng Gufen; Daleng B; No: 2016-058







Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



Public Notice on Resolution of the 6th Meeting



of the 7th Supervisory Committee



Important:



The Company and the Supervisory Committee of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd. hereby confirm

that there are no any important omissions, fictitious statements or serious misleading carried in

this report.







Please be advised that the 6th meeting of the 7th Supervisory Committee of Dalian Refrigeration

Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Company) was held at the meeting room on the 5th floor of

the Company on August 25, 2016. All 3 supervisors attended the meeting. The meeting was

presided over by Mr. Yu Fuchun, the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee. The following

resolutions were examined and adopted at the meeting:







1. 2016 Semiannual Report of the Company;



With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



2. Review Opinion on the Companys 2016 Semiannual Report;



With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



3. The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company and its summary;



After audited, the Supervisory Committee thought that the 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan

Draft of the Company and its summary were in line with the related laws, rules and regulations,

including Company Law, Securities Law, Listed Company Equity Incentive Management

Measures, and didnt exist the situation of having damaged the interests of the Company and all

the shareholders of the Company.



The proposal should be submitted for deliberation on the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders General

Meeting of 2016 of the Company.



With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



4. The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the

Company;



After audited, the Supervisory Committee thought that the Assessment and Management Measures

for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company aimed to ensure the smooth

implementation and standardized operation of the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan, would be

beneficial for the sustained development of the Company, and wouldnt damage the interests of

the Company and all the shareholders of the Company.



The proposal should be submitted for deliberation on the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders General

Meeting of 2016 of the Company.



With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



5. The incentive object list for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company;





After audited, the Supervisory Committee thought that the incentive object listed in the 2016

Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company met the qualifications of related laws, rules

and regulations including Company Law and Articles of Associations of the Company; complied

with the provisions of the conditions about incentive object in Listed Company Equity Incentive

Management Measures; complied with the provisions of the scope about incentive object in the

Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company and its summary; the subject qualification

as the restricted stock incentive objects of the Company were legitimate and effective.



With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



6. The report on using bank acceptance bills to pay funds for projects invested by raise funds and

equally replaced by raised funds.



With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.











Supervisory Committee of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



August 26, 2016









 Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Short Form of the Stock: Daleng Gufen; Daleng B; No: 2016-058Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.Public Notice on Resolution of the 6th Meetingof the 7th Supervisory CommitteeImportant:The Company and the Supervisory Committee of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd. hereby confirmthat there are no any important omissions, fictitious statements or serious misleading carried inthis report.Please be advised that the 6th meeting of the 7th Supervisory Committee of Dalian RefrigerationCo., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Company) was held at the meeting room on the 5th floor ofthe Company on August 25, 2016. All 3 supervisors attended the meeting. The meeting waspresided over by Mr. Yu Fuchun, the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee. The followingresolutions were examined and adopted at the meeting:1. 2016 Semiannual Report of the Company;With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.2. Review Opinion on the Companys 2016 Semiannual Report;With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.3. The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company and its summary;After audited, the Supervisory Committee thought that the 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive PlanDraft of the Company and its summary were in line with the related laws, rules and regulations,including Company Law, Securities Law, Listed Company Equity Incentive ManagementMeasures, and didnt exist the situation of having damaged the interests of the Company and allthe shareholders of the Company.The proposal should be submitted for deliberation on the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders GeneralMeeting of 2016 of the Company.With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.4. The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of theCompany;After audited, the Supervisory Committee thought that the Assessment and Management Measuresfor 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company aimed to ensure the smoothimplementation and standardized operation of the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan, would bebeneficial for the sustained development of the Company, and wouldnt damage the interests ofthe Company and all the shareholders of the Company.The proposal should be submitted for deliberation on the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders GeneralMeeting of 2016 of the Company.With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.5. The incentive object list for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company;After audited, the Supervisory Committee thought that the incentive object listed in the 2016Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company met the qualifications of related laws, rulesand regulations including Company Law and Articles of Associations of the Company; compliedwith the provisions of the conditions about incentive object in Listed Company Equity IncentiveManagement Measures; complied with the provisions of the scope about incentive object in theRestricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company and its summary; the subject qualificationas the restricted stock incentive objects of the Company were legitimate and effective.With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.6. The report on using bank acceptance bills to pay funds for projects invested by raise funds andequally replaced by raised funds.With 3 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.Supervisory Committee of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.August 26, 2016
[] : 20160826 02:07:38 

Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Short Form of the Stock: Daleng Gufen; Daleng B; No: 2016-057







Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



Public Notice on Resolution of the 8th Meeting



of the 7th Board of Directors



Important:



The directors and the Board of Directors of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd. hereby confirm that

there are no any important omissions, fictitious statements or serious misleading carried in this

report.







I. Calling of the Board Meeting



1. The Notice on holding of the Board Meeting was served by written form on 15 August 2016.



2. The Board Meeting held at the scene dated 25 August 2016.



3. Nine Directors should present for voting and all of them are present actually.



4. The Meeting was presided over by Mr. Ji Zhijian, Chairman of the Board of the Company.



5. The Meeting was regarded as abiding the relevant laws, administrative regulation, department

rules, normative documents as well as the Article of Association.







II. Deliberation of the Board Meeting



1. Semiannual report of the Company for the year 2016;



With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



2. Report on increasing capital to wholly subsidiary of the Company;



The Company plans to increase capital to Dalian Bingshan Group Engineering Co., Ltd. in cash

with RMB 21 million Yuan.



With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



3. Report on increasing capital to Dalian Fuji-Bingshan Vending Machine Co., Ltd.;



The above mentioned transaction constitutes a related transaction. Independent directors of the

Company deliver a prior approval for the proposal on 15 August 2016 and agree to submit for

deliberation on the Board. Related directors Ji Zhijian, Xu Junrao, Shin Kudo, and Kijima

Tadatoshi are avoiding the votes for the proposal.



More details found in Public notice on related transaction of increasing capital to Dalian

Fuji-Bingshan Vending Machine Co., Ltd. released with the Notice at the same time.



With 5 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



4. Report on using bank acceptance bills to pay funds for projects invested by raise funds and

equally replaced by raised funds;



More details found in Public notice on using bank acceptance bills to pay funds for projects

invested by raise funds and equally replaced by raised funds of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.

released with the Notice at the same time.



With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.





5. Semiannual special report on the storage and use of the raised funds for 2016 of the Company;



(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)



With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



6. The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company and its summary;



The proposal was drawn up by the remuneration and appraisal committee of the board of directors

of the Company according to relevant laws and regulations, and submitted to the board of

directors of the Company for review. Independent directors showed approval for the above

mentioned proposal and air independent opinions.



Directors of the Company, Mr. Ding Jie was related directors due to incentive object, and

conducted obviation in examining the above matters.



(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)



With 8 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



7. The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the

Company;



Directors of the Company, Mr. Ding Jie was related directors due to incentive object, and

conducted obviation in examining the above matters.



(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)



With 8 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



8. The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting of the Company for

authorizing the board of directors to handle related matters of 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive

Plan of the Company.



(1) In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of

the Company, the board of directors summit to the shareholders general meeting of the Company

for authorizing the board of directors to handle the following related matters of Restricted Stock

Incentive Plan of the Company:



1) To confirm the qualifications and conditions for the incentive object to participate in the equity

incentive plan, and determine the incentive object list and grant number;



2) To determine the grant date of Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company; grant the stock

to the incentive object while the incentive object meet the conditions; and handle all the matters

necessary about granting stock and unlocking stock;



3) To examine and confirm the unlocking qualification and unlocking conditions on the incentive

object; and handle all the matters required about unlocking stock for the incentive object who met

the conditions according to Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company;



4) To adjust the quantity and granting price of underlying stocks in accordance with the principles

and provisions of the way of equity incentive plan while the above mentioned adjustment are

needed because of the Company's stock ex-right, ex-dividend or other reasons;



5) To develop or modify the management and implementation provisions of the plan non

scheduled on the identical premise of the terms of equity incentive plan. The modification of the

board of directors must be obtained corresponding approved if the modification is required

approval from the shareholders' meeting or/and related regulatory agencies according to the

requirements of laws, regulations or the relevant regulatory agencies;



6) To sign, execute, modify, or terminate any relevant agreement with the equity incentive plan

and other related agreements;





7) To appoint the receiving bank, accountants, lawyers and other intermediary agencies for the

implementation of equity incentive plan;



8) To handle other necessary matters in the implementation of equity incentive plan, except the

matters that stipulated clearly to the shareholders general meeting by relevant documents.



(2) To summit to the shareholders general meeting for authorizing the board of directors to handle

the examination and approval, registration, filing, approval, consent, and other procedures

relating to the equity incentive plan to the relevant government and agencies; sign, execute,

modify, complete documents submitted to the relevant government, institutions, organizations,

individuals; modify the articles of association of the company, and handle the registration of

change of registered capital of the company; and all other acts, matters and things necessary,

appropriate or suitable for the equity incentive plan;



(3) To summit to the shareholders general meeting for authorizing the board of directors a period

equal to the term of validity of equity incentive plan.



Directors of the Company, Mr. Ding Jie was related directors due to incentive object, and

conducted obviation in examining the above matters.



With 8 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.



9. Issues relevant to the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders General Meeting of 2016 of the Company.



(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)



With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.







Among the above resolutions, resolution 6, 7 and 8 shall be submitted to the 3rd Extraordinary

Shareholders General Meeting of 2016 of the Company for review and approval.







III. Documents available for reference



1. Proposal of the Meeting with signature of attended directors and seal of the Board;



2. Opinions from independent directors.







Board of Directors of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.



August 26, 2016









 Stock Code: 000530; 200530 Short Form of the Stock: Daleng Gufen; Daleng B; No: 2016-057Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.Public Notice on Resolution of the 8th Meetingof the 7th Board of DirectorsImportant:The directors and the Board of Directors of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd. hereby confirm thatthere are no any important omissions, fictitious statements or serious misleading carried in thisreport.I. Calling of the Board Meeting1. The Notice on holding of the Board Meeting was served by written form on 15 August 2016.2. The Board Meeting held at the scene dated 25 August 2016.3. Nine Directors should present for voting and all of them are present actually.4. The Meeting was presided over by Mr. Ji Zhijian, Chairman of the Board of the Company.5. The Meeting was regarded as abiding the relevant laws, administrative regulation, departmentrules, normative documents as well as the Article of Association.II. Deliberation of the Board Meeting1. Semiannual report of the Company for the year 2016;With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.2. Report on increasing capital to wholly subsidiary of the Company;The Company plans to increase capital to Dalian Bingshan Group Engineering Co., Ltd. in cashwith RMB 21 million Yuan.With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.3. Report on increasing capital to Dalian Fuji-Bingshan Vending Machine Co., Ltd.;The above mentioned transaction constitutes a related transaction. Independent directors of theCompany deliver a prior approval for the proposal on 15 August 2016 and agree to submit fordeliberation on the Board. Related directors Ji Zhijian, Xu Junrao, Shin Kudo, and KijimaTadatoshi are avoiding the votes for the proposal.More details found in Public notice on related transaction of increasing capital to DalianFuji-Bingshan Vending Machine Co., Ltd. released with the Notice at the same time.With 5 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.4. Report on using bank acceptance bills to pay funds for projects invested by raise funds andequally replaced by raised funds;More details found in Public notice on using bank acceptance bills to pay funds for projectsinvested by raise funds and equally replaced by raised funds of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.released with the Notice at the same time.With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.5. Semiannual special report on the storage and use of the raised funds for 2016 of the Company;(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.6. The 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan Draft of the Company and its summary;The proposal was drawn up by the remuneration and appraisal committee of the board of directorsof the Company according to relevant laws and regulations, and submitted to the board ofdirectors of the Company for review. Independent directors showed approval for the abovementioned proposal and air independent opinions.Directors of the Company, Mr. Ding Jie was related directors due to incentive object, andconducted obviation in examining the above matters.(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)With 8 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.7. The Assessment and Management Measures for 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of theCompany;Directors of the Company, Mr. Ding Jie was related directors due to incentive object, andconducted obviation in examining the above matters.(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)With 8 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.8. The proposal on summiting to the shareholders general meeting of the Company forauthorizing the board of directors to handle related matters of 2016 Restricted Stock IncentivePlan of the Company.(1) In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the 2016 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan ofthe Company, the board of directors summit to the shareholders general meeting of the Companyfor authorizing the board of directors to handle the following related matters of Restricted StockIncentive Plan of the Company:1) To confirm the qualifications and conditions for the incentive object to participate in the equityincentive plan, and determine the incentive object list and grant number;2) To determine the grant date of Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company; grant the stockto the incentive object while the incentive object meet the conditions; and handle all the mattersnecessary about granting stock and unlocking stock;3) To examine and confirm the unlocking qualification and unlocking conditions on the incentiveobject; and handle all the matters required about unlocking stock for the incentive object who metthe conditions according to Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company;4) To adjust the quantity and granting price of underlying stocks in accordance with the principlesand provisions of the way of equity incentive plan while the above mentioned adjustment areneeded because of the Company's stock ex-right, ex-dividend or other reasons;5) To develop or modify the management and implementation provisions of the plan nonscheduled on the identical premise of the terms of equity incentive plan. The modification of theboard of directors must be obtained corresponding approved if the modification is requiredapproval from the shareholders' meeting or/and related regulatory agencies according to therequirements of laws, regulations or the relevant regulatory agencies;6) To sign, execute, modify, or terminate any relevant agreement with the equity incentive planand other related agreements;7) To appoint the receiving bank, accountants, lawyers and other intermediary agencies for theimplementation of equity incentive plan;8) To handle other necessary matters in the implementation of equity incentive plan, except thematters that stipulated clearly to the shareholders general meeting by relevant documents.(2) To summit to the shareholders general meeting for authorizing the board of directors to handlethe examination and approval, registration, filing, approval, consent, and other proceduresrelating to the equity incentive plan to the relevant government and agencies; sign, execute,modify, complete documents submitted to the relevant government, institutions, organizations,individuals; modify the articles of association of the company, and handle the registration ofchange of registered capital of the company; and all other acts, matters and things necessary,appropriate or suitable for the equity incentive plan;(3) To summit to the shareholders general meeting for authorizing the board of directors a periodequal to the term of validity of equity incentive plan.Directors of the Company, Mr. Ding Jie was related directors due to incentive object, andconducted obviation in examining the above matters.With 8 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.9. Issues relevant to the 3rd Extraordinary Shareholders General Meeting of 2016 of the Company.(For details, see http://www.cninfo.com.cn.)With 9 votes for, 0 vote against and 0 vote as abstention.Among the above resolutions, resolution 6, 7 and 8 shall be submitted to the 3rd ExtraordinaryShareholders General Meeting of 2016 of the Company for review and approval.III. Documents available for reference1. Proposal of the Meeting with signature of attended directors and seal of the Board;2. Opinions from independent directors.Board of Directors of Dalian Refrigeration Co., Ltd.August 26, 2016
This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions
PRINT | EMAIL | PERMALINK Newscity Two Men Attacked with Boxcutter Robert Maestas A man is accused of attacking two people with a box cutter late Saturday night. Police say the unnamed man allegedly stabbed and lacerated the two victims after an argument broke out on Central and San Mateo. All three were reported to have been drinking before the altercation began. Both victims were cut multiple times and were rushed to UNM hospital. Their injuries were not life-threatening. The accused man was taken into custody by police at the scene.

Gary Johnson Returns Home for Rally Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson hosted a rally in Albuquerque last Saturday supporting his presidential campaign under the Libertarian ticket. He was joined by vice presidential nominee, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld. Hundreds attended the rally, which was held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, where Johnson said their campaign was gaining momentum and declared that he would be the next President of the United States. Among his campaign promises: A balanced budget within 100 days of gaining office, the descheduling of cannabis as a schedule I substance and making it easier for immigrants to legally enter the US.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens.
Advertorial

Because we still need to stay connected with loved ones back home, in case of emergencies that crop up or to receive updates from our family members... or pet hamsters.





Because Google maps is our best travel companion and we need its help to get around in a foreign land so that we do not get lost (again).









Because sometimes the wifey may head off somewhere to shop, and we need to remain contactable.





Because we may need to harness the power of the world wide web to do impromptu searches, like going off the beaten track.









Because we need to Facebook and Instagram our #OOTD.









Frankly, the Happy Roam is all about convenience. Because one can use the same SIM Card and travel to all these 8 destinations! You just have to purchase a Prepaid SIM card in Singapore and activate it before you fly off.



NO hassle. Get ready for everything right in Singapore!



NO painful pre-trip research on the best telco rates overseas.



NO need to waste time queuing at an overseas airport for a SIM card.



NO astronomical rates to pay since the data rates are based on Singapore rates.



Oh, and did I mention that one can even purchase the StarHub Mobile Prepaid SIM Card at the UOB Currency Exchange counters at Changi Airport's Departure Halls? How's that for convenience?





So all you really need is one SIM card for a multi-city trip!



All you have to do is to complete the following simple steps before your trip so that you can start surfing once you land!





Who has gone abroad with their smartphone for holiday or on business, only to realise that you have forgotten to activate your preferred date roaming plan and there is no free WiFi around? I have.During our Australia trip in 2009, we self-drove and I had relied on maps - those hard-copy, paper ones - to get to our destinations. And we got lost during one of the days. Faced with the prospect of fast-disappearing daylight, I turned on the 3G (yes, still 3G back then) on my phone and sought help from the maps app. We finally did found our way before night fell, but it came with a hefty price.Ouch.But truth is, we can never do without data connection when overseas nowadays.All legit reasons to have a solid data connection while travelling, I reckon. But as my past experience showed, having international roaming data at your fingertips is all about preparation.Because a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring that you get to SAVE MORE on data roaming costs... which translates to having MORE to spend on your travels.Here are a few suggestions on how you can save on your roaming data costs:Does your phone alert you instantly when you have new mail, new updates or new everything? All of these consume data so before you depart, set your mail and other app settings to manually fetch rather than push mail to you. In addition, disable all automatic downloads and app updates. You do not want your child's Clash Royale game to update automatically while walking down the streets of Taipei.Of course, the ideal situation when overseas is do have free WiFi wherever we go. But we do not live in a perfect world because more often than not, we need our phone most while we are on the move, not while we are sitting still. Also, public WiFi networks are usually not encrypted and potential security issues may arise.For starters, the StarHub Mobile Prepaid SIM Card is a $15 Prepaid SIM card which means any amount of talktime or SMS that one uses will be restricted to its prepaid value... which also means there is NO bill shock!The fantastic thing about StarHub Mobile Prepaid SIM Card is everyone and anyone can purchase it, no just existing StarHub customers, since it is a Prepaid SIM card. But actually there is something even more awesome than that:The SIM Card allows you to roam overseas at Singapore data rates.. That's right, you can surf overseas with a 1GB data plan that costs just $5! All you have to do is to choose and activate one of the data plans available before leaving Singapore. You can enjoy it in 8 destinations: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, US, UK, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong.And what are the data plans, you ask?Whether it is $5 for 1GB worth of data over 3 days or $20 for 3.6GB worth of data over 30 days, the rates definitely look so much more attractive than the usual overseas data roaming charges that I am used to!All I need is to buy a StarHub Prepaid SIM and activate a data plan. And you know what more savings means, don't you? More shopping! In the eyes of the wifey, that is.Be sure to download the Happy Prepaid App on your mobile phone, the one app that you need for all your prepaid needs (available on both iOS and Android)! Use it to activate all your roaming settings, check data & credit balances, activate Data Plans and more.So whether it is sharing on Facebook and Instagram, or going off the beaten track with help from Google Maps, or staying connected with loved ones while travelling, you are assured with convenience and great value with StarHub's Happy Prepaid SIM Card!All there is left now to do is to work on my #OOTD poses.
Celebrating jailhouse recovery Audio Article Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears paid a visit to the Chesterfield County Jail last week, meeting with over 50 of the men and women participating in the HARP (Helping Addicts...

An icons legacy memorialized Audio Article Enon Library was dedicated in memory of the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker on Friday, Oct. 21. Board of Supervisors Chair Chris Winslow, right, was joined by Walkers daughter, Patrice Walker...
A new incubator at tech hub 1871 wants to help Chicago's Latino population tap into the city's startup scene.

The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce plans to launch the incubator this fall in partnership with 1871, where the chamber is also based.

Advertisement

The part-time program will last about 12 weeks and aims to accept 12 early-stage companies whose founders will participate in once-a-week daylong sessions on topics including finance, marketing, technology and funding, said Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Omar Duque.

Applications are open until Sept. 19, with the incubator slated to launch in early October. The program won't invest in or take any financial stake in the companies selected.

Advertisement

Duque told Blue Sky about the project.

Q: You say you hope the incubator will be a "unique experience" for Latino tech entrepreneurs. How so?

A: There's nothing that necessarily exists specifically for Latino tech entrepreneurs, certainly not in the city of Chicago. We want to really create that experience for them.

We know that the tech industry does poorly as it relates to employing a diverse workforce. How do we expose, educate and begin to get more people from diverse communities employed in the world of technology?

We know that that individuals who spent the last five years or six years at Salesforce or at Google are probably going to be really prime candidates if they want to take that next step to become an entrepreneur. When they do, we want to be a resource for them to really help build that company and help them be successful in it.

Q: Why shouldn't Latino entrepreneurs join mainstream incubators and accelerators?

A: They absolutely should. One of the things we want to do is work with them to prepare them to get there. They're not necessarily going to your Techstars or your Y Combinators. Why? I think they don't know. They lack the confidence, they lack the experience. They might have a great idea, they just don't know how to develop it.

Really, we see this is as one step in that process. Helping these entrepreneurs, exposing them to all that is possible so that they can go out and take advantage of all the different resources that exist so that they can grow their companies.

Advertisement

Q: It sounded like you just described an exposure and knowledge gap. Why does that exist?

A: There's a number of different reasons. The entrepreneurs we work with are just, for some reason or another, not connected to traditional networks. You would think that they should be, and we work to get them connected, but there's still a disconnect.

Q: What, exactly, do you want founders to come out of the program with?

A: We want the entrepreneurs that come through the program to walk out with a tangible road map to get to that next level of success. The companies will be in different places and will have different goals. Are we helping companies go to market and acquire customers? Are we helping companies get a first round of funding? It's really going to depend on the individual companies that we end up with.

Q: Do you have any concerns that creating a Latino-specific incubator could segregate these entrepreneurs?

A: Diversity, inclusion and eliminating these gaps are really who we are as an organization. We help connect companies to the Latino market, we help connect companies to the general market.

Advertisement

I understand the concern. That's not a concern for us. It's how do we get these companies from underrepresented communities, how do we get them the tools that they need to be successful in the entrepreneurial world. This is about building these companies and identifying a way to plug them in to the larger ecosystem here.

Q: What would be the best outcome from this first cohort?

A: That we have a handful of the companies access and go out to raise their first round of funding. That we have companies that launch and take that next step toward customer acquisition and growth. That, looking back three years from now, these companies have succeeded and that they continue to operate. And that we potentially see one or two successful exits.

Q: What kind of change do you hope this program can create in the long term?

A: Even though we have a large Hispanic community and we know there are a number of successful Hispanic entrepreneurs, this community, I think, really lacks real multigenerational wealth. That really drives what we do.

We want to help create more wealth in the Latino community. We want to help elevate our community through entrepreneurship, through experience, through employment.

Advertisement

Looking back 20 years from now, I would love to be able to point to this as one of the factors that helped contribute to really elevating the Latino community in Chicago and Illinois and in this country.

Q-and-As are edited for length and clarity.

aelahi@tribpub.com

Twitter @aminamania
The Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship will house Illinois Tech's Idea Shop, Institute of Design, the Interprofessional Projects Program and the Knapp Entrepreneurship Center. (John Ronan Architects rendering)

Illinois Institute of Technology is planning a groundbreaking ceremony for its innovation-focused building Thursday, but major construction won't start until March  almost a year behind schedule.

Plans for the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship were unveiled in May 2015 and called for a 92,000-square-foot facility on the South Side campus.

Advertisement

It was designed to facilitate project-based work and student collaboration, and also be a place where different colleges can teach entrepreneurship and innovation courses. Construction was originally set to begin in spring 2016.

Illinois Tech officials now say the building will be smaller and cost less than originally planned. Preliminary work will be done this fall, with full site construction scheduled to begin in March.

Advertisement

The project was put on hold so the school could raise money for the building, said Bruce Watts, vice president for Facilities and Public Safety. It took longer than originally expected to meet funding goals, he said.

The purpose of the building remains the same, but the budget was reduced to $37 million from $45 million, he said.

"Now we have all the funds committed that we need to build the building," Watts said. "We also made some design changes in order to bring the design project within budget."

The new designs, also from John Ronan Architects, show a 70,000-square-foot building with two floors instead of the original three. The basement was eliminated to cut costs on excavation and water control, Watts said. The length of the building was reduced by about 24 feet, which eliminated some work space.

Despite its downsizing, the building will keep its original features, including open spaces and lab spaces. Its facade will be made of a material that can control the amount of solar energy coming through. It will house the school's Idea Shop, Institute of Design, the Knapp Entrepreneurship Center and other programs. None of that has changed since the original plans, Watts said.

Chicago-area universities have ramped up their focus on innovation and entrepreneurship recently. Illinois Tech is launching an accelerated two-year MBA program in partnership with the Chicago Innovation Awards this year; it will push real-world experiences and encourage students to learn about entrepreneurship first hand.

At the University of Chicago, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is expanding into a free-standing entity to better serve the entire university.

Illinois Tech is set to host a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday at the construction site. Watts said the school plans to finish the building by the end of 2018.

Advertisement

"We are definitely a go, so that's the exciting thing," Watts said. "That's one thing that's different from last spring  last spring we didn't have all the money, now we have all the fundraising."

amarotti@tribpub.com

Twitter @allymarotti
A Missouri grain dealer who stole tens of millions of dollars from farmers may turn out to be their best ally as they try to recoup losses from corn giant Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

ADM began trial Tuesday in St. Louis with farmers claiming the woman couldn't have ripped them off without help from the world's biggest corn processor. From behind bars, where she is serving a nine-year sentence, the dealer's testimony is set to bolster the farmers' effort to get back more than just the mere fraction of their losses they've recovered from her.

Advertisement

An unfavorable verdict for ADM could taint a mainstay of U.S. agriculture, an industry built largely on relationships farmers have forged over generations with companies that buy their crops and sell them insurance, hedging services, fertilizer and tractors. Farmers across the American corn belt sell their harvests to ADM, or store supplies in its massive bins, before the commodities make their way through a network of grain elevators, barges and ports to markets around the world.

Many grain transactions go through independent dealers, acting as middlemen. Enter Cathy Gieseker, who the farmers say was ADM's top grain supplier at its facility in Mexico, Mo.

Advertisement

Beginning in 2002, Gieseker stole $27.4 million from 179 farmers in Missouri's biggest grain fraud. She reneged on paying for corn and soybeans that she sold, mainly to ADM. She paid some farmers with money from subsequent sales of other customers' grain, making the decadelong fraud a Ponzi scheme, according to prosecutors.

She was ordered to pay $27 million in restitution, according to a plea agreement. Federal authorities have turned over about $1.4 million to the farmers from her seized assets and her payments.

Now 52, Gieseker is serving her time in a federal prison in Kentucky. Her recorded testimony was to be played before the jury Wednesday.

The farmers allege in their lawsuit that Gieseker was acting as an agent of ADM and the company is "vicariously liable" for their losses. In deposition testimony, she "testified that ADM instructed her and directed all her activities that involved the grain fraud," lawyers for the farmers said in a court filing.

"Everything she did was attributable to ADM," Grant Davis, an attorney for the farmers, said in his opening statement at trial Tuesday.

The lawsuit is "a case of misplaced blame," Lori Cohen, an attorney for ADM, told the jury of seven women and five men. "ADM is being blamed for a crime committed by somebody else."

ADM has been investigated by multiple agencies, including the U.S. Justice Department and the Missouri attorney general's office and no wrongdoing has been found, Cohen said.

"You can bet if there was a shred, a shred of evidence against ADM, it would be charged," she said in her opening statement.

Advertisement

ADM paid a fair-market price for the grain, she added. "This case is asking us to pay again."

The farmers allege that internal ADM emails show its employees knew as early as 2005 or 2006 that Gieseker was involved in "suspicious business practices" and reported them to their superiors.

Jay Wisniewski, an ADM merchandising employee, told other workers not to interfere with Gieseker because of the volume of her business, the plaintiffs allege. Wisniewski had been named as a defendant in the lawsuits along with ADM before being dropped before trial. ADM said Wisniewski didn't do anything wrong.

"Everything Cathy Gieseker did was at the direction of Jay Wisniewski," Davis, the plaintiffs' lawyer said. To farmers who complained they were getting lower prices than those who dealt with Gieseker, Wisniewski told them: "You need to go to Cathy to get these better prices," Davis said.

The farmers haven't provided any evidence to support their claim that Gieseker was acting as an agent of the company, Chicago-based ADM said in court filings. "It is inexplicable how ADM had any duty to inform plaintiffs about the details of transactions to which they were not parties," ADM lawyers said.

Gieseker didn't implicate ADM at her sentencing. Federal investigators have said they found no wrongdoing by ADM after a thorough investigation in which the company cooperated.

Advertisement

The farmers argue in court documents that Gieseker's plea agreement is "inherently unreliable," claiming ADM misled the government and ultimately "withheld evidence."

The U.S. attorney's office in St. Louis declined to comment on that allegation. ADM declined to comment on specific allegations.

Gieseker is a habitual liar and isn't reliable, Cohen, the ADM attorney, told jurors. "Once a liar, always a liar," she said. "This is who Mr. Davis is asking you to rely on."

Travis Noble Jr., the lawyer representing Gieseker in the criminal case, said the government wanted her plea "to accept responsibility and not pass it on to anyone else." He said he couldn't discuss anything Gieseker said to him because of attorney-client privilege.

Gieseker and her husband, Tim, got into grain dealing as an outgrowth of their trucking business. The business was based in Audrain County, 100 miles northwest of St. Louis, and covered much of northeastern and central Missouri. Cathy Gieseker continued the business after her husband died of cancer in 2007.

Prosecutors said she promised farmers much higher prices than those available on the spot market because of contracts she had with ADM. There were no contracts, prosecutors have said. When prices were rising, she prospered. When they dropped, she foundered.

Advertisement

The case is Benskin v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., 1122-cc00556, Circuit Court, St. Louis City, Missouri.

With assistance from Shruti Date Singh
The Illinois Department of Insurance said Wednesday it has submitted rate increases to the federal government that for some types of individual plans average 43 percent to 55 percent. (Andrew Harnik / AP)

Illinois consumers are one step closer to facing sky-high increases for individual health insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act's marketplace.

The Illinois Department of Insurance said Wednesday it has submitted rate increases to the federal government that for some types of plans average 43 percent to 55 percent.

Advertisement

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will decide rates. But the numbers released Wednesday confirm the fears of consumers, who've already watched a number of insurance companies withdraw from the Obamacare exchange because of financial losses, limiting choices as people prepare to enroll for 2017.

Rates could increase by an average of 44 percent for the lowest-priced bronze plans, 45 percent for the lowest-priced silver plans and 55 percent for the lowest-priced gold plans, according to a preliminary analysis released by the state Wednesday.

Advertisement

Here's what those percentages mean: A 21-year-old nonsmoker buying the lowest-priced silver plan in Cook County next year could pay a premium of $221.13 a month, up from $152.42 a month this year.

In Lake and McHenry counties, that consumer could pay $268.03 a month for the lowest-priced silver plan there, compared with $212.23 a month this year.

Those numbers, however, don't include the tax credits that 75 percent of Illinoisans on the exchange now receive to help offset the cost of premiums.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report Wednesday showing that even if insurance premiums for individual exchange plans swell by 50 percent next year, two-thirds of Illinois residents who buy insurance through the Obamacare exchange would pay $100 or less for premiums after accounting for premium tax credits.

Still, the double-digit rate increases are sure to spur questions among the 335,243 Illinoisans receiving insurance through the exchange. About 25 percent of exchange customers in Illinois  nearly 84,000 people  didn't receive tax credits.

Anne Melissa Dowling, acting director of the state's insurance department, blamed the federal government for the price increases, saying Washington failed to fulfill its financial obligations to insurers under the Affordable Care Act.

"While these rate approvals result in a very difficult outcome for consumers, they were necessary to ensure that all Illinois consumers actually have an option for coverage when the 2017 Open Enrollment begins on November 1, 2016," Dowling said in a release.

The department did not make her available for an interview.

Advertisement

The state attributed the increases to the absence of certain payments promised by the federal government under the Affordable Care Act and rising medical and pharmaceutical costs, among other things.

The Department of Insurance reviewed the rates but did not have the power to change or reject them. It did, however, as a so-called "file and use state," have the power to try to negotiate better rates with insurers.

"Just because it's a file and use state doesn't mean a state has no ability to push back on rates," said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms.

Dana Holmes, a spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the most popular insurer on the exchange, said in a statement that the insurer is confident the individual rates it filed are "reasonable" and "actuarially justified."

"In order to continue offering plans in 2017, we must price our products for the anticipated health care needs for the entire market," Holmes said.

Stephani Becker, a senior policy specialist at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, called the rates "disappointing" but said it's important to remember that tax credits will limit how much most Illinois consumers on the exchange actually pay.

Advertisement

The preliminary analysis also showed dwindling choices for many Illinois residents. Aetna recently announced that it, along with its brand Coventry, would not offer individual plans on the exchange in Illinois next year. Nor will UnitedHealthcare or Land of Lincoln.

Cigna is new to the individual exchange in Illinois next year. Its HMO plan will be offered in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee and Will counties, according to the Department of Insurance.

Despite challenges, federal officials said Wednesday during a call with reporters that the Affordable Care Act has led to improvements in health care for many throughout 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 and Medicaid Services.

lschencker@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lschencker
British financial trader Navinder Singh Sarao leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 23, 2016, in London. U.S. authorities are seeking to extradite Sarao to face charges related to the 2010 stock market "flash crash." (Matt Dunham / AP)

"Flash crash" trader Navinder Singh Sarao continues to fight extradition from the United Kingdom to the U.S. over charges that he helped trigger a 2010 tumble in stock markets, court records show.

Sarao faces charges that include wire fraud, commodities fraud, commodities manipulation and spoofing in the U.S. for his suspected role in the crash, which saw tens of billions of dollars lost in just five minutes. The market quickly rebounded.

Advertisement

U.S. officials say he made $875,000 that day.

In 2015, a Chicago grand jury indicted Sarao, alleging manipulation on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange sparked the May 2010 crash.

Advertisement

In March, U.K. District Judge Quentin Purdy of the Westminster Magistrates' Court rejected Sarao's challenge to extradition.

Purdy then sent the case to the U.K.'s home secretary to decide whether to order the British financial trader's extradition to the U.S., according to British media coverage and a status report filed last month in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

On May 14, Home Secretary Theresa May, who has since been named prime minister, ordered Sarao's extradition to the United States. On May 26, Sarao appealed that extradition order to the U.K. High Court.

On July 19, the U.K. High Court also denied Sarao's appeal over the extradition, and, on July 25, Sarao "renewed" his appeal to the U.K. High Court, the status report said.

"While the defendant's renewed application for leave to appeal is pending in the United Kingdom, Sarao continues to be unavailable to appear in court in the United States," Andrew Weissmann, fraud section chief for the U.S. Department of Justice's criminal division, said in the court filing.

As a matter of policy, the Justice Department generally doesn't comment on extradition matters beyond its court filings, spokesman Peter Carr said Wednesday. "However, I can confirm that a decision on the appeal" is still pending, Carr said.

byerak@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @beckyyerak
Years after the financial crisis, many displaced in financial services jobs are looking for the connections to get back in. A networking group at Addison Group helps. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

About 30 years ago, Lise Rosengard was persuaded by family and friends to set aside her passion for art and go for a secure job with good earning potential.

She went to work in banking and worked her way up to vice president at one of the world's most prominent financial institutions, Societe Generale. Then came the financial crisis of 2008, and she found herself out of work along with hundreds of thousands of other people.

Advertisement

The depth of the job destruction hit her one day in 2009 as she rode the train downtown in Manhattan to Wall Street, where she hoped to get a lead for a new job. "It was 7:30 in the morning and normally the train would have been packed. But it was empty," she recalled.

At the end of the train ride, there was no job. And there has been no full-time job with benefits since.

Advertisement

Lise Rosengard, center, discusses strategies for talking with recruiters on Aug. 10, 2016, at a meeting of the Financial Executives Networking Group in the downtown Chicago office of Addison Group, a professional staffing and job search firm. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

About eight years after the financial crisis, the turmoil that began on Wall Street and then drifted into companies of all types has left the ranks of the unemployed and underemployed heavy with people who once enjoyed senior financial positions in a variety of industries. They face a sharply reduced market for the types of jobs they used to take for granted.

Rosengard stated adamantly: "Banking is not a stable position." Since the crash, she's had well-paying short-term consulting positions and poor-paying temp work, but nothing like the security she used to have.

Now, as she continues her search, "It's like a twilight zone. You are either offered a position that has good pay, but a position way below your capabilities, or you are offered a top position with no pay."

Rosengard isn't alone. She's beginning to attend meetings of the Financial Executives Networking Group, or FENG, that are filled with people who've gone to premier MBA programs, guided companies through multimillion-dollar decisions, had titles like chief financial officer, treasurer and vice president of finance, and generally excelled at what they've done.

At a recent downtown Chicago event in an Addison Group boardroom, Rosengard and 31 others exchanged job leads with one another and listened to a motivational speaker.

"You aren't getting recognized for your skills," said the speaker, Conor Cunneen. "I know it's a pain in the butt when you know you can do the job with your eyes closed, and they are going to give it to someone new at it, taking half the salary."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there has been almost no recovery in the number of financial positions in Illinois since the financial crisis set off thousands of layoffs. During summer 2006, as the economy seemed strong and few worried about jobs, financial positions peaked at 335,100 in Illinois. But by March 2011, only 283,000 remained, and by June this year the numbers had improved only slightly to 295,200. Nationally, many of the 718,000 financial jobs that disappeared have returned, but commercial banking is still short more than 58,000 jobs. Positions in leasing and rental equipment are down 93,200.

"Whatever the government says, the recession continues," said Matt Bud, national chairman of FENG, which holds sessions like the Chicago meetup in cities throughout the country. About 50,000 out-of-work or underemployed executives are members nationwide.

Advertisement

It's like a twilight zone. You are either offered a position that has good pay, but a position way below your capabilities, or you are offered a top position with no pay.  Lise Rosengard, former banking executive

"Jobs are pretty scarce for senior people," said Bud.

Rosengard, 58, suspects ageism is holding her and others back as they struggle to get jobs. Many people at the session were over 50.

As Cunneen gave the group tips for their job searches, he said they should put their Twitter handle on their resumes so they "look contemporary" with social media. In addition, he suggested scouring Twitter postings from companies they would like to join, and then in interviews state that they found specific information or discussions on Twitter.

"You are financial people, not salespeople," he said. "You have to be salespeople."

Before the interview, Cunneen advised, think about three or four attributes you want the interviewer to relate about you to others in the organization, then practice anecdotes that demonstrate images such as leadership, because stories stick with people.

As for the difficult questions that could come up in interviews: Rosengard asked what to do when questioned about pay expectations. "The moment money comes up or they say, 'I see you've had a senior title,' you are done," she said. Another FENG participant Raphael Lavin, managing partner of equipment leasing firm Standard Professional Services, offered a solution: "Throw it back at them, saying: 'Do you see positions in your firm in this range?'"

Advertisement

While style in interviews matters, an issue facing all seeking jobs in senior financial positions now is that in-demand skills have changed dramatically since the financial crisis, said Jim Kaitz, president and chief executive officer of the Association for Financial Professionals.

After corporate near-death experiences during the financial crisis, Kaitz said, companies now are fixated on having a lot of cash at all times and are slow to hire in general. In addition, "there is a talent gap in finance."

Financial planning for companies now is focused on analyzing big data to drive growth and profits, he said. Among people in financial positions in a wide range of sectors, "there's a big shift from number crunchers to number interpreters."

Some MBA programs, such as Wharton's, are turning out graduates with the new training, while existing financial managers are having to retool their skills to retain positions, especially in large companies, he said.

Besides the shift in priorities, Daniel Ryan, managing partner of Heidrick & Struggles, noted there are fewer financial companies, and existing banking firms are adding people needed to comply with massive new government regulations set in motion by the Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

Outside of banking firms, there is also significant financial management job shrinkage and consequently intense competition for every job opening, said Brian McInerney, 54, who left a chief financial officer position at Multi-Pack Solutions in June and wants another CFO position.

Advertisement

Private equity firms, he said, have been busy buying and selling companies. As that happens, he noted, there may be one company that needs just one CFO when there previously were four companies, each with a CFO. "Three CFOs are displaced and looking for positions," he said.

Brian McInerney, 54, who is currently unemployed, works on his computer to network and look for possible job leads in Chicago on Aug. 25, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

This was not the case in the early 2000s, when he decided to leave his job rather than move from Chicago to Dallas after helping his employer sell the company to a Dallas-based firm. Then, as he looked for a new position, the competition was not as great.

On the other hand, he said, consolidation and job loss is so great now "at least the stigma (of being out of work) isn't there anymore."

Still, job seeking is more complicated today than when he was looking about 15 years ago, he noted. Then, use of the internet was fairly new, and it was possible to apply to a job posting online and get an interview. Now, he said, networking is essential because anyone who posts a job online is inundated with resumes.

He spends every day trying to generate contacts who can tell him where jobs might be and also usher his resume to decision-makers in firms with less than $250 million in sales.

Bud has been discouraging FENG members from targeting the largest companies. While many members worked at Fortune 500 companies when young, greater opportunity for seasoned financial executives is in smaller companies with 100 to 500 employees.

Advertisement

Whatever the government says, the recession continues.  Matt Bud, national chairman, Financial Executives Networking Group

This is disappointing to many, he said. "It is not as big a job as they want, and so they feel underemployed." It also takes people aback to find out that after earning $150,000 or $180,000 previously, a lot of CFOs earn $100,000 now.

Meanwhile, taking two-month or six-month contract positions, or even full employment in smaller firms, lacks the security many used to have because those companies are often sold or go out of business. As a result, financial executives grow weary as they find themselves going through job-looking  or what they call transitions  many times.

Lynn Chandler, 48, a former McDonald's manager of IT procurement, is among them. "I want to plant my roots. I want to be old-school again," she told McInerney. Chandler has had to cope with job cuts after positions and entire divisions were wiped out during major consolidations in companies. At McDonald's, consolidation and cost-cutting led to a global integration of procurement. Before that she had been affected by consolidation at another employer  she first joined FENG in 2013 when her position was eliminated at Premier Farnell, a British firm that removed redundancies in the U.S. and U.K.

Chandler said she would be willing to take lower pay if "I could be a contributor and be happy." Most important, she would like to keep her 11-year-old daughter from having to move. Yet, as her severance package runs down, she knows that may not be possible.

gmarksjarvis@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @gailmarksjarvis
Starbucks has asked a Chicago court to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses it of misrepresenting the sizes of its cold drinks, a week after a similar case was tossed in California.

The federal lawsuit in Chicago was first filed in May, but a new plaintiff was named last week. Thursday was the deadline to file a dismissal motion. The lead attorney representing the coffee giant in the case didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. It wasn't immediately clear when the motion to dismiss will be heard.

Advertisement

The case alleged that Starbucks essentially under-fills its iced coffees and teas because the stated drink volumes  which range from 8 to 30 ounces  include ice.

The California case was dismissed last week in a strongly worded decision from U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson, who said that "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" by stated drink volumes.

Advertisement

In a statement in response to the California case dismissal, Starbucks said it was "pleased with the court's decision and the judge's comments on the matter."

sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SamWillTravel
Few people would say that saving for retirement is easy. But the process is especially difficult for people who work part time or who freelance for a simple reason: they are much less likely to have access to a retirement account through their jobs.

Now Uber is trying to change that for its drivers by partnering with the robo-adviser Betterment to give drivers access to individual retirement accounts.

Starting Wednesday, tens of thousands of drivers in Seattle, Boston, Chicago and New Jersey should be able to sign up for an IRA or a Roth IRA using their Uber apps. The retirement accounts, which will be free for the first year, should eventually be made available to all Uber drivers through the app's rewards program, the company says.

Uber reached out to Betterment about the partnership earlier this year after hearing from drivers who wanted more help managing their money, said spokesman Michael Amodeo. "Drivers said they wanted it to be easier to save for the long term, to take control of their finances," he said.

Betterment is an online investing firm that offers low-cost brokerage accounts and retirement accounts. Drivers will be able to fund the accounts from their checking accounts and receive guidance from Betterment on how to invest the funds, based on their risk tolerance and when they plan to retire.

For Betterment, the deal presents a chance to gain thousands of new customers, says Joe Ziemer, a spokesman for the financial firm. After launching its investment business in 2010, Betterment now serves 80,000 retirement accounts. While there is no telling how many people will sign up, the move will eventually make it easier for hundreds of thousands of Uber drivers across the country to open IRAs, both companies say. Betterment now has more than $5 billion in assets under management.

The retirement accounts won't require a minimum investment and will be free for Uber drivers for the first year. After that, drivers will pay a maximum fee of 0.25 percent of assets. Normally, Betterment customers pay an annual fee of 0.35 percent of assets on accounts smaller than $10,000. The fee drops for larger account balances.

Uber drivers are being pointed to IRAs, which consumers typically have to open on their own and are different from the typical workplace retirement plan that some employees might expect. For example, some people in 401(k) plans sponsored by their employer might benefit from matching retirement contributions or may be automatically enrolled into the plans - features that can encourage workers to start saving for retirement and stick with it. Uber drivers won't have those perks. Still, some drivers may appreciate the flexibility of being able to open retirement account through their apps, Amodeo said.

Uber's move to increase drivers' access to retirement account comes as the company faces more pressure from drivers who want to be treated as employees instead of contractors. Last week, a federal judge rejected a proposed $100 million settlement that would have ended a class-action lawsuit from about 385,000 current and former drivers in California and Massachusetts. The judge called the settlement "unfair" and was not enough to cover what the drivers estimate they are owed.
See the winner here.

Blog Extras:

Advertisement

"Savor this moment. You'll never see a happier judge."

Sheila Kerwin, Wilmette

Advertisement

" ... and that clown is another reason why Illinois judges should be appointed - not elected."

Mike Fuller

"At least he's not running for President."

Frank Stachyra, Oak Park

"I think that insanity plea is out the question with this judge."

Len DeGrado, Lemont

"Jury Doody?"

Jason Gansauer

"The joker is on to us."

Advertisement

Joan West, Glenview

"Any clown can hand down a judgment. "

Martha Fahey, Frankfort

"I'm advising my client to drink a fifth."

Barbara Swanson, Chicago

"I wonder if this judge spent time on America's Got Talent, or is he just another puppet?"

Him Slarzynski, Chicago

Advertisement

"But he's not from the circus. He's from Indiana."

Jenny Lagoni, Barrington
Two girls in Indonesia are the subjects of "Die Before Blossom," an absorbing documentary that simply observes their lives as they push through the boredom of their studies, fantasize about becoming pop stars, fret about their appearance and fend off their increasingly stressed parents, who worry about their academic futures. The film receives its North American premiere Saturday at Chicago Filmmakers.

Today's Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim majority country, and even in public nonsectarian schools (which the girls attend), their state exams  which determine whether or not they are accepted to the junior high of their choosing  include a significant section on religion. "There are many people, especially in the West, who think they are clever because they aren't religious," the children are told early in the film. "Luckily the majority of this class are Muslims."

Advertisement

The girls are Kiki and Dila. They are middle-class preteens. "Our next topic is puberty," a teacher announces. "What are the obligations for those who entered puberty? The answer is?"

MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR

Advertisement

"Pray five times a day," a classmate responds. "Now, who of you already has your menstruation?" the teacher then asks. Later, a group of girls recap the day's lesson: "Did you raise your hand when she asked about menstruation?" "Not yet, I swear to God." "I couldn't handle it yet."

But they quickly become savvy to how they can use this new information to their advantage. Menstruating women are not allowed to touch the Quran, which becomes a handy excuse among the girls, gathered in the playground sipping frozen drinks, when their instructor comes out to round up the next student for individual lessons. Sorry, they tell him, we're on our periods.

Chicago Filmmakers programmer Josh Mabe calls the film "the kind of gentle observational documentary I tend to like. It's very interesting to see the creeping influence of religion in the schools and how similar the institution is to American religious institutions. Some of the religious instruction in the film seemed exactly like American evangelism in its delivery."

At school, the day begins with the children lined up in military formation in the courtyard. Everyone wears uniforms  white button-down short-sleeve shirts with either navy blue or burgundy bottoms, depending on the school. There is a slight variation among the girls, however. Some simply wear knee-length skirts; others are in headscarves and skirts down to their ankles. The film doesn't offer any explanation.

Kiki is the quieter of the girls profiled in the film. She's enigmatic and it is never clear what's going through her head at any given moment, but she often looks unhappy or at least resigned, especially at school. So much is happening outside her control and she is swept along with the tide. That's a universal feeling for any kid. Dila has more outward spunk. "Just imagine, one day I can have a concert as grand as Celine Dion's," she says dreamily. "Do you think I look chubbier wearing the jilbab?" she asks as she tries on the headscarf and looks at herself in the mirror. (In Indonesia, the word jilbab is used to describe the headscarf worn by Muslim women.) "I think I do." And then: "But it's OK, I still think I'm pretty!"

For their state exam, they will need to know the Quran backward and forward. This causes all kinds of angst for the girls. The stakes are high; if their scores aren't good enough, they won't get into public school and will have to enroll in a private religious school. Kiki, in particular, does not want this and her parents are caught up in the stress of the moment, not unlike American parents concerned about their kids getting into the right college.

The film's strengths are also some of its weaknesses. Directed by Ariani Djalal, an Indonesian journalist and documentary filmmaker, it offers no external commentary on what we're seeing. She simply takes her camera into the classrooms and homes of these girls and watches, quietly. It is no mystery how the director herself feels about the restrictive traditions within the community that apply to women. But for American viewers, the film's overall hands-off approach might leave a few too many nuances and details unexplained.

That awkward shift though, from childhood into teenage years, is a universal sentiment that needs no footnotes.

Advertisement

"Die Before Blossom" screens 8 p.m. Saturday at Chicago Filmmakers. Go to www.chicagofilmmakers.org/screenings.

nmetz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @NinaMetzNews

RELATED STORIES:

James Franco drama about gay porn to close Reeling film fest

TV series adaptation of 'The Departed' set in Chicago

Advertisement

'Southside With You' actors recount playing president, first lady







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)
Before it became "Don't Breathe," the new home-invasion thriller with a difference had the working title "A Man in the Dark." This would be like calling "Wait Until Dark" "The Lady of Greenwich Village"  accurate, but dull.

It's the second feature directed by Uruguayan writer-director Fede Alvarez, who became a bankable genre specialist with a single movie: his slick, profitable 2013 remake of "Evil Dead." "Don't Breathe" is far less overtly bloody and not really a horror film, no matter what the ad campaign on all platforms is trying to tell you.

Advertisement

Alvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues confine most of their latest film's mayhem to the interior of an old dark house on a virtually uninhabited block in Detroit. The homeowner is an Iraq war veteran played by Stephen Lang, best known for being mean to the blue people of "Avatar." Blind, but hardy, the crusty shut-in with the weirdly expensive-looking haircut has been pegged by a trio of young burglars as an easy, vulnerable mark with a large stash of cash.

MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR

Advertisement

Two of the thieves, played by Jane Levy and Dylan Minnette, are sensitive and agreeable, particularly Levy as Rocky, a tough nut raising money to relocate to California with her younger sister, away from their hellish home life. The unsympathetic third, the hopped-up risk-taker, is Rocky's boyfriend, Money, played by Daniel Zovatto.The second he starts gloating about how easy this'll be, you can practically see the big red arrows pointing at his head, big enough to contain the words VICTIM IN THE MAKING.

We know this will go poorly. An overhead establishing shot in the prologue shows the older man dragging the young woman by the hair (is she dead or alive?) down his street, with a purpose. "Don't Breathe" proceeds to show us how we get to that story point, and then beyond it. The film is a clever if increasingly mechanical suspense contraption, yanking our sympathies this way and that, before turning into a different sort of movie entirely.

A few choice details in "Don't Breathe" catch our eye early on: an upside-down photo on the wall of the blind man's dead daughter; a series of drone-produced shots over the forsaken streets of this Detroit neighborhood. As night falls, the burglars make their way around the house, sniffing out the loot. Their prey becomes their tormentor, using an array of power tools and implements as weapons. He's a beast. And then, we learn, he's really a beast of a more disturbing variety.

Jane Levy is featured as one of the burglars in "Don't Breathe," co-written and directed by Fede Alvarez. (Screen Gems)

Alvarez shot much of the film on location, though the interiors (most of the movie, in other words) were built and filmed on a soundstage in Hungary. Cinematographer Pedro Luque's camera becomes an enjoyably mobile participant in the action, scooting through air vents, darting from room to room.

The strong elements in "Don't Breathe" start with Levy's sharp, astringent performance, though I suspect the story's right turn into psycho-horror ickiness (which sounds like a sound business decision) may prevent the movie from finding a big audience. It's hard to say what sort of filmmaker we have in Alvarez at this point. He's a craftsman. He may yet turn into a valuable pulp artist. I do wonder, though, if the director is doing his movie any favors by playing along with the marketing campaign. He recently told Forbes: "We're selling it as horror because when you put a movie out there for the masses, the masses need the stereotype  if we were going to just sell it as a thriller it might not work as well." Yes. Well. Dishonesty's the best policy.

Michael Phillips is a Chicago Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune

Advertisement

MPAA rating: R (for terror, violence, disturbing content, and language including sexual references)

Running time: 1:28

"Don't Breathe"  2.5 stars

Opens: Friday

RELATED STORIES:

'Southside with You' review: When Barry met Michelle

Advertisement

'A Tale of Love and Darkness' review: Natalie Portman writes, directs and acts in story of novelist Amos Oz

'Hands of Stone' review: Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez do OK with bantamweight script







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)
Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy, the diminutive but extraordinary wife of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and the mother of Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy Jr., John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy, Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy, Kathleen Agnes "Kick" Kennedy, Eunice Mary Kennedy, Patricia Helen "Pat" Kennedy, Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy, Jean Ann Kennedy and Edward "Ted" Kennedy, had a profoundly complicated life.

As evidenced by only one of the names on that list still being alive.

Advertisement

Was she the matriarch of a Boston version of the House of Atreus, a profoundly ambitious family that "reached too high" and thus experienced triumphal highs paired with such sorrows as to be almost inconceivable? That is, in part, the premise of "Rose," a terrific one-woman show at the Greenhouse Theater Center that anyone compelled by the biographical profundity of the Kennedy family absolutely shouldn't miss.

For one thing, Linda Reiter, the oft-underrated Chicago actress who plays Rose Kennedy, is giving one of the great performances of her unduly modest career; carefully toned, emotional and richly textured, it stacks up against anything you would see from a touring star. And the script has a fascinating history. Penned by Laurence Leamer, a distinguished Kennedy biographer in his own right, the piece is based on the 40 hours or more of taped interviews conducted by Robert Coughlan, the ghostwriter of Rose Kennedy's 1974 memoir. Coughlan died in 1992 and Leamer got the boxes of tapes.

Advertisement

RELATED: MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR

In a program note, Leamer says (somewhat bizarrely, to my mind) that the tapes sat on his bookshelf until three years ago, when he finally dealt with them. Although the play, which invites you into Rose Kennedy's parlor, so to speak, is not a transcript, it's based on those conversations. They are sufficiently frank to have merited a breathless, bullet-pointed piece in The Mail Online, when "Rose" premiered in New York last year. There is talk of how she believed that the delayed arrival of a doctor led to Rosemary Kennedy's birth defect and discussion of the young woman's subsequent and clearly disastrous lobotomy. And, with a remove, there is a discussion of Joseph P. Kennedy's numerous infidelities. And chat about Chappaquiddick.

In the best moments of "Rose," which is structured as if you were recording those tapes as Rose Kennedy spoke, you are put in mind of one of the central questions that haunts anyone interested in the Kennedy family: Was all the success worth all the tragedy?

In "Rose," that comes with the additional growing sense  very much aided by Reiter's richly complicated performance under the direction of Steve Scott  that the point at which Rose Kennedy was born meant that the successes mostly went to the alpha males in her family, while the tragedies were hers to bear.

Often alone.

"Hamilton," of course, would not be "Hamilton" if it did not traverse the deep personal loss suffered by the man on the $10 bill; a crucial part of its success is in its ability to make an audience feel and understand that many of the most influential humans likely would have given up all that power and historical influence for a few more minutes with a lost child.

In the case of Rose Kennedy, of course, such a loss came multiple times over, akin to the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. To Leamer's credit, the theatrical need to actually get those feelings out of such a notoriously stoic narrator ("We go down and we get up") never is allowed to undermine the veracity of the character. In other words, albeit with rare exceptions, the show delivers enough juicy emotion to keep you compelled, but without making you feel like you are indulging in the tacky voyeurism of which Rose Kennedy would not approve.

So it's a classy night  an experience aided, I think, by the passage of time. So is the growing sense of tragedy.

Advertisement

The modest, monologic "Rose," which fits very nicely into the Greenhouse Theater Center, reminds you of what this woman with nine children might have been if she had time for herself. I, for one, did not know that her father had pulled the plug on her attending Wellesley College on the eve of her departure, on the grounds that such a prominent Catholic politician could not be seen to send his daughter to a Protestant school. That exacted a price, detailed and compounded here.

Rose was still able to teach her children  the males in the family especially  what it meant to be a Kennedy over those "long summer days in Hyannis Port," at the Kennedy compound.

"No Kennedy married early," Rose Kennedy observes in the piece, with Reiter introducing an edge. "All they needed was each other."

Indeed. But "Rose" leaves you no doubt that this was because their mother taught them well  and then felt for them for a lifetime.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Advertisement

Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib

REVIEW: "Rose" (3.5 STARS)

When: Through Sept. 25

Where: Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Running time: 90 minutes

Tickets: $34-$48 at 773-404-7336 or greenhousetheatre.org

Advertisement

RELATED STORIES:

Noir thriller 'Bloodshot' set in hung-over 1957 London

'Mame' takes the blues right out of Evanston

Cynthia Nixon, Philip Dawkins, Brett Neveu part of 'Solo Celebration!'







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)
The Hours Count: A Novel

By Jillian Cantor; Riverhead, 368 pages, $16

Advertisement

By meshing fact with fiction, Jillian Cantor re-creates the life of a woman who befriended Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, the couple convicted and executed on June 19, 1953, for conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviets. In 1950, before being arrested, Ethel drops off her young sons with her neighbor and close friend, Millie Stein. Stein has a secret of her own, her relationship with Jake, a psychologist, who is trying to help her toddler, David, to speak. Stein also begins questioning her own husband's political loyaltys.

The Small Backs of Children: A Novel

Advertisement

By Lidia Yuknavitch; Harper Perennial, 256 pages, $14.99

The photo of a young girl running away from an explosion in her war-ravaged, Eastern European village forever changes the life of a depressed writer, the photographer's best friend. In an attempt to help his wife get back her sanity, the writer's husband rallies a group of artist friends  filmmaker, poet, playwright, performance artist and painter  to rescue the mysterious girl and bring her to the United States. But it becomes unclear what their real mission is and who is controlling it.

Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom: Tools for Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Mood Swings During Your Pregnancy

By Alice D. Domar and Sheila Curry Oakes; TarcherPerigee, 288 pages, $17

Alice D. Domar, an associate clinical professor of obstetrics, and Sheila Curry Oakes, a writer specializing in women's health and wellness, team up to debunk the myth of "glowing moms-to-be," the idea that pregnancy is an effortless, rejuvenating journey. Domar and Oakes argue that pregnant women often undergo a stress-ridden phase and offer tools to cope, from fun quizzes to mind-body techniques to release anxiety.

The Darkest Secret: A Novel

By Alex Marwood; Penguin, 400 pages, $16

As wealthy friends and family gather to mourn Sean Jackson at his funeral, they are brought back to the fateful summer night, 12 years ago, when Jackson's 3-year-old step daughter vanished during Jackson's 50th birthday party at a seaside vacation home. The only witness? Her identical twin Ruby. Jackson's death threatens to unveil the dark secrets everyone has tried so hard to hide.

Advertisement

Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

By Frank McCourt; Scribner, 368 pages, $17

Frank McCourt documents his desolate childhood in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. His mother, Angela, scrambles to feed the family and the only thing his alcoholic father, Malachy, can provide is a good story, like the tale of Cuchulain, one of the greatest heroes of Irish mythology. It's stories like this that keep McCourt going as he struggles with extreme poverty  he begs for a pig's head for Christmas dinner and gathers coal from the roadside to light a fire. McCourt manages to find humor in the midst of this troubled existence.
Theyve been punched, kicked and smothered on ships. They are the victims of the live export trade to Israel  and now they have an unprecedented voice in a ground-breaking campaign.

Vulnerable 10 week-old calves from Europe and cattle and sheep from Australia make up the hundreds of thousands of animals exported to Israel to be slaughtered every year.

In a cutting-edge campaign, Animals Australia has united with animal protection groups in Israel  Anonymous for Animal Rights, Let the Animals Live, and Israel Against Live Shipments  to shine an unprecedented spotlight on the suffering of these animals.
Abdominal hysterectomies have once again become more common after the FDA issued a warning about power morcellators, which are cutting tools used in minimally invasive gynecological procedures. (Hero Images / Getty Images)

The use of power morcellators  cutting tools used in minimally invasive gynecological procedures  has dropped significantly for hysterectomies since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned against their use two years ago, a new study finds.

Power morcellators have small blades that rotate rapidly. When used in minimally invasive hysterectomies or for the removal of noncancerous growths on the uterus known as fibroids, they slice the tissue into smaller pieces that are removed through a small opening in the abdomen.

Advertisement

But tiny pieces of tissue can also spread to other areas of the body. And, sometimes, undetected cancers can be cut up with the healthy tissue. If that cancerous tissue isn't completely removed, those cells can cause cancer elsewhere. That's what prompted the FDA to issue its 2014 warning, the researchers explained.

The new study looked only at changes in the rates of hysterectomies since the FDA warning was announced. Hysterectomies can be used as a treatment for a number of conditions including fibroids, vaginal bleeding, vaginal prolapse (when the vagina falls out of position) and pelvic pain, according to lead researcher Dr. Jason Wright.

Advertisement

"As a result of the FDA guidance, the rate of minimally invasive hysterectomy has declined. However, there is still a risk of cancer in women who undergo morcellation," Wright said. He's an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.

A hysterectomy can be performed in a number of different ways: through the vagina, through the abdomen or through minimally invasive laparoscopy, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Following the FDA warning, abdominal hysterectomies have again become more common, with no increase seen in major complication rates, Wright said.

"Additionally, despite the publicity surrounding morcellation, the rate of cancers and other abnormal problems remained largely unchanged," he noted.

Even with increased scrutiny, "There is a risk of malignancy in women undergoing morcellation, and caution should be used with the procedure," he said.

The report was published Aug. 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

For the study, Wright and colleagues collected data on more than 200,000 women who had a hysterectomy. Among these women, 58 percent had a minimally invasive procedure, the study showed.

In 2013, nearly 14 percent of minimally invasive hysterectomies were done using power morcellation. By 2015, the use of power morcellation had dropped to 3 percent, the researchers found.

Advertisement

The FDA first approved power morcellation in 1995. By 2013, there were reports of women's cancers spreading after the procedure.

Not everyone agreed with the FDA's warning. ACOG Executive Vice President and CEO Dr. Hal Lawrence said in a 2014 statement, "Although the worsening of an occult (hidden) malignancy as a result of power morcellation is, of course, tragic, we believe that an approach that combines deliberate patient selection criteria with robust informed consent will help protect women from a negative outcome, while maintaining access to morcellation for women who would benefit from it."

Of the new study, Dr. Mitchell Kramer said, "These results are not surprising under the circumstances."

The increase in open, or abdominal, procedures was the inevitable outcome, he said.

"There probably aren't enough minimally invasive surgeons around who can handle the volume of cases, so doctors are doing cases open," noted Kramer. He's chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwell Health's Huntington Hospital, in Huntington, N.Y.

Kramer said that the FDA had no choice but to issue a warning. "The studies have shown that the incidence of cancer is higher than we thought, and the potential of spreading disease is greater than we thought," he said.

Advertisement

But he added that obese women and women with large fibroids can potentially benefit from power morcellation.

"There is still a place for power morcellation  we just need devices and techniques that are safe and user-friendly," he said. A number of new power morcellation devices are being developed, he added.

RELATED STORIES:

Seasonal depression hits in summer too

EpiPens are my armor against disaster. They shouldn't be priced like a luxury.

Early prostate cancer diagnoses on the decline






The National Park Service, which turns 100 years old Thursday, oversees 413 parks, monuments, battlefields, lakeshores and other "units."

Scott Stieglitz is determined to visit every one of them.

Advertisement

At age 40, the South Elgin man said he's already more than halfway there.

"Some people may call it an obsession," said Stieglitz, a software developer who keeps a spreadsheet tally of his travels and has a passport booklet full of ink stamps documenting the dates of his visits. "I'm kind of nerdy when it comes to this stuff."

Advertisement

Stieglitz was introduced to the national parks passport program in his 20s during a trip to Yosemite with his now-wife, Stacey.

"We both bought a passport, and it was off to the races," he said.

Stieglitz has plenty of company in his bid to bag all of the NPS sites. He's one of nearly 2,000 members of the National Park Travelers Club (www.parkstamps.org), a collection of folks best described as superfans of the national park system. The club, which just wrapped up its annual meeting at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, awards members with bronze, silver, gold and platinum status, based on the number of NPS sites they've visited. It operates on the honor system.

"As of today, we have 43 known people that have visited every unit of the U.S. national park system  10 of those finished this year," said club secretary Craig Bailey of Limon, Colo., noting that the NPS centennial has been an incentive for people to reach their goal in 2016. "One man is planning on finishing (Thursday) in Washington, D.C.

"There are possibly others out there, but we don't think many," added Bailey, whose personal tally is 274 and counting. "Most that are really trying to visit every unit of the national park system find our club."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Red rock formations in Zion National Park are part of some of the most scenic canyons in the country. Read the full story here. (Cyn Mycoskie)

The elite group of platinum members includes a couple of Illinois natives, Bruce and Letty Johnson. They raised their children  one of whom is 1988 U.S. Olympic swimmer Susan M. Johnson  in Naperville. The 75-year-old grandparents now call Gibraltar, Mich., home.

"Both of us have visited the parks all our lives and just loved them," Letty Johnson said. "They're the best thing about this country."

The Johnsons' passion for the parks kicked into high gear after they retired in 2001.

Advertisement

"In 2008, we became what they call platinum," Johnson said. "We'd been to 391, and that was all of them at that point. They keep adding more, so we're still keeping up."

Their to-do list got longer as recently as Wednesday, when President Barack Obama created a new national monument, Katahdin Woods and Waters, in Maine.

With 413 units spread across every state  as well as American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands  it's no small feat to drop in on every one. Accessing some of the more remote sites can be a logistical headache, not to mention a pricey endeavor.

Most people have to hire bush pilots to get to Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve in southwest Alaska's Aleutian mountains, and they often have to hang around the outskirts for days, waiting for a break in the weather.

"Probably 100 people a year make it in," Johnson said. "We got lucky."

Arguably the hardest site to visit lies just outside of Phoenix: Hohokam Pima National Monument, honoring the archaeological site of an ancient Hohokam village called Snaketown. It's owned by the Gila River Indian Reservation, which doesn't allow public access to the site.

Advertisement

The Johnsons got in by way of a serendipitous dinner at a Tucson restaurant in 2008, when they were chatting with the chef about their dream of visiting every NPS site.

"We told him about the one that's not open to the public, and he said, 'I might be able to help you with that,'" Johnson recalled. "He knew the daughter of a tribal elder. We met with him, passed muster and got in. It was a moving experience."

While the Johnsons grew up going to many of the country's 59 national parks, that wasn't the case for Stieglitz.

"I tell people I was national park-deprived as a child; the only national park units I went to as a kid were in Washington, D.C.," said the father of two. His children, Sophie, 5, and Sammy, 3, already have dozens of stamps in their respective national parks passports.

The blue, spiral-bound "Passport to Your National Parks" booklets have been around since 1986. They're sold at national park bookstores and are available online for $9.95 at www.eparks.com.

"All of our vacations are pretty much planned on where the NPS sites are," Stieglitz said. That included his honeymoon in Hawaii, where they visited all the units the Aloha State had to offer  at the time.

Advertisement

"They've since added one, so we'll have to go back," he said.

Stieglitz said he'd been to 245 NPS sites as of Wednesday. He hopes to surpass 250 by the end of the summer.

"The big one on the bucket list that I still haven't been to is Yellowstone, the granddaddy of them all," he said about what many consider the world's first national park.

"I don't know when I'm going to finish this quest," he said, "but I'm still young enough where I think it will happen."

lrackl@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lorirackl

Advertisement

RELATED STORIES:

Maine land from Burt's Bees founder is new national monument

The essential guide to all 59 US national parks

3 Midwest state parks make for colorful autumn escape
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, seen here on July 11, 2016, said on Aug. 25 that he is not interested in being named U.S. Ambassador to the Jewish state. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Solve Rahm's problems by sending him to Israel? Not so fast!

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday shot down suggestions that he's looking for an exit from the fifth floor of City Hall by way of Tel Aviv.

Advertisement

A persistent rumor had it that Emanuel  whose father is an Israeli immigrant and whose middle name is Israel  was seeking to be appointed U.S. ambassador to the Jewish state, a job that, while far from easy, might represent a graceful escape route from Chicago's financial, criminal and policing problems.

But asked at an event at the Illinois Institute of Technology if he would accept the position if offered it, Emanuel gave a pretty definitive "no."

Advertisement

"No, and I haven't been asked and it's ridiculous," he said. "I love this job, opportunities and challenges.  One can't say they're not flattered, but I'm absolutely not interested and would never accept that."

Not much wiggle room there.

kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimjnews
Members of the Chicago Police Department push people back from the crime scene in the 3600 block of West Fifth Avenue on Aug. 28, 2016, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. A 38-year-old man was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

A man was killed and at least 10 other people have been wounded since Thursday morning in city shootings, police said.

Yuriy M. Naroditskiy, 84, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head about 9:15 a.m. in a home in the 600 block of West Diversey Avenue in the city's Lakeview neighborhood, according to the authorities. He was pronounced dead at 9:20 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Advertisement

An elderly woman also was found in the home with a gunshot wound to the head, said Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago police spokesman. She was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition.

Detectives were investigating the shooting as a possible attempted murder-suicide, according to a police source. The man is believed to have shot the woman, police said.

Advertisement

Nonfatal shootings:

About 12:30 a.m. Friday, a 22-year-old man was shot in the ankle during an incident in West Englewood. Police said he had approached a woman in the 7100 block of South Paulina Street and fired shots at her; in exchange, a group of men nearby fired back at him. As he started to flee the scene, he was shot in the ankle. It was not immediately clear whether he was shot by the men returning fire or he had accidentally shot himself, according to a police spokeswoman. He went to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition.

About 9:50 p.m. Thursday, a 21-year-old man was critically wounded in Jefferson Park. He was in the 5800 block of West Giddings Street when he was shot in the head. Police said the wound may have been accidentally self-inflicted. He went to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition and he was later pronounced dead. Authorities identified him as Ali Darawsha.

About 9:30 p.m., a 35-year-old man was shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. He was in the 2900 block of West Walton Street when he was shot in the abdomen. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, and his condition was stabilized.

About 6:45 p.m., a 29-year-old man was shot in Princeton Park. He was in the 9200 block of South Perry Avenue when a vehicle pulled up, someone exited and fired shots. He was shot in the chest and back. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and his condition was stabilized.

About 4:50 p.m., three people were shot in the 6500 block of South Maplewood Avenue in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. A dark vehicle pulled up, and someone fired shots. An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg, and taken to Holy Cross Hospital. A 49-year-old woman also was shot in the leg and taken to Stroger Hospital. A third victim, an 18-year-old man, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center. All their conditions were stabilized, police said.

About 9:40 a.m. in the Little Village neighborhood, two men were wounded in a shooting in the 2200 block of South Sacramento Avenue. The men, 19 and 34, were on the sidewalk when the younger man was shot in the buttocks and the older man was grazed in the arm. An acquaintance took them to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were listed in good condition.
A federal judge ruled Thursday that a man suspected of trying to detonate a bomb in the Loop is not mentally competent to stand trial at this time.

The suspect, Adel Daoud, will be sent to a mental treatment facility for three months, the judge said, and then re-evaluated to determine whether a trial can proceed.

Advertisement

U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman said that because Daoud believes she is a member of a secret society of the Illuminati and a reptile overlord, he has a delusional disorder and cannot rationally understand the proceedings or assist his lawyers.

Coleman said the case is "difficult and frustrating for all" but that prosecutors did not meet the burden of proof that Daoud was mentally fit to stand trial. The judge said Daoud's mental state has been deteriorating in jail, especially after a roommate committed suicide at the beginning of the year.

Advertisement

"It appears that his belief in the Illuminati, the Freemasons and lizard people is sincere and escalating," Coleman said during the brief court hearing.

That Daoud believes the only two outcomes of the case are execution by the government or being saved by a miracle underscore his inability to rationally understand the case, the judge said. Coleman said she weighed the testimony of two mental health experts, placing importance on the fact that the defense psychiatrist had visited with Daoud a week before the two-day competency hearing and testified he worried about Daoud committing suicide.

Daoud, now 22, was a suburban Hillside teenager when he was indicted in 2012 on charges he plotted to detonate a bomb outside a downtown Chicago bar. Since his arrest, he also has been indicted on charges of soliciting the murder of the undercover FBI agent in the terrorism case and attacking a fellow inmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in May 2015.

In testimony from the stand during his competency hearing, Daoud said the government targeted him because he is Muslim. He testified, against the advice of his lawyers, that he believed he is fit to stand trial. Daoud also reiterated that he believed the judge, prosecutors and his own lawyers were members of a secret society conspiring against him.

Daoud's father said the judge's competency ruling was fair and he hoped his son would receive help. Ahmed Daoud said his son is scared.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

One of Daoud's lawyers, Thomas Anthony Durkin, said another hearing will be held to see whether mental health treatment has improved Daoud's condition enough to allow him to stand trial.

"I'm also a lot less worried about him today than I was yesterday," Durkin said.

Durkin said the judge's ruling draws an important distinction between delusional beliefs and radical religious beliefs. He also said the U.S. government has a tendency to overreach in pursuing terrorism-related cases.

Advertisement

Coleman ruled that Daoud's mental condition was more than a simple belief that the system was rigged against him.

Daoud smiled during the hearing and exuberantly said hello to his father  "Whaaaaaaaats Up?!"  before the marshals cautioned him to be quiet. When the judge entered, he did not stand, rising only after being instructed to do so by his lawyers when Coleman stopped to ask why he was not on his feet.

poconnell@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @pmocwriter
Sharon Moore, 48, and grandson Kyren Gonzalez, 7, visit a memorial Aug. 24, 2016, for three girls and a man killed the day before in an apartment building fire on South Essex Avenue. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

As federal agents joined Chicago police and fire investigators Wednesday at the scene of a suspicious fire that killed four, including three young sisters, an autopsy on the youngest of the siblings showed that she died of injuries when her father leaped with her from their burning third-floor apartment, officials said.

Three-month-old Melanie Watson died early Tuesday after her father jumped to escape an extra-alarm fire that raced through the two top floors of their South Chicago apartment building in the 8100 block of South Essex Avenue, officials said. Her two half-sisters and another resident also died.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting Chicago police and fire officials in the fatal fire that killed three children and a man. Zelda is an accelerant-detecting law enforcement dog. Aug. 24, 2016. (Will Lee / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

Police said they received reports about 1:35 a.m. that someone had set fire to the courtyard building and later took an area man into custody. Fire officials said the fire was set in two separate places, trapping residents inside their homes.

Advertisement

An autopsy performed Wednesday showed that the infant died of multiple injuries in the fall that authorities said also critically injured her father, Michael Watson, 36, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Carbon monoxide toxicity was listed as a secondary cause and her death was ruled a homicide.

Officials also identified the fourth victim as Kirk Johnson, 56, of the Essex Avenue address. Johnson died of thermal injuries and carbon monoxide toxicity and his death was also listed as a homicide.

Advertisement

Melanie's half-sisters, identified through family as Shaniya Staples, 7, and Madison Watson, 4, had yet to be formally identified, as officials awaited dental confirmation, an office spokeswoman said. Authorities said the sisters were found inside the apartment, one in the hallway, the other in the living room.

Their autopsies were completed but results withheld pending formal identification, officials said.

An aunt for the Watson sisters declined to comment, saying the family was asking for privacy as they grieved the loss of the sisters.

Relatives and friends of the three girls gathered Tuesday night to remember the children at a makeshift memorial of poster boards, teddy bears and candles outside the gates of the building.

By Wednesday morning, police and fire investigators continued their work around the memorial with agents for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisting in pinpointing the cause of the blaze after findings by city canines were inconclusive, officials said.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

A strong smell of smoke and soot hung over the building as Zelda, the ATF's accelerant-sensing black Labrador was loosed on the scene, sniffing through the building's gangway, courtyard and burned inner shell.

Zelda is certified in six classifications of petroleum products and trained to identify "thousands of chemical compounds," said ATF spokesman Tom Ahern. ATF agents at the scene declined to say whether the dog found any trace of flammable substances at the waterlogged structure.

Meanwhile police continued to pursue charges against the suspect taken into custody shortly after the fire. Officials said police are still gathering details and said the man had not been charged as of Wednesday afternoon.

Advertisement

As TV news crews crowded around the rain-soaked memorial, a steady stream of neighbors and passersby stopped at the scene. Ida Harris, a retired county employee, who lives a mile from the fire scene finished her afternoon errands with a trip to Essex to see the building for herself.

"My heart just goes out to them. Lots of people lived in there," said Harris, 80. "I just had to see it."

wlee@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @MidNoirCowboy
When Fran and Frank Cornwell first arrived in Hammond, La., last week, they had a truck full of food to deliver to flood victims but no set route.

So the retired couple drove around looking for soggy stacks of drywall, carpeting piled curbside and furniture waterlogged beyond recognition  likely signs of flood victims too busy gutting their homes to stop and take care of themselves in 90-degree heat.

Advertisement

"The people are plugging along. They don't take time to eat or drink," said Frank Cornwell, 72, of Fulton, Ill. "They've got to start all over again."

Along with the Cornwells, 23 other Red Cross volunteers from the Chicago and northern Illinois area have been deployed to Louisiana, where floods have racked southern parts of the state since rainfall began Aug. 12. Almost 2,000 volunteers represent about 98 percent of all of the flood relief efforts in Louisiana.

Advertisement

Thirteen people were killed and 30,000 were rescued, according to the office of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. More than 60,000 homes have been damaged and thousands remained in shelters.

Organizers on the ground say much more help is needed to deal with the damage left by what the Red Cross says is the worst natural disaster it has responded to since 2012's Hurricane Sandy. In all, national relief efforts alone could cost at least $30 million, but as of Thursday the Red Cross had received only $10.6 million in pledges and donations to fund shelters, damage assessment, mental health care, meals, water and other supplies.

"We don't wait to get the funds and resources to respond in these cases: We're there when we're needed," said Celena Roldan, CEO of the local Red Cross region. "We're immediately on the ground ... and then we partner with the American public and bank on their generosity."

Roldan said the organization will be on the ground in Louisiana for the weeks and months of cleanup to come. She said the need for donations of time and money are only exacerbated by the fact that many of those affected by the disaster do not have flood insurance.

For the last week and a half, Charlie Sharp, of Sycamore, Ill., has been serving in a kitchen alongside other volunteers ages 21 through 75 who come from 20 states. A veteran Red Cross volunteer, Sharp said he was once again awed by the destruction flooding can wreak.

"When something like that happens, first reaction is disbelief," Sharp said. "With floods it's hit and miss: In one block you might get hit with 3 feet of water, and a block over is just a little higher ground. It's hard to find where the affected people are."

David Langenstrass, a retired mental health specialist from Elgin, has been traveling from shelter to shelter in Louisiana for 12 days to provide crisis counseling, short-term planning guidance and  more than anything, he said  emotional support.

"We just listen to their stories," said Langenstrass, now in his eighth Red Cross deployment. "A lot of people just want to tell you what happened."

Advertisement

A partially flooded road near Youngsville, La., can be seen from a helicopter carrying Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on a tour of the region on Aug. 25, 2016. (Max Becherer / AP)

His clients, for the most part, he said, are trying to cope with the loss of most of their possessions and the stress of figuring out how much of their houses are salvageable. Sometimes they need help figuring out how to register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Other times he's soothing victims who had to watch strangers take sledgehammers to their homes.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

Fran Cornwell, from Fulton, echoed Langenstrass' sentiment. Between serving snacks and hot meals out of an emergency response vehicle, she said, part of her volunteer work has involved simply listening.

She recalled that one woman, in the middle of frantically preparing her home and calling her children, remembered to check in on some 90-year-old relatives. She found them helpless, watching the water rise foot by foot. Another man, a farmer, told Cornwell that this was the year he planned to retire. Now, he told her, he'll need to go back to work for some years.

"Most of the time they just need someone to tell their story to, and someone who cares. Every time they say it, it alleviates a bit of the anguish. It's like going to therapy," said Cornwell, who with her husband has been deployed with the Red Cross five times, including to New York after Hurricane Sandy. "It's a joy in one respect and heartbreak in the other."

Joe Dillett is flying home Sunday to Somonauk, Ill., after preparing and delivering 200 meals at a time in Clinton, La. Dillett, like many other volunteers nearing the end of their weekslong service, is urging Illinois residents to donate time or any amount of money to the Red Cross.

"We are short on volunteers," Dillett said. "We only work off of donations. Without them, we couldn't do our job here."

Advertisement

mrenault@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @MarionRenault
James Armstrong, 20, was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. (Cook County sheriff's office)

A 2015 hit-and-run accident in the East Garfield Park neighborhood led to a 16-year-old boy being fatally shot in the face, prosecutors said.

About 6 p.m. Nov. 25, James Armstrong, then 19, was driving a white Lincoln that spun out and struck a black vehicle near the intersection of Homan Avenue and Van Buren Street, prosecutors said. The people in the Lincoln fled the scene, leaving the car behind, prosecutors said.

Advertisement

The people in the black vehicle then broke out the windows of the Lincoln.

Shortly before midnight the same day, Armstrong and another person returned to the same intersection in a SUV and walked toward Mysean Dunning, 16, who was standing outside, prosecutors said.

Advertisement

Armstrong walked back to the SUV, opened the door and then walked back to where Dunning was standing. He shot Dunning at close range in the face, prosecutors said Thursday afternoon at a bail hearing.

Armstrong ran back to the SUV with the person he was with and fled the scene. Dunning's sister went outside and found her brother collapsed on the sidewalk. Dunning, of the 3300 block of West Van Buren Street, was pronounced dead at 12:06 a.m. at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Armstrong was later identified as the person who shot Dunning.

Armstrong, 20, of the 4100 block of West Grenshaw Street, was charged with first-degree murder.

He appeared Thursday in front of Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr., who denied bail.
A University of Chicago policy of promoting freedom of expression and not supporting "trigger warnings and safe spaces" is discussed. (John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

University of Chicago class of 2020, get ready for a college experience filled with debate, discussion  and possibly discomfort.

As colleges across the country wrestle with balancing academic freedom and open discourse with student health and safety, University of Chicago Dean of Students John Ellison told incoming freshmen in a letter what they should expect on campus.

Advertisement

"Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called 'trigger warnings,' we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual 'safe spaces' where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own," the letter said.

In a welcome letter to freshmen, the College made clear that it does not condone safe spaces or trigger warnings: pic.twitter.com/9ep3n0ZbgV  The Chicago Maroon (@ChicagoMaroon) August 24, 2016

Trigger warnings  used to alert students of sensitive material that might be uncomfortable, offensive or traumatic to them, such as discussions about race and sexual assault  and safe spaces, designed to shelter students from certain speakers and topics, have become more common and controversial on campuses across the country.

Advertisement

According to a survey of more than 800 college educators by the National Coalition Against Censorship, a majority  62 percent  said they think trigger warnings have or will have a negative effect on academic freedom. Only 17 percent reported favorable views of trigger warnings, meaning that they have or could have a positive effect on education and classroom dynamics.

And while formal policies on trigger warnings are rare  fewer than 1 percent of respondents said their institution had one  15 percent said students had requested trigger warnings in their courses, and 12 percent said students complained about the absence of such warnings, according to the report from the coalition of more than 50 national nonprofits supporting First Amendment principles.

At the University of Chicago, fostering the free exchange of ideas helps build a welcoming campus, Ellison told students in the letter, which accompanied a book titled "Academic Freedom and the Modern University: The Experience of the University of Chicago" by John Boyer, a university dean and professor, a university spokesman said.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Geoffrey Stone, law professor and chair of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at the University of Chicago, works from his office at the law school campus Thursday, August 25, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The letter included a link to a university report issued by its Committee on Freedom of Expression, established in 2015 to articulate the university's policy on free expression.

"It is not the proper role of the University to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive," the report states. "Although the University greatly values civility, and although all members of the University community share in the responsibility for maintaining a climate of mutual respect, concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as a justification for closing off discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community."

The university is preparing students for the real world and would not be serving them by shielding them from unpleasantness, said Geoffrey Stone, chair of the committee, law professor and past provost at the U. of C.

"The right thing to do is empower the students, help them understand how to fight, combat and respond, not to insulate them from things they will have to face later," Stone said.

While the university doesn't support, require or encourage trigger warnings, it does not prohibit them, he added. Professors are still free to alert students to certain material if they choose to do so.

Advertisement

Jane Kirtley, a media ethics and law professor at the University of Minnesota, called U. of C.'s move "refreshing." She said colleges should resist setting limits on what views and opinions are acceptable to air in open forum and should encourage students to discuss things they find uncomfortable.

"If universities are not providing platforms for people to be offensive, then I don't think that they're doing part of their job," Kirtley said. "If listening to Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton is going to make your blood pressure go up 400 points, then fine, don't listen to them. But that doesn't mean you can say we can't have Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton speaking on campus because it would be offensive to even know they were talking."

Another Midwestern institution has followed the University of Chicago's lead. In 2015, the board of trustees at Purdue University in Indiana endorsed the principles articulated in the U. of C. report.

"Our commitment to open inquiry is not new, but adopting these principles provides a clear signal of our pledge to live by this commitment and these standards," board Chairman Tom Spurgeon said in a statement at the time.

Purdue last week held a free speech panel moderated by faculty and administrators, and featuring student skits, as part of its orientation program to make incoming students aware of First Amendment principles and how to use their own voices to speak out against ideas they disagree with, said Steve Schultz, legal counsel for the university.

"We want them to be aware they will see things on campus, be involved in situations where others will inevitably say things they may not agree with, and we want them to know that's OK," he said.

Advertisement

The debate over freedom of expression and safe spaces has played out at other universities in the Chicago area and across the country.

Earlier this month, DePaul University denied a request to have conservative commentator Ben Shapiro give a speech at the university, citing security concerns, after his talks had sparked protests on other campuses. And in May, a protest disrupted and forced the cancellation of an appearance by Milo Yiannopoulos, a conservative blogger with Breitbart News Network.

In a statement to the Tribune after the Shapiro cancellation, DePaul spokeswoman Carol Hughes said: "DePaul University's Office of Public Safety determined, after observing events which took place when Mr. Shapiro spoke elsewhere, that it was not in a position to provide the type of security that would be required to properly host this event at this time."

In 2014, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backed out of giving the commencement speech at Rutgers University after student protests centered on her involvement in the Iraq War during the George W. Bush administration.

That same year, after a debate over sexual assault on campus was scheduled, students at Brown University organized a safe space on campus with counselors, bubbles, Play-Doh and pillows. The space was designed to give students who might find the discussion troubling a place to recuperate, The New York Times reported.

And last year, a Northwestern University professor who wrote a controversial essay on how colleges police faculty-student relationships sparked a national debate over academic and sexual freedom. After the publication of the essay by communications professor Laura Kipnis, two students filed Title IX complaints contending that Kipnis created a "chilling effect" on their ability to report sexual misconduct. Kipnis, who was cleared after an investigation, made clear that sexual abusers should be punished but also chided the university for its ban on faculty members dating students, arguing that such policies treat students as vulnerable children.

Advertisement

Northwestern also waded into controversy last year when it proposed moving some Campus Inclusion and Community offices into the Black House, the social and academic epicenter for black students, professors and staff on campus for decades.

The backlash was swift and strong. Many said the purpose of creating the Black House in the late 1960s was to give black people on campus a dedicated place to share experiences unique to them.

Northwestern later abandoned its plans.

Northwestern officials declined to comment for this story, but in a January editorial in The Washington Post, President Morton Schapiro cited the Black House controversy as an experience that helped convince him that "safe spaces" were necessary on the Evanston campus.

"I'm an economist, not a sociologist or psychologist, but those experts tell me that students don't fully embrace uncomfortable learning unless they are themselves comfortable," Schapiro wrote. "The irony, it seems, is that the best hope we have of creating an inclusive community is to first create spaces where members of each group feel safe."

Colleen Crane, a University of Michigan lecturer in social work, supports the use of trigger warnings in some cases.

Advertisement

Crane included a trigger warning on her syllabus for a course that involved 16 hours of discussions on personal trauma, in part to prepare students to have the same kind of talks with potential patients.

"A trigger warning gives a pause and reflection for the student in that classroom," Crane said. "I think it's kind of important to remind people that the content can be triggering, and to almost prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically to be discussing this in the context of a classroom."

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

Crane said that in some cases the warning helped free students who wanted to share personal stories. But she said she's also received several evaluations from students who said they still didn't feel prepared for how agonizing and distressing the class sessions would be.

But college professors are not responsible for students' emotional health, according a report issued by American Association of University Professors. That responsibility lies with counselors and other mental health experts.

"Some discomfort is inevitable in classrooms if the goal is to expose students to new ideas, have them question beliefs they have taken for granted, grapple with ethical problems they have never considered, and, more generally, expand their horizons so as to become informed and responsible democratic citizens," an AAUP committee wrote in a 2014 report on the issue. "Trigger warnings suggest that classrooms should offer protection and comfort rather than an intellectually challenging education. They reduce students to vulnerable victims rather than full participants in the intellectual process of education."

lvivanco@chicagotribune.com

Advertisement

cdrhodes@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lvivanco

Twitter @rhodes_dawn
Sharply divided along party lines, the Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday blocked from the fall ballot a proposal that would have asked voters whether to change the state constitution to take much of the politics out of the redrawing of state legislative boundaries.

A 4-3 Democratic majority agreed with a Cook County judge's ruling last month that the petition-driven Independent Map amendment proposal did not fit the narrow legal window for citizen initiatives to change the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

Advertisement

The ruling was a win for Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, who opposed the referendum, suggesting it would hurt protections on ensuring minority representation in the General Assembly.

The speaker has maintained his hold at the Capitol for more than three decades in part because he's had the power to draw the maps. Additionally, a longtime Madigan ally was the lead attorney for the People's Map, a group of prominent racial and ethnic minority businessmen that challenged the proposal.

Advertisement

It's also a loss for Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who threw his support behind the map proposal this year when it appeared the initiative process could gain better traction than his own failed effort to get lawmakers to authorize such a ballot question. A new map-drawing process has been among a half-dozen legislative proposals Rauner has sought as conditions for breaking the budget stalemate in Springfield.

"Today's court decision to deny Illinoisans the right to vote on a redistricting referendum does nothing to stem the outflow or change people's views of how the system is rigged and corrupt," Rauner said in a statement.

"When the General Assembly reconvenes this fall, they should put political reform  term limits and independent redistricting  at the top of the legislative agenda so that incumbents aren't locked into power and democracy is restored through competitive general elections," he said.

The state Supreme Court ruling came just one day before the Illinois State Board of Elections is to certify what appears on the Nov. 8 ballot. The Independent Maps group said it's weighing whether to ask the high court for a rehearing.

"Drafters of the Illinois Constitution would not recognize the interpretation made by the Supreme Court majority," said Dennis FitzSimons, the group's chairman and chairman of the McCormick Foundation board. "According to the majority, voters cannot propose sensible changes to the legislative article that would make a meaningful difference in the way legislative district boundaries are drawn."

More than 563,000 Illinois voters signed petitions to put the Independent Map amendment on the ballot in a multimillion-dollar drive backed by two dozen businesses, consumer groups and public interest organizations.

The complicated proposal called for a multistep process in which an 11-member board, including representatives of the four legislative leaders, would be charged with drawing new boundaries for Illinois' 118 House and 59 Senate seats after the once-a-decade federal census. Seven votes would be needed for approval of a new map, including at least two members from each political party and three independents.

The Independent Maps group had argued that the state Supreme Court's failure to reverse Cook County Judge Diane Larsen's ruling "would eviscerate the constitutional right conferred on the people of Illinois by the 1970 Constitution to bypass self-interested legislators and directly propose needed reforms."

Advertisement

But in writing for the Supreme Court majority on Thursday, Justice Thomas Kilbride said that while redistricting is an issue that could meet the constitutional test of affecting both the "structure and procedure" of the legislature as required of a citizen-driven amendment, the plan offered by the Independent Maps groups went beyond the scope of dealing only with changing the legislative branch of the constitution.

Specifically, the court's majority cited a provision that would have had the auditor general review applicants for a panel that would ultimately determine the commissioners assigned to draw new legislative maps.

"As presently constituted, (the legislative article of the constitution) does not mention the 'subject' of the auditor general's office or its duties, even in passing," Kilbride wrote. "Moreover, the additional duties the ballot initiative imposes on the auditor general creates changes that (do not affect) the actual structure or makeup of the legislature itself."

Kilbride added that the high court's "role is solely to determine whether the proposal comports with the strict limitations set out in" the legislative article for citizen initiatives  not whether adding new duties to the auditor general's office, which is covered in another section of the constitution, were unduly burdensome.

Kilbride said the ruling "is not intended to reflect in any way on the viability of other possible redistricting reform initiatives."

"Indeed, the scheme proffered  is not the only model of redistricting reform that could be imagined," he wrote.

Advertisement

"The constitutional right of the citizens of this state to alter the legislative article by ballot initiative is not tied to any particular plan, and we trust that the constitutional confines  are sufficiently broad to encompass more than one potential redistricting scheme," he wrote.

But the three Republican justices on the court each wrote separate dissenting opinions, including a stinging rejection of the majority view by Justice Robert Thomas.

Thomas said the majority's action should "include a bright orange warning sticker for readers to paste over" the citizen-initiative section of the constitution that reads "Out of Service."

"Today, just as a critical election board deadline is about to expire, four members of our court have delivered, as a fait accompli, nothing less than the nullification of a critical component of the Illinois Constitution of 1970," Thomas wrote.

"The majority has irrevocably severed a vital lifeline created by the drafters for the express purpose of enabling later generations of Illinoisans to use their sovereign authority as a check against self-interest by the legislature," he wrote.

Under the state constitution, lawmakers get to draw up a new map that is subject to approval of the governor. That's what happened after the 2010 census, when the Democrat-controlled legislature drew a map signed by then-Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

Advertisement

If lawmakers are unable to put together a map that could be signed into law, an eight-member panel of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans is charged with drawing the new boundaries. If they fail, a tie-breaking panel member is chosen in a random drawing.

The prospect of a random draw to decide the map was initially thought by drafters of the constitution to be a way to force Republicans and Democrats to come together on a compromise. Instead, both parties have opted for the winner-take-all risk: Democrats won the tie-breaker and the map in 1981 and 2001, and a Republican name was drawn in 1991.

It's the second time in recent years such a referendum was tossed from the ballot. In 2014, a lower court judge rejected a similar redistricting proposal because it would have unconstitutionally created new qualifications for serving in the legislature or on the courts by imposing a ban on commissioners serving in public office.

Also rejected that year was a Rauner-backed initiative to impose term limits on state public officials. The courts effectively ruled that such a change couldn't be mounted by citizen petition and that lawmakers would have to vote to put term limits on the ballot for adoption.

Only one citizen-driven petition drive to change the constitution has survived court scrutiny and made it on the ballot. It was the Quinn-led 1980 Cutback Amendment that sliced the size of the Illinois House by one-third and created single-member legislative districts.

As a result of the court's latest decision Thursday, only one proposed state constitutional amendment will appear on the fall ballot  a legislatively passed proposal that would ask voters to place a guarantee that funds such as motor fuel taxes raised for transportation purposes not be used for other functions of government.

Advertisement

rap30@aol.com

Twitter @rap30
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.

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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."

Advertisement

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
In this file photo released June 23, 2015, provided by the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Kurdish fighters of the YPG, sit on their pickup in the town of Ein Eissa, north of Raqqa city, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (AP)

ANKARA, Turkey  Syrian Kurdish forces have started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River, Turkish officials said Thursday, a move that could fulfill a major demand by Ankara and the United States a day after Turkey sent in tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels take a key Islamic State stronghold.

The Turkish officials were quoting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who relayed the news in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart.

Advertisement

Turkey's surprise incursion Wednesday to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkey's role in Syria's war. But Ankara's objective went beyond fighting extremists. Turkey is also aiming to contain the expansion by Syria's Kurds, who are also backed by the United States and have used the fight against IS and the chaos of Syria's civil war to seize nearly the entire stretch of the border with Turkey in northern Syria.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden flew into Ankara hours after the offensive was launched, and he backed Turkey with a stern warning to the Kurds to stay east of the Euphrates, which crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarablus.

Advertisement

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," Biden said.

According to Turkish ministry officials, Kerry and Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed the Turkish military operation.

Kerry stressed that the Syrian Kurdish forces "were in the process of retreating east of the Euphrates," the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations

It was unclear Thursday whether Turkey-backed rebels who seized Jarablus Wednesday would move against IS-held towns of nearby Kurdish-controlled areas, including the town of Manbij, which Kurdish forces retook from IS earlier this month. Manbij lies west of the Eurphrates and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw.

On Thursday, Turkish forces were securing the area around Jarablus, Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isik said. He said the Turkish-backed operation has two main goals  to secure the Turkish border area and to make sure the Kurdish Syrian forces "are not there."

"It's our right to remain there until" the Syrian opposition forces take control of the area, Isik said.

Turkey is concerned about the advances of the Kurdish Syrian forces, fearing they aim to set up a Kurdish entity along Turkey's border with Syria. Ankara maintains that the Syrian Kurdish militia is linked to Kurdish rebels waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Isik says Ankara and the United States have agreed the Kurdish Syrian forces would pull out of the northern area around Jarablus "within two weeks." Speaking to the private NTV television, he said that "for now, the withdrawal hasn't fully taken place. We are waiting for it and following it."

Advertisement

Kurdish officials contacted by The Associated Press would not confirm or deny that their forces are withdrawing east of the Euphrates River.

Instead, the main Syrian Kurdish faction, known as the YPG, said its troops have "returned to their bases" after helping liberate Manbij from the Islamic State group.

That statement refers to an apparently separate pullout from the withdrawal that Turkey is seeking from the Kurdish forces. The Kurdish forces' statement said they handed control of the northern Syrian city to a newly-established Manbij Military Council, made up of rebel fighters from the town.

The council's spokesman, Sherfan Darwish, earlier said the Syrian Kurdish YPG contingent that helped liberate Manbij earlier this month numbered about 500 fighters.

On Thursday, at least 10 more Turkish tanks were seen crossing into Syria at the Turkish border town of Karkamis, the private Dogan news agency reported.

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.

Advertisement

A senior Turkish official told reporters that operations would continue until "we are convinced" that 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 also spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.

Meanwhile, Syria's foreign minister arrived in Baghdad on a previously unscheduled visit, the first in more than three years. The Iraqi foreign ministry announced his arrival but provided no further details.

The last time Syria's foreign minister visited Baghdad was in 2013, before the Islamic State group pushed into Iraq from neighboring Syria overrunning large swaths of territory in the country's north and west.

Associated Press
During the War of 1812, the order was given to evacuate Fort Dearborn in the Illinois territory on the site of the modern city of Chicago. A column of 148 soldiers, women and children set off from the fort but were ambushed by Potawotomi warriors allied to the British. Thirty-nine soldiers and 27 civilians were killed in what became known as the Fort Dearborn Massacre. The remainder of the complement from the fort were captured and sold to the British, who released them. A print from Cassell's History of the United States, by Edmund Ollier, Volume II, Cassell Petter and Galpin, London, c1880. (Print Collector / Print Collector/Getty Images)

In London during the summer of 1835, demonstration trains began giving free rides along a newly completed section of the London and Greenwich Railway, the first railway of any sort in the city as well as the very first elevated railroad in the world.

In addition to testing the track and viaduct, these trial runs were aimed at boosting public awareness of the new technology and were so successful that taking a trip on the trains became the fashionable thing to do.

Advertisement

"For a few weeks in the summer," writes R. H. G. Thomas in "London's First Railway: The London & Greenwich," "ladies made up parties to ride in the (train) carriages.  Groups of foreign visitors, members of the Society of Friends and parties of Cambridge scientists all found their way there."

London was an old city, originally settled around 50 A.D. It had grown by this time to some 1.7 million residents, the most populous city on the planet. It had also evolved into the world's most powerful and influential metropolis.

Advertisement

To build the new train line, backers were remaking the face of the city, sweeping away portions of London's vast slums, deep abysses of poverty and disease, as well as hundreds of warehouses, factories, churches and homes, forcing thousands of angry people to find new homes.

During the same summer, some 4,000 miles to the west, a remaking of a different sort was taking place on the sparsely settled banks of the Chicago River in a new city, still being formed  a remaking not of the structures on the landscape, but of the people who lived there.

As those trains were speeding over the dense fabric of London, 800 Potawatomi warriors paraded through the streets of frontier Chicago in a violently sorrowful and cacophonous requiem dance to mark the tribe's eviction from the last of their hunting grounds along Lake Michigan. They were part of a group of 5,000 tribe members who had gathered along the lakefront on the north side of the Chicago River's main branch to complete the formalities of the Treaty of Chicago, agreed upon two years earlier.

"They appreciated," wrote John D. Caton, an eyewitness, "that (the dance) was the last on their native soil  that it was a sort of funeral ceremony of old associations and memories "

Chicago was so new as a formal settlement that its property lines had been drawn just five years earlier. In 1833, two years before this Native-American dance through the streets, it had been incorporated as a town. It would be two years more before Chicago was incorporated as a city.

The Potawatomi, who had sided with the British in the War of 1812 and had won the bloody Battle of Fort Dearborn, were ceding the last of their lands in Illinois and Wisconsin in return for annual cash payments and land west of the Mississippi River. The agreement, one of more than a dozen over a 26-year period, was yet another recognition of the tribe's inability to block the ever-growing flood of American settlers as well as the tribe's deepening dependence on American trade goods.

On a day at or near the end of August 1835, with the treaty ceremonies completed, the 800 Potawatomi men assembled at a spot on the north bank of the Chicago River, across from the new Fort Dearborn  built in 1816 at the spot where, four years earlier, the original structure had been burned to the ground during the Battle of Fort Dearborn.

Fort Dearborn, the Army post erected in 1803 by soliders under Capt. John Whistler, was named for Secretary of War Henry Dearborn. It stood on the right bank of the Chicago River where the river makes a turn just south of the Michigan Avenue bridge. (Chicago Tribune archive image)

They wore nothing but loincloths, and their bodies were painted in bright colors, with their "foreheads, cheeks and noses  covered with curved stripes of red or vermilion which were edged with black points," Caton recalled.

Advertisement

A 23-year-old immigrant from Monroe, N.Y., Caton was a go-getter just at the start of his legal career. Although a new arrival to Chicago, he had already been elected a justice of the peace for the insignificant, unincorporated hamlet of 3,265 people. He would go on to serve as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court for 22 years, nine of them as chief justice. Upon his death in 1895, the Tribune described him as a "pioneer citizen and eminent jurist" and "one of the landmarks of Illinois."

As Caton recounted in a lecture more than three decades later, the procession of warriors, brandishing tomahawks and war clubs, moved slowly up Carroll Street along the north bank, crossed the river's North Branch on a bridge, advanced along West Water Street to the Lake Street bridge and danced along that structure over the river's South Branch.

Throughout the march, they "uttered the most frightful yells in every imaginable key and note, though generally the highest and shrillest possible," augmented "by a rapid clapping of the mouth with the palm of the hand."

It was a hot day, and the dancers were sweating profusely. Their arm and leg muscles glistened and stood out like "great, hard knots."

"The dance, which was ever continued," Caton recalled, "consisted of leaps and spasmodic steps, now forward and now back or sideways, with the whole body distorted into every imaginable unnatural position, most generally stooping forward, with the head and face thrown up, the back arched down, first one foot thrown far forward and then withdrawn, and the other similarly thrown out, frequently squatting quite to the ground, and all with a movement almost as quick as lightning."

After crossing the South Branch, the grieving dancers moved along Market Street, the present-day north-south section of Wacker Drive, past the Sauganash Hotel, named for a mixed-blood Potawatomi chief, also known as Billy Caldwell.

Advertisement

Caton, who was watching the march from a parlor on the second floor of the rough-hewn hotel with other settlers, remembered the sight as fearsome, even for those who were used to seeing individual or small groups of Potawatomi dancing. Here, though, was a small army of warriors:

"What if they should, in their maddened frenzy, turn this sham warfare into a real attack? How easy it would be for them to massacre us all, and leave not a living soul to tell the story."

Yet, for all their ferocity, the warriors continued on their way, past the hotel and down Lake where fewer than half of the lots had buildings on them, and on farther east to Fort Dearborn where the procession came to a peaceful end.

Within a month, the first group of about 700 Potawatomi, under the leadership of Caldwell, left Chicago for Iowa with an Army escort.

They were followed by other groups until September 1837, when the last of the Potawatomi headed west.

With the Native Americans gone, Chicago sped ahead to meet its destiny as the Gem of the Prairie and as Nature's Metropolis. Before the end of the century, it even had its own elevated train. Except for some eyewitnesses, such as Caton, few Chicagoans, then or now, have given thought to what had gone before.

Advertisement

And even fewer to that 1835 trail of tears through the streets of Chicago.

Patrick T. Reardon, who is writing a book about the impact of the elevated Loop on Chicago, is the author of the newly published "Faith Stripped to Its Essence: A Discordant Pilgrimage through Shusaku Endo's 'Silence'" (ACTA).
Last year: Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to reduce the state's prison population by 25 percent within 10 years. This year: Rauner "wants to let 25 percent of the state's prisoners loose into our communities."

Put another way:

Advertisement

Last year, the governor's pledge to overhaul the criminal justice system was met with rare bipartisan enthusiasm. This year, there's an election.

So embattled Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, attempts a tricky bank shot to attack his Republican challenger, Dave Severin: Severin's campaign is getting a big financial assist from the House Republican Organization, by way of the state GOP, by way of Rauner, who wants to let the bad guys out of prison 

Advertisement

Except that Rauner doesn't want to let the bad guys out of prison. Rauner's goal is to keep people from going to prison in the first place, and to stop those who've done their time from going back.

That's a different approach. For more than three decades, Illinois has relied heavily on early-release programs to moderate its prison population. In 2009, the door swung too far with then-Gov. Pat Quinn's short-lived Meritorious Good Time Push program, which rewarded inmates for good behavior before they even got to prison.

In a little more than three months, 1,754 prisoners were released under MGT Push  some of them violent offenders who went right back to their old ways, nearly costing Quinn the 2010 election. A postmortem report done by a retired appellate judge said the Department of Corrections put cost savings ahead of public safety. A year later, more than a quarter of those inmates were back in prison.

Illinois spends more than $1.3 billion a year on its prison system. About half of those who are released are back within three years. Rauner's Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform was tasked with breaking that cycle.

Its members included lawmakers from both parties, law enforcement officials and advocates for crime victims. They looked at sentencing laws, diversion efforts and rehabilitation and re-entry programs.

On Monday, Rauner signed more than a dozen criminal justice bills, many of them the product of that commission.

One requires a presentencing evaluation for first-time, low-level offenders to determine whether prison time is warranted. Another reduces probation time for juveniles and makes it easier for them to get treatment for substance abuse.

One loosens restrictions that prevent park districts from hiring people convicted of minor drug crimes or misdemeanor public indecency (you know: urinating on a tree). Another allows ex-offenders to obtain state licenses  to work as a barber or a roofer, for example  as long as their crime wasn't related to that activity. Others make it easier for juveniles and adults to expunge their records if a charge doesn't stand up.

Advertisement

Still another creates a task force to study sex-offender registration laws, which place restrictions  sometimes for life  on people convicted of sex crimes. Being listed on the registry affects where they can live or work, for example, though not all are at risk to commit further crimes.

Another bill signed Thursday would allow felons who have served their time to apply for a license to work in the health care industry three to five years after a conviction.

Those bills are mostly about second chances, about helping lawbreakers get their lives on track. That would leave plenty of cells for the people who belong in prison. On Tuesday, Rauner signed a measure that cracks down on gun traffickers who take advantage of lax laws in neighboring states to obtain weapons to sell in Illinois. The new law carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison  30 for repeat offenders.

All of the new laws passed with bipartisan support. That's tricky business these days, when Democrats and Republicans can't agree on whether the sun is out.

But there's a lot of unfinished business on the criminal justice agenda. So hear, hear for Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who urged her fellow lawmakers  Rep. Bradley, are you listening?  not to poison the bipartisan effort during their campaigns.

"My party is running ads," she said. "I'm sure that the Republicans will be running ads this year. And I dare everybody to stop."

Advertisement

We double-dare them.

Working together, Democrats and Republicans produced a batch of laws that will save taxpayers money, make communities safer and help offenders turn their lives around. There's some momentum going now. Don't blow it.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
The price of an EpiPen two-pack, made my Mylan, now costs more than $600. (Mark Zaleski / AP)

In 2015, the so-called pharma bro Martin Shkreli vaulted to the top of America's Most Despised list. How? By crowing about how his company hiked the price of a vital drug by more than 5,000 percent.

Cue the lightning bolts  congressional inquiries, media scrutiny and a pitchfork brigade of customers who demanded a rollback of the price hike.

Advertisement

Long story short: Shkreli was busted on unrelated securities fraud charges and lost his job.

You would think, having watched Shkreli's tumble, that CEOs across America would steer clear of such controversy. After all, what company seeks to become an internet meme for greed? Or the first item that pops up in a Google search on price-gouging?

Advertisement

Enter drugmaker Mylan and its blockbuster EpiPen. Every parent with a child who has allergies knows about the pen. It's a spring-loaded syringelike device that delivers a dose of epinephrine to quell breathing problems, swelling and other severe allergic reactions. Parents stash them everywhere  in kids' backpacks, in desks, at home, in the car. Adults do the same because if you have an allergic reaction, seconds count. The pens come in packs of two and must be replaced every year.

Nine years ago, when Mylan acquired the EpiPen, a two-dose package cost around $94. Today, the average cost has spiked to more than $600. That price hits people without insurance or those with high deductibles hardest.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress demand Mylan cut the price. An internet petition to Congress, called "Stop the EpiPen Price Gouging," has gathered more than 121,000 signatures, and the tally is rising fast.

On Wednesday, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton called the EpiPen price hike "outrageous."

On Thursday, Mylan said it would boost programs that help patients pay for the EpiPen but would not reduce the price.

Stay tuned for Capitol Hill hearings and investigations.

Mylan, welcome to Shkreli-Land.

Among the defenders of Mylan's pricing is ... you guessed it: Martin Shkreli.

Advertisement

"Mylan is the good guy," Shkreli told CBS News. "They had one product where they finally started making a little bit of money and everyone is going crazy over it."

We don't begrudge Mylan its profits. And no, we can't say if the price of the EpiPens is too high. That's for the market to decide.

What we do know is that when Shkreli spiked the price of his company's drug, Daraprim, competitors emerged to offer similar drugs at lower prices. The same could happen here. That's the way the market works. It may already be working:

In Illinois, emergency medical workers will soon be allowed to use epinephrine injected via syringe rather than EpiPen. The new law takes effect Jan. 1. If the price of the EpiPen continues to rise, we'd expect to see more of that, and more pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to clear competitors' devices for sale.

Meanwhile, Mylan is free to charge whatever the market will bear. It makes an excellent product that can save lives. That's extremely valuable.

But so is a company's reputation. And its customers' good will. Because the market rewards and punishes according to those attributes too.

Advertisement

Bottom line: Companies that care what the world and their customers think of them don't relish being mentioned in the same breath as Martin Shkreli.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
A University of Chicago policy of promoting freedom of expression and not supporting "trigger warnings and safe spaces" is discussed. (John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

The University of Chicago has some advice for college students who think they need to be protected from offensive or unattractive ideas: Toughen up, kids. Free speech is good for you.

In a refreshingly direct letter to the incoming class of 2020, the U. of C. takes on the issue of political correctness run amok on campus. At many schools, a peculiar strain of narrow-mindedness infects the landscape, leading students to believe their way of thinking shouldn't be challenged. If someone makes an argument they don't like, they try to shut it down or retreat to their "safe space." Theirs is a hypersensitive world of "micro-aggressions" and "trigger warnings."

Advertisement

In a welcome letter to freshmen, the College made clear that it does not condone safe spaces or trigger warnings: pic.twitter.com/9ep3n0ZbgV  The Chicago Maroon (@ChicagoMaroon) August 24, 2016

The U. of C. isn't having it. College, the letter patiently explains, is a place of learning and discovery. Diversity of opinion is crucial, and it requires that all sides respect the right to free expression. Students who cry foul over discourse they find objectionable miss the chance to learn. They also, we would add, risk looking like babies.

The letter from the dean of students states: "You will find that we expect members of our community to be engaged in rigorous debate, discussion and even disagreement. At times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort."

Advertisement

Stop right there: We expect members of our community to be engaged in rigorous debate. At times this may cause discomfort. What a stupendous school motto! If the U. of C. put those words on a hoodie, we'd buy one.

The letter continues (and it's worth quoting here because it won't fit on that hoodie): "Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called 'trigger warnings,' we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual 'safe spaces' where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own."

It ends with a controversy-free: "See you in September!"

(Scott Stantis, Chicago Tribune)

We love it. We love the commitment to the marketplace of ideas, the implicit endorsement of democratic freedoms and the sheer feistiness. Intended or no, the university's position is a direct challenge to other schools that have buckled when controversial speakers or ideas threaten to disrupt the fake idyll of groupthink.

Hmm, are we reminded of any school in particular? Yes, DePaul University.

DePaul has tied itself in knots over how to respond to conservative student groups trying to bring provocative speakers to campus. A May appearance by right-wing bad boy Milo Yiannopoulos ended in a melee when audience members shouted him down and someone grabbed away the microphone. School officials denied a request to bring him back this fall and also vetoed an appearance by another conservative commentator, Ben Shapiro. Both are showmen who revel in getting under the skin of liberals. DePaul administrators said they needed time, lots of time, to contemplate how to react to the infiltration of potentially unpopular notions.

The University of Chicago proves it's just not that complex. The Hyde Park school has a long tradition of defending free speech, traceable at least as far back as a 1932 appearance by a communist presidential candidate. The school president at the time, Robert Maynard Hutchins, justified the visit by declaring that the "cure" for repellent ideas "lies through open discussion rather than through inhibition."

The U. of C.'s perspective is that all expression deserves protection, as long as it isn't a genuine threat or doesn't violate the law. In a free society, especially in a place of learning, all ideas should be permitted to be heard. They will rise or fall on their merits.

Advertisement

That shouldn't be a gutsy call to make, although unctuous, squishy administrators at too many campuses have tried to coddle, and thus placate, overly sensitive students. There must be a reason why boards of trustees permit that, although what that alleged reason might be eludes us. Put simply:

Free speech is enshrined in the Bill of Rights, but also in the architecture of higher education  a realm of personal learning, expansion, growth. The fact that University of Chicago officials felt compelled to spell out the significance of the U.S. Constitution, and of what college should be, shows that today's students have some learning to do.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
A band of showers and thunderstorms that moved through northeastern Illinois into northwest Indiana early Wednesday afternoon turned violent over north-central Indiana, producing the second-biggest tornado outbreak in the U.S. this year. By early evening the tornado count had reached 35, the most this year in a single day since the southeast U.S. outbreak that produced 52 tornadoes Feb. 23.

Just before 2 p.m. CDT, a tornado touched down south of Lafayette, Ind., and soon after tornadoes were reported moving toward Kokomo, Ind. From that point tornadoes touched down repeatedly as the band of storms marched east-northeast, passing south of Fort Wayne and moving into northwest Ohio.

Advertisement

On Thursday, a cold front will move through the Chicago area from the northwest, accompanied and preceded by a renewed band of showers and thunderstorms, a few of which could become severe mainly south and east of Chicago. Cooler, less humid high pressure will follow into our area Thursday night and Friday.
You are here: Home

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang called for more efforts to improve domestic trade to stimulate consumption.

To adapt to new economic conditions, China should upgrade its domestic trade by promoting supply-side structural reform, Wang said Wednesday at a government teleconference.

The government should improve its policymaking to meet changes in the consumption structure, Wang said, calling for adapting to consumers' demand for quality products, automobiles, services, and green consumption.

Wang urged more efforts to improve market order, such as establishing a product traceability system, removing regional barriers and enhancing the consumption circumstance.

China should continue to improve e-commerce, trade infrastructure and related laws, Wang said.
Xu Yuyu [File photo]

Police are investigating a telecom scam said to have led to the death of an 18-year-old girl who lost money meant for her college tuition.

Xu Yuyu, from Linyi, a city in east China's Shandong Province, suffered a heart attack and died last Sunday, according to a report in the Yimeng Evening News. Before the incident she is said to have been in good health.

Her father, Xu Lianbin, said: "The scammers killed my daughter."

Xu, who had enrolled at the Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, got a call last Friday telling her to go to an ATM to receive a student grant.

Xu believed the call was genuine as she had been told about the grant by the local education authority the previous day, the newspaper said.

Scammers told her to transfer her 9,900 yuan (US$1488) tuition fee to another account, with the promise that a 2,600 yuan grant and the tuition fee would be returned later.

However, after Xu made the transaction, the scammers' phone was turned off.

Xu and her father went to the police the same evening, but she fainted on her way back home.

She was admitted to hospital where she died at 9:30pm last Sunday.

Xu Lianbin said the family had tried to reassure Xu that they would find the money for her tuition but she is said to have blamed herself for being scammed.

He said his biggest hope now was to have the scammers caught so they could not harm anyone else.

The newspaper said that many of Xu's classmates had received similar calls, but disregarded them.

Xu was taken in because of the earlier, genuine call about her grant.
You are here: Home

Shanghai launched a tourism campaign in New York City on Tuesday with the debut of a virtual-reality promotional video showcasing spectacular panoramic views of the metropolis.

A visitor watches a promotional video for Shanghai using virtual reality technology, in New York on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

The campaign was kicked off by a delegation from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, which introduced new tourism products and the city's latest policy updates to a room of travel industry insiders.

The updates include new direct air routes, landmark skyscrapers, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, 144-hour visa-free entry for transit passengers and the new tax refund policy.

"Shanghai is a city of rich and unique details," said Cheng Meihong, deputy director of the tourism administration. "There is so much to explore in the city, and we encourage tourists from the US to come and experience it firsthand."

The event featured a promotional video powered by virtual reality technology. Starring Shanghai's tourism ambassador, actor Hu Ge, and the rising bel canto band Vocal Force, the video presents Shanghai's charm from multiple aspects.

The US is one of the largest sources of inbound visitors to Shanghai, Cheng said. The city saw more than 636,000 tourists from the United States in 2015, up 0.61 percent from 2014.

As a part of "China-US Tourism Year" programs, Shanghai and New York signed an agreement on July 14 for a two-year tourism partnership.

Under the agreement, both cities will promote each other and provide tailored travel products.
A man from Sichuan was recently sentenced to detention for two months and forced to pay 1,000 yuan (US$150.3) after he stole a banana, local newspaper reported.

On the afternoon of February 13, the thief, surnamed Bai, broke into Ms. Zhu's house in Mianyang City, Sichuan Province.

However, after looking around, Bai found no cash and only some jewelry, which he wasn't interested in.

Bai confessed that because he was hungry and sleepy, he took a banana on the table and fell asleep on a couch. After hearing the sound of an opening door, Bai jumped up from the couch and hid in a chest until being found 20 minutes later.

According to a police officer, Bai, 29 years old, is a local resident. Before the break-in, he'd quarreled with his wife and left home for several days. Since he had used up all his money, Bai attempted to steal some cash to buy food.

On April 20, Fucheng District People's Procuratorate initiated a public prosecution on Bai's case.

Wang Zhi, a chief judge of Fucheng District People's Court, said that a house is a private place for individual. Although Bai only stole a banana, burglary is a heavily punished according to Chinese law.
Expatriates are worried that authorities in Shanghai may remove road direction signs in English.

Foreigners say this would cause problems, especially for drivers from overseas, as most of them cannot read Chinese characters.

The Shanghai Road Administration Bureau is considering the removal of road signs bearing English-language interpretationspinyin in most cases.

These signs are usually hung above the center of major roads or close to exits on ring roads and elevated highways.

The bureau is seeking public opinion on its website and the WeChat account of "Shanghai Transport" until Tuesday. The survey is being conducted in Chinese.

The bureau stressed that pinyin on signs in and around scenic spots, central business districts and transportation hubs will remain, as will street signs in pinyin at all junctions.

Dong Hui, a spokeswoman for the bureau, said the signs in English appeared at least 20 years ago. If the pinyin was removed, this would leave more space for Chinese characters, which would be bigger and more convenient for drivers.

However, there are more than 170,000 foreigners living and working in Shanghai, and hundreds of expatriates have applied for driver's licenses every month since 2012, according to police.

Many foreigners said that any change to the signs could make life difficult for expatriate drivers.

Radek Gebiz, who comes from Germany, said: "There's no requirement for foreigners to know Chinese characters when we get a driver's license here.

"If there is no pinyin on the signs, I imagine I will have to take photos of characters on the signs and use a smartphone app to try to find what the characters mean when driving. ... It's really dangerous."

Gebiz, who has lived in Shanghai for three years and has driven there for two years, added: "When I take a taxi, I use the signs to ensure the driver's going the right way."

Jay Thornhill, an Australian-American, said it is important to keep pinyin on the signs in cities such as Shanghai.

"Even if I don't know French, I can pronounce and understand French street signs, but with Chinese characters, most foreigners are helpless," Thornhill said.

Other expatriates said the road signs in Shanghai are excellent and that navigation in the city is easy.
A 21-year-old young woman who was a victim of disfigurement five years ago courageously faced the public eye, recently posting a series of glamor photographs on the internet.

A 21-year-old young woman who was a victim of disfigurement five years ago courageously faced the public eye, recently posting a series of glamor photographs on the internet.

In her photos, her scars are still shocking although they cannot dim her elegant figure.

In September, 2011, Zhou Yan's classmate Tao Rukun suddenly covered her in lighter fluid and lit her on fire as a means of revenge for relationship issues. She suffered burns on over 30 percent of her body and lost one year in a case that was labeled as "princeling of government official disfigures young girl."

The assailant was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2012 but Zhou's compensation of 1.8 million yuan (US$270,000) didn't arrive until recently.

She decided to walk back into the limelight after realizing that hiding from the public should not be her solution through her life, although previously she had suffered endless antipathy from pedestrians and also when she tried to find work.

"I live inside an unfamiliar body. I continue to live as if I were still a 16-year-old, unable to face the 21-year-old me. I am still the same romantic girl expecting an orange-flavored rain. I often want to cry but can at most sob. Daybreak will soon arrive and everything will be alright," she wrote in her microblog.

Had it not been for the assault, Zhou would have been recommended for admission to a university exempted of her exams and she would be finishing up her junior year. "People get married early here. I may have already been a mother," Zhou said.

Zhou still desires love and marriage. "I won't lose hope to love or stop trusting in love. The right person will come, although my chance is slim and I am at most an imperfect bride," she said.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
 Flash

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)

The death toll hit 159 in a major earthquake in central Italy as rescuers were working through night to search and dig out survivors on Wednesday.

At least 368 others were injured, said Italy's civil protection department, warning the number could climb further as some people are still unaccounted for.

The powerful 6.2 magnitude quake struck the mountainous area near the city of Rieti, some 140 km northeast of Rome, at 3:36 a.m. local time (0136 GMT) Wednesday, according to the National Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (INGV).

Amatrice and Accumoli, two small towns in Rieti province, were among the hardest hit.

In Amatrice, five bodies were pulled out from its famed Hotel Roma, with about 10 guests still missing, the rescuers said.

Local officials believed over 30 people were staying at the hotel when the earthquake hit.

At least 60 lives were claimed in Amatrice, civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio told reporters while visiting the town.

At least another 20 people were killed in the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Pescara del Tronto in the eastern Marche region.

Rescue workers were digging with their bare hands in Amatrice 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.

Amatrice 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, adding the death toll is expected to rise.

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 the 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.

Dozens of people, including children, were pulled out alive across the quake zone.

In Pescara del Tronto, a 10-year-old girl was rescued after some 17 hours under the rubble.

In Accumoli, very close to the epicenter, three-quarters of the buildings were destroyed and some 2,500 people evacuated, mayor Stefano Petrucci told local media.

The Italian army, police, plus dog units were added to civil protection officers and firefighters in a massive rescue operation. Tents were set up around villages and towns for thousands of homeless people.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who visited the quake zone, pledged help and reconstruction efforts. The Italian cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss measures to help the quake-hit regions.

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.

The INGV said the epicenter was near Accumoli and Amatrice with a relatively shallow depth of four km below the surface. Some 150 aftershocks were registered in the 12 hours following the initial quake, it added.

The quake is being compared to the one that hit the city of L'Aquila in 2009, which killed over 300 people.

Wednesday's quake was "about two to three times smaller, in terms of energy released, to the one in L'Aquila," INGV seismologist Alessandro Amato told a press conference in Rome.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
 Flash

Four Iranian vessels carried out a "high-speed intercept" of a U.S. destroyer on Tuesday around the Strait of Hormuz, local media reported on Wednesday.

Citing a U.S. Navy official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Fox News reported that the United States deemed the incident "unsafe and unprofessional", adding that two of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze.

The USS Nitze, navigating in what the U.S. official described as "international waters" at the time of the incident, was forced to change its course, Fox News reported.

The incident took place seven months after 10 U.S. sailors were detained by Iran for about 15 hours after their vessels drifted into Iranian territorial waters early this year.

A Navy investigation later found that faulty navigation equipment did not indicate the vessels' position in Iranian waters. Furthermore, one of the vessel had mechanical problems that delayed their potential transit out of those waters.
 Flash

Afghan policemen stand guard at the attack site in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2016. Photo/Xinhua]

Around 15 people including seven students were killed after the militants attacked a private American-run university in Kabul Wednesday evening, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said Thursday.

"Those martyred in the terrorist attack include seven students, two guards, three police officers and a gatekeeper of a nearby school," Rahimi told reporters at the site of the incident.

Two attackers were also killed in the blast and firefight which lasted for some 10 hours, the official added.

One militant, riding an explosive-laden car blew it up next to the gate of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) at around 07:00 p.m. local time Wednesday enabling other to enter the compound and began firing which triggered gun battle that lasted until 05:00 a.m. local time Thursday.

The fortified targeted building is located along the four-line Dar-ul-Aman road which leads to the parliament building.

Some 35 more people including three female students are also among those injured in the deadly terrorist attack, according to an official who declined to be identified.

Previously unknown armed men abducted two professors of the university couple of weeks ago on the same road Dar-ul-Aman road.

Although no group or individual has claimed of responsibility for the deadly attack, officials have put finger at the enemies of Afghanistan, a reference to the Taliban.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
 Flash

Police vehicles are seen near the bank where the kidnapping happened in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 24, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

All of the four hostages in a bank kidnapping in central Moscow have been released after the kidnapper surrendered, local media reported Wednesday.

Preliminary information indicated that the kidnapper is a businessman named Aram Petrosyan, 61, who entered a citibank branch on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street in Moscow on Wednesday evening with a box strapped to his chest, threatening to blow himself up.

Four employees of the bank were then taken hostage. Two females of them were freed later.

The kidnapper surrendered after hours of standoff with the police, and the box he brought with him has been proved to be a fake bomb.

The man is currently being taken for questioning. The motive behind the kidnapping is yet to be known.
You are here: Home

 Flash

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. [Photo/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.
You are here: Home

 Flash

On August 20 Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, Ma Qiang, said that South Sudan is in critical need of humanitarian assistance.

He furthered that China has offered US$10 million to the government of South Sudan to respond to humanitarian issues in the country.

The money will be used for purchasing food and non-food items in an effort to rescue peoples lives, Ma stated.

Ambassador Ma Qiang said that thousands of people in South Sudan are living a difficult life due to the fighting that has forced nearly one million people to flee their country and seek refuge in neighboring countries.

According to Ma, the current humanitarian situation is the result of renewed fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar.

He stressed that at this critical time, China is still committed to providing humanitarian assistance to South Sudan to end the cycle of violence, displacement, hunger and disease.
You are here: Home

 Flash

Five people, all civilians, have been confirmed dead and 14 others injured after a bomb blast rocked Tajkirgan town in Balkh province with Mazar-e-Sharif as its capital, 305 km north of Kabul, on Thursday.

"Five innocent civilians were killed and 14 others injured after a bomb blast shocked Tajkirgan town at around 09:00 a.m. local time today," head of provincial council Mohammad Afzal Habib told Xinhua.

The obvious target of the attack was a member of parliament, Assaduallh Sharifi, the official said, adding that Sharifi escaped unhurt, but two of his bodyguards sustained injuries.

Earlier, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Razaq Qadiri described the attack as suicide bombing which, according to him, claimed three lives and wounded 12 others.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the bloody blast.
 Flash

Steady stream of Singaporeans on Thursday went to the Parliament House to pay their respects to former President S R Nathan who passed away on Monday at the age of 92.

The casket bearing Nathan's body left his family residence at Ceylon Road at 8: 45 a.m., and the hearse was received by Speaker of the Parliament Halimah Yacob as a nine-man coffin bearer party transferred the casket into the building and onto the bier.

In the highest honor accorded to a leader, the state flag was draped over the casket, with the crescent and stars lying over the head and close to the heart of Nathan, who was Singapore's sixth and longest-serving president.

The stream of people started to enter the Parliament House at 10:00 a.m., close to 14,000 people have paid their respects as of 18:00 p.m. on Thursday, according to the State Funeral Organizing Committee.

Among the stream of the public were Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife Mary Tan. President Tan said former President Nathan will be sorely missed by Singaporeans.

"His heart and commitment to Singapore is an inspiration," added President Tan, after paying his respects.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, as well as other Singaporean leaders also paid their respects to former President Nathan at the Parliament House.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made a stopover in Singapore en route to Kenya, also paid his respects to former President Nathan accompanied by PM Lee.

There will be a state funeral procession for the late former President S R Nathan on Friday.
You are here: Home

 Flash

At least 10 more Turkish tanks crossed the border into Syria on Thursday, joining an anti-Islamic State (IS) operation by the Turkish military and U.S.-led coalition forces, local media reported.

Turkish tanks and construction machinery were deployed from units in Karkamis, a Turkish town across the border with Syria, CNN Turk reported.

The tanks had reportedly only entered up to two kilometers inside Syria before returning to Turkish territory, reports said.

Earlier on Wednesday, 15 to 20 tanks and armored vehicles crossed the border following artillery shelling and airstrikes by Turkish and coalition aircraft as part of "Operation Euphrates Shield."

Turkish soldiers, including some from mechanized units and special forces, participated in the operation to help Ankara-back Syrian rebels to flush IS militants from Jarablus, a Syrian town south of the border with Turkey.

Along with coalition air support, 17 Turkish planes are taking part in the operation, including 11 F-16s.

In addition to fighting IS militants, the Turkish operation also aims to drive members of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), to the east bank of the Euphrates, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
Christians worship at Mengen Church.

(Photo: China Aid)

China Aid

Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence.

(Lingbao, HenanAug. 19, 2016) Church members recently saved their church from demolition in the midst of an ongoing legal case over the churchs land.

According to Wei, the man in charge of Mengen Church, authorities devised a plan to demolish his church and use the land to build a Buddhist temple. On July 28, he said that Pan Dingqun, a local official, hired an electrician to cut off the churchs power and water supply. The church members convinced the electrician not to do so, despite his concerns that he might lose his job.

Additionally, they wrote a petition that garnered 147 signatures and saved their church from demolition. Pan, however, is still gathering groups of officials to discuss continued attempts to cut off the churchs power.

[On July 28] several Christians went into town to report this matter, because our church has all the legal documents, a Christian said. The towns government personnel replied that they would conducted an investigation into this matter, but I am afraid they have collaborated [with the people who instigated the case]. The result will not likely be good.

Another Christian attested that government officials have been colluding with gangs to harass Christians, saying, The government is currently preoccupied with the big tigers [Editors note: This alludes to an ongoing crackdown on officials the Chinese government deems corrupt], and the little tigers [continue to] unreasonably bully people, using means such as burying people alive and thinking they can occupy other peoples land.

China Aid reports on religious freedom abuses, such as those experienced by the members of Mengen Church, in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians in China.

China Aid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
A farmer in Shandong province was

killed while prostesting the forced

acquistion of his land.

(Photo: China Aid)

China Aid

Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song. Written in English by Brynne Lawrence.

(Heze, ShandongAug. 24, 2016) A government employee in Chinas coastal Shandong province used a front loader to maul a farmer protesting the forced acquisition of his land on Sunday morning, resulting in his death.

According to social media posts, the government forcibly seized the farmers property and dispatched a team to build a road across it. In an attempt to stop the construction, the landowner stood before a front loader, which plowed over him and killed him.

Officially, the state claims the death was caused by a faulty operation of machine and says it is investigating the situation, but internet users allege that it was intentional. Most social media posts related to the incident have been deleted, leaving little information on the event.

Is the government any different than bandits? one post read.

This reflects a similar occurrence on March 7, 2014, when a government-hired demolition team beat and trampled on protesters. Peng Shengbin, a local resident facing forced relocation, told China Aid that the demolition team kidnapped his wife on March 22, 2014: They kicked her and beat her. My wife kowtowed to them, saying Dont kill me! We dont have any money! They grabbed her hair and shoved her against the car. Afterwards, they abducted my wife and took her to a hotel.

No government institution answered his repeated complaints and appeals.

China Aid exposes abuses, such as those suffered by protesters in Shandong, in order to promote human rights in China.

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
Pedestrians walk past a branch of Postal Savings Bank of China in Yichang city, central China's Hubei province, January 7, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Postal Savings Bank of China Co, moving closer to the world's biggest share sale this year, will seek listing approval this week for a Hong Kong initial public offering that could raise about $8 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The Beijing-based bank plans to seek approval from the Hong Kong bourse on Aug 25, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private.

The bank, which has more outlets than any listed lender, aims to list as early as September, people with knowledge of the matter said earlier.

Postal Savings Bank, ubiquitous in small-town China, joins Bank of Tianjin Co and China Zheshang Bank Co in selling shares in Hong Kong to fund expansion.

It reported an 11 percent increase in first-quarter profit as it pared provisions for bad loans, according to prelisting documents filed with the Hong Kong exchange.

A Hong Kong-based external spokeswoman for Postal Savings Bank declined to comment.

The lender has also plunged into shadow-banking arrangements that could make investors question its reputation as sleepy and safe.

Postal Savings Bank's prelisting documents disclosed 953 billion yuan ($144 billion) of interbank investments in "special purpose vehicles", which can include holdings of wealth management products, trust investment plans, asset management plans and securities investment funds. The holdings are up more than 500 percent since 2013.

Chinese financial companies that listed in the city this year have gained an average 1.1 percent from their offer prices when adjusted for deal size, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Hong Kong first-time share sales have raised $9.7 billion in 2016, down from $20.1 billion for the same period last year, the data showed.

Bloomberg
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) visits a navel orange planting base in Ruijin, East China's Jiangxi province, Aug 22, 2016. Li made an inspection tour in Jiangxi from Aug 22 to 24. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANCHANG - Premier Li Keqiang has stressed the need for more reforms and innovation to boost economic growth in the less-developed central and western China.

"China's central and western parts have ample room for the economy to expand and can be important in accelerating the shift of economic engines," Li said during a tour of Jiangxi province.

During the three-day tour which ended on Wednesday, the premier visited high-tech firms, industrial parks, rural residences and flood control sites.

Li praised a new business model of Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Inc, a joint venture of US-based lithium ion battery maker Farasis Energy. The company cooperates with domestic manufacturers to produce customized equipment.

"The new model upgrades traditional equipment manufacturing and will create enormous industrial demand," Li said, adding that it should be promoted in the "Made in China 2025" program.

Li also visited Nanchang's Lattice Power Corporation, the first company in the world to offer volume production of high-powered silicon substrate-based LEDs.

The premier encouraged innovators at the company and promised more policies to help innovation and entrepreneurship and step up the industrial application of new technology.

During a visit in an industrial park that serves architects and designers, Li said China will increase support for small firms and startups to generate more jobs for college graduates.

During a tour of Huangsha Village in Ruijin, one of Jiangxi's old revolutionary bases, Li said the government will continue to improve rural infrastructure and encourage areas to nurture their own special industries.

Farmers of Huangsha have managed to increase the market share of their naval oranges using the Internet.

Li also promised increased policy support for agriculture and to step up the renovation of dilapidated residences.

When inspecting a flood control project in Nanchang, the premier said there are still weak points in water conservancy and China will make more efforts to reinforce reservoirs, improve river control and prevent waterlogging in cities.

Regions along the Yangtze River were battered by continuous downpours this summer, with many villages flooded due to poorly-maintained small dikes on tributaries.
BRASILIA - Brazil and China are set to sign an agreement to expand cooperation in trade and services on the sidelines of the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit to be held in China in September, a senior Brazilian official said on Wednesday.

The deal will benefit sectors accounting for up to 58 percent of Brazil's gross domestic product (GDP), said Brazilian Minister of Industry, Trade and Services Marcos Pereira, adding he had discussed the proposed agreement with interim President Michel Temer.

"I spoke with the president about the memorandum we have signed with China, a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the areas of trade and services," he said.

Pereira attended a gathering of G20 trade ministers in June in the Chinese city of Shanghai, where Brazil and China discussed bilateral cooperation on trade and services.

Temer is expected to attend the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou early next month. The Brazilian government is to present a briefing Thursday on its delegation and schedules at the summit.

Brazil is China's 10th largest trading partner, and is also China's biggest investment destination in Latin America.
Zhao Chenying is an inspector for the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Team. It's a demanding job, because the companies he deals with cover a wide range of sectors, from restaurants to chemical companies to power plants, which requires Zhao to understand technicalities in a number of fields.

On July 21, Zhao reviewed the validity of emissions data provided by the Huadian Thermal Power Plant in Beijing, a branch of China Huadian Corp.

He inspected the entire process, starting by collecting and measuring pollutants in the 100-meter-high chimney, where he measured the emissions data with portable equipment before comparing the results with those supplied by the company.

Similar crosschecks are applied to follow-up processes, including checking data readings from both the host machines and the boxes that upload the data to the municipal platform on pollutant emissions.

"If the two groups show large discrepancies in any of the processes, the company will be required to review and fix the facilities to guarantee data validity," Zhao said.

Crosschecking is an uncomfortable job because most of the facilities installed near pollutant-discharging outlets are situated in high, wet or noisy positions, such as the host machine installed near the thermal plant's steam boiler, where the temperature was around 50 C.

In addition to quarterly reviews of data validity, Zhao and his colleagues are responsible for monthly inspections at businesses known to be large emitters, such as Huadian, while other companies are subject to random monitoring.

There are about 500 inspectors for the capital's downtown and suburban districts, but there are more than 10,000 pollutant-discharging companies. "It's impossible to inspect them all frequently," said Li Bin, Zhang's colleague.

Beijing's emissions-monitoring platform, which became operational in 2012, covers 172 major companies with high levels of emissions, supplementing the work of field inspectors, Li said.

The platform allows inspectors immediate access to hourly emissions data, he added.

In the past two years, only 12 companies have been exposed as having excessive levels of emissions or failing to install monitoring facilities in accordance with their own schedules.

"The companies have gradually realized the importance of auto-monitoring facilities, which provide a good way of proving their performance in reducing pollution," Li said, adding that strict controls mean companies must become environmentally friendly if they want to continue operating in the capital.

In the first months of operation, when an alert was sounded the inspectors had to call companies to discover the reason, but now, companies voluntarily notify the inspectors of the causes of abnormal readings and the measures they will take to rectify the problem, Li said.
Screen shots show a tourist being attacked by a Siberian tiger in Badaling Safari World in Beijing, July 23, 2016. [Photo/IC]

A report on a fatal tiger attack at a wildlife zoo in Beijing released by the city's Yanqing district government on Wednesday blamed tourists for ignoring safety reminders.

But the report said the zoo should make greater efforts to remind tourists of the safety risks, and should commission an overall security check by a certified third-party organization and submit the result to the government.

The report followed an investigation of a tiger attack on July 23 at Badaling Wildlife World, near the Great Wall in Yanqing district. A female tourist from Anhui province who left her car was attacked and dragged away by a Siberian tiger. The woman's mother rushed from the car to help but was attacked and killed by another tiger. A third tiger was also present.

The first woman was seriously injured, but has now been discharged from the hospital.

Zoo personnel in a nearby patrol car intervened within one minute, the report said. Within two minutes, the tourist's car was guided out of the tiger zone.

The investigative team said the woman who died, surnamed Zhou, and her daughter, were attacked because they ignored the rule that tourists should stay in their cars, as well as warnings from patrol cars.

No reason has been given for why the younger woman suddenly left the car. Relatives who were interviewed earlier claimed the women wanted to change drivers and thought they had left the tiger zone.

Many Chinese netizens expressed support for the zoo. According to an online poll conducted by Sina, more than 310,000 respondents expressed an opinion, but only 2.3 percent of them thought the zoo should be punished.

Hu Chunmei, an animal-rights activist at Nature University, a Beijing-based animal protection organization, said administrative flaws must have been a factor, since similar incidents had occurred previously.

Wang Xiaoshan, a Chinese writer, raised objections on social media.

"The zoo provides a bad product but hopes its customers understand the risk," Wang said. "When we bought the tainted milk powder, we all knew the producers should be held responsible. The case is the same with the zoo."
More than 500 sets of equipment for making unauthorized radio broadcasts in China were seized in a national campaign aided by more than 30,000 airwave monitors.

The campaign, launched on Feb 15 by the State Council, resulted in 1,796 cases related to illegal radio stations, after 301,840 hours of monitoring from February to July, according to an online statement by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The number of incidents was down by 50 percent from April to August, the statement said.

So-called pirate radio has appeared in most parts of China since 2015 and "has been a channel for criminals to defraud and promote aphrodisiacs, along with counterfeit and poor-quality medicine", according to the Ministry of Public Security's Criminal Investigation Department.

The operating cost of pirate radio is low, but profit can be high. A pirate radio station that broadcasts advertisements for aphrodisiacs can pocket more than 70,000 yuan ($10,500) a month, with an overhead cost of no more than 10,000 yuan, investigators said in a post on Sina Weibo. It said most spare parts for broadcasting equipment can be bought on the internet.

In a recent case in Shanghai, an operator of a pirate radio station bought eight sets of equipment for less than 10,000 yuan via the QQ instant messaging platform.

Another person, who was in the same QQ group with the seller, helped the operator record the audio advertisements and charged 380 yuan for each piece, according to a media report. The suspect bought a certain medicine for 9.9 yuan per box, which he then sold for 330 yuan through the radio broadcast.

"The broadcast power of pirate radio stations can be 2,500 to 5,000 watts, which is several hundred of times that of commercial radio, and the signal can be received 300 kilometers away," the department said.

In the Shanghai case, the suspect rented an apartment to accommodate the equipment. The electromagnetic radiation of the equipment was so high that the refrigerator of a nearby family malfunctioned, with TV screens flickering frequently. The suspect didn't live in the apartment but used his cell phone as a remote control to turn equipment on and off.

Pirate radio may also pose a threat to communication between aircraft pilots and ground controllers, as its frequency band neighbors that of flight navigation signals and can create interference, the department said.

"The development of e-commerce and social networks has facilitated the criminals in selling" illegal equipment for pirate radio, Zhang Jianming, director of Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau, told CCTV.

Zhang said the public should be cautious when listening to radio advertisements, and he also called on the public to report suspicious activity to the police.

Under Chinese law, the unauthorized use radio frequency bands can bring up to seven years in prison.
A visitor watches a promotional video for Shanghai using virtual reality technology, in New York on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shanghai launched a tourism campaign in New York City on Tuesday with the debut of a virtual-reality promotional video showcasing spectacular panoramic views of the metropolis.

The campaign was kicked off by a delegation from the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, which introduced new tourism products and the city's latest policy updates to a room of travel industry insiders.

The updates include new direct air routes, landmark skyscrapers, the opening of Shanghai Disneyland, 144-hour visa-free entry for transit passengers and the new tax refund policy.

"Shanghai is a city of rich and unique details," said Cheng Meihong, deputy director of the tourism administration. "There is so much to explore in the city, and we encourage tourists from the US to come and experience it firsthand."

The event featured a promotional video powered by virtual reality technology. Starring Shanghai's tourism ambassador, actor Hu Ge, and the rising bel canto band Vocal Force, the video presents Shanghai's charm from multiple aspects.

The US is one of the largest sources of inbound visitors to Shanghai, Cheng said. The city saw more than 636,000 tourists from the United States in 2015, up 0.61 percent from 2014.

As a part of "China-US Tourism Year" programs, Shanghai and New York signed an agreement on July 14 for a two-year tourism partnership.

Under the agreement, both cities will promote each other and provide tailored travel products.



By Xinhua in New York


Six high-caliber experts have been hired by the State Council's Counselors' Office, bringing to 56 the number of the top consultants to the nation.

Those who newly joined the ranks are: Xu Xianping, a former deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission; He Xiurong and He Maochun, economics professionals; Shi Yong and Hu Peiyuan, who specialize in data research; and Ke Jinhua, who studies philosophy.

The office serves as a platform for other political parties to play a supervisory role over the nation's major policies and acts as a united front for the Communist Party of China to associate with other political parties in China.

Counselors have been providing advice to the central government on a wide range of issues relating to important policies since the office was established in November 1949, soon after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The Counselors' Office, a think tank for the central government, began to hire professionals from the CPC over the past decade. Before that, most of the counselors were members of non-Communist parties, high-ranking officials of the Kuomingtang who supported the leadership of the Communist Party of China and former senior government officials with no affiliation to any political party.

In 2011, eight of the newly appointed consultants were experts renowned for their innovative social affairs management concepts.

One of them, Li Lei, is head of Beijing No 2 Experimental Primary School and a trailblazer in primary education in the capital. Li was included as a consultant to facilitate education reform.

Last week, four people were hired as members of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History of the CPC. The institute provides honorary positions for culture and history professionals, especially for those who are members of other political parties in China.



Quick facts

 The State Council's Counselors' Office was set up in November 1949 by China's former top leaders. The Central Research Institute of Culture and History of the Communist Party of China was set up in July 1951. Both departments served as a united front for non-Communist senior scholars and dignitaries. The two departments use the same office building.

 A working ordinance was introduced in January 2010 limiting the term of every consultant to five years. The document also says consultants should be between 55 and 65 years of age when they are hired for the first time. The age for a sitting consultant should not exceed 70. Consultants should be mainly non-Party members or politically unaffiliated.

 In November 2008, a guest research fellow system was set up allowing the Counselors' Office to hire researchers in professional fields. At present, 23 people are employed as guest research fellows.

 To date, 219 people have been hired as consultants and 309 as members of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History of the Communist Party of China.
A staff member at the Helan Mountain Rock Paintings Conservation Park in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region checks rock carvings damaged by flooding this week. Wu Xiaoyu / For China Daily

About 1,500 rock carvings at Helan Mountain in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region have washed away since Sunday in rare floo ding caused by heavy rainfall in the region.

Losses at the Helan Mountain Rock Paintings Conservation Park were estimated to be 50 million yuan ($7.5 million), Yinchuan Evening News reported.

The park's staff members are sparing no efforts in searching for the rocks in nearby water, the report said.

With pictures etched on rock faces, the carvings depict human faces, animals and hunting scenes of nomadic people from such ethnic groups as the Xianbei, Qiang, Rouran, Tujue, Tubo, Dangxiang and Mongolians. The most ancient ones are estimated to be between 3,000 and 10,000 years old.

About 6,000 pieces of the rock art have been discovered on the cliffs at the pass of Helan Mountain, and most of them remained well-preserved until flooding on Tuesday caused some of the rocks to collapse.

Precipitation on Tuesday in the Baisikou trench of Helan Mountain reached 200 millimeters over seven hours, setting a record for the area.

By the end of Monday, about 5,000 people living in the Helan Mountain area had been relocated, according to local media.

Helan Mountain, in Helan county of Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia, has the largest number of rock carvings in China.

The pass of Helan Mountain, covering an area of 10 square kilometers, is home to the rock carving themed park, which is open to tourists and researchers.
After six months of vacancy, the post of secretary of the Communist Party of China's Ningbo Committee has been filled.

Tang Yijun, who was the city's acting mayor for four months, will take the mantle as well as become a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC's Zhejiang Provincial Committee.

Tang, who was born in 1961, joined the Party in 1985.

He graduated from the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China.

In 2005, Tang became deputy secretary of the CPC's Ningbo City Committee and has been in charge of the city's economy and industry for the past 11 years.

Ningbo, one of the first coastal cities to open its economy in 1984, is a sub-provincial city with independent planning status, meaning it has more economic authority.

Ningbo's local gross domestic product is ranked second in the province, reaching 800 billion yuan ($120 billion) last year. That is just below Hangzhou, the provincial capital and the host city for the G20 Leaders Summit in September.

In addition, Ningbo's Zhoushan port has the world's largest cargo handling capacity, at 900 million metric tons. It handled about 21 million containers last year, ranking fourth in the world.

Tang wants Ningbo to become one of China's first-tier cities in the near future. Ningbo aims to become a world-class shipping and manufacturing powerhouse by 2020.

"Ningbo is at a critical juncture," he said at a municipal Party committee meeting in July.

"We have hundreds of items on the agenda, and deepening reform is the top priority," he added.

The city will focus on smart manufacturing, hardware, automation and services in order to transform Ningbo into a "model of smart economy," the new Party chief said.

With strength in automobile manufacturing, petrochemicals, home appliances and other industries, Ningbo became the first pilot city in China to implement the Made in China 2025 program, the high-end manufacturing reform drive, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Wang Menghui, Party chief of Xiamen, Fujian province, was appointed on Tuesday as Party chief of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province.

Wang, 56, replaced Zeng Wei, who served in the position in Shenyang for eight years.

Wang had been Party chief of Xiamen since 2013. His political career has previously been tied to southern China.

Wang, who was born in Jiangsu province in 1960, graduated from Tsinghua University in 1983. He became a deputy mayor of Panyu, Guangdong province, in 1993.

Since then, he rose through the ranks in Guangdong, becoming the deputy head of the Guangzhou district of Zengcheng, mayor of Shanwe i, Party chief of Yunfu and, in December 2011, vice-governor of Fujian province.

In May 2013, he was appointed as Party chief of Xiamen.

Last year, Xiamen's gross domestic product increased by 7.5 percent to 347 billion yuan ($52 billion), with a per capita GDP of $14,500. The city's revenue also increased by 10.2 percent, breaking the 100 billion yuan benchmark.

Shenyang, as well as the rest of Liaoning province, is under heavy pressure to reform its traditional manufacturing industries. Liaoning was the only province to report a negative GDP growth rate, minus 1 percent, in the first half of this year.

With the phenomenal success in Xiamen, netizens believe Wang may be able to rejuvenate Shenyang's economy. The new Party secretary is also confident.

"Shenyang is a city with a glorious history and rich culture that plays an important role in national strategy," Wang said on Tuesday at a meeting in Shenyang to announce his position.

"I'm proud to work here and also keenly aware of the great responsibility on me," he added. "I will devote all my efforts to my job and, together with all of the power of the city, to promote Shenyang to pioneer in the new round of revitalization of Northeast China."

An economics researcher in Liaoning who requested anonymity said: "Most of the officials in Liaoning are from the province. This is easy to fall into a deadlock. Since Wang is from the more developed and open area, he may bring some new thoughts, which may break the fixed mindsets of the city."

Zhang Zhihao in Beijing and Hu Meidong in Fuzhou 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 that talks on the South China Sea dispute are likely within a year.

Speaking to reporters 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 Reuters.

Ties between Beijing and Manila suffered after the Philippines, under its former leadership, initiated an arbitration against China.

The ruling issued in July by the Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, which China called biased and illegal, has harmed bilateral ties and put pressure on Duterte.

"We welcome Duterte's remarks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

He said China has always been committed to solving disputes over the South China Sea through dialogue and negotiation with the countries directly related, including the Philippines, in order to maintain regional peace and stability.

"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," Lus aid.

"China expects that bilateral talks between the two sides could be conducted at an early date," he added.

Jia Duqiang, a researcher of Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the new Philippine president has taken a series of steps to adjust his policy toward China, including former Philippine president Fidel Ramos' recent visit to Hong Kong.

"Duterte's remarks show that Manila wants to break the current deadlock over the South China Sea, and this is also what China wishes to see," Jia said.

Chen Qinghong, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Duterte has realized that the previous government's confrontational policy toward China cannot be continued.

"The bilateral relations between China and the Philippines are moving in a good direction," he said.
Xu Yuyu, a college-bound student, died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest on Sunday after funds her family had raised for her tuition fees were swindled in a telephone scam.

The 18-year-old girl from Linyi, Shandong province, scored 568 points on her college entrance exam this year and was admitted to Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

On Aug 19, Xu received a phone call from an unknown person notifying her that she was due to receive 2,600 yuan ($390) in student funding. She had received an official phone call from the education authority the day before, so her family did not question the authenticity of the second call.

Following the call, Xu wired a 9,900-yuan "activation fee" into the scammer's bank account, hoping the money would appear in her student account, but it never did.

After discovering they had been cheated, the family immediately reported the incident to the police, but Xu was said to be devastated. On their way home, she suddenly fainted and despite doctors' best efforts to revive her, she passed away.

According to reports, Xu was healthy.

Her family is poor and they depend solely on her father's income. They had to save for almost a year to raise funds for her tuition fees.

"She never misspent her money and always saved what little she had," said Li Ziyun, Xu's mother. "The scammer has taken my baby girl!"

Pan Baojian, Xu's class adviser, expressed regret over losing a great student. "She is outgoing, well-mannered and always on top of her studies. It is a shame she passed away this early."

An investigation into the case is ongoing.

With admission season underway, telephone scams have spiked recently and police have warned college-bound students to be more vigilant.


The official website of MIT Technology Review has published this year's list of 35 world innovators under the age of 35, the 16th of its kind, with six Chinese on the list.

The list aims to highlight young innovators who are poised to be the leaders of their own fields, whether they are entrepreneurs or academic researchers.

Under five categories of inventors, entrepreneurs, visionaries, humanitarians and pioneers, they are doing research and development or innovation in the fields of medical, energy, materials, IT and others.

The six Chinese on the list are:

Inventors:

Gao Wei, 31

Postdoctoral researcher at University of California, Berkeley

The engineer has built sweatbands that monitor your health.
A court in Beijing on Tuesday ordered a private school in the city to partially reimburse the tuition fees of four students studying in the United States, who were said to be living in very poor conditions.

Beijing Shuren-Ribet Private School had signed a contract with parents of three middle school students and a 9-year-old pupil to arrange the students' accommodation and transportation in the US, the Beijing News reported.

The school had promised the parents that their children would be afforded comfortable living conditions and three meals a day worth $9, for which the parents of each child paid between 100,000 yuan and 330,000 yuan ($15,000 and $49,500).

However, when some of the parents later visited their children in the US, they found more than a dozen students lived in one room and did not have enough food to eat.

"Sometimes, even one egg a day cannot be promised," a parent was quoted as saying.

The school reportedly spent only $3.30 per day on meals for each child, almost one-third of the promised amount.

Parents brought a lawsuit against the school, seeking compensation, and brought their children back to China.

More families are sending their children to study abroad, but parents should be careful when making such decisions, said Huang Haitao, a judge at the Beijing Third Intermediate People's Court.

Education authorities should also consider adopting new rules to regulate the industry, Huang added.
Yeshe Lahm loves walking on the grassland. [Photo/VCG]

Some follow a straight career path, others start in one direction and then land up on different route and then there are some who create their own destiny. Zheng Xiongying is one of them.

After graduating in economics from Leshan Normal University in Sichuan province, she, like her peers, could have chosen the world of dollars and cents. Instead she moved to Garze Tibet autonomous prefecture and became a Buddhist nun in 2012.

Her mentor gave her a new name "Yeshe Lahm", meaning beautiful, intelligent fairy.

But she wasn't satisfied with just being a nun; she wanted to contribute more to the society. Yeshe Lahm, now 28, suffers from a disease that requires regular massage and acupuncture to ease her pain.

"I used to spend six hours commuting on the bus to the treatment center. The pain was so unbearable that I used to cry. Then I began learning acupuncture and studied traditional Chinese medicine for 10 years," she said.

Now Yeshe Lahm, along with others, volunteers to help patients in Sexu Temple. "I can help treat people and learn from other doctors. I will start work at Sexu Temple hospital this year," she added.
Tokyo was urged to "play a constructive role" and make real efforts to stabilize bilateral relations with Beijing when Premier Li Keqiang met with the visiting Japanese national security adviser on Thursday.

China and Japan should accumulate positive factors and reduce negative ones to get the still-fragile bilateral ties back on a normal track, Li told Shotaro Yachi, who is attending the third China-Japan High-level Political Dialogue in Beijing.

"As next year marks the 45th anniversary of China and Japan normalizing their diplomatic ties,  I hope the two countries can take the opportunity to appropriately tackle old and emerging disputes, manage conflicts and differences, and steadily promote exchanges and cooperation to safeguard the improving process of bilateral ties, Li said.

Beijing expects Tokyo to stand by its statement that Chinas economic development as an opportunity, and take actions to safeguard peace and stability in the seas between the two countries, he added.

In a letter Yachi read to Li during the meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to work with China to establish stable bilateral ties based on mutual benefit.

Yachi said Japan will boost high-level exchanges with China, manage differences over the East China Sea, safeguard maritime peace and stability and reinforce pragmatic cooperation in fields including finance and environmental protection.

Yachi also met with State Councilor Yang Jiechi earlier on Thursday.

Both meetings provided further opportunities for the two countries to exchange views after they agreed on Wednesday to consider initiating a maritime and airspace liaison procedure.

Their bilateral ties have been challenged by territorial disputes.

Yachi heads the Japanese National Security Council, which was launched by Abe in 2013 to guide foreign and defense policies.

In July last year, Yang co-hosted the first political dialogue with Yachi in Beijing  the first interaction since bilateral ties plunged to a low point over the Diaoyu Islands dispute. Three months later, the two co-hosted another dialogue in Tokyo to improve ties.

Huo Jiangang, a researcher of Japanese studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Studies, said, "Yachi can be seen to be paving the way for Abes participation in the G20 Leaders Summit (in Hangzhou on Sept 4 and 5).

Zhang Yunbi contributed to this story.
Yang Lanying, 56, works at the farm on the outskirts of Jiecunxiang, Xingguo county, Jiangxi province. [Photo by Adam Hegarty/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wanna a free Kindle? Take this Long March quiz.

Nine months ago, 56-year-old farmer Yang Lanying's family was earning no more than 2,000 yuan a year - the equivalent of just $300.

In her own words, she "just survived", selling produce from her tiny rice farm in Jiecunxiang, Xingguo county - in east China's Jiangxi province.

Now, she earns that same amount every month. It's still not great, but it's a life-changing improvement.

"I'm still the poorest in my village, but now I feel much better than before," she told China Daily. "I just need to work harder."

In September, local government officials constructed a farming greenhouse on the outskirts of Yang's village, as part of President Xi Jinping's anti-poverty drive in the region. They began employing Yang, and others.

Yang - a mother of two, who helps support her grandchildren - is now paid 60 yuan a day. It's not as much as the 80 yuan given to her male colleagues, but it's far more than that earned by the estimated 50,000 other Xingguo villagers who local officials have declared are living below the poverty line - earning less than 2,300 yuan a year.

It's a symbolic number. Eighty years ago, 50,000 Red Army soldiers were killed near this region  ambushed during the early days of the Communist forces' Long March trek which eventually laid an important foundation for the Communist victory in the civil war. In many ways, a battle continues - against poverty.

"My husband is sick and he can't do anything," Yang said. "The medical care was not very good, but now my husband can get support  we can see a doctor. "Before I had no money to buy anything. Now I can buy a television."

Yang's story isn't an isolated one among the almost 40 million Chinese people living in the wide-reaching Jiangxi province. Two hours south, in Yudu county, locals still need to take out personal loans to live in government-funded, high-rise affordable housing villages.
109-year-old WWII veteran Zhou Xiulian. [Photo/hunan.voc.com.cn]

109-year-old Zhou Xiulian looked closely at the photo of her 27-year-old husband, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"He was nice and handsome. He never cursed in front of me," said the old woman about her late husband Yang Ping, smiling.

Zhou and her husband, who was a military officer, married in 1931. After the wedding, the couple went to the frontline in the war against the Japanese. They fought together until Yang died when fighting against the Japanese forces in Myanmar in 1943.

Yang was posthumously conferred the title of major general and his body was buried in their hometown in Hunan province.

Since then, Zhou lost the photo of her husband for some reason and it became one of her great regrets.

"She wanted to find a photo of her husband, which is an important memory for her and the later generations of the family," said He Jia, a volunteer at the Home of Hunan Veterans, an organization that helps WWII veterans in Hunan province.

When volunteers visited Zhou in May, they learned of the old woman's wish.

"For (an old woman like) her, it is a race against time. When we heard of her wish, we felt that it was our mission to help her," said He Jia.

The volunteer first resorted to the internet by typing in key words including the name and hometown of Yang Ping. However, only simple descriptions of him turned up without any photo.

He Jia then posted the search information on social networking platforms such as Weibo and WeChat, and contacted researchers on China's War of Resistance against the Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) across the country.

And this proved a right move. Soon, she was told that a database of Whampoa Military Academy, the first military school of China where Yang graduated, can be found in Zhejiang Museum.

After searching through the database, a photo similar to Yang was located.

When the volunteers tried to verify the identity of the photo, a message from a Taiwan volunteer who studies the anti-Japanese war said that a photo of Yang was also found in the archives on the island. And this one was similar to the one found in the Chinese mainland.

As soon as the volunteers printed out the photo, they went to the home of Zhou Xiulian to tell her the good news.

When the 109-years-old received the photo, she recognized immediately the face which she had kept in mind for more than half a century.
If you are in a coffee growing area you are likely to see a photo of coffee beans splashed on a billboard. Same is true if you are in a banana producing region. Just about every country or town finds a way to promote its best product.
China Daily website is inviting foreigner readers to share your China Story! and here are some points that we hope will help contributors.



My whole life I've been interested in martial arts. I studied judo as a child, then karate. But it was only when I moved to another city in Belgium where there was a kungfu club, that I really enjoyed it and fully understood why they call it an art. It is fighting and defending yourself, but it's also understanding your body more, making it stronger and healthier. Kungfu is a whole philosophy and is a big part of Chinese culture. I have always watched kungfu movies (who doesn't know Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or Jet Li?), because I loved their movements. When I started to practice kungfu, I realized how difficult it was and a simple kick or punch demanded months of practice. But I loved it! A whole new world was opening to me.





The author does tai chi in Yangshuo in undated photo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn/

After I practiced 4 years of kungfu in Belgium, I wanted to go to the country where this martial art originated from. I went to China with a travel organization. It was a trip that included some kungfu and taichi lessons. It was an international group, so there were people from all over the world. We went from Hong Kong to Guilin, Yangshuo, Xi'an, Luoyang and Shaolin and finally Beijing. We did 2 kungfu lessons in Yangshuo with the brothers Gao, who had a family style called BuDiZhen. We did 1 taichi lesson in Xi'an and 2 more kungfu lessons in Shaolin. I was impressed by Yangshuo and the Gao brothers. Yangshuo is a beautiful little town in the middle of karst mountains and near the Li river. The Gao brothers' family style was close to the style I was practicing in Belgium. I could only dream of my next trip to China.

The next year, my dream became true: I went to China again, together with some friends of my kungfu club. We stayed 1 month in Yangshuo, just to practice kungfu. I didn't do anything of the touristic attractions that Yangshuo has (and Yangshuo has much to offer), but did more than 4 hours of kungfu every day, the rest of the time, I rested or spent in the bar. I met a lot of people, foreigners, that stayed in Yangshuo for a long time, several months to several years and they all told me that it's easy to live here as a foreigner.

Back in Belgium, the only thing I could think about was: what's the fastest way to go back to Yangshuo and live there for a longer period? I was working in a bank and in Belgium you have the possibility to take a sabbatical year. After that, you can just return to your job again. After all the formalities, I returned back to Yangshuo at the end of that year. That was in december 2008.

It felt like living in a dream: although it was really cold at that time in Yangshuo, I didn't care. I practiced kungfu for more than 6 hours a day, went to the bar to keep warm (there is no proper heating, so in winter we have to wear more than 5 layers of clothes and keep next to a small electric heater or some heated coals to stay warm). After 3 months of intense training, I decided to teach English as well. Yangshuo has a lot of English schools where Chinese adults want to improve their English. I made a lot of friends from all different countries and we had a lot of fun!! I decided not to go back to Belgium. After my sabbatical, I just sent an email to my former employer that I stayed in China and that was it. Life here was too relaxing and too beautiful to give it up.

In the summer of 2010, CCTV4 came here to film for a travel program and they wanted to follow a foreigner for 1 day to see the life of a foreigner in Yangshuo. They chose me and filmed me while practicing kungfu and asked me about my life here.

In autumn of that same year, my life changed for the better. I was still teaching English and 1 day I went to school and everyone was telling me that there was a taichi master in the school, who wanted to learn English. He had won a lot of gold medals already and was teaching Chinese, but he wanted to learn English to teach foreigners as well. His name is Wu YuPing and he was a student in my class. I immediately became his tai chi student as well. We became good friends, went to the bar together, but even though we went out till 3am, we got up at 6am again to practice tai chi in the park. I loved it, practicing in the park that early has something magical. After a few weeks, we couldn't hide our feelings anymore: we were in love with each other. There was only 1 problem: Students and teachers couldn't have a relationship with each other, so we had to keep it a secret. But Yangshuo is such a small town, so people knew very quickly that something was going on. I didn't want to get fired, so I quit my job and went teaching in another school. Then, we didn't have to hide anything anymore and could tell all our friends. With Ping, my life in China has finally more meaning and is full. He can teach me so much about the rich culture of this country and make me understand more of it.

We are more than 2 years later and our relationship is still strong. We already live together for more than 1 year. Ping has his own tai chi school here in Yangshuo and is teaching foreigners, his dream, and I have a coffeeshop and chocolateshop now. I am selling Belgian chocolate and beer, together with good coffee and breakfast. We keep on practicing tai chi together, although not at 6am anymore.

I must say that I never experienced a culture shock here. My life is going really well and yes, I can get annoyed by Chinese people that stare at me or take pictures, but I try not to think too much of it. I sometimes get annoyed by people's behavior in my country as well. My life is in China. Every 2 years I go back to Belgium to visit my family and I encounter a bigger culture shock there, because I stepped out of that life and I am not familiar anymore with the stressy, rushing lifestyle there.








Three years have passed, but my amazing China experience is still fresh. Teaching English and working in a German Bar in the beautiful small town of Zhongshan in Guangdong province were great adventures and could only be topped by a semester at Nanjings University of Technology in Jiangsu province. Not only did I meet my Spanish boyfriend in China, but this adventure would change my life evermore.



Josephine Brauner and her boyfriend.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

It would go beyond the scope of this article to mention all those stories, funny and also dramatic, that I encountered during my time in China. Therefore, I decided to pick one story that I love to tell my friends and family back home in Germany.

Last year's springtime had been the perfect moment to finally visit the Yellow Mountain area (Huangshan) in Anhui province to go for a hike and see the beautiful scenery that attracts so many visitors every year. My boyfriend and me prepared the back bags, which turned out to be pretty heavy for the hike, and were sure to find an accommodation on top of the mountain without any problems. So we didnt bother to reserve a hotel room beforehand and the hiking adventure in the dizzy heights of the yellow mountains could start.

The hike up to the top was one of a kind already. I am not an experienced hiker and those endless steps made me want to return to safe and comfortable grounds. But with the help of my boyfriends motivation: "Look, the top is coming closer and closer. We are almost there." I pulled myself together and kept going.

After a three-hour exhausting hike to the top, but with reparative spectacular views on the way, we arrived on the top and also found a hotel that looked very inviting. In the context of a HSK4 test preparation at the Nanjing University, I felt confident enough to book a hotel room for the two of us in Chinese. When the desk clerk told me that one double room would be available for 1500 Rmb that took my breath away. Quite an amount of money for a student! After asking for a cheaper version, which would have been a gender separated dormitory for 500 Rmb, I was about to lose my nerves. Especially after this exhausting hike, I was only looking forward to a relaxing bed. As a last resort, I asked for the possibility of a tent. Bingo!

The hotel's own kiosk owner sold tents for 80 Rmb. He was so friendly that he even offered to put it up for us. The location for the tent he suggested was right in front of the hotel next to the entrance. So it happened that the only foreign guests that night ended up sleeping in a tent in front of the hotel on the yellow mountains. The image of two foreigners sitting like dogs outside offered a great photo portrait for many Chinese who happened to have their cameras with them at all times (of course, we were at one of the most beautiful scenic places in China).

We spent a comfortable night in the tent and at 5 am woke up to see the incredible sunrise. Afterwards, we continued to explore the beautiful area around Huangshan and proceeded walking all the steps back down to safe grounds, which made my muscles ache even more than the climb up.

All in all, an unforgettable adventure like so many experiences I could come upon during my 3 years in China. I am now living in Spain, a country that I would have never come across if I hadn't decided to go to China. You just never know where destiny takes you. Future visits to China are already planned.




I have lived in China for eleven years, with some brief breaks to go to back to New Zealand for family weddings. I now wish I had kept a detailed dairy of my time in China. I did not intend to remain here so long. I am still in China. My dream in China is yet to be completed. It is to go into a country area of Jiangxi and set up an early childhood school there. I know the exact place I want to go to, but it will take time to develop.

It all began on the Oct 17, 2002, I remember it all very clearly. I arrived at Beijing Airport to be met by a Chinese student from Nanchang. This was my first experience of Chinese friendliness and hospitality. We spent the evening together walking around Tianamen Square.

David Burt [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The next day I was taken by her to the Beijing Railway Station to board the train to Nanchang, I was on my own, and only had had 24 hours in China on that journey of 22 hours on the K train. I was cared for by an elderly Chinese couple, neither of us spoke each other language, but to got to know each other very well.

The following eleven years have been a replica of this experience, Chinese police have also been very helpful and considerate, I got lost in Shenzen one time and they gave me a ride in their car to where I was to go to. Another time I did not let them know I had changed my place of residence during Spring Festival. They waived the fine for me. I have made friends and been given their kindness in Nanchang, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and other places as well. I taught English in these cities.

I am now in my China hometown Nanchang voluntarily, helping my Chinese friend in this Traning School and others who seek my help.

I have lived for a number of years with a Chinese family, thats the best way to really get to know the people.

Other experiences of Chinese kindness are from ten years old girl who gave me her only possession, an English/Chinese dictionary as gift. A father of one of my students while visiting her family in Ganzhou gave me a limited edition of Chinese currency, worth 2900rmb, in appreciation for helping his daughter. The value of the present is not important to me .Its the thought that counts.

Going back to New Zealand to be with my family is not easy, even though some of them have been to Nanchang to visit me. They have a clouded view of China. They dont really understand the size and immensity of China and its people.

I have taught about 4500 students during my time in China. They are basically hard working and show me respect as their teacher and friend. I have enjoyed many wonderful occasions with them. Having class on Quingsang Lake in Nanchang in a boat. Going to the riverside near Juijiang and cooking sweet potatoes Hangi style on the riverbank. Being taken to West Lake for Spring festival. These are but a few of happy times I have had.

One question that remains in my mind is this.

Does China have a future in its younger generations?

When I go to class and look around the students, some are very good entrepreneurs, others just content to do their best for their future. They are all individuals. One young female student in Tianjin was running her own Language School in Beijing while attending University.

The answer to my question is.

Yes, China does have a future in its younger generation. I wish them all every success in their future endeavors in making China a stronger and better nation.
You are welcome to share your China stories with chinadaily.com.cn

As Australia and China get set to extend trade and political ties, the relationship between the two countries is quietly but quickly evolving away from the megaphone of the media spotlight.

In the forty years since diplomatic relations between Canberra and Beijing were formally established, the China/Australia relationship has been carefully nurtured in the twin stratospheres of regional diplomacy and international finance. As the closest quarry to China, Australia has found itself in a unique and profitable geographic and cultural position as supplier of raw materials and potential East/West cultural matchmaker.

However, beneath the lurid glare of mining booms and Mandarin speaking PMs, the strands of connection between Australia and China are being tended to by the many thousands of people living, working and studying in the middle of the cross cultural Ven diagram.

Here in Melbourne, where the roots of the local Chinese community extend back to the gold rush days of the 1850s, the presence of China is highly visible, from the dragon heads of Chinatown to the plane loads of young Chinese students arriving every semester. At this level the much vaunted Sino/Oz relationship is realised in smaller and more personal detail.

According to David Willey, a freelance business and investment consultant, things have certainly changed since his days selling local dairy products into the China market. What Im seeing now is Australians and Chinese getting comfortable together and saying, okay, we have some different perspectives but theres also some common ground.

Paul Ransom [Photo provided by the author]

Away from the shared interest of commodity deals and geo-political positioning, the so called common ground is perhaps harder to define. For Willey, the big shift in the relationship since the 1980s is personified by the explosion in the numbers of young Chinese studying here. We shouldnt just view that as an economic benefit because these are Chinese families looking to Australia because of the historical connections and the way we do things here. They trust Australia.

If indeed it is Chinas three hundred million under thirties who will shape East/West dialogue in the coming years, then young women like 22-year-old Meng Lin may well be in the vanguard of a monumental, demographic driven attitude shift. Arriving in Melbourne alone at age sixteen, she has grown up straddling two cultures.

However, after six years inMelbourne, shenow voices the oft cited truism that Chinas young people are increasingly Westward looking. I think a lot of Chinese like to learn about Western culture because its different; and people are curious about something thats new, she says simply. The one thing I really like about Western culture is the personal freedom and in the future its what I will be teaching my children.

Western liberal individualism and its associated material goods are certainly a big lure for people used to more rigid cultural and political structures. American born, St Kilda based visual artist Robert Davis, who lived and taught in China for much of the last decade,agrees. Freedom of thought, luxury goods, ownership of property, that whole lifestyle that theyve seen on television, thats what was given to them when the markets opened.

For Davis, who was based in Shanghai for ten years, young China will almost certainly challenge the old order, much in the same way Baby Boomers did in the West. An artist friend of mine over there said, imagine if you got Disneyland, Picasso and 7/11 all at the same time. Thats what its like for Chinese kids these days.

If this anecdotal evidence plays out more broadly the China/Australia relationship will likely expand beyond the boardrooms of mining monoliths and the tabletops of cheap dumpling joints to encompass much more direct and personal experience.

Graphic designer Eric Huang could well be a poster boy for this shift. He came to Australia ten years ago from Taiwan to study multimedia and has now settled in Melbourne with his wife and four year old, Australian born daughter. Australia is very accepting, very multicultural. Thats why I didnt go to America or Europe, because here I am accepted for my skills.

According to Huang though, our multicultural paradise is not without its black spots. My impression is that most Australians think all Chinese are the same. In fact some of my Western friends say, we thought you were all the same, all just Asians, cos you all look the same. But yknow, in a way, I understand that because I used to think that all Western people looked the same.

Relationships between countries are often abstract; merely political or economic constructions. Down on the ground, entrenched suspicions and stereotypes remain, even if they are papered over by fusion food and friendly progressives. Tabloid frothing about Asian invasions and selling the farm to China keep the yellow peril alive. When I was in my own country I had the same feeling, Eric Huang admits.There were all these Vietnamese coming in and taking all the jobs and, yknow, people thought they were taking over. They werent but thats what we thought. I think in Australia its the same thing.

One those Vietnamese, Stan Chang, arrived in Australia in 1980 as part of the wave of post-Vietnam War refugees. An ethnic Chinese, he is now President of the Chinese Authors & Poets Society of Victoria and a spokesperson for the Springvale Asian Business Association.

His experience of the Sino/Oz relationship is very much that of the immigrant trying to deal with language and cultural barriers. Although he now regards Australia as very China friendly he still sounds a warning note. Today its happening to the Muslims, he says of the media tarring his own community once experienced. Its all the same old stories, just with a different migrant community.

As ever, the coalface of international relations is in the suburbs of our apparently global village. For Stan Chang, geo-political chatter and media musing (like this) are perhaps just a symptom of impatience. When you take in migrants you know youre going to have problems at first, with language and culture and so on but the real benefit is in the future. Its the second generation, the kids and grandkids that really make it work. And thats whats happening in our community. For our kids, Australia is their motherland.

Eric Huang is quick to reflect this experience. My mum always tells me I should come home and I tell her I already am. Plus, my daughter was born in Australia. Shes an Aussie, he states.

However, for all the talk of China moving west, the onus is surely on the West to embrace China at a level deeper than dim sims and dragon parades. As business consultant David Willey notes, The mark of any relationship is the comfort to confide in the other; and Im not sure that we in Australia, at least at the political level, are comfortable enough to confide in China. If you measure the relationship in dollars and cents you have to ask how it will fare when China finds cheaper sources of coal.

Paul Ransom is freelance writer, director and award winning filmmaker based in Melbourne, Australia. He currently works for a Chinese/Australian media company, Zhong Hua TV and writes regularly about music, dance and culture for a variety of publications. He also has a blog consisting entirely of love letters.
You are welcome to share your China stories with chinadaily.com.cn

As I followed my usual Beijing daily routine of coming home from University, buying groceries, and heading up to my apartment, I was lucky enough to experience a friendly encounter. When entering the elevator I heard 'deng yi xia! deng yi xia!' meaning 'wait! wait!', and as I held the elevator doors open, a woman swiftly entered and thanked me. When I replied to her thanks in Chinese, she was surprised. The elevator made its way up, and we carried on our conversation. She offered to help me improve my Chinese, as she said teaching Chinese was a hobby of hers, and we then went on to exchange names and numbers (all of this in one elevator journey? Living on the 22nd floor has its advantages). I didn't think much of this encounter as I have, on many occasions, come across Chinese people who enjoy speaking with foreigners and offering their assistance, but it usually never goes further than a mere few words. What's more, coming from England, I am always a little skeptical that I am just being used for an opportunity to practice oral English.

Kavita Dattani [Photo provided by the author]

A few hours later I received an SMS from the woman and we had a short conversation consisting of general introduction chit-chat. As I told my flatmates about the experience and narrated the text conversation aloud, they didn't hesitate to express their concern. From a western perspective, experiences like these are dangerous, and a little strange to say the least. Yet, I pushed their worries aside, and in my attempt to try and be 'more Chinese' I stayed in touch with my new elevator friend. Additionally, it is surprisingly hard to meet Chinese people in Beijing, as being a Chinese language student means that most of the time I am surrounded by my foreign classmates.

The following week she invited me to go for milk tea with her and her 13 year old daughter, and at this point I was almost sure that the prime reason was so that her daughter would have the perfect opportunity to practice her English. Regardless of this, I still went because I thought that I would be able to squeeze in some of my own Chinese language practice at the same time. As we drank our tea and chatted about various things, I soon came to realize that my skeptical pre-assumptions were indeed wrong. Most of our conversation was in Chinese, and even though it would have been much easier to speak in English, as my Chinese level is still only intermediate, they went to great lengths to try and help me practice and even teach me new words. I was not only shocked, but still questioning why they would be so kind to a complete stranger.

Our next encounter was when they invited me to their apartment to make dumplings. We spent the whole afternoon chatting, joking, cooking and looking at old photos of their family. They made me feel completely at ease in their home and I genuinely felt like I was back in England with my own family. We ate a huge meal and over dinner they mentioned that they rarely invite people to their home because of the pressure of Chinese ideals, but in my case, as I was a foreigner, this pressure didn't exist. Later, they told me to relax and act as one of them rather than a courteous guest.

After these initial meet-ups I have spent a lot of time with the family, and I feel that they have become my own family abroad. They have persisted in helping me with my Chinese studies, while also assisting me with overcoming any other troubles that I have come across. My initial doubts were wrong and I feel guilty having had them, yet they made me realize the extent of the existence of hostility between strangers in the west. I don't know for what reason this family were so nice to me - maybe because they wanted to have a foreign friend, maybe because being only allowed one child, they wanted the feeling of more young people in their home, or maybe there is no reason at all. But, the fact that both me and my western friends thought that it was so odd that a stranger would be so kind and compassionate to another without gainful intent is sad. This experience, and meeting these people has made my time in China unforgettable, and I dread to think of if I had let my western cynicisms act as a barrier. I feel like this simple difference in attitude is something that we in the west can learn from Chinese culture, it not only opens up more opportunities, but also seems a more natural and social way of living life.

Kavita Dattani is a recent graduate from Britain, currently studying Chinese language at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
You are welcome to share your China stories with chinadaily.com.cn

My story encompasses a mission to study Chinese in China and how it led me to starting a successful education business called China Immersion - www.chinaimmersion.org.

I stepped off the airplane onto Chinas soil on June 1, 2007 and wanted to do nothing but focus on learning the Chinese language. Months were spent at a private language institute studying Chinese. Although I had previously studied Mandarin Chinese for two semesters at an American university, I felt I was starting from the beginning. I can still remember the excitement and frustration trying to communicate with my Chinese host family. The family and I would converse after dinner, each member constantly referencing their dictionary and generous use of hand gestures were used to stumble through our sentences. My journey to study Chinese in China had just begun.

Chad Springer [Photo provided by the author]

I have always been a competitive person and to study Chinese in China was just another challenge to me. After three months in Hebei province I continued with my studies at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics (TUFE). Once there I was presented with an abundance of opportunities pivotal in my success to study Chinese. Language speaking competitions, social events, school clubs, I wanted to participate in them all. The first day I arrived at campus, I along with my other foreign classmates were eager to practice our spoken Chinese and acquire new friendships. Everyone was curious as to why I chose to study in China. I wanted to immerse myself in an environment to learn about the language and culture of a country so foreign to me.

It was with this type of determination and curiosity that solidified my decision to study Chinese in China and ultimately master the language. After two semesters at TUFE my diligence rewarded me with a recommendation by a teacher to be a guest on local television and radio shows for foreigners who study Chinese. I loved the feeling of using Chinese to communicate my thoughts to an audience of thousands. Once the Fall semester started in 2008, my dear mentor Professor Zhao Xinyu, took me under his wing and began to train me for a life changing event. It turned out to be a major milestone in my adventure to study Chinese in China.

Lacking in stage experience and performing skills I took the opportunity to compete in TUFEs Chinese speaking competition for foreigners. With the guidance of my mentor I placed an honorable third place out of fifteen contestants. I was eager to gain more experience speaking Chinese to a crowd of people. Thereafter Professor Zhao informed me of an even bigger Chinese speaking competition. This one being for all foreign students in Tianjin; including eight universities and a hundred contestants in all. The competition was set for late December, giving myself six weeks to prepare. My next challenge in my adventure to study Chinese in China had arisen.

I chose a suitable prose written by Zhu Ziqing titled Cong cong. Hours upon hours were spent reciting, perfecting, recording, listening, and repeating. Frequent meetings were held with Professor Zhao leading up to the competition. We worked on pronunciation, emphasis, flow, and tones. When one mistake was cured, a new one would arise leading to a feeling of dejection which would flow through my body by the end of each meeting. Professor Zhao would always provide encouraging words, which would fill my mind and send me home with determination. I told myself no matter the outcome of the competition, I wanted to study Chinese in China and this experience was necessary to succeed.

On the day of the competition my alarm clock rang at 5:30 in the morning. I along with my other competing classmate met with Professor Zhao and took a taxi to the host university. I was told news reporters and camera crews would be on site along with supporters from every competing university. It was hard for me to fathom what to expect on stage. Will I remember my lines? What if the host asks me questions? How will I respond? How long did my fellow contestants study Chinese in China for?

Chad Springer (left) [Photo provided by the author]

There were about fifteen finalists in total from various countries around the globe and I was number five in the lineup. One by one the contestants before me completed their performances, which consisted of a prose recital and talent segment. The host finally announced my name and I walked on stage to face the hundred people in the audience. I smiled confidently, but felt butterflies in my stomach as I began. My diligent preparation had paid off as the words naturally flowed from my mouth. The rhythm of the words and accompanying music were in sync and I could see Professor Zhao gazing proudly at me. My performance ended with a guitar solo which embodied the spirit and adventure of my journey to study Chinese in China.

Once I stepped foot off stage I felt a feeling of relief. It was as though a heavy load of bricks had been taken off my back. In a daze, I waited for the other ten contestants to finish their performances. The moment came to announce the winners of the competition. Silence filled the auditorium and eyes glanced back and forth between the contestants. Certificates were awarded starting from last place. Fifth place fourth place third place I held by breathe as second place was announced. I was disappointed my name wasnt called, for surely I couldnt have performed better than everyone else that day. The name of the first place winner was read by the host. I didnt comprehend what was said and had to ask someone. He said your name, replied the contestant standing beside me. In that split second my body felt weightless as I floated on stage to claim my first place prize. My year and a half adventure to study Chinese in China and all the hours spent training for the competition were worth those few minutes I performed on stage. My mouth hurt for the rest of the day as I couldnt refrain from smiling. That moment was AWESOME!

Four and a half years have passed since that great day. I kept true to my goal to study Chinese in China, receiving 10 out of 11 on the HSK Chinese proficiency test. Over the years I seized opportunities that exposed me to environments that would allow myself to further understand the Chinese culture and improve my Chinese language skills. My original goal to study Chinese in China has shifted to conducting business in China. The past few years have consumed my time in the educational field. I operate a business called China Immersion, which aims to provide foreigners the same amazing opportunities I encountered along my quest to become fluent in Mandarin Chinese. China Immersion offers several programs catering to foreigners wanting to study Chinese in China, gain international work experience, and understand the Chinese culture. For anyone who is seeking an educational adventure in China I want to extend an invitation to check out our programs. They consist of Teach and Study, Chinese Immersion and China Internship. We provide the opportunities you need to be successful in China too. Check out www.chinaimmersion.org for more details. Thanks for reading my article and I wish you the best in your future endeavors. Cheers!

Chad Springer is from the United States and has lived in China for the past six years. He enjoys reading, networking, travelling and studying Chinese.
You are welcome to share your China stories with chinadaily.com.cn

I believe my China story is different from the rest of the stories I have come across so far on this website, for the fact that while many stories are written by people who have been living in China for quite some years, my story is about a challenge I faced soon after arriving in Shanghai in April 2013.

Fariha Samad

My husband has been working in Shanghai for over a year so I happened to join him soon after we tied the knot. Upon arriving in Shanghai I was mesmerized by the sheer vastness of the city. I'm sure many expats, like me, have lower expectations about China which are easily changed into pleasant surprises as soon as they reach here.

Anyway, when I came I was greeted with many surprises too. Firstly, Shanghai was big beyond my expectations and I was excited about discovering the city and learning more about its hidden secrets and treasures. Another unexpected surprise that came to me was discovering that I was going to have a baby! Being far from family, in a new city with hardly any friends so far, and where not many people can speak English and being pregnant for the first time seemed immensely intimidating at first.

Here I was faced with the daunting task of finding a reasonably satisfactory hospital. My initial search started with a general Google search about hospitals and health insurance systems in China; specifically in Shanghai. I came across several kinds of advice from foreigners on internet forums, most of them discouraging and dubious about local Chinese hospitals.

Here I learnt that there are two kinds of healthcare systems running simultaneously in the city; the international hospitals mostly targeting foreigners and having doctors from America, Australia, India and European countries, and the local Chinese hospitals, some of them having VIP Clinics for foreigners. While the standard of international hospitals was extremely and undoubtedly satisfactory, their services came at a huge price; something which I was not willing to pay especially since I didn't have health insurance at that time.

The other option I was left with was the local Chinese hospitals. My major concern was the language barrier that I was going to face in the local Chinese hospitals. Apart from that, several of our expat friends have warned us against going to Chinese hospitals, for they doubted the standards. However me and my husband did our own research and came across the VIP Clinic of the Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University.

To our surprise when we visited the hospital we were impressed by the overall cleanliness of the place and the fluent spoken English of the staff and the doctors in the VIP clinic. Also, their services came with a reasonable price tag.

I have been visiting this hospital for several months and I must say those people who underestimate the Chinese local hospitals are at mistake because they haven't done their research properly. We managed to find an international level health care facility available at the local price tag. Also there is no shortage of facilities available in a city like Shanghai and while the cultural shock may be intimidating at first, you will find yourself in love with the city in no time!

Fariha Samad is an expat wife living in Shanghai since Chinese New Year 2013. Her hobbies include travelling, photography and exploring new cultures.
A portrait of the couple from a supporter in Minnesota, US. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

You are welcome to share your China stories with chinadaily.com.cn

A young American man is asking the people of Beijing for help as he plans to propose to the love of his life.

Michael DeGroot and Thu Vo, both 27 from California, have been together since June 4, 2002, after a mutual friend introduced them to each other over the phone.

We just hit it off, she was amazingly real and funny. We ended up going out two days later, says DeGroot.

Now wedding bells are starting to ring but DeGroot says he wants to do something extra special since they have been together for so long. He doesn't want an ordinary proposal - he wants it to be on a world scale.

Taking his wishes to social media, online forums, travel sites, government pages, and anything else he can use, he is asking people in different countries to place love locks' with the writing Michael and Thu, June 4, 2002. He is also asking for simple messages of encouragement.

The idea I have is for all the love locks to be spots we travel to on our honeymoon, he says.

DeGroot has been working on this idea for two months now and says the response he received has been amazing.

I have had so many people want to be part of this when I talk with my friends about it we are blown away by what comes in.

He has received messages of support from all corners of the globe - all seven continents, in fact. Support has even come from Antarctica where an Australian research team sent a photo with the message Congratulations Thu and Mike from Mawson Antarctica.

The couple has received photos, poems, pictures and buttons from more than 30 countries including South Korea, Hungary, Italy, France, Mexico, South Africa and almost every state in the US.

One message from Canada reads: Best wishes for a lifetime of joy and discovery. Never stop the sense of wonder, explore always.

The worldwide response has been incredible, says DeGroot.

I have received a lot of help from everywhere but love locks tend to be harder to get people to do, I'm more surprised by how nice and generous everyone has been.

Yet there is something missing in DeGroot's romantic plan. He is still waiting for someone to place a love lock for him in Beijing's most iconic location.

The Great Wall of China is the last love lock I care about as it's a place that we both would love to visit and would be perfect for her to go see it and just have that symbol there for her.

DeGroot is hoping the people of Beijing will respond to his request.

When his last wish is fulfilled, he hopes to make a book with all the messages and photos the couple have received.

It will show how so many people believe in what we have. That's the idea anyway, he says.

If you would like to send the couple your wishes email Michael DeGroot at: maddenmorrison@gmail.com.

Nigel Moffiet is from Auckland, New Zealand and is working as a foreign expert under an exchange program with China Daily and AUT University.
Muhammad Abdullah [Photo provided by the author]

You are welcome to share your China stories with chinadaily.com.cn

It was 2010 and the month of June when one day the doorbell of my home rang. I opened the door and saw a man in uniform standing in front of me. He was a postman and by passing a smile he handed over me an envelope. The words of EMS were clearly visible on the surface of the envelope and I was being surprised by watching a Chinese athlete portrait. After giving the postman the receiving signatures of the post, when I opened that envelop, I found a letter and it was not an ordinary letter but it was an admission letter. I was being mad with joy and happiness, yes; I was awarded admission in a public sector university of China on Chinese government scholarship scheme. The wording of the letter was actually an invitation for me to come to China and enjoy the fully funded scholarship to achieve the goal of completion of higher studies.

Higher studies had always been my dream and now this dream was going to come true. It was solely due to Chinese government which was providing an opportunity to millions of middle class students of different parts of the world to complete their studies in China on the funding provided by China scholarship council, an institute of Chinese central government to promote education and promote the friendly relationship between China and other countries of the world. All my family members were very happy to know this exciting news. My elder brother also shared this exciting news with his fast friend Mr. AzamRana whose guidance was the key reason behind this success as he provided me the right information about applying online for scholarship at the right time. He also blessed me best wishes and showed great happiness over this news.

There is a very famous saying in my country that you must get knowledge whether for this you have to travel towards China for this purpose. Perhaps it was said at old times as in old times it was not easily possible to move towards China from Pakistan due to the presence of Himalaya Mountains between Pakistan and China. But not I was going to China and my destination was city of ice, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang province; Harbin, located at Northeast of China. I used to feel myself cold when I used to think that I would be at Harbin soon. How China would be I often used to think. Would China be so as it looks in the movies of Jackie Chan and Jet lee? Do all the people of China practice kung fu regularly? Do Chinese people still drink hot boiled water? If so then how I would drink boiled water as it feels tasteless. How would be the height of people? Short as heard from many people or tall? How would I communicate with Chinese people? I would be unable to speak Chinese language there. Harbin is too cold then how I would survive there. These were the questions which used to rise in my mind and make me worry every day.

At last the day came when one day my all documents were ready and I had to go to Chinese embassy in Pakistan to apply for visa. Although there are a lot of Chinese companies and Chinese engineers are working in Pakistan but it was my 1st time to have a direct interaction with any Chinese so I was being a little nervous. On my turn when I entered the Chinese embassy located at Islamabad, I saw a Chinese who welcomed me with a very polite and friendly smile. That one smile won my heart and removed my nervousness completely. Please show me your documents along with your passport, he asked me politely. He viewed my documents thoroughly and after making necessary verification, he handed over me a receipt and asked me to come again after 3 working days to pick my passport with stamped visa. After saying Thank you Sir as a turned back I was extremely surprised as I listened him saying Thanks but the real reason behind my surprising feelings was that the word Thanks was spoken in my mother language Urdu. I turned back and looked at him with strange feelings and he was amusing with my feelings and passing a friendly and meaningful smile. That moment is still in my mind and would remain forever. It was the beginning of my friendship with Chinese people. It is said that the 1st impression is the last impression and the 1st impression of Chinese remained very good in my eyes.

At the stated date, I received my passport with stamped visa of China. Finally that time also arrived when I had to fly towards China. The polite staff of China southern airline warmly welcomed all the passengers of flight. Besides my seat in the plane, there was a Chinese person going back to China from Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. I started chat with him and he provided me very useful information about China in a very friendly manner. Before this time I had heard that Chinese people are very friendly and they mix up with strangers very soon and now this thing was proving true. After a short flight of two and half hours, I was at Urumqi international airport. The dealing and behavior of immigration staff was very nice and cooperative. I had a night stay at Urumqi city and the next day I had to get my flight to Harbin. The Chinese friend travelling besides me also helped me to locate the counter of Airline Company as they had to provide me transportation towards hotel.

Next day at 4 pm, I was sitting in plane which had to fly towards Harbin and I was worrying by thinking how I would arrive at Harbin city from airport and how I would find my university in the city of ten million people. Although my university was providing pick and drop service for fresh international students but due to our religious festival of Eid, I was late for a few days so now I was unable to avail the facility provided by university. With worried face I moved my head and found a Chinese man sitting beside me along with a graceful lady. I guessed they were husband and wife. He asked me something in Chinese language and I replied him in English language what are you saying.

It was something interesting and by considering that we both were facing language barrier he suddenly offered me tomatoes of small size to eat. I was surprised to look at these tomatoes. Feeling my hesitation he started eating tomatoes, perhaps it was a practical demonstration to motivate me to do same as being done. I suddenly replied but we only use tomatoes while cooking. Due to cultural shock my voice was a little louder and luckily I spoke this sentence in English rather than in my mother language. The word luckily is being used because my voice was heard by another passenger and she started laughing and by controlling her laughter, she said something in Chinese language to my neighbor passengers and they also started laughing. At that time I decided to follow a famous saying that in Rome, do what Romans do and I started eating tomatoes. Later after spending sometime in China I came to know that Chinese people also eat tomatoes as fruit. From that time, that woman started translating our conversation as she was an English teacher at a school in Harbin. When I told them that I belonged to Pakistan and came here for higher studies, they showed great pleasure and enthusiasm. About the friendship of Pakistan and China it is also said that The friendship between Pakistan and China is higher than the Himalaya and deeper than the depth of sea. That nice couple showed great politeness and cooperative behavior with me. During that journey I even did not feel that I was sitting between strangers, I felt as they were my own.
While perusing some stories trending across China this morning, I came across one about Chinese words becoming popular in the West. Such as tuhao, guanxi, dama --- wait a minute, this one hit a nerve. The Wall Street Journal describes dama as "bargain hunting" middle-aged Chinese women who "keep a tight grip on the family purse and an eagle eye on the gold prices in jewelry shops."

OK, I don't keep my eye on gold prices, but I do like a bargain. And as I pondered the definition of the word dama, I began asking myself, have I been in China too long?





The author with her son at Yudu Mountain in a surburb of Beijing, July 27, 2013. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

You see, I had been involved for a week now in a battle of wills with my local street vendor over some global brand knockoff sneakers. Basically, he wants to charge me more than twice what I want to pay, based on past purchases of said sneakers from other street vendors. I felt he was trying to "rip me off" with his inflated prices. But really, was $30 too much to pay for super comfortable stylish sneakers? Back in my American life, I never hesitated to drop $100 to $200 on running shoes or sneakers. Is this what almost four years of living in China does to one's sense of economy?

This started me thinking about other aspects of my life and my thinking that had undergone profound changes over the last four years. I no longer flinch when strangers invade my private space, I'm not bothered by people punching the 'close' button repeatedly on elevators. Crossing the street illegally while weaving between speeding vehicles  not a problem. Stepping off the curb into oncoming traffic  no sweat. No toilet paper in the public loo -- well, you get the idea.

I suppose assimilation is bound to occur anywhere you end up living. But this incident with the shoe vendor made me question whether I had become too local, in other words, too Chinese. And is that a bad thing?

Of course, being here hasn't just been about getting used to uncivilized behavior. For me it has also been a personal journey of finding my true identity. As a first-generation Korean-American who grew up in California, I've spent most of my life trying to get away from all things Korean and believing that I was actually American. But when I came to China, it was pretty clear that I would never be perceived as American here.

Instead I've come to embrace my Korean roots over the last four years. We are now part of the huge and growing Korean community in Beijing. More than 2 million Koreans live in China, including Chinese of Korean descent and Korean expats.

Still, we live quite a different life from other more traditional expats living in China. I work for a local state-run media, live in the company dorms, eat in the company-subsidized canteen, and send my son to a local Chinese school. Former colleagues from America live in the diplomatic residential compound, work for overseas media and send their kids to international schools. (Ditto for Korean expats, except for the working part. Most of them are housewives.)

Lately I am noticing the differences more acutely, and my condition can only be described as expat envy.

Still, living in Beijing has given us access to multi-cultural communities and friends, and exposed my son to three languages at an early age. If he can also end up learning and absorbing the Chinese reverence for one's elders, the infinite patience of Chinese men, and Chinese students' will to succeed, I think our time here will have been well spent.

Meanwhile, I think I will splurge and buy those shoes -- but only if he gives me a better price.



Please click to read more My China Stories




Please click to read more My China Stories



Taking a part in the Hunan Province Foreigner Photography contest has been nothing less than spectacular.



In China, Hunan province is an intermediate size province, the provincial capital Changsha is also regarded as a relaxed and chilled city in the eyes of the "big city dwellers" of China. However, there are many places in rural Hunan that are more than suited to captivate ones imagination and sense of wonder.





Itumeleng Makgetla [Photo provided to Chinadaily.com.cn]

This province has a bounty of tropical vegetation and contrasting topography ranging from the steepest of mountain peaks piercing into the ever misty skies to the deepest, darkest valleys and the fairest of plains sparsely straddled by dazzling rice paddies.

Amidst the natural scenery, the astonishing character of the province is imbedded in the age old culture dating as far back in time as three millennia. From the colourfully clad Miao people of Feng Huang to the traditional architecture of Xiangxi; it soon becomes clear to any traveller that the marvels of Hunan are vast and simply outstanding.

During my snapshot expedition of ZhangJiajie; a somewhat modest town westwards from Changsha, I had expected to discover a beautiful area to glance from behind the lens, since this area is synonymous to travellers from China and from abroad.



Its fame in the recent times is largely owed to James Cameron's blockbuster movie Avatar; which showcases scenes of unimaginable beauty of the flora and fauna.It was only upon arriving at the Tianzi Mountain National Forest Park that I got reminded of the wonders of nature; the constant and on-going battle of rivers cutting into stone and all else and everything standing between them and the open arms of the sea.



It is rather thought-provoking to even attempt to describe the vastness in scale of this wonder of nature. Driving on the bend-obsessed roads in between the peaks of the conjoined taluses, buttes and other countless and haphazard erections was at the same time breath-taking and frightening as my mind could not desist from drifting in to the perpetual what if mode. The thrill of standing on the roof of Hunan and being at heights at which very few birds find wise to soaris truly an experience to last for a long time yet. Tianzi Mountain National Forest Park's listing as UNESCOs world heritage site is certainly by merit.



Another wonderful sight is the Karst cave of Huanglong Dragon Palace. These caves are formed over a protracted periods of time. The beautiful stalactites hanging from the roof of the caves are a wonderful display of the artistry of both nature and science, these deposits of Calcium carbonate formed by the water cascading from the roof of the caves result in wonderful formations of various shapes and sizes, and thus gives and air of sublime splendour that is very pleasing to the eye a rather subtle but effective suppressant of claustrophobia as I have come to experience. The 13km caves can be navigated both by foot and by boat on the dark green streams entering and exiting the caves at a moderate speed.

Zhangjiajie is a must see, especially for the nature enthusiast and for all who wish for a get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Take time and immerse yourself in splendour of nature.

Itumeleng Makgetla is currently completing a Master Degree in Political Science at Hunan University, Changsha. He has been a writer for the South African Parliamentary Group based in Cape Town, South Africa.








Please click to read more My China Stories

In the interest of full disclosure, I must say I have known China for a very long time. My interaction with this country dates back almost twenty five years ago when I learnt how to read and write, and it dawned on me that quite a good amount of stuff around me carried the label, 'made in Shanghai China'.

Cecilia Asaj [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

When I joined the job seekers' club very recently, I held China in high esteem. It was, and still is a country I strongly admire to be a part of, leave alone longing to visit. My admiration is however disturbed by what I consider a rumor that long ago found its way through my innocent ears .about a certain machine, China made I suppose, which detected ones HIV status before departure at the airports. Apparently, when carrying the HIV virus in your warm blood, you were not allowed to travel abroad. Do not be surprised to know that the writer is a person living positively. Did I hear you gasp? Sorry, but we all know that this is just but a condition. Back to my serious point, it will be improper for me to analyze China's relations with my country Kenya as a smart calculation for the period we have closely interacted. That said, as a young, passionate, focused, job seeking Kenyan, I would like to make some observations, though some may be totally unrelated to China, but observations that may be helpful to China's admirers.

First, unlike any other successful country relating closely with Kenya, China has had to work twice as hard to be accepted by the Kenyan community. Given that China has been the most talked about manufacturer and contactor, it matters little that it is highly qualified as the manufacturer of the product in question or the contractor in the given section. China's economic and trade association with Kenya has become like its shadow following it wherever it is represented.

Most recently, it has been publicly acknowledged that there are some Kenyan folks, who, whenever they see a 'china man', they only see three things - A person who resembles all the rest from his origin, a manufacturer of short-lived stuff and a tae-kwondo guru. It seems like there is nothing China can do to change the Kenyan people's perception.

The second thing that China did that put it on a collision course with a section of the Diaspora is when it declared war on single sim card phones and introduced the twin sim make. Some Kenyans are notoriously critical on ideas they can never attempt to come up with, due to water melon brains, even though most are too ashamed to accept this fact.

The worst are the older generation, a majority kind of fall in the high and mighty group, who have become the gatekeepers of everything Kenya associates with, and believe that for anybody or any initiative to succeed, it has to have their blessings. Some have come up with ideologies that are completely baseless, not to mention how they aim at frustrating the low class citizens. So, when China comes on the scene and proves how successful China-made ideas can be, they take offense and draw daggers, when I thought they should take a step and find out how it was done; to add an idea or two to whatever they have, that is if they had any in the first place.

Third, China has closely liased with Kenya in the construction and engineering sectors, bearing almost excellent fruits to the economy of Kenya. You will agree with me that in the mid 80's, though I was barely five, Juja was nothing but a cluster of shanties. It has now seen tremendous growth and transformation with the demand for housing almost outstripping supply as a result of the swelling population catalyzed by yes, the high number of institutions of higher learning , but also sparked off by the unique Thika Highway. Land prices have shot through the roof with real estate becoming the main economic venture.

Let me tell you a very short story for free. I happened to be among the Mwiki residents a few years back; This is a small estate situated miles away from the city of Nairobi. Automatically Thika road is a familiar road to me, and I very well understand the humiliating mad traffic disease suffered by its users. So to speak, residents, not forgetting my brothers and sisters from Kayole, Kahawa, Roysambu, Maji Mazuri and many others carried the big law with them, and if broken, it meant you got the small laws, resulting into stifling restraints. It stated that, you shall rise up early and catch the early morning bus. Only this way, will you be able to evade the heavy traffic jam. Many are the days I reached the city very early in the morning and I was forced to sit or stand at a bus terminus having nowhere to go because the offices had not been opened yet. Let me not tell you the troublesome moments of enduring the morning chills and harassment from the city council cleaners who needed 'their space' to do their job well. However, there was a better option to this menace, whereby I could board the overly loaded 6.00 o'clock train and at least get to the city by 7.00 o'clock. The evening hours also carried with them a package that was frustrating to the borne, with a survival for the fittest policy being implemented. Truth be told, we finally heaved a collective sigh of relief at the construction of the Thika Highway. Thanks to Kenya China relations!

That said, the friendship and mutual understanding between the people of China and Kenya should take the next level. Allow me to point out that with the help of Kenya  China Economic and Trade Association and Kenya Overseas China Association, we can approach the problem of infant industries by implementing a policy of import substitution industrialization. But quick to handcuff some naughty entrepreneurs who may plan to exploit this set up by engaging in non-competitive and substandard production, overcharging consumers and failing to innovate and expand.

I pause to visualize that the problem of our domestic industries is three pronged; that is to say, cost of transport, energy and capital. Relying on road transport and not railway or maritime transport is a recipe for making sure that the factor inputs for a manufacturer will always be higher in Kenya than in China. But do I say? China has to chip in anyway. There is an African proverb that says, if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together .We all need to go far, quickly.

As we strengthen the relations between Kenya and China, my opinion is that, Kenya needs to borrow something from China. In my view, I see China as a unique country in many respects, which I may not be able to note here for fear that it might take a lifetime. Rather, it has special relations with Kenya. It has been, and still is a safe haven for many Kenyans when need be.

Today, the country continues to help nurture the deepening of the culture of constitutional democracy in Kenya. While still contemplating on how productive China has been in its performance, I keenly spot what makes it tick. There is this amazing air of humility, simplicity and contentment around the China people that is just so humbling and inspiring in equal measure. I will pen down to let you do your research.

Guess I am up with my China story. In closing, I must say Im least concerned about the next chapter in the Kenya  China relations, because it's not just a good venture, but it is also an initiative that will shine bright whenever fate lands it. I however believe that circumstances change and people must constantly change and re-invent themselves to fit into changed circumstances. However stubborn we may be, we must embrace change. In my view, such relations are the substratum of this universe - the space in which all good things happen.

It's been an honor and privilege to interact with China. I wish the Kenya  China Economic and Trade Association together with The Kenya-overseas Chinese Association only what they wish for themselves.
Please click to read more My China Stories



In my first couple of weeks of living in China I met many people and as well as hearing many introductions, I had to introduce myself, over and over again. Many Chinese people have English names they use in order to go easy on us 'laowai' (foreigners), but I try my best to address people by their Chinese names as I love the wonderful meanings they have. In fact, I am learning a plethora of new Chinese words just by learning people's names and asking what they mean. So far I have met people with names that mean strong, happy and wind, to name a few. I even met someone whose name meant that his parents hoped he would study hard'!

Khafi Kareem [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Being a 'Brigerian' (British-Nigerian), this inevitably reminds me of Nigerian custom where the meanings of names are highly important and parents go to great lengths to decide on a name for their child. This usually leads to children being given numerous names, with the aim of bestowing as much blessing upon them as possible. Taking the example of Yoruba culture, names are deemed so important that there is even the tradition of a naming ceremony; an observance that is specifically dedicated to celebrating the name a child has been given. Names may be based on circumstances of birth ie whether the child is a twin (Taiwo/ Kehinde), whether they were born on a holiday (Abiodun) etc, but many Yoruba names make reference to God, ie Oluwafemi (God loves me) or Oluwamayowa (God brought joy). I loved my cousin Subby's name; it was Ogooluwasubomi (pronounced oh-go-olu-wah-shoo-boh-me) and it means the glory of God surrounds me'. She passed away last year but whilst alive she truly lived that meaning, the glory of God really did surround her and she was a blessing unto everyone she met.

I never used to think of name meanings as that important and I remember when I was younger I would say that I would make up names for my children so that they would be unique and no one else would have them (pretty much what many celebrities are doing now). The more I've looked into it however and more people I meet here in China, the more I realize the power a name holds. It goes without saying that your name is a key part of your identity, but I am becoming ever more persuaded that names with meanings can have a bearing on your character and in some cases, even the kind of life you end up living. I daren't say that a baby comes out of the womb being an embodiment of his or her name straight away, but even if it is solely because of the power of the tongue/ affirmations etc, I do think that in most cases people reflect their names. For example if your name is Eniola ('person of wealth' in Yoruba), are you telling me that after a lifetime of people constantly professing that you are 'a person of wealth' with every mention of your name, that you won't eventually become that in one way or another? My first name in full is Khafilat and it means servant hearted'. Although there are times I am not very servant-like at all (like when I'm tired and I want to sleeeep), I genuinely love serving others and am at my happiest when doing so. Coincidence? I think not!

Okay so having said all that, (I really didn't intend for this to be a cultural lesson!) I am pleased to announce that I officially have a Chinese name.

It is

Wait for it

Keep waiting.

Coffee.

Or as google translate puts it:

Yep my Chinese name is Kafei (coffee). Initially, whenever I introduced myself to people in China, people kept remarking that my name is very similar to how you pronounce coffee in Chinese (kah-fay). Whilst it's quite funny, they said it made my name easy to remember (and it's a great ice-breaker!) so I've stuck with it. At first I thought for all the great Chinese names I've heard, that's a bit boring (and weird) to have as a name, but being the kind of person who tries to find the silver lining on every cloud as they say, I have found that coffee' is actually quite a befitting name for me.

Firstly, coffee is a stimulant. Even though during my first week here I wasn't as sprightly as usual due to the jet lag issue, I do bring energy and enjoyment to everything I do and I've been told that my enthusiasm is infectious, so I guess I do 'stimulate' the environment around me.

Secondly, have you heard the story of the carrot, the egg and the coffee bean? If not, google it! (Or watch Action Jackson recount it by clicking here.) The story is a metaphor for what kind of person you can be when going through life. In short, an egg, a carrot and a coffee bean are put into separate pots of boiling water and left to cook for a period of time. At the end of that time, the result is that the carrot went in hard but then came out soft and weak. The egg went in soft on the inside, but then came out hard both on the inside and out. The ground coffee bean was different however. It went into the water and changed the water, releasing flavor and fragrance. So although the carrot, egg and coffee bean each faced the same circumstance, for the coffee bean, the very thing that brought adversity (the boiling water) brought out the best in it!

So yes, my Chinese name is 'Kafei' and I hope to live the meaning and be a coffee bean!

What does your name mean?

Khafi Kareem is an avid traveller and language lover. She has lived and worked in China, Italy, America and France and speaks five languages. She is the founder of Language Experience UK, an organisation which helps young people experience the language and culture of the language they are learning through immersive theatre in education workshops.
China Daily website is inviting foreigner readers to share your China Story! and here are some points that we hope will help contributors.



Please click to read more My China Stories



Adventures are what make our life worth living. They can happen to you anywhere: when you are away from home, when you are walking on the street, or they can come with a curious encounter, in my case, for example.

August 2011 was my last month before the departure to Beijing. That year I was granted the second China Government Scholarship, and was patiently waiting the beginning of autumn to fully indulge in the exciting university life and Chinese language learning in one of the countrys best language universities, BLCU. But I didnt know that august would bring me an unforgettable meeting with one of the renowned traditional Chinese kungfu masters, Sui Yunjiang. He came to my city with a series of seminars and was to stay for a fortnight. I was asked to be his interpreter and had to accompany him and his wife during all that time, as well as Viktor who was the organizer and the host.







The author poses with master Sui at a Sui's birthday party. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to the Chinese tradition, we called Sui Yunjiang master Sui, shifu, or Sui laoshi. His personality impressed me deeply. Maybe it was a fate yuanfen, or something other, but it was not the first time I heard his name, since he used to come to my town every two years, mostly in august. However, I never saw him in person, nor did the translation for him. I lacked knowledge in wushu, but the master was very patient trying to explain to me every single word that I couldnt comprehend. He was already in his sixties at that time, but, giving credit to his sharp mind, he could find a way with the youngest disciples as well as the older ones. The two weeks that I had spent with that amazing family inspired me and I continued my kungfu practices in Beijing.

Master Sui is a practitioner of two Chinese traditional kungfu styles: baguazhang and meihuazhuang. The first one is more famous, and practiced worldwide. Shifu, who celebrated his 70th anniversary last autumn, became recognized due to baguazhang, especially in Russia. He is a fourth-generation of baguazhang masters and eighteenth-generation master of meihuazhuang masters. He used to train with Li Ziming, third-generation baguazhang master who called Sui Yunjiang one of his best disciples because of his diligence in practices. Moreover, Sui Yunjiangs life was tightly connected with Russia, when he was invited there in 1990 and even made an appearance in one of the programs on Russian TV. He stayed in Russia for two years getting experience of living in another country. He was warmly and kindly welcomed by Russian wushu practitioners, and since then was often invited to give seminars. His deep understanding of traditional wushu met recognition there and for the time being, his Russian kungfu disciples are among his most devoted students. Now Sui laoshi has followers in the USA, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Russia and Italy which made his name big in the world of Chinese traditional wushu.

The place where we practice kungfu deserves special mentioning. It is a little island in the heart of the city, Xizhimen. A park with a small river where dragon-shaped boats take passengers to the Summer Palace, is an amazing place with Russian spirit. Beijing is known to be home for many Russians, there is the largest Russian district called Yabaolu with many Russian clothing shops and food restaurants. But this place is something different. Tranquil, peaceful, enchanting, the park is hidden from the eyes of many, showing its true beauty only to those who is in pursue of the miracle. On the opposite side of the wushu training spot there is former Soviet Union Exhibition Center, which was renamed into Beijing Exhibition Center after Soviets and China Republics relations had come into turbulence. The earliest Russian cuisine restaurant Moscow was also placed in this picturesque area. Government officials who took office during that period used to have their lunches and dinners there.

During all these three years now that I have known him since our first meeting, he never stopped surprising me with his strong, yet sensitive personality. This is the person who having contracted cancer at such an old age, was able to recover and resume wushu practices on regular basis  five times a week. He is a person, who never loses enthusiasm and faith in people, always surrounded by friends and deeply loving him relatives including his daughter. Our lessons go far beyond simply learning kungfu technics. His teaching is more about life, about enjoying every single moment of it because it will not happen twice, about training our will and overcoming difficulties, about harmonious existence, and building relationships with other people. After every kungfu lesson, we are welcome into his house to drink tea. This is another lesson being taugh- the mastery of chadao, or tea ceremony. It was exactly in his home that I learnt and tried different kinds of tea. Cha fairy-tale. His amazing wife prepares tea ceremony every time we come back from the training.

Miracles are everywhere. For me, a miracle is meeting Sui Yunjiang. I love being a journalist, interviewing and writing about people from different paths of life, but Sui laoshi is the only person who made such a strong impression on me. I am not an exception. All his disciples admire him for his unique personality and value the knowledge of ancient tradition that master Sui teaches them.

The author first came to Beijing in 2009 to study Chinese in Beijing Foreign Studies University. Last year she graduated from BLCU, and now is juggling teaching and journalistic jobs in Beijing.
The author poses in front of the famous 5 Pavillion Bridge from Slender West Lake in Yangzhou in an undated photo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]



Please click to read more My China Stories

You are welcome to share your stories, and please send it to mychinastory@chinadaily.com.cn You are welcome to share your stories, and please send it to

I had a great experience recently. It's a Sunday in famous classical city of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province and I scored an unexpected role as a substitute judge of an English competition for kids. It's from a private school that runs classes in the smaller cities and towns including the backwater where my wife works. All these cute girls dressed up beautifully in their special party frocks and shiny leather shoes turn up to perform. Plus quirky boys with slicked or spiky hair and even boyishly smart casual dress. One tiger even had braces. They are aged 5 to 11 and they try so hard and they are so funny as soon as you get outside the set routine or even inside the set routine sometimes.



A cute Chinese girl in the English competition in Yangzhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

First they give a speech about themselves, their town, school and their family. The girls say they are beautiful (which they are) and the boys say they are handsome (which some are). Then they sing a song or recite a poem or story like how the sun is stronger than the wind because it can make people take off their coat. One girl sang ten green bottles. She didn't have a good voice and the Chinese judge next to me says "this song counts down from 10 to 1, doesn't it?" Mercifully the little girl stopped after 7 so we beamed our approval and she probably thought she did great, which is all true really. One nine year old even played the guitar for her song. Unfortunately that meant she turned her head away while she nailed the finger movements so I'm not sure what song she was singing.

After the first stage, I ask them some questions about a picture with no words. They are nervous, shy and some freeze and need to be crank started or come back later. Maybe some have not talked to a foreigner and are very shy. Most didn't know the answers because they learn by rote. And they are amazing as to what they can memorise. In that confusion of question time we have to say "that's all" and some knew they were finished. But for most we had to say "bye bye" with matching hand waving for them to realise they could go. Many long goodbyes were had.

We did that for about 40 charming, left field and would-be Leonardo di Caprio actors, eisteddfod queens and Little Miss Sunshines. I would have done the whole thing for free but I got paid 300 yuan for the afternoon. Plus some watermelon slices because it's a hot day.



Now the city of Yangzhou is famous for its Weiyung cusine, perhaps best known internationally as Yangzhou dan chou fan which is special fried rice literally Yangzhou egg fried rice. They are also famous for wonderful dumplings. So my wife and I went to a really authentic but inexpensive dumpling restaurant and we had these crab, pork and seafood soup filled dumplings (xiao long bao) that were to die for. It's a challenge to eat them as the soup spills forth in any way to wishes for the inexperienced eater. But it's a challenge worth taking again and again.

Now that was a day.



The author is an Australian Business & English teacher who has taught in China for over four years. He has worked in Nantong and Yangzhou, Jiangsu, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Huianan, Anhui and traveled widely in China.
Tess Humphrys [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Please click to read more My China Stories



You are welcome to share your stories, and please send it to mychinastory@chinadaily.com.cn You are welcome to share your stories, and please send it to

One of the potentially most traumatic things a girl has to go through is finding a new hairdresser.

Ok, I might be being a touch melodramatic, but we of the fairer sex will all be able to recall a time - if not multiple times - when we've left a salon and wanted to cry because of what someone has done to our hair (or not even a salon, like when your friend' Becks dyes your hair black instead of red).

So when I realised I was moving to Ningbo, one of my first thoughts was: "how will I get my hair cut?!"

Shallow possibly, but having had the same hairdresser for about eight years and at the time wearing my hair in a short style that needed regular maintenance, I was worried.

Fast forward four months. The contingency hair style that my UK hairdresser and I had devised had done its job - I had got this far without needing a trim. But the time had come, I could wait no longer

On the advice of many expat work colleagues I headed to Ningbo's Tony and Guy (T&G) salon  a chain of salons that are very well-known in the United Kingdom where I'm from.

At T&G here (I don't know about the UK as I've never visited a salon of theirs) you ask for stylists based on their seniority and price. Dithering over the list (did I risk the cheapest?!) I was told that the only person available was Alan, the most junior stylist.

"Hao de," I stammered, suddenly feeling a little nervous. As I was led into the hair washing room  all black pleather-clad walls and low-level lighting - I frantically scanned my memory for any hair-dressing related Chinese vocabulary I might have picked up. I had none.

As I lay on the very comfortable chair, having my hair washed, rinsed, washed, rinsed and washed, rinsed again I observed my fellow customers. "Yep," I thought. "They all have lovely straight, well-behaved hair. Good luck with my mane of curly unruliness Alan."

After the washing, I was led back to the main room to Alan who, with his perfect-coiffed quiff and trousers tucked into trendy little boots, looked anything but the stereotypical middle-aged man that comes to mind when you hear his name.

"Woyaozhege," I said, pointing to the parting he had just made in the centre of my hair, "zheli"  here, pointing to the right-hand side of my head. A silent nod from Alan.

"And another thing" I continued, scrabbling about in my handbag for my phone and Google Translate. "Wo de hair shijuanfa" my hair is curly (or words to that effect).

Another silent nod from Alan.

"Oh and one more thing," I said to the poor bloke. I gestured my fingers in the universal sign for cutting: "Yidian"  a little.

A final nod from Alan and he was off, snip snipsnip

Twenty minutes later and the time came for the blowdry. Having had many experiences in the UK, where hairstylists have insisted on drying and straightening my curly hair I didn't hold out much hope of walking out with the hair I was born with.

But Alan surprised me. Out came a diffuser hairdryer and mousse and Alan proceeded to dry my hair into a passably curly, if a little frizzy, style. And the cut looked good too, a side-parted graduated bob-type affair.

"Xiexie," I said with a relived smile. "Henhao" - very good.

A last silent nod from Alan  but did I detect a hint of a smile? I like to think I did and that Alan was just a little bit proud of himself for a job well done.

So, for the reasonable price of around 130 yuan I had survived, and enjoyed the outcome of, a wash, cut and blow dry in a country where I speak very little of the language. There've been times when I've not even managed that in the UK!



The author is British, born in Spain, and now living in China. When not working in communications and marketing in Ningbo, Zhejiang, she enjoys travelling in China and Asia, practising her fledgling Mandarin and writing about her experiences. At home her pet cat Tyrion (proving that she watches way too much TV) keeps her busy, requiring regular Taobao purchases of cat toys and treats.
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 that talks on the South China Sea dispute are likely within a year.

Speaking to reporters 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 Reuters.
Matvey Lykov and actress Mariya Poezzhaeva star the lead roles in the Russian romance Dragon. [Photo provided to China Daily]

It might not seem like a big deal, but Russian films have just squeezed their way into China's lucrative market.

On Friday, two heavy-effect Russian blockbusters, Dragon and The Crew (Trailer), simultaneously opened in the world's second-largest movie market.

On its opening day, Dragon, also known as He's a Dragon, topped China's imported films' box-office charts by raking in 18.2 million yuan ($2.73 million), followed by The Crew at 11.3 million yuan, according to the live tracker Cbooo.cn.

Unlike Hollywood celebrities who land only in Beijing or Shanghai, Matvey Lykov, the lead actor of Dragon, diligently toured Chinagoing from the northern city of Changchun to Fuzhou in the southeast to promote his debut feature.

Eight cities, one a dayfrom Aug 16 to 23made it an exhausting and rare roadshow even by Chinese standards.

From showing off his Mandarin to revealing that his favorite movie is Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the 29-year-old tried hard to connect with Chinese fans.

On his Sina Webo account, the Russian actor says he was closely watching the Chinese performance at the Rio Olympic Games.
Chinese delegates and Mongolian religious representatives communicate on the protection of Tibetan culture in Mongolia, Aug 21, 2016. [Photo/people.cn]

A delegation specializing in Tibetan culture visited Mongolia from Aug 21 to 23.

Organized by China's State Council Information Office, the delegates communicated in depth with representatives from the local colleges, media and religious groups in Mongolia.

Mongolian representatives expressed their interest in Tibetan culture and expect to have more cultural exchange and cooperation in the future.

Wang Yanzhong, head of the Chinese delegation, said Mongolia is an important country in the light of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The cultural exchange could help to facilitate the mutual understanding and boost the friendship between the two nations.

Mongolian religious representatives expressed their respect of Tibetan culture and the Chinese government's protection of it.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) meets with his Republic of Korea (ROK) counterpart Park Geun-hye (3rd L) on the sidelines of the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC, the United States, March 31, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Two days after the Republic of Korea and the United States began their annual military exercises to the south of the Korean Peninsula, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday.

The missile, fired from near the coastal city of Sinpo, reportedly flew about 500 kilometers before it fell into the Sea of Japan, farther than those in previous tests.

The test, which has once again violated UN Security Council resolutions, has further raised tensions in Northeast Asia and compromised international efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The possibility that the DPRK could one day arm ballistic missiles with miniaturized nuclear warheads poses viable challenges to peace and stability in the region, especially since Pyongyang has warned of preemptive nuclear attacks against its enemies in the face of what it perceives to be threats to its security.

Pyongyang will no doubt argue that the test was in response to the ongoing military exercises by the ROK and the US and the planned deployment of the US' Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system in the ROK.

Such tit-for-tat responses by both sides to the "provocative moves" of the other have created a vicious circle of hostility and suspicion that is fueled by fear and mistrust. This spiral of animosity will never end until the parties concerned sit down and talk.

The test-firing of the missile took place as the foreign ministers of China, Japan and the ROK were meeting in Tokyo, the first such meeting since March 2015. It is encouraging that despite the differences that have otherwise cooled relations among the three countries, they expressed their shared opposition to and condemnation of the missile test and called on countries to implement the sanctions imposed on the DPRK by the UN.

That the three neighbors share common ground on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is indispensible if a peaceful resolution to the crisis is to be achieved through negotiations.

China has, and will continue, to play its part in pushing forward efforts to make the peninsula nuclear free. But to overestimate the sway it holds over the DPRK, and to blame it for "a lack of pressure" over the latter is unrealistic and unfair.

The Korean Peninsula nuclear issue essentially stems from Pyongyang's existential concerns and the conventional weapons superiority that it perceives to be aligned against it. While opposing its nuclear program, China has consistently held that the DPRK's security concerns are genuine and should be addressed.

This is the only viable approach to ending the crisis and the one that China consistently upholds.
File photo taken on July 28, 2016 shows Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on stage with husband former US president Bill Clinton on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [Photo/VCG]

US Department of State officials confirmed on Monday that they had recently received nearly 15,000 emails from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the bureau's investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server. These were not among the 30,000 emails that Clinton's lawyers previously provided to the department.

The scandal involving Clinton's use of her personal account for classified emails, escalated after WikiLeaks released declassified emails indicating that she negotiated with high-level Democratic Party officials to be the party's presidential candidate and used funds donated to the party for her personal presidential campaign.

The disclosure in early August that the Clinton Foundation helped bring donors, some of whom have what US society believes is a "bad human rights" record, into contact with the US government, brought a new twist to the email scandal, given that it showed people the celebrity political couple's surreptitious earnings. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has even accused Hillary Clinton of committing a crime.

Public opinion in the United States is divided about how serious the problems revealed by the email scandal are and thus the outside world is more confused.

However, the "insider information" revealed from time to time in the US presidential campaign does reflect that the US' democratic system is by no means flawless.

Being embroiled in such a scandal in other countries would probably mean the end of a political career. However, the US society is a realistic one. Despite Trump's "nonsense" and Clinton's scandals, US voters will have to choose between them, because they have no other choice.

The US presidential system once helped the US ascend to the "crest of power", but the current presidential election seems to prove that "things can be done seriously although started as a joke".--Global Times Chinese Edition
Overview of Nanjing, capital city of East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 4, 2015. [Photo/VCG]

The local government of Yulin in Northwest China's Shaanxi province built an affordable housing community for local residents in 2014, and over 2,000 families have purchased apartments there. However, due to the lack of infrastructure, the community is not suitable for living in and over 90 percent of the apartments remain unoccupied. Beijing News comments:

Affordable housing is meant to be both affordable and livable. The affordable housing project in Yulin fails to serve its purpose since people cannot live in the properties as the local government failed to provide the necessary infrastructure for the community.

Did the government not take the infrastructure into consideration when drafting the plan for the community? Many officials participated in the plan; did none of them raise the issue?

What happened in Yulin is not an isolated incident. For a long time, problems have been reported with affordable housing projects in many cities nationwide, not just the lack of infrastructure, but also poor construction quality, exceedingly high prices, and incomplete paperwork. Reports about problems with affordable housing projects appear almost every year, but still the problems persist. Do local government officials not learn from the errors of their predecessors?

Affordable housing as a policy is designed to help those on low incomes realize the dream of having their own houses, but in reality they do not benefit from the affordable housing supposedly built to meet their needs.

More than 2,000 families have purchased apartments in the affordable housing community in Yulin, and they have in effect lost money as they cannot live in their homes. Who will compensate them or their losses? The affordable housing was built with subsidies from the government, who will compensate the taxpayers for their losses?

The problems with the affordable housing in Yulin reminds us, once again, of the need for stricter regulations on affordable housing. The whole process, from the selecting of the land to planning and construction, should be properly regulated, so that the officials responsible for any misdeeds or wrong decisions are held accountable.

Only in this way will we prevent the ridiculous situation of affordable housing built without infrastructure from being repeated in the future.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the governments in 26 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shanxi province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, provide old age allowances.

As well as a pension, the governments in these provincial regions provide old age allowances or nutrition allowances to local residents who are over 80 years old. The amount varies.

Tianjin provides an old age allowance of 500 yuan ($75) per month to residents aged 100 or older, which is the highest nationwide.

Zhejiang province provides an old age allowance of 30 yuan per month to local residents aged 80 or older, while neighboring Jiangsu province provides 300 yuan old age allowance per month.

Twenty of the 26 provincial areas have launched an old age support allowance and 17 out of the 26 regions provide an old age nursing allowance.

In Beijing, senior residents aged between 60 to 79 years with serious disabilities receive a 100 yuan nursing allowance and 100 yuan old age support allowance each month.

Tianjin provides the elderly with an old age allowance according to their actual situation. Rural impoverished households or parents of a single child living in rural areas who are over 80 years old can get subsidized favorably.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs urges the remaining provinces and regions to learn from the experience of these 26 provincial regions and launch old age allowances to assist the elderly as soon as possible.
Hao Jingfang, the winner of this year's Hugo Award for the Best Novolette for her short science fiction, Folding Beijing, on Aur 20. [Photo / Weibo]

On Aug 20, Chinese writer Hao Jingfang was declared the winner of this year's Hugo Award for Best Novelette for her short science fiction, Folding Beijing. Last year, the Los Angeles-based World Science Fiction Society had bestowed the Hugo Award for Best Novel to another Chinese writer, Liu Cixin, for The Three Body Problem.

Two Hugo awards in two years is by any means a great achievement because science fiction is not a genre in which Chinese writers excel. In fact, science fiction writing has almost come to a halt in China.

Only four major science fiction magazines are published in the country, with Science Fiction World being the most popular with a circulation of 500,000. That number may seem impressive, but actually is small given Chinas population of 1.4 billion. Besides, the combined circulation of the other three magazines is so small that only few people have heard of them.

In comparison, even though the American magazine Analog Science Fiction and Fact has a circulation of just over 100,000, it is only one of the many such magazines with similar circulation figures. Of course, the market for science fiction is much bigger in the West than in China.

Moreover, Chinese science fiction writers and their works both are small in numbers. On the amazon.cn list of 10 best-selling science fiction novels in the Chinese language, The Three Body Problem and Folding Beijing are the only two by Chinese authors, with the rest being translations of foreign writers works.

The awkward situation science fiction writers face in China has much to do with the past. For long, science fiction was mixed with popular science reading materials and its target readers were children. In fact, Ye Yonglie, one of the best science fiction writers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is popularly known as a writer of childrens literature because his science fiction works are mostly for children. And many bookstores keep science fiction works in the childrens literature section in the belief they are meant for children.

Another factor hindering the development of science fiction writing in China is lack of support from related sectors. After The Martian was released last November, the novel on which the movie is based became a bestseller and its author Andy Weir famous. But seldom has any Chinese science fiction work been made into a movie.

That's the reason why Liu and Hao deserve greater praise for their efforts. By combining the real life with the imaginary, the two have infused a breath of fresh air into the science fiction genre and widened its readership to include adults.

Hao's Folding Beijing depicts a city divided into three parts where residents take turns to enjoy life, reminding readers of the widening social divide across the world. In Liu's The Three Body Problem, lack of trust between different races in the universe is similar to the one that afflicts people on Earth. Their works are science fictions, no doubt, but raise many pertinent questions about human society and international relations.

That's the future Chinese science fiction writers should look at  reflecting real life in imaginary worlds - to attract more readers.

Another positive trend in Chinese science fiction works is the development of multiple products. A Chinese movie company bought the copyright of The Three Body Problem from Liu last year and the movie is expected to hit the screens in 2017. Plus a play based on the novel has been a huge success in Shanghai. Such ventures should give a fillip to science fiction writers in China, and we hope the movie and play based on Liu's novel are just the right start.

The author is a writer with China Daily. zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn
[Photo provided to China Daily]

During my last visit to Paris, the killing of a Chinese man moved me a lot. Chaolin Zhang was a dressmaker, a man like many others, hard-working, good father and happy to live on Earth. In honor of his memory, this is the context surrounding his death.

Aubervilliers, a Chinese settlement at the edge of Paris

Next to Paris, beyond its ring road, lies the city of Aubervilliers, one of the poorest suburbs of the French capital. High unemployment combined with an endemic poverty is the most pressing issue there.

However, for the past 20 years, a vast Chinese trading platform has stood there whose central axis is the avenue Victor Hugo, the author of the "Miserables" that describes the suffering experienced by the people in the early 19th century and their will to survive. On either side of the street, a multitude of shops sell a wide range of wholesale lingerie bras, panties, thongs, corsets and nightwear at competitive prices. The shop owners are native Chinese, mainly from southern Zhejiang, or to be more specific, from Wenzhou city.

Since the 80s, they have settled in successive waves in the Paris urban agglomeration. Many have chosen to establish their activities in Aubervilliers because of the proximity of Paris. When they landed there, the Victor Hugo avenue was an abandoned and deserted area, full of dilapidated building and ripped factories. People wandered the street hungry and homeless. By that time, drugs were seen to be a major problem and very damaging.

Chinese migrants revitalized the city

One by one, thanks to an unshakable determination and a time-consuming work, the Wenzhouren have refreshed and rejuvenated the street, re-modeling the shops, upgrading the storefronts. With their hard-earned savings and the support of their family, they gave life back to this city segment.

Over the years, this trade area emerged as one of the most dynamic inside France but also outside, towards Europe and Africa. People from all over the world come and purchase products here and then take them back to their cities, their countries.

This area has become a thriving commercial sector that contrasts with other neighborhoods still poor and often neglected.

This tremendous success caused a stir.

To the astonishment of many, the Victor Hugo avenue was reborn without any subsidies much as happens in France where normally the state plays a key role in the cities renovation.

As hopes are raised for the future of Aubervilliers, hard feelings and bitterness emerged in others communities, mostly from Northern Africa and Sub Sahara. Grudges and old suspicions fueled a somewhat resentment against the Chinese much criticized for their successful achievements and their apparent wealth. Petty jealousy degenerated sometimes into overt racism.

Local authorities' odd and unfair attitude

Instead of congratulating the Wenzhouren for their amazing work, they showed a surprising discretion. In a normal situation, they would have featured this success as an example of an excellent integration. This time, they kept a low profile.

Crowned with laurels-wreaths the Chinese have meant that other ethnic communities have a serious problem. Indeed, the registered unemployment rate is very high among the migrants coming from northern Africa and Sub Sahara around 30 percent while it is insignificant among the Chinese. While the later make a living from their own business, the first ones rely on social assistance and welfare payment.

Fearing to make it obvious this striking contrast, local authorities remained unusually silent. Some have suggested that the Mayor and its team didnt want to offend them for fear of losing votes on local election.

Moreover, very little have been done to strengthen the relations between the communities.

Clear discrimination against the Chinese

Due to the lack of an official constructive approach, prejudices and stereotypes of all kinds spread dangerously. Thus, since many years, Chinese are often victims of violence. Chinese are presumed to carry bundles of money. Petty crime, such as pick pocketing, bag snatching and theft has increased dramatically. The thieves come from the disadvantaged and underprivileged backgrounds of the city, the vast majority from Northern Africa and the Sub-Sahara. If they got caught red-handed, the sanctions are limited or non-existent. Repeat and dangerous offenders are getting sentences that are quite frankly, too lenient. Potential dangers posed by some are not taken seriously into account. The bad guys continue to roam the streets chasing their prey.

Once again, local authorities cast a veil of silence on the origin of the perpetrators of the violence. Likewise, the French anti-racist organizations always quick to speak up against racist attacks are silent on this matter. Furthermore, the French government response appeared slow and mainly unproductive. Does a Chinese deserve less than any other citizen? As a result, the death of Chaolin Zhang.

A growing awareness

Up to now, Chinese were reluctant to answer through the biblical lex talionis, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Over the years, protests occurred in particular in the Paris Belleville district where a huge Chinese community works there. But it has never been so far.

This time, this dramatic event gave rise to a new situation. It has created an adverse atmosphere. Some Chinese mention already the idea to set up a militia force to better protect them. Other say, with a catch in her voice, "We were Charlie! We are Chaolin Zhang!".

Despite the calls for calm, distrust is on every lip, now deeply engrained. No one dares to look into each other in the eyes. From now on, a hostile and dangerous climate prevailed between the Aubervilliers ethnic communities. Tensions will worsen in the short term.

Before others dreadful events occur, people of good will must take urgently on the challenge to bring back harmony between the people, this time, without ignoring the true, as it is, regardless the susceptibilities, being effective, going straight to the point.
Mickey Mouse performs at Shanghai Disney Resort. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

As the resort announced back in February, following the grand opening period and summer holiday high demand dates, Shanghai Disneyland's regular season pricing will begin Sept 1.

The regular price of admission to the park was set in February at 370 yuan, so the entrance ticket price will go from 499 yuan ($75) for to 370 yuan ($56) in September. Tickets for elderly, children and the physically disabled will go from 375 yuan ($56) to 280 yuan ($42).

Guests planning their visit in advance have been able to purchase regular-priced admission tickets for September since the day tickets to Shanghai Disneyland first went on sale on March 28.

Peak pricing of 499 RMB per standard ticket will remain in effect for select high demand dates such as weekends and holidays.

Related:

Wild and fun
The upcoming G20 summit will reflect a changing global political and economic landscape, according to a prominent scholar.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced in Beijing on Wednesday the list of foreign leaders coming to the summit, from US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin to India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the new British Prime Minister Theresa May.

"The G20 Hangzhou summit is expected to reach nearly 30 outcomes if all of us work together. That will make the summit one of the most fruitful ones," he told a daily press briefing.

The G20 summit, to be held in East China's scenic city of Hangzhou from Sept 4-5, will be the first hosted by China.

Cheng Li, director and senior fellow of the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution, said that the summit is being held at a time of serious concern about a global financial crisis, including strong anti-globalization sentiment.

He noted that China has been in a good position while some major industrialized nations have been haunted by populism and an anti-globalization mood, citing the recent Brexit and the ongoing US presidential campaign being run by Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement between the US and 11 other Pacific Rim countries.

To Li, major Western nations are gradually losing their edge while emerging markets, such as BRICS nations, have become increasingly active in the economic arena.

Unlike this year's G7 summit held in May in Japan, which is a club of developed nations, G20 includes major emerging markets. "This reflects the changing global political and economic landscape and the growing clout of the emerging markets," Li said.

China has been a major beneficiary of globalization and has been playing a big role in a wide range of areas, from the economic and trade sectors to finance and tourism, according to Li. "China believes that whether you want it or not, globalization is an inevitable trend," he said.

Under such circumstances, China can play an important role in such issues as poverty reduction and helping ensure financial stability and governance, according to Li.

Li described the anti-globalization sentiment now seen in some Western countries as a "brief interlude" and "tributary."

"The mainstream will continue to be further integration of the global economy. Isolationism is not the answer," he said.

Li believes that the world should better address any possible negative impact from globalization instead of resorting to isolationism.

The approach should be a better and more sensible global governance, a narrowing of the gap between rich and poor and also efforts to prevent possible crises caused by such things as terrorism, climate change and nuclear proliferation, according to Li.

"It is not about one country replacing another, but rather the collective leadership in global governance," Li said of the upcoming summit.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
(Photo : YouTube) Xiaomi is rolling out the Global Stable ROM update for its MIUI 8.

Advertisement

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi recently announced that the latest version of its operating system, the MIUI 8, is ready for a Global Stable ROM roll out. Xiaomi released the update on Tuesday, and it can be downloaded by eligible devices.



The MIUI 8 update was officially announced by Xiaomi on its forum last week. Based on Xiaomi's official announcement, the following devices are eligible to download the update: Redmi 1S, Redmi 2, Redmi 2 Prime, Redmi Note 3 Special Edition, Redmi Note 3 (with Qualcomm chips,) Redmi Note 2, Redmi Note 3G, Redmi Note 4G, Redmi Note 3, Redmi Note Prime, Redmi 3, Redmi 3S Prime, Redmi 3S, Mi Max, Mi Note, Mi 5, Mi 4i, Mi 4, Mi 3, Mi 2S, and Mi 2.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

Xiaomi added that only a handful of these devices would receive the MIUI 8 Global Stable ROM as an over-the-air update. These are the Redmi Note 4G, Redmi Note 3G, Mi 4i, Mi 2S, Mi 2, and the Redmi 1S. The rest of the eligible devices will start receiving the update "in the near future." Xiaomi also started rolling out the MIUI 8 China Stable ROM update on Wednesday.



Xiaomi said that eligible devices would receive a notification on their smartphone informing them that the upgrade is ready to be downloaded. Xiaomi added that users who do not get the notification can double check if their phones are eligible for the update using the Updater app. The official storage requirement of the update was not announced. Xiaomi has said in the past that when downloading updates, users are advised to use Wi-Fi connection rather than data subscription.



Advertisement

TagsXiaomi, MIUI, MIUI 8, MIUI 8 news, MIUI 8 global stable rom, MIUI 8 release, MIUI 8 official release
(Photo : Getty Images ) Philippines President Duterte has said there would be a bloody confrontation is China tries to take over the Philippines' territories in the South China Sea.

Advertisement

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a stern warning to China over South China Sea dispute.



Duterte warned China of a "bloody confrontation" if the People's Liberation Army (PLA) tries to invade his country's territory. "We do not want a quarrel. I would walk the extra mile to ask for peace for everybody," Duterte said. "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."



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

The Philippines President said on Wednesday that he wanted to resolve the territorial dispute between two countries peacefully. However, he stated that that Philippines' military should be ready to defend country's territory.



"We will not give it to them easily. It will be the bones of our soldiers, and you can include my own. We will not allow any country to bamboozle us. I will not allow it. So it's up to China," he said.



Durterte's remarks came a few hours after China hinted at the possibility of bilateral dialogue with the Philippines in the next couple of months. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Wednesday that the bilateral talks might take place "within the year."



The Philippines President has shown willingness to hold face-to-face talks with China to resolve the territorial dispute between two countries.



China and its South China Sea neighbors, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, have been engaged in a bitter dispute over the ownership of disputed in the region. Last month, a UN-backed international arbitration tribunal dismissed China's claims over the disputed region saying that the country has no legal rights to the contested territory.



Advertisement

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, Phillippines, Rodrigo Duterte
(Photo : Getty Images ) Japan is planning to upgrade its missiles on the Senkaku Islands.

Advertisement

Japanese media has reported that Tokyo is planning to upgrade its missiles installed in the Senkaku Islands to protect its ownership of disputed territory from the increasing Chinese military presence in the region.



The Japanese government is reportedly working on a plan to install an upgraded version of its medium range surface-to-air Type 03 Chu-Sam missiles on the disputed Senkaku Islands in East China Sea, according to Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. The government has allocated $270 million in next year's proposed defense expenditure for the project.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

"Chinese military aircraft are increasing their activity around the Senkaku Islands," the newspaper said. "The government aims to enhance deterrence by deploying the upgraded version of the surface-to-air missile."



Senkaku Islands, located in Japan's southernmost Okinawa Prefecture, has long been center of a territorial dispute between Beijing and Tokyo. China claims ownership of the uninhabited islands, which are currently being controlled by Japan. China recently conducted combat drills in the Sea of Japan, which led to further heightening of tensions between two countries over the East China Sea.



The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea held trilateral talks in Tokyo on Wednesday. China's foreign minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Fumino Kishida agreed to develop an emergency communication and response mechanism to prevent any misunderstanding and accident in the East China Sea.



Kishida urged Chia to cease all military activities in the international waters of East China Sea. "I strongly asked him to completely quieten the situation, prevent it from occurring again and improve the overall environment in the East China Sea," the Japanese foreign minister said.



Advertisement

TagsJapan, china, East China Sea, East Chine Sea Update, senkaku
(Photo : Getty Images ) China has censured North Korea for its latest submarine missile test.

Advertisement

China has joined South Korea and Japan in strongly condemning North Korea for its latest submarine missile test.



China's foreign minister Wang Yi along with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Wednesday criticized North Korea for conducting a ballistic missile launch early this week and urged Pyongyang to refrain from "provocative" actions. The foreign ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea held trilateral dialogue in Tokyo on Wednesday.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

"China opposes the developing process of nuclear missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, opposes any remarks and actions that will trigger tension, and opposes all measures that violate the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270," Wang said at a joint press conference with South Korea's foreign minister Yun Byung-se and Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida.



The United States described the submarine missile test as a "provocative destabilizing" action by the Kim Jong-un-led North Korean regime. "I think it should be a pretty good indication to you and everybody else that this is something that we're watching closely," the White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said on Wednesday. "We do continue to be concerned by the provocative destabilizing actions of the North Korean regime."



Washington also asked China to withdraw its objection to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to South Korea after the latest North Korean missile launch. Earnest stressed that the United States has made it clear to China that the missile system would be used for defense against North Korea.



Advertisement

Tagschina, North Korea, Missile Test, Japan, South Korea, THAAD, US
(Photo : Getty Images) Filipino authorities are attempting to nab a drug trafficking ring based in China.

Advertisement

China's ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, has been summoned by the Philippines government earlier this week over a drug trafficking network that Manila claims is based in China.



Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay informed a Senate hearing on Wednesday that the Chinese ambassador was summoned to explain the drug trafficking issue. He added that Manila would soon send an official communication to Beijing to "pursue this in a more aggressive note."



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

Speaking to Reuters, Yasay recounted his meeting with Zhao. "(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.



ABC News reported that the Chinese ambassador later sought information from Filipino officials to help in arresting the suspected Chinese drug peddlers. Zhao called on both countries to sign an anti-drug pact, as he dismissed the allegation that all the drug lords are from China.



Earlier on Tuesday, the Philippines police chief informed a Senate hearing that China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were the major hubs of illegal drugs business.



The Philippines has been on an overdrive to bust the drug trafficking network ever since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office nearly seven weeks back. Nicknamed "the Punisher," Duterte has promised to go tough on people involved in the illegal drugs business in the country.



President Duterte's anti-drug offensive has so far resulted in the death of more than 1,900 people, while nearly 700,000 drug users and drug peddlers have surrendered to police.



Advertisement

TagsPhilippines, china, China Drug Trafficking, Zhao Jianhua
(Photo : Getty images) Trump has accused China of being a "currency manipulator."

Advertisement

In a recent speech at Tampa, Florida, US Republican Presidential aspirant Donald Trump branded China as a "currency manipulator" and "worst abuser." In his address, the politician said that if elected, he would work to ensure that all countries working against trade agreements, among them China, would face serious repercussions.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

Trump guaranteed that if elected he would direct the Secretary of Commerce to identify every violation that is being used to harm American employees.



"China is the worst abuser," He said. "They have no respect for our country. They have no respect for our leadership. And we don't blame them. We want to put ourselves in that position very soon. You watch. And they will like us better than they do now."



Trump pointed out that an illegal military stronghold was being created in the middle of South China.



"They build and build and build, and they didn't get environmental impact statements when they decided to rip up the sea," he said. "I don't even think our politicians' even know what's going on."



Trump said that he would order his Treasury Secretary to brand China as the greatest "currency manipulator" when elected.



"Any country that devalues their currency in order to take advantage of the US and all of its companies who can't compete will face tariffs and taxes to stop cheating," he said. "China's unfair subsidy and her behavior are prohibited by the terms of its entrance in the WTO, and I intend to enforce our rules. That's all. Very simple."



"I want us to be on the winning side. We will be on the w inning side if you elect me on November 8. I promise. I will then direct all appropriate agencies to use every tool under American and International law to end the abuses," he concluded.



Advertisement

Tagsdonald trump, china, WTO, USA
(Photo : Getty Images) Taiwanese Vice President Chen Chien-jen is set to visit the Vatican. The Vatican is Taiwan's only European ally.

Advertisement

Taiwanese Vice President Chen Chien-jen would visit the Vatican next week, as Taiwan seeks to cement its relationship with its only European ally amid the growing rapprochement between Beijing and the Holy See.



During his six-day visit to the holy city, Chen Chien-jen will attend a host of functions including the canonisation of Mother Teresa. He would also attend a Mass and visit the birthplace of St Francis, the South China Morning Post reported.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

"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," Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung said after officially announcing the trip.



The Taiwanese vice president's visit to Vatican comes at a time when the holy city is making friendly overtures towards China. In February, Pope Francis praised China without making any critical statement about the country's restriction on religious practices.



China broke diplomatic ties with the Vatican following a complicated incident in 1951. Since then both countries have never shared any official ties. In the past, several attempts to restore diplomatic relations between both sides have failed due to China's condition that the Holy See cuts all diplomatic ties with Taiwan.



The Vatican is one of the 22 countries and the only country in the European continent that officially recognizes Taiwan. It is important for Taiwan to sustain ties with its only European ally to maintain diplomatic clout against China.



In the past, China has successfully poached several of Taiwan's allies by promising economic aid and investment. China claims that Taiwan is a wayward province that is awaiting unification with mainland China. Taiwan separated from mainland in 1949, following a prolong civil war.



Advertisement

TagsTaiwan, china, Chen Chien-jen, Vatican, China and Vatican, Taiwan and Vatican
(Photo : Puerto Princesa City) The Philippines has the world's largest pearl.

Advertisement

An unidentified Filipino fisherman living in the tourist haven island of Palawan to the west of Manila has made public what might be the world's largest pearl, a 34 kilogram (75 pound) behemoth he kept under his bed for a decade as a good luck charm. He didn't know it was a pearl.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

The pearl, named the "Pearl of Puerto" in honor of Puerto Princesa, the capital city of Palawan, is reportedly worth over $100 million. If gemologist do confirm it's really a true pearl, the Pearl of Puerto will also be the most expensive ever found. The pearl, which looks like a giant clam, is now on display in Palawan under heavy guard.



For its anonymous finder, the pearl will translate into $4.6 billion pesos, making him one of the Philippines' few billionaires and the first to make a fantastic fortune from a single gem.



The authenticity of the pearl, however, must be verified by a gemologist for it to be named the world's largest, a process that is likely to take place given the immense worldwide publicity this incredible find has generated.



Experts will likely use x-rays to peer inside the pearl to its center so they can count the gem's growth rings to estimate how long the giant clam worked to make this gigantic gem.



Media reports said the Filipino fisherman caught a giant clam on his anchor 10 years ago. He found the pearl after diving into the water to dislodge the clam.



The man kept the object, which he didn't know was a pearl, beneath his bed as a good-luck charm and touching it before he went fishing. He turned it over to his aunt, identified as Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao, who put the giant pearl on display at the Puerto Princesa City Tourism office where she works. She's now asking for gemologists to prove the pearl's authenticity.



All recorded giant pearls in the world came from the waters off Palawan. The current world-record holder, a pearl weighing 24.7 kg (54 pounds), was found in Palawan's waters in 2014.



Advertisement

Tagspearl, Palawan, Pearl of Puerto, Puerto Princesa, Philippines, fisherman
(Photo : CSIS/Philippine Navy) Chinese radars on Cuarteron Reef (top) and Subi Reef (bottom).

Advertisement

China continues building military radar stations on seven reefs in the Spratly Islands, some of which it seized illegally from the Philippines, that extend the coverage zone of its anti-access, anti-denial (A2/AD) network in the South China Sea.



Military radar stations have been built on Cuarteron Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Gaven Reef, Hughes Reef, Johnson Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), an interactive website that aims to promote transparency in the Indo-Pacific to dissuade assertive behavior and conflict. It also works to generate opportunities for cooperation and confidence building.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

AMTI's website can be seen here. AMTI was conceived of and designed by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank based in Washington D.C. AMTI says it and CSIS take no position on territorial or maritime claims.



AMTI believes these Chinese radar stations constitute a network that together significantly expand the real-time domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) over a large portion of the South China Sea. The stations will allow China to better track military aircraft of the United States, the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations standing-up to China's coercive diplomacy.



China keeps insisting these radar installations will be used to support search and rescue. Experts said the reality is these stations are critical to the PLA's keeping control of the islands China should have returned to its rightful owners following the July 12 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that nullified China's nine-dash line and with it China's claim to own the South China Sea.



AMTI said these dispersed radar systems extend the PLA's ISR capabilities throughout the South China Sea. It will allow better real-time tracking of warships and military aircraft transiting the South China Sea.



AMTI also noted that China is building satellite uplink equipment to its Beidou-GPS system on many of the features. Satellite communications equipment permits reliable over-the-horizon targeting for China's anti-ship ballistic missiles. It also extends the zone covered by China's A2/AD network to maneuvering targets such as U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups and other Navy warships.



Advertisement

Tagschina, seven reefs, spratly islands, South China Sea, radar stations, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Center for Strategic and International Studies, nine dash line
(Photo : Getty Images) China is providing medical training and important healthcare supplies to Syria.

Advertisement

China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that it is offering medical training and important healthcare supplies to Syria, following a high-level visit to the country by a senior Chinese military official last week.



"China has always played a proactive role in looking for a political resolution for the Syrian issue. At the agreement of both countries militaries, China has provided medical equipment as well as medicine and other humanitarian aid to Syria, mainly to ease the humanitarian crisis," China's defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a news briefing.



Like Us on Facebook

Advertisement

Wu added that China would also provide medical training to Syrian professionals. The training will take place in China, Reuters reported



The issue of humanitarian aid was discussed last week in a meeting between Guan Youfei, a senior Chinese military official, and Syrian Defence Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij. China wants to strengthen military ties with Syria, Guan said after the meeting.



While China has shied away from direct military intervention in Syria, it has been pushing for a political resolution to the on-going insurgency in the Middle Eastern country. Beijing has hosted several officials from the Syrian government and opposition parties and has also sent many envoys to war-ravaged country to resolve the crisis.



Syria has been hit by a deadly civil war following a violent mass movement against President Bashar al-Assad's government in 2011. Many countries including Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have been militarily involved in Syria's civil war.



Traditionally, China has stayed away from politics in the Middle East contrary to the constant intervention by US and western forces. However, China's foreign policy for the oil-rich Middle Eastern region underwent a huge shift earlier this year after President Xi Jinping went on an unprecedented tour of Middle Eastern countries including Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.



Advertisement

TagsSyria, china, China and Middle East, China and Syria
(Photo : Christianity Daily) Pastor Sam Park, the lead pastor of Community Church at Holliston, preached during the joint Easter Daybreak Service hosted by NexGen Pastors' Fellowship in 2015.

A vast majority (83 percent) of Americans are most influenced by the preaching when searching for a new church, according to a recent report by Pew Research Center, which focused on frequency and reasons for changing churches or house of worship.

About 50 percent of American adults said that they had searched for a new congregation at least at one point in their lives, and most of whom cited moving as the reason for moving to a different church.

Some 79 percent of American adults looking for a church said that feeling welcomed by leaders was the next most important factor, other than preaching, in choosing a new congregation.

Style of services (74 percent) and location (70 percent) were other crucial elements in the choice of new worship place.

Education for kids (56 percent), having friends or family in congregation (48 percent), and availability of volunteering opportunity (42 percent) were other reasons considered important by those looking for a new congregation.

Only 19 percent of the people said that they changed the church because of some theological reason or any dissatisfaction at the previous house of worship.

About 85 percent of the people looking for new church attended the service first-hand before making a decision to join a church, while 70 percent had done so on recommendation of members of congregation or friends. Some 55 percent had spoken with clergy at the congregation.

Only 37 percent had looked for the church information online before making the decision, while 19 percent had called up the church.

About 28 percent of Americans said that finding a new church was not easy, and nearly 40 percent said they were not happy with at least one characteristic of the new church. Some 26 percent had theological differences with the church they tried to join.

Accessibility of churches (24 percent) was a factor which made it difficult for the new attendants to make it regularly to the church. Some 23 percent of the people were not satisfied with the fellowship at the new congregations they considered at some point in their lives.

The findings of this report were based on Pew's Religious Landscape Study in 2014, which interviewed over 35,000 adults over phone. An additional 3,000 people were added to further explore these religious trends.

    press@cdaily.co.kr



- Copyright ,    

#NewChurch
Christian children's home rejects $100 donation from atheist, who then raises $24K to shame it 25 August, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (Christian Examiner)  A children's home founded by a Baptist missionary among the Native Americans of Oklahoma just after the Civil War has taken a costly stand to honor its commitment to God.

According to a press release from the Murrow Indian Children's Home in Muskogee, the group will not accept a large donation from a group of atheists because the atheists asked that the donation be recognized as given "In Honor of the Muskogee Atheist Community."

The press release, which does not contain the name of a contact for the children's home, said the home was founded on biblical principles that "include believing and trusting in the Trinity; God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

UPDATE: Children's home forced to shut down Facebook page after being trolled by atheists

"To accept money for an advertisement which would indicate 'In Honor of the Muskogee Atheist Community' in the advertisement, would be contrary to those biblical principles upon which we at Murrow stand. We are Christians, believing in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit," the statement said.

On Aug. 22, Matt and Keli Wilbourn  members of the Muskogee Atheist Community donated $100 to the children's home. Within an hour, according to Wilbourn, the donation was returned because of the request to see it noted as being in honor of the atheist community.

Murrow cannot Honor the Atheist non-belief in God our father, and Honor God our Father under our biblical principles. Those two positions are totally opposite of each other. Therefore, we must respectfully decline the donation and the request to Honor the Atheist Community with the donation in an advertisement for a Murrow fundraising event.

Afterward, Wilbourn raised the donation to $250 but the children's home would still not accept the gift in honor of the atheist community.

"We appreciate the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Wilbourn for their thoughtful donation to the Murrow Children's Home. This decision is not about money or personal matters. It is solely about our religious beliefs and Honoring God our Father," the statement from the children's home said Aug. 24.

"Murrow cannot Honor the Atheist non-belief in God our father, and Honor God our Father under our biblical principles. Those two positions are totally opposite of each other. Therefore, we must respectfully decline the donation and the request to Honor the Atheist Community with the donation in an advertisement for a Murrow fundraising event."

The children's home also said it hoped the donor would "respect the biblical principles of the Murrow Foundation for over 100 years and understand why our principles are different and that we must Honor our God."

Wilbourn, however, wouldn't leave it there.

He started a GoFundMe page inviting atheists across the country to donate to the cause. So far, more than $24,000 has been raised  and so has the ire of the atheist community.

The page is replete with comments about "shameful" Christians, and even some comments from Christians  including one Southern Baptist  who claim the charity is "doing it wrong."

Another atheist site also publicized the refusal. That site is drawing even more vitriolic comments.

One commenter wondered if the children at the home are "ferociously indoctrinated," while another called the children's home staff "hateful, hateful Christians."

Another, however, said the Christians were placed in a "dreadful position" and encouraged his fellow atheists to be more discreet when giving  without trying to make a case for atheism when doing charitable giving.

Dale Wilbourn, atheist Matt Wilbourn's father, also commented:

"I am Matt's Dad. 64 Year Old Cherokee Indian. Yes, my son Matt has Cherokee blood running through his veins. I am very proud of him. In fact ... To quote another famous 'author' (?), MATTHEW 3:17 KJV, 'And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.' King James Bible."

Wilbourn has announced plans on the GoFundMe page to give all but $5,000 of the money to Camp Quest Oklahoma, a camp giving children of "freethinking parents" a place to improve humanity through "rational inquiry, critical and creative thinking, scientific method, self-respect, ethics, competency, democracy, free speech, and the separation of religion and government."

But Wilbourn said the remaining $5,000 donation will be given to the Murrow Indian Children's Home through an anonymous donation. If the home will not take it, Wilbourn said he would give it through one of the churches who criticized the home for not accepting his original donation.

"I'm sure that one of them would be glad to donate the money to Murrow and I trust that they will. Whether the Murrow Home likes it or not, they are getting $5,000 for those children from all of this," Wilbourn wrote on the GoFundMe page.

On its website, the Murrow Home praised God's provision for the home for more than 100 years and the workers who volunteered to help build and sustain the home.

"Murrow would not exist without the hard work, donations and financial support of selfless men and women of God," the website claims.
Iranian police have reportedly arrested 450 Snapchat and Instagram users who have been accused of fashion crimes.

Stream.org reports that the official charge levelled against these social media users was illegal activities in the field of fashion.

Irans Islamic Republic has strict rules for dress, especially in regard to women.

These people were carrying out immoral activities, insulted religious beliefs or had illegal activities in the field of fashion, reported Irans Gherdab news source.

The punishments for these fashion crimes were severe in some cases. Six Iranian citizens were arrested and sentenced to a year in prison, as well as 91 lashes.

This punishment was meted out because the suspects were shown dancing to Pharrell Williams's song Happy in a video.

Stream.org reports that social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are banned in Iran, although it is fairly easy to access them, and 40 million Iranian citizens are reportedly online.

Iran is currently trying to crack down on Iranian users of the internet, but since so many are online, this could prove difficult.

Publication date: August 25, 2016
An angry mob of radical Muslims in Nigeria vandalized churches and ended up killing eight fellow Muslims after a Christian student was accused of blasphemy against Islam.

The Christian Post reports that the conflict began when a Christian student and a Muslim student got into an argument. The Christian student was accused of insulting Islam and was beaten nearly to death by radical Muslims.

The student was saved when another Christian student, as well as a sympathetic Muslim student, intervened.

However, the Muslim mob continued their spree of violence by vandalising churches and killing eight people.

"They went to ECWA Church, Living Church, and Anglican Church. They vandalized the Anglican Church pastorium, destroying electronics and other property. I heard they also burned down the home of the rescue volunteer Muslim man (who assisted the attacked Christian student to the hospital), trapping and killing eight persons inside who, sadly, happened to be Muslims also," said Anglican Bishop of Zamfara, Rev. John Danbinta.

Danbinta called security forces who stopped the mob from causing more destruction and death.

Nigeria has been wracked by violence perpetrated by Islamic extremists like the Boko Haram terrorist group and the radical Fulani herdsmen.

Troy Augustine, the regional manager for International Christian Concern, stated, "If Nigeria is to be considered advancing in human rights and religious freedom, the government must take concerted steps to curb such violence and prosecute the people responsible.

Publication date: August 25, 2016
A report by Pakistans National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) says the government has failed to keep its promise to eradicate religious hate material from textbooks used in schools.

When a Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in Dec. 2014 led to the loss of least 141 lives, including 132 students, it brought about a policy change in Pakistan. The government introduced a 20-point National Action Plan to discourage religious extremism and to provide a counter-narrative to promote religious harmony in the country, saying an end to religious extremism and [the] protection of minorities will be ensured. However, the NCJP report, Freedom from Suffocating Education, claims that no curriculum reforms have been adopted at the school level, aside from the production of a few booklets.

This backs up the findings of another recent report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which concluded: The trend toward a more biased curriculum towards religious minorities is accelerating. These grossly generalized and stereotypical portrayals of religious minority communities signal that they are untrustworthy, religiously inferior, and ideologically scheming and intolerant.

The NCJP report, which focused on textbooks used in the 2015-16 school year, noted that hate material previously identified had not been removed from the curriculum. It also noted that Pakistans Sindh Assembly had failed to keep its promise to include the complete text of Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnahs speech of 11 Aug. 1947, in which he said:

You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed  that has nothing to do with the business of the State.

Only a small portion of the speech is included in textbooks, it noted.

On 14 Dec. 2014, two days before the Peshawar school tragedy, the Punjab home secretary briefed the Supreme Court of Pakistan about curriculum reforms. He said students would be taught that we are all members of the one human race, with similar challenges, and we cannot confront these challenges without forging a common alliance  The message of all faith is common and for benefit of the entire humanity.

No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction  other than his own, states Article 22(1) of Constitution of Pakistan. However, Cecil Shane Chaudhry, the general secretary of the NCJP, told World Watch Monitor: Non-Muslim students opt to study Islam so that they are not stigmatised in the classroom.

Chaudhry added that good marks are easily obtainable in Islamic Studies, rather than the more general subject of Ethics. Ethics textbooks are not available in the market and, in schools, no teachers are available to teach this subject, he said. Also, Ethics books are written from an Islamic viewpoint and the students who select Ethics are stigmatised by teachers and students.

The NCJP study also questioned policymakers on this subject, saying: If Ethics can be a substitute for religious studies for non-Muslim students, then why cant it be equally beneficial for Muslim students?

Meanwhile, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the conservative Jamaat-e-Islami party has from primary school textbooks, such as pictures of unveiled females or any depictions of the Christian faith.

Report round-up

The NCJP study cited several passages from textbooks that teach falsehoods about other religions, or criticise or encourage animosity towards them:

 The Punjab Textbook Boards Class III (ages 7-8) book on Urdu teaches that Islam is superior to all other religions.

 The Sindh Textbook Boards Class VII (ages 11-12) book on Islamic Studies teaches: Most of the [other] religions of the world claim equality, but they never act on it.

 The Punjab Boards Islamic Studies textbook for Class VIII (ages 12-13) reads: Honesty for non-Muslims is merely a business strategy, while for Muslims it is a matter of faith.

 For Class VI (ages 10-11), the Punjab Boards Islamic Studies book says: For the person who is not in financial need, is not governed by a tyrant and still does not perform [the pilgrimage to Mecca], it does not make a difference whether he dies as a Christian or a Jew.

 The Punjab Boards Class VI book on Islamic Studies says: Though being a student, you cannot practically participate in jihad, but you may provide financial support for jihad.

 The Punjab Board Class V (ages 9-10) Social Studies book says: Religion plays a very important role in promoting national harmony. If the entire population believes in one religion, then it encourages nationalism and promotes national harmony.

 The better a Muslim we become, the better a citizen we prove to be, says the Punjab Boards Class IV (ages 8-9) book on Urdu.

Every textbook continues to use the Urdu word Isai (derived from Isa, the Arabic word for Jesus used in the Quran) for Christian. As World Watch Monitor has reported, the word now carries strong overtones  from colonial times  with the unclean demeaning occupations done by the lowest castes.

History

History is a subject of particular contention in the report. Pakistani textbooks refer to centuries of Islamic rule and jihad in the Indian subcontinent. However, Pakistani historian and author Dr. Mubarrak Ali told World Watch Monitor: It is wrong to say Islamic rule or Hindu rule. The Indian wars were political conflicts and not religious conflicts. The political conflict in the Indian subcontinent is seen as a religious conflict, which is why history is described in a binary opposition. We want to see history in black and white, while multiple facts decide one incident.

Here are some of the other contentious or inflammatory passages cited in the report:

 The Pakistan Studies book from the Punjab Board for Class IX (ages 13-14) students says: The free status of Islam and Muslims was hurt with the establishment of British rule. Muslims under non-Muslims remained enslaved and coerced.

 The Sindh Class VIII book on Social Studies says: The influence of Christian priests increased greatly [during British rule]. Christian priests were able, with the help of their government, to openly preach their religion.

 The Class VII Baluchistan Textbook Board book on Urdu says: The British  feared the Muslims, being the true inheritors of the rule of India, could become a danger for them anytime.

 Another book shows that the accusations against [Mughal Emperor of India] Aurangzeb of bias towards Hindus are purely a fabrication of the narrow-minded Hindus and treacherous British, says the Punjab Boards Urdu textbook for matriculates (ages 15-16).

 The Class V book on Islamic Studies by the Punjab Board states: The Muslims ruled the Indian subcontinent for about thousand years with magnificence, but they did not forcibly convert a single Hindu. If they had willed, then today there wouldnt even be a trace of them in the subcontinent. But Muslims showed great tolerance and even raised Hindu to high positions.

 The Punjab Boards Class VI History book reads: Most of the population of Delhi consisted of Hindus who considered Muslims strangers. They  were always busy in thinking about getting free from the rule of Muslims. Hindu landlords used various excuses to not pay land revenue and even sometimes descended into revolt. The Hindus were so much encouraged by [Emperor] Akbars pro-Hindu policies that they started demolishing mosques and shrines and started building their temples in their place. Wherever Hindus were in majority, they brutalised Muslims.

 The History textbook for Class VIII students, published by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board, reads: Sikhs used to do many brutalities to Muslims and did not allow them religious freedom  The British did not trust Muslims and the policy of injustice and brutality hurt economic and educational conditions of Muslims. And the discriminatory attitude of Hindu landlords further made their condition worse. Under the influence of Hindus, they adopted several heresies.

 The Punjab Boards History textbook for Class VII states: In those days, Sikhs ruled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sikhs had made the life of Muslims terribly difficult. Syed Ahmed Shaheed decided to wage jihad against Sikhs.

 The Punjab Board Social Studies book for Class VII says that Bangladesh became its own independent nation in 1971  no longer East Pakistan  due to a conspiracy of enemy countries of Islam."

Courtesy: World Watch Monitor

Publication date: August 25, 2016
Evangelicals are sensitive to what we call God momentswhen circumstances fall together in a way that suggests God is at work in our lives in a fresh way.

Mainstream white evangelicals have experienced collective God moments. In the 1970s, few churches concerned themselves with the relief of world hunger. Then Ron Sider wrote Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and before long, we just assumed that evangelicals should be concerned about hunger. Before Roe v. Wade, abortion was sidelined as a Catholic concern. But after the advocacy of Francis Schaeffer and others, we quickly saw the great evil that abortion is. These were God momentstimes when our Lord graciously gave us moral clarity about an issue he was calling us to engage.

We are currently experiencing a new God moment, when God is shining his burning light on how our nation and our churches are fractured by racial division and injustice. In the past two years, weve seen image after image of injustice perpetrated against black Americans. Weve studied the statistics. And most important, weve heard the anguished cry of a suffering community that is understandably hurting, angry, and demanding progress.

Moderate white evangelicals, who make up the bulk of our movement, see more clearly than ever how racism is embedded in many aspects of our society, from business to law enforcement to education to church life. We have been slow to hear what the black church has been telling us for a while. And in all that, we hear God calling his church to seek justice and reconciliation in concrete ways.

To be evangelical now means to be no longer deaf to these cries or to Gods call. In 2012, only 13 percent ...

1

You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access.

Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
I first visited Grace and Truth Christian Congregation in Israel in the summer of 2007. It was Saturday, the room was packed, and the sermon was preached in Hebrew. After the service, an elder named David Zadok introduced himself and invited me and my friends to his daughters bat mitzvah that evening. We hava nagilad, and afterwards, he drove us to the plot of land that would house the first church built on Israeli soil since it became a state in 1948.

Born in Israel, David moved to Iran at the age of three to live with his uncle. He was a teenager when the Islamic Revolution in Iran started to escalate, prompting his uncle to send him to San Diego. During his senior year of high school, his cousin invited him to a Navigators Bible study on the campus of San Diego State University. Reared in a synagogue, David was caught off guard when two men spoke with him about how the Old Testament messianic prophecies pointed to Jesus: I was quite perplexed. I had never heard that Jesus was the Messiah, never heard that he was even Jewish.

David eventually embraced the Messiah and devoted his life to serving the church in Israel. He now serves as Field Director of Christian Witness to Israel (founded by Scottish pastor Robert Murray MCheyne in the mid-1800s), directs the HaGefen Publishing House (which produces and translates Christian literature into modern Hebrew), and preaches around the globe. In 2012, he became the pastor of Grace and Truth, leading the congregation through one of the most critical landmarks in the history of the church in modern-day Israel: moving into its very own new building.

The history of Grace and Truth Congregation closely intertwines with the history of Israel. Founded in ...

1
home World Bishops rebuke Nigeria's health minister over alleged abortion legalization plans

A group of bishops condemned the collaboration of Nigeria's health minister with foreign groups and their plans to encourage Nigerian women to consider contraception, citing that it is anti-life and leads to abortion.

After the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ibadan Ecclesiastical province three-day meeting in Akure, Ondo State, the Church leaders released a statement signed by conference President and Archbishop of Ibadan Gabriel Abegunrin and Secretary Bishop Felix Ajakaye. The statement criticized the recent move of the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, according to Vanguard.

"The policy is being done all in the name of providing better maternal health and empowering our people," it read. The bishops said the collaboration aimed for the federal government to increase "the culture of contraception and subsequently, abortion among our people." It went on further and said, "We see such moves as deceptive to our people and harmful to moral values and we ask Nigerians to reject them."

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, abortion is not allowed in Nigeria and has a heavy sentence of up to 14 years of imprisonment. Despite this, a rising number of abortions are performed illegally, often risking the lives and health of women.

According to a United Nations document, abortion in Nigeria is illegal and considered taboo. It is only permitted to save the life of the pregnant woman, to preserve physical health, and to preserve mental health. Abortions that adhere to these standards are considered legal. To ensure adherence, two physicians are required to certify that the pregnancy poses a serious threat to the life of the woman. Nigeria has two abortion laws: one for the northern states and one for the southern states. Both laws specifically allow abortions to be performed to save the life of the woman.
home World Cuba continues to confiscate and demolish churches

Violations of religious freedom in Cuba had increased between January and July 2016, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The religious freedom advocacy group documented a total of 1,606 cases of violations that included demolition and destruction of Church buildings, destruction of Church property, arbitrary detention and seizure of property of religious leaders.

The report by CSW noted that there are over 1,000 illegal Protestant churches that are still under the threat of confiscation. CSW stated that the strategy of the government before a church demolition is to block the main roads surrounding the church. Pastors and their family members are then be dragged out of bed very early in the morning to detain them for the duration of the demolition.

The report pointed to a case on Jan. 8 when 40 Church members were detained to prevent protests. Another case mentioned was an incident on Feb. 5 in Santiago de Cuba when state security agents detained 40 Church leaders and community members in a local school. Bulldozers were used afterwards to destroy the churches. The demolition in Santiago also destroyed the pastor's family home, according to the report.

CSW made recommendations to the government of Cuba as well as the United States and the European Union in an effort to stop violations of religious freedom. The organization called on the E.U. to urge Cuban officials to legalize all churches and requested the U.S. to raise violations of freedom of religion with Cuba "at every opportunity."

In particular, the group called on Cuba to reform Legal Decree 322, a law meant to regulate private property. CSW reported that it was a tactic used by the government to confiscate church property.

CBN reported in March that Cuba's crackdown against political dissidents had only increased since President Barack Obama normalized relations with the country in 2014.

Dr. Jaime Suchlicki, director of Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the Miami College of Arts and Sciences, told CBN that President Raul Castro fears that openness with the U.S. might embolden dissidents. Suchlicki said that Castro's need to maintain control will most likely overpower the need to improve the state of human rights in Cuba.
home World Egyptian Coptic Christians concerned about amendments to bill on restoration of churches

The Coptic Orthodox Church criticized the Egyptian cabinet regarding the amendments made to a bill about the restoration and building of churches in Egypt.

According to Ahram Online, the bill had previously been approved by the Evangelicals, Orthodox and Catholics. The Orthodox Church, however, released an official statement on Aug. 18 stating that it was "surprised by unacceptable amendments" and "impractical additions" made by the government to the draft of the bill.

The statement did not specifically mention the actual amendments but it claimed that these will "pose a threat to Egyptian national unity due to the twists and obstacles that such amendments hold."

The Evangelical Church also issued a statement calling on the government to take the concerns of the Egyptian churches into consideration. Coordinating Group on Citizenship and Civil Forces, a human rights advocacy group composed of intellectuals and Coptic activists, said that Church representatives were being "pressured" to accept a bill that would "lead to the return of crisis."

Ahram Online reported that a leaked copy of the pre-amendment bill imposed a four-month deadline for local governors to respond to requests for building churches. The Free Egyptians Party proposed a bill that would automatically approve requests for buildings if the governor does not respond within four months.

MP Alaa Abed, the head of the Free Egyptian Party, told Ahram Online that the goal of both bills is to regulate the building and renovation process. Abed asserted that 90 percent of churches had violations.

"We want a state of law and order, and we aim through our bill to see an improved relationship between churches and state apparatuses," he said.

The amendments to the bill may not be the only problem for Coptic Christians when they start building churches. In July, World Watch Monitor reported an attack on eight Christian homes after rumors were spread about building a new church in Saft el-Khirsa. According to witnesses, stores and homes of Coptic Christians were pelted with stones by a crowd shouting, "We don't want a church," and "No god but Allah, Christians the enemies of Allah."
home World ISIS looking to use children as suicide bombers in disturbing development

In a disturbing development, it has been reported that ISIS is increasingly looking to use children, putting them in front line roles, and even going as far as pushing to use them as child suicide bombers. In one of the group's most recent terror attacks, a Kurdish wedding was targeted in Gaziantep, Turkey and left 51 dead and 69 wounded.

The 12 to 14-year-old attacker, suspected by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be deployed by the Islamic State and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS or Daesh) terrorist group, became the first child suicide bomber in Turkey. Yet, this may not be the first time ISIS strapped explosives around a child's body to carry out their military activities.

While the militia group has yet to make any claims on the bombing incident, ISIS is reportedly trying to train 1,400 Yazidi boys to be among its future jihadists and suicide bombers.

"Child recruitment across the region is increasing," Juliette Touma, a UNICEF regional spokesperson, told Reuters. "Children are taking a much more active role ..., receiving training on the use of heavy weapons, manning checkpoints on the front lines, being used as snipers and in extreme cases being used as suicide bombers."

Iraqi security forces in Kirkuk also intercepted a 12-year-old boy strapped with a suicide vest not more than a day after the blast in Turkey. According to Daily Mail, Kirkuk intelligence official Chato Fadhil Humadi reported 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."

"Teenagers are easier to recruit for suicide missions, especially in moments of suffering or despair having lost loved ones," Reuters quoted Iraqi analyst Hisham al-Hashimi as saying. "They also attract less attention and less suspicion than male adults."

He added that ISIS responded to the massive losses incurred in Iraq and Syria by reactivating the group's Heaven's Youth Brigade.

ISIS released in May a mobile application called Huroof that is used to target children. The group calls their child recruits "Cubs of the Caliphates" while they refer to militant members as lions. The app uses colorful illustrations and teaches Arabic words.
home World Italy earthquake 2016 latest news: Death toll at least 241 as rescuers frantically search for survivors in demolished towns

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy reached at least 241 people on Thursday and could rise further after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.

The 6.2 magnitude quake struck a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome early on Wednesday as people slept, destroying hundreds of homes.

The Civil Protection department officially revised the death toll down to 241 from a previous 247 given earlier on Thursday morning.

Officials said they expected to confirm more deaths as the search operation continued. Trucks full of rubble left the area every few minutes, including one in which a dusty doll could be seen lying on top of tonnes of debris.

On Thursday, the sun rose on frightened people who had slept in cars or tents, the earth continuing to tremble under their feet from aftershocks, hundreds of which have struck since the quake. Two registered 5.1 and 5.4, just before dawn.

"I haven't slept much because I was really afraid," said 70-year-old Arturo Onesi from the town of Arquata del Tronto, who spent the night in a tent camp for survivors and rescue workers.

The earthquake was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, both more than 220 km (135 miles) from the epicentre.

Many of those killed or injured were holidaymakers in the four worst-hit towns - Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto, Arquata del Tronto and Accumoli - where populations increase by up to tenfold in the summer. That makes it harder to track the deaths.

One Spaniard, five Romanians, and a number of other foreigners, some of them care-givers for the elderly, were believed to be among the dead, officials said.

Aerial video taken by drones showed swathes of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, completely flattened. The town, known across Italy and beyond for a local pasta dish, had been filling up for the 50th edition of a popular food festival this weekend.

The mayor said the bodies of 15-20 tourists were believed to be under the rubble of the Hotel Roma, which he said had about 32 guests when it collapsed on Wednesday morning.

GIRL FOUND ALIVE

About 270 people injured in Wednesday's quake were hospitalised, the Civil Protection department said, adding that about 5,000 people, including police, firefighters, army troops and volunteers, were involved in post-quake operations.

Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her alive from the rubble where she had lain for about 15 hours.

Many other children were not so lucky. A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when a church bell tower toppled into their house in nearby Accumoli.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's cabinet was meeting on Thursday to decide emergency measures to help the affected communities.

"Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction," he told reporters late on Wednesday.

The death toll appeared likely to rival or surpass that from the last major earthquake to strike Italy, which killed more than 300 people in the central city of L'Aquila in 2009.

While hopes of finding more people alive diminished by the hour, firefighters' spokesman Luca Cari recalled that survivors were found in L'Aquila up to 72 hours after that quake.

Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio bearing 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.

Italy sits on two fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe.

The country's most deadly earthquake 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.
home Faith No priests for five parishes in Kerry, Ireland due to low ordination rates and recent retirements

There are currently no resident priests for five parishes in the Diocese of Kerry in Ireland, according to Kerry's pastoral director, Fr. Ger Godley. Four priests have recently retired due to old age with only one priest waiting to be ordained next year.

According to Irish Central, there is now only one priest under the age of 40 in the diocese of Kerry. A reorganization is taking place to cope with the situation while still dealing with the possibility of a greater shortage of priests in the future.

Dr. Ray Browne, the bishop of Kerry, told the Irish Examiner in July that five priests had died in the past nine months and there are at least three priests dealing with serious illnesses. He shared that parishes in Valentia Island, Allihies, Tarbert Ballyheigue and Duagh are currently without resident priests.

Browne explained that when priests are covering for other parishes, it means that no priest is serving full-time in their respective parishes and the laity will have to take on more responsibility.

Godley said that despite the difficult situation, the lack of priests may lead towards greater lay involvement, as desired by Vatican II. "It is not all doom and gloom. In fact, it is quite a positive story. The emergence of lay people is fantastic. We are starting to do what should have been done in line with Vatican II, a church of the people," he told Irish Central.

Lay ministers are currently keeping the diocese running. Fr. Larry Kelly, parish priest of Cahersiveen, sees lay involvement as a blessing. "I welcome more laity. The laity, committed laity in particular, weren't involved enough before," he said to Irish Central.

The Irish Mirror reported in October 2015 that the lack of priests in Ireland resulted in the cancellation of weekday services and Sunday masses were only held every second weekend.

Anthony Neville of the Association of Catholics told the Irish Mirror, "Weekday masses are disappearing because if there's only one priest who has to travel around three or four churches, plus do funerals, weddings, visiting the sick and administration, it's impossible."

Neville revealed that a high percentage of priests are over 65 with only few seminarians coming in to replace them.
home Life No scientific evidence that people are born gay, lesbian or transgender, researchers conclude

Johns Hopkins University scholars said there is no definitive scientific evidence that gay, lesbian and transgender people are born with a fixed gender identity or sexual orientation.

This was the main argument of a three-part 143-page report published by The New Atlantis.

The report was written by written by Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer and Dr. Paul R. McHugh. Both doctors took on the claims that sexual orientation and gender dysphoria are caused by natural traits. The report was written to improve the public's understanding of the issue.

The report stated that studies conducted on the brains of homosexual and heterosexual individuals have found some characteristic differences. However, differences are found not to be inborn but rather differences that are results of environmental factors that had an influence on both psychological and neurobiological traits. The study found that the experience of childhood sexual abuse, which is said to contribute to the higher probability rates, is one environmental factor that is most likely correlated with non-heterosexuality.

"The idea there that sexual orientation is fluid, that people change as people grow. There are probably some people that identify as heterosexual then later on identified as homosexual, so it goes both ways. The importance there is the fluidity and flexibility that these things change in time," Mayer told The Christian Post in an interview.

The report analyzed 3,826 identical and fraternal same-sex twin pairs and found that there is no concrete scientific evidence that sexual orientation is a result of a person's genetic makeup. However, evidence that genetic makeup has a role in influencing sexual orientation was conclusive.

The report read: "So the question 'Are gay people born that way?' requires clarification. There is virtually no evidence that anyone, gay or straight, is 'born that way' if that means their sexual orientation was genetically determined. But there is some evidence from the twin studies that certain genetic profiles probably increase the likelihood the person later identifies as gay or engages in same-sex sexual behavior."

Dr. Mayer is an epidemiologist and scholar-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University's psychiatry department. He is also a professor of statistics and biostatistics at Arizona State University. On the other hand, Dr. McHugh is said to be the most important American psychiatrist of the last half-century is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins.
home World Pastors in Sudan charged of lying about Christian persecution, could face death penalty

Two pastors in Sudan faced the death penalty as prosecutors charged them with seven alleged crimes, including lying about Christian persecution.

The trial for Rev. Hassan Abdelrahim Tawor and the Rev. Kwa Shamaal, members of the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC), started Sunday as prosecutors charged the two pastors of seven crimes, according to Morning Star News.

Christian Worldwide Solidarity (CSW) cited the charges that include execution of a criminal agreement (Article 21 of the Sudanese Criminal Code); waging war against the state (Article 51); espionage (Article 53); calling for opposition to the public authority by violence or criminal force (Article 63); exciting hatred between classes (Article 64); propagation of false news article (Article 66); and entry and photograph of military areas and equipment (Article 57). The violations of Articles 51 and 53 both merit death penalty.

"These innocent men now face the possibility of a death sentence on evidence that would not justify an arrest, let alone a conviction, given its paucity," said CSW's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas.

The trial also involves Abdulmonem Abdumawla, a Muslim graduate from Darfur who raised a fund for his friend's medical treatment, Ali Omer. Omer sustained severe burns after joining a student protest at Quran Karim University in Omdurman last year. Rev. Tawor donated money, which didn't sit well with the Sudanese government.

National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) reportedly targeted Darfuri students after a senior member of the National Congress Party (NCP) died in April last year.

CSW denounced the charged against Rev. Tawor and Abdumawla for "seeking to assist with medical expenses" and against Rev. Shamaal for "being a Christian and a friend of Reverend Abduraheem."

Rev. Tut Kony of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church said even the arrest of two of their Presbyterian pastors in December 2014 and January 2015, respectively "is not something new for our church"

"Almost all pastors have gone to jail under the government of Sudan," Rev. Kony told the Presbyterian Church (USA). "This is their habit to pull down the church. We are not surprised. This is the way they deal with the church."
Anti-Christian crackdown in Cuba: Over 1,000 churches seized, Christians dragged away from homes, churches

When Pope Francis visited Cuba in September 2015, many thought the milestone event could signal a breakthrough in the campaign to promote religious freedom in the Caribbean island nation.

But now the memory of that papal visit seems to have been forgotten as Cuba's communist regime has launched a renewed crackdown on the Christian faith with reports of churches destroyed, pastors imprisoned, religious leaders' personal property seized and Christians violently stopped from worshipping.

In its latest report, the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says the Cuban regime has launched a major crackdown against churches and has seized and demolished at least 1,400 church buildings. The regime is justifying its action by claiming that the churches are unregistered, and therefore, illegal.

The report cites more than 1,000 cases of religious freedom violations, including the "destruction of church property, arbitrary detention and other forms of harassment, in particular seizure of religious leaders' personal belongings."

More than 1,000 churches were officially confiscated between January and July of this year, with 100 of those churches threatened with demolition, according to CBN News.

The vehemence of the latest crackdown is such that Christians are often "violently dragged away by security agents as they leave their homes or upon arriving at church services," the CSW report states.

CSW has so far documented at least nine incidents this year where pastors were harassed and detained as state workers demolished their churches.

In one of the most serious cases, Rev. Marion Felix Lleonart Barroso was arrested on March 20, just hours before U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Cuba on an official visit.

"CSW is alarmed by the escalation of freedom of religion or belief violations throughout Cuba, but humbled by the courage and perseverance of the many religious communities who continue to peacefully resist government pressure," CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said in statement.

Thomas urges the United States and other Western countries to pressure Cuba to stop violating human rights.

CSW is also urging Christians around the world to pray for the protection of pastors in Cuba, especially those who are languishing in Cuban prisons.
Bishops in Nigeria warn government against promoting culture of contraception, abortion

With tens of thousands of unborn children being killed in their country every year, bishops from Nigeria are speaking out loudly against their government's plan to perpetuate a culture of abortion.

Roman Catholic bishops from the African nation recently came out with a communique after a three-day conference, where they warned Nigeria's health minister against removing the law against abortion in the country just to please foreign non-governmental organisations.

Among the top members of the clergy who signed the statement were Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin and Bishop Felix Ajakaye.

According to a report on Life Site News, the statement "condemned the recent move by the Minister of Health, Prof. [Isaac] Adewole in collaboration with the foreign agencies to commit the federal government to increasing the culture of contraception and subsequently, abortion among our people."

A local newspaper identified the "foreign agencies" referred to in the communique as "pro-abortion" organisations like the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, Society for Family Health and even the United States Agency for International Development. The paper also stressed that the idea to legalise abortion started from these groups and not from Nigerian politicians.

Some 20,000 to 44,000 babies are being killed every year in Nigeria, where abortion is allowed when two doctors agree that the child's life need to be ended because it poses risk to the life of the mother.

At the same time, the Nigerian Catholic bishops also criticised their government for its policy of distributing contraceptives to the public.

"The policy is being done all in the name of providing better maternal health and empowering our people. We see such moves as deceptive to our people and harmful to moral values and we ask Nigerians to reject them," the bishops said in the statement.

They also reminded the Nigerian government that the state's money is better spent on other pressing concerns of the poor.

"Our youth and women need better power supply, potable water, good roads, better health and educational institutions more than these contraceptives. Our country must reject this relentless offer of anti-life incentives under the guise of foreign aid in order not to destroy our beautiful culture," the bishops said.
Businesses should not be able to refuse gay people services, say most US religious groups

Most religious groups in the US do not think businesses should be allowed to refuse services to gay people, according to research released on Thursday.

White evangelical Protestants are the only religious group to support businesses' ability to decline LGBT people products or services, the research by PRRI found. But even this subset, traditionally the most ardent on issues of sexuality, is closely divided with 49 per cent in favour of allowing businesses to deny services to gay or lesbian people and 45 per cent opposed.

Every other religious group is opposed including 63 per cent of Catholics, 68 per cent of white mainstream Protestants, 68 per cent of black Protestants, 74 per cent of the religiously unaffiliated and 77 per cent of people belonging to non-Christian religions.

The findings were revealed in the PRRI August 2016 survey. The study questioned 2,014 people between 10-16 August 2016.

It also found that Americans were less likely than ever to see a conflict between same-sex marriage and their own religion.

Even among white evangelical Protestants, who are the most likely to see a conflict, there has been a steady decline with 71 per cent saying they saw a conflict between gay marriage and their beliefs compared to 84 per cent in 2003.

Among black Protestants that figure fell from 66 per cent in 2003 to 50 per cent in 2016 and only 45 per cent of Catholics in 2016 saw a conflict compared to 65 per cent in 2003.

The biggest decline was in white mainline Protestants, 59 per cent of whom saw a conflict in 2003 compared to just 36 per cent in 2016.

The data highlighted a continuing growth in support for same-sex marriage with more Americans than ever before (62 per cent) in favour of allowing LGBT couples to marry. This compared to just three in 10 who say they are opposed.
Catholic Church in Ireland to review how trainee priests use social media after Grindr rumours

The Catholic Church in Ireland is to review the way its trainee priests use social media after reports that seminarians had been using the gay dating app Grindr.

Saint Patrick's College in Maynooth, Co Kildare this week welcomed 14 new seminarians to start their training for the priesthood.

However, the seminary's trustees have issued a statement acknowledging "disquiet" among the faithful after one Irish archbishop has said he will no longer send trainee priests to Maynooth because of "strange goings on" and reports of a "gay sub-culture".

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin told the Irish Times: "I wasn't happy with Maynooth... There seems to be an atmosphere of strange goings-on there, it seems like a quarrelsome place with anonymous letters being sent around. I don't think this is a good place for students".

The trustees, four archbishops and 13 bishops, said they shared the concerns about the "unhealthy atmosphere" created by anonymous accusations, together with some social media comments "which can be speculative or even malicious."

They are going to bring in a new "whistle-blowing" policy and "evaluate and review" appropriate use of the internet and social media.

They are also planning to involve families and more women in training Ireland's priests.

A subcommittee is being set up to move this forward based on recent comments by Pope Francis who said: "The presence of lay people, families and especially the presence of women in priestly formation, promotes an appreciation of the diversity and complementarity of the different vocations in the Church."

Maynooth has been training priests since 1795. It consists of the seminary and the Pontifical University, which offers degrees in philosophy, theology and a combined arts and theology degree. The number of new seminarians beginning their studies in Maynooth was 17 in 2015, 14 in 2014, 20 in 2013 and 12 in 2012.

There will in total be 41 resident seminarians in this coming academic year at Maynooth. At the end of the last academic year there were 983 full-time and part-time undergraduate and post-graduate students at the university.

The trustees issues a new prayer for the latest intake of trainee priests: "Lord, give our new seminarians the grace to follow you more perfectly. When they are discouraged or lonely, fill them with your peace and courage. Jesus, gentle Shepard, meek and humble of heart, make the hearts of all our new seminarians like yours."
'Christian' Union Jack on school uniforms hidden by Saudi religious police

The Marks & Spencer retailer has been forced by Saudi officials to partially cover up a school uniform's logo because it featured a British flag.

Any form of Christian symbolism is banned in Saudi Arabia and the government in Riyadh considers the cross within the Union Jack a mark of public non-Islamic worship. The religious police ordered the retailer to partially cover the logo of a prominent fee-paying international school, which features both a Saudi and British flag, and hide the uniforms from store displays.

One British expat inquired about buying a uniform but was told they were not on display and had to be specially requested, according to Middle East Eye (MEE) which first reported the story.

When the uniform was finally brought out the UK flag had been covered with a piece of cloth leaving only the Saudi flag visible.

A spokesman from Marks and Spencer told MEE: "Like all retailers who operate in Saudi, we comply fully with local legislation.

"This was an isolated instance on a very small handful of bespoke school uniform products for a local international school in Riyadh. We are now selling the bespoke uniforms directly to the parents at the school."

Christianity is officially outlawed in Saudi Arabia although it is thought more than one million Christians, mainly migrant workers, live in the Islamic state. Ties between the Arab country and the UK are strong. Following the death of the former Saudi King Abdullah in 2015, flags on official buildings around the UK were flown at half mast to the outrage of human rights groups.
Colombia: Christian aid agencies welcome groundbreaking new peace deal

Christian aid agencies have welcomed the ground-breaking peace deal reached in Colombia which brings to an end more than half a century of deadly conflict.

The deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, brings to an end the longest internal armed conflict in the Western hemisphere in which more than 220,000 people were killed and more than six million displaced.

It was finally agreed yesterday in Havana, Cuba after many months of negotiations. It now awaits approval by public vote in Colombia on 2 October.

Clare Dixon, head of CAFOD Latin America said: "The agreement is a major step forward on what will be a long road to peace in Colombia, one which requires the transformation of the country and the accompaniment and participation of all of Colombian society and the international community.

"This is an historic moment for Colombia. The end of the armed conflict is near, and we hope this deal will bring an end to the violence and fear that has devastated the lives of over 7 million people, particularly those living in rural areas; farming communities, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian Peoples."

Sergio Coronado, deputy director of CAFOD partner Centre for Research and Popular Education, said: "We are celebrating this news, this is the start of a long journey to transform the country, although we still face many challenges before we can say Colombia is a country at peace."

Thomas Mortensen, manager in Colombia for Christian Aid said: "The enormous effort made by the government and the FARC to reach this agreement must be congratulated. However, there remain many outstanding issues which could hinder the success of the peace process.

"The resurgence of paramilitaries is a major threat to peace building in Colombia. Paramilitaries are responsible for most of the attacks and threats against human rights defenders today and they continue to be behind forced displacements and disappearances of people here. In fact, we have seen an increase in attacks during the peace talks.

"Therefore, we urge the Colombian government to take action to dismantle these groups, including investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning any public official collaborating with these groups, to ensure non repetition."
Euthanasia 'tourists,' including children, flock to Catholic-majority Belgium where assisted suicide is free and easy

It's free, easy ... and deadly indeed.

That's how physician-assisted suicide looks like in Belgium, ironically a Catholic-majority European nation. Patientsincluding childrensuffering from terminal diseases or psychiatric conditions have been flocking to the European country to have their wish of ending their misery fulfilled. The patients are killed with a lethal injection administered by a doctor.

Doctors at hospitals and clinics in Brussels, the Belgian capital, are seeing an increase in number of euthanasia "tourists" who come from all over the world, mostly from neighbouring France, the International Business Times (IBT) reports.

At Belgium's Brugmann University hospital, Dr. Oliver Vermylen said nearly half of the euthanasia patients come from France, where elective medical killings are illegal.

"It's a phenomenon that did not exist five or six years ago. Nowadays I get phone calls about French people who arrive in the emergency room announcing that they want euthanasia," Vermylen told Belgium's Sudpresse newspaper, The Times reports.

Belgium has the world's most liberal law on physician-assisted suicide, which is not just for the terminally ill, according to PBS Newshour.

Patients  even children  with psychiatric conditions can request euthanasia, a hospital service that enjoys overwhelming public support as surveys have shown, PBS reports.

Many doctors say it gives patients with constant and unbearable suffering a practical and humane way to die peacefully, it adds.

What draws many of the world's patients to Belgium is the fact that euthanasia in this country is usually free since the treatment is covered by the European Union's health insurance card, according to IBT. The patients' bills are simply sent to French healthcare providers.

Last year, IBT reported that 2,023 patients availed themselves of assisted suicide in Belgium, noting that the number has more than doubled in five years.

Belgium legalised euthanasia in May 2002. In 2013, the Belgium government broadened the law to include children, CBN News reports.
France's top court to rule on legality of burkini ban

The row over France's controversial ban on women wearing burkinis has escalated with the country's top court to rule on whether the law contravenes human rights.

The Council of State, a body that acts as both legal adviser to the government and as the supreme administrative court, will examine the issue on Thursday after photos emerged of a Muslim woman removing a long-sleeved top while surrounded by armed police on a beach in Nice.

The woman was dressed in leggings, a long-sleeved top and a headscarf, not a burkini. A spokesman for Vantage News, who released the photographs in the UK, said: "The woman was fined, she left the beach and so did the police."

The incident came after Nice banned the burkini, a form of wetsuit that covers a women's body and hair. About 15 other seaside towns have done the same. The photographs sparked outrage on Wednesday with #BurkiniBan a top trend in the UK on Twitter.

But France's interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve defended the rule and said mayors has a right to tell women what they could wear in the name of secularism.

Manuel Valls, the French Prime Minister, also defended the ban. He said: "Muslims in France are taken hostage by these groups, who would have you believe that the [French] Republic and Islam are incompatible."

Meanwhile hundreds will protest against the ban both in the UK and in France. A "wear what you want" beach themed protest will take place on Thursday afternoon outside the French embassy in London. The organisers said they were "disgusted to hear of armed French policemen telling women what they are allowed to wear and making them undress in public" and planned the demonstration in response.

Two other protests will be held in Brighton and Le Touquet, near Calais, on September 10. Erin Francis, 26, from Haworth, West Yorkshire, who organised these two demonstrations said she felt obliged to do so after seeing the photographs from Nice on Wednesday.

"I wanted to do something to show women in France we have their back," she told the Times.
Italy earthquake: Death toll climbs to 247 as rescue continues

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy rose sharply to almost 250 people on Thursday after rescue teams worked through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns.

The provisional toll jumped to 247 from the 159 dead listed on Wednesday night, national and regional officials said as a wave of aftershocks rattled a cluster of mountain communities 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome.

The catastrophe has brought an outpouring of national and international support, including from the Churches. Pope Francis expressed his sorrow and the Vatican despatched six firefighters  a sixth of its entire force  to help with the rescue operation. Catholic groups have also mobilised, with the aid group for sick Lourdes pilgrims, Unitalsi, making personnel and vehicles available. The Order of Malta has also provided a mobile unit with medical teams, nurses, and rescue workers and its Grand Master sent a message of condolence to the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella.

The European Evangelical Alliance sent a message of solidarity, saying: "Dear Italian friends, we know the speed with which you are used to respond to emergencies and to disasters in your territory. We pray for you, knowing that you [are] active in service to those who are suffering as a result of today's earthquake. God bless your work and make you be a reference in relief and hope in Jesus Christ."

The strong 6.2 magnitude quake struck early on Wednesday as people slept, razing homes and buckling roads. It was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, both more than 220 km (135 miles) from the epicentre.

The sun rose on Thursday on many people who had slept in cars or tents, the earth continuing to tremble under their feet. Two powerful aftershocks registered 5.1 and 5.4.

Officials said the death toll seemed destined to rise further. The toll appeared likely to surpass that from the last major quake to strike Italy, a temblor that killed more than 300 people in the central city of L'Aquila in 2009.

At least 368 injured people had been taken to hospital by late on Wednesday, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said.

One hotel that collapsed in the small town of Amatrice probably had about 70 guests and only seven bodies had been recovered so far, said the mayor of the one of the worst-hit towns.

Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her alive from the rubble where she had lain for some 17 hours in the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto.

Many other children were not so lucky. A family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when their house imploded in the nearby village 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.

Renzi said the Cabinet would meet on Thursday to decide measures to help the affected communities.

"Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction," he told reporters late on Wednesday.

Aerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy's most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the quake. Inhabitants of the four worst-hit small towns rise by as much as tenfold in the summer, and many of those killed or missing were visitors.

The civil protection agency said it was trying to determine how many people were staying in the Hotel Roma, Amatrice's best-known accommodation that mayor Sergio Pirozzi said had collapsed.

Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio bearing 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.

Italy's earthquake institute, INGV, said the epicentre was near Accumoli and Amatrice, which lie between the larger towns of Ascoli Piceno to the northeast and Rieti to the southwest.

The quake was relatively shallow at 4 km (2.5 miles) below the earth's surface. INGV reported 150 aftershocks in the 12 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 most deadly temblor 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.
Should Christian charities take atheists' money?

It's difficult to see how things could have turned out worse for the Murrow Indian Children's Home in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

The home cares for disadvantaged Native American children and is strapped for cash. But when Matt Wilbourn tried to give it $100, the money was turned down. He is an atheist, and filled in a form with his donation that asked if there was a person or organisation the donor wanted to honour. He named the Muskogee Atheist Community, founded by him and his wife Keli. The home turned down the donation, saying accepting it would be "contrary to those Biblical principles upon which we at Murrow stand".

Wilbourn is not a man to give up easily. He first upped the amount to $250, then started a GoFundMe campaign for the home to see how far he could go. So far it's up to nearly $23,000, donated mainly  it appears  by atheists furious at the charity's line, but also by Christians who are, if anything, even angrier. The charity even had to close its Facebook page to comments, such was the vitriol.

Wilbourn has decided to give all but $5,000 of it to Camp Quest Oklahoma, a residential summer camp for the children of atheist parents  not, actually, an uncontroversial move, since it wasn't what the money was given for. The rest he'll donate anonymously to Murrow and see what happens; if they still won't accept it he'll give it to a church for them to pass on.

It has to be acknowledged that this must have been a horrible experience for the charity's leaders, who can't in their wildest nightmares have expected this sort of exposure. We can feel for them, but we have to be able to critique them too.

Let's admit that in situations like this there might be some game-playing here. There exists a kind of atheist who just loves to needle Christians, and the thought of an atheist organisation's name in such a resolutely Christian foundation might have been very appealing  thought I'm told Mr Wilbourn is not one of these.

But the charity's response has played into the atheists' hands, in setting up an opposition between them when none was needed. They're on the same side. They want to help children. If the atheists also want to play mind-games (and that's an 'if'), so what? Followers of Christ ought to be able to rise above such things. Many of the stories of how Jesus interacted with the religious leaders of his time are about just that  how he outsmarted people who tried to make him look foolish.

As it is, it's the Christians who look not only foolish, but bigoted, small-minded and cruel. They're presented as making the children suffer for their own mistaken principles. And they are mistaken.

Jesus told a story about a priest and a Levite who saw a man who'd been beaten by robbers and was lying by the side of the road. They each passed by: he might have been dead, and touching him would have made them ritually unclean. It was the Samaritan, who wasn't troubled by this, who was a neighbour to him.

The point of the story is that it was their religious principles that stopped them doing the right thing. And that's what happened in the Oklahoma case: they were not neighbours to the children they served because they had the wrong idea of what faithfulness to Christ really means. We are not infected by other people's sinfulness. We infect them with grace.

According to General William Booth, the saintly founder of the Salvation Army, there was no such thing as 'dirty money'. On one occasion he accepted a donation from a man in high society known to be an atheist. He was criticised for it, but replied: "We will wash it in the tears of the widows and orphans, and lay it on the altar of humanity."

On another occasion he was accused of taking 'tainted money' and pithily replied, "'Tain't enough."

It's too late for the Murrow Indian Children's Home to come out of this episode unscathed. But it could still redeem itself by acknowledging it made a mistake and taking the money  and washing it in the tears of the widows and orphans, and laying it on the altar of humanity.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Social media companies 'consciously failing' to fight extremism, say MPs

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are "consciously failing" to fight extremism and the promotion of violent terror on their sites, MPs said on Thursday.

The influential home affairs select committee's inquiry into radicalisation said "cyber-war... is one the greatest threats" the UK faces. But it found online networks are failing to play their part in fighting the danger.

In their report the MPs warned these sites were the "Wild West of the internet" as they were "the vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda and the recruiting platforms for terrorism".

They called on the companies to accept a "greater sense of responsibility and ownership for the impact that extremist material on their sites is having".

The report said it was "alarming" these companies only employed a few hundred staff to monitor billions of account. It singled out Twitter for particular criticism because it does not proactively report extremist content to law enforcement agencies.

Terror-related incidents shot up by 35 per cent from 2010 to 2015 and the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) removed 120,000 online pieces of terror-related content between 2010 and 2016. But the chair of the committee Rt Hon Keith Vaz said corporations such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube know their sites are used to spread terror but are deliberately "passing the buck by hiding behind their supranational legal status".

He said: "We are engaged in a war for hearts and minds in the fight against terrorism. The modern front line is the internet. Its forums, message boards and social media platforms are the lifeblood of Daesh [ISIS] and other terrorist groups for their recruitment and financing and the spread of ideology."

Vaz said companies' failure to tackle this had left parts of the internet "ungoverned, unregulated and lawless".

The report called for the CTIRU to be upgraded to a "high-tech, state-of-the-art, round-the-clock, central Operational Hub" to identify and remove dangerous content quickly. MPs said tech-companies should have their staff work within the police unit to help crackdown on extremist content.

MPs also criticised the government's counter-extremism Prevent strategy and called for it to be renamed 'Engage' "to remove its already toxic associations in the Muslim community". The report called for a fuller engagement with Muslims and said the government must be more transparent.

The Muslim Council of Britain welcomed these recommendations and said Prevent's focus should be building partnerships between community groups and the state.

"For too long, successive governments have failed to work in partnership with a wide cross section of the Muslim community, as equal stakeholders in the fight against terrorism," it said.
Why are Americans leaving the church? Loss of faith, says new study

The most common reason for leaving church is a loss of faith, according to new research.

The number of Americans with no religion has increased from 16 per cent of the population to nearly a quarter in under a decade.

Growing numbers of adults, known as "nones', identify with no religious group, according to the latest study from Pew Research.

Nearly eight in ten of those with no religion rejected the faith of their childhood when they became adult.

For nearly half, this was due to a loss of faith.

One respondent said: "I'm a scientist now, and I don't believe in miracles." Others cited "common sense," "logic" or a "lack of evidence" or said simply that they did not believe in God.

Some also rejected organised religion and others mentioned clergy sexual abuse scandals as reasons for quitting church.

Nearly two in ten said they were "spiritual" but not religious.

There were also a significant number who still had a faith but no longer attended church, because they were too busy or simply preferred not to.

Pew Research defines "nones" as atheists, agnostics and those who believe "nothing in particular".

Michael Lipka writes: "Given these different outlooks, it is not surprising that there are major gaps among these three groups when it comes to why they left their childhood religion behind. An overwhelming majority of atheists who were raised in a religion, 82 per cent, say they simply do not believe, but this is true of a smaller share of agnostics, 63 per cent, and only 37 per cent of those in the 'nothing in particular' category."
Yazidi girl captured by ISIS set herself on fire to avoid sex slavery

A teenage girl has described how she burned herself alive to escape rape and torture by the Islamic State terror group.

Yasmin, a Yazidi, has now found refuge in Germany.

She was captured by ISIS aged 16 and spent seven days in captivity. She managed to escape and was in a refugee camp in Iraq when she feared she was at risk of being taken again.

In an attempt to protect herself, she doused herself in petrol and set it alight in a deliberate attempt to disfigure herself and make herself unattractive.

"Their voice was in my ears... I could hear their voice, I was so scared," she told Associated Press. "I couldn't take it anymore. And this is what happened to me."

Yasmin, now 18, is one of 1,100 mainly Yazidi women who have managed to flee Islamic State and are getting help from psychologists in Germany for the trauma they have suffered.

They all have permission to remain in Germany for two years.

She and her sister had fled into the mountains to escape ISIS. She is now reunited with her parents, sister and two brothers in Germany.

"In the view of the Islamic State ideology, these people are not human beings," German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan, who is leading the psychological treatment programme, told the Associated Press. "We experienced that also in the Nazi regime in Germany, they did the same with the Jews."

Thousands of women and girls were abducted by ISIS militants when the jihadist group invaded the Sinjar region in northern Iraq in August 2014. Hundreds of civilians were slaughtered and more than 400,000 forced to flee. Around 5,000 were taken captive, 3,000 of whom are believed to remain hostage.

Women and girls who have managed to escape have told stories of brutal abuse. They have been bartered and sold for as little as a packet of cigarettes, and kept in dungeons as sex slaves.

Yazidism is an offshoot of Zoroastrianism, which blends ancient religious traditions with both Christianity and Islam. ISIS believes them to be "devil-worshippers".
A man who allegedly sexually assaulted, strangled, and beat to death an 82-year-old retired Tomball teacher 23 years ago was booked into Harris County jail Wednesday .

"This is a day that we've been waiting decades for," District Attorney Devon Anderson said Wednesday. "We're ready to seek justice for the family."

Alfredo Ramirez-Rosas was arrested in 2013 by Mexico police, but it took three years for him to be extradited by Deputy United States Marshals and brought to Harris County. Rosas has been charged with capital murder for killing Mildred Stallones, who was found dead inside her house in Tomball. The suspect lived close to the victim, but he allegedly fled to Mexico shortly after committing the crime.

Kim Bryant, the district attorney's office extradition administrator, worked for years to bring Rosas back to Harris County. Bryant said that during the international extradition process she had to show enough evidence to convince Mexico that a trial should be held in Harris County.

"This is a case she never forgot," Anderson said about Bryant. "She pushed the state department to push the Mexican government to let us have him and bring him to trial in the United States. Her passion to get justice for the Stallones family is why we are standing here today."

Leighton Stallones, the son of Mildred, appeared visibly emotional talking about his mother. He said he was happy that Rosas was finally arrested.

"(I feel) relief knowing that this guy is not out on the streets to hurt someone else and relief for knowing that justice is at least on its way," Stallones said.
Houston Southwest Airport completed construction of a 7,700-square-foot hangar as part of its renovation.

"As the Houston economy continues to grow, so does the demand for hangar space, " Len Franklin, manager for Houston Southwest Airport, said in a news release. "Private, corporate, and commercial airplane operators are attracted to this airport because we are located in a less-congested area, yet we're still only a short drive from Houston's major commercial centers. We felt this addition was imperative to better serve the Houston community."
Yellow Dog Productions

Texas securities regulators say an investment adviser in The Woodlands secretly siphoned the retirement funds of his client to pay for his own pool cleaning, country club bills, restaurants and clothing.

The Texas State Securities Board alleges that Lawrence Allen Deshetler recommended in January that his new client move a $727,000 Individual Retirement Account into another tax-advantaged account. But instead of depositing the funds into another IRA, Deshetler allegedly deposited nearly all of the money into a bank account that he solely controlled, according to the securities board.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

The top six floors of the Memorial Hermann building at Memorial City make up one of the most recognizable sights in west Houston.

But what's inside the futuristic crown that sits atop the 33-story tower? Office space. And it's for lease for the first time.

Until recently, the space housed Houston-based MetroNational, the megadeveloper that owns pretty much all the real estate in and around Memorial City -- the mall, the office buildings, the undeveloped land.

MetroNational developed the building for Memorial Hermann in 2009, but kept the building's "crown jewel" for itself.

The company commissioned the reflective blue crown because it wanted the building at the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and Gessner to be an area landmark.

"They wanted to have an architectural iconic feature to serve as the crown jewel, the beacon of Memorial City," said Leasing Director John Green. "We also wanted this building not only to be the centerpiece, but to have people see it and talk about Memorial City."

The floors total 24,100 square feet and house a mix of offices, reception space, a fitness room and common areas. There are mini kitchens throughout. The top floor is a 2,500-square-foot boardroom with 360-degree views.

Green said he expects the space to lease for $25 to $30 per square foot.

Anslow Bryant, the construction company that built the structure, describes the crown as a series of custom aluminum-clad decorative fins that top 12 dormers. The fins project 12 feet out from the building. At night, lighting gives the crown a "sparkling jewel appearance."
Arizona-based Taylor Morrison has unveiled a host of amenities for dogs in its new homes in celebration of National Dog Day on Friday.

The amenities, which include pet washing stations and community parks for dogs, will be offered in select communities in the Houston area, Denver, Chicago, Dallas and other markets.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes is marking the opening of its 100th restaurant with a special deal for potential franchisees as the chain looks to expand in metro Houston.

Franchisees can get 100 days of free royalties if they purchase an outpost of the growing burger restaurant within the first 100 days after the grand opening of its 100th store on Monday, Aug. 29, chief operating officer Michael Mabry said.
The Adair Family Restaurants Group has been very busy lately. The restaurateurs who count multiple Skeeter's Mesquite Grills and Los Tios Mexican Restaurants in their portfolio as well as Adair Kitchen, recently announced a new grab-and-go concept, Bebidas Juice, Coffee & Bites, serving cold pressed juices and smoothies in addition to gourmet coffee from the former Infinity Title building at 2606 Edloe in River Oaks.

But their biggest step will be the Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors, an ambitious restaurant at 2400 Mid Lane in River Oaks. When the Adair siblings Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart announced their new restaurant in April they also scored foodie cred by selecting Joseph Stayshich, formerly of the Kitchen at Karbach Brewing, as executive chef. Stayshich also will be developing a small bites menu for Bebidas.
Police have identified a woman found shot to death on a street in northeast Houston.

Rena Lumpkins, 54, was discovered about 5:45 a.m. Tuesday in the 10000 block of Downs Lane. Houston police said Lumpkins had a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

HPD homicide detectives said it appears Lumpkins was pushed from a vehicle seen leaving the area at the time.

The motive for the slaying remains under investigation. Police have not identified a suspect in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact HPD homicide detectives at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Several spas in Harris County have closed after accusations that they're fronts for prostitution.

Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan got a temporary injunction signed by Judge Jeff Shadwick on Monday on the grounds that the spas are public nuisances, according to a press release from Ryan on Tuesday.

RELATED: Infamous Houston brothel in the national spotlight

"New Haven Spa located at 8334 Gulf Fwy. is particularly dangerous because the employees live inside the business and keep large amounts of cash and personal items with them," court documents read. "Recently two female employees of New Haven Spa were robbed at gunpoint and beaten inside the spa but were unable or unwilling to provide law enforcement with the name or phone number for their employer."

The seven closed spas include:

New Haven Spa and "A" Spa on the Gulf Freeway

JC Spa on Hillcroft

Oak Spa on Richmond

249 Spa on State Highway 249

Paris Spa and Mam Spa on Westheimer

READ MORE: Man tells police he doesn't 'give a f---, I'm 90 years old' after charged with soliciting prostitute

Court documents state the Houston Police Department have made dozens of prostitution arrests at the spas.

Among them are Dan Ma, 58, and Yujuan Zhang, 44. They each face a felony charge of aggravated promotion of prostitution. Ma and Zhang are out on $5,000 bond each.

Ma owns Mam, Paris, Oak, 249 and JC spas and has previously been arrested and charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution, according to Ryan.

Zhang owns New Haven Spa and is connected to illegal brothels around Harris County, according to the release from Ryan.

READ MORE: USA basketball players accidentally visit Rio brothel

Shadwick ordered the owners of four of the retail centers that house the shutdown businesses to stop leasing space to spas, massage establishments and sexually orientated businesses, according to the release. The owners were also ordered to perform background checks on future tenants and to install cameras on their properties.

Alex Luk was court ordered in 2010 to stop allowing an unlicensed massage parlor to operate at his Westheimer property.

READ MORE: Bartender at notorious East End brothel sentenced

"These so-called spas are well known fronts for prostitution," Ryan said in the release. "Property owners have a responsibility to ensure that their tenants are operating legal businesses and we will hold them to that."

Owners of the retail centers and the spas were ordered to pay $5,000 each to ensure their compliance with the court order, according to Ryan.




Police are searching for a suspect who seems to have an eye for men's fashion and snatched a pile of shirts from a high-end clothing store last month in southwest Houston.

The heist happened about 7 p.m. July 10 in the 5000 block of Westheimer near Post Oak Boulevard in the Galleria area, according to the Houston Police Department.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

As of Sunday, substantial restrictions on flights between Mexico and the U.S. have been lifted.

After more than two years of negotiations, the U.S. State Department announced in December that it would increase the number of carriers allowed to fly into Mexico.

Before this agreement, only a handful of airlines flew into that country, and they could travel only to a limited number of destinations.

Now they can fly between any city in Mexico and any city in the United States, according to the State Department's announcement.

In addition, cargo carriers now have expanded opportunities to provide service to new destinations that were unavailable under the previous agreement.

RELATED: The best Mexican beaches you should know

Some airlines have already announced that they will begin offering new flights to Mexico later this year. United is waiting to see how U.S. travelers will respond to this development, but Delta, American and Southwest have already expressed their intent in expanding their roster of destination cities in Mexico.

According to the Associated Press, Southwest Airlines will start daily flights from Los Angeles to Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. American Airlines will also provide flights from LosAngeles to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. It will also offer a flight from Miami to Merida.

Delta will kick off daily nonstop flights between New York's JFK and Cancun. It will also offer a flight from Los Angeles to Los Cabos and Saturday flights from Kansas City to Cancun.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

A Friendswood-area real estate agent was accused of trespassing inside a home she had just sold and having sex inside the vacant residence with a male companion.

According to a Friendswood police report earlier this week, 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: Houston-area real estate agents warned of 'foot fetish' caller

After news of the arrest made local and national headlines -- even the New York Daily News weighed in -- it appears that her employer, Simien Properties in the Clear Lake area, contacted HAR and informed them of the Seloff's arrest.

On Thursday an official from HAR sent along this statement.

"HAR was informed by Ms. Seloff's employer about her arrest. At his request, her real estate license has been terminated by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and HAR has terminated her membership effective immediately. HAR expects its member realtors to at all times behave in an honest, legal, ethical and professional manner, adhering to the Code of Ethics and Standards established by the National Association of Realtors."

Soon after this story broke the Texas Real Estate Commission sent the Houston Chronicle its own official statement on what happened with Seloff, clarifying that Seloff hadnt lost her real estate license.

In the August 25 Houston Chronicle article titled, HAR: Real estate agent accused of sex in vacant home loses real estate license, it was stated by HAR that, At his request, her real estate license has been terminated by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and HAR has terminated her membership effective immediately.

This is inaccurate. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) does not have jurisdiction to terminate a license holder without proper investigation. Although we do not condone Ms. Seloffs actions, she does still hold a Real Estate Sales Agents license. Her relationship with her sponsoring broker was terminated, at the request of her broker, therefore she is inactive and unable to perform real estate services at this time. No official enforcement action has been taken by TREC.

READ MORE: Annual salary needed to buy a house in Texas

Seloff's profile has been scrubbed from both the HAR and Simien websites.

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 of Aug. 20.

When police arrived they discovered the pair on the floor of one of the rooms.

A "passionate rendezvous" is the term the police used.

RELATED: Real estate agent accused of getting it on inside Friendswood home she just sold

Seloff told police that she and Leal were married and that they had just bought the home. The police, though, wanted proof.

When Seloff went to retrieve her identification and confirm the story, police smelled marijuana and found 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. The pair was then arrested for trespassing. The new owners of the home are pressing criminal charges against the pair.
Provided by St. Luke's Hospital at The Vintage

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

What first appeared as an abnormal spot on an ultrasound turned out to be something far more scary.

The odd looking cluster of blood vessels seen on a little girl named Madison Gatlin was actually a lymphatic anomaly known as Cloves Syndrome, an extremely rare disorder that afflicts about 150 people worldwide.

The gist of the disorder is: patients can be born with skeletal abnormalities, soft tissue tumors, vascular malformations and birth marks.

READ MORE: Best pediatric care in Texas? A surprising answer awaits

For 16-month-old Madison, the illness meant her lymphatic system wasn't properly constructed, leaving pools of fluid and cysts in her upper body.

The child's parents took her to Texas Children's Hospital, where specialists began working on treating her.

There is no cure for Cloves Syndrome, nor any medication to treat it.

READ MORE: Emotional trip to Texas Children's Hospital for 2 Texans

The illness was first diagnosed and classified as a malady in 2007 and few places treat it, according to the Cloves Syndrome Community, an online network providing information about the illness.

At Texas Children's Hospital, Madison underwent sclerotherapy, in which a medicine is injected into the vessels, which makes them shrink. The treatment is more commonly used for folks with vericose veins.

READ MORE: See how conjoined twins separated at Texas Children's hospital are doing

In people with Cloves Syndrome, the goal is to shrink any overgrowth.

Since being diagnosed, Madison has undergone treatment and tests, including a biopsy on her neck earlier this month. The family reported on the Facebook page "TheMightyMadison" that the biopsy was negative.

Doctors at Texas Children's Hospital report that the treatment has been successful and Madison is now hitting growth and development milestones.

"She has been standing a lot on her own and her mom thinks she will be walking soon," said Caroline Timm, a spokeswoman for Texas Children's Hospital.

Madison had her last treatment on Aug. 12 and is scheduled to return in September.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Charles Raby isn't looking for love in a pen pal. He's looking for luck.

The Texas death row inmate wants someone who will help prove his innocence in a 1992 slaying of a 72-year-old woman in Houston.

Raby, 46, is using www.writeaprisoner.com to solicit the help.

Inmates from prisons across the country use sites like writeaprisoner.com and others because, well, they're inmates with a lot of time and not a lot of people to socialize with. Anyone to talk to beyond folks inside their gated community is a welcome change.

READ MORE: Prosecutors: DNA not enough to clear condemned inmate

Many inmates post likes and dislikes, interests and hobbies on their profiles, which look a lot like dating sites, except going out with the person is highly unlikely.

Death row denizen Paul Slater's ad is fairly common of the type.

"I'm in search of someone who's genuine, open, and most of all, that's willing to get to know an individual that's been misunderstood! I'm attracted to determination. I admire honesty and I'm interested in learning! I like to read, write poems, exercise!" wrote Slater, on the row for a 1995 drug deal that turned into a fatal shooting.

What makes Raby's post different is his plea of innocence. Raby is also asking for general correspondence, but focuses mainly on people who could help him in an attempt to get off death row.

READ MORE: Court ruling may make getting DNA tests easier

Raby's case has come under the microscope in recent years after DNA tests contradicted evidence in his case.

"Anyone with computer skills can be a great asset as well as with media contacts. Please, if there is anyone willing to help prove my innocence, I would love for you to write, even if it's just for advice," Raby wrote.

READ MORE: Inmate's case puts HPD crime lab back in spotlight

But, despite his best efforts, Raby hasn't been able to get off death row or out of prison.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last year upheld a lower court finding that the DNA evidence isn't enough to overturn the conviction.

The U.S. Supreme Court in January proved equally unmoved, rejecting Raby's plea.

Those decisions leave Raby hoping the U.S. mail will deliver him from prison.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Three men were taken into custody Thursday when drugs and a gun were found during a raid at a home near a high school in north Houston.

The raid occurred in the 3900 block of Courtland, a stone's throw from Booker T.Washington High School, said Alan Bernstein, a special assistant in the office of Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen.

Bernstein said deputies found black-tar heroin, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine and marijuana in the home. They also found a 9mm gun. Three men who were in the home at the time of the raid were detained.

Barry Dixon, 37, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Craig Ross, 44, faces the same charge and a charge of felony possession of a firearm. The identity of the third man has not been released yet.

The drug charges are enhanced since Dixon and Ross were near a school at the time of their arrest.

Bernstein said authorities became suspicious about activity at the modest, one-story brick home about two months ago when Rosen, while touring the neighborhood with the Independence Heights Super Neighborhood group, noticed what appeared to be a drug deal at the house.

Rosen spotted a woman at the home who appeared to be buying drugs and alerted patrol deputies. The deputies stopped the woman for a traffic violation as she drove away. They found drugs in her possession and she admitted to the drug purchase.

Soon afterwards, Bernstein said, deputies placed surveillance cameras near the home to monitor activity at the property. When they reviewed the surveillance video they saw a lot of people going into the home and leaving he house regularly, suggesting possible drug activity. They obtained a search warrant and raided the home.

The alleged drug dealing near a school places students in danger, Rosen said.

"This is a problem anywhere," Rosen added, "but near a school is even more disgusting,"
A civil court judge has declined to stop the Houston school district from changing the names of eight campuses that were named after Confederate loyalists.

Judge John Wooldridge this week denied a request by several taxpayers suing the district to temporarily halt the renaming of the schools with a temporary injunction.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP)  The Sigma Nu fraternity has suspended all activities of its Kappa Sigma chapter at Texas A&M University following the death by drug overdose of a member last weekend.

A fraternity statement Thursday announced the suspension while an investigation into the death of 19-year-old Anton Gridnev of Frisco takes place.

READ MORE: Police ID Texas A&M student who died at Siga Nu fraternity party

College Station police determined Gridnev died of a drug overdose last Saturday at the fraternity house. Four students have been arrested on drug-related charges.

The executive director of the Virginia-based fraternity, Brad Beacham, says Sigma Nu officials are cooperating in the investigation. The fraternity also suspended the membership of the four suspects.

The Texas A&M chapter was founded in 1985.

Officers were called to the party about 4:40 a.m. Saturday at the Sigma Nu fraternity house at 550 Fraternity Row, according to the College Station Police Department.

Police said when officers arrived, party-goers showed them a fraternity member, later identified as Gridnev, who was unconscious and not breathing.

READ MORE: A&M fraternity member dies; 4 arrested for drug possession

After finding illegal substances in the house, police arrested Samuel Patterson, 21, for possession of LSD and MDMA, known as ecstasy; Michael Frymire, 20, for possession of cannabis hash oil; and Ty Robertson, 21, and Christian Sandford, 18, for possession of marijuana. It is not known if those arrested are A&M students.

Maxwell Gollomp, 19, a College Station resident from Bellaire; John Cain, 19, a College Station resident from Houston; and Zachary Farmer, 20, a College Station resident from Denton were all cited for drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
A Richardson couple believes someone killed their dog after they posted a sign in their front yard supporting Hillary Clinton.

Matt Steadman told CBSDFW that three separate signs supporting Clinton were stolen from his yard. Steadman told the news station that someone put bleach into the gas tank of the family's SUV and left a note under his doormat that said "Hillary for Prison 2016."
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Their message came in pink, purple, black and white.

Students carrying dildos of every color of the rainbow garnished themselves with semi-vulgar T-shirts and sex toys strapped to their backpacks as they protested against campus carry at the University of Texas at Austin Wednesday, the first day of school for the campus.

The new state law, which took effect Aug. 1, allows concealed handgun licensees to tote pistols on public university campuses.

RELATED: 100-year-old photos show life at UT before the hoopla

The idea was simple enough and the year-in-the-making demonstrations drew hundreds of students and a slew of national media coverage, including Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

In protest, hundreds of people waved thousands of dildos all day on the campus, even planting some yellow ones into the ground like mushrooms. They held signs emblazoned with phrases like "packing meat," "good, good, good, good vibrations" and several others that we can't publish.

Surrounded by a sea of of dildos, Jessica Jin, the event organizer spoke to hundreds of students and supporters carrying sex toys through campus in opposition to Senate Bill 11.

"It seems that I have cracked an enormous dick joke on the internet," said 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.

Photos of students strapped with the plastic phalluses began circling of social media days before and the morning of, using the hashtag, #CocksNotGlocks.

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 conductprohibits 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
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.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Patience has never been a virtue Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has shown during his political career.

Cruz knocked off an establishment favorite, then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, for the Senate seat in 2012 and almost immediately began positioning himself for a presidential run in 2016.

After flaming out in the primaries this year to Donald Trump, Cruz began acting like a young senator in a hurry - immediately positioning himself for the next presidential race four years off and before the 2016 race has concluded.

But, first he must overcome a pesky re-election run in 2018.

READ MORE: Poll finds Texans down on Cruz

So far, Cruz, who made his name in Washington by not adhering to the old rules of playing reasonably well with others, is the only person to file for the race, which is more than two years away. But, potential rivals are drawing buzz.

Former Gov. Rick Perry, long a GOP titan in Texas, and lesser-known U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, who represents an area stretching from northern Houston to Austin, are both drawing attention as possible challengers to Cruz.

Trump, at a private fundraiser on Tuesday, told an audience that Perry "would do well" against Cruz in a Senate race according to the left-leaning Lone Star Project.

READ MORE: Trump: Perry will do well challenging Cruz

"I'll tell you what. I've been hearing a lot about that and I don't know if he wants to do it, but boy will he do well," said Trump, who stopped short of encouraging Perry to run against his former challenger. "People love him in Texas and he was one great governor."

Even though he's run twice for president - a pair of campaigns that collapsed amid errors and disinterest by primary voters - the Lone Star State's longest-serving governor hasn't publicly expressed interest in taking on its junior senator.

Perry has also publicly taken off after Cruz for not endorsing Trump during the GOP convention in Cleveland - a speech where Cruz famously told attendees to vote their conscience - and not defending the nominee during his political disputes since then.

READ MORE: Perry: I would serve in a Trump administration

And, since Cruz's Cleveland calamity, McCaul has been critical of the senator and hasn't ruled out a possible run for the Senate in two years.

"It's, I think, been sort of organic, an effort to draft, if you will," McCaul told reporters from multiple media outlets last week."But right now I'm really focused on my re-election to the Congress. I'm focused on advising the nominee to regain the White House and also maintaining a majority in the House of Representatives, which is critically important to the nation."

A recent survey by Public Policy Polling, released Aug. 17, shows Perry knocking off Cruz by 9 points. McCaul, who has limited name recognition outside his district, faces a much larger hill to climb.

See the biggest takeaways from the poll in the gallery above.

READ MORE: Cruz says he's no 'servile puppy dog'

The same poll has Cruz knocking him off by 32 points, an even worse position than Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who faces a 22-point deficit to Cruz in the same poll. (See the poll here)

Patrick has emphatically sworn off a Senate run, telling reporters he couldn't be dragged to the deliberative body in Washington, D.C.

If it seems like the poll pitting Cruz and Perry should worry the incumbent, his people want to assure backers it doesn't.

READ MORE: Cruz invokes Castro brothers, Wendy Davis to raise campaign funds

Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier has twice said the poll taken this far out from the election is meaningless.

Texas is considered a safe Republican seat in 2018, no matter what happens with Cruz, his presidential ambitions and his re-election.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Since Neil Armstrong first stepped onto the moon 47 years ago, conspiracy theories about Apollo 11 have been commonplace. Some even say it was all the work of a crafty crew of filmmakers led by legendary director Stanley Kubrick.

However, one of the first great moon hoaxes to ever gain traction predates even the founding of Houston in 1836.

TINFOIL TIME: Why do moon landing conspiracies live on?

On Aug. 25, 1835, the first in a series of six articles was published in the New York Sun newspaper purporting to include the findings of a Dr. Andrew Grant, described as a colleague of noted astronomer Sir John Herschel.

Herschel had actually taken a telescope, which was very powerful for the time, to Cape Town, South Africa, in hopes of getting a better look at the celestial world. This part is true. The rest, not so much.

According to the Sun reports penned by Grant, Herschel was able to spy a moon teeming with life, including humanoids with wings, unicorns, beavers that walked on two legs, beaches, pyramids, fantastic greenery, and mountain ranges. He did all this using a massive telescope, Grant wrote, that was larger than any other at that time.

HELLO DAVE: Stanley Kubrick fake moon landing conspiracy theory just won't go away

The extremely detailed description of the moon by Grant can be read in full at Hoaxes.org, but we warn that it gets rather convoluted. We think that director James Cameron may have given it a glance before he made 2009s Avatar which included a lush moon not unlike the one Grant writes about.

Anyhow, people ate up the story from the penny press newspaper as it took them to a new, fantastical world that they couldnt have imagined.

Sadly, it was all a clever fabrication.

The whole thing was written by a Richard Adams Locke, who was a Cambridge-educated staff reporter. He may not have realize that he was writing an early form of science fiction.

DEBUNKING JUNK: Helpful hints on how to debunk annoying internet hoaxes and fake news

Edgar Allan Poe had written something along those same lines that summer about a man who traveled to the moon in a hot air balloon, a short story titled The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall.

Lockes story though was much grander, although slathered in satire.

The Sun saw a dramatic increase in sales as people told one another about the moons inhabitants. The paper, founded in 1833, was off to a running start.

The hoax was uncovered after the paper had garnered an increase in circulation. People would come to bother Herschel, unaware that he had nothing to do with the stories or that they were fiction.

The Sun would run until 1950 when it was bought and merged into the New York World-Telegram.

ROYAL SCAM: NASA hacker says agency removes aliens from photos, faked moon landing

Along the way it would print the famous 1897 editorial "Is There a Santa Claus?" which we all know better as "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.

The paper broke ground in its time, printing community news like crime and deaths. They also were the first to have reporters scouring the city for stories. Some of the papers first decades are now online for easy reading.

The papers one-time city editor John B. Bogart, who worked at the Sun from 1873 until 1890, holds the distinction of summing up the act of journalism (then and now) in the most succinct way.

"When a dog bites a man that is not news, because it happens so often. But if a man bites a dog, that is news, Bogart said. That quote has been attributed to at least two other newsmen of the day.
Imagine this: You've missed two mortgage payments. You come home from work and realize someone changed the locks on your front door and installed a lockbox on the doorknob. Think this could never happen to you? Think again. It happens all across the country, and it could happen in Texas.

A common provision in mortgage loan documents, generally known as a "property preservation" clause, gives lenders the right to lock homeowners out of their own homes if the homeowner misses mortgage payments and is in default, or if the lender concludes that the borrower has abandoned a house.

The Supreme Court of the state of Washington recently examined one of these clauses in a recent case. The court concluded that these clauses are unenforceable because, contrary to state law, they let lenders take possession of a borrower's home before a foreclosure sale.

Perhaps Texas lawmakers ought to take notice.

Like most homeowners, the plaintiff in the Washington case borrowed to buy her home. The mortgage loan was secured by a deed of trust with a property preservation clause. The clause gave the lender the right to rekey locks and to winterize or generally preserve the value of the borrower's home if the lender felt the home was abandoned. The homeowner missed two mortgage payments and went into default. Two months later, and without prior notice or warning, the mortgage servicer, named Nationstar, sent someone to the borrower's home to remove the existing lock and install a lockbox.

Nationstar's representative left a notice for the homeowner stating that her home was "unsecure or vacant" and that the locks were changed to prevent "unauthorized persons" from entering the home. The homeowner was only able to get back inside her home to retrieve her belongings after she called a phone number listed on the notice and received a code to get the key from the lockbox.

The Washington Supreme Court rejected the claim that locking an owner out of her house did not constitute "possession." Instead, the court held that rekeying locks constitutes control over, and possession of a property and that lenders did not have the right to possess the home until after a foreclosure sale.

Given the similarities between Washington state laws and Texas property laws, Texas courts should also refuse to enforce these clauses.

Texas, like Washington, follows the "lien theory" of mortgages. Under this theory, lenders have a financial interest in property that secures a mortgage loan but have no ownership interest until the home is sold at foreclosure.

As is true in Washington, Texas case law also indicates that lenders do not own a borrower's home and do not have the right to take possession of that home before default and until the home is sold at foreclosure.

The Texas Property Code details the rights homeowners and lenders have when a home is scheduled to be sold at foreclosure, and those rights do not include the ability to lock homeowners out of their homes before a foreclosure sale.

Obviously, borrowers should repay their loans. And lenders need to be able to protect their financial interests to prevent damage to collateral that secures their loans. The problem with property preservation clauses, however, is that they let lenders contractually give themselves rights that are not allowed by state law, i.e., evict people from their homes before a court overseeing the foreclosure process sorts out who is entitled to possess the home.

Simply put, unless and until homeowners lose their homes in a foreclosure sale, lenders should not be able to include provisions in private contracts that are inconsistent with or that circumvent Texas law simply because those state laws do not give them the power they want.

Texas legislators have created a foreclosure process that is designed to protect the interests of both lenders and home-owners. If Texas lawmakers believe that lenders should have the right to lockhomeowners out of their homes once they miss a few mortgage payments, then they should rewrite Texas law to clearly warn homeowners of that risk.

Dickerson is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Arthur L. Moller Chair in Bankruptcy Law and Practice in the School of Law at the University of Texas at Austin.
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.
For six Catholic schools in Harlem and the South Bronx, a remarkable school year that began with a visit from Pope Francis has finished with double-digit test-score increases, far outpacing the gains made by New Yorks district schools and charters. Its a rare and welcome bit of good news for the citys Catholic schools.

New Yorks system of Catholic schools was founded in the nineteenth century by Archbishop Dagger John Hughes, whose nickname referred not only to the shape of the cross that accompanied his signature, but also to the relentless way he fought on behalf of his flock, then mostly poor Irish immigrants. We shall have to build the schoolhouse first and the church afterward, said Hughes. These schools have been serving the less fortunateoriginally Irish and Italian immigrants; today, mostly low-income black and Hispanic kidsfor more than 150 years. It was a road of opportunity for kids with no other alternative, says U.S. Supreme Court associate justice Sonia Sotomayor about her Catholic school education.

Unfortunately, over the past 20 years, New Yorks Catholic schools have been in decline. More than 100 have closed since 2000. Rising costs, along with a sharp drop in the number of clergy and women religiouswho once provided free laborhave led to tuition increases, squeezing low-income families. Competition from charter schools has hurt. And many of the schools werent up to par.

But a feisty band of educators are working to turn Catholic schools in Harlem and the South Bronx into shining examples of student achievement. In 2013, the nonprofit Partnership Schools reached an agreement with the Archdiocese of New York to run six Catholic elementary schools. The results have been astonishing. This year, the Partnership schools achieved a 16.1-percentage-point increase on the state English exam, compared with a 13.7-point increase for city charter schools and 7.6-point increase for district schools. In math, Partnership schools gained 13 points, compared with 4.5 points for charters and 1.2 points for district schools. Over the past two years, the Partnership has practically doubled the percentage of students scoring proficient on the states English exam, from 22 to 43 percent, and nearly tripled the math proficiency, from 17 to 45 percent.

How are they achieving these remarkable gains? We need to give credit first and foremost to our hardworking teachers and principals, notes Jill Kafka, the Partnerships executive director. It was hard at first. But our teachers are now excited and empowered by all the new materials and supports that have been put in place.

The person who put those new materials and supports in place is the Partnerships superintendent, Kathleen Porter-Magee. A former teacher, charter school administrator, think-tank scholar, and curriculum developer, Porter-Magee deeply respects Catholic education. She attended Catholic schools and taught at one. Urban Catholic schools, in particular, she argues, are a gem worth investing in and saving and have the ability to inform the larger education-reform agenda.

Porter-Magee believes in a content-rich, coherently sequenced curriculum. Were a curriculum-driven model . . . . One of the most critical levers for change is to get the right instructional materials to teachers and ensure that those materials provide as clear a road map as possible to teach rigorous content and core skills to mastery, she explains. We want to ensure that teachers have the right materials so that they dont have to develop their own. . . . We want them to focus on teaching and adding in constant curriculum development is exhausting.

The Partnership schools employ the Core Knowledge Language Arts curriculum, which emphasizes students background knowledge in a wide range of subjects, from history to art, as key to building literacy. For math, the network is now mostly using the highly rated Eureka Math curriculum. The right curricular materials are especially important for the Partnership, where per-pupil spending is only $8,400 (compared with over $20,000 for district schools). We have to make strategic choices, explains Porter-Magee. Core Knowledge and Eureka were developed by nonprofits and are relatively inexpensive.

Porter-Magee realizes that just handing materials over to teachers and wishing them luck isnt enough. So the Partnership has invested heavily in professional development, including forming partnerships with outside groups such as Doug Lemovs Teach Like a Champion program and the Alliance for Catholic Education, which is akin to Teach for America for Catholic schools.

Much teacher support is now generated in-house. Teachers worked together to create Partnership-specific teaching guides and use data from interim assessments to improve their teaching and student achievement. Partnership schools are now part of a network, which allows for efficiencies and for teachers to collaborate and share ideas as never before.

After some initial resistance, the teachers, who are unionized, seem to have bought in to the program. Of the Partnerships 94 full-time teachers, only seven wont return this September. Four of the Partnerships six principals are eligible for retirement but are staying on. One of those principals, Joanne Walsh, has been a Catholic school principal for 25 years and says that now that the Partnership has taken over much of her administrative duties she no longer has to worry about boilers and tuition collection and human resource paper processing and can focus on helping teachers hone their craft and working with parents. Its life-changing.

Test scores are upand so is enrollment (the six Partnership schools now enroll more than 2,100 students), student and teacher retention, parental satisfaction, and fund-raising. The ongoing turnaround of the Partnership schools provides an exampleto Catholic, charter, and district schoolsof what can be accomplished with smart leadership, very little money, and a lot of hard work. Dagger John would be proud.

Photo by Paul Hart/iStock
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.

Six states  Mississippi, Alabama, Nevada, South Dakota, 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.)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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.
AKRON, Ohio - A man who pleaded guilty in June to charges of domestic violence and making illegal fireworks was sentenced to prison Wednesday.

Paul Plazak, 52, of Akron, was sentenced to two years in prison by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Paul Gallagher, according to a news release from the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.

Plazak pleaded guilty in June to one count of felony domestic violence and one count of illegal manufacturing of fireworks. The charges were in connection with a May incident at Plazak's Chalker Street home.

Akron police were called to the house May 4 after receiving a domestic violence complaint, police said. A 44-year-old woman at the house told police that Plazak choked her, threw her to the ground and threatened to kill her over an argument involving a dog.

When officers arrived at Plazak's house, he allowed them inside. Police said they found more than 1,000 homemade fireworks inside the home. The Summit County bomb squad had to secure the house, and some of the fireworks were as large as bricks, police said.

If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section.
Assault, Barrett Road: A Berea man, 20, was arrested Aug. 21 after he allegedly stepped out of a car in traffic and punched a driver in another vehicle.

The man and the victim, an 18-year-old Brook Park resident, are acquaintances. The victim said that at about 9:15 p.m. he was driving southbound on Nobottom Road near Barrett when he noticed a vehicle behind him speed up and follow his car closely. The vehicle nearly hit the victim's rear bumper several times while the driver honked her horn. The passenger, who was the Berea man, threw objects at the victim's car.

The victim stopped at a red light on Barrett at West Bagley. The other vehicle stopped next to the victim's car, and the Berea man jumped out of the passenger seat and punched the victim through an open car widow. The victim turned right onto West Bagley and drove to the police station. His face was swollen and his car was damaged.

Police drove to the Berea man's house. He wasn't there, but his grandmother called him home. The man admitted hitting the victim but said the victim had been "recklessly operating his vehicle" in front of him and his girlfriend, who was driving, and that when they stopped at the red light, the victim called the girlfriend a bad name. The man said the victim, in the past, had stolen items from his girlfriend and disrespected her.

Neighbor trouble, Fair Street: A Fair man, 51, contacted police Aug. 20 after his neighbor's dog defecated on his front lawn.

It happened at about 5 p.m. as the neighbor, 50, was walking his dog in front of the man's house. The man told police he had asked the neighbor several times before to keep the dog off the lawn.

This latest incident led to an argument between the two men. During the argument, the man said he reached into his pocket for his car keys - so he could drive to the police station and report what happened - and inadvertently pulled out a closed pocket knife with the keys.

The neighbor later told police the man had threatened him with the knife. He added that when he walks his dog, he always carries a grocery bag to pick up the dog's feces.

Police asked the neighbor if he could walk his dog on a route that doesn't include his neighbor's house. The neighbor said he should not have to change his route for the man, adding that he would beat the man up if this happens again.

Suspicion-fraud, West Bagley Road: Police are looking for a man who one woman believes is trying to scam job-seekers.

The woman, 19, of Maple Heights, contacted police Aug. 19 about a strange job-hunting experience. She said she had applied for a job on AT&T's website. On Aug. 17, a man - whom the woman believed was from AT&T - sent the woman an email to schedule an interview in a West Bagley office in Berea.

The woman said the man was "unprofessional and unorthodox" during the job interview. He told her she would sell cables and products but didn't thoroughly explain the position. The woman noticed only one AT&T sign, taped to an office window. The only other person in the office was a second job applicant.

The man invited the woman back Aug. 18 for a second interview, during which he wore street clothes - possibly pajamas - instead of a dress shirt and tie. The man offered jobs to the woman and two other applicants who were there. He then asked them to fill out forms asking for their Social Security, driver's-license and bank account numbers. The woman provided the information. The man invited them back Aug. 19 for training.

The woman became suspicious and called a friend who works at AT&T. The worker said she had never heard of the man. They searched his name on the Internet and learned he was a convicted felon and registered sex offender. Police advised the woman against attending the training session or providing additional personal information.

Operating a vehicle under the influence, Baldwin Drive: A Berea woman, 49, was arrested at about 5 a.m. Aug. 20 after police found her sleeping in a Nissan Sentra.

The car was parked cockeyed on Baldwin, with the front end significantly farther from the curb than the rear. An officer woke the woman, who said she was tired and waiting to start work. But when asked if she knew what street she was on, the woman said, "I don't know where I am right now." She asked the officer if she was in Strongsville.

Operating a vehicle under the influence, North Rocky River Drive: A Cleveland woman, 27, was arrested at about 2:15 a.m. Aug. 20 after police saw her driving a Chevrolet Cobalt erratically.

The woman's car had stopped and wasn't moving in front of a stop sign on Thacker Street. Other drivers had to maneuver around the car to turn onto Front Street. Eventually, the woman turned right onto Front without signaling. While turning, her car ended up in the wrong lane.

The woman then turned right onto North Rocky River. As she turned into Speedway, her car almost hit a barrier.

Theft, Prospect Street: Three PlayStation video-game systems, several video games and at least four game controllers were stolen between 2:15 p.m. Aug. 17 and 11:55 p.m. Aug. 18 from a house. There were no signs of a break-in.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit our crime and courts comments section.
Utopia Pipeline Overview Map_General_Rev11.jpg

Kinder Morgan's 215-mile pipeline will deliver 50,000 barrels per day of ethane from Ohio's shale fields in Southeast Ohio to Fulton County in Northwest Ohio and through an existing pipeline to a plastics company in Windsor, Ontario.

(Kinder Morgan)

ASHLAND, Ohio -- Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, North America's largest pipeline operator, wants Ohioans to know that the 215-mile Utopia Pipeline it plans to build across the state at an estimated cost of $500 million would be good for the local economy.

The Houston-based company commissioned a study by a local economist to prove it as company lawyers continue to negotiate easements along the projected route.

"Ohio stands to benefit from $237.3 million in economic impacts from the Utopia Pipeline ...during its first five years," conclude Shawn Rohlin, associate professor of economics at Kent State University and director of KSU's Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation.

The study uses generally accepted economic modeling tools to project the impact from the known number of direct jobs, as well the projected number of indirect jobs which would be created during the roughly two years of construction.

The KSU analysis includes taxes generated and an "uplift" in the state's economy attributable to the additional income earned and spending by local and out-of-state workers.

The project would require about 1,000 workers, half of whom would be Ohioans. And their spending would help create almost as many additional jobs, the economic model predicts.

Click

to download a copy of the study.

The 12-inch steel pipeline would initially carry 50,000 barrels a day of ethane, which is a liquid, and a liquid mixture of ethane and propane from Harrison County's shale fields to Fulton County west of Toledo. At that point, the line would connect to an existing Kinder Morgan pipeline to Michigan and then to Canada. Later, the company is considering boosting the daily delivery to 75,000 barrels a day.

Because the ethane would be delivered to Canadian plastics maker NOVA Chemicals in Ontario, the KSU study includes the value of the polyethylene and other plastic feed stock that it expects NOVA to ship to Ohio plastic manufacturers.

The pipeline would run through mostly farm land in 14 largely rural counties. Construction is planned to begin in early 2017 and take 20 months.

Kinder Morgan has reached negotiated settlements with about 65 percent of the 740 landowners, said attorney Allen Fore, the company's vice president of public affairs who is headquartered in a new company office in Ashland.

Fore declined to say how much the company is paying for the right-of-way because the amount paid can vary. Not all of the negotiations are easy.

"We have had a couple of legal proceedings, and in some cases these are requested by landowners," he said, because they want a legal document guaranteeing the negotiated results.

Many of the landowners are concerned about the impact of the 50-foot wide right-of-way on their crops, said Fore.

To address those concerns, the company has also developed an "agricultural impact mitigation agreement," which includes provisions to set topsoil aside so that it can be put back after the pipeline trenches are filled, he said.

The depth of the pipeline will vary, said Fore, from a minimum of 36 inches to 10 feet under major highways and as deep as 30 feet under rivers.

Kinder Morgan used competitive bidding to purchase the steel pipe it will use. The pipe and steel used to make it are American-made.

"We awarded the bid for pipe manufacturing to American Cast Iron Pipe Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama," said spokeswoman Melissa Ruiz, a Houston-based spokeswoman. They are buying the steel from Nucor, which is also American.

The company filed for permits last spring from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Other federal and state agencies the company says are involved in the approval and oversight of the project include the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Kinder Morgan already operates 920 miles of pipelines and six terminals in Ohio, including two in Northeast, a rail terminal in Euclid and a rail and dock terminal in Ashtabula. The company operates six terminals on the Ohio River in and near Cincinnati.

The company owns an interest in about 80,000 miles of pipelines and 165 terminals throughout North America.
Donell Paris

Donell Paris, 29, looks at his family as he prepares to be transported to prison. He was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 after he was snared in a federal child porn trading ring.

(John Harper, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man who used the social messaging app KIK to trade pictures with a notorious purveyor of child porn and was caught along with a ring of about 50 users was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison.

Investigators with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children task force traced an IP address found in a web of KIK users to the home of 29-year-old Donell Paris. Paris admitted to looking at child porn, and handed over cellphones and a memory card that contained over 800 images and videos, prosecutors said.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Janet R. Burnside sentenced Paris to four years and left open the possibility that the 25 year old could be let out early at the judge's discretion.

The investigation that led to his arrest started with the arrest of Randy Martinez, a 21-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico who sent a tip outing himself to federal investigators saying he was going to have sex with his six year old cousin.

Martinez was arrested and charge for possessing and distributing child porn. Investigators traced other users on the KIK messaging app Martinez was using to at least 50 other people around the country, including Paris.

Paris told the judge Wednesday that he was "ashamed, heartbroken and scared."

Burnside, who appeared unsatisfied with Paris' explanation, pressed him on his motivations.

"Of course you're ashamed because this is something you intended to keep private. Lets get beyond this and ask what does this say about you," Burnside said. "This is actively seeking sexual pictures of children, children, not 13-year-olds, not 14-year-olds, not adolescents, children. People don't understand this."

Paris struggled to explain his child porn addiction.

"I didn't intentionally go on these sites to look for child pornography," he said. "The prosecutor for the state said that I went back or downloaded on specific days that were away from each other, that wasn't my intention."

"What do you mean it wasn't your intention, your little clicker finger slipped, what do you mean it wasn't your intention," Burnside replied. "Doesn't this trouble you that you're a very sick individual?"

"Yes your honor," Paris said.

Burnside noted at one point that Paris might not have fully understood the damage that child porn does.

"The defendant did not intend to cause physical harm to a person. After all, the picture has been taken, so looking at it or procuring it would not cause physical harm," Burnside said.

Paris has a scattered criminal history that started when he was 14 years old, when a rape charge was plead down to gross sexual imposition after a sexual encounter with an 11-year-old girl.

He has also been convicted twice on marijuana charges and earlier this year on a misdemeanor charge for not paying child support.

"What I have decided to do Mr. Paris, I am going to send you to prison today," Burnside said. "I am going to limit the prison sentence to four years...that will permit the court to supervise you, give you the opportunity to receive counseling or whatever other thing would make you a healthier person."

If you'd like to comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comment section.
Gun advocates stage open carry demonstration

James Purdy brought a big sign and a big gun to Public Square to protest Cleveland's new gun ordinance. Purdy has an AR-15 strapped to his back. His sign is from NE Ohio Carry.

(Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County judge ruled that some of Cleveland's new gun control laws violate the state constitution, but left intact a controversial gun offender registry that drew the ire of gun-rights groups.

Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland-Saffold ruled Monday that three of Cleveland's laws enacted in April 2015 violated a state law that gives state legislators preemptive control over gun laws, including a provision that allowed police officers to confiscate guns.

The ruling came after Ohioans for Concealed Carry filed a constitutional challenge against the ordinance just days after it was passed by city council.

Jeff Garvas, president and founder of the concealed carry group, said that the ruling corroborates his organization's claim that the ordinance was passed in the face of a prior Ohio Supreme Court ruling against the city six years ago.

"Her ruling cites three cases where the City of Cleveland passed ordinances that are unconstitutional," Garvas said. "The City of Cleveland has been told three times now that they're not allowed to do this, twice by the Supreme Court."

Parts of the new gun ordinance that were upheld include:

A rule that prohibits leaving a firearm where it can be accessed by someone under the age of 18.

A provision that requires people who aren't gun dealers to report the sale of guns or weapons

The law that requires gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the city,

A requirement that gun offenders self register with the city.

A provision that requires police to be notified if a gun is found on school property.

A ban on the negligent transfer of firearms to someone who is intoxicated or is a convicted felon (state law already prohibits reckless transfer).

An increased penalty for failing to secure a dangerous ordnance, such as an explosive material or device.

The four provisions that were overruled:

A new, stricter definition of automatic weapons.

The prohibition of shooting a firearm within 500 feet of a park, playground, or recreation center.

A provision allowing police to seize a gun from someone drinking, disturbing the police, threatening bodily harm or causing a disturbance or violence.

A provision prohibiting the defacing of identification marks on firearms or the possession of defaced firearms a misdemeanor; it is already a felony under state law.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson boosted the ordinance when it was passed last spring, saying it would help keep illegal guns out of criminals' hands.

Garvas said he isn't concerned about many of the provisions of the law that were upheld and echoed City Councilman Zack Reed's comments last year that the ordinance was meaningless and largely replicates laws that the state has already passed.

A Reed was the sole member of city council who voted against the new ordinance and equated the measure to giving a flu shot to a gunshot victim.

"Registration, even if it remains law, it serves no preventative purpose," Gravas said. "All it is is keeping a record of people who committed a crime, and you can find that record already at the clerk of court's office. All it is, is window dressing on an urban crime problem."

City of Cleveland spokesman Dan Ball said the registry has been in effect since November and is incumbent upon convicted gun offenders registering themselves either after they are released from prison, or when they move to the city.
In a Thursday speech, Morrison warned that Australia, which has enjoyed 25 year of consecutive economic growth, could see gross debt exceed $1 trillion in a decade unless growth in welfare spending, "one of the most difficult challenges confronting the budget," was reined in.

Australian treasurer Scott Morrison has come under fire for his comments that unemployed citizens and those on welfare represented the "taxed nots" of society, sparking a heated debate as to who the real culprits were behind the country's poor tax intake.

Scott Morrison, Australia's treasurer, speaks in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Australia's 25 year-run without a recession is fostering a complacent attitude toward the economy and preventing the prudent budget management needed to avert trouble, Morrison said.

He said a generation of Australians have grown up expecting government hand-outs, noting that "more Australians are also likely today to be net beneficiaries of the Government than contributorsnever paying more tax than they receive in government payments."



The remarks were part of a speech that he delivered on Thursday, but the news was first reported the day before after local media saw extracts of the speech.

Morrison's comments were widely interpreted as an attack on the country's poor, triggering outrage among commentators who said the government should be focusing its attention on wealthy individuals and companies instead.

Among them were Christine Milne, former leader of progressive political party The Australian Greens.

Yes ScottMorrisonMP a generation has grown up expecting payments from Govt as part of their income. They're called fossil fuel companies.

Activist groups such as GetUp! and the Australian Council of Trade Unions also weighed in.



Can someone please remind ScottMorrisonMP about that time 54 millionaires and 675 corporations paid EXACTLY $0 TAX? #ScoMoneedsanintern



Working Australians furious at @ScottMorrisonMP's lecture while his govt does nothing to stop corp tax dodge #auspol



"It is alarming that the Australian Government plans to demonise the country's poor as the 'taxed-nots', when one in three large companies reported on by the Australian Tax Office in 2014 paid no tax," Oxfam Chief Executive Officer Dr Helen Szoke said in a statement on Thursday.

"Large multinational companies are the real 'taxed-nots' in Australia. Our recent research found tax dodging practices by multinationals deprived the nation's public coffers of as much as $6 billion in 2014 alone," Szoke continued.

Morrison addressed corporate tax avoidance in his speech but did not call the matter as serious as welfare spending, only noting that the government had introduced new tools to crack down on multinationals, including the introduction of a new diverted profits tax.

The speech followed news that Canberra was looking to combine $6.5 billion of budget cuts into one omnibus bill to present when parliament resumes next week.

"Australia is the nation of the fair go, but Government policies that demonise the poor rather than tackling the urgent problem of rising inequality will only serve to erode this cherished national Aussie value," Szoke said.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.
When Janet Yellen speaks on Friday, Jim Cramer thinks she could make a case for a strong economy that is ready for multiple rate hikes.

"I bet a small tightening will turn out to be a buying opportunity, even as there are always weak-handed traders who sell on any rate increase," the "Mad Money" host said.

When Cramer listened to the stellar Toll Brothers earnings conference call on Tuesday, it was clear to him why the housing market is doing so well. Toll Brothers dominates the high-end real estate market, building homes that average $843,000.

The company bought back approximately 7 percent of its shares in the first nine months of the fiscal year, but what really impressed Cramer was the geographical breadth of its strength. It managed to thrive in markets like Denver and Dallas, even though they were supposed to be hurt by slumping oil prices.
An armed watchman stands on the prow of the USS Nitze, moored at the Mocangue Island's Brazilian Navy base in Brazil, on April 27, 2011.

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.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test-fire of a submarine-launched ballistic missile and declared it "the greatest success" that put the country in the "front rank" of nuclear military powers, official media reported on Thursday.

North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Wednesday which flew about 500 km (300 miles). The South Korean government and experts said the launch showed technical progress in the North's SLBM programme.

"A test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile was successfully conducted under the guidance of supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Kim Jong Un," the North's official KCNA news agency said.

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," KCNA said.

"He noted with pride that the results of the test-fire proved in actuality that the DPRK joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability."
Singapore is taking the next step in the move towards self-driving vehicles with the world's first public trial of self-driving taxis.

Robo-taxis developed by nuTonomy, a Massachusetts based transportation software firm, will operate autonomously in a Singapore business district on a trial basis beginning Thursday. The vehicles will be specially configured Renault and Mitsubishi models. A select number of Singapore residents will use nuTonomy's smartphone app to hail a robo-taxi for a ride at no charge.

"The trial represents an extraordinary opportunity to collect feedback from riders in a real-world setting, and this feedback will give nuTonomy a unique advantage as we work toward deployment of a self-driving vehicle fleet in 2018," said Karl Iagnemma, CEO and co-founder of nuTonomy.

While the plan is for the robo-taxis' software to make all decisions on the movement of the vehicles, there will be a nuTonomy engineer riding in the front seat to take control if needed.
Though traditionally back-to-school purchases were considered a mom's responsibility, dads are increasingly taking a role in household purchases, and it's opening up a door for consumer product goods companies and other child-based brands to market to a new demographic: millennial fathers.

"We used to have this belief that women controlled 80 percent of all purchases," said Simon Isaacs, the co-founder and chief content officer of media company Fatherly. "Every single creative brief has that assumption built into it. But when you stop and think about it, that's 1950s America. We keep telling ourselves that story, while the makeup of the American household and those responsibilities have changed."

According to Rubicon Project's 2016 Back-to-School Consumer Pulse, 61 percent of parents plan to spend more than they did last year on their children, totaling an average of $917. The study was conducted by global polling firm Penn Schoen Berland, which interviewed 1,506 parents with children in K12 and entering their freshman year of college.

But while moms were still the lead shoppers, dads are definitely more involved than they used to be, especially with technology. Fathers in particular were more likely to use mobile devices to shop for back-to school items. A little over four out of 10 dads said they planned to do at least a quarter of their shopping on mobile, compared to just 24 percent of moms. They also were more likely to make "impulsive" purchases and buy something based off what they saw on mobile or online. More than half clicked on a mobile ad, and 35 percent purchased because of a mobile ad. Results were slightly higher for online ads respectively.

It's not just back-to-school purchases that men are taking an interest in: It's the household in general. A BabyCenter survey in March of 2,000 people found that 84 percent of U.S. parents said that fathers are taking an increasing role in childrearing.

"We do believe that millennials look at parenting different than other generations," said Julie Michaelson, head of global sales at BabyCenter. "Many moms and dads are both working, and in many cases the woman is the primary breadwinner outside the home. We're seeing much more co-parenting today due to this challenge."

Michaelson said as a result, companies are looking for ways to reach millennial fathers. While many companies ask BabyCenter for male-centric strategies, it often advises that advertising should show what today's family is really like. This means featuring dad as a primary caregiver, or showing multicultural or "nontraditional" families in ads. For example, Honey Maid's "This Is Wholesome" ads featured families of all shapes and sizes.

"A brand or product may serve all families, but I think what consumers want to see is a brand reflecting reality," Michaelson said. "They want to see him involved."

Issacs added that Fatherly's research has shown 80 percent of dads are involved with their baby's registry, an area that is traditionally only marketed to women. A survey from YouGov in June showed that 15 percent of dads do laundry on a daily basis, with a third doing it once a week.



For Fatherly, it's meant that they're getting business from brands like Fisher-Price , KinderCare and Boudreaux's Butt Paste, which previously wouldn't have asked for male-centric ad campaigns. For the rash cream company, Fatherly created a video of a dad constructing a rocket-themed changing table. The clip, which was posted on Tuesday, has already been viewed 386,000 times on Facebook.

"We went along with mommy blogger blinders in the way that we marketed grocery, CPG or juvenile products or toys and games.  Brands that have traditionally been 100 percent focused on mom are now speaking to engaged dad either as the primary purchaser or influencer," Isaacs said.
An employee shows the curved screen of a Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone device Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images

If Apple decides to join Samsung in releasing a phone with a curved screen, as has been reported, the move would illustrate a curious fact about the two rivals: In some ways, the two companies' businesses are entwined. Apple's 2017 product line may include a 5.5-inch  or larger  phone with a "screen bent on the two sides" like Samsung's top-end phones, a source told Nikkei Asian Review. Though the change is yet unconfirmed by Apple, it would introduce a "me too feature" that competitor Samsung already has.

"Samsung and Apple are already in a strange relationship  they are like friend-enemy," said Jennifer Colegrove, CEO of Touch Display Research. "Samsung knows Apple's power. They have so many friends around the world, and they can leverage Apple's brand and popularity."

For this new feature, if it does indeed emerge, Apple would likely need Samsung's expertise to provide the niche technology behind curved smartphone screens, experts say. But Samsung, in turn, is in need of new buyers to profit from the expensive manufacturing, they said.

Why Apple needs Samsung

Samsung's Galaxy Note 7, released this month, is the latest phone to have the curved display. With features like an iris scanner, many critics have dubbed it a worthy iPhone opponent and demand has surged. It comes after the curved-screen Galaxy S7 edge was the world's best-selling Android smartphone during the first half of this year, Researcher Strategy Analytics told Reuters. The proven appeal of the sleek, seamless bevel could be just what Apple needs to set it apart from the many iPhone copycats, said John Vinh, senior research analyst at Pacific Crest. "If you look at the overall smartphone market, it's pretty clear that it's become a very mature market," Vinh said. "There's not been a lot of great anticipation of the iPhone 7 ramp. Most people think that it's going to be pretty marginal innovation. If you're Apple and your looking for some sort of key differentiation, it's one of the only noticeable technologies." So why would Apple  known for its focus on design  lag Samsung? The two companies weren't immediately available for more comment.

An employee shows the curved screen of a new Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone device Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images

One reason: To make the curved screen Apple would need a reliable supply of "small, flexible panels of active matrix organic light emitting diodes" (OLED), and Samsung is the only major producer of this technology. While LG could be a potential supplier, Samsung has exclusive technologies and the largest production capacity, which has helped it dominate this market since 2010, said Jerry Kang, IHS Markit display analyst.

In fact, Samsung recently had trouble meeting the demand it its own products. The launch of the Samsung S6 Edge suffered delays due to supply constraint on the screens. And some have already complained that the Note 7's screens are prone to breaking. Supply constraints are likely to exist even into 2017, said Vinh. Colegrove believes the investment on OLED capacity expansion is only just materializing.

And Apple, its defenders have pointed out, likes to release products that are perfected, even if they're not first. Colegrove said that based on reviews of Apple patent applications, the company might design a more sharply-tilted edge that's easy to pick up from a flat surface, for instance. "They would design something more interesting," she said.

Why Samsung needs Apple

Samsung has bet billions on OLEDs, backing the technology even when it looked like it was about to be replaced by liquid crystal display (LCD) makers, in a VHS-versus-Betamax-style war, analysts said. Samsung stuck with the technology because the growth of smartphone demand could help them to recover the expenses, said Kang.

While Samsung's Galaxy series has helped the OLED business, the growth of smartphone market has slowed from a few years ago, so Samsung needed to find additional demand, Kang said. "If you're Samsung, and you can get the industry to start switching, and you have a commanding head start, that suggests it will be a very profitable venture for years to come," Vinh said.

watch now
The silhouette of Donald Trump Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

When Donald Trump entered the presidential race in June 2015, the Republican Party was divided. By the time he accepted his nomination just over a year later, it had shattered into pieces. The GOP for years was a diverse but sturdy three-legged stool of security hawks, tax cutters and religious conservatives. Within that coalition, stakeholders might jostle for prominence but generally got along, united by the common goal of winning elections. Divisions within the party existed before Trump won the 2016 nomination, but were exacerbated in recent years as establishment Republicans battled with conservative populists over a variety of hot-button issues, including immigration. Tactical fights erupted over whether to threaten government shutdowns and how much to compromise with Democrats. Smaller factions within the party, like libertarians, battled to push their policies to the top of the agenda. Then came Trump. The real estate mogul's ascent didn't just catch Republicans by surprise, it went against everything many party stalwarts thought they knew about the GOP and its voters. More from NBC News:

United States of Trump: An inside look at the voters who took over the Republican Party

A party divided: How Donald Trump emerged from decades of GOP tension

Italy earthquake: Rescuers dig for survivors as death toll climbs

Trump violated party orthodoxy on trade, entitlement reform, money in politics and national security. He exposed a huge portion of the Republican base that either disagreed with party leaders on key issues or didn't care what they had to say. To some degree, the celebrity candidate challenged the idea that policy proposals even mattered: His own positions were far from consistent; he shifted regularly, even on signature issues; and he scoffed at the need for depth or nuance. The thrice-married candidate's checkered personal history and crude rhetoric flew in the face of the party's religious, conservative image. And his appeals to bigotry forced some Republicans to consider whether the left's portrayal of the GOP as the party of white resentment was more accurate than they had once thought.



Whether or not Trump prevails in November, the GOP is set for a rebuilding process like none in recent memory.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Carlo Allegri | Reuters

"The party of Reagan was the party that had coalitions that worked seamlessly together," GOP strategist John Feehery said. "What Donald Trump has identified is a party that is literally splitting apart between the donor class and the working class parts of the party." Whether or not Trump prevails in November, the GOP is set for a rebuilding process like none in recent memory. If he wins, he'll face a Congress whose leaders have largely distanced themselves from his brand and who oppose much of his agenda. If he loses, his one-of-a-kind candidacy offers each faction of the party a credible argument that its approach would have carried the election instead. We asked more than a dozen prominent minds in the Republican Party, including Trump supporters and Trump critics, fiscal conservatives and social conservatives, tea party rabble-rousers and veteran establishment hands, to assess the impact of Trump's emergence and where the party goes from here. Despite their differences, the conservatives we interviewed described their ideal Republican Party in similar terms, one guided by values like "free enterprise," "individual responsibility," "limited government," "family" and "security." How to achieve that ideal was another story. Participants disagreed sharply on the policies that constitute true conservatism, the changes needed to secure its political future, and, above all, what Trump's emergence meant to them. Was he a malevolent force that needed to be purged? A prophet heralding necessary changes? A freak occurrence with no greater meaning at all? Or some mix of all of the above? In the course of these conversations, four broad paths emerged, each pointing to different agendas, different messages, different coalitions of voters and a different conception of what it means to be a Republican.

Path one: Trump takes over the GOP

While Trump's policies are inconsistent, the broad contours of his vision are clear enough. A Trump Republican Party would champion blue-collar white workers and lean heavily on fear and resentment to excite small donors, recruit volunteers and motivate supporters.

Politicians in Trump's Republican Party would showcase their opposition to illegal immigration on economic, cultural and security grounds while casting suspicion upon Muslims at home and abroad. Most claims of racial inequality would be brushed aside as divisive. Leaders would be unapologetically brash in the face of "political correctness." A new "America First" foreign policy would push back against free trade agreements, military alliances and the U.S.-led international institutions that enforce these arrangements. The party would table old arguments over shrinking government and reforming entitlements, urging robust government intervention instead to help workers left behind by economic changes. As Liz Mair, an anti-Trump, libertarian-leaning Republican strategist put it, the party under Trump's leadership is "less about protecting and expanding freedom and liberty and much more about trying to placate angry, working class, predominantly male white voters" with proposals that emphasize "sticking it to people outside their demographic."

Trump has said his vision for the GOP is a "worker's party." In a break from the party's smaller-government past, he has suggested a massive federal investment in infrastructure to provide jobs directly to struggling areas, not unlike the federal stimulus package President Obama pushed through early in his first term over nearly unanimous GOP opposition. All of these positions challenge the Republican Party's traditional three-legged stool of social and fiscal conservatism and national security interventionism. In other words, Trump's most loyal backers have soundly rejected the party's fundamental orthodoxy. "I saw that [George W. Bush] mentioned in the paper  that he thought this was the end of the Republican Party," former New York gubernatorial nominee and Trump's state campaign chair Carl Paladino said. "I certainly hope it is the end of the Republican Party as he knew it."

Paladino himself is a good example of what a post-Trump GOP candidate might look like. A successful businessman, he won the New York Republican nomination for governor in an upset in 2010 despite behavior that included sending racist and pornographic images to an extended email list of friends and reporters. He cratered in the general election, but says he sees a path for the party if it can rack up higher and higher margins with disaffected Democrats in downtrodden places like his hometown of Buffalo. "The Republican Party is already halfway to that change," Paladino said. "They're already addressing, exclusively, the middle class, and making it better, and taking them along for the ride." Several Republicans who spoke to NBC News agreed this transformation would only realistically occur if Trump wins, prompting holdout Republicans to fall in line behind his agenda.

watch now

"If he loses  he will have proven to be nothing but a flash in the pan and will have little lasting impact," Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin said. "If he wins, it will prove the Chamber of Commerce-driven elite agenda is dead as a national platform."

But even some Republicans opposed to Trump's candidacy suggest the party could be on a path toward Trumpism regardless of what happens in November.

Some pointed to Europe, where far-right parties have rapidly gained ground touting a similar message on issues like immigration and trade. Just like Trump's campaign, the political debates in those countries have often pitted elites against populists, older voters against younger voters and white voters against non-white voters. In this context, Trump looks less like an outlier in American politics and more like the product of a global trend.

"I suspect that he's more or less permanently turned the GOP into a European style 'far-right' party like the National Front in France or the Party for Freedom in Belgium," Leon Wolf, editor of the conservative RedState and a fierce Trump critic, said.

Trump himself is well aware of this dynamic: He supported the Brexit vote to leave the European Union, which was spearheaded by the nationalist United Kingdom Independence Party, and has regularly cited its winning coalition as a model for his own. "They will soon be calling me Mr. Brexit!" he tweeted in August.

For the party to go down this road, Trump's presidential run would have to inspire a generation of candidates to take up his playbook on the local, state and federal level. If his voters stay politically engaged and influential figures in talk radio and media outlets like Breitbart continue to embrace their agenda, they could force Republican leaders toward Trumpism with primary threats, just as tea party activists pushed Congress toward rigid conservative doctrine before them. Trump could encourage this himself by continuing to target Republican critics in the press, by purchasing or founding media outlets to spread the Trumpist gospel, or even by running for president again. An early case study might be Paul Nehlen, the Republican challenger to House Speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin, who ran a campaign linking himself tightly to Trump and calling for the possible deportation of all Muslims from America.

Whatever we do during the Donald Trump era weve got to be cognizant an older, whiter, more male party is a party thats never going to win another presidential election.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan talks on stage after roll call on the second day of the Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Getty Images

Nehlen was always a longshot and lost by a wide margin, but future candidates in more favorable districts and states could be more formidable. The same night Nehlen lost, a former talk radio host won an open House primary in Minnesota, despite making shocking remarks about women and slavery. On a national level, it's not hard to imagine someone like Sarah Palin (a supporter of both Nehlen and Trump) becoming a real threat to win the 2020 nomination on a Trumpist platform. The existing tea party wing of the party could also take on a more Trump-like flavor. Sen. Ted Cruz pointedly refused to support Trump, for example, but he moved toward him during the Republican primary by souring on free trade negotiations, reversing his past support for more legal immigration, endorsing self-deportation for undocumented immigrants and proposing America accept Christian refugees while leaving Muslims behind. "It's no longer the rich, suburban country club party," said former Sen. Rick Santorum, whose own 2016 run included calls for a decrease in immigration and an increase in the minimum wage. "Whether the party recognizes it or not, it's going to be reflected in who's going to do well in our elections." The challenges to this approach are obvious. The party would be betting its national fortunes on an aging demographic that's rapidly being eclipsed by a new generation of more diverse voters who are unfamiliar with the country Trump invokes when he says, "Make America Great Again." "Whatever we do during the Donald Trump Era we've got to be cognizant an older, whiter, more male party is a party that's never going to win another presidential election," Feehery said. But just because the math on this movement doesn't add up past 2016, doesn't mean the party can avoid being taken along for the ride.

Path two: Refined Trumpism

As a candidate, Trump repelled many Republican elites even as he attracted millions of disaffected GOP voters. That clash is threatening to tear the party apart this year, but what if there was a way to excite Trump's voters without alienating everyone else? That's the path offered by a prominent set of conservative intellectuals who see Trump's success as proof of their longstanding argument that the party needs to reinvent itself as the champion of the little guy. Their case goes like this: Trump won because he was the one candidate who realized the Republican Party had fallen out of touch with its own voters and ordinary Americans in general. While GOP candidates, donors and activists came together in the past behind a platform of cutting entitlement benefits, slashing taxes for the wealthy, passing trade deals and embracing immigration, many Republican voters were more interested in paying their bills and didn't see how any of those longstanding party principles helped their day-to-day lives. Opposition to President Obama kept GOP leaders and voters on the same page until 2016, when everyone started looking past Obama's presidency. That's when the Republican platform's rotten foundation collapsed. "Republicanism isn't that good of a product," Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, said. Instead, the party needed to rebuild around "pushing opportunity to the people who need it the most."

Proponents of this theory, who include prominent "reform conservative" writers like New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and National Review editor Reihan Salam, mostly loathe Trump, especially his appeals to racial prejudice. But they've also spent years warning Republicans of a rude awakening if they don't find ways to address his voters' concerns about stagnant wages and competition from immigrants and foreign rivals. Douthat has described Trumpism as "reform conservatism's evil twin"  an unworkable agenda GOP leaders brought upon themselves by ignoring the conservative intellectuals' think tank-friendly alternative. So how does a candidate win these disaffected Trump supporters? Show they're willing to stand up to the same donor class that Trump used as his foil. That would mean painful sacrifices for small government activists and the wealthy backers who fund their cause.

George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair shaking hands at a press conference at the Foreign Office in London. Jeff Overs | BBC News & Current Affairs | Getty Images

"Republicans need to be less doctrinally wedded to free market economics, which is not to say turning back on the market, but to say that there are times when intervention is justified to ensure everyone has a fair shake," Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center, told NBC News.

In line with that approach, reformers' suggestions include a more skeptical eye toward immigration, new tax credits to raise working class incomes and an openness to subsidized health insurance and child care. Reformers' immigration positions are still a far cry from Trump's. There are no calls for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants or giant walls. The focus instead would be on preventing future illegal immigration and revamping the legal visa system to reduce the number of workers competing with Americans for jobs. "I think the age of mass migration has to come to an end," David Frum, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, said. "I think the Republican Party also needs to make its peace with universal health care coverage." One crucial prescription a number of reformers have named: Abandoning the party's never-ending quest to slash taxes for the rich. Not only does it undermine its populist credibility  especially while the party is asking voters to endure cuts to Medicare and Social Security  it soaks up money that could go to funding middle-class benefits. The hope, reformers say, is that by rallying around a worker-focused economic program while ditching Trump's bigotry and misogyny, the party could convince minorities, women and young voters to give the GOP a second look. Embracing Trump's voters carries its own dangers, though. It could turn out that a "reform conservative" candidate is caught in the deadly middle: Too populist on economics to attract support from big donors and ideological conservatives, but too "politically correct" to fire up Trump's base and attract small donor support. Appealing to voters' financial bottom line instead of white resentment is a winning strategy if the bottom line was what drove them to support Trump. But what if white resentment was what actually brought them to his rallies? Or what if making offensive statements is a litmus test for blue-collar Republicans that proves a candidate is on their side and not part of the Washington establishment? If that's the case, reform conservatives run the danger of being outflanked by Trump-like candidates willing to offer voters more populism and more anger. A reformer could promise new investments in infrastructure only to face a candidate who promises double. Another might promise new limits on worker visas only to be met with a promise to build a border moat and fill it with alligators. "The populism always runs to its s***** natural endpoint," Florida Republican strategist Rick Wilson, a fierce critic of Trump, said. "You can't satisfy that monster."

Path three: The party establishment wins

If there's one thing we know about Donald Trump, it's his professed deep disdain for the political establishment, which has shown him no great love, either. If he loses in November, the Republican establishment, along with its donor class, could claim victory and restore the party to its former image while purging the party of its populist influence.

"I just don't see the GOP adopting [Trump's] policy positions in the long run," said Lanhee Chen, a Stanford professor and former top adviser to Mitt Romney.

Following a Trump loss, the donor class would point to the election results as proof that his coalition of working-class, less-educated white men doesn't spell victory in a general election. They would dismiss the policies that Trump championed, insisting voters don't support trade restrictions, mass deportations, a Muslim ban or preserving entitlements. "We told you so," the donor class would argue. And they'd be energized and emboldened to restore the GOP to its former self: A pro-business, anti-tax party, perhaps offering minor concessions for the new generation. "I suspect much of the GOP, like what they used to say about the Bourbons of France, is that they'll learn nothing and forget nothing," Erick Erickson, founder of the conservative media site TheResurgent.com, said.



The party of Lincoln must endeavor to behave like the party of Lincoln

This post-Trump party would surely try to become more diverse. It would revive key portions of the Republican National Committee's 2012 "autopsy" and resume its outreach to women and minorities, especially Hispanics, whom Republicans, especially Trump, have turned away. The party would also work to win young voters by softening opposition to social change, especially gay rights. This evolution would begin with immigration reform, and would not include automatic deportation or a concrete wall paid for by the Mexican government.

Fred Malek, Republican donor and former Republican administration official for four presidents, argues the GOP must look to its founding to find its future.

"The party of Lincoln must endeavor to behave like the party of Lincoln," Malek said. "The only party with two governors of Hispanic descent, two governors of Indian descent, three female governors and the only African-American U.S. senator needs to celebrate the diversity of our country. We need to welcome immigrants while preventing illegal immigration, demonstrate tolerance for all, have empathy for those with different views and promote policies that lift all boats." The party would still face a long climb out of a very deep hole. Trump's policy proposals and rhetoric against Hispanics and African-Americans have strained and probably reversed past GOP efforts to woo those voters, panicking donors and the party establishment who know the party's future depends on expanding beyond its older, white base.

watch now

"Every candidate for the foreseeable future will be viewed through the prism of Trump by voters. That's a massive problem, especially since he's turned off every key demographic the GOP needs to win national elections," said Evan Siegfried, columnist and author of the newly released book "GOP GPS."

Trump's support among the growing population of nonwhite voters is dismal. The nonwhite electorate grew by 2 percent between 2012 and 2016 and now stands at 31 percent, according to a Pew Research survey. And a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found Trump with zero percent support among African-Americans in the battleground state of Ohio, and his support among Latinos is lower than any previous Republican presidential candidate. "If we are going to win national, general elections, we simply must do better with women, African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans," said Katie Packer, a veteran GOP strategist who helped lead the so-called "Never Trump" movement during the presidential primaries. The party's 2012 autopsy  officially called The Growth and Opportunity Project  urged a fresh look at immigration reform and outreach to Hispanics as central to the party's survival. A number of Republicans have also advocated criminal justice reform to build credibility with black voters, something Trump sidesteps while he focuses on "law and order."



The autopsy was not a dumb document, it was smart, said Wilson, the Florida political strategist. It was dumb that we didnt listen to it.

"The autopsy was not a dumb document, it was smart," said Wilson, the Florida political strategist. "It was dumb that we didn't listen to it." To embrace the future, the party might also place some aspects of its social conservative agenda on the back burner  especially its focus on stemming the tide of gay rights. The party could continue to hold traditional beliefs without pushing religious freedom bills or restrictive bathroom legislation to the forefront of campaigns. "We have to drop the social conservative stuff and recognize that many of our policies make millennials think we are a party of the past," Siegfried said. It's not that proponents of this path don't want the support of Trump voters. They just don't think Trump is a true conservative, and that many of his policies that appeal to this group of voters don't fall in line with Republican ideals. Trump's protectionist economic policies, in particular, have caused consternation among establishment Republicans, many of whom are business leaders. "Sadly, some of these differences may be irreconcilable," Chen said of the economic philosophy Trump and his supporters have embraced. "But the way that we can appeal to the great majority of Americans is for the party to return to first principles. A growing economy benefits every American. And a safe country with strong alliances around the world does the same." Tony Fratto, who served in the administration of President George W. Bush, said that adopting Trump's economic policy proposals and the views of his followers "is not sustainable" if the Republican Party is to remain intact. "What you have in that case is a completely incoherent party and it's not something that can be properly called a national party," Fratto said. The establishment would revive efforts to shrink the federal government and cut taxes, especially for top earners, giving weight back to supply-side economics. To overcome resistance, the newly restored establishment party might have to break the system that produced Trump. That could mean aggressive efforts by GOP donors to fund primary challengers against members who won't fall in line. Party leaders could try to cut off damaging candidates early, as they did in 2012 when GOP organizations publicly renounced Missouri Senate hopeful Todd Akin over his comments on rape and abortion. Such efforts took place in early August. A Kansas Republican House primary pitted an establishment challenger, Roger Marshall, against incumbent Tim Huelskamp, a tea party champion who had irritated party leaders by turning against them on key votes. Donors like the United States Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business lobbying group, and Chicago Cubs owner Todd Ricketts backed Marshall, who handily defeated Huelskamp.

President Barack Obama speaks before signing a memorandum on reducing the burden of student loans on June 9, 2014 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

If the party unites by using cash to crush anyone with an outsider streak, it risks acknowledging that a competition of ideas no longer exists. It's a value that the Republican Party once prided itself on but has lost in the era of President Barack Obama as the party became one of Democratic opposition.. Mair, the anti-Trump Republican strategist, points out that the party has to once again become a party of "solutions." "Fix the underlying problems, which are not specific to Trump's voters, but are causing Trump's voters to rally to him and others to rally to Democrats. In short, do your job, and win as a result," Mair said.

Part four: The stalemate

It's become a daily mantra among Trump's critics on the right: If only we had nominated anyone else, we'd be winning for sure right now. "Hillary Clinton is so weak and vulnerable and had we chosen any other candidate as our standard bearer, we would likely defeat her come November," Packer, the veteran GOP strategist, said. But if Trump loses, no one faction competing for prominence in the Republican Party gets to claim victory, continuing a years-long stalemate within the party. The establishment wing will claim Trump's difficulty with minority voters means the party must diversify. The tea party wing will claim Trump's disgruntled populists were mad that Congress didn't fight Obama harder. Social conservatives will claim they should have nominated a candidate with pro-life credentials and one marriage, rather than three. "I fear because of how screwed up the party is  regardless of what happens we're coming out as a divided party with unanswered questions for large chunks of the party," he said. In this scenario, no one group would gain enough power to successfully lead the party. It would remain deeply fractured, with different segments vying for control and angry Trump supporters looming in the background pressing for change. Without one emerging faction as the winner, the agenda on trade, immigration, old-age entitlements and the role of the U.S. in a globalized world would grow even murkier. Congressional leadership would struggle to maintain a working coalition with a platform that goes beyond opposition to a Democratic administration. Olsen, the fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center, said that as a result it could take decades for the Republican Party to define itself, yielding Democrats the upper hand for years. "I think it's highly likely that instead of a debate that could have been roughly settled by 2020, we're likely to have a much longer and much more difficult debate that could very well include more losses at the presidential level until they get it right," Olsen said. It's not just that a Trump loss would fail to settle the party's pre-existing debates. To many Republicans, Trump's nomination was a fluke  one that could not be replicated by anyone else and would require few policy concessions to his voters.

I think if he loses it wont have had much of an impact on the party

"I think if he loses it won't have had much of an impact on the party," Terry Sullivan, who managed Sen. Marco Rubio's presidential run, said. "He's a cult of personality; he's not an ideologue." To Sullivan, Trump's supporters weren't paying much attention to his heretical breaks from longstanding conservative ideas. They were just mad. "Anger is not an ideology," Sullivan said. Many in the party echo Sullivan, saying they are reluctant to predict major changes in response to Trump without proof there's a movement beyond the man. It's not like the party's current iteration is such a disaster, after all: Republicans have had tremendous success at the state level and currently control the House and Senate. "I think it's a mistake for the Republican Party to walk away from the fact that we are the majority party in the United States," said Ken Blackwell, a former Ohio secretary of state and current board member of the Family Research Council and the National Rifle Association. Under this scenario, social conservatives will remain a driving factor in Republican politics and ideology. If Trump, a nonreligious candidate who has wavered on key issues like abortion and appears to embrace some aspects of gay rights, has not driven them from the party, their relevance in a post-Trump party would continue. Penny Nance, president of the conservative group Concerned Women of America, says she is confident that social conservatives will be a leading force within the party. "We are in good shape when it comes to issues of life," Nance said. "Is this a party realignment? I think that there's some good coming out of this, but I think there are also some struggles as we find our voice and find new folks coming alongside us." Another four-year period in the wilderness with no one faction gaining control isn't necessarily all bad news. A number of Republicans expressed hope that the potential 2020 presidential field might yield greater talent than in 2016, with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner often named as potential stars. But if the GOP's competing groups are wrong that Trump is a passing fad, they could end up recreating the conditions that allowed him to thrive. The 2020 election could be another divided contest filled with candidates vying for different "lanes," leaving an opening for a Trump-like candidate to again swoop in.

Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump Eric Thayer | Reuters
CNBC's Jim Cramer fired back Thursday on comments from Mylan CEO Heather Bresch about pricing of the auto-injection device EpiPen.

"If you can get away with jacking things up and gouging it then you've got to do it," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street," "because the shareholders want it."



The scrutinized company announced Thursday it plans to increase access to its EpiPen, a lifesaving device for people with severe allergies. Mylan said it would make expansions to its already existing cost-cutting programs.

Shares of Mylan rose after the announcement.



The company had come under pressure from consumers, members of Congress and Hillary Clinton after the device's price increased by more than 400 percent in the past decade for some customers.

Tweet 1

Cramer, who says he uses a similar medication, has been critical of the pharmaceutical company and industry, saying in part that the companies will do whatever they can get away with in the system.

"As someone who is well-off-enough to have these ... and you don't need two, you need a store hold of them," he said. "This is one where you can get away with it. There's no competition, there is supposed to be competition."



He also briefly commented on Mylan's stock rise in early trading and whether or not the CEO's comments satisfied shareholders.

"Until the real Donald Trump tweets and says she should give it away," he said. "And then [Hillary] Clinton tweets that 'I was unsatisfied.'"


So, Cramer warned not to overthink Yellen's speech on Friday. The placid nature of the stock market in the past week could help investors more than they realize, and could resume shortly after Yellen's speech, barring an all-out attack on the market by either major presidential candidate.

In many declines in the past, it wasn't so much the market event that caused major declines. The hype and fear surrounding the decline prompted volatility in the market.

"I think the stock market's psychological impact  both negative and positive  is almost always underestimated by economists and investors alike," the " Mad Money " host said.

On the eve of Janet Yellen 's talk in Jackson Hole, many investors are bracing for market turmoil. But it's not the rate hike Jim Cramer says to worry about, it's a frightened investor.

The Fed I've known over the course of my life as an investor is a fickle beast that is often wrong.

"I have made no secret of the fact that I think the endless obsession with the Federal Reserve  has caused millions of people to miss this amazing run from the generational bottom seven-and-a-half years ago," Cramer said.

In fact, Cramer refuses to make investments based on what he thinks the Fed will do next. Dissecting every word from Fed officials wastes time for investors trying to find high quality companies that can dominate a global economy.

"The Fed I've known over the course of my life as an investor is a fickle beast that is often wrong," Cramer said.

Case in point, Cramer would not have recommended several stocks if he thought only the Fed mattered. Facebook , Amazon and Alphabet have all enjoyed legendary runs, and the success had nothing to do with the Fed. Management execution led to the success.

At this time last year, terror gripped the market as it realized the weakness flowing to U.S. shores from China. Retail players like PVH Corp were crushed, as they had more inventory, more promotion and more negative same-store sales than they had in years.

Cramer scanned the headlines from last year, and the only stories he found involved stock market declines, not volatility. Retail suffered because of the collapse of the U.S. stock market, and the spillover from China scared investors.

Many determined that the mall was dead, yet, that wasn't true. Cramer thinks that the vicious stock market scared consumers frozen. Shoppers have now thawed out and returned back to stores as the market calmed down. The decline last year frightened a consumer who would have otherwise done fairly well.

"In my worldview, a placid stock market produces bounty in its own right, and that may be what's happening here," Cramer said.

Last year's mini-bear market mauled the consumer, and this year the stock market's placidity has done the exact opposite, he said.

Ultimately, Cramer warned that the stock market itself could run the show  not the Fed.

"I believe the hallmark of the stock market right now is resilience, which bodes well for everything from housing to retail to perhaps even the job market itself."
Social media companies have been making moves to try and fight extremist materials. A Twitter spokesperson pointed to the fact that the company had suspended 235,000 accounts since February related to the promotion of terrorism.

The lawmakers' accusations come after British authorities made a number of attempts to get Twitter posts and YouTube videos by radical Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary taken offline. Choudary was found guilty by a U.K. court last week of supporting Islamic State.

"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."

"These companies are hiding behind their supranational legal status to pass the parcel of responsibility and refusing to act responsibly in case they damage their brands," the report said.

The Commons home affairs select committee, which is made up of British members of parliament (MPs), said that U.S. platforms have become the "vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda" and urged the technology giants to do more to remove extremist content.

Social media firms including Facebook , Twitter and YouTube are "consciously failing" to stop their sites from being used to promote terrorism and recruit extremists, U.K. lawmakers claimed in a report released on Thursday.

Google told MPs that it has a "trusted flagger" program that lets approved users highlight content which they have concerns about. This is then reviewed by YouTube staff. The report said that Google claimed the accuracy rate for trusted flaggers was 90 percent. Facebook and Twitter told MPs that it did not have similar schemes but it "did have arrangements with government agencies", according to the report.



"We take our role in combatting the spread of extremist material very seriously. We remove content that incites violence, terminate accounts run by terrorist organisations and respond to legal requests to remove content that breaks UK law. We'll continue to work with Government and law enforcement authorities to explore what more can be done to tackle radicalisation," YouTube spokesperson told CNBC in an email.

Simon Milner, director of policy for Facebook in the U.K. said the social network deals "swiftly and robustly" with reports of terrorism-related content.



"In the rare instances that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, we'll also look for and remove relevant associated accounts and content," Milner said.

"Online extremism can only be tackled with a strong partnership between policymakers, civil society, academia and companies. For years we have been working closely with experts to support counter speech initiatives, encouraging people to use Facebook and other online platforms to condemn terrorist activity and to offer moderate voices in response to extremist ones."

Still, lawmakers said that the companies' methods of rooting out extremist content are insufficient.



"It is therefore alarming that these companies have teams of only a few hundred employees to monitor networks of billions of accounts and that Twitter does not even proactively report extremist content to law enforcement agencies," MPs said.

To solve this, social media firms should be required to publish quarterly statistics showing how many sites and accounts they have taken down and for what reason, the report recommends. Facebook and Twitter should implement a trusted flagger system like Google's YouTube and these companies must be willing to extend it to smaller community organizations to help highlight terrorist material, the MPs said. The lawmakers also called for closer co-operation between tech firms and law enforcement agencies.
The White House announced a rule Thursday that will help states initiate retirement savings programs for private-sector workers who don't have a 401(k) at work.

The Department of Labor regulation creates a road map for states to set up retirement accounts that participants would fund with payroll deductions.

About 55 million American workers currently don't have access to a workplace retirement plan.

Right now, eight states have enacted or are weighing legislation to establish retirement accounts for employees who otherwise can't save for retirement.

California is the latest state to take steps toward implementing a program. The Golden State's assembly approved the Secure Retirement Saving Program on August 25, bringing it a step closer to passage.

Other states working on similar plans include Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Massachusetts and Washington.

The Labor Department also announced a proposal to expand the rule to cover a limited number of larger cities and counties.


For the past year, Ruth Porat, the CFO of Google and its parent Alphabet , has told Wall Street that Google Fiber is her most expensive unit outside of the core business  and is well worth the costs.

According to a report in The Information, Alphabet chiefs Larry Page and Sergey Brin recently instructed Fiber to severely trim staff and expenses, frustrated with mounting costs of delivering high-speed internet by digging up dirt.

Creating broadband networks via traditional pipes is enormously expensive. And Fiber still hasn't proven that it has figured out a better way to do it. The Information story comes on the heels of reports that Fiber has put plans to build broadband networks on hold in two cities as it ponders ways to roll out experimental wireless tech.

More from Recode:

Google Fiber plans to use cheap wireless tech to beat the cable guys

Google Fiber is the most audacious part of the whole Alphabet

Google's self-driving car unit is losing three key execs

A rep for Fiber declined to comment.

Fiber, like the "Other Bets" businesses outside of Google, is facing ongoing scrutiny about its operations. Here are the key parts of The Information's report.

The unit initially shot for five million broadband subscribers in its first years, but has fallen short of that.

Last month, Page told Craig Barratt, the CEO of Fiber (or Access, as it's known), to halve his staff down to 500.

Page also told Barratt he wanted to cut the cost of delivering internet to homes down by a tenth. Industry experts had told me that wireless plans, like the one Fiber is pursuing, could be about a fifth as cheap as fiber networks. (That said, Page is renowned for his near-impossible demands.)

Porat, who has developed a reputation as a cost cutter, interceded on Fiber's behalf, arguing to Page that Fiber's business model is defensible.

Barratt considered leaving earlier in the year, reportedly irked by the changes at Alphabet. If he did, he would not be the first "Other Bets" exec to do so.

We reported earlier that Fiber's current expansion model costs at least $1 billion per market.

While Fiber has hit pause in two markets, Portland and San Jose, it is still moving forward with broadband and cable connections in others. Earlier this week, it announced that service was active in Salt Lake City, its seventh metro area.

By Mark Bergen, Re/code.net.



CNBC's parent NBCUniversal is an investor in Recode's parent Vox, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement.


Law enforcement officials knew him only as "The Hacker"  a mysterious person (or was it more than one?) who was stealing millions of dollars in IRS tax refunds, then vanishing like the wind  along with the money  after threatening death to anyone who crossed him.



"We didn't know if he was even in the country," U.S. Postal Inspector James Wilson told CNBC's "American Greed." "We didn't know if he was Eastern European or somewhere in China or something."

It took an elaborate sting operation to finally unmask "The Hacker" as 27-year-old Daniel Rigmaiden, a reclusive computer whiz who hatched his $5 million scheme, including an ingenious money-laundering operation, largely from a campsite in the Los Padres National Forest in Northern California. After spending six years in prison fighting multiple fraud charges, he finally pleaded guilty in 2014 and was sentenced to time served.



But as wild as Rigmaiden's crime spree was, his basic offense  using stolen identities to file tax returns and collect fraudulent refunds  is frustratingly common. Authorities say all kinds of crooks do it, from small time gangbangers to organized crime figures. That's because it is a whole lot less dangerous than, say, armed robbery, and the returns are much greater.



watch now

Stolen identity refund fraud is costing taxpayers upwards of $6 billion per year. And while a 2015 government audit found the IRS did manage to block around $5 billion in fraudulent refunds in the prior year, experts say the situation is not much better than it was when CNBC first reported on the crime wave in 2012.



watch now

In some cases, crooks like Rigmaiden will use Social Security numbers from recently deceased taxpayers to claim refunds. But a stolen identity from a live taxpayer does the trick as well. And for every bogus refund Rigmaiden and the rest have collected through identity theft, there's a real taxpayer unable to claim a refund  or even file their taxes at all.



"There is a human face behind all of these data points," Eva Velasquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center told "American Greed." "There's so many zeros behind these statistics about the financial impact. But there's an emotional impact and a lost opportunity cost that occurs for the victims as well, because resolving this issue can take an extraordinary amount of time."



While the IRS has made strides in shortening response times for victims, Velasquez says there is much more work to be done.



"Unfortunately the time frame for resolution is wildly inconsistent. We do talk to some people that will have it resolved within a couple months, but then on the other end of the spectrum are the people that are still dealing with it a year later," she said.



Internal Revenue Services building. Win McNamee | Getty Images

"We hear from victims who have to actually plan their day according to how long they're going to be on hold to try to get in touch with the IRS." To keep yourself out of that trap, particularly with the fall deadline approaching for taxpayers who filed for an extension on last year's returns, it's worth a refresher on some of the basic tips, courtesy of the Identity Theft Resource Center, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS. Guard your identity, especially your Social Security number. It takes those nine digits  and little more  to claim a tax refund in your name not only from the IRS but also from dozens of states. Never carry your Social Security number with you, and never give it to anyone, not even your doctor. For Medicare recipients whose Social Security number is on their ID cards, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse suggests only carrying the card when visiting a provider for the first time. Otherwise, carry a photocopy with the ID number removed.

Keep your computer secure. That means keeping your software and virus protection up to date. And don't ever open an email attachment or click on a link unless you are absolutely sure what it is. A hacker could be trying to implant malware on your computer to steal your information.

File your taxes early. Claiming your refund can unfortunately be a race between you and the identity thieves. Don't give them any more of a window of opportunity than you have to. "Our first tip is file first, beat the crooks," Velasquez said.

Don't let your guard down. Identity protection is a year-round necessity, not just at tax time or tax extension time. Monitor your credit reports and every bank and credit card statement you receive for any unusual activity, such as transactions or accounts you don't recognize.

Beware of the fake taxman. Authorities report a growing problem with individuals posing as IRS agents and calling or emailing taxpayers demanding information. Just hang up or hit delete, because it doesn't work that way, the agency says. "The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information," the agency says. "This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS does not call taxpayers with threats of lawsuits or arrests." If you are a victim of identity theft, or even if you think you might become one because your wallet or computer was stolen, take action right away. That includes contacting the IRS along with your bank and credit card companies. In fact, you may want to contact the IRS first. You'll be directed to file IRS Form 14039, the identity theft affidavit, among other steps. Many taxpayers will be issued an identity protection PIN to be used when filing your taxes so the IRS can be sure it is really you.



The logo of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is seen in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Amazon.com Biosphere in Seattle. David Ryder | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Seattle  home to Amazon and Microsoft  is closing in on San Francisco when it comes to salaries for software engineers, a new report from job marketplace Hired found. The average software engineer salary offer in the Emerald City was $128,268 in the second quarter of this year, up 3 percent over the prior quarter. The Bay Area offered the most competitive salaries, averaging $135,853, a 1 percent dip from the prior quarter. But when adjusted for cost of living, Seattle engineers are likely better off, said Hired CEO Mehul Patel. "There's a ton of really strong technical talent in Seattle, and we're thrilled to have an urban campus right in the heart of the city," an Amazon spokesperson said. With more than 25,000 employees, Amazon is one of the biggest private employers in Seattle. Fifteen percent of them live in the same ZIP code as their office. In 2014, Amazon jobs and those tied to the company's presence contributed more than $400 million in tax revenue to Washington state. Amazon estimates that the total earnings of all those employees was $5 billion.

watch now

Seattle's tech giants specialize in areas that require the most in-demand engineers  like data analytics and cloud computing  driving salaries higher. Microsoft has more than 44,000 employees in the Puget Sound region, the company says. Apple is also planting its flag in Seattle in order to build its expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Apple recently agreed to acquire Seattle-based start-up Turi, and the team will remain in the city once the deal is closed, sources close to the deal told CNBC. The new data from Hired also showed that Austin, Texas, is cementing its position as a tech and start-up hub. The average salary for a software engineer was $115,053 in the second quarter of this year, up 4 percent over the prior quarter. Chicago was the only other city where the salaries for engineers increased as much. Like Seattle, Austin has the advantage of offering a lower cost of living than many cities in California. That could soon change, with rising populations driving costs in both cities higher. Tech workers increasingly focus job searches on the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Austin, Hired has found.



The most lucrative job in tech was product manager, with an average salary of $133,000, down 2 percent from the prior quarter. Interview requests with product managers increased 8 percent in the quarter, suggesting salaries may rise again. Overall, the tech jobs market is healthy. Start-ups are hiring aggressively despite a tightening in funding. Seed-stage start-ups increased the number of interviews they solicited by 24 percent over the prior quarter and a staggering 65 percent over the second quarter of last year. Traditional tech companies increased interview requests 13 percent on a quarterly basis. Globally, the U.S. has the best paid jobs for software engineers averaging $129,000  salary offers were as much as 48 percent lower outside the U.S.  and were lead by the U.K. ($80,000), France ($62,000), and Canada ($67,000.)

The study did not factor in stock-based compensation, which often makes up a sizable portion of compensation packages for top engineers.


The market is behaving as if private prisons have received a death sentence, but they may soon be out on parole.



When the Justice Department announced last week it would end its use of private prisons, investors abandoned their prison positions like escaping convicts, cutting 40 percent off two publicly traded prison companies in a few hours. Corrections Corporation of America and GEO Group are still down around 30 percent from that point, yet there is no reason to think they've lost that kind of value.

That's because the eventual end of the companies' nine Bureau of Prisons contracts account for only about 13 percent of their combined prison capacity, according to company filings and CNBC calculations. They make up about the same amount of the companies' total earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, according to analysts at Canaccord Genuity.

So the two companies will lose contracts for nine facilities out of more than 180. GEO will lose about 15,000 beds, representing about 14 percent of the company's annual operating revenues, according to the company. CCA will lose around 6,000 inmates, or about 7 percent of revenue, according to CCA.

So why is the market posting 30 percent declines?
Pharmaceutical company Mylan has reduced the cost of EpiPens for some people after coming under fire from politicians  but at the end of the day, its CEO told CNBC on Thursday she has a business to run.

"I'm running a business," Mylan's chief executive officer, Heather Bresch, said on "Squawk Box." "We have over 600 products here in the United States that we got mid-single-digit erosion  decreases. No one was talking about price decreases, but that does happen in the industry to keep medicine affordable."

The price of the EpiPen, a lifesaving medication and delivery system for people with severe allergies, has increased more than 400 percent in the past decade, outraging many parents and prompting senators and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to question the pricing process.
Mylan CEO Heather Bresch struggled Thursday to justify the repeated big price hikes of the company's lifesaving EpiPen devices as criticism continued that Mylan is gouging consumers with a retail cost of more than $600.

"No one's more frustrated than me," Bresch told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Thursday when she was pressed on the question of why Mylan needed to have such a high price for EpiPens, and why she just didn't cut their price.

"Everybody should be frustrated," said Bresch, who in recent days has come under fire from U.S. Senators, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and patients who are outraged by EpiPen's 400 percent price increases in recent years.

Mylan, in response to that criticism, announced Thursday increased rebates to many consumers who rely on the devices, which are used to counteract a potentially fatal allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

The Clinton campaign quickly called those rebate "insufficient," and renewed called for a price slash on EpiPens.

"Discounts for selected customers without lowering the overall price of EpiPens are insufficient, because the excessive price will likely be passed on through higher insurance premiums," Clinton campaign spokesman Tyrone Gayle said. "Since there is no apparent justification for the price increase, Mylan should immediately lower the overall price of EpiPens."



Bresch argued that the problem of drug prices isn't with Mylan or even the pharmaceutical industry, but instead with a health-care system that often requires consumers to pay not just insurance premiums also out-of-pocket for prescription medications, sometimes to the full retail price.

That phenomenon, Mylan has said, has been exacerbated by the increase in the number of high-deductible health plans.

"The patient is paying twice," Bresch said. "They're paying full retail price at the counter, and they're paying higher premiums on their insurance. It was never intended that a consumer, that the patients would be paying list price, never. The system wasn't built for that."

"I am hoping that this is an inflection point for this country," Bresch said. "Our health care is in crisis. It's no different than the mortgage financial crisis back in 2007."

"My frustration is there's a list price of $608," said Bresch, who said that price reflects a system where there are "four or five hands that the product touches and companies that it goes through before it ever gets to that patient at the counter."

She was referring to the fact that after Mylan, intermediaries including wholesalers, retailers and pharmacy benefit managers add to the ultimate cost, and hence can increase the amount paid by patients.

"That $608 is a list price," Bresch said. "What Mylan takes from that, our net sales is $274, so $137 per pen," she said, referring to the fact that EpiPens are sold in packages of two devices.

She noted that Mylan has costs that include "manufacturing the product, distributing the product, enhancing the product, investing."

And she said that the company has been making efforts to have EpiPens placed in schools around the United States, and in other locations, implying that those efforts also boosted the cost of the devices.

But she also acknowledged that high retail prices of EpiPens in the United States effectively subsidize the cost of the devices when they are sold in Europe, at just $100 or $150. Many of the countries there have government-run health-care systems that limit drug prices charged by manufacturers, unlike the U.S.

"We do subsidize the rest of the world... and as a country we've made a conscious decision to do that," Bresch said. "And I think the world's a better place for it."



Bresch, whose father is Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has become just latest CEO whose face illustrates the ongoing controversy over rising drug prices, following on the heels of now-ex-Valeant Pharmaceuticals CEO Michael Pearson, and former Turing Pharmaceuticals chief Martin Shkreli.

On Thursday, Manchin said, "I am aware of the questions my colleagues and many parents are asking and frankly I share their concerns about the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs."

"Today I heard Mylan's initial response, and I am sure Mylan will have a more comprehensive and formal response to those questions. I look forward to reviewing their response in detail and working with my colleagues and all interested parties to lower the price of prescription drugs and to continue to improve our health care system," he said.



"This is greed on steroids," legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader told CNBC on Thursday.

When pressed again on "Squawk Box," why she just didn't cut the price of the devices, Bresch said, "Had we reduced the list price, I couldn't ensure that everyone who needs EpiPen gets one. So we went around the system. That's what we announced today."

Mylan will increase rebates to eligible consumers that will lower what they actually pay out of pocket for EpiPens.

"We responded this morning... ensuring that everyone who needs an EpiPen has an EpiPen," Bresch said.
With student loans weighing heavily on some recent graduates and stunting the financial independence of many young millennials, it's no wonder moms and dads are committed to picking up more college costs.

In fact, the number of parents saving for college is at an all-time high. About 72 percent of American families are putting money aside for their children's higher education, according to Fidelity Investment's College Savings Indicator Study. That's a 24 percent increase from 2007, the first year Fidelity started tracking college savings.

On average, parents hope to pay for 70 percent of their children's total college costs, Fidelity said.

To that end, families reported saving a median of $3,000 last year, up from $1,500 when the survey was first conducted. Many more families are also now investing in 529 plans, which offer tax-advantaged investments to pay for qualified education expenses, Fidelity found, and those parents are contributing even more  saving a median of $3,500 last year.

Altogether, 529 savings plan assets rose to a record $242.7 billion as of June 30, a 3.4 percent increase from a year ago, according to a separate report by financial research firm Strategic Insight.


The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted flights at Miami International and nearby airports around noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Thursday following a power outage at Miami's Terminal Radar Approach Control, a spokeswoman said.

All systems have resumed functioning with the help of generator power, spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said in a statement. Air traffic control is allowing flights to land with spacing of 30 miles (48 km) between them, compared with normal spacing of between three and five miles, she said.

The issue affected a facility overseeing flights from central Florida to the Caribbean. During the outage, 14 flights diverted to nearby airports, Bergen said.

Planes in Miami, as well as those across the United States bound for the area, briefly could not depart, while those in the air were told to fly in a holding pattern until it was safe to land in South Florida.

Earlier, the agency said in an online advisory that pilots in the air could expect delays of up to 30 minutes. As of 1:25 p.m. EDT (1725 GMT), flight tracking website FlightAware.com showed 14 planes in Miami International and seven destined for the airport were delayed.

Bergen said the FAA was investigating the cause of the outage.
Drugmaker Mylan 's decision to "gouge" consumers on lifesaving EpiPen devices is corporate "greed on steroids," Ralph Nader told CNBC on Thursday.

"This is an old product. It's been around for years. It's not a brand new invention that's going to be amortized in terms of research and development," the consumer advocate said on "Squawk on the Street."

Appearing earlier on "Squawk Box," Mylan CEO Heather Bresch struggled to justify the nearly 400 percent price hike in recent years on the allergy treatment.

Mylan responded to criticism Thursday morning before Bresch's interview by announcing an increase in rebates to eligible consumers to lower what they actually pay out of pocket for EpiPens.



When pressed why she just didn't just cut the price of the devices, Bresch told CNBC: "Had we reduced the list price, I couldn't ensure that everyone who needs EpiPen gets one. So we went around the system. That's what we announced today."



Nader dismissed Mylan's solution and Bresch's explanations. "It sounds like double talk by Heather Bresch. She's making $10,000 an hour as CEO of Mylan. And she's not talking straight."

"It's a kind of pay-or-die pricing system for the EpiPen," Nader continued. "Parents are really frantic about how they're going to pay for this."

The liberal Nader has run for president four times as a third-party candidate, including in 2000, when he was seen as a spoiler to Democrat Al Gore's bid for the White House. After the Florida recount saga, Republican George W. Bush won his first term.

The EpiPen controversy has erupted on Capitol Hill and the presidential campaign trail.

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators released a letter they're sending to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf about the competitive landscape for the treatment.

"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," stated the letter, which was signed by Democrat Amy Klobuchar, Republican Charles Grassley, Republican Ron Johnson, Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Democrat Patrick Leahy.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton also weighed Wednesday.

EpiPens can be the difference between life and death. There's no justification for these price hikes. http://hrc.io/2c7lhrs -H

In a statement linked in that tweet, Clinton said Mylan should lower prices on the devices, "immediately."
Tune in to CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Friday, Aug. 26 at 3:30pm ET. David Martin will be on to discuss the real EpiPen scandal we should be talking about.



Mylan Pharmaceuticals deserves the attention it is getting. Heather Bresch, Mylan's CEO has every reason in the world to have the smug press photos. After all, she's used the mortality of millions who suffer from sudden and acute allergic reactions and heart problems to line her own pockets and those of her investors (while squirreling cash outside the U.S. for tax evasion-like purposes).

Together with Wendy Cameron (Cam Land LLC and Trustee at The Washington Hospital from 2009-2011), The Honorable (retired judge) Robert J. Cindrich (Cindrich Consulting), Robert J. Coury, JoEllen Lyons Dillon (the Chief Legal Officer for the 3-D printing ExOne Company), Neil Dimick (retired EVP at AmerisourceBergen), Melina Higgins (former partner of Goldman Sachs), Douglas J. Leech (Founding Principal of DLJ Advisors), Rajiv Malik, Dr. Joseph C. Maroon (Neurosurgeon at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), Mark W. Parrish (CEO of Trident USA Health Services), Rodney L. Piatt (Horizon Properties Group LLC), and Randall L. Vanderveen, PhD, R.Ph. (University of Southern California's School of Pharmacy)  Mylan's esteemed board of real estate developers, bankers, lawyers, medical educators, and corporate executives  her leadership has steered the company into the maelstrom of public controversy around the insanely expensive EpiPen.

Bresch's compensation rose 671 percent in 8 years. Media outlets should be doing their stories on the people I listed above, members of Mylan's board of directors, who were willing to endorse a business strategy as ethical as arms dealers in Lord of War.

Let's cut to the chase. Bresch is at best guilty of hyperbole and at worst lying when she was quoted on CNBC saying that, "No one's more frustrated than me. My frustration is, the list price is $608." In 2011, the same product sold for $164. In 2007, it was available for $57.

Does she really want the public to believe that she's frustrated that the Food & Drug Administration has been propping up her company's monopoly on a technology and drug that's been in the public domain since the 1950s? Does she love to know that her firm is pocketing $1 billion for a technology that was acquired from Merck in 2007? Does the public know that the FDA and Congress have willfully succumbed to the pressure of corporate America by ignoring their own rights to the technology?!
watch now

watch now

watch now

watch now

watch now

watch now

A Federal Reserve rate hike next month would provide a boost for the rest of the world and allow for a further hike this year, the co-founder of a Swiss investment advisory firm told CNBC on Thursday. Porta Advisors Partner Beat Wittmann said emerging markets had stabilized sufficiently to cope with a Fed rate hike next month and some European economies would gain from a further rise. "After what happened in the last two years in terms of devaluations and some real troubles in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and the surrounding countries, they (emerging markets) have stabilized on lower levels and there is a better growth prospect into next year and they will digest (a Fed hike)," Zurich-based Wittmann, a veteran of UBS and Julius Bar, told CNBC. "And particularly the Europeans would be very happy and  the Swiss are almost desperately hoping the Fed would do such a thing because it would take of the pressure to move negative rates even lower," he added.

watch now

Only 21 percent of market participants see the Fed raising its target rate to 50-75 basis points when it meets on September 20-21, according to the CME's FedWatch Tool. It last raised rates from near-zero levels in December in its first hike in nearly a decade.

On Sunday, Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said the U.S. job market was close to full strength and still improving  comments viewed by some investors as underlining the case for a rate hike. On Thursday, Wittmann said that if the Fed was concerned about the U.S. presidential election in November, it would opt to raise rates beforehand  that is to say, next month.

"Growth issues and international issues in that context are more important (than the presidential race), but that consideration would speak for a hike in September rather than later," he told CNBC. Wittmann said there was still time for the Fed to strike twice this year. "I think the Fed should hike rates because in the larger context, you want to have normalization of monetary policy. You cannot stimulate growth just by monetary policies alone, so you need fiscal policies, structural policies. And the U.S. is in the relatively best position in the world to take the lead and always takes the lead, so I expect that this year once or twice (it will hike rates) and that would surprise markets," he told CNBC.

Stephanie Hager | HagerPhoto | Getty Images
Stephanie Smith isn't just a professional with a side gig. Her weekend photography business has become a full-fledged pay-it-forward awareness project. The goal? Making children with special needs and their families smile.

Smith, a 28-year-old office manager, started offering families with special-needs children free portrait sessions and prints (which usually cost about $200). Families across the U.S. started contacting her, and the overwhelming positive feedback rolled in.

So she started Lenses for Love, a site that connects photographers with families who can't afford a photo shoot or who have been made to feel uncomfortable by photographers who aren't willing to put in the extra effort needed to work with a child with special needs.



Smith has personally done 17 free shoots and is encouraging other photographers to do the same.

For her, a successful side hustle is not about money. "It can't always be about how much money you can make," she said. "When you give back, the blessing comes back times 10. I truly believe that."
The chairman of Lightsource Renewable Energy said that renewable sources of energy offer a strong alternative to traditional "dirty fuels" such as coal.



"You cannot remove history overnight, but I think today we have, fortunately, another solution in the energy basket," Vicente Lopez Ibor Mayor, chairman of Lightsource Renewable Energy, told CNBC.

"We have demonstrated year by year how (with) these solar industries and (the) renewable industry, we can provide solutions with strength, with consistency and no doubt cleaner from the environmental point of view," he added.

Mayor's comments come on the same day that U.K. government statistics showed renewables' share of electricity generation rose to 25.1 percent in the first quarter of 2016, up from 22.8 percent in the first quarter of 2015.

By contrast, coal's share fell from 30.8 percent to a "record low" of just 15.8 percent, the government said.
Buffalobased Carubba Collision, an auto collision and repair shop, plans to open a location at 328 Grant Ave. in Sennett, just outside Auburn, within the next several weeks, according to Auburn realtor John Bouck. Photo credit: John Bouck

SENNETT, N.Y.  Carubba Collision plans to open a new service center at 328 Grant Ave. in the town of Sennett, just outside the city of Auburn.

The Buffalobased company signed a long-term lease for the 8,400-square-foot building, according to John Bouck, owner of Bouck Real Estate of Auburn, which helped arrange the transaction by representing the property owner.

Carubba Collision will operate an auto collision and repair shop in the building, representing its 11th location, according to Bouck.

The new service center is the companys first in the Auburn area. Crews are working on the buildings interior to prepare it for an opening within the next several weeks.

The building on Grant Avenue will provide Carubba with ample space for its operations, Bouck said in a news release.

The location is excellent, with plenty of visibility  It will make it very easy for consumers to find, and will be a welcome  addition to the community, he added.

The building was previously home to the Martin Berry Volkswagen dealership, according to Bouck.

The Cayuga County property record for the address also includes a photo of the building with operations as a location of Atlanta, Georgiabased Aarons Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a rental business. The website for Aarons lists its current Auburn location at 100 North St.

The property record for 328 Grant Ave. lists Linda Realty Corp. of Skaneateles as the property owner.

The Auburnarea location will expand Carubba Collisions presence in Central New York. It opened a service center at 7313 Northern Boulevard at the corner of East Taft Road in Cicero in April 2015.

The firm also operates eight locations in the Buffalo area.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
SYRACUSE, N.Y.  Avalon Document Services announced it has acquired Southeastern Document Services (SDS), a Tampa, Floridabased litigation support and eDiscovery provider.

Syracusebased Avalon didnt disclose financial terms of the acquisition.

Under the deal, Avalon will retain all SDS employees and expects to add several workers in the next 12 months, the company said.

SDS has three workers who will join Avalon, which has a total employee count of 120, the firm said in an email response to a BJNN inquiry.

Avalon had opened an office in Florida earlier this year and plans to combine the SDS and Avalon offices into one new location in October.

During the transition, the current SDS office will continue to be known as Southeastern Document Services under the Avalon Document Services parent name, according to an Avalon news release.

Ken McKee, former owner of SDS, will remain with the company as an executive in the legal-services division.

Avalon is always looking for companies that share a common culture and SDS was a great fit, JP Midgley, CEO of Avalon, said in the release.

We are excited to build upon their long tenure in the market and provide enhanced service offerings to their loyal clients, said Midgley.

SDS already offers a variety of litigation-support services, and the merger allows it to provide additional services, Avalon said.

They include eDiscovery services, relativity hosting, cyber security, digital forensics, accident reconstruction, facilities management, and business-document services.

Avalon is headquartered at 901 N. State St. in Syracuse and has additional offices in Utica, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, and Tampa, Florida.

Its suite of services include business printing and copying, document imaging and scanning, large-format and contractor services, litigation-support services, e-discovery, and facilities management, according to its website.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Diagnosis and treatment are an important part of neurology. While traditional treatment involves medications, surgery or combination of the two, there are diseases for which there are no treatments or the treatments are inadequate.
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.
December 22, 2015 - Contractor Van Coppage works to complete a new high-end residence near Victorian Village, the first of a small six-home gated community planned for a short stretch of Jefferson near downtown Memphis. (Photo by Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal).



SHARE

By Thomas Bailey Jr. of The Commercial Appeal

The historic Victorian Village neighborhood will offer docent-led tours of its old and new homes on Saturday.

The houses range from Civil War-era homes full of antiques to new houses with the latest amenities and design details.

The event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Among the homes on the tour are:

-- Laurelhill (circa 1867). The home and office of Scott Blake, executive director of the neighborhoods community development corporation, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the childhood home of actress Tallulah Bankhead and features a collection of sacred art, 19th century. Romanic oil paintings, as well as natural history artifacts;

-- Chuck and Larrys Home (2008). The 4,500-square-foot house features interior design details, Victorian influences and many modern amenities;

-- Flos Place (2016), designed in the Greek revival style, the universally designed home has a three-story elevator, wine cellar and indoor pool;

-- Jocelyn and James Home (2008). The house is designed in the French Second Empire style and features a mansard roof with fish scale shingles, a grand central staircase and swimming pool.

For event information and tickets, visit www.victorianvillageinc.org/hometour.
August 24, 2016 - Co-defendant Lashonda Williams testifies about the killing of Pastor Don Smith, describing a deal for prostitution that ended with Roger Reed killing the pastor. Reed is on trial for killing the pastor in order to steal his car. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal

A woman charged with killing a Memphis pastor on Wednesday testified that a prostitution deal ended with her boyfriend shooting the victim to rob him.

Lashonda Williams, who is charged with Roger Reed in the 2014 killing of Prospect Park Baptist Church pastor Don Smith, testified that Reed didn't want to take a bus from Memphis to Greenville, Mississippi, where he and Williams are from.

"(Reed) said he was going to carjack someone," Williams said.

Before the shooting, Smith, 57, approached Reed and Williams as they were walking away from a Hickory Hill-area gas station, Williams said.

Williams, 25, testified that the preacher drove by them three or four times looking at them, and then asked what they were trying to do. She said the pastor wanted sex with both of them and said he had $40. She said they both touched him sexually, and then Reed shot him.

Reed "absolutely denies having any form of sex with the pastor," said his attorney Juni Ganguli.

Reed and Williams were located days later at a convenience store in Greenville. They fled in Smith's car from police, according to the prosecution.

A man walking his dog found Smith's body off Lichterman Road in the area of Winchester and Hickory Hill.

Ganguli questioned Williams at length about the way she said she was positioned in the victim's vehicle for sex acts.

She told Ganguli she has "been doing it since I was 11."

She said she was in the back of the car, Reed was in the front passenger seat and the victim was in the driver's seat.

Earlier in the night, she had withdrawn money, which Ganguli also raised questions about.

He asked if the price for all three of them to have sex with each other was $40, which she confirmed.

"But you already had $733, right?" he asked. "You were willing to have sex with Roger and this strange man in his car for another 40 bucks?"

"Yes, sir," she said.

Also in her testimony, Williams addressed "selfie" photos of her and Reed in the victim's car.

She said the photos, that include her and Reed smiling and kissing, were taken on her cell phone and posted to her Facebook account.

"While you had a functioning cell phone, did you call anyone for help to report this shooting?" Ganguli asked.

She said no.

Reed, 25, pleaded not guilty to charges of killing Smith with premeditation and with the intent to commit robbery. Reed's trial began this week, and Williams' case is pending.
SHARE

By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Police Department is investigating after a man was found dead Thursday morning.

Police responded to a home near Zodiac Park, not far from the Mississippi border, in the 5300 block of Cosmos Cove at 8:49 a.m. Officers found a 24-year-old man dead of an apparent gunshot wound, according to MPD spokesman Louis Brownlee.

This is an ongoing investigation, he said.
MPD Officer Verdell Smith. (Photo by MPD Officer Joseph Ambrose)

SHARE Lt. Rodney Eddins (Commercial Appeal File)

By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal

The Memphis Pension Board approved pension allowances Thursday for the families of police officer Verdell Smith and fire Lt. Rodney Eddins, who both died in the line of duty earlier this year.

Smith, 46, was clearing Beale Street of civilians on June 4 when a vehicle driven by the suspect in a Downtown shooting spree struck and killed Smith. Suspect Justin Welch, 21, was charged with Smith's death and for the shooting.

Smith's daughter Chelsea and son Verdell "VJ" Smith Jr. will each receive semimonthly payments of $546.30.

Eddins collapsed in April as he and his crew of firefighters extinguished a fire inside a Southwest Memphis home. Other firefighters couldn't resuscitate Eddins, and he was later pronounced dead at Methodist South Hospital.

Eddins' wife, Leveria Denise Eddins, will receive a semimonthly allowance of $1,366.35. She was approved for a non-line-of-duty death benefit in May, which is the same amount but is all taxable, as opposed to a line-of-duty benefit, most of which isn't taxable.

Mayor Jim Strickland, who chairs the Pension Board as a nonvoting member, said after the unanimous vote that the city owes a debt to Smith and Eddins' families for their service.

"This is really important for the city because you have two individuals who gave their lives serving the citizens," he said.

The allowances were calculated based on years of service and will be available as long as family members are eligible  which for children is until they are no longer dependents and for spouses is unless they remarry.

"It's something she deserves," said Thomas Malone, president of the Memphis Firefighters Association, who was at the meeting and spoke on behalf of Eddins' widow. "It's something that should be coming her way."
Donald Trump (left) and Hillary Clinton (Associated Press)

SHARE

By Joel Ebert, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

Donald Trump is continuing to close the fundraising gap with Hillary Clinton in Tennessee.

But the Republican nominee still lacks financial support from the state's elected GOP lawmakers, who have yet to open up their wallets in large numbers for the New York real estate mogul.

While Trump's latest disclosure statements show Tennesseans gave him more money than Clinton for the second month in a row, a Tennessean analysis found he has received donations from just four of the 108 elected state Republicans in Congress and the Tennessee General Assembly.

The real estate mogul's latest campaign finance reports show that he outraised Clinton in Tennessee by more than $115,000.

In total, Trump raised about $433,800 from residents of the state in July, while Clinton brought in just $318,400.

The month before, he outraised his Democratic counterpart by $123,000, according to the latest federal disclosure statements, which is significantly more than his campaign previously reported.

Trump's previously filed campaign reports showed he received over 600 donations totaling about $195,000 from Tennesseans in June.

But his latest disclosure reveals that he actually brought in 2,300 donations from Tennesseans totaling $311,000 during June.

It is not unusual for campaigns to amend their campaign disclosure statements but Trump's newest filing makes significant changes.

That's because in July Trump's campaign committee received transfers from Trump Victory and Trump Make America Great Again Committee  two committees that raise funds for his presidential campaign, the Republican National Committee and other state party committees  according to Christian Hilland, a deputy press officer with the Federal Election Commission.

"Some of the contributions from individuals that make up those transfers were received by the joint fundraising committees in June," Hilland told The Tennessean.

Of the Tennesseans to donate to Trump this year, he has taken in just $567 from 3 percent of Republican lawmakers in Congress and the statehouse. Not one of the nine Republican members of the state's congressional delegation  including U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who had a primetime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, who was considered a vice-presidential candidate  has written a check to Trump, a trend that has expanded beyond Tennessee.

Only two Republican members of Congress have donated to Trump, according to a Fortune analysis of his latest campaign contributions.

In Tennessee, state Reps. Jeremy Durham, Kelly Keisling and Bill Sanderson and state Sen. Mae Beavers, who served as chairwoman of the state's delegation to the RNC, are the only lawmakers to give money to the billionaire this election cycle.

By comparison, at this same point in the 2012 election, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney received at total of $24,000 from four of Tennessee's Republican members of Congress, including Blackburn, and three state lawmakers  House Speaker Beth Harwell and Sen. Jack Johnson and Beavers.

Romney also received two $2,500 donations from Gov. Bill Haslam during the same time period.

Although Haslam has not written a check to Trump, his father, James Haslam II, who also donated to Romney in 2012, has given the presidential candidate $2,700.

Clinton, meanwhile, has received $7,700 from five Tennessee Democratic lawmakers  or 15 percent of the 33 seats the party holds between Congress and the state legislature  during the 2016 election cycle.

The Democratic lawmakers to give to Clinton are: U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, state Sen. Jeff Yarbro and state Reps. Craig Fitzhugh, Harold Love and Raumesh Akbari, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

During the same time period in the 2012 election, President Barack Obama received $2,100 from five Democratic state lawmakers.

Despite besting Clinton in June and July in terms of donations from Tennesseans, Trump still falls behind her. He has, however, made significant headway in recent months, given the fact that as recently as May, Clinton had raised more than 15 times the amount he had. Trump did not actively begin fundraising until May.

Overall Clinton has reported receiving $2.1 million from Tennesseans during this election cycle while Trump has raked in $857,000.

Nationwide, Trump has a sizable disadvantage in terms of fundraising as well.

Unless Trump has a sudden flood of donations in the final two months of the election year, he will fall significantly short of the totals Romney and John McCain raised from Tennesseans in their respective campaigns.

In 2012, Romney brought in a total of $12 million from Tennesseans and McCain reported $2.9 million in donations.

With vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine attending a fundraiser in Nashville this week and the prospect of Clinton returning for another event in the future, she could challenge Obama's 2008 fundraising totals, when he raised $3.6 million from the state. In 2012, he brought in $4.6 million.
Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal files Memphis Chicks third baseman Tim Wallach is congratulated after hitting a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Chicks ahead of the Nashville Sounds by a 4 to 2 score on Aug. 23, 1983. The Chicks won the game 5 to 2 before 4,429. With the win, the Chicks improved their record to 40-24, two and one half games behind Nashville in the Southern League's Western Division.

SHARE

Aug. 25

25 years ago: 1991

KIEV  The Ukraine declared independence Saturday, claiming the right to issue its own currency and control all military units on its territory, including Soviet troops. The decision, passed overwhelming by the republic's parliament, is subject to confirmation by a referendum in December. But it appears certain to pass, riding the republic's wave of nationalism.

50 years ago: 1966

A bank president, the general manager of an automotive parts firm and the vice president of a large investment company will be named today to the Mid-South Medical Center Council. They are Lewis K. McKee, president of the National Bank of Commerce; Frank W. Norfleet, executive vice president and general manager of Parts, Inc., 601 South Dudley, and J. Bayard Boyle Jr., vice president of Boyle Investment Company. Their appointment will bring the total membership of the council to 33. The primary purpose of the council is the "promotion and co-ordination of health facilities and services in the Mid-South area, and development of health education and patient care of the highest quality."

75 years ago: 1941

LONDON  Prime Minister Winston Churchill yesterday warned Japan to come to terms and declared that Great Britain and the United States intend to become the armed "policemen" of the world after crushing Hitler and stripping the aggressor nations of their weapons.

100 years ago: 1916

To show how Negro social workers, teachers, business and professional men may aid the toiling thousands of Negroes to realize their greatest opportunities today, will be the main purpose of the conference at Grant School tonight which will be addressed by Prof. George E. Haynes.

125 years ago: 1891

The lynching that occurred at Shelbyville, Ind., was marked by a finesse and thoroughness that quite outdid anything of the sort that ever happened south of the Ohio River. The mob did not even wait for the desperado's victim to die.
April 4, 2015 - Memphis Police run a DUI checkpoint on Winchester Road. Statewide DUI arrests have increased and in Memphis DUI arrests have decreased along with the number of fatal drunk driving accidents due to regular checkpoints. (Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE

By Michael Collins of The Commercial Appeal

WASHINGTON  All 11 members of Tennessee's congressional delegation have signed a letter asking U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to help the state keep $60 million in highway funds that are in jeopardy because of a new state DUI law.

"Based upon our review of both the state and federal laws and the purpose behind both laws, it seems that both the State of Tennessee and the federal government have the same objective of penalizing impaired driving and that the common sense thing to do is to resolve this matter promptly," the lawmakers wrote. "We are available to assist in any way that would be helpful."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration informed the state last week it's in danger of losing the highway money because of the DUI law passed earlier this year.

The law, which took effect July 1, changed the impaired-driver threshold from a blood alcohol content of 0.02 to a blood alcohol content of 0.08 for drivers between 18 and 20.

The change means the state is no longer in compliance with the federal zero tolerance law requiring states to set 0.02 as the blood-alcohol level allowed for drivers under age 21.

As a result, federal transportation officials say they must withhold 8% of federal highway funding from the state. If the state is not in compliance by Oct. 1, it will forfeit $60 million in highway funding.

Tennessee argues it can enforce the 0.08 standard because another state law makes it illegal for anyone under age 21 to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage. Federal officials are expected to decide by Friday if that qualifies as compliance with the federal zero tolerance law.

If they decide it doesn't, Gov. Bill Haslam would have to call the General Assembly into special session to repeal or modify the new DUI law or petition the federal government for a waiver until the legislature begins its regular session next January.

"We hope you will work with Tennessee to find a solution that will allow our state to retain desperately needed highway funds," the state's congressional lawmakers said in their letter to Foxx.
SHARE Muhammad Dakhlalla

By Jeff Amy, Associated Press

OXFORD, Miss.  A Mississippi man who once tried to join the Islamic State group credited arresting FBI agents with saving his life as he was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday, telling a federal judge he didn't then understand what the Islamic State represented.

U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Muhammad Dakhlalla 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.

The 22-year-old Dakhlalla said he was misled by internet videos he watched with former fiancee Jaelyn Young that showed Islamic State members helping people in Syria and Iraq. He said he changed his mind after watching television news coverage of Islamic State attacks while jailed.

"I was completely wrong about what ISIS was," Dakhlalla told Aycock. "I've come to the conclusion that they're really sick and twisted. They twist Islam for their own agenda. I denounce them. I condemn them."

Aycock sentenced Young to 12 years in prison and 15 years of probation earlier this month. Prosecutors Wednesday said they agreed Dakhlalla was less at fault and deserved a lighter sentence than Young, who prosecutors have said prodded Dakhklalla toward joining the Islamic State and planned the pair's attempt to travel to Turkey. Young once considered a cover story that the trip was a honeymoon for the pair.

Dakhlalla thanked by name the lead FBI agent on the team that arrested the pair at an airport near Columbus, Mississippi, in August 2015. Authorities said the couple had contacted undercover federal agents posing as Islamic State contacts in May, seeking online help in traveling to Syria. 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 later said online that he was willing 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!"

"The FBI, they really saved my life," Dakhlalla told Aycock Wednesday. "I was about to do something reckless and stupid. Even if I had been successful in getting over there, I'd probably be dead by now."

The 2015 psychology graduate of Mississippi State University faced up to 20 years in prison on the charge, but prosecutors recommended limiting the maximum sentence to 12 years as part of Dakhlalla's plea bargain. Defense attorney Greg Park told Aycock that a lighter sentence was justified, considering Dakhlalla's previously spotless record, as well as his acceptance of responsibility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner, though, urged Aycock to disregard claims that Dakhlalla didn't really know what the Islamic State was after researching them online.

"It's not as if ISIS or ISIL are hiding who they are," Joyner said. "To say you're not aware of their atrocities is a bit disingenuous."

Imposing a lower sentence, Aycock said she was balancing Dakhlalla's contrition and lack of criminal record with the gravity of the crime.

"Probably I won't see you again, but these are serious crimes against the United States," she said.
October 19, 2015 - Traffic on Tenn. 385 passes over a closed interchange for the new Interstate 269 east of Collierville. The section, between Collierville and Byhalia, was the first section of I-269 to open in Mississippi. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE

By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal

Dirt and bridge work for the entire Mississippi portion of Interstate 269 is finished, and the project remains on track for a fall 2018 completion, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in an update Wednesday.

MDOT said the next phase of work involves two paving projects, the largest of which has begun.

"The second paving project is scheduled to be let in September," the update said. "MDOT expects (the) interstate to be ready for traffic in the fall of 2018."

I-269, the largest active MDOT construction project, eventually will form a horseshoe of nearly 60 miles from Hernando to Millington in Shelby County. It will be part of a bypass around Memphis as part of the planned Interstate 69 route from Canada to Mexico.

The first I-269 section, a 4.5-mile segment between Tenn. 385 in Collierville and Miss. 302 near Byhalia in Marshall County, opened last October. Jason Scott, MDOT public information officer, said earlier the eight Mississippi segments will cost about $665 million.

When complete, I-269 is expected to transform areas along its largely undeveloped North Mississippi route that will run westward from Marshall County to near Hernando, where it will connect with Interstate 55/69.

In addition to I-269, the MDOT project update said reconstruction of the Coldwater River Bridge on U.S. 51 in Tate County should be finished by the spring of 2018.

MDOT opted to replace the 1,100-foot bridge with a 2,000-foot bridge and raised road to prevent flooding. The road will be raised 4 feet.

Flooding in March damaged the span and forced MDOT to close it and move up a planned November replacement project.

"After the flooding event, our bridge inspection crews assessed the damage," MDOT District Two Engineer Mitch Turner said. "Because of the damage sustained, MDOT made the decision to close the bridge and move the replacement project forward in order to keep the traveling public safe."

During construction, traffic is being detoured onto Interstate 55 between Hernando and Coldwater.

"We realize that the detour route around this project is inconvenient to many motorists," Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert said, adding, however, that safety over the bridge was enough of a concern to merit the inconvenience during construction.

Also as part of the U.S. 51 bridge contract, MDOT is rehabilitating bridges over the Coldwater River along I-55. That portion of the contract is expected to be complete in early fall.
SHARE

Doris Rudy

Bartlett

The Aug. 23 guest column Taking steps to improve policing was extremely slanted against Memphis police. In spite of the fear we face every day and the heartbreak of seeing our young killed, maimed or incarcerated because of drug-besotted gang activity, the Memphis Grassroots Organization Coalition is more concerned with the actions of police than with the horrors of crime in this city.

MGOC decries Broken Windows, despite overwhelming evidence that it has saved New York City. Rudy Giuliani, mayor from 1994-2001, implemented Broken Windows upon election. During his tenure, rape dropped 25 percent, robbery 45 percent, aggravated assault 27 percent and homicide 43 percent. New Yorks subway system adopted Broken Windows in 1990. Within 30 months, robberies had dropped by 40 percent, other crimes by comparable rates. Albuquerque, New Mexico, adopted a similar program, with similar success rates.

Broken Windows works. Incorporate the good ideas of MGOC with the success of Broken Windows. A decrease in crime would be excellent for all Memphians. Isnt that what MGOC really wants?
SHARE

By Jonathan Bernstein

The Republicans won't stop harping about President Barack Obama's handling of the Louisiana floods. Their media focus until this week was to talk exclusively about whether he would break into his August vacation and tour the damage. When he got there, of course, it was (for them) too little, too late.

What has been noteworthy about this coverage is that it has criticized Obama without actually specifying anything  other than stagecraft  that the administration got wrong.

This doesn't mean there might not be something to criticize. But doing so would require that the opposition party understood, and cared about, how government was supposed to work.

Those Republicans in a position to make smart criticisms don't seem even to acknowledge that there's more to "presidenting" than photo-ops. This means the pressure for the government to do a good job isn't nearly as strong as it should be.

The New Republic's Brian Beutler makes a good point about the Republican efforts to turn the events into "Obama's Katrina"  The Thing that will finally drag the president down, just as George W. Bush was (sort of) dragged down by Katrina in 2005.

Beutler describes why Bush was fairly accused of botching the federal response to that disaster. Earlier in his administration, Bush had downgraded the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and then chose someone ill-equipped for the job of leading it.

Yes, the media and Democrats made much of the stagecraft failures in Bush's inept personal response to Katrina. But the root of his supposed indifference was the real mismanagement stemming from his fundamental attitude toward governing, and the opposition was able to highlight that.

Maybe the Republicans will ferret out some real problems in Obama's disaster management. But their response so far fits a larger pattern.

Take their approach to foreign policy. We had years of attacks on "Benghazi" that focused on the nonsense of Sunday-show talking points and fictional stand-down orders but never got around to a serious examination of diplomatic security or Libya policy. We heard plenty about mythical Obama "apology tours," but little about the real choices the Obama presidency was making.

Health care is another example. When the Republican Party isn't willing to stake out a realistic position on how they would "repeal and replace" Obama's health care law, it becomes dangerous to hold serious congressional hearings on the subject because the results might suggest plausible moderate measures to improve the current system. If Republican politicians advocated such improvements or even admitted that they are possible, they would face revolt from inside their party.

The big picture here is that the political system depends on an incentive structure that rewards politicians for good results and punishes them when things go wrong. This incentive structure is undermined when Republican politicians and Republican-aligned media reflexively attack anything a Democratic president does but don't bother to learn the details to deliver appropriately harsh but meaningful criticism.

For a healthy democracy, the U.S. desperately needs a better Republican Party.

Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg View columnist.
For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser
Bitglass is a vendor in the cloud access security broker (CASB) space. What that means is that Bitglass is focused on ensuring organizations utilize strong security tools and processes to keep their data safe. It's a busy space and one in which being seen as a thought leader is important; hence, Bitglass and its competitors invest lots of effort in creating content that is broadly useful to the industry.

A case in point is the recently released financial services breach report that Bitglass undertook. The research looked at all breaches in the financial services sector since 2006, using data aggregated from public databases and government-mandated disclosures. It's actually an important piece of work, because it's very easy for people to make broad sweeping generalizations about the cause (and effect) of these data breaches, but wrapping some empirical data around the occurrences does more in terms of credibly educating the industry.

Anyway, the report found that leaks within the financial services industry almost doubled between 2014 and 2015, with that increase looking set to continue through 2016. All of the U.S.'s largest banks have suffered recent leaks, and in the first half of this year alone, five of the top 20 banks in the U.S. disclosed breaches.

Interestingly, the report looked into the most common causes of data leaks. Ever since the advent of cloud computing, I've heard pushback from financial services firms suggesting that the public cloud simply isn't secure enough for them and introduces too many risks. So is public cloud a big cause of data leaks? Well, no.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the human element, as is so often the case, is the issue here. It seems that lost and stolen devices account for over 25% of breach events. It seems that these organizations should look to themselves -- financial services organizations appear to struggle with data protection on managed and unmanaged devices.

This human element extends further into the statistics: While hacking accounted for a disproportionate number of individuals affected by financial services breaches, only 1 in 5 leaks were caused by hacking. Other breaches were the result of more human issues -- unintended disclosures, malicious insiders and lost paper records.

Key findings from the report include:

1 in 4 breaches in the financial services sector over the last several years were due to lost or stolen devices; 1 in 5 were the result of hacking.

14% of leaks can be attributed to unintended disclosures and 13% to malicious insiders.

Five of the nation's 20 largest banks have already suffered data breaches in the first half of 2016.

In 2015, 87 breaches were reported in the financial services sector, up from 45 in 2014.

In the first half of 2016, 37 banks have already disclosed breaches.

Over 60 organizations suffered recurring breaches in the last decade, including most major banks.

JP Morgan Chase, the nation's largest bank, has suffered recurring breaches since 2007. The largest breach event, the result of a cyberattack, was widely publicized in 2014 and affected an estimated 76 million U.S. households.

Of the three major credit bureaus, the 2015 Experian leak was the largest, affecting 15 million individuals.

"Financial institutions are prime targets for hackers and are rightfully concerned about the threat of cyberattacks, device theft and malicious insiders," said Nat Kausik, CEO of Bitglass. "To stay one step ahead as data moves beyond the firewall, firms in this sector must encrypt cloud data at rest, control access by contextual risk and protect data on unmanaged devices."

MyPOV

It just goes to show, the simplest things are sometimes the biggest risks. Clearly, encryption and good password control is a key issue here but, at its essence, security boils down to people. Simply informing and advising employees of the impacts of their actions is a good way to build awareness around the issues.
When Google officially announced the launch of its Android 7.0 Nougat operating system this week, I couldn't help but notice something strange in the air.

Not my sudden hankering for a Mars Bar, mind you; that much I expected. The bizarre part was that despite being a major new Android release -- and one with quite a few noteworthy new features, at that -- the launch of Nougat just didn't feel terribly exciting.

It wasn't anything about the software itself, really. It was more the fact that we've known pretty much everything there is to know about Nougat since Google first took the wraps off it this spring.

Google's been doing developer previews of Android for a few years now, of course, but this year catapulted the pre-release peeking to a new pinnacle -- with an initial reveal in March (instead of in May or June like we've seen before) and a simple one-click way for anyone to get pre-release betas as regular over-the-air updates (with a compatible device).

All of that made this latest version of Android more accessible than ever, months before its arrival -- and as a result, the launch itself felt a little lackluster. There wasn't anything wrong with it, per se; it just lacked the pizzazz typically present in major OS reveals. It was anticlimactic in a way that goes against everything we've come to expect from these sorts of occasions.

Here's the twist, though: That's actually okay. In fact, it's downright fantastic.

This less flashy approach delivers a lot of practical benefits

For whatever reason, modern OS announcements have become a bit of a stage show -- both figuratively and literally. We can probably thank the Jobsian era of Apple for setting such expectations (after all, what would a "special event" be without scores of silly superlatives and oodles of flowery adjectives?). However they started, though, it's hard to deny that "oohs" and "ahhs" have become a core ingredient of tech debuts today.

Google got on board with the trend for a while. The company held a dedicated event to announce its Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS way back when and then did flashy reveals of the following few releases as part of its annual I/O conferences.

But while this year's subdued unveiling may not have had the once-requisite suspense of a theatrical production, it's hard to deny that its more gradual approach will be better for everyone in the long run. Sure, drama-loving Android enthusiasts may miss the spectacle of years past -- but think of all we've gained in its place.

First, by making the software widely available five full months before its final release, Google provided a larger-than-ever lead time for manufacturers to get the update ready for their devices. If past years are any indication, those companies may not actually take advantage of that (consider me skeptical) -- but the ability to be efficient is in their hands, at least, now more so than ever.

Second, by getting the software in front of regular users during this development phase, Google gave us all the opportunity to help shape its evolution. At one point during Nougat's previews, for instance, the behavior of the new Quick Settings toggles was changed so that tapping a toggle (like Wi-Fi) opened a detailed panel instead of simply switching the function on or off. Hundreds of users expressed their dissatisfaction with the change in Google's open source Android Issue Tracker, and Google took note -- moving things back to the far more sensible on-or-off switching behavior.

Beyond that, let's remember that having new releases so readily available before their launch means any enthusiast can try them out and live with them long before they're officially out in the world. You don't even need any technical knowledge of bootloaders and the likes, as you have in the past; it's quite literally as simple as clicking a button on a page and waiting for a download to begin.

And there's even a little extra icing on that oh-so-nougaty cake: As countless participants discovered this week, being a part of the Android beta program seemed to put you at the front of the queue for the full release rollout. That created a hassle-free way to skip the slow-moving line and get the final OS the moment it became available.

Nougat's launch may not pack the exciting punch we've gotten from past Android unveilings, but this less flashy approach sure does deliver a lot of practical benefits. And I don't know about you, but I'd certainly take all that meaningful value over a pinch of short-lived showmanship anytime.
No one likes other people looking at their laptops.

That is why HP along with 3M has come out with an integrated solution that stops the person sitting next to you in your friendly neighborhood Starbucks from snooping on what you're doing on your computer. The new technology, called Sure View, promises to save what's on your screen for your eyes only.

In IT Blogwatch, we try to spy with our little eye something too dark to see.

So what exactly is Sure View? Sherri L. Smith gives us the background:

Have you ever been on a plane or train and noticed someone staring at your laptop's display...if you have an HP EliteBook 840 G3, you can end...snooping with a touch of a button thanks to HP's new Sure View technology.

...

Sure View...adds an integrated privacy screen to...two of HP business laptops...the...840 G3 and the HP EliteBook 1040 G3...HP teamed up with 3M to outfit both laptops with the lighting control film, adding an easy-to-access level of privacy and security...HP estimates that the technology will bump up the price of the two notebooks by approximately $75.

Sounds interesting. But how exactly does it work? Jeremy Kaplan has the details:

To use HP Sure View, you...just hit F2 to transition into privacy mode, a special backlight and...filter inside of the laptop that shunts light in such a way that 95 percent of it cant be seen from an angle.

...

Anyone whos used a privacy filter will...acknowledge that even immediately in front of the screen, light output is reduced and the screen quality is affected -- thats...still the case here, though to a lesser degree. The screens on the EliteBook 1040 and 840 didnt look as dark as a...screen might through a physical filter, but I could tell something was preventing them from hitting maximum vibrancy.

How does it work in a real-world situation? Kevin Lee shares his experiences:

We got to see the difference between displays equipped with Sure View and others with a privacy screen overlaid on top of it...there's a definite improvement with the integrated solution. What's more...HP and 3M's solution also works with touchscreen devices.

...

That said, it's not perfect. The amount of light that's obscured goes down as you increase the screen brightness, making it less effective. Early samples also had a problem with...picking up reflections, but we're hoping these are just pre-production issues.

Still not sure what situation would call for Sure View? Peter Bright makes it pretty clear:

I have a dirty secret: I am an inveterate reader of other people's screens. It's a compulsion...They're invariably more fascinating than my own, so if I'm sitting next to you on the plane I'll be checking out your e-mails, reading your presentations, and tutting at your use of Comic Sans...As such, I'm not a fan of HP's new Sure View screens -- but I...understand the justification.
After a company has been hacked and the hack has been discovered to be a harmful one, top executives and IT leaders normally huddle in a room to assess the loss.

It's usually not a pretty scene.

It's not as if heads are exploding. It is more like what some might call a tense "come to Jesus" moment.

"It's not good," said cyber security expert Tyler Cohen Wood. She's participated in post-hack forensics sessions at companies and has witnessed the faces of panicked executives firsthand.

Inspired eLearning Tyler Cohen Wood is cyber security advisor to elearning company Inspired eLearning, and was previously a Defense Intelligence Agency cyber deputy division chief.

"People are scared, and a lot of times they don't even have logs of what happened in the hack and they still have to get the company up and running," Cohen Wood explained. "They have to have help as much as possible and [they have to] work quickly."

Cohen Wood is currently cyber security advisor for an online learning provider, Inspired eLearning, but has been part of cyber incident response teams in previous jobs. Before her current role, she spent 13 years as a Defense Intelligence Agency senior intelligence officer and deputy division chief for cybersecurity.

"I've never personally been hacked, but I've been through the trauma of incident response at companies to help them with their trauma," she said. "I understand the pain. People are worried about how to fix it and what do to. It's a terrible thing to go through. It's the feeling you have when something personal is stolen, but much worse -- that feeling of being vulnerable."

Those kinds of insights have influenced her blogs, presentations and curriculum materials to help companies protect against cyber attacks and beef up their cyber security.

In an era when private-sector and government cyber attacks are reported daily, Cohen Wood is worried that apathy has set in. In that sense, it helps to reflect on how it feels when a company gets hacked.

"Companies are getting hacked left and right. When you get to the point where every day you read about another major company getting hacked and your reaction is, like, 'OK,' then that's a really, really big problem. People are apathetic about cyber security. We have a serious problem.

"It's not like we use devices only as a tool. They have become part of daily life and we rely on them. We have shifted to where have so many different types of systems -- from banking to healthcare to transit and the power grid."

Cohen Wood believes companies need to educate workers about cyber threats and that IT shops need to assiduously stay on top of cyber threats with a shed of tools. She's also concerned that the major university computer science programs in the U.S. are failing to do nearly enough to prepare IT workers and coders with cyber security courses.

"As we move to everything being connected in an internet of things world, these devices need to be coded securely ... As hackers get better and better and we have a generation with less training in security, we have a big problem."

Cohen Wood said her advice to average workers is to make sure they are involved in some type of security education program, just to understand the cyber threats. "You have to be very cognizant that what you post on your social media about yourself or your company doesn't make it easy for somebody to piece together a pattern about your company or your kids that can later be compromised. When you get a device, like a smartphone, really look at the risks, change the default password, read the terms of service and update it when attacks come out."

For IT executives, she advised: "You have to be better than the hackers. Along with education, you have to get support from the C-level. You also have to have good cyber monitoring systems in place and procedures so that if something goes wrong your employees know what to do. Remember, a hacker just has to find one way in, while the security admin has to know all of them. If you are not keeping security logs or staff doesn't know how to escalate a response, you have a problem. "

And Cohen Wood repeats the oldest lesson from the IT playbook: "Make sure you have backup systems and have tested them. Make sure the sensitive data is segregated and not easily reachable and is 100% encrypted and in compliance with federal regulations, like HIPPA and PCI."

Generally, Cohen Wood advises companies to recognize that hackers have moved from going after faulty code to attacking humans through targeted attacks or phishing attacks. That means that anyone who touches a company network -- from the interns to the vendors -- needs to educated on all the threats.

Workers need to be segregated so that those who don't need to know certain things should not get administrative privileges, she added. A recent survey by the Ponemon Institute found that 62% of 1,371 end users said they had access to company data that they probably shouldn't see.

"The security situation is not hopeless, but we do have to get better," she said. "We need to work together and educate. An executive can't say, 'It's not my problem, that's IT's problem.' "

Cohen Wood conceded, however, that the emergence of quantum computers means that hackers will indeed be able to break tough encryption in coming years.

While Cohen Wood advises using encryption today, she said it might be rendered ineffective in a decade when powerful quantum computers will be put to use.

Quantum computers mean "the things you say online that are 100% encrypted today might not be tomorrow. Something secure now in 10 years is not going to be. You have to stay updated with the trends, especially if it's your job. Things are not hopeless, but do keep in mind that someday what you put out there may not be private."

RELATED VIDEO:

This story, "How to handle the aftermath of being hacked" was originally published by Computerworld .
Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk.

A revolution is happening in Suffolk, with Conservative local authorities, who pioneered joint working, now examining and developing plans for further service integration. They recognise that hard-working council taxpayers deserve greater efficiencies, concentrating resources on essential services.

Whilst already sharing some premises with the constabulary and other local authorities, in the last couple of years Suffolk County Councils accounts confirm that it has reduced its workforce by 537, admittedly at a cost of 7.6m in redundancies.

In a sour note, the latest figures include nearly 500,000 in packages for four senior officers, with 157,000 and 134,000 going to two former heads of service, one of whom was already seconded to a national infrastructure project which then employed her, leading to the inevitable question: why was she eligible for redundancy? Nevertheless, millions are undoubtedly being saved.

Now Suffolk Coastal and Waveney councils will save 1.3m a year by combining to create the largest local authority in the country. They have already saved 16m since 2010, by sharing a Chief Executive and senior officer team, and the next stage will reduce the number of councillors from 90 to 65. If approved, the plan will become a reality in the next couple of years following a boundary review. Suffolk Coastals prime office complex site is already sold, and Waveney relocated into shared premises with the County in Lowestoft, so any future accommodation needs are likely to be more modest than originally expected.

Mid-Suffolk and Babergh, which previously rejected forming a joint authority, although they share an officer team, but have lost their CEO, are now proposing to move their administration from their separate large office complexes into the Countys now half-empty HQ in Ipswich. They will even share the services of the Countys Chief Executive, if only on a temporary basis!

Inevitably these changes will put pressure on the the west of the county, where Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury already share a CEO and top management, so will they also be tempted to further rationalise, to make additional savings?

Unfortunately, Labour-run Ipswich has so far rejected a potential 250,000 annual saving. This could have been achieved by reducing the number of councillors from three per ward to two (as well as a county councillor) and changing to four-yearly elections. With their own redundancy programme, there will be a lot of empty space in the boroughs office building directly opposite the County. (Perhaps someone could persuade Healthwatch or the overspent/overstaffed Clinical Commissioning Group to ditch their ridiculously expensive leased accommodation and move in.)

In its final stages, the reinvigorated Devolution package for Norfolk and Suffolk will inevitably prompt more change, and greater co-operation, hopefully finally abolishing the silo culture which remains endemic across the whole public sector, to attract inward investment and to benefit from the first wave of Government funding to enhance the regional economy. The Local Enterprise Partnership, led by business, is playing a significant role in generating support across all communities, which recognise the huge opportunities it represents.

The Prime Minister has made clear that her priority is to reduce inequalities across the whole country; this is more welcome than she can ever know. Previous over-concentration on London and the South East means that other areas have been neglected, despite being  like Suffolk  a net contributor to the Treasury.

Whilst East Anglia gives the impression of affluence, with low crime rates, it has  like so much of the North  suffered decline in some industries, with incomes stagnating as costs rise. Yet, with the new rail contract, just awarded to Abellio, it has enormous potential and a willingness to adapt, innovate and nurture new enterprises, without being hindered by an overwhelming and intimidating bureaucracy.

The future looks exciting.
Garvan Walshe is a former National and International Security Policy Adviser to the Conservative Party

Never interrupt the enemy when hes making a mistake, said Napoleon. Nothing short of violence is as likely to spur the outrage of radicalised young men as heavily armed French police ordering a Muslim woman to take off clothes deemed insufficiently immodest to wear on the beach.

The mayors of Nice and Cannes have been goaded into a culture war without the least clue about the culture theyre attempting to defend. They reflect their voters anxiety at what they believe is a strong, determined, Muslim culture, confident in itself, on the rise and capable of extreme violence against people like themselves. Not for them the distinctions between political Islam and the Muslim religion, quietist Tablighis and militant Wahhabis, let alone the gossamer that separates Islamic State, which stones women, chops off thieves hands and conducts military operations against civilians, from Saudi Arabia, which stones women, chops off thieves hands and conducts military operations against civilians (in Yemen).

They feel their culture is under attack and that the authorities, hemmed in by political correctness, wont defend them. Its the same kind of feeling that motivated Leave voters in the referendum and if it isnt somehow addressed could get Marine Le Pen elected next year.

The authorities are failing because theyve forgotten that the defining Western value is freedom. We believe that our system of government is superior to that practiced in Iran or Saudi Arabia or by ISIL because were supposed to allow people to do what they want as long as they dont prevent anyone else from doing the same.

This liberty has never sat well with religion. Thorough-going Christianity and Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, all try and control womens behaviour, and all misinterpret the idea of religious tolerance to impose their views on the rest of us. Its no surprise that thorough-going Islam, generously supported by our allies in Saudi Arabia, should try the same.

Political Islam is most dangerous to freedom not when it mounts a frontal attack on the West in the form of terrorism, but when it claims that the values we profess require us to accommodate its project to impose itself on Muslims who live here, and in the end bring about radical change to our whole society.

The wrong way to meet this challenge is to defend Western values because they are ours  to say, in effect, youve come to our house so play by our rules. This leads to the indefensible on French beaches. They may have their religious police, telling women to cover up. But now, at last, we have our secular police telling them to take clothes off instead. By descending to this level we give up the freedom that makes liberal civilisation special.

The right way is a good deal harder. There are some women who put on headscarves as as an assertion of identity not unlike like dying ones hair black and getting tattoos of pentagrams in prominent places. But it isnt only a phase people grow out of. Nor is it quite right to say that its just an assertion of identity, like wearing a cross or Star of David.

A symbolic assertion of identity wouldnt cause the discomfort and alarm that the growth and increasing severity of Islamic dress codes for women provokes. A few eccentrics wearing weird stuff because they think their religion requires it isnt enough to perturb a society. But the concept of hijab  Islamically derived rules of modesty for women  does. Its a concept with Western equivalents (not long ago even piano legs were given petticoats lest they titillated Victorian men) and now, as then, its about controlling women and their sexuality.

The doctrine disturbs because it insists that of all the different ways to be a woman in modern society only one is allowed. All that power, self-expression, experimentation, emotional growth and sexual enjoyment that modern society permits women is denied by this doctrine of modesty, which is about so much more than dress: it covers a range of behaviour from physical contact with non-family members to being verbally assertive in public (both, unsurprisingly, frowned upon).

We should find this Victorian doctrine of control, which threatens the progress women have made in the last hundred years, disturbing (as I think we also do when similar doctrines are imposed on ultra-orthodox Jewish women). It co-opts the desire to assert identity into a sexist doctrine that advances itself, shielded by an appeal to religious tolerance. But we need to argue against its content, not coerce people who display its symbols.

There are plenty of forms of Islam compatible with life in Western Europe today: Saudi-inspired sexism is not one of them, any more than the ultramontane Catholicism of De Valeras Ireland or Francos Spain would be. But if you do want to wear a burkini to the beach in searing summer heat, the police should protect your right to do so, not threaten to fine you for the privilege. Anything else betrays the liberty for which the West is supposed to stand.
Before June 23rd, Leave campaigners argued (I believe correctly) that the EU was heading toward a federal super state, driven by an out of control bureaucracy. But since June 24th, some Leavers now argue other member states and that EU institutions (involved in the low level negotiations), will be fair and reasonable, happy to see us depart.

This is wrong. The EU Commission wants Brexit to fail and fail badly. The Member States face divided electorates at home. Post-referendum, support for the EU and Euro rose due to doom-laden predictions about a post-EU UK. Yet if the UK succeeds, this support will drain away. A thriving UK exiting the EU will mean others will follow within a decade or so. Europes leaders know this to be the case, and so Brexit must fail. The meeting of Italian, German and French leaders this week was defiant.

Trade will not save us

While Europe benefits from trading with the UK, the net effects are small and distributed among a small number of countries. In 2014 just eight EU countries had trade worth more than 10 billion (in either exports or imports). Only four have a net positive trade imbalance greater than 5 billion. Spain, a major partner, sees overall trade with the UK at $50 billion, given current exchange rates. This is not huge in a $1.5 trillion economy. Germany has a $150 billion UK trade sector in a $3.8 trillion economy. If we have a WTO tariff rate of 10 per cent (and under WTO rules this is at the top range), in both directions, this works out at a cost to the countries of around 0.3 per cent of GDP. Not worth sacrificing European unity for.

The real strategy must be to divide and reform Europe

So we face a hostile Commission and at best ambivalent nation states. Of course, some European politicians have publicly or privately lost faith in ever closer union. Even more, people in Europe have lost faith. Before the Brexit vote, in countries bar the UK, Pew polling found 42 per cent wanted more powers back for Member States, 19 per cent wanted more powers for the EU, and 27 per cent want no change. As the graph below shows, the UK is not an outlier in its views of the EU. Another major Euro crisis, or a thriving UK outside the EU, would make the current EU unviable in many states.

Our new terms under Article 50 merely require a vote in the European parliament (including UK MEPs) and a Qualified Majority Vote. This QMV is 72 per cent of the member states comprising at least 65 per cent of the EUs population.

The goal must be to get this QMV, or even if we fail, trigger others to push for a new status as well, splitting Europe and forcing the creation of a genuine two-tier union. We will not get a good deal as a single country  but with other member states the chances begin to shift as trade and geopolitical considerations tip in our favour.

Since 2000 referendums have rejected EU centralisation in Ireland, Holland and France. Eastern Europe is unhappy about migration and neglecting NATO. Southern Europe is unhappy about German-led Eurozone economic policies. Scandinavia never really bought ever closer union in the first place. Holland and Germany resent what they see as Southern profligacy. Superstar economists such as Joseph Stiglitz criticise the Euro. The ground is fertile for a decentralised Europe.

We need to return to the successful European Common Market

We are inevitably in a showdown with pro-federalist EU politicians. So we need to get other countries to think that the UK deal may one day apply to themselves.

To win we need to push three key elements. Firstly, we must make it clear we want a Europe of national states  a Common Market of national governments  not just Brexit. This means freedom of movement of goods, services, and capital, but where regulatory difference is accepted, not a single regulatory zone controlled by Brussels; co-operation on crime and other areas, but voluntary and inter-governmental; and smaller (although still operating) transfers of funds between countries.

Secondly, we should not put EU and non-EU citizens on equal footing. Bringing EU migration down to tens of thousands means reducing numbers by 20-30 per cent. In 2015, 270,000 EU citizens came to the UK while around 85,000 left, giving net migration of 185,000 a year. Some UK citizens also move to the EU, though the data here is limited, giving us this 20-30 per cent figure. We could reduce unskilled labour through restrictions on in-work benefits, place geographical restrictions on work (so you can come to London but not East Anglia), and limit spousal/family unions to those who can work. But we must give EU migrants a higher priority than others.

Thirdly, we need to argue the Euro has failed. The Euro is the great delusion that will doom the federalists (and it is is why EU net migration to the UK has surged). When the next Euro crisis hits this will be our moment of maximum opportunity and we must be ready to seize it.

We must subordinate all other policies if necessary to secure this goal

This strategy will only succeed if other policies are brought to bear, some of which were discussed by Vicky Ford earlier this week. We will help Greece by diverting aid funding to refugees there. We will support our Eastern European allies by being firm on defence. We will not cut corporation tax if that annoys Sweden. We will still allow some unskilled European migration to high growth areas like London. We will bear down more on non-EU migration (starting with 140,000 non-EU students, few heading to Oxbridge or Russell Group universities), not drive net EU migration to zero. We will engage in scientific collaboration. We will spend aid previously given to the EU on Bulgaria (GDP per capita $7,500) and Romania (GDP per capita $9,500).

The UK will not get fair treatment in Brexit. Fortunately, the Euro and a federal Europe will unravel. We need to realise Brexit is not just a trade discussion, and start developing a strategy accordingly. Brexit means politics.
Sussex News

Story Saved

You can find this story in My Bookmarks.

Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
Managed services News

How MSPs Can Generate More Leads And Have Better Conversations Around Recurring Revenue

Michael Novinson

Share this

Solution providers looking to grow their monthly recurring revenue must meet more qualified prospects and have conversations around business results, according to a managed service provider.



Channel partners should set their price points above those of the competition so that the conversation with end users can be framed around boosting productivity rather than cutting costs, said Kevin Studley, president of The Network Pro LLC. The Fullerton, Calif.-based MSP has grown its base of monthly recurring revenue from just $30,000 five years ago to some $300,000 today, Studley said.



"Customers don't understand the true costs of IT and technology," Studley said Tuesday during a session at XChange 2016 in San Antonio, hosted by CRN's parent, The Channel Company. "You have to talk about the results of your process, your company's way of doing things."

[RELATED: ConnectWise To Rename All Products As It Unifies Recent Acquisitions]



An MSP should begin its recurring revenue journey by setting a life plan, or liquid net worth goal, for the next decade. Studley said the life plan creates the passion or drive necessary for commitment to a business plan.



"Once you understand what you're really working for, then you can start with your business plan," Studley said.



Solution providers almost always underestimate the numbers of calls needed to secure a meeting and the numbers of meetings to secure a deal, Studley said. When The Network Pro was trying to break into recurring revenue, Studley said the company needed to meet with 20 or 25 different clients in order to land a single deal.



Studley encouraged MSPs to create a uniform lead-generation and sales pitch process so they can systemically evaluate win rates and test the impact of revisions or tweaks to the formula.

He also said that partners should schedule more appointments than needed to hit their goals since some clients will back out at the last minute; The Network Pro, for instance, targets 3.1 client meetings each week, Studley said, but recognizes it will complete just 2.7, on average.

Each prospect entered into The Network Pro's database receives a rating of "unqualified," "qualified" or "Warm 250," the term the company uses to describe its best leads.

Studley said a prospect doesn't go from unqualified to qualified until The Network Pro has identified the decision-maker within the organization and gotten a sense of how they spend on IT. Roughly 80 percent of The Network Pro's sales calls take place to prospects that have already been qualified, Studley said.

Once The Network Pro has ascertained that the decision-maker in the client organization will take their call, the prospect is upgraded to Warm 250, which is where Studley said most sales come from.

The Network Pro decided in 2014 that it would only meet with presidents, CEOs, owners or partners in organizations with 40 or fewer employees, Studley said, after realizing that just 2 percent of its meetings with non-decision makers ever turned into purchases.

"We set a lot of appointments with the wrong people," Studley said.

Centers of influence tend to be warm sources for generating sales leads, Studley said. People with inside knowledge of how an organization works and what it needs from an IT standpoint include those involved with enterprise resource planning or electronic medical record implementations, setting up a phone system, outside HR consultancies and certified professional accountants, Studley said.

Referral programs and LinkedIn are also great ways to kick up additional leads, Studley said, and solution providers should give referral sources some type of an award just for providing a name.

Even more important than generating additional leads is having a conversation with clients that goes beyond what you'd do differently from a technical standpoint, Studley said. Successful conversations focus 100 percent on the business side of the equation, he said.

In order to get past the standard client objection that their IT is "fine," solution providers must expand the definition of fine to mean not just "nothing is crashing" and also address issues surrounding predictability, performance, functionality, reduced risk, capital costs and productivity.

Since labor is the largest cost facing clients in every vertical except manufacturing, any change that increases employee productivity is bound to save clients money in the long run, Studley said.

One good metric is "problems per employee per month" based on how a company's technology is being managed. Studley said The Network Pro is usually able to take customers from one to two IT problems per employee per month to just one per employee every four months, dramatically increasing productivity.

Studley likes to frame the conversation with customers in terms of the additional income generated as a result of increased employee productivity, compared with the additional (usually smaller) cost incurred by switching to a single monthly bill from The Network Pro. Solution providers should use the increased costs to their advantage as a signal of higher-quality service, Studley said.

"When we come in, we have to be more expensive," Studley said. "Every once in a while, we'll run into a competitor that's priced the right way, so I'll increase my price."

One solution provider, Stratus IT Group, of Salt Lake City, has excelled at executing on leads and enjoys a high close ratio, but lacks a defined lead-generation plan, according to Craig Vickers, the company's owner, who attended the session. Stratus' primary lead source today is referrals, but Vickers wants to be more intentional going forward and is considering hiring dedicated cold callers.

"We're not feeding the funnel like they are," Vickers said.
Internet of things News

Arrow Teams Up With Indiegogo To Offer Financial, Technical Support To IoT Entrepreneurs

Michael Novinson

Share this

Arrow Electronics has joined forces with crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to offer up to $50,000 in prototyping and manufacturing benefits to Internet of Things-focused innovators.

The Englewood, Colo.-based distributor said its IT channel partners will be able to tap into this rapidly growing market by providing configuration, billing, subscription and application programming interface (API) support to the new IoT businesses, according to Matt Anderson, Arrow's chief digital officer.

"We're bringing our reseller network into the components space," Anderson told CRN. "A lot of people are using IoT as a buzzword. We're using it as a business model."

[RELATED: CRN Exclusive: Arrow Teams With StrataCloud to Simplify NetApp-Cisco Converged Infrastructure Setup]

Arrow engineers will evaluate Indiegogo entrepreneurs applying for certification on the design and manufactureability of each IoT application, with those deemed ready for manufacturing receiving an "Arrow Certified" badge. In addition to the prototyping and manufacturing support, certified campaigns will complete for $1 million in flash-funding that Arrow plans to give away to the top 20 to 50 entrants.

Many of Arrow's new customers have either started companies or done crowdfunding through Indiegogo, and Anderson sees the partnership as a great opportunity to gain exclusive access to these entrepreneurs. Arrow will be Indiegogo's exclusive technology partner, Anderson said, meaning no other IT distributors, vendors or suppliers will be allowed to work directly with the crowdfunding website.

"This is a game-changer in the industry, and it's a game-changer in crowdfunding," Anderson said. "Nothing like this has ever been done before."

Many of the entrepreneurs building IoT products lack IT teams or infrastructure, Anderson said, meaning they'll need to lean on VARs and MSPs to build a sustainable technology platform. The reseller community will specifically be valuable in configuring, installing and getting the IoT offerings up and running on cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure and IBM Bluemix, Anderson said.

For instance, Noria built an IoT-enabled SmartHome AC product, but as a small company lacked the infrastructure stack or cloud system to monitor and manage the device on its own, meaning that a reseller could be valuable, Anderson said.

While the current phase of Arrow's efforts is focused around accelerating the design and manufacturing of IoT devices, Anderson said the next phase will focus on bringing in product and service resellers to support the entrepreneurs. Arrow's value proposition around IoT is intended to span the entire life cycle from manufacturing to cloud configuration to its media network, according to Anderson.

"I think this makes us unrivaled," he said.

Almost all of the technology entrepreneurs seeking funding on Indiegogo have an IoT-related initiative, Anderson said, focused primarily around either the business-to-consumer or business-to-industrial markets. Arrow and Indiegogo are operating together in 223 countries, although Anderson said roughly half of the campaigns are taking place inside the U.S.

Certified campaigns will have access to prototyping tools, technical reviews, product reviews, up to $1,000 in prototype materials, marketing and promotional support and 10 percent off Arrow products.

Truly exceptional campaigns will receive the "Arrow Innovator" designation, and will be eligible for supply chain and contract manufacturing support worth up to $500,000, up to $10,000 in prototype materials, a local Arrow technical concierge, rapid review from Arrow's in-house financing team, and a guarantee campaign backers will get their money returned if the product isn't manufactured.

The Arrow certification program on Indiegogo is open until Dec. 31, 2017.

ReelData co-founder Jeff Spalla has been working on security facial recognition and private cloud media projects, and he believes the projects would benefit from Arrow's support.

Spalla, who partners with Arrow, said he has the software design down pretty well, but told CRN he could use assistance around a go-to-market strategy, engineering support, marketing funding and reaching beyond his primary vertical of media and entertainment into industries such as health care, oil and gas and security.

Although Hollywood, Calif.-based ReelData is very adept at selling hardware and software, Spalla anticipates that selling its own product would prove more difficult. Spalla therefore said he's interested in exploring working more closely with Arrow around IoT.

"I think it's the next big potential thing," Spalla said. "IoT is our next big wave."
The trial of two Sudanese church leaders has started in Khartoum. They are among four Christians accused of trying to tarnish the image of Sudans government.

According to the Sudan Tribune, Rev. Hassan Taour and Rev. Kuwa Shamal were charged on Sunday (21 August) with "fabricating videos of incidents of claimed genocide, killing of civilians and burning of villages, besides claims of persecution of Christians in Sudan".

The prosecutor told the Khartoum North Court the defendants also conducted "intelligence activities and provided material support for rebels in South Kordofan".

Apart from the two Sudan Church of Christ pastors (both ethnically from South Kordofans Nuba Mountains), also charged were Abdulmonem Abdumawla Issa Abdumawla, a Darfuri graduate; and Petr Jasek, a Czech Christian advocate.

Two of the four denied the statements presented by the prosecutors as theirs, while the other two "approved their statements," said Sudan Tribune, without specifying.

They put pressure on the country

According to Sudan Tribune, the prosecution relied on material contained in laptop, mobile phone and flash memory, saying the defendants sought to distort the image of the government by disseminating information that could be used to put international pressure on the country.

The prosecutors said that charges have been filed against the defendants under articles of the Criminal Code, as well as Article 29 of the Passports and Immigration Law on sneaking into the country illegally, and Article 23 of the Humanitarian and Voluntary Work Act regarding running a voluntary organisation without registration.

Since Sundays high security court session, World Watch Monitor has not learned when the defendants are next due in court.

A week earlier, an initial session was attended by four defence lawyers representing prosecution witnesses, and 21 lawyers defending the two pastors, said Radio Tamazuj.

Rev. Taour had been detained without charge since 18 December, in contravention of Sudans own law. Rev. Shamal was detained on the same date, released, and then re-arrested again without charge on 24 May.

On 10 May, authorities released another church leader after nearly half a year in detention. Despite his release, the file of Telahoon (Telal) Nogosi Rata is believed to have remained with the Attorney General.

A number of other Christian leaders face restrictions, as Sudans government continues to impose a unified Arab Islamic character on territories left under its rule since the independence of the largely African-Christian South in July 2011.

Following South Sudans independence, President Omar al-Bashir  wanted by the ICC for crimes including genocide  has reasserted Sudan as an Islamic state governed by Sharia. Pressures have been ratcheted up against Christians since.

Arrests, confiscations and demolitions of churches have increased, and the government has repeatedly stated that new church licences will not be issued.

In August 2015, Khartoum yielded to international pressure and released two South Sudanese pastors, whom it had accused of "spying." Yat Michael and Peter Yen were in prison for eight and seven months, respectively.

According to Open Doors 2016 World Watch List, Sudan is ranked 8th in a list of 50 countries where Christians come under the most pressure. The country has a rating of "extreme" and for the past two years has remained among the top 10 offenders.

Earlier this month, democracy watchdog Freedom House described as "preposterous" the charges, including espionage and terrorism, Sudan had filed against six civil society activists.

Courtesy: World Watch Monitor

Publication date: August 25, 2016
Pullmanturs cruise pricing for winter cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean shows cruises starting as low as 34 euro per day, for a four-day sailing in the Canary Islands.

Pricing is also low on week-long sailings in the Caribbean, with sample seven-day cruises in March starting at 44 euro per day on a Southern Caribbean route.

A separate itinerary, which touches South America and Panama, trends slightly higher in March at 55 euro per day.

In addition are packaged itineraries including roundtrip flights from Europe, embarking passengers in Santo Domingo, starting at 849 euro for the week-long sailing per person.

Pricing is stronger, in February, however, starting at 54 euro per day. The Spanish brand will have the Monarch and Zenith in the Caribbean, while the Horizon stays in Europe for the winter.
Skyhigh announced today that it has received a patent for its technology, which moves that encryption gateway into a hosted environment.

Enterprises looking to protect sensitive data stored in cloud services can funnel user traffic through on-premises encryption gateways that allow them to keep control of their encryption keys.

Moving the encryption process to Skyhigh's servers allows for easier access by remote employees, mobile users, business partners, or customers, said Rajiv Gupta, Skyhigh's CEO. He says the company offers these encryption gateways in various locations, allowing customers to comply with data residency and privacy laws.

Gupta said that his is the only company offering such services, and dismissed concerns that the patent was too broad, or not new.

"In this case, there is no prior art," he said. "It hasnt been done before and certainly wasnt before we filed for the patent."

He added the company will not be using the patent aggressively.

"We will not be patent trolls," he said. "For us, this patent primarily is defensive so that we are not impeded from addressing our customers needs."

The patent also discusses the process by which customer-controlled master keys are used to create derived keys that are, in turn, distributed to the proxies, where they are used for the encryption and decryption process but are never stored.

"The master keys never leave the customer premises, the derivation happens on premises," said Kaushik Narayan, Skyhigh's co-founder and CTO. "And we have all kinds of protections on our proxy so that you can't dump memory, you can't inspect memory."

Skyhigh's Cloud Access Security Broker currently supports Salesforce, Office 365, ServiceNow, Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox.

Competitive landscape

Some security experts say that Skyhigh's hosted encryption gateway is neither new nor unique.

"There is no shortage of prior art," said Dave Lewis, global security advocate at Cambridge, Mass.-based Akamai Technologies Inc. "I'm actually surprised that they got the patent. There's really nothing new here."

Lewis pointed to a book titled "IT Security Risk Management" by Tobias Ackermann, currently CTO at Casamundo GmbH, based in Germany.

"It came out two years before they applied for their patent, and that book references exactly this," he said. The book was published in 2012, and Skyhigh applied for their patent in 2014.

The Skyhigh patent also appears to overlap with the Key Management Interoperatbility Protocol, said Rich Campagna, VP of products at Campbell, Calif.-based security firm Bitglass, Inc.

KMIP dates back to 2010, and is a standard protocol for the exchange of encryption keys, he said, that is widely adopted commercially.

It includes a function that "is used to derive a symmetric key or Secret Data object from a key or secret data that is already known to the key management system," he said, adding that this is "exactly the process described in claim number one of the patent."

Garrett Bekker, analyst at New York-based 451 Research LLC, said that while Skyhigh has some unique aspects to their technology, several vendors already offer encryption gateways for cloud applications.

"They're not the only ones looking to separate keys from encryption," he said. "CipherCloud and Vaultive have been doing this for a good five or six years."

Vaultive Inc.

Boston-based Vaultive, Inc., offers a cloud encryption gateway that is typically hosted on premises, but that the customer can also run, on, say, Amazon cloud servers, or get it hosted for them by a regional reseller.

End users trying to connect to Office 365 would have a custom domain name that they would use, and would be blocked from logging into Office 365 directly, said Doug Lane, Vaultive's VP of product marketing. Email clients, both on PCs and on corporate and personal mobile devices, can also be configured to go through the gateway, he said.

"It seems like their patent is pretty broad and a lot of companies are doing this already," he said.

CipherCloud

"We cant comment on the specifics of Skyhigh patent, but we dont believe it is a game changer," said Willy Leichter, VP of marketing at San Jose-based CipherCloud. "They definitely do not have a patent on the entire concept of an encryption-decryption proxy in a hosted environment. CipherCloud and a number of other vendors have been doing that for years."

Leichter added that his company does more than just offer a scalable, transparent way to securely connect users with cloud service providers -- CipherCloud can also perform searches, sorts, and reports on data while it is still encrypted, with 17 patents on various techniques for doing so.

Inline integration, which protects data on a field-by-field basis, is available for many popular business cloud applications, including Salesforce, Force.com, ServiceNow, SAP, SuccessFactors and Adobe Analytics. In addition, there is also API integration for cloud-based collaboration and file sharing services.

Other offerings

Even Amazon has an offering in this space, said Michael Nye, a patent attorney at Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.

Back in 2013, Amazon launched a hardware-based security appliance for managing encryption keys for its cloud customers.

However, the Skyhigh patent offers a lot of specifics, he said, and did not immediately strike him as being too broad. Plus, it was reviewed by an experienced examiner.

According to legal information company Justia, Dant Shaifer-Harriman has dealt with more than 200 patents, many of them in the area of information security.

"For what its worth, I have prosecuted an application in front of examiner Harriman," Nye added. "He definitely understands encryption, so I wouldnt be surprised if his patentability determination was accurate."

Is it secure?

Skyhigh's process for distributing encryption keys to gateways on external servers doesn't necessarily guarantee security, said David Cash, a computer science professor at Rutgers University.

"If someone were to compromise the server, they would need to do it while the key is there and in memory," he said. "But that is much more difficult and mitigates most threats."

There are no absolutes in security, he added.

One common security problem is when the encryption keys are stored too close to the data that they are meant to protect, said Kevin Curran, IEEE Senior member and senior lecturer of computer science at the University of Ulster.

"A third party encryption key proxy hosted in the cloud could add a protection layer by keeping the keys separate from the encrypted data," he said. "That separation, no matter how it is implemented, is what is crucial in this model.

Plus, on-premises solutions may offer more control but can create significant management challenges for IT departments, he added.

An increase in position, but it isn't bullet proof

"Sadly, most enterprises play fast and loose with their keys and only the most security conscious businesses and teams think of end-to-end data security," said Richard Stiennon, chief strategy officer at London-based Blancco Technology Group.

Skyhigh's technology makes it possible for an enterprise to encrypt its data in the cloud using its internally controlled encryption keys without exposing them to the rest of the world, he said.

Patents are important to technology companies to help them establish market dominance and confirm the value of their products, he said. "And for Skyhigh, it will likely help them increase their competitive position in the cloud encryption market."

"But at the same time, I dont think this method is bullet proof either," he added. "Encryption keys held in memory are not impervious to attack. They can even end up recorded in memory snapshots taken of virtual environments that havent been properly and permanently erased."
A panel of U.K. lawmakers has described as alarming that social networking companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google's YouTube have teams of only a few hundred employees to monitor billions of accounts for extremist content.

These companies are hiding behind their supranational legal status to pass the parcel of responsibility and refusing to act responsibly in case they damage their brands, said a report released early Thursday in the U.K. by the Home Affairs Committee appointed by the House of Commons.

If these companies do not tackle the issue and allow their services to become the Wild West of the internet, their reputation as responsible operators will be eroded, it added.

The report, which said the use of the internet to promote radicalization and terror was one of the biggest threats faced by countries including the U.K., singled out Twitter for mention for not proactively reporting extremist content to law enforcement agencies.

The committee described as a drop in the ocean the suspension by Twitter of 125,000 accounts worldwide linked to terrorists between mid-2015 and February 2016, and Googles removal in 2014 of over 14 million videos worldwide that related to all kinds of abuse.

In evidence to the panel, the companies said that they had staff who manually search for potentially extremist content online and decide on whether to take the content down and suspend accounts. Twitter said it had more than a hundred staff working on this job, while Facebook and Google did not provide a number.

The report reflects growing concern about the use of social networks by terror groups like the Islamic State group, also referred to as ISIS, for propaganda, communications and recruitment. "We are engaged in a war for hearts and minds in the fight against terrorism. The modern front line is the internet, said Keith Vaz, member of Parliament and chairman of the committee in a statement. Its forums, message boards and social media platforms are the lifeblood of Daesh and other terrorist groups for their recruitment and financing and the spread of ideology.

The lawmakers have recommended that social networking companies should have their staff co-located at the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU), a special unit hosted by the Metropolitan Police.

The UK Government should now enforce its own measures to ensure that the large technology companies operating in this country are required to cooperate with CTIRU promptly and fully, by investigating sites and accounts propagating hate speech, and then either shutting them down immediately, or providing an explanation to CTIRU of why this has not been done, according to the report.

CTIRU should also be upgraded into a high-tech, central operational hub, working around the clock to locate threats early, move quickly to block them and instantly share relevant information with other security agencies, it added.

As I made clear in my evidence session, terrorists and the support of terrorist activity are not allowed on Facebook and we deal swiftly and robustly with reports of terrorism-related content," said Simon Milner, director of policy at Facebook UK, in an emailed statement. "In the rare instances that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, we'll also look for and remove relevant associated accounts and content."

YouTube said it removes content that incites violence, terminates accounts run by terrorist groups and responds to legal requests for removal of content that breaks U.K. law.

A Twitter spokesman referred to a company blog post this month that said it had suspended 360,000 accounts for violating its policies related to promotion of terrorism since the middle of 2015. The company said in February that as other companies and experts have also noted, there isn't a magic algorithm for identifying terrorist content on the Internet.

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter agreed in May to a process for receiving and reviewing notifications about online hate speech from European Union users on their platforms, which could see most valid notifications reviewed within 24 hours, and the content even brought down or access to it disabled.

Social networking companies are also facing lawsuits in the U.S for the terrorist content found on their sites. One such lawsuit filed in a federal court in California by the father of a victim of the Paris terror attack in November charges that Twitter, Facebook and Google knowingly permitted ISIS to use their social networks "as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds and attracting new recruits.

The U.K. MPs also made other proposals, including a recommendation that communities must take on a leadership role, and organizations like the Muslim Council of Britain could do more to expose and remove those who preach or advocate race hate and intolerance.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

A group of parents, including the president of the Bridgeport District Parent Advisory Council, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Connecticut's restrictions on magnet schools, charter schools and school choice programs are unconstitutional and have forced thousands of low-income and minority students to attend low-performing schools.

In all, 11 Connecticut parents and students from Bridgeport and Hartford filed the federal suit Tuesday against Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, state Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell and others.

Jessica Martinez, the District PAC president in Bridgeport has lent her name and her 13-year-old son, Joses to the suit. The group is aided by Students Matter of Menlo Park, California. According to Students Matter, the state's restrictions have deepened one of the largest achievement gaps in the country.

The state Education Department responds that Connecticut has high-quality public education, as seen by record high graduation rates, rising test scores and more school options. In a statement, the agency said that more state resources are going to schools that need help the most, and improvements to the education system continue to be made.

The lawsuit challenges state laws that place a moratorium on new magnet schools, prevent more public charter schools from opening or expanding, and penalize school districts that accept inner-city students under a state inter-district school choice program. The plaintiffs want a judge to issue a permanent injunction barring the state from enforcing those laws.

In Bridgeport, this year, funding to the public school system was reduced while additional funds were given to charter schools in the city that allowed them to grow. Bridgeport has six charter schools, the most in the state, including two new ones that have opened in the past three years.

Still the odds of getting in a school of choice are not good. The plaintiffs say they have tried to enroll their children in magnet schools and charter schools, but their applications have been rejected forcing them to send their children to public schools they say are failing.

Getting an adequate education in Connecticut depends on the luck of the draw, said Frankie Frances, a single father whose 9-year-old son attends a school in Bridgeport.

Martinez said she has not applied to charter schools but has tried repeatedly to have her son into a magnet school through the lottery admission system. He attends Winthrop School.

In Bridgeport, public school parents have to become soldiers and experts on behalf of our children, Martinez said in a statement. We have to work ten times as hard and become ten times as savvy to learn and navigate the system, in order to give our children even the smallest chance of getting a quality education. Quality schools exist in our neighborhoods, too, but their doors are open only to a lucky few.

Another lawsuit is challenging how Connecticut funds its education system, saying the state is not providing enough aid to many municipalities and citing vast differences in test results between rich and poor towns.

The state attorney general's office, which will defend the state against the lawsuit, said it had not yet been served with the lawsuit and declined to comment further.
The Bridgeport and Greenwich school districts probably couldnt be more different.

Greenwich spends more than $18,000 for each of its 8,800 students, who regularly outscore most districts in the state. Bridgeport spends less than $14,000 for each of its 21,000 students and is on the opposite end of the standardized test scoring chart.

Both, it appears, will be using the same search firm to find them their next schools chief.

Earlier this month, Greenwich voted to hire Ray and Associates, based in Iowa, to conduct its superintendent search.

This week, the Bridgeport Board of Education met to review two applicants for its search and made it clear Ray would likely be the winner.

McPherson Jacobson LLC of Omaha, Neb., the other applicant, was involved in a 2014 superintendent search in New London that led to the selection of Terrence P. Carter, a Chicago school official who, it turned out, started calling himself a doctor on his resume before he actually earned his Ph.D.

New Londons offer to Carter was then rescinded.

That makes it pretty easy who we are going to select, Bridgeport School Board Chairman Dennis Bradley said, calling the New London search  a fiasco.

Board member Maria Pereira said it was unethical for McPherson Jacobson to omit that search from the references it submitted in a lengthy application to the Bridgeport school board.

Still, Howard Gardner, another board member, said it was important for the board to complete the process of scoring both proposals based on criteria it has established before making a formal decision. One of the criterion is reputation.

Ray and Associates has also advanced at least one candidate, in a 2007 superintendent search, who fudged on a resume, it was pointed out. But Laura Erickson, chairman of the Greenwich school board, told Greenwich Time that board was still very impressed with the caliber of the companys work.

Ray and Associates has been in the school executive search business since 1975 and has a long and successful track record in securing superintendents for numerous school districts all across the country, Erickson said.

In its cover letter to the Bridgeport s board, Ray said it has conducted searches in Windham, Hartford and New Britain. Its base bid to Bridgeport, before add-ons and options, is $26,500. McPhersons base bid is $29,500.

Bridgeports school board gave itself this week to complete the evaluation process. It is to meet in a special session at 6 p.m. Monday at Bassick High School to make a selection.

After that, it is expected that the board will negotiate a contract with the firm in time for it to be ratified at the panels Sept.12 meeting.

McPherson applied once in the past to help Bridgeport out with a superintendent search, before the board decided to stick with Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz.

lclambeck@ctpost.com; @lclambeck
Four nurses, all of them affiliated with a Derby pain clinic, were responsible for nearly all of the states 2014 Medicare spending on the powerful opioid painkiller Subsys, which is at the center of a kickback probe.

New Medicare data for 2014 show the nurses, who all worked at the Comprehensive Pain and Headache Treatment Center of Derby, were responsible for 279 claims for Subsys, at a cost of $2.3 million. The highest prescriber was Heather Alfonso, an advanced practice registered nurse formerly employed by the clinic who is awaiting sentencing on charges she took kickbacks from Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics for dispensing Subsys to patients.

The new data is the first indication that the propensity to prescribe Subsys extended beyond Alfonso, to other clinic staff. None of the other three nurses has been implicated in an ongoing federal probe of Insys marketing of Subsys that resulted in the criminal charges against Alfonso. The Derby clinic, located in Griffin Hospital, and a Meriden affiliate remain in operation.

Dr. Mark Thimineur, who runs the treatment centers, also has not been implicated. He did not respond to questions about the Subsys prescribing, and a clinic manager said she had no comment.

The data show that Alfonso wrote out 170 prescriptions for Subsys in the Medicare Part D program in 2014, at a cost of $1.2 million.

The other three Connecticut prescribers of Subsys were all listed as APRNs at the pain center in 2014. They are: Monika Chaves, responsible for 57 prescriptions, at a cost of $521,242; Ashley Dizney, with 29 prescriptions, at a cost of $341,132; and Jean Vulte, with 23 prescriptions, at a cost of $209,970.

The Medicare records show that only 10 other nurse practitioners in the country prescribed Subsys in 2014, most of them at lower amounts than the clinic nurses. The four Connecticut nurses were responsible for more than half of all Subsys claims (519) submitted nationally by nurses, according to the data.

The bulk of Subsys prescriptions were written by physicians. Nationally, 846 providers in the Medicare program prescribed Subsys to some 2,700 patients, at a cost of $97.2 million.

Chaves and Dizney, who is still employed at the pain center, did not return messages seeking comment. Vulte could not be reached. Alfonsos lawyer, Ryan McGuigan of Hartford, declined comment.

Prescribing at an alarming rate

The Medicare data show Alfonso was the states highest prescriber of opioid medications, and was responsible for 6,240 opioid prescriptions, at a cost of $3.5 million. Alfonso, of Middlebury, pleaded guilty in June 2015 to receiving $83,000 in kickbacks from Insys from January 2013 to March 2015, while she was employed at the pain clinic.

She admitted in court that Insys paid her through a sham speakers program, supposedly to give presentations to other prescribers about Subsys. Instead, court documents say, Insys paid her about $1,000 per event for going out to dinner with friends and co-workers, or with just an Insys sales rep. At the same time, she wrote out Subsys prescriptions at what prosecutors called an alarming rate.

Subsys, which was launched by Insys in 2012, is a spray that contains fentanyl, a highly addictive opioid. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for managing breakthrough cancer pain that is not controlled by other medications. Insys reported $329 million in net revenue from Subsys in 2015.

Insys marketing of Subsys is the subject of various state and federal probes. Last week, two former Insys employees pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court to charges they violated anti-kickback laws by engaging in a scheme to pay doctors to participate in phony educational programs in exchange for high prescribing of Subsys.

Chaves had the second-highest dollar volume of opioid prescriptions in the state, at $1.84 million, while Vulte was fourth highest and Dizney was sixth highest.

Some face consequences

A year ago, after Alfonso was charged, state officials dropped the Comprehensive Pain and Headache Treatment Center from the Medicaid program, citing improprieties involving treatment and oversight. However, both Thimineur and Alfonso are still enrolled in the federal Medicare program as providers, a CMS spokesperson said.

The licenses of Chaves, Vulte and Dizney remain active, with no past or pending disciplinary charges. Records show the state Board of Examiners for Nursing held a pre-hearing review of a case involving Dizney in June 2015, but determined that the situation did not warrant discipline.

Both Thimineur and Alfonso faced disciplinary action by state boards in the past several years related to prescribing, but continued practicing without restrictions.

In June 2015, Thimineur was reprimanded and fined by the state Medical Examining Board for writing prescriptions for patients based on assessments of their appearance or behavior that were conducted by unlicensed medical assistants.

Alfonso received a reprimand and fine in 2014 by the Board of Examiners for Nursing for failing to personally examine a patient before renewing a narcotic pain medication. Last year, she surrendered her state and federal licenses to prescribe controlled substances.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (www.c-hit.org).
Steven Senne / Associated Press

STRATFORD  The upcoming $10 million Housatonic River dredge project could be held up by the piping plover.

But officials say the issue involving the birds should be resolved. The Stratford legislative delegation on Wednesday asked the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to come to an agreement with the Connecticut Chapter of the National Audubon Society over monitoring nearby the nesting sites of the piping plover, a protected species, during its duration.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

DERBY  A 23-year-old Shelton woman has been ordered confined to her home while she awaits trial in the head-on crash that killed a local woman in May.

Samantha Monaco had been free on $6,500 bonds on two separate criminal cases when police said she was high on cocaine and morphine and slammed her car into a Honda Accord being driven by 69-year-old Rosemarie Dwyer on May 6, killing Dwyer.

On Thursday morning Monaco stood with her lawyer, Eugene Zingaro, before Superior Court Judge Peter Brown as prosecutors urged the judge to increase Monacos $25,000 bond contending she is a danger to the community.

Instead, Brown ordered Monaco to be confined to her home. She must wear an electronic monitoring anklet and can only leave her home for medical appointments and religious services.

We are beginning a full investigation of all her cases in the hope of a global resolution later this year, Zingaro said later.

Monaco is charged in this case with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating a verhicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while using a cell phone and failure to drive right.

Police said Monaco had just ended a call on her cell phone to a friend when her BMW crossed the center line of River Road at 1:30 p.m. on May 6, hitting Dwyers car.

Dwyer was given CPR at the scene, but was pronounced dead when she arrived at the hospital.

Monaco had been undergoing opioid replacement therapy at the APT Foundation on Long Wharf in New Haven, according to court documents. She had been attending weekly sessions since Feb. 5, 2015, as part of a court-ordered program, but was discharged last month due to lack of engagement, a letter in her file from the therapist states.

On Jan. 29, 2015, Monaco was released after posting $5,000 bond after being charged with interfering with police and tampering with evidence.

On Nov. 20, 2015, she was arrested again and charged with engaging police in a pursuit, reckless driving, failure to obey traffic signs and posted an additional $1,500 bond.
TRUMBULL - An entrepreneurial teen has been spending his summer vacation operating a marijuana bakery from his home, police said.

Rey Murray, 19, of Brian Drive, was charged Wednesday with operating a drug factory, possession of marijuana and two counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

After getting complaints of a man selling drugs from his Brian Drive home, police said detectives set up a surveillance of the home Wednesday.

While they were watching, police said a grey sedan pulled up to the house. After a couple of minutes, police said Murray came out of the house carrying a container which he handed to the occupants of the car in exchange for a small package.

Police said they pulled the car over and during a search found seven fudge squares that tested positive for marijuana. The driver of the car, Adam Dawe, 19, of West Cedar St., Norwalk, was charged with attempted possession of marijuana.

Police said with the drug-sniffing dog Storm they later searched Murrays home. The dog led them to a cooler in the garage where they found marijuana, police said.

While they were searching the rest of the house police said Murrays mother told them her son doesnt have a job.
More than before

There are more GE employees in Connecticut today than there were this time last year.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, answering critics, including Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, who still blame him for the companys decision to move from Fairfield to Boston.

Time to gt busy

In a limited number of races were doing some independent expenditures.
STORY LINK Pound Sterling Exchange Rate Forecast & GBP Vs EUR NOK USD News

Pound Sterling Exchange Rate Bias Neutral

Are Further Gains for GBP EUR Forecast?

Norwegian Krone (NOK) Exchange Rates Struggle on Oil Price Slump

Pound Sterling to US Dollar (GBP/USD) Predictions: Fed Speech Ahead

Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues:

POUND STERLING (currency : GBP) exchange rates enjoyed their best day in the currency markets for some weeks yesterday as investors continued to factor in the not as bad as it could have been nature of last weeks post-Brexit British data releases. Yesterdays figures from the British Banking Association confirming that UK consumers continued to spend heavily on their credit cards increased the strength of the tailwind behind the Pound which is now forecast to trade with a NEUTRAL bias moving forward.The EURO (currency : EUR) lost ground against both the Pound (GBP) and the US Dollar (USD) yesterday in spite of the release of official figures suggesting that the German economy expanded at a year-on-year 3.1% during the three months to the end of June. This mornings German IFO business survey data will provide the shared currency with further direction, as will tomorrows French GDP data. The outlook for the euro is NEUTRAL TO NEGATIVE and the GBP EUR exchange rate stands at 1.1760.Global oil prices slumped yesterday, sending the NORWEGIAN KRONE (currency : NOK) sharply lower in the markets. The price of a barrel of Brent Crude slid from close to the $50 level down into the mid-$48s following the publication of the weekly Oil Inventories data in the States and the Krone lost ground as a consequence. With the price of a barrel of Crude struggling to hold above its key level of resistance at $50 the outlook for NOK is NEUTRAL TO NEGATIVE. The GBP NOK exchange rate stands at 10.8920.The US DOLLAR (currency : USD) posted a relatively poor performance in the markets yesterday, dropping by around half a percentage point against Sterling. The Buck lost ground following the publication of figures from the National Association of Realtors which found that sales of existing US homes fell more than expected last month. Futures markets are now pricing-in only a 24% implied probability that the US Federal Reserve will hike the cost of borrowing Stateside at next months meeting. Analysts forecast that the Greenback will trade on a NEUTRAL TO NEGATIVE footing as a consequence and the GBP USD exchange rate currently sits at 1.3245.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

TAGS: Currency Predictions Daily Currency Updates Doll Forecasts
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.
Check it out: Fun things to do this weekend in Lake County
Campus police responded to a call on Aug. 20 regarding a stolen wallet.

A male student told police he had mistakenly left a black wallet at Centennial Place, according to a police report written by Sergeant Marco Anderson. The student went back to get the wallet and saw that it was missing. He told police the wallet contained his debit card, student ID and parking stickers.
Today's report by the Home Affairs Committee exposes the rank corporate malfeasance of internet giants Twitter, Facebook and Google in their handling of extremist material.

These multi-billion dollar monoliths have become, the MPs state, the lifeblood of Islamic State, by failing to block the torrent of bile pouring forth every day from extremists using their sites.

Despite being well aware that terrorists and their sympathisers are poisoning vulnerable minds and urging them to carry out murderous acts, the companies are consciously failing to prevent the abuse of their sites, the MPs conclude.

They also confirm the impression  long highlighted by this newspaper  that efforts to combat the spread of Islamist propaganda are little more than a tokenistic PR exercise, with tiny numbers of staff monitoring billions of accounts.

Controls are so lax that Anjem Choudary, above, was allowed to spread poison over social media for years before his conviction

Indeed, so lax are the controls that Anjem Choudary  belatedly convicted of supporting IS  was allowed to spread poison over social media for years.

The consequences of this shameful inaction are all too apparent, from terrorist plots in the UK and abroad to the hundreds of people lured to Syria, including teenage girls turned into jihadi brides.

All these internet behemoths share a twisted libertarian ideology that denies they can possibly bear any responsibility for the terrorism they turn a blind eye to (and, by the way, seems to justify them paying as little tax as possible).

Enough is enough. They must take proper steps to live up to the social responsibility messages they spout and banish the hate from their sites. Only then can they begin to wash the blood from their hands.

Catastrophe Corbyn: the Labour leader admitted he didn't take a seat because he couldn't find one next to his wife

Catastrophe Corbyn

How the mask has slipped! Yesterday the country got a sight of the real Jeremy Corbyn, when he dropped his gentle, avuncular style and snarled at reporters asking him straightforward questions about the Virgin Trains row.

The truth is out. Mr Corbyn didnt take a seat on the train because  as he admitted yesterday  he couldnt find a pair of seats for him and his wife. Keen to appear a man of the people, he declined offers of a first class upgrade.

Instead he played the martyr, sitting on the floor between carriages and filming a video for a hand-picked propagandist, sympathetically reported by The Guardian, in which he falsely complained the train was ram-packed and called for the railways to be renationalised.

There are a great many problems with Britains expensive and overcrowded rail network  not least the scandalous strikes caused by Mr Corbyns militant union friends  none of which would be solved by his simplistic solution.

But the lesson of this episode is not about public policy. It is the sad truth that a stubborn, inept, slow-witted, hard-Left throwback is presiding over the slow death of a once great political party, and depriving the country of a proper Opposition. And staggeringly, hes about to be reconfirmed as Labour leader.

Brexit Cheer (cont.)

Soaring demand for new homes A surge in high street spending  Export orders at a two-year high  Business borrowing and car production up 

Two months after Britain voted to leave the EU and all the signs are that the country is defying the apocalyptic predictions of Project Fear.

Even Remain backers, such as advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell, who warned a leave vote would hit investment and jobs, say our economy is perking up.
A mother has told how her daughter has been 'robbed' of a normal childhood - after hitting puberty at just six years old.

Single mother Sarah Tweedie-Connor, 36, who lives in Coventry, West Midlands, noticed Teri-Leigh, now 10, was growing pubic hair and breasts and stood a head above all her friends four years ago.

Teri-Leigh has been diagnosed with non-cancerous brain tumour, hypothalamic hamartoma, which means she is experiencing the symptoms of puberty years earlier than her peers.

Mother Sarah Tweedie-Connor, 36, left, has told how her daughter Terri-Leigh, right, has been 'robbed' of a normal childhood - after hitting puberty at six years old

Despite being in year five at primary school, Teri-Leigh is often kicked out of playgrounds because  at 5ft 2in with a 'mature face'  she looks 'more like a teenager' and even has mood swings.

Sarah, who works as a dinner lady and is mother to Kian, 15, Ewan, 12, and Georgia, who's seven, said: 'It's heartbreaking to see my daughter wonder why she looks nothing like her friends. She's so self-conscious.

'While other kids who are Teri-Leigh's age are running around concentrating on nothing but being children, my daughter is worrying about the changes in her body and battling mood swings.'

Now at 10 years old, Teri-Leigh is 5ft 2in and takes hormone injections to control her symptoms. Above, Terri-Leigh aged eight

Terri-Leigh, in hospital above, was diagnosed with non-cancerous brain tumour, hypothalamic hamartoma, which means she is experiencing the symptoms of puberty years early

Teri-Leigh is now undergoing hormone injections to prevent her periods from starting  but this will not reverse the effects of the condition so far.

Sarah added: 'I just want my daughter to be able to enjoy her childhood without feeling self-conscious.'

When Teri-Leigh was six years old, she was 4ft 8in, and stood head and shoulders above her school friends.

Over the next year, Sarah noticed her daughter had pubic hair and small breasts  despite only being in year one at school.

Sarah said: 'My eldest Kian, then 12, was only just starting to show signs of puberty so I was really surprised to see Teri-Leigh was at the same stage.

'I was shocked, but tried not to let on to Teri-Leigh that the hair was anything was usual.'

Teri-Leigh, pictured aged eight, is now undergoing hormone injections to prevent her periods from starting  but this will not reverse the effects of the condition so far

When Teri-Leigh was six years old, she was 4ft 8in, and stood head and shoulders above her school chums, above

Medics at Walsall University Hospital began tests, and discovered that Teri-Leigh's bone growth matched that of a ten-year-old  but they were not sure why.

Sarah said she realised just how different her daughter was from her peers in September 2013 when she was banned from an adventure park at six years old - because she was too tall.

Sarah said: 'She exceeded the height limit by a couple of inches. It was humiliating for her, so the whole family left.

'I was furious she'd been pointed out and made to feel like a freak. But at the same time it gave me the push to consult with medics and discover the cause of her early puberty.'

Concerned, the mother shared her fears with the school nurse, who suggested Teri-Leigh could have precocious puberty, and medics at University Hospital Coventry began tests.

At seven years old, Teri-Leigh was prescribed monthly injections of hormone triptorelin to halt her sexual development.

At seven years old, Teri-Leigh, above after some blood tests, was prescribed monthly injections of hormone triptorelin to halt her sexual development

But Sarah tells how the hormones caused her daughter to have mood swings like a teen.

She said: 'She'd break her toys, scream, kick and cry with rage. Getting her dressed for school when she threw tantrums was a battle. At her size, I couldn't handle her physically. It was a nightmare.'

In August 2015, Teri-Leigh was diagnosed with hypothalamic hamartoma  a tumour on the brain which affects one in 200,000 people - at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

The tumour can cause epileptic fits, precocious puberty and behavioural problems.

WHAT IS HYPOTHALAMIC HAMARTOMA A hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) is a rare but benign brain tumor. It is found in the hypothalamus, which is located at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus is responsible for many of the 'automatic' functions of the brain including hunger, thirst, temperature, passion, and hormone regulation. Precocious (premature) puberty, such as Teri-Leigh has experienced, cognitive deterioration and severe behavioral difficulties are common symptoms. Advertisement

Sarah said: 'Thought the word "tumour" devastated me, it was a relief to finally have an explanation about why Teri-Leigh was developing the way she was.'

She began further hormone treatment to stop her periods starting early  but this did not reverse the effects of precocious puberty so far.

Sarah said: 'She stands taller than all her friends and is experiencing things that none of them can understand yet.

'I try and talk it all through with her but at the end of the day, Teri-Leigh's just a child so I can't blame her for not fully understanding.'

Now 10 years old, Teri-Leigh's breasts are developing and she still has mood swings.

What's more, she is taller and stronger than her 12-year-old brother, Ewan.

She and Sarah are raising money for Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartoma UK - and, with the help of Teri-Leigh's school, Parkgate Primary School, the family have raised 2,000.

Terri-Leigh and Sarah are raising money for Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartoma UK to raise awareness about the little-known condition

Sarah adds: 'We want to raise awareness about this condition.

'Strangers mistake Teri-Leigh for a teenager acting up when she has mood swings in public, and I just want to tell them that she's just a child.

'If only people were not so quick to judge what they don't know about.
A former shoplifter who claims she made almost 2million during her 44-year 'career' as a thief says she has given up looking for a job that would pay enough to match the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed.

Kim Farry, 55, from Fulham, London, dubbed the 'millionaire shoplifter' said she made a 'business' out of her ill-begotten gains - which has seen her jailed seven times. Her life of crime allowed her to enjoy designer clothes, plastic surgery and exotic holidays.

Now she has changed her ways she says she has no choice but to claim 1,300 a month in benefits, including housing allowance as she can't find suitable work.

Kim Farry, 55, from Fulham, has been dubbed the 'millionaire shoplifter' but she is now on benefits after giving up her life of crime

'I don't want to work in a shop, it's boring. There is more to me than standing at a till. It's not enough money for me,' she said on the latest episode of Channel 5's On Benefits.

She added: 'I only want to earn big money, I am not earning stupid money because of what I used to earn. You need a 1,000 a week to be comfortable.'

Mother-of-six Kim, who still supports her 15-year-old daughter, Paris, said it has been hard to give up shoplifting, which she refers to as 'work' and 'going shopping'.

'When I wake up in the morning I think I am going to work. Up until the shops shut I can't relax,' she said.

'My brain is wired to go out shopping every day and I can't. I miss making all the money and having all the stuff, it was a business as well.'

Kim shows off the haul of designer shoes and clothes she used to be able to afford thanks to her life of crime. She would also splash out on plastic surgery and exotic holidays

Kim appears on the latest episode of On Benefits where she reveals she has to rely on handouts as she can't get a job that pays enough for the lifestyle she's used to

She said she misses being able to spoil her daughter by giving her all the latest fashions and gadgets.

She said: 'Being on benefits with a 15-year-old daughter is hard work. A lot of her friends come from well-to-do families and money is not a problem. Kids want to keep up with another with fashion and all that.

Being on benefits with a 15-year-old daughter is hard work. A lot of her friends come from well-to-do families and money is not a problem. Kids want to keep up with another with fashion and all that

'It is a bit awkward as I was getting her clobber, every week it was like Christmas for her.

'Before if she saw something she wanted she would have it. I would go and get her jeans, tops; she had the lot.'

But Kim hopes there is one career that could be lucrative for her - escorting.

She applied to join a 'high-end' escort agency as she believes she would be perfect for the role.

'All you are doing is escorting them to places; there is no sex involved, ' she explained.

'I just thought I like entertaining, I like to make people laugh and I can talk about a lot of things. It can't be that hard.'

The mother-of-six continues to support her teenager daughter and said it is difficult to give her the latest fashions now she doesn't shoplift

Kim says she needs 1,000 a month to cover all her costs including beauty treatments and her love of shopping for clothes and shoes

However, she was disappointed to find that that the agency she applied to was so 'classy' they wouldn't take her own due to her criminal record.

As previously reported by MailOnline, Kim says she first stole aged just nine, when she saw her single mother struggle to bring her up, as well as her eight siblings.

After she went unchallenged as she took a haul of groceries from a supermarket, she says she began stealing food and toys on a weekly basis.

At 14 she was expelled from school and despite two youth detention sentences she decided to make shoplifting her full-time job at 16, disguising herself with wigs or make-up to avoid being caught.

Out of work: Single mother-of-six Kim Farry, 54, pictured withdrawing her 250-a-week benefits, lives rent free in a flat in Fulham and says that only a job paying 36,000-a-year will do

Kim has tried applying for jobs as an escort as she thinks it will suit her and pay well

'I used to nick a load of stuff then go and have a cuppa with the security guards, that's how good I was.

'When I had been doing it for a few years I realised it was more about attitude than anything else. I could steal anything,' she said.

On one occasion she says she even managed to steal a cooker with the help of an accomplice and a van, but reportedly made much of her money by stealing from designer clothing shops and having other women return the items for vouchers or credit notes.

She then sold these on for half the price, but would also make money by shoplifting to order.

After she married in her 20s and started a family of her own, Ms Farry even trained up her three eldest children to help her once they turned 12, she told the newspaper.

She says she was stealing items worth as much as 7,000 a month, taking home nearly 50,000 a year after paying her accomplices.

But although Ms Farry said she turned to crime to support her family, it also caused the breakdown of her marriage and when she was sentenced to one of her jail terms her three eldest children were sent to live with her father.
A mother from Florida who thinks her seven-year-old daughter could be transgender has admitted she is 'terrified' of the negativity she could face if she is.

Vanessa Nichols, 39, said her daughter Lily has been 'non-gender conforming' since she was about three-and-a-half-years-old and claims she started showing earlier signs of being transgender when she was two.

The marketing sales worker and blogger told Daily Mail Online her daughter has demonstrated numerous 'markers' - including asking to be called by traditionally male names, wearing 'boys'' clothes and said she often gets mistaken for a boy.

Identity: Vanessa Nichols, 39, pictured left, said she thinks her seven-year-old daughter Lily, pictured right, could be transgender

Development: She said Lily, pictured left and right with her mother, has been 'non-gender conforming' since she was about three-and-a-half

At school, she said Lily, who is in second grade, has 'always gravitated towards boys' and has expressed a desire to be male.

Recently, she said Lily has started asking her about whether she can 'become a boy' through surgery or medicine.

The mother-of-one, who is divorced from Lily's father, said suicide rates among the transgender community and social attitudes make her fearful for her daughter's future.

Research shows that suicide rates among transgender people is much higher than among others.

A study by the Williams Institute found 41 per cent of transgender people attempt suicide during their lives compared to 4.6 per cent across the general population.

Explaining her worries, Vanessa said: 'With the suicide rates being so astronomical among transgender individuals. Second in line to that, going along side of that, is the way people treat her.

'As the mom of a young child you do anything and everything to protect her. Even if she's not transgender.

'Transgender is such a hot topic, it has cast such a divide. It's terrifying to think about what she will face if she is transgender. That's the scariest hurdle that as a mom you can face.'

Indicators? The marketing sales worker and blogger claims to have spotted numerous 'markers' that her daughter, pictured, could be transgender

'Terrifying': She said she fears the negativity her daughter, pictured left with Vanessa and right alone, could face if her prediction is true

Vanessa claims Lily 'carries herself in a masculine manner' and that they have stopped correcting people who mistake her for a boy.

Already she said they have experienced prejudice from people living in their hometown in south-west Florida and that people are 'judging me as a parent'.

Vanessa said: 'I've received questions like, "What did you do to make her like this?"...

'We've had support, from friends and family, but we've had friends distance themselves because they think we're pushing this.'

She added: 'I'm elated I get to parent her and that she's not conforming to what society expects. It's just been challenging to see the bigotry and discrimination that's gone along with it.'

Vanessa said she does not know for sure that Lily is transgender but thinks she has spotted behavioral evidence that she might be.

'It could be that she is not a typical girl however there are markers, I've done a ton of research, what really clued me in that it wasn't just preferring boys' clothes [was] for a long time she started asking me to call her a boy's name, she would constantly express "I want to be a boy" "I want to be a boy some day",' she said.

Although she said she is not 'labeling' her daughter transgender, she plans to arrange a meeting with a medical professional soon to seek advice on how to proceed.

Exploration: Vanessa, from southwest Florida, pictured with her ex-husband, Lily's father, and Lily, said her daughter has asked to be called by traditionally male names

Gender: Lily's mother said she wears 'boys'' clothes and gets mistaken for a boy

'At this juncture she's not depressed, I'm not labeling her transgender but in the privacy of our home she has said she wants to be a boy.

'She has said, "I wish I was born a boy". She always has wanted to cut her hair like a boy too,' she said.

Vanessa has also written about her concerns about her daughter's gender in an article entitled 'My Daughter Might Be Transgender And I Am Terrified' for parenting website Scary Mommy.

In the article, she admitted that she is 'sad' that her daughter is not a 'stereotypical girl' but that she loves and accepts her daughter's individuality.

She said she has decided to speak out on the subject in a bid to connect with other parents and to urge people to 'be kind, open your mind'.

'My hope is that it will be her generation that will normalize being transgender. And that by the time she is an adult this will no longer be a controversial subject.
Advertisement

As they walked towards the battleground, splatters of red stained the dirt.

Moving closer they saw a murky brown torrent trickle in to the gutter, and shivering people stained purple ran towards patches of early morning sun.

Welcome to La Batalla Del Vino, a Spanish Fiesta that sees more than 50,000 litres of red wine splashed uninhibitedly over the masses.

The adult version of an epic water fight was enough to lure New Zealand couple Bianca Brunschwiler and Brett Sweden out of bed and in to the hills of Basque Country, Spain.

Sharing their journey: New Zealand couple Bianca Brunschwiler and Brett Sweden document their travels on their Instagram and blog pages Kiwis Off Course (pictured in Cappadocia, Turkey)

Couple in Cuba: The duo have been travelling for nearly four years and credited Cuba as a highlight

Spanish fiesta: The couple attended the La Batalla Del Vino fiesta in the hills of Basque Country, Spain

When you reach the summit you find everyone dancing, shouting, soaking and being soaked, they wrote on their travel blog Kiwis Off Course.

Everyone is purple head to toe and despite the odd stray drop of wine collecting our eyeball, its good fun.

The festival was a highlight in what has been nearly four years spent abroad.

Speaking with Daily Mail from their hotel room in Nicaragua, travel bloggers Bianca and Brett spoke of their decision to pack up life back home and travel the world.

Smiles in Santorini: Both Bianca and Brett did some travelling as children and the experiences left them wanting more. Here they are pictured in Oia, Santorini

Travel bug: After university the couple made the decision to travel and moved to London for two and a half years. Here Bianca admires a mosaic in Utila, Honduras Central America

WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN London Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Germany Greece Hungary Italy Poland Portugal Romania Spain Switzerland Sweden Turkey Egypt Morocco Belize Cuba Guatemala Honduras Mexico

Advertisement

Growing up both Bianca and I were exposed to a small amount of travel, Brett said.

I think these experiences planted the wandering seed deeply in our DNA.

We get itchy feet if we dont have some trip to organise or look forward to. After university travel was our next logical step.

Since they left New Zealand the couple spent two and a half years living in London before travelling through countries in Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Their travels have taken them to the Egyptian pyramids, through the colourful fishing towns of the Amalfi coast and lost in translation in Cuba.

Cuba we enjoyed for different reasons, they said.

It was our first destination in Central America and first real experience of being in a place where nobody at all can speak our language.

To go with the complete disconnection from the Internet it was a big culture shock.

After a few days of not looking at our phones we fully appreciated the old school way of life.

Community and communication are big in Cuba and the colonial towns make it so easy to fall in lo

Wanderlust: Their travels have taken them them through Europe, Africa and Latin America. Here they are pictured in Antigua, Guatemala

Taking it all in: The couple said one of their favourite destinations was Cuba, where the complete disconnect from the Internet allowed them to appreciate the 'old school' way of life. Here they pose on the beach in Nicaragua

Breathtaking: The couple lived a frugal existence to save up for their trip, but have enjoyed sponsorship deals. Here they are in Switzerland

The couple fund their travels by living frugally, but have also been lucky to receive a number of sponsorship deals thanks to their successful blog and Instagram.

The small profits from these have been a great help in paying for various expensive excursions we would not usually have the money for, they said.

But travelling abroad has not always been easy.

Most recently Brett had his mobile phone stolen in Nicaragua, serving as a reminder to travel with insurance, keep your valuables close and back up your phone.

Travelling as a couple has also had its challenges.

Making it work: Travelling together has had its challenges, but both said there is no one else they would rather travel with. Here they explore an underwater cave system in Tulum, Mexico

Sharing all these magnificent experiences together is something we can fondly look back on in the future when we are old and grey, Brett said.

That said sometimes there will be friction.

Its important to work together and pull your own weight, keep everything in perspective - your travelling after all so take a good look around and take some time out every now and then, just have some me time to keep fresh.

Despite it all Brett and Bianca, who fondly refer to each other as B1 and B2, said there is no one else they would rather travel with.

This has been a real test on our relationship but this has also made us stronger and we know we are ready for any hurdles that will hit us in the future, they said.

Lasting love: This has been a real test on our relationship but this has also made us stronger and we know we are ready for any hurdles that will hit us in the future, they said. Bianca is pictured in Marrakesh, Morocco

Since they started travelling the couple have documented their enviable experiences on Instagram and a travel blog.

While they initially started the pages to keep in touch with family and friends, their online reach has grown to nearly 5,000 Instagram followers.

Now we have a lot of support from the Instagram community and travellers asking us questions about where to go and our recommendations at various destinations, Brett said.

They encouraged other travellers to learn everything they would about the countries they plan to travel to.

After all, knowledge is power.

Know your country: The couple advised other travellers to do their research to save time, money and hassle. Here they strip off in Cancun, Mexico

Road to Rio? Here the couple put themselves through their paces at the Ancient Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece

Learning about where you are traveling will save you lots of money, time, and hassle, they said.

It also helps you to have the direction to be independent and not miss out on something amazing because you simply didn't know about it.

Another hot tip is to learn to save, and live in the moment.

Enjoy the best part of your life with your own eyes, they said.

After finding your angle and snapping some great shots, it's time to take it in and simply enjoy being on the top of an ancient temple and not under an office desk.

Enjoy the moment: The couple advised others to embrace their travels, after taking the perfect photo of course

Currently the duo are travelling through Central America, making their way down to South America.

After nearly four years abroad they plan to return to New Zealand early next year, before packing their bags and jetting off again to Asia.

We are really looking forward to spending time with our families and hanging out in one of our favourite countries  New Zealand  no place like home after all, they said.

But it wont be long until we are off again chasing the summer sun in our Asia trip.
Frankly, I have never been a fan of religious dress and I am especially not keen on burkas and hijabs; I find it hard to communicate with a blank piece of cloth, and I like to see a person's smile.

I strongly suspect that these garments make it harder for immigrant communities to find acceptance in their adoptive countries and they certainly act as a barrier to integration.

I also think that sometimes  not always  they are used as an instrument of oppression by men within the communities from which the women hail.

Sarah Vine is feeling furious on behalf of the middle-aged Muslim woman pictured yesterday being forced to undress in front of policemen on a beach in Nice in the South of France

But none of that stopped me feeling furious on behalf of the middle-aged Muslim woman pictured yesterday being forced to undress in front of policemen on a beach in Nice in the South of France. It was, to put it bluntly, an outrage. The poor woman was not even in breach of the so-called 'burkini ban' imposed by authorities in 15 French regions since the beginning of the summer.

The ban made it illegal for women to wear swimwear that covers their whole body and, as such, is popular with Muslim women whose religion dictates that they dress modestly. In France, however, burkinis are said to 'ostentatiously show religious affiliation'.

The ban, sanctioned by French law, has been seen by many as an understandable, but totally over the top, knee-jerk reaction to the spate of atrocities carried out by religious fanatics across the Channel over the past 18 months.

The most recent was the Bastille Day massacre, in which 83 people were murdered as crazed Tunisian-born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed his lorry into crowds celebrating on Nice's seafront, a stone's throw from where the female Muslim was made to strip this week.

The funny thing is, the woman wasn't even wearing a burkini. Her outfit, conservative, admittedly, and certainly very different from the array of tiny bikinis gripping perilously to bronzed French flesh on the rest of the beach, was a completely inoffensive blue cotton shirt and black leggings teamed with a headscarf.

Indeed, it was the sort of thing any woman wanting to preserve her modesty (or indeed her skin) might wear on a hot summer's day by the seaside. And then four policemen, armed with guns and pepper sprays, descended on her, and ordered her to remove her shirt, or get off the beach.

Taking in the photograph, another even more sinister image popped into my mind. It took me a while to locate the memory in my brain, but there it was. Some of the most disturbing images I have ever seen in my life: photographs of Jewish women being forced to strip by armed, uniformed men during the anti-semitic pogroms in Eastern Europe in World War II.

Words cannot describe the pain in those women's eyes as their friends and neighbours, egged on by Nazi soldiers and sympathisers, revelled in their brutal humiliation, their total dehumanisation. They were left standing naked in the street, their anguish, mixed with surprise and incredulity, etched on their faces.

The ban made it illegal for women to wear swimwear that covers their whole body and, as such, is popular with Muslim women whose religion dictates that they dress modestly

The attacks got crueller and more widespread. On January 24, 1940, three Jews in the village of Zelechow, Poland, were stripped in freezing weather and had water poured over them, before being ordered to run around a telephone post for half an hour.

And here we are in 2016 witnessing an eerily similar scene: a lone, defenceless woman surrounded by armed, uniformed men being humiliated. Why? Because her religious faith was different to that of the men so ruthlessly bullying her.

It looked  felt  like this woman, in her cheesecloth blouse, was being singled out not because of who she was or something she had done but because she represented the terror that stalks France.

She wasn't just a middle-aged woman on a beach; she was an opportunity to exact some sort of price, however feeble, for the savagery inflicted on France by men who profess to act in the name of her faith.

It looked  felt  like this woman, in her cheesecloth blouse, was being singled out not because of who she was or something she had done but because she represented the terror that stalks France

You could see the confusion on her face as the policemen descended, as she snoozed on the beach, which runs past the Promenade des Anglais, scene of that lorry atrocity on July 14.

She looked utterly incredulous as they woke her and instructed her to undress. Meanwhile, the officers appeared unmoved, immovable, intransigent and cold.

They loomed over her, hands on hips, faces emotionless, weapons at the ready, as she sat on the pebbles, struggling to get the offending item of clothing over her head. No assistance was offered. One of the policemen even looked away, impatiently. The rest of the beach stared on.

No one offered her help. No one intervened. No one remonstrated with the men. A sea of tanned flesh seemed to be captivated by the distraction.

You could see the confusion on her face as the policemen descended, as she snoozed on the beach

The picture presents a deeply unsettling tableau which, unsurprisingly, has generated outrage around the world. Not just because the sheer dynamics of the scene  four men, one woman  are so distasteful, but because it is the most pointless and self-defeating of gestures.

France has suffered unbearable tragedy since the attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January 2015. The murderous actions of brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, who slaughtered the editor and staff at the satirical magazine, have been followed by ever more violent and shocking attacks.

The French people are understandably traumatised. They are also having to re-examine their relationship with their immigrant communities, from where these attacks seem to emerge without warning.

They want action. They want a government which steps up to the plate, leaders with the strength of character to take the necessary steps to quell the horror. Instead they have a clothing ban. At best it is gesture politics, at worst misguided revenge.

The picture presents a deeply unsettling tableau which, unsurprisingly, has generated outrage around the world

Because there can be no satisfaction in actions like these. Quite apart from the fact that they will simply create even more anger and division  what a terrifyingly effective recruiting poster for ISIS the images make  the police are targeting the wrong people.

As ever, innocent women are being forced to pay for the sins of men. Incapable of catching the real throat-cutters and maniacs, the police are instead reaching for the low-hanging fruit, desperate to punish someone, even if it is the wrong people entirely.

Let's face it, arresting and fining women (this is just one of several similar incidents reported on the beaches of the Mediterrenean) is not going to solve the problems created by terrorism.

Earlier the same day, a Muslim mother was threatened with a pepper spray and ordered off the beach in nearby Cannes, simply for wearing a headscarf.

Let's face it, arresting and fining women (this is just one of several similar incidents reported on the beaches of the Mediterrenean) is not going to solve the problems created by terrorism

Last week, ten women, including young mothers and grandmothers, became the first to be criminalised in the resort when they were fined the equivalent of 32 for breaching the ruling which reads: 'Access to beaches and for swimming is banned to anyone who does not have bathing apparel that respects good customs and secularism.'

All these received 'warnings' will now technically form part of their criminal records.

And what has been achieved? Fining someone for wearing the wrong type of bathing costume will not bring back the young people who died at the Bataclan theatre, or restore the life of the elderly priest who last month was slaughtered as he said Mass.

The terrorist cells hiding in Brussels will not see this picture and quake in their boots. They will not pack up their bombs and their hatred just because a woman has had to remove her shirt and hand over a fine.

What it will do, though, is tarnish the image of France as a liberal, progressive democracy renowned for its elegance and culture, the nation that gave us Coco Chanel and champagne.

It risks turning France and the French into a nation of bigots every bit as intolerant as the fanatics it, quite rightly, despises.

With this image, France has shown that the terrorists are winning. It is a picture of a sophisticated society succumbing to the same kind of twisted ideology and bigotry practised by its tormentors. Of a nation lashing out blindly in anger and pain and shooting itself in the foot.

France's need to do something  anything  to respond to the reign of terror inflicted upon its citizens in recent months is, of course, perfectly understandable.

But to undermine the very principles for which this great and beautiful country stands  liberte, egalite, fraternite  for such meagre gains is far too high a price to pay.

Every Western democracy must fight back against these forces of evil; but not at the cost of betraying their own values. Or worse still, allowing the intolerance that feeds terrorism to infect them.

Because there is a bitter irony here. So much of the horror and brutality perpetrated across the world by followers of Islamic State and their affiliates is carried out by men on women and girls. Rape, forced marriage, sex slavery  these are all tools that have been deployed with chilling effect on innocent women.

Meanwhile, hardline Islam imposes controls on women that we in the west, rightly, abhor. From the driving ban on Saudi Arabian women to the brutal punishments meted out under Sharia law, there can be no question that in certain parts of the Islamic world, women are treated as second class citizens.

Not so in Western Europe. A British Muslim woman has the same rights as any other, whether she be Christian, Hindu or Buddhist. True, she may be prevented from enjoying her freedoms by pressure from within her own community, but that is a different issue. The fact remains that, in the eyes of the law, they are the same.

Since this ruling, that is no longer the case for Muslim women in France. By definition they are the only ones likely to be wearing a burkini on the beach and therefore their rights are in question. Unless the police decide to go around arresting nuns in habits, this is undeniably the case.

It is this that is so disturbing about this incident. Because by forbidding Muslim women from wearing long clothes and cover-ups on the beaches of the Mediterranean, France is lowering itself to the level of misogynist Islamism.

Where else in the world do groups of armed men patrol the streets checking up on what women are wearing and punishing any perceived infractions? In hard-line Islamic countries, that is where. Places like Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and parts of Nigeria, where the 'mutaween', or Islamic Religious Police, continue to make women's lives a misery.
Advertisement

While many brides decide to wear a glamorous white number down the aisle, others prefer to go with something a little more dramatic.

And bridal and couture evening designer, Trish Peng, has taken the bold look to a whole new level with her eye-popping finale piece at New Zealand Fashion Week.

The 25-year-old designer, from Auckland, wowed the audience as her closing model donned an elaborate red custom gown with a record-breaking 20-metre-long silk tulle train - the longest train to ever appear on a catwalk.

Scroll down for video

French vintage lace and a 20-metre-long train: Bridal and couture evening designer, Trish Peng, has taken the elaborate wedding gown to a whole new level with her eye-popping finale piece at New Zealand Fashion Week on Sunday

Making a statement: The 25-year-old designer, from Auckland, wowed the audience as her closing model donned an elaborate red custom gown with a record-breaking 20-metre-long silk tulle train - the longest train to appear on a catwalk

Stunning: The vintage lace was embellished with hundreds of sparkling Swarovski crystals and a team of four spent 120 hours putting the elaborate creation together - the exclusive gown costing NZD $8,000 (AUD $7689)

A spokeswoman from Trish Peng told Daily Mail Australia that the incredible dress was made using Christian Dior lace flown from France.

The vintage lace was embellished with hundreds of sparkling Swarovski crystals and a team of four spent 120 hours putting the creation together - the exclusive gown costing NZD $8,000 (AUD $7689).

Ms Peng also collaborated with bridal accessories designer Anna Marguerite to create a beautiful gold head piece and feature shoulder-clasp.

Eye-popping: Ms Peng also collaborated with bridal accessories designer Anna Marguerite to create a beautiful gold head piece and feature shoulder-clasp

Here she comes: The model wore the piece at the New Zealand Weddings Magazine Show on the Flooring Foundation Runway at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland

New market: Ms Peng said her new collection was very 'va va voom' as she was catering to the American market ahead of her Los Angeles store opening

The model wore the piece at the New Zealand Weddings Magazine Show on the Flooring Foundation Runway at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

Speaking to TVNZ at Fashion Week, Ms Peng said her new collection was very 'va va voom' as she was catering to the American market ahead of her Los Angeles store opening.

'Americans love volume,' she said, adding that the Kiwi brides would love the embellishments but may not be a fan of the impractical (yet detachable) train.

Dramatic: 'It was a bit of "East meets West" for me because of my Chinese background,' Ms Peng said

Bold bride: 'Red is a sign of prosperity and good luck so it's a bit of that as well as making a statement for the grand finale piece,' she said

New Zealand Fashion Week opened on the 22nd of August and the closing show will be on Sunday, August 28th (pictured is Ms Peng)

She said she chose the colour red for dramatic effect and was inspired by her background.

'It was a bit of "East meets West" for me because of my Chinese background,' Ms Peng said.

'Red is a sign of prosperity and good luck so it's a bit of that as well as making a statement for the grand finale piece.'
The 89-year-old loved the experience and would do it all over again

She had make-up and hair professionally done, and wore a special dress

Ms Carney then accompanied Rochelle to her hen party and ceremony

However, she had never managed to until her granddaughter asked her

Maureen Carney, 89, from Ballina, had always wanted to be a bridesmaid

An 89-year-old woman, from Ballina in New South Wales, is testament to the fact that age is just a number, after she agreed to be a bridesmaid for her granddaughter, Rochelle.

Maureen Carney, who is the grandmother of ten and the great grandmother of six, had always wanted to be a bridesmaid, but she had never managed to walk down the aisle with a friend or relative.

And so when Rochelle asked her to be a part of her Big Day, Ms Carney jumped at the opportunity, accompanying her granddaughter to the church, the reception and even Rochelle's hen party.

Dream day: An 89-year-old woman from New South Wales, Maureen Carney, was the bridesmaid for her granddaughter, Rochelle - she had always dreamed (pictured)

'I had the best day, I wish we could do it all over again,' Ms Carney said.

Rochelle joked (or I thought she joked at the time) that when she got married I could be her bridesmaid. Me? An old bird! Silly!

'It was really a special day for both of us. I've always wanted to be a bridesmaid... I did ask to be a bridesmaid for my good friend one time, and only one time, but I never got to walk down the aisle as back then churches were separate.

'You see, my friend was Anglican and I was a Catholic, so I wasn't allowed to be a bridesmaid in the Anglican church.

'Rochelle joked (or I thought she joked at the time) that when she got married I could be her bridesmaid. Me? An old bird! Silly!'.

First timer: Not only did Maureen Carney accompany Rochelle to her Big Day (pictured), but she also took part in the hen party and had her hair and make-up professionally done

But Rochelle was, of course, being serious, and before she knew it, Maureen Carney's lifelong dream was coming true.

I went to the Hens Party! I don't drink alcohol, so Rochelle ordered me a mocktail

She was fitted for a dress, had her make-up and hair professionally done in advance of the church service, and before the big day - attended Rochelle's hen do.

'We went to the Mantra at Kingscliff and the girls went to the day spa, drank cocktails by the pool, and went out for dinner,' Ms Carney remembered fondly.

'I don't drink alcohol, so Rochelle ordered me a mocktail. We also played a game where everyone had to freeze in army poses every time the whistle was blown.

'Rochelle gave me the whistle, and I guess I was a bit cheeky, too.'

By the time the wedding day came around, Ms Carney was positively embracing all things bridal.

As well as having her hair and make-up done, the 89-year-old woman slipped into a gorgeous dress by the Australian e-tailer, White Runway. 'It was beautiful, it fit in with the girls but gave me my own signature dress - it's the best dress I've ever worn or owned,' Ms Carney said.

'My youngest son gushed all over the Internet [about it], and the family couldn't believe how my dress fit in so well with the other girls' dress colours but made me feel age appropriate and special.'

Confessing she was most excited by the dessert bar at the reception, thanks to her 'sweet tooth', Ms Carney said that overall she had a brilliant day.

'Lachlan [the groom's] dad, Bill, said I was a "spunk" in his speech,' she remembered.
A baby girl's christening became a real family affair when four generations turned up to celebrate.

Kovi Geiger, four months, was lucky enough to have a congregation of 50 witnessing her christening ceremony - guests included her two brothers, three of her grandparents, seven cousins and all eight great-grandparents.

Kovi's proud mum Sheena, 34, from Mackay, Qld, told Daily Mail Australia that her daughter was christened in the same white gown she herself had worn 34 years earlier.

Family legacy: Proud mum Sheena, pictured, said her daughter was christened in the gown she wore 34 years earlier

Happy occasion: Mrs Geiger's identical twin sister, Carli, was there for the big reunion

Mrs Geiger, a former teacher who has been married to husband Chris, 33, for more than 12 years, said it was a 'special' day.

'My family is a close family, I grew up with my cousins every day and they were among the family and friends at the christening,' she said. 'I always just try to get everyone together when I can.'

Mrs Geiger, whose heritage is Italian on her mother's side and Croatian on her father's, explained that during her own childhood, she had fond memories of eating spaghetti lunches at her grandad's.

She continued, 'I remember two of my great-grandparents very well. I'm trying to make sure my kids know theirs.'

Personal touch: Mrs Geiger said she wanted a personal ceremony after becoming disillusioned with the way some christenings are performed

Baby's big day: Kovi was lucky enough to have so many people attend her christening

Those who attended Saint Colman's Church in Home Hill, Qld, for the ceremony included Mrs Geiger's identical twin sister, Carli, along with older sister Renae, 38, and brother Casey, 31.

Also there were Mrs Geiger's parents Sandra and Littlejohn, plus Sandra's parents Olive and Gino and Littlejohn's mum and dad, Iris and Ubo.

At 92, Ubo is the oldest of the great-grandparents - most of whom are in their 80s - but Mrs Geiger explained he is as 'sharp as a tack' and on Facebook.

'My sister even got him a tablet when he moved into a home so he could stay on it,' she revealed.

So alike: Mrs Geiger said her twin sister Carli was among the christening guests

Generation gap: Iris and Ubo Kovacich with Wolfe, Kovi and Reon Geiger

Representing her husband's family was his mum Robyn and her parents Esme and Alan, and while his father Steven wasn't able to attend, his parents Thelma and Thomas were there.

Mrs Geiger, who is also mum to Wolfe, 11, and Reon, nine, said it was important for her kids to see their older relatives.

'There's a certain wisdom in the stories they tell,' she said, referring to a time before technology and travel was commonplace.

Big day: Alan and Esme Farmer with Wolfe, Reon and Kovi

'There's all sorts of really cool stories that only come from that older generation. A lot of kids would not know their grandparents, let alone their great-grandparents. It's a lost connection.'

Mrs Geiger described the christening as a 'happy reunion' and said it was a great excuse to get together.

She said she decided upon a personal ceremony after becoming disillusioned at the way some christenings were conducted - saying she thought that in some instances people were treated 'like cattle'.

Smiles all round: Cousin, Balin (front left) with Reon, great-grandma Olive Bonato, Wolfe, baby Kovi and great-grandfather Gino Bonato

Siblings together: Mrs Geiger, right, with her sisters Renae and Carli, and brother Casey

'It's supposed to be a special thing,' she went on.

Her daughter's day certainly was, with Mrs Geiger declaring that having around 40 family members in attendance 'must be some kind of record'.

'Afterwards, we went back to my parents' farm and Mum cooked up spaghetti and all sorts of things for lunch,' Mrs Geiger said.
Since returning from Rio, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has been attending an array of official events.

And it seems as though the 44-year-old royal has no plans to slow down, with the Princess out and about on Wednesday and attending an art exhibition.

The Australian-born royal showed off her summer tan and toned legs as she arrived at Denmark's Ordrupgaard Museum wearing a mint Prada dress and a pair of nude Prada heels.

Busy schedule: Since returning from Rio, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has been attending an array of official events... and on Wednesday, she opened an art exhibition

Stunning: The Australian-born royal showed off her summer tan and toned legs as she arrived at Denmark's Ordrupgaard Museum wearing a mint Prada dress and a pair of nude Prada heels

Elegant: She also wore a chic Miu Miu white lace floral coat to complete her look, which retails for approximately AUD $2,000

She also wore a chic Miu Miu white lace floral coat to complete her look, which retails for approximately AUD $2,000.

The Princess was in attendance for the opening of the Monet exhibition, Monet: Beyond Impressionism.

Princess Mary was all smiles and looked thoroughly intrigued by the pieces as she was given a tour by the museum's director, Anne-Birgitte Fonsmark, and a number of other staff members.

Quick tour: The Princess was in attendance for the opening of the Monet exhibition, Monet: Beyond Impressionism

Enjoying herself: Princess Mary was all smiles and looked thoroughly intrigued by the pieces as she was given a tour by the museum's director, Anne-Birgitte Fonsmark

The group perused the exhibition together and took time to look over a number of celebrated and iconic works which are on loan from prominent museums including The Metropolitan in New York and the National Gallery of Australia.

Mary was also seen standing alone at some points, taking in a number of Monet's iconic 'Haystack' paintings.

The Princess took part in the opening as it is the largest Monet exhibition to ever be held in Scandinavia.

Now open: After her tour, Princess Mary posed for snaps as she officially cut the ribbon to open the exhibition

Intrigued: The group perused the exhibition together and took time to look over a number of celebrated and iconic works which are on loan from prominent museums

After her tour, Princess Mary posed for snaps as she officially cut the ribbon to open the exhibition.

The pieces are usually seen only in major art cities such as Paris, New York and London.
Fashion Week is known for its head-turning designs and bold fashion statements.

And one designer took it further than most when he sent his models down the runway at New Zealand Fashion Week in statement face scarves.

Jarrad Godman, a boutique label, paired their monochrome designs with matching head wear that covered the models' eyes, making it hard to tell if they could even see their way down the catwalk.

Scroll down for video

Bold: New Zealand label Jarrad Godman made a statement on the runway at New Zealand Fashion Week

Black, white and red all over: The statement face scarves wrapped around the head like a stocking

All white: One model had a hole strategically placed over one eye so she could see

Photos show the models dressed in black, white and red designs.

Each outfit was paired with a matching face mask, made with the same fabric as the designs, that covered the head like a stocking and exploded on top in a flamboyant design.

But despite having their eyes covered, the models navigated the catwalk with apparent ease.

City chic: One model wore a boucle pantsuit over a bright red crop, her face covered with a red scarf

On trend: The designs themselves were in keeping with current trends with flared pants (left) and ribbon detailing

The Winter 2017 collection, called Sidewalk BsAs, was done by Jarrad Godman in collaboration with Servilles, according to Fashion NZ.

The designs themselves were in keeping with current trends: think flared pants and ribbon detailing.

But it was the gravity defying silhouette head scarfs that differentiated the label from the pack.

Following them down the runway were designs by the label Campbell Luke, who dressed one male model in a large wide-brimmed hat.

Statement piece: A model wore designs by Campbell Luke, and a large black hat, at Fashion Week

Feminine florals: Models showcase designs by Modes (left) and Alma Wong (right) on the runyway

Bold in beige: A model wore thick socks, an over-sized jumper and sheer under skirt by designer Lela Jacobs

Bold and bright: One model wore a soft blue jumpsuit by Penny Sage (left), while another stunned in a mustard jumpsuit by Kendall Watt (right)

Feminine pieces embellished with metallic hardware or florals were recurring themes on the way.

As were metallics.

One model wore a sequinned design by Hailwood with full-length sleeves and a plunging neckline.

Others wore chunky trench coats and masculine pantsuits that gave an edgy feel to office wear.

All that glitters: One model wore a sequinned design by Hailwood with full-length sleeves and a plunging neckline

Masculine feel: One model wore an over-sized trench coat by Motel Bible (left) while another wore a wide-leg pant with fitted blazer by Hailwood (right)

Bridal and couture evening designer, Trish Peng, made a statement, and broke a record, with her eye-popping finale piece.

The 25-year-old designer, from Auckland, wowed the audience as her closing model donned an elaborate red custom gown with a record-breaking 20-metre-long silk tulle train - the longest train to ever appear on a catwalk.

A spokeswoman from Trish Peng told Daily Mail Australia that the incredible dress was made using Christian Dior lace flown from France.

The vintage lace was embellished with hundreds of sparkling Swarovski crystals and a team of four spent 120 hours putting the creation together - the exclusive gown costing NZD $8,000 (AUD $7689).

Making history: Bridal and couture evening designer, Trish Peng, showcased an eye-popping red gown

Grand finale: The 25-year-old designer wowed the audience as her closing model donned an elaborate red custom gown with a record-breaking 20-metre-long silk tulle train
To dunk or not to dunk, that was the question dividing the nation after Great British Bake Off returned to our screens last night.

The furore was sparked by Paul Hollywood after the judge dunked a Jaffa cake into a cup of tea on the BBC One show - much to the disgust of Mary Berry.

The act - and Mary's reaction, scolding Paul saying: 'We don't do that in the south, you know' - left viewers divided, with thousands taking to social media to vent their fury or support for the 50-year-old.

Scroll down for video

The furore was sparked by Paul Hollywood after the judge dunked a Jaffa cake into a cup of tea on the BBC One show - much to the disgust of Mary Berry

Mary Berry's face gave her opinion away as she said: 'We don't do that in the south you know'

Twitter was alight with comments surrounding Paul's questionable decision to dunk the Jaffa cake - which the 12 new contestants were asked to make as their first technical challenge.

It also opened up the debate over whether a Jaffa cake is in fact a cake or a biscuit.

The answer, confirmed by HMRC (for tax purposes) is that Jaffa cakes are definitely cakes - not biscuits.

The HMRC ruled that Jaffa Cakes had enough characteristics of cakes to be accepted as such.

This didn't stop the comments though.

One viewer wrote: 'Paul Hollywood dunks his Jaffa cakes in tea. This is unacceptable. Just dunk a Digestive instead you savage.'

Another agreed, questioning: 'Who dips their Jaffa cakes in their tea?' with an emoji to sum up his disgust.

Referring to Mary's glare, another tweeted: 'Anyone who still believes that you should dunk your Jaffa cakes in tea should refer to Mary's disapproval.'

Others, however, jumped to Paul's defence.

One tweeted saying: 'I knew I wasn't the only one who dunks their Jaffa cakes into their tea!!'

Someone from down south agreed: 'Sorry Mary. Some of us do dunk Jaffa Cakes in our tea. Even in the South!'

The official Yorkshire Tea Twitter account even got involved in the action, tweeting: 'Do jaffa cakes dunk? YES THEY DO MARY BERRY.'

Others were unhappy with his decision, 'Anyone who still believes that you should dunk your Jaffa Cakes in tea should refer to Mary's disapproval'

The debate continued throughout the episode - which pulled in 11 million viewers - as others joined in and expressed their opinion.

'Ew' wrote one Twitter user, 'who dunks Jaffa cakes in tea' with several crying emoji faces.

Another made an important point, saying: 'It's cake week but Paul dunks it in his tea?!'

It was only a matter of time before t he British Bake Off official Twitter account even joined in, asking viewers: 'To dunk or not to dunk? Twitter, let us know how you feel!'

After 2,700 votes, the British Bake Off account sarcastically tweeted: 'Well, that's cleared that up then...'

Viewers were completely divided in their opinion and the results came to exactly 50/50.

Poll Would you dunk jaffa cakes into your cup of tea? Yes, of course! Ugh, no way! Would you dunk jaffa cakes into your cup of tea? Yes, of course! 816 votes

Ugh, no way! 2030 votes Now share your opinion





The debate continues.

Church minister Lee Banfield said he was disappointed at being the first person to leave the show.

The 67-year-old, who is also the oldest competitor in the seventh series, fell behind the other 11 bakers to become the first to exit the tent.

He admitted he was 'disappointed to be the first off' after his trio of bakes failed to impress judges Paul and Mary .

The bakers were asked to create drizzle cakes for the Signature bake and Jaffa cakes in the Technical challenge, before constructing a perfect genoise sponge with a mirror glaze for their final bakes, known as the Showstopper.

Jane Beedle, 61, was named the first Star Baker of the series, thanks to her impressive lemon and poppy seed drizzle cake, and chocolate and orange ganache-covered mirror glaze Showstopper.
Royal couple are patrons of their Heads Together mental health campaign along with Prince Harry

Advertisement

The Duke of Cambridge revealed the emotional impact of his job as an Air Ambulance pilot today as he said he was 'carrying too many things at the moment'.

In a visit to a charity which helps the parents of children suffering from mental health problems, he pleaded that he should be excused from hearing any distressing stories otherwise he would be 'in floods of tears'.

He admitted that his job with East Anglia Air Ambulance had brought him into the heart of some heart-breaking personal tragedies.

While the Duchess admitted that like any parents, they both 'face worries because we've got small young children'.

Scroll down for video

Kate listens in as one of the volunteers takes a call; one helpline worker, Saida Tahir told William about some of the harrowing tales she hears from parents who are desperate about their children's mental health, with fears that they may commit suicide

Prince William and Kate visited YoungMinds as it is one of the eight charity partners of Heads Together, a mental health campaign fronted by the couple and Prince Harry

During their visit William and Kate met volunteers who explained what happens when people call in to YoungMinds and who is at the end of the line offering advice

William also confessed that the exam season still has the power to remind him of the anxieties he felt as he waited for his own GCSE results 18 years ago.

'It still gives me the heebie-jeebies,' he said.

The prince's astonishingly candid discussion of his own emotional state came during a visit by him and his wife Kate to the helpline for parents run in London by the charity YoungMinds, part of the couple's Heads Together campaign.

As the couple prepared to listen in to live calls from adults concerned about children's mental welfare, William said: 'Can I have an easy one please? I'm carrying a lot of things at the moment. I will be in floods of tears at the end otherwise.

'I've had too many sad families with the Air Ambulance. I can't deal with any more stuff. Just maybe at the lower level, if I can.'

He added: 'I'm steeling myself the best I can.'

Kate listened intently as YoungMinds' volunteer Debrina took a call; the charity offers support to adults worried about the emotional or mental health of a child

The Duchess smiles as she leaves the session in which she and William learned about desperate parents are helped by trained volunteers. She also admitted that she's like any parent in feeling fearful about her children's future happiness

William has been a part-time helicopter pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) since July 2015, having previously served with RAF search and rescue. He donates his salary in full to charity.

Although the remarks were made in a jocular fashion, they confirmed that the duke has a more sensitive nature than is sometimes supposed.

Yesterday he had an emotional conversation at a hospice in Luton with a teenage boy who had lost his mother. William did his best to comfort the boy, and told him how he still misses his own mother every day.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a training session to get a taster of the training that the YoungMind volunteers undergo to prepare them to answer calls on the helpline

Kate talked to volunteers as she got a taster of what it takes to be a volunteer at YoungMinds in London today

The YoungMinds visit began with a meeting with the volunteers who man the helplines. One, Saida Tahir, told him it was a busy time for self-harm because many teenagers were affected by their exam results.

Recalling his own exam worries, William said: 'It still gives me the heebie-jeebies. I still get sweaty thinking about it.'

The couple heard harrowing tales of parents who had contacted the helpline, including one of a mother whose son had been mugged of his mobile phone when he was 13. He became too anxious to leave the home, and when he was 17 his anxiety levels 'went through the roof'.

His mother told the helpline: 'He was so distressed he was determined to end his life. He told us this quite blatantly.

During her visit Kate told the charity's chief executive Sarah Brennan: 'William and I found it absolutely fascinating, from hearing the case study and also taking the calls'

Kate looked glamorous and relaxed as she donned the 225 LK Bennett dress and a pair of nude 425 heels on the low key visit to the charity, after a busy day of engagements in Luton on Wednesday

After listening to live calls, the duchess told one of the volunteers that 'she could tell from the caller's voice, the emotion at the beginning, and then the acceptance - 'OK, this is what I need to do' - to relief towards the end. 'OK, I've been listened to, I know what my next steps are'

The royals' low key visit included a meeting with the charity workers before they went and hit the phones

'My husband spent weeks sleeping in the hall so our son could not escape from the house at night and head for the bridge.'

They contacted the helpline, and the situation later improved by the simple expedient of buying the boy a dog, which gave him something else to focus on.

Mrs Tahir, 46, a special needs teacher from Hampton who started volunteering after a family member was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, said: 'It's GCSE results day today, A level results last week, so we were prepared [for] lots of anxiety levels.

'This brings memories back, [William] was saying, of his own exams - which is great, because he remembers what it was like for himself, and the anxiety that he went through.'

She said sometimes volunteers got emotional during the helpline conversations. 'William was saying the same thing. He was saying, 'How do you keep your own emotions out of it? How do you keep your own story out of it?'

Volunteer Debrina sits next to William, who admitted during his visit that even talk of exam season brings him out in a sweat

The couple listen intently at the charity offices where William admitted that he 'carries' difficult emotions from his job at the Air Ambulance and than he was in danger of being moved to tears by a particularly moving story

'It's very difficult not to jump in and say, 'Oh gosh, I've been through that.' But you can still bring your experience in and say, 'Have you thought about this?' And also validating their feelings by saying, 'It's OK for you to feel angry. You're only human. Don't feel guilty. Don't feel you have to be this perfect parent.'

She said that after the couple listened to live calls, the duchess said 'she could tell from the caller's voice, the emotion at the beginning, and then the acceptance - 'OK, this is what I need to do' - to relief towards the end. 'OK, I've been listened to, I know what my next steps are.'

Their visit was meant to have been a secret one, but the Duchess of Cambridge stood out from the crowd as she arrived at a charity headquarters in a stunning red LK Bennett dress.

The Duchess showed off her impeccable style sense, and her toned physique, in the chic dress accessorised with nude court heels and a matching box clutch

Kate and her husband, Prince William, made the low-key, unannounced visit to YoungMinds as it's one of the eight charity partners of Heads Together, a campaign fronted by William, Kate and Prince Harry to break the stigma that still exists around the issue.

Afterwards William said: 'I found it very eye-opening. I thought the service was fantastic. I think the idea that you've got these very caring, lovely people on the end of the phone who listen for as long as they need to, to build the picture of what is going on, and then provide extremely good advice - and then the fact that you've got the mental health professionals later down the line if necessary.

'I think that is a really good balance of getting the right support straight to these families who are clearly at their wits' end at what to do, and reaching out. Thank goodness they do reach out to something like this. I think it is fantastic.'

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William made a low-key, unannounced visit to a helpline service run by the charity YoungMinds in London today

The duchess told chief executive Sarah Brennan: 'William and I found it absolutely fascinating, from hearing the case study and also taking the calls.'

She said the types of calls were so varied - 'what their worries are, their concerns'. She added: 'What we've taken away is just how normal it is. We are parents ourselves, I am sure we will face worries - we do face worries, because we've got small young children. If those worries escalate, how vital it is to get support - and you are providing that support.'

She added: 'As a parent and as a mother, having that feeling that there is somebody there that is non-judgemental, that can provide the professional support, and that can really provide helping hand at a really difficult time.'

Both Kate and William donned headphones to listen in on the harrowing calls received by the charity on a daily basis

The Duchess told CEO Sarah Brennan: 'We are parents ourselves, I am sure we will face worries - we do face worries, because we've got small young children'

William added: 'It is important that parents understand that you can't be brilliant at everything. It is totally fine to talk about it and to seek help and to speak out, because we're not all superheroes.

'There is a lot of pressure on parents, and most of it is self-made by parents themselves, where you feel you have to be able to handle everything. You have to show strength and resilience to everything. But there are some times when it all gets too much and you need to reach out, and that's totally fine.'

The Duke and Duchess had hoped to keep their visit secret until afterwards, said an aide, for the comfort of both the people who might be calling in to the helpline and the people who work there.

But word soon leaked out that they were at the south London venue  and Kate wasn't difficult to spot in her red LK Bennett Eugenia skirted dress, reduced in the sale from 225 to 95 but currently out of stock.

The couple planned a low key visit today

It is the second day running she has worn the upmarket High Street brand, re-wearing a pretty blue and white floral dress from the label on a visit to Luton yesterday.

During their visit, the couple, who undertook their first UK engagements yesterday for a month, met some of the volunteers who answer those calls to find out more about what motivated them to get involved and how they find their experience of volunteering.

They then got a taster of the training that each of these volunteers undergo to prepare them to answer calls on the helpline.

All volunteers are trained to listen and to talk to parents, ask the right questions to find out what is worrying them and to help them understand their child's behaviour.

They also learn how to help to signpost what practical next steps are available, including directing to the appropriate local or national services.

Prince William teamed his khaki trousers with the same brown shoes he donned yesterday but today he opted for a blue jacket over an open-necked white shirt

'The Duke and Duchess's brief introduction to this training will help them to gain a better understanding of what callers will experience if they contact the helpline,' a spokesman said.

They added: 'This visit is an opportunity to dispel some of the myths surrounding helplines by profiling the kind of people who will be at the end of the line as well as well as the types of questions and responses people can expect if they call.

'Through the Heads Together campaign, Their Royal Highnesses are keen to build on the great work that is already taking place across the country, to ensure that people feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing, feel able to support their friends and families through difficult times, and that stigma no longer prevents people getting help they need.'

The Duchess is spotted arriving for the visit to YoungMinds with Prince William in London today. During their visit, the couple, who undertook their first UK engagements yesterday for a month, met volunteers who answer the helpline calls

Through the Heads Together campaign, Their Royal Highnesses are keen to build on the great work that is already taking place across the country, to ensure that people feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing, feel able to support their friends and families through difficult times, and that stigma no longer prevents people getting help they need.'

YoungMinds tweeted after the visit, 'We're delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came to visit our Parents' Helpline today to learn more about the work we do!'

Heads Together also tweeted: 'To see what happens when ppl reach out for support The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge visited the @YoungMinds ParentLine.'
Any mom knows that often it seems that there are simply not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

And now, a survey has revealed just how much moms are able to accomplish on a daily basis - and it's just as impressive as you might think.

According to the poll of 1,000 moms across the country, American mothers do an incredible 33 tasks a day  11 before they even leave the house in the morning.

Wiped out: A new survey of American moms reveals that the average mother makes 40 decisions a day and completes 33 tasks

The study explored the non-stop nature of their lives and the sacrifices they make to keep family life running smoothly - all on less than six hours of sleep, on average.

Results showed moms are often the head of the American household, making an average of 40 decisions a day for both her children and her partner - nearly 300 decisions each and every week - to keep family life ticking over.

And these decision-making machines also need the patience of a saint, as theyll spend nearly three hours a week in negotiations with their children  with combating general whining, handling bedtime and defusing tantrums among the most common difficult patches.

The survey of 1,000 mothers of school-aged children - conducted by Vans Foods - examined modern mom parenting culture and found heroic moms are doing all of this on an average of less than five and a half hours sleep each night.

No surprises then that they have to take shortcuts  six in ten never make their bed, and one in three say theyre moving too fast to even look in the mirror before they fly out of the door.

Nearly a third describe their typical morning as chaos and one in six say its overwhelming, with less than a tenth of those polled feeling relaxed in the mornings.

Over two-thirds said theyve forgotten about trying to carve out alone time, while six in ten said theyve stopped trying to have perfect hair or makeup because its just not feasible.

In fact, as many as 40 percent of the 1,000 moms polled said they sometimes drive the kids to school while still in pajamas when they havent had time to get ready themselves.

Sleeping in is a distant dream for 83 percent of modern moms, while long showers  or even simply alone time in the bathroom  is rare for more than half the moms polled.

'Moms have so much to worry about so many decisions each day and have so many people to please,' said Director of Vans Foods Innovation, Patricia Luczak.

TOP 5 THINGS MOMS MISS 1. Lie-ins 2. Alone time 3. Having perfect hair/makeup 4. Hobbies 5. Gym/yoga time Advertisement

'We know how challenging mornings can be for moms.'

Its no surprise that sometimes moms give into things that they know they probably shouldnt in order to have an easier life  67 percent have bribed their child with a treat, while seven in ten have let their little one stay up way later than they should.
They have nice homes, cars and Sky TV. And with an enviable household income of more than 50,000 a year  the average UK salary is 26,500  why not? But according to a survey, a third of middle-class families would not be able to pay an unexpected bill of 500, while 31 per cent said theyd be left in debt. So where does the money go? Here, four families explain why theyre so broke at the end of every month. . .

WEVE HAD NO TRIPS ABROAD SINCE 2012

Michelle Taylor, 35, is a researcher for a digital agency, earning 22,800 a year, and lives in Lightwater, Surrey, with husband Alex, 40, head of testing for a digital agency, who earns 35,000. They have two daughters Amelie, five, and Amber, 18 months, and a two-week-old son, Deacon.

Counting the pennies: Alex and Michelle have a joint income of 57,800 but overspend by 615 each month

GROSS JOINT YEARLY INCOME: 57,800

TOTAL JOINT MONTHLY TAKE HOME INCOME: 3,449 (Michelle 1,381 and Alex 2,068).

OTHER INCOME: child benefit 192 a month.

TOTAL MONTHLY TAKE HOME: 3,641.

MONTHLY OUTGOINGS

MORTGAGE: 500 on their four-bedroom end-of-terrace home.

CHILDCARE: 975 on childminder.

UTILITY BILLS (including gas, electric, home phone, mobile phones, broadband, insurance and council tax): 1,180.

CAR COSTS (inc. petrol, tax and insurance): 600 for Mini Countryman and Kia Sportage.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 100.

GROCERIES: 500.

Alex and Michelle spend 500 on the mortgage for their four-bedroom end of terrace home. They also spend 1,180 on utility bills

CLOTHES: 0 unless the kids need something. Try to buy secondhand on eBay or get hand-me-downs from family.

CLUBS/GYM MEMBERSHIP/SWIMMING: 90 (40 for Alexs gym membership, 50 a month on yoga classes for Michelle).

GOING OUT/TAKEAWAYS: None.

HOLIDAYS: None.

PETS: 20 a month on a guinea pig.

HAIR: 33 for Michelle (100 every three months). 8 a month for Alex.

CREDIT CARD REPAYMENT: 250.

TOTAL: 4,256.

MONEY LEFT OVER EACH MONTH: 615 OVERPSEND

Michelle says: When our boiler went kaput earlier this year we had to pay for the 1,500 replacement on our credit card because, despite our seemingly healthy incomes, we have no savings, no pensions, 10,000 of credit card debt and are constantly down to our last penny.

No savings: Alex and Michelle say that despite their seemingly healthy incomes and working hard they are constantly down to their last penny every month

I work really hard, and am neither extravagant nor wasteful, yet I have nothing to my name at the end of each month. I cant even justify a new pair of tights. How can that be right?

Alex and I havent had a date night since our wedding anniversary last September nor a foreign holiday since 2012. Holidays now are visits to see Alexs family in Devon.

I log all our income and outgoings on a spreadsheet and spent an entire day recently contacting energy and insurance providers to find more competitive rates.

My parents have helped: Dad with the deposit on our first flat and Mum with childcare, two days a week, when Amelie was born.

But Mum fell ill while I was on maternity leave with Amber and we are now reliant on childcare  three days a week with a childminder, who charges 5.50 an hour  for Amber while Im at work, and two days before and after school for Amelie.

Alex works from home on the third day so he can do the school run and save a little money.

Now Im on maternity leave for a third time, we are frantically searching for more ways to save. This baby was unplanned and, though wonderful, is adding to our financial pressures. I will return to work three days a week when Deacon is nine months old, at which point childcare costs will double. Im training as a yoga teacher to top up my income. But I refuse to compromise on buying good-quality food, including meat from the local butcher, plus fresh fruit and veg as its important that we eat healthily.

Financially, it doesnt make a lot of sense for me to be working, but I wish to be a good role model to my children and dont want Alex to shoulder all the burden.

He doesnt show stress, but I think he must feel the pressure of being the main breadwinner for a growing family at a time when the cost of living is rising faster than salaries.

Our priority is to keep surviving  and try not to build up more debt.

OUR OLD HOUSE EATS MONEY

Lisa Sherwood, 38, and husband Gavin Smith, 42, live in Bromley, Kent, with their sons James, four, and Joseph, two. Lisa is a legal clerk who earns 34,000 a year and Gavin is a tutor at a training centre, on a salary of 22,000.

Last few pounds: Lisa and Gavin, pictured with sons James and Joseph, have just 4 left every month despite a joint monthly take home income of 3,400

GROSS JOINT YEARLY INCOME: 56,000

JOINT MONTHLY TAKE HOME: 3,400. (Lisa 1,850 and Gavin 1,550).

OTHER INCOME: 137 a month for child benefit.

TOTAL MONTHLY TAKE HOME: 3,537.

MONTHLY OUTGOINGS

MORTGAGE: 929 on a three- bedroom terrace house.

CHILDCARE: 1,200.

UTILITY BILLS: 334.

CAR COSTS: 65 on a Ford Fusion.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Train, 140 a month to commute to London.

GROCERIES: 350.

CLOTHES: 50.

SWIMMING LESSONS (for James): 18 a month.

GOING OUT/TAKEAWAYS: 100.

HOLIDAYS: 83 (average based on 1,000 a year).

CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAYS: 54 (average based on 650 a year).

PETS: None.

HAIR/BEAUTY: 10.

CREDIT CARD REPAYMENT: 200 (balance now stands at 500 on a debt of 3,000 which was used to pay for double glazing two years ago).

TOTAL: 3,533.

MONEY LEFT OVER EACH MONTH: 4

Childcare is a big drain for Lisa and Gavin with more than a third of their earnings going on paying a childminder 11 an hour

Lisa says: A household income of 56,000 a year puts us among the UKs higher earners, yet always were down to our few pounds at the end of the month, if were lucky.

Childcare is the big drain: more than a third of our earnings goes on paying our childminder 11 an hour to look after the boys three days a week  Gavin and I cover the other two days.

Were very lucky to have a three-bedroom terrace, bought for 260,000 in 2009 before prices rocketed, but we still owe 165,000 on the mortgage.

Its an old Victorian house that constantly needs work. Earlier this year we had to fork out 1,000 to have a crack on the outside of the property repaired and the gutters cleaned because rainwater kept dripping into the house.

We save as much as we can on groceries by cooking most of our meals from scratch. I deliberately shop in Tesco at the end of the day, when I know they knock down prices. I buy frozen fruit and veg, and bake my own cakes and biscuits.Days out can be prohibitively expensive, yet we really love spending time in the open air as a family. Ive just invested in National Trust membership, which means its free to visit any of NT parks and sites.

We always dread the MoT coming round; our 2003 Ford Fusion is long past its best, but we cannot afford to replace it.

We do everything in our power not to go overdrawn. Hopefully, things will be more manageable when both boys are at school  James starts in September  but well still need after school childcare until one of us gets home from work.

Our one indulgence is a night out each month. We go separately with friends because we cant afford to pay a babysitter on top, and buy an occasional takeaway as a treat.

My fathers friend has a villa in Spain, and my dad pays for our flights out there most years, and Gavins parents have a caravan in Whitstable, otherwise we wouldnt be able to afford holidays.

We bring in almost 60,000 a year  why is life still such a struggle?

WE BORROW FROM RELATIVES

Rhiannon Stevens, 34 and Craig Harding, 34, live in Brentwood, Essex with twins Jack and Amelia, eight, and 18 month-old Phoebe. Rhiannon is an advertising company media manager earning 39,000 a year while Craig is a resourcing manager for a carpet company on 26,000.

Craig and Rhiannon say it is humiliating that they have to go to their parents for money despite being hard-working, professional people

GROSS JOINT YEARLY INCOME: 65,000

JOINT MONTHLY TAKE HOME: 3,400 (Rhiannon, 1,900 and Craig, 1,500).

OTHER INCOME: 190 monthly Child Benefit.

TOTAL: 3,590.

MONTHLY OUTGOINGS

RENT: 1,000 for a three-bedroom terrace.

CHILDCARE: 400.

UTILITY BILLS: 550.

CAR COSTS: 370 for a Citroen Picasso and Renault Megane.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 190 for a rail season ticket.

GROCERIES: 250.

CLOTHES: 60.

The couple's mortgage totals 1,000 for a three-bed terrace while groceries cost 250 and their cars account for 370

CLUBS/GYM MEMBERSHIP: 51.

CHILDRENS SAVING ACCOUNT: 60.

AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB: 100

GOING OUT/TAKEAWAYS: 65.

HOLIDAYS: 150 spending money (accommodation free).

CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAYS: 250.

PETS: 20 on a rabbit.

HAIR/BEAUTY: 30.

CREDIT CARDS: None.

TOTAL: 3,546.

MONEY LEFT OVER EACH MONTH: 44

Rhiannon says: When you hear the figure 65,000 as a household income, youd expect us to have a really nice lifestyle, with expensive holidays and shopping trips, but the truth is, Craig and I live in a constant state of nerves, dreading the arrival of an unexpected bill.

We have no savings, apart from the 20 each a month I put away for the children. When emergencies strike, we have to borrow money from our families. For hard-working, professional people in our 30s, going cap-in-hand to our parents is nothing short of humiliating.

Constant state of nerves: Rhiannon and Craig say they fear an unexpected bill

The nursery fees for the twins, at 1,000, were crippling enough, but then Phoebe came along. She was a surprise baby, and while there was no question of not having her, its been an added cost that we simply didnt foresee. We hadnt kept any of the baby things from our first two children so weve had to buy everything again.

Yet, ironically, we are deemed too wealthy to qualify for child credit.

We rent a three-bed terrace which is very old-fashioned. Wed love to own our own home but its not a realistic option. It also makes us feel vulnerable because the landlords could sell at any time. The twins have already moved four times.

Some people might wonder why we need two cars, but theyre essential for us to be able to get to work and nursery.

We have a few luxuries: we justify our 100-a-month Sky TV package, as we rarely go out to watch films. Also, my gym membership is the only thing I have thats truly mine and I use it every day.

I rarely buy myself clothes, and I go for months without having my hair cut. We havent had a holiday abroad for eight years, but will stay for free at my mothers caravan in Walton on the Naze, Essex. I take in a packed lunch to work and rarely treat myself to a coffee.

With the childrens clothes, I never take them shopping because I want to avoid pester power.

Instead, Ill order essentials from a catalogue and spread the cost over time. Were by no means on the poverty line, and I know Im lucky to have a healthy, happy family. But really, there should be more rewards for working this hard.

I BUY CLOTHES IN SUPERMARKETS

Susan Harrison, 48, works 28 hours a week as a hospice admin assistant, and earns 14,000. Husband Gordon is 43 and a community psychiatric nurse, earning 37,000. They have two children, George, eight, and Leah, seven, and live in Glasgow.

Susan, pictured with her husband Gordon and children George and Leah, said she dreamed of retiring at 60 but expects she will still be paying off the mortgage

GROSS JOINT YEARLY INCOME: 51,000

JOINT MONTHLY TAKE HOME: 3,250 (Gordon, 2,200 and Susan, 1,050.)

MONTHLY OUTGOINGS

MORTGAGE: 570.

CHILDRENS CLUBS: 132.

UTILITY BILLS: 452.

CAR COSTS: 495 for a Ford Fiesta and a Nissan Micra.

GROCERIES: 664.

CLOTHES: 100.

HOLIDAYS: 100, plus 100 towards a future trip to Florida.

CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAYS: 100.

FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET: 50.

GOING OUT (mainly weddings): 300.

PETS: None.

HAIR/BEAUTY: 20.

CREDIT CARDS: None.

TOTAL: 3,083.

MONEY LEFT OVER EACH MONTH: 167

Susan says food is the family's biggest expense but they consider themselves lucky if they get through a month without an unexpected bill

Susan says: If we get through each month without the car breaking down or the roof springing a leak we consider ourselves lucky. The money isnt there to pay for them, which seems ridiculous when you look at how much we earn.

We bought our three-bed bungalow 11 years ago for 150,000 using the money from the sale of the flats we each owned before we wed, which keeps the mortgage payments low.

Our biggest expense is food. I like to cook healthy meals from scratch, but fresh produce is so expensive. I buy frozen vegetables nowadays, and I cant remember the last time we had steak or lamb.

I used to love buying clothes from High Street stores like Next. I wonder what that old me would think now, watching me buying outfits at the supermarket  literally piling them on top of the sell-by date bread and dented beans.

Likewise, the children get a new set of summer and winter clothes each year  and thats it. Our social life is limited and we rarely go out to pubs or restaurants.

As well as our regular spending, one huge expense for us recently has been weddings. Weve had at least five close family weddings recently. Once weve bought presents, outfits, accommodation and travel it really adds up.

Holidays are in the UK. This year we have hired a house in Devon for two weeks. We are banking on good weather  picnics on the beach are so much cheaper!

We decided two years ago to start a savings account to save 6,000 for a holiday in Florida and are hoping to go in 2018. Anything we buy we save up for, but we did have to take out a car loan recently to replace my 13-year-old Polo.

I have a banking app on my phone and try to keep a track of the balance, but once the money is gone, its gone and we have to wait for the next month.

Years ago, I used to dream of retiring at 60. The way things are going, Ill probably still be slogging to pay off the mortgage.
There were two things getting GBBO viewers hot under the collar last night: contestant Selasi Gbormittah, and the hilarious innuendos.

The Ghanaian-born baker, who moved to the UK 15 years ago, stole viewers' hearts with his cheeky smile and impressive cakes, sending more than a few Bake Off into a frenzy on social media.

The 30-year-old's relaxed demeanor on the BBC One show - which pulled in 11 million viewers - earned him the crown of this series' heartthrob, or 'the new Tamal' as some fans tweeted.

Scroll down for video

One viewer tweeted her appreciation of Selasi - pictured above - writing: 'I'd have a slice of Selasi's cake. AMIRITE GALS? #GBBO

Selasi's relaxed demeanor sealed the deal for fans, who liked his 'I don't understand it, I'm just baking it' approach

Even presenter Mel Giedroyc couldn't resist the City banker's charms, giggling at one of his jokes.

And his relaxed demeanor sealed the deal for fans, who liked his 'I don't understand it, I'm just baking it' approach.

By the end of the episode, there was outrage that fellow contestant Jane Beedle pipped him to the post for star baker.

By the end of the episode, there was outrage that fellow contestant Jane Beedle pipped him to the post for star baker

Even presenter Mel Giedroyc couldn't resist banking worker Selasi's charms, giggling at one of his jokes on last night's show, above

Soul_of_twit tweeted her appreciation and wrote: 'I'd have a slice of Selasi's cake. AMIRITE GALS? #GBBO.'

And BB created a meme of Selasi's face with the text reading: 'MY CUPCAKES BRING ALL THE BOYS TO THE YARD.'

Emma NuclearTeeth noticed how even the show's contestants had felt the Selasi effect.

'Literally everyone goes all giggly and flirty next to Selasi. I would go giggly next to Selasi #GBBO,' she tweeted.

The Ghanaian-born baker, who moved to the UK 15 years ago and works in finanical services, stole viewers' hearts with his cheeky smile and impressive cakes, sending more than a few Bake Off into a frenzy on social media

@rachbaer was one of several who felt that Selasi should have got star baker over Jane, while @_suraiya might have competition to be Selasi's 'number 1 fan'

The Bake Off hunk won over viewers on last night show - with many saying he should have won Star Baker

Selasi lives in London with his girlfriend, and is active on Twitter and Instagram, often posting pictures of his impressive bakes.

One enormous chocolate cake covered in pieces of chocolate, waffle, chocolate eggs and wafers was made for a lucky friend's birthday.

He wrote on Instagram: 'Happy Birthday to the one and ONLY! The only dude that will make us believe he was born in the 80s.

'Dude has lived for over 5 decades and still in his 30s. Someone needs to call immigration! Mad love for @zenos247 HBAY! All your favourite chocolates in one cake.'

One enormous chocolate cake pictured on Selasi's Instagram that's covered in pieces of chocolate, waffle, chocolate eggs and wafers was made for a lucky friend's birthday

When Selasi's not working in the City, he's baking for charity cake sales and fundraising.

He recently ran a 10k race, a half marathon and trekked through Milawi.

As we saw in the first GBBO episode, Selasi is also a keen biker and even has his own Sunday Motorcycle Club.

Selasi is also a keen biker and even has his own Sunday Motorcycle Club

Selasi is active on Twitter and Instagram, often posting pictures of his impressive bakes. He tweeted before the start of the show last night: '#GBBO!!! On you mark, get set, BAKE!!! Meet the BAKERS WOOHOO'

He tweeted before the start of the show last night: '#GBBO!!! On you mark, get set, BAKE!!! Meet the BAKERS WOOHOO'.

Jonathan Hatfull was one of Selasi's many admirers.

He wrote on Twitter: 'The only way Selasi could be any more awesome is if it turned out that he'd wandered into the tent by mistake and rolled with it. #GBBO'.

He later added: 'I really hope Selasi's motorbike is in the tent and he rides it out at the end of the show. #GBBO.'

When he's not working in the City, he's baking for charity cake sales and fundraising, and recently ran 10k and a half marathon

Jonathan Hatfull was one of Selasi's many admirers, writing on Twitter: 'The only way Selasi could be any more awesome is if it turned out that he'd wandered into the tent by mistake and rolled with it. #GBBO'

Meanwhile Sarah Walker joked that it seemed like 'everyone in the bloody world' fancies the 30-year-old.

She wrote on Twitter: 'Paul fancies Selasi. Everyone in that tent fancies Selasi. Everyone in the bloody world fancies Selasi. #GBBO.'

Elf was another social media user who was a huge Selasi fan.

She wrote: 'I need someone to look at me the way selasi just looked at his glazed masterpiece.'

Selasi attracted a lot of attention on social media last night, with The Vile Sam White suggesting the Ghanaian-born financial worker should be the next James Bond. Meanwhile Sarah Walker joked that 'everyone in the bloody world' fancies the 30-year-old - but he has a girlfriend who he lives with

And The Vile Sam White suggested: 'Selasi should be the new James Bond.'

Rachbear was one of several who felt that Selasi should have got star baker over Jane.

She wrote: 'Still reelin that Jane got star baker instead of Selaso #gbbo.'

And 'S' wrote: 'I am already Selasi's number 1 fan' - but she might face some competition there.

Philip Copley suggested Selasi for Prime Minister.

'Get Selasi as PM, he'll sort out this deflated souffle of a country, without even trying, or knowing how, or why,' he wrote.

Mel Giedroyc kicked off innuendo bingo by purring the word moist as she was telling contestants about the drizzle challenge, while Sue told contestants: 'You've got two hours to achieve ultimate moistness'

But Selasi's smile wasn't the only thing grabbing viewers' attention last night.

Barely three minutes into the first episode of the new series of Great British Bake Off and Bake Off fans already had their first innuendo.

Presenter Mel Giedroyc kicked things off by purring the word moist when giving contestants their first Cake Week challenge: a drizzle cake.

But there were plenty more to come in the first episode of series seven, sending social media into meltdown.

Mel took great satisfaction in telling contestants their drizzle cakes had to be 'moist' for the first challenge, and Sue Perkins later told the 12 bakers: ' You've got two hours to achieve ultimate moistness' - all within 15 minutes of the episode starting.

It was barely a few minutes in before the word 'moist' was thrown around by Mel and Sue with great satisfaction and Bake Off fans couldn't cope

Nat tweeted: 'So much innuendo already gaaaaaaaa #GBBO'

And Nathalie Kernot wrote on Twitter: 'FIRST MOIST OF THE SERIES #GBBO.'

Ibrahim Banks added: '#GBBO It was literally a minute into the new series of Bake Off and already they had an innuendo to be proud of.'

Meanwhile Kate's love of the taste of 'Coxes' - that's Cox apples, you understand - also prompted much snickering on Twitter.

Kate's love of the taste of 'Coxes' - that's Cox apples, you understand - also prompted much snickering on Twitter

Fiona Longmuir tweeted: 'That woman did not just say 'I like the flavour of the cox'. I can't cope. #GBBO.'

And Atelier Ego cheekily joked: 'I LIKE THE FLAVOUR OF A COX' girl me too #gbbo'

Sarah also wrote on Twitter: 'End it now, 'I like the flavour of a Cox' might well be my new favourite #GBBO innuendo!'

Eloise Pontefract commented: 'Properly snorted into my tea when that contestant said 'I like the taste of Cox' #gbboinnuendo #GBBO.'

Kate Barmby was the focus for much social media ribbing, with even Quins rugby star Jack Clifford joining in

Kate Barmby was the focus for much social media ribbing, with even Quins rugby star Jack Clifford joining in.

When Kate chatted about how much she loves swallows because they remind her of her wedding day, Jack tweeted: 'First innuendo of Great British Bake off 'I got my swallow dress, my swallow earrings I just love swallows.....' [crying with laughter face emoji] #GBBO'.

Perhaps the crudest innuendo came when everyone started talking about 'drizzle penetration' - the act of the syrup oozing into the drizzle sponge

The crudest innuendo came when everyone started talking about 'drizzle penetration' - the act of the syrup oozing into the drizzle sponge.

Her.ie wrote on Twitter: ''Great penetration there'. The innuendo is comng in thick and fast this evening #GBBO.'

Gill Alexander said: ''Great penetration of the drizzle.' Anyone playing #GBBO Innuendo Bingo, knock back a double.'

And GBBOInnuendo - an entire Twitter account dedicated to the sport of catching Bake Off innuendos - wrote: 'The drizzle won't penetrate deep enough #GBBO #gbboinnuendo.'

By the time it got to the showstoppers, people were hysterical. @GBBOInnuendo tweeted: 'How's the custard going to get in there? 'I'm going to poke it in #GBBO #gbboinnuendo.'

By the time it got to the showstoppers, people were hysterical.

GBBOInnuendo tweeted: 'How's the custard going to get in there? 'I'm going to poke it in #GBBO #gbboinnuendo.'

And user Like Hell also observed the innuendo.

Steph and Dom, stars of Gogglebox, were also watching and laughing at the GBBO innuendos.

'Anyone else playing #GBBO innuendo drinking games? Or just us? #ChinChin,' they tweeted.
Gender, age and education had no impact on the results, researchers say

African-American people are more likely to want to live until they turn 100

Hispanic adults tend to have the highest preference to want to die young

Just a quarter of adults would prefer to live until they reach their 90s

The general belief is we want to live for as long as we possibly can - maybe even reaching triple figures.

Advances in medicine, science and technology are extending our life expectancy every day.

But many are scared of the effects of ageing - with the thought of dementia striking terror into the hearts of most adults.

And a new study has discovered the fear of becoming old may actually outweigh the fear of dying.

More than one in six people would prefer to die before they turn 80 - less than the average life expectancy, scientists found.

Scroll down for video

Despite women living for five years longer than men - gender had no difference in how long people wanted to live for, scientists found

Hispanics have the highest preference for a shorter life while African-American people are more likely to want to live for 100 or more years, a new study suggests.

But despite women living around five years longer than men, gender had no difference in how long people wanted to live for.

Age and education were also found to be unrelated - despite those with formal education tending to live longer.

The study is one of the first to investigate how younger adults perceive and anticipate their own ageing.

Researchers from the Columbia Aging Center quizzed 1,600 adults aged 18 to 64 in a telephone survey.

They were on average 42 years old, half were women and 33 per cent were university graduates.

One in three would prefer a to live until they are at least 80 years old, researchers discovered.

While a quarter of adults would prefer to live into their 90s - somewhat longer than expected.

The remaining people said they hoped to live to 100 or more years.

One in three would prefer a to live until they are at least 80 years old, researchers discovered

In the UK, the average life expectancy is 81.5 years, while in the US it is 78.7.

Professor Vegard Skirbekk, from the Columbia Aging Center said: 'We were particularly interested in whether how long people want to live would be related to their expectations about what their life in old age will be like.

'For many, it seems that the fear of becoming old may outweigh the fear of dying.'

The results confirmed those who had fewer positive expectations of growing old preferred to die earlier, before reaching average life expectancy.

And conversely, those who had fewer negative expectations of old age wanted their lives to go on for longer.

Joint author Dr Catherine Bowen said: 'Having rather bleak expectations of what life will be like in old age seems to undermine the desire to live up to and beyond current levels of average life expectancy.

'People who embrace the "better to die young" attitude may underestimate their ability to cope with negative age-related life experiences as well as to find new sources of well-being in old age.'
In a BBC2 Horizon programme airing tonight, they seek to find out how their condition will progress and what will happen to them in future

As babies, Adam and Neil Pearson looked so similar that their mother often mixed them up.

Now, they look so different it is hard to believe they are identical twins.

Adam's face has been left disfigured by non-cancerous tumours that began growing uncontrollably when he was a child.

Despite 33 operations to remove them, the 31-year-old has been left blind in one eye and is losing his vision in the other.

His appearance meant he was called 'quasimodo' and 'scarface' at school - but he has since grown up to be a TV presenter and campaigner for people with deformities.

His brother Neil also suffers from the same genetic condition but tumours did not grow on his face.

Instead, he battles epilepsy and memory loss so severe he can't remember what day it is.

Scroll down for video

Adam and Neil Pearson, 31, are identical twins but are radically different in appearance. They both suffer from the genetic condition neurofibromatosis - but it affects them in different ways

Adam has been left facially disfigured as tumours grew all over his face due to the condition

The twins suffer from type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1) , which affects just 1 in 3,000 people.

They have left the medical community baffled - so much so a paper has been written on their case alone.

Tonight, they tell their story in a documentary, Horizon: My Amazing Twin, which follows them trying to find out whether there is any way to stop the disease tearing their lives apart.

Adam has become a well-known figure on TV, producing and starring in shows such as Beauty and the Beast and The Undateables.

He then starred alongside Scarlett Johansson in the film Under The Skin, in order to raise the profile of people with facial disfigurements.

And last year, he was asked by a Slovakian director to star in the band Ciste Tvary's latest music video.

He has also become a TV personality, calling for more roles for people with disfigurements and campaigning against discrimination on the grounds of looks.

The brothers grew up in Croydon, south London, where they live with their parents Marilyn, 66, and Patrick, 63.

Neil, meanwhile, battles short term memory loss so severe he cannot remember what day it is as well as epilepsy

Mrs Pearson, a retired local government officer, said she had no clue they were suffering from a genetic condition when they were born.

In fact, she once got them mixed up while feeding them.

WHAT IS NEUROFIBROMATOSIS? Neurofibromatosis the name for a number of genetic conditions that cause swellings or lumps. Although many people who have the condition inherit it from one of their parents, up to 50 per cent develop it randomly from a gene mutation before they are born. There are two types of neurofibromatosis Adam Pearson suffering from type one, Dr Anand Saggar, a London-based genetics expert, told MailOnline. Despite their alarming appearance, the growths and swellings - called neurofibromas and caused by a growth of cells - are not cancerous or contagious. Other symptoms of neurofibromatosis type one include flat, light brown spots on the skin. These harmless marks, also called cafe au lait spots, are common in many people. People who have more than six spots that are bigger than half a centimetre wide should get investigated for NF1. NF1 is a condition someone is born with, although some symptoms develop gradually over many years. The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person. People with NH1 are more likely to suffer from learning difficulties and behavioural problems. Around 10 per cent of people with NF1 will have vision problems, high blood pressure and a curved spine. They are also more likely to develop a type of cancer known as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours. Advertisement

She told the Mirror: 'I couldnt understand why Neil was crying and Adam wasnt interested. And we were looking at some old photos recently and I couldnt tell them apart in some.'

The brothers were diagnosed before their fifth birthday after Adam fell over and bumped his forehead - but the lump never went down.

Eventually, he was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital where a scan showed there was a tumour in his neck blocking his windpipe.

This marked the start of many operations to remove the growths, including stints in intensive care Mrs Pearson said were 'scary'.

Neil did not show any symptoms immediately, and his family believed he may have escaped the condition marring his brother's face.

At school, Adam was bullied, enduring being called cruel names including Elephant Man, Scarface and Quasimodo.

Speaking previously on ITV's This Morning, Adam described the misery of being tormented about his looks.

He said: 'No matter what mindset you're in, if you're bullied at school, nothing makes it easy.

'You've got a lot going on anyway, your hormones are going crazy and youre trying to get your education sorted, whilst trying to find where you fit in in this crazy, crazy world.

'For me having a disfigurement just compounded that.'

Neil, who admits life was easier for him without a disfigurement, said he was proud of how his brother coped.

Adam was outgoing, able to defend himself using his sharp humour.

But Neil admits he worried he could could develop a facial disfigurement as he grew up.

It would have been easy for Adam to become depressed at the stark difference between he and his brothers' appearances.

And yet, he never succumbed to bitterness.

Tonight, they tell their story in a documentary, Horizon: My Amazing Twin, which follows them trying to find out whether there is any way to stop the disease tearing their lives apart

Adam was the victim of bullying as a teenager, enduring being called cruel names such as 'Elephant Man', 'quasimodo' and 'scarface'

Adam went on to be a TV personality and in 2015 flew to Slovakia to star role in rock band Ciste tvary's new video. He is pictured with the rest of the cast

He told Mirror journalists: 'Once I started thinking like them the bullies had won. Its about the life you have, not the one you dont. It wasnt an emotionally productive thing to do.

'For me, its all Ive ever known. Its very much a part of me. It would have been like asking: "Why am I this tall?"'

Adam also starred alongside Scarlett Johansson in the film Under the Skin

Symptoms of Neil's condition did not appear until July 1999, when the twins were 14 years old.

The pair were standing outside a youth club when Neil asked where they had been, Adam said.

At home, Mrs Pearson sent her son to bed thinking he was tired - but over the next few weeks his confusion continued.

He was behaving strangely, continuously asking what day it was and I was sleeping lots.

Doctors discovered he has lost his short term-memory, and revealed he too was beginning to show symptoms of NF1.

A year later, he was diagnosed with epilepsy after suffering fits.

Neil, who now works as a library assistant as a medical school - has to stick to a rigid schedule in order to cope with his memory loss.

If he breaks from the set order of his day he begins to become confused and questions whether he has done things.

He has become a campaigner for people with facial disabilities. He is pictured with the 999 Eyes Freakshow in Texas with (left to right) heavily tattooed Katzen the Tiger Lady, Bethany Gunn from Michigan, who had her leg amputated at the age of three and Vlad Vendetta

NExt, Adam said he hopes to play a Bond villain. Pictured on set for the Slovakian band Ciste tvary's video, he said: 'What I hope I can do is help to create a society where grown-ups dont hold these immature, naive prejudices'

Writing for the Daily Mail in 2014, he said he would love to play a Bond villain - but only if he was evil for the way he behaved, and not the way he looked.

'It would be an opportunity to raise the profile of people like me who have a condition that affects their appearance,' he said.

'What I hope I can do is help to create a society where grown-ups dont hold these immature, naive prejudices.'

The Horizon film shows the brother seeking answers on what will happen to them in the future.

The brothers could develop each others symptoms and Adam admits he is terrified of losing his memory.

For Adam, surgery is the only treatment for his tumours.

But during the programme, he was offered the chance to take part in an medical trial in the US, where he would be given medication which shrinks tumours in some patients.

The Horizon film shows the brothers trying to find out how NF1 will affect them in future

He travels to the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland to meet Dr Brigitte Widemann, a research scientist leading the trial.

There, Adam meets a young girl currently enrolled on the trial, who since taking the drug has seen her tumours shrink and her swollen eyes and ears start to reopen.

However, though the treatment could improve Adam's eyesight one potential side effect is retinal detachment,which could leave him blind.

He is left deciding if the gains are worth the risks.

And back in the UK, Neil discovered his memory loss was not due to NF1 bu encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus.

Now, Adam is focusing on finding a girlfriend- as he hopes to have a family one day.

He says he is going on dates - and is a 'big fan' of Tinder.

While his NF1 was caused by a random genetic mutation, there is a 50 per cent chance the condition could be passed on to his children.

However, this is a bridge he will cross when he meets the right woman, as options such as adoption are possible.

For now, he and Neil will face the future together.
Is speaking out as a new daily pill which slashes

With a huge bump and swollen ankles, anyone would have assumed Beryl Romaine was pregnant.

Indeed, many a kind stranger gave up their seat on a train for her, asking when the baby was due.

But Beryl was not pregnant - far from it, in fact.

Her 'baby' was actually a huge growth on her womb that would not only wreck her dreams of marriage and motherhood, but leave her confidence in tatters.

The now 50-year-old was one of millions of women suffering from fibroids - benign or non-cancerous growths in or around the womb.

Scroll down for video

Beryl Romaine's 'baby' was actually a huge growth on her womb that devastated her life. The non-cancerous tumours, called fibroids, affect at least one in three women

Symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and the need to urinate frequently.

Around one in three women develop fibroids at some point, most often between the ages of 30 and 50.

And they are thought to develop more frequently in women of African- Caribbean origin.

The exact cause is unknown, but they are linked to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are at their highest levels during a woman's reproductive years. (After the menopause, fibroids often shrink and symptoms ease or disappear.)

There is a strong genetic predisposition, says Isaac Manyonda, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's Hospital NHS Trust, South-West London and the Newlife Fertility Centre in Epsom, Surrey.

'If your mother had them, you are likely to, as well.'

In 50 per cent of women who have them, fibroids do not cause symptoms: they may shrink and disappear without treatment.

However, the other half experience pelvic pain (from the pressure caused by the fibroids) and heavy and/or extended periods.

Both the long and short-term health consequences can be devastating.

Fibroids are benign or non-cancerous growths that occur in or around the womb. Symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and the need to urinate frequently

Research has shown that:

1 in 4 women with symptomatic fibroids will wait over five years before being diagnosed

Around 40 per cent of women diagnosed with fibroids have experienced fertility issues

75 per cent of sufferers say the condition has a severe impact on their day-to-day life

50 per cent of women with fibroids say that their condition makes them depressed

Heavy menstrual bleeding causes 3.5 million working days in the UK every year

The traditional way of dealing with fibroids is a hysterectomy.

But experts say many women are not being given any other options - such as less-invasive surgery or a new daily pill to manage symptoms - and as a result, are being denied the chance of motherhood.

'Hysterectomies are in the forefront of doctor's minds when it comes to fibroids,' says Dr Nicki On, who founded the support group, the British Fibroid Trust.

'A survey found nearly 70 per cent of women with fibroids had hysterectomy mentioned to them and 50 per cent were offered one.'

At 32, Beryl was given the devastating news she would need a hysterectomy to remove the fibroid - dashing her dreams of motherhood

It's a situation Beryl, from Essex, knows only too well following her 15 year nightmare ordeal battling fibroids.

'I first noticed something was wrong when I felt some lumps in my stomach while having a shower,' she told MailOnline.

'They were equivalent to a couple of grapes and didn't protrude, but they did feel hard.

'They made my tummy feel constipated and I thought "that can't be right".

'I was a size 12, I was a petite lady. I went to the GP and said "I'm putting on weight around my middle but I don't think its me getting fat because its hard".'

Her GP eventually agreed to refer her to a specialist, who diagnosed fibroids.

'I was shocked - and terrified it meant I had, or would get cancer,' she recalled.

While the doctor reassured her this wasn't the case, the news that followed was equally as devastating for Beryl.

'My doctor said: "I'm sorry madam, but the only option is a hysterectomy".'

'At the time I was 32 and engaged to be married. Heartbroken doesn't even cover it. I thought "I'm only 32, I want to have children".'

That evening she broke the news to her fiance.

'He was from Africa, and in his culture children are a must. In the end my confidence was so low that my relationship broke down and I called off my marriage.'

By the time she finally had surgery, Beryl looked heavily pregnant. 'I was so uncomfortable - I always had swollen ankles due to the weight,' she told MailOnline. 'My consultant later said it was like I was pregnant for nine years, not nine months. I would waddle everywhere'

She also became increasingly angry that a hysterectomy was her only option.

'It's a woman's prerogative to have children. Your womb, it's a woman's organ, part of that taken away is a whole part of your life and future taken away.

'I thought "you've cancelled your marriage plans, you'll have your uterus taken off you, what else can life throw at you?"

'It affected my career, too. I was going to do an MA in journalism, but I thought "you can't go around the world doing interviews with a big stomach".

'So I changed to marketing instead because then I thought I could sit in an office and nobody would see it.'

WHAT ARE FIBROIDS? Around one in three women develop fibroids  benign growths in or around the womb - most often between the ages of 30 and 50. They are thought to develop more frequently in women of African- Caribbean origin. It's also thought they occur more often in overweight or obese women because being overweight increases the level of oestrogen in the body. TELL-TALE SIGNS Heavy or painful periods. In some cases it can lead to anaemia  iron deficiency  causing tiredness, lethargy and shortness of breath. Abdominal pain. Bloating, discomfort in the stomach, and pain in the lower back and legs. Frequent urination and constipation, caused by fibroids pressing on internal organs. Pain or discomfort during sex britishfibroidtrust.org.uk

Advertisement

Indeed as time went on, Beryl, who now works as a finance and housing contractor, looked more and more pregnant.

'I'd see friends and they would say "Oh are you having a baby?" I would get very defensive and upset.

'I didn't share all of this it, I locked myself up and bore it all alone. I had no one to talk to. '

Despite her surgery being scheduled for 2006, she did not attend the appointment.

Instead, she sold her house and used some of the funds to travel to Africa, where 90 per cent of women have fibroids.

'I spoke to the hospital and they said I could have two years of doing my own research around fibroids so I was sure a hysterectomy was the right choice for me.'

By the time she embarked on her trip, she looked heavily pregnant.

'I was so uncomfortable- I always had swollen ankles due to the weight.

'My consultant later said it was like I was pregnant for nine years, not nine months. I would waddle everywhere.'

As well as Africa, Beryl went to Atlanta, Georgia, another area where fibroids are common.

There, doctors suggested she request a myomectomy, where the growths are cut out, sparing the womb.

But back in the UK, surgeons refused - due to the size and location of the fibroids.

'I was told I had 10cm of them laid over the top of my uterus, like a baby sleeping in the womb. The risk of blood loss was too great.'

Only then did she agree to the radical surgery.

'I was exhausted - I'd been "pregnant" for nine years and I wanted relief.

'By that stage I was happy to be alive - I wasn't worried about children any more.'

Two days later, she held a party to celebrate the start of her new life - where her consultant revealed it was the third largest fibroid she'd seen in her career.

Today, she feels bitter there was so little information around at the time of her diagnosis.

'My advice to girls with fibroids would be always double check your body. Even if you get an answer from the doctor, get a second opinion.

'Never leave the surgery unless your questions are answered. No matter how silly, ask questions.

As what your options are, if you don't understand, ask them to explain again. Tell them to tell you in plain language so you can make the right decision.'

THE NEW PILL THAT COULD SPARE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN SURGERY A daily pill could spare thousands of women from invasive surgery for fibroids. Figures show around 40,000 women in England alone seek hospital treatment for the treatment every year. Current treatment options include major surgery, such as hysterectomy, which can significantly affect a woman's ability to have children and are costly to the NHS. Around 20,000 invasive procedures are performed each year as a result, and surgical treatment for the condition cost NHS England 119 million in 2015. But there are other options that could help some women avoid surgery altogether, experts say. A daily pill called Esmya has become the first treatment licensed for long-term management of moderate to severe symptoms of fibroids A daily pill called Esmya has become the first treatment licensed for long-term management of moderate to severe symptoms of fibroids. And today, the drugs rationing body NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, issued updated guidance recommending its use. The drug works by blocking receptors of the hormone progesterone. This is involved in controlling the growth of the womb lining. Patients suffering heavy menstrual bleeding and with fibroids 3 cm or more in diameter will be eligible for the treatment. Until now we have only been able to remove or shrink fibroids using procedures that require hospital admission. Now we know these tablets are also effective Dr Sarah Gray, Primary Care Women's Health Forum Clinical data has shown that four courses of Esmya resulted in 73 per cent of eligible patients achieving 'normal' (controlled) bleeding, and a 72 per cent reduction in fibroid volume. 'Esyma has been proven to target fibroids directly,' said Mr Ertan Saridogan, consultant gynaecologist at University College Hospital and The Portland Hospital. 'It reduces growth and eases symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and severe pain, therefore improving a woman's quality of life.' Dr Sarah Gray of the Primary Care Women's Health Forum and a GP specialist in Women's Health, added: 'Until now we have only been able to remove or shrink fibroids using procedures that require hospital admission. 'NICE has now affirmed that a medical treatment which requires only the taking of tablets is effective and can be offered to women by experienced doctors. 'If a woman has fibroid related problems that are affecting her life, she should go to her healthcare provider and discuss what is best for her as surgery is not inevitable.' Advertisement
Old guidelines said men could have as much as 21 units each week

New alcohol guidelines could encourage women to drink at unsafe levels, doctors have warned.

The governments recommendations say both men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week  equivalent to six or seven glasses of wine.

This is a change from existing guidelines which state while women should stick to 14, men can have as much as 21 units a week.

Now clinicians have intervened to say equalising the upper limits could give women the false impression they can safely drink as much as men  putting their health at risk.

New recommendations from the government say both men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week - equivalent to six or seven glasses of wine

The guidelines were first published in draft form in January, and were instantly subjected to a barrage of criticism over a claim there is no safe level of drinking at all.

While the final form of the guidelines retains the claim there is no safe drinking level, its language has been toned down to make it clear there is nothing wrong in enjoying the occasional tipple.

Ministers were angry earlier this year when Dame Sally Davies, Englands chief medical officer, called for people to consider the risk of getting cancer every time they want a glass of wine.

The recommendations now state that for many, alcohol is a part of their social life, and the rules are not meant to prevent those who wish to drink from doing so.

They also make it clear the risks of drinking are no higher than other everyday activities such as driving a car.

However, the rules still state that pregnant women or those trying to conceive should not drink at all.

Doctors concerns about the equalisation of upper drinking limits for men and women were revealed in the governments response to a consultation on the alcohol guidance, published yesterday.

The document states: A commonly cited objection was that the low-risk limits are now the same for men and women.

In particular, what was seen as conflicting statements around the effects of alcohol on different metabolisms and body weights, and concluding there should not be a single figure for the weekly guideline.

In some cases, respondents felt this could encourage women to drink more, believing they can consume alcohol at the same levels as men, or this might lead to people disbelieving the guidelines.

Dame Sally Davies, Englands chief medical officer, called for people to consider the risk of getting cancer every time they want a glass of wine earlier this year

The paper also states: Of particular concern to some was the absence of any reference to differences between men and women with regard to single-occasion drinking.

Some clinicians expressed concern this would give women what they felt was a false impression they can drink as much as men.

MODERATE DRINKING RAISES RISK OF CANCER It is known that drinking excess alcohol can increase a person's risk of various cancers. But now, a study has revealed even moderate drinkers should be concerned. Indulging in less than two alcoholic beverages a day, puts drinkers at heightened risk of breast and bowel cancer - two of the most deadly forms of the disease. Furthermore, experts at the University of Otago, said alcohol is also linked to cancer of the mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx and liver. Advertisement

Other consultation respondents claimed the guidance was too rigid, saying the government should not be acting in such a nanny state fashion.

In the end, none of the guidelines were changed.

However, a new introduction has been added to make it clear there is nothing wrong with occasional drinking.

It states: Some people do not drink, but for many, alcohol is part of their social lives. As with most activities, this carries a degree of risk.

With this in mind, these guidelines have been developed to enable people to make informed choices about their alcohol intake.

The intention is to help people understand the risks alcohol may pose to their health and to make decisions about their consumption in the light of those risks, but not to prevent those who want to drink alcohol from doing so.

In addition, the section on drinking in pregnancy has also been watered down so as not to stigmatise those women who do decide to continue to drink.

The governments position appears out of step with that of Dame Sally, who told the Commons science and technology committee in February people should consider their cancer risk every time they reach for a glass.

The rules still state that pregnant women or those trying to conceive should not drink at all

She said: I would like people to take their choice knowing the issues and do as I do when I reach for my glass of wine and think, Do I want my glass of wine or do I want to raise my risk of breast cancer? And I take a decision each time I have a glass.

Research has shown one glass of wine a day can increase a womans risk of breast cancer by 13 per cent.

Last night Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, said: It is widely recognised moderate and responsible consumption of alcohol is compatible with a healthy lifestyle and carries a degree of risk comparable with many other day to day activities.

Rather than inform the consumer these revised guidelines will only serve to confuse.
THE SECRET WAYS OF PERFUME

by Cristina Caboni

(Black Swan 7.99)

THE SECRET WAYS OF PERFUME by Cristina Caboni

I love perfume and, since this debut Italian novel was number one in its home country, I had high hopes for the English translation. I was not disappointed by this evocative, atmospheric read that takes its protagonist, Elena Rossini, from Florence to Paris and all sorts of unexpected emotional places in between.

Elena is a perfumier, the latest in a long line of women from her family to possess unique skills in this intriguing field.

The Rossini women, however, are all obsessed with discovering the secret formula for the so-called Perfect Perfume, invented by an ancient ancestor and the stuff of legend for generations. Eleni doesnt just smell a perfume, she feels it. When she takes tentative steps back into the family business after having sworn off it for ever, she realises she doesnt want to fight her destiny.

Another thing she cant fight is her growing attraction to her neighbour Cail, a mysterious rose-grower with secrets of his own. This engaging story has the added benefit of educating readers on different scents, what they mean and what feelings they evoke.

THE HOUSE ON SUNSET LAKE

by Tasmina Perry

(Headline Review 16.99)

THE HOUSE ON SUNSET LAKE by Tasmina Perry

Im a big fan of Perrys page-turners and found this just as gripping as her previous books. Jim Johnson has reinvented himself from a geeky, unlucky-in-love student into the manager of a successful global hotel group.

Jim is about to learn that no matter how much distance he puts between himself now and himself back then, he cant erase history or the extreme emotions of that time.

Twenty years earlier, while spending a summer in Savannah, Jim fell in love with Jennifer, daughter of the owners of Casa DOr, a stunning plantation house.

A tragic event forced them in separate directions . . . until now. When Jims boss acquires the house for his hotel chain, Jim is forced to return to restore it to its former glory.

Fate throws him and Jennifer back together, but there has been so much water under this bridge and so many secrets not shared that its doubtful whether they can lay the ghosts of the past to rest. Youll be rooting for Jim and Jennifer, the narrative zips along at a great pace and its brilliantly written. I loved it.

KILLER DIAMONDS

by Rebecca Chance

(Pan 7.99)

KILLER DIAMONDS by Rebecca Chance

This is a romp of a read, pure escapism and great fun.

Chance provides a glittering window into the crazy world of Oscar-winning actress Vivienne Winter, the most famous  and beautiful  woman in the world. Despite her riches, high-octane life and many suitors, all that glitters is not gold.

When Viviennes drug-addicted criminal daughter Pearl commits murder, Vivienne knows she must take over the care of her small grandson Angel if she doesnt want him to go down the same dark path.

Angels early life has affected him more than any of them realise, however, and the spoilt, sexy playboy grows up angry, resentful and with no boundaries.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

WITH WINSTON CHURCHILL AT THE FRONT

by Major Andrew Dewar Gibb

(Frontline 19.99)

When Major Churchill reported for duty in northern France in January 1916, he was very different to the Winston Churchill we know today.

Having resigned in disgrace as First Lord of the Admiralty after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign  which he had personally masterminded  Churchills political career looked dead in the water.

As his wife Clementine said later: I thought he would die of grief.

When Major Churchill reported for duty in northern France in January 1916, he was very different to the Winston Churchill we know today

Any thought Churchill may have had that he would be given a warm welcome swiftly evaporated when his commanding officer told him frostily: I think I ought to tell you that we were not at all consulted in the matter of your coming to join us.

But however tempting it is to see Churchills decision to join the Army as a form of self-punishment, an attempt to atone for his former blunders, even perhaps to embrace death, this scenario conveniently ignores one crucial fact.

Churchill loved being in the Army he felt far more at home among soldiers than he ever did among politicians. And, as hed proved before, both on the North West Frontier and in Sudan, he was almost eerily cool-headed under fire  something that puzzled Churchill himself as much as it did everyone else.

His morale may have been at rock-bottom when he arrived in France, but it soon picked up.

A mid the squalor and horror of the trenches, Churchill found a contentment that had eluded him in England. Within a few days he was writing to Clementine: I am very happy here. How I ever could have wasted so many months in impotent misery, which might have been spent in war, I cannot tell.

At first, he was told that he could stay in the relative safety of battalion headquarters. Churchill, however, was having none of it.

Having resigned in disgrace as First Lord of the Admiralty after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign  which he had personally masterminded  Churchills (sixth left) political career looked dead in the water

Again, its tempting to see this as evidence of his courage and zest for the fray. But here, too, there is another explanation.

It turns out that no alcohol was permitted at battalion headquarters, whereas it was allowed, even encouraged, nearer the front line. As far as Churchill was concerned, this was the clincher. I have always believed in moderate and regular use of alcohol, he wrote, especially under conditions of winter war.

Within a few weeks he had been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and given command of the 30 officers and 700 enlisted men of the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. It seems safe to say that the Royal Scots Fusiliers had little idea of what was in store for them when Churchill arrived mounted on a black charger, followed by a gun carriage laden with his belongings  among them a full-sized bath and a boiler to heat the water.

Engraved with Winston Churchill's initials, this is the artillery shell that came within feet of killing Britain's greatest leader

An extremely awkward lunch followed at which Churchill didnt say a word, but went round the table, staring intently at each of his fellow officers. At the end of the meal he made a short speech.

Gentlemen, I am your new Commanding Officer. Those who support me, I shall look after. Those who go against me, I will break.

As one of the officers present, Major Andrew Dewar Gibb was ideally placed to observe Churchill at close hand. First published in 1924 under the pseudonym Captain X  for some unexplained reason Dewar Gibb did not wish to be identified as its author  these fascinating recollections have been given a timely reissue.

On taking charge of the battalion, Churchills first task was to declare war  on the lice. Within ten days of his arrival, there had been a noticeable improvement in the living conditions of his men.

WITH WINSTON CHURCHILL AT THE FRONT by Major Andrew Dewar Gibb

Despite his warnings of what would happen to anyone who crossed him, Churchill proved to be a surprisingly lenient and unstuffy CO. He allowed fellow officers to use his bath, and once refused to discipline a sentry who had been found asleep at his post  an offence, in theory, punishable by firing squad  saying simply: He was only a lad.

When the Royal Scots Fusiliers were moved up to the front line, Churchill was happier than ever. He made an almost unprecedented 36 forays into No Mans Land where, according to Dewar Gibb, he was like a baby elephant . . . He never flinched when a shell went off; he never ducked when a bullet went by with its loud crack.

As Churchill noted: I found my nerves in excellent shape and I do not think my pulse quickened at any time.

Was he really as nerveless as he claimed, or was he constantly testing his own mettle, forcing himself to confront his own fears? Well never know, but what is clear is that Churchills men found him an inspirational figure.

B y this point Dewar Gibb, who started off even more sceptical than most about Churchill, has become a fully-fledged convert.

In tones of awed disbelief he recalls how Churchill, wallowing in his portable bath, would fire off demands to Clementine for yet more supplies  she was expected to send him three bottles of brandy every ten days and a generous allocation of cigars, as well as assorted hams, Stilton and steak pies.

At times reading these accounts of life in the battalion mess, I found myself losing sight of where Churchill was, imagining instead that I was learning about some incredibly lavish house party. Nobody who was entertained there ever forgot it! noted one man excitedly. And who was not entertained!

But gradually even Churchills mood darkened. His letters home become increasingly solemn. In one he writes that he wouldnt mind very much if he stopped living, before going on to say in a rare moment of bleak honesty: I am so devoured by egotism.

In the end egotism, or ambition, got the better of him. After six months, Churchill decided to leave the Front and go back to Westminster to resume his political career. There he was given an even frostier reception than in France  many of his old colleagues still hadnt forgiven him for Gallipoli.
THE CRIME AND THE SILENCE

by Anna Bikont

(Windmill Books 9.99)

THE CRIME AND THE SILENCE by Anna Bikont

On July 10 1941, the Jewish population of the small north-eastern Polish town of Jedwabne were rounded up and murdered. Estimates of the number of victims  men, women and children  vary from 340 to 1,600.

Some were beaten to death, some shot; the remainder were herded into a barn which was set alight.

The town was occupied by Nazis at the time, and the memorial commemorating the massacre attributed it to the Gestapo.

But in 2001 Jan T. Gross, a Polish-born academic, published Neighbors, a book with a darker theory: that the Jews of Jedwabne were murdered by their Catholic neighbours.

Polish journalist Anna Bikont decided to follow up the story. Her humane, measured and painstakingly researched book establishes the facts beyond all doubt.

Beautifully translated by Alissa Valles, it is a hard-won testament to the importance of historical truth.

THE GREAT BRITISH DREAM FACTORY

by Dominic Sandbrook

(Penguin 12.99)

THE GREAT BRITISH DREAM FACTORY by Dominic Sandbrook

Sporting successes come and go; the future of the economy is hard to read. But in one area, Britain steadily retains its superpower status: everyone loves our culture.

From Harry Potter to Downton Abbey, Dr Who to David Bowie, British cultural exports have taken over the world. As historian Dominic Sandbrook argues in his richly entertaining account of our national imagination, British culture may not necessarily be the worlds best, but as an export it has a very good claim, pound for pound, to be its most successful.

Sandbrooks interest is specifically in popular culture  he gives short shrift to intellectuals, dismissing the likes of Virginia Woolf, while stoutly defending the oeuvres of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Catherine Cookson.

And he is persuasive, and often very funny, on how the notion of Britishness has been framed by our books, our films, our television, music and art.

MAGGIE SMITH: A BIOGRAPHY

by Michael Coveney

(Weidenfeld & Nicolson 8.99)

MAGGIE SMITH: A BIOGRAPHY by Michael Coveney

Dame Maggie Smith  now 81  is a national treasure, her unforgettable asperity a delight in every role, from Miss Jean Brodie to Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and Violet, Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey.

Coveney writes that at work, she is obsessive . . . but like the greatest of vaudevillians, she believes she only properly exists in the spotlight . . . Maggie Smith, even to those who know her best, is not only a mystery, but also an enigma.

His knowledgeable, elegant biography examines the qualities of the woman in the spotlight (he notes that Ronnie Barker advised young Margaret Smith to give up the stage as I didnt think she had the talent).
Bollywood's latest superhero was seen taking to the Mumbai streets, broom in hand, to make a sweeping statement in favour of Swachh Bharat.

Tiger Shroff, who will be seen flaunting his superpowers in A Flying Jatt this weekend, turned up with co-stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Nathan Jones at WE School in the Mumbai suburb of Matunga to participate in Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

The actors also met management and research students of the private business school.

The trio stepped onto the street outside the institute armed with their brooms and immediately started their statement cleaning act.

Jacqueline Fernandez and co-star Tiger Shroff took part in a Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan event

As the photographers went on a clicking frenzy, Jacqueline also took the opportunity to strike some poses for a few quick snaps. She looked pretty in a printed summer dress teamed with maroon heels.

Tiger was the star of the stunt, though - and not because he revealed any super prowess at sweeping streets. Jackie Shroff's son tantalised students at the institute with his magic dance moves.

Meanwhile, seven-foot-tall professional wrestling champion Nathan Jones, who makes his Bollywood debut as a villain in the film, proved he was a gentle giant as he towered over everyone, smiling and greeting people.
Flood victims in Bihar have been left outraged after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief told them they were 'fortunate' to find sacred Ganga waters in their homes.

Lalu Prasad Yadav is facing a backlash after the insensitive remarks on Monday as the state battles floods, with water flowing 23cm above extreme danger levels.

He told reporters: 'Its a fortunate and welcome sight to find the Ganga at one's doorstep. You are fortunate that the Ganga has reached your homes. It does not always happen. In most cases you go to it.'

It's claimed that Lalu's insensitive comments were a jibe aimed at the BJP, which recently came up with a scheme to bottle Gangajal water

It is claimed that Lalus jibe was aimed at the BJP, which recently came up with a scheme for making bottled Gangajal water available to people through post offices.

Though Bihar has received 14 per cent less rain than normal during the monsoon season, the flood situation has remained grim in the state for the last two days.

It is likely to worsen further as water discharged from the Ban Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday has now reached Bihar, swelling the Son and Ganga river.

Lalu Prasad Yadav has angered flood victims after saying they are 'lucky' to have the Ganga waters at their doorsteps - although 20 villages are currently submerged by the floods

Despite getting 14 per cent less rain than normal during the monsoon season, Bihar is suffering severe flooding which has destroyed many homes and killed livestock

Large parts of the state have been flooded due to high rainfall in Nepal, as well as states like Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Districts like Buxar, Arrah, Chapra, Vaishali, Patna, Begisarai, Khagaria, Samastipur, Munger and Bhagalpur, which are along the Ganga basin, are witnessing an increase in water levels.

Around 135 houses were washed away on Wednesday, while 20 villages were submerged in floods when the rising river crossed the extreme danger level in the Malda district.

Some 130 houses have been submerged by the floodwater and the situation could worsen further in the days to come

The former Bihar chief ministers comment came on the day 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.
Actor-politician Ramya is facing animosity after her comments denying that Pakistan is a "living hell".

She was heckled by pro-Hindu organisations at the Mangalore airport on Thursday.

Protesters even threw eggs at her car and raised slogans against the former Congress MP.

Ramya had gone to Mangalore to attend a Krishna Janmashtami celebration

Though the police detained some of the protesters, Ramya has been facing a backlash at public events and on social media.

She had gone to Mangalore to attend an event organised to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, which was attended by a large number of people.

The actress was recently slapped with a sedition case by a Karnataka lawyer, who moved the court after Ramya said 'Pakistan is a good country'.

She had rejected Defence Minister Manohar Parrikars statement equating Pakistan with hell.

Referring to the Defence Ministers comment, Ramya had said: Pakistan is a good country, not hell. People are just like us. They treated us very well while attending the SAARC meet. Manohar Parrikars comment is not true.

Responding to the petition seeking a sedition charge against her, the former Congress MP said: Everybody is entitled to their views and that is what democracy is about; you cant force your ideology on anyone.
About half a dozen men battered a couple to death and gang-raped two of their female relatives in the national capital regions Mewat district on Wednesday night.

The appalling incident has prompted a public outpouring of horror and revulsion.

One of the sexual assault victims told the police that she and her three cousins were asleep in their house, and her uncle and other family members were sleeping outside when she heard loud screams around midnight.

Brutal: Police suspect that the horrible attack was carried out by the notorious kachcha-banian gang as at least two of the attackers were reportedly in their underclothes

Men barged into the dwelling, then tied up the family members and hit them with iron rods and sticks.

Three of them then took turns to rape the woman, who is married, and her 16-year-old cousin.

Haryana Police suspect the crime may have been committed by one of the notorious kachcha-banian gangs whose members attack wearing only underclothes and often mask their faces.

The gang members rub lubricants on their bodies, which makes it hard for anyone to catch them.

The robbers ransacked the house, searching for valuables and cash.

According to the complainant, one of the attackers was carrying a country-made pistol. She confirmed that at least two of the men were in underclothes and drenched with oil.

One member of the stricken family managed to flee, and informed the local villagers.

When police reached the scene of the crime, two of the victims were found lying on a bedstead with severe head injuries

The crime has drawn media comparisons with the horrific gang-rape of a woman and her teenage daughter in Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr district last month. In that incident, the victims were dragged out of their vehicle at gunpoint on a major highway and sexually assaulted over several hours.

Sources say Dhingeri village is just four kilometres away from the nearest police station, which was informed at around 3am. But officers arrived a full three hours later.

After raping us the accused locked us in a room and demanded jewellery and other valuables from us, the older female victim told authorities.

They scoured the entire house and took away two motorcycles as well.

The district police have constituted a special team to crack the case. However, no arrests have been made so far

Police have lodged a case under sections 459 (grievous hurt), 460 (trespass), and 376 D (gang-rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Arms Act.

We reached the spot in the morning with sniffer dogs and a forensic squad. Two of the victims were lying on a bedstead with severe head injuries, said the areas police station house officer, Kamlesh.

Five others including the two gang-rape victims were admitted in Mewats Nalhar Medical College and their condition is said to be stable.

Sources say the house is situated near the Manesar-Palwal expressway with no toll tax point and little police patrolling in the area, and that highway robbers and cow smugglers are active there at night.

Haryanas additional director general of police (law and order), Muhammad Akil, will reportedly oversee the investigation.

Police suspect that highway robbers may have committed the crime and used the signal-free expressway to escape.

Violence against women in India has come under a global spotlight since the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a moving bus in the Capital in December 2012.
The leaked specifications of the Scorpene submarine will not pose any security compromise, the Indian Navy claimed on Thursday.

The Navy has been trying to downplay concerns over an information leak that could blunt the operational edge of six stealth submarines that India is building under licence from the French shipyard, DCNS.

A day after The Australian newspaper published 22,000 pages detailing the combat capabilities of the new Indian submarine made with French collaboration, the Navy asserted that the vital parameters of the boat have been blacked out in papers available online.

A leak running into 22,400 pages has detailed the combat capabilities of six Scorpene subs that India is building under licence from a French firm. (File photo)

The Indian government, meanwhile, said that an elaborate impact assessment is being undertaken by a high-level committee constituted by the defence ministry.

The Navy is also undertaking an internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise.

It has also discussed the leak with the Director General of Armament of the French government, conveying its concerns.

A request was made to the French government to investigate at its end how the documents came out in public.

In a parallel effort, the authenticity of reports in public is being verified through diplomatic channels.

Indian officials have maintained that the leaks originated overseas. (file photo)

The Government of India, as a matter of abundant precaution, is also examining the impact if the information contained in the documents claimed to be available with the Australian sources is compromised, said a statement released on Thursday.

The Navy swung into action at the highest level as the first of the six Scorpene submarines, INS Kalvari, is expected to be launched in the coming months.

The induction is already running four years behind schedule.

Officials explained that many of the technical details about the submarine are in the public domain, and the leak will not have any impact on the operational deployment.

But many experts argued that the stealth factor is at the core of submarine operations, and the leak is a matter of serious concern.
Nirbhaya gang-rape convict Vinay Sharma allegedly attempted suicide in Delhis high-security Tihar Jail on Thursday, and was admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

Vinay first took painkillers and then tried to hang himself at the jail.

He was caught in the act by a Tamil Nadu special police personnel, who stopped him in time.

Vinay Sharma is one of the four convicts in the brutal Nirbhaya gang-rape case, and is facing the death penalty for his crimes

According to sources, the convict was suffering from depression and was on medication. Inmates at Tihar Jail had reportedly thrashed Vinay severely in 2013.

Vinay, along with three others, had approached the Supreme Court to contest the Delhi High Courts 2014 verdict that labelled their offence as the "rarest of rare" - a category that allows for the death penalty.

On April 8, the apex court had appointed senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde to argue for Vinay and Akshay, another convict in the infamous rape and murder.

Twenty-three-year-old paramedical student Nirbhaya was gang-raped inside a moving bus and her friend was beaten up in Delhi on December 16, 2012.

The case, which prompted nationwide revulsion and turned a global spotlight on crimes against women in India, is entering its final lap in the Supreme Court.

Ram Singh, another convict in the case, killed himself in Delhi's Tihar Jail in 2013

The convicts' defence lawyers are exploring all possibilities to ensure they escape capital punishment. One lawyer even announced an Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone who can prove that the victim was violated with an iron rod.

Another convict in the case - 34-year-old Ram Singh - had hanged himself in Jail No. 3 at 5am in 2013. He was one of the key accused in the brutal attack on the student.

Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, and four other accused had been charged with murder, gang-rape, destruction of evidence, criminal conspiracy, dacoity, unnatural sex, and common intent in the case.

However, legal experts said that Singhs death did not undermine the prosecution's case against the other accused, which was largely based on DNA evidence and the testimony of the rape victim before she died, and that of her friend.

Vinays alleged suicide attempt highlights the number of prisoners taking their own lives at the jail.
Syria has firmly backed Indias position on Kashmir, saying the issue is an internal matter for the country and New Delhi has the right to solve it in any manner it chooses.

Syrian ambassador to India Dr Riad Kamel Abbas told Mail Today that the problem between India and Pakistan has to be resolved by the two countries under the Shimla convention without any external assistance.

Abbas said Syrias position on the issue has been different from other countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which has taken the opposite view.

Syrian ambassador to India Dr Riad Kamel Abbas said the problem between India and Pakistan has to be solved by the two countries without any external assistance

Upbeat about minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbars visit to Damascus, where he met Syrian president Bashar Al Asad, Abbas said the two countries can learn from each other in tackling terrorism.

Both Syria and India are facing cross-border terrorism, he said.

What is going on in Kashmir is first step of terrorism. The government of India has the right to solve it in any manner, he said.

The ambassador claimed that there is enormous scope for improving economic ties between Damascus and New Delhi.

Syria is looking up to India for assistance in re-building the war-ravaged country.

Abbas said he will be leading a delegation of Indian business persons to Syria to explore investment opportunities.

The delegation will include representatives from the petroleum, electrical, information technology, and hospitals industries.

Talking about the situation in Syria, the ambassador said his government can send jihadis seeking Jihad Al Nikah, the sexual jihad, to hell within a month if cross-border terrorism is stopped and their funding is blocked.

He said that there are 3.6 lakh terrorists in Syria, and the government forces were capable of eliminating them.

The ambassador said the terrorists do not belong to Islam, even if they chant Allah hu Akbar.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abbas said there is no distinction between good and bad terrorism. The world has come to realise that terrorism has no boundaries.

Cross-border terrorism is a challenge to both (India and Syria) the countries, he said, adding that security agencies in New Delhi and Damascus were already cooperating on the issue through information-sharing.
Dismissing suggestions that he had made a U-turn on the RSS's role in killing Mahatma Gandhi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday insisted that he stood by every single word he said.

I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said, he tweeted.

His tweet came after media reports said had taken a U-turn on Wednesday when he told the Supreme Court that he never blamed the RSS for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi but only said that a few individuals in the organisation were responsible for it.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi clarified his position on Twitter after being accused of a climb-down on the RSS

Before Rahul's tweet, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in the morning that wisdom had prevailed upon the Congress vice-president.

Good, Rahul finally admitted before Supreme Court that RSS is not accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Wisdom has prevailed. It may be a U-turn but a good turn. RSS a patriotic organization. RSS - Ready for Self Service anywhere any time, Naidu tweeted.

Rahul had chosen to set the record straight by telling the Supreme Court that he had never blamed the RSS as an institution for killing Mahatama Gandhi.
Households need to be on their guard against increasingly sophisticated scams, the Financial Ombudsman has warned, as it released details of several complaints it has dealt with.

The Ombudman released the batch of case studies to show how victims are being scammed; how banks, insurers and financial advisors are responding; and crucially how it rules on who gets refunded their money.

In one shocking case, a women who lost 250,000 eventually managed to retrieve all of it, but in others victims were left to bear the full brunt of losses themselves.

READ ABOUT FRAUD CASES RULED ON BY OMBUDSMAN BELOW

Fraud watch: Ombudsman is dealing with large volumes of complaints about scams, allowing it to see the bigger picture and identify worrying patterns and trends

From email hacks to number spoofing and computer malware, the Ombudsman says it is dealing with large volumes of complaints about scams - allowing it to see the bigger picture and identify worrying patterns and trends.

Whether victims get their money back from banks and other financial firms can hinge on how 'negligent' they were in giving away vital information to the fraudsters who were deceiving them. And when people turn to insurers, they often discover policies exclude theft by 'deception'.

However, the Ombudsman also outlines complaints it received where poor behaviour by financial firms led it to conclude they hadn't done enough to protect victims.

In some cases it has ordered full refunds to be issued following its investigations, over the protests of firms who denied responsibility.

Its probes can involve listening to recordings of calls between victims and banks back when the scam was under way, to determine who was more at fault for letting fraudsters get away with their crimes.

HOW BIG IS THE FRAUD MENACE? Some 775million was lost to financial fraud in 2016, up by a quarter on the year before, according to an industry estimate. The figure comes from Financial Fraud Action UK, an alliance of financial firms trying to combat this scourge. The group says its sophisticated security systems stopped 7 in every 10 of fraud from happening last year. But director Katy Worobec warns: 'As the industry uses increasingly secure systems to protect customers, criminals are turning to scams to trick their victims into handing over their passwords, PINs, passcodes and even their money. 'If you are a victim of fraud, where you havent authorised the transaction, you will get your money back. But where customers are duped into moving money to fraudsters, banks will make decisions on refunds on a case-by-case basis.'

What ruses do fraudsters use on victims?

Michael Ingram, senior ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service, explains what can go wrong:

'Sadly, in nearly all the scams we see, the victim has inadvertently done something thats helped the scammer. For example, they may have given out their password, or given a fraudster remote access to their computer.

'We also see cases where a consumer has made a payment themselves  logging in to their online banking and authorising the transaction to the fraudsters account. Afterwards, its easy to see what went wrong. But its not always so easy at the time.

'From my experience, it seems scammers are successful because the victim is made to believe somethings gone wrong  and things are out of control. And theyre then told they can do something about it, to regain control.

'For example, the fraudster might say theres a security problem with someones account  and persuade them to send their money to a safe account, which is of course anything but safe. Or the scammer might phone saying theyre from an internet provider, reporting a problem with the service.

'The victims told what they should do to fix the problem  which usually means letting the fraudster access the computer remotely, allowing them access to online banking.

'In other cases, the victim buys something online that never arrives, or sells goods and is never paid. The warning sign is that theyre told to arrange things differently  for example, collecting goods at a neutral location instead of posting them, or not using a trusted payment method that provides protection.

Michael Ingram: 'Sadly, in nearly all the scams we see, the victim has inadvertently done something thats helped the scammer'

Shocking cases of fraud revealed by Financial Ombudsman

1) Email hack leads to 250k investment bond fraud

The first that a shocked Ms Q knew about her massive loss was when she received a letter from her investment firm confirming that 250,000 had been withdrawn from a bond she held.

When she rang her financial adviser, she was told that they had processed the transaction at her own request after an exchange of emails.

Her email had been hacked by fraudsters, who had arranged for the money to be transferred to their own account.

Ms Q reported the fraud to police and around 170,000 of her losses were recovered, but when she asked her financial adviser to make up the rest they offered her only 25 per cent of the balance.

Ombudsman upheld complaint against adviser: After investigating the actions of the adviser, the Ombudsman agreed with Ms Q that the firm should have taken more care of her money, and could have stopped the fraud from happening.

It felt enough alarm bells should have rung for the adviser to have phoned her before the transaction took place.

The Ombudsman ordered the adviser to pay Ms Q's investment provider the money needed to put her bond back in the position it would have been if the unrecovered money had never been stolen.

2) Seller scammed out of watch in online auction

Mr Y had never sold anything online before. So, after he auctioned his watch and received notification a payment had been made to him, he wasn't suspicious when the buyer asked for it to be sent to a different address than the one listed on their online profile.

Auction scam: Mr Y lost both the watch and the proceeds of the sale

However, agreeing to this seemingly innocent request led to Mr Y losing both the watch and the proceeds of the sale.

After he'd posted it off, the auction site got in touch to say his payment for the watch hadn't been authorised and would be refunded to the account it came from. And because he hadn't sent the watch to the correct address, he wasn't covered by the site's protection scheme and wasn't entitled to a refund.

Mr Y claimed on his home insurance on the grounds his watch had been stolen, but the insurer refused to pay out because of a 'theft by deception' exclusion on his policy.

Ombudsman did not uphold complaint against insurer: The exclusion on the policy was clear, so the Ombudsman did not tell the insurer to pay the claim.

3) Small business hoaxed by fake bank website

Fraudsters raided a small business account for 40,000 after a computer was infected with a virus, and employee Miss O inputted log-in details into a fake bank website designed to look exactly like the real one.

Only 2,000 was recovered, but when owner Mr G asked the bank to cover the rest it refused, claiming his firm had broken the terms and conditions of its account, acting with 'gross negligence' by giving up a passcode to a third party.

The bank said it gave security warnings on its business banking website explaining the risk of fraud, which Mr G and his staff should have read.

However, Miss O had rung the bank shortly before the fraudulent transaction to report its website was running slowly.

Although this is a classic sign that malware has been installed on a computer and a fraud might take place - and this was a threat the bank was actively warning customers about - a member of the bank's staff told Miss O that nothing was wrong and she could carry on using the site.

Ombudsman upheld complaint against bank: It decided that the bank should have alerted Miss O that something might be wrong when she reported the slow website, and could have done more to protect Mr G's firm from fraud.

The Ombudsman ordered the bank to pay the unrecovered money to the firm.

4) Broadband customer ensnared in complex money transfer scam

Cold callers claiming to be from Mrs N's broadband provider duped her in a complex scam involving several successive deceptions.

She was convinced to let the scammers access her computer remotely to make it run faster; offered 200 compensation and asked for her bank details; told later that 3,200 had accidentally been paid into her bank account, although it had actually just been moved across from her own savings account; and requested to transfer 3,000 to an account operated by the scammers.

Mrs N carried out the transfer using her debit card at a local post office, but then became suspicious and called her bank. A member of staff established she hadn't yet given a reference number needed to authorise the transfer, but advised her just to go back to the post office if she had any concerns.

The fraudsters then called back and persuaded Mrs N to give up the reference number, which the 3,000 transfer being processed. Mrs N again called her bank, but staff told her they couldn't reverse the transaction.

She complained to the bank, saying that if it had checked her accounts and clearly told her she was being scammed when she first made contact, she wouldn't have given out the transfer reference number.

The bank offered 50 in recognition that its customer service could have been better, but Mrs N remained distressed over the amount she had lost.

TOP FIVE SCAM METHODS 1) Upfront payment fees (29 per cent): Includes requests to pay fees to release compensation payouts or loans, and traders disappearing after payments are made. 2) Fake services or invoices (26 per cent): Such as being charged to remove fake computer viruses and fake advertising invoices being sent to small businesses. 3) Goods not received (9 per cent): Purchases made through social media or auction websites, where the scammers are private sellers or based abroad. 4) Vishing (7 per cent): Cold calls asking for credit or debit card details to renew a subscription, or for information about personal debts. 5) Subscription traps (7 per cent): People are misled into signing up to subscription services, usually with a free or discounted trial, but scammers take multiple large payments, often changing their company name Source: Citizens Advices consumer service

Ombudsman resolved complaint against bank: After reviewing the recordings of Mrs N's calls, the Ombudsman decided that despite her giving extensive details of the scam while it was still under way, the staff member she initially spoke to was unsympathetic.

He wrongly said her computer couldn't have been accessed, and that the transfer 'would have been legitimate'.

In his subsequent internal call to the bank's fraud team, it became clear that he hadn't listened to Mrs N's description of the situation, telling them she'd 'bought something she didn't want'.

During her next call to the bank a different staff member was far more helpful, but by then Mrs N had given the transfer reference number and it was too late.

The Ombudsman decided that the first bank worker's 'lack of clarity and empathy' had left Mrs N with doubts about whether or not she'd been scammed.

He also hadn't checked her accounts, so failed to discover the 'accidental overpayment' the scammers were claiming to have made had actually come from Mrs N's own savings account.

In the end, the bank offered to cover the 3,000 Mrs N had lost and upped its compensation for poor service to 200.

5) Bogus buyer makes off with car

Mr C invited a man claiming to be interested in buying his car to a nearby car park so he could test out how well it drove. The man told him the car drove really well.

As Mr C got out of the car to swap sides - leaving the keys in the ignition and the engine running - the man stayed in the driver's seat. While Mr C was walking around the car, the bogus buyer shut the driver's door and drove off.

Mr C tried to claim on his insurance, but his policy said theft 'resulting from deception by a person pretending to be a buyer' wasn't covered. When the insurer refused the claim, Mr C insisted the man had never agreed to buy the car so he couldn't have been a 'buyer'.

Ombudsman did not uphold complaint against insurer: It felt it was clear from the man's actions that he'd set out to trick Mr C by pretending to be interested in buying the car, even though he hadn't actually made an offer for it, so it didn't tell the insurer to pay the claim.

6) Story of 'crash for cash' victim disbelieved

Mrs E was driving to work with a friend when her car knocked into the back of the one in front. She believed that the other driver had deliberately braked and she was the victim of a 'crash for cash' scam.

Claimant not believed: Insurance dispute over 'crash for cash' scam

Her insurer sent an engineer to inspect Mrs E's car and he concluded she had been the one who caused the accident. Her passenger was never approached for an account of what happened.

Eighteen months went by without any resolution of Mrs C's complaint about the matter, before her insurer got in touch to say it had now settled the other driver's claim, and to offer her an apology and 50 compensation.

It turned out the other driver had claimed for personal injury and Mrs C's insurer had initially rejected this, and then settled it but not told her the result.

Ombudsman upheld complaint against insurer: It felt that the insurer should have investigated Mrs E's case more thoroughly, especially as she was so sure that she'd been the victim of a scam.

The Ombudsman decided that even though it was up to the insurer whether or not to defend the claim from the other driver, the firm should increase Mrs C's compensation by another 250 to make up for the upset and inconvenience she'd suffered as a result of its poor service.

7) Bank account emptied of 15,000 in number spoofing scam

When Mr M received a call on his mobile from his bank's phone number, he assumed he was speaking to one of its staff. Instead, fraudsters had used a technique known as number spoofing to hoodwink him into trusting them.

Mr M was told money had been taken from his account. After he answered a series of security questions and gave his account details, he was informed his account had been temporarily blocked and he wouldn't be able to use online banking, but he should go to his local branch next day to get it reactivated.

Bank transfer scam: Fraudsters used a technique knowm as number spoofing to hoodwink Mr M into trusting them

When he visited the branch it was closed for a bank holiday, and when he rang up instead he discovered he'd been a victim of fraudsters. They had almost entirely emptied his account, which held 15,000.

The bank tried to recover Mr M's money, but only got back 10. It refused to give him a refund of the full sum, saying he'd authorised the transfer himself so it wasn't responsible.

Ombudsman upheld complaint in part: As he had voluntarily given fraudsters his account details, the Ombudsman decided Mr M had effectively authorised the transfer, so it didn't order the bank to pay him back.

But it felt he had received poor service from his bank, which had failed to call him back as promised several times, adding to the stress and upset he already felt. The bank offered Mr M 200, which he accepted.

Loss by deception: Victim gave dealer an antique brooch to sell at auction, but both vanished

8) Antique brooch stolen by dealer

Mr L arranged for an antiques dealer to visit his home to value a brooch. He gave the dealer the brooch to sell at auction, but both then vanished.

Later, Mr L discovered that the dealer had been arrested after closing his business and absconding with more than 500 items.

He claimed for the brooch on his home insurance, but was turned down on the grounds it had been lost 'by deception'. The terms of his policy said the insurer wouldn't cover 'loss by deception unless the only deception used is to get into your home' - a common exclusion.

Mr L had asked the dealer to visit his home so he hadn't been deceived in that way, but he had been tricked into thinking the brooch would be sold at auction.

Ombudsman did not uphold complaint against insurer: It decided the firm hadn't acted unfairly in rejecting the claim.
Pharma firms were dragged lower amid talk of a Clinton clampdown on the drugs industry in the US.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for the country's presidential elections in November, has long been vocal on her plans to shake-up the pharmaceutical sector.

Last year she slammed one company which bought the rights to a drug used in HIV treatment and then hiked the price by 5,000 per cent.

Clinton called the practice 'outrageous' and vowed to take it on.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for the country's presidential elections in November, has long been vocal on her plans to shake-up the pharmaceutical sector

This week the prospective future president called for the price of the allergy drug EpiPen to be lowered after it was revealed it is four times more expensive than a decade ago.

Her strong stance on the industry sent shares spiralling as investors feared what pricing pressure could mean for profits. Hikma Pharmaceuticals was the greatest blue chip faller of the day as the FTSE 100 dipped 0.28 per cent, or 18.88 points to 6,816.9.

It was the second day in the red for the firm after a disappointing update on Wednesday, and a two-month low for the stock.

Shares slipped 3.5 per cent, or 78p, to 2150p. Shire slumped 2.45 per cent, or 123p to 4902p.

Elsewhere in the sector, Spire Healthcare rose as it revealed profits were up 15.9 per cent. The independent hospital group reported profit after tax of 35.7million in the six months to June 30, up from 30.8million in the same period a year ago.

Revenue climbed 4.4 per cent to 469.5million. Spire has also seen the number of in-patient and day admissions climb 2.5 per cent to 139,800 in the first half of the year. But an increase in spending meant net debt climbed slightly to 422.6million.

STOCK WATCH - SOPHEON Sopheon provides software which helps companies which are innovating and developing products. Its shares soared yesterday as it revealed revenue of 8.7million in the first half of the year, up from 6.4million in the same period a year ago. Pre-tax earnings climbed from 0.7million to 2.2million. Sopheon has released two products since the start of the year and has added more staff to deal with increasing demand, with total headcount at the firm now 110. Shares surged 19.7 per cent, or 46p to 280p.

The group has opened two new operating theatres in the first half of the year with four more under construction.

Work on new hospitals in Manchester and Nottingham is progressing and they are on track to complete in the first quarter of 2017.

Spire, which will maintain its interim dividend at 1.3p a share, says its guidance for the year is unchanged.

Executive chairman Garry Watts said while it was unclear how Brexit will affect the sector, NHS funding constraints will continue to put pressure on waiting list targets, which presents an ever-increasing opportunity. Shares advanced 2.74 per cent, or 9.4p to 352.4p.

Air Partner flew higher on a pre-close trading update, which revealed pre-tax profit for the first half of the year is expected to be not less than 3million. That compares with 2.2million in the same period a year ago.

The global aviation services group said its training and consultancy division had won new contracts in the first six months of the year, while like-for-like performance in its broking division was strong.

Liberum said it was an encouraging update and suggested an improvement in profit of at least 36 per cent. Shares soared 2.1 per cent, or 8.62p to 423p.

Business-to-business media firm Ascential, which organises exhibitions and festivals, and provides business intelligence, announced the acquisition of One Click Retail.

The company is a US-based e-commerce analytics provider, whose customer base includes Unilever, Nestle and Panasonic.

Founded in 2013, the business delivered revenue of 3.7million in 2015. The deal was for an initial 33.4million and is expected to complete by the end of the month. Ascential stumbled 1.1 per cent, or 2.9p to 265.5p.

Irish house builder Cairn Homes rose as it reported revenues of 13.7million in the first half of the year and pre-tax profit of 400,000.

The firm, which listed on the stock market in June last year, now has a land bank of 27 sites which it plans to develop into more than 11,500 units.

It is active on five sites, which will deliver around 1,150 units. Development on five more sites should begin within the next 12 months.

Some 112 houses have now agreed sales with 39 completing in the first six months of the year. It said its gross profit margin is 16.5 per cent.
Resignation: Lord Tim Bell was chairman of Bell Pottinger for 30 years

BELL QUITS Lord Tim Bell, the former spin doctor to Margaret Thatcher, has resigned as chairman of London-based PR giant Bell Pottinger.

It follows 30 years at the head of the firm in a career which saw the 74-year-old advise clients such as Oscar Pistorius after his murder charge and governments including Belarus and Saudi Arabia.

BUDGET BOOST Budget retailers have bolstered their takings by nearly a fifth to 4.9billion as millions of first-time shoppers flock to their stores, a new report has revealed.

Bargain stores such as Poundland and B&M saw a 17 per cent rise in sales in the year to July, according to retail performance data by Nielsen.

BRICK ROW A furious row has erupted after the National Association of Estate Agents suggested builders were 1.4billion bricks short of solving the housing crisis. Brick Development Association chief executive Andrew Eagles said the 'lazy analysis' was 15 months out of date and there was no shortage.

TAX BATTLE The European Union has rejected concerns raised by the US government that it is unfairly targeting American firms as part of investigations into sweetheart tax deals.

The commission opened tax probes into Apple in Ireland, Starbucks in the Netherlands and Amazon in Luxembourg as part of a crackdown on EU governments offering low corporate tax rates to multinationals.

JEWELLER WOE The owner of H Samuel has reported a 2.3 per cent fall in sales for the second quarter of the year amid weak demand for its jewellery ranges. Analysts were expecting sales at Signet to rise 1pc and shares fell sharply in New York.

BILLS RISE Millions of EE mobile customers are facing steep price hikes from September 28 for calls and messages made outside their pay monthly price plans.

The increases will see the cost of standard UK calls jump from 40p to 50p a minute, but the biggest hike is for international calls which will cost 1.60 a minute instead of 1.

ZOMBIE PROFITS Profits at insurer Phoenix rose 12million to 60million in the first half of 2016 as the zombie insurer  known because it owns life assurance funds closed to new customers  said it was looking for acquisitions to beef up its portfolio. Its dividend was unchanged at 26.7p.

Shares fell 1.9 per cent, or 16p to 829p.

SPECIAL DIVIDEND Investors in gambling software firm Playtech are cashing in with a 128million special dividend.
John Laing boss Olivier Brousse says Britain's infrastructure needs a major overhaul

Britain's airports must be upgraded without delay if the country is to retain its power as a trading hub, a top building boss has said.

John Laing chief executive Olivier Brousse believes the nation's infrastructure needs a major overhaul  and called on the Government to back growth.

Chancellor Philip Hammond is widely expected to announce fresh public spending in his Autumn Statement as he seeks to stave off a possible downturn.

Government borrowing costs have fallen to record lows in the wake of the Brexit vote as investors plough money into safe assets including UK gilts.

Heathrow and Gatwick have been battling to win support for another runway, with a decision due in October.

'Whether it's Gatwick or Heathrow is for the Government to decide. But the sooner they decide the better, because this country needs a new runway and more capacity,' Brousse said.

He also called on the authorities to invest in the railway network, energy and flood defences.

Brousse said international firms still saw the UK as a 'great venue' for investment and there was 'absolutely no doubt' investors would back British projects, despite the uncertainty of Brexit.

It came as Laing's profits more than trebled to 108.3million in the first half of 2016, up from 32.6million a year earlier, partly driven by a windfall from the drop in the pound, boosting the value of its foreign investments.

Dispute: Heathrow and Gatwick have been battling to win support for another runway, with a decision due in October

It is bidding for public-private contracts worth 1.3billion, up from 1.1billion a year earlier.

The dividend has been hiked by 15.6 per cent to 1.85p per share. Shares rose 7.5 per cent, or 17.7p to 254p.

Laing was not the only builder to announce a strong set of results yesterday as the industry largely shrugged off the Brexit vote.

Half-year profits at building materials giant CRH jumped from 53.9million to 348.3million, driven by growth in the Americas and the 4.9billionn acquisition of assets from rivals Lafarge and Holcim.

Shares rose 2.9 per cent, or 71p to 2540p.
A top German regulator has warned a takeover of the London Stock Exchange could pose a major risk to Europe's financial system.

Frankfurt-based Deutsche Boerse is planning to seize control of 215-year-old LSE in a deal worth 21million.

But Andreas Dombret, a board member at Germany's federal bank the Bundesbank, said he was concerned the tie-up could create a sprawling behemoth that was too big to be allowed to fail without massive costs, meaning taxpayers would be forced to pick up the tab.

Warning: Andreas Dombret, a board member at Germany's federal bank, said he was concerned the tie-up could create a sprawling behemoth that was too big to be allowed to fail

'When several clearing houses come together in a single exchange operation, I see it with a certain amount of concern,' Dombret said.

It came as the institutions submitted merger plans to competition authorities in Brussels amid scepticism in the UK and abroad.

The European Commission could sink the plans if it objects.

Dombret was echoing concerns raised in Britain by City grandee Lord Myners.

The former Treasury minister has said he feared British taxpayers might be left to foot the bill if the merged institution collapsed.

There is growing pressure on the Government to block the deal from critics who fear it is against Britain's national interest.
This article was first published in 2016 and some information is out of date. You can get a state pension forecast and find out your NI record

An overwhelming 80 per cent of workers have no idea how many years they must pay National Insurance to get a full state pension in old age, new research reveals.

A third are also unaware that missing NI payments during career breaks could affect their state pension - although more than half of workers take at least one year off work during their lives.

Workers need to make 35 years of NI contributions to get the full state pension, which is currently 155.65 a week for anyone retiring from April this year onwards.

Career breaks: More than half of people take at least one year off work during their lives for reasons including ill health, childcare and travel

However, the Government has moved the goalposts twice in recent years. It raised the minimum requirement from 30 years in April, after previously reducing it from 39 years for women and 44 years for men in 2010.

The latest change came as part of the switch to flat-rate payouts, a major overhaul that replaced the unwieldy two-tier system.

The new survey of 4,000 working age people by insurance giant Aegon found some 57 per cent underestimated the number of qualifying years needed to fully fund their state pension.

Around one in five thought you only needed to pay NI for either 20 or 30 years, while nearly one out of 10 overshot and said 45 years. Find a full breakdown below.

MPs and pension industry experts have called for all over-50s to be sent annual automatic state pension statements to combat lack of awareness about what people can expect to receive in retirement.

The Government has resisted on the grounds of cost, the inefficiency of sending out millions of letters, and because it already uses other measures to raise awareness.

HOW IMPORTANT IS A FULL STATE PENSION? The state pension provides a guaranteed income for life that remains the bedrock of most people's retirement finances, unless they are very rich. Sometimes the state pension can end up being the sole source of income aside from benefits, if someone is very poor. It's not enough to fund a comfortable retirement though, so pension experts strongly recommend people save into a private or workplace pension as well if they don't want to be left scrimping to pay for necessities in old age. Nevertheless, qualifying for a full state pension has become increasingly important as the quality of most private sector pensions has declined dramatically in recent decades due to the closure of generous final salary schemes. These used to provide a guaranteed income for life, on top of the guaranteed state pension. But nowadays, most people working for private companies are parked in stingier 'defined contribution' pension schemes. They end up with an unappealing choice between buying a poor value annuity or continuing to take investment risks in an income drawdown scheme when they reach retirement.

But it recently announced plans to write to some 100,000 people who currently aren't entitled to any state pension at all. Those with 10 or fewer qualifying years of paying NI are not eligible to get it.

Aegon's research also found some 55 per cent of British workers take a career break of upwards of a year at some point in their lives, rising to 61 per cent for women who are more likely to take time off for childcare.

A separate study released this week by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found women lose out on pay for 12 years after they have their first child.

Other reasons for career breaks besides having children include redundancy, ill health, travel, moving abroad and education. See the table below.

However, many people with NI gaps are entitled to credits towards a state pension depending on their circumstances - including taking time off to raise children.

To earn credits for the latter reason, you need to claim child benefit. If you are too rich to qualify for child benefit, you still need to do the paperwork and get put on a 'nil' rate so you won't miss out on state pension credits.

Anyone currently in line to receive no state pension or reduced payouts also has the option of filling in past NI gaps and buying top-ups.

If you want to find out your NI record and get a forecast of your state pension at retirement age, the Government is testing a new online prediction tool here.

Kate Smith, head of pensions, at Aegon UK, said: 'The fact that 80 per cent of people dont understand the potential implications of career breaks on their state pension just highlights the sheer scale of the task ahead to properly educate people about the new state pension.

'We already know that millions of people simply dont know how much they are set to receive, and these new statistics should ring alarm bells.

Aegon survey results: It asked people how many years of NI contributions are required to qualify for full state pension

'While it is encouraging that the Government is taking steps to rectify this unawareness, they really have just taken the first step on a long journey.

'To ensure no one loses out, every individual in the UK should be contacted and provided with an estimate of the state pension they are on target to receive  this will start to clear the widespread confusion and prevent people getting a nasty shock when they do reach state retirement age.

'This approach will not only force people to engage with their pension more often, it may also prompt them to review their private provision and in doing so, take stock on whether they are on course for the retirement they aspire to.'

GET YOUR STATE PENSION FORECAST NOW The Government is trialling a new online prediction tool for workers of all ages You can find the early 'beta test' version here and provide feedback. Read more here about state pension forecasts.

Steve Webb, former Pensions Minister and now director of policy at Royal London, said: 'The new state pension system has comprehensive protections in place for those who are not in paid work because they are bringing up young children or off sick.

'But it is certainly good advice for people to find out what state pension rights they have already built up and how many more years they need for a full pension. In the past it was necessary to ask for a statement in the post which was a slow and cumbersome process.

'But it is very welcome that individuals can now get a state pension statement on demand through a new Government website.'

Aegon survey asked: Have you ever been away from paid employment for more than one year for one of the following reasons?

'Because of extensive National Insurance credits, the real damage done by career breaks is not through the state pension but through the loss of workplace pension savings and the associated employer pension contribution.

'Those who take extended breaks from the workplace will need to save more on the return from a career break to make up for lost time.'

A DWP spokesperson said: 'We provide a range of National Insurance credits to help protect the state pension entitlement of people who are not working, including those on working age benefits and parents looking after their young children.

'The new state pension provides a solid foundation for retirement savings.'
Advertisement

Eleven children have been killed in a barrel bomb attack by Syrian government forces that left a total of 15 people dead in Aleppo.

Horrific pictures - many too graphic to publish - showed distraught parents pulling the lifeless bodies of babies and little girls from the rubble in the Bab al-Nairab suburb of Aleppo.

Rescue workers and devastated civilians dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings as they desperately searched for survivors.

Eleven children have been killed in a barrel bomb attack by Syrian government forces that left 15 dead in Aleppo. A Syrian man is pictured carrying a baby to safety

Rescue workers and devastated civilians dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings as they desperately searched for survivors. Syrians are seen pulling a wounded child from the rubble

Horrific pictures - many too graphic to publish - showed distraught parents carrying the bodies of babies and little girls from the rubble

One man carried out the lifeless body of a baby no bigger than his forearm.

Its eyes were closed and its body was white with dust except for speckles and smears of blood.

A civil defence worker was seen protecting the face of another dead child as his colleagues scraped away the rubble encasing the rest of the child's body.

'Fifteen civilians, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nayrab neighbourhood' in the south of Aleppo city, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

Syria's regime has been accused of regularly using barrel bombs - crude, explosive devices - on rebel-held areas that are home to civilians. Syrian rebel groups and ISIS are not believed to have used the weapons.

President Bashar al-Assad and his government deny using barrel bombs.

A Syrian man cries as he sits in the rubble of what was once a home in Aleppo on Thursday following the horrific attack

Pained: A wounded Syrian man clambers through rubble as he helps search for people trapped underneath the debris

Grieving: A group of women mourn the deaths of 15 people - including 11 children - in Aleppo today

Aleppo city has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

The city has been roughly divided between rebel control in the east and government control in the west since mid-2012, with each side bombarding the other and causing civilian casualties.

Russia today agreed to a weekly two-day ceasefire to allow aid into the city.

More than 290,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began, according to the Observatory.
A drug normally used to sedate elephants and other large animals is suspected of causing overdoses in several states across the country, where authorities say it has been mixed or passed off as heroin.

Carfentanil is one of the most potent opioids known to investigators. It is said to be 100 times more potent than Fentanyl, which has long been blamed for escalating the country's heroin troubles,

It is yet another twist in the fight against painkillers, in a country already awash in heroin and fentanyl cases.

Each time authorities start to get a handle on one type of drug, another seems to pop up, said Joseph Pinjuh, chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and narcotics unit for the U.S. attorney in Cleveland.

In July in Summit County, Ohio, 25 people overdosed on heroin mixed with Carfentanil and four died. Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has detected Carfentanil in Cleveland

Rayshon LaCarlos Alexander of Columbus, Ohio. Rayshon Alexander was arrested July 11, and has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts, including murder, following a death and nine other overdoses that investigators say were caused by drugs that buyers thought were heroin, but were actually the animal tranquilizer carfentanil, used to sedate elephants and other large animals

'You feel like a kid with his finger in the dike, you know?' he said. 'We're running out of fingers.'

A man suspected of selling carfentanil as heroin was indicted last month in central Ohio on 20 counts, including murder, in connection with a July 10 death and nine other overdoses that happened within hours of one another.

Some of the surviving users told investigators they thought they were buying heroin, but testing found none, Franklin County prosecutor Ron O'Brien said. The suspect, Rayshon Alexander, pleaded not guilty.

Investigators are trying to track down the source of the carfentanil. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said he was unaware of any thefts of the drug, which, he noted, could be shipped from abroad or produced here.

Chinese companies sell carfentanil online, but it hasn't shown up much in the U.S. drug supply, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

There hasn't been much evidence of carfentanil on the streets or in testing related to criminal cases, said agent Rich Isaacson, a spokesman for the DEA's Detroit Division, which covers Ohio.

The drug has been suspected in overdoses or found in seized drugs in central Kentucky, in Florida's Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas and in other Ohio cities.

Akron authorities have seen more than 230 overdoses in July, 20 of them fatal, and police said evidence of carfentanil was found in some of those.

Carfentanil is the most potent commercial opioid in the world (10,000 times stronger than morphine). Just one grain of this stuff, the size of a piece of salt, could kill a person

The drug is thought to be similar in strength to a painkiller known as W-18, which has shown up in heroin in Philadelphia, New England and Canada.

Such drugs up the ante in a market where sellers already mix powerful painkillers with or disguise them as heroin to increase their products' potency, which can increase overdose risks for users, especially when they're unaware of what they're using.

A traditional businessman might conclude that killing his customers is bad for business, but dealers looking to increase profits can find a burst of overdoses to be a boon, helping to draw customers to their product, Pinjuh said.

'They know that's the high that'll take you right up to the edge, maybe kill you, maybe not,' he said. 'That's the high that they want.'

Carfentanil is so powerful that zoo veterinarians typically wear face shields, gloves and other protective gear  'just a little bit short of a hazmat suit'  when preparing the medicine to sedate animals because even one drop splattered into a person's eye or nose could be fatal, said Dr. Rob Hilsenroth, executive director of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.

A loaded syringe of a reversal drug is kept on hand just in case, and the extremely limited carfentanil supply regulators allow for such facilities is kept locked away and subject to auditing, Hilsenroth said.

Investigators are taking the risks seriously. In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies last week, DeWine's office discouraged police from field-testing suspected heroin or fentanyl for fear it contains carfentanil or other potentially harmful synthetic opioids. Instead, the office recommended sending samples straight to a lab for testing.

DeWine said drugs used for animals have showed up in street drugs before, but carfentanil is so new on the investigative scene that the state's crime lab didn't even have a standard for comparing samples.

In some suspected carfentanil cases, emergency responders have had to administer multiple doses of the overdose antidote naloxone, often known by the brand name Narcan, to save people, but even the antidote might not be enough.
All four dogs, described as a Rottweiler and three mixed-breed animals, were seized by officials and could be

An 83-year-old man from Florida was torn apart and had his body partially eaten by a neighbor's four dogs, as other residents looked on in horror.

Authorities say Michael Jason Downing was found dead shortly after 4pm on Friday in the backyard of a home next to the apartment complex where he lived along Jesse Street in Jacksonville.

The owner of the animals, 52-year-old Lephus Felton, wasn't home when the attack occurred but he claims neighbors regularly agitate his animals.

Scroll down for video

Four-legged killers: These four dogs tore 83-year-old Michael Downing limb from limb in Jacksonville, Florida

Blaming the victim: The dogs' owner, Lephus Felton, said his dogs would not have attacked without provocation

A fence separates the Franklin Arms apartment complex from the home.

On Monday, neighbors pointed out several holes in the fence where they say Felton's dogs would slip through.

Mackenzie Partin was one of the neighbors who came upon Downing after the attack, describing it as one of the worst things she has ever seen in her life.

Video courtesy of WJXT

'There was only 30 percent left of his body, probably,' she said.

The woman said the elderly retiree, who was beloved by his neighbors and known to people in the community as 'Mr Mike', was torn limb from limb by the dogs and left barely recognizable.

Partin suggested that Felton's four dogs had dragged the retiree's body under the fence into their owner's yard to feast on his body.

Another neighbor told the Florida Times-Union that the dogs treated Downing as a rag doll', ripping off his legs and biting flesh off his head and arms.

The dogs (pictured), described as a Rottweiler and three mixed-breed animals, are in the process of being declared dangerous, which could result in them being put down

All four of Felton's dogs were seized by Animal Care and Protective Services to be evaluated.

As of Tuesday, the pets were in the process of being declared dangerous by city officials, which could result in them being put down.

Felton told News 4 Jax his dogs, described as a Rottweiler and three mixed-breed animals, were trained to guard his house and would not attack without being provoked.

He also put the blame on the victim, accusing Downing of antagonizing his pets, which he insisted were not vicious.

'So he had to stick his hands under there, so that's when they grabbed him, I guess,' Felton said.

The octogenarian had suffered a stroke recently, was using a wheelchair and weighed only about 100lbs.

A friend of Downings, Mark Jones, said that given his physical state, Downing would not have stuck his hand beneath the fence to agitate the dogs, which he claimed acted aggressively towards all passers-by.

'I knew it was coming,' he said of the deadly attack. 'It was just a matter of time.'

A neighbor said Felton's four dogs had dragged the retiree's body under this chain-link fence into their owner's yard to feast on his body

Lephus Felton said he was hopeful the Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services will return the dogs once they've evaluated them.

So far, no charges have been filed against Felton in connection to Downing's death.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reports, officers have been called to Felton's address more than a dozen times over the past five years, including for an animal complaint.

In April, an anonymous tipster called in claiming that Felton's dogs were being kept in 'small pens', 'living in filth', and that their owner struck them with a closed fist.

But when officers came to the residence to check on the animals, they found them to be in good health.

Felton was given a warning at the time, but Downing's neighbors believe more could have been done to prevent Friday's tragedy.

Downing's power of attorney told the station Action News Jax said the 83-year-old had worked at the tax collector's office for 30 years before retiring about a decade ago. Despite his health problems, Downing was active and well-traveled.

Those who knew Downing said he loved life and was a good neighbor.
Lawsuit claims revenue from the district court makes up nearly 12 per cent of the citys budget, second only to city and county sales tax

Judge Hale said in response to the lawsuit: 'We do not run a so called "debtor's prison" in Sherwood'

Fellow plaintiff Nikki Petree, has been in jail for more than 25 days because she was unable to pay $2,600 in fines to a bounced check for $28.93

Robertson was denied medication for pancreatitis and high blood pressure while in jail, according to the suit

A federal class action lawsuit was filed Tuesday accusing the City of Sherwood, Arkansas, of operating a de-facto debtors' prison that targets poor people whose checks bounce, including one man who was thrown in jail while battling pancreatic cancer.

According to the lawsuit, Sherwood and Pulaski County have violated the constitutional rights of thousands of residents through the prosecution of hot check cases.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed the lawsuit on behalf of four people who were jailed because they couldn't pay fines related to bounced checks and a Sherwood resident who is challenging the practice as a misuse of taxpayer funds.

Arkansas Judge Milas 'Butch' Hale III (left) last month sentenced pancreatic cancer patient Lee Robertson, 44 (right) to 90 days in jail over bounced checks worth $200, plus court fees

One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is Lee Robertson, who has been battling pancreatic cancer since 2009.

While undergoing his first round of chemotherapy six years ago, which left him unable to work, Robertson began paying for his everyday expenses with checks, and eventually he came to owe about $200 to a few local stores, reported Huffington Post.

Robertson's financial woes have landed him a jail seven times over the past six years, and in July, Sherwood District Court Judge Milas 'Butch' Hale III sentenced him to 90 days in the Pulaski County Jail for owing the local court more than $3,000 in fees and fines.

The lawsuit states that during his time behind bars, the 44-year-old cancer patient was denied medication for pancreatitis and high blood pressure.

A federal class action lawsuit against Sherwood, Arkansas, states that during his time in the Pulaski County Jail (pictured), Robertson was denied medication for pancreatitis and high blood pressure

Robertson ended up serving about a third of his sentence in jail, and his cancer is now in remission.

Another plaintiff in the case is Nikki Petree, a 40-year-old Arkansas woman who has been in jail for more than 25 days because she was unable to pay more than $2,600 in court costs, fines and fees related to a bounced check she wrote in 2011 for $28.93.

According to the lawsuit, Petree initially faced $700 in court fines, fees and restitution, but the amount ballooned over the years due to related failure to appear and failure to pay charges.

The legal groups representing the plaintiffs say the practice is part of a nationwide problem of poor defendants being jailed for not paying fines and fees they could never afford, an issue that was highlighted in Ferguson, Missouri after the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man in 2014.

'Through a labyrinthine  and lucrative  system, a single check for $15 returned for insufficient funds can be leveraged into many thousands of dollars in court costs, fines and fees owed to Sherwood and Pulaski County,' the lawsuit states.

Judge Hale, who presides over the court and is named as a defendant, denied the allegations.

'We do not run a so called "debtor's prison" in Sherwood,' Hale said in an email. 'If a defendant pleads guilty, or is found guilty, of writing a hot check we set up a payment plan. It is only after the third or fourth time that they fail to comply with a court order that we incarcerate.'

The lawsuit accuses Sherwood and Pulaski County officials of requiring defendants to waive their right to counsel before entering the courtroom and closing court proceedings to the public and the media.

Hale denied both claims, saying the court is open to the public and that defendants sign a waiver if they don't want an attorney, but only when they are before him for plea and arraignment or if they have decided to plead guilty at trial.

The groups also claim that the hot check court issues an arrest warrant each time a person fails to make a payment, regardless of their ability to pay, and uses each warrant as an opportunity to assess more fines and fees against the individual.

Judge Hale has denied allegations outlined in the lawsuit that the City of Sherwood was running a de-factor debtors' prison that targets poor residents

The groups say Sherwood relies on the hot check fines and fees as a significant revenue source for its operations. The city's receipts from district court fines and forfeitures were estimated to be at least $2.3million in the 2015 fiscal year, Sherwood's third-highest revenue source after city and county sales taxes, the lawsuit said.

Pulaski County has sent misdemeanor hot check cases to the Sherwood District Court since the 1970s, according to the lawsuit. The groups in the lawsuit also suggest that the practice is more widespread than just one county.

In Missouri, the US Department of Justice chastised the city of Ferguson in a report last year for what it called a profit-driven court system reliant on fines for petty violations.

The investigation, prompted by the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, by a white police officer, also found that the city's police department disproportionately targeted black citizens with stops and searches.
The Russian ex-fiance of Lindsay Lohan has retreated to Moscow after the end of their tempestuous relationship.

Egor Tarabasov was spotted shopping alone at a supermarket in the Russian capital, after recently being seen topless with a blonde Russian companion on a yacht on the French Cote d'Azur.

The 23-year-old property mogul is believed to be staying in a penthouse belonging to his multimillionaire father Dmitry, a construction firm owner.

Scroll down for video

Glum: Lindsay Lohan's former fiance Russian property tycoon Egor Tarabasov, 23, was spotted shopping at a supermarket in the Russian capital

Miserable: The 23-year-old, who owns a property company in London, is thought to have retreated following the break-down of his engagement to the 30-year-old actress

Split: His trip to Russia follows as holiday on the French Riviera and comes amid reports that Lohan (pictured) is in talks to do a tell all interview about their relationship on Russian TV

The young property entrepreneur, who is believed to also hold a British passport, is 'travelling around in a new Lexus car, often breaking traffic rules and speeding', according to Russian news outlet Life.ru.

'Having blamed each other for various sins, both Lindsey and Egor went away to take a rest from each other,' the news outlet reported.

'The red-haired celebrity sailed a yacht around Sardinia, and her ex-boyfriend had fun with a blonde Russian girl on the Cote d'Azur. '

It comes after reports that 30-year-old actress Lohan made a series of bizarre demands in order to appear on Russian talk show Pust Govoryat - meaning 'Let them talk' - for a tell all interview on their relationship.

Engagement off: Strangley, despite apparently calling off her engagement, Lohan (pictured) showed off her emerald engagement ring in a new Instagram photo on Monday

Happier times: The actress was given the ring by Tarabasov in April when he proposed after seven months of dating but the couple have separated following series of public rows

As well as 650,000, the actress reportedly demanded to stay in Moscow's most expensive hotel, the Ritz-Carlton.

Lohan also insisted that the show should not include Tarabasov or his parents.



Separately it is claimed that she demanded an audience with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, a private jet to fly her to and from Russia, a one-year visa, as well as a hairdresser, stylist and manicurist on board the jet.

The show's presenter Andrei Malakhov confirmed that Lohan has indeed asked for a meeting with Mr Putin.

Malakhov added: 'I would also like to get 80million annually and dine with the British Queen, but dreams and reality are two different things.

He said the amount she demanded was a little 'smaller'.

'Unlike Lindsey Lohan, we should take an unbiased look at the situation,' he added.

'There was certainly a wish to see the president of the Russian Federation.

'I don't know what she wants to talk to him about, maybe about saving Amur tigers or the problems of people fighting with drug addiction.'

While her former fiance is in Moscow (pictured), Lohan is apparently demanding 650,000 and a meeting with Putin to do a tell all interview with Russian TV about the relationship

Back home: The young property entrepreneur, pictured shopping in Moscow, moved out of Lohan's London home and is believed to be staying in a penthouse belonging to his father

The chat show TV network remains hopeful that Lohan will agree to lower her asking price to talk about her seemingly doomed engagement to Tarabasov, pictured in the back of a car

The chat show remains hopeful that she will finally agree to appear and will lower her asking price.

'We are not losing hope. Tomorrow she will wake up in a new mood and probably can change her mind,' continued Malakhov.

Lohan and Tarabasov broke up after series of public rows over the past few weeks.

Last month Lohan woke her entire street as she allegedly screamed her fiance was trying to kill her during an argument at 5am at her

home.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3706209/Lindsay-Lohan-accuses-Russian-millionaire-fiance-trying-strangle-late-night-row-London-home.html#ixzz4IKSu6zNs Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

A video showed the Mean Girls actress fleeing their vehicle with Tarabasov forcibly grabbing her.

She told the Mail On Sunday: 'I'm scared of what Egor might do to me and to himself.

'I realise now you can't stay in a relationship just for love. No woman can be hit and stay with that person if that person isn't prepared to say sorry.'

She also accused him of a furious attack during which she woke neighbours of her 3.6million Knightsbridge apartment - shouting: 'He just strangled me. He almost killed me.'

Fight: Lohan and Tarabasov famously fought on the beach while on holiday in Mykonos in Greece over a mobile phone as their whirlwind relationship fell apart

Row: Tarabasov and Lohan were pictured fighting over the mobile phone on holiday. He chased her in an attempt to grab the handset back and twisted her arm behind her back

Break: Lohan posted this photo on holiday and wrote: 'I am sorry that I've exposed certain private matters recently. We all make mistakes. Sadly mine have always been so public'

Broken engagement: In yet another row before they split, Lohan accused Tarabasov (both pictured) of a furious attack at her Knightsbridge apartment - shouting: 'He just strangled me. He almost killed me.'

The Sun reported her saying last week: 'Egor and I had been out for dinner. We danced, it was fun. When we got home I went to bed and Egor went out.
A Georgia man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for throwing scalding water on a gay couple sleeping in an apartment, leaving them with severe burns requiring surgery.

Jurors deliberated for about 90 minutes on Wednesday before finding Martin Blackwell, 48, guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault in the February attack on Anthony Gooden and Marquez Tolbert.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk said the evidence was overwhelming and that Blackwell had behaved in a soulless and malicious way.

He noted that it 'takes a long time' for a pot of water to boil.

Scroll down for video

Martin Blackwell, 48, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for throwing scalding water on a gay couple sleeping in an apartment, leaving them with severe burns requiring surgery

Burn victim Anthony Gooden gets help with his injured hand in court during the trial

Victim Marquez Tolbert cries as he describes the pain he endured while testifying in court on Tuesday

'You had so many outs where the voice of reason could have taken over,' the judge told Blackwell, who had faced up to 80 years in prison.

Prosecutors said it was a vicious, premeditated attack.

Tolbert testified that after pouring hot water on them, Blackwell grabbed him as he jumped and screamed in pain and told him: 'Get out of my house with all that gay.'

Georgia does not have a hate crime law.

The FBI said in March that it had opened a hate crime investigation, but spokesman Kevin Rowson said on Wednesday that the agency is not commenting on that probe.

Blackwell's defense attorney acknowledged that he poured water on the pair, but asked jurors to find that it was reckless conduct.

Blackwell was found guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault in the February attack

Gooden watches during Blackwell's trial on Wednesday in Atlanta. Prosecutors called the attack vicious and premeditated

A lawyer holds a pot they say Blackwell used to pour boiling water on his girlfriend's gay son and his friend during court on Tuesday

'It's not about hate. It's about old-school culture, old-school thinking,' Monique Walker told the jury.

The defense did not call any witnesses and did not present any evidence.

Blackwell, who remained stoic throughout the trial, did not take the stand, and he showed no reaction when the verdict was read.

He was a long-distance truck driver and lived with his girlfriend, Kim Foster, at her sister's apartment in College Park when he was in town.

Gooden, who is Foster's son, and Tolbert had been dating about a month and were sleeping at the apartment on February 12 after working an overnight shift when Blackwell dumped scalding water on them.

Blackwell's attorney said her client felt the young men's behavior was disrespectful and that there were certain things people sharing a house should not do.

Tolbert, pictured with second and third-degree burns and his back and arms, said he remembers screaming in pain as Blackwell lifted him out of bed and threw him out the front door

Gooden (pictured after the attack) suffered burns so severe he had to be placed in a medically-induced coma for two weeks

Gooden is the son of Blackwell's then girlfriend. He and Tolbert (pictured together) had been dating about a month at the time of the vicious incident

Prosecutor Fani Willis scoffed at the idea.

'We're not going back to when you get to treat people differently because of who they are,' she said in closing arguments.

Walker said Blackwell often made inappropriate comments to various members of the household  asking about their sex lives and calling them derogatory names  and throwing water on the pair was just an extension of that reckless behavior.

He did not intend to hurt the young men, he just wanted to get them to stop their disrespectful behavior, she said.

The prosecutor said Blackwell's actions were well thought out.

He took the time to select the biggest pot in the house, filled it with water and waited for it to boil.

That gave him plenty of time to think about what he was doing and the consequences, Willis said.

The judge said the evidence was overwhelming and that Blackwell had behaved in a soulless and malicious way.

Dr. Juvonda Hodge, assistant director of the Grady Hospital Burn Center, talks about severe burns during the trial

Tolbert, right, sits with his mother Jaya Tolbert and his grandfather Johnny Tolbert as they listen to the verdict on Wednesday

Tolbert hugs his mother following the trial on Wednesday. Following the incident, the 21-year-old spent 10 days in hospital

Gooden, 24, spent about a month in the hospital, two weeks of that in a medically induced coma.

Meanwhile Tolbert, 21, spent 10 days in the hospital.

Both men suffered severe burns that required multiple surgeries and skin grafts.

They both testified on Tuesday that they suffered great pain and were unable to perform even the most basic everyday tasks  eating, bathing and using the bathroom  without help when they got out of the hospital.

'I'm ecstatic. I think justice has been served,' Tolbert told reporters after the verdict.

He was nervous before the trial, but once he testified about what had happened he felt a weight lift, he said.

Blackwell pictured as he is led out of the courtroom after being found guilty during his trial

Having gone through such an ordeal makes him realize that life is precious, Tolbert said, and he is ready to move on and focus on going to school to study architecture with a minor in computer engineering.

He and Gooden remain friends and check in on each other to see how the other is healing, he said.
The American Film Institute has canceled plans to screen writer-director Nate Parker's 'The Birth of a Nation' for students this week amid controversies surrounding a 17-year-old rape accusation against Parker and his co-writer, Jean Celestin.

The school planned to show the film and host a Q&A with Parker for its fellows, but late Tuesday, AFI dean Jan Schuette sent a note to students saying they would postpone until later in the year.

It would have marked the first time Parker has appeared in public since the case resurfaced nearly two weeks ago. Parker was acquitted.

Scroll down for video

The American Film Institute has postponed a screening of the film 'The Birth of Nation' over resurfaced allegations that writer-director-star Nate Parker (pictured in April) raped a woman 17 years ago

The Birth of a Nation is loosely based on the story of Nat Turner, a slave who led a rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831. Parker stars as Turner in the film. Parker stars as Turner in the film, which is expected to be a Oscar favorite this year

Schuette said the school plans to hold a moderated discussion to explore issues of 'messenger and message, gender, race and more.'

Fox Searchlight still plans to release 'The Birth of a Nation' on October 7.

The Birth of a Nation is loosely based on the story of Nat Turner, a slave who led a rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831. Parker stars as Turner in the film.

The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, during which in made history by landing a $17.5million distribution deal with Fox Searchlight Pictures - the largest worldwide rights deal made at the festival to date.

In won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize in U.S. Drama at the festival. It is not to be confused with the 1915 silent film of the same name, a pro-Ku Klux Klan film about the American South during and after the Civil War.

Parker and Celestin, who are both African-American, stood trial in 2001 charged with rape, sexual assault, indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Details of how Parker (right, with Celestin, left, and former wrestling coach Kerry McCoy, center) and his co-accused, Celestin, defended themselves have been seen by DailyMail.com

The defense was fiercely criticized by the prosecution for introducing the accuser's sexual history to the court, and even submitted a photo of the alleged victim with her ex-boyfriend, Michael Diggs (pictured together above)

The alleged assault took place on the night of August 21, 1999, when both men and their accuser were students at Penn State University. Parker and Celestin attended on wrestling scholarships.

Last week it emerged that the alleged victim committed suicide in 2012 at the age of 30.

Parker issued a statement on Facebook saying that he did not want to take away from the late woman's 'pain' but continues to protest his innocence.

The scenario all three  Parker, Celestin and the alleged victim  had painted was, in large part, the same.

Parker claimed he had sex with the alleged victim and beckoned Celestin into his room to join him.

Both men claimed that the alleged victim was an enthusiastic participant in what followed as Celestin put his penis in her mouth, before the men switched positions and carried on.

In contrast the victim recalled regaining consciousness to find Parker on top of her having sex with her.

In another flash of scant memory she recalled Celestin putting his penis in her mouth. This was not consensual sex, she alleged, but rape.

But according to the defense the catalyst to her allegation was her guilt at being a willing player in the events of the night of August 21 when, after a night of heavy drinking, she had sex with two black men.

In cross examination of the alleged victim the defense repeatedly and pointedly described the men whose company the alleged victim kept through out the evening and into the night of the attack not simply as 'men' but as 'black men'.

The court heard testimony from her in which she claimed that the next day she told a mutual acquaintance that she had been raped and he responded, 'I'm sick of white b****** crying rape'.

Rugi Kavamahanga was also a student at Penn State at the time and had been drinking with the alleged victim, Parker and Celestin and others in the Silver Screen Grill the night of the attack.

The group had gone back to Kavamahanga's apartment before Parker, Celestin and the alleged victim broke off and moved on to Parker's.

The alleged victim left her ID at Kavamahanga's place prompting her to speak with him and go round to his place the following day.

Today Kavamahanga, vehemently denies ever saying that he was 'sick of white b****** crying rape'.

Speaking to DailyMail.com the energy consultant who had a couple of classes with Parker that summer said: 'That's false. I never said that.

'I don't want to speak bad of the dead so I don't want to comment on her motivations but the next day she didn't tell me anything. She never told me about being raped.'

Parker was acquitted on all four counts with which he had been charged.
Advertisement

Hundreds of students have waved sex toys at a rally protesting a new law allowing concealed handguns on campus.

University of Texas students in Austin staged the protest on Wednesday after a Texas law allowing guns in classrooms, buildings and dorms took effect on August 1.

Organizers said the sex toys were used to mock what they consider an absurd notion that guns should be allowed in academic settings, and that the protest was called 'cocks not glocks'.

Hundreds of University of Texas students have waved sex toys at a rally protesting a new law allowing concealed handguns on campus

University of Texas students in Austin staged the protest on Wednesday after a Texas law allowing guns in classrooms, buildings and dorms took effect on August 1

Others carried signs with slogans on them such as, 'no guns on campus', 'no guns more fun', and 'gun free UT'.

Students were also seen carrying the sex toys, with some waving them in the air and others juggling them.

The rally's organizer Ana Lopez said she wanted the protest to be taken seriously, despite the use of sex toys.

'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,' Lopez told the Austin-American Statesman.

The protest organizers said they were using dildos in the rally because it was 'fighting absurdity with absurdity'

Organizers said the sex toys were used to mock what they consider an absurd notion that guns should be allowed in academic settings, and that the protest was called 'cocks not glocks'

A woman is seen with a sign reading 'gun free UT' during the rally on campus on Wednesday in Austin, Texas

Other protesters at the rally had signs and were seen juggling dildos while riding unicycles around campus on Wednesday

Students and staff at the university have fiercely opposed the law changes allowing license holder to have carry their concealed handguns to class

Students and staff at the university have fiercely opposed the law changes allowing license holder to have carry their concealed handguns to class.

One prominent dean left the school after the law passed in 2015. Several faculty members attended the rally.

Organizers said they distributed more than 4,500 free sex toys.

Some people, many carrying weapons, were also seen on campus on Wednesday holding signs supporting the law.

Texas has allowed concealed carry since 1995 but had kept college campuses gun-free until this year.

A student holds a sex toy in protest of the law while standing near a table with shirts reading: 'cocks not glocks'

Organizers said they distributed more than 4,500 free sex toys as part of the protest at University of Texas on Wednesday
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.
Advertisement

This is the dramatic moment a tornado flattened a Starbucks with people inside in central Indiana as eight twisters wreaked devastation in the area.

Brandon Mobley filmed the moment the store in Kokomo City belonging to the coffee giant was leveled as he sat in a nearby Chili's restaurant.

Despite customers and staff inside miraculously no one was injured. Staff members moved customers into an interior bathroom, where the group sat out the chaos.

Starbucks tweeted: 'Were relieved to report that all partners & customers from our store in Kokomo, IN are safe. Our thoughts are with all those affected.'

The National Weather Service says a single, long supercell thunderstorm that moved through Indiana produced six tornadoes.

Forecasters say those six were among at least eight tornadoes that touched down. Damage includes roofs torn off buildings, smashed vehicles and power loss to thousands.

Yet despite the destruction only 12 people have been injured, none seriously.

Brandon Mobley filmed the moment the store in Kokomo City belonging to the coffee giant was leveled as he sat in a nearby Chili's restaurant. The twister can be seen above approaching

The Starbucks begins to fall as the erratic weather takes hold. Staff members in the coffee store moved customers into a bathroom and sat out the chaos

As the tornado passes and the air becomes clearer the toppled store can be seen from the window of the Chili's restaurant

Aerial view: In a photo taken after the tornado passed the scale of the destruction of the Kokomo Starbucks can be seen from above

Crushed: The remains of the Starbucks can be seen in Kokomo, Indiana. Starbucks tweeted: 'Were relieved to report that all partners & customers from our store in Kokomo, IN are safe. Our thoughts are with all those affected'

No injuries: Angel Ramos (right) and other Kokomo Starbucks employees gathered customers in an interior bathroom until the storm passed. No-one was hurt. Fellow employee Susan Shockney (left) was not present when the building was hit

Indiana State Police spokesman Captain David Bursten said that the small number of injuries was thanks to citizens remaining cautious. 'We were very, very fortunate, and you have to credit the advance warnings and people heeding those warnings,' he said.

The weather service says one tornado was an EF3 with 165 mph winds. GOP vice presidential candidate and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence plans to leave the campaign trail Thursday to assess storm damage.

The weather service says two other thunderstorms produced separate tornadoes, one in Avon west of Indianapolis and one northwest of Lafayette, which is southwest of Indianapolis.

The service said a 'large and destructive tornado' hit 10 miles east of Kokomo, or about 40 miles north of Indianapolis before moving across the city at around 4pm.

Leveled: The Starbucks cafe (pictured) was completely leveled in the storm. Elsewhere in the city, half of the structures in a 16-building apartment complex had their roofs torn off

Destruction: Multiple tornadoes swept across central Indiana Wednesday, ripping apart homes, tearing up trees and gouging through neighborhoods. This shows the damage done to a home in the city of Kokomo

Crushed: More ruined homes in Kokomo. The city and Howard County declared a joint state of emergency, shutting down roads until 9pm, and advised all residents to be aware of funnel clouds

Ruined: This shows the destruction caused to entire neighborhoods in Kokomo, which was believed to have been hit by eight tornadoes Wednesday

A man walks through debris after a tornado in Kokomo. The fierce storm cut power to thousands of people

Devastated: Cindy Ropes comes out of her house as friend Stan Carter and son Ryan Ropes help her clear personal items from the house in Kokomo after the tornadoes

By 9pm the number of tornadoes touching down had increased to six, with other places hit including Arcana, 40 miles east of Kokomo; Crawfordsville, 40 miles west of Indianapolis; and Geneva, 39 miles south of Fort Wayne, according to ABC 7.

Among the 12 injuries that were registered by 8pm, almost all were in Howard County.

They included a resident who was trapped in his home by the storms. Meanwhile, a five-year-old in Montgomery County suffered a laceration.

Brian Karraker and Tony Jarrett make their way through the devastation out of Jarrett's aunt's house after checking on her in Kokomo

Tom Williams looks at his tornado damaged home in Kokomo. A joint state of emergency was declared by Kokomo and Howard County Wednesday

A joint state of emergency was declared by Kokomo and Howard County Wednesday, with all roads closed to people and motor vehicles, apart from emergency vehicles, until 9pm.

'Please avoid any areas affected by the tornadoes - do not drive to look at damage - allow emergency crews to do their work,' the county tweeted.

The city of Marion is also under a tornado watch.

A vehicle rests on another after a tornado struck in Kokomo Wednesday. Multiple tornadoes touched down in central Indiana tearing the roofs off apartment buildings and sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars

Tree branches rest on top of a vehicle after a tornado struck in Kokomo. The weather service says two other thunderstorms produced separate tornadoes

Danger: Multiple funnel clouds (such as this one in Kokomo) and tornadoes have been seen in the state

This photo shows a funnel cloud near Russiaville. Among the 12 injuries that were registered by 8pm, almost all were in Howard County

'It's crazy. It's a madhouse,' said Mitchell Carlson, a maintenance technician at the Park Place Apartments in Kokomo.

He added that the complex has 16 buildings and 'probably eight of them don't have a roof.'

But there have not been any injuries there, Carlson said, 'so, I guess we're all blessed at the Park Place'.

He estimated 20 to 30 cars had been damaged by falling tree limbs and air conditioners.

More than 39,000 customers were without power Wednesday evening, utility companies said, with more than 25,000 Duke Energy customers losing electricity in Howard County alone.

'We're just asking people to sit tight, especially if there's a tornado warning in their area, so they can stay as safe as possible,' Indiana Department of Homeland Security spokesman John Erickson said.

Emergency: Kokomo and Howard County jointly declared a state of emergency, closing roads until 9pm. This truck was seen in Marion, Indiana, which is under a tornado watch

Grey and Spring Rogers talk to Kokomo firefighters while trying to find their nine-year-old son who never came home from school after tornadoes ripped through Kokomo

In this photo provided by Frank Oliver, residents survey damage following a tornado south of Mace

A picture frame is seen inside a tornado damaged home in Kokomo. Indiana Governor Mike Pence stepped down from the Donald Trump campaign - for which he was chosen to be the vice presidential candidate - to return to his stricken state

Meanwhile, Indiana Governor Mike Pence stepped down from the Donald Trump campaign - for which he was chosen to be the vice presidential candidate - to return to his stricken state.

Pence was campaigning in North Carolina when the tornadoes touched down.

In a tweet, Pence told followers he was heading back to Indiana and asked 'Please keep Hoosiers in your prayers.'

In a tweet, Pence told followers he was heading back to Indiana and asked 'Please keep Hoosiers in your prayers'

Indianapolis cops spotted at least two funnel clouds close to the ground in the city south of Interstate 70, but they received no reports of damage, according to officer Jim Gillespie of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Local emergency dispatchers said only minor injuries had been reported. Indiana State Police observed a tornado northwest of the Montgomery County town of New Ross, or about 35 miles northwest of Indianapolis, the Weather Service said.

Indiana University Kokomo canceled all events on campus Wednesday evening due to the severe weather.

School officials in Avon, near Indianapolis, cited the severe weather in ordering all buses to return to the nearest school.

People walk by tornado damaged homes in Kokomo. Indiana University Kokomo canceled all events on campus Wednesday evening due to the severe weather

Powered down: These Kokomo power lines were damaged by a tornado. More than 39,000 people in Howard County were left without power after the storms
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.
Mohamed Roble, a survivor of the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse, was charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization

A survivor of the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse now faces terror charges after authorities say he traveled to Syria to join ISIS a few weeks after collecting $91,000 in settlement money.

Mohamed Amiin Ali Roble, 20, was charged yesterday with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

He was weeks shy of his 11th birthday when the school bus he was riding in plummeted about 30ft as the bridge collapsed, killing 13 people. Roble, one of 145 people who were hurt, received the settlement funds on his 18th birthday.

Roble's name first surfaced in May during the federal trial of three Minnesota men who were convicted of conspiring to join Islamic State.

Court documents filed yesterday show Roble received three court settlements when he turned 18 that totaled $91,654.

That money included a $65,431 payment from the state's settlement fund.

According to evidence presented in federal court in May, Roble flew to Istanbul in October 2014 as part of an itinerary that included a trip to China. He was due to return to the US in June 2015, but never did, FBI officer Joel Pajak testified.

'We received information that Mr Roble ended up in Syria with his uncle, Abdi Nur,' Pajak added.

The FBI affidavit says Roble withdrew more than $47,000 from his accounts over three months in 2014 while he was in Turkey.

Roble was a survivor of the collapsed portion of the Interstate 35W Highway bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 2007

'This large sum is consistent with previously mentioned CHS reports that Roble was financially supporting himself and other members of ISIL, including by purchasing vehicles to be used by members of ISIL,' the affidavit said.

'CHS' was a confidential informant working for the government.

Abdi Nur is among 10 men charged in the case and is believed to have joined the Islamic State group. Nine others have been convicted on terror charges in Minnesota.

Prosecutors say the men were part of a group of friends in Minnesota's Somali community who recruited and inspired each other to join ISIS. The FBI has said that roughly a dozen young men have left Minnesota to join militant groups in Syria in recent years.

The affidavit filed Wednesday says that Nur was last known to be living in Syria with Islamic State.
Senator Pauline Hanson has demanded a halt on Muslim immigration after a man allegedly screamed 'Allahu Akbar' when he fatally stabbed a British backpacker.

The One Nation leader weighed in on the latest attack after Smail Ayad allegedly killed Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, in a bloody rampage at a backpacker hostel.

Police alleged the knife-wielding killer shouted 'Allahu Akbar' when he butchered the young woman and left another British man Tom Jackon, 30, fighting for his life.

The outspoken politician said she felt 'disgusted to hear yet another fatal, suspected terror attack in Australia that already has a link to Islamic extremism'.

'The attack in Home Hill, south of Townsville on Tuesday night could well be the first Islamic terrorist attack in Queensland and I want some answers,' Ms Hanson said.

Scroll down for video

Senator Pauline Hanson (pictured) has demanded a halt on Muslim immigration after a man allegedly screamed 'Allahu Akbar' when he fatally stabbed a British backpacker

British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung (right) was 'living her dream' on a gap year in Australia when she was allegedly stabbed to death by Frenchman Smail Ayad (left) at a hostel

'I'm not going to be silenced on yet another attack involving Islamic extremism  especially one occurring in the state I'm representing in the senate.

'Let's be very open in calling out any religious motivation i.e Islamic extremism, in this attack.'

On Tuesday, Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski confirmed investigators would look into the matter of extremist motives, mental health issues or drug use following the tragic death of the backpacker.

But Senator Hanson believes police are trying to downplay any possible terrorism links as she used the attack to repeat her controversial call for a moratorium on allowing Muslims to immigrate to Australia.

'These violent incidents in the name of Allah clearly show we need a moratorium on Muslim immigration,' she said.

'Our own government and Commonwealth have signalled a bright yellow warning to Australians of a probable threat of terrorism on home soil.

'That threat now appears to have become a reality.'

The outspoken politician said she felt 'disgusted to hear yet another fatal, suspected terror attack in Australia that already has a link to Islamic extremism'

Her comments comes on the heels of Maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter who said 'the time has come' to stop people from the Middle East and North Africa coming to Australia.

'The time has come now to stop people from those countries coming to Australia,' Mr Katter told Sky News.

He said even strict Islamic nations Saudi Arabia and Dubai had banned immigrants from North Africa, and Australia should follow suit.

'I think that the risks to the Australian people now are so great that that should not occur anymore,' Mr Katter said.

Maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter has called for a ban on people from the Middle East and North Africa coming to Australia

Mr Katter said people fleeing to Europe has led to a mass murder attempted every six days as he feared the same happening in Australia.

'It seems to me that we're having a mass murder or an attempted mass murder every three weeks in Australia,' he said.
Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay were sixth and seventh in the list

Restaurants in Cornwall and Nottingham placed second and third

It is seen not only as the culinary capital of Britain, but one of the top dining destinations in the world.

However, London certainly doesnt have a monopoly on the best places to eat out in the UK, according to a new guide.

In fact, those in search of Britains best restaurant should head to LEnclume, in Cumbria.

Scroll down for video

Perfect ten: Simon Rogan's L'Enclume in Cartmel, Cumbria, has received top marks in the Good Food Guide for the first fifth year running

Wizardry: The guide praises the 'soaring sophistication' of Mr Rogan's cooking and the 'clever elements' in the 17-course tasting menu. His restaurant is housed in a 800-year-old smithy

Simon Rogans eatery, housed in an 800-year-old former smithy in the village of Cartmel, has been scored a perfect ten by the Good Food Guide for the fifth year running. It has been crowned the UKs top restaurant for the fourth time.

The guide praises the soaring sophistication of Mr Rogans cooking, noting that the 130 17-course tasting menu of seasonal British food boasts clever elements of technical wizardry to keep the oohs and aahs going. In fact the guides top three venues  which are all double Michelin-starred  are outside London.

It also awarded a score of ten to Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Port Isaac, Cornwall, taking it to second place in the top 50 list.

French influence: Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham came third on the list with a score of nine

The fish restaurant is praised for its first-class food and knowledgeable, welcoming service. Meanwhile, Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham  heavily influenced by French cooking  takes third place with a score of nine.

Pollen Street Social and Hibiscus, which also scored nine, are the first London venues on the list, in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Next come the homes of some of Britains best-known celebrity chefs. The triple Michelin-starred Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire  the flagship restaurant of Heston Blumenthal  is sixth in the guide. Previously, it has been named the best restaurant in the world.

The Fat Duck is followed by Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, west London, which also has three Michelin stars.

Flagship: Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck in Bray, Wiltshire, was sixth on the list. It has previously been named the best restaurant in the world and has three Michelin stars

Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Chelsea was pipped by Mr Blumenthal's eatery into seventh

Several more unusual locations also feature, including three restaurants housed in old shipping containers  Cook House in Newcastle, Craftworks Street Kitchen in Truro, Cornwall, and Kricket in Brixton, South London.

The guide also raves about the modern marvel that is the independently-run Gloucester Services on the M5, which includes a gourmet cafe committed to locally-sourced food. Shucks at the Yurt, a restaurant set up in a tent in Thornham, Norfolk, by husband and wife team Philip and Beth Milner, has also been recognised.

Spoke and Stringer  part of a bike and surf shop in Bristol  is another unusual choice on the list.

First-place chef Mr Rogan said: Its a huge achievement but could not happen without a massive team effort. For me, its a privilege to lead this outstanding group of people.

Phillip Milner outside his Shuck's at the Yurt, a restaurant housed in a tent in Thornham, Norfolk, which has been recognised in the influential Good Food Guide

Theres no doubt that LEnclume is approaching the most creative period in its history, and achieving the quality I dreamed of when I first opened its doors.

Many of the restaurants dishes use unusual ingredients foraged from the local countryside.
The Minnesota police officer who shot Philando Castile dead during a traffic stop has been taken off duty just days after being allowed back on the streets.

Officer Jeronimo Yanez briefly returned to limited duty last week in the city of St. Anthony almost seven weeks after gunning down the 32-year-old in his car.

But senior cops decided to put him back on leave 'after reviewing concerns and other feedback from the community'.

Yanez fatally shot Castile during a traffic stop on July 6 in nearby Falcon Heights.

Officer Jeronimo Yanez (left), the Minnesota cop who shot Philando Castile (right) dead during a traffic stop has been taken off duty just days after being allowed back on the streets

Castile's girlfriend  who live 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.

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.

Castile's girlfriend  who live video streamed the shooting's gruesome aftermath live on Facebook (above) said Castile was shot several times while reaching for his ID after telling the officer he had a gun permit and was armed

'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.'

St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth had defended Yanez in the wake of the shooting

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 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.

Castile's family and supporters have demanded that Yanez be charged. Protests have also erupted outside the city's police station
It is a stark contrast.

Sydney mum Fadila Chafic, 26, was pictured on Tuesday wearing a 'burkini' full-length swimsuit as she taught her children, four-year-old Taaleen and two-year-old Irbahim, to swim at a suburban pool in Sydney.

The seemingly everyday act came as a photograph of French police forcing a Muslim woman to remove her full-length burkini as she sat on a beach in Nice, because of terrorism fears.

The blue burkini covered all but Ms Chafic's face, feet and hands as she was seen floating by the edge of the pool and splashing in the water at the Blue Water Swim School in Condell Park with the two young children.

Scroll down for video

Fadila Chafic (pictured), an Australian swimming instructor, wore a blue burkini on Tuesday as she swam in a west Sydney pool with her two children, Taaleen and Ibrahim

On Wednesday a woman lying on a beach in Nice was asked by four police officers to remove her long sleeve top and issued a fine for $56AU (pictured) as crowds looked on

Meanwhile tensions are rising in France as police actively enforce new bans on burkinis in several coastal towns across the country, including Cannes, Nice and Villeneuve-Loubet.

Ms Chafic said the bans across France are 'unfortunate' and 'makes [her] fearful about this generation and coming generations.'

'Whether it is for sun protection or just to cover up for modesty - taking religion out of it - I don't think we should be told what we can and can't wear - it's their individual choice.'

'We're in the 21st century in a time where we teach our children to accept everyone as we are and to be free of judgement,' she said.

The baggy blue burkini covered all but Ms Chafic's face, feet and hands (pictured)

She was seen floating by the edge of the pool and splashing in the water with the two young children (pictured)

Four police officers approached a Muslim woman lying on a beach in Nice on Wednesday and ordered her to remove her long sleeve shirt.

Crowds watched as the woman peeled off the blue shirt but kept her full-length black pants on.

It is believed the woman was handed an on-the-spot fine for $56AU and ordered to adhere to the beach dress code, which outlaws swimming attire that covers the entire body.

Ms Chafic is an instructor at Blue Water Swim School near Bankstown Airport

Pictures of the Muslim mother's swimming costume have emerged as tensions continue to rise in France after burkinis were banned in several coastal towns, including Nice (pictured) and Cannes

Australian designer of the burkini, Aheda Zanetti (left), told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday the incidents in Europe have upset her

It is the latest in a series of incidents involving bans on Muslim-style clothing.

A 34-year-old woman was fined last week and ordered off of a Cannes beach for wearing a headscarf.

Four more women were each fined for wearing their burkinis on the same beach just a few days prior and pictures show officers closely watching the women as they swam before approaching them.

Salwa Elrashid models a 'burkini', at Ms Zanetti's fashion store in Sydney

'It is disturbing and upsetting that Muslim women once again have been targeted and punished for such a political issue due to the clothing they are wearing,' Ms Zanetti said

Australian designer of the burkini, Aheda Zanetti, told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday the incidents in Europe have upset her.

'It is disturbing and upsetting that Muslim women once again have been targeted and punished for such a political issue due to the clothing they are wearing.'

'People have misunderstood what it is, it's just a swimsuit. It's a choice of theirs to be modest. They believe that we are forced to wear a full covered swimsuit, they misunderstand that it is a face covering obsession. That we are forced to do things we don't want to do but that is totally 400% incorrect.'

'For a politician to say "no this is not how you feel, this is not right" this is taking away our freedom.'

Zanetti, who moved from Lebanon to Australia 40 years ago, created the swimming costume after finding it difficult to find appropriate sporting attire for Muslim women.

A 34-year-old woman was fined last week and ordered off of a Cannes beach for wearing a headscarf
'Poster girl': Andrea Brown says she has lost her self-confidence

Scotland Yard officers illegally spied on a fellow detective when she went on sick leave.

They cited non-existent legislation to monitor Andrea Brown, whose image had been used on promotional posters.

The former detective constable was put under investigation when she took her teenage daughter to Barbados to see family while off with depression.

She was in potential breach of disciplinary rules by telling her Police Federation representative about the trip and not her line manager.

But senior officers at Sutton police station in south London used powers designed to investigate serious crime and terrorism to obtain private information about her whereabouts.

Detective Inspector Sarah Rees approached the National Border Targeting Centre, which collects data on people leaving and entering the country.

She also approved an application to Virgin Atlantic to obtain details of Miss Browns movements, citing a non-existent Police Act 2007.

Miss Brown, whose face appeared on a poster in the lobby of New Scotland Yard for several years, said she was shocked by the intrusion.

They are the ones who are supposed to be upholding the law, and protecting members of the public by chasing after people who have broken the law  criminals, she told the BBC.

I am not a criminal, my daughter is not a criminal. I cant understand why they would feel justified in taking the action they did. It was totally excessive.

Details of the illegal spying operation will be seized on by critics of the police who claim they already have access to too much personal data.

Miss Brown's face appeared in a poster campaign in the lobby of New Scotland Yard for several years. She said she was shocked by the intrusion

Campaigners say there are insufficient safeguards and scrutiny to ensure operations are conducted within the law without invading peoples personal lives.

The revelations came in a civil case at the Central London County Court, during which a judge criticised the actions of the officers involved.

Judge Jan Luba QC said Det Insp Rees demonstrated a glib, almost flippant attitude and appeared to have a loose and casual grasp of the law.

Miss Brown, who spent more than 20 years with the Metropolitan Police Service, before resigning in 2013, is now in line for substantial compensation.

She sued the Met and Greater Manchester Police, which helps run the NBTC, over breaches of data protection, human rights, and misuse of personal information.

Both forces admitted the breaches before a full hearing could take place. A further claim for misfeasance in public office was thrown out. Miss Brown said the experience left her close to a breakdown and she had been forced to sell her home in order to fund the 80,000 cost of her legal action.

She said: I lost all my confidence and sense of self-worth and, at times, I felt close to a complete nervous breakdown.

I have gone from having a well-paid job and living comfortably to always worrying about money.

Her solicitor advocate, David Gray-Jones said: What is significant is that the judge commented that the senior police officers involved in this case didnt appear to have any appreciation or understanding of the laws that regulate their conduct in this area, and didnt acknowledge that they had done anything wrong.

The case will raise concern over whether the police are going beyond their powers to probe into the lives of members of the public, where not warranted.

According to the campaign group, Big Brother Watch, between 2011 and 2015 there were more than 2,300 data breaches by police officers and staff in the UK.

In a statement, the Met Police said: A final judgement and ruling on damages is awaited from the court and expected in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we will not be commenting further on the case.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: We acknowledge the findings of the court.
The phone call was recorded while Vincent was in jail for rape and murder

NSW Premier Mike Baird said said the sentence is not

A phone call between Stephanie Scott's murderer Vincent Stanford and his twin brother, Marcus, reveals the moment Marcus aided his brother to cover up the murder.

Marcus Stanford, 25, was jailed on Wednesday for 15 months for being an accessory after the fact to the murder of the popular Leeton High School teacher when it was found he pawned her two rings for $705.

Authorities are expected to appeal the sentence as outrage grew on Thursday at its short length.

Marcus was recorded speaking to his brother - who was in jail for the rape and murder of Mrs Scott in NSW - about having sold the rings sent to him in an envelope, the ABC reported.

Another few weeks in prison: With time already served, Marcus Stanford will be freed from jail on September 9, 2016

'So what did you do with the stuff that I sent you?' Vincent questioned his brother from prison.

'Exactly what you told me to do,' Marcus replied. Vincent had told his brother to pawn the rings at a shop in Adelaide.

'Did you get a fair bit for it?' Vincent asked.

'Yeah, yeah, yeah,' Marcus replied.

'That's good,' Vincent said.

'What did you do with the money?' Vincent asked.

'Oh you know, paid for the plane ticket for the trip and all that,' Marcus replied.

Marcus informed police that it was 'misplaced loyalty' that saw him open the envelope sent to him by his brother, a week after he was arrested.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said he did not think the sentence was appropriate.

'When there is a crime such as this we need the appropriate justice and certainly on what has been presented that doesn't seem to be the case to me,' Mr Baird said on Wednesday.

'The attorney-general (Gabrielle Upton) is reviewing every possible avenue in terms of actions she can take.'

Stephanie Scott (pictured) was murdered days before her wedding to Aaron Leeson-Woolley

Stanford's decision to sell the bride-to-be's rings, which were mailed to him by his brother Vincent, was 'utterly appalling, disgraceful and inexcusable', said Justice Robert Allan Hulme in the NSW Supreme Court sitting at Leeton on Wednesday.

Stanford must have known the two rings his brother sent him in the mail belonged to the bride-to-be, Justice Hulme said.

His brother Vincent Stanford attacked the 26-year-old teacher at Leeton High School, in the state's Riverina, on Easter Sunday 2015, less than a week before she was due to marry her childhood sweetheart.

Vincent Stanford dragged her to a store room, sexually assaulted her and stabbed her in the neck.

The murderer removed Ms Scott's engagement ring given to her by fiance Aaron Leeson-Woolley, and a graduation ring from her mother, and sent them with her driver's licence in an envelope to his brother's Adelaide address.

Marcus Stanford sold the rings for $705 at an Adelaide jewellery store and burned the driver's licence.

Merrilyn Scott ,the mother of murdered bride-to-be Stephanie Scott, has penned a victim impact statement as Marcus Stanford awaits sentencing later this week

Given the heavy media coverage at the time, Marcus Stanford must have known the rings had been stolen 'in the context of the murder of a woman' and were of 'great sentimental value', Justice Hulme said.

Vincent Stanford has admitted raping and murdering Ms Scott and will be sentenced in October.

Justice Hulme said the seriousness of Marcus Stanford's crime was in the low range for such offences, an assessment with which the prosecution agreed.

Leeton Shire Mayor Paul Maytom said the community was likely to feel 'uncomfortable' with Marcus Stanford's sentence considering his connection to such a horrific crime.
A video has emerged of a tourist bargaining for the life of a baby whale shark caught by fisherman in Indonesia.

Video posted to YouTube shows fishermen from Ambon, in the east of Indonesia, proudly displaying their catch while the shark lies passively in half a foot of water.

Locals can be seen taking video on their phones and climbing on the back of the slow-moving fish, which can grow up to 40-feet in length.

A video has emerged of a tourist beggin for the life of a baby whale shark caught by fisherman in Indonesia

Locals in Ambon can be seen taking video on their phone and climbing on the back of the fish

After getting off a nearby boat, a Russian diver intervenes to save the shark.

He negotiates with the fisherman and agrees to pay 1 million rupiah ($75) to have the gentle giant released.

Whale sharks, the world's largest fish, are protected under Indonesian law, but demand for their meat, fins and oil means they're under threat by poachers.

The ICUN Red List of Threatened Species has categorized the animal as endangered and says that over the past 75 years the global whale shark population has declined more than 50 percent.

The animal is found throughout the tropical and temperate seas of the Indonesian archipelago.

Whale sharks are protected under Indonesian law, but demand for their meat, fins and oil means they are under threat by poachers

A Russian diver (front) intervenes to save the shark after getting off a boat

With the help of a translator (right) the diver agrees to pay 1 million rupiah ($75) to have the gentle giant released

The whale shark, which is the world's largest fish, is released and swims away
In a glimpse of what the future may hold, tiny microchips are being implanted in humans so they can unlock doors and get into their computers without using keys or passwords.

Sydney woman Shanti Korporaal has had two implants inserted in her hands which she now uses like she has superhuman powers, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

Her goal now is to completely do away with her wallet and cards so that she can lead a futuristic lifestyle, and the sky's the limit as to what can be done next.

Shanti Korporaal has had two implants inserted in her hands which she now uses like she has superhuman powers

'You could set up your life so you never have to worry about any password or PINs' she said.

'It's the same technology as Paypass, so I'm hoping you'll be able to pay for things with it.

'With Opal you get a unique identification number that could be programmed into the chip. Any door with a swipe card... it could open your computer, photocopier. Loyalty cards for shops are just another thing for your wallet.'

The implant is almost impossible to spot as it is just the size of a grain of rice. The microchips can be used in the same way as a smartphone and store complex data.

Ms Korporaal (pictured) can now get into work and her car without carrying a card or keys

Ms Korporaal has even set up a distribution service for the implants with her husband, Skeeve Stevens, called Chip My Life in what is a niche market.

However, although it is a niche market at the moment it is gaining interest as a firm in Sweden proved when it gave its employees the choice of having chips implanted instead of a work pass - more than 400 took up the offer.

She said that with technology continually improving films like the Terminator and Matrix were no longer so far-fetched and the idea of 'super-humans' was now a real possibility.
This is the first picture of the tragic 18-month-old girl killed in the Italian earthquake as she slept in her cot.

Marisol Piermarini's grandfather Massimo desperately tried to save his family when the holiday home they were staying in collapsed as the catastrophic 6.2-magnitude quake struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

'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,' he told local media.

18-month-old Marisol Piermarini (pictured as a baby) was killed as she slept in her cot while on holiday in Arquata del Tronto

The baby's mother Martina Turco and father Massimiliano were taken to hospital with 'many wounds' after being pulled from the rubble

Little Marisol's mother Martina Turco and father Massimiliano Piermarini were also inside the demolished house in Arquata del Tronto but survived after being pulled out from the rubble.

They were taken to hospital with 'many wounds' as it emerged it is the second deadly tremor mother Martina has survived after being caught up in the 2009 quake in nearby L'Aquila which claimed more than 300 lives.

Martina moved away from the area after the terrifying experience only to be caught in another quake.

Rescuers are pictured working in Arquata del Tronto on Wednesday as the toll of the quake became clear

Pictures show the damage caused to buildings in the town after the devastating quake

The details emerged as Italian authorities said that the death toll from the earthquake had risen to 250.

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.

Among the victims was a nine-month-old baby girl whose parents survived 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.

Rescuers carry a body from the ruins of a building in Arquata del Tronto, Italy

The tremors reduced three towns to rubble and sparked urgent search efforts

Amid scenes of carnage, dozens of emergency services staff and volunteers were preparing to work through the night in the hope of plucking more survivors from the ruins

Dramatic footage showed the moment a ten-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble after spending 17 hours trapped upside down in debris from the Italian earthquake
Hillary Clinton's closest State Department aides were closely involved in coordinating events, talking points, and projects with the Clinton Foundation, according to emails, despite ethics agreements that were intended to create a firewall between Clinton's office and her family's foundation.

Emails released by the watchdog group Citizens United on Tuesday show Clinton aides Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills were in regular contact with foundation officials on topics ranging from the programming at Clinton Global Initiative events to Bill Clinton's public remarks.

While Clinton signed an ethics agreement saying she would not be personally involved with State Department matters related to the Clinton Foundation, her closest staffers were bound by no such restrictions, according to the State Department.

Scroll down for video

Hillary Clinton's closest State Department aides were closely involved in projects with the Clinton Foundation, according to emails, despite ethics agreements intended to create a firewall between Clinton's office and her family's foundation

'Secretary Clinton's ethics agreement at the time did not preclude other State Department officials from engaging with or having contact with the [Clinton] Foundation,' said spokesperson Mark Toner during the State Department press briefing on Monday.

Toner was commenting on phone logs from Cheryl Mills's office that were published this week, which showed Mills corresponded extensively with the Clinton Foundation's chief operating officer.

Clinton signed an ethics agreement before taking office in which she said she would 'not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter involving specific parties in which the William J. Clinton Foundation (or the Clinton Global Initiative) is a party or represents a party' unless she applied for and received a waiver under conflict-of-interest laws.

Although there are debates over what constitutes 'personal and substantial' involvement under ethics laws, emails from Clinton's aides indicate that she was aware of her staffer's involvement with CGI and Clinton Foundation matters.

Emails released by Citizens United show Clinton aides Huma Abedin (pictured with Clinton on Monday) and Cheryl Mills were in regular contact with foundation officials on topics including the programming at Clinton Global Initiative events

Phone logs from Cheryl Mills's office (Mills pictured left with Clinton last October) published this week showed Mills corresponded extensively with the Clinton Foundation's chief operating officer

In one email exchange, Abedin wrote to Clinton Global Initiative official Ed Hughes to discuss an upcoming conversation she had scheduled with a Clinton Foundation donor Abigail Disney.

Abedin said that Disney, who has contributed between $100,000 and $250,000 to the foundation, wanted to discuss getting Clinton involved in an effort to highlight women's issues at a CGI event.

'I wish I could delay [Disney] but the problem is she keeps emailing [Clinton] directly and is quite anxious to talk so I don't think I can push her an entire week,' wrote Abedin on July 23, 2012.

'Also, was talking to [Clinton] about note in [another CGI official's] memo about integrating womens issues throughout the week.'

While Clinton signed an ethics agreement (above in part) saying she would not be personally involved State Department matters related to the Clinton Foundation, her closest staffers were bound by no such restrictions, according to the State Department

In a follow-up email, Abedin added that Clinton's role in the CGI event 'hadn't even been discussed yet' and that Disney was going to respond to her with a 'clearer proposal for what they want' in terms of Clinton addressing women's issues at the function.

In another June 11, 2012 message, Clinton Foundation aide Dennis Cheng  who is currently the finance director for Clinton's presidential campaign  emailed Abedin a list of attendees at a foundation dinner, indicating that it was going to be brought up during the secretary of state's briefing the next day.

'Attached is a list of attendees for tomorrow night's Clinton Foundation dinner,' he wrote. 'Let me know if you need anything else for HRC's briefing.'

Abedin forwarded the message to other State Department aides with the message 'For her book tomorrow. Dinner at her house.'

The names on the guest list included long-time Clinton confidante Terry McAuliffe, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Pinchuk.

The Associated Press published a report on Wednesday that showed that over half of Clinton's meetings while at the State Department were with donors to the Clinton Foundation

Pinchuk, a billionaire industrialist, has contributed between $10 million and $25 million to the Clinton Foundation through his own charitable group.

In another email from 2012, a Clinton Foundation official reached out to Mills and Abedin for advice on what Bill Clinton should say in a press release for a project for the Clinton Climate Initiative, an offshoot of the foundation.

The project was being carried out with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, an initiative launched by Hillary Clinton at the State Department.

'What would you like us to say or not say?' asked Clinton Foundation aide Amitabh Desai in a June 18, 2012 email to Abedin and Mills.

The emails were released by Citizens United on Tuesday.

The group obtained them as part of a public records lawsuit against the State Department.

Bill Clinton said earlier this month that the foundation would no longer accept foreign donations if Clinton is elected president

Previously this week, Citizens United published phone logs from Mills that showed she received more phone messages at the State Department from the Clinton Foundation's chief operating officer than any other individual between 2010 and 2012.

The Associated Press also published a report on Wednesday that showed that over half of Clinton's meetings while at the State Department were with donors to the Clinton Foundation.

Republicans have criticized Clinton's involvement with the charity, with her opponent Donald Trump calling on the presidential candidate to shut it down.
Officer Derrick Antonio was arrested on accusations of sharing sensitive police information with members of a Vietnamese gang in San Jose, California

Police in northern California have busted a Vietnamese crime ring after a months-long probe  nabbing a veteran cop alongside two dozen gang members, drugs, cash and an alligator.

The multi-agency investigation, ran by the FBI and the DEA, brought in Officer Derrick Antonio, of the San Jose PD, on accusations of sharing sensitive information including police reports with gang members, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters.

Law-enforcement officials also netted cash, drugs, weapons, gambling machines and an alligator.

Authorities arrested 22 other people in the probe named 'Operation Gang of Thrones.'

Police seized this alligator alongside cash, drugs, weapons and gambling machines in the operation titled 'Gang of Thrones'

They made arrests and executed search warrants in several places, including San Jose, Anaheim in California, and in Louisiana.

They were booked on suspicion of offenses including extortion, drug trafficking, illegal gun possession and conspiracy. Authorities are searching for six more suspects.

The searches netted $200,000 in cash, 4,000 Ecstasy pills, 600 pounds of marijuana, body armor and the alligator retrieved by San Jose animal control workers after it was found.

Louisiana State Police seized more than 400 pounds of the marijuana in transit from San Jose.

Antonio was charged with six felony counts, including unauthorized computer access.

Garcia called the allegations the officer faces deplorable, but he said they should not reflect badly on the entire San Jose police department.

Cops have booked 22 people on suspicion of offenses including extortion, drug trafficking, illegal gun possession and conspiracy. Authorities are searching for six more suspects

'Once his involvement was known, they did not hesitate or shy away from bringing a fellow member of this department who had tarnished the badge we wear so proudly to justice,' Garcia said.

Garcia said he did not know why the officer allegedly passed the information to gang members.

Sean Webby, spokesman for the district attorney's office handling the case, said he did not know if Antonio had a lawyer who could be contacted for comment.
The U.S. mainland is now 'within striking range' of North Korea after a successful ballistic missile test, the authoritarian nation's state news agency said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hailed yesterday's submarine-launched missile test as the 'greatest success' and was seen celebrating with generals shortly afterwards.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Simpo, flying 300 miles towards Japan - far exceeding the range of any previous tests.

The UN met last night but is yet to publicly condemned the launch, which is effectively a test of Pyongyang's nuclear strike capability.

Scroll down for video

The U.S. mainland is now 'within striking range' of North Korea after a successful ballistic missile test, the authoritarian nation's state news agency said

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hailed yesterday's submarine-launched missile test as the 'greatest success' and was seen celebrating with generals shortly afterwards

Kim was reported by North Korea's state news agency KCNA as declaring the test 'the greatest success' and said it put the reclusive nation in the 'front rank' of nuclear powers.

'A test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile was successfully conducted under the guidance of supreme commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un,' the report said.

'He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory. He noted with pride that the results of the test-fire proved in actuality that the DPRK joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability.

'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 UN Security Council met for two hours last night to discuss the latest provocation by North Korea, which is likely to lead to further economic sanctions.

Earlier this month, North Korea fired a land-launched ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, drawing outrage from Tokyo.

Kim Jong-un was reported by North Korea's state news agency KCNA as declaring the test 'the greatest success'

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Simpo, flying 300 miles towards Japan - far exceeding the range of any previous tests

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile system would take its 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.

North Korea was not thought to be able to strike the U.S. mainland but the latest launch suggests they are getting closer.

The 300-mile range of the launch is further than any previous submarine-launched test.

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 and fully fuelled, it could travel over 1,550miles, the source said, which is less than a third of the distance to the American west coast.

Kim Jong-un was seen laughing with military generals during the test launch yesterday

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said Pyongyang still faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile.

But the North is 'on track to the capability to strike targets in the region - including Japan - by 2020', it said.

The 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 drills on Monday.
Microbeads should be banned by Britain without waiting for EU approval say campaingers

Microbeads should be banned by Britain without waiting for EU approval, campaigners said last night.

They urged Theresa May to take unilateral action against the plastics used in shower gels, toothpastes and anti-ageing creams.

Microbeads are flushed into rivers and seas by the trillion where they attract toxins, threaten marine life and can reach the human food chain. In an unprecedented joint statement, the campaigners accused beauty firms of 'dragging their feet'.

The European Commission is considering a ban but MPs from all parties and environmental groups want one now. And today the Daily Mail also calls for the beads to be banished. Louise Edge of Greenpeace, which signed the campaigners' statement, said: 'It's common sense to most people that pouring plastic into the sea is a terrible idea.

'Unfortunately most companies have been trying to get away with it for as long as they can.

Scroll down for video

'And even now that companies are under the spotlight and seem to acknowledge that microbeads are a bad idea, they are still not making commitments that cover all their products or all kinds of plastic.'

Cosmetic companies have offered a limited removal of the beads from their creams and scrubs by 2020.

But Mary Creagh, who chairs the Commons environmental audit committee, said: 'A voluntary approach to phasing out plastic microbeads simply won't wash. We need a full legal ban.

Microbeads are flushed into rivers and seas by the trillion where they attract toxins, threaten marine life and can reach the human food chain

'There is nothing to stop us banning these products in this country. We would like to see our Government showing leadership.'

Most microbeads are made from polyethylene, which is the same material used to make plastic bags, bulletproof vests and even knee replacements.

Once in the environment and seas they effectively become a magnet for toxins, such as pesticides. Eaten by fish and shellfish they can find their way into the food chain.

DAILY MAIL COMMENT They are tiny particles contained in countless bathroom products including shower gels, exfoliating scrubs and anti-ageing creams. But it is increasingly clear that microbeads, which, like plastic bags, are made of polyethylene, are a dangerous and unnecessary pollutant. Shockingly, every time someone takes a shower about 100,000 plastic particles wash into the sea, becoming a magnet for pesticides and other toxins. They are then swallowed by fish and other marine wildlife and end up on our dinner tables. The average plate of shellfish could contain 50 pieces of plastic. As this newspaper's successful campaign for a 5p charge for plastic bags showed, decisive government action can make a huge difference to the environment. Bag use is down 85 per cent since it was introduced. Some cosmetics companies are committed to phasing out microbeads by 2020. But why should we wait four years, especially when other countries are moving more quickly? The US has already introduced a ban to come into force next year, and Canada is also considering legislation. The EU appears to be dragging its heels and, in any case, will become an irrelevance post-Brexit. Given the growing weight of evidence, it is clearly time for ministers to ban this plastic poison  now. Advertisement

A study published in Australia last week showed for the first time that pollutants in microbeads are absorbed into the bodies of fish.

As many as 100,000 are washed into the sea following a single shower. The UK daily total is put at 86 tons.

Tamara Galloway, a professor at Exeter University, said: 'We find pieces of plastic in every sample of seawater we study from round the world.

'Many marine animals ingest microbeads, mistaking them for food. They can then be lodged in the animals' gut  preventing them from eating nutritious food.

'An average plate of oysters could contain up to 50 plastic particles. Most people would probably prefer not to be eating microbeads with their food.'

The demand for a ban was made by a coalition including the Marine Conservation Society, Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency and Fauna & Flora International.

In the joint statement, they said: 'There is huge public support for a ban on microbeads. With companies dragging their feet on this issue, it's now time for Theresa May's Government to take comprehensive action on this crucial issue by banning any microplastics in household products which could end up going down the drain and into our seas.'

Environment minister George Eustice has signalled a willingness to impose a UK ban if the EU fails to step up.

Giving evidence to MPs earlier this year, he said: 'We do not rule out doing it at national level.'

The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association said manufacturers were taking steps voluntarily.

Its director general, Dr Christopher Flower, said: 'A recommendation was issued by Cosmetics Europe in 2015 that such ingredients ought to be discontinued from use in products such as exfoliants and scrubs where the microbeads may ultimately end up in waterways. This course of action was chosen because it would have an impact far more quickly than waiting for any legislative ban.

The European Commission is considering a ban but MPs from all parties and environmental groups want one now

'Although the date for final removal was stated at 2020, the majority of use would be discontinued long before then.'

Some firms are either removing the beads or have never used them, including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal, Boots, Clearasil, Superdrug and Marks & Spencer.

Waitrose has announced its own ban on the sale of beauty products containing the beads. Others, such as Johnson & Johnson, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden, are in the process of removing them.

A poll by campaign groups found more than 90 per cent of Britons support an outright ban. And 84 per cent said they would be turned off from buying a product if it was found to be polluting the oceans.

A poll by campaign groups found more than 90 per cent of Britons support an outright ban

The US has introduced a ban to come into effect next year.

Australia is considering similar action.

A Government spokesman said on Tuesday that a report from Miss Creagh's committee calling for a ban on the beads was timely and would be examined in detail

Tiny beads choking the planet: They're in everything from shower gel to toothpaste - poisoning marine life and risking our health. As the Mail launches a campaign to ban them, here's all you need to know about the microbeads menace

For two decades, microbeads have been used to bulk out cheap shower gel, make shampoo silky and give facial scrubs a refreshing zing.

And in those 20 years, trillions upon trillions of the minuscule plastic balls have been allowed to wash down our plug holes into the oceans  wreaking havoc on marine life such as dolphins, turtles and fish and, more worryingly, making their way into the very food we eat.

No consumer asked for plastic balls to be added to their daily skincare regime. No one demanded they be sprinkled liberally into Tesco own-brand toothpaste so that children unwittingly swallow plastic every time they brush their teeth.

For two decades, microbeads have been used to bulk out cheap shower gel, make shampoo silky and give facial scrubs a refreshing zing

In those 20 years, trillions upon trillions of the minuscule plastic balls have been allowed to wash down our plug holes into the oceans

Yet introduced they were  by a cosmetics industry desperate to make their products more appealing to consumers  and their impact has been extraordinary.

According to the latest estimates, up to 51 trillion tiny particles of plastic  including many from cosmetics products  have been dumped in the oceans in the past few decades.

The particles are so pervasive and long-lasting that every stretch of water from the North Sea to the Pacific contains traces of plastic.

Microbeads and other such plastic junk have turned regions of our once open seas into cesspools of plastic.

The largest is the 'great Pacific garbage patch', a swirling current of plastic rubbish which stretches thousands of miles.

Dubbed the world's biggest rubbish dump, it is made up of floating bags, bottle tops, discarded fishing nets and polystyrene chunks. And around it all, like a thick plastic soup, float microscopic particles of plastic.

Finally, however, the tide seems to be turning, as an influential cross-party group of MPs calls for them to be banned.

So what's the truth about microbeads?

Here, we explain what they are  and how you can avoid them . . .

WHAT ARE THEY?

Microbeads are tiny balls of plastic which are added to a host of household and personal-care products. They vary in size, but most are between 0.001mm and 1mm.

Smaller beads are used to make cosmetics and cleansers smooth and silky; larger ones help to make them more exfoliating.

Sometimes they are used to add colour or a glittery appearance, or to bulk out the product.

They are usually made from polyethylene  the stuff used to make plastic bags, toys, bottles and even bullet-proof vests. Others are made from oil-derived plastics such as polystyrene and polypropylene.

WHAT PRODUCTS CONTAIN THEM?

They are most commonly used in exfoliating scrubs and facial cleansers. The balls help to remove dead cells and dirt without feeling too rough on our skin.

For instance, Johnson and Johnson's Clean and Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash contains them  as does Clinique Exfoliating Scrub. A single facial scrub wash can use up to 94,500 microbeads, while a 150ml tub of the stuff contains nearly three million.

They are added to hand soap to give it a smooth texture, and to shower gels and sunblocks to help them spread easily.

Microbeads are also added to some over-the-counter medicines to make them easier to swallow.

They have even been used in some toothpaste as an abrasive to help remove plaque.

Tesco adds them to its Steps Toothpaste  sold as a 'gentle mint toothpaste' for children aged two and under. Ironically, the tube features a happy-looking turtle swimming in the sea  turtles are one of the main victims of plastic pollution.

Last year the United Nations Environment Programme claimed: 'A typical exfoliating shower gel can contain roughly as much microplastic in the cosmetic formulation as is used to make the plastic packaging it comes in.'

No consumer asked for plastic balls to be added to their daily skincare regime

WHEN DID THEY APPEAR?

The first patents for microbeads were filed in the Sixties. But it wasn't until the Nineties that they took off.

The balls replaced traditionally-used ingredients such as ground shell, silica and pumice. Manufacturers liked them because they were cheaper to make and could be mass-produced in a uniform shape.

Concerns about microbeads have been growing for the past few years. In 2011, Dutch environmentalists with the North Sea Foundation began writing to manufacturers, asking them to stop using them. Since then, a growing number of marine scientists and green campaigners have called for a ban.

SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

It starts when products containing microbeads are flushed down the plug hole. The spheres are so small most are not filtered out by sewage plants and instead flow into rivers and the seas.

A single shower using shower gel and shampoo can result in 100,000 plastic particles being washed into the oceans, where they can float around for centuries.

Dr Sue Kinsey, of the Marine Conservation Society, says: 'Once they are in the ocean, they enter the food chain.'

Some of the plastic particles are devoured by animals at the bottom of the food chain  such as plankton. These tiny creatures are eaten by fish which, in turn, are hunted by birds, larger fish and seals  the plastic getting passed up the food chain with each meal.

Other particles are ingested by whales. Grey whales feed on the bottom of oceans, scooping up everything from crabs to plankton. They need to eat 3,000 lb of food each day. Thanks to microbeads, they are also regularly consuming huge quantities of plastic.

HOW WIDESCALE IS THE POLLUTION?

Microbeads are part of the greater problem of plastic polluting our oceans. Every year, around eight million tonnes of plastic  in the form of microbeads, plastic bags, fishing gear and other debris  is washed into the seas.

Most of the larger pieces of junk  the ones not eaten by whales, turtles and sea birds  are broken down by sunlight and the movement of waves into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic until they are the same size as microbeads.

According to the best estimates, between 15 and 51 trillion particles of plastic are floating in the seas. That's equivalent to 2,000 particles for every one of the 7.5 billion people living on Earth.

Around 1-4 per cent of all those particles are microbeads from cosmetics. No one can say for sure how many of them came from the UK. But Professor Richard Thompson, a marine scientist at Plymouth University, says around 680 tonnes of microbeads are used in cosmetic products in the UK each year.

'That's the equivalent of 30 articulated lorries full of microbeads,' he says.

Not all of those microbeads will be washed into the seas. Some will be captured at sewage treatment plants and then spread with all the other sewage on farmlands.

But most of them will end up in the seas. And that is just a tiny proportion compared with the rest of the world's contribution.

The horrifying truth is that no one knows how much of this plastic gunk is despoiling the oceans  and no one knows the toll it is taking on wildlife and people.

A single shower using shower gel and shampoo can result in 100,000 plastic particles being washed into the oceans, where they can float around for centuries

WHAT HARM IS DONE TO WILDLIFE?

Hundreds of marine animals, including fish, mussels, oysters, lobsters and plankton, have been shown to consume microbeads and other small particles of plastic.

A study by Prof Thompson found that a third of the 500 fish he captured in the English Channel had swallowed plastic particles.

He has also shown that almost every sample of water collected from the sea, or sand collected from a beach anywhere in the world, will have traces of plastic.

These particles can harm animals by clogging up their digestive systems and stomachs, making them feel full when, in fact, they are actually starving. Beads of plastic are also like sponges, attracting toxins  tiny particles of poisons and pollutants such as PCB, the hormone-mimicking chemicals churned out by industry and power stations which can hang around in the air and seas for decades. PCBs have been shown to interfere with the fertility of fish, birds, turtles and shellfish.

Around 90 per cent of seabirds have some plastic in their guts, researchers reported last year.

And it's not just marine life that suffers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says PCBs can cause cancer in animals and are probably carcinogenic for humans.

Women exposed to high levels of PCBs before or during pregnancy can give birth to children with lowered cognitive ability, immunocompromised and motor control problems.

CAN THEY GET INTO OUR BODIES?

Plastic pollution is so common we are likely to be consuming plastic indirectly each time we tuck into a bowl of mussels, a plate of oysters or a fish-and-chip supper.

The levels of plastic in such meals will be low  but no one can say whether microbeads and other microplastics accumulate in our bodies or are flushed out.

We are exposed to plastic in the shower when using facial scrub when a dribble gets into our mouths. And if your toothpaste contains microbeads, families are swallowing plastic every time they brush their teeth.

Doctors aren't yet sure what sort of health risk this may pose.

'We don't know whether it will create a human health problem, but it's better to be cautious now, rather than wait for 50 years to discover it's too late,' says Dr Kinsey.

HOW CAN YOU TELL WHAT HAS THEM?

You might assume microbeads would be flagged up in big letters on packaging. But they aren't.

To find out whether a shower gel or exfoliating scrub contains microbeads you need to read the label  usually with a magnifying glass  to see if it contains plastic. The tell-tale words to look out for are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene tereph-thalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), as well as nylon.

The balls replaced traditionally-used ingredients such as ground shell, silica and pumice. Manufacturers liked them because they were cheaper to make and could be mass-produced in a uniform shape

WHAT IS THE UK INDUSTRY DOING?

The industry claims it is taking action. The Cosmetics, Toiletry and Perfumery Association director-general Dr Chris Flower says: 'Any remaining use of plastic microbeads in wash-off products will have been phased out by 2018, two years ahead of the recommended date of 2020.' However, some companies are proceeding earlier with the voluntary ban.

Procter and Gamble  owner of Pantene, Oral-B and Olay  and Estee Lauder, which owns Clinique and Origins, say they will phase out microbeads by the end of 2017.

But according to campaigners, manufacturers have dragged their feet over plastic pollution.

The Marine Conservation Society's Dr Kinsey says 'We would have liked them to have acted far more promptly. I know they have to find alternative formulations, but some companies seem to have found them faster than others. We'd like a blanket ban that creates a level playing field for everyone.'

WHY CAN'T THEY BE BANNED NOW?

The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee wants them to be banned immediately  as do marine conservation charities.

And other countries have acted far more quickly. The U.S. has already introduced a ban which comes into effect from 2017. Canada and some EU countries are also seriously considering legislation. Fauna and Flora International says the UK ban should have no loopholes.

'It must include all solid microplastics used for any purpose  not just for exfoliation,' said a spokesperson. 'And it should cover all products commonly washed down the drain. This includes a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products, as well as many household cleaners.'

ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVES?

If you don't have time to comb the back of packets for the tell-tale ingredients mentioned earlier, it's worth noting that some products don't contain microbeads.

For example, Aquafresh Complete Care Extra Fresh toothpaste, Eau Thermal Avene Gentle shower gel and Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal face scrub are all microbead-free.
Mrs May has long been concerned that system is too easy to abuse

Sir David Metcalf said it would be easy to run low-skilled permits scheme

Prime Minister Theresa May is braced for embarrassment as net migration figures show the government is off target

Britain should make low-skilled migrants from the EU apply for work permits, according to the Governments top migration adviser.

Sir David Metcalf of the Migration Advisory Committee said it would be pretty straightforward to run a permits scheme similar to a previous model used for seasonal farm workers.

It comes as a report from the think-tank said low-skilled migrants have put extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services.

It would be remiss of the Migration Advisory Committee not to have actually done a bit of thinking about some of these things, Sir David told The Daily Telegraph.

I think it [work permits] is a pretty straightforward way and you already have a model that works.

The agricultural scheme was terrifically well administered  it was one guy at the Home Office working with operators and farmers.

It was time limited and capped. We could think of similar sectors where you have got a lot of unskilled European labour. Thats very much tied up with what the Prime Minister is interested in.

The committees report found that migrants account for two million of the 13 million low-skilled workers in Britain  or one in seven.

Commenting on their impact, it said: Costs, often focused in particular locations and sectors, include rapidly changing populations with possible implications for cohesion and integration; extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services; a small negative impact on wages of low-paid workers [and] serious exploitation of some migrants because of inadequate enforcement of minimum labour standards.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd, above, has been told by the Prime Minister to come up with a new package of measure to cut the number of people coming into the UK from outside the EU

The report came as Theresa May ordered ministers to draw up a fresh package of immigration controls this autumn in a bid to bring numbers under control.

Ministers are braced for fresh embarrassment over the issue today, with official figures expected to show net immigration running at about three times the Governments target of 100,000 a year.

The Prime Minister has now ordered Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis to make control of EU migration a priority during the Brexit negotiations. And she has told Home Secretary Amber Rudd to come up with a new package of measures to cut the number coming from outside the EU.

Brexit Secretary David Davis, left, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have been told to make control of EU migration a priority in the Brexit negotiations, by the Prime Minister

A Government source said: Control over the number of EU migrants will be a priority in the Brexit deal. We are also working on a package to reduce further non-EU immigration across all three visa routes  work, family and students.

Miss Rudd is working on the new package with officials, but Whitehall sources indicated Mrs May, who spent six years as Home Secretary, will retain oversight. It will be centrally directed, one said.

The Prime Minister, who returned from a 12-day holiday in the Swiss Alps yesterday, is understood to be concerned that although the focus has been on free movement from the EU, non-EU immigration has also been drifting upwards for some time.

Mrs May clashed repeatedly with George Osborne over attempts to curb immigration in the past, with the then-chancellor warning it could damage the economy. But with Mr Osborne now sacked, Mrs May has a free hand. The review is likely to have a particular focus on the number of foreign students travelling to Britain to study each year.

Universities and colleges insist that they bring vital revenue to the UK, but Mrs May has long been concerned that the system is too easy to abuse. Andrew Green, chairman of the think-tank MigrationWatch, welcomed the prospect of fresh action on migration from outside the EU.

Lord Green said: While we wait for the outcome of Brexit negotiations, its essential that the Prime Minister sets further action in hand on non-EU migration, which is half the total. The biggest source of migration from outside the EU is clearly students, very few of whom are recorded as going home. This is where action needs to be focused.

The Tory target to cut net immigration to the tens of thousands was originally set by David Cameron in the run-up to the 2010 election, when it stood at 250,000 a year.
LJ Hooker and Harvey Norman were the most complained about NSW businesses last month, with AirAsia not far behind.

The two companies topped the newly-released Fair Trading NSW Complaints Register table, which names and shames businesses with at least 10 complaints in a month.

The real estate giant was first with 31 complaints, followed by retailer Harvey Normal on 29 with the low cost airline at 25. Another real estate company, Ray White, was close behind at 23.

LJ Hooker was the most complained about NSW business last month according to Fair Trading NSW's new complaints register

Commissioner Rod Stowe said the register would empower consumers to make informed decisions and give businesses incentive to do better.

The register encourages the marketplace to regulate itself, and publishing monthly allows businesses the chance to improve their complaint handling procedures, he said.

He said several big businesses had already committed to never appearing on the list and had overhauled their practices and complaints handling, resulting in fewer complaints.

THE FAIR TRADING NSW LIST OF SHAME Company Complaints in July 2016 LJ Hooker 31 Harvey Norman 29 AirAsia 25 Ray White 23 Zoxoro.com.au 23 Sensis 20 Raine & Horne 19 Android Enjoyed 18 First National Real Estate 17 The Good Guys 16 Foxtel 13 Apple 13 Valuebasket.com 11 Groupon 11 NRMA 10 Lucas Homes NSW 10 Flight Centre 10 Grays Online 10 Get Qualified Australia 10 Huxley Homes 10

Not every business is happy about the way it is structured, with worst offender LJ Hooker coming out swinging, saying it was unfair because the complaints were spread across hundreds of franchises.

We have 230 offices in NSW. That's less than 1.5 per cent of offices complained about, its chief executive Chris Mourd told the Sydney Morning Herald.

How does a consumer know an individual office from another? Up until the last two weeks, Fair Trading has never shared any complaints information with us, so we were not aware of the 31 complaints in July.

Harvey Norman was second on the list with 29 complaints

Real Estate Institute of NSW chief executive Tim Mckibbin backed him up, telling Daily Mail Australia that Fair Trading had been lazy in setting up the register.

The reality is a local independent agent would need to rack up 10 complaints by itself, but a big franchise group would only need 0.1 complaints per office, he said.

Its grossly unfair and Fair Trading has been negligent and reckless to apply a product-based system to service companies that tarnishes good businesses and misleads consumers.

Critics of the register called it 'grossly unfair' to bigger businesses with more customers

Mr Mckibbin said while consumers would expect products to be the same state-wide, service quality would vary by franchise.

Fair Trading is placing good businesses at risk because consumers might avoid the best operator in their area because the brand had been singled out, he said.

Although REINSW only represented real estate companies, which at 110 was easily the most complained about sector, Mr Mckibbin said any big businesses, like Harvey Norman, would be unfairly represented.

[The register] will be packed with big businesses and franchises that because of their popularity and size it is easy for them to clock up big numbers, he said.

Low cost carrier AirAsia was third with 25 complaints

Mr Stowe defended the decision to aggregate data under the overarching brand name for retail groups and franchises.

This is the name these traders use when promoting their businesses to the public and this is the name consumers identify with when making a transaction, he said.

Commissioner Rod Stowe said the register would empower consumers to make informed decisions and give businesses incentive to do better
Back to School: 'Before the vote I said that Britain would leave the EU, sometimes referred to as European Union ...'

Farage draws boos from Mississippi crowd when he mentions Barack Obama's name, says he 'talked down to us he treated us as if we were nothing'

She wants to 'sell out' America to the Clinton Foundation for 'a big fat pile of cash'

Says he was very supportive of British people's right to 'take control of their own future'

Trump again hails his own role in promoting Brexit vote this summer

Republican Donald Trump brought UK Independence Party Nigel Farage to a lively Mississippi rally  and after the mogul schooled a quiet crowd on European politics, Farage followed Trump's lead by bashing President Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Farage, addressing thousands of screaming Trump fans after Trump warmed them up with a long exposition on the summer Brexit vote, said he 'could not possibly' tell them how to vote in the U.S. election.

'But I will say this: If I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me,' Farage said to a rousing cheer. 'In fact, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me,' he added  in a jab at Clinton's corruption scandals, which draw headlines on both sides of the Atlantic.

Farage also drew boos from the crowd when he mentioned President Obama's visit to Great Britain, where the president revealed his opposition to the vote and suggested Britain would pay a price for it.

Trump got the crowd going with a lengthy explanation of the significance of the Brexit vote  which stunned global observers when a narrow majority of the British people voted to leave Europe.

AFTER YOU: Trump greeted Nigel Farage on stage and invited the British leader to address the crowd

'Before the vote I said that Britain would leave the EU, sometimes referred to as European Union,' Trump told the crowd in the deep red GOP leaning state. A woman in the back of the crowd spoke the answer as if she were in class.

'I took a lot of heat,' Trump said.

'Guess what? I was very supportive of their right to do it and to take control of their own future like exactly what were going to be voting for November 8th,' Trump said.

He declared Clinton to be on the 'wrong side of history in every major decision.'

'Shes got bad judgement, she doesnt know what shes doing, folks. She got this one too,' Trump said, prompting the crowd to break into chants of 'Lock her up!'

Trump kept going. 'She got this one wrong too folks, she got this one wrong too. She gets them all wrong. She really got the emails wrong, that I can tell you,' Trump said as an aside.

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage addressed a Donald Trump rally in Mississippi

Donald Trump looks on while Farage addresses the crowd, which ended up giving the British leader cheers

Trump also repeated his call for African American votes, and called Hillary Clinton a 'bigot' in a state with a long history of racial struggles

Trump said Clinton woudl 'surrender America to globalism,' as he connected the Brexit vote to his own presidential campaign

'And now Hillary wants to surrender America to globalism  just what we dont want,' Trump said.

'She wants a country without borders. She wants trade deals written for the benefit of foreign corporations. She wants a government that ignores the will of the people. She wants to sell out American security to the Clinton Foundation for a big fat pile of cash.'

Farage drew parallels to Trump's election as he told the story of the stunning Brexit vote.

'We reached those people who have never voted in their lives,' he said, but who believed by voting for Brexit they can ' take back their country, take back their borders, and get back their pride and self respect.'

'Anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment,' he said.

Then Farage mentioned the 'big card' that Prime Minister David Cameron 'decided to play.

'The big card the Prime Minister decided to play in the referendum is he got a foreign visitor to come to London to talk to us. Yes, we were visited by one Barack Obama,' he said to a chorus of boos by the Mississippi crowd.

Earlier this month Donald Trump compared his anti-establishment approach to the successful Leave campaign in the UK as he tweeted: 'They will soon be calling me Mr. Brexit!'

Trump made earlier comparisons between his campaign an the Brexit push this summer

'And he talked down to us he treated us as if we were nothing. One of the oldest functioning democracies in the world and he was telling us to vote remain,' Farage said.

'So I, having criticized, having criticized and condemned his behavior, I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election,' he continued glibly, as the knowing crowd started to cheer.

'You know I get it. I get it. I get it on hearing it. But I will say this: if I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me.'

'In fact, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me,' he quipped.

In the remainder of his remarks, Trump kept up his own slashing attacks on Clinton, after taking the podium back from Farage.
A young woman has shared how she became friends with a 91-year-old woman while waiting for her bus.

Gemma Louise Donhou shared a selfie of herself and Edna on Facebook and a touching post about her encounter.

She wrote that she met her 'new mate' Edna at the bus stop after work in Cornwall, in the UK.

Gemma Louise Donhou, from Perth, shared a touching Facebook post about how she made friends with 91-year-old Edna while waiting for her bus in Cornwall

Ms Donhou said that it broke her heart that Edna was lonely and had no one to talk to

Ms Donhou, originally from Perth, Western Australia, struck up a conversation with the 91-year-old about how she was going into town to do something because she was lonely.

'She was lonely in the house by herself after her husband of 55 years had passed away,' she said.

'It broke my heart thinking of this cute little old lady all alone with no one to talk to so I asked for her number so I could come visit her for a cup of tea,' she added.

'She's 91 and just took her first selfie,' Ms Donhou wrote.

The young woman's post was shared by Facebook group 'Love What Matters' and has been shared over 41,000 times

Ms Donhou's most has attracted many comments praising her for reaching out to an older person

Her touching post was shared by Facebook group 'Love What Matters' and has been shared over 41,000 times.

It has even attracted over a thousand comments praising the young woman for reaching out to an elderly woman.

One woman commented: 'That's so nice. This young lady was raised right. Bless her, her family and her new mate. I so love reading stories like this.'

Another wrote: 'Well done Gemma. Young people today get a little respect but you have shown such compassion for this lady, and I am sure a little ray of sunshine into her lonely life. Sooooo thoughtful.' [sic]
Burglary suspect Eric Hall, 28, managed to hitch a ride on a school bus in Bradenton, Florida, after the driver thought he was a student

A baby-faced burglary suspect managed to hitch a ride on a school bus after the driver thought he was a student.

Eric Hall, 28, hopped on with a group of schoolchildren in Bradenton, Florida, on Tuesday morning after allegedly breaking into someone's home.

He was asked to put his shirt on and sat a few rows back.

Hall approached the driver after the bus started to move, admitting that he was not a student.

He then said that he had got on the bus because he needed a ride home, WTSP reported.

The driver then pulled into Manatee High School and alerted school administrators.

Hall was then questioned by Bradenton Police

Cops discovered he could have been involved in a burglary that happened in the area earlier in the morning.

Hall was arrested at his home for trespassing on school property.

He is now also facing pending burglary charges.
A sheriff in rural Colorado has been arrested after being accused of taking a developmentally delayed inmate to his home, sexually assaulting her and threatening to put her in prison for the rest of her life if she told anyone, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Tom Hanna, 43, was taken into custody Tuesday at his office, and bail was set at $250,000.

He has not been formally charged, and it is unclear if he has hired an attorney.

Scroll down for video

Sedgwick County Sheriff Tom Hanna is accused of taking a developmentally delayed inmate to his home, sexually assaulting her and threatening to put her in prison for the rest of her life if she told anyone

Jeff Huston, an investigator with the district attorney's office, wrote in the affidavit that the inmate told him that Hanna offered to pay her $60, forced her to strip and sexually assaulted her after taking her to his home in his personal vehicle on August 10.

'He told me if I say anything, he was going to try and put me in prison... I felt like I was raped, to be honest and this has bothered me a lot and it feels good to get it out because I'm telling the truth,' the inmate said, according to the affidavit.

Her name had been redacted from the document.

Huston described the woman as timid during the interview.

An investigator with the district attorney's office wrote in the affidavit that the inmate told him that Hanna offered to pay her $60, forced her to strip and sexually assaulted her after taking her to his home in his personal vehicle on August 10

The investigator said Hanna denied the allegations and told investigators he was interviewing the inmate after she reported having information on her cellphone about a crime.

The sheriff acknowledged making a mistake when he took her to his home, Huston said in the document.

Hanna later dropped off the inmate at a jail in neighboring Logan County and put $20 on her commissary tab because he said he has a big heart and wanted to make sure she could call her brother, according to the affidavit.

Sedgwick County contracts with jails in other counties because it is unable to house long-term inmates.

Dottie Woltemath, a victim advocate for the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, described the inmate as developmentally delayed, according to the affidavit. She did not elaborate.

The investigator said Hanna denied the allegations and told investigators he was interviewing the inmate after she reported having information on her cellphone about a crime

The inmate described herself as suffering from malnutrition as a child and saying 'her brain is like a kid's' in the affidavit.

The allegations came to the attention of prosecutors after a Sedgwick County deputy raised concerns about the sheriff's interaction with the woman.

District Attorney Brittny Lewton told The Denver Post on Wednesday that she plans to review all the cases Hanna investigated.

Hanna, who could face eight years to life in prison if he is convicted, is due back in court September 16.

Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case.
Three children who were believed to have been kidnapped by their aunt after she murdered their mom have been found alive in New Mexico.

Joslynn, Brayden and Rylee Watkins - all aged between two and five - were found by authorities Wednesday at a motel near Alberquerque'

But suspects Brittany Humphrey, 22, and her 'husband' Joshua Aaron Robertson, 27, remain on the run - and they're believed to have a fourth child with them, the LA Times reported.

Sought: Joshua Robertson (left in 2014) and Brittany Humphrey (right in 2012) have been connected to the vanishing of three kids and their mom's death; the kids have now been found

Safe: Joslynn Watkins, two, is one of the children who was found in New Mexico Wednesday. Her mom, Kimberly Harvill, was discovered dead by a California rest stop on August 14

Found: Brayden (left), three, and Rylee (right) Watkins, five, were also found at the motel near Albuquerque, where they had been left with a 'Good Samaritan'

The children had been left with a 'Good Samaritan' at the New Mexico motel, police said.

And since their father committed suicide last year, they will be placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services once they are returned to California.

Now police are focusing on locating Robertson and Humphrey, who are believed to be traveling with a fourth infant unrelated to the other three.

No other information about that child has been released.

The children's mom, Kimberly Harvill, was found dead by a motorist who had stopped at Gorman Post Road near Lebec, on August 14.

She had suffered head wounds and multiple gunshots to the torso.

The kids are believed to have been taken either just before or after her death; Humphrey and Robertson are wanted for questioning in connection with the killing.

LA County sheriffs homicide Lt Joe Mendoza said that 'it is suspicious that they did not come forward to law enforcement and instead fled.'

The couple, formerly of Fresno, had been moving 'from motel to motel' and were staying in Lebec just before Harvill's murder, cops said.

Victim: Kimberly Harvill was found dead in Lebec, California, on August 14. She had suffered head wounds and multiple gunshots to the upper body

Tragic family: Harvill lost her husband, Kenneth Chad Watkins (pictured), to suicide last year

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 commit 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.

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 is believed to show 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 who goes by the last name Keithley

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 (left) loved her sister (right) and would not have hurt her or her children, who are now orphans, having lost both their parents
Lizzie Buttrose has appeared hand in hand with her new partner Zoran Stopar at Waverley Local court on Thursday morning, a week after police were called to her home for the third time in 18 months.

Stopar was the defendant in an AVO case that occurred last Thursday at socialite Buttroses Vaucluse property in Sydney, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Buttrose is the niece of media icon Ita Buttrose. Stopar, a base jumper, now lives on the premises. For legal reasons the applicant in the complaint that has been filed with the court cannot be identified.

Lizzie Buttrose (left) and her new partner base jumper Zoran Stopar (right) appeared hand in hand at Waverley Local court on Thursday morning

Police were called for a third time in 18 months police to the home of Ita Buttroses niece Lizzie last week.

Officers and police cars were seen in and around the property in Vacluse following a tip-off about the behaviour of those in the house.

Police confirmed that the property was searched in the early on Thursday, August 18, but made no other comment.

Buttrose, 46, is niece of media legend Ita, and is the sister of convicted drug dealer Richard Buttrose.

Ms Buttrose (third right) attended a get-together with fellow socialite Shari-Lea Hitchcock (second right) at the Centennial in Sydney in March

For the third time in 18 months police have called to the home of Ita Buttroses niece Lizzie (right, with Dion Nassibian)

Police also were also called to Buttrose's house in March 2015 and March 2016

In March 2015 and March 2016 Lizzie Buttrose argued with then partner, Scott Fay, a derivatives trader.

In March 2016 after a row with Fay she sounded a panic button in her bedroom that had police racing to the home to investigate what was going on.

Her aunt Ita Buttrose is a media legend in Australia. In 1989 she became the first woman editor of an Australian metropolitan newspaper  the Daily Telegraph and later the Sunday Telegraph.

Lizzie Buttroses aunt Ita Buttrose (pictured) is a media icon in Australia
Advertisement

Russian poachers are reaching back in time to cash in on the world's insatiable demand for rare ivory, digging through millenia-old ice to collect the tusks of mammoths.

Photographer Amos Chapple spent three weeks documenting the harsh, vodka-soaked world of the men who mine for mammoths in the Russian wilderness, for Radio Free Europe.

The poachers scour remote Siberia, evading police patrols and boring deep into the Siberian permafrost to find remains of the prehistoric animals.

Photographer Amos Chapple said this 65-kilogram woolly mammoth tusk dug up in the Siberian wilderness fetched $34,000

Chapple spent three weeks documenting the harsh, vodka-soaked world of illegal 'tuskers' in the Russian arctic

Woolly mammoths roamed the Northern Hemisphere for hundreds of thousands of years before dying out following the last ice age.

Hunters now spend months at a time camping out in freezing temperatures and dodging bears in the hope of striking it rich. A 65-kilogram tusk can fetch as much as $34,000.

Chapple said in the area he visited, which he promised not to reveal, there were about 50-60 tuskers searching for mammoth remains on any given day.

The men lived in tents in the forest and would often spend the entire summer away from their family, he said.

He gained access after paying a group to take him into the area, but said even then he received a hostile reception.

'With them for the first week I did nothing but wash dishes and chop wood,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'No one wanted a camera there so it was just a matter of waiting until the guys got bored of shooing me away.'

The hunters dig deep into the Siberian permafrost to find ivory from woolly mammoths, but often find bones of little or no value like the ones pictured

A tusk hunter carries a water pump used to power a high-pressure hose on his back

Chapple, who is originally from New Zealand, described the environment as very harsh.

'Some of the men had shotguns or flare guns to ward off bears, a lot of the time I was walking alone so that kept you on edge,' he said.

'The mosquitoes were a constant swarm that followed you everywhere and when vodka got into the camp the guys turned into animals.'

Hunters used high-pressure hoses powered by smokey generators to excavate the fossils - a method that was ruining the region's waterways, Chapple said.

'The river there ran like hot chocolate and the fish were gone. If this method of extracting the tusks continues to spread that ecosystem is screwed.'

A tusk hunter climbs through a tunnel, which Chapple said extended for 60 metres underground

Hunters use high-pressure hoses powered by smokey generators to excavate the fossils - a method that is ruining the environment

The hunters spend months at a time in the wilderness, dodging bears and drinking vodka in their spare time
A doctor has revealed why she helped end the life of an elderly woman as she faces a police investigation after she admitted giving her a lethal injection to her patient.

Dr Alida Lancee said she administered painkilling medication that hastened the death of the woman, who attempted suicide several times in her 80s, five years ago.

The Perth doctor has slammed detectives for visiting her clinic on Tuesday to tell her the death of the woman who was dying of emphysema was being investigated as a possible murder.

The euthanasia doctor, an advocate with Doctors for Voluntary Euthanasia Choice, said the patient had pleaded to have her life ended in the days leading up to her death.

Dr Alida Lancee (pictured) has revealed why she helped an elderly woman die as she faces a police investigation after she admitted giving a lethal injection to her patient

'Imagine watching her gasping for air every time she moved, begging for the suffering to end,' she said in a letter to The West Australian.

'My help was to be a great relief to all involved ... not only to the patient but her family also.'

Dr Alida Lancee has refused to be questioned by police on the advice of her lawyer as Major Crime Squad officers confirmed they were conducting an investigation.

She said it was a waste of police resources for detectives to wait 45 minutes to speak to her while she treated patients at the clinic.

'Shame on the government to allow resources to be wasted on this ridiculous attempt to intimidate me,' she said in a statement.

She called on Western Australian politicians who support her to introduce new laws in parliament to make euthanasia of terminally ill patients legal.

Dr Lancee has slammed detectives for visiting her clinic on Tuesday to tell her the death of the woman who was dying of emphysema was being investigated for murder (stock image)

The Perth doctor said she administered painkilling medication that hastened the death of the woman, who attempted suicide several times in her 80s, five years ago

It was already widely practised among doctors, she claimed, since the legally allowed terminal sedation practice had 'the effects of significantly shortening the dying process in a patient with severe physical compromise'.

'The Health Minister Mr (John) Day himself stated that it was compassionate medical care to provide a patient with medication to relieve unbearable suffering even if this shortens their dying process,' Dr Lancee said.

'I have not done any different and I never have. From our perspective there was no moral way to act than to help her accordingly.'

Both Mr Day and Police Minister Liza Harvey acknowledged that such pain relief could bring forward the death of a patient but said there was a big difference between a passive act such as that and actively ending a patient's life.

The Australian Medical Association's current policy states medical practitioners should not be involved in interventions that have ending a patient's life as their primary intention.

Health Minister John Day (left) and Police Minister Liza Harvey (right) have acknowledged that such pain relief could bring forward the death of a patient but said there was a big difference between a passive act such as that and actively ending a patient's life

However, critics say it is a grey area and a police investigation would decide which way Dr Lancee had acted.

Mr Day said this week the legal status of euthanasia was too complicated for a legislative fix.

Dr Lancee's lawyer Johnson Kitto criticised Mr Day, saying politicians were elected to make tough decisions and not 'shirk away from incredibly important issues'.

'Dr Lancee has been very brave in doing what she's doing and openly stating what a great many MPs feel ... if that is a catalyst to herald in a public debate and hopefully a parliamentary debate more power to her.'

Currently, medical practitioners who hastened somebody's death were at risk of being found guilty of killing that person and being jailed, he said, whether by murder or manslaughter.
The Frenchman charged with killing British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung has attacked a dozen police officers since his arrest and is too dangerous to appear in open court, police said.

Smail Ayad, 29, was charged on Thursday with murder, two counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of serious assault in connection to the frenzied attack at a hostel in Home Hill, in north Queensland, two days earlier.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder told reporters on Thursday Ayad was due to face Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday morning.

But Supt Rohweder said Ayad would not appear in court in person because of his 'extremely violent' behaviour since his arrest, and would take part via video link from his police cell.

Scroll down for video

Smail Ayad, 29, was being taken to Townsville Police Station after he had been treated for knife wounds at the local hospital when he started to behave in an 'extremely violent manner'

'We had a number of concerns for officers and public safety,' Supt Rohweder said.

'So we agreed video link was the best way to take it forward.'

Supt Rohweder also revealed blood tests had shown the suspect had used cannabis before the attack, but no other drugs or alcohol were found to be present in his system.

Ayad had to be restrained with pepper spray and a Taser, and he fought with at least six officers on Wednesday night.

Supt Rohweder said Ayad started behaving in an 'extremely violent manner' about 5.45pm while he was being transported by police.

He lashed out at detectives who tried to restrain him and bit one of them on the leg, Rohweder said.

The detectives got out of the van to restrain him but he lashed out and bit one of them on the leg after he was arrested over the death of British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung

Her Australian ex-boyfriend, Jamison Stead (right with Ms Ayliffe-Chung), said the 21-year-old had not wanted to travel there but changed her mind so she could extend her stay in Australia

More officers were called to the scene to help the detectives, and capsicum spray was used to subdue Ayad before he was placed back into a police van and the journey resumed.

He continued to be uncooperative, and six officers were needed to get him into a cell.

A Taser was used by police officers to subdue Ayad.

'The suspect behaved in an extremely violent manner which necessitated the police to stop the motor vehicle and to restrain him,' Supt Rohweder said earlier on Thursday.

'As a result of that, police received some injuries, including cuts and abrasions and a bite to the leg.'

CHARGES LAID AGAINST SMAIL AYAD One count of murder

Two counts of attempted murder

One count of serious animal cruelty

Twelve counts of serious assault Advertisement

Police had also taken fingernail scrapping from him as evidence.

Before Tuesday night's attack was carried out, another French backpacker who was friends with Ayad said the alleged attacker 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, who had been in Home Hill for a month, wrote, according to 9News.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung had only been at the hostel at Home Hill, south of Townsville, for eight days.

Her Australian ex-boyfriend, Jamison Stead, said the 21-year-old had not wanted to travel there but changed her mind so she could extend her stay in Australia after she had 'fallen in love' with the country and had plans to move permanently.

'She didn't initially want to go but we told her it would be an adventure and experience, so she saw the bright side in the opportunity,' Mr Stead told the Brisbane Times.

Police had performed an alcohol and drug test on Ayad, and blood samples and fingernail scrapping had been collected from him as evidence

Bloody footprints on the footpath just outside Shelley's Backpackers

Blood stains remain on the concrete floor in a communal area at the hostel

Forensic police look over the scene at the backpackers hostel in Home Hill

Police vans at the scene on Wednesday following the brutal attack

'She had fallen in love with the country and its people. She wanted to get a sponsorship in the Gold Coast or Melbourne. And live in Australia after she returned from her farm work.

'It's sad knowing that she won't be able to do those things.'

Mr Stead told MailOnline on Wednesday he was still trying to come to terms with what had happened.

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

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.

As the investigation continues, the theory Ms Ayliffe-Chung was killed because of a romantic motive is being probed by detectives.

'There's certainly, at this stage, no indication from Mia's point of view that there was any sort of romantic connection. That's something we're looking at,' Superintendent Ray Rohweder said on Thursday.

Supt Rohweder also described the CCTV footage of the moment Ms Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death.

'I've viewed the CCTV of what's actually occurred. There's no one who's viewed that CCTV who doesn't come away feeling sick to the stomach. It's absolutely horrific,' he said.

John 'Nugget' Norris, who had run Shelley's Backpackers for 15 years, said Ayad became infatuated with Ms Ayliffe-Chung and followed her around.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung had 'fallen in love' with the country and had plans to move permanently

Pictured is a tribute left to Ms Ayliffe-Chung, saying: 'Fly free with angels and may God comfort your loved ones'

British High Commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings left flowers at the makeshift memorial for the 21-year-old

She left a note paying tribute to Ms Ayliffe-Chung and other backpackers who were affected by the tragedy

Mr Norris told 9News the Frenchman, 29, changed completely when the 21-year-old arrived at the hostel in the small town of Home Hill, south of Townsville, eight days ago.

He added Ayad did not show any signs of religious extremism.

'It just wasn't him... A lot of the news is trying to put him as an Islamic extremist. As far as I'm concerned he was never like that,' Mr Norris said.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung was on a round the world trip of a lifetime when she was stabbed to death on Tuesday night.

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.

'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.

'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 Ms Ayliffe-Chung 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.

Ayad was charged with one count of serious animal cruelty over the death of the canine.

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.'
Advertisement

The attack on the American University of Afghanistan has ended after two attackers were killed 10 hours after they stormed the school and killed at least 10 people.

The dead included seven students, two police officers and a security guard, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicion is likely to fall on the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid would only tell the media that the group is 'investigating.'

Scroll Down for Video

All over: The attack on the American University of Afghanistan has ended after two attackers were killed 10 hours after they stormed the school and killed at least seven people

On watch: Afghan police officers stand guard at the American University that was attacked by militants on Wednesday

Back under control: It took more than 10 hours for police to put an end to the assault on the American college in Kabul

Treatment: An injured man is transferred from the attack site in Kabul to a nearby hospital

'Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms,' Sediqqi said. At least 37 people were wounded, he said, including seven police officers.

Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said about 700 students had been rescued.

'We have ended our clean-up operation. Two attackers were gunned down,' Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of Kabul police's Criminal Investigation Department told AFP.

Afghan special forces were engaged in the fierce battle to clear the American University in Kabul of militants after gunmen stormed the campus.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university on the edge of Kabul.

The college was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

A U.S. official tells CBS News at least one American was injured in the attack.

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.

Back in control: Two Afghani police officers armed with rifles are seen standing near the university that was attacked

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

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.

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 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.

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 (stock image)

Battle: Afghan security officials secure the road leading to the American University of Afghanistan after a Taliban attack on the University

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

Hossaini and the other students took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces.

The Pentagon said U.S. 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 U.S. State Department condemned what it called 'an attack on the future of Afghanistan.'

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.

Earlier, 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.

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.

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

Test: Afghan security officials secure the road leading to the American University of Afghanistan after a reported Taliban attack on the University in Kabul

He added that he believed the attack - which has left at least 26 injured, including a number of girls - 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 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.

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.

Many trapped inside managed to escape the onslaught of gunfire by jumping from second story windows.

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

According to media reports, one person was killed and 14 injured when Taliban insurgents attacked the University

Fierce fighting: Afghan policemen wounded in a complex Taliban attack on the campus of the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul are treated

'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.

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.

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

Terrifying: Massoud Hossaini - who has won the Pullitzer prize working with the Associated Press - updated his Twitter to 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 heavily bandaged had was injured by broken glass shattered during the attack

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

'It was the scariest moment in my life. I was just thinking about my son and daughter who are in the United States.'

Two professors, an American and an Australian were abducted from the university - where 40 per cent of students are women - on August 8, 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.
Australia Day fireworks have been cancelled after councillors voted against the event over Indigenous cultural sensitivities.

The popular annual celebration - deemed 'Invasion Day' for Aboriginal people - will no longer include a firework show in Fremantle, Western Australia.

The controversial decision comes after protesters called for the council to move the fireworks to a more 'sensitive' date with the hashtag #FireWorksFreeFreo.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said 'there has been a growing movement that January 26 is increasingly becoming a day that is "not for all Australians".'

'VOTE RESPECT': The decision came after a demonstration by #FireworksFreeFreo protesters

The protest was coordinated through the Australians of British Heritage for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation group

Protesters called for the council to be sensitive to the concerns of the Indigenous community

tAustralia Day fireworks in Western Australia's Fremantle have been cancelled after councillors voted against the event over Indigenous cultural sensitivities

'For many Aboriginal Australians it is indeed a day of sadness and dispossession,' Mr Pettitt said.

'This does not just refer to Indigenous involvement but the involvement of many other Australians who feel increasingly uncomfortable with the date and what it represents.'

The council met with the Indigenous community to discuss the event on Wednesday night.

According to reports, local far right groups had been threatening to demonstrate out the front of the council chamber.

But only a group of anti-Australia Day fireworks protesters affiliated with the group Australians of British Heritage for Indigenous Justice and Reconcilliation showed.

The decision - which garnered the support of every councillor bar one - has sparked outrage on social media with some people saying they were 'offended'.

'There's no reason to go to @CityofFremantle now @bradpettitt takes away one thing that has brought thousands of people (to) it', wrote Chris Williams.

'As a 7th generation Aussie I am offended,' said Rob Smith.

Local councillors said they were flooded with emails from constituents arguing for and against.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt (pictured) said 'there has been a growing movement that January 26 is increasingly becoming a day that is "not for all Australians"'

One supporter, Clr Jon Strachan, said the Invasion Day debate was 'quite strong'.

He said there was an argument it is 'less and less relevant to celebrate Australia Day in that way.

'There's also is a side in Western Australia that it means nothing to us,' he said, arguing Federation Day (January 1) could be more appropriate.

Another supporter, Clr Jeff McDonald, supported the decision on principle. But he said it was rushed through without enough community consultation.

He said there was a suggestion the fireworks could be replaced with a light show.

'Don't replace fireworks with a light show if it's still insensitive, on Australia Day,' he said.

The event attracts crowds of up to 50,000 each year, injecting more than $2.5 million into the local community, Fremantle Chamber of Commerce claimed

Clr Doug Thompson said he voted for the cancellation because of the $145,000 cost.

'I think it's a waste of money to spend that amount of money for such a short event,' he said.

'$145,000 for an event which takes essentially 30 to 40 minutes is not a good return.'

The mayor, Mr Pettitt, said the city will instead be presenting a family-friendly event to celebrate being Australian on an alternative date.

'We've talked about a range of things which may include everything from light shows and projections, to concerts, to even having a giant family picnic,' he told Nine News.

The event attracts crowds of up to 50,000 each year, injecting more than $2.5 million into the local community, Fremantle Chamber of Commerce claimed.
A 20-year-old man claimed he was 'daydrunk' just before he allegedly killed his 17-year-old nephew in a car crash.

Brandon McCrave is accused of killing Michael Skirvin while drunkenly driving around Rhode Island with a suspended licence on Monday.

He was allegedly behind the wheel of his Jeep Wrangler on Monday in New Shoreham on Block Island when he missed a corner, police say.

Brandon McCrave, 20, (left) is accused of killing his 17-year-old nephew Michael Skirvin (right) while allegedly driving drunk in New Shoreham, Rhode Island

Just before the fatal crash, he wrote on Facebook that he was 'daydrunk' and heading off to nearby Block Island

The car then flipped, throwing Skirvin out onto the road. The teenager died at the scene, NBC News 10 reported.

A short time earlier, he had written on Facebook saying: 'Off to block island #daydrunk #squad.'

McCrave is facing a host of charges, including driving under the influence.

Police say it is McCrave's second DUI offense in five years.

Stephen McCrave, the drivers father and victims grandfather, told the news station: 'He (Skirvin) was a great kid. Him and his uncle were like brothers.

'They were only about two years apart. So he was a great kid, and for this to happen is just a horrible, horrific tragedy.

Police say it is McCrave's (left) second DUI offense in five years. Stephen McCrave, the drivers father and victims (rigtht) grandfather, said the pair were like brothers

'It doesn't make him a bad person, it just means that, he made mistakes in his life. And he learned from them.

'They were being kids. Kids are kids. They're saying (Brandon McCrave) did this, that, and the other thing.

'But, they're not. Hopefully, they'll give him some type of counseling in prison, because he needs to talk to somebody.'

He added: 'He's going to have to exonerate himself. And he's going to have to deal with the fact that his nephew is dead.
U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has backed away further from his hard-line stance on deporting millions of illegal immigrants, risking backlash from his base who have taken him at his word.

Trump said Wednesday night on the Fox News Channel's 'Hannity' program that while he still opposes 'amnesty' for border-jumpers and would deny them a path to citizenship, he's inclined to let the bulk of them stay in the U.S. and 'work with them.'

That position puts him in line with those of Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose stances he ridiculed during the Republican primary season.

Scroll down for video

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has backed away further from his hardline stance on deporting millions of illegal immigrants

In remarks broadcast on Wednesday from an interview with Sean Hannity Tuesday (pictured) he said he'd be willing to work with those who have followed laws while living in the country

Trump maintained that illegal immigrants who lead a life of crime would be deported quickly, but suggested that otherwise law-abiding people whose only crime was to sneak into the United States would be in a different category.

'Everybody agrees we get the bad ones out,' Trump said.

'But when I go through and I meet thousands and thousands of people on this subject, and I've had very strong people come up to me, really great, great people come up to me, and they've said, "Mr. Trump, I love you, but to take a person who's been here for 15 or 20 years and throw them and their family out, it's so tough, Mr. Trump".'

'I have it all the time! It's a very, very hard thing,' he said.

Trump insisted that there would be a penalty for entering the U.S. without authorization, in the form of a tax.

'They'll pay back taxes  they have to pay taxes,' Trump insisted. 'There's no amnesty, as such. There's no amnesty, but we work with them.'

Lost in talk of taxes is the fact that for low-income or destitute illegal immigrants, adding them to the tax rolls would make them eligible for a host of government perks including the generous Earned Income Tax Credit.

For illegal immigrants with three or more children and low incomes, that would amount to $6,242 per year from taxpayers.

Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

At a rally earlier in Tampa, Florida (pictured), Trump did not talk about deporting as many as 11 million illegal immigrants as he has in the past, instead saying he would aim enforcement efforts at people who are committing crimes such as overstaying their visas

Trump's comments came in the second part of his interview conducted on Tuesday with Fox host Sean Hannity.

They signaled a further softening in his immigration position as he girds for a battle against Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 election and faces pressure to bolster support among moderate voters and minority groups.

Trump defeated 16 rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in part based on his opposition to illegal immigrants.

Trump said he would outline his position in detail soon.

'Well, I'm going to announce something over the next two weeks, but it's going to be a very firm policy,' Trump told WPEC in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump's new position's also has some alignment with a failed 2007 reform push by former Republican President George W. Bush.

That effort offered a way to bring millions 'out of the shadows' without amnesty and would have required illegal immigrants to pay a fine and take other steps to gain legal status.

Trump's latest comments came as Nigel Farage, an anti-immigration politician who was part of Britain's successful campaign to leave the European Union, addressed Trump's rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday night (pictured)

Trump welcomes Farage, left, ex-leader of the British UKIP party, to speak at the campaign rally in Mississippi

Trump's latest comments came as Nigel Farage, an anti-immigration politician who was part of Britain's successful campaign to leave the European Union, addressed Trump's rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday night.

Trump has retained much of his immigration agenda in a bid to keep his base in line while he softens other parts of it in order to broaden his appeal to independents and some Democrats.

He still wants to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico but he has emphasized in recent days a need to deal most urgently with illegal immigrants who commit crimes and also those who might be displacing African-American and Hispanic workers.

At a rally earlier in Tampa, Florida, Trump did not talk about deporting as many as 11 million illegal immigrants as he has in the past, instead saying he would aim enforcement efforts at people who are committing crimes such as overstaying their visas.

'Hillary Clinton wants a totally open border so people can just pour in,' Trump said.

'We are going to enforce our laws, remove people who overstay their visas, dismantle the gangs and cartels, and protect jobs and benefits for hardworking American citizens.'

As part of an outreach to minority voters, a departure from his reliance on white voters. One such stop includes Detroit, and adviser Ben Carson (pictured) said he'd accompany Trump

Trump trails Clinton in national public opinion polls as well as in many battleground states where the election will be decided.

After a campaign shake-up last week, he has made more urgent attempts to appeal to moderate voters and minority groups who have been disenchanted by his bellicose rhetoric.

As part of an outreach to minority voters, who opinion polls show favoring his opponent, Trump plans to visit some African-American communities, a departure from his reliance on white voters.

One such stop is expected to be in September in Detroit.

One adviser, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, an African-American who ran against Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, told MSNBC he would accompany Trump.

'There's no question that he will be in the communities. He will be talking to African-American leaders around the country in different cities to find out what they believe is important, and what they think has worked,' Carson said.

Trump argues that many minority groups have suffered under Democratic policies, particularly in inner cities.
Ms Connor left her sons, 9 and 11, and her business Byron Bay Fresh Pasta

Ms Connor followed the British DJ to Bali after his visa expired

She met lover David Taylor, 33, at the backpackers lodge she worked at

Friends said the mother-of-two 'went out a lot for an older lady'

Sara Connor is described as a partier who was into the night

A Byron Bay mother accused of killing an Indonesian police officer has been described by friends as a 'doofa' who was big into the nightclub scene and 'partying a lot' when she met and fell for her younger lover 'DJ Nutzo.'

Sara Connor, 45, didn't tell anyone when she 'just took off' and followed her 33-year-old English boyfriend David Taylor to Bali earlier this month after his Australian Visa expired, leaving her two sons, pasta making business and part-time hotel job behind, a friend told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

But the couple's getaway took an unexpectedly violent turn last week when, after a night of kissing and drinking on the beach, the couple allegedly got into an argument with police officer Wayan Sudarsa, who was patrolling Kuta Beach in Denpasar, and accused him of stealing Ms Connor's purse, police claim.

Scroll down for video

Byron Bay mum Sara Connor (centre), 45, who is accused of beating a police officer to death with her young lover in Bali last week, has been described as friends as an avid partier

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

With the couple facing murder charges in Indonesia, the backpackers lodge where Ms Connor worked posted an advertisement for her job in the local newspaper on Thursday (pictured)

The couple, who met at the Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge in Byron Bay where Ms Connor worked at the front desk, 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.

Not anticipating their long-time employee back any time soon, the backpackers lodge posted an advertisement for Ms Connor's job in the local newspaper on Thursday.

Ms Connor, who has two sons, ages nine and 11, with her ex-husband Anthony 'Twig' Connor, was described as 'a little bit crazy' by friends, meanwhile Mr Taylor's demeanour was 'really chill and cool.'

Ms Connor (far right) left her two sons, pasta making business and part-time hotel job behind when she flew to meet Mr Taylor earlier this month. She started Byron Bay Fresh Pasta in 2014 from her home's twin garage

After a night of kissing and drinking on the beach, the couple allegedly got into an argument with police officer Wayan Sudarsa, who was patrolling Kuta Beach in Denpasar

Ms Connor and Mr Taylor (pictured) are accused of beating Mr Sudarsa to death. Both remain in custody

Mr Taylor met Ms Connor during his regular DJ gigs at the lodge's nightclub and friends said they believe the pair began dating only recently after Mr Taylor ended his relationship with his previous partner, who he lived with.

'It's all quite new, it's in the honeymoon phase  that's why she went overseas,' the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

'He's a DJ so he's really into his music and doing all of that. She just kind of liked that side of him  he was a bit younger and she probably fell for him. It was just a bit of fun.'

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

Mr Taylor (pictured) in Byron Bay at the Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge where she worked

A friend of Ms Connor's (pictured) said it was surprising how much she was immersed in the town's party culture

The woman said it was surprising how much Ms Connor, who ran her business Byron Bay Fresh Pasta out of her garage, was immersed in the town's party culture.

'She went out a lot for an older lady  it's a bit weird to party when you've got a 9 and 11 year old,' she said.

'If you're 45 you don't really go to Kota [Kota Denpasar] to drink on the beach  that's what teenagers do when they're on schoolies'

A male friend of Mr Taylor's, who also wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia the travelling DJ was not often seen drinking and was a 'chilled hippie'.

The accusation of murder and his arrest were shocking, the man said.

The Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge refused to comment to Daily Mail Australia.

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

The Halifax native reportedly left Australia in July because his visa was set to expire and Ms Connor (pictured) quickly followed

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 her lover to Bali, leaving her sons with her ex-husband.

Most of the Byron Bay community were unaware of the couple's romance, friends claim.

Mr Sudursa allegedly bit Ms Connor's (pictured) legs and hands when the fight became physical between the pair and the officer

Mr Taylor (pictured) and Ms Connor were arrested last weekend for the murder of Mr Sudarsa

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 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
But instead was told to 'think of the children' and was left fuming

Ms Harris said she attempted to complain to the Department of Education

A teacher says she was discriminated against for being transgender

A transgender high school teacher says she was 'discriminated against' by the NSW Department of Education after she stopped receiving work for changing gender

A high school teacher claims she was discriminated against and told to 'think of the children' by the NSW Department of Education because she was changing gender.

Blaise Harris has lodged a formal complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board stemming from her treatment as a casual teacher at Cessnock High School and the department's response to it, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The 41-year-old claims casual work at the school dried up after she revealed she was transgender.

But when she reported it to the department, a senior manager insinuated she was a risk to the children, she said.

'I don't have a problem with what the school did at all. You have to think of the children,' Ms Harris said senior management had told her.

'I said, "Excuse me, you do know the difference between a transgender woman and a pedophile, don't you?" Then I just put the phone down,' she said.

Ms Harris claims she stopped receiving work after she told her employees at Cessnock High School

Ms Harris grew up as a man in the Middle East with her British military family before getting married and working as a sniper in the British army.

After a difficult divorce, Ms Harris informed her parents about being transgender and changed her name from Christian in 2014.

Ms Harris changed her identity on official paperwork, took female hormones and grew her hair.

But after the discrimination Ms Harris claims she experienced, she was so ashamed she stopped the process of changing her gender.

Ms Harris began to identify as a female after she changed her name in 2014 and began to take hormones

'I thought at the time, I can't take on the department, they're bloody massive, it would be easier to change me,' she said.

The Department is currently working with the Anti-Discrimination Board on the matter.

The Department is presently compiling its submission to the Anti-Discrimination Board, it is not appropriate to comment further, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said.

Schools are committed to diversity in the workforce and to non-discriminatory environments.'

Ms Harris is seeking an apology and compensation.
A woman has fallen to her death in a zip line accident at an adventure park in Delaware.

The 59-year-old fell 40 feet while on a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure attraction in Lums Pond State Park in Bear, Delaware, on Wednesday.

The woman was treated after her fall and rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, ABC 6 reports.

Scroll down for video

A woman has fallen to her death in a zip line accident at an adventure park (pictured) in Delaware

The 59-year-old fell 40 feet while on a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure attraction in Lums Pond State Park (pictured) in Bear, Delaware

Police are investigating what caused the 59-year-old to fall.

Go Ape Tree Top lists its Delaware location as, the 'first and only zip line and treetop adventure course' in the state.

'This course includes 5 exciting sections featuring over 37 unique crossings and 4 thrilling zip lines,' its website reads.

The company's website also says people who take part must sign waivers, follow safety rules explained in a 30-minute briefing, and have a degree of physical fitness.

In a statement, Go Ape said it was 'deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence', CBS Philadelphia reports.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends and in particular to those who were on the course with her at the time.'

Police are investigating what caused the 59-year-old to fall from the tree top adventure attraction (pictured)

In a statement, Go Ape said it was 'deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence'
Ms Pearson's niece and nephew their aunt wanted wealth to stay in family

A woman who allegedly befriended an elderly dementia-suffering woman in a plot to claim her $1.7 million inheritance is on trial for fraud.

Victoria Anne Adams, 45, conspired with family members to forge the will of Edna Pearson, who died in 2008 aged 82, the Sydney District Court heard on Thursday.

Prosecutor Trevor Bailey called her 'the sun in a solar system of cheats', but her lawyer Julia Hickleton said she was merely a 'pawn' in a plot run by others.

Adams was last year charged alongside Louise Johan, 64 and Anthony Michael Desouza, 73, who allegedly made up a family gang swindling wealthy elderly.

Victoria Adams (L) is on trial for allegedly befriending an elderly dementia-suffering woman in a plot to claim her $1.7 million inheritance

The ring was said to be led by Adams' father Alex Johan, a convicted criminal, who died on Australia Day 2015, just before he was due to be arrested.

Ms Pearson's niece and nephew gave evidence on Thursday that their aunt was always been passionate about wealth staying in the family.

They said she loved the Pearson family name and did a lot of research into family trees and even travelled to England to explore her heritage.

Nephew Thomas Pearson said his aunt had more than once voiced her concern about his stepchildren, who were not in the Pearson bloodline.

'She was worried that I was going to give them some money one day,' he said.

When Mr Pearson and his wife had a son together, his aunt told him this was 'very important', he said.

Mr Pearson and his sister Susan Rae Corney testified that their aunt had told them on multiple occasions that they would inherit two properties owned by her.

This was according to a will signed by Ms Pearson in 1978, which named them as beneficiaries, they said.

Edna Pearson (pictured), died in 2008 aged 82

After Ms Pearson died, Mr Pearson and Ms Corney learned there was another will, more recent than the one they were named in, leaving the majority of their aunt's estate to Adams, who was her cleaner.

Neither Mr Pearson and Ms Corney had any recollection of the name 'Adams' as someone their aunt knew.

But Ms Corney was aware of a woman named Victoria becoming her aunt's house cleaner several years before she died, she said.

Ms Pearson was a trained accountant and was quite particular about having things done her way, the court heard.

Prosecutors allege Adams befriended Ms Pearson in 2003, copied her signature and forged a will without her knowledge, backdating it to 1999.

The paper used to write the will was found to not be manufactured until at least 2006, the Sydney Morning Herald reported last year.

The plot was discovered during investigations into another questionable will, that of of Herbert Luscombe, 97, who signed over his $3.4 million estate to one of Adams' relatives in 2006.
Advertisement

A real slice of Hollywood history is now on the market: The home that Lucille Ball moved into after signing to RKO Pictures in 1933.

Then just 22, the future star of sitcom 'I Love Lucy' took up residence in 1344 North Ogden Drive, a 1,874sqft, two-bedroom home that was soon inhabited by her whole family, who followed her out from New York to Los Angeles.

That caused problems when her grandfather used it as a meeting place for his Communist Party pals, nearly crashing her career. Now the place is on the market - minus the Communists, but overflowing with early 20th century charm.

Home sweet home: This is the house that Lucille Ball moved into in 1933 after signing a deal with RKO Pictures. She would go on to become the star of mega-hit sitcom 'I Love Lucy,' and this would forever be known as her first Hollywood home

Airy: The airy, well-lit home, located in the historic Spaulding Square neighborhood is now on the market for a cool $1.75m

Open: The 1,874sqft home has an open design, with this living room connecting to the dining room, which itself has an open-plan kitchen

Sitting on a 6,751sqft lot with front and back yards, the 1919 bungalow is built in the American Craftsman style, which emphasized simplicity and craftsmanship, using locally sourced materials to provide open, elegant homes for a fast-growing populace.

The front yard is the very picture of a turn-of-the-century LA home, with its wide porch, cluster of palm trees and gently beveled edges.

And inside is even prettier: large windows on all sides and a mostly open-plan first floor mean that the gorgeous LA sun fills the whole house.

An attractive wooden fireplace provides a center feature of the living room area, which then flows via a wide open doorway into the dining room, and in turn an open-plan kitchen with a mini breakfasting area.

Green stone: The kitchen - complete with charming breakfast area - is well appointed in German green stone

Classy and classic: Modern conveniences such as this enormous double-doored refrigerator have been elegantly worked into the classic turn-of-the-century stile with wood paneling and brushed metal details

Studio: Although it's a bungalow, this two-bedroom home packs a whole lot in, including this office

Modern conveniences like a huge fridge are hidden behind classic-looking wooden panels to maintain the period atmosphere, while German green-stone fittings add a touch of gravitas to the proceedings.

That's offset somewhat by the unique chandeliers and lighting fixtures, which add a little of the quirkiness that Ball would later come to be loved for.

And despite being a bungalow, there's still an impressive amount of space to stretch out, with an office area ideal for aspiring - or accomplished - Hollywood writers.

Gorgeous wooden flooring bring the whole thing together, adding extra warmth to the cosy home.

Bedroom with a view: This first of two bedrooms opens onto a back yard, and lets in lots of natural light

Cosy: A second bedroom provides more space for guests or family. Ball's brother, mother and grandfather all moved into the house with her, but there's no need to cram in too many people!

Gleaming: This gleaming white bathroom - with pretty gold details - is one of two bathrooms in the home

The home has two bedrooms, with the ground floor room opening directly onto the wooden rear patio - perfect for those who like to roll out of bed and into the fresh air as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, the second bedroom comfortably houses a queen-size bed and overlooks the historic Spaulding Square neighborhood.

And a beautiful white-tiled bathroom - one two - with gold fixtures brings an extra touch of class to morning ablutions.

Hot tub: The rear yard has decking that not only provides space for deck chairs, but also has a hot tub (right)

Greenery: There's plenty of greenery on the 6,751sqft lot, including lime, lemon and avocado trees

Driven to success: There's also a garage in the rear garden - essential for making those hot Hollywood dates

The rear porch not only provides plenty of space for sun loungers, it also has a hot tub for added luxury.

If you have a hankering for fresh fruit, lime, lemon and avocado trees in the rear yard will keep you well-stocked - and the garage in the back means you won't have to go far to reach your car if you run out.

All in all, it's quite the package. And while Ball ultimately left the home after her career took flight, it does remain a key part of Hollywood history.

If you want to take a look, there will be a public viewing of the home from 2-5pm on August 28, according to Realtor.com.
A North Carolina church is holding 'Racists Anonymous' meetings every week as a way to fight racism.

The meetings take place on Wednesdays at Trinity United Church of Christ in Concord, WJZY reported on Wednesday.

'Racists Anonymous' facilitator Dr Carol Stanley told the TV station: 'But we're becoming clearer and clearer on the unconscious racism that we all carry.'

Scroll down for video

A North Carolina church is holding 'Racists Anonymous' meetings every week as a way to fight racism

The meetings take place on Wednesdays at Trinity United Church of Christ in Concord

The church was inspired by a similar program in California, WJZY reported.

Around 12 people attend the meetings, the Rev Nathan King told the TV station.

He told the Independent Tribune: 'With so much that's happened, particularly but for a long time, with particularly black men being gunned down in the street and now a really downside response to that is the police officers getting killed and just a lot of escalation of violence in our society.

'We pray and we pray and we pray, but we also believe that it's time to do something about racism in our society, and this program, this Racists Anonymous, seems like one of the ways that we can do that and move the world forward, move the conversation forward in a positive way.'

Around 12 people attend the meetings, the Rev Nathan King (pictured) says

'Racists Anonymous' began at Trinity United Church of Christ on July 20

He told the newspaper: 'The hope is that people will be able to recognize the racism in their everyday lives, recognize their own participation in racism and will be able to heal that in themselves.

'What we hope to do is eliminate racism one person at a time, one day at a time.'

The church posted on Facebook what it called 'Racists Anonymous 12 Steps of Recovery'

Stanley is a psychologist and leads the 12-step program, whose meetings include storytelling from members and guest speakers, the Independent Tribune reported.

She told the newspaper: 'Mainly, [Racists Anonymous] is based on a really big idea, and that is we are wanting to move our civilization forward and not backward.

'We believe, the United Church of Christ believes that God is still speaking to us today, and God is calling us to move forward and learn how to love better.
Wikileaks co-creator Julian Assange says that he will soon release 'significant' material on Hillary Clinton.

He told Fox News's Megyn Kelly that Clinton - who has vowed to 'run out the clock' on various controversial stories, according to unnamed sources - may be 'forced' to respond to his remarks.

Assange said his team was 'working around the clock' on 'a lot of material' from the Clinton election campaign - and that his findings were 'significant.'

Scroll down for video

Leak: Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange promised information would be leaked about Hillary Clinton's campaign before November's election

'Significant': Assange said that the thousands of pages of documents in his possession included 'significant' and 'unexpected' details about Clinton

Assange, who was speaking from an undisclosed location as he still faces extradition to Sweden for alleged sexual assaults in 2010, wouldn't be drawn on exactly when the information would be released.

But he promised that it would 'absolutely' come out before November's election.

He also declined to say exactly what it was that Wikileaks would be releasing, but that 'thousands of pages' of material are being read through at the moment by his team.

Those documents came from 'various institutions connected to the election campaign,' he said.

He added that there were 'some quite unexpected angles that are quite interesting - some even entertaining.'

Game-changer: Assange was cagey about whether it would be a 'game-changer,' saying only that it depends on how the information 'catches fire in the public and in the media'

Assange remained similarly cagey about the impact of his documents on Clinton's campaign, when Kelly asked whether the information could be a 'game-changer' for Trump, who is behind in polls.

'I think it's significant,' he said. 'Ah, you know, it depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media.'

Assange also told Kelly that his team were taking pains to check the veracity of their data, so they wouldn't spoil what he called a 'perfect ten-year record.'

As proof of his form, he pointed to his team's leaking of documents ahead of the Democratic National Convention that showed negative talk about then-candidate Bernie Sanders among DNC staff.
Police are investigating the death of a prisoner at the Darwin Correctional Centre.

The Northern Territory's Corrections confirmed that the 31-year-old man Aboriginal man was found dead in his cell at about 6.30am on Thursday, Seven News reports.

A spokesman for the department said attempts by staff at the centre to revive the man proved unsuccessful.

Northern Territory police are investigating the death of a prisoner at the Darwin Correctional Centre (pictured)

'Correctional officers attempted to revive the prisoner but he did not respond to their resuscitation attempts,' the department said in a statement.

Police said they are investigating the incident and preparing a report for the coroner.

The spokesman said the man was a low security remand prisoner.

Darwin Correctional Centre replaced the Berrimah Correctional Centre as the main facility for adult prisoners in the Top End.

The centre includes the Complex Behaviour Unit, and a Pre-Release Work village, the government website for the centre states.

It has 1048 beds for both male and female of all security ratings.
Hernandez isn't the boy's biological father, but he referred to the child as his 'son' and 'lil man'

An autopsy showed Jordan died from a broken back after he was 'pushed'

But two days after the boy's death, he was charged with capital murder

Wrote a number of emotional statuses about the 'best s

He died in hospital in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday evening

A 21-year-old man said he couldn't believe his 'lil man' had died - just hours before he was arrested for the youngster's murder.

Ricardo Hernandez wrote dozens of emotional posts on Facebook after his girlfriend's four-year-old son, Jordan Altamirano, passed away on Saturday, just two days before he was supposed to start school.

He uploaded pictures of himself alongside the heartfelt messages, including one which read: 'HE WAS THE BEST SON I EVA (sic) HAD. ALL HE EVER WANTED WAS MY ATTENTION N MY LOVE [...] WHY HIM LORD.'

But on Monday, he was charged with capital murder for allegedly causing the horrific injuries that killed Jordan.

Ricardo Hernandez (left and right) wrote a number of emotional posts on Facebook after his girlfriend's four-year-old son, Jordan Altamirano (also left and right), passed away on Saturday just two days before he was supposed to start school

He uploaded pictures of himself with the boy in dozens of heartfelt messages, including one which read: 'HE WAS THE BEST SON I EVA (sic) HAD. ALL HE EVER WANTED WAS MY ATTENTION N MY LOVE [...] WHY HIM LORD'

Hernandez told police he pushed Altamirano in his chest 'with a lot of force' on Saturday evening.

The shove sent the child flying into a sofa at the home he shared with the boy's mom, MySA.com reported.

An autopsy later found he had suffered a broken back.

Hernandez told the boy to go up to his room as he 'didn't want to hear him crying' cops said.

On Monday, he was charged with capital murder for allegedly causing the horrific injuries that killed Jordan

Later that night, Jordan came downstairs saying he wasn't feeling well.

Hernandez allegedly downplayed how sick he was - insisting he just had a stuffy nose.

But he took Jordan to hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Hernandez was initially released, after allegedly giving police a different story.

An autopsy was then conducted, and Hernandez was arrested as a result.

In interviews with police, Hernandez said he was under a lot of stress as he had bills coming in and couldn't get a job.

Hernandez is not Jordan's biological father, but was in a relationship with the boy's mother.

He also lived in the same home with three other children.

Hernandez referred to Jordan as his 'son' and 'lil man' who he 'misses so much' in the mournful Facebook posts.

He also wrote: 'He didn't even get to wear his new shoes for school.

'He started school tomorrow. Out of everybody why him Lord. We need him plz bring him back.'

If convicted, Hernandez faces life in prison or the death penalty.

In one post, Hernandez (who was using a different name on Facebook) said he was devastated that the youngster couldn't wear his new shoes on the first day of school

At one point between the child's death and his arrest, the suspect changed his profile picture to show him posing with the boy
Sydney man Mokhtar Hosseiniamraei has been jailed for a minimum of almost 16 years for the 'brutal' murder of his estranged wife Leila Alavi.

One of Hosseiniamraei's loved ones threw up her hands and abruptly walked from the courtroom as the sentence was handed down in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday.

Justice Robert Allan Hulme said the total sentence of 21 years would have been longer were it not for the killer's plea of guilty.

Estranged husband 'stabbed his wife 56 times in a car park - because she did not obey the rules of marriage'

Mitra Alavi, sister of murder victim Leila Alavi, leaves NSW Supreme Court in Sydney, crying after the estranged husband Mokhtar Hosseiniamraei is sentenced to 21 years in jail

Hosseiniamraei stabbed his estranged wife 56 times in January 2015 in the car park below the western Sydney hairdressing salon where she worked, using a pair of scissors he had stolen from a nearby supermarket.

Justice Hulme described how the 'defenceless' Ms Alavi lost her life because of what Hosseiniamraei perceived as her 'disobedience' and failure to 'obey the rule of marriage'.

Hosseiniamraei had threatened his wife before, and she had taken out an apprehended domestic violence order against him only three months before her death.

Hosseiniamraei stabbed his estranged wife 56 times in January 2015 in the car park below the western Sydney hairdressing salon

The judge said the 26-year-old victim posed no threat to her husband and would have had no chance of escaping.

'Her dying moments must have been entirely terrifying,' Justice Hulme said.

Although Hosseiniamraei had expressed regret, the judge said he was unable to find that he was genuinely remorseful.

Hosseiniamraei's efforts to paint his victim as in any way responsible for her death also 'discloses a breathtakingly arrogant and misogynistic attitude towards the right of his wife to choose her own destiny', the judge added.
A celebrity pest controller got much more than he bargained for after he was strangled by a giant python in Queensland while filming a reality TV program.

Craig Freeman came face to face with the python in a shed on Airlie Beach, while recording the new show 'Deadliest Pests Down Under', to be aired in Britain next month, Nine News reports.

The footage shows local expert Kylie instructing Freeman on how best to handle the reptile as he grabs the snake under its head.

'Don't let his head go, whatever you do,' she says as Freeman tries to get to grips with the now violently twisting snake.

Freeman starts to play up to the camera for effect, but in doing so it alarms the python so much that it starts to constrict even more.

The situation goes from bad to worse when the struggling reptile begins coiling its body around Freeman's neck and before long he is gasping for breath and clearly is in distress.

As the python's grip tightens Freeman's face goes progressively redder until he turns a purple colour as the python increases its deadly grip around his neck.

Craig Freeman was slowly being strangled by a python in a shed on Airlie Beach

Luckily local snake expert Kylie was on hand to save him before it was too late

Luckily for Freeman, Kylie steps in immediately and helps to unwrap the reptile from her terrified snake student's neck before it all ends in tears.

A scared Freeman, who had been squealing in terror up until then, can only stagger back as far away from the reptile as possible.

'I can't believe that I've just been throttled by a snake,' a visibly shaken Freeman said.

'You made that look so much harder than it should have been,' Kylie replied. 'My five-year-old usually helps me with these.'
The Rottweiler was found crawling in pain by the RSPCA hours later

Paul Rogers, 41, shot the dog after it bit his friend's two-year-old child

Man escapes jail after shooting 'beloved family pet' with a bow and arrow

A man who shot a Rottweiler with a bow and arrow after it attacked his friend's two-year-old child has escaped jail.

Paul Rogers, 41, shot the animal at his One Tree Hill home, north-east of Adelaide, in April 2014, after it bit the toddler on the arm, shoulder and back, drawing blood.

The child's father, Peter Moran, then allegedly stabbed the animal in the head, the ABC reported.

A man who shot a Rottweiler with a bow and arrow after it attacked his friend's two-year-old child (injuries pictured) has escaped jail

Rogers was under the impression he would not be able to find a vet who could euthanise the dog because it was the weekend, a court heard on Thursday.

As a result he took the dog to a paddock where he shot it with a bow and arrow.

Believing the 'beloved family pet' was dead Rogers and Moran went home but the RSPCA discovered the dog crawling around a few hours later while investigating reports an animal had been shot on the property.

It was 24 hours before the dog was finally put down.

Magistrate Derek Sprod said he did not believe Rogers wanted to cause the animal pain.

But RSPCA prosecutor Ronan O'Brien said Roger should have received imprisonment.

The 'beloved family dog' when it was found by the RSPCA

'The dog was in horrific pain, it had been inflicted with an arrow wound the night before and had been left partly paralysed throughout the night to crawl 60 metres across the paddock,' he said.

Mr Sprod ordered Rogers to pay more than $4300 in court, RSPCA and vet costs and imposed a three-year, $1000 good behaviour bond

He also banned him from owning an animal for five years and said if he believed Rogers intentionally caused the animal pain he would have sentenced him to eight month in prison.
to wait more than 413,000 hours in Sydney and eight in Dubai

Skyscanner suggested James Lloyd (pictured) wait for 47 years for a plane from Bangkok to Dubai

A traveller was left scratching his head after Skyscanner suggested he wait for 47 years when organising his flights.

The price comparison website told James Lloyd to wait for more than 413,000 hours for a plane from Bangkok to Dubai and then another eight and a half hours for a flight from Dubai to Gatwick.

Mr Lloyd's mammoth journey was from Christchurch in New Zealand to England with three connections along the way.

He posted on Facebook: 'Hi Skyscanner. Just wondering what you'd recommend I do during the 47 year layover your website has suggested?'

Skyscanner also saw the funny side and responded to their ticked off traveler with a list of things to keep him busy during his hours between flights.

They wrote: 'Unless you're a huge fan of The Terminal, I'd probably recommend spending those years outside of the airport, so here are a few suggestions:

'Just missed Songkran but you've got another 46 years to enjoy it. How do you feel about heights? The Moon Bar is pretty good and it's open until 1am so you could spend a good chunk of time there.

Instead of sitting around in the terminal at Bangkok airport, Skyscanner suggested a list of sights Mr Lloyd could enjoy during his mammoth layover (file photo)

'A cruise on the Chao Phraya river could keep you busy for a while. If you get peckish there's a floating market. Not only good for grub, but you could make a few mates whilst you're there. Win/win.
On the day a girl was going to celebrate her 10th birthday, she was found murdered in her family's apartment in New Mexico by police officers, her dismembered remains wrapped in a burning blanket.

Details of what Gov. Susana Martinez and law enforcement officials described as an unspeakable crime emerged Thursday in a criminal complaint made public and filed against the girl's mother, her boyfriend and his cousin. The three were arrested late Wednesday night.

Police say the girl, identified Thursday afternoon as Victoria Martens, was injected with methamphetamine, sexually assaulted, strangled and stabbed before being dismembered.

Scroll down for video

Horror crime: Michelle Martens (left), her boyfriend Fabian Gonzales (center), and his cousin Jessica Kelley (right) have been charged in the shocking rape, murder and dismemberment of Martens' 10-year-old daughter, Victoria

Young victim: Police officers discovered Victoria Martens' butchered body wrapped in a blanket and set on fire in the bathtub

Community in shock: Women mourn near the apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the body of a 10-year-old girl who police said was sexually assaulted, strangled then dismembered was found lying under a burning blanket

Early Wednesday morning, police received a call about a disturbance inside a unit at the Arroyo Villas Apartment Complex on Irving Boulevard.

Officers who responded to the address came upon a gruesome crime scene in the bathroom, said Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden.

'This is a horrific tragedy for our community,' Eden told reporters. 'I want to assure the public that we will pursue justice and we will make sure that we exhaust every resource into this investigation.'

By Thursday morning, a makeshift shrine for 10-year-old Victoria had emerged underneath a tree at the apartment complex  with relatives and friends leaving flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and lit candles.

Martinez said in a statement the abuse and killing of Victoria Martens 'is unspeakable and justice should come down like a hammer.'

Mother's confession: Martens told police her boyfriend drugged her daughter so he could 'calm her down' and have sex with her

Gonzales, his left eye appearing black and swollen, denied having anything to do with the girl's death as he was led out of the police station in handcuffs

The girl's mother, 35-year-old Michelle Martens, her 31-year-old boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, and his 31-year-old cousin, Jessica Kelley, face charges of child abuse resulting in death, kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

Gonzales and Kelley have also been charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor.

Gonzales, his left eye looking black and swollen, denied having anything to do with Victoria's death as he was led out of the police station in handcuffs late Wednesday as reporters yelled questions at him. He and Martens reportedly had met on a dating site

The victim's mother, with a stitched-up wound above her nose, said nothing as she was led out and placed into the back of a police car.

Police said Kelley was hospitalized late Wednesday and will be booked after she is released. No details were disclosed about why she was hospitalized.

This afternoon, Michelle Martens and Fabian Gonzales made their initial court appearances and were ordered held on $1million bond each. Neither entered a plea.

According to the criminal complaint, Martens made a confession, telling police Gonzales drugged the girl so he could 'calm her down' and have sex with her. She said Kelley held her hand over the child's mouth and she stabbed the girl in the stomach after Gonzales had choked her.

Sickening details: The 35-year-old mother-of-two (left) said Gonzales and Kelley (right) drugged her daughter with methamphetamines to calm her down before the rape

Innocents: Victoria (left) was a student at Petroglyph Elementary School. She is survived by a younger brother (right)

The complaint also states that the mother, who also has a younger son, told investigators that Gonzales and Kelley dismembered Victoria.

One of the police officers who arrived at the apartment found the girl's body in a bathroom, rolled up in a blanket that had been set on fire. The officer put it out.

Some of her remains were found in a plastic bag in a hamper near the kitchen, reported The Albuquerque Journal, citing court records.

Albuquerque Public Schools said Thursday that Victoria Martens was a student at Petroglyph Elementary School on Albuquerque's west side.

In a statement, the district said school officials were having hard time wrapping their heads around around the sickening case.

People who knew the slain child said she was well-liked and friendly.

Christine Zamora said she taught Victoria gymnastics every Saturday and that she came to class happy.

Neighbor John Madrid says he often saw the girl at the pool and that she was excited about the start of the new school year.

Fabian Gonzales has an arrest record stretching back to 2004, including a felony child abuse charge, driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. It was unclear whether he was convicted of most charges, but he did plead no contest to a charge of child abandonment.

Kelley's arrest record includes battery, domestic violence and drug charges  most of them dismissed. Online court records show no past criminal history in New Mexico for Martens.

Mugshots of Martens and Gonzales released by police showed them with bruises on their faces. In his statement in the criminal complaint, Gonzales said his cousin hit him and Martens with an iron.

A memorial for a 10-year-old girl who police said was sexually assaulted, strangled then dismembered is seen at an Albuquerque apartment building Thursday

Laura Bobbs, a local minister and close family friend of the victim, told the Albuquerque Journal she was planning Victoria's birthday celebration for when the child was supposed to arrive home from school Wednesday afternoon. They were going to have pedicures and manicures and eat cake.

Bobbs broke down sobbing and yelling Wednesday outside the apartment complex as detectives investigated.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed down the phone after a fiery interview with shock jock Alan Jones on 2GB radio on Thursday.

The pair discussed a range of topics, including swinging petrol prices, changes to superannuation and Chinese ownership of land, but things got heated when they clashed over definitional changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.

Referring to a case before the Federal Court, involving three university students accused of racism and facing $500,000 in legal fees, Jones pushed Mr Turnbull to consider removing the terms 'offend' and 'insult' from the Act.

Not happy: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed down his phone after a fiery interview with shock jock Alan Jones about the Racial Discrimination Act

But Mr Turnbull was firm in his response, saying: 'The answer is no, not at this stage because we have higher and more urgent budget repair priorities.'

Under time constraint and with an imminent news bulletin, Mr Jones had the final say, finishing by thanking Mr Turnbull for his time on the show.

Mr Turnbull offered a blunt 'thanks' in return, before audibly slamming down his receiver.

During the lengthy interview, Jones criticised Mr Turnbull for not giving Australian's their 'fare share' of agricultural land, saying that foreign buyers were snapping up prime pieces of land.

'Look, you get all sorts of voices coming out of China, out of their media, but I can assure you, having dealt with Chinese governments over a long period of time, they absolutely understand that it is entirely our right to determine who invests here,' Mr Turnbull calmly replied.

Jones asked Mr Turnbull if he would consider removing the terms 'offend' and 'insult' from the Act, referencing a case currently before the Federal Court where three university students could face up to $500,000 in legal fees for an allegedly racist Facebook post

Mr Turnbull also promised to take a fresh look at petrol prices, but said greater competition and use of mobile apps would help address consumer concerns.

Across the five largest cities, prices averaged 121.7 cents a litre in 2015/16.

The prime minister said he planned to discuss the issue with Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chief Rod Sims.

'But it is a competitive business ... over the years we've felt that the solution was competition and transparency,' Mr Turnbull told Alan Jones.

'There are plenty of ways of getting applications on your phone and so forth that show you where the cheapest petrol is, but of course the problem is very few of us have got the time to drive around because we're all so time poor.'
Theresa May is under intense pressure to find ways of curbing immigration after it emerged numbers are still running at more than triple the government's target.

Net migration in the year to March was 327,000, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - the third highest level on record.

Some 180,000 of the total came from the EU. The numbers arriving from Romania and Bulgaria - the newest EU states - hit a new high of 69,000.

Around 127,000 of the incomers had no set job to go to - including 77,000 from the EU.

The figures - which only cover longer-term migrants - are the first since the historic Brexit vote in the EU referendum. They will renew demands for the government to press ahead with plans to cut ties with Brussels.

The latest net annual migration figures show numbers were 327,000 in the year to March

The previous set of information published in May showed net migration running slightly higher at 334,000 in the year to December, with the EU making up some 184,000 of the total.

The revelation dominated much of the referendum campaign, with David Cameron struggling to explain how levels could be brought down within the Brussels club - which insists on free movement of labour.

The ONS figures showed that immigration was 633,000 over the period, while emigration was 306,000.

Immigration from Romania and Bulgaria, which became full EU members in 2013, hit 69,000.

For the first time levels from those two countries have overtaken migration from the eight states that joined in 2004 - including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic - which was running at 68,000.

A net total of 43,000 Britons left the country over the 12 months.

Long-term immigration of overseas students fell by 28,000 in the year to 164,000, the lowest estimate for more than eight years.

ONS spokeswoman Nicola White said: 'Net migration remains at record levels although the recent trend is broadly flat.

'The influx of Romanians and Bulgarians has also reached a new high, although that's off-set by falls in non-EU immigration and from other central and eastern European countries.

'Work remains the main reason for migration, followed by study which has seen a significant fall in the number of people coming to the UK for education.'

Meanwhile, the government's top migration adviser has suggested Britain should make low-skilled migrants from the EU apply for work permits.

Prime Minister Theresa May is making tackling immigration a key part of Brexit talks

Sir David Metcalf of the Migration Advisory Committee said it would be 'pretty straightforward' to run a permits scheme similar to a previous model used for seasonal farm workers.

A report from the think-tank said low-skilled migrants have put 'extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services'.

'It would be remiss of the Migration Advisory Committee not to have actually done a bit of thinking about some of these things,' Sir David told The Daily Telegraph.

'I think it [work permits] is a pretty straightforward way and you already have a model that works.

'The agricultural scheme was terrifically well administered  it was one guy at the Home Office working with operators and farmers.

'It was time limited and capped. We could think of similar sectors where you have got a lot of unskilled European labour. That's very much tied up with what the Prime Minister is interested in.'

The committee's report found that migrants account for two million of the 13 million low-skilled workers in Britain  or one in seven.

Commenting on their impact, it said: 'Costs, often focused in particular locations and sectors, include rapidly changing populations with possible implications for cohesion and integration; extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services; a small negative impact on wages of low-paid workers [and] serious exploitation of some migrants because of inadequate enforcement of minimum labour standards.'

The report came as Mrs May ordered ministers to draw up a fresh package of immigration controls this autumn in a bid to bring numbers under control.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has been told by the Prime Minister to come up with a new package of measure to cut the number of people coming into the UK from outside the EU

The Prime Minister has told Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis to make control of EU migration a 'priority' during the EU negotiations.

She has also tasked Home Secretary Amber Rudd with coming up with a new package of measures to cut the number coming from outside the EU.

A Government source said: 'Control over the number of EU migrants will be a priority in the Brexit deal. We are also working on a package to reduce further non-EU immigration across all three visa routes  work, family and students.'

UK CITIZENSHIP BIDS ROSE IN RUN-UP TO REFERENDUM Applications for British citizenship from European Union nationals increased in the year to the end of June, figures show. There were 15,501 applications from EU nationals in the period, a rise of 14 per cent compared with the previous 12 months. The rise was in part due to increases in applications from Poles and Italians, up by 9 per cent to 4,246 and 26 per cent to 1,075 respectively. Citizenship applications from EU nationals have risen from just over 5,000 in the year ending June 2008. The level recorded in the most recent year was the second highest in the period, behind 18,974 applications in the 12 months to June 2014. Advertisement

Miss Rudd is working on the new package with officials, but Whitehall sources indicated Mrs May, who spent six years as Home Secretary, will retain oversight. 'It will be centrally directed,' one said.

The Prime Minister, who returned from a 12-day holiday in the Swiss Alps yesterday, is understood to be concerned that although the focus has been on free movement from the EU, non-EU immigration has also been 'drifting upwards' for some time.

Mrs May clashed repeatedly with George Osborne over attempts to curb immigration in the past, with the then-chancellor warning it could damage the economy.

But with Mr Osborne now sacked, Mrs May has a free hand. The review is likely to have a particular focus on the number of foreign students travelling to Britain to study each year.

Universities and colleges insist that they bring vital revenue to the UK, but Mrs May has long been concerned that the system is too easy to abuse. Andrew Green, chairman of the think-tank MigrationWatch, welcomed the prospect of fresh action on migration from outside the EU.

Lord Green said: 'While we wait for the outcome of Brexit negotiations, it's essential that the Prime Minister sets further action in hand on non-EU migration, which is half the total. The biggest source of migration from outside the EU is clearly students, very few of whom are recorded as going home. This is where action needs to be focused.'

The Tory target to cut net immigration to the 'tens of thousands' was originally set by David Cameron in the run-up to the 2010 election, when it stood at 250,000 a year.

Mrs May confirmed last month that she intended to keep the target  but warned it could take more than four years to hit.

Brexit Secretary David Davis, left, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have been told by Theresa May to make control of EU migration a priority in the Brexit negotiations

Nearly three in 10 babies have mothers born outside the UK - and in parts of London the figure is over 75%

The proportion of babies born to women from outside the UK has hit a record level of 27.5 per cent.

In parts of London more than three quarters of children had non-British born mothers.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that there were 192,227 live births to women born abroad last year.

Women born in this country had 505,588 children, according to the data covering England and Wales.

Polish-born mothers registered 22,928 babies, and were followed by Pakistan and India-born women as the highest from outside the UK.

ONS figures have shown the proportion of live births to women born outside the UK in England and Wales in 2015

The percentage was up from 27 per cent last year. The number of children for UK-born women fell 0.4 per cent, while the figures for those born abroad went up 2.5 per cent.

Some 76.5 per cent of babies in Newham in east London had mothers born outside the UK.

Outside of London, Slough had the highest percentage at 62.0 per cent, followed by Luton with 56.4 per cent.

By contrast just 11 per cent of live births in the North East were to women born outside of Britain.

ONS spokeswoman Elizabeth McLaren said: 'The rising percentage of births to women born outside the UK is largely due to foreign born women making up an increasing share of the female population of childbearing age in England and Wales.

'Part of the reason for this is that migrants are more likely to be working-age adults rather than children or older people.

'Alongside their increasing share of the population, higher fertility among women born outside the UK has also had an impact.'

Poland has overtaken India as the most common non-UK country of birth

Poland is the most common overseas country of birth for people living in the UK for the first time.

There were an estimated 831,000 Polish-born residents in 2015 - a jump of almost three quarters of a million compared to the number in 2004 when the country joined the EU.

It meant Poland overtook India, which had 795,000 people last year, as the most common non-UK nation of birth.

Polish was also the most common non-British nationality, with an estimated 916,000 residents.

Figures are compiled both by both country of birth and nationality, which can be subject to change.

Overall, one in eight (13.3 per cent) of the people living in the UK were born abroad last year - compared to one in 11 in 2004.

There was a 'statistically significant increase' in the non-UK born population of the UK between 2014 and 2015, rising from 8.3 million to 8.6 million, the Office for National Statistics said.

In 2015, 1 in 12 (8.7 per cent) of the 'usual resident population' of the UK had non-British nationality, which compares with 1 in 20 (5 per cent) in 2004.

There was a 'statistically significant' increase in the non-British national population between 2014 and 2015, increasing from 5.3 million to 5.6 million.

Within that number, there were 3.2 million EU citizens, a rise of 300,000, or 7.5 per cent on 2014. The number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals living in the UK increased by 28 per cent to just under 300,000.

The total number of EU nationals living in the UK has almost tripled since 2004, when it was 1.1 million.

Nicola White, of the ONS, said: 'The population of the UK continued to increase between 2014 and 2015, driven by significant increases in both the non-UK born and non-British national population of the UK.

'Poland is now the most common non-UK country of birth, overtaking India for the first time.

'The number of Polish born citizens living in the UK has continued to increase since Poland joined the EU and the number of UK residents born in Poland was eight times higher in 2015 compared with 2004.'

The Brexit vote led to scrutiny of the status of EU nationals living in the UK.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: 'These data come at a time of considerable uncertainty for EU migrants living in the UK, as most EU migrants are not UK citizens.
A mother has dressed her son in blackface and celebrated with a wine before 12pm when the boy won a school costume competition.

The Perth-based mother shared an image of her nine-year-old son covered in brown paint with a wig of dreadlocks, purporting to be dressed up as AFL star Nic Naitanui.

She posted the photo to the Facebook page of outspoken mummy blogger Constance Hall to share her 'absolute QUEENING moment'.

The original post has since been deleted, but has been circulating on social media with criticisms the costume was racist.

A Perth-based mother shared an image of her son covered in brown paint with a wig of dreadlocks, purporting to be dressed up as AFL star Nic Naitanui

She posted the photo to the Facebook page of outspoken mummy blogger Constance Hall to share her 'absolute QUEENING moment'

'I NEED to share my absolute QUEENING moment,' the mother wrote. 'My son had book week parade today. He wanted to go as his idol Nic Naitanui from the west coast Eagles.

'I was a little worried about painting him. (So many politically correct extremists these days) he is pastey White and if I just sent him in a wig and footy gear, no one would tell who he was.

'So I grew a set of balls and painted my boy brown and he looked fanf***ingtastic.

'After being told by everyone on Facebook not to do it and it's a horrible idea etc, my son won the f***ing parade!!! Parenting win! I'm celebrating by having a wine before 12pm  love love!'

If the mother was intending to outrage social media, it certainly worked, with the photo gaining outrage from hundreds on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

Those criticising the mother for the costume have pointed out she could have simply put Naitanui's number on his jersey.

Others pointed out the AFL is irrelevant to the book parade dress up theme.

Most, however, have called the mother racist for using blackface  when she had even acknowledged its offensive history.

Nic Naitanui of the AFL West Coast Eagles is pictured at Adelaide Oval in May

Most have called the mother racist for using blackface, but have also pointed out the costume is not relevant to the dress up theme

The mother declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.

She has since written on her private Facebook page to say she didn't mean to offend anyone and the story had been twisted into a 'nasty vicious thing'.

Constance is yet to respond to questions from Daily Mail Australia, however she has taken to her Facebook page and said she didn't agree with putting blackface on.

'I don't agree with dressing your child up in blackface, I can't defend it. Because it is hurtful to our Indigenous brothers and sisters,' Constance said.

'I don't believe that the mum in question was behaving maliciously, I don't believe that she intended to hurt anyone. However I think it was an ill informed decision based on her view that there is too much political correctness in our world.'

Constance said 'political correctness and cultural sensitivity are two very different things'.

'I don't believe that it is the place of white Australians to determine what is racist, unless you have felt racial discrimination it's very difficult to determine without the assistance of a racial minority.'

'It's not my place to determine, but I respect the words of those who's it is [sic].'

Constance confirmed she deleted the post, but she said she wanted 'the Queen who shared it to know, I do not stand by any of the abuse you have received today'.

'I don't agree with dressing your child up in blackface, I can't defend it. Because it is hurtful to our Indigenous brothers and sisters,' Constance Hall said (Constance pictured)

Indigenous hip-hop artist and actor, Briggs, wrote to his Facebook page to slam the mother.

'This was such an obviously reckless, racist thing to do - I thought it was a set up,' Briggs wrote.

'This mother has acknowledged what she was doing was wrong but decided she was going to "grow some balls" and do it anyway with complete disregard to whoever she was going to offend. Can't let a little bit of racism get in the way of "Book Week". This is her "Queening" moment. Queen of what?'

Celeste Liddle, an Indigenous commentator known as the Black Feminist Ranter, said she had never put white makeup on herself to dress up as a white character when she was a child.

'Why? Because it wasn't even a thing which was considered. When whiteness is the social default, there's no need for black and brown kids to don white face paint in order to emulate these characters because we're supposed to continually be aspiring to whiteness anyway,' Ms Liddle said.

'Few white folks aspire to be Aboriginal people; at least that's the message I've received my entire life. Few white folks also aspire to be other brown or black people from across the world. Becoming either of these would be increasing one's own marginalisation and who actually aspires to be marginalised? Therefore with that dynamic in play, how could blackface be anything other than racist or mocking?'

Daily Mail Australia has also contacted West Coast Eagles.
Russian police confirmed they are investigating the sickening incident

The girl was alleged attacked for spreading rumours about her classmate

Shocking footage has emerged showing a 13-year-old girl being brutally attacked by a gang of teenagers who pull her hair and stand on her face.

The incident was captured on a mobile phone and shows the victim being set upon by two girls after an argument in Chaikovsky, in the Perm region of Russia.

The girl was attacked for allegedly spreading rumours, and the incident is now being investigated by police.

The teenager was set upon by the gang who pulled her hair and kicked her in the leg

The footage shows the two teenage girls viciously beating and kicking the victim before grabbing her hair and knocking her to the ground.

The victim, who was shown being kicked in the nose, was then made to call herself vile names to the camera.

Two boys also take part in the violence along with half a dozen girls.

The disturbing scenes have caused shock in Russia, where four of the female perpetrators aged 14 to 17 were named and shamed on social media.

The group attacked the girl after she allegedly spread rumours about one of her classmates

One pupil told a news website that the girl being beaten had been accused by her peers of spreading 'dirty gossip' that a classmate had 'slept with her stepfather'.

The pupil said: 'So this girl gathered her friends and they beat her.'

According to claims, the footage shows the second beating by this teenage mob in two days.

The first involved a 15 year old girl, who was involved a dispute over a boy, according to police.

The shocking footage shows the victim being kicked before one of the girls stands on her face

Another girl was quoted as saying: 'I know these girls. 'I was friends with them for sometime but fell out with them a month ago.

'They're a bad example for other teenagers.'
A former Nato secretary general has condemned Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to say if he would defend allies from invasion by Russia.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen accused the Labour leader of betraying his party's fundamental principles, jibing that Vladimir Putin would 'celebrate' if he ever became PM.

He warned that Mr Corbyn in Downing Street and fellow Nato critic Donald Trump in the White House would 'weaken the whole Western civilisation'.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Jeremy Corbyn had abandoned Labour principles by undermining Nato rules

The vicious attack came after the Labour leader repeatedly declined to say whether he would stand by Nato's 'collective defence' principle - where an attack on one ally is deemed an attack on all.

Mr Rasmussen told the BBC's Newsnight: 'I think his refusal to clearly state that as a possible prime minster of the UK, he would not be sure that he would defend Nato allies has really, really undermined the credibility of Nato.

'And if he were to carry out what he has said it would tempt Mr Putin to aggression to test the resolve of Nato.'

The former Nato chief said it is unlikely the Russian president would launch an open attack, but would instead engage in sinister 'hybrid warfare' tactics like those seen Ukraine when Crimea was annexed.

Mr Rasmussen said Mr Corbyn's message 'that Nato should give up and go home, go away' were almost identical to comments by Mr Putin himself.

'So there is no doubt that if Mr Corbyn were to be elected prime minster of the UK there will be a big, big celebration in the Kremlin. It would really play into the hands of Mr Putin,' he said.

He also accused Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump of emboldening Mr Putin by saying he could abandon Nato allies which had not contributed enough financially to the alliance.

Mr Rasmussen said: 'So if, in a hypothetical situation, you would have a President Trump and a Prime Minister Corbyn of the UK, it would significantly weaken Nato, I would say it would weaken the whole Western civilisation.'

And he accused Mr Corbyn of abandoning the principles of solidarity, collectivism and internationalism and accused him of having 'betrayed the fundamental principles upon which the Labour Party usually worked in the past'.
David Ross (pictured with former pole dancer Shelley Ross) plans to convert stables into a 400-seat opera house at his country mansion

The billionaire co-founder of Carphone Warehouse is set to build Britain's first opera house in more than a decade.

David Ross, 51, plans to convert a Grade II listed stable block into an opulent 400-seat opera house at Nevill Holt Hall, his 14th century mansion in Leicestershire.

The playboy businessman, who has dated a model and fathered a son with a former pole dancer, resigned from Carphone Warehouse in 2008 amid a share scandal, after setting up the mobile phone giant more than 25 years ago.

Mr Ross, who is thought to be worth 1billion, plans to host the opera house in the manicured lawns of the country mansion, which has been home to opera since 2000.

He decided to go permanent with the structure after branding the temporary scaffolding too small and 'beyond effective repair' - as well as lacking provisions for audiences.

The new venue will mean the Nevill Holt Opera company can stage performances all year round.

There are also talks of staging festivals spanning several weeks in a bid to attract visitors to the East Midlands with the arts.

Rosenna East, general manager of Nevill Holt Opera, told the BBC: 'It would be a game changer for us at NHO and bring something really special for the region.

The businessman, who is thought to be worth 1billion, plans to host the opera house in the manicured lawns of Nevill Holt Hall (pictured) in Leicestershire, which has been home to opera since 2000

The new venue (pictured, an artists' impression) will mean the Nevill Holt Opera company can stage performances all year round

There are also talks of staging festivals spanning several weeks in a bid to attract visitors to the East Midlands with the arts

If the plans are approved for the opera house at Neville Holt Hall (pictured), construction will begin later this year and it will open for the 2018 summer festival - but will face stiff competition

'We believe in nurturing young opera stars and this will be a perfect venue for them.'

She added: ' We have a great support base nearby and also have people travelling from London and we support new talent.'

To suggestions that the glamorous venue made opera seem inaccessible, Ms East pointed out that ticket prices ranged from 105 to 20 for students.

Mr Ross, who is funding the project through the David Ross Foundation, hopes the new venue will be let out to local schools and theatre groups for their own productions.

If the plans are approved, construction will begin later this year and the opera house will open for the 2018 summer festival - but will face stiff competition.

Mr Ross (pictured with his ex, model Saffron Alfridge) decided to go permanent with the structure after branding the temporary scaffolding too small and 'beyond effective repair' - as well as lacking provisions for audiences

The businessman has run an investment business since leaving Carephone Warehouse amid a share scandal. He is estimated to have donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Conservative Party (pictured with David and Samantha Cameron in 2006)

One of the best known events is an annual festival held at the English manor house Glyndebourne, in East Sussex, dating back to 1934.

Michael Volpe, general-director of Opera Holland Park in London, praised Mr Ross' funding but said opulent venues like Nevill Holt Hall could make opera seem elitist to the masses.

'Wealthy people give so much money to opera in order that more people can come to it. It's a really expensive art form to put on,' he told The Times.

'The problem is we've created the image that going to the opera is a cultural folly.

'People hear about opera in these gorgeous country houses, which is absolutely fine and I think the plan at Nevill Holt is lovely but it does come to represent in many people's minds what opera is - all about black tie and wealthy people.'
The first mayor to impose France's burkini ban insists he only made the ruling to keep the peace and is determined to extend the order despite the international controversy.

Henri Leroy, mayor of Mandelieu-La Napoule, told the MailOnline he believes it to be crucial to the country's future as a republic.

The original ban was supposed to end next week, on August 31, but will now run until the end of September.

The move came as former French President Nicholas Sarkozy waded into the debate, describing wearing a burkini as a 'provocative and militant' act.

There was global uproar on Monday after French police officers armed with pepper spray and batons were photographed marching onto a Nice beach and ordering a woman to strip off.

Extension: Mayor of Mandelieu-La Napoule told MailOnline he would extend burkini ban to the end of September, days after a woman was asked to remove clothing on Promenade des Anglais in Nice

Fined: A series of incidents of police cracking down on Muslim dress have come to light including four women fined for wearing the prohibited swimwear on a beach in Cannes

Priorities: Mr Leroy said he 'had to remind people that they are French first and of Muslim confession second'.

The woman photographed on Monday was only identified as Siam amid suggestions today that the incident could have been set up by people trying to expose division in France

Mr Leroy, who said he also imposed the burkini ban for hygiene purposes, will contact his counterparts in 14 other French Riviera townships, which have the ban in place, to suggest a similar extension.

'We have had to remind people that they are French first and of Muslim confession second,' he told the MailOnline.

'An incident happened on one of the Mandelieu beaches just last week after our cameras showed a woman dressed inappropriately going into the sea.

Henri Leroy makes no apology for burka ban: 'Our Republic has traditions and customs that need to be respected'

'There was a risk to public order because two other women were trying to prevent her from doing so.

'An officer sent to the spot took the woman to a police post nearby to show them the ruling.

'They were okay once they had read it, but the husband started complaining it was an anti-Muslim measure.

'That's when he was informed he was French first and Muslim second. He was not at all pleased'.

Mr Sarkozy said it was time to end the presence of burkinis on French beaches.

'Wearing a burkini is a political act, it's militant, a provocation,' he said in an interview with Figaro to be published on Friday.

'If we do not put an end to this, there is a risk that in 10 years, young Muslim girls who do not want to wear the veil or burkini will be stigmatised and peer-pressured.'

The burkini ban is in place across the Riveira and Antibes is the only town over 35 miles of coastline to have not imposed the constraint.

Nearby Cagnes-sur-Mer was another area to tolerate the burkini until yesterday when three women arrived in Muslim dress from other towns on one of their beaches, causing the mayor there to impose the ban.

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

Pictures show the women standing in the water before they were fined

Video has emerged this week of armed police waiting for Muslim women to come out of the sea and then warning them about their choice of headscarves.

And a few days ago, four women were fined 38 euros for wearing their burkinis on the beach in Cannes.

In Nice, the 34-year-old woman photographed being spoken to by police was identified only as Siam and told she was in breach of a new rule outlawing swimming costumes that cover the entire body.

However, today there were suggestions that the incident could have been a set up, created by those wanting to exploit tensions in society.

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

Mr Leroy, a former gendarmerie officer, introduced a burkini ban three years ago and has never taken it off his municipal statute book.

'We had reports that six or seven women were bathing fully-clothed in the sea by our local chateau and that others people on the bench were angry about it,' he said.

'I took the decision to ban that kind of bathing on the grounds of hygiene and keeping the peace.

We have had to remind people that they are French first and of Muslim confession second.

'Perhaps a dozen people over the last three years have been booked for the offence here.

'Now, however, since the attack in Nice caused the death of so many people, the risk to public order is much bigger.

'Our Republic has traditions and customs that need to be respected.

A young mother was ordered off Cannes beach and fined on Tuesday for wearing a headscarf (file photo). She was not wearing a burkini, which has recently been banned in Cannes

Militant: Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy has waded into the row saying 'wearing a burkini is a political act, it's militant, a provocation'

'It is the stated desire of Islamic fundamentalists for their religion to have a predominant role in France. If we let people ignore our laws on various forms of dress, other things will follow.

'The French Republic is a lay state. I am a Catholic, but I make no claims on account of that.

'The French Riviera is an amazingly cosmopolitan area with visitors from all over the world. They respect our sensibilities regarding our way of life.'

Mr Leroy said there was a possibility that the ban could be used by people trying to fuel division.

'Of course, there is the risk that, among those who have been reminded of the regulations by our police, there may be some acting through provocation, but that is something that cannot be proved.'

BURKINI BANS ARE GOOD FOR SALES, SAYS THE DESIGNER BEHIND THEM Burkini bans in France have boosted sales and interest in the full-bodied Islamic swimsuit, particularly from non-Muslim women, the Australian credited with creating the design said Tuesday. The burkini has sparked huge controversy in France, with bans in 15 towns in the country's southeast amid high tensions following a string of deadly jihadist attacks. But Australian-Lebanese Aheda Zanetti, who claims the trademark on the name burkini and burqini and created her first swimwear for Muslim women more than a decade ago, said the furore in France has attracted more publicity for her products. 'It's just been so hectic,' she told AFP. 'I can tell you that online on Sunday, we received 60 orders - all of them non-Muslim,' the 48-year-old Sydneysider said, adding that she usually received 10 to 12 orders on Sundays. Zanetti did not have sales figures for the rest of the past week but said she had also received numerous messages of support - and only one disparaging email - since the French bans. They include messages from cancer survivors and other swimmers who use her light-weight, quick-drying two-piece garments as protection from the sun. There are other Islamic swimsuits but Zanetti has said her designs are the first to be streamlined into two-piece swimwear with a head covering. '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 said. 'The support I'm getting is somehow about empowering women... I feel like I've been a counsellor. It's a cry of need that they want to have this enjoyment. 'Women are standing together on this. It doesn't matter what race or religion.' She said the one critical email questioned why Zanetti wanted to cover up women in France, noting 'we prefer our women to be naked'. Australia is grappling with a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment after a series of attacks by radicalised youth but the burkini has not attracted strong criticism in a country where people regularly cover up at beaches to protect their skin under the harsh sun. While there are divisions over the burkini in France, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday dismissed the idea of a ban in his country, saying Canadians should rise above the controversy as he called for the respect of individual rights and choices. Advertisement

Mr Leroy said culture and tradition should be respectedin each country.

'For example, I was in Casablanca with my wife on holiday. I had my hand on her shoulder as we were admiring the beautiful architecture of their mosque.

'Two soldiers with guns drawn told me to take my hand away. Which I willingly did because I did not wish to cause offence.

'When I was a soldier in Berlin during the post-war years, the city was divided into four sections run by the English, Americans, French and Russians.

'All wanted their own cultures to hold sway, but we came to a gentleman's agreement for it to be based on a generally western way of life.'

The burkini ban is being challenged in the Council of State, Frances highest administrative court, after judges in a lower court ruled that the clothing was liable to offend the religious convictions or non-convictions of other users of the beach.

A ruling is expected later today. Thirty towns across the country have now imposed burkini bans, according to radio reports.

However the ban has prompted an angry response among some Muslims in France.

Rachid Nekkaz (pictured), born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges from Algerian immigrants, said that the burkini ban is 'unfair'. He's pictured here in Algeria demonstrating against the exploration of shale gas

A burkini full-body swimsuit (left) designed for Muslim women is seen at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur

Wealthy Rachid Nekkaz, born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges from Algerian immigrants, has said that he will pay any penalties that Muslim women incur for wearing the outfits.

He believes that the ban is 'unfair'.
A bungled inquiry into alleged sex abuse at Britain's leading Catholic School denied justice for potential victims, former pupils claim.

An investigation and subsequent trial into allegations that Dr Paul Sheppard, 53, sexually abused a ten-year-old boy Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, was said to be marred with problems.

The teacher, who taught at the 33,000-a-year school for one term while on a teacher training course from his native country, was accused of indecently assaulting the boy 27 years ago.

The school boasts a star-studded alumni including former England Rugby Captain Lawrence Dallaglio, actors James Norton and Rupert Everett, Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and the sculptor Sir Antony Gormley.

Former pupils of the 33,000-a-year Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire (pictured), which is Britain's leading Catholic school, claim an inquiry into alleged sex abuse was poorly handled

Former pupils claim that, at the time, several schoolchildren complained of Dr Sheppard's behaviour including stroking, touching and kissing boys.

The school's headmaster, Father Dominic Milroy, interviewed 11 children over the teacher's alleged inappropriate conduct and Dr Sheppard subsequently left the school.

It is unclear whether he was asked to leave is position or if he went on his own. He has long maintained that he chose to leave on his own accord, while the school claims it was a mutual decision. He received a glowing reference from Father Milroy during his departure.

Dr Sheppard then went on to teach at a string of other schools around the world, including at the American School of Yaounde in Cameroon and St John's School, a boarding school in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where he rose to be headmaster in 2000.

However, he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in December 2014 when he returned to Britain from Canada for a month-long extended Christmas break to visit friends and family.

He was detained on suspicion of serious sexual offences against an Ampleforth pupil in 1989. The pupil later committed suicide.

Following his arrest, Dr Sheppard was then charged with seven counts of indecent assault against five students, but charges relating to all but one of the boys were thrown out by the judge at York Crown Court at the start of his trial last year.

It has now emerged that jurors were never told by Judge Colin Burn that there had been more than one complainant, or that Dr Sheppard left his job in 1989 following the allegations.

I'm amazed that anyone is ever convicted in a British court of historical sex offences against children Former pupil at Ampleforth College

The school, where boys are left in the care of Benedictine monks, allegedly covered up the potential scandal and never properly investigated the complaints, according to ex-pupils.

The Times, which interviewed several former pupils and alleged victims, also reports that North Yorkshire Police failed to question two boys whose accounts could have led to Dr Sheppard being investigated about further child-sex offences. He denies any wrongdoing.

Former pupils who were expected to give evidence during the trial were told at the last minute that it would not be necessary. They, and the family of the ex-pupil who killed himself, described the police and prosecution's handling of the case as 'shambolic' and claimed it denied any potential victims the chance of justice.

They say they understand that a jury full possession of the facts may still have acquitted him of any offence but claim it would allow them to move on knowing all avenues had been properly weighed up and investigated.

Hollywood actor Rupert Everett (left) and former England Rugby Captain Lawrence Dallaglio (right) are among former pupils of the 33,000-a-year Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire

One former pupil told the The Times that his experience with judicial process had left him 'amazed that anyone is ever convicted in a British court of historical sex offences against children.'

He added: 'The jury had to choose between the word of an experienced teacher and that of one former pupil.

'They weren't told why Sheppard left Ampleforth in 1989. It was a complete travesty.'

During his trial at York Crown Court last year, jurors heard allegations that Dr Sheppard spanked a ten-year-old boy on his bare bottom as punishment for misbehaviour in a school dormitory.

He told the jury he could not remember punishing the boy and said it was possible he could have given him corporal punishment but he would never have removed the boy's trousers or pants.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes (left) and the sculptor Sir Antony Gormley (right) also attended Ampleforth College, Britain's leading Catholic school where fees cost 33,000

The teacher, who was educated at Ridley College in Canada and served in the Canadian Air Force, said corporal punishment was common in his native country during his childhood.

The jury of ten men and two women took an hour and forty minutes to acquit him of indecent assault.

During the trial several former pupils, parents and work colleagues gave great character references praising his abilities as a teacher and his personal attributes including his integrity.

Ampleforth today released a statement to MailOnline in which it said it has 'publically accepted its responsibilities for past failings' and offered its 'sympathies, prayers and thoughts to all survivors.

It said: 'Paul Sheppard was employed as a temporary supply teacher by Ampleforth for four months in the summer term of 1989. Sheppard was appointed following receipt of references from well-respected institutions and people, including Albert College, Brock University and St Pius X Junior High School.

'Allegations made against Sheppard to Fr Dominic Milroy were investigated by Fr Dominic at the time. These investigations did not yield allegations of sexual impropriety. Sheppard left at the end of July 1989 when his supply contract ended. The decision to leave was mutual.

During his trial at York Crown Court last year, jurors heard allegations that Dr Sheppard spanked a ten-year-old boy on his bare bottom as punishment for misbehaviour in a school dormitory at Ampleforth in 1989. Pictured: The school is seen in this black and white photo

'A reference supplied by the school at the time reflected his performance as a supply teacher during his short time at the school.

'Ampleforth has publically accepted its responsibilities for past failings and once again would like to offer its sympathies, prayers and thoughts to all survivors and their families.

'Ampleforth remains committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of each and every pupil in its care. The Safeguarding Co-ordinator of Ampleforth, a specialist ex-police officer, works closely with our Independent Safeguarding Commission; a body that oversees safeguarding at Ampleforth where all relevant statutory authorities are represented.

'Ampleforth works with all statutory authorities to ensure safeguarding issues are dealt with appropriately in line with current practice, and has cooperated fully with the police in its investigations.'
But Theresa May under intense pressure to curb migration as new figures reveal net migration hit 327,000

Amid fears of a mass exodus, thinktank wants EU workers in NHS to be given 'particularly generous citizenship offer' to persuade them to stay

EU migrants working in the NHS must be offered free British citizenship to stop the health service collapsing after Brexit, a leading thinktank said today.

The 57,000 workers from other EU countries are critical for the functioning of the NHS, the report by the the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) said.

With citizenship fees costing around 1,200, the IPPR is urging the Government to not only waive the costs for EU workers in the NHS but offer them a 'particularly generous citizenship offer' to persuade them to stay amid fears of a mass exodus once stricter migration controls are introduced when Britain cuts ties with Brussels.

The 57,000 workers from other EU countries are critical for the functioning of the NHS, the report by the the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) said

This is one of several proposals it recommends to radically reform the British citizenship system, which it says has been left unreformed for decades.

June's Brexit vote has 'cast the status and security of the 3million EU citizens living here into doubt,' the IPPR report states.

It also calls on Theresa May to offer 'automatic British citizenship to all European children who have been educated in Britain' and also waive the 1,200 citizenship fee for all EU citizens who have been living in the UK for more than five years.

But the report comes as Theresa May was put under further intense pressure to find ways of curbing immigration after it emerged today that numbers are still running at more than triple the government's target.

Net migration in the year to March was 327,000, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - the third highest level on record.

Some 180,000 of the total came from the EU.

The latest net annual migration figures show numbers were 327,000 in the year to March

But Chris Murray, author of the IPPR report, insisted exceptions were needed to persuade NHS workers to stay in the UK.

He wrote: 'In recognition of the contribution that EU nationals make to the National Health Service, and the need to keep them in their roles in order to ensure the continued functioning of the NHS, we recommend that the government makes a particularly generous citizenship offer to NHS workers.

Prime Minister Theresa May is braced for embarrassment as net migration figures show the government is off target

'There are currently around 55,000 EU nationals working in the English NHS, accounting for 5 per cent of its workforce; one in 10 of the UKs registered doctors is an EU national.

'Without them, the NHS would collapse. It is critical to public health that these workers do not seek jobs elsewhere.'

The report came as the Government's top migration adviser recommended that Britain make low-skilled migrants from the EU apply for work permits.

Sir David Metcalf of the Migration Advisory Committee said it would be 'pretty straightforward' to run a permits scheme similar to a previous model used for seasonal farm workers.

A report from the think-tank said low-skilled migrants have put 'extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services'.

'It would be remiss of the Migration Advisory Committee not to have actually done a bit of thinking about some of these things,' Sir David told The Daily Telegraph.

'I think it [work permits] is a pretty straightforward way and you already have a model that works.

'The agricultural scheme was terrifically well administered  it was one guy at the Home Office working with operators and farmers.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd, above, has been told by the Prime Minister to come up with a new package of measure to cut the number of people coming into the UK from outside the EU

'It was time limited and capped. We could think of similar sectors where you have got a lot of unskilled European labour. That's very much tied up with what the Prime Minister is interested in.'

The committee's report found that migrants account for two million of the 13 million low-skilled workers in Britain  or one in seven.

Commenting on their impact, it said: 'Costs, often focused in particular locations and sectors, include rapidly changing populations with possible implications for cohesion and integration; extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services; a small negative impact on wages of low-paid workers [and] serious exploitation of some migrants because of inadequate enforcement of minimum labour standards.'

The report came as Theresa May ordered ministers to draw up a fresh package of immigration controls this autumn in a bid to bring numbers under control.

Ministers are braced for fresh embarrassment over the issue today, with official figures expected to show net immigration running at about three times the Government's target of 100,000 a year.

The Prime Minister has now ordered Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis to make control of EU migration a 'priority' during the Brexit negotiations. And she has told Home Secretary Amber Rudd to come up with a new package of measures to cut the number coming from outside the EU.

Brexit Secretary David Davis, left, and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have been told to make control of EU migration a priority in the Brexit negotiations, by the Prime Minister

A Government source said: 'Control over the number of EU migrants will be a priority in the Brexit deal. We are also working on a package to reduce further non-EU immigration across all three visa routes  work, family and students.'

Miss Rudd is working on the new package with officials, but Whitehall sources indicated Mrs May, who spent six years as Home Secretary, will retain oversight. 'It will be centrally directed,' one said.

The Prime Minister, who returned from a 12-day holiday in the Swiss Alps yesterday, is understood to be concerned that although the focus has been on free movement from the EU, non-EU immigration has also been 'drifting upwards' for some time.

Mrs May clashed repeatedly with George Osborne over attempts to curb immigration in the past, with the then-chancellor warning it could damage the economy. But with Mr Osborne now sacked, Mrs May has a free hand. The review is likely to have a particular focus on the number of foreign students travelling to Britain to study each year.

Universities and colleges insist that they bring vital revenue to the UK, but Mrs May has long been concerned that the system is too easy to abuse. Andrew Green, chairman of the think-tank MigrationWatch, welcomed the prospect of fresh action on migration from outside the EU.

Lord Green said: 'While we wait for the outcome of Brexit negotiations, it's essential that the Prime Minister sets further action in hand on non-EU migration, which is half the total. The biggest source of migration from outside the EU is clearly students, very few of whom are recorded as going home. This is where action needs to be focused.'

The Tory target to cut net immigration to the 'tens of thousands' was originally set by David Cameron in the run-up to the 2010 election, when it stood at 250,000 a year.
An attempted honour killing has left a young married Pakistani woman fighting for her life, with the alleged attack carried out by her own father and brother-in-law.

Shakila Khan, 22, was reportedly tied up by the pair in a house in Ghari, in Pakistan's Swat Valley, and stoned along with a local man called Bilal, 27, who was killed in the incident.

The brother-in-law reportedly knew that Khan's husband was away and when he found Khan alone with Bilal he decided to lock them up in a room and call her father, Rahim Bacha.

An attempted honour killing has left a young Pakistani woman fighting for her life, with the alleged attack carried out by her own father and brother-in-law

Shakila Khan, 22, was reportedly tied up by the pair in a house in Ghari, in Pakistan's Swat Valley (pictured), and stoned along with a local man called Bilal, 27, who was killed in the incident

Believing that the pair had committed adultery, it's alleged that they felt empowered by Sharia Law to stone them to death.

The attack reportedly took place in the drawing room of the house and Bilal died from injuries he sustained during it.

Khan survived but is in a critical condition in a local hospital under armed guard, according to the Mirror.

A local told the paper: 'Her life is in danger and her family has disowned her according to Sharia Law. It is utterly heart-breaking as she has no support.

The attack took place near where Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban

'The hospital where she is does not have good facilities and she needs urgent treatment or she could die, as well being under threat from relatives who believe she has committed a crime.'

The attack took place near where Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban.

The father and brother-in-law reportedly handed themselves in to police, who are investigating.

Pakistani police, meanwhile, are preparing to charge a man with the murder of his former wife, a 28-year-old British woman who died last month in a suspected 'honour killing', the investigating officer in the case said on Monday.

Samia Shahid, a beautician from Bradford, northern England, died in the village of Pandori in northern Punjab province while visiting her family. Her second husband had alleged that she was killed because she remarried.

Deputy Inspector General Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh told Reuters that Shahid's ex-husband - her cousin Shakeel - would be charged with murder while her father would also be charged with involvement in her death, although the charges had not been finalised while investigations continue.

Police say Shakeel has confessed to strangling Shahid with a scarf but Bakhsh said a confession would not be enough to establish his guilt.

'Therefore, we have collected some forensic evidence against him which we will mention in our final report to the court,' he said. 'Shahid, father of Samia, also has involvement in her killing to some extent.'
Thousands of Chechen migrants are exploiting a virtually unmanned border crossing between Poland and Germany, raising fears ISIS sympathisers could find a new route to Europe.

With the established route through Greece and the Balkans taken by thousands of refugees shut off following a deal between Turkey and the EU, migrants are looking for new ways into Europe.

Law enforcement officials believe Chechens are travelling north through western Russia and crossing into Belarus before travelling into Poland, from where they can reach Germany's eastern border.

One 56-mile stretch near the Polish-German border is said to be manned by just two officers in one patrol car, making it easy for migrants to make it across.

Law enforcement officials believe Chechens are travelling north through western Russia and crossing into Belarus before travelling into Poland, from where they can reach Germany's eastern border

Chechnya is a predominantly Muslim part of southern Russia and some extremists from the region have gone to fight with ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

'The security situation at the GermanPolish border is serious,' Ernst Walter, head of Germany's federal police union, told Politico.

'Day by day, there could be hundreds or thousands of illegal border crossings into Germany from Poland, with potential terrorists among them - and we simply have no idea about what's happening,' he warned.

A senior police officer said the 56-mile area near the border was only patrolled by two officers in one car, but officials denied this.

However, there are believed to have been fewer officers working on the German-Polish border in recent months as staff were moved to the south of the country to tackle the huge number of migrants arriving from southern Europe.

More than 14,000 Russians have applied for asylum in Poland since the start of 2015, with more than 90 per cent of them saying they came from Chechnya.

At the border between the Polish town of Slubice and Germany's Frankfurt an der Oder, an unmanned foot and road bridge spans the river border separating the two countries

Migrants from the Middle East had until recently been travelling through Greece and the Balkans after entering Europe via Turkey. Pictured, migrants wading across a river near the Greek-Macedonian border in March

It is not known how many Chechens head straight through Poland and into Germany as there are not strict checks at the border because of the Schengen Agreement.

At the border between the Polish town of Slubice and Germany's Frankfurt an der Oder, an unmanned foot and road bridge spans the river border separating the two countries.

34 MIGRANTS FOUND IN HOUSE IN BELGRADE Serbian police have arrested a man after finding 34 migrants in his house in a suburb of Belgrade. Police said the man is suspected of people smuggling after allegedly hiding the migrants in the house. Serbia has stepped up efforts to curb the entry of migrants passing through in a bid to reach the European Union. Balkan nations closed their borders for migrants fleeing war and poverty in March, but the flow has continued through illegal routes used by people smugglers. Hundreds of migrants have been camping along Serbia's border with EU member Hungary, which allows about 30 people into the country per day. Advertisement

Around 1,800 Russians applied for asylum in Germany in June, but this is a nationwide figure.

It represents a 600 per cent jump in Russian asylum applications from January this year - and came at a similar time as the spike in refugees from the Middle East.

A federal police source said German officials had 'no idea' whether the migrants stayed in Germany or moved elsewhere in Europe.

Migrants from the Middle East had until recently been travelling through Greece and the Balkans after entering Europe via Turkey.

But this route has almost completely been shut off by a deal between Turkey and the EU.

Under the agreement, almost any illegal migrants who enter Greence can be sent back to Turkey, with Turkish people given visa-free travel into Europe in return.

Refugee arrivals plummeted from more than 1,700 a day to 47 a day after the deal, although that figure is now nearer to 200.
A man has died and several horses have been killed following a huge blaze at a posh country club.

The fire broke out at Shorrocks Hill Country Club in Formby, Merseyside, at around 5.40am today and quickly spread to a caravan and stables.

Firefighters arrived at the scene following reports of the blaze and, after extinguishing the flames, discovered a man's body inside the caravan.

A man and several horses have died after a fire broke out in a caravan and stables at the exclusive Shorrocks Hill Country Club in Formby, Merseyside this morning (pictured)

Formal identification has not yet taken place. His next of kin are being informed.

Police confirmed that a number of also horses also died in the fire, which has totally destroyed the stables and barns at the posh country club.

The scene has now been cordoned off while police and fire investigations are carried out.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm officers attended a fire in Formby along with colleagues from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service this morning.

'Emergency services were called to Shorrocks Hill Country Club, Lifeboat Road to reports of a fire at stables at about 5.40am.

Firefighters arrived at the scene following reports of the blaze and, after extinguishing the flames, discovered a man's body inside the caravan. Several horses were also found dead

'The fire, which has been extinguished by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, completely destroyed the stable building and a caravan.

'On arrival firefighters entered the caravan and found the body of a man inside. Formal identification is yet to take place. A number of horses were found to have died in the stables.

'The cause of the man's death is not yet known and a joint Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

'The scene has been cordoned off for examination and house-to-house enquiries are underway. 'No-one else has been reported injured.'

Shorrocks Hill Country Club was bought by former Mr Universe Terry Phillips in the 1990s and later sold to the Ascot Club for 4m. There are now plans for new homes to be built at the site

Shorrocks Hill Country Club was bought by the former Mr Universe winner Terry Phillips in the 1990s.

Financial difficulties eventually forced the bodybuilder, who died in 2013, to relinquish control of the estate and it was later bought by the Ascot Group for 4million in 2007.

In an attempt to be successful in the corporate leisure market, a nightclub and restaurant were built at the club  although the latter was only short-lived and was later closed.

In recent months, plans have been unveiled to build new homes on the 50-acre site.
The father of a British backpacker, who was stabbed while trying to save Mia Ayliffe-Chug from an attack, has arrived in Australia to be with his son.

Tom Jackson, 30, was left fighting for his life after being stabbed in the face, head and torso during Frenchman Smail Ayad's alleged rampage in a Queensland backpacker's hostel.

Mr Jackson desperately tried to protect model Ms Ayliffe-Chug after she fled to a bathroom in the Home Hill hostel, according to The Courier Mail.

On Friday he remained in a critical condition in Townsville Hospital.

His father arrived from the UK on Thursday night and declined to speak to media as he left the north Queensland city's airport with a police escort about 10.45pm, reported The Brisbane Times.

Scroll down for video

British woman Mia Ayliffe-Chung (pictured), 21, died in the attack at a backpacker hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, allegedly at the hands of French man Smail Ayad

British man Tom Jackson (pictured) is in a critical condition in hospital after the attack

Tom Jackson (right) and his father Les Jackson (left). Les Jackson has flown from the UK to be by his son's side, after he was was critically injured trying to save Ms Ayliffe-Chug

Welshman Daniel Richards, who went to Ms Ayliffe-Chung's aid after she was injured

Ms Ayliffe-Chung died in the attack and several others in the hostel, including those who came to her aid, were injured

The backpacker hostel in north Queensland where the attack took place on Tuesday night

Hostel owner John Norris told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Jackson was one of three men to risk their lives to save Ms Ayliffe-Chug.

Mr Jackson's father, Les Jackson, arrived in Australia from the UK on Thursday night to be by his son's side, reported the Brisbane Times.

Ayad, 29, is alleged to have dragged Ms Ayliffe-Chung from her bed onto a balcony and stabbed her.

A hostel worker was also attacked before Ayad allegedly jumped from the balcony then chased after Mr Norris' family dog, a German Shepard named Atari, before killing it.

He then allegedly went back into the hostel and attacked Mr Jackson, who was helping Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

Tributes for Mia Ayliffe-Chung have been left outside the hostel where she died

A tribute to those affected by the attack was left at the hostel by the British consul in Australia

Several people were injured during the rampage at the hostel late on Tuesday

Hostel owner John 'Nugget' Norris after the shocking attack

Welshman Daniel Richards was also helping her, but was not targeted.

Hostel worker Grant Schulz was also injured in the attack.

Since being arrested, Ayad has been accused by police of attacking 12 officers, including biting one, The Courier Mail reported.

Mr Norris told Daily Mail Australia: 'Dan and Tom were both cornered after jumping in to save Mia.

'They could both easily have met the same outcome, but Dan wasn't touched.

'I think there were a lot of heroes in there that night.'

The hostel operator found out about the attack when he woke up for work at 4.30 Wednesday morning.

His home shares a large block with the hostel.

'At first I thought there had been an attack on my family.

'But then the police officer told me a woman had been killed at the hostel.'

A forensics team at the backpacker hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, where the attack took place

Ms Ayliffe-Chung had been on a trip around the world before working in Australia

Tears welled up in Mr Norris' eyes when he spoke.

'I want to say I am really sorry to Mia's and Tommy's family,' he said.

'I can't even imagine what they're going through.'

He described Mr Jackson as quiet and not 'a party animal'.

'I think there were a lot of heroes in there that night,' he said pointing to the hostel.

'I feel for all of the backpackers who are in disbelief.

'Some witnessed it, some just heard it - I really hope they can get over it.'

Mr Norris described Ayad as a polite young man and revealed he had lived at the hostel last year for a few months.

'If we thought he was a trouble make we wouldn't have let him back.

'We are in total disbelief.

'You would never pick him to do anything like this, he was kind to staff and managers - it is unthinkable he could go into this kind of rage.'

He believed he'd taken a paring knife from the hostel and used it in the attack.

Mr Norris said if Ayad was a Muslim he 'wasn't practicing' despite shouting 'allahu Akbar' during the attack and his subsequent arrest.

Ayad has been charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of assaulting police.

Mr Norris described Ayad as a polite young man and revealed he had lived at the hostel last year for a few months

Smail Ayad, who has been charged over the attack which left Ms Ayliffe-Chung dead




Students at the University of Chicago have been warned not to expect safe spaces or trigger warnings in the wake of several disrupted events at the institution at the hands of protesters.

University officials are said to have told first-year students starting in the fall of its commitment to freedom of expression, saying it wanted civility and mutual respect but that it would still seek out ideas or opinions that were unpopular.

The move comes after three high-profile incidents this year in which speakers invited to the university were interrupted or shut down and amid a trend of increasing political correctness on campus.

University of Chicago which has been at the center of a debate over freedom of expression this year after three events at the institution were interrupted or shutdown

The letter sent by Dean of Students Jay Ellison to new students starting this fall

Freshman students began circulating the letter on social media, some praising the the university's commitment to free speech while others were critical by claiming the university disguised hate speech as 'discourse', The Chicago Maroon reported.

In the letter, dean of students Jay Ellison said members of the university's community were encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn without fear of censorship.

'Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called "trigger warnings", we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual 'safe spaces' where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own,' Mr Ellison wrote.

The battle between 'free speech' and 'safe spaces' has been an increasingly hot issue in American universities.

At Yale, two professors resigned after protests condemning the wife's comments that students should be free to push boundaries with Halloween costumes.

At the University of Missouri, president Tim Wolfe resigned late last year following protests over his handling of racial incidents on the campus, including when the student body president was called the n-word and when a white student shouted slurs as a black group rehearsed a skit.

Chicago is considered less Left-wing than many other universities, with its economics department long seen as a home of free-market thinking.

Hundreds of Yale students and supporters marched across the school's campus in New Haven, Connecticut, last November to protest what they see as racial incidents at the school including the Halloween costumes issue

The Dean's letter came after the University of Chicago student government had passed on an opportunity in May to reaffirm the university's commitment to free speech when members voted to indefinitely table a resolution condemning students who 'obstruct or disrupt' free speech, the Maroon reported.

The earlier three incidents at the university included Cook County State Attorney Anita Alvarez being forced to leave in February after being confronted by Black Lives Matter protesters in the audience.

The protesters had held up signs and chanted at Ms Alvarez.

Then an event with Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights activist and critic of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, days later was shut down by the university's police department after protesters disrupted his speech, the Maroon reported.
Oliver Curtis is helping his fellow inmates as an education clerk after being allowed to work at his new prison.

Prison sources have revealed the 30-year-old has quickly moved up the employment ranks in prison from textiles, and is now either helping inmates with a lower education or working in the library.

Curtis has begun working after he was moved to Cooma Correctional Centre, about 400km south of his multi-million dollar beachfront family home in Sydney's eastern suburbs with his PR star wife Roxy Jacenko and their two young children.

Scroll down for video

Oliver Curtis, 30, was jailed in late June for insider trading for a minimum of one year, and a maximum of two

The prison source said Curtis has been intensively case managed because of the media attention the disgraced investment banker has attracted.

Curtis is understood to have said he was sad after Ms Jacenko featured on 60 Minutes to expose further details about her breast cancer diagnosis.

'He told him he felt bad for Roxy and the children, while he just has to think of himself in prison. It made him sad when he saw the 60 minutes interview,' the prison source said.

He has a high-level case officer and is seen regularly.

'He's got an executive officer as his case officer, so there's clearly a bit of focus on him.'

Curtis has begun working after he was moved to Cooma Correctional Centre (pictured), about 400km south of his multi-million dollar beachfront family home in Sydney's eastern suburbs

Curtis had told his case officer he felt bad for his wife Roxy Jacenko and their two children - Pixie, four, and Hunter, two

There has been a concern among officers Curtis was being targeted by other inmates demanding money for protection.

'They reckon he might be being stood over, but he hasn't reported anything,' the prison source said.

Curtis began working in prison when he was moved onto a C2 classification to work on textiles, where everyone starts work.

However, Curtis has quickly moved on from textiles to become an education clerk, and is likely 'helping the other inmates that might be struggling'.

Cooma Correctional Centre houses inmates with a high-profile or those at a higher risk of prison bashings.

Ms Jacenko was diagnosed with breast cancer in the weeks after Curtis was jailed

On top of her diagnosis, she has been tasked with taking care of their two children on her own while continuing to work full-time

Curtis was jailed for insider trading in June, and will be behind bars for a minimum of one year.

He will appeal the sentence in October.

Ms Jacenko, 36, had revealed details about his prison cell on Monday.

She revealed she puts $100-a-week into her jailed husband prison buy-up so he can get a doona to protect from the cold.

'I have to put $100 in his buy-up every week. You can't go over the amount. He's buying a doona next because it's cold,' she told The Kyle and Jackie O show.

'He has a job, he works as a clerk in an administrative role. They go to the gym a lot.

'He's said everyone is really nice. He has settled in as well as he can. He likes his job, it's good to have a job.'

Ms Jacenko was diagnosed with breast cancer in the weeks after he was convicted.

Curtis and Ms Jacenko are pictured arriving at the Supreme Court in Sydney in May, before he was jailed for insider trading
A woman has been banned from ever owning a pet after a disease-ridden dog was found dying in her backyard.

RSPCA inspectors found the Pomeranian-cross weak, unable to get up and its skin crawling with insects. It had dental disease, organ disease and renal failure, The Canberra Times reported.

When questioned by ACT Magistrates Court on why she had not taken the dog to a vet Nora Kalolo, 58, said 'it's just an animal.'

A woman has been banned from ever owning a pet after a disease-ridden dog was found dying in her backyard (pictured)

RSPCA inspectors found the Pomeranian-cross (pictured) weak, unable to get up and its skin crawling with insects

The dog was euthanised immediately after it was found by the RSPCA.

Ms Kalolo had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to seek veterinary treatment to alleviate pain.

She appeared before court on Wednesday morning for sentencing.

The dog came into Ms Kalolo's care after it was left at her house by her daughter's friend four years ago, her lawyer Mary-Anne Ellis told the court.

'She did not know the dog was as sick as it was. She did not know it was possible to surrender the dog,' Ms Ellis said.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Wren told the court the woman had shown a 'staggering disregard for the life of the animal' and said the dog was in the worst condition the vet had ever seen.

Magistrate Robert Cook fined Ms Kalolo $200 and imposed a lifetime ban on her owning an animal.

'It was not simply a dog, it was a living thing which you allowed to perish in your backyard,' he said during sentencing.

The dog had dental disease (pictured), organ disease and renal failure
The Orlando hospitals that treated dozens of people injured in the Pulse nightclub massacre are not billing survivors for out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Orlando Regional Medical Center, which treated most of the survivors of the June 12 attack, announced Wednesday that it would seek payment from other resources such as insurance plans and a victims' fund established by city officials.

Florida Hospital, which treated 12 survivors, says it would not bill for any of its services.

Scroll down for video

Angel Colon, one of the Pulse nightclub shooting victims, speaks at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where patients have had their bills waived

Officials say the two hospitals will write off an estimated $5.5 million or more in care.

The attack killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The gunman, Omar Mateen, was killed by police after a three-hour standoff.

Orlando Health said it would explore other options to help victims with ongoing medical costs, CNN reported, while estimating its total costs may top $5million.

'These include state and federal funds, private insurance, victim funds like the One Orlando fund, disability insurance, Florida's crime victim compensation program, funding sources established for individual victims, means-tested programs like Medicaid, as well as charity care provided by Orlando Health,' the hospital said.

Omar Mateen who killed 49 people in the Orlando nightclub attack in June

Daryl Tol, president of Florida Hospital, reportedly said the move to not chase the bills reflected the spirit of the community after the attacks.

'It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting,' he said. 'We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando.'

After the 2012 Colorado movie theater shooting during a Batman film, three hospitals had said they would not charge the victims, though there were fund-raising efforts underway to help some patients, The Christian Science Monitor reported.

The website said some of the victims, however, faced a long recovery ahead and the associated medical costs  without health insurance.
A search is under way on Cyprus to find and identify the bodies of those killed in violence decades ago between Greek and Turkish-Cypriot communities.

Around 2,000 people from the two societies disappeared during fighting between 1963 and 1974  but locals who might be able to pinpoint the location of their bodies are dying out.

The violence between the communities during these years culminated with the Turkish invasion of the island in August of 1974  and more than 40 years on, the task of retrieving and identifying those killed falls to the UN-backed Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).

A race against time is under way on Cyprus to find and identify the bodies of those killed in violence decades ago between Greek and Turkish-Cypriot communities. This image shows archaeologists of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) working to unearth the remains of missing Greek Cypriots, on August 2, in an area in the self proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Its team of Turkish and Greek Cypriot specialists has identified the remains of about 680 people since 2008.

The Turkish invasion, in response to an Athens-inspired putsch, left the island and its Turkish and Greek-speaking communities bitterly divided.

Now, as long-stalled peace talks foster increasing goodwill, the CMP - itself a rare example of cooperation between communities on the island - wants to find as many bodies as possible.

'Every missing person is a symbol of what we did to each other,' says Turkish Cypriot CMP member Gulden Plumer Kucuk. 'Our work needs political will to continue.'

The CMP's team of Turkish and Greek Cypriot specialists has identified the remains of about 680 people since 2008

With about 1,000 bodies still missing, the CMP has a problem. Most of the missing disappeared four decades ago. Witnesses to their deaths or hurried burials grow old, misremember. Some die.

The discovery last year of around 30 bodies north of Nicosia is a case in point.

From witness statements, dig teams knew roughly where a mass grave might be. But they only found remains after an improbable tip-off from a 94-year-old shepherdess.

Without her directions, remembered precisely from 42 years earlier, the bodies may have gone undiscovered.

'How many more years would we have been able to get this information?' says Florian Von Koenig, the UN's CMP representative. 'Our biggest thing we need - information - is increasingly hard to come by.'

One source of hope is the decision last year to allow CMP teams access to Turkish military sites, with their dozens of potential graves.

In a white, humidity-controlled hangar near Nicosia's abandoned airport in a UN buffer zone, 90 identical cardboard boxes line stacks of metal shelving.

With about 1,000 bodies still missing, the CMP has a problem. Most of the missing disappeared four decades ago. Witnesses to their deaths or hurried burials grow old, misremember. Some die

A TROUBLED HISTORY: WHY TURKEY INVADED CYPRUS Cyprus was split into a Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded the island after a coup aiming at union with Greece. Cypriot people flee their town during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 Cyprus had been a British colony from 1914 but gained independence in 1960. Violence between Greek and Turkish communities erupted in 1963 when president Archbishop Makarios proposed changes to the power-sharing agreement between Britain, Greece and Turkey. The fighting culminated in the Turkish invasion, which was launched in response to the military junta in Greece backing the coup against Makarios, nicknamed by some as the 'Castro of the Mediterranean'. Turkish forces invaded under the pretext of protecting Turkish Cypriots. The island subsequently became permanently divided, with a puppet Turkish state established in the north, known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It's an area that only Turkey officially recognises. Turkey currently has around 35,000 troops stationed there. Advertisement

In them are dozens of remains of people, some women and children, killed by Greek Cypriot militiamen in 1974 and dumped in a mass grave near the port of Famagusta.

Forensic anthropologist Photis Andronicou says hundreds of bodies still await identification.

Using DNA testing, sometimes aided by a wallet, shirt or other possession found alongside a body, the CMP identifies every skeleton.

'The geneticists check the results, then we check the results,' Andronicou says. 'The threshold is 99.95 percent (certainty).'

Each identification provides both relief at the end of decades of uncertainty, and grief over the death of the hope, however forlorn, that loved ones are alive.

Dina Papachristou, 69, has not seen her daughter, son-in-law and seven-year old grandson since they disappeared in 1974. She still clings to a belief that they weren't killed that summer.

'I just want to find them,' she says, arranging black-and-white images of the schoolboy on a tablecloth strewn with family Polaroids.

'If that means bad news, I'm prepared.'

In Tashkent village, north of Nicosia, workmen paint a curbside skirting a gleaming cemetery complex. Thirty-five Turkish Cypriot men killed in 1974 were finally laid to rest there this month.

Erdinc Erdagli, head of a local missing persons committee, says the CMP has identified 80 villagers found in a mass grave near Limassol.

They include his own father, who he buried in 2014. Down on his haunches, Erdagli cups his hand to shield from the breeze a single pheasant feather - a symbol of his father's love for game bird hunting - and stands it beneath the marble headstone.

'You feel the pain of loss at special moments,' he says. 'You graduate from school, get married, have a child, but your father is not with you.

'This is the most difficult situation a man can face.'

Antonis Christofi has a similarly heart-breaking tale to tell.

On August 14, 1974, his grandfather, Georgios, packed a simple meal of bread, cheese and watermelon for his family and sent them to hide in the wheat fields.

Antonis was 14 at the time.

It was the last time he would see his grandfather.

'We were afraid because we heard people say the Turkish were killing villagers,' he remembers.

Kantoni refused to leave his home. He was shot dead days later, his body flung in a shallow lake a few hours' walk from the village. His wife was killed and thrown down a nearby well.
Jane Gordon with her beloved violin. She's offering a reward for its safe return

A devastated concert violinist has appealed for help to find her cherished 300-year-old instrument after she accidentally left it on a train in London.

Jane Gordon, 37, was travelling from Waterloo to her home in Twickenham after rehearsing for two Proms she's playing in next month.

But she alighted at St Margaret's station, forgetting her valuable Italian Maggini violin was in the luggage rack.

'I'm absolutely distraught  it's like losing a member of your family, you develop a relationship with an instrument,' she told MailOnline.

'It's 300 years old and it's a special violin. I've owned it for four or five years.'

CCTV footage shows the rare musical instrument, which was in a case, remained on the luggage rack for three hours after Ms Gordon left it on Monday August 22.

It was removed by a passenger who got off the train at the unmanned Queenstown Road rail station in London at around 6.50pm.

British Transport Police have released images of a man and woman thought to have information about what happened next.

British Transport Police want to hear from these people, as they think they might know what happened to the violin

This woman, who was captured on CCTV on the train, has been asked to contact the investigating officers

Queenstown Road station is unstaffed, and Ms Gordon hopes the passenger handed in the instrument somewhere else, or plans to do so.

She declined to state the exact value of her missing violin, beyond saying that it is worth 'tens of thousands of pounds'.

Maggini violins regularly fetch more than 30,000 at auction and one went for more than 133,000 when it was sold in 2011. The Italian master violin maker only made around 60 of them during his lifetime.

Ms Gordon, a professional violinist, is due to play in two Proms at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on September 4 and 9.

She plays in several orchestras and as part of a chamber ensemble called Rautio Piano Trio.

She has performed at major concerts at Sydney Opera House, the Lincoln Center in New York and across Europe and has won a number of international prizes.

Now she faces having to play a borrowed instrument at the world-renowned Proms if her own is not found in time.

The violin was in a black case with a label 'GEWA' on the outside. There is a pouch outside the case which contains a blank envelope with strings inside, these are labelled La Folia.

The instrument also has a distinctive wooden chin rest. There are four bows and there is a small pouch at the end of the case, which contains asthma medication.

The violin was in a case with the word GEWA printed on the outside and there were four bows and some asthma medicine inside the case.

Ms Gordon said: 'I am willing to offer a reward for the instrument if it is found. Please return it safely.'

Detective Constable Anthony Steaman of the British Transport Police said: 'I am keen to speak to the two people in the CCTV images as I believe they may have vital information that could help with the investigation.'

Anyone with any information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or hand the instrument in to their local police station.
The Freeport Bakery in Sacramento baked this cake featuring a Ken doll in a dress which caused a backlash online

A California bakery has faced an online backlash after they posted pictures of their latest creation on their Facebook page because it features a Ken doll wearing a pink dress.

The Freeport Bakery in Sacramento created the cake for a group of friends who attend a monthly dice game because one of them were celebrating their birthday.

One of the group commissioned the cake for a friend as a joke.

However, when the bakery posted a photograph of the elaborate cake on their Facebook page, they faced an immediate backlash.

A number of people 'unliked' their profile while others left vile and abusive messages of a homophobic nature which where later deleted.

However, in response to the backlash, hundreds of people have left supportive messages to the popular bakery, with some commentator suggesting the next cake should feature GI Joe in a dress.

Marlene Goetzeler, co-owner of the Freeport Bakery did not think there would be any controversy as they bake cake dolls all of the time.

Some online commentators left homophobic and abusive messages on the Facebook page belonging to the popular Freeport Bakery in Sacramento, California, pictured

Some bigots even un-liked or left rude comments on the bakery's Facebook page

Speaking to Fox 40.com, she said: 'Naively, I guess I just thought this is a really cool cake, and look at how great they did with the butter cream. What's wrong with a Ken cake?
A 5-year-old boy in New Jersey has picked up the lunch tab for his police department.

William Evertz Jr. saved up his allowance for seven months and went to a Subway restaurant on Wednesday to get sandwiches for officers in Winslow Township, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Scroll down for video

William Evertz Jr., 5, saved his allowance for seven months so he could treat his local police department to lunch

William helped his parents do chores around the house  like feeding ducks and sweeping  so he could earn money to pay the lunch tab

His original plan was to buy a Power Wheels police squad, a powered toy car that kids can drive.

But William changed his mind and told his mother he wanted the officers to rest so they could protect the town.

'Happy kindness day,' he told about a dozen officers at the police station, Philly.com reported.

'I want to be a police officer,' he added, dressed in a police shirt and badge. 'They keep us safe.'

William earned the money completing chores at home: feeding chickens and ducks, sweeping outside and helping his dad wash the family car.

He saved about half of the $250 he needed to buy lunch for the whole department  so his parents threw in a bit of money, Philly.com reported.

William told his mom Tara (left) he wanted the officers to rest so they could protect the town

Together, the family delivered sandwiches, potato chips, water and soda to the cops.

The boy also wrote a thank-you card reading: 'I like police officers, and we thank you for keeping our town safe. Enjoy your day!'

In return, police made him an honorary officer and gave him a special shirt and badges.

Cops in the Winslow Township Police Department had been seeing an outpouring of local residents after the shooting of cops in Texas and Louisiana

He also got a ride home in a police car with lights and siren.

'We need good police officers like you,' Police Chief George Smith told William. 'I can't wait until you're old enough so we can hire you.'

Mayor Barry Wright, a retired cop, told the boy: 'You can be chief some day.'

Residents have sent in letters with kind words and baked goods. William saved about half of the $250 he needed to buy lunch for the whole department, so his parents pitched in, too

The Winslow Police Department has received an outpouring of support from the community since the recent shootings of cops in Texas and Louisiana, Philly.com reported.

Locals have sent in letters with kind words and baked goods.

'It's one of those things that restores confidence in humanity  it makes you tear up,' said Detective Sgt. Ray Cogan, a father of two, to Philly.com.

'It's nice to see that you're still the good guy.'

William also donated school suppliers to a domestic shelter and and toys to an animal shelter

William also donated toys and school supplies to a Philadelphia domestic shelter, as well as food to an animal shelter.

'I got so much toys, I'm taking them to the kids,' he said, according to Philly.com.

His mom, Tara, said he got the idea from an internet video showing an acts of kindness and 'just went with it.'

'I think it means a lot to him,' she told Philly.com, 'It's a good lesson to teach our kids.
Former policemen Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara should spend the rest of their lives in jail for executing a young drug dealer for financial gain, a judge has been told.

The New South Wales ex-detectives applied their police experience, training and cunning to achieve 'two crimes right at the top of the criminal calendar,' said crown prosecutor Chris Maxwell QC.

A NSW Supreme Court jury found Rogerson, 75, and McNamara, 57, guilty in June of murdering university student and dealer Jamie Gao, 20, and stealing 2.7kg of the drug ice in May 2014.

Former Detective Roger Rogerson is led to a prison van at the New South Wales Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday, June 3

Glen McNamara as he leaves the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney in May 2016

At their sentence hearing on Thursday, Mr Maxwell called for the pair to be given a life term, noting contract killings were one category attracting that sentence.

But he said Mr Gao's murder went one step further as it was a killing to enable the pair to obtain a large commercial quantity of the drug ice.

'A drug that results in so much crime being committed,' he said.

'It is not just for money, it is so they can obtain and then distribute the drug which has proven to be a scourge in our society.'

Rogerson, wearing prison greens, and McNamara, in a suit and sporting a new beard, both took notes during the hearing before Justice Geoffrey Bellew in the packed courtroom.

The former friends were found guilty of murdering Mr Gao, taking his drugs, and dumping his body at sea bundled in a tarp and chains.

The former detectives were found guilty of killing university student and drug dealer Jaime Gao, 20 (pictured)

Both men had blamed each other for the fatal shooting .

Mr Maxwell submitted they used the police training and experience given to them by society to enforce the law in a manner 'which was a complete antithesis to what is intended'.

'It is a direct affront to the rule of law in a civilised society.'

Lawyers for the pair, who each still deny the crimes, argued against the imposition of a life sentence.

Mr Maxwell said Rogerson gave evidence saying he had no respect for Mr Gao, which appeared to relate to his being a drug dealer.

Describing this as 'dripping with hypocrisy', he said Rogerson killed Mr Gao so he himself could become a drug dealer.

He also rejected claims relating to the inevitability of Rogerson, at least, dying in jail even if he was given a set sentence rather than life.

'If this is a worst category case ... it follows a life sentence should be given.'

The pair will be sentenced on September 2.

A forensics officer descends from the suspected car of Glen McNamara at Kogarah police station in 2014
The nephew of missing Melbourne mother Karen Ristevski claims that the woman's stepson is a money-hungry meth-user with no concern for the family's heartache.

A report by Channel Nine's A Current Affair claimed that Anthony Rickard, the stepson of Mrs Ristevski, had demanded $200,000 for an exclusive interview.

Mr Rickard has previously spoken to media, denying that he killed Mrs Ristevski but adding that he was 'very capable' of her murder. He has also admitted to being extensively questioned by detectives.

But Chris Ristevski, the nephew of Mrs Ristevski, said that his estranged cousin was a 'toxic' human who would do anything to get a paycheck.

Scroll down for video

Chris Ristevski, the nephew of missing Melbourne mother Karen Ristevski, claims that the woman's stepson is a 'toxic' meth-user who wants to cash in on the family's heartache

A report by Channel Nine's A Current Affair claimed that Anthony Rickard (pictured), the stepson of Mrs Ristevski, had demanded $200,000 for an exclusive interview

Mr Rickard (pictured) has denied claims that he asked for money to tell his story about his fractured relationship with Mrs Ristevski

'That's the type of person he is,' Chris Ristevski told A Current Affair.

'He's used everyone around him, he's used Karen and Borce. Karen and Borce (Karen's husband) have both given him cars, which he's totally destroyed. Money, accommodation and he's just abused it.'

Mr Rickard told Herald Sun that Channel Nine's report was largely untrue.

'I didn't go to (A Current Affair) asking for money, they offered me money,' Mr Rickard said.

'I had them all day coming backward and forwards.'

A number of vulgar posts reportedly on Mr Rickard's Facebook page read: 'One day I'm just gonna say f*** it all and let my demons out to play.'

It comes amidst recent reports that Mrs Ristevski may be in bushland northwest of Melbourne.

Mrs Ristevski, 47, was last seen on June 29 when she left her Avondale Heights home in north-west Melbourne to 'clear her head' after arguing with her husband Borce Ristevski about finances.

Mrs Ristevski (centre), 47, was last seen on June 29 when she left her Avondale Heights home in north-west Melbourne to 'clear her head' after arguing with her husband Borce (right)

Investigators have asked rural residents to 'check their properties for any changes or suspicious activity' since her suspicious disappearance on June 29.

Missing Persons Squad detectives said they were already following up a number of tips from the public about the Melbourne woman.

They've searched bushland and properties across Victoria, including Barmah National Park where the family had visited, but are now focused on one rural area northwest of Melbourne.

The tightened search area comes days after her daughter Sarah Ristevski, 21, began her own search and reached out to the Missing Persons Advocacy Network for help.

However, the non-profit organisation, which seeks to reunite loved ones, has only been able to offer minimal advice as it does not 'associate with criminal cases'.
Women in bikinis took to the streets outside the French Embassy as London mayor Sadiq Khan slammed France's burkini ban.

While Khan, London's first Muslim mayor, dragged himself into the burkini debate, Muslim women emptied bags of sand outside the embassy in Knightsbridge and made their own make-shift beach.

The crowd, with young children in toe, were seen holding placards, chanting and posing in various states of undress as they made their voices heard.

Scroll down for video

A woman wearing a birkini protests against the ban, on a fake beach outside the French Embassy in London

Women pose in burkinis and swimsuits as they protest against France's ban outside the French Embassy in London today

Khan was another unafraid to speak out against the controversial move by French officials.

Prior to his trip to Paris to meet mayor Anne Hidalgo this morning, he told the Evening Standard: 'I don't think anyone should tell women what they can and can't wear. Full stop. It's as simple as that.

'I don't think it's right. I'm not saying we're perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it.'

His comments come after a group of four police officers ordered a woman sunbathing on the Promenade des Anglais beach in Nice - yards from the scene of the Bastille Day lorry attack - to strip off.

In another incident a young Muslim mother was ordered off the beach at Cannes and fined for simply wearing a headscarf.

Three armed officers pointed a pepper spray canister in the 34-year-old's face and told her she was in breach of a new rule outlawing swimming costumes that cover the entire body.

Sadiq Khan has slammed the French burkini ban as he arrives in Paris for a meeting with his counterpart Anne Hidalgo (both pictured)

Women wearing different forms of swimwear hold up placards against the French beach ban

Women of all backgrounds were at the protest to campaign against the burkini ban

The scenes were in complete contrast to those on Brighton beach yesterday as Muslim women in traditional dress joined bathers in taking to the sea to cool off, as temperatures soared.

One of the protesters campaigning outside the embassy today was 27-year-old Muslim mother, Somaiia Khan,.

Standing with her daughter Nada, six, she admitted that she got 'very angry' when she saw shocking pictures of heavily armed French police confronting the bather in Nice.

Protesters hold up placards as they campaign outside the French Embassy in London

Muslim women embrace as they protest against the French beach ban in London today

She said: 'I think no woman should be told what she can and cannot wear.'

Dressed in a headscarf alongside her young daughter in a sunhat, said her message to the French authorities was: 'Don't be so racist against Muslims..'

Referring to the incident in Nice, she added: 'Her clothes were okay and they weren't even the proper hijab that Muslims wear.'

Protesters from all backgrounds passed around a beach ball to explain the reason they were making the stand outside the Embassy.

Pictured, police on Promenade des Anglais beach in Nice order a Muslim woman to strip off

Women dressed in traditional Islamic dress were seen paddling in the surf at Brighton beach yesterday - a scene which was a far cry from the farcical situation unfolding in France

One shouted: 'Women should wear whatever the hell they want!'

Another said: 'I'm here because a Muslim woman was made to undress by a police officer.'

While the debate rages on both sides of the Channel, the highest administrative court in France is considering a legal appeal against the ban in one of the towns, Villeneuve-Loubet, near Nice in the south of France.

Khan is due to hold talks with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo covering the impact of Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union as well as trade and security.

Khan and Hidalgo embrace as he arrives in the French capital for the summit, where the pair will discuss the impact of Britain's decision to leave the EU

Khan said he was in Paris to make it clear to the world that London was 'open' for new trade, new business, new ideas and new people

He said: 'I'm here in Paris to make it clear that London is open - open to the world, open to trade, open for new business ventures and collaborations, open to new ideas, new talent and people.'

France has been hit by several major attacks in recent months, including in Nice last month when 86 people died after a lorry was driven into crowds of people during celebrations on a national holiday.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack was conducted by one of its 'soldiers'.
A male emergency department nurse was abused and spat in the face by a man who claimed to have AIDS and told him he'd been infected.

Leslie Francis Marks had gone to the Toowoomba Hospital in Queensland in August 2015 when he became aggressive towards the nurse who'd tried to help him.

He presented a doctor's letter and when asked what was wrong, yelled: 'It's in the f***ing letter', The Chronicle reported.

Queensland man Leslie Francis Marks (pictured) spat in the face of a nurse and told him he had AIDS

The nurse told him to leave and come back when he'd calmed down and it was as he was escorted from the building that he spat in the nurse's face and yelled: 'I've got AIDS suck s***, now you've got it'.

Police arrived and arrested Marks, but his aggressive behaviour continued and he repeatedly tried to spit on officers and struck them through a cell door hatch.

When he was told officers would use capsicum spray on him, but he retorted: 'Come on, spray me then', according to The Chronicle.

Officers opened the cell door and he tried to spit, missed, and was sprayed.

They then entered and he spat on one.

In the Toowoomba District Court, he pleaded guilty to three counts of serious assault, it was reported.

A psychiatric reported stated he had problems controlling his emotions.

Because of that, he would struggle more with jail than other prisoners, his defence lawyer said.

Judge Deborah Richards sentenced Marks to six months in jail.

However, she ordered his sentence be suspended for a year after he' d served two months.

Marks (left) was sentenced to six months' jail but it was ordered to be suspended for a year after he' d served two months
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday he expected the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would close before President Barack Obama leaves office in January.

'That is my hope and expectation,' he told a news conference in Sweden.

The White House has been trying to close the facility since Obama took office but has been stymied by opposition in Congress.

Scroll down for video

Inside Guantanamo: This is the custom-built facility where prisoners are currently held

Detained: These are the facilities where dozens of suspected terrorists are still being held, to the frustration of the Obama administration

The announcement comes after President Obama's decision earlier this month to release 15 prisoners from Guantanamo  called 'Gitmo' for short by the military  and send them to the United Arab Emirates.

The transfer of 12 Yemeni nationals and three Afghans marked the single largest release of detainees during the Obama administration.

But the decision was described as 'reckless', with Republicans arguing that it puts national security at risk.

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign blasted Obama in a fundraising email Thursday, saying that '[a]s president, Trump REFUSES to shut down Gitmo and REFUSES to have foreign radical Islamic terrorists tried in our regular court systems here in America.'

'Americans oppose shutting down Gitmo and releasing terrorists to our shores,' the email continued. 'This has to end. And it has to end NOW.'

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire said in a statement: 'The unclassified report I secured from the Department of Defense demonstrates that these detainees just released are among the worst terrorists who could jeopardize our national security and the lives of our troops.

The Gitmo debate quickly turned political on Thursday as Donald Trump's presidential campaign tried to raise money with aggressive messaging about Biden's admission

'It is reckless for the administration to continue to release terrorists like these to fulfill a misguided campaign promise to empty and close Guantanamo.'

Trump has previously said he would be willing to try US citizens at Guantanamo Bay because the country needs a 'very safe place' to keep terrorists.

The Republican presidential nominee has previously ruled out closing the Cuban detention facility.

The Pentagon says 61 detainees now remain at Guantanamo, which was opened in January 2002 to hold foreign fighters suspected of links to the Taliban or Al-Qaeda.

The Yemeni nationals transferred to the UAE include Zahir Umar Hamis bin Hamdun, alleged to be an Al-Qaeda weapons and explosives trainer operating in Afghanistan.

Intervention: Joe Biden, who was speaking in Stockholm, Sweden, at a joint press conference with the country's prime minister, made the unexpected announcement

As it was: Guantanamo Bay in 2004, three years after it opened. Biden says his 'hope and expectation' is to have the newer facility which replaced this one closed in January

A Pentagon profile from September 2015 said he expressed dislike of the US, which they identified as 'an emotion that probably is motivated more by frustration over his continuing detention than by a commitment to global jihad' .

Also listed was Muhammad Ahmad Said Al Adahi, labelled a chief of Bin Laden's security force in Kandahar in a leaked military document.

Once transferred, former inmates are usually freed subject to supervision and undergoing rehabilitation programs.

During the Bush administration, 532 prisoners were released from Guantanamo, often in large groups to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

US Representative Ed Royce, a Republican from California who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the Obama administration for recent releases, portraying the freed detainees as 'hardened terrorists'.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says five percent of Guantanamo prisoners released since Obama took office have re-engaged in militant activities and an additional eight percent are suspected of doing so.
Accused killer Sara Connor and her British boyfriend David Taylor spent three days on the run after allegedly bashing a Bali police officer to death.

The mother-of-two from Byron Bay and her young DJ boyfriend were arrested a week ago after being named as suspects for the murder of policeman Wayan Sudarsa on Kuta beach.

Connor, 45, has since claimed she was trying to protect the officer from being beaten to death by Taylor after his bloodied body was found with 42 wounds.

Scroll down for video

Accused killer Sara Connor (left) was trying to protect a Bali police officer from being beaten to death by her enraged British DJ boyfriend David Taylor (right), according to her lawyer

Police officer Wayan Sudarsa (pictured) was found dead on Kuta Beach in Bali last week with 42 wounds to his body. Police claim Mr Taylor confessed to hitting the officer with a beer bottle, but denied killing him.

'She said to me after she make a little bit of a reconstruction there, only between us, 'I want to protect the victim',' Ms Connor's lawyer Erwin Siregar said, according to the ABC.

She told her lawyer: ''I want to separate between David Taylor and the victim and in this case I just want to protect the victim and so I am not guilty'.'

The two accused have expressed remorse over Wayan Sudarsa's death during lengthy police interrogations and say they want to apologise to his family, according to their lawyers.

'In the interrogation our client said that he felt regret at his actions,' Taylor's lawyer Haposan Sihombing told News Corp.

'He also said... that he will ask to apologise to (Wayan's) family and he is still thinking that he will make a letter also for the family,' he said.

It comes after details of Connor and Taylor's three days on the run emerged as police piece together the murder investigation.

Connor and Taylor were found to have checked out of the Kuta hotel where they had been staying and moved into a new homestay at Jimbaran for two nights the same day the officer's body was found.

The owner of the new home in Jimbaran said the couple displayed 'normal behaviour' and were not suspicious.

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

Two days after the police officer was murdered, Connor and Taylor rented a motorbike and told the shop owner that they needed to go to the Australian consulate because her passport was gone.

To get to the shop, the couple would have walked by the dead police officer's home.

Taylor (C, with hood) is escorted by police officers for interrogation at a police station in Denpasar

Connor received a call from her home in Australia last Friday informing her she had made the news given the alleged murder.

The couple then allegedly burned the clothes they had been wearing at the time, which Bali officials claim to have found in nearby Jimbaran.

Denpasar District Police Chief Hadi Purnomo said on Wednesday said they then found Mr Sudarsa's ID cards cut up and dumped on the side of the road.

They claim it was Connor's idea to destroy any evidence linking her and her boyfriend to the alleged crime.

The couple were arrested last Friday when they visited the Australian Consulate where police had been waiting - three days after they allegedly murdered the officer.

The police chief said officers had asked Connors's boyfriend to tell them where they 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.

'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.'

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

'It was put into a plastic bag and thrown away in Suluban Beach area in Uluwatu, South Kuta.'

He claims the couple set alight their clothes in the hours before they were arrested last Friday. Burnt fabric and a button was found in the bushes, 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.

Connor and 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 Taylor and Mr Sudarsa after Connor lost her purse on Kuta Beach.

Local police claim Taylor accused Mr Sudarsa, who was on duty at a nearby hotel at the time, of stealing 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.

Taylor confronted the police officer and the two fell to the ground as they wrestled, during which the officer allegedly bit Connor on the leg and arm.

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

'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.

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, [Taylor] searched his body, his belongings, that's how the victim's clothes got unbuttoned and loose. The man had already lost consciousness.'

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 has allegedly admitted to hitting Mr Sudarsa.

A crime scene established on Kuta Beach in Bali is pictured on Friday

Taylor's lawyer, Haposan Sihombing, said 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.

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.

Connor faces a murder charge and an additional charge of participation in a murder. Taylor is being held as a suspect for murder, assault and battery charges.
The 59-year-old woman who died after falling 40ft from a zip line course in Delaware was completing the challenge as part of her bucket list.

Tina Werner fell from a platform along the Go Ape course in Lums Pond State Park at around 1.40pm on Wednesday.

Paramedics treated her at the scene and performed CPR as she was transported to hospital, but she later died of her injuries.

Werner's daughter, Melissa Slater, took to Facebook to pay tribute to her mum saying: 'My mom died completing her bucket list, zip lining in Newark.'

Scroll down for video

Tina Werner is seen left in a Facebook photo with friend Marianna Graziano Johnson. She died after falling from a platform along the Go Ape course in Lums Pond State Park at around 1.40pm on Wednesday

Werner's daughter, Melissa Slater, took to Facebook expressing her shock at her mom's death and shared this sweet snap of her kissing her on her wedding day

Delaware State Park rangers wait outside the Go Ape zip line course after the fatal accident

Sharing a snap of her mom kissing her at her wedding, she also wrote: 'Today, about 3 hours ago, I was told that my mother has died.

'Full of love and adventure, I am thankful to be her daughter.

She continued: 'During this time, I seek to understand God's purpose. I want to take this opportunity to remind you that we never know when we are no longer on this earth.'

She added: 'This is truly the hardest situation that I have ever faced. I ask for you prayers for my family.'

It is not known how Werner fell from the platform, and the accident is still under investigation by park officials and state police, 6ABC reports.

Nobody else was injured in the incident.

The post Werner's daughter, Melissa Slater, wrote on Facebook to pay tribute to her mom

It is not known how Werner fell from the platform, and the accident is still under investigation by park officials and state police. Rangers are pictured at the scene

Chris Swallow, director of Go Ape, said: 'The Go Ape team is deeply saddened by this tragic occurrence.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends and in particular to those who were on the course with her at the time.

'We will of course be cooperating with the authorities with regard to this incident.

'It would be inappropriate to comment or speculate on the circumstances of this incident until all of the investigations are completed.'

Authorities say they do not yet know how Werner fell to her death, as park officials and state police continue their investigation (file image)

Chris Swallow, director of Go Ape, said: 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends and in particular to those who were on the course with her at the time.' Pictured above the zip line course

Marianna Graziano Johnson, who changed her profile picture to one of her and Werner and commented on Slater's post.

She said: 'Your mother was the most loving , caring person I ever met. She was my best friend and the first friend I made when we moved to Delaware.

'She lived life to the fullest and she cherished her family, especially you Melissa. I will miss her so much.'

The Go Ape experience promises visitors a two to three hour journey through the forest canopy with platforms up to 49ft tall and zip wires up to 700ft long

The course, which was introduced to the park in 2013, was closed after the accident and there is no word on when it will reopen.

The Go Ape experience aims to provide visitors with 'a two to three hour journey through the forest canopy taking on suspended obstacles, Tarzan swings and breathtaking zip lines' according to the company's website.
Colombia's government has reached a historic peace deal with FARC guerrillas to end a five-decade civil war following peace talks brokered by Cuba.

Both sides have spent four years negotiating an end to the conflict which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said he would put the peace deal to the people in a referendum on October 2.

Colombian government minister Humberto de la Calle, right, shook hands with FARC's delegate at the conclusion of the peace talks, Ivan Marquez, left, after agreeing a historic peace deal bringing to an end some five decades of conflict in the South American country

Residents in Bogota, Colombia took to the streets following the announcement to celebrate the peace deal which will be put to a referendum in October by the Colombian government

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, pictured, addressed the people last night and told them that the talks, which began in Havana in November 2012 have successfully concluded

Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez announced the deal in Havana following a four-year round of peace talks.

He said: 'The Colombian government and the FARC announce that we have reached a final, full and definitive accord... on ending the conflict and building a stable and enduring peace,' the two sides said in a joint statement read out in Havana by Cuban diplomat Rodolfo Benitez.

'We don't want one more victim in Colombia.'

In a national address just after the announcement, Santos - who has staked his legacy on the peace process - said the deal marked 'the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war.'

He immediately launched his campaign for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum, which he said would be the most important election of voters' lives.

Many people took to the streets last night in order to celebrate the historic agreement

Hundreds of thousands of people died during the five-decade conflict which saw the leftist rebels attack government and military targets across Colombia using no-warning bombs

It is estimated that 260,000 people have been killed during the 50-year-long conflict

'This is a historic and unique opportunity... to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren,' he said.

Colombians welcomed the announcement with both skepticism and joy, as many took to the streets late Wednesday night, waving the national flag and carrying balloons emblazoned with the word 'yes' to show their support for peace.

'It's hard to believe that we have lived to see such things, it's historic for the country,' 24-year-old Marcela Cardenas said, before adding that she believes the transformation will be extremely difficult.

Local TV in Colombia's Caribbean city of Barranquilla showed a rapper chanting 'Forward with peace, forward!'

As part of the deal, FARC has agreed to disarm its 7,000-strong army at special UN camps

The conflict began with the founding of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964, at a time when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America.

Over the years, it has killed 260,000 people, uprooted 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing.

COLOMBIA'S CONFLICT HOW IT STARTED 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. TODAY'S PLAN FOR LASTING PEACE Mid-1980s peace talks collapsed after death squads killed at least 3,000 allies of the FARC's political wing. Another effort fell apart in 2002 after the rebels hijacked an airliner to kidnap a senator. The latest talks had gone on since 2012 in Havana and culminated Wednesday evening with a deal after the last issues were resolved. Agreement previously had been reached on land reform, combatting drug trafficking, the guerrillas' political participation and punishing war crimes on both sides. In late June, negotiators announced a cease-fire agreement and a blueprint for how an estimated 7,000 FARC fighters will demobilize and lay down their weapons once the peace accord is implemented. Advertisement

Along the way, it has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the world's largest cocaine-producing country.

Three previous peace processes with the FARC ended in failure.

But after a major offensive by the army from 2006 to 2009 - led by then-defense minister Santos - a weakened FARC agreed to come to the negotiating table.

Over the past few days, the two sides had been discussing a range of unresolved topics, and worked late into the night Tuesday to draft their joint statement.

FARC chief negotiator Ivan Marquez called the accord a new chapter for Colombia.

'We can now say that fighting with weapons ends and with ideas begins,' he said from Havana.

The peace deal comprises six agreements reached at each step of the arduous negotiations.

They cover justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, fighting drug trafficking, disarmament and the implementation and monitoring of the accord.

Under the peace deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The FARC will then become a political party. Its weapons will be melted down to build three peace monuments.

Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict.

An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.

Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

Santos insisted there would be no impunity for such crimes.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the negotiators for their perseverance, while emphasizing that equal determination will be needed to implement the agreement.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini warned in a statement that a number of challenges remain for implementation, but that the deal would bring lasting peace.

On Twitter Erna Solberg, the prime minister of Norway, one of the countries that mediated the talks, congratulated 'both parties for a bold step towards a peaceful Colombia.'

Meanwhile the White House said US President Barack Obama had called Santos to congratulate him.

'The president recognized this historic day as a critical juncture in what will be a long process to fully implement a just and lasting peace agreement,' it said in a statement.

Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs.

Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called 'Plan Colombia' - recently rebaptized 'Peace Colombia' by Obama.

The US has provided funding to the Colombian government to assist in the fight against FARC, including providing Blackhawk helicopters to use in anti-narcotic operations

FARC has kept an army of some 7,000 people hidden in jungle camps during its campaign

International observers believe the conflict has seen an estimated 45,000 people vanish

Analyst Jorge Restrepo of the Conflict Analysis Resource Center said the agreement allows Colombia to 'finally deal with the public policy issues that have been overshadowed by the armed conflict,' such as drugs.

However there are still obstacles on the way to peace.

Santos's top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading a campaign to vote 'No' in the referendum, arguing his successor has given too much away to the FARC.
Blount's lawyer claims racism and gender bias have led prosecutors to charge his client and not the white mother

While Blount was charged with manslaughter in his daughter's death, the other mother (who is white) has not been charged

A week before, a mother in the same state made the same mistake, resulting in the death of her two-year-old daughter Caroline

Joshua Blount's eight-month-old daughter Shania died in May after he accidentally left her in a hot car for hours while he worked

A Mississippi lawyer claims racism and gender bias have led prosecutors to charge his client with manslaughter in the hot car death of his eight-month-old daughter, while a white mother who made the same accident walks free.

Joshua Blount's baby daughter Shania died in May, after he forgot to drop her off at her grandmother's house and left her in his hot car all day while he worked at his job at a restaurant.

After her death, the 25-year-old grieving father was charged with second-degree murder, which was later downgraded to manslaughter.

Just a week before that deadly incident, a mother just 90 miles away in the same state committed the same mistake, leaving her 2-year-old daughter Caroline in her car for eight hours while she worked. However, the 37-year-old mother in that case, Amy Bryant, has not been charged with any crime.

Scroll down for video

Lawyer Carlos Moore (left) claims his client Joshua Blount (right) is being unfairly prosecuted in the hot car death of his eight-month-old daughter Shania

Shania died in May, after Blount accidentally left her in his car all day while he worked

Blount's lawyer Carlos Moore says racism and gender bias play into whether police decide to charge a parent in these saddening incidents.

'We have an African-American male who, I believe, gets less of the benefit of the doubt than anyone in the criminal justice system,' Moore told CBS News.

Professor Matt Steffy of the Mississippi College Law School believes Blount's charges are unfair.

'It appears to be a coin flip,' Steffy said. 'If you meet the right gender and race expectations, you are treated like a grieving parent. Otherwise, you are treated like a criminal and face 20 years in prison.'

Newly released surveillance footage shows the moment Blount and a friend return to the car at the end of his shift to find baby Shania inside unconscious

Blount, right, breaks down into shaking as his friend, left, runs off to get help

It was too late though, and baby Shania was later pronounced dead after hours in the hot car

In both cases, the parents were rushing to work. Neither was drunk or impaired and prosecutors have not alleged that either left their child in the car on purpose. Furthermore, the same Mississippi laws applied to both parents.

Just a week before, a 37-year-old white mother in the same state made the same mistake and her two-year-old daughter Caroline (pictured) died. That mother has not been charged in her daughter's death

While the mother in baby Caroline's case has faced no legal consequences for her actions, Blount now faces up to 20 years in prison if he's convicted of manslaughter.

Even Blount's girlfriend, the mother of their child, has said she forgives him and wants the charges dropped.

Blount himself takes responsibility for his daughter's death but says he did not do it on purpose.

'I take full responsibility, but I did nothing on purpose,' Blount said. 'It was just a tragic accident.'

In surveillance footage obtained by CBS News, Blount and a friend are seen walking out to his car after his shift to find little Shania unconscious inside.

At seeing this, Blount is immediately emotional and starts to shake, while his friend runs to get help.

'It felt like every part of me was just torn into pieces,' Blount said.

'Everything just crashes. It just felt like your whole world just shut down, knowing her last words were" Daddy"'.
An AP report has said that roughly half of 154 people she spoke to while at the State Department were Foundation donors

Hillary Clinton fought back against claims that she used her time as Secretary of State to help the Clinton Foundation

Hillary has fought back against accusations that she should not have met with Clinton Foundation donors while she was secretary of state.

The Democrat nominee fired back on Wednesday after Donald Trump blasted her ties to the charitable organisation, saying 'it is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins.'

Clinton has been accused of using her role in public office for personal gain.

The claims come after an AP report revealed how roughly half of 154 people who spoke to Clinton while she led the State Department were donors in some form to the Clinton Foundation.

The AP report said that of 154 people Clinton met, 85 were donors to the tune of a collective $156 million.

Scroll down for video

Not being seen much: Clinton was barely glimpsed on a fundraising swing through California and did not go face-to-face with Cooper

Trump blasted Hillary for her Foundation links, saying 'it is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins'

But Clinton said that the article was not representative of her time at the State Department.

'Put it in context, [it] excludes nearly 2,000 meetings I had with world leaders, plus countless other meetings with U.S. government officials when I was Secretary of State. It looked at a small portion of my time,' Clinton told the Anderson Cooper 360 program.

'It drew the conclusion and made the suggestion that my meetings with people like the late, great, Elie Wiesel, on Melinda Gates, or the Nobel Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus were somehow due to connections with the foundation instead of their status as highly respected global leaders.

'That is absurd. These are people I was proud to meet with, who any Secretary of State would have been proud to meet with and hear about their work and their insight.'

Clinton discussed her Foundation role in the phone interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN. She has now gone an extraordinary 264 days without a press conference

In the interview, Clinton attacked Trump's ongoing failure to publish his tax returns

The Foundation has become a lightning rod of controversy after a string of disclosures about her aides' links to it during her time in office.

Emails released as the result of long-running court battles have disclosed how a Foundation executive asked Huma Abedin, Clinton's right hand woman, to secure a meeting for a 'good friend of ours', the Crown Prince of Bahrain, while they also asked for help for Bono to include the International Space Station in a U2 tour.

Trump has seized on the disclosures as evidence of 'corruption' and called for a special prosecutor to be appointed.

Bill Clinton has said that if his wife becomes president he will leave the Foundation's board and will not raise funds for it.

The institution will also only accept money from U.S.-based sources and not from corporate ones, it has said.

Under pressure: Bill Clinton, seen in Atlanta on Wednesday, has said he will step aside from the foundation if his wife is elected

Clinton also said that neither she nor Bill draw a salary from the organization, and that it has taken steps to more transparency, voluntarily disclosing its donors in 2009 and reducing its sources of funding.

AP has said it only looked at the first half of Hillary's time as secretary of state because it has been unable to obtain her complete schedules. The schedules it does have were only granted to the news organization after it sued the State Department.

In the interview Clinton also attacked Trump for his failure to release his tax returns, a long-running issue which has been a thorn in the side of the billionaire businessman.

'I think it's quite remarkable his refusal to release his tax returns is even more concerning given the recent news that his businesses are hundred of millions of dollars in debt to big banks, including the state-owned bank of China, and business groups with ties to the Kremlin.'

The interview was a rare occasion for Clinton, who has now gone 264 days without a press conference.

The Trunp's campaign's senior communications adviser, Jason Miller, described her claim of 'smoke but no fire' as 'a complete lie'.
A former chairman of Sainsbury's donated millions of pounds to both the Labour and the Liberal Democrats as he tried to bolster the Conservative government's main UK parties, new figures revealed today.

Lord David Sainsbury, a Labour peer and former minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, has been a regular donor to the Labour party for years but surprised Westminster by giving the beleaguered Lib Dems two donations totalling a massive 2.1million in June.

The latest release of donations to political parties also showed the ex-Formula One boss Max Mosley donated 200,000 to Labour.

Lord David Sainsbury (right), a Labour peer and former minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown (left), has been a regular donor to the Labour party for years but surprised Westminster by giving the beleaguered Lib Dems two donations totalling a massive 2.1million in June

Mr Mosley, who became a privacy campaigner after media reports of his private life, is a supporter of Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, a leading campaigner against allegations of press intrusion and phone hacking.

Lord Sainsbury, whose 2.15million donation to Labour in June was his first since 2010 after refusing to fund the party under Ed Miliband's leadership, said he had given money to both opposition parties to bolster their campaigns to keep Britain in the EU.

But as a Labour peer he now faces the prospect of disciplinary action for giving financial support to a rival party.

And he was classed the biggest loser of the EU referendum campaign after spending nearly 8million trying to stop Brexit.

He was one of the biggest donors of the campaign to oust Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, giving 65,000 to the New Labour group Progress.

Before he stopped funding the party under Mr Miliband, Lord Sainsbury was one of the party's biggest donors, handing more than 10million into the party.

Overall, Labour received the most donations than any other party in the three months to July this year.

The latest release of donations to political parties also showed the Formula One boss Max Mosley (pictured) donated 200,000 to Labour

The party, which attracted large donations due to its support for staying in the EU, received 6.2million, the Tories attracted 4.3million and Lord Sainsbury's donation helped the Lib Dems raise a healthy 2.87million in the three months.

The main Brexit-supporting party, Ukip, was given 1.25million, while the Women's Equality Party was given 154,570 between April 1 and June 30 as it contested its first election in the London Mayoral race.

Explaining the move in a statement today, Lord Sainsbury said: 'During the last two years I have helped put together the Stronger In Europe Campaign, and have provided them with funds. I have also made donations to the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and a number of other registered bodies.

'I did so because I believe strongly that coming out of Europe will be damaging to our economy and society, and dangerously so if we come out of the Common Market.

'I am proud of what the Stronger In Europe Campaign did in explaining honestly and clearly the benefits we get from being in Europe and the damage from coming out.

'I am sorry that we failed to convince the British people as I believe the dangers of Brexit are very real, and I hope that thoughtful and careful leadership by the new Prime Minister will mean that my worst fears are not realised.'

Lord Sainsbury gave the Lib Dems, led by Tim Farron (pictured) more than 2million during the EU referendum campaign

Welcoming the support from the Labour peer, a spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said: 'Lord Sainsbury has been a major figure in progressive politics over four decades.

'We are extremely grateful for his practical support, which recognises the phenomenal campaigning abilities of the Liberal Democrats, who in the referendum campaign held 1,000 street stalls and were calling up to 100,000 voters a day.

'His help was a recognition that we had the second largest party political campaign for Remain and was a testimony to the hard work of our members.

'It is largely because we got across such a uniquely positive case for Europe that since the referendum over 18,000 people have joined the Liberal Democrats.
to Musk claims that the business magnate and Heard are 'just friends'

Elon Musk has been spotted in the company of Amber Heard multiple times in the past month, and according to a new report that tech billionaire has had an interest in the newly divorced actress for years.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with a source who claims that Musk 'became infatuated' with Heard after the two appeared in the 2013 film Machete Kills.

The two did not have any scenes together or get a chance to meet on set, so Musk began to email director Robert Rodriguez repeatedly in hopes that he could set up a meeting between himself and the actress - despite the fact that she was with Johnny Depp at the time.

Scroll down for video

Hanging out: Amber Heard and Elon Musk have been spotted out together in Miami and London over the past few months (above in London earlier this month)

No more: Heard filed for divorce from actor Johnny Depp in May after 14 months of marriage, and their separation was finalized earlier this month (former couple above in January)

'If there is a party or event with Amber, I'd be interested in meeting her just out of curiosity,' Musk wrote in one email to Rodriguez.

'Allegedly, she is a fan of George Orwell and Ayn Rand  most unusual.'

A dinner was then reportedly set up between the two, but Heard did not show up for her scheduled sit-down with the business magante.

That did not deter Musk however, who again emailed Rodriguez, writing: 'Can you send her a note saying I would like to get together for lunch in LA?'

He then clarified what he was looking for, telling Roidriguez: 'Am not angling for a date. I know she's in a long-term relationship, but  Amber just seems like an interesting person to meet.'

Heard and Musk were spotted partying together earlier this month at The Box in London, though the two were careful not to be photographed leaving the club together with celeb pals Cara Delevingne and Jared Leto.

The 30-year-old actress is in London working on the upcoming Justice League film, in which she will play the underwater warrior and sorceress Mera.

Musk and heard were also spotted together in Miami earlier this summer, but a source close to the billionaire claims the two 'are just friends.'

Heard filed for divorce from Depp in May, making shocking allegations about the abuse she suffered at the hands of the Oscar-nominated actor.

Their separation was finalized earlier this month, with Depp agreeing to hand over $7million to his wife of just 14 months.

Heard in turn said that the money she was given in the divorce would be given to the ACLU and Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, with both getting exactly $3.5million.

Pulling the plug: Musk became 'infatuated' with Heard after they both appeared in the 2013 film Machete Kills (Heard above in still from film) according to a new report

Stopping by: Musk appeared in a cameo role in Machete Kills (above) but did not get to meet Heard on set

Depp cut the first checks to both organizations on Wednesday, with his rep saying in a statement to TMZ: 'Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge.'

The rep then added: 'Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected.'

Musk meanwhile is in the process of divorcing his wife Talulah Riley - again.

The South African-born tech billionaire and the English actress - who were married in 2010, divorced in 2012 and then remarried in 2013 - decided to call it quits this npast March when Riley again filed divorce papers.

Musk, 45, and Riley, 30, first wed in 2010, at a ceremony held in Scotland, but divorced shortly after in 2012.

He announced on Twitter that it had been an amazing few years and that he would always love her, paying out $4.2million in a settlement.

Splitting again: Musk's wife Talulah Riley (above in 2014) filed for divorce in March of this year, with the pair previously divorcing in 2012 before marrying again

Months after the first divorce, they were back together  and remarried in July 2013. But the couple lived apart for much of 2014 while Talulah wrote and directed her first feature film, Scottish Mussel.

Divorce papers were again filed in December 2014 with the couple insisting that the split was amicable and Musk agreeing to pay $16million in a settlement.

That action was withdrawn just a few months later.

Prior to his relationship with Riley, Musk was married to Canadian author Justine Wilson.

The pair wed in 2000 and then divorced in 2008.
A school building that promised to withstand powerful earthquakes after a 700,000-euro upgrade just four years ago has been left in ruins in central Italy - while a 13th century church bell tower managed to withstand the shock.

The Romolo Capranica school in Amatrice was supposed to have been quake-proofed but completely collapsed on Wednesday when a catastrophic 6.2-magnitude quake struck at 3.30am local time

That was in sharp contrast to the oldest building in the town, the 13th-century Civic Tower, which was still standing on Thursday, despite having been shaken sufficiently to detach its bell from its fastenings.

A former teacher at the elementary school came to help her old colleagues when she heard the news about the quake on Wednesday but broke down in tears at what she found.

Romolo Capranica school in Amatrice collapsed on Wednesday despite 700,000 euros worth of investment to make it 'quake-proof'

Meanwhile the 13th century bell tower of Amatrice stood tall above the rubble over the surrounding buildings in Amatrice

In an interview with local TV station Corriere she said: 'I taught here for many years, until last year. Not this year Sorry It is just incredible.'

She said she wasn't from Amatrice but from a place near L'Aquila. 'I thought at my scholars I found some of them, I didn't find some others,' she explained as she wept.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake in central Italy rose to 250 on Thursday amid fears many more corpses would be found in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Measuring 6.0-6.2 magnitude, the quake's epicentre was near the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, occurring at the shallow depth of four kilometres (2.5 miles), according to monitors.

As the search effort continues, the soul-searching began once again as Italy confronted the effects of having the highest seismic hazard in Western Europe, some of it in its most picturesque medieval villages, and anti-seismic building codes that aren't applied to old buildings and often aren't respected when new ones are built.

The elementary school was upgraded four years ago after the 2009 disaster which claimed 300 lives but it did not withstand Wednesday's quake

An investigation into the quake will reportedly focus on Amatrice's Romolo Capranica school, set up with funds raised following the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake

'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.'

Experts estimate that 70 percent of Italy's buildings aren't built to anti-seismic standards. After every major quake, proposals are made to improve, but they often languish in Italy's thick bureaucracy, funding shortages and the huge scope of trying to secure thousands of ancient towns and newer structures built before codes were passed or after the codes were in effect but in violation of them.

In recent quakes, some of these more modern buildings 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 26 children - the town's entire first-grade class. In some cases, the anti-seismic building standards have been part of the problem, including using reinforced cement for roofs that are then too heavy for weak walls when quakes strike.

The clock of the Bell Tower of the Italian village of Amatrice stopped at the time when an earthquake struck central Italy at 3:36 a.m.

Wednesday's quake was only the latest in a long string of killer quakes in the central Apennines

Wednesday's quake was only the latest in a long string of killer quakes in the central Apennines, part of the mountainous 'spine' that runs down Italy. Records dating back seven centuries attest to tens of thousands of deaths.

'As geologists we have been saying for years that we are very far away in Italy from having a culture of prevention,' said Francesco Peduto, president of the Council of Italian Geologists.

Seven years ago, the L'Aquila disaster, in which 300 people died, exposed how ill-equipped many of Italy's centuries-old buildings are to cope with an earthquake.

Afterwards the Civil Protection agency made almost a billion euros available for upgrading buildings in seismically-vulnerable areas. But the take-up of grants has been low, largely because of the cumbersome application process, according to critics.

That L'Aquila disaster, just 50 kilometres (30 miles) south, underscored the region's vulnerability to seismic events - but preparations for a fresh quake have been exposed as limited at best.

Giuseppe Saieva, the chief public prosecutor for most of the area affected, said he would be opening an investigation into whether anyone could be held responsible for the disaster.

The town of Amatrice in Rieti province, central Italy, has been devastated following the 6.2-magnitude earthquake

Firefighters at work looking for survivors inside the rubble of collapsed building in Amatrice

The scale of the devastating earthquake has raised questions about why lessons were not learnt from the last disaster in 2009

The damage to smaller, more remote hamlets on Wednesday has left their very existence in doubt in an area that has suffered decades of depopulation and already has numerous 'ghost' villages.

'If we don't get help, l'Arquata is finished,' said Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata del Tronto, which accounted for 57 of the confirmed deaths to date.

Petrucci said it was impossible to say exactly how many people were in the 13 hamlets comprising his community when the disaster struck.

'Here in the winter, the village is practically uninhabited but the population doubles or triples when people come back to their family houses in the summer,' he said.

In Pescara del Tronto, which was virtually razed by the quake, there only four permanently resident families.

But Petrucci said there could have been up to 300 people there on Wednesday.

Some may have fled back to Rome, the mayor said, appealing for them to get in touch. 'Otherwise we could be trying to dig out ruins where there is no-one,' he said.

On Thursday rescuers sifted through collapsed masonry in the search for survivors, but their grim mission was clouded by uncertainty about exactly how many people had been staying in communities.

Hundreds of people spent the night sleeping in their cars, in hastily-assembled tents or as guests of families in nearby areas less affected by the quake.

Monica, a survivor from the tourist town of Amatrice, told of her numbed response when a 4.5-magnitude aftershock rattled the area just after 5.00 a.m.

'We are sleeping in the car and there were shocks all night. When the biggest one came, the car started moving and shaking.

'But what have we got to lose now? We have lost our house. So many friends and family are dead. We have lost everything, even our fear,' she told AGI news agency.
Donald Trump has answered a key question about his flagship Mexican wall policy: how high will it be?

'I think the height could be 35 to 45 feet. That's a good height. That's a good height. Anywhere in that neighborhood. Could be higher,' he told Sean Hannity of Fox News.

The Republican nominee committed once again to building his proposed wall along the border with Mexico, to raucous cheers from the crowd.

The Republican presidential candidate said he had 'no choice' but to build a wall along the border with Mexico

Trump says his proposed 1,000-mile border will would be 35-45 feet high. Sections of the border - including bear San Diego - already have a 'fence' which is difficult to tell apart from a wall

'The Great Wall of Trump', as he has called it, has become a key component of his campaign.

'It's not a question of wanting [to build it]. We have no choice,' he said. 'It'll get done so quickly your head will spin.'

Trump's proposed wall height has changed several times during his campaign. In October Trump said that it could be 40-50 feet high.

His cost estimations have also varied - on two separate occasions in February he put it at $8 billion and $10-12 billion.

It will be made of precast concrete, he says.

Media estimates have been higher - CNBC, for example, has calculated a cost of $15-$25 billion. The Washington Post calculates $42 billion - and that's just for a 25-foot high wall.

Walls along the border originally sprung up during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s, and became constant presences in the 1930s.

Figures for the current wall, which is some 670 miles long, show that the total cost of the fence has been $7 billion - and that excludes millions of dollars in maintenance and upkeep, according to Business Insider.

Congress originally authorized $1.2 billion under George Bush for the construction of a fence along 700 miles of the border back in 2006.

For his updated version, Trump has reiterated that Mexico would be the one to pay for the 1,000-mile structure along the 2,000-mile border - with the remainder of the border protected by natural barriers.

He said in April that he would enforce this by threatening to cut off the payments sent by Mexican immigrants to their families.

A man walks along the border 'wall' on the Mexican side in Tijuana. Trump's would be significantly higher

The current fortified section of the border, which is generally referred to as a 'fence', is some 670 miles long and has cost around $7 billion - and that excludes millions of dollars in maintenance and upkeep

Mexicans in the United States sent home almost $25 billion last year, according to the Mexican central bank. It is unknown how that breaks down between legal and illegal immigrants.

'We have a trade deficit with Mexico of close to $60 billion a year. So right there you can build the wall because the wall's a fraction of that,' Trump said in a separate Fox News interview on Tuesday.

'We lose a fortune on trade, and that doesn't include the drugs that are pouring across the border, which are probably double or triple or something.'

SO HOW DOES TRUMP'S WALL STACK UP? Trump has drawn comparisons between his plans for a Mexican border wall and those of the Great Wall of China. But how do his proposals actually stack up alongside other barriers? The Great Wall of Trump: 35-45 feet, as per the presidential hopeful's latest estimates, and 1,000 miles long. Current U.S./Mexico 'fence': Around 670 miles of fencing, at up to 20 feet high. In the most heavily defended parts there is a steel barrier, a climb-proof fence and 20 feet high concrete posts. Hillary Clinton voted for its construction as the junior senator from New York. The Great Wall of China: The famous structure is an average of 26 feet tall, but reaches 46 feet at its highest point and is 13,170 miles long. It was built on and off over 2,500 years and is not a continuous barrier. Trump has promised to build his 'so fast it'll make your head spin'. Israel's Separation Barrier: Built by Israel around the West Bank, it is up to 26 feet high - a mixture of concrete walls and multi-layered fences. It is more than 400 miles long. It is opposed by Palestinians who say it was encroached on their territory but its supporters say it has led to a huge reduction in terrorism in Israel. Hadrian's Wall: Ordered by the emperor Hadrian to mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire across the north of what is now England, the almost 2,000-year-old stone wall was up to 20 feet high in places and 73 miles long. Only vestiges exist. Berlin Wall: Before it was largely torn down in 1989 the wall, built by East Germany, was 91 miles long in total and 12 feet high. Advertisement

The Great Wall of China

Israel's separation barrier in Jerusalem

The Berlin Wall, torn down in 1989

Trump also said that there would be 'no amnesty' for undocumented migrants if he became President - but added that he would 'work with them'.

'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,' he said.

'The bad guys are out of here,' he added, referring to illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.

He did show signs of sympathy towards long-residing, law-abiding undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for significant periods of time.

But in response to audience members' calls to throw them out too, he said 'I get that.'
After waiting nearly two years, Scott Eastwood has made the emotional call to the father of his former girlfriend who was killed in a tragic car accident in Los Angeles.

Eastwood, who is the son of legendary actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood, recently revealed that his first love, Jewel Brangman, was one of 11 people killed in connection with one of the biggest airbag recalls in the history of automotive America.

He opened up about the 2014 loss to GQ Australia and said that the 26-year-old model was driving in Los Angeles when the defective airbag inflated with too much force when she was in a minor car accident.

Metal shrapnel spewed from the faulty airbag in her rented 2001 Honda Civic that shrapnel spewed into her neck and killed her.

In the interview, he shared that he never called her father because he hadn't 'found the right words' to say to him.

Her father, Alexander Brangman, told People that Eastwood made the emotional call Tuesday night.

Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood, opened up about the death of his girlfriend Jewel Brangman (pictured, right) in a 2014 airbag explosion. He also said he never called her father to offer his condolences

Eastwood called her father, Alexander Brangman (pictured together above), on Tuesday to offer his condolences and apologize for not coming to the funeral and waiting so long to make contact

The young woman had been driving from San Diego to Los Angeles when she rear-ended a van in front of her (pictured), causing her airbag to explode in the rented Honda Civic

'Quite frankly, I was hurt by it,' the 61-year-old single father explained in reference to not hearing from Eastwood for years.

'I was disappointed he didn't come to her celebration of life.

'Many people were actually disappointed. Many of her friends flew across the country to pay their respects and condolences. There wasn't even a flower sent.'

The father said that Eastwood was apologetic for not calling and offering condolences for the loss of his daughter.

'He said 'I didn't reach out because I didn't know what to say,' ' Alexander explained. 'He was very apologetic.'

However, the father said he doesn't think Eastwood 'handled the situation properly' in speaking out publicly about his daughter's death without his consent.

The father shared he has forgiven Eastwood and said: 'When things are low, I choose to rise.

'I was angry  but everybody grieves differently. You know, he's a kid, too.

'I didn't know what his grieving process is  I'd like to get to know more of what he went through. Because that's a difficult thing.

The gymnastics coach and model was reportedly killed by shrapnel that had flown out of an airbag after it had inflated with too much force. The airbags were part of a global recall

'Maybe he didn't know how to grieve, and in some ways, I could have helped him. Or could still help him.'

In addition, the father said that they agreed to meet in person one day to talk about things, though a date has not been chosen.

'Maybe some day that'll happen,' he said. 'That's to be continued.

'If we do get together, that could be something interesting.

'If he wants to confide in me the struggles he's been going through in regards to their relationship and her passing, I'll be more than glad to counsel him.'

According to Alexander, Eastwood and Jewel dated for roughly two years after they met at a restaurant in the San Diego area.

He said they were a serious couple, as she had spent time with Eastwood's family in California.

Alexander shared that her relationship with Eastwood sparked him to move from upstate New York to California to be closer to them, as she was his only child.

'I missed her,' Alexander said of why he moved. 'We were always together. And I wanted to support her financially, as she wanted to take a chance in the entertainment field.'

Alexander said that he met Eastwood during a dinner with his daughter once.

The 30-year-old actor confessed to GQ Australia: 'I've lost friends before; I've lost some great friends. But, I had never lost someone I had been really intimate with, you know, like in that way, in a relationship'

'Jewel wanted him to meet me,' he explained. 'It was cordial  he was polite and complimentary, as well as I was. There wasn't any animosity.'

He told People that he raised her as single father after being awarded full custody following a divorce from her mother.

'It was me and her, tied to the hip,' Alexander recalled. 'She was an absolute joy and the best thing that ever happened to me in my life.

'She introduced the challenge and the joy of fatherhood in my life that I enjoyed embracing. She made it easy.

'I loved Jewel more than life itself. I couldn't be prouder of what I brought into the world and more devastated that her time was cut so short.'

Eastwood told GQ Australia that the airbag 'shot a projectile through her body. It split her spine and, um, I've never told anybody that...'

He never mentioned Brangman by name in the interview, but a report from the Associated Press confirmed the 26-year-old aspiring model was the person killed in the September 7, 2014 accident.

Brangman had been driving from San Diego to Los Angeles when she rear-ended a van in front of her, the Associated Press reported.

In the issue of GQ Eastwood also opened up about life with his dad Clint Eastwood, who secretly fathered him with flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves

The impact caused her airbag to deploy and then explode due to the fault.

In the U.S. 14 automakers have had to recall 24 million vehicles due to the exploding airbags, PEOPLE reported.

The exploding air bags were made by Takata Corp. of Japan.

Last year, the U.S. highway safety regulators confirmed Brangman's death in a 2001 Honda Civic was the seventh U.S. death, and the eighth fatality worldwide related to Takata airbag inflators that can explode, sending shards of metal through the passenger compartments of cars.

Honda, in a statement, said the 2001 car had been issued asalvage title in October 2011, and then purchased by a rentalcar agency in San Diego, California.

The car was rented to Brangman in August 2014.

Honda said its records showed that the driver's side airbaginflator in the car was subject to recalls since July 2009, andthat four recall notices had been sent to registered owners ofthe vehicle starting in August 2009.

'The guy's like a vault of stories': The 5ft 11in heartthrob has acted in four of Clint's films - Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Grand Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), and Trouble with the Curve (2012)

Brangman's death subsequently prompted her father to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Honda, Takata Corp. of Japan and the rental company of the vehicle she was driving, a 2001 Honda Civic.

'I've lost friends before; I've lost some great friends. But, I had never lost someone I had been really intimate with, you know, like in that way, in a relationship,' the 30-year-old actor said in the September edition of GQ Australia.

'I think that really affected me in a way that... I don't know. Maybe it's made it harder for me to date.'

But Eastwood remains hopeful of finding love again.

'I'm going to meet my future ex-wife next week,' joked Eastwood - born Reeves - who's bound for Cuba.

'It's easy to fall in love when you're young, right? And then you start to realize those feelings of love and stuff, passion, love, lust, sometimes they come very quickly, but they can also leave quickly.'

Eastwood also opened up about his life with Clint Eastwood, who secretly fathered him with flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves.

Hitting US theaters September 16! Scott Eastwood will next play Trevor in Oliver Stone's Snowden biopic alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, and Nicolas Cage

One time, the 86-year-old masculinity icon punished his lookalike boy by slamming him against a wall, wrapping his hands around his throat, and punching him in the face.

'I had taken my younger sister [Francesca], who was, like, 14, to this party. I left, maybe to go get beer with the guys. And I left her and I didn't think about it at the time. Later, Dad found out that I'd left her there,' recalled Eastwood.

'He popped me and said, 'You don't ever leave your sister at a party. EVER!' And it was very old-school, very old-school of him. He wasn't afraid. None of this new-age bulls*** where you can't even smack the kid because everyone's afraid of being judged or whatever. That wasn't the way that s*** went down in that family. If you did something wrong, you were going to get punished. I learned quickly  you don't do that.'

The 5-foot-11 heartthrob has acted in four of Clint's films - Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Grand Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), and Trouble with the Curve (2012).

'As a younger kid there was kind of an aura of greatness. Like, he's my hero,' Eastwood gushed.

'Now, I think every opportunity is an opportunity to hear another good story.

'The guy's like a vault of stories.

'I try to pry as many stories as I can out of him. All of a sudden, you'll get to a topic and you'll be like, 'Whoa, you and Frank Sinatra did what together?'

'It'll be stuff like that and you're like, 'Wait, stop, I need to hear this. You're not going to be around forever',' he said.
A real estate tycoon from one of Portland, Oregon's most prominent and wealthy families is locked in a custody battle with his ex-girlfriend, who donated her eggs to help him father a baby boy via surrogacy.

Jordan Schnitzer, 65, and Cory Sause, 37, dated form 2014 to 2015, at a time when Schnitzer was looking into fathering a son as a single dad. Sause agreed to donate some of her eggs to the cause, regardless of whether their relationship panned out or not.

By the time the baby boy named Samuel was born last December, the two had broken up, but Sause was still under the impression that she would have some role in his life.

A Portland, Oregon property tycoon is currently locked in a custody battle with his ex-girlfriend over the son they had via a surrogate. Biological mother Cory Sause pictured above with baby Samuel Schnitzer on the day he was born in December

Thirty-seven-year-old Sause, right, dating Jordan Schnitzer, 65, for a year between 2014 and 2015, but they had broken up by the time Schnitzer's son was born in December

The night the boy was born in an Albany hospital via a surrogate mother was the first and only time that Schnitzer has allowed his ex-girlfriend to see the boy.

Since then Schnitzer and Sause have been fighting it out in court over whether Sause should be granted visitation with the boy, now eight months old.

'It's just not healthy, it's not right to be kept away from his mother,' Sause told the Oregonian. 'I just want to hold him. I just want to spend time with him. ...Sam has a right to two parents.'

Schnitzer appears to be winning that battle, after a judge this month sided with an earlier ruling recognizing Schnitzer as the boy's only legal parent.

'I've got rock-solid documents," Schnitzer said. '... She reiterated over and over again, "I'm doing this for you. No strings attached."'

However, Sause's attorneys say they don't believe the latest ruling should end her bid to win a part in her biological son's life. They say the filing appears to leave the door open to future litigation, stating that the decision is not applicable to future court battles.

In separate interviews with the Oregonian, Schnitzer and Sause told their different sides of the story.

Schnitzer claims that Sause offered her eggs 'no strings attached' and that it was always the plan for him to raise his son as a single father

Schnitzer's decision to have a child as a single father goes back to to 2010, when he divorced his wife of 14 years, the mother of his two teenage daughters.

Schnitzer wanted to be a father again after the divorce, but realized he might not find a woman to be in a longterm relationship with again. So he started rehearsing surrogacy as a single father.

It was around this time that Schnitzer met and started dating Sause, who is 27 years his junior.

He claims that Sause wanted to help him in the process by donating her eggs, and that she signed over all parental rights when she had the eggs retrieved at a clinic. She personally couldn't give birth to the child, due to medical reasons, so a surrogate mother was used to carry the child to term.

Backing that up is a text message Schnitzer received from Sause, weeks after the eggs were extracted.

While Sause agrees that Schnitzer was to be the only legal parent, she says she was under the impression that she would have some role in their son's life

But since the boy was born, Sause says that her ex-boyfriend has kept her from seeing her biological son

The message reads: 'It was always my intent and wish to give you the gift of life. A son(s). With no strings attached. Can't, won't, would never attach conditions, strings or money to that gift. Wanted to give it unconditionally and with heart full of love for you and your family.'

Sause says the comments were taken out of context. She says the two had recently fought and she wanted Schnitzer to know that she would support his decision to have the baby even if their relationship didn't pan out.

Sause agrees that the two decided Schnitzer would be the only legal parent, but she says she was under the impression that she would have a role in the boy's life.

In the months ahead of the boy's birth, she says Schnitzer and her spoke over text message constantly and that he referred to the baby as 'our baby' or 'your baby' and asked for her advice on decorating the nursery and baby names.

Sause even claims that Schnitzer proposed marriage to her, but that she turned him down because he wanted her to quit her position as vice president at her family's business to be a full-time stay-at-home mother.

It appears that after they decided not to move forward their their relationship, Schnitzer started changing his tune.

But it wasn't until the day of the boy's birth that Sause realized how Schnitzer would try and keep the boy from her.

The boy had been born three weeks prematurely and it was Schnitzer's idea that the boy should first stay with the surrogate mother until he was strong enough. Sause on the other hand, wanted the boy to go straight to her sister's house in Portland so that she could look after and bond with her biological son.

Unbeknownst to Sause, within a day of the boy's birth, Schnitzer file court documents asking to be recognized as the boy's only parent - a petition that was granted.

In the petition, Schnitzer didn't even mention Sause by name, saying only that the boy was born via surrogate, from a batch of embryos that had been created using his sperm and 'donor eggs'.

When Sause found out about the secret court filing a month later, she immediately filed a challenge, but lost that.

Schnitzer's family became one of the wealthiest in Oregon thanks to their steel business. Schnitzer's father Harold left the family business though in 1950 to start his own booming real estate empire, which his son runs today. During his lifetime, Harold and his wife Arlene donated gave more than $80million to such local institutions as the Portland Art Museum and the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center.
Daniel, who has a three-year-old son, had arrests in several states on minor charges, including three for resisting police officers

Daniel's brother Sam, who is also hearing-impaired, said 'inaccessibility

The brother of a deaf man who was gunned down by a North Carolina state trooper after a chase says he was scared of police after several misunderstandings with officers.

Standing beside a memorial where his 29-year-old brother Daniel Kevin Harris lost his life near the family's home, Sam Harris said police are all too often inaccessible to deaf people, relating his own story about how he ended up with a gun in his face because he, too, is deaf and couldn't follow the officer's shouted orders.

Daniel 'had times where because of the inaccessibility with police, there were misunderstandings that led to him being afraid of the police,' his brother said through a sign-language interpreter near a large picture of Daniel with 'Police Brutality Domestic Terrorism' written underneath.

Scroll down for video

An emotional Sam Harris stands beside a memorial to his brother, Daniel Kevin Harris, in their Charlotte, North Carolina, neighborhood, where the 29-year-old was killed by a state trooper

Trooper Jermaine Saunders (left) shot dead Daniel Kevin Harris (right), a deaf man who was apparently trying to communicate using sign language after he was pulled over

Daniel had arrests in several states on minor charges, including three for resisting police officers.

But those charges in 2010 in Florida and 2008 in Denver were dropped. He pleaded guilty to interfering with or resisting police in Watertown, Connecticut, in 2010. Details of the arrests were not available.

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a criminal investigation into Daniel Harris' shooting death at the hands Trooper Jermaine Saunders.

Police say Daniel was followed by Saunders, who tried to pull him over for a speeding violation on Interstate 485 around 6.15pm last Thursday in Charlotte.

Officials say Daniel led the trooper on a 10-mile chase before stopping near his home in the University area.

When he did stop, Daniel got out of his car when an encounter happened between him and Saunders, causing a shot to be fired.

Daniel died at the scene, which was just a few feet away from his home.

Sam Harris, who is also deaf, said his brother was afraid of police after several misunderstandings due to 'inaccessibility'

A photo of Daniel Kevin Harris stands by a makeshift memorial with 'Police Brutality Domestic Terrorism' written underneath

Universal sign: A chalk hand showing the sign language for 'I love you' is seen on a sidewalk in Charlotte on Wednesday

A chalk drawing of a weeping eye marks the sidewalk in Daniel Kevin Harris' Charlotte neighborhood on Wednesday

Authorities said Saunders, 28, who is black, became a trooper about two years ago. Harris was white.

Witnesses said Daniel  who was unarmed  was shot almost immediately after he exited his vehicle, WCNC reports.

They also say he appeared to be trying to communicate with the trooper using sign language.

However, Saunders has said he shot him because he was advancing and not following commands, WCCB reports.

But Daniel's immediate family, who are also hearing impaired, think he was 'just afraid' and not understanding the situation.

Jay Harris, who spoke to the local station through a sign language interpreter, believes his brother was not aware that troopers were trying to pull him over.

'He was unarmed - and he is a deaf individual, and I think that he was just afraid,' he said.

'He could not hear their warnings. He could not hear their commands to stop or to stay away from them.'

He added that his mother has been in the hospital with a heart issue since the shooting. 'He was shot, and now were left with nothing,' Jay said.

Neighbors blasted the decision to shoot first, ask questions later.

Youre pulling someone over who is deaf, they are handicapped. To me, what happened is totally unacceptable, neighbor Mark Barringer told the local station.

They should have de-escalated and been trained to realize that this is an entirely different situation.

Daniel (pictured feeding his son)  who was unarmed  was shot almost immediately after he exited his vehicle, witnesses say

Sam Harris, center, older brother of Daniel Harris signs to the crowd during a candlelight vigil along Seven Oaks Drive to remember Daniel Harris Monday

Friends and family of Daniel Harris gather around a heart drawn onto Seven Oaks Drive

Saunders was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting.

State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Audria Bridges said agents will interview Saunders this week.

Harris family have set up a fundraising page since his death, which has raised almost $29,000 so far, for his memorial and cremation costs.

In a post on the page, they say: He was unarmed when shot and killed by a state trooper.

His tragic death could have been prevented. Police brutality ends NOW.

They also plan to set up a foundation in his name to educate and provide law enforcement [with] proper training on how to confront deaf people.

Daniel led authorities on a brief pursuit before stopping near his home in the Univeristy area, officials said

The family also hope to change the DMV registration system to require states to set up a DEAF alert to appear when a cars license plate is looked up.

With this change, Daniel will be a hero in our deaf community, they add.

Daniel loved to play with his three-year-old son, and his nieces and nephews, his brother said. Sam Harris said his brother also enjoyed the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game.

Activist Shaun King notes that its not clear ifDaniel understood what was happened in the moments before his death since he could not have heard the sirens in his New York Daily News column.

He adds that while some cases of police shootings pose genuine threats to law enforcement, this case is hard to justify.

Beyond being unarmed, deaf and mute, Daniel Harris appears to have been a rather small, thin man, he wrote in his column.

Harris' family (above, with Harris second from left) plan to set up a foundation in his name to educate and provide police with proper training on how to confront deaf people

His family also hope to change the DMV registration system to require states to set up a DEAF alert to appear when a cars license plate is looked up

King insists opening fire could not have been the troopers only option.

What threat did Harris pose? Was a Taser or pepper spray used? Could the officer truly not subdue Harris on his own?

If reports from neighbors are accurate, it doesn't appear the officer even tried, but pretty much shot and killed Harris mere seconds after he got out of the car.

He added: Virtually any other option the officer could've considered was better than what he chose in this case, but here we are with another avoidable casualty of police violence.
One utility worker has left the internet stunned after he literally dived into his work while trying to fix a leaking pipe.

Jimmie Cox, from Granbury, Texas, was photographed face down in a puddle of muddy water by homeowner Andrea Adams on Tuesday.

Since then the image has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and in local media, as people praised Cox's dedication to the job.

Andrea Adams took this photo of utility worker Jimmie Cox on Tuesday after he came to fix a leaking pipe under her front yard, and ended up face down in muddy water

Adams said she called Acton Municipal Utility District on Tuesday to report a leak coming from a pipe running under her front lawn.

Cox showed up, before digging down through the turf in order to locate a one inch pipe that had burst below ground.

Adams said she walked into her house as Cox was working, and when she came back out she saw him submerged as he reached down through five feet of dirty water in order to clamp the line.

Adams (left) said she has received messages from as far afield as Brazil about the picture, while worker Jimmie (right) said it is not the first time he has ended up face-down in a puddle

The married mother snapped a picture, posted it on Facebook, and the story took off from there.

She told The Daily Journal: 'Within two hours, people in Brazil were commenting.'

Cox is equally astounded by the attention the image is garnering, though says diving into flooded lawns is nothing new in his line of work.
Shocking footage has emerged showing an impoverished man carrying the body of his dead wife along a road after the hospital she died in allegedly failed to provide an ambulance.

Dana Majhi was filmed with his wife over his shoulders wrapped in sheets and his heartbroken teenage daughter by his side as he headed towards his home nearly 50 miles from the hospital in Bhawanipatna town, India.

By the time an ambulance arrived, courtesy of local youths who alerted officials, Mr Majhi had walked over seven miles towards his home in Melghar village.

Scroll down for video

Dana Majhi was filmed with his wife over his shoulders wrapped in sheets and his heartbroken teenage daughter by his side as he headed towards his home

By the time help arrived, courtesy of local youths who alerted officials, Mr Majhi had walked over seven miles

Mr Majhi waits by the side of the road with his dead wife and daughter

Mr Majhis 42-year-old wife died from tuberculosis on Wednesday morning and he said that he requested a vehicle to transport the body home for the last rites.

However, he claimed that there was no response, that hospital staff insisted that he move the body and that he couldn't afford a private ambulance.

He told Indian Express: I requested everyone, but no one listened. What option did I have other than carrying her?

He added: 'Since I am a poor man and could not hire a private vehicle, I had no choice,' according to the BBC.

But a local medical official discounted his allegation and insisted that assistance had been on standby.

B Brahma told Indian Express we would surely have sent the body in a vehicle and added that 12,000 rupees (135) had been set aside for Mr Majhi, from the government and Red Cross.

Former Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das asked what the point of having ambulances was if they werent used in instances like this, the paper reported.
A Palestinian asylum seeker has been fired on her first day at work as in intern working in a German town hall because she refused to remove her headscarf.

The woman, 48, employed at the town hall in Luckenwalde near Berlin was informed that she had 'injured the neutrality' of the workplace with the traditional Muslim garb.

Media reports said she was sacked after just one day when she refused an order to remove the scarf.

A Palestinian woman in Luckenwalde, near Berlin lost her six-week internship in the town hall because she refused to remove her headscarf which 'injured the neutrality' of the workplace

The woman had attended her first day at Luckenwalde town hall, pictured, when she was told she must remove her headscarf or she could not start work, so she decided to go home

Only recently Germany voted against banning the burka. But headscarves have previously not been an issue in a country with over three million Turkish immigrants.

Luckenwalde Mayoress Elisabeth Herzog-von der Heide said of her decision: 'The Islamic headscarf is a means of expression of religious belief in a place where we have neutrality. We don't allow crucifixes on the wall here either.'

The Palestinian woman had signed on for a six week course entitled 'Perspectives for Refugees' when she was given her marching orders on day one.

The mayoress, a member of the centre left SPD party, said it was a mistake to hire her in the first place if she was not willing to remove the scarf.

Local CDU conservative MP Sven Petke said: 'There is no basis in law for this decision.' He pointed out that Germany's Supreme Court had not made a ruling banning such clothing.

But a member of the hard-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party (AfD), Thomas Jung, said: 'You can't have special privileges for Muslims if you can't have a crucifix on the wall.
The Fox News executive who was promoted to be president of the network after the departure of Roger Ailes reportedly instructed on-air talent that they should not defend Megyn Kelly against repeated attacks being made against the popular host by Donald Trump.

In her sexual harassment lawsuit against the company and Ailes that was filed on Monday, Andrea Tantaros claims that Bill Shine publicly showed support for Kelly after the very public and very demeaning comments made about her by Trump, he told others to keep quiet.

'After Donald Trump attacked Megyn Kelly for allegedly treating him unfairly in an August 2015 Republican Presidential Debate, Fox News publicly backed Kelly in the dispute,' claim the court papers filed in New York State Supreme Court.

'However, Shine executed Ailess tactic of playing both sides of the fence by instructing all on-air talent that none of them should defend Kelly against Trump.'

Shine denied this claim through a Fox News spokesperson.

Scroll down for video

Allegation: Fox News President Bill Shine (above in 2015 with Trish Regan) instructed on-air talent not to defend Megyn Kelly against attacks from Donald Trump claims court papers

Bearing the brunt: Kelly (above in May) was publicly attacked by Trump in his speech and on social media from August 2015 though April of this year

Trump's attacks on Kelly began last August after she grilled him during the first Republican presidential debate of the primary about his controversial comments about women.

'You've called women you don't like 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs' and 'disgusting animals,'' Kelly said.

'Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?'

Trump replied: 'Honestly, Megyn, if you don't like it, I'm sorry . . . I've been very nice to you, although I could probably not be, based on the way you have treated me.'

He then said of Kelly the following day: 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her ... wherever.'

The attacks by Trump against Kelly continued for months, and he took to Twitter countless times to lash out at the host or retweet criticisms of her and her show, The Kelly File.

He even backed out of a Fox News-sponsored debate in Iowa that she was moderating earlier this year.

The two eventually made amends and in May, and Trump appeared on Kelly's primetime special which aired across Fox platforms that same month.

Tantaros is claiming in her lawsuit against the network that in addition to Ailes both Bill O'Reilly and Scott Brown subjected her to unwanted sexual advances while she worked at Fox News.

'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 Tantaros.

Tantaros goes on to claim in the suit that she was taken off the air when she complained about being sexually harassed by Ailes.

Motivation: Trump (above on Wednesday) went after Kelly following a debate in which she questioned some of the demeaning things he had said about women in the past

Putting it out there: This claim is being made in a sexual harassment lawsuit being filed against Fox News and Shine by network host Andrea Tantaros (above in 2011)

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, EVP Corporate Communications Irena Briganti and Executive Vice President Suzanne Scott as defendants.

ROGER AILES ALLEGED COMMENTS ON EMPLOYEES - 'Is Greg Gutfeld gay?' - 'Is Dana [Perino] a lesbian?' - Perhaps Gutfeld and Perino are 'sleeping together?' - 'Are Kimberly [Guilfoyle] and Eric [Bolling] sleeping together?' Guilfoyle is 'easy' - Guilfoyle is a 'Puerto Rican w***e' and a 'Puerto Rican street fighter' - Shannon Bream's 'voice is annoying' - Referring to Monica Crowley: 'If I ever had to go on a date with her, I'd jump out the window.' - Referring to Gretchen Carlson: 'She's nuts.' - Referring to Catherine Herridge: -'She's a stalker' - Referring to Maria Bartiromo: 'She got so fat' - 'Harris [Faulkner] has to be careful. She has the tendency to look like the angry black woman' -Referring to Stacey Dash as 'the blakc girl' Advertisement

Tantaros also details the less than flattering comments Ailes allegedly made about other Fox News employees in the 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 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 Tanatros, asking her once if Greg Gutfeld, host of The Greg Gutfeld Show, was gay.

He also asked if political pundit 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, I'd 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.'
US Army Major General David Haight has been fired after leading a decade-long double life including an affair and a 'swinger lifestyle' with multiple partners and sex parties, leaving him at risk of blackmail, it has been reported.

Haight was investigated earlier this year and fired in May from his senior position at US European Command, a position in charge of the United States military's attempts to confront Russia's aggression in Eastern Europe.

His removal from the post was not disclosed until revealed by the media, which this week obtained the Army inspector general's report on his hidden life after a Freedom of Information Act request.

US Army Major General David Haight was fired after leading a decade-long double life including an affair with a government employee

The investigation report has new details showing how his life swapping sexual partners cost him a promising career with a future ranking of three or four stars, USA Today reported.

Haight had routine access to sensitive information and was reportedly a key adviser to Admiral Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

It is said Haight had an 11-year affair with Jennifer Armstrong, 49, who had begun the relationship in Baghdad with a 'flirty email' that progressed to include cases of multiple partners at swingers' clubs, hotels and her home.

'I gave him the best years of my life,' Ms Armstrong, who got a tattoo with her lover's name on it, reportedly said.

Armstrong, a contractor in Iraq handling the remains of combat fatalities, had met Haight in 2005 - and later emailed every David Haight in the US Army directory, saying he had a 'terrific smile' before the real one responded.

The communications during the affair, which lasted until earlier this year when anonymous tips to authorities triggered a probe, had included emails from Haight's government account showing trysts involving other women and couples.

There were also sexual liaisons with strangers at swingers' clubs, it was reported, as well emails of erotic photos between other swingers.

Emails to his mistress from Haight's government computer were said to number 800 messages.

Haight worked at United States European Command in Stuttgart, southern Germany, during the affair with Armstrong

In a December 2010 email featuring explicit sexual chatter, Haight had asked about inviting another woman for sex.

Their affair continued when he was moved to the Pentagon as the pair lived close to one another in Northern Virginia. The couple were said to attend clubs where members have sex with strangers in Baltimore, Tampa and Atlanta.

In a statement on Wednesday, USA Today reported that Haight had issued an apology.

'On their behalf, I ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.' 'I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused my wife and family,' he said.

The newspaper reported that Haight's superiors elevated him on three occasions during his affair and he had gone undetected by US screeners of top officials in a bid to thwart blackmail attempts against senior figures.

Four senior government officials told USA Today that he could have been blackmailed if Russia had found out about his hidden life.
Susan L. Terrillion was arrested after leaving her two children, ages eight and nine, alone for 45 minutes while she went to grab food

A mother was arrested after leaving her two children, ages 8 and 9, alone for 45 minutes at their beach rent while she ran to a restaurant nearby to pick up food.

Rehoboth Beach Police Lt. Jaime B. Riddle said that Susan L. Terrillion was charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of her children on Tuesday in Delaware, The News Journal reported.

The 55-year-old mother from Olney, Maryland, had left the Rehoboth Beach vacation rental home to go five miles away to pick up the food she ordered for her 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.

Around 7.30pm authorities responded to the 200 block of Country Club Drive in Rehoboth Beach to a report of two children left alone and unsupervised at a residence.

A man told officers that he made contact with the kids when their dogs ran in front of his car while on Country Club Drive, Riddle stated.

He stopped to help the children get control of their pets and that's when he learned that they were alone.

Police said neither the dog nor the children were injured.

Terrillion left her two kids home alone for 45 minutes while she picked up their dinner from a restaurant five miles away. When she returned, she was arrested by police who were called by a neighbor

Police say a man called to report the kids were alone after he stopped his car in front of them on Country Club Drive (above) when the kids ran out into the street chasing after their dogs

Riddle said that the mother was gone for at least 45 minutes when she went to pick up the food.

When she arrived back at the home, officers arrested her.

Terrillion was released on $500 unsecured bail.

There currently is no federal law in place that states what age children can legally be left unsupervised at home alone.

States are left to determine the age on their own and the standards range from either no age limit to children having to be at least 14 years old to be unsupervised.

In Delaware, there is no minimum age restriction, however, the state's website says it will investigate reports of children 12 and under who are left unsupervised.




Hillary Clinton knocked Donald Trump for the 'steady stream of bigotry' coming from his campaign on the heels of releasing an online ad showing a slew of Ku Klux Klan members and white nationalists supporting the Republican hopeful.

'He is taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party,' she charged from a campaign stop this afternoon in Reno, Nevada.

Speaking for 30 minutes, Clinton laced her speech with words like 'prejudice,' 'paranoia,' the 'radical fringe,' and the 'alt-right,' the latest iteration of white supremacy, Clinton said.

Before her afternoon remarks, a Trump surrogate had already pointed to Clinton's new attack ad, saying it was a 'disgusting new low.'

Trump, like he said last night, again called Clinton a 'bigot.'

Scroll down for video

Hillary Clinton slammed Donald Trump today in Reno for his connections to the 'alt-right,' a racist strain of right wing politics

Speaking to voters today in Reno, Nevada, Hillary Clinton said she thought Donald Trump's overtures to the black community were just another way to repeat 'harmful stereotypes'

Hillary Clinton called Donald Trump and his surrogates' claims about her failing health a 'fever dream,' suggesting it was just another conspiracy theory being pushed by the campaign

Hillary Clinton spoke to supporters today in Reno, Nevada and listed all the ways Donald Trump has courted the right-wing fringe

'Alt-right' leaders have cheered the rise of Republican Donald Trump, who kicked off his campaign speaking negatively about illegal immigrants coming in from Mexico

Clinton started her Reno speech by claiming it was voters who compelled it, approaching the Democratic nominee on the campaign trail to voice their worries.

'Everywhere I got people tell me how concerned they are by the divisive rhetoric coming from my opponent in this election,' she said, adding that it's 'like nothing we've ever heard before' from a major party candidate running for president of the United States.

Clinton claimed that Trump was running a campaign filled with 'prejudice and paranoia' and his recent outreach to African-Americans was 'insulting' and 'ignorant' as he suggested that many feared for their lives daily from inner-city crime.

Clinton called what Trump was doing 'sinister,' suggesting this outreach was nothing more than reinforcing impressions of the black community held by his mostly white audiences.

'Trump is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters,' Clinton said.

Clinton mocked Trump's love for conspiracy theories, reminding her audience of his 'birther' background, as Trump had been on the forefront of pushing the fiction that President Barack Obama was born outside the United States.

'His latest paranoid fever dream is about my health,' she said, noting how Trump and his surrogates had recently tried to push the idea that the 68-year-old Clinton was unwell, with Rudy Giuliani even pointing to online videos that suggested the Democrat was suffering a seizure.

'And all I can say is, Donald, dream on,' she said.

The crowd broke into 'HILLARY' chants at this line.

'This is what happens when you treat the National Enquirer like gospel,' Clinton quipped. 'They said in October I'd be dead in six months.'

Clinton rehashed many of the controversies of yore  the time Trump said a Mexican-American judge would be biased against his Trump University case; the Star of David anti-Clinton image Trump retweeted, that was viewed as both anti-semitic and sourced from a 'fringe bigot's' Twitter account, Clinton said.

'Just recently Trump claimed that President Obama founded ISIS. He has repeated that over and over again,' Clinton said.

She noted how Trump said 'thousands of American Muslim in New Jersey cheered the 9/11 attacks,' Clinton said. 'They didnt.'

She reminded the audience how Trump had once tried to link Sen. Ted Cruz's Cuban immigrant father to the President John F. Kennedy assassination, suggesting that it was the Cuban immigrant part of Rafael Cruz's background that would make Trump say such a thing.

She also heralded Republicans including former President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain for pushing back when Americans showed their prejudice.

'This is what I want to make clear today: A man with a long history of racial discrimination, who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of supermarket tabloids and the far reaches of the internet, should never run our government or command our military,' Clinton proclaimed.

The Trump campaign hit back suggesting that Clinton was trying to sweep her own political issues under the rug by devoting the entire speech to attacking Trump.

'Donald Trump is talking about issues; Hillary Clinton is talking about Donald Trump,' Kellyanne Conway, Trump's new campaign manager, responded.

'Today, as she took a break from her Hillary-in-Hiding Tour, she missed another opportunity to talk about education, infrastructure, terrorism, healthcare, the economy and energy,' Conway added, alluding to the fact that Clinton has spent most of her week not campaigning, but on a glitzy west coast fundraising tour.

Hillary Clinton posted her attack ad in this tweet, which she sent out this morning in advance of her speech today in Reno, Nevada

This morning the Hillary Clinton campaign dropped a web ad featuring footage of an interview with a KKK leader, who told a black interviewer that he was supporting Donald Trump

The ad showed footage from a CNN report that said that white nationalists were calling voters on behalf of Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton's ad suggested that Donald Trump was dog whistling those on the far right, including KKK members

Hillary Clinton is able to make the argument that Donald Trump is tied into the 'alt-right' because of Trump's hiring of Breitbart's Stephen Bannon (pictured in today's attack ad). Breitbart is credited with taking the 'alt-right' movement more mainstream

Teeing up her Reno speech, Clinton had tweeted out a new online ad, prominently featuring KKK members, which was met with a furious response from the Trump campaign.

'Hillary Clinton and her campaign went to a disgusting new low today as they released a video tying the Trump Campaign with horrific racial images,' said Pastor Mark Burns, a Trump surrogate, in a statement. 'This type of rhetoric and repulsive advertising is revolting and completely beyond the pale.'

'I call on Hillary Clinton to disavow this video and her campaign for this sickening act that has no place in our world,' Burns added.

The spot, which the Democrat tweeted out this morning, starts with a KKK imperial wizard saying, 'The reason a lot of Klan members like Donald Trump is because a lot of what he believes we believe in.'

It goes on to quote a self-identified 'white nationalist' and former KKK grand wizard David Duke, both of whom are also supporting Trump.

'If Trump wins they could be running the country,' the ad warns.

It also mentions Trump's new campaign CEO, Breitbart's Stephen Bannon, and his connections to the 'alt-right.'



The 'alt-right' is a rather new term and its definition is still nebulous, but conservatives who prescribe to it say they are trying to preserve 'white identity' and 'Western values' as liberals push multiculturalism and 'political correctness.'

In Reno today, Clinton pegged it as a new term for old ideas.

'The names may have changed Racists now call themselves "racialists." White supremacists now call themselves "white nationalists." The paranoid fringe now calls itself "alt-right,"' she said.

'But the hate burns just as bright,' she added.

In the run-up to her speech, Trump's campaign pushed back noting how the candidate has never even uttered the words 'alt-right.'

'Mr. Trump has never used or condoned that term and continues to disavow any groups or individuals associated with a message of hate,' said campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks in a statement.

But while Trump's campaign reorganization last week may have put the GOP nominee on more solid footing, it opened him up to this type of criticism because Breitbart News Network, where Bannon, Trump's new CEO was borrowed from, has been linked to this new strain of conservatism.

The Clinton campaign pointed to an assessment made by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups within the United States.

An April 2016 piece on SPLC's website is headlined, 'Is Breitbart.com becoming the media arm of the 'alt-right?'' and charts Breitbart's move from a conservative news site to one more willing to embrace white nationalists, with prominent Breitbart writers Allum Bokhari and Milo Yiannopoulos calling some of its founders 'intellectuals.'

Clinton took on Breitbart in Reno by simply reading some of the news site's headlines to the crowd.

'To give you a flavor of his work, here are a few headlines theyve published,' she said of Bannon, before she began.

'Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy,' she listed. 'Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?, Gabby Giffords: The Gun Control Movements Human Shield, Hoist It High And Proud: The Confederate Flag Proclaims A Glorious Heritage.'

'That one came shortly after the Charleston massacre, when Democrats and Republicans alike were doing everything they could to heal racial divides,' Clinton pointed out. 'Breitbart tried to enflame them further.'

'Just imagine  Donald Trump reading that and thinking: "this is what I need more of in my campaign,"' she said.

'Trump likes to say he only hires the "best people," but hes had to fire so many campaign managers its like an episode of the Apprentice,' she cracked.

Besides name-dropping Bannon, Clinton ticked off the right's other characters that Trump has become associated with too.

She pointed to outgoing UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage's appearance with Trump at a campaign stop last night. She spoke of his appearances on the radio with host Alex Jones, who she described a 9/11 and Oklahoma City bombing truther who has made similar statements about Sandy Hook.

'He ever said, and this is really so disgusting, he even said that the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre were child actors. And no one actually died,' Clinton said.

'I don't know what happens in somebody's mind or how dark their heart must be to say things like that, but Trump doesn't challenge these lies,' she said.

Her takeaway to the crowd was that Trump  even with new leadership and a more moderated strategy  is the same old Trump.

'He may have some new people putting new words in his mouth,' Clinton noted. 'But we know where he stands.'

Clinton argued that it wasn't just 'overheated campaign rhetoric' or 'an outrageous person saying outrageous things for attention.'

'But look at his policies,' she said. 'The ones that he's proposed,' she said, noting his plans to deport millions of illegal immigrants or ban non-American Muslims into the United States.

'They put prejudice into practice,' she said.




A British holidaymaker who was left fighting for her life in Greece after a 15 stone gas cylinder fell on her head has woken from her coma.

Laurie Jay Balfour, 24, suffered serious brain injuries as she was 'dancing the night away' during a holiday to Zante with her friends.

The freak accident, that took place on August 3, left Laurie in a serious condition and she was transferred to a hospital in Athens.

Invoice clerk Laurie Jay Balfour (pictured), from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was partying with friends two days into her holiday in Zante on August 3 when the freak accident happened

Ms Balfour had only just gone onto the dance floor with friends Claire Tomlinson and Lauren Brown at a club on the Laganas Strip party zone when she fell and was struck by the cylinder

Laurie Jay Balfour is pictured, far right, with friends just hours before the accident happened

But now, Laurie has communicated 'no' to her parents after squeezing her mum Deana's hand to tell her she was not in pain.

Doctors say they believe Laurie, of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, is doing so well in her recovery that they are looking at arranging for her to be brought back to hospital in Britain.

Speaking on a fundraising page for Laurie, a spokesman for the Balfour family said: 'The doctors have said she's doing really, really well, so well that they have asked Deana and Phil to speak with her insurance company and make arrangements to bring her home

'This is still going to be a long road regarding her recovery but once she's home there won't be a language barrier and we will find out exactly what she needs.'

Ms Balfour somehow dislodged a nitrogen gas cylinder which her friend said was just 'perched' on the bar which fell and crushed her on the dance floor causing serious injuries

Her friends have set up a fundraising page which has already raised more than 15,000

Following Laurie's horrific accident, her friends and family helped to set up an online fundraising group to raise funds for her and her family to help with her medical treatment and recovery.

Since the group was set up over three weeks ago, almost 15,000 has been raised through donations from well-wishers and a number of fundraising events, the most recent of which is set to take place at Wheatley Hills Rugby Club from 10am on Sunday, September 4.

Among the attractions at the fundraiser will be a number of stalls, a raffle and a range of family friendly events.

To donate, visit Laurie's Just Giving page.
Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer has been denied permission to shut down a street in western Sydney as part of her extravagant wedding day plans.

Ms Mehajer, the younger sister of former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, married Ibrahim Sakalaki, 33, in an intimate ceremony in Lidcombe last weekend.

But as part of her planned celebrations for this weekend, Ms Mehajer reportedly reached out to Cumberland Council to gain approval for a street closure.

Keen to avoid a repeat of Mr Mehajer's wedding antics last year - which saw him land by helicopter and sent the suburb into deadlock as a cavalcade of luxury cars drove down a street closed without permission - the council knocked back the request.

Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer (left with husband Ibrahim Sakalaki) has been denied permission to shut down a street in western Sydney as part of her wedding day plans, after her older brother Salim (right with now-estranged wife Aysha) caused mayhem on his wedding day last year

Cumberland Council knocked back Ms Mehajer's requests - keen to avoid a repeat of last year, where traffic in Lidcombe was brought to a standstill as a cavalcade of luxury cars and motorbikes paraded the streets on Salim Mehajer's wedding day

'In mid-August inquiries were made on behalf the Mehajer family to close a street in the Cumberland LGA for the purposes of conducting a wedding procession involving dozens of vehicles,' a council spokesman said in a statement.

'They were advised, based on the information provided, that it was unlikely that consent would be given. No application has been received and no approvals given.'

'Cumberland Council is now cooperating with the NSW Police on this matter to ensure that the amenity of surrounding residents is protected should wedding party vehicular activity occur that is not authorised, particularly given previous experience.

'Cumberland Council will support the NSW Police in their efforts to manage this issue.'

Khadijeh Mehajer and Ibrahim Sakalaki are expected to continue celebrations from last weekend's ceremony with a lavish party in Lidcombe on Saturday.

The couple married in front of just 30 people in a traditional Islamic ceremony last weekend but according to Confidential, they are planning a 'Ben Hur-style reception' for next weekend.

Ms Mehajer has commissioned a gown from Steven Khalil for the reception which close friends say will be a 'suitably large extravaganza' similar to her brother's wedding reception with his wife Aysha.

And if Ms Mehajer's ceremony is anything to go by, it's likely the couple will stop at nothing to ensure their event is a celebration to remember.

Ms Mehajer (pictured in dress worn at her traditional Islamic ceremony last weekend) has commissioned a gown from Steven Khalil for the reception which close friends say will be a 'suitably large extravaganza'
A teenager who stabbed people for fun when a water fight in Hyde Park exploded into violence is facing years behind bars.

Joshua Clements, 18, stabbed two men with a hunting knife after thousands of people gathered in the park in central London to enjoy the warm weather on 19 July.

Shocking footage, taken on an onlookers mobile phone, captured the attack on Audean Thompson - which was considered so serious Clements was initally charged with attempted murder.

Today, as Clements pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, Judge Michael Topolski QC demanded an explanation from prosecutors why they chose not to pursue a trial for attempted murder.

Joshua Clements attacked several people with a hunting knife while wearing a sinister mask (left). Today Clements (right) pleaded guilty to wounding with intent

He said prosecution papers revealed the horror of what was going on that evening in Hyde Park but adjourned the case for sentence for reports to be prepared.

Judge Topolski said: This is not, on the face of it, just stabbing in the course of robbing, it was stabbing for fun going on.

I just wonder if this defendant may be a life candidate. He is terribly young and terribly dangerous.

He added: To say this is a disturbing case is an understatement.'

This is the hunting knife Joshua Clements brought to Hyde Park on July 19 and used to stab several people. A judge said it was 'stabbing for fun'

People had gathered in the afternoon on July 19 for a spontaneous water fight but violence erupted as police tried to disperse the 4,000-strong crowd.

As the mood turned, some began throwing bottles at officers - one of whom was stabbed in the hand - while violent clashes erupted amid chaotic scenes.

Appearing by videolink at the Old Bailey, Clements admitted wounding with intent over the attack on Mr Thompson, and pleaded guilty to a similar offence in relation to his second victim, Duane Williams.

Clements also admitted possessing a hunting-style knife, handling a stolen ring and Armani pouch, as well as possessing crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

A Metropolitan Police officer and two members of the public were knifed and four other PCs were injured after a water fight and party in Hyde Park, central London, spiralled out of control

Philip Stott, prosecuting, said: Those pleas were indicated in advance and they are accepted.

But he was told by the judge: The public need decisions such as the one made in this case explained to them.

I hope it is explained to the victim fully. The public demands, through me and these courts, an explanation.

That is why there will need to be one. I have no doubt it is for good reasons. You will have to set them out in detail.

Police sealed off the whole area and cancelled police leave after the disorder on July 19

Referring to Clements' criminal record, the judge said: This young man has been convicted of robbery, of battery, of robbery again, possession with intent to supply heroin, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession of a knife in a public place, failing to comply with the requirements of a youth rehabilitation order. And all of that before he leaves the youth court.

He warned Clements: In one sense, one decision has already been made. You are facing a very significant term of detention. You understand that dont you?

The defendant answered: Yes sir.

Forensic officers at the scene of the disturbances in Hyde Park on July 19, when a water fight descended into violence and three stabbings

Judge Topolski added: The question is how long and thats a question I am far from able to decide today.

Clements, from White City, west London, pleaded guilty to two counts of wounding with intent, possession of a knife, two counts of handling stolen goods, and two counts of possession of crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

He was remanded in custody before sentencing on October 6.
The exact moment when Donald Trump appeared to lose one of his own supporters at a Mississippi campaign rally was captured in all its face-pulling and eye-rolling glory on Wednesday night.

The hilarious reaction was sparked by the billionaire calling Hillary Clinton a 'bigot', causing a woman stood behind Trump to visibly recoil into a tense 'what in God's name is he on about' reaction.

Darting her head from left to right, the woman appears to check if anyone heard the same thing she just did, all the while gurning in shocked disapproval.

Say what, Donald? The woman is shocked to hear Trump call Hillary Clinton a 'bigot'

Oh dear: She pulls a funny face as the Republican candidate continues to attack his Democratic rival

OMG: The unidentified woman almost drops her jaw as the implication of Trump's accusation dawns on her

The short section of Trump's speech alongside BREXIT leader Nigel Farage captured the attention of social media, with one Twitter user declaring, 'We are all this woman's face.'

Indeed, this is the first time that Trump has explicitly called Clinton a bigot, having previously only flirted with the charge.

'Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future,' said Trump during the Jackson, Mississippi rally.

'She doesn't care what her policies have done to your communities,' he continued. 'She has no remorse. She's going to do nothing for Hispanics and African-Americans.'

It was during this incendiary part of his speech that the woman expressed her visible disapproval of Trump's rhetoric.

Joint podium: Trump and Nigel Farage (the BREXIT leader, right) shared the stage in Jackson, Mississippi on Wednesday. The woman so shocked by the Donald is visible in between the two men

Later, Clinton declined to keep silent and issued a strong response.

"He is taking a hate movement mainstream,' said Clinton to CNN's Anderson Cooper. 'He has brought it into his campaign.'

Last week, Trump accused Clinton and the Democrats of taking the African American vote for granted.

He made a controversial attempt to get their votes, at once offering a new deal and at the same time political fatalism.

'Look at how much African-American communities are suffering from Democratic control,' said Trump on Friday.

'To those I say the following: What do you have to lose by trying something new like Trump. What do you have to lose?'

This is not the first time that a presumably ardent Trump supporter has pulled a shocked or funny face during a more outlandish moment during a Trump speech.

Earlier in August, 68-year-old Darrell Vickers was seen behind Trump, turning to his friend and reacting with shock when the billionaire property magnate appeared to suggest at a North Carolina rally that 'Second Amendment people' would 'stop' Hillary Clinton from taking away their rights.

Or Johari Osayi Idusuyi, who caught the attention of social media by reading behind the Trump rostrum, instead of listening during a rally in 2015 in Springfield, Illinois.
Life cut short: Veteran Peter Kaisen, 76, shot himself to death outside a VA hospital in Long Island after he was allegedly turned away from the ER

A veteran took his own life in the parking lot of a VA hospital in Long Island, New York, over the weekend after he was allegedly denied an appointment with an ER doctor for his mental problems.

Peter Kaisen, 76, of Islip, was pronounced dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside Building 92 at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Sunday.

According to a note posted on a funeral homes website, Kaisen was married, had children and grandchildren.

The Suffolk County Police Department has confirmed that Kaisen had been a patient at the VA hospital but said nothing about a possible motive behind the suicide.

However, two hospital employees talking anonymously to the New York Times, which broke the story, revealed that Kaisen had been frustrated that he could not see a doctor in the emergency room, where he went to seek help related to his mental health.

One of the sources told the paper that the 76-year-old veteran shot himself inside his car after being denied service in the ER.

The source wondered why Kaisen had not been sent to the hospitals mental health center, or put in contact with a psychologist by phone.

'Someone dropped the ball,' the unnamed hospital staffer told The Times. 'They should not have turned him away.'

Scroll down for video

Kaisen committed suicide in the parking lot outside Building 92 at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on August 21

Christopher Goodman, a spokesperson for the hospital, said there was no indication Kaisen had shown up at the ER prior to his suicide, which took place at around 12.30pm on Sunday.

Daily Mail on Thursday reached out to the hospital for further comment and was awaiting a reply.

The FBI has launched an investigation into Kaisen's death because it had taken place on federal property.

The VA medical system, which serves nine million servicemen, has been under scrutiny since 2014, when it was revealed in a scathing report from the inspector generals office that about 1,700 veterans at a Phoenix hospital faced chronic wait times and were at risk of being lost or forgotten.

The VA later confirmed that at least 35 veterans died while awaiting treatment in Phoenix.

VA officials in Phoenix were also accused of falsifying records to cover up the long wait times for medical appointments.

An internal audit showed that more than 57,000 new applicants for care have had to wait at least three months for initial appointments and an additional 64,000 newly enrolled vets who requested appointments never got them.

As a result of the scandal, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned his post in May 2014.
The powerful chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee told Donald Trump on Wednesday to 'open up your kimono' and release his income tax returns.

He also said both Trump and Hillary Clinton should open up their medical records for public review.

Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz told CNN that 'if you're going to run and try to become the President of the United States, you're going to have to open up your kimono and show everything, your tax returns, your medical records.'

LET'S SEE IT! WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 07: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, is demanding Donald Trump 'open up your kimono' and show Americans his ... tax returns and medical history

NOT HAPPENING (YET): Trump has said he won't release his taxes until the IRS is done with a series of routine audits

WHAT'S UNDER HIS KIMONO? Reese Witherspoon (left) and Janet Jackson (right) model the Japanese garment that Chaffetz rhetorically put on Trump

'You're just going to have to do that. It's too important. So both candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, should show both their medical records and tax returns, absolutely.'

Clinton made her 2015 tax return public a few weeks ago.

Trump has refused to follow suit, saying his returns were under audit going back several years and citing legal advice to avoid releasing returns that might change when the Internal Revenue Service finishes.

Eric Trump, the billionaire candidate's son, told CNBC on Wednesday that 'there is no tax attorney in the world who will tell you to release your tax returns while you're under a standard, routine audit.'

'It would never happen. Anybody who thinks that is in La-La Land. ... It would be foolish to do.'

'His tax return  did you see the Twitter picture? It's 5 feet tall," he said.

'You would have a bunch of people who know nothing about taxes trying to look through, and trying to come up with assumptions they know nothing about.'

HE'S 'ELDERLY': Dr. Ben Carson, a Trump ally, said Wednesday that 'elderly' presidential candidates like the 70-year-old Trump should release their entire medical histories

'LA-LA LAND': Trump's son Eric (right) said it would be 'foolish' for his dad to release his taxes before the audits were over

Chaffetz wasn't the first Republican to suggest that a broad look at presidential candidates' medical history should be part of the public vetting process.

Trump adviser Ben Carson, himself a onetime Republican White House hopeful, told MSNBC on Wednesday that would-be presidents should 'disclose their medical history ... particularly if theyre elderly.'

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks told The Washington Post on Wednesday that her boss has 'no problem' releasing a lengthy medical history  provided Hillary Clinton does the same.

The 70-year-old Trump would be America's oldest president if he were elected in November.

He and Clinton have both released terse letters from their private doctors attesting to their overall good health. more than 1,000 pages of medical records when he was the Republican nominee eight years ago.
Advertisement

If you're a mega-rich multi-billionaire there is only one way to travel around London in the summer  in one of your fleet of insanely fast supercars.

A row of ultra-exclusive motors were seen lined up in Knightsbridge on Thursday, including a 600,00 ($790,000) Porsche 918 Spyder, a 1.2 millions ($1.6 million) McLaren P1, a Ferrari F12TDF, a Ferrari Le Farrari, and a 1.8 million ($2.37 million) Bugatti Veyron.

The lightning-quick vehicles are thought to be owner by Qatari Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al Thani, son of the 'Father Emir' Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013.

It is still clearly supercar season in the capital, where hundreds of Arab-owned cars are flown in from the Middle East every summer.

Ultra-exclusive: A row of stunning supercars were spotted lined up in London after they were flown in by a Qatari Sheikh

Va va Veyron: A brown Bugatti Veyron Rembrandt pictured by the side of the road in Knightsbridge on Thursday

Supercar season: A McLaren P1 hypercar can reach speeds of 218mph with its twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine

Fleet of power cars: A beautiful white Ferrari Le Farrari dazzled passers-by on a sunny day in London

Stylish: The Porsche 918 Spyder has just under 900 bhp, and impressively it gets its juice from two electric motors

Fired up Ferrari: A Ferrari F12TDF at 340,000 is not quite as pricey as many supercars, though still an eye-watering sum

Among the collection a McLaren P1, an uber-rare hypercar that can reach speeds of 218mph with its twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine.

Sheikh Khalifa, often referred to as KHK, also had his Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Rembrandt on display.

With nearly 1200 horsepower and a 0-to-62-mph sprint in 2.6 seconds, it is one of the fastest production roadsters in the world, with a top speed of 254mph.

The Porsche 918 Spyder cannot quite match the power of a Veyron, with just under 900 bhp, yet impressively it gets some of its juice from two electric motors.

The stunning yellow and white Ferraris are equally impressive. The F12TDF, standing for Tour de France, has a 6.3-litre V12, which gives it a boost up to 769bhp.

The one million dollar (750,000) plus Ferrari Le Farrari is just as exclusive, and less than 500 models of 'Ferrari's most ambitious project yet', in their words, have been made.

Lightning quick: Less than 500 models of 'Ferrari's most ambitious project yet', the Ferrari Le Farrari, have been made

Ownersheikh: The fleet is thought to be owned by Qatari Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al Thani, son of the 'Father Emir' Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, known as KHK

Ultimate power: Khalifa bin Hamad, often referred to as KHK, displays his monster Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Rembrandt

Close-up: The Porsche 918 Spyder was seen parked up with the Sheikh's personalised number plate 666666

Sheikh Khalifa was born on 11 November 1991, which explains the number plate on his McLaren.

He is the previous Emir's seventh son from his second wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned.

The 'Father Emir' had three wives and has an staggering 24 children, 11 of them sons, meaning plenty of supercar presents to go around.

Interior glimpse: The inside of the Spyder is beautiful, but not quite as impressive as it exterior silver sleek design

A wheel good ride: The Spyder is powered by a naturally-aspirated 4.6 litre V8 engine and also features an electric mode

Spyder man: The Porsche has a combined power output of 874bhp, and was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

Hard-to-find: The McLaren P1 was one of the most eagerly anticipated hypercars of 2014, and it quickly sold out
Twenty customers fled the restaurant but others are trapped in a siege

Al-Shabaab set off a car bomb and then gunmen threw grenades at police

Islamist militants attacked a beach restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu today with a car bomb and were engaged in a gunfight with police, which has now turned into a siege.

Al-Shabaab, a Somali group linked to al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

One report said the bomb went off near the new Turkish embassy compound, sparking fears that it may have been meant as revenge after Turkish troops crossed the border into Syria yesterday during an operation against ISIS.

It is not known how many people were killed by this car bomb in front of the popular Banadir restaurant at Lido beach in the capital Mogadishu

Police opened fire on the car when the bomber refused their orders to stop at a checkpoint near the beachside embassy.

Captain Mohamed Hussein says the driver detonated the car bomb in the middle of the road.

Mogadishu police spokesman Major Ahmed Ibrahim, said: 'A car bomb exploded at Banadir beach restaurant at Lido beach and there was an exchange of gunfire.'

Later the Somali national news agency Sonna reported that 20 people had been able to escape from the restaurant during the gunfight with the help of the security forces.

But many other customers and staff numbers are believed to be trapped inside with the gunmen as the police laid siege to the building.

One of the suspected gunman, pictured, was taken to hospital after a shootout with police

Al-Shabaab's military operations spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab, said: 'We attacked the Banadir beach restaurant and now our fighters are fighting inside it.'

Al-Shabaab has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Somalia to try to topple the Western-backed government.

It was forced out of the capital by African Union soldiers five years ago but continues to launch regular attacks.

In January militants stormed another restaurant on Lido beach, killing 17 people.

Al-Shabaab is an indigenous Somali Islamist movement which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, although it is reportedly being wooed by ISIS

On Sunday more than 20 people were killed when its suicide bombers detonated two car bombs at a local government headquarters in the semi-autonomous Puntland region.

Today witnesses near the scene of the beach attack said the restaurant had been sealed off by security officers and the attackers had lobbed grenades at the officers and fired at them.

They said they had also seen two bodies lying on the ground.

Internal Security Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed tweeted: 'Warning: People near the blast scene should stay in the hotels and in their houses in which they are inside. Cars should not enter Lido beach area.'
War hero: Stanley 'Rocky' Rockminster before his death at 100 years old

A heroic RAF pilot who survived 55 daring missions in WW2 has died just days after celebrating his 100th birthday.

Polish-born Stanley 'Rocky' Rockminster had been presented with a special Royal British Legion plaque for reaching the milestone at his care home in Mumbles, Swansea.

In an extraordinary story the brave pilot escaped the Nazis after a tense night time flight at the start of the war, only to fall into the hands of the Russians.

He survived over two years of hard labour on a Siberian railway line before he reached the UK in 1942 and quickly enlisted in the RAF.

Rocky's duty was to escort the Allies' Bomber Command and would fly his Mosquito at the front to take care of any Luftwaffe in their path, according to a report from the South Wales Evening Post in 2015.

The veteran had said: 'If anyone tells you they are not frightened of death, then they are a liar.'

At the end of the war Rocky had stints as an RAF instructor in Cyprus and Malta, before raising a family in Swansea, South Wales with wife Marjorie.

He had four children, 11 grandchildren and 21 great-children at the time of his death.

Miraculous: The RAF pilot survived 55 missions in WW2, including two years hard labour in a Siberian work camp when he was captured by the Russians

Daughter Barbara Rockminster said: 'He was the most wonderful father you could wish for.'

She had previously said her father did not live by the rules, and often liked a pint before lunch.
The officer who shot Hosea has been on the force for 20 years and is white, as was Hosea, according to police

Hosea, who was allegedly drunk, also threatened to shoot the family's pets and pointed the gun at the officer

Tennessee, police officer shot dead Jeffrey Hosea, 53, after the man held his 13-year-old son at gunpoint

A Tennessee police officer shot dead a man who was holding his teenage son hostage inside their mobile home Wednesday.

A statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says officers from the Shelbyville Police Department responded to a report of a hostage situation and arrived to find 53-year-old Jeffrey Darren Hosea holding his son at gunpoint in a camper.

Police Chief Jan Phillips said the officer ordered Hosea to drop the weapon, and when he refused to comply, he opened fire.

Scroll down for video

Police on Wednesday were called to this camper in Shelbyville, Tennessee, after getting a report that Jeffrey Hosea, 53, was holding his 13-year-old son hostage

The station WRCB reported that it all started when Hoseas 13-year-old son called a friend at around 10pm Wednesday saying his father was drunk and holding him at gunpoint.

That friend called police, who responded to the scene and witnessed Jeffrey Hosea brandishing a gun and threatening everyone around him, including the family pets.

Officers entered the trailer in the 900 block of East Lane Street and could smell alcohol inside.

The TBI statement says Hosea pointed his weapon at one of the responding officers, who instructed him to put down the gun.

When Hosea refused to comply, the cop opened fire, striking and killing him. His 13-year-old son was not harmed.

An officer shot dead Hosea after the man allegedly pointed a gun at him and refused to drop the weapon

TBI agents are investigating the circumstances and interviewing witnesses at the request of the local prosecutor.

Police didn't identify the officer, who has been placed on routine leave during the investigation.

Shelbyville Police Chief Jan Phillips said the officer has more than 20 years of experience. He said the officer is white, as was Hosea.
Rush Limbaugh is voicing his concern with what he claims is a plain devised by President Obama to fill rural areas with large populations of lesbians.

After the United States Department of Agriculture held an Iowa LGBT Rural Summit earlier this month, Limbaugh took to the airwaves on his popular radio show to denounce President Obama for what he saw as a clear plot aimed at conservatives.

'They are trying to bust up one of the last geographically conservative regions in the country; that's rural America,' said Limbaugh.

'Rural America happens to be largely conservative. Rural America is made up of self-reliant, rugged individualist types. They happen to be big believers in the Second Amendment.

'So here comes the Obama Regime with a bunch of federal money, and they're waving it around, and all you gotta do to get it is be a lesbian and want to be a farmer and they'll set you up.'

Scroll down for video

Big claims: Rush Limbaugh (above in 2010) claims that President Obama has been making it easier for lesbians to become farmers in rural America in an attack on conservatives

Reason: This after the United States Department of Agriculture held an Iowa LGBT Rural Summit earlier this month (President Obama above on Tuesday)

Limbaugh later stood by his statement after seeing that the story was trending in a post on his website.

'The story was that the Department of Agriculture was extending grant money to lesbians, encouraging them to become farmers. And I asked the obvious question, "Why in the world, of all the things that you can give lesbians money to do something with, why in the world would it be farming?''' wrote Limbaugh.

'And of course my expert opinion was that the Obama administration is, well, they're leftists. And they're constantly attacking, they are constantly in aggressive, forward-march mode, and the one area of America that is predominantly conservative is rural America.

'So what better way to make inroads into that than to dangle some money in front of some lesbians and say, "in order to get it, you gotta farm, gotta be farmers.'''
Days after being dropped by all four of his major sponsors, Ryan Lochte has signed a deal to become the face of a new brand - Pine Bros. Softish Throat Drops.

The swimmer will appear in print and TV spots for the brand that are filming in Los Angeles over the next few weeks with the tagline: 'Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops: Forgiving On Your Throat.'

It was not revealed when the ads will begin to air or appear in newspapers and magazines.

This comes amidst reports that Lochte will also be appearing on the new season of Dancing With the Stars, which begins next month.

Scroll down for video

Get that paper: Ryan Lochte (above in April) has signed a new endorsement deal just days after being dropped by his four major sponsors including Speedo and Ralph Lauren

Soothe that throat: The 32-year-old swimmer will appear in print and TV ads for Pine Bros. Softish Throat Drops (above)

Pine Bros. CEO Rider McDowell said in a statement that he reached out to Lochte last week after it was revealed he had lied about being robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Games.

'We all make mistakes, but they're rarely given front-page scrutiny. Hes a great guy who has done incredible work with charities,' said McDowell.

'Im confident that Pine Bros. fans will support our decision to give Ryan a second chance.'

That incident caused Lochte to lose some major sponsorship deals, most notably those with Speedo and Ralph Lauren.

The news comes as Lochte could be facing new legal action as a result of his behavior in a Rio gas station during the Olympics, and might have to return to Brazil to stand trial.

The city's DEAT - the specialist tourist police squad - has asked prosecutors to give the disgraced swimmer a choice of returning to make a full and truthful statement in court, or being put on trial in his absence.

Lochte landed in Los Angeles on Monday morning, accompanied by his new girlfriend Kayla Rae Reid.

The 32-year-old swimmer was all smiles as he gladly posed for photographs with fans and signed autographs while waiting for his baggage.

Reid meanwhile avoided the cameras, but did voice her support for Lochte as they loaded their car and headed off from the airport.

Lochte revealed while speaking to a TMZ cameraman that he was considering a possible trip to rehab.

The swimmer was asked if he was considering getting help for his drinking with AA or rehab, to which he replied: 'You know, um, I don't know. I can't answer that question right now.'

He then added: 'Right now I need to just see my family and talk to them.'
One of the victims of the deadly 10-hour long assault on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday has been named as former Stanford Law School research scholar, Naqib Ahmad Khpulwak.

He was killed along with at least 16 others in the brutal attack carried out by militants on the sprawling liberal college, which also left at least 53-others injured.

Naqib was a Fulbright scholar and lived in American for a number of years, earning master's degrees in comparative politics and security studies from Old Dominion University in Virginia.

Scroll down for video

Tragic: Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed

Travels: Naqib spend time in Yosemite during his many years studying in Virginia and California

'My brother was highly educated and always wanted to educate the people of his country. He returned back to Afghanistan for this purpose,' Naqib's brother, Masoud Ahmad, told Al Jazeera.

'Losing people like Naqib is a big loss to this country, to us. We are the most unlucky nation alive.'

The fallen professor, was buried on Thursday in their hometown of Jalaabad, in eastern Afghanistan.

One of his students, Ejaz Malizada, told Buzzfeed, 'He was one of the brave professors, and one of the best ones.'

'Besides being a professor, he was a friend to all the students. Outside the class, we were friends.'

One of his close friends, Bilal Nikyar took to Twitter to write, 'He was the finest of this country, he was so smart. He had so many great ideas and ambitions.'

Friends said that Naqib had just applied to study for his PhD at Oxford Universty.

Photo attributed to the attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul pic.twitter.com/EVunzOpyd3  KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016

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

The brazen onslaught on the American University of Afghanistan that ended early on Thursday underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the capital.

The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to Afghan authorities. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the Interior Ministry said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban.

The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, would only tell the media that the Taliban are 'investigating.'

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

President Ashraf Ghani laid the blame on neighboring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting the Taliban in sanctuaries across the border, and saying the attack had been 'organized' in Pakistan.

Ghani spoke by telephone with Pakistan's army chief, Raheel Sharif, and demanded 'serious action,' his office said. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry 'strongly condemned' the attack.

Pakistan's military also issued a statement on the conversation between Ghani and Sharif, saying 'Pakistani soil would not be allowed to be used for any type of terrorism in Afghanistan.'

It said Kabul had provided three cellphone numbers 'allegedly used during the university attack.'

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

An investigation had traced them to an Afghan company 'whose spillover signal affects some areas along the Pak-Afghan border,' it said, without further detail.

Ghani's statement also raised the death toll to at least 16, saying that a teacher, identified on social media by the as Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed.

'Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms,' said Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers.

The assault began just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university, with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance.

The blast breached the security walls and allowed two other militants, armed with grenades and automatic weapons, to enter the campus, Sediqqi said. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3:30 a.m., he added.

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

More than 200 people, mostly students who had been trapped in university buildings, were rescued by special police units.

Ghani's office earlier said he had visited some of the wounded in the hospital and extended condolences to the victims' families. He condemned the assault as an 'attack on educational institutions and public places' and said it would 'strengthen our goal to eliminate the roots of terrorism.'

The university, located on the western edge of Kabul, was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

The university remained closed on Thursday and it wasn't clear when it would reopen. Faculty leaders could not immediately be reached for comment.

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

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul called the attack a 'cruel and cowardly act' and said it was 'ready to assist Afghan authorities with their continuing investigation in bringing those responsible to justice.'

The U.N.'s assistance mission in Afghanistan called the attack an 'atrocity.' Pernille Kardel, UNAMA's acting head, said in a statement she hoped the attack would not discourage Afghan youth from 'continued learning and attaining the knowledge and skills critical to Afghanistan's prosperity.'

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.

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

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

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

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 evacuated by Afghan security forces.

The Pentagon said U.S. 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 came two weeks after two university staffers, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen driving home from the campus after evening classes on a Sunday night. Their abductors were men dressed in Afghan military uniforms, officials said at the time. The whereabouts of the abductees remains unknown.

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.

Last month, Kabul was shaken by a massive suicide bombing that struck a peaceful rally by Afghanistan's minority ethnic Hazara community, killing more than 80 people and wounding hundreds.
It is also too early to say exactly how they died but they weren't shot

Friends have paid tribute to two Catholic nuns who were found slain at their Mississippi home, saying they would do 'anything for anybody'.

Sisters Paula Merrill and Margaret Held were found by a police officer at their home on Castalian Springs Road in Durant when they did not report to work as normal on Thursday morning.

The women, both nurse practitioners, provided flu shots, insulin and other medical care for children and adults at the Lexington Medical Clinic.

Sisters Paula Merrill (left) and Margaret Held (right) have been found slain at their Mississippi home

The women, both nurse practitioners, provided flu shots, insulin and other medical care for children and adults at the Lexington Medical Clinic

Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said it appeared the nuns had been murdered

Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said it appeared the nuns had been murdered.

Authorities did not release a cause of death, but the Rev. Greg Plata said police told him the nuns were stabbed.

Dr. Elias Abboud, who worked with the sisters for years and helped build the Lexington Medical Clinic, said he's not sure what will happen to the facility in light of their deaths.

'I think the community is going to be different after this. You need somebody with that passion to love the people and work in the underserved area,' Abboud said.

'For somebody to come and do this horrible act, we are all shocked,' he added.

Authorities said it was not clear whether the women's religious work had anything to do with their death.

Their bodies were taken to a state crime lab for autopsies.

Jonell Payton (right) comforts Lisa Dew outside the Merril and Held's home in Durant, Mississippi

Neighbours Patricia Wyatt-Weatherly (right) remembered how the sisters welcomed people into their home after Hurricane Katrina so they could use their gas stove

Authorities did not release a cause of death, but the Rev. Greg Plata said police told him the nuns were stabbed

'They were two of the sweetest, most gentle women you can imagine. Their vocation was helping the poor,' said Plata, who oversees a 35-member Catholic church the sisters attended.

Maureen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, said there were signs of a break-in at the home and the nuns' car was taken.

The abandoned Toyota Corolla was found undamaged late Thursday barely a mile from the home and was being towed to a state crime lab for analysis, according to Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain.

The clinic provided about 25 percent of all the medical care in the county, which has a population of about 18,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates for July 2015.

The two nuns provided almost all the care at the clinic and cultivated relationships with drug company representatives, who often left extra free samples, according to clinic manager Lisa Dew.

'I think their absence is going to be felt for a long, long time. Holmes County, it's one of the poorest in the state,' Dew said. 'There's a lot of people here who depended on them for their care and their medicines. It's going to be rough.'

Police Chief John Haynes said officers were canvassing the area and trying to look at video from surveillance cameras in town to see if they spot anything unusual

The Catholic community in Mississippi is relatively small. Of nearly 3 million people, the diocese said there are about 108,000 Catholics

Police Chief John Haynes said officers were canvassing the area and trying to look at video from surveillance cameras in town to see if they spot anything unusual.

The Catholic community in Mississippi is relatively small. Of nearly 3 million people, the diocese said there are about 108,000 Catholics.

Held, 68, had been a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee for 49 years 'and lived her ministry caring for and healing the poor,' a statement from the order said.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki said whoever killed Held 'robbed not only the School Sisters of St. Francis, but also the entire Church of a woman whose life was spent in service.'

Merrill, 68, had worked in Mississippi for more than 30 years, according to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky. She was from Massachusetts and joined the order in 1979.

Two years later, she moved to the South and found her calling in the Mississippi Delta community, according to a 2010 article in The Journey, a publication by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki said whoever killed Held 'robbed not only the School Sisters of St. Francis, but also the entire Church of a woman whose life was spent in service'

Sam Sample, lay leader of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, said: 'Folks in Holmes County don't realize the impact it will have without them being here'

During an early part of her career, she helped bring a tuberculosis outbreak under control in the region, Dew said.

Merrill saw children and adults, and helped in other ways.

'We do more social work than medicine sometimes,' Merrill told The Journey. 'Sometimes patients are looking for a counselor.'

After Hurricane Katrina left much of the town without power for weeks in 2005, the sisters allowed people to come to their house to cook because they had a gas stove, neighbor Patricia Wyatt-Weatherly said.

They were skilled in stretching resources, and routinely produced amazing dishes out of what seemed like a very small garden at their home, said Sam Sample, lay leader of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, where the sisters were members.

The small congregation called off its weekly Bible study and meal Thursday night.

'They would do anything for anybody. Folks in Holmes County don't realize the impact it will have without them being here,' Sample said.
Advertisement

Sensational photographs have captured the iconic all-British Sea Vixen, the last airworthy model left in existence, soaring above the Devon coastline.

The twin-boom, twin-turbo jet fighter flew during the height of the Cold War off Royal Navy aircraft carriers, but now there is only one left for use in displays.

Spectacular pictures of the 'Foxy Lady' were shot in a project organised by Navy Wings - a heritage arm of the Royal British Navy, and supported by the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.

Commander Simon Hargreaves OBE RNR took the jet-fighter to the sky, a specimen at the pinnacle of Britain's military aviation during the 60s and 70s.

Photographer Andy Rouse took the images as the aircraft rocketed past the Star Point Lighthouse and over Plymouth.

Majestic: Sensational photographs capture the iconic all-British Sea Vixen, a twin-boom, twin-turbo jet fighter

Spectacular: The plane first entered service in 1959 to replace the Sea Venom, the post-war carrier-capable jet

What a view: Commander Simon Hargreaves OBE RNR took the jet-fighter to the sky flying high above the sea

He also captured two MiG-29 fighters breaking over the Danish coastline.

According to the Navy Wings website, the Vixen 'epitomised the radical and innovative thinking of British engineers and designers of the time'.

At first the plane entered service in 1959 to replace the Sea Venom, the post-war carrier-capable jet.

In 1964 Vixens took off from HMS Centaur for an operation to restore stability in the East African state of Tanganyika.

Yet the plane did not take part in any true wars, and suffered from a number of technical faults.

Last of its kind: The plane flew during the height of the Cold War, but now there is only one left for use in displays

Soaring through the sky: Spectacular pictures of the 'Foxy Lady' were shot in a project organised by Navy Wings

Wonder wings: When on the ground the Vixen's wings are fully folded allowing it to be stored in a greater number on carriers

Of the 145 constructed, 54 were lost in accidents, including tyre bursts, canopy shattering and engine problems.

In one case a Vixen inadvertently released a practice bomb while serving on the HMS Eagle near the island of Gan in the Indian Ocean, according to Navy Wings.

The last model in use, the G-CVIX XP924, is now based at Royal Naval Air Station in Yeovilton.

Breathtaking: Photographer Andy Rouse took the images as the aircraft rocketed past the Star Point Lighthouse and over Plymouth, and a further image shows two MiG-29 fighters breaking over the Danish coastline

And the de Havilland Sea Vixen regularly flies around the Somerset area, before it takes off for airshows across the country.

The MiG-29 fighter was also a popular plane used during the Cold War, but designed by the Soviet Union.
Hillary Clinton launched an astonishing public attack on Nigel Farage on Thursday - hours after he taunted her scandal-hit reputation as he campaigned beside Donald Trump.

The Democratic presidential candidate used a speech attacking Trump and claiming he was linked to the KKK to launch an assault on Farage, whom she labeled as 'one of Britain's most prominent right-wing leaders' - and accused him of being inspired by Vladimir Putin.

Farage had been hailed by Trump for his role in securing an anti-establishment victory in the British referendum on leaving the European Union.

The former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) was invited on stage by the Republican candidate in Mississippi.

Although he declined to endorse Trump, saying he would not interfere in the U.S. election, he then drew applause and laughter as he said: 'But I will say this, if I was an American citizen I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me.

'In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me!'

Scroll down for video

Clinton blasted Nigel Farage in a speech on Thursday, criticizing him for 'stoking anti-immigrant sentiments to win the referendum'

Farage appeared with Trump at a campaign rally in Mississippi on Wednesday

But the jibe clearly needled Clinton, who has recently been dogged by Trump calling her time at the State Department 'corrupt' and revelations of the access donors to the Clinton Foundation were given.

'Just yesterday, one of Britain's most prominent right-wing leaders, a man named Nigel Farage, who stoked anti-immigrant sentiments to win the referendum, to have Britain leave the European Union, campaigned with Donald Trump in Mississippi,' she said in Reno.

'Farage has called for a bar on the children of legal immigrants from public schools and health services, has said women  and I quote  are "worth less than men", and supports scrapping laws that prevent employers discriminating based on race.

'That's who Donald Trump wants by his side when he's addressing an audience of American voters.

'And the grand godfather of this global brand of extreme nationalism is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'And in fact Farage regularly appears on Russian propaganda programs. Now he's standing on the same stage as the Republican nominee.'

'This is part of a broader story: The rising tide of hard-line right-wing nationalism around the world,' she said.

At the rally Farage declared he 'wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me - in fact I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if SHE paid me!'

Britain's vote in June to leave the EU - by 52 to 48 percent - left many observers, who had forecast a vote to remain in the union, astonished.

Farage attracted criticism for what was said to be anti-immigrant rhetoric in the run-up to the vote, including for posters showing long lines of immigrants apparently lining up to get into Britain.

The posters, emblazoned with the slogan 'Breaking Point', actually showed immigrants queuing at the Croatia-Slovenia border.

Trump was one of the few politician to back Brexit, and he has linked his and Farage's causes before.

On the day of the result he tweeted, 'They took their country back, just like we will take America back'.

And earlier in August he declared 'They will soon be calling me Mr. Brexit!'

Clinton said the rise of a movement she called 'the alt-right' was hijacking the Republican Party

Trump is looking to harness a similar anti-establishment vote to Farage.

The British politician said on Wednesday that he 'reached those people who have never voted in their lives' because his campaign convinced them that by voting for Brexit they can 'take back their country, take back their borders, and get back their pride and self respect.'

Clinton's attack on Farage is an unusual tactic as foreign politicians are usually viewed as off-limits for candidates.

Farage - who stepped down from leading UKIP after the referendum victory - said in July that a woman who has been on maternity leave 'is worth far less to her employer when she comes back than when she went away.'

And last year he said his party would not want the children of immigrants to be able to attend state-run schools immediately - suggesting they may have to wait for up to five years.

The rhetoric of the 2016 White House campaign has become increasingly inflammatory. Clinton's campaign has sought to link Trump with the Ku Klux Klan, releasing an attack ad showing a slew of Ku Klux Klan members and white nationalists supporting the Republican hopeful.
Cries for help in English were heard from beneath the rubble of the holiday villa where three Britons killed in the Italian earthquake were found dead.

British schoolboy Marcos Burnett, 14, was killed along with Will Henniker-Gotley, 55, and Maria Henniker-Gotley, 51, from Stockwell in south London, on Wednesday.

The teenager from west London and his family had been invited to stay with Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley who owned a holiday home in the village of Sommati, around two miles from the badly hit town of Amatrice.

Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley's two children, Jack, 14 and Francesca, 15, miraculously survived Wednesday's earthquake unharmed.

Marcos's parents Anne-Louise and Simon Burnett, from Bayswater, west London, were also pulled from the rubble alive - although badly hurt - along with their daughter.

British schoolboy Marcos Burnett, 14, was killed as he slept when the earthquake struck on Wednesday

Simon and Anne-Louise Burnett were heard screaming from under the rubble by neighbours

Will Henniker-Gotley, 55, and Maria Henniker-Gotley, 51, from south London, were killed

Neighbour Bruno Formicola, 50, told The Telegraph he heard Simon and Anna-Louise Burnett screaming for help in English from under the rubble.

'We heard cries for help in English from underneath,' he said. 'They had not been buried very deep so we could reach them out with our bare hands.'

Restaurant owner Nando Bonnanni, 64, told MailOnline how the three victims who died were sleeping on the ground floor of the building.

What was once a two storey house was reduced to a pile of rubble leaving the victims little chance of escape when the 6.2-magnitude quake struck on Wednesday killing 268 people in the region.

He helped comfort the children of the adult victims when they were pulled from the rubble and sat with them while rescuers mounted a frantic search to try and save their parents.

'They were terrified but we did our best to comfort them', he said.

'I do not think they knew what had happened to their parents. It is very sad. My grandchildren were here and they sat together.'

Mr Bonnanni said he was handed mobile phones belonging to some of the victims by fire crews and called Mrs Henniker-Gotleys sister Giulia.

She was believed to be in the region and travelled to collect the children.

'Giulia asked me to keep the children with me and she would come and collect them. They were very brave.'

Mr Bonnanni said those who survived the quake had been in the upstairs bedrooms.

However, Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley and Marcos were reportedly stuck too deep underneath rubble to be saved.

Locals had to wait until sunrise for rescue workers to arrive but by then it was too late.

The collapsed house where British citizens Marcos Burnett and Will and Maria Henniker-Gotley died following an earthquake, in Sommati, near Amatrice

Marcos and his family, from London, had been invited to stay with Mr and Mrs Henniker-Gotley who owned a holiday home in the village of Sommati

An image from the back of the house where British citizens Marcos Burnett and Will and Maria Henniker-Gotley died shows it crumbled to the ground when the earthquake struck

By the covered swimming pool were five plastic scuba masks that had been used the night before by the three children staying in the stone built house called Villa Olivia

A thick layer of dust covered a blue tarpaulin over the swimming pool at the Villa on Friday

'Jack and Francesca had managed to escape, but two other teenage girls were stuck by a thick wall that had not fallen down. We managed to get them out down a ladder,' Mr Formicola said of the other survivors.

Marcos's father was taken to L'Aquila Hospital with broken bones in his face and his mother suffered a broken leg and was taken to hospital in Rieta, 40 miles away.

It was only later when they were reunited that they were told the devastating news that their son had died. Marcos's sister escaped unharmed.

A spokesman for Rieti hospital said: The British woman was brought here by rescue workers on Wednesday while her husband was taken to LAquila.

When we discovered he was there we decided they would be happier together, so we decided to reunite them. Since the man was less badly hurt it was easier to bring him to her. We hope that they can be a support to each other.

The two families were staying in the traditional-style Villa Olivia, which was purchased four years ago by Mrs Henniker-Gotley and her late Italian father, when the quake struck.

Mrs Henniker Gotley's father was a former UK-based chef who died from cancer in March 2012. The family would usually spend Christmas at the villa and were also regular visitors during the summer months.

Marcos, a Liverpool football club fan, was a student at the 6,500 a term Wetherby Preparatory school in central London, the same school David and Victoria Beckham's sons attend. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Hugh Grant and Andrew Lloyd Webber are also alumni and Marcos's friend Jack Henniker-Gotley attends the prestigious school.

Mr Nick Baker, headmaster of Wetherby Senior School, told MailOnline Marcos attended all three Wetherby schools and 'was always utterly charming, personable and engaging company'.

'We are bereft at the news that Marcos Burnett, a much-loved and admired boy at our school, has died in the earthquake in Italy.

A mailbox with the names Henniker-Gotley is seen on a gate leading to the collapsed house where the Brits lost their lives on Wednesday

A Volvo car with a British number plate is parked outside the house in Sommati

Restaurant owner Nando Bonnanni, 64,told how the three victims who died were sleeping on the ground floor of the building

Cracks are seen on the wall of the traditional style building - Villa Olivia - where the Brits were killed

'Our thoughts are with his family, and with all the victims of this terrible disaster. We are all devastated at the news. We are offering support to the family, and will also be supporting everyone at the school as we try to come to terms with this tragic loss.

'He was quick witted, always had a smile on his face and wanted to be involved in everything. He was a friend to all and a credit to his school and family. He will be missed by all that knew him,' Mr Baker said.

Marcos is believed to have been captain of a basketball team at the school.

A parent at Marcos' school told The Telegraph both the British families were 'wonderful people'.

'The Henniker-Gotleys used to spend their holidays there. They are really, really nice, just wonderful people. So are Marcos's parents Anne-Louise and Simon.

'I'm completely stunned. I'm going to have to tell my son, who was in the same class as Marcos, what's happened. It's devastating,' she said.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'It's terrible news, so awful. I knew them all very well.

'They were lovely. They were a lovely family. It's very hard to take in.

'They were very warm and friendly, extremely good neighbours. It's just so awful to think of their children.'

She added: 'I think Maria's father came from the village and was possibly born there. When he was ill - he has since died - they bought a house there and they go out every summer.'

The Hennicker-Gotleys had owned Villa Olivia for the past four years. It is pictured here before the earthquake

William and Maria Henniker-Gotley's house in south London is pictured. They were killed whilst on holiday in Sommati, Italy

Another neighbour, who also did not want to be named, said: 'They were just absolutely lovely people. He was an entrepreneur and she was finance director for Children & The Arts.'

The chief executive of Children & The Arts, an independent charity, told MailOnline: 'Maria worked as our Finance Manager throughout the past eight and a half years.

'She was totally dedicated, meticulous and professional and worked tirelessly to support the work of the charity. Our work in helping disadvantaged children to engage with the arts is something she passionately believed in and her determination to see the charitys work continue and grow was second to none.

'The whole Children & the Arts team is shocked and saddened by the news of her death, and that of her husband Will, who was also a staunch supporter of our work. We have lost a valued colleague, of course, but, above all, two very dear friends.'

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: 'It is with sadness that we can confirm the deaths of Maria, 51, and Will, 55, Henniker-Gotley and Marcos Burnett, 14, in the earthquake in Amatrice, Italy on July 24.

'Their families have paid tribute to the tireless work of the Italian rescue workers and hospital staff and expressed their gratitude for the love and support they have received from the Italian people. Their thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the earthquake.'

Eight foreigners have been confirmed dead in Wednesday's 6.2 magnitude quake, which has claimed the lives of 268 people, hospitalised 367 more with dozens still missing.

THE ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE: HOPE FADES ON DAY THREE A woman touches a coffin of one of the victims of Wednesday's earthquake, inside a gymnasium in Ascoli Piceno, Italy Hopes of finding more survivors from Italy's powerful earthquake faded on Friday, with the death toll rising to 268 and the rescue operation in some of the stricken areas called off. Three days after the quake struck the mountainous heart of the country, sniffer dogs and emergency crews continued to scour the town of Amatrice, which was levelled in the disaster, but there was no sign of life beneath the debris. 'Only a miracle can bring our friends back alive from the rubble, but we are still digging because many are missing,' town mayor Sergio Pirozzi told reporters, saying, around 15 people, including some children, had not been accounted for. In nearby villages, such as Pescara del Tronto, rescuers pulled out after all the inhabitants had been accounted for. Italy plans to hold a state funeral for around 40 of the victims on Saturday, which will be held in the nearby city of Ascoli Piceno. A day of national mourning was announced, with flags due to fly at half mast around the country for the dead, who include a number of foreigners. People wait for the recovery of the body of their relative from the rubble of a collapsed building in Amatrice on Friday A woman comforts her husband as rescuers recover the body of his mother from the rubble of a collapsed building in Amatrice The civil protection department in Rome said nearly 400 people were being treated for injuries in hospitals, and 40 of them were in critical condition. An estimated 2,500 people were left homeless by the most deadly quake in Italy since 2009. Survivors with nowhere else to go are sleeping in neat rows of blue tents set up close to their flattened communities. The government has promised to rebuild the region, but some local people feared that would never happen. More than 920 aftershocks have hit the area since the original 6.2 magnitude quake struck early on Wednesday, bringing fresh damage to structures still standing. These included a bridge leading to Amatrice, which had to be closed, further complicating the rescue operation. The damaged Romolo Capranica school which was meant to be 'earthquake-proof' is pictured in Amatrice Insurance association ANIA estimates that less than one percent of Italy's 33 million homes have private quake coverage, meaning the bill for insurance companies was likely to be low. That means that the reconstruction bill will have to be paid by the heavily indebted state. The Queen donated an unspecified amount to the British Red Cross, of which she is a patron, to support the Italian Red Cross in its relief efforts, Buckingham Palace said. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have previously said they were 'saddened to hear of the loss of life' and sent their 'thoughts and prayers' to the 'people of Italy, especially the family and friends of those affected'. Coffins of some of the victims of Wednesday's earthquake lie inside a gymnasium in Ascoli Piceno. The government has declared a day of national mourning Advertisement

The three Brits were killed near the town of Amatrice on Wednesday

The three Brit were staying in Amatrice, pictured, which was one of the worst affected areas

The village of Saletta, near Amatrice, in central Italy is seen devastated in this aerial photo taken on Friday

The teenager from London was with his parents and sister in an Amatrice house when they were crushed during the 6.2 magnitude quake

The news came hours after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had warned that British nationals had been affected by the disaster  but refused to give out any more details or if there had been fatalities.

He said: As the scale of the disaster has become clearer we now know that a number of British nationals have been affected. British Embassy staff are in the region providing consular support, and we have deployed additional staff to support this effort.

But the Foreign Office refused to offer any more information about the situation, despite the area being popular with UK holidaymakers.

Immacolata Postiglione, head of the agency's emergency unit, indicated there had been no survivors found overnight as rescuers sifted through rubble for a third day.

On Friday the mayor of Amatrice, two miles from where the Brits were killed, said aftershock damage to two roads has threatened to isolate the quake-struck town.

 Slide me  The town of Amatrice is pictured before the earthquake in July 2015 (left) and after the earthquake on Thursday (right) when the historical quarter was wiped out

 Slide me  The moutainside town of Pescara del Tronto is pictured from the Pleiades satellite before the earthquake in July 2015 (left) and after the earthquake on Thursday (right)

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also announced a new earthquake prevention plan as questions mounted over why so many people had died just seven years after the nearby city of L'Aquila was devastated by a quake that killed 300 people.

A woman told of how her eight-year-old granddaughter sacrificed her life to save her younger sister.

Giulia Rinaldi died, but her four-year-old sister Giorgia was found alive in the debris  15 hours after the tremor struck.

Giulias death is just one of the tragic tales emerging from Amatrice, Accumoli, Pescara del Tronto and surrounding villages which were ravaged by a 6.2-magnitude quake in the early hours of the morning.

The girls grandmother Angela Cafini said Giorgia had remarkably survived unharmed, and asked rescuers for a drink within seconds of the concrete being pulled off her.

The sisters were found by a sniffer dog in the rubble of their home in Pescara del Tronto. The village, with a population of 100, has been virtually wiped from the map.

Mrs Cafini, 64, said: They were together. One was alive and the other was dead. Giulia had used her body to protect her little sister because she was not harmed at all. She has no injuries. It is a miracle that she is alive, but I am torn. I have lost one granddaughter and one has lived.

Homeless: People prepared to spend the night in a leisure centre following the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, where 53 are dead

Hunt: Firefighters look for survivors amid the debris in Amatrice last night, where two others from Britain also died along with the teenager from London

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

The two girls and their parents, Michaela and Fabio, who live in Rome, were holidaying in the village.

Mr and Mrs Rinaldi suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital. Mrs Cafini, who was in another house, escaped unhurt.

Fire chief Angelo Moroni said a labrador called Leo found the girls, barking and leading the rescuers to a spot where they started digging with their hands.

He added: In those terrible moments youre not really thinking, you just move on like a robot for hours and hours without feeling either fatigue or thirst. All you want is to save people. We dug for 12 hours  I really hope Giorgia will forget all this one day.
Target's decision to take a stance on a social cause appears to be bad for business.

Shopper traffic has been declining for the first time in years, ever since the company issued a statement in April, saying transgender customers were free to use whichever bathroom they wanted at their store locations.

The statement was in response to a North Carolina bill that was signed into law in March, requiring students at state school to sue the bathrooms of their birth gender.

Same-store transactions at Target stores are down 2.2 per cent in the second quarter, likely due to a boycott against the company

In addition to same-store transactions dropping 2.2 per cent in the second-quarter, the company is also losing millions in building single-occupancy bathrooms for customers who were uncomfortable with Target's transgender-inclusive policy.

While the majority of stores have solo bathrooms, the company is spending $20million to create new single-occupancy restrooms at stores that lack them.

Overall this year, same-store transactions are down 7.2 per cent to $16.2billion.

The impact of the boycott shouldn't come as a surprise for Target. When they announced the decision to let transgender customers use the bathroom of their identified sex, more than 1.4million people signed a pledge to stop the new policy.

It's unclear how long this downturn in traffic will last.
Some things never change. Its 43 years since habitual criminal Norman Stanley Fletcher was sentenced to a long sojourn at Her Majestys Prison, Slade, and these days the jail doors lock electronically.

There are TV sets in cells, and transsexuals on E Wing. But in 2016, just as in Fletchs Seventies heyday, the gold standard of jailblock contraband is still the tin of pineapple chunks.

Ronnie Barker, left, as Fletcher and Fulton Mackay, right, as Mackay, in the 1979 classic Porridge

Theres a lovely gag running right through the one-off revival of Porridge, by original writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, that features a pilfered can of fruit chunks in syrup. It isnt central to the plot; it doesnt even get opened. But its a reminder that life behind bars is much the same, whichever decade were in. Plus ca chunk, as the French say.

Porridge ran for four years from 1973, starring the incomparable Ronnie Barker as an old lag whos spent more than half his adult life in nick, and Richard Beckinsale as his naive young cellmate, Lennie Godber. At heart, it was a father-and-son comedy, and the best moments centred on their bond.

Kevin Bishop, above, stars as Fletch, grandson of the original Fletcher, in the BBC revamp of Porridge, on screens on Sunday night

There was a superb supporting cast too, including Fulton Mackay as a vindictive prison officer (also named Mr Mackay) and David Jason as Blanco, a doddery old con. But the greatest episode, the one with a strong claim to be the sitcoms finest half-hour, featured just Fletch and Godber, bantering after lights out about an imaginary booze-up. It was called A Night In. Barker and Beckinsale are long gone, and that partnership could never be recreated with different actors. Wisely, the writers dont try  though they cant resist telling us what Fletch did next. Heres a hint: it involved a pub.

Instead, the new Porridge, screening this Sunday on BBC1 at 9.30pm, introduces Kevin Bishop as Nigel Norman Fletcher, the grandson of the original. This Fletch is a hacker, serving five years for credit card crime, and the story involves his attempts to hijack the prisons wi-fi and delete incriminating files.

Fletch is a barrow boy with a streak of lairy patter a mile wide, which makes him seem an unlikely hacker  you might expect him to nick your car keys but not your laptop password.

Above, a still from the 1970s version of Porridge, with Ronnie Barker. This time around, his grandson is doing time for credit card fraud

It doesnt matter. You can suspend your disbelief, much as Fletch suspends a Pringles can from his cell ceiling to make a wi-fi receiver.

The scenes that work best are the needling bouts between Fletch and Mr Meekie, a perfect impersonation of Mr Mackay by Catastrophes Mark Bonnar.

When Fletch claims to have discovered an enthusiasm for yoga, the prison officer challenges him to adopt the Downward Dog position. The young lag drops to all fours, and cocks his leg. Its a gag that would have worked beautifully in the original series  who knows, perhaps the writers have been saving it up for 40 years.

The absence of Godber is felt. The new Fletch is sharing his double bunk with a codger who remembers his grandad, Joe (Dave Hill from EastEnders), serving time for running over a bank robber with his getaway van.

But Porridge fans wont be disappointed. This is an affectionate tribute to a magnificent series, by the men who created it.
Taco Bell has since apologized for the

Five Louisville police officers were refused service at a Louisville Taco Bell.

The cops were working at the Kentucky state fair and decided to head to the TexMex fast food restaurant on their lunch breaks.

But instead of leaving full and satisfied they left feeling hungry and frustrated.

Five police officers were refused service at this branch of Taco Bell in Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville Fraternal Order of Police President Dave Mutchler explained how the officers felt unwelcome in the restaurant and ended up walking out after being refused service

'The young man behind the counter turned to the other employees and said, "I'm not taking this order" and walked away from them,' Fraternal Order of Police President Dave Mutchler said to WDRB.

'One of those young men told the other employee, "I wanna mess with them. I wanna mess with them." And then he followed that up by saying, "I'm going to mess with them,"' Mutchler said.

The officers later revealed that they overheard a conversation between two employees who were making the food discussing the tactics.

The officers ended up leaving the venue without so much as a taco.

Yum Brands, which is based in Louisville, along with the owner of the franchise have both since apologized to the officers.

The incident happened at a Taco Bell restaurant close to the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville

Taco Bell has since released a statement: 'Taco Bell and Bells & Birds, Inc., the franchise owner of this Louisville Taco Bell, do not tolerate discrimination in any way.

'Bells & Birds, Inc. deeply regrets these officers felt unwelcome in the restaurant, and has apologized directly to the officers and the Louisville Metro Police Department, who made it clear they did not want anyone to lose their job over this incident.

'We appreciate their ongoing support, and the franchisee is working to re-train its staff at this location.'
Tax dodgers who hide money offshore face swingeing fines unless they come clean, under a new crackdown announced today.

HM Revenue and Customs said it was ending the system of cosy deals that allow some tax evaders to escape fines if they co-operate with the authorities.

Wealthy individuals, celebrities and firms have now been given two years to come clean about the scale of their offshore wealth or face automatic fines of up to 200 per cent of the amount owed.

Tax dodgers could be fined up to 200 per cent the amount owed if they do not come clean about money held offshore in the next two years, under new rules announced today

Critics argue the taxman has a dismal record of recovering money from those with assets stashed overseas.

But HMRC yesterday said that a new deal on information sharing with tax havens like the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg meant there was now a much better chance of taking action.

Jane Ellison, financial secretary to the Treasury, said: For too long it has been too easy for people to hide their money overseas to evade tax. We are changing that.

From October we will start to receive data on the offshore finances of UK taxpayers. This is a game-changer in the fight against evasion and its time for anyone who is evading tax to do the right thing and pat what they owe.

Under existing rules, tax evaders can be fined up to 100 per cent of the money they owe. But this can be reduced to zero in cases where people co-operate.

The new rules will introduce fines of between 100 and 200 per cent, meaning that people could end up having to pay a total of three times what they owe.

However some tax havens, such as Panama, have not signed up to the information sharing deal  meaning it will still be possible for determined tax evaders to hide their assets from the authorities.

The move is the latest signal that Theresa May wants to step up the pressure on those trying to avoid paying their fair share of tax.

Critics argue the taxman has a poor record of collecting money owed. Above, HMRC, file photo

Last week, the Government unveiled a crackdown on accountants who advise clients on how to avoid tax.

Ministers said they wanted to end the scandal whereby advisers who facilitate tax avoidance can escape scot free, even though their activities defraud the government of millions of pounds in revenue.

The proposed new rules come months after David Cameron pledged to crack down on aggressive tax avoidance following the Panama Papers leaks.

Two weeks ago HMRC won a major court victory against a tax avoidance scheme used by a major brewery and marketed by accountants Ernst & Young.

The avoidance scheme, marketed by EY in 2003, to brewery Greene King and other large groups involved loans between group companies. The aim was for one company in a group to get tax relief on interest paid to another group company without that other company paying tax on the income it received.

The victory meant that HMRC will recover a total of 30million in due taxes from Greene King and others that have used the scheme.
Richard Murray, policy director at Kings Fund, above, said closing hospital units was 'political toxic'

Health bosses are preparing to announce a glut of service closures this autumn in a bid to control the NHS financial crisis, it has emerged.

Officials have been told to draw up a list of services which are not clinically and financially sustainable  with the aim of closing struggling units or shifting them to bigger hospitals.

Every hospital trust in England was sent a letter last month by Bob Alexander, director of resources at NHS Improvement, the health services financial watchdog.

It told trust bosses to identify departments which could be re-provided by other institutions. Hospital chief executives were given a deadline of July 31 to provide details.

But final plans are to be drawn up by the end of November, with the aim of rapidly making closures so savings can be made before the financial year ends next March.

In other dramatic NHS developments:

NHS chiefs reported a 461million deficit in the first quarter of the year;

Ambulance services in the North West were told to stop taking children to Fairfield General Hospital A&E, Bury, also due to shortages;

Basildon and Brentwood clinical commissioning group published draft plans to stop funding weight-loss surgery for obese patients;

The waiting list for elective care reached the highest level on record, with 3.45million patients waiting for operations and appointments.

Earlier today, experts warned that any decision to close A&E units or specialist services could fuel the sense of crisis already building in the NHS. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers which represents hospital trusts, said he expected to see announcements of closures and mergers in the coming months.

We would expect a glut of those decisions coming forward, because our guys have been specifically asked to identify them, he said.

Bosses were ordered to identify units either short of senior consultants, running over-capacity or relying on too many agency staff.

Specialist services such as dermatology, rheumatology or urology, which require highly skilled doctors, are thought to be the most likely to close, particularly at small district general hospitals. Experts fear that even some A&E units may be closed or merged, as doctors brace themselves for what is forecast to be a very difficult winter for the NHS. NHS England is expected to announce plans by the end of November to shift units from struggling hospitals to larger hospitals which are better staffed.

A letter to all hospital bosses, detailed in a report by watchdog NHS Improvement, asked them to identify opportunities for consolidation and re-provision.

It said: It is essential that you as chief executives provide the leadership and support to ensure we take forward these improvements at pace. There is considerable potential ... to go further in re-providing services that are not clinically and financially sustainable, for instance where there is insufficient capacity and/or a high reliance on use of temporary and agency staff.

Mr Hopson said: Our members tell us very clearly that they are struggling to keep services open because of workforce shortages.

But Richard Murray, director of policy at The Kings Fund health think tank, said closing hospital units was politically toxic and may not save much.

The idea that there is a pot of gold behind this is simply not true, he said. To announce that you cant staff a service any more develops a real sense of crisis.

Chorley Hospital in Lancashire, above, has temporarily closed its A&E services because of staffing shortages

Dr Mark Porter said the NHS accounts published on Thursday, show the health service is at crisis point in England

He pointed to the example of Chorley Hospital in Lancashire, which has temporarily closed its A&E services because of staffing shortages.

Mr Hopson said he believed the NHS had reached breaking point  and the Government and NHS England needed to take urgent action. He added: Please NHS, either put more funding in  if you are not prepared to do that, you have got to make a conscious decision about where we allow things to slide. What you cant do is allow us to do the impossible and then beat us up when you fail to deliver it.

NHS accounts published today showed that across the service, a deficit of 461million was recorded between April and the end of June. This is far lower than the 930million declared at the same point last year  but had been achieved only thanks to a 1.8billion funding boost.

Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the British Medical Association, said: These figures are the latest in a spate of reports that show our health service is reaching a crisis point.

A spokesman for NHS Improvement said: It is an essential part of the planning process for local areas to identify which services could be unsafe, underused or unsustainable.

It is absolutely right that decisions on the future of health services are taken locally in consultation with the people who use those services. That planning process is still going on and no decisions have been taken.
One reporter who piped up that it seemed like a good time for a Q-and-A was met with laughter

She refused to engage them, saying instead that employees of the a chocolatier near the coffee shop she was visiting should give the journalists free samples

Hillary Clinton followed her pointed speech accusing Donald Trump's campaign of embracing racism on Thursday with a polite brushoff of reporters trying to ask her about it.

It has been 264 days since the Democratic nominee held a formal press conference. In a planned stop at a coffee shop, she dodged questions by offering her 'cooperative' traveling press corps some chocolate.

After Clinton and Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve pressed the flesh with voters at Hub Coffee Roasters in Reno, Nevada, employees of the nearby Dorinda's Chocolates offered Hillary a sample from a platter of chocolate truffles.

And as journalists piped up with questions, she urged them to fill up their mouths with sweets instead.

PACIFIER: Hillary Clinton dodged reporters' questions in Reno, Nevada after a blistering anti-Trump speech, telling them to try some chocolate instead

Looks like the @HillaryClinton no questions from the media streak will continue. But she did eat chocolate. pic.twitter.com/Rr89bHe3kp  Seth A. Richardson (@SethARichardson) August 25, 2016

I want you to offer some to the press,' Clinton told the coffee shop staff in an outdoor courtyard after one reporter asked: 'Why not outright call Donald Trump a racist today?

'They are so wonderful, so cooperative, so hard-working. They deserve a piece of chocolate,' she said.

The seconds-long attempt at luring Clinton into an unscripted Q-and-A began with a journalist calling out: 'Now's a good time for a question, right?'

His query was met with laughter.

STRONGER LANGUAGE: Clinton's speech hammered the Trump campaign for cozying up to racists, but she never came out and said the Republican nominee was a racist himself; when a reporter asked her why, she said the press should eat chocolate instead (which they never got)

Another reporter, from CNN, asked her a question about her husband, former President Bill Clinton, but the candidate wouldn't play along.

Video footage from ABC News and the Reno Gazette-Journal showed the Democratic presidential hopeful tasting one piece of chocolate and commenting: 'Love the salt. So good.'

'Oh my gosh. This is really good,' she added.
The cost of bacon is set to rise in Britain because of increasing demand for the product in China, industry experts warn.

They are predicting a spike of up to 38 percent in the wholesale price of smoked bacon.

Pig farming in China has been severely hit by flooding, so the country has stepped up imports from the UK and other nations.

Experts say the wholesale price of smoked bacon could rise up to 38 percent

At the same time, the recent fall in the value of the pound means British bacon is cheaper for the Chinese to buy.

The net effect is that wholesale prices of British bacon have surged in recent weeks and at least some of this is likely to be passed on to customers in the high street.

The warning comes from Beacon Foods, which supplies about 2,000 restaurants, cafes, hotels and leisure businesses.

In the first six months of 2016 exports of British pork were up 40,000 tonnes on the same period last year. And over half of EU pork exports have gone to China, a 60 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Emma Warrington, food buyer at Beacon, said: The combination of such huge demand for British pork from China and the devaluing of sterling following Brexit  means we might be paying a higher price for a bacon sandwich for the foreseeable future.
Sarah Jessica Parker has stepped down as the face of pharma company Mylan after it emerged the company had raised the price of its life-saving EpiPens by 548 per cent.

In a post on Instagram Thursday, the 'Sex and the City' actress said she was 'disappointed, saddened and deeply concerned' and called for Mylan to reverse the price hike.

Her announcement came the same day that the beleaguered company - which has faced an outpouring of scorn since the price increase came to light - was challenged by Senator Joe Manchin, father of Mylan CEO Heather Bresch.

Scroll down for video

Awareness: Actress Sarah Jessica Parker (right, with husband Matthew Broderick and son James Wilkie) was the face of EpiPen company Mylan's anaphylactic shock awareness promo

'Disappointed': Parker said Thursday she was 'disappointed' to learn the company had hiked prices for EpiPens, which stop fatal allergies like her son's, by 548 per cent to $608 for two

Promoter: Parker will no longer take part in Mylan's promotions, such as this one that she pushed in June. She is still featured on its Anaphylaxis 101 website

Parker signed up to be the face of Mylan's Anaphylaxis 101 website and associated promotions, ostensibly designed to raise awareness of peanut allergies, in May.

In her Instagram post she called it 'a cause that's deeply personal to me because of my son's life-threatening peanut allergy.'

But she said that she had 'recently learned' of Mylan's price hike - which took EpiPen prices from $57 per pen in 2007 to $318 today - and that she was quitting as a result.

'I hope they will seriously reconsider the outpouring of voices of those millions of people who are dependent on the device, and take swift action to lower the cost to be more affordable for whom it is a life-saving necessity.'

Hopeful: Parker now says she hopes the company will 'lower the cost to be more affordable for whom it is a life-saving necessity'

At the time of writing, Parker's photos and story were still present on the company's Anaphylaxis 101 webpage.

Also on Thursday Mylan - which has already faced scrutiny from politicians over the past few days - was questioned by West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.

But the 'concern' he expressed about the company's dramatic price increase was especially awkward for Mylan CEO Heather Bresch as he is her father.

In a statement, the senator said: 'I am aware of the questions my colleagues and many parents are asking, and frankly, I share their concerns about the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs.

'Today I heard Mylan's initial response, and I am sure Mylan will have a more comprehensive and formal response to those questions.

Father: West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (left, in 2015) said Thursday he was 'concerned' by Mylan's price hikes - which is awkward for Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, as he is her father

'I look forward to reviewing their response in detail and working with my colleagues and all interested parties to lower the price of prescription drugs and to continue to improve our health care system.'

The response the senator was referring to a statement from Mylan that promised it would lower the price paid by some patients - although it did not say that it would drop prices across the board or refuse to increase prices in the future.

It said that it will double eligibility for its patient assistance program, ensuring that a family of four earning $97,200 would not pay anything out of pocket for a prescription, according to The Wall Street Journal.

But the costs to insurers and other businesses would remain the same.

Changes: Bresch said the company has made it easier for lower-income families to get the pens for free, but made no promises about lowering prices or not increasing in the future

'We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter,' said Bresch in the statement.

'Patients deserve increased price transparency and affordable care, particularly as the system shifts significant costs to them.

'However, price is only one part of the problem that we are addressing with today's actions.

'All involved must also take steps to help meaningfully address the US health care crisis, and we are committed to do our part to drive change in collaboration with policymakers, payers, patients and health care professionals.'

Bresch's pay rose from $2million in 2007 to $19million in 2015.
Advertisement

Artists from around the world have joined forces to create incredibly detailed sand sculptures of famous characters, toys and landmarks in Hangzhou, China, where the G20 summit is due to be held in early September.

The sculptors spent days carving the amazing shapes out of the sand on the beach in Zhejiang province in the east of the country to commemorate the opening of the momentous summit, according to People's Daily Online.

Remarkable recreations of the Disneyland castle, Harry Potter's Hogwarts school and China's own Temple of the Sun line the sunny beach, waiting for visitors to come and admire when the site opens to tourists on September 9.

Pure Quidditch: Harry Potter reaches for the golden snitch on his broomstick in one sand sculpture in Hangzhou, China

Taking it easy: A Lego man sits patiently as his sculptor puts the finishing touches to her remarkably detailed designs

A fairytale ending: Mickey Mouse waves from this sculpture, with the famous Disneyland princess castle looming behind him

In touch with their roots: Two sculptors get intricate as they carve away at the sand, recreating China's Temple of the Sun

Nature's gentle giant: One piece is emblazoned with the beautiful head of a proud elephant, who seems to guard the beach

In another sculpture, a giant smiling Lego man welcomes visitors, sitting in a pile of Lego blocks.

Artists from the Netherlands, UK, America, South America and of course China brought their skills to the table.

The installation was created as a spin-off of Zhejiang's annual International Sand Sculpture festival, held in September, where artists compete to create the most elaborate sculptures.

The historic G20 summit will be held in Hangzhou on September 4-5, the eleventh such meeting and the first to ever be held in a Chinese city.

Making history: The historic G20 summit will be held in Hangzhou on September 4-5, the first ever to take place in China

Making progress: leaders including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin will join Chinese politicians for talks

Cute: A host of cheery cartoon characters greet visitors to the remarkable site, including UK's own Bob the Builder (far left)

World leaders including US president Barack Obama, UK prime minister Theresa May, Russian president Vladimir Putin and German chancellor Angela Merkel are all due to participate in the high-profile talks.

Huge, colourful banners reading 'A good host, a better G20' have so far been spotted popping up on bus stations, shopping malls, construction sites and motorways in Hangzhou.
A love-struck woman in China has been pictured proposing to her boyfriend, offering him a new motorbike and joint ownership of an apartment.

The woman was seen inside a shopping centre in Chengdu, south-west China on the evening of the 24th August wearing a wedding dress and riding a Harley Davidson, reports Huanqiu, an affiliation of the People's Daily Online.

She told her boyfriend that she would put his name on the real estate licence if he married her.

Down on one knee! She proposed to her boyfriend while wearing a wedding dress

A nice proposal haul: She then handed a real estate licence to her boyfriend

I do! Her boyfriend said yes to her proposal and was seen smiling next to the Harley Davidson

She had even prepared a copy of the real estate licence.

The man accepted his girlfriend's proposal.

A large crowd gathered around the pair and took video and photographs of the romantic moment.

According to reports, the girl's parents are in business and she had just returned from studying abroad.

The girl's proposal appears to have set her back a significant sum of money.

In China, Harley Davidson motorbikes have a starting price of 80,000 yuan (9,114), according to newmotor.com.cn.

While in the city of Chengdu, the average house price is 7,670 yuan (873) per square metre, according to newhouse.cd.fang.com.

People have been discussing the proposal on social media site Weibo.

One user wrote: 'Is it now popular to mention real estate licence to marry? Vulgar.'

While another commented: 'This Chengdu girl is really bold!'

And one user said: 'No wonder the man smiled quickly.'

Together: According to reports, the girlfriend has recently come back from studying abroad
Britain is now building more flats than houses, leaving a rising proportion battling issues related to owning a leasehold property - including dealing with a property management company.

Some property managing agents take the work out of owning a flat and offer great value for money. However, others can charge high fees and don't necessarily offer good service.

Legal experts suggest there are steps flat owners can take to ensure they get the best from their property managers, but they'll need an organised approach to ensure it works.

There were a total of 49,529 flats built last year, compared to 42,173 detached homes

One law firm that specialises in leaseholds has provided an eight-step plan to ensure that you get value for money, whether its ensuring your bin waste is stored appropriately for collection or that water leaks in the communal areas are not neglected.

Alex Bastin, a barrister at Hardwicke, said: 'Far too often, managing agents give poor value for money. It can mean inadequate service and soaring bills.

'If you find yourself in this situation, don't despair as there are steps that you can take to put pressure on them to maintain the property appropriately. But ideally, you'll want to obtain the freehold so that you have more control of what happens to the premises you live in.'

There were a total of 49,529 flats built last year, compared to 42,173 detached homes - which tend to avoid many of the charges more commonly associated with leasehold properties - according to the National House Building Council, (NHBC).

Meanwhile insurer Direct Line claims that 33 per cent of management companies have increased their fees in the past two years, with costs averaging 2,800.

A third of property management companies have increased their fees in the past two years, with costs averaging 2,800

MAILONLINE'S MYRA BUTTERWORTH EXPLAINS WHAT IT IS LIKE BEING A LEASEHOLDER AND HAVING FIRSTPORT AS A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY I've owned a leasehold property - managed by FirstPort - for almost 10 years and the process has been exhausting. The location of the property is fantastic and is the main reason I have not, so far, sold it. However, I have come close to selling it due to the lack of pro-active management of the site by FirstPort, and it often feels the residents have a long battle to get work done. We have achieved some milestones, such as getting the block decorated, but only by the residents clubbing together and continually driving the project forward. The residents also initiated quarterly residents' meetings. You only need to search FirstPort on social media channels such as Twitter to see that mine are not the only complaints about FirstPort. If you're having difficulties with the company, get organised and raise the issues in an official format such as a residents meeting where minutes are recorded and you can keep track of actions taken - otherwise you may have little evidence of how your money is being spent. A FirstPort spokesperson said: 'It is always disappointing to hear a customer say that they are not happy with the service we are providing, and where this is the case, we strive to work with them to respond to their issues proactively, quickly and efficiently. We look after nearly 180,000 homes across 3,700 developments, and we don't take our responsibility lightly. We don't always get it right first time, but we are seeing significant improvements in our customer service, with less than 2 per cent complaints annually versus the number of homes we manage. In recent months we have piloted a new approach to customer services, seeing our property managers spending more time on our developments and placing a greater emphasis on face-to-face interaction with our customers, which has been extremely well received. These changes were the direct result of feedback from our customers and will now be rolled out across all our developments.' Advertisement

Ultimately, the best way to proceed if you're having issues with your property management company is to buy the freehold, says Mr Bastin.

However, this may not be possible for a variety of reasons, such as not having the minimum number of leaseholders in the block to acquire it.

For those who are unable to buy the freehold, there are still measures that can be taken to ensure leaseholders are getting value for money for the service charge that they pay.

Follow Hardwicke's eight-point guide below to help ensure your property management company is doing a good job.



Hardwicke's eight point guide:

1. Know the terms of your lease

Your lease is crucial as it governs the contractual relationship between you, your landlord and your property management company. In particular, it focuses on what costs you are expected to pay.

2. Decide what it is exactly that you are unhappy about and pick your battles carefully

Do not try to challenge everything and focus instead on the most expensive issues such as major works that are taking place, where there is a legal requirement for a consultation.

3. Decide what your objectives are

Are you seeking to replace the existing property manager or just to get some charges reduced?

4. Consider establishing a formal Residents' Association, which requires at least 60 per cent of the leaseholders to join

This takes a substantial amount of time to set up, but it can give you more power in negotiations. For example, the residents association can appoint a qualified surveyor and the landlord must allow inspection of documents as need to advise on matters relating to the service charges payable.

5. Request a summary of relevant costs

This summary will cover the last 12 month period up to the date of the request and the landlord has up to six weeks to comply.

6. Request to inspect supporting accounts, receipts and other documents relating to the money spent

The request must be made within six months of receiving the summary. Once you have received the items, it is worth going through them with a fine-tooth comb.

7. Request a written summary of the insurance policy

Request the policy as you have a right to challenge its choice of insurer.

8. You can acquire a Right To Manage
Advertisement

It is the ultimate symbol of Russian power  an imperial palace that was commandeered by the communists and remains the seat of government today.

But now archaeologists have discovered some clues to the Kremlins distant past that the Soviets attempted to wipe out after they came to power.

Hidden beneath the foundations of a military school erected within the Kremlin in 1932 they have unearthed the remains of a monastery that dates back 635 years and pottery from 100BC.

Scroll down for video

Archaeologists have unearthed the foundations of the original buildings that sat on the Kremlin before they were destroyed by building work by the Soviets in 1932. These include the foundations of the 15th century Cathedral of the Miracle of Archangel Michael (pictured)

Excavations in basement of the current building, known as the 14th Corpus, have revealed some of the original foundation stones that formed the Cathedral of the Miracle of Archangel Michael.

It formed part of Chudov Monastery that stood on the site before it was torn down by the communists as part of an attempt by Joseph Stalin to wipe out the 'imperial past' of the Kremlin.

The modern building is currently used as an administrative building by the Russian government.

Scattered among these 14th Century foundations, archaeologists have also found inscribed tomb stones and metal keys that were used by the original settlers on the Kremlin hill in the 12th Century.

Silver crosses, glass bracelets and even the remains of people buried under the cathedral in the 16th Century have also been unearthed.

The excavations have uncovered almost 100 bodies buried in what was the cemetery of the Chudov Monastery on the site, but the Soviets built over them in 1932, digging their foundations down into many of the historic remains. One of the skeletons found during the excavations is pictured

Many tombstones were found during the excavations but only one had an inscription (pictured). It was used as part of the foundations for the 1932 military school but once marked the grave of boyar Vassily Glebovich Saltykov who died in the Livonian Wars in 1573

HISTORY OF THE KREMLIN 200BC  The site was inhabited by Finno-Ugric peoples 1090AD  Slavs occupied the south-western partition and began building a fortified structure on the hill 1156AD  Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy extended the fortress 1237AD  Monguls destroyed the fortress 1339AD  Fortress is rebuilt using oak which was later replaced with white limestone in 1366-1368 by Dimitri Donskoi. 1397AD  Metropolitan Alexis founds the Chudov Monastery in the grounds and the Donskois widow establishes the Ascension Convent 1485-1495AD  Grand Prince Ivan III brings Renaissance architects from Italy to design a new wall and towers for the Kremlin, which are built and still stand today 1610AD-1612AD  The Kremlin is held by Polish forces before being liberated by the armies of Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, paving the way for Mikhail Romanov to be elected as tsar. 1712AD - Czar Peter abandons the Kremlin for Saint Petersburg 1773AD  The Kremlin remains largely neglected until 1773 when Catherine the Great opts to build her new residence there 1812AD  French forces occupy the Kremlin for a month. Napoleon orders it to be blown up when his forces retreat and several parts of the wall were damaged along with the Kremlin Arsenal. 1816AD-1819AD  Restoration works are conducted to restore many of the damaged buildings 1918AD  Vladimir Lenin selects the Kremlin Senate as his residence following the Russian Revolution in 1917. 1924AD  Lenin dies and Joseph Stalin becomes leader of the Soviet Union. He has his personal rooms in the Kremlin but was eager to remove relics of the tsarist regime. Golden eagles on the towers were replaced with Kremlin stars and the Chudov Monastery and Ascension Convent were pulled down. Advertisement

A statement released by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has been leading the excavation, said archaeologists had also found ceramics from around 100BC, which would have been when Finns populated the area around the Moscow River.

They have also found the layers of soil containing remnants from the original Slav settlement on the east side of the Kremlin hill.

The statement said: The most ancient of Moscows city life, which preceded the founding of the monastery, is represented by grooved palisades which divided the citys yards, and by rectangular pits dug into the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 metres (5-6.5 feet).

Archaeologists have been excavating under some of the buildings at the Kremlin in Moscow since 2015 (shown on map)

Some of the earliest artefacts, including pottery (pictured) to be uncovered beneath the Kremlin date from 100BC when the site was occupied by the Finns, who are thought to have built houses on the hill

Perhaps the most unusual find were a set of stone molds used for casting metal weights (pictured), which bore half a dozen letters that read RIYAN. Experts believe these were used by a craftsman or jeweller who traded from the Kremlin Hill before it the fortress was constructed

These were cellars of substantial houses standing above ground  they were below the ground floor and were used for storing provisions.

This type of cellars has a southern origin on the Dnepre, but spread northwards to the cities of Vladimir and Suzdal and then later to Moscow.

Six such cellars were found during excavations dating from the latter 12th to the 13th centuries. They provide evidence of intense building development in this area of the Kremlin, which must have begun not later than the end of the 12th century.

The excavations have unearthed items that pre-date the monastery and were used by the original Slav community that settled there (keys pictured left). Archaeologists also found silver book fasteners from around the 16th century (right)

Hundreds of fragments of glass bracelets and beads (pictured) were discovered beneath the basement of the 14th Corpus building. It is thought they date from before the monastery was built

Among the items archaeologists found from this early period were jewellery, knives, keys, locks, writing styluses and book fasteners.

Carbon dating has put these at around 1215 to 1280AD.

One unique find was set of stone molds for casting metal weights, some of which bore half a dozen letters that read RIYAN. Experts believe these were used by a jeweller or other craftsman.

In around 1365, the Chudov Monastery was established in the eastern Kremlin by Saint Alexius, Metropolitan bishop of Moscow and All Russia.

The Soviets appear to have built directly over the the foundations of the 15th century cathedral (pictured) on the site

The researchers at the Institute of Archaeology claim they have also the remains of buildings buried in the soil (pictured) that date back to before the Mongolian invasions. They appear to be dug out cellars of houses

The Cathedral of the Miracle of Archangel Michael, which formed part of the monastery, was rebuilt twice  once in 1438 and later in 1501-1503.

Many of the stones used to build the original cathedral were resused in the later constructions.

However, it was destroyed in 1932 when the 14th Corpus was built to house a new military school for the Soviets.

The ground beneath the 14th Corpus is being excavated as the building is being demolished.

Among the graves discovered were a number of sarcophagi made from white stone (white stone coffin lid from 15th Century pictured). It suggests they were the resting places of members of the nobility or aristocracy

Among the other artefacts to be found were a silver cross which is thought to have been worn on clothing (pictured)

The basements of the 14th Corpus buildings conceal an area of 500 square metres, but archaeologists found that some of the ancient foundations that preceded it remain beneath its concrete floor.

That official statement said: The most ancient deposits, along with a section of burials from the monasterys churchyard, have been well preserved.

Directly below the concrete floor of the 1930s basement there are untouched cultural strata of the 12th to the 14th centuries.

The excavations also uncovered part of the monastic cemetery that sat outside the cathedral. The arcaheologists found 100 burials from between the 15th and 17th century.

Some were found in sarcophagi made from white stone featuring semiciruclar headrests.

This suggests they were perhaps for members of the nobility and the highest caste of the boyar aristocracy.

The archaeologists say they have also found a layer of burnt material (third layer down from top in picture above) which they believe may be the remains of buildings destroyed in a great fire, perhaps when the Mongol hordes sacked Moscow

The basements of the 14th Corpus concealed the foundations of the cathedral's porch, mired under white-stone foundation fragments from other later monastic buildings (pictured)

The statement said: Regrettably none of the burials now feature any kind of tombstone or inscription by which the archaeologists might identify the deceased.

The only evidence of such inscriptions was located in the foundation of one of the columns of the 1932 building.

Yet the stone inscription hints at the social grouping who found eternal rest within the Chudov Monastery.

This is the tombstone of one Vassily Glebovich Saltykov, who died, as the stone tells us, on German soil near Paida.

The fortress of Paida was stormed by Russian troops in 1573  a military operation in which the notorious boyar and henchman Maliuta Skuratov was killed.

The excavations (pictured) at the Kremlin began in 2015 as work to demolish the 14th Corpus building began

The Moscow Kremlin (pictured) has been the Russian seat of power for hundreds of years, but much of its history was wiped out by the Soviets, who demolished historic cathedrals and other buildings

The fortresss capture was one of the most famous incidents of the Livonian Wars.

Archaeologists also discovered a layer of soot and burned material from around the mid 13th century, which they believe may be the remains of buildings destroyed in the sack of Moscow by Batu-Khan.

The Mongul leader, who was the grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Golden Horde, burned Moscow in the winter of 1237-1238.

Researchers from the Institute of Archaeology are hoping further research will reveal more about the items they have found.
It heralds a new dawn in transportation  the world's first self-driving taxis have begun picking up passengers.

Members of the public in Singapore are able to hail the autonomous vehicles using their smartphones.

The service is being provided by start-up nuTonomy, which has pipped car makers like Ford and Volvo along with internet giant Google and ride-hailing service Uber to provide the robotic cars.

Scroll down for video

The world's first self-driving taxis have begun picking up passengers in Singapore (pictured). The service is being provided by nuTonomy in six modified Renault and Mitsubishi electric vehicles for a select group of passengers, but they hope to extend the service soon

SELF-FLYING TAXIS Traffic during rush-hour is an ever-growing issue for commuters. With 60 per cent of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2030, the problem is only going to get worse. But there may be good news that could cut commute times right down. Airbus is designing a fleet of self-flying taxis in the hopes of relieving urban congestion. The aircraft manufacturer says the flying taxis will be called CityAirbus and that passengers will be able summon them with their smartphone. Airbus says that the biggest challenging in creating the CityAirbus taxi, will be making it fly autonomously. The taxi will first be operated by a pilot, but will fly itself once national regulations allow it. Advertisement

Google has been testing self-driving cars on public roads for several years but they are not available to the public while Uber has promised to begin offering rides in autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh in a few weeks.

To begin with, nuTonomy is offering the service with just six Modified Renault Zoe and Mitsubishi iMiEV electric cars. Each will have a driver in front who is prepared to take the wheel should they need to.

A researcher will also sit in the back watching the car's computer. It means there is not much space left for passengers, but those who can squeeze in can enjoy the ride for free.

The company hopes, if the tests are successful, to expand its self-driving fleet by 2018 to help cut the number of cars on Singapore's congested roads.

Doug Parker, nuTonomy's chief operating officer, said autonomous taxis could ultimately reduce the number of cars on Singapore's roads from 900,000 to 300,000.

'When you are able to take that many cars off the road, it creates a lot of possibilities. You can create smaller roads, you can create much smaller car parks.

'I think it will change how people interact with the city going forward.'

The taxis are being used in a 2.5 square mile business and residential district called 'one north'.

The cars initially have a safety driver who will sit behind the wheel ready to take over should there be any problems (pictured), but the vehicles use a combination of Lidar and cameras to detect and avoid obstacles

The cars can be hailed using a smartphone app but are currently only operating (pictured) within a small area of Singapore known as one north. The company says dozens of people have already signed up to the service but hopes that will expand within a few months

Pick-ups and drop offs are being limited to specific locations to begin with and users must be invited by nuTonomy to use the service.

The company says dozens have signed up for the launch, and it plans to expand that list to thousands of people within a few months. It hopes to eventually extend the service to other cities around the world.

Each car is fitted with six sets of Lidar - a detection system that uses lasers to operate like radar - including one that constantly spins on the roof.

There are also two cameras on the dashboard to scan for obstacles and detect changes in traffic lights.

The cars use Lidar sensors (pictured) to detect obstacles while driving on the road

Singapore hopes self-driving vehicles (pictured) can help to give its economy a boost by freeing up drivers to do other work and also reducing congestion on its busy roads

Singapore's government gave nuTonomy approval to test the self-driving cars earlier this year and the company has teamed up with the Land Transport Authority in the country to conduct research on the vehicles.

Singapore is considered to be a good place to test self-driving vehicles because of its good weather, infrastructure and drivers who tend to obey traffic rules.

The government also believes self-driving vehicles could help the country's economy grow.

'We face constraints in land and manpower. We want to take advantage of self-driving technology to overcome such constraints,' said Pang Kin Keong, Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Transport and the chairman of its committee on autonomous driving.

Cameras above the dashboard (pictured) also look for hazards on the road while also can detect changes in the city traffic lights

Sensors on the rear of the vehicle also help it to detect other vehicles on the road around it (pictured), allowing the software to avoid any hazards

Olivia Seow, 25, works in startup partnerships in one-north and is one of the first people to use the nuTonomy service for a mile long journey.

She said she was nervous when she got into the car, and then surprised as she watched the steering wheel turn by itself.

'It felt like there was a ghost or something,' she said.

But she added that the ride was smooth and controlled as the vehicle even small obstacles like birds and motorcycles parked in the distance.

'I couldn't see them with my human eye, but the car could, so I knew that I could trust the car,' she said.

One reporter taking a ride yesterday saw the safety driver step on the brakes once when another car was obstructing the lane and a third vehicle that appeared to be parked suddenly began moving in the oncoming lane.

Karl Iagnemma, chief executive of nuTonomy, said the company was already getting interest from transport companies and technology firms about its software.
say the experiments show the power of a persons beliefs on shaping their perception of their food

Knowing the how the meat on your plate was raised can affect the taste, a study has found.

Researchers in the US conducted trials to see if an animals backstory had an impact on the meat-eating experience.

They suggest that a persons beliefs can actually influence their eating behaviour, in everything from how the meat tastes to how much they are willing to pay for it.

Researchers in the US conducted trials to see if an animals backstory had an impact on the meat-eating experience. They suggest that a persons beliefs can actually influence their eating behaviour (stock image used)

BELIEF AND TASTE Over the course of three trials, US researchers showed that the description of how meat was raised affected its taste. Students were given identical samples of meat, describing it as either from a factory farm or from a more humane farm. Compared to the free-range meat, participants said the factory farmed samples were less pleasant, ate less and even said they would be willing to pay less for it. When participants believed they were eating factory farmed ham, they perceived the meat to be saltier, greasier and less fresh than the more humane farmed samples. According to the researchers, the experiments show the power of a persons beliefs on shaping their perception of their food. Advertisement

We show that what you feel very directly influences not only how you interpret what you see but also very literally what you see, said Professor Lisa Feldman Barrett, an expert in the psychology of emotion at Northeastern University, in Massachusetts.

We call this 'affective realism'  the tendency of your feelings to influence the actual content of your perceptual experience.

According to the researchers, the findings show people should consider how their beliefs influence the user experience in everything creative.

In the trials, researchers paired samples of meat with descriptions of the animal the meat had come from, such as whether the animal came from a factory farm or whether it was able to roam free.

They found that the descriptions affected how the meat looked and tasted to participants.

When meat was described as factory farmed, participants rated it as less pleasant in look and taste compared with meat described as coming from a more humane farm.

The team also found that a participants beliefs also had an impact on how they perceived the flavour of the meat and even the amount of it they ate.

However, while the belief that the meat was factory farmed was seen to lower the overall experience, believing it was from a more humane farm was not seen to improve the taste.

Over the course of three experiments, Professor Barretts team set out to test what effect the information would have on those trying the meat.

In the first trial, almost 150 students were presented with identical samples of beef jerky and read the description before trying it.

When eating beef jerky, compared to the free-range meat, participants said the factory farmed samples were less pleasant, ate less and even said they would be willing to pay less for it

While the more humane option described the cows as free ranging and able to graze outside, the factory farm description noted the lack of space and freedom of the animals.

The findings showed that factory farmed meat was rated lower for its appearance, smell, taste, and how much they enjoyed it.

Students also said they would be willing to pay less for it on average compared with the free range beef jerky, and they even ate 8 per cent less of the factory farmed jerky.

A second trial used roast identical beef samples, with the descriptions tweaked to focus less on the animals conditions and more on the logistical benefits of the types of farming.

But the same trend emerged, with the more ethically sourced meat prevailing as the favourite.

In the final trial, students were given identical samples of thick cut ham and asked to comment on the flavour. The results showed that what they thought was factory farmed ham tasted more salty and greasy than free range ham, and even less fresh.

According to the researchers, the experiments show the power of a persons beliefs on shaping their perception of their food.

Writing in the journal PLOS ONE, the authors explain: 'The belief that meat was raised on a factory farm has potency because the belief is affective and includes an embodied representation of animal suffering.'

'These embodied affective beliefs set the neural context for incoming sensory information, which is then integrated with those existing representations to construct a unified, conscious eating experience.'
From Mount Everest base camp, to the London Underground, the range of free Wi-Fi hotspots is ever increasing.

Unless you know about the free Wi-Fi, it can be tiresome having to constantly search for hotspots and risk using up precious data.

But in the coming weeks, Google is introducing a feature called Wi-Fi Assistant to people with Nexus phones, which lets the device automatically connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots.

In the coming weeks, Google is introducing a new feature called Wi-Fi Assistant to people with Nexus phone, which lets your device automatically connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots, in the hopes of saving data.

HOW IT COMPARES TO APPLE Last year, Apple also introduced a 'Wi-Fi' assist function in its iOS 9 update. Apple's Wi-Fi Assist will activate and automatically switch to data when a Wi-Fi connection is not working. In contrast with this, Google's Wi-Fi Assistant automatically connects to free Wi-Fi when a safe connection is assessed by a virtual private nework (VPN). Advertisement

Google announced the news in a post on Google Plus this week.

The post stated that the feature 'allows you to automatically and securely connect to more than a million, free open Wi-Fi hotspots.'

Before now, the Wi-Fi Assistant was exclusive to people using Google's Project Fi phone service.

However, the company is now expanding the update to all Nexus users in the United States, Canada, Mexico, UK and Nordic countries.

To activate the service, Nexus owners can go to the Android Settings app, and toggle the feature on and off in the 'Networking' section

To activate the service, Nexus owners can go to the Android Settings app, and toggle the feature on and off in the 'Networking' section.

The Wi-Fi Assistant uses a virtual private network (VPN) to try to secure a connection.

This allows the phone to decide whether a hotspot is safe, without the need for you to check manually.

Last year, Apple also introduced a 'Wi-Fi' assist function in its iOS 9 update.

However, unlike Google's, which automatically connects to free Wi-Fi, Apple's assistant automatically disconnects from the Wi-Fi if signal is poor.
However, this works against it, making it more difficult to

The animal kingdom is filled with colour - and sometimes these hues can be found in the least expected of places.

This week, a one-in-two-million blue lobster was found in Devon, while a stunning pink grasshopper was spotted in Lincolnshire.

These strange findings are more common than you might think with everything from a pink robin to a silver boa constrictor found in recent years.

This week, a rare pink female grasshopper was spotted in the Lincolnshire countryside, with a fuschia-pink body and bright beady eyes

OTHER STRANGELY COLOURED CREATURES Cuckoo bees have bright blue and black striped bodies, rather than the typical yellow and black colouring. A new species of silver snake was spotted on a remote island in the Bahamas earlier this year. Halloween crabs are nicknamed so because of their brilliant colours - their upper shell is black, their legs are blood-orange and they have purple claws The red slug is a species of land slug that lives in northwestern Europe. The rosy maple moth has pink legs and antennae, a yellow body and hindwings, and pink forewings with a triangular yellow band across the middle. Advertisement

PINK GRASSHOPPERS

This week, a rare pink female grasshopper was spotted in the Lincolnshire countryside, with a fuschia-pink body and bright beady eyes.

The unique grasshopper was caught on camera by keen wildlife photographer Calvin Taylor-Lee, from Sheffield.

He said: 'I like macro images, and always walk at the park looking for different insects to photograph.

'Sometimes I'm not able to see anything - but it's worth it when I come across something very rare like this pink grasshopper.'

Grasshoppers are usually green, brown or a combination of the two, so they can blend into their background.

It is thought that the colours of pink grasshoppers may be caused by a genetic mutation, similar to that which affects albino animals.

Unfortunately their vibrant colour means they rarely survive to adulthood, as they are easily spotted and eaten by predators and so are extremely rare.

It is thought that the colours of pink grasshoppers may be caused by a genetic mutation, similar to that which affects albino animals

Also spotted this week was a rare bright blue lobster which was caught by a fisherman, off the coast of Devon. Lobsters turn bright blue because of a genetic abnormality that causes them to produce more of a certain protein than others

BLUE LOBSTERS

Also spotted this week was a rare bright blue lobster which was caught by a fisherman, off the coast of Devon.

The lucky fisherman was Keith Setter who found the lobster when he was looking for lobsters at Ladram Bay.

'I've never seen one like it in my life,' Mr Setter said.

'Fifty years I've been fishing at Ladram Bay and I've never ever seen one like that.'

Lobsters turn bright blue because of a genetic abnormality that causes them to produce more of a certain protein than others.

Fishermen who come across a blue lobster believe it to be a sign of good luck and usually do not eat it.

Halloween crabs are nicknamed so because of their brilliant colours - their upper shell is black, their legs are blood-orange and they have purple claws

Cuckoo bees have bright blue and black striped bodies, rather than the typical yellow and black colouring

Two telltale signs of albinism are the dolphin's reddish eyes and blood vessels, which show through its pale skin that lacks pigment

THE PINK ROBIN

While the robin is usually known for its red breast, a rare species exists with pink colouring.

The Pink Robin is a small bird, native to southeastern Australia.

The male has a distinctive white crown and pink breast, grey-black upperparts, wings and tail, while the female has grey-brown plumage.

Several strange pink animals can be found in the animal kingdom, including the pink robin (pictured right) and the rosy maple moth (pictured left)

PINK DOLPHINS

Another strange pink animal is the rare Pink Dolphin, one of which has been spotted several times in Louisiana.

The pink colouration is caused by albinism - a condition caused by a mutation to the genes which produce melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its colour.

Two telltale signs of albinism are the dolphin's reddish eyes and blood vessels, which show through its pale skin that lacks pigment.

A new species of silver snake was spotted on a remote island in the Bahamas earlier this year. Biologists collected tissue samples, with DNA analysis revealing the remarkably coloured animals were unknown to science

THE SILVER BOA

Earlier this year, a Silver Boa was spotted by a team on a remote island in the Bahamas, who later uncovered another five of the snakes.

Biologists collected tissue samples, with DNA analysis revealing the remarkably coloured animals were unknown to science.

The snakes are believed to have diverged from other boas - such as the striking Emerald Boa - in the last several million years.

THE PEACOCK SPIDER

Peacock spiders are a type of jumping spider that live generally on the ground or in low bushes in Australia.

Each has a series of flaps round their abdomens that they raise up to display during courtship or when competing against rival males.

Peacock spiders are a type of jumping spider that live generally on the ground or in low bushes in Australia. Each has a series of flaps round their abdomens that they raise up to display during courtship or when competing against rival males

When a male peacock spider senses a female it begins the mating ritual by lifting its legs and flashing its stomach in a sequence that looks like a dance routine.

Their courtship dances involve a complex series of ritualised movements as they waggle their legs in the air and vibrate their abdomens.

The females carefully study the colouring, vibrations and movements of the male to make sure the potential suitor is healthy and the correct species to mate with.

Once he has mated, he will repeat this dance with as many females as he can find.

Blue-ringed octopuses are one of the most deadly creatures in the oceans

THE BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS

Blue-ringed octopuses are one of the most deadly creatures in the oceans.

The animals live in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans around Japan and Australia.

Despite being fairly small in size (12 to 20 centimetres), they are dangerous to humans if provoked, because they release deadly venom.

They can be identified by their characteristic blue and black rings, and yellowish skin, which helps them camouglage amongst the coral.

When the octopus is provoked, the brown patches darken dramatically, and the blue rings pulsate.

GROVE SNAILS

Grove snails are one of the most common snails in Europe and North America. The background colour of the shell can sometimes be very pale, but can also be yellow, brown, pink or even black

Grove snails are one of the most common snails in Europe and North America,

You may not always recognise them as grove snails, as their shell colour and banding varies hugely.

The background colour of the shell can sometimes be very pale, but can also be yellow, brown, pink or even black.

Researchers believe this variability is due to different natural selection pressures in different areas  for example, in woodland areas, the snails tend to be darker to camouflage.




The crusades saw Christian soldiers wield a terrifying array of medieval weaponry, including powerful crossbows, wickedly spiked maces and swords large enough to cleave a man in two.

But in the bloody battles over the Holy Land, the crusaders faced, and perhaps also used, weapons that were far ahead of their time  hand grenades.

Now one of these early explosive devices has been pulled from the sea in northern Israel.

A 700-year-old hand grenade (pictured) made from clay has been found in the sea off the coast of northern Israel. It is thought to date from around the time of the Crusades and would have been filled with a flammable liquid with a fuse poked in the top

HISTORY OF THE GRENADE Although they rose to prominence as weapons during the 20th century, grenades have a long history. They are first thought to have been used by the Byzantine Empire from around the seventh century AD. Clay vessels were filled with flammable liquid known as Greek fire and flung at the enemy. They were often piled into catapults to increase the range and devastation they caused. They were popular weapons in naval battles as the fire could easily spread on ships and cause devastation. From around the 12th century Muslims in Syria were also known to use clay and glass grenades. The Chinese also began packing gunpowder into clay or glass containers to make grenades in around 1044AD. By the 14th Century they had started to use cast iron to hold the gunpowder. By the 17th Century cast iron gunpowder based grenades, which used a fuse in the top, were being used in Europe and regiments of grenadiers were formed. However, by the Napoleonic wars the use of hand grenades had fallen out of use until they were revived in the trench warfare of the First World War. Advertisement

The clay device, which would have been filled with a flammable liquid with a burning fuse poked through a hole in the top, is thought to be about 700 years old.

These grenades were flung at enemy ships in an attempt to burn the wooden vessels.

Diego Barkan, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, told MailOnline: 'These hand grenades were being used in the Byzantine and early Islamic period right up until the Ottomans.

'It is made of a heavy clay and would have been used much like a Molotov cocktail.

'Inside they would have put alcohol and lit a fuse poked in a hole in the top before throwing it towards the enemy ships.'

The grenade was recovered from the sea, along with a haul of other ancient artefacts, over several years by Marcel Mazliah, a worker at the Hadera power plant in northern Israel.

His family handed them over to the Israel Antiquities Authority following his death.

The oldest of the objects in the collection include a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age knife head and a toggle pin.

Metal mortar and pestles, along with fragments of candlesticks dating to the 11th Century AD  known as the Fatimid period  were also among the collection.

The hand grenade is similar to those sued during the Crusades between the 11th to 13th Century and until the Mamluk period from the 13th Century to the 16th Century.

However, some experts believe these fist sized vessels were actually used to carry perfume.

The grenade was part of a larger collection featuring many metal vessels, mortars and pestles (pictured) collected from the sea over several years by a worker at a power plant in northern Israel. It is thought they fell overboard from a medieval merchant ship

A toggle pin and the head of a Bronze Age knife estimated to be around 3,500-years-old (pictured) were among the oldest objects in the collection

The hand grenade is shaped like an acorn and decorated with tear-drop shapes. It has a hole in the top where a fuse may have been placed and lit before it was thrown (pictured). However, some scholars believe these vessels were actually used to carry perfume

Mr Barkan said: 'There are some scholars who believe these were ornaments or used to simply carry liquid. There is no agreement about what they were used for.'

The one found in the sea by Mr Mazliah is carefully shaped like an acorn and decorated with a series of straight lines and tear-drop shapes.

Ayala Lester, a curator at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said it appears many of the objects in the collection had probably fallen overboard from a medieval metal merchant's ship.

She said: 'The items were apparently manufactured in Syria and were brought to Israel.

'The finds are evidence of the metal trade that was conducted during this period.'

The artefacts were pulled from the sea by a worker at the Hadera power plant in north Israel

Experts believe the objects had been made in Syria and were being transported to Israel (an employee at the Israel Antiquities Authority examines the finds in the pictures above)
Advertisement

Climate change has begun to reshape ecosystems around the world, and soon, many species could be forced to find new homes in order to survive.

But for migrating animals, human developments may be standing in the way; in the United States alone, less than half of the natural land space can now facilitate the paths of these species.

In a hypnotic new visualization, researchers have mapped the projected movement patterns of mammals, amphibians, and birds across North and South America as they follow hospitable climates.

The map illustrates potential migration paths of mammals, birds, and amphibians in response to climate change

The moving map shows how mammals, birds, and amphibians in the United States will primarily begin flocking towards the north, with many heading closer to the coasts on their way up to Canada. In the map, mammal are in pink, birds in blus and amphibians in yellow.

The animation comes from researchers from the University of Washington and The Nature Conservancy, who plotted the movement of 2954 species based on climate change estimates.

The team connected these species current habitats with those they are expected to inhabit in the future, as climate patterns shift, using flow models from electronic circuit theory to visualize the routes.

While the map highlights the big picture view of the phenomenon rather than local patterns, they do show how human development could soon pose challenges to these migrating species.

According to new research, just 41 percent of the natural land area in the US retains enough connectivity to facilitate species tracking their preferred climate conditions as the global climate changes, Cool Green Science, The Nature Conservancys blog, explains.

The moving map shows how mammals, birds, and amphibians in the United States will primarily begin flocking towards the north, with many heading closer to the coasts on their way up to Canada.

CLIMATE CHANGE WILL CAUSE ANIMALS TO SEEK NEW HOMES Researchers have found that climate change is altering ecosystems across the globe, and many species may soon have to migrate to follow the conditions necessary for their survival. In a previous study, they determined that the Amazon Basin, southeastern United States, and southeastern Brazil will have high densities of climate-driven movement, Cool Green Science explains. But, according to the new research, just 41 percent of the natural land area in the US retains enough connectivity to facilitate species tracking their preferred climate conditions as the global climate changes.' While the map highlights the big picture view of the phenomenon rather than local patterns, they do show how human development could soon pose challenges to these migrating species - but the researchers say there are ways we can help. There are a number of ways that conservationists and land managers can re-build or maintain connectivity to improve species ability to adapt to warmer temperatures, the researchers explain. Removing fencing, adding wildlife overpasses (or underpasses) to major roadways, and better routing of infrastructure like pipelines and powerlines can all help re-connect areas fragmented by human development. Advertisement

Those already at higher latitudes  starting in Alaska and Canada  will also migrate toward more northern regions, some heading eastward to cross over the land.

South America, however, may experience diverging migration patterns.

As some species head closer to the equator, predominantly birds and amphibians, others will make their way down to the southernmost tip of the continent, toward the South Pole.

The moving map shows how mammals, birds, and amphibians in the United States will primarily begin flocking towards the north, with many heading closer to the coasts on their way up to Canada. South America, however, may experience diverging migration patterns

And, many will move south along the coasts of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

The maps combine new data on the needs and distribution of thousands of species, in relation to land use and climate change projections, with findings from an earlier study.

In the previous work, researchers determined that the Amazon Basin, southeastern United States, and southeastern Brazil will have high densities of climate-driven movement, the blog explains.

While the visualization may raise alarms about the impacts human development on these migration routes, the researchers say there are ways humans can help to facilitate the process.

There are a number of ways that conservationists and land managers can re-build or maintain connectivity to improve species ability to adapt to warmer temperatures, the researchers explain.
Robots have been illustrated as humans mechanical servants, but experts are determined to turn these cyborgs into emotional synthetic beings.

Now, researchers brought the two of the world's most advanced robots together to test their reactions by showing them the trailer for the horror flick Morgan.

Edi vocalizes its fear with phrases such as Oh no, I cant watch and although FACE is silent, it offers its thoughts' by eerily moving its eyes, mouth and head.

Scroll down for videos

TWO OF THE MOST ADVANCED ROBOTS IN THE WORLD Edi (Electronic Deceptive Intelligence) is the brainchild of magicLab.ny, which looks at how illusion can be used when combined with technology. Edi is a fitted with a range sensors, has long robotic arms and a screen that displays a cartoon face. As this machine watches the trailer, it makes its reaction clear with expressive facial features on a screen. FACE (Facial Automaton for Conveying Emotions) was developed by researchers at the University of Pisa. This cyborg, although quiet, has a human-like appearance. The artificial skull is covered by a skin made of Frubber, a silicone-based material that is flexible enough to allow subtle human-like movements. While watching the trailer, FACE used its eyes, mouth and jaw to express its 'thoughts'. Advertisement

Morgan, directed by Luke Scott, is a 20th Century Fox film that is set to be released on September 2.

This horror flick tells the story of a corporate risk-management consultant (Kate Mara) who is sent to investigate a bioengineered child (Anya Taylor-Joy), and determine whether or not the artificial being should be terminated.

Interestingly, this film seems to coincide with the two robots designed by magicLab and the University of Pisa, as the inventors behind these technologies are also focused on developing synthetic beings.

If robots would have the ability to experience emotion, that would start a completely new chapter in who we are and how we interact with these kind of machines, Marco Tempest with magicLab.ny.said in a video.

That is an equally frightening and exciting outlook.

Edi, which is short for Electronic Deceptive Intelligence, is the brain child of magicLab.nyc.

This robot is fitted with a range sensors, has long robotic arms and a screen that displays a cartoon face.

He has a lot of sensors and cameras in his wrists which gauge how close I am to Edi, shared Daniele Mazzei, a researcher at the University of Pisa.

There is a camera in the face with sonar range that creates a point cloud of distance between moving objects around him.

researchers brought two robots together to test their reactions by showing them the trailer for the horror flick Morgan. Edi (left) vocalizes its fear with phrases such as Oh no, I cant watch and although FACE (right) is silent, it offers its thoughts' by eerily moving its eyes, mouth and head

AI THAT WILL THINK LIKE HUMANS SET TO BE UNVIELD WITHIN A YEAR Researchers in Russia are expected to reveal an emotional computer within a year and a half, which will be able to think like a person and build up trust, its creators say. The system, called 'Virtual Actor', is being created by the National Research Nuclear University in Moscow. The researchers say it will understand the context of what is going on, as well as keeping up with unfolding events. The machine needs the ability to study not through programming or reinforcement learning, but as a thinking person, the researchers said. 'Any action has an emotional connotation, as a result of which certain relations develop, such as trust, subordination, leadership,' the lead researcher said. Advertisement

In the reaction clip, Edi can be seen changing facial expressions on its front screen and even covers its eyes during an intense scene of the trailer.

That music is scary, it says in the beginning of the trailer.

Thats scary, that is definitely scary.

If I had nails, I would have bitten them, it says after the showing had ended.

In the reaction clip, Edi (left) can be seen changing facial expressions on its front screen and even covers its eyes during an intense scene of the trailer. FACE (right) may be the silent type, but this cyborg is designed with a more human-like appearance

Morgan, directed by Luke Scott, is a 20th Century Fox film that is set to be released on September 2

FACE may be the silent type, but this cyborg is designed with a more human-like appearance.

The artificial skull is covered by a skin made of Frubber, a silicone-based material that is flexible enough to allow subtle human-like movements.

Created by the University of Pissa, this life-like android is designed to present emotional information through facial expressions.

Our research is directed to make FACE social and attractive providing it of aesthetic refinements and human-like behaviors to be able to emotionally engage people in social interactions, explains the researchers.

During the showing of the trailer, FACE made facial expressions during specific scenes.

When Morgan finds a way out of her prison, FACE turns its head towards the camera, eyes wide open and jaw dropped.

However, when the bioengineered child escapes from the facility, FACE eerily smiles and its eyes squint with satisfaction.

Edi (pictured), which is short for Electronic Deceptive Intelligence, is the brain child of magicLab.nyc. This robot is fitted with a range sensors, has long robotic arms and a screen that displays a cartoonish face

FACE (pictured) has an artificial skull that is covered by a skin made of Frubber, a silicone-based material that is flexible enough to allow subtle human-like movements. Created by the University of Pissa, this life-like android is designed to present emotional information through facial expressions

'On the other side there is a problem known as uncanny valley,' said Mazzei.

'As far as I know, as a robot becomes more expressive, more human like it elicits fear in human beings.'

'And this is natural because this is part of our cognitive process.'
Apple says it is issuing a security update after powerful espionage software was found targeting an activist's iPhone in the Middle East.

Computer forensics experts say the spyware takes advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in Apple's mobile operating system to take complete control of iPhone handsets.

They worked with Apple to fix the bugs, known as Trident - and Apple today issued its fix.

Apple says it is issuing a security update after powerful espionage software was found targeting an activist's iPhone in the Middle East.

HOW TO UPDATE All individuals should update to the latest version of iOS immediately, experts have warned. If you're unsure what version you're running, you can check Settings > General > About > Version. The latest, safe, version is called 9.3.5 Advertisement

'The threat actor has never been caught before,' said Mike Murray, a researcher with Lookout, describing the program as 'the most sophisticated spyware package we have seen in the market.'

Two reports published Thursday by the San Francisco-based Lookout and internet watchdog group Citizen Lab outline how the spyware could compromise an iPhone with the tap of a finger, a trick so coveted in the world of cyberespionage that one spyware broker said last year that it had paid a $1 million dollar bounty to programmers who'd found a way to do it.

'We were made aware of this vulnerability and immediately fixed it with iOS 9.3.5.' Apple told Dailymail.com.

'We advise all of our customers to always download the latest version of iOS to protect themselves against potential security exploits.'

On August 10th and 11th, Mansoor received text messages promising 'secrets' about detainees tortured in UAE jails if he clicked on an included link

Arie van Deursen, a professor of software engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said both reports were credible and disturbing. Forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski described the malicious program as a 'serious piece of spyware.'

Trident is used in a spyware product called Pegasus, which according to an investigation by Citizen Lab, is developed by an organization called NSO Group.

NSO Group is a highly secretive Israeli-based organization that was acquired by U.S. company Francisco Partners Management in 2010, and according to news reports specializes in 'cyber war.'

In a statement which stopped short of acknowledging that the spyware was its own, the NSO Group said its mission was to provide 'authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime.'

The company said it had no knowledge of any particular incidents. It said it would not make any further comment.

WHO IS BEHIND THE ATTACKS? Trident is used in a spyware product called Pegasus, which according to an investigation by Citizen Lab, is developed by an organization called NSO Group. NSO Group is an Israeli-based organization that was acquired by U.S. company Francisco Partners Management in 2010, and according to news reports specializes in 'cyber war.' Founded in Israel five years ago by entrepreneurs Omri Lavie and Shalev Hulio, NSO makes software that secretly targets a user's mobile phone and gathers information, including text messages, photos and internet browning data. 'We're a complete ghost,' NSO co-founder Omri Lavie told Defense News, a military trade publication, last summer. 'We're totally transparent to the target, and we leave no traces.' A diagram from purported NSO Group Pegasus documentation showing the sequence through which the spyware ('Agent') is installed on a target's mobile device. Source: Hacking Team Emails. Advertisement

Pegasus is highly advanced in its use of zero-days, obfuscation, encryption, and kernel-level exploitation.

The researcher say the software was used to target Ahmed Mansoor, an internationally recognized human rights defender and a Martin Ennals Award Laureate, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

'On August 10th and 11th, he received text messages promising 'secrets' about detainees tortured in UAE jails if he clicked on an included link,' lookout said.

'Instead of clicking, Mansoor sent the messages to Citizen Lab researchers.'

Recognizing the links as belonging to an exploit infrastructure connected to NSO group, Citizen Lab collaborated with Lookout to determine that the links led to a chain of zero-day exploits that would have jailbroken Mansoor's iPhone and installed sophisticated malware.

Once infected, Mansoor's phone would have become a digital spy in his pocket, Citizen Lab said, 'capable of employing his iPhone's camera and microphone to snoop on activity in the vicinity of the device, recording his WhatsApp and Viber calls, logging messages sent in mobile chat apps, and tracking his movements'.

'The iPhone has a well-deserved reputation for security,' Citizen Lab said.

This marks the third time Mansoor has been targeted with 'lawful intercept' malware. Previous Citizen Lab research found that in 2011 he was targeted with FinFisher spyware, and in 2012 with Hacking Team spyware.

'We are not aware of any previous instance of an iPhone remote jailbreak used in the wild as part of a targeted attack campaign, making this a rare find.'

This marks the third time Mansoor has been targeted with 'lawful intercept' malware. Previous Citizen Lab research found that in 2011 he was targeted with FinFisher spyware, and in 2012 with Hacking Team spyware.

The use of such expensive tools against Mansoor shows the lengths that governments are willing to go to target activists.

THE TRIDENT BUGS The exploit used a combination of three bugs, all now fixed: CVE-2016-4657: Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to arbitrary code execution CVE-2016-4655: An application may be able to disclose kernel memory CVE-2016-4656: An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges Advertisement

Citizen Lab also said it found evidence that state-sponsored actors used NSO's exploit infrastructure against a Mexican journalist who reported on corruption by Mexico's head of state, and an unknown target or targets in Kenya.

The NSO group used fake domains, impersonating sites such as the International Committee for the Red Cross, the U.K. government's visa application processing website, and a wide range of news organizations and major technology companies.

'This nods toward the targeted nature of this software,' said Lookout.

Ahmed Mansoor, a well-known human rights defender, first alerted Citizen Lab to the spyware after receiving an unusual text message on Aug. 10.

Promising to reveal details about torture in the United Arab Emirates' prisons, the unknown sender included a suspicious-looking link at the bottom of the message.

Mansoor wasn't convinced. Not only had he been imprisoned, beaten, robbed and had his passport confiscated by the authorities over the years, Mansoor had also repeatedly found himself in the crosshairs of electronic eavesdropping operations. In fact Mansoor already had the dubious distinction of having weathered attacks from two separate brands of commercial spyware.

And when he shared the suspicious text with Citizen Lab researcher Bill Marczak, they realized he'd been targeted by a third.

Marczak, who'd already been looking into the NSO Group, said he and fellow-researcher John Scott-Railton turned to Lookout for help picking apart the malicious program, a process which Murray compared to 'defusing a bomb.'

'It is amazing the level they've gone through to avoid detection,' he said of the software's makers. 'They have a hair-trigger self-destruct.'

Working feverishly over a two-week period, the researchers found that Mansoor had been targeted by an unusually sophisticated piece of software which likely cost a small fortune to arm.

'Ahmed Mansoor is a million-dollar human rights defender,' Scott-Railton said.

The apparent discovery of Israeli-made spyware being used to target a dissident in the United Arab Emirates raises awkward questions for both countries.

The use of Israeli technology to police its own citizens is an uncomfortable strategy for an Arab country with no formal diplomatic ties to the Jewish state.

And Israeli complicity in a cyberattack on an Arab dissident would seem to run counter to the country's self-description as a bastion of democracy in the Middle East.

Authorities in both countries did not return calls seeking comment.

Attorney Eitay Mack, who advocates for more transparency in Israeli arms exports, said his country's exports of surveillance software were not closely policed.

'Surveillance is not considered a lethal weapon,' Mack said. And Israeli regulations 'don't take into consideration human rights or that it would be used by a government to oppress dissidents.'

He noted that Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated ties with Arab Gulf states. Netanyahu in 2014 urged Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join him in the war on terrorism.
It is a bizarre disappearing act that only the most affluent seem to be able to afford.

Dozens of million dollar homes in some of the world's most exclusive areas have mysteriously disappeared from Google's Street View - and nobody knows why.

They include the homes of Kim and Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake and Drake, who all reside in the suitably named 'Hidden Hills' in California, along with other gated communities.

Scroll down for video

23726 Long Valley Road in Hidden Hills, California (red dot)is just one of the gated communitys 648 homes that seem to have vanished from Google Street View, suggesting the rich and famous may be paying for their privacy. All the streets in blue can. However, all the streets in Hidden Hills (gray) prohibit users from getting a curbside view

WHAT IS MISSING FROM GOOGLE STREET VIEW? There are 648 home built in Hidden Hills, California, a gated community 20 minutes outside of Los Angeles. When users type in an address in the neighborhood, such as 23726 Long Valley Road, into Google Street View the entire community seems to not exists. As shown on the Google Street View map, all the streets that can be accessed are highlighted in blue. However, shift your sights to Hidden Hills and the streets change color, prohibiting users from taking a peak through the streets. This new way of living of the grid has sparked a trend throughout California, as there are more neighborhoods that shield themselves from the public by refusing to appear on Street View, including Bradbury and Bell Canyon  both are deemed elite communities in the US. Advertisement

The move is also making life difficult for potential homeowners.

For example, the home at 23726 Long Valley Road in Hidden Hills, California is stunning - yet according to Google, not there.

With six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and two swimming pools, this location gains plenty of attention through real estate ads, but perspective buyers looking to get a curbside view online are been unable to do so.

This high-end California home is just one of the gated communitys 648 homes that seem to have vanished from Google Street View, suggesting the rich and famous residents may be paying for their privacy.

When plugging in the Long Valley Road address, or any home in the community, the online maps will only show the areas street routes and names.

Anyone looking for a curbside view of the properties in Hidden Hills will find no evidence of them, reports Kate Allen with The Financial Times.

As shown on the Google Street View map, all the streets that can be accessed are highlighted in blue.

However, shift your sights to Hidden Hills and the streets change color, prohibiting users from taking a peak through the streets.

DailyMail.com has contacted Google and has yet to hear a response.

Hidden Hills is a city and gated community that is situated 20 minutes outside of Los Angeles.

It contains 648 houses on just a little less than two square miles of land that is surrounded by a massive fence and three checkpoints monitoring who goes in and out.

The home at 23726 Long Valley Road in Hidden Hills (pictured), California is something to be desired. With six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, marble floors and a pool, this location has gained plenty of attention through real estate ads, but perspective buyers have said they are unable to find it online

This new way of 'living of the grid' has sparked a trend throughout California, as there are more neighborhoods that shield themselves from the public by refusing to appear on Street View, including Bradbury and Bell Canyon  both deemed elite communities in the US

Kanye and Kim West, Miley Cyrus, Justin and Drake reside in this mysterious community and of course value their privacy, which may include banning Googles vehicles from snapping photos of their streets or paying them simply stay away.

But we live in a world where privacy is perhaps the greatest luxury anyone can buy and the rich and famous residents of Hidden Hills have splurged to protect their homes from thieves and other unwelcome visitors.

It contains 648 houses on just a little less than two square miles of land, which is surrounded by a massive fence and three checkpoints monitoring who goes in and out. Kanye and Kim West (pictured), Miley Cyrus, Justin and Drake are just a few of the famous residents of Hidden Hills

This new way of 'living off the grid' has sparked a trend throughout California, as there are more neighborhoods that shield themselves from the public by refusing to appear on Street View, including Bradbury and Bell Canyon  both deemed elite communities in the US.

The individuals of affluent areas are not just blocking the publics view online, they have a few tricks to make sure no one follows them home.

Some have been known to block location trackers such as GPS using jamming signals that would prevent others from watching their tracks.

However, this technology is legally questionable in many jurisdictions and have been banned in some areas.

The rich and famous residents of this mysterious community and of course value their privacy, which may include banning Googles vehicles (pictured) from snapping photos of their streets or paying them simply stay away

This technology disrupts communications between satellites and location detectors that can be found in everyday devices like smartphones, digital pedometers and smartwatches.

On a larger scale of property protection, architects are experimenting with new ways that can conceal an entire building, such as putting it underground.

An example of this method can be found near Hampstead in London, with a three bedroom, three bath home that is situated underneath a row of lock-up garages.

For elite individuals who would rather stay above ground, architects are exploring other stealth designs. JaK Studio in London proposed a method that covers the upper floors of a home in Brockley (pictured) with cleverly placed mirrors and state-of-the art glass

Deemed Britains first invisible house, the two-bedroom property features glass on the upper walls in an attempt to camouflage it with its surroundings by reflecting the outside environment

This residence sits behind a mansion block and, although the setup is partially due to the tight planning regulations, it appears to be an underground oasis.

For elite individuals who would rather stay above ground, architects are exploring other stealth designs.

Londons Post Office Tower (pictured), which opened in 1965, was able to stay away from all the cities maps for decades

JaK Studio in London proposed a method that covers the upper floors of a home in Brockley with cleverly placed mirrors and state-of-the art glass.

Deemed Britains first invisible house, the two-bedroom property features glass on the upper walls in an attempt to camouflage it with its surroundings by reflecting the outside environment.

However, the ultimate way to hide from the public is to move your home completely off the grid and supply your own resources such as electricity and water.

Going off the grid has become very popular over the years, as some 180,000 households in the US have ventured out into the wilderness.

The Three Rivers Recreation Area in Oregon is one example and is home to about 80 individuals on more than 4,000 acres of land.

Those who call this place home have built a private airstrip, desert golf course and enjoy hiking trails and a marina.

And just like Hidden Hills, this recreation area is also missing on Google Street View.

Concealing properties from displaying on maps isnt a new trend.

Londons Post Office Tower, which opened in 1965, was able to stay away from all the cities maps for decades.
Advertisement

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi film - an AI that constantly monitors the Earth, looks for unusual activity.

However, CosmiQ Works, a division of the CIA's venture arm, has revealed SpaceNet, a project with Amazon, satellite mapping firm DigitalGlobe and chip firm Nvidia to train algorithms to work out what's happening on our planet.

The project will create a giant online database of hi-res images that AIs will be able to use to teach themselves - and started with images of Rio during the Olympics.

Scroll down for video

SpaceNet will launch with an initial contribution of DigitalGlobe multi-spectral satellite imagery and 200,000 curated building footprints across the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pictured, the main Olympic stadium from the data.

'Each minute something is happening in the world,' said said Tony Frazier, Senior Vice President at DigitalGlobe.

'While commercial constellations are poised to collect imagery at global scale, we must advance our ability to analyze data to realize its full potential.'

'SpaceNet is key to unlocking a huge explosion of new AI-driven applications that ultimately will help us better respond to natural disasters, counter global security threats, improve population health outcomes, and much more.

The Marine da Gloria (left) and Fort Copacabana, also part of the 200,000 building footprints across the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil released as part of the the project.

The Series T-800 Robot, in 'Terminator Genisys': The franchise features an AI called Skynet that gained self-awareness after it had spread into millions of computer servers all across the world.

SpaceNet will launch with an initial contribution of DigitalGlobe multi-spectral satellite imagery and 200,000 curated building footprints across the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

It is a collaboration between DigitalGlobe, CosmiQ Works, and NVIDIA, and the imagery is now freely available as a public data set on Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS).

'Innovation of AI algorithms is fueled by large, high-quality, labeled datasets like SpaceNet and flexible, open-source machine learning tools,' said Dr. Jon Barker, Solutions Architect at NVIDIA, best known for its computer graphics chips.

'Researchers will be able to create high-impact geospatial applications by applying our DIGITS deep learning tool to the SpaceNet data corpus.'

Hockey from high: Each Olympic vernue was captured as part of the project

The velodrome from Space: WorldView-3 is one of five Earth-observation satellites being used by DigitalGlobe.

UBER GETS HIGH-RES MAPS TO FIND CUSTOMERS Uber and DigitalGlobe have teamed up 'to help identify and improve pickup and drop-off locations'. Using constellation sensors, the duo will access imagery and location intelligence that will give drivers power to see exactly where you are. DigitalGlobe has developed cutting-edge scans of the Earth 'with the highest accuracy and resolution' in visible and non-visible wavelengths. This partnership will help Uber create maps in order to easily and accurately locate users. Advertisement

GPU-accelerated deep learning has led to huge breakthroughs in the field of computer vision.

Most of this innovation has occurred through research enabled by ImageNet, a database of 14 million photographs labeled in over 20,000 categories.

The Olympic tennis center was also part of the image release.

The Aquatics centre (left) and BMX track (right) can also be seen

SpaceNet aims to facilitate similar advances in automating the detection and extraction of features in satellite imagery, fueled by the massive amount of information about our changing planet that DigitalGlobe collects every day, and that of emerging commercial satellite imagery providers.

Until now, high-resolution satellite imagery has not been readily accessible for data scientists and developers to build meaningful computer vision algorithms.

SpaceNet will for the first time open access to a large corpus of curated, high-resolution satellite imagery to incubate algorithm development.

The Pontal: This temporary beachside facility, located in Rio de Janeiro's Western Zone, is the start and finish line for the Rio 2016 road cycling time trials and race walk competitions.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history,' and with a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter has been plagued with issues.

But it appeared the tide had finally turned earlier this month when the U.S. Air Force has declared an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35A fighter jets ready for combat.

Now, the Pentagon's director of operational testing has poured cold water on the announcement, slamming the planes readiness.

Scroll down for video

The Pentagon's director of testing said it is 'not on a path toward success but instead on a path toward failing to deliver' the plane's full combat capabilities on time, according to Bloomberg.

BATTLE READY? The software on the F-35 is being constantly upgraded. In 2017, its 3F software will be rolled out, which will give the the aircraft its full war-fighting capability, including the ability to launch certain types of weapons such as the Small Diameter Bomb. Other 3F changes, like improved pilot interfaces and displays, will make the plane easier to operate. Advertisement

Michael Gilmore, stated the F-35 is 'actually not on a path toward success but instead on a path toward failing to deliver' the plane's full combat capabilities on time, according to Bloomberg.

Gilmore also said the plane is 'running out of time and money' to address deficiencies

'Achieving full combat capability with the Joint Strike Fighter is at substantial risk' of not occurring before development is supposed to end and realistic combat testing begins, he said of the F-35.

The U.S. Air Force has declared an initial squadron of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35A fighter jets ready for combat, marking a major milestone for a program that has faced cost overruns and delays.

However, the most complex software capabilities 'are just being added' and new problems requiring fixes and verification testing 'continue to be discovered at a substantial rate,' Gilmore wrote to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James; General David Goldfein, the service's chief of staff; and Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's acquisitions chief.

The action is another achievement for the $379 billion program, the Pentagon's largest weapons project.

The Air Force's decision follows one by the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2015 declaring a first squadron of F-35s ready for combat.

'The U.S. Air Force decision to make the 15 F-35As ... combat ready sends a simple and powerful message to America's friends and foes alike - the F-35 can do its mission,' the program's chief, Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, said in a statement.

Dan Grazier, a fellow of the Project On Government Oversight, said, however, 'This is nothing but a public relations stunt.'

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history.' But despite a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter has been plagued with issues. Pictured is a F-35B aircraft prepares for a landing at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. Now, a new report says the craft could finally be battle ready later this year.

He added that it would not be possible to know if the F-35 jets were ready for combat until after initial operational testing.

'The program is not doing everything they wanted it to do ... But they're at a point now where it is stabilizing and so it is progress,' said Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Officials say the F-35 will give the U.S. military the ability to detect enemy aircraft and other threats far beyond current ranges, allowing the jets to strike targets and disappear long before they are detected.

The U.S. Air Force plans to buy a total of 1,763 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jets in coming years and will operate the largest F-35 fleet in the world.

Air Force General Herbert Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said work to upgrade the jet would continue in areas such as software, making the displays more intuitive and boosting the ability to share information between aircraft.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH ITS 1970S PREDECESSOR, THE F-16 JET? F-35 Role: Stealth multirole fighter First flight: December 15, 2006 Unit cost (not including engine): F-35A - $98million F-35B - $104million F-35C - $116million Number built: 115 (as of November 2014) Length: 15.67m Wingspan: 10.7m Height: 4.33m Max speed (F-35A): 1,930kph Armament: One of the most highly-anticipated features of the F-35 armament is the Small Diameter Bomb II (SBD II).The bomb is able to guide towards its target using laser, imaging infrared or radar homing. It can hit moving or stationary targets in any weather, or at night, with unprecedented reliability and accuracy. The 'super weapon' is predicted to be the most versatile air-to-ground munition in the Pentagon's air combat inventory. The cost per SDB II is said to be around $250,000 and the US military plans on buying as many as 17,000 of them. F-16 Role: Multirole fighter First flight: January 20, 1974 Unit cost: F-16A/B - $14.6million F-16C/D - $18.8million Number built: 4,540+ Length: 15.06m Wingspan: 9.96m Height: 4.88m Max speed (F-16C): 2,120kph Combat history: The F-16 has served in the Air Forces of 26 nations, including the U.S., Israel, Egypt, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. During Operation Desert Storm, the 1991 assault on Iraq, F-16s flew over 13,000 operations, more than any other Coalition aircraft. The U.S. has employed the F-16 in operations over the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya. At its production peak in 1987, the F-16 team in Fort Worth was also making history, by producing 30 F-16s in just 30 days. Thanks to frequent upgrades improving and incorporating new technologies into the cockpit, avionics, sensors and weapons, the aircraft has become more reliable over its 40 years. Advertisement

The aircraft could provide basic air support at this point but did not have everything the final version would, such as an infrared pointer, Carlisle said, adding that he would try to get the jets deployed to Europe and the Pacific within 18 months.

Lockheed is building three models of the F-35 Lightning II for the U.S. military and 10 countries that have already ordered the jets: Britain, Australia, Norway, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and Japan.

The Pentagon's F-35 program office said it remained in negotiations with Lockheed over long-delayed contracts for the next two batches of F-35 jets, deals worth about $15 billion.

'We're seeking a fair deal for the F-35 enterprise and industry,' said F-35 program spokesman Joe DellaVedova.

The program, launched in 2001, has made strides in recent years after huge cost overruns and technical problems that sent the project's cost up nearly 70 percent.

Problems with the fighter jet included issues with the radar software and increased risk of neck injury to lower-weight pilots when they ejected from the aircraft.

Last year researchers revealed the hugely delayed and over budget project has finally fired its first shots in the air. The F-35A Lightning II completed the first three airborne gunfire bursts from its internal Gun Airborne Unit (GAU)-22/A 25mm Gatling gun system during a California test flight on October 30th

Industry and U.S. defense officials say they are working hard to continue driving down the cost of the new warplanes to $85 million per plane by 2019, as well as the cost of operating them.

Senator John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he welcomed the announcement but made clear he intended to keep a close eye on the hugely expensive program.

With a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter could finally be battle ready later this year, a new report claims.

'The Senate Armed Services Committee will continue to exercise rigorous oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter program's long-delayed System Development and Demonstration phase as well as the start of the operational test and evaluation phase,' McCain said in a statement.

To become battle ready, at least a dozen individual F-35 must demonstrate their ability to drop bombs and shoot down other planes.

Each jet must be upgraded to a specific software package, and plugged into the complex logistics cloud that manages maintenance.

Workers can be seen on the moving line and forward fuselage assembly areas for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Lockheed Martin Corp's factory located in Fort Worth, Texas

ALIS: THE 'BRAINS' OF THE F35 The problem is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). It is designed to support operations, mission planning and to spot any maintenance issues with the vehicle. It also allows pilots to plan missions and look back at their their performance. ALIS receives Health Reporting Codes via a radio frequency downlink while the F-35 is still in flight; this enables the pre-positioning of parts and qualified maintainers so that when the aircraft lands, downtime is minimised. Advertisement

The F-35 project office had previously set an Aug. 1 target date.

The project has been plagued with delays.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's record on cost, schedule and performance has been a scandal and a tragedy, Senator John McCain told senior Pentagon officials earlier this year.

McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the aircraft's development schedule has stretched to 15 years, deliveries of the F-35 have been delayed, and costs have skyrocketed.

'It's been a scandal and the cost overruns have been disgraceful,' McCain said.

Most recently, problems with its logistics software system grounded the entire fleet.

The issue is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS).

A Government Accountability Office report says a failure 'could take the entire fleet offline' because there is no backup system.

The report also says a lack of testing done of the software will mean it's not ready for its deployment by the Air Force in August and the Navy in 2018.

The 'brains' of the F35 are one of three major components, with the other two being the engine and airframe.

CNN points out that the software runs on ground computers rather than operating on the plane itself.

It is designed to support operations, mission planning and to spot any maintenance issues with the vehicle.

'Program officials said that if ALIS is not fully functional, the F-35 could not be operated as frequently as intended,' the report said.

'But a DoD commissioned plan found that schedule slippage and functionality problems with ALIS could lead to $20-100 billion in additional costs.'

So far, the software has been so flawed that maintenance crews have had to resort labour-intensive alternatives.

According to National Interest, in one instance maintainers had to manually burn data onto CDs and to send the massive files across a civilian WiFi network.

One major problem, the report said, is that the F-35 data produced goes through a single main operating unit which has no back up.

'The F-35 is still in development, and this is the time when technical challenges are expected,' Lt. Genernal Chris Bogdon told CNN.

'However, we believe the combined government and industry team will resolve current issues and future discoveries,' he said.

Lead defense contractor for the plane, Lockheed Martin, insists development of the logistics software is on schedule.

a new report says problems with its logistics software system could ground the entire fleet. The problem is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS)

'As ALIS development continues, our focus is on the warfighter and delivering the most effective, efficient fleet management system to sustain the F-35 over the next five decades of operations,' said Sharon Parsley, a spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin.

'The recommendations by the GAO are in line with the actions already underway in preparation for full-rate production and worldwide sustainment.'

As well as this month's report, a recent Pentagon report has revealed a massive list of potentially lethal bugs still facing the jet. Pictured is the F-35A, which recently completed its first aerial gun test

This isn't the only problem to plague the program.

Last month, it has emerged the jets complex radar system has a problem - it keeps crashing.

The software glitch that interferes with the ability of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter's AN/APG-81 AESA radar working in flight.

This poses the greatest threat to delaying US Air Force (USAF) plans to declare its jets operationally deployable, a top service official told Janes.

Major General Jeffrey Harrigian, director of the air force's F-35 integration office at the Pentagon, described the problem as 'radar stability - the radar's ability to stay up and running'.

'What would happen is they'd get a signal that says either a radar degrade or a radar fail -something that would force us to restart the radar,' Maj Gen Harrigian said

Another Pentagon report revealed a massive list of potentially lethal bugs still facing the jet.

It also found problems with the computer software, including 'in fusion, electronic warfare, and weapons employment result[ing] in ambiguous threat displays, limited ability to respond to threats, and a requirement for off-board sources to provide accurate coordinates for precision attack.'

Last year researchers revealed the hugely delayed and over budget project has finally fired its first shots in the air.

The F-35A Lightning II completed the first three airborne gunfire bursts from its internal Gun Airborne Unit (GAU)-22/A 25mm Gatling gun system during a California test flight on October 30th.

The F-35 also has a smart parts system to ensure everything is working within its limits, and can warn when parts need to be replaced.

However, the computerized maintenance management System, or CMMS, 'incorrectly authorizes older/inappropriate replacement parts.' the report said.

THE EJECTOR SEAT THAT COULD KILL Pilots under 136 pounds aren't allowed to fly any F-35 variant. Pilots under 165 pounds have a 1-in-4 chance of death and 100 percent chance of serious neck injury upon ejecting, according to the testing office. 'The testing showed that the ejection seat rotates backwards after ejection. This results in the pilot's neck becoming extended, as the head moves behind the shoulders in a 'chin up' position. When the parachute inflates and begins to extract the pilot from the seat (with great force), a 'whiplash' action occurs. The rotation of the seat and resulting extension of the neck are greater for lighter weight pilots,' the report states. Sophisticated: Footage from ground testing of the F-35A stealth jet at Edwards Air Force Base in California, shows the awesome firepower of the four-barrel Gatling gun embedded in the left wing Advertisement

It also fails to detect if it's been flying too fast and 'randomly prevented user logins' into its computerised control system.

In the first live firing test, three bursts of one 30 rounds and two 60 rounds each were fired from the aircraft's four-barrel, 25-millimeter Gatling gun.

In integrating the weapon into the stealthy F 35A airframe, the gun must be kept hidden behind closed doors to reduce its radar cross section until the trigger is pulled.

'The successful aerial gun test sortie was a culmination of several years' planning, which intensified in the first half of 2015 at the Edwards F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) Flight Test Squadron with a team of Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman personnel,' said Mike Glass, Edwards ITF flight test director.

'The results of this testing will be used in future blocks of testing, where the accuracy and mission effectiveness capabilities will be evaluated.'

The 25mm gun is embedded in the F-35A's left wing and is designed to be integrated in a way to maintain the F-35's very low observable criteria.

It will provide pilots with the ability to engage air-to-ground and air-to-air targets.

'At the end of the program's system development and demonstration phase in 2017, the F-35 will have an operational gun.
A snake-like robot could soon assist surgeons in the operating room.

The flexible system is best suited for minimally invasive surgeries, and can slither down a patients throat to reach typically hard to access areas.

Equipped with a high-definition camera and a joystick controller, the Flex Robotic System allows surgeons to navigate non-linear regions of the anatomy and avoid obstacles.

Scroll down for video

A snake-like robot could soon assist surgeons in the operating room. The flexible system is best suited for minimally invasive surgeries, and can slither down a patients throat to reach typically hard to access areas

The robotic OR assistant was first thought up in 2004 by Howie Choset, a professor at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Robotics Institute and co-founder of Medrobotics, Bloomberg reports.

Choset joined forces with Marco Zenati, then at the University of Pittsburgh, and CMU postdoc Alon Wolf, and together they co-founded Medrobotics the following year.

Now, the firm says its the worlds first commercially available robot of its kind.

HOW THE FLEX ROBOT WORKS The Flex Robotic System contains inner and outer mechanisms. The outer mechanism can be steered by the surgeon, and the inner component then follows to create a stable surgical platform for the operation, a video on the technology explains. The robotic assistant is steered using a joystick-like controller. Advertisement

The Flex Robotic System contains inner and outer mechanisms to optimize its capabilities.

The outer mechanism can be steered by the surgeon, and the inner component then follows to create a stable surgical platform for the operation, a video on the technology explains.

The Flex Robotic System contains inner and outer mechanisms to optimize its capabilities. The outer mechanism can be steered by the surgeon, and the inner component then follows to create a stable surgical platform for the operation, a video on the technology explains

This unique design allows surgeons to see more, reach more, treat more, according to the firm.

The Flex Robotic System offers surgeons the unique ability to define a non-linear path to a surgical site and achieve exposure that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with minimally invasive straight approaches, the video explains.

With the Medrobotics Flex Robotic System, the surgeon is able to define a path around anatomy and obtain the desired access and visualization of the surgical target.

The robotic assistant is steered using a joystick-like controller, and the video demonstrates how this can be used to guide the device in through the mouth and down the throat to access hard to reach locations in the body.

Based on its design, the firm says its controls are instinctive, minimizing the learning curve and allowing for easy integration into the operating room.

The technology could provide a more effective way of treating diseases through minimally invasive surgeries, and the firm has so far raised over $130 million in funding primarily from anonymous private investors, Bloomberg reports.

The robotic assistant is steered using a joystick-like controller, and the video demonstrates how this can be used to guide the device in through the mouth and down the throat to access hard to reach locations in the body

The Flex Robotic System is the first and only soft tissue soft tissue surgical robotic system designed to keep the surgeon near the patient throughout the procedure, the video explains.
They may be known as genteel seaside destinations where a delicious cream tea with homemade butter is never far away  but the Channel Islands are rarely viewed as the chicest of places. Or are they?

Guernsey, the second largest member of the club, has been upping its cool factor of late with elegant new hotel openings, a nice line in cutting-edge drinks and a late summer festival which is sure to set visitors' mouths watering. Here are a few of the attractions which might tempt you over to the isle during the next few weeks.

Moreish Guernsey: St Peter Port will be the hub of Guernsey International Food Festival

EASTERN PROMISES: The opening of the Ziggurat (hotelziggurat.com) has dropped a dash of Arabian flair into the English Channel.

This arty 14-room boutique hideaway, which looks across the island capital St Peter Port from a hillside address, has a Middle Eastern theme  guests are greeted by a statue of Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love, at the doorway; the menu in Ziggy's Bar includes a slow-cooked lamb tagine (13.50).

But there are also home touches  fridges in each room contain a bottle of fresh Guernsey milk. Doubles from 90 per night, including breakfast.

ALL IN GOOD TASTE: The island will show off its gourmet side via the forthcoming Guernsey International Food Festival (September 23 to October 2, visitguernsey.com/food-festival)  the second running of an event whose inaugural appearance in 2015 proved a success.

Star attraction: Meet Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli at the food festival

The weekend of September 24-25 is just one of the highlights, with Victoria Pier in St Peter Port taking centre stage.

A Live Food Show will see chefs compete to prepare magical dishes, the Big Guernsey Market will host a feast of local produce and street food, and a Children's Food Festival will introduce youngsters to the delights of cooking.

GOURMET GLORIES: The Pavilion (thepavilion.co.gg), in the St Pierre Park Hotel in St Saviour (in the west of the island), is one of Guernsey's most intriguing restaurants  where meaty options include a rich beef fillet stroganoff with rice and sour cream (13).

The restaurant is the domain of chef Tony Leck  but September 23 will see Michelin-starred Jean-Christophe Novelli join him to cook a sumptuous dinner for the festival. Tickets 50 or 75 with champagne, from the hotel.

TOP TIPPLES: The festival will enjoy a flamboyant pre-cursor Cocktail Week (Sept 16-24, cocktailweek.gg)  that will see 11 of Guernsey's top watering holes revelling in mixology classes and headspinning beverages (a 10 wrist band makes every drink 5).

Venues will include the Ziggurat, plus The Duke of Richmond hotel (dukeofrichmond.com)  where the Leopard Bar comes decorated in a wild blur of animal print.

Visitors can also sample the wares of Aperitif (aperitif.gg), a 'mobile bar company', whose signature cocktail, 26 Cornet Street (damson gin, egg white, elderflower), is named after the address where it was created.

Chic holiday: A surge in stylish hotels and bars have made Guernsey a cool destination

GIN, GLORIOUS GIN: Further exotic concoctions can be sipped at Bella Luce (bellalucehotel.com). This sophisticated 23-room retreat  in St Martins, in the south-east of the island  has a gin distillery, where it makes its own speciality, Wheadon's Gin, a fragrant spirit infused with samphire and grapefruit.

The hotel also offers a spa (massages from 35). Double rooms from 106 with breakfast.

UNDER CANVAS: For those who want to step away from the hotel experience, but still wish to slumber in style, WildGuernsey (wildguernsey.wordpress.com) supplies a cosy middle ground.

Set up on a grassy bluff on the west coast, this back-to-nature operator has a Seashore Safari Tent ideal for families seeking a breezy weekend away. It sleeps five (from 80 a night)  and has a wood-burner for cold evenings.

COASTAL CURVES: The campsite overlooks Rocquaine Bay, a grand sweep of sand on the west coast, which is among Guernsey's loveliest options for a weekend on the beach  although Vazon Bay, a popular hotspot for surfing in the north-west, offers competition.

Fun in the sun: Guernsey's attractive coastline includes the sandy Port Soif Bay

The best stretches of shore in the area are on the neighbouring Channel Island of Herm.

Both Shell Beach and Belvoir Beach  along the east coast of this tiny islet  are so golden that, on a sunny afternoon, you could imagine yourself in the Caribbean.

Travel Trident (traveltrident.com) offers ferries to Herm from St Peter Port (return 13).

GETTING THERE: There are flights to Guernsey from across the country. Flybe (flybe.com) operates regular connections from Birmingham, Exeter and Southampton.

Aurigny (aurigny.com) flies from Bristol, East Midlands, London City, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Gatwick return flights from 98.

You can also sail from Poole or Portsmouth with Condor Ferries, from 59 each way per car (condorferries.co.uk).
When Yaya Deng moved to Australia from Kenya at age nine, girls who looked like her did not appear on major fashion billboards.

But thirteen years later, her face is plastered across Westfield shopping centre alongside the words own your story,' as part of a campaign in connection with the models role as a style ambassador for the multi-million dollar company.

The South Sudanese-born beauty is part of a notable shift in the Australian fashion industry, that has seen an increase in ethnic diversity in advertising and on the runway in recent years and she recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the cultural significance of this change.

Scroll down for video

Making her mark: Yaya Deng's appears in billboards for Westfield shopping centre alongside the words own your story,' as part of a campaign in connection with the models role as a style ambassador for the multi-million dollar company

Breaking barriers: Earlier this year, Yaya became the first-ever African-Australian Westfield style ambassador

'I feel so incredibly privileged, Im happy that Westfield gave me a chance to tell my story, said Yaya, who appears in Westfield's Spring Summer 2016/17 campaign 'The Front Line.'

And you know, theres a lot of young girls out there like me, that are now being represented through Westfield and through other campaigns that Ive done. Its really great to be able to represent [diversity] and show all girls that they are beautiful because I wouldve wanted that for myself when I was a young girl too.

'It wasnt as diverse as it is now, weve come a long way and I think thats incredible.

The push for diversity: 'Its really great to be able to represent [diversity] and show all girls that they are beautiful because I wouldve wanted that for myself when I was a young girl too,' she said.

At just 22, the 5'9 stunner has walked countless runways for the likes of Oscar de la Renta and Camilla Franks, whose fans include megastar Beyonce.

Since bursting onto the modeling scene in 2014, as runner-up on the Naomi Campbell-produced series The Face Australia, Yaya has already achieved feats that others would normally take years to accomplish.

Earlier this year, the Sydney-based model, whose hailed for her enviably lean legs and Afrocentric features, appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster Gods of Egypt, and she recalled what it was like to film alongside Academy award-winner Geoffrey Rush and actor Gerard Butler.

Rising star: At just 22, the 5'9 stunner has walked countless runways for the likes of Oscar de la Renta and Camilla Franks, whose fans include megastar Beyonce

Hollywood girl: Earlier this year, the Sydney-based model appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster Gods of Egypt, and she recalled what it was like to film alongside Academy award-winner Geoffrey Rush and actor Gerard Butler

'I was 20 when I did it [and] learned so much from Gerard and Geoffrey,' she said.

'They would come on set with so much wisdom and teach us. It was a great experience.'

Also this year, Yaya became the first-ever African-Australian Westfield style ambassador, which she said is reflective of Australias advancement towards embracing diversity in an industry that has not always celebrated black beauty.

Top model: Yaya walked for Oscar de la Renta at Fashion Week in Sydney last month

Its really incredible to see how much Australia has changed. Everybodys now recognizing diversity, she said.

'Its all about showing young girls that they can enter our industry too.

Its such a beautiful and creative industry and so when they see girls like me on a billboard for Westfield or in a shopping centre, it encourages them to come forward and join the industry and tells them that theyre welcome, she added.

Statuesque beauty: The model is hailed for her enviably lean legs and Afrocentric features

Yayas perspective comes three years after questions surfaced about whether Australias fashion industry is racist, after a 2013 Buzzfeed report found that of 46 runway shows at MBFWA, one black model was used and only once.

At the time, industry expert and former Cleo magazine Editor Sharri Markson said the lack of diversity in fashion was an issue that needed to be addressed.

'Young women understand that our culture is diverse and they want to see that reflected in fashion advertising, she told ABC.

They don't want to just see the same white, blond look so fashion advertisers are 100 per cent out of touch and they need to change in order to encourage people to buy their clothes and spend money on their products.

While Yaya and others including Indigenous model Samantha Harris and international supermodel Ajak Deng, have been able to establish themselves in a highly-competitive industry, less than 5 percent of working Australian models are ethnic, according to a 2013 survey conducted by Sharri.

Numbers don't lie: While Yaya and others including Indigenous model Samantha Harris and international supermodel Ajak Deng, have been able to establish themselves in a highly-competitive industry, less than 5 percent of working Australian models are ethnic, according to a 2013 survey conducted by Sharri

Earlier this week, fashion industry analyst Patty Huttington told SBS that there has been a gradual shift towards ethnic diversity in Australian modeling in recent years.

Its definitely changing. Its changing faster than some people realize but not as fast as some would like, she said.

That change, some would say, is apparent in Westfields newly unveiled Spring Summer 2016/17 campaign The Front Line, which could be its most culturally diverse yet.

It features four unique and inspiring figures, including Yaya, as well as iconic Australian supermodel and environmental advocate Emma Balfour, top model and social activist Ollie Henderson and break-out Australian model Mattia Harnacke.
They welcomed their second son Jack in June.

And it seems Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and his wife Lisa's tiny tot is already becoming a star like his father, appearing in his very first photo shoot.

Ever the doting mother, Lisa shared a photo to Instagram on Wednesday of her husband and newborn son putting on a very dapper display together.

Scroll down for video

Work it! Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli posed up a storm with his newborn son Jack during a photo shoot in his Sydney home

The pair appeared to be at the centre of a photo shoot in the high-profile couple's luxurious Sydney home, with the cherubic bub sitting comfortably in his father's arms.

Wippa, 36, was camera-ready in a khaki jacket which he had layered over a red and black checkered shirt.

Adding to his winter ensemble, he sported a pair of black pants, ten leather shoes and black and white spotted socks.

Happy family: Wippa and wife Lisa (pictured) welcomed Jack in June and are also parents to Theodore 'Ted' Wipfli (left)

The Nova radio host was channeling his inner model, pulling his best poses for the camera as his son sat contently in his arms.

And although seemingly unaware of the scene around him, Jack appeared to be at ease in front of the camera donning a tiny white onesie.

Lisa captioned the snap: 'Jack demanded contouring and special lighting for today's photo shoot.'

Lisa and Wippa wed in 2013 and are also parents to son Theodore 'Ted' Wipfli.

Healthy and happy! Wippa announced the exciting news of their latest arrival through a text message to his breakfast morning show host, Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, on June 20

Out and about: The couple regularly share happy snaps to Instagram, and recently completed the City 2 Surf together

Wippa announced the exciting news of their latest arrival through a text message to his breakfast morning show host, Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, on June 20.

He revealed the full name of their second son as Jack Walter David Wipfli, and confirmed the healthy and happy arrival.

'What an entry! 10/10 for mother and baby combination, Lisa Wipfli and Jack Walter David Wipfli,' the message read.

'A solid 7.3lbs [3.3 kilograms] of baby brother to Ted. Team is doing well, thanks for your love and wishes.'

In the loop: Lisa kept her 16,000 Instagram followers up to date throughout her second pregnancy
He's the British funnyman who rocketed to superstardom as the new host of The Late Late Show last year.

But James Corden revealed that even he struggled in his youth to build up the confidence behind his success - because of his podgier figure at school.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the comic actor, 38, spilled on how he was the target of bullying because of his weight, which is what led him to discover humour as a defense against the fat-shamers.

Scroll down for video

Fat or funny? James Corden, 38, revealed to Rolling Stone this week hhe was the target of bullying because of his weight, which led him to discover his famous humour as a defense

Having expressed his struggle to score acting roles because of his weight in the past, the star admitted that being accepted with a larger physique is an issue that stemmed back to his school days.

However James revealed that finding humour and his ability to make people laugh is what helped him overcome the bullies, and led to his now worldwide fame - despite his meatier frame.

Talking to the magazine, James explained: 'If you're big at school, you're going to be a target. If you go to school and you're me, you go, ''Right, I'm just going to make myself a bigger target. My confidence, it will terrify them.''

'Inside, you're terrified. But if you're a bit funny, if you're quicker than them, they won't circle back on you again.'

Young star: Having expressed his struggle to score roles in the past, the star admitted that being accepted with a larger physique is an issue that stemmed back to his days in school

While this method pushed through a turbulent time at school however, the chat show host admitted his weight still held him back in his early acting career.

Sporting a fuller figure, the star came across countless obstacles and found himself unable to secure the roles he really wanted.

James recently told The Sunday People: 'Decisions when I started were only made on the way I looked.'

They were like 'You look like this, so you will work your way to playing a bubbly judge or something.'

Obstacles: James recently told The Sunday People of the struggle to audition for roles in his early career: 'Decisions when I started were only made on the way I looked'

But, the actor confessed that while weight and appearance can be such a block in the industry, confidence and sticking by your guns is key to pushing through.

He continued to Rolling Stone: 'I think I've very much had times where I haven't been the best version of myself. You have to put the time in.'

James is a key example of humour being the winning factor resulting in success.

The British actor rose to fame as the beloved Smithy in hit BBC Three sitcom Gavin and Stacey, which he wrote alongside friend and co-star Ruth Jones as well as starred in.

Look at him now: James is a key example of humour being the winning factor resulting in success, having landed the huge Late, Late Show presenting gig over in the States last year

After a stint in One Man, Two Guvnors at the National Theatre and on Broadway, the Hillingdon-born funnyman was enlisted as the new host of the Late Late Show in the US, succeeding Craig Ferguson.

The Late Late Show's popularity has soared to 850,000+ YouTube subscribers and audiences in excess of one million since he took over last year, thanks to his celebrity guests and hugely popular features like Carpool Karaoke.

After wowing US audiences, he's now tipped to have landed himself a primetime programme slot - all while slimming down a few pounds as he did so.

Winning idea: The Late Late Show's popularity soared to audiences in excess of one million thanks to his popular feature Carpool Karaoke, featuring Michelle Obama recently (pictured)

A source told the Mail On Sunday: 'James has become one of the most wanted men in Hollywood,' a source said. 'He has been getting all sorts of offers and CBS doesn't want to risk losing him.

'The plan is for a primetime variety show which showcases all his talents. The move will happen sooner rather than later. The talks started last week.'

He now lives in a 7.7million mansion in Brentwood, California with his wife Julia Carey and children - to whom he openly owes his success.

Oops he did it again: There have even been talks of a primetime slot recently, with a source telling The Mail On Sunday 'James has become one of the most wanted men in Hollywood'

Talking to Ross Kemp on ITV's Lorraine last week, h e said: 'All credit to my wife, who agreed to move [to the US] when our daughter was five weeks old and our son was three.

'Luckily it's our life for the foreseeable future or until I get sacked.'

James and Julia tied the knot in 2012 in a lavish 250,000 ceremony held in Somerset.

The couple have two children - a four-year-old son Max and daughter Carey, two.
Sofia Richie partied at 1OAK nightclub until 2 am as she rang in her 18th birthday.

And the celebrations continued for the daughter of Lionel Richie who stepped out just hours later for lunch at Mauro's in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

The blonde beauty donned a tiny lavender cropped top which put her toned torso on display.

Birthday brunch: Sofia Richie stepped out for a celebration lunch at Mauro's Cafe in West Hollywood on Wednesday as she turned 18

The velvet top has previously been modelled by Kourtney Kardashian, who happened to be linked to Justin Bieber before Sofia.

The little sister of Nicole Richie teamed her crop top with distressed light wash jeans that featured huge rips throughout the front.

She layered a white mesh zippered jacket over the revealing number and tied an additional grey sweatshirt around her slender waistline.

Her newly chopped locks were styled straight and she kept concealed behind vintage-inspired cat winged shades.

On the mend: The teen later grabbed a wellness shot from Earthbar after revealing that she is not feeling well

Toned tummy: The daughter of Lionel Richie donned a tiny lavender cropped top which put her taut torso on display

She's ripped! The socialite-turned-model donned the plush garb with distressed light wash jeans that featured huge holes throughout the front

The socialite-turned-model stepped out in a pair of fuzzy grey Rihanna Fenty Slides by Puma sandals and carried a small white designer handbag.

She kept her makeup to a minimum and allowed her natural beauty and flawless complexion to shine through.

After lunch, Sofia - who had complained on Snapchat the previous day that she was 'sick' - stopped by Earthbar where she took a wellness shot with her pals.

Well-protected: Sofia was surrounded by an entourage of her male friends as she approached the LA eatery

Overdressed? The blonde beauty layered a white mesh jacket over the revealing number and tied an additional grey sweatshirt around her slender waistline

Let's do this!: Sofia sipped her health shot along with a group of friends at the juice bar

The teen couldn't help but grimace as she sipped on one of the juice bar's healthy elixirs which work wonders but are tough to swallow.

Sofia looked relaxed for her daytime outing after a late night of partying at the trendy West Hollywood hot spot.

The beauty made sure to turn heads in a pair of brightly-coloured Adidas trousers and another small black tank top.

Nervous?: Earthbar are known for their healthy shots which work wonders but are tough to swallow

That should help: Sofia had revealed the previous day that she wasn't feeling well

Cheers: The group did a little toast and clinked their drinks together before taking a sip

When outside the club, she was approached by a man who crudely stuck out his tongue at her.

She walked past the stranger as the pair were photographed together and posted the snapshot - with a laughing face emoji caption - to Instagram Wednesday morning.

Sofia made sure to enjoy her night out despite complaining a day earlier on Snapchat that she was suffering from a cold.

Pit stop: Sofia and her pals visited Earthbar after enjoying a delicious lunch together

Retro chic: The sister of Nicole Richie kept concealed behind vintage-inspired cat winged shades

On Monday she wrote: 'Of course Im sick day before my birthday.Anything else want to go wrong?'

Before heading to the club, Sofia spent her birthday with boyfriend Justin Bieber.

The 22-year-old pop star has just returned to LA after a trip to London, during which he was spotted partying with model Bronte Blampied on several occasions.

Keeping up: Kourtney Kardashian, who has also been linked to Justin Bieber in the past, previously modelled the same top
She's been quick to resume everyday life since being booted off hit dating series The Bachelor.

And on Wednesday, the show's resident villain Keira Maguire was seen pulling off the athleisure trend in a pair of fluffy slides designed by Rihanna for activewear brand Puma.

The 29-year-old account manager went makeup-free while running errands in Sydney's affluent suburb of Double Bay.

Scroll down for video

Furry nice! The Bachelor's Keira Maguire, 29, was seen makeup-free and sporting a pair of fluffy slides designed by Rihanna for activewear brand Puma, while out running errands in Sydney's Double Bay on Wednesday

Taking to the streets of the trendy Eastern Suburbs, Keira was seen running errands in a pair of full-length leggings that clung to her toned legs and a form-fitting zip-up top.

Accessorising with the popular slides worn by stars such as Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne, she teamed the athleisure look with a khaki bomber jacket and tinted cat eye sunglasses perched on her head.

Sporting a makeup-free complexion, the reality star swept her short blonde tresses into a loose style at the nape of her neck and had her talons painted in a matte black hue.

Casual: Sporting a makeup-free complexion, the reality star swept her short blonde tresses into a loose style at the nape of her neck and had her talons painted in a matte black hue

Sports luxe: Accessorising with the popular slides worn by stars such as Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne, she teamed the athleisure look with a khaki bomber jacket and tinted cat eye sunglasses perched on her head

Despite not getting along with many of the Bachelor's contestants, the Brisbane native has formed a close bond with 31-year-old Sasha Zhuralyova.

Taking to Instagram last Friday, outspoken Keira shared a snap of the pair sitting on a double bed in a luxurious hotel room in Melbourne, dressed to impress in sleek and sexy black attire.

'Weekends with this babe @sashazhuravlyova #bachbesties ...These @scanlantheodore boots are everything (sic),' the Lara Bingle lookalike captioned the image.

Sizzling: Outspoken Keira has formed a close bond with fellow 31-year-old fellow Bachelor contestant Sasha Zhuralyova, enjoying a night out on the town in Melbourne last Friday

Keira also shared some Snapchat videos of the pair's fun adventures.

'Oh my god, guess who I'm with. My favourite girl from The Bachelor, Sasha. Remember the one that ate the roses,' Keira initially told her Snapchat followers.

The next video showed the pair ready to hit the town, with Keira saying: 'So I'm so excited to be in Melbourne with my girl, we going to be hitting the club tonight yo.. just joking but we are going out (sic).'

While enjoying some pre-drinks in their hotel room, Keira took the opportunity to praise the executive assistant, telling her fans: 'Follow my girl Sasha, she's more fun than me. I mean I'm pretty fun.'

Sasha responded, 'no you're the fun one,' before running her hands through Keira's blonde hair.

Keeping close: The Brisbane native also shared some Snapchat videos of the pair's fun adventures
She made the big purchase of a brand new $6 million mansion back in May.

And it looks like it's finally starting to feel like home for Kylie Jenner.

The 19-year-old took to Snapchat on Wednesday to share a picture of her new bedroom completely furnished.

Making moves: Kylie Jenner - pictured last month in LA - has been documenting the progress on the $6 million mansion she bought in Hidden Hills, California back in May

'Bedroom is coming together': The 19-year-old shared this image of her bedroom fully furnished

In the photo a white couch, black dinner table with flowers, a furry white curved lounge chair and foot of a bed could be seen.

No doubt it is a beautiful spot as the huge windows showed plenty of greenery and a substantial amount of sunlight coming in.

She captioned the image of her new room: 'Bedroom is coming together [flower emoji].'

Real-estate mogul? She purchased the $6 million estate back in May

This is not the first time she has showed off a few of her new Hidden Hills home's features as she took to the same social network to share a few posts of her glamour mirror a week-and-a-half ago.

The full-body image-reflecting glass features intricate lights around the frame of it that will surely illuminate her outfits and selfies.

In one of the short videos Kylie could be heard saying: 'How cute is this mirror? My bedroom is coming together.'

New toys: Teh days ago, Kylie took to her Snapchat on Monday to share a few clips of her new glamour mirror

Showing some skin: The 19-year-old wore a white crop top and could't resist showing off more skin by pulling down her baggy black sweatpants

The Kardashian-Jenners certainly take their glam-up areas seriously as the designer for several of their glam rooms, Martyn, Lawrence Bullard, opened up to People on Wednesday about the process in giving the reality stars a custom and charming area for getting ready.

As he has designed rooms for Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian as well as matriarch Kris Jenner and Kyle's sister Khloe, he mentions getting a feel for their individual styles is a key to success.

He also meets with their glam squads as he explained: 'The starting point is to make sure that I take a meeting with their makeup artists to understand exactly what each of the girls needs, what they expect out of their glam room.'

Wow factor: Glamour mirrors are common fare for the Kardashian-Jenner family as Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who designed their glam rooms, opened up to People about the process

Just the two of us: Last year he shared this selfie with Kourtney Kardashian as they shopped for home goods together

He is so detail oriented as everything, even the exact height of a chair, is specified to whatever each client needs.

Martyn says that a lot of time goes into the details in the room including good lighting and chairs comfortable enough to spend hours in.

It also takes a lot of money as he explained: 'We use sapphire glass mirrors, which is the finest, cleanest and purest mirror. So all those things do come at a price point. And time wise, it takes a lot of time because everything is detailed, from the exact size of a lipstick mold for a drawer to the perfect scale of a chair.

Stunning: Khloe often shares photos from the glam room in her home

Ready for her close-up: Martyn said that the rooms are designed for clients to be able to stay there for hours while getting glammed up

'So its not something you can turn around in a week. Sometimes these things take up to three months to perfect.'

Meanwhile, Kylie certainly has been into real estate and home improvement as she dropped a cool $4.5 million on her third home in Hidden Hills, California according to a report from TMZ last week.

The new ranch-style home is right next to the one she had purchased back in may according to the gossip site as it is said to be used as a work space for her growing cosmetics empire and as a place for her pals to stay when they are in town.
She's been enjoying a month-long vacation in picture-perfect Bali, being sure to post several racy photos to Instagram.

And on Wednesday, former Bachelor star Lana Jeavons-Fellows channeled Kim Kardashian as she reclined on a sun lounger at The Ungasan Clifftop Resort.

The 28-year-old flaunted her toned legs and slender waist in a very high-cut red and black swimsuit.

Scroll down for video

Just like Kim! Former Bachelor star Lana Jeavons-Fellows, 28, appeared to have taken inspiration from Kim Kardashian in a very high-cut swimsuit while continuing her Bali vacation on Wednesday

Perching herself on one of the luxury resort's navy deck chairs, Lana looked a picture of content as she highlighted her lithe figure in the two-toned swimsuit.

The round-neck design drew attention to her bronzed skin and delicate decolletage, while the high-cut bottoms accentuated her defined legs.

With her signature brunette tresses appearing semi-wet and falling effortlessly behind her shoulders, she shielded her minimally made-up face with a pair of dark cat eye sunglasses.

She's flawless! The former reality star has been enjoying a holiday in Bali this month, posting several bikini-clad photos to Instagram

Just a few days prior, the brunette beauty shared another swimsuit snap, this time leaving little to the imagination.

Lana wore a black and white triangle bikini with skimpy bottoms by Australian brand Baku Swimwear.

Smiling for the camera, she displayed her petite frame at the Padma Resort Ubud, and shielded her makeup-free skin and striking eyes with a stylish wide-brimmed hat.

Cheeky! Another snap saw the brunette beauty displaying her perfect curves in a zebra-print swimsuit

Another idyllic snap, saw Lana relaxing at an infinity pool.

The Sydney socialite offered a glimpse of her pert buttocks in a stylish zebra print swimsuit as she cast a sultry gaze at the camera.

'Afternoons at the infinity pool,' she wrote in the caption.

A scent so sweet! The Sydney socialite has kept her Instagram fans updated on her Bali trip

Sizzling: Lana stripped down to a black bikini while reclining on a sun lounger

Accompanying Lana on the trip is her boyfriend Jake Meah, 35, who she has been dating for the past eight months.

According to news.com.au, the pair have already talked about marriage and children.

'There are lots of things we want to do together, but [we] both want to have children one day.

'I sent him a picture of someone's wedding photo, but ours would be much less conventional. I'm not a big-white puffy-dress girl.'

Bali bliss: Also accompanying Lana on the trip is boyfriend Jake Meah, 35, who she's been dating for the past eight months
He was memorably brought back to life as a human vegetable.

But Jason Mamoa sparked speculation Khal Drogo could make a shock return to Game Of Thrones after he shared a picture of himself on a boozy night out with the show's creators in Ireland.

In the comical snap the jolly Hawaiian star grins at the camera while froth from his Guinness hangs from his beard.

Pint short of a keg: Jolly Jason Momoa hammed it up as he partied with Game Of Thrones creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss in Ireland

Showrunner Dan Weiss gives him an awkward sideward glance as he stands to his right, while his fellow show creator David Benioff loiters in the background.

Jason, 37, captioned the amusing image: 'Drinking mothers milk With my brothers @captainriff dan and david.

'Love ya GOT greatest show on earth ALOHA DROGO.'

Dramatic return? It certainly would be as Khal Drogo was burned to ashes in season one

Drogo's return would certainly be quite the dramatic occurrence, given he was burned to ashes in a funeral pyre away back at the end of the first season by his wife Daenerys Targaryen.

She made this decision after unwittingly sacrificing their unborn son to save him from a deadly infection using magic, a decision made the more tragic as she ended up smothering him with a pillow when he is resurrected in a vegetative state.

Jason previously returned to his most famous role in the second season, when Daenerys visits the House of the Undying.

Big star: He went on to appear in such cinematic masterpieces as Conan The Barbarian

She sees him in their tent holding their baby son Rhaego in his arms, but after an emotional reunion she chooses to leave as she knows that they are dead and only an illusion.

Sadly it seems there is a much more plausible reason for the star to take some time out to catch up with his old pals.

The beefcake, who is married to Lisa Bonet, has been spending time England and Ireland due to his starring role as Aquaman in the forthcoming DC comics movie Justice League, which fans hope will be better than the woeful Batman V Superman and turgid Suicide Squad.
Last year Benji Marshall's wife Zoe raised eyebrows when she revealed that she and her husband sleep in separate rooms.

Now, The Footy Show's Beau Ryan has weighed in on his friend Benji's unusual sleeping arrangements revealing that unlike Benji, he shares a bed with his wife Kara and their three-year-old daughter Remi.

'Mate, I've got the whole family in the same bed. I've got me, Kara obviously, next to each other, Remi on the edge,' the former Cronulla Sharks star said during an interview with NOVA FM's Fitzy and Wippa on Thursday.

Scroll down for video

Keeping it in the family! The Footy Show's Beau Ryan has revealed that, unlike Benji and Zoe Marshall, he shares a bed with both his wife Kara and their three-year-old daughter Remi

'We've got one of those big queen beds, like you know like Shaq's bed?' he quipped, making reference to Shaquille O'Neal's famously supersized bed.

Kara Ryan previously revealed that she and Beau's parents also live in the same house, telling The Daily Telegraph: 'It's great for Remi, she can go upstairs to one set of grandparents, or downstairs to the other. She's a lucky girl.'

'We've got one of those big queen beds': Ryan joked about owning a bed as big as basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's famously supersized bed

'It's great for Remi, she can go upstairs to one set of grandparents, or downstairs to the other': Kara Ryan has previously revealed that her and Beau's parents also live in the same house

Meanwhile, last year Zoe Marshall reveled how Benji's snoring affected their sleeping set-up.

'Benji and I have separate rooms. No need for remedies, we both love having our own rooms. It is our idea of heaven,' The KIIS FM presenter told Beauticate.

'I love waking up in the morning and finding him to give him a big snuggle. It makes intimacy exciting too!' she said.

'No need for remedies': Meanwhile, Zoe Marshall hasn't been shy to speak about how Benji's snoring led to the pair sleeping away from each other

Meanwhile, notoriously private Zoe made headlines last year when she penned a blog post detailing her three-year battle with endometriosis.

In the post, she detailed the 'unbearable' condition and talked about how she was 'adamant' not to get surgery again due to 'fertility risks'.

'The second day of my cycle is always the worst. About 6 months ago it was so severe I blacked out. Each month the pain differs but today its bad. The pain wakes me during the night,' she wrote.

'Which means I have to make my way to the kitchen hunched over (its too painful to stand) heat a wheat pack in the microwave, try to stomach half a banana so I can take some prescription pain relief and then clean myself up,' she went on.
She recently described her children as being her 'best friends' during her highly anticipated 60 Minutes interview.

And as Roxy Jacenko continues her brave recovery after breast cancer surgery, the PR queen is determined to try and spend every waking minute with her two little ones.

On Thursday, the 36-year-old entrepreneur was pictured cuddling up to her two-year-old son Hunter Curtis as the mother-son duo prepared to start their day.

Scroll down for video

Her world: Roxy Jacenkowas pictured cuddling up to her two-year-old son Hunter Curtis as the mother-son duo prepared to start their day on Thursday

'Discussing important matters @huntercurtis14,' she jokingly captioned the adorable Instagram snap.

Family time has been even more of a priority for the Sweaty Betty founder after recent health woes.

Last week, Roxy, Hunter and five-year-old Pixie enjoyed a family jaunt in Hong Kong.

The mother-of-two documented their family trip on social media in a series of envy-inducing snaps after opting to celebrate Pixie's August 16 birthday abroad.

Getting big! Roxy's two children Pixie and Hunter were pictured playing together on Wednesday

Family time: Roxy, Hunter and five-year-old Pixie recently enjoyed a family jaunt in Hong Kong

Earlier this month, little Pixie, who Roxy calls her 'best friend,' was showered with gifts ahead of her special day, including a state-of-the-art Apple MacBook.

The bubbly eldest child of Roxy and her jailed husband Oliver Curtis, looked captivated while getting acquainted with her lavish new toy, which can retail for upwards of $3,000.

Despite the expensive gift, Pixie is said to have requested 'something simple' for her birthday.

Mother-daughter time: The PR queen documented their family trip on social media in a series of envy-inducing snaps after opting to celebrate Pixie's August 16 birthday abroad

Happy: Last week marked the first birthday that Pixie celebrated without her father Oliver, who was sentenced to two years jail in NSW Supreme Court in June, following his insider trading conviction

Another photo caption read: 'She says something simple after school. I like her simple. Five never looked soooo good!! Especially when you can celebrate a week early!!'

Roxy posted a heartfelt message to Pixie online.

'To my best friend @pixiecurtis happy birthday month!!!!! My 5 best years yet because of you the first of many celebrations today...next stop @fshongkon,' she captioned.

Tech-savvy: Roxy characteristically went all out while presenting her daughter Pixie Curtis with a brand new MacBook recently, ahead of her 5th birthday

Pixie's birthday this year was the first that she celebrated away from her father Oliver.

In June, Oliver was sentenced to two years jail in NSW Supreme Court, following his insider trading conviction.

Last month, Roxy revealed that she found a lump on her left breast and she recently underwent breast cancer surgery.

Birthday girl: Pixie was surrounded by balloons and a huge pile of wrapped gifts as part of her early birthday celebrations
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has made yet another surprise visit to a children's hospital in Brisbane.

The 33-year-old Thor star appears in new photos shared by Channel Nine's The Today Show, after he previously visited the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital on Tuesday with co-star Tom Hiddleston.

The new photos show the former Home And Away star with his natural, cropped hair and rugged beard, posing in a grey sweater with some young patients and their families.

Scroll down for video

Hospital hero: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has made yet another surprise visit to a children's hospital in Brisbane

On Tuesday Chris and 35-year-old Tom met around 80 youngsters and their families in 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.

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.

Thoughtful: The 33-year-old Thor star appears in new photos shared by Channel Nine's The Today Show, after he previously visited the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital on Tuesday with co-star Tom Hiddleston

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.

'Hes very mischievous and hes got lots of tricks up his sleeve so youve got to watch him. Hes a bit shifty.'

Tom then chimed in, saying: 'Were brothers, not in real life obviously.'

'Met the real superheroes': Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston visited Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane

Brave: One young patient, Koen Weir (pictured), even got the chance to interview the Hollywood stars

Chris also told the young boy: 'Do you need a hand? Weve got your back if you do.'

The Australian actor later posted a shot of one young patient jokingly hitting Tom over the head with his hammer.

'Met the real superheroes of the world at @ladycilentochildrenshospital,' Chris wrote.

Cute: Koen asked the actors: 'What is it like getting to be a superhero or supervillain'

Interview: Tom chimed in, saying: 'Were brothers, not in real life obviously'

'A huge shout out to all the brave kids who are an inspiration to all of us! @twhiddleston #madepossiblebychf #ladycilentochildrenshospital #juicedtv.'

The pair's visit came just a few weeks after Tom's girlfriend, American pop star Taylor Swift, also brought smiles to children at the same hospital.

The mother of a young patient recovering from a brain tumour praised Taylor in an interview with ABC at the time.

Delight: Young patients at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane enjoyed a surprise visit from the Thor: Ragnarok 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 thought my little boy was just amazing... very bright and beautiful and he had a lovely smile,' she said.

Tom and Chris recently arrived in the Queensland capital to film scenes for the upcoming Thor sequel.

The Hollywood actors spent the day shooting in the city's CBD, which had been redesigned to look like the streets of New York.

Thumbs up! Tom and Chris were also interviewed for the hospital's own TV station, Juiced

Surprise: The Thor: Ragnarok stars met around 80 youngsters and their families at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital on Tuesday

Afterwards, still in their costumes from the set, they paid a visit to Lady Cilento's patients, and were also interviewed for the hospital's in-house TV station, Juiced.

In July 2015, Johnny Depp also visited the hospital while filming the new Pirates of the Caribbean film in Queensland.

The 53-year-old was dressed in full costume and make-up as Captain Jack Sparrow but asked staff to keep his visit private.

Kind-hearted: Last month, Tom's girlfriend Taylor Swift visited children at the same hospital
He won her with his charm and now he's carved himself the body of an Adonis.

John Krasinski says shedding the flab and gaining muscle has made him feel more confident in the bedroom with his wife Emily Blunt.

The 36-year-old told Elle Magazine that getting in shape has made him a much 'more sexual person'.

Transformation: John Krasinski says shedding the flab and gaining muscle has made him feel more confident in the bedroom with his wife Emily Blunt (pictured in 13 Hours)

'Totally selfishly, [sex] is so much better for me being jacked because you feel so much more confident and you see yourself as this much more sexual person, which is really fun,' he admitted in the September issue.

The actor, who shot to fame as Jim Halpert on The Office, beefed up to play a CIA operative in 13 Hours.

The magazine asked the formerly lanky star what his movie star wife thought his new physique.

'She won't kick me out of bed': The magazine asked the formerly lanky star what his movie star wife thought his new physique (pictured earlier this month in NYC)

'The truth is, she really is that person who would like me any way,' he explained.

However, he did admit: 'But I don't think she's going to kick the eight-pack abs out of bed.'

Earlier this week, Krasinski revealed to Conan O'Brien how he decided he wasn't fit to play Captain America.

'I was putting on the suit, just watching it like, "This is so amazing!"' he recalled.

'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.'

But then Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Avengers franchise, walked by in full costume.
He sent fans into a frenzy this week when he filmed scenes for Hollywood blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok on the streets of Brisbane.

And Chris Hemsworth gave his fans another reason to adore him when he handed pizza out to hundreds of hungry onlookers on Thursday.

The 33-year-old actor was snapped at the centre of a large crowd, holding a Domino's pizza box.

Mr Popular! Chris Hemsworth gave his fans another reason to adore him, taking a break from filming Thor: Ragnarok to hand out pizza to hungry onlookers on the streets of Brisbane

And the crowd couldn't believe their luck at being up close and personal with the handsome actor, whose hair appeared to be styled in the signature Thor-style, as he handed out the slices.

The father-of-three cut a casual figure in a navy blue hooded jumper as he made sure to sign a few autographs.

The masterminds behind the Marvel franchise transformed Brisbane into New York City for the past three days as the cast and crew of the film descended on the Queensland capital.

'Meet the real superheroes': Chris and co-star Tom Hiddleston visited Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday

They will now return to the set on the Gold Coast, where they have been filming the third instalment of the franchise since early July.

And greeting fans with pizza isn't the only thing Chris has gone out of his way to do while on home soil.

He visited the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital on Tuesday with co-star Tom Hiddleston, where they met around 80 youngsters and their families.

Brave: One young patient, Koen Weir (pictured), got the chance to interview the Hollywood stars

Chris brought along his character's trademark hammer Mjolnir and Tom donned his full Loki costume and a long black wig.

They happily posed for pictures with the delighted children and one 11-year-old patient 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 this supervillain.

Thumbs up! Tom and Chris were also interviewed for the hospital's own TV station, Juiced

Happy memory: The Hollywood actors met around 80 children and their families during the trip and happily posed for photos with the youngsters

'Hes very mischievous and hes got lots of tricks up his sleeve so youve got to watch him. Hes a bit shifty.'

Tom then chimed in, saying: 'Were brothers, not in real life obviously.'

Chris also told the young boy: 'Do you need a hand? Weve got your back if you do.'

The actor later posted a shot of one young patient jokingly hitting Tom over the head with his hammer.

Delight: It was clear the young patients at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital enjoyed the surprise visit

Surprise: Chris and Tom both interacted with the patients and hardworking staff

'Met the real superheroes of the world at @ladycilentochildrenshospital,' Chris wrote.

'A huge shout out to all the brave kids who are an inspiration to all of us! @twhiddleston #madepossiblebychf #ladycilentochildrenshospital #juicedtv.'

And proving it wasn't a one-off occasion, he visited another children's hospital in Brisbane later in the week, appearing in photos shared by Channel Nine's The Today Show.

The new photos show the former Home And Away star with his natural, cropped hair and rugged beard, posing in a grey sweater with some young patients and their families.

Hospital hero: He made yet another surprise visit to a second children's hospital in Brisbane later in the week

Thoughtful: The father-of-three took time out of his busy schedule to visit the children and their families
She's been spending the majority of her time with new man Ryan Libbey.

But Louise Thompson decided to switch things up and enjoy a girls night out as she joined her Made In Chelsea cast members in London on Wednesday.

Heading to Embargo Republica, the 26-year-old reality star seemed in good spirits as she prepared to enjoy a night out on the town.

Scroll down for video

Love-struck: Louise Thompson, 26, tore herself away from her new man to enjoy a girls night out with her Made In Chelsea cast members at Embargo Republica on Wednesday

Looking effortlessly chic, Louise donned a baby blue cold shoulder dress with ruffled sleeves.

Flaring out to the knee, the shift dress also showed off her tanned and toned pins, which were elongated with patent white ankle boots.

Sweeping her chestnut coloured locks into a half up style, she finished off the look with a delicate gold necklace.

Lovely ladies: Looking effortlessly chic, Louise donned a baby blue cold shoulder dress with ruffled sleeves as she stepped out hand in hand with co-star Binky Felstead

Brunette beauty: Sweeping her chestnut coloured locks into a half up style, she finished off the look with a delicate gold necklace and a patent white clutch bag

Cute couple: Louise was no doubt enjoying some female company after spending time with her personal trainer and hunky new beau, Ryan Libbey

She made her way into the club hand in hand with Binky Felstead, who looked equally as chic for the outing.

Taking advantage of the warm weather, the brunette beauty donned a summery sleeveless blouse with a yellow floral print that she teamed with leather hotpants.

Opting for sensible yet stylish footwear she wore black trainers and kept her accessories simple with just a small clutch.

Hello petal: Louise was joined by Binky, who took advantage of the warm weather in a summery sleeveless blouse with a yellow floral print that she teamed with leather hotpants

Hair she is: The stunning starlet wore her chestnut coloured locks loose and tousled whilst she accentuated her flawless features with a neutral make-up palette

Louise was no doubt enjoying some female company after spending the day with her personal trainer and hunky new beau, Ryan.

The pair have been spending more time together after Louise was slammed by her ex-boyfriend for moving on from their two-year relationship within a matter of weeks.

Alik Alfus broke his silence about her moving on so quickly, telling The Sun it was a 'big shock' and had made him see her in a whole new light.

Having a laugh: The pair seemed in great spirits as they hopped in the back of taxi and chatted with the driver whilst laughing along with each other

Bust a move: Binky couldn't control her arms as she danced along to the music in the taxi

Reach for the stars: Binky showed off the delicate inking on her wrist as she danced along

The American leather designer - who dated the petite brunette for two years after meeting when she was filming the Made In Chelsea New York spin-off in 2014 - has been left heartbroken and believes she may have cheated on him with Ryan.

He explained: 'Louise never told me she had a f***ing boyfriend.

'She was quite possibly with the new guy while she was with me. I was thousands of miles away.

'A lot of her true colours have revealed themselves in the last few months.'

Pretty as a petal: Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo also dazzled on the night in a chic white dress with a floral pattern and delicate ruffled sleeves that she teamed with grey canvas shoes

Grey day: Millie Wilkinson looked lovely in a grey shift dress that flared out to the knee. She kept her accessories simple with a thin black choker and wore her locks loose and tousled
It was a very public gamble - re-sitting a GCSE exam on live TV.

But it all paid off for TOWIE's Joey Essex, who enjoyed new-found academic success on Thursday evening.

The 26-year-old went back to school for ITV2's Re-Educating Joey Essex and, as a result, earned himself a D in General Studies.

Scroll down for video

He did it! Joey Essex enjoyed new-found academic success on Thursday evening when he earned himself a D in General Studies

Taking to Twitter, she shared an image of his certificate with the message: 'Thank you so much for all the amazing messages .. happy you enjoyed the show tonight and so happy I got a D'

The reality TV personality opened his results before a TV audience of millions and appeared delighted with his achievement.

Taking to Twitter, she shared an image of his certificate with the message: 'Thank you so much for all the amazing messages .. happy you enjoyed the show tonight and so happy I got a D'.

He then posted an image of himself with his teacher, adding: 'Shoutout to Kevin, he was a top teacher'.

Back to school: Joey Essex talked about preparing to receive his latest GCSE result during an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning

Earlier in the day, in an interview with Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning, he revealed he has no idea how he might fare.

He said: 'How it went, I don't know. When I did my exams before, I used to think I did well. I thought it, but then I didn't. A* would be a dream,' he told Kate Garraway and Ben Shepherd.

'I don't think it will happen though. I am hoping for a D but I predict a D+ which is a C.'

Brave: The 26-year-old has gone back to school to sit his General Studies GCSE and he is set to receive the result on his show, Re-Educating Joey Essex on ITV2 at 9pm

Joey is thought to have left school with a U in Drama, a C in art and a D in Wood Tech.

After tackling his exams, Joey is reportedly set to meet Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The Mirror writes that he will attend Democratic and Republican rallies so he can learn about their missions to become President.

He told the paper that filming will start at the end of September, but he won't be researching the pair.

He said: 'I dont feel like I should prepare. I want to go there and learn about it. I like to be completely oblivious.

'I like to do things off the cuff and get thrown into a situation. If I learn too much now, I wont learn things there.'

'A* would be a dream'|: He told Kate Garraway and Ben Shepherd. 'I don't think it will happen though. I am hoping for a D but I predict a D+ which is a C'
The past two series of The Fall have kept viewers on the edge of their seat.

And now Jamie Dornan's malevolent serial killer is once-again haunting Belfast, with Gillian Anderson receiving a chilling warning in The Fall series three teaser.

The moody and tense promo snippet sees the 48-year-old actress in character as DSI Stella Gibson, throwing herself around a swimming pool as Spector provides a voice over.

Scroll down for video

Haunted: Jamie Dornan's malevolent serial killer is once-again haunting Belfast, with Gillian Anderson receiving a chilling warning in The Fall series three teaser

Picking up where series two left off, with Spector still terrorising the young women of the Northern Irish capital, Gibson looks to be consumed by her hunt for the killer.

Clearly trying to put some space between herself and her job, the ruthless and analytical detective can be seen swimming laps.

Pushing herself to her limits as she does circuit after circuit, the trailer casts the pool as a dark and oppressive place - signalling that Gibson can't escape her desire to finally catch Spector.

He's back: The moody and tense promo snippet sees Gillian in character as DSI Stella Gibson throwing herself around a swimming pool as Spector provides a voice over

Striding out of the shower and slipping into the water, the shot slowly darkens as light is filtered out, till only Anderson and the water are the main focus.

As she begins to swim, Gibson imagines catching Spector, reading the serial killer his rights.

But as she imagines the scenario in her head, the serial killer mocks her, stating in blood-curdling whisper: 'I live at a level of intensity unknown to you and others of your type.'

A need to succeed: Picking up where series two left off, with Spector still terrorising the young women of the Northern Irish capital, Gibson looks to be consumed by her hunt for the killer

Striding out of the shower and slipping into the water, the shot slowly darkens as light is filtered out, till only Anderson and the water are the main focus

'You will never know': But as she begins to swim, the serial killer's voice mocks her, stating in blood-curdling whisper: 'I live at a level of intensity unknown to you and others of your type'

The serial killer continues his speech, mocking the police officer, saying: 'You will never know the almost God-like power I feel when that last bit of breath leaves their body. That feeling of complete possession.'

As Gillian's character finishes a circuit the camera switches to a first-person view, which shows a shadowy figure lurking just above her at the poolside.

The tense teaser clip is more than enough to wet the appetite for fans of The Fall, which is due to hit screens in the UK and Ireland later on this year.
She's a high-powered PR maven and social media princess who lives in a luxury apartment in Sydney.

But Roxy Jacenko caused mothers everywhere to rejoice when she revealed even her children, Hunter, 2, and Pixie, 5, have to pull their own weight around the house.

She shared the picture with her 123,000 Instagram followers on Thursday evening.

Scroll down for video

Helping out around the house: Hunter, 2, and Pixie, 5, were pictured mopping the floor of their balcony in an adorable photo posted to mother Roxy Jacenko's Instagram on Thursday

'Got them doing chores,' she captioned the photo of the adorable pair mopping the balcony floor.

Hunter and Pixie each had their own mop as they got to work.

Hunter, dressed in a navy blue Nike tracksuit, and matching black sneakers, had stopped working to watch his older sister.

Super kids: Roxy and Hunter both have a strong social media presence and lavish lifestyle, but appear to have the same responsibilities as other children

'I told [Hunter] to stop talking and keep working - he insists he is just monitoring Pixie's technique,' the last part of the caption read.

Pixie wore one of her trademark bows in her flame red hair, and was enthusiastically cleaning up.

To keep warm on the chilly Sydney afternoon, she wore jeggings and a black puffy jacket.

Family time: Since her husband Oliver (right) was incarcerated for insider trading, Roxy has put a big emphasis on family time

All smiles: Both Hunter and Pixie appeared delighted to be cleaning up as they mopped the balcony on Thursday (Pictured on holiday in Hong Kong recently)

The post garnered more than 1,000 likes in just an hour, and many comments were supportive of the 36-year-old mother getting her children to help out.

'You have to start them young,' commented one woman.

Earlier on Thursday, Roxy posted a selfie with Hunter in his bed, captioned: 'discussing important matters'.

Family time has become clearly important for the Sweaty Betty founder, whose husband Oliver Curtis was recently incarcerated for insider trading.

She recently admitted to 60 Minutes that her two children were her best friends, and she often spoke to them about what was going on in her life.

Best friends: Earlier that day, Roxy posted a snap of her and Hunter in bed. She recently said her children were her best friends
She's been living the high life in Hollywood since she landed in America on Monday.

But Holly Hagan decided to switch things up with a trip to Las Vegas to watch Britney Spears perform during her residency.

Ensuring she'd be travelling in style, the 24-year-old Geordie Shore star stopped off for a bite to eat before hopping into a white convertible mustang to drive down the famous Route 66 on Wednesday.

Scroll down for video

Holly leaves Hollywood: Holly Hagan decided to switch things up with a trip to Las Vegas as she left Los Angeles to watch Britney Spears perform during her residency on Wednesday

Looking casual but chic for the outing, Holly donned a leopard print crop top that flashed a hint of her tanned and toned stomach.

Ensuring she'd be comfortable for the long journey, the stunning starlet teamed the garment with a pair of tapered black jogging bottoms and gold sandals.

Keeping her accessories simple, Holly carried a small black shoulder bag and wore a pair of mirrored sunglasses, but seemed to have some trouble getting them out of her hair.

Wild thing: Looking casual but chic for the outing, Holly donned a leopard print crop top that flashed a hint of her tanned and toned stomach which she teamed with black jogging bottoms

Once she made it into Nevada, the star seemed to have no trouble adjusting to life on American soil as she explained it was great to be unrecognisable.

Taking to Twitter, the Middlesbrough native posted: 'I'm in a huge crowd, not 1 person knows who I am, this is the first time I've felt comfortable in years I LOVE VEGAS!!!!!'

That could all change soon, however, as Holly is reportedly trying to make a career for herself Stateside.

Travelling in style: Holly jumped into a white convertible mustang with her friends to drive down the famous Route 66 on her way to Las Vegas from Los Angeles

American girl: Once she made it into Nevada, the star seemed to have no trouble adjusting to life on American soil as she explained it was great to be unrecognisable

A source told the Daily Star the busty beauty would be meeting with TV producers during her trip and was 'taking this really seriously'.

Explaining that Holly's Middlesbrough tones were less harsh than her co-star's Newcastle twang, they added: 'Holly has an advantage over the other Geordie Shore reality stars because of her accent.

'She'll also be house-hunting while she's there in West Hollywood.

'She'll be flying first class and staying in a penthouse to get herself in the right frame of mind.'
She's never one to shy away from showcasing her stylish streak whatever the occasion.

So it was little surprise to see Lea Michele cutting a swish figure as she and her friends mingled with other fashionistas at the AYR Fall party on Wednesday.

Arriving alongside BFF Becca Tobin at the clothing brand's Los Angeles fashion bash, the 29-year-old Scream Queens star oozed an understated elegance.

Scroll down for video

Swish and stylish: Lea Michele, 29, cut a swish figure as she and her friends mingled with other fashionistas at the AYR Fall party on Wednesday

Opting for a dark navy midi dress, which featured a plunging V-shaped neckline, the New Yorker oozed a restrained raciness whilst managing to remain demure.

The fitted number clung to the actress' lean frame, highlighting her trim and and toned waistline.

She teamed the knee-length number with a pair of cream open-toed stilettos that further accentuated her figure.

Fashionable friends: Arriving alongside BFF Becca Tobin at the clothing brand's Los Angeles fashion bash, the Scream Queens star oozed an understated elegance in a fitted navy dress

Keeping things simple and stylish the actress left her look uncluttered and only wore a smattering of jewellery.

Wearing her long chestnut locks in tumbling waves past her shoulders, the pretty star let her tresses subtly frame her features.

Wearing a minimal and natural palette of make-up Lea allowed her naturally striking looks to come to the fore.

Another stylish siren: The actress, who shot to fame on Glee as Rachel Berry, was accompanied to the bash by BFF and Glee co-star, Becca Tobin

Flaunting those pins: Other famous faces enjoying the fashion bash included Scorpian star Katharine McPhee, who flaunted her legs in a stripy mini dress

Daring dress: The Smash actress opted for a strapless mini dress which she teamed with stilettos and a long dark coat

The actress, who shot to fame on Glee as Rachel Berry, was accompanied to the bash by BFF and Glee co-star, Becca Tobin.

The 30-year-old actress opted for a similarly subtle look, and wore coral blouse teamed with a pair of fitted black trousers and towering stilettos.

Other famous faces enjoying the fashion bash included Scorpian star Katharine McPhee, who flaunted her legs in a stripy mini dress.

The 32-year-old Smash actress opted for a strapless mini dress which she teamed with stilettos and a long dark coat

Also in attendance: Becca cosied up to (L-R) Lydia Choy, Jac Jagaciak Cameron, Jack Schwefel and Maggie Winter at the party

Double in denim: Sherry Levine and Ruthie Friedlander opted to wearr denim at the party
He's a former AFL player with a highly successful media career.

But Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald was brought down to size on The Project this week, when his sister Holly revealed some embarrassing details about their childhood.

'I've always said my childhood injuries were... from a rough, older brother,' she joked on Thursday night.

Rough and tumble: Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald spoke to his sister Holly on Thursday's episode of The Project about pram safety - but the conversation soon turned to childhood secrets

Holly, the CEO of Kidsafe South Australia, was invited on the current affairs show to speak about safety restraints in prams.

But it wasn't long until the siblings had derailed the segment, bickering about their childhood bruises.

Fitzy admitted he often used his sister as a launching pad when he was swinging on the clothesline.

And Holly also revealed her big brother would force her to fight other boys in the neighbourhood.

All smiles: Holly, CEO of Kidsafe South Australia, laughed as she told the panel most of her childhood injuries came from a 'rough older brother'

'No wonder she ended up joining Kidsafe,' replied co-host Waleed Aly.

After being slammed for his behaviour as a mischievous child, the radio personality thought he had found a way to get the upper hand.

'When are you going to have a child?' he asked his sister.

'The family have been asking for quite a while now - it's a serious question, no-one is listening.'

Family ties: The Fitzgerald clan previously appeared on celebrity Family Feud in 2014

After the segment, the 39-year-old made sure to have the final word.

'I don't know where she got all that from!' he said, innocently.

'We all know that the first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about it.'
She recently bought her ex husband out of their 1.5 million mansion in Lanarkshire.

And Michelle Mone looked in good spirits as she explored London during the heatwave on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old founder of lingerie brand Ultimo looked stylish in a floral jumpsuit as she ran errands in the capital.

Scroll down for video

Turning up the heat! Michelle Mone looked in good spirits as she explored London during the heatwave on Wednesday

The blue one-piece with an exotic-coloured flower pattern was cinched in at the waist.

Featuring a halterneck cut, it showed off her tanned arms.

And accessorising with a bright orange Hermes bag, the businesswoman added a splash of colour to her ensemble.

Fun in the sun! The 44-year-old founder of lingerie brand Ultimo looked stylish in a floral jumpsuit as she ran errands in the capital

Covering her face with aviator sunglasses in the heat, she added height to her frame with a pair of wedges.

And showing off her natural beauty, she appeared to go for minimal make-up.

Keeping cool in the city's rare heatwave, she tied her blonde hair up in a loose ponytail.

Power woman! She recently bought her ex husband out of their million 1.5 million mansion in Lanarkshire

At the beginning of the month the bra tycoon bought her ex husband of 19 years out of their marital home.

With 12 opulently-furnished rooms, a personal bar and a his-and-hers bathroom, the sprawling country pile was designed and built exactly to Ms Mone's taste - right down to the velvet upholstery.

The Tory peer, who was admitted into the House of Lords last year as Camerons business tsar, revealed she was planning to celebrate the purchase in style.

Luxurious! With 12 opulently-furnished rooms, a personal bar and a his-and-hers bathroom, the sprawling country pile was designed and built exactly to Ms Mone's taste - right down to the velvet upholstery

She posted a photo of the homes luxury kitchen on her Twitter page and said: Some things in life are worth waiting for! 3 new homes in 4 weeks... incredible but never again. Time to celebrate,' adding a Martini glass emoji.

The businesswoman is now the sole owner of her former marital home, a five-bedroom luxury property in the leafy village of Thorntonhall, Lanarkshire.

The house was first put on the market in 2012 for offers of more than 1.6 million when Mone and her ex-husband Michael split, but it failed to find a buyer. The couple had purchased the house for 1,525,000 in 2008.

Property records have now revealed that Baroness Mone paid 125,000 earlier this month to become the sole owner of the house.
She's a rising star in Hollywood thanks to her role as Trish Walker on Netflix's Jessica Jones.

But Rachael Taylor has admitted her path to success hasn't been an easy process - with many challenges along the way.

Speaking to Mamamia while back in her native Australia to launch Neutrogenas See Whats Possible campaign, she said: 'My greatest lessons have come from things that have been challenging or difficult.

'They've taught me the most': Rachael Taylor said her 'greatest lessons come from challenging or difficult' moments

'Whether they're mistakes, or failures, or rejections or things that hurt, they're the bits that feel really rewarding for me.

'They've surprised me and they've taught me the most.'

One of the more testing moments during her life was the demise of her relationship with fellow actor Matthew Newton, following claims of emotional and physical abuse.

In an interview with Daily Life, the 32-year-old opened up about the 'shame stigma' associated with victims of domestic violence, but she had distanced herself from feeling that way after she and Matthew split in 2010.

Her most testing moment? One of the more testing moments for the actress was the demise of her relationship with actor Matthew Newton, following claims of emotional and physical abuse

When asked by the publication if she was concerned about addressing her traumatic experience, she said: 'I think you are talking about the perspective of surviving a violent relationship from a place of shame. That's part of that broader 'shame' stigma, and I am not ashamed'.

She added: 'If it is stamped on me in any respect, that is something I am very proud of, because I am on the other side of it'.

Rachael and Matthew, the son of entertainer Bert Newton, split after two 'violent and unprovoked' attacks in Rome which prompted her to take out an AVO.

Survivor: Rachael and Matthew, the son of entertainer Bert Newton, split after two 'violent and unprovoked' attacks in Rome which prompted her to take out an AVO

Court documents claimed at the time that Taylor was left with injuries consistent with having her head 'bashed against the floor and walls'.

After the 2010 incident in Rome, she released a statement which read: 'After much consideration and struggle I have made this personal decision to send a clear public message that violence, threats, abuse and intimidation are not acceptable and should be dealt with by the full capacity of the law.'

The actress, who is now based in the US, then took out an Apprehended Violence Order against Newton, which prevents him from coming into contact with her.

Revealed: Court documents claimed at the time that Taylor was left with injuries consistent with having her head 'bashed against the floor and walls'

Matthew, 39, who has a history of mental illness, was convicted for assaulting his then-fiancee, actress Brooke Satchwell in 2006.

The conviction was quashed a year later. A psychiatrist advised he had been rehabilitated and was unlikely to offend again.

Meanwhile, with the success of Jessica Jones, Rachael is busier than ever.

A star is born: The blonde currently has three movies in the pipeline, including the star-studded Gold

The blonde currently has three movies in the pipeline, including the star-studded Gold.

The dramatic thriller stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Matthew McConaughey, and was directed by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan.

She's also rumoured to be appear in Marvel's next Netflix series, The Defenders, which already stars Jessica Jones' Krysten Ritter.
She is set to grace Australia's television screens in the coming week as she begins her quest to find love.

And on Wednesday, Network 10 released the first look at the upcoming Bachelorette Australia series.

In the preview, Georgia Love stuns in a strapless red ball gown while holding a rose close to her chest.

Scroll down for video

Coming soon: Network 10 released the first look at the upcoming Bachelorette Australia series on Wednesday

The television journalist looks flawless in the garment which flowed outwards in tiers to the ground.

While her brunette locks were slicked back into an chic and sleek ponytail.

She glared straight down the barrel of the camera, showing off her pierce blue eyes, while rocking a bold red lipstick.

Georgia is later seen standing patiently outside the entrance of the mansion, the same as the one used for The Bachelor this season, as her eligible bachelors arrived dressed in suits and ties.

Cinderella moment: In the preview, Georgia Love stuns in a strapless red ball gown while holding a rose close to her chest

Stunner: She showed off her pierce blue eyes, while rocking a bold red lipstick

Coming in hot: Georgia is later seen standing patiently outside the entrance of the mansion as her eligible bachelors arrived

Making an impression: The lads dressed to impress with suits and ties

Earlier in the preview video, the Tasmanian beauty showed off a big toothy smile as she rode around on a bike with the letter 'E' situated on the back.

She dressed casually in the scene with a pair of ripped jeans and a white sleeveless blouse.

Georgia has recently revealed she still can't believe that she was actually chosen for the coveted role.

Talented: Earlier in the preview video, the Tasmanian beauty showed off a big toothy smile as she rode around on a bike in ripped jeans and a white blouse

Accessorises: As she rode the bicycle, the letter 'E' situated on the back

Getting into it: She later slipped into a red off-the-shoulder top and clutched tightly onto a range of red heart balloons

Finding the one: Georgia has recently 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.

'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.'

Once in a lifetime: She said: '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's alleged to have pressed 'pause' on her engagement to fiance Egor Tarabasov following a series of public fights.

And after showing off her sparkler on Instagram earlier this week, Lindsay Lohan stepped out in public wearing the emerald rock as she strolled along in Mykonos on Thursday - the very same place where the former couple had an explosive fight in July.

The 30-year-old actress set the rumour mill alight with her choice of accessory, which was firmly back in place on her left hand.

Scroll down for video

Back in place: Lindsay Lohan stepped out wearing her emerald engagement ring rock as she strolled along in Mykonos on Thursday

Lindsay was sporting a glamorous look, showing off her long legs in a black jumpsuit with sheer, lace embellished legs.

The flared one-piece was set off with a pair of black sandals and an on-trend choker necklace.

She dressed up her look with a pair of red-tinted sunglasses and wore her long red locks down loose.

It was during a holiday to Mykonos that things took a turn for the worse for Lindsay and Egor, with pictures surfacing of the pair having a fight.

Beach chic: The star donned a glamorous black jumpsuit with sheer, lace embellished trousers legs for her day out

Emerald sparkler: The 30-year-old actress set the rumour mill alight with her choice of accessory, which was firmly back in place on her left hand

Girls' getaway: Lindsay was returning to the scene of her explosive fight with Russian businessman Egor, joined by a female friend

Key accessory: Lindsay's ring was unmistakable as she hit the beach

The pictures showed a tussle occurring after Lohan and Tarabasov argued in a black 4x4.

The Mean Girls actress hurled his mobile phone on the sand and fled the car. He chased her, grabbed her roughly from behind in an attempt to grab the handset back and twisted her arm behind her back.

Lohan was reluctant to go into detail about the fight in Mykonos, saying only that she threw Egor's phone after he took hers. 'Egor drank too much and he went crazy.'

She was still wearing the four-carat emerald ring Tarabasov proposed with last September. 'I haven't taken it off, even after all this,' she told the Daily Mail.

Back to the scene: It was during a holiday to Mykonos that things took a turn for the worse for Lindsay and Egor, with pictures surfacing of the pair having a fight

Public argument: Images were publishing showing a tussle occurring after Lohan and Tarabasov argued in a black 4x4

'The truth is, I wanted to make things work, but now I'm not sure that I can.'

Lindsay's outing comes after reports she made a series of bizarre demands in order to appear on Russian talk show Pust Govoryat - meaning 'Let them talk' - for a tell all interview on their relationship.

As well as 650,000, the actress reportedly demanded to stay in Moscow's most expensive hotel, the Ritz-Carlton.

Lohan also insisted that the show should not include Tarabasov or his parents.

Spat: The Mean Girls actress was seen hurling Egor's mobile phone on to the sand and fleeing the car

Struggle: Egor was pictured chaing her, grabbing her roughly from behind in an attempt to grab the handset back and twisting her arm behind her back

Speaking out: Lohan was reluctant to go into detail about the fight in Mykonos, saying only that she threw Egor's phone after he took hers. 'Egor drank too much and he went crazy'

Separately it is claimed that Lindsay demanded an audience with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, a private jet to fly her to and from Russia, a one-year visa, as well as a hairdresser, stylist and manicurist on board the jet.

The show's presenter Andrei Malakhov confirmed that Lohan has indeed asked for a meeting with Mr Putin.

Malakhov added: 'I would also like to get 80million annually and dine with the British Queen, but dreams and reality are two different things.

He said the amount she demanded was a little 'smaller'.

She told the Daily Mail: 'The truth is, I wanted to make things work, but now I'm not sure I can'

TV appearance? Lindsay's outing comes after reports she made a series of bizarre demands in order to appear on Russian talk show Pust Govoryat - meaning 'Let them talk' - for a tell all interview on their relationship

Alleged demands: As well as 650,000, the actress reportedly demanded to stay in Moscow's most expensive hotel, the Ritz-Carlto

Taking her mind off things: The redhead appeared to be enjoying her getaway with her friend

'Unlike Lindsey Lohan, we should take an unbiased look at the situation,' he added.

'There was certainly a wish to see the president of the Russian Federation.

'I don't know what she wants to talk to him about, maybe about saving Amur tigers or the problems of people fighting with drug addiction.'

The star shared an Instagram photo on Monday where she shows off the sparkler, but in perhaps a sign of her relationship troubles, she wore the ring on her right hand.

Mixed signals: Lindsay first showed off her ring following the split in a new Instagram photo on Monday, but wore the sparkler on her right hand, a month after 'pausing' her engagement

Lindsay poses for the camera, looking glam with a slick of red lippie while showing off a glittering watch and two sparkling rings.

While her engagement ring sits on her right hand, another diamond dazzler takes its place on her left hand.

Lindsay made no mention of her ring - gifted to her by Russian heir Egor in April when he proposed after seven months of dating - in the photo's caption, simply adding three heart emojis.

Split: Lindsay was gifted the ring by Russian heir Egor in April when he proposed after seven months of dating, but the couple had a series of public fights over the past month

Three weeks ago, the star was pictured taking off the 5-carat sparkler 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.

'Maybe things can be fixed': At the end of July Lindsay shared an update with her fans, writing: 'Dear friends. I'm good and well. #ATM I am taking time for myself with good friends'

'This vacation is amazing, its 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 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!

At the end of the month, following the couple's public fights, she posted an update on Instagram, writing: 'Dear friends. I'm good and well. #ATM I am taking time for myself with good friends. Maybe things can be fixed... Maybe not.. I hope they can.'
She's gearing up to host the Pride Of Britain awards for the 16th year in a row.

And Carol Vorderman was on her typical fine form as she headed out on the organisation's double decker bus to collect nominations from the public on Thursday.

Stopping off in London, the 55-year-old presenter seemed pleased to bump into a bunch of road workers on the outing and couldn't resist playing around with a stop sign.

Scroll down for video

Glamorous: Carol Vorderman was on her typical fine form as she headed out on the organisation's double decker bus to collect nominations from the public on Thursday

Flashing a hint of skin, she wore an off the shoulder white blouse with cropped sleeves that flattered her svelte physique.

Showing off her slender waist, the former Countdown star also donned a thick black patent belt that highlighted her hourglass frame.

She teamed the garment with skintight nude trousers, showing off her famous 'Rear of the Year' winning posterior.

Blonde beauty: Styling her golden locks in a centre parting, she framed her youthful complexion whilst her glossy tresses fell in loose waves past her shoulders

Bit of all white! Flashing a hint of skin, she wore an off the shoulder white blouse with cropped sleeves that flattered her svelte physique whilst remaining demure

Natural beauty: Opting for a neutral make-up palette she allowed her natural beauty to shine through, framing her pretty features with a slick of rosy gloss on her plump pout

Bootylicious: She teamed the garment with skintight nude trousers, showing off her famous 'Rear of the Year' winning posterior as she teetered along the street

New friends: Stopping off in London, the 55-year-old presenter seemed pleased to bump into a bunch of road workers on the outing and couldn't resist playing around with a stop sign

Off she goes: Carol sped off in a black saloon car after hopping off the bus

Famous friends: She wasn't the only star on board the bus, and was joined by Matt Johnson, Jenni Falconer and Peter Andre, and couldn't resist snapping a selfie of the group

Teetering along the streets, Carol opted for khaki slingback heels whilst she wore a slender grey watch on her wrist.

Styling her golden locks in a centre parting, she framed her youthful complexion whilst her glossy tresses fell in loose waves past her shoulders.

Opting for a neutral make-up palette she allowed her natural beauty to shine through.

Lovely in lace: Jenni dazzled in a white dress that skimmed her thighs to show off her tanned and toned pins which were elongated by baby blue court heels

Hanging around: Jenni rested off the back of the bus for a fun shot

Two of a kind: Jenni seemed in great spirits as she cuddled up to Peter Andre

Fun pair: The duo seemed to be getting along famously as they posed for snaps

Snap happy: The pair cuddled up together to snap a selfie

She wasn't the only star on board the bus, and was joined by Peter Andre, Matt Johnson and Jenni Falconer.

The team were out inspiring the public to make nominations from the public for ordinary people who have achieved remarkable feats.

The 2016 Pride of Britain Awards will be screened on ITV on Tuesday November 1.

Suave: The star donned a khaki short with camel coloured shorts and white flip flops

Posing: The star waved at fans from the top of the bus

Snap happy: Peter couldn't resist grabbing the camera

In the nick: Peter posed with some friendly passing police people
Together, they host the top rating morning show on the Nine Network.

So it comes as no surprise to hear Lisa Wilkinson calling her co-star Karl Stefanovic her 'work husband'.

'He is like my second husband,' the happily married 56-year-old told the Daily Mail Australia at Cirque du Soleil's opening night of Kooza in Sydney on Thursday.

'He is like my second husband': Lisa Wilkinson called her Today co-star Karl Stefanovic her 'work husband' at Cirque du Soleil's opening night of Kooza in Sydney on Thursday

'Well certainly in the morning and into the day and Pete's [Peter FitzSimons] my husband at home.

'Many women would kill for that. Others would say, "Are you kidding? I don't even want one".'

Lisa then went onto describe the benefits of having 'two husbands'.

'Many women would kill for that': The 56-year-old veteran journalist said women would 'kill' to have two husbands

'I can pick and choose': The former Dolly editor said the best thing about having two husbands was that she can pick and choose who she needs to approach for different things

'Karl and Pete are in many ways very different, so I can pick and choose,' she said, before adding: 'I only fight with one of them on who gets to put out the garbage.'

Lisa looked incredible at the event in an eye-popping red coat paired with white denim trousers.

She boosted her petite frame in a pair of caramel coloured boots and coordinated the lining of her bright jacket with an ivory coloured scarf wrapped firmly around her neck.

The mother-of-three styled her brunette tresses out and straight, and opted for a natural pallet of make-up to highlight her striking features.

Stunning appearance: Lisa looked incredible at the event in an eye-popping red coat paired with white denim trousers

The outing comes just weeks after Lisa and her husband enjoyed an idyllic European vacation together.

On the trip, the TV personality said the couple had the opportunity to reunite with their 18-year-old daughter, Billi, who was travelling during her university break.

'It was fabulous and she was on at the tail end of her uni holidays and so we managed to cross over for four days in Paris which was wonderful,' the veteran journalist told the Daily Mail Australia.

Ctaching up: Lisa and Billi are known to be very close, and have often drawn comparisons since the younger one entered her late teen

Lisa and Billi are known to be very close, and have often drawn comparisons since the younger one entered her late teens.

Meanwhile, the breakfast show presenter said she and her former rugby union playing husband were over in Europe to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Fromelles in the French village of Pozieres.

She said the battle would be the subject of her husband's latest book, which she will later edit.

'So it was 100 years since Australia had made the Battle of Pozieres. We went to that ceremony and it was incredibly moving,' she said.

Work trip: Lisa and her husband Peter FitzSimons pictured lapping up the sun in Greece

'We've spent a lot of time on the French battle fields because Pete's books over the years have been set there.'

Lisa also made sure to gush about the Sydney Morning Herald columnist.

'I've worked on some of his books which is an absolute joy because he is one of the most exquisite writers that I have ever worked with,' she told the Daily Mail Australia.

'To be able to have a little input into his work is wonderful.

'His books are extraordinary and he brings to life Australian military which hasn't been done before.
She shot to fame when she appeared topless in Robin Thicke's controversial Blurred Lines video.

And Emily Ratajkowski has continued to turn heads with her racy Instagram selfies.

On Thursday the 25-year-old model sent pulses racing as she posted a completely naked picture of her rear from Santorini, Greece.

Scroll down for video

Making waves! On Thursday Emily Ratajkowski sent pulses racing as she posted a completely naked picture of her rear from Santorini, Greece

Posing in the nude, she gave fans a glimpse of her naked back and toned derriere, as she lounged in the hot tub with wet hair, looking away from the camera.

Looking towards the luxurious cave-like room, decorated with minimal furniture, the brunette beauty put on a sizzling display.

Captioning the snap 'cave', Emily racked up almost 50,000 likes in half an hour.

And moments later she pleased her fans, posting a busty selfie in her bikini.

Smoking hot! Showcasing her famous assets to perfection, the 25-year-old model also flaunted her jaw-dropping slender midriff and famous ab-crack in a blue bikini

Showcasing her famous assets to perfection, the blue two-piece also flaunted her jaw-dropping slender midriff and famous ab-crack.

Sporting slightly wet hair and minimal make-up, she showed off her natural beauty.

On Wednesday Emily further excited her fans by posting a cheeky rear view snap against a stunning backdrop.

Beach babe: Emily often takes to her Instagram to showcase her model physique in her swimwear, revealing this week that she feels most at home in a bikini

Cheeky! Emily uploaded a very cheeky shot to her Instagram on Wednesday having arrived in Greece days earlier, in which her incredible derriere took centre stage

The shot depicted Emily stood on a wall, looking out at the incredible view of the Greek Island's dramatic coastline.

Posing with her back to the camera the model showcased her perfectly rounded derriere and enviably slender legs in full view.

Sporting a tiny grey-blue bikini in the photo, her petite waist and golden, tanned frame were clear for all of her 7.5 million followers to see.

Cutting the shot off from the shoulders up her famous face and naturally beautiful features were not in shot.

Bliss: Emily also uploaded a photo of the view itself, having evidently landed in Santorini for a relaxing break this week

However the photo still received a whopping 175,000 likes, proving her enviable physique is just as key to her model success.

Emily also uploaded a photo of the view itself, having evidently landed in Santorini for a relaxing break this week.

Documenting the famous hilled landscape against a blue sky and crystal sea, Emily satisfyingly wrote alongside the photo: 'Made it.'

The American star revealed recently that she feels most at home in a bikini, and never misses an occasion to flaunt her figure in a quirky two-piece.

Natural beauty: Emily was signed as a model at the age of 14, but didn't go full-time with the career until two years into her degree at UCLA

Talking to People, she recently admitted: 'Im completely bathing suit obsessed and I love lurking on Instagram looking for the best bikinis.'

She also insists however there is no such thing as 'bikini ready' and wants every woman to feel as empowered as she does.

'I always say, "Do you have a body? Then youre swimsuit ready,"' she told InStyle.

'Thats all you need to worry about. The thing to know is love yourself and find the bathing suits that make you feel comfortable and just rock it.'

Emily was signed as a model at the age of 14, but didn't go full-time with the career until two years into her degree at UCLA.

Model material: She rose to prominence in Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams' infamous music video in 2013, and has since expanded her career to acting

She rose to prominence in Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams' infamous music video, which resulted in her being voted FHM's fourth sexiest woman in the world in 2014.

The talented star has since expanded her career to include both modelling and acting.

She is expected to appear in two upcoming films, with one set for release this year and the other at a date not yet announced.

Emily will star in the romance film, Cruise, and the thriller, In Darkness.

The latter will include Natalie Dormer and is a thriller set in London, while Cruise, which Emily is currently filming, is an 80s set tale of a young Italian-American from the 'wrong side of the tracks' who falls for a Jewish girl from Long Island.
Kendall Jenner's new neighbors were not happy when she moved in.

The 20-year-old model recently bought a $6.5 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills and chat show host Jimmy Kimmel, who lives across the road, told the star that other residents in the area were upset when they found out she was moving in.

Speaking on his show, he told Kendall: 'Our neighbors were up in arms when you moved onto the block. There was a whole thing with emails that went on. It was bad'

Scroll down for video

They're neighbors! Chat show host Jimmy Kimmel, who lives across the road from Kendall Jenner, told the star on his show that other residents in the area were upset when they found out she was moving in

'The neighbors all seem to blame me for this development somehow,' Kimmel added.

Kendall admitted that she had caused some drama, when a stalker was arrested outside her home.

She said: 'I think I caused quite a ruckus on our street - I had like stalkers. There's a lot going on.'

Earlier this month police were called after Kendall arrived home and a man followed her as she drove through the gates.

New digs: The 20-year-old model recently bought a $6.5 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills

Speaking on his show, he told Kendall: 'Our neighbors were up in arms when you moved onto the block. There was a whole thing with emails that went on'

He was arrested for stalking and there was also reportedly already a warrant out for his arrest.

But the talk show host assured Kendall he will protect her in the future.

'I'm the captain of the neighborhood watch. Don't worry, I'll shuffle down in my underpants and take care of whatever is going on,' Kimmel joked.

Home sweet home: Kendall bought the home, which has six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a private swimming pool, just two months ago from John Krasinski and Emily Blunt

Drama in the hood: Kendall admitted that she had caused a scene when a stalker was arrested outside her home. 'I think I caused quite a ruckus on our street - I had like stalkers,' she said

Kendall's friendliest new neighbor also invited Kendall over for dinner, after she forced an invitation of her own.

'I heard you're a chef, and I want you to make some food for me,' Kendall said.

The model added, 'I'm really offended you haven't invited me over yet for a welcome to the block kind of thing.'

To which the funny man replied, 'Are you allowed to eat when you're on the cover of Vogue?'

Scary: Earlier this month police were called after Kendall arrived home and a man followed her as she drove through the gates. He was arrested for stalking and reportedly already had a warrant out for his arrest. Above, Kendall was spotted arriving to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday

Kendall bought the home, which has six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a private swimming pool, just two months ago from John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.

She paid $450,000 below the original asking price for the 4,800-square-foot contemporary-style home.

It is situated on Hollywood's Sunset Strip, nestled in the hills above the iconic Chateau Marmont Hotel, and the luxurious living space comes complete with hard wood floors, exposed brick walls, and a rooftop patio.

Thanks to the wide and spacious windows, almost every room in the house has uninterrupted views of the West Hollywood neighbourhood and surrounding nature.

And Kendall revealed that she is obsessed with cleaning it.

She said: 'Oh my God I'm, like, OCD. I'm the biggest neat freak ever. I'm like cleaning with my maids. I'm with them scrubbing the floors. I go to my friends' houses [to clean] all the time. My little sister [Kylie Jenner], she thinks she's 'organized messy' is what she likes to call it.'

'I'm the biggest neat freak': Kendall also told the host she loves to clean her house. Every room has uninterrupted views of the West Hollywood neighborhood and surrounding nature
He is proud to have an ancient Scottish name.

But The Bachelor star Richie Strahan faced a Twitter backlash after incorrectly introducing a Scottish dance during a group date on Thursday.

After walking his final eight ladies into a barn, the 31-year-old said: 'I thought it'd be fantastic to get together and have a bit of a Highland hoedown.'

Scroll down for video

Whoops! The Bachelor star Richie Strahan faced a Twitter backlash after wrongly introducing a Scottish dance as a 'Highland hoedown' during a group date on Thursday

Richie's slip-up came just moments after the show's host Osher Gunsberg referred to the barnyard dance by its proper title.

'Welcome. Are you ready for a Bachelor's Scottish ceilidh?,' he told the group.

The Bachelor fans quickly took to Twitter to voice their frustration about Richie's latest verbal gaffe.

Backlash: The Bachelor fans quickly took to Twitter to voice their frustration about Richie's latest verbal gaffe

'Sorry but what the f*** is a "highland hoedown"?!' Twitter user @SueKennedy19 branded Richie as 't***' over the slip-up

Not happy: Social media user @jessica_alice_ tweeted, 'Just imagine if they stereotypically butchered any other culture'

'Sorry but what the f*** is a "highland hoedown"?! T***,' one social media wrote.

But while some found the phrasing offensive, others decided to make a joke at the Bachelor's expense.

One Twitter user asked, 'Can it get any more cheesy?' They added: 'Oh God, now they are having a Highland hoedown'.

'Tell us what you really think': While some found the phrasing offensive, others decided to make a joke at the Bachelor's expense

'Can it get any more cheesy?' Another Twitter user wrote, 'Oh God, now they are having a Highland hoedown'

Open wide! Earlier in the episode, the remaining contestants were challenged to eat haggis

Earlier in the episode, the eight remaining contestants were challenged to eat haggis - savoury pudding containing sheep's heart, liver and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt encased in the animal's stomach.

They also competed in the 'Scottish Highland Games', which saw them take part in a traditional sheaf toss challenge.

The Bachelor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on Network Ten
Ellen DeGeneres tantalized her captive 120.6M social media followers on Thursday by launching her very own line of custom emojis.

The 58-year-old presenter follows in the digital footsteps of celebrities like Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, Kim Kardashian, Blac Chyna, Amber Rose, and Wiz Khalifa.

Ellen's Emoji Exploji app - which includes Ellen heart eyes, Ellen boxer-briefs, and hoverboard legs - costs $1.99 for Apple and Android users.

Scroll down for video

Branching out her brand: Ellen DeGeneres tantalized her captive 120.6M social media followers on Thursday by launching her very own line of custom emojis

New endeavor: The 58-year-old presenter follows in the digital footsteps of celebrities like Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, Kim Kardashian, Blac Chyna, Amber Rose, and Wiz Khalifa

There's even a cute dancing emoji of the Finding Dory actress, who opts for a DJ rather than a band on her show which has audience dance-offs during commercial breaks.

The 28-time Emmy winner's expansion into the emoji game comes 10 days after being accused of racism for sharing a meme of herself riding Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.

The Jamaican 30-year-old seemingly approved by retweeting Ellen's controversial post, of which she wrote: 'I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am.'

DeGeneres' defensive tweet happened August 16 - the same day she celebrated eight years of marriage with wife Portia de Rossi.

Weee! Ellen's Emoji Exploji app - which includes Ellen heart eyes, Ellen boxer-briefs, and hoverboard legs - costs $1.99 for Apple and Android users

Shake it! There's even a cute dancing emoji of the Finding Dory actress, who opts for a DJ rather than a band on her show which has audience dance-offs during commercial breaks

'This is how I'm running errands from now on': The 28-time Emmy winner's expansion into the emoji game comes 10 days after being accused of racism for sharing a meme of herself riding Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt

The Jamaican 30-year-old seemingly approved by retweeting Ellen's controversial post, of which she wrote: 'I am highly aware of the racism that exists in our country. It is the furthest thing from who I am'

'Best thing I ever did. #8years #HappyAnniversary!' the Louisiana-born blonde captioned a hand-holding snap.

Ellen and the Australian 43-year-old - born Amanda Rogers - tied the knot in their Beverly Hills backyard but have no plans on having children.

The 14th season of the Hillary Clinton supporter's daytime talk show Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show premieres September 6 in syndication.

'Best thing I ever did. #8years #HappyAnniversary': DeGeneres' defensive tweet happened August 16 - the same day she celebrated eight years of marriage with wife Portia de Rossi

Still going strong! Ellen and the Australian 43-year-old - born Amanda Rogers - tied the knot in their Beverly Hills backyard but have no plans on having children
Madonna surprised fans with an unexpected appearance at a 25th anniversary screening of her documentary Truth Or Dare on Wednesday.

The superstar showed up at the event held at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan to the delight of the 400 or so in the audience.

The 58-year-old pop culture icon shared a couple of photos on her Instagram showing her standing between two on-screen images of herself from her Blond Ambition tour of 1990.

Scroll down for video

'Surreal moment!' Madonna surprised fans at a 25th anniversary screening of documentary Truth Or Dare and posed next to images of herself from the 1990 Blond Ambition Tour

'Surreal moment!' she wrote alongside the picture.

Madonna: Truth Or Dare was first released in May 1991 and followed the Material Girl on tour and showed her behind-the-scenes with then-boyfriend Warren Beatty, praying with her backup dancers and facing arrest for public indecency at her concert in Toronto, Canada.

'So many freedoms we take for granted that we did not have then. Thank you Alek Keshishian. We changed history with this film.!' Madonna wrote.

Keshishian directed the film that was shot in black and white.

Who's that girl? The pop icon, who just turned 58, delighted the 400 or so fans gathered to watch the film at the museum Of Modern Art in Manhattan on Wednesday

Demure: Madonna wore an off-he-shoulder red dress with white floral detailing and cinched at the waist with a black band for her surprise appearance

Sharing 'a kiki': She was accompanied by her daughter Lourdes 'Lola' Leon, 19

In a second photo shared via her Instagram, she's seen sharing 'a kiki' with daughter Lourdes Leon or Lola as she calls her.

Madonna wore a red off-the-shoulder dress with a flounce neckline and black spaghetti straps.

The frock features white floral detailing, half-sleeves and was cinched under the bust with a black band.

Her boys: The star later shared a picture of herself with her boys David and Rocco, with whom she has finally been able to mend her relationship with

She added a matching black and white floral patterned purse and wore her signature blonde hair styled in loose waves to her shoulders.

The star later shared a picture of herself with her boys David and Rocco, with whom she has finally been able to mend her relationship with.

Madonna had just returned from a birthday trip to Cuba with Lola, 19, and adopted children, 10-year-olds David and Mercy.

Truth Or Dare AKA In Bed With Madonna showed behind-the-scenes footage of the singer including candid moments with then-boyfriend Warren Beatty and prayer circles with her dancers
A long-term Hollywood marriage can be difficult to maintain, not least when it's to a globally renowned supermodel.

But Cindy Crawford and her husband of 18 years, Rande Gerber, made it look easy on Wednesday.

The pair were spotted looking the picture of elegance as they stepped out of their car to visit the private members' club SoHo House in Malibu.

Still going on swanky dates: Cindy Crawford was spotted on Wednesday popping into the elegant Malibu establishment SoHo house with her husband Rande Gerber

Following in the footsteps: They have two children, including Kaia Gerber, who has become a model herself

The 50-year-old let her wavy brown hair fall free onto her sand-coloured jacket, which she'd thrown casually about her shoulders.

Her flowing, white turtleneck was tucked into a pair of black slacks that emphasised her still pencil-thin legs. The woman Forbes once named Earth's highest-paid model accessorised with a tan leather clutch.

Gerber cut a dapper figure as he crossed the car park with his wife in a grey dress shirt he'd tucked into matching trousers. His hair slicked back, the 54-year-old pulled a black jacket over the outfit to splash on a bit of formality.

Second swing: Their 18-year marriage comes after the supermodel's first marriage to Richard Gere from 1991 to 1995

After her four-year marriage to Richard Gere splintered in 1995, the model married her second husband in 1998.

In the following three years, she gave him two children, including her daughter and doppelganger Kaia Berger, who's veered into modelling herself and with whom she appeared in Teen Vogue's September issue this year.

In her 2015 memoir Becoming, co-written with Katherine O'Leary, the DeKalb native compared her second wedding favourably to her first, a 'quickie wedding in Vegas.'

With their little Cindy: The couple with daughter Kaia in LA in June

She wrote: 'While there is some charm to getting married at The Little Chapel of the West and then going to Dennys afterward for some celebratory pancakes, I never quite felt that I was really married.'

Meanwhile, she and Gerber married on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. 'I wanted to look like the best version of the girl Rande loves waking up to every morning.'

She added: 'Rather than have my dad walk me down the aisle and "give me away," Rande and I chose to walk each other down the stairs that led to the beach and the ceremony.'
It's every girl's dream to live in a fairy tale.

And Kim Kardashian was certain to make her three-year-old daughter North West's fantasies come true on Thursday.

The 35-year-old had her little one pose for a video using a Snapchat filter that transformed her into a magical princess.

Scroll down for video

Now you really are a magical princess! Kim Kardashian was certain to make her three-year-old daughter North West's fantasies come true on Thursday

The daughter of Kanye West looked enamoured with her look, which made her luminescent with a gold face and bright eyes.

Kim captioned the video: 'Fairy Princess Costumes'.

She also shared an image of what appeared to be North playing with cousin Penelope as they were both dressed in princess costumes.

Adorable: She also shared an image of what appeared to be North playing with cousin Penelope as they were both dressed in princess costumes

She captioned the sweet image: 'Morning princesses'.

It was just the day before that Kim shared another video of North using a filter.

In the short clip the sweet girl looks at herself through a filter on Kim's phone as she puckers up as cartoon butterflies fly around her head.

So cute! North stole the show on Wednesday as her mother Kim shared another adorable Instagram video

Kim captioned the video: 'Lost files from Mexico'.

The duo just returned from a trip to Punta Mita, Mexico, on Saturday.

And the three-year-old looked to be spending some time with dad Kanye West on Monday.

In the short clip the sweet girl looks at herself through a filter on Kim's phone as she puckers up as cartoon butterflies fly around her head

Kim captioned the video: 'Lost files from Mexico'

On Twitter the 39-year-old rapper shared a photo of the child sitting in a bathtub filled with glow sticks. His caption read 'Glow.'

Glow sticks are a short-term light source that appears neon and are enclosed in a translucent plastic tube.

Pretty as a (Twitter) picture: North looked mesmerized in this image shared by Kanye West on Monday

They were invented by the military but in the 1970's were patented and made into toys for children. Because they are waterproof their chemicals will not leak when submerged.

North was in a white bathtub and seemed to have wet hair already. There were glow sticks on the surface of the water and on the floor of the tub. There was even one pink one in her ear. It looks as if the child, aged three, had bent one of the sticks into a hoop earring.
The FX Network dropped yet another cryptic, creepy teaser for American Horror Story's mysterious sixth season on Thursday.

In the 15-second preview - titled 'The Lesson' - stone-faced school children pound their desks in unison while seated in a corn field.

Suddenly, the six kids raise their heads to the sky as though an alien spaceship hovered over them.

Scroll down for video

Harvest time? The FX Network dropped yet another cryptic, creepy teaser for American Horror Story's mysterious sixth season on Thursday

The clip ends with the boy seated front and center with blackened eyes staring into the camera.

The AHS image seemed to emulate the platinum-blonde alien children with glowing eyes in the 1995 sci-fi horror flick Village of the Damned.

But the corn field imagery hearkened the pint-sized Nebraska cultists, who ritually murder adult in the 1984 supernatural film Children of the Corn.

Titled 'The Lesson': In the 15-second preview, stone-faced school children pound their desks in unison while seated in a corn field

Tractor beam? Suddenly, the six kids raise their heads to the sky as though an alien spaceship hovered over them

Ominous: The clip ends with the boy seated front and center with blackened eyes staring into the camera

FX President John Landgraf revealed that his marketing team purposefully made numerous trailers to throw fans off on the secret theme/setting.

'I think they're really fun and funny and beautifully, artfully made, and a lot of them are accurate. The others are all misdirects,' the 54-year-old CEO said at a TCA event on August 9 - according to EW.

That explains the crop circles, towering straw men, and swamp monster from previous promos.

'Beware the stare!' The AHS image seemed to emulate the platinum-blonde alien children with glowing eyes in the 1995 sci-fi horror flick Village of the Damned

'And a child shall lead them': But the corn field imagery harkened the pint-sized Nebraska cultists, who ritually murder adult in the 1984 supernatural film Children of the Corn

Meant to be vague: FX President John Landgraf revealed that his marketing team purposefully made numerous trailers to throw fans off on the secret theme/setting

'A lot of them are accurate. The others are all misdirects': That explains the crop circles, towering straw men, and swamp monster from previous promos

Among the confirmed Ryan Murphy players returning are his resident divas Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, and Kathy Bates.

And three of the gentlemen back in action this season are Matt Bomer, Denis O'Hare, and American Crime Story's Cuba Gooding Jr.

The sixth season of the anthology horror miniseries officially premieres September 14 on FX.

Fierce females: Among the confirmed Ryan Murphy players returning are his resident divas Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, and Kathy Bates

OJ in the house! And three of the gentlemen back in action this season are Matt Bomer, Denis O'Hare, and American Crime Story's Cuba Gooding Jr.
She's been open about getting Botox, a tummy tuck and filler to plump her lips and firm her derriere.

And now Kim Zolciak revealed to Bravo's The Lookbook that she's also had ultrasound treatment Ultherapy to tighten the skin on her chin.

The 38-year-old said she had the FDA-approved procedure, also known as a non-surgical face lift, in February to improve the appearance of her jawline.

Scroll down for video

Skin therapy: Kim Zolciak revealed she had a skin tightening treatment to lift her chin and jawline earlier this year. Above, the reality star showed off a fuller pout at LAX last month

'I thought it was uncomfortable,' she admitted, adding: 'The numbing cream helped though.'

The technique, which claims to banish double chins, uses ultrasound technology to supposedly shock skin's collagen into rebuilding, which can then lift and firm sagging skin.

It typically costs between $2000 and $4000 per treatment, and can take a few months for the results to be visible.

Tightened: Left is Kim in LA in 2013, and right, with a sharper jawline at her birthday party in Atlanta in May

Come a long way: The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star showed off a brunette look in a flashback photo shared on the Bravo website

Earlier this month, Kim got Botox, lip filler and butt injections while on a visit to Los Angeles. Her lookalike daughter Brielle Biermann, 19, also showed off a fuller pout after the family's LA trip.

While in Los Angeles, the former RHOA star shared Snapchat video from the office of Beverly Hills' Dr. Simon Ourian, who the Kardashian sisters also turn to for cosmetic skin treatments.

Dr. Ourian gave her an injection to remove the 'dimples' or cellulite on her derriere, and Kim shared video on Instagram as she raved about getting back her 'smooth tush.'

Cheeky: The 38-year-old shared Snapchat video as she had filler injected into her derriere by Kardashian favorite Dr. Simon Ourian earlier this month

Tummy tuck: Kim showed off her figure in a gold bikini as she reminded fans that a tummy tuck doesn't make you 'skinny' on Instagram Sunday

The Don't Be Tardy star has also been open about getting a tummy tuck, although she warned fans on Instagram that it doesn't make you 'skinny' as she shared a bikini selfie on Sunday.

'I wear the same size jean that I wore in high school and NO a tummy tuck doesn't make you skinny!' Kim wrote.

The Bravo star had her tummy tuck in 2014, and has previously explained that it was for a hernia and to repair stomach muscles after giving birth to six children.

Fillers: The Don't Be Tardy star showed off her plump pout as she reunited with husband Kroy Biermann at his training camp in Rochester, New York this week

Meanwhile, the reality star has been struggling to cope with her separation from husband Kroy Biermann, after the former Atlanta Falcons player, 30, signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Kim shared her joy and showed off her fuller pout in Snapchat as the couple were reunited in Rochester, New York during his training camp this week.

'You guys I love my husband, like, I'm obsessed with him,' she boasted to her social media followers of the handsome 6ft3in athlete.

All smiles: Kim shared a selfie with Kroy while she visited him at the Buffalo Bills' training camp

'He just makes me so happy, I just, I feel so blessed,' she gushed on Snapchat.

To add to her difficult week of being away from her husband, Kim also sent her sons KJ, five, and Kash, four, off to their first day of school on the same day.

The reality star joked she was having a 'nervous breakdown' after the tough day.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and his teenage son Joseph Baena spent some time bonding at a gym on Thursday.

The 69-year-old action star was pictured leaving Gold's gym in Venice, California with his 18-year-old lookalike son in tow.

Donning a red Team USA t-shirt the Terminator actor looked proud as punch to be joining his offspring for a post-workout bike ride.

Pumping iron: Arnold Schwarzenegger and his son Joseph Baena were spotted leaving Gold's gym in Venice on Thursday

And having the iconic movie muscleman as his fitness mentor has clearly rubbed off on Joseph as the student showed off his impressive arm muscles in a red tank top.

After pumping some iron the former Governor of California was roped into taking a selfie with an eager fan outside the famous gym.

However once they got pedaling the twosome looked in great spirits and enjoyed a leisurely cruise around the beach city.

California boys: The duo coordinated in red as they cruised around the beach town together

Like father like son: Having the iconic movie muscleman as his fitness mentor has clearly rubbed off on Joseph as the student showed off his impressive muscles in a red tank top

Joseph is the Terminator star's child from an affair he had in the 1990's with his housekeeper Mildred Patricia Baena, known as Patty.

The actor was married to Maria Shriver at the time it occurred and Patty fell pregnant with Joseph in 1997.

It only came to light that the action hero had fathered a love child in 2011, when Maria, 60, ended the marriage and moved out of their home.

The actor himself was unaware he was Josephs father for many years, and told 60 minutes that it wasnt until the boy 'started looking like me, that's when I kind of got it. I put things together'.

Standing out: The 69-year-old actor donned a red Team USA t-shirt and grey shorts

Arnold and Maria have four children - Katherine, 26, Christina, 25, Patrick, 22, and Christopher, 18, who was born just five days before his half-brother.

Their divorce is yet to be finalized.

Meanwhile the Predator star has been keeping busy recently filming Why We're Killing Gunther.

He was spotted on the set of the Taran Killam-directed comedy in Vancouver earlier this month.

Popular patrons: Arnie was roped into a selfie with a fan as the duo prepared to head out

Family time: Joseph is the Terminator star's love child from an affair he had in the 1990s with his housekeeper
Survivor contestant Sam Webb's mental health and suicide prevention charity has a new celebrity advocate.

The 28-year-old's LIVIN organisation has been inundated with new sales of their grey hoodie after Chris Hemsworth was spotted wearing the jumper around Queensland.

According to the Courier Mail , the 33-year-old actor was moved by the message behind the jumper after spotting it on a friend of Sam's who happened to be working on the set of Thor: Ragnorak.

Scroll down for video

Celebrity endorsement: Chris Hemsworth has helped with the sales of Survivor's Sam Webb's charity sales after wearing the LIVIN hoodie on the set of Thor: Ragnorak

Chris has been wearing the jumper non-stop while on set as well as around town during his surprise hospital visits.

'The sales have absolutely skyrocketed, there has never been an influx like this before,' Sam told The Daily Telegraph.

The reality TV star says he's in talks to meet the Hollywood hunk along with his business partner and LIVIN co-founder Casey Lyons.

'The sales have absolutely skyrocketed': 28-year-old Sam says the celebrity endorsement has been an immense boost to the mental health and suicide prevention organisation

Ambassador: Chris was apparently moved by the message behind the jumper and has been sporting it on set for the past several months

Sam said: 'I haven't spoken to him as of yet, Im supposed to be meeting him with my business partner later next month if we can work things out.

'But the fact he knows what Livin is all about is amazing.'

Sam and Casey founded the charity in September 2013 after his close friend Dwayne Lally lost his life to suicide.

Thoughtful: The 33-year-old hunk also wore the hoodie during his visit to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital earlier this week

'It ain't weak to speak': Sam founded the charity in 2013 after a close friend lost his life to suicide

The pair use fashion and social media to help promote the message "it ain't weak to speak" and to destigmatise mental illness.

Meanwhile, Chris has been busy donating his time to brighten up the lives of sick children in Brisbane.

The on-screen superhero has visited Brisbane Hospital and Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in the past week along with his co-star Tom Hiddleston.

The pair spent hours chatting to sick kids and happily posed for pictures with their families.
The heat in the British capital didn't catch Made In Chelsea's Tiffany Watson out on Thursday night.

Floating through London towards a magazine party held at Folli Follie on Oxford Street, the blonde caught the wind in a billowing co-ord.

The unusual rose-patterned garment featured slashes on the arms and although caped with floaty skirt, comprised a pair of thigh-skimming shorts on her lower half.

Scroll down for video

Beating the heat: Tiffany Watson looked cute in a Mediterranean inspired co-ord on Thursday night as she hit the Folli Follie x HELLO! Magazine party in London

Fresh from a summer spent in the South of France, the reality TV star seemed to exude Mediterranean vibes.

Tiff made the most of her glow too, flashing her long legs in shorts and a glimpse of her taut middle where her crop top failed to meet her waistband.

She offset a bright red rose pattern with orange heels and a scarlet matte lipstick on an otherwise minimal make-up look.

Unusual: She teamed a crop with slashed sleeves with shorts that were caped with an open skirt

Summer ensemble: Also in attendance was Ashley James, who plumped for all-white

Showing off a brighter, bleached lob hairstyle, the blonde bombshell wore her tresses loose with a cute braid in one side.

The Folli Follie x HELLO! Magazine was something of a Made In Chelsea reunion since it drew attendance from castmembers, old and new.

Sisters Olivia and Fran Newman-Young joined Ashley James inside the venue where current star Georgia Toffolo similarly put in an appearance.

Cute as a button: Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo wore a preppy get up featuring a pom-pom pinafore

Blast from the past: Former MIC stars Olivia (left) and Fran Newman-Young (right) made an appearance at the bash

Looking swish: The ex-reality TV star looked ladylike in a navy blue dress

The petite blonde looked cute in a white shirt and a black pom-pom pinafore, pulling together a preppy image.

In the current series, Georgia has found herself in a love triangle with the object of her affections, Francis Boulle.

Monday night's installment of Made In Chelsea: South Of France saw Toff lash out at Olivia Bentley for kissing Francis when she knew that Toff liked him.

In a bitter confrontation, cute blonde Toff branded Liv a 'snake' and also Francis a 'd**k' for betraying her.

Sweet style: Toff paired her minidress with a sleeveless blouse that had a high collar

Leaving together: It was something of a Made In Chelsea reunion for the duo
War Dogs (15)

Rating:

Todd Phillips's War Dogs boasts unusual subtlety of character for a film about gun-runners. The Night Manager made us imagine arms dealers as smooth sophisticates with toff pals, this shoves the image downmarket.

In a smartly written, deftly directed rendering of a true story we meet two stoned Miami dudes barely into their 20s who  thanks to a Pentagon procurement policy of letting small businesses get government contracts  win a massive, semi-covert U.S government contract to arm allies in Afghanistan.

Underbidding, tangled up with cleverer and nastier big-fry and devious Albanian tricksters, they trip over their own swaggering feet and end up in court.

Todd Phillips's War Dogs boasts unusual subtlety of character for a film about gun-runners

Rather unexpectedly, I loved it. You learn a lot, all pretty unsavoury, about what supplies these overseas American wars, and are unwillingly drawn in to the excitement and risk of business, even while shuddering and snorting with brief surprised laughter.

David Packouz (Miles Teller) is the more innocent of the pair, a babyfaced school dropout failing to make a living by selling bulk bedsheets.

His judgment addled by strong weed and his girlfriend's shock pregnancy, he starts working for the stocky, blue-eyed and marginally psychotic Efraim, who has moved on from the simple trade of buying seized automatic weapons from police and flogging them online to gun-nuts.

He is now bidding for the smaller but lucrative contracts off the Pentagon website to fleece the 'free-spending, overfunded U.S. military'.

Jonah Hill as Efraim is fantastic: a nightmare big buddy with a high giggle, travelling from youthful larky affability to dangerous crazy greed. His shoving through Amman airport with 'I have ta go first, I'm American' is perfect.

Teller gives us a young man who, from a naive 'I'm against war,' position is sucked in by money and unable  though he lets us sense some unease  to connect his murderous trade with the youthful sweetness he feels for his girl and baby.

There's a terrifying cameo from Bradley Cooper as the wilier dealer and Alin Georgiou Popa as the Albanian they forget to pay

Some jump-cuts are breathtaking: night-feed baby on shoulder, he surfs absently with his free hand to target a huge deal online: 68,500 crates, several millions, of AK bullets for Afghanistan. A suspiciously helpful chap in a Vegas casino tells them how to source them in Albania. What can possibly go wrong?

The script by Stephen Chinn and Phillips is great: deadpan, harsh lines hitting home; it has the sense to let us join the dots between the seediness of arms procurement and the nightmare destination of these cratefuls of death.

There's a terrifying cameo from Bradley Cooper as the wilier dealer and Alin Georgiou Popa as the Albanian they forget to pay.

And as an 11-year-old Jordanian interpreter, hustling the baffled, out-of-their depth Americans onto a lorry ride through the Fallujah 'triangle of death', Mosa Omari is a star in the making.

In a smartly written, deftly directed rendering of a true story we meet two stoned Miami dudes barely into their 20s

Julieta (15)

Rating:

Adolescentes son misteriosos: teenagers are mysterious. So sighs the heroine's friend in Pedro Almodovar's new film Julieta; it's a point we would get easily without the subtitles.

He makes it as exquisite as always to look at, with tender shots of faces, seascapes, city streets, sex, and in one case a significant omelette, whose very sizzle is a mournful sigh.

The story, a good one, is a melancholy tapestry of love, passing years, unresolved guilt, family tension and deaths.

We meet first the middle-aged Julieta (Emma Suarez) abruptly cancelling a plan to travel with her lover to Portugal. Her face, chic and composed at first, sags into shock on casually meeting her long-estranged daughter's schoolfriend: as she says later, an addict's relapse can be fatal. For she falls back into her 'addiction' of looking for, and lamenting the loss of her vanished daughter, Antia.

Adriana Ugarte, who plays young Julieta, is an uncannily credible lookalike: a beautifully expressive hoyden

Older Julieta writes her a letter, and suddenly becomes once more her 25-year-old self, confident and bright, teaching classical literature, thrilled by sea and legends and love and heroes.

Adriana Ugarte, who plays young Julieta, is an uncannily credible lookalike: a beautifully expressive hoyden.

We see her blossoming young life undergo love, change, guilt, delight: there is a casual word, a suicide and a shocked, impassioned embrace with a stranger (the lovemaking is tastefully filmed reflected in the winter landscape beyond speeding train windows).

Then comes a long partnership, a cherished child, and the daughter's resentful and mysterious desertion.

Never do we lose loyalty to the troubled mother, but in Almodovar's delicate beautiful moments share her slow-burn longing and resentment, subtly interwoven with layers of guilt from elsewhere.

The strength of the storytelling is in the width of its web: we see her lover's dead wife, Julieta's own father's treatment of his ailing mother, and the lover's artist friend, who makes stark little bronzes with stylised phalluses.

There is even the Mrs Danvers-like presence of the housekeeper Marion (Rossy de Palma, an unforgettably filmable face of harsh coastal granite).

Life is, for all of them, complicated: but the story's elegant, troubled arc is clear and somehow, unquestionably beautiful.
Hours-long attack on Kabul American university kills 16

Sixteen people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said Thursday, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students.

Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began Wednesday evening, just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed government.

Afghan women students, who were trapped inside the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul during an attack by militants, are escorted by police after a nearly 10-hour raid on August 25, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP)

The presidential office said the attack was "orchestrated" from Pakistan, Afghanistan's longtime regional nemesis often accused of harbouring the Taliban.

"Sixteen people, including eight students, were killed and 53 others were wounded," health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told AFP. "Some of the wounded are in critical condition."

The interior ministry said the fatalities included policemen, a university guard and a guard from the neighbouring vocational school for the visually impaired.

Hundreds of trapped students were rescued during the overnight operation, many of whom tweeted desperate messages for help. Some used classroom furniture to barricade the doors while others made a mad scramble to escape through windows from high floors.

The attack began with a suicide car bombing at a university gate, which paved the way for two attackers to storm the compound at dusk, when the elite private university is usually packed with students.

"Students were pushing each other out of the classroom window," Farzana, a young student who was grievously hurt while escaping, told AFP from her hospital bed. "I was reluctant to jump but a fellow student pushed me and I fell down. The rest I don't remember."

Authorities refused to confirm whether any hostages had been taken.

NATO military advisers helped Afghan forces to respond to the attack, a US official said, without specifying how many troops were involved.

At dawn, after the assault had ended, a few women students, some of them terrified and weeping, were escorted out of the campus by policemen.

- 'Cowardly attack' -

The attack, apparently the first major militant assault on a prominent university in Afghanistan, has cast a pall on the education sector, seen as a beacon of hope for the country's burgeoning youth at a time of rising insecurity.

The growing number of students attending university, especially women, has been hailed as a success story in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime, which banned women's education.

"This was a cowardly assault on talented and motivated scholars - students and faculty alike - dedicated to a better and more prosperous future for Afghanistan," US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

The attack was "organised and orchestrated" from Pakistan, Ashraf Ghani's office said, adding that the Afghan president spoke to Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif to demand "serious measures against the terrorists".

In its response the Pakistani military said it carried out a combing operation along the border based on three mobile numbers that Afghan authorities alleged were used to maintain contact with the attackers.

"Outcome of the op so far has been shared with Afghan authorities," the military said.

The American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrols more than 1,700 students, was long 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, when the kidnappers smashed the passenger window and hauled them away at gunpoint.

Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group so far has publicly claimed responsibility for the abductions, the latest in a series of kidnappings of foreigners.

The uptick in violence comes as the Taliban escalate nationwide attacks, underscoring the worsening security situation since NATO forces ended their combat mission at the end of 2014.

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 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.

Map of Kabul locating the American University -, - (AFP Graphic)

An injured Afghan man lays on a stretcher in an ambulance near the site of an explosion that targeted the elite American University in Kabul, on August 24, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP)

Wounded Afghan students from the American University in Kabul receive treatment after a nearly 10-hour raid by militants left at least 16 dead Wakil Kohsar (AFP)
Gabon's old guard hopes to unseat Bongo dynasty scion

The increasingly disgruntled people of Gabon go to the polls Saturday in a presidential election in which a last-minute opposition pact has robbed incumbent Ali Bongo of a clear run at a second term.

Bongo, 57, has long sought to emerge from the shadow of his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the country of 1.8 million people for 41 years until he died in 2009.

The president's only credible challenger, former senior African Union official Jean Ping, 73, is carrying the flag for the old guard of Bongo senior's cronies.

Gabon President Ali Bongo greets supporters in Moanda ahead of presidential elections Marco Longari (AFP)

It was only last week that protracted negotiations finally led the last of other prominent opposition hopefuls to give way to Ping.

Until then, their presidential ambitions would most likely have mathematically ensured Bongo won another seven years in office.

Nine other runners have a negligible chance of winning the election, which will be decided by a simple majority after a single round of voting.

Fears that the results will deliver unrest are fuelled by memories of the violence that followed Bongo's 2009 victory against Andre Mba Obame.

Several people were killed, buildings looted, a ceasefire imposed and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil torched.

There has been growing popular discontent and numerous public sector strikes in recent months.

- Fears of violence -

The country's economic woes are closely tied to the fall in the global price of oil, the mainstay of Gabon's perilously undiversified economy.

Thousands of oil workers have lost their jobs, according to the sector's main union, ONEP.

"If these people and their families express their frustration at the ballot box, well, that could end badly for the government's candidate," said ONEP's deputy head, Sylvain Mayabi-Binet.

"There are enough frustrated people for the slightest spark to send people into the streets," he added.

Bongo, 57, has campaigned under the slogan "Let's change together", playing up the roads and hospitals built during his first term and stressing the need to break with the bad old days of disappearing public funds and dodgy management of oil revenues.

Ping has pledged to ensure, if elected, that Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear".

The campaign period has been marked by months of bitter exchanges between the two camps, including accusations, and strenuous denials, that Bongo was born in Nigeria and therefore ineligible to run.

Ping's own roots -- he is Sino-Gabonese -- served as ammunition for Bongo's camp, which has suggested he and his son are secretly serving Chinese interests.

The two rivals go back a long way, having worked for years together under Bongo senior, who was responsible for getting Ping his job as chairman of the African Union Commission.

Ping also has close family ties to the Bongo dynasty: he is the father of two children by Ali's sister.

He turned on Bongo in 2014, and in March he told French daily Le Monde that "Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan."

European Union observers in a statement urged the electoral commission to ensure that the results are counted and announced with "transparency and speed".

Some 628,000 voters will be eligible to cast their ballots Saturday.

A man watches a televised political debate in Port-Gentil ahead of presidential elections in Gabon Samir Tounsi (AFP)
Jean Ping, former top diplomat out to topple Gabon dynasty

Gabon's leading presidential challenger Jean Ping is a career diplomat determined to wrest power from the Bongo dynasty in Saturday's election after serving the family for two decades.

Foreign minister of the small oil-rich nation from the late 1990s until being elected to the high-profile post of chair of the African Union (AU) Commission in 2008, he is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally.

The Paris university graduate was one of late president Omar Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers, holding a succession of prestigious posts before turning against President Ali Bongo who stepped in after his father's death in 2009.

Gabon's main opposition presidential candidate Jean Ping is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally Samir Tounsi (AFP/File)

Dubbing the regime that has run the nation on the Equator "a pure and simple dictatorship", Ping turned on Bongo junior in 2014 and now hopes to stop him winning a second seven-year term.

Launching his campaign in the central town of Lambarene in mid-August, the 73-year-old pledged that if elected he would ensure Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear".

The half-Chinese veteran of Gabonese politics has since secured the backing of other opposition heavyweights in a concerted bid to end the reign of the powerful Bongo clan.

Former prime minister Casimir Oye Mba and Guy Nzouba Ndama, who was a long-serving parliamentary speaker, have both agreed to back Ping for president, as has former intelligence chief Leon Paul Ngoulakia, also a first cousin to Bongo.

"I am here because you decided that we needed a single candidate to end this dictatorship that we've been living through," said Ngoulakia.

None of the other 10 candidates approved by the electoral commission have the stature of the old servants of the regime, whose show of unity is a first in a nation where the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has an entrenched powerbase.

Government spokesman Alain-Claude Billie By Nze however had denounced the "unnatural alliance", calling it "horse trading whose only aim is to share out privilege and power".

- 'Like the Titanic' -

Fast-talking and vocal Ping, who made a host of friends during his AU stint, told the French daily Le Monde in March that "Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan."

"Gabon is like the Titanic, heading for an iceberg and the band is playing on. And that iceberg, if nothing is done, is civil war."

Bongo-friendly media have repeatedly focused on reports that Ping's son took commissions from a Chinese group bidding for public works contracts.

An extrovert equally at ease in English and French, Ping married Omar Bongo's eldest daughter, Pascaline, herself a senior politician. The couple had two children.

He later married an Ivorian woman, and is today a father of eight.

Before embarking on a ministerial career, Ping earned a doctorate in economics from France's Sorbonne University and was an international civil servant for the Paris-based UNESCO.

During his AU tenure, he built strong ties with Turkey, India and most notably China, which financed the $200 million (160 million euros) construction of the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Tough road for Taiwan's Tsai after rocky start to presidency

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is battling falling popularity and increased pressure from Beijing as she approaches 100 days in office marred by controversy.

Since she took the leadership in May, Tsai has been faced with a litany of challenges, from a missile mistakenly fired towards to China, to labour protests and rows over personnel appointments.

Ties with rival Beijing -- which has a deep distrust of Tsai -- have become increasingly frosty, with China recently saying it has cut off official contact with Taipei.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (R) had a landslide election victory but has struggled in her first few months Sam Yeh (AFP)

The public support that swept Tsai into power by a landslide is now wavering. Her support ratings have fallen to around 50 percent in recent surveys, from highs of 70 percent.

Ahead of her 100th day in office Saturday, Tsai admitted her new government "hasn't done well enough".

"I hope that others do not use 100 days to judge the success or failure of my leadership," she told reporters last week.

"Reforms need time."

Voters backed Beijing-sceptic Tsai after many saw a rapprochement with China under previous president Ma Ying-jeou as benefiting big business, not ordinary Taiwanese.

There were also fears closer cross-strait relations would threaten Taiwan's sovereignty -- China still sees the self-ruling island as part of its territory to be reunified.

Since she took the reins, Tsai has apologised to the island's aboriginals for historic injustices, pushed for pension reform and launched a budget she says will boost new industries and social care.

But some voters feel she has focused on the wrong issues.

"Most young people can't save money or dare to think about buying their own homes with low salaries... This is the priority for us, not political reforms," said Taipei office worker Wang Chuan-yi, 26.

Others say the government has flip-flopped, including meeting the demands of recent labour protesters over working conditions and layoff compensation.

"Tsai's government frequently changes its policies once there are backlashes or street protests," said 45-year-old Taipei businessman James Lee, who also criticised her for expensive tastes, including hiring a personal cook.

"Before the election she showed the image of being close to the people and ate at roadside stalls," he told AFP.

- Beijing backlash -

As Tsai fights fires on the domestic front, Beijing is also piling on the pressure for her to acknowledge that there is only "one China".

Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party is traditionally pro-independence, has never backed that concept, unlike her predecessor Ma of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang.

As a result, Beijing has cut official communications and persuaded several countries to deport Taiwanese citizens to the mainland, despite the island's repeated objections.

Tsai said recently her government has "done what it can" to maintain ties and called on both sides to bear joint responsibility for cross-strait peace.

While the public is wary over ties with Beijing, it overwhelmingly supports peace between the two sides. However, Tsai also has to appease the staunch anti-China factions within the DPP.

To keep the party under control, she needs to maintain public support for her leadership, says Wang Yeh-li, a political scientist at National Taiwan University, something he feels she is struggling to do.

"Public discontent is rising as Tsai's policies are seen as fickle and aimed at pleasing certain minority groups that are long-term DPP supporters," said Wang.

Tsai was forced into an embarrassing withdrawal of her nominees for two top judicial posts earlier this month. That followed a backlash from members of her own party and other critics who said one of the candidates had helped silence dissent as a prosecutor under authoritarian KMT rule in the 1970s. The other was accused of plagiarism.

It is now time for Tsai to take control and re-connect with voters, said Shih Cheng-feng, a political analyst at National Dong Hwa University.

"She has yet to show strong leadership and hasn't sorted out her priorities to focus on things that resonate with the public...they will grow more and more impatient," said Shih.

However, some voters remain sympathetic.

"We need to give Tsai more time," said Taipei florist Catherin Kang, 38. "Many policies and infrastructure projects can't be realised right away."

How the world sees Taiwan Adrian Leung/John Saeki (AFP)

China and Taiwan split after a civil war in 1949 but Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory Sam Yeh (AFP)
Myanmar weighs damage after earthquake rattles Bagan pagodas

Myanmar took stock of toppled spires and crumbling temple walls in the ancient capital Bagan Thursday after a powerful earthquake hit the country, killing three and damaging the top tourist destination.

Two young girls and a man died in Magway region where the 6.8 magnitude quake struck Wednesday evening, cracking buildings across the centre of the country and sending tremors that were felt as far away as Bangkok and Kolkata.

On Thursday Myanmar's new civilian president Htin Kyaw travelled to Bagan -- the country's most famous archaeological site -- to inspect some of the nearly 200 pagodas damaged by the quake.

A police officer records the damage at Htilominlo Temple on August 25, 2016, after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar's ancient city of Bagan Ye Aung Thu (AFP)

The ancient city is home to a vast plain of more than 2,500 Buddhist monuments that are among Myanmar's most venerated religious sites and a top draw for its growing tourism industry.

Teams of government-dispatched engineers and architects spent the day surveying the wreckage, while workers cleared piles of bricks, swept the grounds and sorted through fragments of murals.

"We will take experts' opinions and then try to see what is the best way to restore it. But it will be a very lengthy process and quite expensive," the president told reporters after visiting several of the damaged stupas.

Zaw Htay, a government spokesman, said Myanmar's de facto leader and veteran democracy activist Aung Sang Suu Kyi has urged authorities "not to rush" in renovating the damaged temples.

"Police are taking measures to prevent the loss of our ancient heritage and cultural art works," he added in a statement on Facebook.

Bagan's sweeping expanse of centuries-old ruins -- which make for a staggering sunset vista -- have survived wars, earthquakes and tropical sun.

In the city's heyday, between the 9th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of a powerful kingdom and one of Asia's most important centres for learning.

"It's really heartbreaking. I cannot even eat," said Tin Hla Oo, a trustee of the three-story Htilominlo pagoda, which was badly damaged by the quake.

"We are suffering because this is a great loss, as these (pagodas) are priceless."

- Haphazard renovation -

Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, which lies in a tectonically active region.

The last major quake to seriously damage Bagan struck in 1975 and was followed by a controversial restoration effort under the military junta that stepped down in 2011.

Experts said the haphazard renovation work, much of it hastily done with modern materials, significantly altered the original architecture and design of some monuments.

In recent years, as the country undergoes a democratic transition and opens up following decades of isolationist junta rule, UNESCO has worked directly with the government to safeguard the monuments.

"We believe this time the restoration will follow international standards," said Sardar Umar Alam, the head of UNESCO's office in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

The agency dispatched experts to Bagan Thursday and is working directly with government ministries, he added.

"It takes time to know how the structures are stabilised and how bad the actual damage is -- if a roof collapses, how much it affects different walls and mural paintings," said Alam.

Suu Kyi, the former political prisoner whose party swept landmark elections in November, is faced with the tough task of modernising an impoverished country whose economy was eviscerated by its former military leaders.

She is formally barred from the presidency by a junta-era constitution but has been ruling through her proxy president Htin Kyaw and her post as state counsellor, a powerful position her party crafted after taking office.

Travel to Myanmar used to be reserved for the well-heeled and intrepid, prepared to endure the travails of a country under junta rule with patchy electricity and limited communications.

But foreign tourists have poured in since the military stepped down, many of them making a beeline for Bagan.

This year Myanmar is on track to welcome 5.5 million tourists, nearly a million more than 2015, according to Tint Thwin, director-general of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

A 6.8-magnitude quake struck the Magway region of Myanmar on August 24, 2016

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)

Myanmar president Htin Kyaw (C) and goverment officals inspect the damaged ancient pagoda of Sulamani the day after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Bagan, on August 25, 2016 Ye Aung Thu (AFP)
Trump finds anti-establishment ally in Brexit's Farage

Nigel Farage, the divisive politician at the heart of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, on Wednesday threw his support behind Donald Trump's bid to become US president, with a rabble-rousing speech.

Farage, the outgoing leader of the UK Independence Party, was instrumental in the surprise Brexit vote that rocked Europe in June, painting the decision as a chance for fed-up Britons to take back control of their country.

"Folks the message is there. The parallels are there," Farage told a rally for the upstart Republican nominee in Jackson, Mississippi.

Nigel Farage (C) says Donald Trump's underdog campaign is like his own to take Britain out of Europe Geoff Caddick (AFP/File)

"There are millions of ordinary Americans who have been let down; who have had a bad time; who feel the political class in Washington are detatched from them; who feel so many of their representatives are politically correct parts of the liberal media elite.

"They feel people are not standing up for them.

"So you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign. You can go out and beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, and you can beat Washington," Farage told a crowd of around 10,000.

Farage, who was in Ohio for the Republican convention in July when Trump was anointed party standard bearer, said the underdog campaign of the billionaire property mogul echoed his own fight to take Britain out of the EU.

"Everybody said we'd lose (but) we did it," he told a cheering crowd.

"If you want change in this country, you'd better get your walking boots on."

Farage, a privately educated former stockbroker who cultivated an everyman image during Britain's referendum campaign, acknowledged he could not vote in November's presidential election.

"But I will say this: If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me," he said, referring to the Democratic Party nominee.

"In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me," he said to laughs and cheers.

It is unusual for a candidate for America's highest office to wheel out a foreign politician, but Trump's campaign has made a virtue of breaking with convention.

Taking to the stage after Farage's speech, the former reality TV star was effusive.

"Wow... what a job he did. Thank you Nigel. That was some job that he did," Trump said.

Trump's campaign has stumbled in recent weeks after a series of perceived gaffes, with commentators noting it appears to be struggling to make the transition from the scrappy party nomination fight to the battle to become US commander in chief.

An average of national polls from Real Clear Politics shows Clinton now leading 47 percent to Trump's 41.5 percent.

Nigel Farage Sophie RAMIS (AFP)
Turkey sends more tanks to Syria, warns Kurdish militia

Turkey sent more tanks into Syria on Thursday and sternly warned a Kurdish militia to withdraw from frontline positions, a day after pro-Ankara Syrian opposition fighters captured a key border town from jihadists.

The tanks joined those which crossed the frontier on Wednesday in the so-called Operation Euphrates Shield, which Turkey says aims to rid the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and Kurdish militia.

Hundreds of Syrian rebel fighters -- backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces -- had on Wednesday taken the town of Jarabulus to end over three years of jihadist control.

A Turkish tank heads towards the Syria border as Turkey launched operation "Euphrates Shield" aimed at ridding the area of Islamic State (IS) extremists Bulent Kilic (AFP)

But Defence Minister Fikri Isik warned the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia -- who also had designs on Jarabulus -- to move back east across the Euphrates or also face intervention from Turkey.

The new contingent of tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis, throwing up a cloud of dust in their wake before crossing the border, an AFP photographer said.

The operation is the most ambitious launched by Turkey during the five-and-a-half-year Syria conflict and has been carried out in full coordination with its NATO ally the United States.

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres (miles) south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013.

- 'Up to 15,000 troops' -

It was not immediately clear if the deployment of the new tanks on Thursday was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.

The well-connected columnist of the Hurriyet daily, Abdulkadir Selvi, said the aims of the operation included creating a security zone free of "terror groups" and limiting the advances of Kurdish militia.

He said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the offensive but this number could rise to 15,000.

Turkey has emphasised that the offensive was also aimed at the YPG, who Ankara sees as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Ankara's hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

But US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates after recent advances or risk losing American support.

Turkey's defence minister told NTV television there was so far no evidence of any withdrawal and Turkey reserved the right to strike the YPG if it failed to move.

"If this withdrawal doesn't happen, Turkey has every right to intervene," Isik added.

"They have not yet withdrawn... Turkey will be following, moment by moment," Isik said, adding the withdrawal was promised within a week.

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS tweeted that the "main element" of the Syrian Kurdish forces had already moved east although some remained for clean-up operations.

- Selfies on the way -

Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS but hardened its line in the wake of a string of attacks -- the latest a weekend bombing on a Kurdish wedding in the city of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children.

Continuing a European tour in Sweden, Biden said there had been "a gradual mindset change in Turkey" to realise that IS was "an existential threat" to the country.

"I think the Turks are prepared to stay in the effort to take out ISIL (IS) as long as it takes," he added.

The Jarabulus operation proceeded at lightning speed with the town captured from IS just 14 hours after it was launched.

The speed of the advance stood in stark contrast to the long, grinding battles it had taken for Kurdish forces to recapture towns from IS in northern Syria, such as Kobane and Manbij.

Television pictures showed the Syrian fighters walking into an apparently deserted and abandoned Jarabulus unchallenged and newspapers published pictures showing that the rebels even had time to take selfies along the way.

The apparent efficiency of the operation also marked a major boost for the Turkish army whose reputation had been badly tarnished by the failed July 15 coup against Erdogan staged by rogue elements in the armed forces.

With the civil war that has killed an estimated, 290,000 people still raging, 11 children were killed on Thursday in a barrel bomb attack carried out by government forces on a rebel-held neighbourhood of Syria's Aleppo city, a monitor said.

Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield has seen special forces deployed on the ground, jet fighters striking IS targets and tanks crossing the Syria border Bulent Kilic (AFP)

Turkey send more tanks to Syria

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)
Thai junta suspends Bangkok governor over graft probe

Thailand's junta leader used emergency powers Thursday to suspend Bangkok's governor while he is probed for corruption, a major blow to the influential city politician who has faced growing censure.

Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a distant relative of Thailand's respected royal family, is under investigation for alleged graft connected to an expensive light display he set up outside city hall in December 2015.

The two-term governor was recently "disowned" by fellow Democrat party members over that case and string of other shady deals, with some MPs calling on the junta to axe him.

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra (C), seen here in 2013, is under investigation for alleged graft, which he denies Pornchai Kittiwongsakul (AFP/File)

The pro-establishment Democrats are traditional allies of the military, which seized power in 2014 after it toppled the opposition Puea Thai Party.

"Although the current investigation is not conclusive yet, it is a high profile case," read the order signed by junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, adding that the governor would be suspended without pay while the investigation is ongoing.

Sukhumbhand has previously denied the graft allegations and defended the New Year's light installation, saying it attracted tourists and brought some 10 million baht to local food vendors and shopkeepers.

He was on a trip to South Korea when the junta order was released Thursday, a spokeswoman from his office told AFP.

His suspension was issued through Article 44, a controversial law that grants the junta chief sweeping powers to make any executive decision in the name of national security.

Prayut has used the law for a range of purposes since his 2014 power grab, from cracking down on land encroachers to doling out punishment to teenage motorcycle racers.

He has also vowed to clear the kingdom of graft, although his military government is now facing several corruption scandals of its own, including allegations that an army-built park was riddled with kickbacks.
UN rights chief demands international probe of Yemen violations

The United Nations called on Thursday for the creation of an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations in war-torn Yemen.

In a new report, the UN laid out a long line of allegations of grave human rights abuses by all sides in Yemen's bloody conflict, which has left nearly 4,000 civilians dead.

"Civilians in Yemen have suffered unbearably over the years from the effects of a number of simultaneous and overlapping armed conflicts," UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

A fighter loyal to Yemen's exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fires from a tank during clashes with Shiite Huthi rebels west of the city of Taez on March 21, 2016 Ahmad Al- Basha (AFP/File)

"And they continue to suffer, absent any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity," he said.

"Such a manifestly protracted unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community," he insisted, demanding the creation of "an international, independent investigative body".

The report listed numerous attacks on residential areas, market places, hospitals and schools, pointing out that in several cases investigators were "unable to identify the presence of possible military objectives."

It also condemned targeted killings -- including of at least six journalists -- the use of cluster bombs, landmines, and sniper attacks, and the rampant use of child soldiers.

As of August 23, an estimated 3,799 civilians had been killed and 6,711 injured since a Saudi-led Arab coalition began air raids in March last year in support Yemen's internationally recognised government and President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The government is battling Iran-backed Huthi rebels and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have seized control of large parts of the impoverished country since 2014 and still control swathes of territory including the capital Sanaa.

The World Health Organization says more than 6,600 people have died in all, counting combattants, while more than 33,000 have been injured.

- Child soldiers -

Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition were suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths, while attacks by groups affiliated with the rebels were blamed for around a quarter of the deaths, Thursday's report said.

Islamic State group jihadists, Al-Qaeda and a range of other actors accounted for the remainder, it said.

Millions of people across the country lack food, clean water and adequate healthcare.

The UN rights office warned Thursday that some 7.6 million people, including three million women and children, were suffering from malnutrition, while at least three million had fled their homes.

At least 559 children were recruited to man checkpoints or to fight in the country between July 2015 and May 2016, it added.

Most of the recruitment allegedly took place in and around Sanaa, mainly by the popular committees affiliated with the Huthi rebels, the report said.

At least 620 children have been killed and 758 maimed since July last year.

In the face of such horrors, Yemen's government set up a national commission of inquiry last September, but the UN said it had been unable to conduct an effective investigation.

Noting "the gravity of allegations" and "the challenges faced by the national commission of inquiry", the report urged the creation of "an international, independent investigative body to carry out comprehensive investigations."

"The international community ... has a legal and moral duty to take urgent steps to alleviate the appalling levels of human despair," the UN rights office said.
Vietnamese woman cuts off limbs for insurance payout

A Vietnamese woman paid a friend to cut off her hand and foot in a bid to claim a handsome insurance payout, state-run media reported Thursday.

The woman, identified only as L. T. N., checked into a Hanoi hospital in May with one third of her left foot and one third of her left hand severed, but doctors told her they could not reattach the limbs.

She later told police she was struck by a train as she walked on the tracks and was rescued by her friend Doan Van D., according to Tuoi Tre's English edition.

A Vietnamese woman claimed she was struck by a train after cutting off two limbs in an alleged insurance scam Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP/File)

The 30-year-old submitted a claim to her insurance company for 3.5 billion dong ($157,000), a huge sum in Vietnam where the average annual income is $2,100.

But authorities smelled a fraud.

"N. hired D. to cut her hand and foot, then continued to have him report false information to the police," said Bac Tu Liem police chief Nguyen Thanh Tung said, according to the newspaper.

Hanoi police declined to comment to AFP about the case, but reports said the woman offered her friend around $2,000 to perform the bloody deed.

"The greatest shame is that N., instead of claiming the money, has suffered a huge loss by losing both her hand and foot," Tung was quoted as saying.

The woman is being treated for the wounds, the newspaper added, and police are looking into whether she should be charged with conspiracy to steal assets.

"Her case sends a warning that people should not attempt insurance fraud at the expense of their own health," said Tung, adding it was the first case of the kind he had ever seen in Vietnam.
Russia frees Japanese man held on disputed Kunashir island

Russia has released a Japanese citizen detained on a disputed island claimed by both countries, Tokyo's foreign ministry said Thursday, ahead of diplomatic talks on the long-running territorial dispute.

Tokyo and Moscow are working to resolve decades of tensions over four islands occupied by the Soviet Union in the closing days of World War II and now controlled by Russia.

The man, an interpreter who has not been identified, was visiting Kunashiri -- Kunashir in Russian -- one of the islands off northern Japan, as part of a visa-free visit programme that started in 1992.

General view of a town on the island of Kunashir (or Kunashiri in Japanese), part of the Kuril Islands archipelago in the Pacific, between Kamchatka and Japan's northern Hokkaido island Junji Kurokawa (AFP/File)

The man was detained by Russian customs ahead of his scheduled departure and accused of trying to take cash off the island illegally, a Japanese ministry official said.

The Russian customs service has said on its website they found some four million Japanese yen ($40,000) in his bags, while only $10,000 can be taken out of the country undeclared.

The man had claimed that he was asked by a local resident to carry a package but was unaware it was cash, the official said.

"After questioning, he was found innocent," the official told AFP on customary condition of anonymity, adding he was released on Wednesday.

"We understand the Russian authorities have accepted his claim."

The Japanese government -- which had lodged a diplomatic protest -- is arranging for the man to return to Nemuro port on the country's northern main island of Hokkaido on Monday, he said.

The dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as part of the Kuril Islands, has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end wartime hostilities.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in May to rekindle talks aimed at resolving the territorial dispute.

On Friday in Moscow, Japan and Russia are scheduled to hold their second round of talks on the issue since the May summit.

Some Japanese media speculated that the man's fairly quick release came as the Russian side possibly tried to limit the diplomatic impact of the case.

Japanese media have reported recently that Abe and Putin will hold talks early next month in the Russian city of Vladivostok, though Tokyo has made no formal announcement.
Indian IVF doctors slam move to ban commercial surrogacy

Leading Indian fertility doctors and surrogate mothers Thursday criticised a move to ban commercial surrogacy, saying it will severely limit options for childless couples and women who carry others' babies as a way out of poverty.

India's cabinet on Wednesday cleared a bill to restrict surrogacy services to Indian married couples, following concerns over the "rent-a-womb" industry exploiting impoverished young women.

The bill seeks to bar foreign, single and homosexual would-be parents from surrogacy services in India and states that only women who are close relatives of a beneficiary can act as surrogates.

India's cabinet cleared a bill to restrict surrogacy services to Indian married couples, following concerns over the "rent-a-womb" industry exploiting impoverished young women Sam Panthaky (AFP/File)

Gita Makwana, 33, who became a surrogate mother in 2010 after having one child of her own, said the bill would remove avenues for women like her to escape poverty.

"When I became a surrogate I got three lakh rupees ($4,475) as compensation," Makwana from Anand in Gujarat state, a centre for India's surrogacy sector, told AFP.

"I used it to repair my house and educate my child. But with the new rules coming in, women who want to become surrogates to support their families, will not be able to do so," she said.

Dr Himanshu Bavishi, President of Indian Society for Third Party Assisted Reproduction in Ahmedabad, said the decision was "regressive, unfortunate and careless".

"What the government has done is gone for cheap popularity, saying that it's a move to protect poor, exploited women," he told AFP.

"This (surrogacy) in fact gives millions of poor women across India a chance to make a reasonably good amount of money at any one point of time without doing anything rash."

India, with cheap technology, skilled doctors and a steady supply of local surrogates, is one of relatively few countries where women can be paid to carry another's child.

Some 2,000 infertile couples enlist the help of Indian women to carry their embryos through to birth every year, according to the government.

Dr Nayna Patel, the medical director of Akanksha Hospital and Research Institute in Anand, said that while more regulation in the field was welcome, under the bill "virtually no woman" would be able to become a surrogate.

"For an infertile couple, surrogacy is a life-changing opportunity. But the bill will snatch away these opportunities from them," said Patel, whose clinic has handled over 1,120 surrogacy cases over the past decade.

She added that a group of IVF experts and gynaecologists were studying the bill and plan to make a representation to the government before it is introduced in parliament.

However, a few experts welcomed the bill Thursday, saying that it would bring more transparency to a largely unregulated industry.
Assange warns of 'significant' Clinton leaks

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has warned that his anti-secrecy campaign will release new documents concerning Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which could be "significant" for the election.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Assange, who has been sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 while fighting extradition, said WikiLeaks was combing through thousands of pages of material.

A variety of documents from various institutions that are associated with the election campaign had yielded "some quite unexpected angles, that are quite interesting, some even entertaining," he said.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 while fighting extradition Ben Stansall (AFP/File)

Assange reported the documents would "absolutely" be released before the November 8 election.

Asked whether the leaks would be a game changer for the vote, Assange said: "I think it's significant. It depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."

Ahead of the Democratic National Convention last month, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails gleaned by hackers who apparently raided the accounts of seven DNC leaders.

The emails showed the nominally neutral party staff trying to undermine Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders's campaign and caused the resignation of Democratic Party leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"In the case of the DNC leaks for example, we pushed as fast as we could to try and get it in before the Democratic Nomination Conference, because obviously people had a right to understand who it is that they're nominating," Assange said.

"The same is true here for the US electoral process," he added.

Assange, 45, recently marked the start of his fifth year inside Ecuador's mission in Britain in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.
Asia's ageing population to cost $20 trillion, study says

Asia's population is ageing faster than anywhere in the world, a study said Thursday, warning the swelling ranks of the elderly will cost the region $20 trillion in healthcare by 2030.

Health systems, businesses and families across Asia-Pacific will come under huge pressure as some 200 million people pass the age of 65 by then, according to the Singapore-based Asia Pacific Risk Center.

Yearly spending on caring for the elderly is expected to reach $2.5 billion -- five times the cost in 2015 -- the study said.

Two elderly women chat on a sidewalk in Beijing Greg Baker (AFP)

"The Asia-Pacific region is ageing at a faster rate than any other region in the world," said APRC executive director Wolfram Hedrich.

Surging growth in Asia over the past few decades prompted an baby boom in many Asia-Pacific countries, creating a large and cheap labour force that in turn boosted productivity and incomes.

But that trend is now reversing as the baby-boomers age, leaving the young to look after them -- either by staying at home or paying for their care.

"Many Asia-Pacific countries are transiting from a period when they reaped a 'demographic dividend' to one where they face the prospect of paying a 'demographic tax'," the study said.

By 2030, there will be 511 million elderly people in the region, out of 3.8 billion, according to the study.

Japan will become the first "ultra-aged" country, with elderly people accounting for 28 percent of its population, while a fifth of people in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan will be 65.

The APRC warned governments would need to invest heavily to care for their ageing populations, warning current levels are "unsustainable" as medical costs are growing faster than the economy in many countries.

Asia's ageing rate is "an unprecedented challenge," said the study, which covered 14 Asia-Pacific markets.

"The problem is big, it's very urgent," said Hedrich, adding that finding solutions will be complex.

"What we want to achieve with this report is to act as a broad call of action for governments, individuals, insurers, healthcare professionals and organisations to start acting now."
Iraq forces retake key town south of Mosul

Iraqi forces on Thursday pushed the Islamic State group from Qayyarah, a northern town considered strategic for any future offensive against the jihadists' last stronghold of Mosul.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the victory as a key step in the fight against IS but hours later suffered yet another political setback when lawmakers impeached his defence minister.

Special forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, wrapped up a three-day operation to retake Qayyarah, a town located on the banks of the Tigris river.

Iraqi government forces and the elite counter-terrorism service (CTS) members drive through the northern town of Qayyarah on August 24, 2016, after they took key positions in the centre from Islamic State (IS) group jihadists Mahmoud Saleh (AFP)

"We control all parts of the town and managed, in very limited time, to root out Daesh," Lieutenant General Riyadh Jalal Tawfik, who commands Iraq's ground forces, told an AFP reporter in Qayyarah, using an acronym for IS.

The commander said engineering units were now clearing the town, which lies about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul, of unexploded ordnance and booby traps.

Residents greeted the security forces under skies blackened by huge fires IS fighters set to nearby oil wells in recent days.

The bodies of suspected IS fighters were strewn across some of the town's streets, especially around its southern entrance, which saw the worst fighting and significant destruction.

Abadi issued a statement hailing what he said was a key step towards reclaiming Mosul, IS's de facto Iraq capital and the country's second city.

"Our heroic forces achieved a big victory, an important step towards the liberation of Mosul," Abadi said.

The prime minister's mood was unlikely to have remained upbeat very long however, with one of his key allies losing a no confidence vote by parliament moments later.

The house impeached Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi by 142 votes to 102 -- and 18 abstentions -- over corruption allegations.

Obeidi's downfall is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted this month with rival Sunni politician Salim al-Juburi, who is the parliament speaker.

- Qayyarah residents cooperated -

At a hearing in parliament, Obeidi answered graft accusations against him by saying they were trumped up because he had refused to be part of corrupt deals.

He fought back with his own allegations against Juburi and other lawmakers but the speaker escaped unscathed after an integrity committee dropped the case.

"I tried to fight corruption in every way but it appears that its lords are stronger and their voices louder," Obeidi said in a statement after the vote.

Unity in Iraq's Sunni camp is seen as key to preparing an offensive against Mosul.

The operation against Qayyarah was launched on Tuesday and led by Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS).

Iraqi forces had already recaptured a nearby air field and Qayyarah is expected to become one of the main launchpads for an assault on Mosul in the coming weeks or months.

Officers have said the push into Qayyarah was coordinated with small groups of armed residents opposed to IS inside the town.

"The people were very cooperative, that is why none of them fled, they did not attack our forces and our forces did not hurt them," General Tawfik said.

A CTS spokesman confirmed pro-government sleeper cells were involved in the operation but would not provide further details.

IS has suffered a string of military setbacks over the past year and lost more than half of the territory it controlled two years ago, in a trend that looks irreversible.

Jassem Hanoun, an Iraqi political and security analyst, argued the timing of Obeidi's removal could not be worse.

"It will have a direct impact on the battle since the ministry will be run by the deputy, who has limited authority," he said.

The jihadists are vastly outnumbered and outgunned in the Mosul area but, besides the obstacles raised by a divided political class, Iraq also faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Around 3.4 million people have already been forced to flee their homes by conflict since the start of 2014.

The United Nations' refugee agency warned this week that an offensive on Mosul could displace another 1.2 million people and cause a major disaster.

Iraqi government forces are pictured in the northern town of Qayyarah on August 24, 2016 after retaking key positions in the centre Mahmoud Saleh (AFP)

A general view shows smoke billowing from the Qayyarah on August 24, 2016, as Iraqi forces took key positions in the centre of the city, officials said, on the second day of an operation to recapture the northern town from jihadists Mahmouf Saleh (AFP/File)
US nominates Kim for World Bank second term

The United States on Thursday threw its support behind World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim for a second term at the helm of the multilateral development lender.

"I am proud to announce that today the United States has nominated World Bank President Jim Kim for a second term," said US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in a statement.

"President Kim has used his first term to focus the World Bank on effectively addressing today's most pressing global development challenges in innovative ways, from ending extreme poverty and tackling inequality, to combating climate change," Lew said.

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 Thierry Charlier (AFP/File)

The Treasury secretary also praised Kim's leadership of the 189-nation institution in responding to major crises, including battling the Ebola pandemic and addressing the refugee crisis.

He highlighted Kim's sponsorship of "needed reforms" at the World Bank, created in 1944 along with sibling institution the International Monetary Fund.

"Re-electing President Kim will allow the World Bank to continue to build on these important initiatives and reforms," Lew said.

Kim, 56, a US physician, indicated Tuesday that he would seek a second five-year term. His first term ends on June 30, 2017.

That coincided with the Bank's announcement of the start of the selection process for the presidency on Thursday. After the close of the nominating period on September 14, the board will publish a short list of up to three candidates.

Consideration of the contenders will take between two and three weeks.

Following an unwritten rule, the United States, the Bank's largest shareholder, has always chosen its president, while the IMF leader has been drawn from Europe.

In 2012, Kim was the first American candidate to face competition when Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also contended for the presidency.

After taking office in July that year, Kim announced a new goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 and a sweeping internal reorganization to foster collaboration across the Bank.

Earlier in August, the World Bank staff association said in an open letter that the tradition of the US picking the president flew in the face of principles of transparency, diversity and merit-based selection.

Kim's 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.
Iraq parliament impeaches defence minister

Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday voted to impeach Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi over corruption allegations, MPs said.

Obeidi lost a no confidence vote by 142 to 102 in a secret ballot, while 18 abstained, two members of parliament told AFP.

The vote removes one of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's key Sunni allies from government and comes as Iraqi forces ramp up preparations for an offensive against Mosul, the Islamic State group's last major stronghold in the country.

A majority of Iraqi lawmakers voted to oust Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi (C) over corruption charges that he denies Haidar Mohammed Ali (AFP/File)

The shock impeachment is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted this month between Obeidi and parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi, the highest-ranking Sunni politician in Iraq.

Obeidi was questioned in parliament over corruption allegations to which he answered with accusations of his own implicating Juburi and several MPs.

Juburi moved quickly and agreed to have his immunity lifted so that he could be investigated, only for a special integrity court to drop the case hours later.

Obeidi had said the accusations against him were trumped up and retaliation for his refusal to buy in to corrupt defence deals.

"I tried to fight corruption in every way but it appears that its lords are stronger and their voices louder," he said in a statement after the vote.

He then made a thinly-veiled reference to Nuri al-Maliki, the powerful former prime minister who many observers suspect of manoeuvering behind the scenes to undermine every move Abadi and his allies make.

- Impact on the battle -

"I spared no effort in building the army... whilst striving to fight the corruption and nepotism that led Iraq to lose 40 percent of its territory in 2014, displaced millions of people, threatened its shrines as well as its beloved capital Baghdad," Obeidi said.

Maliki had been premier for eight years when the army, gangrened by nepotism and hollowed out by a system in which "ghost soldiers" enrolled but did not show up for duty, collapsed completely in the face of a vast June 2014 IS assault.

Alia Nasayif, one of the MPs accused of corruption by Obeidi and a vocal Abadi critic, welcomed the outcome of Thursday's vote.

"What happened today restored the prestige of the Iraqi state. It's the first time that parliament takes action and uses its authority to remove a corrupt minister," she said.

She dismissed any suggestion that the defence minister's impeachment could affect the war effort.

"The battle is being led by real commanders at the joint command and his exit won't have much impact. He is not a minister who fights Daesh (IS), he's a corrupt minister," Nasayif told AFP.

Jassem Hanoun, an Iraqi political and security analyst, disagreed and argued the timing could not be worse.

"What happened today is a negative development, especially in terms of timing," he said.

"It will have a direct impact on the battle since the ministry will be run by the deputy, who has limited authority," Hanoun said.
UN Syria envoy expects 'impact' from Kerry- Lavrov meeting

The UN special envoy for Syria said Thursday upcoming US-Russian talks could help his push to resume peace talks on the war-ravaged country.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday to discuss Syria's five-year-old conflict.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters the meeting would be "important" and have "an impact, certainly on the... political initiatives of the UN in order to relaunch the political process on Syria."

L-R: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and US Secretary of State John Kerry, pictured in 2015 Brendan Smialowski (Pool/AFP/File)

He did not say whether he would be meeting with the two men while they were in town.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, but have a common foe in the Islamic State group.

They have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the jihadists.

The two countries also co-chair a UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, which has been struggling to ensure access for desperately-needed aid.

Aleppo, Syria's second city and former economic hub, has emerged as a top concern since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

Speaking after a weekly meeting of the humanitarian taskforce, de Mistura hinted a long-demanded 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo could soon happen, since Moscow last week gave its blessing.

"The Russian Federation replied yes. We will wait for others to do the same," he said, without specifying which parties had yet to agree.

In any case, the UN was on standby with large convoys: "Trucks are ready, and they can leave anytime we get that message," he said.

Jan Egeland, de Mistura's deputy and head of the humanitarian taskforce, told reporters the aim was to secure a weekly 48-hour pause and deliver aid to both the rebel-held east and government-held west.

He said the plan was to send two convoys of 20 trucks each, carrying enough food and supplies for 80,000 people, from Turkey and into eastern Aleppo.

Simultaneously, aid mainly coming from Damascus would go into western Aleppo "where needs have also increased dramatically of late," he said.
Chinese military will train Syrian troops: govt

China's military will provide training for Syrian armed forces, a spokesman for Beijing's defence ministry said Thursday, adding it would take place on Chinese soil.

Beijing is a longstanding backer of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which has engaged in a bloody war that has left more than 290,000 people dead and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations.

Last week senior Chinese military official Guan Youfei met with Syria's defence minister in Damascus and said he wanted closer military ties with the Syrian government, state media reported.

Syrian soldiers patrol in the devastated town of al-Qaryatain, in the province of Homs in central Syria, on April 4, 2016 Joseph Eid (AFP/File)

"The Chinese military will provide the Syrian side with medical and nursing professional training," defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing.

The training would take place in China, he added, and was intended "to ease the humanitarian crisis in Syria".

The Chinese military has already provided Syrian authorities with medical equipment and medicines "to help reduce the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people", Wu said.

"For a long period of time, China and Syria have helped each other. And China has been pushing for a political solution of the Syrian conflict and we have always supported the independence of Syria," he added.

As well as supporting Assad's government, Beijing is close to Moscow, which has carried out strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo, as have Assad's forces.

After Guan's visit to Damascus, China's state broadcaster questioned the authenticity of a harrowing video showing a stunned-looking four-year-old boy covered in blood and dust after an air strike in Aleppo, alleging it may have been faked as part of a Western "propaganda war".
WhatsApp to share user data with Facebook

Mobile messaging service WhatsApp on Thursday announced it would begin sharing subscriber data with parent Facebook, giving advertisers better access to information on WhatsApp's one billion-strong user base.

The company said the change would allow Facebook to target advertising at WhatsApp users who are also on the social media platform, and help WhatsApp fight spam on its service.

But the move was sure to raise eyebrows among privacy advocates.

A data sharing deal will allow Facebook to target advertising at WhatsApp users who are also on the social media platform Justin Sullivan (Getty/AFP/File)

"By connecting your phone number with Facebook's systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them," WhatsApp said in a statement.

"For example, you might see an ad from a company you already work with, rather than one from someone you've never heard of."

Microsoft's popular calling and messaging platform Skype, a WhatsApp competitor, already serves up advertising to users.

WhatsApp said the change would not involve third-party banner adds or other undesirable content.

The decision comes four months after WhatsApp rolled out strong end-to-end encryption as a default feature for all users, saying this made the content of their communications impenetrable to all but those sending or receiving a given message.

"Even as we coordinate more with Facebook in the months ahead, your encrypted messages stay private and no one else can read them. Not WhatsApp, not Facebook, nor anyone else," the company said.
US envoy Kerry to visit India and Bangladesh

US Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Bangladesh and India next week for talks on trade and the fight against violent extremism.

One American was among the 22 people killed last month in an attack by a Bangladeshi Islamist group on a restaurant popular with foreigners, and Washington is keen to support the government response.

Kerry will be in Dhaka on Sunday then continue to New Delhi on Monday and Tuesday where he and US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will take part in the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
Libya's UN-backed govt seeks boosted US military backing

Libya's unity government has asked Washington, which is backing an air campaign against the Islamic State group in Sirte, to step up its military assistance, the US Africa Command said Thursday.

Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the Government of National Accord (GNA), made the request during talks Wednesday in Stuttgart with Africom's commander Thomas Waldhauser and US special envoy for Libya, Jonathan Winer.

"Discussions were held on ...the GNA's desire for US assistance with future enhanced military capabilities and defence capacity building," Africom said in a statement.

Fighters from the pro-government forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Unity look at smoke rising from burning cars on August 16, 2016 as they hold a postition in an area of central Sirte

The US has been backing the GNA's efforts to retake the coastal city of Sirte from the IS group, with American jets pounding the jihadists' positions and equipment since the start of August.

"Waldhauser and Winer reiterated their support for GNA efforts and throughout the visit, the three discussed strategic options for Libya's future once Sirte is liberated," said Africom.

Pro-GNA forces began an assault in mid-May to expel IS from what had been its Sirte stronghold.
Russia to work with US on response to Syria gas attacks probe

Russia will work with the United States on a response after UN investigators found that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical attacks, Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Thursday.

"We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening, preventing such things from happening, even in the fog of war," Churkin told reporters.

An investigative panel set up by the UN Security Council said in a report Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad's forces had carried out at least two chemical attacks, one in 2014 and one in 2015.

In the past two years there have been numerous allegations of chemical weapons being used against civilians in Syria, both by President Bashar al-Assad's regime and the rebels trying to oust him Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)

It also found that Islamic State jihadists had used mustard gas in an attack on the town of Marea in northern Aleppo province in August 2015, according to the confidential report seen by AFP.

Previous reports from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an intergovernmental watchdog, had concluded that toxic gases have been used as weapons in Syria's five-year war, but stopped short of identifying the perpetrators.

The panel of inquiry, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), for the first time pointed the finger of blame at the Assad regime for chemical weapons use after years of denial from Damascus.

Churkin said he spoke to his US counterpart Samantha Power on Wednesday and that they had agreed to work together to follow up on the findings.

The United States has said it will seek to ensure consequences for those responsible for the use of chemical weapons.

Chlorine use as a weapon is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Syria joined in 2013, under pressure from Russia.

- Russia to study findings -

Describing the new report as "very thorough," Churkin said Russian experts would carefully study its conclusions, adding that the findings were "not as simple as that."

The council is due to discuss the report on Tuesday and could decide to impose sanctions on Syria or ask the International Criminal Court to take up the matter as a war crime.

Western diplomats expect Russia, a Syrian ally, to try to shield the Damascus regime from punitive action.

Churkin, however, brushed aside suggestions that there could be confrontation at the council, saying that "it doesn't have to be the case."

The Russian ambassador described as "very important" the finding by the UN investigators of mustard gas use by IS fighters.

The panel found that the Syrian regime had dropped chemical weapons on two villages in northwestern Idlib province: 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."

The panel recommended further investigation of three other cases of suspected chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime.

There was insufficient information to reach a conclusion in the final three of the nine cases that the panel has been investigating for the past year.

Chemical weapons attacks in Syria Alain BOMMENEL, Jean Michel CORNU, Sabrina BLANCHARD (AFP)
Gaza zoo animals arrive to start new life in Jordan

Animals evacuated this week from a zoo dubbed the "world's worst" in the Palestinian Gaza Strip have arrived at an animal shelter in Jordan, an AFP photographer said on Thursday.

Two turtles, two eagles, two porcupines, a pelican, an emu and a deer arrived late Wednesday near Amman after travelling from Gaza via Israel, said Amir Khalil, a vet from the charity organising the transfer.

Animal welfare charity Four Paws on Wednesday said it evacuated 15 animals -- including Gaza's last tiger Laziz -- out of the Khan Yunis zoo, as they headed for a new life outside the Israeli-blockaded territory.

A deer sits inside it's enclosure at the New Hope Centre, an animal refuge near Amman, on August 25, 2016 Khalil Mazraawi (AFP)

The tiger was put on a plane and flown to South Africa where it arrived on Thursday, while five monkeys remained in Israel, Khalil said.

The animals that arrived in Jordan were placed in quarantine at the New Hope Centre, a shelter near Amman, "while waiting to be transferred somewhere bigger", the vet said.

The animals would now have access to food and necessary treatment, Khalil said.

Dozens of animals had died at the Khan Yunis zoo, some of starvation, and badly stuffed bodies of dead crocodiles, lions and others were left in the open, surrounded by piles of bones.

Four Paws 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."

There were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo in the years after its 2007 opening, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers.

The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypt's closed border have suffocated its economy, making it increasingly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure.
Iran will join OPEC meet in Algeria: minister

Iran will take part in an informal meeting of OPEC countries in Algeria next month, state media reported on Thursday.

"I will take part in this session," Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told the ministry's Shana news service.

Iran had previously said it had not yet taken a decision on whether to attend the closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers in late September.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh speaks during the "Tehran Summit" in the Iranian capital on November 28, 2015 Atta Kenare (AFP/File)

Oil markets have been carefully tracking reports of whether Iran will attend the meeting, which other OPEC members hope will lead to a freeze in production that would boost oil prices.

Iran refused to accept a freeze earlier this year, having just emerged from international sanctions and keen to maximise its oil revenues, but rumours this week that it may have changed its position have led to a 10 percent spike in prices, according to Bloomberg.

Zanganeh did not comment on whether Iran, OPEC's third-biggest producer, would support a cap on production at the September meeting.

He did mention that OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo will be visiting Iran "in the near future," according to the Shana agency.

Adding to the difficulties of reaching an agreement, tensions have 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.
Civilians pay highest price in Yemen conflict

The UN called Thursday for a probe into alleged human rights violations by all sides in Yemen's conflict in which civilians have paid the heaviest price in human lives.

Civilians account for half of the 6,600 deaths recorded since March 2015 in the impoverished country as Shiite Huthi rebels battle Yemen's internationally-recognised government backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

A UN casualty toll released on Tuesday identified 3,799 civilian deaths and 6,711 wounded.

A Yemeni boy running past buildings that were damaged by air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the capital Sanaa on March 23, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP/File)

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government is battling the Iran-backed Huthi rebels and allied forces who have seized control of large parts of Yemen since 2014 and still hold swathes of territory including the capital Sanaa.

The following is a list of alleged violations and incidents likely to be probed by an independent, international investigation:

- On August 15, a coalition air strike killed 19 people at a hospital in northern Yemen that is aided by the French charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). It was the fourth strike on an MSF-backed site in a year, the group says, and raised concern in Washington, which supports the coalition.

The coalition, which says it does not deliberately target civilians, vowed to conduct an internal investigation, as UN chief Ban Ki-moon stressed that attacks on hospitals, medical personnel or civilians were "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".

- On August 4, the coalition acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it had investigated of air strikes on civilian targets. They took place in 2015 and involved a residential complex in Mokha, where 65 people died according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

- On August 5, a provincial official said coalition air strikes killed six people while targeting a house in Huta, capital of Lahj province in the south, although UN staff also accused Huthi rebels of using civilians as human shields.

- In June, the UN placed the coalition on a list of governments and entities that do not respect children's rights, after a report concluded the coalition was responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children killed in Yemen in 2015.

Riyadh subsequently forced the UN to back down, but Ban on August 2 reaffirmed that "the content of the report stands".

- In late January, UN experts identified 119 air strikes that violated humanitarian law. They also said they had "troubling reports" of coalition planes dropping cluster bombs on residential areas of Sanaa. The coalition denied using the munition.

The Yemeni government temporarily expelled the UN human rights representative in the country following a report that the coalition had dropped cluster bombs in Hajjah province.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in early January that its staff in Yemen had found remnants of 29 cluster bombs during a field visit to Haradh district in the northwest.

In June, Amnesty and HRW called for Riyadh to be suspended from the UN human rights council, alleging Riyadh used its post on the panel to obstruct any probe of possible war crimes in Yemen.

Civilian victims in the Yemen conflict Marc Antoine Guilbault, Thomas Saint-Cricq (AFP)
Sri Lanka seeks Indian subcontinent partner for port

Sri Lanka is seeking a partner from the Indian subcontinent to develop a port designed to be its deepest and accommodate the world's largest container vessels, Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said Thursday.

The Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) is looking for a foreign investor with about $400 million to complete the half-built East Container Terminal at the Colombo port, Ranatunga said.

"We are looking for an investor who should come in with a shipping operator from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh," the minister told reporters in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Port Authority is looking for a foreign investor with about $400 million to complete the half-built East Container Terminal at the Colombo port Lakruwan Wanniarachchi (AFP/File)

He said the investor should partner a shipping line that could guarantee additional traffic of one million containers through the port of Colombo, which currently handles over five million containers a year.

The Sri Lankan government is keen to involve a company from the Indian subcontinent because about 75 percent of container traffic through Colombo is trans-shipment cargo from the region, the minister said.

He said the SLPA had spent $80 million to build 430 metres of a 1,200 metre-terminal which he hopes to complete with foreign capital.

"We have no money to invest, but we want a 15 percent stake in a joint venture to develop this mega container terminal," he added.

The project comes three years after the opening of the $500 million Chinese-built Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), which made Colombo the only mega port between Dubai and Singapore.
Zika may persist in vaginal tract: study

Zika may replicate in the vagina for several days after infection, researchers said Thursday after using lab mice to study sexual transmission of the virus blamed for serious birth defects.

Infection with Zika via the vaginal tract may be a robust source of infection "with potentially dire consequences," said the study by a Yale University team, published in the journal Cell.

When pregnant mice were infected vaginally with Zika, the virus amplified and spread from the genitals to the fetal brain.

Miami-Dade mosquito control worker Carlos Vargas points to the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae at a home in Miami, Florida, on June 8, 2016 Rhona Wise (AFP/File)

"We saw significant virus replication in the genital tissue, up to four to five days," said Akiko Iwasaki, professor of immunobiology and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

When mice were infected early in pregnancy, scientists found evidence of the Zika virus in the fetal brain. Such infections were associated with fetal weight loss.

"Early during pregnancy, if the mother is infected, there is significant impact on the fetus, even in wild-type mice," she said.

While findings of mice studies often do not directly translate to humans, Iwasaki said the findings shed some new light.

"The finding may be important for women, not only pregnant women," she said.

"The vagina is a site where the virus can replicate and possibly transmit to partners. In pregnant women, vaginal transmission of Zika virus may have a significant impact on the developing fetus."

Zika is believed to be transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, but sexual transmission is also possible.

There is at least one known case of a woman infecting her partner. Multiple other cases have been documented in which men spread the infection during sex to either male or female partners.

Zika has been found to persist in semen for as long as six months.

If a pregnant woman is infected with Zika, she faces a higher risk of bearing an infant with brain deformities, a condition known as microcephaly.

Pregnant women are urged to use condoms or abstain from sex if they live in or travel to areas where Zika is circulating, mainly in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Jill Rabin, a doctor and co-chief of women's health at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York, described the study as "interesting."

"Ascending infection from the vagina to the fetus in humans may provide a more direct route for infection," she said.

"Consequently, this study may help provide a model to study the impact of therapeutic treatment of vaginal Zika virus infection during pregnancy."

Tomer Singer, director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said the study "raises concerns about Zika becoming a sexually transmitted disease rather than just a virus that affects pregnant women."

Viruses tend to replicate more readily in areas that are warm and moist, he added.

"More studies and larger ones -- in non-pregnant humans -- are needed to confirm or rule out these concerns, before we can give concrete recommendations to our patients."
Gaza to Bethlehem: Gaza's last tiger finds new S. Africa home

Three days after leaving behind a cramped and dingy cage at the Khan Yunis zoo in Gaza, Laziz the tiger arrived in South Africa on Thursday.

Gaza zoo's last tiger was one of 15 animals rescued this week from what has been dubbed the "worst zoo in the world".

"When we decided to step in, it was a critical situation not only for Laziz but also for the other 14 animals," said Ioana Dungler, wild animals director at non-profit Four Paws.

Laziz, a Bengal tiger from Gazas Khan Yunis zoo, is released in an enclosed enviroment at the Lions Rock Big Cat Sanctuary on August 25, 2016 in Bethlehem Mujahid Safordien (AFP)

The animals faced starvation or or the prospect of being traded or transferred somewhere else.

When Khan Yunis zoo opened in 2007, it housed more than 100 animals.

But with repeated wars and few visitors, the owners struggled to afford food and many of the animals starved to death.

"It was really a question of life and death. Not only because they would die of starvation, but they could also have been traded or transferred somewhere else and then nobody would find them again," Dungler said.

The nearly two million residents of Gaza also struggle to get permits to travel outside of the strip, which has maintained a blockade on the enclave for a decade.

"Its not very easy to provide proper food there because Gaza is under an embargo," said Dungler. "Even for people getting the right food, its an effort."

While his monkey, emu and porcupine co-habitants were sent to sanctuaries in nearby Israel and Jordan, Laziz (Arabic for "cutey") was bound for more distant shores -- some 6,700 kilometres (4,160 miles) away.

After a severely delayed nine-hour flight from Israel, the tiger and the Four Paws team arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday, where Laziz was inspected before beginning the next stage of his journey to LionsRock.

LionsRock a sanctuary for big cats deep in South Africa's Free State province outside of Bethlehem, three hours away from Johannesburg.

"He's very calm," veterinarian Marina Strydom said after examining him at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

- 'Calm and doesn't seem stressed' -

"He's been in the crate since Monday, so it's a long trip for him this far. But he seems calm and doesnt seem stressed. He's not agitated."

For months, vets from Four Paws had been visiting the Khan Yunis zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out.

And after his long journey, Strydom was anxious to see how the nine-year-old tiger would behave once released.

As his crate was opened, Laziz raised his head, looked over his shoulder at the enclosure behind him, and stayed firmly put, his back to the open space.

It took another 10 minutes -- and a chunky bribe of meat -- before he turned suddenly and slunk out of the box onto solid, grassy land.

He moved slowly, his body low to the ground, his legs stiff from the long journey in the small crate. The team will now observe his behaviour for a few weeks before releasing him into a larger space.

But it won't be the wilderness -- that option no longer exists for Laziz.

"He doesn't know how to hunt. He doesn't know how to be a tiger," said Dungler.

Members of the international animal welfare charity "Four Paws" carry monkeys at a zoo in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on August 23, 2016 as they prepare to evacuate the animals out of the Palestinian enclave Said Khatib (AFP/File)
Deal struck for rebels, civilians to quit Syria's Daraya

Thousands of rebel fighters and civilians are to evacuate the besieged town of Daraya near the Syrian capital under an accord struck on Thursday, state news agency SANA said.

"Seven hundred armed men with their personal weapons will leave Daraya to head to the (rebel-controlled) city of Idlib, while thousands of men and women with their families will be taken to reception centres," it said.

The rebels would have to surrender other armaments to the army.

Syrian girls sit holding placards in the town of Daraya, southwest of central Damascus, on May 23, 2016 Fadi Dirani (AFP/File)

A military source told AFP that the army would enter Daraya, which has been under a regime siege for the past four years, after the evacuation from the rebel-held town.

A rebel official in the town said the evacuation would begin on Friday, while a Syrian source on the ground said it would last four days.

"The civilians will go to regions under regime control around Damascus, rebels will go to Idlib "or sort out their situation with the regime", the rebel official said.

An opposition activist inside Daraya and a Syrian regime source late Thursday said that the town had been calm for the past 24 hours.

The rebels who control the town belong to two Islamist groups: Ajnad al-Sham and the Martyrs of Islam.

According pro-regime website almasdarnews, the army had advanced in recent days inside the town.

A convoy of trucks carrying food reached Daraya in June, delivering supplies to civilians for the first time since government forces laid siege to the town in late 2012.

Daraya was one of the first towns in Syria to erupt in anti-government protests. It is located just a 15-minute drive from central Damascus and is even closer to the regime's Mazzeh air base.
Terror and death: Survivors recount Kabul university attack

Her voice quaking with emotion, law student Ghazia recalled the horror of coming face-to-face with a gunman who stormed the American University in Kabul, as her terrified classmates leapt out of second-floor windows to save themselves.

Pandemonium broke out Wednesday when a militant drove an explosives-packed car into a university wall, shattering the balmy evening calm and paving the way for two gunmen to storm into the campus packed with hundreds of students.

Many of Ghazia's peers barricaded themselves inside classrooms, pushing chairs and tables against the doors, while others made a mad scramble to jump from windows, suffering grievous injuries.

Wounded Afghan students from the American University receive treatment in Kabul on August 25, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP)

Terrified, 21-year-old Ghazia chose instead to run into the corridor, joined by a couple of classmates, in a moment she thought was going to be her last.

She found some fellow students lying on the ground, their bodies covered in blood. The next moment was even more harrowing.

"As I ran, I turned around for one moment to find a gunman shooting in our direction," she told AFP.

"I thought I was going to die, but I kept running until I found myself near the exit.

"My classmates who stayed behind in the class were either killed or badly wounded."

Sixteen people died and dozens of others were wounded in the 10-hour raid, the first major militant assault on a prominent university in Afghanistan.

Taliban militants are suspected of being behind the assault, which has cast a pall on the education sector, seen as a rare symbol of hope for Afghanistan's youth at a time of rising insecurity.

The growing number of students attending university, especially women, has been hailed as a rare success story in Afghanistan since the 2001 ouster of the Taliban regime, which banned women's education.

But Wednesday's attack could set back those hard-won gains, some observers fear.

- 'I am traumatised' -

"Education is one of Afghanistan's brightest achievements since the fall of the Taliban government," Kabul University professor Shahla Farid told AFP.

"This attack shows our youth, already forced to curtail their movements because of insecurity, are not safe even inside classrooms. I fear this will be particularly devastating for women students."

But male students were also hit hard by Wednesday's tragedy.

"I am traumatised -- I cannot believe they are dead," a 23-year-old student, visibly shaken, told AFP.

He was referring to the death of fellow student Jamshid Zafar, who he was trading jokes with just minutes before he was gunned down.

He was killed along with Naqib Ahmad Khpulwak, a promising young lecturer in the university's law department who recently completed his master's degree in the United States and returned to Afghanistan to teach.

Amid the despair, students also paid tribute to Mohammed Akbar Andarabi, a police commander who was gunned down as his team guided hundreds of students to safety.

"He was one of our finest men. He died protecting the students from terrorists," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said about Andarabi, lionised by local media as "Afghanistan's Achilles".

The private university has been temporarily closed after the attack, as students were plunged into mourning.

But some also struck a note of defiance.

"I will go to university the first day it reopens," said student Tahmina Amanzai.

"I know I will be trembling with fear but I will definitely go. I can't let terrorists stop me from continuing my education," she told AFP.

A wounded Afghan police man (L) is pictured at the Italian aid organization hospital in Kabul on August 25, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP)
Casualty rate soars for Afghan security forces: NATO

Afghan security forces are being killed or wounded in attacks by the Taliban and other groups in even higher numbers than last year, when they suffered devastating losses, a NATO official said Thursday.

Authorities estimate about 5,000 local police and troops were killed in 2015 -- with an additional 15,000 wounded.

The grim numbers are set to increase this year, said US Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, a senior spokesman for NATO's Operation Resolute Support, which helps train and advise Afghan partners.

Afghan security personnel keep watch during a patrol in Kunduz province on August 21, 2016 Bashir Khan Safi (AFP/File)

"What we do know is that the pace of casualties for the Afghans this year has been higher," Kabul-based Cleveland told reporters in a video call.

"We are concerned about the number of Afghan casualties, and we work with the Afghans as much as we can to try and reduce those."

He did not provide numbers, but a subsequent NATO email said that the increase was about 20 percent so far this year from the comparable period in 2015.

The substantial losses highlight Afghanistan's ongoing security crisis, which has worsened in recent months with frequent Taliban offensives and attacks by other groups.

Afghan forces at the start of 2015 succeeded NATO in handling most of the country's security, but despite extensive training and assistance from the alliance, they are struggling to contain the Taliban.

On Wednesday, militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul in an unclaimed assault that killed 16.

And earlier in the week, with fighting intensifying, NATO announced the deployment of around 100 US troops to Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, to help head off a potential Taliban takeover of the city.

Cleveland said the high level of casualties actually demonstrated Afghans' resilience.

"For many militaries, that would break their back," he said.

But "they were able to continue to regroup and they were now of course able to move out on the offense."

US President Barack Obama, elected eight years ago partly on a promise to end America's longest war, last month put the brakes on the US pullout from Afghanistan.

He ordered 8,400 troops to remain into next year to tackle the Taliban threat. He had previously vowed to slash the US troop presence from its current level of 9,800 to 5,500 by 2017.

The Afghans have about 320,000 police and troops. The security forces are grappling not just with attacks but with internal issues such as deeply entrenched corruption.

Nonetheless, Cleveland said, "We still do believe that the ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) is performing better this year than they performed last year."
Turkey shells Kurdish fighters in Syria after warning

Turkey shelled Kurdish militia fighters in Syria on the second day of a major military operation inside the country, saying they were failing to observe a deal with the US to stop advancing in jihadist-held territory.

Turkey sent a fresh contingent of tanks Thursday into Syrian territory, a day after a lighting offensive by hundreds of Syrian rebel fighters -- backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces -- took the Syrian town of Jarabulus, ending over three years of jihadist control.

Turkey says Operation Euphrates Shield -- its most ambitious offensive of the five-and-a-half year Syrian civil war -- is aimed at ridding the northern Syrian border area of both Islamic State (IS) extremists and the Kurdish militia vehemently opposed by Ankara.

Turkey sent fresh tanks into Syria after a lighting offensive by Syrian rebel fighters, backed by Turkish tanks, war planes and special forces, took the Syrian town of Jarabulus Bulet Kilic (AFP/File)

Defence Minister Fikri Isik warned the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia -- who also had designs on Jarabulus -- to move back east across the Euphrates or also face intervention from Turkey.

Hours later, Turkish artillery shelled targets of the PYD inside Syria, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, saying the group had violated a deal with the United States to stop advancing.

It quoted security sources as saying that the Turkish military would continue to intervene against the PYD until it began to retreat.

The Hurriyet daily said the PYD elements had been identified by a Turkish drone 10 kilometres (six miles) north of the Syrian town of Manbij.

The group of PYD elements was then fired on by Turkish Firtina howitzers from inside Turkey, it said. The group was "eliminated", it added, without giving further details.

- 'Every right' -

US Secretary of State John Kerry was due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva Friday morning for talks expected to focus heavily on the situation in Syria.

Successive rounds of international negotiations have failed to end the Syria conflict, which has killed more than 290,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.

Moscow and Washington support opposite sides in the conflict, which erupted in 2011 after President Bashar al-Assad's regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt.

Turkey sees the PYD and YPG militia as terror groups bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria and acting as the Syrian branch of its own outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Ankara's hostility to the YPG also puts it at loggerheads with the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates after recent advances or risk losing American support.

Turkey's defence minister told NTV television there was so far no evidence of any withdrawal and Turkey reserved the right to strike the YPG if it failed to move.

"If this withdrawal doesn't happen, Turkey has every right to intervene," Isik said. "Turkey will be following, moment by moment."

A spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS tweeted that the "main element" of the Syrian Kurdish forces had already moved east although some remained for clean-up operations.

- 'Mindset change' -

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013.

Around 10 Turkish tanks roared across a dirt road west of the Turkish border town of Karkamis Thursday but it was not clear if the deployment was aimed at securing Jarabulus or helping the rebels move into new territory.

The well-connected columnist of the Hurriyet daily, Abdulkadir Selvi, said 450 members of the Turkish military had been on the ground on the first day of the offensive but this number could rise to 15,000.

Ankara has in the past been accused of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS but hardened its line in the wake of a string of attacks -- the latest a weekend bombing on a Kurdish wedding in the city of Gaziantep that left 54 people dead, many of them children.

The Jarabulus operation proceeded at lightning speed with the town captured from IS just 14 hours after it was launched.

Television footage showed the Syrian fighters walking into an apparently deserted and abandoned Jarabulus unchallenged.

The apparent efficiency of the operation also marked a major boost for the Turkish army whose reputation had been badly tarnished by the failed July 15 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan staged by rogue elements in the armed forces.

Turkey send more tanks to Syria Vincent Lefai, Jean Michel Cornu (AFP)

Jarabulus, a small town on the west bank of the Euphrates a couple of kilometres south of the border, had been held by IS jihadists since the summer of 2013 Bulent Kilic (AFP)
Zimbabwe opposition seeks court backing ahead of new rally

Zimbabwe's main opposition parties went to court Thursday to block police from disrupting a march planned for Friday, the latest of a string of protests in the southern African country.

The planned rally is to demand electoral reforms before 2018 when 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled the country for decades, will seek re-election.

The move to seek court backing came a day after police violently put down another march by opposition youths, firing teargas and water cannon and beating them as they staged a protest against police brutality.

Zimbabwe's opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai delivers a speech during a demonstration in Gweru, on August 13, 2016 Zinyange Auntony (AFP/File)

Police tried to "discourage" Friday's march, saying the anticipated crowd of around 150,000 would disrupt business and traffic.

But the opposition was defiant.

"This is a peaceful march, it is not up to the police to choose which demonstration to encourage and which demonstration not to encourage," opposition spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told reporters.

"We have gone to the court... to make sure that the police do not disturb the peaceful demonstration."

Former cabinet minister Didymus Mutasa, spokesman of the National Electoral Reform Agenda which groups political parties pushing for the reforms, said the march was to demand "free and fair elections."

The opposition parties include the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) led by former vice president, Joice Mujuru and the Progressive Democratic Party of ex-finance minister Tendai Biti.

Zimbabwe's last elections in 2013 were won by Mugabe in a vote the opposition said was rigged.

The government on Thursday warned it would clamp down heavily on any protests.

"We will not tolerate any attempts, by any group of persons, political parties, civic organisations or individuals whose actions will undermine the peace and quiet that Zimbabwe enjoys today," Home Affair Minister Ignatious Chombo told reporters.

He said Wednesday's protests were "western sponsored."

"Those regime change agents bent on trying to remove a democratically-elected government will face the full wrath of the law."

Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of violent protests over the past weeks, with demonstrators calling on Mugabe to step down.
Shabaab gunmen attack beach restaurant in Mogadishu

Shabaab jihadists attacked a beachfront restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday, setting off a car bomb before exchanging fire with security forces, an AFP correspondent said.

Sporadic shots could still be heard coming from the scene several hours after the attack began, the correspondent said, with at least one of the gunmen still thought to be holed up inside the restaurant.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

A Somali soldier looks at the Lido beach from the terrace of a restaurant on January 22, 2016 Mohamed Abdiwahab (AFP/File)

The Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack through the website of their Andalus radio station.

The Banadir Beach Restaurant near Lido beach is a popular eatery frequented by young people and Somali officials.

As in other recent Shabaab attacks, the violence began with the militants setting off a nearby car bomb before storming the building and engaging in a gunfight with security forces.

From their position inside the restaurant, the attackers also lobbed several grenades at the security services who cordoned off the area, the correspondent said.

Somali authorities said the car bomb had failed to fully detonate and they escorted local reporters to a nearby hospital where they presented a wounded man, with his head bandaged, as the bomber.

The Somali national news agency Sonna said some 20 people had been able to escape from the restaurant during the gunfight with the help of security forces.

It was unclear however how many, if any, customers and staff members remained trapped inside as the siege stretched into the night.

The Shabaab group is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in the capital Mogadishu.

It was forced out of the capital by African Union soldiers five years ago but continues to launch regular attacks including in recent months on restaurants, hotels and military bases.

It is the second time this year the group has attacked the Lido beach area and its many eateries, including upmarket establishments popular with business people and diaspora Somalis who have returned home to the city.

In late January, Shabaab gunmen detonated a bomb before bursting into the Lido Sea Food Restaurant and spraying gunfire at terrified customers, killing some 20 people.

The group is expected to try and violently disrupt elections due to be held in September and October.
US naval ship fired warning shots at Iranian vessel: official

Iranian ships harassed US naval vessels in three recent incidents, including one that prompted an American ship to fire warning shots, a US official said Thursday.

The incidents all occurred in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, a day after another encounter in which a group of Iranian naval vessels with their weapons uncovered sped close to two US Navy guided-missile destroyers.

The most dramatic moment in Wednesday's three events occurred when an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boat maneuvered around two US patrol ships, the USS Squall and USS Tempest.

The patrol craft USS Squall transits in the Gulf MC2 Anthony R. Martinez (Navy Media Content Services/AFP)

Despite multiple warnings via radio and loudspeaker, the Iranian boat approached head on, coming within 200 yards (meters) of one of the vessels, US Navy Fifth Fleet spokesman Commander Bill Urban told AFP.

"This situation presented a drastically increased risk of collision," he said.

"Ultimately, Squall resorted to firing three warning shots from their 50-caliber gun, which caused the Iranian vessel to turn away."

In an incident earlier in the day, three Iranian vessels crossed the bow of the Tempest within 600 yards on three separate occasions -- creating a possible collision hazard, Urban said.

The third incident involved the guided missile destroyer USS Stout. Urban said one of the Iranian boats from an earlier encounter conducted an "unsafe intercept" by crossing the Stout's bow at close range.

All three encounters Wednesday occurred in international waters in the northern Persian Gulf, Urban said.

On Tuesday, four Iranian warships sped close to two US Navy guided-missile destroyers with their weapons uncovered in the Strait of Hormuz in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter, according to the Pentagon.

The USS Nitze shot warning flares, sounded its whistles and attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with the Iranian boats, officials said.

The Nitze was accompanied on its mission by the USS Mason, another destroyer.

When asked about the Tuesday incident, Iran's Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said his country's "naval units have the duty of safeguarding the country's security in the sea and the Persian Gulf."

A defense official told AFP that ships from the US and Iranian navies had interacted more than 300 times in 2015 and more than 250 times the first half of this year.

Ten percent of those encounters were deemed unsafe and unprofessional, the official said.

In January, the Iranian navy briefly captured the crews of two US patrol boats that had, through a series of blunders, strayed into Iranian territorial waters.
About 243,000 S.Sudanese refugees in Sudan: UN

About 243,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan, including tens of thousands in war-torn Darfur, since a civil war erupted in their country in December 2013, the UN said Thursday.

South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011 but two years later it fell into a brutal civil war that has killed tens of thousands of civilians.

Fleeing conflict and food shortages in their country, tens of thousands of South Sudanese have also sought refuge in other neighbouring countries.

Newly arrived refugees from South Sudan wait outside the Elegu Collection Centre in Amuru on July 13, 2016 Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File)

"The total number of South Sudanese refugees who arrived in Sudan is about 243,000 since December 2013," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said in its weekly bulletin.

It said as of August 16, the number of South Sudanese who arrived since the beginning of 2016 had reached about 90,000, including more than 50,000 who have taken refugee in East Darfur.

"The flow of refugees into East Darfur remains constant, with new arrivals on a daily basis," OCHA said.

But "no new spike in the number of arrivals into Sudan has been observed since the eruption of violence in Juba on 8 July," it said.

Hundreds of people were killed in Juba last month when fierce fighting erupted between supporters of former rebel leader Riek Machar and government troops.

South Sudan is one of the poorest countries on the planet, and it had some of the world's worst indicators for development, health and education even before the war erupted.

The war broke out in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup and sacked him as vice president.

Machar's sacking set off a cycle of retaliatory killings that split the poverty-stricken, landlocked country along ethnic lines.

The violence has driven more than two million people from their homes.
Dwayne Johnson tops Forbes list of best paid actors

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was named the world's highest paid actor by Forbes on Thursday, raking in $64.5 million and snatching the title held for three consecutive years by Robert Downey Jr.

The 44-year-old former wrestler more than doubled his earnings from last year thanks to his role in the action comedy "Central Intelligence," the eighth installment of the "Fast & Furious" racing franchise and the forthcoming "Baywatch."

Johnson was ranked number 11 last year, earning some $31 million in the 12 months from June 2014 to June 2015.

Dwayne Johnson attends the Warner Bros Premiere of Central Intelligence, in Westwood, California, on June 10, 2016 Chirs Delmas (AFP/File)

The actor, who stars in the HBO series "Ballers," took to Twitter to express his delight at his new title.

"Want to say two things about this," he tweeted. "I started w/$7 bucks. If I can overcome, so can you. Waffle House on me!!"

Jackie Chan came in second on the Forbes list with $61 million dollars followed by Matt Damon ($55 million), Tom Cruise ($53 million) and Johnny Depp ($48 million).

Topping Forbes's list released earlier this week for highest-paid actresses was Jennifer Lawrence, who earned $46 million -- nearly $20 million less than her male counterpart.

The disparity is sure to stoke an ongoing debate in Hollywood about the industry's gender pay gap.

Lawrence wrote a blunt essay on the issue last year after a leak of stolen emails from Sony Pictures showed she was paid less than her male co-stars in the hit movie "American Hustle."

The world's 10 highest-paid actors made a combined $456.5 million, according to Forbes, compared to the $205 million earned by the top 10 actresses.

Rounding out the top 10 list for actors are:

6. Ben Affleck ($43 million)

7. Vin Diesel ($35 million)

8. Shah Rukh Khan ($33 million)

9. Robert Downey Jr. ($33 million)
Japan authorizes $2M to study high-speed train in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Japan's ambassador to the U.S. says his country has authorized $2 million to support a feasibility study on building a high-speed train between Baltimore and Washington.

Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae made the announcement Wednesday after signing a memorandum of cooperation between Japan and Maryland with Gov. Larry Hogan. The agreement formalizes trade relations between the state and Japan.

In November, the federal government awarded nearly $28 million in seed money to a private venture seeking to build a high-speed magnetic levitation train between Washington and Baltimore. A 20 percent outside match is required, and the $2 million from Japan will go toward that 20 percent.

Gov. Larry Hogan, second from right, and Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kenichiro Sasae, second from left, pose for a photo as they sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between Maryland and Japan at the Maryland governor's residence in Annapolis, Md., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The ambassador said Japan has authorized $2 million to help study building a high-speed magnetic-levitation train between Washington and Baltimore. Maryland first lady Yumi Hogan is standing far right. Maryland Secretary of State John Wobensmith is standing far left. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
The Latest: Colorado sheriff accused of inmate sex assault

STERLING, Colo. (AP)  The Latest on a rural Colorado sheriff accused of sexually assaulting a developmentally delayed inmate (all times local):

4:40 p.m.

An arrest affidavit says a rural Colorado sheriff is accused of taking a developmentally delayed inmate to his home, sexually assaulting her and threatening to put her in prison for the rest of her life if she told anyone.

In this Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, booking photograph provided by the Logan County, Colo., Sheriffs Department, Sedgwick County, Colo., Sheriff Thomas Hanna is shown after being arrested on sex assault and misconduct allegations. Hanna, who is sheriff of a county nestled along the Nebraska border in the extreme northeast corner of Colorado, is due to appear in court Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 in Sterling, Colo. (Logan County, Colo., Sheriffs Department via AP)

District Attorney Brittny Lewton says Sedgwick County Sheriff Tom Hanna was arrested at his office Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree official misconduct, sexual assault on an at-risk person, sexual assault by a correctional officer and solicitation of prostitution.

An investigator with the district attorney's office says in the affidavit the inmate said Hanna offered to pay her $60, forced her to strip and sexually assaulted her Aug. 10.

The affidavit made public Wednesday says Hanna denied the allegations and told investigators he was interviewing the inmate after she reported having information about a crime on her cellphone.

It's unclear if Hanna has hired an attorney.

___

1:10 p.m.

A rural Colorado sheriff is facing sexual assault and misconduct allegations.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Tom Hanna is due to appear in court Wednesday afternoon in Sterling, in the northeast corner of the state.

District Attorney Brittny Lewton said Hanna was arrested at his office Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree official misconduct, sexual assault on an at risk person, sexual assault by a correctional officer and solicitation of prostitution. She declined to elaborate on what he's accused of doing.

Hanna has not been charged and it's not clear if he has a lawyer yet.
Brother: Deaf man shot by state trooper was afraid of police

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  A deaf man shot to death by a North Carolina state trooper after a chase was scared of police after several misunderstandings with officers, his brother said Wednesday.

Standing beside a memorial where his brother died near the family's home, Sam Harris said police are all too often inaccessible to deaf people, relating his own story about how he ended up with a gun in his face because he, too, is deaf and couldn't follow the officer's shouted orders.

Daniel Kevin Harris "had times where because of the inaccessibility with police, there were misunderstandings that led to him being afraid of the police," his brother said through an interpreter near a large picture of Harris with "Police Brutality Domestic Terrorism" written underneath.

An emotional Sam Harris stands beside a memorial to his brother, Daniel Kevin Harris, in their Charlotte, North Carolina, neighborhood, where the 29-year-old was killed by a state trooper

Daniel Harris had arrests in several states on minor charges, including three for resisting police officers. But those charges in 2010 in Florida and 2008 in Denver were dropped. He pleaded guilty to interfering with or resisting police in Watertown, Connecticut, in 2010. Details of the arrests were not available.

Sam Harris cut short a prearranged interview with The Associated Press after a reporter asked for more information about the police confrontations and if that was what made him more afraid of officers, walking away and motioning for his interpreter to come with him back to the family home.

Authorities have released few details about the shooting, including why Trooper Jermaine Saunders fired at the end of the 10-mile chase that started about 6:15 p.m. Aug. 18 when Harris did not pull over as Saunders, with blue lights on, tried to stop him for speeding on Interstate 485 near Charlotte.

The Highway Patrol's last statement Tuesday asked for patience as the investigation unfolds.

Saunders, 28, has been placed on administrative leave. Authorities said Wednesday he is black and he became a trooper about two years ago. Harris, 29, was white.

Harris' family said he was unarmed. The State Bureau of Investigation has not said whether any weapon was found on or near Harris.

Harris loved to play with his 3-year-old son, and his nieces and nephews, his brother said. Sam Harris said his brother also enjoyed the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game and was eager to get home the night because he had mail saying he had won an important contest.

The family is raising funds for Harris' funeral and plans to use any extra money to begin a foundation to help educate police officers on interacting with the hearing impaired and calling for a computerized system to alert officers they are dealing with a deaf driver.

"My brother is going to be a hero," Sam Harris said. "This is what is going to change the system."

___

Associated Press writers Jim Anderson in Denver; Curt Anderson in Miami; David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut; and Martha Waggoner in Raleigh contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jeffrey-collins .

A photo of Daniel Kevin Harris stands by a makeshift memorial with 'Police Brutality Domestic Terrorism' written underneath

Sam Harris, who is also deaf, said his brother was afraid of police after several misunderstandings due to 'inaccessibility'
Mural honoring victims of Charleston church massacre defaced

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  A mural honoring the nine black parishioners fatally shot at a South Carolina church has been defaced.

Redux Contemporary Art Center says on its Facebook page that the downtown Charleston mural was defaced late Saturday or early Sunday. Images posted online show graffiti-style words and images covering an edge of the multicolored painting.

The mural by artist Tripp Derrick Barnes was unveiled in May on the side of a building just blocks from Emanuel AME Church. It shows a portrait of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, church pastor and one of the victims, against a background of rainbow colors.

There's also a palmetto tree with nine doves ascending into the sky, an image that's come to represent the June 2015 shooting victims.
State police: No serious injuries after Indiana tornadoes

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  No serious injuries were reported after multiple tornadoes touched down Wednesday in central Indiana, tearing the roofs off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people.

About a dozen people suffered minor injuries as the tornadoes moved through the area, said State Police spokesman Capt. David Bursten. Most of those injuries were in Howard County and included a resident who was trapped in a home by one of the storms.

Bursten said those injured included a 5-month-old child who suffered a laceration in Montgomery County. He attributed the relatively small number of injuries reported by 8 p.m. to residents taking the approaching storms seriously.

A funnel cloud near Van Buren, Ind., moves east before breaking up as storms move through Grant County, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. At least two tornadoes struck cities in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roof off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Jeff Morehead/Chronicle-Tribune via AP)

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said at a news conference Wednesday evening that there was "substantial damage to property  a lot of trees are down" in the city.

Eight funnel clouds were spotted throughout the afternoon but it's unclear how many touched down, according to Howard County authorities.

National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Herold said a preliminary survey shows an EF3 tornado with maximum winds of 165 mph struck Kokomo, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.

"It's crazy. It's a madhouse," said Mitchell Carlson, a maintenance technician at the Park Place Apartments in Kokomo. He said the complex has 16 buildings and "probably eight of them don't have a roof."

But there have not been any injuries there, he said. "So, I guess we're all blessed at the Park Place."

He estimated 20 to 30 cars had been damaged by falling tree limbs and air conditioners.

Utility companies reported more than 32,000 customers were without power statewide as of 9:15 p.m.

The city of Kokomo and Howard County declared a joint state of emergency closing all roads to people and motor vehicles, apart from emergency vehicles, until 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Pence said he would be touring storm-damaged Howard and Montgomery counties on Thursday to assess the damage. He said he would remain in the state "as long as we need" to make sure people affected by the storms have the necessary support.

Pence returned to his home state Wednesday evening. The Republican vice presidential candidate was campaigning in North Carolina when the twisters touched down in Indiana. Upon his return, Pence visited the state's emergency operations center in downtown Indianapolis.

The governor also said he had a "grateful heart" that there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries.

Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman noted that the county and the city of Kokomo faced tornado damage in November 2013 when the region was hit by a twister that damaged homes and businesses and injured nearly three dozen people.

"Kokomo and Howard County will bounce back once again, and once again we've got to reach in deep and do the work of recovery," Wyman said.

Police officers in Indianapolis also spotted at least two funnel clouds close to the ground Wednesday just south of Interstate 70, according to officer Jim Gillespie of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Television station WTHR showed images of a toppled Starbucks in Kokomo.

Starbucks released a statement on its website Wednesday evening, saying "all partners (employees) and customers" at the damaged coffee shop were safe.

Indiana University Kokomo canceled all events on campus Wednesday evening due to the severe weather. School officials in Avon, near Indianapolis, cited the severe weather in ordering all buses to return to the nearest school. The buses were allowed to start moving again a short time later.

___

Associated Press writer Rick Callahan contributed to this report from Indianapolis.

A truck splashes through high water on East Fourth Street in Marion, Indiana, as storms move through Grant County on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Jeff Morehead/Chronicle-Tribune via AP)

A Starbucks is demolished after an apparent tornado touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Susan Shockney gives a hug to fellow Starbucks employee Angel Ramos, after their store was destroyed by an appareent tornado that touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Shockney was not in the building, but Ramos and other employees gathered everyone inside into an interior bathroom to ride out the storm that destroyed the building. No injuries were reported. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

A Starbucks is demolished after an apparent tornado touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. At least two tornadoes struck cities in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roof off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)
A federal judge has thrown cold water on a lawsuit that claimed Starbucks defrauded customers by adding ice to its cold beverages.

A federal judge tossed out the potential class-action lawsuit because a reasonable customer would know that a portion of iced coffee or tea would include ice and they'd be able to see it through the clear plastic cups the beverages are served in.

Judge Percy Anderson tossed out the potential class-action lawsuit because a reasonable customer would know that a portion of iced coffee or tea would include ice and they'd be able to see it through the clear plastic cups the beverages are served in.

In fact, he said, even a child would get it.

'As young children learn, they can increase the amount of beverage they receive if they order "no ice,"' Anderson said in a ruling issued Friday in U.S. District Court.

'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 ... some portion of the drink will be ice rather than whatever liquid beverage the consumer ordered.'

Alexander Forouzesh sued Starbucks Corp. in May for fraud, breach of warranty and false advertising, among other claims.

The Los Angeles man said the chain was cheating customers out of iced coffee and tea by filling cups as much as halfway with ice.

Alexander Forouzesh sued Starbucks Corp. in May for fraud, breach of warranty and false advertising, among other claims

Forouzesh said Wednesday that he plans to appeal and was insulted by the judge's remarks about children.

'Any child can figure out that they're being deceived by Starbucks, as well,' he said.

'It's not right. The whole point is that we're being deceived.'

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the company was pleased with the decision and the judge's remarks.

A similar case is still percolating in Chicago's federal court.
Australia police: No extremist motive found in hostel attack

SYDNEY (AP)  Australian police were investigating whether a French man accused of fatally stabbing a British woman while shouting the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" had a romantic obsession with her, an official said Thursday.

Police in Queensland state said there was no indication the attack at a northeast Australian hostel was motivated by extremism. But they are looking into whether the suspect, 29-year-old Smail Ayad, had been rejected by 21-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung before police say he stabbed her to death on Tuesday, Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said.

"That is one of the lines of inquiry that we are conducting. There is certainly, at this stage, no indication that  certainly from Mia's point of view  that there was any sort of romantic connection," Rohweder told reporters.

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)

Though police said Ayad shouted "Allahu akbar"  the Arabic phrase meaning "God is great"  both during the attack and while being arrested, there was no evidence he had been motivated by any extremist ideology, Rohweder said.

"There is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalization or any political motive in this matter," he said.

The attack took place Tuesday night in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in the town of Home Hill, south of Townsville in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene and a 30-year-old British man who tried to stop the attack was seriously wounded. He was in critical condition with injuries to his head. A dog was also killed in the attack.

Ayad was charged on Thursday with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault. He is due to appear in court on Friday.

Witnesses told police Ayad had been acting out of character in the hours leading up to the attack. Police believe he had consumed cannabis during the evening, but there was no evidence he had been drinking or taking harder drugs, Rohweder said.

While transporting Ayad from a hospital to the police station in Townsville on Wednesday, Ayad became "extremely violent," forcing police to stop the vehicle to restrain him, Rohweder said. The detectives received cuts and abrasions and a bite to the leg during the scuffle, and had to use a taser and pepper spray to subdue him.

Ayad was given a psychiatric assessment, but Rohweder declined to release the results.

Ayad had traveled to Australia twice in the past year. He returned in March on a temporary visa and had been in Home Hill for about a month, police said.

Ayliffe-Chung had only arrived in Home Hill a few days before the attack. She had been planning on exploring Australia and hoped to be sponsored for a visa that would allow her to stay longer in the country she had fallen in love with, said her friend, Jamison Stead.

Stead, who met her in April when she was living in Surfers Paradise on Australia's Gold Coast, said she had a passion for life that was contagious.

"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," he said in an e-mail. "It's sad knowing that she won't be able to do those things."

In an appearance on the BBC, Ayliffe-Chung's stepfather tearfully read a statement on behalf of her mother, Rosie Ayliffe.

"Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy, with a sense of fun," Stewart Cormack said. "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 that we should live life to the full."

In a statement, the British school Ayliffe-Chung previously attended described her as a joyous person 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," said Paul Lovatt, head of pastoral care at Anthony Gell School in the town of Wirksworth.

___

Associated Press writer Danica Kirka in London 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)
Texas college students rally against gun law with sex toys

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Hundreds of University of Texas students waved sex toys at a campus rally during the first day of classes, protesting a new state law that allows concealed handguns in college classrooms, buildings and dorms.

Organizers said the sex toys were used Wednesday to mock what they consider an absurd notion that guns should be allowed in academic settings. The law took effect Aug. 1.

Students and faculty at the Austin campus fiercely opposed allowing license holders to carry their concealed handguns to class. One prominent dean left the school after the law passed in 2015. Several faculty members attended the rally.

Students holds signs and sex toys as they protest a campus carry law in Austin, Texas, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016. Hundreds of University of Texas students waved sex toys at a campus rally during the first day of classes, protesting a new state law that allows concealed handguns in college classrooms, buildings and dorms. (AP Photo/John Mone)

Organizers said they distributed more than 4,500 free sex toys.

Texas has allowed concealed carry since 1995 but had kept college campuses gun-free until this year.

Andrew Clements, right, a licensed gun owner, open carrying a high-velocity rifle, demonstrates on Guadalupe St., next to the University of Texas, in Austin, Texas, Wednesday Aug. 24, 2016, as a group of students, back, carry sex toys to protest the campus concealed carry law, which went into effect in August. (AP Photo/John Mone)
A timeline of Colombia's conflict with largest rebel group

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Key developments in the half-century of hostilities between Colombia's government and the country's largest rebel movement, which have announced a peace agreement:

___

May 1964: Rebel leader Manuel Marulanda, alias "Tirofijo," founds Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC.

Humberto de la Calle, right, head of Colombia's government peace negotiation team, shakes hands with Ivan Marquez, chief negotiator of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, left, while Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, center, applauds after signing an agreement in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Colombia's government and the country's biggest rebel group reached a deal for ending a half-century of hostilities in what has been one of the world's longest-running armed conflicts. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Aug. 7, 1982: Government of President Belisario Betancur starts peace negotiations with FARC.

June 1987: Tenuous-at-best cease-fire wounded when rebels attack kills 25 soldiers in southern Colombia.

April 1991: FARC, along with fellow rebel groups National Liberation Army and Popular Liberation Army, sit down for talks with government delegates in Venezuela. Talks are later moved to Mexico.

October 1992: Negotiations end with no agreement.

August 1998: President Andres Pastrana announces new peace effort with FARC. Sets up Switzerland-sized demilitarized zone in southern Colombia where talks can be held.

Feb. 20, 2002: Rebels hijack plane and take captive a senator who is member of peace commission. Pastrana breaks off negotiations and orders security forces to return to the demilitarized zone.

December 2004: Undercover Colombian agents capture Rodrigo Granda, considered FARC's "foreign minister," in Venezuela and move him to Colombia.

Aug. 16, 2007: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offers to mediate between FARC and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Effort collapses few months later.

March 1, 2008: FARC Secretariat member known by alias Raul Reyes killed in Colombian air attack on his clandestine guerrilla camp in neighboring Ecuador.

March 26, 2008: Top FARC leader Marulanda dies of natural causes after more than four decades fighting government.

Sept. 22, 2010: No. 2 FARC commander and top military strategist Jorge Briceno, alias Mono Jojoy, killed by air strike.

Nov. 4, 2011: Top FARC commander Gullermo Saenz, alias Alfonso Cano, killed in attack by military.

Feb. 26, 2012: FARC renounces kidnapping for extortion and frees all military officers in captivity.

Aug. 12, 2012: President Juan Manuel Santos announces new peace talks with FARC. They begin two months later in Oslo, Norway, and later move to Havana.
Attack on American University in Afghanistan leaves 13 dead

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended early Thursday after at least 13 people were killed and dozens wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabul's outskirts, a government spokesman said.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the capital.

The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to Afghan authorities. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the Interior Ministry said.

Afghan men walk near U.S. vehicles on guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban. The group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, would only tell the media that the Taliban are "investigating."

President Ashraf Ghani laid the blame on neighboring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting the Taliban in sanctuaries across the border, and saying the attack had been "organized" in Pakistan. Ghani spoke by telephone with Pakistan's army chief, Raheel Sharif, and demanded "serious action," his office said. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry "strongly condemned" the attack.

Pakistan's military also issued a statement on the conversation between Ghani and Sharif, saying "Pakistani soil would not be allowed to be used for any type of terrorism in Afghanistan."

It said Kabul had provided three cellphone numbers "allegedly used during the university attack." An investigation had traced them to an Afghan company "whose spillover signal affects some areas along the Pak-Afghan border," it said, without further detail.

Ghani's statement also raised the death toll to 13, saying that a teacher, identified on social media by the as Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed.

"Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms," said Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers.

The assault began just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university, with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance.

The blast breached the security walls and allowed two other militants, armed with grenades and automatic weapons, to enter the campus, Sediqqi said. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3:30 a.m., he added.

More than 200 people, mostly students who had been trapped in university buildings, were rescued by special police units.

Ghani's office earlier said he had visited some of the wounded in the hospital and extended condolences to the victims' families. He condemned the assault as an "attack on educational institutions and public places" and said it would "strengthen our goal to eliminate the roots of terrorism."

The university, located on the western edge of Kabul, was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

The university remained closed on Thursday and it wasn't clear when it would reopen. Faculty leaders could not immediately be reached for comment.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul called the attack a "cruel and cowardly act" and said it was "ready to assist Afghan authorities with their continuing investigation in bringing those responsible to justice."

The U.N.'s assistance mission in Afghanistan called the attack an "atrocity." Pernille Kardel, UNAMA's acting head, said in a statement she hoped the attack would not discourage Afghan youth from "continued learning and attaining the knowledge and skills critical to Afghanistan's prosperity."

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 evacuated by Afghan security forces.

The Pentagon said U.S. 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 came two weeks after two university staffers, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen driving home from the campus after evening classes on a Sunday night. Their abductors were men dressed in Afghan military uniforms, officials said at the time. The whereabouts of the abductees remains unknown.

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.

Last month, Kabul was shaken by a massive suicide bombing that struck a peaceful rally by Afghanistan's minority ethnic Hazara community, killing more than 80 people and wounding hundreds.

That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, which emerged last year in Afghanistan as an affiliate of the militant group fighting in Iraq and Syria. It was the IS Afghan branch's first assault in Kabul and the deadliest attack in the Afghan capital since the U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban regime in 2001.

___

Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez and Amir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Smoke rises from a complex after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Military vehicles guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces inspect the site after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces inspect the site after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Afghan security forces stand guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Colombia's president rushing vote on deal with rebels

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombia's president is moving quickly to hold a national referendum on a peace deal meant to end a half-century of bloody conflict with leftist rebels, delivering the final text of the deal to congress on Thursday and declaring a definitive cease-fire with the guerrillas.

"The armed conflict with the FARC is ending," President Juan Manuel Santos said on the steps of the congress building while declaring a definitive end to military action against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Members of his family and Cabinet walked with him the short distance from his official residence to hand-deliver the 297-page accord to lawmakers, a move required for Colombia to hold a national referendum on the peace deal that Santos announced for Oct. 2.

People celebrate as they follow a broadcast on screen the announcement from Havana, Cuba, that delegates of Colombia's government and leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia reached a peace accord to end their half-century civil war, in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The government's accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia must still be ratified by voters in a plebiscite in order to take effect. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

The FARC declared a unilateral cease-fire over a year ago, but Santos refused to grant a formal truce until talks wrapped up, though he ended aerial bombardments of guerrilla camps,

The peace agreement was announced Wednesday after more than four years of grueling negotiations in Cuba. The cease-fire will take effect a midnight Monday, Santos said.

Colombians celebrated the historic agreement even while expressing doubts about whether the guerrillas they've grown to loathe will honor their commitments to lay down their weapons, confess human rights abuses and help eradicate illegal coca crops that helped fuel Colombia's conflict after insurgencies elsewhere in Latin America were defeated. The five-decade conflict has killed more than 220,000 people and driven more than 5 million from their homes.

Last-minute government concessions included guarantees that the FARC's still-unnamed political movement will have a minimum of 10 seats in congress for two legislative periods. After 2026, the former rebel must prove their political strength at the ballot box.

"We've won the most beautiful of all battles: the peace of Colombia," chief FARC negotiator, known by the nom de guerre of Ivan Marquez, said at the announcement in Havana.

Congratulations poured in from regional governments and the United Nations, which will play a key role keeping the peace. U.S. President Barack Obama also welcomed the deal.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled a meeting Friday morning to discuss the body's role in helping Colombian implement the deal.

"There is an important task ahead for the U.N. to assist the government of Colombia in implementing the peace agreement, which is a historic occasion," Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador Peter Wilson told reporters Thursday.

The accord commits Colombia's government to carrying out aggressive land reform, overhauling its anti-narcotics strategy and greatly expanding the state's presence in long-neglected areas.

The FARC was forced to the negotiating table in 2012 after a decade of heavy battlefield losses inflicted by the U.S.-backed military. Several top rebel commanders were killed and its ranks thinned by half to the current 7,000 guerrillas.

Polls say most Colombians loathe the rebel group, but surveys also indicate Colombians will likely endorse a deal.

The most contentious agreement would let rebels who confess their crimes avoid jail and instead serve reduced sentences of no more than eight years by helping rebuild communities hit by the conflict.

"There are no other words to describe that than as a pinata of impunity," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch.

Santos' plebiscite is not without risks.

Colombia's opposition is likely to try to convert the vote into a referendum on Santos, whose approval rating plummeted to 21 percent in May, according to a Gallup poll. That is the lowest since he took office in 2010.

Possible low voter turnout is also a concern because a minimum of 13 percent of the registered voters, or about 4.4 million voters, must vote in favor for the accord to be ratified.

"We think we've done the best possible job, but it's the Colombians who will judge us," said chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle. "We have to wait for the citizens' verdict."

After the agreement is signed  the date is still unknown  the FARC will begin mobilizing its troops to 31 zones scattered across Colombia. Ninety days later they are supposed to begin handing their weapons over to U.N.-sponsored monitors.

Over the 13 months since the FARC declared a unilateral cease-fire and the government reciprocated with an unofficial truce, violence has fallen to the lowest level since the movement was created 52 years ago by outlaw peasant groups joined by communist activists.

But analysts worry that as the rebels integrate into Colombian society, well-organized criminal gangs will fill the void and fight among themselves for control of the country's lucrative cocaine trade, which kept the FARC well-armed much longer than other Latin American insurgencies.

The much-smaller National Liberation Army also remains active, although it's pursuing its own peace deal.

___

Associated Press writers Andrea Rodriguez in Havana and Cesar Garcia and Libardo Cardona in Bogota contributed to this report.

___

Joshua Goodman is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjoshgoodman His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/joshua-goodman

People celebrate the announcement from Havana, Cuba, that delegates of Colombia's government and leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia reached a peace accord to end their half-century civil war, in Bogota, Colombia, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The government's accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia must still be ratified by voters in a plebiscite in order to take effect. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Humberto de La Calle, right, head of Colombia's government peace negotiation team, shakes hands with Ivan Marquez, chief negotiator of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, left, while Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, center, applauds after signing an agreement in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Colombia's government and the country's biggest rebel group reached a deal for ending a half-century of hostilities in what has been one of the world's longest-running armed conflicts. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Nebraska prison on lockdown after 9 staff members assaulted

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Prison officials in Nebraska say nine staff members at the Lincoln Correctional Center have been assaulted by inmates who were refusing to return to their cells.

Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith told The Associated Press in an email Wednesday night that all nine were taken to hospitals after the attack and have been treated and released.

The prison has been placed on lockdown. It's not clear how many inmates were involved in the Wednesday evening attack or whether any were hurt.
Quake damages scores of Myanmar's heritage Bagan temples

BAGAN, Myanmar (AP)  It was a time of conquest and conversions. Above all, it was a time of construction, on a scale never seen before. Over 250 years, from the 11th century onwards, the rulers of Bagan built more than 10,000 magnificent religious monuments.

The stupas, temples and monasteries became the defining emblems of Bagan, the capital of the Pagan (pronounced PUH'-gahn) empire that ruled Myanmar from roughly 1044 to 1287.

On Wednesday, scores of the monuments  of which only about 2,200 remain  were damaged in a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake. Yet much of what fell was modern material, sanctioned by Myanmar's former army rulers who had put top priority on restoring the temples with little regard for the original architectural styles.

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)

King Anawratha, who unified the country formerly known as Burma, and his successors built the temples in a frenzy, believing they would gain spiritual merit. Still, piety didn't stop them from making war or killing to gain power.

One king, Narathu, slew his father, elder brother, and one of his wives. He also killed the architect of the magnificent Dhammayangi temple so he couldn't repeat the feat, and chopped off the hands of sloppy workmen.

As more and more monuments rose in the dusty plains of central Myanmar, Bagan became the political, economic and cultural center of the empire, promoting religious as well as secular studies, including philosophy, astrology, medicine, law and Pali, the language of Buddhist scriptures. The city became an educational destination for monks from as far away as India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

But Bagan declined as rapidly as it rose.

It was abandoned around 1287 for reasons not entirely clear, and the city  once home to up to 200,000 people  was reduced to the status of a small town. Some historical accounts cite Mongol invasions but others dispute that, saying the Mongol armies may not have reached the city.

But the dead city left a legacy that future generations are benefiting from.

Bagan covers more than 80 square kilometers (32 square miles) of a flat plain. It is the country's biggest tourist attraction, and along with Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Indonesia's Borobudur temple, the temples of Bagan are considered one of Southeast Asia's major historical landmarks.

Yet unlike those Southeast Asian archaeological cousins, Bagan is not listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to a tangled modern tale of neglect followed by a fervid if misguided effort at renovation in the 1990s, partly to restore damage from a 1975 earthquake.

As the ground shook on Wednesday, the tremors dislodged spires, loosened bricks and cracked the mortar, revealing modern material that was the result of haphazard restoration by the former military regime.

These efforts drew widespread international condemnation and forced UNESCO to deny Bagan the World Heritage Site stamp, even though it acknowledged that "these monuments represent the outstanding artistic and technical achievement of an original and innovative Buddhist school of art."

Much of the blame lies with the junta that took power in 1988, after crushing a pro-democracy movement. By 1995, restoration was in full swing to complete the work before the Visit Myanmar Year in 1996, which the generals of this once-pariah nation hoped would bring in much-needed tourist income.

The plan was a limited success, due to still underdeveloped infrastructure and a boycott call by human rights groups against the military regime, which had placed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. The country emerged from military rule this year after Suu Kyi's party won to become the country's de facto leader.

Pierre Pichard, a UNESCO consultant who had long been associated with Bagan, said impressing visiting generals rather than cultural priorities dictated restoration while military-ordered excavation has been done "hastily, without proper preparation and without the requested scientific methodology and records."

UNESCO was even more disturbed when a 60-meter (198-feet) -high viewing tower opened in 2005, saying it's out of scale and detracts visually from the historical monuments.

State tourism authorities responded that the tower would prevent tourists from climbing on fragile pagodas and stupas and damaging them.

___

Peck reported from Bangkok.

Myanmar Military personnel examine the Htilominlo Pagoda in 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 the debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples. (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)

FILE - In this Tuesday Feb. 24, 2015, file photo, Balloons carrying tourists fly near old temples in Bagan, Myanmar. A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 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/Khin Maung Win, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday Feb. 24, 2015, file photo, the sun sets behind old temples in Bagan, Myanmar. A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 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/Khin Maung Win, File)

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 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)

A woman plows a field in front of the Sulamani Temple which was damaged during Wednesday's strong earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar, Thursday, August 25, 2016. The powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook Myanmar, killing at least four people and damaging 185 ancient Buddhist pagodas in the former capital of Bagan, a major tourist site. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat)

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)

Military personnel stand as they 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/Hkun Lat)

Myanmar Military personnel examine the Htilominlo Pagoda in 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 the debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat)

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/Hkun Lat)

Myanmar Military personnel examine the Htilominlo Pagoda in 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 the debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat)

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)

Myanmar Military personnel examine the Htilominlo Pagoda in 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 the debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples. (AP Photo/Hkun Lat)

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)
Several tornadoes likely hit Indiana, Ohio; no bad injuries

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP)  In a central Indiana city where trees were sheared off at their stumps by one of several tornadoes in the region, residents began the hard work Thursday of cleaning up destroyed or damaged homes and businesses.

The EF3 tornado that swept through the south side of Kokomo, Indiana, on Wednesday afternoon packing winds as high as 152 mph toppled a Starbucks coffee shop and tore apart numerous homes. One of them belonged to 45-year-old Mark Martinez, who was out picking up his daughter from school and returned to find everything but the bedrooms on one side of his house destroyed.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence hugged and chatted with residents in a neighborhood where the damage seemed to skip some homes altogether. Pence credited quick thinking and early warnings of the approaching storm for the lack of serious injuries; Howard County Sheriff Steve Rogers said only 10 to 15 residents in the city 40 miles north of Indianapolis had minor injuries.

Mark Martinez wipes his face after speaking with Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. Martinez home was hit by a tornado that passed through the area Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

"It's a miracle and it's a testament to good common sense," Pence said.

Cheryl Swyers said she huddled in a hallway closet with her 2-year-old granddaughter as the tornado struck.

"It sounded like it lasted forever, but I'm sure it wasn't," Swyers said. "The house shook. You could hear things flying around outside."

Her house was spared from major damage. But the tornado demolished most of the home across the street belonging to Martinez, who left to pick up his daughter from school minutes before the tornado tore through.

When they returned, his daughter was distraught because their dog was still inside the rubble of the home. After some digging, Martinez found the dog alive.

Martinez said he hadn't mentally processed the events.

"It's crazy," was all he could muster.

The Kokomo tornado was one of several that swept through central and northern Indiana and northwest Ohio on Wednesday.

In Ohio, damage was reported in four counties, including Van Wert County, where officials said at least two tornadoes touched down about 2 miles apart, tearing roofs off homes and flattening barns. A tornado warning also briefly stopped a KISS concert Wednesday night in Toledo, Ohio, though no twisters touched down in that city.

As of Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service had confirmed that at least seven tornadoes hit Indiana during Wednesday's outbreak, five of them in central Indiana and two others in northeastern Indiana. But surveys were continuing and the storm tally was expected to rise, said Mike Ryan, a weather service meteorologist in Indianapolis.

Some houses and farm buildings were damaged by storms in rural areas near Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the Montgomery County community of Mace, about 35 miles northwest of Indianapolis.

About 220 people stayed overnight in a temporary shelter in Kokomo, Mayor Greg Goodnight said Thursday. Police were restricting access to storm-damaged neighborhoods, saying residents must show identification to gain access.

Utility companies reported about 25,000 homes and businesses in the Kokomo area lost electricity from the storm, though power was restored to more than half by Thursday afternoon.

Heidi Otiker lives on a block that was hit Wednesday, as well as by a tornado in November 2013.

"It could have been far worse. God has a master plan. I believe this all happens for a reason. It sucks at the moment. Our houses and our material things can be replaced," she said. "But this time, no fatalities, no injuries, and we are all still here."

___

Associated Press writers Ken Kusmer, Rick Callahan and Tom Davies in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence hugs Heidi Otiker after speaking with her, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. Otiker's home was damaged by a tornados that passed through the area Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Mark Martinez sorts through his personal items, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. Martinez home was hit by a tornado that pass through the area Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Residents sort through personal items at the home of Terry Munson, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. Munson's home was hit by a tornado that passed through the area Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence talks with representatives as they stand outside of a Starbucks, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. The restaurant was hit by a tornado that pass through the area Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

This image made from a video shows a tornado Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, in Kokomo, Ind. 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. (Bruce Robinson via AP)
Seoul: Surviving sexual slavery victims will receive $90,000

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Surviving South Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan's military in World War II will be eligible to receive around 100 million won (about $90,000) each from a foundation that will be funded by the Japanese government.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the families of deceased victims will be able to receive about 20 million won ($18,000), and added it expects the Japanese government to soon transfer a promised 1 billion yen ($9.9 million) to a foundation formed last month.

South Korea and Japan had agreed to set up the foundation in December as they settled the long dispute over South Korean sex slave victims. Seoul says there are currently 46 surviving South Korean victims and 199 victims who had died.

FILE - In this Thursday, July 28, 2016 file photo, protesters hold the portraits of the former South Korean sex slaves who were forced to serve for the Japanese military in World War II, during a rally against the establishment of the Japanese government-funded Reconciliation and Healing Foundation in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea said on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, surviving South Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan's military in World War II will be eligible to receive 100 million won (about $90,000) each from a foundation that will be funded by the Japanese government. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon. File)

The opening of the foundation's office in Seoul was met by protests. Many people in South Korea believe the Seoul government settled for far too less in the December settlement.

Under the agreement, which was described by both governments as "irreversible," Japan pledged to fund the foundation to help support the victims.
US pursues Syria cooperation with Russia amid new volatility

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Obama administration is launching a fresh bid to enlist Russia as a partner in Syria despite more than a month of dashed hopes as the situation on the ground becomes more volatile and uncertain with the introduction of Turkish ground forces.

As the military picture grows more chaotic and complicated by the day, Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later this week to try to hammer out a diplomatic initiative that would see greater cooperation that could lead to a resumption in talks on a political transition.

Before talks can begin, though, U.S. officials say it is imperative that Russia use its influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad to halt attacks on moderate opposition forces, open humanitarian aid corridors, and concentrate any offensive action on the Islamic State group and other extremists not covered by what has become a largely ignored truce.

Turkish tanks stationed near the Syrian border in Karkamis, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Turkey's military launched an operation before dawn Wednesday aimed at clearing 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. (AP Photo)

Those goals are not new, but recent developments have made achieving them even more urgent and important, according to U.S. officials. Recent developments include military operations around the city of Aleppo, the entry of Turkey into the ground war, Turkish hostility toward U.S.-backed Kurdish rebel groups and the presence of American military advisers in widening conflict zones.

Expectations are low, however, particularly given how efforts to forge a new U.S.-Russia understanding have fallen short virtually every month for the past five years. At the same time, the administration is not of one mind regarding the Russians. The Pentagon has publicly complained about getting drawn into greater cooperation with Russia even though it has been forced recently to expand communication with Moscow. Just last week the U.S. had to call for Russian help when Syrian warplanes struck in an area not far from where U.S. troops were operating on the ground.

As the administration continues to pursue a 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, Kerry will meet Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. He will press Russia for help on re-establishing the fractured nationwide truce with a focus on Aleppo and bringing food, medicine and other supplies into besieged communities.

"We want to be very measured in our expectations as we go forward into this meeting, but we believe the meeting is worth having," State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said Wednesday.

Yet, the only tangible indication that the meeting is worth having seems to be that it has been scheduled. "The fact that we've scheduled a meeting is a good sign," Trudeau said. "We'll see what happens."

Kerry and Lavrov will be meeting just days after 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 Islamic State militants, which has the potential to further muddle an already confusing picture on the ground.

This move is significant as it marks NATO member Turkey's most overt incursion into Syria. But it also puts Turkey on a path toward potential confrontation with Kurdish fighters in Syria who the United States is supporting in their fight against the Islamic State group and have been the most effective force battling IS militants in northern Syria.

The Turks are adamant that the Kurds not advance as they have a long-running fight with Kurdish insurgents on their side of the border.

And Russia is not on board. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow issued a statement expressing deep concern about Turkey's ground incursion, saying it raises the risk of civilian casualties and the worsening of ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs.

__
Syria's Kurds: An embattled US ally in a complex civil war

BEIRUT (AP)  Syria's battle-hardened Kurds have proven their mettle against the Islamic State group, and in the process, carved out an autonomous zone across the country's north. But their advance has alarmed Turkey, and Ankara on Wednesday sent tanks across the border against IS, and demanded that the Kurds withdraw from recently seized territory.

The tensions between Turkey and the Kurds pit a NATO ally against the most effective U.S. military proxy in Syria's complex civil war. Turkey, which is battling a Kurdish insurgency in its southeast, is increasingly concerned about an expanding Kurdish enclave just across the border, and the two sides could be on track for a confrontation.

Here is a look at Syria's Kurds:

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, Syrian Kurdish militia members of the YPG make a V-sign next to a drawing of Abdullah Ocalan, jailed Kurdish rebel leader, in Esme village in Aleppo province, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (Mursel Coban/Depo Photos via AP, File)

A HISTORY OF MARGINALIZATION

The Kurds are a sizable ethnic group in the Middle East, inhabiting a territory stretching across what is now Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. They number approximately 30 million across the region, including an estimated 2 million in Syria.

Kurds in all four countries have suffered from a history of marginalization, fueling aspirations for independence or autonomy. Syria's Kurds, who make up 10 percent of the country's population, were only granted the right to citizenship in 2011, with President Bashar Assad seeking to win over the minority in the early days of the uprising against him.

CIVIL WAR BRINGS LIMITED AUTONOMY

The main Syrian Kurdish party, known as the PYD, has benefited from a tacit non-aggression pact with Assad since the early months of the war, when the Syrian army withdrew from much of northeastern Syria to battle rebels elsewhere in the country, allowing the Kurds to carve out a zone of autonomy.

The PYD's armed wing, the People's Protection Units, or YPG, later expanded that enclave by battling the Islamic State group with the aid of U.S. airstrikes. The Kurds have been driving westward over the past year and a half, and earlier this month captured the town of Manbij, a key IS supply hub west of the Euphrates River.

The Kurds now control all but 50 kilometers (30 miles) of Syria's northern frontier with Turkey.

AN EFFECTIVE US ALLY

The PYD, now allied with Arab fighters in a U.S.-backed grouping known as the Syria Democratic Forces, has handed IS a string of major defeats, pushing the extremists away from the Turkish border and closing in on Raqqa, the capital of the IS's self-described Islamic caliphate.

Victory on the battlefield has brought more and more Western support. Today the U.S., Britain, France and Germany all have special forces embedded with the Syrian Kurds. The U.S. says its 300 servicemen are performing an advisory role. No other group in Syria has received even close to that level of Western support.

The PYD share control of the northeastern city of Qamishli with government forces. Last week, the party clashed with government troops in Hasakeh, a provincial capital also in the northeast, drawing Syrian airstrikes. That in turn led the U.S. to scramble aircraft to protect American troops on the ground, in what could have resulted in the first direct U.S.-Syrian confrontation of the war. The PYD succeeded in expelling the government's forces from the city.

ANGERING ANKARA

Turkey views the PYD as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's southeast. Turkey also fears the rise of an autonomous Kurdish zone along its border, and has demanded the PYD to withdraw to the east of the Euphrates.

The PYD also has tense relations with the Syrian rebels fighting to oust Assad, who view them as an extension of his government. The rebels point to Kurdish advances into rebel-held territory last spring following Syrian and Russian airstrikes. The PYD has denied the allegations, insisting it is fighting for democratic self-rule. Turkey is a leading sponsor of the Syrian rebels.

A GROWING LIST OF ENEMIES

Riding a wave of military successes, the PYD declared in March that it would insist on a federated solution to the Syria war, alarming most of the conflict's other players who view it as plan for partition.

Both Damascus and Ankara are deeply opposed to the Kurdish proposal, and may have even found some rare common ground over it. Just days after Syrian warplanes bombed Kurdish positions in Hasakeh, Turkey announced that Assad could retain some role during a political transition in Syria, softening its previous insistence that he step down immediately.

On Wednesday, Turkish tanks and special forces poured across the border, helping a force of some 1,500 Syrian rebels seize the border town of Jarablus from IS. But while IS was the main target, the operation was widely seen as an escalation against the Kurds, who are dug in just to the south, in Manbij.

Turkey again demanded they withdraw to the east, and visiting Vice President Joe Biden said that failing to do so could mean the end of U.S. support, an indication that even Washington is concerned about the Kurds' growing strength.

FEARS OF BETRAYAL

If regional powers fear a proxy run amok, the Kurds worry that they will again be used as a pawn in international statecraft.

It wouldn't be the first time.

The PKK operated freely in northern Syria under former President Hafez Assad when he was on the outs with Turkey  until 1998, when he expelled the group's revered leader as part of a thaw in relations with Ankara.

In northern Iraq, Iran's withdrawal of support for a Kurdish rebellion in the 1970s eventually left the Kurds at the mercy of Saddam Hussein, whose forces killed tens of thousands of them over the next two decades, including with poisonous gas. The U.S., which was backing Saddam in the Iraq-Iran War, did not interfere.

Today the Kurds of northern Iraq enjoy the kind of autonomy Syria's Kurds crave. But even the Kurdish government in Irbil, which depends on good relations with Ankara to export its oil, backed Turkey's incursion into Syria. It said the PYD could not be allowed to threaten regional security.

FILE - In this file photo released on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016 by Hawar news, the news agency for the semi-autonomous Kurdish areas in Syria (ANHA), shows the Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces raise their flag in the center of the town of Manbij after driving Islamic State militants out of the area, in Aleppo province, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (ANHA via AP, File)

FILE - In this May 20, 2015 file photo released by the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Kurdish fighters of the YPG stand on their vehicles on their way to battle against the Islamic State, near Kezwan mountain, northeastern Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (The Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units via AP, File)
Sea Shepherd Australia says will continue South Ocean action

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Sea Shepherd Australia said Thursday that a legal settlement involving the conservation group's U.S. founder will not affect its anti-whaling campaign in the Southern Ocean.

Spokesman Adam Burling said the Australian arm of the group has been deliberately independent from the U.S. organization since the court case began several years ago.

This week, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research and a whale ship operator announced they'd reached an agreement with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the U.S. and its founder Paul Watson.

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, made famous by the television show "Whale Wars" discusses a recent legal battle over anti-whaling activities, at his home office in Woodstock, Vt. Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research and a whale ship operator announced this week they'd reached an agreement with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society over those anti-whaling activities. Watson said the settlement only prevents the group's U.S. organization from interfering with Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)

The group was made famous by the television show "Whale Wars." Typically each Southern Hemisphere summer, Sea Shepherd sends out boats to try and stop Japan's whaling fleet from catching whales in the Southern Ocean.

Burling said the Japanese fleet has a quota of 333 minke whales this summer, and Sea Shepherd Australia plans to make an announcement next week about what kind of campaign it intends to run this year.

"We've got a brand-new vessel, the first ship in 40 years that has been custom-built for us, called the Ocean Warrior," he said. "We've got a long-term commitment to end whaling."

Burling said most of its budget comes from fundraising within Australia and that Sea Shepherd New Zealand also provides support for the ships at New Zealand docks.

Speaking this week from his home office in Woodstock, Vermont, Watson said the settlement only prevents the group's U.S. organization from interfering with Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.

"What it means is Sea Shepherd USA cannot contribute money toward the Southern Ocean campaign, cannot be involved in the Southern Ocean campaign, and that's fine. We've got plenty of other campaigns to do," said Watson, who recently returned to the U.S.

"Whether Sea Shepherd Australia or Sea Shepherd Global ... if they intend to return to the Southern Ocean that's their business, it's not ours and I can't control them," he said of the settlement filed on Tuesday.

The Institute of Cetacean Research, which studies whales, also is paying an undisclosed amount to the anti-whaling group on the condition the money will not be transferred to its affiliates elsewhere, including in Australia.

Japan Agriculture Minister Yuji Yamamoto on Thursday welcomed the agreement, saying, "I take it as a positive development that would contribute to the safety of the research whaling fleet."

Yamamoto, however, said that Japanese whalers should continue to use caution and be aware that there are staunch opponents of whaling.

Sea Shepherd Global media director Heather Stimmler said all of its entities around the world  except those in the United States  will continue to oppose what it believes is illegal Japanese whaling near Antarctica.

The International Whaling Commission imposed a commercial ban on whaling in 1986, but Japan has continued to kill whales under an exemption for what the country says is research.

Interpol lists Watson as being wanted in Japan on charges of conspiracy to trespass on a whaling ship and interference with business, and in Costa Rica on a charge of interfering with a shark finning operation.

Watson, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, was arrested in Germany but then fled to sea for 15 months when he said he heard that he would be extradited to Japan. He then lived in France for two years before he said he was allowed to come back to the U.S., which he did within the last two weeks.

In his office, surrounded by artifacts from his journeys, the 65-year-old Watson said he will continue to coordinate with other Sea Shepherd entities. As president of Sea Shepherd USA, he said is in touch every day with the ship captains who are working on campaigns, such as with the Mexican Navy to protect an endangered fish and dolphin, and doing research on viruses and parasites among farm-raised salmon.

"Japan made a big mistake because they thought by removing me they'd shut down Sea Shepherd. That's precisely why I wanted Sea Shepherd to become a movement and not something controlled by me. A lot of people think I am Sea Shepherd. No I'm not, I'm just part of it," he said.

_____
Turkey sends more tanks to Syria, insists on Kurdish retreat

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and gave Syrian Kurdish forces a week to scale back their presence near the Turkish border, a day after it launched a U.S.-backed cross-border incursion to establish a frontier zone free of the Islamic State group and Kurdish rebels.

Skirmishes broke out between Turkish-backed Syrian rebels and the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters, raising the potential for an all-out confrontation between the two American allies that would also jeopardize the fight against the Islamic State group in the volatile area.

Turkey's incursion Wednesday to capture the town of Jarablus was a dramatic escalation of Turkey's role in Syria's war and adds yet another powerhouse force on the ground in an already complicated conflict.

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, Syrian Kurdish militia members of the YPG make a V-sign next to a drawing of Abdullah Ocalan, jailed Kurdish rebel leader, in Esme village in Aleppo province, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (Mursel Coban/Depo Photos via AP, File)

But Ankara's objective went beyond fighting extremists. Turkey is also aiming to contain the expansion by Syria's Kurds, who have used the fight against IS and the chaos of Syria's civil war to seize nearly the entire stretch of territory along Syria's northern border with Turkey.

Above all, Ankara seeks to avoid Kurdish forces linking up their strongholds along the border. The U.S. has backed its NATO ally, sending a stern warning to the Syrian Kurds with whom it has partnered in the fight against IS to stay east of the Euphrates River. The river crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarablus.

"The U.S. is interested in stopping this from becoming a confrontation between the YPG and Turkey. That would be a huge detriment to the anti-IS campaign," said Chris Kozak, a Syria researcher at the Washington-based Institute of the Study of War, referring to the main U.S.-backed Kurdish faction fighting IS. Turkey accuses the group of links to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Kozak said an open confrontation between Turkey and the Kurds in Syria would undo much of the progress made working with the Kurdish forces against IS in northern Syria. If there are direct clashes, the U.S. would be forced to take sides, he said, and Washington would likely side with its NATO ally, whose air base is used to launch coalition airstrikes against the extremists in Syria and Iraq.

Also, if the Syrian Kurdish forces are distracted in clashes with the Turks and have to shift resources toward front lines with Turkey or with Turkish-backed opposition groups, that "buys (IS) some breathing space," Kozak said.

On Thursday, Turkish officials said Syrian Kurdish forces had started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River. The news was relayed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.

Syrian Kurdish officials contacted by The Associated Press would not confirm or deny that their forces were withdrawing east. Instead, the main Syrian Kurdish faction, the YPG, said its troops had "returned to their bases" after helping liberate the northern Syrian city of Manbij from the Islamic State group earlier this month. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Jarablus, and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw.

The Kurdish forces' statement said they handed control of the city to a newly-established Manbij Military Council, made up mostly of Arab rebel fighters from the town.

By day break, at least 10 more Turkish tanks crossed into Syria, Turkey's private Dogan news agency reported. An Associated Press journalist saw three armored vehicles cross the border, followed by a heavy construction vehicle. Explosions reverberated across the border, followed by billowing gray smoke.

It remained unclear whether Turkey-backed Syrian rebels would move against IS-held towns or nearby Kurdish-controlled areas, including the town of Manbij.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu agency, reporting from Jarablus, said the Syrian opposition forces were working to secure the town to allow its resident's to return, including defusing explosives inside the town or on roads leading to it. Estimates put the town's population at 25,000.

Turkey's defense minister, Fikri Isik, said Thursday that Turkish forces were securing the area around Jarablus. He said the Turkish-backed operation had two main goals  to secure the Turkish border area and to make sure the Syrian Kurdish forces "are not there."

"It's our right to remain there until" the Ankara-backed Syrian opposition forces take control of the area, Isik said. He said Turkey and the U.S. have agreed that the Syrian Kurdish forces would pull out of the northern area around Jarablus within a week.

"For now, the withdrawal hasn't fully taken place. We are waiting for it and following it," he told the private NTV television station.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition, Col. JD Dorrian, said some members of the force that seized control of Manbij went east of the river, but some remained to secure and clear land mines.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Kurdish forces appeared to be on the move south of the newly captured town of Jarablus, making the potential for all-out confrontation all the more possible overnight. The Kurdish-led group known as the Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, was advancing south of Jarablus, taking over at least three towns in what appeared to be a push by the Kurdish-led forces to secure Manbij and the river separating it from Jarablus. The advances triggered brief clashes with the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels who had advanced south of Jarablus.

Sharwan Darwish, a spokesperson for the SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council, said there were no direct confrontations, only warning shots. A Turkish official said he had no immediate comment on the reported clashes.

Meanwhile, U.N. officials said they had received word from Russia that it supports a 48-hour pause in fighting in and around Syria's largest city so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to its increasingly embattled population.

Jan Egeland, who heads up humanitarian aid in the office of the U.N. Syria envoy, said the U.N. now awaits assurances from two rebel groups and written authorization from President Bashar Assad's government before any aid convoys can go through to Aleppo amid an upsurge in fighting that has left the city nearly surrounded by Russian-backed Syrian troops.

Egeland said Russia backs a three-point U.N. plan that is to involve separate road convoys of aid delivered both from Damascus and across the Turkish border through the critical Castello Road artery into Aleppo.

"We are very hopeful that it will be a very short time until we can roll," Egeland told reporters.

___

El Deeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Mucahit Ceylan in Karkamis, Philip Issa and Zeina Karam in Beirut, and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

U. S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands after a meeting 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 the cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup, Fethullah Gulen, saying the extradition process would take time. (Kayhan Ozer, Presidential Press Service Pool via AP)

FILE - In this file photo released on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, provided by the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Kurdish fighters of the YPG, sit on their pickup in the town of Ein Eissa, north of Raqqa city, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (The Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units via AP, File)
NKorea missile test adds to 'Military First' celebration

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  North Korea marked its "Military First" holiday on Thursday with mass dancing, outdoor concerts and boasts of a successful  and potentially game-changing  submarine-launched ballistic missile test it hopes will serve as a warning to Washington and Seoul to stop holding joint military exercises Pyongyang sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

Television news broadcasts and the front pages of morning newspapers Thursday showed images of the launch, conducted in the early hours the day before. The test, which brought immediate condemnation from the United States and North Korea's neighbors, sent a "Pukguksong" missile soaring from a submerged position off the North's port city of Sinpo. It flew an estimated 500 kilometers (310 miles) toward the seas around Japan, the longest distance North Korea has yet achieved in a submarine launch.

Kim was shown smiling and hugging officials after watching the test from an observation deck. He was quoted by state media as calling it the "success of all successes."

In this undated photo distributed on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits the site of a submarine-launched missile test at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service. Kim said Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, 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. Associated Press Photo Editors have detected evidence of photo manipulation on Kim Jong Un's face in this image. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Launching long-range ballistic missiles from submarines is stealthier than land launching. Having that capability could significantly strengthen North Korea's ability to conduct strikes on U.S. positions in South Korea, and possibly on U.S. bases in Japan as well.

The North has attempted two such launches before, but neither was seen as successful by outside experts.

As the news of the missile test was broadcast on a large screen outside Pyongyang's main train station Thursday, dozens of people stood in the rain to watch.

"This shows that our national defense strength has reached a new level," said Choe Kum Chol, a 42-year-old factory worker. "We are a nuclear power and everything is ready, so we have nothing to fear."

The test came as the U.S. and South Korea are conducting their annual, 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises south of the Demilitarized Zone.

Though North Korea has protested such exercises for decades, prompting regular spikes in tensions on the divided peninsula, it has been particularly alarmed by reports that the maneuvers have recently started to include training for an invasion of the North and precision strikes, or "beheading operations," against its top leaders.

North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons development programs have brought heavy international sanctions down on its head, but it says they are justified because of the threat posed by the U.S. and South Korea.

"They are not military exercises, but war preparations to invade our country," said Kim Kyong Ik, a 44-year-old Pyongyang resident. "Our country is getting more prosperous and they don't like that, so they are stepping up their moves to stifle us."

He said South Korea should "wake up and kick the Americans out."

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.

Malaysian counselor Johan Ariff Abd Razak, whose country holds the council presidency, said Thursday the United States circulated a draft statement to members and China asked for more time to consider it.

Peter Wilson, Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador, said this was the fourth missile launch where "something has not been agreed" to by the Security Council in response. "We want to see a press statement agreed," he said.

Diplomats say China, which has close ties to North Korea, has blocked council action or insisted on changes in previous proposed texts that were unacceptable to other members.

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.

Washington and Seoul say the military exercises North Korea opposes are defensive in nature.

Thursday marks the anniversary of the "Military First" policy initiated by Kim Jong Un's father, the late Kim Jong Il, and the priority position the military continues to enjoy in North Korea was on full display.

Mass dancing demonstrations  a holiday staple in North Korea  were to be held on Kim Il Sung Square and other places around the country. Though the atmosphere in Pyongyang was more festive than tense, convoys carrying troops to various gatherings have been speeding through the broad avenues of the capital all week.

Television air time has been dominated by military footage even more than usual, with soldiers seen advancing through chest-deep mud, braving ice-covered lakes and staging fight scenes featuring taekwondo moves atop a moving train.

North Korea is one of the most militarized countries in the world, with a million-man army in a nation of only 25 million people.

Military service is mandatory  along with being long and arduous  and maintaining such a large number of troops is a major draw on the North's very limited economic resources. Its nuclear program is also costly, especially given the sanctions that result.

North Korean strategists believe that developing nuclear weapons and a reliable arsenal of long-range missiles is necessary and, in the end, a more cost-effective means of keeping Washington at bay and the ruling regime secure than maintaining a large conventional army.

Despite the price they pay in sanctions, officials sometimes cite the example of Libya, and the killing of strongman Moammar Gadhafi, as what happens to leaders who cave in to international pressure to give up their nuclear ambitions.

North Koreans are also quick to point out that, although their country has received military assistance in the past from the Soviet Union and China, which helped it stave off the U.S. during the 1950-53 Korean War, it no longer has any foreign troops based on its soil.

There are about 28,000 U.S. troops based in South Korea, and tens of thousands more in Japan, including the U.S. 7th Fleet and two major fighter bases that could be used as staging areas for attacks on the North if hostilities broke out.

People watch a TV news program showing an image published Thursday in North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the 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. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon).

In this undated photo distributed on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, by the North Korean government, a missile is launched at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, 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. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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)
Iran detains Greek national for smuggled oil tankers

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  An Iranian state-run daily is reporting that authorities in Tehran have detained a Greek national they accuse of embezzling money from smuggled oil and selling three oil tankers for $100 million.

The report on Thursday in the IRAN newspaper suggests the Greek national was involved in smuggling Iranian crude oil while economic sanctions were imposed over the country's contested nuclear program. Those sanctions under then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad greatly restricted where Iranian oil could be sold in the global market.
Yellowstone tourists see smoke, detour but still the sights

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP)  Popular areas in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks were welcoming tourists Thursday for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, but a wildfire forced some people to drive a little farther than they expected to get to the festivities.

The blaze in Grand Teton National Park shut down a route leading to Yellowstone's South Entrance, so visitors coming from the south through Wyoming will have to take an hourlong detour into Idaho.

Four other entrances to Yellowstone are open, and once inside the world's first national park, visitors won't notice much is unusual other than a smoky haze in some parts of the sprawling park.

The Berry Fire burns off the shore of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Popular areas in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks were welcoming tourists Thursday for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, but a wildfire forced some people to drive a little farther than they expected. The blaze in Grand Teton National Park shut down a route leading to Yellowstone's South Entrance, so visitors coming from the south through Wyoming had to take a detour into Idaho. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

"The park attractions and the events scheduled are going off as planned," Yellowstone fire spokesman Bill Swartley said. "There is no impact from the fire that is affecting those events, the centennial events, through the weekend."

They include a visit Thursday evening by U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell at the North Entrance.

The only restriction for visitors inside Yellowstone is the road leading to the south exit has been blocked off at Lewis Lake because of the closure, Swartley said.

Four fires also are burning inside Yellowstone, the biggest spanning about 47 square miles. But cooler, damper weather has slowed the flames, Swartley said.

"There's no threat to park visitors; there's very minimal fire behavior today," he said Thursday. "With the weather conditions prevailing today and tomorrow, the fire is just kind of bedding down."

Julie Guardado of Sacramento, California, and her boyfriend were visiting Yellowstone this week as part of a cross-country trip. They decided to leave Yellowstone a day early over fears of more road closures.

"When we were driving around Yellowstone, we could just see fire around the mountains," Guardado said Wednesday. "Our car still smells like smoke."

Though, she said, "even with the smoke, it was still pretty amazing."

It's a different story for Yellowstone's southern neighbor, where the wildfire in Grand Teton has burned about 19 square miles since lightning sparked it last month.

A lodge and cabin operation and several campgrounds have been evacuated, and a 10-mile stretch of U.S. 89/191/287 leading to Yellowstone has been closed since Monday. No buildings have been lost.

Firefighters have been trying to douse the fire near the highway, but the flames are still intense and the highway will likely stay closed through the weekend, when admission to all national parks is free, fire spokeswoman Karen Miranda said.

"We haven't gotten a break in the weather yet that we've needed," Miranda said. "We're even having difficulty keeping that road open for fire traffic. ... So it is a dangerous condition on that road."

Alex Klein, general manager of park concessionaire Grand Teton Lodge Co., said displaced guests and employees were moved to other lodging. Staffers shared cake with visitors in celebration of the centennial.

"Operations are running smoothly," Klein said.

Travelers coming from the south via the popular 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.

Other wildfires are burning across the West, chasing hundreds of people from their homes and closing popular tourist attraction Hearst Castle in California and destroying homes in Washington state and elsewhere.

Fire expert Ron Steffens, who was Incident Commander on the Berry Fire until a day earlier, examines forest gutted by the blaze in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Thursday, Aug 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A firefighter surveys the Berry Fire burning off the shore of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Thursday, Aug 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

The Berry Fire burns in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Thursday, Aug 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

The Berry Fire burns off the shore of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Thursday, Aug 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Firefighters JJ Hawkinson, left, Brandon Bishop Parise, and Vanessa Aldrich, out of Ely, Nevada, take a lunch break while working on the Berry Fire in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Thursday, Aug 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the US National Park Service. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Firefighter Mike Harrison, out of Dayton, Nev., hoses down the forest while working on the Berry Fire in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Thursday, Aug 25, 2016. Thursday, Aug 25, 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
UK lawmakers urge social media companies to tackle extremism

LONDON (AP)  British lawmakers on Thursday demanded that social media do more to police users who promote extremism, arguing that companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter are "consciously failing" to stop radicalization online.

Social media companies are leaving cyberspace "ungoverned and lawless," allowing the forums to become the lifeblood of the so-called Islamic State, according to a report from the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.

"Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle 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," Chairman Keith Vaz said.

FILE - This Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, file photo, shows a Twitter app on an iPhone screen in New York. British lawmakers on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 demanded that social media companies do more to police users who promote extremism, arguing that companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter are consciously failing to stop radicalization online.(AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Internet-based recruitment by terrorists has become a sensitive issue in Britain, particularly after a group of teenage girls from east London traveled to Syria last year to become so-called jihadi brides. The case highlighted the struggles families and authorities face in trying to deal with young people exposed to IS ideology through social media. One of the girls, Kadiza Sultana, is believed to have died in an airstrike.

Despite their size, Vaz said, social media companies deploy only a "few hundred" employees to monitor billions of accounts. If the companies fail to act, and allow their platforms to become "the 'Wild West' of the internet, then it will erode their reputation as responsible operators," he said.

Twitter, Facebook and Google-owned YouTube responded with statements that either rejected the report's conclusions or pointed to earlier efforts to combat the threat. Google did not comment on its other media services.

YouTube said the company takes its role "in combatting the spread of extremist material very seriously." Twitter pointed to a statement released last week in which the company reiterated its commitment to "eliminating the promotion of violence or terrorism on our platform" and said that it had suspended 360,000 accounts since mid-2015 for violating its policies.

Facebook insisted it deals "robustly with reports of terrorism-related content."

"In the rare instances that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, we'll also look for and remove relevant associated accounts and content," Simon Milner, policy director for Facebook U.K., said in a statement.

Social media companies are bowing to public pressure to do more to stop their sites from being used by terrorists, said Peter Neumann, director of the International Center for the Study of Radicalization at King's College London. He said it is just not enough to blame the internet companies.
Why the EU's tax probe of multinationals is raising US ire

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union's campaign to crack down on tax avoidance by multinationals has drawn unusually public criticism from the U.S., which says it is unfairly targeting American companies.

The EU executive Commission responded with a sharp denial on Thursday, insisting it is being fair as it goes after corporate tax dodging.

The EU's investigations of multinationals trace their origins to a 2014 leak of documents that showed how big companies shop around among EU states to get as low a corporate tax rate as possible. That helps multinationals often pay very little tax, a revelation that has fueled popular anger in Europe, where cash-strapped governments had been raising taxes on households.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, a person stands near the Apple logo at the company's store in Grand Central Terminal, in New York. The European Union's executive branch rejected Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 the U.S. government's complaint that its probes into sweetheart tax deals between EU governments and big companies are hitting U.S. firms hardest. The European Commission, which polices EU laws, is cracking down on the practice in which EU governments offer low corporate tax rates to multinationals. The Commission has opened tax probes into Apple in Ireland, Starbucks in the Netherlands and Amazon in Luxemburg. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

The high-profile companies that have been caught up in the EU action since then include Amazon, Apple and Starbucks.

Here are some questions and answers about the issue.

___

WHY DID THE EU LAUNCH THE TAX CRACKDOWN?

European countries are keen to attract big companies to their territory; sometimes too keen, with some offering ultra-low tax rates as incentives. So the EU launched a drive to combat tax avoidance by investigating the deals that allow multinationals to slash their bills in countries like Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands. The EU says some 50-70 billion euros ($56-79 billion) are lost every year due to tax avoidance. Also, some multinationals shift their earnings made in EU countries to the one low-tax country they are based in. That helps them lower their overall tax bill. In January, the EU Commission, which polices EU rules, unveiled new plans to tackle the problem. They include closing tax loopholes and improving the way tax information is shared across the 28-nation EU.

___

DON'T EU COUNTRIES MAKE THEIR OWN TAX LAWS?

They do. The Commission says it's not interfering with members' rights to set their corporate tax rates, but that it should help protect countries from unfair tax competition. When one country's tax policy hurts a neighbor's revenues, that country should be able to protect its tax base. The EU rules also try to ensure that a country can effectively tax profits generated in its territory. A big problem is that EU countries share little information about their corporate tax rulings. This makes it difficult for tax authorities to work out where a company's real business takes place and apply the rules fairly. The Commission says many multinationals take advantage by shifting their profits from one country to another. This deprives EU governments of tax revenues.

___

WHY DOES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CARE?

The U.S. Treasury Department says that disproportionately targeting U.S. companies could end up costing American taxpayers. This would happen if companies are forced to pay higher taxes in Europe because these businesses get U.S. tax credits for foreign tax payments. Apple and other U.S. firms leave much of their foreign earnings overseas to avoid higher U.S. tax rates. Treasury officials say they're working to get companies to repatriate those funds.

___

ARE U.S. MULTINATIONALS REALLY HIT HARDEST?
Serbia police find 34 migrants in a Belgrade house

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Serbian police say they have arrested a man after finding 34 migrants in his house in a Belgrade suburb.

Police said Thursday that the man is suspected of people smuggling for allegedly hiding the migrants in the house.

Serbia has stepped up efforts to curb the entry of migrants passing through in a bid to reach the European Union. Balkan nations closed their borders for migrants fleeing war and poverty in March, but the flow has continued through illegal routes used by people smugglers.

Hundreds of migrants have been camping along Serbia's border with EU-member Hungary, which allows about 30 people into the country per day.
Egypt family to join boy who crossed sea alone seeking help

CAIRO (AP)  Egypt's Foreign Ministry says the family of an Egyptian boy who crossed the Mediterranean Sea on his own to find medical help abroad for his sick brother, will leave for Italy within days to join him there.

The 13-year-old sneaked out of Egypt with the help of human traffickers earlier this month, carrying with him only medical records of his brother who has a rare blood disorder.

Thursday's remarks by ministry's spokesman, Ahmed Abu-Zeid, are Egypt's first confirmation of the teen's dangerous sea crossing.

Earlier, Abu-Zeid said the boy's family could not be located. He says authorities later learned from Italy that it's granting visas to the family members, including the sick boy who is to get treatment in Italy.
The Latest: Turkish artillery strikes Syrian Kurdish militia

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  The Latest developments in the Syrian civil war, following Turkish ground forces' incursion (all times local):

11 p.m.

Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish artillery have shelled a group of Syrian Kurdish militia fighters after they allegedly ignored warnings to retreat.

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, Syrian Kurdish militia members of the YPG make a V-sign next to a drawing of Abdullah Ocalan, jailed Kurdish rebel leader, in Esme village in Aleppo province, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (Mursel Coban/Depo Photos via AP, File)

The Anadolu Agency, citing unnamed security sources, said the military attacked the group on Thursday after they advanced north of the town of Mambij, reaching the village of Amarinah.

Turkey on Wednesday sent tanks across the border to help Syrian rebels retake the key Islamic State-held town of Jarablus and to contain the expansion of Syria's Kurds in an area bordering Turkey.

Ankara has demanded that the Syrian Kurdish forces, known as the YPG, pull back east of the Euphrates River.

The private NTV television channel said the group was spotted by Turkish jets some 10 kilometers (six miles) south of Jarablus and hit by artillery positioned across the border in the Turkish town of Karkamis.

___

8:15 p.m.

Syrian state-run TV and opposition activists say that an agreement has been struck between government forces and rebel factions for a cease-fire in a key rebel-held Damascus suburb.

The television channel says Thursday that under the terms of the agreement, 700 gunmen will be allowed safe passage out of Daraya to the northern province of Idlib.

Around 4,000 women and children will be taken to shelters outside the town.

Daraya has been besieged and blockaded by government forces for nearly four years, with only minimal food deliveries allowed to reach the district. The town is southwest of Damascus and has been pummeled by government airstrikes, barrel bombs and fighting over the years.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the agreement, under which rebels will give up all medium and heavy weaponry.

___

7:30 p.m.

Activists and a doctor in the battered rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo city say at least 13 people, mostly children, were killed when suspected government helicopters lobbed barrel bombs into a crowded residential area.

Osama Abo Elezz, a doctor from the rebel-held part of Aleppo, said the barrel bombs fell Thursday in Aleppo's Bab al-Nayreb district, hitting more than one building. He said the unguided explosives killed 10 children, including a two-month-old baby and a three-year-old girl. The activist group, the Aleppo Media Center, said at least 13 were killed, posting videos of attempts by doctors in the hospital to rescue the infant. Abo Elezz, who only left Aleppo Wednesday, said rescue workers were still working to pull survivors from under the rubble. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 15, including 11 children, and four women.

The discrepancy is common following such violence in the city that has been torn by violence since 2012.

___

7 p.m.

Russia's U.N. ambassador says there doesn't have to be a confrontation with the United States over a report that blames the Syrian government and Islamic State militants for carrying out chemical attacks in the conflict-torn country.

Vitaly Churkin, whose country is a strong supporter of the Syrian government, stressed Thursday that the U.S. and Russia created the investigative body to determine those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.

"We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening," he told reporters.

Churkin called the 95-page document produced by a team from the U.N. and the OPCW chemical weapons watchdog, "a very complicated report which needs to be studied by experts."

He said it was very important that the report named the Islamic State group, but he sidestepped questions about Syrian government involvement.

___

6:45 p.m.

France's president is calling on Russia to push for a resumption of talks on a political transition in Syria as quickly as possible.

Francois Hollande referred to a report by a team from the U.N. and the OPCW chemical weapons watchdog agency that has concluded that the Syrian government and Islamic State militants carried out chemical attacks during 2014 and 2015.

"We are in a very serious situation ... evidences of crimes have been provided," he said in a speech in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, near Paris.

Hollande said it's now up to Russia to face "its responsibilities" and use its influence with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

___

4:45 p.m.

The head of the U.N. humanitarian aid efforts for Syria says the U.N. has received word from Russia that it supports a 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo so aid can be delivered.

Jan Egeland says "We are ready" and the U.N. is now awaiting assurances from two rebels groups and written authorization from President Bashar Assad's government before planned aid convoys can go through to the northern city's embattled population.

Egeland said Russia backs the three-point plan to involve road convoys of aid delivered from Damascus and Turkey, plus a mission into southern Aleppo to help revive a damaged electric plant that powers key water-pumping stations which serve 1.8 million people.

He said : "We are very hopeful that it will be a very short time until we can roll."

___

2:25 p.m.

Germany's defense minister says her country wants to keep planes helping the campaign against the Islamic State group at Turkey's Incirlik base amid an argument over Ankara's refusal to let German lawmakers visit military personnel.

The announcement comes a day after Turkey sent in ground forces, assisted by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, into northern Syria to free a town from Islamic State militants.

Turkey was angered by German lawmakers voting in June to label the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago genocide.

German military missions require annual parliamentary authorization. Government lawmaker Rainer Arnold told Der Spiegel magazine the mandate wouldn't be renewed if visits aren't allowed.

Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland newspaper group Wednesday the military would like to continue operating from Incirlik.

Asked whether it could pull out quickly if necessary, she replied: "Smart military planning always foresees alternatives."

Germany has Tornado reconnaissance jets and refueling planes at Incirlik.

___

1:55 p.m.

The main Syrian Kurdish faction says its troops have "returned to their bases" after helping liberate the city of Manbij from the Islamic State group.

Thursday's statement refers to an apparently separate pullout from the withdrawal that Turkey is seeking from the Kurdish forces in Syria.

Ankara has demanded the Syrian Kurdish forces, known as YPG, pull east of the Euphrates River from the area of the town of Jarablus. Turkey is concerned about the Syrian Kurdish expansion and on Wednesday sent ground forces into Syria to help Western-backed Syrian rebels retake Jarablus from IS.

The Kurdish forces' statement says they handed control of the northern Syrian city to a newly-established Manbij Military Council, made up of rebel fighters from the town.

The council's spokesman, Sherfan Darwish, earlier said the YPG contingent that helped liberate Manbij earlier this month numbered about 500 fighters.

___

1:35 p.m.

Iraq says Syria's foreign minister has arrived in Baghdad for a visit at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart, Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

The foreign ministry provided no further details on Thursday's visit or topics that Walid al-Moallem would discuss in meetings with Iraqi officials.

Al-Moallem's visit comes a day after Turkey sent ground forces across the border into Syria to take a key Islamic State stronghold, a development that Damascus denounced as a "blatant violation" of Syrian sovereignty.

While Iraq has made significant territorial gains in the fight against the Islamic State group, key border crossings between Iraq and Syria remain in the militant group's control and continue to be used to ferry supplies and fighters between the two countries.

The last time Syria's foreign minister visited Baghdad was in 2013, before the Islamic State group pushed into Iraq from neighboring Syria overrunning large swaths of territory in the country's north and west.

___

12:40 p.m.

Turkey's defense minister says Turkish forces are securing the area around the town of Jarablus in northern Syria, a day after helping Western-backed Syrian rebels take the town from Islamic State militants.

Minister Fikri Isik said on Thursday that the Turkish-backed operation has two main goals  to secure the Turkish border area and to make sure the Kurdish Syrian forces "are not there."

Isik says "it's our right to remain there until" the Syrian opposition forces take control of the area.

Turkey is concerned about the advances of the Kurdish Syrian forces, fearing they aim to set up a Kurdish entity along Turkey's border with Syria. Ankara maintains that the Syrian Kurdish militia is linked to Kurdish rebels waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Isik says Ankara and the United States have agreed the Kurdish Syrian forces would pull out of the northern area around Jarablus "within two weeks." He spoke to the private NTV television.

He says that "for now, the withdrawal hasn't fully taken place. We are waiting for it and following it."

___

10 a.m.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry says U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Turkish counterpart that Syrian Kurdish forces have started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River.

The pullback was a major demand by Ankara after Turkey sent in forces across the border to take a key Islamic State stronghold the previous day.

Turkish ministry officials say Kerry and Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke by telephone on Thursday. Turkey's incursion into northern Syria was also meant to contain an expansion by Syria's Kurds.

Battling IS militants in Syria, the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds have been able to seize nearly the entire stretch of the border with Turkey in northern Syria.

Vice President Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that the Syrian Kurdish forces will lose U.S. support unless they retreat east of the Euphrates.

U. S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands after a meeting 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 the cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup, Fethullah Gulen, saying the extradition process would take time. (Kayhan Ozer, Presidential Press Service Pool via AP)

FILE - In this file photo released on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, provided by the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Kurdish fighters of the YPG, sit on their pickup in the town of Ein Eissa, north of Raqqa city, Syria. A Turkish military expedition into Syria has threatened a Kurdish political project just as Kurdish forces seemed on the verge of connecting their northern Syrian zones. It is the first Turkish ground intervention in the course of the Syria war, now in its sixth year, and it underscores how seriously Turkey is taking Kurdish autonomy next door. (The Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units via AP, File)
Remains of lost WWII veteran set for return to Rhode Island

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP)  The remains of an Army captain who was previous lost and unaccounted for following World War II will return to his hometown in Rhode Island this weekend.

WPRI-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2bpgjlJ ) the remains of Capt. Elwood Euart will arrive to fanfare at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick on Saturday. A military and state police escort will accompany Euart's remains to a funeral home in Lincoln in preparation for his burial Wednesday in Pawtucket.

Euart was among 5,000 soldiers aboard the SS President Coolidge when the transport vessel sank after striking two mines in the south Pacific Ocean in 1942. The Pawtucket man was one of just two casualties.

Amateur divers discovered Euart's remains and dog tags while exploring the wreck in 2012.

___
Philippine leader orders extremists crushed after beheading

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Abu Sayyaf extremists have beheaded a kidnapped Filipino villager after a ransom deadline lapsed in their first such brutal act under President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered troops to destroy the militants.

Regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan said Thursday the militants killed Patrick James Aldovar on Wednesday afternoon near southern Sulu province's Indanan town then later abandoned his head in a neighborhood.

Tan said the 18-year-old Aldovar, who was seized by the militants July 16 in Sulu's main Jolo town, was decapitated after his family failed to pay ransom.

After learning about the beheading, Duterte lumped the militants among "the enemies of the state" he wanted dead, ordering government troops: "Drug dealers, destroy them. Abu Sayyaf, destroy them. Period."

Thousands of reinforcement troops were being flown by C130 cargo planes to Sulu and nearby Basilan island to help in an ongoing offensive against the militants, Tan said.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the Philippines for deadly bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.
Springsteen performs for nearly 4 hours at MetLife Stadium

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)  Bruce and the boys are back in the swamps of Jersey, and they're in no rush to get off the stage.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform their second show at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. It comes after they performed a 35-song set for 3 hours and 52 minutes on Tuesday.

A Springsteen fan website, Backstreets.com, says that was Springsteen's longest U.S. show.

The Boss' longest show was 4 hours and 6 minutes in Helsinki, Finland, in 2012.

The New Jersey shows mark a return to the U.S. after Springsteen and the band spent three months performing in Europe on their River Tour 2016, which kicked off in January.
Man accused of firing gun at officer during traffic stop

DECATUR, Ga. (AP)  Authorities say a Georgia man has been arrested after he fired at gun at a suburban Atlanta police officer during a traffic stop.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cynthia Williams says in a news release that authorities arrested 24-year-old Tamarcus Gresham of Lithonia on an aggravated assault charge in connection with Wednesday's incident.

Officials say an officer saw a car with a loose license plate and initiated the stop. Gresham was a passenger in the vehicle.

Deputies say as the officer turned on a light to read the license plate number, the suspect began firing a gun into the air and at the officer.
Boko Haram violence sparks 'children's crisis,' UN says

DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Nearly half a million children in areas affected by Nigeria's Boko Haram insurgency could suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, a figure that has more than doubled since the beginning of the year, the United Nations children's agency said Thursday.

Years of conflict have aggravated malnutrition in a region that was already one of the poorest in the world. In Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, 49,000 children "will die if they do not receive treatment," the agency, known as UNICEF, said in a report.

"The Lake Chad crisis is a children's crisis that should rank high on the global migration and displacement agenda," said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa. "Humanitarian needs are outpacing the response, especially now that new areas previously unreachable in northeast Nigeria become accessible."

Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced more than 2.6 million in Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad, where the extremists have extended attacks in recent years.

An additional 2.2 million people, over half of them children, are feared to be trapped in areas under the control of Boko Haram, the U.N. said.

The agency said it has received just 13 percent of the $308 million needed to help families affected by violence in the region.
The Latest: Outside crews helping tornado-hit Indiana city

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  The Latest on recovery efforts from tornadoes touching down in central Indiana (all times local):

8:35 a.m.

The mayor of Kokomo says crews from elsewhere in the state are coming to the central Indiana city to help restore power and clean up debris in the tornado-hit community.

A Starbucks is demolished after an apparent tornado touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. At least two tornadoes struck cities in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roof off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said Thursday morning that he's grateful that no one was killed or seriously injured by the storm that struck Wednesday afternoon, damaging numerous houses, apartments and businesses.

He says about 220 people stayed overnight in a temporary shelter in Kokomo, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.

Howard County Sheriff Steve Rogers says 10 to 15 people suffered minor injuries.

Utility companies report at least 15,000 homes and businesses remain without electricity in Howard County.

Police have restricted access to storm-damage neighborhoods, saying residents must show identification to officers before entering.

___

8:15 a.m.

Indiana's Department of Homeland Security says a tornado outbreak produced at least 12 tornadoes.

Agency spokesman John Erickson says officials are still assessing the storm damage Thursday, but that the tally as of Wednesday night showed 12 tornadoes touched down in Adams, Allen, Blackford, Cass, Grant, Howard, Marion and Montgomery counties in northern and central Indiana.

Several of those tornadoes struck Howard County, where the south side of the city of Kokomo suffered extensive damage.

National Weather Service surveys Thursday should determine whether additional storm damage in other areas was caused by tornadoes or high winds in severe thunderstorms.

___

7:45 a.m.

Emergency officials and the Red Cross have set up shelters for victims of tornadoes that swept across central Indiana.

One shelter is at the Kokomo Event and Conference Center. The Indianapolis Star reports that about 200 people were being housed and fed at the center at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, hours after the storms moved through. Kokomo is about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.

Another shelter is at Walnut Elementary School in New Ross, northwest of Indianapolis.

The Indiana Red Cross regional headquarters in Indianapolis has a team of employees and volunteers working at an operations center.

The National Weather Service says at least eight tornadoes touched down on Wednesday causing substantial damage. Authorities say between 15 and 20 people suffered injuries but none were severe.

___

7:05 a.m.

The National Weather Service says a single, long supercell thunderstorm that moved through Indiana produced six tornadoes.

Forecasters say those six were among at least eight tornadoes that touched down in central Indiana on Wednesday. Authorities say about a dozen people were injured, but none seriously. Damage includes roofs torn off buildings, smashed vehicles and power loss to thousands.

The weather service says one tornado was an EF3 with 165 mph winds. GOP vice presidential candidate and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence plans to leave the campaign trail Thursday to assess storm damage.

The weather service says two other thunderstorms produced separate tornadoes, one in Avon west of Indianapolis and one northwest of Lafayette, which is southwest of Indianapolis.

___

9:20 p.m.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he'll tour Howard and Montgomery counties and possibly other areas Thursday to assess the storm damage.

The Republican vice presidential candidate returned to Indiana from the campaign trail Wednesday evening after the National Weather Service said several tornadoes struck the state. One that hit Kokomo has been determined to be an EF3 with 165 mph winds.

Pence says he'll remain in the state as long as necessary to ensure people affected by the storms have the support they need. He says 200 people have checked in to a Red Cross shelter in Kokomo.

Indiana State Police spokesman Capt. David Bursten says about a dozen people were injured, but none seriously.

A funnel cloud near Van Buren, Ind., moves east before breaking up as storms move through Grant County, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. At least two tornadoes struck cities in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roof off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Jeff Morehead/Chronicle-Tribune via AP)

A Starbucks is demolished after an apparent tornado touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Broken power lines are the remnants of an apparent tornado that touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

This image made from a video provided by WTHR 13 shows damage to a Starbucks 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. (Nicole Misencik/WTHR 13 via AP)

Cindy Ropes comes out of her house as friend Stan Carter and son Ryan Ropes help her clear personal items from the house 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)

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)

This photo shows a funnel cloud near Russiaville, 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)

This image provided by WTHR 13 shows storm clouds near 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. (Nicole Misencik/WTHR 13 via AP)
Man rescued after nearly 40-foot fall into hold of ship

MOBILE, Ala. (AP)  Officials in Alabama say a man has been rescued after falling roughly 40 feet into a hold of a ship out of Norway.

News outlets report that Mobile Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman says the man fell Wednesday night while loading rolls of paper at the Alabama State Docks. Officials have not released his identity.

A crane onboard the ship was used to lift the man from where he fell and set him down on the dock.
Tiger taken from 'world's worst zoo' arrives in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  A Bengal tiger rescued from what activists have called "the worst zoo in the world" arrived in South Africa for a new home Thursday, after living in a small cage in Gaza alongside another tiger's stuffed corpse.

The nine-year-old male, known as Laziz, arrived by plane. His handlers said he was in good condition and calm after traveling in a wooden crate.

The Four Paws charity launched a rescue effort at the Khan Younis zoo in Gaza when it discovered that the zoo was displaying the taxidermied corpses of animals that had died from stress, disease and starvation.

The nine-year-old male tiger, known as Laziz, is released into an enclosure at the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in Bethlehem, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. A Bengal tiger rescued from what activists have called "the worst zoo in the world" arrived in South Africa for a new home Thursday, after living in a small cage in Gaza alongside another tiger's stuffed corpse. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

After the zoo asked for help, Four Paws on Wednesday removed 15 animals including five monkeys, a porcupine and an emu. Most were destined for an animal sanctuary in Jordan.

The tiger was taken to the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary, where he took a few groggy steps into his new enclosure, used an old tree trunk as a scratching post and collapsed under a shelter to sleep off the effects of a sedative.

"Laziz is in good condition apart from a scratch on one side of his face, which comes from the crate," said Marina Strydom, a veterinarian at Lionsrock, said Thursday.

The facility already holds about 100 big cats that have been rescued from zoos and circuses around the world. The tiger's new enclosure is several hectares in size with tree trunks, rocks and makeshift structures to climb.

Meals will mostly include donkey meat and cow legs.

Years of conflict, cold winters, longstanding negligence and outbreaks of disease have killed many animals in captivity in Gaza.

Conditions in Gaza, home to 1.8 million people, have steadily deteriorated since Hamas, an Islamic militant group, seized control of the territory in 2007 and prompted an Israeli and Egyptian blockade.

The nine-year-old male tiger, known as Laziz, is released into an enclosure at the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in Bethlehem, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. A Bengal tiger rescued from what activists have called "the worst zoo in the world" arrived in South Africa for a new home Thursday, after living in a small cage in Gaza alongside another tiger's stuffed corpse. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Laziz the tiger drinks water in a cage upon arrival at O.R Tambo international airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Laziz is one of the 15 animals who were removed and rescued by an international charity from the Gaza Strip's main zoo, dubbed "the worst in the world." (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Airport cargo workers and photographers catch a glimpse of a tiger named Laziz, upon its arrival at O.R Tambo international airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Laziz, is one of the 15 animals were removed and rescued by an international charity from the Gaza Strip's main zoo, dubbed "the worst in the world." (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Laziz the tiger drinks water in a cage as workers and photographer catch a glimpse, upon arrival at O.R Tambo international airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Laziz is one of the 15 animals who were removed and rescued by an international charity from the Gaza Strip's main zoo, dubbed "the worst in the world." (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Egyptian lawyer in solitary confinement for defying el-Sissi

CAIRO (AP)  From the day he was imprisoned more than 100 days ago, Egyptian rights lawyer Malek Adly has been locked in solitary confinement with almost no communication with the outside world, sleeping on a bare floor in conditions his lawyers say amount to torture.

Adly has not been formally charged with a crime, but remains incarcerated on a rolling series of administrative detention orders. His supporters say Adly has been targeted by authorities after he essentially insulted President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in a televised interview.

"What is happening in reality is an attempt to compel him to take his own life," said friend and fellow rights lawyer Tarek Khater. "This is psychological torture."

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 22, 2016 file photo, Egyptian lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali points to photos of jailed activists, who were arrested during protests over two disputed Red Sea islands, including Egyptian rights lawyer Malek Adly, top row third right, during a press conference, in Cairo, Egypt. An Egyptian court has ordered on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 the release of the prominent rights lawyer held in solitary confinement for the past three months after he challenged in court a decision by the country's president to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

On Thursday, a court ordered Adly's release, ruling on an appeal by his lawyers over his detention. But prosecutors immediately appealed the ruling. He remains in custody until the court makes a final decision, expected Saturday. One of Adly's lawyers, Mahmoud Belal, said the prosecutors' appeal of an appeal decision "twists the arm of justice" and shows how determined they are to keep him jailed.

The 35-year-old Adly was among a group of lawyers who raised a court case against el-Sissi's decision in April to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The lawyers argued that the islands were historically Egypt's, while the government says it determined they had always been Saudi territory that was only temporarily placed under Egyptian protection.

About two months after Adly was imprisoned, an Egyptian court backed his legal suit with a June 21 ruling ordering the island transfer canceled. The government has appealed.

According to the state investigators, Adly is suspected of participating in meetings with Islamists to overthrow the regime and spread false information that the islands were essentially sold off in exchange for Saudi financial support.

The decision to hand over the islands sparked a wave of protests that were met with hundreds of arrests. El-Sissi has publicly shown a high sensitivity over the issue, repeatedly saying that all discussion of the topic must stop. In April, Adly appeared on a TV talk show with documents he said showed Egypt's sovereignty and said, "The person who gives up an inch of Egyptian soil is a traitor"  a comment seen as an implicit insult of el-Sissi.

Khater said he believes that media appearance made Adly a target of authorities. "From that night, in my opinion, a decision has been taken to plot something against him," he said.

Supporters call his detention part of ongoing government efforts to suppress dissent. All unauthorized demonstrations have been criminalized, leading to mass arrests of protesters; a string of politicians, journalists, and human rights activists have been banned from travel; TV talk shows challenging the government line have been taken off the air.

The government has argued that measures like the protest ban are needed to bring stability to a country shaken by turmoil since 2011.

Adly was arrested on May 5, when security forces stormed his home.

He has been in solitary confinement ever since. Every 15 days, he is led out in a prison truck to prosecutors who renew his detention for another 15 days.

In the meantime, Adly has remained in a 2 by 3-meter cell in Torah prison, an overcrowded facility on Cairo's southern edge.

During an appearance before prosecutors in July, Adly pleaded for his conditions to be improved, said Khater, who attended the session.

"I don't want to be released but only to have a proper prisoner treatment, to have the right to breathe, an hour to see the sun light and a chance to move my legs," Adly said, according to Khater.

"This was painful to me, seeing that his utmost aspiration is to take a walk," Khater said.

Adly has only been allowed a few family visits, according to his wife, Asmaa Aly, and her requests to bring him a mattress or a thicker blanket have been rejected. Whenever she asked the reasons for his solitary confinement, prison authorities refer to "orders from above," she told the AP.

A security official at the Ministry of Interior's prisons department told the AP that prison administrators generally place inmates in solitary for repeated rules violations or if they are considered dangerous. He said that he did not know the reasons behind Adly's confinement. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

Similar treatment has been applied to other political detainees. One young activist, Ahmed Douma, an iconic figure from the 2011 uprising, was sentenced to 25 years for his alleged role in anti-government protests later that year. According to his lawyers, Douma has been kept in solitary confinement for the past two years, after being convicted of rioting and assaulting policemen.

Adly has been a longtime champion of civil rights, often representing detainees who died in police custody.

In a letter to his friends from prison, Adly rejoiced over the court ruling rejecting the islands' handover, writing "We know we will pay a heavy price for every word and position against injustice. "
Leader of British movement to leave EU joins Trump at rally

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Republican nominee Donald Trump is linking his "movement to take back the country" to Britain's surprising vote to leave the European Union.

The architect of the withdrawal campaign, known as Brexit, joined the GOP presidential nominee on stage during a rally late Wednesday in Jackson, Mississippi.

"If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me," said Nigel Farage, the outgoing leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party.

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)

"You have a fantastic opportunity here," he told members of the audience. "You can go out, you can beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, you can beat Washington, and you'll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain.'"

Only moments before, Farage had denounced President Barack Obama for urging the British, before the June 23 referendum, to reaffirm their commitment to the European Union, and said he would not try to influence the American election.

Farage helped propel his party from the political fringe to power broker. Over the past few years, it has won over large numbers of voters from other parties by appealing to concerns about globalization and large-scale immigration.

Farage, who had pushed for the June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union, stepped down as party leader shortly after his side won.

He was the subject of controversy in the hours after the vote, when he stepped back one of the key "leave" pledges that Britain should use the 350 million pounds a week it sends to the EU to fund the National Health Service instead. Asked if he could guarantee that 350 million pounds a week would go to health care, Farage answered: "No, I can't."

Trump said Farage's appearance was an honor and that "the nation's working people will take control again."

The billionaire businessman noted the leave side trailed in opinion polls heading into the referendum, and Farage suggested that U.S. voters who might be keeping their personal views silent on the White House race will flock to Trump and propel him to victory.

Trump did support the leave moment, but only in the final days before the vote, after acknowledging earlier that he didn't know much about the referendum.

"I was very supportive of their right to do it and take control of their own future like exactly what we're going to be voting for on Nov. 8. November is our chance to redeclare American independence," he said at the rally.

Farage predicted that Trump's campaign would "smash the establishment," prompting polite applause from rally-goers.

Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the British UKIP party, arrives onstage to speak at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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)
Brazilian senators blast each other as Rousseff trial starts

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazil's Senate on Thursday began deliberating whether to permanently remove President Dilma Rousseff from office, the final step in a leadership fight that has paralyzed Congress and cast a pall over a nation in the midst of a severe recession.

Brazil's first female president is accused of illegally shifting money between government budgets to mask yawning deficits. Detractors say she did that to shore up support and argue those maneuvers exacerbated the recession in Latin America's largest economy.

Rousseff denies wrongdoing and says her enemies, including the country's elites, who have fumed about the lock her Workers' Party has had on power for 13 years, are conducting a "coup."

Brazil's Senate begins deliberating whether to permanently remove suspended President Dilma Rousseff from office, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The impeachment trial is the final step in a leadership fight that has paralyzed Congress and cast a pall over a nation in the midst of a severe recession. Brazil's first female president is accused of illegally shifting money between government budgets to mask yawning deficits. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Senators are now embarking "on their most somber duties," said Ricardo Lewandowski, the chief justice of the country's highest court who is overseeing the trial. "To judge the president, (senators) must act with the utmost impartiality and objectivity, considering only the facts they are presented and the laws."

The impeachment push started late last year when Eduardo Cunha, then the speaker of the lower House of Deputies and a long-time Rousseff nemesis, introduced the measure. In April, his chamber overwhelmingly passed it. Then in May, the Senate voted 55-22 to impeach and suspend Rousseff for up to 180 days.

Vice President Michel Temer, Rousseff's one-time ally who turned nemesis, took over. If the Senate votes to permanently remove Rousseff, Temer will serve the rest of her term, which goes through 2018.

Several days of testimony, including an address by Rousseff on Monday, will wrap up in a final vote next week.

Lewandowski on Thursday rejected several attempts by Rousseff's lawyers to suspend or annul the process.

Opposition senators accused Rousseff supporters of employing chicanery to delay the process.

"I want to protest the use of the word 'chicanery,'" said Rousseff lawyer Jose Eduardo Cardozo. "At no point has the defense used any techniques to procrastinate."

Lewandowski did accept one of the defense's requests: to prohibit testimony from a prosecutor who wrote a key report about Rousseff's alleged transgressions.

The defense argued, and Lewandowski agreed, that Julio Marcelo de Oliveira had shown bias against Rousseff by encouraging people on social media to rally against her and even attending anti-Rousseff protests.

Senators wasted no time in getting in their licks, even on a day largely dedicated to procedural matters.

"Up until now, all we have seen are excuses by the defense of President Dilma," said Sen. Casio Cunha Lima from the opposition Brazilian Social Democratic Party, who added that the slow process was "bleeding the country."

Sen. Gleisi Hoffmann, a member of Rousseff's Workers' Party, had a different take.

"I never thought I was going to be elected senator to judge, in a questionable trial, the first woman elected president of the country," said Hoffman. "It's very sad for me."

Like many in the Senate and the lower chamber, Hoffman is being investigated for corruption. In her case, investigators are looking at whether she used embezzled funds from Petrobras as campaign contributions.

"No one here has the right to judge anybody," she said. "What moral standing does the Senate have to judge the president of the republic?"

_____

Peter Prengaman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peterprengaman

Mauricio Savarese on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MSavarese

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff smiles during a rally in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Brazils Senate braces for a final showdown in a trial that could overthrow President Rousseff after months of lengthy proceedings in Congress. She is accused of breaking fiscal laws, in managing the federal budget as her government ran out of resources. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski speaks during the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Senators are now embarking "on their most somber duties," said Lewandowski, who is overseeing the trial. "To judge the president, (senators) must act with the utmost impartiality and objectivity, considering only the facts they are presented and the laws." Pictured in the background is Senate leader Renan Calheiros. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Guyana president open to easing enforcement of marijuana ban

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP)  The president of Guyana says he is open to easing a ban on the personal use of marijuana in the South American country.

President David Granger said during his weekly TV appearance Thursday that his Cabinet will soon be reviewing marijuana regulation as part of a broader effort to reduce prison overcrowding.

Granger said the government is not in favor of decriminalization. But the president said personal use of the drug "would be given consideration" with a proposal to eliminate jail time for possession of less than 15 grams of the drug. The Cabinet is awaiting a report from the Health Ministry before taking up the matter.
Image of Asia: Speaking to Taiwan's troops at military drill

In this photo by Chiang Ying-ying, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech at a military exercise in southern Taiwan. She and other observers wore flak jackets and helmets as Taiwanese forces carried out a live-fire demonstration that simulated an attempt by Chinese forces to land on the island. The president said the participating soldiers showed their determination to protect the nation and she and they would put all their efforts into fulfilling that task together.
Accidental overdoses killed 8 people a day in Ohio last year

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Accidental drug overdoses killed 3,050 people in Ohio last year, an average of eight per day, as deaths blamed on the powerful painkiller fentanyl again rose sharply and pushed the total overdose fatalities to a record high, the state reported Thursday.

Over one-third of those deaths  1,155  were fentanyl-related, which more than doubled from the previous year and increased from just 75 in 2012.

Authorities who had been targeting prescription painkiller abuse say the problem has changed quickly in recent years as users turned to heroin, fentanyl and even stronger drugs.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative opening summit, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. Accidental drug overdoses killed 3,050 people in Ohio last year, an average of eight per day, as deaths blamed on the powerful painkiller fentanyl again rose sharply and pushed the total overdose fatalities to a record high, the state reported Thursday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

It's an epidemic that can only be effectively addressed through cooperation and a combination of prevention, early intervention, up-to-date treatment, and life-saving measures such as the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, said Dr. Mark Hurst, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' medical director.

"This isn't an issue that, as state departments and agencies, we're going to be able to solve unilaterally," Hurst said. "It requires communities, it requires families, it requires individuals, it requires schools. If we're really going to make good progress and sustain progress on this, we need all hands on deck."

Republican Gov. John Kasich said he believes the state is making progress, despite the latest record death toll.

"It makes me feel terrible, but what makes me feel good is how many people did not die because of our efforts," he said Thursday at a special judicial summit on opioids in Cincinnati involving authorities from nine states.

He said stepped-up prescription monitoring and new guidance for prescribers helped sharply reduce opioid doses dispensed in the state, and said Ohio has other action in the works to curb prescription drug misuse.

He also wants more discussion about the dangers of drugs to reach children throughout their school years. The previous generation grew up accustomed to relatively easy access to prescription painkillers, which has fueled the overdose epidemic, the governor said.

"These are battles that we need to win so that we can wage a more effective war," Kasich said.

Ohio has been among the states hardest hit by the overdose epidemic. Fentanyl overdose deaths spiked so quickly last year that scientists with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention visited the state to study the problem.

States release overdose data at various times, and Ohio's overall rank nationally wasn't yet available.

A record 47,055 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2014, according to the latest figures from the CDC. The number was up 7 percent from 2013, spurred by large increases in heroin and opioid painkiller deaths.

Officials express hope of making headway, citing progress in expanding access to life-saving naloxone and curbing prescription opiate abuse.

Ohio emergency medical personnel last year administered nearly 19,800 doses of naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan. Naloxone can be dispensed by pharmacists without a prescription under changes made in 2015, and more than 900 pharmacies around the state now offer that.

Meanwhile, guidance issued for prescribers helped reduce the number of opioid doses given to patients last year by 81 million compared with 2011 figures, decreasing the leftover drugs that might be available for abuse, according to the state report.

State officials said their strategies to tackle the problem during the next year include working with lawmakers to stiffen penalties for illicit fentanyl sales and to make it easier to establish opiate treatment programs.

They are also expanding a public awareness campaign and an addiction treatment program made available through drug courts.

Other plans will support local drug task forces and step up drug-seizure efforts. In addition, the state is integrating an automated prescription reporting system into more electronic medical records and pharmacy dispensing systems to cut down on doctor shopping by addicts.

Many of the responses aren't drug-specific, meaning they could still be useful however the problem evolves next, said Dr. Mary DiOrio, the state medical director.

"We're really going to be agile enough that we can address things that come up," she said.

___

Sewell reported from Cincinnati.

FILE  In this Feb. 11, 2016, file photo, Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court speaks during a forum sponsored by The Associated Press in Columbus, Ohio. Seeking to coordinate efforts to battle drug abuse in some of the hardest-hit U.S. states, state Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking officials were meeting in Cincinnati from Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 24 to 26, 2016, during a private conference opened by O'Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Andrew Welsh-Huggins, File)

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative opening summit, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. Accidental drug overdoses killed 3,050 people in Ohio last year, an average of eight per day, as deaths blamed on the powerful painkiller fentanyl again rose sharply and pushed the total overdose fatalities to a record high, the state reported Thursday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative opening summit, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. Accidental drug overdoses killed 3,050 people in Ohio last year, an average of eight per day, as deaths blamed on the powerful painkiller fentanyl again rose sharply and pushed the total overdose fatalities to a record high, the state reported Thursday. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The Latest: Trump says 'nobody even knows' what alt-right is

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):

9:10 p.m.

Republican Donald Trump is continuing to push back on allegations from rival Hillary Clinton that his candidacy has courted the "alt-right" movement.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives at a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College, in Reno, Nev., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Trump insists: "Nobody even knows what it is. And she didn't know what it was."

He says, "There's no alt-right or alt-left. All I'm embracing is common sense."

Trump's new campaign CEO, Stephen Bannon, had previously said that the news site he oversaw, Breitbart News, was "the platform for the alt-right."

Trump says, "I don't know what Steve said," adding, "We're bringing love."

__

9 p.m.

Donald Trump says he doesn't support legalizing the estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally  unless they leave the U.S. first.

The Republican presidential candidate has suggested recently he might be open to allowing those who have not broken other laws to remain in the country. But Trump tells CNN's Anderson Cooper that under his plan, "There is no path to legalization unless people leave the country" and then return.

Trump says he plans to deport the "bad dudes" if he's elected, adding, "After, that we're going to see what happens."

Still, he says, "It's a process. You can't take 11 at one time and say, boom, you're gone."

He says he expects to deliver a speech within a week providing more detail.

___

5:30 p.m.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine says GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's shifting positions on immigration can't be trusted.

Speaking during a Thursday afternoon taping of CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Kaine attacked Trump for wavering on whether immigrants here illegally must be deported.

"I don't buy it," Kaine said, before saying in Spanish that Trump is always fighting against the Latino community.

Trump has previously promised to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the United States illegally. In recent days, he's suggested he might be open to allowing them to stay.

A former missionary in Honduras, Kaine frequently peppers his campaign appearances with remarks in Spanish.

___

4:50 p.m.

Donald Trump is accusing rival Hillary Clinton of "using race-baiting" to lure black voters and "pandering to the worst instincts in our society" with a speech in which she accused the Republican presidential candidate of stirring up racial divisions.

Minutes after Clinton's speech ended, Trump tweeted that Clinton should be ashamed of herself. Without specifying what he was referring to, he tweeted that her speech contained lies and added, "She is the only one fear-mongering!"

He also tweeted Thursday that blacks know that Clinton "is all talk and NO ACTION!"

Clinton used her speech to link Trump to the "alt-right" movement, which is often associated with far right efforts to preserve "white identity." The Democrat spoke in Reno, Nevada.

___

3:55 p.m.

A spokeswoman says Chelsea Clinton will remain on the board of directors of her family's foundation.

Chelsea Clinton is the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee who has come under criticism for meeting with some of the foundation's donors when she was secretary of state.

The former president announced last week that if his wife were elected president, he would step down from the foundation's board and the organization would no longer accept foreign and corporate donations. But the continued role of Chelsea Clinton on the board and the foundation directing corporate and foreign money to its global health care project could create exceptions to those plans.

___

3:50 p.m.

Hillary Clinton says voters should not be "fooled" by Republican rival Donald Trump's efforts to rebrand his campaign.

She says Trump is the first nominee of a major party to stoke and encourage racial hate. The country, she's arguing, is at a "moment of reckoning" where voters and public figures must stand up and denounce prejudice and paranoia.

Trump's real message, she says, is "make America hate again."

Clinton was delivering a speech Thursday highlighting Trump's support within the "alt-right" movement, which is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity."

She says: "No one should have any illusions about what's really going on here."

___

3:40 p.m.

Hillary Clinton is pushing back on unfounded accusations from Donald Trump and others that she suffers from poor health.

She says: "His latest paranoid fever dream is about my health. All I can say is, Donald, dream on."

The Democratic presidential nominee says Trump's questions about her health are an outgrowth of treating "the National Enquirer like Gospel."

She was speaking in Reno, Nevada.

Trump, the Republican nominee, and his allies have said that unspecified maladies leave Clinton unfit to assume the presidency.

___

3:35 p.m.

Hillary Clinton says rival Donald Trump is spreading hateful messages online by retweeting white supremacists and anti-Sematic tweets and images to his millions of Twitter followers.

She says: There's been a steady stream of bigotry from him."

Clinton is citing a series of hateful remarks posted by Trump's account.

She's also accusing the Republican nominee of "pushing discredited conspiracy theories with racist undertones" including suggesting that GOP primary candidate Ted Cruz's father was involved in the Kennedy assassination.

Clinton is delivering a speech Thursday in Reno, Nevada, highlighting Trump's support within the "alt-right" movement, which is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity."

She's making the case that Trump's flirtation with conspiracy theories leaves him "detached from reality" and unqualified to be commander-in-chief.

___

3:10 p.m.

Donald Trump is defending his supporters against a litany of charges that have been leveled against them because they support his candidacy.

The Republican presidential candidate says that, "People who want their laws enforced and respected, and who want their border secured, are not racists."

And he says that, "People who speak out against radical Islam, and who warn about refugees, are not Islamophobes."

Trump is painting his supporters as "decent American citizens" ahead of a speech by rival Hillary Clinton that will highlight his support among far-right groups, including many white nationalists and supremacists.

Trump was speaking at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

___

3:05 p.m.

A Clinton spokeswoman says that Chelsea Clinton will stay on the board of the Clinton Foundation.

She is the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

The former president announced last week that the Clinton Foundation would no longer accept foreign and corporate donations and said he would step down from the board if Hillary Clinton is elected president.

It comes as a health project connected to the foundation is exploring a range of changes but may continue to accept foreign government and corporate funding.

But the continued role of Chelsea Clinton on the board and corporate and foreign money into the health project could create exceptions to those plans.

___

2:55 p.m.

Hillary Clinton is warning that the Republican Party is being taken over by "a radical fringe," motivated by "prejudice and paranoia."

Clinton's comments, released as excerpts ahead of her speech in Reno, Nevada Thursday, targeted Donald Trump. She said he "built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," which is "taking hate groups mainstream."

Clinton also said that Trump's "disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous."

The Democratic nominee has been painting her opponent as fearmongering and racist as he works to win over minority voters. Trump has struggled to win over Hispanic and black voters.

At a rally earlier in the day, Trump said Clinton's speech is aimed at distracting from questions about her family foundation and use of private emails.

__

2:50 p.m.

Donald Trump is accusing rival Hillary Clinton of "trying to smear" him and his supporters with a speech that will try to link him with hate.

Clinton is delivering a speech Thursday highlighting Trump's support within the "alt-right" movement, which is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity."

Trump says that Clinton is trying to accuse all of his millions of supporters, including those attending the New Hampshire rally where he is speaking, "of being racists, which we're not."

He says, "It's the oldest play in the Democratic playbook."

He said her speech is aimed at distracting from questions about her family foundation and private emails use.

He calls it "one of the most brazen attempts at distraction in the history of politics."

___

2:40 p.m.

Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on Hillary Clinton, accusing her of running "a vast criminal enterprise run out of the State Department."

There is no evidence of any such thing.

But Trump, who is trailing in the polls, says that revelations that many donors to the Clinton family foundation met with as secretary of state represents "one of the most shocking scandals in American political history."

"It's Watergate all over again," he claims.

Trump is speaking at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

___

1 p.m.

Hillary Clinton's campaign has released an online video that compiles footage of white supremacist leaders praising Donald Trump.

The video comes ahead of a Clinton speech Thursday that will seek to attach Trump to the so-called "alt-right" movement that is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity."

Trump has been criticized for failing to immediately denounce the support that he's garnered from white nationalists and supremacist, including former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

Trump's campaign responded with a strongly worded statement from a prominent black supporter, Pastor Mark Burns, who says Clinton and her campaign "went to a disgusting new low" with the video tying the Trump Campaign to "horrific racial images."

He called on Clinton to disavow the video.

___

11:20 a.m.

Donald Trump is promising to unveil his new immigration policy over "the next week or two."

Trump had originally aimed to give his speech Thursday in Colorado but it was postponed and a makeup date has yet to be announced. Trump, in recent days, has signaled that he is backing away from one of his signature immigration policies, mass deportations of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

But Trump, speaking Thursday at a meeting with minority Republicans at Trump Tower, emphasized that he's still "very strong on illegal immigration." He said "we have to be, we have no choice."

"We either have our country or we don't. We either have borders or we don't," he said, stressing that he plans to build a stronger border wall with Mexico.

___

11:05 a.m.

Top Indiana officials have visited a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Kokomo.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly walked around one neighborhood Thursday morning, speaking with some residents whose homes were destroyed or damaged by Wednesday's storm.

Many trees were knocked down in the neighborhood and a large truck was also knocked onto its side, but other houses are largely undamaged.

Pence arrived in Kokomo by helicopter and is viewing storm damage in the area and in other parts of central Indiana hit by the storms.

Pence returned to Indiana after campaign stops in North Carolina on Wednesday as Donald Trump's running mate and called off a campaign trip planned Thursday.

___

10:45 a.m.

Donald Trump is meeting with participants in a new Republican Party initiative meant to train young  and largely minority  campaign volunteers.

More than a dozen members of the Republican Leadership Institute were meeting with Trump Thursday morning at Trump Tower in New York City.

The meeting comes as Trump tries to increase his outreach to black and Latino voters, saying his economic policies would help minorities.

Trump said: "We have great relationships with the African-American community."

He claimed that Democrats have been "very disrespectful" toward minorities and taken their support for granted. Polls show minorities overwhelmingly favor Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Ben Carson, a Trump ally, and Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee's communications director, were among the other prominent Republicans present.

___

9:20 a.m.

Donald Trump's campaign manager is contrasting the Republican presidential nominee's immigration stance with that of former primary rival Marco Rubio. Kellyanne Conway says that Trump "is not for amnesty."

Trump took a tougher stance on immigration than Rubio did during the Republican primary campaign. On CNN Thursday, Conway rejected a suggestion that Trump is now adopting a position similar to that of Rubio and other primary rivals.

She described Rubio as a leader of the bipartisan Senate "Gang of Eight" that favored a pathway to citizenship for some immigrants now in the country illegally.

She said: "Their plan was amnesty."

Rubio has offered lukewarm support for Trump as he seeks reelection to his Senate seat from Florida.

___

3:45 a.m.

It's a conspiracy: The 2016 campaign features one candidate who warned against the "vast right-wing conspiracy" and another who was a leader of the so-called "birther" movement.

Donald Trump and his surrogates hint at a mysterious "illness" afflicting rival Hillary Clinton. She's warning of murky ties between Trump and the Russian government, suggesting that her Republican opponent may be a puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rumors and innuendo which have been long confined to the far reaches of the Internet are dominating the presidential race.

Clinton plans to speak in Reno, Nevada, on Thursday in an address that will accuse Trump of supporting an "alt-right" campaign that presents "a divisive and dystopian view of America."

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, seated next to Dr. Ben Carson, holds a roundtable meeting with the Republican Leadership Initiative in his offices at Trump Tower in New York, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The Latest: UN seeks improvements in Greek refugee camps

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  The Latest on Europe's migration crisis (all times local):

6:15 p.m.

The United Nations refugee chief is urging Greece to improve shelter quality, sanitation and security in some of its refugee camps.

Two women sit on a dock of a refugee camp which houses about 3,200 refugees and migrants, in the western Athens' suburb of Skaramagas, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi says camp conditions pose severe security risks to their most vulnerable residents, particularly women and children. He says European Union countries should speed up their promised intake of many of the nearly 60,000 people stuck in Greece since the country's northern neighbor, Macedonia, closed its border to migrants in March.

Grandi said Thursday that some camps needed better shelters, sanitation and policing.

He was speaking at an Athens press conference after visiting camps and meeting government officials.

___

3:50 p.m.

Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's borders with Macedonia and Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union.

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic and Hungarian counterpart Sandor Pinter discussed the idea in a meeting Thursday held near the border where hundreds of migrants are camping awaiting entry into EU-member Hungary.

Stefanovic says an increase in migrant arrivals is likely in the autumn when worsening weather will avert many from a more perilous crossing over the Mediterranean Sea.

Serbia has already beefed up its army and police troops at the borders with Bulgaria and Macedonia where migrants have been crossing illegally in a bid to reach Hungary and other EU nations.

___

3:40 p.m.

A former manager of a home for asylum-seekers in Germany has been charged with raping a Syrian woman.

Johannes Kamp, a spokesman for the state court in the western town of Arnsberg, said Thursday that the 50-year-old Dutch citizen has been in custody since mid-June. He said an indictment has now been filed against the man, who is a resident in Germany, but it's not clear when the case will go to trial.

The man met the 22-year-old woman while running the shelter in the small town of Finnentrop, and she allegedly moved in with him. He is accused of sexually assaulting and raping her in his apartment.

Prosecutors say that the man denies the charges and says the sex was consensual, the regional Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung daily reported.

___

11:10 a.m.

Serbian police say they have arrested a man after finding 34 migrants in his house in a Belgrade suburb.

Police said Thursday that the man is suspected of people smuggling for allegedly hiding the migrants in the house.

Serbia has stepped up efforts to curb the entry of migrants passing through in a bid to reach the European Union. Balkan nations closed their borders for migrants fleeing war and poverty in March, but the flow has continued through illegal routes used by people smugglers.

Hundreds of migrants have been camping along Serbia's border with EU-member Hungary, which allows about 30 people into the country per day.

More than 1 million migrants entered Europe in 2015.

Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) speaks during a news conference in Athens, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

People sit outside their container houses at a refugee camp which houses about 3,200 refugees and migrants, in the western Athens' suburb of Skaramagas, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

An Iraqi man plays with his daughter at a refugee camp which houses about 3,200 refugees and migrants, in the western Athens' suburb of Skaramagas, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A migrant child eats at a makeshift camp for migrants in Horgos, Serbia, meters away from Serbia's border with Hungary, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's border with Macedonia or Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People walk at a refugee camp which houses about 3,200 refugees and migrants, in the western Athens' suburb of Skaramagas, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A migrant child stands surrounded by tents at a makeshift camp for migrants in Horgos, Serbia, meters away from the Serbia's border with Hungary, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's border with Macedonia or Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Children carry water at a makeshift camp for migrants in Horgos, Serbia, meters away from the Serbia's border with Hungary, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's border with Macedonia or Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A policeman stands as Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter, left, and his Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Stefanovic, right, attend a press conference in Hajdukovo, Serbia, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's border with Macedonia or Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A migrant child rests at a makeshift camp for migrants in Horgos, Serbia, meters away from the Serbia's border with Hungary, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's border with Macedonia or Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Children play at a makeshift camp for migrants in Horgos, Serbia, meters away from Serbia's border with Hungary, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Officials say Hungary's police could join the Serbian troops patrolling the Balkan country's border with Macedonia or Bulgaria to help curb the influx of migrants trying to reach the European Union. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), speaks during a news conference in Athens, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees, assisted by the U.N. refugee agency, are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A man sleeps outside his tent at a refugee camp which houses about 3,200 refugees and migrants, in the western Athens' suburb of Skaramagas, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Numbers arriving in Greece have dropped dramatically since the March agreement with Turkey, but over 58,000 people remain stranded in the country, most in army-built camps on the mainland and over 9,000 refugees are receiving hotel vouchers or live in vacant apartments. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Facabook Inc., Alphabet Inc.s Google and Twitter Inc. are deliberately shirking responsibility in the fight against Islamic State and other terrorist groups, an influential committee of British lawmakers said in a report to be published Thursday, reigniting a war of words over the role social media plays in radicalization, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion-dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle 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, said lawmaker Keith Vaz, a member of the opposition Labour Party, who heads the committee.

A wave of terrorist attacks in Europe and the U.S. has hardened the long-running debate between technology companies, who want to protect free speech and the privacy of their customers, and governments, who say they need more access to information to thwart plots. On Tuesday, France and Germany urged the European Union to propose rules that would compel operators of internet-messaging services to help authorities decrypt private communications on popular platforms, such as Facebooks WhatsApp and Apple Inc.s iMessage.

The report by the U.K. Parliaments Home Affairs Committee, a cross-party panel of lawmakers that oversees the Interior Ministry, is the latest British broadside fired at Silicon Valley. Last year, the countrys top counterterrorism cop accused recalcitrant social-media firms of scuttling investigations by alerting suspects that detectives were after their communications data.

The three companies, in representations to the committee earlier this year, denied they are lax and said they cooperate with law enforcement to remove extremist content. Last week, Twitter said it had suspended 360,000 terrorist-related accounts since the middle of 2015. A spokesman declined additional comment.

Googles YouTube said it encourages users to flag content and other users who promote terrorism so it can remove them. Google removed more than 14 million videos in 2014, according to the panels report. We take our role in combating the spread of extremist material very seriously, YouTube said in a statement.

Simon Milner, Facebook U.K.s director of policy, said in a statement that terrorists and the support of terrorist activity are not allowed on Facebook and we deal swiftly and robustly with reports of terrorism-related content.

YouTube and Facebook said they also sponsor so-called counterspeech, encouraging users to create messages condemning violence and extremism and supporting voices of moderation.

After gathering a year of testimony from witnesses including senior police officers and intelligence officials as well as industry representatives, the committee concluded in its report that popular social-media platforms had become the vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda and the recruiting platforms for terrorism.

They must accept that the hundreds of millions in revenues generated from billions of people using their products needs to be accompanied by a greater sense of responsibility and ownership for the impact that extremist material on their sites is having, said the report.

Some terrorism experts took issue with the committees findings.

Blaming Facebook, Google or Twitter for this phenomenon is quite simplistic, Id even say misleading, said Peter Neumann, director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization at Kings College London.

Our research has shown that the vast majority of ISIS recruits that have gone to Syria from Britain and other European countries were recruited mainly via peer-to-peer interaction, not through the internet alone, said Mr. Neumann.

While the committee has no formal powers to compel the government to act, its high-profile role can shape political debate. Nearly 1,000 British jihadists have traveled to the Middle East to fight alongside Islamic State militants, whose rise has in turn electrified local extremists, some of whom have plotted attacks at home.

British security officials have said they have foiled a number of terrorist plots. Terrorism-related arrests last year were 35% higher than the number in 2010, the report said. The U.K.s terrorism threat level has stayed at its second-highest rung since late 2014, an unprecedented length of time.
Yosemite, and President Obama, head into virtual reality

NEW YORK (AP)  In a new project with National Geographic, Barack Obama becomes the first sitting U.S. president to project himself into virtual reality  in this case, a 360-degree representation of Yosemite National Park.

The 11-minute VR video , narrated by Obama, is one part paean to the wonders of America's national parks and one part warning of the threat posed by climate change. It's also a testament to how powerful VR can be when done right.

National Geographic joined Facebook's Oculus Studios and VR specialists Felix & Paul Studios to produce the free video, which came out Thursday to mark the centennial of the National Park Service . It's available on Samsung's Gear VR headset and through Facebook's 360-degree video service. It's coming soon to the Oculus Rift headset.

National Geographic has also launched a project using virtual reality, with the help of the US President Barack Obama. President Obama has become the first sitting U.S. president to project himself into virtual reality  in this case, a 360-degree representation of Yosemite National Park

THE MESSAGE

Although the video advocates visitation and preservation, the experience is mostly an opportunity to marvel at Yosemite's natural wonders, from the giant El Capitan rock formation that opens the video to the tall sequoia trees filling Mariposa Grove and the Merced River rushing through Yosemite Valley. You can almost touch the surrounding tall grass; later in the video, it feels as though you're floating in a real canoe.

Crews captured Obama's June visit to the California park with his family. In the video, Obama addresses an audience on climate change, with the 2,424-foot-tall Yosemite Falls as a backdrop. In a more intimate setting, surrounded by trees, Obama speaks with Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher on the importance of exposing kids to national parks . The video concludes with Obama urging viewers in a voice-over to take action on the environment in light of threats such as wildfires and melting glaciers.

"We hope people emotionally connect to this story, to these environments, and we hope that it elicits within them a desire to visit national parks," said Felix Lajeunesse, the "Felix" in Felix & Paul. ("Paul" is his partner, Paul Raphael.)

COMING TOGETHER

The Felix & Paul team recorded former President Bill Clinton's journeys to Africa in VR last year, but a sitting U.S. president had yet to appear in VR. After all, VR didn't exist beyond labs and small gaming circles before Obama took office.

Oculus was looking for ways to extend VR beyond games and approached the White House to explore an opportunity that wouldn't feel gimmicky, said Colum Slevin, head of experiences for Oculus VR. The White House, in turn, suggested pairing with National Geographic, which was already developing tie-ins to the park service centennial.

Although National Geographic has produced 360-degree video before, this is its first project in full VR, with more immersive, 3-D imagery intended for viewing through special headsets.

"This is the next frontier," said Rajiv Mody, National Geographic's vice president for social media. The VR technology, he said, can take people "to experiences they aren't able to necessarily experience on their own."

Nonetheless, the video could be a hard sell, warned Joel Espelien, an analyst with Diffusion Group, which tracks emerging video formats and services. He said many VR viewers are younger and male  not the same audience that would watch a nature show on PBS.

And while the video isn't overtly political, Obama's appearance in an election year could make it seem so, he said. The VR video isn't a traditional documentary, as the producers and the White House worked on the script together.

FEELING INTIMATE

At this juncture, many VR projects feel experimental , as if their producers mainly wanted to play with new filmmaking techniques or showcase the technology's potential. This Yosemite video, though, feels much more like a short nature movie that just happens to be viewable in a 360-degree surroundscape. (It does, of course, also deliver a promotional punch for the park system.)

For instance, the Yosemite project managed to avoid a common VR pitfall that can render landscape shots remote and distant because 360-degree cameras lack zoom. Lajeunesse said the team made sure to juxtapose distant iconic landmarks with nearby grass, trees and other tangible objects, lending perspective to the shot.

Producers also kept the cameras at a constant vantage point from scene to scene  low, at roughly sitting height  based on the assumption that most people would be watching this video sitting down, Raphael said.

But visuals alone aren't enough. "The emotional connection, a lot of that comes from having the voice of the president being there with you on this journey," Lajeunesse said. "It somehow makes those moments in nature feel more personal, feel more intimate."

Without that, he said, "it becomes shots  beautiful, but it's not a story."

___

Online:

Video on Facebook 360: http://bit.ly/2bJFal0

AP photo gallery for park service centennial: http://apne.ws/2blWQoW

The 11-minute VR video , narrated by Obama, is one part paean to the wonders of America's national parks and one part warning of the threat posed by climate change. It's also a testament to how powerful VR can be when done right

FILE - In this Friday, June 17, 2016, file photo, Marine One, foreground, carrying President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama, and a support helicopter are silhouetted against the Half Dome rock formation at sunset as the first family arrives at Yosemite National Park, in Calif. In a new project with National Geographic, Obama becomes the first sitting U.S. president to project himself into virtual reality, in this case, a 360-degree representation of Yosemite National Park. The 11-minute VR video, narrated by Obama, is one part paean to the wonders of Americas national parks and one part warning of the threat posed by climate change. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, file photo, people wear Samsung Gear VR sets during a virtual reality demonstration at CES International in Las Vegas. In a new project with National Geographic, U.S. President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting U.S. president to project himself into virtual reality, in this case, a 360-degree representation of Yosemite National Park. The 11-minute VR video, narrated by Obama, is one part paean to the wonders of Americas national parks and one part warning of the threat posed by climate change. The video is available on the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR headsets and through Facebooks 360-degree video services. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

FILE - In this June 11, 2015, file photo, the new Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is on display following a news conference in San Francisco. In a new project with National Geographic, U.S. President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting U.S. president to project himself into virtual reality, in this case, a 360-degree representation of Yosemite National Park. The 11-minute VR video, narrated by Obama, is one part paean to the wonders of Americas national parks and one part warning of the threat posed by climate change. The video is available on the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR headsets and through Facebooks 360-degree video services. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
Some 30 demonstrators in London protest French burkini ban

LONDON (AP)  Some 30 demonstrators have gathered in London to protest local French bans of the body-covering burkini swimsuit.

The protesters threw a 'wear what you want' beach party outside the French Embassy to make the point that it was unjust to tell women what to wear. The demonstrations came a day after images on social media appeared to show uniformed French police requiring a woman to take off her tunic.

The pictures elicited shock and anger. Among the demonstrators was 40-year-old Jenny Dawkins, a curate at All Saints Church in Peckham.

Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. Writing on the sign reads: 'No to Islamophobia, yes to Burkinis.' (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

She said that whatever the reason behind the ban, it doesn't justify, "men with weapons standing over a woman telling her what not to wear. That's not a sight that any of us should stand for."

An activist protests outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Activists protest outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

An activist protests wears a mask outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. Writing on the sign reads: 'No to Islamophobia, yes to Burkinis.' (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Activists wearing masks protest outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. Writing on the sign reads: 'No to Islamophobia, yes to Burkinis.' (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

An activist protests outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
70 Confederate flags stolen from Georgia cemetery

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  Police near Georgia's coast are investigating a report that 70 Confederate flags were stolen from the graves of soldiers who fought in the American Civil War.

The local Sons of Confederate Veterans traditionally place the flags on Confederate soldiers' graves in Oak Grove Cemetery on Confederate Memorial Day in April, an official holiday in Georgia and other southern states. They were reported missing on Aug. 18.

A local leader of the group, James Carter, said he believes the small replicas of the third official flag of the Confederate States of America were targeted because they include the familiar battle emblem.

"You wouldn't go through any other cemetery removing American flags from graves," Carter told The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/2bCwOKb). "These are men who answered the call of their state," he said, "just like Union soldiers answered the calls of their states."
Walgreens clinics run by SSM to include birth control

ST. LOUIS (AP)  The nonprofit Catholic organization SSM Health will provide birth control pills at the 26 clinics inside St. Louis-area Walgreens stores that it began operating Thursday, an SSM spokesman said.

Four groups, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote letters to SSM and Walgreens on Aug. 18, asking whether the clinics would be restricted by religious doctrine from allowing consultations on birth control and referrals for abortions.

SSM spokesman Jason Merrill said in a phone interview Thursday that the clinics will provide 30-day refills for contraceptive pills previously prescribed by a physician  the same policy carried by the clinics previously run in-house by Walgreens. A website for the clinics shows a long list of services, everything from vaccinations and wellness checkups to treatment for illness and injury, but it makes no reference to birth control.

The new clinics, operated by a nurse practitioner, will be known as the SSM Health Express Clinic at Walgreens. Twenty-two of them are in Missouri, and four are in Illinois.

Lorie Chaiten, director of the women's and reproductive rights project for the ACLU of Illinois, said the decision to provide birth control was encouraging. But Chaiten and others who wrote letters last week still want a meeting with Walgreens and SSM. Amy Chen, staff attorney for the National Health Law Program, said questions remain "about the type of reproductive health care that patients will be receiving."

Walgreens spokeswoman Emily Hartwig-Mekstan said the ACLU and the other groups focused "on services that are not applicable to a retail health care clinic setting, regardless of the provider. We plan to clarify that in our response to ACLU."

Patients are increasingly choosing retail walk-in clinics like those available at more than 400 Walgreens stores, opting for the convenience of weekend and evening services that need no appointment. The consulting firm Accenture says the number of retail clinics will surpass 2,800 by 2017, a 47 percent increase from 2014.

The partnership with outside health systems is part of Walgreens' growth plan, a spokeswoman for the Illinois-based chain said last week.

The agreement with Walgreens is an "important milestone in SSM Health's commitment to improving the health of our community," James Bleicher, regional president of the SSM Health Medical Group, said in a statement.

SSM is based in St. Louis.

Last week's letters to Walgreens and SSM were signed by representatives of ACLU offices in Missouri and Illinois, the National Health Law Program, and MergerWatch, an affiliate of Community Catalyst, which was formed in 1996 to push for reproductive services during mergers of secular and religious hospitals.
The Latest: Central Idaho wildfire expands in remote area

YREKA, Calif. (AP)  The Latest on wildfires burning in the West (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

A 160-square-mile wildfire in central Idaho is continuing to grow to the northwest but fire managers say progress has been made with control lines on the west and northwest perimeters.

In this photo provided by inciweb.nwcg.gov, a plane drops fire retardant near the northwest side of Owyhee Canyon south of Vale, Ore., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The nearly 50-square-mile fire in eastern Oregon near the Idaho state line is now threatening Succor Creek State Park. (inciweb.nwcg.gov via AP)

About 1,800 firefighters are fighting the blaze Thursday that's burning in remote, mountainous country near Lowman. Some low level evacuation notices remain in place in the area. The fire is 38 percent contained.

In eastern Idaho, an 81-square-mile rangeland wildfire burning grass, brush and juniper is spreading to the east and south due to high winds and low humidity.

No evacuations are in place but the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office has contacted some homeowners east of Idaho Falls and asked that they be prepared to go if the fire heads their way.

___

9:15 a.m.

California's newest wildfire has chased hundreds of people from their homes in Siskiyou County near the Oregon border.

Cal Fire says the blaze that broke out Wednesday just north of Yreka has burned about 400 acres of timber and forced the closure of State Route 263.

It's one of 9 major wildfires being fought Thursday by nearly 12,000 firefighters across the state.

A week-old, 50-square-mile blaze north of Santa Barbara is still growing as it feeds on extremely dry fuels in Los Padres National Forest. It's less than half contained.

Campgrounds are shut down in Sequoia National Forest because of a 41-square mile fire in Kern County that's just 15 percent contained after more than a week.

And a 500-acre fire that destroyed two Humboldt County homes since it broke out Monday is just 10 percent surrounded.

___

9:30 a.m.

The South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is expected to remain closed into this weekend because of a fire burning in neighboring Grand Teton National Park.

However, cooler, damper weather has moderated fires burning in Yellowstone, and officials say all events planned this week for the National Park Service centennial are going on without a hitch.

Four fires are burning in Yellowstone. The biggest has burned about 47 square miles, but all major tourist facilities and roads are open and visitors shouldn't notice anything more than some hazy conditions.

In Grand Teton, firefighters are having a tough time trying to douse a fire that has closed the road leading to Yellowstone's South Entrance.

Fire spokeswoman Karen Miranda says the fire remains active and more firefighters are being brought in.

___

7:15 a.m.

Authorities say more than 1,800 homes are threatened by a destructive wildfire that continues to grow on California's central coast.

Cal Fire said Thursday that the blaze has charred more than 68 square miles of dry brush and timber and destroyed 48 homes.

The fire was 39 percent surrounded and at least 2,400 people are under evacuation orders in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.

The popular tourist attraction Hearst Castle remains closed because of its proximity to the flames.

A fire burning for more than a month north of Big Sur grew again to nearly 142 square miles. Hundreds of homes remain threatened by the fire in rugged wilderness coast along Highway 1. The blaze was sparked by an illegal campfire. It remains 60 percent contained.

Members of a firefighting crew work at a fire support helicopter staging area south of a wildfire, 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. (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)

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)

In this photo provided by inciweb.nwcg.gov, a wildfire smolders on the northwest side of Owyhee Canyon south of Vale, Ore., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. The nearly 50-square-mile fire in eastern Oregon near the Idaho state line is now threatening Succor Creek State Park. (inciweb.nwcg.gov via AP)

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)
Auto, technology industries clash over talking cars

WASHINGTON (AP)  Cars that wirelessly talk to each other are finally ready for the road, creating the potential to dramatically reduce traffic deaths, improve the safety of self-driving cars and someday maybe even help solve traffic jams, automakers and government officials say.

But there's a big catch. The cable television and high-tech industries want to take away a large share of the radio airwaves the government dedicated for transportation in 1999, and use it instead for superfast Wi-Fi service. Auto industry officials are fighting to hang on to as much of the spectrum as they can, saying they expect they will ultimately need all of it for the new vehicle-to-vehicle communications, or V2V.

The government and the auto industry have spent more than a decade and more than $1 billion researching and testing V2V technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to propose as early as next month that new cars and trucks come equipped with it. General Motors isn't waiting for the proposal, saying it will include V2V in Cadillac CTS sedans before the end of the year.

FILE - In this July 20, 2015 file photo, a pedestrian crosses in front of a vehicle as part of a demonstration at Mcity on its opening day on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Mich. Automakers say cars that wirelessly talk to each other are finally ready for the road. The cars hold the potential to dramatically reduce traffic deaths, improve the safety of self-driving cars and someday maybe even help solve traffic jams. Government and industry have spent more than a decade and more than $1 billion researching and testing the technology, known as vehicle-to-vehicle communications, or V2V. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

"We're losing 35,000 people every year (to traffic crashes)," said Harry Lightsey, a General Motors lobbyist. "This technology has the power to dramatically reduce that. To me, the ability of somebody to download movies or search the internet or whatever should be secondary to that."

The fight pits two government agencies against each other: the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates spectrum and sympathizes with wireless proponents, and NHTSA, which regulates auto safety and has long made V2V a top priority. The White House, which is currently reviewing NHTSA's proposal to require the technology in new cars, is caught between two of its goals: greater auto safety and faster wireless service.

With V2V, cars and trucks wirelessly transmit their locations, speed, direction and other information ten times per second. That lets cars detect when another vehicle is about to run a red light, is braking hard or is coming around a blind turn in time for the driver or, in the case of self-driving cars, for the vehicle itself to take action to prevent a crash.

V2V's range is up to about 1,000 yards in all directions, even when sight is blocked by buildings or other obstacles. That gives the technology the advantage of being able to detect a potential collision before the driver can see the threat, unlike the sensors and cameras of self-driving cars that sense what's immediately around the vehicle.

In May, a Tesla Model S sedan in "autopilot" mode crashed into the side of a tractor-trailer that was making a left turn, killing the Tesla driver and drawing attention to the limitations of self-driving technology. The accident is still under investigation, but auto industry experts say that if the two vehicles had been equipped with V2V, the crash likely would have been avoided.

The government estimates that V2V could eventually prevent or mitigate more than 80 percent of collisions that don't involve a driver impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Ultimately, self-driving cars also equipped with V2V may be the answer to traffic congestion because they'll be able to synchronize their movements, industry officials say, so that they can merge seamlessly and travel in long, closely packed caravans at higher speeds. That would improve traffic flow and increase highway capacity. Cars will also communicate with traffic signals to make intersections more efficient.

"It's these two technologies converging together that get you to the self-driving utopia that we're all shooting for," said Hilary Cain, Toyota Motor's technology and innovation policy director.

Those who want more of the airwaves for Wi-Fi say that with self-driving cars on the horizon to eliminate human errors, the safety benefits of V2V are less important. They point out that it could be more than 20 years before the full benefits of V2V are realized, because it takes decades for the automotive fleet to be completely replaced.

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel derided V2V as a turn-of-the-century technology at a forum on the matter earlier this year. "For 15 years we haven't substantially deployed a thing in this band with respect to auto safety," she said, calling for more "efficient" use of the spectrum.

As the airwaves grow more congested with traffic such as video chat and streaming, new, unreserved swaths of spectrum are seen as key to creating the "wider pipe" needed to meet demand.

Automakers say they're willing to share the spectrum, but only if it won't cause V2V signals to be dropped or slowed. The safety signals need to transmit 10 times faster than a typical cellphone call and be 100 percent reliable. The FCC plans to test proposals to share the airwaves.

Meanwhile, wireless supporters have petitioned the FCC for an emergency order to put off using V2V in the contested spectrum until cybersecurity standards are developed. Automakers contend that such safeguards already are built in.

___

Follow Joan Lowy at http://twitter.com/AP_Joan_Lowy . Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joan-lowy
Kidnapped Egyptian policeman shot dead in Sinai

El-ARISH, Egypt (AP)  A police driver kidnapped earlier this week was publicly shot dead on Thursday by suspected militants from the local Islamic State affiliate in Sinai, Egyptian security officials said.

They said three masked militants and the policeman arrived at the residential al-Masaeed district of the coastal city of el-Arish in a green pickup truck. The policeman, blindfolded with his arms and legs tied by a robe, was then brought out and shot twice in the head before the militants returned to the car and sped away.

The policeman was kidnapped by militants Tuesday while driving a police car in el-Arish.

Brazenly killing captives by militants in broad daylight is not uncommon in northern Sinai, where the Islamic State group seeks to intimidate residents and deter them from cooperating with authorities. The group has in the past released videos purporting to show the killing of alleged informers.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Militants have been fighting security forces in the Sinai Peninsula for years, but the insurgency grew deadlier and broader after an Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, was ousted by the military in 2013. The government has repeatedly declared the insurgency crushed, only for news of continued fighting to emerge later.

The Egyptian military announced on Aug. 4 the death of the IS leader in Sinai, saying he was killed along with several key aides and 45 members of the group. It said the leader, identified as Doaa al-Ansari, was killed by counterterrorism forces backed by warplanes south of el-Arish.

In an Aug. 17 statement, the group acknowledged the death of al-Ansari along with "brothers in the jihad" and said he was succeeded by "Sheikh Abdullah," for whom it did not give a full name or any other details.
Biden warns Europe against Russian energy reliance

HELSINKI (AP)  U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has cautioned Europe against a new natural gas pipeline planned to stretch from Russia to Germany, saying it "looks like a fairly bad deal" for Europe because it further increases its energy dependency on Moscow.

Biden said Thursday that to lock Europe "into greater reliance on Russia at this moment ... will fundamentally destabilize Ukraine," but stressed that European Union leaders must make their own decisions on the issue.

Russian energy giant Gazprom and the EU, which imports a third of its natural gas from Russia, agreed last year on the new pipeline to run parallel to an existing twin pipeline Nord Stream 1, that runs under the Baltic Sea.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is pictured during a press conference at the Swedish government offices Rosenbad in Stockholm, Thursday Aug. 25, 2016. Biden's one-day visit to Sweden will focus on global migration challenges ahead of a September summit in New York on refugees. (Anders Wiklund/ TT News Agency via AP)

After talks with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Stockholm, Biden told reporters that Russian gas "can and should be" part of the European market. "But that market needs to be open and needs to be competitive. Everyone has to play by the rules."

The new Nord Stream pipeline bypasses both Ukraine and Slovakia, traditional transit countries for supplies pumped by Gazprom, depriving them of substantial transit fees, and price wars between Russia and Ukraine have interrupted supplies to the EU in the past.

In an apparent reference to Russia, Biden said: "No country should be able to use energy as a weapon ... to coerce policies from other nations."

Biden's trip to Sweden came at the end of a three-day tour when he also visited Latvia and Turkey.

___
UN 'ready': Russia backs 3-point aid plan for Syria's Aleppo

GENEVA (AP)  U.N. officials said Thursday they received word from Russia that it supports a 48-hour pause in fighting in and around Syria's largest city so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to its increasingly embattled population.

Jan Egeland, who heads up humanitarian aid in the office of the U.N. Syria envoy, said "We are ready" and the U.N. now awaits assurances from two rebel groups and written authorization from President Bashar Assad's government before any aid convoys can go through to Aleppo amid an upsurge in fighting that has left the city nearly surrounded by Russian-backed Syrian troops.

Egeland said Russia backs a three-point U.N. plan that is to involve separate road convoys of aid delivered both from Damascus and across the Turkish border through the critical Castello Road artery into Aleppo, and a mission to southern Aleppo to help revive a damaged electric plant that powers crucial pumping stations that supply water for 1.8 million people. The Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow declined to comment on the Egeland's statement, but a ministry spokeswoman earlier in the day Thursday said that Moscow supports a ceasefire to open an aid corridor and is waiting for the U.N. to announce it is ready.

"We are very hopeful that it will be a very short time until we can roll," Egeland told reporters. He said later that the U.N. ultimately wants to see weekly 48-hour pauses in the fighting in Aleppo to allow for aid deliveries.

Egeland spoke after Thursday's resumption of weekly "humanitarian task force" meetings in Geneva under the office of the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. De Mistura abruptly called off the meeting last week to protest how no road convoys had been allowed through to priority U.N.-designated "besieged" and "hard-to-reach" areas in Syria in August due to a lack of authorizations.

Since last Thursday, the Homs suburb of al-Waer has been the only town to receive U.N. aid by road, officials have said.

De Mistura declined to take reporters' questions following Thursday's meeting, saying he planned to wait until after an expected meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva this week to discuss Syria and other issues.

Over the summer, de Mistura said he hoped to resume "toward the end of August" the intra-Syria talks that he suspended in late April, after failing to make concrete progress toward his ultimate aim: political transition in Syria. He acknowledged that meetings between Lavrov and Kerry "are going to have an impact, certainly" on U.N.-led initiatives to get that political process back on track.

De Mistura's office has engaged on three main tracks  U.N.-led humanitarian aid shipments; support for a cease-fire agreed upon in February; and the political process  all of which have been struggling in recent weeks.

___
The Latest: Kokomo EF3 tornado had peak wind of 152 mph

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  The Latest on tornadoes that touched down in Indiana and Ohio (all times local):

7:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service says a preliminary damage survey shows the EF3 tornado that hit Kokomo had an estimated peak wind of 152 mph.

A funnel cloud near Van Buren, Ind., moves east before breaking up as storms move through Grant County, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. At least two tornadoes struck cities in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roof off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Jeff Morehead/Chronicle-Tribune via AP)

The weather service says the tornado traveled nearly 5 miles on the city's south side Wednesday, was about 300 yards wide and lasted 10 minutes.

It says the tornado destroyed a Starbucks near the Markland Mall.

The weather service earlier had classified the tornado as an EF3, which can have peak winds of 165 mph.

___

6:15 p.m.

Wednesday's tornado outbreak that swept Indiana came only about a week after another big August outbreak of tornadoes hit the state.

The National Weather Service said last week that eight tornadoes touched down across Indiana on Aug. 15. The previous August record was an outbreak on Aug. 9, 1969, that spawned five tornadoes.

Mike Ryan is a meteorologist with the weather service's Indianapolis office. He says Wednesday's outbreak could eclipse that record set only last week, if the storm tally reaches nine or more tornadoes.

As of late Thursday afternoon, weather service survey crews had confirmed that seven tornadoes hit Indiana on Wednesday. Ryan says he expects that tally to increase.

___

5:50 p.m.

The National Weather Service says at least seven tornadoes swept parts of central and northern Indiana during Wednesday's outbreak.

Meteorologist Mike Ryan with the weather service's Indianapolis office says five tornado touchdowns have been confirmed in central Indiana and two have been confirmed in two northeastern Indiana counties.

But he says weather service survey crews are still surveying storm damage and he expects the tornado tally to continue to rise.

One of the tornadoes that hit central Indiana was an EF3 with winds up to 165 mph that damaged and destroyed homes and business in the city of Kokomo, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.

The weather service says a tornado that hit northeastern Indiana's Allen County appears to have also been an EF3, although a final assessment is pending.

___

1:40 p.m.

Howard County and the city of Kokomo have only 10 tornado sirens, but a telephone and text-messaging system spread the word about dangerous storms bearing down on the central Indiana community.

WRTV-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2bCZFhp ) the emergency alert system was installed in the county after a 2013 tornado.

Before the first tornado struck Wednesday, thousands of people received telephone calls or text messages.

Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman says "thousands upon thousands of people in Howard County" have signed up for the notifications and "it worked unbelievably well. ... People were getting notifications well in advance of these tornadoes touching down."

The National Weather Service says one tornado was an EF3 with 165 mph winds. Authorities report only 10-15 minor injuries in Howard County.

___

12:30 p.m.

Not even KISS could rock 'n' roll all night with tornado sirens blaring.

Frontman Gene Simmons tweeted that the band's show in Toledo, Ohio, was stopped briefly Wednesday night during a tornado warning.

He says some people went into the arena to seek shelter until the storm passed.

While no tornadoes touched down in Toledo, there was a long line of damage across the northwestern part of the state from the storm that first hit central and northern Indiana.

About six trailers were damaged at a mobile home park near Hicksville in Ohio.

Officials in Van Wert County say at least two tornadoes touched down about 2 miles apart, tearing roofs off homes and flattening barns.

___

12:15 p.m.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says it is a miracle that no one was killed or badly hurt by a tornado that hit the city of Kokomo.

Pence spoke Thursday after touring a neighborhood and businesses hit by Wednesday's tornado. The National Weather Service says it was an EF3 tornado, packing winds of up to 165 mph.

Pence also visited a Red Cross shelter where some 200 people spent the night.

He credited quick thinking and early warnings of the approaching storm for the lack of serious injuries.

Pence and U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly were among officials who talked with residents in a neighborhood where homes were also damaged by a 2013 tornado.

Donnelly said Kokomo is a resilient, tough community and that all the residents he spoke with vowed to rebuild.

___

12:05 p.m.

The National Weather Service says it's still unclear how many tornadoes touched down in Indiana on Wednesday.

The state's Department of Homeland Security reported early Thursday that 12 tornadoes hit the state, but later the agency revised that number to eight.

Weather service meteorologist Joseph Nield says it's not yet clear how many tornadoes touched down, although an EF3 tornado did strike Kokomo and an EF2 swept part of Montgomery County.

Nield says it's likely several more tornadoes struck Indiana, but that those findings won't come until later Thursday.

He says five separate weather service survey crews are scouring areas with storm damage in central and northern Indiana to determine if tornadoes struck there.

___

10:55 a.m.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has been hugging and chatting with people whose homes were destroyed or damaged when a tornado whipped through the city of Kokomo.

Donald Trump's running mate arrived in Kokomo by helicopter to view the damage Thursday morning, a day after heavy storms spawned tornadoes across north and central Indiana.

Many trees were knocked down in the storm, and a large truck was hurled onto its side. Some homes are ruined while others were largely untouched.

Pence returned to Indiana after campaign stops in North Carolina on Wednesday. He has cancelled a campaign trip planned for Thursday.

___

8:35 a.m.

The mayor of Kokomo says crews from elsewhere in the state are coming to the central Indiana city to help restore power and clean up debris in the tornado-hit community.

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said Thursday morning that he's grateful that no one was killed or seriously injured by the storm that struck Wednesday afternoon, damaging numerous houses, apartments and businesses.

He says about 220 people stayed overnight in a temporary shelter in Kokomo, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.

Howard County Sheriff Steve Rogers says 10 to 15 people suffered minor injuries.

Utility companies report at least 15,000 homes and businesses remain without electricity in Howard County.

Police have restricted access to storm-damage neighborhoods, saying residents must show identification to officers before entering.

___

8:15 a.m.

Indiana's Department of Homeland Security says a tornado outbreak produced at least 12 tornadoes.

Agency spokesman John Erickson says officials are still assessing the storm damage Thursday, but that the tally as of Wednesday night showed 12 tornadoes touched down in Adams, Allen, Blackford, Cass, Grant, Howard, Marion and Montgomery counties in northern and central Indiana.

Several of those tornadoes struck Howard County, where the south side of the city of Kokomo suffered extensive damage.

National Weather Service surveys Thursday should determine whether additional storm damage in other areas was caused by tornadoes or high winds in severe thunderstorms.

___

7:45 a.m.

Emergency officials and the Red Cross have set up shelters for victims of tornadoes that swept across central Indiana.

One shelter is at the Kokomo Event and Conference Center. The Indianapolis Star reports that about 200 people were being housed and fed at the center at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, hours after the storms moved through. Kokomo is about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.

Another shelter is at Walnut Elementary School in New Ross, northwest of Indianapolis.

The Indiana Red Cross regional headquarters in Indianapolis has a team of employees and volunteers working at an operations center.

The National Weather Service says at least eight tornadoes touched down on Wednesday causing substantial damage. Authorities say between 15 and 20 people suffered injuries but none were severe.

___

7:05 a.m.

The National Weather Service says at least seven tornadoes swept parts of central and northern Indiana during Wednesday's outbreak.

One was an EF3 with winds up to 165 mph that damaged and destroyed homes and business in the city of Kokomo, about 40 miles north of Indianapolis.

The weather service says a tornado that hit northeastern Indiana's Allen County appears to have also been an EF3, although a final assessment is pending.

GOP vice presidential candidate and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence plans to leave the campaign trail Thursday to assess storm damage.

The weather service says two other thunderstorms produced separate tornadoes, one in Avon west of Indianapolis and one northwest of Lafayette, which is southwest of Indianapolis.

___

This update has been corrected to show that the National Weather Service said at least seven, not eight, tornadoes hit during Wednesday's storm. The original update relied on information from the weather service's tally of an Aug. 15 tornado outbreak, not Wednesday's storm.

___

9:20 p.m.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he'll tour Howard and Montgomery counties and possibly other areas Thursday to assess the storm damage.

The Republican vice presidential candidate returned to Indiana from the campaign trail Wednesday evening after the National Weather Service said several tornadoes struck the state. One that hit Kokomo has been determined to be an EF3 with 165 mph winds.

Pence says he'll remain in the state as long as necessary to ensure people affected by the storms have the support they need. He says 200 people have checked in to a Red Cross shelter in Kokomo.

Indiana State Police spokesman Capt. David Bursten says about a dozen people were injured, but none seriously.

A Starbucks is demolished after an apparent tornado touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. At least two tornadoes struck cities in central Indiana on Wednesday, tearing the roof off apartment buildings, sending air conditioners falling onto parked cars and cutting power to thousands of people. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

In this photo provided by Frank Oliver, a cornfield is flattened surrounded by damaged farms and homes from a storm south of Mace, 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. (Frank Oliver via AP)

A Starbucks is demolished after an apparent tornado touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Broken power lines are the remnants of an apparent tornado that touched down in Kokomo, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (Robert Scheer/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

This image made from a video provided by WTHR 13 shows damage to a Starbucks 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. (Nicole Misencik/WTHR 13 via AP)

Cindy Ropes comes out of her house as friend Stan Carter and son Ryan Ropes help her clear personal items from the house 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)

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)

This photo shows a funnel cloud near Russiaville, 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)

This image provided by WTHR 13 shows storm clouds near 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. (Nicole Misencik/WTHR 13 via AP)
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Mush Police Department is searching for 23 year old Andranik Sukiasyan, a citizen of Gyumri who has been missing since August 21.

The 23 year old has left his home at 19:00 and hasnt returned since.

The Police told ARMENPRESS the missing citizen is suffering from mental disease and has ran away previously also.

Anyone having any information about the whereabouts of Andranik Sukiasyan is requested to contact the Police.

Contact - 0312-5-85-54, 0312-3-18-61, 093-22-28-86, 1-02.
AP Explains: Behind the trial to remove Brazil's president

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazil's Senate on Thursday began a trial to decide whether to permanently remove President Dilma Rousseff from office. While the formal accusations against Rousseff are related to her management of the federal budget, the leadership fight involves much more. The Associated Press explains how we got to this point and how the trial is likely to play out.

___

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

A woman opens a banner with the name of Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff, during a rally in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Brazils Senate braces for a final showdown in a trial that could overthrow President Rousseff after months of lengthy proceedings in Congress. She is accused of breaking fiscal laws, in managing the federal budget as her government ran out of resources. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Rousseff was re-elected to a second four-year term in October 2014. As the economy worsened, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in early 2015, with many demanding the ouster of Rousseff and her left-leaning Workers' Party. Her foes in Congress introduced a measure last year to impeach and remove her. In April, the Chamber of Deputies approved it 367-137 and in May, the Senate voted 55-22 in favor. Rousseff was suspended and Vice President Michel Temer became interim president.

___

WHAT IS ROUSSEFF ACCUSED OF DOING?

Rousseff is accused of illegally shifting funds between government budgets. Opposition parties say that was to boost public spending and shore up support while masking the depths of deficits. Rousseff says other former presidents used similar accounting techniques.

___

HOW WILL THE TRIAL UNFOLD?

Supreme Court chief justice Ricardo Lewandowski will preside as witnesses from both sides testify and senators cross-examine them. Rousseff is expected to testify on Monday. A vote is expected by the middle of next week. A supermajority  54 of the 81 senators  is needed to convict her, which would result in her permanent removal from office.

___

WHAT DO ROUSSEFF'S SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS CLAIM?

Rousseff and her backers say impeachment is a "coup" by corrupt opposition lawmakers meant to derail investigations into into billions of dollars in kickbacks at the state oil company. They also argue that Brazil's ruling class wants to end 13 years of leftist government. Opponents say Rousseff's budget maneuvers aggravated the crisis in Latin America's largest economy.

___

WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE IS CONVICTED?

A conviction would permanently remove Rousseff from the presidency and bar her from holding any office for eight years. Temer would serve out her term, which ends Dec. 21, 2018. If convicted, Rousseff will likely appeal to the country's highest court. But previous appeals during the process have failed.

___

WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE IS ABSOLVED?

If fewer than 54 senators vote to remove her, Rousseff would return to office. She's promised that if that happens, she would let voters decide in a plebiscite whether they want early presidential elections.

___

WHAT DO BRAZILIANS WANT?

Brazilians are soured on politicians in general; both Rousseff and Temer are very unpopular. A poll taken last month by Datafolha found that 62 percent want new elections to solve the crisis. But before new elections could occur, both Rousseff and Temer would have to resign or be removed from office.

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff arrives at a rally in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Brazils Senate braces for a final showdown in a trial that could overthrow President Rousseff after months of lengthy proceedings in Congress. She is accused of breaking fiscal laws, in managing the federal budget as her government ran out of resources. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff speaks during a rally in support of democracy and against the coup, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Brazils Senate braces for a final showdown in a trial that could overthrow President Dilma Rousseff after months of lengthy proceedings in Congress. She is accused of breaking fiscal laws, in managing the federal budget as her government ran out of resources. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
US, Turkey at an impasse over extraditing Muslim cleric

WASHINGTON (AP)  Turkey says the United States is legally bound by a treaty to immediately hand over Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric it accuses of plotting to overthrow Turkey's government.

The U.S. government says it can't comply until Turkey can convince a judge its allegations against Gulen are legitimate.

Any solution lies in the murky world of extradition, where the U.S. criminal justice system overlaps with diplomacy and international law.

FILE - In this July, 2016 file photo, Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen speaks to members of the media at his compound, in Saylorsburg, Pa. Turkey says the U.S. is legally bound by a treaty to immediately hand over Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric it accuses of plotting to overthrow Turkey's government. The U.S. government says it can't comply until Turkey can convince a judge its allegations against Gulen are legitimate. (AP Photo/Chris Post, File)

Unable to agree about the process, Turkey and the U.S. are feuding over Gulen, who denies involvement in the thwarted July 15 coup attempt. It's become the biggest irritant between the two strategic partners just as they struggle to reconcile their approaches to fighting the Islamic State group across Turkey's border in Syria.

During Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Ankara this week, the disagreement played out in unusually sharp and open fashion. Both Turkey's prime minister and president publicly badgered Biden and said the U.S. was harboring a terrorist, while Biden tried simultaneously to show sympathy and defend U.S. legal traditions.

"It's never understood that the wheels of justice move deliberately and slowly," Biden said.

A look at the case against Gulen and how extradition works:

Q: Why does Turkey want Gulen extradited?

A: Once an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Gulen now lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. He's associated with Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, and a founder of a movement known as Hizmet  "Service" in Turkish  that first expanded outside Turkey in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union fell. Gulen's followers have established a network of schools around the world, and Turkey accuses Gulen of surreptitiously grooming students to eventually overthrow Turkey's government. But U.S. officials say privately they're skeptical about claims that Gulen was involved in the failed coup.

___

Q. Has Turkey provided evidence that Gulen should be returned?

A: Yes and no. Turkey has submitted extradition requests for Gulen, but senior Obama administration officials say those requests were based on alleged crimes prior to the coup attempt. Turkey's justice minister says more evidence relating specifically to the failed coup will be submitted next week.

___

Q: How does extradition ordinarily work?

A: Foreign countries seeking to prosecute individuals located in the United States must submit a formal request to the U.S. government laying out evidence. The requirements are spelled out in a treaty between the U.S. and Turkey, signed in 1979, that allows for extradition for crimes recognized in both countries.

The State Department and the Justice Department both have a hand in processing requests. The U.S. Attorneys' Manual says after the State Department receives the requests, the Justice Department evaluates them. Those determined to be legally sufficient are forwarded to the court district where the person being sought lives so he or she can be brought before a magistrate.

The process generally unfolds in secret, with countries inclined to avoid tipping off subjects of their extradition requests. By publicly broadcasting their intent to seize Gulen, Turkey is "playing to the public arena" rather than standard legal protocol, said former State Department legal adviser Ashley Deeks, who teaches national security law at the University of Virginia.

___

Q: How does the U.S. decide whether Turkey's request moves forward?

A: This appears to be where the understanding between the U.S. and Turkey has broken down.

The treaty doesn't lay out in detail how much discretion the U.S. has to evaluate the merits of the allegation before turning the request over to a judge. So Turkey, having submitted a request, says Gulen should be turned over immediately  or "at least be detained, arrested and kept under surveillance" while the process plays out, Erdogan said on Wednesday.

But aside from the treaty, the U.S. government also has constitutional and domestic legal requirements to worry about. That includes making sure any arrest warrants issued in the U.S. meet the standard of probable cause.

"They're not going to just pick him up and put him on a plane to Istanbul. That's crazy," said Douglas McNabb, a Houston-based lawyer specializing in extradition. Added Andrew Levchuk, formerly an attorney in the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs: "It's entirely up to us what steps we take."

___

Q: Let's say the U.S. decides the request is legitimate. What happens next?

A: Gulen would be brought before a magistrate in Pennsylvania. It's not a trial. The U.S. Attorney's Office wouldn't have to prove he's guilty, just that there's sufficient legal basis for him to be tried in Turkey.

If the judge recommends extradition, the request goes back to the State Department. That's where Gulen's attorneys could present other arguments against extradition, such as claims he'd be tortured if he were returned or that the health of Gulen, who is in his 70s, is too poor for him to travel.

___

Q: Are there any exceptions in the treaty?

A: Yes, a big one.

The treaty says extradition may be refused if the crime is regarded to be of a "political character or an offense connected with such an offense." Turkey's longstanding gripes with Gulen could provide fodder for such an argument, though the treaty does say any offense committed against a head of state can't be classified as of a "political character."

"The defendant in this case is going to scream to the high heavens that this is politically motivated," predicted Frank Rubino, a lawyer who defends individuals facing extradition.

___

On Twitter, follow Josh Lederman at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP and Eric Tucker at https://twitter.com/etuckerAP
Norwegian man held on suspicion of joining IS group in Syria

HELSINKI (AP)  A court in Norway has detained a 32-year-old Norwegian man, suspected of joining the militant Islamic State group in Syria two years ago.

The Oslo District Court said Thursday that the suspect, an ethnic Norwegian, has acknowledged being in Syria from December 2014 to May this year, but denies guilt. The court ordered that he be remanded into custody for four weeks.

The suspect, who was arrested by Turkish border guards when crossing over from Syria, had been extradited to Norway on Tuesday. The Norwegian security police PST told national news agency NTB that they have started questiong the subject.
Ashes of Polish Battle of Britain ace return home for burial

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The ashes of Polish fighter ace Capt. Kazimierz Sporny, who is credited with downing at least five enemy planes in the World War II Battle of Britain, were brought from London to Poland and buried with military honors on Thursday.

The ceremony in Sporny's hometown, the western city of Poznan, was part of events honoring Poland's Air Force and marking the 10 year anniversary of its deployment of F-16 fighter jets, an element of the force's modernization.

Poland's conservative government attaches great importance to defense amid tense relations now with Moscow over Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine.

A wooden urn with the ashes of Polish fighter ace Capt. Kazimierz Sporny, credited with downing at of least five enemy planes in the Battle of Britain,is carried with military honors at the Krzesiny Air Base in Poznan, Poland on Thursday, August 25, 2016, after being brought from London for a military burial in his hometown. The burial ceremony of Sporny, who died in Britain in 1949 was part of ceremonies honoring Poland's Air Force at a time when the conservative government attaches great importance to defense because of Russia's actions in western Ukraine. (AP Photo)

Six F-16 fighters flew over Poznan's Krzesiny air base as the wooden urn with Sporny's ashes arrived there, greeted by local authorities, regional Air Force commanders and World War II veteran pilots. Sporny's nephew, Zygmunt Sporny, was present.

A funeral service and burial took place with the Guard of Honor assist at the city's Milostow cemetery.

Sporny was born in Poznan in 1916 and trained in Poland to be an Air Force pilot. When Poland was carved up by Hitler's Germany and the Soviet Union at the start of the war in September 1939, he headed to France, and then to Britain.

As thousands of other Polish men, he joined the British forces to be able to fight against the Germans. From 1940-44, he was a pilot in the British Royal Air Force's Polish Fighter Squadrons 303 and 302. He flew on 93 fighter mission against Nazi Messerschmitt fighters, and on 164 other missions.

He was awarded Poland's Cross of Valor three times, as well as Poland's highest military distinction, the Virtuti Militari order, and Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross.

In 1946 he married Margaret McArthur, a British citizen, but soon was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He died in England in 1949 and was buried at London's Catholic St. Mary's cemetery.
Russia downplays conflict with US over Syria weapons report

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Russia's U.N. ambassador said Thursday there doesn't have to be a confrontation with the United States over a report that blames the Syrian government and Islamic State militants for carrying out chemical attacks in the conflict-torn country.

Vitaly Churkin, whose country is a strong supporter of the Syrian government, responded to predictions of confrontation by stressing that the U.S. and Russia created the investigative body to determine those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.

"It doesn't have to be the case," he told reporters, downplaying the predictions. "We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening, in preventing such things from happening."

FILE- In this Wednesday, March 2, 2016 file photo, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin speaks at United Nations headquarters. Churkin said Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, there doesn't have to be a confrontation with the United States over a report that blames the Syrian government and Islamic State militants for carrying out chemical attacks in the conflict-torn country. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Churkin called the 95-page document produced by the international team from the U.N. and the chemical weapons watchdog "a very complicated report which needs to be studied by experts."

He said it was "very important" that the team said definitively that Islamic State extremists were responsible for an attack using mustard gas "because usually all talk we heard about any use of chemical weapons was an effort to ascribe things to the Syrian government."

But Churkin repeatedly sidestepped questions about the team's conclusion that the Syrian government used chlorine gas in two attacks, reiterating that the report is "very technical," ''quite complicated" and needs study.

By contrast the United States, which backs Syria's moderate opposition, made clear after the report was circulated among Security Council members Wednesday that the Syrian government has now been found responsible of using a chemical weapon in violation of a Security Council resolution and its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

"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 Adviser Ned Price said in a statement.

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.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Thursday the United Kingdom and its partners will press for a Security Council resolution "to condemn those in Syria for using chemical weapons, to reinforce our commitment to punish those responsible and to prevent any further use."

Churkin said he spoke to Power after the report's release and they will meet when she returns from vacation "and see what can be done on the basis of this report."

The Security Council is scheduled to discuss the report on Aug. 30.

Churkin was asked about the September 2013 resolution that orders the Security 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.

"Well, we need to see what can be done on the basis of what is said in the report," the Russian ambassador replied.

The report was written by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, known as the JIM, which was established by the Security Council a year ago.

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.

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.
Car bomb explodes near Turkish embassy in Somalia's capital

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  A Somali police officer says a car bomber has prematurely detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near the new Turkish embassy compound in the capital, Mogadishu.

Police opened fire on the car Thursday evening when the bomber refused their orders to stop at a checkpoint near the beachside embassy.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the driver detonated the car bomb in the middle of the road. It was not immediately known if anyone was killed.
Activist discovers iPhone spyware, sparking security update

AJMAN, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The suspicious text message that appeared on Ahmed Mansoor's iPhone promised to reveal details about torture in the United Arab Emirates' prisons. All Mansoor had to do was click the link.

Mansoor, a human rights activist, didn't take the bait. Instead, he reported it to Citizen Lab, an internet watchdog, setting off a chain reaction that in two weeks exposed a secretive Israeli cyberespionage firm, defanged a powerful new piece of eavesdropping software and gave millions of iPhone users across the world an extra boost to their digital security.

"It feels really good," Mansoor said in an interview from his sand-colored apartment block in downtown Ajman, a small city-state in the United Arab Emirates. Cradling his iPhone to show The Associated Press screenshots of the rogue text, Mansoor said he hoped the developments "could save hundreds of people from being targets."

Human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor speaks to Associated Press journalists in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Mansoor was recently targeted by spyware that can hack into Apple's iPhone handset. The company said Thursday it has updated its security. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Hidden behind the link in the text message was a highly targeted form of spyware crafted to take advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in Apple's mobile operating system.

Two reports issued Thursday, one by Lookout, a San Francisco mobile security company, and another by Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs, outlined how the program could completely compromise a device at the tap of a finger. If Mansoor had touched the link, he would have given his hackers free reign to eavesdrop on calls, harvest messages, activate his camera and drain the phone's trove of personal data.

Apple Inc. issued a fix for the vulnerabilities Thursday, just ahead of the reports' release, working at a blistering pace for which the Cupertino, California-based company was widely praised.

Arie van Deursen, a professor of software engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said the reports were disturbing. Forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski described the malicious program targeting Mansoor as a "serious piece of spyware."

A soft-spoken man who dresses in traditional white robes, Mansoor has repeatedly drawn the ire of authorities in the United Arab Emirates, calling for a free press and democratic freedoms. He is one of the country's few human rights defenders with an international profile, close links to foreign media and a network of sources. Mansoor's work has, at various times, cost him his job, his passport and even his liberty.

Online, Mansoor repeatedly found himself in the crosshairs of electronic eavesdropping operations. Even before the first rogue text message pinged across his phone on Aug. 10, Mansoor already had weathered attacks from two separate brands of commercial spyware.

When he shared the suspicious text with Citizen Lab researcher Bill Marczak, they realized he'd been targeted by a third.

Citizen Lab and Lookout both fingered a secretive Israeli firm, NSO Group, as the author of the spyware. Citizen Lab said that past targeting of Mansoor by the United Arab Emirates' government suggested that it was likely behind the latest hacking attempt as well.

Executives at the company declined to comment, and a visit to NSO's address in Herzliya showed that the firm had recently vacated its old headquarters  a move recent enough that the building still bore its logo.

In a statement released Thursday which stopped short of acknowledging that the spyware was its own, the NSO Group said its mission was to provide "authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime."

The company said it couldn't comment on specific cases.

Marczak said he and fellow-researcher John Scott-Railton turned to Lookout for help to pick apart the malicious program, a process which Murray compared to "defusing a bomb."

"It is amazing the level they've gone through to avoid detection," Murray said of the software's makers. "They have a hair-trigger self-destruct."

Working over a two-week period, the researchers found that Mansoor had been targeted by an unusually sophisticated piece of software which some have valued at $1 million. He told AP he was amused by the idea that so much money was being poured into watching him.

"If you would give me probably 10 percent of that I would write the report about myself for you!"

The apparent discovery of Israeli-made spyware being used to target a dissident in the United Arab Emirates raises awkward questions for both countries. The use of Israeli technology to police its own citizens is an uncomfortable strategy for an Arab country with no formal diplomatic ties to the Jewish state. And Israeli complicity in a cyberattack on an Arab dissident would seem to run counter to the country's self-description as a bastion of democracy in the Middle East.

There are awkward questions, too, for Francisco Partners, the private equity firm which owns the NSO Group. Francisco is only an hour's drive from the headquarters of Apple, whose products the cybersecurity firm is accused of hacking.

Messages left with Francisco partners' offices in London and San Francisco went unreturned. Israeli and Emirati authorities did not return calls seeking comment.

Attorney Eitay Mack, who advocates for more transparency in Israeli arms exports, said his country's sales of surveillance software are not closely policed.

He also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated warmer ties with Arab Gulf states.

"Israel is looking for allies," Mack said. "And when Israel finds allies, it does not ask too many questions."

___

Satter reported from Paris. Cheslow reported from Herzliya, Israel. Fay Abuelgasim in Ajman contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show the spelling of the researcher's surname is Murray, not Murrary.

Human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor speaks to Associated Press journalists in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Mansoor was recently targeted by spyware that can hack into Apple's iPhone handset. The company said Thursday it has updated its security. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor shows Associated Press journalists a screenshot of a spoof text message he received in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Mansoor was recently targeted by spyware that can hack into Apple's iPhone handset. The company said Thursday it was updated its security. The text message reads: "New secrets on the torture of Emirati citizens in jail." (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Logo of the Israeli NSO Group company is displayed on a building where they had offices until few months ago is seen in Herzliya, Israel, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. A botched attempt to break into the iPhone of an Arab activist using hitherto unknown espionage software has trigged a global upgrade of Apple's mobile operating system, researchers said Thursday. The spyware took advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in Apple's mobile operating system to take complete control of iPhone devices, according to reports published Thursday by the San Francisco-based Lookout smartphone security company and internet watchdog group Citizen Lab. Both reports fingered the NSO Group, an Israeli company with a reputation for flying under the radar, as the author of the spyware. (AP Photo/Daniella Cheslow)
India: French submarine data leak no security threat

NEW DELHI (AP)  India said Wednesday that the leak of documents from a leading French builder of Scorpene submarines designed for India's navy was investigated and did not pose any security compromise because sensitive information was blacked out.

The Indian government said in a statement that France was asked to investigate the documents' leak to an Australian website and share its findings with the Indian side.

Six Scorpenes designed by French shipbuilder DCNS are being built in Mumbai and the first one is expected to be activated this year.

The newspaper The Australian reported this week that more than 22,000 pages of documents were leaked and that the information was suspected to have been taken in 2011 by a French former DCNS sub-contractor. The information included descriptions of what frequencies the submarines use to gather intelligence, where a crew can speak safely to avoid detection and specifications of the torpedo launch system.

The Indian statement said the matter was taken up with concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports.

The leak also raised questions in Australia, which signed a big-budget deal in April with DCNS for 12 Shortfin Barracuda submarines.

Defense Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said Tuesday the incident "has no bearing" on the Australian deal, insisting the contract is covered by "stringent security requirements that govern the manner in which all information and technical data is managed now and into the future."
Clinton says Trump will 'make America hate again'

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)  Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Donald Trump has unleashed the "radical fringe" within the Republican Party, including anti-Semites and white supremacists, dubbing the billionaire businessman's campaign as one that will "make America hate again."

Trump rejected Clinton's allegations, defending his hard-line approach to immigration while trying to make the case to minority voters that Democrats have abandoned them.

The ping-pong accusations come as the two candidates vie for minorities and any undecided voters with less than three months until Election Day. Weeks before the first early voting, Trump faces the urgent task of revamping his image to win over those skeptical of his candidacy.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College, in Reno, Nev., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In a tweet shortly after Clinton wrapped up her speech in the swing state of Nevada, Trump said she "is pandering to the worst instincts in our society. She should be ashamed of herself!"

Clinton is eager to capitalize on Trump's slipping poll numbers, particularly among moderate Republican women turned off by his controversial campaign. "Don't be fooled" by Trumps efforts to rebrand, she told voters at a speech in Reno, saying the country faced a "moment of reckoning."

"He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties," she said.

Trump tried to get ahead of the Democratic nominee, addressing a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire just minutes before Clinton.

"Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and the millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racists," Trump predicted.

"To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread her smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words," he said. "I want you to hear these words, and remember these words: Shame on you."

Trump tried to turn the tables on Clinton, suggesting she was trying to distract from questions swirling around donations to The Clinton Foundation and her use of her private email servers.

"She lies, she smears, she paints decent Americans as racists," said Trump, who then defended some of the core  and to some people, divisive  ideas of his candidacy.

Clinton did not address any of the accusations about her family foundation in her remarks. Instead, she offered a strident denouncement of Trump's campaign, charging him with fostering hate and pushing discriminatory policies, like his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Her speech focused on the so-called alt-right movement, which is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity," oppose multiculturalism and defend "Western values." Discussions about the alt-right movement became the subject of a Twitter war Thursday, with people on both sides of the debate tweeting under the hashtag #altrightmeans.

"#altrightmeans we don't want to kill you we just want you to go away," tweeted one person.

"#altrightmeans white supremacy. That's all Alt Right is. Another code word for white supremacy. Nothing more nothing less," another tweet said.

Clinton's campaign also released an online video that compiles footage of prominent white supremacist leaders praising Trump, who has been criticized for failing to immediately denounce the support he's garnered from white nationalists and supremacists, including former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

Trump, who also met Thursday in New York with members of a new Republican Party initiative meant to train young  and largely minority  volunteers, has been working to win over blacks and Latinos in light of his past inflammatory comments and has been claiming that the Democrats have taken minority voters' support for granted. At rallies over the past week, the Republican presidential nominee cast Democratic policies as harmful to communities of color, and in Mississippi on Wednesday he went so far as to label Clinton "a bigot."

"They've been very disrespectful, as far as I'm concerned, to the African-American population in this country," Trump said.

Many black leaders and voters have dismissed Trump's message  delivered to predominantly white rally audiences  as condescending and intended more to reassure undecided white voters that he's not racist, than to actually help minority communities.

Cornell William Brooks, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" Thursday that Trump has not reached out to the organization for any reason. He added that Trump refused the group's invitation to speak at its convention.

"We're going to make it clear: You don't get to the White House unless you travel through the doors of the NAACP," Brooks said. "More importantly, you don't get to the White House without addressing the nation's civil rights agenda."

Before the meeting in New York, several protesters unfurled a banner over a railing in the lobby of Trump Tower that read, "Trump = Always Racist." They were quickly escorted out by security as they railed against Trump for "trying to pander to black and Latino leaders."

"Nothing will change," they yelled.

___

Lerer reported from Reno, Nevada. Jill Colvin contributed reporting from Washington.

___

Reach Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Lerer at http://twitter.com/@llerer

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets people in the audience at a campaign event at Truckee Meadows Community College, in Reno, Nev., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets supporters outside the Hub Coffee Roasters, in Reno, Nev., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Former Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson during Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's roundtable meeting with the Republican Leadership Initiative in his offices at Trump Tower in New York, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a roundtable meeting with the Republican Leadership Initiative in his offices at Trump Tower in New York, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Dr. Ben Carson is seated next to Trump at center. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Anti-Trump protesters demonstrate outside a meeting between Donald Trump and minority Republicans at Trump Tower, Thursday Aug. 25, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
AP EXPLAINS: Why burkini swimsuits are causing controversy

PARIS (AP)  French mayors are drawing international anger for banning the burkini, an all-encompassing swimsuit worn by a small minority of Muslim women. The Associated Press explains the core of the controversy.

WHAT ARE BURKINIS?

They're a recent retail invention, not a religious requirement in any country. Around a decade ago an Australian woman of Lebanese origin created a swimsuit for Muslim women designed to permit them to keep their bodies covered while working as lifeguards on Australian beaches. Her design was dubbed the burkini or burqini.

Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. Writing on the sign reads: 'No to Islamophobia, yes to Burkinis.' (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Burkinis cover the head, torso and limbs  much like a wetsuit with a hood. The word conflates the words bikini and burqa, a full-body covering with only a mesh screen for the eyes. Burqas are worn primarily in Afghanistan.

Burkinis are rarely seen in France, where you're more likely to spot women sunbathing topless. International sales reportedly have soared in response to French efforts to restrict their public display.

WHY BAN THEM?

France is both exceptionally secular and unusually fearful of Islamic extremism following last month's truck attack in Nice that killed 86 people and slaying of a Catholic priest during Mass in Normandy, both claimed by the Islamic State group.

While the burkini's defenders have argued that the wearing of the garment has nothing to do with promoting bloodshed, mayors have countered that wearing the outfits could undermine public order by make other beachgoers angry or afraid.

The French, who famously ban baggy men's swim trunks from their pools, also argue that excessively large women's swimwear poses a similar risk to public hygiene.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls says burkinis represent the enslavement of women and puts his opposition in the context of France's promotion of women's rights worldwide.

But France's predominant argument is that the burkini violates France's century-old commitment to promote secularism in public life. The first article of the French constitution enshrines this principle, while polls show French people are among the least religious in the world. France repeatedly has cited this secularist agenda when targeting Muslim practices that are seen to push religion too far into mainstream society.

BACKLASH TO THE BANS

French Muslims say they feel stigmatized by the restrictions, while some police have complained that the new rules are too vague or problematic to be enforced.

Images this week that showed Nice police appearing to instruct a burkini-clad beachgoer to remove her tunic stirred indignation online. Human rights groups petitioned France's highest administrative authority, the Council of State, which plans to issue its ruling Friday on the burkini bans.

The policy is raising tensions within French President Francois Hollande's leftist government, too.

IT'S POLITICS

Critics say the anti-burkini crusade reflects a far right, anti-Muslim agenda that could prove to be a vote-winner in France's 2017 presidential election.

Many mayors to the fore on the issue are members of former President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative Republicans party. Sarkozy, who is seeking re-election, said Wednesday: "We don't imprison women behind fabric."

He linked burkinis to radicalized Islam, a contention that many Muslims regard as baseless and dangerous. But this kind of rhetoric could help Sarkozy win votes from the anti-immigrant National Front party of Marine Le Pen, a presidential contender who has campaigned against what she calls the Islamization of France.

Burkinis pose a dilemma for the French left, a staunch defender of women's rights. The prime minister and women's affairs minister support the bans because they say burkinis oppress women; the education minister and health minister say authorities shouldn't dictate what women wear.

A LESS SECULAR WORLD

France's stringent secularism is exceptional in the western world, and much of the rest of the world is struggling to understand France's actions. Protesters rallied Thursday against the French bans in London and Berlin.

Burkinis are sold by major retailers in Britain. Elsewhere in Europe, burkinis are rare but no municipal bans exist.

Not yet anyway. In Belgium, the right-leaning Flemish N-VA party doesn't want burkinis on public beaches, calling it a sign of oppressing women.

THE MUSLIM FASHION

Women in Muslim countries wear a range of swimwear, from bikinis to full-length garments, reflecting their personal tastes and understanding of their faith.

Burkini-style wear has generated debate in Morocco, with its large tourism industry. In Egypt, some resorts, elite clubs and restaurants ban veils entirely and the wearing of burkini-style outfits in swimming pools. Religious conservatives, who have been gaining ground, say such bans perpetuate a colonized mentality by enforcing Western-inspired freedoms and styles.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Armenia plans to open new retail points of Armenian products in Russia and China, Economy Minister Artsvik Minasyan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting. The trading representation of Armenia in Russia has been instructed to open retail points of bazaar products outside Moscow, which will allow raising awareness of Armenian products among Russian consumers. We need to take into consideration that the capabilities of our companies not always allow meeting the huge volumes of supplies of Russian hypermarkets during the entire year. Thats why we will propose new types of product presentation in Russian markets for them, the minister said. In his words, similar trading points will also be created in China, especially alcoholic beverages, including for brandy export.
Dirty war verdict: Life in prison for Argentine ex-general

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  A retired Argentine general has received another life sentence for killings, kidnappings and torture committed during the country's crackdown on leftists decades ago.

Eighty-nine-year-old Luciano Benjamin Menendez is already serving several other life sentences for human rights violations.

Thursday's verdict is for 282 disappearances, 52 homicides, 260 kidnappings and multiple cases of torture at a clandestine military base in the central Argentine city of Cordoba

FILE - In this July 22, 2010 file photo, former Army Gen. Luciano Benjamin Menendez attends his trial in Cordoba, Argentina. The retired Argentine general has received another life sentence for killings, kidnappings and torture committed during the country's crackdown on leftists decades ago. The Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 verdict is for 282 disappearances, 52 homicides, 260 kidnappings and multiple cases of torture at a clandestine military base in the central Argentine city of Cordoba, (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

The repression of suspected leftists began under elected President Maria Estela Martinez de Peron and continued during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship.
A look at what's next in the Colombian peace process

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombia's government and the country's biggest leftist rebel group have reached a peace deal that puts the South American nation on the threshold of ending a five-decade war. Here's what lies ahead and some of the remaining hurdles:

___

REFERENDUM ON PEACE

Colombians will get a chance to vote on the accord on Oct. 2. Although polls show approval is likely, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is deeply unpopular and many voters may prefer a scenario that would allow them to seek revenge. The opposition also is likely to try to convert the vote into a referendum on Santos, whose approval rating is near the lowest it has been since he took office in 2010. Possible low voter turnout is also a concern because a minimum of 13 percent of the registered voters, or about 4.4 million people, must vote in favor for the accord to be ratified.

___

REBEL CONGRESS

In the coming weeks, the FARC will hold its 10th and possibly final conference, in which top commanders will likely announce their decision to formally disband and create an unarmed political movement. Many rebels are wary of the government's guarantees it will boost protection. A similar peace attempt in the 1980s led to thousands of rebels and their sympathizers being killed by paramilitaries and corrupt soldiers.

___

LAYING DOWN THEIR ARMS

A day after the still-unscheduled formal signing ceremony, Colombia's army will reposition troops to protect an estimated 7,000 rebel fighters as they move to 31 transition zones where 90 days later they will begin turning in their arms to United Nations-led monitors and begin the process of moving back into civilian life.

___

CRIMINALITY

The overwhelming majority of Colombia's 11,585 homicides last year had nothing to do with the armed conflict. In fact, only four deaths in the past 13 months have been attributed to the FARC. There are concerns that as rebels integrate into civilian life, members of the heavily armed criminal gangs who already dominate large swaths of the countryside will fill the void and take over the drug-smuggling routes currently protected by the FARC.

___

THE OTHER REBEL GROUP

There is a risk that Colombia's second rebel movement, the much-smaller but more recalcitrant National Liberation Army, could now expand its presence. That rebel group agreed only recently to formal negotiations with the government, but those talks have yet to start because of Santos' insistence that it renounce kidnapping, a main source of income for the group, which has rejected that precondition.

___

LEGAL CHALLENGES
Suddenly it's Trump sounding soft on illegal immigration

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump defeated 16 rivals in the Republican primaries by being the most anti-immigrant of them all, promising to build a giant wall on the border and deport millions. He labeled opponents like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio as weak and amnesty-loving, and his extreme rhetoric pushed the entire immigration debate to the right.

But suddenly, Trump is sounding like some of the people he defeated. In an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show Wednesday, Trump discussed how tough it is to break up families for deportation, suggesting that maybe upstanding people who've been in this country for years should be allowed to stay if they pay back taxes and insisting, just as Bush and Rubio were repeatedly forced to do, that such actions would not amount to "amnesty."

"Everywhere I go I get the same reaction. They want toughness. They want firmness. They want to obey the law," Trump said. "But they feel that throwing them out as a whole family when they've been here for a long time, it's a tough thing."

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Trump's exact meaning was murky. And it was unclear if he was unveiling a new stance or simply trying out new rhetoric to appeal to a general election audience as he lags Democrat Hillary Clinton in polls 11 weeks before the election. His new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, insisted on CNN Thursday that "nothing has changed in terms of the policies."

And Trump seemed to backtrack yet again less than 24 hours later, saying on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" Thursday evening that he would not grant any legal status to immigrants here illegally unless they leave the United States first, something that would be burdensome and impractical when applied to millions of people. "There is no path to legalization unless they leave the country and come back," he said.

Still, Trump's new language seemed to reveal an awareness that his unyielding stance against immigrants is unlikely to get him to the White House, with Latinos voting in growing numbers in key states.

"He's learned painfully, belatedly, that what stirs up a large part of the Republican primary electorate is not what wins general elections," said John Rowe, a GOP donor and former CEO of Exelon, who's planning to vote for libertarian Gary Johnson. "You cannot win without women, Asians, Latinos, African Americans."

In an interview Thursday on ABC, Bush called Trump's positioning "abhorrent," saying: "I can only say that whatever his views are this morning, they might change this afternoon, and they were different than they were last night, and they'll be different tomorrow."

Clinton, speaking on CNN, dismissed Trump's shifting language as "a desperate effort to try to land somewhere that isn't as devastating to his campaign as his comments and his positions have been up until now."

There were signs that Trump risked angering hard-core supporters who helped him win the nomination. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who published a book called "In Trump We Trust," reacted with angry tweets to Trump's comments on Fox, including remarking sardonically "Well, if it's 'hard,' then never mind."

GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa, a leading immigration hardliner, said in an interview that "I have some concerns at this point" over Trump's stances.

The upside for Trump was not immediately apparent. Immigrant advocates argued he would gain no ground with Hispanics by giving lip-service to limited pro-immigrant measures while still insisting on the need for a border wall. Advocates speculated that Trump's goal was to woo independent voters who might support him but are turned off by his harsher stances.

"Look, when you launch your campaign saying Mexican immigrants are rapists, drug dealers and murderers, I don't know there's a lot you can say to recover," said Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois.

After beginning his campaign asserting that Mexican immigrants "are rapists," and are "bringing drugs," Trump built an image as the one candidate who would expel immigrants in the country illegally, pledging a "deportation force" to send all 11 million home.

Opponents including Rubio, Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich denounced Trump's proposals, insisting there was no way to eject 11 million people from the country. But as Trump gained support, his opponents were forced to modulate their stances, as even those like Rubio who had supported a path to citizenship for people in the country illegally put the focus on border security first.

Trump was quick to ridicule his opponents. "Marco Rubio is totally weak on illegal immigration & in favor of easy amnesty," Trump declared over Twitter last fall. After Bush claimed that illegal immigration could be described as "an act of love," an Instagram video Trump posted showed the words, "Forget Love! It's time to get Tough!"

Yet now it's Trump talking about allowing immigrants in the country illegally a way to stay here.

"They have to pay taxes. There's no amnesty as such. There's no amnesty ... But we work with them," Trump said Wednesday.

"I would say it's nice to see Donald Trump acknowledge that he was wrong and that his opponents were correct," said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for Kasich. "What one hopes is that Donald Trump actually believes and knows he was wrong, and isn't just saying something in an attempt to get elected."

__=

Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver and Julie Bykowicz, Julie Pace and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed.
Ohio man suspected of Bosnian war crimes charged with fraud

CLEVELAND (AP)  Federal prosecutors say a man in Ohio hid that he had been in a special police unit in Bosnia and took part in the Serb massacre of over 8,000 Muslim Bosnians during the 1995 genocide.

The U.S. government says 41-year-old Oliver Dragic, of Barberton, has been accused of immigration fraud in a three-count indictment. He was arrested Thursday.

Court documents don't say whether he has an attorney. A message seeking comment was left at a business listing for him.

Prosecutors say Dragic claimed he was a victim of the war while applying for refugee status in the U.S.
The Latest: Russian convicted of hacking into US businesses

SEATTLE (AP)  The Latest on the case of a Russian man accused of hacking into U.S. businesses (all times local):

12:45 p.m.

The lawyer representing the Russian man convicted of hacking into U.S. businesses said after the verdict was read that he plans to appeal.

John Henry Browne said Thursday that one of the key issues in the appeal was the arrest of Roman Seleznev in the Maldives by U.S. Secret Service agents in 2014. Browne called the arrest a "kidnapping."

Browne had challenged the arrest during pre-trial hearings, but the federal judge ruled against him and said it could not come up during the trial.

But Browne has argued that the arrest was illegal.

___

11:55 a.m.

A Russian man accused of orchestrating an international online theft scheme has been found guilty of hacking into U.S. businesses to steal credit card information.

A jury on Thursday convicted Roman Seleznev of 38 charges, including nine counts of hacking and 10 counts of wire fraud. He could face up to 34 years in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 2.

Prosecutors say Seleznev made millions by hacking into businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, and selling the data on underground internet forums.

Seleznev, son of a Russian lawmaker, was accused of running the scheme from 2010 until his 2014 arrest.

His lawyers say prosecutors failed to make a solid link between the hacks and Seleznev. They also challenged the evidence taken from his laptop, arguing the U.S. Secret Service mishandled the computer when they seized it.

___

1:25 a.m.

A jury is weighing whether the son of a Russian lawmaker hacked into U.S. businesses to steal credit card information and made millions selling the data to criminals.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Barbosa said Wednesday that Roman Seleznev was a prolific hacker. The jury began deliberating following closing arguments just after noon and was released for the day at 4:30 p.m. They'll start back at 9 a.m. Thursday.

They must decide whether Seleznev is guilty of 40 charges that range from bank and wire fraud, hacking and identity theft.

The victim businesses that form the basis of the charges, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to fix their computers and lost business and customer trust because of the hacks, prosecutors said. The thefts resulted in almost $170 million in credit card losses around the world, Barbosa said.
The Latest: Woman who fell had disconnected safety gear

BEAR, Del. (AP)  The Latest on the death of a woman who fell from a zip line ride in Delaware (all times local):

3:15 p.m.

The operator of a zip line attraction in Delaware where a woman fell to her death says witnesses report that the woman was nearing the end of the course when she disconnected herself from a safety system.

Delaware State Police on Thursday continued their probe into the death of 59-year-old Tina Werner of Felton, Delaware, who fell 35 feet to her death Wednesday.

Authorities said Werner was waiting between zip lines at the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure at Lums Pond State Park when she tumbled from the platform.

Jeff Davis, a spokesman for Go Ape, said the company has confirmed that Werner underwent the required safety training before the accident. Davis said Werner was nearing the end of the activity when she fell.

___

6:15 a.m.

Delaware State Police are investigating the death of a woman who fell from a zip line ride at Lums Pond State Park in Bear.

Authorities say the 59-year-old woman fell about 40 feet from the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure attraction Wednesday afternoon.

The woman was treated at the scene by New Castle County paramedics before being taken by ambulance to the Christiana Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The victim's name was being withheld pending the notification of her next of kin.
Indiana gives $200K to help families amid lead contamination

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP)  The state of Indiana is providing $200,000 to the city of East Chicago to help families living at a public housing complex where soil is tainted with elevated levels of lead and arsenic.

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority says its board on Thursday approved the allocation of $100,000 to the East Chicago Housing Authority to help families immediately relocate from the West Calumet Housing Complex.

The State Department of Health says it will provide $100,000 to the city's health department to help fund a public health nurse and educator to assist with lead testing and local education efforts.

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, Sherry Jackson poses for a portrait at her home in East Chicago, Ind. Jackson has lived at West Calumet Housing Complex for 4 years, but she will have to relocate since the the city has decided to demolish the public housing, because of lead contamination. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has told tenants they have until Nov. 30 to relocate. The city of East Chicago is planning to demolish the low-income complex.

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, Sherry Jackson poses for a portrait holding a letter telling her she must relocate from her West Calumet Housing Complex home in East Chicago, Ind. Jackson has lived at West Calumet Housing Complex for 4 years, but will have to move since the the city has decided to demolish the public housing, because of lead contamination. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, a sign from the Environmental Protection Agency is posted in front of West Calumet Housing Complex houses at East Chicago, Ind. The EPA has detected high levels of lead in samples of dust and dirt tracked inside homes where soil is tainted with industrial contaminants. The contamination has resulted in the city calling for the demolition of the low-income complex and relocating its 1,000 residents. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, Environmental Protect Agency coordinator Brad Benning poses in front of an EPA office in East Chicago, Ind. Benning said dust samples have been taken from around 70 homes at the West Calumet Housing Complex and about 40 have come back with lead contamination levels above what is considered safe. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, a sign from the Environmental Protection Agency is posted in front of West Calumet Housing Complex houses at East Chicago, Ind. The EPA has detected high levels of lead in samples of dust and dirt tracked inside homes where soil is tainted with industrial contaminants. The contamination has resulted in the city calling for the demolition of the low-income complex and relocating its 1,000 residents. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

This Aug. 23, 2016 photo shows an empty playground near the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, Ind. The EPA has detected high levels of lead in samples of dust and dirt tracked inside homes where soil is tainted with industrial contaminants. The contamination has resulted in the city calling for the demolition of the low-income complex and relocating its 1,000 residents. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

In this Aug. 23, 2016 photo, a sign from the Environmental Protection Agency is posted in front of West Calumet Housing Complex houses at East Chicago, Ind. The EPA has detected high levels of lead in samples of dust and dirt tracked inside homes where soil is tainted with industrial contaminants. The contamination has resulted in the city calling for the demolition of the low-income complex and relocating its 1,000 residents. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)
2 men in Nevada standoff case plead guilty in federal court

LAS VEGAS (AP)  Two defendants became the first to plead guilty Thursday to federal charges in an armed confrontation with U.S. officials over grazing rights near cattleman and open-range advocate Cliven Bundy's ranch in Nevada.

Gerald "Jerry" DeLemus and Blaine Cooper each admitted to conspiring with others who engaged in a tense gunpoint standoff with federal Bureau of Land Management agents in April 2014 near Bundy's property about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Both told U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro they weren't physically present for the standoff.

FILE - In this April 16, 2014 file photo, Jerry DeLemus, of Rochester, N.H., sits with a group of self-described militia members camping on rancher Cliven Bundy's ranch near Bunkerville, Nev. Delemus one of two defendants are set to become the first to plead guilty Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, in Nevada to federal charges stemming from an armed confrontation with U.S. land management agents near Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy's ranch in 2014. (AP Photo/Ken Ritter, File)

But they acknowledged interfering with the execution of federal court orders by recruiting and organizing armed gunmen to support Bundy and sons Ammon, Ryan, Mel and Dave Bundy in efforts to prevent the roundup of Bundy cattle from the scenic Gold Butte area.

Their plea deals call for sentences of six years in federal prison, although their defense attorneys can seek leniency at sentencing Dec. 1. Each also could be fined up to $500,000 and be subject to up to three years of government supervision after prison.

Cooper, 37, from Humboldt, Arizona, also pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.

DeLemus, 61, of Rochester, New Hampshire, arrived in Nevada hours after the confrontation started. His second felony plea was to an interstate extortion charge, admitting he drove cross-country with guns with an intent to display "force and aggression" to stop the roundup.

DeLemus, a former U.S. Marine, spent weeks afterward living in a tent and organizing armed patrols near the Bundy ranch outside Bunkerville.

DeLemus was also politically active at home in New Hampshire, where his wife, Susan DeLemus, is a Republican state assemblywoman. He stopped several times Thursday to confer with his attorney while entering his guilty pleas.

"I don't know that I threatened anyone," DeLemus told the judge at one point, "but I made public statements hoping it would end peacefully."

Prosecutors characterized DeLemus and Cooper as "mid-level organizers" and leaders of the conspiracy to prevent federal agents and contract cowboys from rounding up Bundy cattle that federal officials said were trespassing on public land.

"Federal law enforcement officers must be able to engage in their official duties, including executing federal court orders, without fear of assault or losing their lives," U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said in a statement after the pleas.

DeLemus and Cooper became the first among 19 defendants to take plea deals in the case in Las Vegas.

Trial for some of the remaining 17 defendants is scheduled to begin Feb. 2 on charges including threatening a federal officer, carrying a firearm in a crime of violence and obstruction.

Seven defendants in the Nevada case, including Cooper and Bundy's sons Ammon and Ryan Bundy, are also among 26 people charged in Portland, Oregon, in connection with a 41-day occupation of a wildlife refuge earlier this year.
U of Chicago commits to no safe spaces, trigger warnings

CHICAGO (AP)  Incoming freshmen at the University of Chicago have received a letter from the dean of students informing them of the school's commitment to free speech.

Dean of Students Jay Ellison writes that the university does not condone safe spaces where students can "retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own."

He also said the school doesn't support "trigger warnings," which alert students to material that might be uncomfortable or offensive, and doesn't cancel speakers whose topics might prove controversial.

The letter was published Wednesday in the student newspaper, The Chicago Maroon (http://bit.ly/2bjUpBz ).

It comes in wake of several incidents involving speakers on campus.
PICTURED: The National Park Service celebrates 100 years

The U.S. National Park Service is celebrating 100 years of managing some of the nation's most well-known parks, monuments and historic places.

The agency's reach stretches coast to coast, from Acadia on the Atlantic to the Channel Islands in the Pacific. There's the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

As the national parks system attracts greater numbers of visitors each year, the agency is facing key challenges ahead. One is a backlog of repairs that total nearly $12 billion. The other is reaching out to minority communities, who studies show don't go to the parks, and getting them to visit  and care about preserving  America's parks.

,FILE - In this January 2006, file photo, the sun rises over Crater Lake, Ore., in Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake lies in the caldera of an ancient volcano called Mount Mazama that collapsed 7,700 years ago, according the the National Parks Service. It is the deepest lake in the United States and is famous for its vivid blue color and water clarity. (Marc Adamus/The Register-Guard via AP, File)

Centennial events scheduled for Aug. 25, 2016, include free mule-drawn boat rides at C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland, creation of a giant, living version of the park service emblem in Washington, D.C., a naturalization ceremony on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and an outdoor concert at Yellowstone National Park.

National parks across the country are offering free admission, birthday cake, ranger talks and other special events to mark the anniversary.

---

Follow AP photographers at twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers/members

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 1998, file photo, a meteor streaks through the sky over Joshua trees and rocks at Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California's Mojave Desert in this 30-minute time exposure. The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2011, file photo, tour participants stand in the rotunda area of Mammoth Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, Ky. With more than 400 miles of passageways explored, Mammoth Cave is by far the world's longest cave system. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2009, file photo, hikers make their way to Sunset Point from Thor's Hammer in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Both Zion and Bryce were formed millions of years ago when the Earth's crust violently heaved, leaving behind stunning, unique arrays of rock formations. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

FILE - In this undated file photo, the sun sets as Mount McKinley casts its reflection on Reflection Pond at the west end of Denali National Park Road a few miles east of Camp Denali in Denali Park, Alaska. In August, 2015, the government changed the name of North Americas tallest peak from Mount McKinley to Denali. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 1997 file photo, an autumn sunsets drapes El Capitan and the Yosemite valley with warm light in Yosemite National Park, Calif. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, according to the National Parks Service. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2016 photo, tourists take picture of wildflowers near Badwater Basin in Death Valley, Calif. A rare "super bloom" of wildflowers in Death Valley National Park covered the hottest and driest place in North America with a carpet of gold, attracting tourists from all over the world and enchanting visitors with a stunning display from nature's paint brush. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2005 , file photo, a great egret sits on top of a dead tree in Florida's Everglades National Park, near South Bay, Fla., as a thunderstorm moves across the area. Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther, according to the National Parks Service. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter, File)

FILE - In this Monday, July 22, 2013, file photo, hikers look up at a fast moving storm as it makes its way through Zion National Park outside of Springdale, Utah. Both Zion and Bryce were formed millions of years ago when the Earth's crust violently heaved, leaving behind stunning, unique arrays of rock formations. (AP Photo/Sandy Huffaker, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2011, file photo, a lunar eclipse is framed within Turret Arch at Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

FILE - In this June 21, 2005, file photo, a stream in Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, captures some of the park's beauty. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach, File)

FILE - In this March 25, 2011, file photo, rafts piloted by guides from Far Flung Outdoor Center of Terlingua, Texas, emerge from Heath Canyon, carved by the Rio Grande through Big Bend National Park, Texas. The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Graczyk, File)

FILE - In this March 27, 1996, file photo, a mule train winds its way down the Bright Angel trail at Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. Around five million people each year visit the park, according to the National Parks Service. (AP Photo/Jeff Robbins, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2015, file photo, the West Prong Little Pigeon River flows over rocks dotted with fall foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tenn. The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (Adam Lau/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - In this September 2012, file photo, a cloud hovers over Mount Rainier at sunset in a view from Klapatche Park Camp at Mount Rainier National Park, Wash. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, according to the National Parks Service. (Drew Perine/The News Tribune via AP, File)
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. During the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session, PM Hovik Abrahamyan has reached an agreement on the formation of a free trade zone with Iran.

For a long time there was the idea of creating a free trade zone with Iran, however it wasnt documented. During the latest visit of the Prime Minister, an agreement has been reached on creating a free trade zone with Iran. This is important, because it will allow creating good relations in terms of production of goods and provision of services, both Iran-EEU, and in terms of exporting goods which were produced here to other countries  benefiting from those trading regimes, which Armenia has with Europe, USA, Canada and other countries, Economy Minister Artsvik Minasyan said.

The Minister said the agreement between the EEC and Iran was reached based on the proposal of PM Abrahamyan, and now the main task for Armenia is having legislative guarantees.

For this goal, a draft has been put into circulation on the free trade zone formation, which is in stage of agreements, and soon targets and directions will be facilitated even more.

Asked if Armenia will have the chance to have a free trading zone with Iran not depending on Russia, the Minister said this status has been given to Armenia from the very beginning, no additional document signing is planned between Iran and EEU and moreover there is no need for that.
Mayors seek hearing on Waukesha water withdrawal decision

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP)  An organization representing mayors of more than 120 cities in the Great Lakes region is challenging a decision to let Waukesha, Wisconsin, draw water from Lake Michigan.

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative this week requested a hearing before a council representing the eight states adjoining the lakes. The council in June granted Waukesha permission to tap Lake Michigan, even though a regional compact prohibits diverting Great Lakes water outside the natural watershed with rare exceptions.

Waukesha is barely outside the watershed boundary. Its groundwater is contaminated with radium.
New Mexico: Brutal killing of girl detailed by authorities

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  On the day Victoria Martens was going to celebrate her 10th birthday, she was found dead in her family's apartment by Albuquerque police officers, her dismembered remains wrapped in a burning blanket.

Details of what New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and law enforcement officials described as an unspeakable crime emerged Thursday in a criminal complaint made public and filed against the girl's mother, her boyfriend and his cousin. The three were taken into custody late Wednesday night.

Police say Victoria was injected with methamphetamine, sexually assaulted, strangled and stabbed before being dismembered.

A memorial for a 10-year-old girl who police said was sexually assaulted, strangled then dismembered is seen at an Albuquerque, N.M., apartment building Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. On the day the girl was going to celebrate her 10th birthday, she was found dead Wednesday in her family's apartment by Albuquerque police, her dismembered remains lying under a burning blanket. The girl's mother, 35-year-old Michelle Martens, her 31-year-old boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, and his 31-year-old cousin, Jessica Kelley, are facing charges. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)

A caller told a police dispatcher before dawn Wednesday that there was a disturbance in the apartment, said Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden Jr. Officers who went to the apartment complex found the gruesome crime scene.

"This homicide is the most gruesome act of evil I have ever seen in my career," Eden said Thursday. "A complete disregard of human life."

By Thursday morning, a makeshift shrine for the girl had formed under a tree at the apartment complex  with relatives and friends leaving flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and lit candles.

In the evening, dozens of people gathered for a candlelight vigil outside the apartment complex, and the shrine continued to grow, with friends and neighbors saying the memorial was Victoria's belated birthday gift.

Martinez said in a statement the abuse and killing of the girl "is unspeakable and justice should come down like a hammer."

The girl's mother, 35-year-old Michelle Martens, her 31-year-old boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, and his 31-year-old cousin, Jessica Kelley, face charges of child abuse resulting in death, kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Gonzales and Kelley have also been charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor.

Gonzales denied having anything to do with Victoria's death as he was led out of the police station in handcuffs late Wednesday while reporters yelled questions at him. The girl's mother said nothing as she was led out and placed into the back of a police car.

Police said Kelley was hospitalized late Wednesday and will be booked after she is released. No details were disclosed about why she was hospitalized.

The Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday that Kelley has a criminal history dating back to 2003 and court records show that she acted as a lookout while a woman allegedly raped another inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in September 2012.

Kelley reportedly pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration and was sentenced to three years in prison minus nearly a year for time served.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother told police Gonzales drugged the girl so he could calm her down and have sex with her. She said Kelley held her hand over Victoria's mouth and stabbed her in the stomach after Gonzales choked the child.

The complaint also states that the mother told investigators that Gonzales and Kelley dismembered Victoria.

One of the police officers who arrived at the apartment found the girl's body in a bathroom, rolled up in a blanket that had been set on fire. The officer put it out.

Albuquerque school officials identified the girl Thursday afternoon, saying in a statement that "Victoria is in our thoughts and prayers as we hold our children just a little tighter on this sad day."

Gonzales has a New Mexico arrest record stretching back to 2004, including a felony child abuse charge, driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

He pleaded no contest to a charge of child abandonment in 2015 and court officials said there were two outstanding warrants for his arrest stemming from drunken driving and littering cases in South Carolina.

Kelley's arrest record includes battery, domestic violence and drug charges  most of them dismissed. Online court records show no criminal history in New Mexico for Martens.

Mug shots of Martens and Gonzales released by police showed them with bruises on their faces. In his statement in the criminal complaint, Gonzales said his cousin hit him and Martens with an iron.

Bail was set at $1 million each for Martens and Gonzales by a judge at their first court appearance Thursday afternoon. The two did not speak in court and the public defense lawyer who represented them did not comment about the allegations.

At the makeshift shrine, Christie Zamora said Victoria attended her gymnastics class every Saturday and always seemed happy.

"She was incredibly social," Zamora said. "It's just so tragic."

Neighbor John Madrid frequently saw Victoria around the apartment complex and in the morning, waiting for her school bus.

"It just hurts," Madrid said, crying.

A birthday celebration had been planned for Victoria Wednesday afternoon after she was supposed to return home from school, Laura Bobbs, a local minister, told the Albuquerque Journal.

Bobbs said she had planned the party and that they were going to have pedicures and manicures and eat cake.

She broke down sobbing and yelling Wednesday outside the apartment complex as detectives investigated.

"Who does this to a little child?" she asked. "Oh Jesus. Oh what evil."

___

Follow Russell Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/russell-contreras .

This Aug. 25, 2016 booking photo provided by the Metropolitan Detention Center shows Michelle Martens. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says what happened to the little girl "is unspeakable and justice should come down like a hammer" on whoever is responsible. Officer Tanner Tixier said in a news release Wednesday, Aug. 24, that charges are being filed against Martens, Fabian Gonzales, and Jessica Kelley.(Metropolitan Detention Center via AP)

This Aug. 25, 2016 booking photo provided by the Metropolitan Detention Center shows Fabian Gonzales. Albuquerque police are charging Gonzales along with two other people in the death of a 10-year-old girl a killing called "unspeakable" by the state's governor. Officer Tanner Tixier said in a news release Wednesday, Aug. 24, that charges are being filed against Gonzales, Michelle Martens, and Jessica Kelley. (Metropolitan Detention Center via AP)

A memorial for a 10-year-old girl who police said was sexually assaulted, strangled then dismembered is seen at an Albuquerque, N.M., apartment building Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. On the day the girl was going to celebrate her 10th birthday, she was found dead Wednesday in her family's apartment by Albuquerque police, her dismembered remains lying under a burning blanket. The girl's mother, 35-year-old Michelle Martens, her 31-year-old boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales, and his 31-year-old cousin, Jessica Kelley, are facing charges. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
Ryan Lochte has been charged by Brazilian police over the fake robbery scandal at the Rio Games.

Police charged the American swimmer with filing a false report over an alleged incident during the Olympics earlier this month, when the 32-year-old said he was robbed at gunpoint with teammates after a night out.

Clemente Braune, a commissioner with the Special Tourist Police in Rio, said police have asked for a summons to be issued for Lochte, however the 12-time Olympic medalist can opt to send a lawyer and avoid answering questions himself in court.

If he is found guilty, Lochte could face up to six months in prison.

Ryan Lochte could face six months in prison after he was charged by Brazilian police over the fake robbery scandal at the Rio Games

Braune added the American could yet be sued by the gas station owner for the damage, both in civil and criminal court.

A crime with a maximum sentence of six months is not serious enough to be the subject of extradition, with the U.S.-Brazilian treaty for extradition covering only serious alleged crimes.

However the Brazilian authorities could make it almost impossible for Lochte to leave the U.S. by placing a red 'wanted' alert on his passport through Interpol, meaning that he would be arrested if he entered a country which has a treaty with Brazil which would allow extradition for false statement allegations.

It comes after Lochte said he exaggerated the claim he was robbed at gunpoint, after initially saying he and fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen were held up in a taxi by men with a police badge as they returned to the Olympic Village from a party.

However, security video suggested the four actually faced security guards after vandalizing a gas station restroom.

Local authorities say the guards had guns drawn and took money from the swimmers to cover the cost of damage they had done.

Police charged the American swimmer (pictured arriving home on August 20) with filing a false report over an alleged incident during the Olympics earlier this month

Security footage appeared to show Lochte and the other swimmers vandalizing a service station, where security guards allegedly pulled guns on them

Lochte has since acknowledged he was highly intoxicated and his behavior led to the confrontation.

Jimmy Feigen, the other swimmer who has admitted to lying to police, is free from any further action having paid a fine of $10,000 to settle the charges that allowed him to leave the country.

The other two swimmers who were present that night, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, have been cleared of any wrong doing.

News of the charges comes after the swimmer lost sponsorship deals with Speedo and Ralph Lauren after the controversy.

Lochte issued an apology on social media for his behavior during the scandal, and said he needed to be more 'candid' in how he described the incident

A statement from his former sponsor read: 'Speedo USA today announces the decision to end its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte.

'As part of this decision, Speedo USA will donate a 50,000 US dollars portion of Lochte's fee to Save The Children, a global charity partner of Speedo USA's parent company, for children in Brazil.

'While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for.

'We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience.'

Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger leave the police headquarters at International departures of Rio de Janiero's Galeo International airport

Lochte has lost a number of sponsors since the scandal, including Speedo and Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren followed Speedo just hours after the swimwear brand dropped the Olympian, declaring the company would not be renewing Lochte's contract.

Lochte was part of the USA's gold medal-winning 4x200 metres freestyle relay team for the fourth Olympics in succession, adding to further golds in the 400m individual medley at London 2012 and the 200m backstroke at Beijing 2008.
Woman wrongly declared dead as a child in 1930 dies at 94

DELANCO, N.J. (AP)  A New Jersey woman who was hit by a car and was wrongly declared dead as a child in 1930 has died at age 94.

A worker at Sweeney Funeral Home in Riverside says Margaret Gatti died Saturday at a Wilmington, Delaware, assisted-living facility.

Gatti's daughter tells Philly.com (http://bit.ly/2bAQLnt ) Gatti was the victim of a hit-and-run in Delanco when she was 9 years old. Gatti had a fractured skull, a crushed pelvis and a broken leg.

Daughter Mary Girifalco says Gatti was pronounced dead by a physician and was taken to a morgue, where someone noticed the sheet over her face moving up and down with her breath.

She says her mother "was very resilient" throughout her life. She says her mother had scars but walked well and had three children.

___
Arizona sheriff's campaign questions contempt order timing

PHOENIX (AP)  The campaign manager for metro Phoenix's longtime sheriff on Thursday questioned a federal judge's timing in asking prosecutors to pursue criminal contempt-of-court charges against the lawman 10 days before a primary election.

The rare move in a long-running racial profiling case alleging Sheriff Joe Arpaio targeted Latinos in traffic stops comes as he faces his toughest race in 23 years in office. It's unclear whether the ruling will hurt the popular 84-year-old's chances in the Republican primary Tuesday.

Arpaio is a national figure known for cracking down on illegal immigration and forcing inmates to wear pink underwear and live in tents outdoors in the summer heat. He gave a speech at the Republican National Convention and has raised $10 million this cycle, much of it from out-of-state sources.

FILE - This July 21, 2016 photo shows Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Arpaio's campaign manager has questioned a judge's timing in asking prosecutors to pursue a criminal contempt-of-court case against the lawman 10 days before he faces a primary election. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite,File)

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow sent the case to criminal court last week after concluding months ago that Arpaio intentionally ignored his orders to stop patrols targeting immigrants. A retired judge defended the decision, saying politics isn't a consideration, only getting out rulings as soon as possible.

Campaign manager Chad Willems said he finds the timing of the ruling to be odd but wasn't suggesting Snow was trying to harm Arpaio's bid for a seventh term.

"I am not impugning his motives or questioning his integrity. It just seems whenever a major decision comes out, the timing is curious," Willems said, citing a 2013 decision in which Snow found Arpaio's officers racially profiled Latinos.

That came days before Arpaio critics faced a key deadline in an effort to recall him from office, which failed.

The sheriff's leading GOP primary challenger, former Buckeye Police Chief Dan Saban, said the ruling will help sway undecided voters to cast a ballot against Arpaio.

"It's a gift at this point, but it wasn't something that we should count on," Saban said.

The other two Republican candidates, retired sheriff's Deputy Wayne Baker and Marsha Hill, former commander of a sheriff's volunteer group, said voters who staunchly support Arpaio will keep doing so.

"What I hear from people is that the feds are just out to get Joe," Baker said. "I hear that consistently on social media. I tell them, 'You just don't know, you are ill-informed.'"

It's rare to bring a contempt case against a public official, but it's been used to make a recalcitrant official comply with court orders, said Gabriel J. Chin, a law professor who teaches criminal procedure at the University of California, Davis.

Snow found Arpaio in civil contempt three months ago, and his ruling Friday moves the case into criminal court to be handled by another judge. Snow has not publicly explained why he turned it over to another judge.

Federal law says a judge is to be disqualified from a criminal contempt case if the defendant is accused of disrespecting or criticizing the court.

Mel McDonald, an attorney for Arpaio, said Snow couldn't decide the outcome of the criminal case because he was making some of the allegations against Arpaio.

"In a case like this that is so significant, I think the judge did this as a matter of judicial discretion, and I think it was a good idea," Chin said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office didn't have an estimate on when it will decide whether to charge Arpaio. If prosecutors decline, the judge who got the criminal case can appoint an attorney to push charges if she believes it's warranted.

Arpaio would face up to six months in jail if he's charged and convicted of misdemeanor criminal contempt, but he could stay in office. For felony contempt, federal law doesn't specify a sentencing range, so punishments are up to the judge. A felony conviction would bar him from holding office.

McDonald said Arpaio will not accept a plea bargain if he is charged criminally and instead will seek a jury trial.

"We would like the voters of Maricopa County to judge this," the attorney said.

Arpaio, through a spokesman, declined a request for an interview but has cited Snow's order in a fundraising email to supporters.

"I'm now asking again because without your help, I'm dead in the water," he wrote.

No rules govern the release of rulings that could affect elections, retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields said.

"You don't worry about the politics. You try to get the rulings out as best you can," he said.

Fields, who said he is no Arpaio fan, defended Snow as a conservative Republican judge with a strong ethical backbone. He said Arpaio has a habit of launching attacks against people who can't publicly respond.

"This is the standard Joe Arpaio trick," Fields said.

___

Follow Jacques Billeaud at twitter.com/jacquesbilleaud. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jacques-billeaud.
LA mom charged in death of malnourished son found in closet

LOS ANGELES (AP)  A Los Angeles woman has been charged with murder in the death of her severely malnourished 11-year-old son whose body was found in a closet.

Thirty-nine-year-old Veronica Aguilar was charged Thursday with one count each of murder and child abuse in the death of her son, Yonatan (yohn'-ah-tahn). Her arraignment, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, was postponed.

The court appoints attorneys at that time. It's unclear if Aguilar has obtained her own attorney since her arrest Monday.

This undated law enforcement booking photo provided by the Los Angeles Police Department shows Veronica Aguilar, 39. Aguilar has been charged with murder in the death of her severely malnourished 11-year-old son Yonatan, whose body was found wrapped in a blanket in a closet in their Los Angeles home Monday, Aug. 22, 2016. Aguilar was charged Thursday, Aug. 25, with one count each of murder and child abuse in the death of her son. (Los Angeles Police Department via AP)

Los Angeles Police say Aguilar's husband, Jose Pinzon (peen-ZOHN'), called them after Aguilar told him the boy was dead. Police say he then found Yonatan wrapped in a blanket in a closet of their home.

Police say Yonatan suffered from malnutrition and physical abuse and had been dead several hours.
NASA nears the end of its splashdown tests for Mars craft

HAMPTON, Va. (AP)  NASA on Thursday conducted the second to last splashdown test for its Orion spacecraft as the agency prepares to eventually send humans to Mars.

Scientists at NASA's Langley facility used a pendulum and explosives to vault a test capsule into a pool of water at about 25 mph. The 11-foot craft disappeared behind a bowl-shaped splash before bouncing buoyantly against safety netting.

The last time a NASA spacecraft parachuted into the ocean with astronauts on board was in the 1970s during the Apollo missions. The rules of physics haven't changed, but the technology has grown dramatically, NASA officials said.

A mockup of NASA's Orion spacecraft, a deep space vessel that is slated to eventually travel to Mars, hits the water in a simulated ocean splashdown test at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. An unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2018 with the first crewed flight is slated for 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The capsule's heat shield is no longer steel but carbon fiber and titanium, making it stronger and lighter. Instead of a couch-like seat to hold all of the astronauts, each will have his and her own custom-made chair to better protect the spine.

Computer simulations have shrunk the number of actual splashdown tests from 100 to 10.

"A capsule hitting the water hasn't changed," said Mark Baldwin, an analyst with Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor behind Orion. "But what we know about it has."

During Thursday's test, more than 500 instruments gauged aspects of the impact, including the level of strain on heatshield and the aluminum cabin. Crash test dummies were also inside to measure safety designs. The speed of the craft simulated the failure of one of its three parachutes.

Splashdowns are back because they require fewer instruments than touching down on land, and more space can be dedicated to supplies and other equipment, said Ronny Baccus, Orion's structure system manager.

Orion is meant to expand human exploration in space, principally Mars. It will blast off atop a megarocket still under development by NASA called SLS for Space Launch System.

Orion sailed through its first unmanned test flight in 2014, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Another unmanned launch is scheduled for 2018. The agency hopes Orion will carry astronauts into space by 2023.

A mockup of NASA's Orion spacecraft, a deep space vessel that is slated to eventually travel to Mars, floats to the surface after a simulated ocean splashdown test at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. An unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2018 with the first crewed flight is slated for 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

A mockup of NASA's Orion spacecraft, a deep space vessel that is slated to eventually travel to Mars, hits the water in a simulated ocean splashdown test at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. An unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2018 with the first crewed flight is slated for 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

A mockup of NASA's Orion spacecraft, a deep space vessel that is slated to eventually travel to Mars, creates a huge wave as it hits the water in a simulated ocean splashdown test at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. An unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2018 with the first crewed flight is slated for 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

A worker corrals a mockup of NASA's Orion spacecraft, a deeps pace vessel that is slated to eventually travel to Mars, after a simulated ocean splashdown test at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. An unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2018 with the first crewed flight is slated for 2023.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Missouri judge stops appointment of Nixon as public defender

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)  A Missouri judge is blocking the state public defender director from appointing Gov. Jay Nixon to a case.

An order Thursday by Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce said only courts can appoint defenders.

Missouri Public Defender System Director Michael Barrett appointed Nixon to the case in protest of what he says is inadequate funding to hire enough public defenders for people who can't afford to hire lawyers.

Nixon is a former state attorney general.

Nixon said in a statement Thursday the public defender's office has received an increase in funding since he's been in office. He said the agency should work on increasing efficiency before asking for more money.
'Serial' case alibi witness denies she was willing to lie

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  An alibi witness for a man whose murder conviction was re-examined in the popular "Serial" podcast is disputing claims in a court filing that she expressed willingness to lie to protect Adnan Syed.

The witness, Asia McClain Chapman, wrote on her website that the allegations from two sisters she knew in high school are "entirely false."

"It has been with great dismay that I read these entirely false allegations from these two sisters and it is with great sadness that I am now forced to question the true purpose and motivations behind these awful and untrue allegations," Chapman wrote.

A retired Baltimore judge ordered a retrial for Syed in June, and the attorney general is appealing the judge's order.

A court filing this week by the Maryland attorney general says one of the sisters reached out to the attorney general's office on her own in July, a week after a judge ordered a new trial for Syed. Both sisters have given sworn statements, saying they got into a 1999 argument with the witness.

"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," one sister wrote in the email.

The sisters were not identified in the court filing.

Chapman has said she saw Syed at the Woodlawn library about the same time Hae Min Lee was murdered in 1999.

"I have never wavered in my recollection of the events surrounding the murder of Ms. Lee," Chapman wrote on her website this week.

The attorney general's office is asking that the sisters' affidavits be used in court, if Chapman's alibi claim is introduced.

In his ruling for a new trial, now-retired Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Martin Welch said he disagreed that Syed's lawyer erred when she failed to contact McClain. He ruled that Syed's lawyers 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.
Ecuador president: Swedish prosecutor to interview Assange

QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa says a Swedish prosecutor will interview Wikileaks founder Julian Assange inside the South American country's embassy in London.

Assange has been holed up at the mission for four years since Swedish officials sought to question him over sexual assault allegations. He denies the charges.

Correa said Wednesday that the questioning will occur in the next few weeks with an Ecuadorean prosecutor present, but did not say exactly when.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan says without the implementation of agreements reached in the Vienna and St. Petersburg meetings, it is impossible to speak about a progress in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, Armenpress reports.

To the question the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process is in what stage, Kocharyan said first of all the agreements of the Vienna and St. Petersburg meetings must be implemented.

If they were implemented, then we would see it, but what progress can we talk about without the implementation of agreements? But the threats have always existed, and we must always be ready for everything, Shavarsh Kocharyan said.
Owen Smith accuses Jeremy Corbyn of being 'happy' about vote for Brexit

Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith has accused Jeremy Corbyn of being "happy" about the vote for the UK to leave the EU.

Mr Smith repeatedly questioned whether Mr Corbyn had voted to remain in the EU in June's referendum, during bad-tempered exchanges at the event in Glasgow.

He attacked Mr Corbyn for being "complacent and passive" about the result of the vote, but was heckled by audience members who accused him of being anti-democratic.

Owen Smith said it was "essential" to guard against a split

Mr Smith said: "The reason I think that Jeremy can be so complacent and passive about this is that he's happy about the result. He's not bothered about the result.

"The truth is of course that Jeremy is quite content now for us to sit back and for that hard Brexit that Liam Fox and David Davis and Theresa May are going to produce to take place.

"And I say to him, if he's so concerned about protecting workers' rights why on earth would we allow the Tories to implement a Brexit deal which is going to see workers' rights in this country sold down the river?"

Mr Smith said he was "gutted" by the EU referendum result, and said he was prepared to fight Brexit by opposing a vote to trigger Article 50 in parliament and by pledging to remain or rejoin the EU in a manifesto for the next general election.

He added: "Jeremy didn't fight hard last time round. I will."

Mr Smith continued: "Even if the Brexit deal that is on offer in 18 months, or two years or three years time at the next general election is worse for the British people, Jeremy's not going to put into a manifesto that we should reject it and act to stay in the European Union.

"That is an incredible admission for Jeremy to make and it makes me certain that Jeremy has never wanted us to stay in the EU."

He was booed as he added: "I'm not even sure Jeremy did vote In."

Mr Corbyn responded: "I thought we had grown up, we weren't any longer going to use those kind of questions."

Asked directly how he had voted, he said: "You know perfectly well that the answer is that I voted Remain and I'm very surprised and indeed disappointed by the question."

The Labour leader said the referendum had taken place and delivered a result, which was not the one he wanted but it had to be respected.

He said he would fight to protect workers' rights and consumer rights and to ensure "there is an effective economic relationship with Europe when the Brexit negotiations are completed".

He added: "We don't want to become a low-wage tax haven bargain basement economy off the shores of Europe."

Mr Smith earlier said his "grave fear" is that the Labour Party will split unless Mr Corbyn is replaced as leader.

Mr Corbyn responded: "It's an enormous honour to be selected and elected as a Labour member of Parliament.

"You have a huge responsibility to the community that has elected you and the party that has selected you and put you there, so the idea, as happened with the SDP in the 1980s, that you could walk away into the arms of wealthy donors and set up some other organisation is a complete and utter anathema to me.

"I want our party to be democratic and accountable."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at Glasgow's Crowne Plaza Hotel
Watchdog finds police force 'failing to record 38,000 reported crimes each year'

One of the biggest police forces in the country fails to record more than 38,000 reported crimes each year, including a quarter of violent offences.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was graded "inadequate" at recording crime, and a watchdog found officers were also wrongly cancelling recorded violence, robbery and sex offences.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said GMP recorded around 85% of crimes that were reported, but the force was under-recording some serious offences. A quarter of violent crimes, equivalent to more than 16,800 offences, went unrecorded in a year.

Greater Manchester Police was found to be under-recording some serious offences

Dru Sharpling from HMIC said: "Despite making some progress following our 2014 inspection, the force is failing some victims of crime.

"We estimate that the force fails to record over 38,000 reported crimes each year. The reported crimes that go unrecorded include serious crimes, such as violence and sexual offences.

"The failings are often a consequence of a lack of knowledge on the part of the officers and staff as to their responsibilities for crime-recording; including the cancellation of recorded crime records."

In dip samples of cancelled recorded crimes, 18 out of 20 rapes were found to have been correctly dropped, and 17 out of 21 other sexual offences.

But only 10 out of 20 violent crimes and 15 out of 22 robberies that were audited had been correctly cancelled.

GMP said recording levels had risen from 68% to 85% in the past two years, and that further progress would be made once a new IT system was introduced.

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling said: "Many victims of crime are satisfied with the service they receive, even when the crime is not recorded properly and the report doesn't highlight this.

"Whilst there are some unacceptable crime recording failings, many are simply administrative issues and do not mean we have failed the victim.

"A significant amount of activity has taken place to address these administrative problems and we will continue to work hard to address this."

He also stressed that the majority of unrecorded violent crimes were "in the less serious categories".

Another force, Staffordshire Police, was graded as "requires improvement" when recording crime.

HMIC said that 91% of reported crimes were recorded, including every rape, but that the force was under-recording offences including violence, sex offences and modern slavery.

Wendy Williams from the watchdog said: "The force is still not recording a large number of crimes each year properly - approximately 6,700 crimes, including some serious crimes, such as violence and sexual offences.

"There is a lack of knowledge amongst officers and staff about their responsibilities to record crime."

Meanwhile, Sussex Police was judged to be "good" at recording crime, with a rate of nearly 95%, although 5,300 offences were going unrecorded, including some serious allegations.

Chief Constable Giles York said: "We were inspected at no notice by the HMIC and to have achieved 95% accuracy is a huge testament to how our staff understand what this means for victims of crime.

"Some victims may not have had their crimes recorded entirely accurately and if they have felt let down by that, then I am really sorry.
Brexit an anti-establishment victory, Nigel Farage tells Trump supporters

Nigel Farage has said he would not vote for US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton if he was paid, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing her rival Donald Trump.

The outgoing Ukip leader was speaking at a rally for Republican White House hopeful Mr Trump in Jackson, Mississippi.

The majority of his speech focused on the success of the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, welcomes Nigel Farage at a campaign rally in Jackson, Mississippi (AP)

He framed it as a victory for the anti-establishment movement - a theme that is also popular in Mr Trump's campaign.

He said: "Anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment."

Mr Farage condemned President Barack Obama's decision to intervene in the EU referendum and urge Britons to vote Remain.

"I could not possibly tell you how to vote in this election," he said. "But I will say this, if I was an American citizen I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me."

Earlier, on a visit to Florida, Mr Trump said polls showed him trailing the state.

Mr Farage told the audience at the Mississippi Coliseum that they could challenge the expectations of pollsters as Brexit campaigners had.

He said that he came to the UK with a message of hope that "the little people" could "overcome" big banks and multinationals.
Man accused of stabbing UK backpacker 'may have been obsessed with her'

A 29-year-old man accused of stabbing British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung to death in Australia may have been "obsessed" with her, police say.

Smail Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and twelve counts of serious assault.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was attacked at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death at an Australian hostel (Tommy Martin/PA)

A 30-year-old British man, named by police as Tom Jackson, remains in hospital with critical head injuries, while a 46-year-old local man received non-life threatening injuries.

British backpacker Chris Porter, from Kent, jumped out of a second storey window to flee from the knifeman, who then chased him down the street, according to reports.

He is in hospital being treated for damage to both ankles.

Police are investigating reports that Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman, had an unrequited romantic interest or an "obsession" with Miss Ayliffe-Chung.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder of Queensland Police also said there was an indication that Ayad had taken cannabis on Tuesday evening.

Police have confirmed he shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack but said there is no indication that radicalisation or political motives were involved.

Mr Rohweder said there were a "number of concerns in relation to both officer and public safety" after the suspect allegedly attacked a number of officers.

A police statement said: "It will be alleged that as the man was being transported from the hospital to the watch house around 5.45pm, he assaulted two officers and resisted violently and police have had to use a Taser and capsicum spray on the man."

The 12 serious assaults he has been charged with are in relation to 12 separate police officers, Mr Rohweder said.

Ayad has had access to legal representation and the French consulate and has declined to be interviewed.

He is due to appear at Townsville Magistrates' Court via videolink on Friday.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung's post-mortem examination found her cause of death to be multiple stab wounds.

Her mother Rosie Ayliffe paid tribute to her daughter in a statement, saying she was an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit".

Mr Jackson was injured trying to help Miss Ayliffe-Chung. Police described his actions as "selfless".

He remains "very ill" and his father was due to arrive at the hospital.

Mr Rohweder said: "The prayers of the Queensland Police Service and, I imagine, the Queensland community, are with him."

British High Commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings is in Home Hill to provide support to Britons involved in the attack.
Relatives 'angry' at lack of safety measures after five men die in beach tragedy

The family of one of five young friends who died during a beach day-trip have questioned why safety measures were not brought in following another man's death last month.

Relatives of Nitharsan Ravi, 22, said they felt "very angry" at the lack of response from the authorities following the death of Gustavo Silva Da Cruz, 19, at Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex.

Mr Ravi died on Wednesday along with four other men - all aged in their late teens and early 20s and from London. The men, who have been named locally, include Inthushan Sri, brothers Kobi and Ken Nathan and a man named only as Kurushanth.

Police officers on Camber Sands near Rye

Clutching her brother's T-shirt, Mr Ravi's sister Mayura sobbed as she remembered how he always looked out for her.

And the 17-year-old said the family felt anger that the stretch of beach where they died had not been blocked off following Mr Da Cruz's death last month.

She said: "Now it's been blocked. Why didn't they do it before? They could have saved five other lives."

Mr Ravi's younger brother, Ajirthan, 19, said: "There wasn't any lifeguards cruising around.

"Because they would have quickly noticed these boys drowning, and could have at least saved their lives."

He said his brother had died after trying to rescue two of his friends who had become trapped underneath the water.

He said: "Ken and Inthushan got stuck in water.

"So what they do is the three boys try to save them."

He said attempt s failed and Kurushanth was brought out first and declared dead straight away.

"My bro and Kobi had heartbeats and managed to survive for a few minutes but after first aid they couldn't recover."

Both died within 15 minutes after being pulled from the water, he said.

The bodies of Ken Nathan and Inthushan Sri were discovered later that evening, he said, adding that he thought they had got their legs caught in the "slippery mud" and sand on the sea bottom.

Mayura paid tribute to her older brother, saying: "He was very protective. Even two, three weeks ago he was telling me not to wear certain types of dresses because he didn't like it.

"I just want him back because it just feels like a dream, it doesn't feel real."

More than 50 relatives and friends of Mr Ravi shared their grief in the family's living room, spilling out onto the street outside.

Mr Ravi's mother's cousin Mira Lawrence, from Plumstead, south-east London, said: "We can save more people in future. We don't want to lose more people like how we lost in our family, it shouldn't happen to anyone.

"What if it's little kids, families? It's just more devastation."

Ms Lawrence said Mr Ravi loved sport: "Every weekend it's football and cricket matches. An amazing kid, very family-orientated with lots of friends."

An online petition started a month ago to campaign for lifeguards at Camber has reached more than 3,600 signatures. Local resident Emily Van Eyssen, 44, said the need for lifeguards was long overdue.

A spokesman for Rother District Council said that, despite there being no lifeguards, there were summer patrols to advise people of potential dangers.

"While it's very upsetting to see two similar, tragic incidents this summer, over the years these kind of incidents are extremely rare and on a fine day around 25,000 people use the beach safely," he said.

"Although it's too early to draw any conclusions from this latest incident, in recent years we have seen a change in the make-up of visitors to Camber, including more people from outside the area who are not familiar with the sea and the dangers it can pose."

Charles Bosco, 27, from west London, said he had known Mr Ravi since the age of 10, and described him as a "fun, bubbly guy".

He added: "He is a lovely guy who cares for his family. He is a social guy. Every time I saw him he would immediately come and talk to me."

In tribute to Mr Sri, Ranu Kumar wrote on Facebook: "Was one of the best genuine, one of my closest cousins in UK."

Mayu Mayuran, a Sri Lankan who told the Press Association he was related to Mr Sri, wrote: "We miss you Inthushan - rest in peace."

The five men had gone to the coast for a day trip, according to Sussex Police, as investigations continued into what caused their deaths.

Hannah Chatfield helped drag one of the men out of the water. She said: "Me and my boyfriend went to get him because the lifeguards were with the first guy. We were on the beach for about 45 minutes trying to resuscitate him but it didn't work."

It was feared a sixth person was missing, but there was no search operation on Thursday and day-trippers were continuing to arrive on the beach.

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly said: "These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea, but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day.

"We have no further reports of anyone else missing from Camber and there are no ongoing searches related to this incident.

"This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them."
England's tour of Bangladesh to go ahead despite recent security concerns

England's tour of Bangladesh this autumn will go ahead despite recent security concerns.

Concerns over playing in the country spiked last month with 20 hostages and two police officers killed in an attack which m ilitant group Islamic State said it carried out.

England have two Tests and three one-day internationals planned, in Dhaka and Chittagong, between October 7 and November 1.

England captain Alastair Cook will lead his team in Bangladesh

The England and Wales Cricket Board's security expert Reg Dickason, director of cricket operations John Carr and David Leatherdale, representing the Professional Cricketers' Association, recently made a fact-finding visit to the country and reported back.

And after assessing the situation, the England and Wales Cricket Board tweeted: "We can confirm that @englandcricket's tour of Bangladesh will continue as planned."

A statement issued on Thursday read: "A full assessment of facilities and operations in both Bangladesh and India was made this month.

"England players - including Test captain Alastair Cook and one-day captain Eoin Morgan - were tonight briefed on arrangements and the risk assessment by Reg Dickason, alongside Andrew Strauss, David Leatherdale, John Carr and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison."

Director of cricket Strauss added: "England's tour of Bangladesh will continue as planned.

"Safety and security of players and management are always paramount. We've received a thorough risk assessment, had excellent insight into the current situation and been fully briefed on security commitments.

"ECB and PCA have the utmost confidence in the advice and support we've been given.

"Tonight we discussed details with the players and management in an open meeting. They asked lots of questions, have time to ask more and will clearly want to take it all in - we understand that.

"Selection for the tour will be made after the end of the summer internationals.

"We will, as always, continue to monitor the situation right up to and throughout the tour."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently advises "there is a heightened threat of further terrorist attacks" in Bangladesh, although the same could be said of many European cities, including London.

Bangladesh limited-overs captain Mashrafe Mortaza made a personal call this week, asking England to bring their cricketers to a troubled country that values the sport as highly as any other on the circuit.

However, Cricket Australia postponed a scheduled trip to the country last winter citing specific, credible threats against its team.

Previously, E ngland's class of 2003 declined to go to Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe in the 2003 World Cup, at the eventual cost of their own progress in the competition.

Five years later Andrew Strauss' side returned to India to complete a Test series that had been thrown into doubt by terror attacks in Mumbai, with Sachin Tendulkar praising England's actions after he led an emotionally-charged victory in Chennai.

England are due to arrive in Bangladesh on September 30 and have three warm-up matches scheduled before the Tests and ODIs.
Danny Drinkwater signs new five-year contract with champions Leicester

Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater has signed a new five-year contract, the Premier League champions have announced.

The deal ties the 26-year-old England international to the Foxes until 2021 and sees him join the likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Kasper Schmeichel in committing his future to the club this summer.

Drinkwater told www.lcfc.com: "I've loved playing for this club. It's been perfect for me and my career and I want to be here for a long time to come. I couldn't be happier."

Danny Drinkwater's new contract ties him to Leicester until 2021

Drinkwater joined Leicester in 2012 from home-town club Manchester United and has made 177 appearances for the Foxes.

He was named the club's player of the year as Leicester won promotion back to the top flight in the 2013/14 campaign, and last season played a key role as the Foxes upset the odds to win their first Premier League title.

Drinkwater, who won the first of his three England caps against Holland in March, added: "I've grown a lot as a player and a person in the last four years and Leicester City has been a massive part of that. I owe a lot to the staff here for helping me get to this point - they've been quality.

"And I love being part of this team. We've been through so much together and I'm sure there's a lot more to come."

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is delighted that Drinkwater has pledged his long-term future to the champions.

The Italian said: "Ever since I joined Leicester City, Danny has been one of our most consistent players. He's a fantastic player and a fantastic man.
Hammond urged to detail Budget impact analysis

Philip Hammond must spell out the impact of his Budgets on the poorest and richest families in Britain, the chairman of the influential Treasury Select Committee has urged.

The Chancellor faced calls to publish an analysis of how measures in budgets hit people across the earnings range after George Osborne abandoned the practice.

Tory Treasury Select Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie urged the new Chancellor to reinstate the full distributional analysis previously used by Mr Osborne before being dropped in 2015.

The new Chancellor faced calls to publish an analysis of how measures in budgets hit people across the earnings range after George Osborne abandoned the practice

Mr Tyrie said: "Since the summer Budget of July 2015, the Treasury has replaced its previously excellent budget distributional analysis series with a manifestly deficient substitute.

"The new Prime Minister is committing her Government to making Britain a country that works 'not for a privileged few, but for every one of us'.

"A high level of transparency about the effects of tax and welfare policy on households across the income distribution would seem to be a logical, perhaps essential starting point."

In his letter to Mr Hammond, the committee chairman said the new system showed the share of public expenditure received and taxes paid by households, broken down into five income groups.

But he said that was "inadequate" for a number of reasons and "cannot be used to determine the effect of Government policies on household incomes".

"The new distributional analysis does, of course, provide some information of use but it is manifestly deficient," he told Mr Hammond.
I've had too many sad families with the air ambulance, William tells charity

The Duke of Cambridge has offered a glimpse of the emotional impact of his work as an air ambulance pilot.

William visited the Young Minds youth mental health charity with the Duchess and asked for "an easy one" when told they would be listening in to real calls to its helpline from concerned parents.

He told the volunteers at their London headquarters: "I'm carrying a lot of things at the moment. I'll be in floods of tears at the end otherwise.

The Duke of Cambridge listens in to real calls during a visit to Young Minds

"I've had too many sad families with the air ambulance so I can't have any more stuff. Something on the lower level if I can."

William has been a part-time helicopter pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) since July 2015, having previously served with RAF search and rescue. He donates his salary in full to charity.

William's comments came the day after he shared his experience 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 on Wednesday, 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, telling him: "Time makes it easier."

Speaking at Young Minds on Thursday, the Duke also revealed that he still gets nervous thinking about his GCSEs, on the day thousands of schoolchildren in England and Wales received their exam results.

Young Minds volunteer Saida Tahir, 46, told him they see a rise in calls around results time in August.

William replied: "It still gives me the heebie jeebies, I still get sweaty palms thinking about it."

The Duke took his exams at Eton, receiving three A*s, five As and two Bs.

Speaking after their meeting, Mrs Tahir, a special needs teacher and mother-of-two, said: "It brings memories back of his own exams, which is great because he remembers what it was like for himself and the anxiety he went through."

She added that the royal couple had seemed "passionate" about child mental health.

Over the past year, William and Kate have focused much of their public work on promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of children, teenagers and adults.

Young Minds is a member of the Heads Together umbrella group of existing charities brought together by the Cambridges and Prince Harry to tackle a problem that often brings stigma.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the London headquarters of the Young Minds youth mental health charity

The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Young Minds in London

The Duchess of Cambridge listens to calls to the Young Minds charity

Kate and William during a visit to Young Minds in London, a helpline service run by one of the eight charity partners of their Heads Together mental health campaign

Over the past year, William and Kate have focused much of their public work on promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of children, teenagers and adults
Mark Hughes may give up on protracted Saido Berahino negotiations

Stoke manager Mark Hughes admits he may have to soon accept defeat in their pursuit of West Brom's Saido Berahino.

The Potters have been chasing the 23-year-old for much of the transfer window and had hoped that they could persuade the Baggies to part with a striker who has long tried to engineer a move away from The Hawthorns.

Berahino's deal expires in the summer yet Stoke have been unable to tempt West Brom's new owners to cash in so far and, with less than a week until the window closes, Hughes knows he may now have to move on to other targets.

Saido Berahino's contract with West Brom runs until the end of this season

"We're quite a way down the line with that one, in terms of going back and to," he said at his press conference on Thursday.

"I'm not really up to date in terms of where we are at this moment in time.

"You have to let these things run their course and give them the time that they deserve. There may well become a point, not necessarily with these negotiations, but certainly some deals just go on and on and you get to a point where you have to make a decision to move on.

"There have been deals this window where we've made the decision to do that but aren't in the public domain like this one.

"We're still there, we're still of the view that something may happen but we're close to a point where maybe we have to look at alternatives."

Another player heavily linked with a move to Staffordshire has been Manchester United defender Phil Jones, who came through the academy at Hughes' old club Blackburn when the Welshman was at Ewood Park.

Jones left Rovers to make a move to Old Trafford, with Sir Alex Ferguson predicting he could become the best player in United's history, but a raft of injuries have stunted his progress.

Hughes, whose side have not kept a clean sheet in the league since March, stated his admiration for Jones on Thursday, but hinted that an initial enquiry into the 24-year-old defender may have been rebuffed.

"We've made enquiries, we've talked about a lot of players, too many to list," he added.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs that on August 25 the USD exchange rate was 474.68 AMD which is an increase of 0.34 drams compared to the previous day.

Armenpress reports that the Euro increased by 1.09 drams forming 536.15 drams. British pound rose by 0.83 6.93 drams forming 628.00 drams, Russian ruble remained the same 7.32 drams on August 25.

The prices for precious metals are as follows: the price for silver per gram is 287.52 AMD, gold-20,255.58 AMD, and platinum-16,634.83 AMD.
Marcus Rashford called up for England Under-21s duty

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has been called up by the England Under-21s for the first time.

The forward, who made two substitute appearances at Euro 2016 for the senior squad this summer, is in Gareth Southgate's squad to face Norway next month.

Rashford scored on his full debut against Australia in May but has now dropped down to Southgate's set-up for their Euro 2017 qualifier in Colchester.

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, left, celebrates scoring on his senior England debut against Australia last season

He was considered for the Toulon Tournament - which England won - in the summer but eight goals in 18 games for United propelled him into Roy Hodgson's senior side.

Southgate said: "Last season, his pathway was remarkable and we're very conscious of plotting how we develop our young players.

"We spoke a lot with Manchester United last season when we put him in the under-20s in March, which both they and ourselves felt was the right thing at the time.

"He then continued his progress, which was great, and of course he played a part in Roy's squad at the Euros.

"But if he's less likely to start with the seniors at this moment in time, and Sam (Allardyce) is quite keen that people are playing regularly, we think that it's now a good opportunity in his international development for him to be with the under-21s.

"Marcus has a good mentality, so I know he'll respond in the right way and we're looking forward to working with him."

Everton's Mason Holgate has also been handed his first call-up, Derby midfielder Will Hughes returns from injury while Arsenal's Rob Holding and Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also included.

It is Southgate's first squad since the under-21s won the Toulon Tournament in the summer, the first time in 22 years they had won the competition.

England are top of Group 9, three points ahead of Switzerland, and also host Bosnia-Herzegovina at Walsall's Banks's Stadium in October in their final group game after travelling to Kazakhstan.
Cristiano Ronaldo wins UEFA Best Player in Europe Award

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

The forward led Real Madrid to Champions League glory before captaining Portugal to victory at Euro 2016, their first major title.

The 31-year-old saw off competition from his Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale and Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann to land the award.

Cristiano Ronaldo has added another award to his collection

Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Madrid last season, including the winning penalty in the shoot-out win over Atletico in the Champions League final.

He scored only three times at Euro 2016, Griezmann finishing the competition as top-scorer with six goals, and was injured 25 minutes into the final against France.
Three Britons reportedly killed in Italy earthquake

Three Britons are reportedly among those killed in the Italy earthquake.

An official from the town of Amatrice, one of the worst affected areas, told the BBC that three British nationals were among the dead.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Thursday that a number of Britons had been "affected" by the earthquake, which has left at least 250 people dead and levelled three small towns after it struck in the early hours of Wednesday.

Rescuers make their way through destroyed houses following Wednesday's earthquake in Italy (AP)

The Foreign Office refused to comment on reports of the deaths.

Mr Johnson said extra staff had been sent to the region to help provide support to Britons affected by the "terrible" quake, while the G overnment has offered "any assistance that we can" to the Italian authorities.

He said: "My deepest sympathies are with the Italian people and everyone affected by the terrible earthquake that struck central Italy.

"The British Government has offered any assistance that we can to help with the recovery effort and I have spoken with Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni to express my condolences personally.

"As the scale of the disaster has become clearer we now know that a number of British nationals have been affected.

"British Embassy staff are in the region providing consular support, and we have deployed additional staff to support this effort."

Aftershocks have been felt in central Italy as rescue workers continued efforts to find survivors. At least 365 people were injured in the initial earthquake and the aftermath.

A day after the shallow quake levelled three small towns, a 4.3 magnitude aftershock hit the already-devastated settlement of Amatrice.

Firefighters and rescue crews using sniffer dogs have been working in teams around the hardest-hit areas of the country.

"We will work relentlessly until the last person is found, and make sure no one is trapped," said Lorenzo Botti, a rescue team spokesman.

A police official in the Amatrice area told the Press Association that "a number of Britons" had been killed in the earthquake.
Why Ukip leadership hopeful Diane James is not proposing any policies

A Ukip MEP bidding to succeed Nigel Farage has insisted she is putting forward no policies as part of her leadership campaign.

Diane James said she wants to "refresh and review" the party's 2015 general election manifesto in her first 100 days should she become leader.

This would ensure Ukip is "fully prepared" if Prime Minister Theresa May calls an early general election, she added.

Diane James said she wants to 'refresh and review' Ukip's 2015 general election manifesto

Ms James has organised her own events rather than attend the Ukip leadership hustings involving the other four candidates.

Asked what policies she has put forward at her events, Ms James told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I have not put forward any policies. What I have put forward is what I've called my first 100 days programme.

"I've made the point that any candidate developing policy on the hoof, putting forward ideas about policies at this stage without checking if they're realistic, whether the current Government system we have - either still in the EU or finally out of the European Union control - whether they're costed or not, you can't make up policy like that."

Pressed on her first 100-day programme including no policies, Ms James replied: "It entails a refresh and review of our very successful - and acknowledged as such - general election manifesto to ensure that if Theresa May bounces in with a very early general election - I think she will do that - that we are fully prepared.

"That means going back to that very successful general election manifesto, updating it, refreshing it, reviewing it, taking out stuff that's no longer relevant because, for instance, our opposition has already stolen it, and making sure that it's absolutely fresh and appeals to the political environment out there when the next general election occurs."

Presenter Mishal Husain noted: " So there is nothing fresh that you have put forward now as part of your offering?"

Ms James replied: " No, I have not. What I have highlighted is that the focus I believe has got to be on the National Health Service, has got to be on defence and homeland security, and it's got to be on delivering housing supply."

Ukip's justice and home affairs spokeswoman also said there is no need for a dress code for British beaches.

Asked if she would like to see the UK emulate some French authorities in banning burkinis, Ms James replied: "There's no reason to do that, is there?

"But if there was a UK Bill of Rights, if there was a proper - and I emphasise proper - citizens' charter that said if individuals are coming here, this is what we expect of you to integrate into the UK society, I don't think some of the problems the French have come up with would even begin to manifest themselves here."

Pressed on whether she would like to see a "burkini ban" on British beaches, Ms James said she would not criticise the French after noting it was a decision taken by local government in some areas of France.
Vladimir Putin hits out at Russia's ban from Paralympics

Vladimir Putin has branded Russia's ban from the Paralympics as immoral and inhumane.

The International Paralympic Committee has barred Russian athletes from competing in September's Games in Rio over state-sponsored doping, with the Russian Paralympic Committee failing in a bid to get the decision overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Russian President Putin said the IPC's ruling was borne out of "revenge and frustration".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has attacked the decision to ban his country's athletes from the Paralympics

Speaking at an award's ceremony at the Kremlin for those athletes who won gold medals at the Rio Olympics, he said: "The decision to disqualify our Paralympic athletes goes beyond law, morality and humanity.

"It is quite simply cynical to take out one's revenge and frustration on people for whom sport has become their life purpose and whose example gives hope and self-confidence to millions of people with disabilities.

"I even feel pity for those who take decisions of this kind because they do not understand just how degrading this is for them.

"I would like to tell our Paralympic athletes that we will support them of course, and we will organise competitions where they can demonstrate their skills, and the rewards for the winners will be the same as what they would have received for their results in the Paralympics."

Putin also attacked what he claimed was the political decision to stop many Russian athletes from competing at the Olympics. The county had only one track and field competitor in Rio - long jumper Darya Klishina - and its weightlifting team was banned in its entirety.

"We greatly value those who uphold the Olympic movement's principles and strive to preserve the unity of the big Olympic family," he said.

"To our great regret, however, we have witnessed how the humanitarian foundations of sport and the Olympic spirit have been insolently trampled underfoot by politics.

"We have seen how issues are decided based on considerations of the moment, and how selfish interest and perhaps even cowardice have triumphed over the Olympic principles."
Back problem rules Owen Farrell out of Saracens' Aviva Premiership opener

Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell will miss the start of the Aviva Premiership season with a back problem that director of rugby Mark McCall insists is only minor.

Farrell, who was instrumental in England's 3-0 series whitewash of Australia in June, sustained the injury during pre-season more than a month ago and has been managing it since.

The 24-year-old will sit out at least the Premiership opener against Worcester at Twickenham on September 3 and possibly additional matches, but McCall insists the prognosis is short term.

Owen Farrell will miss the start of Saracens' season through injury

"Owen has a little bit of a back niggle, but it's nothing serious. We'll have to see how it is at the start of next week," McCall said.

"It isn't related to the England tour, it's something that has been picked up in the last five weeks. We don't expect him to miss too much though."

Farrell was a central figure in Saracens' march to a Premiership and Champions Cup last season and, on the strength of his displays against the Wallabies in June, is knocking on the door of world class status.
Investors urge G20 nations to ratify Paris climate deal this year

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.
Turkey-backed Syrian rebels seize four villages in Syria - media

ISTANBUL, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkey-backed Syrian rebels have seized control of four villages in northern Syria as part of an offensive coordinated with Turkish forces to drive Islamic State from the border, Dogan news agency cited military sources as saying on Tuesday.

A total of 46 Islamic State militants have so far been killed in the operation aimed at taking control of the Syrian border town of Jarablus, the agency said.
EDF, France agree on 400 mln euro compensation for Fessenheim closure-source

PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - French state-controlled utility EDF and the French government have agreed on a 400 million euro ($450 million) compensation package for the closure of EDF's Fessenheim nuclear plant, a source familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

The source said the French state would pay EDF 100 million euros in 2019 with a second fixed payment of 300 million euros in 2020. EDF could potentially receive further payments depending on future power prices and nuclear costs, the source added.

The energy ministry could not immediately be reached.

French President Francois Hollande pledged in his election campaign in 2012 to close Fessenheim in eastern France, one of the country's oldest reactors, before the end of his mandate in May 2017.

The socialist government has asked EDF several times to launch the lengthy closure procedure before the end of 2016, but the firm wanted to reach an agreement on compensation first.

At the end of July, EDF said compensation for a Fessenheim closure would consist of a fixed and variable part, partly based on how much profit EDF would forego based on the assumption it could continue running the plant till 2041 and based on market prices and the effective costs at similar 900 megawatt plants.

EDF's Works Council, whose recommendations are not binding for management, will review the Fessenheim compensation package on Sept. 14, before the utility's board makes a decision on a possible closure later this year.

The plant's eventual closure is not entirely certain however.

An energy transition law passed last year specified only that French nuclear capacity will remain at current levels, which means EDF would only have to close one of its older plants when it completes a new plant under construction in Flamanville.
Turkish operation in Syria to continue until imminent threats neutralized -official

ISTANBUL, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Turkey will continue operations in Syria, where Turkish tanks, jets and special forces launched an offensive in support of Syrian rebels on Wednesday, until imminent threats to its national security are neutralized, a Turkish official said.

The aim of the operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield", is to permanently stop the flow of foreign terrorist fighters and cut supply routes to militant groups, the official said.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan says Turkeys announcements on joining the Eurasian Economic Union are absurd, reports Armenpress.

Kocharyan said for joining the EAEU Turkey must withdraw from a number of unions.

Many absurd announcements are made. For joining the EAEU Turkey must withdraw from the EU Customs Union, the country must stand back from its path towards the EU. Here many other issues exist, thats why it is meaningless to comment on such absurd announcements, Shavarsh Kocharyan said.

As for any other states, as well as Turkeys membership to the EAEU, Kocharyan said it is possible to make such a decision only through mutual agreement of the member states.
England beat Pakistan in rain-hit first one-dayer

Aug 24 (Reuters) - England beat Pakistan by 44 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method in a rain-affected first one-day international in Southampton on Wednesday.

Pakistan made 260 for six in their 50 overs and England moved on to 194 for three in 34.3 overs, Jason Roy making 65 and Joe Root 61, before rain brought a premature end to the match.

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, who won the toss, hit 82 to lead his team to a below-par total in bright sunshine and ideal batting conditions.

Azhar started slowly but increased the tempo to strike nine fours before top-edging leg-spinner Adil Rashid to Moeen Ali at short fine leg.

Babar Azam scored 40 and Sarfraz Ahmed 55 but the touring side never really broke the shackles imposed by a disciplined England attack in which Rashid was the most successful bowler with figures of 2-51.

England lost Alex Hales for seven but Roy flayed six fours and a six and shared a second-wicket partnership of 89 with Root.

Roy was caught on the long-off boundary off Mohammad Nawaz and Root was run out after being called through for an impossible single by captain Eoin Morgan but England were always ahead of the required run rate.
Islamic State attacks Western-backed camp on Jordan-Syria border

AMMAN, Aug 24 (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 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.
Kerry tackles Yemen, Syrian conflicts in Saudi Arabia talks

By Lesley Wroughton

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, into the early hours of Thursday morning on ways to end Yemen's conflict and resume peace talks between the warring sides.

Kerry arrived in Jeddah from Nigeria for discussions with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states and will also update them on U.S. meetings with Russia addressing military cooperation in Syria, a senior U.S. official said ahead of the talks.

Backing by Gulf nations for the Syria plan is vital because they wield influence over Syrian opposition groups involved in Syria's civil war. Russia and Iran support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The talks come as Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered one of Islamic State's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border, in Turkey's first major U.S.-backed incursion into its southern neighbor.

Earlier, the State Department said Kerry will meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Geneva on Friday to try to close a deal on possible military cooperation and intelligence sharing in Syria. It could see Assad's warplanes grounded, while Russian and U.S. militaries coordinate strikes against Islamic State militants.

In Saudi Arabia, talks with Mohammed bin Salman, which began late and lasted three hours, ended at 12:59 a.m. local time, U.S. officials said.

Kerry will meet Saudi King Salman later on Thursday. Afterwards, he joins foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and British Under-Secretary for the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, to explore ways to end Yemen's 16-month conflict, which has killed about 6,500 people, half of them civilians.

A Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen in support of the government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Iran-allied Shi'ite Muslim 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 U.S. forces may also be responsible under the rules of war for civilian casualties because of its support for the Saudi campaign.

Kerry "will raise our concerns about civilian casualties and damage to civilian targets inside Yemen," the U.S. official said, adding that he would press the Saudis to ensure air strikes were "discriminate and precise."
Without aid, 49,000 children will die this year in northeast Nigeria - UN

LAGOS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Nearly half a million children around Lake Chad face "severe acute malnutrition" due to drought and a seven-year insurgency by Islamist militant group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, UNICEF said on Thursday.

Of the 475,000 deemed at risk, 49,000 in Nigeria's Borno state, Boko Haram's heartland, will die this year if they do not receive treatment, according to the United Nations' child agency, which is appealing for $308 million to cope with the crisis.

However, to date, UNICEF said it had only received $41 million, 13 percent of what it needs to help those affected in the four countries - Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon - that border Lake Chad.

At the start of 2015, Boko Haram occupied an area the size of Belgium but has since been pushed back over the last 18 months by military assaults by the four countries.

Most of its remaining forces are now hiding in the wilds of the vast Sambisa forest, southeast of the Borno provincial capital, Maiduguri.

UNICEF said that as Nigerian government forces captured and secured territory, aid officials were starting to piece together the scale of the humanitarian disaster left behind in the group's wake. "Towns and villages are in ruins and communities have no access to basic services," UNICEF said in a report.

In Borno, nearly two thirds of hospitals and clinics had been partially or completely destroyed and three-quarters of water and sanitation facilities needed to be rehabilitated.

Despite the military gains, UNICEF said, 2.2 million people remain trapped in areas under the control of Boko Haram - which is trying to establish a caliphate in the southern reaches of the Sahara - or are staying in camps, fearful of going home.

Boko Haram is thought to have killed as many as 15,000 people since the launch of its insurgency in 2009.

Responding to its battlefield setbacks, Boko Haram has turned to suicide bombings, many involving children.

UNICEF said it had recorded 38 cases of child suicide bombings so far this year, against 44 in the whole of 2015 and just four the year before that.
Spring rain for Australia's north to hold cattle prices high

By Tom Westbrook

SYDNEY, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Australia's north is forecast to receive above average rainfall over the next three months, the country's weather bureau said on Thursday, boosting cattle herds.

The continent's tropical northwest has at least a 60 percent chance of above average rainfall from September to October, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said, with rains forecast to sweep from the Kimberley coast, southwest of Darwin, east to cattle grazing lands in Queensland. There is an even chance of a wetter-than-average spring across the rest of the country.

"A wet spring for most of those cattle regions will mean the producers are able to hold on to stock for a bit longer because they'll have grass on the ground," said Matt Dalgleish, a livestock market analyst at agricultural advisory firm Mercardo.

"That kind of rainfall and the prospect of that rainfall will support prices," he said, adding that he expected live export prices to retreat from near-record highs, though slowly as herd rebuilding limits supply growth.

Australia's beef benchmark, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, on Thursday was at A$7.07 ($5.39) per kilogram, down from a record-high of A$7.26 earlier in the month.

Favourable weather on the east coast, forecast to continue, increases expectations that 2016/17 output of wheat - the country's most significant rural export - will exceed official estimates, pegged in June at a five-year high of 25.4 million tonnes.
Taiwan stocks rise on bargain hunting as financials recover

TAIPEI, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks rose on Thursday on bargain hunting after recent lows, with shares in Mega Financial , the focus of a local probe by prosecutors, rising for the first time in five sessions.

As of 0153 GMT, the main TAIEX index rose 0.5 percent, to 9,060.28, after closing 0.2 percent lower in the previous session.

The electronics subindex rose 0.7 percent, while the financials subindex gained 0.9 percent.

Among active counters, Mega Financial was up over 1 percent.

After being hit by a rare fine in the U.S. for anti-money laundering violations, local prosecutors earlier this week began their own investigation on whether the financial giant broke any local criminal laws.
Welspun scandal follows years of plummeting Egyptian cotton output

By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A scandal involving the alleged sale of falsely labeled Egyptian cotton products by an Indian textile manufacturer to U.S. big box retailers highlights a stiff reality facing the high-end fiber market: there isn't much Egyptian cotton any more.

The shortage of cotton from Egypt, which commands a premium due to its superior quality, creates an incentive to blend it with other types of cotton without disclosing it or to counterfeit the label altogether, cotton traders said, exacerbating a problem that has plagued the industry for years.

Welspun India has lost 42 percent of its market value in the three days since Target Corp said it would sever ties with the textile manufacturer, one of the world's largest, accusing it of substituting cheaper, non-Egyptian cotton into sheets and pillowcases.

Egyptian cotton is prized because much of it is "long staple" or "extra long staple," meaning the length of the cotton fibers is longer, resulting in a finer, lighter more durable fabric and longer-lasting, higher-end clothing.

While other countries including the United States and Australia produce larger quantities of high-end cotton than Egypt, cotton from the North African country has retained its prestige because of a long history growing the crop.

But Egypt's cotton output has been declining for the past decade after farmers failed to adapt to shifting consumer demand for mass-produced items made from short- or medium-staple fiber, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The decline has become a full-fledged crisis in recent years after the government removed cash subsidies, and many farmers replaced cotton acreage with rice, the USDA said.

Egypt will produce just 160,000 480-lb bales of cotton in 2016/17, down from 1.4 million bales as recently as 2004/05, accounting for less than 0.2 percent of expected global output.

This means some products marketed as containing Egyptian cotton almost certainly do not, or are blended with other types of cotton without proper disclosure, said Jordan Lea, chairman and co-owner of cotton merchant Eastern Trading in Greenville, South Carolina.

"If you look at the volume of Egyptian goods that are for sale, and you look at the volume of Egyptian cotton that's produced, it would lead one to scratch one's head," Lea said.

A GOLD SEAL?

Long and extra long staple cotton is rare - it makes up just 2.5 percent of annual world cotton production of more than 100 million bales, according to the USDA - and trades at a substantial premium.

U.S. extra long staple cotton, or "pima," trades for 152.25 cents per lb, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data, a 125 percent premium over cotton prices on ICE Futures U.S., a contract that accepts cotton of a "strict low middling staple length".

Ron Lawson, a cotton industry veteran and broker with LOGIC Advisors in Sonoma, California, said he had "no idea" what Egyptian cotton prices were, which he said showed how much of a "novelty" item the fiber was.

Improper labeling of cotton products including clothing and bedding is a violation of the U.S. Textile Act and Rules, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

An FTC spokesman declined to comment on whether the agency was aware of Target's allegations or had started an investigation.

Egypt's cotton association appears to be aware of widespread counterfeiting. In April, its executive director told trade publication Home and Textiles Today that it had tested retail products labeled 'Egyptian cotton' and found that 90 percent contained no Egyptian cotton at all.

The Cotton Egypt Association lists Welspun as one of just three companies permitted to label its products with the association's "Gold Seal," which was launched earlier this year and is meant to ensure authenticity.

Mukesh Saviani, a Welspun executive, told the trade publication in February that the seal was "an assurance to retailers that they will not get into any compliance issues."

The scandal could leave big box U.S. retailers wary of dealing with products labeled Egyptian cotton, potentially providing a boon to growers of U.S. Pima cotton in places like California and Arizona.
Nickel merry-go-round: Indonesia ferronickel replacing Philippine ore: Russell

By Clyde Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Is nickel's current rally sustainable or is the metal merely having a strong run because market participants are more focused on the environmental crackdown in top ore miner the Philippines, rather than on the surge in Indonesian ferronickel exports?

No doubt nickel is one of the strongest commodity performers this year, with benchmark London futures rising 13.3 percent from the end of last year to the close on Wednesday.

The bulk of that rally has come in the past three months as new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his hard-line environment secretary Regina Lopez cracked down on alleged environmental abuses by the mining industry.

At least eight nickel mines have been shut down in the Philippines this year, cutting around 10 percent of the country's capacity.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines has called the closure of mines a "demolition campaign", but Lopez appears undeterred, saying more mines will be shut if they are having adverse impacts on the environment.

Certainly, it seems that lower Philippine nickel ore exports are already showing up in the import numbers for China, the world's biggest buyer of the metal that is used mainly in the manufacture of stainless steel and electronics.

China imported 3.163 million tonnes of nickel ore and concentrates from the Philippines in July, down 35.9 percent from the same month a year ago, according to customs data.

Imports in the first seven months totalled 13.84 million tonnes, a drop of 27.3 percent from the same period last year.

This is significant as the Philippines is by far and away the largest supplier of nickel ore to China, accounting for almost 96 percent of the total for January-July.

This means that if there is a sustained drop in supply from the Philippines it will be hard for Chinese nickel pig iron producers to source replacement material.

This is especially true as nickel ore cargoes from Indonesia, which used to be China's top supplier, remain unavailable as part of that country's ban on the export of certain unprocessed minerals, such as nickel and bauxite.

INDONESIA'S NICKEL SWITCH

Indonesia's shipments of nickel ore came to an abrupt halt in early 2014 after the Southeast Asian nation enacted a mineral export ban as part of efforts to ensure investment in domestic downstream processing plants.

It may also be that this effort is starting to show up in China's import figures, with a large jump in shipments of ferronickel, an intermediate stage of the metal that contains both nickel and iron.

China's imports of ferronickel from Indonesia were 74,493 tonnes in July, more than five times the amount taken in the same month a year earlier.

Likewise, year-to-date imports from Indonesia have surged more than four-fold to 390,706 tonnes, giving the nation a 70 percent share of Chinese imports of ferronickel.

This surge in imports of ferronickel is significant as it shows that the way China gets its nickel is changing.

Indonesian nickel producer PT Antam says on its website that it extracts about one tonne of nickel contained in ferronickel from between 70 and 80 tonnes of nickel ore.

Antam's ferronickel contains a higher nickel percentage than most of Indonesia's output, but if one assumes about 12 percent nickel in each tonne of ferronickel for the country's exports as a whole, this means the nickel content of the first seven months of ferronickel exports is equal to about 4 million tonnes of wet nickel ore.

This is slightly less than the loss of nickel ore exports to China from the Philippines in the first seven months, showing that China isn't importing less nickel, but is changing the form in which it imports the metal, especially when a 71.2 percent increase in refined nickel imports is factored in as well.

The Indonesian ore export ban of early 2014 led to a 50 percent spike in London nickel prices from January to a peak of $21,625 a tonne on May 13 that year.

But as the market came to realise that there was sufficient nickel ore elsewhere to compensate for lost Indonesian output, prices slumped to a low of $7,550 a tonne on Feb. 12 this year.

While the current disruptions in the Philippines have no doubt tightened the market for nickel ore, it's more than likely that the ramp up of ferronickel exports from Indonesia are more than sufficient compensation for the overall nickel market.

The difficulty in sourcing nickel ore is certainly a problem for China's nickel pig iron producers, but their problems don't necessarily translate into a shortage of nickel in the global market, especially if Indonesia is back in the market as a ferronickel supplier.
Poland - Factors to Watch Aug 25

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

BUDGET DRAFT

The government will decide whether to approve the draft budget for 2017 on Thursday. Puls Biznesu newspaper reported that the draft assumes bank tax revenue next year at 3.9 billion zlotys ($1.02 billion) and central bank profit at about 0.6 billion zlotys. Mining tax revenue for 2017 was set at 1 billion zlotys.

KGHM

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.

PGNiG

Shareholders at Poland's gas company PGNiG to decide on details of the planned share buy-back at 1000 GMT.

CENTRAL BANK MINUTES

The central bank will publish minutes from the July meeting of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Council at 1200 GMT.

EURO ADOPTION

Poland's EU minister Konrad Szymanski told Rzeczpospolita daily that he doubts that Poland will belong to the euro zone even in a long time horizon.

Szymanski also said that national states in the EU must again start feeling they can impact Europe's integration process, which could most easily be achieved by giving a sufficiently large number of member state's parliaments the ability to block EU directives.

AIRPORT

The Polish government is leaning towards a decision to upgrade the existing airport in Modlin near Warsaw instead of building a large new airport several dozen kilometres from the Polish capital, Rzeczpospolita newspaper reported without naming its sources.

KHW COAL MINER

The state-owned fund TF Silesia will become the third investor in the troubled state-controlled coal miner KHW after utility Enea and Weglokoks, Puls Biznesu reported citing the energy minister Krzysztof Tchorzewski.

CYFROWY POLSAT

Polish media group's Cyfrowy Polsat net profit fell 22 percent year-on-year to 238 million zlotys in the second quarter, the company said in a statement.

ASSECO POLAND

The net profit of central and eastern Europe's largest software maker, Asseco Poland, rose by 29 percent year-on-year to 77 million zlotys in the second quarter, the company said late on Wednesday.

CCC

Eastern Europe's largest shoe retailer, Poland's CCC, reported on Thursday a 30-percent rise in its second quarter net profit to 132 million zlotys ($34.52 million) on sales 42 percent up at 865 million zlotys.

****Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Aug 25

SOFIA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has met with representatives of the General Nuclear Power (GNP) following a request of China's largest nuclear power producer over potential involvement into an expansion of Bulgaria's nuclear capacities. During the meeting, Petkova shared the vision of the government, stating that the country is looking for a strategic investor, that will not receive government guarantees for long-term energy purchases on the Bulgarian market (Standart, Trud, Capital daily, Monitor)

-- Two United States military aircraft will participate in securing Bulgaria's air space from September 9 to 16, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said, adding this is a peacetime mission, at the initiative of NATO (Trud, Standart, Monitor)

-- Bulgaria's Socialist party (BSP) - the largest opposition party in the country, decided to cancel negotiations with the center-left ABV party over joint nomination of General Rumen Radev for the presidential election in November due to failure to "reach agreement on fundamental issues". ABV said the BSP's refusal to treat the two parties as equals was "a kind of racism and xenophobia" (Standart, Trud, Sega, Duma)
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. The will of the people of Karabakh cannot be ignored while settling Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Director of Institute of CIS countries Konstantin Zatulin told Noev Kovcheg.

I have been involved in this topic since the 90s and I know that my opinion is not saluted in Azerbaijan. I am convinced in what I have seen and witnessed. Nagorno Karabakh Republic has of course succeeded as a state. It exists and has all the state attributes. The existence of its own army and security forces is not the main demonstration of it, but that democratic procedures have been taking place in Nagorno Karabakh during the entire armed confrontation, such as elections in most of which since 1994 I have participated as an observer. People do not transfer power to their successors in Nagorno Karabakh, but struggle for the right of national representation in conformity with democratic principles, Armenpress reports Zatulin stated.

In his words, despite Nagorno Karabakhs economy suffers losses due to blockade and other consequences of the conflict, it can give lessons to the so-called recognized states, mentioning that Nagorno Karabakh is a more self-sufficient country than some officially recognized UN member states.

The Director of Institute of CIS countries stated that all the propaganda measures taken by the leadership of Azerbaijan aimed at throwing mud at Nagorno Karabakh are based on envy and the pain of the defeat in the military operations in 90s.

I am convinced no conflict settlement is possible without the final word of NKR. I am also convinced that it is possible to settle Nagorno Karabakh conflict and return to normal life. The events of 80-90s were based on the will of Nagorno Karabakh to unite with Armenia or to self-deteminate, but not being part of Azerbaijan. And that will predominates today as well, which is the basis of all the options for the settlement. The implementation of the right to self-determination of the people of Karabakh has passed through numerous hardships with a victory in the bloody war of 1989-1994, Konstantin Zatulin concluded.
South Africa's Massmart posts 19 pct jump in H1 profit

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Walmart's South African unit Massmart reported a 19 percent increase in half-year profit on Thursday as consumers delayed buying appliances, but kept spending on food and other non-durables, the company said.

* Massmart posted diluted headline earnings per share before forex for 26 weeks to June 26 of 145.8 cents, up from 124.2 cents. Headline earnings per share is the main profit measure in South Africa and strips out certain one-off items.

* Sales for 26 weeks to June 26 rose 8.7 percent to 42.31 billion rand.

* In South Africa's zero growth economy consumers are delaying purchases, trading down and reducing spending on durable goods to support spending on semi- and non-durables, Massmart said.

* "This has meant general merchandise sales have softened while food sales have been stronger," the firm said.

* For 34 weeks to August 21 2016, total sales increased by 8.3 percent and comparable sales increased by 5.9 percent.

* Massmart plans to open five new stores in the rest of Africa in the next two years, expanding in Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia.

* Trading conditions in most non-SA countries where Massmart has stores are unlikely to deteriorate further provided there are no exogenous shocks, the company said.

* Trading in 2017 could be relatively better than in 2016 if rand currency strengthens, the company said.
Turkey fires on U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria offensive

By Humeyra Pamuk and Umit Bektas

KARKAMIS, Turkey, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Turkish troops fired on U.S.-backed Kurdish militia fighters in northern Syria on Thursday, highlighting the complications of an incursion meant to secure the border region against both Islamic State and Kurdish advances.

Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered Jarablus, one of Islamic State's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border, on Wednesday.

But President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made clear the aim of "Operation Euphrates Shield" is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG militia seizing territory and filling the void left by Islamic State as it is about eliminating the ultra-hardline Islamist group itself.

A Turkish security source said the army shelled the People's Protection Units (YPG) south of Jarablus. Turkey's state-run Anadolu agency described the action as warning shots.

Gunfire and explosions echoed around hills in the region on Thursday, a day after the incursion first began.

Some of the blasts were triggered as Turkish security forces cleared mines and booby traps left by retreating Islamic State militants, according to Nuh Kocaaslan, the mayor of Karkamis, which sits just across the border from Jarablus. He said three Turkish-backed Syrian rebels were killed but no Turkish troops.

Turkey, which has NATO's second biggest armed forces, demanded that the YPG retreat to the east side of the Euphrates river within a week. The Kurdish militia had moved west of the river earlier this month as part of a U.S.-backed operation, now completed, to capture the city of Manbij from Islamic State.

Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to Kurdish militants waging a three-decade-old insurgency on its own soil. It has been alarmed by the YPG's gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.

Turkey's stance has put it at odds with Washington, which sees the YPG as a rare reliable ally on the ground in Syria, where Washington is trying to defeat Islamic State while also opposing President Bashar al-Assad's government in a complex, multi-sided, five-year-old civil war.

The Syrian Kurdish force is one of the most powerful militias in Syria and regarded as the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-backed alliance formed last October to fight Islamic State.

Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said the Kurdish PYD party, the political arm of the YPG, wanted to unite Kurdish-controlled cantons east of Jarablus with those further west. "We cannot let this happen," he said.

"Islamic State should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must. But it's not enough for us ... The PYD and the YPG militia should not replace Islamic State there," Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV.

EUPHRATES

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu by phone on Thursday that YPG fighters were retreating to the east side of the Euphrates, as Turkey has demanded, foreign ministry sources in Ankara said.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State said the SDF had withdrawn across the Euphrates, doing so "to prepare for the eventual liberation" of Raqqa, the radical group's stronghold which lies further east.

Isik said the retreat was not yet complete and Washington had given assurances that this would happen in the next week.

"If the PYD does not retreat to east of the Euphrates, we have the right to do everything about it," the minister said.

The offensive 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 came four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who met Erdogan during a trip to Turkey on Wednesday, said Turkey was ready to stay in Syria for as long as it takes to destroy the radical Islamist group.

"I think there has been a gradual mind shift ... in Turkey, with the realization that ISIL is an existential threat to Turkey," he told reporters during a visit to Sweden, using an acronym for the militant group.

A Turkish official said the ground incursion had been in the works for more than two years but had been delayed by U.S. reservations, resistance from some Turkish commanders, and a stand-off with Russia which had made air cover impossible.

Turkey had made the case more strongly to Washington over the past few months, had patched up relations with Russia, and had removed some of the Turkish commanders from their posts after finding they were involved in the coup attempt, paving the way for the operation to go ahead, the official said.

The incursion comes at a testing time for Turkish-U.S. 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 Turkey blames for staging last month's failed coup.

Washington says it needs clear evidence of Gulen's involvement and that it is a matter for the courts, a position that has sparked an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any role in the coup attempt.

REBELS ADVANCE

The sound of gunfire, audible from a hill on the Turkish side of the border overlooking Jarablus, rang out on Thursday and black smoke rose over the town. War planes flew overhead.

A senior Turkish official said there were now more than 20 Turkish tanks inside Syria and that additional tanks and construction machinery would be sent in as required. A Reuters witness saw at least nine tanks enter on Thursday, and 10 more were waiting outside a military outpost on the Turkish side.

"We need construction machinery to open up roads ... and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armoured personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed," the official said.

Erdogan said on Wednesday that Islamic State had been driven out of Jarablus and that it was now controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who are largely Arab and Turkmen.

"The myth that the YPG is the only effective force fighting Islamic State has collapsed," Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter, reflecting Turkish frustration at how closely Washington has been working with the Kurdish militia.

Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, said on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the YPG, said the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs".

After seizing Jarablus, the Turkish-backed rebels have advanced up to 10 km (6 miles) south of the border town, rebel sources and a group monitoring the war said.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said Kurdish-backed forces opposed by Ankara had gained up to 8 km of ground northwards, apparently seeking to pre-empt advances by the rebels.
Saudi coalition air strikes kill most civilians in Yemen, Houthis also violate law - UN

GENEVA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen are responsible for the largest part of the 3,799 civilians killed so far and it has committed other violations that may contravene international law, the U.N. human rights office said on Thursday.

Houthi rebels and allied forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who rule the capital Sanaa, have carried out rocket and mortar attacks on residential areas and used landmines, it said in a report.

In a statement, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called for an international investigation into the grave violations, saying a national commission had not worked in pursuing perpetrators.
Burundi president's commission says people want term limits removed

By Clement Manirabarusha

BUJUMBURA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Burundi could scrap presidential term limits from its constitution after a commission set up to hear public views on governance said most citizens wanted no curbs on the number of times the head of state may seek re-election.

The central African nation has been gripped by violence for more than a year, triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term.

Opponents said the decision, taken in April 2015, violated the constitution, which currently limits presidential tenure to two five-year terms.

Justin Nzoyisaba, chairman of CNDI, a commission set up by Nkurunziza last year to canvas public opinion on Burundi's political system, said late on Wednesday that most Burundians wanted term limits abolished.

The majority of the people the commission met "want the president ...to exercise more than two terms," he told a news conference. "People said they have to erase the term limits; it means that the president can run for any time he wants."

The commission is expected to send its report to Nkurunziza, who will then send to it parliament for debate and possibly begin a process to amend the constitution.

Critics also said Nkurunziza's third term bid violated the terms of a 2005 peace deal that ended a previous rebellion.

Burundi would be the latest in a growing list of African countries where term limits have been abolished or manoeuvres are under way as most incumbents appear unwilling to cede power after their terms approach their end.

Often those moves have triggered tensions and violence.

In neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Joseph Kabila is facing protests, with opponents accusing him of seeking to delay elections and stay in office after his term expires in December.

Burundi's other neighbour, Rwanda, which has the same ethnic mix of Hutus and Tutsis and similar history of bloody politics, also changed its constitution last year to allow Paul Kagame, president since 2000, to rule possibly until 2034.

Nkurunziza said a constitutional court decision allowed him to seek another term and he went on to win re-election in July last year. At least 450 people have since died in widespread violence and tit-for-tat killings spurred by his third term bid.

The violence has also uprooted about a quarter of a million Burundians, who have fled mostly to neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda.
Zuma says backs finance minister but can't stop investigation

By Mfuneko Toyana

PRETORIA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday he backed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan but was powerless to stop a police investigation into him, signalling a prolonged tussle that could rock markets further.

Gordhan is facing an investigation over a suspected surveillance unit set up years ago when he was in charge of the tax service. The rand has tumbled 5 percent since Tuesday when news of the investigation broke, with analysts saying Zuma had offered only qualified support to Gordhan.

The finance minister said on Wednesday he had done nothing wrong and had no legal obligation to obey a police summons linked to the probe into whether he used the unit at the tax service to spy on politicians including Zuma.

News of Gordhan's summons this week compounded investors' worries about a power struggle between Zuma and Gordhan as Africa's most industrialised economy teeters near recession and credit rating agencies consider downgrading it to "junk".

The main opposition party called for a parliamentary debate into what it called a "witch-hunt" against Gordhan.

Investors and rating agencies back Gordhan's plans to rein in government spending in an economy that has been forecast by the central bank to register no growth this year.

"President Jacob Zuma wishes to express his full support and confidence in the Minister of Finance and emphasises the fact that the minister has not been found guilty of any wrong doing," the presidency said in a statement.

"The Presidency wishes to also emphasise that President Zuma does not have powers to stop any investigations into any individual/s," it said, adding that Zuma could not bring a halt to the probe even if it was negatively affecting the economy.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said state agencies should not battle each other as it could destabilise the economy.

"The minister of finance is today almost facing what could be arrest. It's something that should concern us," Ramaphosa said at a funeral service of a former cabinet minister in the Eastern Cape province where Gordhan was in attendance.

TENSIONS WITH TREASURY

A Zuma-backed plan to build a series of nuclear power plants, at a cost of as much as $60 billion, has caused tension with the Treasury for months and is likely adding to pressure on Gordhan's position, analysts say. The presidency said in May that Zuma was not warring with Gordhan.

On Thursday, the presidency defended plans to give Zuma supervision over state-owned firms after Gordhan's allies said this would limit the finance minister's control.

Zuma's team and the Treasury under Gordhan have disagreed about government spending, including at loss-making state companies like South African Airways, analysts say.

Analysts also questioned the extent of Zuma's stated support for his finance minister.

"It was an ambiguous vote of confidence in Pravin Gordhan which would suggest that the agencies supposedly investigating Pravin Gordhan will be given relatively free rein to continue these investigations," said Daniel Silke, a director at Political Futures Consultancy.

NKC African Economics analyst Gary van Staden said: "Anybody who watches English football can tell you when the owner says he has confidence in the manager, the manager is out of there in a week."

Political activists protested in the capital Pretoria outside the offices of the Hawks, the elite police unit that is investigating Gordhan. Two former officials of the tax service presented themselves to the police. It was not clear what line of questioning they faced.

Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi declined to comment.
China military says it is providing medical training for Syria

BEIJING, Aug 25 (Reuters) - China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday it has been providing medical training for Syria, following a visit to the war-ravaged country last week by a senior Chinese officer.

While relying on the region for oil supplies, China tends to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, namely the United States, Britain, France and Russia.

But China has been trying to get more involved, including sending envoys to help push for a diplomatic resolution to the violence there and hosting Syrian government and opposition figures.

Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Syrian Defence Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij in Damascus last week and discussed personnel training.

Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing that this year marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and that they had long been good friends.

"China has always played a proactive role in looking for a political resolution for the Syrian issue," he said.

"At the agreement of both countries militaries, China has provided medical equipment as well as medicine and other humanitarian aid to Syria, mainly to ease the humanitarian crisis," Wu added.

"On the same consideration, China has also provided medical, nursing and other professional training," he said, without elaborating.

Asked whether Chinese troops were in Syria for the training and where it was being done, Wu said he would look into the matter and provide that information later.

While China has shown no interest in getting involved militarily in Syria, China's special envoy for the crisis there in April praised Russia's military role in the war.

China has its own security concerns about violence in the region.
Nickel hits six-week low as Philippines concerns ebb

By Eric Onstad

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Nickel slumped to the lowest in over six weeks on Thursday after worries eased that an environmental crackdown on mines in the Philippines would create shortages of metal.

Nickel had surged 32 percent from the beginning of June until it hit a one-year peak in early August as authorities in the Philippines launched a campaign to close mining operations that failed to meet environmental regulations.

"It did feel that the market got ahead of itself looking further ahead than it perhaps needed to," said Caroline Bain, senior commodities economist at Capital Economics.

With only several mines having been closed or suspended, worries about a blanket ban seem to have been unfounded, analysts said.

"Despite the closure of eight small-scale producers so far, we could see imports stabilise, belying any concerns of supply constriction from the Philippines that has recently riled markets, artificially boosting nickel prices," Citi said in a note.

Three-month nickel on the London Metal Exchange closed down 1.5 percent at $9,845 a tonne, the weakest since July 11 and extending a 2.6 percent slump from the previous session.

There is also increased focus on a surge in exports from Indonesia of ferronickel, an intermediate stage of the metal that contains both nickel and iron.

Inventories are also available to supply the market, Bain said. "One thing always in the background is that even though stocks have fallen recently, they are still high. So there's no immediate panic about supply."

LME nickel stocks total 372,414 tonnes.

Base metals got little direction from a rangebound dollar index ahead of the global central bankers' gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, at which Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen may offer new clues on U.S. monetary policy.

Zinc ended up 1 percent at $2,298 as investors continued to bet that lower mine output would create shortages.

Macquarie analyst Vivienne Lloyd said a spike in Chinese zinc concentrate imports in July was likely a one-off.

"A continued resurgence in zinc concentrate imports should be very difficult to achieve... Not a zinc shortage as yet, but we are approaching the turning point," she said in a note.

LME copper fell 0.1 percent to $4,626, following a 1.7 percent loss in the previous session, when it fell to its weakest since July 24.

Copper has been under pressure from a rise in LME copper stocks, which added another 9,175 tonnes on Thursday, bringing total stocks to 263,875, a jump of 72 percent since June 1.

Aluminium dipped 0.1 percent to finish at $1,644.50 after touching $1,632, the weakest since Aug. 5, lead closed up 0.4 percent at $1,862, while tin fell 0.5 percent to $18,750.

PRICES

Three month LME copper

Most active ShFE copper

Three month LME aluminium

Most active ShFE aluminium

Three month LME zinc

Most active ShFE zinc

Three month LME lead

Most active ShFE lead

Three month LME nickel

Most active ShFE nickel

Three month LME tin

Most active ShFE tin
First driverless taxi hits the streets of Singapore

By Christophe Van Der Perre

SINGAPORE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The first driverless taxi began work on Thursday in a limited public trial on the streets of Singapore.

Developer nuTonomy invited a select group of people to download their app and ride for free in its "robo-taxi" in a western Singapore hi-tech business district, hoping to get feedback ahead of a planned full launch of the service in 2018.

"This is really a moment in history that's going to change how cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings," nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters.

The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if necessary.

The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows private testing that began in April.

Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore government on the project, said he hoped to have 100 taxis working commercially in the Southeast Asian citystate by 2018.

Nutonomy is one of several companies racing to launch self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms striking new alliances.

Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a $300 million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber to develop a driverless vehicle.
Brussels rebuffs U.S. attack on EU tax investigations

By Julia Fioretti

BRUSSELS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The European Commission rebuffed an attack by the U.S. Treasury on its investigations into alleged sweetheart tax deals between companies such as Apple and McDonald's and European governments, saying there was no anti-U.S. bias.

The U.S. Treasury Department published a white paper on Wednesday that voiced concern at the EU executive's tax investigations, saying they departed from international taxation norms and would have an outsized impact on U.S. companies.

The European Commission said it treated all companies equally.

"EU law applies indiscriminately to all companies operating in Europe - there is no bias against U.S. companies. This is very clear if we look at the facts: In October 2015 the first state aid decisions on tax rulings concerned a European company, Fiat, as well as a U.S. company," a Commission spokeswoman said.

It is not the first time the United States has criticised the EU's tax investigations. In February U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew wrote to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker urging him to reconsider the EU's approach.

In the white paper, the U.S. Treasury Department said the Commission's approach departed from prior EU case law and undermined OECD guidelines on transfer pricing - the setting of prices for the transfer of goods or services from one subsidiary to another - which critics say is used to reduce tax liabilities in relatively high-tax countries.

In addition, the EU should not seek to recover taxes from companies retroactively, the Treasury Department said, because it was a departure from prior practice.

"Imposing retroactive recoveries would undermine the G20's efforts to improve tax certainty and set an undesirable precedent for tax authorities in other countries," the white paper said.

The Commission spokeswoman said EU state aid rules forbid national governments from giving tax benefits to selected companies that are not available to others.

"These state aid rules and the relevant legal principles have been in place for a long time," she said.

The European Commission accused Ireland in 2014 of dodging international tax rules by letting Apple shelter profits worth tens of billions of dollars from tax collectors in return for maintaining jobs. Apple and Ireland reject the accusation. A ruling is expected in the autumn.

The EU launched an investigation into tax deals between McDonald's and Luxembourg in December last year.
Malaysian rapper accused of insulting Islam released on bail

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A Malaysian rapper, who had been held in police custody for four days over a music video he produced that allegedly insulted Islam, was released on bail on Thursday, while the country's attorney-general decides whether to press charges.

Wee Meng Chee, an ethnic Chinese and non-Muslim, is alleged to have shot part of the video in a mosque in the state of Penang and to have used the words "Allah" and "Mecca".

The 33-year-old artist, whose stage name is Namewee, did not speak to the media after a magistrate's court ordered his release.

Race and religion are sensitive issues in Malaysia's multi-ethnic society. The country's ethnic Malay majority are Muslim, while the Chinese and Indian ethnic minorities are mainly Buddhist, Christian or Hindu.

The rapper had directed and produced the music video titled "Oh My God!", in a mixture of Mandarin and Hokkien Chinese dialects, for a Taiwan band.

He was detained on Sunday on arrival from Taiwan at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, after police acted on a complaint lodged by the committee of the mosque that allegedly appeared in the video.

Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, a district police chief in Penang, told journalists that they are now awaiting instructions on whether to press charges against the rapper or drop the case.

"We have referred the case to the prosecution director (for Penang state) and later to the Attorney-General's Chambers in Putrajaya for further directives," Mior told reporters.

Groups representing other religions and members of the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities have also criticised the rapper, who has courted controversy before.

In 2007, while studying in Taiwan, he posted a video titled "Negarakuku" - a play words, blending the title of Malaysia's national anthem, Negaraku, and the Hokkien-dialect word for penis.

He was investigated by police for sedition when he returned home a year later. He apologised for the video.

The ruling coalition's loss of support from Chinese voters has made Prime Minister Najib Razak more mindful of sentiment among his own Malay vote-bank, and the state has pursued cases against insults to religion more vigorously in recent years.

In 2014, Malaysia's highest court upheld a ruling barring a Christian publication from using the word "Allah" for Malay-speaking congregants, effectively denying use of the word to non-Muslims.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Galust Sahakyan was the guest of the participants of the annual Baze youth camp in Tsakhkadzor on August 25. The head of the legislative greeted the participants and mentioned that it is a unique event that brings together Armenian young people from different parts of the world and stated that love towards motherland, understanding of statehood and independence reinforce thank to this initiative.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the National Assembly of Armenia, Galust Sahakyan toured in the camp, and had a warm conversation with the participants.
Deutsche Boerse, LSE submit merger to EU regulators for approval

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange Group have submitted their $29 billion merger deal to European Union competition regulators ahead of a Sept. 28 deadline for a preliminary review.

The deal, which will create the world's biggest exchange by revenue, is likely to face tough scrutiny because of the huge combined presence of the two companies in derivatives clearing.

The European Commission's antitrust department, whose approval is needed for the deal to proceed, has set a provisional deadline of Sept. 28 for its preliminary review.

"We believe the merger will create significant value for our customers and shareholders, and facilitate economic growth through the creation of a global markets infrastructure group, anchored in Europe," the exchanges said on Thursday.

The LSE's LCH.Clearnet is Europe's main clearing house for euro-denominated swaps and that could be a concern for the EU competition enforcer. Analysts say the exchanges may have to offer major concessions such as selling overlapping businesses.

The exchanges expect the EU scrutiny to broaden into a full investigation of about five months. Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands, trading locations of rival exchange Euronext , have already expressed concerns about the deal.

Deutsche Boerse and LSE are expected to argue their combined firm will be better able to compete with U.S. and Asian rivals.
Syrian Kurdish YPG says it returned to base after Manbij's capture

BEIRUT, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said on Thursday its forces taking part in an operation to capture the city of Manbij from Islamic State had returned to their bases after the mission was successfully completed.

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State separately said the "main element" of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)alliance, which includes the YPG, had moved east across the Euphrates river, which they had crossed in order to capture Manbij.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that Syrian Kurdish forces must return to the east of the Euphrates into territory they hold after seizing Manbij. Turkey has demanded that Kurdish forces withdraw. It said on Thursday Kurdish fighters must retreat east of the river within a week.

In a statement, the YPG said military command and all YPG-held positions had been handed to the allied Manbij Military Council, while civilian control was handed to a civilian council on Aug. 15.

The YPG statement did not say where the bases were located. The Manbij military and civilian councils say they are made up of people from Manbij.

The YPG has been a critical partner in the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State in Syria. A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition said the SDF had withdrawn east to prepare for "the eventual liberation" of Raqqa, Islamic State's main city in Syria.

"The Syrian Democratic Forces have moved east across the Euphrates to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa," the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve wrote on his Twitter feed. He said some forces remained in Manbij to finish clearing the area and removing improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

"We are working with a number of groups all focused on the common goal of defeating Daesh. What we can expect is they will continue to liberate areas where they can in preparation ultimately for the larger liberation battle at Raqqa," said Colonel John Dorrian, the spokesman.

The YPG controls swathes of northern Syria, where Kurdish groups associated with the militia have set up their own government since Syria's civil war began in 2011.

YPG-held areas include an uninterrupted 40-km (250-mile) stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border, from the frontier with Iraq to the Euphrates, and a pocket of territory in northwestern Syria called Afrin.
Transparency, accountability, needed on Saudi air strikes in Yemen - UN

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights office called on Thursday for more light to be shed on the Saudi-led coalition air strikes in Yemen and for violations including attacks on protected sites like hospitals to be punished.

Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition are responsible for "the single largest part", some 60 percent, of the 3,799 civilians killed since March 2015 and it has committed other violations that may contravene international law, it said in a report.

Though the coalition had shared findings from its own internal investigations, "more transparency" was needed, Mohammad Ali Alnsour, chief of the Middle East and North Africa section of the U.N. human rights office, told a briefing in Geneva.

"The compensation of the victims is an important element but it is not the only element. We think there should be a kind of accountability and these violations not to be repeated again," he said.

Houthi rebels and allied forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who rule the capital Sanaa, have carried out rocket and mortar attacks on residential areas and used landmines, the report said. These also constituted documented violations that should be addressed.

The rebels had imposed sieges on the northern town of Taiz and control the Red Sea port of Hodeida, it said.

"All sides are responsible (for violations). There was targeting of civilian objects ... like markets, like wedding ceremonies, hospitals, facilities that really under international humanitarian law is protected and have a special kind of legal protection," Alnsour said.

In a statement, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called for an international investigation into all grave violations, saying a national commission had focused mainly on Houthi violations and not pursued any of the perpetrators.

But the U.N. stopped short of accusing either side of war crimes, saying it was for a national or international court to decide.

"We are investigating, monitoring the violations but we cannot decide that this a crime or not, this is for a tribunal or for a specific body to decide. We cannot have this assertion that there is a crime or war crime," Alnsour said.

"We are saying while conducting military operations there are specific principles should be respected to minimise civilian casualties," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, into the early hours of Thursday morning aimed at finding ways to end Yemen's conflict and resume peace talks between the warring sides.
Germany in talks with Turkey to allow lawmakers to visit air base

By Andrea Shalal and Jan Lopatka

BERLIN/PRAGUE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Germany is in discussions with Turkey to ensure that the German military can keep flying reconnaissance missions from Incirlik Air Base in support of a U.S.-led fight against Islamic State, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

Merkel said she expected the German military to continue operating effectively from the NATO base despite threats by some German lawmakers to end the mission unless Ankara allows them to visit the base. Merkel said such visits were vital given that German lawmakers authorize military missions.

Turkey in June denied lawmakers access to the base, angered by a German parliamentary resolution that branded the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces genocide, and has said it may block a similar visit in October..

"I expect that missions of the anti-IS coalition will continue to be able to be flown from Incirlik," Merkel told reporters during a visit to Prague. "Part of that, given that we have a parliamentary army, is that German lawmakers must be allowed to visit Incirlik if they want to."

Merkel said Berlin was in discussions with Ankara to resolve the dispute, but gave no details.

A spokesman for the German Defence Ministry on Thursday said the armed forces were studying other basing options for six Tornado reconnaissance planes, a refuelling plane and 250 soldiers if German lawmakers vote to end the use of the base.

Ties between the two NATO allies have also been strained by the thwarted coup in Turkey on July 15, with Ankara angry about what it called Germany's sluggish response in condemning the action.

Rainer Arnold, defence spokesman for the Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition government, told Reuters his party would demand withdrawal of German soldiers and equipment from the base if Turkey refused to allow parliamentarians to visit again in October.

He said his party expected an answer in September.

"We will only send our soldiers to countries where we can be certain that we can visit them," Arnold told Reuters.

Without the SPD's approval, the government cannot extend the mandate for the mission when it expires in December.

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group that it was in the interest of both countries to continue the work at Incirlik.

Asked if the military was ready for a rapid withdrawal from the base, von der Leyen said, "Smart military planning always looks at fallback options."

Turkish officials said last week they would not approve an October visit planned by members of the German budget committee, but Arnold said they had not received a definitive answer.

The ministry spokesman said alternative potential bases had been identified in the region, but gave no details.
Kerry calls for unity government in Yemen to end war

By Lesley Wroughton

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday he had agreed in talks with Gulf Arab states and the United Nations in Saudi Arabia on a plan to restart peace talks Yemen with a goal of forming a unity government.

U.N.-sponsored negotiations to end 18 months of fighting in the impoverished country on Saudi Arabia's southern border collapsed this month and the dominant Iran-allied Houthi movement there resumed shelling attacks into the kingdom.

Speaking at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Kerry said the conflict in which the kingdom has launched thousands of air strikes in favour of the exiled government had gone on too long and needed to end.

Kerry said the Houthis must cease shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, pull back from the capital Sanaa which they took control of two years ago, cede their weapons and enter into a unity government with their domestic foes.

Yemen's internationally recognised government, based in Saudi Arabia, has made similar demands but insisted that the Houthis fulfil all those measures before any new government was formed. However Kerry suggested they could move ahead in parallel.

"We agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations with both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement," Kerry said.

"The final agreement ... would include in the first phase a swift formation of a new national unity government, the withdrawal of forces from Sanaa and other areas and the transfer of all heavy weapons including ballistic missiles, from the Houthis and forces aligned to them to a third party."

The reference to handing weapons to a third party also appeared to be a departure from the government demands.

"This leaves nothing for future speculation," Kerry said. "This has a clarity to it about how confidence can be built, what the end game looks like, and how the parties get there."

Jubeir said Saudi Arabia and the United States had agreed a way forward for Yemen and said the U.N. envoy to Yemen would take it up with the parties.

"We managed to come out with a vision related to a roadmap for Yemen, which the U.N. envoy had discussed with us so there will be clarity on the final settlement which the U.N. envoy will discuss with the Yemeni parties," Jubeir told the news conference.

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, has come under stiff criticism from rights groups for air strikes that have repeatedly killed civilians in Yemen.

The Yemen war has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced some 3 million.

The United Nations human rights office said in report on Thursday that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for 60 percent of the 3,799 civilians killed in the war.

During his 24-hour visit to Saudi Arabia, Kerry met representatives of the Gulf Arab countries who mostly back the kingdom's war effort.

Saudi Arabia and its allies view the Houthis, who hail from a branch of Shi'ite Islam, as proxies of their archrival Iran.

The Houthis deny this and say the exiled government and the Saudis are imperialist pawns of the West bent on dominating Yemen and excluding them from power.

Jubeir denied this, saying the kingdom had "no interest, no claims in Yemen."

Kerry flew to Jeddah on Wednesday night from Nigeria. His talks with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states were also due to cover possible U.S. military cooperation with Russia in Syria, a senior U.S. official said.

Backing by Gulf Arab states for the Syria plan is vital because they wield influence over Syrian opposition groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Russia and Iran support Assad.

In his 30-minute meeting with King Salman, Kerry exchanged words with the 80-year-old monarch about his health. Speaking through a translator in the first public comments on recent surgery in the United States, he complained about his back.
Turkish opposition leader unharmed after convoy caught in clash - spokesman

ANKARA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The convoy of Turkey's main opposition party leader was caught in a clash between police and unidentified individuals on Thursday in the northeast of the country but Kemal Kilicdaroglu was unharmed, CNN Turk and NTV reported.

CNN Turk quoted Kilicdaroglu's aide for its report. NTV did not give a source in its short headline.

Turkey has faced a series of bombing and other attacks in the past year which the authorities have blamed on Islamist groups and Kurdish militants, heightening tensions in a country which has a long border with Syria and Iraq.
Iran's oil minister to attend Algeria meeting - news agency

DUBAI, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Iran's oil minister confirmed on Thursday that he will attend an OPEC meeting in Algeria next month, the oil ministry's news agency SHANA quoted him as saying.

On Tuesday, an OPEC source said Iran had confirmed it will participate in the meeting.

Iran, OPEC's third largest producer, is sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts to revive a global deal on freezing production levels at talks next month.

Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on Sept. 26-28.
Turkish opposition leader targeted by Kurdish militants - minister

By Ece Toksabay

ANKARA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Turkey's outlawed Kurdish PKK militant group attacked a convoy carrying the main opposition party leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in the northeast of the country on Thursday but he escaped unharmed, the interior minister said.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala told Turkey's NTV news channel that three soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire with what he said were Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attackers.

President Tayyip Erdogan has said he will root out and destroy the PKK, which seeks autonomy or independence. He sent tanks across the border into Syria on Thursday on a mission that appeared to be intended to stop Syrian Kurds he links to the PKK occupying border areas being yielded by Islamic State fighters.

"They opened fire in front of the convoy," said Mehmet Bekaroglu, a lawmaker in Kilicdaroglu's secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) who was in the convoy of about 15 to 20 vehicles during the attack near the northeastern city of Artvin.

NTV and CNN Turk television broadcast images of police firing at the alleged attackers. Kilicdaroglu was flown out of the area by helicopter, Bekaroglu said.

"Don't worry about us. We are OK. We are currently in a safe area," Kilicdaroglu told Turkey's NTV channel.

Kilicdaroglu's CHP party said one of the officers wounded had subsequently died but did not say who it believed was behind the attack. CHP's deputy leader Engin Altay simply called it a "terrorist attack", a comment echoed by the prime minister.

NATO 'FRONT LINE'

There was no immediate PKK comment on Thursday's incident.

The attack adds to tensions in Turkey, a NATO state already on edge after last month's failed attempt by rogue soldiers to topple Erdogan and following a spate of bombings and other attacks authorities have blamed on Kurdish or Islamist militants linked to neighbouring Syria or Iraq.

The abortive coup has however narrowed some of Turkey's political divides, as the CHP joined Erdogan's AK Party in its condemnation of the action. Turmoil in a country in the forefront of Western operations to quell Islamic State is causing deep concern in other NATO capitals.

The CHP has traditionally taken a hard line on Kurdish demands for separate status, though any national politician of the mainstream parties could these days become a target, especially in the east.

The pro-Kurdish opposition party HDP, which Erdogan accuses of links with the PKK, said in a statement it condemned the attack "in the strongest terms".

The government has accused the PKK of a series of attacks this month in the southeast of Turkey, where the group has fought a three-decade insurgency.

The PKK have claimed responsibility for at least one of those attacks, which involved a strike on a police station.

"The attack on Kilicdaroglu's convoy in Artvin is a vile terrorist attack targeting democratic stability and peace of the people," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in a written statement, without naming any group behind the attackers.
France, the burkini and a "battle of cultures"

By Richard Lough

PARIS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls defended a ban on burkinis in more than a dozen coastal towns on Thursday, saying France was locked in a "battle of cultures" and that the full-body swimsuit symbolised the enslavement of women.

Photographs of armed police ordering a Muslim woman on a beach in the Mediterranean city of Nice to partially derobe went viral on social media this week, upsetting many French Muslims and causing global consternation.

In a sign of rifts opening in the socialist government before a presidential election in 2017, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, France's Moroccan-born education minister, cautioned the debate was fanning racist rhetoric and being used for political gains.

"We have to wage a determined fight against radical Islam, against these religious symbols which are filtering into public spaces," Valls said in an interview on BFM-TV.

Reiterating his stance on the issue, he said: "For me the burkini is a symbol of the enslavement of women."

France's Conseil d'Etat, its highest administrative court, was due on Thursday to hear a request by a human rights group for the burkini ban in the Mediterranean town of Villeneuve-Loubet to be overturned.

The debate over the burkini ban encapsulates the difficulties secular France faces as it grapples with a response to homegrown jihadists and foreign militants following Islamist attacks on Nice and a Normandy church in July, with security and immigration now central to the presidential election campaign.

Former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy, who joined the presidential race on Monday, told the Figaro magazine that France under President Francois Hollande had become too timid.

"The Burkini is a political act, a militant act, a provocation. Women who wear it are testing the Republic," he told the magazine in comments to be published on Friday.

In a demonstration of how the Burkini controversy has reverberated abroad, British author J. K. Rowling tweeted: "So Sarkozy calls the Burkini a 'provocation'. Whether women cover or uncover their bodies, seems we're always 'asking for it.'

France is not the only country where restrictions on burqas and niqabs are back in the spotlight, and debate on assimilation is raging, after a wave of militant strikes in Western Europe and an immigration crisis that has forced a rethink of Europe's open border policy.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives want a partial ban on the niqab, or face veil, while in Austria right-wing politicians have called for a ban on the burqa, which covers the face and body. In Switzerland there are calls for a popular vote on a ban on the burqa.

On a visit to Paris on Thursday, London's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, condemned the ban, saying no one should tell women what to wear.

"I don't think it's right," Khan told the Evening Standard newspaper. "One of the joys of London is that we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it."

ISLAMIC STATE AND THE BURKINI

The burkini has been banned by at least 15 towns from Corsica to the northern coast but most restrictions have been enforced in the southeast, an area where the far-right is strong and which is a gateway and home for many immigrants.

In Cassis, where the ban is in place, a beach-railing sign reads: "Because of the terrorist threat, the security forces and army are on a heightened level of alert."

Sunbathing on the beach below as the summer holidays wind down, one 30-year-old from the northern city of Lille who identified herself only as Karine branded the ban "disproportionate".

Vallaud-Belkacem said she opposed burkinis but dismissed the political argument that the ban was a useful tool in France's fight against militants.

"There is no link between the terror attacks of Daesch and the dress of a woman on the beach," Vallaud-Belkacem told Europe 1 radio, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

"The proliferation of bans fuels stereotypes and discriminates against a community," she said.

Valls on Thursday rejected the idea the ban might fuel sympathies for militant groups such as Islamic State by leaving some Muslims feeling further marginalised. But some government officials are worried.

One senior French government official warned that missteps would only exacerbate tensions heightened since a Tunisian drove his truck through a crowd in Nice, killing 86 people, and the murder of a Catholic priest in Normandy.

"We have several million Muslims in France who are mostly moderates or non-practicing. If they feel that it is the only subject in public debate they won't feel at home and will be tempted to withdraw to their communities," the official said.
Leader of Maldives aware of plans to overthrow him - spokesman

COLOMBO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, whose administration has jailed most of his opponents, is aware of an opposition plot to overthrow him with the support of "external forces", the president's spokesman said on Thursday.

The BBC, citing unidentified sources, reported earlier that Yameen was facing a "removal plot" by opponents "looking to move against him within weeks".

Best known as an exotic tourist destination, the Indian Ocean island nation has been mired in political unrest since its first democratically elected leader, Mohamed Nasheed, was ousted in February 2012.

"The administration is aware of Maldives United Opposition is trying to 'legally' overthrow the government with the help of external forces," Yameen's spokesman, Ibrahim Hussain Shihab, told Reuters by telephone from the capital, Male, citing the opposition.

He declined to say if he thought it was a serious plot.

Nasheed, now in exile in Britain after being allowed out of jail to go there for medical treatment, formed the Maldives United Opposition (MUO) in June with the aim of toppling Yameen's rule.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges after a trial in 2015 that was widely denounced as politically motivated.

Shihab, asked who the "external forces" were, said the plan was drawn up by those living abroad.

The international spokesman for Nasheed's party, Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, said the opposition was working to oust the government and was ready to set up a transitional government if Yameen's administration fell.

"There have been a lot of developments and we are continuing with a democratic approach and the shadow cabinet is ready to take off when the government falls," Ghafoor said.

Ghafoor denied the opposition was working with "external forces" but said it enjoyed international support.

He said he opposition would ensure a free and fair presidential election in 2018.

The opposition says Yameen's Progressive Party of the Maldives is facing splits between its leader, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and Yameen, on some issues.

The two are half-brothers.

Gayoom's daughter, Dunya Maumoon, stepped won as foreign minister last month citing her opposition to the government's use of capital punishment.

Shihab acknowledged differences.

"There are political disagreement and differences within the party. But that won't have an impact on the government and governance," he said.
China raps Ottawa as dispute over Canada canola exports deepens

By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A dispute over C$2 billion ($1.55 billion) worth of Canadian canola exports to China intensified on Thursday when Beijing criticized Ottawa's insistence that bilateral relations could not improve until the matter is settled.

The situation threatens to mar Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China next week.

"We oppose linking a concrete issue of bilateral trade with China-Canada relations," the Chinese embassy in Ottawa said by email.

Canada, the world's biggest canola exporter, wants China, its top export market for the oilseed, to drop plans to toughen inspection standards on Sept 1. The crop is used mainly to produce vegetable oil.

China says the tougher standard on foreign material is needed to protect against crop disease.

"The quarantine of canola is merely a technical issue that should be solved properly through consultations by relevant competent departments," said the embassy.

The mission issued its statement after Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday that "we cannot take the next step in our relationship with China" until the issue had been resolved.

Freeland called Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng late on Wednesday to convey Canada's concerns, but her intervention did not produce an immediate breakthrough.

"They agreed to continue working closely and to remain personally focused on a solution," said Freeland's spokesman, Alex Lawrence. Asked about the embassy statement, he said Freeland had nothing to add.

China imports 3 million to 4 million tonnes of Canadian canola seed annually.

"If one of your biggest customers isn't there to buy from you, in combination with (big) canola production, prices are going to have to come down," said Tony Tryhuk, manager of commodity trading at RBC Dominion Securities.

ICE Canada canola futures for November delivery fell 1.7 percent on Thursday.

China has raised concerns for years that blackleg disease could spread from canola into Chinese rapeseed, another name for the oilseed.

Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is its ample domestic rapeseed oil stocks, similar to other disputes.

China effectively halted imports of U.S. corn and corn products for more than a year beginning in late 2013 as the country rejected shipments of an unapproved biotech variety. Traders speculated that the spat was tied to China's domestic grain surplus.

Similarly, some traders believe a recent antidumping dispute raised by China over U.S. distillers' grains is aimed at supporting China's ethanol industry.
Indonesia fire arrests jump amid efforts to stop haze

By Fergus Jensen and Bernadette Christina Munthe

JAKARTA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Indonesian police have arrested more than double the number of individuals in forest fire cases this year compared with 2015, when large parts of the region were blanketed in choking smog from fires that caused a national crisis.

According to police data released on Thursday, 454 individuals have been arrested in connection with forest fires so far this year, up from 196 arrests in 2015.

Home to the world's third-largest area of tropical forests, Indonesia has been criticised over the haze by green activists and neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, and despite a decline in hotspots this year its authorities are under pressure to show they are taking action.

Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya said patrols were educating the public about alternatives to using fire to clear land and checking if arrested individuals understand the broader concerns.

"If we can see they were acting on orders they are immediately investigated by police," she said.

So far, nine companies are being investigated in connection with fires this year, compared with 25 that were investigated throughout 2015, police chief investigator Ari Dono said.

It was not immediately clear what punishments would be imposed.

National police chief Tito Karnavian said law enforcement was one of the reasons the total area of land burnt in 2016 had declined "significantly", coupled with a quicker response in fighting fires, more preventative efforts and favourable weather conditions compared with 2015.

Heavy smoke from slash-and-burn clearing often comes from the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, where large forest concessions are used by pulp and paper and palm oil companies, some of which are listed in Singapore.

Indonesia imposed record fines against a local plantation company this month in connection with fires in 2014.

WRI Indonesia forest and climate manager Arief Wijaya praised the government for showing a stronger commitment to tackling fires this year, but said the current approach may not be enough to stop fires from being lit.

"The long-term solution to forest fires in Indonesia actually lies with the local people," Wijaya said.

"If setting fires is part of the culture, plus poverty, plus demand to fulfil basic livelihood of people living in areas surrounding peat areas or forests then fires will always happen."

Law enforcement efforts, he said, have tended to focus on catching individuals lighting fires, rather than punishing plantation concession holders or companies for negligence.

"We know not all concessions have firefighting infrastructure," he said.

According to Zenzi Suhadi, head of legal research at the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), companies often burn forest and get it rezoned for plantations the following year once it has been classified as "degraded".
Iraqi defence minister sacked as Mosul battle looms

By Saif Hameed and Stephen Kalin

BAGHDAD, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament impeached Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi on Thursday over corruption allegations, removing him from office as the army gears up for an assault on Islamic State's de facto capital, Mosul.

Two lawmakers said parliament voted 142-102 to withdraw confidence from Obeidi after questioning him this month about weapons contracts. He had denied the corruption allegations and in turn accused Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and five other MPs of wrongdoing.

Obeidi, a Sunni Muslim ally of Shi'ite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, had spearheaded the military campaign to retake territory that the ultra-hardline Sunni Islamic State group seized in 2014 and said he had cut down on graft including ghost soldiers -- members of the military who do not exist but whose salaries are collected.

"Those who brought Iraq to where it is now have triumphed," Obeidi said in a Facebook post following parliament's vote. "I tried with everything to fight corruption but it appears that its masters are stronger, their voices louder and their actions more enduring."

Lawmakers have accused the Defence Ministry of wasting billions of dollars and weakening the armed forces to the point where they collapsed in 2014 in the face of the Islamic State onslaught under the previous government led by Nuri al-Maliki, who was also acting defence minister.

Thirteen years after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and led to sectarian violence, OPEC oil producer Iraq ranks 161st out of 168 nations in Transparency International's corruption index.

The military is slowly being rebuilt with the support of a U.S.-led coalition, which has been bombing Islamic State militants in Iraq and neighbouring Syria. The army and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias have retaken many areas from the militants, but the biggest test will be the battle for Mosul.

It was not immediately clear how Obeidi's departure would affect that offensive, which Iraqi officials have said could start as soon as next month, a timeline some coalition officials consider too ambitious.

"It will not negatively influence counter-terrorism efforts against Daesh, nor will it hinder the Mosul operation," said senior Shi'ite MP and former national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the anti-IS coalition, said this month that the row between Obeidi and Jabouri would not derail the Mosul offensive.

A Baghdad-based spokesman on Thursday said the coalition remained committed to supporting Iraqi security forces, declining to speculate on the possibility of fallout on the battlefield from Obeidi's departure, which he called "a matter for the government of Iraq".

Critics of the vote condemned Obeidi's questioning as political. Sunni lawmaker Khalid al-Mifraji described the impeachment as "a crack in our war against Daesh".
Egypt's wheat corruption scandal takes down embattled supply minister

By Eric Knecht and Maha El Dahan

CAIRO/ABU DHABI, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Egypt's Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafi has resigned amid the highest-profile corruption case since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power in 2014.

Hanafi's resignation is the most senior-level fallout from a probe into whether millions of dollars intended to subsidise farmers were used to purchase wheat that did not exist.

"Experience has proven that being in a position of authority is no longer a picnic," Hanafi said as he announced his resignation on state television.

Egypt, the world's largest importer of wheat, has been mired in controversy over whether much of the roughly 5 million tonnes of grain the government said it procured in this year's harvest exists only on paper, the result of local suppliers falsifying receipts to boost government payments.

If Egypt's local wheat procurement figures were misrepresented, it may have to spend more on foreign wheat purchases to meet local demand - even as it faces a dollar shortage that has sapped its ability to import.

"It's important that whoever comes next knows that the minister is not above accountability and will always be monitored and under the spotlight," Nader Noureldin, a former supply ministry advisor, said.

A government source told Reuters that the Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil will conduct the affairs of the Supplies Ministry until a new minister is appointed.

Egypt's supply ministry is in charge of a massive food subsidy programme and the main state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC).

Parliamentarians who formed a fact-finding commission to investigate the fraud have said upwards of 2 million tonnes, or 40 percent of the locally procured crop, may be missing.

The general prosecutor has ordered arrests, travel bans, and asset freezes for several private silo owners and others allegedly involved in the scandal.

While Hanafi has not been accused of directly profiting from misallocated subsidies, parliamentarians, industry officials, and media commentators have in recent weeks pinned blame for the crisis squarely on his shoulders.

"Hanafi started very strong but unfortunately he trusted the wrong people who ran the ministry for their own benefit which led to huge loss of the subsidy," said Waleed Diab, Managing Director of Egyptian Millers Company, one of the country's largest private mills.

The prospect of hundreds of millions of dollars in squandered government subsidies comes as Egypt gears up for a raft of austerity measures, including various subsidy cuts agreed to as part of a $12 billion IMF programme that could bring pain for its poorest people.

TEFLON MINISTER

Pressure has been mounting on the minister, who was appointed in 2014, ever since earlier this year when parliament began investigating whether a bumper wheat crop -- nearly 5 million tonnes delivered by farmers versus 3-3.5 million normally procured -- may be the result of foul play.

In recent weeks parliament's wheat commission has captured the attention of the Egyptian public, with MPs making highly publicised site visits to private silos suspected of fraud, arriving unannounced to tally missing wheat before reporting their findings to the local press.

Critics have also accused Hanafi of bungling an array of the ministry's most critical duties.

From smart cards for bread distribution that were hacked, wasting millions of dollars in subsidised flour, to the ministry's failure to purchase rice last harvest -- an oversight that led to nationwide shortages of subsidised rice and price spikes that hit the country's poorest -- Hanafi has drawn a broad coalition of critics.

Criticism took an unexpected turn last week, when fiery media personality and MP Mostafa Bakry accused Hanafi on television of using 7 million Egyptian pounds ($788,300) in state funds to maintain a residency at a posh downtown Cairo hotel.
TIMELINE-Egypt's wheat corruption struggle

ABU DHABI/CAIRO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The minister responsible for food subsidies in Egypt, the world's biggest wheat importer, resigned on Thursday amid a high profile corruption probe.

In July, Egypt launched an inquiry into whether millions of dollars intended to subsidise farmers were used to purchase wheat that did not exist.

A corruption report, delivered late last week to the head of parliament, concluded some 200,000 tonnes of wheat was missing at ten private storage sites visited by the commission.

Below is a timeline of how events have unfolded over the past two years.

*February 2014: Khaled Hanafi is appointed minister of supplies, putting him in charge of Egypt's extensive food subsidy programme as well as GASC, the world's largest buyer of wheat.

*2014 - A smart card system for subsidised bread distribution is rolled out in cities across Egypt and touted as saving flour.

*2015: Hanafi hails the new system as a success, saving millions of dollars in bread subsidies, reducing imports, and ending shortages that once prompted long queues outside bakeries across Egypt. Industry officials, traders and bakers argue that, to the contrary, those reforms have failed - and even made abuse of the system worse.

*July 2015: Egypt collects a record 5.3 million tonnes of wheat from its local farmers, up from 3.7 million tonnes the previous year, amid mounting evidence of smuggling. Traders say as much as 1 million tonnes of the total could be foreign wheat but the supplies ministry repeatedly denies the claim of smuggling and the case is not taken any further.

*November 2015: Egypt's cabinet says it will start buying local wheat from farmers at the average global price starting in the 2016 season, changing the way it subsidises its wheat growers, to avoid smuggling. In previous years an annual fixed local price for Egyptian wheat that is above global prices encouraged traders to sell cheaper foreign wheat to the government, falsely labelled as Egyptian, to make a profit.

*February 2016: Under pressure from parliament, which said the direct subsidy to farmers was too low, Egypt's cabinet cancels the wheat subsidy reform and returns to the old system.

*April 2016: Egypt introduces measures to put an end to smuggling during its local wheat buying saying it will ban the trading of imported wheat inside the country during the buying season.

*June 2016: Egypt ends its local wheat procurement season with another 5 million tonnes of purchases fueling speculation once again that smuggling has occurred.

*June 2016: Amid mounting pressure, the government launches a recount of wheat in silos as a laywer, supported by a group of grain businessmen, files a case to the public prosecutor about the matter.

*July 2016: In his first public statement on the matter, Egypt's public prosecutor says some local wheat was only bought by the government in paper transactions and not physically delivered ordering the arrest of those involved and imposing asset freezes and travel bans on several individuals related to the case.

*July 2016: Egypt's parliament sets up a fact-finding commission to look into the allegations of corruption and hands its final report to parliament the next month as mounting pressure builds on the minister of supplies to resign.

*August 2016: In a second statement on the matter, Egypt's public prosecutor says upwards of $70 million worth of local wheat has been falsely claimed.

*Aug. 25 2016: Khaled Hanafi resigns.
Kerry calls for unity government in Yemen to end war

RIYADH, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday he had agreed in talks with Gulf Arab states and the United Nations in Saudi Arabia on a plan to restart peace talks Yemen with a goal of forming a unity government.

Speaking at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Kerry said the 18 month conflict in which the kingdom has launched thousands of air strikes in favour of the exiled government had gone on too long and needed to end.

Kerry said Yemen's dominant Houthi group must cease its shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, cede its weapons and enter into a unity government with its domestic foes.

"We agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations with both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement," Kerry said.

"The final agreement ... would include in the first phase a swift formation of a new national unity government, the withdrawal of forces from (the capital) Sanaa and other areas and the transfer of all heavy weapons including ballistic missiles, from the Houthis and forces aligned to them to a third party."
Haitian president says election must occur on time

By Makini Brice

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Haiti's long-delayed presidential vote must take place on Oct. 9 as scheduled to install a legitimately elected leader as soon as possible and assuage concerns about political stability, interim President Jocelerme Privert told Reuters.

Privert's comments late on Wednesday come as Haiti scrambles to find funding for its third election process in a year. A history of volatility and missed deadlines in the nation's recent electoral history has raised doubts about the October date.

The results of a presidential vote last year were scrapped after the electoral council accepted a commission's conclusion that many of the ballots were fraudulent, a disputed decision that prompted some in the international community to withdraw support for the elections.

A January runoff was also cancelled after violent protests. Privert said this would not happen again.

"I cannot even picture a Plan B," he said. "The risk for the country is too large."

The election will be mostly self-financed as the U.S. government, a major donor to last year's vote, said it would not contribute this time. Privert said $15 million had already been allocated to the provisional electoral council.

He said the estimated $55 million to pay for the vote would be found, even if other recipients vying for the country's limited budget lose out to what he called a "priority project."

"We have done all that is humanly possible to assure that on Oct. 9, the people go to the polls to elect the legitimate authorities capable of confronting the economic and social challenges that our country faces."

Election council President Leopold Berlanger, who has also emphasized the need to hold the election as scheduled, said on Tuesday that about $25 million was available for it.

Haiti's campaign season began on Tuesday for the third time in a year.

Privert, whose term officially expired in June, has led the country since former President Michel Martelly left power in February without an elected successor. Opponents have accused Privert of dragging his feet to stay in office longer.

Still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010 that killed 220,000 people, Haiti, the western hemisphere's poorest nation, has also been hit by a cholera outbreak brought by U.N. peacekeepers and now faces the threat of the Zika virus.

The favourites in the race are conservative Jovenel Moise and centre-left Jude Celstin, who lead a field of 27 candidates. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent in the first round, a runoff will be held in January.
France, India play down security risk of leaked submarine data

By Cyril Altmeyer and Douglas Busvine

PARIS/FRANCE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - France and India on Thursday played down the security risk posed by leaked data on French-designed submarines that a source told Reuters was probably stolen by a French former employee and that has raised concerns over a $38 billion contract with Australia.

More than 22,000 pages of data about six submarines that France's DCNS is building for India's navy looked to have been stolen in 2011 by a subcontractor who was fired while providing training in India, the source said.

India's defence ministry said on Thursday that it saw no immediate security risk and the French government said the information in the documments only showed how the submarines operate and did not compromise their security.

India and France are investigating after The Australian newspaper published on Wednesday details about its Scorpene submarines being built in India by contractor DCNS - 35 percent owned by Thales and 65 percent by the French state.

"It is not a leak, it is theft," the source said. "We have not found any DCNS negligence, but we have identified some dishonesty by an individual."

The French government source said security procedures would be strengthened for all employees going to work in Australia to ensure one person did not have access to so many documents.

The documents were not classified and at this stage appeared to only focus on how the submarines are operated not how they are built and whether they can be detected, the source said.

"The Indians can object to the fact that these documents show the Pakistanis how to maintain their submarines and that's annoying, but it doesn't tell the Pakistanis how to detect an Indian ship, or how we build a submarine in France. Not at all," the source said.

The newspaper published only a fraction of the documents, and these had been redacted, meaning that sensitive details relating to the Scorpene's design and stealth capabilities did not enter the public domain.

"The documents that have been posted ... have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out," an Indian defence ministry statement said.

The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai. The first is expected to enter service by the end of the year as India seeks to rebuild its dwindling fleet and assert its dominance in the strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.

The leak has raised doubts about the security of a separate DCNS submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals on a contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines.

DCNS said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients and whether commercial espionage was to blame.

DCNS is also pitching for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland and beat Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia.

French officials have sought to play down the impact on the Australia contract.
Japan's ANA finds problem with Boeing 787 Rolls-Royce engines, cancels some flights

TOKYO/LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Japanese carrier ANA Holdings needs to replace damaged compressor blades in the Rolls-Royce engines powering its Boeing 787s, it said on Thursday, forcing it to cancel some Dreamliner flights over the coming weeks.

The carrier said that under certain flying conditions the compressor blades in the engine's interior showed corrosion. It said it will cancel nine domestic 787 flights on Friday, with other cancellations likely in the coming weeks.

ANA's Dreamliners are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The Japanese airline is the biggest operator of the Boeing model with some 49 aircraft, or around a tenth of the global fleet. Of the 445 Dreamliners in operation worldwide, 168 use the Rolls-Royce engines, according to Boeing's website.

"We are aware of the situation and are working with Rolls-Royce and ANA to resolve any issues impacting the airplanes in service," a spokesman for Boeing in Tokyo said.

Rolls-Royce Holdings said in an e-mailed statement it was "working closely with ANA to minimise the effect on aircraft service disruption".

It did not say whether the problem had been found in 787 engines on aircraft operated by other airlines, but when asked about any requirement to take additional action a spokesman said the issue was limited to a small proportion of the ANA fleet.

Shares in Rolls-Royce traded down 2.2 percent at 771 pence at 1505 GMT, making the company one of the biggest losers on Britain's bluechip index.

Airlines that order the Dreamliner can choose either the Rolls-Royce engines or General Electric Co's GEnx engines for their aircraft.

ANA said vibrations resulting from the problem with the compressor blades had occurred on a flight from Japan to Malaysia in February and on one to Vietnam in March. A 787 travelling on a domestic route on Aug. 20 had also experienced trouble, it said.

Rolls-Royce is in turnaround mode after a tough 18 months after being hit by a low oil price and lower demand for servicing of some of its older engines. It has a plan to cut costs by 150 million to 200 million pounds by the end of 2017.
Hong Kong confirms first Zika case in woman who went to Caribbean

HONG KONG, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Hong Kong has confirmed its first case of Zika in a woman who had travelled to the Caribbean, putting the Asian financial hub on high alert for any spread of the mosquito-borne virus that has wreaked havoc in Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond.

Leung Ting-hung, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, told a media conference late on Thursday that relevant measures had been taken to prevent the virus from spreading.

He said the government's priority was controlling the mosquito population in Hong Kong.

"The patient is a 38-year-old woman with good past health. She has developed joint pain and red eyes since August 20," the department of health said in a statement.

The unidentified woman had been in the Caribbean from Aug. 6-20 and returned to Hong Kong on Monday, the department said.

It said it would report the case to the World Health Organization.

In February, a mainland Chinese man who flew into Hong Kong was diagnosed as having the Zika virus, according to broadcaster RTHK, citing officials as saying there was little chance he could have caused an outbreak during his brief stay.
In euro zone first, Finland could sell syndicated bond with negative yield

By Abhinav Ramnarayan

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Finland could launch a new bond as early as next week, three banking sources said on Thursday, a deal that could mark the first euro zone sovereign syndication with a negative yield.

The country is believed to be considering whether to issue a seven-year bond, which would almost certainly carry a negative yield, or go longer to avoid testing its investor base in this manner.

While countries such as Germany have auctioned debt with negative yields, Finland would be the first euro zone country to do this via syndication, a process by which a group of banks distribute bonds to investors.

The euro zone bailout fund ESM and German development bank KfW have sold syndicated bonds at negative yields, while Poland last year sold Swiss franc debt via syndication that yielded less than zero.

Three bankers in talks with Finland told Reuters on Thursday that a bond sale was imminent, but were divided on what tenor the country should choose.

Two of the bankers said there would be sufficient demand for a seven-year bond even at negative yields.

"We are living in a negative-yield world now, people are comfortable with it and are looking at relative value to German Bunds," said one of the bankers.

A second said a five-year bonds issue from KfW in July, which received more than 8 billion euros of orders at a yield of minus 0.196 percent, was evidence that such demand existed.

A third banker disagreed.

"These levels at the short end are insane - I am not convinced (a seven-year deal) would work so well. We are certainly not recommending it," he said, adding that a longer-dated bond with a positive yield would meet stronger demand.

Finland in June said it was likely to sell a five-year bond after the summer break, although it had not excluded selling a longer-dated issue.

Its current benchmark five-year bond is yielding below the deposit rate at minus 0.435 percent, according to Tradeweb, making it ineligible for the European Central Bank's quantitative easing programme, as the central bank only buys bonds trading above the deposit rate.

As this is seen potentially having an impact on demand, expectations for the maturity of the new bond have shifted to seven years. Finnish debt is positive yielding from the 10 year point onwards.

"We could imagine (Finland) moving out towards the seven-year tenor, given that five-year rates trade below the deposit facility rate threshold for ECB purchases," strategists at ING said in a note on Tuesday.

Finland's outstanding bonds maturing in April 2023 were bid at a yield of minus 0.27 percent on Thursday.

Central bank action across the world has pushed yields down globally, while a flight to safety bid from investors on the back of concerns over global growth have also added to the low yielding environment.
Czech PM backs European army in talks with Germany's Merkel

PRAGUE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic supports deeper European defence cooperation that could eventually lead to the creation of a European army, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday.

Sobotka said more European security and defence cooperation, in addition to the existing partnership in NATO, was a priority given the need to protect external EU borders and respond to growing security threats from places such as the Middle East.

Creating joint army units would follow a practice long established by countries such as Germany, which has created them with France and the Netherlands and has discussed military collaboration with other EU partners.

In Tallinn on Wednesday, Merkel said she saw no fundamental obstacles to setting up joint units with Estonia, although she added the disparate sizes of the two militaries meant such an endeavour might require the participation of other countries.

Sobotka said his country envisaged further partnerships between EU countries, suggesting they could form steps towards the establishment of a European army.

"Certainly the Czech Republic can imagine stronger cooperation in the military area, integration of units, common exercises, and above all securing the capacity to organise operations to support common European foreign policy," he said.

In his discussion with Merkel, he called the project "a possible joint European army".

Merkel is meeting 15 other heads of state this week to prepare the groundwork for a Sept. 16 summit in Bratislava aimed at giving new agenda to the bloc hit by the immigration wave and Britain's decision to leave.
Clinton, Trump clash over who is best for U.S. minorities

By Amanda Becker and Steve Holland

RENO, Nev./MANCHESTER, N.H., Aug 25 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump on Thursday of fueling America's "radical fringe" with racist rhetoric, even as her Republican rival sought to soften his image with an appeal to minorities.

Clinton needs to retain support from black and Latino voters to win the Nov. 8 election, the same coalition that helped propel Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in 2008. Trump, whose support comes mainly from whites, is unlikely to be victorious unless he can cut into that support.

"Donald Trump has built his campaign on prejudice and paranoia," Clinton said in a scathing speech in Nevada. "He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties."

"This is a moment of reckoning for every Republican dismayed that the Party of Lincoln has become the Party of Trump," Clinton said, referring to Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation and championed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War that led to the abolition of slavery in 1865.

Trump, who trails Clinton in national opinion polls, has polled poorly with minorities and has been criticized for his proposals on immigration, which include deporting millions of undocumented foreigners, building a wall along the Mexican border, and suspending Muslim immigration to shore up national security.

He described some Mexican immigrants as "criminals and rapists" in a 2015 speech launching his candidacy and more recently questioned the impartiality of an American-born judge of Mexican heritage.

On Thursday, the New York real estate mogul-turned-politician criticized Clinton before her speech, saying she and her party had let black Americans down with failed economic policies and were falsely labeling Republicans as bigoted.

"When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: You're racist, you're racist, you're racist," Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire. "It's a tired, disgusted argument and is so totally predictable."

At a Mississippi rally on Wednesday, Trump called Clinton a "bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings."

'SHAME ON YOU'

He argued on Thursday that Clinton's opposition to charter schools and vouchers locked minority students in failing jobs, that her tax policies would hurt black-owned businesses and that she would allow immigrants to take jobs from minorities.

Trump said the Clinton attacks were not only an assault on him, but on all his supporters - people, he said, who want strong borders and security.

"To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words ... shame on you."

A Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation poll for the week beginning Aug. 15 found Clinton beating Trump among Hispanic voters by 15 percentage points, and by 57 percentage points among black voters.

Trump has tried recently to broaden his appeal to them, hinting at a softening of his hardline position on immigration.

In comments broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday night, Trump said he would be willing to work with immigrants who have abided by U.S. laws while living in the country, backing away from his insistence during the primaries that he would try to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants.

Trump also met with black and Latino Republican leaders at his headquarters in New York City on Thursday morning.

Trump's efforts were unlikely to draw out minorities in his favor but could reassure some moderate Republicans worried about his views on race, said Bernard Fraga, a political science professor at Indiana University.

"I don't think these efforts will do a lot to help him in minority communities," Fraga said.

An association of 40 Latino organizations sent a letter on Thursday calling on him to "cease" his rhetoric and meet with their leadership to discuss ways he could improve his outreach to Hispanics.

"As we have expressed numerous times, your rhetoric of relentless attacks against our community is an issue of serious concern and has had a significant impact, fueling an alarming trend in our nation," the letter reads.

CLINTON VIDEO

Clinton released a video on Thursday ahead of her Nevada speech tying Trump to white supremacist groups. The video shows a Ku Klux Klan member praising Trump and plays a recording of former leader Klan leader David Duke calling on white people to vote for Trump.

The video also shows newly appointed Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon, who ran the website Breitbart.com, which has been accused of stoking online racists.

Bannon told the magazine Mother Jones during the Republican National Convention last month that the website was "the platform for the alt-right," a brand of U.S. political conservatism associated with white nationalism.

Trump's campaign called for the Clinton campaign to withdraw the video.

"This type of rhetoric and repulsive advertising is revolting and completely beyond the pale," Mark Burns, an African-American pastor who supports Trump, said in a statement. "I call on Hillary Clinton to disavow this video and her campaign for this sickening act that has no place in our world."
Portugal wants Iraq to waive diplomat sons' immunity after beating

By Andrei Khalip

LISBON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Portugal on Thursday asked Iraq to waive the diplomatic immunity of the twin sons of its ambassador after prosecutors sought their interrogation as formal suspects in the beating of a local youth who ended up in intensive care.

The case, which risks escalating into a diplomatic row, caused an uproar in Portugal after the two 17-year-olds, who have acknowledged their part in the beating of 15-year-old Ruben Cavaco on Aug. 17, were swiftly released by police on the night of the incident.

The foreign ministry said on Thursday that it had handed the request to the Iraqi embassy's charge d'affaires, and now awaited a response from the Iraqi authorities. Ambassador Saad Mohammed Ridha travelled to Baghdad on Tuesday.

As family members of a diplomat the twins are protected from prosecution in the host country under international convention on diplomatic relations.

The prosecutor general's office said in a statement earlier that it asked the foreign ministry to intervene after the investigation pointed to "facts that could potentially constitute the crime of attempted manslaughter".

"With the pieces of evidence already collected and the investigation carried out so far, it is considered essential that the two suspects with diplomatic immunity be interrogated as formal suspects in order to clarify the facts," it said.

The incident took place in Ponte de Sor in central Portugal where one of the brother is attending flying school.

In an early statement the Iraqi embassy said the brothers, Haider and Ridha, had acted in self-defence and their attackers had shouted racist and anti-Muslim slurs, though the brothers themselves in later comments to media did not repeat this.

They told SIC television channel on Monday they had first been attacked by a group of young men, including Cavaco, after a night of drinking at a bar. They said they were later confronted once more by Cavaco which is when they beat him.

The brothers apologised to Cavaco and his family but said they were all "victims of circumstance" and that the media had exaggerated the case. After several days in a drug induced coma, Cavaco left intensive care unit on Tuesday.
Peace much cheaper than war, Colombia tells critics of FARC deal

By Marc Frank

HAVANA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Colombia's government peace negotiators hit back on Thursday at critics of a deal to end half a century of war with leftist FARC guerrillas, saying the cost of bringing the rebel fighters into society was much lower than spending on the conflict.

The government and the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, said on Wednesday that they had reached an agreement that effectively ends a 52-year conflict that led to the deaths of more than 220,000 people and left millions displaced.

Opponents of the deal, led by former President Alvaro Uribe, say it gives rebels amnesty for too many crimes and is unfair to law-abiding citizens because it calls for subsidizing fighters as they leave jungle and mountain hideouts to look for work.

The agreement must now be approved by Colombians in an Oct. 2 referendum, and the government must win support from many who would prefer to have defeated the guerrillas through military force to avenge years of kidnappings and attacks.

The team that spent nearly four years negotiating with the FARC in Havana held a news conference to defend the deal, saying the government and society must help integrate the fighters, some who have spent decades in camps.

"This is for Colombia, so that what happened in Central America does not happen here - that we abandon them after they lay down their weapons and they end up in criminal groups or taking up weapons again," said Senator Roy Barreras, one of the negotiators.

Violent crime has increased sharply in Central American countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala since guerrillas and other armed groups were demobilized in the 1990s, a crisis some blame on the failure to help fighters adjust to civilian life.

Part of the plan to help the FARC fighters includes paying them 90 percent of Colombia's minimum wage as they emerge from their hideouts. The negotiators compared the monthly $200 subsidy to the thousands of dollars spent on each army bombing raid.

"War is much more expensive, even without counting the human cost," Barreras said.

The 297-page peace agreement will be sent to Colombia's Congress on Thursday for approval. President Juan Manuel Santos and a FARC representative will sign it before the October referendum, the negotiators said.

Most opinion polls suggest Colombians will back the deal, but the nation is deeply divided and caught in a heated debate over what sort of justice the rebels should face.

Under the agreement, the rebels and government soldiers will receive amnesty for all but the gravest crimes, an arrangement similar to one Uribe struck with right-wing paramilitary groups when he was in office.

If the deal is approved, FARC will have non-voting representation in Congress until 2018 and can participate in elections. From then on, the former rebels will have to win votes like candidates in any other political party.

Once the agreement is signed, a 180-day countdown begins toward the full demobilization of the fighters, a process that the international community will monitor.

Both the White House and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton congratulated Colombia on the deal and promised U.S. support for implementing it.
DBRS cautious over Portugal's CGD recapitalisation plans

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Credit rating agency DBRS said on Thursday it was difficult to assess the impact on Portugal's government rating from the plan to recapitalise state-owned bank CGD until it was clear whether investors would buy new debt the plan hinges on.

DBRS's view is key because its BBB low rating for Portugal is currently the only one high enough to keep Portugal's sovereign bonds in the European Central Bank's 1.5 trillion euro buying programme.
German minister calls for new arms control agreement with Russia

BERLIN, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Germany's foreign minister has called for a new arms control deal with Moscow to avoid an escalation of tensions in Europe, where intensified military exercises by Russia and NATO have raised concerns that a war could inadvertently be triggered.

In an apparent reference to Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Russia had violated basic, non-negotiable principles of peace, breaking delicate bonds of trust built up over decades.

"At the same time, we must all be united in the desire to avoid a further twist in the escalating spiral," he said in an advanced release of an opinion piece to run in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's Friday edition.

He said a new arms control process would offer a "proven means for transparency, risk avoidance and trust building".

"In addition, we want a structured dialogue, with all partners who carry responsibility for the security of our continent," he wrote, noting that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) could be a forum for talks.

On Wednesday, a group of former foreign and defence ministers said Russia and NATO must agree common rules to handle unexpected military encounters to reduce the risk of inadvertently triggering a war between Moscow and the West.

Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, drew the criticism from NATO officials in June after warning their decision to stage military manoeuvres in eastern Europe amounted to "sabre-rattling and shrill war cries" that could worsen tensions with Russia.
Iraq, Syria discuss securing border as Islamic State retreats

BAGHDAD, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi held talks on Thursday with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem about securing their common border, an official Iraqi statement said, after a partial retreat by Islamic State militants.

This year the jihadist group has lost about half the land it seized in 2014 and 2015 in Iraq but it remains in control of territory on both sides of the northwestern border with Syria.

Abadi is hoping to take back Mosul, the largest Iraqi city under Islamic State's control, effectively defeating the group in Iraq.
Number of extremist travelers grows, Canada security officials say

OTTAWA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The number of people who have traveled overseas from Canada and are suspected of engaging in "terrorism-related activities" has grown, security officials said on Thursday in a report that cited extremist violence as Canada's main defense threat.

The report was released by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who has overall responsibility for law enforcement, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It comes just two weeks after an Islamic State supporter who was in the final stages of preparing an attack on a Canadian city with a homemade bomb was killed during a police raid at his home in Ontario.

So-called "extremist travelers," who are suspected of traveling abroad for the purpose of militant activity, pose a range of security concerns for Canada, according to an annual report that gave an assessment of the threat landscape in 2015 and early 2016.

At the end of 2015, the government was aware of about 180 individuals with a connection to Canada who were abroad and suspected of "engaging in terrorism-related activities", the report said.

That is up from approximately 130 individuals in 2014. More than half of the 180 are believed to be in Turkey, Iraq or Syria, the report said.

Another 60 extremist travelers had returned to Canada at the end of 2015.

"Violent extremist ideologies espoused by terrorist groups like Daesh and al-Qaida continue to appeal to certain individuals in Canada," the report said, using the Arabic acronym for the militant group Islamic State.

The numbers do not take into account other individuals of concern, including those who aspire to travel or those whose travel has been thwarted, the report said.

It was the first major report on security issued since the new Liberal government came into power last year. The Liberals campaigned on a plan to scale back a 2015 law that gave increased powers to security authorities in the wake of two deadly attacks by homegrown radicals in 2014.

Since the thwarted attack earlier this month, the government has said it will continue with its plans to reform the law and is beginning national security consultations.

A gunman killed a soldier at Ottawa's national war memorial before launching an attack on the Canadian Parliament in October 2014 while a man ran down two soldiers in Quebec, killing one, around the same time.
Chile plans to send TPP Pacific trade deal to Congress this year

SANTIAGO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The Chilean government is expecting to send the Pacific trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to its Congress for approval by the end of 2016, President Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday.

The 12-nation TPP aims to liberalize commerce in 40 percent of the world's economy, but its future is in doubt because both candidates in November's U.S. presidential election have said they oppose it in its current form.

Criticism of the deal by unions in some member states has been fierce, and in Chile opponents have accused the negotiators of lacking transparency. Anti-TPP protest groups have joined forces with those demanding radical reform of the education and pension systems.

Bachelet, who is facing historically low approval ratings, said she hoped the agreement could be swiftly ratified.

"The TPP has a good balance of provisions that will benefit the country and assure appropriate protection for sensitive areas for Chile," she said at a business forum.

Chile already has bilateral free-trade agreements with the other TPP members, but the deal would deepen its links.

The 12 states that make up the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
Obama's TPP deal won't get Senate vote this year-Sen. McConnell

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that the Senate will not vote on President Barack Obama's signature Asian trade deal this year, punting it to the next president for changes and consideration.

The statement appeared to dash White House hopes for a vote to approve the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement after the Nov. 8 election and before Obama leaves office in January.

McConnell, a Kentucky Republican who controls the Senate's voting agenda, has previously said that chances for a TPP "lame duck session" vote were "slim" or "bleak."

"The current agreement, the Trans-Pacific (Partnership) agreement, which has some serious flaws, will not be acted upon this year," McConnell told a Kentucky State Farm Bureau breakfast in Louisville.

"But it will still be around. It can be massaged, changed, worked on during the next administration. So, I hope America will stay in the trade business," McConnell said.

The Obama administration is in the midst of a major push to promote the TPP deal, with cabinet officials holding dozens of events this month across the United States to try to build political support. Obama is expected to tout the TPP in the next two weeks at summits of the Group of 20 major economies in China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Laos.

A spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office could not immediately be reached for comment on McConnell's statement.

A number of senators in recent weeks have declared their opposition to the TPP deal in its current form, including Democrat Tim Kaine of Virginia, who is now the party's vice presidential candidate alongside Hillary Clinton.

Republican Senator Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania, who is in a tough re-election race in a state hit by manufacturing job losses, has also said he cannot support the deal.

Support for the TPP deal has been stronger in farming states, where proponents argue that it would boost exports of agricultural products.

Clinton has said she would seek to renegotiate the trade deal if elected and has criticized its lack of enforceable provisions to prevent currency manipulation. Her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, has said that he will not pursue multilateral trade deals, only bilateral deals.

McConnell said that he hopes the United States will continue its tradition as a trading nation since its founding, adding: "To do that, it's going to have to be done on a bipartisan basis."

Earlier this month, House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, said he saw no point in bringing up the TPP deal for a vote in any "lame duck" session of Congress later this year because "we don't have the votes."
Low prices may hobble potentially massive new Canada oilfield

By Nia Williams

CALGARY, Alberta, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A deepwater oilfield off the coast of eastern Canada could hold 25.5 billion barrels of crude, according to a new seismic report by the Newfoundland and Labrador government, potentially making it the country's largest offshore resource.

But the West Orphan Basin, 300 km (186 miles) northeast of Newfoundland, may still struggle to attract exploration bids in a November land sale due to persistently low crude prices.

Paul Barnes, Atlantic Canada and Arctic manager with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said while publicly available seismic data was useful, companies needed to drill to prove the potential of a basin and there were a limited number able to spend $200 million-$250 million per deepwater exploration well.

"In order to undertake that type of activity you have to be a very financially well-off company or multinational and have a degree of confidence there's potential there to find something," Barnes said. "With the downturn in oil prices and less cash to invest, whether this basin will see any activity in that land sale is hard to predict."

Provincial government-owned Nalcor Energy used seismic data, assessed by independent oil and gas consultancy Beicip-Franlab, to study a 20,000 square-km (7,722 sq-mile) area.

The report, released on Wednesday, found the basin could potentially hold 20.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in addition to the unrisked oil reserves. Unrisked means it is unclear how much of the reserve will eventually be recovered, but Jim Keating, an executive with Nalcor Energy, said recovery factors typically range between 25 and 75 percent.

The nearby Flemish Pass Basin is estimated to hold 12 billion barrels of potential unrisked reserves. Norwegian company Statoil announced a 300 million to 600 million barrel discovery there in 2013 and the basin attracted C$1.2 billion in exploration commitments in a 2015 licensing round.

The bidding on licenses in the West Orphan Basin will close on Nov. 9. Nalcor's Keating said interest was high so far, and provincial premier Dwight Ball said in a news release he was "cautiously optimistic" about positive results.

Oil and gas companies already active in the Atlantic Canada region were lukewarm when asked about potentially exploring the West Orphan Basin, where no drilling has been done so far.
WIDER IMAGE-Succession and standards worry Singapore hawkers

By Edgar Su

SINGAPORE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Singapore's beloved hawker industry faces an uncertain future with a wave of chef retirements imminent, raising questions about who will cook the city state's signature street-food delights.

There are over 100 hawker centres and 6,000 stalls in Singapore, run mainly by ageing chefs, with people from all sections of society attracted to the tasty multi-ethnic meals that cost as little as S$2.80 ($2).

But the tough working conditions in the small, basic kitchens and low profits have led many new chefs to look to larger, modern restaurants for bigger revenues.

Some experienced hawker sellers in Singapore believe the younger generation don't have what it takes to succeed in the trade.

Alex See, 66.

See runs a Fried Hokkien Mee (fried noodles) stall in East Coast with his 33-year-old daughter.

"Young people come and go, they are not serious about learning," he told Reuters.

"When I was helping my father at the age of 16, I asked him so many questions everyday to learn so that I can one day beat him at it. I do not think I have beaten my old man yet, it's a tie."

Sumosundram Moghan, 50.

Moghan makes Roti Prata, a fried pancake, at his stall but his staff, despite extensive training, still struggle to replicate his standards.

"The boss must do it - everyone can make the same dough but the way I flip my prata gives it the crispy standard," he said.

"My assistant has been learning for eight years, but still not doing the way I want it."

Lim Swee Heng, 56.

Hawker Lim Swee Heng has spent many years trying to perfect his spicy laksa noodle soup at his East Coast stall, Roxy Laksa.

"It takes years to get the right balance to the broth, to make it thick just add coconut, to make it watery just add water, but to go in-between, to get that right balance - that's the hard work of my dish."

Wee Phong Sai, 66.

Wee has been making handmade fishball noodle soup for almost 40 years at Ghim Moh food market but has no obvious successor to take over.

"To retire? These are two words that I will not utter," he said.

Last month, two Singapore hawkers became the first street food sellers in the world to be awarded a prestigious Michelin star. For one, success will not mean increased prices.

Chan Hong Meng, 51.

Chan was awarded a Michelin star for his soya sauce chicken at Chinatown food centre stall.

"The Michelin star came to me as a surprise, I never expected that hawker food will win such an award," he said.

"But with the Michelin star comes added responsibility, to maintain the standard of the dish and to keep the star...but I will not raise prices, at the end, its the customer that matters."

Some young hawkers are emerging, though. Keen to keep family traditions alive.

Stan Lim, 43,

Lim runs Balestier Road Hoover Rojak. Rojak is a traditional Malay mixed fruit and vegetable salad.

Lim gave up a sales job to take over the stall from his father and does his best to repeat the methods learnt.

"Many of hawkers here at this food centre... told me to find something better outside and not be a hawker because its very hard work, long hours and very little rest," he told Reuters.
Nitish Kumar is upset with the Farakka Barrage and wants it to be gone. It is easier said than done - something that the Bihar chief minister is well aware of.

He has clarified that while it may be impractical to dismantle the Farakka Barrage, something has to be done about the massive silting that results in regular flooding in his state.

Kumar says he has been speaking against the barrage for over a decade now but no one is listening; Bihar gets 19 per cent less rainfall and yet ends up flooded. According to expert estimates, the average depth of the Ganga has decreased by 50 per cent between Patna and Farakka since the barrage was commissioned in 1975.

The Ganga carries 2.9 billion metric tonnes of sediment into the Bay of Bengal, and the contention is that quite a bit of it is getting left behind because of the Farakka Barrage. Ironically, the idea of a barrage at Farakka was to de-silt the Hooghly river but in the process it ended up silting the Ganga.

The primary reason Farakka was built was to have more water to flush silt down the Hooghly and keep Calcutta Port alive.

In the 1950s and 60s, Calcutta Port may still have been important but in 2016, when Kumar is crying Farakka to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kolkata Port has been a "has been" for quite some years now.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been crying Farakka to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for quite some time now.

In fact, the Bihar government brought out a White Paper in 1975, concerned that Delhi signed the Ganga Treaty without consulting Bihar. Farakka had always been a dam of contention. In the early 1950s, when Pakistan raised concerns over India wanting to dam the Ganga, India had phoo-phooed the idea saying it was hypothetical.

But by 1961, the Farakka Barrage Project authority was set up with the mandate to execute and then operate and maintain the Farakka Barrage project. In 1971, the thorn in the side of Farakka got removed with the demise of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh.

The newly formed country, obliged to India for all the birthing help, agreed to the Farakka Barrage under condition of limited trial operation. The barrage was formally commissioned in 1975 and India kept diverting water even after the expiry of the agreed-upon trial period between India and Bangladesh.

In 1976, Bangladesh complained to the UN but nothing came of it. In 1977, India and Bangladesh signed a simple water-sharing treaty that gave Bangladesh 80 per cent water during the dry season but the locks at Farakka were in the hands of India and the water diverted down the Hooghly was more than India's fair share. Finally after years of ill will, the Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996. With the treaty in place, some amount of resolution came, but water experts do not consider it an ideal understanding because the treaty was limited to volume and not use.

The treaty divides water flow without sharing the value and uses of the river between India and Bangladesh. It does not concern benefit-sharing, nor is it a comprehensive river sharing and management treaty. During the dry months, deltaic Bangladesh still faces water shortage in its riverine channels, resulting in increased salinity and in times of rainy season there is massive flooding. In a sense, almost every problem in the country associated with water has been attributed to the impact of Farakka.

And though India diverts most of its water share down the Hooghly, the Kolkata Port has still complained that enough water does not exist there between January and May, and this affects river transport in the region. The other issue of concern at the Farakka Barrage is the ageing of machinery and low maintenance. The 2,245-metre barrage has 123 gates and the government has itself admitted that some of these gates have outlived their life.

In March 2015, Gate 49 was swept away releasing a huge quantity of water into Bangladesh, flooding the land beyond the barrage.

On March 18, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Prime Minister demanding immediate repair works to be carried out. Between 2010 and 2015, three of the barrage's gates collapsed.

Government experts have said that all 123 gates need to be replaced and while about 55 are being targeted by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan, in 2017, the remaining 68 would still stay vulnerable. Things are not looking so good for the barrage and nobody in its vicinity seems to be liking it. But tell that to the nine-year-old who has his face glued to the window rails of a night train crossing the barrage - two-and-a-half kilometre of sensory overdose, the whistling wind, thunderous rumble of crashing water, the clickity-clack of the rails, the glow and shadows thrown by passing light and the whizzing by of massive steel girders.
Home minister Rajnath Singh is in Kashmir for a two-day visit - his second in less than a month. He is slated to meet officials from the state administration, state leadership and other stakeholders. Do other stakeholders include separatist leaders from the Valley?

The Indian government has been non-committal on the issue and the August 12 all-party meet had seen a similar stand. Before embarking on his visit this time, Singh held two rounds of talks with some eminent non-Kashmiri Muslims - on August 18 and 21. It raises the obvious question: why non-Kashmiri Muslims only or why Muslims only?

Some of the Muslim leaders present at the meetings were Shahid Siddiqui, former Rajya Sabha member, Qamar Agha, security affairs expert, Ishrat Masroor Quddusi, a judge of the Orissa High Court, Zafarul Islam Khan, editor of Milli Gazette and MM Ansari, a J&K interlocutor.

Rajnath Singh is on Mission Kashmir.

One may interpret that these meetings say the government thinks only Muslims can suggest better ways to handle the Kashmir unrest. If so, is this not bracketing the whole Kashmir problem as some religious/community issue? Or it is just half the story?

If Kashmir is an integral part of India, as every Indian must believe, then isn't every Indian a stakeholder in the Kashmir peace process, whether Hindu or a Muslim? The exercise that Singh has done in New Delhi needs to see its extension in Kashmir. Most of the representatives in these meetings felt that the Kashmir situation was mishandled and an immediate course correction was needed.

The exercise that Singh will hold in Kashmir today and tomorrow should adopt this context as its backdrop, otherwise it will further alienate the Kashmiris who have genuine grievances.

The Indian security forces have efficiently checked cross-border infiltration, yet the current phase of unrest is now in its 47th day. That is unprecedented. An unrest so long cannot sustain itself if people come to realise that their demands are illegitimate.

Though J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has said only five per cent of Kashmiris are instigating the unrest and finance minister Arun Jaitley has added that the stone-pelters of the Valley are "aggressors and not satyagrahis", and blamed Pakistan for instigating the Kashmiri youth, there seems to be a clear departure in the government's strategy this time.

The words of Mufti or Jaitley or other leaders on these lines indicate a tough stand that does not endorse the dialogue process. However, the efforts before Singh's visit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent emphasis on the dialogue process, reveal there is now a rethinking on the policy adopted so far by the Indian and Kashmir governments. It makes sense when we see the intent of Singh's visit in the context of the outcome of Modi's meeting with the delegation of J&K's opposition parties, led by Omar Abdullah.

Modi, after meeting the delegation on August 22, had emphasised on the need for dialogue and to reach out. He tweeted after the meeting: "I appreciate the constructive suggestions given during today's meeting. All parties must work together to find a solution to J&K's problems."

Unlike Jaitley, he didn't paint the stone-pelters as aggressors. When he said every life lost in the Kashmir unrest, be it the youth, or security personnel or the police, is Indian, it was an indication of the things to come. And then came news of Singh's visit.

Let's hope the momentum sustains this time. The deployment of BSF companies in the Valley also tells us how serious the government is this time. It seems it doesn't want to leave any loose ends. Initiation of the dialogue process to find a credible solution is a must but for any such attempt to succeed, it is also equally important to control the rogue elements who will try to sabotage any peace initiative.
Every Friday, The Citizen features a pet available for adoption from the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York.

This week, we spotlight Chelsea.

Q: Who is your best friend?

A: I actually have had several BFFs since arriving, but they all got lucky and have gone home. But there is this very nice girl named Lizzie who lives next door to me. I think she is kind of depressed, so once I let her know she's my BFF, she will perk up like crazy! If she turns me down, I'll be very sad.

Q: What has been your worst experience?

A: Why don't we talk about best experiences this time. In all honesty, coming here has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I came from what is a hoarding situation, and I was really never going to get out of there until I was, shall we say, "discovered." No! This is the best experience I have had in a long time, if not in forever! Thanks for asking and thanks for letting your good readers know that coming to the shelter is the first step toward a great life!

Q: If you could have a job, what would that be?

A: Job? My dear friend, I am looking at retirement in the near future and collecting all those bones that are owed to me and having time to do all the things on my bucket list!

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would that be?

A: Speaking of bucket lists, I would like to visit Hawaii and spend some time at the very nice Hawaii Kai Dog Park. I understand it is wonderful there. And did you know that Hawaii is the only rabies-free state in the United States? It is, and it would be very safe for me (and you, too, if you want to go with me) to visit there!

Q: If you could meet someone famous, who would that be?

A: I understand there is a special dog here at the shelter and he is very famous in some circles. He is the shelter mascot, he gets some very special privileges and he is otherwise treated like a king! I have not met him yet, and most of us probably won't ever meet him. His name is Jed. All of us would give just about anything to meet Jed. He's the man!

Q: Do you have an interesting fact to share?

A: Here's a good one for you! Did you know that spiked dog collars were invented in Ancient Greece and were originally intended to protect a dog's throat from wolf attacks? Hmmm. This is, in fact, a fact!

Q: Do you have any advice for our good Citizen readers?

A: You bet I do! On behalf of all of my fabulous feline friends here at the shelter, I want to let you know that there is a very special adoption promotion going on right now until the end of August! All male cats are available for $35 and all female cats are available for $55! These cats are fully vaccinated (rabies, distemper, feline kennel cough), tested for FIV/FeLV and are negative (except for my buddy Finn who is FIV-positive  but that's no problem  so ask my good adoption counselors about him!) and if old enough, they are spayed or neutered. Really, good Citizen readers, the deals just don't get any better than this! So run down here and pick out your next feline BFF! And you can always stop by to say "hey" to me! Thank you and love, Chelsea and friends.
AUBURN  A convicted murderer will spend an extra five years in prison for assaulting an officer at Auburn Correctional Facility last year.

In June, 40-year-old Charles W. Coleman pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for having an "altercation" with a corrections officer at Auburn prison in February 2015.

Coleman  who was acquitted of murder in a 1994 fatal shooting  was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in Erie County in 2001.

Coleman received 25 years to life in prison for killing a 23-year-old man outside a pub in Buffalo in December 2000. He was also sentenced to 8 1/3 to 25 years for third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in a separate case.

Judge Thomas Leone sentenced Coleman in Cayuga County criminal court Thursday to an additional five years in prison plus five years post-release supervision for the assault. Coleman is currently being held at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Dutchess County.

Also in court:

 An Auburn man with a history of selling drugs was sentenced in Cayuga County Thursday.

Burrell Wingate, of 3 Pine St., pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in June. The 25-year-old admitted to selling cocaine in July 2015.

A second felony offender, Wingate was convicted of the same crime in 2013 and sentenced to two years in prison and two years post-release supervision.

Leone sentenced him Thursday to three years in prison plus two years post-release supervision. He also recommended shock camp so Wingate can get treatment, and ordered him to pay $200 in restitution and forfeit his car.

 An Auburn man has admitted to two separate crimes in exchange for probation and felony drug treatment.

John Casamassima, III, of 76 Havens Ave., pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree burglary, both felonies.

The 43-year-old said he was unemployed when he committed two thefts in 2015. First, on Sept. 21, Casamassima sold several sheets of steel that he stole from a dumpster at 4-M Precision Industries in Auburn. Then, in November, he entered a friend's garage in Owasco and took a chainsaw, leaf blower and stereo system to pawn.

The defendant faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for possessing the stolen steel and 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison for the burglary. However, Leone is expected to stick to the agreed upon sentence of felony drug treatment court and five years probation at sentencing Oct. 27.

 An Onondaga County man was remanded to Cayuga County Jail for neglecting to pay restitution.

In 2012, Branden Hackett, of Jordan, was convicted of felony third-degree burglary and four misdemeanors  fourth-degree criminal mischief, petit larceny, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle  for stealing power tools from a garage in Mentz. He was sentenced to one to three years in prison at the time and ordered to pay $400.

According to Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann, the 27-year-old has not paid anything toward his restitution in four years, which led the judge to send Hackett to jail until he pays.

"(The defendant) was out for a quite some time and never paid one cent," Leone said. "That's why he's sitting in jail... and if he pays, he'll be released."

In addition, Hackett is currently facing charges in the towns of Sennett and Brutus. He is being held without bail.
A group of Vietnam War veterans will soon gather in Skaneateles and receive the kind of parade they didn't receive when they came home from the war.

As part of the annual reunion of the 35th Land Clearing Team and the 538th Land Clearning Company, about 35 Vietnam veterans  including Skaneateles' Jerry Vile  will take part in the community's Labor Day parade Sunday, Sept. 4 riding in vintage military vehicles from Jack Gregory's extensive collection.

For the past 10 years, Vile  who will host the reunion over the long weekend after previously hosting it in 2005  has operated the 10-ton truck from Gregory's collection that is much like the one he drove in Vietnam. This year, several of his comrades from his company will join him.

And aside from participating in the parade, the veterans will spend most of their time hanging out and catching up with one another, said Pat Briggs, who is helping organize the reunion.

"We have nothing planned because we have been asked to just let everybody socialize," she said in a phone interview. "When I put it out that we were having this, I did ask, 'Do you guys want a schedule? Do you want events?' And 90 percent of them said, 'No, we just want to sit and talk and share.' So, that's what they're going to be doing."

During other reunions, which have taken place around the country since 2001 in Benton, Kentucky, the group has organized events such as touring in 2004 the Rome Plow plant in Rome, Georgia that built and supplied the bulldozers the two used in Vietnam and dedicating a plaque to the 538th in a veterans ceremony in Fremont, Wisconsin in 2012.

The group also visited veterans museums in LePorte City, Iowa in 2009 and in Burleson, Texas in 2013. But, this time around, the veterans plan to just sit and talk, which Briggs said is a good thing for the comrades of shared the experiences not only of war overseas but of conflict at home.

"Because of these reunions, there has been so much healing with these guys and with the friendships," she said. "They talk to each other all year long now. ... It's emotional. It's wonderful for me to see the changes not only with the men but with their relationships with their families because they have somebody now to talk to. They didn't talk before because nobody would understand."

The comrades, though, will take a break from sharing stories to get the welcome home they never got when they returned from Vietnam decades ago.

"It's been a healing experience," Briggs said. "This one this year is going to be even more so because they are going to have a float in a parade dedicated to them. ... It's just been a really great experience."

Briggs said the group started in 2000 when her late husband, Roger, came home one day and asked her if she could help him located any of his buddies from Vietnam. She got on the computer and found some of them through an internet search, and a year later, they hosted the first reunion.

The year after that, Roger Briggs died, but Pat Briggs continued to be a part of the group and attend its reunions, which she said are open to anyone from the group who wants to host it. For the past 15 years, she said, somebody from the group has stepped up and offered to take it on.

"It's just whoever is ready, willing and able. They take on the next one," Briggs said. "It's an awesome thing that got started. ... It is absolutely the most awesome experience, it really is."

Briggs said she and Vile are excited to organize and host the next reunion  in fact, she described herself as "just bursting" in anticipation of the event.

"It's amazing. It's awesome. It's fantastic," she said. "Jerry is totally excited to see all the buddies again. Each year, we end up finding more and more, and new ones come. It's just an absolutely ... I haven't got the words. It's incredible. It's an incredible experience."

According to information Briggs sent in an email, the 35th was one of three land clearing teams formed at Fort Lewis, Washington in the spring of 1967. The 35th landed at Phu Cat Airbase, just north of Qui Nhon, in early July 1967.

Attached to the 35th Combat Engineer Battalion for a couple of months, the unit drew equipment, trained and did odd jobs such as bunker clearing in the An Lao Valley. That October, the unit moved to Dragon Mountain Base attached to the 20th Combat Engineer Battalion, clearing the area for the special forces camp at Ben Het and participating in battles at Dak To.

In December 1968, three land clearing companies were activated, and the 35th became the 538th and remained activated until December 1971. The 538th was attached to the 299th Engineer Battalion, which has roots in Auburn.

Briggs said she wants the whole world to know "how wonderful these guys are" and called it "an absolute honor" for her to remain involved in the group and for them to continue honor her husband by getting back together every year.

"It's kind of just like having an entire family come and visit," she said. "This year, it's going to be for four days, so I'm really excited. I really am. ... I just get filled up and choked up and tears run. It's just awesome. It really is."
WASHINGTON  An independent political action committee has spent more than $280,000 since Aug. 1 in Arizonas 4th Congressional District in an effort to unseat three-term Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, in next weeks primary election.

The Right Way SuperPAC has spent a total of $281,025 as of Monday, the bulk of which has been in opposition to Gosar with a smaller amount going in support of his primary challenger, Ray Strauss, according to the PACs latest filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Attempts to reach officials at the PAC this week were unsuccessful, but it describes itself on its sparse website as being dedicated to electing constructive conservatives. FEC reports indicate that much of the funding for the PAC came from agricultural businesses, many in the Southwest.

But Gosars campaign manager Tom Van Flein said the rush of spending is evidence that Gosar, a Tea Party and Freedom Caucus member, is being targeted by the Washington establishment.

Gosar is definitely an outsider still, Van Flein said. He doesnt play the Washington, D.C., insider game.

Van Flein said the funds backers are big corporate agriculture interests, who were advocating for amnesty, illegal immigration, open borders for cheap labor.

Western Growers Association  the PACs largest contributor at $150,000, according to the FEC filing  said in an emailed statement that it donated to Right Way because Mr. Gosar chose to denigrate our members and dismiss their legitimate concerns. We find that unacceptable.

We dont expect every member of Congress to agree with us all the time, but we do expect legislators to try to work constructively with us to solve difficult problems affecting the livelihoods of their constituents, said Western Growers Executive Vice President Dave Puglia in a prepared statement released by the association.

Caleb Humphrey, who manages Strauss campaign, was careful to say that the candidate is not affiliated in any way with Right Way SuperPAC. But, he said, he believes the PAC is likely motivated by anger over the currently polarized Congress.

The national movement of people getting fed up with ineffective congressmen is one that is gaining momentum, Humphrey said Wednesday.

He said the campaign is less focused on outside help from super PACs  Right Way reported spending $23,472in support of Strausss candidacy  and more focused on getting its message out to voters in the 4th District.

If the Lord sees fit and Mr. Strauss wins, hopefully we get to actually take that fight to D.C. and actually stick up for our constituents, Humphrey said. Our campaign has been built on getting out and talking to individuals, talking to folks, and thats why all of our endorsements of our campaign are city, municipal and local officials.

Van Flein said that while the PAC funding poses a potential threat to the campaign, he remains confident that Gosar will win Tuesdays primary.

Congressman Gosar is taking this very seriously, hes out there campaigning very hard, raised a lot of money in this quarter to rebut the false allegations made by this PAC, Van Flein said.

Gosars campaign reported spending $380,743 as of Aug. 10 with $183,287 cash on hand, according to its latest FEC filing, while Strauss campaign said it had spent $98,139 and had $8,166 in the bank in the same period.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has completed drafts of new, more stringent air quality permits for three uranium mines near the Grand Canyon and the agency will hold a public hearing in Flagstaff next week to get public feedback about them.

The new permit proposals come after ADEQ halted the re-permitting process for the mines late last year following reports that uranium concentrations in soil near one of the mines measured more than four times background levels twice in a row.

The concentrations were recorded near Pinenut Mine located about 10 miles north of the Grand Canyon and ranged from 5.33 to 8.52 parts per million, which is two to three times the levels of uranium naturally found in the regions soils. Those levels, however, are minute compared to uranium concentrations found in uranium ore, according to scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey.

ADEQs new draft permits for the mines operated by the company Energy Fuels Resources contain enhanced dust control and soil sampling requirements designed to minimize fugitive dust emissions and dust transport.

The regulations, for example, include requirements for annual soil and quarterly gamma radiation sampling, the installation of anemometers to measure the wind speed at the mines and a halt to truck loading activities if wind speed gets above 25 mph. If uranium or radiation levels reach a certain trigger, the permittee is required to reduce its ore stockpile by half and implement additional dust control strategies like constructing wind barriers, silos or some other type of enclosure.

The agency will consider adopting similar requirements in future mining permits based on a case-by-case analysis, according to ADEQ spokesperson Caroline Oppleman.

So far the agency has received about 1,500 comments, nearly all form letters, on the mine permits, Oppleman wrote in an email.

Three regional environmental groups also have come out in opposition to the permit renewals. The Grand Canyon Trust, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity wrote a comments urging the agency to deny permits for all three mines. Their letter highlights the health impacts of radon gas and the levels of uranium already found in some of the areas groundwater supplies as well as the difficulty and costliness of cleaning up abandoned uranium mines.

The comments also mentioned elevated uranium concentrations within the Canyon Mine monitoring well, where mining preparations restarted last fall.

The groups are also requesting that ADEQ initiate monitoring of fine particulate matter and transportation-related uranium dust, noting the 24 trucks per day estimated to be coming and going from Canyon Mine when it begins operations.

The environmental groups also pressed ADEQ to require Pinenut Mine, where operations have ceased, to renew its air quality control permit until comprehensive monitoring confirms that all radioactive material has been removed and that dust and other fugitive air emissions are no longer detected from the site for at least a year after it has been fully reclaimed.

All ore has been transported off the property at Pinenut, and with the mines air quality permit now expired, ADEQs air quality division has no plans to continue monitoring at the site, Oppleman wrote in an email.

We do, however have the authority to require reasonable precautions to prevent fugitive dust emissions, she wrote.

Carletta Tilousi, a member of the Havasupai Tribal Council, said the tribe is another entity worried about Energy Fuels' mines around the Grand Canyon.

We want them to examine it more clearly, we want them to give it a fair process and include the voices and concerns of tribal nations," Tilousi said. None of ADEQ's hearings for the draft air quality permits, for example, have occurred in the Havasupai village of Supai, which means tribal members instead have to travel long distances to attend any of those comment and informational opportunities, Tilousi said.
Attendees of Lockn' Music Festival are reporting no traffic problems and short wait times to enter this year's event, which is expected to draw nearly 30,000 people over the next three days.

"We've been waiting all of our lives for this," said Richmond resident Andrew Morris.

He and his friend Cody Carter, of Roanoke, have attended every Lockn', including the festival's inaugural opening in 2013, when festivalgoers dealt with traffic nightmares and wait times upwards of eight hours.

"This is by far the the best," Carter said. He and his group waited only 20 minutes in the staging area before being ushered into the festival gates.

Becky Beswick and her husband Mark Beswick, of Rochester, New York, were in the staging area for less than an hour.

"Last year was awful," Becky Beswick said, recalling how a freak storm blew through Oak Ridge Farm hours before thousands were expected to descend on the area. Festival organizers opted to delay the event by one day, which mangled traffic for miles down U.S. 29.

Mark Beswick said this year seems like a breeze so far in comparison to previous years. He's attended all four Lockn' festivals.

"You've gotta expect to wait at least a couple hours," he said. "When we get to the six-hour mark, we'll be a little more heated."
Capt. Mark Black was announced on Tuesday as the 12th superintendent of the Waynesboro military school. Black is a Virginia Military Institute graduate and a 30-year Navy veteran.

Eugene LeFloch, chairman of the Fishburne-Hudgins Educational Foundation, said the educational consultant firm Hobgood and Associates helped lead the search for a new superintendent.

The North Carolina-based firm provides consulting services for private schools and boards of trustees, according to its website.

LeFloch said the search generated considerable interest.

"We had about 60 or more inquiries and in excess of 40 qualified candidates,'' said LeFloch.

LeFloch said a search committee spent three months making the selection. He said Black was the best choice to lead Fishburne "by far."

Most recently, Black has served as commanding officer and professor of naval science at the University of Virginia's Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Black succeeds Gary Morrison as superintendent at Fishburne. Morrison left in May and is now a vice president for NewDay USA Foundation.

Classes for the 2016-17 school year at Fishburne start next week.

You may contact Bob Stuart at (540) 932-3562 or bstuart@newsvirginian.com.
PHOENIX -- So would you pay your taxes on time if you could keep the money in the bank, pay it later and not face any penalty at all?

That's the question that taxpayers may be asking themselves now that the state has enacted yet another amnesty program.

In essence, it says that if you haven't paid prior income or sales taxes that were due before the beginning of 2014 you can come forward now, pay what you should have paid and be done with it.

No penalty.

No interest.

And no civil or criminal charges.

Daniel Scarpinato, press aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the law, pointed out that the measure is retroactive only. And that, he said, should make people think twice about counting on a future amnesty.

"We're not necessarily going to do this every year,'' Scarpinato said.

"People shouldn't roll the dice with the law or with paying their taxes,'' he continued. "They should follow the law, they should pay their taxes.''

But here's the thing: The record suggests that this could be a gamble some individuals and businesses might want to make.

This is the sixth time the state has enacted an amnesty program, more formally known as a "tax-recovery program.'' In fact, there has not been a time since the early 1980s where there has not been some form of retroactive relief available.

The program is pretty sweet.

It says that if you come forward between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31 and confess to owing some sort of tax that was due before 2014, you can pay up now without the usual penalties and interest that would otherwise apply.

In fact, this new version contains something that was not in prior amnesty program.

You don't even need to come up with all that you owe right now. The state is offering a payment plan, allowing errant taxpayer until Oct. 31, 2018 to pay off the debt.

And that could bring in people who could not qualify for earlier offers simply because they did not have the cash on hand to come clean with the state.

But that still leaves the question: Given the 30-plus year history of amnesty programs, why should individuals and businesses pay their taxes on time?

One is the possibility of the state finding you before you're ready to pay up.

The program is not available taxpayers who already are being audited. Nor are those who already are party to any criminal proceeding related to the failure to file or pay taxes.

But even with those restrictions, prior amnesty programs have shown there are a lot of taxpayers out there who have been flying below the auditor's radar.

A 1983 program brought in $6 million.

Lawmakers didn't act again until 20 years later. But that program was retroactive to 1983 and brought in $73 million.

A 2009 amnesty brought in $32 million, with another one two years later shaking free an additional $13 million. And the 2015 law generated more than $50 million.

There are no estimates of how much lawmakers hope to collect with the new program.

"If we can shake some more out, great,'' Scarpinato said.

But why stay current with the state?

"You shouldn't take chances with this stuff,'' Scarpinato said.

But Sean Laux, spokesman for the Department of Revenue, acknowledged that, given the history, some taxpayers may opt to sit on their taxes owed and wait.

"There is always that potential incentive for betting on a future tax-recovery program that will include future periods,'' he said.

"How likely that is, I can't really say,'' Laux continued. "But you're not necessarily wrong.''

Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, said the more often lawmakers approve amnesty programs -- and the more Arizonans start realizing how frequently they occur -- the greater the chances that some taxpayers will sit on the sidelines, taxes unpaid, and wait for the next one.

"At a certain point, when does it become counterproductive?'' said Shooter, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"I hope they don't read your story,'' he continued. "But I think it's a legitimate viewpoint.''

Shooter said he opposed the latest amnesty program for exactly that reason.

"But the pro side won out,'' he said.
Hey, Republican Party. African-American voter here. I hear youve been looking for me, but youre sending out such wildly mixed messages that Im not sure if I should be flattered or furious.

Hat No. 2 fits me pretty snugly right now. Heres 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?

Thats 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, hes 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 arent poor. Some 26 percent are, according to the University of Michigans National Poverty Center. And while thats 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 wouldnt guess it listening to Trump bellowing away about black despair. Yes, the inner cities clearly need new ideas and more help. But Trump isnt offering either. Thats because hes not courting the black vote with this new sales pitch; hes 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. Guys 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. Thats about keeping Democrats from voting. We cant 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 youre 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.

Youll lose old voters. And youll gain new ones. Just as the Democrats did 50 years ago.

In a changing America, youll be in position to compete for real minority votes, instead of just complaining about imaginary fraudulent ones.

That fraud charge stinks. Its built on the racist presumption that black voters cant discern whose policies align most closely with their interests and worldview. It suggests that, even if theyre not literally fraudulent, black votes remain somehow illegitimate because theyre 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? Whyd they save Hillary Clinton?

Simple. She showed up when he didnt. She out-worked him.

And he didnt realize it until it was too late.

Concerned about black votes this November, GOP?

Quit whining. Stop provoking. Start competing.
The two defendants in a bizarre pig-killing incident have had their charges certified to a higher court.

On Thursday, 33-year-old Lee Edward Oakes Jr. and 27-year-old Jerelyn Aymarie Sutter had a preliminary hearing in Albemarle General District Court before a small but focused crowd of animal rights activists clad in T-shirts, some of which read #justiceforprofit.

Profit, one activist said, was the name given to a pig that was allegedly stolen from the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in July and subsequently killed. A release from the SPCA stated that animal control officers delivered the animal to the Berkmar Drive shelter for temporary hold on July 3, but that it was later stolen from the facility after hours. The theft resulted in the death of the farm pig, the statement read.

Sutter, a former employee of the SPCA, was arrested along with Oakes in connection to the July 10 incident. The two were each charged with cruelty to animals, petit larceny and maiming and killing of livestock, which is a felony.

In court Thursday, prosecutor Matt Quatrara asked for those misdemeanor petit larceny charges to be upgraded to felony theft of livestock, a request that was not opposed by the defense. Quatrara then began calling witnesses to describe the events that led to the pig being taken from the SPCA and ended with it being found dead at a farm outside of Verona.

According to testimony, the pig had been found by animal control on July 3. It was taken to the SPCA, which was to serve as a temporary holding place. When an officer returned to the SPCA that evening to retrieve the pig, he was met by Oakes, who informed the officer that he had given the pig to a friend to be taken to a butcher.

The officer then told Oakes to contact his friend and return the pig to the SPCA, but, as the officer later learned, it was too late. During that initial interaction, Oakes told the officer that the pig had been feral and that he had been charged by the pig at one point.

Surveillance footage taken from the SPCA and presented to the court showed Oakes with the pig at about 7 p.m. July 3, taking the pig from its shelter and putting a harness on it. The footage further showed Oakes walking the pig around and petting it. Officers said that Oakes appeared to have an altercation with the pig when he attempted to subdue it, and that 20 minutes after the pig first showed up on camera, it appeared that the pig had been stabbed somewhere out of frame.

A veterinary expert also testified Thursday that after the pigs remains were returned to authorities, it appeared the pig had been stabbed at least 31 times, mostly around its neck.

After the presentation of evidence, defense attorneys for Oakes and Sutter noted to the court that when it was brought to the SPCA, the pig did not have markings or tags to show that it was already someone elses property. Quatrara agreed that the ownership of the pig was a difficult question that should be argued at trial, but not at the preliminary stage.

The owner of the pig said outside of court Thursday that it had escaped from his property sometime before July 3.

Speaking directly to the wording of the defendants charges, defense attorneys also argued that if the pig was feral, then it may be redefined as a nuisance rather than livestock. Judge Steve Helvin dismissed that notion, stating that he was not buying the argument that the pig was feral based on the surveillance footage.

Helvin added that, given the evidence, a jury also may decide that the killing was in fact malicious due to the extreme number of stab wounds found on the pig. He then certified the charges up to Albemarle Countys Circuit Court. The cases next hearing date in that court has not yet been made publicly available.

The outcome of Thursdays hearing seemed to please the dozen or so activists seeking justice for the pigs killing. Debbi Torres, who runs a pig sanctuary in North Carolina, said that she was one of many in a network of people involved with animal sanctuaries that became interested in the case. She and others traveled from all over to see that the case moved forward.

I felt that the [Commonwealths Attorneys office] did a wonderful job representing our cause and the pig, and were very happy with the judges decision to move forward with the prosecution of this situation of the case is indicative of a larger problem with local animal shelters and animal control officers that do not have the specific training and resources necessary to deal with pigs.

We really want to show people that there are a lot of pet pigs, and there needs to be a better protocol as to where these pigs go and how theyre taken care of when theyre found, Torres said.
A Guatemalan man who purchased airplanes in Virginia for the international trafficking of tons of cocaine was sentenced to just under 22 years in prison this morning.

Fernando Chang Monroy, 37, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on board an aircraft registered in the U.S. The twin-engine, turbo-prop airplanes were used to transport more than a ton of cocaine from an airfield in Venezuela to Honduras.

"As far as I can tell, it's the biggest drug case that has ever come before a Richmond court," said Erik S. Siebert, an assistant U.S. attorney told U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. "I will concede the defendant is not at the top of the food chain at all. But he was dealing with them," Seibert added.

The government sought a 21-year, 11-month prison term, at the low end of the federal sentencing guidelines, citing Chang Monroy's lack of a prior criminal record and his decision not to fight extradition from Guatemala and to plead guilty which allowed authorities to not reveal confidential sources or methods used in the case.

Hudson told Chang Monroy, "I do find that you are a significant player in a major conspiracy to import huge amounts of cocaine into the United States ... it's a disturbingly serious offense."

When he was arrested in Guatemala City last year, Chang Monroy was armed with two handguns. Speaking through an interpreter this morning, the father of three told Hudson, "From the moment I was arrested I knew that I had been wrong, I wanted to accept my guilt."

"I am very sorry because I hurt so many people with drugs (that entered) the United States," said Chang Monroy. He also apologized to his family and to Hudson moments before he was sentenced.

Earlier one of his lawyers, Dennis N. Urbano, of Miami, unsuccessfully sought a sentence below the guidelines arguing that his client did not play an organizing or leadership role in the conspiracy, but rather a broker or middleman.

"My client has done everything right that he absolutely could to show remorse," said Urbano.

The two Beechcraft King Airs were purchased somewhere in the federal Eastern District of Virginia. Chang Monroy admitted that the first one was sold to a Honduran drug trafficking organization for a percentage of the profit from 1,000 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard it in 2013 Venezuela, to Honduras.

The second airplane was sold to a Colombian drug trafficking organization. In 2014 it was flown to Venezuela 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.

In pleading guilty, Chang Monroy also admitted to finding pilots and altering one of the aircraft to facilitate the smuggling. He also arranged for the safe passage of the aircraft through Venezuelan air space via corrupt radar operators.

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.

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.
Thirty-one years ago, a Bedford County couple was brutally stabbed to death in their home, subsequently setting off a five-year investigation and two sensational trials.

This week, Jens Soering, the German national convicted of killing his former girlfriends parents when he and Elizabeth Haysom were students at the University of Virginia, asked for a full pardon from Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Soering has maintained his innocence since his conviction in 1990 and has since been denied parole 11 times.

On March 30, 1985, Derek and Nancy Haysom were killed in their Bedford County home. They were found with dozens of stab wounds and their throats cut from ear to ear. Their daughter, 20 at the time, eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder as an accessory before the fact.

Elizabeth Haysom is currently serving 90-year sentence in prison, but she will receive mandatory parole in 2032, when she is 68 years old.

Soering has repeatedly asked Virginia governors to send him back to Germany, including Timothy M. Kaine, the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Right before he left office, Kaine agreed to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to approve the transfer, but only on the condition that Germany keep him in prison for another two years. That decision, however, was reversed by his Republican successor, Bob McDonnell.

Earlier this month, Republicans brought the case back into the spotlight by questioning Kaines decision to try to send Soering back to Germany. Dels. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, and C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said they dont understand Kaines line of reasoning. In the past, Kaine has said he wanted to kick a convicted murderer out of the country so he could save money for the state.

At a news conference Wednesday, Steven Rosenfield, Soerings attorney since 2010, presented evidence to cast doubt on the guilt of his client. Beginning by attacking the science of the prosecutions case, Rosenfield said none of the blood samples found at the scene of the crime could be connected to Soering.

In 1985, an analysis was done on blood found at the crime scene. Five blood stains were found to be type O  the same type as Soering. Prosecutor Jim Updike explained the finding by telling the jury Soering must have been injured in a knife fight at the scene.

In 2009, as part of a post-conviction review, new DNA testing was done on some of the same items collected at the crime scene, Rosenfield said. Of the 43 items with blood samples, just 11 were stable enough to test.

Of those 11 items, two were found with type O blood, and a DNA scientist reported that Jens Soering was eliminated as a contributor of that blood, Rosenfield said.

Rosenfield also raised questions about a shot glass found by Derek Haysoms body. Two sets of fingerprints were found on the glass, Rosenfield said, with one set belonging to Haysom, but the other remains unidentified. Rosenfield said the unidentified blood and fingerprints point to an unknown person being at the scene of the crime.

Rosenfield next dismissed the prosecutions only other piece of physical evidence in the case by pointing out the unclear science surrounding a sock print in blood. He also said the expert witness in the matter, a tire impression expert, should never have been able to testify in court, let alone lead the jury to believe the bloody print was an exact match to Soerings bare footprint.

At the news conference, Rosenfield also showed a German-produced film called The Promise, which suggests that Haysom killed her parents with the help of her reported drug dealer  a man the film discovered had recently died.

The film also includes an interview with an FBI profiler who concluded that the killer was someone well-known to the couple, because Nancy Haysom was found dead in her nightgown. The profiler hypothesized the killer to be Elizabeth Haysom. His report was never given to the defense, though, and is assumed to still be in the FBIs archives, according to the film.

Also in the film is an extended interview with Soering at the Buckingham Correctional Center near Dillwyn, where he is currently serving two life sentences. In it, he talks about his regret for ruining his own life and those of his parents.

I thought I was a hero, Soering said of his original confession. I thought I was a great guy.

Soering, who was 18 at the time of the murders, initially confessed to the killings in an effort to protect Haysom  believing he would have diplomatic immunity as a German national  but later recanted his story and said Haysom killed her parents. While Soering maintained his innocence, Haysom testified against him at his trial in 1990.

Prosecutors said the Haysoms were killed because they disapproved of their daughters relationship with Soering.
Two University of Virginia professors whove been dwelling on race and public memorials provided some potential guidance Wednesday to a Charlottesville commission convened this spring to address those issues and how they pertain to the city.

In two separate presentations at Wednesdays meeting of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Race, Memorials and Public Spaces, UVa professors Kirt von Daacke and Karen Van Lengen spoke, respectively, about how UVa and other communities around the country have been discussing how public monuments reflect  or in some cases overlook  essential narratives that explain a communitys history.

Van Lengen, an architecture professor whose research has focused on public memorials, explained that she believes monuments should promote dialogue and attract people.

She said the creation of the commission has sparked an opportunity to re-evaluate such statues, their historical context and how they fit within contemporary culture. Several activists earlier this year suggested the city remove its memorial to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Much like the university, Mayor Mike Signer chose to create the commission to have a public body evaluate potential actions the city can take to provide a more holistic approach to memorializing a greater swath of the community.

Its an incredible opportunity for this town at this time, Van Lengen said. Almost every city and town in America is looking at this issue. Here you have this background of Monticello  and so you might as well find a way to intersect that with these other stories.

Yes, it will be challenging because it might be such a big story, but thats what people want to find these days.

Von Daacke, who is the co-chair of the Presidents Commission on Slavery and the University at UVa, spoke about his groups accomplishments and undertakings over the last three years, noting that the university, much like the city, has had to grapple with some harsh realities regarding its use of slaves and the lack of diversity in how it has presented its history.

Soon after the university commission was convened, Von Daacke said, we realized this is about more than just [UVa]. This is a story about the building of a university, Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the radius of at least six counties, if not more.

Theres a tendency to divide, he said. African-American history is American history. That needs to be included in this.

Von Daacke said recommendations by the presidents panel have impacted planning for what historical information and interpretations will be available in the Rotunda  set to re-open to the public this fall  its visitors center and around Grounds.

Speaking about other locations and narratives that have had a historical significance to the university but have otherwise not been shared widely, he said: We want to  continue to link to a much broader story about American history.

Toward the end of the meeting, several commissioners spoke about how adding monuments or linking certain historical sites may serve as an appropriate and measured response for those who feel the citys Confederate monuments overshadow and obfuscate African-American history.

I think to the extent that we can recommend the city continue to explore ways to interpret our historic sites through the people that live here, I think that would be richer and more meaningful for us on the board and to people who live with the sites through the future, said Commissioner Rachel Lloyd, a representative of the citys PLACE Design Task Force.

Commissioner Andrea Douglas, who is also the executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, as well as a member of the UVa panel, noted that the heritage center was created in part to dig into the local history, post-emancipation.

Talking about the city panels ultimate objectives, she said its more than just dwelling on the significance of monuments or how existing ones in the city might be moved.

It really is a conversation that is fairly weighty, and in this community, if you think about it from the moment those monuments are put into place [in the 1920s], were almost at a 90-year gap, she said. Were almost trying to recover 90 years of information thats otherwise almost impossible to recover, because in those 90 years of neglect, things are lost and memories are changed.

With approximately two weeks to go before the commission is anticipated to submit a progress report to the Charlottesville City Council, Lloyd urged the commission to begin discussing how it will create a final report thats due to the council in November.

I am eager  to get to a conversation about our recommendations, specifically about the [Confederate] monuments, she said.

I think it will take us a long time to deliberate on those recommendations. There are a lot of ideas. And I think its going to take a while to sort through all of them. I sense now that we may need to give more time to that process than we originally thought.

The commission will meet again next Thursday in CitySpace at 5:30 p.m. Members of the citys Historic Resources Committee will be there to speak about the design for a new Vinegar Hill park downtown.

The commissions regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
The League of Women Voters will host three public information forums in October for Albemarle County residents to learn more about a bond referendum that will appear on the ballot in November.

The forums, which will be held at three of the countys high schools, are for anyone seeking more information about the bond referendum, which could allow the county to issue $35 million in general obligation bonds to finance improvements at 25 of 26 school facilities, according to a news release from Albemarle County Public schools.

The first forum will be held at Western Albemarle High School on Oct. 4, the next one at Monticello High School on Oct. 11 and the final forum at Albemarle High School on Oct. 26. All are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

These forums are being held not to advocate for or against the referendum, but to provide more information to county taxpayers before the election on Nov. 8.

More information about the bond referendum can be found at albemarle.org/bondreferendum or by calling (434) 975-9330.
Please Donate

In order to maintain this blog I have to pay for its upkeep including a hosting company, support services, virus and other malicious hackers.

If you appreciate what I write please make a donation.

Racist PayPal Tries to Close Down My Blog

As you can see from this article PayPal have removed my blog.

I would therefore ask people to make any future donations to the following:

Name of Account: Brighton and Hove Unemployed Workers Centre

Account No: 04094107

Sort Code: 09-01-50

Reference: Web donations
More debates and forums for candidates running for Virginias 5th Congressional District seat have been announced, bringing the current total of scheduled events to seven through September and October.

The race for the 5th District is between Democrat candidate and former Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Jane Dittmar and state Sen. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, as well as Libertarian candidate Stephen Harmon and independent candidate Yale Landsberg.

Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th, has announced he would not run for a fourth term for Congress.

The newest debates and forums are scheduled throughout October.

The first is the Rural Madison Candidates Forum, which will be hosted by Rural Madison Inc. at Woodberry Forest at 7 p.m. Oct. 5.

The Warrenton Congressional Candidate Debate is scheduled for Oct. 17 in Warrenton, but an exact location has yet to be announced. This debate will be hosted by the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce, The Fauquier Times, FauquierNow.com, the Greater Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, the Fauquier Farm Bureau and the Southern Fauquier Business Association.

The League of Women Voters will host a candidate forum at William Monroe High School at 6 p.m. Oct. 18.

Another debate, hosted by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, is scheduled for Oct. 27 in Danville. The exact time and location have yet to be finalized.

Of the previously scheduled and announced debates and forums, the next is set to take place at the Appomattox Inn & Suites on Sept. 26. That debate is hosted by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and the Appomattox Chamber of Commerce and will focus on economic development issues.

The next two are scheduled to take place in the Charlottesville area.

A debate at UVas Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 28, and the other is set to take place at Piedmont Virginia Community College on Oct. 10, which will be hosted by CBS19, a media partner of The Daily Progress.

Dittmar and Garretts first meeting was Aug. 10 at the Senior Statesmen of Virginias forum at the Senior Center in Albemarle County.

The 5th District stretches from Fauquier County in the north to Danville and the North Carolina border in the south.
RICHMOND  The rainy day came sooner than expected for Gov. Terry McAuliffe and General Assembly budget leaders.

The $1.5 billion shortfall that McAuliffe will announce today will require the state to tap the Revenue Stabilization Fund, or rainy day fund, to fill an estimated $420 million of the hole in this fiscal year and an additional $210 million in the second.

But first, the administration will have to deposit $605 million in the fund that the governor and legislature included in the two-year budget, and the General Assembly will have to agree to tap the fund when it convenes in January for a 45-day session.

"Any withdrawal has to be appropriated," Secretary of Finance Richard D. "Ric" Brown said Thursday.

The immediate challenge for McAuliffe will be to cut spending in the current fiscal year to account for a reduction in revenues of about $850 million, most of it from a pessimistic outlook on individual income taxes withheld from payroll.

Payroll withholding taxes account for about two-thirds of state general fund revenues, which amount to about $40 billion of the $105 billion, two-year budget that took effect July 1.

Withholding taxes have been a steady source of revenue, but the governor and legislative budget leaders were surprised by withholding collections that fell about 1.7 percentage points below forecast for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The result was a $266.3 million shortfall in the last fiscal year that carried over into the current year. That forced McAuliffe to re-forecast revenues for the two-year budget and suspend pay raises scheduled later this year for state employees, teachers, college faculty, and state-supported local employees.

The governor's new forecast lowers total general fund revenue growth from 3.2 percent to 1.8 percent in the current year, which would reduce available funds by about $550 million.

More than half of that reduction will come from dramatically reduced expectations for payroll income tax collections, which budget officials say reflects a growth in lower-wage and part-time jobs.

McAuliffe will lower the forecast for withholding this year from 4 percent to 3 percent, a half-percentage point below what the Joint Advisory Board of Economists had recommended in July.

The additional reduction reflected a somewhat pessimistic outlook by business leaders and legislators on the Governor's Advisory Commission on Revenue Estimates who met with McAuliffe about two weeks ago.

The governor is expected to notify executive branch agencies today or Monday that they must submit various scenarios for cutting spending to balance the budget in the current fiscal year. Under law, he can make cuts of up to 15 percent in agency budgets.

Brown said the administration will present a plan in early October for balancing the budget this year, while decisions about the second year will be addressed in budget amendments McAuliffe will propose in December and the General Assembly will consider next winter.

The second year, fiscal 2018, "is going to be the real challenge," House Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, said Thursday.

McAuliffe will revise predicted revenues downward by $630 million in the budget year that will begin July 1, 2017, and end June 30, 2018.

"We're going to work cooperatively with the secretary of finance and the administration to be cautious and conservative in our budgeting," Jones said.

The shortfall forces the governor and legislators to reserve about $346 million that had been budgeted over two years for employee raises - 3 percent for state employees and college faculty, 2 percent for teachers and state-supported local employees, and additional resources to allow state police and sheriff's departments to address the gap between salaries for veteran and newly hired officers.

Use of the rainy day fund will help ease the pain of spending cuts, but budget officials warn that the state cannot rely on one-time funds to fill the gap beyond this two-year budget.

"It's not a sustainable source of revenue," House Appropriations Director Robert P. Vaughn said Thursday.
RICHMOND  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.
RICHMOND  At least 23 people across Virginia have contracted hepatitis A from strawberries served by Tropical Smoothie Cafe, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Frozen strawberries imported from Egypt, served to customers as recently as Aug. 9, are to blame in the nearly two dozen cases, health department officials said Wednesday.

Though the strawberries were all pulled from the restaurants by Aug. 8 or Aug. 9, additional cases of hepatitis A might be confirmed in coming weeks because symptoms of the liver disease take as many as 50 days to appear, health department officials said.

In my experience here at the health department, we have rarely had an outbreak of this magnitude and statewide, said Diane Woolard, the director of the departments Division of Surveillance and Investigation.

Woolard, an epidemiologist who has been with the health department for about 30 years, said officials are still investigating whether any other restaurant chains in Virginia have served the contaminated Egyptian strawberries, though there have been no other confirmed links.

The World Health Organization says almost everyone fully recovers from hepatitis A. Symptoms appear within 15 to 50 days of exposure and include yellowing of the skin or eyes, fever and nausea.

Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Exposure occurs through direct contact with another person who has the infection or by consuming contaminated food or drink.

Frequent hand washing with soap and warm water after using the bathroom or changing a diaper or before preparing food can help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.

The health department would not specify exactly which of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations in Virginia served contaminated strawberries this summer.

There are more than 500 locations in the country of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a Florida-based chain, including 96 in Virginia.

We dont know when the contaminated strawberries first came out. They could have been distributed throughout the summer, Woolard said, adding that the health department can confirm that none were served after Aug. 9.

Those with symptoms of hepatitis A should get medical care right away, and they should not serve food to other people, Woolard said.

Only a portion of the strawberries were purchased from Egypt, according to a statement from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. While the Egyptian strawberries were predominantly distributed in Virginia, some were distributed elsewhere. All of the Egyptian strawberries were pulled from all of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations, and other strawberries were used instead, according to the statement.

Compared with the thousands of strawberry smoothies that were served this summer, even those who have consumed frozen strawberries are at a relatively low risk of having contracted hepatitis A, Woolard said.

Those who consumed strawberry-free drinks or food from Tropical Smoothie are especially unlikely to have caught hepatitis A, Woolard said.

I think the way the strawberries are used, theyre frozen, theyre dumped into a blender out of a bag, and there shouldnt be much of a chance that they would have touched anything else, Woolard said.

Outbreaks of hepatitis A have been rare in Virginia, Woolard said, adding: This is a big surprise to everybody.

I would like to reassure people that the risk is low, and it has been removed [from Tropical Smoothie]. This disease is one that you can get and not even know it, that it can be that you have no symptoms or very mild symptoms, Woolard said.

Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, uploaded a YouTube video on Sunday apologizing for any issues that this may have caused for any of our customers.
craigslist: thailand jobs, apartments, for sale, services, community, and events

craigslist provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, for sale, services, local community, and events
Local federal campaigning began at the Senior Center on Aug. 10 with the opening debate between Fifth Congressional District candidates Tom Garrett and Jane Dittmar.

Garrett said several times during the debate that he opposes politicians who posture. Garrett proceeded to posture by repeating the same factually incorrect, personal attacks on the capabilities of former Albemarle County Supervisor Dittmar.

Garrett sought to paint Jane as an ineffective leader. The reality is that  to cite just one misguided criticism  local government cannot compel cell companies to build towers, only authorize them to do so. Despite Mr. Garretts criticisms, Verizon was granted permits to add more cell towers along the Route 20 corridor; it made a corporate decision to not build towers. How does Jane become responsible for Verizons corporate decision-making?

Garrett also blamed Jane for losing the Deschutes brewery to Roanoke. An examination of the chronology of Deschutes' contacts with the two competing Virginia localities of Albemarle and Roanoke, and the possible role of the governor's office during the courtship process, suggests that Albemarle was artfully played as a second Virginia card.

Roanoke already had a well-functioning economic development office. Albemarle had just hired its new director. Roanoke's Economic Development Authority was experienced with attracting new industries and had been on the losing end of a previous attempt to land a major brewery. Our EDA had not yet played a major role in a attracting a major investor to Albemarle.

Was Jane responsible for Deschutes being "lost" to Roanoke? A chronological comparison of the contact records Roanoke and Albemarle officials had with Deschutes demonstrates that Roanoke was far along in being considered as a viable location for Deschutes, even before Albemarle officials first discussed Deschutes possible relocation here.

How can Jane  who actually led the effort on the board to expand the growth area and who publicly criticized her own planning commission for being "confused" about the application  be held accountable for "losing" Deschutes when she was actively in support of it? How can Jane be said to have lost something that Albemarle County never had and that the majority of the board opposed?

I entered the Senior Center not knowing a great deal about Tom Garrett. I left convinced that Jane Dittmars honesty and integrity can best serve the interests of the voters in the Fifth Congressional District. Jane Dittmar possesses both in spades!

Richard Randolph

Albemarle County
However beneficial proposed projects may appear on paper, utilities can expect to run into opposition.

Thats what happened earlier this month at a State Corporation Commission hearing over Dominion Virginia Powers plan to rebuild a major power line in Albemarle County.

Two county supervisors complained that Dominion has yet to provide adequate information on the height of the new towers.

One supervisor questioned the planned use of shiny materials that would make the power line even more conspicuous, and unnecessarily so.

One landowner complained that Dominions photographs of his property were taken at angles that significantly downplayed the visual impact of the towers. Since his family owns one of the top vineyards in the area, he has a right to be concerned about anything that would damage the view  which is one of the things that draws tourists.

Another landowner complained that, although he is within view of the towers, he was not notified about the proposed changes.

A Charlottesville resident with a background in electrical engineering said that Dominion apparently was trying to get by with a boilerplate replacement job.

When you have visual and environmental concerns, said Steven James, you must take into account the way the public feels.

We concur.
Attendees of Lockn' Music Festival are reporting no traffic problems and short wait times to enter this year's event, which is expected to draw nearly 30,000 people over the next three days.

"We've been waiting all of our lives for this," said Richmond resident Andrew Morris.

He and his friend Cody Carter, of Roanoke, have attended every Lockn', including the festival's inaugural opening in 2013, when festivalgoers dealt with traffic nightmares and wait times upwards of eight hours.

"This is by far the the best," Carter said. He and his group waited only 20 minutes in the staging area before being ushered into the festival gates.

Becky Beswick and her husband Mark Beswick, of Rochester, New York, were in the staging area for less than an hour.

"Last year was awful," Becky Beswick said, recalling how a freak storm blew through Oak Ridge Farm hours before thousands were expected to descend on the area. Festival organizers opted to delay the event by one day, which mangled traffic for miles down U.S. 29.

Mark Beswick said this year seems like a breeze so far in comparison to previous years. He's attended all four Lockn' festivals.

"You've gotta expect to wait at least a couple hours," he said. "When we get to the six-hour mark, we'll be a little more heated."

Contact Eleanor Roy at (434) 385-5554 or eroy@newsadvance.com.

2016 Lockn' Line-Up

THURSDAY

Vulfpeck  7:30pm-8:30pm (Main Stage)

Umphreys Mcgee  8:30pm-10:00pm (Main Stage)

Ween  10:00pm-12:00am (Main Stage)

EOTO  12:00am-2:00am (The Woods)

Joe Russos Almost Dead  1:00am-3:00am (Blue Ridge Bowl)

Garcias Forest (All Day & Night)  5:00pm-4:00am

FRIDAY

Donna The Buffalo  11:00am-12:00pm (Blue Ridge Bowl)

Moogatu  12:00pm-12:30pm (Main Stage)

Turkuaz  12:30pm-1:30pm (Main Stage)

Vulfpeck  1:30pm-2:30pm (Main Stage)

White Denim  2:30pm-3:30pm (Main Stage)

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires  3:30pm-4:45pm (Main Stage)

Peter Wolf (of the J. Geils Band)  4:45pm-6:00pm (Main Stage)

Ween  6:00pm-7:30pm (Main Stage)

Phish  8:30pm-12:00am (Main Stage)

Circles Around The Sun  12:00am-2:00am (The Woods)

Joe Russos Almost Dead  1:00am-3:00am (Blue Ridge Bowl)

Jazz & Woods ft. DJ Logic  2:00am-3:00am (The Woods)

Garcias Forest (All Day & Night)  12:00pm-4:00am

SATURDAY

Keller Williams Grateful Grass 10:30am-12:00pm (Blue Ridge Bowl)

DJ Williams Projekt  12:00pm-12:30pm (Main Stage)

Moon Taxi  12:30pm-1:30pm (Main Stage)

Twiddle  1:30pm-2:40pm (Main Stage)

Galactic w/ Lee Oskar  2:40pm-4:10pm (Main Stage)

Hard Working Americans  4:10pm-5:40pm (Main Stage)

Brandi Carlile  5:40pm-6:40pm (Main Stage)

Phil Lesh & Friends  6:40pm-8:20pm (Main Stage)

Tedeschi Trucks Band  8:20pm-10:20pm (Main Stage)

My Morning Jacket 10:20pm-12:30am (Main Stage)

Khruangbin  12:30am-1:30am (The Woods)

Lettuce  1:00am-3:00am (Blue Ridge Bowl)

Jazz & Woods ft. DJ Logic  1:30am-3:00am (The Woods)

Garcias Forest (All Day & Night)  12:00pm-4:00am

SUNDAY

Keller Williams Grateful Gospel  10:30am-12:00pm (Blue Ridge Bowl)

The Dharma Initiative  12:00pm-12:30pm (Main Stage)

Doobie Decibel System  12:30pm-1:00pm (Main Stage)

Twiddle  1:00pm-2:00pm (Main Stage)

The Wailers  2:00pm-3:00pm (Main Stage)

Chris Robinson Brotherhood  3:00pm-4:45pm (Main Stage)

Phil Lesh & Friends  4:45pm-6:15pm (Main Stage)

Gary Clark Jr.  6:15pm-7:30pm (Main Stage)

Phish  8:30pm-12:00am (Main Stage)
I attended a Support the Police service at the State Theatre in Culpeper several weeks ago. It was only days after the second mass shooting of police officers in Louisiana. Communities were on edge and I think it was wonderful for Culpeper to show its support for its law enforcement officers. But the packed house was probably mostly made up of people who were already very supportive of the police. So Im not sure it really did much to improve police/community relations.

Since then, things have cooled down. At least I havent heard any media reports of police shootings of unarmed black men or attacks on police officers. But the the issue is not going to go away.

There will be dueling statistics about how many such shootings there are, whether they were justified and calls for more law and order.

One thing I dont think can be disputed is that police are more fearful of people they stop and many minorities and young people still feel that they are not being treated fairly.

And while it is fair to say the media often gives inordinate coverage when a black person is killed by a white police officer, and rarely says how rare such incidents are, the vast majority of police interactions are calm and peaceful.

The analogy Id make is that the media never covers the plane that takes off and lands safely. But it gives a lot of coverage to the extremely rare time one crashes. When so many people are fearful of police interactions that makes their job more difficult and sometimes more dangerous.

For most people, police are their only interaction with the criminal justice system. I think a lot of the animosity against police is misplaced because for many people its the courts, probation officers, prosecutors, jails, a system of poorly paid court-appointed defense attorneys and the General Assembly members that enact almost all the laws that the police must enforce, that causes the bulk of their complaints with the system. But you never see any protests against any of that. Why do police get all the grief? It doesnt seem fair.

I have one simple suggestion to improve police/community relations. Legalize and regulate marijuana/cannabis like an increasing number of states are doing.

Every year there are about 700,000 marijuana arrests, most for simple possession. A disproportionate number are minorities. That figure has held steady for decades. Ill bet everyone who is arrested for marijuana possession would say they werent bothering anyone and it was unfair and most are angry about it and stay angry for a very long time.

But mostly just at police because they dont see court officials or prosecutors in their daily life. While few get long sentences any more, a drug arrest can be traumatic and even life-altering. Even if you were arrested a decade ago, that experience is going to be in the back of your mind every time you have an interaction with police. It probably makes them less likely to contact police about public safety in their own community. Thats not good for anyone.

Even if cannabis were legalized and regulated, that memory of an arrest wont go away immediately for most people, but imagine what a calming effect that would have on police/community relations if neither had to worry about arrests for a substance that by all accounts has little of any effect on public safety.

Yes, there are a lot of things to consider about legalizing and regulating cannabispublic safety, health, tax revenues, economic development, etc. But one that shouldnt be overlooked is police/community relations.

I think police would prefer not to have to make 700,000 arrests a year, giving them more time to focus on protecting and serving the community. And I think otherwise law-abiding people would have less fear and more trust in law enforcement.

-Robert Legge, Etlan
The National Park Service has been celebrating its 100th anniversary all year with special programming and promotions, but Thursday marked the official centennial of the service.

Elementary students across the country sang Happy Birthday to NPS on Thursday morning, including about 1,000 kindergartners through fifth graders from all six Beatrice elementary schools at the Beatrice City Auditorium. Homestead National Monument of America rangers and volunteers expeditiously moved the event from the monument due to weather.

Were looking into the next 100 years in stewardship and protecting our nations national treasures, said Homestead park ranger Jessica Korgie.

Additional music and dance were led by youth-oriented band "String Beans" and Beatrice High School choir members and cheerleaders.

Beatrice High School teacher Tyler Struck, Nebraska first lady Suzanne Shore and the Homesteads superintendent Mark Engler asked the children to stake their claim, do their best and enjoy their national parks.

The biggest thing I want to talk to you about at the start of your school yearis staking your claim, Tyler Struck said. And that means being the best kid you can be Everything youre doing now is important because its helping you become the person that you want to be.

Struck pointed to BHS cheerleaders and choir members in attendance as examples of students who he said work hard at everything they do, including the talents they found in themselves. He said its important for the young students to do their best in tests, homework and extracurricular activities.

Struck closed by calling Beatrice a great community and recognizing NPS, as well as Homesteads 80th birthday this year.

Shore opened by mentioning the monuments centennial and Nebraskas sesquicentennial (150th birthday), which is next year.

Shore used the story of J. Sterling Morton as a lesson to the children.

Morton unsuccessfully ran for governor of Nebraska, but later became U.S. Secretary of Agriculture after being recognized for creating a movement of planting trees, Shore said. Morton founded Arbor Day, the first of which involved the planting of 1 million trees.

The winner of that first election, David Butler, was remembered for stealing money and getting kicked out of office, Shore said. The loser, J. Sterling Morton, has his statue in the Capital, has been selected to the Nebraska Hall of Fame, has his home turned into a state park and a tour site and has his birthday, 140 years later, celebrated across the world.

So my point to you is that youre not always going to win and youre not always going to be recognized. But thats not what matters. What matters is that you do your best. Do work that you are proud of.

She said that if the students work hard and always do whats right and best for people in the world, people will notice, and their work will make a difference.
What is Owen's Place?

Owens Place is a universally accessible playground, designed for individuals of all ages and ability levels. The playground is the inspiration of Trish Gustafson, whose son, Owen, uses a wheelchair. Owen's Place is located in Victory Park, which is accessible through Rotary Park in Beavercreek.

The Tree House Village, which opened in Aust 2016, is Phase 2 of the Owen's Place recreational project, and includes ramps, swings, swinging bridges, boardwalks and a clubhouse. The Tree House Village, along with the existing playground offers more than an acre of accessible play and recreation.

Phase 1, which opened in May 2013, includes a shadow play area with colorful panels that all have different textures. This provides an activity for visually impaired children to use their sense of touch. There are also two bench swings set at wheelchair height so individuals can access them easily.
The names of fallen and living U.S. military veterans who served during the Gulf War will be recognized in a national memorial to be built on or near the National Mall in Washington D.C.

The National Desert Storm War Memorial Association is asking the public for donations for the memorial, which is in its planning and fundraising phases. Desert Storm and the Gulf War are names used for the war fought by coalition forces from 34 nations, led by the U.S. between August 1990 and February 1991, in response to Iraqs invasion of Kuwait.

There should be about 650,000 names of service men and women on (the memorial) and probably a separate area for the over 300 that were killed in action during the Gulf War, said John Shaw of Beatrice, a member of the fundraising committee for the memorial.

Shaw is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Gulf War.

Its just to show what the military goes through, Shaw said of the new memorial. We basically liberated a country. Its just to show the thanks and the history of what was done. It happened so fast I think a lot of people forget about it. And its definitely to commemorate the people who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The planning process for the National Desert Storm War Memorial started about four years ago by the president and vice president of the projects board of directors, Shaw said. In 2014 with a vote of 370-0, Congress authorized the memorial to be built on land owned by the National Park Service.

The current estimate of the project total is $25 million, said vice president of the board Bob Adams, but the association is focusing first on raising money needed for preliminary steps.

Adams said the non-profit association, which includes a national board of about 11 and fundraising committee of about 20 to 30, is in steps eight or nine of a required 24-step site selection process, which will directly impact the final design and location.

The site selection process is the first of three phases of development and fundraising, he said.

Raising $1 million is our goal (in phase 1), as we are currently tracking almost $800,000 in costs associated with all known engineering, architectural and design requirements to complete the 24-step site selection process, Adams said.

About $140,000 has been raised so far, which will be funneled into phase 1 costs, he said.

The second phase, pre-construction, could demand anywhere from $10 million to $20 million in donations, and the third phase, construction and completion, is pegged at the same loose estimate, Adams said.

It has been mostly a grass-roots campaign as we did not want to turn on full fundraising efforts until we knew the general location of site selection, Adams said, adding that the national Veterans of Foreign Wars pledged $500,000 through the next three years. We are expecting to kick our fundraising efforts, both nationally and internationally, over the next six months to coincide with our estimated time to complete the site selection.

Those who wish to donate can go online to NationalDesertStormWarMemorial.org or send a check by mail addressed to NDSWM, P.O. Box 29091, Washington, D.C. 20017. Proceeds from NDSWM merchandise sold on its website also funds the memorial. Volunteers are also needed to help gather donations.

Beatrice native Jason Hartig served in the U.S. Marine Corps between 1987 and 1991.

I was supposed to be done in 1990, he said. Our time was involuntarily extended indefinitely (because of the Gulf War). I didnt know if my four-year term was going to turn into six years or 10 years because we didnt know how long the war would last.

But the war was quick and he didnt see a lot of the action from the ship he was on in the Persian Gulf, as the war was fought mostly by air warfare, Hartig said. He said chemical warfare was a major concern and the troops regularly pulled on protective jumpsuits and gas masks as drills or precautionary measures.

Its a great honor, Hartig said of the memorial for veterans of the war such as himself. Im not sure we deserve it yet. WWII had to wait quite a few years to get theirs. ... But they have to start somewhere. Its a good thing. Its a great memorial.

As a veteran, we dont think we deserve it. We did what we had to do and well do it again. We didnt do it for the memorial, thats for sure. But it's a great honor.

War memorials are a source of reflection, Hartig said.

They let youth know that men and women died for their country, died for their freedoms, and they should never be forgotten. They should be memorialized, Hartig said.

The memorial association is avoiding government or foreign funding for the project, Shaw said.

We want this to be all Americans that are supporting it instead of the government, Shaw said. It gives us more pride that way.

In a joint interview, Lisa Shaw, John Shaws daughter and a volunteer with the association, added that people in Kuwait are willing to help pay for it because of their freedoms earned by the war. But the association wants to raise the money for it, she said.

It makes us look like mercenaries kind of, John said. Its just not the thing to do to have a (another) country build your own memorial. Its something a country should do themselves and have the pride for it.

Explaining why people should donate to memorialize the soldiers, Lisa said, They gave everything. You can give something. It doesnt make sense not to.
Are we watching an American presidential campaign or the pilot episode of a bizarre new TV series? Or both? The hallmark of "reality TV," of course, being its extreme unreality.

On a daily basis, the Trump campaign invites sheer disbelief. Recently, Ivanka Trump, the statuesque daughter her father talks about dating, posted an Instagram photo of herself sightseeing in scenic Croatia with Wendi Deng Murdoch.

The New York Daily News explains that "Deng, who was divorced from Rupert Murdoch in 2013 ... has been linked romantically to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin." The newspaper adds that "the optics of the photo could raise further questions about the relationship between Ivanka's father and Putin."

Geez, you think? Maybe I'll ask Boris and Natasha. Those are my pet names for the Russian operatives who started sending me obscene emails after a recent column critical of Trump. The subject line in Boris' latest reads, "TRUMP SHOULD (DEFECATE) IN YOUR TRAITOROUS MOUTH!"

With impressive tradecraft, Boris calls himself "Jason Larenzen," a name that appears not to exist in the United States.

Anticipating the latest Fox News fantasy theme, Natasha (masquerading as "Karyn") asks, "Will lying c**t Hillary last to the election before brain blood clot ruptures?" Her IP address links to Yandex.com, which a Google search locates in Moscow, within walking distance of the Kremlin.

They aren't even subtle about it.

Of course, in Putin's Moscow, offending journalists get shot dead in the street, so I shouldn't complain. Besides, having grown up in New Jersey, profanity makes little impact on me.

Yo, Natasha, you eat with that mouth?

But think about it: Russian operatives are openly intervening in an American presidential election: hacking Democratic Party emails and harassing obscure political columnists.

Always on Donald Trump's side. You've got to ask yourself why.

One possible answer may have appeared in the New York Times. Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's name turned up 22 times on a secret ledger detailing $12.7 million in illegal payola handed out under deposed Ukranian president Viktor Yanukovych.

Supposedly, Manafort was also involved in a "murky" $18 million deal to sell Ukrainian cable TV "to a partnership put together by Mr. Manafort and a Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of President Vladimir V. Putin."

Him again.

The information was given to Times reporters by the Ukranian government's "National Anti-Corruption Bureau," no doubt tasked with putting as many of the current regime's political rivals as possible in prison.

At the expense of being a spoilsport, I've learned to be highly skeptical of New York Times "blockbusters." From the Whitewater hoax onward, the newspaper has produced a series of Clinton scandal stories, culminating in last April's abortive attempt to hint that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had corruptly engineered the sale of a Wyoming uranium mine.

"Look," I wrote last April, "there's a reason articles like the Times' big expose are stultifyingly dull and require the skills of a contract lawyer to parse. Murky sentences and jumbled chronologies signify that the 'Clinton rules' are back: all innuendo and guilt-by-association. All ominous rhetorical questions, but rarely straightforward answers."

So it comes as no great surprise that Ukrainian investigators "have yet to determine if (Manafort) actually received the cash."

So is Manafort a victim of the "Clinton Rules"? Could be.

But there's no doubt about this: "Before he fled to Russia two years ago, Mr. Yanukovych ... relied heavily on the advice of Mr. Manafort and his firm, who helped them win several elections."

On evidence, little things like democratic institutions and the rule of law don't appear high on Manafort's priority list. Among his previous clients were Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Zaire's infamous Mobutu Sese Seko, aptly described as "the archetypal African dictator." Both regimes were essentially kleptocracies, characterized by nepotism, brutality and extreme corruption.

Comparatively speaking, Vladimir Putin would appear to be one of Manafort's more savory associates.

So when candidate Trump expresses a Russia-friendly foreign policy agenda -- musing aloud about recognizing Putin's illegal occupation of Crimea, and hinting that President Trump might refuse to defend NATO allies against Russian attack, it's reasonable to wonder what's being said behind closed doors.

Or when Trump invites Boris and Natasha to conduct cyber-warfare against his Democratic opponent. "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," Trump said in July.

Later, of course, the candidate alibied that he was being sarcastic. He's a great kidder, Trump. Something blows up in his face, it was a joke.

Washington Monthly's David Atkins poses the million ruble question: "How much does (sic) Trump and his team need to do before we start asking serious questions about whether they're a Manchurian Candidate campaign actively working on behalf of a foreign nation?"

Basically, that depends upon how big a piece of Trump Russian oligarchs own -- one big reason we'll never see his income taxes.
Audi India also estimates that the negative sentiments on diesel and the positive movement towards petrol have caused them loss to the tune of Rs. 760 crore in 2016.

Audi India to make petrol variants of all of its cars, Due to the ban of 2.0-litre plus diesel engines in Delhi-NCR (though it is lifted now), the market movement is still in favour of petrol engines, due to the negative repercussions the ban on diesel mills has created.

Sensing the same, Audi India announces that it will launch the petrol variants of all the models within the first three months into 2017. Besides the customer preference for petrol engines, the narrowing of the price difference between petrol and diesel is also one of the most important factors that have caused this change. The perception of petrol being healthier than diesel has been retained by car users, after the ban on diesel.

Other mass-driven car makers have also begun to offer petrol variants of all the vehicles in their portfolio. So, Audi, the luxury car maker, also relents to make and offer petrol variants of all their cars to cash in on the market trend currently favoring petrol motors. Even the Mercedes Benz, despite its fight and victory over the fate of diesel engines, has resorted to plans of offering petrol variants across their whole fleet.

Interestingly, Audi India also estimates that the negative sentiments on diesel and the positive movement towards petrol have caused them loss to the tune of Rs. 760 crore in 2016. To add insult to injury, the Union Budget also raised the excise duties on diesel vehicles.

So, in order to counter this debilitating trend and to alleviate losses, Audi has planned to introduce petrol variants across its entire portfolio. So far, majority of the cars in the Audis portfolio in India have been diesel variants. Sedans A3 and A8 are the only cars to boast of petrol engines, while all SUVs in the Q line-up are diesel powered vehicles.

So, the changes will begin with the next-generation Audi A4 sedan, which will be powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The launch of the new-gen A4 sedan is expected by next month. And on the SUV front, a petrol-powered Q7 followed, by a petrol-powered Q3 are expected. The latter is currently undergoing homologation.

Source: Vicky.in
The GLE 400, powered by a 2,996 cc engine will be introduced as a CBU and the localisation will follow later in the year.

New Delhi: German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz plans to offer petrol variants for all its models sold in India by next month so as to align with the demand shift following uncertainty over diesel vehicles in the wake of pollution concerns.

The company, which on August 25 launched the petrol variant of its best selling SUV in India GLE 400 priced at Rs 74.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), expects sales of the petrol vehicles to go up to 30 per cent of its overall sales from the current 20 per cent.

After the Supreme Court lifted ban on sales of diesel cars and SUVs with engine size of 2,000 cc or above in Delhi- NCR subject to 1 per cent environment compensation cess (ECC), Mercedes-Benz said has it decided not to pass the burden to its customers and will absorb it.

"The introduction of the GLE 400 in petrol is part of our product strategy to strengthen our petrol portfolio in the SUV segment. We plan to offer petrol variants in all our products by September and give the customers an additional options to choose from," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Roland Folger told PTI.

Stating that the company has seen the share of its petrol portfolio rising constantly, he said the introduction of the GLE 400 will contribute to that.

"The ratio of diesel and petrol in Mercedes-Benz's portfolio earlier was 80:20 and currently with the introduction of more petrol variants we expect petrol's share to rise up to 30 per cent of our total sales," Folger said.

The GLE 400, powered by a 2,996 cc engine will be introduced as a CBU and the localisation will follow later in the year, he added.

Commenting on the lifting of ban on big diesel cars and SUVs, Folger said: "We are glad that there is some clarity, though interim, on the subject. This gives us confidence that growth will be back in the sector based on the positive sentiment that came from the decision. We have also decided not to pass on the 1 per cent ECC to our customers and we will absorb it."

He further said Mercedes-Benz believes that the introduction of the BS VI fuel is the best viable option to curb emission.

"As soon as the compatible diesel fuel is made available, we are ready to switch our portfolio to the BS VI standard, even as early as 2018," Folger added.

On the significance of the petrol GLE 400, he said: "With a growing penchant for SUVs among customers, we believe the introduction of the petrol version will further bolster our presence in the luxury SUV segment. For the first time, we are introducing the GLE with a petrol mill and this underscores our strategy of offering the right product for our growing customer base."
The unprecedented decision to pull the application, which has not previously been reported, could set back Monsanto's efforts to introduce its new seed

New Delhi: 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."

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.
Various governments, including India, have been pushing companies to set up their servers locally.

New Delhi: Eyeing 40 per cent annual growth in cloud operations, Tata Communications is planning to set up necessary storage infrastructure in countries of operations to win over local business by addressing its concerns on overseas data storage.

"Data sovereignty is going to be more critical and the governments will look to introduce more stringent regulations around this element of storage in cloud," Srinivasan C R, Senior Vice-President, Global Product Management and Data Centre Services, Tata Communications, told PTI.

He flagged government concerns about accuracy of data being stored, going forward. "Building your datafarms in one location limits your ability to work with enterprise customers. Data residency is a big concern," Srinivasan said.

Various governments, including India, have been pushing companies to set up their servers locally so that most of the data transmitted through e-mail or messaging services and stored online do not go out of the country.

Most e-mail services, Internet browsers and softwares for various online services have been developed by foreign companies, specially those based in the US.

There have been apprehensions that data stored overseas may be intercepted or hacked in an unauthorised manner.

"Our focus is to expand to more than 13 countries and a lot more granular locations... Our data centres are present in 43 locations. We are partnering with data centre companies to provide service locally. Year-on-year, we will be adding new geographies," Srinivasan said.

He said the company is looking at expanding cloud services in Europe and the Asean region. Tata Communications data centres are located in various countries, including Australia, Singapore, Japan, Spain, Austria, the US, Canada, South Africa and India.

According to Srinivasan, the company is investing in new technologies to help its customers digitise their business.

"There is no choice. Digitisation is at door. The number of applications on smartphones has increased significantly compared to a few years ago. We want to grow more than 40 per cent. Global IT market is USD 1.5 trillion. Cloud is very small part of it. Global market size is huge," he said.

Tata Communications expects its new services business like mobility, unified communications, video streaming and the like will significantly push data services and cloud business.

"We have a target to double our business in 5-10 years. We grew 34 per cent last year. Our target is to grow more than 34 per cent," said Anthony Bartolo, President of Mobility and Collaborations Services at Tata Communications.
Hyderabad: There seems to be no end to the tussle between TS and AP over Ease of Doing Business rankings.

The TS government, which had complained to the Centre accusing AP of copying its online content for better EoDB ranking, has decided to take up the issue again when the Union ministry of commerce and industry holds its scheduled video conference with all states from August 31 to September 2 for final evaluation of states.

At present, TS is ranked sixth while AP stands at ninth rank as per preliminary rankings issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of the Union ministry of commerce and industries.

The TS government had lodged a written complaint with Centre in the first week of July alleging that AP government had copied its EoDB data that was uploaded on the DIPP website to secure better EoDB rarnking.

Industries minister K.T. Rama Rao had written to Union commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman requesting her to initiate action against the AP government for data theft.

Industries secretary Arvind Kumar also met commerce ministry officials in New Delhi and sought action against AP. But there has been no response from the Centre so far.

The TS government received a circular from DIPP on August 22 stating that it will hold video conference with all states from August 31 to September 2 for final evaluation of states.
WTI has now lost almost five per cent since the end of last week while Brent has slipped 3.6 per cent.

Singapore: Oil prices edged down again in Asian trade Thursday, a day after suffering hefty losses in response to data showing a surprise jump in US stockpiles, while hopes for a deal to limit output were dealt a blow.

The US energy department said Wednesday that inventories soared 2.5 million barrels last week, confounding forecasts for a fall and fanning worries about a global supply glut.

Both main contracts plunged on the news, with West Texas Intermediate shedding 2.8 per cent and Brent down 1.8 per cent Wednesday.

And by 0410 GMT on Thursday WTI was down two cents at $46.75 while Brent eased seven cents to $48.98. WTI has now lost almost five per cent since the end of last week while Brent has slipped 3.6 per cent.

The commodity entered a bull market last week -- a 20 per cent rise from recent lows -- and rallied for seven straight sessions thanks to news that export grouping OPEC and Russia would hold talks on output to address the oversupply crisis.

A report that Iran had seemingly changed its previous position to also consider limiting production provided further support.

However an Iranian oil ministry source told AFP Wednesday that Tehran has yet to decide whether to move towards a cap or even to attend the gathering in Algeria next month.

A previous OPEC attempt to freeze output collapsed in April largely because of Iran's refusal to join, having just emerged from international sanctions and keen to maximise its oil revenues.

"The market is possibly jittery (over the coming OPEC meeting)," Fat Prophets resource analyst David Lennox told AFP from Sydney.

"That's why we're seeing this sort of volatility because the market isn't quite sure what outcome to expect from next month's OPEC meeting."
Looks like 'Pink' is all set to bring yet another feather to the team's cap we feel!

Mumbai: Shoojit Sircar's 'Pink' has overwhelmingly evoked stirring conversations and debates across the country ever since its intriguing trailer launched recently.

Amitabh Bachchan's explosively provocative dialogues and Taapsee Pannu's never-seen-before avatar along with her friends submerged in mysterious circumstances and various thrill elements have the audiences keenly looking forward to its September 16th release.

Shoojit's 'Pink' is a creative collaboration of some of the most talented artistes in India, with a staggering 10 National Award winners as part of its core team!

Amitabh Bachchan commands the team with 4 National Awards to his credit ('Piku', 'Paa', 'Black' and 'Agneepath'), along with Shoojit Sircar winning the National Award for 'Vicky Donor', Producer Ronnie Lahiri winning for 'Vicky Donor' as well and Director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury already established as a leading light in the field of direction with 2 National Awards in his kitty as well.

Joining the above is musician Shantanu Moitra who won the National Award for Best Music Direction, Ace Cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhayay with 3 National Awards, Sound Designer Bishwadeep Chatterjee with 2 National Awards, Sound Mixer Nihar Ranjan Samal with 2 National Awards, Re-recording Mixer Sinoy Joseph with One National Award and Sound Designer Dipankar Jojo Chaki with 2 National Awards respectively.

Shoojit Sircar speaks to us on the experience of getting on the Pink table 10 Winners who collectively have 19 National Awards amongst them!

"It has been a humble privilege and most enriching experience working with such award winning luminaries on Pink. Thanks to the film, we have formed a close and lifelong friendship and I am truly honoured to have had such an opportunity in my career," the filmmaker said.

Looks like 'Pink' is all set to bring yet another feather to the team's cap we feel! Shoojit Sircar's 'Pink' releases on 16th September 2016.
Mumbai: Kangana Ranaut is one of the highest paid actresses in the film industry and has bagged three National Awards despite not working with some of the biggest stars of the industry like the three Khans and Akshay Kumar.

There were reports of her signing Aamir Khans Ghajini, but that had not materialized. But Kangana could now finally be seen sharing screen space with one of the Khans and she would want to thank Bajirao Mastani director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for that.

At a recent event, she confirmed that there have been discussions with Bhansali for a film with Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay sir just spoke to me about the film, saying that he wants to make it with me and Shah Rukh sir. But its at a very premature stage. Its not that I am working with Shah Rukh sir tomorrow or something like that So, yeah, like I said, its at a very premature stage.

While Kangana has Rangoon, Rani Laxmibai biopic, Hansal Mehtas Simran and Ritesh Batra's next film in her kitty, Shah Rukh has Raees, Dear Zindagi and Imtiaz Alis next film coming up. Can they still manage the dates in this packed line-up?
Vijay Deverakonda cant believe that he just danced for a song for his upcoming movie Dwaraka.

I am more into acting and never did I imagine that I will be dancing for a song. The first day, I was nervous and then it was fun, he says.

The Pellichoopulu actor, who became an overnight sensation, is gearing up for the release of Dwaraka on Wednesday.

I signed Dwaraka even before Pellichoopulu, but only later did I know about the big names associated with it. I wanted to do small films, the actor reveals.

When I was told that Shyam K. Naidu was the cinematographer and Brahma Kadali was the art director and the movie was produced by R.B. Chowdhary, my first thought was Oh My God, this film is very big, remembers Vijay.

The actor is happy that he is getting a lot of support from important people from the Telugu film industry in the initial days of his career itself.
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. (Photo: AFP)

New York: 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.
Hyderabad: With many people not knowing where to get eco-friendly Ganeshas from, residential colonies have come together in their forums to help people procure them.

Since many residential colonies having their own WhatsApp groups, information is being shared to members in advance to pre-book clay Ganeshas on them.

Idol makers have been sourced from various parts of the city like Abids, Begum Bazaar, Moosarambagh, Nagole, Uppal and KPHB colony from whom idols can be pre-ordered.

Mr K. Panduranga, president of residential colonies in ECIL said, Last year a lot of households had complained that they were not able to procure clay Ganeshas as they did not know where to get them from. Hence this year, a fortnight ago, we started creating awareness amongst the residents. Names of vendors and telephone numbers are being provided on various groups so that people can pre-order idols or procure them directly.

Mass pre-bookings are also being done in colonies in Tarnaka, Uppal, Mettuguda, A.S. Rao Nagar, Bowenpally, Trimulgherry and other areas where housing colonies celebrate the festival. Ms Laxmi Reddy, an architecture student, has been trying her hand at idol making for the last three years.

She said, This year there is a workshop being conducted for enthusiasts who want to make their own idols. Guidance from a trained person would help.

Workshops are being held in 10 areas and over 300 centers by Youth For Seva in the city who are going to make idols of less than one feet. Mr Anil Bhagat, coordinator of YFS said, We are conducting workshops on weekends for people who want small idols at their homes.

21 leaves to help purify puja water

Twenty-one types of leaves have been identified for puja, which are also helpful for purifying water. Residents, who have sourced this information from various pundits who perform pujas, have looked into the sanctity and also for environment friendly mediums so that water bodies can be protected.

Ms Uma Rao, said, As per the rituals, leaves, barks and other tree parts are to be used for the puja. These, when put directly in water, will get decomposed and also help in purifying water.

People should refrain from using plastics and thermocol for puja and decoration. Architect Ms Neha Shailender said, Instead of using plastic plates, people can use eco-friendly donnas, banana leaves and ishtarak plates for prasadam.
Teacher pay rankings are out!

States and D.C. Unadjusted Teacher Salary Unadjusted Salary Rank COL Index Adjusted Salary Adjusted Salary Rank New Mexico $47,163.00 43 N/A N/A N/A Michigan $63,878.00 11 91.2 $70,041.67 1 Illinois $61,342.00 12 96.5 $63,566.84 2 Pennsylvania $64,991.00 10 103.0 $63,098.06 3 Wyoming $57,761.00 17 92.8 $62,242.46 4 Ohio $56,410.00 21 92.5 $60,983.78 5 Iowa $54,416.00 23 92.0 $59,147.83 6 Georgia $54,190.00 24 91.7 $59,094.87 7 Massachusetts $76,981.00 2 130.4 $59,034.51 8 Indiana $50,715.00 31 88.0 $57,630.68 9 New York $77,957.00 1 135.6 $57,490.41 10 Delaware $59,085.00 14 102.8 $57,475.68 11 Kentucky $51,666.00 27 90.0 $57,406.67 12 Minnesota $56,910.00 20 101.5 $56,068.97 13 Texas $51,758.00 26 92.6 $55,894.17 14 Wisconsin $54,766.00 22 98.1 $55,826.71 15 Nebraska $51,364.00 28 92.3 $55,648.97 16 New Jersey $69,330.00 6 125.6 $55,199.04 17 Alabama $49,781.00 35 90.2 $55,189.58 18 Maryland $66,482.00 8 121.1 $54,898.43 19 Connecticut $72,013.00 5 131.8 $54,638.09 20 California $72,842.00 4 134.3 $54,238.27 21 Kansas $49,197.00 37 90.9 $54,122.11 22 Tennessee $48,708.00 38 90.3 $53,940.20 23 Virginia $50,834.00 30 94.5 $53,792.59 24 Rhode Island $66,197.00 9 123.3 $53,687.75 25 Nevada $56,943.00 19 106.5 $53,467.61 26 Arkansas $48,220.00 40 91.4 $52,757.11 27 Missouri $47,849.00 42 91.5 $52,293.99 28 D.C. $75,810.00 3 146.8 $51,641.69 29 Idaho $45,409.00 48 88.2 $51,484.13 30 Mississippi $42,744.00 50 83.5 $51,190.42 31 Alaska $67,443.00 7 133.5 $50,519.10 32 North Carolina $47,985.00 41 95.8 $50,088.73 33 Oklahoma $44,921.00 49 89.7 $50,079.15 34 Louisiana $46,733.00 44 93.4 $50,035.33 35 Montana $51,215.00 29 102.7 $49,868.55 36 Utah $46,042.00 45 92.4 $49,829.00 37 South Carolina $48,542.00 39 97.5 $49,786.67 38 New Hampshire $58,802.00 16 118.2 $49,747.88 39 North Dakota $50,237.00 32 101.2 $49,641.30 40 Washington $52,539.00 25 106.0 $49,565.09 41 Colorado $50,039.00 34 101.9 $49,105.99 42 Florida $49,199.00 36 100.5 $48,954.23 43 Vermont $58,901.00 15 123.8 $47,577.54 44 Oregon $60,064.00 13 129.5 $46,381.47 45 Arizona $45,477.00 47 98.8 $46,029.35 46 West Virginia $45,977.00 46 103.7 $44,336.55 47 Maine $50,229.00 33 114.7 $43,791.63 48 South Dakota $42,025.00 51 102.5 $41,000.00 49 Hawaii $57,431.00 18 168.6 $34,063.46 50

Last week, the National Education Association (NEA) released " Rankings of the States 2015 and Estimates of School Statistics 2016. " Rankings and Estimates is an annual report that details education revenue and expenditures for the 50 states and Washington, D.C.According to the new report, North Carolina is ranked 41st in teacher pay this year, an improvement of one spot since last year and six spots since 2014. In other words, our state's average teacher pay is moving in the right direction.Rankings and Estimates does not account for cost of living or factor in benefits and NEA researchers acknowledged that fact. They explain, "variations in the cost of living may go a long way toward explaining (and, in practice, offsetting) differences in salary levels from one area of the country to another." This is particularly true in North Carolina, which has a lower cost of living than the national average.In fact, adjusting the average salary figures to account for cost of living makes a big difference . Using the Council for Community and Economic Research cost of living (COL) index for 2015, I determined that North Carolina ranks 33rd in COL-adjusted average salary. That is better than some of our primary competitors for teachers in the Southeast, including Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida. (See table below.)Other states are not so lucky. Teachers in Vermont, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Hawaii may enjoy a relatively high average salary, but those dollars do not go very far in these states. When adjusted for cost of living, all four drop well below North Carolina in the ranking.On the other hand, comparative data on employee benefits are very difficult to find. There are notable differences in the types of retirement plans, insurance, and non-pecuniary benefits provided by states and school districts.During the current school year, benefits provided by the legislature included $5,471 per employee for health insurance, a $3,389 Social Security contribution, and $6,787 toward retirement. In other words, behind every teacher salary figure is a benefits package of approximately $15,650. The trajectory of those figures will depend on the forthcoming adjustments to the state budget, but if the past is any indication, health insurance and retirement contributions will increase.Obviously, none of these figures speak to issues of teacher quality. Our continued use of an experience- and credential-based teacher salary schedule means, for example, that some superb educators are making less money than mediocre ones, simply because they have fewer years of experience or lack an advanced certification. That system does little to encourage our best public school teachers to stay in the classroom. Across-the-board salary and benefits increases may attract qualified candidates to North Carolina, but targeted increases are a much better long-term strategy for improving quality.That said, the state's capacity to recruit and retain teachers depends on more than just compensation. Educators choose to teach in (or leave) North Carolina for any number of personal and professional reasons. It is equally important for lawmakers to ensure that the state maintains a low cost of living, strong economy, and superior quality of life.In the coming weeks, lawmakers will approve another pay increase for teachers, but the size of that salary boost will depend on negotiations between the NC House and Senate. While Governor McCrory recommended a 5 percent salary increase and bonuses for teachers, the House budget released this week incorporated a 4.1 percent average increase and experience-based bonuses. I suspect that the Senate will split the difference. If they do, Republicans would have increased the base salary of teachers by nearly 15 percent since 2013, a fact often ignored or trivialized by public school advocacy groups.
Dr. Ahmed said his family and neighbours backed him wholeheartedly in his decision to celebrate the festival. (Photo: Twitter/ @ANINewsUP)

Kanpur: A Muslim family here has become an epitome of communal harmony as they have been celebrating Krishna Janmashtami for the last 29 years. Dr. S. Ahmed, his wife and three children have been celebrating Janmashtami for the last 29 years at their home by performing all rituals related to Lord Krishna's birth.

Dr. Ahmed said his family and neighbours backed him wholeheartedly in his decision to celebrate the festival as celebrating a Hindu festival is a message against religious bigotry.

"Today, it will be the 30th year of celebration. Every year, we pray to Lord Krishna not only for the happiness and prosperity to our family, but also for spreading a message of love, peace and brotherhood in the locality. Everyone helps us in the decoration for the festival," Ahmed told ANI here.

"My family and I have great 'shraddha' (faith) in Lord Krishna," he said, adding: "Mandir, masjid aur gurdwara ne baant liya bhagwaan ko, nadiyaan baatein saagar baatein mat baaton insaan ko."

Dr. Ahmed's house has a well-decorated pedestal dedicated to Lord Krishna, where the ceremonial prayers are performed by the entire family and neighbours. People gather in large numbers to see Lord Krishna's tableau set up by Ahmed at his house.
Tirupati: Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan on Thursday met the family of his fan, who was killed on Wednesday, by a fan of Jr NTR. The deceased, identified as Vinod Royal, was a huge fan of Pawan Kalyan for years.

According to reports, a fan of Jr NTR stabbed 24-year-old Vinod Kumar to death after an altercation over the star status of the two actors.

Telugu cinema actors have some of the most diehard fan following in the county and the fans go crazy to celebrate the success of their favourite stars.

The incident occurred in Karnatakas Kolar district, where Vinod was participating in an organ donation drive. During the event, Vinod shouted slogans in support of Pawan Kalyan, which angered the Jr NTR fan Akshay and led to an argument.

During the heated argument, Akshay stabbed Vinod, who was also an active member of Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena party.

Vinod was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Police registered a case of murder against Akshay and the accused was soon arrested.

Pawan Kalyan met the victims family in Tirupati and consoled his relatives. "Killing in the name of fandom is wrong. It's not just about my fans, it can be about fans of any actor, Kalyan told reporters.

Pawan Kalyan is the younger brother of Chiranjeevi and is popularly known as Power Star. Jr NTR is the grandson of legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao.
29-year-old Anmol Ratan was expelled from AISA after being accused of rape. (Photo: YouTube screenshot)

New Delhi: JNU PhD scholar Anmol Ratan, accused of sexually assaulting a student, had allegedly called her at least 13 times after raping her in his hostel room last week, to warn her against revealing what had transpired.

The 29-year-old, an All India Students' Association (AISA) activist, was absconding since August 20 and had surrendered before the Delhi police on Wednesday night.

Read: JNU rape case: Accused sent to 14 days judicial custody

The victim in her complaint at Vasant Kunj (North) police station had said that she had posted on her Facebook profile that she wanted to watch the popular Marathi movie 'Sairat' and asked if anyone had a CD of the film. She claims that Ratan messaged her saying that he had a copy.

Thereafter, he picked her up on August 20 on the pretext of giving her a CD of the film and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stays.

There he allegedly offered her a spiked drink and proceeded to rape her. After the sexual assault, he offered to drop her to hostel, but she called a friend to escort her back.

Soon after she left, she allegedly received close to 13 calls from him, threatening her against telling anyone that he had raped her.

Ratan was expelled from AISA after being accused of rape.
Earlier in the day, the victim, who has alleged that she was raped by Ratan, an AISA activist, recorded her statement before a magistrate. (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: JNU PhD scholar Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old fellow student, on Wednesday night surrendered before the police, hours after the victim recorded her statement before a magistrate.

"Anmol Ratan has surrendered at Vasant Kunj (north) police station," Additional DCP (south) Nupur Prasad said.

The accused, who was absconding since August 20, surrendered around 10:15 pm at the police station.

Ratan will be sent for medical examination and put under formal arrest, police said, adding he will be produced before Patiala House court on Friday.

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.

The victim in her complaint at Vasant Kunj (North) police station had said that she had posted on her Facebook profile that she wanted to watch 'Sairat' movie and asked if anyone had a CD of it. Ratan apparently messaged her saying that he had a copy.

Thereafter, he picked her up on August 20 on the pretext of giving her a CD of the film and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stays.

There he allegedly offered her a spiked drink and raped her.

Ratan had on Tuesday moved an anticipatory bail plea before a Delhi court which put up the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing on August 27.

He was expelled from AISA after being accused of rape.
Kochi/Idukki: In a gruesome incident, a 9-year-old boy has been subjected to torture by his alleged 'drug addict' parents at Adimali in Idduki district.

The boy, suspected to have suffered more than a week-long torture at the hands of his father and mother, was rescued by some locals two days ago. He is now undergoing treatment at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital near Kochi.

Doctors at the hospital today said the condition of the boy, admitted to the burns intensive care unit on Tuesday, was stable. "He has suffered bruises all over his body. But he is stable now," a doctor treating the boy said.

Police said they have booked the parents under relevant sections of Juvenile Justice Act and 326(b) of IPC, which lays down the punishment for attempted act of afflicting burn injuries.

While the father of the boy was already in judicial custody in connection with another case, the mother would be arrested soon, police said, adding they suspect both parents to be drug addicts.

Police said the boy had given statements against his father and mother.

According to the boy, he was subjected to brutal torture. His father had hit him with an iron rod while his mother attacked him with coconut. She had also poured hot water on him, police said.

Initially, the boy had told the police that he was attacked by a monkey, but later narrated his ordeal.

Police said the boy's two other siblings, who are also minors, have been shifted to safety in Painavu in Idukki district. Child Welfare Committee of Ernakulam district said it would provide shelter to the boy once he was discharged from the hospital.
Chandigarh: In a shocking incident, a couple was murdered and two teenage relatives allegedly sexually assaulted by unidentified persons who barged into the family's house in the wee hours of Thursday in a village in Haryana's Mewat district.

The assailants first killed the couple, said to be about 40 years of age, with sharp edged weapons and then injured six other members of the family, all of whom were sleeping in the house, which is located near the fields in Digerhedi village, police said.

Among the injured included the two women, aged 18 and 19 years, who were sexually assaulted by the assailants. They were relatives of the couple, they said.

After committing the crime, the accused tied the injured with ropes and escaped from the spot. Some residents living nearby found the injured after which the police was informed.

"A couple was killed in the incident. Two women have been sexually assaulted," SP Mewat Kuldeep Singh said.

Efforts are on to nab the assailants. The injured have been hospitalised, he said.

A case under relevant provisions of the law has been registered and further investigations were underway, Singh added.
Vinay Sharma (centre) is one of the four convicts sentenced to death in the 2012 Delhi gangrape. (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: Vinay Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape case of a paramedic, allegedly tried to commit suicide in Tihar Jail, prison officials said on Thursday.

Sharma tried to hang himself from an iron grill of his cell using a cloth at around 9.30 PM last night. He was caught in the act by a Tamil Nadu special police personnel on duty who stopped him.

He was later taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

Sharma had consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants before trying to commit suicide, according to jail sources. Sharma was suffering from depression and was on medication, the sources said.

A 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and gangraped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. She later died in a Singapore Hospital.

Four convicts - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta were sentenced to death in the case.

Prime accused Ram Singh was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were subsequently abated.

The juvenile accused in the case was convicted and sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reformation home.

He was released from the observation home in December last year.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has been asked by the Central Vigilance Commission to share details on big ticket frauds with the Enforcement Directorate. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has been asked by the Central Vigilance Commission to share details on big ticket frauds with the Enforcement Directorate so that the provisions of anti-money laundering Act can be invoked at the stage of investigation itself.

The CVC exercises superintendence over the working of CBI in corruption cases. The decision comes as there have been cases of corporate frauds involving crores of rupees.

The CVC has asked CBI to share relevant details on big ticket frauds with the ED so that provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act can be invoked at the stage of investigation itself, officials said on Thursday.

They said it will help in taking stringent action against the fraudsters during the investigation stage itself. There have been cases where ED is roped in at later stage by the CBI and at times, it results in losing out crucial leads and also cause delay in punishing the accused or trace money laundered by them, the sources said, adding that the CBI has started sharing relevant details with the ED.

In a related development, the CBI has also been made the nodal authority for public sector banks to report high value frauds worth over Rs 50 crore. A Joint Director level officer has been authorised in the CBI to receive complaints of the frauds from the banks.

After receiving such reports, the officer can recommend investigation by any of the agency's wings (Anti Corruption, Economic Offences or Bank Security and Fraud Cell).

The Chief Vigilance Officers, who act as distant arm of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to check corruption, of banks have been asked to act as nodal officers to coordinate in reporting such cases to the CBI.

A total of 171 bank fraud cases involving funds of over Rs 20,000 crore were probed by the CBI last year. One of the high-profile bank fraud cases being probed by the CBI and ED is of liquor baron Vijay Mallya involving an amount of over Rs 9,000 crore.
Six Scorpene submarines are being built in collaboration with French naval contractor DCNS at a cost of USD 3.5 billion. (Photo: Indian Navy)

New Delhi/ Bengaluru: A former French naval officer working as a sub-contractor for the firm DCNS might be behind the leak of data which were written in France in 2011, according to a report in The Australian.

The data may have then been taken to a company in Southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy, said the report.

The leaked data was subsequently passed by a third party to a second company in the region before being sent on a data disk to a company in Australia. It is unclear how widely the data has been shared in Asia, said the report.

DCNS initially suggested the leak might be at the Indian end, but the data leaked also relates to the French firm's plans to sell frigates to Chile and an amphibious ship to Russia, the report said.

Meanwhile, France on Wednesday 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 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 in Bengaluru.

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.
The 49-feet Handi seeks to break a world record - that set by a Mumbai-based group few years ago when they installed a Handi which was 43 feet tall. (Photo: ANI)

Mumbai: Dahi Handi celebrations to mark Krishna Janmashtami got off to a colourful start in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Thursday, with some 'mandals' allegedly flouting the 20-foot ceiling for human pyramids mandated by the Supreme Court.

14 'Govindas' were injured while trying to break Dahi Handi, necessitating a visit to the hospital. 10 of them have been discharged, said ANI.

In a glaring example of flouting Supreme Court orders, a 49-feet Dahi Handi was strung up in Thane on Thursday morning.

According to an NDTV report, Avinash Jadhav, the man organising Janamashtmi celebrations in the area said he only takes orders from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

Thackeray had earlier lashed out at the Supreme Court order banning Dahi Handis taller than 20 feet, and said that the festival will be observed "the way it's meant to be."

"The Supreme Court cannot dictate how we celebrate our festivals. If I break the law then I am willing to go to jail for this," Avinash Jadhav was quoted as saying.

Thackeray will visit the area on Thursday evening for the Dahi Handi. Policemen posted there have watched the handi being prepared all morning but have not intervened so far, said the report. an MNS worker also wore a shirt that read, "Mee Kayda Modnar" (I will break the law).

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court refused to rethink its order that the height of the Handi should be no more than 20 feet. The apex court had also banned those below 18 from participating in the festival.

But the 49-feet Handi seeks to break a world record - that set by a Mumbai-based group few years ago when they installed a Handi which was 43 feet tall.

In suburban Dadar, some Dahi Handi mandal members lay on ground and performed a 'sleeping pyramid' exceeding the court norm of 20 feet. While another mandal used a ladder to break the traditional 'pot' and also displayed a black flag apparently to protest against the SC ruling on the festival.

A fresh plea was filed in the apex court by Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak in a last ditch attempt to get over the restriction.

The organisation argued that as youths 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. The Supreme Court was, however, unconvinced by the argument.

With over 3,300 mandals organising their own Dahi Handi competitions across Mumbai and adjoining areas, police said they will video-record the proceedings to ensure that the Supreme Court order is not violated.

Police issued notices to organisers informing them of the apex court order and are video recording every human pyramid.
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."
Srinagar: As the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir continued for the 48th day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said an alternative to pellet guns will be proposed within a few days in the wake of widespread criticism of the crowd-control device that has left thousands of people in the Valley blinded.

Declaring there is no future for India without Kashmir, Singh again invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' (Kashmir's pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy) again to signal that the NDA government was ready for dialogue with anyone.

"We want to shape future of India. If future of Kashmir is not shaped, future of India cannot be shaped too," Singh, with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by his side, told reporters on the second day of his visit to Kashmir--his second in one month--as part of Centre's outreach to people of Kashmir.

Singh said an expert committee set up by the Home Minister and mandated to look for an alternative to pellet guns is expected to give its report in two-three days.

Replying to a question on use of pellet guns against violent protesters, the Home Minister said as promised during his last visit to Kashmir Valley, he has constituted an expert committee which would submit its report within two months. "It is just one month and report of that committee will come within two-three days. Within few days, we will give an alternative to pellet guns.

"In 2010, it was said pellet gun is a non lethal weapon which can cause least damage but now we feel that there should be some alternate to this," he said.

The Home Minister signalled that the NDA government was ready for dialogue. "I will only say that we are willing to talk to anyone within the ambit of Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat," he said, avoiding a direct reply when asked whether the government was willing to talk to Hurriyat.

The Home Minister said young children and youths, who should have taken pen or laptops, have picked up stones to pelt on security forces. "Who are these people, who has given them permission to take up stones. Can they guarantee to shape their (youths) future. We see future of Kashmiri children linked to the future of Indian children.

"I appeal to Kashmiri people to identify those who are trying to create such a situation in the Valley. Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India cannot exist," he said.

The Home Minister said the security forces were told to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with people, who have been protesting in different parts of the Kashmir Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

"Security personnel told to exercise restraint and they are exercising maximum restraint and also bearing the brunt of protesters and as a result 4,500 security personnel have been injured so far.

"I would also like to appeal to everyone not to forget the role of security personnel during the floods in Kashmir (in 2014)," he said.

The Home Minister said those misguided youths who are picking up stones should be counselled. "If some misguided youths are picking stones then such youths must be counselled. Children are children. We cannot think of separating the future of Kashmir with the future of India," he said.

Singh said the government has identified those elements who are trying to mislead some of our youths in Kashmir. He appealed to those people, who are misleading the youths in Kashmir, not to play with the future of the children of the Valley.

Singh said an all-party delegation will soon visit Jammu and Kashmir to interact with cross sections of people and the Chief Minister has been told to make arrangements for the same.

Replying to a question on central government's understanding of the prevailing situation in Kashmir, the Home Minister said, "Do not question our understanding of the situation. We are trying to find a solution".

He said the central government will soon appoint a nodal officer to help Kashmiris in distress living in other parts of the country.

Singh said more than 20 delegations and about 300 people met him during the two-day visit and all of them conveyed to him that they all want peace in Kashmir. "We are also sad over the situation in the Valley."

The Chief Minister said 95 per cent people of Jammu and Kashmir want a peaceful solution through dialogue and just five per cent are derailing the whole process. "95 per cent people of the state don't want violence, they want peace. We have to reach out to them," she said. Mehbooba said no solution can be found from stone pelting and attacking security camps.

The Chief Minister said focus of the central government and political parties should be those 95 per cent Kashmiris who do not want to create trouble, who do not want to attack establishment for vested interests. "Let us differentiate between those people who want peaceful resolution through dialogue, reconciliation and those who train poor children to pelt stones on roads and camps.

"I hope focus should be those people who want reconciliation and within the ambit of Insaniyat, like Vajpayee had said. People who create trouble will be dealt as per law. They will not be allowed to make life hell for majority here," she said.

Mehbooba said Kashmiri youths are being used by some elements as shields to attack Army camps as "they want our children to suffer".

The Chief Minister also said that situation in 2016 can't compared with that of 2010 as then it was triggered following an alleged fake encounter and an alleged rape while this was the unrest began after killing of three militants.

The Home Minister said whenever a Kashmiri youth or security personnel are killed, the entire country suffers that pain. "Can we not pull out Kashmir from such situation? I would like to appeal every one - every brother and sister of Kashmir to not play with the future of Kashmiri youth," he said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for foisting criminal defamation complaints against her political opponents to stifle fair criticism of her government.

A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Rohinton Nariman, hearing petitions filed by DMDK leader Vijayakanth and his wife Premalatha challenging the defamation complaints, told senior counsel Rakesh Diwedi, appearing for Ms Jayalalithaa you are using state machinery to file defamation cases against political opponents. If at all you are aggrieved you fight on a personal level.

G.S. Mani, counsel for Vijayakanth told the Bench that defamation cases are being filed against political opponents even for fair criticism.

The Bench issued fresh notice to Ms Jayalalithaa seeking her response returnable on September 21. Justice Misra observed, There has to be a healthy democracy. Here it is a case of state public prosecutor filing cases. State is controlling the prosecution.You have a right to be criticised. 
Members of AISA and JNUSU shout slogans during their protest in connection of JNU rape case at Police Headquarters in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: A day after JNU student Anmol Ratan surrendered before police after a fellow PhD scholar accused him of raping her, the varsity students and teachers on Thursday demanded that he be suspended from the university.

The students and teachers demanded that the university should be declared out of bounds for the scholar to ensure safety of the complainant.

"We are extremely dismayed to know that three days after the complaint has been lodged, the accused is yet to be suspended or declared out of bounds from the university, so that safe conditions of complaint and testimony for the complainant may be maintained.

"We demand that this be done forthwith. This failure to act has tarnished the image of the JNU administration quite severely," the varsity teachers said in a joint statement.

A 28-year-old girl had approached Delhi Police earlier this week alleging that Ratan, an activist of the left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA) had raped her in a hostel room on the university campus.

The woman, a PhD student, alleged that Ratan, offered her a copy of a movie that she was looking for, took her to his hostel room and offered her a spiked drink.

She told police that he raped her when she was unconscious. He also threatened her and asked her not to report the matter.

Taking strong note of the incident, AISA had expelled Anmol from the party which ended his primary membership.

The accused, who was absconding since August 20, surrendered before the police yesterday.

Scores of students of the varsity staged a protest outside Delhi Police Headquarters demanding that the force refrains from revealing information which could reveal identity of the victim.
Kannur: In yet another incident of political rivalry, four RSS workers were attacked allegedly by CPI(M) workers near here on Thursday, triggering tension in the locality.

Sujesh (30) and Santosh (28), local RSS functionaries, were attacked by a group of around 20 alleged CPI-M cadres with sharp-edged weapons at a construction site of a house of another RSS worker around noon at Muzukkun in Irruty, police said.

They later attacked two other RSS workers, Arun (23) and Deepesh (26), with iron rods.

All the four were rushed to a hospital in nearby Thallassery and Sujesh, who is stated to have received serious injuries, had been shifted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Police said there was tension in the area following the attack, the latest in sporadic incidents of political violence witnessed in the sensitive district between CPI-M and BJP-RSS workers.

Last month, two workers belonging to CPI(M) and BJP were killed and the issue echoed in the state assembly where Congress attacked the LDF government and also BJP for failure to control their cadres.
Kottayam: Kerala Congress(M) supremo K M Mani on Thursday categorically said his party, which left the Congress-led UDF in the state earlier this month, would not join any political alliance in the state.

Mani also hit out at the CPI, a day after the Left party opposed any move to bring KC(M) in the fold of Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPI(M).

"I have made it very clear that we (the KC-M) will not join any political alliance. I don't understand why CPI is scared of us," he told reporters in his hometown Pala near here.

Attacking the CPI, which has been opposing any move to welcome KCM into the LDF fold, Mani said his party did not need any advise from the Left party, "which has a history of selling its Lok Sabha seat" during a general election.

A state Committee meeting of the CPI held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday had decided to convey its stand to the LDF that the party was against any move to bring KC(M) and Muslim League in the fold of ruling alliance.

The party discussed the issue in detail after some positive vibes being sent to the KC(M) and Muslim League by some CPI(M) leaders recently.

Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (Jacob), a minor partner in the Congress-led alliance, today urged Congress high command to take initiative to bring KC(M) back to the UDF camp.

Party senior leader and ex-MLA Johnny Nellore said the UDF has lost its strength following KC(M)'s decision to quit the alliance.

Earlier this month, the KC(M) had pulled out of the Congress-led UDF of which it was a part for more than three decades.

The party would be "equidistant" from Opposition UDF, ruling CPI-M-led LDF and BJP-led NDA, Mani has said.
The accused, while denying the rape allegations, had contended that the physical relations between them after divorce were consensual. (Representational image)

New Delhi: A Delhi court has discharged a 37-year-old man, accused of raping his 63-year-old ex-wife, a German national, saying there was an inexplicable delay of three years in lodging FIR in the case.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Kumar, while discharging the accused, a Delhi resident, also noted that there was no medical evidence to support the allegations of rape against him.

"The delay of one or two days in lodging the FIR may be bonafide, reasonable and justified in the facts and circumstances of a given case. However, in the present case there is a delay of about three years in lodging FIR," the judge said.

"After examining the documentary as well as oral evidence, it is not showing that accused committed the alleged offences for which he is being prosecuted because there is no valid justification for delay in lodging the FIR.

The court further said the evidentiary value of medical evidence is zero and the consent was obtained on pretext of marriage, so it cannot be said to result from misconception of fact in the facts and circumstances of this case."

"I am of the opinion that the materials placed before the court do not disclose the grave suspicion against the accused for framing a charge against him for committing offence punishable under section 376 of the IPC," the judge said.

The court's order came on a complaint of the German woman alleging that she came to India in 2001 and met accused in a hotel at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and they married each other in 2005.

However, they got divorced in 2007, but later in September 2012, they met again and accused established physical relation with her against her consent with a promise to remarry her, but again ditched her, the complaint said.

An FIR in the case was lodged in 2015 on the complaint of the woman under sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating) of IPC. The court discharged him under section 376 but directed him to appear before another magisterial court to be tried for the offence of cheating.

The accused, while denying the rape allegations, had contended that the physical relations between them after divorce were consensual.
New Delhi: Hardening its stance further, India has once again virtually rejected Pakistan's latest invitation for talks on Kashmir, saying it is willing to discuss cross-border terrorism which was its "core concern".

Replying to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry's fresh invitation of August 19 to visit Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss Kashmir dispute, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said in a letter he was willing to discuss terrorism emanating from Pakistan's territory which was India's core concern.

According to sources, Jaishankar's letter was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to Chaudhry on Wednesday. The reply again stressed on the need for earliest possible vacation of Islamabad's illegal occupation of

Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), they added.

Chaudhry's August 19 letter, second in the last ten days, invited Jaishankar to visit "Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, with a view to finding a fair and just solution, as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and aspirations" of the people of the state. He had first written to Jaishankar on August 15 for talks on Kashmir.

Pakistan has also called for "putting an immediate end to the human rights violations against the innocent people" of Jammu and Kashmir and for providing medical facilities to the injured, "including the permission for doctors and paramedics to travel."

The sharp exchange of words comes amid strain in bilateral ties between the two nations over the continuing unrest in Kashmir with Islamabad issuing provoking statements on the turmoil following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month.

Wani was hailed as a martyr by Pakistan, which also tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the country's foreign office writing to a host of countries besides the United Nations, while India has been maintaining that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the Valley is the root cause of the turbulence.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih on Thursday conveyed the state's inability to release Cauvery water for farmers in Tamil Nadu due to deficit rainfall in the river basin area.

"There is deficit rainfall in the Cauvery basin area, so in the present situation it will be difficult to release water for irrigation purpose," he told a delegation of farmers from Tamil Nadu who met him here.

According to the CMO officials, Siddaramiah said if there were good rains in the days to come and the situation improved, water would be released.

The farmer leaders, who met the Chief Minister at his residence, requested him to release water for samba crop in nine lakh acres, stating that in the absence of water, they might have to face difficulty due to crop damage.

Pointing out that the water level at dams in the Cauvery basin area had not reached expected levels, Siddaramaih said the situation was such that there would be difficulty in providing drinking water.

"In this circumstance, we will be unable to release water even under distress formula. Please understand our situation," he told the farmers.

Siddaramaih has called the meeting of floor leaders of the state Legislative Assembly and the Council on August 27 to discuss Tamil Nadu's repeated demands for release of water and the situation in Cauvery basin area due to deficit rain fall.

Union ministers from the state and district-in-charge ministers from Cauvery basin area have also been invited for the meeting, officials said.

The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court to get its share of Cauvery water. Siddaramaih had recently said his government was also ready for the legal battle.

Speaking to reporters on the issue, Karnataka Water Resources minister M B Patil said the state government will apprise the Supreme Court, Centre and Cauvery Supervisory Committee about the situation.

"Tamil Nadu is demanding the release of water. Chief Minister has already said that water is not sufficient for drinking water supply. We have cautioned our farmers about the situation and crops they are going to undertake, but Tamil Nadu is asking for Samba crop. It is a very difficult situation," he said.

On the proposed Mekedatu dam project across Cauvery River, which is being opposed by Tamil Nadu, Patil said Detailed Project Report (DPR) was ready and the draft of it will be placed before the Cabinet next week.

It would be a Rs 5,900 crore project and there would be no shortage of funds, he said, adding it would not affect Tamil Nadu's interests.

Patil said the dam would have a capacity of 67 TMC, bigger than KRS (Krishna Raja Sagar) which can store 45 TMC of water.

Noting that Tamil Nadu was having objections to the project, Patil said, "We will disclose the project to the Supreme Court, Central Water Commission and concerned Central government ministries. We will proceed with the project legally, convincing every one. The project we have prepared is very clear, it is practically feasible."

Stating that the project will be initiated in this government's tenure itself, Patil added it will also have a 300 MW power generation facility.
Barabanki (UP): The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman PL Punia on Thursday rejected the reported finding of the Roopanwal Commission that Rohith Vemula did not belong to the SC community as "totally wrong".

NCSC Chairman said the statutory body and the district collector have, in separate reports, found that the Hyderabad Central University research scholar belonged to the Dalit community, and not Other Backward Class (OBC).

"The issues raised by the Congress were sidelined and now the report is being presented that Vemula was not a Dalit," Punia told reporters in Barabanki of Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress MP alleged that the commission was set up to justify what BJP ministers had been saying from day one that Vemula was OBC and not a Dalit.

He said that the suicide by the Dalit scholar was "painful and unfortunate". Vemula 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 Justice (retd.) A K Roopanwal Commission, which was constituted by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death, has submitted its report.

According to reports, the commission has said that the 26-year-old research scholar did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
Srinagar: Controversial Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, who has pro-separatist leanings, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and said the only way to resolve Kashmir issue is to hold "plebiscite" on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

Rasheed, who led a five-member party delegation of his Awami Ittihad Party which met the Home Minister, said the government of India needs to understand that passing the buck and avoiding the resolution is the only reason why Jammu and Kashmir is "bleeding" since 1947, a spokesman of the party said in a statement.

The MLA claimed that seeking "right to self-determination" does not violate Constitution of India and also does not amount to separatism, the spokesman said.

The delegation narrated how the successive governments broke their promises from time to time and played blamegame, the spokesman said.

"When we talk of resolving Jammu and Kashmir dispute, we never say so on communal lines but believe that people of both parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh should be given right to self-determination and issue needs to be seen in totality and not on regional, religious or ethnic basis," he said.

The spokesman said Rasheed reminded Singh that it was in the same Nehru Guest House, where the Home Minister was meeting various deputations, that the Centre held talks with five militant commanders.

"So, Union of India has no logic to justify not talking to real representatives including militants for the resolution of the dispute," Rasheed said.
Sarah Tellis, a New Bern resident & "Women United for Burr" leadership member, pens Medium post in support of Senator Burr

Ross Opposed The Creation Of The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry

Ross Was Opposed To Putting The Sex Offender Registry Online

Contact: Jesse Hunt

Jesse Hunt jhunt@burrforsenate.com

Raleigh, NC The Burr campaign today is highlighting a Medium post penned by New Bern resident Sarah Tellis who is a member of the "Women United for Burr" leadership team. Tellis gives a personal account of why she's supporting Senator Burr and advocating for his candidacy in the community.In politics, it is important to separate fact from fiction, action from rhetoric and promises from actual results. Women here in North Carolina have a powerful voice in deciding the direction of our country and it is important to know which candidate will actually stand up for us in the U.S. Senate. The choice could not be clearer: Richard Bur has spent his entire career breaking down barriers that impede a woman's pursuit of their professional and personal life goals. One of those barriers is pay equity and Senator Burr joined Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) in her efforts to ensure equal pay for equal work by co-sponsoring Ayotte's Gender Advancement or Pay (GAP) Act. Many women are the primary financial earners for their families and Senator Burr recognizes how important it is for all women to be paid what they're deserved.Earlier this week the Burr campaign released the "Women United for Burr" leadership team, highlighting a core group of business leaders, Republican activists, and young professionals all working toward the common goal of re-electing Senator Burr. The team is supporting Senator Burr for his commitment to causes that benefit all North Carolinians. This stands in stark contrast to Deborah Ross who repeatedly advocated for the rights of convicted criminals instead of standing up for victims. In 1995, Ross fought against a bill that created the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry and then again in 1997 Ross fought against a bill that put the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry online.(Deborah Ross, Memo To The Legislative Committee Of The ACLU-NC , 8/4/95)(Foon Rhee and Kathleen McClain, "Senate Broadens Sex Offender List," Charlotte Observer, 5/22/97)
Documents running into 22,400 pages detailing the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines have been leaked. (Photo: File)

Mumbai: The Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL),where the Scorpene submarines are being built, on Thursday said the data leak did not take place from its end and that it was assisting the Navy in the probe.

A day after the data leak on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company came to light, an MDL official said there were stringent norms at MDL on data security.

"We are helping Navy in the probe. We are certain the data leak was not from our side," an MDL official told PTI in Mumbai.

"It needs to be verified if the leaked documents are authentic," the official said, reacting to reports of the massive data leak. There are stringent norms at MDL on data security, the official said.

MDL head Rear Admiral Rahul Shrawat was not available for comments.

French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project.

MDL is scheduled to deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy early next year and the remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020.

According to media reports, the documents running into 22,400 pages detail the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines.

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.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had on Wednesday ordered the Navy Chief 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 had said.
"There is fairly a good chance that in ten days permission will be given to operate Wi-Fi in the Indian airspace," Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey said.

New Delhi: Fliers may soon be able to use Wi-Fi facility when they are on flights in the Indian airspace, with the government on Wednesday indicating that a decision is likely in the coming days.

"I will be able to give you good news in 10 days," Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey today said in response to a query on when Wi-Fi would be allowed in flights.

At present, fliers are not allowed to use mobile phones and Internet when they are in the Indian airspace.

"There is fairly a good chance that in ten days permission will be given to operate Wi-Fi in the Indian airspace," Choubey said.

When asked whether there were any security issues in allowing Wi-Fi in flights, he said the important thing was about the "ability to track voice and data".

If necessary, agencies should have access to the details and if need be it can be tracked, he noted.

On whether calls would also be permitted, Choubey said that if data is going to be allowed, it should be possible to make calls as well. "We expect that to happen as well," he added.

"I must compliment the present DoT Secretary... I have been chasing it for quite sometime. I am obviously saying so on the basis of what Deepak (DoT Secretary) has told me," he said.

According to him, the Cabinet's approval would not be required for the proposal.

"It (wifi facility) will be available to both Indian carriers and foreign carriers, which may be only overflying the Indian airspace," he said.

Choubey was speaking at an awards function organised by the Air Passengers Association of India (APAI).
Hyderabad: If the pep talk given by BJP national president Amit Shah during the party's brainstorming session in Delhi on Wednesday is transformed into action, the state BJP unit will be soon seen aggressively attacking the ruling TRS.

The TS BJP core committee members had been, along with members of similar panels across the country, invited by the BJP central leadership for the session which was addressed by Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders.

The state BJP Core Committee members, who did not wish to be named due to party disciplinary rules, told DC that the TS BJP should start acting like a real opposition party and not believe in rumours that the BJP will have a tie-up with the ruling TRS.

Amit Shah clearly told the state BJP leaders that they should start believing that the party was the real alternative to the TRS and not the Congress. The direction given to the party units, especially the non-BJP ruled states, was specific  the BJP should become the alternative to ruling establishments, shrugging away its present soft attitude.

TS BJP president K. Laxman, national executive member Nagam Janardhana Reddy and Legislature party leader G. Kishan Reddy were among the 11 core committee members allowed to address the day-long session.

Amit Shah reportedly observed that TS BJP leaders needed to shrug off complacency and think of a possible alliance with TRS. Instead, he said, they should be more critical, vocal and visible.

According to sources, even the PM told leaders of the non-BJP ruled states that offense was the best form of defence and asked them to identify people-centric issues and fight the ruling establishments to gain the confidence of the people.

The impact of the pep talk was visible in the fact that Dr Laxman hurriedly convened a press media in Delhi during which he was highly critical of the TS-Maharashtra agreement on Tammidihatti and Medigadda barrages.

Earlier, the same leaders had welcomed the TS government's initiative of trying to resolve the pending issues with Maharashtra when Mr Rao had gone to Mumbai and signed a pact for constituting the Inter-State Board. The TS BJP leaders had gone to Mumbai and met the Maharashtra Chief Minister and tried to take credit for that agreement.
Hyderabad: The apathy of the AP and Telangana governments and Central agencies has forced people to approach the High Court at Hyderabad for redressal of minor grievances.

These range from the police not registering a complaint, officials not taking action against illegal constructions, civic authorities delay in providing water, power and sewerage connections, non-issue of Pattadar passbooks and ration cards and the refusal of the authorities to register landed properties.

As many as 28,000 writ petitions were filed in the high court from January 1 to August 20 this year, against both the state governments and the Centre, burdening the already overloaded judiciary.

According to legal experts, a majority of the writs related to issues which can be resolved rationally. People are forced to approach courts as the system is not responsive enough. This is clogging the court channels with cases, leading to delay in disposal of even small issues.

The Law Commission, in its reports submitted separately while recommending the need for a national litigation policy, alternative dispute resolution system, has pointed out that though there was much of avoidable litigation by the state, the administrative authorities compelled citizens to litigate as a matter of prestige.

Infographic

Mr N. Sreedhar Reddy, former special government pleader, told this newspaper the High Court, as a writ court, was the last resort, not the first, for an individual seeking redressal of grievances.

The majority of writs relate to revenue and civic matters. The orders passed by revenue authorities are quasi-judicial. The high court cannot pass an ex-parte order against a quasi-judicial order without a counter affidavit being filed or proper instructions issued from the authority concerned, he said.

There is an appellate mechanism with regard to matters such as of ration cards, Pattadar passbooks, refusal to enter details of individual properties in land records and settlement of compensation of land acquisitions.

But no remedy was available in cases where civic authorities failed to take action on complaints of illegal construction. The aggrieved party has to invariably approach a court. Mr Reddy said that in a majority of cases either the instructions or the counter affidavits did not reach the court in time.

Once the court adjourned the case, it would be difficult to list it again as the high court faced manpower shortage. An advocate working as a government pleader in the high court said though it was a simple matter, say, of not granting a ration card, it would take considerable time for case disposal as there exists a standard judicial procedure to the dispose of cases.

We have to face wrath of the bench whenever officers delay passing on information to us. It would not be possible for the bench to dispose of the case until we provide the relevant facts. Most of the cases are delayed for lack of proper instructions from officers.
Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the state government plans to transform 1,000 villages with help from the corporate sector, and the civil society over the next few years.

He said corporate sector is already working with the government through the CSR and we thought of using their resources, knowledge, technology and planning and implementation skills. He said corporate sector expertise would be used to set up an institutional mechanism to amalgamate work done by different companies in different areas to transform 1000 villages in collaboration with the state government. He was addressing media here after his meeting with industrialists Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
Srinagar: Despite the mild drama at Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis residence that threatened to overtake the Centres rather conciliatory message to Kashmiris, home minister Rajnath Singh did his best to reach out to Kashmiris on the second day of his second trip to Kashmir in a month, and succeeded.

Ms Mufti, who was in a rather combative mood, criticised the stone-pelters. Stone-throwing will not end Kashmirs problems. We have to reach out to those who want peace, she said, adding that only five per cent people were creating trouble and 95 per cent of people want an end to the crisis.

But she soon lost her cool, when asked by a journalist if she had not only swapped roles but also views with her predecessor Omar Abdullah on protests. To this, the CM asserted that violence since July could in no way be compared to the disaffection Kashmiris had expressed in 2010 when they had valid reasons to do so.

There was a reason for 2010, Shopian (alleged rapes by security personnel) happened, innocents were being targeted by security officers. Dont you confuse that situation with what is happening now. The young man setting a police station on fire now cannot be compared with someone being shot at while going out to buy milk or toffee, she said, and stood up abruptly to leave.
Mangaluru: The price you pay for upsetting the BJP! Eggs, tomatos and abuses rained down on Kannada actress turned politician Ramya as she arrived in the saffron bastion of Mangaluru on Thursday with the BJP finally letting its youth wing do what its lawyer with saffron leanings had set in motion last week, when he lodged a complaint in a court on sedition and other charges against her 'Pakistan is not hell' remark a few days ago.

Black flags were shown by BJP Yuva Morcha activists who shouted "Down, down Ramya" and "Ramya go back" slogans as the diminutive former Congress MP from Mandya, emerged from the airport.

They were angry at her statement allegedly supporting Pakistan - she said "Pakistan isn't hell" - and also against her statement where she had allegedly said "Mangaluru is hell" in a TV interview. While on her way to the city, eggs were thrown at her car, police said.

Police personnel who were present at the spot in good strength rounded up the protesters and whisked them away. Ramya is in the city to attend the 'Mosaru Kudike' programme at Kadri, an event to mark Krishna Janmashtami. Her car was accompanied by a police escort vehicle into the city.

Morcha activists admitted their protest against Ramya was a reaction to her alleged comment to a TV channel yesterday, where she had called Mangaluru "hell", which she has strongly denied.

Ramya: Didnt call Mangaluru hell

I have not called Mangaluru as hell. A local channel gave a misleading headline. Mangaluru is the place where I started my election campaign. I would not call such a place as hell," Ramya said. "Some have displayed black flags and tried to throw eggs at me. We are a democracy. People are free to express themselves," she said.
Hyderabad: Failure of the traffic police to act against violations of number plate norms is resulting in an increase in use of stickers reading police, press, judge, human rights, anti-corruption force, army, government etc. on vehicles.

Other road users even say they get intimidated by such stickers, especially the ones that read police, press or anti-corruption force. Many of these motorists avoid paying parking charges and even stop traffic cops from issuing them challans and fines. Also, it is not clear if the passengers traveling in these stickered cars are indeed the ones they claim to be. It could be family members too.

City Criminal Courts advocate S. Pradeep Kumar said while the Motor Vehicles Act remains quiet on the pasting of stickers on windscreens and bumpers, cops can book cases if it is being misused.

If anyone who is not a cop, a reporter or a judge misuses these stickers, he or she can be booked for impersonation, he added. Activist C.J. Karira said most motorists are using these stickers with mala fide intentions. The 2001 Indian Parliament attack was carried out by terrorists who had Press written on their vehicles.

So there is a security threat too. I have complained to the traffic police several times to take action against use of these words. Traffic cops should take up a drive to book cases against violation of number plate norms, Mr Karira said.

While it is illegal to write or paste anything on the registered number plate of a vehicle as per Sections 80 (a)/177, Section 50 and 55 of the Motor Vehicle Act, there is no bar on use of stickers on other parts of the vehicle except that the colour or design of the vehicle should not be changed, said joint transport commissioner Mr T. Raghunath.

Indian Federation of Road Safety chief functionary Mr Vinod Kumar Kanumala said a total ban must be put in place on use of such nomenclature on any part of the body. Some may argue they are using it for genuine reasons. But we cannot be sure of the intentions of the motorists so there is no point in discussing about it, he said.

Additional commissioner of police (Traffic) Mr Jitender said they had been booking cases against violation of number plate norms. He also said cops can also book cases against motorists if the stickers pasted on windscreen are obstructing a clear view of the road and of the interior of the vehicle.

But despite the traffic police boss stating that they can book cases against use of stickers on windscreens if they obstruct the view, there have been hardly any such cases booked.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao exchanges the agreement on irrigation projects with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday. TS irrigation minister T. Harish Rao is also seen. (Photo: P. Anil Kumar)

Hyderabad: The war of words between TRS and Congress and TD leaders continued on Thursday over the agreement with Maharashtra and over Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos threat to jail leaders levelling false allegations of corruption.

While TRS leaders, led by endowments minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, tried to dismiss the criticism, saying that the agreement would help wipe out water scarcity in the state, the Opposition continued its onslaught against the CM.

The agreement will go a long way in providing the much-needed water for irrigation and drinking. Its mutually beneficial, Mr Indrakaran Reddy said.

TRS MP Balka Suman challenged Congress leaders to prove corruption in irrigation projects.

TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy along with Bhatti Vikramarka and others slammed the CM over the agreement with Maharashtra and his threat of jail.

Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy, who vowed to expose the lies and falsehood of Mr Rao on irrigation projects, said that the CM mortgaged the interests of the state by shifting the main project from Thummadihatti to Medigadda.

KCR is behaving like an agent of the BJP government of Maharashtra. TS government gave up seven mandals, two lakh acres of land and the fate of lakhs of tribals to AP to construct Polavaram, but we failed to seek just 3,000 acres for submergence from Maharashtra to build Pranahita-Chevella, he said.

Congress has convened an expert talk and discussion on Pranahita-Chevella and Kaleshwaram projects on Friday at the Gandhi Bhavan. He said by shifting the project to Medigadda, the capital cost has gone up by over Rs 50,000 crore, besides the annual recurring cost of `15,000 crore in the guise of Kaleshwaram project.

Congress will not be a mute spectator to this open loot of public exchequer. We will expose countrys biggest scam, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said. KCR is behaving like a street fighter. He entered signed an MoU and reduced dam height as per Maharashtras demands. After the Congress comes to power, we will raise the dam height to 152 metres, Mr Vikramarka said.
Farmers led by former Tamil Nadu MP K.P. Ramalingam and Chellamuthu arrive at Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs home office in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened an all- party meeting in Vidhana Soudha on August 27 to discuss Tamil Nadus demand for release of water from the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir.

Disclosing this, Water Resources Minister, M B Patil told reporters on Thursday the state was in no position to release the water due to the poor storage in the dam following the failure of the monsoon. What remained in the dam was just enough to meet the drinking water requirements of people of Mysuru and Bengaluru, he said.

We dont mind sharing water with Tamil Nadu, but where is the water in KRS dam? he added. The all -party meeting would explain the grim situation in the Cauvery basin to the leaders and Union ministers from Karnataka, the minister said.

Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, told visiting farmers from Tamil Nadu that Karnataka presently did not have enough water to release to their state, but would do so once it received more rain. The Tamil Nadu delegation was led by former MP, Dr K.P. Ramalingam and A.P. Thirunavakkarasu.

Also present was Karnataka Farmers Association chairman, Kodihalli Chandrashekhar. According to sources, the Chief Minister plans to send minister M.B. Patil to Delhi to discuss the issue with the the states advocate in the Supreme Court, Fali S. Nariman.

HD Kumaraswamy warns of more farmer suicides

Criticizing the state government for releasing 40 TMCFT of water to TN over the last three months while depriving farmers of water in Cauvery basin, state JD(S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy warned of a possible spurt in farmer suicides in Mandya district.

Addressing a rally in Mandya on Thursday, he demanded that the government release Rs 500 crores immediately as ex-gratia to farmers of the district ahead of imminent failure of crops for want of water.

Providing details of water released in the past three months, he said the inflow into the reservoirs was 106 TMCFT. While the state released 73 TMCFT to TN, it released only 7.83 TMCFT to its farmers.

The government distributed seeds to farmers, asking them to take up paddy cultivation. Now, it is asking them to shift to other crops. Farmers have incurred a loss and government should release ` 500 crores as relief.
Tom Campbell

Politicians make promises. It's what they do. Candidates often promise bold and grandiose actions to get your vote and win their elections. Some sound appealing, but are they realistic and attainable?Let's begin with two issues relating to immigration. The promise to build a wall on America's southern border and make Mexico pay for it is problematic. Nobody disputes the fact it will cost as much as $10 billion to construct. Mexico adamantly vows they won't pay for it. If true, who will and from where will the money come? Closely akin is the promise to deport as many as 11 million undocumented immigrants, which sounds like a logistical nightmare. Assuming we undertook this massive deportation who is going to pay for it? Our country already has huge budget deficits and debt. Both promises seem logistically and financially unrealistic. Presidents Bush and Obama have begged Congress to pass a realistic and sustainable immigration plan to no avail, so a more realistic election discussion should focus on what must be done to get Congress to act.Jobs and the economy are subjects of campaign promises. While the pledge to bring manufacturing back to this country might be appealing is it the realistic solution to dramatically improve our economy and create more and higher-paying jobs?Even if we were successful on a large scale in bringing manufacturing back home, the very nature of work has changed. New technologies and robotics have revolutionized every field to the point that machines using artificial intelligence have replaced humans and workforce numbers in most all sectors are rapidly dwindling. Just look at what is happening in fast food, hotel check-ins, banking, accounting, manufacturing and most other job sectors and you can easily see the impact. North Carolina has enjoyed the creation of more than 200,000 new jobs but many of them come from the service and hospitality sectors that don't pay high wages.Informed analysts predict that as many as 40 percent of today's jobs won't even exist in the next 20 years. As many as 1 million jobs in the U.S. are currently unfilled because employers can't find workers with necessary skillsets to fill them.Clearly our education system at all levels must be reformed to train workers. A high school diploma isn't good enough any more and some level of higher education is necessary. This brings us to campaign pledges providing free public university or community college tuition. Let's assume that free tuition is offered. If the student isn't paying who is going to pick up the costs? Are taxpayers willing to do so?Studies reveal the average college grad begins work with $25,000 or more in debt. Higher education must become more affordable but tuition is only one element in the equation. Housing, meals and especially textbooks are just as burdensome as the cost of instruction. Free tuition alone isn't the realistic solution to education needs.Before we succumb to a candidate's catchy campaign pledge or slogan we need more details. Who will be responsible for enacting the plan, what is the timeline for implementation and how will it be financed? Voters should press candidates for answers to these questions. If a candidate's promises can't pass the reality test they are just more election rhetoric.
The Air India Twitter handle posted that the flight had been diverted. (Photo: Representational Image)

Mumbai: An Air India flight from here to Newark, carrying around 300 passengers, was on Thursday diverted to Kazakhstan due to technical issues.

The Boeing 777-300 ER plane had landed at the Aktobe international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after "some alarm went off" while it was on its way to Newark. The airline said all passengers are safe.

A relief aircraft would be leaving from New Delhi to Aktobe at 1500 hours to ferry the stranded passengers to Newark. The aircraft is expected to reach Aktobe at 1830 hours, Air India said.

An airline spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.

In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.

"#AI CMD Mr Lohani spoke to Captain Aroob. The pax (passengers) are satisfied and happy that the flt (flight) safely landed in #Kazakhstan," Air India said in another tweet.

Aroob is the captain of the flight that was diverted to Kazakhstan. Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has seating capacity for around 350 people.
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to set up a social media lab to monitor social media activities. The decision to set up such a technical lab was triggered by the fact that lot of terror groups are active in various social media platforms and the police believe there is an urgent need to monitor such areas to extract intelligence.

The lab will be set up at a cost o Rs 32 lakh. So far the various police units were monitoring the social media on their own whenever there was a need to do so.

The lab will have its experts to keep an eye on networks like Facebook, Twitter and many other platforms. All suspicious posts, accounts and handles will be kept under watch. The idea is to locate radical elements in the social media networks so that efforts can be taken to neutralise them, noted an officer.

The government has also announced the decision to buy a computer aided super imposition device to match images of suspected people with that of unidentified skulls.

The department is also planning to purchase two debugging scanners to identify and locate hidden tapping devices. As per the fresh announcement made by the chief minister in the assembly on Monday, there are plans to have CCTV with internet protocol in 100 police stations in the state at a cost of Rs 3 core.

The CCTV scheme for all 1567 police stations in the state, announced two years ago, is not yet achieved. So far only 250 stations have installed CCTVs.
Mumbai: Premier tech school IIT Bombay on Thursday blacklisted nine companies including startups like Portea Medical and Chinese firm Johnson Electric from placements for one year as a penalty for a variety of violations like, revoking the offers to some of its graduates.

The action follows a controversy over a host of companies, majorly startups finding the going tough, either revoking the offer letters or delaying joining dates which have impacted students.

Online pharmacy player Portea, which has reportedly raised USD 46.5 million in two rounds, has been blacklisted for one year for revoking an offer, the school said in an official statement.

Similarly, the NCR-based Peppertap that was into grocery sales, has also been penalised for revoking offers. Johnson Electric of China has also been penalised for revoking offers.

Others who faced action for revoking offers include GPSK and Cashcare Technologies, the statement said.

For delaying the joining dates of the selected candidates, consulting companies IndusInsight, and the Houston-based American company LexInnova have been barred from placements for a year, it said.

A company named LeGarde Burnett Group was also blacklisted for both revoking an offer and after it was found "fake" with no proper office address, it said.

Another company Mera Hunar was found to have come up with a different name and hired students for another startup, which attracted the penal action of one year.

It can be noted that since IITs have a centralised placement panel called the All IITs Placement Committee and in all likelihood, the action by IIT-Bombay will automatically bar the startups from approaching any of the IITs in the country for placements next year.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will be declared as open defecation-free state on its formation day on November 1 with the CPIM-led LDF government planning to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend a function here.

A decision to this effect was taken at the state Cabinet meeting here today, an official statement said.

The Cabinet decided to invite Modi, who has launched the Swachh Bharat mission for a Clean India, to attend the state-level function to be held here, it said.

A total of more than 1.90 lakh toilets are being constructed across the 941 gramma panchayats in the state, including in individual houses, located at critically challenged and hilly terrains, as part of the sanitation programme by the state government.

Suchitwa Mission, the state nodal agency for sanitation, which is implementing the plan said work on 35 per cent of the toilets had already been completed and the state would achieve the new milestone by November.
Chennai: In a gross natural disaster, a total of 38 sheep were killed on Tuesday night as lightning struck the Kammalam Poondy village in Kanchipuram district.

The catastrophe had left the village in a pall of gloom and is a first of its kind in the recent past, said the distressed villagers.

Cattle owner E. Lakshmanan (45), who lost 38 sheep among the 104 ones, has incurred a loss of Rs 1.52 lakh. As brief spells and thunderstorms were observed on Tuesday evening, Lakshmanan had chosen to not take the cattle to a fenced field and left them in an open ground, a few yards behind his house. At around11pm, he woke up to the disturbance and was shocked to see the carcasses of the cattle.

He alerted the villagers; informed it to Uttaramerur police and the revenue officials, who inspected the site. Tahsildar of Uttaramerur taluk Shanthi said that they have collaborated with the animal husbandry department for the enquiry.

A detailed statement will be sent to Kanchipuram collector soon, she said.

Officials from animal husbandry department predicted that the animals could have died due to heart failure. However, it could be confirmed after studying the autopsy reports, the official said.

The cattle owner, for whom the cattle are a livelihood, had not insured, it was learnt. We are in shock. Animals usually die due to snake bites or diseases. Even during the floods, the loss was not this intense, said a villager, Kumaran.

Cattle got dispersed when lightning struck. If they were sheltered in a fenced field, there were chances that he would have lost them all, said Sethupathi, another village
In May, the government withdrew a notification capping royalty for new genetically modified (GM) traits amid opposition from crop biotech industry. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: US biotechnology major Monsanto on Thursday said it has withdrawn application seeking approval for the next generation genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in India because of regulatory uncertainties.

The application seeking environment clearance for commercial cultivation of 'Bollgard-II Roundup Ready Flex technology' was withdrawn on July 6.

"Our decision to suspend this introduction in India is an outcome of the uncertainty in the business and regulatory environment, which includes the regulation of trait fees and introduction of the draft compulsory licensing guidelines," Monsanto Spokesperson said in a statement.

This decision has no impact on our current cotton portfolio being sold in India, it said.

In March, Monsanto had warned of re-evaluating its presence in India and holding back new technology if the government cuts trait fee of Bt cotton seeds drastically through "arbitrary and potentially destructive" interventions.

But the government went ahead and capped royalty for the new GM traits at 10 per cent of the maximum sale price of BT cotton seeds for the first five years.

In May, the government withdrew a notification capping royalty for new genetically modified (GM) traits amid opposition from crop biotech industry.

Monsanto sells cotton seed in India via Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd (MMBL), a joint venture with Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds. MMBL has sub-licensed Bt cotton seed technology since 2002 to various domestic seed companies.
Srinagar: A soldier was injured on Thursday as Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

A group of militants tried to infiltrate in Tangdhar sector this morning. However, alert troops fired at them, forcing them to flee, an army official said.

He said an army jawan was injured in the firing by the militants.

He was shifted to a hospital and his condition is said to be stable, the official said.

A search operation is underway in the area, he added.
Govindas taking part in Dahi Handi celebrations by forming a pyramid on the occasion of Janamashtami in Mumbai. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: Thousands of youth clad in colourful robes joined the 'Dahi Handi' celebrations across Maharashtra to mark Krishna Janmashtami on Thursday, with some of the 'mandals' allegedly flouting the 20-feet ceiling for human pyramids mandated by the Supreme Court.

A sporting tradition that blends devotion with fun, frolic and adventure, 'dahi handi' recaptures the fondness of Krishna as a child for butter with scores of youth joining shoulder-to-shoulder to build a human pyramid, through which the aspiring winner scales to hit the curd-filled earthen pot strung over head.

The apex court had yesterday made it clear that no human pyramid could cross 20 feet in height, concerned over casualties and injuries suffered by 'Govindas', as participants are known, in previous years.

Cases had been registered against 16 Govinda mandals in Thane, adjoining Mumbai for allegedly flouting court guidelines, a senior police official said.

A report said a "Dahi Handi" was allegedly strung up at 49 feet, more than double the height allowed by the Supreme Court, whose organiser was said to be associated with Raj Thackeray-led MNS. MNS along with Shiv Sena has expressed reservations over the court order.

Barring minor injuries to 15 participants, no untoward incident had been reported in Mumbai till evening, where no violation of the apex court norm had been reported, police said.

At Dadar in Mumbai, some Dahi Handi mandal members lay on the ground and created a 'sleeping pyramid' exceeding the 20-feet norm. While another mandal used a ladder to break the pot and also displayed a black flag, apparently to protest against the SC ruling on the festival.

With over 3,300 mandals (organising units) arranging 'dahi handi' events across Mumbai and adjoining areas, police video-recorded the competitions to ascertain if there had been violation of the Supreme Court order.

Police had already issued notices to organisers informing them of the court order and that they would record every human pyramid. Police said they would go through the video footages and, if any violation of norms is found, action will be taken against the organisers.

The court had on August 17 refused to relax conditions put earlier by the Bombay High Court like barring youth below 18 years of age from participating in Dahi Handi festival and capping the height of the human pyramid at 20 feet.

The SC bench rejected the contention that the festival had the colour of popular sport and there should be no cap on the height of the pyramid since the court has already barred youth below 18 years of age from taking part in it.

A fresh plea was filed in the apex court by Jai Jawan Krida Mandal Govinda Pathak in a last ditch attempt to get over the restriction, which was also turned down by the apex court.

Voicing reservation over the court directions on Dahi Handi celebrations, the Shiv Sena said the government should have come out with an ordinance reversing the order.

Sena said the police, instead of going about their duty of catching criminals, will now have to roam around places to ensure the implementation of the SC's guidelines and keep a watch on the height of human pyramids and age of 'govindas'.

The SC order had also stirred sharp reaction from dahi handi organisers, who contended that the restrictions would hamper the grandeur of the celebrations.
New Delhi: Rejecting GVK Group firm Alaknanda Hydro Power Company's contention that the 2013 cloudburst and floods in Uttarakhand was an "act of god", the National Green Tribunal has directed it to pay a compensation of Rs 9.26 crore to the persons affected by the disaster.

The green panel held the company liable for lack of proper care in storing muck from a construction project, which allowed the material to flow during the floods to the Srinagar town of the Pauri Garhwal district in June 2013.

It directed Alaknanda Hydro Power to deposit Rs 9,26,42,795 within 30 days as compensation with the Emergency Relief Fund Authority, which should be paid to the victims of the disaster.

"An act of god provides no excuse unless it is so unexpected that no reasonable human foresight could be presumed to anticipate the occurrence, having regard to the conditions of time and place known to be prevailing....We, therefore, reject the plea of the respondent no. 1 that the damage caused to the residential area was the result of 'Act of God'," a bench headed by Justice U D Salvi said.

While one per cent of the amount is to be remitted to the Registrar of the NGT under the provisions of the 2011 National Green Tribunal Rules, the remaining amount is to be distributed by the District Magistrate of Pauri after verifying the claims.

"The human habitation was affected due to the silt and the muck. Going by the geochemical analysis, the muck that was found was about 30 per cent. This certainly is a footprint of the involvement of the respondent no 1 (company) in the occurrence resulting in damage caused," the bench said.

The NGT held that it is undisputed that 2013 floods were due to cloudburst in the upper reaches of river Alaknanda near Kedarnath, unlike the floods in 1894 and 1970 as per a report published by Ministry of Environment and Forests.

"However, it was within the knowledge of Alaknanda Hydro Power Co Ltd that the project is situated in geologically sensitive area of Himalayas, where cloudburst is not a rare phenomena and, though the environment clearance did not mandate plan for muck disposal, MoEF has sounded an alarm as regards the muck disposal vide direction dated June 30, 2011.

"Having regard to these known conditions, human foresight could have reasonably anticipated that laxity in taking timely protective measures such as slope dressing, terracing, toe walls covering the top soil at the permanent muck disposal sites would prove disastrous to the environment, particularly to the human beings who are the components of environment," the bench, which also comprised expert member A R Yousuf, said.
Kannada Sena activists protest against the pro-Pakistan remarks of former MP and film actress Ramya in Chikmagalur. (Photo: PTI)

Mangaluru: Eggs were thrown at Actress-turned-politician Ramyas car by members of BJP's youth wing, protesting against her Pakistan is not hell remark in Mangalore on Monday.

The protestors were caught on camera waving black flags and throwing eggs at her cavalcade, despite several security men guarding the area. They shouted slogans like - "Ramya go back", "down, down, Ramya". The security men are then seen chasing the protestors in the video footage.

The protestors were later detained by the Karnataka police for their actions.

WATCH Congress leader Ramya's car attacked by protesters with eggs over her remark, in Mangaluru.Protesters detainedhttps://t.co/DlZ7TGDcAR  ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

Ramya found herself in the midst of controversy, when she made comments sympathising with Pakistan and a sedition case was slapped against her by an advocate.

"Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well," she had reportedly said after a recent visit to Islamabad as part of a SAARC delegation of young lawmakers.

Her remarks had come as an ostensible counter to comments of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who while lashing out at Islamabad for promoting terror, had said last week, "going to Pakistan is same as going to hell."
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of capturing 12 Lok Sabha seats from Kerala in the 2019 general elections. He has directed BJP national president Amit Shah to coordinate the preparations for the LS elections. The Herculean task of making a saffron surge in Kerala has been given to the four general secretaries  M.T. Ramesh, A. N. Radhakrishnan, Sobha Surendran and K. Surendran.

Though Mr Modi and Mr Shah had called all the senior leaders in the country to the core committee meeting, Mr Modi gave prominence to Kerala. A top BJP leader told this newspaper that the central leadership had asked state president Kummanam Rajasekharan to win seats and not to highlight the increased vote share any more.

The BJP has its own set up of booth, mandalam, district and Parliament-level committees and will eventually improve the situation. However, now our main agenda is to make the national council and executive meeting in Kozhikode from September 23 to 25 a grand success, Mr Kummanam told this newspaper. Mr Amit Shah had sent a survey team to all the states, including Kerala, to gauge the chances of BJP in the 2019 elections.

Mr Modi sent his Special Protection Group Director, Arun Kumar Sinha, to coordinate the work of the national survey team in Kerala. The team has reported that the BJP will make strides in the LS elections. The BJP would give thrust to the youth as per the diktat of Modi and Amit Shah. Despite the CPM getting a vote share of 43 per cent in the 2016 Assembly elections, there was a decrease of 1.94 per cent compared to the 2011 Assembly elections, said a top BJP leader.

The strategy of Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah is to bring all the Hindu organisations in the state under the NDA umbrella. They are concerned that SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan has been cosying up to the LDF. Within the next three months, Mr Amit Shah will appoint 600 members to various boards in the state. He has asked all the four general secretaries as well as former state presidents to nurse their previous constituencies. The BJP president has also decided to send a union minister each to all the 20 LS seats who will directly report to him on the progress they make.

Vote per cent must rise big time for goal

Prime Minister Narendra Modis command to the state BJP to win 12 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections is a tall order. The partys vote base will have to rise three times its last Assembly or Lok Sabha elections to win a Lok Sabha seat from Kerala. Therefore, getting a dozen seats in the 2019 general elections will be an Herculean task. The BJPs vote share has been steadily increasing over the years.

It went up from 4.75 per cent in the 2006 Assembly elections to 6.03 per cent in the 2011 polls. Similarly, it rose from 6.03 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls to 10.3 per cent in the 2014 general elections. During November 2015 local bodies elections, BJPs vote share rose to an all-time high of 14 per cent. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA had got 14.89 per cent vote share.

With Mr Modi and his team urging Kerala BJP leaders to work full time for a massive victory, the state leaders are finding it tough to come to terms with it now. State leaders are aware of the fact that there are only a handful of them who can chart a victory and are banking on the seven Assembly seats where they had reached the second position in the recently concluded polls. They admit on the sly that they dont have the charisma of veteran BJP leader O. Rajagopal who came up victorious in the 2016 Assembly elections from Nemom seat.
New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday rejected claims that he had blunted his attack on the RSS and said that he stood by every word he said on Mahatma Gandhis assassination, which led to a defamation case against him.

I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said, Rahul said in a tweet.

Rahul on Wednesday had told the 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 had 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.

Read: Never blamed RSS as an institution for assassinating Gandhi: Rahul tells SC

Following this, BJP had claimed that wisdom has prevailed upon the Congress leader and although it may be a "U-turn", it was a "good turn".

"Wisdom has prevailed. It may be a U-turn but a good turn. RSS a patriotic organization. RSS - Ready for Self Service anywhere any time," senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu tweeted.

However, Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Thursday dismissed suggestions that has done a U turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said that Rahul stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.

"No u-turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. Person who killed was from RSS. It is the Ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi", the Congress General Secretary said in a series of tweets.
Like countless Indians, I have begun living in perpetual fear of being declared anti-national. To be bestowed with such honorific, one neednt have committed or participated in activities similar to heroic actions of freedom fighters, or indulged in the sort of violence that terrorists and other radical groups have resorted to in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, the north-eastern states or in the districts falling in the so-called Red Corridor. One can be said to have committed a seditious act by publicly declaring that the government must talk to people who are most likely to have the power to plead with Kashmiri people, especially the youth, that provocative stone-throwing and other forms of violent protests do not help anyones cause. Someone can be labelled anti-national for arguing that thousands of people who chant the mantra of azadi are not doing so after being briefed by infiltrators from across the border; they are acting of their own volition for reasons that the State must understand if it is not to lose the people of the region.

Groups like Amnesty International India have already been charged with sedition for mounting a campaign against atrocities committed by the security forces and providing a platform to people who have suffered human losses in two and a half decades. Actress-turned-politician Ramya or Divya Spandana, who is also a former member of the Lok Sabha, stand accused of sedition for declaring that Pakistan is not anything like hell as claimed by Manohar Parrikar. It is a different matter that no one accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh of betraying Indias cause by visiting that country. Indeed, there are countless people who can be declared as treacherous because they think that protesting is their democratic right. Why, it is also possible that by the time someone finishes reading this column, s/he may deem it offensive and provocative, written with the aim of inciting people. Intolerance for any viewpoint different from the governments has never been as virulent as it is now.

Since early this year, specially after the incident in Jawaharlal Nehru University, it has been argued that anti-national forces abuse freedom of expression and in its name weaken the foundations of the Indian nation. Leaders and activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party struck an ultra-nationalistic chord, and because this resonated with a section of people loudly, the democratic space and right to dissent is endangered. From a theoretical viewpoint, the argument is valid because democratic rights shouldnt be misused to subvert the nation. The problem with the Sangh Parivar is that it misuses a valid premise to argue that any opinion at variance with its perspective harms the Indian cause. The matter of what actually transpired in JNU is sub-judice, but in recent months people opposing AFSPA, or environmental activists have been dubbed sympathisers of terrorists and human rights groups. Campaigners against human rights violations in the name of combating terrorism are painted active partners in anti-India programmes.

While in the name of curbing anti-nationalism all forms of democratic protest is being branded anti-democratic. Protesters like gau rakshaks have been either getting patronage or law-enforcing agencies have turned a blind eye to their vigilantism. Mr Modi belatedly disapproved of a section of gau rakshaks but did not call for an end to such activity. Instead, he created two categories of gau rakshaks, on the model of the good Taliban and bad Taliban. Self-styled law enforcers are more damaging than alleged anti-nationals but while the former are praised, the latter are pilloried. Peculiarly, the government has been speaking in two voices on crucial issues since it assumed office. Mr Modis silences are legendary but even when he found his voice, the words chosen were weak and had little impact. When he spoke about the Dadri lynching last year, he said the incident saddened him while he needed to be angry. When he spoke on gau rakshaks a few weeks ago, he passed the buck to states but didnt issue diktat for governments run by his party.

The latest instance of the governments forked tongue is the divergence between Arun Jaitley and Mr Modis comments on the situation in Kashmir. While Mr Jaitley played to the gallery accusing every protester and their sympathisers as Pakistani agents, Mr Modi took a conciliatory stance. But for his position to gain currency, the Prime Minister has to ensure that viewpoints other than his partys are not summarily dubbed anti-national. This, however, is unlikely because a day after the meeting with Opposition leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, he spoke in a different vein to party leaders, shared the stage with Mr Jaitley and went back to the ultra-nationalistic pitch of the party. Clearly, Mr Modi as Prime Minister has an approach different from that of Mr Modi as the partys electoral mascot. Dissent has a long tradition in India and people pride on being contrarians.

Because the BJP constantly accuses other parties of appeasing religious minorities and for its claims of Hindutva being the basis of Indian nationalism, there is need to remind its leaders that Hinduism is a pluralistic religion and the culture of protest has been its integral part. The Bhakti Movement, which has given India great sages and poets, including Guru Nanak and Kabir, emerged only after challenging religious orthodoxy of the time. Social reform movements in the 19th and 20th centuries also challenged Hindu obscurantism. I wonder how Raja Rammohun Roy would have been looked through todays dominant prism. Would he also have been dubbed anti-national because his actions enabled early colonialists to portray India  and Hindu society  in a poor light. Or for that matter, would Sangh Parivar icon V.D. Savarkar have been allowed to lead protests to allow dalits the right to enter temples because it showed Hindu society in a poor light in Ratnagiri, where he was interned in the 1920s? India is seeing the emergence of coercive nationalism and only one view of the nation is deemed patriotic. Visions of the nation at variance with the Sangh Parivars is being condemned. India faces a grave threat to its plurality because the governments ultra-nationalist jargon is seamlessly integrated with its stance on minority issues. Clearly, efforts are on to replace one view of the nation with another, and with coercion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day speech referred to Pakistani atrocities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan. This is a brilliant move to put both China and Pakistan on the backfoot after their nefarious anti-India collaboration of the last 40 years. I am referring to the transfer of nuclear weapons and missile technology along with other conventional weapons at friendship prices from China to Pakistan, the gifting of a part of PoK to China by Pakistan, the Chinese-built Gwadar Port in Balochistan, the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which will connect China to Balochistan and then to Europe as part of Chinas One-Belt-One-Road (OBOR) policy to revive the ancient land and maritime silk routes, and finally Chinas open opposition a few months back to Indias bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

India must now politely refuse to support China in its claims on the South China Sea following the recent adverse award given by the International Tribunal (Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague). To ensure that Mr Modis new move is strategic and not merely a tactical short-term ploy, sustained periodic follow-up actions like diplomatic support for the regions mentioned by Mr Modi is essential, specially while speaking at the UN General Assembly in about two months time. However, some domestic actions need to be taken in view of the ongoing serious situation in Kashmir. The state of Jammu and Kashmir is undoubtedly a Muslim-majority state, but a closer study would reveal that of the approximately 15 million populating its three constituents (Hindu-majority Jammu, Buddhist-Hindu-majority Ladakh and Muslim-majority Kashmir), only about seven million Sunni Muslims living in the Kashmir Valley have been traditionally agitating, and that too in only four districts (Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag), while other Muslims living in Ladakh and Jammu (including Shias), along with their Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist neighbours, are not a part of the ongoing agitation which is fomented by Pakistan and ISIS.

The solution to the Kashmir conundrum perhaps lies in trifurcation of the state into three separate states of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and removing Article 370 from Jammu and Ladakh, while giving some autonomy (after discussions with Kashmiris), within the Indian Constitution to the Kashmir Valley. This simplistic solution has been suggested at various times and more recently by noted economist Mohan Guruswamy in his article of August 16: J&K: Time to break the fiction. I personally believe that sometimes, bold, simple and common-sense solutions do work for complex issues. Any delay would be an open invitation to more terror  aided and abetted by Pakistan and ISIS. However, given recent reports that terrorists and separatists are having a free run in the four troubled districts (Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag) of southern Kashmir, where only three of the 36 police stations are manned and functioning, it is essential, that the rule of law first be restored in these four districts by ruthlessly neutralising terrorists before initiating any talks on autonomy to the Kashmir Valley. Also, the safe return of over 200,000 Kashmiri pandits to the Kashmir Valley, who were forced to flee Kashmir by terrorists, must be ensured as a part of this political solution. The Hurriyat separatists need to be deported to Pakistan or arrested.

The issue of Balochistan is of strategic importance, as an independent Baloch nation will neutralise Chinas dream OBOR project and also its plans to convert China-financed Gwadar Port into a Chinese Navy base. Pakistan, whose Punjabi Muslims form 65 per cent of the present population, while its Punjab has only 35 per cent of the land mass, are a naturally domineering lot, who by their brutal actions in 1971, helped in creating Bangladesh, thus nullifying the two-nation theory. The atrocities of the Punjabi-dominated Pakistan Army and paramilitary are frequently reported in the press, as Pakistan attempts to crush the Baloch freedom movement, so that the 13 million poverty-stricken Balochs, who live in an area which is almost 60 per cent of Pakistan are deprived of jobs and the natural mineral wealth of natural gas, coal, chromite, sulphur, marble, iron ore, fishery, etc. A brief history of Balochistan would explain the travails of these deprived people, who are the poorest of the poor in Pakistan.

On August 11, 1947, a part of Balochistan under the Khan (Prince) of Kalat attained independence from British rule, followed by Pakistan and India on August 14 and 15, respectively. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was also the lawyer of the Khan of Kalat, but failed to convince the Khan to join Pakistan. Similar to the Pakistan raiders who invaded Kashmir in 1947, the Pakistan military occupied Balochistan and arrested the Khan. His younger brother, Prince Karim, continued a guerrilla struggle, but made the mistake of accepting an invitation by the Pakistan Parliament for talks, and was arrested on arrival on March 27, 1948. Every year the Baloch mark August 11 as Independence Day and March 23 as Black Day. Baloch armed uprisings and insurgencies have continued since 1948.

In 1955, the various pre-1947 princely areas of Balochistan were formally amalgamated into one state (Balochistan). Surprisingly, the enclave of Gwadar (including the strategic Gwadar Port), which till now had been under the Sultan of Oman, was in 1958 purchased and transferred to Pakistan courtesy British diplomacy, to later formally become part of the new Balochistan state in 1977. Unlike East Pakistan (which became Bangladesh after the 1971 India-Pakistan war), India does not share a direct border with Balochistan. It can therefore, for now, only offer diplomatic and moral support to the Baloch freedom struggle at all suitable international forums. Last week, a Baloch leader in exile in Switzerland publicly stated that they only want Indias moral support and will win their independence by own efforts. These are brave words, but given the fact that Pakistan has the largest military in the Islamic world, and its strategic ally China too has a major stake in Balochistan (including Gwadar Port), PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan, due to the central role played by Pakistan, in its ambitious OBOR plans, the Baloch would need more than only moral support.

India needs to garner international support to stop the ongoing genocide in Balochistan, and perhaps provide medical help and sanctuary to those Baloch who flee to India. Also, since India does not have a land border with Balochistan, it needs to look at other options like enhancing our naval capability (naval diplomacy is a global time-tested option, used over centuries to influence events on land, sometimes without firing), and discussing the Baloch problem with the US, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman (the owner of Gwadar enclave till 1958). If a start is made now, it must be persevered with for the future by successive Indian governments. For the first time since 1947, India has responded diplomatically to protect its national interests against the designs of our two nuclear-armed neighbours  China and Pakistan. Mr Modi must be given due credit, but he has only made a start and cannot afford to rest on his oars. The oppressed Baloch people need support, sympathy and help.
Theres much more you can find out with Facebook Audience Insights. It is one of the most utilised tools. Its is a wonderful tool for your market research and strategising your digital campaigns, not just on Facebook, but across channels.

Recently, Facebook announced that there are over 150m Indians who access Facebook at least once in a month. This makes India its second biggest market after USA. Lets try to understand how Facebooks second largest marketing in greater detail. Facebooks Audience Insights tool gives us a way to get a peak into its India user-base and understand how we use Facebook. Here are some key insights:

Huge gender skew: 76 per cent of the Indian Facebook users are male, leaving only 24 per cent female users. This is quite a peculiar stat for India. Globally, this ratio is more balanced with 56 per cent males to 44 per cent females, while in United States, there are more females on Facebook than there are males.

Also, there seems to be declining usage trend with age, regardless of the gender. More teenagers seem to like Facebook than older folks. So, if you are trying to target older females for your marketing campaigns, youll have a very limited reach compared to the reach youd get if you were targeting younger females or males.

Popularity: Most liked categories by Indians include electronic products like mobile (also popular among males, which comprise majority of Indian users), food and beverage companies, female celebrities (again, potentially a function of gender bias in the user-base), political (PM Narendra Modi and CM Arvind Kejriwal being the most popular ones) figures and sportspersons. For advertisers, this hints the type of content Indian audiences like. This should be considered while creating a content marketing strategy on Facebook.

Top cities: As expected, majority of the Indian Facebook users come from the big cities. Its also a function of internet availability and smartphone penetration (while FB is available on feature phones, the experience on smartphones is far superior). Delhi and New Delhi account for around 13 per cent of the users, followed by Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. So, Facebook is a great platform for reaching your potential customers in the big cities, not so much if you are targeting smaller cities or remote locations.

Frequency of activities: On an average, Indian users like seven pages and six posts in a month, click on three ads, and comment twice. All these stats are lower than global average of 12 pages likes, seven posts likes, four comments and seven ad clicks. It seems like Indian users are harder to please. However, it might be cheaper to reach more Indians than in other countries and hence, get higher overall engagement, but at lower engagement rates.

Devices used: This is also where Indian users are quite unique. The mobile leapfrogging PCs in adoption are quite evident from the following data. Almost 73 per cent of Indian users access Facebook from mobile only, while only 6 per cent access it from desktop only. For comparison, globally, only 53 per cent of the users access Facebook mobile only. Also, only 2 per cent of the users have iPhones/iPads, while 31 per cent use Android and 20 per cent use feature phones.

So, if you are promoting your website on Facebook, itll be a good idea to optimize it for mobile, especially for Android and feature phones. You can also use this targeting for your mobile app install ads, targeting only the platforms your mobile app is available on.

Relationship status and parents: Almost 30-35m Indian users have mentioned that they are Single on their profiles. Again, there are more men who are singles than females. As expected, there are younger folks who are single compared to older folks. Only around 2.5m people have mentioned that they are in a relationship (Indians are known to be not very open about their relationship status, other than being single or married). Around 1m people are in a long distance relationship and around 90K just got into a new relationship.

Around 10-15m Indian users have declared their relationship status as married on Facebook, the majority lying in the 25-34 age group. Interestingly, majority of Indian women on Facebook are married

Around 15m Indian users on Facebook are parents, with around 350K people with kids less than 3 years old, 1.5m with kids less than 12 years old and similar number of people with teenage kids. This data is most likely under-represented because not a lot of people tag their relationships on Facebook. However, the available data (which is most likely going to be pretty accurate) is a goldmine for advertisers who are trying to target parents or married people in a certain age range.

Life events and travelling: Around 15m Indians on Facebook live away from family, around 20m are away from their home town, around 600K recently moved (all three are good target audience for travel and rental real-estate companies), around 800K recently switched their jobs. This data is also likely to be accurate based on the profile data and IP addresses.

High value users: Audience insights reveal that there are around 25-30m Indian users who have shown affinity towards high value goods. So, if you are selling iPhones, smart-watches, other luxury goods, you can start here.

Top industries where Indians work in: Majority of Indians on Facebook work either in management, production, arts, and engineering industries. Targeting based on job titles can help you if you are selling B2B products.

Theres much more you can find out with Facebook Audience Insights. It is one of the most utilised tools. Its is a wonderful tool for your market research and strategising your digital campaigns, not just on Facebook, but across channels.

 By Durgesh Kaushik, Digital Marketer and social media evangelist

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The statistics and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of any of author's current or past employers. The statistics presented in the article are not the official statistics endorsed by any company, but have been derived from Facebook's Audience Insights tool, available publicly.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The Word Flow app can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Microsoft has added a new feature to its iPhone dedicated keyboard, Word Flow. Users can now search GIFs directly from the keyboard, a feature seen on Googles Gboard for iPhones.

The update also enables users to search contacts and look up for restaurants nearby. Microsoft says the app suggest GIFs, emojis or images, that show up as the users type. Word Flow now makes it possible to control the cursor placement with 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

The app has now been optimized for one-handed mode, and support for the iOS text replacement function. Now the app features even more themes that people can use to customize their keyboard. The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

Microsoft also owns the popular keyboard app, SwiftKey, which is available on both iOS and Android. The company clearly stated that SwiftKey will continue to be available for iOS as well as Android users.

There are also user feedbacks that suggest integration of Word Flow into SwiftKey would make it easier for iPhone users to type with just a swipe.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
There is huge possibility that the company may launch the second version of its Silver Bullet earphones.

Chinese tech giant, OnePlus took to Twitter to tease its upcoming offering. The company posted a video that reveals a disc-shaped figure with company branding on the top and V2 written in the background. The video ends with a message saying tune in on 8.25.2016.

Judging by the shape of the disc and a headphone like structure at the centre of the disc, it is possible that OnePlus may be bringing something special for the music enthusiasts. It is not the first time the company will launch something for the audio segment. Earlier the company launched its OnePlus Sliver Bullet earphones to compliments its OnePlus flagship.

OnePlus also offered a JBL branded E1+ earphones for the OnePlus smartphones. To replace the JBL E1, the company brought its OnePlus Icons earphones last year.

There is huge possibility that the company may launch the second version of its Silver Bullet earphones. It is also possible that the company might enter the music content segment, following the paths of its native rival, Xiaomi.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The augmented reality game was launched early this month in the Philippines.

The Philippines has banned Pokemon Go in government offices following similar decisions by Southeast Asian neighbours 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 fulfil 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 neighbourhoods 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.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
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 worlds 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 per cent of all cyber-attacks, and 38 per cent 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.

Compromising employees

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.

The insiders most in demand

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 70m 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. Technology alone is rarely enough to completely protect the organization in world where attackers dont 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 companys IT infrastructure.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Once switched on, a key icon appears in the upper corner of the handset, which will indicate a connection to a free Wi-Fi network.

Google is set to roll out its Wi-Fi Assistant feature to all Nexus phones, allowing users to securely connect to millions of open and free Wi-Fi hotspots available in the range.

To use it, head over to the Android Setting, tap Google, then select Networking, from there you can switch the feature to turn on. Once switched on, a key icon will appear in the upper corner of the device, which will indicate a connection to a free Wi-Fi network.

However, Wi-Fi assistant feature will be first rolled out to Nexus phones owners in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Nordic countries.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Assange, 45, recently marked the start of his fifth year inside Ecuador's mission in Britain in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Washington: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has warned that his anti-secrecy campaign will release new documents concerning Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which could be "significant" for the election.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Assange, who has been sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 while fighting extradition, said WikiLeaks was combing through thousands of pages of material.

A variety of documents from various institutions that are associated with the election campaign had yielded "some quite unexpected angles, that are quite interesting, some even entertaining," he said.

Assange reported the documents would "absolutely" be released before the November 8 election.

Asked whether the leaks would be a game changer for the vote, Assange said: "I think it's significant. It depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."

Ahead of the Democratic National Convention last month, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails gleaned by hackers who apparently raided the accounts of seven DNC leaders.

The emails showed the nominally neutral party staff trying to undermine Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders's campaign and caused the resignation of Democratic Party leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"In the case of the DNC leaks for example, we pushed as fast as we could to try and get it in before the Democratic Nomination Conference, because obviously people had a right to understand who it is that they're nominating," Assange said.

"The same is true here for the US electoral process," he added.

Assange, 45, recently marked the start of his fifth year inside Ecuador's mission in Britain in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.

The anti-secrecy campaigner is wanted there for questioning over a 2010 rape but fears that he could then be extradited to the United States to be tried over publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
Joshua Aaron Robertson, 27, and Brittany Humphrey, 22, fled the Los Angeles area with the children. (Photo: Twitter)

Los Angeles: Three children kidnapped after their mother was killed in a remote area outside Los Angeles were found safe on Wednesday as authorities continued to search for the couple wanted in connection with both crimes.

Joshua Aaron Robertson, 27, and Brittany Humphrey, 22, fled the Los Angeles area with the children on Interstate 40, and drove through Arizona and into New Mexico, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The children, two girls and a boy between 2 and 5, were found safe in a motel on the outskirts of Albuquerque after the couple left the children with a man staying there, Lt. Joe Mendoza said. When the couple didn't return, the man called police.

The Albuquerque motel is nearly 700 miles east of where the children's mother was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds along a road in a remote area of Los Angeles County on August 14.

Their mother, who didn't have identification on her body, was identified four days after her death as Kimberly Harvill. Authorities said they believe she had been killed within 24 hours of being found, though it's unclear where the killing took place.

Humphrey is Harvill's half-sister, and therefore the children's aunt.

The sheriff's department still considers Humphrey and Robertson as on the run and armed and dangerous. Investigators believe they were headed to parts east of New Mexico.

The couple has family in Nebraska and ties to Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, Mendoza said.

Sheriff's officials say Robertson has an infant with him who is unrelated to Harvill's children, who were in the custody of authorities working to return them to California.

The children's father died previously, but they have a grandmother in Fresno, authorities said.

Harvill and her children most recently lived in Fresno and were transitory, moving from motel to motel, sheriff's Capt. Steve Katz said, adding that they depended on panhandling to survive.

Harvill was involved with methamphetamine, as were Humphrey and Robertson, Katz said.

Humphrey and Robertson were living in Lebec, the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County where Harvill was recently staying with her children and where she was killed, Mendoza said.

It appears that Harvill and her children had been staying with Humphrey and Robertson, he said.

Investigators know of no ongoing conflict between the sisters, Mendoza said.

An arrest warrant for kidnapping was issued for the couple. Investigators say the couple are considered persons of interest in Harvill's death.

"Due to the fact that immediately after the murder or sometime shortly after, it is suspicious that they did not come forward to law enforcement and instead they fled eastbound towards other states," Mendoza said.

The couple is believed to be in Harvill's 1999 green Ford Expedition, which has California plates 7BEK024 that may have been swapped for temporary paper tags, stick-figure stickers of a family and a sticker that reads "RIP Chad Watkins."

Robertson has a criminal history that includes a conviction on illegal weapons charges. He is on probation.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump welcomes Nigel Farage, ex-leader of the British UKIP party, to speak at a campaign rally in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo: AP)

Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has roped in Brexit leader Nigel Farage to canvass for him, a rare occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed an election rally in the US for one of the presidential candidates.

"I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election... I will say this. If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me," Farage told Trump supporters at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday.

In his speech, Farage from the UK Independence Party, who was responsible for the UK leaving the EU, drew comparisons between Brexit and the US presidential election.

He urged people to defeat pollsters, the media and the Washington establishment.

"I think you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign. I come to you from the UK with a message of hope and a message of optimism. It's a message that says if the little people, if the real people, if the ordinary, decent people are prepared to stand up and fight for what they believe in, we can overcome the big banks," Farage added.

This is one of the rarest occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed a public election rally in the US canvassing for one of the presidential candidates.
The Chinese military will provide training for Syrian armed forces on Chinese soil. (Photo AFP)

Beijing: Chinas military will provide training for Syrian armed forces, a spokesperson for Beijings defense ministry said on Thursday, adding it would take place on Chinese soil.

Beijing is a longstanding backer of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which has engaged in a bloody war that has left more than 290,000 people dead and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations.

Last week senior Chinese military official Guan Youfei met with Syrias defense minister in Damascus and said he wanted closer military ties with the Syrian government, state media reported.

The Chinese military will provide the Syrian side with medical and nursing professional training, defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing.

The training would take place in China, he added, and was intended to ease the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

The Chinese military has already provided Syrian authorities with medical equipment and medicines to help reduce the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people, Wu said.

For a long period of time, China and Syria have helped each other. And China has been pushing for a political solution of the Syrian conflict and we have always supported the independence of Syria, he added.

As well as supporting Assads government, Beijing is close to Moscow, which has carried out strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo, as have Assads forces.

After Guans visit to Damascus, Chinas state broadcaster questioned the authenticity of a harrowing video showing a stunned-looking four-year-old boy covered in blood and dust after an air strike in Aleppo, alleging it may have been faked as part of a Western propaganda war.

The footage brought worldwide attention to the plight of children in the bloody siege of the city, and sparked diplomatic disagreement, as Russia denied carrying out the attack, and Chinese media said the group that shot the video had links to the British military.
The "complex" India-China ties cannot be defined in "black and white" despite growing regional rivalry between the two countries, the media report said. (Photo:

Beijing: The "complex" India-China ties cannot be defined in "black and white" despite growing regional rivalry between the two countries, state-run Chinese media said on Thursday and called for aligning 'Make in India' campaign with 'Made in China 2025' to enhance cooperation.

"This year marks an eventful time in China-India relations. At the beginning of the year, Indian media collectively criticised the Chinese government, alleging China adopted double standards against terrorism," an article in the state-run Global Times said, referring to Beijing putting a technical hold on New Delhi's bid to bring about a UN ban on Masood Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Muhmmad militant group.

"In June, India suffered a setback in its bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) after the group's members, including China, opposed the bid but India has singled out China for barring membership," the article titled 'China-India relations aren't simply black and white'.

"The move was seen by some as revenge against China over the NSG veto. This series of negative events has caused some observers to assess China-India relations as simply black and white."

"It is irrational and impractical to define China-India relations in black and white terms. A multi-dimensional perspective does not contradict the crux of the bilateral relationship," it said highlighting the positive outcomes of 2014 visit to India by Chinese President Xi Jinping followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China last year.

"In reality, ties between big nations have always been complex and require a multi-dimensional perspective. Viewed in this more rounded way, the conclusion on China-India relations becomes quite different," it said.

In terms of economic and trade relations, while trade volume between China and India is less than that between China and Vietnam, China is actually India's largest trading partner.

"On a global level, close collaboration between the two nations drives bilateral relations where the two economies are complementary. But at the regional level, India and China are competitors," it said.

While both the countries are equally motivated to promote a fair, reasonable and new international economic order and collaborated in WTO, Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) initiated by BRICS nations, the two are locked in regional rivalry with their strategic projects.

"At the regional level, China and India face competition against each other," it said.

China's One Belt, One Road (Silk Road) initiative is being viewed as a challenge to India's ambition in the South Asia region.

"Yet, the two economies are quite complementary where the scope for further economic cooperation is continuously expanding. The two countries can align China's 'Made in China 2025' and 'Internet Plus' with India's 'Make in India' and 'Digital India'. They can also tap potential for practical cooperation in fields such as railways and industrial capacity," it said.
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared a submarine-launched missile test the "greatest success", state media said Thursday, as the UN weighed a condemnation of the launch which appears to advance Pyongyang's nuclear strike capability.

The US mainland and the Pacific are now "within the striking range" of the North's army, the official KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying after Wednesday's launch.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Sinpo on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military. It flew 500 kilometres (around 300 miles) towards Japan, far exceeding any previous sub-launched tests.

The UN Security Council met for two hours on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's latest provocative move and agreed to consider a statement condemning the launch.

"There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council and therefore we will have to see how we would then be phrasing the press statement," said Ramlan bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, which currently holds the council's presidency.

However diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyang's main ally, over the wording.

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 Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.

Kim said the latest launch proved the North had joined the "front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability".

Pyongyang's KCTV aired brief footage shot from different camera angles, showing the missile soaring from underwater, igniting and surging almost vertically into the air.

The North's top newspaper Rodong Sinmun also carried 24 photos of him observing the launch, including one with his hands on his hips roaring with laughter at an observation post, and other watching through a pair of binoculars.

"He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory," it said.

'On track to hit Japan'

Kim called for his nation's scientists to work towards mounting nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles and to be able to deliver them in order "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists".

"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," he was quoted as saying.

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system would take its 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.

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 and fully fuelled, it could travel over 2,500 km, the source said.

The agency had previously quoted a military source saying if fired at the optimum angle it could cover more than 1,000 km -- without mentioning if it was fully fuelled.

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its website, 38 North, that Pyongyang still faces significant technological challenges including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile.

But the North is "on track to the capability to strike targets in the region -- including Japan -- by 2020", it said.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement following the launch that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions and that the latest test posed a "serious challenge" to security on the Korean peninsula.

The 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 drills on Monday.

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 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.
Thailand's military government suspended Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra amid investigations into the allegations of corruption and misuse of city funds. (Photo: AFP)

Bangkok: Thailand's military government suspended the governor of Bangkok, the country's most senior elected official, on Thursday while the country's attorney general investigates allegations of corruption and misuse of city funds.

The order suspending Sukhumbhand Paribatra, a member of the royal family and a former deputy foreign minister, was signed by junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and published in the Royal Gazette.

The governor's office is facing several investigations for possible misuse of city funds, including a New Year light show in 2015 which cost 39.5 million baht ($1.14 million).

Sukhumbhand denies the allegations against him.

"If the investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, the accused will be reinstated," said Colonel Taksada Sangchan, deputy spokeswoman at the Prime Minister's Office.

The order to suspend Sukhumbhand came hours after he left Bangkok for South Korea's capital Seoul on Thursday, where he was due to take part in celebrations cementing the friendship between the two cities.

A military coup that ousted a civilian government in May 2014 left Sukhumbhand as the highest-ranked elected official in Thailand.

Since his re-election in 2013, Sukhumbhand has been criticized by political opponents and the ruling junta for failing to address longstanding problems in Bangkok including traffic congestion and flooding.

Sukhumbhand, a member of Democrat Party, Thailand's oldest political party, had been also criticized for failing to work with then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during floods in 2011 that devastated the country and killed more than 900 people.
Three of the victims were airlifted from sea on Wednesday and two other bodies were discovered washed ashore later the same day at a popular beach resort of Camber Sands in East Sussex. (Photo: AP)

London: Five young Sri Lankan-origin men who were on a day trip to a packed beach in southeast England have mysteriously drowned on a day that was Britain's hottest day of the year so far.

Three of the victims were airlifted from sea on Wednesday and two other bodies were discovered washed ashore later the same day at a popular beach resort of Camber Sands in East Sussex.

While formal identifications remain pending, the men have on Thursday been named locally as Nitharsan Ravi, Inthushan Sri, Kuru Anna and brothers Kobi and Ken Nathan.

All five are believed to be in their late teens and early 20s and belong to the British Tamil community in southeast London.

Friends began paying tribute to the victims today, with messages such as "RIP" and "Miss you" posted on their Facebook pages.

Ravi's cousin said the family were still waiting "but the police have contacted us and we think it's him."

Sussex Police has since indicated that so-called "rip tides", or fast flowing bodies of water that can drag even experienced swimmers into deep water, may be the cause of the mysterious deaths.

The force's Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: "People need to understand that although the sun is shining and the sea is lovely to play in there are dangers there that you need to know about.

"My first reaction to this was there are rip tides that happen at Camber Sands and people do not understand about rip tides."

Thousands of sunbathers on the beach had watched in horror as the bodies of three men were lifted from the sea on Wednesday, which was Britain's hottest day of the year.

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly of Sussex Police said: "We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day.

"We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area. These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day.

"This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them."
Policemen and officials in front of a City bank office in Moscow, where a man had taken four people hostage. (Photo: AFP)

Moscow: A man who took four people hostage at a bank in central Moscow late on 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 Kremlins business ombudsman Boris Titov said in an interview with a local radio station that he would assess the hostage takers 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.
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 247, 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 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, 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 per cent 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 on 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 US 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.
Billings artist Sherri Cornett is the featured speaker in the Artful Women of Montana series at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13.

The event, co-sponsored by Zonta Club of Billings and the Billings Public Library, is held in the Community Room of the Billings Library. All are welcome.

Cornett is influenced by degrees in political science and art and her experience with advocacy, activism and campaign work around issues of womens rights, human rights, the environment, education and the arts. She aims to engage her audiences to encourage them to ask questions of themselves and the world and to build relationships and community around the search for answers.

As the former chair of the International Caucus of the Womens Caucus of Art, Cornett represented the arts activism organization at the United Nations during conferences in New York City and Bonn, Germany.

She also co-directed an exhibition of U.S. and South Korean women artists in Seoul and Gwanju in 2012 and directed an exhibition and socially engaged art events in 2014 at the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China, which included women artists from China and multinational artists based in the U.S.

A traveling postcard exhibition Women Do It! co-directed with Priscilla Otani of San Francisco, collected more than 350 postcards from women, men and children, including ones created at events in Red Lodge, and exhibited in venues from Washington D.C. to San Francisco.

Cornett and her curatorial partner, California-based Karen Gutfreund  who together form Gutfreund Cornett Art  have created multiple exhibitions around the U.S. for activist-themed artists and their works.

In 2015, Cornett directed the "Flow" project at MSU Billings with Leanne Gilbertson, director of the Northcutt Steele Gallery. That project brought together researchers of the Yellowstone River Cumulative Effects Analysis, staff and students from Rocky Mountain College and MSU Billings, and environmental organizations.

Cornett is an alumna of the MSU Billings Art Department and has a political science degree from the University of Houston. She is the Montana representative of The Feminist Art Project, a past-president of the Alberta Bair Theater Board of Directors, and was a founding member of the Yellowstone Art Museums Beaux Arts Ball.
North Korea has ordered Ambassador Hyon Hak-bong to return to North Korea and filed a request with the British government to appoint a new ambassador. (Photo: AP)

London: North Korea has ordered its ambassador in London to return home over the scandal around his deputy's alleged defection to South Korea.

Hyon Hak-bong is being questioned by a team from North Korea's State Security Department, who are based in Berlin, the 'JoongAng Daily' South Korean newspaper reported.

Hyon and other diplomats based at North Korea's embassy in west London face possible punishments for their failure to alert headquarters over the disappearance of Thae Yong-ho from his base.

Thae went missing with his wife and two sons last month, following which South Korea's Unification Ministry confirmed on August 18 that the family had arrived in Seoul and were being protected by the government.

North Korea has ordered Ambassador Hyon to return to North Korea and filed a request with the British government to appoint a new ambassador.

The newspaper's sources claim that the replacement proposed to British authorities is a former officer in the North Korean military.

Media reports suggest that as many as seven North Korean diplomats have defected so far this year, including a government official stationed at the embassy in Bulgaria, one from Russia and several based at missions in East Asia.
The treasure hunters who were digging for Nazi gold train have given up their search operation after two weeks and zero results. (Photo: AP)

Warsaw: Two treasure hunters who have been digging for a Nazi gold train believed to be buried in southwest Poland said on Thursday they had given up after two weeks and zero results.

"There's nothing," said Andrzej Gaik, spokesman for the Polish-German team, which carried out the search near the city of Walbrzych using ground-penetrating radar, bulldozers and drills.

"Last night we shut down operations, which we have to admit, proved fruitless," he said.

He added however that the team plan to resume their search in September at a site "right nearby" if they manage to secure authorisation.

The search results from a media frenzy sparked in August 2015 when German national Andreas Richter and Piotr Koper, a Pole, claimed to have located an armoured Nazi-era train using ground-penetrating radar.

They said they had discovered several carriages measuring 98 metres (320 feet) long, buried some eight to nine metres (26 to 28 foot) underground.

They said they believed the contents were mostly weapon prototypes, although local legend spoke of artwork, jewels and gold stolen by the Nazis.

The Nazis made prisoners of war dig a network of tunnels in the area  and some locals have claimed the Germans tried to stash the loot there in early 1945 as the Soviet Union's Red Army closed in.

Since the duo's announcement, however, there has been little to back their claims.

Running tests in December, geologists from Krakow's prestigious AGH University of Science and Technology found no evidence for the train's existence.

But Richter and Koper ploughed ahead.
The ban, which applies everywhere from the street to public transport, targeted both the burka and the more common niqab face veil. (Photo: AFP)

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.

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.

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.
Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on Iraq's Sunnis to prepare for a 'long guerrilla' war if Islamic State is defeated. (Photo: AFP)

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on Iraq's Sunnis to prepare for a "long guerrilla" war if Islamic State is defeated, according to a video seen on Thursday.

"The Sunnis of Iraq should not just surrender upon the fall of (their) cities into the hand of the Shiite Safavid army,'' he said in a video recording distributed by supporters, using a derogatory term for the army of Iraq's Shi'ite-led government.

"Rather they should reorganise themselves in a long guerrilla war in order to defeat the new Crusader-Safavid occupation of their areas as they defeated them before."

The Iraqi army is supported by both a US-led coalition and Iran in its fight with Islamic State, which seized much of northern and western Iraq in 2014.
China has its own security concerns about violence in Syria. (Photo: Representational Image/AP)

Beijing: China's defence ministry on Thursday said it has been providing medical training for Syria, following a visit to the war-ravaged country last week by a senior Chinese officer.

While relying on the region for oil supplies, China tends to leave Middle Eastern diplomacy to the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely the United States, Britain, France and Russia.

But China has been trying to get more involved, including sending envoys to help push for a diplomatic resolution to the violence there and hosting Syrian government and opposition figures.

Guan Youfei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, met Syrian Defence Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij in Damascus last week and discussed personnel training.

Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing that this year marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and that they had long been good friends.

"China has always played a proactive role in looking for a political resolution for the Syrian issue," he said.

"At the agreement of both countries militaries, China has provided medical equipment as well as medicine and other humanitarian aid to Syria, mainly to ease the humanitarian crisis," Wu added.

"On the same consideration, China has also provided medical, nursing and other professional training," he said, without elaborating.

Asked whether Chinese troops were in Syria for the training and where it was being done, Wu said he would look into the matter and provide that information later.

While China has shown no interest in getting involved militarily in Syria, China's special envoy for the crisis there in April praised Russia's military role in the war.

China has its own security concerns about violence in the region.

China is worried that Uighurs, a mostly Muslim people from western China's Xinjiang region, have ended up in Syria and Iraq fighting for militant groups there, having travelled illegally via Southeast Asia and Turkey.
Islamabad: Against the backdrop of close ties between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan today said that any cooperation between them should not be against it.

"Such cooperation should not be to the detriment of Pakistan," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said today during a weekly briefing while responding to a question about Indian arms supply to Afghanistan.

India has supplied four Mi25 helicopters to Afghanistan besides providing training to Afghan security forces.

Zakaria's remarks came days after former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said India is not engaged in any proxy war in Afghanistan and has been carrying out reconstruction work there, as he slammed Pakistan for "encouraging" radicalism and not containing terror groups operating from its soil.

The spokesman said Pakistan has been emphasising that politically negotiated settlement is only viable solution of Afghan issue.

Zakaria said the Afghan government should give an unambiguous message in favour of reconciliation and offer incentives for the purpose, Radio Pakistan reported.

He also sought support for Pakistan's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, saying Pakistan meets the criteria required for membership of the elite group.
Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan has accused the Maithripala Sirisena-led government of not acting promptly for the release all Tamil political prisoners since coming to power. (Photo:

Colombo: The leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition, also the country's main Tamil party, has asked the government to immediately release all Tamil political prisoners besides repealing an "obnoxious" anti-terrorism law.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan accused the Maithripala Sirisena-led government of not acting promptly since coming to power.

"Even the Mahinda Rajapaksa government released over 11,000 persons in custody. They gave them rehabilitation and released them. But this government in the course of the past 18 months or more than that has not been acting in this matter as expeditiously as we expected them to," he said in a speech made in the Parliament on Wednesday.

This is the first time he has made such a charge in the Parliament against the Sirisena government, which has been accused of being pro-Tamils by nationalist groups.

Citing that the present government had at the United Nations Human Rights Council accepted the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was an "obnoxious law" and needs to be repealed, the TNA leader said that in December 2015, the government released on bail 39 individuals detained without charge but around 250 detainees are believed to be in detention.

The government has made indictments in 117 of these cases and in January, created a special High Court Bench to expedite proceedings.

"The government had promised that the Attorney-Generals Department would make decisions by the end of March, but there have been no further charges or releases this year. This situation is not only traumatic for the individuals concerned.

"Some of whom resorted to hunger strikes and for their families but a source of growing frustration among Tamil political parties and the community at large," he said.

He added Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told the UN Human Rights Council that a committee was putting the final touches to the first draft of the new counter-terrorism legislation that will replace the PTA  introduced in 1979 to counter the separatist movement - in keeping with Sri Lankas commitments and obligations to human rights and countering terrorism.

"Even the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs described the Prevention of Terrorism Act as the much criticised and the much abused Act. He has said this in his Statement before the UN Human Rights Council. How can anyone be held in lawful custody under such a law? It is a law which you say is obnoxious, it has been criticised by everyone, not merely by people in this country, by the international community, and it is a law which has been abused.

"How can anyone be held legally in custody under that law? How can anyone be charged under that law? How can anyone be convicted under that law? It is our submission that all persons taken into custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act must be released because your Government concedes that the law is unjust, is obnoxious and is not a law that should remain on statute books in this country," Sampanthan said.

He added that KP alias Kumaran Pathamanathan has not been charged yet, despite being the LTTE's international arms procurer. He is a favourite of the Rajapaksa government and continues to be so under the Rajapaksa successors.
MQM supporters attacked three TV stations and clashed with police in Karachi after their self-exiled leader, Altaf Hussain, delivered a speech by phone from London against the Pakistani government on Monday night. (Photo: AP)

Karachi: Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain's posters were removed from several party offices and streets in Karachi after his anti-Pakistan diatribe, even as more top party leaders distanced themselves from his remarks.

The posters of the self-exiled leader were taken down a day after party leadership in Karachi distanced itself from Hussain's earlier anti-Pakistan comments and decided to strip him of organisational powers for an indefinite period.

In a new audio clip, Hussain who was addressing an event in the United States via telephone from London said, "If the US and Israel help, I will go myself to fight Daesh (an acronym for Islamic State group), Al-Qaeda, Taliban and the Inter- Services Intelligence and Pakistan Army who created them."

After the new audio surfaced, Hussain's posters were taken down from party strongholds and sector offices and also from streets and bylanes in Karachi in the past 24 hours.

The MQM supremo while addressing "Hindus" allegedly said, "We could not recognize the British conspiracy [to divide the subcontinent] and we became part of it."

While the authenticity of the clip has not been verified yet, but MQM leader Amir Khan told reporters last night that the party had nothing to do with Hussain's statements.

Accompanied by Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar, Khan said, "Like Farooq Sattar had disassociated the party from Altaf Hussain's earlier speech in our press conference (on Tuesday), we, the Pakistan Rabita Committee, disassociate ourselves from this recent speech."

Hussain, the leader of the single largest party in Karachi, has been accused of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at a protest rally here this week that turned violent. Several journalists were attacked by MQM activists.

Pakistan on Tuesday charged Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speeches.

Meanwhile, Paramilitary Rangers and police continued to crack down on the party that claims to represent Pakistan's Urdu-speaking population.

Senior party leader Asif Hasnain was arrested on Thursday from Karachi airport while leaving abroad. A government official said there were several cases pending against him.

Security forces have locked downoffices of MQM throughout Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said action would be taken against those speaking against Pakistan.

The crackdown on MQM began two days ago when Hussain made offensive comments about Pakistan. Although Hussain later issued a public apology to army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the government has formally approached British authorities, including the Scotland Yard, with all evidence of the seditious and incendiary speeches of Hussain.

The MQM emerged as a largely ethnic party in the 1980s. It has political dominance in the southern Sindh province's urban areas - notably in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur where a large number of urdu-speaking people reside.
US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistan has conveyed its disappointment to America that despite its "concerted and forceful" campaign against all terrorist groups, including the dreaded Haqqani network, the US did not "certify" its actions and blocked the USD 300 million military aid to the country.

In a meeting with US President Barack Obama's envoy Peter Lavoy, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary expressed concerns over the halt to the military aid.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year.

In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked the release of USD 300 million military aid to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which essentially reimbursement money for the expenses is made by Pakistan Army in support of US operations in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said Chaudhary "lamented that despite Pakistan's indiscriminate action against all terrorist groups, included the Haqqani Network, the US administration had decided not to certify the concerted and forceful measures taken by Pakistan."

Referring to "certain recent developments" that had placed a strain on bilateral ties, Chaudhary stressed that continued engagement was important to resolve differences of perception and understanding.

The Haqqani network - a guerilla insurgent group using asymmetric warfare to fight against US-led NATO forces and the Afghan government - has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets.

The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

The Pakistan visit of Lavoy, who is also Senior Director for South Asia at the US National Security Council, is part of the regular high-level exchanges between the US and Pakistan.

The Pakistan foreign secretary in his meeting with Lavoy also reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani leadership to not allow anyone to use Pakistan's soil against any country.

Lavoy "noted" that the US recognised the efforts and sacrifices made by Pakistan and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism.

He acknowledged Pakistan's outreach to Afghan government and efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Pakistan on Thursday announced a plan to reform Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), inhabited by 5 million people, and integrate it with the rest of the country. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform the status of militancy-hit tribal region and integrate them with the rest of the country.

Officially called as Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and inhabited by 5 million people, the area lies between Afghanistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Its rugged mountains, ravines, thick forests, FATA provided an ideal location for militants to hide, train and attack inside Pakistan and Afghanistan across the border.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had set up a committee more than eight months ago, headed by advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, to suggest measures to reform the region.

The committee visited the seven districts of FATA, met locals, elected representatives and experts to propose reform which will end its current semi-autonomous status and change its judicial, legal, political and economic system.

Aziz told media that the trade and economic links and social and cultural consanguinity makes it appropriate to integrate FATA into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The committee proposed investment in a 10-year-FATA Development Programme covering all the sectors; it will include development of urban centers in all the agencies," he said.

Aziz said that the committee also proposed the holding of local government elections in 2017 and to execute up to 30 per cent of the FATA 10 Year Development Plan through the local councils.

He said economic reform would add another Rs. 21 billion for development of FATA annually through the funds of federal government.

He announced to change Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) which was introduced by British in 1901.

He said the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Court shall stand extended to FATA.

At the same time the Jirga system will remain prevalent in criminal and civil disputes.

In order to address the security, 20,000 new posts of tribal police will be created.

He said an Advisory Council that includes all FATA parliamentarians will be established to advise the Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in development and administrative matters, including the progress of the integration process of FATA.
The 6,000 tickets to An Evening at the Arch on Thursday in Gardiner were snatched up over a month ago, but you can watch the celebration, including a live performance by Grammy Award winners John Prine and Emmylou Harris, in an online live stream.

The live broadcast begins at 6 p.m. and will be streamed through the Visit Montana Facebook page or at livestream.com/watch and searching for "NPS Centennial Celebration."

Gardiner

The celebration in Gardiner, with a stage set up near the Roosevelt Arch, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Park Service. As of Wednesday, there are 413 sites within the park service, with a new one created Wednesday when President Obama announced the designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine.

President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated the arch in Gardiner in 1903 and it became Yellowstone National Park's first official entrance.

The first half of Thursdays program, which starts at 7 p.m., features talks by various officials, including U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis.

The musical portion of the celebration begins at 8:45 and includes performances by Angella Ahn and Rodney Crowell. Teddy Roosevelts great-great-grandson, Theodore Roosevelt V, will speak, and Joe Wiegan will perform as Roosevelt. The celebration is expected to wrap up by 10 p.m.

Livingston

Livingston is hosting a live screening party Thursday at the Miles Band Shell on River Road. People are encouraged to bring blankets and short-backed lawn chairs.

The party in Livingston starts at 3 p.m. with live music by area bands, food trucks and concessions, including beer and wine. Organizers sewed four king-size bed sheets together to make a screen large enough for hundreds of people to see the show.

Jackie Feigel, assistant to the director of the Livingston Chamber of Commerce, said there is plenty of nearby parking and families are welcome.

Were calling it Picnic in the Park on the Banks of the Yellowstone, Feigel said.

Even though the Yellowstone River is off limits due to a parasite in the water, the community can still congregate on its banks.

In the park

To celebrate the National Park Service's centennial, 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 and a limited NPS Centennial postmark available at the Mammoth Hot Springs post office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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 park's South Entrance was closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the fire.
Afghan security forces killed two gunmen who attacked the American University in Kabul, police said early on Thursday, ending an assault on the compound that killed at least one person and sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic.



The attack 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 pupils were working.

Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded.

"The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed," a police official at the scene told Reuters. "Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team. More details will be announced soon."

Information on casualties remained uncertain, but the Afghan Public health Ministry said one guard was killed and at least 21 people were wounded, six critically. No foreigners were reported among the wounded.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Reuters earlier on Thursday that security forces had rescued around 500 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistan's elite.

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," he said.

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 swaths of Afghanistan, and Afghan security 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.
Yoga is the new way to well-being for the employees of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.





With long working hours and desk jobs leading to lifestyle-related health issues, the municpality organised a yoga session for its employees at its headquarter, Civic Centre, on Wednesday.



Office Yoga: Love Your Life, was organised by yoga expert Surakshit Goswami. A large number of employees and officials of North and South Corporation enthusiastically gathered at the Aruna Asaf Ali Meeting Hall of the Civic Centre to learn some basic armchair yoga exercises.



The session lasted for about an hour in which Goswami guided the employees on how to practice a few basic armchair exercises which can be performed when one is in the office.



The exercise targetted back, neck and joint aches, acidity and strain in eyes, which are generally associated with long working hours, poor lifestyle and wrong postures.



Many health issues in onWednesdays age are related to poor way of living and lack of exercise. However, it is understandable that people dont have the luxury of time always but the exercises which I am teaching here can be done in office, sitting on a chair. They only demand a few minutes of your day and offer great results in curing body pain accruing out of stress, Goswami said.



According to the North Corporation, the civic agency is mulling to introduce more such yoga sessions which help in destressing.



We got a tremendous response from the employees and we have decided to arrange another yoga session, said North Corporation spokesperson Yogendra Singh Mann.

The next session will be different from this one, he added.



A North Corporation employee who attended the session said, The yoga session was really helpful. I think it should be made a regular feature so that these exercises become a part of our daily lives. In the long-run, such yoga sessions will help increase efficiency of the staff.




The absence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the ongoing Assembly session has evoked sharp criticism from the BJP and the Congress for showing misplaced priority

.



Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta of the BJP said: Kejriwal has disowned Delhi.

Earlier, he went for meditation in Himachal Pradesh, now he is in Goa and next he will be going to Vatican. Is he going to serve Delhi for five years from the long distance? he said.



Kejriwal needs to explain his absence from the Assembly whose session was called by him. Either the session was called as part of a gimmick or he believes the issues being discussed are not worth his attention, said Gupta.



In the months of July and August, Kejriwal has been on political tours to Goa, Gujarat and Punjab. He has spent a better part of these two months bolstering AAP's electoral ambition, said the BJP leader.



The Delhi Congress said the very fact that Kejriwal was away in Goa while the Assembly was in session, showed where his priorities lay.



Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said the city is paying a heavy price for Kejriwals national political ambitions.



He does not seem serious about governance in Delhi, Maken said.



Kejriwal earlier went to Punjab while there were waterlogging problems in Delhi. Now, dengue has assumed dangerous proportions but the Chief Minister is busy campaigning in Goa, he said. Political ambitions of the AAP are proving costly for the city.



The AAP leader does not want to work like a Chief Minister but as a national party president. Can anyone expect a Chief Minister to leave a city fighting dengue and water crisis for political activities in other states, he asked.



Even while campaigning in Goa Kejriwal on Wednesday was active on the Twitter. He retweeted a youtube video Criminals of Aam Aadmi Party and tweeted and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi while accusing the BJP of being anti-Dalit.



AAP leaders said Kejriwal has kept himself free from portfolio for handling the political responsibility of the outfit.



He had foreseen such a situation. Since he does not hold any portfolio, his cabinet ministers are competent enough to deliberate on any public welfare issue, said an AAP leader.



Another close aide of Kejriwal defended the Chief Ministers absence by claiming that the Goa campaign was planned a few months in advance but the Delhi Assembly session was called at a short notice after the August 4 decision of the Delhi High Court over the role of Lieutenant Governor in administration of the city.



A BJP leader said the AAP was caught on the wrong foot in its attempt to call the session close to an Election Commission hearing on the 21 parliamentary secretaries.



The last hearing on the matte was on August 19 and the AAP was expecting a decision on the parliamentary secretaries fate on that day. Had things happened as per their expectation, the on-going session would have suited them to highlight victimisation in the media during Kejriwals Goa visit, said the BJP leader.



The next hearing in the parliamentary secretary matter is on August 29. The 21 parliamentary secretaries are facing a complaint seeking their disqualification for holding an office of profit.


The East Corporation on Wednesday passed a proposal to get rid of the heaps of garbage dumped at the saturated Ghazipur Landfill site and use the inert material for the construction of roads.





The project will also help in making space available for disposing of trash daily.



A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed by Ministry of Urban Development, National Highway Authority of India and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation for segregation and evacuation of waste from Ghazipur Landfill site.



The Ghazipur Landfill site was commissioned in 1984, and it "falls under the category of uncontrolled solid waste facility", said a report released by East Corporation. At present, over 2,000 metric tonnes of waste is being dumped at the landfill site daily due to unavailability of land for setting up of an alternative dumpyard.



The Ghazipur Landfill site covers an area of 29.62 Hectare and the average height of waste dumped there is 40 metres.



According to the proposal, the waste dumped at the site is not suitable for compost.

"The waste dumped at the Ghazipur site is not suitable for making compost as it has low organic content and presence of heavy metals," said an official with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.



Since NHAI has the major role in taking away residual waste from the dumpyard, it will be the executing agency.



Officials with the East Corporation said that Ministry of Urban Development has showed interest in funding the project.



Delhi desperately needs more land to dump its ever increasing garbage as the three existing landfills reached saturation point long ago. Still, around 8,500 metric tonne solid waste is being dumped daily at these sites  Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla.



As many as five civic agencies deal with 8,370 metric tonne waste on a daily basis. While areas under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation generate 3,100 metric tonne per day (MTD) solid waste, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation is responsible to dispose off 2,700 metric tonne garbage daily. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation dumps 2,200 MTD waste at landfill site, the New Delhi Municipal Council takes care of 300 metric tonne solid waste whereas the Delhi Cantonment handles 70 MTD waste.



Of the 8,370 metric tonne of waste generated by the city daily, there is a provision to treat only 4,800 MTD. Of the total 2,200 MTD waste generated by the East Corporation, the upcoming waste-to-energy plant at Ghazipur can treat waste up to 1,300 MTD waste. The plant has been permitted to run on trial for two months.


Hardening its stance further, India has once again virtually rejected Pakistan's latest invitation for talks on Kashmir, saying it is willing to discuss cross-border terrorism which was its "core concern".



Replying to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry's fresh invitation of August 19 to visit Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss Kashmir dispute, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said in a letter he was willing to discuss terrorism emanating from Pakistan's territory which was India's core concern.



According to sources, Jaishankar's letter was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to Chaudhry yesterday. The reply again stressed on the need for earliest possible vacation of Islamabad's illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), they added.



Chaudhry's August 19 letter, second in the last ten days, invited Jaishankar to visit "Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, with a view to finding a fair and just solution, as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and aspirations" of the people of the state. He had first written to Jaishankar on August 15 for talks on Kashmir.



Pakistan has also called for "putting an immediate end to the human rights violations against the innocent people" of Jammu and Kashmir and for providing medical facilities to the injured, "including the permission for doctors and paramedics to travel."



The sharp exchange of words comes amid strain in bilateral ties between the two nations over the continuing unrest in Kashmir with Islamabad issuing provoking statements on the turmoil following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month.



Wani was hailed as a martyr by Pakistan, which also tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the country's foreign office writing to a host of countries besides the United Nations, while India has been maintaining that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the Valley is the root cause of the turbulence.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has warned that his anti-secrecy campaign will release new documents concerning Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which could be "significant" for the election.

Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Assange, who has been sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 while fighting extradition, said WikiLeaks was combing through thousands of pages of material.



A variety of documents from various institutions that are associated with the election campaign had yielded "some quite unexpected angles, that are quite interesting, some even entertaining," he said.



Assange reported the documents would "absolutely" be released before the November 8 election.



Asked whether the leaks would be a game changer for the vote, Assange said: "I think it's significant. It depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media."



Ahead of the Democratic National Convention last month, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails gleaned by hackers who apparently raided the accounts of seven DNC leaders.



The emails showed the nominally neutral party staff trying to undermine Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders's campaign and caused the resignation of Democratic Party leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz.



"In the case of the DNC leaks for example, we pushed as fast as we could to try and get it in before the Democratic Nomination Conference, because obviously people had a right to understand who it is that they're nominating," Assange said.



"The same is true here for the US electoral process," he added. Assange, 45, recently marked the start of his fifth year inside Ecuador's mission in Britain in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.



The anti-secrecy campaigner is wanted there for questioning over a 2010 rape but fears that he could then be extradited to the United States to be tried over publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
Mutthaida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain's posters were removed from several party offices and streets in Karachi after his anti-Pakistan diatribe, even as more top party leaders distanced themselves from his remarks.





The posters of the self-exiled leader were taken down a day after party leadership in Karachi distanced itself from Hussain's earlier anti-Pakistan comments and decided to strip him of organisational powers for an indefinite period.



In a new audio clip, Hussain while addressing an event in the US via telephone from London said, "If the US and Israel help, I will go myself to fight Daesh (an acronym for Islamic State group), Al-Qaeda, Taliban and the Inter- Services Intelligence and Pakistan Army who created them."



After the new audio surfaced, Hussain's posters were taken down from party strongholds and sector offices and also from streets and bylanes in Karachi in the past 24 hours.



The MQM supremo while addressing "Hindus" allegedly said, "We could not recognize the British conspiracy [to divide the subcontinent] and we became part of it."



While the authenticity of the clip has not been verified yet, but MQM leader Amir Khan told reporters last night that the party had nothing to do with Hussain's statements.



Accompanied by Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar, Khan said, "Like Farooq Sattar had disassociated the party from Altaf Hussain's earlier speech in our press conference (on Tuesday), we, the Pakistan Rabita Committee, disassociate ourselves from this recent speech."



Hussain, the leader of the single largest party in Karachi, has been accused of raising anti-Pakistan slogans at a protest rally here this week that turned violent. Several journalists were attacked by MQM activists.



Pakistan on Tuesday charged Hussain with treason for his inflammatory speeches.

Meanwhile, Paramilitary Rangers and police continued to crack down on the party that claims to represent Pakistan's Urdu-speaking population.



Senior party leader Asif Hasnain was arrested today from Karachi airport while leaving abroad. A government official said there were several cases pending against him.



Security forces have locked down offices of MQM throughout Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah.



Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said action would be taken against those speaking against Pakistan.



The crackdown on MQM began two days ago when Hussain made offensive comments about Pakistan. Although Hussain later issued a public apology to army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan today said the government has formally approached British authorities, including the Scotland Yard, with all evidence of the seditious and incendiary speeches of Hussain.



The MQM emerged as a largely ethnic party in the 1980s. It has political dominance in the southern Sindh province's urban areas - notably in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur where a large number of urdu-speaking people reside.




ROUNDUP  You dont have to look far to find someone to unlock the doors of the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum just off Roundups Main Street.

Longtime board member Gary Thomas lives across the street and doesnt mind showing visitors around.

The museum is open May through the end of September from 1 to 5 p.m., seven days a week. It is located at 524 First St. W., right behind St. Benedict Catholic Church on Main Street.

The museum is set up on three floors of the former St. Benedicts Parochial School, which was built in 1921 when 20 church members each loaned the parish $500 to construct an elementary school.

When the school closed, the building became a museum through the efforts of the citizens of Musselshell County who raided their family collections and brought heirlooms and pitched in to build displays depicting the countys colorful homesteading and mining history. They even carted over a pioneer log cabin and re-built it log by log behind the main museum building as a centennial project in 1976.

That kind of community support should be celebrated.

Folks donated cherished family mementos, like a 1932 Pietepol plane that a 17-year-old boy built from a kit to fly himself to college at Montana State University.

There is something for everyone here, whether you are interested in early aviation, frontier medicine, Roundups rich history of coal mining, or the homestead era.

David Comstocks plane, outfitted with a Model A Ford engine, is a fascinating relic that still looks ready to fly, thanks to the reconditioning by Billings teacher Pat Kenney and his students in 2007.

Thomas said his grandfather took a spin with Comstock in the plane, named "Lone Eagle," during a windstorm that blew the plane backwards. He never took another airplane ride.

A pioneer cabin dating back to the late 1800s was moved to the property and outfitted with turn-of-the-century furniture, right down to the woodstove in the kitchen and the stone over the fireplace with the year 1884 etched into it.

As Thomas showed visitors around the place one hot August day, he couldnt help but observe, Ive been to many museums in Montana and I do believe ours is the best.

I haven't been to all the country museums in Montana and there is one in almost every county. But I can say that the Roundup museum is impressive. I spent two hours there and didn't scratch the surface of the collection. Next time, I want to look over the antique firearms and the extensive fossil collection.

Military uniforms from World War I and II and war bond posters are set up in one corner on second floor. One of the posters was created by Roundup native Fred Tress, but dont look for his signature on it. The story goes that Tress responded to an advertisement in a magazine to submit artwork to be used on a war bond poster during World War II.

He sent it in and didnt hear anything back for months and months and then all of a sudden, he started seeing his artwork on posters all over the country, Thomas said.

A prairie school is set up on second floor, with decades-old wooden desks and chalkboards from Goulding Creek School. Pictures show groups of students who attended the school during the Great Depression.

The coal mine is the most extensive display at the museum, which is appropriate because at one time there were four underground coal mines operating in or near Roundup.

A railroad track replica is enclosed in black plastic creating a tunnel that you can lean into, giving you a claustrophobic feeling that the miners likely felt going underground to work their eight or 10-hour shifts.

Images play on a screen at the end of the tunnel, showing black-and-white photos of miners with coal dust smeared across their faces and mules, some born blind down in the mines, pulling wagons heaped with coal.

A wall panel tells the story of union organizer Tony Boyle, who got his start in the coal mines of Roundup. Years later, when Boyle was president of the United Mine Workers of America, he was convicted for murdering his rival, Jock Yablonski, and his family on New Years Eve in 1969. Thomas said the local lore about Boyle was that he was feared by all.

The miners around here were scared to death of Tony Boyle, Thomas said. They said even after he was dead they would still vote for him if his name was on the ballot.

Because many of the country museums only operate during the summer months, pick a day and go visit yours. A walk through a museum for me beats cracking open a history book.
Astral Poly Technik, the Gujarat-based plumbing and drainage systems maker, will start construction work of its fourth plant soon.





In an interaction with DH, Astral Poly Technik Managing Director Sandeep Engineer said that the company has so far spent around Rs 70 crore for land acquisition and other works for the new plant at Ghiloth in Rajasthan.



We will initially make only CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) pipes (plastic pipes) for water supply purposes. The construction work will start soon, he said.



The company has executed a lease agreement with Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) of land measuring 32,500 sq metres situated at Ghiloth Industrial Area, Alwar district. The company intends to set up a unit for manufacturing of PVC/CPVC pipes/fittings to cater the demand of North India.



When asked about the categories, Engineer said, Being the first company to introduce CPVC and lead free UPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) pipes and fittings in India, Astral has extended the horizon of the Indian plumbing industry. Our robust facilities in Santej and Dholka (Gujarat), and Hosur (Tamil Nadu), for manufacturing plumbing and drainage systems, deliver world-class piping solutions like plumbing, drainage, fire protection, electrical, agriculture, industrial and ancillary.



Astral Poly Technik was established in 1996 with an aim of manufacturing pro-India plumbing and drainage systems in the country. The production capacity at Santej is 61,975 million tonnes per year, at Dholka it is 45,000 million tonnes per year, while at Hosur 14,360 million tonnes per year. Astral established a strong presence in the category by deploying cutting-edge technology, and with a talented work force of 2,000 staff.



When asked about acquisition, Engineer said, We have acquired UK-based Bond IT and India-based Resinova Chemie to expand our business into other categories.



Recently, the company has joined hands with Japan-based Sekisui Chemical to source CPVC resin for hot and cold water plumbing systems. This tie-up enables Astral to go for backward integration into developing its own CPVC compound.



The company has an extensive supply chain, which includes over 750 distributors and 22,000 dealers across India. The distribution network is increasing in all the product groups, not only in India, but in more than 22 countries like the US, the UK, the UAE, Malaysia, Maldives, and Kenya.




The sentiment hit by Britains decision to leave European Union has not come in the way of Indias engineering exports to UK and other two big markets of Germany and France, as these destinations defied the general declining trend, giving positive growth to the manufacturing and high-tech exports.





An analysis by premier engineering export body Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) suggests engineering exports to Britain went up smartly by over 12% to $215 million in July 2016 from $192 million in the same month of the previous year.



Shipments to Germany were even better close to $200 million rising by over 19% year on year from $168 million in July 2015. Exports to another key market, France were moderately higher by 2.29% to $86 million from about $84 million for the period under review.



The engineering exports to UK are in line with the trend of the Britains economy defying concerns which centered around the outcome of the June 23 referendum in that country.



In one of the most keenly watched events around the world, the Yes vote in favour of Exit won, though by a thin margin. While the exit would be negotiated and is a time consuming process, the initial reactions were that of fears and concerns, the EEPC said.



Somehow, the reality has sunk in. Besides a quick decision on the change of the Prime Minister in the UK too helped calm the nerves. New Prime Minister Teresa May is well respected, giving a re-assurance to the business community, Chairman of the EEPC India T S Bhasin said.



Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC): TShipments to Germany were even better close to $200 million rising by over 19% year on year from $168 million in July 2015.




Turkey faces three separate existential challenges: the Islamic State (IS), the fundamentalist movement led by US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen and separatist Kurds. All three are branded terrorists by Ankara although only the Islamic State and the leftist Kurdish Workers Party have been designated as such by the international community.





None of these challenges would have existed if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had followed different policies. The IS and its offshoot Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (the rebranded affiliate of al-Qaeda) would never have come into existence without Erdogan. Four months after protests erupted in Syria in 2011, he began a campaign to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.



Under Erdogan's direction, Turkey recruited defected Syrian army officers and formed, trained and armed the rebel Free Syrian Army. Ankara also joined forces with the outlawed Syrian Muslim Brotherhood to create the expatriate opposition Syrian National Council, based in Instanbul. Erdogans fantasy objective was to lead a region governed by the Brotherhood, an ally of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).



Assad did not fall, his army battled the insurgents and the Council, which had no support in Syria, was factional and fractious. Jihadi volunteers from across the globe were funnelled into Syria through Turkey. In early 2012, al-Qaeda in Iraq formed Jabhat al-Nusra and sent bombers and fighters into Syria.



Seeing Syria as a land of opportunity, al-Qaeda in Iraq transformed itself into Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), crossed the border into Syria in 2013 and fought both rebel and government forces. Between 27,000 and 31,000 jihadis from 86 countries flowed into Syria, most via Turkey, and seized the city of Raqqa in the north and oil-rich Deir al-Zor province in the east. The ISIS morphed into Islamic State with its capital at Raqqa.



Western and West Asian powers supported different and competing armed groups, including Nusra and IS until the latter swept across the border the seized Iraqs second city, Mosul in June 2014. Although Turkey was its benefactor, IS set up underground cells across the country and launched attacks on both Kurdish and Turkish ta-rgets. Erdogans Syria policy was a deadly and dangerous gamble that blew back on Turkey.



Erdogan formed a partnership with Gulen, a moderate preacher who in the 1970s established schools and charitable institutions in Turkey and other Muslim countries. Although Gulen disavowed Erdogans political Islam, the two collaborated in trying to transform secular Turkey into a religion-oriented, conservative, nationalist state.



After the AKP came to power in 2002, Gulenists were encouraged to infiltrate the judiciary, prosecution service, police, administration and military. However, the partnership soured and in 2013 it broke apart when Gulenists in the legal system accused members of Erdogan's circle of corruption.



Since then, Erdogen has been gunning for the Gulenists who are charged with organising the failed military coup mounted on July 15. He has detained thousands connected with the coup and demanded Gulens extradition from the US where he has lived for many years.



Full-scale warfare



After losing his partys parliamentary majority in the June 2015 election due to Kurdish voter desertion in favour of a progressive Kurdish party, Erdogan turned against the Kurds.



After he bombed Turkish Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq, the Kurds declared an end to the ceasefire, in place since 2013, and full-scale warfare resumed. Erdogan exploited widespread anti-Kurdish feeling among ethnic Turks to regain lost seats in the snap November parliamentary poll and stepped up attacks on Kurdish areas.



Turkeys terrorists have been Erdogans partners. If he had adhered to the zero problems with neighbours policy adopted early in his rule, Erdogan would have refrained from intervening in Syrian unrest and prevented jihadis from crossing into Syria. Compelled by oil rich Saudi Arabia and Qatar to continue funnelling arms and ammunition to the jihadis, Erdogan remains an enabler of terrorists who since 2014 have mounted suicide bombings in Turkey.



If the increasingly autocratic Erdogan had disciplined party stalwarts engaged in flagrant corruption, he might not have fallen out with Gulen whose movement preaches high ethical and moral standards. The collapse of the Erdogan-Gulen partnership has led to mass purges since 2013. These were accelerated after the July coup.



Senior army officers, officials, academics and media figures have been detained or dismissed from their jobs. Although Erdogan is replacing them with loyalists, the purge has weakened not only Turkeys military but also the state.



Finally, because of close connections between Syrian and dissident Turkish Kurds, Erdogan has been bombing US-supported Syrian Kurds battling IS in northern Syria. He has also ordered his jihadi allies in Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (Front for the Conquest of Greater Syria) to attack the Syrian Kurds in the Turkish-Syrian border region.



Erdogans aim is to prevent Syrian Kurds from establishing an autonomous region in northern Syria, fearing Turkish Kurds would follow suit in Turkeys south-eastern provinces.


The Congress on Thursday said it has authorised its Punjab unit chief Amarinder Singh to take a call on former BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhus entry into the party.





The Congress has been sending feelers to Sidhu, whose plans of joining the Aam Aadmi Party as its lead campaigner for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections ran into rough weather.



We have authorised Amarinder Singh to deal with the issue, AICC chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala replied to questions on whether the Congress would welcome Sidhu into the party.



Though the Congress has maintained that it was not in talks with Sidhu, Amarinder has time and again said he was welcome to join the party.



Sidhu has Congress in his DNA. His father was a general secretary of the party and remains a member, Amarinder said in Chandigarh on Tuesday.



Reports also said that the Congress had even expressed its readiness to make Sidhu the deputy chief minister of Punjab at a later date if he chose to join the party.



Sidhu had quit as Rajya Sabha member on July 18, an action that was welcomed instantly by AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.



It is learnt that Sidhu had demanded that he be made the AAPs chief ministerial face for Punjab and a party ticket for his wife.



Kejriwal had said Sidhu had met him, but wanted more time to decide whether or not to join the AAP.




The government has told the Supreme Court that it will have no role in inviting application from sitting judges for appointment as the Lokpal.





The Centre maintained that it would merely render assistance as may be required by the search committee.



According to the new rules under the Lokpal Act, the search committee will recommend names to the selection panel, headed by the prime minister.



The panel will also include the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by him, and an eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India on the basis of recommendations of the first four members.



In an affidavit, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said the contention by NGO Common Cause in a PIL that the government inviting applications from judges will compromise with the independence of the judiciary has now been addressed with changes in the rules.


Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting of floor leaders of the two Houses of the legislature on August 27 to discuss Tamil Nadus plea in the Supreme Court, seeking release of Cauvery water.





Karnataka has already expressed its inability to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as specified in the final order of the tribunal due to deficient rainfall and low reservoir levels in the Cauvery basin.



However, Tamil Nadu recently filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to Karnataka to release 50 tmc ft of water.

Union ministers from the state and district incharge ministers of regions under the Cauvery basin have been invited for the meeting.



A delegation of farmers from Tamil Nadu on Thursday met Siddaramaiah at his official residence here and requested him to release Cauvery water to help farmers save their samba paddy crop. The crop is normally grown on over nine lakh acres in the core delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.



Siddaramaiah told them that Karnataka was facing a distress year. The total capacity of the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin is 114 tmc ft, but the availability is only 52 tmc ft. The state required 40 tmc ft to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru alone. You want water for irrigation, but we do not have sufficient water even for drinking purposes, Siddaramaiah said.



The depleted storage in the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin  KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi  had put the state in a position that it would not even be able to abide by the distress formula, he said. Good rains in the coming days were the only solution to the present crisis, the chief minister said. Water will be released if it rains well in the coming days.



The delegation comprised former MP K P Ramalingam, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association president K Chellamuthu, among others. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Kodihalli Chandrashekar accompanied the team during the meeting with the chief minister.



Senior counsel Fali S Nariman, who heads the states legal team, called up Siddaramaiah and enquired about the progress of the states response to Tamil Nadus petition in the apex court. Siddaramaiah said he will meet Nariman soon.

DH News Service



Stop water release or give farmers Rs 500 cr

The JD(S) district unit, led by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, staged a protest on Thursday against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, reports DHNS from Mandya.



Kumaraswamy demanded that the government should either stop the release of water or announce a compensation of Rs 500 crore to the affected farmers in the region.



The protesters put forth various demands, including the reopening of MySugar factory. They blocked the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, disrupting traffic for a while.
As many as 28 districts, mainly in the eastern region, were affected by floods in Uttar Pradesh, according to the official sources here.





Sources said that the situation in Allahabad had slightly improved after Ganga, which was flowing above the danger mark, started to recede, though the situation continued to be alarming in other areas.



Official sources said that Varanasi, Ballia, Ghazipur and some other districts in the state continued to reel under floods as Ganga and other rivers maintained their rising trend.



Four people were feared drowned when a boat carrying them capsized in Ganga in Mirzapur district on Thursday. So far, 40 people have lost their lives in flood-related incidents in different parts of the state.



Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday directed the officials to visit the affected districts and monitor the relief and rescue operations.



NDRF teams were deployed in Varanasi and Allahabad, while the IAF was also assisting the civil administration in relief works.
Up with People will perform two shows at the Alberta Bair Theater on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

The performances will include members of the international group who come from a variety of different countries.

Forty-two Billings students traveled with Up with People between 1988 and 2013. These alumni, along with the Billings Kiwanis and Montana State University Billings, are bringing Up with People back in the Billings community three years after their last show in town.

Each performer's first-time interaction with Up with People happened in different places. Some went to a show as a kid, others saw the group on a college campus and interviewed at the admissions booth.

Hannah Reno, who toured with the group in 2000, heard about Up with People in high school, and Chuck Barthuly, who toured in 1984, found out about the program when his family hosted a student when he was a kid.

Today, the show is called The Journey because Up with People will travel through time, around the world and through humanity.

They are traveling through time because the show contains songs from the '60s to todays modern pop songs. It's around the world because the company makes up a group of 104 participants from 21 countries that travels the globe. The humanity reference is because the songs include messages from global leaders, such as Nelson Mandela.

Reno and Barthuly emphasized how this journey has forever changed their lives.

Developing relationships with my castmates and host families taught me a level of kindness, cultural awareness, and love for people that I would have never been able to experience otherwise, Reno said. I made friends from around the world. Friends that I still speak to 17 years later.

One of Barthulys most memorable times was when his host family in Wiesbaden, Germany took them to their local hangout places and learning about the German culture.

The world is a very small place and we have more similarities than differences with people from around the world, Barthuly said.

Visit www.upwithpeople.org for more information about the program. Tickets are available for purchase at www.upwithpeople.org/billings.
There was no let-up in flood fury in Bihar with eight fresh deaths reported on Thursday.West Bengals Malda and Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district witnessed one death each in flood and rain-related incidents.





With the fresh deaths, the flood toll rose to 37 in Bihar, with Bhojpur district accounting for the maximum 12 deaths.



The floods, caused by several overflowing rivers- the Ganga, Sone, Punpun, Burhi Gandak, Ghaghra, Kosi and others- have affected 31.33 lakh people in 1,934 villages in 12 districts.



The affected districts are: Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Munger, Vaishali, Begusarai, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar.



The Ganga is flowing above the danger mark at seven places in four districts including Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, and Buxar.



A total of 3.44 lakh people were rescued, an official release said. It said 433 camps were being run, giving shelter to 1.74 lakh people.



In the national capital, light to heavy showers kept the mercury two notches below normal but high humidity troubled people. The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.2 degrees Celsius while the minimum settled at 26.8 degrees Celsius. In eastern state of West Bengal, flood situation remained grim in parts of Malda district where a child was swept away.



Twenty-nine villages were flooded by the swollen Ganga, which was flowing at an extremely dangerous level in the area.



Several gram panchayat areas in the district including Manikchak, Birnagar, Krishnapur were partially under water.



The floodwaters gushed over the two roads disrupting vehicular movement. Boats were being pressed into service in the submerged areas to ferry the stranded people.



In Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, a man was killed after a tree uprooted due to rain fell on him.



Debris from landslides triggered by rain has blocked a number of roads in different districts. The Rishikesh-Gangotri highway is blocked at Dharali, Songarh and Dabriani. The relative humidity levels oscillated between 60% and 90 %.



In Punjab and Haryana, the maximum temperature hovered close to levels normal for this time of the year at most places. Chandigarhs maximum settled at 35.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above the over normal level.



Low pressure to cause heavy rain in TN



Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to receive heavy rain as a low pressure area is likely to be developed over the Bay of Bengal on Friday, DHNS reports from Chennai.



During the past two weeks, except for a few districts, dry weather prevailed across Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring Puducherry as the southwest monsoon did not cause much impact. However, for the first time, a well-marked low pressure is expected to be formed over the west central bay and its neighbourhood under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulation. Heavy rain is expected to lash the state in the next 24 hours, a senior Met official told DH on Thursday.



According to him, as the sea would be rough, fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been asked to take precautionary measures before venturing into deep sea. The officer also pointed out that the southwest monsoon will hit from the extreme northwest likely by the end of this month and will progressively recede southwards.


A day after his counsel told the Supreme Court that Rahul Gandhi had never charged the RSS as an institution responsible for Mahatma Gandhis assassination, the Congress vice president on Thursday declared an all-out war against the Sangh.





I will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said, Rahul said on Twitter referring to his affidavit submitted in court where in he had stated that his speech clearly suggested that the assassins were associated or affiliated with the RSS.



Rahuls fresh salvo came after RSS ideologue M G Vaidya demanded that the Congress vice president admit his mistake and tender an apology for holding the Sangh fountainhead responsible for Gandhis assassination.



Rahul also posted a short video of his March 2014 speech in Maharashtras textile town of Bhiwandi that clearly showed him saying, RSS people killed Gandhi, and today their people talk about him.



On Wednesday, when Rahuls counsel Kapil Sibal drew the attention of the apex court that his client had never charged the RSS as an institution of assassinating Gandhi, it appeared that the Congress vice president was seeking closure of the defamation case filed by an RSS worker.



However, Rahul appeared to rule out any compromise by expressing his resolve to fight the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS.



Vaidya, a former RSS spokesperson, accused Rahul of twisting his remarks to now state the RSS was not involved in Gandhis assassination.



If he now says the RSS was not involved but the people who were involved in Gandhis murder were RSS affiliates, then he must come clean on his statement as in what sense they were associated with the RSS and what their positions and credentials in the organisation were, Vaidya said.



Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said it was good that wisdom had prevailed upon Rahul who finally admitted before the Supreme Court that RSS was not accused of assassinating Mahatma Gandhi.



It may be a U-turn, but it is a good turn, Naidu said.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said there was no U-turn by Rahul and he stood by what he had said at the Bhiwandi rally while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.



The Congress had rejected as false propaganda, the reports about Rahul changing his position on the RSSs involvement in Gandhis assassination, to escape legal troubles.


India is ready to hold talks with Pakistan only on the issue of terrorism emanating from the territory of the neighbouring country and affecting the entire region.





Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Wednesday wrote to his Pakistani counterpart,

A A Chaudhry, stating that New Delhi was willing to discuss with Islamabad only issues concerning cross-border terrorism, which remained its core concern.



Jaishankars letter to Chaudhry also mentioned that terror emanating from Pakistan was targeting not only India, but also other nations in the region.



Indias reference to cross-border terrorism being sponsored from Pakistan and affecting other countries in the region came to public domain on a day when Afghanistan charged that Wednesdays attack on the American University in Kabul had been organised and orchestrated from the other side of the Durand Line (Pakistan). Thirteen people were killed and 45 injured in the terror attack.



Jaishankars letter was in response to a communique from Chaudhry, who on August 19 had invited his counterpart in New Delhi to travel to Islamabad by the end of this month to discuss the Jammu and Kashmir dispute with a view to finding a fair and just solution as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.



The foreign secretarys letter was delivered to his counterpart in the Pakistan government through diplomatic channels on Wednesday.



New Delhis latest communique to Islamabad also stressed that Pakistan should immediately vacate the territories it had been illegally occupying in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been and would always remain an integral part of India, sources told DH.



India, last week, set clear terms for talks with Pakistan  outlining a five-point agenda and asking the neighbouring country to stop exporting terror and inciting violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Home Minister Rajnath Singhs press conference here turned into a high-voltage drama when Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti lost her cool and aborted his candid interaction with the media.





In Kashmir for a fresh outreach, second time within a month, Singh on Thursday was deliberating upon New Delhis seriousness to restore peace in the Valley when Mehbooba got up from her chair, declared the termination of the presser and asked the journalists to have tea before leaving the venue  the lawns of her palatial residence on the foothills of the picturesque Zabarwan Hills.



Mehbooba was infuriated when a journalist raised questions about, what many say, is the disproportionate use of force on protesters and accused her of swapping roles and views with her predecessor Omar Abdullah on the protests.



Dont mix or compare the two situations. In 2010, there was a reason for protests as three civilians were killed in a fake encounter in Machi. Today, three militants were killed in an encounter and how is the government to be blamed for that? she said.



The chief minister also said that those hit by bullets or pellets dont go out to fetch milk or toffees but attack police stations and security camps.



As reporters kept on grilling the chief minister, she got angry and walked out while Singh was still answering the questions.



Mehbooba also said that it was only 5% of the population in Kashmir that was creating trouble. Around 95% of the people in the Valley want peace. There should be legal proceedings against the 5% of people in Kashmir who are creating trouble, she said.



Till then, the press conference was going on in a cordial atmosphere. The home minister had been replying to questions with utmost caution of vocabulary. But as Mehbooba lost her cool, Singh was seen smiling and trying to pacify the chief minister.



Congress welcomes Centres initiative



The Congress has welcomed the Centres mellowing down of its hawkish stance on the unrest in Kashmir, and want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spearhead the dialogue to find a solution to the crisis plaguing the Valley, DHNS reports from New Delhi.



This comes hours after Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Srinagar that the Centre was open to sending an all-party delegation to Kashmir.
As Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his two-day visit to Kashmir, there was no let-up in the clashes and curfew for the 48th consecutive day on Thursday.





Reports said clashes between the protesters and security forces continued in south Kashmirs Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam districts, in which several people were injured.



The residents of Prichoo village in Pulwama, where a teen protester was killed and over 40 were injured on Wednesday, said security forces barged into their houses and beat up the occupants.



In north Kashmirs Bandipora district, a youth was injured after he was hit by a teargas shell fired by the security forces. Witnesses said clashes broke out in Qazipora in Bandipora when security forces fired teargas canisters to disperse youths who were participating in a rally.



In Srinagar, curfew remained relaxed in civilian lines areas, while the restrictions continued in old city areas. Minor stone-pelting incidents were reported from some areas of the old city. After lifting of curfew, there has been some movement of people and vehicles in and around the city centrs Lal Chowk for the past three days.



A police officer said except for minor stone-pelting incidents, the overall situation across Kashmir remained under control. Apart from some police stations in Srinagar, Anantnag and Pulwama, there was increased movement of traffic in the rest of Kashmir, he said. More than 150 people, including a woman and an elderly man, were injured on Wednesday in clashes.



The separatist leaders, spearheading the ongoing unrest, have extended the strike call till September 1. In the new programme announced on Wednesday, they asked people to protest on all days, block the roads and play Islamic and freedom songs in mosques from Magrib (evening) to Isha (night) prayers.



They have also warned the divisional commissioner, deputy commissioners and heads of government departments against asking employees to rejoin work.



As many as 68 people, including two policemen, have been killed and more than 8,000 injured in the clashes, which began on July 9, a day after the encounter killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in Anantnag district.




The High Court on Thursday granted bail to V Shashidhar, president of the Akhila Karnataka Police Maha Sangha.





He was arrested on the midnight of June 2 for instigating the police to go on mass leave. He is facing charges of sedition and instigating police personnel to skip work.

Justice Anand Byrareddy also granted bail to Basavaraju Korawar and Gurupadayya on condition that they will not incite or call for any agitation by police personnel.



Other conditions include not calling for any collective action by the police force to execute any action and not tamper with evidence or prevail upon the prosecution witnesses.



They were also asked to attend the court hearing and co-operate with the investigation and not leave the court jurisdiction without permission. The judge ordered them to pay a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and surety of the same amount.



The judge in the order said, The apprehension expressed by the state - of a state of anarchy and disorder on account of the petitioners campaign, is clearly paranoid (sic).



The judge said that Shashishar and his aides are completely aware that they will be dealt with an 'iron hand', if any policeman steps out of line on account of goading and incitement by him.



Shashidhar, by virtue of him being the member of the police force, seeks to tell the world the plight of the members of the lower rungs of the police.



In another petition filed by Shashidhars wife Poornima, the petitioner sought directions to handover the investigation into the arrest of her husband to the CBI and said that if the Central Crime Branch (CCB) files the chargesheet in the matter, their petition would become infructuous.



Justice AS Bopanna granted two weeks time to the government and said that any further action in the matter is subject to the result of the writ petition.

DH News Service
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said an alternative to pellet guns, which have caused large-scale injuries during the 48-day ongoing unrest in Kashmir, would be announced soon.





Addressing a press conference along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti here, he said the committee he had set up to find an alternative to pellet guns during his last visit to the Valley would submit its report shortly.



Within a few days, we will come out with an alternative to pellet guns. In 2010, when pellet guns were introduced, it was believed they were non-lethal weapons. But today, we feel there should be an alternative.



We have directed the security forces to exercise maximum restraint and I have been told they are already doing so. More than 4,500 security personnel have been injured (in the past 48 days), Singh said.



Singh also said an all-party delegation would visit Kashmir to talk to the people to resolve the crisis in the Valley.



We want to bring an all-party delegation to Kashmir. I have told Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to make preparations for it, he said.



Asked whether New Delhi was willing to talk to separatist leaders, he said: I have said we are willing to talk to anyone within the scope of Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiryat.



He said whenever a Kashmiri youth or security jawan is killed we too are pained. Those hands which should have been carrying books are now throwing stones. Who is instigating the youth? Can they guarantee the future of these youth? Singh said.



Appealing to the people of Kashmir to identify those instigating the youth to indulge in stone-throwing, he said, We cannot separate the future of Kashmir from the future of India. Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India cannot exist.



He said the Ministry of Home Affairs would set up a nodal agency to look into complaints of Kashmiri youth across the country.



I want to inform you that the Ministry of Home Affairs will appoint a nodal officer for Kashmiri youth across the country. They can call the officer on a number  we will soon announce it, he said.



Reminding the people how the security forces had helped them during the devastating 2014 floods, he said, I have appealed to the people of the country that any Kashmiri settled outside the state should feel secure. It is the duty of every Indian youth to instil confidence among Kashmiris studying outside the state.



Singh was on a two-day visit to the Valley to review security and interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders as part of the outreach recently promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.








The navy has begun a detailed internal audit to rule out any security compromise on the six Scorpene submarines, a day after a massive leakage of confidential technical data on the underwater boats rocked the defence ministry.





A preliminary report was submitted to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday, but a detailed probe is underway to check the operational relevance of thousands of pages of crucial data on several aspects of the French-origin submarine.



The detailed assessment of the potential impact is being undertaken by a high-level committee constituted by the Ministry of Defence. The Indian Navy is taking all necessary steps to mitigate any probable security compromise, a navy spokesperson said.



The government, as a matter of abundant precaution, is also examining the impact if the information contained in the documents, claimed to be available with the Australian sources, is compromised, he said.



Initial analysis of the documents, posted on the website of The Australian newspaper that made the disclosure, did not suggest security compromise as vital parameters were blacked out, he said.



Moreover, some of the design parameters shown in the leaked papers were changed in the final design before the manufacturing process began.



However, what remains unknown is whether anyone else had access to those 22,400 pages because it was The Australian, which blacked out the data before putting these documents in public domain. The documents would be of immense value for Indias strategic rivals like China and Pakistan.



My newspaper blacked out the documents on the web for security reasons. The entire data leak is completely unredacted, tweeted Cameron Stewart, the journalist who reported the data leak.



The Indian Navy has taken up the matter with the Directorate General of Armament of the French Government, expressing concern over this incident. It has requested the French Government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side. Other foreign governments were contacted through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports, the navy spokesperson said.



Parrikar instructed the navy to seek a detailed report from DCN  the French company which was selected in October 2005 as the vendor to manufacture six Scorpene submarines at the Mazagon dock in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 18,798 crore.



Integrity Pact



If the company is found guilty of its failure to protect the sensitive data, one of the options before the ministry is to invoke the Integrity Pact for imposing a hefty penalty on the French firm.



The Scorpene deal was the first defence contract signed with the Integrity Pact, whose purpose was to keep the middlemen away while ensuring that the data is not compromised.



However, there is no proposal before the defence ministry at the moment on the invocation of this pact, which was signed for all defence deals worth more than Rs 100 crore in the last decade. Sources said that the integrity pact could come into play only if the government can conclusively prove the guilt of the company.






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
Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts in the December 16 rape and murder case, tried to commit suicide in Tihar Jail late on Wednesday night, police said.





Sharma was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital at 10.45 pm on Wednesday. He is in a stable condition.



Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Pushpendra Kumar said police were not ruling out the possibility of the suicide attempt being staged.



He has appealed in the Supreme Court against his death sentence and the hearing is in the near future, he said. Another accused in the 2012 case had committed suicide in the same jail in 2013.



Sharma, who was alone in the cell, tried to hang himself with a towel from a grill in jail number 8 of Tihar prison. He also seemed to have consumed an overdose of anti-depressants, however, a security personnel spotted him.



Six persons were arrested for brutally raping a 23-year-old physiotherapist in a moving bus when she was returning home at night after a movie on December 16, 2012.



She and her friend were then thrown out of the bus. The woman died later at a Singapore hospital. The rape and her subsequent death triggered widespread protests and demands for a change in the law.



Ram Singh, another accused in the case, committed suicide in his cell in March 2013. Of the remaining five, a juvenile was released after three years in a remand home.



The other four were sentenced to death. Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta have appealed in the Supreme Court against the death sentence awarded to them.



The chief medical officer at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital said doctors have run tests on Sharma to determine if there had actually been a suicide attempt. The reports should be available on Thursday morning, he told Deccan Herald.




The Lokayukta special court on Wednesday convicted a retired revenue official for demanding and accepting bribe. The convict, H Nanjaiah, was a former tahsildar at K R Puram.





Nanjaiah had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Ramakrishna, a friend of Narayan Reddy, in July 2010 for changing the khata for the land at Thubarahalli, which was in the name of Reddy.

The complaint had stated that a court had ordered change of khata.



The Lokayukta police had trapped the tahsildar accepting the bribe. The Lokayukta police investigating officer Ravishankar, presently DySP, had completed the probe and submitted the chargesheet. Public prosecutor Ramesh Babu had represented the Lokayukta police.



Lokayukta special court judge Gopalaiah sentenced Nanjaiah to rigorous imprisonment of up to three years. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000.




The transcription of unedited video footage of Broken Families, an event organised by Amnesty International India (AII) at the United Theological College on Millers Road on August 13, is in progress at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).





It may take some time for the FSL to submit the script to the city police.The police had sent the video footage to the FSL. The report is yet to come. The transcript of what was spoken during the event will help the police arrive at a conclusion regarding the charges and the allegations, Additional Commissioner of Police (West) KSR Charan Reddy told DH.



The police would take the help of language experts if certain texts were vague and ambiguous.



The FSL report would also help the police establish the identity of the persons and the nature of the slogans they raised, he added. Meanwhile, the JC Nagar police have questioned about 25 people, including four representatives of AII, in connection with the incident.



The police were in the process of reconstructing the entire event to ascertain how things unfolded. The police have not come across any evidence so far to prove the sedition charge against Amnesty International India. However, the investigation is still under progress, Reddy added. The police may drop the sedition charge while preparing the final report, if there is no evidence.



Plaint against BJP general secretary



The Indian Youth Congress state unit on Thursday lodged a complaint with the SJ Park police seeking action against the BJP state unit general secretary Ravi Kumar for making life threats to DCP (East) N Satheesh Kumar.



The BJP had organised a protest rally against Amnesty International India on August 24 for organising the Broken Families event. During the protest, Ravi Kumar provoked his party workers to make life threats to the DCP. Senior officers had been informed about the complaint. Action would be taken based on the directions of the senior officers, said the police.



The IYC state unit general secretary told DH: The DCP had ordered the lathicharge to ensure law and order. The BJP leaders have given statements against the DCP which is not right. Hence, a complaint was lodged.
The website of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) was hacked on Thursday.





Vice-Chancellor K S Ravindranath said the university had arranged for three new servers to host the application forms of various courses. During this time, the firewall was not installed and the website (www.rguhs.ac.in) was hacked. As a result, we received as many as 400 application forms as blank pages, he said. Some of the data is said to have been stolen.



The data centre was immediately shifted to the National Informatics Centre. The website restarted after the server of the examination section was updated.



The university lodged two police complaints  one at the jurisdictional Tilak Nagar police station and another at the cyber crime police station. No sensitive information like marks cards and question papers was leaked, Ravindranath said.



Police said the hacking came to light when the universitys registrar (evaluation) tried to log in with his user ID and password to upload data. The university had stored the data in the server of the examination section. The registrar realised that the data was stolen. The data pertained to examinations and admissions, police said.



A police team visited the university office to get more information. Police said hackers were likely to modify the data. The hackers posted a one-line message in English, asking the university authorities to contact for restoring the website.


The Bengaluru police have rescued two realtors from Tamil Nadu who were kidnapped from near Hebbal here on August 21, by arresting an eight-member gang. The suspects had made the friends and relatives of the two realtors to deposit Rs 9 lakh into a bank account.





Dr P S Harsha, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) told DH, On Tuesday (August 23, 2016), the police surrounded the house in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar where the two were held captive. We arrested seven men and rescued the victims. Another person Jhanavi who was handling the bank accounts was arrested from Ballari.



The police recovered one kg gold, two fully loaded revolvers, a BMW car and Rs 9 lakh cash from them. The arrested are Nagaraju, 41 and his wife Injumurri Sangeetha alias Jhanavi, 36 and their associates Noor Mohammed, 32, Iqbal Hussain, 36, all residents of Ballari and Sriram Reddy, 30, a resident of Banashankari, Shashank, 23, a resident of Hosakerehalli, Arun Raj, 25 and Shanthraj, 21, both residents of Srinagar in Bengaluru



Around 2 am on August 21, Muthu Kumar and Madan Kumar, both real estate businessmen and their friends Manikanta, a M Tech student, all from Tamil Nadu, stopped their BMW car in which they were travelling at Prakruthi Cross Road apartment near Kariyannapalya, off Hebbal on the Outer Ring road. The gang led by Nagaraju attacked the trio.



While Manikanta, who was driving the car, managed to escape, Muthu and Madan were severly beaten up. The suspects bundled the duo into the BMW car and drove to Raja Rajeshwari Nagar. They kept them in a house there and threatened them at gun point. They asked them to inform their friends and relatives to credit Rs 9 lakh cash into their bank account through online transaction. As the cash was credited, Jhanavi withdrew the money from a bank in Ballari, said the police.



Meanwhile, Manikanta informed his family about the incident and they approached the Amruthahalli police station and registered a case. A special team was formed to rescue the kidnapped businessmen.



We started tracking down a few mobile phone numbers from which the suspects had contacted the victims relatives. We learnt that they were at a house belonging to one of the suspects in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar. The police traced the house and kept a watch on the suspects movement, Dr Harsha who lead the operations said.



There is a history sheet against Nagaraju in the Gandhi Nagar police station in Ballari. He and his associates have several cases against them in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring states. Nagaraju always wears around one kg of gold ornaments and travels in an Audi car. Nagaraju is regularly seen with small-time local politicians in Ballari, mentioned the police.




BIGHORN RIVER  Prehistoric-looking creatures swimming in the rivers of Eastern Montana were thrust into the limelight by budding Rocky Mountain College researchers this summer.

Theyre actually really cool, said Andrhea Massey, 20, as she held a large hissing snapping turtle firmly by its shell. They look like dinosaurs. The spikes on their tails are really impressive. Look at their claws.

Massey and fellow student Gabriel Aponte, 22, were leading the dirty work of weighing, measuring and tagging snapping and spiny soft-shelled turtles on the Bighorn River recently, the end of their summer field study of the little-appreciated turtle species. Their baited live trapping also included work on portions of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River, the Yellowstone River from Billings downstream, Pryor and Razor creeks.

Tag, youre it

The work is the second year of a study by the Yellowstone River Research Center at Rocky Mountain College, which has been assisted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Last years work included the Musselshell River.

Through the study Kayhan Ostovar, an associate professor of biology and environmental science at Rocky who has guided the work, is hoping to learn several things. One is a comparison of the difference in the accumulation of toxins in the turtles blood  things like arsenic, mercury and lead  between the rivers. Are turtles in the industrialized Yellowstone River exposed to more harmful chemicals than turtles in more rural rivers like the Musselshell or Clarks Fork?

By tagging and with eventual recapture, the study could also provide a ballpark figure on the number of turtles in the rivers and streams. This summer the group tagged more than 300 soft-shelled and 25 snapping turtles.

The tagging can also show how far the turtles travel. Previous studies have shown the amphibians arent big migrators, especially the soft-shelled turtles that dont move across land. Tag monitoring could also show connectivity between the river populations, which can have an effect on their sustainability. Are the animals moving around irrigation dams, or are they fairly isolated by such manmade structures? Isolation can lead to a lack of genetic diversity and a resulting susceptibility to diseases.

The researchers can also examine the difference between turtles in the relatively free-flowing Yellowstone River compared to the dammed and regulated flows of the Bighorn River.

Low profile

For the most part, Montanas river turtles live in obscurity.

This is about as far north and west as both species live, Ostovar said. Both are species of concern in Montana that are vulnerable to overharvest.

In the south, where the species are more common, turtles are often caught to eat. Ostovar said while visiting San Franciscos Chinatown he saw turtles for sale at $13 a pound. In Montana, however, its rare to hear of someone dining on turtle or purposely setting out to catch them.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks conducted a five-year study beginning in 2004 that ruled out the turtles presence in some waters, like the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam and the Yellowstone River from Sidney downstream to its confluence with the Missouri. The study found the farthest that a tagged soft-shelled turtle moved was 10 miles. Montana State University student Brian Tornabene conducted a study on soft-shelled turtles in the upper Missouri River Breaks between 2010-13 for his masters thesis and helped out on the Yellowstone research, as well. His study found that a tagged soft-shelled turtle moved 53 miles upstream over about two weeks in the Missouri River, and observed a 60-mile movement downstream in the Yellowstone.

Massey and Aponte are lucky that they get to conduct field work on the creatures as undergraduates, something thats uncommon in many colleges and part of what attracted them to the Billings school from their homes in faraway Texas and Venezuela, respectively.

Were helping to train that next generation of conservationists, Ostovar said.

Cold-blooded

Despite such attention, the turtles still live largely in anonymity with their presence only detected when they are seen sunning themselves on a log or when one latches on to the occasional anglers catfish bait. Yet they are amazing cold-blooded creatures.

Spiny soft-shelled turtles spend most of their time in faster-moving water where they dine on small fish, mussels and crayfish. Their shell, called a carapace, is smooth on the top with small spines at the front edge. Its estimated that they may live up to 50 years. Each turtle is colored differently for camouflage. The most distinctive feature may be the turtles conical snout that gives it a comical appearance.

Snapping turtles appear armored for battle with hard shells, a hooked upper jaw, long claws and rough protrusions on their legs. Snappers prefer slower water and are known to walk across land. Although soft-shelled turtles will gather to breed and hibernate, snapping turtles are more solitary.

Both species have high juvenile mortality. They also both smell like a putrid combination of old moss and pond water. When threatened they hiss and can extend their necks and bite remarkably fast. Just ask Aponte. He now has a scar on one finger from a turtle bite.

They look really aggressive, but they are just scared, Massey said.

Despite the attack, Aponte said working with the amphibians has given him a greater appreciation for the species.

They are so unusual compared to other animals, he said. I really like amphibians and reptiles because they are so underrepresented.
Dakota Pipeline decision delayed to Sept. 9, thousands of indigenous activists continue protest

Dear President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, It has been two years already since I met you during your visit to Standing Rock. When you were here, you sat and listened to what we had to say. You made us feel like we mattered, we didnt feel invisible anymore. I am writing this letter to you because I am concerned about the wellbeing of my people. The Army Corps of Engineers just issued a construction permit allowing Dakota Access LLC to build a massive pipeline through our Missouri River. This pipeline will transport 570,000 barrels of crude oil through our water every day. In 2012-2013 alone, there were 300 oil pipeline breaks in the state of North Dakota. When the Dakota Access Pipeline breaks, it will not only contaminate our water but it will also destroy our sacred land and threaten our individual, societal and communitys health. A few months ago, the youth from my Tribe started speaking out against the Dakota Access Pipeline. We created a petition to raise awareness about the potential damages this pipeline could do to our people, and our Rezpect Our Water campaign now has over One Hundred and Forty Thousand (140,000) supporters, both across the country and around the world. Our campaign has been successful. Sadly, it was not enough to dissuade the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing the construction permit. Throughout history, our people have used messenger runners to deliver valuable information between tribes. In the spirit of our ancestors we have started a Relay Race to bring our message to Washington DC. Thirty of us, from the Oceti Sakowin Youth (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe), will be running almost 2000 miles over three weeks to raise further awareness about the pipeline and to deliver our 140,000 petition signatures to the headquarter of the Army Corps of Engineers. Our final stop will be at your doorstep, Mr. President. We hope you can join us and listen to what we have to say. As the native children of this country, we are asking you to stand with us on August 6, 2016 at Lafayette Square and help us fight the Dakota Access Pipeline. Enough has been taken away from our people. We want to thrive and we want a bright future. One that embraces our cultural heritage and our deep communion with our lands. By helping us fight for our water and for our ancestral lands, you confirm our common humanity and dignity. This is what we ask for. After your visit to Standing Rock you said you felt we were like your own children. Mr. President and First Lady we have no doubt you meant every word you said and we know you have not forgotten us. We hope that your schedule allows you to greet us and show your support upon our arrival in Washington DC. Thank you very much, Tariq and the Oceti Sakowin Youth
By Pola Lem

18 August 2016 (NASA)  Californias Blue Cut fire has burned homes, caused power outages, and prompted more than 82,000 evacuations in San Bernardino County. The extent of the damage, however, remains unclear. Firefighters have been focused on containing the fires perimeter, The Los Angeles Times reported. The image above shows the Blue Cut fire at 10:36 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on 17 August 2016, as observed by Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on the Landsat 8 satellite. TIRS observes in wavelengths of 10.9 micrometers and 12.0 micrometers, showing the amount of heat (thermal energy) radiating from the fiery landscape. Cooler areas are dark, while warmer areas are bright. The thermal data was overlaid on a daytime image for added geographic detail. The blaze started mid-morning on August 16, 2016 in the Cajon Pass, west of Interstate 15, according to CalFire. By midday on August 18, it had grown to 31,689 acres. At least 1,584 firefighting personnel were on the scene working with 178 engines, 10 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS), and 17 helicopters. Cameras captured video of at least one fire whirl, a spinning vortex column of ascending hot air and gases rising from a fire and carrying aloft smoke, debris, and flame, according to the Bureau of Land Management. The Blue Cut fire was one of ten major fires burning in the United States on 18 August 2016, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

References
Democratic congressional candidate Denise Juneau laid out her plans for veterans and American Indians during Wednesday stops in Billings.

Juneau, Montanas current superintendent of public instruction, toured the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. Later Juneau met with American Indian officials at the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council.

I think there is work that needs to be done and challenges to overcome at the VA system, Juneau said. One of the big bills working through Congress right now is the Veterans First Act, which provides some accountability to the VA, but it also allows some flexibility to them around hiring and of course some flexible funding to provide more services to aging veterans.

Authored by Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, the Veterans First Act has bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., is a co-sponsor of the bill, which addresses homelessness, disability benefits and education, among other things.

The bill has not made it to the U.S. House where Juneau's opponent, incumbent Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., would get his first look at the bill.

The Veterans First Act is supposed to make it easier to fire bad VA employees, while also protecting whistleblowers, this after Veterans Affairs was rocked by scandal over administrators falsifying wait times to cover up chronic delayed care issues. The scandal broke two years ago and by most accounts Veterans Affairs has been slow to turn things around.

Its a huge agency. And bureaucracy, you just get mired down in all that. Everybody has ideas on how to fix it, and what I like about the Veterans First Act is its bipartisan, Juneau said.

However, 12 federal employee unions argue that the bill tramples on workers' rights. The groups worry the bill targeting VA workers will eventually erode the rights of all federal employees. The American Federation of Government Employees, a union with 300,000 members, supports the bill, but still has concerns about workers' rights. Letters from the 12 opposed unions and AFGE are attached to the online version of this article.

Juneau said workers at the Billings VA are doing good work.

I think the people on the ground who are working at these centers are doing a fantastic job under the constraints they have, Juneau said. We just need to make sure that the bureaucracy works for them.

After the VA stop, Juneau met with Montana tribal leaders to talk about her priorities for Indian Country. Juneau said the federal government needs to honor its treaty obligations to provide health care, education and housing to American Indian tribes.

The number of police working on reservations needs to be increased and fixing chronic problems, like meth addiction, need to be priorities, she said.

However, if Congress accomplished one thing for Indian Country in the next year, it should be promoting economic development in Indian Country, she said.

Tribal governments, visiting with them, its always going to be about economic development and jobs. Where are they going, and how are they going to get their citizens jobs? Juneau said.

The Democrat pointed to the A&S Tribal Industries manufacturing facility on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation that in the past did military contract work.
After crashing into a car at an intersection, a male motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Around 3 p.m., the southbound motorcyclist failed to yield at the intersection of Third Street West and Lewis Avenue and T-boned an eastbound Mitsubishi passenger car, according to BPD Sgt. Clyde Reid.

Reid could not comment on the extent of the motorcyclists injuries. The motorcycle had no license plate, according to Reid.

Alcohol and drugs may be factors in the crash, Reid said.

The motorcyclist was found with a concealed handgun and police were working to determine if he had a concealed carry permit, Reid said.

The motorcyclist will be cited for failing to yield at a stop sign, and more charges could be coming, Reid said.

More information would be available later Wednesday, Reid said.
The field programmable analog array (FPAA) when it was first offered to the market about 15 years ago did not seem to capture the imagination the way the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) had done before it.

That said, Anadigm Inc. (Mesa, Arizona), has stuck to its FPAA guns. So what is it that has enabled Silego Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.) to ship more than 1 billion units of its configurable mixed-signal ICs (CMICs) in the last two years. The answer would seem to be: by taking account of application knowledge and specific functionality (see Silego scaling cost-effective agility in mixed-signal).

With integrated devices, and particularly an array of analog and mixed-signal functions, there is often a quandary over what resources to include and what to leave out. In addition, in the analog case, when these resources are configured performance can vary depending on how the resources are hooked up. This pushes back on the design software and often requires an iterative approach to prototyping the FPAA/CMIC.

Click here to read more ...




A Flying Jatt Movie Review- The Super Action, Fun And Environmental Education Filled Super-Hero Flick Is A Good Watch!
Dozens of people in Billings turned out Wednesday to protest the construction of a $3.8 billion pipeline beginning in North Dakota, standing in solidarity with the hundreds who have been protesting the pipeline with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

At its height, around 40 people stood on the sidewalk near the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn holding signs encouraging supporters to honk and chanting, "Water is sacred, water is life." That was double the people event organizer Bailey Brown had expected.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is proposed to transport Bakken crude to Illinois, passing under the Missouri River.

The importance of clean water and clean air were on the mind of Tajin Perez, a Billings resident who helped Brown with the event.

"Clean air and clean water should be a right to everybody, not just those who can afford it," Perez said. "That's why people are here. They've been drawn out to the same call to stand up for what's right, for what's fair for everyone, especially those who have been disadvantaged for so long in regards to contemporary issues between the U.S. government and the Native peoples of this country."

Gerald Sherman and his wife, Jael Kampfe, made the drive from Bearcreek with four coolers of meat for Brown to deliver along with other supplies to protesters when she heads to North Dakota on Friday in a rented van.

Im not against oil, but Im against a pipeline crossing the river, said Sherman, a banking industry retiree and Oglala Sioux tribal member. These pipelines have a history of breaking. It happened in the Yellowstone.

When he and his wife heard about the protest in Billings, they posted their plans to attend on Facebook, and three families from Red Lodge responded by donating meat for them to take.

Sherman and Kampfe joined Luckys Market, Natural Grocers and others who have provided camping supplies and food for Brown to transport.

Im really impressed, Brown said of the turnout. Especially the people honking.

Collette Montclair, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who has lived in Billings for two years, said shes proud of the efforts of her family and friends who have been protesting in North Dakota and that she is sad that she cant join them. Work has interfered with her plans to return home, Montclair said, and she expected she wouldn't make the journey until October.

Like Brown, she also noted how honking car horns raised her spirit.

I love all the support, everybody going by honking their horns, she said.

Joining Monclair was her 4-year-old daughter, Ayasha.

We want her to be a part of everything, Montclair said of her daughter, who was seated on the sidewalk with a sign.

As challenges to the pipeline and its protesters continue to play out, its unclear what Montclair will tell her daughter when she grows older, but she offered some thoughts about what she hopes she can say.
South African regulator ICASA has come under fire from Telkom SAs CEO Sipho Maseko for mak[ing] rules on the run.

The attack was aimed at ICASAs proposed spectrum auctions, which have drawn criticism from all corners. During his address at Telkoms AGM, Maseko claimed that there were fundamental problems with the proposed auctions, including in the entry criteria stipulated by the Invitation to Apply (ITA).

A key complaint of Masekos was the requirement specified by ICASA that would-be participants must have a 30 per cent threshold around black economic empowerment in order to vote. Maseko railed against the stipulation, saying we dont know what is the logic that ICASA followed with regard to this specific requirement.

The regulators auction proposals have proven highly unpopular, with the South African telecoms ministry taking legal action against ICASA in order to stymie the upcoming sale of spectrum valued at over $1 billion. The ministry noted that the spectrum would not be immediately available upon its sale, as well as arguing that ICASA had not specified policy direction for the airwaves in question.

Maseko also condemned other decisions by ICASA, including its approval of Vodacoms now-shelved acquisition of Neotel  which also attracted legal challenges from operators - and its track record on termination charges. Describing the regulators judgement as disconcerting and worrisome, Maseko noted that the spectrum auctions could force Telkom to take legal action.

Its how the regulator chooses an approach to manage these issues in a way that is not consistent with how a regulator needs to behave, he said. Even with this ITA, even if you put aside substantive issues, we have a number of process issues. We will take the right legal action.

He conceded that the industry-wide practice of hiring from within the regulator and telecoms ministry was having an adverse effect on policy, noting you end up with critical pillars of policy and regulation being weak.
More than 70 percent of Montanans who qualify under the Affordable Care Act, can purchase a plan for $75 or less per month, even if rate hikes this fall are 50 percent, according to a study released Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday there are two features of the marketplace that protect nearly 52,000 Montanans from the impact of rate increases:

Tax credits go up along with premiums. Those tax credit increases parallel premium hikes for most Montanans, the study shows.

Consumers can shop to find the best plan. Last year, about 12,000 returning HealthCare.gov consumers from Montana switched plans, saving an average of $38 per month. Changing plans is allowed during open enrollment. The website lets consumers compare prices, plan designs and networks to find the best choice for them.

The release of the study comes three weeks after three companies that provide health insurance plans to Montanans  the Montana Health Co-op, PacificSource and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana  appeared before Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica Lindeen in Billings to discuss their proposed rate increases for 2017 in plans they offer under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Blue Cross Blue Shield proposes a 62 percent increase across all its ACA plans. Montana Health Co-op proposes a 22 percent average increase, while PacificSource proposes a 20 percent increase.

Those proposed rate increases affect about 35,000 Montanans who dont receive federal tax credits. About 85 percent of Montana residents who purchase insurance on the marketplace receive a tax credit based on their income.

The tax credit, said Katie Martin, acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the prime driving force to protect consumers.

In Wyoming, 71 percent of qualified residents could still find a plan for $75 or less per month despite a hypothetical 50-percent premium increase next year, the study indicates.

Starting Nov. 1, we want people to look at healthcare.gov to make sure folks are looking at their options and shopping around, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, chief operating officer and chief of staff for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

While insurance companies leaving the marketplace have generated many headlines, others are entering or expanding coverage and some are doing so without much media attention, she said.

The issuers are learning the new rules, and some adjust faster than others, Cohen, an internist, told reporters. As companies feel more comfortable, we are heartened by the entries and the expansion of offerings.

The study also indicates that current marketplace rates are 12-20 percent below initial Congressional Budget Office projections. In addition, marketplace and non-marketplace consumers have benefited from slower health care cost growth since Congress passed President Obamas Affordable Care Act in 2010.

Employer-sponsored family coverage, which insures about 150 million Americans, rose about 4 percent in 2015, half the 8-percent average increase from 2000 to 2010.
Why is there a teacher shortage? The school year is starting, and in the province of Ciego de Avila alone 663 teachers are needed, and more than 1,000 in Villa Clara.

At this time Cubas Education Minister, Ena Elsa Velazquez, is visiting the country's provinces to check on the preparations for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year.

Meetings with provincial leaders in the sector address material resources and progress on the construction of schools, along with other issues of territorial interest. At almost all of these meetings there emerges a matter that is giving Ministry of Education leaders fits: the shortage of teachers and professors.

It has been reported, for example, that in the province of Ciego de Avila 663 more teachers are needed, while in Villa Clara the teacher deficit comes to more than 1,000. If the deficiencies are this serious in these provinces, what is the situation like in territories such as Havana and Matanzas, which have traditionally reported the greatest shortages of teachers?

Those hoodwinked by Castroist propaganda might think that the lack of teachers is due to the large number of schools in the country, and how educational has allegedly been "taken to every corner of the Island." However, the figures indicate something else: every year there are more teachers leaving the educational field than there are graduates. Returning to the case of Ciego de Avila: in the last academic year 269 new teachers graduated, but the end of that period saw 348 education professionals retire.

In recent times the authorities have taken some measures in an attempt to reverse this flight. There were salary increases (albeit meager given the high cost of living and the dual monetary circulation), an increase in the number of vacation days, more annual leave, and a decrease in the number of subjects to be taught by each teacher.

Thus, Why does the stampede of teachers and professors continue? the most befuddled must wonder. We should start with the aforementioned salaries, which are insufficient for one to live decently, the appalling material conditions under which many teachers perform their work, and those cases in which the Government has been unable to guarantee day care for the children of women teachers and professors.

This enumeration of vicissitudes would be incomplete if we did not mention the extreme rigidity encountered by teachers in their daily work, due to the excessive directives handed down "from above." Teachers work with lesson plans that constitute authentic straitjackets nullifying their creative capacities in the classroom. Making matters worse is the provision that all teachers, regardless of the subject they teach, take courses in the History of Cuba.

This proviso is not, of course, with the sensible objective of teachers objectively knowing the past so that they can clarify any of their students' questions. Rather, the aim is to prepare them to legitimize the present after interpreting the past in accordance with the interests of the ruling class.

Those who enjoyed the movie Conducta, by director Ernesto Daranas, were exhilarated when the teacher, Carmen, played by the late actress Alina Rodriguez, uttered one of the film's most meaningful phrases: "The day I cant decide what happens in my classroom ... until that day I'll be a teacher."

Of course, one thing is the movies, and another is real life. If this rule were followed, Cuba would be left without teachers at all, as the General-President has laid down well-established rules for the educational sector. In fact, no teacher can decide what happens in his or her classroom. This is an exclusive prerogative of the Ministry of Education and the upper echelons of power.

This is the reason for the State's persistent monopoly over education, one that has not yielded to the entreaties of the Catholic Church, which has called for the reopening of religious schools. And the monopoly endures despite the "understandings" that Cardinal Jaime Ortega reached with the nation's political authorities almost at the end of his archiepiscopal term.
Jawbones Chief Creative Officer, Yves Behar has accused Xiaomi of copying Jawbone's design for its Mi Square Box Bluetooth speakers.

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but Jawbones Chief Creative Officer, Yves Behar doesnt seem to think so. In a post on Twitter, Behar accused Xiaomi of copying the design of the Jawbone Mini Jambox for its Mi Square Box Bluetooth speaker. Looking at the two devices, one could say that the speaker grills look very similar indeed.

This wouldn't be the first time Xiaomi has been accused of copying other designs, though, it may be the first where a company has gone on record to say so. The company's recently launched laptop, the Mi Notebook Air not only sounds like Apples MacBook Air, but look quite similar as well. Xiaomi had been called up for copying Apple's iOS in its MIUI (especially MIUI 6) as well.

However, Xiaomi isnt the only major manufacturer to be accused of being copying by some other design. Recently, Motorolas US accused Samsung of copying its Always On display feature. Even Apple isnt free from such accusations. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro can be said to Apples take on Microsofts Surface tablet, while Live Photos is basically a lif from Nokia's Living Images feature.
A OnePlus One user from Chandigarh contacted Digit on Twitter, with images and videos of his OnePlus One burnt out of shape, after it burst into flames while charging.

UPDATE: For further investigation, Digit spoke to the user, who has been offered a OnePlus 3 as a replacement by the company. However, he has made a counter demand, asking the company for monetary compensation (the amount of which cannot be disclosed) and an iPhone.

A OnePlus One user from Chandigarh contacted Digit on Twitter, with images and videos of his OnePlus One burnt out of shape, after it burst into flames while charging. Digit was first to contact the user to take his grievance forward with OnePlus.

Deepak Gosain, a OnePlus One user from Chandigarh, told Digit that his device was charging for about 2 hours, while he was sleeping right next to it. The phone suddenely burst into flames, and the battery exploded, rendering the device useless. "I could have lost my life," says Gosain, who took his device to the official OnePlus service center, where he was informed his device will be replaced.



However, Gosain feels that the issue should not be "trivialised". He claims that OnePlus's customer care service informed him that they will get back to him with a stronger resolution in a day's time, but according to Gosain, he still hasn't been contacted by the company, after the incident which occured on Monday. "If OnePlus does not contact me today, I will be taking proper recourse by moving the courts," said Gosain.

Digit has contacted OnePlus on Gosain's behalf, and company representatives have told us that they will get in touch with the aggrieved customer. In their official textbook response, OnePlus told Digit, "Our top priority is the health and safety of our customers. We are confident in the quality of our products, which all undergo industry-leading safety tests. We are already in touch with this customer, but since this is an open case, we cannot disclose any further information."

If you have ever experienced such a hazardous event with your smartphone, feel free to share your issues with Digit.
Airtel claims to have upgraded over 9,000 sites and optimised 30,000 existing sites to resolve network issues

Airtel has announced that it has improved and optimized its network based on the feedback it received via the Open Network initiative. The company says that it has upgraded over 9000 sites and optimised 30,000 existing sites to resolve network issues. Further, it is in the process of putting up new towers. Airtel also said that it is rolling out a new 360 degree advertising campaign as well as a new section in the Open Network initiative called Network Stories. The section will contain testimonials from customers and will detail the on-ground changes that happened after the launch of the initiative.

Read the complete press release below

Bharti Airtel (Airtel), Indias largest telecommunications service provider, today said that its Open Network initiative has received good response from customers across the country. Launched in June 2016, the initiative made public Airtels entire mobile network information to customers through an interactive online interface and asked them for their feedback to improve the network.



Customers share their feedback

Airtel received feedback and suggestions from millions of customers across multiple Open Network touch points - Open Network portal, myAirtel app, Airtel Call Center and Airtel Stores.



Based on the feedback, Airtel engaged with these customers to improve and optimize the network for them and their surrounding areas. Thousands of leads for installation of new network sites were also generated.



Till date, over 9000 sites have been upgraded at various locations and over 30,000 existing sites have been optimised by Airtels network team to resolve the network related issues. The task of putting up new towers is also underway.



Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel said, We would like to express our gratitude to our customers for sharing their valuable feedback and supporting the Open Network initiative. We believe that with this initiative, we have made a small but positive beginning towards improving our network and hope that going forward more customers will join us. Airtel is fully committed to building a world class network that is future ready and will deliver a great mobile experience to our customers.



New 360 degree advertising campaign, Network Stories

Airtel is rolling-out a new 360-degree advertising campaign around the Open Network initiative with a media-mix of TV, print, outdoor and digital. The campaign, designed by Taproot-Dentsu, is based on the feedback/insights gathered through the initiative and encourages customers to participate and take charge of network related issues.



As a mark of gratitude to all customers who have helped Airtel build a better network, the Open Network portal will have a new section - Network Stories. This section will detail the actual on-ground changes that have happened post the open network campaign launch where Airtel has delivered an improved network experience. The section will also have testimonials from satisfied customers.



With the launch of the Open Network initiative in June this year, Airtel took the lead in establishing complete transparency about its mobile network and opening itself to customer scrutiny and feedback with the aim of improving its network. Customers can now see network coverage/signal strength in any location across India through a colour coded interface that shows if coverage is excellent, good, moderate or non-existent. Customers can easily give network feedback through www.airtel.in/opennetwork, myAirtel app, Airtel Call Centre or Airtel Flagship Stores across the country. The initiative is a part of Airtels Project Leap, a nationwide network transformation drive under which the company plans to invest Rs. 60,000 crores to build a future ready network.
The market was little changed overall, with traders displaying caution ahead of the next days much-awaited speech from US Fed chair Janet Yellen, given the potential for sharp moves in prices depending on her remarks.

Nonetheless, certain specific contracts in each corner of the commodity space did see some notable price moves.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil for one bounced back from the previous days losses, tacking on 1.183% to $47.33 per barrel on the ICE.

Similarly, but going in the opposite direction, three-month LME-traded nickel futures gave back some of their recent gains, retreating 2.6% to close at $9,875.00 per metric tonne.

In parallel, three-month copper futures dipped 0.6% to end at $4,627.00 per tonne, alongside marginal losses for the similarly-dated zinc and tin futures.

Out in the agricultural space, white sugar futures on Euronext LIFFE jumped 1.7% to $539.10 per metric tonne. ICE-traded cocoa futures also did well, rising 1.4% to $3,058 a tonne.

December 2016 corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell 1.26% to $3.32 per bushel.

The Bloomberg commodity index was nearly unchanged, drifting lower by 0.02% to 85.05 as the spot US dollar index gave back 0.03% to 94.75 despite somewhat hawkish remarks from two high-ranking Fed officials on Thursday.
The US has warned the European Commission about demanding billions of dollars over tax avoidance allegations against Apple and other American multinationals.

The US Treasury department said on Wednesday that Brussels was becoming a supranational tax authorityoverriding international agreements on tax reform of its member states.

It also said that Europe was discriminating against US companies as they are using a different set of criteria. The EC denied it was showing bias against US companies in its investigations.

The EC is investigating tax deals granted to US companies for setting up offices in Europe. The commission is set to investigate into an alleged sweetheart tax deal, which Ireland gave technology giant Apple but did not grant to other companies, potentially violating EU state aid rules. A ruling is expected in September.

Apple have said it does not have any special tax deal with the Irish government.

The company came under criticism in the US senate for paying 2% in corporation tax in Ireland. JP Morgan, the investment banker for Apple, said the company could pay about 19bn in back-taxes in a worst case scenario.

The investigation is due to a crackdown in alleged tax evasion as several multinationals such as Amazon and Starbucks are also being investigated by the EC. In 2015 the EC ruled that Starbucks and Fiat were given sweetheart tax deals in the Netherlands.

Robert Stack, a deputy in the US Treasury department, said: "The investigations have global implications as well for the international tax system and the G20's agenda to combat [tax avoidance] while improving tax certainty to fuel growth and investment.

The US Treasury Department said it was considering potential responses if the EC continues its present course about international tax agreements.
Save my User ID and Password

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.
Three takeaways from the Blue Jackets' 4-0 loss to the Bruins

columbus blue jackets
A man on parole and with an active warrant was arrested early Thursday after spending more than five hours in a garage while police suspected he was armed.

Police could be seen taking the man into a squad vehicle at around 1:30 a.m. He was later identified as 35-year-old Jimmy Walker in a Billings Police Department news release.

The release said the standoff followed attempts to contact Walker by probation and parole and the United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as part of an investigation. When law enforcement officials were able to contact the man, he barricaded himself in a garage and refused to speak with officers.

Billings Police arrived at the garage located in a residential neighborhood off North 30th Street and 11th Avenue North at about 8 p.m., according to BPD Sgt. Scott Conrad.

Conrad said the individual in the garage was being investigated when the incident began. The man was on probation, had an active warrant and was believed to be armed, according to BPD Lt. Brian Korell.

A SWAT team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, state parole and probation, and a negotiator with the Billings Police Department also responded to the scene.

Walker surrendered at about 1:25 a.m. and the ATF carried out a search warrant. The investigation is ongoing.
Montana State University Billings will close its child care center on Sept. 9, saying that the operator decided to pull out from business there.

"Bright Horizons wasn't able to financially make it solvent," said Aaron Clingingsmith, director of MSUB university relations and communications.

A Massachusetts-based company, Bright Horizons has operated the William R. Lowe Child Care and Enrichment Center for three years on the west side of the university campus. MSUB owns the property and gave placement preference to students with children, Clingingsmith said.

Bright Horizons did not return calls for comment.

The center could handle up to 50 children. The most recent count was 19 children of students and six children of staff or faculty, according to the university. The remaining slots were open to community members.

Clingingsmith said that after the decision came down two weeks ago, the university sent out notifications to students, staff and faculty members to let them know of the closure.

He said university administrators looked at contracting with another operator, as well as running the facility itself. Bright Horizons handled the staffing and daily business, and Clingingsmith said that the university wasn't able to take on those costs.

"We looked at it thoroughly and realized we couldn't make it happen," he said.

The university is in the final phase of a $4.4 million budget reduction over two years, which was spurred by dropping enrollment.

Clingingsmith said that the university will not re-purpose the building in the short term, and officials are open to offers from operators.

The announcement comes six weeks after St. Vincent Healthcare decided to close its child care center, cutting 49 employees.
New Mount Si High will sit atop 4,800 stone columns

Poor soils forced designers to get creative. The 3-foot-diameter columns will filter groundwater drainage and protect against earthquakes.



By BORIS SRDAR and MATT RUMBAUGH

NAC Architecture

Srdar

Rumbaugh

From its early beginnings as a small farming community, the Snoqualmie Valley has been home to continued entrepreneurial growth.

Starting with a boom in logging operations to funding and building their own railroad followed by opening the second all-electric lumber mill in the nation, the residents of the Snoqualmie Valley have established a closely connected community that values progress and is founded on innovation.

It comes as no surprise that the Snoqualmie Valley School District also maintains a commitment to continual improvement. Their focus on developing and sustaining great teaching in every school not only prepares students for college and their career, but fosters innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.

So when it came time for the district to rebuild and expand Mount Si High School to accommodate their growing student population, it was this philosophy that drove their vision. They wanted a new facility that supported the long-term educational needs in the valley and celebrated their rich history of innovation and progress. And they needed to partner with an experienced design team to do it.

Community input

Image courtesy of NAC Architecture [enlarge] Mount Si High is scheduled to begin construction next spring. The school will serve 2,300 students.

NAC Architecture and the Snoqualmie Valley School District began their initial feasibility evaluation for the project in 2013. The team collaboratively engaged in various studies, preliminary planning and early schematics until 2015, when they embarked on a comprehensive conceptual design for the new school.

Guided by well-known educational planner Frank Locker, more than 30 committed teachers, students, parents and district administrators came together to apply the districts vision to reality while accommodating emerging trends in teaching and learning.

The district also confirmed their design philosophy and vision by using the platform Thoughtexchange to gather input from thousands of interested stakeholders. The result? A forward-thinking design that supports educational, emotional and social needs of each student while serving as an icon for the industrial progress of the valley.

Half-size site

The new high school combines a series of small learning communities with centrally located shared spaces that encourage interaction. A progressive, STEM-based environment will give students an interdisciplinary, project-based experience as they prepare for college.

The original school maintained a separate building for ninth graders to provide an easier transition into high school. This has been extremely well received by students, teachers and parents, and the new school will also have a separate building for freshmen.

Once complete, the school will accommodate 2,300 students in a 355,000-square-foot facility on a 34-acre site. Thats half the size of a typical campus for this large of a school.

On top of that, the site is located in a floodway, across the street from a wetland, and down the road from the Snoqualmie River. Needless to say, extremely poor soil conditions are present.

Because the project will be placing a large facility in such a confined space, a unique solution was necessary to address the sites compact buildable area.

The resulting design features three stories of academic programming elevated above one level of partially below-grade parking, maximizing the usable space within tight site constraints. This also created the opportunity for a large open plaza above a portion of the parking level to provide an outdoor gathering place with sweeping views of the Cascades. Additionally, this design requires less construction time than previously anticipated.

The new facility will be built adjacent to the existing school footprint rather than on top of it, allowing use of the original building for the majority of construction. The five-year phased schedule was reduced to about three since there was no need to coordinate demolition with new construction while school was in session.

Not only is this a significant time and cost saving for the district, but it creates the least amount of disruption to Mount Si students and staff.

Stone columns

Addressing the poor soil conditions also required research and creativity. The soils are prone to liquefaction and will need to support the multistory school structure.

A series of studies were conducted, including hydrology, wetland, archeological, historical and hazardous materials evaluations. It was determined the best way to support the building was to install a series of stone columns  more than 4,800 of them  to reinforce the ground beneath the school.

The compact crushed rock columns are 3 feet in diameter and will penetrate 51 feet beneath the foundation of the building. The columns will filter groundwater drainage and provide protection against seismic activity. This system is being installed in advance of construction to ensure the site is ready to build in the spring of 2017.

The new Mount Si Highs design has already been recognized as a comprehensive response to a complex puzzle of challenges. Due to these complexities, a number of phased civil projects are being done ahead of time to prepare the site for construction.

Demolition of existing residential buildings and playfields is complete, a contractor will soon be getting the site pad-ready, and the stone column system is currently out for bid.

All this early preparation work will guarantee that the site is pad-ready when it goes out to bid to general contractors in January.

The Mount Si High School replacement project was born out of an engaged school community that wanted a first-class, 21st-century educational experience for their students, and is being driven by the Snoqualmie Valley School Boards vision to become the best school district in Washington.

With Superintendent Joel Aunes desire to make that happen and a passionate design and project team that supports this goal, the new Mount Si High will truly embody what the Snoqualmie Valley community is known for: forward-thinking, innovation, and progress. And it is a forerunner for a growing trend in K-12 facility design, where creative uses of much smaller sites than what we have typically seen will be paramount for sustainable development.

Boris Srdar and Matt Rumbaugh are principals at NAC Architecture. NAC Architecture is an award-winning design firm with offices in Seattle, Spokane and Los Angeles.













Other Stories:
How to design a school restroom that works for everyone

Its not just transgender students who want privacy. Some schools are replacing gang-style restrooms with gender-inclusive restrooms that have fully enclosed toilet rooms and shared sink areas.



By JOANN HINDMARSH WILCOX and KURT HAAPALA

Mahlum Architects

Wilcox

Haapala

Recent laws, federal directives and high-profile news stories are shining a light on the day-to-day challenges transgender citizens face with using public restroom facilities, and raising questions about civil rights protections and fundamental issues of basic human dignity.

This debate has considerable impact on physical environments across the education spectrum. How do the various toilet or shower needs of building users  be they elementary school, high school or university students, faculty or staff, parents or the public  be met with both dignity and fairness?

While the transgender movement (a phrase that actually encompasses the full LGBTQ community) may be illuminating the issue, toilet privacy affects a much broader group. Each person  whether transgender students and staff or the many non-transgender people who have toilet needs they do not wish to make public  deserves to take care of his, her or their most private human needs without questions from others.

This concept  enhancing equity through privacy  is a basic human right that primary, secondary and higher education institutions can uphold through thoughtful design solutions when retrofitting or building new facilities.

Cost fears

Images courtesy of Mahlum Architects [enlarge] A renovation slated to finish in 2019 will make all the restrooms at Grant High School in Portland gender-inclusive.

[enlarge] A floor plan for a gender-inclusive restroom at the University of Oregon. Students said they wanted inclusive restrooms throughout campus.

When equitable toilet design in the United States was standardized via the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990, accessible toilet designs typically resulted in an individual (single occupant) room. In some cases, families with young children or adult caregivers were accommodated with family-style bathrooms.

In Washington and Oregon, additional statutes protect equal access to all genders, but for school districts with limited budgets, established facilities and deep-rooted social practices, relinquishing the traditional bathroom model is daunting.

Until recently, restroom design had almost become an afterthought for architects. Rows of stalls opposite rows of wash basins were designated only for males or for females. Such designs involved predictable plumbing, mechanical exhaust, and fixture costs.

Alternative design strategies that provide adequate numbers of individual toilet rooms can exponentially increase costs through additional plumbing, ductwork, square footage and ADA compliance, as well as invalidate some USGBC LEED points.

Colleges and universities may more easily implement equitable bathroom designs than K-12 school districts because users are older, more diverse, spread across many buildings, and tend toward critical thinking and open-mindedness. With their 24/7 occupancy, residence halls tend toward more equitable toilets and showers, but fear remains that enhanced design solutions will escalate costs, consume space, and drive up room rates.

Toilets and showers in residence halls have traditionally been grouped by gender per floor or per community, but this limits a campuss flexibility to fill empty bedrooms. Suite-style bathrooms serving smaller clusters of students potentially mitigate gender-segregated restrooms, but can cost more.

Even as schools, colleges and universities plan for more equitable restroom design, building codes have not yet caught up. Most jurisdictions determine required restrooms by calculating a ratio of women to men for typical occupancy. Some localities have altered the ratios, but the results are similar.

To meet ADA requirements, one larger, more private stall is included per floor or area. To save costs or preserve a sense of cleanliness, this usually doubles as the staff bathroom, a transgender accommodation, or is locked for approved users only. However, such policies connote these restrooms as separate or different especially among young students just learning to navigate social customs and are keen to fit in with their peers.

Within this multi-layered context, Mahlum has developed solutions with several clients to design toilets, showers and restroom facilities that meet the needs of transgender and non-transgender people alike, affording enhanced function and privacy.

Alternative solutions

Mercer Island School District wanted their kindergarteners to be accommodated throughout the new Northwood Elementary School. To meet this desired flexibility and maximize restroom equity, the design team placed individual toilet rooms across from classrooms in many places on each floor, rather than include singular toilet banks at the end of halls.

Since the district intends to keep them unlocked and available to all students, the solution offers toilet equity while boosting program flexibility, reducing time lost to toilet transitions, decreasing opportunities for bullying, and increasing feelings of inclusion.

For the renovation and expansion of the historic Grant High School in the Portland Public School District, Mahlums design solution will go even further.

In 2013, Grant had 10 students who openly identified as transgender, according to school administrators. Since one of the top reasons transgender students drop out is because they feel uncomfortable or unsafe going to the bathroom at school, administrators prioritized toilet equity in their existing facility.

Four student bathrooms and two staff bathrooms  all individual rooms  were designated as gender-inclusive. As a result of their popularity with all students, providing equitable toilet facilities with enhanced privacy for all 1,700 students became an essential directive in Mahlums redesign of Grant, which began in 2015.

In the teams solution, all existing gang-style bathrooms will disappear  replaced by individual toilet rooms with full doors open to a shared space for wash basins and drinking fountains. Two ways in and out eliminate the feeling of going into a dead-end room, increasing safety and security. Use by staff and students will further enhance safety.

Signed with a simple pictorial representation of a toilet, not the ubiquitous his (pants), hers (skirt), or their (both), the toilet room is open for use by all. When the renovation is complete in 2019, Grant High School will become the first in the district  and one of the few in the nation  to house 100 percent inclusive bathrooms.

Shower rooms

Sackett Hall, a 1960s-era residence hall at Oregon State University, has been a workhorse facility for University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS), providing students with smaller-scale communities of 16 students per floor. Only one gang-style restroom and shower facility served each floor, so UHDS could assign each floor to either males or females.

Mahlum worked with UHDS to reconfigure the restrooms to enhance privacy and ADA access. The new spaces incorporate toilet rooms built with real walls, shower rooms complete with benches and changing areas, and lockable door hardware.

This solution not only allowed us to create more inclusive spaces and broaden access, but we were also able to maintain strong community culture, especially for our first-year communities, says Patrick Robinson, associate director of Facilities Maintenance & Construction for UHDS at Oregon State University.

The restrooms have been broadly well received and the design is currently used to inform our approach as we work to modernize and retrofit our legacy facilities.

For a new residence hall currently under construction at University of Oregon, student listening sessions revealed a strong desire for gender-inclusive living units with private bathrooms, as well as visible equity and inclusion in ground-level public restrooms and common areas. As a result, 100 percent private toilet rooms and community lavatories are provided for all study, maker/hacker and academic spaces, as well as community kitchens.

Monitoring behavior

Individual toilet stalls can provoke lingering behavioral concerns for administrators, who desire ways to passively monitor behavior. However, truly universal restrooms, where staff use the same facilities as students, permit more effective passive monitoring. Boys and girls are not left alone  instead they interact with each other and with adults with less segregation  a dynamic that often occurs at home and is commonplace outside the U.S.

Using the toilet is one of humanitys most essential needs. It is also one of our most private acts, with the power to affect self-esteem, health and security. Creating inclusive toilets in schools and universities makes sense for everyone for every reason because the long-term value is so much greater than meeting the needs of a few individuals.

As we struggle with understanding what communities need and how to meet federal regulations, we must quickly find a design vocabulary, inclusive iconography and code guidelines that reflect best practices. And most of all, we must place equity and human dignity at the center of these conversations.

JoAnn Hindmarsh Wilcox is an associate principal at Mahlum Architects and a lead designer for its K-12 studio. Kurt Haapala is a partner at Mahlum and an industry leader in the planning and design of student life and housing facilities.













Other Stories:
School projects in remote Alaskan villages face tall hurdles

Since construction sites are completely off the road system, building materials must be delivered by barge. If materials dont make it in the summer before the rivers start to freeze, construction can be delayed an entire year.



By DALE SMYTHE

Stantec

Smythe

Schools in rural Alaska face some of the harshest conditions on earth: below-zero temperatures, wind, snow, driving rain and melting permafrost.

And these villages, home for many Alaska natives, are so remote that there are no roads to the communities. Even planning the delivery of construction materials is a massive undertaking.

Designing these facilities takes a unique approach suited for their unique settings. The addition of a K-12 school is traditionally the largest, most expensive and most important building in the village.

When it comes to designing these schools, multiple factors are considered, including schedule, community involvement, the buildings foundation, energy costs and sustainability. The schools must last 30 to 50 years in an inhospitable environment. Every decision is critical to meeting that goal.

A shipping challenge

A successful project starts with the right schedule.

Photos courtesy of Stantec [enlarge] The K-12 school in Quinhagak underwent a renovation and 30,000-square-foot addition.

[enlarge] The renovated ceiling mimics a smoke hole common in some traditional Alaska native dwellings.

Since the villages, which typically have 200 to 900 residents, are completely off the road system, all building materials are barged to the construction site. Frequently, barges are loaded in Seattle and shipped directly to the community.

Everything from trusses and toilets to siding and screws must be transported in the short summer shipping window. Once the rivers begin to freeze in September, deliveries end. If the materials arent in the village, it could delay construction for an entire year.

In Koliganek (population 209), a recent low-snow winter left the Nushagak River level too low to get the oceangoing barge to the site. The building materials sat 60 miles away. To keep construction on track, all materials were transferred to smaller boats that ran up and down the river for three weeks. Mother Nature complicated the project, but a creative solution allowed construction to proceed unhindered.

The village heart

In urban settings, there are frequently multiple schools and other large government and commercial buildings. In rural Alaska, the school is the main facility. It may be one of just a few nonresidential buildings in the village.

All students in grades kindergarten through 12 attend classes at the school. But the building is much more than a center for education, it is the heart of the community.

A village school is home to weddings, funerals and potlatches. Village elders teach traditional life skills to younger generations. And the community gathers at the school for social events and meetings.

Meeting with community members helps designers create a school that is not only technically, but culturally, appropriate. For example, in Quinhagak (population 699), a 30,000-square-foot addition to the school includes a new gymnasium. The old gym was renovated into a multi-cultural room. Instead of simply covering up the high ceilings, the design makes use of the space and incorporates features that mimic traditional native Alaskan dwellings with a smoke hole.

Weathering climate change

Soil conditions vary widely across Alaska. In some areas, traditional fill is almost nonexistent. In others, global warming is melting permafrost, creating ground that is constantly shifting.

Of five recent major school projects in western Alaska designed by Stantec, only one is built on a traditional slab foundation. Close collaboration between architects, civil and geotechnical engineers is essential for the schools to be on solid footing.

In Kwethluk (population 753), the entire village is at risk of flooding from the Kuskokwim River and its tributaries. To protect the new 45,500-square-foot school, the school is designed to sit on driven piles that put the first floor nearly 11 feet above ground. Discussions with community residents helped influence the final design to keep the school high and dry.

Climate change is directly affecting many of Alaskas coastal villages. Design decisions are being made with climate change and resiliency in mind.

In the village of Kwigillingok (population 321), the new school is built on a thermopile foundation, a passive system that requires no energy use and protects the permafrost. The thermopiles transfer winter temperatures deep into the soil, freezing the ground around them. The frozen ground keeps the building foundation solid even as summer temperatures rise and some of the icy soil melts. The following winter the process starts again.

Using thermopiles turns the typical Alaska construction schedule on its end. To function properly, the thermopiles were installed mid-winter. Once the ground was fully frozen, the contractors started to build the 16,000-square-foot school addition.

While we dont know how the climate will have changed in 50 years, as designers we are creating resilient schools now.

Elevator vs. fuel costs

Most people cringe when they see increasing gasoline prices. Imagine if you were budgeting to provide heat, hot water and electricity for a school. And you could expect fuel oil to cost $7 to $8 a gallon, three times what it currently costs in Seattle.

[enlarge] Building materials for this school had be transferred from a barge to smaller boats, then transported another 60 miles to the site.

[enlarge] The Koliganek K-12 School has a 17,000-square-foot floor plan to serve a community of around 200 people. This room was designed for multiple uses, including lunch and home economics.

Decisions made during the design phase can help minimize those costs.

For example, in Kwethluk, the design team and the Lower Kuskokwim School District focused on a multi-story design instead of a traditional single-story school that is common in most villages. A second floor requires an ADA-compliant elevator, which added $70,000 to the construction price tag. However, the added expense of the elevator is offset by fuel savings over the life of the school  potentially $700,000 or more.

Focus on function

Sustainability is a common design consideration for all new projects.

In rural Alaska, sustainable isnt simply a focus on LEED credits, its critical to the everyday function of the building. While green-building principles are often applied to the design, day-to-day functionality in harsh conditions is paramount. Currently, rainwater harvesting and heat recovery are two sustainable methods being implemented in the villages.

Kwigillingok is on the western coast of Alaska, on the banks of the Kwigillingok River and surrounded by marshes. Despite all the nearby water, there was no water utility service to the old school.

The old school pulled water from ponds near the site, but the quality and availability was unreliable. The new school includes full water and wastewater treatment facilities.

Additionally, rainwater is collected off 6,000 square feet of specially coated metal roofing. It is stored in a 500-gallon cistern inside the building where it is partially filtered prior to joining the schools treatment system.

In New Stuyahok (population 529), the new school was built in 2007, but just recently a secondary project was completed that will help reduce the schools heating bill. The project, 12 years in the planning, uses heat recovery from the communitys diesel-fueled electric generators to heat the school.

The new school and the community generator locations were intentionally selected years ago during concept planning. Waste heat from the generators cooling system is piped underground and connected via heat exchangers to the schools heating system. When the system comes online this year, school officials anticipate saving $50,000 to $60,000 annually at current fuel prices.

Educators are tasked with the formidable challenge of teaching the next generation. As designers, we are challenged to help create the best physical environment for education. When that environment is in rugged, rural Alaska it takes a unique approach for a most unique land!

Dale Smythe is a lifelong Alaskan and a senior architect at Stantec. He is the project manager on all of the school projects mentioned.













Other Stories:
If Billings wants more airline flights, Billings people must use our airport.

That advice to the business community came from Trina Froehlich, a consultant who Billings Logan International Airport has tapped to help meet the needs of our growing city. Froehlich, from the Oregon firm of Mead & Hunt, addressed about 150 people at a Wednesday meeting organized by Billings Chamber of Commerce and Big Sky Economic Development. Her presentation was bullish on Billings.

You have excellent service, Froehlich said, backing that assertion up with data:

In the first quarter of this year, airfares from Billings dropped an average of 2 percent from a year earlier while fares at the average small U.S. airport increased 1 percent. (Fares at large hub airports were down 4 percent.)

Billings airfares are consistently below the average one-way fare from Bozeman, but higher than the U.S. average.

Fewer turboprops and regional jet flights are serving Billings, but flights have increased on larger narrow-body jets. This trend is nationwide, driven in part by a shortage of pilots.

With 29 daily departures, Billings offers 366 connections worldwide, including 171 unique domestic destinations and 15 unique international connections.

On a per capita basis, Billings has more airline seats available than Idaho Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Boise or Great Falls. It has slightly fewer seats per capita than Spokane, Missoula or Bozeman.

Both flight capacity and passenger load show consistent, positive growth trends.

Airports must constantly change to keep up with travel demand, technology and security, Billings airport director Kevin Ploehn told the group. This winter, the Billings airport will undergo a comprehensive redesign to replace most of the 1972 terminal section. Construction on the revamped airport could be complete as early as 2019.

Some small projects will begin within weeks. The inadequate restrooms on B Concourse will be replaced with more toilets, each in a private room with a sink. Once the restroom renovation is finished, the airport will construct a food concession on the B Concourse, which currently has none.

UPS will be upgrading its airport freight facilty starting next week, Ploehn said. The project will enclose the freight handling area so workers and packages are indoors. When it comes to flying freight, Billings is probably the busiest airport in Montana.

Weve all heard stories about Billings people driving to Bozeman to catch a cheaper flight. The data show very few people actually make that drive. Ninety-six percent of Billings travelers choose to fly out of Billings, only 4 percent go to Bozeman. Similarly, 3 percent of Bozeman passengers drive to Billlings to catch their flights.

Froehlich had encouraging information about Billings prospects to land direct, nonstop American Airlines service to Dallas. Airline profits are up, so the industry is poised for growing service. If the American flight that started serving Bozeman in June is successful, that will improve Billings chances, she said.

Service to Dallas-Fort Worth would open up better Billings connections to southern and eastern destinations, Froehlich said. Having direct, nonstop service is also a plus as Billings tries to recruit new businesses whose home office is in Dallas.

Landing a new airline really does require incentives. Bozeman put up $1.6 million to lure that American flight. Billings recently has put together a similar package, with a federal grant and local business organizations making commitments. The package includes marketing and revenue guarantees. Over the past year or so, Billings has stepped up marketing the community and airport with Visit Billings taking a leading role.

Airlines want to see a business community thats involved and going to use the service, Froehlich said. The way to get more service is to use existing service.

When the audience was asked who planned to fly out of Billings in the next 60 days, most people raised a hand. These savvy community members must spread the word: Flying from Billings is a good deal.
Lynden Elementary: from concept to completion in 22 months flat

Cooperation from local decision-makers helped the design team stick to a fast-track schedule.



By DENNIS ERWOOD and STEVE LEE

Studio Meng Strazzara

Erwood

Lee

Students in the northwestern corner of Washington will begin their academic year in September 2017 in a brand new school completed an entire year earlier than expected.

The facility will complete construction just 22 months after the design began. Thats much less than a typical project of its kind.

The current Fisher Elementary School is a 550-student facility located just 5 miles from the Canadian border in the town of Lynden. The new school will be constructed around the existing one and will be 20,000 square feet larger to support the growing community.

The new school will include 28 classrooms spread across two floors, shared learning and project areas as well as a library, commons and administration offices. The building has been designed to Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol standards and will have a variety of energy-efficient strategies. Its new placement on the site highlights views to an existing greenbelt.

Delivering construction documents for the 66,000-square-foot facility in seven months is the result of a well-thought-out and executed project plan, a strong and supportive team of experts and stakeholders, and a commitment to designing efficient schools.

A new option

At the start of the project, the Lynden School District was planning to replace its middle school first, after which the elementary students would be moved into the old middle school while the new elementary school was constructed.

Our team presented a new option: Build the new elementary school on the existing schools site. After careful evaluation of the existing site plan, coupled with our experience working on already-occupied sites, the district accepted this change of approach.

Image courtesy of Studio Meng Strazzara [enlarge] Fisher Elementary broke ground last month in Lynden. The 66,000-square-foot school is slated to open in September 2017.

The result will allow the development of the middle and elementary schools autonomously, save money on escalation and moving costs, and help deliver the new facility sooner. It also means that students will not have to endure the disruption of moving.

The district used the saved money to fund an additional 4,000 square feet for a large gymnasium for use by both the school and the surrounding community.

Fast-track decisions

For a fast-tracked project like this to work, its imperative that key decision-makers respond quickly and cohesively. For this project, key stakeholders were brought together to make real-time decisions. This included having the districts participation in regularly scheduled design meetings and focusing on maximizing their time to decide on solutions.

Because of the cooperative effort between the Lynden School District superintendent and the Fisher Elementary principal, the design team was able to put the project out to bid in June, only seven months after concept design began. The project bid under budget at $233 per square foot.

To further fast-track efforts, design ideas, plans and processes were shared with the city and local jurisdictions early and proactively to aid in response times and minimize the wait time that comes from multiple revisions.

Also crucial to helping the design team making decisions quickly and keeping the project moving forward was the use of building-information modeling in communication with the district. Weekly coordination meetings brought the team together to check for inconsistencies in the model and to keep the entire team on the same page through design changes.

Local design partner

Going beyond the tools and processes outlined in the project plan, the projects success was due in large part to the partnership between Seattle-based Studio Meng Strazzara and Bellingham-based Zervas Architects.

Both firms brought to the project an expertise in school design and construction and each firms strengths and assets were leveraged for maximum efficiency. Studio Meng Strazzara and Zervas collaborated throughout the design process then facilitated the creation of the construction documents, which required fast turnaround.

The project is now under construction, with Zervas Architects managing construction administration, as the firms nearby location allows them fast access to the site to address any needs and provide regular updates to the team.

More efficient design

In conjunction with a detailed project plan and strong team, we focused on designing for efficiencies. After touring several newer schools and speaking with the teachers and administrators within those schools, we focused on which spaces were most successful and how best to integrate them within our design.

While the original educational specifications did not include shared learning spaces, our team worked to streamline support and custodial spaces, and by doing so was able to provide the needed square footage to accommodate the new shared areas.

Six flexible learning spaces were incorporated within classroom groupings, as well as a project space adjacent to the library. The project space allows for further breakout for the teachers, and will also be utilized by the librarian for additional curriculum.

Green design

As part of the effort to design and construct the school in just 22 months, the team focused on using resources and expertise available in the area.

Wood framing allowed for a faster construction schedule, and was an important part of the design to create a more natural aesthetic that matches the site and surrounding area. Not only is it more cost effective, but local labor has experience constructing buildings with wood, reducing subcontractors brought in from outside of the area and saving time.

Passive sustainable methods, including the buildings orientation, clerestory windows, operable windows and displacement ventilation, will provide a well-lit and healthy environment for learning, and all flooring and paint finished are low-VOC. The common areas and cafeteria are oriented to take advantage of the greenbelt located behind the school, and provide a visual connection to nature that the existing building is lacking.

Colacurcio Brothers Construction Co. broke ground in July and the school is scheduled to open for classes in September 2017.

Principal Dennis Erwood and Director Steve Lee lead the education studio at the Seattle-based architecture and design firm Studio Meng Strazzara.













Other Stories:
Dark, maze-like student union gets a big makeover

Construction begins this fall to renovate Eastern Washington Universitys confusing Pence Union Building.



By ANTHONY GIANOPOULOS

Perkins+Will

Gianopoulos

Called one of the 20 most appalling excuses for architecture on college campuses by MSNBC, the Pence Union Building at Eastern Washington University has been described by students as dark, confusing and maze-like, and well in need of an upgrade.

The Seattle and Boston offices of Perkins+Will set out to transform the aged and irrelevant student union into a state-of-the-art, light-filled and amenity-rich space, creating a home away from home for students at EWU.

The Pence Union Building (PUB) redesign uses the existing footprint of the original 120,000-square-foot building, built in 1968. The renovation focuses on the areas of highest need and maximum benefit as identified by the students themselves, including safety, sustainability, wayfinding and a well-lit open floor plan.

Contemporary redesign

The PUBs original architecture was based on trends from prevailing student union models of its time, with cast concrete and brick walls, small windows and discrete, private areas to accommodate small groups of students.

Images by Studio 216 [enlarge] A plaza and expansive glass entry will welcome students.

The redesign turns the 1968 approach on its heels and creates an easy-to-navigate, open-concept layout that is infused with natural light and supports a rich array of spaces in which students can interact, work, eat, study, lounge and socialize. Just a few highlights of the new PUB design include:

 A spacious and natural light-filled atrium with central staircases that provide wide, safe steps for a range of seating options and plenty of outlets for laptops and electronics.

 A modernized multipurpose room with a small stage, sound equipment and acoustical fixtures for music performances and speaking engagements.

 New Associated Students of Eastern Washington University offices with open workspaces and areas for collaboration.

 Student club suites, student conference rooms and other student services that are visible from the central atrium to encourage students to connect and engage with one another.

 A computer lab/lounge and media mini-lab supporting student printing, computer and audiovisual needs.

 A new green roof with an artistic array of local, drought-resistant plants and shrubs.

 A game room with pool, foosball, pingpong and plug-and-play video gaming stations.

 An open market with grab-and-go groceries and healthy food options.

 A spacious dining area that wraps the atrium with a variety of eating and lounge seating options.

Less fortress-like

Food service was not part of the original facility in 1968, so in 1994 a second building was added to provide dining options for students. But while the two buildings were joined and the entrance to the union was reconfigured, no significant renovations were made. The result was a mishmash of two buildings from different architectural eras coming together with little aesthetic unity inside or out.

[enlarge] A grand staircase will connect the east and west entries and provide seating.

Perkins+Will decided to use this mishmash as an advantage, both in the creative approach to the redesign and as a cost-saving strategy for the client.

The design keeps the floors and walls of the two buildings intact and essentially cuts a hole in the middle of both, filling the space with a huge atrium. This allowed for more than 50 percent of the structure to be saved, bringing the cost per square foot down from more than $350 per square foot (for comparable student unions) to $250 per square foot.

In addition to saving the client money, the design of the atrium is intended to break up the fortress-like effect of the existing building and infuse it with natural light.

New staircase

Located at the epicenter of a high-traffic area, the newly redesigned PUB also addresses pedestrian safety concerns via a highly visible front door at both ends of the building.

[enlarge] This main corridor will get lots of daylight, opening up the building and connecting student activities on different floors.

A new staircase serves as a gateway for students passing from the academic end of campus to the residential halls on the other side. Welcoming, pedestrian-friendly plazas feature outdoor seating locations for meeting friends or enjoying a quick meal. Visitors will have sight lines through the building to the wide array of activities and programs inside.

The redesigned commuter lounge offers a comfortable, fun space for students to hang out, study and wait for the bus. It has overstuffed chairs for lounging, individual tables for plug-in computer stations and a large coffee bar that allows students to grab a beverage or quick snack. This lounge will also provide a much-needed late night venue for food and recreation.

With construction of the redesigned PUB kicking off this fall, it is slated for completion in spring 2018 when it will open its modern-day doors to students at EWU.

Anthony Gianopoulos is principal and director of operations with the Seattle office of global design and architecture firm Perkins+Will.













Other Stories:
Subscriber content preview

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Japan's ambassador to the U.S. says his country has authorized $2 million to support a feasibility study on building a high-speed train between Baltimore and Washington.

Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae made the announcement Wednesday after signing a memorandum of cooperation between Japan and Maryland with Gov. Larry Hogan. The agreement formalizes trade relations between the state and Japan.





. . .
Subscriber content preview

By JOE McDONALD

AP Business Writer

BEIJING  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.





. . .
Dwindling Egyptian cotton output to blame for Welspun's woes?

The scandal involving the alleged sale of falsely labelled Egyptian cotton products by textile manufacturer Welspun India to US big box retailers highlights a stiff reality facing the high-end fibre market: there isn't much Egyptian cotton any more (See: Bed Bath joins Target, other US buyers in Welspun probe).

The shortage of cotton from Egypt, which commands a premium due to its superior quality, creates an incentive to blend it with other types of cotton without disclosing it or to counterfeit the label altogether, cotton traders said, exacerbating a problem that has plagued the industry for years, reports Reuters.

Welspun India has lost 42 per cent of its market value in the three days since Target Corp said it would sever ties with the textile manufacturer, one of the world's largest, accusing it of substituting cheaper, non-Egyptian cotton into sheets and pillowcases.

Egyptian cotton is prized because much of it is "long staple" or "extra long staple," meaning the length of the cotton fibres is longer, resulting in a finer, lighter more durable fabric and longer-lasting, higher-end clothing.

While other countries including the United States and Australia produce larger quantities of high-end cotton than Egypt, cotton from the North African country has retained its prestige because of a long history growing the crop.

But Egypt's cotton output has been declining for the past decade after farmers failed to adapt to shifting consumer demand for mass-produced items made from short- or medium-staple fiber, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The decline has become a full-fledged crisis in recent years after the government removed cash subsidies, and many farmers replaced cotton acreage with rice, the USDA said.

Egypt will produce just 160,000 480-lb bales of cotton in 2016-17, down from 1.4 million bales as recently as 2004-05, accounting for less than 0.2 per cent of expected global output.

This means some products marketed as containing Egyptian cotton almost certainly do not, or are blended with other types of cotton without proper disclosure, Jordan Lea, chairman and co-owner of cotton merchant Eastern Trading in Greenville, South Carolina, told Reuters.

"If you look at the volume of Egyptian goods that are for sale, and you look at the volume of Egyptian cotton that's produced, it would lead one to scratch one's head," Lea said.

Long and extra long staple cotton is rare - it makes up just 2.5 per cent of annual world cotton production of more than 100 million bales, according to the USDA - and trades at a substantial premium.

US extra long staple cotton, or "pima," trades for 152.25 cents per lb, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data, a 125 per cent premium over cotton prices on ICE Futures US, a contract that accepts cotton of a "strict low middling staple length".

Ron Lawson, a cotton industry veteran and broker with LOGIC Advisors in Sonoma, California, said he had "no idea" what Egyptian cotton prices were, which he said showed how much of a "novelty" item the fibre was.

Improper labelling of cotton products including clothing and bedding is a violation of the U.S. Textile Act and Rules, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

An FTC spokesman declined to comment to Reuters on whether the agency was aware of Target's allegations or had started an investigation.

Only one of three

Egypt's cotton association appears to be aware of widespread counterfeiting. In April, its executive director told trade publication Home and Textiles Today that it had tested retail products labeled 'Egyptian cotton' and found that 90 per cent contained no Egyptian cotton at all.

The Cotton Egypt Association lists Welspun as one of just three companies permitted to label its products with the association's "Gold Seal," which was launched earlier this year and is meant to ensure authenticity.

Mukesh Saviani, a Welspun executive, told the trade publication in February that the seal was "an assurance to retailers that they will not get into any compliance issues."

The scandal could leave big US retailers wary of dealing with products labelled Egyptian cotton, potentially providing a boon to growers of US Pima cotton in places like California and Arizona.

"The Supima boys are doing backflips and pirouettes on their desks right now," Lawson said, referring to an association that provides a trademark indicating cotton products come from 100 per cent American Pima cotton.
French shipbuilder DCNS said today it is investigating the leak of 22,500 pages of data on the six Scorpene submarines that it is building in Mumbai for the Indian Navy. The manufacturer said the leak could be the work of competitors who it beat for the large Australian contract. India is meanwhile investigating the extent to which secrets about the submarines being built have been compromised. French shipbuilder DCNS designed the submarines in a $3.5-billion deal with India. India will ask DCNS for a report on the leak; sources in the Navy said, adding that the information was disclosed outside India. The leak was first reported in The Australian newspaper. Ship maker DCNS has a nearly $38-billion contract with Australia, but the leak has no mention of the 12 vessels being designed for Australia. "The competition is more and more hard and all means can be used in this context," said a DCNS spokeswoman quoted by news agency Reuters. "It's part of the tools in economic war," she said. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," said India's defence minister Manohar Parrikar, adding that the Navy will present a detailed report to him. French national security authorities are investigating the size, seriousness and cause of the leak. The first of the Scorpenes being built in Mumbai is expected to go into service by the end of the year, the first step in the Navy's effort to rebuild its dwindling submarine fleet. 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. In india, defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday sought a report from the Navy on the leak (See: Scorpene leak: Parrikar seeks report from Navy chief). The Australian put the details of the combat capability of the Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock on its website. The first India-built submarine is expected to go into service by the end of the year. 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. The leaked data include details of the frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence, the 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. French naval contractor DCNS said it may have been the victim of "economic warfare" after secrets of Scorpene submarines were leaked. "I understand there has been a case of hacking," Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened." 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. 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 leaked documents cover the Scorpene-class model and do not contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. The leaked details of the Scorpene submarines creates a strategic problem for India, Malaysia and Chile, all of which operate the same submarine, although Parrikar denied any serious data loss (Alarm bells ring in Navy as Scorpene sub details hacked).http://www.domain-b.com/defence/sea/indian_navy/20160824_hacked.html










Cabinet nod for agreement with Cyprus to avoid double taxation, prevent fiscal evasion

The union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an agreement and the protocol between India and Cyprus for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, in a major step in the fight against tax evasion, 'round tripping' and `base erosion/profit shifting'.

The proposed agreement with Cyprus is in line with the recent amendments to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Mauritius.

As in the case of Mauritius, the treaty with Cyprus 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.

Negotiations with Singapore are also underway for similar changes, a CCEA release stated.


Stock chart of China Vanke Co., Ltd.

Vanke holds its ground, reiterates managements preference for Shenzhen Metro as its white knight | South China Morning Post | scmp.com August 22, 2016: "Vankes founder and chairman Wang Shi and president Yu Liang both skipped the companys Monday earnings press conference in Hong Kong, instead leaving it to other executives to face the media ... the intrigue continues over Vankes control ... the uncertainties are distracting it from the business of building and selling real estate ... As many as 31 of Vankes projects have been affected, and the developer has faced suspensions or even terminations because of uncertainties over the companys future, said Zhang Xu, executive vice president. Some senior staff are heading for the exit ..." See also Shareholder dispute dents China Vanke results | FT.com: "Banks have reduced Vankes access to loans, according to its interim report, and global rating agencies have warned that the groups corporate rating could be affected." See also bloomberg.com video (Aug 21) here.

Evergrande Raises Vanke Stake to 5% by Purchasing More A-Shares | Bloomberg.com August 8, 2016: "Vanke has been at the center of a battle for control since last year when Baoneng Group displaced China Resources (Holdings) Co. as the largest stakeholder. The emergence of Evergrande as a shareholder was among recent twists in a dispute that has drawn scrutiny from Chinas securities regulator."

China Vanke chief Wang Shi raises the stakes | FT.com June 28, 2016: "... In addition to maintaining his sense of humor amid the drama, Mr Wang appears philosophical about it all. In a social media post at the weekend, he noted that sometimes the heavens will rain and brides will run away  a flowery way of saying, in effect, whatever will be will be. The stakes are in fact rather higher than his casual tone suggests. The stage has been set for a remarkable showdown that will test the resolve of the Communist party to stand aside as market forces, depending on its viewpoint, either work their magic or wreak their havoc." See also: Baoneng raises stake in Vanke with $223m sneak attack - FT.com July 6, 2016.

eedback & comments via twitter @DomainMondo

Chinas largest developer,(see stock chart below), has been involved in an eight-month takeover battle for control when conglomerateemerged as Vankes largest shareholder with a 25 per cent stake. To fend off Baoneng, Vankes chairman Wang and his senior management team have sought out, the state-owned city subway operator, as a white knight
A popular Italian travel magazine, called In Viaggio, has dedicated its entire August issue to the island of Ireland and theres a special two page feature on Donegal.

The bumper, 126-page Irlanda 2016 edition will reach more than 39,000 Italian travellers  or potential holidaymakers for Ireland  this month.

Tourism Ireland in Milan, in conjunction with Failte Ireland, invited journalists and a photographer from the magazine to visit last June. The resulting August edition features stunning photography throughout and some great articles  including Gourmet itineraries along the Wild Atlantic Way, which mentions Donegal foodie spots  Bundoran and Ballyshannon, as well as scenic attractions such as the Slieve League Cliffs.

Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Irelands Manager in Italy, said: We are really pleased with the excellent coverage in this months In Viaggio magazine. Its a really good way of showcasing Donegal and the island of Ireland to a large audience of potential Italian visitors. Publicity is an important element of Tourism Irelands overall promotional programme, helping to raise awareness through the Italian media of the many things to see and do on a holiday on the island of Ireland.

Italy is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland and we have seen excellent growth in Italian visitor numbers so far again this year, with the most recent CSO figures for January to June showing a +12% increase. We will continue to roll out an extensive programme of promotions in Italy this autumn, to keep the momentum going and boost business in the shoulder and off-peak season.

Pictures show:

The article featuring Co Donegal in August issue of In Viaggio

The cover of this months Irlanda 2016 special issue of In Viaggio.
There's a rare opportunity to learn about the 6th Century Columban monastery site at Drumhome, Ballintra this Friday evening.

The massive site was discovered three years ago when the Church of Ireland commissioned a survey with a view to building a car park next to the cemetery there.

Archeologists who carried out a preliminary dig at the time said that the site is very extensive and of national importance.

The walk will start from Mullinasole Pier at 6pm where registration will take place. Adults are asked to donate 5 while children go free.

The 3km walk to Drumhome along back roads will be led by Mr. Michael Drumm of Wolfhound Archaeology who will share fascinating snippets of the history of Drumhome en route. He will then give a short talk at walks end on the historical importance of Drumhome as an ancient Columban monastic site c. 560 AD, and the fact it may have been as extensive as Clonmacnoise. Refreshments will be provided for everyone at walks end, courtesy of Mr. Geoffrey McClay.

Drumhome Heritage Group have organised the event as part of National Heritage Week. Ring Danny on 087 759 8627 for more info.
Stench of rotting fish and smoke from wildfires greeted Montana Gov. Steve Bullock along the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley Tuesday  not the sort of welcome anybody wants, especially not at the peak of summer visitor season.

National and international attention is on Yellowstone Park this week. Vacationers and journalists have converged for the 100th anniversary celebration of the National Park Service. An outdoor concert near the Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner is set for tonight. Yellowstone National Park admission will be free through Sunday. Visitor numbers, already at a record high this year, are sure to surge through Labor Day weekend.

Vacationers who planned to watch geysers and grizzlies also will see other forces of nature: drought and wildfire. On Tuesday, the parks south entrance in Wyoming was temporarily closed because of fires burning in Grand Teton National Park. Other fires burned inside Yellowstone Park.

Although the park remains open, the Yellowstone River from Gardiner to Laurel is closed to all recreational uses  boating, fishing and swimming. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks ordered the emergency closure a week ago in an effort to contain an outbreak of a fish-killing disease.

The fish kill coincides with near-record low flows on the river, and near-record high water temperatures  conditions that make fish susceptible to the disease. Travis Horton, FWP regional fisheries manager, said the agency would consider lifting the closure when daytime water peak temperature stays below 55 degrees. When the closure took effect last week, river temperatures were reaching 69 degrees near Livingston. On Tuesday, the high water temperature near Livingston was 65 degrees.

Unfortunately, the daily water flow has dropped. The Yellowstone's median flow for Aug. 23 at Livingston was 3,000 cubic feet per second, Tuesdays flow was only 1,820 cfs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Cooler weather and rain would help the fish. Asked if returning irrigation water to the river would help, Horton said no. Theres not that much water drawn out of the Yellowstone in Paradise Valley, the fisheries manager said.

The Yellowstone River is a lifeline for Park County, where fishing and rafting provide both quality of life and livelihoods for guides, outfitters, merchants, innkeepers and restaurateurs. So far, the disease doesnt appear to have infected trout to the extent it has whitefish and suckers.

Some fly fishermen will relocate to the Madison or the Bighorn rivers, which arent affected by the Yellowstone and tributaries' closure. Some folks who planned to float the river will find good alternatives in hikes and horseback rides. But the river closure coming two weeks before Labor Day will hurt. As Bullock noted on the bank of the Yellowstone Tuesday, outdoor recreation supports about 64,000 Montana jobs and reels in $6 billion in consumer spending annually.

We can hardly overstate the concern warranted by the unprecedented closure of 183 miles of Yellowstone River. All river users must ensure that they arent spreading any parasites from the Yellowstone. Boats, fishing gear, anything that goes in the water must be thoroughly cleaned and dried before entering any of Yellowstone Parks waters, and any Montana waters. Rangers will inspect boats, but individuals must be responsible for themselves.

The parasite poses no known threat to human health, so once the water cools and the disease abates, later season fishing trips can commence.

This unprecedented fish kill is a wake-up call. The state's response must be based on sound science. Montana's quality of life and our economy are at stake.
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.
Home Four wheelers The A8s Are Stalling; Audi Issues A Recall oi-Vishnu

Audi has issued a recall for 1,534 units of the A8 sedans in South Korea due engine stalling issues.

The Transport Ministry said Korea is the first country where Audi was recalling the A8 model for such an issue. Audi is recalling the A8 4.2 FSI Quattro over a coolant leaking problem that can cause the car's engine to stop while driving.

The Transport Ministry ordered for an investigation about the coolant leak in the Audi cars, back in June 2014 following reports from owners. The government confirmed the coolant leak, which enters the Engine Control Unit (ECU) connector, causing a short circuit, thus causing the engine to stall.

After the company's own investigations, Audi Korea issued a technical service announcement to fix the defect free of cost.

Audi is arguing that the problem has not created any serious safety concerns as the short circuit in the ECU activated a dashboard warning signal that gave drivers up to two minutes to safely bring the car to a halt.

The Ministry ensured that the problem in the vehicle is a serious manufacturing fault and created safety concerns. As a result, Audi Korea has issued a recall after deciding with its German headquarters.

The recall has affected 1,534 Audi A8s and the services will be available at Audi service centres. There is no details if cars in other countries are affected too.
The Beartooth Pass reopened completely Thursday morning after its partial closure on Wednesday due to snow, The Montana Department of Transportation announced.

The road runs from Red Lodge to the park's northeast entrance near Cooke City-Silver Gate.

The department warned of wet and slushy conditions atop the nearly 11,000-foot pass.

The Beartooth Pass was closed due to snow about 8:10 p.m. Wednesday from Vista Point on the Montana side of U.S. Highway 212 to Long Lake on the Wyoming side, according to the MDT website.
Dundalgan Press are in the final stages of publishing a collection of short stories by Padraig Pearse to commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising.

The book, An Mhathair agus Scealta Eile, was first published by Henry Godfrey Tempest, eldest son of William Tempest, founder of Dundalgan Press, in 1916 just a few weeks before the Easter Rising.

There was one copy, in a very condition in the National Library, said Liam Gaynor of Dundalgan Press. So we went to the Folklore Department at UCD.Criostoir Mac Carthaigh managed to find one in the university archive.

Another man who helped tremendously with the publication is Liam Mac Mathuna, emeritus professor of Irish at UCD, who is an authority on Padraig Pearse and has played a major role in the preservation of St Endas, the school founded by Pearse.

Liam Gaynor of Dundalgan Press is supervising the publication of the book. Over the past twelve years Liam has helped produce some magnificent publications at Dundalgan.

These included photographic collections of life in Dundalk during the 20th century.

These have proved to be a great historical record of the town. Many of these photographs came from collections that had been hidden away in boxes that nobody knew existed, but Liam managed to discover their owners, or was approached by them, and the results is a remarkable account of the industrial, social, and day-today living of the people of Dundalk from 1910 to 1980.

This of course carries on the Tempest tradition. Harry Tempest was an artist and an author, as well as a publisher.

He was involved in the Gaelic League, which was very strong in Dundalk at the turn of the 20th century.

He was a friend of the artist Arthur Murnan and it was through him that he became acquainted with Padraig Pearse, said Liam. And I believe thats how An Mhathair got published by Tempests.

Of course all great publishers have a story about the one that got away and Tempests is no exception.

Back in the 1940s an unknown farmer from Inniskeen decided to call into Harry Tempest with the manuscript of the novel he had written, under his arm.

He gave it to Harry and went off. A few weeks later he called in.

Well, what did you think of that, said the farmer. Did you feel the buzz?

This was of course Paddy Kavanagh from Inniskeen.

But with great courtesy, Harry Tempest, declined the offer, and Kavanagh went off, no doubt to be consoled with the buzz of a Jameson.

He had more luck round the corner in Earl Street, where The Democrat then lived. The paper published his first poems.

The book was The Green Fool and harry Tempests reluctance to publish it is understandable. Too many people in it sounded remarkably like too many people who were still alive. But that certainly was the one that got away.

Dundalgan Press are now in the process of re-issuing An Mhathair agus Scealta Eile by Padraig Pearse in a special limited edition.

The book consists of six short stories written by Pearse in the Irish language and in the traditional gaelic script. This limited facsimile numbered edition, with the names of subscribers printed in the subscription list, is hand bound and presented in a handmade cloth bound slipcase. It is priced at 100. An ideal Christmas gift.

Twenty-six deluxe copies quarter bound in goat skin and alphabetised A-Z will be presented in a handmade cloth bound slipcase. Price 250.

To reserve your copy contact Dundalgan Press (W Tempest) Industrial Estate Coe's Road Dundalk. Tel: (042) 9335376. Email: info@dundalganpress.ie.
Dundalk Parkrun Ireland will once again link in with Operation Transformation this September as a fresh season of the popular show returns to our televisions creens.

Dundalk 'Parkrun's' Operation transformation ambassador Mary Maher will once again be there to welcome and help anyone coming to parkrun every Saturday morning to complete the program and 5km route which is part of the monthly plan.

In January parkrun nationwide had a huge increase of numbers as people got out and active in their local parkruns and Operation Transformation 2016 registered biggest club world wide. Dundalk seen a huge increase in registrations and numbers attending every Saturday morning in DkIT. The highest attendance was 153 and we would love to see everyone to get out, get active and join us in our weekly friendly event.

The Celebrity Operation Transformation plan will launch on August 22nd. The public are urged to participate from this date and follow one celebrity for the duration of the monthly plan which can be found on the website. RTE One will show how the celebs are getting on every Wednesday evenings at 9.30pm, where Kathryn Thomas will present three one hour episodes commencing on September 7th.

Walkers, joggers and runners are all welcome with all information and registration can be found www.parkrun.ie/dundalk Fill in your details for free, print of your barcode and take it with you on the day to receive your time.

Dundalk parkrun is a free 5km timers route and suitable for all ages and abilities.

Children under 11 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Australian small businesses Frankland Islands Cruises and Intersective are among the first to benefit from Efics new Small Business Export Loan.

The latest finance offering from Australias export finance agency, is designed to meet the needs of small businesses seeking export finance, with a focus on convenience and speed throughout the online application and approval process.

The loan product enables small businesses with an annual revenue between $250,000 and $5 million to access up to $250,000 to support an export contract. The loan is available to small exporters when their main bank is unable to help.

Andrew Hunter, Managing Director & CEO, Efic, said, We are delighted that Frankland Islands Cruises and Intersective are among the first Australian small businesses to take advantage of the Small Business Export Loan, the first of its kind designed especially for small exporters.

Moving the application online through our portal, EficDirect, has allowed us to significantly reduce the cost and time needed for companies to apply for and access export finance, which we know are precious commodities for small business owners.

This is another example of how Efic is supporting small businesses to achieve export success. Small businesses are the heartbeat of the Australian economy, and Efics new loan facility makes it easier for them to compete on a world stage.

Frankland Islands Cruises is a family business that has been taking thousands of people on tour of the Great Barrier Reef since 1992. Now with the Small Business Export Loan (worth A$190,000 from Efic) under their belt, the cruise company was able to purchase new equipment to meet a new export contract with a Japanese company for chartered tours 80 days of the year. This contract now accounts for 30 per cent of the companys revenue.

A key challenge is that marine products are very hard to raise finance for across the board. Our bank was unable to help us meet the Japanese contract. They simply do not lend to marine and boat businesses and were not willing to consider it. We found out about Efic and made contact. From there the process was very easy, said Ron Cusick, CEO, Frankland Islands Cruises.

The online application process was very user friendly. The great thing is that we could pick the payment terms we needed, deciding how quickly we wanted to repay the loan, explains Ron.

I called the helpline a couple of times and found the Efic staff very helpful and easy to work with. Getting an immediate response from them helped me handle the online application without continuing support. Overall, the experience has been very positive.

The Japanese market has been in decline for five years, but this program that Efic helped fund has reversed that incredibly. The spin off has been that a lot of other companies in the area have gained increased Japanese business as a result of the charter program, said Ron.

Intersective, a young company, has a bold goal  to become the worlds leader in experiential education technology. The companys software products and tools make collaboration between students, universities and employers more efficient and effective, helping drive better learning and project outcomes.

A Small Business Export Loan from Efic has allowed Intersective to sign a long-term licensing agreement with a Vietnamese university to provide experiential solutions for their students.

Dealing with Efic was so much more straight forward than dealing with a traditional bank or lender, including grant programs or invoice discounting; all of which we explored, said Suzy Watson, CFO, Intersective.

The whole application process, including the online process, was really quick. From starting the application to getting the funds was a period of less than seven days, and that included a couple of helpful calls from Efic where we might have needed just a little clarity on information required.

The funds provided by Efics loan have helped Intersective scale-up their business faster than planned, Suzy explains, it enabled us to kick that project off quickly, hire ahead of the curve, and be able to tick off all of the legal and economic questions we had around dealing in a cross-border transaction quickly.
The co-working trend is changing the concept of the modern office. Today start-ups, small businesses and even high growth corporates are opting for the flexibility and collaborative opportunities that effective co-working spaces can provide.

She Will Shine was the first permanent, all female co-working space established in Melbourne. Based in Footscray, it attracts women at all stages of business from across Melbourne as it is a hub for collaboration, conversation, connection and productivity.

The idea that to run a professional business you need to work in a professional space underpins She Will Shine co-working, ensuring that it is a place where women can be inspired and motivated to come and work.

If you are considering co-working for your business, here are some things to keep in mind.

Seek Collaboration

Co-working spaces need to be places for conversation and collaboration, thats what sets them apart from shared office spaces.

Co-working also provides a great opportunity to meet business owners from a mix of complementary businesses. Creating genuine connections in this casual environment will foster trustworthy relationships and could lead to future collaborations and business opportunities.

So, before making your choice, take the time to visit and meet some of your potential co-workers and see if there could be a connection.

Accessibility and Convenience

Your chosen co-working space has to be convenient for your lifestyle, because ultimately, if it is too far away, you will dread the daily commute. Ideally, try and find somewhere that can be accessed by public transport, or is close to major freeways with ample on-site parking available.

Being close to the CBD may be convenient for meetings, appointments, public transport or even social outings. However, if your business or lifestyle doesnt require you to be in the CBD, it can often be more convenient to be in surrounding suburbs. Traffic delays can play a huge factor in the time you spend at work, so make sure a potential co-working space is convenient for your lifestyle. Women come to work at She Will Shine HQ because its only a few kilometres from the CBD and parking is easy and affordable. All these elements will affect the experience of attending a co-working space.

Seek Inspiration

The atmosphere of a co-working space is something that should never be underestimated. If you are planning to spend a significant amount of time at a co-working space, its important that it is both functional and inspirational.

Does the co-working space physically meet your workplace needs? Does it lift your mood when you walk in? Does it inspire you and do you feel as though you could happily come to work there every day? Make sure you pick a space that is light and bright and has vibrancy and personality.

It is important to pay a visit and get a feel for the co-working space you are considering. Alternatively, seek out candid shots taken at events held at the space via social media, to get an idea of how things really are behind the scenes.

The co-working trend is showing no signs of abating, but not all co-working communities are alike. Like any investment, its important to do proper research to ensure a co-working space is a good fit and meets your overall business objectives.

About the author

Danielle Price is the founder of professional women in business community She Will Shine, which provides support and networking opportunities through small group sessions, educational workshops and an online support group.
Cloud-based ERP provider JCurve Solutions has gained a firmer foothold in the local market after reaching an agreement with Netsuite that enables it to grow its customer base beyond the small business category.

Previously, JCurve Solutions held the exclusive rights to distribute the small business edition of NetSuites cloud ERP technology in Australia and New Zealand. While this edition could only be sold to businesses with fewer than 20 staff, the expanded partner agreement with Netsuite means JCurve Solutions reseller rights are extended to include businesses of all sizes in the region.

According to JCurve Solutions CEO, Stephen Canning, the new agreement makes the ASX-listed tech company one of the largest NetSuite partners in the ANZ region and will allow it to capitalise on recent revenue growth (89% n FY14/15, 42% during the first half of FY15/16).

For the past seven years, weve been helping small businesses, including those in wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail and professional services, transform their operations using the JCurve edition of NetSuite, Canning told Dynamic Business.

The new agreement means that as our customers grow we can seamlessly upgrade them to NetSuite mid-market editions. Weve built one of the largest NetSuite teams in Australia and we are now looking to build on that expertise to work with businesses of all sizes.

JCurve Solutions recently won the Australian Business Awards ABA100 categories for Cloud Innovation and Product Excellence, in addition to the Employer of Choice Award. The company was also named as a finalist in the ARN ICT Industry Awards in the categories for SMB Partner and Management Excellence due to be announced next month.

Canning recently spoke to Dynamic Business about effective inventory management. He revealed some of the key inventory trends small businesses should consider and identified some common mistakes they need to avoid.
BUTTE  The Department of Justices decision not to renew contracts with private federal prisons will not affect the 95 federal prisoners in Montanas private prison in Shelby, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Melissa Hornbein.

Montana is home to no federal prisons  privately or government run  but federal prisoners are held at Crossroads Correctional Center, a privately run mixed-security state prison in Shelby. Ninety-five of the prisons 550 beds are reserved for federal prisoners.

Those federal prisoners come courtesy of the U.S. Marshals Service, not the Bureau of Prisons, and therefore dont qualify under the DOJs decision.

The federal inmates in the prison are contracted out to the U.S. Marshals Service for holding prisoners either prior to sentencing or once theyve been sentenced but before theyve been assigned to a federal facility, Hornbein said.

Crossroads is operated by Corrections Corporation of America, the countrys largest private prison company, which has 85 facilities across the U.S., including 13 private federal prisons. Crossroads is the only private prison in Montana, and CCAs only facility in the Northwest.

Crossroads was built in 1999 under the condition it would house only Montana prisoners, with the state Legislature passing a bill banning prisoner import, according to past news stories. CCA officials at the time said they would not need out-of-state prisoners to keep the prison at capacity and above water.

That changed when the state removed prisoners from Crossroads in 2002 to save money, dropping the prison population below profitable levels. With the prison 35 percent empty, Crossroads laid off dozens of employees and risked closure.

CCA lobbied the Legislature to override the 1999 prisoner import ban and allow federal and out-of-state inmates at Crossroads in 2003. The Legislature passed the proposal after stripping the bill of a three-year sunset clause for importation.

Crossroads population now exceeds capacity, with 50 temporary beds for prisoners, according to the Department of Corrections' Wednesday population report.

Montana Department of Corrections communications director Judy Beck said her office has no involvement with the federal prisoners held at Crossroads, and that those inmates are under the purview of the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Attorneys Office.

The DOJ announced its decision to end involvement with federal prisons in a memorandum from Sally Yates, deputy attorney general for the U.S., on August 18. The memo stated private prisons do not meet the same level of safety and security as government-run prisons, and do not save substantially on costs.

These concerns echo the findings of an investigation into private prisons by the DOJs Office of the Inspector General, released a week before the memo.

Beck said the Department of Corrections had not yet reviewed the Inspector Generals report, and could comment at this time.

Crossroads did not respond to requests to comment on federal prisoners held at the facility, and in a press release CCA condemned the Inspector Generals report as flawed.

The state's 20-year contract with CCA expires in 2019, requiring the state to extend the contract or purchase the prison.

The DOJ decision affects only a fraction of the nations inmates in private prisons, as most are held in state, not federal private prisons.

According to the Congressional Research Service, Montana imprisons the second largest percentage of prisoners in private prisons, 36 percent.
BILLINGS  A federal judge has ordered a Louisiana company not to disclose details of cultural studies conducted in an area near Glacier National Park where the company bought a disputed energy lease.

Solenex LLC of Baton Rouge wants to drill for oil and gas in northwest Montana's Badger-Two Medicine area. The company wants U.S. District Judge Richard Leon to overturn a March decision by federal officials canceling its 6,200-acre lease.

The area is considered sacred by the Blackfoot tribes of the United States and Canada. Studies on its significance have been conducted since the 1990s.

Judge Richard Leon said in a Monday order that Solenex cannot disclose information from those studies as it pursues its lawsuit against the government. Attorneys for the government and Solenex had previously agreed to the restriction.
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.
Google on Tuesday announced that it soon will downgrade mobile pages in its search rankings if they carry ads that obscure content.

Such ads provide a poorer experience to users than other pages where content is immediately accessible, explained Doantam Phan, a product manager at Google.

Techniques that reduce the accessibility of content include the following:

Showing users a popup that covers the main content, either immediately after they navigate from search results to a page or while theyre viewing it;

Displaying a standalone interstitial that users have to dismiss before accessing the main content; and

Using a layout that places an ad above the fold, similar to a standalone interstitial, with the original content placed beneath the fold.

Exceptions to the Rules

More than 50 percent of overall website traffic [in the United States] is from mobile devices now, observed Cindy Zhou, a principal analyst at Constellation Research.

Accordingly, Google has seen a shift in users performing more searches via mobile, she told the E-Commerce Times.

To retain and grow their mobile search user base, Google has placed an emphasis on user experience, said Zhou, which has led to the lower ranking of websites with intrusive interstitial popup ads that take up the entire screen.

However, there will be some exceptions to these rules because Google is leaving room for high-traffic sites such as legitimate news agencies, publications and nonprofits, she suggested.

The rules still will impact advertisers and companies that utilize the interstitial popups to gain newsletter signups, collect emails and so on, Zhou noted.

Mobile ads that wont be affected by the new ruling, as long as theyre presented responsibly, include the following:

Interstitials placed in response to a legal obligation, such as a notice of cookie usage or an age verification panel;

Login dialogs on sites where content isnt publicly indexable. This includes private content such as emails or unindexable content thats behind a paywall; and

Banners that use a reasonable amount of screen space and can be dismissed easily, such as the app install banners for Safari and Chrome.

Why Google Is Cracking the Whip

Ad blocking is having a larger and larger impact on the industry as a whole, noted Mike Goodman, a research director at Strategy Analytics.

Googles primary revenue, about 90 percent, comes from ads  more specifically, digital advertising  and anything that hurts that is bad for business, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Worldwide, ad blocking will cost publishers US$27 billion in lost revenue, Juniper Research has forecast.

The number of U.S. consumers blocking ads will increase by more than 34 percent this year to nearly 70 million, according to eMarketer, and grow another 24 percent next year to almost 87 million.

Both publishers and advertisers are to blame for this situation, according to Goodman.

Publishers want to make consumers happy  but at the end of the day, the almighty dollar rules, he pointed out.

Advertisers are stuck on this data thing, and theyre going overboard, Goodman added. Ad blockers are hurting the business, but not enough to get [publishers and advertisers] to do something different.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau has published a set of guidelines for mobile ads, but its one thing for the IAB to tell you what you can and cannot do, and another for Google to say your page will rank lower, Goodman pointed out.

Google has the ability to wield their market influence to be able to get advertisers and publishers to do something about this and fix it, he said. Audience equals eyeballs, and eyeballs equals revenue.
Gawker founder Nick Denton earlier this week said that he filed for personal bankruptcy protection after exhausting his appeals to stave off collection of damages resulting from adefamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit brought by professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan.

The filing followed a Florida courts rejection of Dentons appeal to block Hogan from collecting US$140 million a jury awarded to him earlier this year. The case stemmed from Gawkers publication of a tape of Hogan having sex with the wife of his friend.

In the New York Bankruptcy Court filing, Denton revealed that he had assets of between $10 million and $50 million, and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million. The filing lists the top three unsecured liabilities as follows: a $125 million claim by Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, pending appeal; a $100 million claim by Chicago lawyer Meanith Huon; and a $35 million claim arising from a pending defamation case brought by Shiva Ayyadurai, the husband of actress Fran Drescher.

It probably heightens the likelihood of Gawker being sold or closed, Rick Edmonds, media business analyst at The Poynter Institute, told the E-Commerce Times.

Asset Sale

Gawker, which was granted bankruptcy protection in July, is set to be sold at auction later this month. Ziff Davis is the most likely candidate to take over the company. Originally scheduled for July 27, the auction was postponed, and Aug. 15 set as the new deadline for bids.

Dentons confirmation that he would be filing for personal bankruptcy, just weeks after Gawker filed for bankruptcy protection, came earlier this week in a memo he sent to staffers. Denton lashed out at billionaire investor Peter Thiel, who secretly backed Hogans legal case against Gawker. Thiel was the subject of a controversial in 2007 article published by the companys Valleywag blog, which outed the conservative billionaire as gay.

Its a personal vendetta, Denton said in the memo to Gawker Media staff, and yes, its disturbing to live in a world in which a billionaire can bully journalists because he didnt like the coverage.

A spokesperson for Thiel was not immediately available for comment. Lawyers representing Hogan in the bankruptcy case declined to comment and referred calls to Hogans publicist, who was not immediately available for comment.

Despite the bankruptcy filing, Denton was in a positive frame of mind, he wrote in the memo, because the companys influential brands will soon be free to thrive under new ownership.

Collection Fight

It appears that Denton filed for personal bankruptcy to avoid personal liability, said attorney Peter Vogel, a partner at Gardere Wynne Sewell. If its granted, Hogan may not be able to collect much.

The bankruptcy courts are uniquely different than the trial courts, as the bankruptcy judges primary job is to pay creditors as much as possible, Vogel told the E-Commerce Times. In this case, its not entirely clear that Hogans trial led to whats referred to as a final judgment, which usually occurs months after a trial, with lawyers on each side making motions to change the jury verdict.

Even if Hogan got a final judgment, he would have to get in line to collect any money owed, and would have to compete with other Gawker creditors to collect, Vogel said.

Bankruptcies can go on a long time, he pointed out, since the objective is to find assets to pay creditors, and it takes time and energy to see if any monies are controlled by others or offshore.
HELENA  A single drop of water, the stuff NASA searches the stars to indicate the possibility of life, doused Richard O'Connor's hope he had photographed an alien space ship.

The south-facing camera on the outside of his home in the hilly country in Jefferson County in November captured an image of what looked like an unidentified flying object. The oval-shaped object appeared to be rocketing across the sky.

"It's a falling water drop, is what it is," O'Connor said. "It's a huge disappointment to me. These things happen apparently."

Part of the photo with its dark blue sky and white, high cirrus clouds is now the backdrop on his laptop computer screen.

"I put it there as a reminder to me not to jump to conclusions," he said, but noted that, "I'm still continuing to try to get a good photograph."

O'Connor is a retired doctor who left St. Peter's Hospital in Helena in July after 28 years as an anesthesiologist. When his other medical experience is added in, he's been working in operating rooms for more than 30 years.

Seated in the living room of his home with its view of timbered and snowy mountains, he said, "I'm one of the people that believe our world is being visited.

"For me there's no single piece of evidence that leads me to that conclusion."

Instead, it is the preponderous amount of evidence on the subject, he said, that supports his conclusion.

The testimony of government officials, those in the military as well as the sightings by pilots and ordinary people, he explained, all point to a "first contact" being underway  something that's been happening for decades and even centuries before these more recent encounters.

"Who has the motive to lie about this?" he asked.

For him the answer to who is withholding the truth is obvious: those in the military and who hold the political reins, as aliens have far greater power as evidenced by their ability to travel great distances to reach Earth.

Intricate designs carved overnight into crop fields are other evidence of such contacts, O'Connor said.

These designs that come in all shapes, he added, "They're trying to tell us something."

Several websites are devoted to explaining and pondering crop circles and one decodes the binary code employed in one that reportedly says, "Beware the bearers of false gifts and their broken promises. Much pain, but still time. Believe there is good out there. We oppose deception. Conduit closing. 0x07"

The closing sequence of numbers, 0x07, is said by the website to produce the tone of a typewriter bell.

Livestock mutilations in farm and ranch fields are also among what leads O'Connor to conclude otherworldly life forms are slowly revealing their presence as they watch and interact with Earth's inhabitants.

At one time he had set up a radio dish in his yard pointing toward the sky directly overhead. A computer with an open email program was attached to the dish in hopes of enticing a message.

"But it just did not happen," he said.

More than two years ago, he posted an Internet message inviting alien space ships to reveal themselves by flying by his cameras. A computer program helped him scan the roughly 270,000 photographs he had acquired by November from those cameras.

Late last year he was startled by what he thought he saw among those photographs.

"On November the 4th, I thought I had found it," he said.

"It certainly fit a lot of descriptions people have given about their own sightings," he said.

A link to an incident

O'Connor, 60, is tall with blue eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses. His brown hair is pulled into a pony tail.

Although he's soft spoken, an emotional intensity surfaces when he talks about the threat nuclear weapons pose to the planet and the attention they've drawn from aliens.

"I think when nuclear weapons entered the picture, UFO activity on this planet really picked up," he said and explained that Earth's civilization can't be the first to discover the power within an atom nor will be the first to vanish because of it.

O'Connor's interest in UFOs spans decades, yet a single event, meeting Dr. Jesse A. Marcel Jr., who practiced medicine with him at St. Peter's Hospital, helped cement his belief.

Marcel told O'Connor had seen some of the July 1947 crash debris from the desert northwest of Roswell, New Mexico.

O'Connor and Marcel worked together as colleagues. They were friends too, and, "His story was always the same," O'Connor said.

"I came to the conclusion 30 years ago that this man was not a liar," he added. "He was a very responsible person."

Marcel's father, who was also Jesse A. Marcel, was the chief intelligence officer with the 509th Bombardment Group and was among the military personnel who responded to the Roswell crash site, O'Connor said.

Marcel's father brought home some of the crash debris to show his family. His son, who was 11 years old at the time, never forgot what he saw and described the thin metal I-beam parts with their peculiar purple markings, O'Connor said.

According to the Roswell UFO Museum website, the crash was reported by rancher W.W. "Mack" Brazel, who with the son of another family rode to check on sheep after a fierce thunderstorm the previous night.

Brazel noticed metal debris and saw a shallow trench several hundred feet long carved into the land.

The rancher recovered several large pieces of the debris and took them home with him. He then showed them to the family of the man that had ridden with him.

Brazel then reported his discovery to the county sheriff who reported it to Maj. Marcel at the Roswell Army Air Field. The debris site was closed while the wreckage was recovered.

"I didn't know what we were picking up," the museum website reads as Marcel's comments regarding the debris. "I still don't know what it was  It could not have been part of an aircraft, not part of any kind of weather balloon or experimental balloon  I've seen rockets  sent up at the White Sands Testing Grounds. It definitely was not part of an aircraft or missile or rocket."

Bodies were also reported to have been recovered from the wreckage, according to the website.

A news release from the Roswell Army Air Base was printed by the local newspaper and broadcast by radio stations that the "wreckage of a crashed disk had been recovered."

A weather balloon was substituted for the wreckage during a subsequent evaluation at what was then Fort Worth Army Air Field, the website explained, and the wreckage was now that of the balloon.

"(It) was a cover story. The whole balloon part of it. That was the part of the story we were told to give to the public and news, and that was it," the website quoted Brig. Gen. Thomas DuBose, chief of staff of the 8th Air Force, as having said.

"As far as I'm concerned, the Roswell event was a UFO that crashed in the desert," O'Connor said. "And our military recovered it, and then they covered it up.

"I think that's been a huge disservice to humanity, in my opinion."

Jesse A. Marcel Library

"There's been a concerted effort to cover all this up," O'Connor said. "At some point in the future, that's got to stop."

A Freedom of Information Act request was made to the Department of the Air Force, headquarters 341st missile wing, at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls regarding sightings of unidentified flying objects over Montana since 1999.

"Manual and computer searches were conducted and we have no records responsive to your request and we are not aware of any other records systems which are likely to produce any responsive records," stated the Feb. 19 response.

"That's unfortunate," O'Connor said. "I guarantee you that's not true."

O'Connor sees withholding of information as hindering the scientific and social evolution of the world and called for funding for study and evaluation.

For more than 60 years people have been convinced that contact by aliens is not real, O'Connor said, explaining that daily life with jobs and families leaves little time for people to consider the issue in depth.

"Trying to sort out what's fact and what's fiction is not a simple process," he added.

To help people learn about these first contacts, O'Connor opened the Jesse A. Marcel Library in March 2012. It's named for the elder Marcel and located in a building near his home.

On Tuesday nights between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. when it's open, presentations and discussions are held for the typical 10 to 20 people who come.

Perhaps 150 have come when the museum's open on most Tuesday nights. Some were there to learn. Others came to share stories.

The museum's website is found at jamal.org and O'Connor can be reached at richard@cropcirclesresearchfoundation.org.

"I think this is so important, I want to take every opportunity I can to educate people about it," he said.

O'Connor said he asked Marcel, who died about a year and a half after the museum's opening, how the elder Marcel would have reacted at having the museum named after him. Marcel said his father would have been honored.

"For me, this has evolved beyond the realm of belief," O'Connor said.

People who look will find enough good and credible information, he explained, that will transition into "something they will know to be pretty much true."

Risking ridicule

Ridicule has helped to keep people from talking about what they have seen and experienced, O'Connor said.

"We don't want to be labeled as the kook down the block that believes in little green men."

Yet this is the risk he takes and explained he's had the time to look at the evidence that support his beliefs.

And had he not known and worked with Marcel at St. Peter's Hospital, he too might be among those who express disbelief, he said.

If people from Earth were to find a planet where life existed, it would make sense to hold off from barging in and instead first watch and study life on that world, O'Connor said.

Earth, he said, may be "the most profound reality show that an intelligent being can observe."

Aliens watching this planet may be studying us to learn from our actions, he said, but he's quick to add that this is all speculation. There's no way anyone can know.

"But these all seem to be plausible explanations, of course, given that they're here," he said.

O'Connor, who created an Internal Revenue Service recognized non-profit organization for his research, said he's spent several tens of thousands of dollars on what he's doing to foster awareness of alien contacts.

"I want to help people get up to speed on this and understand," he said.

And, still, the quest continues to document an encounter, even if it's a fleeting image captured as a result of a response to his email invitation to fly past his cameras.

"I was just sort of hopeful that they would see it," he said. "It seems reasonable to me that they would be able to do that."

"It would be remarkable if it did happen," he said and added, "But so far it hasn't happened yet.

"I'm just interested in finding out the truth about this," O'Connor said.
By Jillian Mackenzie

Europe has cathedrals. We have national parks, said Stephen Saunders, president of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, neatly capturing the significance of these 59 national treasures, which include important monuments as well as parklands. But as we honor their majesty on this 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, we must also recognize and address the biggest threats to our natural versions of Notre Dame.

Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. Deatonphotos / Shutterstock

Climate Change

We have never before lost a national park, Saunders said. But we are on track now to lose some to higher seas.

New Yorks Ellis Island, part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Dry Tortugas, the 100-square-mile national park off Key West, are just above sea level. Thanks to heat-trapping pollution, which warms and expands ocean waters, these parks are at risk of being submerged and disappearingnot just in storm surges, but entirely, Saunders said.

That pollution also puts our parks at risk for uncharacteristically fierce wildfires.

Hotter, drier conditions mean more intense fires that can permanently change forest to scrubland in beloved landscapes like Yosemite, noted Niel Lawrence, the Natural Resources Defense Councils (NRDC) senior expert on federal forestlands.

Funding Struggles

The enjoyment of national parks is at a record-breaking level, with a predicted 315 million visitors this year (up from 307 million in 2015). While that seems like happy news, the parks are straining under the pressure.

There is a $12 billion backlog of unfunded projects, said Ani Kameenui, director of legislation and policy at the National Parks Conservation Association. There are cracks in the Washington Monument, potholes at Glacier National Park, nonworking faucets at the Grand Canyonthe list goes on.

On the surface, the most recent government spending bill, passed by the House this summer, seems like an environmental win. It proposes a $2.9 billion budget for the National Parks Service for 2017, which is $79 million more than the previous years allocation. But look closer, Kameenui said and youll see not only that the money is shy of the funds needed to address the backlog, but that tacked on to the bill are a pile of policy riders that undermine the natural resources national parks aim to protect. For instance, the bill includes provisions to prevent implementation of the Stream Protection Rule, a measure to improve the health of communities near streams from the mountains of West Virginia to the valleys of Tennessee, she said.

Well pads along Little Missouri River with Theodore Roosevelt National Park in background. Chris Boyer / Kestrel Aerial Services, Inc.

Fossil Fuel Extraction

Areas near national parks are continually subject to the pollution and environmental damage that comes with dirty energy projects, such as oil drilling in the Bakken formation near North Dakotas Theodore Roosevelt National Park; a large coal mine outside Utahs Bryce Canyon National Park; and oil and gas drilling around the boundaries of Canyonlands, also in Utah. Big Cypress National Preserve, which recharges aquifers that supply drinking water to much of southern Florida and serves as a watershed for Everglades National Park, is facing threats from extensive oil and gas exploration in pristine wetland areas in the preserve.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Oil exploration has historically happened in Big Cypress preserve, said Alison Kelly, a staff attorney with NRDC. But now an oil company is starting one of the largest explorations ever proposed in a national park unit. The first phase of the four-phase project was just approved, though it is being contested by a lawsuit filed by NRDC and other environmental groups.

Mount Gould is a peak on the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. Wikipedia

Antigovernment Extremists

Long-standing disputes over whether the federal government has the right to own and manage land in the West have boiled over in recent years. In 2014, Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy led an armed standoff against Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officers; they were trying to confiscate his cattle because hed refused to pay BLM fees dating back to 1993 for illegally grazing the animals on protected land.

In 2015 his son, Ammon Bundy, led a 40-day occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon, in support of ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, a father and son who were convicted of arson for lighting fires on BLM-managed land where they had leased grazing privileges for their cattle. The Hammonds attorney said the Bundys did not speak for them, but regardless, the standoff seemed aimed to galvanize opposition to federal control of land. As the local sheriff said in a statement at the time, These men had alternative motives, to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States.

Sharon Buccino, director of NRDCs Land and Wildlife program, fears that national parks could be the next targets. Our public lands are a place for us to unite and connect, she said. Extremists like the Bundys seek to monopolize what belongs to us all for their own individual profit and glorify their own freedom at the expense of the freedom of others.
An armed militia has taken over a federal building in southeastern Oregon as part of a long-running campaign of violence, intimidation and right-wing paranoia that has festered for decades in the West, most recently with the standoff with Cliven Bundy in Nevada in 2014. Among the demands at the latest standoff is to shut down Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which provides crucial protections for wildlife, especially birds that migrate through the area.

Ammon Bundy is the leader of the occupation that took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge building. Photo credit: Amanda Peacher / OPB

This is the latest in a long string of armed, right-wing thugs attempting to seize Americas public lands and enact their paranoid, anti-government dream bought by guns and intimidation, Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said. Weve seen it with pipe bombs planted on wilderness trails and sent to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. We saw in 2014 with Cliven Bundy and his racist and violent rhetoric in Nevada and now were seeing it with his sons in Oregon.

Cliven Bundy stopped paying the federal government for the privilege of grazing his cows on public lands in Nevada and owes about $1 million to taxpayers. Bundy, who was quoted in an interview with The New York Times wondering whether black people were better off as slaves, was the center of an armed standoff with the Bureau of Land Management in April 2014 that ended with the bureau backing away and Bundys continued trespass on federal land. Among the anti-federal government militia who were defending Bundy at his ranch was Jared Miller who just three months after the standoff at the ranch went on a shooting spree with his wife that included the ambush-murder of two Las Vegas police officers as they ate at a restaurant. They draped the officers with a Gadsden flaga symbol of liberty used by both the antigovernment Patriot movement and members of the Tea Party movement.

The latest standoff near Burns, Oregon, followed a judges call for additional prison time for a father and son73-year-old Dwight Hammond and 46-year-old Steven Hammondwho prosecutors say lit a fire on federal land in 2001 to cover up the illegal slaughter of a deer herd. Both were convicted of arson and are scheduled to report to federal prison on Monday.

The wildlife refuges headquarters was seized by Bundys sons, including leader of the occupation Ammon Bundy, and others on Saturday. The men are armed and say they are willing to occupy the building for years if needed. According to the Oregonian, Ryan Bundy said that theyre willing to kill and be killed if necessary. Also among the armed occupiers of the wildlife refuge building is Jon Ritzheimer, an infamous anti-Muslim activist who has repeatedly threatened violence.

Despite their flags and patriotic overtures, dont mistake this standoff for anything than what it is: An attempt to use guns to seize control over what taxpayers own and bully the government into acquiescing to their demands, Suckling said. But theres a larger context here. Whats happening in Oregon is a logical outgrowth of right-wing rhetoric that demonizes even the concept of federal landplaces like national parks and forestsand villainizes those who believe that publicly owned land should be more than just a source of profit for ranchers and corporations.

Theres been a growing movement among politicians in the West to seize control of federal lands and hand them over to state and local government, where theyre more likely to be logged, mined and drilled for profit.

These are special places that deserve protection for values that we all hold dear: clean air, water and refuge for wildlife, Suckling said. Americans, collectively, have decided that these public lands need and deserve protection. That shouldnt be undone at the behest of men with guns and a dangerous view of how a government should be run.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Feds Sue Volkswagen in Diesel Emissions Scandal

Teflons Toxic Legacy: DuPont Knew for Decades It Was Contaminating Water Supplies

How One Man Plans to Make Billions Selling Water From Mojave Desert to Drought-Stricken California

15 Most Absurd Comments Right-Wing Media Said About Climate Change in 2015
Do Charles and David Koch want to mine the Grand Canyon for uranium?

A dark money organization tied to the billionaire Koch brothers is allegedly aiding Arizona politicians and special-interest groups efforts to block a bill that would ban uranium mining around Arizonas iconic landmark, The Phoenix New Times reports.

Despite vast public support for permanent protection of the Grand Canyon area, most of Arizonas congressional delegationincluding Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, and Representatives Paul Gosar, David Schweikert, Trent Franks and Matt Salmonwant the gateway to the Grand Canyon open to uranium mining.

According to the Grand Canyon Trust, heres what Grand Canyon National Heritage Monument Act would do:

Protects 1.7 million acres of tribal homeland around the Grand Canyon, including water sources and sacred sites

Bans new uranium mining claims (making the current 20-year ban permanent)

Still allows hunting, grazing, recreation and other uses to continue under existing law

The proposal, in so many words, deems the area around the Grand Canyon a national monument. The bill is supported by 80 percent of Arizonans as well as a number of environmental organizations and native tribes.

However, pro-mining Arizona Chamber of Commerce and the Koch-linked Prosper Foundation have co-authored a report calling the efforts a monumental mistake and that monument designation for the Grand Canyon will only hurtnot helpArizona.

The proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument is a monumental mistake. Read more: https://t.co/iyQ4aLm0NI pic.twitter.com/5iegWjaock  Prosper (@ProsperOrg) April 15, 2016

As it appears, the Prosper Foundation receives nearly its entire budget with funds from the Koch-backed American Encore, according to 990 tax forms seen by Greg Zimmerman, the policy director at the Center for Western Priorities.

As Zimmerman explained on ThinkProgress:

Prosper, which was formed in 2013, covers nearly its entire budget with funds from Koch-backed American Encoreformerly known as the Center to Protect Patient Rights. According to tax filings, American Encore has funded 83 percent of Prosper Inc.s total budget since its creation, donating over $1.5 million to the organization in 2013 and 2014.

Despite vast public support for permanent protection of the area, Zimmerman pointed out that most of Arizonas congressional delegationincluding Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, and Representatives Paul Gosar, David Schweikert, Trent Franks and Matt Salmonwant the gateway to the Grand Canyon open to uranium mining.

The state of Arizona has mined for uraniumthe raw material needed to make nuclear powersince the early 1900s. Though it has created an industry for the state, the process has caused cancer in miners who breathed it or the many Native Americans who drank it after their water became contaminated by it, Arizonas 12 News noted.

Still, Republican lawmakers have long been opposed to conservationists efforts to protect the Grand Canyon from the uranium mining. McCain and Gossar proposed legislation Oct. 12, 2011 to open 1 million acres of public lands that form Grand Canyon National Parks watershed to new uranium mining. The bill would have overturned an existing moratorium on new mining and mining claims and block Interior Sec. Ken Salazars proposal to extend those protections for the next 20 years.

In November, Gosar issued a scathing statement against the current Grand Canyon National Heritage Monument proposal that was introduced by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.:

Rep. Grijlavas bill, pandering to extremist environmental groups, will kill jobs, stifle development, permanently prevent mining and future grazing leases, impose significant OHV road closures and significantly restrict hunting, timber harvesting and commercial recreational activities on 1.7 million acres in northern Arizona. I encourage the southern Arizona Congressman to focus on killing jobs and locking up millions of acres of land in his own district.

https://twitter.com/azcpolitics/status/662676722769403904 is overwhelmingly popular across Arizona, and yet the political establishment in the state is so diabolically opposed to it, he told The Phoenix New Times.

There is a tight-knit community among right-wing Republican leaders who are strongly opposed to public-land protection, Zimmerman said, adding what these guys do to move money is incredibly sophisticated.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

San Francisco Becomes First Major City to Require Solar Panels on New Buildings

Celebrating John Muirs Incessant Study That Saved Yosemite National Park

Bill Nye vs. Sarah Palin on Climate Change: Who Do You Believe?

Top 10 States Harnessing the Power of the Sun
Join our newsletter

The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!
If countries act fast to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research, there is still time to curtail the most cataclysmic Antarctic ice melt.

This NASA photograph shows the collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf. Photo credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

However, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, if fossil fuel consumption maintains its current rate, Antarctica may experience a widespread collapse of its ice shelves, which could spur significant sea level rise.

Researchers employed a combination of satellite observations of ice surface melting and climate model simulations under scenarios of intermediate and high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Under both emissions scenarios, by 2050, the models indicate a strong potential for the doubling of surface melting of Antarcticas ice shelves, which are the floating extensions of the continents ice sheets.

When extended to 2100, the trajectories diverge, with the more intense scenario showing ice sheet surface melting approaches or exceeds intensities associated with ice shelf collapse in the past and the reduced-emissions scenario showing relatively little increase in ice sheet melting after 2050.

The data presented in this study clearly show that climate policy and therefore the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions over the coming century, have an enormous control over the future fate of surface melting of Antarctic ice shelves, which we must consider when assessing their long-term stability and potential indirect contributions to sea level rise, said Clark University Associate Professor of Geography Karen Frey, who contributed to the study along with researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research at Utrecht University, and Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.

Luke Trusel, lead author and postdoctoral scholar at WHOI, added that the results illustrate just how rapidly melting in Antarctica can intensify in a warming climate.

As WHOI explains, ice shelves have a door stop effect on sea level rise, as they slow the flow of ice from glaciers and ice sheets into the ocean, where it melts.

The study follows a report last month which found that the Antarctic ice sheet would melt completely if all of the worlds coal, oil and gas reserves were extracted and burned. Another, put forth by former NASA Scientist James Hansen this summer, argued that glacial melting will likely occur this century and could cause as much as a ten foot sea-level rise in as little as fifty years.

All of this comes in the lead-up to the United Nations climate talks in Paris beginning Nov. 30, during which international delegates are expected to cement an international climate agreement. However, countries on the front-lines of the most pressing climate impacts, such as sea level rise, are concerned that the pact will not go far enough to stem the worst effects of global warming.

Check out this interactive map that allows you to see the potential sea level rise on cities, depending on how the world acts on climate:

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

NATO: Climate Change Is Significant Security Threat and Its Bite Is Already Being Felt

House Passes Bill Lifting Oil Export Ban, Despite Veto Threat

Cities Hold the Key to Ensuring a Climate Safe World

Jared Leto Takes You on a 360 Virtual Tour to See First-Hand Effects of Climate Change
By Paula Mackay and John Davis

Rocky Wilson and his wife had settled into camp for the evening when they caught sight of a bear emerging from the brush. It was late September 1968 and the Wilsons were hunting in Fisher Basin, one of their favorite places in Washington States North Cascades mountains.

Avid outdoors people, they were no doubt accustomed to seeing black bears in the surrounding alpine meadows, where huckleberries glowed like beacons signaling the winter to come. But this bear was much bigger than the average black bearalmost seven feet long from nose to tail.

Rocky raised his rifle and a shot echoed through the basin. Did he really think he was shooting at a black bear or were the bears three-inch claws enough to register grizzly in the waning light? Either way, he couldnt have known that the pull of his trigger would end a century-long assault on the regions most formidable predator, whose ancestors had come across the Bering Land Bridge from Asia some 50,000 years before. By the time the Wilsons crawled into their tent that night, grizzlies were gone from one of their last remaining refuges in the Lower 48. Only days later, President Lyndon Johnson transformed that territory into North Cascades National Park with a stroke of his pen. Hunting would never again be allowed in Fisher Basin.

Today, an even more compelling story is unfolding in the North Cascades Ecosystem (NCE), a vast network of wildlands comprising roughly 24,800 square kilometers in Washington and an additional 10,350 square kilometers in British Columbia.

Standing atop one of the scores of high peaks in North Cascades National Park, one feels lost in a world of jagged spires, hanging valleys, wild rivers and unbroken forests. These are the secret haunts of animals we hardly ever see but whose existence is the very essence of wildnessCanada lynx, cougars, wolves, wolverinesrare and elusive carnivores that have been eliminated from most of the U.S., but that can still find a home in the North Cascades.

Without the protection of the national parks and surrounding public lands, such creatures probably wouldnt survive here, either. This mostly unspoiled wilderness is within easy reach of the more than 3.5 million people living in the greater Seattle area, who can, theoretically, eat breakfast at their neighborhood diner and arrive at the trailhead before lunch. Fortunately for the wildlife, most dont. The trails are too darn steep.

Until recently, wolves and wolverines, like the grizzlies, were but ghosts of a wilder pastdecimated by hunters, trappers and predator control programs in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. But by the 2000s , a complex combination of social and ecological factors had permitted individual animals from Canada to recolonize some of their former habitats. Today, at least 90 wolves and perhaps two-dozen or more wolverines once again wander Washingtons NCE and both populations continue to expand their range. Even grizzly bears, which persist here in very small numbers, if at all, are now the focus of a long-awaited recovery effort. In 2014, North Cascades National Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a three-year process to explore options for restoring grizzlies to the region. With any luck, grizzlies will reclaim their rightful home in the parkand beyond.

Therein lies the challenge. Although Americas national parks include some of the wildest places on Earth, no park in the U.S. (with the possible exception of Alaskas biggest parks) is large enough to support the full range of native biological diversity over the long-term. In order to accommodate wide-ranging animals like grizzly bears and wolves, our parks must be connected to other protected areas via wildlife corridors and their boundaries should be expanded wherever possible.

This task becomes all the more urgent given growing pressures on wildlife, including the range shifts many species will experience in response to climate change.

The creation of new parks and increased connectivity between parks, is essential, but the restoration of carnivores and other key wildlifelike salmon, bison, beavers, elk and prairie dogsis also vital to the health of our landscapes. These animals have vanished from some ecosystems due to human activities and human intervention may be required to bring them back. Such rewilding efforts have been successfully undertaken in several parks to date. Future opportunities abound.

Imagine: Longleaf Pine National Park, comprised in part of existing National Forests in northern Florida and southern Alabama. This new park, if established, could be home to reintroduced red wolves and cougars. These apex carnivores, largely lost from the region, would help to address overgrazing by deer and also to control destructive feral hog populations. Certain reptiles, such as gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, will also need our help to reestablish self-sustaining populations.

Now envision expanding Great Smoky Mountains National Park by upgrading nearby national forest lands in North Carolina and Tennessee to national park status, thereby protecting them from logging. Reintroduced cougars and red wolves would hold in check the previously reintroduced population of elk and unnaturally abundant white-tailed deersparing the many wildflowers, salamanders and other small creatures that do best in older, structurally complex forests where herbivore and predator populations are well-balanced.

Reintroducing wolverines to Rocky Mountain National Park might help further secure this mammals future in the Lower 48. Photo credit: Josh More

Moving west to the Spine of the Continent, imagine reintroducing gray wolves and wolverines to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, where elk are decimating vegetation. Rewilding southern Utahs parks with wolves would work wonders for those ecosystems, too. And in Grand Canyon National Park, lets restore the Mexican wolf, American badger and fish like humpback chubs and razorback suckersboth nearly eliminated by the Glen Canyon Dam.

This is but a small sample of rewilding possibilities in our park regions, biased toward charismatic carnivoreswhich can help lead the way for the restoration of many other threatened or at-risk species.

As past experience shows, rewilding national parks can bring both triumphs and challenges. The most famous rewilding story in the world is the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s. Their return brought back an iconic symbol of wildness and helped reestablish riparian areas previously degraded by over-browsing elk. Riparian habitat, in turn, beckoned beavers, butterflies, songbirds, trout and other members of the biotic community that had disappeared or declined due to predator eradication, in a process scientists describe as trophic cascades.

But wolf recovery in Yellowstone and elsewhere has also encountered bitter opposition, with the most significant resistance emerging from a vocal minority of ranchers and hunters who ideologically oppose this much-demonized predator. There is, however, overwhelming evidence that the occasional economic losses precipitated by wolf predation on livestock are far outweighed by their ecological benefits and boosts to the tourist economy.

One important lesson from Yellowstones wolf reintroduction is that government agencies must work with local people to nurture support for carnivores well in advance of recovery efforts and must also establish compensation programs for ranchers who may suffer losses from wolf predation.

Its heartening to see that the National Park Service is looking ahead and working to realize the full potential of our parks through its Scaling Up program, which aims to advance conservation on a vast landscape scale. This initiative is rooted in the understanding that connectivity brings tremendous benefits to park resilience and wildlife migrations alike and includes a plan to protect continuous wildlife corridors in the countrys five geographic regionsthe Northeast, Southwest, West, Southeast and Midwest.

But given that we are in the midst of the Earths sixth mass extinction, time is of the essence. Although Scaling Up is a major step in the right direction, this initiative will take time to implement nationwide. Some species cant afford to wait that long for our help. That is why President Obamawho has employed the Antiquities Act several times to create national monuments and bypass the politically challenging process of establishing new national parksshould proclaim more monuments before he leaves office. The president should also officially anoint, for the first time, a wildlife corridor across multiple public lands: Declaring The Path of the Pronghorn a national monument, from Grand Teton National Park south to Upper Green River Valley, would ensure the survival of one the worlds last remaining long-distance land animal migrations.

Rewilding is our chance to restore our relationship with our wild neighbors. National parks, both here in the U.S. and all over the world, are the natural place to begin this crucial work.

Years after Rocky Wilson killed a grizzly bear in the North Cascades, a friend asked him how he would have felt if this had been the last grizzly in the entire country. After giving the question much thought, Rocky responded: Well, my life will never be the same. These are all things of the past, presumably referring not only to the bears, but also to his historic hunting forays into what had long since become North Cascades National Park. Thanks to that park and the wildness it embodies, grizzlies arent yet a thing of the past. Indeed, the possible return of these magnificent animals offers us wild hope for the future.

Paula MacKay has spent 15 years surveying bears, wolverines, wolves, and other wildlife with her husband, Robert, with whom she co-edited Noninvasive Survey Methods for Carnivores.

John Davis is cofounder of the Wildlands Network.

This piece is one of many from the Summer 2016 issue of Earth Island Journal.
A Sidney man faces deliberate homicide charges following the shooting death of a construction worker on Wednesday.

Raymond Hansen, 35, is suspected of the deliberate homicide of 63-year-old Terry Klein, also from Sidney, said a news release from the Richland County Sheriffs Office.

At about 9 a.m. Wednesday, a Franz Construction employee reported a co-worker needed medical attention at a breached irrigation canal south of Sidney where construction crews were working. Responding sheriffs deputies discovered Klein with at least one gunshot wound and it appeared he was the victim of a criminal act, the release said.

An early investigation established Hansen as a person of interest, and he was later detained. It appears he acted alone and officials are still working to establish a motive, according to the news release.

Investigators had not recovered a weapon as of Thursday afternoon but were serving multiple search warrants, said Richland County Undersheriff Bob Burnison.

Burnison said Hansen was not employed by Franz Construction and that investigators are working to determine why he was at the job site. Klein was employed by the construction company, but his position was not immediately available.

Richland County Justice Court Judge Gregory Mohr said Hansen made an initial appearance in his courtroom Thursday morning and bond is set at $2 million. A preliminary hearing has been set for Sept. 7 and Hansen will be arraigned in Richland County District Court on Sept. 14.

An autopsy of Klein's body was scheduled for Thursday. The exact cause of death will be released after it is completed, according to the Richland County Coroner's Office.
Considered to be the Ten Best UFO Photos Ever Taken I am sure that we could add more pictures to this list but these are considered ten o...
When it was conceived in 2010, the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation was supposed to unite the teacher-preparation programs behind new expectations, showing once and for all that the embattled field could get its own house in order.

It hasnt worked out that wayat least not yet.

Over the past three years, CAEP has experienced high staff turnover coupled with internal divisions about how to interpret its more rigorous standards. Teacher colleges have pressured CAEP to revisit its accreditation framework; the group has already changed one standard. And CAEP has yet to earn recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.

While acknowledging those stumbles, CAEP officials say they have turned a corner. The group has dramatically improved training for its reviewers and streamlined its governance structure. More than half the states have signed up to use CAEP protocols or reviewers to evaluate teacher-prep programs. And this fall, theres no more grandfathering: All programs seeking accreditation must meet the new standards.

Much more is at stake than the future of a relatively obscure process. Those watching CAEPs troubled start fear the message it will send if the field cannot ultimately rally around an accreditor, as nearly every other profession has done.

I just worry that it will affect the teaching profession, said Donna Wiseman, the dean of the school of education at the University of Maryland College Park. One of the ways weve made a case that we produce high-quality teachers is that we go through this accreditation process with standards everyone has agreed on.

Thats a goal to which Christopher Koch, CAEPs president since last fall, also aspires.

I think CAEP can absolutely get there, he said. Its going to be a factor of the quality of product. I want a program to go through this and say, You know what? That was tough, but it was really validating in some areas and will clarify where we need to get better in others. 

Philosophical Differences

National accreditation of teaching programs is voluntary in many states. Some 840 providers currently hold accreditation. Colleges seek it because it provides at least one indication of professional quality. States support it because their own review processes are often weak and political, and an independent review can help force action.

CAEPs evolution mirrors one of the busiest and most intense periods of policy scrutiny on teacher preparation.

Whos Using the CAEP Standards? Providers accredited under new CAEP standards: 10 Alcorn State University (Miss.)

Florida Atlantic University

North Carolina State University

Southern Utah University

Valdosta State University (Ga.)

Missouri Southern State University

Stetson University (Fla.)

State University of New York at Fredonia

University of Montana-Western

Montana State UniversityBozeman Providers on probation under new CAEP standards: 3 Concordia University (Minn.)

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Southwestern College (Kan.) States that have signed partnership agreements with CAEP: 27 Ala., Ark., Calif., Del. Hawaii, Ind., Kan., Ky., La., Maine, Mass., Mich., Mont., Neb., N.H., N.J., N.C., N.D., Ohio, Okla., Ore., S.C., S.D., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wyo. States that require accreditation of teacher-prep providers: 21 Alaska, Ark., Del., Ga., Hawaii, Ky., La., Maine, Mich., Md., Miss, N.C., N.D., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Ore., S.C., Utah, W.Va., Wyo. Source: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Fed up with a seeming lack of quality control in teacher preparation, the Education Department is poised to release deeply unpopular accountability regulations. The landscape of teacher prep itself has grown more diffuse, with charters and nonprofits now running their own training. And the competition for new talent has intensified as enrollment in teaching programs declines.

CAEP was formed in 2010 from the merger of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, or NCATE, and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, or TEAC. NCATE judged programs on a set of standards; the far smaller TEAC favored a more analytical, reflective approach.

The groups formally became one in 2013. Later that same year, CAEP unveiled its new expectations for program accreditationa more ambitious, potentially more difficult, and undeniably more controversial set than any before.

But implementation of the standards has been hampered by the two different accreditation philosophies that CAEPs predecessors brought to the tableand an unwillingness among former TEAC staff members in particular to embrace CAEPs new system, according to interviews and documents obtained by Education Week.

CAEPs initial governance structure seems to have been a major problem. In a nod toward flexibility, it allowed colleges to meet the new standards via the very different procedures that NCATE and TEAC had used, and set up two corresponding commissions to oversee accreditation decisions. But the commissions ran virtually independent of one another, had disparate rules and policies, and wound up balkanizing staff members rather than focusing them on a united path forward.

Cleaning House

The lack of clear vision spilled over when CAEP began to push the new standards out and pilot them with selected volunteer colleges.

According to Lonn Maly, the dean of the college of education and science at Concordia University, in St. Paul, Minn., the visiting CAEP representatives werent clear on how to apply the new standards. And the groups final accreditation decision didnt align with the feedback reviewers had given beforehand.

The team didnt seem fully prepared, I dont think we were fully prepared, and I dont think the [accreditation council] was fully prepared, Maly said. I think there were five us there that day, and all of us came out a bit bewildered.

Some of that, of course, simply reflected the newness of the expectations.

I think its clear when youre transitioning to something so new and different that there are going to be bumps in the road, said Valerie Martin Conley, the dean of education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, an early adopter of the new standards. But CAEP officials own some of the blame, too.

I know we havent been fast enough, in all honesty, said Stevie Chepko, CAEPs senior vice president of accreditation. But part of that lack of early response was getting two cultures to agree about what we should be doing.

If CAEPs first two years in business exposed the fractures in the new organization, then last year was about cleaning house. In May 2015, CAEPs board of directors dismissed the groups founding president, former NCATE chief James G. Cibulka, over staff objections. Former TEAC leader Frank Murray would also depart by the years end.

And in December, the board took steps to dissolve the two-commission structure and created one body to handle all future accreditation decisions, essentially giving Koch the leverage that Cibulka had lacked to craft one way forward.

Standards Tested

The internecine drama has overshadowed some of CAEPs more recent successes, CAEP officials say.

For one, its working to beef up reviewer training so that the standards are applied rigorously and uniformly across institutions. And the pilot accreditation visits have produced much useful information on the standards that tripped up programsand where CAEP will need to focus its technical-assistance efforts.

We think we need to do more development on programs using data to make their case that each standard is met; we think there is a data-literacy gap, Chepko said.

In some areas, CAEPs standards are bumping up against political matters outside its control. Take its Standard 4, which requires colleges to document how the teachers they prepare help improve student learning once they are in K-12 classrooms.

Most states cannot link teacher and student data back to specific colleges. And the current political fears around the uses of education data make expanding those links unlikely. For now, CAEP will accept colleges plans for collecting such information on their own.

CAEP has also made one significant revision to its Standard 3, on admissions.

Originally, each college would have had to admit a group of candidates with an average 3.0 GPA, holding scores averaging in the top half on nationally normed achievement assessments. The benchmark was to have increased gradually. Under the rewrite, however, candidates have until graduation to meet the requirements, and the testing benchmark will remain at 50 percent.

The use of exams to gauge candidate qualifications generated enormous pushback from universities.

But Kate Walsh, the president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, said she was disappointed to hear that CAEP had revised its courageous admissions standard. But by no means is it surprising, given the tremendous resistance it faced from so many of the teacher-prep programs, she said.

While acknowledging that the new standard is more permissive, Koch believes it still allows us to have high expectations and allows for students to gain skills while theyre in teacher training to do the job.

And the move has been supported by other observers, including some who initially supported higher entry standards.

Raising entry requirements to teacher-preparation programs is a blunt-force approach that is likely to have damaging impact in areas struggling with teacher shortages, particularly rural areas, said Ben Riley, the executive director of Deans for Impact, an Austin, Texas-based group that pushes for teacher preparation backed by research.

A Difficult Balance

All that leaves CAEP approaching an important milestone this fall, when more than two dozen colleges will be told whether they meet the 2013 standards.

CAEP, in theory, has higher expectations than its predecessors. A program is put on probation if it fails any of the five standards. Some institutions have seen the writing on the wall already.

Weve had institutions withdraw because they didnt like standards 3 and 4, and thats OK, Chepko said. This is what we measure. Its what we believe in.

But its a tricky balance between making a process prestigious and making it so daunting that few colleges aspire to the challenge.

The board is pretty united that we need to hold the line on this stuff, said Chris Minnich, the executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers and a CAEP board member. And the question for me always is: Is there a way we can provide assistance that will help these programs be approved?

All of which suggests that CAEPs standing in the field remains fluid and uncertain. Koch, for one, thinks it is improving.

I think people are worried about our capacity being willing to do this, and more institutions leaving, and I have those worries, too, he said. But I think weve been really listening and responsive to what were hearing.

Indeed, 27 states plan to use CAEP to inform their own quality control. And several of the early adopters say CAEPs communications have notably improved.

They just seem more organized now. And when they talk to us, they seem to be talking with one voice, Maly of Concordia University said.

But there are still skeptics. Count Delena Norris-Tull, a professor of science education and the CAEP coordinator at Montana State University, among them.

Its a huge amount of data you have to collect to meet all these standards, she said, and I think a lot of universities are just going to say no, they cant do it.
As schools begin a new academic year, a hidden key to unlocking student success lies beyond the school building. The long-standing achievement gap is also an experience gap. In U.S. cities such as San Francisco or Washington, there are high school students who live near the Pacific Ocean or the Potomac River, respectively, but have never seen their waters. Many students have never grown a flower or a vegetable. Though the current generation faces dramatic threats to the environment and should learn about the natural worlds current plight, many students experiences of nature are limited.

Recent studies show that U.S. children spend, on average, less than a half-hour outdoors every day, but more than 7 hours indoors with technology, according to the National Wildlife Federation. As one Oakland, Calif., teacher described her middle school students lives outside the classroom: These boys carry guns, but theyre afraid of bugs.

As the National Park Service celebrates its centennial this month, its staff is joining with schools, universities, museums, libraries, and other youth-serving nonprofits to close this nature-experience gap. To that end, President Barack Obama launched Every Kid in a Park last year. Its an initiative that gives every 4th grader and his or her family a free pass to visit national parks and public lands each year. Teachers can also take their 4th grade classes. This initiative allows parents and educators more opportunities to expose their students at an early age to the parks resources.

In more than 400 national parks across the nationfrom the iconic Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Yosemite, to the Nez Perce sites spanning four states, to the historic homes of Cesar Chavez and Frederick Douglassstudents are getting authentic experiences in restoring habitats; documenting flora, fauna, and artifacts; and gaining insight into national triumphs and struggles. In these places, abstract ideasfrom biodiversity to cultural diversitycome alive. Students come alive, too, through experiential learning. Preserving our nations landscapes and historic sites, not for a wealthy aristocracy but for all members of society, is important for education.

Recent research, including findings from neuroscience, supports the engagement of students bodies, as well as their minds, for deeper learning. In his 2013 book Education and the Environment, author and educator Gerald A. Lieberman, who studies the connection between natural surroundings and school improvement, reviewed research connecting place-based experiential learning with improved academic achievement, classroom behavior, and preparation for college and careers. This learning can also energize teachers and build deeper relationships between schools and communities.

When children are transported to real parks, they can engage in new types of learning."

Students who visit the parks can experience collaborative learning and gain context for the history they study in the classroom. When students work in teams to measure water quality in the New York Harbor or support each other while biking 1,800 miles of the Underground Railroad, they are exercising their social and emotional muscles and preparing to become valuable team members in the workplace. When students stand where soldiers fell on the Gettysburg battlefield or Pearl Harbors USS Arizona Memorial, the phrase hallowed ground takes on new meaning.

Teachers can also learn alongside their students. Through the national parks Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program, educators work with park rangers over the summer to develop lessons to bring back to their students.

The park services core goals include a new push to reach diverse student populations with a focus on the next generation through the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque initiative. New urban parks are being developed to attract more diverse youths and families of color with interpretive programs and signs with translations in multiple languages. These sites all reflect a commitment to tell a more complete story of our nation.

For those students who cant get to the parks in person, the service also uses an increasing array of online learning technologies. The National Park Service website is full of lesson plans, including videoconferences with park rangers. Google Expeditions, a free application that teachers can use for virtual-reality field trips, is partnering with a new app startup called WildEyes to release virtual footage of national parks around the country.

And this year, events known as BioBlitzes, which allow people to identify as many species as possible in one place in a short period of time, are expanding to more than 200 national, state, and city parks through a partnership with the National Geographic Society. Amateur scientists of all ages will have the opportunity to become part of a larger scientific community as they identify flora and fauna for species inventory. Students might discover species previously unfoundan unforgettable experience that can lead to a lifelong love of science.

But these online and virtual experiences supplement, rather than supplant, actual park visits. For this reason, through the Ticket to Ride Program, the National Park Foundation provides transportation funding for class trips. When children are transported to real parks, they can engage in new types of learning. They learn curricula, but also learn about themselves.

As we celebrate the centennial of our national parks, leaders in education need to remember the important role of outdoor classrooms in connecting school lessons to real life. In this age of technology, schools should not forget that Mother Nature is still our most marvelous teacher.
A trial is set for March in the case of Robert James LeCou, who was accused of a triple homicide earlier this year in Belfry.

An hearing was held Wednesday for LeCou, 39, in Carbon County. He faces three counts of deliberate homicide in the shooting deaths of his wife, her sister and a brother-in-law in Belfry.

A trial is set for March 13, 2017. Two weeks were set aside for the court proceeding.

Carbon County Attorney Alex Nixon said that after receiving input from the public and the Montana Attorney General's Office, he will not pursue the death penalty for LeCou.

"In addition to the statutory requirements necessary to pursue the death penalty, we discussed the status of the death penalty in Montana and the seemingly never-ending appeal process," Nixon said in an email exchange Thursday.

Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan was involved in the decision process, Nixon said.

On April 27, LeCou pleaded not guilty to the homicide charges.

Carbon County sheriff's deputies found three bodies in a Belfry home where LeCou was staying on April 7. The two women had gunshot wounds to their heads. The man was found with other head injuries.

They were identified as Lloyd Lamb, 76; Sharon Hill-Lamb, the 72-year-old wife of Lamb; and Karen Hill-LeCou, 54, who was LeCou's wife.

Authorities eventually arrested LeCou in Washington, near Spokane. He has since been in custody.

Nixon said that the decision not to pursue the death penalty was "not taken lightly."
A federal judge in Billings on Thursday sentenced a Cody, Wyo., man to five years in prison for his conviction on methamphetamine and firearms charges.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters sentenced Kristofer Mikal Wright, 28, to the term after he pleaded guilty earlier to possessing meth and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Billings police officers arrested Wright in March 2014 after responding to a call of possible drug activity at a residence.

Prosecutors said officers followed a vehicle occupied by two suspects, including Wright, to a downtown motel. An officer approached the suspects and asked why they were at the motel.

The officer saw a backpack near Wright, who denied it was his, prosecutors said. But Wright admitted to being on parole and his parole officer consented to a search of the backpack.

Inside the backpack, officers found a safe containing meth and a digital scale. Testing of the scale found a fingerprint that matched Wrights, prosecutors said. And in retracing Wrights path to the motel, officers found a .40-caliber pistol on a stoop leading to an apartment. The pistol also had a fingerprint that matched Wrights.

Wright was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a 2008 felony conviction in Wyoming.
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
CHEYENNE  Republican voters in a single precinct in Sweetwater County will return to the polls next week to determine the final outcome of a primary race for a Wyoming House seat.

Will Dinneen, spokesman for the Wyoming Secretary of State's Office, says the special election in Precinct 5-4 of House District 18 will be held Aug. 31. Officials say incorrect ballots were distributed to some voters in the Aug. 16 primary that resulted in errors making it impossible to determine the winner.

The Wyoming Canvassing Board certified the results Wednesday of recounts in two close legislative races. In the House District 41 Republican primary, Bill Henderson beat Patrick Fitzgerald by two votes. In the Republican primary race for Senate District 6, Anthony Bouchard beat David Zwonitzer by five votes.
Island students await GCSE results

Hundreds of students on the Isle of Man will receive their GCSE results today.

It marks the culmination of two years of study in years 10 and 11.

Many students will continue into sixth form - an area described as 'vibrant and thriving' by the Department of Education and Children.

School improvement advisor Joel Smith says that's not the only option:

Media

Joel Smith
The extent to which government should be involved in business incentives was debated by a five-member panel at the Greater North Dakota Chamber Policy Summit held Thursday at the Ramkota.

Highlighted were tax increment finance districts and Renaissance zones, with discussion on whether they boost the community or unfairly decide winners and losers in business.

Participating were Dave Anderson, director of public affairs for Sanford and longtime advocate of revitalizing downtown Fargo; Tony Gehrig, a Fargo City Commission member; Kate Herzog, marketing and assistant director of the Downtowners Association in Bismarck; Nolan Canright, a former Bismarck police officer and 2016 Bismarck Commission candidate; and Dale Zimmerman, owner of Peacock Alley in Bismarck.

Anderson praised the Renaissance zone as the "biggest hammer in the toolbox," with the potential to be used in many future projects. He said downtown Fargo has tripled its value via 215 Renaissance projects.

"It's more than the valuation and the taxes; it's what we created for the community. It's a gathering space for the neighborhood. We have more living downtown than we ever had," he said.

Gehrig said incentives can be useful for a limited time, but they should not be stacked indefinitely, forcing other people to pay while others benefit.

"My tax bill in Fargo was 7 percent higher -- not just my city share, my total share. ... When someone doesn't pay their taxes, we pay for them. That tax money doesn't get taken away from the city of Fargo or the schools; people pay that money for them," said Gehrig, maintaining that incentives often have drawn larger corporate businesses away from other parts of town.

Herzog said more research needs to be done, but the incentives in urban areas will give a large return.

Downtown subsidizes the rest of the community, according to Herzog.

"Downtown is one of the most tax-efficient areas in the community. You reduce the streets. You have a lot of density. Downtowns are the Swiss Army knife of the community: It's going to give you more money than it uses, generally," she said.

Canright questioned why the Bismarck Renaissance zone was given an extension after all five Burleigh County commissioners voted against supporting it.

"We are taking money from one area of town and moving it to another area of town. I do believe we need to sunset these," he said.

Zimmerman said he did not use the incentives for his businesses. He said it's hard to defend multimillion-dollar corporations benefiting from urban incentives, but it is useful for smaller businesses.

"Sometimes these incentives are the difference between making and breaking them," said Zimmerman.

He noted that before urban incentives were offered, the Civic Square building, Patterson Place and the downtown depot were all set to be torn down because of their condition. Today, the property values are $10 million, generating $80,000 in property tax revenue per year.

He said Patterson Place was saved by a federal housing incentive.

"Without Renaissance (zoning), (downtown) Bismarck would be a ghost town," he said.
Three adults were displaced after a house fire on the 1500 block of Ninth Avenue Southeast in Mandan early Wednesday morning.

No one was injured in the fire that burned the side of a trailer home and an adjacent shed, as well as much of the backyard, said Mandan Fire Chief Steve Nardello. Two adults and a dog were home at the time. There is no fire damage to the inside of the home and little smoke damage.

The fire started in the shed adjacent to the house, but it is unclear what caused it, Nardello said. Fourteen firefighters responded around 3:30 a.m. and put out the blaze.

Neighbor Garry Riplinger said the flames rose as high as the tree tops, burning two apple trees in his backyard, as well. He said the whole yard was orange and embers were flying.

The fire also damaged some wiring and a transformer that provides power to several houses in the neighborhood, said Montana-Dakota Utilities spokesman Mark Hanson. MDU shut off electricity for eight nearby customers from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in order to repair the equipment.

The American Red Cross is providing immediate assistance to the residents, including temporary housing in a local hotel, according to a release from the organization.

Damages are estimated by the fire department at $5,000.
Public health costs and veterans' needs were pitted against the correct level of government regulation of business during a debate over a proposed tobacco tax measure Thursday.

Proponents of Measure 4, which would increase taxes on tobacco products in the state, pitched their case before a crowd of more than 200 at the Ramkota in Bismarck during the Greater North Dakota Chambers Policy Summit.

Chamber President Andy Peterson said attendance Thursday totaled about 300 people, including business leaders and lawmakers as well as local and state officials.

Topics covered at the event included mental health, business incentives, and hot-button topics such as marijuana legalization, religious freedom legislation and Medicaid expansion.

It allowed people to hear all sides of the issues and make up their own minds, Peterson said. Overall, I think it was a pretty good day.

If approved, Measure 4 will increase the tax on cigarettes in North Dakota from 44 cents per pack to $2.20. It would be the first increase in the state since 1993. Only Georgia, Missouri and Virginia have lower tobacco taxes than North Dakota.

Taxes on other nicotine products would be increased from 28 percent of the wholesale purchase price to 56 percent. The national average tax on a pack of cigarettes is $1.61.

Eric Johnson, a Grand Forks physician and head of Raise It for Health North Dakota, said Measure 4 would save more than $250 million annually in health care costs related to smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the tax increase could result in a 20 percent drop in youth smoking statewide, preventing about 5,800 youths from becoming adult smokers.

I support following the data. We didnt just pull this out of our ears, said Johnson, adding that the states residents have been supportive of tobacco cessation in recent years. This is the next big thing we should be doing.

Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, said he cant support a tax that the majority imposes on a minority of the population.

Becker also called Measure 4 a slippery slope, referring to attempts in other states to place "sin taxes" on soft drinks and fatty foods.

I dont think its the proper role of government. Where does it stop? he said.

Through Measure 4, current allocations of tobacco tax dollars going to the state general fund and to cities would be held harmless.

New tax revenue created through the measure, estimated at about $100 million per biennium, would be split between health-related programs in the states Community Health Trust Fund and a newly created Veterans Tobacco Tax Trust Fund.

Bruce Sailer, a member of the North Dakota American Legion Legislative Committee, said the funds would be overseen by boards appointed by the governor. He said veterans groups have pushed for funds for a number of needs in past sessions, but have fallen far short of meeting them; and Measure 4 would be a significant help.

It seems like a lot of money  but it adds up fast, Sailer said.

North Dakota Retail Association President Mike Rud said that group stands in opposition to Measure 4 and has been against past legislative attempts to raise the tax, including two bills introduced during the 2015 session.

Rud said the tax increase of about 400 percent would most negatively affect lower-income smokers. He said it would also would lead to closures and job losses among businesses that operate on slim margins, particularly those in small communities.

Its scary to our folks, he said, pointing out it would also be taking revenue away from the states coffers during a tough budget situation.

Rud also addressed recent media reports that the tobacco industry has already put about $800,000 into defeating Measure 4. While retailers dont endorse smoking, particularly among youth, he said its a legal product and hes glad the industry is protecting its interests.

Wouldnt you want to get involved and save your bacon as well? he asked.

The increase would bring North Dakota in line with surrounding states in the tax per pack of cigarettes, according to Johnson. The tax in Minnesota is $3 per pack; in Montana, its $1.70; and in South Dakota its $1.53.

He rejected the notion that theres any excessive government regulation in play with the measure.

This isnt big government. This is the voters, Johnson said.
British lawmakers have expressed their disappointment at the current anti-terrorism systems being implemented by the internet's social media giants. In a report released on Tuesday, the U.K. parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee criticized sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, stating that the big three internet firms were "consciously failing" to stop the spread of terrorist-related activities online.

The U.K. Lawmakers' Accusation

Keith Vaz, chairman of the parliamentary committee, stated that the internet firms have so far acted irresponsibly with regards to the spread of extremist propaganda online. The lawmaker further suggested that Facebook, Twitter and YouTube hire more people in order to monitor and address terrorism-related online activities.

"Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle this threat and passing the buck by hiding behind their supranational status, despite knowing that their sites are being used by the instigators of terror," Vaz said.

"They are very powerful organizations making a lot of money and therefore they should devote more of their resources and time, and more people, to solving this problem. When they see a preacher of hate espousing radicalization they should take down the video - and that's what we need to see happen."

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Responds

Though the British lawmakers' statements were quite damning, social media giants Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have responded to the accusations, stating that several anti-terrorism systems and initiatives have already been put in place.

Director of policy for Facebook UK Simon Milner said in a statement to BBC News that the social media giant is doing all it can to curb the spread of hateful and radical content being uploaded to the platform.

"Terrorists and the support of terrorist activity are not allowed on Facebook and we deal swiftly and robustly with reports of terrorism-related content. In the rare instances that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, we'll also look for and remove relevant associated accounts and content," Milner said.

Twitter has also released a statement on the matter, stating that it has already suspended about 235,000 accounts related to extremist groups over the last six months.

"As noted by numerous third parties, our efforts continue to drive meaningful results, including a significant shift in this type of activity off of Twitter," the microblogging platform stated.

A spokesman for YouTube asserted the same point, stating that the Google-owned video-streaming website is working closely with authorities in order to curb the spread of terrorism-related content.

"We take our role in combating the spread of extremist material very seriously. We remove content that incites violence, terminate accounts run by terrorist organizations, and respond to legal requests to remove content that breaks UK law," the spokesman stated.

"We'll continue to work with government and law enforcement authorities to explore what more can be done to tackle radicalization."
The number of "poor" derived by applying price adjustment to an old consumption basket, which is largely what official poverty measures have done, are very different from estimates based on actual consumption baskets that have changed over time. For instance, the share of cereals in household expenditure halved between 1993-94 and 2011-12 in rural areas. In the light of this, we ask if all expenditure would be on food, what percentage of the population would be unable to meet the prescribed calorie requirement? Adding a "minimum" level of expenditure on clothing-bedding-footwear, fuel and light, and conveyance to the "derived" sum of food expenditure provides a second counterfactual. Similarly, the cumulative addition of expenditure on other consumer goods and services provides further counterfactual scenarios.
In light of growing conversation in North Dakota about substance abuse and mental health, a panel of speakers asked business leaders Thursday to change the way they treat these issues at work.

"One of the most important things that we as employers can do is to create a culture in our workplace where this is something that we talk about proactively," Jessica Thomasson, president of Lutheran Social Services, told the audience at the Greater North Dakota Chamber Policy Summit in Bismarck.

Thomasson said 70 to 80 percent of illicit drug users are employed. "They are in your workforce," she said.

Most health coverage includes mental and behavioral health treatment, but employers need to be respectful when workers confide in them, Thomasson said. Also, employers must be flexible when someone has a related appointment for treatment, just as they would for someone with a physical health condition.

West Fargo Police Chief Mike Reitan encouraged employers to change company culture by conducting yearly training with their employees on mental health and addiction.

Reitan said his department monitors officers involved in stressful incidents so it can intervene before a serious mental health problem develops.

Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, asked business owners to think about how they could employ and house people with criminal records and substance abuse problems.

Lee said many people get good drug treatment while they are in prison, but then "fall off a cliff" after they get out, because their criminal records block them from housing and jobs.

"We have to have some engagement by the employers," she said. "They will not only have a better life personally, but you will have, in many cases, some very fine employees."
In this Policy Forum, Randall Hansen and Shalini Randeria discuss the different ideological viewpoints of liberals and conservatives in Europe with respect to accepting refugees, highlighting why - even though the continent is not bearing the "brunt" of the refugee crisis - it remains "in the center of a political and social storm" related to refugees asylum. Globally, there are at least 65 million displaced people, 21 million of whom seek refuge across international borders. Given Europe's size, the number of refugees seeking haven in the continent is ultimately a small fraction, yet the battle over border access in Europe has become fierce, and the handling of the situation is criticized by 90% of national residents. Distinctly divided approaches exist, even within countries, between "liberal, cosmopolitan elites and supporters of nativist right-wing populist ideologies." While the liberal, humanitarian approach to the crisis - which would have Europe accept 25% to 50% of the world's refugees - still has support, right-wing parties opposed to immigration have been gaining popularity. Though the authors ultimately believe Europe needs more migration, they feel that current constraints will make that difficult; for example, immigrants with inadequate language skills face enormous challenges in securing apprenticeships, and as a result, integrate too often into welfare, with limited incentives for returning and taking low paying jobs. One way to tackle the welfare challenge is to reduce income support for refugees, they say, but social democrats are strongly opposed. Mainstream conservative politicians are much more amenable to labor market and welfare reforms that would accommodate unskilled immigration, but they have traditionally been opposed to easy or early naturalization, and reject dual citizenship. Regardless of ideological belief, the authors say that aging and shrinking populations should prompt Europeans to welcome young foreigners who could relieve shortages in the labor market and shore up depleted state pension funds through their tax contributions. As part of this effort, the EU and its member states must be seen to be in control of its external borders, so that the public can feel confident the state has control. On 13 July of this year, following what has been perceived as a failure by the European Union to handle the recent refugee influx and related matters, the European Union Commission proposed a "Common European Asylum System," focused on improving review of refugee applications. The proposal is currently under evaluation by member states.

###
A disorder known as Barrett's esophagus (BE) affects some 200,000 Americans each year. The condition, which is caused by stomach acid damaging the lining of the esophagus, can lead to the development of a serious, potentially fatal cancer of epithelial tissue, known as esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

In a new study, Carlo Maley, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, uses evolutionary theory to make predictions about which BE patients will go on to develop cancer.

The results, which appear in the current issue of the journal Nature Communications, point the way toward more accurate medical assessments for patients with BE and the development of early-warning beacons of disease known as biomarkers.

The research highlights the power of studying genetic diversity as a reliable predictor of cancer development and spread in BE cases and potentially, across cancer types. Such evolutionary indices offer the prospect of more accurate, pre-symptomatic diagnosis of cancer, compared with traditional biomarkers based on specific genetic abnormalities.

"Less than 5 percent of people with Barrett's will develop esophageal cancer in their lifetimes, yet we spend a great deal of resources and emotional stress over monitoring everyone with that disease," Maley says. "We need better ways predict who is at risk and who can be reassured. Evolutionary theory provides novel ways to measure the underlying evolutionary process that drives the disease and thereby predict who is at risk."

Processes of evolution have given rise to the cornucopia of life on earth, through the twin paradigms of chance mutation and natural selection, promoting advantageous traits while weeding out those that are disadvantageous to the organism.

Unfortunately, cells that have become cancerous, furthering their own survival at the expense of their host, are also embedded in the evolutionary framework, using evolutionary strategies to further their lethal agenda.

Clone College

As the author's note, BE provides an ideal laboratory for studying evolution in action. Cells in the esophagus bearing mutations can propagate to form clones, (collections of genetically identical cells). Selection acts to preserve those clones that convey a survival advantage to a developing tumor, allowing such clones to expand with time.

Despite the central importance of clonal expansion in the trajectory of cancerous tumors, the dynamics of clonal evolution, degree of clonal diversity and rates of clonal expansion had not been quantified prior to the new study.

The paper highlights an intriguing finding: in the case of BE, genetic diversity remains fixed from an early stage, rather than increasing over time. Only Barrett's lesions whose genetic diversity is above a given threshold develop into EAC, while the majority of cases do not. Rather than a step-wise expansion of clones with time, the data show a co-existence of multiple clones, which come and go at equal rates, maintaining a dynamic equilibrium of genetic diversity.

A more thorough understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of Barrett's clones is essential for understanding the factors driving cancer progression as well as for improved clinical management of the disease.

Currently, only a small percentage of Barrett's patients go on to develop esophageal cancer during their lifetime, but assessing the risk in particular individuals is challenging, costly, time consuming and error-prone.

Ongoing, endoscopic surveillance of BE patients aims to detect cancers in their early stages, where they may be addressed through minimally invasive means, but improved methods of risk assessment in BE populations could potentially save lives at reduced cost, zeroing in on those patients most likely to develop life-threatening disease.

Signs of illness

When food or liquid is swallowed, it passes through the esophagus -- a hollow, muscular tube running from the throat to the stomach. Stomach acid and bile used to digest food, is normally prevented from rising up into the esophagus by the esophageal sphincter -- a ring of muscle joining the stomach and lower esophagus. Stomach reflux, however, can force liquid from the stomach into the esophagus, potentially injuring the structure.

Patients with chronic acid reflux are at risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, whose symptoms include heartburn; a sour, burning sensation in the back of the throat; upper chest pain, chronic cough, laryngitis, and nausea.

In Barrett's esophagus, the normal tissue lining the esophagus is transformed into tissue resembling the lining of the intestine. Roughly 10 percent of people with chronic symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux will develop Barrett's esophagus.

While Barrett's esophagus increases the risk of esophageal cancer, the disease remains rare, affecting less than 1 percent of BE patients per year. Nevertheless, those with BE are encouraged to undergo routine examinations of the esophagus to search for pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions and target them for early treatment.

Often, there are no specific symptoms associated with Barrett's esophagus. Diagnosis is carried out through endoscopy and biopsy. The American Gastroenterological Association recommends regular screening for those carrying multiple risk factors for BE, including white males over 50 years of age with a history of hiatal hernia, chronic gastro-esophageal reflux, smoking and/or obesity.

Progression to cancer

The current study examines cell samples brushed from the esophageal lining of 320 patients with BE. All patients underwent acid suppressive therapy and were cancer-free at the outset. Patients were evaluated for 11-130 months, during which 20 patients (or 6.3 percent) progressed to a cancerous stage.

Intriguingly, the new study also determined that the degree of genetic diversity in BE lesions does not tend to change over time. The finding suggests that evolutionary selection acting on BE clones is weak and that risk of cancer development is predetermined by a baseline level of diversity which remains invariant over time: highly diverse Barrett's lesions typically progress to cancerous stages while low diversity lesions do not.

Analysis of BE patients over time confirmed genetic diversity was indeed closely correlated with the likelihood of progression to esophageal cancer, further validating the results of earlier research from Maley's team. Diversity-based categorization of cases in the study identified all but one BE case progressing to cancer in 80-100 percent of simulations conducted. Surprisingly, clone size did not correlate with likelihood of disease progression.

The researchers also provide the first estimates of the rate of expansion and contraction of mutant clones occurring in a living subject. Results demonstrated that a dynamic equilibrium is at work in lesions, with clonal expansions and contractions roughly balancing each other out over time, leading to stable genetic diversity. (The point at which dynamic equilibrium is established for BE lesions has yet to be precisely determined.)

Clonal expansions without accompanying contractions were found to be rare, occurring on average once every 36.8 patient years, while clonal contractions occurred once every 22.1 patient years. In cases of clonal expansion, clones grew an average of 1.58 cm2 per year across the surface of the esophagus.

The data sheds new light on the evolutionary dynamics involved in the progression from BE to cancer, with important implications for clinical surveillance and early treatment. The findings further support measures of genetic diversity as universal biomarkers for assessing the risk of disease progression across multiple forms of cancer.

###
BOSTON - In a special report released August 23 in the journal Radiology, a team of researchers including Deborah Levine, MD, Director of Obstetric & Gynecologic ultrasound at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), documented the brain abnormalities associated with congenital Zika in 45 confirmed and presumed cases from northeastern Brazil. Today, more than 50 countries and territories report the active transmission of Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness linked to microcephaly in babies born to infected mothers. The current Zika outbreak began more than a year ago in Brazil, where there have been more than 8,300 reports of microcephaly.

"It's important for radiologists and other health care providers to understand the type of abnormalities associated with congenital Zika virus infection to aid in recognition of disease and appropriate counseling of patients," the authors wrote. "We hope the images of these fetuses and newborns will aid others in the event that this epidemic continues. The team of radiologists, led by first author Patricia Soares de Olivera-Szejnfeld, MD, of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, and senior author Fernanda Tovar-Moll, MD, PhD, vice president of the D'Or Institute for Research and Education and professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, analyzed pre- and post-natal images of fetuses and newborns in 17 confirmed cases and 28 presumed cases of Zika virus. While the brain abnormalities varied in severity and presentation, the researchers saw patterns that may serve as indicators of congenital Zika infection.

The most common trait across all 45 patients was a reduction in brain tissue volume, visible in every subject. Among the other common traits, the radiologists saw enlarged fluid-filled ventricles in 16 of the 17 babies with confirmed congenital Zika infection and 27 out of 28 of those with presumed infections. Notably, three fetuses with normal head circumference demonstrated severe enlargement of the ventricles, an abnormality linked to developmental delays.

Images also revealed calcium build-up in 100 percent of the patients. Calcification occurred in several regions of the brain, especially at the junction of the gray matter and white matter, a location not typically seen in other congenital infections. The scans also revealed calcification in the thalamus (a sensory processing organ that coordinates body movement), basil ganglia (a crucial group of neurons at the base of the thalamus) and the brainstem (the central trunk of the brain that links it to the spinal cord).

Patients also exhibited abnormal development of the cortex, the wrinkly outer layer of te brain thought to play a role in consciousness. Though there was substantial variation in the type, region and severity of these abnormalities, in general, the folds on the surface of the brain were either smoothed out or too prominent. These findings, called lissencephaly and polymicrogyria, are linked to viral infections during pregnancy and can often be associated with severe developmental delays and seizures.

The Radiology study includes imaging and autopsy data from pregnant women and their babies referred to the Instituto de Pesquisa in Campina Grande State Paraiba (IPESQ) in northeastern Brazil from June 2015 to May 2016. Referrals included pregnant women who presented with a characteristic rash in pregnancy and fetuses with suspected central nervous system abnormalities. Thirty-one babies underwent pre- and post-natal scans. Fourteen were added to the study on suspicion of Zika virus after birth.

Levine joined the team of clinicians after seeing their presentation on the topic at the meeting of the Radiological and Diagnostic Imaging Society of Sao Paulo (jointly hosted by the Radiological Society of North America) in Sao Paulo in April. She, in turn, brought in colleague Richard Robertson, a neuroradiologist at Boston Children's Hospital and associate professor of radiology at HMS.

"To do a study like this, you need to pull from many areas of expertise," said Levine. "Our Brazilian colleagues laid significant ground work, and we were able to complement it with our expertise in Boston. We were able to analyze a large number of patients with proven and presumed Zika virus infection during pregnancy, and were able to publish a large number of images to aid the healthcare community in recognizing the pattern of infection that we have seen."

The authors point out that the CDC estimates the risk of microcephaly after maternal infection with the Zika virus is less than 15 percent. The Radiology study, they emphasize, likely represents the outcomes of more severe Zika infections. They add that northeastern Brazil has seen a high proportion of severe Zika cases, suggesting there may be complicating environmental factors that exacerbate fetal infection in this region.

###

About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding.

BIDMC is in the community with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, Anna Jaques Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Lawrence General Hospital, Signature Healthcare, Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare, Community Care Alliance and Atrius Health. BIDMC is also clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and is a research partner of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Jackson Laboratory. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit http://www.bidmc.org.

Editor's note: Images available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2016161584
Mosquitoes continue to build resistance to existing pesticides. Research has now shown that the chemical substances emitted by one of the mosquito's natural enemies - the backswimmer - makes the biological pesticide Bti more deadly. These so-called predator cues also impair the mosquito's immune system. Scientists at KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium, argue that a cocktail of biological pesticides and synthetic predator cues very well be the future of mosquito control.

Mosquitoes transmit quite a few deadly diseases, including West Nile Virus. Around the world, therefore, the fight against these insects is high on the agenda. Existing strategies for mosquito control often involve the use of pesticides that harm the environment. These pesticides are increasingly less effective as well, as insects can become resistant to existing products relatively quickly.

Biopesticides are a possible alternative. The most commonly used biological pesticide is the Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) bacteria. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are already developing a resistance to this pesticide as well. This means we have to keep increasing the dose of Bti to kill mosquitoes, so that this biological substance, too, is beginning to harm the environment.

Under the supervision of Professor Robby Stoks, KU Leuven doctoral student Lin Op de Beeck set out to find a new strategy in the fight against mosquitoes. "We already knew that chemical substances emitted by the backswimmer - a natural enemy of mosquito larvae in the water - trigger a stress response in mosquitoes. This stress response, in turn, suppresses the mosquito's immune system," says Op de Beeck. "Scientists have recently found a way to produce a synthetic version of these chemical substances known as predator cues. We discovered that this synthetic version triggers a stress response in the mosquitoes and impairs their immune system, just like the natural predator cues."

This gave the researchers the idea to combine these synthetic predator cues with the biological pesticide Bti. "We developed a cocktail of predator cues and a low, non-lethal dose of Bti," Lin Op de Beeck continues. "The predator cues trigger extra stress, so that the Bti had a strong impact despite its lower dose. As a result, the mortality rates among mosquitoes were high."

As the predator cues of the backswimmer also have an impact on their targets' immune system, the cocktail weakens the mosquitoes and larvae that it fails to kill. "The surviving mosquitoes and mosquito larvae will probably have a shorter lifespan, so that the parasites they transmit don't have the time to complete their incubation period," says Op de Beeck. "As a result, the mosquitoes will transmit less diseases."

An additional advantage of this combined strategy is that synthetic predator cues of the backswimmer are not so difficult to produce, making the production of the Bti cocktail relatively easy and cheap.

"This new cocktail holds potential for a more efficient and more sustainable mosquito control. We need less Bti, so the impact on the environment is reduced and mosquitoes will be slower to build resistance," the researcher concludes.

This research was conducted in a lab environment. In a next stage, the cocktail will be tested in a more natural setting.

###
Protests in southern Morton County are getting heated and larger in size as many more from out-of-state flow into North Dakota to meddle in our affairs.

Because of the advent of modern technology, protesters have openly broadcast the activity and the public can judge the protests for themselves. What we see bodes well for law enforcement and shows the disruptive and aggressive behaviors of many of the protesters.

Watch the numerous videos and you will see law enforcement officers calmly take the yelling and violent threats from those that claim to be peaceful. You can even see a half-dozen protesters charge at law enforcement on horseback.

The protesters won't go away soon. A federal judge has set a restraining order against the situation and they have stopped work on a legally permitted pipeline. They are keeping middle-class construction workers from earning their wages on a daily basis.

This contingent of the protesters is not peaceful nor are they respectful, yet our law enforcement has handled the situation well. They and their families deserve our thanks for the long, extra hours and willingness to keep the peace and protect the rule of law. Few of us could stand as calmly as they have.
RUSTON, La. - An innovative underground radar technology developed at Louisiana Tech University is helping the City of Slidell in south Louisiana to identify and document underground infrastructure damage that had gone undetected in the months and years following Hurricane Katrina.

This radar technology is a pipe-penetrating scanning system based on a new technology called ultra-wide band (UWB) pulsed radar. UWB allows for the inspection of buried pipelines, tunnels and culverts to detect fractures, quantify corrosion and determine the presence of voids in the surrounding soil often caused by water leaks and flooding.

Developed at Louisiana Tech's Trenchless Technology Center, this technology incorporates leading-edge simulation, electronics, robotics, signal processing and three-dimensional (3-D) renderings in a package that can be mounted on existing pipe-inspection robots.

Dr. Arun Jaganathan, associate professor of civil engineering and construction engineering technology at Louisiana Tech, began developing this technology as the basis for his Ph.D. dissertation research. Partnering with fellow Louisiana Tech researcher Dr. Neven Simicevic and others, his vision was to eventually develop it into a tool that municipal engineers can use for their routine pipeline condition assessment.

"Our UWB technology was based on recognizing the need within the trenchless industry for an advanced pipeline inspection tool that can quantify the structural integrity of buried municipal pipes like sewers and storm drains, and be able to see through the pipe wall," said Jaganathan. "The radar system emits ultra-short electromagnetic pulses from inside of a sewer pipe and captures the signals 'back-scattered' from the pipe to determine the condition of various layers hidden behind the wall which we cannot directly see using visual tools such as a camera. The radar is integrated into a robot which crawls through a pipe and relays the data back to the operator in real time."

Jay Newcomb, City of Slidell Council Member for District F and a Louisiana Tech alumnus, learned of this technology and the possibilities for partnership through his connections with his alma mater.

"During my campaign for City Council, myself and many others all espoused a need in the city for small, high tech, clean industry," said Newcomb. "I was already well aware of what Tech was doing with the business incubator on campus and, though we have no university to attach an incubator to, we took a trip to Tech in September of 2010 to check things out and make ourselves be known to any interested companies.

"At that time, Louisiana Tech's radar technology was still in the developmental stages, but the research team said that if the innovation proved useful in lab tests, Slidell would be used as a Beta site in actual field studies."

Following successful testing and development, Jaganathan and other researchers came to Slidell in the summer of 2013 to pinpoint the spots in the city that would be most beneficial for using the UWB, and to test and investigate the underground infrastructure issues. As had been predicted by the group in their initial research, compromised infrastructure was able to be seen using the UWB technology and, most importantly, became provable.

"While we were aware of the depth and breadth of the problems that plagued our underground utilities and we knew surrounding communities had experienced similar problems, I believe it wasn't until we made the trip to Ruston in 2010 and then saw the results of the UWB investigation that we actually realized we could have quantifiable evidence of the scope of that damage," said Newcomb.

As a result of the work of Jaganathan, Simicevic and the Louisiana Tech researcher team, and consultations with other engineering firms, the City of Slidell was able to secure $75 million in funding from FEMA to begin the underground utility restoration process.

"Our FY2017 total budget for the City of Slidell is just under $43 million," said Newcomb. "We have almost two whole budgets to spend on streets, drainage and sewer thanks to the collective efforts of many, beginning with the research conducted by Louisiana Tech University."

"This technology is unique in its capability to generate high resolution images which allow engineers to inspect a particular spot in detail," Jaganathan said. "Unlike many other radars, our system does have to be in contact with the pipe wall and this provides capability for rapid inspection to finish scanning a long pipe in a timely manner."

Jaganathan says this project demonstrates the value of academic research at Louisiana Tech.

"What started as an academic research ultimately led to the development of a practical tool that our municipal engineers can use on a daily basis for the betterment of our infrastructure and society, as a whole," says Jaganathan. "The sophistication and complexity of electronics involved in this system speaks to the capability of Louisiana Tech researchers to design and develop advanced sensing technologies."

"As for the State of Louisiana, I think they would be wise to look closely at what is going on at such a dynamic institution as Louisiana Tech and its dynamic leadership team," Newcomb says. "I truly believe that far too municipalities' first response to problems is, 'Who do we hire to consult/fix this?', instead of asking, 'I wonder if any of our public universities have researched this topic or have any prior experience dealing with a similar situation?'"

"I am glad the City of Slidell asked for help from Louisiana Tech. All we had to do was just ask!"

###
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The MIT researchers were trying to develop a new battery, but it didn't work out that way. Instead, thanks to an unexpected finding in their lab tests, what they discovered was a whole new way of producing the metal antimony -- and potentially a new way of smelting other metals, as well.

The discovery could lead to metal-production systems that are much less expensive and that virtually eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with most traditional metal smelting. Although antimony itself is not a widely used metal, the same principles may also be applied to producing much more abundant and economically important metals such as copper and nickel, the researchers say.

The surprising finding is reported this week in the journal Nature Communications, in a paper by Donald Sadoway, the John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry; postdoc Huayi Yin; and visiting scholar Brice Chung.

"We were trying to develop a different electrochemistry for a battery," Sadoway explains, as an extension of the variety of chemical formulations for the all-liquid, high temperature storage batteries that his lab has been developing for several years. The different parts of these batteries are composed of molten metals or salts that have different densities and thus inherently form separate layers, much as oil floats on top of water. "We wanted to investigate the utility of putting a second electrolyte between the positive and negative electrodes" of the liquid battery, Sadoway says.

Unexpected results

But the experiment didn't go quite as planned. "We found that when we went to charge this putative battery, we were in fact producing liquid antimony instead of charging the battery," Sadoway says.

Then, the quest was on to figure out what had just happened.

The material they were using, antimony sulfide, is a molten semiconductor, which normally would not allow for the kind of electrolytic process that is used to produce aluminum and some other metals through the application of an electric current.

"Antimony sulfide is a very good conductor of electrons," Sadoway says. "But if you want to do electrolysis, you only want an ionic conductor" -- that is, a material that is good at conducting molecules that have a net electric charge. But by adding another layer on top of the molten semiconductor, one that is a very good ionic conductor, it turned out the electrolysis process worked very well in this "battery," separating the metal out of the sulfide compound to form a pool of 99.9 percent pure antimony at the bottom of their cell, while pure sulfur gas accumulated at the top, where it could be collected for use as a chemical feedstock.

In typical smelting processes, the sulfur would immediately bond with oxygen in the air to form sulfur dioxide, a significant air pollutant and the major cause of acid rain. But instead this contained process provides highly purified metal without the need to worry about scrubbing out the polluting gas.

Simple, efficient process

Electrolysis is much more efficient than traditional heat-based smelting methods, because it is a single-step continuous process, Sadoway explains. The discovery of that process is what transformed aluminum, more than a century ago, from a precious metal more valuable than silver into a widely used inexpensive commodity. If the process could be applied to other common industrial metals such as copper, it would have the potential to significantly lower prices as well as reduce the air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional production.

"The thing that made this such an exciting finding," Sadoway says, "is that we could imagine doing the same for copper and nickel, metals that are used in large quantities." It made sense to start with antimony because it has a much lower melting point -- just 631 degrees Celsius -- compared to copper's 1,085 C. Though the higher melting temperatures of other metals add complication to designing an overall production system, the underlying physical principles are the same, and so such systems should eventually be feasible, he says.

"Antimony was a good test vehicle for the idea, but we could imagine doing something similar for much more common metals," Sadoway says. And while this demonstration used an ore that is a sulfide (metal combined with sulfur), "we see no reason why this approach couldn't be generalized to oxide feedstocks," which represent the other major category of metal ores. Such a process would produce pure oxygen as the secondary product, instead of sulfur.

Ultimately, if steel could be produced by such a process, it could have a major impact, because "steel-making is the number one source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide," the main greenhouse gas, Sadoway says. But that will be a more difficult process to develop because of iron's high melting point of about 1,540 C.

###
August 25, 2016 Businesses spent $341 billion on research and development (R&D) performed in the United States in 2014, a 5.6 percent increase over the previous year, according to a new report from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES).

Development accounted for the greatest share, 78 percent, of 2014 R&D spending. Applied research accounted for 16 percent, while basic research accounted for 6 percent. The NCSES InfoBrief focuses on business-sector R&D spending. Other sectors, including higher education and federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), also contribute to total U.S. R&D spending.

Funding from companies' own sources rose by 6.7 percent from 2013 to 2014, totaling $283 billion. Funding from other sources totaled $58 billion. The federal government was the largest of those other sources, accounting for $27 billion, $19 billion of which came from the Department of Defense. Of the federal funding, 92 percent went toward aerospace products and parts; professional, scientific and technical services; and computer and electronic products.

Small- and medium-sized companies performed 16 percent of the nation's business R&D in 2014, while companies with 500 to 24,999 domestic employees performed 48 percent. Companies with 25,000 or more employees made up the other 36%. Businesses that performed or funded R&D employed 21.5 million people in the U.S., 1.5 million of which were R&D employees.

Business R&D is concentrated in a relatively small number of states. California alone accounted for 30 percent of the $283 billion in R&D funded by companies' own sources in 2014. Other states with high amounts in the business R&D category were: Massachusetts (6 percent), Michigan (5 percent), Washington (5 percent), Texas (5 percent), Illinois (4 percent), New Jersey (4 percent), New York (4 percent), and Pennsylvania (3 percent).

###

For more information, including R&D performance numbers for all states and a breakdown of spending by different business sectors, read the full InfoBrief.
NASA has awarded the Next Generation Land Mobile Radio contract to Motorola Solutions, Inc., of Linthicum Heights, Maryland.

This is a firm-fixed-price contract with indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) components. The contract has a one-year base period, beginning Sept. 1, and four one-year options that total approximately $1.8 million. The IDIQ portion of the contract has a maximum value of $7.3 million. The total contract value, including all options, is approximately $9.1 million. The period of performance runs through Aug. 31, 2021.

The contractor will install and maintain Land Mobile Radio (LMR) P-25 Technology systems. The two-way radios are used by members of the Protective Services Division, Facilities Management Division and other first responders to provide communication in support of their day-to-day operations.

The core requirements of the contract consist of the installation and maintenance of the LMR P25 system at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. The IDIQ components allow for the installation and maintenance of P25 systems at other NASA installations and to expand the capabilities of the LMR system at any location.

###

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov
NASA analyzed the rainfall and cloud heights in an area of low pressure designated as System 99L that bringing rains and gusty winds to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos and other islands in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Caribbean Sea today, Aug. 25.

On Aug. 25 at 3:16 a.m. EDT (0716 UTC) the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core observatory satellite had an excellent look at an area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave moving past the northern Dominican Republic.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been monitoring this area of disturbed weather for potential development into a tropical cyclone. This low pressure area is predicted by the NHC to produce heavy rainfall as it continues moving toward the northeast. The development of a tropical storm or hurricane moving in this direction could pose future danger to the Bahamas and the southeastern United States.

Rainfall data derived from data captured by the GPM satellite's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments showed the extent of heavy precipitation in the tropical disturbance. GPM's DPR showed that some extremely powerful thunderstorms northeast of the Dominican Republic were dropping rain at a rate of almost 248 mm (9.8 inches) per hour.

The GPM satellite's radar (DPR Ku Band) was used to create 3-D views of rainfall structure within the violent storms northeast of The Dominican Republic. DPR revealed that some storm tops in these intense storms were reaching altitudes above 16 km (9.9 miles).

The numbering and (and letters) are simply a code designation that is used to initiate model runs and is used in all basins. At the start of the hurricane season the first disturbance the National Hurricane Center (NHC) wants to run track and intensity models for in the Atlantic would be designated System "90L." They just keep rolling sequentially then restart when 99 reached. When a system is named, the name replaces the 9 designator for identification.

At 8 a.m. EDT the NHC said that "the area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave was centered just southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The wave is producing gale-force winds over water to the north of Hispaniola, however, satellite images indicate that the shower and thunderstorm activity is well removed from the area of lowest pressure. Surface data also indicate that the low continues to lack a well-defined center."

NHC said that conditions are expected to become a little more favorable for development by the weekend of Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 and this system could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days.

"Regardless of development, heavy rains are likely over Puerto Rico today, and strong winds and heavy rainfall are likely over portions of Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, and the southeastern and central Bahamas during the next couple of days," NHC noted. These rains could lead to flash floods and mudslides.

Residents in the northwestern Bahamas and Florida should monitor the progress of this disturbance since it is increasing likely that some impacts, at a minimum heavy rains and gusty winds, will occur beginning this weekend.

The NHC gives System 99L a medium chance to develop into a depression in the next two days and a high chance through 5 days.

###
NYU Tandon researchers show that social pressure can spark competition, shape behavior among citizen scientists -- even if the competitor is a bot

Peer pressure is a proven social motivator, and seeing a friend or colleague succeed at a task can boost individual effort. Researchers at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering probed this decidedly human attribute -- sensitivity to competition from peers -- and found that not only is virtual pressure from a computer-simulated peer just as motivating as the real thing, but that "fake" competition can be used for the good of science.

The research team formulated a mathematical model of human behavior that successfully predicted group responses across conditions -- one they hope other researchers will use to overcome the notoriously difficult task of encouraging wide participation in scientific projects.

Maurizio Porfiri, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Dynamical Systems Lab at NYU Tandon, and Oded Nov, associate professor of technology management and innovation, designed an experiment to test whether virtual peer pressure could boost individual participation in a citizen science project they founded in 2012, Brooklyn Atlantis. The research team included Jeffrey Laut, a recent NYU Ph.D. graduate, and Francesco Cappa, a visiting student.

Citizen science projects rely on volunteers from the general public to aid professional scientists by collecting and reporting data using their home computers or smartphones. Familiar examples include projects tracking the movement of monarch butterflies, efforts to identify new planets, and even an online game challenging users to find new ways to fold protein structures.

Brooklyn Atlantis is a citizen science project supported by the National Science Foundation that revolves around a mobile robot designed by Laut as part of his dissertation. The instrumented mobile robot serves as prototypes for water drones that Laut and Porfiri hope to commercialize through a recent New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant. The robot patrols the Gowanus Canal, the notoriously polluted Brooklyn waterway and Superfund site, transmitting a constant stream of data on water quality and temperature, as well as images both above and below the waterline. Citizen scientists volunteer to view the images and create "tags" to identify objects in the photos, which may include humans, wildlife, or specific pieces of litter or debris.

All crowd-sourced science projects face a similar challenge: Despite having many registered participants, the majority of contributions come from a small, highly engaged group of volunteers. Increasing participation levels has long been a goal.

The research team created an experiment to determine if the presence of a virtual peer could enhance volunteer contributions. They redesigned the interface of the Brooklyn Atlantis page where users view and tag images, adding an indicator bar at the top of the screen to display the number of times another participant had tagged the same image. This was the performance of the virtual peer, and the researchers created five distinct scenarios for the virtual peer's performance.

Splitting the 120 participants, they formed a control group with no virtual peer and two groups for which the virtual peer's performance varied according to an independent algorithm. For the three remaining groups, the virtual peer's performance varied in relation to the user: One consistently underperformed the real user, one consistently outperformed, and the other performed on par with the real user.

The results show that pressure from a virtual peer can influence the behavior of a citizen scientist. The highest-performing group of real users -- the ones who tagged the most objects in Brooklyn Atlantis photos -- were those who saw a virtual peer that consistently outperformed them. Conversely, the group who saw a virtual peer that underperformed them contributed fewer tags than any other group, including the peer-free control group.

The group whose virtual peer matched their own level of activity also tagged more objects than a control group, indicating that perhaps the mere presence of a peer leads to increased performance.

"Social comparison is a strong driver of behavior, and it's exciting to see that even simulated performance was enough to influence our participants to tag more or fewer objects. Even more exciting was the fact that we can anticipate such a response using a mathematical model," Porfiri said. He noted that the real-life participants mostly mirrored the activity of the simulated participant, indicating that this sort of norm-setting may help boost participation in citizen science projects.

"The study taught us how the design of a social participation system can benefit from incorporating social psychology research," Nov explained.

The researchers believe that these findings add to the growing body of research into how to increase engagement in citizen science projects. Alongside issuing rewards, points, or other forms of "gamification," using peer performance as a motivator shows clear promise. Further research is needed to determine a level of competition that is healthy rather than counterproductive.

###

About the NYU Tandon School of Engineering:

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, when the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture as well as the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly) were founded. Their successor institutions merged in January 2014 to create a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention, and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within the country's largest private research university and is closely connected to engineering programs in NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates business incubators in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu.
Researchers discovered a procedure to restore defective graphene oxide structures that cause the material to display low carrier mobility. By applying a high-temperature reduction treatment in an ethanol environment, defective structures were restored, leading to the formation of a highly crystalline graphene film with excellent band-like transport. These findings are expected to come into use in scalable production techniques of highly crystalline graphene films.

Graphene is a material with excellent electric conductivity, mechanical strength, chemical stability, and a large surface area. Its structure consists of a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms. Due to its positive attributes, research on its synthesis and application to electronic devices is being conducted around the world. While it is possible to create graphene from graphene oxide (GO), a material produced by chemical exfoliation from graphite through oxidative treatment, this treatment causes defective structures and the existence of oxygen-containing groups, causing GO to display low conducting properties. So far, carrier mobility, the basic indicator with which transistor performance is expressed, remained at a few cm2/Vs at most. A group of researchers led by Ryota Negishi, assistant professor, and Yoshihiro Kobayashi, professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University; Masashi Akabori, associate professor, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; Takahiro Ito, associate professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University; and Yoshio Watanabe, Vice Director, Aichi Synchrotron Radiation Center, have developed a reduction treatment through which the crystallinity of GO was drastically improved.

The researchers coated a substrate with 1-3 extremely thin layers of GO and added a small amount of ethanol to the up to 1100C high temperature reduction process. The addition of the carbon-based ethanol gas led to the effective restoration of the defective graphene structure. For the first time in the world, this group managed to observe a band-like transport reflecting the intrinsic electric transport properties in chemically reduced GO films. Band-like transport is a conduction mechanism in which the carriers use the periodic electric mechanisms in solid crystals as a transmission wave. The observed band transport in this study achieved a carrier mobility of ~210 cm2/Vs, currently the highest level observed in chemically reduced GO films.

The successful creation of thin graphene films achieved through the above reduction method has opened up the possibility of their application in a diverse set of electronic devices and sensors. The findings of this research group form a milestone in the development of scalable materials that utilize graphene's excellent physical properties.

This research was featured in Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group) on July 1, 2016.

###
(Washington, DC)--The world population will reach 9.9 billion in 2050, up 33 percent from an estimated 7.4 billion now, according to projections included in the latest World Population Data Sheet from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB).

The world population would hit the 10 billion mark in 2053 if the assumptions underlying PRB's 2050 projections are applied to subsequent years.

"Despite declines in fertility rates around the world, we expect population gains to remain strong enough to take us toward a global population of 10 billion," said Jeffrey Jordan, president and CEO of PRB. "Significant regional differences remain, though. For example very low birth rates in Europe will mean population declines there while Africa's population is expected to double."

PRB's projections show Africa's population will reach 2.5 billion by 2050, while the number of people in the Americas will rise by only 223 million to 1.2 billion. Asia will gain about 900 million to 5.3 billion, while Europe registers a decline from 740 million to 728 million. Oceania (which includes Australia and New Zealand) would rise from 40 million to 66 million.

PRB's widely referenced Data Sheet has been produced annually since 1962. This year's edition provides the latest data on 19 key population, health, and environment indicators for the world, major regions, and more than 200 countries. PRB also added six indicators and analytical graphics that explore the balance between providing for human needs and sustainably managing the natural resources on which people depend. The Data Sheet's midcentury population projections indicate that:

The combined population of the world's least developed countries in the world will double by 2050 to 1.9 billion. There are 48 least developed countries, based on United Nations criteria, most of which are in Africa.

The population in 29 countries will more than double. Nearly all of these countries are in Africa. In Niger, the country with the highest birth rate, the population will more than triple.

Forty-two countries will register population declines. These countries are scattered throughout Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Some European countries will post significant declines, such as Romania, which is projected to have a population of 14 million in 2050, down from 20 million today.

The population of the United States will be 398 million, up 23 percent from 324 million today.

According to the Data Sheet's estimates of current population:

Over 25 percent of the world's population is under 15 years old. The figure is 41 percent in least developed countries and 16 percent in more developed countries.

Japan has the oldest population profile, with over a quarter of its citizens older than 65. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are at the other end of the spectrum, with each having only 1 percent over 65.

The top ten fertility rates in the world are in sub-Saharan African countries, with nearly all above 6 children per woman, and one topping seven. In Europe. The average is 1.6.

The fertility rate in the United States is 1.8 children per woman, down from 1.9 in 2014. "Replacement" fertility in the United States--that is, the rate at which the population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, excluding the effects of migration--is 2.1 children per woman.

Thirty-three countries in Europe and Asia already have more people over age 65 than under 15.

Human Needs, Sustainable Resources

As part of this year's Data Sheet theme, "Human Needs and Sustainable Resources," PRB compiled statistics that speak to the environmental and resource aspects of human development. The Data Sheet included measures of carbon emissions (related to climate change), access to electricity, power from renewable energy resources, how much land countries have set aside for protection, and population per square kilometer of arable land. A few key figures include:

Globally, there was a 60 percent increase in annual carbon emissions between 1992 and 2013, to 9.8 billion tons. China posted the largest increase by volume over this period, from 735 million metric tons to 2.8 billion metric tons--which was also the largest amount of any country in 2013.

Forty-three countries reduced their carbon emissions over the same period. The largest reduction by volume was in Ukraine, where carbon emissions declined by 98 million tons to 74 million tons.

Eighteen percent of the world's energy comes from renewable sources, which include hydroelectric power.

There is an average of 526 people per square kilometer of arable land. The number is 238 in more developed countries and 697 in less developed countries.

###

PRB informs people around the world about population, health, and the environment, and empowers them to use that information to advance the well-being of current and future generations. The World Population Data Sheet is one of many PRB informational products that make evidence-based knowledge easily accessible to the general public and a range of policy stakeholders. Find out more at http://www.prb.org.
LA JOLLA--Boosting levels of a specific protein in the brain alleviates hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease in a mouse model of the disorder, according to new research published online August 25, 2016 in Scientific Reports.

The protein, called neuregulin-1, has many forms and functions across the brain and is already a potential target for brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia.

"Neuregulin-1 has broad therapeutic potential, but mechanistically, we are still learning about how it works," says the study's senior investigator Kuo-Fen Lee, a professor in the Salk Institute's Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology and holder of the Helen McLoraine Chair in Molecular Neurobiology. "We've shown that it promotes metabolism of the brain plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease."

Previously, researchers have shown that treating cells with neuregulin-1, for example, dampens levels of amyloid precursor protein, a molecule that generates amyloid beta, which aggregate and form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Other studies suggest that neuregulin-1 could protect neurons from damage caused by blockage of blood flow.

In the new study, Lee's team tested this idea in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease by raising the levels of one of two forms of neuregulin-1 in the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Both forms of the protein seemed to improve performance on a test of spatial memory in the models.

What's more, the levels of cellular markers of disease--including the levels of amyloid beta and plaques--were noticeably lower in mice with more neuregulin-1 compared to controls.

The group's experiments suggest that neuregulin-1 breaks up plaques by raising levels of an enzyme called neprilysin, shown to degrade amyloid-beta. But that is probably not the only route through which neuregulin-1 confers its benefits, and the group is exploring other possible mechanisms--such as whether the protein improves signaling between neurons, which is impaired in Alzheimer's--says the study's first author Jiqing Xu, a research associate in Lee's group.

A neuregulin-1 treatment is not available on the market, though it is being explored in clinical trials as a potential treatment for chronic heart failure and Parkinson's disease. One advantage of neuregulin-1 as a potential drug is that it can cross the blood brain barrier, which means that it could be administered relatively noninvasively even though the efficiency is not clear. On the other hand, other research suggests too much of the protein impairs brain function. Working with chemists at Salk, Lee's team has come up with a small molecule that can raise levels of existing neuregulin-1 (rather than administering it directly) and are testing it in cells. This alternative therapy could be a better way to prevent plaques from forming because small molecules more readily cross the blood brain barrier.

The group is also interested in neuregulin-1 for its ties to schizophrenia. An alteration in the neuregulin-1 gene--a single change in one letter of the DNA code for the protein--has been found in families with schizophrenia and linked to late-onset Alzheimer's disease with psychosis. The protein may be a way to understand the overlap between Alzheimer's and other brain disorders, Lee says.

An important caveat is that the new research was conducted in a single type of mouse model of Alzheimer's. Lee's group is testing neuregulin-1's affects across other models. "There's much more work ahead before neuregulin-1 could become a treatment, but we are excited about its potential, possibly in combination with other therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease," Lee says.

###

Other authors on the study are Fred DeWinter, Catherine Farrokhi, Jonathan Cook and Xin Jin of Salk's Clayton Foundation for Peptide Biology Laboratories; and Edward Rockenstein, Michael Mante, Anthony Adame and Eliezer Masliah of the University of California, San Diego.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Clayton Foundation, The Albert G. and Olive H. Schlink Foundation, the Gemcon Family Foundation and the Brown Foundation.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:

Every cure has a starting point. The Salk Institute embodies Jonas Salk's mission to dare to make dreams into reality. Its internationally renowned and award-winning scientists explore the very foundations of life, seeking new understandings in neuroscience, genetics, immunology and more. The Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature and fearless in the face of any challenge. Be it cancer or Alzheimer's, aging or diabetes, Salk is where cures begin. Learn more at: salk.edu.
LA JOLLA--Salk Institute scientists have discovered the holy grail of endless youthfulness--at least when it comes to one type of human kidney precursor cell. Previous attempts to maintain cultures of the so-called nephron progenitor cells often failed, as the cells died or gradually lost their developmental potential rather than staying in a more medically useful precursor state.

But by using a three-dimensional culture and a new mixture of supporting molecules, Salk researchers have successfully suspended the cells early in their development. Such early-stage kidney cells could be used to grow replacement kidney tissue in order to study the organ as well as treat disease.

"We provide a proof-of-principle for how to make and maintain unlimited numbers of precursor kidney cells," says Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, professor in Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory. "Having a supply of these cells could be a starting point to grow functional organs in the laboratory as well as a way to begin applying cell therapy to kidneys with malfunctioning genes." The work was published in Cell Stem Cell on August 25, 2016.

Nephron progenitor cells (NPCs), at least in humans, normally only exist during a brief stage of embryonic development. The cells go on to form nephrons, the functional units of the kidney, responsible for filtering the blood and excreting urine. But adults have no remaining NPCs to grow new kidney tissue after damage or disease. Generating NPCs in the lab, scientists believe, will offer a new way to study kidney development and eventually treat kidney diseases.

Previously, other groups of scientists have used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to make NPC-like cells. "Those approaches take a long time, it is difficult to isolate a pure population, and the NPC-like cells are still transient," says Zhongwei Li, a research associate in the Izpisua Belmonte lab and co-first author of the new paper. In those cases, the NPCs often matured into adult kidney cells in a manner of days, leaving no steady population of progenitor cells to study.

First working with NPCs directly isolated from mouse embryos, Izpisua Belmonte, Li and collaborators worked to develop methods that would keep the NPCs in their usually transient, progenitor state. They discovered that if they maintained the cells in a three-dimensional culture, rather than a flat dish, and used a new mixture of signaling molecules, they could maintain the NPCs for more than 15 months. They went on to show that the cells--when moved to new conditions--could then be coaxed to develop into functional nephron-like structures both in the lab or when transplanted into animals.

Next, the team used both human embryonic NPCs and human NPCs generated from stem cells to tweak the protocol for human use. Again, they were able to maintain the NPCs long term.

"The 3D culture strategy used in our study can potentially be applied to other lineage progenitors for efficient formation of tissue organoids," says co-first author Jun Wu, Salk research associate.

Aside from a regenerative therapy to replace ailing organs, the scientists add that the NPCs could be used to model diseases in the lab. By introducing disease related mutations to the cells, researchers could study the onset and progression of the disease and gain new insights into the disease as well as screen and discover new treatment drugs.

Next, the researchers would like to investigate how to culture the other types of progenitor cells that are required for a full kidney, in addition to the nephrons formed by NPCs. "There are several progenitor cells that work together to make a whole organ," adds co-first author Toshikazu Araoka, Salk research associate. "If we can culture the other progenitor cells as well, we'll be closer to building a transplantable kidney."

###

Other researchers on the study were Hsin-Kai Liao, Mo Li, Min-Zu Wu, Isao Tamura, Yun Xia, Ergin Beyret, and Concepcion Rodriguez Esteban of the Salk Institute; Marta Lazo and Josep M. Campistol of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; Bing Zhou and Yinghui Sui of the University of California, San Diego; Taji Matsusaka of Tokai University School of Medicine; Ira Pastan of the National Cancer Institute; Isabel Guillen and Pedro Guillen of Clinica Cemtro in Madrid.

The work and the researchers involved were supported by grants from the Kyoto University Foundation, the Nagai Foundation Tokyo, the Kidney Foundation Japan, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a Catharina Foundation fellowship, the Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), Fundacion Dr. Pedro Guillen, The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, and The Moxie Foundation.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:

Every cure has a starting point. The Salk Institute embodies Jonas Salk's mission to dare to make dreams into reality. Its internationally renowned and award-winning scientists explore the very foundations of life, seeking new understandings in neuroscience, genetics, immunology and more. The Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature and fearless in the face of any challenge. Be it cancer or Alzheimer's, aging or diabetes, Salk is where cures begin. Learn more at: salk.edu.
LA JOLLA--When you reach for that pan of brownies, a ball-shaped brain structure called the striatum is critical for controlling your movement toward the reward. A healthy striatum also helps you stop yourself when you've had enough.

But when the striatum doesn't function properly, it can lead to disorders such as Parkinson's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder or addiction.

In fact, the exact functions of the striatum are by no means resolved, and it's also a mystery how the structure can coordinate many diverse functions. Now, a new study published August 25, 2016 by Salk Institute researchers and their colleagues in the journal Neuron, delves into the anatomy and function of the striatum by employing cutting-edge strategies to comprehensively map one of the brain's lesser-known forms of organization.

"The most exciting result from this research is that we now have a new avenue to study long-standing questions about how the striatum controls movement in both healthy and diseased brains," says the study's senior investigator Xin Jin, an assistant professor in the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory at Salk.

Forty years ago, researchers discovered a unique way that the striatum is organized. It is dotted with patch neurons, which under the microscope look like tiny islands of cells. The ocean surrounding them is made up of neurons scientists collectively refer to as "matrix" cells.

Over the course of four decades, scientists hypothesized about the role of patch and matrix neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. One idea was that patch cells were fed by the brain's higher thought centers, suggesting they could play a role in cognition, whereas the matrix cells seemed to play a role in sensing and movement.

In contrast, the new study dispels that idea, showing that both types of information are sent to the patch and matrix neurons, though patch cells tend to receive slightly more information from the brain's emotion centers (these are included in the higher thought centers). But those results could help explain why, in the brains of patients with neurological disorders like Huntington's disease (a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting movement and other functions), patch cells and matrix cells are both affected, Jin says.

Jin, together with the paper's first authors Jared Smith, Jason Klug and Danica Ross, drew upon several technologies to uncover these new findings. The first was genetic engineering to selectively and precisely target the patch versus matrix neurons; traditionally, researchers used staining methods that were not as exact. Secondly, new neural tracing methods, including one generated by collaborator Edward Callaway and his group at Salk, allowed Jin's team to chart the entire brain's input to the patch and matrix cells and the output of each of the cell types as well. A third major approach, from the field of electrophysiology, enabled the scientists to confirm the connections they had mapped and to understand their strength.

"Much of the previous work on patch and matrix cells inferred their functions based on connectivity with the rest of the brain, but most of those hypotheses were incorrect," Smith says. "With a more precise map of the input and output of patch and matrix cells, we can now make more informed hypotheses."

Patch and matrix neurons are not the only way that neuroscientists understand the striatum. The striatum also contains cells that take two opposing routes--the direct and indirect pathways--that are thought to provide the gas and brakes on movement, so to speak. Those indirect and direct pathways are also crucial for certain behaviors, such as the formation of new habits.

Interestingly, both patch and matrix groups contain both indirect and direct pathway cells. That makes the story of the striatum more complicated, Jin says, but in future studies his team can study the intersection of these two types of organization in the context of how the striatum controls actions in health and disease.

###

Other authors on the study are Jason Klug, Danica Ross, Christopher Howard, Nick Hollon, Vivian Ko, Hilary Hoffman and Edward Callaway of the Salk Institute; and Charles Gerfen of the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Dana Foundation, the Ellison Medical Foundation, and the Whitehall Foundation.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:

Every cure has a starting point. The Salk Institute embodies Jonas Salk's mission to dare to make dreams into reality. Its internationally renowned and award-winning scientists explore the very foundations of life, seeking new understandings in neuroscience, genetics, immunology and more. The Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature and fearless in the face of any challenge. Be it cancer or Alzheimer's, aging or diabetes, Salk is where cures begin. Learn more at: salk.edu.
PHOENIX - Researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have traced the roots of humane medical practices to a pioneering French physician who treated people with deformities as humans instead of "monsters," as they were commonly called.

The physician, Andre Feil, established practices that have become health care norms more than a century later. Feil wrote a 1919 medical school thesis on cervical abnormalities defying long-held opinions about people with "monstrous" deformities -- that their conditions resulted from moral failure or supernatural causes. Feil and his mentor, Maurice Klippel, described patients with congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae, a rare condition now known as "Klippel-Feil syndrome."

"This was a real revolution in terms of thinking about these patients," said Dr. Mark C. Preul of Barrow, who oversaw the research paper published in the July issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery. "They come in to see you, and they've got problems -- and they may be horrific problems to look at -- but it doesn't matter. They're human.

"That's really the ultimate message of Feil's thesis," said Barrow's Dr. Preul. "You treat everybody who comes to you with dignity and honor, and you do the utmost that you can when you're treating them." Barrow is part of Dignity Health's St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz.

Barrow researchers discovered Feil's thesis, which they described as "a medical gem," at the University of Paris, Dr. Preul said. The city was at the vanguard of advances in neurology and psychology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

"In addition to practicing the science of medicine, (Feil) highlighted the importance of humanism to medicine, and we have inherited his legacy for care and consideration for those we might term 'handicapped,' " Barrow Dr. Evgenii Belykh wrote in the paper. "Although his name is not often encountered in the annals of history, there is no denying that Feil played a critical role in attempting to change a sociocultural mind-set rooted in ignorance and fear."

Dr. Preul said modern-day reminders of Feil's groundbreaking work are common; one example is the public's view of disabled people, including military veterans.

"One example is that the Olympics used to show what we would call normal athletes," Dr. Preul said. "But I've noticed advertisements for Paralympic athletes. These people are fantastic physical specimens. There's some real thought and advanced scientific efforts about how we can help these people achieve a normal integration into society again. This attitude just didn't start yesterday, but our ability to provide it technologically has been lacking. This is a long time in coming."

###
Topical intranasal steroid therapy continues to be underused for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) despite practice guidelines that recommend daily use, according to a study published online by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (a condition in which the cavities around nasal passages [sinuses] become inflamed and swollen, which interferes with drainage and causes mucus buildup) is a common and expensive-to-treat disease, which is primarily managed with prolonged medical therapies. Topical intranasal steroid (INS) therapy has been shown to be highly effective at improving CRS-specific symptoms and quality of life. Deficiencies in utilization of intranasal steroid therapy may represent a gap in quality of care.

Luke Rudmik, M.D., M.Sc., of the University of Calgary, Canada, and colleagues evaluated the utilization patterns of topical intranasal steroid therapy for CRS in the Canadian population with a review of a Canadian population-based health care administrative database. A validated case definition for CRS was applied, and the utilization of topical intranasal steroid therapy within this cohort was quantified during the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

A total of 19,057 adult patients with CRS were evaluated. The overall rate of intranasal steroid spray utilization was 20 per 100 patients with CRS. In the 3,821 patients with CRS who used an intranasal steroid spray during 2014 to 2015, the average quantity of utilization was 2.4 U (1 U = 1 bottle per month) per patient. There was large geographic variation in both the rate and quantity of intranasal steroid spray utilization.

"Overall, the outcomes demonstrate that there is a significant under-use of INS spray for CRS patients; however, factors driving the underuse are currently unknown. Given that CRS practice guidelines provide strong recommendations for daily use of topical INS therapy, improving utilization of this treatment strategy may represent an opportunity to improve the quality of care," the authors write.

###

(JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online August 25, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2016.1110. The study is available pre-embargo at the For The Media website.)

Editor's Note: This study was supported by an MSI Foundation grant and Petro-Canada Young Innovator in Community Health Sciences of Canada Award. All authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none were reported.
The inventors of one of the most versatile tools in modern science - the atomic force microscope, or AFM - tell their story in an interview published online this week. The AFM was invented in the mid 1980s by Gerd Binnig, Christoph Gerber and Calvin Quate, three physicists who are sharing the 2016 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience.

Binnig and Gerber discuss their inspiration for the device, how they solved problems through sport, and why their invention continues to propel science at the nanoscale.

"AFM has turned into the most powerful and most versatile toolkit that we have for doing nanoscience. And it keeps evolving," said Gerber in the interview. Gerber is a professor of physics at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute, part of the University of Basel. "In just the past few years, researchers have learned to pick up a molecule on the tip of an AFM, which we can think of as the needle on a record player, and reveal chemical bonds while imaging molecules on surfaces. Nobody thought that ever would be possible."

Unlike optical microscopes, AFM doesn't use light to illuminate an object. Instead, it measures the tiny forces between a sharp tip at the end of a cantilever and the surface of an object. As it scans a surface, what emerges is an image so clear that researchers can even distinguish chemical bonds within a molecule. They can also use the tip to create and cleave those bonds, and push atoms around.

"[AFM] lets us look at the molecules that make life possible... and see things we could not see before," said Binnig, who received the Nobel Prize in 1986 for the scanning tunneling microscope, AFM's predecessor. "It teaches us how to make changes to surfaces or molecules that we attempted blindly in the past. And it has been used in so many different scientific studies, from looking at polymers and chemical reactions to modifying surfaces at the atomic level."

The complete interview is freely available at: http://www.kavliprize.org/events-and-features/2016-kavli-prize-nanoscience-discussion-gerd-binnig-and-christoph-gerber

The three Nanoscience laureates will be honored at the Kavli Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on September 6, 2016. The prizes were announced June 2 by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/b-9sp060116.php

###

About The Kavli Prizes

The Kavli Prizes recognize scientists for their seminal advances in three research areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Consisting of a scroll, medal and cash award of one million dollars, a prize in each of these areas is awarded every two years beginning in 2008.

Kavli Prize recipients are chosen biennially by three prize committees comprised of distinguished international scientists recommended by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Max Planck Society, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society.

The 2016 Kavli Prizes will be awarded in Oslo, Norway, on September 6. For detailed information on each of the prizes, the 2016 laureates and their work, and all the Kavli Prize Week events, please see the Kavli Prize website: http://www.kavliprize.org.

The Kavli Prizes are a partnership between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation (USA) and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
Three scientists discuss their pioneering discoveries about neuroplasticity, the brain's remarkable capacity to change throughout our lifetimes. For their research, Eve Marder, Michael Merzenich and Carla Shatz were named the 2016 Kavli Prize laureates in Neuroscience.

An interview, published this week by The Kavli Foundation, highlights how their work has changed the way we view the brain as well as human potential.

"The science of neuroplasticity is slowly but surely transforming how we think about ourselves and our brains, and how we can build a stronger brain that provides us with a better life," said Michael Merzenich, Professor Emeritus in Neuroscience at the University of California, San Francisco. Merzenich is also co-founder of two companies, Posit Science and Scientific Learning, developing computer-based training tools for the brain.

Eve Marder, Professor of Neuroscience at Brandeis University, echoed that view: ""[W]e need to get the message out that after some kind of brain damage, there is much more capacity for recovery than people are often told," she said.

Each laureate has made unique contributions to our understanding of how the brain is remodeled in response to neural activity and experience, from the level of synapses, the junctions between neurons, to circuits to regions of the cerebral cortex. This knowledge may lead to better treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as new ways to keep the brain healthy.

"We know that in mice, there are molecular brakes that limit brain plasticity with age. If these molecular brakes are removed, then it is possible to generate much more juvenile or childlike plasticity in the adult mouse brain, including the ability to make new functional connections between neurons. That's exciting because it suggests that the adult brain has much more capacity for change than was previously thought," said Carla Shatz, Professor of Neurobiology and of Biology at Stanford University and Director of Bio-X, an interdisciplinary biomedical research institute.

The complete interview is freely available at http://www.kavliprize.org/events-and-features/2016-kavli-prize-neuroscience-discussion-marder-merzenich-and-shatz

The three Neuroscience Laureates will be honored at the Kavli Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on September 6, 2016. The prizes were announced June 2 by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/b-9sp060116.php

###

The Kavli Prizes recognize scientists for their seminal advances in three research areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Consisting of a scroll, medal and cash award of one million dollars, a prize in each of these areas is awarded every two years beginning in 2008.

Kavli Prize recipients are chosen biennially by three prize committees comprised of distinguished international scientists recommended by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Max Planck Society, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society.

The 2016 Kavli Prizes will be awarded in Oslo, Norway, on Sept. 6. For detailed information on each of the prizes, the 2016 laureates and their work, and all the Kavli Prize Week events, please see the Kavli Prize website: http://www.kavliprize.org.

The Kavli Prizes are a partnership between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation (USA) and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
Similar programmes reportedly used in schools in 89 countries, including the USA

Authors of the randomised trial warn that the intervention is likely to be an ineffective use of public funds

A teenage pregnancy prevention programme involving a baby simulator does not appear to have any long-term effect on reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy, according to the first randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of this intervention, published in The Lancet today. In fact, the study found that teenage girls who took part were more, not less, likely to become pregnant compared to girls who did not take part. Similar programmes are reportedly delivered in 89 countries, and the authors of this Australian trial warn that the intervention is likely to be an ineffective use of public funds to prevent teenage pregnancy.

The Virtual Infant Parenting (VIP) programme is an Australian adaptation of the US programme RealityWorks (often referred to as "Baby Think It Over" [1]). Intended as a pregnancy prevention programme, the VIP programme is delivered in schools and includes educational sessions (eg, the impact of not smoking, drinking or taking drugs on a healthy pregnancy, good nutrition, the financial costs of having a baby, sexual health, contraception, and respectful relationships), a workbook, watching a video documentary of teenage mothers talking about their experiences, and caring for an infant simulator over the weekend. The infant simulator is a doll that cries when it needs to be fed, burped, rocked or changed and measures and reports on mishandling, crying time, the number of changes and general care.

The use of infant simulator programmes is common in developed countries and their use is increasing in low and middle income countries. Despite this, there is no robust evidence of their effectiveness. While some studies have looked at the effect on girls' intentions to get pregnant, or attitudes to pregnancy, no randomised trials have objectively measured the impact on pregnancy.

A total of 57 schools in Western Australia took part in the study. Schools were randomly allocated to receive either the VIP programme (1267 girls), which is delivered by school nurses over 6 consecutive days, or to receive the standard health education curriculum (1567 girls). The researchers then linked this information to data from hospital records and abortion clinics. All girls were aged 13-15 at the start of the study and they were followed until the age of 20.

Compared to girls in the control group, girls enrolled on the VIP programme had higher rates of pregnancy and abortion. 8% (97/1267) of the girls in the intervention group had at least one birth, compared to 4% (67/1567) in the control group. Similarly, 9% (113/1267) of girls in the intervention group had an abortion, compared to 6% (101/1567) in the control group (table 2).

"Our study shows that the pregnancy prevention programme delivered in Western Australia, which involves an infant simulator, does not reduce the risk of pregnancy in teenage girls. In fact, the risk of pregnancy is actually increased compared to girls who didn't take part in the intervention" says lead author Dr Sally Brinkman, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Adelaide, Australia. "Similar programmes are increasingly being offered in schools around the world, and evidence now suggests they do not have the desired long-term effect of reducing teenage pregnancy. These interventions are likely to be an ineffective use of public resources for pregnancy prevention." [2]

The authors say that the study included a large number of teenagers, but caution that the overall participation in the study was quite low (45% in the control schools and 58% in the intervention schools), so there is no information about the girls who chose not to enrol. However, they say that participation in this type of intervention is voluntary in Australia, so the girls who did take part are likely to be an accurate reflection of those who would normally do so (eg, outside a trial). They also note that girls in the control group had on average a higher socio economic status and educational attainment, but when the research team re-ran the analysis to take these factors into account, they found that this had no effect on the findings.

Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Julie A Quinlivan, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle WA, Australia, discusses the possible reasons why the intervention does not work. She says: "The cure for teenage pregnancy is more difficult than a magic doll. We have to address both mothers and fathers. Programmes need to start in infancy. Investment in vulnerable children is needed to entice these adolescents from the path of premature parenthood into brighter futures. We cannot afford the quick fix, especially when it doesn't work."

###

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The study was funded by the Health Promotion Research Foundation of Western Australia (Healthway), Lotteries WA, the Western Australian Department of Education and Training and the Western Australian Department of Health.
(Philadelphia, PA) - Inside almost every cell in the human body, tiny mitochondria are continuously generating energy to power countless cellular activities. That process of energy generation also happens to be closely tied to intracellular calcium regulation by a membrane gateway inside mitochondria known as the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), which has critical roles in both bioenergetics and cell death. How MCU regulates calcium uptake has been unclear, but the recent structural discovery of a key MCU domain by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University points toward the involvement of not one, but two ions - calcium and magnesium - opening new paths to the development of MCU-modulating agents for the treatment of diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.

"Calcium is a key regulator of energy production in mitochondria, but too much of it can trigger cell death," explained senior investigator on the study, Muniswamy Madesh, PhD, Professor in the Center for Translational Medicine and the Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University. Dr. Madesh and colleagues are the first to solve the crystal structure of the MCU N-terminal domain, which they detail in an article published online August 25, by the journal Cell Chemical Biology.

Mitochondrial calcium regulation can set in motion signaling pathways that control cytosolic calcium levels, as well as pathways that influence cell death and energy production and expenditure. Hence, MCU activity is vital to calcium homeostasis and cell survival. "But if the pore fails to close," Dr. Madesh explained, "mitochondria retain the energy they synthesize in the form of ATP. The resulting accumulation of oxidants and calcium overload lead to mitochondrial swelling and cell stress."

Such abnormalities in mitochondrial function occur in a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart attack, and certain neurological conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. As a result, insight into MCU structure could help researchers find ways to modulate the gateway's activity and potentially restore its function in disease states.

In the new study, Dr. Madesh and colleagues describe the atomic structure of the MCU N-terminal domain and report the discovery of a "grasp" region of the domain dedicated specifically to the binding of calcium and magnesium ions. They found that interaction of the ions with the region destabilizes the MCU channel, causing the gateway to close.

In experiments in human cells, mutations introduced into the grasp region disrupted MCU assembly and greatly attenuated mitochondrial calcium uptake through the channel. The researchers further discovered that MCU activity could be blocked both by bathing mitochondria in magnesium and by preventing mitochondrial calcium displacement. The discovery supports previous studies, suggesting that MCU is autoregulated via a mechanism involving either calcium-dependent inactivation or magnesium-induced inhibition.

According to Dr. Madesh, the new structural and mechanistic insights from his team's study help fill in gaps in scientists' understanding of the role of MCU in controlling mitochondrial calcium uptake. The new findings also have important implications for the understanding of diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.

"In identifying a region of MCU that directly controls its activity, we have created a framework for modulating MCU function through the development of a small molecule," Dr. Madesh said.

###

Other researchers on the study include Samuel K. Lee and Peter B. Stathopulos, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Santhanam Shanmughapriya, Zhiwei Dong, Dhanendra Tomar, Edmund Carvalho, and Sudarsan Rajan, Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry and the Center for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University; Mac C. Y. Mok, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Murray S. Junop, Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

The research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada grant 05239, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation/Ontario Research Fund, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant MOP 89903, and the National Institutes of Health grants R01GM109882, R01HL086699, R01HL119306, and 1S10RR027327.

About Temple Health

Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $1.6 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH), ranked among the "Best Hospitals" in the region by U.S. News & World Report; TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; Fox Chase Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Jeanes Hospital, a community-based hospital offering medical, surgical and emergency services; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; and Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

The Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM), established in 1901, is one of the nation's leading medical schools. Each year, the School of Medicine educates approximately 840 medical students and 140 graduate students. Based on its level of funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Katz School of Medicine is the second-highest ranked medical school in Philadelphia and the third-highest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to U.S. News & World Report, LKSOM is among the top 10 most applied-to medical schools in the nation.

Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.
Proteins fulfill vital functions in our body. They transport substances, combat pathogens, and function as catalysts. In order for these processes to function reliably, proteins must adopt a defined three-dimensional structure. Molecular "folding assistants", called chaperones, aid and scrutinize these structuring processes. With participation from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a team of researchers has now revealed how chaperones identify particularly harmful errors in this structuring process. The findings were published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell.

Chaperones are a kind of Technical Inspection Authority for cells. They are proteins that inspect other proteins for quality defects before they are allowed to leave the cell.

If a car does not pass its technical inspection, it implies that it has severe defects that could lead to serious accidents. If a protein folds into a faulty structure, this may lead to serious diseases. Examples of these are neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, but also metabolic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and diabetes.

Matthias Feige, professor for cellular protein biochemistry at the TUM, worked within a team headed by Linda Hendershot at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis/TN, USA, to investigate how chaperones identify structurally flawed proteins. In the study, the scientists focused on proteins which are produced in a part of the cell called the endoplasmic reticulum. "We are mainly interested in cellular protein folding", explains Feige. "How the self-organization of proteins occurs at the molecular level - and how cells identify errors in this process - is a truly fascinating question."

Defective proteins need to be eliminated by the cell

The endoplasmic reticulum consists of a network of hollow spaces and tubules. It is specialized in protein folding and the quality control for this process, and a third of all human proteins are produced here. Just like in any production process, errors may occur: Proteins form a folding core mostly made up of hydrophobic (water-repellent) amino acids, around which the rest of the protein is able to structure itself. However, if errors occur in the folding process, these hydrophobic areas may not be buried in the core, but instead be exposed on the surface of a protein where they may result in proteins clumping together. This can become hazardous to the cell or the entire organism.

Into the cell via a shuttle

Thus far, scientists knew that chaperones were able to identify general hydrophobic amino acid sequences if they remained exposed on protein surfaces. However, not all proteins which present such sequences should necessarily be degraded. That is because not all proteins with hydrophobic amino acid sequences on the surface are defective. How exactly the cell decides if a protein is so dangerous that it needs to be eliminated remained a mystery.

The researchers developed a new method which made it possible to observe the behavior of chaperones in the living biological system of the cell. To do this, they inserted precisely defined sequences of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, into a shuttle system that transported them into the endoplasmic reticulum within the cell. Via this ingenious trick, they were able to observe, under biologically relevant conditions, which sequences the various chaperones recognized.

Two classes of chaperones

What they discovered was that there existed not only one, but two classes of chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum, each of which identifies different types of hydrophobic amino acid sequences. Furthermore, the sequences identified by the chaperones of the second class, which are described in this journal article for the first time, form particularly dangerous clumps in the cell. Once they are identified, the proteins possessing them can be eliminated rapidly.

"This is an important piece in the puzzle of how molecular quality control functions", says Feige. "Follow-up studies will now be required to see how the chaperones recognize their target sequences on a structural level."

This research is also important for the biotechnological production of proteins, such as antibodies. In order to prevent these pharmaceutical products from being broken down by the body too quickly, biotechnologists can now ensure that the corresponding sequences do not appear on the surface of the proteins.

###

Publication: Julia Behnke, Melissa J. Mann, Fei-Lin Scruggs, Matthias J. Feige, Linda M. Hendershot, "Members of the Hsp70 Family Recognize Distinct Types of Sequences to Execute ER Quality Control", Molecular Cell, published online August 18, 2016 http://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765%2816%2930365-3 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.07.012

Highresolution photo: https://mediatum.ub.tum.de/1324506?show_id=1324505

Contact: Technical University of Munich

Prof. Dr. Matthias J. Feige

matthias.feige@tum.de

+49-89-28910595

http://www.cell.ch.tum.de
Scientists have identified a new "multicomponent" virus -- one containing different segments of genetic material in separate particles -- that can infect animals, according to research published today in the journal Cell Host & Microbe.

This new pathogen, called Guaico Culex virus (GCXV), was isolated from several species of mosquitoes in Central and South America. GCXV does not appear to infect mammals, according to first author Jason Ladner, Ph.D., of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). However, the team also isolated a related virus -- called Jingmen tick virus, or JMTV -- from a nonhuman primate. Further analysis demonstrates that both GCXV and JMTV belong to a highly diverse and newly discovered group of viruses called the Jingmenvirus group.

Taken together, the research suggests that the host range of this virus group is quite diverse--and highlights the potential relevance of these viruses to animal and human health.

"Animal viruses typically have all genome segments packaged together into a single viral particle, so only one of those particles is needed to infect a host cell," Ladner explained. "But in a multicomponent virus, the genome is divided into multiple pieces, with each one packaged separately into a viral particle. At least one particle of each type is required for cell infection."

Several plant pathogens have this type of organization, but the study published today is the first to describe a multicomponent virus that infects animals.

Working with collaborators including the University of Texas Medical Branch and the New York State Department of Health, the USAMRIID team extracted and sequenced virus from mosquitoes collected around the world. The newly discovered virus is named for the Guaico region of Trinidad, where the mosquitoes that contained it were first found.

In collaboration with a group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the USAMRIID investigators also found the first evidence of a Jingmenvirus in the blood of a nonhuman primate, in this case a red colobus monkey living in Kibale National Park, Uganda. The animal showed no signs of disease when the sample was taken, so it is not known whether the virus had a pathogenic effect.

Jingmenviruses were first described in 2014 and are related to flaviviruses -- a large family of viruses that includes human pathogens such as yellow fever, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses.

"One area we are focused on is the identification and characterization of novel viruses," said the paper's senior author Gustavo Palacios, Ph.D., who directs USAMRIID's Center for Genome Sciences. "This study allowed us to utilize all our tools--and even though this virus does not appear to affect mammals, we are continuing to refine those tools so we can be better prepared for the next outbreak of disease that could have an impact on human health."

While it is difficult to predict, experts believe that the infectious viruses most likely to emerge next in humans are those already affecting other mammals, particularly nonhuman primates.

###

This research was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the James W. McLaughlin endowment fund, a Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute-Environmental Protection Agency grant, and a Robert E. Shope fellowship.

USAMRIID's mission is to provide leading edge medical capabilities to deter and defend against current and emerging biological threat agents. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions--vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information--that benefit both military personnel and civilians. The Institute plays a key role as the lead military medical research laboratory for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. For more information, visit http://www.usamriid.army.mil

Reference: Cell Host & Microbe, Ladner et al: "A Multicomponent Animal Virus Isolated from Mosquitoes" http://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(16)30310-9 / http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2016.07.011
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have successfully trialed a new technique that could aid the process of choosing the "best" embryo for implantation, helping to boost the chances of pregnancy success from the very first IVF cycle.

The research -- published today in the journal Molecular Reproduction and Development - has used highly advanced digital imaging techniques and mathematical modelling to show differences in the viability of embryos, which are not otherwise seen by the human eye under a microscope.

"It's fair to say that to date, strategies in IVF for picking the best embryo to transfer into the mother have been limited," says lead author Dr Hannah Brown, Postdoctoral Fellow with the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute.

"There may be a number of embryos that look almost identical, and it's up to the embryologist to make a judgment call about which of them is best -- that is, the most viable for a healthy pregnancy. That's a very difficult decision to make based on the little evidence available," she says.

"We know that many women who go through IVF aren't successful on the first cycle. This can be emotionally traumatizing and often becomes a very costly exercise depending on how many IVF cycles they go through.

"Using our knowledge of what is occurring in the biology of the embryo, we decided to see if there's more than meets the eye -- the elements we can't see that distinguish the most healthy embryos, with the best developmental potential," Dr Brown says.

The key elements Dr Brown and her colleagues have considered are the quality of the embryo's metabolism and biomarkers for DNA damage that may have occurred during the embryo's in vitro development.

With assistance from researchers in the Centre for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (an Australian Research Centre of Excellence, also based at the University of Adelaide), the team has trialed a sophisticated, digital imaging technique -- currently used for diagnosing cancer cells in patients -- and mathematical modelling to create a "texture analysis" of the differences from one embryo to the next.

"These techniques provide a depth of analysis that is not otherwise discernible by the human eye. They're intentionally non-invasive to avoid causing any potential damage to the embryo or its environment," Dr Brown says.

"We have been successful on two fronts: in determining important differences between what would appear on the surface to be almost identical embryos, and in selecting those embryos that have had the best chance of a successful pregnancy.

"As we report in this new paper, these trials were conducted with mouse embryos. This is very promising work, and we are hopeful that in the years to come such a technique could be applied to IVF procedures.

"Our ultimate aim is to make the process of IVF more successful for couples, and to help produce the healthiest pregnancy possible for the benefit of the whole family," she says.

###

This research has been funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Watch a video of Dr Hannah Brown discussing her work here.

Media Contact:

Dr Hannah Brown

Postdoctoral Fellow

Robinson Research Institute

The University of Adelaide

hannah.brown@adelaide.edu.au
Conservation ecologist Douglas McCauley and UCSB colleagues lay out a set of guidelines for how de-extinction can be made more ecologically responsible

Can the woolly mammoth be brought back from the dead? Scientists say it's only a matter of time.

In fact this year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature issued its first official set of guidelines on resurrecting extinct species. What's more, university research labs and non-governmental agencies have projects in motion to bring back extinct species. But is all of this a good idea?

A new paper by UC Santa Barbara researchers explores de-extinction -- the process of resurrecting an extinct species -- as a potential win for conservation and suggests how to make it so.

In an analysis in the journal Functional Ecology, UCSB ecologist Douglas McCauley and colleagues recommend several ways in which the science of de-extinction would have to evolve in order to make it maximally benefit ecological communities and ecosystems.

"The idea of de-extinction raises a fundamental and philosophical question: Are we doing it to create a zoo or recreate nature?" said co-author Benjamin Halpern, director of UCSB's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. "Both are reasonable answers, but restoring species to a natural state will be a much, much harder endeavor. We offer guidelines for how to make ecological de-extinction more successful and how to avoid creating 'eco-zombies.' "

Bringing back species useful for conservation requires big-picture thinking. For example, the grassland ecosystem in which the mammoth once lived looks totally different today. For a variety of reasons -- human population expansion among them -- some areas where these creatures once roamed cannot be restored to their former ecology.

"What some are proposing to do with de-extinction will be like manufacturing a part from the engine of a Model T and trying to shove it into a Tesla," said lead author McCauley, an assistant professor in UCSB's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology. "You just can't take a part and put it into a brand new system and expect it to work without considering how its ecological context has changed.

"Good conservation is a holistic science that acknowledges the fact that many species interact in complex ways," McCauley added. "The rules in that complex web of life don't stay static but evolve dynamically."

The UCSB team developed three recommendations for restoring ecological function through de-extinction. The first suggests resurrecting recently extinct species rather than those that disappeared thousands of years ago. These creatures may fit more seamlessly into their ecosystems because there has been less time for change to occur. The researchers offer several examples of these "young" extinctions, including the Christmas Island pipistrelle bat, the Reunion giant tortoise and Australia's lesser stick-nest rat.

Secondly, the group advises choosing animals whose ecological jobs are truly irreplaceable. For example, the Christmas Island pipistrelle bat was once the only insect-eating bat in its habitat. Its de-extinction would plug a hole in an ecosystem that nature would otherwise have a hard time filling.

Ditto for the Reunion giant tortoise, which dispersed seeds throughout its Indian Ocean island habitat before being driven extinct by hungry mariners. Those plants still exist, although they are moving closer to extinction without the tortoises to perform their ecological function as seed distributors.

The third guideline, according to co-author Molly Hardesty-Moore, a graduate student in McCauley's lab, is to bring back species that can be restored to functionally meaningful abundance levels. "You need to have enough individuals to perform their function well enough to affect the ecosystem," she said. "One wolf hunting and killing has minimal impact, but hundreds of wolves performing that function will change the ecosystem."

Rather than oppose de-extinction outright, the UCSB scientists hope to start a conversation in the scientific community about how to make the process more ecologically smart. "Can we thoughtfully use this tool to do real conservation?" McCauley asked. "Answering that question is going to require a lot of perspectives, not only from the geneticists who are leading the process, but also from other types of scientists -- ecologists, conservation biologists, ecosystem managers."

###
Clinical trials and translational medicine have certainly given people hope and rapid pathways to cures for some of mankind's most troublesome diseases, but now is not the time to overlook the power of basic research, says UC Santa Barbara neuroscientist Kenneth S. Kosik.

In fact, as he points out in an article published in the journal Science -- along with coauthors Terry Sejnowski, Marcus Raichle, Aaron Ciechanover and David Baltimore -- supporting fundamental cell biology research into neurodegeneration may be the key to accelerating understanding of neurodegenerative and so-called "incurable" diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

"My point here is that what we really have to do is take the longer view and get a very fundamental understanding of these diseases to make inroads in treatment," said Kosik, who is UCSB's Harriman Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and also the director of the campus's Neuroscience Research Institute.

In contrast to applied science which, in the field of neuroscience and medicine, concentrates more on therapies and technologies used to treat particular conditions, basic research into cell biology of neurodegeneration is the discipline that fuels understanding of why and how the basic living units of the brain and nervous system function, or don't. Studying a model organism such as a fruit fly or a worm may not have the more visible impact on neurodegenerative disease that human clinical trials have, Kosik said, but it could provide a strong foundation for treatments that go beyond single diseases, and that may generate tools for early detection and prevention. Without building a foundation of basic science, he argues, scientists can find themselves down the path of pursuing "trendy" and sometimes fruitless research, or grasping at straws for safe, but relatively ineffective therapies.

"All funders -- and scientists too -- feel the pressure of trying to do something for people that have very serious diseases. The clock is ticking for them, we feel compassion for these people and we really want to help," said Kosik, whose own efforts investigating the basis of Alzheimer's disease have led him to decades of clinical work with an extended family of Colombians living with a very early-onset form of the disease with genetic origins.

It's understandable, Kosik said, for scientists in the clinical setting, and even for philanthropists and federal decisionmakers, to want to push resources into rapid pathways to cures and treatments with less consideration for basic science. That trend became apparent at the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, where, from 1997 to 2012, basic research funding by the agency fell from 87 to 71 percent. Elsewhere, at the National Institutes of Health, Kosik says in the article, "a discouraging funding environment drives students and young scientists away," instead of attracting the next generation of scientists with the opportunity for groundbreaking discoveries in the field.

"But science doesn't necessarily work that way," Kosik said. "Impact often comes from unexpected directions." Curiosity-driven science -- sans unrealistic goals and timetables -- he argues, can open the door to major discoveries. Case in point: CRISPR, the phenomenal and versatile gene-editing tool that has been used by researchers to, among other things, study and fix genetic diseases, make cells immune to viruses and suppress cancer-causing genes.

"That technology would not be available if people were not doing basic research on a biochemical pathway in bacteria that you would never even suspect was relevant to the study of human conditions," he said. Another powerful emerging discipline is optogenetics, the use of light to control neurons using light-sensitive proteins which come from algae.

"There's just a wealth of life forms out there that are teaching us things about ourselves," Kosik said. "We would be ignoring 99 percent of life if we don't pay attention to basic biology, and the secrets and cures for many diseases do lie in the biology that's around us."

###
AURORA, Colo. (Aug. 25, 2016) - While it is clear that there is a strong genetic component to the human face, there are relatively few genes known to impact normal human facial development and facial shape.

In a study published today in PLOS Genetics, an international team of researchers led by a University of Colorado School of Medicine scientist have identified two significant genes associated with measures of human facial size and have identified 10 additional candidates for location of genes affecting human facial shape.

"Gene discovery for human facial development is an important first step for both diagnosing and treating craniofacial syndromes such as cleft palate, and for developing forensic modeling of the human face," said Richard A. Spritz, MD, Professor and Director of the Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program at the CU School of Medicine on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

The results of the study are the first genome-wide association study of face shape and size for an African population and the results differ from those reported from similar studies in European-derived white adolescents and adults.

The team of scientists studied 3,505 normal African Bantu children and adolescents ages 3 to 21 from the Mwanza region of Tanzania. An important aspect of this study was that this population is very lean, minimizing non-genetic influences on face shape and size, particularly age and excess body fat.

The study found that two genes, SCHIP1 and PDE8A, are associated with measures of human facial size. The researchers tested the finding in the lab on mice and found the genes were indeed involved in the developing face.

"Our findings provide a basis for detailed analyses of the functions of these genes in the developing face, and their roles in determining the normal facial variation that make us both individual different and individually recognizable," Spritz and his colleagues write.

Spritz is the corresponding author of the study and 18 others are listed as authors. Others from the University of Colorado are Joanne B. Cole, Tracey M. Ferrara, Sheri L. Riccardi, Trevor Williams, Hong Li, Kenneth L. Jones, Stephanie A. Santorico. Funding for the work was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health under the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research FaceBase Initiative, the Center for Inherited Disease Research and the National Institute of Justice.

The report is paired with another study published today by PLOS Genetics that looks at genome-wide association of 20 quantitative facial measurements in 3,118 health individuals of European ancestry. In that study, researchers found evidence of genetic associations involving measures of eye, nose, and facial breadth.

CU's Spritz, Cole, Ferrara, and Santorico contributed to that study.

###

About the University of Colorado School of Medicine

Faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine work to advance science and improve care. These faculty members include physicians, educators and scientists at University of Colorado Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, National Jewish Health, and the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The school is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system. To learn more about the medical school's care, education, research and community engagement, visit its web site.
In 1963, Irish surgeon Denis Parson Burkitt airmailed samples of an unusual jaw tumor found in Ugandan children to his colleague, Anthony Epstein, at Middlesex Hospital in London. Epstein, an expert in chicken viruses and an early adopter of the electron microscope, cultured the tissue and took a look. What he found has become known as Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of mononucleosis, the "kissing cold", and also, it turns out, an ingredient of the jaw tumor in which it was originally found, now known as Burkitt's lymphoma.

"Just imagine the process of shipping tissue samples from Uganda to England in the early 1960s!" says Rosemary Rochford, PhD, investigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, professor in the CU School of Medicine Department of Immunology and Microbiology, and author of a new study in the journal Current Opinions in Virology exploring the modern contribution of viruses to cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.

The study asks a simple question: in a melting pot of viruses and cancer, do viruses happen to ride along with cancers or do viruses actually cause the disease? In the case of Epstein-Barr virus and Burkitt's lymphoma, the question is complicated by the fact that, "everyone has the virus," says Rochford. "So why do some people get cancer while others do not?"

Rochford centers her research in Kisumu, Kenya, a port city of just over 400,000 on the northeast corner of Lake Victoria. In addition to a near universal rate of infection with Epstein-Barr virus and an unusually high rate of Burkitt's lymphoma, Kisumu is the land of malaria. A recent study found that 28 percent of Kisumu adults were infected by the malaria parasite and in rural areas - the same areas that produce the most cases of Burkitt's lymphoma - the chance of getting malaria is much higher.

"We want to know why these kids get this cancer. Because Burkitt's lymphoma is prevalent in areas with a lot of malaria, we thought maybe it could be associated with malaria infection. But everybody gets malaria, too, so there's still no answer," Rochford says.

Here is a clue: In Kisumu and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, malaria infection occurs year round. Studies by Rochford and others suggest that the children born to women who have malaria during pregnancy are even more predisposed to develop Burkitt's lymphoma.

"What we think happens is that the risk for these children begins during pregnancy. Usually for most people, the virus is quiet. You never even know you have it. But when you get malaria, the virus reactivates and infects more cells. When mothers get malaria during pregnancy, these malaria-infected cells shed more virus and infants get infected earlier in life. Because they're infected so early, their immune systems don't manage the virus the way they should. It's not just the fact of exposure to Epstein-Barr virus, but the timing of it that matters. These kids with prenatal exposure due to the secondary pressure of malaria are the ones with increased risk," Rochford says.

One answer to the challenge of virus-associated cancers in Africa would be better and more prevalent use of vaccines. "But because the conditions that allow these viruses to cause cancer aren't necessarily present to the same extent in the United States, we tend to forget about the problem in Africa," Rochford says.

She points out that the story of Burkitt's lymphoma is similar to the story of other virus-associated cancers, including cervical cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and Kaposi's sarcoma caused by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). In fact, in Kisumu, Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common cancer in men and cervical cancer is the most common cancer in adult women.

"In some parts of Africa, the majority of cancers are caused by infectious agents," the article writes.

Not so in the United States, where the cancer risk of viruses is far smaller than the risks associated with tobacco and alcohol. In Rochford's opinion, the fact that few of the cancers that challenge the U.S. population are caused by viruses allows us to overlook and under-research the cancers that are caused by viruses, despite the fact that research has the real potential to offer inroads against some of these virus-associated cancers.

Rochford's ongoing efforts include an initiative in partnership with the Kenyan government to establish a tumor registry like that in the United States to collect data on the prevalence and distribution of virus-associated cancers in Kenya.

"Really, we don't know the burden of cancers that are caused by infectious agents in sub-Saharan Africa because of limited cancer registry data," Rochford says. "What we do know is that treatment is difficult in a resource-poor country, but prevention with vaccines and awareness is a very realistic strategy."

###
Researchers have identified a gene that appears to curb coffee consumption.

People with a DNA variation in a gene called PDSS2 tend to drink fewer cups of coffee, the study found.

Experts say the findings suggest that the gene reduce the ability of cells to breakdown caffeine, causing it to stay in the body for longer.

This means that a person would not need to consume as much coffee to get the same caffeine hit, the team says.

The findings add to previous studies that have identified genes linked to coffee habits and shed new light on the biological mechanisms of caffeine metabolism.

Researchers looked at genetic information from 370 people living in a small village in south Italy and 843 people from six villages in north-east Italy.

Each of the study participants was asked to complete a survey that included a question about how many cups of coffee they drank each day.

The team found that people with the DNA variation in PDSS2 tended to consume fewer cups of coffee than people without the variation. The effect was equivalent to around one fewer cup of coffee per day on average.

The researchers replicated the study in a group of 1731 people from the Netherlands. The result was similar but the effect of the gene on the number of cups of coffee consumed was slightly lower.

This could be because of the different styles of coffee that are drunk in the two countries, the researchers say. In Italy, people tend to drink smaller cups such as espresso whereas in the Netherlands the preference is towards larger cups that contain more caffeine overall.

The study was conducted at the Universities of Edinburgh and Trieste, the Burlo Garofolo Pediatric Institute in Italy, the Erasmus Medical Center and PolyOmica, a data analysis company based in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Researchers from the Italian coffee company Illy also participated in the project though the company did not offer financial support. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Dr Nicola Pirastu, a Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, said: "The results of our study add to existing research suggesting that our drive to drink coffee may be embedded in our genes. We need to do larger studies to confirm the discovery and also to clarify the biological link between PDSS2 and coffee consumption."

###
Scientists have discovered the cause of the recent run of miserable wet summers as they begin to unravel the mysteries of the Atlantic jet stream.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield and The Met Office have identified a number of possible factors that may influence the Atlantic jet stream and therefore help to predict summer climate from one year to the next.

The summer weather in the UK and northwest Europe is influenced by the position and strength of the Atlantic jet stream - a ribbon of very strong winds which are caused by the temperature difference between tropical and polar air masses.

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 big question is "why does the jet stream shift?"

The report, led by PhD student Richard Hall and Professor Edward Hanna from the University of Sheffield's Department of Geography, discovered that up to 35 per cent of this variability may be predictable -- a significant advance which may help in the development of seasonal forecasting models.

Lead author of the study, Richard Hall, said: "There is nothing people in the UK like to discuss more than the weather. 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.

"Our study will help forecasters to predict further into the future giving a clearer picture of the weather to come."

The findings suggest the latitude of the Atlantic jet stream in summer is influenced by several factors including sea surface temperatures, solar variability, and the extent of Arctic sea-ice, indicating a potential long-term memory and predictability in the climate system.

Edward Hanna, Professor of Climate Change at the University of Sheffield, said: "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 Adam Scaife, Head of long range forecasting at the Met Office, said: "We've made big inroads into long-range forecasts for winter, but we are still limited to shorter-range weather forecasts in summer. Studies like this help to identify ways to break into the long-range summer forecast problem."

###

The study, published today (Wednesday Aug. 25, 2016) in the journal Climate Dynamics was funded by the University of Sheffield's Project Sunshine now the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, and was conducted in collaboration with the University's School of Mathematics and Statistics (SOMAS).

Further research will seek to establish the physical mechanisms behind these links and identify the different influences that jet speed and latitude bring to bear on our summer weather.

Additional information

Met Office

For further information contact: Met Office Press Office 01392 886655 or email pressoffice@metoffice.gov.uk

The University of Sheffield

With almost 27,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities.

A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.

Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2016 and was voted number one university in the UK for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education in 2014. In the last decade it has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life.

Sheffield has five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.

Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.

For further information, please visit http://www.sheffield.ac.uk

For further information please contact: Amy Pullan, Media Relations Officer, University of Sheffield, 0114-222-9859, a.l.pullan@sheffield.ac.uk

To read other news releases about the University of Sheffield, visit: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news
Belgium's Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) has banned the distribution of binary options, derivatives with maturities of less than an hour and derivatives that use leverage, such as contracts for difference.

The new regulation, which came into effect earlier this month, applies to over-the-counter (OTC) derivative contracts distributed to consumers in Belgium, usually from abroad, via electronic trading platforms.

The ban does not apply to derivatives that are traded on regulated exchanges or on multilateral trading facilities.

Jeroen Griffioen,

Synechron Business

Consulting

It is unusual for Belgium to be taking a lead on this issue because it is usually a follower, says Jeroen Griffioen, managing director at Synechron Business Consulting. However, while excessive retail leverage is a global issue, Belgium has a particular problem.

At the start of this year it introduced a speculation tax, something that does not exist elsewhere in Europe," he says. "Binary options and CFDs [contracts for difference] were excluded from the tax and that has resulted in a lot more speculation in these instruments in Belgium than you see elsewhere."

In July, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) sounded the alarm on the aggressive marketing of speculative instruments to retail investors, naming binary options and CFDs as particular areas of concern.

Since the middle of 2015, the Cyprus Securities and Exchanges Commission has imposed fines on, or reached settlement agreements with, eight Cyprus-based institutions, all of which offered FX-related products, and three of which traded FX specifically.

In keeping with ESMA's efforts, Belgium has also banned aggressive marketing, including cold calling and offering inappropriate forms of remuneration, fictitious gifts and bonuses as rewards for distributing these kinds of products.

Isabelle Marchand,

Febelfin

The FSMA wants to play a pioneering role by imposing this ban, says Isabelle Marchand, head of European affairs at Febelfin, the Belgian financial trade association. The pressure is now on the European supervisor to follow suit. A European ban, of course, would be the most effective solution, she adds.

Only weeks before Belgium's move, France's Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) had announced similar measures, banning the advertising of some of the same FX products, including binary options and CFDs. It is also consulting until the end of September about whether any other products ought to be subject to a similar ban.

The problem of excessive leverage for retail FX traders is not covered by the FX code of conduct, which deals specifically with the wholesale market, leaving the retail sector within the scope of consumer protection regulations.

In their different ways, Belgium on the one hand, and France and ESMA on the other, are attempting to plug a gap in the consumer protection regime provided by Mifid, which does not explicitly cover FX. But they have in common a focus on the products themselves, with both approaches underpinned by the idea that limiting retail exposure to certain products is the best way to tackle excessive leverage among retail traders.

Different approaches

Other regulators have tackled the same problem differently. In Australia, where similar concerns have been raised about excessive retail leverage, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) limits the provision of licences to institutions that have demonstrable business ties with the country. It also limits licences for firms offering excessively high amounts of leverage.

ASIC has also noted the increasingly aggressive marketing of leverage to retail. In a compliance review of the retail OTC derivatives sector earlier in the summer, it said: There has been a material increase in aggressive marketing by issuers of retail OTC derivatives  particularly through cold calling and unsolicited emails  increasing the exposure of these types of products to segments of the Australian population that may not understand the associated risks.

However, to date, ASIC has not presented new rules governing how such products can be marketed to retail investors, let alone implemented outright bans on trading such products.

The US has taken yet another approach. In 2010 the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) introduced a leverage cap of 50 times the principal invested. Japan also introduced a leverage cap in the same year.

Sharon Bowen,

CFTC

However, this has not solved the problem of leveraged FX products being aggressively marketed to retail customers.

Last year, Sharon Bowen, a commissioner at the CFTC, said: Companies are aggressively marketing [leveraged instruments] to investors. Commercials all over cable, the internet and in print trumpet the money retail investors can make trading foreign currencies, but make little obvious admission of the risks involved.

Belgium's ban tackles a problem that has been identified by regulators around the world, from a different angle, and if successful it might be expanded. Febelfin's Marchand says: By taking this measure, the FSMA wants to pave the way for a more encompassing ban.

Other regulators will also be watching the Belgian experiment with interest. ESMA declined to comment on Belgium's move specifically, but other regulators such as the AMF and ASIC will compare its results to their own efforts. If the latter is more effective in stamping out leverage  and, more importantly, losses  among retail traders, they will surely consider following the FSMA's lead.

Marchand says the FSMA consulted with the sector and made efforts to minimize any potential unintended consequences, such as preventing investors from using the banned derivatives for hedging.

This measure surely will enhance consumer protection without any negative consequences for other target groups," she says. "Some measures indeed may be a bit over the top, but all in all the sector sees no reason for criticizing them.

Yet it seems inevitable there will be losers. Some semi-professional day traders, who count as retail investors, will have used CFDs to hedge their positions, and will now face the choice of finding an alternative hedge, or moving to another country.

Synechron's Griffioen says: "This ban will be effective in protecting Belgian retail investors, but it is unfortunate that regulators could not find a Europe-wide solution. A few countries may follow Belgium's lead, but this will certainly make life more difficult for financial institutions in terms of compliance.

"Mifid was supposed to increase regulatory harmonization, but here is another example of it not happening."
An expected historic increase in the money coming from the North Dakota Common Schools Trust Fund should help ease the burden on the states general fund to pay for kindergarten through 12th grade education.

This trust fund revenue is vital to our schools across North Dakota, especially during a time when our general fund revenue growth is slowing down, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said in a statement. The increase from the Common Schools Trust Fund helps to take the pressure off the general fund.

According to recent projections, the Common Schools Trust Fund, which comes from payments for energy exploration and production on state lands, income from leasing land for cattle grazing, money from a national tobacco lawsuit settlement and investment earnings, is expected to provide $286.6 million toward education funding during the 2017-19 biennium. Thats an increase of $80.5 million over current funding.

The states general fund, which has been hit by the effects of lower commodity prices, provides most of the states financial aid to K-12 schools. A formula is used to calculate payments to schools on a per student basis. Schools received $9,365 per student last school year and will receive $9,646 this fall.

The increase from the Common Schools Trust Fund will not necessarily increase funding to schools but should decrease the amount of money that has to come from the general fund for primary and secondary education, Dale Wetzel, a spokesman for the Department of Public Instruction, said.

Baesler said the expected increase of funding from the Common Schools Trust Fund is believed to be the largest biennium-over-biennium increase in state history.

The disbursements from the fund have grown annually since at least 1997, but in recent years the increases have gone up substantially, according to Legislative Council reports. The more than $80 million increase comes on the heels of a more than $75 million increase from the 2013-2015 biennium to the 2015-2017 biennium.

The amount expected to be disbursed in 2017-2019 is more than $70 million more than came out of the fund from 1997 to 2005, combined.

General fund spending on education also has increased in recent years, going from more than $1.1 billion in 2009-2011 to more than $1.8 billion for 2015-2017, according to the Legislative Council. Per student payments have increased annually and most notably went from $3,980 per student in 2012-2013 to $8,810 in 2013-2014 after the Legislature changed the funding formula. The number of students in public schools also has increased, from 108,231 in 2009 to an estimated more than 125,000 now.
Strong UK retail sales figures for August failed to end the pound sterling to euro rate sell-off.

The European Central Banks (ECB) hopes for a US rate hike to weaken the single currency seem to have been dashed today, allowing the pound to euro exchange rate to advance.

Janet Yellen was no way near as hawkish in her Jackson Hole speech as markets had been hoping, keeping bets of a near-term rate hike low and therefore raising the likelihood the ECB will have to increase stimulus measures to weaken the Euro through internal pressure rather than external USD bullishness.

With confidence in Sterling generally limited, the British pound to euro exchange rate was trending in a narrow range on Friday ahead of the big risk event of the day.

The Eurozones M3 monetary supply was found to have unexpectedly weakened in July, something that suggests that inflation within the currency union is continuing to struggle.

Profit-taking on a recent rally has weakened the Pound Sterling to Euro exchange rate and recent positive data has done nothing to reverse GBP/EUR losses.

GBP/EUR continued to fall throughout Thursday's session, with the Euro extending gains to 0.6% despite the earlier disappointment from domestic data.

Meanwhile, talk of another Scottish independence referendum has done nothing to slow the British Pounds losses, after Scottish ministers refuted the idea that a large budget deficit was a barrier to Scottish independence.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Retailing Reported Sales for August have significantly outperformed expectations, with the index shooting up from -14 to 9, instead of clocking in at 0 as forecast.

Commenting on the latest data, the CBIs Head of Economic Analysis and Surveys, Anna Leach, noted:

The summer weather has brought shoppers out onto the high street with retailers reporting that sales growth has risen, outdoing expectations, although firms do expect sales growth to ease next month.

A look at the latest live pound currency FX rates before the rest of the news:

On Saturday the Euro to British Pound exchange rate (EUR/GBP) converts at 0.858

FX markets see the pound vs euro exchange rate converting at 1.165.

Today finds the pound to us dollar spot exchange rate priced at 1.161.

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.

Poor business sentiment scores from Germany failed to weigh on Euro (EUR) exchange rates, thanks to weakness from the US Dollar (USD).

Non-committal US Dollar trading kept the Euro advancing recently, despite a surprising fall in the latest German Ifo surveys.

The Business Climate index defied forecasts of a rise from 108.3 to 108.5 to drop to 106.2, the Current Assessment fell from 114.8 to 112.8 instead of ticking higher to 114.9, while the Expectations index worsened from 102.2 to 100.1, defying forecasts of an increase to 102.4.

Professor Doctor Clemens Fuest, President of the Ifo Institute, explained:

Business confidence in Germany has clearly worsened  Both the current business situation and the expectations for the next six months were assessed more poorly by the companies than in the previous month. The German economy has fallen into a summer slump.

High-impact UK data is due out on Friday, although with the figures relating to pre-Brexit Britain, their effect on GBP exchange rates remains to be seen.

Markets may not pay much attention to the second quarter GDP figures for the UK when they are released on Friday.

Pound Sterling could find the data brings neither support nor resistance, due to the fact that it relates to the pre-Brexit UK economy.

Therefore, the forecast steady growth may do little to change the outlook for the British Pound; a significantly weaker or stronger showing may still have a marked effect on exchange rates, due to the fact that it will alter forecasts for the economy as Brexit uncertainty begins to bite.

EUR Forecast: Will Euro Pound Climb if German Consumer Confidence Repeats Business Sentiment Performance?

Fridays German GfK Consumer Confidence Survey results are expected to show resilient consumer sentiment, with the index for September reprinting at Augusts score of 10.

However, considering how business confidence has underperformed, investors may be bracing for a similar weakening of consumer outlook.

French GDP figures for the second quarter are set for release as well, although with the eagerly-awaited speech from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen coming later in the day, Euro exchange rate movement may be dictated largely by overseas developments.

US Dollar Strength to Give GBP/EUR Direction Today

This afternoons US Durable Goods Orders figure could offer the GBP/EUR exchange rate a rallying point, assuming the result points towards greater consumer demand within the worlds largest economy.

Any resurgent strength in the US Dollar could put an end to the Euros current gains, although markets are likely to remain in a relatively muted state as they await Fed Chair Janet Yellens latest monetary policy commentary.
Hi, i have a friend who got hired. Her visit visa expires end of this month. Her new company does not allow her to exit to her home country Philippines? even if she has already ticket to Philippines. why is that?
Hi all,



Going to be moving out to AL Jeer next week.. just had a few questions about the healthcare system.



I require a blood test every two weeks for the next month when I go over there. This is due to a certain medication. Any body know what this would cost me at a government hospital ?



Also does anyone happen to know if the drug Azathioprine is available from pharmacies over their ?



ta
Last years economic slowdown in North Dakota didnt put a damper on criminal activity, as the state posted its largest increase in the per-capita crime rate in at least five years and the most homicide deaths in more than two decades, figures released Thursday show.

Theres really no good news in there except the DUIs are down, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said after the annual crime and homicide reports were posted to his offices website.

The per-capita crime rate jumped by 9.8 percent last year  more than double the 4.4 percent increase in 2014  based on the U.S. Census Bureaus estimated population for North Dakota of 756,927.

That compares to a 0.3 percent reduction in the crime rate in 2013 and increases of 8.4 percent in 2012 and 7.8 percent in 2011.

It marks the biggest one-year increase in the states crime rate since oil production began to skyrocket about five years ago, accelerating the states population growth.

The report also marks the second year North Dakota has used the FBIs National Incident-Based Reporting System, allowing for more detailed reporting but also making historical comparisons more difficult.

The system divides offenses into Group A, which includes serious crimes reported against people and property such as homicide, kidnapping, robbery, arson and sex offenses, and Group B, which includes arrests for lesser offenses such as disorderly conduct, driving under the influence and trespassing.

The per-capita crime rate is based on Group A offenses, which increased by 12.4 percent last year, to 48,288 offenses.

That included a 9.5 percent increase in crimes against persons such as murder, rape and assaults, and a 14 percent increase in crimes against property such as burglary, robbery and motor vehicle theft.

The number of crimes against society  among them drug violations and weapons violations  increased by 11.1 percent.

Law enforcement agencies made an additional 1,242 arrests, a 4 percent increase.

The state also saw 21 homicides last year, the most since there were 22 in 1993. The per-capita rate of 2.7 homicides per 100,000 people last year was actually higher in 2012, when there were 20 homicides, resulting in a rate of 2.9 homicides per 100,000 people.

Stenehjem said the only positive note was that DUI arrests decreased again, by 7.1 percent from 6,705 to 6,229, which he attributed to stricter DUI laws passed by the Legislature in 2013. It was the third straight year drunken-driving arrests have fallen.

Weve seen kind of a good, steady drop, he said.

But drug arrests climbed by about 9.6 percent, from 4,000 in 2014 to 4,382 last year, after increases of at least 17 percent in each of the previous two years. Drug arrests have increased by 488 percent in the past 25 years, starting with 745 arrests in 1990, according to data provided by law enforcement agencies across the state and compiled by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Stenehjem said rising drug abuse leads to increases in other crimes such as robberies and thefts as addicts seek funds to support their habits.

Its just a vicious cycle, he said, saying the state needs more public education, adequate and well-trained law enforcement and available and affordable treatment options.

Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin said he believes the capital city is still a very safe community, but he noted a huge uptick in property crimes such as burglaries and motor vehicle break-ins and stolen vehicles  many of them crimes of opportunity that could have been prevented.

North Dakota in all is a different community. Were not Minneapolis, but were not the North Dakota of 25, 30 years ago where you can leave your doors unlocked and you know everybody, he said.

Members of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee received a report Thursday from Chief Deputy Attorney General Tom Trenbeath that showed heroin violations nearly doubled last year, from 90 to 177, while marijuana violations increased by 4.1 percent, violations for amphetamines and methamphetamines were up 3.3 percent and the number of cocaine violations jumped from 75 to 100.

Trenbeath cautioned that the stats in the substance abuse and treatment report were already dated.

The trends are growing exponentially in some areas, he said.

Stenehjem did not hold a press conference to present the crime and homicide reports, as he has done in recent years, saying he had planned to wait to present it to the Legislatures Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration at its next meeting Sept. 19.
Thursday, August 25, 2016

Alternating Proprietorships  Power is gained by sharing knowledge, not hoarding it. The Empire Strikes Back

With so many new craft beverage producers, I encourage start-ups to consider an alternating proprietorship as an option to reduce start-up expenses. In an alternating proprietorship, two (or more) craft beverage producers use the same space and equipment to produce alcoholic beverages. Shared infrastructure is a great way to reduce costs and maximize the capacity of equipment. If a brewery wanted a 5 BBL system but could only afford a 3 BBL system, a brewery might join forces with another brewery to buy the larger system.

How does it work? Typically one brewery is the host and another is a tenant paying rent to the host. The rent can be a fixed monthly rate or based on equipment hour usage. Other shared cost arrangements are possible. All that is required is that the arrangements be in a binding contract approved by the TTB and state alcoholic beverage regulatory agency. In New York, it is the New York State Liquor Authority.

Licensed premises may not be used by, shared with or rented to the other person or business without pre-approval by the TTB and NYSLA. Doing so without the necessary licenses and approvals puts the host at risk of losing federal alcoholic beverage manufacturer permits and licenses as well as state wholesale licenses, or at the very least, very substantial fines.

There is also good news for the tenant. The approval process simply reviews the written agreement for the sharing arrangement. The laws are strict but not rigorous. The required practices amount to common sense and good business practices.

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
Thursday, August 25, 2016

August 25, 2016

By Bob Coleman

Editor, Colemans Movers and Shakers

Paul Pickhardt Joins Greer State Bank as SBA Lending Manager

(Pauls) experience and knowledge of SBA products, as well as his reputation in the market, will be very beneficial as we introduce SBA lending at Greer State Bank, says Jim Boyd, SVP. Pickhardt has been ranked the top SBA 7a loan producer for South Carolina.

Anna Marie Cruz Joins CDC Small Business Finance

Anna Marie Cruz will encourage small business owners to take advantage of SBA Community Advantage financing (up to $250,000) and SBA microloans (up to $50,000) to help them expand, grow and create jobs.

Carey Hofferber Joins Northeast Bank Small Business Lending Team

We are pleased Carey has joined our SBA team in order to provide financing to small businesses throughout Texas, says Rick Wayne, President and CEO. Careys experience in developing effective SBA lending solutions will be instrumental in helping the bank support the needs of current and prospective small business customers in the years ahead.

Windsor Advantage SBA Loan Servicing Portfolio Surpasses $750 million

Windsor has shown the ability to scale with its clients, successfully managing a 30% increase in closings over the same period last year, said Shawn Andrews, Managing Director for Windsor. With three bank clients in the top 100 nationally, weve also proven were able to assist any size lender to become an industry leader.

Brooke Marks Joins Sunshine State Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) as VP/BDO

Brooke will be charged with partnering with financial institutions, business owners, and other professionals in the commercial real estate field to strengthen economic development in the Tampa Bay area. Her primary focus will be SBA 504 lending.

Peapack-Gladstone Bank Designated a Small Business Administration Preferred Lender

Andrew Glatz, Senior Managing Director and Head of SBA at Peapack-Gladstone Bank, is responsible for furthering the growth of the banks SBA business with a focus on providing new and existing clients exceptional, personalized service. We are thrilled to be awarded the SBAs Preferred Lender designation. It is validation of our lending performance, commitment and dedication to helping the small business community to continue to grow and prosper, says Glatz.

Small Business Lending Conference Calendar

Americas SBDC, September 19-22, Orlando

FLAGGL 2016, September 21-23, Orlando

National Alliance of Commercial Loan Brokers 2nd Annual Conference, October 4-6, Las Vegas

LEND360, October 5-7, Chicago

NAGGL Annual Meeting, October 31-November 2, Scottsdale

NADCO Annual Meeting, November 7-10, San Francisco

Ninth Annual SBA Secondary Market Summit, December 6, Washington D.C.

The SBIC Summit: Increased Profit, Improved Regulatory Compliance, December 7, Washington D.C.
Welcome to the News Release Wire Selection Control Panel.

Instant News Wire
Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Attract the Right Job or Clientele: Why Most People Do Not Find Success

We read about overnight success of others, or so it seems. But was it really overnight? Names that come to mind are Mark Zuckerberg , Elon Musk, and Bill Gates. The fact of the matter is, they studied and persevered. Each took risk to transform their ideas into reality. Recognizing they could not do it alone, they employed those who grasped their vision.

Steve Jobs is a prime example of what many would refer to as failure. He was booted out of his own company for a long while. Most would have quit. But eventually, he returned to the company he had founded to make Apple a roaring success. Overnight, hardly.

Perseverance, Follow-up and Refinement are the keys to success

My Story

In the sales arena, the one word that distinguished the successful from the not so successful was, and still is, follow-up. When prospective clients told me, not now, I would smile and ask when would be better. The date was noted on a calendar along with the preferred time.

On the day I was to call, I cheerfully began the conversation with, Can you believe how quickly time passes? You asked me to call today, and Im keeping my promise made to you.

The way I began the conversation let the other person know that I listened. I followed up according to their instructions. By doing so, I implied that I was trustworthy. Our relationship built before ever having met. This resulted in my being invited to have a meeting.

[embedded content]

Blocked

People less confident become nervous about contacting the prospect again. Excuses are made as to why following up is not of importance. They instead turn to a new prospect with the hope of encountering an instant sale. Instant sales for high dollar amounts are almost non-existent. Accordingly, the salespeople entered the revolving door syndrome. This translated into the need to quickly find a new job. The fact remains, without the follow-up there will be no sale.

Your Story

Should you be in the business of pursuit to find a sale, a sponsor, a new job, or anything else you might think of, a long list of possibilities is required. The second step is to follow-up.

Ask these questions upon hearing No:

What is the reason for no so I have a better understanding?

When would you like me to follow up?

Which type of contact do you prefer?

Take note of the answers and transfer the information to your CRM system or phone calendar. Next, set an alarm on the day for 30 minutes prior to the time set. Review the notes you took. Research the internet regarding the company and the people behind it. Pace the floor to increase energy.

By the time you do pick up the phone, have a video conversation, or write a note, the energy and enthusiasm will come across. Remind the person they told you to contact them now. Smile and enjoy the conversation.

Your timely follow-up is the main reason for most to consider doing business with you.

Sales Tips:

Smile when told not now. Ask When will be better? Inquire as to the reason a future date will be best. Recognize you are on your way to getting the sale. Positive thought most often brings positive results. Research the people and the company in question. Find commonality between all of you. During your next communication, point out the similarities. Before you begin a sales track, ask if anything has changed since you last spoke. Use the insight for leading the conversation.

Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

For Business Consultation and Conference Speaking

Schedule an Appointment to Learn More: elinor@smoothsale.net

Visit Elinors Author Page

Sponsored By

googleplus


Democratic state Sen. Carlos Uresti is entangled in the rapid rise and fall of San Antonio-based FourWinds Logistics, a bankrupt frac-sand company thats been accused of defrauding investors and now is the subject of an FBI investigation.

Uresti served as legal counsel, earned commissions for bringing in investors and had a 1 percent stake in FourWinds, according to court documents.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

PARIS  A botched attempt to break into the iPhone of an Arab activist using hitherto unknown espionage software has trigged a global upgrade of Apples mobile operating system, researchers said Thursday.

The spyware took advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in Apples mobile operating system to take complete control of iPhone devices, according to reports published Thursday by the San Francisco-based Lookout smartphone security company and internet watchdog group Citizen Lab.

Both reports fingered the NSO Group, one of the worlds most evasive digital arms dealers, as developing the spyware in its efforts to spy on dissidents and journalists.

The threat actor has never been caught before, said Mike Murray, a researcher with Lookout, describing the program as the most sophisticated spyware package we have seen in the market.

The reports issued by Lookout and Citizen Lab  based at the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs  outlined how an iPhone could be completely compromised with the tap of a finger, a trick so coveted in the world of cyber espionage that in November a spyware broker said it had paid a $1 million dollar bounty to programmers whod found a way to do it. Such a compromise would give hackers full control over the phone, allowing them to eavesdrop on calls, harvest messages, activate cameras and microphones, drain the device of its personal data and trace the whereabouts of the user.

Arie van Deursen, a professor of software engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said both reports were credible and disturbing. Forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski described the malicious program as a serious piece of spyware.

In response, Apple on Thursday released a patched version of its mobile software, iOS 9.3.5. Users can get the patch through a normal software update.

We advise all of our customers to always download the latest version of iOS to protect themselves against potential security exploits, Apple spokesman Fred Sainz said.

Apple said in a statement that it fixed the vulnerability immediately after learning about it, but the security hole may have gone unpatched had it not been for the wariness of an embattled human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahmed Mansoor, a well-known human rights defender, first alerted Citizen Lab to the spyware after receiving an unusual text message on Aug. 10. Promising to reveal details about torture in the United Arab Emirates prisons, the unknown sender included a suspicious-looking link at the bottom of the message.

Mansoor wasnt convinced. Not only had he been imprisoned, beaten, robbed and had his passport confiscated by the authorities over the years, Mansoor had also repeatedly found himself in the cross hairs of electronic eavesdropping operations. In fact Mansoor already had the dubious distinction of having weathered attacks from two separate brands of commercial spyware. And when he shared the suspicious text with Citizen Lab researcher Bill Marczak, they realized hed been targeted by a third.

Marczak, whod already been looking into the NSO Group, said he and fellow-researcher John Scott-Railton turned to Lookout for help picking apart the malicious program, a process which Murray compared to defusing a bomb.

It is amazing the level theyve gone through to avoid detection, he said of the softwares makers. They have a hair-trigger self-destruct.

Working feverishly over a two-week period, the researchers found that Mansoor had been targeted by an unusually sophisticated piece of software that likely cost a small fortune to arm.

Ahmed Mansoor is a million-dollar human rights defender, Scott-Railton said.

In a statement which stopped short of acknowledging that the spyware was its own, the NSO Group said its mission was to provide authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime.

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.

The company said it had no knowledge of any particular incidents. It said it would not make any further comment.

The apparent discovery of Israeli-made spyware being used to target a dissident in the United Arab Emirates raises awkward questions for both countries. The use of Israeli technology to police its own citizens is an uncomfortable strategy for an Arab country with no formal diplomatic ties to the Jewish state. And Israeli complicity in a cyberattack on an Arab dissident would seem to run counter to the countrys self-description as a bastion of democracy in the Middle East.

Authorities in both countries did not return calls seeking comment.

Attorney Eitay Mack, who advocates for more transparency in Israeli arms exports, said his countrys exports of surveillance software were not closely policed.

Surveillance is not considered a lethal weapon, Mack said. And Israeli regulations dont take into consideration human rights or that it would be used by a government to oppress dissidents.

He noted that Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated ties with Arab Gulf states. Netanyahu in 2014 urged Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join him in the war on terrorism.

Israel is looking for allies, Mack said. And when Israel finds allies, it does not ask too many questions.

The New York Times contributed to this article.
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
SAN ANTONIO  The Little Red Barn Steakhouse employee who opened fire inside the restaurant yesterday is cooperating with police in the investigation Thursday, having turned over the gun he said he used, according to police.

The employee, who will not be named by police, is not facing any charges at this time. But both the employee and the customer involved in the initial assault may face charges down the line pending the outcome of the investigation, said SAPD spokesman Douglas Greene.
In 2009, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns celebrated the National Park Service. In a PBS television series, he called our National Parks, Americas Best Idea.

I think the vast majority of the more than 307 million people who visited our national parks last year would agree.

On Aug. 25 the National Park Service (NPS) celebrates its 100th anniversary. On that date in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, which states that the Service, shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments and reservations  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.

First park

The first national park actually predates the establishment of the NPS. On March 1, 1872, U.S. President Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law, to create the worlds first national park.

And even before that, the Yosemite Act of 1864 protected the Yosemite Valley from settlement and entrusted its care to the state of California. When early explorers brought photographs, paintings and sketches of western wilderness, even politicians back East realized such places should be protected forever.

These places continue to inspire awe and reverence for the natural world.

Today, the NPS is comprised of 410 sites, including 59 national parks, 81 national monuments (e.g., White Sands, New Mexico), 128 historical parks (e.g., Valley Forge, Pennsylvania), 19 preserves (e.g., Tall Grass Prairie, Kansas), and 10 seashores (e.g., Cape Hatteras, North Carolina).

Discussions of favorite or best parks are purely subjective and could go on for days. As I reflect on the national parks Ive visited, several immediately rise to the top of the list.

Top parks

Acadia (Maine), Grand Canyon (Arizona), Arches (Utah), Bryce (Utah), and Glacier (Montana) bring back vivid memories. At Acadia, I watched the first rays of a new days sunshine strike the top of Cadillac Mountain.

At the Grand Canyon, my jaw dropped for the first time in my life. At Arches, I watched as fire rained from the sky during the Perseid meteor shower of 1974. At Bryce, I marveled at magnificent red rock sand castles that stretched as far as I could see.

And at Glacier, I saw my first wolf. As I tick through a list of national parks at www.nps.gov, I realize Ive not been to most of them. But thats OK.

There is great value in just knowing that they are there. Make an effort to visit a national park site this year to celebrate the NPSs 100th birthday.

The Park Service truly is Americas Best Idea. Its the best park system in the world, and its a bargain.

Buy a pass

Most federal lands charge an entrance fee, so if you plan to visit more than one site, buy a pass.

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series covers entrance fees to national parks and national wildlife refuges and standard amenity fees such as use of picnic areas and trails at national forests and grasslands and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.

A pass covers fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle. Children age 15 and under are admitted free.

An annual pass, available to anyone, costs $80. An annual pass for active military members and their dependents is free.

An annual pass for U.S. citizens with permanent disabilities is free. And if you are a U.S. citizen and age 62 or older, a lifetime pass is $10. Passes may be purchased in person at federal recreation sites or online at http://store.usgs.gov/pass.

Worth protecting

The future of our parks and other public lands requires vigilance. There are those in Congress who seek to privatize our public lands. Be prepared to fight for affordable access to federal lands when the privateers make their case.
CANAL FULTON, Ohio  The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation toured a wide variety of Ohio farming operations Aug. 23, calling for unity within agriculture.

Zippy Duvall, a Georgia farmer who became president in January, toured a produce and greenhouse operation, a livestock and grain farm, a dairy farm and an agritainment farm.

During a visit to the Clardale dairy farm in Stark County, operated by Ohio Farm Bureau President Frank Burkett and his family, Duvall said farmers need to recognize theyre all part of the same family.

If were (Farm Bureau) going to be the farmers voice, then weve got to accept that organic, conventional, locally grown  all of agriculture is part of our family, he said.

Duvalls own family began in the dairy industry. He was born in Summit County, Ohio, and was in the dairy industry for 30 years. The family eventually moved to Georgia, where they now maintain a 300-head beef cow herd, and finish about 750,000 broilers a year.

With less than three months before the next presidential election, he said Farm Bureau has met with the campaigns for both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and continues to hammer out agricultures biggest concerns.

Top concerns

A big one is trade. Farm Bureau and the nations commodity groups have worked aggressively to design and promote the Transpacific Trade Agreement, or TPP, that would open up new opportunities in Pacific nations, and reportedly give the U.S. farm economy a $4.4 billion boost.

The TPP is supported by President Obama, but both presidential candidates oppose the deal, arguing it will lead to a loss of U.S. jobs, and concerns over the potential for currency manipulation.

Trump has been particularly vocal with his opposition to TPP, calling it a disaster and a rape of our country.

Organizers of the TPP have worked to include safeguards against job loss, and currency manipulation  but opponents say its not enough.

Blanket statements

Duvall said hes troubled when blanket statements are made about trade, because its so unfair to all the parties involved.

We dont want to kill a trade (deal) thats been worked on for two years, that we know is a positive thing for agriculture, he said.

A big issue in northeast Ohio  and for all dairy farms  is the low price for milk. The recent cycle has farmers and policymakers re-evaulating existing safety net programs, and whether those should be increased in the next farm bill.

Duvall said the dairy and cotton programs in the farm bill are not working as intended, and theres room for improvement. He said Farm Bureau has appointed a workforce of state Farm Bureau employees  to begin the vetting process of whats on farmers minds, and what the next farm bill should look like.

New farm bill

He said the workforce is not trying to write policy  but is fielding suggestions. He anticipates a big-time debate next year, over the new bill.

One thing he doesnt support is separating the farm programs from the food and nutrition programs. The food and nutrition programs, including food stamps, make up more than 75 percent of the farm bill, but pairing the two things helps ensure rural and urban support for the overall bill.

They (food and farming) were put together years and years ago for a reason  that reason still exists today, Duvall said.

Burkett, who dairy farms with his uncles and their family, said it appears the risk management level in the current farm bill is not what it needs to be  based on the low-market cycle farmers currently face.

Broader impact

He said when the dairy farmer is hurting, so does all the jobs and economic activity the farmer supports.

Its the vendors we deal with, the equipment dealers, the contractors  it has a high multiplication factor of what it does in the surrounding communities, Burkett said.

Other top issues include farm labor and immigration, and how to attract and keep the next generation.

The nation has been in a years-long battle over what to do about foreign workers, and the 11 million immigrants who are reportedly here illegally. Farmers need help, but say current foreign worker programs, like the H-2A Visa Program, are inefficient.

Duvall said Farm Bureau has told the Trump team that Farm Bureau does not believe in amnesty, but farmers do believe in an adjustment of status and leaving skilled workers here to work, so long as they pay their taxes, follow the laws and other civil duties.

Duvall said he does expect immigration reform during the next presidency  whether its through Trump or Clinton.

The American people have got to make up their minds whether or not were going to import our food our import our labor, Duvall said.

Optimistic future

Duvall said the candidates may represent the far-reaching ends of their respective party, but hes optimistic about the next few years of agriculture  and working with whoever prevails.

Ones probably a little more liberal than what we would want as farmers, and the other one maybe a little bit more conservative, but I think theres going to be a great opportunity within the next administration to be able to answer some of those questions, he said.

In addition to Clardale Farms, other farms on the tour included K.W. Zellers of Hartville, Boyerts Greenhouse and Farm of Medina, Hord Family Farms of Bucyrus, and Leeds Farm, of Ostrander.
Midwest spinach production explained in detail

Learn how spinach performs in the Midwest and seasonal considerations in a new publication from ISU.
England Natural Environment Indicators progress report

Defra report tracking the progress of the Natural Environment White Paper published in 2011.
10 new interdisciplinary projects have today received a share of 3 million to improve the sustainability of UK farming.

The funding was awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) alongside 12 industry partners.

The grants totalling 3.2M were funded in the second round of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Innovation Club (SARIC).

This supports interdisciplinary projects to provide solutions to key challenges affecting the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the UK crop and livestock sectors.

Among the funded research studies is work to improve the weather resilience of crops, sensing soil nitrogen, and advanced technologies for crop management.

The translational studies include work to establish decision tools for slurry usage and potato cyst nematode management, devices to assess and improve the use of animal nutrients, and an assessment of the risks of pesticide run-off.

'Diverse range of topics'

Speaking on behalf of the collaborating UK Research Councils, Dr Karen Lewis, BBSRC Interim Executive Director said: "The projects will contribute to addressing issues relevant both to sustainable intensification of farming and the agricultural industry.

We are pleased that the projects will investigate a diverse range of topics that explore biological, environmental and social issues. in agriculture.

"The SARIC community is well placed to ensure the results of these studies can be translated into benefits for society.

SARIC was formed following consultation with trade associations, levy boards, policy makers and academia.

The discussions identified a need to bring together researchers from the environmental, biological and social sciences with industry, to translate knowledge for the purpose of progressing towards more sustainable agricultural systems.

Industry partners pay a subscription fee to be part of SARIC and benefit from improved connectivity with the UK research base and early access to research and translation outcomes.

This five year public-private partnership will result in approximately 10M being invested to address key challenges identified by industry.
A family is celebrating after its west Dorset farm won a gold national award, recognising its good farming procedures and healthy cows.

Simon Bugler from Pilsdon Dairy Farm, Bridport, Dorset is the winner of the NMR RABDF Gold Cup 2016.

This is the first time the Bugler family partnership has entered the Gold Cup with its pedigree Holstein Bettiscombe herd made up of 570 cows and 700 followers.

Simon Bugler runs the unit in partnership with his parents Roland and Heather and 12 full time employees on 295ha with a further 142ha of rented land for youngstock and forage.

The herd achieved 11,260kg of milk at 3.56% butterfat and 3.1% protein on three times a day milking in the Gold Cup qualifying year to September 2015.

Despite looking to increase yields, Simon is firmly focussed on keeping a herd of cows that combine yield with good fertility and health and his management priorities are set to achieve this.

Strong business plan

Cows are housed year round; a move Simon says has improved cattle health as well as lifting yields.

Cases of mastitis are currently 20 per 100 cows, and cell count runs at 111,000cells/ml and Bactoscan at 6. Calving interval is 380 days.

Simon has cut antibiotic use at drying off and now up to 95% of the dry cows have no antibiotic treatment, just a teat sealant.

Commenting on the Buglers success, judge, RABDF chairman and former Gold Cup winner Mike King described Pilsdon Dairy Farm as a progressive and well-run business.

The Buglers have a very strong business plan with a clear direction for the future, says Mike King.

This is supported with excellent attention to detail and careful, well thought out cost savings in many areas. Its good to see established health protocols in place and a clear focus on reduced antibiotic use. These are all attributes of professional dairy farming.

Runner up and recipient of the NMR Silver Salver, for the second year running, is Brian Yates from East Logan, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway.

With wife Sheila, and children Michael and Anna, they run the 280-cow pedigree Logan Holstein herd on a 137-hecatre unit.

Housed all year round and fed a TMR. Average yield was 12,273kg of milk at 3.83% butterfat and 3.09% protein on three times a day milking, with a cell count of 102,000 cells/ml.

Joining Mike King in judging the Gold Cup this year were NMR director Jonathan Davies and Gold Cup winners 2013 Andrew and Bill Higgins.

The Chris May Memorial Award, for the herd with the highest average lifetime daily yield among Gold Cup qualifying herds, goes to Nick Cobb from West Chaldon, Dorchester, Dorset.

His 669-cow Holstein herd achieved a lifetime daily yield of 18.48 kg Contributing to this is the herds average milk yield of 12952kg at 3.43% fat and 3.12% protein and a calving interval of 382 days.
After loading the landmark one millionth tonne of grain last campaign, the Gleadell Terminal in the outer harbour at Great Yarmouth has made a solid start to the new harvest with 35,000t of farmers grain already loaded and shipped across Europe.

This has helped local growers reach overseas market and the momentum is continuing, with Gleadell this week loading 27,500t of feed wheat on the MV Miedwie, destined for Spain.

France in particular, but also other EU countries, has suffered from poor yields this season as cool, wet weather has impacted on yields and undermined quality.

Whilst the UK has seen wheat yields fall back to the five-year average, the quality so far is good and this should provide export opportunities this campaign.

UK farmers planted 34% of the wheat area with Group 1 and Group 2 varieties this season, producing a surplus of quality wheat, which could go to market outlets opened up by the disastrous harvest in France.

For example, France traditionally sells a significant volume of different milling grades to North Africa, but this year buyers will be forced to look at alternative origins, one of which will be the UK.

Paul Dowson, Gleadells East Anglian wheat trader said: We are seeing overseas interest and are hopeful that the port will enjoy another busy season loading all grades of grains and oilseeds, providing marketing opportunities for local farmers.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford has indicated a fresh attempt on the world diesel land speed record could be made in the future  if the one set by JCB exactly a decade ago is ever broken.

He was speaking at an event last night to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the JCB Dieselmax car  powered by two JCB engines  setting a diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph on the Bonneville Salts Flats, USA on August 23rd 2006.

Lord Bamford joined members of the record breaking team at the World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire, ahead of a special dinner to mark the milestone.

He told the assembled team: You did an amazing job in achieving the diesel land speed record - it was our own Olympics and we won it.

"My biggest regret is that nobody else has beaten our record. Lets hope someone else comes along and we can have another crack at the record.

The team marks the 10th anniversary of the world record

I came up with the idea of attempting a land speed record when we decided to get into diesel engines. It was a very serious project and I wanted to make sure that our engine wasnt regarded as being just a digger engine. I wanted to prove that in fact it was state-of-the art.

Project Director Tim Leverton said: When Lord Bamford first asked me about whether we could attempt the speed record I just thought he was mad!"

"People often ask me what was the most amazing thing about being part of this project and I have no hesitation in saying: the team."

"Id like to thank Lord Bamford for sharing his dream with us. He gave us the chance to make that dream our own and create our own piece of history.

Among those joining in the celebrations was Wing Commander Andy Green, who drove the car. He said: Its great to celebrate 10 years of this team being world champions."

"I have been back to Bonneville a few times since we set the record and the Americans are still today talking about the 350 mph record and are asking when will the 'big yellow car' come out to play again."

It was extraordinary: you are still world champions 10 years later and it was a great source of pride to have been part of this team.

Retired JCB employee Colin Bond of Uttoxeter had the job of driving a high-speed JCB Fastrac tractor on the Salt Flats to give the Dieselmax car its push off ahead of achieving the record. He said: Its been fantastic to be back with the team again."

"Meeting everyone 10 years down the road has been absolutely great. Pushing the car and then seeing it break the record was amazing.

Since production started in 2004, JCB has made around 375,000 engines at its plants in Derbyshire and India. JCB originally began producing engines to power its own machines and today more than 70% of all the companys products are fitted with the JCB engine.

Such has been the success of the engine that other companies around the world now buy it for their products and overseas third party sales grew by more than 325% between 2012 and 2014

JCB Power Systems was presented with two Queens Awards for the JCB engine  one honouring innovation and another marking a massive growth in overseas sales to third party customers.
A new 120 day 'Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use' has been authorised for the use of an insecticide on Brussels sprout, broccoli, calabrese, cabbage and cauliflower for the control of Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella).

The Chemicals Regulation Division played an important role to ensure that authorisation of the insecticide 'Benevia 10OD' was identified as a priority and rapidly evaluated for UK brassica growers.

Diamondback moth is a pest of Brassica crops including oilseed rape.

It is a relatively small moth and the eggs can be hard to find.

Insecticide 'Benevia 10OD' was identified as a priority and rapidly evaluated for UK brassica growers

Newly-hatched caterpillars burrow into the foliage to feed but then come out onto the leaf surface as they grow larger and cause characteristic windowpane damage.

The AHDB-funded Pest Bulletin has been monitoring Diamondback moth, identifying high numbers during June and July.

The Pest Bulletin is updated each week and provides valuable oversight on 13 different pests.

The information has allowed the growers to plan control measures ahead to mitigate yield losses.

Major pests of vegetable crops

Commenting on the Pest Bulletin, Dr Rosemary Collier, Director of Warwick Crop Centre said: "This is an important service for growers and we have been providing key intelligence on the major pests of vegetable crops by forecasting and monitoring fluctuations in pest numbers.

"This information provides guidance for growers as to when specific control measures need to be put in place."

Vivian Powell, Crop Protection Senior Scientist (Pesticide Regulation), helped organise the EAMU working with members of the Brassica Growers Association.

She said: "It is great that we worked with growers, regulators and the manufacturer to obtain use of this new product that will help them alleviate issues with Diamondback moth.

"Our work is all about finding the solutions to problems that work effectively and efficiently and which can be integrated into IPM strategies."

AHDB Project FV 440

A current AHDB project FV 440 is investigating ways of managing pest migrant moths including silver Y moth and Diamondback moth.

One aspect is the use of a network of novel pheromone traps, with each trap containing a small camera that allows growers to view captures remotely.

AHDB are also investigating methods of control with new insecticides and biopesticides.

In the same project Jason Chapman and colleagues at Rothamsted Research are using weather data to track the origin of immigrant moths and so may in time be able to confirm where these migrants came from.
The Government has released a report that tracks the progress of the Natural Environment White Paper published in 2011.

The White Paper set out the Governments strategy for valuing nature in our society and ensuring that it is available for use by future generations. It contained 92 commitments.

The CLA, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses has responded to a Defra report, saying it is a 'tough read for all those who care about the countryside.'

CLA Director of Policy and Advice Christopher Price said: "What it makes clear is that we have a significant collective challenge and we have to work together to tackle it.

"As we prepare to exit the EU we have an opportunity to build a new, world-leading UK Food, Farming and Environmental policy to succeed the Common Agricultural Policy when it ends after 2020.

"It is clear that the new policy that must have greater ambition in how it supports farmers and land managers to deliver better environmental outcomes," Mr Price concluded.

The CLA, along with Scottish Land & Estates, has published six fundamental principles for the new food, farming and environmental policy in post-Brexit Britain.

The six principles

 A productive, competitive farming and forestry sector: the policy must enable UK farmers to be competitive on international markets

 Food security: the policy must promote innovative, sustainable ways to increase production and manage risk

 Enhancing the environment: the policy must be more ambitious than its predecessors in meeting environmental challenges

 A dedicated UK budget: Government must provide sufficient funds for the policy across the whole of the UK

 Value for Money: the policy must deliver value for money in the way it is implemented and in the outcomes it delivers to the benefit of everyone

 Clear, proportionate regulation: the standards that must be met should be clear, with support provided to help businesses achieve compliance.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling confirming that the Russian ban on pork exports breaks global trading rules is welcome news for local pig producers, according to the Ulster Farming Union.

UFU Pork and Bacon Chairman, Norman Robson, said the Union are "pleased" the WTO has ruled the ban on EU pork products and live pigs illegal.

"We are now echoing calls by our EU counterparts for the ban to be lifted," said Mr Robso

He added that before Russia imposed these restrictions it accounted for just under a quarter of European pork exports, which was worth 1.4 billion a year.

'Over-optimistic'

While this announcement is being seen as a positive step Mr Robson warned local producers not to be over-optimistic about the impact.

"The Russian authorities now have 60 days to decide if they wish to appeal the WTO ruling.

"Should they decide to do this, it will hit hopes that farmers will see speedy benefits from the ruling on this restrictive trade barrier," he said.

Mr Robson said that as part of EU agri-cooperative Copa and Cogeca, the UFU would continue to press for measures that would see a reopening of EU pork trade to Russia.
Twisters destroyed crops and homes

By Diego Flammini

Assistant Editor, North American Content

Farms.com

Some farmers in Indiana are trying to rebuild after tornadoes swept through parts of the state, destroying everything in their paths.

In Montgomery County, Meredith Manguss corn crops were damaged and a 100-year-old barn was destroyed.

When the storm hit, Mangus and his family werent home. The house was spared and he understands how lucky he is. The home is currently without power and the family is using donated generators.

We got three sheds here that are destroyed and thats everything on the property but the house, he told WISHTV. We were wondering about the house and then we found out about the house. We praised God that we had a house.

John Frey, also from Montgomery County, told Fox59 his farm was damaged by multiple tornados, but the outcome could've been much worse.

"Its just crops, you know, its not peoples lives and were just fortunate nobody that I know of so far has been hurt," Frey said.

They just come right through here, but thats just crops, he said. You know, its not peoples lives.

Earlier in the month, tornadoes ripped through properties near Zionsville, Indiana, forcing some farmers to alter their harvest plans.

(W)ell go very slow in the combine and (well be) diligent to watch, probably make sure were doing it in the daylight so that we can see all the debris and not run it through the head, Georgi Kaser told WISHTV on August 16.
Following a five-year hiatus from Malaysian shores, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), of which the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is a founding member, was recently on hand to welcome back the first vessel of corn from the United States since the historic drought in 2012/2013. The vessel, which was loaded from the Pacific Northwest, was sold from one USGC member to another, destined for a consortium of several key USGC allies.

"This is an exciting opportunity," said Kevin Roepke, USGC South and Southeast Asia regional director. "We're able to build partnerships that help this bit of trade happen, which is a big win for Malaysia and U.S. producers."

The geared handimax, the Yasa Gulten, berthed over the weekend in Port Kelang after initially unloading in Southern Malaysia's Pasir Gudang, immediately across from Singapore. It will ultimately venture east to Vietnam.

The vessel was seen by the industry as a "trial run" to retest U.S. quality following significant engagement from the Council to encourage readoption of U.S. grains. In particular, USGC's quality reports issued each year to offer in-depth information to customers about the current year's crop helped alleviate objections and some nervousness about U.S. corn quality.

According to operations employees, the recently-arrived vessel came in around 1 percent higher in moisture and with similar rates of broken corn as South American origin corn. High moisture has always been a concern for U.S. origin corn in Southeast Asia because hot and humid weather conditions make even short-term storage challenging. The cargo was reportedly loaded at roughly 13.7 percent and arrived at approximately 14.7 percent, close to the threshold of 15 percent.

The Council will continue to work with Malaysian buyers to help answer additional questions as they use the corn and, in time, pave the way for future sales.

Click here to see more...
"For the first 10 years of my life in politics that was a pipe dream, everyone remembered when they all shut down and now we are about to open one. It is a massive turn around and that's exciting for the sector.
To date, eight cases of BATOG have been diagnosed in 2016 in WA by private and DAFWA vets and diagnostic laboratory services, down from 23 in 2015, 11 in 2014 and five in 2013.
They agreed with Mr Bolt who said the attention from the east, along with sale results, was a reward for the effort breeders had been making to improve their flocks with good genetics over the past five to 10 years.
 Palestinian Libels: Dumb and Dumber | Main | Palestinian Journalists Targeted by Hamas and Palestinian Authority, Media Silent 

August 25, 2016

ISIS Suspect Worked for ICNA



The FBI has arrested a former employee of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Erick Jamal Hendricks, for conspiring to set up a North Carolina cell for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a U.S.-designated terrorist group. ICNAdespite its radical roots as a subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhoodis frequently treated as a credible source by some in the news media when reporting on Muslims in the United States.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Hendricks was arrested on Aug. 4, 2016 and charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. Hendricks, an Arkansas-born convert to Islam, is alleged by federal prosecutors to have recruited ISIS sympathizers online for potential terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Hendricks has claimed that he is innocent and what is more, an opponent of radical Islam who was working as a paid informant for the FBI.

Although the Observer reported that Hendricks had ties to a mosque in Virginia [Dar Al-Hijrah in Falls Church] that has been linked to an Islamic organization whose members have included terrorists,? the paper failed to note that Hendricks also has ties to the ICNA.



The Clarion Project, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization that monitors Islamic extremism, pointed out that Hendricks was the youth coordinator for a mosque that belongs to the moderate Islamic Circle of North America.?

As CAMERA has noted (see, for example ICNAs Selective Outrage on Bangladesh Violence,? May 17, 2016), the ICNA is a non-profit organization that claims to represent the interests of Muslims in America, specifically those from South Asia. ICNA is an offshoot of the Islamic Circle of North America, a Muslim Brotherhood spin-off. The Egyptian-based, Sunni Brotherhood seeks to spread sharia (Islamic law) globally. ICNA is part of a network of groups, including the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) that stemmed from the Brotherhoods North American initiatives.

ICNAs magazines have featured interviews with terrorist leaders in Pakistan and their conferences, such as one held in December 2009, have included calls to destroy Israel.

The organization has made its own objectives clear. According to the Washington D.C.-based Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), a 2010 ICNA Members Hand Book proclaimed that the organizations ultimate goal is the Establishment of Islam as the sole basis of global society and governance.?

ICNAs troubling history and objectives havent stopped news organizations from treating them as a credible source. In one example that was detailed in a June 3, 2015 CAMERA Snapshot (Baltimore Sun Gives Islamic Circle a Free Pass?), The Baltimore Sun quoted from ICNA representatives for a story on charitable activities, but failed to provide readers with the groups questionable history and associations. Subsequently, CAMERA provided Sun reporters and staff with a copy of The Islamic Society of North America: Active, Influential and Rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sept. 2012 CAMERA special report which included, among other things, information on the ICNA.

The Baltimore Sun did not carry the news of Hendricks arrest. The next time a news outlet references ICNA they would do well to note it.





Posted by SD at August 25, 2016 03:32 PM

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
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.
 Updated with Correction: Another Biased Headline by Reuters | Main | ISIS Suspect Worked for ICNA 

August 25, 2016

Palestinian Libels: Dumb and Dumber

Abbas Zaki pictured with colleague Mahmoud Abbas

For years, the Palestinians, including Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority and Fatah party, have incited the Palestinian public to violence and murder by spreading libels against Israel. These libels range from old chestnuts like Israeli Jews planning to destroy Muslim holy sites, echoing the 1920's libels by Grand Mufti Haj Amin al Husseini that resulted in the gruesome massacres of Jews in Hebron and Safed, to such absurdities as Israel supplying Palestinian youth with drugs or aphrodisiac chewing gum to corrupt them.

And the libels have become increasingly absurd. Palestinian Media Watch describes the latest anti-Israel accusations by Fatah and PLO officials and they are astonishing in their stupidity. For example, in the official PA daily newspaper, Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki accused Israeli dentists of injecting Palestinian terrorist Na'im Al-Shawamreh with muscular dystrophy when he was incarcerated in an Israeli prison.

Of course, anyone with a smattering of medical knowledge knows that muscular dystrophy arises from mutations in the genes that code for the protein necessary to build and repair muscles. In other words, it is an inherited disorder, not an acquired one, even though some forms of the disease manifest themselves only in adulthood. Shawamreh, whose disease manifested itself during his incarceration, died three years after his release from prison. But Zaki and his colleagues who resort to such obviously dumb libels care little about facts when it comes to defaming Israel.

Even dumber is the theory expressed on PA State TV by PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Ahmed Majdalani that Israel is distributing guns to Palestinians so that they can fight amongst themselves.

Dumbest, however, are the dupes who believe these absurdities.

Posted by RH at August 25, 2016 12:07 PM

And even more outrageous is that this stupidity is very dangerous!

Posted by: Anonymous at September 1, 2016 10:34 AM

The charge Israel would be behind any attempt to destroy the Mosque is absurd. Even though the Palestinians continue to desecrate and destroy every Jewish artifact and sometimes Christian artifacts and relics as well as sacred sites they can place their hands on.

It probably occurs to the Palestinians, from their point of view, their sites should be destroyed in retaliation, because that is how they think.

Another aspect is the fact history is replete with instances when false claims the Mosque was being defiled resulted in pogroms against Jews like yelling fire in a crowded theater except murder and looting not a bad prank is the intent.

That Israelis seek to destroy the Mosque is a specious accusation born solely out of what radical Islamists would do if they were wearing Israeli's sandals.

Posted by: jeb stuart at September 3, 2016 09:59 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
Secretary of State John Kerry made his third visit to Nigeria in 20 months this week, talking in the most explicit terms any top-level American official has used to explain the direct link between corruption and terrorism.

He called corruption a root cause of violent extremism.

In remarks Tuesday in Sokoto, Nigeria, Kerry said beating local terror group Boko Haram on the battlefield is only the beginning of what we need to do.

Violent extremist groups use humiliation, marginalization, inequality and poverty caused by corruption as recruitment tools, he said.

The fight against corruption has to be a global security priority of the first order, he said.

Bribery, fraud, other forms of venality endanger everything that we hold dear, everything that you value. They feed organized crime. They gnaw away at nation-states. They take away the legitimacy of a nation-state. They contribute to human trafficking. They discourage honest and accountable investment, and they undermine entire communities, Kerry said.

Nigeria is Africas most populous country, with about 185 million people. And its Africas biggest oil producer, at just under 2 million barrels per day.

But it ranked 138 out of 168 countries and territories included on the latest Corruption Perceptions Index. On the World Banks Doing Business Index, which generally measures red tape and bureaucratic interference in the economy, Nigeria ranked 169 out of 189.

Corruption is not just a disgrace and a crime. It is also dangerous, Kerry said.

Boko Haram attacks small villages at night, looting homes and taking food and livestock. They burn the homes to the ground, kill fighting-age men, and abduct women and children. In 2014, they abducted about 300 girls from Chibok village in the Northeast.

The terror group has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced more than 2 million. And it has flung some 7 million Nigerians into hunger, thirst, and desperate need, Kerry said.

Graft costs the global economy an estimated $2.6 trillion a year, Kerry said. Thats $2.6 trillion that could be going towards infrastructure, towards health care, towards education, food security, other initiatives . . . that give young people that sense of future.

Regionally, Kerry said, a group linked to al-Qaida is operating in Brukina Faso. The Lords Resistance Army is spreading terror in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And al-Shabaab militants are killing people in Somalia.

There is nothing more demoralizing, more destructive, more disempowering to a citizen than the belief that the system is rigged against them, the belief that the system is designed to fail them, and that people in positions of power, to use a diplomatic term, are crooks  crooks who are embezzling the future of their own people, Kerry said.

* * *

Secretary of State John Kerrys full remarks in Sokoto, Nigeria on August 23, 2016 are here.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
INSPIRATION (PART ONE)

Ellie Dean

I was born and raised in Tasmania, Australia, by my grandmother and two of her sisters. They were great story-tellers, so I learned about their experiences during WW2 at an early age. My grandmother sailed on one of the last convoys to Australia in 1940 with my mother, and they spent a day and a night on deck in their life-jackets as their ship was being tracked by a U-boat. One great aunt worked with Barnes Wallis on the bouncing bomb, while the other tested the strength and thickness of ship's hulls in Liverpool.

CONDEMNATION

These stories were just the start, and having heard about their mule rides over the Rockies, their dog-sled races across the frozen wilds of Canada, and my grandmother's romance and marriage to a handsome cowboy in New Mexico, I was inspired to one day write a book. But when I came to England to finish my education and the class was asked what they wanted to do as a career, the exchange teacher scoffed at my dream of being an author, saying that at best I might just get a job behind the counter in Woolworths.

DETERMINATION

It was a while before I actually set out on my writing career. A divorce, two husbands, three children and a home and business to look after gave me very little time for anything. But the idea for a book was growing, and when the children left home and the second husband decamped for greener fields, I sat down and wrote a story loosely based on the lives of those three women who'd raised me. It turned into a giant tome which even then I could tell was nowhere near good enough, so I started another book and joined a writer's group to get some feed-back and advice.

FRUSTRATION (PART ONE)

It was a battle to keep my head above water as the business was shut down, the bailiffs arrived and I couldn't sell the house, let alone heat it. But I kept at the writing, bundled against the cold in woolly sweaters, socks, trousers and a bobble hat - it kept me sane and took me out of my fraught situation into a make-believe world that was much more pleasant. And it paid off, because having finished my third novel, an agent took an interest in me. Unfortunately he considered the next three books to be 'not quite right,' suggested I wrote thrillers instead of sagas, and in the end we went our separate ways.

INSPIRATION (PART TWO)

It was at this point that I knew I needed help if I was to succeed. Pauline Bentley, gifted author and editor used her blue pencil to destruction, crossing out page after page of waffle to show me where I was going wrong. It was my light-bulb moment - and when I wrote my next psychological thriller, it was snapped up by an agent who sold is as part of a two-book deal for Hodder & Stoughton. It was a good year in 1995, for not only had I sold my first book, but the house was also gone, the debts paid, and I could begin my new life as a bone fide author.

FRUSTRATION (PART TWO)

The two thrillers sold reasonably well both here, Australia, and in the USA, but the next two were turned down by my publisher, and I was on the point of giving up. But the urge to write, the absolute belief that I was good at it and would succeed if I just kept going spurred me on. I went back to the sagas, re-writing a story that had got my first agent so excited - but which he'd deemed as 'not quite right for publishing.' Matilda's Last Waltz went up for auction in the year of the Sydney Olympics - and not one British publisher wanted it! I was told that Australian stories didn't sell in England, and that I should write something different. But I had something to prove and I knew that book would somehow change my life.

JUBILATION (PART ONE)

Matilda's Last Waltz was taken by a German publisher, and then the rest of the world saw its potential, and it has since had global sales of over twenty million copies. I eventually got an English publisher who went on to publish the next six books set in Australia. Hodder & Stoughton took the Oceana Trilogy, and my career as an author was well and truly launched.

FRUSTRATION (PART THREE)

The tenth Australian saga sold everywhere around the world, but no English publisher would take it. Down in the doldrums, I once again contemplated retirement - after all, I'd achieved far more than I'd ever dreamt. But I hadn't had a top ten best-seller in England, and that really niggled.

JUBILATION (PART TWO)

I was approached by Penguin Arrow, and asked if I'd be interested in writing a series of sagas set in a boarding house on the south coast of England during WW2. After a few minor hiccups the first in the Beach View Boarding House series was launched. As the series has progressed the books are now regularly in the Times Best Selling List - I'd finally achieved what I'd set out to do.

PERSPIRATION

At the same time as the success of the Beach View series an English publisher picked up my tenth Australian saga as well as the back catalogue. Quercus has since published The Ocean Child, Firestorm, Savannah Winds, and Echoes from Afar, with Spindrift due to be released in 2017. But at the same time I'm contracted to Arrow write two Beach View books a year. It's hard work writing three long books in twelve months, but I love it, and with Shelter from the Storm due to be released this August, I think I can now say to that teacher who laughed at my childhood ambition, 'Thank you; for without your scorn, I might not have been quite so determined to prove you wrong.'

Shelter from the Storm by Ellie Dean is published by Arrow, priced 5.99
Amanda Bynes has returned to Twitter after a six-month break.

Amanda Bynes

The 30-year-old star - who was previously placed under a conservatorship and endured stints in rehab and psychiatric facilities - admitted she is enjoying studying fashion at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and is "learning a lot".

She tweeted: "Hi everybody! I haven't tweeted in a long time and I want to say hi! I've been really busy at FIDM, and I just finished my midterms.

"I am really loving school and I feel that I am learning a lot. I enjoy all of my classes and my teachers are excellent.

"I'm really appreciative of all that FIDM is giving me. I've been in school learning about the fashion business so I don't have time to tweet

"FYI, this Twitter account is the only communication media that I am using.

"No other Twitter accounts or websites are mine! I only have this one. (sic)

Before Wednesday (24.08.16), the last time Amanda tweeted was on February 26 when she wrote: "Hi everyone! I got a haircut! What do you think?"

Amanda turned 30 in April and her family's attorney, Tamar Arminak, revealed she was "happy and healthy".

The 'Easy A' actress returned to the fashion school in October 2015 after reportedly being kicked out the year before.

She allegedly turned up to class under the influence of marijuana and offered students money to do her homework.

The actress, who was released from a psychiatric facility in October 2014 after less than a month of treatment, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence [DUI] in 2012, but avoided jail time by completing inpatient treatment and was placed on three years' probation in early 2014.

Amanda was also arrested for a DUI in the early hours of September 28, 2014 but the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office opted not to press charges "after much deliberation and review".

She was placed under the conservatorship of her mother Lynn in August 2013 after she set fire to a driveway.
Dick Van Dyke's wife often gets asked if she is his daughter.

Dick Van Dyke and Arlene Silver

The 90-year-old actor married 44-year-old Arlene Silver in 2012 after meeting her six years earlier when she working as a make-up artist at the Screen Actor Guild Awards, and the 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' star admits he is "proud" to call her his spouse when she is mistaken for his child.

He said: "We get, 'Is this your daughter?' That happens a lot, and I'm very proud to say, 'No, it's my wife.' But people have never been insulting to us."

The father-of-four still goes to the gym every day, swims three times a week, and dances despite doctors telling him he was "riddled with arthritis" when he was shooting 1968 movie 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and that he would need a zimmer frame by 1975.

He said: "I'm still singing and dancing. I go to the gym in the morning and try and get in the pool three days a week." He knows he's lucky to still be so active.

"I do struggle with arthritis. I was doing Chitty Bang Bang and I pulled a muscle in my leg doing a dance number.

"The doctor said from the X-ray I was riddled from head to foot with arthritis - and predicted I'd be in a walker within five to seven years. But I'm still dancing!"

Dick admits he has been "very lucky" with his health but did suffer pneumonia two years ago, but was fortunate he didn't have any lasting breathing issues.

He added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I was struck with pneumonia and my lung collapsed. They told me I might have breathing problems but I don't have any. I'm very lucky."

While Dick doesn't mind people mistaking Arlene as his daughter, he is not so happy when people don't recognise him and simply disregard him as an old man.

He said: "I walked into Tommy Hilfiger and I barely got in the door and the young salesgirl said, 'Sir, I don't think you'll find anything you'll like in here'."
Simon Cowell is going to invite Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton onto 'America's Got Talent'.

Simon Cowell

The music mogul is keen to see what hidden talents the two US presidential candidates have because it would be interesting to see the pair doing some TV entertaining rather than debating in the race for the White House.

He said: "I think we can take it a stage further in addition to the debates, why don't we invite them on?

"They can sing, dance, whatever they want.

"I only just thought of it now, it sort of just came into my head.

"So we're going to put the invite out and it sort of changes the election process a little bit. It would be good, right?"

The 'America's Got Talent' judge admitted he got the idea after hearing Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine playing several tunes on the harmonica recently, including Bob Dylan's 'Wagon Wheel'.

He added to PEOPLE: "[I] formally invited Hillary and Donald to be part of the final this year because I just heard Senator [Tim] Kaine on the harmonica - he was very good."

Simon judges alongside Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel on the 12th series of the show, which is hosted by Nick Cannon.

The 'X Factor' boss only became a panellist on 'AGT' on series 11, despite producing the programme.

Talking about taking his spot on the panel in 2015, when it was announced, he said: "I kind of always wanted to be on it ... I also enjoyed producing it.

"When this opened up and they asked me, I went, 'A hundred percent, yeah.' Why wouldn't you?"
 Reuters Headline Describes Palestinian Attacker As "Driver" | Main | Palestinian Libels: Dumb and Dumber 

August 25, 2016

Updated with Correction: Another Biased Headline by Reuters

Reuters has corrected the skewed headline we wrote about yesterday. See below.

Aug. 24, 2:30 PM: How does a Reuters headline describe a situation where a Palestinian stone-thrower pursued by the Israeli soldiers exits his car to stab one of the soldiers in the neck before being shot by the wounded soldier?

This sort of reporting that reverses the perpetrator and victim to whitewash Palestinian terrorism is what gives many news agencies their reputation for unprofessional, biased reporting.

CAMERA has contacted Reuters regarding the skewed headline.

UPDATE, Aug. 25

Reuters thanked CAMERA for its communication regarding the headline, apologized and corrected. Below is the corrected headline:

Posted by RH at August 25, 2016 11:30 AM

Hey Reuters did you want to mention that the Palestinian STABBED the Israeli soldier first? No, probably not.

Posted by: Ken Kelso at August 25, 2016 09:36 AM

An informative headline would have been: "Israeli Soldier Shoots His Arab Stabber."

Posted by: Richard Shulman at August 25, 2016 04:25 PM

Pure anti-Semitic bias.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 27, 2016 08:11 AM

another dumb headline. Why not just report the truth? Oh! Your genetic antiJew brain washing is showing again! Needs a serious consideration of a lobotomy for cure!

Posted by: noel hershfield at August 28, 2016 08:46 PM

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
Teresa Palmer has been craving air detox spray.

Teresa Palmer

The 'Point Break' actress is pregnant with her second child and is so obsessed with the Dr Shulze product - which claims to disinfect and purify the air - she has ordered 10 bottles of the substance because she loves to cover her pillows in the smell.

She said: "This is a weird one because it has nothing to do with food! I've been obsessed with smelling Dr Shulze's Air Detox spray!

"I literally have ordered a full box of the spray (10 bottles!). I like to spray all of my pillows with it before bed and just engulf myself in the scent as I fall asleep. It's a mixture of eucalyptus, lime and lemon! Mark thinks it's hilarious and I had the exact same obsession with the same smell first pregnancy! I'm convinced it'll help me throughout labor (sic)"

The 30-year-old star and her two-year-old son Bodhi - who she has with husband Mark Webber - speak to her baby bump every morning and the youngster has even got his impending brother dancing before he has even been born.

In a post on her Your Zen Mama blog, she wrote: "Every morning when I'm lying on my back in bed babe pushes himself all the way to the surface of my belly so I get a big bulge the outline of his butt! Bodhi and I give him a little massage and talk to him. It's become a little routine for all of us.

"Bodhi has been singing the "What does the fox say?" song to the baby in the tummy (Bodhi is SOOO 2014!). He tells me how the baby is dancing to the song and it's his favorite song haha. (sic)"
The search for the Captain Marvel director is under way and it looks like the shortlist is now down to just three names.

Captain Marvel

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lesli Linka Glatter, Niki Caro, Lorene Scafaria are the top contenders when it comes to landing job.

Should one of these three ladies take up the director's chair for Captain Marvel, she would be the first female filmmaker to helm a movie for the MCU.

Glatter is best known for her television work with the likes of Mad Men, The West Wing, Homeland, and Ray Donovan under her belt. Caro's most famous film is Whale Rider back in 2002 and she is set to return next year with The Zookeeper's Wife.

Scafaria made her feature film directorial debut back in 2012 with Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and returned with The Meddler last year.

However, sources have told the publication that we shouldn't expect a decision anytime soon.

Earlier this summer it was announced that Oscar-winner Brie Larson had landed the central role of Carol Danvers. She is the only member of the cast list to have been announced.

Not only will Captain Marvel be the first film to potentially be directed by a woman, but it is also the first MCU film with a central female character.

The movie is based on the comic book by Gene Colan and Roy Thomas and Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman are on board to pen the screenplay.

However, we have quite a wait for the film to hit the big screen, as it is not scheduled until 2019. It is not yet known if the character of Captain Marvel will be introduced before we see her star in her solo film.

Captain Marvel is released 8th March 2019 in the U.S. No UK release date has yet been announced.
Greg Kinnear is one of the most versatile actors working in Hollywood today and he is back on the big screen this September with his new film Little Men.

Little Men

Little Men is a family drama that marks the return of Ira Sachs to the director's chair; he has also teamed up with to pen the film's screenplay.

Sachs has brought us some wonderful relationship dramas such as Keep the Lights On and Married Life in recent years and Little Men is his first film since Love Is Strange last year.

The brand new trailer for the film has been released and we have it for you to take a look at:

The cast is a great mix of established stars such as Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle, Alfred Molina, and Yolanda Ross. But we will also be introduced to the acting talents of Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri as they both make their feature film debuts in the roles of Jake and Tony.

When 13-year-old Jake's (Taplitz) grandfather dies, his family moves from Manhattan back into his father's old Brooklyn home. There, Jake befriends the charismatic Tony (Barbieri), whose single mother Leonor (Garcia), a dressmaker from Chile, runs the shop downstairs. Soon, Jake's parents Brian (Kinnear) and Kathy (Ehle) - one, a struggling actor, the other, a psychotherapist - ask Leonor to sign a new, steeper lease on her store. For Leonor, the proposed new rent is untenable, and a feud ignites between the adults.

At first, Jake and Tony don't seem to notice; the two boys, so different on the surface, begin to develop a formative kinship as they discover the pleasures of being young in Brooklyn. Jake aspires to be an artist, while Tony wants to be an actor, and they have dreams of going to the same prestigious arts high school together. But the children can't avoid the problems of their parents forever, and soon enough, the adult conflict intrudes upon the borders of their friendship.

When it comes to telling stories about people and relationships, there is no one better than Sachs. Love Is Strange was one of my favourite films of last year and I cannot wait to see what he delivers with Little Me.

Little Men is released 23rd September.

by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk

find me on and follow me on
Kalki Koechlin, who will be seen next in actor Konkona Sen Sharmas directorial debutA Death in the Gunjis busy wrapping up the film and has also signed up for a travel show on TV along with her dad. Despite a hectic schedule the actor manages to stay lean and look gorgeous. Her secret, she reveals, is not only a good metabolism but healthy nutritional choices too.

I try to eat as much home-cooked food as I can. When I am shooting in a village or new city, I try to find out about the simple meals served by locals. I try to eat food either from someones home or find out about the local dabba service. I avoid restaurant food as much as I can, she reveals.

The food thats usually circulated on the movie sets is usually junksamosas, chips, fries or sweets, cakes, coffee, tea and the likes. So if any actor keeps snacking on them, they wont fit into their costumes any more. I try to keep fruits handy like a kiwi, for instance, that tastes exotic and helps curb food cravings. Also, I dont have the traditional three meals a day; instead, I break it up into six small ones.

For those who need to travel extensively, Kalki suggests that you carry fibre-rich fruits with you that can help satiate hunger instantly. Also ensure you work out regularly. Go for swimming, do yoga, hit a gym if you have access to it or go for a run, she says.

Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts
Stakeholders in the Cambodian apparel and footwear sector will need to produce higher valued added products, due to rising costs, mainly driven by wage increases in the industry. This development will mean the industry buying modern machinery and equipment, which will help them meet head on, fierce competition from other countries.In face of fierce worldwide competition, rising worker wages are reducing margins in producing low-value clothing garments, Ly Tek Heng, operation manager at the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) said.

Stakeholders in the Cambodian apparel and footwear sector will need to produce higher valued added products, due to rising costs, mainly driven by wage increases in the industry. This development will mean the industry needs to buy more modern machinery and equipment, which will help them meet head on, fierce competition from other countries.#

If we keep on producing low value garment products, while cost of labour keeps on increasing, it will not be possible to compete. So, companies in the industry will need to invest in more modern machinery and machinery, which will allow them to make higher priced products, Heng was quoted as saying by Cambodian media.Ly Tek Heng was addressing a press conference to inform about the sixth Cambodia International Machinery Industry Fair (CIMIF) and Cambodia International Textile and Garment Industry Exhibition (CTG), both of which are scheduled to begin on August 26. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
In its August report , USDA projected world cotton output at 101.6 million bales in 2016/17, down one million bales below the July 2016 forecast, however 4.7 million bales above the 2015/16 season, but still 9 per cent below world use. The rise in 2016/17 output has been mainly attributed to the US, with gains also expected in India, Brazil and Pakistan.The US agriculture agency also said that cotton yield is estimated to spring back and more than offset an area decrease from alternative crops this season.

In its August report, USDA projected world cotton output at 101.6 million bales in 2016/17, down one million bales below the July 2016 forecast, however 4.7 million bales above the 2015/16 season, but still 9 per cent below world use. The rise in 2016/17 output has been mainly attributed to the US, with gains also expected in India, Brazil and Pakistan.#

The report estimated world cotton harvested area in 2016/17 at 29.7 million hectares or 73.3 million acres, 3 per cent below 2015/16 and the lowest since 1986/87, while world yield is projected at 745 kg/hectare or 665 pounds per acre.Indian cotton production is estimated 27.0 million bales in 2016/17, 2 percent above 2015/16, while in China it is forecast at 21.0 million bales in 2016/17, 4.5 per cent below a season ago, as area earmarked for cotton drops for the fifth consecutive season.Pakistan's cotton output is estimated at 8.0 million bales this season, with area too forecast at its lowest since 1988/89, while the country 's higher yield expected to boost production over the 2015/16 season.Brazil's cotton crop is also projected to increase to 6.65 million bales in 2016/17, 550,000 bales above 2015/16 production from increase in yields, although harvested area is forecast to be unchanged over the prior season. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS) has urged the government to prepare a development strategy to 2025 with a vision towards 2040, as the present plan has become obsolete. The association has also asked the government to group textile and garment enterprises in concentrated industrial parks to attract domestic and foreign capital.

The Vietnamese government had last prepared a development strategy to 2010 with vision towards 2030. This plan targeted Vietnamese textile and apparel exports to cross $20 billion by 2020, but the country's exports have already surpassed this target by fetching around $27 billion in 2015.

The grouping of textile and garment industrial parks at one place would facilitate wastewater treatment, which is important for the industry's sustainability and environment protection, VITAS chairman Vu Duc Giang said, according to a news agency report.

The Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS) has urged the government to prepare a development strategy to 2025 with a vision towards 2040, as the present plan has become obsolete. The association has also asked the government to group textile and garment enterprises in concentrated industrial parks to attract domestic and foreign capital.#

The present textile and garment industrial zones in northern provinces of Nam Dinh, Thai Binh and Hung Yen and two southern provinces of Binh Buong and Dong Nai are spread over a few hundred hectares each. Increasing the area for setting up of textile and apparel industrial zones to 500-1,000 hectares would attract more domestic and foreign capital, Giang felt.

Further, it is necessary to upgrade transportation infrastructure connecting these industrial zones with ports and logistics centres, he said.

Since setting up a wastewater treatment system is very costly, the government should offer a preferential lending rate for companies willing to invest in such treatment systems, he suggested.

Growing at 4.72 per cent year-on-year, Vietnam's garment and textile exports earned $12.6 billion in the first half of 2016. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Salman-Iulia's Love Story

The love story of Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur began, when they met each other in Romania.

(In Pic-Salman Khan's first official appearance with Iulia Vantur at Preity Zinta's wedding reception.)

Romania

Reportedly, Salman Khan had went to Romania with his brother Sohail Khan, for the shooting of Jai Ho.

(In Pic-Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur posing for the camera with some friends.)

Salman-Iulia

Even after coming back from Romania, Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur remained in touch.

(In Pic-Salman Khan and his alleged girlfriend Iulia Vantur snapped with Dalai Lama in Ladakh.)

Salman Khan

Superstar Salman Khan has dated some of the most gorgeous Bollywood actresses in the past, but unfortunately never walked down the aisle with any.

(In Pic-Salman Khan holidaying with Iulia Vantur.)

Salman-Iulia Marriage

Not so long ago, it was reported that both Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur are very serious about each other and want to take this relationship to the next level.

(In Pic-Salman Khan with Iulia Vantur.)

Salman On His Marriage

Salman Khan had said about his marriage, "If I want to talk to my fans about my marriage, I have got my own platform to do that. I have Twitter and Facebook, etc.''

(In Pic-Salman and Iulia at Preity Zinta's reception.)

Salman Talks About His Marriage

He had added, ''It wouldn't be fair for me to speak about this (his marriage) to a particular channel or newspaper, and not to others.'

(In Pic-Iulia Vantur snapped with Salman Khan on his 50th birthday.)

Salman

He added, ''Whenever it has to happen, the news will come directly from me. No marriage is happening. At least, it's not in my head so far."

(In Pic-Iulia Vantur clicked with Salman Khan and his family.)

Marriage Rumours

''If I am seen outside with any woman, will I be married off to her? One has to understand one's responsibility towards a woman,'' Salman Khan had told the media.

(In Pic-Salman Khan and Iulia Vantur)
Kalabhavan Mani death investigation has reached a new turning point. As the per the latest reports from the investigation team, the six accused of the case will undergo the polygraph test in Bangalore.

Mani succumbed to death on March 6 at a private hospital in Kochi. It was later revealed that the actor's death was not natural; but a clear case of homicide.

The six names in the accused list include Kalabhavan Mani's manager Joby, driver Peter, and friends Aneesh, Murukan, Vipin, and Arun. The death investigation was recently taken over by the special CBI team.

The CBI team was appointed by the new Kerala ministry upon the petition filed by Mani's family. Reportedly the will restart the investigation after analysing the result of the polygraph test.

According to the National lab test result, about 45 milligrammes of methanol was present in Mani's body, which confirms that he had consumed toxic liquor. The findings hint that the actor's death was caused by poisonous substances.

Mani's family and friends firmly believe that the actor will not commit suicide. But, the first investigation team had come to a conclusion that it was a well-planned murder. However, the vital details of the investigation are not revealed yet.
Actor Sudeep of Naan Ee and Puli fame has said Thala Ajith is real and doesn't fake anything. He further went on to say that he would love to act with the Vedalam star.

In one of his latest interviews, the Mudinja Ivana Pudi actor has praised Ajith, calling him a gutsy person, who doesn't hesitate to reveal his actual age, on screen.

"I feel he is very real. He doesn't fake anything, both on and off the screen. When I see in interviews and his lifestyle, I think it's something amazing," Sudeep has said, according to a report from Times of India.

He has also said that Ajith doesn't expect too much from his own films.

"It is always nice to be associated with films like that, where he himself doesn't expect too much from his films. And one more thing that strikes about him is that he comes out with his natural self. You need guts to do that. Normally all heroes would like to look younger than their original age, including me," Sudeep has said.

Also Read: Here Is The Storyline Of Vijay Sethupathi's Upcoming Film 'Rekka'!
Actress Shraddha Srinath, who was last seen in Kannada thriller U-Turn, says she is only tentatively confirmed to star opposite Gautham Karthik in a yet-untitled Tamil project.

The film will be directed by R Kannan.

"The meeting happened yesterday (August 24). Next week, I will get a full narration of the story and other formalities will be completed. I'm yet to officially sign the project. At the moment, you could say I'm tentatively confirmed," Shraddha told IANS.

The regular shooting of the project will start from the first week of September here in Chennai. If Shraddha is brought on board, she will most likely join the sets from September 12th.

Meanwhile, the Bangalore based actress is busy shooting for yet-untitled Tamil adaptation of Kannada thriller, Ulidavaru Kandanthe, which also stars Nivin Pauly in the lead.

She also plays a cameo in Mani Ratnam's romantic-drama Kaatru Veliyidai, which has Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead.

Also Read: Angana Roy Is All Set To Amp Up The Oomph Factor In Bharath's 'Kadisi Bench Karthik'
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - General Mills Inc. (GIS) is grooming Jeff Harmening as its next chief executive. Mr. Harmening, 49 years old, could succeed current Chief Executive Ken Powell as soon as next year, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. Powell reportedly acknowledged that his protege's promotion last month to president and chief operating officer was a step toward the corner office. In effectively anointing Harmening as its CEO-to-be, General Mills has gone with a candidate whose career mirrors the path trod by Powell. Like the current CEO, Mr. Harmening is back at company's Minneapolis headquarters after spending several years in Europe. The report said the other internal front-runner for CEO position was Christopher O'Leary, chief operating officer for General Mills' international operations. 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.
SEOUL (dpa-AFX) - Hyundai Motor Co. (HYMLF.OB, HYMTF.OB) entered into tentative wage agreement with its unions, which puts an end to damaging strikes and paves the way for a similar deal at its Kia Motors Corp. affiliate. The tentative agreement is subject to approval by union members at a vote planned for Friday. The 48,000 union members of Hyundai Motor's 67,000-person labor force have staged partial strikes on several days since the middle of July, leading to lost production of more than 60,000 cars worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Union leaders at Kia are also in wage negotiations with management after declaring a general strike last month. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
STOCKHOLM, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Polystar, a leading supplier of Network and Customer Analytics, Network Monitoring and Test solutions to the telecoms industry, today announced that KALIX, which empowers an entirely new way of creating a data-driven customer-centric environment, has been honoured with a Gold Stevie Award.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130226/595502 )



Nominated for its success in realising the potential of data analytics for telecoms operators, KALIX has been selected as a Gold Stevie Award winner in the Best New Product of the year category for software-based mobile operations management solutions.

KALIX, which had its global launch in February 2016, is an innovative addition to Polystar's portfolio and provides a completely unified real-time view of networks, services and customers. It enables Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to obtain greater value from network data in a more agile way.

"KALIX represents a radical "new approach" to Telco analytics, which empowers CSPs to "make better sense" of the "data captured from their networks", - commented IBA's award judges. It makes data available for all - democratising telco analytics for business and technical teams alike. This is a critical development, driven by the need to access and make sense of data, support increased service diversity, and to deliver the best experience to all users. In essence, as the judges remarked, KALIX results in the conversion of "data into insight" for CSPs.

"KALIX has been created to empower an entirely new way of delivering the data-driven environment that CSPs need to make more sense of their networks, address key challenges in their markets, and become more agile," commented Inna Ott, Director of Marketing at Polystar. "Winning a Gold Stevie Award is clear indication of industry recognition for the innovation that is at the core of KALIX. We are honoured and delighted to have won this prestigious award."

This innovation enables all stakeholders to ask and answer questions about data. KALIX has already been shown to have a direct positive impact on customer experience by reducing the time taken to solve customer issues. In particular, the judges noted a "truly exemplary" focus on customer service and the "great success" already achieved. KALIX has been chosen by several operators in the first six months since launch. It has produced many positive results and has been shown to reduce customer churn in live networks.

Not only is KALIX an outstanding new addition to the Polystar portfolio, it is also, in the judges' words, an "innovative concept" and "among the best of such solutions" that will unlock value and insight through continuous evolution and customisation to meet specific CSPs' requirements. The "reduced time to action and other benefits" make Polystar a "great candidate for Best New Product", while the approach is recognised as being likely to create new "opportunities". The award follows Polystar's success in winning other prestigious international awards.

Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

About Polystar

Polystar enables Communications Service Providers to achieve excellence in CEM, Big Data Analytics, Service Assurance, Network Monitoring and High Performance Testing. We help CSPs tosimplify their CEM strategies anddrive operational efficiency through real-time network analytics. Polystar's real-time Network and Customer Insights uncover a goldmine of data, which yields indispensable analytics to CSPs. Polystar is recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in Sweden. Since Polystar's foundation in Stockholm in 1983, we have experienced continuous and sustainable growth, and evolved to a global presence, serving our customers in over 50 countries.

For more information, please visit http://www.polystar.com

Polystar Media Contact

Inna Ott

Director of Marketing

Phone: +46 8 50 600600

Email: inna.ott@polystar.com





About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards athttp://www.StevieAwards.com.






Regulatory News:

Skanska (STO:SKAB)

Skanska has signed a contract with HAV Eiendom to build a hotel and retail space as well as to develop apartments in Bjrvika, Norway, one of Oslo's most sought after areas. Skanska Property Development's investment amounts to NOK 205M, about SEK 200M. The construction contract is worth NOK 495M, about SEK 490M, which is included in order bookings for Skanska Norway in the third quarter in 2016.

The two buildings to be erected include underground parking garage, basement and technical rooms below ground and two floors above ground with commercial premises. From the third floor up, one of the buildings will comprise of seven floors with a total of 253 hotel rooms, while the other will contain seven floors with 54 apartments.

HAV Eiendom develops the hotel and the commercial spaces while Skanska Property Development develops the apartments. Skanska Norway is the general contractor for the entire project, which has a total gross area of 26,300 square meters.

Skanska's investment relates to the cost of land, in addition to the costs related to the apartment's share of the garage, basement and spaces on the first two floors above ground.

The project has ambitious environmental targets. The commercial premises of the building has the ambition to achieve the certification BREEAM-NOR Very Good.

The construction work will start in November 2016 and is planned to be completed in June 2019.

Skanska Norway focuses on construction and civil engineering operations. The unit has approximately 4,000 employees. In 2015, Skanska Norway reported revenue of about SEK 12 billion. In Norway, Skanska is also active in development of residential, commercial properties and public private partnerships (PPP) projects.

The information provided herein is such as Skanska AB is obligated to disclose pursuant to the EU market securities act (EU) no. 596/2014.

Skanska is one of the world's leading construction and project development companies, focused on selected home markets in the Nordic region, other European countries and North America. Supported by global trends in urbanization and demographics, and by being at the forefront in sustainability, Skanska offers competitive solutions for both simple and the most complex assignments, helping to build a sustainable future for customers and communities. The Group currently has 43,100 employees in selected home markets in Europe and North America. Skanska's sales in 2015 totaled SEK 155 billion.

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006259/en/

Contacts:

Skanska Norway

Pal P Syse

Communications Director

tel +47 98 21 00 01

or

Skanska AB

Andreas Joons

Press Officer

tel +46 (0)10 449 04 94

or

Direct line for media

tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99


Aabenraa, Denmark, 2016-08-25 08:27 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Falling costs and high credit quality ensure satisfactory development in performanceSydbank has delivered a solid performance for the first half of 2016 and continues the positive trend. The Bank's loans and advances have risen by DKK 4.5bn whereas the Bank's impairment charges have fallen by 63% compared with one year ago. Moreover the financial statements show a decline in the Bank's costs (core earnings). In 2016 and 2017 Sydbank will allocate extra resources to develop customer-oriented digital solutions.CEO Karen Frsig comments:-- Despite a difficult market situation growth in lending continues and a high credit quality is maintained. The fact that lending has grown for the 10th consecutive quarter is not only positive for the Bank but also for customers and ultimately society, which needs investments and growth. We are also pleased that our impairment charges remain at a low level and that our ongoing efforts to reduce the Bank's costs have a positive effect on performance.Sydbank cancels agricultural debt worth DKK 500m. Karen Frsig comments:-- Sydbank aims to find good solutions for and together with our customers. The purpose of the government's agricultural package, which is supported by the financial sector, is to create better prospects for the most efficient but indebted farmers who have a future in Danish agriculture. Sydbank wishes to contribute to creating prospects for the most efficient farms with a negative equity and consequently we will offer them the option to convert part of their bank debt to subordinated loan capital during the second half of 2016. This measure will not strain our customers, shareholders or the Bank but it will convert debt of DKK 500m, which has already been written down.On Sydbank's 1H result she comments:-- We are pleased to note an increase in profit after tax of DKK 113m compared with 1H 2015. The improvements in costs, impairment charges, investment portfolio earnings and non-recurring items more than make up for the decline in income and this is what creates the increase in profit. The level of activity and the figures for the first six months show that Sydbank is a relevant and excellent bank that masters the balance between personal and digital relationships by offering the best of both worlds. This is characteristic of Sydbank's values and key to our Blue growth strategy.1H 2016 - highlights-- Profit of DKK 643m. This is equal to a return on shareholders' equity of 11.4% p.a. after tax. -- Core income of DKK 2,101m. This is a decline of 6% compared to the same period in 2015 when core income was historically high. -- Total income of DKK 2,224m. This is a drop of 7% compared with the same period in 2015. -- Impairment charges for loans and advances represent DKK 81m and have declined by 63% compared with the same period in 2015. -- Bank loans and advances have risen by DKK 4.5bn, equal to 6.0%. -- The Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio has climbed by 0.3 percentage points and constitutes 14.8%. -- A share buyback programme of DKK 350m was commenced on 29 February 2016.Outlook for 2016Sydbank projects limited positive economic growth in the Danish economy in 2016. Furthermore we expect:-- a slight decline in core income relative to income for 2015. -- unchanged trading income relative to income for 2015 but dependent on financial market developments. -- a reduction in costs (core earnings) - in spite of the general pay rises agreed for the financial sector of 1.80% and a payroll tax increase of 1.40% - as a result of the measures implemented and the discontinuation of payments to the deposit guarantee scheme. -- lower impairment charges in 2016.Additional informationJrn Adam Mller, CFO, tel +45 74 37 24 00Dan Prangsgaard, Head of Communications, tel +45 21 54 18 74Karen Frsig, CEO, Bjarne Larsen, Deputy Group Chief Executive, and Jrn Adam Mller, CFO, will present the Interim Report today at 10.00 (CET) at a teleconference. The teleconference will be held in Danish and may be attended viawww.sydbank.dk/audiocastDanish attendees are invited to call 70 22 35 00. International attendees are invited to call +44 207 57 21 187. Please quote the following code: 79545084#Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=583401
Regulatory News:

Skanska (STO:SKAB)

Skanska has signed a contract with the Florida Department of Transportation to construct the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Florida, USA. The contract is worth USD 399M, about SEK 3.3 billion, which will be included in the order bookings for Skanska USA Civil in the third quarter 2016.

The design-build contract is to replace the existing bridge over Pensacola Bay with two new, three-lane bridges, connecting the cities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. Each new bridge will have a length of just over three miles, about five kilometers. The total project length is 3.7 miles, about six kilometers, including the roadway approaches on each end of the bridges.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter 2016 and the project is slated for completion in August 2020.

Skanska USA is one of the leading development and construction companies in the country, consisting of four business units: Skanska USA Building, which specializes in building construction; Skanska USA Civil, specialized in civil infrastructure; Skanska Infrastructure Development, which develops public-private partnerships; and Skanska USA Commercial Development, which develops commercial projects in select U.S. markets. Headquartered in New York, Skanska USA has more than 10,000 employees and its 2015 revenues were SEK 54.5 billion.

The information provided herein is such as Skanska AB is obligated to disclose pursuant to the EU market securities act (EU) no. 596/2014.

Skanska is one of the world's leading construction and project development companies, focused on selected home markets in the Nordic region, other European countries and North America. Supported by global trends in urbanization and demographics, and by being at the forefront in sustainability, Skanska offers competitive solutions for both simple and the most complex assignments, helping to build a sustainable future for customers and communities. The Group currently has 43,100 employees in selected home markets in Europe and North America. Skanska's sales in 2015 totaled SEK 155 billion.

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160824006268/en/

Contacts:

Skanska USA

Pamela Monastra

Communications

tel +1 404 946 75 33

or

Skanska AB

Andreas Joons

Press Officer

tel +46 (0)10 449 04 94

or

Direct line for media

tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99


HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's retail sales declined in July from a year ago, preliminary figures from Statistics Finland showed Thursday. Retail sales fell 1.5 percent year-over-year in July. Similarly, the price-adjusted volume of retail sales decreased by 0.7 percent. In daily consumer goods trade, sales slid by 1.3 percent and the sales volume by 1.5 percent in July from the corresponding period of the previous year. The statistical office will publish final sales data on September 15. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 3:15 am ET Thursday, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office releases industrial production data for the second quarter. Production had increased 1 percent annually in the first quarter. Ahead of the data, the franc traded mixed against its major rivals. While the franc rose against the greenback, euro and the pound, it held steady against the yen. The franc was worth 0.9660 against the greenback, 103.96 against the yen, 1.2767 against the pound and 1.0884 against the euro as of 3:10 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
H1 2016 unaudited Group net sales of 78.0m

Commercial recovery underway in Europe and International markets with the help of RESTART plan

Strong US performance confirmed with unaudited pro forma H1 2016 sales up +9.8%

Financial objectives: FY 2016 net sales of c. 180-200m FY 2016 Group EBIT to be significantly negative FY 2017 sales growth acceleration to continue



Regulatory News:

Stallergenes Greer plc (the "Company") (Paris:STAGR) (Euronext Paris:STAGR), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for respiratory allergies, today announced its 2016 first half results. The results were reviewed and agreed by the Company's Board of Directors on 24 August 2016.

H1 2016 Financial Highlights

m, except margin in % H1 2016 H1 2015 H1 2015 Unaudited Pro forma

(unaudited) Reported accounts Sales 78.0 183.7 12.7 EBIT (58.5) 43.0 (8.1) Operating margin 23.4% Net profit/(loss) (39.0) 28.6 (7.7)

Fereydoun Firouz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stallergenes Greer, commented:

"The first half of 2016 marked a turning point for Stallergenes Greer as we began to recover from the temporary suspension of production and distribution of our manufacturing plant in Antony, France. As anticipated, we are now able to better assess the financial impact this event had on our H1 2016 results and also issue guidance for FY 2016.

Without a doubt, the progress we've made this year is a direct result of the commitment of all our employees and the strength of our new global leadership team. Together, we have worked diligently to restore supply to the physicians and patients who rely on the high quality of our therapies in the European and International markets, whilst also growing both new and existing business in the United States. We have streamlined our portfolio offerings, managed costs and tightly controlled our operating expenses all of which will enable us to continue sales growth acceleration in 2017 and beyond.

In our European and International markets, we are supplying 70% of the Company's 2014 sales references and distributing our sublingual products to 40 countries. We expect our production process flow to be fully streamlined by year end and we will continue to work hard to rebuild trust with key stakeholders in this region.

In the US, our business is performing well and subcutaneous immunotherapy sales continue to drive growth. We will move forward as planned, executing against our investment strategy in this region with discipline particularly given ORALAIR share gains and the sublingual tablet market dynamic we are now operating within.

I am proud of the progress we have made so far this year, focusing on patient's needs as well as the fundamentals of our business and executing against our strategy. Our journey to fully regain our global leadership position in allergy immunotherapy will continue, as will our commitment to deliver long-term value for all our shareholders.

Stallergenes Greer's H1 2016 Financial Summary

Total revenues for the first half of 2016 were 78.0 million, a pro forma decrease of 58% compared with the same period of the previous year due in large part to the temporary suspension of production and distribution of our plant in Antony, France and the related recall of products originating from that facility.

H1 2016 Geographical Turnover

m H1 2016 H1 2015 H1 2015 Unaudited Pro forma

(unaudited) Reported accounts Southern Europe 17.8 99.2 0.6 North Central Europe 10.7 32.4 0.2 International markets 4.7 11.3 0.3 US 44.8 40.8 11.6 Total 78.0 183.7 12.7

European Business

The impact of the events in Antony is particularly strong in this region. Southern Europe H1 2016 sales reached 17.8m compared to unaudited pro forma net sales of 99.2m in H1 2015. North and Central Europe H1 2016 reported sales reached 10.7m vs. unaudited pro forma net sales of 32.4m in the same period of 2015. Missing of the start of the prescribing season (in certain countries) as well as the time needed to restore our patient base also impacted performance in this region during the reported period.

International Business

Internationally, H1 2016 reported sales reached 4.7m due to the temporary suspension of production and distribution in Antony. Stallergenes Greer remains fully committed to serving all countries in this region.

US Business

In the US, H1 2016 performance was strong with total reported sales of 44.8m, an increase of 9.8% from last year with unaudited pro forma sales of 40.8m in H1 2015. Subcutaneous immunotherapy sales continue to be robust and, while the grass tablet market in the US is growing slower than expected, ORALAIR's market share increased due to strategic investments made to strengthen the Group's commercial operations capabilities.

H1 2016 Turnover per Product Type

m H1 2016 H1 2015 H1 2015 Unaudited Pro forma

(unaudited) Reported accounts Sublingual 27.3 121.9 0.1 Subcutaneous 34.2 43.3 9.3 Other 11.1 13.4 1.7 Veterinary 5.4 5.1 1.6 Total 78.0 183.7 12.7

Sublingual Products

Stallergenes Greer's sublingual products, including ORALAIRand ACTAIR tablets as well as the liquid solution STALORAL, totalled 27.3m of revenues in H1 2016, a decrease of 77.6% globally compared to the H1 2015 unaudited pro forma results. In the US, where significant investments were made in the Group's commercial footprint, ORALAIR market share increased. In Europe and International markets, the sublingual product category was the most impacted by the events in Antony. ORALAIR once again became available to prescribers and patients in February 2016; STALORAL became available in late March in France and late April in other countries, while the large majority of treatment initiations are in Q1 or Q4.

Subcutaneous Products

Subcutaneous product sales, which include ALUSTAL, PHOSTAL and Greer Extracts are reported at 34.2m in H1 2016 while unaudited pro forma net sales totalled 43.3m in H1 2015, a decrease of 21.0% globally. In the US, subcutaneous sales were strong and were not impacted by the suspension of production and distribution at our Antony plant due to the Group's manufacturing capabilities in this region. In Europe and International markets, production and distribution of the majority of subcutaneous products will resume in Q3 2016.

Veterinary Products

Veterinary product sales reached 5.4m in H1 2016, an increase of 5.9% compared to the 5.1m in H1 2015 on an unaudited pro forma basis. This category is a growth area for the Group.

Other Products

Other products including diagnostics and ancillary products totalled sales of 11.1m in H1 2016, compared to 13.4m in H1 2015 on an unaudited pro forma basis, a decrease of 17.2%.

Financial Review

The current operating loss for the first half of the year 2016 totalled 58.5m, compared to a current operating result of 43.0m on an unaudited pro forma basis, for the same period last year. This reflects the significant reduction in net sales. In addition, as manufacturing costs are to a large extent fixed, certain operating costs continued to be incurred during the period. There were also additional costs related to the set-up of the new global organisational structure.

On 30 June 2016, Group net assets were 493.7m (31 December 2015: 540.0 million). This highlights that the Group remains in a strong position financially despite the challenges it has faced.

As of 30 June 2016, the Group had "cash and cash equivalents" of 84.9 million. In addition, the Group has limited external debt with an outstanding debt balance of 15.6 million.

"RESTART" programme

Following the temporary suspension of production and distribution at the Antony plant as well as the voluntary product recall, Stallergenes Greer implemented the "RESTART" programme. Designed to regain the Group's global leadership by focusing on production, logistics and commercial capabilities in European and International regions, H1 2016 achievements include:

Commercial : Stallergenes Greer is now enrolling over 70% of its 2014 new patient levels, 70% of its prescribers have restarted their prescriptions and the Group has enough references released to support around 70% of 2014 sales. In addition, an image survey from end of July show significant improvements in terms of confidence and trust score compared Stallergenes Greer's main competitors.

: Stallergenes Greer is now enrolling over 70% of its 2014 new patient levels, 70% of its prescribers have restarted their prescriptions and the Group has enough references released to support around 70% of 2014 sales. In addition, an image survey from end of July show significant improvements in terms of confidence and trust score compared Stallergenes Greer's main competitors. Medical : Stallergenes Greer has expanded medical education to allergy specialist physicians through international conferences and national meetings in 17 countries involving over 220 physicians.

: Stallergenes Greer has expanded medical education to allergy specialist physicians through international conferences and national meetings in 17 countries involving over 220 physicians. Technical Operations: Stallergenes Greer's sales made now in 40 countries (vs. 61 in 2015) with enough references released to make 70% of 2014 sales. STALORAL top 14 references are available in 21 countries (vs. 57 in 2015), ORALAIR is available in 23 countries (vs. 25 in 2015) and Venoms are available in 8 countries (vs. 17 in 2015). The delivery times are now consistently below two weeks.

2016 Business Outlook and Guidance

Considering the gradual positive impact of RESTART and ongoing successes in the US, the Group is anticipating that sales in Europe and International markets will improve during H2 2016 and that sales in the US will maintain the current performance throughout the year.

Stallergenes Greer's financial objectives for 2016 are as follows:

Full Year 2016 Group revenue objective of about 180-200 million

Full Year 2016 Group EBIT to be significantly negative

Stallergenes Greer is confident sales growth acceleration will continue in 2017 and beyond.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

The company will host an investor and analyst call on 25 August 2016. The event will also be available via live webcast at 6.00 pm CET 5.00 pm BST 12.00 pm EDT. The webcast will be available via the link below:

http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/832htu5x

Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

Financial Calendar

16 November 2016 Meet the managers event

29 March 2017 FY 2016 Results

30 August 2017 H1 2017 Results

ABOUT STALLERGENES GREER PLC

Headquartered in London (UK), Stallergenes Greer plc is a global healthcare company specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies through the development and commercialization of allergy immunotherapy products and services. Stallergenes Greer plc is the parent company of GREER Laboratories, Inc. (whose registered office is in the U.S.) and Stallergenes S.A.S. (whose registered office is in France).

Trading information:

Name: Stallergenes Greer

ISIN: GB00BZ21RF93 1 Ticker: STAGR

ICB classification 4577

Market: Euronext Paris regulated market

Additional information is available at http://www.stallergenesgreer.com

This document (including information incorporated by reference in this document), oral statements made and other information published by the Company contain statements that are or may be forward-looking with respect to the financial condition and/or results of operations and businesses of the Company. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expects," "project," "estimated," "forecast," "should," "plan," "may" or the negative of any of these, or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology indicating expectations or beliefs concerning future events. These forward-looking statements include risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Without being exhaustive, such factors include economic situations and business conditions, including legal and product evaluation issues, fluctuations in currencies and demand, and changes in competitive factors. These and other factors are more fully described in the Company's 2015 annual report published on 29 April 2016 on the Company's website (www.stallergenesgreer.com). Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Save as required by applicable law, neither the Company nor any other person assumes any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to notify any person of any such update.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Condensed consolidated income statement as of 30 June 2016

Condensed consolidated balance sheet as of 30 June 2016

Consolidated cash flow statement

Unaudited pro forma consolidated income statement

The consolidated income statement and balance sheet as of 30 June 2016 are audited. The pro forma consolidated income statement is unaudited. The condensed consolidated financial information contained in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The information has been extracted from the consolidated financial statements for the period ending 30 June 2016 approved by the Directors on 24 August 2016. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph nor any statement under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies after the Annual General Meeting. This financial information has been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority. In preparing this financial information management has used the principal accounting policies as set out in the Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Condensed consolidated income statement as of 30 June 2016

 thousands 30 June 2016 30 June 2015* Net sales 78,018 12,746 Other revenue 93 Total revenues 78,111 12,746 Cost of goods sold (43,378) (5,114) Gross margin 34,733 7,632 Distribution costs (7,625) (1,158) Selling and marketing expenses (31,364) (2,419) Administrative expenses (29,857) (4,783) Other general expenses (2,503) (62) Selling, general and administrative expenses (71,349) (8,422) Loss before R&D (36,616) (790) Research and development costs (R&D) (25,072) (723) R&D-related income 4,612 Net R&D costs (20,460) (723) Operating loss before transformation costs (57,076) (1,513) Transformation costs (1,465) (6,621) Operating loss (58,541) (8,134) Financial income 44 Financial expenses (284) (71) Net financial expense (240) (71) Loss before tax and associates (58,781) (8,205) Income tax 19,844 555 Share of loss from associated companies (92) Loss for the period (39,029) (7,650)

*The result to 30 June 2015 includes all Stallergenes Greer plc costs and from the 12th May, they also include the results of Stallergenes Greer Inc. and Finares AG.

Condensed consolidated balance sheet as of 30 June 2016

 thousands 30 June 2016 31 December 2015 Goodwill 207,479 210,844 Other intangible assets 93,736 101,716 Property, plant and equipment 79,049 78,059 Non-current financial assets 17,827 19,835 Deferred tax assets 23,456 4,447 Non-current assets 421,547 414,901 Inventories 59,193 59,362 Trade receivables 32,311 29,669 Current financial asset 49 2 Other current assets 15,741 14,034 Income tax receivable 12,204 17,608 Cash and cash equivalents 84,942 150,183 Current assets 204,440 270,858 Total assets 625,987 685,759  thousands 30 June 2016 31 December 2015 Share capital 19,788 19,788 Share premium 539 539 Merger and contribution premium 342,149 343,904 Revaluation reserve (829) (1,158) Retained earnings 132,044 176,908 Total shareholders' equity 493,691 539,981 Provision for employee retirement obligations and related benefits 6,857 5,333 Non-current provisions 946 758 Deferred tax liabilities 23,842 25,692 Non-current liabilities 31,645 31,783 Trade payables 24,450 27,612 Current provisions 3,902 4,922 Current financial liabilities 15,558 17,669 Income tax payable 716 1,549 Other current liabilities 56,025 62,243 Current liabilities 100,651 113,995 Total equity and liabilities 625,987 685,759

Consolidated cash flow statement

 thousands 30 June 2016 30 June 2015 Cash flow from operating activities Operating loss (58,541) (8,134) Amortisation and depreciation charges 12,786 1,778 Change in provisions (12) Share-based payments 247 Capital losses from disposal of assets 401 Financial losses excluding interests 40 Income tax paid 4,898 Change in working capital of operating activities (9,397) 9,064 Change in deferred income (338) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (49,916) 2,708 Cash flow from investing activities Net financial interest received 3 0 Purchase of non-current assets (8,712) (577) Cash acquired on combinations under common control 8,730 Proceeds from sale of non-current assets 591 Change in working capital of investment activities (4,477) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities (12,595) 8,153 Free cash flow after investing activities (62,511) 10,861 Cash flow from financing activities Treasury shares purchases (243) Net financial interest paid (284) (71) Repayment of bank overdrafts (371) Repayment of borrowings (1,435) (626) Proceeds from borrowings 37 Net cash (outflow) from financing activities (2,296) (697) Change in cash and cash equivalents (64,807) 10,164 + Cash and cash equivalents opening balance 150,183 58 -/+ effect of translation adjustment on foreign currency denominated cash (434) 38 = Cash and cash equivalents closing balance 84,942 10,260

Unaudited pro forma consolidated income statement

 millions IFRS

30 June

2016 IFRS

30 June

2015 30 June

2015 Pro Forma

30 June

2015 Net sales 78.0 12.7 171.0 183.7 Other revenue 0.1 0.1 0.1 Total revenues 78.1 12.7 171.1 183.8 Cost of goods sold (43.4) (5.1) (41.6) (46.7) Gross margin 34.7 7.6 129.5 137.1 Distribution costs (7.6) (1.1) (8.0) (9.1) Selling and marketing expenses (31.4) (2.4) (35.6) (38.0) Administrative expenses (29.8) (4.8) (21.4) (26.2) Other general expenses (2.5) (0.1) (0.7) (0.8) Selling, general and administrative expenses (71.3) (8.4) (65.7) (74.1) Loss/(profit) before R&D (36.6) (0.8) 63.8 63.0 Research and development costs (R&D) (25.1) (0.7) (24.6) (25.3) R&D-related income 4.6 16.3 16.3 Net R&D costs (20.5) (0.7) (8.3) (9.0) Operating loss before transformation costs (57.1) (1.5) 55.5 54.0 Transformation costs (1.4) (6.6) (4.4) (11.0) Operating loss (58.5) (8.1) 51.1 43.0 Financial income 0.0 0.9 0.9 Financial expenses (0.3) (0.1) (0.4) (0.5) Net financial expense (0.3) (0.1) 0.5 0.4 Loss before tax and associates (58.8) (8.2) 51.6 43.4 Share of loss from associated companies (0.1) (0.1) Income tax 19.8 0.5 (15.2) (14.7) Loss/(profit) for the period (39.0) (7.7) 36.3 28.6

All the activities were in respect of continuing operations.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005412/en/

Contacts:

Stallergenes Greer

Investor and Analyst Relations

Peter Buhler, Tel: +33 1 55 59 23 22

Chief Financial Officer

Email: investorrelations@aresallergyco.com

or

Investor Relations Agency

FTI Consulting

Arnaud de Cheffontaines, Tel: +33 1 47 03 69 48

Email: arnaud.decheffontaines@fticonsulting.com

or

Media Relations

Lise Lemonnier, Tel: 33 1 55 59 20 96

Head of Global Communications

Email: llemonnier@stallergenes.com

or

Media relations agency

Havas Worldwide Paris

Jean-Baptiste Froville, Tel: +33 1 58 47 95 39

Email: jean-baptiste.froville@havasww.com
The two technology leaders will together deliver a compelling alternative to dated user authentication systems

Entersekt, an innovator in mobile-enabled digital banking security, today announced a partnership with IST Networks. A leading systems integrator in the Middle East, IST now offers Entersekt's Transakt technology to banks and other enterprises operating in the region.

Transakt is a patented multi-factor authentication and app security product that provides full protection from phishing and other attacks targeting the online, mobile, and card-not-present channels. It uses state-of-the-art digital certificate technology and proprietary mobile validation techniques to form a trusted communication channel between service providers and their customers' mobile phones or tablets.

Secure push messages are delivered to users over this channel, which is fully out of band. Users approve or reject transactions with one tap, and their responses are digitally signed. Transakt secures the entire process in the background, seamlessly. There is no need for one-time passwords (OTPs). [Watch: 50-second explainer video.]

OTP-based authentication remains the predominant means of securing digital banking in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain where SMS OTPs or mTANs are widely used. It is, however, no longer fit for purpose, being increasingly compromised by phishing and SIM-swap attacks and providing a cumbersome user experience.

"A storm of large-scale attacks against OTPs continues to build globally, even as regulators and telecommunications bodies urge businesses to shelve the dated technology," said Dewald Nolte, a co-founder of Entersekt and its SVP partnerships and alliances. "Now is the perfect time for banks in this region to reevaluate their approach to user authentication. Our partnership with IST Networks provides an opportunity for them to do just that."

"Entersekt's digital security solution is a key component within IST's CX portfolio," added Mohamed Fahmy, CEO of IST Networks. "Both IST and Entersekt understand the importance of digital convenience with today's security conscious consumers."

About Entersekt

Entersekt is an innovator in push-based authentication and app security. The company's one-of-a-kind approach harnesses the power of digital certificate technology with the convenience of mobile phones to provide financial services companies and their customers with full protection from online fraud. Built on open technologies for high availability, scalability, and simple integration, Entersekt's patented security products protect millions of devices and transactions daily, while complying with the world's most stringent regulatory guidelines. Enterprises across the globe look to Entersekt to strengthen the bond of trust they share with their customers, and to build on those relationships by introducing compelling, user-friendly new mobile and online services. For more information on Entersekt, visit www.entersekt.com.

About IST Networks

IST is the leading customer experience focused systems integrator operating in the Middle East and Turkey. Established in 2002, IST has grown to supply customer experience solutions and managed services to well over half the banks and telecom operators in the Middle East. IST's portfolio also includes government, retail, health, engineering, and energy customers. Working with leading technology vendors, IST unifies different cutting edge technologies to create customer experience systems which delivers on performance and investment. IST's commitment to a highly skilled workforce that strives for innovation has allowed IST to reinforce its position as market leader within the Middle East and Turkey region.

IST is ideally placed to deliver innovative and reliable customer experience systems to suit end-customers of today and tomorrow. IST's extensive knowledge of the local market and demographic behavior allows it to provide valuable intelligence in creating effective customer experience systems that keep brand promises.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005068/en/

Contacts:

Entersekt contact

Jeanne Maartens, +27 21 815 2800

head of marketing

jeanne@entersekt.com

or

IST Networks contact

Norman Liu, +44 20 8090 2554

marketing director

norman@istnetworks.com




Leading Partner Relationship Management solution singled out for rapidly accelerating companies' revenue through indirect channels

SILICON SLOPES, Utah, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Global pure-play SaaS Partner Relationship Management (PRM) leader Impartnerhas been named a bronze winner in the Best New Product of the Year-Enterprise category in the Best in Biz Awards 2016 International.Impartner was recognized for its flagship product, Impartner PRM, and the ability of its highly engineered yet simple-to-use Velocity' onboarding process to have companies up and running with a new Partner Portal in as few as 30 days-immediately transforming their ability to drive more revenue through their indirect channel. Winners were chosen from entrants spanning multiple industries and more than 30 countries and were judged by an international panel from top-tier news, business, finance and technology publications and media outlets.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401122

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150821/260238LOGO

"Companies in almost every sector have begun to recognize the transformative power of the indirect channel as a means of quickly and efficiently accelerating their revenue, and Impartner PRM provides the entire toolset for managing that indirect channel," said Dave R Taylor, Impartner chief marketing officer."It's incredibly exciting to have PRM technology and our solution stand out in such an impressive range of entrants for the value it delivers to companies looking to truly harness the power of their partner networks and accelerate the performance of their channel operations."

The Best New Product of the Year Best in Biz Award is the latest in a string of nearly a dozen national and international awards Impartner has received in recent months, making Impartner PRM the most highly awarded channel management solution in the market. Awards include:

Channel Vision Magazine, Best Portal Technology

Frost and Sullivan, Global Frost and Sullivan For Customer Value Leadership in Partner Management Solutions Market

Stevie Award, Relationship Management Solution, Gold for Best New Product of the Year, International Business Awards

Stevie Award, Relationship Management Solution, Gold for New Product of the Year, U.S.

Stevie Award forSales and Customer Service, Silver in Best Relationship Management Solution

Stratus Award, Business Intelligence Group, Best SaaS for Sales and Marketing

The Enterprise Utah Business Journal,Enterprise 7 Award for Technology

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. For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, visit http://intl.bestinbizawards.com/intl-2016-winners.

To learn more about Impartner PRM and how it can help companies be up and running with a new PRM and a world-class partner portal in as few as 30 days, click here.

About Impartner

With nearly two decades of experience in accelerating indirect sales, Impartner delivers the industry's most advanced SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management solution, helping companies worldwide manage their partner relationships and accelerate revenue and profitability through indirect sales channels. The largest pure-play PRM vendor in the world, Impartner provides the industry's only out-of-the-box solution that can deploy an enterprise-class Partner Portal in as few as 30 days, using the company's highly engineered, multi-award winning, three-step Velocity' onboarding process. For more information on Impartner, which is based in Utah's tech hotbed, the Silicon Slopes, visit www.impartner.com, or in the United States call +1 801 501 7000, for EMEA general call +33 1 40 90 31 20, for London call +44 0 20 3283 4465, and for LATAM call +1 954 364 7883.

Follow Impartner on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Contact:

Kerry Desberg

Impartner

425-231-9529

kerry.desberg@impartner.com
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 4:00 am ET Thursday, Germany's Ifo business confidence index for August is due to be released. The business confidence index is seen rising to 108.5 in August from 108.3 in July. Ahead of the data, the euro showed mixed trading against its major rivals. While the euro rose against the U.S. dollar and the pound, it fell against the Swiss franc and the yen. As of 3:55 am ET, the euro was trading at 0.8531 against the pound, 1.0889 against the Swiss franc, 1.1275 against the U.S. dollar and 113.18 against the yen. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
In first half 2016 revenue increased by 8% and EBITDA* increased by 70%. A solid growth in the services business and acquisitions are driving the revenue and the EBITDA increase.Release no. 23, 2016Columbus has today published the Interim Report for first half of 2016, cf. release no. 22/2016Services business and acquisitions are driving growthIn the first half of 2016, revenue amounted to DKK 595m (2015: DKK 548m), an increase of 8%. EBITDA* amounted to DKK 66.8m (2015: DKK 39.4m), corresponding to an increase of 70%.The revenue growth was primarily driven by a solid growth in the services business and acquisitions made in 2015 and 2016. In the first half of 2016, the services revenue increased by 10%. The progress mainly came from Columbus' US business.The increase in EBITDA was partly driven by the effect of the acquisitions, and partly by a significant growth in profitability in the services business.The improved profitability was primarily due to cost reductions in Norway and secondarily due to improvement in chargeable hours in both Norway and the US. The development in Norway and the US is in line with expectations.Improved profitability in the services businessIn the first half of 2016, the service EBITDA increased from DKK 11.5m to DKK 35.8m, corresponding to an increase of DKK 24.3m. The main reason for this improvement was an increase in chargeable hours from 56% to 60%. The increase came from the US and Norway and from acquisitions.Stable growth in sale of Columbus SoftwareIn the first hafl of 2016, Columbus Software increased by 9% despite a decline in Columbus license sale. The decline in license sale is due to a very strong sale in H1 2015. The strong sale of new license in 2015 has caused the growth of 28% in subscription in H1 2016.Growth in recurring revenueIn first half of 2016, recurring revenue increased by 13%, primarily affected by acquisitions. The proportion of the total revenue was 25%. The development is in line with expectations.DKK '000 H1 2016 H1 2015 2015 --------------------------------------------------------------Columbus Software licenses 22,554 23,913 52,251 Columbus Software subsbriptions 23,271 18,130 44,530 Exernal licenses 47,662 49,438 107,525 Eksternal subscriptions 99,776 92,495 184,524 Services 390,778 354,712 715,545 Other 10,496 9,757 19,068 -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Total net revenue 594,537 548,445 1,123,443EBITDA before share-based payment 66,754 39,353 105,225 Share-based payment -1,091 -629 -1,362 -------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 65,663 38,724 103,863 --------------------------------------------------------------"I am satisfied with the growth in first half, where we follow our new Columbus2020 strategy plan. We deliver overall growth, and especially our services business shows good progress", says CEO & President in Columbus Thomas HonoreColumbus maintains expectations to 2016Columbus maintains the previously announced expectations for 2016:-- Revenue in the level of DKK 1.2bn -- EBITDA* in the level of DKK 124m -- Columbus Software revenue of DKK 105m -- Service EBITDA of DKK 84m -- 10% dividend on nominal share capitalLatest developmentsNo events or transactions with a material effect on the company's financial position have occurred since the balance sheet date.* EBITDA before share-based paymentIb Kune Thomas Honore Chairman of the Board CEO & President Columbus A/S Columbus A/S For further information, please contact: CEO & President, Thomas Honore .: +45 70 20 50 00 Translation In the event of any inconsistency between this document and the Danish language version, the Danish language version shall be the governing version. Columbus' Columbus2020 strategy - towards growth Based on Columbus' strengthened position, as a result of successful execution of the Columbus15 strategy, the company launched a growth strategy in March. The strategy is named Columbus2020 and consists of four interconnected strategic elements.Customer Success - Taking care of our customers for life Columbus' fundamental goal their ERP-investments and satisfaction from the is to take care of our by leading them in the customer meet Columbus customers for life. digital transformation of for the first time to Columbus aims to be their business delivering unique widely recognized as a This means that Columbus solutions, high quality strategic business will intensify the focus services and partner that enhances our on creating a unique streamlined project customer's success by customer experience and delivery and support improving the value increase customer 24/7. realization of-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Digital Leadership - Accelerate business innovation Columbus helps our methodologies and business business in order to customers in the digital processes that optimizes succeed in the digital transformation of their and improves the economy. Columbus will business. With Digital implementation of develop solutions and Leadership Columbus has ERP-solutions. Secondly, services within cloud, two focus areas. Firstly, Columbus will establish a mobile, social, Columbus will continue to leadership position analytics and Internet strengthen our leadership within Digital of Things that help position within ERP by Transformation. Many companies take investing in new companies are about to or advantage of the companies, applications, in the process of digital opportunities. transforming their-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Process Excellence - Quality in everything we do In Columbus, we constantly quality to our customers. over sales and design of strive to optimize and Our goal is to create the the business solution streamline our business best customer experience to the implementation operations in order to in the industry. The process and lifetime achieve strong sales focal point is quality in support. This means an excellence and deliver everything we do - from intense focus on projects, services and the initial contact with optimizing and support of high customers, streamlining our processes globally.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Our People - Attract, develop and retain the best people Columbus' greatest asset providing challenging meeting the customers' is our employees and career opportunities, expectations sets the therefore it is crucial attractive working direction in everything that we attract and conditions and we do. retain the best people in professional and personal This means that Columbus the industry. We want to growth. Columbus want to always strives to attract highly skilled create a customer deliver projects on people by culture, where time, within budget and at the highest quality.Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=583456
BIELEFELD, Germany, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

NTT DATA has launched stage 2 of the AMO Global One Team Initiative to foster collaboration, integration, and innovation-sharing among the various NTT DATA Group companies.

In the next five years, NTT DATA, parent group of itelligence AG, expects more than 33% growth in its global outsourcing business .

The acquisition of BIT.Group underlines the growth strategy in the cloud business

NTT DATA and itelligence are investing strongly in promoting and enhancing a global strategy for outsourcing services. A major part of this is the growing Application Management Outsourcing (AMO) business. By 2020, AMO is intended to account for more than a third of NTT DATA's overall outsourcing business.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/400938 )



The AMO Global One Team Initiative has the mission of translating the global group vision and strategy into business success for the operating companies. The global AMO management team involves more than 100 managers from the various companies of the NTT DATA Group, with the objectives of significantly growing its outsourcing business and further increasing its market position as a leading player in this business segment. These include Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services at itelligence and co-chair of the AMO Global One Team.

According to Kaz Nishihata, Director & Executive Vice President, Global Business Sector, NTT DATA Corporation: "The NTT DATA Group has emerged as a global powerhouse in the enterprise applications and entire IT outsourcing area. Application Management Outsourcing (AMO), as a key pillar of IT outsourcing, is important for us to further expand our role as a global leader in IT innovation, such as cloud business. Development of AMO business will aid in creating new customers and in supporting our long-term relationships with our customers. Furthermore, it will act as a cornerstone for NTT DATA to become a trusted advisor for our clients to manage their IT requirements, including the digital transformation."

itelligence AG is one of the main drivers of this AMO Global One Team Initiative, especially in NTT DATA's global SAP business. As a global SAP hub of the NTT DATA Group and with a booming AMO business, itelligence supports international corporations.

Norbert Rotter, CEO of itelligence AG: "The initiative supports our strategic focus on Global Managed Services for SAP solutions, particularly in the upper mid-market segment and for multinational clients. The recent acquisition of BIT.group has further enhanced our expertise in the area of Application Management Services and Cloud Services."

The acquisition of BIT.Group on June 20, 2016, was another strategic element in the expansion of global services relating to SAP Cloud and Managed Services. Established in 2004, BIT.Group stands out as a provider of an innovative service portfolio for national and international customers.

Lars Janitz, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Managed Services at itelligence and co-chair of the AMO Global One Team, adds: "The collaboration with our NTT and NTT DATA sister companies in the area of Application Management and Cloud Services helps us to accelerate our portfolio innovation, to become even more professional in delivery methodology and to cover countries where we don't have our own subsidiaries. We use that to further increase our efficiency, scalability and value proposition for our customers."

Since 2011, the annual growth rate for NTT DATA's AMO business has been 15.7%, which is significantly more than the non-outsourcing business. After several years of implementing an intensive merger and acquisitions strategy to rapidly extend the company's capabilities and worldwide presence, NTT DATA has become one of the strongest partners for CIOs thanks to its comprehensive offering with a glocal (global reach with a local focus) approach.

With more than 80,000 employees, 26,000 of whom are engaged in AMO business, NTT DATA has locations in more than 40 countries around the globe. The company has become a strong player in the outsourcing and managed services market based on its ability to provide tailor-made and high-quality solutions to its clients. It combines its local presence and talent that understands country, industry and client specifics and leverages agility and responsiveness with the power of global capabilities and long-established market experience, while also relying on scalable and cost-efficient global delivery capabilities. For example, the company's worldwide network of 36 AMO centers for application management solutions, spread across America, EMEA and APAC, enables NTT DATA to act as both a close partner for its local customers and a global service provider for multinational companies.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a leading IT services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in Tokyo, with business operations in over 40 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment, combining global reach with local knowledge to provide premier professional services varying from consulting and systems development to outsourcing. For more information, visit http://www.nttdata.com.

About itelligence

itelligence is one of the leading international full-service providers of solutions in support of SAP solutions, employing about 5,400 highly qualified employees in 24 countries. As a frequently awarded SAP partner, among others global value-added reseller, SAP Certified in Cloud Services, SAP-Certified Provider of Hosting Services for SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and SAP Platinum Partner, itelligence realizes complex projects in the SAP solution-based environment worldwide. The company's services in support of SAP solutions range from consulting and licensing to application management services and hosting services to proprietary industry-specific SAP. In 2015, itelligence generated total sales of EUR 696.2 million.

Head of Corporate Public Relations

Silvia Dicke

Tel: +49(0)521-91448-107

Fax:+49(0)521-91445-201

silvia.dicke@itelligence.de



itelligence AG

Konigsbreede 1

33605 Bielefeld, Germany

http://www.itelligencegroup.com


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.
EQS-News / 25/08/2016 / 16:25 UTC+8 *To Business Editors* *For Immediate Release* *China Zhongwang Posts Adjusted Net Profit of RMB1.51 Billion in 1H 2016* ** * ** *First Aluminium Flat Rolling Production Line to Commence Production This Year* *Driving Long-term Growth* (Hong Kong, 25 August 2016) - *China Zhongwang Holdings Limited* ("China Zhongwang" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 01333), a world's leading fabricated aluminium product developer and manufacturer, announced its unaudited consolidated results for the six months ended 30 June 2016 (the "Period under Review"). During the Period under Review, the Group's external sales volume increased by 6.8% year-on-year to approximately 368,000 tonnes. The total revenue amounted to approximately RMB7.68 billion. As the revenue contribution from high-end products increased, gross margin expanded by 4.5 percentage points, year-on-year, to 36.7%. Adjusted net profit rose by 0.5% to RMB1.51 billion when compared to the corresponding period of last year. Adjusted earnings per share were approximately RMB0.21. To reward shareholders' support, the Board has declared an interim dividend of HK$0.11 (approximately RMB0.09) per share to the shareholders of the Company. *Mr. Lu Changqing, President and Executive Director of China Zhongwang*,said, "The Chinese Government actively promotes transformation and upgrading of industries, creating new opportunities for green and environmentally friendly fabricated aluminium products. In the first half of 2016, the Group continued to achieve business growth by optimizing its product mix, upgrading production capacity, and investing in R&D and innovation. The first production line of the Tianjin aluminium flat-rolled product project is undergoing final stage of equipment testing, and has successfully produced the widest ultra-large aluminium alloy slabs and plates during the Period under Review, setting new records in China and Asia. In addition, the spin-off and listing of the Group's aluminium extrusion business on the A-share market is making further progress. The circular on the proposed spin-off has been dispatched to shareholders, and the Group will hold an extraordinary general meeting soon. The spin-off will enhance the Group's corporate value in the long term with an additional financing platform." *Aluminium Extrusion Business- * *Optimize Product Mix and Upgrade Capacity to Enhance Profitability * During the Period under Review, the Group effectively strengthened its overall profitability as it continued to optimize its product mix. Gross margin of the aluminium extrusion business increased from 29.5% for the corresponding period in 2015 to 31.8% for the Period under Review. The installation of an ultra-large 225MN extrusion press ordered in 2012 is underway. It is expected to commence production in 2017. The other press has been delivered to the plant for installation. Orders for 99 extrusion presses were placed during the Period under Review, of which 19 were large-scale presses of 75MN or above, among which one was of 175MN and four of 125MN. *Deep Processing Business- * *Transform from a Material Supplier to an Integrated Light-weight Solutions Provider* The deep processing business is one of the Group's growth drivers. During the Period under Review, sales volume of the deep processing business surged 64.1% year-on-year to approximately 47,000 tonnes, contributing approximately RMB1.26 billion in revenue, an increase of 57.9%. Gross margin increased from 34.9% for the corresponding period in 2015 to 36.5% for the Period under Review. With the light-weight development in the transportation sector, the Group continued to augment sales of the existing products of large parts, such as vehicle bumpers, structural parts for passenger cars and skirtboards for high-speed trains, while increasing the proportion of finished products with higher added value, such as train carriages and the body frames for new energy buses. The strong capability of product and process design team has enabled the Group to make preemptive moves in an ever-changing market. *Enhance Industry Chain Extension, Strengthen Competitiveness in the Long Term * The first production line at the Tianjin flat rolling plant will commence production this year. It is currently processing small-volume orders from potential customers on a trial basis. During the Period under Review, the smelting and casting mill successfully produced aluminium alloy slabs of 2,670mm in width, which set China's new record; and the hot rolling mill successfully produced aluminium alloy plates of 4,300mm in width, setting a new record in Asia. Furthermore, the project was awarded three quality management system accreditations, including the management system certificates for aerospace and automobile industries, laying a foundation for the products to enter the high-end market. Looking into the future, *Mr. Lu *concluded, "In view of the increasing trend of material upgrade in the transportation sector and equipment upgrade in the industrial sector, the Group has capacity expansion plans to fulfil the increasing downstream demand. Leveraging its technology, R&D and product design edge, China Zhongwang will capitalize on the synergy of its three core businesses, namely industrial aluminium extrusion, deep processing and aluminium flat rolling, to strengthen its foothold as a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end fabricated aluminium products and reward shareholders with positive returns." - End - *About China Zhongwang Holdings Limited* China Zhongwang is the second largest industrial aluminium extrusion products developer and manufacturer in the world and the largest in Asia. It has, over the years, been focusing on the light-weight development of transportation, machinery and equipment and electric power engineering sectors through the provision of quality industrial aluminium extrusion products. It now has over 90 internationally advanced aluminium extrusion production lines, including 21 production lines of large-scale aluminium extrusion presses of 75MN or above. The Group's unique core competitiveness in the industry lies in its comprehensive strength of four-in-one model, i.e. the integration of smelting and casting, die design, advanced equipment and R&D capability all under one roof. In addition, to further leverage its existing strengths in the industry, the Group is developing the high value-added aluminium flat-rolled product project. The planned annual production capacity of the two production lines under construction reaches 1.8 million tonnes. Upon completion, the project will become the world's largest top-notch aluminium flat rolling production base with state-of-the-art equipment. This new business venture will not only enable the Group to further capitalize on its leading edge in aluminium alloy smelting and casting and product R&D, but also achieve synergistic development with its existing industrial aluminium extrusion and deep processing businesses by taking full advantage of shared resources. For further information on the Group, please visit www.zhongwang.com [1]. Document: http://n.eqs.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=EAVQRLTFRX [2] Document title: eng Key word(s): Half Year Results 25/08/2016 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 495825 25/08/2016 1: http://public-cockpit.eqs.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=b31b0ac782b2ccfe4c4d6c231a010b46&application_id=495825&site_id=vwd&application_name=news 2: http://public-cockpit.eqs.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=72b56a391b8f5d02a9d2340722002d14&application_id=495825&site_id=vwd&application_name=news

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 25, 2016 04:25 ET (08:25 GMT)
HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- As Trend Micro predicted, 2016 has proven to be a year of online extortion through various malicious attack methods. Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704) (TSE: 4704), a global leader in security software and solutions, today published its security roundup report, "The Reign of Ransomware," which analyzes the trends in attacks and vulnerabilities seen throughout the first half of this year. The report provides extensive data surrounding the rise and impact of attacks, such as a 172 percent increase in ransomware and $3 billion in losses due to business email compromise (BEC) scams so far in 2016, as well as nearly 500 vulnerabilities in a variety of products.

"Ransomware is capable of crippling organizations who face it, and the cybercriminals spearheading these attacks are creatively evolving on a continuous basis to keep enterprises guessing," said Myla Pilao, Director of TrendLabs, Trend Micro. "It has dominated the threat landscape so far in 2016, causing immense losses to businesses across multiple industries. Enterprises must adopt multi-layered security solutions to optimally combat these threats that could attempt to penetrate corporate networks at any time."

The following report findings highlight trends from the first half of 2016:

Ransomware dominates the threat landscape: The occurrence of ransomware families nearly doubled, with an increase of 172 percent, in the first half of 2016 compared to 2015, further establishing ransomware as a prevalent and pervasive threat. Variants are designed to attack all levels of the network.

BEC scams spread across the world: The FBI listed more than 22,000 victims in 2016 to date, with more than US $3 billion in losses. Trend Micro has found that the U.S. is the most targeted country for these attacks.

New vulnerabilities and ransomware strengthen attacks through exploit kits: The declining use of Angler EK can be attributed to the arrest of 50 cybercriminals. As such, other EKs have taken its place, including new players like Rig and Sundown.

Rising number of vulnerabilities found in Adobe Flash and IoT platforms: Trend Micro and the ZDI reported several significant browser and kernel vulnerabilities, which were identified during the Pwn2Own competition.

Incidents of data breaches plague various industries: Both private and public sectors fell victim to data breaches in the first half of the year, including Myspace and Verizon, several hospitals and government entities.

Updates in Point-of-Sale malware give rise to new attacks: FastPoS came equipped with efficient credit card theft capabilities, affecting small to medium businesses across the globe, including some in the U.S. FighterPoS also made its debut, showing worm-like qualities that allowed cross-network infection.

Exploits revive old vulnerabilities in their attacks: Shellshock exploits increased in the first half of the year, despite available patches, with thousands of new exploits seen each month. This is another example of the benefit to virtual patching, which provides faster protection to enterprise networks when vulnerabilities surface.

Cybercriminals defy the odds with banking Trojans: Trojans like QAKBOT increased their attacks following the arrest of the creators of DYRE. This variant goes after crucial information including banking credentials, browsing habits and other sensitive user data.

In total, 79 new ransomware families were identified in the first six months of the year, which surpasses the total number of new families found in all of 2015. Both new and old variants caused a total of US $209 million in monetary losses to enterprises. Ransomware attacks found in the first half of 2016, like BEC scams, originated from emails 58 percent of the time.

Research shows both growth and evolution in vulnerabilities and exploit kits (EKs), as well. Angler was found to steadily decrease in use, while other EKs, like Neutrino, filled the void. New vulnerabilities and ransomware were added to keep EKs up to date and effective. Unpatched software continues to provide additional opportunities for attackers to infect networks via EKs.

In the first half of 2016, Trend Micro discovered 473 vulnerabilities in a variety of products, with 28 coming from Adobe Flash and 108 from Advantech's Web Access, demonstrating the full capabilities of the company's research teams.

"While it's unfortunate for us, cybercriminals are resilient and flexible when it comes to altering an attack method each time we find a patch or solution," said Ms Pilao. "This creates massive problems for enterprises and individuals alike since the threats change as often as solutions are provided. It bodes well for businesses to anticipate being targeted and to prepare accordingly, implementing the latest security solutions, virtual patching and employee education to mitigate risks from all angles."

For the complete report, please visit: http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/research-and-analysis/threat-reports/roundup/the-reign-of-ransomware.

Image

Ms Myla Pilao, Director of TrendLabs, Trend Micro, analyzes the trends in attacks and vulnerabilities seen throughout the first half of 2016 when announcing the Trend Micro security roundup report for 2016 1H

http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/5404

Company Logo

http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/3868

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cyber security solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud environments, networks, and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 5,000 employees in over 50 countries and the world's most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro enables users to enjoy their digital lives safely. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com.hk.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3048860



MEDIA CONTACT:

Claudius Lam

Tel: 852.2214 3288 / 852.9022 0876

Email Contact




NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Balabit today announced that the company achieved Gold status in the 2016 Golden Bridge Awards for its Blindspotter real-time user behavior analytics (UBA) solution that monitors and analyzes users' activities, and detects unusual behavior to help prevent theft. Blindspotter collects users' "digital footprints," builds a baseline of activities using advanced machine learning algorithms, and detects anomalies in real-time. Balabit's Blindspotter uniquely extended its feature list with biometrics capabilities that provides continuous authentication and prevents data breaches at their earliest phase.

The coveted annual Golden Bridge Awards program encompasses the world's best in innovations, products and services and other business/technology categories from every major industry in the world. Organizations from all over the world submitted nominations including public and private, for-profit and non-profit, largest to smallest and new start-ups. Finalists in the UBA - Innovations category also included Niara, Fortscale and Securonix.

"We are thrilled that Blindspotter has earned yet another award among our peers, underscoring our commitment to providing very strong ROI in our technology solution. Blindspotter decreases the likelihood of a costly data breach without impacting business processes, it improves the efficiency of security teams and it helps IT teams discover potentially dangerous and expensive misconfigurations or misuse of corporate resources," said Balazs Scheidler, co-founder and CTO, Balabit.

Blindspotter leverages Balabit's syslog-ng technology, which is proven and trusted in more than one million installations around the world. It also leverages Balabit's Privileged Identity Management technology to analyze high-fidelity recordings of user activities such as screen recordings or command line interaction.

Blindspotter is part of Balabit's Contextual Security Intelligence (CSI) platform, which includes trusted log collection and data management and enriched insight from video-like activity records and user profiles, as well as Blindspotter's user behavior analytics and risk assessment. This unified security system increases productivity and transparency of security processes, and also includes Balabit's syslog-ng and Shell Control Box products.

About the Golden Bridge Awards

Golden Bridge Awards are an annual industry and peers recognition program honoring best companies in every major industry from large to small and new start-ups in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin-America, Best New Products and Services, Best Innovations, Management and Teams, Women in Business and the Professions, Case Studies, Customer Satisfaction, and PR and Marketing Campaigns from all over the world. Winners will be honored in San Francisco on Monday, September 12, 2016, during the annual Red Carpet Golden Bridge Awards Ceremony. Learn more about The Golden Bridge Awards at www.goldenbridgeawards.com

About Balabit

Balabit -- founded in Budapest, Hungary -- is a leading provider of contextual security technologies with the mission of preventing data breaches without constraining business. Balabit operates globally with offices across the United States and Europe, together with its network of reseller partners. Balabit's Contextual Security Intelligence platform protects organizations in real-time from threats posed by the misuse of high risk and privileged accounts. Solutions include reliable system and application Log Management with context enriched data ingestion, Privileged User Monitoring and User Behavior Analytics. Together they can identify unusual user activities and provide deep visibility into potential threats. Working in conjunction with existing control-based strategies, Balabit enables a flexible and people-centric approach to improve security without adding additional barriers to business practices. Founded in 2000, Balabit has a proven track record, with 23 Fortune 100 customers and more than 1,000,000 corporate users worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.balabit.com.

Media Contact

Dan Chmielewski

Madison Alexander PR

1-714-832-8716

1-949-231-2965

dchm@cox.net




Q2 2016 State of Mobile Device Performance & Health Report Reveals iOS Failure Rate Is Over Twice as High (58 Percent) as Previous Quarter (25 Percent)

ATLANTA and LONDON, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Q2 2016 State of Mobile Device Performance and Health report released today by Blancco Technology Group (LON: BLTG), Apple has lost its usual 'leader' position to Android in the eternal smartphone performance battle. Plagued by crashing apps, WiFi connectivity and other performance issues, the iOS failure rate more than doubled to 58 percent in the second quarter of 2016, compared to its 25 percent failure rate in the previous quarter.

Out of the 58 percent of iOS devices that failed, iPhone 6 had the highest failure rate (29 percent), followed by iPhone 6S (23 percent) and iPhone 6S Plus (14 percent). Meanwhile, combined sales of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus totaled 15.1 percent in Q2 2016, according to Kantar Worldpanel Comtech's latest smartphone OS market share data. These combined findings suggest that software bug updates, hardware defects and smartphone operating system market share growth may have contributed to the high iOS failure rates.

"Ever since the first iPhone was introduced in 2007, Apple's iOS has been a force to be reckoned with - launching new models every year and raking in strong sales and revenue quarter after quarter," said Richard Stiennon, Chief Strategy Officer, Blancco Technology Group. "But our data suggests that the performance battle between iOS, Android and other operating systems is constantly changing and is likely to be influenced by several factors. As industry experts, wireless carriers and consumers look ahead to the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 7 in September, it will be interesting to see how the new model's features may, or may not, impact the phone's performance."

Key highlights from the Q2 2016 trend report include:

In analyzing the causes of iPhone performance issues, crashing apps (65 percent), WiFi (11 percent) and headset (4 percent) were found to be the primary culprits.

Despite their tremendous popularity and record-setting growth rates, Snapchat (17 percent), Instagram (14 percent) and Facebook (9 percent) dominated the list of crashing iOS apps.

Android devices had an overall failure rate of 35 percent - a considerable improvement from its 44 percent failure rate in the previous quarter.

Lenovo and LeTV's budget-friendly smartphones - Le 1S (10 percent), Le 1S Eco (7 percent) and Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus (6 percent) - surfaced as poor Android performers.

Camera, battery charging and touch screen issues abate on Android devices, at 10 percent, 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

Stiennon concluded, "As a customer, it's frustrating when customer service and repair specialists can't figure out why a device is lagging, crashing or failing altogether. By combining the sophisticated technology of the SmartChk platform with its easy-to-use interface and business intelligence dashboard, mobile carriers and device manufacturers can deliver more reliable customer service, reduce NTF returns and lower customer churn. If mobile users don't have all of their post-sales customer experience needs met, they are more likely to ditch their existing carriers and manufacturers for different ones."

To understand the correlation between device diagnostics and NTF returns, try the NTF Savings Calculator and get a breakdown of the annual costs mobile service providers are needlessly incurring from inaccurately diagnosing device issues.

About Blancco Technology Group

Blancco Technology Group is a leading, global provider of mobile device diagnostics and secure data erasure solutions. We help our clients' customers test, diagnose, repair and repurpose IT devices with the most proven and certified software. Our clientele consists of equipment manufacturers, mobile network operators, retailers, financial institutions, healthcare providers and government organizations worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, United States, with a distributed workforce and customer base across the globe.

Blancco, a division of Blancco Technology Group, is the global de facto standard in certified data erasure. We provide thousands of organizations with an absolute line of defense against costly security breaches, as well as verification of regulatory compliance through a 100% tamper-proof audit trail.

SmartChk, a division of Blancco Technology Group, is a global innovator in mobile asset diagnostics and business intelligence. We partner with our customers to improve their customers' experience by providing seamless solutions to test, diagnose and repair mobile assets. SmartChk provides world-class support, pre and post implementation, allowing our customers to derive measurable business results.

Media Contacts:

SHIFT Communications for Blancco Technology Group (US)

David Heffernan, Account Manager

T: +1 (617) 779-1839

E: blancco@shiftcomm.com

SAY Communications for Blancco Technology Group (Europe)

Robert Hickling, Senior Account Manager

T: 44 (0) 20 8971 6427

E: blancco@saycomms.co.uk

The Hoffman Agency for Blancco Technology Group (APAC)

Miyuki Washino, Senior Consultant

T: 81 3 5159 5750

E: blanccoapac@hoffman.com

Blancco Technology Group

Ragini Bhalla, Senior Director of Global Communications

T: +1 (678) 829-8465

E: ragini.bhalla@blanccotechgroup.com
PUNE, India, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

RnRMarketResearch.com adds "Fatigue - Pipeline Review, H2 2016" market research report to its store providing an overview of the Fatigue's therapeutic pipeline with comprehensive information on the therapeutic development for Fatigue, complete with comparative analysis at various stages, therapeutics assessment by drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type, along with latest updates, and featured news and press releases. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Fatigue and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects.

Fatigue also referred to as tiredness, exhaustion, lethargy, listlessness, and describes a physical and/or mental state of being tired and weak. Signs and symptoms include aching or sore muscles, painful lymph nodes, chronic (long-term) tiredness, dizziness, headache, irritability and loss of appetite. Complete report on H2 2016 pipeline review of Fatigue with 18 market data tables and 12 figures, spread across 55 pages is available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/fatigue-pipeline-review-h2-2016-market-report.html .

Fatigue pipeline therapeutics constitutes close to 6 molecules which approximately 6 molecules are developed by Companies. The molecules developed by Companies in Pre-Registration, Phase II, IND/CTA Filed and Preclinical stages are 1, 3, 1 and 1 respectively. This research outlays comprehensive information on the therapeutics under development for Fatigue, complete with analysis by stage of development, drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. It also reviews of key players involved in therapeutic development for Fatigue and features dormant and discontinued projects.

Companies discussed in this Fatigue Pipeline Review, H2 2016 report include BioLite, Inc., Biovista Inc., Grifols, S.A., Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. and MultiCell Technologies, Inc. Drug Profiles discussed in this research are (lofepramine hydrochloride + phenylalanine), alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (human), BLI-1402, Recombinant A1PI, rintatolimod and Small Molecule for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

The report also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Fatigue and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. The report enhances decision making capabilities and help to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. It strengthens R&D pipelines by identifying new targets and MOAs to produce first-in-class and best-in-class products.

Order a copy of fatigue pipeline 2016 market research report @ http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=662427 .

Scope of this report: The report provides a snapshot of the global therapeutic landscape of Fatigue and reviews pipeline therapeutics for Fatigue by companies and universities/research institutes based on information derived from company and industry-specific sources and key players involved Fatigue therapeutics and enlists all their major and minor projects. The research covers pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from pre-registration till discovery and undisclosed stages. The report features descriptive drug profiles for the pipeline products which includes, product description, descriptive MoA, R&D brief, licensing and collaboration details & other developmental activities and assesses Fatigue therapeutics based on drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type. The report summarizes all the dormant and discontinued pipeline projects with latest news related to pipeline therapeutics for Fatigue.

Another newly published market research report titled on Hidradenitis Suppurativa - Pipeline Review, H2 2016 provides comprehensive information on the therapeutic development for Hidradenitis Suppurativa, complete with comparative analysis at various stages, therapeutics assessment by drug target, mechanism of action (MoA), route of administration (RoA) and molecule type, along with latest updates, and featured news and press releases. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Hidradenitis Suppurativa and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. The report enhances decision making capabilities and help to create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage. It strengthens R&D pipelines by identifying new targets and MOAs to produce first-in-class and best-in-class products. Companies Involved in Therapeutics Development are Cellceutix Corporation, Celtaxsys, Inc., Delenex Therapeutics AG, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG and Sandoz International GmbH. Hidradenitis Suppurativa Pipeline market research report of 63 pages is available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/hidradenitis-suppurativa-pipeline-review-h2-2016-market-report.html .

Explore more reports on Mental Illness Drugs.

About Us:

RnRMarketResearch.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 500,000+ market research reports from over 100+ leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With comprehensive information about the publishers and the industries for which they publish market research reports, we help you in your purchase decision by mapping your information needs with our huge collection of reports.

Contact:

Ritesh Tiwari

UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ

Magarpatta city, Hadapsar

Pune - 411013

Maharashtra, India.

Tel: +1-888-391-5441

sales@rnrmarketresearch.com



Connect with Us:

G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/104156468549256253075/posts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RnRMR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RnR-Market-Research/413488545356345

RSS / Feeds: http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/feed
THUNDER BAY, Ontario, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Official Portal of the World Conference on Online Learning

Toronto, Canada - October 2017

Contact North | Contact Nord, the organizer and host of the 27th International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference, launches the official portal for the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning to be held in Toronto, Canada from October 17-19, 2017.

The theme of the World Conference on Online Learning is Teaching in the Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning with the program focused on five tracks:

1. Emerging Pedagogies and Designs for Online Learning

2. Expanding Access, Openness and Flexibility

3. Changing Models of Assessment

4. New Delivery Tools and Resources for Learning

5. Re-Designing Institutional Business Models

Visit the bilingual portal - http://www.onlinelearning2017.ca and http://www.apprentissageenligne2017.ca - for information including:

Details on the theme and tracks

Important Dates

Information on our host city, Toronto, Canada

Sign-up for our e-newsletter

"Contact North | Contact Nord is honoured to be the organizer and host of the World Conference on Online Learning: Teaching in a Digital Age - Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning," stated Paul Taillefer, Chair, Board of Directors, Contact North | Contact Nord. "The hosting of this world conference in Ontario recognizes the global leadership of the province of Ontario in the field of online, open and flexible learning. Ontario's online learning sector includes 24 public colleges, 22 public universities and 12 leading online learning networks and providers, including e-Campus Ontario, OntarioLearn, Independent Learning Centre, ACE Distance, Deaf Learn Now, F@D le service de formation A distance pour adultes de l'Ontario, Good Learning Anywhere, The LearningHUB, e-Channel, Consortium d'apprentissage virtuel de langue francaise de l'Ontario (CAVLFO), Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA), Contact North I Contact Nord".

"We look forward to welcoming 2,000 delegates from around the world to Toronto to expand boundaries and explore new frontiers of teaching, learning and skills development during this three-day World Conference on Online Learning," noted Maxim Jean-Louis, President - Chief Executive Officer, Contact North | Contact Nord and Chair of the Organizing Committee for the World Conference on Online Learning. "Our goal is to engage the world's higher education community with a stimulating program on how we re-think teaching and learning in a digital age. The conference will feature 300 plenaries, practical workshops, interactive panels, hand-on demonstrations, academic paper presentations, next generation innovation, new educational technologies, latest online learning platforms, software and solutions."

The World Conference on Online Learning takes place at the Sheraton Toronto Centre Hotel from October 17 - 19, 2017. Visit the conference portal regularly for the latest information.

The 26th ICDE World Conference was organized and hosted by the University of South Africa in October 2015.

About Contact North | Contact Nord

Contact North | Contact Nord is Ontario's distance education and training network serving more than 600 small, rural, remote, Indigenous and Francophone communities across the province through its 112 local online learning centres.

Contact North I Contact Nord partners with Ontario's 24 public colleges, 22 public universities, over 250 public literacy and essential skills and training providers and the government of Ontario to provide local access to education and training opportunities.

Its three portals provide an online learning virtual hub to Ontario students, prospective students, faculty and instructors averaging more than 500,000 unique visits a year: studyonline.ca, teachonline.ca and e-Channel.

Since it was established in 1986, Contact North C Contact Nord has generated and supported more than 466,000 registrations.

Contact North | Contact Nord is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and is funded by the Government of Ontario.

Visit http://www.contactnorth.ca.

About the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)

The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) is the leading global membership organization for open, distance, flexible and online education, including e-learning, and draws its membership from institutions, educational authorities, commercial actors, and individuals.

ICDE has consultative partner status with UNESCO and shares UNESCO's key value - the universal right to education for all. ICDE further derives its position from the unique knowledge and experience of its members throughout the world in the development and use of new methodologies and emerging technologies.

ICDE was founded in 1938 in Canada as the International Council for Correspondence Education and today has members from over 60 countries worldwide.

ICDE's Permanent Secretariat is in Oslo, Norway, and has been hosted by this country on a permanent basis since 1988. ICDE is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and by membership fees.

About ICDE

Enabling change to technology enhanced quality education across the globe.

Advocating for access, equity and quality learning through online, open and flexible learning.

A dynamic platform for cooperation on innovation and development, featuring key regional actors and leading experts.

Access to thousands of higher education institutions, networks and systems.

A key partner for UNESCO.

Part-funded by the Government of Norway .

Visit http://www.icde.org.

Heather Campbell, Communications Coordinator, +1-855-345-5035, heather@contactnorth.ca
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen resumed its early decline against the euro, Swiss franc and the Canadian dollar in European deals on Thursday. The yen reversed from early highs of 103.78 against the Swiss franc and 113.10 against the euro, edging down to 104.14 and 113.42, respectively. The yen slid to a 2-day low of 77.85 against the loonie, from a high of 77.65 hit at 5:00 pm ET. The yen is likely to find support around around 108.00 against the franc, 115.00 against the euro and 80.00 against the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German business confidence dropped unexpectedly to a 6-month low in August and marked the biggest monthly fall in more than four years as companies assessed the current situation and future expectations more poorly after Britons voted to exit the EU.



The business sentiment index dropped to 106.2 in August from 108.3 in July, results of the Ifo survey showed Thursday. The reading was expected to rise to 108.5.



The reading was the lowest since February, when the score was 105.9 and also marked the biggest monthly drop since May 2012.



Business confidence in Germany has clearly worsened, Clemens Fuest, Ifo Institute President, said. The German economy has fallen into a summer slump.



The current conditions index fell to a 7-month low of 112.8 from 114.8 a month ago, while economists forecast an improvement to 114.9.



The expectations index slid to 100.1 in August from 102.1, below the expected level of 102.4.



The falls in both the current conditions and expectations components of the Ifo survey suggest not only that growth might have decelerated in the third quarter, but also that conditions are unlikely to pick up in the later stages of the year, Stephen Brown, an economist at Capital Economics, said.



ING Bank economist Carsten Brzeski said it seems that German businesses always take a bit longer to digest the news but today's Ifo suggests that German businesses have suddenly woken up to Brexit reality.



The Munich-based Ifo institute said business confidence in manufacturing declined again in August. The climate deteriorated in both wholesaling and retailing.



Meanwhile, confidence in the construction sector remained at a record level as firms were more optimistic regarding the months ahead.



In the service sector, business confidence strengthened further as service providers assessed an improvement in current situation and assumed business to grow in the coming months.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British car production breached the 1 million mark during the first seven months of the year for the first time in 12 years, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed Thursday. Car production increased 12.3 percent year-on-year to 1.02 million cars in the January to July period. The figure exceeded the 1 million mark for the first time since 2004. The year-to-date production figure was also the best since 2000. In July, car production grew for a 12th consecutive month, rising 7.6 percent to 126,566 units. Home demand grew 14.1 percent, while orders from abroad increased 6 percent. More than three quarters of a million cars built this year are destined for overseas markets, a 77.8% share of total production volumes, the SMMT said. 'UK car production in 2016 is booming, with new British-built models in demand across the world,' SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said. 'Manufacturers have invested billions to develop exciting new models and produce them competitively here in the UK.' Future success will depend on continued new car demand and attracting the next wave of investment so Britain must demonstrate it remains competitive and open for business, Hawes added. 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.
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- (TSX VENTURE: HEO) - H2O Innovation Inc. ("H2O Innovation" or the "Corporation") is proud to announce, through its maple division ("H2O Maple"), that it has recently obtained a patent for its system and "high concentration" maple sap process placed upstream from an evaporation process. This concentration process is designed for all system sizes and allows for a better energy and production efficiency as well as a continuity in the quality of the maple syrup produced. This patented technology has already been sold to more than 15 sugar bushes in North America in the last two years.

The system and process of producing maple syrup, patented by the Corporation, allows the producer to concentrate the maple sap between 30 and 45 degree Brix using membrane filtration. By substantially increasing the sugar concentration level, the quantity of water to be evaporated is significantly reduced, resulting in turn, with a significant decrease in energy requirements for evaporation. The boiling phase, which is the last production phase, allows the producer to cook the syrup to their desired color and taste and to improve the product's classification.

"We are very proud to have obtained a patent for the system and "high concentration" maple sap process. This process allows the maple syrup producers to make significant savings in oil consumption, equivalent to more than 50%, compared to conventional processes. Furthermore, maple producers using this process are now able to maintain the quality of their maple syrup - a key criteria to meet for the producers. Maple syrup authorized buyers and validation & management organizations in Canada and the United States are also pleased with the product quality. We strongly believe in innovation and thanks to all the new technologies developed by H2O Innovation in recent years, we are beginning the new fiscal year with our biggest backlog record, giving us great confidence for the future", stated Rock Gaulin, Vice-President Manufacturing & Maple of H2O Innovation.

The Super-Concentrator, the High Brix Supra as well as the High Brix Econox are all using the patented "high concentration" maple sap process. These systems are part of the H2O Maple SMART series, a complete line of high-end maple production equipment distinguished by their innovative production, fuel savings and exceptional return on investment they provide to their users. The SMART series also includes the Smartrek monitoring technology, the Even Flow automatic valve controller and specific spouts & fittings.

About H2O Maple

H2O Maple offers a complete line of equipment dedicated to maple syrup production, including intelligent products that maximize production, for all sizes of installations. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.net.

About H2O Innovation

H2O Innovation designs and provides state-of-the-art, custom-built and integrated water treatment solutions based on membrane filtration technology for municipal, industrial, energy and natural resources end-users. The Corporation's activities rely on three pillars which are water and wastewater projects, specialty products & services, including a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables, specialized products for the water treatment industry as well as control & monitoring systems, and operation & maintenance services for water and wastewater treatment systems. For more information, visit www.h2oinnovation.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor the Alternext Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Source:

H2O Innovation Inc.

www.h2oinnovation.com



Marc Blanchet

+1 418-688-0170

marc.blanchet@h2oinnovation.com




MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- VeloCloud Networks Inc., the Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN company, and an Elite VMware Technology Alliance partner, today announced that its Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN will be showcased next week during VMworld 2016, demonstrating the benefits of VeloCloud SD-WAN operating on VMware for both Enterprises and Service Providers, including how VeloCloud delivers differentiated performance, reliability, and quality of experience for a variety of real time applications running on VMWare infrastructure.

VeloCloud's demonstrations will take place during the event Aug. 28 - 31 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, in the Technology Innovators Pavilion booth number 841 - 3 in the VMworld 2016 New Innovator Pavilion.

VeloCloud CEO and Co-Founder Sanjay Uppal and Eddie Fox, MetTel Vice President of Network Services, have also been selected to present real-world Service Provider use cases which leverage the integration of VeloCloud SD-WAN and VMware on Aug. 31 at 1 pm PDT, at the Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) Executive Forum hosted by VMware. The NFV Executive Forum is an intimate and invitation-only event for business leaders, heads of networking and NFV strategists at communication Service Providers who are actively considering or deploying NFV solutions as part of their business strategy.

In addition, the benefits and advantages of VMware and VeloCloud Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN for Service Providers will be demonstrated in the Telco NFV display at VMware Booth 1245 on the expo floor. Senior VeloCloud executives will be available to share roadmap and updates in exclusive meetings in the VeloCloud Executive Briefing Center (EBC) at VMworld. Contact Ravi Sharma (ravi@velocloud.com) to schedule a meeting.

VeloCloud Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN is certified VMware Ready for NFV. This is an indication that VeloCloud Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN has achieved VMware's highest level of endorsement and can be found on the VMware Solution Exchange (VSX) at https://solutionexchange.vmware.com/.

"Both Enterprises and Service Providers are seeing tremendous benefits from our Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN," said VeloCloud CEO and Co-Founder Sanjay Uppal. "Network Functions Virtualizations, the ability to deliver and chain services as local Virtual Network Functions on CPE in the branch or as a service in the cloud, is enabling great flexibility, control and cost savings. VeloCloud is at the forefront working together with VMware to enable our joint customers to seamlessly deliver virtual services."

VeloCloud Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN enables enterprises to support application growth, network agility and simplified branch implementations while delivering optimized access to cloud services, private datacenters and enterprise applications. Global service providers are able to increase revenue, deliver advanced services and increase flexibility by delivering elastic transport, performance for cloud applications, and integrated advanced services all via a zero-touch deployment model. Both enterprises and service providers benefit from the multi-tenant cloud gateway architecture and the ability to support real-time applications over ordinary broadband links.

About VeloCloud

VeloCloud Networks, Inc., the Cloud-Delivered SD-WAN company, Gartner Cool Vendor 2016 and a winner of Best Startup of Interop, simplifies branch WAN networking by automating deployment and improving performance over private, broadband Internet and LTE links for today's increasingly distributed enterprises. VeloCloud SD-WAN includes: a choice of public, private or hybrid cloud network for enterprise-grade connection to cloud and enterprise applications; branch office enterprise appliances and optional data center appliances; software-defined control and automation; and virtual services delivery. VeloCloud has received financing from investors including NEA, Venrock, March Capital Partners, Cisco Investments and The Fabric, and is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. For more information, visit www.velocloud.com and follow the company on Twitter @VeloCloud.

VeloCloud is a registered trademark of VeloCloud Networks, Inc., in the United States and other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3048854



Contact:

Dan Spalding

Email Contact

(408) 960-9297




LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - August 25, 2016) - New York-based Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC) has recently signed a multi-year exclusive agreement to leverage MedFax in order to optimize business acquisition and retention. MLMIC is the state's largest medical malpractice insurer with over 40 years of experience.

MedFax is a professional profile monitoring and data service that automatically aggregates and distributes primary source demographic, education/training, practice, licensing, certification, investigation, disciplinary and legal records regarding every MD and DO in the United States. MedFax transforms this data into actionable Provider Intelligence by standardizing, indexing and cross-referencing each piece of information, enabling users to realize powerful insights in real time.

MedFax offers medical professional liability insurers the ability to optimize new business acquisition, customer retention, operational processing and risk/claims management, by accelerating risk awareness and facilitating communications within the physician community. MedFax is especially effective with respect to new business acquisition, by enabling proactive identification and rapid assessment of desired risks within very specific target market segments.

"Our data solutions are providing our subscribers with a critical strategic market advantage," said William Moss, EVP Business Development & Strategy with MedFax parent company TruthMD. "MedFax enables MPL companies of all sizes to cost-effectively identify and cultivate opportunities by unlocking the power of real-time actionable data. No one else provides this level of unbiased and comprehensive real time analytics to customers," he added.

"Consolidation and efficient analysis of data is critical for the success of any organization's business development," added Michael Schoppmann, President of MLMIC's service company. "The advantage that we are acquiring through our relationship with MedFax will help protect all of our policyholders into the future."

ABOUT TRUTHMD

TruthMD was founded in 2012 and launched the company's first product, MedFax, in 2013. MedFax unifies the data needs of healthcare Providers, Payors, P&C Insurers, Policymakers and Patients within a single business user friendly platform, that automatically and continuously consolidates and cross references more than 10,000 sources of information on MDs and DOs, making the data available at the touch of a button. TruthMD is a privately held company is located in Southern California. For additional information, please visit www.medfax.com.

CONTACT:

Barbara Bishop

BBPR, Inc.

310-991-9141

barbara.bishop@bbprinc.com
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Switzerland's industrial production declined in the second quarter, the Federal Statistical Office reported Thursday. Industrial production fell 1.2 percent year-on-year, offsetting prior quarter's 1.2 percent increase. At the same time, industrial turnover decreased 2.3 percent after easing 1.7 percent in the first quarter. In June, industrial production climbed 2.7 percent annually, in contrast to a 3.1 percent fall in May and 1.3 percent decrease in April. In construction sector, production declined 4.1 percent on a yearly basis in the second quarter. Turnover also decreased by 4.1 percent. Industrial production in the secondary sector decreased 1.6 percent and turnover fell by 2.6 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- GrowPros Cannabis Ventures Inc. ("GrowPros" or "the Company") (CSE: GCI) announces that, at its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held on September 19th, 2016,

Name Change

In line with its diversification into pharmaceutical development the Company will be requesting approval from its shareholders to change its name to reflect a more accurate depiction of its vision moving forward.

The Company will still operate multiple subsidiaries with distinct focuses on Cannabis production (Grow Pros MMP) Consumer product drug development (Phyto Pain Pharma) and natural health product development (Agro-Tek).

Preparation for the upcoming year

The board and management of GrowPros anticipates an increase in capital requirements as we execute on major milestones not limited to but including construction of our proposed cannabis production facility, beginning stage 1 of clinical trials of PP001 as well as the acquisition of revenue generating assets in the natural health product distribution sector.

The Company currently has three projects, being its clinical trials, construction of its medical marijuana facility, and development of its natural health products, which all require significant funding for further advancement. With this in mind we will be seeking shareholder approval to consolidate its issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation common share for every three (3) pre-consolidation common shares. This is a proactive measure that would allow us to implement the consolidation congruently with funding of the Company's three major projects or other potential transactions and acquisitions management identifies moving forward.

The shareholders will be voting on the appointment of three (3) new directors: Mr. Andre Rancourt, Mr. Robert Brouillette, and Mr. Benoit Chotard who will be replacing Ms. Valerie Lasher, Mr. Koby Smutylo, and Mr. Ryan Brown.

Andre Rancourt is highly experienced in management, start-up, and commercial strategies for human products. He is also a consultant on several commercial strategy committees including FIA and IRZC. He has tremendous practical experience that provided him with expertise in many fields ranging from metals to the complex area of human and animal natural health products. Over the last ten years, he worked as a consultant to re-organize the operations of companies on behalf of several venture capital investment funds. He has an important network of contacts in the human and animal commercial market in multiple countries. He studied at the Seminaire Sherbrooke from 1969 to1971 and subsequently the University of Sherbrooke (Physical Education). He also successfully completed training in Marketing WarFare. He is often asked by investors to act as a consultant/guide to Presidents of companies.

Robert Brouillette is a lawyer, civil engineer, patent and trade-mark agent. He obtained his engineering degree at the Universite de Sherbrooke and his law degree at the Universite Laval. He was admitted to the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec in 1972 and to the Quebec Bar in 1977. He was then appointed trade-mark agent in 1978 and patent agent in 1980. He started his career at Ogilvy Renault in 1977. In 1992, he founded Brouillette Charpentier Fournier (now BCF). In 2005, he founded Brouillette + Partners, a lawyers, patent and trademark agents firm aiming to help builders of innovative companies. Most of his clients are entrepreneurs and a large number of them operate technology companies. He is now recognized in Canada as an expert in the direct selling field. He is also recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada as an expert in the Information Technology field, and by an expert in the Intellectual Property field. Mr. Brouillette is a former Chairman of the executive committee of the intellectual property national section of the Canadian Bar Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Hydro-Quebec between 1998 and 2001, Hydro-Quebec Capitech and Hydro-Quebec Industech between 2001 and 2007. He also serves on the Board of Directors and is an advisor at Simsmart Technologies Inc., Newtrax Technologies, Kinova, Novidev Sante, Intelia, Crowdco and other technology related companies. He is currently chairman of the Board of Directors of Anges Quebec and member of the Board of Directors of Capital Anges Quebec. He also served as an "angel investor" in over twenty start-ups. His professional path has not only made him an experienced lawyer, but also an entrepreneurship driven and accessible man.

Benoit Chotard has over 20 years of experience in international corporate finance, management, and public market in British Columbia and Quebec. Since December 2013, Mr. Chotard is Managing Partner at Capital Force United, a corporate finance advisory corporation that delivers focused advice and transaction expertise, He also was a Partner at Capital Force from January 2011 to November 2013. Since December 2013, Mr. Chotard has also acted as President & CEO, and Director of Orletto Capital Inc., a company listed on the TSX-V. Since 1989, Mr. Chotard is a member of "Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec". Since January 2011, Mr. Chotard is a financial advisor for public and private corporations. Between October 2009 and December 2010, he was Vice-president Corporate Development for Pakit Inc. a corporation specialized in sustainable cellulose fiber moulding technology to the packaging industry. Between July 2008 and January 2009, he acted as Senior Vice-president Finance Corporate Development and acting as Chief Financial Officer for CANTRONIC Systems (Canada) Inc., a corporation specialized in infrared thermal imaging and thermal imaging and night vision systems. Also, he was Director of Nouveau Monde Mining Enterprises Inc., a mining exploration corporation, from April 2012 to November 2012. During his career, Mr. Chotard spent eight years as Head of the Technology Investment Group of National Bank Financial Inc. Throughout his career he has been a significant contributor in the form of time, knowledge, and capital to many philanthropic organizations including the United Way of Canada. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering in 1989 and a Master in Business Administration degree in 1993, both from the University of Sherbrooke.

The Company wishes to thank Ms. Lasher, Mr. Smutylo, and Mr. Brown for their contribution through the years as directors and wishes them well in all their future endeavors.

In Other News

Mr. Andre Rancourt will be replacing Mr. Ryan Brown as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Brown will remain President of the Company and sole officer and director of Grow Pros MMP. The subsidiary tasked with obtaining a license to produce cannabis under the MMPR.

Mr. Brown will be focused on adequately capitalising this subsidiary in a manor non dilutive to GCI and will present options to the board at a subsequent board of directors meeting.

Management has allowed the agreement with the acquisition of the assets of Laboratoires Holizen Inc. ("Holizen") for $450,000, as announced on June 22, 2016, to expire, in order to utilize those resources to pursue opportunities in the United States.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed this news release and does not accept responsibility for its adequacy or accuracy.

Forward-looking statements

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, GrowPros MMP Inc., to obtain a licence for the production of medical marijuana; failure to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.

Contacts:

GrowPros Cannabis Ventures Inc.

Ryan Brown

Chief Executive Officer

(613) 421-8402




THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Benton Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: BEX) ("Benton" or "the Company") is pleased to provide shareholders with an update on its ongoing exploration and plans.

As previously announced, the Company and its joint venture partner Nordmin Engineering Ltd. ("Nordmin") have mobilized a drill to the Cape Ray project to commence a 5,000 metre drill program. The current drill program is designed to infill and expand the 51 and 41 deposits to provide greater confidence in the current resource as the partners advance the project towards feasibility.

In March of this year (see PR March 07, 2016) the companies released the results of a positive preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") for Cape Ray. The results of the PEA include a pre-tax net present value ("NPV") at a 7% discount rate of $48.4 million with a pre-tax internal rate of return ("IRR") of 29% and a post-tax NPV at a 7% discount rate of $32.6 million with a post-tax IRR of 24%. The reader should be cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature. It contains inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves.

The Company would like to remind its shareholders of the current equities positions and projects retained by Benton including 1.3 million shares of Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd., 1.0 million shares of Alset Energy Corp., 191,500 shares of Alabama Graphite Corp. and other small equity holdings.

Projects held by the Company include:

Iron Duke (Gold)

-- Acquired by staking this winter and located in the Sturgeon Lake district -- Trenching to begin shortly on historical gold zones and followed by diamond drilling if warranted -- Recent selective grab samples have returned significant gold grades of up to 20.4gpt gold (grams per tonne).

Panama (Gold)

-- Located in the Red Lake mining district -- Project is host to limited historical diamond drilling with results up to 1.2gpt Au over 15m including 2.8gpt Au over 4.5m -- Claims cover the highest gold grain count found by a regional till sampling program published by the Geological Survey of Canada (OF 3038) in 1999 -- Benton is planning further till sampling, prospecting and trenching to commence this fall to be followed by diamond drilling if warranted

Abernethy (Gold)

-- Located 10km southwest of Kenora, Ontario -- Currently under option to Element 79 Capital Inc. whom is expected to commence drilling shortly after they close their financing in September 2016 -- Benton completed nine drill holes on the project in 2011 to follow up on a historical drill hole which graded 6.3gpt Au over 6.1m. The nine hole drill program intersected gold mineralization over a strike length of 450m and is open in all directions

Saganaga (Gold)

-- Located in the Shebandowan Greenstone belt with a large land position hosting multiple gold zones -- Highlights from drilling include 5.0gpt Au over 20.6m in the Star Zone and 32.0gpt over 5.9m on the Powell Zone.

Mealy Lake (Copper-Nickel-PGE)

-- Located in a under-explored region of Labrador -- Multiple new showings of greater than 1% copper from net-textured magmatic sulphide mineralization that is coincident with electromagnetic anomalies recently determined from a new airborne magnetic - electromagnetic airborne survey -- The targets are ready for drill testing

Providence (Copper-Nickel-PGE)

-- Located in the Northwest Territories -- Existing camp in place and included with the project -- Previous drill intercepts of 5.1m grading 1.73% nickel with 1.75% copper and 0.17% cobalt -- Grades in excess of 8.0gpt platinum have also been obtained over 2.0m in drilling and is open for expansion

Kingurutik (Copper-Nickel-Cobalt)

-- Located 65km north of Voisey Bay, Labrador -- Under partnership with Teck Resources Limited -- Drill intercepts include 10.2m grading 0.54% Cu, 0.49% Ni and 0.08% Co

Bark Lake (Copper-Nickel-PGE)

-- Located in northern Ontario; possible western extension of the Mid Continent Rift system which contains the Eagle Mine (Lundin Mining Corp.) and Thunder Bay North Deposit (Panoramic Resources Ltd.) -- Boulders grading up to 4.35gpt Pd, 2.64gpt Pt, 0.74gpt Au, 1.2% Cu and 0.5% Ni -- Individual assays from selective grab samples include 1.5% Nickel, 1.2% Copper, 2.6 gpt Pt, 1.4gpt Pd and 0.7gpt Au.

Armit Lake (Copper-Nickel-Cobalt-Gold)

-- Located in northern Ontario -- Benton drill highlights include 1.57% Ni and 0.08% Co over 7.8m including 3.7% Ni and 0.2% Co over 2.55m -- DC Creek showing - 4.2% Ni; other sampling includes 25.4gpt Au

Benton is currently seeking partners for many of these projects and interested parties are encouraged to contact the Company for further details and reports. More information can be found on Benton's web site at www.bentonresources.ca.

In addition, the Company is pleased announce that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. to handle its investor relations activities.

"We are pleased to announce that we have selected Renmark to reinforce Benton's profile in the financial community and enhance the visibility of our project portfolio. We choose Renmark because its standards and methodologies fit best with the message we wish to communicate to the investing public," noted Stephen Stares, President of Benton Resources Inc.

In consideration of the services to be provided, the Company has agreed to pay a monthly retainer of $4,000 starting September 1st, 2016 to Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Renmark Financial Communications does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in Benton Resources Inc. or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

About Benton Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: BEX)

Benton Resources Inc. is a well-funded Canadian-based junior with a diversified property portfolio in Gold-Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements.

Clinton Barr (P.Geo.), V.P. Exploration for Benton Resources Inc., is the qualified person responsible for this release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

Stephen Stares, President

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections

Contacts:

Benton Resources Inc.

Stephen Stares

(807) 475-7474

(807) 475-7200 (FAX)

www.bentonresources.ca



Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Bettina Filippone

(416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989

bfilippone@renmarkfinancial.com

www.renmarkfinancial.com




SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Nesscap Energy Inc. (the "Company" or "Nesscap") (TSX VENTURE: NCE), a global leader in research, development and manufacturing of ultracapacitor products, today reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Revenue for the three-month period improved to USD 5.5 million, representing a 23% increase compared to USD 4.5 million in the same period last year. The increase is primarily due to higher demand from customers in the industrial and automotive sectors. Revenue for the first half of fiscal 2016, ending June 30, increased by 18% to USD 9.3 million compared to USD 7.9 million in the same period last year.

Gross profit margin for the three-month period ended June 30, 2016 improved to 20.5% compared to 6.0% in the same period a year ago. Similarly, gross profit margin for the first six months of fiscal 2016 was 21.6% versus 9.6% for the same period last year. The increase in gross profit margin is primarily due to the variation in the mix of products sold, higher factory utilization, and appreciation of the US dollar, the main transaction currency for revenue, relative to the same period in the previous year.

Net loss for the quarter was USD 0.5 million or USD 0.001 per share compared to a net loss of USD 1.5 million or USD 0.003 per share in the same period in fiscal 2015. The improvement in net loss was mainly due to an increase in revenue and gross profit margin and a decrease of operating costs, compared to the same period last year.

At June 30, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents equal to USD 3.9 million and working capital of USD 6.6 million.

"Our quarterly result is the strongest since 2014 and points to the increasing demand we are seeing for our products," said Jim Zuidema, Chief Executive Officer of Nesscap. "Our newly launched XP product line is generating strong customer interest and the additional funding received from our successful rights offering, completed in June, is allowing us to expand production capacity and accelerate new product development."

The financial statements for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and related MD&A have been filed on SEDAR and can be found at www.sedar.com.

Additionally, the Board of Directors announces that Jim Zuidema has assumed the title of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. "Jim has effectively and successfully served as Nesscap's acting CEO as well as CFO for almost four years and the Board felt it important to publicly clarify his status," said Ilya Golubovich, Nesscap's lead director.

Outlook

Nesscap is committed to continuing its efforts to develop "best in class" ultracapacitor cells and modules to better serve the growing and increasingly diverse market for alternative energy storage and power delivery solutions. The Company continues to invest in new technology, direct and indirect sales channels, market development, and production capacity. The Company will continue to focus on its largest current markets in Europe and China while working to develop the more emerging markets throughout the rest of the world. The Company plans to increase its brand recognition and strengthen its position as one of the key technology leaders in the ultracapacitor industry. The Company is actively seeking funding to further ramp production capacity and research and development efforts.

About Nesscap

Since its inception in 1999, Nesscap Energy Inc. has become an award winning global leader in technology innovation and product development of ultracapacitors. Attributes of the ultracapacitor allow for the technology to be used in applications where power, life cycle requirements, or environmental conditions limit the suitability of batteries or capacitors. Nesscap products are available in both cells and modules and are used to enhance the performance of modern applications ranging from portable electronic devices to high performance windmills and high-tech 'green' cars. Nesscap features the widest array of standard commercial products in the market from 3 farads to 6200 farads with industry recognized alternative organic electrolytes. Customers of the Company are active in the transportation, renewable energy, industrial, and consumer markets. Technical and sales information can be found at www.nesscap.com.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Included in this news release are matters that constitute "forward-looking" information within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may" or words of a similar nature. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include among others, regulatory risks, risk inherent in foreign operations, commodity prices and competition. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or its agents are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary comments. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

Nesscap Energy Inc.

Jim Zuidema

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

845-652-0833

jzuidema@nesscap.com




KANSAS CITY, MO--(Marketwired - August 25, 2016) - Safe Haven Security Services, the second largest ADT Authorized Dealer in the country, providing security solutions to tens of thousands of homeowners annually, launched a social media campaign to recruit talent for hundreds of sales positions in multiple offices. Due to rapid growth and national expansion, along with recognitions including the eighth fastest growing company in the Kansas City area by Ingram's magazine and the Inc. 5000 2015 list of the country's fastest growing companies, Safe Haven Security Services' aggressive, no nonsense recruitment process is not for everyone.

As part of the digital recruitment process, the company showcases employees who have reinvented themselves through the "Safe Haven Strong" campaign which features images of people who have changed their lives for the better. The company's recruitment culture is focused on "who you could become instead of who you've been." According to Zach Traphagan, inside sales director, "We have created an environment that works well with humble employees who are ready to work hard."

The company provides a high energy, competitive and intense community and work environment. It has fostered a no-nonsense, high intensity, high reward culture that allows many employees to thrive and become successful, even with little to no previous sales experience. According to Josh Browne, CFO of Safe Haven, "Moving forward, Safe Haven will continue to expand its reach in the U.S. to promote a 'Safe Haven Strong' mentality."

Recently, the company shot a variety of videos to elevate their brand, as well as to showcase the incredible culture it has been working so hard to foster. These videos illustrate the approach that Safe Haven Security Services takes when seeking new talent, as well as a brief look at their intense training structure. JSMM+VBM, a full service digital marketing agency, was retained by the company to create the web design, videos, social media, digital ads and drive a reputation management plan.

In 2002, Safe Haven Security Services was incorporated and has experienced an average annual growth rate of 134 percent by targeting their ideal market in residential sales and by identifying a sales method that works and duplicating it through extensive training.

About Safe Haven Security Services: As the second largest ADT Authorized Dealer in the U.S. and one of the fastest-growing segments of the ADT business family, the company has created an understanding of the needs of clients, partners and employees. When working with Safe Haven, clients can depend on a team of forward-thinking professionals, who are committed to home security systems tailored to their individual needs.

Embedded Video Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRfM3unwvI

Contact:

Valerie Jennings

valerie@jenningssocialmedia.com

816.221.1040
Regulatory News:

Skanska (STO:SKAB) has signed a contract with the National Highway Authority, NDS, in Slovakia to build an extension of the D1 highway in eastern Slovakia. The contract is worth EUR 197M, about SEK 1.8 billion, which will be included in the order bookings for Skanska Czech Republic & Slovakia for the third quarter 2016.

The construction of the 14.4 kilometer section between Budimir and Bidovce, including an additional 1.1 kilometer of express road (R2/R4), will be financed by the European Regional Development Fund, OP Integrated Infrastructure 2014-2020 and the state budget. The section includes a total of 23 bridges, four overpasses and noise barriers. The longest bridge, over the Torysa River, will be 542 meter long.

The expected construction commencement date is November this year and the completion is scheduled for December 2019.

Skanska Czech Republic Slovakia had revenues of about SEK 5.6 billion in 2015 and about 4,000 employees. In the region Skanska is also active in the development of office buildings through Skanska Commercial Development Europe and residential development through Skanska Residential Development Europe.

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com

The information provided herein is such as Skanska AB is obligated to disclose pursuant to the EU market securities act (EU) no. 596/2014.

Skanska is one of the world's leading construction and project development companies, focused on selected home markets in the Nordic region, other European countries and North America. Supported by global trends in urbanization and demographics, and by being at the forefront in sustainability, Skanska offers competitive solutions for both simple and the most complex assignments, helping to build a sustainable future for customers and communities. The Group currently has 43,100 employees in selected home markets in Europe and North America. Skanska's sales in 2015 totaled SEK 155 billion.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005733/en/

Contacts:

Skanska Czech Republic Slovakia

Ondrej Svaton, Communication and Marketing Director

tel: +420 737 256 304

or

Skanska AB

Andreas Joons, Press Officer

tel +46 (0)10-449 04 94

or

Direct line for media: tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99
DUBLIN, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Exploring the European Payment Gateway Opportunity " report to their offering.

The continuing shift to e-commerce by consumers around the world has placed a premium for retailers on developing a robust e-commerce presence. An important aspect of doing this is to ensure that consumers are able to use whichever payment methods they prefer when transacting online. Payment gateways make this possible.



European consumers are increasingly turning to e-commerce for a greater share of their retail spending. As a result, European retailers, especially small businesses without large e-commerce resources, are looking for new ways to enable their websites to accept online payments.



Many merchants realize that the growing number of cross-border transactions represent significant new sales opportunities within the region as well as globally from both domestic and international consumers. Payment gateway companies not only facilitate domestic transactions but also support popular international payment methods and a host of global currencies for cross-border transactions.



The research note, Exploring the European Payment Gateway Opportunity, examines the impact of different commerce and consumer trends and issues across the region and describes how payment gateways have evolved beyond simply payment acceptance toward value-added services in order to meet merchants' needs.



With increasing cross-border and cross-currency e-commerce transactions, the European payment gateway market has attracted a variety of companies, including those based outside Europe. Notably, these payment gateways represent an expanding category within the global payments ecosystem.



Highlights of the research note include:



- Overview of payment gateway companies in the European market

- Assessment of the European e-commerce opportunity

- Evolution of European payment gateways' value-added services- Future implications for European payment gateways- 2Checkout- Adyen- Bambora- BlueSnap- Braintree- Computop- CyberSource- DataCash- Ingenico EPayments- Paymentwall- Paymill- Stripe- ZoozFor more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9mrszx/exploring_theRelated Topics: E-Business, Mobile and Contactless Payments

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
San Francisco, California--(Newsfile Corp. - August 25, 2016) - Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. (OTC Pink: HCTI), is pleased to announce that after several years of development, Comex a division of PPG Industries Inc. (see About PPG below) has created a new coatings product utilizing Hybrid's zero isocyanate Polyurethane technology. The product was recently launched in the Mexican market and is now sold in PPG-Comex stores in Mexico. PPG-Comex developed and launched the product in an effort to bring more environmentally friendly green products to customers without compromising on performance. The coating product has been reported to work exceptionally well and was found to perform better than competitor's products on both durability and coating properties. "We are very excited to be working in partnership with PPG-Comex the world's largest industrial coatings company," said Joseph Kristul President and CEO, "this is yet another example of the commercial value of Hybrid's unique technology."

Later this year, PPG-Comex will also be launching a second coating product based on Hybrid's zero isocyanate Polyurethane technology.

This product launch demonstrates the strong desire and ability for companies to develop their own products using Hybrid's zero isocyanate Green Polyurethane Hardener as a raw material. It also demonstrates a strong market demand for Green Polyurethane by some of the largest coatings companies in the world. Hybrid's end goal is for numerous companies to develop multiple products based on Hybrid's zero isocyanate Green Polyurethane Hardener as legislation for isocyanates eventually becomes more restrictive, thereby allowing Hybrid to deeply and broadly penetrate the coatings market not only as a finished goods supplier, but also as a raw materials supplier. Hybrid is and continues to be the only supplier in the world of zero isocyanate polyurethane hardener and zero isocyanate polyurethane based finished goods.

This press release was first issued on May 5, 2016.

Hybrid's patented technology is the only formulation in the world today that produces polyurethane without the use of any isocyanates in the entire production process.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, and other risks. Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Hybrid Coating Technologies Inc. expectations.

About PPG

PPG is an American Fortune 500 company and global supplier of paints, coatings, specialty materials, chemicals, glass, and fiberglass. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG operates in more than 70 countries around the globe. By revenue it is the largest coatings company in the world with $15B for 2015. PPG has 47,000 employees worldwide and trades under the symbol PPG on the NYSE with a $27B market cap. PPG acquired Comex in 2014 for $2.3B. Comex has 4,000 retail locations, 5,000 employees and $1B in revenues.

About Hybrid Coating Technologies

Hybrid Coating Technologies (HCT) is a San Francisco-based innovator focused on improving the quality and safety of foams, coatings, and adhesives for industrial and commercial customers around the world. We are the exclusive licensee of Green Polyurethane foam, coatings, and adhesives - the world's first-ever patent protected polyurethane-based foam, coatings, and adhesive products that eliminate toxic isocyanates from the entire production process (licensed by Nanotech Industries, Inc.) and the 2015 recipient of the Presidential Green Chemistry Award.

The Problem of Conventional Foams/Coatings/Paint and Isocyanates

Conventional polyurethane (PU) paint and coatings have many disadvantages: they are porous, permeable and maintain poor hydrolytic stability. This makes the material highly vulnerable to environmental degradation and ultimately leads to their chemical decomposition, especially when in contact with water. Conventional PU foams such as spray foam insulation are applied via a spraying mechanism that sends toxic isocyanates in the air - exposing workers to the dangers of toxic isocyanates. Strict and costly health & safety measures have to be implemented in the manufacture and application of conventional polyurethane due to the toxicity of isocyanates. This is why regulatory bodies around the world are now looking toward phasing out the use of isocyanates.

Since conventional polyurethanes contain isocyanates, very strict health and safety measures related to their use must be taken. In addition, special measures for the preparation of fillers for paints and coatings must be taken since isocyanates are very sensitive to moisture. Both of these issues lead to a highly regulated and costly working environment. On the other hand, it is not necessary to address any of these issues with Green PolyurethaneTM since no isocyanates are used at any stage of the production or application process - making it hundreds of times less toxic than conventional PU.

Current global trends toward more environmentally sound products and new legislative restrictions on the use of hazardous materials and their chemical by-products pose formidable obstacles to conventional polyurethane manufacturers. Governmental health agencies and workers unions are beginning to actively speak out and regulate against the dangers of isocyanates in the workplace.

The Green Polyurethane Solution

Green Polyurethane (also referred to as "HNIPU" - hybrid non-isocyanate polyurethane) is a "hybrid" material that combines the high chemical resistance properties of epoxy and advanced durability and wear resistance properties of polyurethane, making it the perfect coating application for sanitary, high traffic and corrosive surface areas. As a hybrid material with superior properties, Green Polyurethane  can be applied in one or two coatings, providing a welcome cost-saving substitute to currently used multi-layered coating applications. Its safety features allow it to be applied without the interruption of business due to public exposure, creating an additional 30-60% savings on application costs for customers. As a foam, Green Polyurethane provides high R values up to 6.0, energy savings up to 30% and improved tensile strength over conventional foam without using dangerous isocyanates.

Recent Anti-Isocyanate Regulatory Pressure

US EPA MDI Action Plan: The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is taking progressive action to regulate and potentially ban isocyanates and has mentioned Hybrid's technology as an alternative to toxic polyurethane in its MDI Action Plan against isocyanates (see page 4 Figovsky and Shapovalov). http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/tdi.pdf.

OSHA National Emphasis Program: On June 25, 2013 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the US Department of Labor, initiated a National Emphasis Program to protect workers from the serious health effects from occupational exposure to isocyanates. Isocyanates are found in polyurethane based products. According to OSHA, "Workers exposed to isocyanates can suffer debilitating health problems for months or even years after exposure which could result in death."

California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on March 13, 2014 selected isocyanates and two others substances from a list of 1,100 toxic components that it will focus on with the goal of potentially banning them altogether within the next two years. The announcement is part of a bigger effort to educate consumers and manufacturers about product safety under the Green-Chemistry Law, which went into effect in California last year. Under the law, the agency has jurisdiction to ban these products altogether after following proper protocol. That process includes workshops, a public comment period and requiring manufacturers that want to sell these products in California to determine whether it would be feasible to use safer ingredients

The US EPA on January 8, 2015 announced that it was taking action to protect consumers from new uses and imports of harmful isocyanates in polyurethane. The EPA's proposed action, a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), would require manufacturers (including importers) to notify the EPA at least 90 days before starting or resuming new uses of isocyanates in polyurethane based consumer products. The EPA would then have the opportunity to evaluate the intended use of and if necessary, to take action to prohibit or limit all products containing over one tenth of one percent of the chemical including imported products that make their way into the United States

Public Relations and Media Contact:

LCGHeadquarter OfficeSteve Luna702.333.4886www.lcginfo.com
VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - Backtracking on its early announcements on digital privacy, WhatsApp is planning to share member information, phone numbers and analytical data with Facebook, to make revenue from the platform. WhatsApp, which has more than one billion users, believes that the sharing of data can help in better friend suggestions and relevant ads. In a blogpost WhatsApp said 'We want to explore ways for you to communicate with businesses that matter to you too, while still giving you an experience without third-party banner ads and spam.' Two years ago when Facebook acquired WhatsApp, Co-founder Jan Koum has declared that the deal would not affect its digital privacy. The change in policy might lead to legal battles in several countries. Many of the European countries are really concerned about the protection of personal data. 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.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton sought to defend her family's charitable foundation in an interview on Wednesday, dismissing Republican rival Donald's Trump's attacks on the Clinton Foundation as 'ridiculous.'



Clinton called into CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360' to deny allegations the Clinton Foundation was involved in a 'pay-to-play' scheme while she was Secretary of State.



'What Trump has said is ridiculous,' Clinton said during the phone interview. 'My work as secretary of state was not influenced by any outside forces.'



'I made policy decisions based on what I thought was right to keep Americans safe and to protect U.S. interests abroad,' she added. 'No wild political attacks by Donald Trump is going to change that.'



Clinton argued that more is known about the foundation than is known about Trump's wealth, his business, or his tax returns.



The Democratic nominee was also critical of an Associated Press report that claimed more than half the people outside the government who met with Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the Clint Foundation.



Clinton argued that the AP looked at only a small portion of her time and called it 'absurd' that her meetings with individuals such as Elie Wiesel, Melinda Gates or Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus were due to connections with the foundation instead of their status as highly respected global leaders



The allegations of corruption could continue to be a headache for Clinton, however, with several major newspapers and Republican politicians calling for the Clinton Foundation to be shut down.



Trump has also called for the foundation to be shut down and said the scandal requires an expedited investigation by a Special Prosecutor. The billionaire-turned-politician previously donated to the organization.



(Photo: Gage Skidmore)



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- This document corrects and replaces the press release that was issued on August 23, 2016 at 4:13 PM EDT.

TomaGold Corporation (TSX VENTURE: LOT) ("TomaGold" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the first closing of a convertible secured debenture (the "Debenture") in the amount of $300,000 of a total of $2,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Debenture will bear interest at an annual rate of 10% and will have a maturity date of 24 months from the date of issue.

The debenture holder, during the 24 months from the date of closing, has the right, at its sole discretion, to convert the outstanding principal balance and accrued and unpaid interests into that number of Conversion Units determined by dividing the amount being converted by $0.15, provided that the Corporation has the right to require the conversion, in part or in full, of the outstanding principal amount and the accrued and unpaid interests under the Debenture if the closing price of the Class A shares of the capital stock of the Corporation ("Common Share") on the TSX Venture Exchange is equal to or exceeds $0.22.

Each Conversion Unit, at a price of $0.15 each, will consist of (i) one Common Share; and (ii) one half (1/2) Warrant ("Conversion Unit"). The definitive terms of the warrants are the following. Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) Common Share of the Corporation at a price of $0.20 each for a 24-month period from the date of issue of the Debenture.

The Corporation will grant a movable hypothec on all of its present and future moveable assets to the debenture holder. Other movable hypothecs will rank "pari passu" to such movable hypothec for an additional amount of up to $1,000,000.

The convertible secured debenture is subject to regulatory approval. The Debenture, Warrants, Units and underlying Common Shares issued will be subject to a mandatory 4 months and 1 day holding period.

Stock options

The Corporation has also granted to directors, officers and consultants an aggregate of 2,900,000 stock options to acquire the same number of common shares of the Corporation at $0.15 per share for a period of 5 years.

About TomaGold Corporation

TomaGold Corporation is a Canadian-based mining exploration company whose primary mission is the acquisition, exploration and development of gold projects in Canada and abroad.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The statements in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements". Readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual developments or results may vary materially from those described in such "forward-looking" statements.

Contacts:

David Grondin

President and Chief Executive Officer

(514) 583-3490

www.tomagoldcorp.com




The Etam Group's financial statements to 30 June 2016 were approved by the Managing Partners on 24 August 2016 and were subject to a limited review by the statutory auditors on 25 August 2016

Regulatory News:

Etam Developpement (Paris:TAM):

m 30.06.16 30.06.15 Change Net sales 633.8 645.4 -1.8% Like-for-like -1.8% Gross profit 364.6 369.5 -1.3% Gross margin 57.5% 57.2% +0.3pt EBITDA* 36.6 27.0 35.5% Operating income 15.2 16.5 -8.0% Operating income in Europe 17.8 21.1 -3.3 M Operating income in China -2.6 -4.6 +2.0 M Net income (Group share) 6.7 8.4 -1.7 M Net debt 164.0 159.7 +4.3 M Gearing 45.6% 45.6%

* Operating Income before depreciation provisions and results from asset sales and disposal Cf. reconciliation with the financial statements in the 2016 Half Year report)

** Net debt to equity

SALES AND GROSS MARGIN

The Etam Group generated net sales of 633.8 million during the first half of 2016, including a negative currency effect of 9.4 million mainly due to the depreciation of the yuan against the euro. This represents a decrease of 1.8% compared to the first half of 2015 and the same decrease like-for-like and at constant exchange rates.

The Group gross margin of 57.5% increased by 0.3 point. In Europe, gross margin deteriorated by 1.1 points, mainly due to the higher cost of goods sold related to the appreciation of the US dollar against the euro and to higher discounts in Etam's ready-to-wear activities. In China, the voluntary reduction of promotions in the first quarter of the year allowed for a gross margin improvement of 3.4 points on the first half year.

RESULTS

In the first half of 2016, the Group generated an EBITDA of 36.6 million, up 9.6 M compared to the first half of 2015.Operating income was affected by negative changes in stock provisions and in the value of assets compared to the first half of 2015 and reached 15.2 million, down 1.3 M.

In Europe, in a declining market, Etam and Undiz' lingerie operations and the 1.2.3 brand delivered a satisfactory performance, while Etam's ready-to-wear business was affected by the scaling back of its offering. Operating income totalled 17.8 million, down 3.3 million compared with the first half of 2015.

In China, operating income for the first half of 2016 came to -2.6 million compared with -4.6 million in the first half of 2015, reflecting a slight improvement against the backdrop of a fall in sales in Department Stores.

Net financial charges represented an expense of 2.8 million against an expense of 3.9 million in the first half of 2015 thanks to a favourable change in the markt-to-market value of the currency hedging portfolio.

Consolidated net income Group share was 6.7 million, down 1.7 million, after taking into account non-controlling interests of -0.4 million against -0.6 million in the first half of 2015.

FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

The operating cash flow1 represented a cash inflow of 11.2 million, against a cash inflow of 1.6 million in the first half of 2015.

Net investments were 20.9 million in the first half of 2016 against 43.2 million in the first half of 2015.

After interests and taxes paid, the Group's free cash flow was negative of 29.0 million at 30 June 2016, against a negative amount of 47.7 million at 30 June 2015.

The net financial debt amounted to 164.0 million at June 30, 2016 against 159.7 million at 30 June 2015.

OTHER INFORMATION

The ninth edition of Etam lingerie live show, which will mark the 100-year anniversary of the brand, will open the Paris Fashion Week on September 27.

1. Operating Cash Flow is equal to EBITDA adjusted for changes in Working Capital, cash flows relating to operating income and expense, and other income and expense within the financial accounts.

2. Free Cash Flow is equal to Operating Cash Flow after net cash flows on investments, interest payments on net debt and income tax.

International retailer of lingerie, cosmetics, women's ready-to-wear clothing and accessories

4,047 stores at 30.06.2016

Etam Developpement will report its third-quarter sales on 20 October 2016 (after market close)

2016 Half-Year Results presentation is availableon the website www.etamdeveloppement.com

Etam Developpement: ISIN code: FR0000035743 Reuters: TAM.PA Bloomberg: TAM FP

Etam Developpement 10 961 739 euros R.C.S. PARIS 308 382 035

Registered office: 78, rue de Rivoli 75004 PARIS

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005676/en/

Contacts:

Etam Developpement

Information for analysts and investors

Tel.: 01 55 90 72 79

www.etamdeveloppement.fr
SAN FRANCISCO, CA --(Marketwired - August 25, 2016) - Zephyr Real Estate agent Katharine Holland, who has received much acclaim for innovative marketing, was a guest speaker at this year's Inman Connect. Holland participated two panels: "Cool Real Estate Videos and How They Were Made" and "The Latest with VR, 360 and Video."

Earlier this year, Holland's "Corgi Realtor" video was spotlighted by Placester, a real estate marketing platform, as one of the best of the year. She was also awarded the Outstanding Online Video from the Web Marketing Association. To date, the award-winning video has received over 63,000 views. In addition, she was a nominee for Inman's best video. Holland was also voted this year's "Best Realtor" at the Bay Area Reporter's annual Besties Awards/reader's poll.

Holland's expertise on the panels was highlighted by her methodology for preparing marketing videos. Her talking points included offering a unique perspective, engaging content, creative vision, the need for a quick turnaround and the right videographer who is willing to work outside the norm with a minimal budget.

"What an honor it was to participate in the prestigious Inman conference," commented Holland. "The opportunity to share my experience and learn from the experience of others was a career milestone."

Holland is an active fundraiser for the LGBT community, and is involved in several organizations including San Francisco FrontRunners. She works from Zephyr's Upper Market office, and may be reached at kholland@1sanfran.com or 415.378.2697.

"It's been a pleasure to see Katharine reap the rewards of her forward-thinking," commented Matthew Borland, Managing Broker at Zephyr's Upper Market office. "Her unique take on how things get done is very refreshing."

Inman Connect is the premier real estate event attended by thousands of industry movers and shakers from around the globe. This year marked the 20 th annual conference, which was themed "Discovering relationships and breakthroughs to grow your business."

About Zephyr Real Estate

Founded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco's largest independent real estate firm with nearly $2.3 billion in gross sales and a current roster of more than 300 full-time agents. Zephyr's highly-visited website has earned two web design awards, including the prestigious Interactive Media Award. Zephyr Real Estate is a member of the international relocation network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World; the luxury real estate network, Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate; global luxury affiliate, Mayfair International; and local luxury marketing association, the Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco. Zephyr has six offices in San Francisco, a brand new office in Greenbrae, and two brokerage affiliates in Sonoma County, all strategically positioned to serve a large customer base throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit www.ZephyrRE.com.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/8/24/11G111702/Images/Katharine_Holland-C-853f157baeb7bf70824ee8dc63f4089f.jpg

Contact:

Melody Foster

Zephyr Real Estate

San Francisco, CA

415.426.3203

Email contact


Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal process agitators market 2016-2020report. This research report also lists 10 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

Competitive vendor landscape

According to the report, intense competition exists between vendors in terms of product customization, faster product delivery, price, and product innovation. For instance, EKATO, a leading vendor in the global process agitators market, is now delivering customized EM and FD series agitators in lesser than four weeks in the US market.

"Large international vendors generate their revenue through direct sales channels. However, they are forming partnerships with other vendors, which are into specific industries, so as to further expand their reach to specific industries. In 2015, Suzler signed an agreement with Veolia Environnement, where Suzler will use the sales reach of Veolia Environnement for providing highly efficient submersible and dry well pumps, mixers, and services to the water and wastewater industry," says Bharath Kanniappan, a lead automation analyst from Technavio.

As agitators need to be developed as per the guidelines of several quality standards organizations, domestic vendors are investing heavily in R&D to develop products approved by Atmospheres explosibles (ATEX) and other organizations.

Request for sample report: http://goo.gl/dR6G4F

Technavio industrial automationresearch analysts identify the following key vendors:

EKATO Group

EKATO Group is an expert in producing agitators that are used for wastewater, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food products, pulp and paper, raw materials, and environmental technology industrial applications. The company provides its agitators for mixing systems, small and medium-sized vessels, shaft seals, rugged agitators, vertical dryers for solids, homogenizing equipment, mechanical seals, accessories, and pressure compensators.

EKATO also provides maintenance and inspection, repair, managed inventory programs, agitator overhaul, mechanical seal rebuild and testing, and training services. It is focused on exporting more than 85% of the products and spending 7% of its revenue on R&D.

Philadelphia Mixing Solutions

Philadelphia Mixing Solutions is a strong player engaged in the developing, designing, producing, and marketing of process optimization solutions and fluid mixing equipment. The company is also providing various gear drives and aeration equipment that includes low-speed turbine surface aerators, high-speed directional aerators, and mixers; and shaft seals that include stuffing box, and water seals along with static mixers. It also focuses on providing field servicing, drive exchange, and repair and inspection along with training services. The company is a subsidiary of Mixing Solutions.

SPX Flow

SPX Flow offers products and solutions that are used to filter, blend, dry, transport, and meter fluids with a focus on the original equipment installation. The company also serves its customers from industries such as F&B, power, energy, and industrial.

SPX Flow offers its products under its brand Lightnin. The Lightnin brand has expertise in developing mixing technology. This brand is also known for offering long-lasting and durable agitators, flocculators, mixers, and aerators for fluid process systems. It also provides services, such as consulting services and aftermarket services, which include support services.

Sulzer

Sulzer has strong expertise in offering rotating equipment services and maintenance and pumping solutions along with reaction, separation, and mixing technology solutions worldwide. The company functions in the market with its three business units named pumps equipment, Chemtech, and rotating equipment services. It serves customers from the water, oil and gas, power, and general industries.

Sulzer with the help of its brands SALOMIX and Scaba agitation and mixing technology focuses on providing various products used for industrial applications. Its offerings range from top mounted vertical and side mounted horizontal agitators and dynamic chemical mixers along with tank flow management products that guarantee effective agitating and mixing processes.

Xylem

Xylem is one of the major vendors for designing, producing, and providing equipment and services for wastewater and water applications. The company's offerings address the complete cycle of water, ranging from distribution, collection, and the returning of water to the environment.

The company provides its Flygt top-entry agitators, which are engineered for withstanding hours of continuous operation. These agitators have parallel shaft geared motors joined with specially designed impellers and rigid drive shafts that enable long-lasting operation. Flygt's yellow impeller blades provide the benefit of self-cleaning properties, ensuring clog-free operation. Their installations are suitable for sludge storage mixing, digester mixing, agricultural biogas generation tanks, and anaerobic and anoxic biological treatment.

Top-vendor offerings:

Company Products offered EKATO Group Reactor agitators Customized agitators Philadelphia Mixing Solutions Agitator Impellers SPX 70 Series mixers i-Series- Nettco mixers A340 (Up Pumper gas handling) A100 (Propeller) Sulzer Dynamic mixers and agitators Submersible mixers Xylem Flygt series

Source: Technavio

Browse Related Reports:

Global Industrial Evaporators Market 2016-2020

Global Compressor Market 2016-2020

Global Industrial Dryers 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

Technavio is 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/20160825005033/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Shell International Finance B.V. and Royal Dutch Shell plc

25 August 2016

Publication of Prospectus Supplement

The following documents (the "Documents") are available for viewing:

Prospectus Supplement dated 24 August 2016

Shell International Finance B.V. unaudited interim financial statements for the six month period ended 30 June 2016

The Documents must be read in conjunction with the Information Memorandum dated 9 August 2016 relating to the Programme. The Information Memorandum constitutes a base prospectus for the purposes of Article 5.4 of Directive 2003/71/EC as amended. Full information on Shell International Finance B.V. and Royal Dutch Shell plc is only available on the basis of the Information Memorandum.

The Documents are available for viewing at the 'Financial Reporting' section of Shell's website. To view the Documents, please paste the following URLs into the address bar of your browser.

Shell International Finance B.V. unaudited interim financial statements for the six month period ended 30 June 2016

http://www.shell.com/global/aboutshell/investor/financial-information/shell-international-finance.html

Prospectus Supplement dated 24 August 2016

http://www.shell.com/investors/financial-reporting/euro-medium-term-note-programme.html

Other content available on Shell's website and the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on Shell's website is not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this announcement.

The Documents have also been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm.

Enquiries:

Shell Media Relations

International, UK, European Press: +44 (0)207 934 5550

Shell Investor Relations

Europe: + 31 (0)70 377 3996

DISCLAIMER - INTENDED ADDRESSEES

Please note that the information contained in the Information Memorandum may be addressed to and/or targeted at persons who are residents of particular countries (specified in the Information Memorandum) only and is not intended for use and should not be relied upon by any person outside these countries and/or to whom the offer contained in the Information Memorandum is not addressed. Prior to relying on the information contained in the Information Memorandum, you must ascertain from the Information Memorandum whether or not you are part of the intended addressees of the information contained therein.

This publication does not constitute an offering of the securities described in the Information Memorandum for sale in the United States. This is not for distribution in the United States. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under any relevant securities laws of any state of the United States and are subject to U.S. tax law requirements. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States.

Your right to access this service is conditional upon complying with the above requirement.
DUBLIN, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Indonesia Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" report to their offering.

The tire market in Indonesia is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% during forecast period on account of expanding passenger car fleet, continuing infrastructure growth and large scale construction activities being undertaken in the country.

Indonesia is one of the major economies of the ASEAN region. Backed by government initiatives and rapid infrastructure developments, tire market in Indonesia is anticipated to grow at a robust pace over the next five years. Further, on account of favorable trading environment and easy availability of raw materials, an increasing number of automobile OEMs are establishing their manufacturing / assembling plants in the country, which is positively influencing the country's tire market.

Few of the major global tire brands operating in Indonesia include Toyota, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Honda, Nissan, Volvo, BMW, General Motors, Audi, Renault, Mazda and Isuzu. In 2014, the Government of Indonesia revised the luxury tax on "Low Cost Green Car (LCGC)" and "Low Emission Carbon (LEC) Vehicles" to promote environment friendly vehicles in the country. Under this program, automobile manufacturers are encouraged to invest in the country to produce more efficient, safer and technologically advanced vehicles. These initiatives are expected to positively influence the country's tire market over the next five years.

In 2015, tire market in Indonesia was dominated by the replacement tire segment, which grabbed around two-thirds of the market share. Moreover, two-wheeler tire segment grabbed a major share in Indonesia tire market in 2015, and the trend is expected to continue over the next five years as well.

Companies Mentioned:

PT Bridgestone Tire Indonesia

PT Elangperdana Tyre Industry

PT Gajah Tunggal TBK

PT Goodyear Indonesia TBK

PT Hankook Tire Indonesia

PT Michelin Indonesia

PT Multistrada Arah Sarana

PT Sumi Rubber Indonesia

PT Suryaraya Rubberindo Industries

Yokohama Rubber Company Limited

Key Topics Covered:

1. Product Overview

2. Research Methodology

3. Analyst View

4. Indonesia Tire Market Outlook

5. Indonesia Two-Wheeler (2W) Tire Market Outlook

6. Indonesia Passenger Car (PC) Tire Market Outlook

7. Indonesia Light Truck Tire Market Outlook

8. Indonesia Heavy Truck Tire Market Outlook

9. Indonesia Off-The-Road (OTR) Tire Market Outlook

10. Indonesia Medium Truck Tire Market Outlook

11. Indonesia Bus Tire Market Outlook

12. Supply Chain Analysis

13. Import-Export Analysis

14. Market Dynamics

15. Market Trends & Developments

16. Policy & Regulatory Landscape

17. Indonesia Economic Profile

18. Competitive Landscape

19. Strategic Recommendations

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/l52386/indonesia_tire

Related Topics: Automotive Tires

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
DUBLIN, August 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Malignant Melanoma Market With Focus on Nevisense System: 2015-2020" report to their offering.

The report titled Global Malignant Melanoma Market With Focus on Nevisense System: 2015-2020 provides an in-depth analysis of the global malignant melanoma market with detailed analysis of the volume of patients and deaths caused due to melanoma. The report also provides the market size of the global melanoma diagnosis and therapeutics market.



The report provides detailed regional analysis of Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa for the malignant melanoma market. Regional analysis includes the melanoma diagnosis and therapeutics market, total volume of melanoma patients and deaths caused by melanoma along with the gender segmentation. The report also includes the country analysis of the U.S. and Australia for malignant melanoma market. It provides the analysis of melanoma patient volume along with the deaths caused.



The report also provides detailed information and analysis on the first objective diagnostic support tool, named, Nevisense system manufactured by SciBase company. This section provides the detailed information about the features and clinical benefits of the device along with the technology of the device and its clinical procedures. This also includes the global and regional analysis of the number of devices sold since its invention, i.e. 2014, its installed base and the competitors.



Furthermore, the report assesses 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 melanoma market has also been forecasted for the period 2015-2020, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the global melanoma market is stiff and dominated by the big players like Bristol. Further, key players of the melanoma market, Merck and Navidea are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.



Company Coverage



Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Merck & Co., Inc.

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Introduction

2.1 Introduction to Skin Cancer

2.2 Introduction to Malignant Melanoma Skin Cancer



3. Global Market Analysis

3.1 Global Melanoma Diagnosis and Therapeutics Market Analysis

3.2 Global Melanoma Market by New Cases Analysis

3.3 Global Melanoma Market by Deaths Caused Analysis



4. Regional Market Analysis

4.1 Europe Malignant Melanoma Market Analysis

4.2 Americas Malignant Melanoma Market Analysis

The U.S. Melanoma Market by New Cases

The U.S. Melanoma Market by Deaths Caused

4.3 Asia Malignant Melanoma Market Analysis

4.4 Oceania Malignant Melanoma Market Analysis

Australia Melanoma Market by New Cases

Australia Melanoma Market by Deaths Caused

4.5 Africa Malignant Melanoma Market Analysis



5. Melanoma Diagnostic Support Tool: Nevisense

5.1 Introduction to Nevisense

5.2 EIS Technology: Nevisense Action Mechanism

5.3 SciBase Company Profile

5.4 Nevisense Device Installation Base



6. Market Dynamics

6.1 Growth Drivers

6.1.1 Rise in Melanoma Cases

6.1.2 Effective Immunotherapies

6.1.3 Targeted Therapy Drugs

6.2 Challenges

6.2.1 Lack of Awareness among People

6.2.2 High Cost Associated with the Treatment

6.2.3 Challenges in Developing Countries

6.3 Market Trends

6.3.1 Melanoma Vaccines

6.3.2 Diagnostic Tools

6.3.3 Immunotherapy

6.3.4 Melanoma Genetic Research

7. Competitive Landscape



8. Company Profiling

8.1 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

8.2 Merck & Co., Inc.

8.3 Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tr68sw/global_malignant



Related Topics: Oncology

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
CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Japanese airline All Nippon Airlines Thursday said it will cancel some Dreamliner flights over the coming weeks in order to fix issues with the aircraft's Rolls-Royce engines. ANA with a fleet of 50 Dreamliners is the largest operator of Boeing's 787. The Japanese carrier said it has canceled nine flights with the aircraft on Friday and will ground more than 300 through September-end. ANA will replace compressor blades in the aircraft's Trent 1000 engines produced by Rolls-Royce due to corrosion. 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.
Lee Andrew Gipson and Kierra Shante McWilliams collage.jpg

Lee Andrew Gipson (left) and Kierra Shante McWilliams (right), were arrested for their roles in the death of beloved retired Moss Point educator, Willie C. Williams. Gipson is charged capital murder and McWilliams was charged with accessory after the fact.

(Moss Point Police Department)

MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Moss Point police have arrested two suspects in connection with the death of retired educator Willie C. Williams.

According to Moss Point Chief of Police Art McClung, Lee Andrew Gipson, 23, and Kierra Shante McWilliams, 24, both of Moss Point, have been charged. Gipson is charged with capital murder for Williams' fatal stabbing while McWilliams is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Both are being held in the Jackson County Adult Detention Center until their initial appearance. McClung said that while the alleged suspect is in custody, the case remains open as police search for other person(s) of interest.

Williams, 64, was found Friday by a friend who became worried after multiple attempts to contact Williams were unsuccessful. When the friend arrived, he immediately noticed Williams' truck was missing and then found his door ajar. Inside, he found Williams' body.

According to Jackson County Deputy Coroner Jason Moody, Williams was stabbed more than 50 times in an attack Moody deemed to be "gruesome and uncommon."

The Pascagoula Police Department, Jackson County District Attorney's Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation.

Anyone who has any information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Moss Point Police at 228 475-1711 or Crime Stoppers at 1-877-787-5898 or mscoastcrimestoppers.com.
A 100% interest in terrain showing the best copper and gold prospects in Jamaica as defined by exploration work to date;

The substantial benefit of $14M of exploration work by OZ Minerals over the last 3 years.

An excellent mix of advanced targets with promising drill intersections to follow up;



Over 30 untested blue sky targets



Large geophysical, geological and geochemical databases

Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 21, 2016) - Carube Copper Corp. (TSXV: CUC), Mr. Jeff Ackert, President and CEO of Carube Copper announces that the company has finalized a heads of agreement (HOA) with OZ Minerals Limited to acquire 100% of OZ Minerals' holdings in Jamaica, which will include:

OZ Minerals' 70% interest in the Bellas Gate Joint Venture licenses;

OZ Minerals' 100% interest in five licences covering 276km2 acquired by OZ Minerals in 2014;

For clarification, Carube Copper will retain its 100% interest in the Above Rocks Project.

Under terms of the HOA, OZ Minerals will transfer 100% of its interests in the properties described to Carube Copper in return for cash payments totalling $14 million due after the commencement of commercial production together with a 2% Net Smelter Return Royalty. All matters will be concluded via a final all inclusive definitive agreement to be signed within 60 days. At that point Carube Copper will have 100% interest in eleven licences covering over 535km2 (subject to underlying royalties) covering the best copper-gold prospects identified to date in Jamaica by historic work and the recent exploration work by Carube and OZ Minerals.

Jeff Ackert, President and CEO of Carube Copper comments: "The acquisition OZ Minerals' large land package, together with our own licences gives Carube Copper control of over 500 square kilometres of the most prospective ground in Jamaica based on historic showings, the work completed and reported in 1993 by the Canadian International Development Agency ('CIDA') and the recent work by Carube and OZ Minerals. We are excited to be in a position to commit to the exploration and development of all assets. By building on the work completed by OZ Minerals and Carube Copper and with our new strategic flexibility, we will be able to prioritize organic growth or potential joint venture funding on a project by project basis."

Bellas Gate

Previously announced results at the Bellas Gate Joint venture included drill intercepts from the Connors and Provost Prospects.

At Connors

Hole DDH-CON-14-005 intersected 294m of 0.56% CuEq (0.41%Cu, 0.27 g/t Au); including 96m of 1.00% CuEq , (0.67%Cu, 0.58 g/t Au)

Hole DDH-CON-14-003 intersected 297m of 0.53% CuEq, (0.40%Cu, 0.24 g/t Au) including 55m of 1.00% CuEq (0.67%Cu, 0.59 g/t Au)

At Provost

Hole PVT-16-002 intersected 339m of 0.34% CuEq (0.28%Cu, 0.12 g/t Au), including 10m of 1.79% CuEq (1.28%Cu, 0.90 g/t Au)

Hole PVT-16-001 intersected 82m of 0.46% CuEq (0.37%Cu, 0.16 g/t Au), including 29m of 0.63% CuEq (0.49%Cu, 0.24 g/t Au)

The intervals do not necessarily indicate true width of mineralization, as its geometry is not known. Copper equivalents are calculated using a US $3.00/lb. copper and a US$1200 per ounce gold price assuming unlimited internal dilution and 100% recovery of both metals.

The Provost Prospect will be one of several high-priority areas where copper-gold porphyry mineralization has been identified to be followed up with additional drilling.

During OZ Minerals' tenure at the Bellas Gate JV over 14,000 metres of drilling was completed on 11 of the more than 20 prospects on the property. High-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys were completed over the entire property and 46 line kilometres of Induced Polarization (IP) surveying was completed. Geological mapping was completed on the previously identified prospects and over 400 rock samples and 4000 soil samples were collected and analysed. All data generated during the Bellas Gate and Above Rocks joint ventures will be handed over to Carube Copper by OZ Minerals.

Five Additional Licences

The five additional licences acquired by OZ Minerals in 2014 are strategically located to cover known copper and gold prospects and anomalous stream sediment sample drainage basins within the Cretaceous aged inliers in the interior of Jamaica. The Shirley Castle licence is located within the Blue Mountain Inlier, The Above Rocks, Windsor Castle and Berkshire Hall licences are located in close proximity to Carube Copper's Above Rocks project and the Arthur's Seat licence is located between the Bellas Gate and Main Ridge projects in the Central Inlier. All were covered by detailed airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys. The company is currently reviewing the recent geophysics and historic work in order to prioritize exploration targets.

Above Rocks

Carube Copper will retain 100% interest in the Above Rocks Joint Venture which it signed with OZ Minerals in February 2016. The property has been covered by detailed magnetic and radiometric surveys. Follow-up work carried out by OZ Minerals between February and August 2016 includes 200 soil samples, 85 rock samples, 92m of trenching and over 400 metres of drilling in 3 holes.

Heads of Agreement

Under the terms of the HOA:

To regain the 70% interest that OZ Minerals' had earned in the Bellas Gate Joint Venture, Carube will:

a. pay to OZ Minerals $8,500,000 within one year of commencement of commercial production;

b. pay a further $4,000,000 within two years of commercial production; and

c. grant OZ Minerals a 2% NSR with a buy-back of 2/3 of the NSR for $1.3M, royalty payments to be capped at $20M



To acquire the 100% interest in the five OZ Minerals licenses, Carube will:

a. pay to OZ Minerals $1,500,000 within a year of commencement of commercial production

on any of the five licenses;



Carube will retain its 100% interest in Carube Copper's Above Rocks Project free and clear of any obligation to OZ Minerals.



The final agreement will be signed within 60 days of September 21, 2016.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts

Jeff Ackert, President and CEO  1-613-839-3258  jackert@carubecopper.com

Vern Rampton, Executive VP of Corporate Development  1-613-839-3258  vrampton@carubecopper.com

Alar Soever, Chairman  1-705-682-9297  asoever@carubecopper.com

www.carubecopper.com

QP Statement: This press release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Vern Rampton, P. Eng. in his capacity as a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101.

Carube Copper Corp. (TSXV:CUC), is a Canadian exploration company focused on the exploration and development of copper and gold projects in Jamaica and Canada. In Jamaica, Carube Copper will hold, subject to finalization of the final agreement with OZ Minerals, a 100% interest in 11 projects, totalling over 500 square kilometres. In Canada, Carube Copper holds a 100% interest in three porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum properties, totalling 593 square kilometres within the Tertiary-aged Cascade Magmatic Arc in southwestern British Columbia. Exploration continues on these properties with the goal of joint-venturing them to larger exploration and mining companies. Carube Copper continues to seek opportunities in Canada and the Caribbean for acquisition and development.

DISCLAIMER & FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on currently available information, Carube Copper Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Factors which cause results to differ materially are set out in the Company's documents filed on SEDAR. Undue reliance should not be placed on "forward looking statements".

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By reference herewith, Carube Copper incorporates into this release the entire disclaimer set forth on its website at http://carubecopper.com/disclaimer.htm.
A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of "a-" of Doha Insurance Company Q.S.C. (DIC) (Qatar). The outlook for each rating remains stable.

The ratings reflect DIC's very strong risk-adjusted capitalisation, solid position within the Qatar insurance market and track record of good operating performance. Offsetting rating factors are the company's underdeveloped risk management framework and execution risk associated with the company's planned expansion.

DIC's risk-adjusted capitalisation remains very strong, benefiting from low underwriting leverage and a robust reinsurance panel that supports the company's significant reinsurance cession on commercial risks. Capital consumption continues to be driven by investment risk, due to the company's material exposure to domestic equities. Nevertheless, DIC holds a sufficient level of cash and cash equivalents to support an excellent liquidity position, and has demonstrated its solid financial flexibility with a successful rights issue in the first half of 2014. A.M. Best expects DIC to maintain strong risk-adjusted capitalisation, due to good internal capital generation, and a capital buffer that is sufficient to support the company's planned expansion outside Qatar, via its newly established managing general agent (MGA), MENA Re Underwriters Limited (MENA Re).

DIC has established a strong franchise within its domestic market. Although the company's gross written premium fell by 7% to QR 494 million (USD 136 million) in 2015, primarily driven by the reduction of infrastructure projects in a low oil-price environment, DIC remained one of the leading insurance providers in the country. In order to diversify its insurance portfolio and broaden its footprint, DIC opened in November 2015 MENA Re, a fully owned reinsurance MGA. MENA Re operates out of the Dubai International Financial Centre, writing inward facultative business in the Middle East and North Africa, and is expected to be a driver of growth for DIC in the next few years. Whilst this new expansion strategy entails execution risk, it is mitigated by the experience of the senior management hired to run this division.

DIC has demonstrated a track record of good operating results, and generated a profit of QR 110 million (USD 30 million) in 2015. Although the company reported a reduction in its net underwriting result to QR 79 million (USD 22 million) in 2015 from QR 85 million (USD 23 million) in 2014, its loss ratio remained resilient at 56% (51% in 2014). An increased expense ratio of 37% (25% in 2014), driven by the start-up costs associated with MENA Re, caused the combined ratio to deteriorate to 93% in 2015, considerably above the five-year average of 85%.

DIC's risk management is a negative rating driver. At present, the company operates a silo approach to risk management, mainly managing underwriting and credit risks independently. Whilst the company's track record of technical profitability is indicative of good underwriting controls, the risk management framework is currently deemed underdeveloped and requires significant improvement to effectively integrate and embed all risks the company is exposed to, especially in the context of its expansion plan.

This press release relates to rating(s) that have been published on A.M. Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Best's Recent Rating Activity web page.

A.M. Best is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright 2016 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160825005981/en/

Contacts:

A.M. Best

Thomas Bateman

Associate Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0329

thomas.bateman@ambest.com

or

Ghislain Le Cam, CFA, FRM

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0268

ghislain.lecam@ambest.com

or

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

or

Jim Peavy

Assistant Vice President, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com
LONDON, August 25, 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 & WilliamsonScale-Up Business 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


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is well behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, according to a new Quinnipiac University National poll released on Thursday. The survey of likely voters found Clinton with a significant 51 percent to 41 percent lead over Trump, with Clinton benefiting from strong support among women and non-white voters. Clinton has a 24-point lead over Trump among women, while Trump has just a 6-point advantage among men. The former Secretary of State's lead among non-white voters is also much wider than Trump's lead among white voters. When third party candidates are added to the mixed, Clinton's lead over Trump narrows to 45 percent to 38 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 10 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 4 percent. 'We are starting to hear the faint rumblings of a Hillary Clinton landslide as her 10-point lead is further proof that Donald Trump is in a downward spiral as the clock ticks,' said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. 'Trump's missteps, stumbles and gaffes seem to outweigh Clinton's shaky trust status and perceived shady dealings,' he added. 'Wow, is there any light at the end of this dark and depressing chapter in American politics?' Both Trump and Clinton have negative favorability ratings, and a notable 37 percent of likely voters said they would consider voting for a third party candidate. The poll also found that minorities of Trump and Clinton supporters are voting 'for' their preferred candidate, with the votes mainly seen as against the opponent. Sixty-four percent of Trump supporters say they are voting mainly anti-Clinton, while 47 percent of Clinton supporters are mainly anti-Trump. The survey of 1,498 likely voters was conducted August 18th through 24th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. (Photo: Michael Vadon) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. (NCSBN), www.ncsbn.org recognized dedicated and exceptional membership and guests at its annual awards ceremony during the NCSBN Annual Meeting and Delegate Assembly, held in Chicago, Aug. 18, 2016.

Specific award recipients include:

Julia L. George, MSN, RN, FRE, executive director, North Carolina Board of Nursing, was honored with the prestigious R. Louise McManus Award. Individuals receiving this award have made sustained and significant contributions through the highest commitment and dedication to the mission and vision of NCSBN.

Lori Scheidt, MBA-HCM, executive director, Missouri State Board of Nursing, received the Meritorious Service Award, which is granted to a member for significant contributions to the mission and vision of NCSBN.

Susan Odom, PhD, RN, CCRN, FRE, past board president, Idaho Board of Nursing, received the Elaine Ellibee Award that is granted to a member who has served as a board president within the past two years and who has made significant contributions to NCSBN.

Rene Cronquist, JD, RN, board staff, Minnesota Board of Nursing and Rhonda Taylor, MSN, RN, board member, Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, each received the Exceptional Contribution Award, which is given for significant contribution and demonstrated support of NCSBN's mission.

West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses was awarded the Regulatory Achievement Award that recognizes the member board or associate member that has made an identifiable, significant contribution to the mission and vision of NCSBN in promoting public policy related to the safe and effective practice of nursing in the interest of public welfare.

In addition, service awards were given to the following executive officers of boards of nursing (BONs):

Five Years

Marlene Carbullido, RN, executive officer, Guam Board of Nurse Examiners

Kwek Puay Ee, BSN, RN, executive secretary, Singapore Nursing Board

Gaynell Hayward-Caesar, MPH, RN, chief nursing officer, Bermuda Nursing Council

Nancy Murphy, MS, RN, BC, CPM, administrator, South Carolina Board of Nursing

Dan Williams, executive director, Division of Board Services, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

10 Years

Michele L. Bromberg, MSN, RN, nursing coordinator, Illinois Board of Nursing

15 Years

Lanette Anderson, JD, MSN, RN, executive director, West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses

Lori Scheidt, MBA-HCM, executive director, Missouri State Board of Nursing

20 Years

Sandra Evans, MAEd, RN, executive director, Idaho Board of Nursing

The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, NCSBN Associate Member, is celebrating 100 years of nursing regulation in 2016.

About NCSBN

Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 27 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 4.5 million licensed nurses.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900

Chicago, IL 60601-4277

Contact:

Dawn M. Kappel

Director, Marketing and Communications

312.525.3667 direct

312.279.1034 fax

Email Contact




WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Lloyd I. Miller, III announced the acquisition of ownership, control or direction over an aggregate US$75,000 principal amount of Senior Secured Convertible Debentures due 2020 ("2020 Convertible Debentures") of Gran Colombia Gold Corp. ("Gran Colombia"), that are convertible into approximately 576,923 common shares of Gran Colombia, representing an increase in Miller's securityholding percentage of approximately 0.09% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercises control or direction and no others. Mr. Miller acquired the foregoing 2020 Convertible Debentures through Milfam II L.P., a partnership of which Mr. Miller is the managing member of the general partner.

Prior to the acquisition, the number of outstanding common shares of Gran Colombia ("Common Shares") increased from approximately 137.1 million Common Shares as of March 31, 2016 to approximately 252.9 million Common Shares as of August 11, 2016. The increase in the outstanding Common Shares decreased Mr. Miller's securityholding percentage from approximately 51.24%, as previously reported, to approximately 36.38% after the transaction described herein, in each case on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Convertible Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercises control or direction and no others. Assuming the conversion of all 2020 Convertible Debentures, Mr. Miller's securityholding percentage has decreased from approximately 15.46%, as previously reported, to currently approximately 13.83%.

The 2020 Convertible Debentures were acquired through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange for total consideration of US$65,245, which based on the Bank of Canada noon exchange rate on August 4, 2016 equals approximately CDN$84,460 in total consideration.

Immediately prior to the transaction described herein, Mr. Miller had ownership, control or direction over an aggregate principal amount of US$18,727,223 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures, and assuming conversion of the entire principal amount of the 2020 Convertible Debentures over which Mr. Miller had ownership, control or direction, such 2020 Convertible Debentures were convertible into approximately 144,055,562 Common Shares, representing 36.29% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercised control or direction and no others (13.77% of the outstanding Common Shares taking into account the outstanding Common Shares (as reported by Gran Colombia) and all of the outstanding 2020 Debentures; full conversion, partially diluted basis).

Immediately after the transaction described herein, Mr. Miller had ownership, control or direction over an aggregate principal amount of US$18,802,223 of the 2020 Convertible Debentures and assuming conversion of the entire principal amount of the 2020 Convertible Debentures over which Mr. Miller has ownership, control or direction, such 2020 Convertible Debentures are convertible into approximately 144,632,485 Common Shares, representing 36.38% of the outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis taking into account only the outstanding Common Shares, as reported by Gran Colombia, and the 2020 Debentures over which Mr. Miller exercises control or direction and no others (13.83% of the outstanding Common Shares taking into account the outstanding Common Shares (as reported by Gran Colombia) and all of the outstanding 2020 Debentures; full conversion, partially diluted basis).

The 2020 Convertible Debentures were acquired for investment purposes. Depending on the evolution of Gran Colombia's business, financial condition, the market, if any, for Gran Colombia's securities, general economic conditions and other factors, Miller and his joint actors may acquire additional securities of Gran Colombia, or sell some or all of the securities they hold, in the open market, by private agreement or otherwise, subject to their availability at attractive prices, market conditions and other relevant factors.

For inquiries or a copy of the related early warning report required under Canadian provincial securities legislation, a copy of which has also been filed on www.sedar.com, please contact Lloyd I. Miller, III or Eric Fangmann via the contact information listed below.

Contacts:

Lloyd I. Miller, III

3300 South Dixie Highway

Suite 1-365

West Palm Beach, Florida

USA 33405

Telephone: (561) 287-5399



Eric Fangmann

3300 South Dixie Highway

Suite 1-365

West Palm Beach, Florida

USA 33405

Telephone: (561) 287-5399




LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Robix Environmental Technologies, Inc. ("Robix" or the "Corporation") (CSE: RZX)(FRANKFURT: R0X) announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the James Smith Cree Nation ("JSCN") to form a partnership (the "Partnership").

The proposed transaction contemplates that Robix shall supply the licensing rights to certain intellectual property (the "technology"), as well as certain other services that will be supportive to the JSCN ongoing mandate. JSCN shall supply a number of operations personnel and administrative human resources that are required by the Partnership for its proposed business of emergency preparedness and disaster resilience planning, especially as it relates to oil spill emergency, protection of the environment from oil related disasters, and water quality monitoring and stewardship.

"The JSCN is one of the 12 First Nations in the Prince Albert region, which is the region that has been dramatically impacted by the recent Husky Energy oil spill," commented Nathan Hansen, President and CEO of Robix. "The JSCN's culture of environmental stewardship fits perfectly with Robix's oil spill recovery technology. We are already in advanced discussions and demonstrated application with the JSCN on a practical response to the Husky Energy oil spill which represents an immediate opportunity for our Partnership. It has been a pleasure to work closely in support of the JSCN leadership in their initiating an active incident command of the oil spill affecting their territory along the North Saskatchewan River."

Chief Wally Burns commented: "As a Sovereign Nation we are deeply concerned about the effects that this disaster has inflicted on our waters and our lands, and subsequently, upon or people. Our traditional way of life has been impacted by this disaster. Our right to practice our way of life, such as hunting on the Saskatchewan River for big game and waterfowl, fishing on the Saskatchewan River, gathering of medicines and roots, recreational activities such as swimming, hiking along the Saskatchewan River, and our trappers will be affected once winter arrives for another season, all of these are affected by this disaster. We must clean up this mess that was created by Husky Energy Inc., and as the keepers and the stewards of the lands and waters, we must do this to protect these rights for the future generations, those yet unborn. These lands are 'on loan' to us, and we must protect them for the future generations."

Both parties have agreed to negotiate a percentage ownership of the Partnership in accordance with applicable laws related to existing articles of the organizations proposing the Partnership, with the intent to share a 51/49 percentage arrangement in favor of JSCN, or such percentage that allows for each party to comply with applicable securities regulations, and other matters of law.

About Robix:

The Corporation is an "industrial products/technology" company, offering to investors a unique opportunity to participate in a leading company in the business of ownership of patents, and their development from commercialization to worldwide expansion through various business arrangements. Robix owns a Clean Ocean Vessel ("COV") patent, which is an oil spill recovery vessel design with the capability to recover oil in rough and debris laden sea conditions. Robix has recognized a worldwide market opportunity for effective containment, recovery and disposal equipment, particularly in the oil spill protection industry, and it proposes to develop a business model as a service provider, and/or equipment provider under licensing agreements with other industry participants, wherein Robix will use its COV patented design solution.

About JSCN:

The James Smith reserve was historically known as Fort-a-la-Corne. Situated near the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, Fort-a-la-Corne became a gathering place of many different First Nations. Later this area would become a gateway to the western regions of Canada. Trading posts would eventually become a common place with the Hudson Bay Company, Northwest Trading Co., as both French and English traders competed for the economic benefits of the fur trade. Along with fur trade came the inevitable settlement of the Europeans around the fertile lands we occupied. They founded their homesteads, built an infrastructure including churches, schools and supply centres, trading with the surrounding Indian peoples. Fort a la Corne became "home" to an Anglican Church which was built on the north side of the Saskatchewan River. Remnants of the church site exist today with its gravesite markings still visible.

No stock exchange or any securities regulatory body has reviewed the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in respect of the proposed Partnership and the private placement offerings. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risk that the formal documentation effecting the Transaction is not completed or accepted. There is no certainty that a Definitive Agreement effecting the business combination will be completed or accepted. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Contacts:

Robix Environmental Technologies, Inc.

Nathan Hansen

President & CEO

250-683-8957

nathan@robixfuels.com



Robix Environmental Technologies, Inc.

Robin Ray

Chief Financial Officer

403-327-3094

robin@robixfuels.com

www.robixfuels.com




CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: MEI), a global designer and manufacturer of electro-mechanical devices, will release its first-quarter Fiscal 2017 results for the period ended July 30, 2016, on Thursday, September 1, 2016, before the market opens.

Following the release, the Company will conduct a conference call and Webcast to review financial and operational highlights led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Donald W. Duda, and Chief Financial Officer, John Hrudicka, at 10:00 a.m. Central time.

To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 407-8033 (domestic) or (201) 689-8033 (international) at least five minutes prior to the start of the event. A simultaneous Webcast can be accessed through the Company's Web site, www.methode.com, by selecting the Investor Relations page, and then clicking on the "Webcast" icon.

A replay of the conference call, as well as an MP3 download, will be available shortly after the call through October 1 by dialing (877) 660-6853 (domestic) or (201) 612-7415 (international) and providing Conference ID number 13644464. On the Internet, a replay will be available for 30 days through the Company's Web site, www.methode.com, by selecting the Investor Relations page and then clicking on the "Webcast" icon.

About Methode Electronics, Inc.

Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: MEI) is a global developer of custom engineered and application specific products and solutions with manufacturing, design and testing facilities in China, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. We design, manufacture and market devices employing electrical, electronic, wireless, safety radio remote control, sensing and optical technologies to control and convey signals through sensors, interconnections and controls. Our business is managed on a segment basis, with those segments being Automotive, Interface, Power Products and Other. Our components are in the primary end markets of the automobile, computer, information processing and networking equipment, voice and data communication systems, consumer electronics, appliances, aerospace vehicles and industrial equipment industries. Further information can be found on Methode's Website at www.methode.com.

For Methode Electronics Inc. - Investor Contacts:

Kristine Walczak

Dresner Corporate Services

312-780-7205

kwalczak@dresnerco.com




SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- SourcingLink.net Inc. (OTC PINK: SNET) Lac Fire property not only has significant findings of Lithium, the surrounding area shows concentrations of Rubidium. Rubidium itself has a monetary value.

The USGS metal reports that Rubidium is used in fireworks; in thermoelectric generators; laser coolants; electronic transmitters; lubricant in vapor turbines; vacuum tubes; photocells; atomic clocks and magnetometers; superoxides; and thermonuclear medicine and pharmaceuticals.

"We are very excited about our exploration program for Lithium this summer. We are going to include exploration for Rubidium a cover and other metals. We are fortunate to be located in different parts of Quebec where we have Rare Earth Minerals, Lithium, Tantalum deposits and hopefully Rubidium. We will keep shareholders apprised of our exploration results in the near future." -- Anne M Carioti, CEO

About The Eldor and Lac Fire Projects:

SourcingLink.net, Inc. acquired 8 new lithium-tantalum claims in James Bay, Quebec, Canada. The block of 8 new claims share a 12 km boundary which is on three sides with the Rose Lithium Tantalum Property of Critical Elements Corp. The new Lac Fire property was staked to strategically cover ground that may be on strike and have similar geology to the Rose Lithium Tantalum Resource.

The company has signed an agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Eldor Rare Earth Property Claims (The Eldor Project) located inNorthern Quebec, Canada (one of the most favorable mining jurisdictions in the world). The Eldor Project consists of 34 mineral claims covering approximately 3951 acres and is located in Northern Quebec which is considered one of the most favorable mining jurisdictions in the world.

About SourcingLink.net, Inc.:

SourcingLink.net is a U.S. based publicly traded exploration and development company. Their focus in on rare metals and rare earth elements which are among the primary input materials for the 21st Century technology.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which contain words such as "expect," "believe" or "plan," by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These uncertainties may cause actual future events to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

Contact:

SourcingLink.net

12526 High Bluff Drive, Ste 300

San Diego, CA 92130

Phone +1-855-726-RARE (7273)

Website: http://www.sourcinglink.org

Email: info@sourcinglink.org




TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - August 25, 2016) - Kinross Gold (TSX: K) (NYSE: KGC) announced today operational updates at its Bald Mountain mine in Nevada, Tasiast mine in Mauritania and Maricunga mine in Chile.

Bald Mountain

At Bald Mountain, the Company has received a record of decision from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to allow for increased exploration activities and the mine's potential expansion.

The decision allows the Company to expand existing mine facilities and provides significant flexibility for future growth, such as additional heap leach capacity and a carbon adsorption plant, beyond what is required in the current mine plan. The decision, among other exploration activities, will also allow the Company to complete modest infill and metallurgical drilling to potentially increase the mine's mineral reserve estimate, and construct and operate new facilities in the North and South areas of the land package.

The Company is focused on developing two sets of deposits, the Vantage Complex and Yankee pits in the South area, and the Saga and Duke pits in the North area. Developing these deposits may substantially increase the current 1.1 million Au oz. mineral reserve estimate(1) at Bald Mountain and extend life of mine.

Tasiast

At Tasiast, the Company resumed normal mining and processing operation in mid-August, following the temporary suspension caused by the expatriate work permit issue. Two major construction contracts regarding earthworks and concrete works have also been awarded for the Phase One expansion project.

In its Q2 2016 results news release, Kinross announced that the Company and the Government of Mauritania resolved the expatriate work permit issue as part of reaching a mutually acceptable "Mauritanization" plan to increase the number of local workers who have the necessary skills and experience to work at Tasiast, a requirement under Mauritanian law. As well, labour negotiations respecting the Company's collective labour agreement at Tasiast are expected to recommence in the next two weeks.

Maricunga

At Maricunga, the Company has placed the mine into suspension. As previously disclosed, due to other capital priorities in its global portfolio, the Company decided to suspend mining at Maricunga in Q4 2016.

The suspension was implemented earlier than planned after a judicial decision in Chile concluded that the country's environmental regulatory authority's (SMA) revised June 24, 2016 sanction was enforceable. The sanction, among other things, substantially reduced water pumping at Maricunga, which caused the mine to suspend mining and crushing activities and curtail processing at the end of July 2016. The advanced timing of suspension at Maricunga is not expected to affect the Company's 2016 production and cost guidance.

Kinross continues to vigorously oppose the SMA's unprecedented actions and has various appeals pending with Chile's Environmental Tribunal. The Company disagrees with the original resolution on which the subsequent SMA orders are based, as it is technically and legally flawed and relies on contested scientific findings. Kinross is committed to responsible environmental management and has taken numerous measures and performed various studies over the years to understand the causes of the current situation and mitigate impacts of its water use. The Atacama Region, where Maricunga is located, has also suffered from a protracted drought for many years, resulting in a drop in groundwater levels across the region that is unrelated to the mine's operations.

As a result of the suspension, the Company is reducing its mining and crushing workforce at Maricunga by approximately 300 employees. Kinross will continue to explore further permitting efforts and review the operation and its mineral resource model to consider possible options for re-starting mining. The Company continues to advance permitting efforts at the nearby La Coipa project with exploration work also continuing this year.

At December 31, 2015, the Maricunga mine had estimated proven and probable mineral reserves of 1.042 million ounces, estimated measured and indicated mineral resources of 4.275 million ounces and estimated inferred mineral resources of 1.053 million ounces 1 . The mineral reserve estimates were prepared using a $1,200 per ounce gold price, and the mineral resource estimates were prepared using a $1,400 per ounce gold price.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mauritania, Chile and Ghana. Our focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of operational excellence, balance sheet strength, disciplined growth and responsible mining. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: K) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: KGC).

Cautionary statement on forward-looking information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the provisions for "safe harbor" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include various statements under the headings "Maricunga" and "Bald Mountain", and include, without limitation, statements with respect to: our expectations regarding production and cost guidance, as well as references to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates (including increases of such estimates), mine life (including extensions of mine life), permitting efforts, future growth, potential expansion, exploration activities, construction and operation of new facilities, developing deposits and "Mauritanization" plan. The words "anticipate", "contemplating", "develop", "estimate", "expect", "exploration", "flexibility", "focus", "future", "model", "option", "pending", "plan", "potential" and "priorities", and statements that certain actions, events or results will affect, or will occur or result, and similar such expressions, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kinross as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect, and could cause, Kinross' actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Kinross. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our filings with the securities regulators of Canada and the U.S, including but not limited to those cautionary statements made in the "Risk Analysis" section of our full year 2015 and Q2, 2016 management's discussion and analysis, and the "Risk Factors" section of our 2016 Annual Information Form. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Kinross. Kinross disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Other information

Where we say "we", "us", "our", the "Company", or "Kinross" in this news release, we mean Kinross Gold Corporation and/or its applicable subsidiary(ies).

The technical information about the Company's mineral properties contained in this news release (other than exploration activities) has been prepared under the supervision of Mr. John Sims, an officer of the Company who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). The technical information about the Company's exploration activities contained in this news release has been prepared under the supervision of Mr. Sylvain Guerard, an officer of the Company who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101.

1 For more information see Kinross' Annual Mineral Reserve and Resource Statement for the year-end December 31, 2015 in its Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2016, available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or on the Company's website www.kinross.com.

Media Contact

Louie Diaz

Director, Corporate Communications

phone: 416-369-6469

louie.diaz@kinross.com



Investor Relations Contact

Tom Elliott

Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development

phone: 416-365-3390

tom.elliott@kinross.com
Grizzly bears are a primary lure for millions of people who come to Yellowstone. Above, a grizzly foraging in Yellowstone. Photo by Thomas D. Mangelsen/www.mangelsen.com

1.0K shares







The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming are aligned on the idea of removing federal Endangered Species Act protections for Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears, and we could be looking at a federal delisting as early as this autumn. This, despite the fact that most of the American public polled wants these bears to remain protected, and fewer Americans still have any stomach for the thought of the states unleashing trophy hunters to kill these animals in the lower 48 states for the first time in decades.

Even while federally protected, grizzly bears are fighting for their lives. According to data released by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST), the bears 10-year mortality trend has increased at a rate that should prompt federal wildlife managers to redouble conservation efforts, not turn the management of bears over to states hell-bent on adding yet another form of human-caused mortality. A new IGBST document reveals a record number of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly bear deaths in 2015. With the help of longtime grizzly bear advocate Louisa Willcox, weve discovered that 85 GYE bears died last year, including Scarface, a 25-year-old iconic Yellowstone grizzly bear, who was shot and killed outside the parks boundary. This year, a record 35 bears have already been killed, and we havent even made it to fall, when most bear deaths occur. Theres no way this is acceptable or sustainable, and it makes it pretty darn clear that delisting is flat-out dangerous for the health of this population.

The removal of federal protections comes at the same time that grizzly bears historic major food sources  such as whitebark pine seeds and cutthroat trout  are in decline because of human causes, including climate change. As a result, grizzly bears must turn to foods either outside the safe boundaries of the Park, or rely on elk, deer, and other large animals inside the park  which often puts the bears, especially young cubs, at risk of predation from other native carnivores.

To get to the delisting finish line, Montana and Wyoming have fast-tracked their public processes, illegally tripping over public notice requirements, withholding key documents from public view, and otherwise failing to fully keep the public in the loop. To hold them accountable, The HSUS, along with the Center for Biological Diversity and a retired U.S. Geological Survey employee, filed a lawsuit challenging the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commissions illegal adoption of grizzly bear hunting regulations that open the door for trophy hunting once the bears are stripped of Endangered Species Act protections. The Commission voted to approve a regulation that was not even made available to the public. This follows on the heels of our ongoing litigation in Wyoming, where the commission adopted grizzly hunting regulations without giving the public sufficient time to comment on reams of public documents. Its become clear that the states  like FWS  are committed to delisting GYE bears as quickly as possible, even if that means running roughshod over public input, scientific dissent, and state law.

The USFWS plans to allow the public to comment on its delisting proposed rule, but not on the GYE grizzly bear Conservation Strategy Plan, which was substantially altered by a panel of biologists, none of whom were GYE grizzly bear experts (one, for example, was an expert on the black bears of Kentucky). The new Conservation Strategy Plan fails to provide for a sufficient no-hunting buffer around the Yellowstone National Park, a fact that caused Superintendent Dan Wenk to protest, to no avail, at a recent meeting.

Theres just no compelling reason for the feds to put these bears at the mercy of the states. This is a small population of a few hundred bears that is geographically isolated, and at risk from a growing array of threats. The new mortality data alone should cause federal officials to slam on the brakes for its delisting effort. Whats more, the bears are a primary lure for millions of people who come to Yellowstone. Yes, they love to see the waterfalls,hot springs, and other features of the landscape, but they are most interested in seeing the bears and the wolves. Hows allowing hunters to kill them in the fall going to play with the public?

The states have dealt with a no-hunting standard for decades, and theres no reason to discard that sensible policy, especially as public attitudes have solidified around the position that killing these animals for their heads is unacceptable. When there are conflicts, there are a host of practical, non-lethal solutions, such as removing stillborn calves and lambs from the landscape, that can deter grizzly bear conflict by over 90 percent.

The HSUS remains strongly opposed to the proposed delisting. The best available science indicates that these animals require far more protections right now, not less. The public process involved has been deplorable and the agencies involved do not seem to be aware of either the science or what the majority of the public wants.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Originally issued August 22, 2016, REISSUED August 25, 2016- Parkit Enterprise Inc. ("Parkit" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: PKT)(OTCQX: PKTEF) announces that Mr. Robert (Bob) Emri has stepped down as a director of the Company effective immediately to focus on his personal business matters. Mr. Emri has been a non-executive director since November 2012 and a member of the Company's Investment and Governance Committees. Mr. Emri will remain a consultant to the Company's Board to advise the Company on acquisitions.

Mr. Joel Dumaresq, Chairman, stated, "On behalf of the Board and management of the Company, I would like to thank Bob for his dedication and significant contributions to Parkit. We have been fortunate to work with someone of Bob's calibre, reflecting his better than 20 years in the real estate industry. We wish him the best in the future."

About PARKIT

Parkit Enterprise Inc. is engaged in the acquisition, optimization and asset management of income producing parking facilities across the United States. The Company's shares are listed on TSX-V (Symbol: PKT) and on the OTCQX (Symbol: PKTEF).

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Parkit Enterprise Inc.

Bryan Wallner

President and CEO

(604) 424-8700, Ext 1

Email: bryan@parkitenterprise.com



Parkit Enterprise Inc.

Nigel Kirkwood

CFO

(604) 424-8700, Ext 2

Email: nigel@parkitenterprise.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/25/16 -- Goldmines Ltd. ("Kilo" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: KGL)(FRANKFURT: 02K) announced today that it has completed the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of equity units ("Units") raising additional gross proceeds of $9,070,000 (for $10.0 million in total proceeds from both tranches). An additional $2.5 million placement to the previously announced amount was added on the same terms due to significant demand for the offering.

The Units were offered and sold at a price of $0.10 per Unit with each Unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company until August 25, 2018 at a price of $0.135. The Company has the right to accelerate the expiry of the Warrants on 30 days written notice if, following four months from the issuance of the Warrants, the volume weighted trading price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange exceeds $0.30 per share for any period of 20 consecutive trading days. All securities sold in the most recent closing of the offering, including any shares issued on exercise of the Warrants, are subject to a four month hold period in Canada expiring on December 26, 2016 and such other hold periods in other jurisdictions applicable to the purchaser.

The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering for the exploration of its gold properties in the Democratic Republic of Congo and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Osisko Mining Corp. ("Osisko"), a significant shareholder of the Company, acquired 5,000,000 Units in the most recent closing. Prior to this closing, Osisko directly owned 17,600,000 common shares and warrants to acquire a further 16,100,000 common shares of the Company. Following the closing, Osisko now owns 22,600,000 common shares, representing approximately 13.32% of the number of common shares issued and outstanding, as well as warrants to acquire up to a further 21,100,000 common shares of the Company. Assuming the exercise of all warrants by Osisko only and no other exercises, Osisko would own up to approximately 22.9% of the common shares of the Company.

As a result of the participation in the most recent closing by Osisko noted above, the offering was considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") and TSX Venture Exchange policy 5.9 ("Policy 5.9"). The transaction was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 however, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to insiders nor the cash consideration paid for such securities exceeded 25% of Kilo's market capitalization. The participants in the closing and the extent of such participation were not finalized until shortly prior to the completion of the transaction. Accordingly, it was not possible to publicly disclose details of the nature and extent of related party participation in the closing at least 21 days prior to the completion date.

Resolute Mining Limited ("Resolute") (ASX: RSG) also participated in the most recent closing of the placement via a wholly-owned subsidiary acquiring 24,700,000 Units. Resolute is an ASX-listed gold producer with operations in Africa and Australia and more than 25 years of successful exploration, development, and production experience. Resolute is a new shareholder and now indirectly owns 24,700,000 common shares, representing approximately 14.6% of the number of common shares issued and outstanding, as well as warrants to acquire up to a further 24,700,000 common shares of the Company. Assuming the exercise of all warrants by Resolute only and no other exercises, Resolute would own up to approximately 25.9% of the common shares of the Company.

Kilo is required to pay $452,430 in cash finder's fees to registered dealers and eligible finders as a result of the closing of the offering.

About Kilo

Kilo Goldmines Ltd. (KGL) is a Canadian gold exploration company, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'KGL' and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol '02K'. KGL holds exploitation and exploration licences covering some 2,417 km2 of favourable Archaen Kabalian Greenstones (the Ngayu belt) in the northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, an area historically referred to as the Kilo-Moto region, a historic gold-producing region.

Incorporated within these licences are:

-- the Somituri project (71.25% owned by KGL), comprising six non- contiguous licences (361 km2) held by KGL-Somituri SARL; and -- the KGL Isiro SARL Joint Venture (JV) with Randgold Resources Ltd (2,056 km2), for gold and associated minerals only. The JV is managed by Randgold and shall be financed by it to pre-feasibility (PFS) for a 51% participation interest. Upon completion of the PFS, KGL can participate in funding or Randgold will increase its participation to 65% by completing a feasibility study. Areas that may be deemed of no interest to Randgold will be returned to KGL. -- In addition, KGL has retained the rights to explore for and develop iron ore resources and other minerals associated with the licences held by KGL Isiro SARL.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

Contacts:

Kilo Goldmines Ltd.

Philip Gibbs

Interim CEO

+1 416 360 3406

philip.gibbs@kilogoldmines.com

www.kilogoldmines.com




Denali Therapeutics, Inc., a San Francisco, CA-based developer of a diversified portfolio of therapeutics, raised $130m in Series B equity financing.

The round was led by Baillie Gifford, a UK-based mutual fund and included several new and large institutional investors.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to develop its therapeutic pipeline and proprietary blood-brain-barrier delivery technology platform,

Led by Ryan Watts, PhD, CEO, Dr. Alex Schuth, COO, and Dr. Carole Ho, Chief Medical Officer, Denali is developing a diversified portfolio of therapeutics, based on scientific insights into the genetic causes and biological processes underlying neurodegenerative disease.

The company has selected four specific pathways that are implicated as triggers or effectors of neurodegeneration:

 degenogenes (genes that cause neurodegenerative disease when mutated),

 defective intracellular trafficking,

 glial dysfunction and

 axon degeneration.

On August 22, Denali filed a CTA in Europe to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for a small molecule RIP1 inhibitor with central nervous system (CNS) penetrant properties.

RIP1 is a kinase that regulates inflammatory signaling and can affect glial dysfunction in the brain. Pending CTA approval, the company will proceed with a single center study in healthy volunteers to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics. Data from this trial will inform the design of future studies in patients suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and Alzheimers disease.

Denali recently acquired San Diego-based Incro Pharmaceuticals for access to its RIP1 inhibitor program, which originated from a license and collaboration agreement with Harvard University, signed a license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche group, for exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize LRRK2 inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinsons disease, and research collaboration deals with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for the development and commercialization of antibodies targeting ApoE, a neurodegeneration-causing protein and genetic risk factor for Alzheimers disease, with UK-based F-star in support of the development of a proprietary platform technology to deliver therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier, with Blaze Bioscience for research on and discovery of novel blood-brain-barrier crossing therapeutics at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and others with ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), Aptuit, Evotec, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, PatientsLikeMe and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

Founding investors in the company include ARCH Venture Partners, F-Prime Biosciences, Flagship Ventures and the Alaska Permanent Fund.

FinSMEs

25/08/2016
DN Capital, a London, UK-based early stage and growth capital investor, is raising its fourth fund.

The final target of the new vehicle, launched in April 2016 and almost completely subscribed, has been fixed at 200m.

Have a look at the limited partners in the regulatory files here.

Led by Nenad Marovac, Managing Partner & CEO, Steve Schlenker, Managing Partner, John Helm, Venture/Operational Partner (Germany), the firm invests in software, mobile applications, digital media, marketplace and e-commerce companies. Current portfolio companies include Happn, Hometogo, Remitly, Shazam, Shiphawks, etc.

The team also includes Lawrence Barclay, Principal, Thomas Rubens, Principal, Guy Ward Thomas, Associate, Massimo Prelz, Chairman Investment Committee, John Baits, CTO, John Horton, Finance Director, Wenlin Xu, Accountant, Jack Elton, Entrepreneur in Residence, and Kelly Klein, Investor Relations.

DM also has offices in Menlo Park.

FinSMEs

25/08/2016
DoseMe, a Brisbane, Australia-based digital medical solutions provider, closed a $2.6m Series A financing.

The round brought the valuation of the company to $20m. Backers included veteran healthcare executives Greg Spurgin and Gary Cunningham, both founders of leading US outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy company Results Physiotherapy. Mr Spurgin will join Shark Tank star and DoseMe seed investor Steve Baxter, on the board.

The company will use the funds to commercialize DoseMe in Australia, expand into the US market, develop sales capability in Europe, and integrate the product into existing electronic medical record providers in key markets. The funding will help expand the number of drug molecules on the platform (including regulatory costs for each molecule in Australia, Europe where DoseMe has medical regulatory clearance, and the US where the submission is being assessed.

Led by CEO Charles Cornish and founder Dr Robert McLeay, DoseMe provides a software based precision dosing tool built on the principles of Bayesian dose forecasting, a mathematical algorithm that uses patient data and laboratory results to estimate a persons metabolism  their ability to absorb, process and clear a drug from their system. DoseMe can simulate the potential outcome of different dosing regimens to support clinicians in making decisions for challenging cases and, in addition, it continues to learn over time, becoming always more refined in its dose recommendations.

FinSMEs

25/08/2016
Genesys Talent LLC, a Houston-based provider of talent acquisition technology platform, closed $2.1m in seed funding.

Twelve investors including undisclosed angel investors and employees participated in this first round of funding.

The company plans to use the capital to grow the team, invest in additional technology development, and enhance existing Talent Cloud technologies and processes.

Led by Rick Roberts, President and Founder, Genesys uses a combination of patent pending processes and web technology to create and curate communities of top talent with specific skills and experience aligned to customer demand. These Talent Clouds can then be presented to the enterprises hiring managers for review, selection, and engagement via mobile responsive portals.

The company has established formal strategic partnerships with numerous industry players such as Vendor Management Systems (VMS) and workforce program Managed Service Providers (MSP).

Michael T. Willis, Chairman of the Genesys board, is a majority investor in the company.

FinSMEs

24/08/2016
SelfScore, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based fintech company using data analytics and machine learning to measure credit potential, closed $7m in additional Series A funding.

The round, which brought total funding to over $15m, was led by Pelion Venture Partners, with participation from Accel and Aspect Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Blake Modersitzki, managing partner at Pelion Venture Partners, will join its Board of Directors.

The company will use the funds to scale its credit card offerings, accelerate new product development for international students, and grow its nationwide presence across college campuses, and continue to expand its internal team.

Led by CEO and co-founder Kalpesh Kapadia and Chief Marketing Officer Venkat Bala, SelfScore offers a Mastercard credit card designed for international students in the United States. By utilizing analytics and machine-learning, he company analyzes a borrowers education, source of funding, and career prospects, to identify creditworthy international students who are otherwise labeled as thin-file or no-file using traditional credit bureau checks.

The companys accounts are issued by Celtic Bank, a Utah Chartered Industrial Bank, Member FDIC.

FinSMEs

25/08/2016
The UK Government has launched an innovation initiative to bring future-tech and ideas to the armed forces.

Tew innovation program aims to back and support new defence solutions including surveillance drones inspired by dragonflies, laser weapons, mobile robots that can inspect incidents involving chemical materials, sensors that use gravity to survey underground structures in minutes, and virtual reality helmets to practice calling in simulated air strikes.

The program will establish an Innovation and Research Insights Unit (IRIS) which will anticipate emerging trends in technology and analyze the implications for UK Defence and Security.

The best individuals and companies will be invited to pitch to a panel, backed by a fund of around 800m over 10 years.

Following investment decisions, a dedicated hub will act as a defence and security accelerator, ensuring that innovative solutions to national security challenges are developed.

The launch event for the initiative will be held in September 2016 featuring a prospectus, exhibitions and explainations on how and when industry can apply to the Innovation Fund.

FinSMEs

25/08/2016
German venture capital firm Earlybird Venture Capital announced the first closing of its health tech fund.

Investors include NRW.BANK, the Generali Insurance Group, the German household and medical products manufacturer Miele, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy with a share of the federally administered special fund of the European Recovery Program, the so-called ERP Fund, and BARMER GEK, a public health insurer.

Headquartered in North Rhine-Westphalia, Earlybird Health Tech Fund will invest primarily in the field of medical technology across Europe. The fund, led by Thom Rasche, Partner at Earlybird and specialist in health tech, has a target size of 100m/120m.

Founded in 1997, Earlybird is one of the leading venture capital investors in Europe, placing a strong emphasis on the financial, strategic and operational support of high technology and innovative companies. The firm, which has invested in more than one hundred companies, also works in partnership with Bay City Capital, a US-based venture capital investor focused on health care. This gives insight into innovation and new trends in the US and in the future will facilitate the entry of portfolio companies into the US. As part of this partnership, Lionel Carnot, Managing Director of Bay City Capital, is also a member of the Earlybird Health Tech Investment Committee.

FinSMEs

24/08/2016
Today, 25 August 2016, is the Hindu festival of Janmashtami celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna. While numerous songs have been composed and sung in Bollywood films, a little known fact is that the Hare Krishna movement created waves internationally since the 1970s.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Hindu religious organisation that amassed more than a million followers worldwide in the 1970s and was started by Swami Prabhupada.

Starting with George Harrison of The Beatles, here are a few artists who have embraced the Hare Krishna movement and composed songs inspired in their spiritual awakening:

It Is 'He' (Jai Sri Krishna) by George Harrison

George Harrison of The Beatles was one of the first artists to embrace the Hare Krishna movement. After a chance meeting with the founder Swami Prabhupada in 1969, Harrison had a spiritual awakening that made his music take on the same tone.

Harrison was inspired to write this song while in the holy city of Vrindavan, in northern India, with his friend Ravi Shankar. The song is a part of his album Dark Horse released in 1974.

Hare Krishna by George Harrison



The Radha Krsna Temple is a 1971 album of Hindu devotional songs recorded by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The album has been produced by Harrison as a whole and his support has been instrumental in giving ISKON a solid presence internationally. This is one of the most iconic songs of the album that has been produced by Harrison.

Krishna Krishna by Alice Coltrane



Best known for her collaborations with her husband, the legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane is an accomplished jazz pianist and composer in her own right. After the tragic demise of her husband, she made it a mission to make her music a spiritual experience. This song has Alice Coltrane's haunting vocals chant 'Krishna, Krishna' while a mournful jazz organ tune haunts the background. Coltrane founded the Vedanta Center in California in 1975, and has concentrated on making and recording devotional music.

Govinda by Kula Shaker



The English psychedelic rock band, Kula Shaker, fuses guitar-heavy, western rock instrumentation with traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar, tamboura, and tabla. Frontman and founder Crispian Mills named the band after the Indian King Kulasekhara.

The uniqueness of this song also stems from the fact that it is the only song in the history of the British Top Ten list to be sung entirely in Sanskrit. This song was a part of Kula Shaker's 1996 album 'K'.

Nina Hagen, a German songstress of the nineties converted to Hinduism after becoming a devotee of Haidakhan Babaji. This song is a part of her eighth solo album titled Om Namah Shivay which is a compilation of mantras and Hindu prayers adapted into song.
Mumbai: 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 ($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 $4.1 million. It further said another $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 $22.5 million. That position has been brought to notice of theBombay HC," the official said.

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.
Lucknow: A day after a protest outside the Vidhan Bhawan, BJP on Thursday filed a police complaint demanding FIR against Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and police officers for "brutal lathicharge" on party workers.

BJP's state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters that party MPs, MLAs, office-bearers and workers were 'brutally cane-charged' by police while they were protesting the declining law and order situation in the state.

He said, following the incident, a complaint has been registered by state BJP vice-president Ramnaresh Rawat at Hazratganj police station. "Scores of workers are now undergoing treatment in hospitals as they suffered serious injuries," Maurya said.

He warned if FIR is not lodged, BJP workers would launch an agitation and move to court. The state unit chief claimed that despite their absence from the protest site, some of the leaders  general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak, organisational general secretary Sunil Bansal and an MLA  were named in the FIR lodged by the police on Wednesday.

"Pathak was in Mumbai, Bansal was in Karnataka and the MLA was sitting inside Vidhan Sabha," he said. Maurya claimed he was even stopped by the police in Vidhan Sabha when he tried to meet Akhilesh.

"This is contempt of privileges of an MP," he said adding that and he would raise the issue in Parliament.
New Delhi: JNU PhD scholar Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old fellow student, tonight surrendered before the police, hours after the victim recorded her statement before a magistrate.

"Anmol Ratan has surrendered at Vasant Kunj (north) police station," Additional DCP (south) Nupur Prasad said.

The accused, who was absconding since 20 August, surrendered around 10.15 pm at the police station.

Ratan will be sent for medical examination and put under formal arrest, police said, adding he will be produced before Patiala House court tomorrow.

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.

The victim in her complaint at Vasant Kunj (North) police station had said that she had posted on her Facebook profile that she wanted to watch Sairat movie and asked if anyone had a CD of it.

Ratan apparently messaged her saying that he had a copy. Thereafter, he picked her up on 20 August on the pretext of giving her a CD of the film and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stays.

There he allegedly offered her a spiked drink and raped her.

Ratan had yesterday moved an anticipatory bail plea before a Delhi court which put up the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing on 27 August.

He was expelled from AISA after being accused of rape.
Did you enjoy The Civil War documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns? U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, is apparently a fanin fact, he thinks such films can do a lot of the work teachers typically do.

As reported by the Huffington Post , during a political forum in Wisconsin earlier this month Johnson discussed what he called the cartel of higher education. He praised the potential of technology to improve education, but said it wasnt being utilized enough. Pressed by an interviewer about potential problems with online education, Johnson responded by saying he would support some combination of using teachers and technology. But he went on to highlight his experience volunteering at Catholic schools in Wisconsin, and the struggle over how to make instruction easier.

Johnson then said this:

If you want to teach the Civil War across the country, are you better off having, I dont know, tens of thousands of history teachers that kind of know the subject? Or would you be better off popping in 14 hours of Ken Burns Civil War tape, and have those teachers proctor based on that excellent video production already done? You keep duplicating that over all these different subject areas.

Click here for audio of the senators remarks; the relevant piece about online education and Ken Burns begins at about the 31-minute mark.

Although the senator didnt specify that he was talking about K-12 teachers, his preceding comments about Catholic schools indicated that he was thinking about public schools as well as higher education as far as the benefits of educational technology.

And American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten blasted Johnson for his remarks, the Huffington Post reported, saying, What Ron Johnson doesnt get is that education happens when teachers can listen to students and engage them to think for themselves.

(Its also worth noting that by todays standards, whatever you think of educational technology, a video documentary first broadcast on PBS in 1990 is a different animal than the Chromebooks, iPads, gaming software, and other facets of ed-tech that preoccupy many of those working in education today.)

So theres Johnsons idea. What did the documentary filmmaker have to say in response? On Tuesday, Burns gave the senators idea the fish-eye:

Im here to support teachers, not replace them. https://t.co/AXaSE0z0uD  Ken Burns (@KenBurns) August 23, 2016

In 2014, our coworker Liana Heitin wrote about a visit Burns paid to social studies teachers . During his remarks, Burns was very clear about how he felt about his audience: Im here with my congregation. You are my people. You are the reason I make these documentaries.

Johnson was first elected in 2010, and is up for re-election this year.

And courtesy of PBS, heres how one teacher says she uses Burns film to teach the civil war:

Photos from top: U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson speaks as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a field hearing earlier this month (Mike Burley/Telegraph Herald/AP); Ken Burns participates in the Defying the Nazis: The Sharps War panel during the PBS Television Critics Association summer press tour in July (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
New Delhi: As Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with political leaders in Kashmir, Congress on Thursday pitched for dialouge with non-state political parties and all stakeholders, including students.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said no one from the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have appealed for peace in Kashmir which has been on boil for more than a month now.

"We hope that Home Minister not only talks with political parties, there are others as well, non-state political parties and other stakeholders. He should hold talks with students, trade unions and different communities. There should be peace."

"He should appeal for peace as well. I have never seen any minister or the Prime Minister appeal for peace, neither inside or outside Parliament nor in Kashmir. Least they can do is to appeal," Azad said.

Meanwhile, JD(U) said the key question was how much effort would the Home Minister invest in taking forward what he talked about.

"I am happy that the Home Minister has finally understood that there is a need to begin a political engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. The key question here is how much effort will he invest in taking forward what he has said.

"What is the kind of engagement that would be planned, so that the current impasse and sense of alienation, particularly amongst the youth, and the current involvement of Pakistan in Kashmir can be stemmed. We need to carefully watch the next step that this government takes," party leader Pawan Verma said.

As part of Centre's outreach, the Home Minister 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 the state.

The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley that broke out on 8 July after killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has now climbed to 66.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh took a trip to the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, which has remained on the boil since the killing of Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander on 8 July. As he took stock of the situation, he appealed to all the people of Kashmir to not interfere with the future of the children of the state and stressed on the fact that all political parties and people in India wanted peace in the region.

Yet 46 days later, since the Valley erupted in never-before-seen protests, the situation in the interiors of south Kashmir remains tense. The protests and shutdowns against Wanis killing show no signs of dissipation. Surprisingly, as seen in the unrest in previous years, this time, people have shown no signs of fatigue despite hardships due to strikes and loss of livelihood.

Protests have been so intense that besides major towns of Kashmir, people in villages have come out on streets to register their anger. The mood remains so much against India that the police and paramilitary forces have hardly been able to reach the rural areas, as they fear consequences due to brewing anger among people after Wanis death.

On 14 August, as the state government imposed restrictions on peoples movements and shut down mobile telephones and internet, this reporter travelled to some villages in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Defying restrictions, some villages had taken out freedom marches. Many villagers had hoisted Pakistani flags and painted it on the walls, electric poles and government buildings. As police and paramilitary take a backseat, the responsibility has fallen on the Army to ensure some semblance of order. On the night of 14 August, soldiers on their patrol duties swiftly brought down the iron billboards on which Pakistani flags were painted.

"They tied the one end of the iron chain to these billboards and other end with their vehicle and then dragged them out one by one," said Mubashir Ahmad, a local who was looking at them through the window pane at midnight. They even shouted slogans like 'Burhan bhai zindabad' so as to provoke the boys in the neighborhood, so that they could take them along, he added.

What should worry India further is that this time the situation has slipped out of the Hurriyat-led separatists control too.

Surely people are following the protest calendar given by the separatists. But some elements are defying the repeated requests from separatist leadership in which they have asked people not to harm anyone.

Despite calls given by the separatists for allowing people to resume their daily activities and travel after 6 pm, protestors have defied them. Many vehicles have been damaged by the young protestors, and shopkeepers have been coerced to shut their shops round the clock. Moreover, some overzealous elements have also damaged the ambulances carrying the patients and the injured.

The troubles given by the protestors are matched by the tyranny of the security forces. Since last month, many in south Kashmir have alleged that the security forces especially the CRPF are damaging private property. Several videos have surfaced on social networking sites and news channels where CRPF jawans have been seen breaking window panes of homes and damaging private vehicles on roads.

As a result, people in many villages of Anantnag are scared of coming out of their homes during late evenings. Many have complained that some unknown vandals are coming at night and breaking window panes of their houses. "Some unknown persons throw stones at our homes and give us sleepless nights," Mohd Yousuf, a villager told Firstpost. However, many also blame the Army for this.

Amidst all this, it seems that the state government is to be seen only in TV interviews and press releases. This has accentuated the peoples anger against the government and its policies. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her party PDP, were very vocal when they were in the Opposition during the 2008 and 2010 protests. However, this time, she and her party, it seems, have lost their voices.

Many believe that the anger was festering against the PDP-BJP alliance among the people in the Valley for a long time and Wanis killing gave a vent to it. After joining hands with the BJP, PDP has been termed by many locals as a puppet of the Indian government.

I have seen many protests since the outbreak of militancy, but this time the anger is very among the youth, Shamweel Iqbal, a student from South Kashmir told Firstpost. People want the only resolution that is, azadi, he said. People know that political leaders have been betraying them for decades. They are angry and feel that nothing other than freedom can heal the damage that took place since the 90s, Iqbal said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who reviewed the situation, called for an alternative to pellet guns and said that the government had decided to appoint a nodal officer to listen to the problems of Kashmiris in India. Hopefully, someone in the Army or the state government will give him the sense of the real dynamics on the ground.

The author is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar. He focuses on the socio-political issues of the Kashmir Valley.
Open flouting of Supreme Court orders restricting human pyramids over 20 feet, 'govindas' on rashly driven bikes sporting bandanas instead of wearing helmets, injuries minor and grievous to participants marked off Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai and adjoining areas on the occasion of Krishna Janmamashtami on Thursday.

Emboldened by an open call by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray to ignore the Supreme Court restrictions on height and not to allow anyone below 18 years of age to participate, many of the MNS backed 'mandals' brazenly disobeyed the orders.

Till 6 pm, around 71 'govindas' were admitted in different hospitals across the city for various injuries although 54 of them were released soon.

"We video recorded the human pyramids today and will start action from tomorrow against those who broke the Supreme Court order,"said a senior police official.

The police also arrested MNS leader Avinash Yadav who openly defied the Supreme Court orders during the 'dahi handi' celebrations in Thane. Yadav was booked under the charge of willfully disobeying an order by a public servant, in this case the police.

Displeasure with the apex court order on the curtailment of height was seen among 'govindas' in areas like Dadar and Thane particularly when the police intervened forcing the organisers to reduce the height of the 'dahi handi' to 20 feet.

But there were some reasonable voices too.

We have taken all precautionary measures. We followed the court rules and regulation and are breaking the matki at a height below 20 feet. Its a religious function that everyone should know about, said Anil Mhatre, Thane city secretary of the MNS.

In one of the 'mandals', a little girl  who climbed up to the ninth level of the human pyramid  was seen dangling in the air through the help of a fastener clearly proving that the age restriction was insolently broken.

The Jai Jawan mandal, which failed in its last ditch effort to convince the apex court on the height limitations, had put up a massive human pyramid measuring at least 42 feet at one point, more than twice the limit set by the top court.

We are in process of lodging a case against all those who participated in the nine-tier human pyramid at Naupada. They have not followed the norms of the Supreme Court, said Thane deputy commissioner of police Parag Manere.

The violations came a day after the apex court set a maximum height of 20 feet for the human pyramids formed during the dahi handi celebrations and restricted minors from participating, citing safety concerns.

The police is likely to take action against 19 mandals which were backed by MNS for contempt of court.
Barabanki (UP): National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman PL Punia on Thursday rejected the reported finding of the Roopanwal Commission that Rohith Vemula did not belong to the SC community as "totally wrong".

NCSC chairman said the statutory body and the district collector have, in separate reports, found that the Hyderabad Central University research scholar belonged to the Dalit community, and not Other Backward Class (OBC).

"The issues raised by the Congress were sidelined and now the report is being presented that Vemula was not a Dalit," Punia told reporters here yesterday.

The Congress MP alleged that the commission was set up to justify what BJP ministers had been saying from day one that Vemula was OBC and not a Dalit.

He said that the suicide by the Dalit scholar was "painful and unfortunate". Vemula 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 Justice (retd) AK Roopanwal Commission, which was constituted by the HRD Ministry to look into the circumstances leading to the death, has submitted its report.

According to reports, the commission has said that the 26-year-old research scholar did not belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
Suspected activists from right-wing groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal hurled eggs at Congress leader Ramya on Thursday in Mangalore in response to her remarks on Pakistan recently.

Speaking to CNN-News18 about the incident, the former Congress MP said that India is a democracy, hence, while people might react by throwing eggs at her she will not back track from her comments on Pakistan for which she is being continuously targeted.

The eggs were thrown at Ramya's cavalcade while she was travelling in her car from Mangalore to Kadri. The actor told CNN-News18 that the police informed her that the people who threw eggs at her belonged to some right wing group.

A sedition case has been filed against Ramya after she referred to Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement of 'going to Pakistan is like going to hell' by responding with 'Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well'.

A Kodagu-based advocate K Vittal Gowda, lodged a complaint of sedition against the former Mandya MP for her statement, accusing her of insulting India and provoking Indians by appreciating Pakistan.

CNN-News 18 reported that the court will hear the case on 27 August.
By any yardstick, the leak of the detailed plans for the stealth submarines of the Indian Navy, built by the French military manufacturer DCNS (in which the French government has majority stakes), is a matter of serious concern. Submarines constitute one of the most important assets in a countrys arsenal because of their ability to control the underwater battle-space, affect maritime manoeuvre and deliver kinetic effect in support of land and maritime operations besides their core attributes of stealth, concealment and surprise. But then, a submarine is effective as long as it is secretive. If an enemy knows its secrets, then it becomes good for nothing. That is why the maxim goes, loose lips sink ships.

The stunning leak, which runs to 22,400 pages, has been seen by the newspaper The Australian. And these pages cover the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy at an estimated cost of Rs 50,000 crore (the original cost was Rs 18,000 crore when the deal was signed in 2005). Incidentally, the first Scorpene (rechristened as Kalvari) of the much-delayed project (undertaken at MDL, Mumbai), is scheduled to be commissioned next month.

Four important questions arise out of this sordid episode: Who leaked the information? Who is benefiting from the leakage? How much has been leaked? And, how does it affect the Indian Navys overall capability?

It may be noted that given its enormity, the Scorpene-leakage is as much a big news as the leaks of the secret nuclear weapon design of Russia in 2015 and the theft of the military designs of more than two dozen advanced weapon systems of the United States in 2014, which the Chinese allegedly hacked to potentially weaken the US military advantage over China. In the case of Russia, the leakage was self-made and accidental. Apparently, a Russian television had revealed the design of a secret nuclear weapon delivery system: a drone submarine that could attack coastlines. Of course, the Russian explanation was not that convincing. How did a journalist gain access to such a secret weapons system? Military analysts therefore say that the leakage was intentional; the Kremlin wanted the West to know of the depth of its military might.

In the case of the Scorpene, one is not exactly certain from where did the leak originate. Although according to The Australian, the data was reportedly taken from France in 2011 by a former French Navy officer, and it then made its way to a company in Southeast Asia; but it was unclear how widely the leaked data had been shared. Sources in the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) are certain that the place of origin of the leakage was not India. But the DCNS in Paris suggests otherwise when it assures the Australian authorities (it has recently signed a deal worth of 50 billion dollars with Australia) that this sort of leak could not happen on the Australian submarine project because there are tighter controls on it as compared to that in the Indian project. According to the DCNS, as far as the Australian project is concerned, the company is responsible for safeguarding sensitive information both in France and in Australia, whereas in India it was merely the provider and not the controller of technical data.

In other words, DCNS thinks that the leak originated from India rather than France. But, both, the newspaper The Australian and the Australian authorities are reluctant to buy the DCNS version; they think that the leak originated from France in 2011, as the leaked data also contained details of DCNS projects unrelated to India. Besides, there is a general feeling in the West, particularly in the United States, that France has a reputation of being little careless with its military secrets.

In fact, this suspicion about the French capacity to keep secrets makes it little difficult to answer the second question - Who is benefiting from the leakage? Given the unpalatable truth that both Pakistan and China will remain Indias adversaries for a long time to come, it is natural to have the needle of suspicion point at these two countries. But this would be too simplistic. All said and done, there has always been a bitter rivalry among the Western countries and their military industrial complexes in developing new systems and finding markets for them.

It may be noted that it was the Great Britain that first started work on the development of nuclear weapons. In this work, it invited the Americans to participate. But the Americans then ditched the Brits to become the first at developing and later using the nuclear devices. Of course, with the onset of the Cold War, both nations came together and their partnership in developing new systems continue in some form or the other. But the same cannot be said about other Western countries. Americans were always suspicious of the French and this had an impact on their scientific cooperation, a reason for the delay in France becoming a nuclear power.

Even otherwise, the arms-manufacturers of the Western countries have been fierce rivals (consortiums like the Eurofighter Typhoon are exceptions). For instance, DCNS had strong rivalry from Germany and Japan before clinching the Australian submarine deal. With regard to India, we know how stiff the competition was for the Rafale combat aircraft (that we ultimately chose) from Eurofighter Typhoon, Mig 35(Russia), FA 18 Super Hornet(the USA), Saab Gripen(Sweden) and F-16 E/F(USA). It may also be noted that the Scorpene deal came against the background of the controversies over corruption with the German HDW (because of which a new deal to have more German submarines was cancelled in 1990s), which, otherwise, has made our Shishumar-class submarines (The Indian Navy operates four German-made HDW Type 209 submarines, with two out of four boats, the INS Shalki and INS Shankul, produced in India under a technology transfer agreement). In fact, at the moment Germany is in talks with India over a possible government-to-government deal for the procurement of six 2,000-ton (submerged) diesel-electric Type 214 submarines built by HDW.

Be that as it may, many Western countries have not exactly appreciated Indias close strategic partnership with France. It is true of every major country that geopolitical factor plays an important role in big-ticket purchases. French Mirages played a vital role during the 1999 Kargil campaign against Pakistan. During that campaign, India, and this is extremely important to note, obtained French clearance  and possibly more - to urgently adapt Israeli and Russian-supplied laser-guided bombs to the Mirages, which were thus able to successfully engage high-altitude targets that Indian MiG-23s and MiG-27s had been unable to reach. Besides, France is the only major Western nation (other than Russia) not to impose sanctions on India, following its nuclear explosion in 1998.

Coming back to the Scorpene leak, it is of extreme significance to find out whether the leak is deadly enough to compromise the efficacy of the six planned submarines for the Indian Navy. It is in fitness of things that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked the Navy to determine the damage, and till then one has wait for any conclusion. One can only hope that the damage is not crippling as feared, given the facts that the leaked plans date back to 2011 and then the data would be of limited use to Indias opponents as the signature-data that a submarine makes is known only when it starts operation.

However, the fear is that some of the leaked data reveal a date stamp as late as May 2013. Even otherwise, the leaked data contains highly classified technical manuals and other sensitive information, including details of the submarines secret stealth technology, torpedo-launching systems and its many intelligence-gathering systems. So much so that the data tells the submarine crew where on the boat they can speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. In such a situation, the best course is to redesign the submarine. But it is easier said than done as the submarine is at an advanced stage of construction. Therefore, one has to wait for the Navys fact-finding teams conclusion.

That brings us to the last question  how does the leak affect the Indian Navys overall capability? As I had earlier said, the Indian Navys submarine arm - 13 conventional submarines of vintage between 15 and 30 years, one SSN(nuclear-powered submarine - Akula II class submarine, named INS Chakra - on lease from Russia for ten years) and the indigenous Arihant (SSBN or ship submersible ballistic, nuclear submarine) still undergoing trials - does not make an encouraging reading, given Indias strategic location, its size and its emerging regional power status as the regions pre-eminent maritime power. Hence it can be said, the Scorpene-leak adds to Indias woes.
The group behind the landmark Vergara teacher tenure lawsuit in California is now backing a legal challenge to limitations on charter and magnet schools in Connecticut.

A group of parents, with the help of the California-based organization Students Matter , filed a federal lawsuit earlier this week arguing that the states cap on charter schools, a moratorium on new magnet schools, and policies discouraging student transfers among school districts are all unconstitutional.

Those restrictions on school choice are preventing studentsin particular low-income, minority studentsfrom getting a quality education, the suit says, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Meanwhile Vergara v. California failed to undo the states teacher tenure protections. Californias high court on Monday declined to hear the case, leaving the appeals court decision in place.

Student Matters is behind a third lawsuit, also in California, that is challenging teacher evaluations that do not include student test scores.

Related stories:
I dont completely agree with the Surrogacy Bill, especially the part that pertains to the ban on singles seeking surrogacy.

At a time when the definition of family is changing, for us to impose such a ban on single parents seems archaic.

I can see why the ban on foreign couples seeking commercial surrogacy here was included  to avoid a case like that Baby Gammy, the child born to a Thai surrogate mother, who was abandoned by its Australian parents because he was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. We certainly would not want a case like that here  who would bear the expense of the child, what would be his/her future?

But for Indian couples and singles, denying the right to parenthood via surrogacy if they so choose, is something I dont agree with.

When I wrote my book (Surrogacy: Medicolegal Issues; co-authored with Dr Navneet Takkar) in 2015, it was because a lot of people were being exploited  both prospective parents and surrogate mothers  and no one was paying enough attention to the problem. So we attempted to highlight the issues pertaining to surrogacy in public interest. We also laid out a series of recommendations (14 to be precise) that covered various aspects of the surrogacy issue.

Some of these recommendations are included in the new Surrogacy Bill, but others arent.

Among the latter, is the creation of a website that would have a national database for centres (clinics/hospitals) where surrogacy can be availed legally. In India, this is definitely a must as there are a lot of fly-by-night operators, people posing as doctors who could exploit prospective parents and surrogates.

There was the tragic case in 2010, of 17-year-old Sushma Pandey who died in Mumbai after donating her eggs (for the third time). Her parents didnt even know she was donating her eggs! And there was no action taken against anyone for her death  they got away scot-free. So the Surrogacy Bill should help in avoiding instances like that.

Until now, there hasnt been a clear law dealing with surrogacy. The judiciary has been doing its duty of course. For instance, there was the case of the Sudanese national in 2013, who wanted to become a father via surrogacy in India. But then you also have reports like that of the 72-year-old woman who gave birth after undergoing IVF  she has every right to become a mother, but what is the future of that child going to be, considering the parents are already so old?

Read on Firstpost, 'Surrogacy for singles: IVF doctors, patients must speak up to protect fertility rights'

The rights of the child also have to be considered by any law (that is being passed to govern surrogacy and IVF). Apart from this, surrogacy is a contract, so there is a need to: 1. Identify the clinics and hospitals where it is offered, 2. Do a survey about the standards and practices followed; 3. Create a database of those centres where surrogacy is followed legally that prospective parents can access; 4. A clear picture of what we define as family needs to be drawn.

The Surrogacy Bill as of now seems like a reproduction of the old ART acts; it seems not to have understood that India has grown out of its old taboos. It has to seek a middle path.

It must be noted that commercial surrogacy is banned in countries like the UK and Australia as well. However, its impact in India is going to be far different, and one that the new Bill must consider. How is this going to affect medical tourism in India? Hospitals are sure to appeal against it, especially if it is going to mean a loss in revenues.

I also see a lacuna in the Bill since it applies to all Indian states with the exception of Jammu and Kashmir. What will prevent those who are denied surrogacy elsewhere from seeking it in J&K?

Among the recommendations I had made in my book were the setting up of an independent institution. This institution would have a primary bank of records of all surrogacy contracts. It would have the authority to maintain checks and balances on the standards maintained by clinics/hospitals; have the discretion to set up a board  comprising not just medical experts, but also judicial experts and social activists  that would have a neutral stance when deliberating on matters pertaining to surrogacy.

Scientific data regarding surrogacy would have to be collected by this institution, which all ART (assisted reproductive techniques) clinics and hospitals would have to provide. These centres would also need to provide a record of all their financial dealings to the institution so that there is no exploitation of either the surrogate mothers or prospective parents. The centres would also have to provide details about the drugs and dosages administered to the surrogate mother; and ascribe to a minimum requirements set by the institution in terms of staff and infrastructure. (At present, the latter is governed by ICMR guidelines, but these are voluntary in nature and not binding.)

There should be a prescribed manner in which complaints can be filed in case of deficiencies by the hospitals/clinics. RTI forms should be made available to the prospective parents.

There should be a fixed compensation amount that must be paid to the surrogate mother's family in case of loss of life  yes, hospitals/clinics do offer health insurance but this amount isn't enough to compensate a family for the loss of a member.

The independent institution should be the first mediator  the judiciary should only be approached when there is a custodial dispute or exploitation of some kind that has occurred. The family court should deal with surrogacy cases at a district level, so the parties involved are assured of some privacy.

One of my recommendations was also that a thorough psychiatric evaluation be carried out of the prospective parents. There was a case internationally where one of the parents was found to be a pedophile and the surrogate mother then sought custody of the child. A psychiatric evaluation would help prevent such a case. There also needs to be a check on the financial background of the prospective parent(s) and as long as they have the economic wherewithal to support a child, they should not be denied the chance for parenthood.

We recently saw the case of actor Tusshar Kapoor who became a father thanks to surrogacy. He is single, but felt the time was right for him to become a father and he had the family and financial support necessary for it.

Also read: 'Tusshar Kapoor having a baby is great news. But are IVF guidelines bent for celebs?'

I dont think a blanket ban on singles seeking surrogacy is the way to go.

Australia had passed an amendment to its surrogacy law in 2010  in that sense, India has been far behind in deciding what it wants (to allow) in terms of surrogacy.

Gehna Vaishnavi is an advocate who practices in the Punjab & Haryana High Court. She authored the book Surrogacy: Medicolegal Issues in 2015.

As told to Rohini Nair
After the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pulled-up the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for its excessive spending on advertisements outside Delhi, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA has now raised a red flag against his own government over a liquor issue.

On the floor of Delhi Assembly on Wednesday, the AAP MLA from Timarpur, Pankaj Pushkar, served a notice to the Delhi government over a breach of privilege  for allegedly resorting to lies.

Pushkar, while confirming that he had issued the notice, added that the government had resorted to lies to hide its incompetency and failure to abide by the rules of law.

Yes, I gave them a notice on Wednesday, because a senior minister, whos representing the Delhi government, resorted to lies to hide its incompetency and failure to abide by the rules of law, the Timarpur MLA told Firstpost.

It all started on the third day of the four-day Delhi Assembly session on Wednesday, during the Question Hour, when Pushkar asked two starred questions regarding the issuing of new liquor licenses:

If any new vends/licenses were granted during this period (any particular period) and whether there was any consultation with the public in the locality before granting of these licenses?

Is it mandatory to have the permission of local MLAs before granting new liquor licenses in the area?

What the Delhi government said

As per current rules there is no requirement of consultation with the public.

There is no such policy.

What the Delhi governments Excise Policy says?

As per Sec 24 (1), when its proposed to grant a license for retail vend of liquor for consumption on the premises of any premises which were not licensed in the preceding year, the deputy commissioner should take all reasonable steps to ascertain the opinion of persons who reside or have property in the neighbourhood and likely to get affected by the proposal.

'The area MLA should have given his positive opinion in respect of vend premises, as regards opening of the vend'.

The legislator has been on a campaign along with AAPs splinter group, Swaraj Abhiyan, against the opening of liquor vends by Delhi government in residential areas. Yogendra Yadav-Prashant Bhushan led Swaraj Abhiyan has been attacking the AAP government over its anti-people liquor policy and has demanded immediate closure of 11 liquor vends in the national capital, which were opened without public approval. The issue that was raised in public has now snowballed into a fierce debate inside the Assembly.

In various public platforms, Pushkar and Swaraj Abhiyan have jointly raised the issue of the opening of 142 new liquor shops by Delhi government without the consent of local residents, which is mandatory. The movement has garnered huge local support.

Its a worrying signal for the citizens that the government has been spreading lies by distorting cats on the floor of the House on such a serious issue. Such an act is a breach of privilege granted to any member of the House. And, MLA Pankaj Pushkar did the right thing by issuing the notice, said Anupam Singh, national working committee member, Swaraj Abhiyan.

This is not the first time that Pushkar has raised his voice against the partys functioning; even in the past, the legislator has never shied away from questioning the AAP leadership and the government.

Exactly a year ago  much before the CAG questioned the Delhi government on its Ad spending  it was Pushkar, a lone rebel legislator among 67 AAP MLAs, who had strongly criticised the government for its excessive publicity budget  of Rs 526 crore.

The AAP movement was more like a cooperative society, with participation of all the members. But now, the party has become a private limited company, Pushkar had said back in 2015.
New Delhi: On Thursday Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi exuded confidence that situation in Kashmir, which has been witnessing unrest for the last 48 days, will soon become "normal" and asserted that forces trying to harm India will be dealt with "strictly".

"...the situation in Kashmir will become normal soon. The Modi government assures the country that any other country and forces will not be able to harm India. Such forces will be dealt with strictly," Naqvi said without naming any country.

Addressing a conference of minority youths, the Minister for Minority Affairs said some "anti-peace" forces are unable to digest environment of development being created in Jammu and Kashmir and hence, are "putting hurdles in growth of local youth".

Naqvi said NDA government has offered the youth a "better" environment and opportunities.

Denouncing terrorism, the Minister said groups such as Islamic State or Al-Qaeda have not been able to establish roots in India, thanks to its societal values.

He, however, asked youngsters to remain vigilant against "evil forces" involved in terror activities and "misguiding" them in the name of religion.

"These forces have nothing to do with any religion. They have been misusing the religion as their shield and are involved in bloodshed in the world...we have to remain alert against them in future too," he added.

Naqvi said the Central government has been working for socio-economic- educational empowerment of each section of the society including dalits, minorities, weaker sections, women and youths.

Without naming any political party or organisation, he said "some people" are unable to digest steps taken by the government for welfare of common man and are trying to create hurdles in country's development path. "...but these people will not succeed in their ulterior motive," he said.

Naqvi also claimed the representation of minorities in government jobs has gone up to 8.70 percent (in 2014-15) during NDA regime from 6.91 percent (2012-13) recorded during UPA-II.

He urged the youth belonging to minority communities to take benefits the government schemes such as Seekho aur Kamao, Nai Manzil, Stand up India, Start up India, Make in India and others and "become a part of the development process".
By Daarel Burnette II. This story originally appeared on the State EdWatch blog.

Pennsylvanias Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he will establish a divison of charter schools within the states education department to better support the states growing charter school sector.

The divisions staff members will provide charter schools with fiscal and academic oversight and help manage the states charter school reauthorization process.

Charter schools play an important role in our education system, but that role must be accompanied by sufficient oversight, Wolf said in a statement. Establishing this new division within the Department of Education will allow us to maximize our resources to not only ensure charters are being properly supported, but that they are being held accountable to taxpayers.

Pennsylvania began allowing for charter schools in 1997. There are now 1.7 million students attending both 162 brick-and-mortar schools and 14 cyber schools.

Because of the nimble structure of charter schools, which receive public funds but operate independently, many charter advocates say they require a different sort of support from state department officials.

Related stories:
In a case of role reversal, a case was filed on Monday against the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for reportedly distributing nearly one million images of child pornography.

In an attempt to arrest users of child pornography site Playpen, the FBI inadvertently improved the working of the site. It is located on Tor or the 'darknet', which makes it almost impossible to locate users.

According to a tweet by one of Motherboard's contributors Joseph Cox, the FBI distributed as many as one million images of child pornography.

Defense lawyers say the FBI distributed as many as 1 million images of child pornography https://t.co/qIjGaXFU1N pic.twitter.com/P9ACO6xp7U  Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) August 23, 2016

The users started commenting on the improvements since the FBI took over in February 2015. Cox also argues in his Motherboard article that on the archived messages of the Playpen site, users were complaining of slow and poor service before it was taken over by the FBI.

Steven Chase, the original administrator of Playpen, is accused of participating in a "child exploitation enterprise".

Instead of shutting the site, the organisation continued to operate the site for two more weeks in an attempt to inject malware in the computers of the users. The FBI managed to harvest around 1,300 IPs and charge 137 people, according to Security Affairs. This included computers in the UK, Chilem and Greece.

The operation was famously dubbed as Operation Pacifier. Peter Adolf, an assistant federal defender in the Western District of North Carolina, in a motion to dismiss the case wrote, "The FBI distributed child pornography to viewers and downloaders worldwide for nearly two weeks, until at least 4 March, 2015, even working to improve the performance of the website beyond its original capability."

He also quoted some users' comments in his motion. The number of visitors increased from an average of 11,000 weekly visitors to around 50,000 per week. The number of unique visitors also quadrupled.

While arguing why his client Chases indictment should be thrown out, Adolf cited two more cases of 1984 and 1986, reported RT News. He pointed out that these cases were dismissed even when the government agents were intimately involved in the production of contraband.

As part of Operation Pacifier, the government actively aided and abetted more than 100,000 users in posting, viewing, and sharing illegal pictures and videos, DailyCaller quoted the defence attorney as saying.

They compare this operation with the infamous ATFs Operation Fast and Furious because the government ended up spreading far more child pornography.

They also made another surprising and pathetic revelation. The FBI had reportedly also maintained a How To section. It involved advice on how to sexually abuse children and avoid detention, states DailyCaller.

As far as the legality of Operation Pacifier is concerned, an article in the NextWeb quoted New York attorney Joseph Potashnik as saying that this sort of conduct by law enforcement in federal cases is legal.

Another attorney argued that it was not only legal but it was abused by the government on a regular basis.

Another attorney, Chistopher Eskew disagreed but added that it would not be a case the United States government would prosecute.
Click HERE for a list of our other web sites

Click HERE to get filtered opportunity reports by email, starting at only $21.95/month.

User login is required to use this feature. Register here

Contact us if you like to have a single PDF file with each report send in your email each day.
We welcome guest authors Dr. Rebecca Stobaugh, Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University and Dr. Sandra Love, Director of Education Insight and Research for Mentoring Minds.

All too often we think that the actions taken during instruction, like questioning or activities, are what really propel critical thinking in the classroom. We mistakenly think this alone will develop students as critical thinkers. Actually, there is another factor that is crucial--the environment. If we fail to focus on the environment, then we have failed to consider an essential piece in developing a thinking culture in our schools and classrooms. What does a culture for thinking look like? How is such a culture created? Let us explore some ways to foster a thinking culture.

Promote a Safe, Engaging Environment

Students need to feel safe to think in the classroom environment. If they know that all thoughts are valued, students are more likely to contribute freely in the discussion, asking questions, offering responses, and engaging in conversation. According to Stengel and Weems (2010), safe classrooms allow students to take risks, make mistakes, explore concepts, and gain understanding, particularly as they consider unfamiliar and different perspectives. Administrators and teachers must remove barriers, actual or perceived, to allow students to feel a strong comfort level in the classrooms across the campus.

Communicate Expectations

Expectations should be clearly communicated so students know that thinking is more than the acquisition of information and skill, and superficial discussions. Tasks, thinking routines, and assessments can make it transparent that in-depth thinking is required for success.

Evaluate tasks to ensure higher-order questions that require thoughtful responses are posed (e.g., Why is __? What are you assuming when you say __? What evidence can you offer to support __? How might __?). Assure that students understand that learning tasks, routines, and assessments are designed to elicit thinking and to transfer and make meaning.

Create an Engaging Environment

When students enter the school and the classroom, the physical environment conveys messages about what is valued and expected. Classroom space should be arranged to support and encourage thinking and facilitate student interaction. Seating arrangements must support movement and conversation with peers. Horseshoe, circular, U- or C-shaped designs all allow students to see and make eye contact with each other. Different yet flexible group configurations encourage students to collaborate in a variety of ways, choosing multiple arrangements that facilitate thoughtful interactions as well as private spaces for reflecting and processing ideas. The photo above, of Amanda Rupschs classroom at Alvaton Elementary School is an example of a classroom with multiple spaces for different groups of students to collaborate.

Interactive displays, infographics, quotes, and questions might serve as visual cues to stimulate and challenge thinking. Sticky notes can be placed across a chart to show the development of students thinking about topics. Visual evidence of student learning should be seen throughout the school to document the process and generation of ideas which can inspire, inform, and engage students in thoughtful conversations.

Develop a Common Language

Marzano (2009) stressed the importance of a common language as a framework or a way to talk about instruction across the campus. Just as a shared language is used to discuss effective instruction in order to improve student learning, a language common to all educators should also exist for critical thinking. See Figure 3 for common language examples. Walsh and Sattes (2011) stated, A language of thinking promotes exactness and precision in expressing cognitive processing (p. 144). For example, when teachers ask students to Evaluate the quality of the source, do all parties have a common understanding of what it means to evaluate? When a shared understanding is developed based on the common language of critical thinking, teachers can participate in deliberate conversations to make real-time adjustments in planning and engaging students in meaningful thinking experiences. Developing this knowledge base across the campus allows teachers opportunities to improve their expertise in thinking and to better understand the kinds of practice experiences students need to grow as skillful thinkers.

Common Language Examples

Analyze:

Distinguishing relevant from the irrelevant information to draw logical conclusions

Recognizing biases, assumptions, intentions, or points of view Evaluate:

Pursuing unsubstantiated claims, question ideas, and demand validation for arguments, interpretations, assumptions, or beliefs

Decision Making through a) identifying the problem or situation, b) securing relevant information, c) defining criteria for evaluation, d) exploring options, and e) prioritizing alternatives Create

Exploring various hypotheses or ideas to address a novel or ill-defined problem

Designing and carrying out a solution that is entirely different from the original sources (Stobaugh, 2013)

A thinking vocabulary also helps students communicate their thoughts, making their thinking transparent to others (Walsh & Sattes, 2011; Ritchhart & Perkins, 2008). Teachers should incorporate thinking language into daily instruction and encourage students to use the language to express how they process information. Administrators can support teachers by devoting time for teachers to collaborate: What vocabulary is associated with thinking critically? Are there specific terms that should be introduced to the students? Obviously, a well-articulated common language allows the entire school, as well as students, to know and be clear about what attributes, attitudes, and actions are valued.

Model Thinking /Allow Think Time

In thinking classrooms, it is helpful to students when teachers talk about their own thinking. To make thinking explicit, teachers can share their ideas and wonder aloud, exploring possibilities with the students. As teachers demonstrate high-level thinking tasks, it is helpful to use the Think Aloud strategy. Just as exemplar writing samples are used to help students understand what quality writing looks like, the Think-Aloud strategy is a way to explain concepts, encourage problem solving, and help students process information.

When teachers explain their thinking aloud, students become aware of the thinking processes involved in performing certain tasks. As high-level questions are first introduced, teachers should model how to approach the question. Other examples for modeling using a think-aloud process could include how to use a specific strategy to determine the important ideas in a text, how to analyze a graphic, how to use organizers to determine the causes and effects of an event, or how to use evaluation criteria to decide upon the most reasonable solution to a problem.

A thoughtful classroom culture that supports and nurtures thinking is critical to creating developing thinkers. Ritchhart and Perkins (2008) note that explicit modeling and visible thinking improve students thinking processes. Allocating time for thinking by providing time for exploring topics in depth as well as time to formulate thoughtful responses to complex questions are also important in building a thinking culture throughout the school.

Conclusion

Building a culture for thinking in all classrooms requires an intentional and planned school-wide effort. A classroom culture that nurtures high cognitive demands includes a priority to improve thinking, teacher modeling of appropriate thinking practices, multiple thinking opportunities, and supportive interactions that promote purposeful thought. A thinking-centered classroom is an energizing place where everyone is collaborating and contributing to the learning. An administrator sets the tone, providing support, professional development, and resources to the teachers. It is the responsibility of all to open the minds of students and guide them to receive the ideas and thinking of others. Teaching students to become effective critical thinkers takes time, energy, knowledge, and effort by students, teachers, administrators, and parents.

References:

Marzano, R. J. (2009). Setting the record straight on high yield strategies. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(1), 30-37.

Ritchhart, R., & Perkins, D. (2008). Making thinking visible. Educational Leadership, 65 (5), 57-61.

Stobaugh, R. (2013). Assessing critical thinking in middle and high schools: Meeting the Common Core. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.

Walsh, J. A., & Sattes, B. D. (2011). Thinking through quality questioning: Deepening student engagement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

More about the authors:

Dr. Rebecca Stobaugh is an Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University and has authored three books on critical thinking including Assessing Critical Thinking in High Schools. She collaborates with Mentoring Minds to support teachers in integrating critical thinking skills into instruction.

Dr. Sandra Love is the Director of Education Insight and Research for Mentoring Minds. Dr. Love has authored numerous articles and developed several educational resources on critical thinking and instructional strategies to help educators improve the teaching and learning processes.
A Missouri court ruled this week that a question can be placed on the November ballot that asks voters whether they want to significantly increase the states cigarette-only tax in order to pay for early-childhood services, according to the Associated Press .

The ballot measure will ask voters whether to hike cigarette taxes by 60 cent-per-pack between 2017 and 2020. With a 23-cents-a-pack tax, the state has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the country.

Opponents to the ballot measure argued that the petition used to get it on the ballot should be thrown out because it was based on a slightly different question than will be end up on the ballot. A lower court tweaked the language of the question after the petition was submitted.

Having the petition thrown out would have resulted in the ballot measure being tossed, too.

But the Cole County Circuit Court said Monday that the questions on both the petition and the one set to be on the ballot are ultimately the same.

Maine , Missouri , Oklahoma and Oregon will all have ballot questions this November that ask residents whether to raise taxes to benefit education programs.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
Googles Project Fi which was opened to all users since March comes with a WiFi Assistant feature that allows you to automatically and securely connect to open WiFi networks. The feature that was exclusive to Project Fi users will now be available for all Nexus devices.

These open WiFi networks are verified by Google and are reliable. WiFi Assistant uses a Google VPN to try and secure the connection. The WiFi Assistant app will be available for Nexus devices running Android Lollipop 5.1 or higher and these devices will not require a subscription to the wireless service. Users wont be required to sign in or set up accounts to access the WiFi.

In order to enable WiFi Assistant will have to head over to the Android Settings app> Google>Networking. You can then toggle the feature on and off

Google says the tool can help improve average connection speeds and lower monthly data consumption, regardless of which wireless carrier provides cellular service to the phone. The Google WiFi Assistant is available to Nexus devices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and Nordic countries. Google says it will roll out over the next few weeks.

Source
Pennsylvanias Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday that he will establish a divison of charter schools within the states education department to better support the states growing charter school sector.

The divisions staff members will provide charter schools with fiscal and academic oversight and help manage the states charter school reauthorization process.

Charter schools play an important role in our education system, but that role must be accompanied by sufficient oversight, Wolf said in a statement. Establishing this new division within the Department of Education will allow us to maximize our resources to not only ensure charters are being properly supported, but that they are being held accountable to taxpayers.

Pennsylvania began allowing for charter schools in 1997. There are now 1.7 million students attending both 162 brick-and-mortar schools and 14 cyber schools .

Because of the nimble structure of charter schools, which receive public funds but operate independently, many charter advocates say they require a different sort of support from state department officials.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain agreed to answer a few questions about their new book, Partnering With Parents To Ask The Right Questions: A Powerful Strategy For Strengthening School-Family Partnerships (ASCD, 2016).

Luz Santana and Dan Rothstein are co-directors of The Right Question Institute and Agnes Bain is the institutes treasurer and a professor of government at Suffolk University in Boston.

LF: I have had surface familiarity with the Right Question Strategy for quite awhile, and had thought of it only as a K-12 instructional strategy. I was surprised (though should not have been) to learn from your book that its applied in a number of areas, including working with parents.

Can you provide a universal explanation of the Right Question Strategy, including some background? My next question, and subsequent ones, will relate to its relationship to parents.

Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain:

We began our work in the old mill town of Lawrence, MA. Luz came to Lawrence from Puerto Rico, navigated her way through various systems (welfare, job training, factory floor jobs) before continuing her education and eventually working for the city on a drop out prevention program. Agnes, a lifelong resident of Lawrence was deeply rooted in local politics and civic affairs and began working as a volunteer on the drop out prevention program. Dan was working for the city as well and had helped initiate an effort to engage parents in the community in the drop out prevention program.

As the three of us began working together we would hear from parents that they were not participating in their childrens education, not even going to the schools because, as they told us, we dont even know what to ask. We thought we could solve that problem by giving them a list of questions but soon noticed that as they faced different challenges and issues, they kept coming back for a new list of questions. We realized that we were actually creating greater dependency, the very opposite of what we wanted to do.

Eventually, we began working with the parents to figure out how to teach what is actually the very sophisticated thinking skill of question formulation to all people no matter their level of education or income. We made lots of mistakes but eventually created the Question Formulation Technique, a simple, but rigorous process that produces consistent results and improved ability to ask questions. We soon observed that when parents learned to ask their own questions they quickly began to take a more active role in their childrens education, communicate more frequently with school staff and began to help their children in new ways. Then, they taught us another lesson; the parents who were most effective acting on behalf of their children focused their questions on key decisions, including class placements, discipline policies, learning opportunities, special education referrals and more. Specifically, they began to ask questions about the reasons for a decision, the process for making it and the role they could play. They led us to what we call the Framework for Accountable Decision-Making, key criteria for good decision-making on any level of a democratic society.

They made clear the importance of moving from giving people a list of questions to deliberately building their capacity to continuously ask their own questions. We were listening to the parents and honoring not only what they knew, but also what they themselves named as a major obstacle to effective participation. Their call for the need for specific skill-building opportunities had never been fully understood or respected. Their wise insight was proven right, for when they developed their skills to ask questions and participate in decisions they moved from being dependent on others to greater self-efficacy and agency. Informed by their actions, we developed the full Right Question Strategy that deliberately teaches those two skills in as simple a way as possible.

When we shared the Right Question Strategy in many settings and across many fields and issues over the past twenty years, we observed a similar pattern of increased agency; among immigrant parents in New Mexico, sugar cane plantation workers in Hawaii, public housing residents in Chicago, adult literacy learners in New Hampshire, patients at community health centers in the Bronx and many more. We also saw that when people began to advocate for themselves in their individual encounters with public institutions, they modeled a form of democratic action on a micro level or what we have come to call Microdemocracy. Then, in the last five years we have been so impressed by the initiative and innovative spirit of classroom teachers who by the tens of thousands have now incorporated our Question Formulation Technique into their classrooms around the country and beyond. They are teaching the skill of question formulation to their students not because they are mandated to do so, but because they find that students who learn to produce their own questions, improve their questions and can strategize on how to use them are far more engaged and take more ownership of their learning than ever before. And, their excitement and depth of learning brings great joy to their teachers, a sentiment they well deserve.





LF: Okay, now that we have a little more general background on the Right Question Strategy, can you provide a short-and-simple overview of the focus of this book, The Right Question School-Family Partnership Strategy?

Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain:

We continually hear from school staff that they are often overwhelmed by daily demands, intermittent crises and on-going challenges, complicated by shifting demands on them that come from above. In this context, it is very hard to find the time, the resources and the capacity to work on building partnerships with parents. Our strategy is designed to help schools seize already existing opportunities to build parent capacity to ask their own questions and participate more effectively in key decisions that affect their childrens education.

What exactly changes when parents start to ask their own questions and participate in decisions? Parents who confidently use these skills, begin to play three key roles in their childrens education. They support their children by creating good conditions and communicating messages that make education a priority. They monitor their progress, staying alert to challenges and problems as they appear. They advocate for their children when necessary. The result of their actions supporting, monitoring and advocating for their children is a stronger partnership with school staff.

By taking action in these three ways, parents move from being reticent to participate or dependent on others to speak on their behalf and become more skilled agents on behalf of their children. This movement from dependency to agency is the most significant outcome of the Right Question Strategy.

The Right Question Strategy is also a resource for leveling the playing field, for ensuring that not just a few parent leaders are active at the school, but, rather that all parents can become more confident and skilled partners. We are committed to democratizing access to what too often are seen only as leadership skills.

LF: Can you take me step-by-step through a specific example using the Partnership Strategy? In other words, can you share an actual or theoretical complaint that might be voiced by a parent and lead me through how it might evolve from a complaint to an action with a successful result.

Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain:

Lets look at it first from the perspective of a teacher in our book. A child is not consistently turning in homework. In the past, the teacher might send a note home stating the problem. Parents might get defensive or get angry with their children and remain unsure about how to respond. By using the Right Question Strategy, the teacher can change that dynamic. The teacher begins by creating what we call a Question Focus that presents a problem or challenge to the parents and can be as simple as: X seems to be struggling to always do his homework. The teacher invites the parent to voice a range of questions that can help them both think more clearly about the problem. The questions help shape a learning agenda, an action agenda and a plan for teacher and parent to work together.

Now, lets look at it from a parents perspective as we often do in our book. Once parents learn to use the strategy they can continually prepare themselves to play a more effective role. If, for example, a parent is concerned their child is being bullied, instead of a quick emotional response saying my child is afraid to go to school and what are you going to do about it?, the parent can generate a range of questions about the extent of the problem, including who is affected by it, who is aware of it, what is being done, what is working, what can be done to help all involved and also protect the parents child. When this happens, the parent is better prepared to partner with the school in exploring the source of the problem and what can be done by all.

LF: In your book, you suggest that it might not actually take that much time and energy for teachers and administrators to implement this kind of parent partnership strategy. Of course, many - if not most - advocates for any kind of school based effort say the same thing. No offense intended, but why should educators believe you?

Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain:

The Right Question School-Family Partnership Strategy is just what it says it is: a strategy. It is a specific way to use some simple and consistent skill-building practices that are relevant across all areas and issues. It is not a program that requires new staffing, additional infrastructure, and longer hours. Educators can use the strategy in already existing opportunities; parent-teacher meetings, problem-solving meetings, school wide events, open houses, local school councils, and district-wide meetings to name a few. It does require a small, but significant shift in practice that moves from giving information to parents to investing in their ability to ask more questions about their childrens education and participate in key decisions.

The core of our work, day in and day, out is to figure out how to simplify the teaching of complex and sophisticated thinking skills and democratic skills so that they are easy to learn and easy to teach to others. Teachers tell us how once the strategy is implemented, their task of working with parents actually gets easier. They have talked about how parents who have learned to use the Right Question Strategy come to parent-teacher conferences, for example, prepared with their own questions. The conversations are productive and time-efficient and better partnerships emerge.





LF: You share a number of stories in the book of your strategy in action. What is your favorite one, and why do you like it so much?

Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain:

The book offers a series of case studies of how a parent liaison, a teacher, an assistant principal, a guidance counselor, district leaders and others can implement the strategy in different ways on many levels. Come on, Larry, you cant expect us to choose a favorite one!

The concluding case study, however, pulls together a lot from all the other stories and adds new elements to the story. It focuses on an example from a border community in New Mexico where, after a shooting at a middle school, a social service agency that works with many immigrant parents helped bring parents into a process in which they became invaluable partners and effective advocates for helping their childrens schools secure resources to support violence prevention programs.

We really like this story for three reasons: First, its a great example of how service agencies and community organizations as well as parents who traditionally have not been active can help raise issues and secure resources that would be hard for school staff to do on their own. Second, it shows how the parents kept lifting the veil off of different levels of public decision-making. They identified foci for democratic action, beginning with the school, then moving to the district level, the school committee, the city council, the state department of education and even the state legislature. They quickly discovered how what happens on the micro level - at their childrens school - is affected by decisions made further up the democratic decision-making chain. Third, the catalyst for all this was one staff person at an agency working with parents of children with special needs. He had picked up our strategy in a statewide training and then when the crisis hit, he used the strategy with a group of four parents who were so excited about what they were able to figure out just by working with questions that they went out and recruited 100 more parents and led them through the Right Question Strategy.

We have come a long way from when we began our work doing workshops directly in the community. This case study illustrates, precisely what we want to see: people learning the strategy, teaching others who can then teach even more people and no one is dependent on us or even knows who we are. Thats success.

LF: Is there anything I havent asked you that youd like to share?

Luz Santana, Dan Rothstein and Agnes Bain:

There is an urgent need to democratize access to the transformational skills of question formulation and more effective participation in decision-making. Not only will our schools and communities benefit from more people using these democratic skills, but our country as well.

LF: Thanks, Luz, Dan, and Agnes!

Save
The European Commission is rejecting U.S. Treasury Department complaints that probes into sweetheart tax deals between governments and big companies are hitting U.S. firms hardest.

Commission spokeswoman Lucia Caudet said Thursday that "EU law applies indiscriminately to all companies operating in Europe  there is no bias against U.S. companies."

The Commission, which polices EU laws, has opened tax probes into Apple in Ireland, Starbucks in the Netherlands and Amazon in Luxemburg.

Caudet noted one of its first tax rulings last year concerned European company Fiat. This year the Commission rejected a Belgian tax scheme involving 35 mostly European companies.

The Treasury says the EU investigations could cost American taxpayers if companies are forced to pay higher taxes in Europe because businesses get U.S. tax credits for foreign tax payments.
As farming is a vital industry, agricultural stocks offer great potential. Image source: Getty Images.

Agricultural and farming stocks are far from sexy, but investing in ag stocks can prove very valuable -- it means investing in businesses that provide daily essentials like food. From farm-equipment manufacturers to agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and seed companies, ag stocks include popular names like:

Company Agricultural Industry Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (NYSE: POT) Fertilizers Moasic Company (NYSE: MOS) Fertilizers Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) Farm Equipment Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) Seeds, agricultural chemicals CF Industries Holdings (NYSE: CF) Fertilizers Agrium (NYSE: AGU) Fertilizers, seeds, agricultural chemicals AGCO Corp. (NYSE: AGCO) Farm equipment CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI) Farm equipment Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) Seeds, agricultural chemicals

But which of these agricultural stocks is the best buy right now? Here are three to consider.

Agrium Inc.: A diversified agricultural stock

Better known as a fertilizer company, Agrium is perhaps one of the most diversified agricultural stocks. While the company derives a major chunk of sales from its retail business of seeds and crop-protection products, fertilizers make up a greater portion of its profits. On the one hand, that has proved a disadvantage in recent times, with the fertilizer market in a slump. On the other, diversity has helped Agrium weather the storm better than pure-fertilizer plays like PotashCorp, Mosaic, and CF Industries. Check for yourself how dramatically Agrium's net income has grown in the past decade compared to peers, especially PotashCorp:

AGU Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts.

Agrium was pretty stingy about returning profits to shareholders until about three years ago, when a proxy battle with activist investor forced the company to rethink its capital allocation policies. Agrium's dividend has more than quadrupled, and share repurchases have exceeded $1 billion since 2012. What's more, Agrium's free cash flow per share has almost doubled since 2013 -- no mean feat in an industry that's subject to the vagaries of unpredictable macro factors like climate and commodity prices.

With capital expenditures expected to taper in coming years, Agrium's cash flows and shareholder returns should only grow higher. Aggressive moves to expand its retail distribution network, even as it curtails costs in its fertilizer business, should position Agrium for solid growth when the business cycles turn.

Deere & Company: Warren Buffett's favorite agricultural-equipment stock

With a legacy that spans 175 years, Deere's name is almost synonymous with farm equipment -- an industry that's integral to farming, as it wouldn't be possible to prepare land, grow crops or apply fertilizers evenly without machinery like tractors, plows, combines, and sprayers.

An unbeatable brand name, innovative leadership, strong distribution network, solid global footprint, and a finance arm that provides loans to customers (facilitating big-ticket purchases) all give Deere a solid edge over peers like AGCO and CNH Industrial. Its competitive advantage is reflected in its numbers: Even in an exceptionally challenging year like 2015, Deere delivered an astounding return on equity of 24%. AGCO and CNH aren't even close with their single-digit percentage ROE.

Deere is also a more diversified company than its peers, generating almost a quarter of its revenue from its construction-equipment and forestry businesses. You'd also be surprised to know that Deere is the largest producer of four-wheeled self-driving vehicles in the U.S. -- a stamp of the company's innovative leadership.

It's no surprise, then, that Deere plowed its way into Warren Buffett's portfolio. Investors in Deere have made a killing too, as the company tripled its dividend in the past decade and has repurchased shares worth $16.4 billion since 2004. Investors whobuy the ag stock todaymay reap similar returns in the years to come.

Monsanto Company: A controversial but promising ag stock

As controversial as Monsanto's genetically modified products might be, there's no denying that the company has withstood the tests of time and delivered investors great returns:

MON Return on Equity (Annual) data by YCharts.

Monsanto's double-digit-percentage returns, despite the cyclicality of the ag industry and the frequent GMO backlashes, are not a fluke. Monsanto not only develops seed traits, but also licenses them to others, including its rivals. Now how many times have you heard of a company's rivals using its products? Backed by its dominance in the industry, a strong research-and-development pipeline, robust investments in the Internet of Things for agriculture, and increased global penetration of its key corn and soybean traits, Monsanto expects to grow its earnings per share by mid-teen percentages between 2017 and 2021.

Monsanto is now an interesting potential takeover target, following Bayer's recent buyout bid. While Monsanto rejected Bayer's proposal, the two companies are reportedly in talks about potential transactions. Their merger would create the world's largest agricultural chemicals company. And if that doesn't happen, Monsanto will likely pursue other growth opportunities, similar to its recent attempt to acquire Syngenta. Either way, Monsanto offers great growth potential, and shareholders who add the ag stock to their long-term portfolios can expect good value for money.

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.

Neha Chamaria has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool is short John Deere. 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.
DuPont's agriculture business is now its largest division by sales. Image source: Getty Images.

Times sure are a-changin' atDuPont(NYSE: DD), but its management wants you to know that they're all a-changin' for the better as it looks ahead to its probable merger with fellow chemical giantDow Chemical(NYSE: DOW).

Here are the three most important things DuPont's management wants you to understand.

1. The merger's a done deal...almost

DuPont management clearly considers the merger with Dow Chemical -- and the subsequent breakup into three smaller, more narrowly focused entities -- a near-certainty. The deal has been approved by shareholders of both companies and the management of both companies are also in favor.

The one thing that's preventing it from moving from a near-certainty to an absolute certainty is regulatory approval. Naturally, the merger of two large multinational companies is subject to regulation from numerous bodies across the globe. On the second-quarter earnings call, CEO Edward Breen was asked about what part of the regulatory process had him most concerned. He replied:

But that timeline may have been thrown into jeopardy. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently announced plans to hold hearings in late September on the wave of mergers in the agricultural industry, including this one.

Which brings us to management's next point...

2. It's all about ag

Although it's historically been seen as a materials science company, DuPont has been pivoting away from that business and focusing more on its lucrative agricultural unit, which currently makes up 39% of the company's sales (compared to just 21% for performance materials).

Indeed, on the second-quarter earnings call, agriculture was front and center, with James Collins, the company's executive vice president of its agriculture business, appearing alongside Breen and CFO Nicholas Fanandakis.

Much of the call's Q&A session was devoted to questions about agriculture, about specific products like the company's new Leptra corn seeds and its Dermacor rice seed treatment, but also about soybean volumes and the Brazilian corn market. It was in response to an unrelated question about R&D, though, that showed how much the company has shifted focus from its materials science roots.

Analyst P.J. Juvekar of Citigroup posed a question about the company's overall R&D spending, which dropped by $125 million YOY to $850 million in the first half of 2016. Breen replied (emphasis mine):

Given the reduced overall R&D spend by the company this year, and reports of recent layoffs and cost reductions in the materials science division, it seems clear that agriculture is now the company's primary focus over materials science, which should cheer up investors in materials science rival3M.

This talk of reduced spending, though, brings us to...

3. Costs are being cut, cut, cut

DuPont's management has promised shareholders that it would cut costs in advance of the merger with Dow, and they want you to know they've made good on their promises. These cuts are over and above the anticipated $3 billion in synergies due to the merger.

Over and over on the call, management -- particularly Breen and Fanandakis -- stressed cost-cutting as both a goal and a reason for the company's performance this quarter. According to Breen:

Breen highlighted a 44% quarterly reduction in corporate costs as a major part of the cost-cutting equation, while Fanandakis credited cost savings as a driver of increased segment operating earnings, particularly in the company's smaller units of industrial biosciences, protection solutions, and electronics and communications.

Foolish takeaway

DuPont is fully committed to its merger with Dow Chemical, and aside from the upcoming Senate hearings -- which may be more about Chairman Grassley showing he takes the concerns of his constituent Iowa farmers seriously -- there have been no recent news to suggest it's in jeopardy.

The company is clearly committed to reducing costs ahead of the merger and is seeing some success in that regard. DuPont may be over-focusing on agriculture, but after the merger-and-split, the agriculture business will become its own company, and that focus will pay off for shareholders.

All in all, the fate of the merger will matter far more to shareholders than this quarter's results, but it's good to know that in the meantime, management has a steady hand at the wheel.

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.

John Bromels has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: Anadarko Petroleum.

When investors consider America's top shale plays, the Niobrara shale in the Rockies usually isn't even on their radar. But it is firmly on the radar of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which tracks it along with six other top plays in its monthly productivity report. That's because it's become a significant producer of both oil and natural gas over the past few years. However, it's the play's potential to produce much more in that future that makes it an intriguing one for investors to watch.

The Niobrara shale 101

The Niobrara shale stretches through most of northern Colorado and eastern Wyoming, as well as into parts of Kansas and Nebraska:

Image source: EIA.

Still, the Niobrara is just one of several shale formations in the Rockies region. Therefore, it's better to focus on the bigger picture, which is the two major oil and gas basins in the region: The Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming and the Denver-Julesburg, or DJ Basin, in northeast Colorado and southwest Wyoming. Most producers focus on either of those two areas:

Image source: EIA.

The DJ Basin has the richest petroleum history of the two, dating to an oil discovery made in Boulder County, Colo., in 1901. Today, the DJ Basin is known for the Wattenberg gas field, which is one of the largest natural gas deposits in the country.

The Powder River Basin, on the other hand, is known more for coal production than for oil and gas. However, the application of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing is driving oil production growth from that region's stacked shale plays, which include not only the Niobrara-Codell but also the Turner, Parkman, Frontier, Sussex, and Shannon formations.

Producers believe that they're just beginning to tap the surface of the Niobrara and other hydrocarbon-rich shales in the Rockies. While there are dozens of companies working to unlock the vast resources trapped in the region, five stand out as those poised to dominate the Rockies for years to come.

The leading Niobrara shale producers

Source: company investor presentations.

Oil giant Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC) has a long history in Colorado, having operated in the Wattenberg field for more than 30 years. However, its best days appear to be ahead of it. Anadarko has already identified more than 4,000 future drilling locations in the DJ Basin's oil window, which it estimates to hold 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources. While it's running only one drilling rig right now, it has lots of running room once oil prices improve.

Noble Energy's (NYSE: NBL) largest U.S. onshore field is currently the Wattenberg field. However, it started to use horizontal drilling to tap the liquids-rich resources in the DJ Basin. These include the East Pony and Wells Ranch areas, where it controls more than 100,000 acres. Noble Energy believes that the DJ Basin will be a premier liquids play with lots of growth potential.

Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) firmly believes in the potential of the Powder River Basin. That's why it spent $600 million late last year to acquire 253,000 net acres, whicheffectively doubled its position in the play. While the company halted drilling activity in 2016 to conserve cash flow and focus on reducing its costs, it could resume work in the basin early next year. With more than 1,300 potential well locations, Devon Energy could become the dominant player in the Powder River Basin as the oil market improves.

In mid-2014, shale kingEOG Resources (NYSE: EOG) announced that it moved four horizontal plays in the DJ Basin and Powder River Basin from the evaluation phase into its drilling portfolio. At the time, the company noted that the Codell, Niobrara, Parkman, and Turner were "generating excellent rates of return and remarkably consistent well results." Further, it expected to be able to drill another 735 future wells over the next decade, which it anticipated would unlock 400 million barrels of oil equivalent resource.

But now that oil prices are much lower, the companyfine-tuned its approach to focus only on premium drilling locations, which are those that earn a 30%-plus return at $40 oil. As a result, it narrowed its inventory down to 280 drilling sites. However, after completing just 25 wells this year, it has substantial running room even if oil prices remain weak.

After building up a leading position in the Bakken shale, Whiting Petroleum's (NYSE: WLL) second act is in the DJ Basin, with the company lockingup a prime position in the oil window, which it calls the Redtail prospect. So far, the initial drilling results are excellent, enabling the companyto boost its production up to more than 10,000 barrels per day as of the second quarter of this year. However, with more than 6,200 future drilling locations, it has a substantial growth runway.

Investor takeaway

Investors don't give the Niobrara shale much credit because it's not currently a vital growth driver for the industry. However, producers believe they're just scratching the surface of not only the Niobrara but also of other shale plays in the Powder River and DJ basins. That untapped potential makes this a region investors should keep an eye on as the oil market recovers, because it could be a major growth driver for the companies that control dominant positions in the Rockies.

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.

Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Devon Energy and EOG Resources. 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.
Alcoa will become Arconic and spin out a "new" Alcoa later this year. Image source: Alcoa.

Alcoa Inc(NYSE: AA) is moving forward with plans to split the company up before the end of the year.

And in a lot of ways, the guiding reasons behind the plans make sense: Today's Alcoa is largely already two very different businesses.According to recent SEC filings, as well as a series of presentations given by company management earlier this summer, the planned separation will result in the legacy commodities business segments being spun off -- though they'll retain the Alcoa name and stock symbol -- while the remaining highly engineered products and services business will be renamed Arconic, trade under a new ticker, and retain close to 20% ownership of the spun-out Alcoa business.

But what does this mean for investors? Is this an opportunity to invest in the business before it splits? Let's take a closer look.

The rationale behind the split

Management says Alcoa is largely already two different businesses:

Bauxite, alumina, and aluminum production.

Value-add highly engineered products and services.

The mining and production business is a typical commodity-driven enterprise, where it's all about being a low-cost producer, and riding out the up- and down-turns of industrial demand and macroeconomic cycles. The value-add business, on the other hand, isn't sensitive to commodity pricing in the same way as the raw or basic materials Alcoa produces, and has different macroeconomic sensitivities. The value this business brings to its customers is in product design and engineering for high-demand and high-performance applications such as in the automotive and aerospace industries.

This can create competing interests within one company for limited resources, potentially limiting the company's ability to best leverage its assets as a whole. Furthermore, management thinks that two separate companies will be better able to operate within the most effective capital structure for its needs, as well as having a more clear investment thesis, versus the currently integrated company.

So by separating, the resulting businesses should be able to more efficiently allocate capital, and structure operations based on the unique markets they operate in, and the growth opportunities in front of them.

Nuts and bolts of the spinoff

Once the split is complete, shareholders of record will own two different companies: Arconic, which will trade under the symbol ARNC, and Alcoa, which will trade under AA. However, it's important to understand that Arconic will actually be the parent company, while Alcoa will be the new, spun-off business. According to the SEC filing, shareholders will receive 80.1% of the spun-out Alcoa business, while Arconic will retain "no more than 19.9%" of Alcoa.

The distribution of shares in the "new" Alcoa is expected to be tax-free, but it's important to understand how it affects your tax basis. The SEC filing says the tax basis for your Alcoa (pre-split) investment will be allocated between the two separate stocks on the date of the distribution. This is important for investors who plan to sell either company post-split: make sure you understand the tax implications from any sale, based on your situation.

It's also noteworthy how debt will be handled. Arconic will retain all existing debt, though Alcoa will raise $1 billion in debt and give the proceeds to Arconic, which will in turn use those proceeds to reduce debt. Alcoa will also obtain up to $1.5 billion in secured debt that it will be able to use for liquidity financing.

Opportunity or not? Think longer-term

By and large, the answer depends on how the market chooses to value the separate businesses post-separation. There's certainly the potential that separating Alcoa and Arconic will untap more value. But trying to turn that potential value into short-term gains between now and the separation of the companies is far from guaranteed to work out.

The rationale behind the split makes sense, at least on paper. But it's really going to boil down to execution, and that will take time -- likely at least a year or two -- before it's apparent or not. So before you invest in Alcoa today based on profiting from higher share prices post-split, it's probably a good idea to be prepared to ride out your investment for the long-term.

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.

Jason Hall has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Southwest Airlines'(NYSE: LUV) most customer-friendly policy may be causing the airline to have fewer on-time departures than some of its rivals.

Unlike all other major air carriers, Southwest lets passengers check up to two bags for free. That's a pro-consumer policy, but it may have an unintended negative effect, according to a new study published in the journal Management Science.

The research looked at roughly 9 million domestic flights between May 2007 and May 2009, the time when most domestic carriers began charging for checked bags due to rising fuel prices and a difficult economy. What the researchers discovered is that the airlines that added charges for checked bags were able to take off on time more consistently.

"We find that the airlines that began charging for checked bags saw a significant relative improvement in their on-time departure performance in the time periods after the baggage fees were implemented," the researchers wrote in a summary of their work.

The news, however, was not all bad for Southwest.

"Surprisingly, we also find that airlines that did not charge for checked bags also saw an improvement, although not as big, when competing airlines flying the same origin-destination city markets implemented the fees," they wrote. "The improvement in on-time departure performance was the largest for flights during peak evening departure time blocks."

Southwest does not charge baggage fees. Image source: Bill Abbott, Flickr.

Why does charging for bags matter?

Aside from the obvious profit motive, airlines began charging for checked bags as a way to reduce the amount of luggage on planes. The change in policy both forced people to carry on more bags and to fly with less luggage overall, according to a Dallas Morning News story on the research.

The study factored out more than a dozen issues, including weather, airline, aircraft type, and passenger loads to isolate the effectthatthe bag fee policies had on on-time departures. Ultimately, the report concluded that after most airlines enacted fees for the first checked bag, average departure times for those carriers improved by two minutes.

All airlines, including Southwest, saw improvement in their departure times, but the no-fee carrier improved less than its rivals.

"There's less burden on the system because passengers changed their behavior," Mazhar Arikan, a business professor at the University of Kansas who co-authored the study, told the Dallas Morning News. Fewer checked bags helped streamline the baggage handling process, summed up the Consumerist.

Is this a problem for Southwest?

Although Arikan noted that even the small difference in departure times potentially costs Southwest millions each year, the airline seems willing to forgo that in favor of maintaining its customer-first policies.

"Our customers tell us they enjoy our transparent and fair pricing and we consider 'Bags Fly Free' a cornerstone of the Southwest hospitality we offer customerseach day," Steve Hozdulick, Southwest's managing director of operational performance, told the Dallas Morning News. "We don't view checked bags as a significant detractor from our overall on-time performance when weighed against the baggage convenience we offer our customers."

Even though baggage fees earned the airline industry $3.8 billion in 2015, Southwest seems unwilling to change its policy, which makes sense given that its corporate identity has been built around not charging the same fees as its rivals.

"We have no thought of charging for bags," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said during the company's Investor Day presentation in June. "We've got a really good thing here and we need to be really thoughtful about how we tinker with it."

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.

Daniel Kline has no position in any stocks mentioned. He wrote this story while at the airport waiting to board a Southwest flight. 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.
Volkswagen AG announced on Thursday that it has reached a deal in principle to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers in connection with the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal.

The automaker and a lawyer for VW brand dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco. The amount of the settlement fund was not disclosed.

VW's U.S. dealers have been barred from selling polluting diesel vehicles for nearly a year.

Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. VW and the dealers told U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer they plan to file the details of the agreement by the end of September.

The German automaker has been taking a number of steps to resolve outstanding issues related to the emissions scandal.

VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 U.S. states.

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with American laws.

VW faces potentially billions of dollars more in costs in the United States if it is forced to buy back 85,000 3.0-liter Audi, Porsche and VW cars and SUVs sold since 2009.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Dan Grebler)
It's hard to have body confidence around "Thor."

John Krasinski stopped by "Conan" this week, where "The Office" star dished on getting in superhero shape to screen test for "Captain America" -- the role that ultimately went to Chris Evans.

"It was a big deal for me," the 36-year-old actor shared with host Conan O'Brien. "I love those Marvel movies, I love superheroes."

EXCLUSIVE: John Krasinski Dishes on Baby No. 2 and Wife Emily Blunt's 'Mary Poppins' Prep

Krasinski explained that he was feeling pretty good about it all until, while putting on his suit, he ran into literal human statue Chris Hemsworth, who was in costume as his Marvel superhero, "Thor."

"I was putting on the suit ... and I got about right to my waist," Krasinski said. "All of a sudden, Chris Hemsworth walked by as Thor, and he's like, 'Hey, mate,' and I went, 'I'm good. This is stupid.'"

PHOTOS: The Most Adorable Celebrity Dads

"That's OK. I'm not Captain America, it's fine," the actor hilariously concluded.

Aww, John! You'll always be a superhero in our eyes!

MORE: John Krasinski Cooks Weekly Dinners for Emily Blunt -- All Thanks to Leonardo DiCaprio!

Meanwhile, Hemsworth isn't the only star giving Krasinski body envy.

The "Hollars" director told ET at the Los Angeles premiere of his new film how incredible his wife, Emily Blunt, looks, just weeks after giving birth to the couple's second child.

PHOTO: John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer Have Adorable 'Office' Reunion -- See the Selfie!

"Even I have to work way too hard to look even like this," he gushed. "And she just does it by waking up."
As teachers head back to the classroom, many are wondering, How the heck am I going to talk to my students about this election?

There hasnt been a presidential campaign quite like this one before. There are a lot of firsts: the first time a major-party nominee has no public-affairs experience , the first time a woman is the nominee for a major party . Republican nominee Donald Trumps rhetoric is not the typical, polished politican-speakinstead, its off-the-cuff, controversial, and for many, offensive. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is also, for many, a polarizing figure , with the majority of voters in a New York Times survey saying they dont trust her.

The upside to teaching a class about this years election is you have a lot of material. The downside is you have a lot of material. -- Dear_Student (@Dear_student) August 22, 2016

An April report from Teaching Tolerance, a branch of the Southern Poverty Law Center, surveyed 2,000 teachers about the election and found that 40 percent were reluctant to teach about the campaign, citing concerns about inflaming racial and ethnic tensions. A recent Fast Company article looked at this phenomenon and found that some teachers have been prohibited by administrators from discussing the election, and others are fielding parental complaints on political lessons.

Teachers right now are afraid to teach the election, Louise Dube, the executive director of the nonprofit iCivics, told Fast Company. An election is part of a democratic process, it shouldnt be something scary.

But the past few weeks have brought headlines like Teaching Trump: Rethinking Civic Education in Turbulent Times  and How Do You Talk to Students About Character When Donald Keeps Rewriting the Rules? , along with many other news stories about how teachers can navigate a polarizing  election year.

Still, some educators are excited about all the discussions and pedagogical connections that can be made from this election. The New York Times teaching and learning blog recently issued a call for readers to share how theyre planning to teach the elections. Some thoughtful comments included:



From Annette Yono: The current presidential election magnifies the significance of teaching our children to be critical thinkers. Even our youngest students need to begin to differentiate between fact and opinion, discuss and learn to identify an authors viewpoints, and [analyze] an argument. Students need to learn how to examine media from various sources and determine their credibility.

From Francie, who teaches 12th grade: Our discussion will focus more on why a nontraditional candidate like Trump appeals to people (which is a mystery to most in this area) than why people think hes unfit to be president (which the vast majority of people in this community believe).

From Lbbizzy, who teaches 3rd grade: It is a teachable moment in which the children can learn that sometimes people must agree to disagree. Hopefully, they will begin to understand that just because people sometimes make bad choices about what they say or have done, it does not make them bad human beings.

Education Week correspondent Lisa Stark recently reported from a Maryland school on how a teacher was holding lively debates with students about the election and fostering critical analysis.

And the Green Bay Press-Gazette recently profiled one social studies teacher , Jeff Kline, who said this election is great to get students excited about civics, social studies, and history.

Theres populism with Donald Trump, who has never had political office, which we really havent seen since the late 1800s, he told the paper. Theres really movement behind him. The whole idea of globalism vs. isolationism, raising tariffs, theres a lot of ways to link history with what is happening in this election cycle.

Online resources are available on how to approach this election in the classroom. The group Justice in Schools has developed a teaching guide and case study for teachers to start nuanced conversations with their students on important pedagogical, ethical, democratic, legal, and political considerations. Scholastic has also compiled some information on the election for younger children. Newseum ED also has a collection of resources for teachers who feel stumped on how to teach the controversy this election cycle.

Teachers, how are you planning on teaching the election? Share your thoughts and plans in the comments.

Image source: Hillary Clinton, by Susan Walsh/AP; Donald Trump, by Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

More on Teaching Election 2016:

Follow @madeline_will and @EdWeekTeacher on Twitter.
Paying smokers to quit and giving them more money the longer they avoid cigarettes might help get more people to kick the habit than cessation advice on its own, a recent study suggests.

To test the power of money to combat addiction, researchers in Switzerland offered about 800 low-income smokers pamphlets and online cessation guides. Half of them were also eligible to receive as much as $1,650 if a series of six lab tests verified that they stopped smoking.

These payments started out at $100 if lab tests verified participants hadn't smoked after one week, and gradually increased to $440 by the time the last test was done at six months.

At six months, 36 percent of the payment group and about 6 percent of the control group had quit smoking.

One year after the payments ended, about 10 percent of the people eligible for financial incentives remained abstinent, compared with roughly 4 percent for the control group.

"Money compensated for the loss of a valued activity (smoking) and increased both the likelihood of making a quit attempt and the likelihood of succeeding when trying to quit," said lead study author Jean-Francois Etter, a public health researcher at the University of Geneva.

The participants were around 32 years old on average at the start of the study and they had typically started smoking around age 17.

They tended to smoke about 16 cigarettes a day, a little less than a pack.

About one in five were unemployed and roughly 45 percent were students. Half of them made no more than about $20,000 a year.

All of the participants received self-help books with advice for quitting and researchers also encouraged them to enlist a friend or family member to support their efforts.

Researchers tested for carbon monoxide in exhaled air and a byproduct of nicotine in saliva samples to confirm whether participants had quit or continued to smoke.

While many people who quit relapsed after payments ended, abstinence rates at the 18-month mark for the group that received financial motivation were nearly 10 percent, compared to less than 4 percent in the group that didn't get any money, researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

With a difference of about 6 percentage points between the control and the payments group one year after the money stopped flowing, 17 people would need to go through an incentive program like the one in the study to get one person to quit, the authors note.

One limitation of the study is that a large proportion of the 81 participants who dropped out of the study were in the control group, not the payments group, the authors note. Any participants who dropped out or had missing data were counted as smokers.

People joining the study also knew some participants would receive incentive payments, which could have impacted behavior, the authors also point out.

Previous research, however, has shown that financial incentives can help smokers remain abstinent, particularly among more affluent employed smokers who have access to counseling and other cessation support, Etter said by email.

With low-income smokers, cessation can be hard to encourage, Etter said.

"Many interventions based on education (booklets, leaflets, various education strategies) tend to work less well among people with low income and low education, in whom smoking prevalence is particularly high," Etter said.

Still, the findings suggest that this method would cost about $28,000 a year to get just one additional long-term quitter, Judith Prochaska of Stanford University in California writes in an accompanying editorial. This might limit adoption in the real world.

The appeal of this intervention is its simplicity, Prochaska told Reuters Health by email.

"Individuals could create this type of intervention for themselves." Prochaska said. "A pack a day smoker who puts that money aside rather than purchasing cigarettes would save over $2000 a year - more than the payment provided in the study."
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 didn't explore the reason for the racial disparities in ADHD treatment, it's 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 wasn't involved in the study, said by email.

Part of the challenge, too, is there's 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 wasn't 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.
Two central Florida hospitals will not charge survivors of the Pulse nightclub terror attack for out-of-pocket medical expenses, officials said Wednesday.

The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Orlando Health and Florida Hospital will write off more than $5 million in health care.

"The pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community," Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said in a statement. "During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward."

The Orlando Regional Medical Center treated 44 of the more than 50 victims in the nightclub massacre on June 12. The attack left 49 people dead. The facility is just blocks from the Pulse nightclub.

Hospital officials said that the families of the nine victims who died at the Orlando Regional Medical Center wont be billed either.

Orlando Health spokeswoman Kena Lewis said that bills will be sent to health insurers for patients who had medical coverage, but for those who didnt it would be cover by the hospital chain.

Florida Hospital officials said it wouldnt bill the victims insurance for treatments or follow-up surgeries, the Sentinel reported.

"It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting," Daryl Tol, Florida Hospital's president and CEO, told the newspaper. "We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando."

Click for more from Orlando Sentinel.
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.
America is beautiful. While other nations celebrate their history and their culture, we proclaim our lands beauty. We are reminded of our scenic treasures by documentaries featuring jagged peaks and plunging waterfalls, by calendars portraying colorful vistas, and by literature that strives to find the words to describe indescribable sights. We write, paint, and blog about the natural beauty of the United States.

We even sing about it. In 1893, my grandmothers future college professor -- Katharine Lee Bates -- traveled from her Wellesley College campus to Colorados Pikes Peak. The 2,000 mile journey inspired her to exclaim the beauty of spacious skies, purple mountain majesties, and even amber waves of grain. America the Beautiful has become an unofficial national anthem, preferred by many (especially the vocally challenged) to the Star-Spangled Banner.

And when we want to experience the best of our natural beauty, we visit our national parks. There we encounter a treasure house of natures superlatives.

This is a perfect time to reflect on the national parks and their scenic values. The National Park Service celebrates its 100th birthday on August 25.

The first national parks, including Yellowstone and Yosemite, preceded the Park Service itself. The 1916 law creating the Park Service stated that the fundamental purpose of national parks 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.

Scenery comes first. We created national parks so that we can enjoy and preserve their scenic beauty. We visit them to experience that beauty for ourselves.

Yet we take the scenic beauty of our national parks for granted. Scenic beauty is simultaneously central and overlooked as the Park Service celebrates its one hundredth anniversary. Scenic beauty is the reason most people visit national parks.

The scenic beauty of our national parks faces numerous threats. There is a cottage industry of reports describing the perils confronting our national parks.

Prophecies of impending doom for the parks are as old as the parks themselves. But there are real threats to the scenic beauty of the national parks and our ability to enjoy that beauty.

Within the parks, too many visitors can interfere with each others ability to appreciate, or even see, the natural beauty. The opposite problem arises in remote parks where spectacular scenery remains unseen by all except the most intrepid  and wealthy  travelers.

Parks struggle to manage wildlife and vegetation in a manner that achieves ecological goals while providing visitors with the sights that they come to see.

Climate change and other environmental changes may cause glaciers to melt, meadows to be replaced by forests, and desert parks to become too hot to visit.

Outside the park boundaries, the Park Service has no legal authority to regulate what happens, so expanding cities, tacky gateway communities, air pollution from nearby coal-fired power plants, and solar energy facilities sprawling across vast acres of previously empty land often appear within the national parks viewsheds.

So as we begin the second hundred years of the Park Service, we continue to address the challenge of both enjoying scenery and preserving scenery. And as we seek to strike that balance, we should think more about why scenic beauty is so important and why we see some places as more scenic as others. Only as we better appreciate our unrivaled natural scenery will we fully appreciate your unrivalled national parks.
On August 16, I had the honor of attending the U.S. Navy Ship Naming Ceremony for the USNS Harvey Milk in San Francisco, California.

I was proud to be selected by the Milk family and the Harvey Milk Foundation to deliver remarks at the Ship Naming Ceremony of the USNS Harvey Milk  the first Navy ship named after a Navy veteran and elected official who would not hide his authenticity as a member of the LGBT community. My connection with Harvey Milk began in 2009 as I was a co-recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and at that ceremony, I met and bonded with Harveys nephew Stuart. Our bond continues to this day. I am an active supporter of the Harvey Milk Foundation that Stuart leads.

Milk came from a Navy family and he was commissioned in the Navy in 1951. He served as a diving officer in San Diego during the Korean War on the submarine rescue ship Kittiwake until 1955. Milk was honorably discharged from the Navy as a lieutenant junior grade.

Following his service, Milk was elected to the San Francisco board of supervisors and was the first openly gay California politician to be elected to office. He was killed in office in 1978. When a disgruntled politician murdered Milk he was wearing his U.S. Navy divers belt buckle.

Ironically, at the time of Milks military service it was illegal to serve as an openly gay service member and had he been discovered he most assuredly would have been dismissed with a dishonorable discharge.

Today, LGBT Americans are welcomed into our armed services with the same rights and privileges of any other American wanting to serve their country. And, this ships naming is an important symbol of just that.

This honor holds another importance to me personally. My son Eric is gay. Eric is a bright successful businessman, philanthropist and LBGT activist who had his own struggles with coming out as a gay man. His decision was a liberating experience for him and a blessing for me and our family. It does not matter what a person is -- it matters who they are as a human being.



The fact that Americans now can serve their country openly as a LGBT in our military shows how far we have come to accept our fellow citizens as equals. Patriotism knows no gender or sexual orientation. Some of our greatest leaders, thinkers, inventors, and citizens were and are part of the LBGT community.

All of the men and women -- regardless of their sexual orientation, race, color, religion or background -- who will serve aboard the USNS Harvey Milk will all have the same mission and that is to keep America safe, sound and secure. And, in doing so they will represent and uphold our most precious Constitutional principle of Equal Protection.



In the Navy tradition, I wish all that will sail aboard the USNS Harvey Milk, Fair Winds and Following Seas.


Last week, Aetna became the latest major health insurer to announce that it will exit most of the states where it offers health insurance on the ObamaCare exchanges. The move could make Pinal County, in my home state of Arizona, the first in the nation to have no options when it comes to ObamaCares marketplace.

For a law that President Obama said would bring more choice, more competition, [and] real health care security, ObamaCare has delivered nothing more than empty promises.

Aetnas exit could leave nearly 10,000 citizens of Pinal County without any health care options in the ObamaCare marketplace.

As a rural area of our state in which 18 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, the impact will be felt particularly hard.

Aetnas exit could leave nearly 10,000 citizens of Pinal County without any health care options in the ObamaCare marketplace.

Today, 88 percent of ObamaCare enrollees in Pinal County receive a federal subsidy averaging $230 per month. Of that 88 percent, over 50 percent of the population receives additional financial assistance to help pay for copays, prescription medications and other health care needs. Unless another insurer agrees to enter the marketplace, the only options these individuals will have would be to pay potentially thousands of dollars for health insurance in the private marketplace or go without health coverage altogether.

Unfortunately, its likely that Pinal County will not be the last community left out to dry by the presidents failed health care law.

The crumbling of ObamaCare has become commonplace all across the country. Major insurers like UnitedHealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana have reported stunning financial losses from Obamacare  to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. To cope with these losses, insurers have been forced to sharply increase premiums or exit the marketplace altogether. In fact, before it announced it would leave Arizona, Aetna had proposed an 18 percent premium rate hike over last year to cover its losses. The average proposed premium rate increase among all insurers for 2017 plans in Arizona tops 65 percent.

Ive heard from my constituents across the state who are concerned about what the collapse of ObamaCare will mean for them and their families.

Take Karen from Tucson, Arizona, for example, who recently wrote to my office about her concern that Aetnas exit will mean even higher costs for health care, for which she is already paying $485 month with a $6,300 deductible. Or take Sandra from Chandler, Arizona, who was forced to make the difficult decision of taking $15,000 out of a retirement account to pay for her familys skyrocketing deductible. That decision in turn made her familys income too high to get additional tax breaks for health care.

My office has received countless other letters and phone calls from concerned Arizonans who have been left with fewer options, less access and decreased quality of care under Obamacare. But this frustration is not unique to Arizona. -- A recent Gallup poll found that Americans cite health care costs as the most important financial burden facing their family.

The best thing government could do to expand access to health insurance is to institute reforms that rein in costs and make health care more affordable.

Ive introduced legislation to replace ObamaCare with real reform that would expand quality access to health care without compromising individual liberty, competition or innovation.

Unfortunately, every Republican effort to meaningfully bring down the cost of health care has been met with rigid opposition by Democrats who are more concerned with protecting President Obamas legacy than making health care accessible and affordable.

Just take my Democratic opponent in the Arizona Senate election, for example. Despite the overwhelming outcry by her constituents to address the rising costs of health insurance under Obamacare, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick continues to tout the presidents failed law as her proudest vote.

The fact is, ObamaCare has always been the wrong solution to reforming Americas health care system. It shouldnt have to take the complete collapse of the system for Democrats to finally wake up to this reality.

In the meantime, Republicans will continue fighting to repeal and replace this failed law with health care that empowers Americans to choose the health care that works for them and their families  not the federal government.
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said Wednesday on Special Report with Bret Baier that the Obama administrations acknowledgment it paid $1.3 billion in interest to Iran just days after sending them $400 million hard currency raises the question can they not stop lying about this?

The Obama administration acknowledged on Wednesday paying $1.3 billion in interest to Iran in January, two days after sending $400 million in cash to Tehran as principal to settle a decades old dispute over undelivered military equipment.

On January 17 the administration sent the $400 million in cash - a combination of foreign currency, including Euros - but the move has been scrutinized since it was used as leverage for the release of four Americans held prisoner by Iran.

The administration has maintained that the payment was not a ransom for the four Americans as critics allege, and the State Department would not elaborate on the January 19 payment due to diplomatic concerns.

In a press conference on August 4, President Obama said we do not have a banking relationship with Iran that we couldn't send them a check and we could not wire the money. And it is not at all clear to me why it is that cash, as opposed to a check or a wire transfer, has made this into a new story. 

But Krauthammer says the revelation that the administration was sent funds  not hard currency - to Iran just two days later raises more questions than it answers: The president says that we have to send the 400 million in cash because we don't have a banking relationship and we can't write a check. Two days later, they wire the money or they send a check through the banking system, uh, and you say we couldn't do it because of sanctions, well the sanctions were still in place two days later.

This is one lie after another, and it's an administration attempting to cover its tracks, not because anything illegal happened here, although that's possible, but because it's hugely embarrassing. And it just, I mean Iran has been taking advantage of this knowing that this administration can be walked all over humiliated be forced to abandon all its red lines, for example can launch missiles, we say and do nothing, with impunity.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump continued to insist Wednesday in a "Hannity" town hall with Fox News' Sean Hannity that there will be "no amnesty" for illegal immigrants, but suggested that he would be willing to "work with them."

His remarks were the latest in a series of recent interviews where he has said he is considering softening a previous pledge made at the onset of his campaign to deport 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. During a Hannity town hall on Tuesday, Trump said he was open to softening laws dealing with illegal immigrants.

On Wednesday, Trump told Hannity there would be "no citizenship" for those illegal immigrants.

"Let me go a step further- 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," Trump said.

He also spoke of how hard it would be to deport people who have lived in the country for decades and raised a family.

"Now, everybody agrees we get the bad ones out," Trump said. "But when I go through and I meet thousands and thousands of people on this subject, and I've had very strong people come up to me, really great, great people come up to me, and they've said, 'Mr. Trump, I love you, but to take a person who's been here for 15 or 20 years and throw them and their family out, it's so tough, Mr. Trump,' I have it all the time! It's a very, very hard thing."

The Republican nominee then returned to one of his tougher stances by slamming sanctuary cities for "protecting criminals," where he claimed police are at the point "where they almost give up."

"It's so hard for the police to--if somebody is protected between the sanctuary city nonsense," Trump said. "We got to get rid of the sanctuary cities, we're protecting these people. We're protecting criminals. And the police, who are phenomenal people, they're at a point where they almost give up. They catch them, they have them, they know they did it and then they know nothing is going to happen. You know, ok, so if you're a killer and you're in this country, they go after you big league and it's tough. If you're a killer and you're an illegal immigrant, the police don't know what to do."

He added that he is expected to announce a decision on his stance regarding illegal immigration "very soon."

Trump is expected to unveil his new immigration policy next week during a speech in Phoenix, the Associated Press reported late Wednesday.

Trump plans to speak at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix Aug. 31.

Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham confirmed the event to the AP, and that the speech would cover "policy." Two officials with knowledge of the Trump campaign's plans confirmed the topic was immigration to the AP. They weren't authorized to speak on the record about campaign plans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Clinton campaign pushed back against allegations Thursday of another pay-to-play scheme, calling absurd any connection between a private dinner invite for a for-profit college network during Hillary Clintons State Department days and a multi-million-dollar job her husband landed months later.

The former secretary of states intervention in that incident was revealed in an email first disclosed by the website Inside Higher Education.

The exchange shows Clinton emailing chief of staff Cheryl Mills telling her to invite someone from Laureate Education to an Aug. 17, 2009 dinner at the State Department with experts in higher education. Clinton described the network as the fastest growing college network in the world and a for-profit model that should be represented.

The schedule shows Mills complied, and the dinner was attended by Laureate Senior Vice President Joseph Duffey, who had once awarded President Bill Clinton an honorary doctorate.

Eight months after Mrs. Clintons private dinner, Laureate  which operates 84 schools in 30 countries  hired the former president as honorary chancellor.

The job saw him traveling to locales like Madrid and touting the company alongside VIPs like Prince Felipe of Spain. The position paid him $17.6 million over five years -- until he stepped down 12 days before his wife launched her campaign for the White House last year.

The connections between the company and the Clintons add to a growing list of interactions during her State Department days fueling allegations that she traded access for contributions and payments, which her campaign has denied. Laureate also has donated between $1 million and $5 million to the Clinton Foundation.

It clearly shows that she intervened on behalf of a for-profit organization and within months, her family personally benefited to the tune of -- well, over 17 million dollars, said Larry OConnor, editor-at-large with HotAir.com, which has written about the Clintons connections to the for-profit college industry. That's a lot of money. They got wealthy off of what appears to be her intervention, including this organization in a very exclusive club.

But a spokesman for the Clinton campaign told Fox News that any attempt to link the hiring of Bill Clinton and Secretary Clintons private dinner is absurd.

The campaign also pointed to Clintons tough stance regarding some for-profit colleges that act in a predatory way, suggesting that shows she did not allow her husband's contract with Laureate to influence her policies.

In a statement, Laureate said the former president visited 19 Laureate campuses in 14 countries across a five-year term that expired when it did by prior arrangement.

The State Department said it couldnt say what was going through Hillary Clintons mind when she made a point of including the company at the 2009 dinner.

The State Department regularly engages with arranged academics, NGO's, think tanks, business leaders, you know, speakers, commentators on a range of issues, department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said.
DOJ: Pre-Trial Bail System Is Unconstitutional

If you charge someone with a crime, you want to guarantee that they'll show up for trial and possible punishment. And the idea behind bail is that if a criminal defendant has a large amount of money on the line, he or she is more likely to appear. The accused (or a bail bondsman) puts up a percentage of the bail amount, and they get that money back when they appear for trial; skip town and you're on the hook for the full amount.

Which is all fine, in theory. But what if you can't afford the bail, or even the bail bondsman's percentage? Then you languish in jail until trial -- incarcerated even though you might be innocent. Critics of this system gained a new and perhaps unexpected ally last week: The U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ filed a brief in a Georgia case, claiming that bail schedules that imprison poor people for not being able to afford bail are unconstitutional, and bad public policy to boot.

Impermissible Incarceration

We wrote about the case of Maurice Walker before. The 54-year-old disabled man was arrested for walking while intoxicated and spent six days in jail before pro bono attorneys sued for his release. In January, U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy found Calhoun's system of assigning bail without inquiring about the accused's ability to pay violated the Constitution's equal protection clause:

"Attempting to incarcerate or to continue incarceration of an individual because of the individual's inability to pay a fine or fee is impermissible," Murphy wrote. "That is especially true where the individual being detained is a pretrial detainee who has not yet been found guilty of a crime."

Murphy also prohibited Calhoun from jailing arrestees solely because they couldn't afford bail, and the city appealed the ruling to the 11th Circuit.

The Price of Freedom

The Department of Justice filed what is known as an amicus brief in the case, where a non-party to the litigation argues why the court should rule a certain way. The DOJ agreed with Judge Murphy, arguing that "a bail scheme that mandates payments of fixed amounts to obtain pretrial release, without meaningful consideration of an individual's indigence and alternative's that would serve the City's interests, violates the Fourteenth Amendment." The brief also references Supreme Court precedent stating that a defendant's civil rights are violated whenever justice hinges on his or her ability to pay.

Now it will be up to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to decide. Or, who knows, this could eventually end up at the Supreme Court. And the case of Maurice Walker could end up altering the system of money bail forever.

If you've had trouble paying bail, or believe your bail amount is unfair, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately.

Related Resources:
Hillary Clinton returned to the campaign trail Thursday to try pinning a racist tag on Donald Trump, accusing him of taking hate groups mainstream -- while Trump accused his opponent of "lies" and "smears," and labeling "decent Americans as racists."

The Democratic nominee, who has spent the last week fundraising at private donor events, used a Reno, Nev., speech to pointedly accuse Trump of building a campaign on "prejudice and paranoia."

Hes taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of Americas two major political parties, she said, in perhaps her toughest speech yet about her Republican opponent.

Clinton accused her rival of having a history of racial discrimination and a connection to conspiracy theories, including the "racist" claim that President Obama was not born in the United States. She also claimed that Trumps businesses discriminated against African-Americans and Hispanics.

A man with a long history of racial discrimination, who traffics in dark conspiracy theories drawn from the pages of supermarket tabloids and the dark, far reaches of the Internet, should never run our government or command our military, she said.

Trump, though, tried to preempt the attacks during an address just minutes earlier in Manchester, N.H.

When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument  youre a racist, racist, race, its a tired, disgusting argument and so totally predictable. Its the last refuge of the discredited politician, Trump said.

He accused Clinton of painting everyday Americans as racist, saying: She lies, she smears, she paints decent Americans  you -- as racists.

He went on to criticize Democrats in general for their leadership of the inner cities, which he said has hurt African-American communities. For fifty years, people living in our inner cities have suffered under a failed policy regime. But the Democratic politicians  who only want to please media executives and Wall Street donors  do nothing but expand the hurt and the suffering that our inner cities and our country is going through right now.

The comments were part of Trump's stepped-up outreach to minority voters -- which Clinton cast in her address as disingenuous.

She also slammed Trumps decision to make Breitbart News Steve Bannon his campaign CEO, pointing to headlines the site has published, including: Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy and Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?

She said that Bannons hire represented a victory for a fringe conservative movement called the alt-right  a movement Clinton described as a racist ideology.

The de facto merger between Breitbart and the Trump Campaign represents a landmark achievement for the alt-right.' A fringe element has effectively taken over the Republican Party.

A web video released earlier in the day also pointed to a number of white supremacists who have backed Trumps campaign, including former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. A Trump supporter called the ad "revolting."

Clintons return to the campaign trail comes after a week of fundraising, amid growing questions surrounding the connection between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department when Clinton served as the countrys top diplomat.

An Associated Press investigation showed that more than half of the people outside government who met with Clinton while she was serving as secretary of state gave money to the Clinton Foundation. The campaign has said that the numbers were cherry-picked to make Clinton look bad.

Before tackling Clinton's racism charges, Trump used his remarks in Manchester to amplify his attacks on the foundation.

This week the curtain was lifted. The corruption was revealed for all to see. The veil was pulled back on a vast criminal enterprise run out of the State Department by Hillary Clinton, he said.

It is hard to tell where the Clinton Foundation ended, and where the State Department began, he said. Its called pay-for-play.
More than seven weeks after FBI Director James Comeys July 5 announcement closing the case on Hillary Clintons personal email use, Republican calls are growing for prosecutors to take a closer look  at everything from perjury questions to the tangled dealings with Clinton Foundation donors during the candidates tenure leading the State Department.

And on Thursday, Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy pointed out another potential problem with the bureaus original email investigation.

After viewing the FBIs tightly held file on the case, the South Carolina congressman told Fox News it doesnt appear investigators asked Clinton about the issue that was the basis for not pursuing charges  known as intent.

During Comeys congressional testimony last month, he said while Clinton was negligent and careless in her use of personal email for official business, What we cant establish is that she acted with the necessary criminal intent.

But Gowdy said that in reviewing the FBIs interview file, I didnt see any questions on the issue of intent.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has steadily racked up endorsements from fellow Republicans for his call earlier this week to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the ties between the family foundation and her State Department.

Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., a Trump supporter, was the latest to back that call late Wednesday, saying in a statement we need an independent prosecutor to investigate the corrupt Clinton Foundation.

The newest calls follow an Associated Press report Tuesday that more than half of the non-government people with whom Clinton met as secretary of state donated to her family foundation.

The Clinton campaign said the AP relied on utterly flawed data and cherry-picked a limited subset of Secretary Clinton's schedule to give a distorted portrayal of how often she crossed paths with individuals connected to charitable donations to the Clinton Foundation.

Asked Wednesday about the calls for a special prosecutor, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest suggested there was little need.

President Obama and the administration have complete confidence in the independent career prosecutors at the Department of Justice and the FBI who devoted significant time and attention to investigating Secretary Clinton's email practices, he said.  I just think it's hard for anybody to make a very persuasive case that somehow there hasnt been enough investigating, particularly when you layer on top of that all of the congressional hearings and testimony that's gone on with regard to Secretary Clinton's tenure at the State Department.

The calls for a special prosecutor come after House Republicans already were looking to the FBI to examine whether Clinton committed perjury during her 2015 congressional testimony on her email practices.

In a letter obtained by Fox News, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., asked U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips to look at four pieces of sworn testimony they claimed were incompatible with the FBI's findings.

Among those discrepancies, they said Clinton testified there was nothing marked classified on her emails, yet Comey said a very small number of emails had markings indicating classified information.

The Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, Peter Kadzik, confirmed in an Aug. 2 letter to both committees they had the perjury investigation request and the department would "take appropriate action as necessary."
Even before Bernie Sanders could roll out a new organization to fund progressive candidates and causes, it was beset with high-level drama, including the en masse resignation of eight staffers.

Sanders, I-Vt., promised when he conceded defeat and endorsed Hillary Clinton for president that his dream would live on in a new organization called Our Revolution, which he unveiled in a live webcast Wednesday night.

The roll-out was anti-climactic. The organization was hit with a body blow when the eight staffers resigned before the announcement.

Our Revolution was set up as a tax-exempt 501(c)(4). That designation allows it to raise big donations from anonymous sources -- so called dark money -- something that staffers may have felt clashed with Sanders small donation ethos.

The mass resignation of staffers may also have been related to the hiring of Sanders former campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, to head the new organization.

The New York Times reported that Our Revolution employees accused Weaver of "wasting money on television advertising," instead of targeting young voters online, and charges that he mismanaged campaign funds.

While Sanders set up the group, Weaver stressed that Our Revolution is an organization separate from Sen. Sanders. He does not control or direct it. He is not on the board and not an employee. We are obviously inspired by the progressive vision that Sen Sanders articulated during his historic presidential campaign. But this is an independent organization.

Sanders reputation has taken some other dings. The Vermont GOP has written the Vermont Attorney General asking for an investigation of allegations Sanders exceeded Vermont's $1,500 contribution limit for state senate races.

"Sen. Sanders, who preaches against big money on politics, has used his five-million strong list in order to totally skew a local senate race," said Brady Toensing, vice chair of the Vermont Republican Party. "He ended up inserting a record amount of money into this local race."

The senator and his wife also just made a cash purchase of a $600,000 vacation house on the banks of Lake Champlain, his third home.
China has unveiled the design for its Mars rover that will land on the red planet in 2020.

The Chinese state administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence released the as-yet-unnamed Mars rover and lander concept Tuesday. The country plans to land on Mars and deploy its rover in July or August 2020. The challenges we face are unprecedented, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission, at a press conference in Beijing.

The mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, southern China.

After a journey of around seven months, Chinas Mars orbiter and lander will separate. The lander will touch down in a low latitude part of Mars northern hemisphere, according to Chinese officials.

The six-wheeled rover is powered by four solar panels. Weighing 441 lbs, the rover is designed to operate for three Martian months and will carry 13 payloads. These include a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar that will be used to study Mars soil and atmosphere, as well as the planets water and ice.

Mars also looms large for NASA. The one-ton Curiosity rover has been roaming the red planet since 2012 and the Opportunity rover has been active on Mars since 2004. The agency is also developing a next-generation rover, which is slated to land on Mars in 2021.

Longer term, NASAs goal is to send a manned mission to Mars by 2035.

China is ramping up its space exploration efforts and recently built the worlds largest telescope in Guizhou province, southwest China. Earlier this year Chinas National Space Administration released a slew of stunning moon images taken by its Chang'e 3 lander and Yutu rover.

China also expects to land a probe on the so-called dark side of the moon two years earlier than planned, the countrys state media reported earlier this year. The Chang'e 4 lander will reach the moon in 2018 instead of the earlier mark of 2020, according to media reports.

A public competition has been launched in China to name the 2020 Mars mission and create its logo.
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.
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.

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.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ISIS combatants might soon find themselves at war with a robot.

According to Defense One, which translated an article in the Baghdad Post, Iraq military forces are preparing a robotic armed vehicle to battle the Islamic State. The vehicle, loosely named Alrobot (robot in Arabic), is about the size of a small car and fully controlled by a human as it rushes towards the enemy.

Of course, the use of unmanned vehicles to take down enemies is nothing new in warfare. Over the last several years, war-torn areas around the world have been hit with drone strikes, many of which have come from the US and other Western nations.

In this case, according to Defense One, the Alrobot was developed by two unnamed brothers. It's controlled (from up to 0.6 miles away) by a laptop that communicates with its onboard computer and tells it where to go and when to fire. Four cameras give operators a view of the robot's surroundings and control of its automatic machine gun and Katyusha rockets.

Although it's unclear exactly how many Alrobots are currently in existence, Defense One says that at least one seems ready to fight in Mosul, where ISIS has taken over the city.

Interestingly, this wouldn't be the first robot to find its way to Iraq. In 2007, the US Army used three armed robots, called Special Weapons Obstervation Reconaissance Detection System (SWORDS). Their goal was to conduct reconaissance of the battlefield and if necessary, fire a shot on enemies. However, it's believed that they never actually fired a shot because the robot's weapon started moving when it wasn't supposed to, making it a safety threat.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
A wave of severe storms produced at least a dozen tornadoes in Indiana and Ohio, damaging homes and businesses but causing no serious injuries, authorities said Thursday, as crews worked to restore power and remove fallen trees.

The National Weather Service said an EF3 tornado hit the south side of Kokomo, Indiana, packing winds of up to 165 mph. That tornado toppled a Starbucks coffee shop and damaged numerous homes and businesses in the city about 40 miles north of Indianapolis. But Howard County Sheriff Steve Rogers said the 10 to 15 Kokomo residents who were hurt suffered only minor injuries.

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said Thursday that about 220 people stayed overnight in a temporary shelter. Police were restricting access to storm-damaged neighborhoods, saying residents must show identification to gain access.

"The areas that have been hit the hardest, we're asking people to stay away unless they absolutely have to be in those areas," Goodnight said at a news conference, adding that he's relieved no one was killed or seriously injured.

Tornadoes were also spotted across the border in northwest Ohio. Emergency Management Agency spokesman Jay Carey said damage was reported in Defiance, Henry, Paulding and Van Wert counties and that one person was reportedly hurt. The worst damage appeared to be at a mobile home park in Defiance, and roads around the site were blocked late Wednesday.

Weather service crews were still assessing the scope of the storms in Indiana, but a spokesman for the state Department of Homeland Security, John Erickson, said at least 12 tornadoes were confirmed in eight northern and central counties.

Several struck central Indiana's Howard County, where utility companies reported at least 15,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Thursday morning. Goodnight said utility crews from elsewhere in the state were traveling to the city to help restore power and clean up storm debris.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential candidate, returned home Wednesday evening after campaigning in North Carolina. He was scheduled to tour Howard and Montgomery counties and possibly other areas Thursday to assess the damage.

At the Park Place Apartments in Kokomo, maintenance technician Mitchell Carlson described the post-storm scene as "a madhouse." He said the complex has 16 buildings and "probably eight of them don't have a roof." Falling tree limbs and air conditioners damaged 20 to 30 cars, he said.

Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman said the area was also slammed by a tornado in 2013 and "will bounce back once again." That tornado injured nearly three dozen people.
What happens when an entrepreneur leverages the power of a big business to create a small one?

For an increasing number of small business owners, the answer can be found in the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) business model.

The FBA model is exactly what it sounds like: business owners provide products, and Amazon handles packing, shipping and contextual customer support.

FBA businesses have grown in popularity since Amazon launched the service in 2006, but both creation and sales of FBA businesses really began to skyrocket between 2015-16.

With FBA trending hot and heavy, is buying an Amazon-based business right for you? In this post, I'll explain the pros and cons of buying an FBA business, and let you decide.

Five benefits of buying an Amazon FBA business.

The appeal of an FBA business might seem obvious to you.

After all, who wouldn't want to hand off most of the headaches that come with fulfillment to someone else? But that's just the primary benefit of acquiring an FBA business. Consider these five benefits as well.

1. Outsourcing fulfillment frees you up to handle higher-level tasks.

With Amazon handling the - sometimes literal -- heavy lifting, you can focus on growth-oriented tasks such as conversion rate optimization (CRO), targeted marketing and new product development.

2. You and your customers benefit from Amazon's perks.

From free two-day shipping with Prime to greater product visibility in the marketplace and the automatic credibility that comes with selling your wares on the site of an established, trusted retail giant, your FBA business will provide customers with a next-level experience that's hard to replicate via traditional ecommerce. And don't forget, Amazon will also provide top-notch customer service.

3. Scalability is built-in.

Beyond the perks of Prime and processing, Amazon's worldwide reach, massive warehousing and fulfilment capabilities, and well-established infrastructure give you the power to grow your business more effectively as time and demand dictate.

In addition, FBA businesses can act as a nexus for multiple sales channels. Offering your products across the web, and directing those sales through your FBA business, can attract customers, who may not start their search for your goods on Amazon, yet still fill the needs of those customers through its system.

4. You don't need to pound the pavement for customers.

Amazon has already built the world's largest customer base, and you're gaining access to it with an FBA business. This base can be expanded further with multiple channels.

5. Reduced costs mean increased profits.

Without the need for a website or your own shipping and customer service, profits will likely be higher, even with Amazon's service fees.

An FBA business is definitely not "hands-free," but it does leverage the power of Amazon to give you the ability to make the most of your time, effort and resources in building a steady earner in the ecommerce space.

Three challenges of an FBA business.

Of course, it's not all wine and roses. As with most acquisitions, FBA businesses come with their own set of challenges and potential dealbreakers for potential buyers.

1. It's a jungle in there.

Every FBA business is fighting for survival and prominence in a complex ecosystem ruled by Amazon's own Buy Box algorithm. FBA businesses receive greater prominence than non-FBA businesses in Amazon's model, but that's still no guarantee of survivability or even profitability.

The company's main product is, after all, information, and it leverages data - data it does not share -- with ruthless efficiency to decide where, when and how products will appear to consumers. It will also track the popularity and pricing flow of items, and use this information to produce its own competing products in an effort to supplant third-party businesses as sales leaders for those products.

Related: Business Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide

2. You might need to be more hands-on than you think.

You'll need a working knowledge of Amazon's marketplace and the performance metrics it uses to gauge success and failure.

You'll probably also want to keep a close eye on competition, which can wildly surge (as can the performance and profitability of all the items in the business), to have real-time information on your best performers in the short and long term.

Related: Need a Business Idea? Here are 55

3. You'll need a game plan for growth.

In addition to negotiating the perilous waters of Amazon's Darwinist marketplace, you'll need to keep a sharp eye out for growth opportunities at every turn.

The same expanding competition and market saturation that eat into your profits will work against you inside the closed walls of Amazon's ecosystem, so be prepared to pursue multichannel opportunities if you're keen on serious growth.

To FBA or not to FBA - that is the question.

FBA businesses are an exciting, evolving part of the small business marketplace. And as with any other small business, deciding whether or not an FBA business is right for you begins with answering a few simple questions.

Does this business match my interests and goals?

Does this business have the current or potential power to achieve my desired profitability, sustainability and growth?

Do I have the necessary understanding of Amazon's marketplace, the FBA business model and the potentially punishing algorithms that drive success on Amazon?

Am I prepared to put any work into this business?

Related: Starting a Business: The Idea Phase

If answered "yes" to all of these questions, you're on your way to FBA success.

But if you're not sure about one or more, it's a good idea to sit down with your broker, and discuss whether buying an FBA business is the right for you. A little due diligence, along with taking the time to develop your subject-matter mastery, can help you make an informed - and profitable -- decision.
If you are or aspire to be in the world of business, then you better aim to be constantly improving -- not only your company but yourself as well.

That's where Udemy comes in. The online learning and teaching marketplace has more than 40,000 courses and 12 million students.

Here's the really excellent part: We've sifted through those thousands and thousands of courses and picked 10 of the best. You can enroll in each of them today ... for just $10.

No kidding.

More From Entrepreneur.com How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

From a leadership workshop with Seth Godin, to learning to be a better public speaker with TED curator Chris Anderson, to building a personal brand with Gary Vaynerchuk, you can take your skills to the next level without breaking the bank.

Let's take a look at the options:

An Entire MBA in 1 Course

Chris Harouns success story is no secret.

An award-winning business school professor, MBA graduate from Columbia University and author of the book that Forbes has deemed one of six books that all entrepreneurs need to read right now, called 101 Crucial Lessons They Dont Teach You in Business School, Haroun has the magic touch when it comes to business sense.

And Harouns inspirational success story doesnt stop there. Lately hes been making a (large) footprint in business education. Haroun is now branching out to share his knowledge with the world, knowledge he picked up working at Goldman Sachs, the consulting industry at Accenture, several companies he started, the hedge fund industry at Citadel and the venture capital sector. Haroun jam-packed his real-world research into what is now the number-one bestselling business course on Udemy, called  An Entire MBA in 1 Course.

Enroll now for $10

iOS 10 & Swift 3: From Beginner to Paid Professional

Mark Price

Price is an ex-tech consultant and all-around app development pro. After making a name for himself in the technology consulting world, he dove into developing, and has 57 apps under his belt. With iOS 10 and Swift 3: From Beginner to Paid Professional, hes sharing everything he knows about the newest changes.

Enroll now for $10

The Complete iOS 10 Developer Course - Build 21 Apps

Rob Percival

Then there's Percival, who runs the well-known web hosting and design service Eco Web Hosting and is the instructor for Udemys most popular and highest rated paid course. Hes bringing you The Complete iOS 10 Developer Course - Build 21 Apps. Learn from the best as he uses the most popular apps to teach you development concepts  by making your own clones of current apps such as Instagram and Snapchat, youll get a behind-the-scenes view at what makes these apps incredible.

Enroll now for $10

Building a Personal Brand by Gary Vaynerchuk

When Gary Vaynerchuk speaks about branding, everyone perks up and listens. And for good reason.

Vaynerchuk makes it his business to build businesses -- thriving, multi-million dollar companies. In his early days, Vaynerchuk grew his family wine business from a $3 million to $60 million business in just five years. His digital agency VaynerMedia represents brands such as Pepsi-Co, General Electric, and Anheuser-Busch. Hes an angel investor and venture capitalist, plus a three-time New York Times bestselling author and a prolific public speaker. Vaynerchuk is a success story and an inspiration, and thats why people want to hear what he has to say about entrepreneurship, marketing and branding.

Vaynerchuk has recently condensed his real-world knowledge into a course offered by Udemy called Building a Personal Brand . For aspiring thought leaders who want to escape the nine-to-five, the course helps define your passions and strengths, giving you a blueprint for establishing yourself as a brand in your specific interests.

Enroll now for $10

Seth Godin's Freelancer Course

Get paid for doing something you love to do, at the place and time you want it done. Nothing to cloud your mood while you work  no harrowing commutes, no overbearing officemates, no clueless bosses  just whiffs of comforting aroma from your favorite drink. And unlimited breaks.

Now who wouldnt want a freelance lifestyle and the bundle of joy it brings?

One of the most popular and highly rated courses on the subject is serial entrepreneur, author, blogger and speaker Seth Godins Freelancer Course. This three-hour course promises to help you Become Remarkable, Find Better Clients, and Do Work That Matters.

Enroll now for $10

Seth Godin's Leadership Workshop

To be the best leader you can, evaluate how you personally view leadership. What does it mean to you?

If this question rattles your brain, then consider joining Seth Godins Leadership Workshop. In this short one-day course, the world-renowned speaker and bestselling author will help you explore the goals and nuances of leadership, altering your ideas on what exactly makes a good leader.

Enroll now for $10

How To Start a Business With No Money, Borrowing or Credit

An entire online course has been built around the counter-intuitive statement that you dont need the money, you need a better strategy. Udemy.coms course, How To Start a Business With No Money, Borrowing or Credit, makes this statement repeatedly and actually analyzes real business case studies that prove it.

The course authors, Peter Sage and Jimmy Naraine, have started several businesses with no money, and share their learning experiences with their students. Sage is a celebrity entrepreneur who personally started over 20 companies -- of which some failed (and he took away lessons!), and others have become large global success stories. Naraines path to greatness includes working for companies such as Goldman Sachs, running his own businesses and sharing his inspiration with more than 41,000 students.

Enroll now for $10

The Essential Guide to Entrepreneurship by Guy Kawasaki

Every journey starts with a single step. But what if youre itching to launch your very first business but dont have the slightest clue how to go about it?

Meet Guy Kawasaki, who helped turn the Macintosh into a cultural icon and who encourages everyone to discover their innate artistry on Canva, the online graphic design tool. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur of any skill level or experience level, Kawasaki can help you peel away layers of uncertainty in the business formation process -- from when you formulate a business idea to the moment the idea gets validated by the market -- in more detailed video lectures here available to our readers.

Enroll now for $10

The Non-Technical Person's Guide to Building Products & Apps

There are many ways to compensate for the lack of technical skills. You can always learn them, partner with people who have them, or get the right tools and techniques that will help you test and launch a business idea on your own.

Here's one of the best tools for non-technical entrepreneurs to plan, build and launch a product: Sprintkicks Evan Kimbrell launched a new course to show you how its done. From the moment your business idea sparked into existence to testing whether the market wants it; and from creating a prototype to building your product on a tight budget, Kimbrells 20-hour video course walks you through each step non-techies should take to win a lopsided game.

Enroll now for $10

Chris Anderson on Public Speaking

As you can imagine, former journalist turned TED curator Chris Anderson has seen TED speakers who are all over the spectrum of fear of public speaking. Some are terrified and shaking, and others are just slightly nervous. You may think that if youre on the terrified end of the spectrum that youre probably not going to be able to give a good speech.

Anderson is here to tell you youre wrong.

Anyone can give a talk  and not just a talk, but an amazing talk. Once you learn the tools to connect with the audience, explain your topic and persuade them, youre halfway there. All you have to do is practice until youre blue in the face and youll have a winner on your hands.

Enroll now for $10
Bad Vibrations: Marky Mark's Wahlburgers Sued for Wage Theft

If it can happen to Mickey D's, it can happen to Marky Mark. The former rapper's family burger joint, Wahlburgers, has been sued for unpaid wages, claiming "rampant ... wage theft and violations of federal and state labor law" at the Coney Island franchise since opening in 2015.

And if it can happen to the most famous member of the Funky Bunch, it can happen to you. So find out what's going on in the lawsuit against the Wahlbergs and how your small business can avoid it.

Wildside

The class action claim filed in federal court in New York alleges that the franchise "maintained a pattern and practice of regularly shaving compensable time from the weekly hours of all its non-exempt employees, including servers, bartenders, bussers and kitchen staff, and paying them significantly fewer hours than they actually worked." The lawsuit also claims the restaurant "regularly retained gratuities left by customers for tipped employees" and "repeatedly ignored the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act."

Wahlburgers is a chain, and most franchisors claim little direct oversight of franchisees. The Wahlbergs are different, however. According to the complaint, "The Wahlberg brothers pride themselves on taking an active role in managing their locations and insuring that their restaurants meet their high standards for customer and employee experience." And a company spokesperson told MUNCHIES, "Wahlburgers is all about family. Treating people fairly and with respect is at the heart of our brand. Since this situation came to light yesterday, we've been working with Coney Burgers to better understand the circumstances."

A lawyer for the aggrieved employees said he first tried to take up the wage and hour issues with John Cestare, who runs the Coney Island location, but was forced to file the lawsuit when neither Cestare nor Paul Wahlberg addressed the complaints.

I Need Money

Wage theft is a serious accusation. And employees can sue for violations of state and federal wage and hour laws. These violations can cover anything from underreporting hours and denying overtime pay to stealing tips and forcing employees to work while on break. Making sure owners, managers, and employees are aware of and are complying with wage and hour laws is the best way to avoid getting hit with a wage theft lawsuit.

If you have more questions about local, state, and federal wage laws, contact an experienced employment attorney in your area today.

Related Resources:
Reflect on your success in business and life. Think of all youve done to get where you are. Consider the books youve read, the conferences youve attended, and the courses for which youve paid (the good ones and the not-so-good ones). Surely the path has had some twists and turns, but youve met each challenge with patience and curiosity. Now is the time to look to your future and ask yourself two questions:

What will I need to do better a year from now?

How can I learn those skills as effectively and efficiently as possible?

Successful people continue working on the skills necessary to propel them toward the next big thing. Though you might not know exactly what youll be doing a year from now, continual improvement is the key to achieve more in business and in life. Here are three things the most successful people do to challenge themselves.

1. Get ready before you need to be.

Is there anything else, before we go on to our next thing? This question surprised me the first time I heard it -- and I got it more often than not. One day while traveling to a client meeting, I opened my notebook at 37,000 feet and wrote, If they offer, heres what Ill ask. Since then, Ive used this tactic hundreds of times to come up with the one (yes, just one!) extra ask, should the opportunity arise.

When you need to be on, its often too late to gear up. Scan your calendar and look ahead to the next 10 meetings with your clients, staff, vendors or community members. List the topics you can imagine naturally becoming part of those conversations. Think about books to discuss with a client, upcoming opportunities to share with staff, specific requests for vendors and that one big idea you have for the local nonprofit foundation you support. Remember to prepare for the anything else? question.

Related: 50 Quotes With the Power to Motivate You to Do Anything

2. Give and observe the process.

When I was in college, an academic counselor told me, "To get more, give more. To learn what you'll need, teach what you know. At the time, I took her advice literally. I tutored fellow students and I volunteered at the local library. It wasnt until years later I realized just how profound this advice really was.

When youre in a position to share what you know, you get to watch the process unfold. Since I left university more than 20 years ago, Ive mentored others, given them ideas, acted as a sounding board and counseled them. Each time, I watched as they weighed the options and learned to navigate through career and life, just as I'd done.

The next time youre asked to meet over a cup of coffee or go for a walk with someone seeking your advice, say yes. Watch the process unfold. How do they invite you? How do they prepare for the meeting? What do they do to facilitate the discussion or follow up? If youre lucky, theyll do some things really well and they might not do things up to your standard. Either way, you have an opportunity to observe that learning process.

Related: The Secret to Becoming Exactly Who You Want to Be

3. Create your own accountability.

I write more when Im on a deadline, and my content is better quality. I'm more productive in the two days before I leave on vacation. And I work out more when a race is scheduled on my calendar. You see, I'm much more engaged in what Im doing when I feel as if Im accountable to something or someone.

Make up your own accountability factor if you have to, or ask someone to help you. Recently, I emailed a mentor and asked him if hed be willing to offer advice and feedback after looking at one of our businesses. He said yes and then offered to do something special: He emailed several of his associates, friends and advisors to ask if theyd also attend our meeting.

I flew to New York City with my wife and business partner, Jodi. We gathered in a conference room with my mentor and four other trusted individuals to talk about our mission and the tactics we currently used to grow our business. In less than two hours, those five had helped Jodi and me outline a strategic plan for one critical component of that business.

When we left I, promised to let them know how things went. Every four to six weeks, we sent my mentor an update. We shared lessons learned and committed to a new milestone. A year later, when we returned to New York to visit him, he told us hed often given people advice. Rarely, though, was he kept so informed of the results. Then he asked, When are we going to do that again?"

Related: 7 Success Secrets Every Entrepreneur Eventually Must Learn

Everything youve done, every conversation and every one of your travels have gotten you here. Congratulations!

Now the big question remains: What will you do to achieve your next level of success?

Your future depends on you.
The family of Khalid Jabara, a 37-year-old Arab Christian man shot dead in front of his home in Oklahoma earlier this month by his white neighbor, said he saved the lives of two or three other people as he lay dying from several gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

The shooter, 61-year-old Stanley Vernon Majors, was reportedly motivated by racial and religious animus when he shot and killed Jabara on Aug. 12.

Khalid's mother, Haifa Jabara, who Majors is currently on trial for running down with a car last year, told Tulsa World in a report on Monday that her son called her as he was being attacked and warned her to stay away from the house.

"He called me and said, 'Mom, stay where you are  this guy we learned has a gun. Please stay away!'" Haifa Jabara said.

She explained that she was still on the phone when she heard Majors threaten Khalid.

"I heard, 'I told you it's coming!' Like, I'm going to shoot you."

For years before Khalid's death, his Lebanese, Orthodox Christian family was allegedly harassed by Majors who reportedly called them "dirty Arabs," "filthy Lebanese," "Aye-rabs" and "Mooslems" even though they aren't Muslim.

Although she was not at the house during the attack, Haifa believes her son's actions also prevented her husband, Mounah Jabara, from being attacked by Majors.

"He saved my life. Because if I came, definitely he would shoot me because he tried to kill me," Haifa said, recalling the September 2015 incident when Majors allegedly ran her down with his car.

Khalid called authorities on Aug. 12 to report that Majors had a gun in his hand and that he was scared about what might happen, his sister Victoria Jabara-Williams said in a statement, according to Crux Now. The police, however, said there was nothing they could do because Majors had returned to his home.

When police left the scene, however, as soon as Khalid stepped outside his home again, Majors pounced and shot him.

Haifa said she heard Khalid cry for help repeatedly on the phone and a female screaming.

Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com
Donald Trumps claim that the crooked media has it in for him has prompted much soul-searching with the Fourth Estate, and its conclusion appears to be that he's right -- and that's just fine with some news organizations.

Im not running against Crooked Hillary, Trump told a crowd in Fairfield, Conn., last week. Im running against the crooked media.

Lately some, including The New York Times, Vox and Bill Moyers website, have not only owned up to Trump's accusation, they've embraced it.

If you deplore media cowardice, you might think this is a good thing, not because Trump is a mortal danger to this country, although he is, but because it means the press is doing its job, Neil Gabler wrote on the journalism website of Moyers, the longtime PBS newsman who cut his teeth as a spokesman for Democratic President Lyndon Johnson. Call it partisan bias if you like. I call it journalism.

Ezra Klein, the Vox writer who as a Washington Post staffer organized a secret society of left-wing reporters dubbed JournoList that was shut down after it was exposed in 2010, acknowledged that the press is not giving Trump traditional treatment.

The media has felt increasingly free to cover Trump as an alien, dangerous, and dishonest phenomenon, Klein wrote last week.

New York Times media critic Jim Rutenberg wrote that journalists who personally oppose Trump had an obligation to throw out the textbook when it came to coverage of The Donald.

If youre a working journalist and you believe that Donald J. Trump is a demagogue playing to the nations worst racist and nationalistic tendencies, that he cozies up to anti-American dictators and that he would be dangerous with control of the United States nuclear codes, how the heck are you supposed to cover him? Rutenberg wondered in a front-page article earlier this month.

When it comes to covering Trump, its only fair to be unfair, according to The Atlantic.

All things considered, the press has responded defensibly to the unusual challenges of covering a brazen, habitual liar, Conor Friedersdorf wrote in a recent column titled, The Exaggerated Claims of Media Bias Against Donald Trump.

If Trump is confused by the medias stance that it has been fair by being biased, he can take comfort in a new study on his treatment by the press since he entered the political arena.

Harvard Universitys Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy tracked his coverage by CBS, Fox, the Los Angeles Times, NBC, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. It concluded that through its coverage of Trump, both good and bad, the media helped him get the Republican nomination.
Twitter is taking aggressive steps to rid the site of terrorists and trolls. The platform has suspended hundreds of thousands of accounts linked to radical extremism, clarified its rules on abuse, and rolled out new tools to help users filter their feeds and improve their experience. Sounds like a no brainer, right? Not exactly.

Its one thing to fight violence and give users more control, but theres a fuzzy line between freedom of expression and offensive hate speech. Limiting one without impacting the other is practically impossible. And yet, social media, once a bastion of open discourse, faces mounting pressure to censor news feeds.

Back in May, Twitter joined Facebook, Microsoft and YouTube in agreeing to a European Commission (EC) Code of Conduct that calls for them to remove illegal, online hate speech from their sites within 24 hours of notification. It bears mentioning that, with rare exception, hate speech is also protected speech in the United States.

Related: The Harsh Lesson Everyone Can Learn From Justin Bieber Fleeing Instagram

If you wade through the pages and pages of bureaucratic rhetoric, the problem with this kind of online censorship becomes abundantly clear: the commissions definition of illegal hate speech is about as clear as mud  if you can find it, that is.

The EC news release cites a  framework decision on combating certain forms of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law, which in turn cites a council framework decision and a joint action, each of which goes on and on. Theres also the EU Colloquium on Fundamental Rights, the EU Internet Forum to save the public from terrorist exploitation of communication channels, the e-Commerce Directive on take-down procedures, and the Joint Statement following the Brussels terrorist attacks, which brings us full circle back to the Code of Conduct.

Finally, I was able to boil down the definition of criminal online content as that which promotes incitement to violence and hateful conduct directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin.

And therein lies the rub. Who gets to decide what constitutes speech that incites violence and what exactly is hateful conduct, anyway?

Related: 5 Ways to Cope With Online Haters

Subjective as that is, the bigger issue is that all this nonsense is intended to stop racism and xenophobia, which, in turn, is intended to stop the terrorists. In other words, these loony tunes in Brussels seem to think that their own hatred and fear of Muslims is the cause of radical Islamic terrorism, not the other way around. This is how they mean to combat the brutal attacks occurring all over Europe.

While Europe is definitely further along, there is a growing school of thought on this side of the Atlantic that we did this to ourselves and, if we can all just get along, the bad guys will leave us alone, Pollyannaish as that sounds. Of course, following the European Union (EU) down the slippery slope of censorship under some misguided belief that it will stop terrorism is ludicrous. Besides, I doubt if thats Twitters motive.

The San Francisco-based company has long sought a solution to the vitriol-spewing trolls that scare away the Twitterati  celebrities with gazillions of followers that are the lifeblood of the site. A year and a half ago, then-CEO Dick Costolo lamented what he called an embarrassment, Im frankly ashamed of how poorly weve dealt with this issue, he wrote in an internal email. Its absurd. Theres no excuse for it.

Thats not exactly true. There is an excuse for it: There is no obvious solution. Censorship is tricky business. Its not black and white. Thats why it has taken Twitter so long to deal with the issue. Also, Twitter is just plain slow, but thats another story for another day.

Dont get me wrong. I like what the company rolled out last week. Keeping radical extremists from propagating disturbing content and using the site as a recruiting tool is long overdue. So is extending filters to all users that, until recently, had only been available to verified accounts. Now everyone can limit tweets to those they follow or use the quality filter to cut out some of the noise.

More important, I like that CEO Jack Dorsey is keenly aware that hes walking a fine line: We are not and never will be a platform that shows people only part of whats happening or part of whats being said. We are the place for news and social commentary, he said on a recent earnings call.

On the other hand, abuse is not part of civil discourse. It shuts down conversation. It prevents us from understanding each other, he said. Freedom of expression means little if we allow voices to be silenced because of fear of harassment if they speak up. No one deserves to be the target of abuse online, and it has no place on Twitter.

There is that rug again -- finding that elusive line between freedom and censorship.
It was a bit costly for Canadians to help the 1,500 Americans who drifted across the St. Clair River last weekend, but officials don't plan on billing their U.S. neighbors.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley tells the Times Herald of Port Huron that his city spent more than $8,100 on police and other services to get the inflatable rafters and boaters back across the border.

Bradley said, "1,500 Americans showed up on our shores and we welcomed them."

High winds pushed participants off course in Sunday's 7.5-mile Port Huron Float Down.

Nineteen bus trips were made to the U.S. at a cost of more than $1,900.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office confirmed the identity of the man killed in a dog attack is that of 83-year-old Michael Downing.

The hole in the fence where witnesses said the dogs came through is now boarded up.

Witnesses Mackenzie Partin and Eddie Edwards said Downings body may have been dragged into the dogs yard because they saw his body on the other side of the fence.

The Franklin Arms apartment community is mourning the loss of Downing, whom they described as a helpful neighbor and happy man.

He always had a big smile on his face, said neighbor Mark Jones.

It happened around 4 p.m. Friday.

Police roped off an area near the Dumpster where Edwards and Partin spotted the body.

By far it's probably the worst thing Ive ever seen in my life, said Partin. There was only 30 percent left of his body probably.

Partin said Downing was dismembered and barely recognizable.

They had dragged him underneath, back up underneath, to eat on him, said Partin.

I knew it was coming, I knew someone was going to die, it was almost she and I, said Jones.

Its unclear if the owner of the dogs, Lephus Felton, will face any charges.

Click for more from Fox 30.
Building a company is never easy. Every entrepreneur who dares to dream will encounter naysayers who want to see the company fail for one reason or another. Believe it or not, these detractors are a necessary and important part of the building process.

But equally important to any chief executive is the camp of believers who want you to succeed. My wife, Sapna, is my biggest believer. Her advice and encouragement ultimately led me to start Nutanix seven years ago, and her continued support throughout this journey has made me a better entrepreneur.

Of course, I don't presume that having a significant other is a prerequisite for effective leadership. But if you are married or in a domestic partnership, I believe true alignment with your life partner is the most important requirement to build a successful company. Heres why.

A champion in your corner.

In September 2009, I left the comfort of a steady paycheck to launch Nutanix. While it felt like an overnight decision, in actuality it was the culmination of numerous conversations with my wife. She knew it could invite chaos into our lives at a time when we already faced much uncertainty. Still, she told me to stop postponing my passion and do something that would make me happy.

Communication has been a core part of relationship since the beginning. When we met in the "Bombay" chat room on the now-defunct TalkCity.com, I was living in Texas and she was halfway around the world in India. We spoke for more than seven hours the first day. Our long-distance relationship lasted three-and-a-half years. We made countless phone calls during that time, developing the skill of engaged listening. It's served us well throughout our relationship -- especially when we discuss big life decisions.

A Harvard Business School study found many executives consider emotional support to be the largest contribution their partners have made to their careers. This support comes in a variety of forms. Our partners might urge us to take business risks or encourage us to pursue job opportunities that are not immediately rewarding but lead to longer-term satisfaction. They might simply believe in us.

The value of this support cannot be overstated. Given the frequency with which startups fail, it's natural for people to react with some skepticism when they learn you want to launch an independent company. But when your partner is a believer and not a naysayer, it emboldens you to press forward.

Related: What I Learned About Business After Getting Married

A shared vision.

According to data from Harp Family Institute, which focuses on how entrepreneurship affects relationships (and vice versa), couples who create a shared vision for their future find increased satisfaction in all areas of life. Before I started this new venture, my wife and I discussed the $10,000 we had in the bank. She suggested we could use our savings to keep the business afloat should the situation arise, and even borrow from our 401(k). I consider myself very fortunate to have found a partner who was so willing to sacrifice everything for an unknown future.

Maintaining a shared vision with your partner is critical throughout every stage of a company. It's particularly crucial during the early and high-growth stages, when work-life balance is put to its greatest test. Our lives have changed considerably since our mutual decision seven years ago. We no longer have to worry about dipping into our savings, but we do have to navigate new situations. We're now raising a young family with a job that requires me to travel more than 200,000 miles a year. Because we aligned our expectations from the very beginning, however, we're able to reach compromises by viewing outcomes through the lens of mutual understanding.

Related: How one Couple Saved $1 Million in Four Years to Retire at Age 43

The ultimate advisor.

Your partner can be your most valuable sounding board. The late SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg called his wife, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, his closest adviser. Sandberg noted the same was true for Goldberg, who advised her on issues such as negotiating a higher salary during compensation talks. There is great value in a partner who can provide an outside perspective, delivering fresh thinking or honest criticism.

Beyond direct requests for advice, your relationship with your partner can pay indirect dividends. A recent Stanford University study ranked conflict management as the highest area of concern for CEOs. Raising a family also creates no shortage of conflict. While it can be difficult to realize in the moment, I recognize conflict provides a breeding ground for developing emotional intelligence. As my wife and I work through these issues together, I've attained the high emotional quotient necessary to scale a business.

Related: Here's How You Can Embody the Strength and Leadership of Sheryl Sandberg

No one can build a company alone. Whether your source of support comes from a personal or professional network, understand you're on a shared journey. It's one I'm grateful to experience with my biggest believer.
Christian religious freedom activist Faith McDonnell is pushing back against the notion that it is unchristian to voice concerns with how the State Department is resettling refugees from Syria and other terrorist hot spots in the Middle East.

McDonnell, the 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, told The Christian Post on Monday that it's reasonable for Christians to voice concern about how the State Department is resettling only a minuscule percentage of Christian refugees from Syria and voice concern that the havoc being wrecked by Muslim refugees in Europe could also occur in America.

McDonnell took issue with recent remarks issued by Matthew Soerens, the U.S. director of church mobilization for the evangelical refugee resettlement organization World Relief.

Soerens, who works for one of nine agencies authorized by the State Department to resettle refugees inside the U.S., told CP this month that the notion that the State Department has an "anti-Christian bias" is baseless when looking at refugee resettlement numbers.

He pointed to State Department Refugee Processing Center data which shows that more Christian refugees have been resettled in the U.S. in the time-span between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2015, than refugees with other religious affiliations.

Although more Christian refugees might have been resettled in the U.S. than any other religious group in the last decade, McDonnell points out her concern with the fact that the government has begun resettling more and more Muslim refugees from terrorist hot spots in the Middle East over the last few years and are now accepting more Muslim refugees than Christian.

In the last year since Oct. 1, 2015, more Muslim refugees (over 30,500) have been resettled in the U.S. than Christian refugees (nearly 29,000), according to the State Department Refugee Processing Center data. CNS News reports that this is the first time in over a decade the U.S. has resettled more Muslim refugees than Christians refugees.

Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com
Police in Pontiac, Michigan are asking the public to be on alert after they say a violent inmate was mistakenly released from prison Wednesday night.

Authorities have identified the inmate as Johnny Rodgers. He is currently wanted by the U.S. Marshals, FBI and the Michigan Department of Corrections.

He had been jailed for charges of assault with intent to commit murder, armed robbery and for weapons - felony firearms. He was sentenced in November of 2015 and the crimes had been committed in December of 2014, according to MDOC records.

His earliest release date is listed as August, 29, 2024.

Rodgers is 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 187 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes and is 25 years old. MDOC records lists that he has the following identifying tattoos:

Tattoo- Center Right Forearm - live for everything die for nothing

Tattoo- Face

Tattoo- Front Left Forearm - guy

Tattoo- Front Neck - CREAM, star

Tattoo- Front Right Forearm - COD, only the strong survive

Tattoo- Front Right Hand - loyalty

Tattoo- Upper Chest - face

Tattoo- Upper Right Arm - pharaoh, heart

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office says Rodgers was sentenced yesterday in 6th Circuit Court for carrying a concealed weapon and for carrying a weapon in a school zone. Rather than being sent to MDOC, he was released in error.

A deputy in the booking section apparently missed the MDOC detainer, the sheriff's office says. An internal investigation has been launched.

Click for more from Fox 2.
Talking to Narinjara News, Mr. Kumar informed that New Delhi had already sanctioned 1 million US Dollars to build 10 primary schools including two in Sittwe & Maungdaw Townships through the Union Government of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw.

The Indian Government also helped 20 million US dollars for a road construction from Ah-ngu-maw to Maung-daw in the same line. Moreover, few soft loans were offered to the Myanmar Government for improving the electrical transmission works from Pyay to Kyauk-Pru.

The Indian Consulate also informed that he would request the New Delhi Government for some agricultural projects in Arakan State.

He also added that the Sittwe International Deep Sea Port under construction would be finished by January 2017. Supported by the Indian Government under Kalandan multi modal project, the port would be handed over to the Myanmar Government very soon.

The Sittwe port project, which will be under the Myanmar government's management, would be highly beneficial for the Arakanese people as their private vessels could operate in the port, added Mr Kumar. The project would enable the operators to transport various items from Sittwe to Kolkata through northeastern city of Guwahati.

Moreover, the sea route between Sittwe and Kolkata would also be fully operational. During the British rule, Sittwe had communication with various Indian cities and the Arakanese enjoyed the advantages.

Many Arakanese students also went to study in Calcutta University and returned back as a resource person on his subject.
Nine staff members of a Nebraska correctional facility were assaulted by inmates Wednesday, officials said.

Fire and rescue personnel were called to the Lincoln Correctional Facility at around 6:45 p.m. Officials said inmates were refusing to return to their housing units and eventually assaulted nine staff members, according to WOW-TV.

At least six of the staff members were transported to a hospital and three others were treated at the facility. The severity of their injuries is unclear, WOWT-TV reported. All are expected to be treated and released.

The Lincoln Correctional Facility is a medium/maximum custody facility and was on lockdown by nightfall, officials said

There was no risk to the public.

Click for more from WOWT-TV.
A Northern California bakery is under fire after making a transgender Ken doll birthday cake.

KTXL-TV reported Tuesday that the Freeport Bakery in Sacramento baked the cake. The Ken doll wore a pink dress made of frosting, a sash, a tiara and some jewelry. Co-owner Marlene Goetzeler said it wasnt one of the most unusual cakes the bakers have ever made.

"Naively, I guess I just thought this is a really cool cake, and look at how great they did with the butter cream, Goetzeler told the station. Whats wrong with a Ken cake?

Goetzeler posted the creation on the bakerys Facebook page and was immediately hit with negative comments.

"I started getting some negative comments ... Then a couple days later I noticed there was a big dip in unlikes. I was kind of surprised, she added. I was shocked that somebody would be offended.

The cake sparked a fierce LGBT debate. The bakery lost dozens of Facebook likes and Goetzeler feared it could damage her business, all because of the post.

Chad Graham who attended the birthday that the cake was meant for said the backlash took the group by surprise.

Oh, I thought it was fantastic, Graham told KTXL-TV.

He said that the birthday party for a member of a group that meets once a month for a dice game. He said the recipient of the cake isnt transgender nor was the cake supposed to be a political statement of any kind.

"I thought it was a little ridiculous. It was just cake, Graham said.

The station reported that there have been some people defending the bakery in the midst of the cake controversy.

Click for more from KTXL-TV.
A months-long probe into a northern California Vietnamese crime ring resulted in nearly two dozen arrests, including that of a veteran San Jose police officer accused of leaking confidential information to gang members, authorities said Wednesday.

The multi-agency probe with the FBI and DEA netted cash, drugs, weapons, gambling machines and an alligator, San Jose police said.

Officer Derrick Antonio was placed on paid leave two months ago in the middle of the investigation when investigators determined he was sharing sensitive information including police reports with gang members, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters.

Authorities arrested 22 other people in the probe named "Operation Gang of Thrones," making the arrests and executing search warrants in several places, including San Jose; Anaheim, California; and in Louisiana. They were booked on suspicion of offenses including extortion, drug trafficking, illegal gun possession and conspiracy. Authorities were searching for six more suspects.

The searches netted $200,000 in cash, 4,000 Ecstasy pills, 600 pounds of marijuana, body armor and the alligator retrieved by San Jose animal control workers after it was found. Louisiana State Police seized more than 400 pounds of the marijuana in transit from San Jose.

Antonio was charged with six felony counts, including unauthorized computer access.

Garcia called the allegations the officer faces deplorable, but he said they should not reflect badly on the entire San Jose police department. "Once his involvement was known, they did not hesitate or shy away from bringing a fellow member of this department who had tarnished the badge we wear so proudly to justice," Garcia said.

Garcia said he did not know why the officer allegedly passed the information to gang members.

Sean Webby, spokesman for the district attorney's office handling the case, said he did not know if Antonio had a lawyer who could be contacted for comment.

The police association for San Jose did not respond to a message inquiring if the arrested officer had a lawyer.
A server fired a gun inside a popular San Antonio restaurant during a physical fight with a customer, although no one was hurt, according to police.

The shooting happened about 1 p.m. Tuesday at Little Red Barn Steakhouse.

Crystal Halliday, 28, witnessed the altercation and said it began when a customer complained and then attacked the server.



He was the one that threw the first punch, she said. He was a larger man, so he was on top of the waiter, beating him up pretty bad. I believe he also hit him with a computer that was there at the hostess stand.

According to officers, the customer was unhappy with the meal or service.

Investigators say the waiter managed to pry himself away.



As soon as they broke him apart, he was enraged from everything and he got on top of the hostess stand, Halliday said.

Halliday said the server pulled out a gun and pointed it at the crowd for a moment.

We ran to the back along with other people, she said. We went behind a table.

Police said the employee fired three shots into the ceiling before running off. The customer also ran off.

Click for more from Fox 29.
In the 1980s, Roxanne Thurman and her business partner were selling vintage Western wear at collectibles shows around the Rocky Mountain region. Then a chance to open a pop-up shop in downtown Denver turned into the retail store Cry Baby Ranch (named in honor of a memorable experience with one of her kids). In the 27 years since, she has dropped her business partner, weathered recessions, floods and the explosion of e-commerce -- and built a brand thats become an iconic part of its city and celebrated around the world. Now, at age 66, Thurman still manages the store every day and is thinking about what (if anything!) comes next.

Related: Delivering World-Class Service on a Startup Budget

Thurman on how to bootstrap everything:

I never had the luxury of stepping back and making a business plan. We opened our doors and just did it. But I have to admit, having a general plan for the store and the business wouldve been nice.

If you intend to start a business, prepare yourself to never get paid. Youd better love what youre doing. If you dont, do something else with your time.

I never had the option to decide whether I wanted to keep the store open or not all these years. Id mortgaged my house to help pay for it. It was a necessity to stay in business to pay it off.

My worst moment in the store was after the bathrooms in the nightclub upstairs flooded my shop. I wouldve canned the store if the opportunity came along. But it didnt, so thats why Im still here.

On dealing with your people:

Partnerships are a challenge -- I havent had a partner since my first one. When two creative people come together like we did, it can be wonderful when its good and terrible when its bad. When people ask me about going into business with a friend, I ask them, Whats more important: the friendship or the partnership?

Managing people is the most difficult thing I do. It was a hard lesson for me to learn that no one else sees or does things like I do -- they just cant. So all I can do is lead by example.

If you want good employees, be good to your employees. Never refer to them as my staff or employee. I always call them my colleague.

Its just two words, but it means a lot to the people working for you.

On dealing with everyone else:

Today, face-to-face customer service is the only tool you have to encourage a customer to return to your store and buy more. People can buy anything they want online, but they cant get the experience unless they come into the store.

My husband and I have long joked: If we had a penny for all the times we see random people walk by the store and say out loud, Cry Baby Ranch! wed be set. But the joke also made us realize that the brand Cry Baby Ranch could be much bigger than just the store, that it will likely outlive the store.

Related: The 10 Magic Phrases of Customer Service

On channeling the unstoppable force that is an entrepreneur:

People who first came to the store 10, 20 years ago come in and ask me, How have you been here so long? I tell them, Easy; I get up and come to work every day.

My husband asked me why I still persist in running the store after all these years. I thought about it, and what it comes down to is that, in my heart, I know that what Im doing is the right thing to do.

Would i do it again? Yes. Yes, despite all the detours and heartache. Yes, because I like the people I meet and I love the product I sell. I wake up every morning with a purpose.

Im not sure how much longer Ill keep the store open. In retail, I hear from others that when they stopped, they missed it.

Well, Ive never been able to stop, so Ive never been able to miss it. Im still here because Im stubborn.
The son of a member of Russia's parliament was convicted Thursday of hacking into U.S. businesses to steal credit card information and selling the data to criminals.

A federal jury in Seattle found Roman Seleznev guilty on 38 of 40 charges, including nine counts of hacking and 10 counts of wire fraud. He could face up to 40 years in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 2, and he still faces similar charges in federal courts in Nevada and Georgia, his attorney said.

Seleznev hacked into businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, and stole millions of credit card numbers that he sold on underground internet forums, authorities said. The thefts led to almost $170 million in credit card losses around the world and made him "one of the most prolific credit card traffickers in history," prosecutors said.

His lawyer, John Henry Browne, vowed to appeal, saying a key issue will be Seleznev's 2014 arrest by U.S. Secret Service agents in the Maldives that he called a kidnapping. The defense had tried to challenge the arrest, but the judge said the issue could not come up during trial.

Seleznev was accused of running the hacking scheme from 2009 until his arrest. The jury cleared him on two charges related to one of the Washington restaurants.

U.S. Secret Service agents captured Seleznev as he and his girlfriend arrived at the Maldives airport on their way back to Russia. The agents flew him by private jet to Guam and then to Seattle, where he has been in custody.

Seleznev was indicted on 29 felony charges in 2011, but a month later, he suffered a brain injury in a terrorist bombing in a cafe in Morocco. He was in a coma for two weeks and underwent a series of operations, according to a previous lawyer.

Prosecutors added 11 new counts in October 2014, including wire and bank fraud, hacking and identity theft.

Sitting at his keyboard in Vladivostok, Russia, and using the online nicknames "Track2," ''Bulba" and "2Pac," Seleznev masterminded a scheme dating to 2008, Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Barbosa said during closing arguments Wednesday.

The defense focused on challenging the evidence from Seleznev's laptop, seized by Secret Service agents during his arrest. His lawyers claim the agents mishandled the computer and failed to adequately secure it while it was kept in a vault in Seattle.

The defense's only witness testified that the machine may have been tampered with, and the attorneys said any evidence taken from it was suspect. They also said prosecutors failed to make a solid link between the hacks and Seleznev.

The investigation started in 2010 when a deli in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was hacked. Over time, agents were able to link the computer viruses used to steal the credit card data to computer servers where the numbers were stored. They then connected those servers to Seleznev through his online nicknames and other sites he frequented.

When he was arrested, agents found 1.7 million stolen credit cards on his laptop, along with the passwords to access those servers, prosecutors said.

Seleznev "left his digital fingerprints all over the crime scene," Barbosa said.



Seleznev's father, Valery, is a member of Russia's parliament for the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party. At the time of Roman Seleznev's arrest, Russia's foreign ministry said his apprehension "amounts to the kidnapping of a Russian citizen."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Satanic Temple is one step closer to forming a chapter of its After School Satan Club at an elementary school in Utah.

Earlier this year, the satanist group announced that it's starting After School Satan Club chapters in public schools across the country, including Vista Elementary of Taylorsville, located within the Granite School District.

A representative of the Satanic Temple emailed The Christian Post providing an update on the effort to establish an ASSC chapter at Vista.

"On Tuesday, our Utah chapter head followed up regarding our classification and if we'd be categorized as the Good News Clubs are," explained the spokesperson.

"We actually heard back from the school district [on Friday afternoon] and they confirmed that the [Good News Club] is not a school-sponsored or student led group, and they pay a facility fee. With that in mind, we will disburse funds to Utah and proof of liability insurance in the coming week."

The spokesperson added that the Satanic Temple "is willing to pay facility fees in any of the school districts where that is common practice."

Benjamin Horsley, spokesman for the Granite School District, told The Christian Post that officials responded earlier this month to the Satanic Temple's demand that they start an ASSC chapter at Vista.

"This group sent a demand letter [on Aug. 1] and we responded with a copy of our policy, state statute and the rental requirements. We have not heard back from them since," said Horsley.

"I believe they were under the impression that the Good News Club, a Christian after school Bible club, was getting free access to Vista Elementary when, in fact, they have been renting it like any other private entity."

Horsley further explained the school district's policy when it comes to using school space under a state law called the "civic center" statute.

"The state's civic center statute provides that since our buildings are taxpayer funded, that any private group or individual must have access to school facilities when they are not being used for educational purposes," continued Horsley.

"As such, as long as this  or any other  private group's use conforms to the rental requirements, they will be permitted to rent the building."

Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com


This year, 2016, has been a huge one for equal pay legislation, with Massachusetts the most recent state to pass an updated law. While most of the updates have been at the state level, all employers, no matter their location, should strive to level the playing field for all employees.

Related: Girls Just Wanna Have (Equal) Funds

If you're a business owner, take a page from the state legislatures active in this context, to make work and compensation fair for everyone at your company. Here are a few state-level reforms and how employers can adopt similar policies:

Forget about a candidate's pay history.

Massachusetts is the most recent state to sign an equal pay act into law. The new law, passed August 1, introduces several provisions to help strengthen the states existing equal pay laws. One requirement, however, stands out from the rest: Employers will no longer be able to ask job candidates about their salary history in application materials or the interview.

Unless a job candidate voluntarily provides information about salary history, employers cant use it to determine their pay rate. The reasoning is that when compensation is based on past numbers, it only perpetuates past disparities, considering that women typically earn less than men in their first job.

How to adopt: Instead of using salary history as a frame of reference when determining pay for new employees, take the time to consider the position and responsibilities. Whats the ideal base salary for a new employee in this function?

Identify a reasonable range, and determine which specific factors will move potential new hires up that scale. How valuable to the role are experience, industry knowledge or specialized skills?

When negotiating with job candidates, explain to them how the starting salary was determined and what the offer means. That way, job-seekers can see the careful thought that went into the offer; the company didnt just decide to pay what its H.R. managers felt like paying.

Think responsibilities, not titles.

At the beginning of the year, what many have called the most extensive equal pay act yet went into effect in California. The California Fair Pay Act requires that employers offer men and women comparable pay not just for jobs with the same titles, but for those that are substantially similar.

In other words, when employees have similar responsibilities, no matter what their official title or role, they have to be paid equally.

How to adopt: Regardless of their state, employers should strive to pay all their employees fairly for equal work. When determining pay, look beyond titles. What do employees actually do? Which responsibilities are worth more than others?

Develop a formula for how pay and raises are determined and share it with employees so everyone understands what is normal across departments and for the company as a whole. After all, an April Glassdoor survey found that nearly 70 percent of the 8,254 employees surveyed globally said they wished they had a better understanding of what fair pay was for their position and skill set at their company and in their local market.

Related: Tech's Gender Wage Gap Is Real, Partly Because Men Don't Believe It Is.

Open up the conversation.

New York States own recent equal pay act went into effect in January. In addition to having stricter requirements about the reasons employers can give for differences in pay, the law also prevents employers from taking action against employees who discuss their salaries.

How to adopt: Employees are happier when theyre free to talk about pay -- it shouldnt be a taboo topic. Open the conversation on salary and adopt transparency to make compensation fair and satisfying for all employees.

In this regard, PayScale's 2016 Compensation Best Practices Report found that among nearly 7,600 business leaders surveyed in the United States and Canada, 73 percent said their employees were fairly compensated -- but just 36 percent of employees agreed.

And that's too bad because when employees openly discuss salary, theyre less likely to think their paycheck is unfair. In the same survey, 82 percent of employees said they would be satisfied with below-market pay, as long as their employer was transparent about the reasons.

Instead of discouraging employees from talking about pay, remove the secrecy. Address head-on any problems, concerns or questions employees have about salary, and dont shy away from the subject. That way, employees will feel comfortable discussing discrepancies and be reassured that theyre being paid fairly.

Go beyond salary.

Salaries arent the only things state governments are looking to make equal in the workplace. In May, the governor of Maryland signed an equal pay act into law that mandates not only similar compensation, but similar advancement opportunities as well.

How to adopt: Employees pay doesnt stay the same from day one -- advancement opportunities have a huge impact on what employees earn over the course of their careers.

So, take a look at that advancement. Review policies at your company that determine raises, bonuses and promotions. Are they clear and specific? Do they allow all employees to advance in the company? Are learning and professional development opportunities available to everyone? Keeping policies clear and uniform will provide employees with an equal chance to advance.

Related: Why Are Business Owners Blamed For the Gender Pay Gap?

Consider the answers to these questions and whether or not changes need to be made to give all employees the same opportunities at the company. Make sure your business is up to date on the improvements state legislatures are already adopting.
Two nuns who worked as nurses and helped the poor in rural Mississippi were found murdered in their home Thursday, and there were signs of a break-in and their vehicle was missing, according to officials.

The nuns were identified as Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Holmes County Coroner Dexter Howard said.

It was too early to say how the nuns died, but it doesn't appear that they were shot, according to Durant Assistant Police Chief James Lee. Their bodies were taken to a state crime lab for autopsies.

The two women, both nurse practitioners, were found Thursday morning when they didn't report to work at a nearby hospital.

Maureen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, said there were signs of a break-in at the home and the nuns' vehicle is missing. She said the sisters worked at the Lexington Medical Clinic, located 10 miles away from their home in Durant, one of the poorest areas in the state.

Authorities didn't release a motive and it wasn't clear if the nuns' religious work had anything to do with the slayings.

"I have an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach," said Lee, the assistant police chief, who is Catholic.

Father Greg Plata, who oversees a small Catholic church the sisters attended in the Mississippi Delta, told The Clarion-Ledger newspaper the killings were "so senseless. "

"These were the two sweetest sisters you could imagine," he told the newspaper.

Durant police and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are investigating, according to The Clarion-Ledger.

Merrill moved to Mississippi from Massachusetts in 1981 and believed her calling was to stay in the Deep South, according to a 2010 article in The Journey, a publication of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

When asked about her ministry, Merrill was humble.

"We simple do what we can wherever God places us," she said.

According to the article, Merrill and Held rotated one week at a time at the Lexington Medical Clinic and the Durant Primary Care Clinic.

At the clinic, Merrill saw children and adults, and helped in other ways.

"We do more social work than medicine sometimes," she said. "Sometimes patients are looking for a counselor."

The sisters were among 35 members of St. Thomas Catholic Church, and they typically gathered on Thursday nights for Bible study and a meal, the pastor said. Held was a great baker, and both women would usually bring something to eat.

Merrill usually gave the pastor his annual flu shot.

"Margaret was a bit older. She was more outgoing, more gregarious. Paula was a bit more shy, yet in the clinic I was always impressed by her professional demeanor," Plata told the Associated Press.

Held was a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee. Merrill was a member of the Sisters of Charity in Nazareth, Kentucky.

"Both were really down to earth. There was no phony spirituality. They were the real McCoy. They had a deep love of scripture," he said.

Bishop Joseph Kopacz said in a statement that the sisters "absolutely loved the people in their community."

"We mourn with the people of Lexington and Durant and we pray for the Sisters of Charity, the School Sisters of St. Francis and the families left behind," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from The Clarion Ledger.
The suicide of a 76-year-old former Navy man in the parking lot of a New York VA hospital where he was allegedly denied care has raised new questions about the federal agency, and his family and friends hope his death won't be in vain.

Peter A. Kaisen, 76, of Islip, shot and killed himself outside the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he had been a patient.

"He went there for help with depression," said Thomas Farley, a friend of Kaisen's for 40 years. "That was his last hope, and he didn't get any help."

"Maybe he can be used as an example to make things better," said Farley, who spoke on behalf of the family. "Maybe we can save someone elses life."

"That way, he would not have died in vain," he said.

Kaisen served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1962, working on the USS Denebola, a ship that delivered refrigerated items and equipment to ships in the fleet, his friend said.

According to Farley, Kaisen was severely injured in a car accident while working as an officer for the Long Beach Police Department in the late 60's. After that, he was disabled, Farley said, and "had been on constant medication since."

The Suffolk County Police Department declined to comment on Kaisen's death. The FBI confirmed to FoxNews.com on Thursday that the agency had investigated the death because it occurred on federal property, but said there was nothing criminal involved.

An online obituary in Kaisen's name describes him as a "devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather, cherished friend and brother."

Two sources connected to the hospital told the New York Times that Kaisen was upset he was unable to see an emergency-room physician for reasons related to his mental health.

He went to the E.R. and was denied service, one of the people, who currently works at the hospital, told the Times. And then he went to his car and shot himself.

Someone dropped the ball, the worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the paper. "They should not have turned him away.

The hospital, meanwhile, reportedly said there was no indication Kaisen showed up at the E.R. prior to the incident.

Hospital spokesman Christopher Goodman told the paper that the employees here at Northport feel this loss deeply and extend their thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by this tragedy.

Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who is on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and whose district is near the hospital, was trying to confirm the details of Kaisen's death, according to a spokeswoman.

The federal agency has been under fire for more than two years, following a stunning national review that revealed widespread corruption at facilities across the nation -- from rejected medical claims to delays in treatment and cover-ups by high-level officials.

The review, by the Inspector General, was triggered when a whistle-blower revealed that as many as 40 veterans died waiting for as long as 21 months for care at a Phoenix facility. The whistle-blower claimed  and the review confirmed -- that officials cooked the books to hide the wait times and deaths so hospital executives could qualify for bonuses.

Doctors and whistle-blowers from other VA hospitals came forward, citing long wait times and similar bookkeeping. A yearlong investigation by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., suggested that the number of veterans who died awaiting care or treatment over the past decade could top 1,000.

Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned in May 2014 and was replaced by current VA Secretary Robert McDonald.



Farley described Kaisen as a devoted father and grandfather who never stopped caring for friends and family.

"Im a Vietnam vet -- disabled from Agent Orange -- and he was always looking out for me. He was such a faithful guy," Farley said.

"He was such a big advocate for veterans and thats what makes its so sad," he said.
After half a century of war, the Colombian government and Farc rebels say they have reached a historic peace agreement. The two sides have been meeting in Havana, Cuba since November 2012. Both signed a bilateral ceasefire in June, which was needed before a final agreement could be reached.

An estimated 220,000 people have died in the decades-long conflict, and millions have been displaced.

"We haven't slept but it was worth the effort," said Sen. Roy Barreras speaking to Caracol Radio from Havana.

The final agreement will still need to voted on in a public referendum. Polls suggest most Colombians will back the deal.

From the Associated Press:

The government's accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia must still be ratified by voters in a plebiscite in order to take effect. () The accord commits Colombia's government to carrying out aggressive land reform, overhauling its anti-narcotics strategy and greatly expanding the state into traditionally neglected areas of the country. Negotiations began in November 2012 and were plagued by distrust built up during decades of war propaganda on both sides. Polls say most Colombians loathe the rebel group known as the FARC and show no hesitation labeling them "narco-terrorists" for their heavy involvement in Colombia's cocaine trade, an association for which members of the group's top leadership have been indicted in the U.S. Meanwhile, the FARC held onto a Cold War view of Colombia's political and economic establishment as "oligarchs" at the service of the U.S.

From the BBC's account:
Its no wonder that dialogue -- especially during this presidential election -- about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) has left us once again in the midst of a fierce debate over the pros and cons of free trade.

Related: Exporting is a Viable Sales-Growth Strategy for Early-Stage Startups

On one hand, trade can have a notably positive impact, bringing important goods and services to those who need them and allowing consumers to enjoy a wider variety of both, as well as creating jobs in the exporting and importing countries. When well executed, trade can be a means for reaching social and political goals by exporting values such as human rights and sustainable development, while helping to improve living conditions and general welfare.

But free trade is problematic when it becomes an end rather than a means for achieving these broader goals. It becomes problematic, too, when more trade is always considered better, no matter what the consequences. Rather than improve employment, the casualties of more open trade can be viable wages and social cohesion.

Certainly, the term free trade sounds so positive. Yet, absent stipulations about social and environmental protections and labor standards -- and safeguards against aggravating the concentration of wealth and power -- free trade can actually do more harm than good to the majority of people.

Yes, free trade does enlarge corporations and does promote more millionaires, even billionaires. But it also promotes losses, huge ones.

Free trade can slow growth; threaten consumer, environmental, labor, social and taxation standards; and encourage unemployment, poverty and hunger. Consider the fallout from NAFTA: hundreds of thousands of well-paid jobs exported to Mexican sweatshops and millions of Mexican farmers who lost their livelihoods, unable to compete in the face of U.S. corn subsidies.

The TPP and TTIP

Then there's the United States' Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 12 Pacific Rim countries (signed last February and awaiting ratification) and the proposed Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and Europe.

Related: How Two New Trade Agreements Can Propel Your Growth

These agreements would similarly export industry and service jobs to lower-wage countries with less-stringent regulations. Cheaper goods, produced under far less stringent labor, social, environmental and tax conditions than occur in the United States, would freely enter the U.S. market, crowding out products from companies and countries with more conscientious and humane practices.

So, the question becomes: In the face of growing opposition against the globalization of . . . well, everything. . . how can we manage these circumstances without reverting to hard-core protectionism -- which would shut the door to the many more promising outcomes of cross-border collaboration?

First, we must remember that "trade" should not be construed as an end in and of itself, but rather as one piece of the bigger picture aimed toward promoting the well-being of all -- as well as the health of our natural environment. This is what I refer to as ethical trade. For policymakers, this requires linking trade agreements to these objectives by:

Giving priority to maintaining the strength of local economies with good sustainability, labor and human rights conditions

Banning dumping in all areas

Making trade agreements contingent on human and labor rights as well as environmental standards.

Committing to helping close the gender gap in terms of income, property ownership and economic influence

Protecting cultural diversity.

Assuring that there occurs no differential treatment of high- and low- income countries.

Developing a licensing system for companies that want to access global markets and enjoy the benefits of free trade.

This latter goal can be accomplished, for example, by using a tool such as a common good balance sheet as a guide for investors, based on five fundamental values: human dignity, social justice, ecological sustainability, cooperation and transparency.

Given the current stalemate in negotiations for both the TTP and TTIP, its clear that citizens are extremely anxious about the potential consequence of free trade. In the European Union alone, more than 3.5 million people have signed a petition calling for an end to the mandated TTIP negotiations.

To help make the negotiations process itself fairer and more democratic, the content of ethical trade agreements should be made available for review by each nations population prior to any negotiations. In the United States, this could be accomplished through direct ballot questions rather than the usual (questionable) lobbying channels.

Related: The Challenges of Doing Business in Cuba

In contrast with todays win-lose or even lose-lose "free trade" system, ethical trade can be a win-win approach -- if we will only see it to fruition.
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.
United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world for years poured untreated or untested sewage into public waters or agricultural lands in some of the most ravaged countries they protect, failed to dispose safely of wastewater, sewage and garbage, and only sporadically kept the environmental safety and sanitation records that missions are supposed to report regularly for themselves and for U.N. headquarters.

The tally of negligence, disorganization, bureaucratic inertia and lack of accountability on sanitary and environmental issues -- as peacekeepers struggle to operate in extremely difficult and violent circumstances -- is itemized in more than a half-dozen audit reports by the U.N.s watchdog Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), most of them published in the past 14 months.

The audit reports examined U.N. waste management practices in various conflict zones and found them unsatisfactory. The reports warn of serious potential environmental or health risks as a result of the U.N. peacekeepers actions -- or inactions -- as well as what OIOS auditors call reputational risk for the U.N. itself in consequence.

Taken together, they offer a blunt contrast to the U.N.s own efforts to highlight, as one glossy PR document puts it, positive efforts that have been undertaken to reduce the environmental impacts of U.N. peacekeeping operations.

The rash of reports also indicated a scramble by the U.N. to come to grips with the self-created mess through new and updated environmental and waste management policies, more specific rules and guidelines (including some long in bureaucratic limbo), better training, and above all, better information about what peacekeepers have actually been doing to dispose of their garbage, human waste, and other environmental hazards.

One report notes that these missions had not fully disclosed these deficiencies in their report to U.N. headquarters.

In at least one embattled country -- South Sudan, where a new explosion of violence caused the U.N. Security Council this week to authorize an additional 4,000 peacekeepers atop the current 13,500 -- at least some of the failings are still being kept under wraps.

All told, the reports cover activities in six countries, from South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo to Lebanon, where there were 82,000 peacekeepers at the time of the various audits, and which include some of the worlds worst civil conflict zones.

(There are currently about 118,000 military police and civilian personnel operating in 16 peacekeeping missions around the world. The U.S. provides almost none of them, but pays 28.4 percent of the U.N.s annual peacekeeping budget, or about $2.35 billion for 2015-2016.)

Couched in abstract bureaucratic language, the reports offer a litany of failings similar to those outlined in another OIOS report on Haiti, long suppressed by the U.N. but examined by Fox News two weeks ago.

That document outlined an array of negligent sanitary practices by peacekeepers from 2012 to 2014, long after the worlds worst cholera epidemic exploded in Haiti in 2010.

The consensus among medical experts is that the Haiti calamity began with grossly negligent sanitation practices at a camp for Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers -- a small contingent of the roughly 9,000 peacekeepers and support staff then in-country -- that included the dumping of a tankful of contaminated human sewage into Haitis Artibonite River. The epidemic has so far killed 9,300 Haitians and infected more than 780,000, and is currently flaring up again.

The U.N. has argued that the epidemics cause is unproven, while it claimed immunity from a mammoth class-action lawsuit by Haitians who have suffered in the calamity. Late last week the U.N. hinted vaguely that it might produce a new response on the issue of its responsibility within the next two months.

Medical experts consulted by Fox News emphasized that the Haiti crisis was a once-in-a-million disaster, in part because the country had not been exposed to cholera in 100 years, and Haitians therefore had no natural resistance to the vicious disease.

On the other hand, cholera and other potentially fatal, highly contagious gastrointestinal diseases, including typhoid fever, are rife in many of the countries where the U.N.s blue helmets operate, and bad sanitary practices among newcomers can add additional dangers to the mix, especially given the multinational nature of peacekeeping forces.

(In mid-2014, substantial numbers of Nepalese peacekeepers -- none connected to cholera infection -- were involved, for example, in four major U.N. missions, in Darfur, South Sudan, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.)

Some examples from the OIOS audits:

In Cote dIvoire, where some 7,700 U.N. peacekeepers, police and civilians were stationed, peacekeepers at 28 locations out of 31 inspected in the spring of 2015 had dumped untreated sewage water as well as liquids from cooking, bathing and laundry into open drains or gutters, which flowed into ponds, farmlands and private properties, one audit notes. At an unspecified number of other locations, contractors working for the UNOCI peacekeeping force deposited untreated wastewater in unauthorized, open and unsecured sites.

At 27 peacekeeper sites, UNOCI septic tanks were not properly maintained, as the audit blandly put it. An unspecified number were cracked, full of waste, uncovered or improperly covered and in some cases overflowing with wastewater. Unsurprising, perhaps, since the auditors also found that in a third of their interviews with responsible personnel, none had been trained in the effective management of waste.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COTE DIVOIRE AUDIT

In Darfur (some 20,000 peacekeepers), an audit inspection that ended in January 2015 found that 20 water treatment plants out of 56 examined at 14 locations were not working due to lack of preventive maintenance and delays in repairs. As a result, partially treated wastewater was discharged into open fields, farms and open holes at the perimeter of team site compounds. Even where treated, tests were not being done on the output at 33 or 35 locations, largely due to lack of technicians.

The result, the audit warned: an increased risk of contaminated wastewater entering local streams and underground water sources, exposing the already devastated population to increased health risks.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DARFUR AUDIT

An audit carried out in South Sudan (about 10,300 peacekeepers at the time) from June to September 2013 -- but not published until June 2014 -- has an entire section redacted. Evidence from the remainder of the audit suggests the censored material could involve the installation and repair of wastewater treatment plants, and the training of their operators.

(In response to questions from Fox News about the censored portion of the inspection report, an official said, we deemed that there was information concerning un-remediated deficiencies -- U.N.-speak for lapses that hadnt been addressed -- that could potentially be exploited to the detriment of the Organization.)

So far as other unsanitary practices were concerned, the auditors noted, the South Sudan peacekeeping mission did not implement adequate procedures for the safe and environmentally sound disposal of solid waste in the nine Mission locations visited. Garbage pickups were irregular, trash was being burned at public sites in contravention of regulations, and at two-thirds of the locations, local authorities had not signed off, at least officially, on the U.N.s use of waste sites.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUTH SUDAN AUDIT

In Lebanon (about 11,000 peacekeepers), inspectors discovered in the summer of 2015 that peacekeepers were dumping wastewater from two of their 13 sewage treatment plants directly into the nearby ocean, as the peacekeeping mission considered the practice posed minimal risk. The mission also was failing to maintain septic tanks adequately.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LEBANON AUDIT

In Liberia (some 6,000 peacekeepers), an inspection last fall revealed that one peacekeeper sewage treatment plant in the capital of Monrovia (population: about 1 million) discharged treated water directly into local rainwater drains, and ultimately into a government-owned treatment plant, without checking whether the water was properly treated. Another treatment plant was out of operation for more than a year. And untreated effluent was dumped at a location approved by local authorities.

At 5 of 19 locations, so-called gray water-- previously used in food preparation, bathing and laundry -- was simply leaking away through bad plumbing, cracked septic tanks or other problems. In one case, it was flowing into a nearby local community. Peacekeepers were burning solid waste in unauthorized dugout pits, even though there were approved dumping sites nearby. The reason: they had neither garbage pickup trucks nor contractors to do waste removal.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIBERIA AUDIT

According to a peacekeeping spokesperson, additional inspection visits were made to other peacekeeping missions -- in Somalia and a small Sudanese area known as Abyei -- that also discovered improvements were required in the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of wastewater.

Yet another OIOS audit report examined by Fox News looks at peacekeepings Department of Field Services (DFS) operations in New York and shows that the problems among peacekeepers on the ground have been matched by passive leadership and non-supervision of the sanitary issues from U.N. headquarters.

Among other things, the report discloses, the central bureaucracy has issued sketchy and unfinished policies, guidelines and standards with insufficient detailed guidance and instructions to missions, let alone organizational structure, to help them actually cope with waste management and other issues.

The centralized management additionally depended on self-reporting from peacekeeping missions to keep track of what was happening in the field.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DFS AUDIT

The report, as well as others, makes clear that the self-reporting largely didnt occur. The OIOS report on South Sudan, for example, notes that the missions last monthly environmental performance report prior to the June 2014 audit was prepared in July 2012.

The U.N. issued a much touted Environmental Policy in 2009 which, according to the OIOS report, provides the overall framework for the management of environmental issues, including wastewater management. Among other things, it directs that missions shall not discharge wastewaters directly into streams, rivers or other bodies of water without prior treatment.

These were followed the next year by Environmental Guidelines which, according to the OIOS report, remain in draft form and have yet to be formally issued. A U.N. spokesperson says, however, that they were shared with all field missions for their use in 2010, and provide guidance on the management of wastewater and sewage.

A new waste management policy for field missions also came into effect in September 2015 -- that is, after the spate of OIOS investigations.

The problem according to OIOS auditors is all that guidance so far hasnt been specific enough to, among other things, assist field staff in implementing the requirement to assess and address their needs with respect to waste management staffing, infrastructure and monitoring and reporting -- or in other words, to do vital parts of their job.

That is, if staffers were available. The report on Cote dIvoire, for example, notes that the post of environmental engineer, assigned the responsibility for overseeing the missions environmental issues, was vacant from April 2014 to July 2015.

Staffing at peacekeeping headquarters also has left something to be desired: the DFS Environmental Officers job, for one, was left vacant for 10 months in 2014, and only temporarily filled that October.

According to the U.N., most of the failings outlined in the audit reports from the field have since been addressed -- or almost.

At U.N. headquarters, new staff have been added, and a new team established, as a spokesperson put it, with leadership to provide strategic direction across DFS and peace operations to improve environmental management and reduce negative environmental impact, among other things.

How effective the new leadership will prove to be, of course, remains to be seen.

George Russell is editor-at-large of Fox News and can be found on Twitter: @GeorgeRussell or on Facebook.com/GeorgeRussell
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.
The 28-year-old Green Beret who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan earlier this week was involved in a "non-combat" mission -- although such missions can lead to "combat situations," a top U.S. military official told reporters on Thursday, reiterating that Americans were playing "advise and assist" roles in the volatile Helmand province.

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Thompson died Tuesday outside a base in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of southern Helmand. Days earlier, the U.S. had sent more than 100 additional troops to the area, although Thompson was not one of them.

Still, Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland told reporters, "we don't believe that the situation is as dire as perhaps is portrayed in the press." He says the city is "secure right now."

There are nearly 700 U.S. troops in the volatile Helmand province, which appears to be at increasing risk of falling to the Taliban. Afghan officials say the insurgents effectively control around 80 percent of the province.

The U.S. military said the Green Beret was "conducting train, advise, assist activities with Afghan counterparts under NATO authorities." Another U.S. service member was wounded in the attack, along with six Afghan soldiers on a foot patrol outside their base. A top U.S. military spokesman said Thursday the wounded American was in stable condition.

Thompson's family lives in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield where he graduated from high school in 2006. He and his wife, Rachel, lived in Washington.

Rachel Thompson told WTMJ-TV she and her husband met at Concordia University in Irvine, California and married five years ago. "I was crying because I was nervous. I hadn't been sleeping because I was anxious. I knew that where he was at was dangerous, that what they were doing was different. I didn't know what was going on. I was afraid and he would just listen and tell me he loved me and it was going to be OK."

In July, President Obama authorized 8,400 troops to stay in Afghanistan when he leaves office, down from the nearly 10,000 service members there now. Until July, the plan was to reduce U.S. forces down to roughly 5,500 by early 2017.

The administration previously had hoped to reduce the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan to just 1,000 to protect the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

In December 2009, President Obama authorized 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in a surge following a recommendation from his generals.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Serbian police say they have arrested a man after finding 34 migrants in his house in a Belgrade suburb.

Police said Thursday that the man is suspected of people smuggling for allegedly hiding the migrants in the house.

Serbia has stepped up efforts to curb the entry of migrants passing through in a bid to reach the European Union. Balkan nations closed their borders for migrants fleeing war and poverty in March, but the flow has continued through illegal routes used by people smugglers.

Hundreds of migrants have been camping along Serbia's border with EU-member Hungary, which allows about 30 people into the country per day.

More than 1 million migrants entered Europe in 2015.
Turkey's U.S.-backed push into northern Syria Wednesday was aimed at ISIS, but also sent Ankara's nemesis - and American ally the Kurds - retreating east of the Euphrates, making good on a vow from strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Amid a fence-mending visit from Vice President Biden, Erdogan's tough rhetoric against the Kurds, a reliable and effective American partner in the fight against ISIS, appeared to force the U.S. to choose sides in the separate, and longstanding fead between its allies.



Erdogan had demanded that the Kurds, linked to a political group accused of committing acts of terrorism inside Turkey, move back across the river and away from his nation's western border with Syria. The call came despite Kurdish forces' effectiveness in fighting ISIS on the western side of the river.

Biden, in Turkey Wednesday to smooth relations as Ankara demands extradition of a U.S.-based cleric it accuses of plotting last month's failed coup, echoed Erdogan's call on the Kurds to leave Arab lands in Syria and return east of the Euphrates to traditional Kurdish territory. The vice president even threatening to cut off supplies to the Kurds if they didn't fall back.

Some of the Syrian Democratic Forces remained in the region to remove roadside bombs, U.S. officials added.

The United States is supporting the Turkish military operation with airstrikes and conducted at least eight against ISIS targets on Wednesday, according to a senior defense official.

But the U.S. is also supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria, including a militia known as the YPG, seen as the best ground force against ISIS in Syria. Some U.S. special operations forces have embedded with the YPG, part of the 300 US troops sent to Syria earlier this year.

Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organization, the Syrian affiliate of a Kurdish separatist group in Turkey, the PKK. The State Department lists the PKK as a foreign terrorist organization. The PKK has fought a decades long insurgency against Turkey killing tens of thousands of civilians. Attacks by the PKK have increased in recent months. Turkish jets have bombed PKK positions in response, including some at training camps in northern Iraq.

The Syrian Democratic Forces have moved east across the Euphrates to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa, Syria #defeatdaesh  OIR Spokesperson (@OIRSpox) August 25, 2016

The Obama administration considers the YPG and PKK separate groups.

Turkey had been calling on the Kurds to move east of the Euphrates River since a successful U.S.-backed operation to route ISIS in Manbij, a logistics hub for the terrorist group 20 miles from Syria's border with Turkey located on the western side of the river.

Wednesday, Turkey's president said his country's military operation into northern Syria would target both ISIS and Kurdish fighters of the YPG, calling both groups terrorist organizations.

Syrian Democratic Forces, as the U.S.-backed largely Kurdish fighting force is called, also includes some Arab fighters as well as the YPG.

Late last week, Syrian jets from President Bashar al-Assad's Air Force bombed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria with US special operations forces nearby, according to a US defense official, in another sign of the increasingly complex battlefield in Syria. US jets were sent to the area in response.

Turkey and Syria are long-time enemies.

But in recent days, Turkey has backed off calls for Assad to step down immediately, instead saying he could be part of a transitional government before leaving in the future.

Erdogan met with Russian President Putin earlier this month in Moscow, in a sign of increasing ties between the two counties. It was the first visit since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane in November.

Russia has supported the Syrian government in the past year by sending dozens of jets and attack helicopters to Syria to carry out airstrikes against rebel forces.

Turkey has long supported Syrian rebels fighting President Assad's regime forces during the five-year civil war.

The Obama administration has repeatedly called for Turkey to take more steps to seal its border with Syria to ISIS fighters.

Turkey's military operation into northern Syria Wednesday was seen as a welcomed step by senior defense officials in Washington.
A U.S. Navy coastal patrol ship fired three warning shots at an Iranian ship that sailed within 200 yards in the Northern Persian Gulf Wednesday after one of four close calls this week involving U.S. and Iranian vessels, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday.

The USS Squall fired the shots, according to the official.

On Tuesday, four Iranian small boats "harassed" the USS Nitze, sailing near the guided missile destroyer in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. Navy official told Fox News.

Other close calls this week involved the USS Tempest and USS Squall, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters Thursday.

The Tempest and Squall were operating in international waters of the northern Arabian Gulf when three Iranian vessels approached at high speed, before proceeding to cross the bow of Tempest within 600 yards on three separate occasions, creating a possible collision hazard, according to the Pentagon.

Later, the Tempest and Squall were harassed by a Naser-class WAP Iranian vessel that passed within 200 yards of the Tempest.



The situation presented a drastically increased risk of collision, according to the Pentagon.

During the encounter, Tempest fired three warning flares while attempting radio communications. The Squall resorted to firing three warning shots from their 50-caliber gun, which caused the Iranian vessel to turn away.

In another incident, the guided missile destroyer USS Stout was operating in northern Arabian Gulf when the same Iranian vessel from the second encounter harassed the Stout by conducting an unsafe intercept, according to the Pentagon.

The Tempest sounded five short blasts with the ship's whistle while attempting to establish radio communications with Iranian vessels.

The Pentagon described the incidents as "unsafe and unprofessional."

U.S. Navy video of the Nitze incident showed American sailor firing flares and sounding the warship's horn as the Iranian boats approached. The official said the Nitze was ultimately forced to change its course to avoid the Iranian ships, despite coming close to offshore oil rigs.

Earlier, U.S. Adm. John Richardson said the incident involving the Nitze reflected the greater competition the U.S. was facing at sea and underscored the naval tensions with Tehran, which include other similar incidents.

In January, Iran briefly detained 10 U.S. Navy sailors who mistakenly steered into Iranian waters.

Last December, Iranian ships fired rockets near U.S. warship and other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and a month later flew an unarmed drone over the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted Gen. Hosein Dehghan as saying Thursday that "if any foreign vessel enters our waters, we warn them, and if it's an invasion, we confront." He added that Iranian boats patrol to monitor traffic and foreign vessels in its territorial waters.

U.S. military officials estimate there are now 100,000 Iranian-backed forces in Iraq, with thousands more believed to be in Syria.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hyatt Place And Hyatt House Brands Continue Strong Growth

August 25, 2016 // Franchising.com // CHICAGO  The Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands continue growth in new markets with the opening of 10 hotels across the globe during the second quarter of 2016. Of the 10 Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel openings in the second quarter, 40 percent were in the Asia Pacific region, including the first dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in Shenzhen, China, which create a combined experience that enables guests to enjoy the benefits of both brands under one roof. Additionally, Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport marks the first Hyatt House hotel in Asia.

The openings of four Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in Asia Pacific are a testament to our commitment to strategic growth for these brands throughout the region and the world, said Steve Haggerty, Hyatts global head of capital strategy, franchising and select service. We are proud that Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels continue to meet travelers needs in key cities globally, further demonstrating the overall strength and resonance of the brands with developers, owners and guests.

The newly opened Hyatt Place hotels include:

Hyatt Place Phuket Patong (161 rooms), Phuket, Thailand

Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End (168 rooms), Washington, D.C.

Hyatt Place Kansas City/Lenexa City Center (127 rooms), Lenexa, Kan.

Hyatt Place Shenzhen Airport (167 rooms), Shenzhen, China

Hyatt Place Luoyang (248 rooms), Luoyang, China

Hyatt Place London Heathrow Hayes (170 rooms), Hayes, United Kingdom

Hyatt Place Cleveland/Lyndhurst/Legacy Village (135 rooms), Lyndhurst, Ohio

Hyatt Place Chicago/O'Hare Airport (200 rooms), Rosemont, Ill.

The newly opened Hyatt House hotels include:

Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport (112 rooms), Shenzhen, China

Hyatt House Chicago/Evanston (114 rooms), Evanston, Ill.

Additionally, the Hyatt House brand has been recognized by J.D. Power as Highest in Guest Satisfaction among North American Upper Extended Stay Hotel Chains. As a result of guest ratings in the recently released J.D. Power 2016 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM, the Hyatt House brand led the upper extended stay segment with 856 points, scoring 12 points higher than the segment average.

To learn more about Hyatt Place hotels or to make a reservation, visit www.hyattplace.com, and for more information about Hyatt House hotels or to book a reservation, visit www.hyatthouse.com.

The term Hyatt is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

About Hyatt Place

Hyatt Place, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, combines style, innovation and 24/7 convenience to create a seamless stay with modern comforts. There are more than 255 Hyatt Place locations in the United States, Armenia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Honduras, India, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Thailand, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Join the conversation onFacebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattPlace and #TheresAPlaceForYou.

About Hyatt House

Hyatt House, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, launched in 2012 and offers 70 locations throughout the United States, China and Puerto Rico. Inspired by extensive research into guest experiences, Hyatt House hotels offer services, amenities, upscale spaces and a casual, comfortable environment that reminds guests of home. Join the conversation on Facebook, and follow Hyatt House on Pinterest for inspiration on things to do, places to see and more in the neighborhood.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 12 premier brands and 667 properties in 54 countries, as of June 30, 2016. The Company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to create value for shareholders, build relationships with guests and attract the best colleagues in the industry. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties, including under the Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Centric, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Residence Club brand names and have locations on six continents. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

SOURCE Hyatt Place

Contact:

Sian Martin

Hyatt

+1 312 780 5797

sian.martin@hyatt.com

###

Comments:

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Disqus
IHG Continues Expanding In Germany With Five New Hotel Signings

August 25, 2016 // Franchising.com // InterContinental Hotels Group, one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has today announced that the group will add five new Holiday Inn and Holiday Express hotels to its growing presence in Germany. IHG recently announced a record for new signings at its half-year results. Having signed 4k rooms (24 hotels) within the first half of the year, this is the companys best signings performance since 2008.

The new developments will be in three federal states across the country and reflect IHGs successful strategy in the region, one of the key drivers being working with Multiple Development Agreement (MDA) partners to place properties in the right locations where there is guest demand. Germany is one of the top ten regions for inbound travel in 2016*[i], and domestic travellers are increasingly choosing to stay at midscale brands, fuelling demand for Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, an engine of growth for IHG.

Robert Shepherd, Chief Development Officer Europe, IHG, said: The German hotel market is accelerating at pace and we are well positioned to take advantage of the appetite for branded growth. 57% of the market is unbranded, so there is a lot of opportunity for IHG to add value with our international brands. Several of our signings in the last few months have been with long-standing partners of IHG, who have signed multiple development agreements with the company. Its a great start as we head into this quarter.

The signings are confirmed to develop properties within the following regions:

Baden-Wuerttemberg

As part of the MDA signed with long-standing partner TriStar, who will be the owner and franchisee of the hotel, Holiday Inn Express Pforzheim will be a new build with the advantages of our next generation design.

Guests will enjoy the hotels most innovative and smart technology at every stage of their stay including a better more comfortable nights sleep, a functional and flexible place to work and relax in the room, and a lobby that provides a welcoming space to relax or meet with friends or colleagues

The 140-room hotel, set to open in late 2019, will be of benefit to the area given its position as an economic and cultural hub and ideal location, being situated between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart

Baden-Wuerttemberg will also benefit from two further Holiday Inn brand family hotels within Mannheim.Holiday Inn Mannheim City  Hauptbahnhof is ideally located outside Mannheim train station and within walking distance of the city centre, financial district and University of Mannheim.

It will open in 2018 and has been signed in conjunction with MDA partner Primestar. The second largest city in Baden-Wurttemberg after Stuttgart, travellers will be able to enjoy the iconic Luisenpark, just twenty minutes walk from the hotels location. It will also feature an Open Lobby, a central element to the development of newly built Holiday Inn hotels. The lobby enables dwell time for our guests and the community alike.

Holiday Inn Express Mannheim will be located within Mannheim City Centre. Owned and franchised by MDA partner Foremost Hospitality, the new build hotel will have 160 rooms and feature next generation design.

Bavaria

Holiday Inn Express Regensburg will be constructed with Hubert Haupt Immobilienmanagement GmbH. The hotel will be franchised by Success Hotel Management GmbH, a MDA partner who already license four other Holiday Inn Express hotels.

Holiday Inn Express Regensburg will form part of a new development retail and office site and also offer the next-generation design in each of the 182 rooms and public areas

Regensburg is a UNESCO world heritage site with a renowned Christmas market, making it popular with leisure travellers, and with several global brands including BMW, Amazon and Toshiba recently setting up bases in the city, it has confirmed itself as a business centre. The hotel will open in late 2017

North Rhine-Westphalia

Franchised by TriStar, Holiday Inn Express Oberhausen will feature next-generation design and is set to open in 2018. Oberhausen is a city of cultural nuances: it annually hosts the International Short Film Festival, but is also a hub for the steel industry. The hotel will have 140 rooms.

IHG has 64 hotels in Germany and 33 in the pipeline, including 53 Holiday Inn brand family hotels open with 32 in the pipeline.

Figures correct as of: 30th June 2016

[i] According to the Tourism Economics Database as of July 2016

About IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,000 hotels and 750,000 guest rooms in almost 100 countries, with more than 1,400 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG Rewards Club, the worlds first and largest hotel loyalty programme with more than 96 million members worldwide.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Groups holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHGs hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc.

SOURCE IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)

###

Comments:

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Disqus
Planet Beach Breaking Sales Records in Panama City, Panama

The Panama masters have sold an all time company high of 500+ memberships during their pre-sale.

MARRERO, LA (PRWEB) August 25, 2016 - Yvonne N. Kilborn and her husband Carlos A. Gonzales along with their business partner Alvaro E. Villanueva decided they wanted to become Masters in the Republic of Panama after discovering the Planet Beach franchise system while attending a franchise expo in Jacksonville, Florida. We were really sold by the fact that Planet Beach had an innovative and efficient service model. It allows customers to meet their relaxation needs without having to take hours out of their day. We truly admire the consistency in the quality of service and treatments that is made possible by the operation, said Carlos Gonzales, a business professional with more than 10 years of experience working in Fortune 500 companies.

Knowing that customers are spending over $125 billion a year in the health and wellness arena, the three Masters plan to open eight spas in the greater metropolitan area of Panama City, Panama. The first is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. There was just something about Planet Beach. The value proposition for the customers seemed unbeatable and the financial numbers as a business made sense, said Yvonne Kilborn. With a record breaking pre-sale, selling over 500 memberships, they can see their dream finally coming true.

About Planet Beach

Planet Beach spray & spa is a unique and innovative membership-based franchising corporation. Having the right equipment mix that includes services like the revolutionary new HOTWORX fitness program is what has kept this brand relevant through the years. Founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1996 the spa has grown to 170+ locations worldwide. In 2007, Planet Beach decided to expand the concept abroad through the International Master Franchise Program and has awarded the rights to develop the concept in Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, Republic of Panama and the most recent Kazakhstan.

We have seen sales sky rocket at locations that have installed our revolutionary new fitness program HOTWORX, says Stephen P. Smith, CEO of Planet Beach and creator of HOTWORX.

The patent pending HOTWORX is the first ever fusion of infrared heat and isometrics inside of a sauna designed for a small group of three clients to use in each workout session.

SOURCE Planet Beach

Contact:

Alison Pitre

Planet Beach

+1 504 339-2040

###

Comments:

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Disqus


Larry Murdock just returned a library book that he checked out from the Linton, Indiana Public Library in 1956, when he was just 8 years old. The book is "Moths of the Limberlost." Murdock is now a Purdue University professor of entomology who specializes in the study of moths. He said the book turned up in a box.





"(Returning) it was the right thing to do," he said. "Maybe after all those years there are kids out there who might get some benefit" from the book.





Murdock paid a $436.44 fine.





(AP)
Millionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump has a knack for projecting criticisms of himself back onto his opponents, however hamfistedly. The latest: Hillary Clinton is a bigot.

"Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future," Trump said, reading from prepared remarks. Unlike past lines that have drawn scrutiny, including Monday's comments in Ohio about African Americans not being able to walk the street without being shot, this one was not a Trump ad-lib.  Clinton, for her part, has repeatedly declined opportunities to call Trump himself a racist, despite repeated questioning on the subject and multiple labelings of some of his campaign statements as racist by her campaign.

Trump's guest for the evening was UK far-right leader Nigel Farage, who as a younger man boasted that his initials matched those of the white supremacist National Front and sang jaunty ditties about gassing jews.

Mind you, all this did make me wonder: will it ever dawn on Team Hillary why headlines like "Republican announces support for Clinton" make people like her less?
Dallas Medical Malpractice Healthcare Top Professional Insurance Report Launched

Digital Assets Agency has launched a new report on the top medical malpractice agencies in Dallas, Texas. With 16,000 deaths per year due to medical negligence across the USA, it's important to have cover.

--

A new medical malpractice report has been launched by Digital Assets Agency, showing the best medical malpractice insurance companies available in the Dallas area. Called the 7 Top Rated Medical Malpractice Insurances in Dallas TX, it offers guidance on the best companies to look at when applying for insurance, and provides links to check out their websites for more details.

More information can be found on the Medical Malpractice Insurance Companies In Dallas website at: https://medicalmalpracticeinsurancecompaniesindallas.wordpress.com.

Medical malpractice is a way of describing professional negligence by a health care professional or provider in which treatment they gave was below the standard expected and caused harm, injury or death to a patient. The Medical Malpractice website explains that it can also be called medical liability insurance, and cover a healthcare professional for errors arising from his or her practice. It's these policies that pay defense costs and generally cover claims for medical error or neglect, even if the claims are false or groundless.

The site explains that a health professional or healthcare provider is an individual who provides preventative, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services to both individuals, families, or communities.

In most cases, when medical malpractice occurs, it's because of medical error, possibly in diagnosis, medical dosage, or even in the stages of treatment or aftercare. Whether the error was because nothing was done when it ought to have been, or whether there was negligence at any stage of the process, the medical malpractice law provides a way for patients to recover compensation from any harm done to them.

When medical malpractice occurs, the healthcare professional is legally responsible for the harm or injuries that might have occurred if they deviated from the quality of care a competent doctor or nurse would normally be able to provide.

Research has shown that up to 16,000 deaths per year are caused by medical malpractice, which underscores how important it can be to have medical malpractice insurance in Dallas. Interested parties can discover the top 7 insurance companies in the Dallas area on the report, with contact details provided for all of them.

For more information, please visit https://medicalmalpracticeinsurancecompaniesindallas.wordpress.com

Contact Info:

Name: Christian Ermlich

Organization: Digital Assets Agency

Address: Schenkstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany



Release ID: 129293

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.
A number of UK fund managers have said there is no certain or reliable way to achieve returns, claiming that getting the balance between value and quality is like walking a tightrope.

The UKs base rate is now at a record low of 0.25 per cent, and it looks increasingly likely the current low-yield environment will continue for longer than the market expected before the shock Brexit vote on the 23 June.

When FTAdviser asked wealth managers which funds they rely on to ensure returns for their clients, many pointed to equity offerings and claimed dividends are an investors best friend in a low rate environment.

Nick Train, who manages the 2.7bn Lindsell Train UK Equity fund, said in these economic conditions, the only way for companies to make progress is to innovate by finding new or better ways to do business. For equity investors, there is no certain or reliable way to achieve returns Nick Train

However, he said innovation is inherently risky, adding: This means for equity investors like us there is no certain or reliable way to achieve returns.

There are large rewards out there for companies that make successful bets on the future, said Mr Train, pointing to the gains in internet and biotechnology stocks.

Equity investors can be optimistic, but they should also beware of complacency, either their own or that of the companies they invest in.

Hugh Yarrow, who co-manages the 934m Evenlode Income fund, said he looks for asset-light businesses which have low capital investment requirements, such as branded goods companies, or software and engineering businesses with a lot of intellectual property.

We look for companies with a strong economic moat, and which often have intangible assets that are difficult for other companies to replicate, he commented. Bad things can happen and you want the companies you invest in to be able to cope with a wide range of outcomes.

Mr Yarrow admitted valuations are less attractive now than they had been two or three years ago.

There is a point where you have to accept the returns arent going to be as good as they have been in the past and be realistic about it.

If you try and reach too high for a return, then you can end up sacrificing too much quality and then you end up with a risky portfolio full of companies making dividend cuts and cancellations, which is not where we want to end up.

He said it is walking a tightrope between quality and value, ensuring neither is sacrificed for the other.

The Evenlode manager also agreed with Thomas Moore from Standard Lifes statement about companies using debt to pay dividends, adding it wasnt limited to large companies.

Because debt is quite cheap at the moment, there is a temptation for companies to use that to artificially juice up earnings growth and to keep shareholders happy by continuing dividend payments, commented Mr Yarrow.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has launched two multi-asset funds with varying degrees of volatility in order to help investors access global markets.

The Morgan Stanley Investment Funds Global Balanced fund and the Global Balanced Defensive fund will target a volatility range of 4 to 10 per cent and 2 to 6 per cent, respectively.

The funds will use the companys Global Balanced Risk Control (GBaR) strategy, which is attempts to maintain a stable risk profile. However, the funds will be the first to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the process.

Both funds will be managed by Andrew Harmstone and Manfred Hui in London and domiciled in Luxemburg. The ongoing charges figure for Global Balanced Defensives is 0.59 per cent and 0.99 per cent for Global Balanced.

Mr Harmstone said: The new funds will be based on our established GBaR process, which in our view is the most effective way for investors to participate in rising markets whilst providing strong downside protection.

We expect the integration of ESG considerations into the process to further improve potential returns and enhance risk management.
Julys gross mortgage lending remained steady hitting 21.4bn but the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) remains subdued on positive sentiment for the sector.

Last months 21.4bn figure closely matched Junes 21.5bn total and was just 1 per cent lower than the 21.6bn recorded in July 2015.

However, CMLs chief economist Bob Pannell said the subdued nature of property transactions and mortgage lending in July was consistent with the less positive backdrop for house purchase activity following the EU referendum.

The Bank of England expects stronger economic headwinds to build as we move into 2017, and the Monetary Policy Committees package of measures represents a spirited effort to lean against these on a timely basis, he added.

The Term Funding Scheme should boost market sentiment a little, by engineering broader cuts to rates for existing mortgage borrowers than would have been the case, but it is not clear how well the Banks actions will underpin borrower demand in a more adverse economic climate.

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, pointed out July and August are always traditionally quieter times of the year for the market, with the real test coming in September.

Remortgaging is likely to go from strength to strength, he said. This is not so much because borrowers fear a rate rise, as it looks as though they are more likely to go the other way - [but] rather mortgage deals are so cheap, in particular fixed rates, it is a good opportunity to snap one up.

Data from LMS confirmed this view, revealing almost two in three (63 per cent) remortgagers lowered their mortgage rates last month, up 7 percentage points from May.

As cheaper deals appeared on the market in the wake of Brexit, the data also showed a greater proportion of remortgagers acted to reduce their monthly repayments in July - 43 per cent, compared to 35 per cent pre-vote in May.

With the exception of two-year variable products at 75 per cent loan-to-value, BoE data showed average mortgage rates were lower across the board in July than was the case before the referendum - with many falling to record lows.

Reasons to remortgage (LMS) and average rates (Bank of England)

May-16 Jul-16 Change % remortgaging to lower rates 56% 63% +7 percentage points % remortgaging to reduce monthly payments 35% 43% +8 percentage points Average 2 year fix - 75% LTV 1.88% 1.72%* -16 basis points Average 2 year fix - 90% LTV 2.70% 2.57%* -13 basis points Average 2 year fix - 95% LTV 3.92% 3.86%* -6 basis points Average 3 year fix - 75% LTV 2.12% 2.08%* -4 basis points Average 5 year fix - 75% LTV 2.67% 2.52%* -15 basis points Average 5 year fix - 95% LTV 4.68% 4.65% -3 basis points Average 10 year fix - 75% LTV 3.15% 3.05%* -10 basis points Average 2 year variable - 75% LTV 1.61% 1.72% +11 basis points Average 2 year variable - 90% LTV 2.66% 2.61% -5 basis points Average lifetime tracker 2.58% 2.57% -1 basis point

Andy Knee, chief executive of LMS, said Julys figures show many people were keen to press ahead with plans to remortgage, regardless of growing speculation that a base rate cut might be on the cards.

Recent cuts may mean that rates dont have that much further to fall, but even so, there are significant savings to be had in terms of monthly repayments. The prospect of an extra 200 or more to spare in their monthly budget will give many homeowners reason to weigh up their options over the summer, he added.

peter.walker@ft.com
The founder of failed investment company Keydata is suing a solicitor who he claimed convinced him to give a 4.1m loan to SLS Capital owner David Elias.

Keydata boss Stewart Ford has launched legal action against law firm McGuire Woods London and lawyer Robert Rakison, who advised the late British businessman David Elias on a number of corporate and commercial transactions between 2005 and 2009.

SLS Capital issued US life settlement bonds, of which $150m (113m) were distributed by Keydata through authorised independent financial advisers.

In 2008, Mr Elias told Mr Ford his company was in a temporary illiquid state because of choppy financial markets and asked him to provide some short-term liquidity so he could meet the interest payments owed to SLS bondholders.

According to a legal claim seen by FTAdviser, lodged with the High Court in June 2015, Mr Ford had agreed to discuss loans with the SLS owner, because he was assured by Mr Rakison there was a portfolio of assets behind the bonds.

Mr Ford claimed the McGuire Woods lawyer also made him believe Mr Elias was an honest and risk-free businessman, who was of good financial standing.

In 2008, the Keydata owner handed over loans totalling $6.4m (4.8m), but claims he later found out Mr Elias companies - including SLS - were insolvent, which he said Mr Rakison had been aware of at the time.

The document stated Mr Rakison and Mr Elias conspired and combined together to defraud the [Mr Ford] by unlawful means, namely by deceiving Mr Ford as to the existence of the SLS bonds assets.

A spokesman from McGuire Woods London said the allegations against the firm and one of its partners are without merit, adding the company will defend them rigorously.

Mr Ford, who was hit with a 75m fine from the Financial Conduct Authority in May last year, has been embroiled in a legal battle with the regulator for several years, and in 2009 claimed Keydata had been a victim of fraud.

The debacle between Keydata and SLS dates back as far as 2006, when Mr Elias agreed the SLS bonds would be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, so UK investors could purchase bonds which qualified for Isa purposes.

However, these bonds were never listed because they had no assets underpinning them, which meant they could not qualify for Isa status.

According to the document, Mr Elias - who died in May 2009 - had misappropriated 103m of Keydata investments, which have still not been found.

In November 2012, the Serious Fraud Office wrote: Substantial efforts have been made to trace the assets of SLS Capital SA and David Elias in overseas jurisdictions since September 2010.

These efforts have not met with any success and it is considered unlikely that the situation will change.

The loans Mr Ford provided were never repaid and he lost his money.

Speaking to FTAdviser, Mr Ford said he was confident he will win the case. I think [Mr Rakison] is going to get caught out, and if I was him I would be a very worried man because he will have to pay a heavy price for his behaviour, he said.
Featured Post Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas at White Mesa Ute Sacred Walk: An Offering to Mother Earth Ofelia Rivas, Tohono O'odham, encouraging walkers. 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
'Thor: Ragnarok' Release Date, SPOILERS, News & Update: Here's Why Odin Ended Up Powerless And Confused On Earth [PLOT DETAILS]

The gods are coming to Midgard aka Earth in "Thor: Ragnarok" and the world will finally know what happened to the All-Father. The Marvel Cinematic Universe flick will mark the return of the legendary Anthony Hopkins as Odin, but er, he's not exactly a majestic sight right now.

'Thor: Ragnarok' Presents Anthony Hopkins As Odin The One-Eyed Bum

Who could forget how awesome Anthony Hopkins was in the first two "Thor" films? His Odin dominated every single scene he was in, sidelining lead stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. He even schooled Natalie Portman for talking back to him in Thor: The Dark World.

However, fans will meet a completely different Odin in "Thor: Ragnarok" - sure, he's still be played by Anthony Hopkins. But the "Silence of the Lambs" actor is absolutely unrecognizable when he popped up on the film's Brisbane set (via Instagram).

A photo posted by Glenn Hunt (@glennhuntphoto) on Aug 22, 2016 at 9:40pm PDT

Yup, that happy one-eyed bum is none other than Anthony Hopkins. However, his appearance in "Thor: Ragnarok" is not the only shocking thing about Odin. There is a surprising reason why Odin is a homeless (but clearly joyful) person in "Ragnarok": He can't remember that Loki exiled him on Earth during "Thor: The Dark World". But now Thor and Loki need him so the search has begun.

Thor And Loki Play A Game Called "Desperately Seeking Odin" In 'Thor: Ragnarok'

There are speculations that all those fun "Thor: Ragnarok" photos of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston on the streets has a darker purpose. The two actors are actually shooting scenes of Thor and Loki desperately looking for Odin, who has completely forgotten that he is a god. But how exactly did that happen?

"Thor: Ragnarok" could reveal Loki tried to kill Odin in "The Dark World" but the All-Father managed to escape Asgard just in time. Unfortunately, he also lost his memory on his way to Earth and so, it will be up to Thor and Loki to remind him of who he truly is. "Thor: Ragnarok" is directed by Taika Waititi, stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins and is slated to hit theaters on November 3, 2017.
The Young & The Restless Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Adam Escapes From Prison? Chelsea & Nick Finally Together?

"The Young & The Restless" spoilers for this week reveal that Adam will be able to escape from prison. More so, Victor is thinking of some dangerous plots to pan out in the next episodes of the drama series.

10-Year Sentence For Adam

"The Young & The Restless" spoilers from Celeb Dirty Laundry revealed that Adam (Justin Hartley) will be sentenced to a 10-year life in prison. Despite pleas from his wife Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) during the trial, the judge will find Adam guilty. At the courthouse, Jack (Peter Bergman) will blame Victor (Eric Braeden) for Adam's situation.

In separate spoilers from Celeb Dirty Laundry, Adam was described as reclusive following his arrest for a murder he didn't commit. "The Young & The Restless" fans saw how Adam punished himself. He eventually starved himself and started hallucinating.

He imagined Victor as the prison guard and beat him to death in the previous episode of "The Young & The Restless." Sadly, the beating left the real person in a coma.

Just us being us. https://t.co/U94xvstSAt  Joshua Morrow (@JoshuaMorrowYR) August 23, 2016

Adam Escapes

After the decision is made, Adam will be transported to prison in a van. On their way to the prison, the van will suddenly stop and Adam will be drugged. "The Young & The Restless" fans will be excited to know that Adam will be able to escape.

"The Young & The Restless" spoilers reveal that Adam will come face to face with Victor after gaining consciousness. Spoilers state that Victor is creating a grand plot that fans will see unfold in the coming episodes.

More "The Young & The Restless" spoilers reveal that there are high chances for Chelsea and Nick (Joshua Morrow) to get together now that Adam is taken away. He's offered to watch out for Connor (Gunner and Ryder Gadbois) after learning that Adam was sentenced to prison.

"The Young & The Restless" fans will see more things unfold as Nick and Chelsea connects. Will things get complicated if Nick and Chelsea end up together? Sound off in the comments below.
Days Of Our Lives Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Belle & Kayla Rescues Jennifer, Chad Dumps Ciara?

"Days of Our Lives" spoilers for Thursday suggest that Chad may not be interested with Ciara while Belle and Kayla rescue Jennifer from her relapse. Now fans are excited to learn if Chad will reciprocate Ciara's feelings.

Belle & Kayla Rescues Jennifer

"Days of Our Lives" spoilers from Celeb Dirty Laundry reveal that its time Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) face the consequences of her actions. While she couldn't resist the booze and the pill offered by Jack (Matthew Ashford), she'll be rescued by Belle and Kayla the next day.

"Days of Our Lives" fans will see Belle and Kayla taking home Jennifer to help her recover from her astray life. Things will be a little difficult if she can't take care of herself while she fights custody for Thomas.

Chad & Ciara

Meanwhile, "Days of Our Lives" spoilers reveal that Chad (Billy Flynn) may not reciprocate Ciara's (Vivian Jovanni) feelings for him. Ciara recently revealed her feelings to Chad. While the revelation is shocking, Chad will convince Ciara that her feelings are not serious.

When you wake up and remember that #DAYS is back. pic.twitter.com/7yCEP1K1t9  Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) August 23, 2016

After confessing her feelings to Chad, "Days of Our Lives" fans will see Ciara feeling humiliated by the apparent rejection. Spoilers say that Chad won't be pursuing a relationship with Ciara. Particularly now that he seemed occupied with a lot of things.

"Days of Our Lives" spoilers from TV Over Mind suggest that Ciara chose the worst timing for confessing her feeling to Chad. Chad is under a lot of stress following his wife's death and custody decision for his child.

After learning that his wife had died after escaping the hospital and leaving him, he needs to fight for the custody of his young son. Sadly, "Days of Our Lives" fans will see him lose the battle against his late wife's family. In short, Chad's life is currently in shambles now.

While it can be a very bad timing for Ciara to confess his feelings, there are speculations that Chad may take her up to her offer. Given that he's in a vulnerable position right now, he could accept the love Ciara is offering. For sure, he'll regret acting on Ciara's feelings if he decides to.
Dancing With The Stars Season 23 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Ryan Lochte & Maksim Chmerkovskiy To Appear?

Multiple sources have claimed that Ryan Lochte is set to appear on "Dancing with the Stars" season 23. Aside from the Olympic swimmer, former Mirror Ball champion Maksim Chmerkovskiy will also appear on ABC's reality show.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy On 'Dancing With The Stars'

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is back for "Dancing with the Stars" season 23 after a long hiatus from the show. He confirmed his return during an interview with "Good Morning America" on Thursday. He's excited to get back on the dance floor after getting into the perfect shape, IBTimes reported.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy took a break from "Dancing with the Stars" after winning season 18. He is now expecting a child from fellow "Dancing with the Stars" alum Peta Murgatroyd. While he won season 18 with Olympic ice skater Meryl Davis, the veteran dancer isn't set into winning the grand prize this season.

"I'm not running after multiple Mirror Balls," Maksim said of his goals for "Dancing with the Stars" season 23. "That's not where my focus is."

It would be great to see Maksin together with his brother Val competing on the same floor when "Dancing with the Stars" hits the TV screens on September. He also said that this season will be different from the previous ones and he's looking forward to it.

Ryan Lochte In "Dancing With Stars" Season 23

Meanwhile, multiple sources from US Weekly are claiming that Olympic champion Ryan Lochte will appear on "Dancing with the Stars" season 23. This was after he was allegedly robbed in Rio. According to the report, it will be good for Lochte to join the reality show.

There were also other reports claiming that Ryan Lochte had wanted to join "Dancing with the Stars" for years. He has been in talks with the show's producers before. An Olympic winner like him would be a good addition to "Dancing with the Stars" season 23.

"Dancing with the Stars" season 23 will air on Sept. 12, 2016, ABC. The rest of the cast for the upcoming season will be announced on "Good Morning America" on Tuesday, August 30.
News / Africa

by Agencies

Maputo - Leader of the opposition Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) Afonso Dhlakama has rebuffed a proposal to offer him the position of a deputy president.If accepted, the proposal advanced by the international mediators would have culminated into the formation of a coalition government.But Dhlakama vehemently rejected the proposal, saying he did not want the ruling party to swallow or weaken his party.According to the Renamo leader, it was also not possible for the ruling Frelimo and opposition Renamo to form a coalition government because the two parties have different political ideologies."Our ideological differences are huge and wide, which makes it impossible to work together. Frelimo is still Marxist. To be vice president for Mozambique means being Frelimo again. That is unacceptable to me," he told a local paper, Savanna.But Dhlakama still wants Renamo to be governing in provinces in which it claims to have won the majority votes during the 2014 elections.Meanwhile Human Rights Watch (HRW) has bemoaned Renamo's recent waves of attacks which are targeting hospitals and clinics in rural areas.Renamo militants have raided and looted medical supplies at two hospitals and two health clinics over the past month."Renamo's attacks on hospitals and health clinics are threatening the health of thousands of people in Mozambique," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.He urged Renamo leadership to call off the attacks on health facilities immediately."Renamo's raids on medical facilities seem part of a repugnant strategy to damage health facilities and loot medicines . . . What they are succeeding in doing is to deny crucial health services to Mozambicans who need them," he said.Besides the health facilities, Renamo has also been attacking civilians, trains and vehicles, forcing government to resort to armed escorts of trucks.Some analysts believe the current crisis is a result of government's failure to integrate some Renamo fighters into the army and civilian life after the 1992 peace agreement that ended Mozambique's 16-year civil war.But the government blames Renamo for refusing to hand over a list of its militia to be integrated into the security forces saying it wants to use them as leverage for political negotiations.
The free event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, and feature more than 30 different types of aircraft.
A Benton County sheriffs deputy is under investigation for use of force after he reportedly hit a juvenile at the Childrens Farm Home while responding to an incident in June.

The Oregon Department of Justice is reviewing the use-of-force investigation conducted by the Linn County Sheriffs Office into Benton County Sheriffs Deputy Aaron Gevatosky. The investigation stems from staff reports about a June 17 incident at the Childrens Farm Home in which Gevatosky and at least one other deputy responded to a reported assault of a staff member, according to Benton County Sheriff Scott Jackson.

While reports have not been made public due to the pending review of the investigation, Jackson said staff members reported on June 17 that Gevatosky used excessive force after a teenage girl allegedly assaulted staff members at the Farm Home.

The allegation was that while (the girl) was restrained, she tried to knee (Gevatosky) in the groin and he struck her in the face, Jackson said. Staff members raised concerns that it was excessive.

The 300-acre campus of the Childrens Farm Home, which is owned and operated by Trillium Family Services, is located off Highway 20 between Corvallis and Albany. Trillium Family Services provides mental health therapy for children.

Jackson said that after speaking with Farm Home staff, he asked the Linn County Sheriffs Office to conduct a criminal investigation into the incident. Once the report was complete, Jackson asked that it be reviewed by the Department of Justice.

The DOJ is reviewing this to determine if this is a criminal matter, Jackson said. I think its important to have an open, thorough investigation without influence from me. I know what the allegation is, but I havent seen any evidence to support it or discredit it.

Jackson said Gevatosky was placed on paid administrative leave following the allegations and that he would remain on leave pending the findings of the investigation.

The allegations are concerning, Jackson said. I know him as a very good deputy, but these allegations are concerning for our office and I imagine very concerning for the community.

Kristina Edmunson, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Justice, confirmed that the office was reviewing the investigation into the incident, but she could not comment on specifics of the case.

My understanding is we are reviewing an investigation thats already happened and when we are done with that it should be public record, Edmunson said. It is still ongoing and these things can take awhile.

Jackson said that in the meantime the Benton County Sheriffs Office is conducting an internal investigation into the incident.

The (Linn County Sheriffs Office) investigation is now done ,so it opened the door for us to look into it, Jackson said. It rises to that level of concern that you want to get out in front of it. Weve got an incident, and we have to find out what happened. If there was wrongdoing, we need to address it.

Jackson said he also is reconsidering how the Sheriff's Office responds to calls for service at the Childrens Farm Home. He said he has plans to meet with staff and officials at the Farm Home to discuss new response policies and protocols.

Hopefully we can identify some strategies to help alleviate these calls for service that may be unnecessary, he said. If all they want is a report, then were not going to have deputies go out there and put themselves and the clients in an adversarial position where theyre fighting each other.

Trillium President and CEO Kim Scott emphasized in an emailed statement this week that the Childrens Farm Home itself was not under investigation in regard to the incident.

It is organizational policy to never comment on open investigations of any sort or speak publicly when it comes to questions or concerns related to the families we serve in our therapeutic environments, Scott wrote.

Attempts to reach Gevatosky for this story were unsuccessful.
News / Africa

by Agencies

Lusaka - Zambia's opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has increased pressure on newly-elected President Edgar Lungu to step down, claiming that he was using state machinery to effect a coup d'etat in the country.The opposition leader made his utterances in the wake of a petition that was filed by his United Party for National Development (UPND) on Friday, citing that there were several irregularities during the country's presidential elections on August 11.Reports on Monday indicated that the inauguration of Lungu had been halted pending a constitutional court ruling on the poll results.Lungu defeated the long-time opposition leader by just less than 200 000 votes, to clinch another presidential term.According to The Post, Hichilema alleged that Lungu was preventing National Assembly Speaker Patrick Matibini from acting as president of the southern African country. He said Matibini was mandated to act as president.Despite not having been sworn in as president, Lungu has refused to step down, with Hichilema claiming that Lungu is acting to maintain his power over the military and police."So basically, he has effected a coup d'etat on the person who is constitutionally mandated to be acting president. There is no better way to explain what Lungu has done; its a coup on Dr Patrick Matibini, the Speaker of National Assembly. Lungu started this coup d'etat through a democratic process, a long time ago, and now he has gone full throttle to usurp power illegally," Hichilema was quoted as saying.
News / Local

by Sambulo Vuma

There is a growing fear among opposition political parties in general and MDC-T in particular that the demonstration slated for tomorrow may fail to take place owing to court restrictions, MDC-T insiders have revealed.This follows yesterday's violent demonstration that resulted in the destruction of property and injury to some members of the public when the party's youths ran amok in the CBD, ransacking shops and setting alight police and ZBC vehicles."The chaotic scenes that visited the CBD yesterday may have given ZANU PF the legitimate right to question the wisdom of the courts granting demonstrators the right to demonstrate. In all fairness, considering that tomorrow's demonstration is supposed to include all the eighteen political parties that have subscribed to the possibility of a coalition against ZANU PF, including the youths that participated yesterday, one cannot guarantee that there will be no repeat of what we saw," said one insider.Another source who is a member of the party's national council that went up in arms over the unilateral appointment of two more vice presidents by Morgan Tsvangirai, regretted the institutionalisation of violence by the MDC-T presidency."I have said it before and I will say it again. The presidency has institutionalised violence and when these youths are not confronting ZANU PF, they turn their energies on fellow party members and to rein them in is proving quite difficult. This explains why even the spokesman appears to have taken a soft approach because if he rebukes them in public, they will attack him in public also," he said on condition of anonymity.Obert Gutu, the MDC-T spokesperson, has been heavily criticised by the generality of Zimbabweans for nonchalantly dismissing evidence that the party's youths partook in the wanton destruction of property and infrastructure in yesterday's unsanctioned violent demonstration. Instead, Gutu has ascribed blame on phantom infiltrators and state security agents.Gutu's attempt to deflate responsibility away from his party's notorious youth wing has been dismissed by Michael Chideme, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists president, who has urged the opposition party's spin doctor to own up. "We call upon political leaders, community leaders and leaders of demonstrations to restrain their followers. We also expect the leaders to issue a statement condemning the barbaric act," said Michael Chideme, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists president.A prominent Harare lawyer has opined that Government has a legitimate case should it so choose to seek an interdict against opposition political parties' demonstration on the basis of concern over public safety."Police are there to maintain law and order and should they feel that this law and order is likely to be severely compromised, the Police may ask Government to take the issue up with the courts which may oblige, "she said.
Fronhofer Galeria : Centre still closed after floods

Bonn The Fronhofer Galeria, which was badly damaged in storms on June 4, will remain closed for longer than expected.

Teilen

Teilen Weiterleiten

Weiterleiten Tweeten

Tweeten Weiterleiten

Weiterleiten Drucken

Although it was said a short time ago that the businesses in the Fronhofer Galeria would reopen in October, centre manager Anke Opfermann cannot give any firm date.

Those renting offices have already moved in, works have been going at full pace but there is still no official sign off. An opening date is therefore: not yet in sight. The dm drugstore is more specific: Precisely when we can celebrate the reopening is still not certain. We are not counting on it being before the end of the year, said Martina Bender, head of dm in Bad Godesberg. The drugstore premises in the Fronhofer Galeria have been handed back to the tenant. He is now working on drying out and repairing the floors and walls, said Bender.

At the moment in the Fronhofer Galeria, renovation and drying works organised by the centre are being carried out, said Johanna Pistor from Deichmann. They are coordinating closely with the centre management. How the works will progress depends on several factors, according to Pistor, such as the issue of an expert report.

This uncertainty means it is unclear when building works can begin in the shops. Therefore we also cant yet give a reopening date. Arndt Liedtke from Tchibo said they were working flat out on repairs but: At the moment we unfortunately cant give any information about the reopening because it is still not clear how long the works will go on. For the same reasons, H&M spokeswoman Anna-Kathrin Bunger also cannot say when customers will be able to shop again.
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.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

MDC-T protestors in central Harare went on a rampage this afternoon fighting riot police who had tried to stop their peaceful #MyZimbabwe demonstration.Two police vehicles, a pickup truck and a bus, were burnt while a ZBC van was also set ablaze. Choppies supermarket along Nelson Mandela street was looted.According to the state media a ZBC driver, Makesure Chieza, was injured."When I stopped to drop some staff members and pick up others, I stone flew through the window and missed my face before another one struck my head just above the ear. More stones came flying and when I scurried for safety, the hooligans set the car on fire," said Chieza.Police National Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said a police bus was also burnt at Market Square, and several business people and individuals are still reporting cases of damage to their properties."They burnt a police vehicle and a bus and looted several shops, among them Choppies Supermarket. Police officers are still on the ground and several people have been arrested. Some people are coming reporting cases of damage to their property," said Charamba.
Are Xiaomi Smartphones Good Enough? Here Are 8 Unknown Facts About 'Apple of China' Features oi -GizBot Bureau

China-based handset maker, Xiaomi forayed into the Indian market with Mi3 and a unique way of selling -- Flash sale. Unlike others, Xiaomi doesn't spend money on traditional advertisements. Instead, they sold the phone directly to consumers through e-commerce websites in India.

In China, the company has its own online store, and also sells on Tmall.com, one of China's largest online retail sites. But in India, the company has tied up with Flipkart initially for this. Moreover, the company has scored more on social media websites including Facebook, Twitter.

SEE ALSO: 10 Reasons That This Known Rs. 800 Phone Is Better Than Your Expensive Smartphone

Today we have jotted down the list of 10 facts about Lei Jun's Xiaomi, that you may not know.

Word Xiaomi means Millet and Rice, which is said to be a Buddhist concept!

Xiaomi is also called as Apple of China, while UI, designs resembled Apple. Also, the company's co-founder and CEO Lei Jun's inspiration is none other than Steve Job.

Xiaomi doesn't own a physical store around the world, besides China!

Most of them in India pronounce the word Xiaomi in different ways. In a way of putting an end, Hugo Barra explained that it sounds like "shou me," but the first part doesn't take the longer "o" sound. Think "shout me," minus the "t.

Front camera can guess your age and gender!

The front camera on Xiaomi smartphones comes with an ability to detect the age and subsequently, chooses the right filter to enhance pictures. Pretty cool isn't ?

Three of its top position employees are from Google

Co-founder and president of Xiaomi Lin Bin, ex-Vice President of the Google China Institute of Engineering and the Engineering Director of Google Global, Co-founder and vice president of Xiaomi Hong Feng, ex-Senior Product Manager of Google China in charge of overseeing Google Calendar, Google Maps and Google 3D Street View, and Vice president of Xiaomi Hugo Barra, ex-Vice President of Android Product Management at Google.

Flash sale + limited quantity = Xiaomi Success

Releasing only a limited quantity of smartphones each week has been a success formula for Xiaomi's business that's helped keep costs down.

Xiaomi Forays into IoT!

In an attempt to expand its portfolio, the company is expanding from smartphones to smart bands, watches, and other consumer products as it expands into the Internet of Things (IoT) space.

Best Mobiles in India
Le 2S Pro seems to feature a not so revolutionary metallic design

The latest leak throws light on the front and back sides of the upcoming Le 2S Pro smartphone and we get to know that the device doesn't come with a design that is revolutionary enough. It just features a traditional metallic design that appears to be smooth.

There's a fingerprint sensor at its back

The Le 2S Pro seems to feature a round fingerprint sensor at the center on its back panel. The camera sensors are seen at the top left corner of the device that has been allegedly leaked.

Camera sensor appears to be slightly protruding

The camera sensor at the back of the alleged Le 2S Pro smartphone appears to be protruding slightly, but it shouldn't be a big issue as the device is quite thin. There are power and volume buttons that are seen on the left spine of the phone.

It's likely to carry the model number LEX720

As per one of the leaked images, the model number of the Le 2S Pro is likely to be LEX720. If you don't remember, we have seen the same model number before a few days. The very same image tips at the presence of the Snapdragon 820 processor with 4 GB of RAM, a FHD 1080p 5.5-inch display, and 32 GB of storage capacity, but just 19.9 GB is seen in the image.

Le 2S specs were upgraded

As per the previous reports, the Le 2S smartphone was tipped to arrive with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor that could be paired with a larger 8 GB RAM capacity that is never seen on smartphones till date. The display was likely to be a 5.5-inch QHD 1440p panel with 2.5D glass on top. Even the storage capacity was likely to be generous at 64 GB.

Dual camera setup is possible

The LeEco's next smartphone is rumored heavily to feature a dual camera setup at its back. These days, the dual camera lens setup is becoming common with the high-end smartphones. In fact, LeEco joined hands with Coolpad and came up with one such smartphone called Cool1.

September 9 is the launch date!

While there is no official confirmation on when LeEco might announce its next smartphone, there are speculations that the device could be announced on September 9. Anyways, we need to wait and watch if it will be the Le 2S or the Le 2S Pro.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa's elder brother, Phillip Mnangagwa has died.Mnangagwa (84) died yesterday after a long illness.Family spokesperson, Patrick Mnangagwa said the late supported the liberation struggle while teaching in Zimbabwe and Zambia .After Independence he remained a dedicated and committed member of the ruling Zanu PF party until his untimely death.Mnangagwa was a teacher for more than 40 years and taught in a number of a schools in both Zambia and Zimbabwe before he became a headmaster in both countries.Born on the 23rd of August 1932 in Zvishavane, Mnangagwa is survived by his wife, Margret, seven children, 15 grandchildren and two great grand children.Mourners are gathered at plot number 50, Mavhu, Mashava settlement, Gwenhoro.Burial will be on Friday 10.am at the same plot.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Canada has committed US$1,5 million to the provision of food to Zimbabwe through the country's welfare programmes.Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Kumar Gupta paid a courtesy call on Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko at his Munhumutapa offices this Wednesday.Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Ambassador Gupta said his country has committed itself to assisting Zimbabwe with food relief funds after the realisation of food insecurity in most parts of the country resulting from the El-Nino induced drought.Ambassador Gupta said the meeting focused on Zimbabwe - Canada relations including gender issues and various others to do with economic development.Canada will be committing more funds for maternal and child health as well as curbing child marriages for the benefit of ordinary Zimbabweans.
Abrams Tank's Major Upgrades to Give US Marines a 'Hunter-Killer' Edge

Sputnik News

22:01 24.08.2016(updated 03:37 25.08.2016)

Modifications to the venerable Abrams tank cut target engagement time in half and allow for enhanced performance, making the lethal combat vehicle even more deadly.

The US Marine Corps announced plans to modernize their most reliable combat vehicle, the M1A1 Abrams tank, with a view toward improving the targeting and all environment capabilities of the linchpin of the American ground fighting force.

The M1A1 will receive three major upgrades in the tank commander's 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.

Perhaps most important, system displays will be upgraded from a black-and-white camera to color, with the additional aid of thermal sights, allowing better performance for both day and night settings. Tank crews reported being unable to discern smaller movements using the black and white screen.

"Users didn't like the black and white camera that was in the tank before, because they had a hard time distinguishing between different color trucks," explained Michael Kreiner, AIDATS project officer in Systems Command's Armor and Fire Support Systems division.

The upgrades appear to provide an immediate performance benefit for tank crews in combat, with preliminary tests showing that the upgrades reduced target engagement time from six seconds to three, with users able to better differentiate between targets and the upgrades enabling for more seamless collaboration between the gunner and commander.

Testing on the upgrades is slated to be conducted at Maryland's Aberdeen Proving Ground, with all three system enhancements scheduled to be available to forces in the combat theater by the first quarter of 2018.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Air Force Funds Laser Weapons Pod for Fourth-Generation Fighter Jets

Sputnik News

22:00 24.08.2016(updated 00:31 25.08.2016)

After spending over $1 trillion on the F-35 Lightning II, the Pentagon is now funding a multi-million dollar weapons upgrade for its fourth-generation fighters.

Now that the beleaguered F-35 is finally up and running, the US Air Force has been conducting a number of weapons tests for the aircraft.

"The [weapons delivery accuracy] WDAs rely on the full capability of the F-35  multiple sensors, navigation, weapons envelope, mission planning, data links and inter-agency range scheduling  all working in sequence to put steel on target," Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, of the program executive office for the F-35, said in a statement.

But the US military also plans to upgrade the weapons systems on older aircraft. On Tuesday, the Air Force awarded a $39.3 million contract to Northrop Grumman for the development of the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) Turret Research in Aero-Effects (STRAFE) program.

SHiELD will use an advanced beam control system to create a laser weapons pod that can be installed beneath a fighter aircraft, while the STRAFE program will seek to gather data on "aero-optic disturbances in a supersonic environment," according to IHS Jane's.

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 Lockheed's F-16 Fighting Falcon. The F-35 will likely not be outfitted with the system, as the pod could interfere with the aircraft's 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, it's entirely likely that both the price tag and timeframe of the upgrades will increase.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN rights experts call on Bangladesh to annul death sentence against opposition member

24 August 2016  Amid reports that the trial of Mir Quasem Ali, a senior opposition member, and its appeal processes were marred with irregularities and failed to meet international fair trial and due process standards, a group of United Nations human rights experts have urged the Government of Bangladesh to annul the death sentence imposed upon him, and to re-try him in compliance with international standards.

"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," they said in a news release issued yesterday by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The experts' request comes as the Supreme Court prepares to review Mr. Ali's case on 24 August.

He was sentenced to death in 2014 by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Independence War. The decision was confirmed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 8 March 2016.

"The death penalty is the most severe form of punishment," they stressed. "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."

In the news release, the experts recalled that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found in 2012 that Mr. Ali's deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and in breach of articles 9 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 Mr. 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 Mr. Ali's son and part of his legal defence team, Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, was abducted from his home on 9 August by Bangladeshi security forces, two weeks before his father's 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 Mr. Quasem," they said.

The news release further added that the UN human rights experts have on several occasions expressed alarm regarding serious violations of fair trial and due process guarantees in the judicial proceedings before the ICT that were reported to them.

The ICT is a special domestic court with the jurisdiction to try and punish any person accused of committing atrocities, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country. It has sentenced 17 individuals to death for crimes committed during the Independence war.

In the past three years, five of those convicted by the ICT have been executed.

The experts voicing their concern include:

- Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

- Monica Pinto, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

- Juan E. Mendez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

- Setondji Roland Adjovi, current chairperson of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

- Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Machar's Treatment in Sudan Stirs No Objections in S. Sudan

By Michael Attit August 24, 2016

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 Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Juba would continue to work with Khartoum on trade and other issues of bilateral interest.

"We don't have any reaction as to Riek Machar's 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 Machar's presence in Khartoum coincided with this week's 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 Machar's 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 Sudan's 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 Machar's health. South Sudan in Focus reached out to an appointed SPLM-IO member of parliament for comment, but he declined to speak.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 25, 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 13 strikes in Syria:

-- Near Shadaddi, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position, a tactical vehicle and a vehicle bomb.

-- Near Raqqah, a strike struck two ISIL pumpjacks.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes struck three ISIL wellheads.

-- Near Manbij, seven strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units; destroyed a fighting position, a vehicle, a command-and-control node and three mortar systems; and damaged a mortar system.

Strike in Iraq

-- Near Ramadi, fighter aircraft conducted one strike in Iraq, destroying four rocket systems and four rocket rails. The strike was coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government.

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






News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition political party youths went on a rampage in central Harare today, stoning, burning and assaulting whoever came in their way.A ZBC and a police car were burnt in the chaos while a Choppies supermarket was looted by the hooligans.A ZBC driver, Makesure Chieza, was injured while dropping off and picking up staff member in town."When I stopped to drop some staff members and pick up others, I stone flew through the window and missed my face before another one struck my head just above the ear. More stones came flying and when I scurried for safety, the hooligans set the car on fire," he said.Several ZBC staffers also had to run for their life.Police National Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said a police bus was also burnt at Market Square, and several business people and individuals are still reporting cases of damage to their properties."They burnt a police vehicle and a bus and looted several shops, among them Choppies Supermarket. Police officers are still on the ground and several people have been arrested. Some people are coming reporting cases of damage to their property," said Charamba.She added that police will not allow violent demonstrations where people go about carrying stones and all forms of weapons with violent intentions.The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Ignatius Chombo condemned the mayhem caused by MDC-T youths, adding that those caught on the wrong side of the law will live to regret."[Morgan] Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party are to blame for all this and police are going to take appropriate action. We cannot sit and watch while such things are being perpetrated by these malcontents who are bereft of ideas and have become irrelevant in the current political matrix," said Dr Chombo.Meanwhile, analysts say today's violence should be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators should be brought to book."Such acts are unacceptable. Relevant authorities should institute thorough investigations so that perpetrators are brought to book," Mr James Makiya said.Another analyst, Dr Davison Gomo condemned the forces behind such hooliganism, saying "whoever is behind such acts of violence has no space in the democratic society like Zimbabwe."
Resolute Support Spokesman: Afghan Security Forces on Positive Trajectory

By Cheryl Pellerin DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2016  Afghan forces are performing better this year than last year, and are generally on track with their offensive campaign plan and are on a positive trajectory, the NATO Resolute Support Mission deputy chief of staff for communications said today.

Army Brig. Gen. Charles H. Cleveland, briefing the Pentagon press corps live via video conference from Kabul, began by offering the deepest sympathies of the command to the families of Army Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson, who died Aug. 23 in Helmand province, and to the families of 12 people -- seven of them students -- who died yesterday in an attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul.

Thompson was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated during dismounted operations with his patrol and Afghan counterparts near Lashkar Gah. Officials said the blast wounded another U.S. service member, who is in stable condition, and six Afghan soldiers.

Cleveland said an investigation is being conducted to determine the exact circumstances of the event.

Train, Advise, Assist

The NATO Resolute Support Mission is a train, advise and assist effort that trains Afghans on everything from how to fire a weapon to how to fly an airplane, embeds advisers at multiple levels in the ministries of Defense and Interior, and helps with financial, material, logistics and intelligence assistance.

Resolute Support also trains, advises and assists at the ministry, army, police and the special forces levels, Cleveland said, adding, "We do have the authority under NATO to be able to go out and provide very tactical-level train, advise and assist to our Afghan partners."

In most cases that takes place on a compound or a forward operating base, and Resolute Support advisers have the authority to go outside the wire to train, advise and assist Afghan partners as they conduct operations, Cleveland said.

"Our role in that, of course, is that we don't participate, we don't go on the objective, but we provide the assistance they require," he said.

On the overall status in Afghanistan, Cleveland said the NATO mission has seen an uptick in fighting over the last month, specifically in Helmand and Kunduz.

"This is the heart of the fighting season," the general said, "and we have absolutely been expecting that this is really when the Taliban were going to try and make their large push."

Helmand Operations

Briefly summarizing the 2016 Afghan forces campaign plan, Cleveland said that at the end of March they began in Kunduz, essentially moving to the offense and trying to engage the Taliban.

They had success there and then defended Kunduz City, subsequently turning south and moving their main effort into Helmand, where "again in our view they had success," the general said.

In central Helmand a U.S.-led train, advise and assist group is based at Camp Shorab, Their focus is to train, advise and assist the 215th Afghan National Army Corps, also based there, Cleveland said.

"Helmand has always been the Taliban's main effort. It is their prime focus. It is where they invest the most energy," the general added, noting that the Taliban began the 2016 fighting season with an offensive called Operation Omari in which they said they wanted to hold and seize terrain so they could start developing a sanctuary in Helmand.

Campaign Strategy

Cleveland said: "I would tell you candidly, the fighting was slower than we anticipated in Helmand  we thought the Taliban would launch strikes and attacks earlier but they didn't start until the end of July. And  really what we've seen is, I'd refer to these almost as raids."

As Cleveland describes it, 15 to 20 Taliban would assault a checkpoint or a district center, a smaller group of Afghan forces at the location would withdraw, the Taliban would loot the place, then the Afghan forces would come back and move them out.

"What we see is the Taliban are not able to hold any specific terrain. Most important is, they are not able to hold any of the population centers and that's really what the Afghans have built their entire strategy on for this campaign season, is being able to secure key population areas as well as key infrastructure," the general said.

This is the Taliban's main effort, he added. Historically, this is where they want to be and they announced it at the beginning of the fighting season. Cleveland noted.

Afghan Air Force

Cleveland acknowledged the NATO Resolute Support Mission probably started late with the Afghan Air Force, but said now they are developing as quickly as possible, with eight A-29 Super Tucano aircraft that they're using around the country to conduct close-air support.

The Afghan Air Force also has 23 operational MD-530 helicopters and received five more today. Cleveland said they're using the helicopters in Helmand.

The general added that for about two weeks in Helmand the U.S. forces, under authorities given by President Barack Obama in mid-June, were conducting "a lot of" strikes.

"But since then, what you've really seen is the bulk of the strikes and the bulk of the air support is coming from the Afghans," the general said.

"When we think about these new authorities, in many ways they are also a bridge to an Afghan capability to get their air force further developed, further integrated, further having the ability to use what they refer to as their Afghan Tactical Air Controllers, or ATACs," he said, "and then being able to plot deliberate targets."

Cleveland added, "So in our view they are making progress. They absolutely have a way to go, but often times when you hear about air strikes in Helmand or in Kunduz, it's going to be Afghan air strikes with us coming in and providing some additional assistance as needed."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kerry, UN Propose New Peace Talks for Yemen

By Lisa Schlein August 25, 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed on a plan to restart peace talks in Yemen with Gulf Arab States and the United Nations, he told reporters in the Saudi city of Jeddah Thursday.

"This war needs to end and it needs to end as quickly as possible," he said after meeting with regional leaders, a British minister and the U.N. envoy to Yemen.

He said participants in the talks "agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations," and that Yemen's dominant Houthi group must cease fighting across the border with Saudi Arabia and work to form a unity government with its domestic foes.

The United Nations' human rights chief Thursday called for an independent international investigation of abuses in Yemen that include military attacks on residential areas and medical facilities.

In a statement, U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said Yemeni civilians "have suffered unbearably over the years" because of armed conflicts.

And, he said, "... they continue to suffer, absent any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity. Such a manifestly, protractedly unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community."

UNHCR report

A report from the U.N. Human Rights Council released Thursday details a number of allegations of human rights abuses committed in Yemen over the past 18 months that have led to thousands of deaths and left millions of people without proper food.

The report shows examples of military attacks on marketplaces and medical facilities, sniper attacks on civilians and the use of cluster bombs that could possibly be in violation of international law.

"In numerous situations where military targets could be identified, there remain serious concerns as to whether the incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects that could be expected from the attack were not excessive in relation to the anticipated concrete and direct military advantage apparently sought," the report said.

The United Nations estimates nearly 3,800 Yemeni civilians have been killed and more than 6,700 wounded since March 2015. That is when the Saudi Arabian coalition, which supports the government, began its bombing campaign against the Houthi rebels.

The report says the escalating fighting is taking a devastating toll on the civilian population. It reports 7.6 million people, including 3 million women and children, are suffering from malnutrition and at least 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

The chief of the Middle East and North Africa section of the High Commissioner's Office, Mohammad Ali Alnsour, tells VOA all sides in the conflict are involved in serious violations and abuses.

"There was targeting of civilian objects protected by the international law like markets, like wedding ceremonies, hospitals, facilities that really under the international humanitarian law, is protected and have special kind of protection, legal protection," Alnsour said.

The report documents several attacks in which no military objective could be identified. In numerous situations where military targets could be identified, it says the minimal gains from these attacks cannot justify the serious loss of life and injury to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

High Commissioner Zeid says the perpetuation of the conflict and its consequences on the population in Yemen can no longer be tolerated by the international community.

He is calling for an end to the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for the violations and abuses against the civilians. He says those found guilty must be held accountable.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Colombia Insurgencies - 1949-2016?

Following a prolonged debate on 30 November 2016, 75 Senate members voted for the peace plan, zero votes rejected it, while the harsh critic of the deal, former President Alvaro Uribe, and his supporters abstained. The original peace deal was rejected by the people of Colombia in a referendum on 02 October 2016, as many felt that the rebels would not receive the deserved punishment. FARC was formed in 1964 as the military wing of Colombia's Communist Party. The half-century war between the FARC and the Colombian government claimed the lives of a quarter of a million people. The two sides began peace talks in November 2012.

Colombia's government and its largest rebel group announced a new, modified peace accord 12 November 2016, after voters rejected an earlier deal in a referendum. The government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - a Marxist guerrilla group - said in a joint statement they had incorporated proposals from various groups in the new deal. It is a better agreement," said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who last month won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the war. Chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle and rebel negotiator Luciano Marin, known as Ivan Marquez, signed the deal in Havana, Cuba.

The revised accord took stock of over 500 proposed changes to the original text. Around 65 percent of the initial 297-page document was amended, with FARC giving ground on several key points. The special justice system that will be set up to try war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the half-century conflict will not include foreign judges, as the original accord specified. The No campaign, led by ex-president and current senator, Alvaro Uribe, urged that the special courts exist within Colombias existing legal system. In the new accord, FARC and its members must provide an inventory of all their assets, which will be used to pay individual or collective reparations to victims of the protracted war.

All demobilised guerrillas must now also provide exhaustive and detailed information about the groups relationship to the drug trade, a provision that could expose them to retaliatory measures by drug traffickers. The document now specifies that nothing in the accord should affect the constitutional right to private property. It specifies that taxes on property will not be affected by the new accord, which was a major concern of the countrys wealthy landholders.

The new accord will not be incorporated into the Colombian constitution as FARC originally requested. The rebel army hoped for this move as a guarantee that current and future governments would comply with the accord. They must now rely on the state's good faith.

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 07 October 2016 for his efforts in securing the end of a five-decade conflict with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels. Santos said he would extend a cease-fire agreement reached with the rebels to October 31 in an effort to facilitate negotiations, but his offer was met with skepticism by Timonchenko. A renegotiation of the peace deal seems to hinge on whether rebels would accept tougher terms. Many "no" voters were offended that nearly all FARC rebels would avoid prison time for crimes allegedly committed during the uprising, and would get various levels of financial support from the government. They are also upset that FARC would be guaranteed seats in the Colombian Congress without an election in exchange for transforming FARC into a political party.

FARC-EP head Timoleon Jimenez expressed the rebels' deep disappointment in Colombia's "No" win, shortly after electoral authorities declared that the No vote against the peace deal won by a slim margin. The FARC-EP commits itself to use only words as weapons for peace, said Timoleon. The struggle for peace continues, adding with optimism that there was still hope. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos also denounced the results, saying from Bogota that he acknowledged that the majority, with a very short margin, said 'No' to the peace deal his government negotiated for four years with the rebels, while the other half said 'Yes.'" I am the guarantor of the country's stability, my duty is to maintain public order while continuing to seek peace for the country, he told reporters, adding that the bilateral cease-fire was still in effect. We all want peace, without exception."

On 02 October 2016 a referendum vote asked for a simple yes or no on whether Colombians support the accord signed last week by President Juan Manuel Santos, who had staked his legacy on peace, and the rebel commander known as Timochenko. The "no" vote took the lead in ballot counting for Colombia's national referendum.

The plebiscite had been non-binding from the start and now the Colombian congress can still elect to pass the laws necessary to comply with the accords. The amnesty law was built into the plebiscite, and without its passage the agreement is basically null. The FARC-EP had called for a Constituent Assembly instead of a plebiscite, arguing that an assembly would be much more representative of the most marginalized and affected peoples of Colombia.

With 99 percent of the vote in, "No" won by a narrow margin, with 50.23 percent to 49.76 percent for the "Yes" vote. The "No" has 6,326,413 votes to 6,387,438 votes for the "Yes." For example in the heavily affected area of Choco, with 28 percent of the vote in, 78 percent voted "Yes." The Caribbean provinces have also voted "Yes." Also, with 40 percent of the vote counted in the capital of Bogota, the "Yes" vote is winning 56 percent to 44 percent for the "No" vote.

There was a 63 percent voter abstention, however, which amounted to 22 million of the 35 million eligible voters. Hurricane Matthew had turned deadly off Colombias Caribbean coast, with houses damaged and some of them submerged in ocean surges. With winds peaking at 160 miles per hour Matthew was at the highest level, five, meaning its the most powerful hurricane in the Atlantic ocean since Felix in 2007.

Opinion polls before the referendum had predicted an easy victory for the "yes" side in the referendum called by Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos. Colombians had looked set to back a peace accord with FARC rebels in a referendum on Sunday, the final hurdle to a deal that would end 52 years of war in the South American country. All the polls that have been conducted since August have consistently put the yes side in the lead, said journalist Dimitri ODonnell from the capital of Bogota. Turnout is expected to be high when the polls open at 8am local time here.

The "No" campaign was led nationally by former president Alvaro Uribe, whose close links with paramilitary groups have been well-documented in recent years, and in the case of Medellin, by former convicted drug-trafficker Jhon Jairo Velasquez alias "Popeye." Velasquez was Escobar's chief assassin, who acknowledges having killed over 300 people, ordered the killing of over 3,000 people, including journalists, judges and activists.

As Escobar's chief assassin, Velasquez participated in the systematic extermination of the Patriotic Union members  many former FARC-EP fighters  who had demobilized after a peace process to run in elections. From 1985 to 2002, two UP presidential candidates were killed, eight senators, 13 lawmakers, 11 mayors, 70 councilmen and at least 5,000 party members at the hands of paramilitary groups, Colombia's security forces and drug-traffickers, including Pablo Escobar's cartel.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he was extending a cease-fire agreement with the rebels until October 31, in the hope negotiators can find a way to salvage the peace agreemen. "Time is very important. We can't prolong this process and this dialogue for a long time because we're in a gray zone, a sort of limbo, that is risky and can wash away the entire process," Santos said. FARC leaders made it clear they want the peace process to continue, and they want to negotiate a settlement to the war.

Colombia made history in Latin America with the groundbreaking peace deal between the government and left-wing FARC rebels. The nearly four-year peace process in Havana, Cuba, between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [FARC] and the government of President Juan Manuel Santos achieved a landmark 297-page final agreement covering six key issues: agrarian reform, political participation, disarmament and reincorporation of former combatants, illicit drugs, victims rights, and implementation of the end of the war. Chief negotiators from both sides of the conflict, government delegation head Humberto de la Calle and FARC leader Ivan Marquez, signed and spoke about this historic agreement in Havana.

"Now the battle of ideas can start," the FARC-EP's representative Ivan Marquez said, adding that the final deal marks a new chapter in Colombia's history. "The peace deal is a point of departurenot of closuretoward the social transformations demanded by the masses." Government representative Humberto de la Calle said, "I am certain now that this is the best agreement possible. But the Colombians will judge."

While the more than half century-long war is finally over, difficult times still lay ahead to fully realize the promise of peace in the South American nation. One of the issues that has not been part of the negotiations in Havana, but many, including the FARC, have frequently stressed as a key part of building peace is the question of ending hostilities between the government and the countrys smaller left-wing guerilla force, the National Liberation Army, or ELN. Former ELN commander Carlos Velandia, alias Felipe Torres, applauded the announcement of the deal, heralding it as a new era that could give a peaceful push to other conflicts to follow a similar path.

President Santos insisted that the text of the final agreement was definitive, and could not be modified. From the beginning, one principle ruled the negotiations: nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Today, at last we can say that everything has been agreed, he added.

The final agreement called for meaningful agrarian reform to address inequality in poor, rural areas. It calls for new political forces to address the issues that initially led the FARC-EP to take up arms, and also guarantees the safety of the rebels after they put down those arms to participate in politics. The agreement calls for protection of human rights activists and labor organizers who have been targeted by right-wing paramilitaries; alternatives to illicit drug production; reparations for victims of violence on all sides; and a commission made up of the Colombian state, the FARC-EP, alongside the United Nations to monitor the accord's implementation.

The historic deal is set to be put to a vote on 02 October 2016 to ratify the agreement with Colombian society by asking voters whether or not they accept the peace accords with the FARC.

Colombia experienced five decade long conflict, pitting the government against two leftist insurgencies -- the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN) -- and demobilized members from the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a defunct right-wing paramilitary organization whose former members have created new criminal organizations, commonly referred to as BACRIMs. The US government has officially designated these three different organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) due to continued armed attacks against U.S. interests in Colombia.

The FARC, ELN, and BACRIM are all well organized criminal enterprises and regularly carry out kidnappings, assassinations, bombings, and other terrorist activities throughout Colombia. These organizations operate in areas where there is a weak host country security presence.

The domestic conflict resulted 220,000 deaths over 60 years. According to the United Nations High Commission, over two million people have been internally displaced over the past 15 years, forcing them into urban areas in an attempt to escape continued violence.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Mississippi Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla, 23, of Starkville, Mississippi, was sentenced today to serve 96 months in prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Felicia C. Adams of the Northern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI's Jackson, Mississippi, Division made the announcement.

On March 13, Dakhlalla pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock of the Northern District of Mississippi, who imposed today's sentence and ordered Dakhlalla to serve a 15-year term of supervised release.

Dakhlalla pleaded guilty to conspiring with Jaelyn Delshaun Young, 20, also of Starkville, to provide material support to ISIL. Young pleaded guilty to the same charge on March 30 and was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release on Aug. 11.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Jackson Division Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Washington Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Joyner and Bob Norman of the Northern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.

16-973

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Mississippi, Northern

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






China to Reorganize Over Half of Ground Forces to Form Smaller Divisions

Sputnik News

11:03 24.08.2016(updated 11:05 24.08.2016)

China plans to reorganize over half of its army's 1.55-million ground troops in a bid to make the forces more agile.

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 Soviet model of organizing army corps currently intact with the People's Liberation Army, the largest land force in the world, does not suit to the demands of modern warfare, the retired colonel added.

The reports come amid a campaign to modernize the Chinese army launched by President Xi Jinping earlier this year.

A 2015 Chinese defense white paper has stressed the need to build smaller, multifunctional and modular units within the army to make it more nimble.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kim Jong Un Guides Strategic Submarine Underwater Ballistic Missile Test-fire

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, August 25 (KCNA) -- A test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile was successfully conducted under the guidance of supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

At the observation post he was briefed on the plan for the test-fire.

As soon as he issued an order to start the test-fire, the strategic submarine submerged up to a depth for firing the ballistic missile and rapidly launched the ballistic missile.

The test-fire which was conducted under a high-angle fire system in the maximum launching depth reconfirmed the stability of the underwater ballistic launching system, the starting character of the high power solid fuel engine and phased flying kinetic feature after coming up to the surface of the water. It proved that the core technical indexes of the ballistic missile including the reliability of the phased heat separation and the control and guidance system and the working accuracy of the warhead in the re-entry section perfectly met all requirements for operation.

The SLBM test-fire was successfully carried out without any adverse impact on neighboring countries.

Watching the trajectory of the ballistic missile Pukguksong, he said with pleasure that it was a great manifestation and demonstration of the tremendous power and inexhaustible muscle of the DPRK and he felt enormous energy was welling out.

He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory and highly praised the officials, scientists and technicians in the field of national defence science and munitions factories for having perfectly acquired the technology of SLBM in a short span of time and extended special thanks to them in the name of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the WPK and the supreme commander of the KPA.

He noted with pride that the results of the test-fire proved in actuality that the DPRK joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability.

The U.S. vicious nuclear threat and blackmail against the DPRK only resulted in bolstering up its nuclear attack capability hour by hour and the U.S. mainland and the operational theatre in the Pacific are now within the striking range of the KPA, no matter how hard the U.S. tries to deny it, he said.

Strongly warning the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet group staging the joint military exercise aiming at a preemptive nuclear strike at the DPRK with huge nuclear strategic assets involved and thereby seriously rattling its nerves, he said the Korean people would deal merciless blows at them with nuclear hammers of justice so that nails of injustice may not come out again, once an opportunity is given, now that the DPRK has in place all substantial means capable of standing up against the U.S. nuclear hegemony.

He noted: "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 best way of escaping the deadly strike of the infuriated KPA is to refrain from hurting the dignity and security of the DPRK with prudence and self-control."

Warning the enemies not to underestimate the might of the DPRK, he said it would clearly show the world how it would proudly tower, after breaking the chains of sanctions, blockade and pressure of the enemies.

He stressed the need for the field of national defence science to put increased spurs to mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles in order to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the U.S. imperialists and, at the same time, focus all efforts on the development of means of their delivery.

He instructed officials to take a series of all eventful actions to demonstrate the DPRK's muscle as a full-fledged military power if the enemies try to threaten its dignity and the right to existence even a bit.

He warmly greeted the national defence scientists and service personnel of the navy returning to the port after the successful test-fire and warmly congratulated them.

He had a photo session with them. -0- (2016.08.25)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






North Korean leader calls recent missile launch 'greatest success'

Iran Press TV

Thu Aug 25, 2016 6:57AM

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised a new ballistic missile test as "greatest success and victory" as the UN Security Council convened to discuss the launch.

Kim hailed the test as a sign that North Korea has "joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday.

He also urged North Korean scientists to step up efforts to mount nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles so that they could be used "to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists."

The missile was launched from a submarine near the North Korean coastal city of Sinpo early Wednesday. It reportedly flew some 500 km (311 miles) and entered Japan's air identification zone before landing in the Sea of Japan.

That means all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, are within the North Korean missile's range.

The KCNA said the test was meant to evaluate the stability of the underwater launching system, the flight features of the solid-fuel missile, the reliability of the control and guidance system as well as the accuracy of the warhead in hitting targets after it reenters the atmosphere.

Hours after the launch, the foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea condemned the test during an annual trilateral meeting in Tokyo, urging Pyongyang to exercise "self-restraint" and avoid "provocative" actions.

The US slammed North Korea's missile launch as a provocation and vowed to raise the issue at the United Nations.

North Korea's leader brushed aside reaction to its military tests.

"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," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

Officials in Seoul 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 comments came as the UN Security Council held a closed-door emergency meeting late on Wednesday at Washington's request to discuss issuing a statement on the latest missile launch.

So far, no such statement has been released, but Malaysia's UN Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim said after the meeting that there was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council.

The UN and the West have imposed a raft of sanctions on North Korea, prompting Pyongyang to step up its nuclear activities.

In January, 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. 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 adopted five rounds of crippling sanctions on the North since it first tested an atomic device in 2006 despite the nation's critical situation, including its worsening famine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






India May Spend Over $220 Bln to Buy Weapons in Next Decade - Reports

Sputnik News

12:56 24.08.2016

The Indian government may spend $223 billion by 2027 to acquire new weapon systems in order to increase the military preparedness of the country's Armed Forces, according to the NDTV broadcaster.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has ordered the military to assess the expected cost of military modernization in accordance with the Long Term Integrated Perspective Planning modernization roadmap for the period of 2012-2027.

India plans to procure 500 helicopters, over 200 warplanes, twelve submarines and other types of hardware by 2027, the television network said, citing sources in the Defense Ministry.

The ministry also intends to decrease the number of human resources by replacing them with modern systems to diminish the budget shortfall, according to the broadcaster.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






India Downplays Data Leak on Scorpene Class Subs, Denying 'Security Compromise'

Sputnik News

12:40 25.08.2016

India has asked the French government to investigate the incident with urgency.

A day after media reports emerged that a sensitive data on DCNS-manufactured Scorpene, which is going to be part of the Indian Navy's submarine fleet, was leaked, India has sought to downplay the matter by saying that the leaked documents do not compromise India's security.

A statement issued by the Indian Navy reads, "The documents that have been posted on the website by an Australian news agency have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out."

A high level committee constituted by the India's Ministry of Defense is undertaking a detailed assessment of the potential impact over ongoing USD 3.5 billion Scorpene submarine projects. The first of the Scorpene class submarines being built in India, the INS Kalvari, took part in sea trials in May and is expected to be inducted soon in the Indian Navy.

Without directly indicting France, India has raised the issue of the data leak with the director general of armament of the French government expressing concern over this incident. "India has requested the French government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side," the Indian Navy's statement read.

Meanwhile, an internal audit of procedures to rule out any security compromise is also being undertaken by the Indian Navy. India is also in touch with concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports.

The Indian Navy has promised to take all necessary steps to mitigate any probable security compromise on India's highly ambitious project.

The 22,400 pages of data seen by The Australian contain the key secret stealth capabilities of the Indian submarines. Some information included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, the levels of noise they make at various speeds, 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 submarine's 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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Hamadan Only Airbase in Iran Used for Refueling Russian Aircraft - MP

Sputnik News

13:50 24.08.2016(updated 15:05 24.08.2016)

Russian military aircraft in Iran are only allowed to refuel at the Hamadan airbase in accordance with existing agreements, the chairman of the Iranian parliamentary committee on foreign policy and national security said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On August 16, Russia used the Iranian base for the first time in its anti-terrorism campaign in Syria. Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 strike aircraft carried out airstrikes against Daesh and Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, in Syria, both outlawed in Russia.

"Russian aircraft refuel in Iran only at the Hamadan airbase," Alaeddin Boroujerdi said.

"These services are provided to Russia after a decision by the Security Council of Iran," he added. "The use of the Iranian airbase is taking place in the framework of the joint [Russia-Iran-Iraq] centers that have been located in Damascus and Baghdad for a year already."

On Monday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that further use of the Hamadan airfield for Russia's anti-terrorist mission in Syria would be carried out in line with bilateral agreements with the Islamic republic and events on the ground.

In late September, Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran created the Baghdad Information Center to coordinate joint military action against Daesh. The four countries are represented by officers of the national armed forces, whose primary task is to collect and analyze data related to militant operations in the region.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






News / National

by Staff reporter

The Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr Victor Bockarie Foh has arrived in Harare where he is expected to officially open this year's Harare Agricultural Show.Dr Bockarie Foh is accompanied by a 7-memebr delegation, comprising the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Isata Kabia, Minister of Information Mr Mohamed Bangura and the Minister of Agriculture Professor Monty Jones.He was received at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and other senior government officials, and taken to State House where the he held bilateral discussions with President Robert Mugabe behind closed doors.The meeting was also attended by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Information Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe, Director General Happyton Bonyongwe, the Permanent Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba and other senior government officials.
Kazakhstan's S-300 Systems to Join Integrated Air Defense With Russia

Sputnik News

17:35 24.08.2016

Kazakhstan will put five battalions of S-300 air defense systems on combat duty in the near future as part of the integrated regional air defense network with Russia, the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces said Wednesday.

ASTANA (Sputnik)  Moscow completed free-of-charge deliveries of S-300 systems to Astana last year.

"Five battalions of S-300 air defense systems that have been delivered to Kazakhstan [by Russia] will be put on combat duty soon," Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev told reporters in Kazakh capital, Astana.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






South Korean Nuclear Proponents: Conventional Deterrence is Failing

By Brian Padden August 25, 2016

South Korean advocates of nuclear deterrence say the government in Seoul must pursue its own nuclear weapons programs to defend against North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Song Dae-sung, a political science professor at Kunkuk University in Seoul and author of the book Let's Have Nuclear Power makes the case for a nuclear armed South Korea.

"If North Korea becomes a nuclear-armed state and its adversary does not own nuclear power, then the non-nuclear state becomes a slave or hostage of the nuclear state. This is a basic principle of international politics," said Song.

National Assembly Representative Won Yoo-chul, a leader within of the ruling Saenuri Party, has also been a strong nuclear advocate.

Won has put together a study group in the parliamentary National Defense Committee to assess the risks and benefits of South Korea pursuing its own nuclear program. "The most efficient way to deter nuclear warfare is to have nukes for our self-defense," Won has said.

Growing threat

Seoul's nuclear proponents argue that the international sanctions imposed on North Korea for its fourth nuclear test and most recent long-range rocket launch have so far not deterred Pyongyang.

Since the sanctions were imposed, the North Korean military has accelerated its ballistic missile development by conducting numerous launches, and satellite images show signs that the North's Yongbyon reactor site has resumed producing plutonium used in nuclear bombs.

On Thursday North Korean state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the most recent submarine-launched ballistic missile test and declared it "the greatest success" that put the country in the "front rank" of nuclear military powers.

Self-reliance

Nuclear proponents say South Korea cannot leave its fate in the hands of China or the U.S.

Beijing has been reluctant to vigorously enforce sanctions, they say, because it needs a stable counterbalance to the superior conventional forces of the South Korean-U.S. Military alliance.

And Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president, has cast doubt on the U.S. policy of providing extended nuclear deterrence in the region by questioning America's commitment to protect South Korea.

"If the U.S. elects a president who makes such an argument, then South Korea needs to own nuclear power all the more," said Song.

Negative consequences

However, South Korean President Park Geun-hye supports the current deterrence and containment regime that involves a close military alliance with the United States and increasing international pressure on the North Korean government.

Opponents of arming South Korea with nuclear weapons say it would unravel the security architecture that has maintained peace in the region for decades.

"Those guys arguing for the possession of nuclear weapons are first, shortsighted, second, they do not understand the negative consequences of that kind of move, and third, that would lead to a nuclear domino on the Korean Peninsula in Northeast Asia," said Moon Chung-in, a political science professor with Yonsei University.

While some supporters contend that a nuclear South Korea would exert pressure on North Korea or China, opponents argue it would actually dissipate international support for North Korean sanctions.

"Who I think would absolutely be thrilled with such a development would be North Korea, because if the ROK (Republic of Korea) were to pursue its own nuclear deterrence then it would justify everything they have done," said regional security analyst Daniel Pinkston with Troy University in Seoul.

NPT

The United Nations might also impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on South Korea for developing nuclear weapons in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it signed as a non-nuclear weapons state.

North Korea's withdraw from the NPT in 2003 is a major justification for the current sanctions in place against it.

However the South's nuclear supporters say Seoul could invoke Article 10 of the NPT, which allows for a withdraw from the treaty when extraordinary events jeopardize national interests, by citing the North's nuclear threat.

A nuclear South Korea could also weaken the close military alliance between Seoul and Washington and the need for large American conventional forces on the Korean Peninsula.

"It will be very difficult for the Americans, who are very sympathetic with South Korea's national security conditions, (to) argue that South Korea needs both its own nuclear weapons, and men and women of the United States sacrificing their safety in defense of South Korea," said Bong Young-shik with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies.

Critics argue that Japan would also likely follow suit and acquire its own nuclear weapons, further increasing regional tensions and the potential for nuclear war in Asia.

Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia's 'Flying Tank' to Boast a Guided Missile

Sputnik News

16:45 24.08.2016

Armed with a newly developed guided missile system, Russia's Sprut-SDM1 self-propelled gun for the Russian Airborne Forces will be able to destroy tanks, helicopters and drones, the newspaper Izvestia wrote.

The latest version of the 125mm airmobile self-propelled gun is currently undergoing field trials, the newspaper reported citing Defense Ministry sources in Moscow.

What makes the Sprut-SDM1 stand out from its existing analogues is its all0-new missile system capable of destroying a battle tank with dynamic protection in the form of explosive containers strapped to its armor.

The guided missile module fully integrated with the digital fire control system making it more accurate and capable of hitting low-flying, low-speed targets like helicopters and UAVs.

The Sprut's 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 Sprut's 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 unit's 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 enemy's rear," he added.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russian Armata Combat Vehicles to be Integrated Into Real-Time Control Network

Sputnik News

16:10 24.08.2016(updated 16:12 24.08.2016)

New Russian combat vehicles will be integrated into the Andromeda-D automatic control system. This would enhance cooperation between Russia airborne and ground troops.

Russian advanced combat vehicles of the Armata, Kurganets and Bumerang families will be integrated in the Andromeda-D automatic control system of the Airborne Forces.

As a result, the command of the forces would be able to give real-time orders to tank and combat vehicle crews as well as to receive all required information about the technical and tactical status of the hardware, including its speed, route as well as fuel and ammo reserves.

"The technical design specifications have already been worked out and sent to developing companies. The first stage of the development will be completed by the end of 2017," a military source close to the matter told the Russian newspaper Izvestia.

According to the source, no special changes are required to be made to the vehicles because compatibility will be reached at the software and hardware level. Several upgrades will be made to the vehicles' communication systems. However, there is much work to do with the software.

The Andromeda automatic control system was developed by the Russian defense company Sozvezdia. It is a network of ES-1866 mobile personal computers designed for real-time share of information between all military levels.

Communications go via radio, radio relay or space lines. The system can be operated both at command posts and in the field.

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.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia Holds Snap Military Exercises, Deepening Neighbors' Alarm

August 25, 2016

by RFE/RL

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced large-scale snap military exercises on land and in the Black and Caspian seas, increasing worries in Ukraine and other Western neighbors about Moscow's intentions.

The exercises, which began early on August 25, put thousands of troops on combat alert and followed weeks of increasing tension along Ukraine's eastern borders and in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.

Large-scale movements of military weaponry and equipment have been reported in Crimea and border crossings into mainland Ukraine were blocked briefly earlier this month after Russia said two security personnel had been killed during an alleged incident with a group of Ukrainian saboteurs. Kyiv called the Russian claims preposterous.

Russia is also scheduled to hold previously announced war games in southern regions called Kavkaz 2016, which will included thousands of personnel and hundreds of heavy weapons and other equipment.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that troops have been put on combat alert as part of the drills, which were taking place in military districts that encompass Crimea and Russian regions bordering Ukraine and regions bordering the three Baltic nations, all of which are NATO members.

The ministry said the drills will last until the end of the month and involve a variety of units, from paratroopers to Northern Fleet naval ships. It also said foreign military attaches posted in Moscow had been notified of the exercises after they began.

Like NATO and many countries, Russia regularly holds exercises to test its armed forces' capabilities. But some analysts say Moscow is increasingly using unannounced drills as a means to threaten neighbors or to clandestinely position equipment or personnel for future operations.

In March 2014, following the violent Kyiv street protests that drove the Russian-allied president from power, Moscow announced snap military drills in its southern and western military districts. In the weeks that followed, masked and armed camouflaged soldiers appeared suddenly around Crimea and the peninsula was ultimately annexed by Moscow.

The drills that began on August 25 caused alarm in neighboring Poland, also a NATO member, where Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz called an urgent briefing of military intelligence and other units including Operational Command, which oversees Poland's air defenses.

With reporting by AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-large- military-exercises/27945761.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






Analysis: Turkey Invades Syria As Race For Northern Aleppo Heats Up

August 24, 2016

by James Miller

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?

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ tracking-islamic-state-turkey-syria- northern-aleppo-kurds/27944150.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






Daesh Militants Leave Syrian Jarabulus, Retreat to Aleppo Amid Turkish Offensive

Sputnik News

20:41 24.08.2016

The Daesh militants are leaving the Syrian city of Jarabulus, which they controlled for over two years, following Turkish offensive, local media reported Wednesday.

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.

Daesh overran large areas of Syria and Iraq in 2014 amid the ongoing civil war in Syria. It is outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United States.t

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Operation in Jarablus Aims to Stop Democratization of Syria - Kurdish Party

Sputnik News

20:10 24.08.2016

The military operation by Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, to rid the Syrian border town of Jarabulus of Daesh militants is in reality an attempt to prevent Syria from democratization, co-chair of Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) Saleh Muslim told Sputnik.

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.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier on Wednesday that the operation was aimed at stopping the threats posed by Daesh and Kurdish militants.

According to the local Kurdish authorities, at least 29 civilians were killed and over 3,000 were forced to flee the northern Syrian town of Jarabulus because of the Turkish airstrikes.

Earlier in the day, a representative for the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in France, Khaled Isa, told Sputnik his party demanded that Turkey immediately withdraw from Syrian soil and stop supporting terrorist groups.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Turkey-Backed Free Syrian Army Takes Control of Jarablus

Sputnik News

19:50 24.08.2016(updated 20:08 24.08.2016)

The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army has taken control of the northern Syrian Jarablus that had been controlled by Daesh, Anadolu news agency reported.

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.

The Dogan service reported earlier that FSA fighters seized all government buildings in the northern Syrian town on the western bank of the Euphrates.

Syrian Kurds and Damascus accuse Ankara of violating the territorial integrity of the Arab republic.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






U.S., Allies Vow To Hold Syria Accountable For Chemical Attacks

August 25, 2016

by RFE/RL

The White House and its NATO allies vowed to hold Syria and the Islamic State accountable for chemical weapons attacks documented by a United Nations investigation.

"It is now impossible to deny that the Syrian regime has repeatedly used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said following press reports revealing details of the UN's investigative report on August 24.

"The United States will work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, including through the United Nations Security Council," he said.

"We urge all UN member states and parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including Russia and Iran, to participate in this effort."

The UN investigation established that President Bashar al-Assad's forces carried out at least two chemical attacks in Syria and that IS militants used mustard gas as a weapon.

The investigation determined that Syrian government helicopters dropped chlorine on the towns of Talmenes on April 21, 2014, and Sarmin on March 16, 2015.

The investigations also determined that the IS "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 province on August 21, 2015.

While UN investigators were able to identify the perpetrators of three chemical attacks carried out in 2014 and 2015, they were unable to draw conclusions in another six cases. They said they will continue investigating those cases.

Price said the findings "present yet another opportunity for all nations to speak with one voice to address these heinous crimes and to make it clear that the use of chemical weapons is intolerable."

His statement sent a veiled message to Russia, which worked with the United States in 2013 to try to eliminate Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons and has backed Syria in its five-year war against rebel forces.

President Barack Obama recently warned Russia it faces international rebuke if it continues to make common cause with Syria's brutal regime.

Russia and Syria did not immediately respond to the UN report.

Russia and China in the past have fended off moves by the United States, Britain, and France to impose UN Security Council sanctions on Syria.

The 15-member Security Council is due to discuss the report on August 30.

"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 UN Samantha Power."We strongly urge all states to support strong and swift action."

France and Britain also said they will push for UN action.

"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," said France's UN Ambassador Alexis Lamek.

"The use of these weapons is abhorrent and we unequivocally condemn those who unleash them," British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said. "This council must stand ready to demonstrate a robust response to this report."

With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ us-allies-vow-hold-syria- islamic-state-accountable-chemical-attacks- united-nations-security-council/27944636.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






News / National

by Stephen Jakes

HIGH Court Judge Justice Francis Bere on Tuesday 23 August 2016 ordered authorities at the state-run Midlands State University (MSU) to reinstate a university student whom they had suspended for allegedly wielding an offensive placard.Archbold Elias Madida had been suspended from MSU for allegedly holding a placard inscribed "MSU Students support MDC-T", within the university's premises following an anti-government protest staged in Gweru in Midlands on Saturday 13 August 2016 by the MDC-T party. The MSU authorities had claimed that Madida's conduct is "harmful to the interests of the university".However, Madida through Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) member Takashinga Pamacheche of Gundu and Dube Legal Practitioners filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court in Bulawayo, challenging his suspension as victimisation and seeking an order to have it set aside.On Tuesday 23 August 2016, Justice Bere ordered MSU and Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe, who were cited as respondents respectively, to allow Madida to be on the university's premises, attend lectures, participate in university programmes and have access to all university facilities. Justice Bere also ordered that Madida's suspension pending the conducting of a disciplinary hearing against him be permanently uplifted.Prior to being suspended, MSU security personnel had on Tuesday16 August 2016 escorted Madida from MSU's Zvishavane campus to the university's Gweru main campus, where the authorities had scheduled to convene a disciplinary hearing for him.However, Madida's lawyer was later advised that no hearing was to take place but that just an enquiry was to be held which was conducted in the office of the Chief Security Officer only identified as Chademana. Madida denied all the allegations leveled against him and insisted that the authorities proceed in whatever manner they deem fit.Madida's lawyer also resisted attempts by Chademana to have the legal practitioner leave the university premises without her client which Pamacheche refused to do and insisted that the security personnel ensures that the MSU student travels back to Zvishavane campus as they were the ones who had escorted him to Gweru.In the end the MSU security personnel capitulated and made some arrangements to facilitate Madida's return to Zvishavane campus.
US-backed Kurds Retreat in Syria; Kerry in Saudi Arabia to Gather Support for Plan

By VOA News August 25, 2016

U.S. backed Syrian Kurdish fighters say they are withdrawing to their bases east of the Euphrates River, a day after Turkey's military and allied fighters launched a cross-border offensive. The Kurdish rebels have been a source of tension between the U.S., which views them as a key ally in the war in Syria, and Turkey, which sees them as terrorists allied with separatist Turkish Kurd factions.

A U.S.-led coalition spokesman said the Kurds moved east "to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa." However it is unclear if all of the Kurdish forces have withdrawn, as Turkey had demanded ahead of its offensive. The head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told Arab media that Kurdish militia fighters are still fighting on the western side of the Euphrates River and had even captured some ground.

Turkey's foreign minister said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had spoken with him in a phone call early Thursday and said that the Syrian Kurdish forces would withdraw. Vice President Joe Biden this week told Turkey's leaders that the Kurds would lose U.S.-support if they did not move back across the Euphrates.

Support for US Syria plan

Kerry is in Saudi Arabia Thursday to discuss U.S. military operations in Syria with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, diplomats from Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Kerry wants to shore up support for the Syria plan ahead of scheduled meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the meeting with Lavrov, the two sides will try to come to an agreement over military cooperation and information sharing in a bid to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria.

Russia's foreign ministry expressed deep concern about the Turkish border operation, especially Turkey's targeting of Kurdish militia fighters. It said that Turkey, by targeting both Islamic State militants and Syrian Kurds, could further inflame the Syrian civil war, leading to "flare-ups of inter-ethnic tensions between Kurds and Arabs."

Middle East analyst Theodore Karasik tells VOA that Turkey's military offensive on Syrian territory risks further complicating the war, influencing the shifting alliances among various militia factions that have made it difficult for any one side to dominate the conflict. He says Turkey risks escalating the conflict, however Secretary Kerry's meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir in Jeddah Thursday and with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva Friday appear designed to "coordinate as best possible what comes next."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






3 Taiwan Political Figures, Set to Speak at Forum, Denied Entry to Hong Kong

By VOA News August 24, 2016

Beijing has barred three Taiwanese political figures from attending a forum in Hong Kong, according to event organizers.

Representatives of the CS Culture Foundation, a prominent Hong Kong-based organizer of cross-strait forums, said the China Liaison Office in Hong Kong announced Tuesday that three speakers would be denied entry to the city.

One of the scheduled speakers, Yang Wei-chung, a former spokesman for the Kuomintang party, said he was denied a visa at the last minute, even though it had been approved.

The two other speakers  political scientist Fan Shih-ping, who was a member of a consultative committee of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, and lawmaker Kuo Jeng-liang, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party  described last-minute denials that came without explanation.

'Inappropriate' selection

Susie Chiang Su-hui, chairwoman of the CS Culture Foundation, said Beijing officials told her Yang's involvement with a government committee tasked with investigating assets of Taiwan's pro-mainland China party made him an "inappropriate" selection as guest speaker.

The other two speakers, Chiang said, were rejected based on prior expressions of support for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's Democratic Progressive Party.

"I had thought Hong Kong is ruled by the people of Hong Kong, and they enjoy a high degree of autonomy," Yang posted on Facebook in response to the situation, expressing hope that the ban would be lifted quickly. He also vowed the ban would not force him to "change words and deeds."

While Chiang said Beijing officials hadn't said whether the ban represented a new policy or how long it would be implemented, reports from Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office indicated the ban was set to apply to anyone officially associated with Tsai's DPP.

The biannual forum on cross-strait relations has always included politicians and scholars from both major Taiwanese parties, Chiang said. Even during the administration of former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, a leading advocate of Taiwanese independence, no speakers were denied entry, she added.

No comment on 'individual cases'

At a Tuesday news conference, a Hong Kong government spokesman refused to address the banning of the three speakers, saying he could not comment on "individual cases."

Last week, amid rumors that Taiwanese legislator Hung Tzu-yung was planning to visit, a government official said "advocates for Taiwan independence are not welcome."

Hung's New Power Party, which emerged from Taiwan's 2014 Sunflower Student Movement, advocates Taiwan independence along with a range of civil and political liberties.

Chou Yung-hong, former deputy director of Taipei's DPP propaganda unit, told VOA on Wednesday that he could not say whether the ban indicated a deterioration of the cross-strait relations, but he said that "it is not helpful to resolving the impasse."

"The forum intends to find a way to break the deadlock, but Beijing won't even let them go to Hong Kong, which is the basic step and the precondition," said Chou, who blamed Beijing for creating the deadlock by asking Taiwan to abide by the "1992 consensus," which DPP officials reject.

Taiwan's Wu Shi-huai, a retired deputy army general, told VOA the ban's impact on cross-strait relations was apparent, but that he did not expect Beijing to impose a "total block" on DPP officials.

This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Mandarin service.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Syria won't reach democracy with Assad, Erdogan says

Iran Press TV

Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:32PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Syria will never "reach democracy" under the leadership of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Erdogan made the remarks on Wednesday following a joint press conference with visiting US Vice President Joe Biden and hours after the Turkish military launched an operation on Syrian soil under the pretext of fighting terrorism.

The Turkish president also noted that Turkish-backed Syrian militants had retaken the Syrian town of Jarablus from Daesh Takfiri militants following the incursion that involved Turkish tanks and special forces supported by US and Turkish fighter jets.

"As of this moment, the Free Syrian Army and residents of Jarablus have taken back Jarablus. They seized the state buildings and official institution buildings in the town. According to the information we just received, Daesh had to leave Jarablus," he said.

In his turn, Biden said the US hoped to continue to work closely with Turkey in the battle against Daesh.

"We believe very strongly that the Turkish border must be controlled by Turkey, that there should be no occupation of that [Syrian side of the] border by any group whatsoever other than Syria that must be whole and united but not carved in little pieces," he added.

Erdogan said earlier in the day that the operation in northern Syria was launched against such "terror groups" as Daesh and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) - a US-backed Kurdish group based in Syria - that "constantly threaten" Turkey.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has announced that Ankara's incursion, which the Syrian government has condemned as an "aggression" against the Arab country, will continue until fighters from PYD-affiliated Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) return to the east of the Euphrates river.

'No reason to shelter Gulen'

During the press conference, Erdogan also noted the Turkey's priority is the swift extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based opposition figure viewed by Ankara as the mastermind of a failed coup in the country.

"The agreement between the United States and Turkey requires the detention of such people. This individual continues to manage a terrorist organization from where he is," said Erdogan.

The coup happened on July 15, when a faction of Turkish armed forces attacked government buildings using tanks and helicopters, in an attempt to seize power from Erdogan. Relations between the US and Turkey soured after Washington refused to extradite the cleric.

"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," said Biden, adding, "We have no reason to shelter someone who would attack an ally and try to overthrow a democracy," he added.

Earlier, Biden held a joint press conference with Yildirim, in which he denied his country's involvement in the failed coup against the Turkish government, insisting that Washington is the best friend of the Turkish people.

"The US did not have any foreknowledge of what befell you on the 15th (of July)," Biden said, while condemning the "treasonous" act by the Turkish armed forces involved in the botched putsch.

"The people of Turkey have no greater friend than the United States of America," he added, while emphasizing the continuation of Washington's "unwavering support" for Turkey.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Biden: US Will Listen to 'Every Scrap of Evidence' in Gulen Extradition Request

By Ken Bredemeier August 24, 2016

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.

"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.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Turkish military deploys 9 more tanks to north Syria: Reports

Iran Press TV

Thu Aug 25, 2016 8:25AM

At least nine more Turkish military tanks have entered northern Syria a day after Ankara began its first major US-backed incursion of its southern neighbor in what it called an anti-Daesh operation.

With the new deployment, there are now some 20 Turkish tanks inside Syria, Reuters quoted an unnamed Turkish official as saying on Thursday.

"We need construction machinery to open up roads ... and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armored personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed," the official said.

The so-called Operation Euphrates Shield, which kicked off on Wednesday morning, involves the Turkish air force and special ground forces.

Ankara says the offensive is aimed at ridding the border area of Daesh militants and Kurdish forces.

The Turkish military is supporting a ground offensive by hundreds of pro-Ankara militants in Syria, who managed to enter the Syrian border town of Jarablus in a lightening advance after meeting little resistance from Daesh terrorists there.

The offensive was launched in coordination with the US-led military coalition purportedly fighting Daesh since 2014.

On Wednesday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara's military operation in Jarablus would continue until fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) move back to the eastern bank of Euphrates.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with private Haberturk television news network, Yildirim said it is necessary to purge Jarablus of PYD and YPG forces, noting that Ankara has received Washington's green light during a meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden.

He underlined that the upcoming visit by President of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Masoud Barzani to Turkey would not affect the timing of the operation.

Yildirim also said it is necessary to protect Syria's territorial integrity, and that it would be disastrous if all ethnic groups wanted to establish their own state there.

"The situation would be worse than today if every single ethnic group established a state," he said.

Biden stated on Wednesday that the US administration has made it clear to Kurdish forces in Syria that they must not cross the western bank of the Euphrates River.

"They cannot, will not and under no circumstances (will) get American support if they do not keep that commitment," he commented

Biden highlighted that Kurdish forces must return to east of the Euphrates after seizing control of the Syrian town of Manbij in order to retain US support.

Ankara views the YPG as an extension of domestic militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who have fought a three-decade insurgency on its own soil.

Analysts say Turkey is using the fight against Daesh as a cover for its real mission, which is purging Syrian border areas of Kurdish militants.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Turkey Launches Anti-Daesh Operation 'Right After' Major Kurdish Victories

Sputnik News

17:55 25.08.2016(updated 18:12 25.08.2016)

Turkish leadership has stated that its military operation in northern Syria is designed to push Daesh out of Jarablus, but the offensive was launched "right after" Kurdish forces secured major victories in the region, Idris Baluken of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) told Sputnik, adding that this points to Ankara's true goals.

"The name of the offensive, Operation Euphrates Shield, indicated that these activities are aimed against the Kurds, the people of Rojava," also known as Western Kurdistan, he said.

The Turkish politician pointed to the timing of the campaign that was launched early on Wednesday. It came after the Syrian Democratic Forces, mostly made up of Kurdish fighters, pushed the militants out of a strategically important city.

"Firstly, they liberated Manbij. Then they cut communications between Jarablus and Raqqa," the de facto capital of Daesh's caliphate, he said. "Right after that Ankara made a decision to launch a military operation in Jarablus. Why was Turkey OK with Daesh's [presence in the region] for years? Ankara's true intentions are obvious."

The politician insisted that the Free Syrian Army that is taking part in Operation Euphrates Shield shares the same ideology as Daesh, adding that the FSA is mostly comprised of al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham fighters. Russia and many other countries consider these groups to be terrorist organizations.

Idris Baluken further said that Turkey has de facto become a party to the Syrian war. He added that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the AKP "deliberately" dragged the country into "the toughest war" in the Middle East.

Turkish leadership did not secure an approval from the parliament before making the decision to launch the operation. "No discussions were held on the issue since the parliament is in recess," he added. "The ruling party used this moment to deploy troops to Syria."

The politician also said that Turkey's operation will undermine Kurdish efforts aimed at achieving autonomy and self-determination in northern Syria.

 Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Behind The Scenes In Ukraine, Ties To Putin Help Power Broker Pull Strings

August 24, 2016

by Christopher Miller

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."

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine- medvedchuk-putin-prince-darkness- gray-cardinal/27943679.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






Dueling Indictments As Russia, Ukraine Target Each Other's Military Leaders

August 24, 2016

by RFE/RL

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.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ ukraine-russia-defense-ministers- shoigu-poltorak/27944106.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






News / National

by Stephen Jakes

ZANU PF supporters, Tuesday morning the 23rd of August 2016, disrupted a Community Engagement Training that was organised by Chivhu Residents Association.According to the Election Resources Centre Zimbabwe, the training, which was scheduled for 10:00 hours at Chivhu Community hall, was aimed at empowering citizens to express their voices on local governance issues with local leaders.Chivhu Residents Association sought technical support from the Election Resource Centre (ERC) in an effort to empower citizens to demand transparency and accountability from their local leaders.ZANU PF youth militia and others who claimed to be war veterans chanted political songs and demanded that the meeting be disbanded forthwith. Attendees were drawn from Chivhu Residents Association and ordinary citizens who are disgruntled over summons they were served with by the Chivhu Town Council on rate bills, yet the Council is not providing any form of service to residents.Although the police were notified of the meeting and were present at the meeting, they turned a blind eye on these rogue ZANU PF elements. The police, whose constitutional mandate is to provide law and order in a professional and nonpartisan manner, however failed to ensure that the intended process goes on well.Chivhu Residents Association and the ERC are distraught by the infringement of the freedom of association and assembly, which is a constitutional right.Chapter 4 (Section 58 and 61) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe recognizes freedom of assembly and association hence it is the right of every person and or communities to engage with their chiefs headmen, councilors and other leaders to discuss issues pertaining to local governance.The ERC notes with concern, continued trends of disruptions of community meetings which have been recorded in Bikita, Hurungwe, Chipinge and Hwedza over the last 11 months.The ERC is worried that this may be a deliberate attempt to close democratic spaces ahead of the 2018 Harmonized Elections. Given the obtaining environment, the citizens of Zimbabwe will not be able to freely participate and express themselves in the upcoming electoral processes.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

"The MDC takes great exception to the Minister of Home Affairs, Ignatious Chombo's reckless, ill  conceived and careless statement, apportioning blame of the ongoing citizen protest to President Morgan Tsvangirai.



"Chombo's misplaced utterances are typical of the Zanu PF regime's culture of denialism of the deepening political and socio-economic crisis that the regime has created through decades of economic mismanagement, looting of State resources ,rampant corruption and misgovernance.



"When Chombo and his fellow Zanu PF corrupt elites were involved in the unrestrained and unmitigated looting of state coffers and other public resources, they should have known better that the down-trodden and oppressed citizens of Zimbabwe would one day rightfully demand their share of the national cake.



"The MDC is completely unfazed by such ill-conceived and unreasonable utterances by corrupt ruling party politicians in the mould of Ignatious Chombo.



"Instead, we call upon Chombo and his coterie of corrupt and failed Zanu PF regime apologists to listen to the people and immediately address pressing national issues such as the deepening socio-economic crisis where millions of young Zimbabweans are facing a bleak future of joblessness and hopelessness.



"Chombo might be an unparalleled champion of corruption and looting but then, we would like to draw it to his attention that he cannot succeed in intimidating and bullying the toiling masses of Zimbabweans into accepting and sanitising an obviously corrupt system which has plunged them to unprecedented levels of poverty and penury.



"The overly arrogant Minister of Home affairs of the illegitimate, bankrupt and crumbling Zanu PF regime is clearly behaving like a village bully and shameless political thug. Chombo should be reminded that one day, very soon, he shall be called upon to account for the loot and filthy wealth that he has accumulated as one of the leading members of the collapsing Zanu PF regime. The people of Zimbabwe are not fools. They know, who, exactly, is behind their suffering and daily life of strife."





The Movement for Democratic Change led by former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai has called Minister of Home Affairs, Ignatious Chombo to order.Chombo on Wednesday blamed the Harare "mayhem on MDC-T leader Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party".In a statement on Thursday MDC-T National Spokesperson, Obert Gutu said:
The Wisconsin Fire Marshal's office has decided to close the case involving the May 7 fire at Buca All Day Eatery, 515 Wisconsin Ave. Jake Meister/Enterprise Staff
GREENSBORO  The Say Yes Guilford education group got a big financial boost Wednesday when it was announced that the John M. Belk Foundation will donate $5.5 million.

The foundation announced the grant at the Greensboro Partnership's State of Our Community luncheon.

Say Yes is a national effort to provide college scholarships to graduates of public high schools. Say Yes Guilford became the third community chapter last September.

Students who graduated from Guilford County high schools in June and entered college this fall became the first local Say Yes scholarship recipients.

The Belk donation brings the total of funds raised and committed for Say Yes Guilford to $41 million toward its initial endowment goal of $70 million.

For students attending a public university or community college in North Carolina, Say Yes pays a portion of their college tuition.

Students going to private universities that are partners with Say Yes get a slightly different deal. Those schools will waive tuition for students from families who make less than $75,000 a year. Students from wealthier families will get Say Yes scholarships of up to $5,000 per year.

The Greensboro Partnership is the city's key economic development and business group, but the luncheon focused on education as a path toward business growth.

To that end, James B. Dudley High School received the Hubert B. Humphrey Jr. School Improvement Fund Award for offering Saturday classes to help students improve test scores.

Schools were considered based on 10 criteria, including progress from the beginning to the end of the school year, end-of-grade testing, graduation rates, parent and community involvement as well as closing the achievement gap.

The $10,000 gift, in honor of Humphrey, a former member of the N.C. House and Senate and trustee of Wake Forest University and UNC-Greensboro, will help Principal Rodney Wilds offer classes that had been suspended for lack of money.

Brent Christensen, chief executive officer and president of the Greensboro Partnership, made a surprise announcement as he closed the meeting. Effective immediately, the Partnership will return to its earlier name, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, which he said promotes instant recognition of the group's purpose "in a world of ever-shrinking attention spans."
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

There is heavy riot police presence in Bulawayo's Central Business district this Thursday a development that has unsettled residents.Scores of baton wielding police officers are seen patrolling the CBD.Local residents expressed dismay over the deployment of the police saying President Robert Mugabe's government is attempting to silence dissenting voices.Several Zapu youth members clad in party regalia are also in full force in the CBD.It was not immediately clear whether they are planning to stage a demonstration.Recently, they have been vocal on non-implementation of devolution.The city has been calm since last protests held by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA).
NEW YORK  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.

"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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 25, 2016) - Iconic Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ICM) (OTC Pink: BVTEF) (FSE: YQGB) (the "Company" or "Iconic") is pleased to announce that it has penetrated a higher conductivity zone believed to be the brine horizon in phase 1 drilling at the Company's Bonnie Claire Lithium Project in Nevada, U.S.A. Drill hole BC 1601 has been completed to a depth of 1560 feet (475 m) and shows a substantial rise in conductivity beginning at 650 feet (198 m) in a sandy unit and continuing to a peak at 1,000 feet (328 m). A map showing the drill hole location (shown as DH1, the northernmost hole) can be found on the Company's website.

The upper 600 feet (180 m) of the first drill hole is dominated by clay with only occasional sand and gravel beds. Below 650 feet (198 m) there is a significant increase in both the number of permeable beds and conductivity. Both drill cuttings, and water/brine samples were taken while drilling. These samples contain drilling mud and injected water and are being tested for the purpose of determining the presence of lithium within the water/brine. Currently, perforated PVC casing is being inserted into the drill hole, where it will be cleared of all drilling mud, and a detailed uncontaminated brine sampling of all potential brine zones will be performed.

All of the sampling will be completed under the direction of an independent hydrogeologist, who will also be responsible for the security of the samples until they reach the geochem lab. Sample standards will be included with all brine samples submitted.

Richard Kern, Certified Professional Geologist (#11494) and CEO of Iconic is the Qualified Person who has prepared and reviewed this press release in accordance with NI 43-101 reporting standards.

Iconic Mineral's Bonnie Claire Lithium Property:

The Property is located within a valley that is approximately 30 km (19 miles) long and 20 km (12 miles) wide, the associated drainage basin covers an area of 2,070 square km (800 sq mi). Quartz-rich volcanic rocks, that contain anomalous amounts of lithium, occur within and adjacent to the drainage basin. Geochemical analysis of the local salt flats has yielded lithium values up to 340 ppm. The gravity low within the valley is 20 km (12 miles) long, the current estimates of the depth to bedrock range from 600 to 900 meters (2,000 to 3,000 feet). The current claim block covers the gravity low and the associated mud flats.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

SIGNED: "Richard Kern"

Keturah Nathe, Corporate Development

Contact: (604) 718-2800 ext 312

For further information on ICM, please visit our website at www.iconicmineralsltd.com. The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com

Forward Statement: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Iconic 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 except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

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.
Address 6 Heeley St Paddington, NSW 2021 View map Book online Features Accepts bookings, Licensed, Bar, Vegetarian friendly, Gluten-free options, Outdoor seating Prices Moderate (mains $20-$40) Phone 02 9331 6749

As restaurant names go, Tequila Mockingbird is up there with the greats: Queensland's The Codfather, Hong Kong's Ho Lee Fook, and Sydney's ThaiTanic. I could go on. But this is not the low-rent tequila-squealer bar the name might suggest. It's in Paddington, for a start, which is very definitely high-rent.

Brainchild of co-owner, Michael Fegent (ex Sake) and executive chef Regan Porteous (Riley Street Garage), this quite charming newcomer focuses on the flavours of Latin America, contemporised for the modern diner. To that end, chef Gabriel Valenti has been headhunted from Lima's Japanese-accented restaurants Osaka and Maido (currently rated 13 on the World's 50 Best list).

A narrow Paddington terrace has been cleverly tweaked by designers, Luchetti Krelle, opening with a rather glamorous bar lined with 32 tequilas and 10 mezcals, stretching into a long, slender dining room that ends outside in a greenery-fringed courtyard; with more dining rooms upstairs. It's not luxurious, but nor is it bare-bones; just smart and functional.

The barbecued lamb shoulder with red chimichurri. Photo: Dominic Lorrimer

The menu lists Raw Bar, Streets and Flame Grill as main players, and the snackage is particularly strong. A new-style ceviche taco ($7) is a crunchtastic wonton shell holding diced salmon, tuna and fruity aji amarillo chilli in a cleanly acidic green emulsion. Alpaca and mozzarella empanadas ($8) are also well done; the fried, non-oily pastry plump with shredded, long-flavoured meat that suggests it's time alpaca made the leap onto more mainstream menus.

Calamari has been brilliant this winter, and it's worth $24 to have a whole one scored, lightly charred on the parilla grill and served with ajo blanco (almond cream) and velvety roasted red peppers. Another hit is the slow-cooked barbecued lamb shoulder ($38), a good dish for two to share. The relaxed, lightly fatty meat slides off the blade bone at the prod of a fork, under an avalanche of fruity, aged, red pepper chimichurri. A jointed spatchcock ($28), however, is boring, coated in yet another creamy herb-based sauce.

And just when you start thinking there are too many emulsions, along comes a side of crunchy, firepit-cooked fingerling potatoes doused in rocoto (red pepper) puree ($9), an absolute blast of smoky, crisp skin, soft mash and fruity complexity.

The narrow Paddington terrace has been cleverly tweaked by Luchetti Krelle. Photo: Dominic Lorrimer

If you know your reposada from your anejo, then have tequila. If not, do the house cocktail ($19), a well-built mix of muddled cucumber and jalapeno chilli with Don Julio blanco, elderflower liqueur and agave syrup, the rim of the glass coated in tajin, a Mexican chilli/salt/lime sprinkle that rivals Japanese togarashi for sprinkles supremacy. Wines are influenced by Argentina and Spain, including a 2013 Casa Rojo Invisible Man Rioja ($11/$60), a tempranillo/mazuelo blend that loves the lamb.

The kitchen mantra is to keep things light, fresh and fruity; and you couldn't get a better dismount than the yuzu suspiro limeno ($15). Forget your heavy Peruvian caramel versions; this layers sweetness and light with citrussy custard, tart granita and tangy chantilly cream.

For all its tequila-ing, this is a neighbourhood restaurant first, bar second. Service is a little automatic, but it's classy, modest and well-intentioned, with a clever kitchen that keeps things simple and fresh, and not a tequila-squealer in sight. Paddington, your property prices are safe.



Terry Durack is chief restaurant critic for The Sydney Morning Herald and senior reviewer for the Good Food Guide. This rating is based on the Good Food Guide scoring system.

The alpaca and mozzarella empanada. Photo: Dominic Lorrimer

THE LOWDOWN

Best bit: They're serious about their tequila.

Worst bit: Gypsy Kings on rotation.

Go-to Dish: Alpaca and mozzarella empanada, $8 each

http://tequila-mockingbird.com.au/
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.
SHARE

By Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY NETWORK

Ford Motor said Wednesday that it is issuing recalls to fix more than 113,000 vehicles for various defects, including some for potential fuel pump issues that could cause cars to stall.

The company said it had not identified any accidents or injuries that could be blamed on the defects, but noted that the defects posed potential safety risks.

The recalls:

About 88,000 units of the 2013 through 2015 model-year Ford Taurus, Flex and Police Interceptor and Lincoln MKS and MKT. The affected vehicles have 3.5-liter turbocharged direct-injection engines. The vehicles were equipped with fuel pump control modules that could falter, potentially stalling or failing to start.

About 23,000 units of the 2017 Ford Escape sport-utility vehicle to recalibrate power window software.

About 2,500 units of the 3.2-liter diesel engine 2015 and 2016 Ford Transit vans to fix faulty fuel injection pumps. The pumps are susceptible stalling or failing to start.
SHARE

By KRISTEN DE GROOT, Associated Press

Animal cruelty charges were filed Wednesday against a Pennsylvania small-animal dealer that supplied major pet retailers like Petco and PetSmart.

Clinton Arthur Holmes, 49, of Alburtis, was cited for 28 instances of animal cruelty, said the Montgomery County district attorney's office and Douglass Township police in a statement.

The charges followed an investigation at Holmes Farm that revealed seven gerbils, seven chinchillas, six hamsters, six guinea pigs, one rabbit and one ferret weren't properly cared for, they said.

Each citation carries a punishment of up to 90 days in jail and a $50 to $750 fine per citation.

"Not taking care of an animal's basic needs like providing medical care is taken seriously under the law, and personally, having pets, it's hard for me to understand," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele.

A message seeking comment from Holmes wasn't returned.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report on its January inspection of Holmes' Chinchilla Ranch at the farm that said inspectors found dozens of animals in need of veterinary treatment for symptoms ranging from hair loss to eye abnormalities to lethargy.

USDA spent several days at Holmes' farm after an animal-rights group shot video purporting to show substandard conditions at the dealer's facility in Barto, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where it kept thousands of hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and other species.

The video, which People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals shared with The Associated Press, included scenes of bins with dead guinea pigs; dishes filled with what appeared to be fouled water; loose cats that PETA said preyed on hamsters, mice and rats; live rats stuffed in a plastic bag and placed in a freezer; and a "waste-filled cooler" where dozens of small animals of varying species were dumped and gassed, "sometimes ineffectively," PETA said.

Petco said in January it severed its relationship with Holmes. PetSmart announced in May it had severed ties with Holmes, and Pet Supplies Plus also severed ties several months ago.

"It's too late for the animals at Holmes Farm who were frozen alive and denied care for injuries and illnesses, but the man responsible must now answer for what they went through," said PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch in a statement. "PETA urges shoppers to remember that animals sold in pet stores come from massive warehouses  and never to buy from stores that sell live animals."
SHARE

By Staff Report

Rescuers found the body of Brady resident Carlos Rios, 71, in Brady Lake about 7:20 a.m. Thursday.

The McCulloch County Sheriffs Office, members of the Brady police and fire departments along with several Texas game wardens searched for Rios, who went missing about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday. Brady police were notified about a truck and boat trailer that was backed into the public boat ramp near the east corner of Brady Lake, according to a Brady PD news release.

The caller told police the truck was running, the trailer was partially in the water and the boat was drifting away from the dock.

Law enforcement were unable to locate the vehicle and boat's owner and began a water search near the dock. The search was called off about 8:30 p.m. because of the dark, but resumed at day break with additional resources, the release stated.

Justice of the Peace Maggie Sawer pronounced Rios dead about 8:30 a.m. on the scene. No foul play is suspected and an autopsy has been ordered, the release stated.
SHARE

By Matthew Waller

A Dove Creek resident who wanted to join two of his Dove Creek properties so that he could shoot on them was given approval by Tom Green County commissioners over the objections of his neighbors.

The application to unite the two 5-acre lots had been tabled from a Commissioners Court meeting last week, when commissioners said they would consult with attorneys.

"This court does not have the authority to deny the replat," Precinct 4 Commissioner Yantis Green said at Tuesday's weekly meeting of the court. "The solution for the homeowners is to change the rules and regulations of the subdivision."

Robert Maskill, the property owner, has said he hopes to save about $50 a year in dues to the homeowners association by having a single large property instead of two smaller ones. He also looks forward to shooting  carefully, he said  on his land now.

The commission cited Texas law which governs discharge of some types of firearms on properties larger than 10 acres.

His neighbor, Ralph Filburn, did not like the thought of the commissioners not being able to deny a replat.

"I think each case needs to be judged on an individual basis," Filburn said.

He wanted for safety to be of first concern.

He said common sense dictated that any firing on a tract of land just over 10 acres  the size Maskill needed to shoot on his property  would cross into another property and violate the law.

"I do not buy the argument by your esteemed lawyer that you can't disapprove," Filburn said.

Filburn cited a news article about boys getting shot, possibly by hunters. People in a similar situation in Dove Creek as a result of the replat would have the right to ask "What were you thinking?" Filburn said.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Aubrey DeCordova told Filburn there were other remedies for his concerns.

"What irritates me is that it rests with you," DeCordova said, noting that Maskill's neighbors should be able to regulate themselves through the homeowners association. Filburn said that process would take too long.

Matters concerning gunfire across property lines can be taken up in the civil and criminal courts, Green said.

In other actions, commissioners:

 Affirmed removing a tax exemption for businesses with goods in transit in warehouses. "It's not a new tax," Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Floyd said, referring to the matter which came up at last week's meeting.

Commissioners found that they had already given an order making businesses pay taxes on their goods in transit.

"The Legislature recognized this as large companies taking advantage of this loophole," Green said, a reference to big businesses keeping their goods stored to avoid taxes.

Green said removal of the tax exemption wouldn't have a big effect on Tom Green County now. Staff at the Tom Green County Appraisal District said there were no goods in transit in San Angelo. If San Angelo became a hub of transportation in the future, it might help the county, Green said.

In order not to scare away businesses by getting rid of the exemption in Tom Green County, the county could offer rebates and other tax incentives, Floyd said.

 Decided not to ban aerial fireworks because of the wet weather.

"I think we've had enough rainfall to get us through the holiday season," said Ronnie McEnery, the owner of Bad Boys Fireworks in Tom Green County, who was at Commissioners Court to weigh in.

 Allowed for an interlocal agreement between the county and the city of San Angelo to let the city pay about $94,000 for elections equipment and more than $2,100 in maintenance so that the city can have elections in every year. The county doesn't have to contract with the city in even numbered years, county elections administrator Vona McKerley said, but the interlocal agreement would allow for the city to hold the elections during those years.
Graphic Illustration

SHARE

Presidential candidates facing defeat often try to change their image.

Vice President Hubert Humphrey broke with President Lyndon Johnson and called for halting U.S. bombing in Vietnam. Moderate centrist Al Gore sought to turn himself into a raging populist. President George H.W. Bush took to hurling verbal epithets at his rivals. And Bob Dole started condemning press failure to spotlight Bill Clinton's shortcomings, thundering daily, "Where is the outrage?"

All still lost.

Now, trailing Hillary Clinton in almost every key state, Donald Trump is changing the tone  but not the essence  of his outsider presidential campaign. After spending 14 months spewing verbal venom and denigrating ethnic groups and rivals, Trump has abruptly, but imprecisely, expressed regret if his words hurt anyone, lowered the boisterous tone of his speeches and tempered some of his most controversial positions.

He's presumably trying to convince voters that, contrary to current attitudes, he has the proper temperament to be president. A lot will depend on whether Trump is able to maintain his new tone and, if he can, convert enough skeptical voters.

Even before this, Trump stopped referring explicitly to his oft-stated vow to ban all Muslim immigration to the United States. Instead, he talks of requiring "extreme vetting" of immigrants from areas where terrorism is rampant, presumably stiffening the lengthy checks now being made.

Though he made a strict immigration policy a cornerstone of his campaign from the very first day, including promising to forcibly deport millions who are here illegally, he now seems to be leaving open the possibility of modification. Asked Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" if Trump was changing the forced deportation plan amid rumors he signaled a change to his Hispanic advisory group, new campaign manager Kellyanne Conway replied, "To be determined."

Meanwhile, though Trump has yet to address any African-American audiences (among whom polls show he has virtually no support), he started stressing the "deep personal importance to me" of helping African-Americans. He said he wants to make the GOP again the party of Abraham Lincoln, declared Clinton "would rather provide a job for a refugee from overseas" than for an African-American youth, and asked African-Americans  while addressing a mainly white suburban Michigan audience  "What the hell do you have to lose?"

So far, this "new Trump" has been mostly rhetorical. He has made no explicit apologies to those he assailed: the Mexican-American judge whose heritage he lambasted, the Gold Star family whose motives he questioned and the journalist whose disability he mocked. He still blames President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for creating the Islamic state and still makes unsupported promises of lowered energy bills, factories sprouting coast-to-coast and a sharp drop in crime.

Trump supporters and some who know him contend the lowered volume and less bombastic language represents the real Trump, not the persona he adopted for political purposes. His goal, many analysts agree, is aimed less at attracting support from minorities than at regaining lost support among moderate GOP suburbanites.

"I have always been the same person," Trump tweeted recently, adding "it would be very dishonest to supporters" for him to change now.

But voters could be forgiven if the last week left them baffled about what was real and what was not  and which Trump they would get as president. Their conclusion may determine if he can give Clinton a run for her money in the campaign's home stretch.

The reason is that Trump's tone has been a significant factor in the public's judgment that, so far, he has not shown the temperament to be president. In last week's NBC News Survey Monkey weekly tracking poll, only 17 percent agreed Trump had the personality and temperament to serve, including barely more than one-third of Republicans, compared with Clinton's 42 percent.

But tone is not Trump's only problem. Another is the sense, underscored by his consistent avoidance of details and his frequent misstatement of facts, that he lacks knowledge about government in general and the specific issues he would have to handle as president.

The forthcoming presidential debates will test both factors. They remain Trump's best chance to show who he really is and what he would do as president, and to overcome the underlying doubts of many voters.

Carl P. Leubsdorf is a columnist for The Dallas Morning News. Contact him at carl.p.leubsdorf@gmail.com
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

Heal Zimbabwe takes note of the disturbances that characterized the demonstration against police brutality that was organized by the MDC-T Youth Assembly on 24 August 2016.



What started as a peaceful demonstration ended violently and led to a total lockdown of Harare central business district (CBD) as police fought running battles with protestors.



In the melee that ensued, riot police started using water cannons and tear smoke to disperse crowds around the CBD. Ordinary citizens who were not involved in the demonstration were caught unaware and affected.



The discharge of a tear smoke canister into a commuter omnibus with people inside including children shows the reckless manner in which the concerned police officers execute crowd control.



Such carelessness is a cause for concern since it only escalates anger against the police and begets violence from citizens. Constitutionally, the police are supposed to protect and secure the lives and property of people.



To date, a total of 59 people have been arrested for inciting violence during the demonstration.



Heal Zimbabwe also urges citizens to desist from resorting to violence to register grievances. Heal Zimbabwe condemns the burning of state vehicles as witnessed during the demonstrations.

Riot police have been condemned for its reckless behavior during street protests as they are endangering lives of people who are not participating in demonstrations.In a statement Thursday, Heal Zimbabwe said such carelessness is a cause for concern as it only escalates anger against the police.On Wednesday, riot police threw a teargas canister onto a moving kombi with passengers in Harare.Below is Heal Zimbabwe statement in full :Such acts have a bearing on tax payer's money which will be used to recover such costs by the state. Heal Zimbabwe implores citizens to continue using peaceful, non-violent means to register grievances.
SHARE

The following editorial appeared in Monday's Chicago Tribune:

Twenty years ago Monday  on Aug. 22, 1996  President Bill Clinton signed a welfare-reform bill that he hailed as the fulfillment of his campaign promise to "end welfare as we know it." At the heart of it were two new rules: Recipients were required to seek work, and they were subject to time limits. The central goal was to reduce poverty and its associated ills by averting long-term dependency.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act could be seen merely as an effort to save money. More important, though, was fostering the self-respect and independence that go with holding down a job and proving one's economic value. The old welfare system, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, didn't do those  one reason it was widely deplored.

By its own standards, welfare reform has been a success. The new system, called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, exceeded the most optimistic hopes. In a decade, the number of people getting welfare dropped by two-thirds, and the majority of women leaving the rolls were able to find jobs. Critics feared a million people would fall into poverty  but the poverty rate fell, particularly among blacks and children.

"The 1996 law created strong incentives, both positive and negative, for the most uneducated, untrained and unpromising welfare recipients to join the workforce," Ron Haskins and Peter Schuck wrote in a 2012 Brookings Institution analysis. "Poor mothers responded to these incentives even more resourcefully than most policymakers had expected, despite their often chaotic domestic circumstances."

The Congressional Research Service reports, "In 2013, the official poverty level was still below pre-1996 welfare reform levels, despite two recessions since 1996."

The Great Recession severely tested the program, throwing people out of work and making jobs harder to find. But work participation by recipients remained far higher even after the downturn than it had been before welfare reform.

Work requirements didn't accomplish all of this alone. Another factor was the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which supplements the wages of low-income workers. Providing more than $5,500 a year to families with two children, it has been "the single most effective antipoverty program targeted at working-age households," according to the Tax Policy Center.

Nor was welfare reform a cure-all. In the wake of the Great Recession came a sharp increase in the number of people applying for federal disability benefits, which don't carry the same work mandate. The federal food stamp program, known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has grown considerably, partly due to more generous eligibility rules and partly to hardship.

Even some advocates of welfare reform say it has sometimes been implemented badly. Some states have used their federal block grants, which were set at a fixed amount in 1996, for purposes only faintly related to combating poverty. As the official who oversees Oklahoma's program told Slate, "We pay for a lot of other important things with TANF dollars."

But some valuable lessons have been learned. One is that given sensible incentives, a lot of people are able and willing to join the productive sector. Another is that when cash assistance carries a work requirement, it creates better feelings not just in taxpayers but in recipients.

At the 1996 signing ceremony, President Clinton recalled his encounter with a woman who had left the rolls after finding a job. When he asked her the best thing about being off of welfare, she replied, "When my boy goes to school and they say, 'What does your mama do for a living?' he can give an answer."

Welfare reform was an admirable attempt to combine two ideas: that Americans have an obligation to help women and children who fall into poverty, and that those they help have a duty to help themselves. It struck the right balance then, and it still does.
Opinion / Columnist

So Evan Mawarire, who is masquerading as a Pastor is now in the United States of America where he is telling the world that he has gone into "temporary exile after pro-ZANU (PF) government operatives threatened to abduct my children and rape my wife".During a live interview with the pirate Studio radio station in Washington DC, USA, the dubious Pastor continued his ranting; "my family became threatened severely with many visits; my wife was threatened with rape and my kids were threatened with abduction at the school. And as their father it's my job to make sure that those people are well looked after. I don't want to fail at that responsibility because that makes me who I am. It's what makes me the genuine person that people have listened to and followed, and I must protect that constituency".Addressing a seminar at the Atlantic Council think-tank in Washington DC where he shed tears on the podium for alleged crises in Zimbabwe, our cry boy or cry baby announced that he will be involved in protests by Zimbabweans at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September against President Mugabe who will be in attendance.After running away to South Africa, Mawarire also cried during a live interview. So is Mawarire a cry baby or a cry boy. It is clear that the fake Pastor is crying all his way to the bank since his tears are being bankrolled by agents of regime agenda.Allegations of intended abduction of his children and rape of his wife, at the hands of alleged pro-ZANU (PF) government operatives, are a figment of his misplaced imagination. Law enforcement agents in Zimbabwe take such matters very seriously. Did he, or his wife reported to the police about such serious threats? The answer is no. Mawarire is lying to the gullible United States of America authorities in order to enhance his chances of securing asylum in the USA. Why did he wait until he was in that country before revealing such chilling allegations? Pastors are not expected to survive on lies.Mawarire is now telling the world that he will organise protests during the United Nations General Assembly in an attempt to embarrass President Mugabe. Surely this is all about playing to the gallery. The Western paymasters will not release a cent to the Mawarires of this world if they are not seen embarking on anti ZANU (PF) activities.The United Nations holds a general assembly once every year where heads of state discuss serious issues affecting several hot spots of the world. Issues like the anarchy unfolding in countries like Syria and the rest of the Middle East as well as the threat of terrorism to world peace are what will the General assembly attempt to tackle in September 2016 and not Mawarire's imagined crises in Zimbabwe.Understandably, Mawarire is trying to please his paymasters who are sponsoring his current globetrotting. At home, he exploited some gullible Zimbabweans in order to get a visa to the United States of America; now he is exploiting Zimbabweans in the Diaspora in order to earn a living. Zimbabweans should not continue to be used by such greed people at the expense of their country.
A recent survey found that 47 percent of all voters feel more motivated to cast a ballot in the upcoming Nov. 8 election than in previous years. Many are opting to vote for policies instead of parties and top races are skewing Democratic.
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.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."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.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.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.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.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.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."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.
Indiana Governor's Race a Jump Ball

Not Too Early to Get Election (Law) Results

Runoffs Determine Winners in Some Oklahoma Races

Indiana is generally a Republican state, but it's possible that Democrats will end up controlling its three top elected offices after this fall's election.Recent polls have shown Democrat Evan Bayh, a former governor and senator, with a healthy lead in an open U.S. Senate contest. (Democrat Joe Donnelly is the state's other senator.) Things are tighter in the race to replace Gov. Mike Pence, who is the GOP nominee for vice president.Pence was running for re-election until he got the call last month from Donald Trump to join the national ticket. His replacement, Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, has understandably gotten off to a slow start. "People don't know Holcomb," said Laura Merrifield Albright, a political scientist at the University of Indianapolis. "So much of it is getting his name out there."Holcomb's task is that much harder because federal rules prohibited Pence from transferring $7 million from his campaign fund. Pence did send Holcomb nearly $1.25 million earlier this month, but Holcomb started off at a big cash disadvantage against Democrat John Gregg. "Getting out of the starting blocks has been kind of difficult for him," said Andrew Downs, a political scientist at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. "Holcomb has probably had to spend more time raising money than he'd hoped to."Gregg, a former state House speaker who ran against Pence four years ago, has been trying to blame Holcomb for the purported sins of the governor's administration. Some voters might find that a stretch, given that Holcomb only became lieutenant governor in March.Pence's approval ratings are low. But Holcomb's bigger problem might be Pence's place on the national ticket. Indiana is not one of the red states where Hillary Clinton is expected to have a chance. Nevertheless, having a native son running means much of the media focus is on the presidential race.Between that and the Senate race, it's difficult for the gubernatorial candidates to get much attention, Albright said. That's bad news for a relative unknown like Holcomb."I anticipate the race will be pretty close up until Election Day," Downs said. "We can be looking at the prospect of a governor and two senators in Indiana being Democrats."It was another busy week on the election law front, as voting rights advocates continue to challenge recent restrictions in the courts.In-person absentee voting will start as early as next month in Madison and Milwaukee, thanks to a ruling from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday. The court refused a request to stay another court's ruling striking down Wisconsin laws that restricted early voting.The result was different in Ohio. On Tuesday, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals did overturn a lower court ruling regarding early voting. The lower court had restored a six-day period in the state known as "Golden Week," when citizens could both register to vote and cast early ballots.Golden Week was eliminated by a 2014 state law, which Judge David McKeague, writing for a 2-1 majority, wrote still allows a "really quite generous" 29-period of early voting.Also on Tuesday, yet another federal appeals court, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, heard arguments in a case that turns on the question of whether Kansas can ask people for proof of citizenship when they register to vote.One idea for monitoring elections never got off the launch pad. Bob Heltman, who chairs the Henderson County Board of Elections in North Carolina, floated the idea last week of deputizing armed civilians to patrol polling places on Election Day.That approach was quickly ruled out of bounds "This is a natural consequence of [Donald] Trump's election rigging talk," wrote University of California, Irvine law professor Rick Hasen on his Election Law Blog Oklahoma held runoffs Tuesday in 13 legislative districts. In many races, the winners of the runoffs look like sure bets, with newcomers set to replace term-limited incumbents in districts dominated by one party or the other.A group called Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education has been backing teachers and other friends of traditional public education in a number of races. The group enjoyed some success in the primaries back in June, knocking off a pair of incumbents.Its momentum continued on Tuesday, when the group's preferred candidates won in two of the races that garnered the most attention.Adam Pugh, who came within eight votes of winning outright in June, came out on top in the runoff against Paul Blair. Having won the GOP nomination at the end of a long and fairly expensive fight, Pugh will now be heavily favored to win the seat being vacated by state Sen. Clark Jolley.Former Ada Mayor Greg McCortney also won a GOP Senate runoff, beating former "Amazing Race" contestant Jet McCoy. McCortney will face public school teacher Eric Hall in the race to replace outgoing Democrat Susan Paddack.
More than 70 state and local governments have been censured for failing to disclose certain financial information about bonds they sold to investors, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced Wednesday.The SEC reached settlements with 71 governments across 45 states as part of a voluntary self-reporting program called the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative (MCDC). Only five states -- Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Oregon and Rhode Island -- had no governments or government entities censured.The number of citations show the problem is widespread and pervasive, said SEC Enforcement Director Andrew Ceresney in a statement.MCDC is part of the commission's push for better transparency in the municipal market. Under the program , governments had to review documents associated with bonds they issued over the past five years. If they found anything amiss -- be it that they failed to disclose a previous annual financial report or didn't notify investors of a credit rating downgrade after the sale -- they could voluntarily come forward and obtain favorable settlement terms.A common muni market assumption has been that smaller governments without much experience issuing bonds are the ones that have problems keeping up with their financial disclosures. But Wednesdays release shows that financial timeliness is a national issue, said Standard & Poors analyst Geoff Buswick. "There are states, state transportation departments  major issuers of debt listed here," he said. "It shows that the SEC is looking to tighten [disclosures] up and wants every level of government to step up their game.In the list of settlements , most of the infractions involved a government filing an annual financial report more than six months late, and failing to file a late notice with the municipal securities online clearinghouse known as EMMA.But a number of oversights were worse. The city of York, Maine, filed its 2006 financial report more than three and a half years late. It subsequently filed its 2007 report more than two years late and its 2008 report more than a year late. Fairfield, Conn., had similarly late timelines with its annual reports in the late 2000s. In both cases, the late filings were not disclosed by those governments in subsequent bond offering documents.In 2014, Chelsea, Mass., said in a bond offering statement that it always had complied with federal disclosure requirements when, in fact, it had only just released its 2010 financial report -- nearly three years late. Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Transportation failed to file its fiscal 2006-2010 audited financial information and operating data with EMMA, even as it was in the middle of selling more bonds in 2011. And in Central Illinois, the Blue Ridge Community School District sold bonds in 2012 without disclosing that it had yet to file the previous four years of audited annual financial statements for investors.Largely as a result of governments self-reporting, the settlements did not call for monetary fines. But they do require issuers to establish appropriate procedures and training regarding their financial disclosure obligations. The SEC also requires the governments to disclose its MCDC settlement in future bond offerings.Wednesdays announcement was the first time the SEC released information about its MCDC settlements with issuers. Over the past year, it has announced settlements, including fines, with 72 financial firms -- representing nearly all the firms in the municipal underwriting business. Those penalties have included a maximum fine of up to $500,000 for the largest underwriters.Outside of self-reporting, the SEC has been less forgiving. In 2013, the commission charged a school district in Indiana and its municipal bond underwriter with falsely stating to bond investors that the district had been properly providing annual financial information and notices. The underwriting firm agreed to pay roughly $580,000 to settle the charges while the underwriter and the school district were slapped with a one-year ban from the securities industry.
Four years ago this month, San Bernardino, Calif., filed for Chapter 9 protection. Today, its still in Chapter 9 -- the longest municipal bankruptcy in recent memory.Why so long? Many blame it on San Bernardinos lengthy and convoluted charter, a document that gives so much authority to so many officials that its completely ineffective. It gets everybody in everybody elses business, said City Manager Mark Scott. And it keeps anybody from doing anything.As a result, officials have spent the last two years trying to ensure the current charter is not part of the citys future. A specially appointed committee is proposing to completely overhaul it.At issue is that unlike many California cities that either have a strong mayor/council form of management or a strong city manager government, San Bernardinos is a hybrid, doling out authority to both sides. For example, fire and police chiefs are appointed by the mayor and subject to approval by the council, but report to both the mayor and city manager. This confusing structure played a role in the citys road to insolvency. Youd have to say, Scott said, the charter made it almost impossible to succeed.The cause of the citys bankruptcy obviously cant be pegged to just one thing. But other municipal bankruptcies have tended to falter thanks to major ticket items. For instance, Stockton, Calif., can largely blame its bankruptcy on bond debt and retiree health-care costs. Detroit had loads of municipal and pension debt.But in the case of San Bernardino, an inland city of about 200,000 people, insolvency was sneakier. It was simply an accumulation of spending more than the revenues they had to support it, said Andrew Belknap, who is regional vice president of Management Partners and has worked with other struggling California cities.Belknap said the citys overly complicated system of checks and balances in its 48-page charter and extreme turnover essentially created a stalled government: Between 2004 and 2014, the city cycled through five city managers, five police chiefs, four finance directors and five public works directors. The situation was so disorganized that by the time officials realized the full magnitude of the citys finances, it was too late to declare a financial emergency. Instead, San Bernardino officials had to declare insolvency or they werent going to make payroll. They didnt have the political and management systems in place to see this coming or act ahead of time, Belknap said.About two years into the court proceedings, officials realized that they needed to address the management confusion in order to give the city a fighting chance after it emerged from bankruptcy. The current document needs so much explanation it has been supplemented over the years by more than 100 city attorney opinions. Even rules on personnel management had made it into the charter, like directions on how to compensate police and fire fighters and defining which public safety positions had to be filled in by sworn officers.So for a little more than a year, a charter committee has been developing a new proposal based on the charters of similarly sized California cities and incorporating recommendations made by the National Civic League. The proposed charter-- now whittled down to 11 pages -- includes a key change: moving to a council-manager form of government. If approved, the city manager will have executive authority thats held in check by the council. The mayor will still be elected but will act as the legislative head of the council. The charter also would make the city clerk and attorney appointed positions instead of elected.Residents will vote on the proposed charter this November. Its not a requirement that voters approve it for the city to exit bankruptcy. Even without that change, officials expect to emerge from Chapter 9 protection sometime in the spring. But some believe the city doesnt have much of a future in a post-bankruptcy world without it. I dont foresee the city coming out of all this with this charter, said Scott. Recruiters dont want to recruit anybody [here] until we fix it."
Falling tax revenues have left a $654 million hole in the state budget, and New Mexico lawmakers learned Wednesday that the reserve fund for day-to-day government operations is completely drained.That operating deficit includes a $223 million carryover from spending during the fiscal year that ended June 30, and a projected $431 million shortage for the 2017 budget year, now in its second month.Legislative Finance Committee members heard the bad news from legislative staff and members of Gov. Susana Martinez's Cabinet. The numbers were more dire than anticipated because the general fund reserve balance ended fiscal 2016 in the negative."We're down to zero reserves," noted Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, who raised concerns about how the bleak fiscal picture will affect borrowing costs.The Legislature is expected to convene next month in a special session in Santa Fe to transfer money to the operating budget from an account containing cash tobacco companies paid to settle a lawsuit.The governor has yet to formally set a date for the special session. But even with the Legislature transferring money from the tobacco settlement account, general fund reserves would still total only $130 million, or 2 percent of recurring revenue, perhaps the lowest ever. That is down from over $700 million just 14 months ago, at the end of the 2015 fiscal year.Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, and Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, were among those Wednesday who questioned whether the Martinez administration knowingly spent money the state didn't have, which would be a violation of state law."We need to balance our budget by constitution," Cisneros said. "Where does this leave us?"Duffy Rodriguez, Cabinet secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration, said her staff "is working diligently every day" on a plan to restore the fund balances and show a positive year-end balance for 2016. Some of the solvency measures will include dipping further into unspent account balances and reallocating money from idle capital projects. Those measures will be brought to lawmakers in the special session.Legislators who have been through previous periods of falling revenue said both Democrats and Republicans will eventually come together and do what is needed."We have an obligation as a Legislature to do the right thing," Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said. "It may not please everyone.""It's not a crisis," Rep. Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque, said after seeing the forecast. "We'll just have to make a midyear adjustments like we do every year."Based on current revenue and the governor's vow not to approve any new taxes, the fiscal cliff deepens with a $211 million shortage projected for 2018 and reserves remaining at zero.Beyond patching 2016 spending, Martinez believes the budget for the 2017 fiscal year can be reset by cutting state agency spending. She has ordered a 5 percent budget reduction for departments under her control. Vacancy rates at many agencies, including the Corrections Department, already are at 20 percent.Estimates released Wednesday indicate the state collected $5.67 billion in revenue in fiscal 2016, about the same amount as 2010, but down 8 percent from 2015. The consensus revenue forecast calls for a $5.7 billion general fund in 2017 and $6 billion in 2018. The Legislature and the governor approved this year's budget at $6.2 billion.The tobacco settlement fund balance stands at approximately $220 million, just about enough to pay the 2016 bills, according to economists."It's not the best way to do it," said Cisneros, who sits on the finance panel, "but it's the quick and dirty way to shore it up."The state depends heavily on oil and gas revenues, which have slumped lately due to low prices. Gross receipts and income tax payments from affected companies and workers also have crippled the budget. That impact has rippled across the state's rural areas."Rural New Mexico is struggling everywhere," Ingle said, "not just the oil patch."The state Taxation and Revenue Department also reported that big data programs that analyze tax payments by companies are resulting in more refunds due to hundreds of tax credit laws on the books, and the state some months pays out more in corporate income taxes than it collects. Specific incentives for economic development also have cost the state more than anticipated, said Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla.Both Ingle and Rodriguez support going into the tax code and fixing the loopholes that are costing the state millions. "They won't be called tax increases," Ingle said, "but we'll be redoing the language to make it work."Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to have concerns about reserve funds, saying there is not enough money to weather a another recession or natural disaster.David Abbey, staff director for the Legislative Finance Committee, said bond rating agencies such as Moody's have a good relationship with state officials and may not downgrade the credit picture if lawmakers act quickly. Once budget transfers have been made, books for the 2016 fiscal year will show a positive balance."I think I've outlined the legal reasons to address this expeditiously," he told lawmakers. "The longer you wait, the harder it is to do. You can't save money that has already been spent."Operating reserves are separate from the $20 billion in state endowments that have built up over the decades from severance taxes on oil, gas and other resources extracted from state lands. Earnings from those investments transfer into general fund operations for state universities and schools based on earnings and are earmarked by the constitution.And the state is not at risk of bouncing checks -- at least for now --because there is over $1 billion on deposit with the New Mexico State Treasurer's Office that is part of the general fund but reserved for specific projects or services, such as inspections or licensing.Martinez has reiterated her pledge not to raise taxes during her tenure as governor, and Rodriguez, her Finance and Administration secretary, said that with the spending cuts the reserve funds can rebound without the need for higher taxes or postponing tax breaks promised to corporations.Rodriguez said nothing is off the table and the administration will look at education spending, but not classroom money. She said spending cuts and solvency transfers should bring fiscal 2017 reserves to 5 percent. "That would be important to bond rating agencies," she said.Rep. Larranaga remembers a revenue crisis in 1986 when lawmakers borrowed general fund money from fee-supported services in the highway department. He wondered Wednesday if money from state hunting and fishing licenses used to support the Department of Game and Fish could be tapped, then repaid."We're trying to look at everything," he said.Democratic leaders say there needs to be a gasoline tax increase or a boost in alcohol and tobacco taxes to balance the next year's budget and avoid further cuts to government services and public education.Sen. Howie Morales, D-Silver City, said state services are suffering."We're not cutting anymore," he said. "We're amputating."While lawmakers are receiving updates on several government programs during the Legislative Finance Committee's three-day meeting in Red River, no formal action is expected.
Doctors who make house calls may seem like something from Americas Norman Rockwell past. But they never disappeared entirely, and there is new evidence that home visits can play an important role in providing health care to the aged and chronically ill  while saving taxpayers millions.The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) said this month that a demonstration project has shown that delivering comprehensive primary care services at home helped to keep Medicare recipients with multiple chronic illnesses or disabilities out of hospitals, emergency rooms and nursing homes.Many of those patients are among the 37 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with more than three chronic health conditions who together consume almost three-quarters of spending for the federal health care plan for the elderly and disabled. Because they are sick, frail, and often isolated, they are prone to putting off visiting their primary care provider while their conditions worsen, leading to more expensive care down the road.But having a doctor come to them can make all the difference. And the savings for taxpayers could be significant: The CMS analysis found that house calls saved an average of $1,010 per beneficiary.A 2014 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs study estimated that home care for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic illnesses could save close to $4.8 billion a year.Doctors who make home visits say encouraging house calls could also bring savings to Medicaid, the health plan for the poor financed jointly by the states and the federal government.Theres no reason Medicaid couldnt achieve big savings as well, said Dr. Peter Boling, professor and chairman of the division of geriatric medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University and founder of VCUs house call team.Evidence of the savings from home health care has been promising enough to spawn a bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Congress that would make the demonstration project, which provides financial incentives to primary care practitioners to tend to elderly and disabled patients in their own homes, a permanent feature of Medicare.Helena Ross, the social worker program coordinator of Mount Sinai Hospitals Visiting Doctors Program in New York, said expanding the project would encourage more medical providers to go into home-based care.Ross said 18 doctors and six nurse practitioners from her program made about 12,000 visits last year to 1,600 patients in Manhattan, 90 percent of them elderly and the rest with severe conditions such as multiple sclerosis, morbid obesity or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrigs disease.Physician house calls were once a staple of American life. But over time, reimbursement rates for primary care physicians did not keep pace with those for other medical specialties, and, from the 1980s onward, it generally became more difficult to sustain primary care practices. As that happened, those who made house calls were less able to afford the losses that came with making home visits, and many retreated to office-based practices, where they could see more patients.As medical technology became more prevalent, doctors were less inclined to leave office- or hospital-based practices and their high-tech equipment, said Nengliang Yao, an assistant professor in public health at University of Virginia School of Medicine.But many doctors and nurse practitioners with patients who are housebound  because of age, chronic illnesses or disabilities  kept making house calls.In 2013, about 5,000 primary care providers across the country made 1.7 million house calls to Medicare beneficiaries, according to a study co-written by Yao in this months issue of Health Affairs.Most homebound patients live 30 or more miles from the providers who do the highest volume of house calls, Yao found. Many more would benefit from home visits if the service was available where they lived, he said.Less than 12 percent of completely homebound Medicare beneficiaries received primary care at home, according to a 2015 survey in the Journal of the American Medical Association-Internal Medicine.Between now and 2035, with the aging of the baby-boom generation, the population over 65 is expected to grow from 48 million to 77 million and, with it, the number of homebound Americans.But making house calls represents a considerable financial sacrifice for practitioners. A primary care physician in an office commonly sees 20 or more patients a day, but its rare for a doctor making home visits to see even half that number. Many doctors who make home visits also maintain an office practice in order to remain solvent.Dr. Thomas Cornwell, a family practitioner in the Chicago area, estimates that he has made 32,000 house calls to 4,000 patients over the last quarter century. But it hasnt been easy.A health care company Cornwell once worked for, which specialized in house calls, went bankrupt in 1995. Now he runs HomeCare Physicians, a small group of doctors and nurses who make house calls in the West Chicago area that is part of the Northwestern Medicine health system. The practice, he said, depends on the hospital system kicking in about $375,000 a year to cover its losses.Those who have a high volume of house calls say its impossible to make a go of it without financial support from hospitals, health care systems, philanthropy or other sources to make up for operational losses.Terri Hobbs, executive director of Housecall Providers Inc., in Portland, Oregon, said that in her 15 years with the organization, it has received about $2.2 million in grants from local foundations in order to stay in operation. The company has made more than 150,000 house calls since 1995.Medicare in the 1990s increased reimbursement rates paid to doctors for making house calls, with payments now ranging from $55 to $232 per visit depending on geographic area and medical services performed, according to the American Academy of Home Care Medicine. In most cases, however, physicians say the reimbursement doesnt cover their costs.To help ensure their financial viability, Hobbs and others who make house calls successfully lobbied for relief in the 2010 Affordable Care Act.A provision of the law authorized the three-year Independence At Home demonstration project, which began in 2012. It has been extended until 2017.When participating medical practices spend less than limits set by CMS, they receive a share of the savings. They also have to meet certain quality standards, for example, achieving low rates of hospitalizations, readmissions and emergency room visits by their patients. To participate, medical practices have to make house calls, be available 24/7, and have at least 200 Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and asthma.Seventeen practices across 15 states and the District of Columbia participated in the first two years and, according to CMS, achieved $35 million in savings. Ten practices shared in nearly $17.4 million in incentives for besting their financial and quality targets.The program saved $3,070 per beneficiary in the first year and $1,010 in the second. (CMS changed the way it calculated the savings between the two years.) CMS reported fewer hospital readmissions for the tested group, and fewer inpatient hospitalizations or emergency room visits.Hobbss Housecall Providers, in Oregon, reported that it achieved 32 percent savings in its first year in the project and 26 percent the second year. The nonprofit earned $2.3 million for those savings. Before Independence at Home, we were able to stay in the black, Hobbs said, but barely. In 2015, it made about 11,000 home visits serving 1,450 patients.Physicians who make house calls say Medicaid, which also serves a disabled population, could increase savings by encouraging more primary care home visits. House calls by doctors and nurses already may be saving Medicaid money by keeping beneficiaries out of nursing homes, which are paid for by Medicaid, rather than Medicare.The longer you can keep people out of nursing homes, the more money you are saving, said Dr. Bruce Kinosian, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvanias School of Medicine who works in the schools in-home primary care program, which does about 3,000 home visits a year for a patient population of 210.Doctors who make house calls say the home visits provide them with insights that can improve their medical care for their patients.I can see their home environment, said Dr. Eric De Jonge, director of geriatrics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C., and president-elect of the American Academy of Home Care Medicine. Are they safe in their homes, what kind of food are they eating? You can see their medication bottles, which they often dont bring into the office.For patients, the advantages are plain. Elizabeth Crane, a 92-year-old great-grandmother with multiple health problems, including asthma, severe allergies and a bad heart, lives alone in a Portland, Oregon, apartment and says she used to suffer through repeated hospitalizations because getting to her doctor was simply too arduous.But since enrolling in Housecall Providers about two years ago, shes only had to visit the hospital once. The day she spoke by phone, a nurse practitioner had just left, and two days earlier, her doctor had stopped by. I dont know what Id do without her, Crane said.For Joshua Bowler, a 41-year-old who was paralyzed in both arms and both legs after falling from a roof 11 years ago, Cornwells visits to his home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, represent far more than convenience. Transporting the inert, 180-pound man, who is on a ventilator that connects to a tube in a hole in the front of his neck, is enormously difficult for his parents, Tom and Trudy. Its also perilous.He has a very compromised immune system, said Tom Bowler. Any time he goes to a hospital, theres the risk hes going to get an infection or worsen one hes already developed.
Opinion / Columnist

Movement of Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) goons embarked on senseless hooliganism; looting shops, stoning properties and vehicles as well as burning vehicles belonging to the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation in Harare on 24 August 2016. They looted mobile phones, laptops, groceries alcoholic beverages and cash; beating up innocent people in the process. They also smashed people's mobile phones during their madness. These malcontents were staging an unsanctioned demonstration against alleged police brutality.These barbaric acts were clearly planned at that party's Harvest House Headquarters by the party's leadership which should shoulder the blame and pay compensation to victims of this insanity.Instead of being apologetic and denounce the uncalled for violence, that party's spokesperson, Mr. Obert Gutu, shamelessly said, "Our youths assembly is the most disciplined and well behaved of all political parties in this country. Those behind (the skirmishes) are infiltrators and other state agents that are causing mayhem.The police, however, should never use heavy-handed tactics. We urge them to abide by what is set out in the Constitution. The police should not be trigger happy. They should not be teargas happy".Who is fooling who here? Since when have MDC-T hooligans have suddenly become "the most disciplined and well behaved of all political parties in the country"? Zimbabweans know how violent MDC-T thugs are. They have even beaten up their fellow party members as well as petrol bombing of buses, houses and police stations in the past.It is the responsibility of organizers of demonstrations to make sure that the demonstrations are peaceful; thus MDC-T should not lie to Zimbabweans by alleging that its demonstration was infiltrated by imagined state agents to cause mayhem.Instead of showing maturity and condemn the unnecessary violence being perpetrated by his party's thugs, Mr. Gutu is complicity in urging the thugs to continue creating mayhem in the country. His calls upon the police to stand akimbo, whilst his party's goons are destroying the country, are misplaced. Is it constitutional to destroy properties and loot shops, Mr. Gutu? The police have a constitutional duty to make sure that law and order are observed all the time. The police are mandated to use minimum force to restore law and order. Provoking the police by stoning and beating up police officers as well as burning their vehicles and bases should never be tolerated. Such amount of provocation is calculated to force the police to over react so that opposition political elements can justify allegations of police brutality, and subsequently calls for security sector reforms in the country.Such shenanigans will not work as the police will decent heavily on unruly malcontents hired to create anarchy in the country. The police should not be deterred from performing their duties by failed political movements like the MDC-T which is seeking to get into power through the back door.Mr. Gutu's reaction to the mayhem which unfolded in Harare at the hands of his party's thugs, after having strategized their nefarious actions at Harvest House, confirms that the leadership of that party is behind this shameful barbarism. It is very likely that stones and catapults, used during the mayhem, were dished to the thugs by the party leadership at Harvest House.It is therefore, very logical for the police to hunt down every MDC-T thug who took part in the violence as well as the instigators and planners of this barbaric act. Such inhumane goons have no place among peaceful Zimbabweans; hence, they should be locked up for a very long time. Zimbabwe's courts should also take note of the fact that demonstrations which MDC-T arrange or participate in always end up in untold violence; hence, the need to ban them. Destruction of property, looting of shops and beating up of innocent people, under the excuse of having a constitutional right to demonstrate, is against tenets of the country's Constitution which opposition political elements always quickly refer to.
Description

GIS - 25 August, 2016: The French republic reiterated the interest to further strengthen bilateral and friendly ties with the Republic of Mauritius and reinforce collaboration in areas of mutual interests. The French republic reiterated the interest to further strengthen bilateral and friendly ties with the Republic of Mauritius and reinforce collaboration in areas of mutual interests.

This issue was at the fore of discussions by the Ambassador of France to Mauritius, Mr Laurent Garnier, this afternoon during a farewell call on the Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.

Topics raised during the courtesy call pertain to the strong bond of kinship between France and Mauritius and the way forward to further boost trade and economic relations in various spheres so as to take the relations between the two countries to new heights. Matters of international concerns were also discussed.

In a statement, the outgoing Ambassador of France to Mauritius, Mr Laurent Garnier, recalled the great confidence and optimism shown by the French companies and entrepreneurs with regard to the Mauritian economic outlook as well as the positive growth rate achieved over the recent years.

Mr Laurent Garnier was appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius in 2013 and has served for three years.
Description

GIS  25 August, 2016 : The urgency for a change of attitude and the need to serve as facilitators to the countrys economic progress was highlighted this morning by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha, at the opening of a one-day workshop on Legal Framework for Clearances and Building Permits held at Maritim Hotel in Balaclava.

I am making a request for a change of attitude at the level of establishment to move faster and really become facilitators for all those who want to build Mauritius, said Mr Bodha.

The one-day workshop on Legal Framework for Clearances and Building Permits was organised by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport in collaboration with the Building Control Advisory Council, which is responsible for, among others, formulating policies for a more effective, safe, efficient and sustainable construction of buildings. The workshop brought together officers of various ministries namely Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management; Housing and Lands; Public Infrastructure and Land Transport; and Local Government, as well as representatives of the State Law Office, Board of Investment, Mauritius Research Council, and Fire services.

The purposes of the workshop are to come up with a legal framework for all clearances and building and land use permits, and review and update regulations in line with the Building Control Act with a view to streamline, accelerate and unblock procedures, remove duplication and have a better control.

In his address, the Minister stated that, in addition to a change of attitude, capacity building as regards the local authorities is another area where improvement is critical. He underscored the necessity for local authorities namely the district and municipal councils to assess the requests for land and building permits rapidly and effectively, and to overview any project for which they deliver land and building permits.

Speaking on the 2016-2017 budget, Mr Bodha stated that it is a budget for action where Rs 200 m have been allocated for pavements and road signs, Rs 450 m for road resurfacing, and Rs 200 m for road safety. He is of the view that the country can achieve its economic growth target of 4%, provided that utilities and infrastructure projects are facilitated so that the construction and building sector takes off, bringing in its wake opportunities for job creation and investments.

The Minister urged participants to come up with pertinent proposals and recommendations, giving the assurance that the corresponding measures, whether amendments to the the law, boosts to the relevant departments, and institutional reorganisations into units, will be implemented.

For his part, the Minister of Local Government, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo, pointed out that a number of measures have been announced in the budget 2016-2017 which together with amendments to the relevant legislations in the forthcoming Finance Bill will certainly facilitate the processing obligations for issuing of clearances and permits, and accordingly improve the ease of doing business.

The Minister said that in 2015, local authorities granted some 6,913 building and land use permits which are equivalent to 1.3 million m2 area and worth about Rs 13 b in terms of investment. He added that the processing and issue of such permits should as far as possible be seamless and hassle-free for the applicants.

To this end, the Ministry has been actively participating with the Board of Investment in working sessions to further streamline the processes for determining permits in the context of ease of doing business, he added.
For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.
There is a certain peace to be found in the whirring fans and components of an old microfilm reader  the frosted glass screen and sturdy feel of the controls take you back to when research meant hours of careful study, not a few minutes in front of a glowing computer. And while using time-tested medium today is a nostalgic nod to the past, microfilm has largely given way to instant searchability and a seemingly endless stream of information online.Libraries across the United States are pinned between these two worlds  the physical and the digital. Where some have struggled to find a path forward, others have moved along and leveraged technology to open access where it had never existed before. The Maine State Library is one of those moving ahead.The librarys collection of historic state newspapers is getting some attention that will hopefully preserve the aging and save it from an imminent demise. Even the institutions microfilm collection is getting a digital hand-up with an infusion of hundreds of thousands of grant dollars from the National Endowment for the Humanities.The recently announced two-year effort to make the solid-state media available online runs parallel to ongoing efforts already underway, said the library's Director of Collections Development and Digital Initiatives Adam Fisher. But now with $275,000 in grant funding, that goal is more attainable.Master microfilm reels will be digitized through a contractor, while books and other media will continue to be digitized by library staff and volunteers.The grant will fund the digitization of master microfilm reels of historic Maine newspapers, primarily those created before 1923. We could possibly digitize stuff after 1923," he said, "but we expect that we will probably max out the grant just doing the older content."After 1922, the papers are subject copyright laws, and libraries looking to open content to the greater Internet community must content with the permissions of the copyright holders. In some cases, the companies are long gone, and ownership must be tracked down.Thats not to say that those hurdles cant be overcome, we just need to get permission from publishers and so forth to digitize those, Fisher said. Those newspapers tend to be more available on microfilm and different places, so our concern, primarily at this point, is the older content, the stuff that is at higher risk.Despite the inevitable effects of aging on any medium, Fisher said properly created and maintained microfilm is very stable, and can last up to 500 years. Some of the institutions paper copies are not so fortunate.Newsprint, or the paper newspapers are printed on, is not such a stable medium. From the low-quality, mass-production paper itself to the acidic ink that makes up the printed words it holds, some of the non-film collection is at risk of disappearing forever, which is why parallel efforts are being made to digitize print copies as well."There is a greater issue here, and thats the newspapers that have never been imaged," Fischer said. "There are some in Maine that have not been imaged and they are only available in the hardcopy and the hardcopy is in rough shape."Once scanned, library experts are able to run the pages through software that identifies the text and allows it to be searched. The files are then made available through the institutions cloud-based repository, www.digitalmaine.com , as well as the Library of Congress Chronicling America archive at www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Fisher said while digital media may be the easiest way for the greater public to access the large collection, it comes with some considerations  file longevity among them.There is some concern about the long-term stability about these files that are being created, he said. Digital is so new. Even if you look back to files that were created 25 years ago, we dont know the environmental impact of things like radiation and solar flares, if that is going to result in these files not being accessible in the future. The things that are important that we are digitizing, if they are not available on microfilm, were going to look to have those done eventually using images created as part of this project.As is the case with libraries around the country, staffing for special projects in sparse. Maine relies on volunteers to do the scanning.Lisa Jessick is one such volunteer attached to the Friends of the Libby Memorial Library in Old Orchard Beach. She and several others have spent a collective 150 hours using specialized scanners to chronicle historical collections of books and newspapers.The experience has allowed her, and ultimately the rest of the world, to see pieces of content that might have otherwise gone unshared.Its been wonderful to be able to see the results online, she said. The people that are at the Maine State Library in this particular area are so helpful with their knowledge, with sharing their information. They are so passionate about what they do. Hearing this and seeing the different projects they are working on, it gets us excited as well.Fisher and Jessick both said they are looking forward to the seeing where the project takes the state and its library network in the future.
Salt Lake City is the latest city to get Google Fiber, a fiber-optic Internet offering that boasts increased speeds and usability options.During a kickoff ceremony at the Google Fiber Space, company officials announced that a large portion of the city would have access to both residential and small commercial services effective 9 a.m., Aug. 24.The California-based company began experimenting in the fiber-optic Internet space in February 2010. Today the service is being offered in eight cities in the United States with other locations underway.Scott Tenney, head of Google Fiber business operations for Utah, said the fiber-optic service would be available to customers living within the 100 South to 800 South and 400 West and 1800 East area. Generally speaking, the service range encompasses a portion of the downtown area to the University of Utah.We have a fundamental belief that the Internet is a better place if everyone is there, Tenney said during the launch ceremony.The service offers Internet speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, and is reportedly much faster than many other service offerings on the market. Plans offered through the newly launched Salt Lake City network range from $50 to $140 per month for residential use and from $70 to $250 per month for commercial use.Neighboring Provo, Utah, was the first municipality in the state to launch the fiber-optic service in April 2013.
(TNS) -- Maryland's juvenile facilities will see an increase in technology in classrooms as part of an ongoing effort to improve the long-beleaguered education system for young offenders.The Maryland State Department of Education announced this week that 300 tablet devices will be available to youths detained in the state's 13 juvenile facilities. Officials say the new equipment will help provide "enhanced instruction" and boost student engagement."By improving student access to state-of-the-art resources, we can accelerate student achievement and prepare students for a successful transition to their community," Maryland State Superintendent Karen Salmon said in a release.State officials said staff from Talbot County Public Schools trained juvenile services teachers how to use apps on the devices for educational programs and group lessons, the release said.The announcements comes amid a multi-year effort to overhaul the education system for the state's juvenile offenders  who are entitled by law to receive the same education as their peers in public schools.In December, a Baltimore Sun investigation detailed a decade of failure by the state department of education to educate youths who cycled through the juvenile justice system.The state transferred control of the schools from the Department of Juvenile Services to the education department in 2004. The schools have been chronically underfunded and understaffed since that change.Just last year, advocates and youths described the schools as "warehouses with worksheets" where many youths veered off the graduation track or fell further behind in their studies.The Maryland State Conference of the NAACP filed a federal complaint with the Office of Civil Rights and the Justice Department on behalf of students in the state's juvenile justice education programs. Many of those students are black and need special education services.The Juvenile Services Education Program received a $3 million increase in this year's state budget, and state education officials are implementing a two-year strategic plan that includes increasing staff, resources and training.Salmon, who spent a decade as the superintendent in Talbot County and briefly oversaw the schools in the Juvenile Services Education Program before she was appointed state superintendent, has said that among her top priorities is to increase technological resources in the schools as a way to improve outcomes for the roughly 550 youth offenders the department is serving.
(TNS)  Federal and state officials gathered to applaud the groundbreaking of an electric power generation plant at Schofield Barracks on Monday that will be run on 50 percent biofuel and 50 percent fossil fuel.The 50-megawatt plant has to get at least 50 percent of its fuel supply from biofuel to satisfy federal requirements.This mixed-fuel facility is a small step in the right direction towards Hawaiis renewable energy goals, and for that Hawaiian Electric and the U.S. Army should be applauded, said Marti Townsend, director of Sierra Club Hawaii. But the reality is Hawaiian Electric needs to do significantly more right now.  This is good news, but in the context of what we really need, this announcement is definitely short of amazing.Townsend said Hawaii needs to avoid being subjected to a future of volatile fossil fuel prices and climate disruption.Gov. David Ige, who attended the groundbreaking, said the new plant is a move in the right direction.The fact that the plant is 50 percent biofuel means that the plant is using 50 percent less in fossil fuels, Ige said. That is a positive step toward our goal of achieving 100 renewable energy by 2045.Ige said Hawaii does not produce enough biofuel for the plant to run only on the resource.We need to build the capacity for a biofuel industry in Hawaii so that plants like Schofields can run on 100 percent biofuel, he said.Ige said the state may be closer to producing larger quantities of biofuels than originally planned due to companies like TerViva, which grows biofuel crops on 300 acres on the North Shore of Oahu, and Hawaiian Commercial &Sugar Co. on Maui committing to use some of its land to grow biofuel crops.Hawaiian Electric Co., the states largest utility, said it expects the plant to be up and running by spring 2018. HECO will develop and operate the plant on an 8.13-acre lot it rents from the Army.Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, said Oahu needed the plant as it works to bring more renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power, onto the grid.The island couldnt put more renewables up until this was built, Hammack said. That is one of the challenges; the island of Oahu needs fast-start base load generation so you can put up more renewable intermittent resources.  We have about 25 megawatts (of solar power) on the houses on base, and one of the things that we talked to Hawaiian Electric about is if you get too many renewables and not enough fast-start generation, the grid can go unstable.Wind and solar energy resources are considered intermittent because changes in weather can cause dramatic fluctuations of generation at the facilities. The Schofield plants generators will be capable of quickly starting up, shutting down or changing their output in response to sudden changes in solar and wind energy resources, which provide varying levels of energy depending on weather, time of day, cloud cover and other factors.Christine Harada, federal chief sustainability officer for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the Schofield facility helps get the federal government closer to its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 2008 levels by 40 percent before 2025. The goal  which includes 360,000 buildings and 650,000 fleet vehicles  was outlined in President Barack Obamas Executive Order 13693. This project is a very shining example of the federal government not just paying some lip service, but really walking the talk and taking the lead on sustainable and environmental action, Harada said.The quick-starting facility will be built 8 miles from the ocean, making it less susceptible to damage from tsunamis than facilities closer to the water.Alan Oshima, president and CEO at HECO, said the plant will better prepare the island for emergencies.When this is built, its significance is beyond just the renewables, Oshima said. It is the first plant on high ground in Hawaii. With the sea level rise that we are all contemplating, the days of the past where we relied on ocean cooling power plants  we really have to rethink that.  This will really give us the ability to cope in a much better way than we are presently able to.In the event of an emergency, the Schofield plant will be able to isolate itself to Army bases in order to provide reliable power to the Armys facilities in Central Oahu.In exchange for the land, the Army has the right to island this micro-grid to provide for itself, Oshima said.Oshima said when the Army disconnects its grid, it can also provide reliable electricity for neighboring communities and facilities such as Wahiawa General Hospital.
(TNS) -- You can spot Lauren Doherty's solar panels on a side roof during a drive down her Allen street.They're a glimmer of dark glass past a front shady tree.Nearly three dozen of these glossy panels were attached to her side and back sloping roofs a couple of years ago during one of the state's hottest months."The more people who get them, the more their neighbors will see that this is normal. It's not just the weirdo down the street," said Doherty, who installed the panels through a solar power purchase agreement with SolarCity  one of the largest residential installers in the U.S. Doherty does not own the panels and said they were installed at no cost.She was a maverick at the time for solar in her suburban Collin County neighborhood of two-story brick homes, swimming pools and tree-lined streets. Later, a neighbor added panels to her home's roof.But Doherty and other solar proponents worry that a strict solar ordinance in the city prohibiting panels on street-facing roofs could slow solar's growth. Though some of Doherty's panels can be spotted from the street, the ones she has are legal because of the placement on the roof.Doherty and other advocates say the city's current solar ordinance is unfair and prohibits some homeowners from installing panels on south-facing roofs. Experts say that's the placement that produces the most electricity over a year.Now, solar advocates are spearheading a grass-roots effort to amend Allen's 2012 ordinance as interest in solar mounts. Last year, the city received more than three times as many requests for solar installations as it did in 2010, according to city records.Allen is an outlier among North Texas cities in restricting panels on street-facing roofs. Rowlett and Highland Park also impose similar regulations. Other cities such as Dallas, Plano, McKinney and Frisco do not have solar-specific ordinances.A report last year from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory states the price of U.S solar power had dropped 70 percent since 2009. But Texas still ranks No. 10 in the country in installed solar capacity , putting it behind states like California, Arizona and North Carolina, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.Before 2012, Allen had no ordinance. Solar regulations followed a year after Texas lawmakers restricted homeowner associations from banning solar energy systems."Right now, [solar panels are] here and there, but imagine a street where every house on the street had solar panels. It would be a significant visual impact. That's the basis for the concern," said Lee Battle, assistant director for Allen's Planning and Development Department, during an August planning and zoning meeting. He said the city also has received comments from residents supportive of restricting street-facing panels.In the last few years, Flower Mound and North Richland Hills have relaxed ordinances with the help of volunteers with the North Texas Renewable Energy Group and Plano Solar Advocates -- a grassroots organization working to increase solar energy in the area. Now, the organizations have teamed with Allen residents to lobby changing its ordinance."I think solar panels are sleek and modern, but I can understand why all people don't think that," said Larry Howe, a Plano Solar Advocates volunteer and board member of nonprofit Texas Solar Energy Society. "There's a difference between having an opinion of what something looks like and making that opinion force people to not do what they want to their own property."Allen's planning and zoning commission approved a proposed amended ordinance during its Aug. 2 meeting. It's scheduled to go before the City Council on Aug. 23.The proposed guidelines are more simplified -- now less than one page -- and broadened to allow ground-mounted panels in backyards and panels on patio covers.However, it still restricts panels on street-facing roofs. That remains the divisive issue in the city.Those who object to street-facing panels' main complaint: They aren't pretty."I'm on the aesthetic side at this point. I think the technology will keep improving," said Jeff Cocking, chairman of the planning and zoning commission, during the meeting. "It's just not there."Mayor Steve Terrell called solar panels "a good thing," but said they need to become more decorative for houses. He said panels aren't a safety issue."I've only heard people say they don't like them because they look ugly," he said.Mohammed Abdalla, who founded Good Faith Energy in 2014 after a short-lived career in the oil and gas industry, has met with Terrell a couple times about the city revising its ordinance. Abdalla, who grew up in Plano, previously tried to install solar panels on his brother's street-facing roof in Allen."When we got rejected, I was just kind of in shock," said Abdalla, who has spoken publicly at several city meetings about the issue. "How can we be in 2015 ... and have a city in North Texas that is still stuck on the aesthetics of clean energy?"Abdalla denied business motives in advocating the city lift its street-facing panel restriction."[It] isn't going to change my business and make me a millionaire. It does nothing for me besides give me the opportunity to put solar on my brother's house," Abdalla said.In an email to a resident, council member Joey Herald stated he does not plan to vote to remove the city's current restrictions, calling street-facing panels "out of character with the neighborhoods we are trying to create in our community." Herald did not return a call or email for comment.But a couple commissioners were supportive of street-facing solar panels."I may not like my neighbor's brick across the street, but it doesn't allow him to not have brick on his home," said Stephen Platt, second vice-chairman who voted against the proposed amendment. "It does seem a little unfair to penalize the people who unfortunately have a home facing south."The North Central Texas Council of Governments has drafted a model solar ordinance for cities and advises against aesthetic restrictions and other regulations beyond safety, noting they are difficult to uniformly apply and enforce."While it may be normal for people to question the aesthetics of solar panels, it's really a very subjective topic," Howe said.Earlier this month, Doherty and another resident launched an online petition with 148 supporters and counting to change the ordinance. She estimates her August 2015 electrical bill dropped about 25 percent more than a year after installing the panels."A source of energy is raining onto our roofs for 12 hours a day in Texas, and we're just letting it go," Doherty said. "Let's use it."
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will upgrade the Kansas Department of Health and Environments (KDHE) Medicaid Management Information System, the company announced Aug. 9. The $215 million project, which began earlier this year, will be deployed in modules during the next three years.HPE has sold MMIS solutions to 20 states, but Kansas, which uses the interChange MMIS platform, is HPEs first modular MMIS customer. According to the vendor, the new solution is intended to strengthen the states ability to manage Medicaid policies and finances across disparate programs and agencies.The upgrade will give the state a new foundation for Medicaid, said KDHE Secretary Susan Mosier, and provide government leaders with information in near real-time that allows for better decision-making. The main technical challenge of this upgrade, she toldvia email, is ensuring that the system functions in a true modular fashion.With a fully modular system, we will be able to upgrade and enhance functionality more easily and timely to better serve our clients, she said. We will also be able to connect with other agencies, organizations and departments to share information that will allow us to provide better service and, by the system operating in a virtual private cloud, we will have the expansibility and scalability well need to more readily bring on new functions and data.Project partner health IT solutions provider Cerner Corp. will assist in the upgrade. And this approach is a departure from how states traditionally manage such systems, said Cerner President Zane Burke, because operations are typically based on retroactive claims data.This is an unprecedented opportunity, he said, to contribute to the improvement of health-care delivery and the health of communities on a statewide scale.
Kautman-Jones endorses Davis Please support Meredith Davis in her re-election to the Genesee County Board of Commissioners - 8th District. I have had...

Writer recommend Delor, Jones for GB school board I have met heard April Delor and Patricia Jones for the Grand Blanc School Board. They both have many years...

Chairman Matt Smith reminds you to vote It is important that the voters of Genesee County show up and cast their ballot on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022....
(TNS) -- Metra plans to expand the number of rail cars with free cellular Wi-Fi hot spots by 50 cars to a total of 62, officials said Wednesday.At the commuter rail service's monthly board meeting, CEO Don Orseno said the decision to expand Wi-Fi was based on positive customer response to the current program. The startup cost will be $100,000 and the annual cost about $186,000. Metra is looking for partners to help offset the costs, Orseno said.The hot spots will work for checking email and internet browsing, but not for more elaborate functions such as streaming video. In 2013, Metra looked into offering more extensive service for all cars, but found the $72 million upfront cost too steep."This is kind of a stopgap," Orseno told the board.He said the test showed the technology can meet the needs of most customers while still being affordable.The program expansion will be completed by the end of October, spokesman Michael Gillis said. To get Wi-Fi on specially marked cars, riders can select "Metra Wi-Fi Onboard" from the list of options on their electronic devices.Chairman Martin Oberman noted at the meeting that many riders can already get email and internet on their devices without the need for onboard Wi-Fi. Regarding the need for more advanced service, Oberman said he guessed just a "small number" of riders would want to watch a movie on the way to work."It may be that going forward the system is sufficient for what our customer demand is," Oberman said.Board member Ken Koehler, of Crystal Lake, said he gets more questions from riders about Wi-Fi than anything else.But a July report by TransitCenter, a New York City-based policy and advocacy group, found that transit riders surveyed nationwide listed service frequency and travel as the most important factors driving satisfaction with transit, while power outlets and Wi-Fi were the least important improvements.Metra also reported that ridership in the first half of the year over the past two years had been up by 3.3 percent during peak travel and "peak direction" times, when people are going to work downtown in the mornings and leaving for home at night. Lynnette Ciavarella, senior division director of strategic capital planning, said this could be due to an improvement in the economy.Indeed, employment in the region went up over the period.The agency, however, saw a dip in ridership for nonpeak times, such as Saturdays and midday, which may be at least in part due to lower gas prices, which make people choose a car for nonwork travel instead of the train, Ciavarella said. Saturday ridership was down 12.5 percent between the first half of 2014 and the first half of 2016, and 4.2 percent in the evenings. It was up for Sundays, by 2.9 percent.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is losing ground.After months bucking political norms and still maintaining voter support, the off-the-cuff billionaire is finally feeling a pinch at the polls. Trump continues to trail Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by eight points nationally, while polling in major battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia are leaning toward Clinton, according to NBC poll estimates The fallout has compelled Trump to make a hard-pressed acknowledgment of his possible defeat this November, and at the same time, quietly fire his former Campaign Manager Paul Manafort.Even with the concession, the reality TV star is already hinting at his alibi should he fall short of the White House. At a campaign rally in Altoona, Pa., on Aug. 12 he alleged that a poor showing could only mean one thing: "The only way we can lose, in my opinion  I really mean this, Pennsylvania  is if cheating goes on. I really believe it. Trump said, alluding to political subterfuge from the Clinton campaign.Since that rally, Trump has held to these assertions of foul play while his critics have cast them as highly dangerous for the democratic process. However, for those close to the matter  voting officials and voters' rights groups  the conspiracy theory is a bit bewildering.Pamela Smith, the president of VerifiedVoting.org , is among these. Her organization  a nonpartisan voting advocacy, accountability and research group  has gained notoriety since it was founded in 2003 for its work tracking election tech, legislation and voting procedures. In this time, Smith said incidents of voter fraud and rigged elections have been nearly nonexistent.It's frustrating because I think a lot of people may get the mistaken impression that there are some major areas of vulnerability, Smith said. But they may not be aware of things election officials do already, or the true scope of the issue.A look at current and historical data, said Smith, indicates that the potential for cheating is uniquely limited. Voter ID fraud is nearly nonexistent; purchasing votes is too tricky to cover up, at least at a national or county level; and hacking voting machines and software is ineffectual since usage of the systems is low and controlled.Because our elections are really decentralized, it's also not like there's a single point of vulnerability out of 9,000 jurisdictions we have in the U.S., Smith said.To illustrate this point, and other insights, VerifiedVoting.org has an interactive map that monitors voting technology. The civic tech tool enables users to drill down state by state, and county by county, to see how voters are using technology.As you look at it, you can see that there are a lot of paper ballots, there are a lot of recountable, auditable voting systems across the country, Smith said. In fact, there's really only a handful of states now that are exclusively using electronic voting machines.These she said are Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, Louisiana and South Carolina  only two of which, Georgia and South Carolina, are battleground states.Yet even for these states, the voting machines at polling stations are disconnected from the Internet as a safeguard, and instead, mark the ballot selections directly into memory cards. Other electronic voting systems, like optical scanners, still require voters to use paper ballots that can be audited, and used for tallies in case of a recount. The latest trend in voting, Smith said, is tech that leverages both digital and paper forms. Voters note choices digitally while paper receipts are print out as fail safes for what officials have dubbed a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).Really more than probably 75 percent of voters will vote on a machine or on a physical ballot, or on a physical machine that has a paper trail printout they get to look at and check, Smith said.In Pennsylvania, as is the case with states across the country, the voting machines are undergoing systematic inspections. In an article by the Tribune-Review , Allegheny County Elections Division Manager Mark Wolosik and Dave Ridilla, head of Westmoreland County's computer information department, said they were confident in the procedures, with tests both before and after voting to ensure proper vote counts.In my experience," Ridilla said, "there is no way to compromise these election systems.But this hasnt deterred the Trump campaign from expressing its doubts and even petitioning its supporters to act as Trump Election Observers in key swing states. Trump is encouraging these volunteers to organize Election Day surveillance efforts at polling stations, a measure to prevent voter fraud.Help me stop crooked Hillary from rigging this election! Trump writes on the signup page.Though duties for such a charge are unclear, it remains to be seen how beneficial these meet-ups will be. In many states, voter intimidation laws make it illegal to conduct political campaigning at polling sites. Further, as U.S. history attests, the nation has had political policing before and it has not ended well.In a recent op-ed inJon Grinspan, a curator of political history at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History and author of, underscored the plethora of pitfalls that have resulted from such a practice.From the 1800s onward, Grinspan said, vote monitoring has often resulted in violence, bullying and racial discrimination. In the early days, there were fights and assaults between differing political factions; later, the policing tactics were used to enforce Jim Crow laws, which kept African-American citizens from voting  something that prompted the Voting Rights Act of 1965.If the contentious  and at times violent  altercations at Trump rallies are any indication, the Trump election observers may resurrect past problems. Whats more, its likelier that the added zealotry is completely unnecessary. report from the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute at New York University, indicates that most allegations of voter fraud are baseless and the few that remain can be attributed to election irregularities and clerical error. Further, the claim of an epidemic of double-votes is equally rare.There are a handful of known cases in which admissions, poll book entries, absentee ballots, provisional ballot stubs, or other documentation indicate that one individual has actually voted twice, the Brennan Center wrote, speaking to the scarcity of incidents.Yet Smith also noted that just because voter fraud and hacking dont happen regularly doesn't give regulators a free pass on security. In certain cases, such as those living overseas, for military personnel and residents of Alaska who are all allowed to vote online, there are real vulnerabilities. There have also been vulnerabilities found in voting equipment, and while no major problem has occurred yet, this isnt to say that states shouldnt implement added protections.Its for this reason that on Aug. 15, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, in a call with election officials and members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), discussed the possibility of defining voting technology, and the cybersecurity built into it, as critical infrastructure.While DHS is not aware of any specific or credible cybersecurity threats relating to the upcoming general election systems, Secretary Johnson reiterated that DHS, the Election Assistance Commission, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Justice Department are available to offer support and assistance in protecting against cyber attacks, a DHS release observed this month.Smith said the real issue the nation should prioritize isnt voter hacking or voter fraud, but the voluntary choice citizens make each election cycle not to vote. In the 2012 presidential election, the U.S. Census Bureau reported voter turnout at only 61.8 percent, a figure down from 63.6 percent in 2008. This roughly 40 percent could make a sizable difference in outcomes, especially when considering that since 1988, winning margins in presidential elections have fell under 10 percent.I think thats the big thing, said Smith. Even if you are completely uninterested in the presidential contest, a lot of people may not know we vote on many other issues, things that affect on our lives in very real ways.
- T. S. Eliot

Thoughts After Lambeth

"The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide."
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

A ruling Tuesday that gave graduate student teaching and research assistants at private universities the right to unionize could have an impact on universities across the nation, including those in Connecticut.

In deciding that graduate students are employees of a university, the National Labor Relations Board not only reversed a 2004 decision on the subject, but it opened the door for conversations at private universities about graduate students rights.

Shortly after the decision, Yale University President Peter Salovey sent a letter to the university community expressing his disappointment.

The mentorship and training that Yale professors provide to graduate students is essential to educating the next generation of leading scholars, he wrote. I have long been concerned that this relationship would become less productive and rewarding under a formal collective bargaining regime, in which professors would be supervisors of their graduate student employees.

He noted it is the third time in 16 years that the board changed its position on the issue.

The universitys Graduate School of Arts and Sciences gives its doctoral students annual stipends ranging from $29,000 to $34,450, free tuition and comprehensive health care for all students and their families.

According to the Yale website, more than 60 percent of Yale doctoral students do no teaching at all in a typical semester. Those graduate students who do assist in teaching do so for, at most, half of their time at Yale  devoting roughly 14 percent of their time to teaching over six years of studies.

At Quinnipiac University in Hamden, officials said they are not concerned about the ruling because the university does not have its graduate students teach, according to John Morgan, a spokesman. It hasnt been an issue here, he said.

The decision impacts private universities, as graduate students in many public universities are given the right to organize under state laws.

At the University of Connecticut, for example, 2,200 students, or roughly a third of its 6,900 graduate students, serve as graduate assistants. They belong to the Graduate Employee Union-United Auto Workers, which was recognized in 2014 as the graduate assistants collective bargaining representative.

The university and union signed a three-year contract last year, which provides a 9 percent increase in stipends over the course of the contract.

At Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, on the other hand, the roughly two dozen graduate assistants who work on campus each year arent members of a union. I have not heard of there being any movement afoot to unionize them, said spokesman Paul Steinmetz.

The public university has roughly 1,000 graduate students in total.

Officials at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University and the University of Bridgeport did not return requests for comment.

In his letter to the Yale community, Salovey noted the ruling will likely lead to robust discussions on the issue.

We should embrace the chance to debate this important issue, and we will conduct this campus discussion in a manner that is proper for a university  free from intimidation, restriction and pressure by anyone to silence any viewpoint, he said. All members of the Yale community should feel free to express their views on these matters, and we look forward to constructive and respectful discussions in the months ahead.

ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

REDDING  Building on the success of its South Norwalk venture, the owners of Washington Prime have expanded with the opening of a second restaurant on Main Street in the Georgetown section of Redding.

Co-owner Dave Studwell said many customers of the SoNo location could not visit as often as desired because they lived too far from the historic district. So the owners brought the food, drink and vibe to them.

We began to think about how much we were missing out on, and how we could see them more often, Studwell said. It seemed like an easy fix, just open closer to them.

Another expansion is coming soon as the owners confirmed that they will open a new restaurant this October at 128 Washington St. in South Norwalk, a short walk away from the Washington Prime in SoNo. It is the former location of Red Lulu, and Studwell said it will be something different; stay tuned.

The other partners in the venture are Rob Moss and Marco Siguenza. They opened the Redding location in late June and employ about 12 people. It seats about 120 customers.

The new location is similar to the original but not an exact replica, Studwell said.

Both locations have the same feel when you walk in. Yes its a classy joint, but it feels relaxed. Youll get that impression whether you step off your boat in SoNo, or you pull off Route 7 in Georgetown, he said. The biggest difference is that SoNo is one flowing space where the bar becomes the dining room, whereas Georgetown is divided by our kitchen, so the bar and dining room each have their own separate ambiance.

The food is similar, as well, Studwell said, although the drink selections may vary slightly as they like to offer as many local beer selections as possible. Chef Armando Sanchez oversees the menu and food standards at both locations.

Studwell described the menu as New American, with options such as steak, comfort foods, seafood, raw bar, burgers, wings and salads. He said the chef can also prepare vegan and gluten-free dishes.

Studwell said the owners were drawn to the location in the historic Georgetown area of Redding for many reasons. It had previously been the popular spot Olive Market. A new owner expanded and renovated the space, but never opened.

The location just called out to us. Unfortunately, the previous owner never opened, but they did a heck of a good job setting the space up with the right bones, Studwell said. We saw a diamond in the rough, and knew we could transform it and make it our own. We want to be part of the growing community, were neighborhood guys and want to see everybody doing well.

Julia Pemberton, Reddings first selectwoman, is happy to see the space occupied again and is noticing an influx of people from surrounding communities coming to Redding. She said she drove by the restaurant on Tuesday evening and the street was full.

Its wonderful to have a restaurant like Washington Prime in that space. Its been vacant for a long time, she said. The Olive Market had been a part of the location for a number of years. It was loved by the community and considered a home away from home.

Pemberton said one of the owners of Olive Market died of cancer and the partner kept it open for a while, but eventually closed. Larry DAmico of Fairfield and Marie Balitsos of Wilton purchased the space and expanded it by taking over the dance studio that had been next door. They planned to open the restaurant 19 Main, but never got it off the ground.

It was exciting to hear Washington Prime was looking at it. Its a restaurant group that knows what theyre doing, Pemberton said. Theyre well established in South Norwalk. The food is excellent and different so it complements what we have there so well.

Washington Prime in South Norwalk, although open only since summer 2014, has already earned awards such as Best Steak by both the readers and experts from Connecticut Magazine and Best Happy Hour for Mofflys Best of the Gold Coast. While the owners are proud of the accolades, Studwell said the focus has always been on the restaurants guests and staff.

All we really wanted was to provide great food, drinks and service to people and have fun doing it, Studwell said. If we do get acknowledged along the way, thats great, but our guests and staff remain our top priority.

Katrina Koertig contributed to this story.
Imagine that you visit an ATM to withdraw cash and instead of completing your transaction through scanning a card and entering a PIN, you simply tap the screen and scan a code to receive your cash. You dont have to imagine it; in some locations, you can experience it.

Cardless ATM transactions through mobile apps have already been enabled by a growing number of banks throughout the U.S., including BMO Harris and Wintrust Financial in the Chicago area and Avidia Bank and Salem Five Bancorp in Massachusetts.

Cardless ATM withdrawals work through a mobile app and a corresponding programmed ATM. You can use the app to prepare the basic information for the transaction (the amount, etc.) and upon arrival at the ATM, all you have to do is tap the screen to display a QR code. Scan the QR code with the banking app on your phone, and the ATM will complete the transaction. There's no scanning of your debit card or entering your PIN on the ATM screen.

Expect more banks to adopt this approach. Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), the supplier of the mobile software for the ATMs, expects cardless ATM transactions to be available at over 100,000 locations throughout the U.S. by early 2016. According to a report by ATMmarketplace.com, 69% of banks and other financial institutions plan to implement the cardless ATM or other mobile-ATM integration services within the next few years. There are two primary reasons why these services are expanding.

Millennials  Mobile apps in general appeal to millennials. Anything that can be done with a smartphone will be done with a smartphone.

While millennials like mobile payment systems, they also like to carry cash (at least in the U.S.). Millennials also do not like to wait (who does?) and cardless transactions are quicker  although a typical time saving is around ten to thirty seconds.

Security  Cardless ATMs improve security, since by definition the process prevents card skimming. Card skimming, or the practice of stealing information during an ATM transaction is increasing at an alarming rate. Thieves access your information with a card skimmer planted inside the bank's card slot and acquire PIN information with a separate PIN pad overlay or a hidden camera. According to FICO, skimming of ATMs increased by 174% over the last year for ATMs on bank property and 315% for those located elsewhere.

The cardless ATM transaction is tokenized, sending information that is only valid for the single transaction that is taking place. Tokenization is one of the steps used to secure point-of-sale mobile payment systems and other mobile transactions. Thieves have no incentive to steal the information since it does not contain the baseline card information and PIN that is needed for fraudulent transactions.

Enterprising thieves will eventually find a way to scam cardless ATM transactions, but in the interim, they are going to focus on easier targets. It is similar to the old camping adage when being chased by a bear: "I don't have to outrun the bear; I just have to outrun you."

Cardless ATMs are establishing their place as part of the mobile banking services that financial institutions will have to offer to stay competitive. Barring any sort of massive security failure, which seems unlikely, this technology will be growing rapidly over the next few years.

Eventually, there may be a day when cardless ATM technology is discarded because ATMs become obsolete (along with cash) when mobile electronic payments take over every possible transaction. Until then, enjoy the convenience and improved security of a cardless ATM when it finally arrives at your local bank.
Sixty-five soldiers will return home to Connecticut Friday after a nearly year-long deployment in the Middle East.

Maj. Gen. Thaddeus J. Martin, Adjutant General and commander of the Connecticut National Guard said soldiers assigned to the 1109th Theatre Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group are expected to be reunited with their families Friday afternoon in National Guard's Windsor Locks Readiness Center.

The 1109th TASMG, based in Groton and commanded by Col. Vincent Vannoorbeeck, of Prospect, left Connecticut in October 2015 and conducted rotary-wing maintenance in support of NATO's Resolute Support Mission.

Much like the unit's last deployment in 2012, this mission required a split of forces that saw deployed soldiers work in both Kuwait and Afghanistan, the guard said in a release. Only four TASMG's exist nationwide, and Connecticut's is responsible for providing technical and mechanical support to the rotary-wing assets of 14 states.

The return of TASMG is significant. It marks only the second time since the 2003 start of Operation Iraqi Freedom that all Connecticut Army National Guard units find themselves on United States soil.

"We take great pride in the excellent work Col. Vannoorbeeck and his soldiers did throughout this deployment," said Martin. "The fact that their eturn means we have every unit home, even if for just a short period of time, is a great feeling."

The Connecticut Air National Guard is expected to deploy nearly 400 airmen to the Middle East later this year.
GREENWICH - Audubon Connecticut and Two Roads Brewing Company are teaming up to host their fourth annual three mile beach race that takes place mostly on sand and grass.

The event, dubbed the Shore to the Pour, is at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 27 at Shore Point Beach Park in Stratford. Some of the proceeds go to the Audubon Connecticut branch based at Stratford Point.
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.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Hackers Post Nude Pics And Personal Info To Leslie Jones's Website

Trending News: Hackers Leak Nude Photos Of Comedian Leslie Jones Online

Why Is This Important?

Because this is rude, unfair, despicable and just plain wrong.

Long Story Short

Saturday Night Live and Ghostbusters comedian Leslie Jones is the latest celebrity target by hackers after naked pictures of the actress and personal information was posted to her website. Jones has yet to respond to the violation of her privacy, but social media has come out in support.

Long Story

For anyone out there who thinks sexism is over and done with (looking at you guys), you have an example right here how we as a society we still have a lot of work to do.

On Wednesday afternoon, comedian Leslie Jones became the latest victim of a celebrity hacking after nude pictures and personal info including her license and passport photos were posted online to her website LeslieJones.com, according to The Associated Press. Other images posted on the site included photos of Harambe (a middle finger to Cincinnati Zoo), as well as Jones posing with stars like Rihanna, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Jones has yet to respond on social media and her website appears to be down. In her absence, social media has expressed an outpouring of support for the comedian, including Paul Feig who directed Ghostbusters.

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

The good people of the Internet love you, @Lesdoggg, we promise https://t.co/pc0762Ot54  WIRED (@WIRED) August 24, 2016



Unfortunately like many celebrities, particularly female and black ones, this isn't the first time Jones has had a run in with racism online. Last month, Jones was chased off Twitter after a tweet comparing her to an ape was posted online and Twitter banned Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopolous for inciting the harassment.

Despite that, Jones returned to social media, where she was one of the most vocal celebrity commentators for the Rio Olympics.

Leslie Jones just spent 2 weeks cheering on American athletes of all genders, races, sexualities, and religions... and comes back to this.  Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) August 24, 2016

For what it's worth, these hackers are f*cking scum and nobody deserves this. Hopefully, we can get back to laughing with Jones sooner rather than later.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

Who could have possibly thought this was cool/funny?

Disrupt Your Feed

Ghostbusters might've sucked, but it had nothing to do with the cast.

Drop This Fact

Just like the Fappening where nude pics of celebs like Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett Jones, Jones was hacked through her Apple iCloud account.
Your entrepreneurial venture cant be successful in a vacuum. Whether you are a web-based company without local ties, a small business rooted in one neighborhood or a real estate company in the thick of many regions, you can take the lead on contributing to local communities in a number of ways.

Doing so will increase your visibility among potential customers and will also promote social good to enhance the community you are involved in. Investing some of your time and resources into improving the local quality of life can have a ripple effect and be a valuable part of your business mission as your company evolves.

Here are some of the most impactful ways to stay engaged with the local community and enhance the community as a whole.

1. Sponsor non-profit organizations in the community.

Whether you are affiliated with a non-profit organization through your own personal efforts as an entrepreneur, or are simply looking for new ways to give back, consider sponsoring a worthy organization as a company. You could join events, like Startups Give Back, to connect with businesses that need your companys help.

Many local organizations are looking for company sponsors to cover the costs of major events and some administrative expenses. They will do their part to promote your generosity through their marketing efforts, which can help you get more visibility in the community. You can also promote the organization in your own marketing collateral as a major sponsor.

2. Incorporate volunteering in the company mission.

Make a passion for social good part of your companys mission so you and your employees can give back to the community together. Whether you are organizing food drives, volunteering at a soup kitchen or building houses, volunteering can create a sense of kinship and also serve as a team-building activity.

Consider organizing group volunteer sessions with your employees and encouraging team members to share their volunteer contributions with the rest of the staff. Encouraging a spirit of volunteerism and giving back within your mission statement - and through ways you operate as a company -- can be beneficial to both team members and the community at large.

Related: Why Collaboration Is an Easier Route to Small Business Growth

3. Design a business model that gives back.

If you are in retail or any other type of product sales business, consider donating a portion of the profits of each sale automatically.

If you are in the service business, you could design a business model that gives a portion of the proceeds to a charity or other non-profit organization. The goal is to automate the donation to a non-profit so that all customers and clients are aware that a portion of their purchase ends up with a good cause.

If your business can organically incorporate community enhancement into its ethos, thats even better. The real estate industry is a natural candidate for such efforts, as developers have hands-on experience with neighborhood development projects and can take input from community representatives.

As your business gains momentum, you should consider branching out to more than one charitable organization or community project to serve as a philanthropist. As writer Annie Pilon explains in this article, When you give to your community, the community tends to give back to you.

Related: Why Local Businesses Should Pay Extra Attention to Google Maps

4. Contribute to the local economy.

Make a commitment to buy supplies and raw materials from local vendors and partner with local businesses for any services and other business-related purchases.

Your purchases and investments will contribute to the local economy and may prompt business owners you work with to recommend you to other contacts or customers. Establish strong relationships with these vendors and partners as you develop and build your company to develop a solid reputation.

Opening new businesses or building new properties or even green spaces, like parks, can enhance a community by drawing in foot traffic and tourism. New visitors will patronize local businesses, stimulating the economy.

Related: Free Ways to Use Pokemon GO to Increase Business

5. Promote local businesses.

In addition to being an active participant of the local economys ecosystem, you can take the lead on promoting other local businesses through co-marketing efforts or simply through referrals.

Encourage your customers to patronize local businesses that complement your's, and they may even do the same in kind. The goal is to create a sense of community and camaraderie among other business owners since you are all invested in selling and marketing to the same customers.

Whether you work in technology, real estate or food service, there are various ways you can connect with the local community through your entrepreneurial venture. Showing your support for non-profits and community organizations can help you build value, both within the organization as you encourage a spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy, and with your customers as you show you are invested in your local communitys quality of life and future.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

You can still follow the Yellow Brick Road to a spooky, forgotten amusement park called the Land of Oz in the mountains of North Carolina.

Photographer Seph Lawless, who specializes in landmarks in disrepair, shot the now defunct park on Beech Mountain for his new book "Bizarro: The World's Most Hauntingly Beautiful Abandoned Amusement Parks."

"Being there was almost like entering another planet," Lawless says. "It was surreal and completely beautiful."

The Land of Oz was built in 1970 as a theme park based on the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz." Actress Debbie Reynolds, who shared ownership of Dorothy's dress with the park, and her soon-to-be-famous daughter, Carrie Fisher, attended the ribbon cutting, according to Watauga Lake Magazine.

Besides laying a bright yellow brick road, the park re-enacted scenes and props from the film, including Dorothy's tornado house and Munchkin dwellings.

One can only imagine how many '70s stoners fired up a bowl before accosting the trees in the Enchanted Forest or mellowing out in the Poppy Field.

Tourists could ride on the Great Oz's "hot-air balloon"  a ski lift at the adjacent Beech Mountain ski resort. The park's Emerald City burned down in 1975, the fire destroying some artifacts and costumes, including the dress Judy Garland wore in the movie.

In its first year, the park was one of the top attractions in the Southeast (some 20,000 turned up on the opening day), but by the late 1970s, its appeal had waned. It closed in 1980.

Today, the park opens for one weekend of the year, the legacy of an annual reunion started by former employees in the late '90s. The owner of the land has restored the grounds and turned Dorothy's house into a museum.

You can't miss it. It's the one with the Wicked Witch of the East's leg sticking out.

For more Seph Lawless landscapes, see his work on Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr.
A bartender at Blacktail. Photo: Courtesy of Blacktail

For Cocktails

BlackTail

Pier A Harbor House, 22 Battery Pl., nr. Little West St.; 646-422-7906. Just opened.

This spot from the founders of the Dead Rabbit is meant to recall Cuba during Americas Prohibition. Theres decor culled from Havana antiques shops, palm plants, and (like the bars Irish-American sister) a menu that resembles a beautiful book. Ask your fedora-sporting bartender for an El Presidente, which is livened up with mezcal and mole bitters.

The Last Word

31-30 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-440-3378. Just opened.

Alums from Raines Law Room and Maiella team to open this cocktail spot, a happy upgrade to a 2,000-square-foot space that recently housed a chain coffee shop. With your rhum-agricole-based Rabble Rhouser cocktail, you can nibble on snacks like housemade jerky.

1905 Lounge at HGU New York

34 E. 32nd St., nr. Madison Ave. 212-779-3432. September.

This Nomad hotel opened in July in a landmarked 1905 Beaux-Arts building. The forthcoming lounge retains its old-world feel (the ceilings been refurbished, as has the original marble fireplace) and offers craft beers and specialty cocktails incorporating fresh juices. Artwork is curated by Gallery 151.

The Spaniard

190 W. 4th. St., at Barrow St.; no phone yet. Mid-fall.

The group behind bartender favorite Bua and Wilfie & Nell hired design team Home Studios (the Wayland, Paulie Gees, Sisters), so rest assured the decor will be excellent. Staff will deliver old standards like Gibsons and modern classics like the Penicillin to communal tables up front and leather booths in back; theres also food like steak tartare.

Unnamed Todd English Bar

At the Intercontinental, 310 W. 44th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-803-4545. October.

Todd English (of Olives and Page Six fame) opens this drinks-focused lounge  his first project to place the spotlight on cocktails; many of these will use honey from the hotels rooftop beehives.

Unnamed El Atoradero Mezcal Bar

706 Washington Ave., nr. Prospect Pl., Prospect Heights; no phone yet. October.

The team behind Mexican restaurant El Atoradero expands next door with a mezcal bar, inspired by those of Mexico City, that will serve agua-fresca-made cocktails and steamed tacos de canasta from chef Denisse Lina Chavez.

For Beer

Hop House

2224 Frederick Douglass Blvd., at 120th St. 646-858-0252. Just opened.

Affordable locally made brews and wine (beer from $7, wine from $8) and pizza are on offer at this 60-seat space, the former home of Bad Horse Pizza. It joins nearby Harlem Tavern and Bier International to form a group of beer-heavy spots in the neighborhood and plans to offer beer-education classes.

Kings County Brewers Collective

381 Troutman St., nr. Wyckoff Ave., Bushwick; 929-234-6557. September.

Bushwicks first brewery since 1976 comes via three alums from the Brooklyn Brewery, Rockaway Brewing, and Greenpoint Beer Works. Their 1,000-square-foot taproom will pour a dozen diverse beers, from tropical IPAs to sour beers infused with strawberries and guava.

Interboro Spirits & Ales

942 Grand St., nr. Waterbury St., East Williamsburg no phone yet. September.

After stints at New Jerseys Carton and Brooklyns Other Half, Jesse Ferguson goes solo with this combo brewery-distillery carved from a woodworking shop near Newtown Creek. Tour the facilities where they distill citrusy gins and brew double IPAs, then repair to the 20-tap bar for a draft G&T, Long Island wine, or pint.

For Play

Elsewhere

599 Johnson Ave., nr. Scott Ave., Bushwick no phone yet. Mid-fall.

Those whove been mourning the 2014 loss of Glasslands  the music venue now home to Vice Media  can rejoice over Elsewhere, the teams new 24,000-square-foot performance-and-arts space one neighborhood east. It will have a rooftop bar and apparently will feel less disorderly than its predecessor.

Fishbowl at the Dream Midtown

210 W. 55th St., at Broadway; 646-756-2044. September.

A 5,000-gallon saltwater fish tank sits at the center of this subterranean bar, courtesy of Josh Held Design, he of neon-hued spaces like Marquee. When youre done ogling the 150 tropical fish, theres a full roster of activities including skeeball, mini-bowl, karaoke, and a photo booth.

And One Big Reopening 

Chumleys

86 Bedford St., nr. Barrow St. no phone yet. September.

Chumleys was 81 years old when a wall collapsed and forced it to close in 2007; since then, owner Jim Miller has been trying to figure out a way to reopen. At long last, hes joined up with the owner of Sushi Nakazawa, Alessandro Borgognone, whos hired a former Atera chef and renovated the interiors; onetime regular Willa Cather might not recognize it, but you will be able to get a stiff drink.

Drink at the Movies

Two new theaters where you can do just that.

A screening of The Life Aquatic at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin. Photo: Courtesy of Alamo Drafthouse

The Tuck Room at iPic Theater

Fulton Market Building, 11 Fulton St., at Front St. Early October.

The Movies: Plush reclining chairs, pillows, blankets, and call buttons for in-theater food service are all part of the iPic experience. The luxe chain is opening its first New York outpost with eight auditoriums showing major releases in South Street Seaports renovated Fulton Market.

The Drinks: The beverage program of the attached speakeasy-style Tuck Room is designed by cocktail vet Adam Seger (the French Laundry, Chicagos Tru) and will include the classics as well as punch bowls and liquid-nitrogen-infused drinks.

The Cost: Tickets are $14 to $29 for premium or premium-plus seating.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Brooklyn

445 Gold St., nr. Willoughby St., Downtown Brooklyn; no phone. Fall.

The Movies: Finally, the Texas favorite comes to Downtown Brooklyn in the massive new City Point development, with a seven-screen theater showing a combination of indie films and new releases. Themed nights include Terror Tuesdays and Video Vortex (movies shot exclusively for VHS).

The Drinks: Cocktails, wine, and craft beer  100 percent of which is brewed locally  as well as food from chef Fernando Marulanda, who will be cooking up jerk chicken with coconut-lime dressing and a Williamsburger with garlic aioli.

The Cost: Prices vary, from $1 for the Video Vortex nights to $14.50 for new releases.

*This article appears in the August 22, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.
The sharp-propellered future of pizza delivery. Photo: Courtesy of Flirtey

In a highly sought-after industry-wide first, Dominos announced today that it has developed a viable drone delivery system in partnership with Flirtey, the start-up that just helped 7-Eleven complete the first-ever FAA-approved drone delivery. Since drone delivery in America remains a rat race, the chains victory comes in New Zealand (there will be no aerial pie drop-offs Stateside for the time being). But the chains definitely working on it, it says, and is optimistic about using drones soon in Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan, and Germany.

Weve always said that it doesnt make sense to have a two-ton machine delivering a two-kilogram order, Don Meij, the CEO of Dominos arm that operates in all of the aforementioned countries, explains. The company imagines customers placing orders via the app, and drones using a smartphones GPS to track the person down. The actual pizza hand-off will have some Mission: Impossiblestyle effects: Pizzas will be lowered out of the air (theres a demonstration in the video below) in order to ensure the robots dont, say, chop off a bystanders nose. Nonetheless, Meij promises customers will be excited by a drone delivering their pizzas from the store to their door.



Its not the first time pizza has been delivered by drone, but Dominos claims it is the worlds first regular drone-delivery service for pizza. Dominos win shouldnt come as a surprise, really. The arm that operates locations in Australia and New Zealand has done more for high-tech pizza than frankly ever needed to be done, including WALL-E-eyed delivery robots, ovens that cook pies in three minutes flat, an app that tracks customers who place pickup orders. The chain says flights from the New Zealand store it selected will begin within the year.


Doing good with pasta. Photo: Melissa Hom

Central Italy was hit by a catastrophic 6.2 magnitude earthquake, with the still-climbing death toll reported at 120, and another 368 injured. The devastation is so severe in the historic town of Amatrice  one of the places worst hit  that, The Guardian writes, it seems almost to have toppled on to its hillside. Other countries and organizations, domestic and abroad, are pledging aid, and the restaurants in one town are raising funds for victims in the most endearingly Italian way possible: through pasta.

Italian food blogger Paolo Campanas poster for aid by pasta allaamatriciana.

After the earthquake, Italian food blogger Paolo Campana suggested that his friends in food donate a euro for every plate of pasta allamatriciana sold. Hearing the call, the restaurateurs of nearby Assisi, which was unaffected by the quake, have banded together to add pasta allamatriciana to their menus, in honor of Amatrice, and donate 2 for every plate sold. Meanwhile, mayor Mayor Stefania Proietti and the city council are coordinating aid for the affected towns of Lazio and Marche. Assisis head of culture and tourism, Eugene Guarducci, described the move as a concrete sign of solidarity, and hopefully it will set an example for other cities.
Kind of a big deal. Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Once Rene Redzepi closes Noma at the end of 2016, hes going to have some free time on his ever-foraging hands before reopening the restaurant as an urban farm. Not one to take a lazy beach vacation, Redzepi has just announced plans for a new pop-up  which will likely be one of many  at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.

The itinerary for the three-day event, taking place from February 5 to 7, includes a lavish dinner, plus a cooking demonstration and a sit-down conversation with the chef in an intimate setting. The fee starts at $900, and that doesnt include the price of a room. Tickets go on sale on August 30.
Best Buy gets US exclusivity on Pink Gold Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

The Pink Gold Samsung Galaxy S7 continues its world trek - after it was unveiled, it went to the Netherlands then Finland and now the US.

Exclusive to Best Buy, the second gold hue is available for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Of course, you can have the bigger, curvier Galaxy S7 edge too.



Pink Gold: Samsung Galaxy S7  Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

The prices are the same $200 for the S7, $300 for the S7 edge, less if you go with the carrier's early upgrade program. There's no SIM-free option in sight, though.

For comparison, here's the regular gold color that you may have bought earlier:



Plain, regular gold: Samsung Galaxy S7

Source | Via
Meizu is holding a smartphone launch event on September 5, and the company has started sending out invites for it. The invites are a bit unorthodox this time around - each invite box contains a Nokia E71.

To refresh, launched way back in 2008, the E71 was a business focused phone featuring a QWERTY keyboard. So, it is possible that the smartphone Meizu is going to unveil at the event is targeted at business users.

Anyway, coming to the star of the event, the rumor mill says that the Chinese company will take wraps off a 6-inch phablet dubbed Meizu Max. Nothing else - including its specifications and design - is currently known.

Via
Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.

06:00, 29 OCT 2022
Explosion at Bangladesh fertiliser plant leaves 200 needing medical treatment

On the night of August 24, 300 metric tonnes of ammonia gas spread out over the port city of Chittagong after a 500 tonne gas tank at the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) DAP-1 fertiliser plant exploded. At least 200 people needed medical treatment after inhaling the gas, local officials said on August 25.

Stock image

The plant has two di-ammonia phosphate (DAP) facilities and the second was not affected. The Chittagong Fire Service told bdnews24.com: "A major accident has been averted. Ten Fire Service units are working. They have brought the air pollution back to tolerable level."



Earlier, hundreds of workers from nearby factories were ordered to leave their premises and hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes to avoid the gas cloud. None of those affected was in a serious condition, hospital sources said.

BCIC Chairman Mohammad Iqbal told journalists that ammonia in the air had dropped to 20 PPM 200 metres from the plant, against a tolerable limit of 100 PPM. He said that a committee had been formed to find the causes of the incident.


THE DAYS of set and forget when it comes to Australians and their superannuation are fast becoming a thing of the past. Today, most working Australians are well aware that super is part of their salary package and could possibly be their second most valuable asset when they retire.A number of critical factors have combined to ensure that Aussies can no longer turn a blind eye to how theyll fund their retirement; population growth putting pressure on the Government Age Pension, the increased cost of living and longer life expectancy mean that alternative income sources need to be planned to achieve a comfortable retirement.The end result? Australians are starting to engage with their super earlier  and they are asking for assistance from their employer to do so.When talking to employees about their super, ask them what sort of retirement they want and encourage them to seek advice on what they could be doing now to make that happen. It may be far into the future, but a little thought now could make a big difference when they retire. The simple truth is the earlier they add to their super where they can, the bigger the impact it may have on their super balance.Its worth reminding them that its never too early to consult a financial adviser and its possible to access some basic information at no cost through most default funds.Another important tip is to remind them to review their insurance options. Most super funds include death, total and permanent disability and income protection insurance as a default for members. You can tell employees what their default cover is, but you cant advise them on increasing or decreasing it. Basic insurance cover as part of a super account may be enough to protect both the employee and their family  but its important that they consider if they have enough insurance to meet their needs.Here are some other areas you can mention: Consider simple strategies that can make a difference such as consolidating super accounts, or making additional deposits. Seek advice on salary sacrificing and making payments to a spouses account Provide your tax file number to your super fund and avoid paying up to 49% tax on before-tax contributions. Look into your eligibility for government co-contributions to boost your super balance. Also, check with the ATO about lost super  some people might be pleasantly surprised to find they have a super account theyve forgotten about.Its also worth considering how core messages about super can be tailored to connect more effectively with the demographics of the workforce.

For example, younger employees are likely to be feeling the pressure of high housing costs, HECS fees, etc. They may have other goals to achieve before considering paying extra into their super, such as travel. However, educating them about the importance of super early can have a sizeable effect on their super savings  and thus their retirement  down the track.



For mature-age workers, its important to provide support and education about their super and retirement. Employers can arrange seminars or education sessions on topics such as salary sacrifi ce, transition to retirement (TTR), or setting up retirement incomes  AustralianSuper runs such sessions for many businesses.



Assistance for female employees

While there has been plenty of public and media debate about gender pay inequality, less has been said about the inequalities that exist in super savings. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) reports that women retire, on average, with $138,150 in super savings  $154,350 less than men.*



Around 90% of women will retire with inadequate savings to fund a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, and even more alarmingly, one in three women will retire with no superannuation at all.



Georgina Williams, AustralianSupers Group Executive, Engagement, Advocacy & Brand, acknowledges that saving a decent super balance is harder for women due to their roles as carers and parents, plus the lower rates of pay women tend to receive.



But they shouldnt panic, she says. They should take action.



Some of the steps she suggests women take are:



1. Check that all your super is in one place. If you have had several different jobs, you might have accumulated a few different super accounts  and be paying fees on each one, says Williams. It should be easy to move all your money into one fund via a form on your super funds website. That simple move can save thousands of dollars in the long term.



2. Make sure you are paying the lowest fee possible. Industry funds like AustralianSuper dont make a profit for shareholders  so our fees are low by industry standards, and any profit goes straight back to members, says Williams.



3. If youre still working, find out if you qualify for the governments Low Income Super Contribution or the renamed Low Income Super Tax Offset of up to $500 a year.



4. And finally, top up while you can. If you can find even a few dollars each month to put into super, it could be really worthwhile. As little as $50 extra a month in your 20s can add more than $175,000 to your super balance by the time you retire, says Williams.



Industry super funds

Industry super funds have upped their game in recent years to keep up with the needs of Australian workers.



Combined with their low fees, strong long-term investment returns and ability to provide good-value insurance, industry funds now provide a range of financial advice options, education and online tools to help members. Plus they have a range of employer benefits such as straightforward admin and ongoing support.



For HR professionals struggling to provide competitive benefits and employee offerings in a tight talent market, being able to demonstrate you care about your employees now as well as into their future is vital.
Personal finance is a major cause of stress for one in three working Australians

Personal finances keep 23% of working Australians up at night

Only people on an annual salary of $150,000+ report a slightly lower level of financial stress

39% spend 2+ hours per week (with 26% spending 3+ hours per week)

Gen Y spend on average of 4+ hours per working week worrying about money

Gen Y  Their focus is all about lifestyle and ensuring they can balance everything life throws at them. There is a concern about getting into the housing market but they also want guidance on how to save and at the same time spend their hard-earned cash responsibly. Credit card debt can easily mount up after that overseas holiday and they need advice on paying that down without enduring a crippling lifestyle. They are looking up at what their parents have achieved or are achieving and are thinking its all too hard. Gen X are in the housing market, so its a conversation about investments  be it property or shares. Family planning comes into the equation with now how they can drop back to one wage with kids on the horizon. Spending can be a lot tighter so smart decisions are critical to making ends meet. Early Gen Xs and late baby Boomers are interesting. Its either conversations about a blended family, preparation for retirement, or now the kids are out of the nest it may be revisiting some of the goals in life that had been on hold for some time. People are still taking on significant amounts of debt so there is a real conversation about how long people will be working for. The stability of the kids is important: they want to ensure the whole family is on the right path. 65 years olds and three years either side its about making sure they have enough money in super to fund the lifestyle they want into retirement.

th and taxes may be the only two certainties in life, but it seems for the majority of Australians theres a third contender: financial stress. Financial Fitness of Working Australians, a survey of 1,617 employees conducted by Map My Plan , shows that 48% of working Australians are worried about their financial situation. Headline statistics include:When asked how much time per week Australians think about or deal with personal financial affairs at work, the answer equates to 9.55% of their working hours.Purely in terms of dollar value, personal financial stress costs every employer (in terms of lost salary) an average of $5,202 per employee, per year. This figure is even higher for government employees at $5,749 per employee, per year.Theres a wide range of issues people are concerned about but for a lot of people theyre really worried about basic things like having emergency savings  how long will they last if theyre sick or they lose their job, says Gavin Glozier, co-founder of Your Wealth Hub , who adds that the average amount of emergency savings for most people is just $3,000 (for others its as little as $1,000).Other employees have concerns based on stage of life: some are concerned about retirement planning; others are looking to save to buy a home or have a family. Others are coping with large debts (see end of article).While there are clear productivity issues associated with financial stress, Map My Plan research indicates only 13% of employers are offering any type of financial wellbeing services. Nineteen per cent offer advice on retirement planning  mainly by inviting representatives of superannuation funds to provide seminars. However, 56% of employees are interested in employer sponsored financial wellbeing programs.There is a significant gap in what is being provided by employers and what employees are seeking, says Paul Feeney , chief mapper at Map My Plan. Our meetings with many companies revealed that they place a high priority on the independence of the content and advice that their employees would receive in a financial wellbeing program.There are limits and restrictions on the type of advice employers can offer, especially when it comes to superannuation (see HRDs superannuation feature in this issue)  and Glozier recommends employers always advise employees to seek the assistance of qualified financial advisors as early as possible. He concedes its a fine line between providing support and services and giving advice. First and foremost the line is drawn as soon as you give an opinion around what someone should do with their finances. Its being able to be that person who can guide employees to get help with whichever party is applicable, he says.While its now commonplace for employers to offer financial counselling via EAPs, a range of dedicated financial wellness options are also available.#pb#Your Wealth Hub offers a holistic financial wellness program with in-house engagement and a digital support program. For Glozier the key is continuous learning  and Your Wealth Hub offers an online knowledge centre which is packed with articles, videos, checklists that people can work through and read. In addition, the YWH website allows people to work at their own pace by using various online tools. One of the reasons people dont seek support is because they dont know where to turn so thats why weve concentrated on the knowledge centre and these tools, says Glozier.The firm also offers face-to-face education sessions, which will be based on whatever is timely at various points in the year: financial goal setting at start of year, tax time tips, or information on the federal budget. Sessions might include getting on top of credit card debt, attacking mortgage debt, investment updates, or information on foreign currency.Partnerships with a wide range of suppliers, including Flight Centre, The Good Guys, Bupa and AGL mean that Your Wealth Hub can also offer a member rewards program. Were educating but also rewarding at the same time with discounts, says Glozier.Your Wealth Hub also has a dedicated business arm, Strictly Super, which specialises in corporate superannuation.Glozier acknowledges that building a holistic program for employees can be daunting, so Your Wealth Hub offers not just a customised communications plan and reporting on program success, but a face-to-face induction program to alert employees to whats on offer.We understand building something like this for an employer can be tough, so we have our tailored program ready to go. Our communications plan means the employer just needs to get behind it and live and breathe it to get maximum support, he says.#pb#The goal of any financial wellbeing program should be to improve the financial fitness of employees and reduce their financial stress  and the best way to decrease financial stress is to have a plan. Hence, Map My Plan helps employees build a personalised financial plan.We are different to most advisers in that we do not sell any financial products  we just focus on advice. We guarantee to never sell financial products to our clients  essentially eliminating a significant conflict inherent in the industry, says Feeney.Map My Plan is an automated and self-directed service that enables anyone to create a personalised financial roadmap without the need to engage an adviser. An initial three-minute online survey helps employees get their personal financial fitness score and from there an automated financial planning tool helps them create their roadmap.We customise the general Map My Pan service to deliver a unique tool that provides financial education in the form of a personalised holistic financial plan in the context of their goals and current situation, Feeney says. The process of building a personalised plan engages an individual to understand their situation and the implication of todays decision on their goals.Feeney adds that, in his view, just hosting seminars or passing on information to employees is not sufficient. The information and knowledge needs to have context to the individual. It needs to help them address questions or issues they have about their current situation.Financial literacy programs are great, but most of them are missing a key ingredient  context. It doesnt make sense to provide information about getting income from super for someone in their 30s. Generic seminars are useful but only when the information is personalised does it become truly valuable, he says.Map My Plan is a living plan that continually changes as someones situation changes. It puts them back in control of their financial planning, Feeney says.Specific employee benefits can be incorporated into the employers unique version of Map My Plan  for example, where a company provides insurance for its employees, information and even an internal HR contact for more info can be incorporated into the online tool.Employers never see any individual data but Map My Plan does provide macro-level information on the financial fitness of their workforce and what pressures their workforce is facing.Employers pay Map My Plan an annual fee per employee of less than $1 per week. There are no products; this is the only fee we receive. There may be a minimum annual fee depending upon the level of customization, says Feeney.#pb#Glozier believes offering financial literacy and wellness initiatives will be the next hot benefit offered by employers. If we start unraveling the fact that so many businesses have wasted productivity per year, and that by spending a little theyre able to achieve an awful lot by engaging and retaining staff through these programs, I think demand is set to grow.Gavin Glozier of Your Wealth Hub outlines whats top of mind for each generation:
As a young boy in Morgantown, West Virginia, Michael Fields can clearly remember the afternoon he walked home from school to discover a delivery man carrying a mystery box into his parents home. Captivated by curiosity he stood at attention as the familys first television came to life in their living room. From that moment on, Fields knew that he wanted to go into show business. While his siblings played in the yard after school, he spent most of his childhood chasing story leads and shooting amateur news reports with his fathers eight-millimeter camera.

After college, Fields landed his first television job in Atlanta at WAGA as a floor man. His job consisted of hanging lights and sweeping the set between shows. After learning the business from the ground up, he went on to climb the ladder at major television stations in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston and New York City. Looking back, his favorite position along the way was Executive Vice President of QED Communications, where he became close friends with Fred Rogers  best known for Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.

In 2010, after a 50-year-career in television, Fields moved to Seven Devils, North Carolina, to semi-slowdown. Today, he is proud to share his industry knowledge with students as the General Manager of Appalachian State Universitys AppTV station. Since its inception in 2015, Fields has served as the resident expert for launching the channel, which features a full range of programing produced by students through the Department of Communication.

Working with our students is the most inspiring thing I have ever done, said Fields with a smile. AppTV has provided a platform for them to learn and for the world to witness the remarkable things taking place at Appalachian State.

An unfortunate plot twist in Fields life story took place a few months ago when he discovered a walnut-sized growth on his thigh. After seeing a specialist in Charlotte, his physician confirmed the devastating diagnosis of high grade myxofibrosarcoma. His doctor explained that treatment would require radiation followed by surgery, but that the silver lining was that he could receive his radiation treatment in Boone, North Carolina, at the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center.

After returning to Boone, Fields went to the Cancer Center located just a few miles away from his home. There he met with Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Yvonne Mack who explained that his cancer was treatable, but would require 25 consecutive days of radiation followed by surgery. Discouraged, Fields considered his options and decided that at age 75 he had lived a good life and would let nature take its course.

Unwilling to give up, knowing how the cancer would painfully destroy his body, Dr. Mack called her patient a few days later in hopes of convincing him to reconsider. The two exchanged pleasantries, but Fields mind was made up. Equally stubborn in her resolve, Dr. Mack called him two more times to plead her case. Her persistence ultimately paid off. After her third call and a follow-up call from his physician in Charlotte, Fields decided to heed their advice and proceed with treatment.

Id say the biggest lesson learned throughout this whole experience has been that you cannot go through life thinking you know everything, said Fields. The medical professionals I was working with knew that my cancer could be treated and that it was worth the fight. Ultimately, I had to surrender my pride and trust their expertise.

Six weeks had passed since his initial observation to his first day of treatment. During that time, his tumor had grown to the size of a small grapefruit and was threatening to spread to other parts of his body. Fields credits Dr. Mack and the Cancer Center for answering all of his questions with grace and making him feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.

As expected, by the third week of treatment, the radiation began to take its toll leaving Fields zapped of energy and unable to return to work. At that time, he considered giving up, but Dr. Mack remained unwavering in her support and reassured her patient to press on. At the conclusion of his treatment, the tumor had shrunk 30 percent, a very gratifying initial response. He then returned to Dr.Jeffrey Kneisl, his orthopedic oncologist, at the Levine Cancer Institute for a wide resection of his tumor on January 29, 2016. The surgery was completed without complication, and 90 percent of the tumor showed necrosis (killing of the cancer by his preoperative treatment) and today Fields is cancer free.

Healthcare does not get better than what you find at Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, said Fields who was pleased to receive the bulk of his treatment close to home. In this era, where healthcare has become painfully impersonal, where institutional hospitals are more concerned with research than patient care, this is the answer. Keep it small, keep it personal, keep it local and keep it well managed. That is what the Cancer Center at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System represents to me. I am a satisfied customer and a grateful patient.

Today, Fields has returned to his position at AppTV where he hopes to continue to teach, inspire and create opportunities for students to follow in his career footsteps. I am a firm believer that regardless of how long you have been out of school, life continues to send you tests. If my story can encourage these students to stay the course and never give up, then Id say that is a life worth sticking around for.

To learn more about the Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center, call 828-262-4332 or visit www.apprhs.org.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Reddit

Pocket


The N.C. Department of Transportation is currently conducting preliminary surveying along N.C. 105 for a larger project in Boone, according to David Uchiyama, NCDOT spokesman for the western region of the state.

The project is intended to improve N.C. 105 from U.S. 321 to the N.C. 105 Bypass. As of now, right of way acquisition is scheduled for 2020 with construction beginning two years later.

Transportation officials are examining several options for the project including a complete re-design of the street. A variety of information is collected and examined during the planning phase of every project including this one.

Road, bridge, and other transportation improvement projects like this one are currently underway across the state as part of Governor McCrorys 25-Year Vision for transportation in North Carolina to enhance travel safety and to better connect North Carolinians to jobs, education  including Appalachian State in this case  healthcare and recreation opportunities.

The widening of N.C. 105 from east of Foscoe to the N.C. 105 Bypass in Boone is included in the states next draft 10-year transportation plan, which will be released in January 2017. The plan includes the years 2018 through 2027.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Reddit

Pocket


The Finnish Government has promised to introduce income tax concessions worth a total of 515 million euros if the competitiveness pact covers 90 per cent of all wage earners in the country.

The coverage of the so-called competitiveness pact is a single percentage point short of its target of 90 per cent after roughly 28,000 banking and financial sector employees approved the pact on Wednesday, estimates the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK).

Negotiations over the pact continue in one of the sectors represented by STTK, the information and communications technology sector. We'll reach a coverage of 90 per cent if ICT gets over the finish line, a spokesperson for the trade union confederation told Uusi Suomi.

If labour market representatives fail to raise the coverage of the pact to at least 90 per cent, the tax concessions will only be worth 415 million euros.

The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) is expected to unveil its estimate of the current coverage of the pact in the days to come.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Petteri Paalasmaa  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.
Around 400 files recovered from a lock-up rented by disgraced Console chief Paul Kelly are being examined as part of an investigation into the charity.

The files were discovered in the days following revelations of gross misspending at the now wound-down suicide bereavement charity.

They were found following a tip-off to the then interim chief executive David Hall, who was installed after Mr Kelly's departure.

The former CEO is being investigated by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), which is being assisted by gardai. A source close to the probe said ODCE officials were examining the files from the lock-up.

Allegations

The ODCE's functions include receiving and responding to allegations of company law breaches.

Officials have copied the documents and handed them over to liquidator Tom Murray.

His office declined to comment on the progress of the liquidation.

Meanwhile, Mr Kelly declined to comment when approached by the Herald outside his home in Co Kildare.

Creditors of the defunct charity have also been emerging, with a full list likely to be produced before the case returns to the High Court in October.

A hotel in the west of Ireland that hosted a group of cyclists raising funds for Console has emerged as one such creditor.

Sources said the Clayton Hotel in Galway was owed nearly 20,000 when the charity went into liquidation last month.

The bill arose after it hosted a group of 250 cyclists who took part in a fundraising ride across the country.

The event took place on June 11, less than a fortnight before Mr Kelly resigned following revelations of poor governance practices and extravagant spending of funds from public donations and state bodies.

Cyclists rode from Celbridge, Co Kildare, to Galway to raise money. A spokesman for the hotel declined to comment.

The Revenue Commissioners will also be a creditor, with at least 60,000 owed.
Film director Neil Jordan is taking a planning row against his neighbour to An Bord Pleanala (ABP), for what is likely to be a final decision on the matter.

Mr Jordan and his wife, Brenda Rawn, have lodged an application with the planning board against retention permission granted to his neighbour, Robin Power, for a bathing shelter.

The focus of the ongoing dispute is an 11sqm bathing changing area, built without planning permission, on "millionaires' row" at Sorrento Terrace, in Dalkey.

Challenged

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has granted retention permission for the structure to Mr Power on two occasions, but Mr Jordan and Ms Rawn have repeatedly challenged this, including at the High Court.

Save for any further legal action, ABP is now likely to have the final say.

The film director and his wife paid the 220 fee to lodge the planning appeal, with a letter dated August 9.

In total, the appeal file was 166-pages long and was complied by Reid Associates, a development planning consultancy firm, on behalf of the couple.

An issue raised by Mr Jordan and Ms Rawn was the appointment of the same council planners to look at the retention application, after the council agreed to quash its original permission.

This decision to re-examine the file came when a judicial review was taken by Mr Jordan and Ms Rawn at the High Court.

In their appeal to ABP, the couple argued that because it was the same conservation officer who considered the file following that case, the review was not objective.

Ian Lumley of An Taisce has also previously raised concerns about the retention permission granted, and claimed the development was injurious to the architectural composition and design of Sorrento Terrace.

A decision date for the case by ABP has been set for December 12 this year.
An Irish family were among thousands forced from their homes following a devastating earthquake in central Italy.

Speaking to the Herald from Rome, where many felt tremors, bar owner Michael Burns (41) said his family in the town of Amelia, 80 miles from the epicentre, had to flee their home during the night when the quake stuck early yesterday.

"They had to get out of the house because it was shaking so bad. Most of the neighbours did the same," said Mr Burns, whose sons Wayne (9) and Killian (6) have Irish passports.

"They waited outside for 45 minutes wrapped in blankets before they felt it was safe to go back in again.

"I got a call from my family in the morning just after the quake hit to let me know what happened.

"Later in the day, they had to get out again when the aftershocks came.

"It was very scary for the kids, but thankfully no one was hurt."

Closer

The Belfast man, who has lived in Italy for 21 years, added: "I've been hearing reports all day about how bad things are in Accumoli and Amatrice.

"The entire area has been left devastated.

"I don't even want to think about what might have happ-ened had we lived closer to the epicentre."

Mr Burns, who runs the Finnegan Irish pub in the Italian capital, said the surrounding area hit hardest by the quake was not somewhere that Irish holidaymakers would head for.

"It's well off the tourism track and I'd be very surprised to learn there were any people from Ireland living in the area," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has received no requests for consular assistance following the quake, but staff at the Irish embassy in Rome were continuing to monitoring the situation.

Last night, President Michael D Higgins sent a letter of condolences to Italian president Sergio Mattarella.

Irish citizens with concerns about the quake are asked to call 01 408 2527.
A planned development of 63 houses and apartments -opposed by Transport Minister Shane Ross - has been refused permission.

The Dublin Rathdown TD "strongly" objected to planned homes in Mount Merrion partly on the grounds that trees on the site needed to be protected.

The development would put "further unnecessary pressure on local schools and families", according to his submission.

He added that part of the site is designated "to protect and preserve trees and woodlands".

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has now rejected the proposals by Balark Investments, a company asso- ciated with developer Greg Kavanagh, on the grounds that more than 150 trees would have to be felled and that the plans do not provide quality "usable public open space areas".

Visual

The council said the properties "would adversely affect the sylvan character of the subject site, would adversely affect the residential and visual amenity of future occupants of the proposed development and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

Balark has indicated that it will appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The Herald has also learned that Mr Ross met with council chief executive Philomena Poole yesterday to discuss "planning matters".

A council spokesperson said the meeting was requested by Independent Alliance minister and councillor Deirdre Donnelly.

"A meeting which was attended also by the Director of Planning took place this morning and an overview of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Development Plan was provided," the spokesperson said.

Mr Ross's spokesperson said he was not in a position to comment on the Mount Merrion planning decision.

The minister expressed his satisfaction last month after another planning application in his constituency was turned down.

The proposal for the Union Cafe site in Mount Merrion included a four to five-storey development with a cafe, restaurant and 46 residential units.

In his submission on the site, Mr Ross warned that it would be "negligent" to bring extra traffic into a "very quiet and peaceful suburb".

Fine Gael TD Josepha Madi- gan and the Green Party's Catherine Martin also objected to the development.
When we talk about the brands that are most admired and successful, we almost always focus on big, flashy international corporates like Apple, Coca-Cola, Guinness, Samsung.

Their scale provides an intrinsic credibility that can blind us to successes much closer to home - and there is no greater than the Rose of Tralee.

By any objective measure it should have been taken out behind the woodshed and shot long ago, but the cleverest of strategies has kept this venerable institution alive.

The Festival, as it is now called, hates being reminded of its status as a beauty pageant (technically a "lovely and fair" pageant, but they're two sides of the same pretty coin).

Watch footage of Terry Wogan judging the Jersey beauty contest (the winner got a nice holiday in the Channel Islands) and then watch him present the Rose and you'll see the thickness of a cigarette paper separates the two events.

As the decades have passed, one has been dropped as an embarrassing historical anachronism, the other cherished as a much-loved national treasure.

There is a well-known and possibly apocryphal story of an ad executive in New York being interviewed about how the Tylenol brand could be saved after the pills were linked to a number of murders in the US.

His quote was based on the assumption that only a miracle would work. "I want to find the guy who does that and get him to turn my water cooler into a wine cooler," he said.

That task looked easy compared with getting the Rose of Tralee to thrive in the modern world. No matter how it is spun, the central truth is that a group of unmarried young women are paraded on stage to be judged by a panel on their comeliness.

This is where the miracle occurs. By all reason, that central principle should hole the entire undertaking below the waterline. That it doesn't is thanks to a number of things.

l Careful casting. The Roses are varied in looks and backgrounds and many come bearing sympathetic personal stories. Several are laden with ambition and PhDs;

l Ingenious packaging. It is a two-week event culminating in the dome, not a one-night parade of ladies;

l Perfect hosting. Daithi O Se has the wonderful ability to befriend the contestants, knock craic out of them and remain a likeable red-blooded male without ever getting within an ass's roar of sleazy.

Lovely

Social media should eat the Festival alive. The fact that it doesn't, that criticism is usually limited to a few "lovely girls" gags, is astonishing.

It's an achievement that should be a lesson to the Apples of this world.

It's one thing to sell cutting-edge laptops; it's another to make an aged dowager from a forgotten era hang with the kids. But that's what the Festival has achieved.

Every year she reaches over to the bedside table, pops her dentures in, slips on a frock and heads for the dance floor. Our own little miracle.
This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here

Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley

GIVEAWAY RULES

Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.
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 Central Information Commission, which was set up under the Right to Information Act in 2005, did not mince words on Tuesday when it directed the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to reveal safety data regarding trials of genetically modified (GM) mustard without further delay, noting that any attempt to postpone or delay the disclosure will block the public discussion on the controversial issue.

In his order, information commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu said that the information sought is of high public importance, concerning public health, and it should have been in (the) public domain.

Read: GM mustard trials: CIC asks govt to reveal bio-safety data

Public authority is attempting to keep vital information out of public discussion. It amounts to prevention of constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression of the appellant, who are interested in discussing the pros and cons of GMO-related issues of GM mustard, which if permitted would cause serious impact on the public health of consumers on a large scale, Acharyulu added.

The is not the first time that the unwilling ministry has been pulled up: In April, the panel pulled up the ministry over its lack of transparency on trials of GM crops and directed it to make public all information, including bio-safety data, related to the field trials of the GM mustard crop before April 30. The CIC also directed the ministry to put in the public domain bio-safety data pertaining to all other GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in the pipeline.

Read: GM mustard to be Centres acid test for commercial use of GM crops

Earlier, in February, activists protesting against the secretive manner in which the countrys GM regulator within the environment ministry is trying to approve GM Mustard, reached the ministry at a time when the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) was holding its meeting to consider the environmental release application of GM Mustard, which if approved will be the first GM food crop to be commercially cultivated in India. The chairperson of GEAC, and later, the then environment minister for met with the delegation and assured them that no GM mustard approval without due processes will be done.

Despite their promise and an earlier CIC directive, the ministry is still holding on to GM safety data on GM mustard, environment activist Kavitha Kuruganti, who sought information regarding field trials of GM mustard from the MoEFCC, but was denied, told HT on Wednesday.

Read: India pushes GMs frontier again with mustard, but whats inside it?

The GEAC does not have expertise to do biosafety assessment and the body is full of ministerial representatives. This has been also been raised by Supreme Courts expert panels and parliamentary panels. Even crop developers, who have vested interests, sit on the panel there is immense secrecy, alleged Kuruganti.

In fact in the case of BT Brinjal also the CIC in 2007 ordered the data to be put out and asked the ministry not to misuse exemption clauses. The order was challenged by Mahyco Limited but in 2009 again the CIC reiterated its order.

The issue of GM crops has been controversy-ridden for a long time, and it will continue to be so. Recently, 109 Nobel laureates, mostly scientists, signed a letter urging the Greenpeace to end its opposition to the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and calling upon governments around the world to reject the NGOs campaigns that opposed biotechnological innovations in agriculture. The anti-GM groups also have some strong voices.

True science would have welcomed a proper public scrutiny and debate on the whole subject, and not hidden it in confidentiality clauses. What is top secret about the safety of your food and mine, unless there is something to be hidden? asks Umendra Dutt of Sarson Satyagraha.

Considering the critical nature of the issues and the impact it will have on our lives, the government should not hide critical data and deny all parties a chance to vet its findings. This is also unfair because all new policies of the government are usually put up on their websites for public feedback.

So why this duplicitous behaviour when it comes to GM crops?

@kumkumdasgupta

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
It is a milestone nobody can celebrate. As Kashmirs current crisis nears 50 days, I am left despondent by the scale of anger and suffering in Kashmir. As I write, close to 70 people, mostly young, have been killed, and thousands injured. Scores, if not hundreds, may not see paradise again. Not that Kashmir has been paradise for the rest of its residents. It has been anything but paradise for almost three decades. Yet, the public discourse on Kashmir is deeply troubling. With notable exceptions, much of the narrative on Kashmir is as follows: Kashmir is an integral part of India, ungrateful Kashmiris are radicalised and sympathetic to terrorists, protesters must be brought to heel and, of course, Pakistan must pay for what it is doing in Kashmir. More than anything else, this narrative keeps the rest of the country in the dark about the great human tragedy that has unfolded in Kashmir since 1989. The current conflagration is but a symptom of a deep-rooted problem that cannot be resolved unless people in India (and Pakistan), and not just the two governments, develop a deeper understanding of the most important piece of the Kashmir issuethe Kashmiris.

READ: India sends another letter to Pak, says talks only about terrorism, PoK

Some of the common themes that have emerged in the national media paint a rather harsh image of Kashmiris in general, and our youth in particular. It isnt uncommon to hear of the ungrateful Kashmiri who receives financial assistance from New Delhi or lifesaving assistance during floods. Kashmiris are also described as terrorist sympathizers. Some luminaries point out that Kashmiri youth are radicalized and what we are witnessing is part of jihadi terrorism. The nature of violence, they argue, has changed. In essence, Islamism is driving these protests whereas earlier protests had presumably more to do with Kashmiri nationalism. This presumably delegitimizes protesters. The broad message is that Kashmiris ought to know that Kashmir is ours and some tough love ought to be dispensed to bring them to their senses. Swapan Dasgupta summed this school of thought best in his own inimitable, tone-deaf way: harshness is only to facilitate a process of greater love. Social media becomes a force multiplier for this narrative. I cant express the anguish and anger that I feel when I get gleeful messages about Kashmiris felled by bullets or pellets.

READ: Govt will soon propose a substitute to pellet guns, Rajnath says in Srinagar

This situation is tragic, deepens the chasm between Kashmir and the rest of the country and, most importantly, dehumanizes Kashmiris. It is time the rest of the country took a little time to better understand what Kashmiris have gone through since 1989. There is very little awareness or understanding of the human dimension of Kashmirs agony. There is also no thoughtful acknowledgement of what a bleak future lies ahead for Kashmirs young after three decades of turmoil. It is easy to say Kashmiri youth are radicalized without acknowledging the pressure-cooker environment our children grow up in. Let us go back in time to the early 1990s. Think of what our children have witnessed as they grew up. While fortunate children elsewhere were learning about school, fun, games, and a generally carefree life, our children were being introduced to an entirely different lexicon. Their minds were roiled by encounters, killings, cordon and search operations, human rights violations, Pandit migration, disappearances, blasts, AK-47s and Kalashnikovs and SLRs, ambushes, mukhbir (informant), rape, humiliation, curfew, civil curfew, hartal and many other concepts that should have no place in the lives of children anywhere.

A boy gestures at a member of the security forces in Srinagar as the city remains under curfew following weeks of violence in Kashmir . (REUTERS)

According to official estimates, since 1989, about 44,000 people have been killed in Kashmir. Thirty-five percent are civilians, according to these figures. Unofficial estimates of killings are much higher. For context, the death toll in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the 1987 intifada is about 10,000. Since 2001, the Afghanistan war has cost about 100,000 lives. When you take into account that Afghanistan is four times as populous as Kashmir, you begin to understand that our children have grown up in a war zone that is comparable to some of the deadliest parts of the world. Thousands more must have been injured. In only the last 50 days, about 7,000 Kashmiris were injured. Since 1989, thousands of Kashmiris have disappeared and as many unmarked graves discovered. A recent mental health survey by Medicines Sans Frontiers revealed that 40% of Kashmiri adults are living with symptoms of depression and 20% suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Forgive us for not raising children who dont match up to the standards of your own lovely kids. But, we must face up to a harsh reality. Those Kashmiri children who grew up in the Valley in the 1990s and 2000s face a very uphill battle in life. If the Kashmir issue were resolved to the satisfaction of all stakeholders today, it will still take at least a generation to unwind the losses suffered by Kashmiri society in the last thirty years. That is what our future generations face.

READ: A mothers story of bringing up children in Kashmir

There are those who believe we face a governance and law-and-order problem in Kashmir; they are in denial. Internationally, misgovernance and corruption in conflict situations are the norm. Kashmir is not an exception. Is it the case then, as some suggest, that Kashmirs protests are driven by Islamic radicalism? How, they ask, can a world fearful of terrorism empathize with another hotspot of radical Islam? Frankly, an element of religion has entered the Azaadi sentiment over time. But, those crying radical Islam are either being disingenuous or are truly ignorant. Over the years, moderates have been marginalized, dissent has been stifled, and there is no movement whatsoever towards a serious exploration of a way forward. Violent protests are an expression of deep frustration and anger with the status quo. Even so, the dominant sentiment remains Azaadi, not Pakistan.

Which brings me to the present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally broken his silence on Kashmir. He expressed a willingness to explore a lasting solution within the constitutional framework. Many see hope in the PMs words. While this may help resolve the current crisis, I am less hopeful for the future. Pakistan has not reciprocated the PMs initiatives in any meaningful way. Now, with Mr. Modi invoking Balochistan during his Independence Day address, I see a further hardening of positions in both India and Pakistan. This carries huge consequences for Kashmiris. Why? That is because the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved without Pakistan being on board. Whether we like it or not, Pakistan cannot be wished away. For Kashmiri children to have a hopeful life requires genuine efforts at peace between India and Pakistan. It may take years but if we could just start a process, we can save our next generation after having lost two already. Animosity between India and Pakistan exacts a heavy toll on us Kashmiris. If Kashmiris are an integral part, if Kashmiris form a jugular vein, please help us. Please help our young people have a future they can look forward to.

(The author, formerly with the World Bank, is a National Media Panelist of the Indian National Congress. The views expressed are personal.)
To understand the Scorpene leak, cast your mind back 13 years ago, as the US and India prepared for the fifth of what would become the annual joint naval exercises known as Malabar. Washington made a particular request to New Delhi: Would the Indian Navy bring along the INS Sindughosh? The Sindughosh was the first of Indias Russian-built, 1980s-vintage Kilo-class submarines, once dubbed the black hole for their ability to operate quietly and evade detection at sea. Not coincidentally, Iran had taken delivery of three Kilo-class submarines in the 1990s. The Indian Navy demurred. Stealth is the key when it comes to submarines, explained one officer at the time. If they are operated in close proximity, their distinctive underwater and acoustic signatures, emissions can be made out. Last year, India reversed this position. The INS Sindhudhvaj, another Kilo-class, was dispatched to the Bay of Bengal, where it was pitted against an American nuclear-powered counterpart. The Sindhudhvaj, boasted another Indian officer, recorded the Hydrophonic Effect (HE)  simply put, underwater noise  of the (American) submarine and managed to positively identify it before locking on. In the customarily breathless language of after-action reports, the Americans were annihilated.

Read | India should be worried about the Scorpene data leak case. Heres why

Sound, then, is everything in under sea warfare. This is precisely the point of diesel-electric powered submarines. They lack the endurance, speed, and indeed prestige of nuclear-powered boats. But, when running on electric motors, they are concealed from their predators and prey through near-silence, while the coolant pumps of nuclear subs blare out its location. When recharging, their noise can be hidden amongst that of diesel-powered ships that criss-cross busy the shipping lanes of the world. Not only can their smaller hulls manoeuvre more easily, but they can evade sonar devices by settling on the shallow ocean floor and turning off their equipment  an option unavailable to nuclear boats. In congested, littoral waters  think the coast off Karachi, or busy chokepoints like Malacca  these advantages are substantial. As Indian naval ambitions grow in scope and scale, nuclear-powered submarines  both for conventional operations and nuclear deterrence  will become increasingly important parts of the fleet. But diesel-electric boats  eventually those with the less oxygen-hungry Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)  will be the backbone of the service for decades to come.

Read | India assesses vulnerability of Scorpene submarines after leak of secret data

When India put the first of its Scorpene-class, INS Kalvari, to sea in May this year, it was these advantages that it had in mind. Submarine numbers had stalled, whittled down by accidents and sluggish procurement, falling steadily from 19 boats in 2005 to 14 today. This is the lowest level in almost 30 years. India is outranked in submarine numbers by Japan (18), South Korea (23) and China (70). Pakistan operates a modest but sophisticated trio of French-built Agosta 90B submarines, the oldest of which is a sprightly 17 years old. And despite plans for expansion, Indian submarine numbers will plateau at around 20 boats in the 2020s, compared to Chinas 50-plus, despite the range of new demands  such as escorting carrier battle groups  that will stretch the force more thinly.

And so we come to this weeks leak of data on what was supposed to be the fresh blood: The six Scorpene boats, with a potential  and now, surely, improbable  order for three more. In some respects, India can count itself lucky. The Australian, the newspaper which broke the story, is more interested in putting pressure on the Australian government over its own controversial submarine procurement, in which Frances DCNS  the apparent source of the leak  beat out German and Japanese competition, than in trickling out the full 22,000-plus pages of secret information, most of which would be both crushingly dull and devoid of public interest. Equally important is that the leak dates to 2011, when the Kalvari was still under construction in Mumbai. The data mentioned in the leaked files, valuable as it would be in un-redacted form, must be derived either from contractual parameters, data from the Malaysian and Chilean Scorpenes in operation, or  most likely  computer simulation. The Kalvaris precise acoustics will differ, in ways that even India may not know, for acoustic trials have not yet been completed.

Read | Indian subs more vulnerable after leak, UK experts

And yet, the fact remains that the vessels intelligence-gathering frequencies, radiated noise levels, diving depth, range and endurance, infra-red data, and weapon specifications  all of which can be changed from pre-construction specifications only to a limited degree  are now floating around the private sector and at least one newspaper in Southeast Asia and Australia, ripe for the picking by a Chinese intelligence service which has made an art of industrial-scale espionage in the defence sector. Let there be no doubt: Indias next generation of submarines are now more vulnerable, thanks to this breach of operational security. When, in the future, a Chinese Yuan-class sub seeks to slip past the Nicobar Islands into the Indian Ocean, or a Pakistani Agosta hunts an Indian attacker prowling off the Makran coast, they will bring to bear a non-negligible psychological and operational advantage.

Shashank Joshi is senior research fellow, Royal United Services Institute.

The views expressed are personal
In an age of hacking and whistleblowers, the public disclosure of sensitive defence information can be just one keystroke away. This had been underlined by the sudden leakage of over 22,000 pages of technical specs for the Scorpene submarines being inducted by the Indian Navy. This has and will continue to happen. The question is what New Delhi should be doing to prevent and ameliorate such developments.

At present how this technical report became public is unclear. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar has spoken of hacking. Other reports speak of an ex-French navy officer stealing the report in 2011 and it being circulated, presumably for a price, among various governments and companies since.

Read | Indian submarines more vulnerable after leak, UK experts

India should be concerned for the following reasons.

One, the contents of the report will undermine Indias maritime security. The six Scorpenes  one which began sea trials in May and the five others still under construction  were supposed to provide a cutting-edge to Indias ageing submarine fleet. Particularly damaging would be information on the submarines navigation and sonar systems as well as its acoustic profile. These tell an enemy how both to avoid being found by and how to find a Scorpene. And, in submarine warfare, the endgame begins with detection.

Two, it will put a hole in the countrys Indian Ocean strategy. Chinese submarine activity in the Indian Ocean has increased dramatically the past few years. They seem largely interested in collecting hydrological information, as this sort of data is essential for future and more permanent undersea naval activity  which presumably is Beijings ultimate goal. The Scorpene was supposed to be the Indian counter for the next two decades. This will now be in question. India may be required to retrofit more advanced sonar and navigation in the present hulls  adding to an already expensive $3.5 billion purchase.

Read | Scorpene submarine data leak: Indian and French authorities order probe

Three, the Scorpene incident should be just another reminder of Indias need to re-look at its own cyber security and defence production norms.

One vulnerability is the fact India continues to import pretty much all of its military needs  including combat rifles and specialised clothing. The multiplicity of players this introduces means the likelihood of leaks and hacks increases.

Two is that, despite the claims of the defence ministry and other government agencies, India remains a laggard in terms of securing its more sensitive systems. Cyber security remains a policy domain fragmented among over a dozen agencies. Recommendations for a cyber security command remain on paper. The Narendra Modi government has appointed a cyber security czar but he lacks the authority to enforce his decisions.

Read | All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines

It took a group of private United States and Canadian academics and programmers to inform New Delhi in 2010 that a China-based hacking group, Shadow Network, had broken into the systems of three Indian Air Force bases and an Assam-based mountain artillery brigade. It is an open secret that foreign intelligence agencies and defence firms are reluctant to share sensitive technology with India because they believe the computer systems of its State-owned defence companies are wholly compromised by the Chinese. It is not as if India does not have world-class cyber security capabilities  but these lie in its private companies and largely ignored by New Delhi.

The only silver lining in the Scorpene disclosures is that submarines everywhere are increasingly vulnerable. A number of studies have pointed that advances in acoustic tracking, satellite reconnaissance and new forms of detection  for example, using lasers and big data analysis  mean that the days when the watery depths veiled the movements of a submarine are almost at an end.

The Scorpene was already on a rising curve of vulnerability, but it would still be preferable that its top secret guidebook were not floating around the world.

Read | India assesses vulnerability of Scorpene submarines after leak of secret data
Two engineering students from Bhopal, who were part of a team that developed a formula-type car, have represented India at Formula Student in Germanys Hockenheim town.

Formula Student is Europes educational motorsport competition run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. This year, over 130 teams from 30 countries took part in the event that concluded last week.

Siddharth Sethi, 20 and Aagosh Mishra, 21, are studying B.Tech in Vellore University and part of core team Pravega. Sethi and Mishra said they were always crazy about cars and their engines.

Students build a single seat formula race car with which they can compete against teams from all over the world. The competition is not won solely by the team with the fastest car, but rather by the team with the best overall package of construction, performance, and financial and sales planning, Sethi, who did his schooling from city-based Campion, told HT.

Mishra, who was a student of Bal Bhavan in the city, said: I always aspired to be a mechanical engineer. Student Formula was a dream come true.

With the help of our team leader Tribhuvan Singh, we were not only able to leave a mark in the finals but we also secured first position in Asia in the qualifying quiz. A team has to pass this online quiz test to be able to participate in the competition. We came third from across the world, which boosted our confidence a lot, he said.

On being asked about the format of the competition, Sethi said, Teams take on the assumption that they are a manufacturer developing a prototype to be evaluated for production. The target audience is the non-professional weekend racer, for whom the race car must show excellent driving characteristics such as acceleration, braking and handling.

Mishra said, This is definitely the biggest exposure any mechanical engineering student can get. There were 75 teams from across the world. We interacted with so many students. That is something classrooms can never give.

Sethi said: Our university participates every year in this competition. We work hard year-long for the same. Through this, we are able to apply theory to practice, learn about teamwork and time-management.
After being constantly in the news for dating Salman Khan, rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur finally broke her silence on their equation.

In an interview with Spy magazine, when the Romanian beauty was asked if she was romantically involved with the Dabangg Khan, she said, No , were friends . Friends means friends, not love.

Elaborating on this, Vantur added, Everything happens in the best time , not earlier, not later. The rest is speculation.

Iulia Vantur, Salman Khans rumoured girlfriend was spotted with his mom Salma at Mumbai airport. (Viral Bhayani/HT Photo)

Rumours about their relationship escalated recently when the two were spotted at various events together, with the recent one being Salmans baby sister Arpita Khans birthday celebrations.

Vantur even escorted Salman when he went to meet His Holiness, the Dalia Lama.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Much has been written about the clash between hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani and the reporter, who interviewed her, (Salman dances like a monkey in stupid movies; misuses people: Sapna Bhavnani). Well, I am that reporter. And I am proud of a job ethically done. And heres why:

Sapna claims to be unhappy because her interview also had her quotes on Salman Khan and the Bigg Boss show. Quotes she gave on record, by repeatedly saying, quote me on this... you quote me on this.

The article was published on the Hindustan Times website in the evening, on August 22, 2016. She read it, which has been confirmed by a well-placed source who she spoke to after reading it. But she chose to tweet her disappointment about the bait title only in the morning of August 23. (Probably, she was waiting for it to get noticed). Anyway, her concern would have been valid if it were bait, it werent! It would be baity if it lacked accuracy.

While giving quotes on Salman Khan and Bigg Boss, Sapna Bhavnani insisted she was saying so on record, and repeatedly said, you can quote me on this you quote me on this. (IANS)

When she was asked the question, if she would have a chapter on Bigg Boss in her book, the show that put her in the limelight, she used expletives to diss the show and the host. While giving these quotes, she insisted she was saying so on record, and repeatedly said, you can quote me on this you quote me on this, while giving this particular quote. Who wouldnt know abusing a celebrity of Salman Khans stature would get you your two-minute fame?

Here are some of the tweets which were exchanged:

started my morning ready a crappy bait title by @htTweets So disappointed by the journalism today.First that title for #PVSindhu n now mine.  Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) August 23, 2016

Disappointed with people repeatedly saying 'you can quote me on this', then calling it bait @sapnabhavna @htTweets https://t.co/6BfexvVv9C  Medha Shri Dahiya (@medhashri) August 23, 2016

You are digging yourself into an unethical rabbit hole. I would recommend u stop now! Have a nice day. https://t.co/tvSwiPY9Ar  Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) August 23, 2016

Hey! Unethical is not standing by what you said 'on record' #ChickeningOut #NotCool Have a great day @sapnabhavnani https://t.co/YOmFK5t3Qr  Medha Shri Dahiya (@medhashri) August 23, 2016

She clearly knew what she was doing, when she insisted, in very clear terms, that she be quoted on her views on Bigg Boss and Salman Khan. Why sulk then? Then why pretend it wasnt the intention. There are two types of people in the showbiz  the celebrities and the posers or wannabes. The posers try to create controversies, then chicken out and conveniently put the blame on media.

Read: Salman dances like a monkey in stupid movies; misuses people: Sapna Bhavnani

She also tweeted her unhappiness over Bollywoods mention in it. Well, hello! You are part of the industry, since you cut hair of some real celebrities, and were also on TV for some time. After many requests from her team for an interview, the interview was agreed upon and it was clearly conveyed that the interview will be more than just about the book. Most importantly, when you dont want to answer a question, you say no comments not you quote me on this.

When questions on her books were asked, she said, its Chapter One thats what it is, Chapter One.... for the rest, you will have to read about the book. So specific questions were asked, such as, if theres a chapter on Salman Khan  a star she often talks about? Or on Bigg Boss? Or her account of surviving gang rape? Everything has been reported verbatim.

So, now the question is: How ethical is it to back out, after insisting on being quoted? How ethical is it to abuse a star not because you genuinely feel about the issues but because you are desperate for two-minute fame?

Follow the author @medhashri

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Narendra Modi government is constructing a unique airport in the country where the airstrip would be used both as a runway as well as a highway, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has said.

Without sharing details, Gadkari said the airport is being built in Rajasthan. He was speaking at an event organised by the Air Passengers Association of India here on Wednesday.

Once the road is closed, the highway can be used for planes to take off and land, the minister explained, adding that the government is planning to build more such airports. In hilly areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura and in border districts we will construct more such airports with help from defence authorities and have identified certain sites, Gadkari said.

Industry experts however questioned the feasibility of such projects. An aircraft is not like a bus, which people can simply board when it stops. For an airport, you need a terminal, scan baggages, frisk people, you need ATC support. There are a whole lot of security issues involved, aviation expert Rajji Rai felt.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A scandal involving the alleged sale of falsely labelled Egyptian cotton products by textile manufacturer Welspun to big box retailers of the United States highlights a stiff reality facing the high-end fibre market: there isnt much Egyptian cotton any more.

The shortage of cotton from Egypt, which commands a premium due to its superior quality, creates an incentive to blend it with other types of cotton without disclosing it  or to even counterfeit the label altogether, cotton traders said, which exacerbated a problem that has plagued the industry for years.

Welspun India has lost 42% of its market value in the three days since Target Corp said it would sever ties with the textile manufacturer, one of the worlds largest, accusing it of substituting cheaper, non-Egyptian cotton in sheets and pillowcases.

Egyptian cotton is prized because much of it is long staple or extra long staple, meaning the length of the cotton fibers is longer, resulting in a finer, lighter and more durable fabric, and longer-lasting, higher-end clothing.

While other countries including the US and Australia produce larger quantities of high-end cotton than Egypt, cotton from the North African country has retained its prestige because of a long history growing the crop.

But Egypts cotton output has been declining for the past decade after farmers failed to adapt to shifting consumer demand for mass-produced items made from short- or medium-staple fiber, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The decline ballooned into a full-fledged crisis in recent years after the government removed cash subsidies, and many farmers replaced cotton acreage with rice, the USDA said.

Egypt will produce just 160,000 480-lb bales of cotton in 2016-17, down from 1.4 million bales as recently as 2004/05, accounting for less than 0.2% of expected global output.

This means some products marketed as containing Egyptian cotton almost certainly do not, or are blended with other types of cotton without proper disclosure, said Jordan Lea, chairman and co-owner of cotton merchant Eastern Trading in Greenville, South Carolina.

If you look at the volume of Egyptian goods that are for sale, and you look at the volume of Egyptian cotton thats produced, it would lead one to scratch ones head, Lea said.

Long and extra long staple cotton is rare  it makes up just 2.5% of annual world cotton production of more than 100 million bales, according to the USDA  and trades at a substantial premium.

US extra long staple cotton, or pima, trades for 152.25 cents per lb, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data, a 125% premium over cotton prices on ICE Futures US, a contract that accepts cotton of a strict low middling staple length.

Ron Lawson, a cotton industry veteran and broker with LOGIC Advisors in Sonoma, California, said he had no idea what Egyptian cotton prices were, which he said showed how much of a novelty item the fibre was.

Improper labelling of cotton products including clothing and bedding is a violation of the US Textile Act and Rules, which are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

An FTC spokesman declined to comment on whether the agency was aware of Targets allegations or had started an investigation.

Egypts cotton association appears to be aware of widespread counterfeiting. In April, its executive director told trade publication Home and Textiles Today that it had tested retail products labelled Egyptian cotton and found that 90% contained no Egyptian cotton at all.

The Cotton Egypt Association lists Welspun as one of just three companies permitted to label its products with the associations Gold Seal, which was launched earlier this year and is meant to ensure authenticity.

Mukesh Saviani, a Welspun executive, told the trade publication in February that the seal was an assurance to retailers that they will not get into any compliance issues.

The scandal could leave big box U.S. retailers wary of dealing with products labeled Egyptian cotton, potentially providing a boon to growers of U.S. Pima cotton in places like California and Arizona.

The Supima boys are doing backflips and pirouettes on their desks right now, Lawson said, referring to an association that provides a trademark indicating cotton products come from 100 percent American Pima cotton.

Read: Welspun faces Bed Bath probe, shares tank again
Given the violence on view in Kashmir, what I saw in a video shot furtively from a Srinagar window earlier this month is relatively mild. A unit of about 10 troopers--from the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), judging from their uniforms and assault rifles--wanders into a bylane of three-storey middle-class homes made of brick, concrete and white windows. In calm and silence, they pick up bricks and methodically smash the panes on every window of every floor, 35 in all. I was struck at how easily the CRPF troopers--thousands of whom are on the frontlines of street battles against stone throwers--slipped into the role of vandals.

Such violence inflicted on locals is spreading among security forces, with commanding officers struggling to contain it. Last week, the CRPF suspended a trooper for emptying a pellet gun into an ambulance driver (he survived, with severe injuries), and the army said legal action had been started against soldiers who killed a part-time college lecturer and severely beat locals--hospitalised, with bodies turned blue and black--in a night raid on a village. The killing of a college lecturer was unjustified and intolerable, Lt Gen D S Hooda, chief of the northern command, said in a statement. Such raids are not sanctioned. The army will not allow such actions.

Yet, none of 38 requests made to the Centre for prosecution of soldiers for excesses between 1991 and 2015 (the latest data available) were granted, according to information tabled before Parliament. Eight of these cases are under review, one for 22 years.

Read | Kashmirs disturbing new reality

As curfews enter their 48th day, and the death toll nears 70 in rebellious Kashmir, order among overworked, resentful and under-trained security forces is fraying. Unauthorised home invasions are common. A protesting 80-year-old and his 75-year-old wife were shot by local police who barged into their home and after failing to find their younger son, took away his elder brother. A female reporter protesting the beating of street vendors was abused by police, who called a whore and--led by an IPS officer--battered her car. The officer ran away when she called the police chief, who promised action. That appears to be the end of the matter.

The home minister is now in Kashmir, and the Prime Minister has promised dialogue, but the BJPs policy, thus far, mirrors the Congress, limiting conversations to mainstream parties, all of whom have no credibility on Kashmirs embattled streets.

The BJP has not so far gone beyond letting the security forces contain the violence. The costs of dealing with a popular uprising are high. More than 900 eye injuries have been inflicted by about 1.4 million pellets fired.

Read | Caught in the line of fire: Lives of CRPF men in Kashmir

The brutalising of Kashmirs people is also reflected in a brutalisation of the security forces, a particularly disquieting development in a conflict where men in arms now largely represent the Indian state. No elected representative of the ruling PDP-BJP coalition dares return to those in Kashmir who elected them. Gen Hooda says the stone-throwers no longer appear to fear the security forces, even frontally attacking army garrisons. Apart from the relentless stone-throwing, the young men hurl racist abuse (teri kali soorat, your black face, and Bihari are common) and otherwise provoke riot-control units to battle. Our boys are hated, they get little rest and they are all armed; you can guess what will happen if command and control breaks down, a CRPF officer once told me.

In the past, that command and control has frequently broken down, not just in the face of provocation but in the form of atrocities inflicted by security forces, protected by law and aware that Delhi discourages punitive action against them. Managing the endless cycle of violence has for too long been a substitute for policy, but it has now reached an inflection point.

Read | Kashmir erupts: Burhan Wani aftermath

To be sure, there are many complications, which grow more complicated by the day. The old Jammu and Kashmir is dead. Gilgit and Baltistan will never return, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will stay in Pakistan, most Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs will never leave India and Jammu--except for rumblings in some Muslim areas--stays largely aloof from the rebellion of the Valley. Brandishing Balochistan in Pakistans face may be of strategic value, and Pakistans funnelling of terrorists and support is a fact, as is the overt Islamisation of the azadi movement, but it not too late to vault over the complications and show sincerity and humility and offer apologies--especially if, as the government says, these are our people.

This papers Harinder Baweja reported last week that even school headmaster Muzaffar Wani, an advocate of jihad and the father of Burhan Wani, a militant whose slaying sparked the current unrest, appeals for peace and dialogue. Even today we love the people of India, we have no enmity with them, he said, pointing--as many do--to the restrained approach of paramilitary forces to equally, if not more, violent Jat protestors in Haryana last year. It might appear otherwise from the outside, but the hope of dialogue still drives Kashmir, and it should drive India. It is a better substitute for the hopelessness of status quo, and the hate that feeds off it.

Above all, to keep a people subjugated is a repudiation of Indias founding ideals: Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The Prime Minister has often talked about the constitution being his religion. If he truly wants to practise that religion and do the best by Kashmirs people, India, its security forces and its ideals, the time is now.

Samar Halarnkar is editor, Indiaspend.org, a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit .

The views expressed are personal

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
NEW DELHI: 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, Kumar confessed to have been involved in such crime for over one-and-ahalf-years. 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 Kumars modus operandi, the DCP said 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 school s Facebook page. He had demanded money in some cases, the officer said.
NEW DELHI: An open drain that passes through a government school in West Delhi is endangering the lives of hundreds of students.

The drain passes through the school playground and there is no boundary wall between the two. The drain was covered with concrete slabs but almost half of them were broken a year ago during the construction of water tank in the school. It is flowing open ever since.

In February, two school children died after falling in open water tanks in their schools. The parents are apprehensive that a similar accident might occur at the Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in West Patel Nagar too.

Since the drain is located close to the primary wing, teachers have to be deployed around the space to prevent a child from falling into it.

From the area councillor to the municipal authorities and the education department, we have written to everybody about the problem , said Jawahar Lal Sharma, headmaster. He said he was trying to expedite the process of covering the drain.

A fight over under whose jurisdiction the drain falls between the Delhi government and the municipal corporation is also causing delay.

The school says the drain falls under the jurisdiction of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, as it used to repair the drain cover. But the Rajesh Bhatia, deputy chairman of the north body standing committee, said he was not sure if the drain was their responsibility.

The school management committee (SMC) members have appealed to both the councillor and the area MLA to get the drain covered.

It concerns the safety of the children. If a child falls into the drain, who will be responsible for that? said Suryakant Thakur, an SMC member.

The education department officials say that they are aware of the matter and soon initiate action.

Officers have visited the spot. We are trying to find a permanent solution to this problem, said an official in the district education department.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar and AISA activist, Anmol Ratan, wanted in a rape case surrendered before the Delhi Police on Wednesday night, police said.

Ratan was missing since a fellow student, who is pursuing PhD from the university, filed a rape and criminal intimidation case against him at the Vasant Kunj North police station on Sunday.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (south), Nupur Prasad, 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 arrested and he will be produced before a city court on Thursday, a police officer said. Sources said Ratans surrender came after the complainant recorded her statement before the judicial magistrate.

On Tuesday, Ratan had moved an anticipatory bail before additional session judge Amit Bansal. In his plea, Ratan had requested the court for an in-camera-hearing and claimed that the case against him was politically motivated. The judge fixed August 27 for hearing on the plea.

Ratan, who was also associated with AISA but expelled after the case, will now be interrogated to know where all he was hiding since Sunday.

The complainant, a first-year PhD student, in her complaint had told police that Ratan allegedly drugged and raped her after he took her to his hostel room on the pretext of copying a movie for her onto a pen drive.

In June this year, the woman had posted a Facebook message that she wanted to watch a Marathi movie (name withheld) and asked if somebody had a copy of the movie. Ratan had responded her through a message saying he had the movie and can copy it onto a pen drive.

On Saturday, Ratan took her to his hostel room from her hostel and allegedly offered her a spiked soft drink. She fell unconscious after drinking it and he allegedly raped her.

When the woman regained consciousness, Ratan allegedly threatened her against complaining to the police.

The woman approached the police on Sunday and filed a case against him, said police.

Ratan was expelled from All India Student Association (AISA) after being accused of rape.
NEW DELHI: Fifteen firemen armed with water hose entered the congested Hauz Khas village area on foot and climbed onto a nearby rooftop to douse the fire that engulfed an apartment on Wednesday morning.

A businessman was killed and his friend, a French national, was injured in the fire.

In Hauz Khas village, a disaster is waiting to happen, said the fire department. We have the fire tenders, the firefighters, the required equipment to control and douse the fire, but the challenge is to reach the location. The roads are so narrow that each time we receive a call from there, on the spot innovations need to be done to ensure the damage caused is minimal, fire chief GC Mishra said.

In this case, the firefighters had to drag the huge water pipes to the area inside, on foot and the climb atop a roof opposite the apartment to douse the fire. A temporary shed was created on the spot, just to operate. The firefighting equipment are bulky and the men need space to operate. A rescue operation becomes difficult when there is no space, he said.

Mishra explained that with a row of restaurants, galleries and boutiques coming up in the area, it is thronged by visitors on weekends, which makes it vulnerable. The gap between the two buildings is less than 2 metres and the lanes approaching them are just 60 cm wide. Most restaurants in the area do not have a fire clearance.

The restaurants that have capacity for less than 50 people, do not need a fire clearance. But since many of them have mushroomed in the area, the situation has become dangerous. These restaurants flout rules and during weekends, they create a seating space outside. All of them claim to have bought property under the Lal Dora and take advantage of the loopholes. If a disaster occurs on weekends, it will be difficult for agencies to carry out a rescue operation, he said.

Lal Dora is exempted from building by-laws. There is no strict regulation on construction in these areas, which leads to haphazard construction.

Laws have been freely ignored in the development of Hauz Khas Village. There has been rampant construction with the connivance of authorities. Commercialisation was allowed only in the main lane but that norm was never followed A much bigger tragedy could happen in the area, said Pankaj Sharma, petitioner in the two cases against commercial establishments, especially eateries, in Hauz Khas Village, which dont have clearances from the Delhi Pollution Control committee and missing fire clearances.

Eateries were forced shut by a National Green Tribunal order in 2013. Most got the pollution committee clearances and reopened within a few days.

The case against establishments without fire clearances is still being heard at the high court.

Sharma says the area where construction  commercial and residential  has come up was a notified forest area.

These buildings with poor access and rampant construction were never supposed to come up. It was a notified forest area, he said.

Others in the area also point to the vulnerability of the area.

The area has become vulnerable to fire hazards, with narrow roads and little space to move. The urban village has now become congested with multi-storey structures everywhere. This raises safety concerns, especially during fire outbreaks, said Shekhar Jhamb, director of Creativity Art Gallery.

Satish Kumar, RWA president, Green Park, agreed. Those coming for late night parties illegally park cars, choking the stretch. It is impossible for fire engines to enter.
NEW DELHI: Power distribution company, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, has filed a detailed petition in the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), highlighting practical and technical hurdles in implementing penalty on unscheduled outages.

A DERC notification in June stated that the discoms will have to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts, with penalties ranging from Rs 25 to Rs 100 per hour. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is yet to approve the notification.

The DERC had issued the order following directions from the Delhi government. The discom said the Delhi governments orders are not binding on the power regulator.

The Delhi High Court had recently quashed the directions of the government where prior approval of the L-G was not taken before issuing them. However, a senior government official said the high court verdict will have no effect on the notification issued by the DERC, which the TPDDL has challenged.

The high court cancelled only the directions issued by the government to the DERC under Section 108 of the Electricity Act. But the DERC on its own can issue notifications which it has and also placed it in the Assembly, the official said.

Under the notification, the discoms  BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna and Tata Power  have given a time frame within which a particular outage has to be fixed, failing which penalties will be imposed.

The default period shall be considered from the time the first someone registers a complaint till the supply is restored. In its petition, the TPDDL has said the proposals were not possible to adhere to.
NEW DELHI: Twenty three-year-old Anklora from France was taken to the casualty ward of Safdarjung hospital at around 7 am in an unconscious condition. She had suffered from smoke inhalation injury, injuries to the lungs and airways because of the smoke during a fire.

The doctors had to perform a pre-emptive intubation, a procedure to place a plastic tube inside the trachea to help a patient breathe.

The procedure had to be done immediately or the case might have worsened. Later it would have been difficult to intubate her, had the airway closed due to fluid accumulation, said the doctor on duty, who did not want to be named.

She was then put on a ventilator in the respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital.

After her condition stabilised a little, she was transferred to Apollo hospital, said Poonam Shanda, hospital spokesperson. At around 1 pm, she was still on a ventilator and was transported to Apollo hospital in a ventilator-equipped ambulance.

Sources from Apollo hospital said that the girl was in critical condition and was dependent on ventilator. The next 24 hours are critical for her, the source said.

Another man, Gaurav Taneja, 37, who was with Anklora was declared dead on arrival to the burns casualty and was taken straight to the mortuary at Safdarjung hospital, where a post-mortem would be done.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
NEW DELHI: Paving the way to tackle the mounting heaps of garbage at the Ghazipur landfill, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) tied up with the ministry of urban development and National Highway Authority of India to use the waste for the construction and repair of roads in the Capital.

Initially, the Ghazipur waste will be used to construct the Delhi-Meerut Expressway  a 90-kilometre stretch on NH 24  said senior municipal officials. Later, it will be replicated on the city roads.

The decision was taken after the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Central Road Research institute (CRRI) gave their nod, said municipal officials.

The recycled waste will be mixed with bitumen, among other processes, to lay roads, said corporation officials.

The municipal corporation had approached the NHAI, seeking help in proper utilisation of the garbage. Based on our request, the NHAI conducted a survey through various agencies and it was found that approximately 60% to 70% of the garbage lying at Ghazipur can be used for construction of roads, said EDMC standing committee chairman, Jitender Chaudhary.

The Ghazipur landfill, operational since 1984, is spread over 30 hectares and the garbage pile is over 50 meters high. Every day, 4,000 tonnes of garbage is dumped at the site. A total of 12 million cubic metres of garbage is at the landfill.

The Ghazipur landfill site has a waste-to-energy plant which converts 2,000 tonnes of garbage into 12 megawatts of energy. A part of the waste is biodegradable.

The corporation officials have been directed to allocate space to NHAI at Ghazipur landfill, wherein they will set up their own module to ready the garbage as per their own needs. The obligations of the corporation would mainly include cooperation and ensuring security, said Chaudhary.
NEW DELHI: 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 be 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.
NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old office assistant working for a law firm died after he allegedly fell into the shaft of a lift from the twelfth floor of a multi-storey commercial building in central Delhis Rajendra Place on Wednesday.

Police said the mishap took place after the lift developed a technical snag around 11am.

The victim, Trilok Joshi, worked with the law firm office located on the thirteenth floor of Pragati Towers where the incident took place. Joshis leg got stuck in the elevators door when he was getting off the lift on the twelfth floor. The lift was programmed to serve only till the twelfth floor. Suddenly the elevator started going up due to which Joshi lost balance and fell into the shaft.

Police said Joshis body hit the floor and he suffered multiple injuries on the head and other body parts. Other people, who were using the lift, raised an alarm and informed the security personnel.

Joshi was rushed to a nearby hospital in a critical condition but his life could not be saved. Doctors told us that he was brought dead, said a police officer. A case under section 304 A (causing death by negligence) has been registered against unknown persons at the Prasad Nagar police station. A probe is underway, the officer said.

The preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that the elevator was already packed to capacity when Joshi got in on the ground floor. The police have learnt that the elevator was installed in the building some 30 years ago. It had reportedly been developing technical snags of late.

The building has three lifts. The occupants of the building had complained against technical defects in the lifts.

In June this year, one of the lifts had fallen down but thankfully as no one was inside it, the officer said quoting one of the occupants of the building. The offices in the building have around 1,500 employees and hundreds of visitors every day.

A native of Uttarakhand, Joshi lived in Delhi with his family. He is survived by his wife and two children, including a 2-month-old.
FARIDABAD: A mob set on fire a truck carrying meat that was suspected to be beef in Hathin tehsil of Palwal district on Tuesday.

The mob also beat up the driver and conductor of the truck. The police have registered case and arrested three people, including the truck driver and conductor. They were produced in a local court that remanded them in judicial custody.

Two youths on a motorcycle noticed stench emanating from a moving truck. They informed villagers of Mandori that the truck might be carrying beef. Hundreds of villagers blocked the road to stop the truck. They dragged the truck staff and beat them up. The police rushed to the spot and called up forensic doctors to lift samples of the meat.

The villagers took the truck to a nearby field and buried 40-quintal meat that it was carrying. The truck was then set on fire. The agitation affected traffic on the Mandkola-Palwal road.

Police said that the truck was on its way to Alwar in Rajasthan from Hapur in Uttar Pradesh. It reached Mandori village at around 9 am on Tuesday.

We have registered a case against the three, said Deep Chand, SHO, Hathin.

In a separate case, Palwal police seized two trucks carrying crushed bones and arrested four people on Wednesday.

We got information that foul smell was emanating from two trucks standing outside a dhaba, said SHO (City) Palwal, Santosh Kumar.

We rushed to the spot and seized both the trucks, called doctors who lifted samples for forensic examination, he said.

The trucks were on their way to Gujarat from Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh via Gurgaon as owner of the trucks resides in Gurgaon, police said.

We are examining documents of these trucks, SP (Palwal) Rahul Sharma said. The drivers and conductors of both the trucks were arrested after a case was registered against them. They will be produced before the court on Thursday.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Assembly turned into a battleground on Wednesday as leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta demanded the tab ling of an alleged Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report which exposes the wastage of public money on advertisements.

He demanded the House be dissolved over the Aam Aadmi Party governments unconstitutional act.

The third day of the monsoon session had a 30-minute long disruption after which Gupta and MLA Jagdish Pradhan walked out of the House.

When Gupta demanded the tabling of the apex auditors report at the beginning of the session, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel asked him to raise the matter after Question Hour.

When Gupta raised the issue after Question Hour, the Speaker refused to grant him permission. This was followed by the disruption and the walkout.

The government is trying to suppress the report because its severely indicts it for glaring irregularities. The report was submitted before commencement of the current Vidhan Sabha session. But it is objectionable that the government failed to take the House in confidence. The move of the government is unconstitutional and can invite legal action, said Gupta.

He also said the government went to reach the target of population for which it had no responsibilities. The report pointed out that out of the total expenditure of Rs 33.40 crore incurred on publicity campaigns, only Rs 4.69 crore pertain to Delhis publications and Rs 28.71 crore (85%) to other states/cities, he added.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, however, denied it received any CAG report. If their bosses have given some report to CAG, then he should table it here, we will discuss it, said Sisodia.

Transport minister Satyendar Jain took strong objection to Guptas comment about dissolving the Assembly and said Gupta threatened the government. AAP MLA from Chandni Chowk Alka Lamba requested the Speaker to refer the matter to the Assemblys privilege committee.

Gupta also had a heated argument with AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, who at one point, asked the officials to switch off the microphone at the BJP MLAs desk. Gupta objected and asked why Khan was behaving like the Speaker.

Speaker Goel said Gupta did not raise the issue under the appropriate section. He said it was not a point of order as claimed by the BJP leader.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it has demanded 54,000 additional personnel from the Centre to strengthen its existing capacity for better policing in the capital.

The police force, which has an effective strength of about 84,000 personnel, has been facing criticism for rising crime in the city, particularly those against women. As per Delhi polices official website, as of August 15 this year a total of 1,397 rape cases has been registered, an increase from last years 1,352 rape cases for the same period.

Delhi Police told a bench of Justices BD Ahmed and Justice Ashutosh Kumar that it has forwarded two letters to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung containing various proposals to increase its manpower by 53,959 additional personnel.

It said that a high level committee of senior police officers had on July 27 held a meeting where a decision to enhance the strength of the force was taken.

The bench, which is hearing a public interest litigation initiated by it for womens safety and recruitment of additional police in Delhi after the December 16, 2012 gang rape case, asked the counsel representing L-G Najeeb Jung to forward the proposals by the police to the Centre and listed the case for further hearing on September 14.

Delhi Police has been struggling to bring down the police to population ratio which is currently at around one officer for every 241 citizens. It had told the court that the benchmark for police to population in urban areas was 1:227.

Earlier, a Delhi police report showing high acquittal rate in crime cases against women, children and elderly, had led the high court to blame it on lack of adequate man-power in the force, and shoddy investigation due to lack of proper scientific techniques in criminal investigations.

Later, it was informed that for separation of crime investigation and law and order duty, the Centre has already sanctioned 4,227 posts.

These posts will be operationalized in two phases  50 per cent in 2016-17 and remaining in 2017-18.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A revenue official (patwari) posted at deputy commissioner (revenue) office in southwest Delhi has been arrested by the Anti Corrpution Branch (ACB) for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a farmhouse owner.

The patwari, Sanjay Kumar Solanki, was caught red-handed accepting Rs 2 lakh from the complainant by an ACB team on Tuesday. He was booked under sections 7 and 13 of the prevention of corruption (POC) Act, a press statement issued by the ACB said.

ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena told HT that the farmhouse owner, Navin Jain, had approached them with a complaint against Solanki.

Jain, who works as a manager in a private company in south Delhis Nehru Place, told ACB that Solanki was demanding a bribe of `5 lakh to handle a complaint against his farmhouse in south Delhi.

An ACB official said that somebody had made a complaint with the DC revenue office about illegal construction and misuse of agricultural land for commercial purposes at the farmhouse.

Solanki was asked to conduct a probe and submits a report.

Read more: Anti-graft body raids womens panel office

Jain alleged that Solanki had been frequently visiting their farmhouse and threatening to get it sealed for carrying out illegal construction and misuse of agricultural land. He threatened Jain to get the farmhouse demolished by submitting his enquiry report against them, said Meena.

According to Meena, Solanki demanded a bribe to settle the issue and prepare his report in their favour. The bribe amount was later reduced to Rs 3.5 lakh and Solanki agreed to take Rs 2 lakh as first instalment from Jains office in Nehru Place on Tuesday.

Jain informed the ACB officials about the deal and a trap was laid by a seven-member team to nab Solanki.

Around 2pm, as Jain handed him Rs 2 lakh, the ACBs raiding team surrounded the car and caught Solanki with the money. Solanki initially pleaded innocence giving excuses. However, he later admitted to his crime when confronted with evidences collected against him, the ACB official said.

Three months ago, the ACB had arrested a sub-registrar posted in south Delhis Mehrauli for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000. In April, a forest guard posted at the deputy conservators office in west Delhi was caught red-handed while taking bribe. Dinesh Kumar had demanded `2 lakh from the complainant for cutting two trees at a project site.
Vinay Sharma, one of the six convicts facing the death sentence in the December 16 gangrape case, attempted suicide in Delhis Tihar jail on Wednesday night, officers said on Thursday.

Sharma allegedly consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressant medicines before trying to hang himself from an iron grill using a towel in jail number 8 around 9.30pm, sources said. Sharma has been under depression for the last few months and taking medication, they added.

A Tamil Nadu special policeman, who was on duty near the cell, saw Sharma attempting suicide and raised an alarm. The jawan stopped Sharma and removed the towel he had tied around his neck.

Sharma was rushed to the dispensary within the jail complex by other security personnel who arrived at the scene. Doctors there administered him medicines and he was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital for further treatment and tests.

His condition was stated to be stable. Doctors said an assessment of his spine and breathing was normal.

Usually in cases of hanging, the spine snaps from the cervical or the neck region. There might be obstruction in the airway too. So, when such a case comes in we first stabilise the spine and then intubate the patient if there is any obstruction, a doctor said on condition of anonymity.

Hospital sources said Sharma would be discharged by evening.

Senior Tihar jail authorities have ordered a probe into the incident, sources said. A case of attempt to suicide may be registered against him, said a police officer.

Last year, Sharma told a Delhi court that he was beaten up by his fellow inmates and asked for security citing risk to his life. His lawyer said that he was beaten up very badly by five or six inmates jail on August 15 and 16. He said Sharma fears a risk to his life as some inmates openly issued murder threats to him.

In March 2013, Ram Singh, another accused in the gangrape case, was found hanging in his cell at Tihar Jail. Jail authorities claimed that he committed suicide. However, his family members alleged that he was murdered and hanged in his cell.

Six men - one of them a juvenile - have been convicted for the rape and gruesome murder of a paramedic in a moving bus on December 16, 2012.

The torture and subsequent death of the 23-year-old, who along with her friend was on the way home after watching a movie at a south Delhi cinema hall, shook the nation. The crime prompted thousands to come out in protests across the country.

Four convicts - Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta were sentenced to death in the case. The juvenile accused was convicted and sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reformation home.

He was released from the observation home in December last year.

(With inputs from Anonna Dutt)
Vinay Sharma, one of the December 16 gangrape case convicts who was sentenced to death, allegedly attempted suicide in Delhis Tihar jail on Wednesday night. He was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and his condition is stated to be stable.

Sharma tried to hang himself from an iron grill of his cell using a cloth at around 9.30pm on Thursday. He was found by a Tamil Nadu special police personnel who was on duty.

Sharma had consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants before trying to commit suicide, according to jail sources. Sources said Sharma was suffering from depression and was on medication.

Sharma had last year asked for security, citing risk to his life. His lawyer told a Delhi court that Sharma was beaten up very badly on August 15 and 16. Sharma, the lawyer said, feared for his life as some inmates had openly threatened him with murder.

Six men - one of them a juvenile  were found guilty of rape and murder of a physiotherapist in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. One of the accused, Ram Singh, was found dead in his Tihar cell in a suspected suicide in March 2013. Sharma and three others were sentenced to death.

The brutalisation of the 23-year-old physiotherapist, who died in a Singapore hospital, triggered protests across the country and forced the government to tighten rape laws.
In a bid to increase parking space for buses and generate revenue, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has asked the public works department (PWD) to convert bus depots into multilevel parking lots.

The DTC management may open up the revamped depots for private vehicles and allow commercial activities too.

Lack of parking is one of the primary reasons for the delay in strengthening the citys bus fleet, especially those operating under the cluster scheme.

The Delhi government has been asking the Delhi Development Authority to allot land for more bus depots. But for now, the public transporter has decided to augment the capacity at the existing depots.

At some locations, the DTC will rent out space for commercial activities. The Seemapuri depot in east Delhi has been selected as a pilot project for which the PWD will soon issue a tender.

We have asked PWD to study the concept of multilevel bus depots. This is the best way to utilise the space. They will start the experiment at the Seemapuri depot, where a second floor will be added, said a DTC official.

The transport corporation has identified 31 of its 43 depots where multilevel parking lots could be built

The Seemapuri depot has a capacity to park 100 buses. After the second floor is made, the capacity will increase to 180.

Read: Delhi: 17 buses gutted at DTC depot, probe ordered

Operators who run buses under the cluster scheme have threatened to stop services if the Delhi government does not provide parking space for buses.

The DTC has not bought a single bus for over five years and is unable to provide services on 586 routes.

The Aam Aadmi Party government had promised to increase the number of buses to 10,000 from 5,000 but due to lack of space, private operators have not shown interest in participating in bids.

We are struggling to park buses in the 43 depots. Recently, the government managed to get space at three locations in outer Delhi, which will be given to cluster operators. But we need space in central Delhi. We cannot afford to send buses for parking 30 km away from their operational areas, the official said.

Around 800 buses are parked in the Millennium Depot but the court has asked DTC clear it.

Multilevel depots will help increase the revenue of DTC, officials said.

It can convert existing depots into multilevel shopping complexes and keep the ground floor for parking. It can be done on a public private partnership basis, the official said.

Read: DTC buses to run wrapped in advertisements to reduce losses

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election may be two weeks away but the campus is already littered with posters and pamphlets. Posters can also be seen on metro pillars and walls in other parts of the city.

The university has issued guidelines against littering and warned campaigners that any vehicles moving around with banners and posters will be impounded.

But there is little adherence to rules.

DU chief election officer DS Rawat has written to Delhi Police commissioner Alok Verma, requesting him to take action against those who deface public property.

The National Green Tribunal had also asked the university to ensure the polls are environment-friendly and that paper is not wasted.

There are instances where campaigners move around in cars and randomly fling posters bearing the names of the candidates.

We have requested the officials concerned to take action. Police and MCD have to increase vigil and arrest those violating laws. On Friday, we have a meeting with the joint commissioner. We will raise these issues, said Rawat.

The National Students Union of India (NSUI), the students union of the Congress and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), are gearing up for the big fight.

Read: DU to give students right to reject all candidates in elections this year

The CEO personally wrote to the political organisations, asking them to follow the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act and the recent NGT order. According to the law, defacement of property is a punishable act.

The ABVP said it had asked their members to limit the use of paper and blamed the NSUI for littering the campus.

As an organisation, we have strictly advised everyone to restrain from doing such things. If anyone is doing this, they are doing this at a personal level and are not official candidates of the student body, said Saket Bahuguna, ABVPs national media convener.

The NSUI said it had warned students that those who in litter will be discredited from the party.

To avoid the wastage of paper, we have created a WhatsApp group and a Facebook page for each college, and have been trying to disseminate information through that. Three months ago, we had taken a stand on not wasting paper, said Vivekananda Pathak, NSUI national secretary.

Thee DUSU elections will be held on September 9.

Campaigners moving around in cars randomly fling posters bearing the names of the candidates.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys panel that looks into complaints of sexual harassment has been asked to take action in a case of rape reported on the campus.

The administration wrote to the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) on Monday.

A 28-year-old research student has alleged that a fellow student, Anmol Ratan, raped her after offering her a spiked drink in his hostel room. Ratan, a member of the Left-leaning All India Students Association (AISA), has been expelled from the student outfit. The police have registered an FIR in the matter.

It has come to the notice of the administration that an incident of rape took place in Brahmputra Hostel on August 20, 2016. GSCASH may take due notice and appropriate position, as per the rules. A copy of FIR filed by the victim with Delhi Police is enclosed, the letter to GSCASH read.

Read: JNU research scholar alleges she was drugged, raped by fellow student on campus

A member of the committee, requesting anonymity, said the body will probe into the matter and recommend action against the accused. The rape survivor can also approach GSCASH. We will look into the incident, the member said.

If found guilty, the accused may lose hostel accommodation or face rustication or expulsion. His degree may also be withheld, sources said.

JNU officials said along with the criminal action against the accused, the university administration will also punish the accused, if found guilty.

JNU students union (JNUSU) had written to the vice-chancellor, seeking action against Ratan. The university in a statement had said, JNU administration strongly condemns an incident of heinous rape in a campus hostel. It has completely shaken the JNU community and has tarnished the image of the university.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Rebel Aam Aadmi Party MLA Pankaj Pushkar has moved a breach of privilege notice against deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, accusing him of furnishing wrong information regarding issuance of licences to liquor vends.

Pushkar said he had filed the notice on Wednesday after receiving the replies from the deputy CM and he will raise the matter on Friday.

I had sought answers regarding the consent needed to open a liquor vend from the minister of excise. However, the answers which I received were factually incorrect and it seems they were intended to hide the Delhi governments misdeeds, said Pushkar.

Pushkar, who has been active with Swaraj Abhiyan, said that in reply to his question on whether there was any public consultation before granting licences to new vends in the last one year, Sisodia had said as per current rules there is no such requirement.

This was factually incorrect as relevant sections of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010 make the deputy commissioner liable to take all reasonable steps to ascertain the opinion of persons, who reside or have property in the neighbourhood and are likely to be affected by the proposal, said Pushkar.

He said that he would demand a detailed inquiry in the matter in the Assembly on Friday.
Defamation can be defined as a false statement, either libel or slander, used with the intention to harm a persons reputation. Given the open-ended nature of this definition, a law on defamation can lend itself to various interpretations which increase the chances of its misuse. Recently the Supreme Court of India berated the J Jayalaithaa-led AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu for its misuse of this legal provision.

The court said that anyone calling a government corrupt or unfit cannot be slapped with defamation case and that criticism for public policy cannot be ground for defamation.

The court made these observations while hearing a petition by actor-turned-DMDK leader Vijayakanth against a criminal defamation case filed against him and his wife by the Tamil Nadu government for criticising its functioning.

It was only last month that the court criticised the Jayalalithaa government saying its high number of defamation cases was causing a chilling effect on free speech.

Read | As public figure, you must face criticism: SC slams Jaya for defamation cases

The line that separates criticism from defamation is a thin one  a distinction the six-time chief minister seems unable to discern. How else can one explain the 213 defamation cases filed by her government in the last five years. Of these, 55 are against media houses, 85 against the AIADMKs political rival DMK, and 48 against the DMDK of which 28 are against Mr Vijayakanth.

Cases have been filed for reporting on the chief ministers vacations and on her health, and for even criticising her governments policies and failure to fulfil poll promises. Clearly there is a need for the Tamil Nadu government to understand criticism and differentiate it from defamation.

The court, in criticising Tamil Nadu, is not undermining the importance of a defamation law  it is only cautioning against the misuse of state machinery to muzzle political opposition. In May, the court had refused to de-criminalise defamation, upholding the constitutional validity of Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code stating that the right to free speech could not be used to defame the dignity and reputation of a person.

Read | The art of defamation: Jayalalithaas most useful tool

The police and bureaucracy need to be sensitised about the issue, as this will prevent a lot of frivolous cases being filed. This is important because once such a plea enters the legal system it acquires a life of its own and puts an unnecessary burden on the judicial system, which has a backlog of crores of cases.

Political leaders should be willing to accept criticism and opposition  both critical to enhancing our democracy. As former British prime minister Winston Churchill said: A kite flies against the wind, not with it.
It is surprising that in a rainfall-deficient year (when the monsoon precipitation has been 2% less than what it should have been), floods are causing havoc in states such as Assam, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Weather department officials have said the main reason for this is the discharge of water from dams after heavy bouts of rain. Another problem is the feeble embankments, which are basically instruments of flood control but are in danger of becoming worn-out. In UP more than 50 villages in Gonda district faced flooding when the Ghaghra river eroded a large portion of the Elgin-Charsadi embankment. The UP government had spent Rs 22 crore on building the 52-km in 2006-07. In 2007-08, the irrigation department spent Rs 80 crore on repair and again in 2008-09 Rs 60 crore was released for strengthening the embankments. The state government needs to explain why the floods are taking place despite having spent so much.

Read: A season of flooding, but monsoon below normal

There are several reasons for floods taking place year after year. One reason is the inability of the Central government to do desilting in time. As a result, the Ganga at one stage was flowing at 72.33 metres in Varanasi, according to the Central Water Commission data, while the danger mark is 71.262 metres. Not just the Ganga, the Varuna, the Gangas tributary, too flowed above the danger mark and entered some areas of the city. This has been the worst floods in the city since 2013. Secondly, according to the findings of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), more than 30 apartments had been built beyond the flood protection wall. The Bihar government has ordered an inquiry into this. However, the situation was so bad that despite the lifting of more than 100 gates of the Farakka barrage to allow the discharge of the river, the level of the Ganga was brought down by just one metre.

Read: 127 killed, lakhs homeless as flood situation turns grim in UP, Bihar

After Patna faced its worst floods in 1975, a 24-km embankment was constructed along the banks of the Ganga. The rivers bed from Buxar to Bhagalpur has become narrow because there has been no sustained dredging, and construction along the rivers banks have continued unabated. On top of this comes the international problem of the Farakka treaty between India and Bangladesh on sharing the Ganga waters, which does not allow heavy water flow downstream to Bangladesh even in monsoon, leading to water levels rising in the Ganga. Also because of this, the waters of the tributaries are not allowed to enter the Gangas mainstream and this leads to a submergence of the areas drained by them.

Read: Fortunate that Ganga has reached your homes: Lalu tells Bihar flood victims

So the upshot is that floods are a problem not just of precipitation. A lot of human and technological factors too are at work.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
In Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women, the film set in 2050, imagines the long-term social effects of foeticide and infanticide on India. It conjures up bleak, male-only villages where residents engage in illegal activities such as human trafficking, gender violence and bride-buying. Thankfully, male-only villages are not a reality in India as yet, but rampant foeticide is. Indias child sex ratio is 919 girls for every 1,000 boys, according to the 2011 census, down from 927 in 2001, 945 in 1991 and 962 in 1981. Haryana is one of the states that has the abysmally skewed sex ratio of 879/1,000 (2011 census). So it was quite a smart move of the Haryana government to rope in Olympic bronze medalist wrestler Sakshi Malik to be the states brand ambassador for Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme after she returned on Wednesday from Rio de Janeiro. One of 17 Haryana districts classified gender-critical, Rohtak (Ms Maliks home district) has 867 females for every 1,000 males. Though this is an improvement  847 in 2001  the sex ratio should ideally be between 940 and 980.

Read: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: Rio wrestler Sakshi Malik named ambassador

Haryanas choice works at two levels: One, Ms Maliks success will attract attention to this important issue of foeticide; and second, her choice of sport (wrestling) is a befitting foil to Indias patriarchal systems and those who say that wrestling is a mans sport. Fewer brides, trafficking of women and violence against them, however, are not the only pitfalls of foeticide; it has a deep economic impact: India loses workforce talent and diversity. In fact, womens participation in Indias economy has been falling despite industrialisation and economic prosperity. The reason for such dismal gender numbers is the lax implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and the low social value of women.

Read: HT Spotlight: How Haryana is fighting female foeticide rackets in Punjab

The Act was passed in 1994 to bring an end to foeticide, but the situation is still so dire because of poor implementation and other reasons: Sometimes district health officers are unaware of the provisions of the Act; sometimes families and doctors collude in the practice, and records from ultrasound clinics are rarely scrutinised by health officials. Two years ago, the Supreme Court was so worried by foeticide rates that it ordered states to report on the implementation of the law. Poor health communication strategies could also explain the prevalence of the practice.

Read: Selfie with daughters: Haryana village head hailed by PM was suspended for irregularities

For the Haryana government, the job is well defined. Getting Ms Malik as a brand ambassador for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme is a wonderful idea but it is hardly enough. The state has to implement the PCPNDT law in letter and spirit, get civil society and religious leaders involved in spreading awareness and finally, do everything in its power to ensure that culprits who indulge in foeticide are brought to book and, if need be, publicly shamed.
The panel responsible for campus hiring across all the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the country has blacklisted 31 companies and banned them from recruiting students for a year after a flurry of complaints against the firms.

The All IITs Placement Committee (AIPC) drew up the blacklist on August 14, but the names were released after IIT-Bombay revealed on Thursday nine of these companies that were banned from campus recruitments. Most of these firms are startups.

The convener of the committee, Prof Kaustubha Mohanty, said the exercise is a precaution taken in the interest of students in all the 23 IITs of the country.

Read | Grofers defends revoking offer letters, says students were not promised jobs

We decided that when we ask a particular company to register with us, we will try to ask for data on their sources of funding, statement of accounts, balance sheet, and number of employees. We used to ask for a lot of details earlier too, but not so stringently, he said.

The banned companies will have to go through intense scrutiny before they are allowed to recruit students after the one-year embargo gets over.

Around 25 students from IIT-Bombay were affected by the nine firms that were banned later.

The Mumbai-based premier tech institute said it will be cautious with startups.

Startups will be allowed after a good background check such as proper funding to support the recruitment, and growth prospects. Our aim is to avoid job offers being revoked or delays in joining date in the next placement season, said Dipesh Chauhan, placement manager at IIT-Bombay.

AIPC convener Mohanty too followed a similar line on startups.

He said: Now that there is a government notification following the Startup India campaign on defining startups, we will be following these guidelines.

Read | Should you opt for deferred placements, or go it alone?

The blacklisted 31 are Zettata; NowFloats; ConsultLane; Zimply; PepperTap; Portea Medical; Babajob; GPSK; Hopscotch; SmartTrak Solar Systems Pvt. Ltd.; Crayon Data India Pvt Ltd.; Glow Homes Technologies Pvt Ltd, Tescra Software Pvt Ltd / RockON Technologies; Grofers; Tenova India Pvt Ltd, Verity Knowledge Solutions; ExcellenceTech.; Stayzilla; Roadrunnr; LexInnova; LeGarde Burnett Group; Johnson Electric, Japan; Mera Hunar; Fundamental Education; CashCare Technology, Holamed; IndusInsight; ClickLabs; Grabhouse; Medd.

The committee has also banned Zomato from recruiting for another year.

Of the nine firms on the IIT-Bombay blacklist, GPSK, Johnson Electric, China, Portea Medical, Cashcare Technologies and PepperTap were blacklisted for revoking job offers made to students. The LeGarde Burnett Group was banned for revoking and offer and having a fake office address.

Another company named Mera Hunar was barred from campus recruitments as it came with a different name and hired students for another startup. IndusInsight was blacklisted for delaying the joining dates of candidates.

The past few months recorded several startups delaying job offers made during campus placements. Several top firms  including ecommerce giant Flipkart  pushed back the joining dates of recruits from several top institutes by at least six months.

The IIT-Bombay decision follows months of speculation that a slowdown in the start-up sector was hurting placements in Indias top schools. At present, start-ups account for almost a third of campus job offers across IITs and IIMs.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Ashoka University opens admissions for the Young India Fellowship, Class of 2017-2018

Press Release- PRNewswire, New Delhi| Published : 21st August, 2016

The Young India Fellowship, a one-year postgraduate programme in Liberal Studies at Ashoka University, today announced that applications for the seventh batch of the Fellowship will be accepted from 22nd August, 2016. Started in 2011, this unique programme has become one of the most sought-after programmes in India, fostering academic, social and business leaders of tomorrow through a multidisciplinary liberal education.

The admissions process for the Class of 2017-18 will be divided into two rounds. The first round of admissions will begin on 22nd August, 2016 and will close on 18th December, 2016. This will be followed by a personal interview of the shortlisted candidates commencing from 1st November, 2016. The second round of admissions will begin on 19thDecember, 2016 and end on 28th February, 2017. Interested applicants can apply on www.youngindiafellowship.com

The strength of the cohort has quadrupled in the last 6 years, with an increase in the number of applicants every year. To meet this increasing demand, the number of seats for the programme will be increased to 300 for the year 2017-18. The current batch has 215 Fellows, who come from more than 25 states and from diverse academic fields such as Engineering, Humanities, Sciences, Business and Law.

Dr. Pramath Raj Sinha, Founding Dean of the YIF, and Trustee of Ashoka University, said:

"As we open admissions for the seventh batch, we are excited about making this transformational and globally unique Fellowship accessible to a larger talent pool in India while maintaining the programme's high quality and, in fact, bringing in innovations every year."The Fellowship offers learning from a broad range of courses, and exposes students to multiple perspectives, encouraging them to build skills and perspectives. Some of the disciplines offered include Economics, Statistics, Philosophy, Art and Culture, History, Literature, Business and Management, Leadership and Group Dynamics, International Relations, Visual Communication, and Writing.

The courses are taught by expert faculty from around the world including Kenwyn Smith, Professor of Organisational Behaviour from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Historian, Author and Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University; A.K. Shiva Kumar, Development Economist and Visiting Professor, Harvard University; and Mihir Shah, Member, Planning Commission of India and member of the National Advisory Council.YIF offers full and partial scholarships to successful applicants and there is no fee for applying to the programme.

Alumni of the YIF have already begun to make a mark and are doing well in diverse fields. Some of the achievements by our Fellows for this year are below:

Nikita Saxena: Awarded the Red Ink Award for Excellence in Journalism for her in-depth investigative report on the manner in which tobacco companies are circumventing advertising laws in India.

Avni Ahuja: Declared one of 50 The Economic Times Young Leaders in 2016.

Raunak Mittal: Awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship and Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship to study MA in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Apart from heading to leading universities across the world and winning scholarships, a substantial number of Fellows have also been placed in top corporate houses like McKinsey, Schlumberger, Bain and Company and Genpact. Some have also decided to contribute in the development and sustainability sectors, and started work with organisations such as Samagra and Samaj Pragati Sahyog.

Dr. Anunaya Chaubey, Deputy Dean, Young India Fellowship said, "We do look with a sense of satisfaction at the tremendous increase in the number of applications over the years for admission to YIF. However, these numbers also serve as a reminder that there are countless other brilliant young people across the country who need to be made aware of this opportunity to discover themselves and their potential. We will be making an extra effort this year to enhance our focus on rural areas and townships, as well as increase the extent of international participation among our prospective Fellows."

About the Young India Fellowship:

The Young India Fellowship (YIF) is a one-year multidisciplinary postgraduate diploma programme in Liberal Studies. The Fellowship brings together a group of bright young individuals who show exceptional intellectual ability and leadership potential from across the country, and trains them to become aware and committed to social change.

YIF commenced its first academic session in June 2011 with 57 Fellows selected from among 900 applicants. By its sixth year, the number of applications had increased to approximately 4000, and now the Class of 2016-17 has 215 Fellows attending the programme at Ashoka University. The programme is delivered in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania, Carleton College, University of California Berkeley, University of Michigan, King's College London,Trinity College Dublin, Sciences Po, Yale University and Wellesley College.

Media Contact : Shravan Kumar, shravan.kumar@ashoka.edu.in, 9958293745, Manager; MArketing and Admissions, Ashoka University

Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online

Comments and Discussions
The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay has blacklisted nine companies and banned them from campus recruitments this year after a flurry of complaints against the firms.

Five of these firms -- GPSK, Johnson Electric, China, Portea Medical, Cashcare Technologies and PepperTap  were blacklisted for revoking job offers made to students.

The LeGarde Burnett Group was banned for revoking and offer and having a fake office address.

Read more: Grofers defends revoking offer letters, says students were not promised jobs

Another company named Mera Hunar was barred from campus recruitments as it came with a different name and hired students for another startup.

IndusInsight was blacklisted for delaying the joining dates of candidates. The IIT administration issued a notice to announce the unprecedented move.

Read more: Should you opt for deferred placements, or go it alone?

The past few months saw several startups delaying job offers made during campus placements. Several top firms  including ecommerce giant Flipkart -- pushed back the joining dates of new recruits from several top institutes by at least six months.

In June this year, the IIT Council decided to blacklist companies that deferred placements, revoked offers or reduced salary packages initially offered to students at the campus placements. But the Council didnt divulge the names of the companies it was planning to blacklist at that point of time.

The IIT-Bombay decision follows months of speculation that a slowdown in the start-up sector was hurting placements in Indias top schools. At present, start-ups account for almost a third of campus job offers across IITs and IIMs.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Two weeks ago, filmmaker Nate Parker had the world at his feet, readying for the release of Birth of a Nation, a paean to racial equality tipped to sweep the Oscars.

His directorial debut on one of Americas most important slave rebellions has generated huge buzz amid nationwide protests over police shootings of black youths and with America polarized over immigration and terrorism.

But there are doubts over whether Parkers passion project -- seven years in the making -- will get its release in October with the emergence of new details about a rape accusation of which he was cleared 15 years ago.

Parker, now 36, and his roommate and Birth of a Nation co-writer Jean Celestin, were accused of raping an 18-year-old woman at Penn State University in 1999 while she was unconscious after a night of drinking.

In this image released by Fox Searchlight Pictures, from left, Armie Hammer portrays Samuel Turner, Nate Parker portrays Nat Turner and Jayson Warner Smith portrays Earl Fowler in a scene from The Birth of a Nation, opening Oct. 7, 2016. (AP)

Parker was acquitted in 2001 but Celestin was sentenced to six months in prison for sexual assault before the conviction was overturned on appeal because the alleged victim refused to testify again.

A dark episode Parker believed was behind him, the case exploded across the front pages last week when Variety magazine revealed that the woman had killed herself at a drug rehab center in 2012.

Although there is no evidence linking her suicide at the age of 30 to the trial more than a decade earlier, questions have resurfaced over Parkers conduct after the woman made the rape allegations.

She alleged that he and Celestin harassed, stalked and publicly identified her after she went to police, and she sued the university for failing to protect her, settling on a reported cash payout of $17,500.

Profound sorrow

Parker said on Facebook last week that he was filled with profound sorrow to learn of the womans suicide, while at the same time maintaining his innocence.

I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name, he said.

Fox Searchlight bought Birth of a Nation for a record $17.5 million in January at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the grand jury prize, prompting predictions of Oscars glory.

There are doubts over whether Parkers passion project -- seven years in the making -- will get its release in October with the emergence of new details about a rape accusation of which he was cleared 15 years ago. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

It is due to screen in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, often a launchpad for the awards season, before it hits US theaters on October 7.

But Fox is reportedly monitoring press coverage, with a view to delaying its release if the publicity surrounding the rape case renders a nationwide promotional tour by Parker untenable.

In a first sign of choppy waters ahead, the American Film Institute said Tuesday it was postponing a screening and Q&A with Parker in Los Angeles slated for Friday, citing the many passionate points of view it had received about the film.

Birth of a Nation will ultimately come down to how well Fox can manage the PR over the next few months, an industry analyst who asked not to be identified told AFP.

Reviews are solid so far, so the film at least has that in its favor.

Victim blaming

Nate Parker arrives at the Sundance Night Before Next benefit in Los Angeles. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

Parker may have hoped that his Facebook statement would draw a line under the issue, and he is not without support -- albeit off-the-record -- among fellow African American filmmakers.

Variety quoted two unnamed black directors on Tuesday who voiced suspicions over the timing of the scandal resurfacing, with one wondering out loud if it wasnt a way to muffle a very important piece of work.

Meanwhile, civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton told African-American news site The Root that Parker should be allowed to get on with his life after being found not guilty.

But for some, Parkers acquittal does not absolve him from some of the more disturbing details of the case, not only during but also after the alleged attack.

Right now, based on what Ive read, I would not go to the movie, Academy member and Oscar voter Marcia Nasaitir told the Hollywood Reporter.



Watch the trailer for Birth of a Nation here:

The Womens Law Project, which represented the student in her suit against Penn State, issued a statement this week highlighting a pervasive bias and victim-blaming in the legal systems treatment of sex crime allegations.

A spokeswoman for the WLP told AFP its position on Birth of a Nation was nuanced but that it did not support a boycott, pointing to comments made last week by executive director Carol Tracy underlining the importance of free speech.

Tracy said that while it was important for Parker to be able to visit campuses and to discuss the film, he should also be prepared to address the alleged assault.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Actor Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston surprised children at a Brisbane hospital, dressed up as their Marvel alter egos Thor and Loki.

Hemsworth, 33, who will reprise his role as the Marvel superhero in Thor: Ragnarok, was inspired after he surprised ailing youngsters at the Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, reported Female First.

Alongside a picture of himself and his co-star Hiddleston, who plays Loki in the forthcoming film, he wrote, 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! @twhiddleston #madepossiblebychf #ladycilentochildrenshospital #juicedtv (sic).

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! @twhiddleston #madepossiblebychf #ladycilentochildrenshospital #juicedtv A photo posted by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Aug 23, 2016 at 2:00pm PDT

Hiddleston, who was fully dressed in his all black Loki ensemble with long black hair, described meeting the youngsters as unforgettable and shared a quote from the movie.

Alongside a picture of himself and Chris with two patients with massive smiles on their faces, 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. #madepossiblebychf #juicedtv #ladycilentochildrenshospital (sic).

Here are a few more pictures from their visit and the film sets:

I can feel the love in my heart... #chrishemsworth #tomhiddleston A video posted by Chris Hemsworth (@weheartchrishemsworth) on Aug 24, 2016 at 8:42pm PDT

#TomHiddleston and #ChrisHemsworth on the set of #ThorRagnarok August 23, 2016 In Brisbane Via: Torrilla A photo posted by TomHiddlesNews (@tomhiddlesnews) on Aug 24, 2016 at 9:37am PDT
Educationists have been left scratching their heads for an answer as three prodigious siblings from one Lucknow family continue to set new academic records.

Four-year-old Ananya Verma is the latest from the family of a daily labourer to have hit the headlines on being enrolled in Class 9 of a private school after the district inspector of schools cleared her admission.

Her brother Shailendra was in the news earlier when he graduated in computer science from Lucknow University in 2007 at the age of 14. He passed the examination with 74.93% marks and is now a software engineer in Bengaluru.

Ananyas elder sister Sushma made waves the same year by entering the Limca Book of Records as the countrys youngest matriculate by passing the UP Board Class 10 examinations at the age of seven.

In 2013, she went on to become the youngest science graduate from Lucknow University and then becoming the youngest post-graduate in microbiology from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) in 2015. She reached another milestone by enrolling in a Ph.D course the same year.

Experts are both impressed and baffled by the siblings academic feats. Their intellectual genius is self evident, says Amrita Dass, a career consultant with the Lucknow-based Institute for Career Development.

But none has much clue as to the reasons behind their academic brilliance. Tej Bahadur, their father, is a daily wage earner. Their mother is illiterate. Experts are puzzled and there is no unanimity about what is behind their academic brilliance.

Some children are quick learners but even for that, some amount of teaching is needed. Its impossible to say what has turned these children into geniuses without a medical and scientific assessment of the brain, says Dr Subrata Sinha, director of the National Brain Research Institute in Manesar.

Dass, who has mentored the two older children, says maximising their potential is the priority, though more in-depth research into what makes them stand out is also required. Till date, there is not much known about the biology of intelligence. In many cases, nothing in the family history of child prodigies explains where they got this extraordinary genius and talent from, she points out.

Dr Amit Kumar, CEO and chief scientific officer of Hyderabad-based BioAxis DNA Research Centre Pvt Ltd feels the clue could lie in their genes. Such a family must be tested for smart genes and they may help to understand associated factors for intelligence other than genetic variations, he explains.

However, Ananya isnt affected by the bewilderment she and her siblings have created. Her favourite pastime is reading books, including the Ramayana and Hanuman Chalisa. She goes to St Meeras School, the same institution that her sister Sushma went to, and already has her principal in awe.

Ananya is much sharper than Sushma. She picks up things very fast. It is a learning experience not just for Ananya but also for teachers who work with her. It is amazing to see the progress she is making with every passing day, says Anita Ratra, the principal.

The BBAU vice-chancellor is equally impressed with Sushma. She is doing remarkably well. She is always eager to learn and we are extremely proud to have her as a research scholar, says RC Sobti. For the records sake, Sushma had secured seventh rank in the University Research Entrance Test to study environmental microbiology.

As experts debate their prodigious talents, their father who has now been rewarded by the BBAU with a job as a sanitation supervisor is convinced that it is all because of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. I am illiterate and cannot guide my children. Whatever they have achieved is through the grace of Ma Saraswati, he gushes.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti lost her cool on Thursday and stormed out of a press conference after facing a volley of questions about her governments stand on the current 48-day unrest in the valley.

Mehboobas first formal interaction with the media ended abruptly after journalists asked how she could justify the alleged disproportionate use of force against protesters when as an opposition leader she had criticised the Omar Abdullah government in 2010 for civilian killings.

They also sought clarification over her earlier remark of only 5% of the population supporting the current agitation.

I did not say its just 5%. All I said was 95% people in the valley want peaceful resolution to the problem. The issue has, however, been hijacked by 5% of people who believe in violence, she said.

Kashmir has been on the boil after Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. His death triggered a violence that has left 68 people dead and at least 10,000 injured.

Read: Govt will soon propose a substitute to pellet guns, Rajnath says in Srinagar

Mehbooba reacted strongly after being reminded of her criticism of Abdullahs government for civilian killings and indefinite curfew during the 2012 unrest.

The agitation in 2010 was about human rights violations. Machil fake encounter had happened, Shopian rape and murder case was there, a teenage boy was killed - there was a reason for the anger. Today, three militants were killed, as it has been happening for years, people came out on roads and curfew was imposed. How is the government to be blamed? she asked.

Mehbooba justified the killing of protesters by security forces in the ongoing unrest, saying those hit by bullets or pellets didnt go to fetch milk or toffees.

Most of the children who were killed (by security forces) were killed in retaliation for attacking army camps. The children didnt go to the army camp to buy milk or toffees.

She reiterated that miscreants incite children to attack camps. They want our children to get killed, get blinded, she added.

Mehbooba, however, added that violence can offer no solutions to the issue in todays world. I am for a resolution of Kashmir but not for violence. If you want to give a cause a bad name, you resort to violence, she added.

No issue gets solved by attacking camps, Mehbooba said before storming out of the press conference, she was addressing with Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

Even as the home minister tried to pacify an agitated Mehbooba, she reminded people of how she has saved the same Kashmiri youth.

I have saved them (youth) from knives, when they used to run after seeing the vehicles of task force (special counter-insurgency force), they used to be taken as bonded labourers (by army) in south Kashmir, she said.

Mehbooba said both the state and the Centre are concerned about the killings in the valley. We are concerned as those killed are our children. Prime Ministers statement also highlights the same concern, she said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader said that poor Kashmiri youth were being used as shield by vested interests. Ninety-five percent people killed are from poor families.

While Singh remained seated, Mehbooba left the venue offering journalists a cup of tea instead of answers. This is Singhs second visit amid continued curfew and restrictions in many parts of the valley since Wanis death.

Earlier, Singh indicated the government was finding an alternative to pellet guns as a method of crowd control. He said pellets that have left thousands of people injured may be replaced in the coming days..

The home minister also expressed the governments willingness to talk to separatists saying, We are willing to talk to anyone within the scope of Kashmiriyat, Jamooriyat and Insaniyat.

He also said that an all-party delegation would visit Kashmir soon.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Attacking Congress for accusing the government of spreading the kind of hatred witnessed during the partition, BJP alleged on Thursday Congress divided the country in its lust for power and was now conspiring against the pro-development dispensation after being thrown out of power from the Centre and many states.

Now there will be no division of the country and if it happens, it will happen in our enemy country, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said as he hit out at senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his remarks at an event to felicitate Muslim freedom fighters.

BJP condemns his comments. History is witness that it was Congress which divided the country in its lust for power...Our government is committed to all-round development of the country. Congress is frustrated and conspiring against this government by levelling all kinds of baseless charges, Sharma said.

Sharma alleged that a section of media is also involved in disinformation campaign against the government.

People rejected the Congress in 2014 and have thrown it out of power in many states, he said, insisting that the government is working for sabka saath, sabka vikas but is being targeted as a part of conspiracy.

He noted that Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Salman Khurshid had targeted the Modi government from Pakistani soil with the former allegedly calling for toppling it.

The least Congress can do is to not lecture us. We will continue to work for everybodys development, he said.

Azad on Wednesday accused the Modi government of creating distances among people in the country, alleging that attempts were being made to spread hatred of the kind witnessed during the partition.
Curfew and restrictions continued in Kashmir on Thursday for the 48th consecutive day as separatists extended the protest shutdown till September 1.

Curfew will remain in force in Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar districts while restrictions will continue in Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam and Badgam districts, a senior police official said.

The death toll rose to 68 after a teenager was killed in clashes with the security forces in Pinglina village of Pulwama district on Wednesday.

Twenty five people, including three police officers, were injured when militants who were part of a mob hurled two grenades at security forces in Pulwama town.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kashmir on Wednesday on a two-day visit where he held a security review meeting with top civil, police, paramilitary, intelligence and army officials.

Before leaving for New Delhi later on Thursday, Rajnath Singh is slated to meet chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and other local delegations at the Nehru Guest House in Srinagar
After reports a tribal man forced to walk 10 km with his wifes body in Odishas Kalahandi district, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched a a free hearse van scheme for taking a body from the hospital to the deceased house.

The scheme called Mahaprayan, launched in Mahanga block of Cuttack district, would facilitate free transportation of bodies from government hospitals to residence of the deceased. The mortuary vans will be parked at all district headquarter hospitals and three medical college-cum-hospitals in the state.

Delighted to dedicate 100 bridges, launch Mahaprayana & Madhu babu pension schemes at Mahanga today. #BijuCentenary pic.twitter.com/FTpI60hDpx  Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 25, 2016

Mahaprayan scheme was launched keeping in view the success of Harischandra Yojana, under which poor people get financial assistance for cremation.

On Wednesday, Dana Manjhi, a triabl man from Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district was forced to carry the body of his wife on his shoulders as the hospital authorities did not provide him a mortuary van or an ambulance. The incident occurred at Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital where his 42-year-old wife Amang Dei was being treated for tuberculosis.

Despite all his efforts, Manjhi could not get any help from the hospital authorities. Thus, he wrapped his wifes body in a cloth and started walking to his village Melghara in Rampur block, about 60km from Bhawanipatna.

The hospital authorities said that there are no vehicles. I pleaded with them saying I am a poor person and cannot afford a vehicle to carry my wifes body. Despite repeated requests, they said they cannot offer me any help, Manjhi told a local TV channel.

In another shocking incident, the body of a 70-year-old woman who jumped off a speeding train near Soro railway station in Balasore district, was carried by two daily wage earners since the police failed to get a mortuary van to carry the body to the hospital for postmortem.

Witnesses say the labourers broke the legs of the body, assembled it into a heap and then carried it strung across a bamboo pole.

(With agency inputs)
While involved in search and rescue operations in flood-ravaged Bihar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel helped three marooned pregnant women to deliver their babies safely.

In Birpur, NDRF men delivered a baby on board the rescue boat in Raghopur block of Vaishali district on Wednesday said Vijay Sinha, Commandant of 9th battalion.

Roshini experienced labour pain while being ferried to a safer place following which NDRF pharmacist Jayshankar acted quickly and delivered a healthy baby boy.

The new-born and the mother were taken to Mahnar primary health centre for further care, Sinha said.

On the same day, the NDRF personnel helped two more marooned pregnant ladies in distress.

A woman experiencing labour pain at Gyaspur village in Bhakhtiyarpur of Patna district was rushed to nearest primary health care centre, the Commandant said.

Due to the timely assistance, the woman delivered a healthy baby girl at Bhakhtiyarpur PHC, he said.

While engaged in relief and rescue at Sinha village in Barhara block of Bhojpur district , they heard cries of help from another pregnant woman. The 22-year-old was later rushed to nearest PHC.

According to the Commandant the force received training in child birth.

He said the situation is not unheard of as only last year the NDRF team delivered a baby in Ara town while on board a rescue boat in the middle of a ferocious Ganges river.

Parents later named the baby boy NDRF Singh out of gratitude.
Eggs were hurled at actress-turned-politician Ramyas car on Thursday during a protest by BJPs youth wing in Mangaluru against her Pakistan is not hell remark, for which she is also facing a complaint in a court on sedition and other charges.

Black flags were shown to the former MP as she came out of the airport by BJP Yuva Morcha activists who shouted down down Ramya and Ramya go back slogans.

After this, while on her way to the city, some eggs were thrown at her car from a distance, police said.

Police personnel who were present at the spot in good strength rounded up the protesters and whisked them away.

Ramya is in the city to attend Krishna Janmashtami event. Her car was accompanied by a police escort vehicle.

Some Morcha activists said their protest against Ramya was in reaction to her alleged comment to a TV channel on Wednesday, where she had called Mangaluru hell.

Read: Sedition charge against Ramya: The case is frivolous, should not be entertained

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 had come as an apparent counter to comments of defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who while lashing out at Islamabad for promoting terror, had said last week, Going to Pakistan is same as going to hell.

The 33-year old multi-lingual actress comments had triggered a bitter backlash but she stood her ground saying that she would not apologise for her position.

An advocate had filed a complaint in a court at Somwarpet in Kodagu district, seeking action on sedition and other charges against Ramya for insulting Indian patriots by her remarks.

Read: Accused of sedition, actress-politician says wont apologise for Pak comment

Advocate K Vittala Gowda filed the complaint before the Somwarpet Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court, which admitted it and posted the matter for hearing on August 27.

The complaint has sought a direction to police to book Ramya, an ex-Congress MP, under IPC 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).

Read: Will not be bullied, will definitely visit Pak to talk peace, says Ramya




August 25 is the feast of St. Louis IX (1215-1270), King of France.Louis IX, son of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile, was born at Poissy, April 25, 1215. Louis was twelve years old when his father's death made him king.At that time, his mother Queen Blanche of Castile, was declared regent and remained an important influence throughout his life.Louis had tutors who made him a master of Latin, taught him to speak easily in public and write with dignity and grace. But Blanche's primary concern was to implant in him a deep regard and awe for everything related to religion. She used often to say to him as he was growing up, "I love you my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should commit a mortal sin."At nineteen, he married Marguerite of Provence and the couple had eleven children. Louis was a model father and his children received careful instruction from him in the Christian life.Louis brought justice to France. When, for example, a baron hanged three students for poaching rabbits, the King's response was firm. He forced the Baron to surrender his forest, imprisoned him for a time, fined him heavily, made him build a chapel in memory of each student, and ordered him to crusade for three years in Palestine.On one occasion, Louis learned of a count who had hanged three children for hunting rabbits in his woods. Louis had the count put in prison and when the count insisted that other nobles act as his judges, Louis refused. So the count stood before conventional judges who condemned him to death. However, Louis wasn't finished. He changed the death sentence to a fine so large that it took most of the count's possessions. Then he ordered the fine to be used for charity.Louis was a loving and generous king. The poorest of the poor were recipients of his charity and alms everyday. Beggars were fed from his table, he ate their leavings, washed their feet, and ministered to the needs of the lepers. Daily, he fed 120 poor people. He founded many hospitals and houses: the House of the Felles-Dieu for reformed prostitutes; the Quinze-Vingt for 300 blind men (1254), and hospitals at Pontoise, Vernon, Compiegne.Louis was a faithful Christian sovereign. One of his first acts as King was to build the famous monastery of Royaumont, with funds left for the purpose by his father. Louis gave encouragement to the religious orders, placing the Carthusians in the palace of Vauvert in Paris, and assisting his mother in founding the convent of Maubuisson.Louis led an exemplary life, secretly spending long hours in prayer, fasting, and penance. He attended Holy Mass twice daily, and was surrounded, even while traveling, with priests chanting the hours.Louis died near Tunis, August 25, 1270 and was canonized in Orvieto in 1297, by Boniface VIII.St. Louis IX is the patron of barbers, construction workers, difficult marriages, distillers, embroiderers, hair stylists, parenthood, parents of large families, prisoners, sculptors, sick people, soldiers, stone masons, tertiaries, and the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, Missouri. He is also the patron of the Third Order of St. Francis."If God send thee adversity, receive it in patience and give thanks to our Saviour and bethink thee that thou hast deserved it, and that He will make it turn to thine advantage. If He send thee prosperity, then thank Him humbly, so that thou becomest not worse from pride or any other cause, when thou oughtest to be better. For we should not fight against God with his own gifts.""In prosperity, give thanks to God with humility and fear lest by pride you abuse God's benefits and so offend him."~ St. Louis IX
Against the backdrop of the Supreme Courts directions on Dahi Handi celebrations in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena said on Thursday the government should have come out with an Ordinance, reversing the apex court order.

Sena said the police, instead of going about their duty of catching criminals, will now have to roam from place to place to follow the SCs guidelines and keep a watch on the height of human pyramids and age of govindas (youth who form human pyramids to break pot of curd).

Politicians, who vouched for celebrating the festival in traditional ways, are now rallying behind the apex court and asking people to maintain discipline and follow guidelines laid down. There is no possibility of the government, keeping in mind the anger towards the courts orders would come out with an Ordinance reversing the courts orders, the BJP ally said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana.

Though the government has declared a holiday today, people would have been happier if the government did something to reverse the SCs order, it said.

Sena said SC has increased the work load on police, which will now have to keep a strict vigil on dahi handi celebrations to ensure that nobody violates the orders.

It is okay if terrorists, criminals, thieves roam around freely but the police has to keep an eye on govindas. Celebrating ones festival has now become a crime in the country, the Sena said.

Supreme Court had said that youth below 18 years of age cannot participate in the dahi handi ritual -- part of the Janmashtami festival -- and the height of the human pyramid cannot exceed 20 feet, a limit earlier fixed by the Bombay high court.

The SC order had stirred sharp reaction from political parties and dahi handi organisers, who opined that the restrictions would hamper the magnanimity of the celebrations, while not using bal govindas (children who climb till top of the human pyramid) will pose a challenge for other participants.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday the government will propose a substitute to pellet guns in a few days following widespread criticism of the crowd-control device that has left thousands of Kashmiris blind in the current unrest.

On the second day of his visit to the Valley, Singh appealed to everyone to not play with the future of Kashmiri youth, urging people to identify those fanning trouble.

Dont play with the future of the Kashmiri youth, Singh said, requesting people to identify the trouble-mongers.

Youth in Kashmir should have pens, books and computers in their hands, not stones. If Kashmir has no future, India has no future, Singh said, with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti by his side.

Singh said the government will appoint a nodal officer, and the people of Kashmir can reach out to him directly in need.

The ministers comments are part of a concerted effort by the Centre to tamp down on simmering anger in Kashmir that has been on the boil following the killing of insurgent leader Burhan Wani. The violence has left 68 people dead and at least 10,000 injured.

CM Mufti, whose Peoples Democratic party is in an alliance with the BJP, said 95% people in the state wanted peace, but the rest of the 5% were fanning unrest.

Ive told CM Mehbooba Mufti that an all-party delegation should visit the state and preparations should be made for that, Singh said.

Singh said an expert committee will submit within four days a report on pellet guns, which have been held responsible for the massive number of injuries in the Valley.

We will propose a substitute to pellet guns within a few days, he added.

Though considered non-lethal, their use have been under scrutiny with reports of many of its victims losing sight.

Mehbooba said the street protests in 2010 -- where more than 100 people died -- and the current unrest couldnt be compared. Civilians had died in 2010, there was a fake encounter in Machhil. There was a reason behind peoples anger.

But she said the government couldnt be blamed when security forces killed three militants -- including Wani -- on July 8. Did young children go to buy toffee in army camps? 95% of those killed are children of poor people and those injured by pellet guns. The two episodes cant be compared.

On whether the government will hold talks with the separatist Hurriyat, Singh said: We want to hold talks with everyone within the ambit of humanity.

On Wednesday, Singh had said he was willing to talk to all civil society groups within the framework of kashmiriyat, insaniyat (humanity) and jamooriyat (democracy).
A couple was beaten to death and two of their relatives, including a woman and a minor, allegedly gangraped after being held hostage by five armed robbers in Dhingeri village of Tauroo in Mewat, 45 kilometers from Gurgaon, on Wednesday night.

Police said the assailants locked both the rape victims inside the house before running away with valuables including cash, jewellery and a two-wheeler.

The incident was reported only after one of the family members managed to flee and informed villagers.

One of the rape victims, 22, told police on Thursday that around 4-5 armed men barged into the two houses, which are located near leased farms in Dhingeri village, at midnight.

They tied the family members with a cloth inside a room and beat them up with rods and sticks. Then they gangraped me and my 15-year-old cousin, said the complainant, who is married. She told police that the assailants were armed with country-made pistols and ransacked the house looking for valuables.

They left at 3am after locking us inside the house, she told police.

Read | South Delhi murder: Robbers kill businessman in Chhatarpur farmhouse

The elderly couple died in the hospital. Besides two other family members were also injured in the incident, police said.

Police said the leased land where the family lived is owned by a Delhi resident.

Based on the complaint, police have lodged a case under section 459 (grevious hurt), 460 (trespass), 376 D (gangrape) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Arms Act.

Primarily it appears to be a case of rape and murder during robbery. We are investigating the case, said police spokesperson. All accused are absconding, he said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday that he will continue fighting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ruling BJPs ideological parent.

I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said, tweeted the @OfficeofRG -- Rahuls official handle -- along with a video in which he blames RSS men for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rahul is facing criticism for taking an alleged U-turn on his remarks on the death of Mahatma Gandhi. He told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that he didnt blame the RSS as an institution but only some people associated with the Hindu group.

But earlier, 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.

Whatever he (Rahul) said is in front of the entire world. He as well as the entire nation knows the motive and intent behind his statement. Now, if he is taking a U-turn then the court will decide whether he is correct or not, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Union minister of minority affairs, said.

Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said wisdom has prevailed upon the Congress leader, and it may be a U-turn but it was a good turn nonetheless.

In the video clip shared by Rahul, the Congress leader could be heard saying at a rally in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra: RSS men shot Gandhiji. And today their people talk of Gandhiji.

The video posted by Rahul on Twitter
With Indias Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2016 getting the cabinet nod , India has joined most other countries in the world that have made renting wombs illegal and commercial surrogacy punishable under law.

Heres where the world stands on surrogacy

ABSOLUTE BAN

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Bulgaria prohibit all forms of surrogacy, including altruistic surrogacy where a woman can carry a baby for someone without money, favour or coercion.

COMMERCIAL BAN

The UK, Ireland, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Belgium have banned commercial surrogacy but allow altruistic surrogacy where the commissioning parents only pay for the surrogate mothers medical expenses and insurance.

India, Mexico, Thailand and Nepal, which had emerged as the biggest hubs for commercial surrogacy over the past decade, have all banned commercial surrogacy over the past one year.

In the UK and Thailand, the altruistic surrogate has to be a blood relative to either couple.

In India, a close relative, which is yet to be clearly defined, can be a surrogate mother to the couple.

RENTING WOMBS

Russia, Ukraine and Georgia allow commercial surrogacy, as do six US states, including California, where both parents are named on the birth certificate.

Some Australian states have criminalised citizens going to another country for commercial surrogacy.

BABYS LEGAL STATUS

Since there is no internationally-binding law for surrogacy, a surrogate baby is often left stateless and is at the mercy of the national laws of the new parents home country.

In the UK and Thailand, the surrogate mother is the legal parent, which makes her legally responsible if the baby is abandoned.

In India, the commissioning mother is the legal parent of a surrogate child.

Under Indias Surrogacy Regulation bill 2016, a surrogate child has the same rights as a biological child.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The letter war between India and Pakistan has intensified.

New Delhi has told Islamabad it is willing to discuss terrorism that emanates from its soil and targets not just India, but other countries of the region as well: the first time the Indian establishment has gone beyond its borders in setting the talks agenda.

The latest letter, delivered through diplomatic channels to Islamabad on Wednesday, was foreign secretary S Jaishankars reply to his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Choudharys August 19 invite to discuss Kashmir according to the UN resolutions that also call for a plebiscite in the Valley.

Indias letter, discussed and approved by national security adviser Ajit Doval, also reiterates New Delhis demand for Islamabad to move out of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Relations between the two countries have nosedived with India accusing Pakistan of stoking unrest in Kashmir, where 68 people have died in seven weeks of violent street protests that erupted after the encounter death of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant in July.

The letter exchange started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a marked departure from Indias foreign policy, talked about rights abuses in Balochistan, PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan in his Independence Day speech.

A day earlier, Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit had dedicated his countrys Independence Day to Kashmirs freedom.

A day after Modis speech, Choudhary wrote to Jaishankar, inviting him to discuss Kashmir issue. Jaishankar accepted the invitation but made it clear that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and not Kashmir would be discussed.

In his August 19 reply, Choudhary ignored Jaishankars proposal but not before saying that terrorism from India was also a concern for Pakistan.

Indian security establishment was convinced that Pakistans Kashmir push was the result of a tussle between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Raheel Sharif, who is due to retire in November, sources said.

Both are using Kashmir to incite nationalism and trying to get a leg up on each other, a senior Indian official said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
letters@hindustantimes.com

The leak of sensitive data related to Indias Scorpene project makes the countrys submarines more vulnerable but since each vessel has a different acoustic signature, the impact may be less damaging, London-based experts say.

The most serious implication of the security breach was for the frequency signature details associated with the Scorpene-class submarines, Peter Roberts, senior research fellow for sea power and maritime studies at the Royal United Services Institute, told HT.

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 said.

India was on Wednesday scrambling to assess the damage caused by the leak of the suspected details of the combat capabilities of the submarine that is being built in collaboration with the French company DCNS. The leak was reported by The Australian newspaper a day earlier.

However, (as the French company DCNS will explain), every submarine has a slightly different acoustic signature, and whilst the broad frequency characteristics of the Scorpene-class may now be known, the exact fingerprint of each platform will mitigate some of the operational implications, Roberts said.

India has ordered six Scorpene submarines and the first of the vessels, being built at Mumbais Mazagon Dock, is expected to be delivered to the navy in early 2017.

Harsh Pant, a professor in the department of defence studies at Kings College, London, said the leak could do real long-term damage for India as the Scorpene was to be the main conventional submarine of the Indian fleet.

India has an ageing submarine fleet and one of the most important challenges facing the Indian Navy at the moment is to replenish its submarine capability at a time when China is upending the balance of power in the Indian Ocean, he said.

With this leak, the 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. Given Indias dismal defence procurement system, this will set India back significantly.

The implications of the data loss for the arms community were important in the short term but probably procedural in the medium to long term, Roberts said.

DCNS will obviously have to make some reassurances to the Indian government, and possibly undertake some mitigation work  changing some key equipment to change the frequency signature of the submarines is the most likely course of action, he said.

DCNS was likely to be hit the hardest as the Australian government, which recently let a large submarine contract to the French shipbuilder, would ask for assurance that their data would be sufficiently protected from prying Chinese eyes, Roberts said.

The leak would act as a black mark against DCNS in future biddings. With more than 70 new submarines being ordered in Asia-Pacific over the next decade, such an edge might be significant and could see both the Germans and Swedish have stronger bids when more than purely financial costs are considered, he said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Kerala will be declared as open defecation-free state on its formation day on November 1 with the CPI(M)-led LDF government planning to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend a function in Thiruvananthapuram.

A decision to this effect was taken at the state cabinet meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, an official statement said.

The cabinet decided to invite Modi, who has launched the Swachh Bharat mission for a clean India, to attend the state-level function to be held in the state capital, it said.

A total of more than 1.90 lakh toilets are being constructed across the 941 gram panchayats in the state, including in individual houses, located at critically challenged and hilly terrains, as part of the sanitation programme by the state government.

Suchitwa Mission, the state nodal agency for sanitation, which is implementing the plan said work on 35% of the toilets had already been completed and the state would achieve the new milestone by November.


Lawyer Jayashree Wad knew a friend whose relative had a surrogate child. But was unaware that surrogacy is a huge trade in the country until she read an article in a weekly magazine in 2014.

The report made Wad go back to her books on biology, a subject she graduated in before becoming a lawyer. She dug out details on the flourishing business in India.

After a year-long research, she approached the Supreme Court in 2015 to highlight the pitfalls of the unregulated industry.

It amounts to sale of motherhood, the 78-year-old mother of two lawyer-sons said on Thursday.

I read about how women were exploited by a handful of medical experts who controlled it (surrogacy business), which I thought should be stopped. Surrogate moms are not told about the risks.

Hearing her plea, a top court bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi nudged the government to frame a law.

While the matter was pending before the court and the law was yet to be drafted, the Centre issued notifications that banned import of embryo and disallowed foreigners, NRIs and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) to opt for surrogate children in India.

Wad undertook the exercise single-handedly. Her family  which has many lawyers  was supportive of the endeavour. However, she was keen on pursuing the cause on her own.

Read| The new surrogacy bill will stop exploitation of women

I was free from all my responsibilities and gave all the time I had. The petition prepared was supported by documents running into 525 pages. Citations from other countries were annexed to prove surrogacy was not recognised all over the world and it could lead to problems for children if it remains unchecked here, she said.

She recalled a German couples ordeal in taking two surrogate children back home from India. The couple fought a frustrating legal battle for two years before their surrogate sons could travel. It happened only after the children went through the inter-country adoption procedure supervised by an Indian agency, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).

Till then, the kids were stateless because Germany had refused to grant them citizenship and India had turned down requests for their passports.

Read| India proposes ban on commercial surrogacy: A look at laws across the world

Wad hoped the new surrogacy bill would be tabled in Parliament during the winter session and it did not meet the fate of drafts prepared in 2010 and 2012. The earlier bills lapsed because they were never finalised and tabled, she said.

The government might take a back seat on the issue, but Wad will not. Ten days ago she filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking to know the status of the bill, probably prompting the government to finalise the bill and getting it approved by the Union cabinet on Wednesday.

Wad, a lawyer for the past 40 years, refused to share her picture for publication, saying its against professional ethics.

Read| Its about the surrogate, not morality, Ms Swaraj

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Attempts to paint Rohith Vemula as a non-Dalit is a political ploy to shield his alleged killers from a stringent law against scheduled caste atrocities and weaken the anti-caste movement, said the students mother on Thursday.

Radhika Vemulas comments came a day after a one-member government-appointed panel cleared vice-chancellor Appa Rao of all charges and reportedly said Rohith wasnt a Dalit.

READ: Panel questions Vemula being Dalit, exonerates V-C in suicide case

The commissions findings surprised many as it contradicted reports by the Guntur collector and the National Commission of Scheduled Castes (SC), which declared that Rohith hailed from the Mala scheduled caste in Andhra Pradesh.

Rohith committed suicide in January following months of alleged discrimination on campus. His death sparked a nationwide movement against caste-based discrimination.

In an interview with Hindustan Times in Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, Rohiths mother Radhika Vemula expressed sadness that the government did not take steps to ensure justice for her son despite a nationwide movement. Excerpts from the interview:

Q. Why do you think there are repeated probes into Rohiths caste?

A. My sons killers were all dominant caste. They think if he is proved non-Dalit, they can escape the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act. They think the Dalits, who support Rohiths movement, will move away if hes proved an OBC (Other Backward Class).

But I was the one who brought him up. I am a Dalit, my child lived a Dalit and I will die a Dalit. They keep going to his father, an OBC, but he never helped, socially, economically.

And do they think the movement will die if hes termed OBC? The OBCs will come out in bigger numbers to support the cause.

Q. What do you have to say about the new commissions findings?

A. I condemn this in the strongest words. Once the national SC panel has determined Rohiths caste, there should be no further inquiry. These repeated probes sometimes make me feel like I will never get justice for my sons death; it troubles me.

Reporters repeatedly go to my husband, who I moved away from when Raja (Rohiths brother) was young. They ask, is Raja your son? I felt like committing suicide.

READ: More omission than commission in Rohith Vemula suicide report

Q. It has been eight months since Rohith died. The prime minister has repeated reached out to Dalits but there has been little progress in the case. Do you have any expectations of the government?

A. I dont have any faith in this government. I dont think Narendra Modi will do anything. In this country, cows get more respect than Dalits. But we have votes and we will show them in the next election. Dalit-Bahujans will decide the future. It is all of our job to protect the Constitution. This country is for all of us, not just for dominant castes.

Q. Do you despair that youd never get justice for your son?

A. Deep down, I know that I will get justice. It will be a long battle, and maybe not even in the tenure of this government. But I started fighting so that there are no more such institutional murders. I want this to end. No mother should go through this. There should be no more Rohiths.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A day after reports emerged that documents related to Indias Scorpene submarine have been leaked, the Indian Navy said on Thursday it has asked the French government to investigate the case.

In a statement issued in New Delhi, the navy said the matter has been taken up with the director general of armaments in France. It expressed concerns over the incident and requested the French government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side.

Over 22,000 pages of information were reportedly leaked from DCNS, the French company that designed Scorpene submarines being built in India.

According to sources, defence minister Manohar Parrikar had told the navy to take up the matter with DCNS. He sought a report on the extent of damage following the leak, which, he said, appeared to be an incident of hacking.

An internal audit of procedures to rule out any security breach is also being undertaken, the navy said in the statement, a day after it stressed that the leak appears to be from overseas and not in India.

The matter is being taken up with concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports, the Indian Navy said.

The Government of India, as a matter of abundant precaution, is also examining the impact if the information contained in the documents claimed to be available with the Australian sources is compromised. The detailed assessment of potential impact is being undertaken by a high-level committee constituted by the Ministry of Defence, and the Indian Navy is taking all necessary steps to mitigate any probable security compromise.

The statement ruled out any threat from the documents posted on The Australian newspapers website.

The documents that have been posted on the website by an Australian news agency have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out, the navy said.
The multi-crore national rural health mission (NRHM) scam has returned to haunt Bahujan Samaj Party leader and former chief minister Mayawati ahead of 2017 assembly election.

A CBI court in Ghaziabad has issued non-bailable warrants against her former health minister, Anant Kumar Mishra, and his parents and fixed September 23 as the next date of hearing. The Central Bureau of Investigation had on July 21 filed a charge sheet against Mishra and his parents, accusing them of corruption and amassing assets illegally.

Hundreds of crores of rupees meant for buying medicines and equipment for village health centres and hospitals were siphoned off over several years in one of the biggest scandals to hit the country.

Mishra, who wielded a lot of clout when Mayawati was the CM, is a relative of BSP national general secretary SC Mishra and has been tasked with wooing the Brahmin community ahead of the state election.

The scandal proved to be Mayawatis undoing in the 2012 assembly elections. In the run-up to the polls, the CBI had arrested her close aide and family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, giving political rivals ammunition to target the BSP.

Fearing CBI questioning, Mayawati told her supporters last week that the Centre might use the investigation agency to harass her.

Corruption under the BSP rule and lawlessness under the SP government will be the main focus of our election campaign, a senior BJP leader said.

When Mishra was the health minister -- from 2007-11 -- Mahendra Pandey and Guddu Khan alias Raees Alam Siddiqui worked as his conduits, supplying medicines and equipment to chief medical officers, the CBI charge sheet said.

Mishra abused his position in posting CMOs and was paid Rs 15-20 lakh for each posting. The money was paid through Pandey. While Mishra acquired huge illegal assets, the CMOs misappropriated NRHM funds. The CMOs told the CBI that Mishra forced them to order medicines from Pandeys company.

Mishras parents, DC Mishra and Bimla, abetted the crime by purchasing properties in their names, the CBI said.

A CBI officer said Mishra bought properties in Safdarjung Enclave in New Delhi, Gilli Bazar, Gwaltoli and Kakadeo in Kanpur, Vipul Khand in Lucknows Gomti Nagar and Madhuban Bapudham Awasiya Yojana in Ghaziabad.

Mishra also purchased two Kolkata-based paper companies, Pinky Holding Pvt Ltd and Travol Barter Pvt Ltd, and made his parents the directors. The aim was to convert black money through paper companies.

HT tried to contact Anant Kumar Mishra but he was not available for comments.

NHRM scam

The Centre released Rs 10,000 crore under NRHM between 2005 and 2011. A CAG audit detected misappropriation of Rs 4,900 crore.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court ordered a CBI probe in November 2011 after two chief medical officers (CMOs) were murdered in Lucknow. Then family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, a close aide of BSP chief Mayawati, and health minister Anant Kumar Mishra were forced to resign.

Kushwaha and health secretary Pradeep Shukla were later arrested by the CBI, which also took in custody several CMOs, doctors and medicine suppliers.
Friday will be a grind for cabinet ministers and their senior officers, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the charge.

While most of the government staff will be off for an extended weekend  Janmashtami is a government holiday, throw in a leave on Friday and the week is taken care of  the ministers and officials will review their work and share ideas on governance and economy.

At around 11am, all the 27 cabinet ministers and around 1,300 officers -- of the rank of joint secretary and above  are expected at Vigyan Bhawan to hear Singapores deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam speak on India in the Global Economy.

The lecture, organised by the government think tank, Niti Aayog, will be followed by a four-hour panel discussion, with ministers and officers exchanging ideas on economy, governance and development with the Singaporean leader.

Their next stop will be Parliament Library building, where at 5.30pm, another four-hour session will begin. Modi, who is still to take a day off after taking over as the prime minister two years ago, will review the implementation of budgetary and cabinet decisions by various ministries.

It is going to be a gruelling day for us with two back to back five-hour meetings. While the review meeting is a regular feature, the lecture by a visiting foreign dignitary followed by an interactive discussion is the first of its kind, a senior minister told HT on condition of anonymity.

Shanmugaratnams talk is the first of an annual lecture series on Transforming India, proposed by Modi to bring in international personalities to share their experiences and ideas on India. Chief ministers, too, are invited but there is no confirmation on how many of them would be in Delhi on Friday.

Shanmugaratnam, an ethnic Tamil politician who also holds the finance portfolio, is something of a rock star in the city-state and is often referred to as an economic Tsar.

Educated at London School of Economics, Cambridge and Harvard, the 59-year-old has served as Singapores education minister and also worked at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the countrys central bank and financial regulator.

The idea is to broaden the vision of officers in terms of influencing policy. It will be interesting to hear about how a small country like Singapore turned into a hub of banking and financial services, a secretary in one of the infrastructure ministries said.

Shanmugaratnam is not the only Singaporean politician to have impressed the PM. Modi is an admirer of Singapores founder and first premier Lee Kuan Yew. Modi visited Singapore last year for Lees funeral, describing him as among the tallest leaders of our times.

Though open to ideas exchange, the ministers are not too happy with the long hours that they will have to sit through.

And before they call it a day, the ministers will also have to share their Tiranga Yatra experience with the PM and colleagues. The ministers, in response to PMs call, fanned across the country, carrying the Tricolour, or Tiranga, to celebrate Indias 70 Independence Day to create awareness and instil a sense of patriotism.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Soon after Mayawati became Uttar Pradesh chief minister in 1995, her bete noire Mulayam Singh Yadav said, The Congress has committed a political blunder by propping up a Dalit leader in the state. Now the party has lost Dalit support forever.

He was bang on. Once Dalits discovered Mayawati, they never returned to the Congress, which had by then also lost the support of Muslims.

The community held the Congress as much responsible as the BJP for the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992, when the country was led by Congress prime minister Narasimha Rao. UP was under a BJP government led by chief minister Kalyan Singh.

The Samajwadi Party, founded a few months ago in October 1992, was soon to cash in on the anti-Congress and anti-BJP mood. Since then, the SP and BSP have dictated the states politics, experimenting with post-poll alliances, barring the 1996 assembly elections when Mayawati had a pre-poll understanding with the Congress but eventually formed a government with the BJP after the elections. Narain Dutt Tiwari was the last Congress chief minister in 1989.

The BJP, however, manoeuvred its way to the chief ministers chair from 1997 to 2002. The Congress and BJP slogans for the 2017 polls  27 Saal, UP Behaal and 14-year-exile is ending  mirror the desperation of the parties.

Full coverage: Uttar Pradesh assembly elections

Strategically, both Mayawati and Mulayam prefer an independent trek to the poll arena while remaining open for post-poll mathematics to reach the magic figure of 202 in a House of 403.

Now, theres a real threat to their supremacy from a resurgent BJP, which had polled 42.63 % votes in the 2014 general election. But can the BJP, which had polled 15% vote in the 2012 assembly polls, break the hegemony of not one but two regional parties?

In recent assembly elections in the country, the BJP has done well in the state wherever it is in direct contest with the Congress. (But) it has failed against powerful regional players, said political expert Chitranjan Mishra.

Going by the simple logic of the state rotating governments, its the BSPs turn to regain power. Yet, Mayawati cannot be very confident as 2017 will witness a multi-cornered contest instead of a straight battle with the SP.

Also, developments since 2007 have to be factored in. Such as revival of the BJP and its Hindutva agenda that it had shelved after the Babri mosque demolition, rise of popular figures like Narendra Modi and Akhilesh Yadav, fissures in Mayawatis party as well as vote bank, family feud and generational issues in SP, and last-ditch efforts by the Congress to revive the party  the Gandhis not only hired Prashant Kishore but also, for the first time, announced their chief ministerial candidate.

For the BSP, the challenge thrown by party rebels, Swamy Prasad Maurya and RK Choudhary, is less damaging than the collapse of her social engineering formula that had paved the way for her first majority government in 2007.

Like Muslims, the Dalits, especially Jatavs, may also vote tactically in favour of the winning horse to stall the return of SP to power. And to defeat the SP, Dalits have an option in BJP.

Read: The caste maze: One who negotiates it wins Uttar Pradesh

Mayawatis efforts to woo Muslims by giving maximum tickets to them may also not yield much result as there are too many claimants for their votes. Asauddin Owaisi of AIMIM too has a huge following amongst the youth.

As for the SP, its best bet is its chief ministerial face. Even critics of Akhilesh Yadavs style of functioning appreciate his non-controversial image. However, challenges are huge. Besides chachas and bhatijas, many of the sitting MLAs have indulged in mining, land grabbing and other activities  a fact publicly admitted by both Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav. This has tarnished the governments image.

The SPs vote bank is fragile. While Yadavs may stick to SP, Muslims will vote for the winning horse against the BJP. Political pundits foresee major gains for the BJP, if the Muslim and Dalit vote bank is divided.

Read: BJP fumbles in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh as crises abound
India would make a strong push for greater US support in getting membership to the nuclear suppliers group (NSG) during the forthcoming strategic and commercial dialogue which would focus among others, business ties, defence cooperation and clean energy initiatives.

The annual strategic dialogue, which has included commerce since last year, will take place on August 30 in Delhi.

It is co-chaired by secretary of state John Kerry and secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker from the US side and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and minister of state for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman.

India is making a strong bid for the membership to the NSG, an elite club of 48 countries that deal with trade in nuclear technology and fissile materials.

After China blocked Indias bid on the grounds of not being a signatory to the nuclear non proliferation treaty (NPT), New Delhi is making fresh attempts to enter the club before the year ends.

Sources said Indias NSG bid is closely linked to its push for clean energy sources, an area where India-US cooperation is getting stronger. The US is also nudging India to ratify the ambitious 2015 Paris climate pact.

However, the poll-bound US raises questions over how strong its push for Indias NSG bid could be.

Former US president George Bush had called up his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to get Beijings support for India getting a waiver at the Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines, an imperative for the implementation of the India-US civil nuclear cooperation.

However, there was no such call from current President Barack Obama to his Chinese counterpart when India tried to enter the club.

The two sides will also explore means for greater US participation in the defence sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modis flagship scheme Make in India. They would review progress in the establishment of the Working Groups on Aircraft Carrier Technology and Jet Engine.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
France and India on Thursday played down the security risk posed by leaked data on French-designed submarines that a source told Reuters was probably stolen by a French former employee and that has raised concerns over a $38 billion contract with Australia.

More than 22,000 pages of data about six submarines that Frances DCNS is building for Indias navy looked to have been stolen in 2011 by a subcontractor who was fired while providing training in India, the source said.

Indias defence ministry said on Thursday that it saw no immediate security risk and the French government said the information in the documents only showed how the submarines operate and did not compromise their security.

India and France are investigating after The Australian newspaper published on Wednesday details about its Scorpene submarines being built in India by contractor DCNS - 35 percent owned by Thales and 65 percent by the French state.

It is not a leak, it is theft, the source said. We have not found any DCNS negligence, but we have identified some dishonesty by an individual.

The French government source said security procedures would be strengthened for all employees going to work in Australia to ensure one person did not have access to so many documents.

The documents were not classified and at this stage appeared to only focus on how the submarines are operated not how they are built and whether they can be detected, the source said.

The Indians can object to the fact that these documents show the Pakistanis how to maintain their submarines and thats annoying, but it doesnt tell the Pakistanis how to detect an Indian ship, or how we build a submarine in France. Not at all, the source said.

The newspaper published only a fraction of the documents, and these had been redacted, meaning that sensitive details relating to the Scorpenes design and stealth capabilities did not enter the public domain.

The documents that have been posted ... have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out, an Indian defence ministry statement said.

The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai. The first is expected to enter service by the end of the year as India seeks to rebuild its dwindling fleet and assert its dominance in the strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.

The leak has raised doubts about the security of a separate DCNS submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals on a contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines.

DCNS said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients and whether commercial espionage was to blame.

DCNS is also pitching for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland and beat Germanys ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia.

French officials have sought to play down the impact on the Australia contract.

The dialogue with Australia has not been cut at all. There is mutual confidence and I dont believe at all that this contract will be put into question, Patricia Adam, the head of Frances parliamentary defence committee.

Read| All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines

The documents that have been posted ... have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out, an Indian defence ministry statement said.

The submarines are being built at a state-run shipyard in Mumbai. The first is expected to enter service by the end of the year as India seeks to rebuild its dwindling fleet and assert its dominance in the strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.

The leak has raised doubts about the security of a separate DCNS submarine project in Australia where it is locked in exclusive negotiations after seeing off rivals on a contract to build the Barracuda next generation of submarines.

DCNS said it was working to determine if any harm had been caused to clients and whether commercial espionage was to blame.

DCNS is also pitching for submarine contracts in Norway and Poland and beat Germanys ThyssenKrupp AG and a Japanese-government backed bid by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Australia.

French officials have sought to play down the impact on the Australia contract.

The dialogue with Australia has not been cut at all. There is mutual confidence and I dont believe at all that this contract will be put into question, Patricia Adam, the head of Frances parliamentary defence committee.

Read| India should be worried about the Scorpene data leak case. Heres why
Fresh details of the Scorpene submarines combat management systems were put in the public domain on Thursday, overshadowing the Indian Navys attempts to downplay the data leak that may have implications for the countrys underwater warfare capabilities.

The Australian newspaper  that exposed the leak on Tuesday -- uploaded more documents from a leaked cache of 22,400 classified paper from French shipbuilder DCNS, which is helping India build six Scorpene submarines under a Rs 23,562-crore ($3.5 billion) deal.

The nine new pages of documents were heavily redacted by the newspaper but provided information on the capabilities of the submarines sonar system and targeting and torpedo systems. The earlier documents had crucial details of the submarines combat capabilities, though redacted.

As with the earlier uploads, the new documents were marked Restricted Scorpene India, which the French government said on Thursday were stolen and not leaked.

Read| France, India play down security risk of leaked Scorpene submarine data

The Australian said the leaked data was removed from DCNS by a former sub-contractor in 2011 and taken to a private company in Southeast Asia before being passed to a branch of that company in a second Southeast Asian nation.

A disk containing the data filed was then posted in regular mail to a company in Australia, the report said. It added that the leak was not thought to have come from India.

It implied that individuals or firms in three countries, including Australia, had access to the highly classified information on the Scorpene submarines.

The navy, however, said in a statement, The documents that have been posted on the website by an Australian news agency have been examined and do not pose any security compromise as the vital parameters have been blacked out. The statement was issued before the second set of documents was uploaded.

Read| Experts divided on leak of sensitive data on Scorpene submarine

Sources said the navy reached the conclusion by carrying out a preliminary analysis of just three sets of papers out of the 22,400 that were leaked.

Thats a bad statement. I am surprised the navy has jumped to that conclusion by analysing a bunch of papers with some redacted text. A far deeper analysis in required, said strategic affairs expert and retired rear admiral Raja Menon.

Australian journalist Cameron Stewart, who broke the data leak scandal, also disputed the navys claim.

There is confusion in India about the leaked submarine docs. None of the 22,400 docs are redacted, all sensitive figures are there in full (sic), he tweeted.

Read| All about Indian Navys crucial Scorpene submarines

Throughout the day India mounted a flurry of diplomatic activity and appointed a high-level panel to evaluate the impact of the data leak.

The Indian Navy has taken up the matter with director general of armament of the French government expressing concern over this incident and has requested the French government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings with the Indian side.

It said an internal audit of procedures was underway to rule out any security compromise and added that the matter is being taken up with concerned foreign governments through diplomatic channels to verify the authenticity of the reports.

The defence ministry has formed a high-level committee to carry out a detailed assessment of (the) potential impact of the leak and the navy is taking steps to mitigate any probable security compromise.

The Australian had said the documents could prove an intelligence bonanza for Pakistan and China.

The first Scorpene-class submarines built at Mumbais state-run Mazagon Dock Limited is expected to be inducted early next year.

Read| India should be worried about the Scorpene data leak case. Heres why
The UN said it supports peoples right to demonstrate their opinions peacefully about issues they care about, amid reports that women in PoK had offered their bangles to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during protests for not doing enough on the Kashmir issue.

I think we are... we are fully supportive of everyones right to demonstrate their opinions peacefully about issues that they care about, Bans spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at United Nations on Wednesday.

Dujarric was asked to comment on some reports in the Pakistani media of women in Muzaffarabad offering their bangles to Ban as a kind of insult aimed at him over perceived inaction over violence in Kashmir, where tensions have escalated following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.

Ban had said that he is closely following the clashes in Kashmir, calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further violence and hoped that all concerns would be addressed through peaceful means.
Twenty-eight-year old Devi Parmar, who was a surrogate mother until last December, says she has no idea about the proposed ban on surrogacy. I know so many poor women are doing it. Daily wagers like me cannot make that kind of money otherwise. This was at least the better option, says Devi, who lives in Gujarats Anand district.

Now, with the proposed ban on commercial surrogacy, women such as Devi stand to lose that better option. Advocate Anurag Chawla of the Delhi-based Surrogacy Laws India feels that the law has been too tough on surrogate mothers by proposing altruistic surrogacy, and restricting women from becoming a surrogate more than once. Not all surrogate mothers are forced by their families, or end up in a bad situation. Some use the money for a good purpose, he says.

Devi, who got a house built with that money, seems to be one among those. But Devi was lucky: the commissioning couple who she had the baby for was a foreigner -- Devi says she doesnt which country they belonged to -- and so, she was paid six lakhs as surrogacy fee. Most women will get only half of that, says Chawla. What is that kind of money in this day and age. This is hardly a commercial enterprise. Besides, the women are also helping infertile couples, he says.

Read:Commercial Surrogacy: The half mothers of Anand

Many such as Chawla feel that the alternative of altruistic surrogacy will not work. Couples from the UK  where only altruistic surrogacy is allowed -- have travelled to India, paid for surrogacy, but on paper, they have managed to show it as altruistic, he says.

For those such as Devi, surrogacy means an assured sum of money. Initially I didnt know how much money I would get, or what could happen to my body. But then I got to know that it was a good amount. Many women also save money for their kids education, or to repay a loan, she says. Women such as her also invoke that they are doing a good deed for others by giving them a baby.

Mumbai-based infertility specialist Dr Aniruddha Malpani says that the idea that poor women cant be trusted with making choices needs to change. Malpani also feels that the focus should have been on the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)Bill, of which surrogacy was only a part until early this year. In India, IVF procedures are significantly higher than the surrogacy arrangements. Instead of regulating those procedures and clinics, the government has just singled out surrogacy, and made a law. For this, IVF doctors were not even consulted, he says. The Bill also violates the reproductive rights of women who need surrogacy -- a small section among those who need infertility treatment -- because they do not have a uterus, or it is damaged, he says.

Read:Outsourcing motherhood: India's reproductive dystopia

Womens groups have long argued for regulation of ART clinics and surrogacy, in light of the burgeoning infertility industry in India, instead of a ban on the practice. Regulation would also have meant that surrogate mothers would have medical insurance and they would be clearly informed about the procedures that they would be undergoing, among other rights.

Back in Gujarat, however, Devi is still weighing her options for a second term as a surrogate mother. I still need money. I work in the fields now, but that gives me only 3,600 per month. So, surrogacy is a good option. But then, it will mean that I have to stay in the surrogacy hostel, away from my children. So maybe, I wont do it, she says.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Left Front government in Tripura has sniffed a Trinamool Congress (TMC) plot in the revival of a demand for a tribal state that turned violent on Tuesday, injuring more than 100 people.

After West Bengal, the TMC wants to wipe out the communists from Tripura. Mamata Banerjees party received a shot in the arm when six of 10 Tripura Congress MLAs crossed over to Trinamool in June.

The TMC denied instigating Tuesdays agitators who demanded that the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) be upgraded to Twipraland.

A lesser known group called Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) led the demonstration to mark the eighth Twipraland Statehood Demand Day. The day coincided with the by-election to Simna-Tamakari constituency, one of 30 in the council for 19 tribes who constitute a third of Tripuras 3.7 million people.

The violence was pre-planned. The IPFT tried to disturb peace in the state by triggering the clash, and it received direct or indirect support from Trinamool Congress, Bijan Dhar, state secretary of CPI (Marxist), said.

The TMC countered the charge, saying Manik Sarkars Left Front government was trying to cover up the administrations failure in preventing a peaceful demonstration from taking a communal turn. The CPM is blaming us just to hide its shortcomings, Ashish Kumar Saha, the partys MLA, said.

Whatever was the trigger for Tuesdays violence, the demand for a tribal state in Tripura lies in a British-era literacy movement, which turned political with communist overtones before militants hijacked it in the 1980s.

Literacy to militancy

Dasarath Deb, Tripuras eighth chief minister (1993-1998), had in December 1945 launched the Jana Shiksha Samity, a literary and resistance movement in the areas ruled by the British-controlled king of Tripura.

Partition of India in 1947 saw much of the plains under Tripuras Manikya dynasty go to East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The Tripura royalty merged the kingdom with the Indian union in September 1949 but it wasnt until January 1972 that Tripura became a state.

A steady influx of Hindu Bengalis from East Pakistan between 1947 and 1972 saw the Kokborok-speaking tribes being reduced to a minority in landlocked Tripura. The fear of being pushed out of their own land led to militancy and periodic communal clashes since the 1980s.

In 1948, Deb transformed the Samity into Gana Mukti Parishad, a political outfit engaged in an armed struggle after it merged with the CPI more than a year later. Debs communist resistance movement coincided with similar ones in Tebhaga (Bengal) and Telangana.

Deb joined CPI(M) after the CPI split in 1964. That year, he formed a pro-tribal Marxist frontal organisation.

The CPM has been ruling Tripura since 1978, except for the 1988-1993 period when Congress regained power. The TTAADC was set up in 1985 for the socio-economic development of tribals and it covered two-third of Tripuras geographical area of 10,491.69 sq km.

Manoranjan Debbarma, an indigenous Marxist MLA, had in 2014 said the communists fought for tribal rights through the 1950s and 1960s when the indigenous population was being swamped by refugees from East Pakistan. Debbarma represents a constituency named after Mandaibazar, where more than 300 Bengali settlers were killed in June 1980.

The demographic change hurt the CPM and CPI during the 1967 assembly election. The Left parties were routed because, as Debbarma pointed out, they had demanded a district council for the indigenous people. But Marxists continued to champion indigenous rights even after ethnocentric politics gripped Tripura in 1967, he said.

The 1967 election coincided with the birth of the Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS), a tribal political organisation that often clashed with Amra Bangali, a radical Bengali organisation.

The polarisation became sharper when militancy, allegedly backed by the church, crept into the state in the early 1980s. Tripura National Volunteers (TNV) came first, followed by National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force.

Communist control in tribal areas

The communists made inroads in Tripuras tribal areas as militancy began waning in the mid-1990s. But the tribal movement gained some ground after two political parties from the 1980s  Tripura Hill Peoples Party and Tripura Tribal National Conference  merged to form the IPFT.

The IPFT soon overtook TUJS and won the TTAADC polls in 2000. The two parties merged to form the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT) two years later. A section broke away from INPT to form IPFT again in 2009 and push for Twipraland state.

The IPFT chose August 23  the day when Parliament paved the way for the formation of the Tripura tribal council  as its Statehood Demand Day. The front had been observing the day quietly Tuesday, triggering political conspiracy theories.

The alignment of the tribal entities with non-Left parties is said to be behind these theories. The INPT had teamed with Congress during the 2003 assembly election but joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Both BJP and TMC are believed to have backed IPFT in the tribal council by-poll on Tuesday. While BJP withdrew its candidate, TMC said it was game for strengthening anti-Left parties.

Like TMC, the state BJP criticised the Left Front government for letting things get out of control.

The government had doubts about winning the by-poll. Thats why it timed the by-poll with IPFTs Statehood Demand Day, knowing there could be trouble, BJP spokesperson Mrinal Kanti Deb said.
Kannada actor-politician Ramya, in the eye of a storm after a sedition case was slapped against her for stating that Pakistan is not hell, is unfazed.

The actress says she wont apologise come what may and not allow herself to be bullied into submission. The former Congress MP says she is in fact keen to go back to Pakistan to foster peace and engage in dialogue.

The sedition case was filed against Ramya after she disagreed with defence minister Manohar Parrikars comment that going to Pakistan is like going to hell. She said that Pakistan is certainly not hell and the people there are very hospitable.

Excerpts of a conversation with IANS:

By accusing you of sedition for saying Pakistan is not hell, are we displaying new levels of intolerance?

Yes, all hell has broken loose (laughs). A lawyer has filed a complaint and he cited Section 124 A which is the section on sedition. It remains to be seen if the court accepts his complaint. But yes, you are right this is a new level of intolerance. This is a gross misuse of an old, outdated law that is completely not required in a democratic country in the first place.

Read | Sedition charge against Ramya: The case is frivolous, should not be entertained

Do you think this case should be a cause to re-look at sedition laws?

I think we seriously need to look at the sedition law. Either we should seriously modify it or do away with it. Otherwise I will not be the last person to be harassed in this way, let me tell you that.

Do you think there is a political conspiracy behind this?

It seems like it. Because a copy of the complaint went to the media first. How did that happen? The lawyer wanted the media to first know about how anti-national I am (laughs). The BJP has been up in arms against all those who are opposed to their ideology. Right-wing extremists are the only section supporting the sedition allegation against me.

Read | You cant bring every criticism under the ambit of sedition

By and large, off and online people have supported me. Even individuals from the BJP have supported me. But the good thing is, this is what democracy is about -- discussion, dissension. Hopefully there will be an amendment in some of the archaic laws that allow individuals to slap outrageous charges. That is the positive takeaway from this controversy.

But it cant be so positive for you and your family?

I was coming to that. For the person at the receiving end, there is no positive takeaway. This is the price of freedom in a country like India. I think we should be just happy that we have the freedom to say anything about anybody and get away with it. Our national leaders fought to get us freedom and this is how we are misusing it. This is not how you uphold the principles that our founding fathers laid down their lives for. Luckily, most people have been very supportive.

And the media?

The local Karnataka television channels have been unnecessarily sensationalising the issue and putting out headlines like Ramya Supports Pakistan. We cant blame them. There are 20 competitive news channels in Karnataka. I am better off than Kanhaiya Kumar. They put out an entire morphed video against him to prove he was seditious.

Do you think celebrities get targeted for being celebrities?

I think so. During earlier days film actors were not supposed to be taken seriously. And they never spoke about, let alone take a stance on, political issues. Now when actors like us do participate in politics some people cant handle it. Weve very politically active actors. So many female actors like Jayalalithaa, Nagma, Khushboo, Radhika from the South have made a mark in politics. And I love Jaya Bachchan. She is so vocal and passionate in Parliament.

To digress a bit what got you interested in politics?

I was always interested in working for the betterment of our country. I grew up caring about our country. I do care. Is it okay to do that? Today, in 2016, we have Dalits being oppressed, people getting killed for eating beef. Even a girl drinking a beer in a pub is reason for violence. Homosexuals are illegal in our country. There is a so much that needs to change. If I keep quiet just because its convenient then I negate all that my parents stand for.

Weve our defence minister saying Pakistan is akin to hell...

Is this a responsible statement to make for a man appointed to protect and defend our country at a time when hostility with our neighbours is at an all-time high?

What took you to Pakistan?

It was a SAARC young parliamentarians conference in Islamabad. And I found Pakistanis are just like us. We look like siblings.

Are we supposed to say all Pakistanis are monsters?

It seems like it. But I wont. And I wont apologise, come what may. Ive the freedom to talk peace with our neighbours. I dont think I should allow myself to be bullied into submission. The ranters probably think its easy to bully me since I am a woman. But I wont succumb. If I allow these voices to smother me Ill be doing disservice to other fearless voices in politics.

It takes courage to not be shouted down. Its just so much easier to say what people want to hear. Thats what politicians do during elections. And they continue to do it for five years. In a subverted way it is a compliment to be called seditious if you talk of cross-border peace. Gandhiji, Nehruji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak they were all slapped with sedition. So I am in august company.

Will you go back to Pakistan?

To foster peace and engage in dialogue? Yes. Definitely.
Struggling to find a face in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has thrown open its doors for turncoats by preparing a list of 81 such Opposition leaders, who have either joined or are negotiating entry into BJP ahead of 2017 assembly elections, sources have said.

The BJP is keen to induct some of them, feeling they will bring critical votes with them to win seats. The BJP won just 48 assembly seats last time.

Opposition leaders joining the BJP helps create a buzz and make the party look like it is winning, a BJP office bearer explained.

The strategy had worked for the BJP ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha election, but came a cropper in Bihar when most of the turncoats got defeated. Some leaders fear that inducting a large number of Opposition leaders will add to factionalism and a tug of war for poll tickets.

Most of these 81 leaders are from Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party, which looks set to give more tickets to Muslims at the cost of representation of the Brahmins.

Former BSP MP Brajesh Pathak  a prominent Brahmin face  cited low representation to the upper caste community as reason to quit Mayawatis party two days back. He is now with the BJP.

BSP has been reduced to being the party of one caste, Pathak said. BSP leaders Swami Prasad Maurya and RK Choudhary (both OBC leaders) and former Rajya Sabha MP Jugal Kishore (Dalit) also joined the BJP recently. BSPs Rajesh Tripathi and Bala Prasad Awasthi and Samajwadi Partys Sher Bahadur too crossed over to the BJP this month.

Congress move to woo Brahmins has also set alarm bells ringing in the BJP. Its strategists want to take the fizz out of Congress campaign by weaning away some of its sitting MLAs and prominent leaders. Congress Sanjay Pratap Jaiswal, Vijay Kumar Dubey and Madhuri Verma crossed over to the BJP this month. It is also wooing a former chief of Pradesh Congress Committee, a Brahmin.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
In a first programme of its kind, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh will go on a seven-day trip to New York, Boston, New Jersey and Chicago where he will highlight the plight of the Hindus in Bengal and how they are on the backfoot due to the continuous infiltration from Bangladesh and the political backing of the minorities by a section of the political class.

Other speakers in the programme include Subramanian Swamy and Hukum Singh, the BJP MP from Kairana, UP who initiated the campaign that Hindus were forced to flee the area recently.

Read: BJP Bengal chief threatens to break necks of TMC men with bare hands

This is the first time that a leader from Bengal is invited to speak to the Hindu congregation in the US. The string of programmes is organised by US-based Hindu groups including Overseas Friends of BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad America, Indian-American Intellectual Forum and others.

The invite which has been circulated in the US. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy and BJP Lok Sabha MP from Kairana (who highlighted Hindu exodus in UP) Hukum Singh will be a part of the team travelling to the US for the events. (HT Photo)

Many of the organisers including Overseas Friends of BJP was also behind the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modis US trip in September 24 last year.

I will highlight the helpless plight of Hindus in West Bengal. On one hand, we have the rise of Muslim fundamentalism along with terror organizations like Jamaat (Jamaat ul Mujahidin Bangladesh), and on the other, certain political sections are backing fundamentalists in Bengal. The situation in Bangladesh has cast its impact in this part of the country. The infiltration issue will also be highlighted, Ghosh told HT.

Read: Jadavpur University women students are shameless: BJPs Dilip Ghosh

I will highlight Narendra Modis mantra of Jio and jiney do. Hinduism is the only way of life that takes everyone together. I will speak for Bhartiyata, added Ghosh.

The invitation extended to Ghosh is a clear indication of the importance the saffron camp attaches to Bengal, a state where BJP desperately wants to secure a foothold.

Invitation for the New York event which is being circulated in the US. The big names of the Hindu community in the US will be present at the programme, which is a fundraiser. (HT Photo)

Ghosh, regarded as a hardliner, who was a former pracharak of RSS Ghosh will be speaking in two of the largest largest congregations of affluent Hindus settled in US at New Jersey and also at a niche programme in New York in the presence of stalwarts on Hindu community in America. The New York programme is also a fundraising activity.

I am looking forward to the US tour where I shall not only visit temples and meet various members of the Hindu community, but also speak at gatherings in different cities, Dilip Ghosh told HT.

Some of the organisations who are hosting the series of events were instrumental in making Prime Minister Narendra Modis trip to the US last September a success. (Twitter/@PMOIndia)

Read: BJP, RSS state leaders vow to block renaming of West Bengal

The BJP Bengal president will reach New York on September 8. He will visit a number of Hindu temples run by Indians and Bangladeshis. On September 10 he will speak at TV Asia USA auditorium in New Jersey. On September 11 he will speak at Hillside Banquat, Rajdhani Restaurant in New York where leaders of the Hindu community (Indian Americans) will be present.

According to saffron camp in Bengal, the invitation indicates that overseas Hindu organisations are concerned with the recent incidents in West Bengal and neighboring Bangladesh. One of the concerns was the blast at Kahgragarh (Burdwan) that blew the lid off a flourishing JMB network in the state. The subsequent terror attacks in Bangladesh, infiltration of IS elements in Bangladesh society, arrest of IS suspects in Bengal and continuous infiltration across the border has generated interest among the influential Hindu community abroad.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Climate change has never been a part of our dinner table conversations. For most of us, its something happening in a faraway land, like Alaska, until it hits us. Its happening all round us and according to renowned author Amitav Ghosh, We are looking at a disaster.

The author whose latest book The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable talks about our inability to grasp the scale and violence of the phenomena  is concerned with the unrestricted construction spree in Kolkata. If something (a natural disaster hits the city) happens, the two things which protect Kolkata are the east Kolkata wetlands and the Sunderbans. This vast wetland around us is what makes life in the city possible. If they start constructing on those lands, what they construct is doomed. When the floods come they will destroy the places. This is a terrible idea. Building on the wetlands should be resisted at all cost, says the author whose book The Hungry Tide was awarded the Crossword Book Prize in 2005. We are looking at a disaster. We are constructing and building in dangerous ways. We have double disaster unfolding in front of our eyes, he adds as an afterthought.

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable talks about our inability to grasp the scale and violence of climate change. (HT Photo)

Read: Nobody creates a narrative around climate change: Amitav Ghosh

Also whats happening in the food world is worrying. Earlier, if you had gone to any bazaar in Kolkata you would have found about 30 or 40 varieties of rice. Now, we get only five or six mass-produced varieties. You no longer see the ecologically-adapted varieties; also people no longer want to eat those varieties. You only see very white rice, which is not dense in nutrition. These forms (modified crops) of cultivation will be the first to collapse under the stresses of climate change. In fact, its those other adapted varieties of seeds that will flourish and thrive. We are slowly losing these varieties and are also steadily losing our taste for these varieties.

He also talks about Bengalis much-loved fish. From hundreds of varieties, now the middle-class Bengali only consumes a few chosen types of fish. They sound horrified at the idea of eating a fish like Pakal mach, which is so delicious, says Ghosh. Rather than buying from supermarkets, Ghosh advocates buying from local vegetable sellers. We have a relationship with them and they in turn have a relationship with their land, says The Calcutta Chromosome author.

Every time it rains, Kolkata sees massive waterlogging. The way we are constructing is sure to lead to a disaster, says Amitav Ghosh. (HT Photo)

Read: Exclusive excerpts from Amitav Ghoshs yet-to-be released book

It was while researching The Hungry Tide that Ghosh got interested in the issue of climate change. I have always been interested in environmental questions. It was while working on the book that I became much more involved. For one thing, you begin to see displacement and salt water intrusion. It had a big impact on me. While writing the book I became interested in the science behind storms and sea level rise. It was the writing of the Hungry Tide that opened my eyes to these issues, says the author whose ancestors left Bangladesh in the 1850s because of a climate event; a river shifted course and their village was drowned.
Though politicians may have expressed displeasure over the various restrictions imposed on the dahi handi festivities, they are going all out to celebrate the festival with full vigour. For the politicians who are all preparing for the vital civic polls scheduled in Mumbai and Thane next year, this festival provides an ideal platform to woo the youth.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray insisted that the festival would be celebrated with all fervour as before. Dahi handi should be celebrated as a festival. It is not a political event, said Thackeray. He said he was also against the commercialisation and was concerned about the safety of the revellers. Instead of breaking the handi, they can just salute the handi and come down. This will reduce the number of unfortunate incidents, he added.

For Wadala Congress legislator Kalidas Kolambkar who has kept a prize of Rs5.55 lakh for the winners, it was all about the festival. This is a festival for the youth and we will celebrate with the usual fervour. There is no way we will tone down the fest, said Kolambkar.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam will be attending functions throughout the day.

The BJP has instructed all ward presidents to actively participate in the festival. For Vile Parle BJP legislator Parag Alavani, it was more of supporting the govindas than asking them to form bigger pyramids. These mandals use our prize money for various social activities or purchase some items for their local gymnasiums. Hence, we will offer them the same prize money as before, irrespective of them forming bigger pyramids, said Alavani.

Dahi Handi is one of the prominent festivals which attract a lot of youth. For politicians, these youths play an important role in campaigning during the elections and also hold a huge influence in the localities.

The courts had come down heavily on the festival by restricting the height of the pyramids to 20 feet and also disallowing children below 18 years to take part in the festival.

For the Shiv Sena, which had dominated the festival for decades, the festival still features prominently in its partys agenda. In Parel, more than 150 such dahi handi mandals are affiliated to the Sena and the party has been supplying themselves with various items.

Unlike other parties which are more of paper tigers, the Sena has been working at the grassroots and we will celebrate this festival as done over the years, said Parel legislator Ajay Choudhry. Taking potshots at the BJP, he said some parties tend to celebrate with an eye on the elections, while the Sena has been doing it for decades.
While the Supreme Court has restricted the height of Dahi Handi human pyramids to 20 feet, doctors said that a fall from this height can also be fatal.

Doctors from the citys public hospitals said that each year they see at least 50 cases of injuries, out of which, two to five patients require hospitalisation. Last year, one death and 132 injuries were reported in these hospitals.

Spinal and cervical fractures are the most common, followed by wrist fractures and hip dislocation. We have seen many teenagers who have become paralysed, said Dr Shubhranshu Mohanty, orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon, KEM Hospital, Parel.

Doctors added that people who participate in the pyramid formation hardly receive more than two weeks of training, making them vulnerable to mistakes during the competition.

These people are recreational athletes. Unlike the atmosphere during training, on the day of the celebrations, the pressure to break the handi is very high, said Dr Harshad Argekar, orthopaedic and spine surgeon, LTMG Hospital, Sion.

The spectators are cheering, people are splashing water. Also, the youngest in the group climbs to the top, said Dr Argekar. Most people who sustain the injuries are in their early twenties, he said.

Many who sustain injuries are found to have consumed alcohol, said doctors from Sion hospital.
htmetro@hindustantimes.com

To arrive at the actual estimate of tuberculosis (TB) cases in India, private hospitals in the country must report all the TB cases they treat to the government, said officials.

According to a study based on the commercial sale of anti-TB drugs in India, the countrys TB burden is higher than the governments estimates. The findings, which were published in the scientific journal Lancet on Thursday, estimated an average of 2.2 million drug-sensitive TB cases in 2014, which is two to three times higher than the governments figures.

The study also revealed that the number of TB patients who seek treatment in private hospitals is double the number of patients visiting public hospitals. The researchers used data of drug sales collected by IMS Health to arrive at these findings.

Dr Nimalan Arinaminpathy, lecturer at School of Public Health at Imperial College and author of the paper, said, Quarter of the worlds TB cases are reported in India. While no cases were reported from private hospitals in 2011, the figures increased to over a lakh in 2014. The government has asked private hospitals to report the TB cases they treat, as this will help them arrive at estimates.

Dr Sunil Khaparde, deputy director general, directorate general and health services, who co-authored the paper, said that is a need to have better surveillance. The study has shown that the number of cases in the private sector is higher than the public sector. There is no doubt that private hospitals need to report the TB cases they treat, he said.

The study says

None of the 623 pharmacies surveyed across Mumbai, Delhi and Patna dispensed first-line anti-TB drugs, revealed a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. This was an encouraging factor, said one of the authors.

Irrational over the counter drug distribution by private pharmacist has been one of the key factors affecting tuberculosis control programs in the country. The results of the study also suggested better management of confirmed cases than suspected cases by pharmacies. Only some urban Indian pharmacies correctly managed patients with tuberculosis symptoms, but most correctly managed a diagnosed TB case, the researchers said.

Between April 1, 2014, and Nov 29, 2015, the researchers collected samples from the pharmacies to find out only 99 of 599 pharmacies ideally managed presumptive cases and only 80 of 599 cases were referred to health centers, showing the extremely low referral rate while dispensing antibiotics.

Low referral rates of suspected cases only show high drug abuse in these patients thereby increasing the risk of drug resistance before initiation of treatment, the researchers added.
After Sheena Bora went missing on April 24, 2012, Rahul Mukerjea, the younger son of former media tycoon Peter Mukerjea and Sheenas fiance, kept trying to trace her, audio clips accessed by HT have revealed.

Rahul tried to register a missing complaint at three police stations. He spoke to his father and his stepmother Indrani Mukerjea, who is Sheenas mother and stands accused of killing her. Rahul kept a record of all his conversations with Indrani and Peter.

The frantic calls he made, and replies from Peter and Indrani were recorded on his Blackberry smart phone. This later became crucial to the investigation when he submitted it as evidence, first before the Khar police and later to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Sheena, 24, was strangled inside a car and her body was dumped in the Raigad forest outside Mumbai three years ago.

The CBI chargesheet named Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai as accused. They were all arrested in August last year, after Rai allegedly confessed while he was being interrogated in a different case.

Since the arrests, questions were raised over the television barons claim that he never knew his step daughter was dead.

Below are the clips of recorded conversations:

Excerpts from the phone transcripts:

Peter: More to sayNothing more to saynothing more to you knowhaaadd to this. All I am saying to you

Rahul interrupts (As far as)

Peter: All I am saying to you

Rahul interrupts again (As far as)

Peter again says: All I am saying to you

Rahul (interrupts again): As far as you are concerned what has happened?

Peter: What?

Rahul: As far as you are concerned what is it? Tell me again. Just clarify it

Peter: Nonowhatwhatwhat..wha..whawhat are you saying?

Peter: as far as I am concerned what?

Rahul: Ya what has happenedwhat has happened to Sheena?

Peter: As far as I am concerned what has happened to Sheena is that she has gone on her own accord somewhere and she doesnt want to be in touch with anybody right now.

Rahul: Right

Peter: That is myThat is my understanding

Rahul: Ok

Peter: Whether you thinkWhether you think that this is completely out of character or whateverI..i have no way to believe whether it is out of character or not coz I dont know her as such. I dont know what her character is.

Rahul: I do, her friends do

Peter: So you do. Alight. You do. She has a character from your point of view. Fair enough. You haveahyouryour understanding of the situation. I am telling you my understanding. Right. Whatever the situationwhatever the understanding I have. After thatwhatwhat can I say to you? I have nothing more to add.

Rahul: Hmmmm

Peter: My suggestion to youand it is only a suggestion advice to you guidance...if that is what it isleave it aloneshe will come back when she wants to come backif she hasnt been in touch with anybody and shes gone off and you know wants to bewants to be inwants to be in hidingShe wants to go with somebodymay be she is with somebodymaybe this somebody is an imaginary personI dont know and I dont want to at least. That is her look out. Right. Her choice. Heres the matter.as I said we got bigger fish fryyou got other things to dowait till the time is right and she will either come back to you or she will not come back to you. (A car honks in the background). Thats it nowyouyou can go turning the whole world upside down. Go right finding out who, where, what, this, that. You mightyou might some clues and you might find Sheena. Good. Then what happens after that. You will bethenyou will be satisfied thathaaashe is okay.

Rahul: Yeah

Peter: Right

Rahul: Exactly

Peter: Ok. NowAfter you done your search and you dont find her because she has covered her trails nicely then what happens? You stillyou knowthree weeks latertwo weeks laterone week laterwhatever period of time latereverybody has done all the homework here and still havent been able to find herfor whatever reasonswhere shes gone?...what shes atWhat happens?

Rahul: Then Papa

Peter: Where does itWhere does it lead to?

Rahul: See Indrani was the last person to see her. Okay.

Peter: Indrani was. So she was the last person. So Indrani will say that listen I dropped her outsideaaaaaaAmarsons (Indrani in the background says who is the last person who she contacted) And then who is the last person she contacted after that. (Indrani prompts again saying Rahul). She send you a message

Rahul: Ya

Peter: And then she sentshe sent Indrani a message also. (Indrani prompts again Dead of the night may be) Yes late night on that night. So

Rahul: Tikh heinShe sent. She sent me a message in the morning as well. Actually.

Peter: haa??

Rahul: She sent me a message in the morning and then 45 minutes after that the messages were all very different. (Indrani says something in the background which is not audible)

Rahul: Alright. Anyway

Peter: Sopauses..

Rahul: If something is happening within that 45 minutes timespan

Peter: Right

Rahul: And weve known it. In that morning message she said XX And then basically no more message from her And something happened 45 minutes after that I got a message which is completely different andpausesand a bit weird. So you seeYou see what it isI mean

Peter: SorryI dont knowyouyou coming to Goa or what..(Indrani talks in the background)

Rahul: I dont know

Peter: Ehhh

Rahul: I dont know

Peter: What

Rahul: I dont know yet. I am not sure

Peter: Alright when you are sure decide what you want to do. And you come to Goa, you tell me you want to come herewant to be togethertake it overnightSee youI will do thatCome hereCome and meet everybodyCome and talkthen what you have to say or whatever you want to say youno..no..no..no issues

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: I haveyou know

Rahul: We can keep it here (goes inaudible with Peter trying to talk as well)

Peter: Let everybodywhoever who meet here toowhoever you talk tolet them tell you what their view isdecide what you want to do after that nahYou are a grown manyou can do whatever. Rahul.

Rahul: Ya

Peter: You dont needYou dont need my advice or anybodys advice to do whatever you want to do. So go ahead and do what you have to do nah.

Rahul: Whawhaa..whaa

Peter: Thats what I am saying to youYou want to do that and spend your time doing thatgo ahead

Rahul: Doing what?

Peter: Not a problem. Doing whatever you want to do? Whether you want to come to Goayou dont want to GoaYou want to stay in BombayYou want to stay inyou knowgo to DehradunNext

Rahul: All I want to do is hear from SheenaI said

Rahul: HelloHello (and the phone disconnects)

Later

Peter: Hello

Rahul: Haa

Peter: Hawe gotwe got disconnected.

Rahul: Yeah

Peter: Soyou know(goes inaudible and incoherent)..You want to come to Goacome to GoaCome

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: I am more concerned about that right now. I am not concerned this other thing. Because that will..(Rahul says Whatever) murdering time.

Rahul: Where Sheena is? Sheenas disappearance. And thats the only thing I am concerned about. There is nothing I need to clear myself. There is nothing I need to think about (Peter talks in the background: If she had not send youIf she had not send youExcuse me)

Rahul: (Raises his tone) Papa listen its not just me okay. Its not just meall of her friendsRighther Facebookher internether worktheypeople from her work have come home looking for her saying that she is very conscientious at work. She has never missed a day in three years. She has never missed a day without informing. Now shes been gone for more than two, three days and she hasnt informed anyone. This is why it is out of character. Can you hear what I am saying and take it in.

Peter: I am hearing what you are sayingI am hearing what you are sayingif yourif her work people feel thatthen that is absolutely finelet them go andlet themlet them inform whoever that shes not comeshes not come to work. They come looking for her at her home address which is the right thing for them to do. Right?

Rahul: Yeah. Exactly

Peter: Shes notShes not been active on Facebook or you knowher BBM (Blackberry Messenger)I dont know if she has a Blackberry or not or whateverbut she has not been active on any of those..huhyou know any of those internet thingsthen she has to beyou knoweither it is intentional that she is not doing so and she is just kind offby herself.

Rahul (interrupts): She wasshe wasshe was supposed to collect a Blackberry and a dongle from your ex-head of security. What was his name? (Goes inaudible). After she met Indrani the first time she was saying that she can organise a Blackberry for her. I think she had a couple of messages back and forth from this chap. Whats his name, I cant remember? Sachin or Suhel or something or someone like that. (Indrani is heard saying chuck it)

Rahul: Hello (Phone apparently gets disconnected)

Later

Peter: Hellooo

Rahul: Hihi

Peter: Hi darling

Rahul: Very bad luck

Peter: I know. We are in the (Indrani gets into the conversation makes the talk inaudible)

Peter: There was a bad patchyou knowon the drive back home

Rahul: Oookay

Peter: Thats why it was all bouncing aroundthe signal and everything.

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: What..what Indrani is saying that Sheena had told her that there is this person by the name of her bossby the name of Mr Mukerjee at work

Rahul: Yeahya yaCorrect

Peter: Right. And that she was going to inform him (Rahul goes hmm in the background) of her decision to resign or whatever

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: okay.

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: Now I dont know whether she has done that or not.

Rahul: No she obviously hasnt

Peter: Or whether. Oh she hasnt. But if you can give him a call and ask him if Sheena has (Indrani prompts saying: contacted him) or made any contact or

Rahul (interrupts): PapaPapathey have come to me. Its not me. They have come here looking for her. She obviously hasnt. (Peter in the background says: NonoI know) How can I call him up and ask him suddenly. She hasnt informed her bosscoz they are looking for her.

Peter: Ya. Well that the thing. No for me I am just telling you what Indrani has saidthat this is the guy who she uses the namehe is the person I will be resigning to. This is the person I will be giving my resignation. But obviously shes not done that

Rahul: Thats not something she mentioned to me. She was on boardshe was on the way to getting promotedShes got a placement in Oxford Brookes University in January

Peter (interrupts): Nono no no noI am saying this is what she toldthis is what she told Indrani.

Rahul: Listen. Listen I am telling you what she has told me nowOkayShe was

Peter: What she told you?

Rahul: Ya what she told me. Ill tell you that. Shehmmshe had

Peter (interrupts): Shall I put it on a speaker phone?

Rahul: No no. Why? Where is the need?

Peter: No. Only because then Indrani can hear it also. I dont have to repeat itthe same thing over to Indrani. Right

Rahul: Okay

Peter: About this part of her workyou know related thing. Just wait

Peter (after putting the phone of speaker mode): Hello

Rahul: Hello

Indrani: Hi Rahul. We can hear you. Tell me?

Rahul: Accha. Now what Sheena has told me with regards to all this (Indrani in the background says Yeah) is that she hadshe has got a place in Oxford Brookes Universitybut its not until January. Clear his throat.

Indrani: Correct

Rahul: And she told me that you Indrani had suggested to her to look around elsewhere to look at other different universities also there are better places to go to

Indrani: Ya

Rahul: Ya. And And And her work as far as I know she was doing very very well She was on her way to getting a promotionshe got rate excellent recentlythere is no reason why she would drop herhmm a job and disappear without informing anybodyIts just completely (gets inaudible as Indrani starts talking)

Indrani: Yes She did not inform. Thats what I want to ask. Last time what she had told me Rahul that is what nownowthat is exactly what I was telling Peter. I said if she has not informed anybody at work also then it is a bit concerning. Because what she had told me that I dont know if there is anybody by the name of Mr Mukerjee. Is there anybody by the name of Mr Mukerjee at work?

Rahul: Ya

Indrani: Ya so she saidso I thinkyou should probably check with himI dont knowshe said that I am going to inform him thatyou knowI am not going to be coming in for work or whatever and will let him knowtomorrow I will let him knowso that was what her conversation with me was so beyond that I dont know. So you might want to just check if at all she has informed him, not informed him

Rahul (interrupts even as Indrani goes on): Obviously she hasnt

Indrani: Call then its a bit of ayou knowthenwe can openwhatever we want to dowhether kind of informor let it beor whateverthat we can take a call. Okay. But if she is informed

Rahul (interrupts): We cant inform. Who can we inform on behalf of her? We cannot inform her bosses anything

Indrani (tone get higher): no nonot informno no no noRahulthat is not what I am saying. I want you to check whether she has informed Mr Mukerjee or whatever this persons name iswho her boss iswhether she has contacted himindicated she is coming to worknot coming to workwhateverjust check thatthat is because now we are concernedI am concernedokaythat is why I am asking you checkI dont know who this Mr Mukerjee is

Rahul: Hmmm

Indrani: OkaywhetherI dont knowwhether there is a Mr Mukerjee who exists there. Now you are saying there is a Mr Mukerjee. So if there is a Mr Mukerjeeso you just check no...

Rahul: Ya I meanIthats whatlikeIndrani if she had informed her boss at work then he would surely have not send people looking for her know

Indrani: No nojust check noRahulwhy dont you just check oncetill you have not spoken to him you dont know no(Peter says something in the backgroundinaudible) Who is the person okwas it Mr Mukerjee who came

Rahul: She took one day off..okay

Indrani: Sorryshe took one day off

Rahul: She took one day offand she hasnt returned after that

Indrani: On when

Rahul: Thats what the people from Reliance just told me when they were here

Indrani: Okdid takeso who did she informshe took a day off

Rahul: She took one day off

Indrani: When

Indrani: So when

Rahul: in the past three daysI am not exactly sure which day it wasbut she took one day off and since then she hasnt returned to work, and it has been three or four days now. So obviously they are concerned.

Indrani: So can you find out who this Mr Mukerjee isso that we can also contact and find outif you can find out

Rahul (interrupts): IndraniI am you can do that alsoyou guys know more people than I know. You guys know all of them

Indrani (interrupts): No nobut do you knowdo you know Mr MukerjeeDo you know Mr Mukerjee at allwho is he whateverdo you know

Rahul (Cuts in): Ya I knowya I know of him

Indrani: Then wePeter give him a call and find out that has she informedhas she notinformed whateverwe can do thattohso that it gives all of uswe know that if she has informed himthen we know that she is okayyou know resigned and leftokayotherwise if she has not informed himthat is all I want to know

Rahul: Okay. Well I meanI dont think she has because that what they have come her for

Indrani (interrupts): Okay Rahul

Rahul (continues): To find out where she is

Peter: Rahulwho is thewho is the guy that came

Rahul: Ahh.whenjust now

Peter: Ya

Rahul: III am not awarethey were Reliance people

Peter: Yado they give you a card or did they have something

Rahul: Ya they had their Reliance IdsI dont remember their names

Peter: Ok..so you dont know who they are as in they have not left a name, numbernothing

Rahul: Well Nothey said they will be in touchthey said if we cant locate her I will have to come to the police and we will be in touch. Thats all they said

Peter: Ya they dont have coming to you if she arrives suddenly arrives and you get in touch with heryou dont know who to contact right?

Rahul: If what? If what?

Peter: What I am saying is that she suddenly appears and you have to let the Reliance people know that

Rahul (interrupts): Do you Papado youdo you remember a year agoa year ago or some while ago you asked me a question standing outside Marlow I think it was. You said what would happen, how would you feelwhat would happen if Sheena just disappeared one day? Do you remember?

Peter: Aaaah?

Rahul: You remember asking me that question?

Peter: I probablyI dont remember but ya I could have well have done. Yes

Rahul: Hmmm

Rahul: No surprise. Fine (As Peter continues to speak)

Peter: What if she suddenly disappears in the sense that what if she suddenly decides toyou knowcarry on.

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: Right. My question to you is something different. My question to you is where ishaaahmmmwho isif you have know this Mr Mukerjee or if you have ever spoken to him

Rahul (interrupts): I know. I know

Peter: No. Have you spoken to anybody at the work place? Anybody?

Rahul: Ya it just kind of her home. Arent they?

Peter: Darling I know you are saying thatbut who are they? Who is they? Is there a name so that I can call

Rahul: No. Not really. They gonna do their own investigation and so they probably would have been in touch with you I would have thought, if they cant locate her

Peter: So you dont have the name of the person who came!!

Rahul: NoooI forgot to take the name. I just told you. I am in a bit of state myself with worry and what notso II didnt taketake their namesthey took my numberthey took my nameand they took some other personal details of Sheenas family members and what notand they said they are looking you knowthey will try and locate her and if they cant then will do what they have to dothey will inform the police and then it all goes from there

Peter: Right. Fair enough. I guess we willif they are gonna do that we will be able to find out nahwe will be able to locate her somewhere

Rahul: Ya I hope so. This is what I hope so

Peter: No nothats what I am sayingif the Reliance guys are working on it then thats fineits a good thingif they cant find her or say can find herthen you.(long pause)I meanthe point is you need to know where Sheena is right

Rahul: I dont need to know where is okayI need to know she is okay

Peter: Fair enough. Understand it. She is okay.she isshe is alrightyaa.

Rahul: Yaa

Peter: So if the RelianceI am just trying toyou knowahhhprocess this in my head that if Reliance guys have come because she is not shown up at work then clearly the reading in my head is that she has not resigned from. She has not sent a letter

Rahul: Ya

Peter: She is not yet informed them and she has just not showed up at work. Which means that they have got concerned and they waited another day or two and now they have shown up at her home to say where is Sheena.

Rahul: Ya. Correct. Ya

Peter: Right

Rahul: Correct

Peter: They have not come looking where is Sheena, but they have come looking for herShe has not come to work or whateverNow the thing iswhich indicated that she is not in touch with them

Rahul: Ya

Peter: Right

Rahul: Thats what I am saying to you

Peter: And now if they find that.if now they.now they not met her just nowif theyhaaahaaathen pursue theiryou knowinvestigation and find out where they go look for Sheena

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter (continues): directly by themselves or the polices help or whateverRight..

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: then one they find outin due coursethey will find at least somethingthey will either comeback clueless and say she has disappeared

Rahul: Ya

Peter: Rightwithout traceorthathaaayou know

Rahul: Then do you think you care? Then do you think you worry may be? If thats the case

Peter: If that is the case then of course I will worry where she is

Indrani (chips in): WhateverI want to find out who this Mr Mukerjee isnow that you are telling me that we have to find out no!!

Peter: I can call Reliance and speak to Mr Mukerjee (Indrani is heard in the background saying ya) but I dont have no number nothing. I dont a have her work number.

Rahul: Yaneither do i. I have never spoken to himSoI dont know

Peter: Did these guys leave a work numberbusiness card or something

Rahul: Nothey said. No they didnt. Otherwise I would tell you. They just said that they will get in touch

Indrani (interrupts again): I am looking for anyone at her work place anyone at her work placeyou know

Rahul: I dont have anybodys number. No..

Indrani: Ok. Alright. Anyway let me find outlet me find out because she mentioned this name Mr Mukerjeeshe has got a boss called Mr Mukerjee whom she is going to inform about hisyou know so let me just check out who this Mr Mukerjee is and Peter and myself will chat and you know she is informed him then we know she is fine noif she is not informed him then step gap we can fight what we want to do right

Rahul: We have to we have to find her

Peter: If she has spoken to Mr Mukerjee or informed him thenMr Mukerjeeand we will find out whenif at all she has done when she did..(Indrani says Correct)and when this communication went to these guys who (Indrani says Thats all) who came knocking on the door. Do you have her office phone number. (Indrani prompts)

Rahul: No. No. I dont. I used to talk to her on her mobile no.

Peter: You talk to her on her mobile

Rahul: Yaaa. So its all off now. So I dont have another office number and all

Peter: Hmmm

Rahul: Ya. You know I cant help in that regard. I dont know

Peter: Fine

Rahul: Just you knowWe got to find wherever she is and see that she is safe

Indrani: Somebody has worked with she knows noshe doesnt know..(inaudible)

Rahul: People fromPeople from Reliance came and they said she phoned and she took one day offno they didnt say she phonedthey said she just took one day off and she has returned since thenits been several days and they are very concernedits very out of her characterso then taken personal numbers and details of her family from meand they gonnagonnasort ofstart their own investigation

Peter: Did they say which day she took off?

Rahul: Nooo..Nononoif it wasthey would haveobviouslymust have been the first day she was missing presumably rightthe first day

Peter: No Rahultoday is Saturdayand the first day that she had

Rahul: What night did she have dinner with Indrani?

Peter: What night? Haaawould have been the nighthaawhich night was it? The dinnershe had dinner withthe evening

Indrani: She did not have dinner with me yaar

Rahul: Ok No. No drinkor whatever or jewellery shopping or whateverwhat night was it when she met Indrani?

Peter: 25th Indrani went to Kolkata. So it was the 24th night

Rahul: So then she must have takenshe must haveif she did inform she would have taken the following day presumablyhaving had late night or whatever

Peter: Presumably

Rahul: And then. Since thenshe hasnt been in touch. She works on Saturday as wellhuhso today is a working day for her. So today another day she has been missing.

Peter: Right.

Peter: She would have taken an off on 25th

Rahul: Presumably. I am presuming what would have been the logical thing

Peter: Ya presumably

Indrani: Says something (inaudible)

Peter: No if she has taken one day off and then not

Indrani: Then thats the thing for him to find out know whether she has taken one day off or..(Inaudible)

Peter: Are you hearing this?

Rahul: No quite did not hear what Indrani was saying but

Peter: What Indrani said was that she wouldnt haveif sheifits a big if

Rahul: Ya

Peter: If shes taken 25th off then she would have spoken to somebody either on the 25th morning

Rahul: Ya

Peter: To say thatI am not coming into work today

Rahul: Correct

Peter: Or

Rahul: It would have been too late in the night before to call and inform so she probably would have done it in the morning

Peter: Ya it would have been too late to call a night before so on the following day if she took that day off then she would haveshe would havetaken that day off and she would have called from wherever and she would have called somebody. Now I wouldnt mind to know who that somebody isthat she informedthat she was taking the day off.

Rahul: Ya. Exactly. Me too. Shes got several bosses you knowthe managerthe head of the department and whateverwhoever there isI dont know. Sorry

Peter: Ya

Rahul: I dont know who she would have informed

Peter: So I dont knowI dont know really where to startwho to talk to

Rahul: Hmm

Peter (continues): At Reliance. And which number to callto say look

Rahul: To say

Peter: What?

Rahul: To sayto say what?

Peter: To say that Sheena took a day off, which day she took the day off, when did she call and who did she speak too on that dayto inform them that she is not coming into work that day. Who she spoke to..UnderstandI cannot speak to that person no

Rahul: I dont know. I cant help you on that man

Peter: (inaudible)

Rahul: Can I call you back?

Peter: Ok

Rahul: Hellohello hi

Indrani: Hello, Rahulhihi. Ok listen two things now. I said I should give you a quick update on two things. One is we managed to find out who this Mukherjees name is. Mr Shubodhoy Mukherjee (Sheenas boss at MMOPL).

Rahul: Ya

Indrani: We also managed to get his telephone number. We have contacted him.

Rahul: Okay

Indrani: and what he said...that apparently on 25th Sheena did inform him that she was going to travel, and not coming to work.She did not specify why she needed a days leaveshe said I am travelling on some personal matter, or whatever.so I cannot be coming to work whatever.

Rahul: Okay

Indrani: (as supposedly told by Col. Mukherjee.) No this is something newway of form. So now I (Col. Mukherjee) have got only two concerns. All my office stuff is lying there, datas, and she has not officially resigned That all my concern is that all my office stuff is therewherever she is staying.So I need, you know, an official resignation to take over the payroll and things. Rest of all are your family matters, whatever it is.

But in the meanwhile, because I (Indrani) was also asking him (Col Mukherjee), because now I am getting little bit concerned, because I asked if she has contacted anybody else, and he said that she has not contacted anybody after that. So what I have done, because Papa is sitting here and thinking, what is the best thing to do is at least what we think to find out if she cares to contact She doesnt have to contact us. We need to know where she is. Where ever she is at least find out where she is. That is all. So what we have done is we have in fact talked to Papas friend Bharti, who is head of the Crime Branch.

Rahul: Okay

Indrani: We have called him just now. And he said, to write a missing report because we know quite a bit at this stage. If you are interested to find out location whatever, lets find. You give the mobile details. So we have given mobile details. He even wanted your number, details. Not going to call you or anything, you know. Basically says, you are the last people she has contacted.

Rahul: Ya

Indrani: because from that they can basically get a sense of location.that if she left Bombay. Because from the phone they can get detaileven if she pulled out the sim they will be able to tell.

Rahul: okay

Indrani: We can see now that if she is Bombay then you know you knowshe is in Bombay or wherever you knowwherever she is in she was talking about Nagpur. Sheenas papa told me she told you something else about Nagpur

Rahul: ya

Indrani: Anyways she was not there

Rahul: ya

Indrani: Because I had asked her to come to Goa because I am looking for a property in Goa. I said why dont you come along to Goa with me for this thing. So now the next step is going to Mr Bharti...he is going to get back to us by tomorrow. And I also told Mr Shubodhoy that yet she touches anyone then we will seethen of course his concern is only basically official point of view. Okay But he said I can understandgive me a little bit of background to whatever is I can see this is a personal thing and I dont want to get involved in personal thing I want an official resignation and I want my things back.

Rahul: Okay

Indrani: She is not being in touch with meever since you know late night she sent me a message that was the last thing. You know I have no idea she is really not the kind of be in touch, and I gave the background I said look in fact the boy (referring to Rahul) has called us and you know now we are also beginning to get concerned because why should be someoneyou knownot be touch with no man. In fact in between called up Mekhail also in the morning. So he absolutely did not know. You know.. I did not want to alarm or anything.She has not been in touch with uslast you know whatever

Rahul: ya

Indrani: One month, two month, which is true, I mean that is a fact that she is not been in touch with you know them (referring to Mekhail and grandparents in Guwahati) at all. So there is no way she is going to you know contact them. So that is now even a blame. So anyways let us you know wait to hear what weyou know the baat (the talk) from them. But in the meantime..

Rahul: but if you guys get to find out where she. (I) Did not because she is, you know, no result is found.

Indrani: Exactly, ya exactly what we want to know. That you ok. She is somewhere you know where she is.... Anyways lets see. Do you want to speak to Papa. Quickly one second

Peter: Hi Rahul

Rahul: Hello

Peter: Hi

Rahul: Hi

Peter: Do you hear I will sort this thing.We have spoken to someone on call, even Bharti who is head of Mumbai crime branch, he is a senior police officer. He is known to me very well for long time. We called them and he just asked her number. Then we gave him your number and Sheenas number.

Rahul: Which number did you have given to him. Her number is switched off and new number is

Peter: New number we dont have, we dont have a new number

Rahul: Okay

Peter: So we have given the last number that Indrani had. Indrani had her new number. And we had given the number that was switched off as well.

Rahul: ya ya

Peter: We have given the Idea number so we can track them from last and most recent activity of that phone number and find out where the soul is

Rahul: ya

Peter We can do actually it.. latest technology.

Rahul: ok

Peter: So we are concerned, and you are concerned now.

Rahul: You know why I am concerned

Peter: I do understandno no I do understand But you know I am giving you the understanding that I have at that point in time okay. If my understanding changes I am sharing it with you.

Rahul: Okay

Peter: You know what Im saying. When I said to you listen, I am assured that she is fine, at that point of time I am not lying to you, I am telling you I assure you that she is fine. But when I start to feel uncomfortable the most, you know may be there is more to this them I am sharing that with you too, saying yes, I am little bit more concerned than I was this time yesterday. So I am, thats why I am talking about both, Indrani and me both, right. We have spoken tojust now

Rahul: okay

Peter: I mean I have spoken to Mr Mukherjee. Found his number got in touch with him. Right

Rahul: Okay

Peter: She (Sheena) has spoken to him or contacted him apparently on the 25th

Rahul: Okay Okay

Peter: Right, but after 25th she has not made any further contact

Rahul: Okay

Peter: Right. Secondly in that with her office people she did not specify apparently how many days she just said will she needs to travel for some personal work and she said out of town

Rahul: Ok. You found this out on the 25th ?

Peter: I found this out just now after speaking to Mr Mukherjee

Rahul: When did you speak to Mr Mukherjee

Peter: Indrani spoke to Mr Mukherjee just now after she got his namejust now

Rahul: Okay

Peter: After I spoke to you.After I spoke to you Then she called Mr Mukerjee we found out his mobile number, we got his email Id now, we have spoken to him. Explained to him the background, and he has confirmed that she has spoken to him or she has communicated with him that shes not coming to work on the 25th morning.

Rahul: Okay

Peter: But in that communication it has not been stated that she has not said one day, two days, four days or weekWhatever.. Shes not specified the time.

Rahul: Okay

Peter: UnderstandAnd that is happened just now in the last half an hour

Rahul: Okay

Peter: then in the last half an hour to Mr Mukerjee

Rahul: ya

Peter: Then Mr Bhartiprobably spoke to in the last 10 minutes

Rahul: Ok

Peter: As soon as he disconnected, we called you

Rahul: Okay. Hopefully she will turn up know.

Peter: I dont know if she will turn up or something will turn up with regard to where she is or what her recent activity from her phone is

Rahul: Hmmm. But the phone has been off the whole day since that morningits been off.

Peter: Darling. But I dont know what technology these guys use.

Peter: What information and how the police operates. What level of detail they can access on the phone and it is for them to know nahthey do all these things when they track people who are terrorists and god knows what.

Rahul: Hmmm

Peter: Right

Rahul: Ya

Peter: They know how to track phone lines and phone messagesand find out what is the most recent activity. So I guess let him do his homework now hes gothe has been informedhe is a friendhe is doing it as a friendand he said he is gonna get back to usyou knowin the next day or so.

Rahul: Ok. Cool

Indrani: Hello. Hi Rahul.

Rahul: Hello..hi..hi

Indrani: YaayayahihiIn fact when we spoke to Mr Shubhodoy also just to let you knowbecauseyou knowI meanI saidlookif she contacts me I will immediately kind offbut she is not been in touch with me okthat isbut she if contacts me we will tell her obviously to put in a formal resignation this that...but in the meanwhile I said you know what we might domy husband and myselfyou knowwe will discuss and we will probably put in a missing report or whateveryou knowin case she doesnt contact. So he said you wait for 24 hours because lets chat tomorrow in 24 hours. He said that is your personal matter whatever you all want to do is your personal matter. Wait for 24 hoursif she contacts..

Rahul (interrupts): Wait for another 24 hours, I suppose. I mean how long has it been now Indrani. Its been four days almostwhere there has been no contact with her. So why would we wait for another 24 hours

Indrani: YaYabut we have alreadyI dont want to wait thats why we didnt waiteven we dont have to listen to him know

Rahul: Yaya

Indrani: We didnt wait at allwe immediately contacted. We havent told you we have contacted. I am just sharing this with you. Because what we did is the moment we disconnected, me and Peter chatted on what is it that we do nextyou knowbecause I also thought of the same thing that why should we wait for 24 hours. If it is going to be found out, lets find out and then we are all at peacebecause slowly slowlyboth of usand now I am also beginning to get concerned

Rahul: Ya obviously.

Indrani: I will tell you that very honestlytill now I was not concernedyou knowok till morning I said tikh hein (its ok)I mean she is run awayshe is run awaybut the fact isyou know nowit has been like you said its been four daysat least if someoneI am trying to think off somebody she has contactedanybodyokwho she would have touched base with. I dont know anyI know only two three of her friends you knowyou know Pranoy, Sanjana, Pranamibeyond that I dont know anybodysometimes she mentions work girls and all. Now I have no idea who this Nagpur fellow isall we want to know that if there is anything in Nagpurwhateveris her phone located to Nagpurhas she gone to Nagpuris she in Nagpurthen okay fair enoughthen we let go whateveryou knowthen we take a call. Then we dont have to go aroundyou know but at least till we dont knowI myself didnt want to wait for 24 hours

Rahul: Obviouslyobviously..

Rahul: Its already been sort three four days so would you want to wait for another 24 hours to find out. You are concerned as I am concerned having not heard from her for three four days.

Indrani: Correct

Indrani: Sowe have communicatedand in the meanwhile we have started the processif you suddenly receive a call dont panic. I mean somebody might just call you to ask you know when was the last time she contacted whateverwhatever I meanbecause she lived with you. So they will call youokay. So dont panic. Now we are also getting a bit concerned. So thats the thing.

Rahul: Ya Ya

Indrani: If you have anything you have my number alsoif there is any need we will come down to Mumbaiwhateverdont worrywe have set the ball rollingwe cant go higher than thiswe have informed the head of the crime branchProbably what we basically want to establish isnow for me here the concern is only that I dont know who the hell this guy is from Nagpur. Some guy with a Bentley or whateverI have no clue who he is. Number one. Ok now if

Rahul (interrupts): How manyhow many Indranihow many Bentleys are there in Mumbai

Indrani: listen

Rahul: If this guy is with a Bentleythen probably its a good way of finding out.

Indrani: Ya Yawhich issome guy with some Bentley and she refused to kind off you knowwhich is what the issue wasok at least tell me who it is whatbut she wouldnt sayso I am beginning to find this whole thing a bit dodgy

Rahul: Ya

Indrani: Now I am putting two and two togetherand the only reason she contacted me basically was because she wanted the moneythat is the only reason she contacted me.

Rahul: Okay

Indrani: There was no other reason that she wanted to contact mewhich you knowI mean now itsyou knowitsfalling in place

Rahul: Hmmm

Indrani: Anyway so nowall that I want to know is that she is alright and thats itbeyond that you knowI am not going to kind offyou knowkill myself over this.

Rahul: Hmmmhmmm..hmmm..hmmm. Excellent. As and when you get to know anything, please let me know.

Indrani: Ya ya.. Of course. Of course. I will let you knowandhaaaI think we can wait till this guy reverts back to usand then we will take a call nah..

Rahul: Ok. Ok

The conversations between Rahul, Indrani and Peter went back and forth. Indrani went on to tell Rahul that Sheena had possibly gone of with a guy in Nagpur who owned a Bentley. But then later she went on to say that Sheena had left the country.

Indrani: She is kind of really so smart and would had flown alone on a different name... which is also possible I mean ...One can get into the airport ..it is not very difficult. To get in you can get another visa on e-ticket...

Rahul : As in, what are you trying to say?

Indrani: Okay..Giving you an example if you are booked in the name of Rahul Mukherjee. You can take out an e-ticket in the name of Rahul Mukherjee Even if you change your name and you walk in as Rahul Mukherjea and dont give your ticket of Rahul Mukherjee. That is possible. But it is very unlikely but she has gone to that extent

Rahul: How is that possible?

Indrani : You can change the name or your e-ticket no. That what I am trying to say. If you are booked in under someones name. Under a false name

Rahul: But this just doesnt add up?

Indrani: See. I dont know we have done whatever we could have. Whatever information we have given you. Now if she does not come for some reason best known to her...why you are wasting our time?

You know 50 each time. She genuinely doesnt get in touch... In fact, it is because Papa (Peter) has insisted that to inform you...cannot just leave you ...We are worried about you  the way you just walked out in morning

Rahul: But doesnt she contact me?

Indrani: Rahul see if she wanted to contact you she would have contacted you know, Rahul.

Rahul: That doesnt make sense?

Indrani: Probably because this is my view but I think you are calling up everywhere (unclear)

Indrani: (unclear) She is not going to be dead, may be.. why would you think death would be reason? She caught her life and you somewhere then why would she be dead for no reason? I mean I want think you know.. aisa lagta hai, she said. She informed her (unclear) thats it. But at the right time as and in she is brave she will contact why would she be dead? And people dont take whole of the flash back.

Indrani: If you indeed worry on that account, please dont worry because you know when somebody thinks shes been on a phone call. Shes been talking to people. Shes gone to the airport. She has taken up flight so she clearly talking has been doing on that deal know.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Film makers and playwrights in Maharashtra had better watch how they portray police personnel in films and plays as they could end up in jail for up to five years. The state government doesnt want cops portrayed in a bad light and proposes to ensure this through a new law.

The proposed Internal Security Act has some other stringent provisions too, such as curbs on more than 100 people assembling at a place, which have drawn protests from opposition parties and civil society activists who say they violate fundamental rights.

The proposed law makes it mandatory to seek permission of the police if 100 or more people are coming together. Does that mean people would need permission for a marriage ceremony, asked Opposition leader in the assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. Besides, Why should the government object to depiction of police personnel in a street play or in theatre or a movie, he asked.

The government on Wednesday clarified that the draft was released for suggestions and objections from the public and that it was open to modifications.

On the assembly of 100 or more people, KP Bakshi, additional chief secretary (home), clarified that functions in private homes would not attract any restrictions. The clause was not part of the draft. It was a provision in the Act promulgated in Andhra Pradesh and cited in the covering letter just as an example. The number of the people will be decided in due course.

Bakshi stressed that it was a misconception that the police would get unlimited powers as the force always acted under the control of the government authorities.

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 as an attempt to muzzle dissent and threatened to carry out an agitation if it was not shelved.

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.

Bakshi, however, said that the fundamental rights of the citizens would not be compromised. It is not true that the citizens will be banned from celebrating festivals and private functions such as weddings, naming ceremonies without permissions. The permissions for house functions will not be required. Celebrations at public places need the police permissions even today. The draft itself clearly states that the rights of employees under the labour laws would not be compromised, he added.
SRINAGAR: A protester was killed and around 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 a fatal wound when a tear gas shell hit his abdomen, splitting his spleen, his family said. Anti-India slogans were heard outside Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital where people said their funeral prayers for Mir.

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.

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.

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.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
NEW DELHI: India was scrambling on Wednesday to assess the vulnerability of its key Scorpene submarines being built in collaboration with a French company after seemingly crucial details of its combat capabilities were leaked.

The government sought a report from French shipbuilder DCNS, which bagged the Rs 23,562crore ($3.5 billion) contract for six submarines in 2005, after The Australian newspaper reported that the documents could prove an intelligence bonanza for Indias rivals, Pakistan and China.

The leak runs into 22,400 pages.

The military establishment said the leak was a cause of concern, but insisted it 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 spokesperson said the available information is being examined at the defence ministry and that an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists.

The main opposition Congress demanded a complete security audit of the defence ministry following the leak.

Party spokesperson 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 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.

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 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.

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.
Accusing the Punjab government of not keeping the promises made to victims of the 1984 Sikh riots, the activists of the 1984 Sikh Katleam Pirit Parivar Sanghrash Committee said chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal has always played politics on the issue of Sikh riots but never did anything for the victims.

In a press conference, the president of the committee Mohan Singh said that in 2009, the CM had promised an amount of Rs 3 lakh each to the victims along with jobs to the girls of the families, besides commercial booths and residential houses.

But till now nothing has been done, he said.

They also said that deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal had also promised government jobs to the victims along with the card bearers but nothing has been done for them despite Parkash Singh Badal becoming the chief minister five times. The activists also expressed their displeasure over empty promises made by Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

The committee now demanded that the government should provide free 200 units of power to the victim families apart from fulfilling all the previously made promises.
Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann doesnt agree with Aam Aadmi Party Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur who had said that a sting (HT, August 24), which purportedly shows him accepting cash, was carried out by a man close to two senior leaders of his own party.

He also termed as unfortunate Chhotepurs statement that there is no account for funding of the AAP in Punjab.

Our leader Raghav Chadha is our national treasurer who keeps record of every penny that the party receives. These allegations are unfortunate, Mann said.

Read: AAP to take action against Punjab chief Chhotepur

Mann took a dig at Chhotepur over latters statement that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was not giving him time to meet for 15 days.

Read: Have reservations on second candidate list too, waiting to meet Kejriwal

AAPs national convener is the most accessible head of any party in the country. If Chhotepur is still saying this, unnu thoda zor hor lana chahida (he should try harder), Mann said.

He was talking to the media during his visit to this village on Wednesday.

Mann also advised Chhotepur not to discuss internal issues with the media.

Read: Aam Aadmi Party trying to oust clean Chhotepur: Captain
The Punjab government on Wednesday transferred the probe into the August 6 murderous attack on state Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh vice-chief Brigadier Jagdish Ganeja (retd) in Jalandhar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The move comes in the wake of Punjab Police probe hitting a dead-end into the case, said sources. The recommendation for handing over the case to the CBI was made by director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora, said the government spokesman.

Read: Chances of RSS leader Gagnejas survival bleak

A CCTV grab of the attackers released by the police in Jalandhar on Monday. (HT File Photo)

Two bike-borne attackers had opened fire at Gagneja near the busy Red Cross market in Jalandhar. He was first rushed to a local hospital from where he was shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana where he continues to battle for life.

Source said the special investigation team headed by Bureau of Investigation chief additional director general of police IPS Sahota has failed to locate the route taken by the attackers who fled after firing at Gagneja. Also, the Jalandhar police failed to take a swift action after the crime. The top brass of Jalandhar police was seen at the hospital where Gagneja was admitted immediately after the attack and there was crucial delay in start of the probe. The police move to announce a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information on attackers didnt elicit any response.

Read: Post attack on RSS leader, PMO kept Punjab top brass on its toes

The government, on its part, said the attack was the handiwork of anti-national elements that had links with extremist elements abroad.

The governments release on Wednesday said since the underlying motive in the attack on Gagneja was to disturb peace in Punjab, the decision to shift the case to CBI was taken to widen the probe.
Two weeks after announcing to start flights from Chandigarh to Sharjah from September 15, Air India Express, a subsidiary of AI, on Thursday said it would also start operations to Singapore from the city soon.

The date of starting flights to Singapore will be announced on September 15, officials said. The Sharjah flight will be thrice a week.

Also read | Chandigarh airport to operate till 10pm as watch hours increased

Addressing the mediapersons here, K Shyam Sunder, chief executive officer (CEO), Air India Express, said, The flights will be on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Initially, a return ticket will cost Rs 9500. We will also increase the flight frequency on the Varanasi-Sharjah route from three flights a week to daily and introduce a daily service from Trichy to Sharjah.

For Sharjah flight, 50 seats have already been booked and we are expecting good response from the region, he said.

Also read | Dubai flight from Sep 26

Station manager, Air India, MR Jindal said, Air India Express is a low-cost carrier and has all 186 seats in economy class. As a practice, a low-cost carrier charges for anything served on board, whereas Air India Express being subsidiary of Air India will serve on board food boxes, along with tea/coffee free of cost. Also, schedule will be modified during winters, he said.

Flight frequency, schedule

 Flights: Monday, Thursday, Saturday

 New Boeing aircraft 737-800 with all-economy class186 seats

 Departure from Chandigarh airport to Sharjah at 6:15pm and arrival at Sharjah airport will be at 8pm. Total time taken in the journey will be 3:15 hours. The local time difference between India and the UAE is approximately 1:30 hours.

 The flight departure from Sharjah to Chandigarh will be at 12:45pm (local time) and it will arrive in Chandigarh at 5:15pm.

 Fare: The introductory fare of a return ticket Rs 9,500.

Bookings for tickets

 Booking for the tickets can be made either on www. airidniaexpress.in. Tickets can also be booked at carriers local office (SCO 162-163-164 Sector 34A, Chandigarh). Ticket booking staff can be contacted at 0172-2624941-943, while the airport offices number is 0172-2242201. The helpline number is 18001801407.

Chandigarh-Dubai flight from September 26

From September 26, a daily non-stop Chandigarh-Dubai flight will start. Indigo was the first airline to announce international operations from Chandigarh at an all-inclusive return fare of `9,999. The airline had started the sale of tickets from July 31.
Five men posing as sleuths of Gujarat Police looted 200-tola gold (2-kg worth about Rs 60 lakh), Rs 10 lakh cash and two licensed weapons from a house in Model Town area here on Wednesday afternoon. The house belongs to businessman Raj Kumar Agnihotri, a disciple of controversial godman Asaram.

The robbers took along the safe in which jewellery, cash and weapons were kept after they failed to break it open. Raj Kumars wife Usha and two daughters-in-law were present in the house when the crime took place.

Raj Kumar and his two sons were at their electronics showroom in Basti Jodhewal area.

The robbers were in white shirts and khaki trousers and had come in a Maruti Swift car. They introduced themselves as cops from Gujarat to the familys private security guard Budhram and barged into the house.

The robbers told Raj Kumars wife that they had come in connection with the Asaram case probe and started ransacking home. When women screamed for help, Budhram ran inside, but he was overpowered by the accused. As per the family, the accused took them at gunpoint and locked in a room.

After the miscreants left the house, Usha called up her husband, who rushed home and informed the police.

A police team led by commissioner of police Jatinder Singh Aulakh visited the house. A case has been registered at the Model Town police station.

Aulakh said there were no CCTV camera in the house, but they were scanning footage of others in the area to get a clue about the miscreants.

As per the family, two of the robbers were turbaned and three clean-shaven, he said.

Asaram used to stay at Raj Kumars house during his visits to Ludhiana. Police personnel from Gujarat and Delhi had raided his house when they were on the lookout for Asaram and his son in 2013. Asarams son Narayan Sai was allegedly hiding in the house, but managed to sneak away before the raid.
A minor girl from West Bengal was rescued from a brothel in Ludhiana on Wednesday by her relatives and some locals after they received a phone call regarding her whereabouts. She was found to be four months pregnant.

The girl was allegedly abducted from West Bengal five months ago by a man identified as Zuber of West Bengal and his accomplice Alam of Kishan Gunj of Bihar, on the pretext of marriage but was later sold to a brothel in Bhamiyan area of Ludhiana for Rs 2 lakh.

Recalling her ordeal, the girl said The accused took me to Mumbai and after spending some days there we moved to Delhi. The accused repeatedly raped me there. One month ago, he took me to Ludhiana and sold me to a brothel for Rs 2 lakh, she added.

The kingpin of the brothel forced me to sleep with men four to five times a day. Showing resistance meant thrashing and no food for two days here, she revealed.

The victim stated that on August 15, she pleaded before a customer to help her after which he contacted her relatives.

After learning about her whereabouts, her relatives raided the brothel.

The kingpin along with two women managed to flee from the spot.

Later, they laid a trap and caught Zuber and Alam and handed them to the Basti Jodhewal police.

Assistant commissioner of police (east) Saurabh Jindal said the police are investigating the matter and will take appropriate action.
The inquiry conducted by the state rural development and panchayat department (RDPD), on direction of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, has found a scam amounting to more than Rs 1 crore in rent of 90 shops along with other irregularities.

Since February, Hindustan Times has been raising the issue of revenue collectors failing to collect the rent of 159 shops, allotted by the panchayat samitis of Moga-1 and Moga-2, for years. The amount of rent has accumulated to over Rs 1.25 crore, resulting in huge losses to the state exchequer.

Shivdev Singh, divisional deputy director RDPD, also an inquiry officer (IO), who had started the inquiry on July 05, submitted his report of 90 shops situated in Moga-1 block on Tuesday.

The inquiry report, procured from sources in the department, stated a scam in rent collection had been unearthed along with many other discrepancies in the records resulting into loss to the tune of crores.

In his report, the IO, holding concerned officials responsible negligent for failing to collect rent, stated that it was their duty to collect rents on time and if they were facing any trouble they should have taken action against the defaulters.

He further stated that the concerned officials had not revised the rent in accordance to the rules.

Rules state that the person, to whom property belonging to panchayat samitis or zila parishad is leased out by auction, agrees, three months prior to the expiry of the lease period, to enhance lease money by 10% every year.

The inquiry also found four shops, situated in a posh area near the bus stand, missing from the records of the panchayat samiti.

Rent of the four shops were collected till 1993, during which the leaseholder filed a case against Punjab Roadways without keeping panchayat samiti a party. After this, neither did the leaseholder pay rent nor are the shops shown in the records, the report stated, adding that the legal process has been initiated to find the guilty.

The report also held retired executive officer of panchayat samiti-1 Amarjit Kaur responsible for illegally handing over the keys of shop-6, with involvement of the panchayat samiti chairperson.

Shivdev Singh has confirmed that he submitted the report to the department director SS Bains.

KK Arora, chairman of RTI Awareness Forum, the association which had lodged a complaint with the deputy CM, said they will procure the inquiry report through RTI and take legal action even file a writ in the high court if need be.

20 BOOKED, RS 10 LAKH RENT RECOVERED, NOTICES SENT TO REMAINING DEFAULTERS

Finally waking up from its deep slumber, the local district development and panchayat department started taking action against the defaulters. As of now, 20 unauthorised leaseholders have been booked under the public premises act.

The DDPO department has also started recovering the pending rent and notices have been sent to shopkeepers to deposit their outstanding amount. Arrears of more than `10 lakh have already been collected, Shivdev Singh said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A day after the Punjab government transferred the probe into the August-6 attack on Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Punjab unit vice-chief Jagdish Gagneja to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Jalandhar police on Thursday brought four suspects on production warrants from the Ludhiana jail.

The suspects include Ludhiana-based Shiv Sena leader Amit Arora, Shiv Sena youth wing leaders Samar DSouza and Bharti Sandhu and Aroras servant Mani. They were produced before a court which remanded them in seven-day police custody.

Must read | CBI to probe attack on Punjab RSS vice-chief Gagneja

Arora, DSouza, and Mani were arrested by Ludhiana police on June 24 after the Shiv Sena leader orchestrated an attack on himself to get an escort vehicle and more gunmen.

Jalandhar police commissioner Arpit Shukla confirmed that the suspects had been brought for questioning in connection with attempt on Gagnejas life. They have been sent to police remand, he said. He, however, refused to divulge details.

Also read | Chances of RSS leaders survival bleak

The media was also not allowed to enter the court complex. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP central) DD Sharma kept on assuring to the media that he would give details of the suspects after the court hearing. But later, the police took the suspects from the rear gate of the court complex. The ACP also didnt respond to calls.

Sources said the four suspects were brought from Ludhiana following a tip-off that Sena leaders might be behind the attack on the RSS leader and their questioning might help police get vital clues.

Gagneja is battling for life at the DMC Hospital in Ludhiana after he was shot at on August 6. His condition is stated to be critical.

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  Doctors say most of his vital body functions are on support system.
Right wing activists staged protest at Rajpura against the arrest of Gau Raksha Dal president Satish Kumar and his supporters. The protesters organised a rally inside the city starting from Tahli Wala Chowk.

Suresh Singla, vice president, Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) said that the police have registered a false case against Kumar and with the registration of the case they wanted to threaten the gau rakshaks.

WERE ARRESTED ON SATURDAY

The police produced Satish and his accomplices at the local court, from where they have been sent to judicial custody.

Satish and three others were arrested on the charges of sodomy, extortion, abduction and other criminal activities against cow transporters. They were on police remand till now. Satish and two others were arrested on Saturday from Vrindavan city of Uttar Pradesh.
Any first-time flyer is awestruck by the grandeur and magnificence of Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport. The sprawling, state-of-the-art Terminal 3 is a chic, different world altogether. However hard one may try to look confident and act normally, somehow the Alice in Wonderland look on the face of the person flying for the first time gives him/her away.

Finding the check-in counter of ones airline from the numerous counters, going through the security check and then racing down to the boarding gate that may be a few kilometres away -- the entire exercise can be taxing and intimidating.

I am not a frequent flyer yet I can easily identify among the crowd at the airport, the parents who are flying overseas to meet their children. Venturing on their own, the elderly parents look anxious and apprehensive. You can easily make out from the lost, bewildered looks of a middle-aged/elderly woman that she is travelling alone, most likely to visit her children settled abroad or to look after a newborn grandchild.

Not every first-time flyer looks lost and baffled. There are some who go out of the way to pretend and insist that it is not their first time.

At the swanky Delhi international airport, we were getting our baggage checked in at the counter of Thai Airways by which we were travelling to Australia, I noticed an excited middle-aged couple. Their check-in formalities had been completed yet they continued to hang around. From their excitement and curiosity, I could make out that they were flying for the first time but they appeared to be quite relaxed with no trace of any anxiety. I wondered why there was no worry or hurry on their part to move.

Soon, the secret was out. As we were hurrying towards the boarding gate tugging along our cabin bags, we saw the two of them being steered on wheelchairs. Without any trace of embarrassment, the two perfectly hale and hearty individuals seemed to be enjoying the joy ride, excitedly looking around.

As we boarded the plane, we found the two of them settled comfortably on the seats adjacent to ours. The supposedly handicapped people, who needed airline assistance to board the flight a little while ago, were fit and fine to move about inside the aircraft. Every now and then, the woman, who was the smarter of the two, would walk up and down the aisle.

On my interaction with them, I came to know that they were travelling to Sydney to meet their daughter. I asked them casually if it was their first visit to Australia, to which the husband said promptly, Yes. But the very next moment, he had to retract his statement as he got a nudge from his better half. No, second, he corrected himself.

As the wife went ahead on her customary walk down the aisle, the husband explained sheepishly, The first time our daughter came to India and this time we are visiting her.

rama_1177@yahoo.co.in

The writer teaches economics at MCMDAV College, Chandigarh
With India-Pakistan relationship grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons, poet, lyricist, film director and Tagore Chair Professor at Panjab University (PU) Gulzar believes that hope still remains the best bet for the estranged neighbours.

The poet, lyricist, film director and Tagore Chair Professor at PU, who interacted with students, on campus on Wednesday, recited, Umeed ki kiran ke siva aur kuch bhi nahi yahan, is ghar mein roshni ka yahi intezaam hai(There is nothing in this room except the ray of hope; this is the only source of light, here.

He recited these lines (crediting these to a Pakistani poet) after a student asked if he thought the India-Pakistan relationship will improve.

The pain of the partition has to be accepted. It is a part of history, said the poet with feeling that transmitted to all present.

To a question on the pain of partition, Gulzar said partition itself was not that depressing, but the way it was executed was depressing. We should live together and not repeat riots.

URDU HAS NOT DIED!

To a poser on near-extinction of Urdu, he said, Languages evolve. Urdu is part of our culture and its wrong to say it is dying. Norway has the biggest community of Urdu language today. The language which did not have an owner has got a complete country of its own  Pakistan.

He added, The language, which we are using and speaking, is 80-90% Urdu, although you call it Hindi because it is our national language. The language, which we all speak, I call it Hindustani because it is a beautiful mixture of Hindi and Urdu.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
In his first meeting with secretaries and heads of departments at the UT secretariat since taking charge on Monday, UT administrator VP Singh Badnore instructed the police to not block traffic during his movement in the city. The decision will come as a relief to city residents, who were subjected to the setting up of route (traffic blockade as referred to in official circles) during the movement of previous governor Kaptan Singh Solanki. This stopping of traffic during Solankis tenure had led to frequent public outcry.

Badnore wants no halting of traffic during his movement, but commuters will only be stopped at traffic signals and roundabouts to give a clear pass to his convoy. After the meeting with the officials, he told the media, I do not want citizens to face any inconvenience because of me. In Delhi, while I was MP, I have been stuck in traffic jams resulting from VIP movement.

At the meeting, Badnore said that for the development of any city, the common mans suggestions were the most practical and relevant and needed to be solicited by the administration.

We have decided to keep suggestion boxes at all e-sampark centres and the secretariat. A mechanism will also be worked out to solicit online suggestions, he said. He added that he had also asked the police to register all FIRs on complaints brought to them by residents.

Among other issues that the administrator discussed at the meeting were pollution, where he said that the city needed to be tuned into a zero carbon zone, also calling upon for increased use of renewable sources of energy. Zero carbon means promoting the use of renewable energy in place of traditional fuels (all emitting carbon waste) like petrol, LPG etc.

Chandigarh is already a smart city and will make it smarter still, he said.

TAKES BRIEF ON PROJECTS; ASKS FOR DETAILED REPORTS NEXT WEEK

Heads of different departments of the UT administration gave a brief presentation on the ongoing projects in city to Badnore. He directed officers to give a detailed presentation  with action plans for 100 days, six months and long-term plan of action  for various programmes and achievements so that deadlines for each project could be set.

Badnore, who arrived at secretariat at 11am left at around 3.30 pm. He also told the media that he would always be available for the common man, in addition to the public darbars that the past administrators used to hold.
A young couple jumped before a running train in what a suicide pact near Ladhowal on Wednesday morning.

The 18-year-old boy was crushed to death under the train. The girl, however, managed to escape with minor injuries as she fell away from the track.

The girl has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, where her condition is stated to be stable.

The Railway police have filed proceedings under Section 174 of CrPC in this context.

Sub-inspector Inderjit Singh, SHO at police station GRP, said the deceased has been identified as Swarnjit Singh (18) of Galib village of Jagraon.

The girl has been identified as Gagandeep Kaur (19) of the same village.

The SHO added that on Wednesday morning, the couple came to Ladhowal. They were roaming around the railway track for some time. As the train arrived, both of them jumped before the train, holding each others hand.

The boy was crushed to death, while the girl fell away from the track and fell unconscious. The driver stopped the train immediately after the incident and informed the railway police, said the SHO.

The police identified the victims from the documents found from their clothes and informed their families, he added.

The boy helped his father Joginder Singh in their auto workshop in Jagraon, while the girl is school dropout. Her father, Raj Singh, is a laborer.

The SHO added that the matter will be cleared after recording the statement of girl. At least three trains were halted due to the incident.
Legendary actor NT Rama Rao was a doyen of Telugu cinema with an unmatched prowess in acting, writing, directing and producing films. He was also a wildly popular politician who was a three-time chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

But what he is remembered best for are the characters he played from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. And while he played Shiva, Vishnu, Rama and even Ravana, it is as Lord Krishna that he excelled, playing him 17 times!

NTR was successful in bringing alive qualities often associated with Krishna, at once playful and wise. On display, are not just stories which form the main thread of the two epics, but many side stories dealing with Krishna. His films also picked up many stories from the Bhagavata Purana. Another noticeable feature in his films is how well local tales about popular mythological characters are blended in.

On Janmashtami, Hindustan Times discusses some his most memorable work as Krishna.

Mayabazaar (1957)

Based on a popular folk tale by Sasirekha Parinayam on an episode from the Mahabharata, the story revolves around Krishnas attempt to unite Arjunas son, Abhimanyu with his love, Balaramas daughter. Aiding him in the process is Ghatotkacha (a character from the epic).

Language: Telugu/Tamil

Vinayaka Chaviti (1957)

Based on a popular story of Syamantakopakhyanam (from Vishnu and the Bhagavata Puranas), read every year on Ganesh Chaturthi, the movie deals with interactions between Krishna and the Sun god and the fate of Syamantaka jewel.

Language: Telugu

Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977)

This film, based on popular episodes involving the trio of Karna, Krishna and Duryodhana from the Mahabharata, the film is remarkable for the fact that NTR played all the three characters.

Language: Telugu

Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam (1966)

This film, based on the adolescent years of Krishna and Pandavas (based on Adi Parva and Sabha Parva from the Mahabharata), was directed by NTR as well. NTR portrayed both Duryodhana and Krishna in this movie.

Language: Telugu

Tu Hi Ram Tu Hi Krishna (1976)

A film that again picks up episodes from the Mahabharata, sees NTR as Krishna who is weighed against all the ornaments and jewels owned by his second wife, Satyabhama and how the scale fails to budge.

Language: Hindi

Hare Krishna (1974)

Borrowing from the Krishna lore, the film shows how he destroys two demons after the Mahabharata war. He turns the first demon to ashes and kills the second with the help of Narada and Vasundhara, a heavenly beauty created by the gods.

Language: Hindi

Shri Krishna Satya (1971)

Yet another film based on the life of Krishna, this film also stars actor and politician Jayalalithaa as Satyabhama, his wife.

Language: Telugu

Shri Krishna Vijayam (1970)

The Mahabharata is a treasure trove of stories, we always knew. This film, too, is based on a small episode from the epic -- Vidya Pradarsanam to Panchali Parinayam.

Language: Telugu

Shri Krishnavataram (1967)

This film takes a broad look at the major episodes from the life of Krishna, borrowing heavily from both the Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana.

Language: Telugu

Karnan (1964)

This Tamil film takes a close look at the life of Karna, from the time of his birth to Kunti till his unfortunate end in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Language: Tamil

Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham (1963)

The story of this film combines elements from Parijatapaharanam, Subhadra Parinayam and Gayopakhyanam sequences appearing in the Mahabharata. While NTR plays Krishna, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao plays Arjuna.

Language: Telugu

Deepavali (1960)

Yet another popular film, the festival songs from the film are big hits even to this day.

Language: Telugu

Shri Krishnanjaneya Yuddham (1972)

This Telugu film directed by CS Rao revolves around Hanumans (Anjaneya) wait for Rama in the Dwaparayuga (the era of Krishna; Rama came as the Treta yuga, the era before Dwapara).

Language: Telugu

Shri Krishna Tulabharam (1966)

This story too deals with the life of Krishna but looks at it from Satyabhamas perspective.

Language: Telugu

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop
Hillary Clinton is ready to call out Donald Trump and his advisers for embracing a disturbing alt-right political philosophy that her campaign says presents a divisive and dystopian view of America.

Shell try to make the case in a speech on Thursday in Nevada.

Trumps campaign counters that the GOP presidential nominee has never used the term alt-right and disavows any groups or individuals associated with a message of hate.

Since the term is new to many in the United States, heres a look at its meaning, its origins, its adherents and how it intersects with the 2016 presidential campaign:

Definition

Alt-right is short for alternative right, to distinguish the movement from mainstream conservatism. Theres no one way to define its ideology, but it is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve white identity, oppose multiculturalism and defend Western values. Adherents say those values are increasingly under attack with the rise of racial minorities in the US and as the left pushes political correctness. Some adherents sometimes refer to themselves as Europeanists or white nationalists, rejecting the labels of racist and white supremacist. Some want to curb or block immigration to the U.S.; others would remove minorities from the country.

Origin

The Southern Poverty Law Centre says the term alt-right was popularised in 2008 by Richard Spencer, head of the National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think tank. Spencer this week tweeted: Identifying as #AltRight entails HUGE risk, as its a position explicitly forbidden by the system. As word of plans for Clintons speech spread, he also tweeted: Weve made it. #AltRight. The movement largely swirls in online message boards and websites, attracting mostly young people.

Paul Gottfried, a retired professor at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania who has written extensively about conservatism, wrote about the alternative right before the phrase was adopted and shortened by Spencer. Gottfried, who doesnt consider himself alt-right, says its an amorphous group of people who disdain establishment conservatives, show a willingness to be influenced by the European right and believe American democracy has gone too far in an egalitarian direction.

Theyre still straining to become something more than a group of right-wing dissenters, says Gottfried.

Believers

In a video on the National Policy Institutes website, Spencer says white Americans need to resist our dispossession, claiming that a nation that is for everyone becomes one that is for no one. In an interview with The Associated Press at the Republican National Convention last month, Spencer advocated removing blacks, Hispanics and Jews from the US. He spoke admiringly of Trump, saying, I dont think people have fully recognised the degree to which hes transformed the party.

Kevin MacDonald, a former psychology professor at California State University Long Beach and an alt-right thinker, said in an interview this week that white people in America are becoming a minority that is increasingly being victimised, and theres a cost to multiculturalism and immigration. Another alt-right adherent, Jared Taylor, founder of the race-realist American Renaissance online magazine, recently told Fox News Radio that the melting pot ceases to work very well when you have to melt across racial lines.

Gottfried says there are a lot of more moderate people in the movement as well.

Clinton

Clintons campaign, in a preview of her Thursday speech, said Trumps alt-right brand embraces extremism and should concern all Americans, regardless of party. Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta, said in a statement that Trumps hiring of Breitbart News CEO Steve Bannon and others represents an alt-right shift to the GOP fringe that tells voters everything they need to know about Donald Trump himself.

Trump

Trump campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks said in a statement: Mr. Trump has never used or condoned that term and continues to disavow any groups or individuals associated with a message of hate.

Trumps America first campaign pitch has attracted many on the alt-right, drawn in particular to his pledges to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally and to temporarily bar foreign Muslims from the US. Trump has since softened his tone, raising questions about whether hell backtrack on mass deportations. Hes also shifted away from talking about a Muslim ban to propose putting a hold on immigration from areas of the world with a history of terrorism against the US and allies.

Trump also has retweeted a number of messages from Twitter users with questionable profiles, including one with the handle @WhiteGenocideTM.

Bannon, Trumps new campaign chairman, last month told Mother Jones magazine that Breitbart was the platform for the alt-right but he insisted the movement wasnt racist even if it has attracted some people who are.

Alt-righter MacDonald says many Trump positions fit into our world view. But he added that Trump isnt alt-right and it would be unfair to tar Trump by doing a guilt-by-association thing.

Republican Party

The Republican Party and conservatives in general have been tying themselves in knots trying to figure out how to handle Trump and some of his more inflammatory statements and policies. The party did not respond to requests for comment on any Trump connection to the alt-right.

Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, faulted Clinton for trying to tie Trump to racists, calling it a tired old tactic from the past and comparing it to her claim decades ago that her husband was the target of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
Rescue teams were working through the night to try to find survivors under the rubble that remained of central Italian towns flattened by an earthquake that hit in the early hours of Wednesday, killing at least 159 people.

One hotel that collapsed in the small town of Amatrice probably had about 70 guests, and only seven bodies had so far been recovered, said the mayor of the town that was one of the worst hit by the quake.

The strong 6.2-magnitude quake razed homes and buckled roads in a cluster of mountain communities 140km (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 220km (135 miles) from the epicentre.

Tonight will be our first nightmare night, said Alessandro Gabrielli, one of hundreds preparing to sleep in tents erected by rescue workers in fields and parking lots, each one housing 12 people whose homes had been destroyed.

Last night, I woke up with a sound that sounded like a bomb, he added.

Rescuers working with emergency lighting in the darkness saved a 10-year-old girl, pulling her out of the rubble alive, where she had lain for some 17 hours in the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto.

Many other children were not so lucky. 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.

The interior of a house is seen after an earthquake in Amatrice. (Reuters Photo)

As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small blanket, the childrens grandmother blamed God: He took them all at once, she wailed.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the Cabinet would meet on Thursday to decide measures to help the affected communities.

Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction, he told reporters late on Wednesday as he announced 120 bodies had been found and 368 people had been taken to hospital.

Toll could climb

The death toll rose to 159 a few hours later. With people still unaccounted for, the civil protection department warned it could climb higher.

Aerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italys most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the quake. Inhabitants of the four worst-hit small towns rise by as much as tenfold in the summer, and many of those killed or missing were visitors.

Amatrices mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, said its best-known accommodation, Hotel Roma, which probably had around 70 guests at the time of the quake, had collapsed and only seven bodies had been found under the rubble.

The civil protection agency said it was trying to determine how many people were staying in the hotel.

Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions, with Lazio bearing 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.

A man is rescued from the ruins after an earthquake struck Amatrice, central Italy. (Reuters Photo)

Italys earthquake institute, INGV, said the epicentre was near Accumoli and Amatrice, which lie between the larger towns of Ascoli Piceno to the northeast and Rieti to the southwest.

It was relatively shallow at 4km (2.5 miles) below the earths surface. INGV reported 150 aftershocks in the 12 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 temblor 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.

A woman cries after been rescued from her home following a quake in Amatrice. (Reuters Photo)
Afghan security forces killed two gunmen who attacked the American University in Kabul, police said early on Thursday, ending an assault on the compound that killed at least one person and sent hundreds of students fleeing in panic.

The attack at around 6:30pm 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 pupils were working.

Elite Afghan forces surrounded the walled compound and eventually worked their way inside, according to a senior interior ministry official.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard through the night and, before dawn, police said the operation had concluded.

Read | IS attack indicates more troubled times for war-torn Afghanistan

The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed, a police official at the scene told Reuters. Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team. More details will be announced soon.

Information on casualties remained uncertain, but the Afghan public health ministry said one guard was killed and at least 21 people were wounded, six critically. No foreigners were reported among the wounded.

A wounded man lies inside an ambulance following an attack at the American University in Kabul. (Reuters Photo)

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Reuters earlier on Thursday that security forces had rescued around 500 students from the university, which is popular with Afghanistans elite.

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.

Read | Suicide bombers kill 37 in attack on Afghan police convoy in Kabul

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 August 7.

The American University of Afghanistan has about 1,700 students and advertises itself as the countrys only not-for-profit, non-partisan, co-educational university.

Afghan security forces rush to respond to an attack on the campus of the American University in Kabul. (AP Photo)

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 US 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 US-led coalition were involved in the response in an advise and assist role.

State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said the US Embassy was working to account for all of its personnel and to locate and assist any US citizens affected by the attack.

Read | US soldier killed in anti-Taliban operation in Afghanistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks on Balochistan may have achieved little on the ground but Baloch activists and independent analysts say they have brought the unrest in Pakistans largest province into focus once again.

But the Pakistani media has, by and large, stayed away from discussing the human rights situation in Balochistan, including the issues of thousands of missing persons or victims of enforced disappearances.

Modi stirred up a storm when he said at an all-party meeting on August 12 that Pakistan would have to answer for atrocities in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Three days later, Modi said during his Independence Day speech that people from Balochistan and PoK had thanked him for raising the issue.

M Ali Talpur, who has chronicled the kidnapping and killing of people from Balochistan following an army operation, said the Pakistani media has at least started mentioning Balochistan. This is good, irrespective of what they are saying, he said.

For Talpur and many other activists, the most frustrating aspect is that the mainstream media would not talk about the kidnappings and killings of innocent people in Balochistan for fear of reprisals by the army. But after the references by Modi, people have once again started talking about the issue, he added.

Mama Qadeer, who also highlights the cause of Baloch missing persons, said Modis speech helped draw international attention to the plight of the Baloch people at a time when there are so many such tragedies taking place in different parts of the world.

Pakistan has said Modi crossed a red line by talking about Balochistan. It also accused him of raising the issue to divert attention from the unrest in Kashmir that has claimed more than 60 lives.

Balochistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri dismissed Modis remarks and there were protests in the province against his speech.

While all of this has been covered by the Pakistani media, it has refrained from focussing on the rights situation in Balochistan. Media analyst Abid Husayn said: It has focused on how Balochistan and Kashmir do not equate to the same thing.

Husayn added the situation in Balochistan is not covered in the mainstream media the way it should. There is pressure from the army not to talk about Balochistan at all.

The broadcast media regulator, PEMRA, has issued notices to TV channels that took up the topic in their programmes. Though there has been some change, Balochistan does not affect the states push to highlight the Kashmir issue, Husayn said.

There has been a deliberate attempt to keep the two issues separate, he said. One is seen as a humanitarian crisis while the other is our internal matter that is being blown up by India to embarrass us.

News directors privately said they were repeatedly reminded not to tone down the coverage of Kashmir. Clips and reports from ISI-funded entities such as the Kashmir Media Service are given to news channels to run.

We are not expected to give any version of the story except what is given to us, complained a news director.

At the same time, there has been a push by the militarys public relations wing, the ISPR, to portray a more positive image of Balochistan . Journalists are being flown to the provincial capital, Quetta, and shown how the situation is improving.

There is even talk of ISPR funding a movie on Balochistan to show how Indias RAW spy agency has funded the insurgency there, sources said.

All this can be seen as a response to the Indian PMs speech, said another news director who asked not to be named. It has brought the army on the defensive, he added.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday asked the Pakistan Army chief to act against terrorists who organised the attack on the American University that killed 13 people and injured dozens more.

Ghani called Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif while he was chairing an extraordinary session of the Afghan National Security Council and asked for serious and practical measures against the terrorists organising the attack, according to a statement from the presidential palace.

Evaluation of evidence and findings from traces of the attack by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) show that it was organised and orchestrated from the other side of the Durand Line, the statement said, referring to the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Sharif promised that Pakistan will evaluate the case and brief Afghanistan on the taken measures, the statement added.

The development reflected the strained ties between the two countries in the wake of the breakdown of a Pakistan-based process to engage the Afghan Taliban. Afghan leaders have accused Pakistan of supporting and sheltering the Taliban and other groups such as the Haqqani Network that target foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Thirteen people, including one professor and seven students, were killed when a group of militants stormed the American University in Kabul on Wednesday night, the statement said. Forty-five people, including 36 students and staff, were injured in the brazen attack.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by Afghan authorities to improve security, militants are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the capital.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban. The groups spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the Taliban are investigating.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has warned that his anti-secrecy campaign will release new documents concerning Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which could be significant for the election.

Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, Assange, who has been sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 while fighting extradition, said WikiLeaks was combing through thousands of pages of material.

A variety of documents from various institutions that are associated with the election campaign had yielded some quite unexpected angles, that are quite interesting, some even entertaining, he said.

Assange reported the documents would absolutely be released before the November 8 election.

Asked whether the leaks would be a game changer for the vote, Assange said: I think its significant. It depends on how it catches fire in the public and in the media.

Ahead of the Democratic National Convention last month, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails gleaned by hackers who apparently raided the accounts of seven DNC leaders.

The emails showed the nominally neutral party staff trying to undermine Democratic candidate Bernie Sanderss campaign and caused the resignation of Democratic Party leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

In the case of the DNC leaks for example, we pushed as fast as we could to try and get it in before the Democratic Nomination Conference, because obviously people had a right to understand who it is that theyre nominating, Assange said.

The same is true here for the US electoral process, he added.

Assange, 45, recently marked the start of his fifth year inside Ecuadors mission in Britain in his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.

The anti-secrecy campaigner is wanted there for questioning over a 2010 rape but fears that he could then be extradited to the United States to be tried over publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
Some 35 Muslim and non-Muslim women held a beach party demonstration outside the French embassy in London on Thursday, protesting against a ban on burkinis enforced in some coastal towns in France.

Wearing bikinis and burkinis, the women sat on a pile of sand and played with beach balls in front of the embassy, some holding signs reading Islamophobia is not freedom and Let them wear what they want.

The protest was organised by two friends following the publication of a photograph of armed French police apparently telling a woman sitting on a beach to remove part of her burkini.

Protesters demonstrate against France's ban of the burkini, outside the French Embassy in London. (REUTERS)

It is never right to tell a woman what she can wear or to take her clothes off. That is not for a man to say, India Thorogood, one of the organisers, said.

We wanted to show solidarity with Muslim women in France and call for a repeal of the ban.

Protesters demonstrate against France's ban of the burkini, outside the French Embassy in London. (Reuters)

Frances highest administrative court, the Conseil dEtat, was meeting on Thursday to consider a complaint against the ban in one Mediterranean town.

President Francois Hollandes government has backed the decisions taken by mainly conservative mayors, who argue the garment violates Frances laws on secularism.

French Muslims are concerned that the decisions could lead to further stigmatization of Muslims, the head of a body representing Muslims in France has said.
A woman doused with fuel and badly burnt by a classmate five years ago in China has posted recent photos on the Twitter-like Weibo platform, generating thousands of comments that hailed her courage and spirt for life.

State media called 21-year-old Zhou Yans snapshots glamour photos; pictures of courage would probably be more appropriate.

In the photos, Zhou doesnt hide her disfigured body or face  all the images show the thick, reddish scars on her face, torso, back, hands and legs years after the assault.

But what the photos reveal the most is Zhous courage in the face of a tragedy that could have consumed her life.

Zhou was 16 in 2011 when classmate Tao Rukun walked up to her at her home in eastern Hefei province, poured lighter fluid over her and set her on fire. Zhou had apparently broken off her relationship with Tao days before the attack.

She sustained severe burns and was hospitalised for months, losing a year in school.

The case was closely covered by the media as it emerged that Tao was the son of a local government official  known as a princeling  and was rich and influential.

Tao was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2012, but Zhou's compensation of 1.8 million yuan ($270,000) wasnt paid to her till recently, state media reported.

She underwent several surgeries and intensive cosmetic work over the years, which gradually healed her.

The scars, physical and psychological, remain.

I live inside an unfamiliar body. I continue to live as if I were still a 16-year-old, unable to face the 21-year-old me. I am still the same romantic girl expecting an orange-flavoured rain. I often want to cry but can at most sob. Daybreak will soon arrive and everything will be alright, she wrote in her microblog.

As soon as Zhou published her photos online earlier this month, they were circulated and reposted thousands of times by Weibo users who saluted her courage.

Obviously the girl is a true beauty, also with a beautiful, courageous mind, wrote a Weibo user.

What I saw is not the scar, but the girls incredible beauty! Maybe your life could have been totally different, but the past cant be changed. I believe you could be like a phoenix rising from the ashes, said another.

The pattern on your back is like the broken wings of an angel. Time will help expand your wings and make them more gorgeous, was another comment.
Just two days before the first presidential debate next month, Republican nominee Donald Trump is scheduled to address Hindu American supporters at a rally in New Jersey.

Its the first such outreach to the community, and most possibly the larger cohort of increasingly influential Indian Americans, by the presidential nominee of a major US party ever.

Trump will be with us for nearly four hours, Shalabh Kumar, an Illinois businessman whose year-old outfit Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) is hosting the event, told Hindustan Times.

The event, titled Humanity united against terror, is scheduled for September 24 at a venue in New Jersey, which has a heavy concentration of Indian Americans, that can seat 17,500 people.

From Kumars telling, Trump was easily persuaded to do the event when the two met in July, sometime before the Republican party convention in Cleveland  he agreed immediately.

He told me India was a great country, he liked Indian people, Kumar said recounting their conversation, and he said he found Hindus to be peace-loving people.

And with that, Trump was on board.

About 2 million Americans identify themselves as Hindus. And while most of them are of Indian descent, others are from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Caribbean and Afghanistan.

The number of Indian Americans, however, is estimated to be around 3 million  with only a third of them said to be voters. And of them, most vote Democratic, overwhelmingly.

That is despite the fact that the only two Indian Americans ever elected governors  Nikki Haley in South Carolina and Bobby Jindal in Louisiana  were both Republicans.

While proud of them  at least of Haley (Jindal has angered the community for trying to distance himself from it)  they have been slow to follow them to the fold.

But GOP is courting them actively, and Hindus. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is the honorary chairman of RHC, whose inauguration in 2015 was attended by many senior leaders.

But can they find enough Hindu Americans to pack the hall on September 24? Trump does not like empty stands, and his campaign has sought space for 200 TV cameras.

Oh there will be plenty of people dont worry, said Kumar, we will be flooded. He may not find room, however, for all the cameras that the campaign is expecting.

RHC also plans to parade some Bollywood stars at the show, which was fine with Trump, a one-time owner of beauty pageants  he said Indian people are beautiful.

Amar D Amar, a New Jersey professor who co-founded and heads Indian Americans for Trump 2016, a political action committee, told HT he will be attending too.

He said he was working with RHC and the Republican party to to do it the right way. As head of a political action committee, he cannot work directly with the Trump campaign.
A man who took four people hostage at a bank in central Moscow late on 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 Kremlins business ombudsman Boris Titov said in an interview with a local radio station that he would assess the hostage takers 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.
Four of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels harassed a US warship on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz, a US defence official said, amid Washingtons concerns about Irans 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 Republics praetorian guard, is suspicious of US military activity near Irans borders and appears to be sticking to a familiar posture in the Gulf that predates last years nuclear accord between Iran and six world powers, including the United States.

The United States and other countries are concerned about Irans support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ballistic missile program, and its backing for Shia militias that have abused civilians in Iraq.

The US defense official said that in Tuesdays 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.

It remains to be seen whether these actions were carried out by rogue Revolutionary Guard commanders or sanctioned by senior officials in Tehran, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

For four decades, the Revolutionary Guard have been told that America is the greatest threat to the Islamic Revolution, said Sadjadpour. This institutional culture hasnt changed after the nuclear deal, he added.

In January, 10 US 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 US naval base in Bahrain.
Twelve people -- seven students, three police and two security guards -- were killed in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital, Kabul, police said on Thursday.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police criminal investigation department, said 44 people were wounded, including 35 students.

Security forces killed two suspected militants to end the attack on the compound, which began on Wednesday evening with a large explosion followed by gunfire, a police official said earlier.

The attack comes just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government.

We have ended our clean-up operation. Two attackers were gunned down, Obaidi said.

Local media reported that hundreds of students were rescued during the overnight operation, many of whom tweeted anguished messages for help, with some using classroom furniture to barricade the doors.

The attack started on Wednesday evening, when the private university is usually packed with students, many of them working professionals doing part-time courses.

An Afghan security force stands guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul (AP)

I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our classroom is filled with smoke and dust, an anxious student said over the phone, before fleeing the campus.

Authorities refused 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.

Many of the wounded were rushed into waiting ambulances outside the university on stretchers, as erratic gunshots rang out through the night from inside the complex.

We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those killed and our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded, the US national security council said in a statement, condemning the attack.

Taliban offensive

The elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrolls 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 was apparently the first reported abduction related to a private university in Afghanistan.

Their whereabouts are still unknown and no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions, the latest in a series of kidnappings of foreigners 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.
Pakistans financial hub of Karachi elected a mayor this week but the only problem is he is in jail. Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Waseem Akhtar was arrested last month on sedition and terrorism charges.

Akhtar has vowed to run Pakistans largest and richest city from his prison cell after winning the mayoral poll on Wednesday. The former minister and parliamentarian won by a landslide with 196 of the total 294 votes cast by municipal authorities.

His MQM colleague, Arshad Vohra, was elected deputy mayor in the final phase of the local government elections in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital. The MQM swept Karachis local government elections last December, but elected members could not take office because of legal challenges that prevented them from casting their vote.

Akhtar said he would ask the chief minister of Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, to allow him to open an office in jail and make new rules so that people can access him. His lawyer, Mahfooz Yar Khan, said the new mayor would run Karachi via video link for the whole five-year term of office if necessary.

Part of the problem remains the fluctuating fortunes of the MQM, which has controlled Karachi for decades. Earlier this week, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said the party will no longer take directions from London  a reference to party founder Altaf Hussain, who lives in self-exile there.

Waseem Akhtar of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) escorted by placemen after the ballot for mayor at the Municipal Corporation Building in Karachi on Wednesday. (Reuters)

The move came after Hussains controversial speech on Monday in which he described Pakistan as a cancer for the entire world and criticised the government and the army. He also attacked the media for a blackout of the MQMs activities, following which party supporters attacked media offices and destroyed public and private property.

Hussain soon apologised for his statements to the army chief, but a treason case was filed against him. Following this, the MQM moved to disassociate itself from Hussain, part of a deal understood to have been made between the party and the army. Under this, Hussain will no longer be head of the party officially.

Hussains posters were removed overnight from party strongholds in Karachi. His posters were torn and lying on streets in MQM strongholds, including Nine Zero, Mukka Chowk and Jinnah Ground, media reported.

The MQM remains under a cloud, say analysts, who believe the latest developments are temporary moves to appease the powers that be. Make no mistake, nothing is done in the MQM without the approval of Altaf Hussain, said one analyst.

Observers believe Akhtar too was elected with Hussains blessings.

Akhtar arrived in a police armoured vehicle at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building to cast his vote in the final round of elections on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters after voting, he sounded reconciliatory when he called for cooperation with the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government for the betterment of Karachi.

He offered to work with Pakistan Rangers Director General Maj Gen Bilal Akbar to improve security, saying the MQM respects the troops sacrifices in maintaining law and order. I need guidance from the DG Rangers and Sindh IG. We want to eliminate those who are bent upon disturbing peace in this city, he said.

Politicians can govern from police custody under Pakistani law but it is not clear how Akhtar will run the city from his prison cell. The courts are not expected to release him before he takes his oath on August 30.

The MQM has dominated Karachi for decades but a paramilitary crackdown since 2013 has undermined its power base. It draws support mainly from mohajirs or Urdu-speaking people who migrated from India at the time of Partition.

Security forces have also arrested scores of MQM members in the past year and accused them of torture, murder and racketeering. MQM denies any link to crime and accuses paramilitary forces of a series of extrajudicial killings of its members.

Read | Altaf Hussains hold over MQM safe despite storm over remarks
Gazas last tiger left the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave on Wednesday with monkeys, emus, a porcupine and other animals from a zoo dubbed the worlds 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.

Romanian veterinarian doctor Ovidiu Rosu, of the Four Paws International, examines a sedated monkey as part of the preparations to transfer the animals from the Gaza zoo . (AP Photo)

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.

Veterinarian Amir Khalil from Four Paws International checks a monkey at the zoo.

Loana Dungler, a member of the Four Paws International, examines a sedated deer. (AP Photo)

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.

Wednesdays transfer leaves the zoo empty and it will now be closed.

A tiger that was evacuated from a zoo in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. (AFP Photo)

Members of the international animal welfare charity Four Paws transport animals across the Erez border. (AFP Photo)

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.

Lazizs 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.

Palestinian Mohammad Oweida, a zoo owner, shows stuffed animals that died during the 2014 war, in Khan Younis. (Reuters Photo)

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.

A member of Four Paws International team carries a pelican to be taken out of Gaza. (Reuters Photo)

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.

A Palestinian worker stands next to an ill baby deer, laying on mattresses in a metal cage. (AP File Photo)

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.

Members of the international animal welfare charity Four Paws transport animals across the Erez border crossing into Israel. (AFP Photo)

Four Paws transport animals across the Erez border crossing into Israel after evacuating them from the zoo in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. (AFP Photo)

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.

A team of foreign veterinarians are evacuating the last surviving animals from a zoo in the Gaza Strip. (AFP Photo)

The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypts closed border have suffocated the economy, making it increasingly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure.
Australian police were investigating whether a French man accused of fatally stabbing a British woman while shouting the Arabic phrase Allahu akbar had a romantic obsession with her, an official said on Thursday.

Police in Queensland state said there was no indication the attack at a northeast Australian hostel was motivated by extremism. But they are looking into whether the suspect, 29-year-old Smail Ayad, had been rejected by 21-year-old Mia Ayliffe-Chung before police say he stabbed her to death on Tuesday, Queensland Police detective superintendent Ray Rohweder said.

That is one of the lines of inquiry that we are conducting. There is certainly, at this stage, no indication that  certainly from Mias point of view  that there was any sort of romantic connection, Rohweder told reporters.

Though police said Ayad shouted Allahu akbar  the Arabic phrase meaning God is great  both during the attack and while being arrested, there was no evidence he had been motivated by any extremist ideology, Rohweder said.

There is absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any political motive in this matter, he said.

Ayad has not yet been charged. Police were planning to interview him later on Thursday.

The attack took place Tuesday night in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in the town of Home Hill, south of Townsville in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene and a 30-year-old British man was seriously wounded. He remained in critical condition on Thursday. A dog was also killed in the attack.

Witnesses told police Ayad had been acting out of character in the hours leading up to the attack. Police believe he had consumed cannabis during the evening, but there was no evidence he had been drinking or taking harder drugs, Rohweder said.

While transporting Ayad from a hospital to the police station in Townsville on Wednesday, Ayad became extremely violent, forcing police to stop the vehicle to restrain him, Rohweder said. The detectives received cuts and abrasions and a bite to the leg during the scuffle.

Ayad was given a psychiatric assessment, but Rohweder declined to release the results.

Ayad had travelled to Australia twice in the past year. He returned in March on a temporary visa and had been in Home Hill for about a month, police said.

Ayliffe-Chung had only arrived in Home Hill a few days before the attack. She had been planning on exploring Australia and hoped to be sponsored for a visa that would allow her to stay longer in the country she had fallen in love with, said her friend, Jamison Stead.

Stead, who met her in April when she was living in Surfers Paradise on Australias Gold Coast, said she had a passion for life that was contagious.

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, he said in an e-mail. Its sad knowing that she wont be able to do those things.

In an appearance on the BBC, Ayliffe-Chungs stepfather tearfully read a statement on behalf of her mother, Rosie Ayliffe.

Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy, with a sense of fun, Stewart Cormack said. Mia was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you dont see that often. It felt as though she was reminding us all of the beauty and possibilities we each have that we should live life to the full.

In a statement, the British school Ayliffe-Chung previously attended described her as a joyous person 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, said Paul Lovatt, head of pastoral care at Anthony Gell School in the town of Wirksworth.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un declared a submarine-launched missile test the greatest success, state media said on Thursday, as the UN weighed a condemnation of the launch which appears to advance Pyongyangs nuclear strike capability.

The US mainland and the Pacific are now within the striking range of the Norths army, the official KCNA news agency reported Kim as saying after Wednesdays launch.

The missile was fired from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Sinpo on Wednesday, according to South Koreas military. It flew 500 kilometres (around 300 miles) towards Japan, far exceeding any previous sub-launched tests.

The UN Security Council met for two hours on Wednesday to discuss North Koreas latest provocative move and agreed to consider a statement condemning the launch.

There was a general sense of condemnation by most members of the council and therefore we will have to see how we would then be phrasing the press statement, said Ramlan bin Ibrahim from Malaysia, which currently holds the councils presidency.

However diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyangs main ally, over the wording.

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 Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.

Kim said the latest launch proved the North had joined the front rank of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability.

Pyongyangs top newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried 24 photos of him observing the launch, including one with his hands on his hips roaring with laughter at an observation post, and other watching through a pair of binoculars.

He appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory, it said.

On track

Kim called for his nations scientists to work towards mounting nuclear warheads on all types of ballistic missiles and to be able to deliver them in order to cope with the unpredicted total war and nuclear war with the US imperialists.

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, he was quoted as saying.

A proven submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) system would take its 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.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pictured during a test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang. (Reuters Photo)

South Koreas Yonhap news agency cited a military source as saying Wednesdays launch had been made at an acute angle to limit the missiles range.

If fired at the optimum angle and fully fuelled, it could travel over 2,500km, the source said.

The agency had previously quoted a military source saying if fired at the optimum angle it could cover more than 1,000 km -- without mentioning if it was fully fuelled.

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its website, 38 North, that Pyongyang still faces significant technological challenges, including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile.

But the North is on track to the capability to strike targets in the region -- including Japan -- by 2020, it said.

The Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement following the launch that the North was clearly bent on escalating tensions and that the latest test posed a serious challenge to security on the Korean peninsula.

The 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 drills on Monday.

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 to Pyongyangs continued launches by agreeing to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile system -- known as THAAD -- a move that has seriously strained relations with North Koreas main diplomatic ally, China.
An Israeli soldier on Wednesday shot dead a Palestinian motorist who had stabbed him and 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 drivers 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)
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu to be elected to the US Congress, has been targeted for her faith by her Republican opponent in the Congressional elections, prompting sharp reactions from the Hindu-American community members.

The 35-year-old Democratic representative Gabbard is seeking a third term from Hawaii against Republican candidate Angela Kaaihue.

Kaaihue last week described support to her as worship(ping) the Devil and called the Democratic Party the Devil Democratic State.

Some Christians say, a vote for Tulsi Gabbard is a vote for Satan, the Devil do you agree or disagree? Kaaihue alleged in a Facebook post, which has now been deleted.

The Hawaii Republican Party in a statement urged party members to disavow Kaaihue for attacking Gabbard for her religion and faith.

The chairperson of Kaaihues party also condemned the attack, calling it vulgar and religiously intolerant.

Her vulgar, racially bigoted, and religiously intolerant descriptions of Democratic Party candidates are offensive, shameful and unacceptable in public discourse, said Fritz Rohlfing, chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party.

Attacks on Congresswoman Gabbard, especially on her Hindu faith, are a reflection of religious prejudices that originate from an impoverished view of a religion and culture that is practiced by nearly one sixth of the worlds population, alleged Sandeep Dedage, director Hindu Education Foundation USA.

Its shocking that in 2016 any political candidate in the US faces such absurdly ignorant and bigoted personal attacks on their constitutionally guaranteed right to practice the faith of their choice, said Rishi Bhutada, Hindu American Foundation board member.

Furthermore, these attacks clearly show that Hinduphobia and religious bigotry is very much alive and kicking in the United States even if not all incidents of Hindu phobia are so direct and open as what weve seen here, he said.

According to local media, Kaaihue has refused to take back her words and attacked her party chief, asking him to be cautious because he is attacking the messenger of God.
A UN investigation has established that President Bashar al-Assads forces carried out at least two chemical attacks in Syria and that Islamic State jihadists used mustard gas as a weapon, according to a report seen by AFP on Wednesday.

The panel was able to identify the perpetrators of three chemical attacks carried out in 2014 and 2015, but was unable to draw conclusions in the other six cases that it has been investigating over the past year.

The report from the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that the Syrian regime dropped chemical weapons on two villages in northwestern Idlib province: 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.

The panel found that the Islamic State 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 province on August 21, 2015.

The Assad regime has repeatedly denied that it has used chemical weapons in Syria, but the report said that in all three cases, it had sufficient information to reach a conclusion on the actors involved.

The JIM was set up by the Security Council a year ago to investigate the use of chemical weapons and for the first time to determine who is responsible for the attacks.

Most of the nine cases investigated pointed to the alleged use of chlorine gas in barrel bombs dropped from helicopters.

Britain, France and the United States had long maintained that only the regime has helicopters, but Russia, Damascuss ally, insisted that there was no concrete proof that Assads forces carried out the attacks.

US calls for swift action

US ambassador Samantha Power called for strong and swift action by the Security Council to follow up on the findings of the report.

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 in a statement.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson 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 work with our international partners to seek accountability through appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, including through the United Nations Security Council, he added.

The report states clearly that the Syrian regime and Daesh have perpetrated chemical attacks in Syria, French deputy ambassador Alexis Lamek told reporters.

When it comes to proliferation, the use of chemical weapons, of such weapons of mass destruction, we cannot afford to be weak. The council will have to act.

The Security Council is due to discuss the report on Tuesday and could decide to impose sanctions on Syria or ask the International Criminal Court to take up the matter as a war crime.

But many diplomats say Russia would be unlikely to back such a move, despite the JIMs strong findings of chemical weapons use in the three cases.

The panel recommended further investigation of three other cases of suspected chemical weapons on the village of Zafr Zita, in Hama province, on April 28, 2014, and on two towns in Idlib: Qmenas on March 16, 2015 and Binnish on March 24, 2015.

The 24-member team said there was insufficient information to reach a conclusion in three other cases and recommended that there be no further investigation of those suspected attacks.

Syria agreed to get rid of its chemical stockpile and to refrain from making any use of toxic substances in warfare when it joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, under pressure from Russia.

The findings prompted immediate calls for the perpetrators to face justice.

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 Watchs UN director.
Turkey on Thursday said it had every right to intervene if Syrian Kurdish militia do not withdraw east of the Euphrates River in Syria, as promised by the United States.

The Syrian Kurdish forces must move to the east of the Euphrates and Turkey is following this very closely, defence minister Fikri Isik told NTV television.

He was speaking a day after Ankara launched an operation in Syria on Wednesday aimed both at the Islamic State group (IS) and Syrian Kurdish forces.

If this withdrawal doesnt happen, Turkey has every right to intervene, Isik added.

Turkey has said the operation in Syria is aimed not just at IS jihadists but also the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia.

Turkey sees the YPG as a terror group bent on carving out an autonomous region in Syria.

Ankaras hostility to the YPG puts it at loggerheads with its NATO ally, the United States, which works with the group on the ground in the fight against IS.

US vice-president Joe Biden, visiting Turkey on Wednesday, made clear that Washington has strictly told the YPG not to move west of the Euphrates and would no longer receive American support if they did.

But the minister said there was as yet no sign of the withdrawal.

They have not yet withdrawn but we are watching and monitoring whether they will withdraw. Turkey will be following, moment by moment, Isik said, adding the withdrawal was promised within a week.

A spokesperson for the US-led coalition against IS had tweeted that the Syrian Kurdish forces have moved east across the Euphrates to prepare for the eventual liberation of the IS stronghold of Raqqa.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said only a small number of the Kurdish forces had moved east back across the river, and most were still on the western side.

The Kurdish forces were still present around the Syrian town of Manbij seized from IS earlier this month, which lies well west of the Euphrates, it added.

But the YPG told AFP in Beirut it had no interest in listening to ultimatums laid down by Turkey.

The YPG are Syrians and they are present on Syrian land -- Turkey cannot impose restrictions on the movements of Syrians on their land, said YPG spokesperson Redur Xelil.i
Internet giants such as Twitter and Google have removed hundreds of thousands of accounts linked to extremists in recent years, but an influential committee of British parliament says they are consciously failing to tackle extremism on the web.

In a scathing report, the Home Affairs Committee said on Thursday that between mid-2015 and February 2016, Twitter had suspended more than 125,000 accounts globally, and Google removed more than 14 million videos, but these are in reality a drop in the ocean.

"They must accept that the hundreds of millions in revenues generated from billions of people using their products needs to be accompanied by a greater sense of responsibility and ownership for the impact that extremist material on their sites is having," the report said.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz said: "We are engaged in a war for hearts and minds in the fight against terrorism. The modern front line is the internet. Its forums, message boards and social media platforms are the lifeblood of Daesh and other terrorist groups for their recruitment and financing and the spread of ideology.

He added, Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle 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 even when someone is convicted, such as hate preacher Anjem Choudary, who was found guilty of supporting the Islamic State, their videos and hateful speeches continue to influence people through these websites. The companies' failure to tackle this threat has left some parts of the internet ungoverned, unregulated and lawless, he said.

The report titled Radicalisation: the counter-narrative and identifying the tipping point makes several recommendations, including upgrading Scotland Yards Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit, against the backdrop of estimates that 800 UK-linked fighters travelled to Iraq, and 50% of them had returned.

The Committee was appalled to hear from Assistant Commissioner (Mark) Rowley, the UK counter-terrorism police lead, about the apparent ease with which Siddhartha Dhar and others arrested for terrorism offences could breach bail conditions and flee the country, despite being asked to hand in their passports, it said.

Dhar, who was born and raised in an Indian-origin Hindu family in the UK, is also known as Abu Rumaysah and is believed to have appeared in several IS videos. He disappeared in September 2014, shortly after he was released on bail following his arrest on charges of encouraging terrorism. Soon after, he surfaced in Syria

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The US nominated Jim Yong Kim on Thursday to be the World Bank president for a second term, saying he has ably led the global development lenders response to major crises and helped it focus on innovative ways to challenge issues like poverty and climate change.

I am proud to announce that today the United States has nominated World Bank president Jim Kim for a second term, the US Treasury secretary Jacob J Lew said.

President Kim has used his first term to focus the World Bank on effectively addressing todays most pressing global development challenges in innovative ways, from ending extreme poverty and tackling inequality, to combating climate change, he said in a midnight statement.

The US is the World Banks largest shareholder.

Lew said Kim has also ably led responses to major crises, including battling the Ebola pandemic and addressing the refugee crisis.

In addition, president Kim spearheaded needed reforms at the World Bank to better leverage knowledge within the Bank and enhance the use of the financial resources that shareholders provide, he said.

Re-electing Kim will allow the World Bank to continue to build on these important initiatives and reforms, Lew added.

Kim, who became the 12th president of the World Bank Group on July 1, 2012 is a physician and anthropologist, who dedicated himself to international development for more than two decades, helping to improve the lives of underserved populations worldwide.

Prior to the Bank, he served as president of Dartmouth College, an eminent centre of higher education that consistently ranks among the top academic institutions in the United States.

He is a co-founder of Partners In Health (PIH) and a former director of the HIV/AIDS Department at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Born in 1959 in Seoul, South Korea, Kim moved with his family to the US at the age of five and grew up in Muscatine, Iowa. He graduated with an A.B. magna cum laude from Brown University in 1982. He earned an MD from Harvard Medical School in 1991 and a Ph.D in anthropology from Harvard University in 1993.
DUBAI : Saudi security forces have foiled a planned suicide attack on a mosque in the Qatif region in eastern Saudi Arabia, where many Shia Muslims live, al-Arabiya news channel and other Saudi media reported 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.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
KABUL: At least one student was killed and several were wounded after explosions and gunfire rocked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday.

The assault comes just weeks after two university professors  an American and an Australian  were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by... our class is filled with smoke and dust, a student told AFP by telephone.

We are stuck inside and very afraid.

Many other trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help.

#AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside, journalist Ahmad Mukhtar tweeted.

Reuters quoted the head of the citys hospitals as saying 14 people were wounded.
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 am 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.
Popular during the Crimean War, the floating battery

was revived by hard-pressed Confederates.

By Robert Collins Suhr

During the Civil War, the South used an 18th-century concept called the floating batterynaval guns mounted on some sort of craft that had to be towed into position. Unable to maneuver to avoid gunfire, batteries usually were covered with iron plate.

The principal difference between a floating battery and an ironclad warship was propulsion. During discussions with the naval board on ironclads, Union inventor John Ericsson wrote, This plan of a floating battery is novel, but seems to be based upon a plan which will render the battery shot and shell proof.

Writing after the war, Ericsson traced the idea of a floating battery back to designs submitted to the Directory, Frances executive body, during the French Revolution. Early in the 19th century, American inventors proposed several designs of their own. Floating batteries reached the height of their popularity during the Crimean War. The chief proponent was Frances Napoleon III, who built several, including three batteries that were used on October 17, 1855, in the allied attack on Kinburn.

Efforts by the United States to build a floating battery actually antedated the French models. In 1842, Congress authorized construction of the Stevens Battery for harbor defense. When experiments showed the iron plate could not withstand a cannon shot, the government rejected the proposed battery. In 1861, the Navy rejected it again. The next year the ironclad board sent Captain Charles Henry Davis to inspect the battery, but he rejected it a third time.

The South began work on its first floating battery before the war. In early 1861, Lieutenant John Hamilton, the son of a former South Carolina governor, began building a floating battery in a dry dock in Charleston that he hoped to tow near Fort Sumter to batter down the gorge wall. One hundred feet long and 25 feet wide, the battery had two layers of railroad iron protecting the guns. Hamilton used sandbags to counterbalance the weight of the four large naval guns. Some men refused to serve on the unwieldy battery, nicknaming it the Slaughter Pen. General P.G.T. Beauregard sent it to the western end of Sullivans Island.

Subsequently, the floating battery participated in the bombardment of Fort Sumter, receiving several hits in return. The Confederates later broke up the battery to use the iron plate in construction of an ironclad.

Southerners employed several floating batteries out of necessity. In 1862, private resources were used to build the ironclad Georgia to protect Savannah. Although designed as a ram, her engines were so weak that she had to be towed into firing position. She was later destroyed to keep Maj. Gen. William Shermans men from capturing her in 1864.

Another Confederate ironclad used as a floating battery was Louisiana. Like Georgia, Louisiana was designed as a ram, but Flag Officer David Farraguts assault on New Orleans came before her engines were ready. On April 21, 1862, Brig. Gen. Johnson K. Duncan, commanding the forts downriver from New Orleans, wrote about the decision to use Louisiana as a floating battery: It was not within the range of possibilities that she could be regarded as an aggressive steamer or that she could be brought into the pending action in that character. As an iron-clad invulnerable floating battery, with sixteen guns of the heaviest caliber, however, she was then as complete as she would ever be.

Commander John K. Mitchell took Louisiana downriver near Fort St. Philip, where he could bring her bow guns to bear on the Union fleet if Farragut attempted to storm past the fort. While they waited for the Union attack, 50 mechanics worked to try to get her machinery functional, but Farragut struck first. As his ships steamed past the fort, Louisiana poured shot into them. Mitchell reported, The enemy returned the fire of the Louisiana in passing with grape, canister, and shell, but without serious damage to her hull.

The subsequent fall of New Orleans doomed the Confederate forward positions. The crew scuttled Louisiana to keep her from falling into Union hands.

The Confederates employed another floating battery, New Orleans, on the upper Mississippi. Originally designed as a dry dock rather than a ship at Algiers (across the river from New Orleans), the floating battery had a unique defensive system. A pumping engine in the hold allowed the crew to lower it until the deck was flush with the water. (While this protected New Orleans from the relatively flat trajectories of naval guns, it was unprotected from the plunging shots of mortars.)

Late in 1861, the Confederates towed New Orleans upriver. Near Columbia, Ark., the steamer Red Rover, under the command of Lt. Cmdr. John J. Guthrie, took it in tow, hauling it as far north as Columbus, Ky., where it arrived on December 11. On January 7, 1862, it had its first encounter with the enemy as Union Navy ships approached. Guthrie lowered the deck to the rivers edge and cleared for action. Neither side fired, and at 1 p.m. the Union ships withdrew.

With the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson to the east, the Confederate position at Columbus became untenable. Guthrie towed New Orleans downriver to Island No. 10, where it was anchored near the western end of the island. On board New Orleans were the Pelican Guards, one company from the 1st Alabama and one company from the 46th Tennessee. When Brig. Gen. John McCown ordered away this last unit, Guthrie had to stop using two guns.

On January 18, Beauregard ordered Guthrie to Memphis to supervise the ongoing construction of ironclads there. Lieutenant Samuel W. Averett took command of New Orleans. While the Union Navy bombarded the Confederate defenses around Island No. 10, New Orleans lay moored in the river, essentially a spectator to the conflict, since its guns lacked the range to reach the Union boats. New Orleans did fire a shot at a transport to test the range of its guns; the shot missed, but the boat withdrew upriver.

By the time the Union Navy arrived at Island No. 10 in mid-March, Confederate defenses were already crumbling. Major General John Pope marched his Federal Army of the Mississippi through a flooded swamp to capture New Madrid, Mo. With its fall, he effectively controlled the western bank of the Mississippi. Batteries placed at strategic points along the river hampered Confederate movements. Pope now controlled the Confederate left flank, and threatened the remainder of their defenses. Only the fact that the two armies were on opposite sides of the river delayed the collapse of the Southern defenses.To cross the river, Popes engineers laboriously cut a canal through a swamp that allowed shallow-draught transports to pass, but ironclad gunboats drew too much water to get through. With Confederate batteries mounted at landing sites on the other side of the river, the transports were useless to Pope unless he found a way to silence the Confederate guns.

No doubt inspired by the presence of New Orleans, Pope later began work on his own floating battery. There seemed little hope of any assistance from the gunboats, he wrote. I therefore had several heavy coal-barges brought into the upper end of the canal, which during the progress of the work were made into floating batteries. Each battery consisted of three heavy barges, lashed together and bolted with iron. The middle barge was bulkheaded all around, so as to give 4 feet of thickness of solid timber both at the sides and on the ends. The heavy guns, three in number, were mounted on it, and protected by traverses of sand bags. It also carried 80 sharpshooters. The barges outside of it had a first layer in the bottom of empty water-tight barrels, securely lashed, then layers of dry cottonwood rails and cotton bales packed close. They were floored over at top to keep everything in its place, so that a shot penetrating the outer barges must pass through 20 feet of rails and cotton before reaching the middle one, which carried the men and guns.

Pope intended to tow the floating battery into the river and let it drift down to the crossing point, where it would anchor and open fire on the Confederate defenses. Ultimately, he did not have to use the floating battery because two ironclads ran past the Confederate defenses to join him.

Once Flag Officer Andrew Foote gave his approval to test the Confederate defenses, the Navy began softening up the Confederate batteries to ensure the safety of Captain Henry Walke and his ironclad Carondelet. The most famous of these actions was the raid on the first Confederate battery on the Tennessee shore, but the presence of New Orleans still worried the FederalsCarondelet would come very close to the battery. The Navy concentrated its fire on New Orleans early in April.

Despite inaccurate fire from long range, some guns and mortars found their target. Gunfire sank the flatboat that the Pelican Guards used as quarters, and a rifle shot wrecked one gun. Mortar shells and rifle shots so perforated the side of New Orleans that it careened to port. Water washed over the deck and almost reached the muzzles of the guns.

Averett had to get the battery out of range to repair it. New Orleans hastily dropped downriver, where the crew pumped out the water, finding two 3-foot holes caused by mortar shells below the waterline. They repaired all the damage within 24 hours. Brigadier General W. W. Mackall, the new Confederate commander, ordered New Orleans moored off the southern end of Island No. 10.

During the night of April 4, Carondelet slipped past most of the Confederate batteries unnoticed. The last obstacle was New Orleans. Given more warning than the other batteries, it managed to fire two shots at Carondelet. One embedded it-

self in the coal barge on the port side of the Union vessel, coming close to hitting the ironclad.

Under the protective guns of Carondelet, Popes army successfully crossed the Mississippi, causing the Confederate defenses to collapse without much of a struggle. To keep the Union from capturing New Orleans, Averett scuttled it and surrendered to a Union cavalry unit.

Except for some minor use of Georgia later in the war, the Confederate use of floating batteries ended with the sinking of New Orleans. A stationary target covered with iron plate simply was no match for the firepower of the Union Navy.


A lifelong friend and trusted aide of Ulysses S. Grant, Ely Parker rose to the top in two worlds, that of his native Seneca Indian tribe and the white mans world at large. Through the Civil War and Reconstruction he strove to serve both worlds as best he could.

By Floyd B. Largent, Jr.

When Robert E. Lee met with Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, on the momentous morning of April 9, 1865, the Union commander insisted on introducing his staff members to Lee individually. The Rebel leader, ever courteous, shook each mans hand. Among the men in Grants entourage was Lieutenant Colonel Ely Parker, a Seneca Indian. Lee hesitated upon meeting the swarthy Parker, apparently mistaking him for a freedman or mulatto; however, he quickly realized his error, extending his hand to Parker with the gracious comment, I am glad to see one real American here. Parker accepted the proffered handshake, responding, We are all Americans.

After exchanging small talk, the two commanders began the arduous business of drafting the articles of surrender for the Confederate Army. Among his other duties, the 37-year-old Parker served as one of Grants military secretaries. Once the generals had agreed on conditions, Parker was directed to copy the articles of surrender into a manifold book, a bound pamphletin which multiple copies could be produced through the use of carbon-paper inserts. This done, he passed the book to Colonel Theodore Bowers, another of Grants aides, who was to prepare the final copy in ink for the commanding generals signatures. Bowers, however, was so unnerved by the magnitude of the occasion that he was forced to leave the task to the unflappable Parker, who quickly produced the copy in his graceful hand.

When the document was complete, Lee examined it briefly, then had an aide draft a short letter accepting the terms. Grant accepted the letter unopened, and the surrender was complete. Parker casually put a copy of Grants original draft in his jacket pocket. Later, signed by President Grant, who attested to the documents authenticity, it became a favorite heirloom of the Parker family.

Although Ely Parker is best known for his role in drafting the terms of surrender that ended the Civil War, his lifes work was far greater than that single act. This one real American, as General Lee referred to him, was born destined for greatness, or so it had been prophesied. In 1828, four months before his birth at the Tonawanda Seneca reservation in Indian Falls, N.Y., Parkers mother had an unsettling dream in which she beheld a broken rainbow reaching from the home of Indian agent Erastus Granger, in Buffalo, to the reservation. Troubled, Elizabeth Johnson Parker (known to her people as Gaontguttwus) visited a Seneca dream interpreter in an attempt to better understand what she had seen. His translation of her vision was nothing less than spectacular. The dream interpreter told Parker: A son will be born to you who will be distinguished among his nation as a peacemaker; he will become a white man as well as an Indian, with great learning; he will be a warrior for the palefaces; he will be a wise white man, but will never desert his Indian people or lay down his horns as a great Iroquois chief; his name will reach from the East to the Westthe North to the South, as great among his Indian family and the palefaces. His sun will rise on Indian land and set on the white mans land. Yet the land of his ancestors will fold him in death.

As it happened, the prophesy came true.

Hasanoanda, or Leading Name, was born in 1828 to Elizabeth Parker and her husband, William, also known as Jonoestowa (Dragon Fly). Shortly thereafter he was bequeathed an English name, Ely Samuel Parker. He acquired his unusual first name (pronounced not Ee-lye but Ee-lee) from a Baptist missionary, Elder Ely Stone. His surname had been acquired by his grandfather, in honor of a captured British officer eventually adopted into the tribe.

Young Ely was educated at Elder Stones Baptist school early in life, but little of this introductory education stuck; even his attempts to learn English failed. After his initial schooling, Parker was sent to an Iroquois settlement in Ontario to learn woodcraft. There he remained from ages 10 to 13, when homesickness led him to strike out for his familys home in New York. An incident on the way, in which he was ridiculed by British officers because of his poor grasp of English, hardened his resolve to learn the foreign language and the inscrutable ways of his peoples conquerors.

Parker returned to the Baptist school, where his diligence and intelligence eventually won him tuition-free admission to Yates Academy, a noted school in nearby Orleans County. There he quickly mastered the English language in both its spoken and written forms, and became noted for his oratorical abilities. His stay at Yates Academy was a busy one: He had an active social life, and at various times was called upon by his tribal elders to represent the reservation in Washington regarding several treaty disputes with the United States government. Involved in these disputes from the age of 15, Parker acquitted himself well against a variety of miscreants who were attempting to use two illicit treaties, signed by puppet chiefs in 1838 and 1842, to take the Senecas lands. He so impressed Washington society that he was invited to dine with President and Mrs. James K. Polk at the White House when he was only 18 years old.

Two years earlier, a chance encounter with noted anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan led to Parkers collaboration on the landmark 1851 treatise League of the Ho-de-no-sau-nee, or Iroquois, widely recognized as the first scientific study of an Indian people ever published. Parker and his family supplied Morgan with much of his information, and in the frontispiece of the book Morgan acknowledged his debt with the inscription: To Ha-sa-no-an-da (Ely S. Parker), A Seneca Indian, this work, the materials of which are the fruit of our joint researches, is inscribed: in acknowledgement of the obligations, and in testimony of the friendship of the author.

Later, with Morgans help, Parker matriculated in the prestigious Cayuga Academy in Aurora, Ontario. His stay was mostly a pleasant one; again he was socially active and became involved in the schools debate club, which stimulated his interest in the law. An attempt to get into Harvard in 1847 failed. Undeterred, Parker became a law student under district attorney and Indian subagent William P. Angel in Ellicottville, N.Y. Parkers career as a lawyer was unfor-tunately curtailed when his patron fell out of favor with the ruling Democratic Party; shortly thereafter, Parker was declared ineligible for the bar because he was not an American citizen. But despite being shunned by the legal community, Parker did find a place in society where he was welcome throughout his life. In 1847, Parker became a member of the Batavia Lodge Number 88, and remained a Mason until the day he died.

Following his thwarted attempts to practice law, Parker elected instead to become an engineer. He may have briefly attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, acquiring an education in civil engineering; however, the school has no record of his attendance, and the story may be apocryphal. Whatever the case, in 1849 Parker accepted an engineering position on the nearby Genesee River. He began as second assistant engineer in a project to extend the Genesee Valley Canal toward the Allegheny River; in 1851 he was promoted to first assistant engineer, a position he would hold for four years. During this time, he also worked on improvements to the Erie Canal.

Also in 1851, the Iroquois bestowed upon Parker their greatest honor in recognition of his tireless service: He became Grand Sachem of the Six Nations, and was asked to serve as mentor and intermediary for his people. With this title the 23-year-old also acquired the sacred name of Donehogawa, Keeper of the Western Door of the Iroquois Longhouse. In 1853, the governor of New York formally recognized Parker as the chief representative of the Iroquois confederacy, and the state government treated him as the head chief in any dealings with the confederacy.

The next few years were busy ones in both the worlds that Ely Parker served. The Seneca kept him active in his ceremonial and secular duties, requiring him to go to Washington and to the New York Legislature numerous times to argue their case in ongoing treaty negotiations. His success was limited, but his efforts enabled the Tonawanda Seneca to eventually save three-fifths of their reservation from the Federal government. For this feat, Parker was awarded 50 acres to add to his personal farm.

Parkers star continued to rise in the white mans world as well. He assumed the mantle of Knight Templar in the Royal Arch of the Masonic Order, became a captain of engineers in the 54th Regiment of the New York state militia, and rose rapidly through the states engineering ranks. Parker was highly regarded for his capabilities in the construction of levees, buildings and canals, and in 1857 he was appointed superintendent of lighthouse construction on the upper Great Lakes.

Shortly after arriving at his new posting in Detroit, however, Parker was reassigned to supervise the construction of a customhouse and marine hospital in Galena, Ill. His stay there was brief, as he was simultaneously assigned to the construction of similar facilities in Dubuque, Iowa, and made his home there. Nevertheless, he was obliged both by government and Masonic business to visit Galena often. It was there, in 1860, that he struck up a lifelong friendship with a down-and-out former Army officer and harness store clerk, one Hiram Ulysses Grantthe same man who, due to a clerical error at West Point, would become known to history as Ulysses S. Grant.

In early 1861, Parker, like his legal mentor before him, ran afoul of the political machine running New York. It became known that he had backed Stephen Douglas in his failed bid against Abraham Lincoln in the presidential election of 1860, and had even stumped for Douglas throughout the state. The newly installed Republican state Legislature moved to discharge Parker from his position and to appoint in his place a less competent but more politically acceptable engineer. Disgusted, Parker went home to Tonawanda and vowed to never again hold any public position.

Then Confederate gunners fired on Fort Sumter in April 1861, and Parker and his brethren were embroiled in the Civil War. Following the lead of his friend Grant, he attempted to join the Union Army. In mid-1861, he went to Albany and offered to raise a volunteer regiment of Iroquois to fight for the Union. He was flatly refused; the governor made it clear that Indians were not wanted in the New York Volunteers. Later, Parker offered his services to the Federal government as an engineer; again he was rebuffed. Secretary of State William Seward put it to him bluntly: The fight must be settled by the white men alone. Go home, cultivate your farm, and we will settle our troubles without any Indian aid. Dispirited, Parker returned home, where for two years he tended his crops, busied himself in Masonic and Seneca activities, and worked behind the scenes to obtain a commission in the Union Army.

In 1863, after slicing through miles of red tape, engineer-hungry Grant fulfilled Parkers wish, and Parker was breveted as a captain of engineers in the U.S. Army. Although according to Iroquois custom no Grand Sachem could go to war and retain his tribal title, a special dispensation was made for the honored Donehogawa, as this was not a war against another tribe, but between white men.

Beginning as an assistant adjutant general in Brig. Gen. J.E. Smiths division at Vicksburg, Miss., Parker quickly worked his way up the ladder, proving himself as capable at directing volunteer soldiers as he had been at engineering, public speaking and lobbying for his people. He served with distinction at Grants side at Vicksburg, and by mid-1864 had been placed on Grants personal staff, where he served as the commanders de facto personal military secretary. This position was made official in August 1864, when Parker replaced Lt. Col. William Rowley, a longtime colleague of General Grants who was forced to retire due to ill health. The promotion brought with it the rank of lieutenant colonel, which, in the view of New York Herald correspondent Sylvanus Cadwallader, was merely a partial reward for invaluable services.

Much was made of Grants Indian, as Parker inevitably came to be called. He was something apart from the normal officer, a physically imposing man who, though just 5 feet 8, packed some 200 pounds on a broad-shouldered, well-proportioned frame. His stern countenancehighlighted by a swarthy complexion, drooping mustache, hooded but piercing black eyes and a broad, arched nosewas belied by his nature, which one observer called gentle and kind as a womans. Fluent in English, he spoke with the peculiar intonation of a man whose mother language did not require the use of the lower lip. He was recognized to be fiercely strong and extraordinarily intelligent, two hundred pounds of encyclopedia, one of his Army friends called him. Soft-spoken and polite, he was a positive contribution to Grants inner circle. During his service in the war, he struck up numerous friendships with such major figures as Abraham Lincoln and Mathew Brady, the famous photographer.

Parkers selection to draft the surrender papers at Appomattox was a just recognition of his exquisite penmanship and skill with the English language. After joining Grants staff, he took care of most of the generals personal papers. Once Grant had drafted each days orders and correspondence (pushing the papers off the table and onto the floor of the tent as he wrote, to the amazement of his visitors), he would sort them all into a tidy pile and hand them to Parker, who would then make copies as necessary. He typically signed his generals orders By Command of Lieut. Gen. Grant, E.S. Parker, Asst. Adjt Genl, in a clear, elegant hand much beloved by his superiors.

The drafting of the articles of surrender, literally Parkers last act in the war, was unquestionably the crowning moment of his military career, and one of the highlights of his life as well. Certainly it provided him with much currency (social and otherwise) later in life. However, the U.S. military wasnt finished with Parker, or he with it. He stayed on as a member of Grants staff until 1869, eventually rising to the rank of brigadier general. During his postwar service, Parker occasionally toured military facilities in the occupied South, making recommendations on where he thought the Army could safely cut costs, close facilities and muster out its troops.

Most of Parkers time, however, was spent as an emissary to Indian tribes in the West. He traveled constantly, especially in Oklahoma and on the Plains, settling differences resulting both from the turbulence of the war and from the nations notoriously corrupt Indian policy. He was popular among other Indians, who were gratified that the politicians in Washington would send another Indian to treat with them. Parkers experiences out West prompted him to submit to the government a four-point plan for establishing a permanent peace with the native Americans, one in which all dealings would be fair and aboveboard. His plan was well received by his superiors, and much of it consequently was adopted as national policy. Ironically, it would later come back to haunt him.

In 1867, Parker finally married. His bride was a young Washington socialite, Minnie Orton Sackett. She was white, the stepdaughter of Lt. Col. William Sackett, a New York Volunteer killed at Trevilian Station in June 1864. They were married on Christmas Eve; Grant stood as best man and gave the bride away in the absence of her father. The mixed marriage caused something of a stir in Washington society, however, and the couple was maltreated on more than one occasion by less-enlightened contemporaries.

The presidential election of 1868 brought an abrupt change in Parkers career. In November of that year, Civil War hero Lt. Gen. Grant became President-elect Grant, and he soon brought his friends with him into the White House. Parker was appointed commissioner of Indian Affairs, based on his previous experience and on the assumption that no one was better qualified to helm the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Thus Parker became the first Indian to hold the office. On April 26, 1869, after being confirmed by Congress, Parker resigned his Army commission and took his place as head of the BIA. His two-year reign was a tempestuous one; he was too honest, too interested in the cause of justice for his own race, for it to be otherwise.

Parkers first act was to sweep his agency clean of its entrenched bureaucracy, which was dominated by unscrupulous Indian agents who all too often sold their clients supplies and pocketed the profits. This was the established way of doing business in the BIA. Not all the agents were guilty, but enough were to tarnish the agencys reputation. It was just such corruption that had decimated the Cherokee as they passed along the Trail of Tears in the 1830s.

Parker set out to change all that. Following the plan he had previously formulated in his postwar days, he cleared the BIA of the old civilian agents and replaced them with reputable Army personnel and Quakers, whom he believed would be less corruptible. Although Parker was somewhat naive in this belief, his actions did serve to quell much of the wheeling and dealing going on at the Indians expense. But his changes to the system inevitably earned him powerful enemies who were determined to break him politically.

In the end, it was one of Parkers own commissioners, a man he had trusted as a friend, who brought him down. William Welsh was a Philadelphia merchant who headed the Board of Indian Commissioners, a body that had been formed at Parkers recommendation before he left the Army. Variously described as a Quaker and an Episcopalian, Welsh was a pugnacious Indian missionary who placed the blame for all the corruption in the BIA on the shoulders of Ely Parker, whom he considered but a remove from barbarism.

In the summer of 1870, Parker toured the American West and personally examined the Indian situation there. It soon became obvious that food shortages along the Missouri River were leading to short tempers on the reservations. In order to keep the Indians on their reservations and away from dangerous confrontations with white settlers, it was necessary to feed themand quickly. As the governor of the Dakota Territory told Parker, We must feed or fight the Indians in this superintendency.

Unfortunately, Parkers enemies in Congress conspired to delay the appropriations necessary to quickly purchase the needed supplies. In order to forestall Indian attempts to break away from the reservations to fend for themselves, Parker found it necessary to go outside proper channels in order to acquire urgently needed supplies for the desperate Indians. He broke some minor rules in making arrangements on the spot with a local contractor, but in the end probably averted a new Indian war.

Nevertheless, Parkers actions, which were mild compared to what had transpired before he had taken office, were enough for Welsh and his followers to press charges of fraud against the commissioner. In December 1870, Welsh forwarded a letter to Secretary of the Interior Columbus Delano, charging that a few adroit manipulations on contracts and purchases have made at least $250,000 for Parker and his contractor. Parker was also implicitly blamed for all that was wrong with the bureau, despite the fact that much of the trouble had started long before he had taken over as head of the BIA. Parkers real crime lay in bypassing the Board of Commissioners and ignoring their suggestionswhich by law he had every right to do, especially in an emergency situation.

Welshs letter was published in the Washington newspapers, and immediately instigated a sensational backlash against the charming head of the BIA. In February, Parker was called before the House of Representatives to answer Welshs charges. After a lengthy hearing that stretched into July, he was exonerated of any wrongdoing, and was even complimented for averting a major Indian war that might have cost the Treasury millions of dollars to extinguish. However, in its subsequent report, the committee berated Parker for not consulting the Board of Indian Commissioners in this and other matters, and at Welshs insistence Congress quickly passed a law that required Parker to consult the board on all matters, in effect relegating him to a figurehead role.

This was too much for the proud Seneca to bear. After several months of soul-searching and testing the new limits of his power, Parker resigned from his position. Although he publicly stated that he was leaving voluntarily to go into business, he privately told his friends that he had resigned because he had become a rock of offense for the administration. He was also hurt by Grants lack of support, as the president had distanced himself from Parker during the course of the proceedings, lest his administration be tarnished with yet another taint of scandal. Ironically, Parker was probably the most honest of Grants appointeesthe real scandals were yet to come.

Despite his ignominious downfall, Parkers accomplishments as head of the BIA were significant. He engineered a peace policy with the Indians for which Grant was to become famous, and he managed to root out (at least temporarily) much of the rot within the system. Furthermore, the simple fact of his being an Indian impressed the tribes under his care and put them at their ease. In addition, he put an end to the treaty-making policy of previous administrations, which had always been strictly to the advantage of the whites. And he could boast that, although some violence had occurred during his tenure, there had been no Indian wars during the two years he was in office. Although his contemporaries were less than fair to him, history has treated Commissioner Parker kindly.

After he left government service, Parker moved to Wall Street and proceeded to make a fortune on the stock market; he lost it just as quickly in the market troubles of 18731875. Thereafter, he made an attempt to re-enter the profession of civil engineering, but found to his dismay that it had run away from him during his absence. In 1876, he was forced to take a low-paying job as a clerk in the New York City police department. But Parker still managed to stay active in the militia, various military societies and the Masons, achieving high rank within each organization. Likewise, he and his wife were well respected in New York social circles.

Their only child, a daughter, was born during this less-than-affluent period. Maud Theresa Parker was an engaging little tomboy who was proud of her Indian heritage, and whom Parker fondly referred to as Ahweheeyo, or Beautiful Flower, in his native tongue. She eventually married Arthur Bullard, a member of one of the more prominent old Massachusetts families.

Plagued by strokes and diabetes in his last years, Parker died on August 30, 1895, at his country house in Fairfield, Conn. He was buried with full military honors and much fanfare at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield. In 1897, he was reinterred next to the remains of his famous ancestor, the Seneca orator Red Jacket, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, N.Y. This cemetery, which was located much closer to the Tonawanda Reservation, had once been part of the old Granger farmultimately fulfilling his mothers prophetic dream. After successfully carving niches for himself in two dissimilar worlds, Grand Sachem General Ely Parker was at last laid to rest within the comforting bosom of his ancestral homeland.

Floyd B. Largent, Jr., who writes from Plano, Texas, is a frequent contributor to Cowles History Group publications. For further reading, see William Armstrongs Warrior in Two Camps: Ely S. Parker, Union General and Seneca Chief; or Laurence M. Hauptmans The Iroquois in the Civil War.
Dear Editor: Why is the work on Highway 92 being done in the daytime rather than at night? T
Apple mulled for immediate global update of its operating system following reports that of a powerful espionage software was targeting an iPhone unit in the Middle East.

In a report, Lookout and internet watchdog Citizen Lab said an Israeli company NSO Group attempted-but-failed to break into the iPhone of an Arab activist.

Mike Murrary, a researcher with Lookout, described the program as "the most sophisticated spyware package we have seen in the market," according to an ABC15 report.

The report also outlined how the spyware could compromise an iPhone with the tap of a finger, a trick so coveted in the world of cyberespionage that one spyware broker claimed that it had paid a $1 million dollar bounty to programmers who'd found a way to do it.

The software could also allow hackers to take control of any iPhone to spy on calls and messages.

In a statement, the NSO Group denied knowledge of the particular incident.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In 2008, Tom Roelens took over the reins at Four Seasons Resorts Lanai, where he now manages Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay and The Lodge at Koele on the private island of Lanai, Hawaii.

Lanai is the sixth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the chain. It is also known as Pineapple Island because of its past as an island-wide pineapple plantation.

In 1922, James Dole, the president of Dole Pineapple Company, bought the entire island of Lanai and developed a large portion of it into the world's biggest pineapple plantation.

In 1985, David Murdock, a wealthy American businessman, took over the ownership of Lanai as a result of his purchase of Castle & Cooke, then owner of Dole.

In June 2012, Oracle Corporation CEO, Larry Ellison, agreed to purchase Castle & Cooke's 98% share of the island. The state owns the remaining 2 percent. The sale price was reported to be somewhere between US $500  600 million.

Tom Roelens is Belgian and has close to 30 years of hotel management experience. He has been with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for the past 15 years. He appears to have acquired the typical islander mannerisms --- being relaxed and friendly --- he even wears colorful Hawaiian shirts and shell necklaces --- and greets everyone in two of the most important Hawaiian words: Aloha (Hello) and Mahalo (regards, thanks). Somehow he is able to combine his easygoingness and his super efficiency in a well-polished manner.

Tom Roelens sees himself as the leader of his team. He has a can-do attitude. He keeps a Ronald Reagan desk sign on his desk, which says: "It CAN Be Done!" He says, "There are no problems in life; there are only solutions." Like many of the top GMs, Tom does not like mediocrity! He takes pride in providing excellent services to his guests and a challenging work environment for his team and staff.

" There are no problems in life; there are only solutions."

Extended Interview with the GM of Four Seasons Lana'i, Hawaii, Tom Roelens | By Dr. Lily Lin Photo by Lin & Pavelson B.V.

INTERVIEW

You graduated from the Higher Technical Institute, now a part of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. You also studied at the University of Gent and held a Postgraduate Degree in Public Relations and Media Management. Did you always want to work in the hotel industry?

When I was still young, I decided that I wanted to be in the restaurant business. I found work at a local restaurant in Flanders, Belgium. My parents did not like it because the restaurant business is the busiest during the Xmas season. But I had opportunities to work for one, two and three-star Michelin restaurants in Belgium. I loved it and decided that it was the industry for me!

In 1995 you enrolled in the Cornell University Professional Development Program, Executive Education. In 2011, again, you enrolled in the Cornell University and studied Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management. What made you decide to continue your education? Are intellectual challenges important to you?

I constantly challenge my team and myself, so that we would grow. Our managers just completed a 3-day leadership training so that we can work together to create a leadership team. It helps to achieve our goals and implement our service standards. It also helps our line staff to acquire the necessary tools to serve our guests with the service standards prescribed.

Were you a good student?

Yes. I was. At the age of 14, I was very passionate about the food and wine industry. It motivated me to be a top student. I won quite a number of competitions in Belgium. When you are passionate about something, you tend to do well, and you will succeed!

For seven years (19851992) you were very much involved in fine dining. What is your view on having a Michelin-star restaurant in a hotel, like the Four Seasons Hong Kong, for example, which has two Michelin-star restaurants?

It works beautifully in Four Seasons Hong Kong and Four Seasons Paris. The Michelin-star concept needs to fit the destination. We are a resort hotel. People come here to look for variation. We have a four-diamonds restaurant. Recently, we opened Nobu Lanai, which showcases a new style of Japanese cuisine that sources Hawaiian seafood. Whether there should be a Michelin restaurant in the hotel or not, really all depends on the guests' needs.

I love living here. Yesterday, I was out sailing and watching whales. People dream to come here, and I actually live here. I feel quite fortunate!

You have been a GM for a number of Four Seasons hotels for 18 years now. What is the most important lesson you have learned during this period?

The most important lesson I've learned, whether it is in Bali, Maldives, or here in Lanai, is about being respectful of the local culture. The second thing I've learned is that you will get out as much as you put in.

You are currently the Director of the Chamber of Commerce Lanai in Hawaii --- in addition to being the GM of three Four Seasons properties. Are you the kind of person who likes to keep yourself busy and takes on a lot of responsibilities?

I am definitely drawn to be a leader. There are two resorts on the island of Lanai. I manage both of them. I also manage a laundry and a bakery. There is only one economic engine on this island --- and that's us! We try to help the local community because we believe that their success is our success and vice versa.

You have been working in Hawaii for nearly five years. Besides the fact that Hawaii is known as a "paradise" in the US, what keeps you there?

Four Seasons is one of the most respected and recognized brands in the world. I've traveled and lived all over the world. Here in Lanai, we have 90,000 acres of a pristine and unspoiled island! I love living here. Yesterday, I was out sailing and watching whales. People dream to come here, and I actually live here. I feel quite fortunate!

As the GM what are the most difficult or challenging issues you've faced or are facing at the moment?

Lanai is an exclusive, one of a kind destination. It's a small place. A few years ago, the island was purchased by a new owner. There is a lot of speculation over what will happen next. At this point, we have an unemployment rate that is less than one percent. As the leader, it's my responsibility to keep everything running smoothly during this transition period.

In the haste of their daily lives, what are your employees not seeing?

Sometimes we take the beauty and uniqueness of this island for granted. When you live here, you get used to the scenery and the surroundings.

In your opinion, what is the single most important issue in hotel management?

The single most important issue in hotel management is that we must adopt innovation to meet our guests' needs. For example, social media has changed the way we communicate with our guests and employees. In fact, we have a company Facebook account for our staff, so that their voice could be heard. It's all about tuning into what our guests and employees are saying.

Managers do things right, which is tactical thinking. Leaders do the right thing, which requires strategic thinking.

I've learned that the best GMs are usually highly motivated individuals. What keeps you motivated?

First of all, I have got the best office in the world! Nothing beats looking out of the window and seeing a white sand beach, humpback whales, and dancing dolphins. We are listed as one of the Top Ten Resorts in the US. Also, I work with the best people in the world. We challenge and motivate each other to provide the best guest services. It's gratifying to read feedback from our guests. Creating memories for our guests is powerful stuff!

If you had to make a choice as the GM, would you do the things right or would you do the right things?

I would do the right things. Managers do things right, which is tactical thinking. Leaders do the right thing, which requires strategic thinking. Actually, you need both. But given the choice, I would always do the right thing.

Some time ago, I posted a question on our Facebook page: "Why do you think your GM is important to you?" Someone answered: "I don't think my GM is important to me, but he might be important to the company." Do you agree with this statement?

As the GM, it's my role to be the leader and a mentor to my employees (and a host of my guests). We have a great team, and we pride ourselves on the open dialogue we create with our staff. We communicate with them both in and outside of the office.

How old would you want to be, if you didn't know how old you are?

I would want to be around my current age. Over the years, you become more confident about the things you do. It allows you to take bolder actions.

What would you regret most: not fully being, not fully doing, or not fully having in your life?

Not fully being! I live life to the fullest. I enjoy each moment. I love to travel and learn from different cultures. I like to experience everything in life.

What is your leadership style, and what makes you an effective leader?

I have a very positive personality. I am demanding but fair. I ensure that I provide the necessary tools for my team so that they would be successful in carrying out their daily tasks.

What are your strengths? Do you have weaknesses?

My strengths:

I have a positive attitude. The way I see it, there are no problems in life; there are only solutions. In fact, I have a desk sign that says "It CAN Be Done!"

My weaknesses:

I have a strong personality. I move really fast. At times, I need to stop for a minute to make sure that everyone is on board.

At work, what puts a smile on your face?

A wow moment, created by a member of our staff, who has gone beyond his/her duties to create an unforgettable guest experience  that puts a smile on my face. It's magical when you hear that from the guests' feedback!

What puts a frown on your face?

Unsafe work practice! When an employee is doing something that puts him in an unsafe situation --- that puts a frown on my face. We put in a lot of time and effort to educate our employees to practice safety rules at work. For example, our laundry staff does stretching exercises to keep themselves fit for the job.

Life is too short to tolerate __________________.

Mediocrity! We demand the best! We deliver the best! As far as I am concerned, we will provide 100% of our core service standards to our guests. That is how we can deliver the wow moments!

What advice would you offer to those who are inspired to become a GM one day?

My advice is to pursue your dream! If you are passionate about service, people, and traveling, the hospitality business is for you. I've traveled to more than 40 countries and worked in six of them. For me, it continues to be the most challenging adventure every day.

What's next?

You are only as good as the last breakfast you served! :) Every day you can become better than the yesterday's you. I would like to create the Number One Destination in the world!

Brand the book for your hotel Source: Lin & Pavelson B.V.

Lily Lin

Lin & Pavelson B.V.

Lin & Pavelson B.V.

View source
CHR Insights features industry analysis and commentary from Kelly A. McGuire, MMH '01, PhD '07, who is a CHR fellow and vice president, advanced analytics, for Wyndham Destination Network. Previously the leader of the SAS Hospitality and Travel Global Practice, and a member of the CHR Advisory Board, she has long been active in advanced analytics and big data. Her blog posts will feature industry research and guest interviews to address current industry issues.

Today's post features an interview with Berry Van Weelden, CHR Advisory Board member and senior director of sales strategy and operations at priceline.com.

I started out this blog series with a conversation with Mark Lomanno about the rising costs of distribution. The important takeaway of the research is that hoteliers need to be mindful of the cost implications of their distribution strategy. Clearly, the third-party distributors can provide access to markets and consumers that a hotel can't reach on their own. This reach should have advantages for hotels, if they can balance the value of the demand against the cost of acquiring that demand. After talking to Mark, I wanted a view on this from a third-party distributor. I had a chance to speak with Berry Van Weeldensenior director of sales strategy and operations at priceline.com, and a CHR Advisory Board memberabout some ideas about how hotels can take advantage of distribution through priceline.com, and the online travel agencies (OTAs) in general, as part of a smart distribution strategy.

Rather than jumping into the "member-only rates" argument, I thought it would be more productive here to talk about the ways that hotels can fully utilize their third-party distribution partnerships to drive demand and gain insights that they would not have access to otherwise.

Berry provided some suggestions of how hoteliers can use the OTA's data science, various online products, and mobile presence to their advantage. As we know, priceline.com has the opaque channel, which provides some unique opportunities, but also requires a pretty deep discount. Hoteliers could easily view this as a "channel of last resort" because of low rates and distribution costs. Sometimes discounts are necessary for hotels to fill distressed inventory and drive cash flow. Berry offered some interesting examples of how smart hoteliers are using priceline.com's opaque rates to their advantage, to drive real value from the discount and effectively balance distribution cost with incremental revenue.

Data

Data is one advantage that I was pretty sure the OTAs have, and that hoteliers should also leverage. The combination of market-level views plus consumer shopping behavior is clearly a powerful tool for the OTAs, and they invest heavily in data science to drive insights from this data. I wanted to know how the hotels could use this insight as well. Berry pointed out some of the obvious ways, and also gave me a few other ideas. For example, priceline.com does extensive testing and analysis in all markets, and generally can assist their hotel partners looking to discount. Discounting at the right level minimizes dilution while driving revenue from incremental bookings. "Why give away more than you need to?" Berry says, "For example, a secondary market like Dallas can require discounts of up to 40 percent before demand really starts to respond, but in a compressed, very-high-priced market like San Francisco, a hotel might only need a 20 percent discount for potential guests to notice and book."

At the HSMAI ROC conference in Europe, I heard Booking.com talking about how they use consumer shopping behavior to help hotels understand how consumers are searching and booking at their hotel as well as similar hotels in the market. Hotels sometimes have limited visibility into how customers view a destination, so additional data, like this, can broaden their understanding of market dynamics. Of course, keep in mind that consumer behavior may vary by channel and segment, so you can't always assume that one perspective represents all potential market demand. Still, a broader perspective can be very informative in developing pricing and positioning strategies.

With detailed information about consumer search and booking behavior, priceline.com can also help hoteliers to find exactly the right target market for an offer. If a hotel needs some very specific business, whether it be location, stay pattern, or time of year, between their broad database and detailed analytics, priceline.com can help them find it.

For example, priceline.com provided insights into demand patterns for hotel partners in Seattle during a peak period. Even though many hotels and associations forecasted high occupancy and rates, priceline.com's data indicated that much of the demand would not materialize. The OTA's local market manager was able to help hotels fill rooms earlier in the process, to minimize the impact when the forecasted demand failed to materialize.

Creative Strategy #1: Building Base through Opaque

Most hotels think of the opaque channel as a last-minute option to fill distressed inventory right before arrival, but Berry pointed out that this doesn't have to be the case. He told me about a hotel he worked with that was using priceline.com's opaque rates to build base, particularly when group bookings did not materialize for the hotel as expected. Using the opaque channel farther out in the booking window, the hotel built back the base, often at a higher price than the volume discount offered to groups. They closed off the opaque channel closer in, and pushed full-rated demand to their owned channels.

Of course, I am assuming that the hotel had carefully evaluated the results of their revenue-management system forecast and optimization, so that they both knew that groups were not going to materialize and also that they could not sell those rooms through more profitable channels. If this was the case, this is a great method to build base. It has the additional advantage of helping to break consumers' habits of thinking that if they wait hotels out until they get desperate close to the booking date, the rooms will be much cheaper.

OTAs' Unique Selling Proposition

Like priceline.com's opaque channel, most OTAs have unique selling propositions that they use to offer consumers room reservations at a good deal. For example, many use their relationships with multiple travel providers to offer packages including air, hotel, and rental car. Consumers like the convenience of booking the whole trip at once. From the hotelier's perspective, packages are a good way for hotels to sell at a deep discount, without consumers knowing exactly what they paid for the hotel component. If hotels offer too many publicly visible discounts, the value proposition erodes. Consumers may begin to feel that the hotel is only worth that discounted price, and it will be difficult for hotels to command their non-discounted rates. Think about how long it generally takes prices to recover after recession-era discounting. The same principle applies here.

Berry Van Weelden, senior director of sales strategy and operations at priceline.com; Kelly A. McGuire, MMH 01, PhD 07, vice president, advanced analytics for Wyndham Destination Network  Photo by Wyndham

Hotels can determine whether to leverage OTAs' refundable or non-refundable rates, depending on what they feel is best for their business. For periods that typically have higher no-show rates, hotels can leverage non-refundable rates, knowing that they will see revenue even if the guests decide to cancel/no show. This also protects hotels from guests cancelling and rebooking if they see a cheaper rate elsewhere. Many hotels have also started offering discounts to consumers for committing to non-refundable rates ahead of time, but either way, this type of rate can be used to the hotels' advantage.

These are just a few examples. Understanding what OTAs have to offer consumersand the type of consumer that is attracted to these offeringscan help hotels evaluate where they will find value from that channel. Think through with the team where you can use these channels to your advantage, whether protecting against eroding value propositions by masking discounts, protecting against lost revenue from cancellations and no shows, or protecting the base by evaluating the trading-off between group discounts and third-party distribution costs.

Creative Strategy #2: Replace Less-Profitable Business

Berry has several stories about hotels who have started to rethink their longer-term contracts with crew and wholesalers, who get very low negotiated rates and often other concessions, like F&B, as well. In addition to these being lower-profitability channels to begin with, he has heard multiple stories about wholesalers exhibiting some undesirable behavior in offering those private rates through public channels, causing rate-parity issues, and undercutting the hotels' rate strategy. Berry has seen examples of hotels cutting off these very-low-rated channels, and successfully backfilling the demand with opaque and OTA business, generally at a higher, and more profitable, rate than the crew or wholesale contract.

I have heard these examples as well. Once again, my caution is that hoteliers need to carefully evaluate their expected demand by channel and the profitability of each piece of business. With this complete picture of the business, you can justify these more "dramatic" decisions about cutting off channels.

Creative Strategy #3: Working the System

There are some markets that tend to attract a good deal of loyalty-point redemptions. The brand reimburses the hotel for point stays at different levels depending on the occupancy of the hotel. Berry told me about one hotel in a redemption market that was using opaque to drive up occupancy so that the points rooms were reimbursed at closer to full rate. "What would you rather have," he asked, "a bunch of points rooms reimbursed at $27, or a group of rooms which even at a discounted rate were more than $27, and get your points rooms reimbursed at $150 or $200?"

As with each of these strategies, assuming the hotel had a good occupancy forecastand could drive incremental demand through the opaque channel, rather than diluting existing demandthey could easily evaluate the tradeoff between offering additional discounted rooms through the opaque channel and the additional revenue gained through the higher points redemption rate. Are you catching my point here? You should balance creativity in actions with analytical proof of effectiveness.

Mobile

Berry said that an emerging area of potential for hotels is to leverage priceline.com's mobile website and apps. Consumers are starting to book last-minute hotel stays through mobile devices when they arrive in the area. Further, given the fact that consumers book multiple aspects of their travel through priceline.com, its apps provide value to the consumer by synchronizing all of their various travel activities into one location. This activity provides hoteliers with several opportunities. First is that the OTAs in general, and priceline.com in particular, can help them leverage that small, but growing, segment of travelers who wait until they arrive in a location to make a hotel decision. Hotels can target the in-market travelers with a last-minute offer, very specifically designed to generate incremental revenue by filling distressed inventoryand not even visible to anyone but these specific bookers on this specific channel.

Priceline, which books a lot of airline tickets as well, also knows when passengers are stranded at an airport. They can help the local hoteliers take advantage of that last-minute, unexpected demand from their stranded airline customers, which will likely book through mobile.

Priceline.com's services also allow hotels to better target customers based on their location. For example, a hotel might want to target customers that are within five miles of the hotel during a specific time window (think commuter hours). As OTAs' apps know their customers' location, they can support this type of targeting. Priceline.com's research indicates that approximately 15 percent of same-day bookings occur within five miles of the property.

We've circled back around again to the point that while it is important to keep a close eye on distribution costs, a distribution strategy should not put all eggs in one basket. This is not practical, let alone profitable. I think all of us, Berry and priceline.com included, are advocating for a smart approach, a thoughtful approach, a strategic approach. This is the harder path, but it is worth it in the end. You must analyze the potential of each channel and each piece of business. You must understand the tradeoffs, and you must be strategic about how you use your partners.

I wish there were some silver bullet or magic strategy. The ones who win will do so with a combination of deep analysis and creativity. They will understand their customer base and their value proposition, and use that as the basis for determining the best mix of business for their hotels, and the best mix of channels to proactively source that business from. You don't have to have the resources and reach of the big brands (although, admittedly that would help). You do need the commitment to leveraging your data, your technology, and your relationships to make the thoughtful, strategic, smart decisions.

View source
It is claimed that PIPs (property improvement plans) exist to ensure all franchisees are brand compliant and to drive customer satisfaction. However, it appears big brands such as Choice, Holiday Inn, Wyndham and Best Western, often use them to push hoteliers out of a market to benefit corporate expansion strategies. So are PIPs really in the best interests of franchisees?

Refreshing a Brand

Brand refreshes, defined by Property Improvement Plans (PIPs), are initiatives that many major chains have undertaken in recent years and by default, are an essential part of branded hotel ownership.

Choice Hotels International announced a complete brand rebirth in 2015, one that would encompass a new logo, website and refocused marketing efforts to reflect the new branding. Just a few months later, Best Western followed suit and also launched a re-positioning that entailed similar changes, along with the addition of new brands to its portfolio. However, with all of this progression comes a potentially darker side, one that can leave well-intentioned franchisees engaged in needless litigation and with big economic losses.

When Choice Hotels made the announcement, it did so with one clear caveat: all franchisees would have to renovate their properties to fall in line with this new branding through adhering to a specific property improvement plan. President and CEO Steve Joyce told a media round-table that those who didn't comply would invariably become "one of the 600," a reference to the 600 franchisees that had been terminated the year before.

Choice Hotels has come under fire before for so-called "anti-franchisee policies", and many in the industry view PIPS to be a prime example. Choice became an archetype of the industry-wide practice of imposing PIPs that entail extensive and expensive renovations.

Failing to comply with even the smallest aspect can result in penalties and in some cases termination as a franchisee altogether  so are PIPs really in the best interests of today's hotel owners?

The Costs and Consequences of PIPS

A PIP is, more often than not, an expensive undertaking, and one that can place an enormous financial burden on small franchisees. This is not only in the form of the cost of undertaking renovations and the loss incurred with the disruption to business, but constantly evolving standards mean properties often have to endure ongoing renovations to remain compliant.

In many cases, perfectly functioning hotels 10 years of older are forced to make design changes that may not be economically viable. For example, exterior corridor hotels may be deemed no longer permitted, and if one wants to stay with its brand, it will need to structurally enclose all exterior corridors. Many brands say market research states that exterior corridors are unsafe. Yet, top hotels such as the Arizona Biltmore or Hawaii's legendary Mauna Kea Beach Hotel use exterior corridors.

Some brands are now requiring costly installation of elevators for 2 story properties, even when the property goes above and beyond in providing top quality disabled facilities on the ground floor. For a 40 room Best Western grossing $500K a year, the cost of the elevator is nearly 15% of annual sales.

Holiday Inn Express, which recently implemented its 'Formula Blue' PIP requires hotels to redo all rooms and common areas whether the fixtures are old or not. For a 100 room property, design oriented PIPS can easily run $200,000.

Hotels in a franchise are required to stay up to date with the set brand standards, and failing to stay up to date with these can result in hefty fines. For example, one top global franchise actually fines franchisees $2000 for running out of bananas at the hotel breakfast bar.

PIPs and the concept of re-franchising

While PIPs can be used for the purpose of maintaining consistent branding in hotels, they can also be used to drive good hotels out of their contracts and effectively re-franchise an area. For example, a chain may have offered an area of protection to a specific hotel, but as the local economy has changed, the chain wants to capitalize on this growth with market expansion. Enforcing a PIP that is untenable can see that existing franchise close doors, thus there is no area of protection to maintain, and the chain can install as many hotels and sub-brands in the area as it likes.

Wyndham Hotel Group, which has recently announced a global brand refresh states that over the past two years, the company removed 90% of the rooms in 2015 that did not meet its PIP standards. At the same time, Wyndham added 650 new builds to its pipeline.

Chains maintain that PIPs are necessary for driving consumer satisfaction, and a growing number of hotel owners disagree, stating that PIPS are firmly in the interests of the chains and not their franchisees. So could this be the reason so many hotels are exiting the traditional franchise model in search of alternatives that encourages owner-driven PIPs?

About Magnuson Hotels:

Since its launch 13 years ago, through the emphasis on the ability to 'run your hotel your way', Magnuson Hotels has become America's fastest growing hotel brand, and a top 10 global chain, marketing 1000 hotels across six countries and three continents.

Rhiannon

Magnuson Hotels

View source
It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore).

Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net.

Go back to home
Jacque joins IHG within Europe from the Kimpton team in the US, where she was Director of Communications for East USA, based in Washington DC.

InterContinental Hotels Group announce the appointment of Jacque Riley, Brand Director, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Europe. The newly created role will report directly to Tom Rowntree - VP Brand Management, Luxury & Boutique Brands, Europe, and begin with immediate effect.

IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2015 and recently announced the signing of Kimpton Paris as the second Kimpton within Europe. The signing of Kimpton Amsterdam was announced in January 2016. Jacque's appointment is a result of the success of developing the Kimpton brand within the region.

Jacque joins IHG within Europe from the Kimpton team in the US, where she was Director of Communications for East USA, based in Washington DC. She joined Kimpton 3 years ago as Director of Restaurants PR, Washington DC and Virginia, and is the first Kimpton colleague to make the move to a role within the IHG team. Prior to Kimpton Jacque owned her own PR company in Columbia, South Carolina.

Says Tom Rowntree, "Following IHG's recent launch announcement of Kimpton hotels in Amsterdam and Paris, Jacque's appointment is key to delivering the launch of the brand across the region and supporting our wider business strategy. Our focus is to maintain all that makes the Kimpton brand special and loved, whilst bringing the brand to life in new markets, languages and cultures; Jacque, with her depth of experience, is the perfect person to help deliver this ."

Says Jacque Riley, "I am incredibly passionate about the Kimpton brand and am excited to join the Europe team at a pivotal time as we prepare to introduce Kimpton to our guests. I can't wait to share our approach to heartfelt hospitality with the continent that first inspired Bill Kimpton more than 35 years ago."
It looks like Usher has changed tracks once again for his upcoming album, which will serve as the rnb artists eighth studio LP. In January, Ursh announced that the title of his album would be Flawed, a title which he seems to have been promoting up until quite recently. However iTunes is saying something different.

According to iTunes New Zealand, Usher will release his eighth studio album in a short time from now, September 16th. The title is Hard II Love, and the cover art features a bust of Usher in stone, crumbling. The entire tracklist has yet to be revealed on iTunes, but the single No Limit with Young Thug is definitely on it, as well as Missin You and Crash.

Well keep you posted on the album release. RCA has definitely been pushing No Limit hard, enlisting Travis Scott for a remix, and then later releasing one that also includes 2 Chainz, Master P, Gucci Mane and A$AP Ferg, plus Thugger and Usher teamed up for a music video.

[via HHNM]

Usher
Irish duo set to play nation's record store following critical success of their first album

All Tvvins, the up and coming post-punk partnership of Conor Adams and Lar Kaye, are embarking on a tour of regional record stores.

The pair will begin their tour at Kilkenny's Rollercoaster Records (August 26), before moving to the Golden Disc outlets in Cork (August 30), Stephens Green (August 31) and Swords (September 1) over the week.

Their recently released debut album, IIVV, was met with critical acclaim. Here at HotPress we considered it "a monumental debut". It features all the band's successful tracks, such as radio hit 'Resurrect Me', and their debut single 'Thank You'', which was nominated for Irish Song of the Year at the Choice Music Prize.

Advertisement

In the three years since they formed, All Tvvins have played alongside acts such as Arcade Fire, Pixies and Kodaline, hit a selection of European music festivals, and sold out a headline show at the Academy last year. These intimate acoustic sets are a great chance for fans to catch a glimpse of the duo's talent.
"We're approaching things a little differently," says Gary Johnson in an introductory video to his campaign. A little differently indeed. Johnson has held a Q&A with voters on Reddit, crowdsurfed at rallies, and - in a CNN article entitled "Why I'm running for president" - bragged about climbing Mount Everest. Johnson is something that neither Trump nor Clinton are: he's cool, and for some young voters, that matters.

It's no secret that Bernie Sanders dominated among millennial voters. He came off as pure; an outsider, anti-establishment, and, crucially, in touch. Clinton, meanwhile, tried to appear hip by going on daytime television and doing the whip. After all, nothing says "with it" like stopping by Ellen and jamming out to Silento.

Sanders, unlike Clinton, was a master of branding, both of himself and of his opponents. He quickly broke from his promise to run a positive campaign, making Clinton's alleged Wall Street ties undeniably central to his message. Combined with Republican attacks, the brand stuck: Crooked Hillary was born. I talk about Sanders in the past tense as he no longer has a chance at the White House. But many of his supporters can't let go. They can't vote Trump; that much is clear. But after being told for months by their hero that Clinton is in the pocket of Wall Street, it understandably creates a sense of vertigo to hear him say they must support her. The reason he gives? #NeverTrump. Clinton and Trump have become entwined to these millennial voters, both just another continuation of establishment politics. Sanders told them to change the system, and now it's time.
Summit provides important opportunity for Irish talent to move into international stage

Heather Humphries TD, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, travelled to Edinburgh on Wednesday to attend the Edinburgh International Culture Summit.

She will be joined by over 40 Culture Ministers from around the world, as well as Fiona Hyslop, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. They will discuss topics such as encouraging participation in the cultural sector, and how to financially resource it in trying times.

The summit is far from a dry political affair, however. Humphries will attend showcase performances of Irish artists, supported by Culture Ireland. Ireland has done excellently at the summit, with Orla Murphy's production Remember To Breathe winning the Lustrum award, and Linger by Breandan de Gallai has being nominated for a Total Theatre Award in the Dance category. Many Irish artists who featured at the summit in previous years have gone on to enjoy international success.

"The Edinburgh Festivals provide Irish artists with an invaluable opportunity to showcase their work to a varied international audience," Humphries stated. "The six Irish shows being supported by Culture Ireland this year feature some of best of Irelands contemporary theatre and dance artists."

Advertisement

"I also look forward to meeting with Fiona Hyslop, to discuss issues of mutual importance to Ireland and Scotland, including the implications of the Leave vote in the EU-UK Referendum."

Over 60 speakers will make addresses at this years summit, from countries including Syria, Nigeria, Mexico, India, South Africa, Australia and the US.
Getty Images

Today was supposed to be the day Donald Trump was going to clarify his stance on the immigration policies hed propose if he won the White House this November. He was going to give a speech on the topic in Colorado, days after a BuzzFeed story said he signaled an openness to legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants during a closed-door meeting with Latino leaders. The event was abruptly scrapped without any explanation on Monday.

Since then, Trumps campaign and his surrogates have been doing the rounds on TV trying to convince his supporters, who stayed by his side during the Republican primary when he promised to make a deportation force, that the New York mogul was not abandoning them. His plan, according to campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, is to ban people from entry here from countries that are known exporters of terrorism, which we cant sufficiently vet.
Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print.

Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition.

If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create.
Law enforcement officers in Georgia and five neighboring states will have zero tolerance for impaired drivers during the 25th annual Hands Across the Border enforcement campaign that will be held leading up to the long holiday weekend.



Impaired drivers will be taken to jail during the week long enforcement campaign in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee that begins Monday and ends Friday, Sept. 2.



I have often said highway safety doesnt stop at the city limits, county line or even the state line, and our friends on the borders of other states are just as committed to getting impaired drivers and speeding drivers and others off the road as we are. said Harris Blackwood, director of the Governors Office of Highway Safety.

One out of every four fatalities in this state can be attributed to drunk driving and that is a number we can reduce through Hands Across the Border.State and local law enforcement officers will be holding road checks at the state line all around Georgia while their counterparts will be holding road checks several hundred yards away on their side of the state line. State troopers and local law enforcement officers will also be looking for drivers who do not have seat belts buckled, suspended or no drivers licenses, improper child safety seats and other violations.The 23 fatalities in Georgia during the 2015 Labor Day holiday weekend were eight more than the state saw during the same period in 2014. There were 3,958 traffic crashes during last years 78-hour holiday weekend with more than 900 injuries. 144 of those crashes were alcohol related with 3 fatalities and 61 injuries.This year marks the 25th anniversary for Hands Across the Border which started as a friendly competition in 1991 between the Georgia State Patrol and Florida Highway Patrol. The two agencies wanted to see which could most reduce the number of alcohol-related driving related deaths in their respective state. The Governors Office of Highway Safety soon began coordinating the event and expanded it to include all five states that border Georgia. Law enforcement agencies in all states agree the joint enforcement effort has saved countless lives and will continue to do so in the future.Hands Across the Border has not only allowed us to build great friendships with our neighboring states but it has also improved our law enforcement by the exchanging of ideas between the participating states, said Mr. Blackwood. It is just a great program that gets us inspired not only for the Labor Day holiday but also the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.Hands Across the Border will have nightly law enforcement safety meetings and multi-state road checks along the Georgia state line in Columbus, Blakely, Valdosta-Lake Park, Ft. Oglethorpe, McCaysville, Augusta and Savannah. The week will conclude at the Georgia Welcome Center on Interstate 95 in Kingsland where the first HATB took place in 1991.

For more information about the Governors Office of Highway Safety, check out their webpage at gahighwaysafety.org, like them on Facebook at Georgia GOHS and follow them on Twitter at @gohsgeorgia.


As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content.

When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to.

After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS!

OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK

The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.
With the rise of Millennials in the workplace and 24/7 work-life blending, employees expect much more from employers than a paycheck. Businesses are tasked with recognizing and addressing ever-changing workforce needs, and supporting employees both personally and professionally. In light of the times, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) industry is changing to meet the needs of this diverse, tech-savvy, global workforce. The EAP has evolved from its early origins as a substance abuse resource to become a multi-faceted employee support program that reduces stress at work and at home, leading to improved employee retention, engagement and performance. A contemporary EAP expands beyond basic services, offering a wide range of creative perks, and innovative services to support employees and family members in all aspects of life. Here are five key components that a standard EAP is most likely missing: Diversity and inclusion initiatives All family members eligible for services, regardless of location Millennial, boomer and veteran-specific services International resources 24/7 access to services 24/7, global, mobile, social access to service via phone, text, email and chat Virtual and online clinical sessions Smart technology including mobile apps and online resources Modern workforce solutions Integrated errand running Financial wellness Holistic life coaching and compre...
Australian employer has come under fire for its controversial job ad after it referred to fat chicks who wont lift a finger to help.The company  Air Conditioning Expert Brisbane  posted the ad earlier this month seeking electricians and would-be tradespeople to start in the summer.However, the ad  which is rife with grammatical errors  has caused a stir online thanks to its less-than-appealing job description and overtly sexist comments.You will be crawling in roofs, you will be getting dirty, you will be working through the hottest days of summer and fat Australian chicks will sit inside in the air conditioning, not offer you a drink or lift a finger to help clean up, while you get sunburnt, dehydrated and disorientated outside installing air conditioning for her comfort, the ad reads.Then she will tell us we are all equal, it continues. Thats our life. We are men. We wouldnt trade places with her anyway.The job posting  which has now been removed  has also attracted criticism for its stingy pay rates."Qualified Trades can have 30 per hour + van and phone. Or Subby (sic) rate per install. Trades assistants anywhere from 15 - 25 depends on what you know. Young dudes who don't know s***t can start on 10 - 15. Most likely 10 but you'll go to 15 if you are good, the ad explains.Electrical Trades Union Queensland and NT Apprentice Officer Scott Reichman told the Brisbane Times that, as well as being "disgracefully sexist," the pay rates being offered were well below the award rate."These are the kind of dodgy companies we have to protect apprentices from," he said. Under the modern award a First Year Apprentice should be paid at least $12.66 and a Grade 1 Electrical Worker at least $18.72."
Thousands of Canadians are showing their love for Gord Downie in yet another way: by petitioning to give the musician the Order of Canada.

A Facebook page supporting a petition addressed to Governor General David Johnston said the honour would be "long overdue."

Advertisement

"From his songwriting to environmental activism, Gord Downie embodies what it means to be Canadian. Along with all The Tragically Hip band members, he's had a profound impact not just on the world of music, but on Canadian culture as well," the petition reads.

Gord Downie revealed he was fighting terminal brain cancer earlier this year.

The second-highest honour of its kind in the country is awarded to Canadians who have "enriched the lives of others" with an "outstanding" dedication and service to the nation.

Dubbed Canada's unofficial poet laureate, Downie's songs are filled with references to Canadian history, landmarks, and lives  and have become part of the modern national identity.

Advertisement

Downie, 52, revealed in May that he was living with terminal brain cancer. With the blessing of the frontman's doctors, The Hip decided to go ahead with a planned national tour in support of their new album.

Every show was sold out.

On Saturday, the band closed the tour in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. with an epic performance streamed live to millions of fans.

He used the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the shameful history of how Canada's First Nations have been treated, and urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  who was in the live audience  to work on repairing those long-standing issues.

Downie is also part of a group that works to protect the waters of the Great Lakes.

The Tragically Hip has received 14 JUNO Awards, the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, and have a spot in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Advertisement

Also on HuffPost
SAGUENAY, Que.  As the federal Liberal caucus arrived in the picturesque region of SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean for two days of meetings, the local Grit MP warned party members that they shouldnt expect an especially warm reception.

This area is known as sovereigntist territory  three provincial seats are held by the Parti Quebecois. Federally, the regions ridings are split among a Conservative, a New Democrat, and, since last October, a Liberal.

Advertisement

ChicoutimiLe Fjord Grit MP Denis Lemieux surprised many when he won the seat in last Octobers election. Political rivals suggest he was swept into office in the last two weeks of the campaign by the Trudeau wave.

The last time a Liberal was elected here was in 2000  but Andre Harvey was a three-time Progressive Conservative MP who crossed the floor and joined the Grits. Before that, it was 1980 when, under Trudeau senior, Marcel Dionne represented the riding in Ottawa.

The Prime Ministers Office wouldnt say whether it chose to hold the summer caucus meeting in the towns of Saguenay and Jonquiere in an effort to establish deeper Liberal roots.

Advertisement

We have elected 40 MPs in Quebec in the last election. [Its] important to be on the ground here.

Justin Trudeaus spokeswoman, Andree-Lyne Halle, noted that this was the first national caucus meeting held outside Ottawa since the election. As with Trudeaus cabinet retreats  held in Sudbury, Ont., last weekend, in Kananaskis, Alta., last April and in Saint Andrews, N.B., in January  the Liberals are trying to ensure a presence everywhere in the country so MPs and ministers can meet citizens face to face, Halle said.

We are happy to be in Quebec this time, to be in Saguenay to see this beautiful region and meet people, she said. We have elected 40 MPs in Quebec in the last election. [Its] important to be on the ground here.

Trudeau is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning  and can expect to be greeted by protesters.

One local newspaper, Le Journal de Quebec edition SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean, warned on its front page: Protesters wait for Justin Trudeau. Dairy producers and Canada Post employees plan to demonstrate outside the Delta hotel where the prime minister and his 181 MPs are scheduled to meet.

Lemieux said he expects totally pacifist demonstrations.

I think its good that we be kept aware of whats going on and what people think, but those demonstrations will just put in evidence things that we already know very well and things that Mr. Trudeau already knows very well, he said.

Ministers' expenses questioned

Stories on Trudeau and the Liberals dominated local news coverage Wednesday  and they were far from favourable. Unlike the smiling picture of Environment Minister Catherine McKenna taking a selfie with her cabinet colleagues splashed in the Sudbury Star last week, here two columns and an editorial cartoon slam Trudeau for defending the burkini. There is a photo of McKenna looking guilty and ashamed with the caption: Trudeau accepts another error from a minister, a reference to the thousands of dollars her department spent to hire a photographer to take pictures of her at the UN climate change conference in Paris.

Advertisement

Another column focused on Trudeaus clothing, and in a backhanded way noted that the prime minister always seems to know how to dress to perfection  from his pink pride shirt, to his Tragically Hip outfit, to the shirtless shot on vacation. Trudeau acts like a superstar thats cool to the supreme degree rather than a political leader, wrote respected columnist Mario Dumont.

Another daily, Le Quotidien, loudly stated: No Important Announcement. The headline story highlighting the fact Trudeaus visit wont result in any major regional announcements.

Neighbouring Conservative MP Denis Lebel said that should worry local residents. Its an opportunity missed for the region.

In 2002, former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien held a caucus meeting here and announced funding for an important four-lane divided highway, Lebel noted.

Advertisement

This is going to be a big show of images. We already know our region is magnificent. It doesnt take selfies to show that to us.

The Prime Ministers Office has planned for a large public event. Thursday evening, after MPs return from a boat tour on the Fjord, Trudeau will give a speech by the Chicoutimi port, mingle with residents and, presumably, pose for selfies.

Trudeaus reputation as selfie king led to a social media campaign by the National Assemblys official Opposition leader. Sylvain Gaudreault posted selfies on Facebook to encourage the prime minister to pay attention to local issues, such as diafiltered milk, a milk product that is labelled and taxed in two different ways when imported into Canada. Quebec producers feel Ottawa isnt doing enough to close a loophole that allows American producers to flood the domestic market with foreign product, he said.

Lemieux 'works hard': Lebel

In April, Lemieux, the local Liberal MP, dumped a 25 litre bag of powdered milk on his head to declare his solidarity with dairy farmers.

While one maintenance worker that HuffPost spoke with described the local MP as a clown with zero credibility, Lebel, the Conservative from the neighbouring riding, said he thinks Lemieux might be re-elected because he works hard.

Advertisement

People in this region, they often vote for the man. He, of course, benefited from the Trudeau wave, but Mr. Lemieux is appreciated.

Mr. Harvey won often because of his strength and how he worked. We are are a region that is still very sovereigntist, but [while]  we used to say that anyone who ran for the PQ would win, and anyone who ran for the Bloc in the region would win, thats no longer the case.

"The region of SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean lives with a lot of problems."

Lemieux told HuffPost Wednesday that he hopes the visit will highlight his political objectives  the promotion of the regions economic development and of healthy living.

In the next few days, were going to hear a lot of things in the media on the negative side, he said.

I want to have a positive dialogue about the future of the region. The region of SaguenayLac-Saint-Jean lives with a lot of problems, he said, noting its very high unemployment rate.

Advertisement

Before the caucus meetings begin Thursday, Lemieux took about dozen of his colleagues out on a long bike ride, stopping to show them two area manufacturing plants, Resolute Forest Products and Rio Tinto Alcan.

I wanted to show them the intelligence of people here. The beauty of the people here and also to show to the rest of Canada that the Saguenay may be living a difficult situation, but it is not because of our incapacity or because of our lack of intelligence.

The ridings former Bloc Quebecois MP, Robert Bouchard, also has nice things to say about Lemieux. Bouchard, who represented the Chicoutimi seat from 2004 to 2011, is leading a charge to get UNESCO to recognize the Saguenay Fjord as a World Heritage Site, and he credits Lemieux with getting the ball rolling at the federal level.

He hesitates to say what he thinks the Liberals future chances in the region could be. He admits being very surprised on election night that Lemieux won and that the Bloc had fared so badly.

Advertisement

I wanted to show them the intelligence of people here."

But he notes that, historically the riding has followed big national trends. When there is a wave in Quebec, the region participates in that wave, he said in a telephone interview from his home in Chicoutimi.

In the 1970s and up until 1984, the riding supported the Liberals. Then, it was solidly Progressive Conservative under former prime minister Brian Mulroney. It went Bloc when that partys popularity soared, and it also sent an NDP MP to Ottawa in 2011 under the so-called orange wave.

The last year Bouchard was in Ottawa, he won a coveted award as the MP who best represented his constituents. According to write-up in Macleans, which organizes the prizes, Bouchard was recognized for always pushing his riding and trying to ameliorate its economic condition.

Leaders when they are in opposition say this. But when they get to power, it changes.

Bouchard is quoted in the 2010 piece explaining that Lebel and former local Tory MP and cabinet minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn come to the riding to explain Ottawas decisions, while I take peoples concerns and bring them to Ottawa.

That line might sound familiar. Trudeau used it on the campaign trail repeatedly, telling voters that Liberal MPs would be the voice of their ridings in Ottawa rather than Ottawas voice in their ridings.

Advertisement

Leaders when they are in opposition say this. But when they get to power, it changes, Bouchard said, laughing.

Perhaps, thats why Lemieux is warning about the protest and Thursdays reception. A voice that leads to no action may not be a voice that constituents want again.

Also on HuffPost
Talk about being ocean smart.

A seal swimming off the coast of Vancouver Island escaped a pod of killer whales by hitching a ride on someone's boat on Monday.

Peter Hamilton, founder of the Lifeforce ecology organization, said the seal had about 10 orcas on its tail.

Advertisement

(Photo: Lifeforce Foundation/Peter Hamilton)

The seal, who clearly wasn't having any of that whole "being lunch" thing, hopped into the back of a boat and camped out for about half an hour. (Watch video above.)

Hamilton said the whales eventually gave up and left, and the seal "cautiously" slipped back into the water and swam way.

The ecologist told The Huffington Post Canada it's an incident that "happens very rarely."

Advertisement

(Photo: Lifeforce Foundation/Peter Hamilton)

Last summer, another seal pulled the same stunt to avoid being eaten by killer whales in B.C.'s Desolation Sound.

(Photo: Josh McInnes)

To help protect the animals in B.C., people are advised to stay stay at least 100 metres away from marine animals or birds. If boaters find themselves stuck too close to an animal, they're advised to stay still and let the animals pass.

Also on HuffPost
Following France's controversial burkini ban, which has seen armed police officers force at least one Muslim woman to remove her clothes at the beach, critics are proposing another type of swimwear to be banned instead: speedos.

Twitter users are pointing out the profundity of France's controversial new ban by calling for the criminalization of "fat men in speedos."

Advertisement

Critics say men in speedos are a more offensive sight than a woman wearing the Islamic swimsuit, which covers everything on the body except for the face, hands and feet.

Instead of banning the #burkini ban fat pasty guys in #Speedo ? pic.twitter.com/hl3I07GqkC  Paul Webb (@Paulowebtini) August 25, 2016

If France are banning Burkini's then they really should ban speedo's too because they are 100x more offensive to everyone having to view it.  Emilyy (@Cliffordshalo) August 24, 2016

"Instead of banning the #burkini ban fat pasty guys in #Speedo ?" wrote one user.

"If France are banning Burkini's then they really should ban speedos too because they are 100x more offensive to everyone having to view it," tweeted another.

Advertisement

@chadrogers Can't we all agree that it's time to ban the Speedo? #cdnpoli  Brooke Kaulius (@BrookeKaulius) August 25, 2016

France's burkini ban is in effect in 15 municipalities as a reactionary measure following two deadly terrorist attacks last month.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls supports the burkini bans, calling the swimwear "not compatible with the values of France and the Republic."

A woman wearing a burkini takes a dip in south of France, Aug. 15, 2016. (Photo: Abaca Press)

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he does not and would not support such a ban in Canada.

Advertisement

"In Canada, can we speak of acceptance, openness, friendship, understanding?" he told reporters on Monday. "It is about where we are going and what we are going through every day in our diverse and rich communities," he continued.
Mayor Kelly invited the community to come out and hear about the plan to rezone the Airport Inn from C-2 to UGC so they can turn it into a....well, no one seems to know what. Is it a homeless shelter, a mental health facility, an assisted living home, another "fleabag motel", an apartment complex, all we know for sure is "that is not this" and "this is not that" according to Mayor ... (click for more)
SAGUENAY, Que.  Roaring truck engines, honking horns, and angry dairy farmers greeted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he arrived at the Liberals' summer caucus meetings Thursday.

About 100 dairy farmers from the Saguenay region drove their trucks to the Delta hotel where Trudeau and his 181 MPs are holding two days of meetings, hoping the prime minister would come out and speak with them about a costly dispute on diafiltered milk.

Advertisement

The Quebec dairy farmers, many of whom have small farms, are upset that U.S. producers are selling a cheaper milk protein product, allowed in Canada with no duties, to yogurt and cheese producers, who use it instead of locally sourced milk. They say the practice is costing them thousands of dollars a month.

Dairy farmer Michel Frigon wonders if the PM asks where his food comes from. (Photo: Althia Raj/HuffPost)

The Canadian Border Services Agency considers diafiltered milk a protein ingredient rather than milk and allows it to enter Canada duty free. But many cheese and yogurt producers use the liquid milk protein to replace milk, which is more costly, in their products.

Advertisement

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is responsible for enforcing the minimum milk requirement in cheese, isn't stopping the practice because it considers diafiltered milk to be milk.

The issue has plagued the new government for months and no solution seems to be on the horizon, further frustrating the farmers.

'Things have to change'

"To ensure there is a next generation of farmers, to ensure that my kids can make a living, things have to change," said Sonia Lapointe, a dairy farmer from Saint-BrunoLac-Saint-Jean.

Lapointe, whose herd includes about 60 cows, said diafiltered milk from the United States is personally costing her about $2,500 a month because she can't sell her higher priced milk to the cheese and yogurt producers.

"This is really difficult. It's not easy. The stress, the lack of income, it's hard on families," Lapointe said. "With all the indebtedness and all the farming costs, people are just going to give up."

Advertisement

Michel Frigon, a larger producer from Albanel, Que., about a two-hour drive from where the Liberals are meeting, said he came to "denounce the government's inaction."

Farmer Sonia Lapointe says things have to change. (Photo: Althia Raj/HuffPost)

"During the election," he said, "the Liberal party promised to settle the issue of diafiltered milk but nothing happened," Frigon said.

Dairy farmers met with government officials but still nothing happened. This spring the Liberals voted down an NDP motion calling on the federal government to enforce Canadian cheese standards and stop the import of the U.S. milk protein. The Liberals said they would meet with the dairy sector and present a plan in 30 days.

"And nothing happened again," Frigon said. "The agriculture minister met with farmers this summer, but no announcement was made, and all the while diafiltered milk continues to pass through the border."

Advertisement

"If Mr. Trudeau has any respect for producers, all we're asking is for him to at least come talk to us. Come tell us what's happening with the file, and explain to us why things are dragging on," Frigon said.

"Trudeau, this morning, he probably had some eggs, some cereal with milk. Did he never ask himself where this stuff comes from?"

"Trudeau, this morning, he probably had some eggs, some cereal with milk. Did he never ask himself where this stuff comes from? We are small percentage of the population that has the responsibility to feed the rest of the population and we are treated with contempt by the Liberal government."

Frigon, whose farm has 125 cows, said the dispute has cost him $35,000 to $40,000 in the last year. He said he and his wife only have three employees and that's a significant dent in their bottom line.

"It's the difference between making ends meet and nothing making them."

Advertisement

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay talks with media in Ottawa on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Matthew Usherwood/CP)

Six Quebec Liberal MPs, including International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier, left the hotel to meet the dairy farmers and bring them some hot coffee.

But Trudeau and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay avoided the protesters.

MacAulay, a retired P.E.I. dairy farmer, told The Huffington Post Canada that he had skipped part of caucus Thursday afternoon to meet Daniel Cote, the president of the local union of milk producers, at his farm about 45 minutes away.

MacAulay declined to say what he thought the obstacle was in solving the diafiltered milk dispute.

'There are a number of issues that we inherited'

"Being minister of agriculture and not responsible for the border services agency, I dont think it would be appropriate for me to say how they [the Canadian Border Services Agency] should operate," MacAulay said.

Of course, MacAulay acknowledged, he could talk to his colleague, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, whose domain includes the border services agency, but what the Liberals hope to accomplish is one package for dairy farmers to deal with a number of trade irritants flowing from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the possible Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Advertisement

"All I can tell you is there are a number of issues that we inherited as a government, and we are working with the dairy industry in consultation, and we hope and we expect to have an even stronger dairy industry in this country, and most farmers understand that."

Goodale told HuffPost that he feels for the farmers but that the issue is more complicated than it looks like on the surface. There is an active process, involving a number of different government agencies that have to reconcile the problem.

Im encouraging them to come to a conclusion that is logical and factual as fast as they can.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
Rescue workers in Italy were jubilant Wednesday as they pulled a 10-year-old girl from the wreckage of a massive earthquake.

The 6.2-magnitude quake has left at least 247 people dead and levelled three towns: Pescara del Tronto, Amatrice and Accumoli.

Advertisement

The girl had been trapped upside down for 17 hours in Pescara del Tronto when one person spotted something moving in the ruins of a building, according to Sky News.

"You can hear something under here. Quiet, quiet," one rescue worker said, according to The Associated Press.

The worker then started to encourage her: "Come on, Giulia, come on, Giulia."

The gathered crowd cheered and clapped as she was pulled out, safe in her rescuer's arms.

"Unfortunately, 90 per cent we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here."

A firefighter told Sky the girl was taken to hospital, but there was no other word on her condition.

Italy's health minister told the BBC that many quake victims were children. The broadcaster said there were warnings the death toll could climb.

Advertisement

Hundreds of aftershocks have made rescue efforts more difficult, but one volunteer working in Amatrice told The Associated Press they wouldn't give up.

"Unfortunately, 90 per cent we pull out are dead, but some make it, that's why we are here," Christian Bianchetti said.

Also on HuffPost
After a heinous online attack on comedic actress Leslie Jones, stars are speaking out against online bullying and in support of the "Saturday Night Live" star.

On Wednesday, Jones' personal website was hacked revealing personal information about the "Ghostbusters" star including her passport, drivers license and personal photos believed to have come from her iCloud account.

Advertisement

In July, Internet trolls flooded racist and sexist messages on Jones' Twitter page, forcing her to shut it down. The attacks first started on July 18, days after "Ghostbusters" was released in theatres, International Business Times reports.

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 today...wrong  Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) July 19, 2016

The break didn't last long though, Jones returned to Twitter on July 21. And for the most part, it appeared as though the attackers had disappeared.

Advertisement

Jones has yet to speak out about Wednesday's hack, but that hasn't stopped stars like Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry and Gabourey Sidibe from jumping to her defense.

Read some of the tweets below:

.@Lesdoggg you are beautiful & talented & bring laughter into a world that desperately needs it. You are also my friend & I support you.  Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 25, 2016

Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I #StandWithLeslie   KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 24, 2016

Whoever hacked @Lesdoggg's site needs to be arrested & prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And then some. #LeslieJones  Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) 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

Advertisement

so angry, disgusted and sad about this racist violent assault on leslie.  Aidy Bryant (@aidybryant) August 24, 2016

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

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

I was terrified when I did SNL. Leslie Jones went out of her way to be open, warm, friendly, funny all week. She is a GEM.  Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) August 25, 2016

I have had it with this bully campaigning. Bully's harassing kids, creeps hacking. Enough! America you are grounded until further notice.  Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) August 25, 2016

Advertisement

.@Lesdoggg is better and stronger and funnier and more resilient than you and there is nothing you will ever be able to do about it. Sorry!  Chris Kelly (@imchriskelly) 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

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

Also on HuffPost
Two conjoined twin boys died in Syria Wednesday while waiting for lifesaving heart surgery.

Nawras and Moaz Hashash were born just over a month ago at a hospital in Douma, a town near Damascus, according to the BBC. At the time of their death, they were waiting to leave the country for surgery.

They were joined at the chest and their hearts shared the same sac.

But the hospital in the town, which had been overrun by government forces, couldn't give the boys adequate care. They were moved to a Damascus hospital on August 12.

Advertisement

However, the Syrian American Medical Society said in a Facebook post that the private facility couldn't perform the surgery they needed.

Al-Jazeera reports that the Syrian American Medical Society and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent worked for two weeks to get government permission to move the twins to the capital, where they would be evacuated to another country.

But the government did not respond to the requests to let them leave Syria, according to the outlet.

"As a group of physicians, as humans, we are depressed that even a simple task to assist kids who are having heart disease, and have no contribution whatsoever to what is going on inside Syria, we are depressed that the international community has failed them, failed us," Syrian American Medical Society President Ahmad Tarakji told Al-Jazeera.

Advertisement

A spokeswoman for the Syrian Red Crescent told the Wall Street Journal approval for them to leave was granted Monday, but the newborns' condition started to get worse.

They died of heart failure while waiting for transport to a hospital in Rome, the Red Crescent said in a press released obtained by NPR.

"All formal leave approvals were signed in order to travel," it read.

Offers of help from around the world

The boys also received treatment offers from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, NPR reported.

An advocacy manager at the Syrian American Medical Society blamed the country's foreign ministry, telling the Journal he thought the department wanted the twins treated in a country that had better relations with Syria.

He tweeted a photo mourning their deaths.

Nawras and Moaz passed away this early Morning. The whole world couldn't have the permission to evacuate them. pic.twitter.com/3hJvVa6zSj  Mohamad Katoub (@aboali_majed) August 24, 2016

Advertisement

Tarakji repeated that this isn't the first time delays have led to tragic outcomes.

"Unfortunately, we have seen this over, and over and over in Syria over the last five years. We've seen kids who are dying waiting for evacuation," he told Al-Jazeera.

Also on HuffPost
SAGUENAY, Que.  Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion says he has no interest in being Canada's next ambassador to France, addressing rumours circulating in his department and in Ottawa circles that he will be shuffled out of cabinet in the next year and given a plum diplomatic post.

"Me? I've never heard of the thing," Dion said, looking genuinely bewildered. "I'm very happy to be minister of foreign affairs."

Advertisement

He didn't rule out a future appointment but said he had "never thought at all" about such things.

Stephane Dion speaks at a press conference at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt on May 25, 2016. (Photo: Amr Nabil/AP via CP)

"Being foreign affairs minister of Canada is an immense privilege and a very heavy responsibility that I assume fully and with lots of enthusiasm," he said.

Dion was shuffled out of his position chairing a cabinet committee on climate change this month, leading to more speculation. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office announced changes to the cabinet committee structures. It was noticeable that Dion, a senior minister and former party leader, did not head any cabinet committees related to his portfolio.

Advertisement

Cabinet committees on Canada-U.S. relations, Intelligence and Emergency Management, Defence Procurement, and Canada in the World and Public Security are all led by other ministers, including rookie ministers.

Ex-Tory MP holds prestigious post

Canada's ambassador to France is Lawrence Cannon, a former Conservative cabinet minister. Cannon was appointed to the job four years ago by former prime minister Stephen Harper.

This summer, Trudeau extended Cannon's term by one year, while he dumped other Conservative political appointees in places such as Israel, the United Kingdom and Jordan, where Harper had appointed the former head of his personal security detail, Bruno Saccomani.

Also on HuffPost
CHICOUTIMI, Que.  Poverty is sexist, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau writes in his latest feminist declaration.

In a letter released to the media Wednesday, Trudeau responds to the ONE Campaign that he agrees there is an indisputable link between gender inequality and extreme poverty.

Advertisement

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am writing back to let you know that I wholeheartedly agree: Poverty is Sexist, Trudeau writes, employing a phrase used by the international advocacy group that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease.

Women and girls are less likely to get an education, more likely to be impoverished, and face greater risk of disease and poor health.

I accept your challenge to lead, Trudeau goes on to say. As a feminist, I know that women must be treated equally everywhere. That is why, as one of my first actions as Prime Minister, I named a gender balanced Cabinet. It is my hope that this will set an example for governments around the world.

Advertisement

The prime ministers letter highlights a $785-million contribution towards the Global Fund  which was co-founded by U2 musician Bono. But it is a re-announcement of money previously revealed in May, when Canada declared it would host a donor conference for the fund that aims to end the epidemics of AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

Kevin Spacey, Bono, Justin Trudeau. You can insert your own comment here............. pic.twitter.com/Y4XjrPOow8  Don Warden (@Don_Warden) January 24, 2016

Trudeau and Bono have met several times, including last summer when the singer visited Parliament Hill, and in January when the prime minister was in Davos, Switzerland.

Hosting this summit is a savvy move by a Trudeau government looking to change the tone of Canadas leadership on the world stage, ONEs Canadian campaign director Stuart Hickox said at the time.

The September conference is also an opportunity for Canada to use its new global leverage to encourage other nations to step up as well, he added.

Advertisement

The Global Fund hopes to raise US$13 billion for 2017-2019  enough to save eight million lives and avert 300 million new infections, it says. The meeting in Montreal is the last chance international donors have to announce funding commitments for the next three years.

'No one leader can make this happen alone'

Trudeau describes Canada's contribution as a first step towards a new global policy that prioritizes equal treatment of girls and women.

But no one leader can make this happen alone. Canada can play an important role, but we need other leaders around the world to step up, too, he notes, adding that the campaign must continue to urge world leaders to act.

On the eve of International Womens Day in March, the ONE campaign sent an open letter to world leaders signed by people including media mogul Oprah Winfrey, philanthropist Melinda Gates, actors Tina Fey and Meryl Streep, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, and businesswoman Arianna Huffington, urging them to step up and prove their commitment to fighting gender inequality.

The signatories called on world governments to increase funding to the Nutrition for Growth summit and the Global Fund, as well to support policies that spur female economic empowerment, such as access to electricity, connectivity, education and justice.

Advertisement

So far, the call to action has been signed by more than 206,000 people.

Also on HuffPost
As I describe at my blog, many of the presenters talked of their deep and abiding love of nature (fisheries etc...) and then went on to talk about the evils of American-owned corporations, how Kinder Morgan was not a good corporate actor and that any economic activity that generated a profit was suspect. Much of the "research" presented was from "Googling" a topic or from some "incredible documentary."

There appeared to be no recognition that a deeper understanding of the project could be achieved through the more time-consuming task of actually reading the NEB submission. People scoffed at the idea that an "expert" might have a bit more information than they could obtain through their couple hours of self-directed Internet research. I can't even count how many times I wanted to stand up and explain relatively simple concepts to these well-meaning people.

Advertisement

In my discussions after the presentation I came to recognize that even the leaders of the anti-pipeline forces had little understanding what the project entailed. These activists appear not to have even bothered to read the submissions for the project they oppose.

I can only imagine the panel's frustration at this point. They have to sit there day-after-day listening to people who talk endlessly about their opposition to a project that exists only in the imaginations of their leaders. These people have no clue what the real TMX project entails and instead are fighting a bogeyman created for them, whole cloth, by the activist community. Frankly, I don't know how the panel members keep from screaming "read the NEB submission" at least a dozen times a day?

Online, meanwhile, I keep reading the protestors brag about the unanimity of the presentations at the open houses but I ask a simple question: is there any value in unanimity when that unanimity is based on ignorance?

Advertisement

As a pragmatic environmentalist, I have found this whole process disheartening, not because of the discussions, but because of the absence of intellectual rigour in the discussions. As a supporter of evidence-based decision making, I am tired of sitting idly by as activists make outrageous claims that are either demonstrably wrong or are unsupported by any data. In doing so these activists risk putting human health and the environment at increased risk from spills and accidents. The problem is: I'm really not sure how the supporters of evidence-based decision-making have a chance when confronted by these activists.

The problem with the activist community is that it seems to be made up primarily of well-meaning but non-technically trained individuals. They both don't know the science and many lack the skill-set to interpret the research when it is presented to them. As an example, I repeatedly heard the mantra "diluted bitumen sinks." Yet the truth of the matter is far more nuanced. The current research indicates that diluted bitumen behaves a lot like other crude oils when spilled in a marine environment. Under certain very specific conditions it does indeed sink but in most cases it floats on seawater and actually may be less likely to become entrained in the water column, and be more likely to float, than other crude oils.

The worst thing about these activist organizations is that they are likely slowing down our transition away from fossil fuels. They do so by convincing their low-information followers that the transition to a fossil fuel-free future can be quick, cheap and relatively painless. The truth is that the job is going to be long, hard and expensive. I can't guess how many speakers at the presentation suggested we just switch to renewable energy, as if it was as easy as flipping a light switch.

The activist organizations ignore the massive costs of the endeavour and the need for a healthy economy to fund the transition. They ignore the fact that this transition is going to take us 40 to 50 years and in that time we will continue to need liquid fuels. They ignore the fact that to accomplish this monumental task will require compromise, sacrifice and political will. Instead they tell their followers to never compromise; to fight these projects tooth and nail and to sacrifice allies for the cause.

Well if the actual cause is fighting climate change then they will need all the allies they can get and sacrificing allies for short-term gain is not the way to win that war.

Advertisement

This blog has been updated.
PPAMPicture via Getty Images 'Office skyscraper Reflection in the sunlight. Berlin, Germany'

This week, Canadian physicians are gathering for the annual meeting of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). Often called Canada's "Parliament of Medicine," one of the meeting's strategic sessions is zeroing in on the health consequences of climate change.

Slated to start with a keynote address from Dr. James Orbinski, past president of Doctors Without Borders, it comes at an auspicious time for many Canadians tackling the recent brutal and oppressive heat waves of summer.

Advertisement

It's no secret that cities across the country have been in overdrive, issuing extreme heat warnings, turning libraries into cooling centres and alerting residents to the dangers of heatstroke and exhaustion. Though everyone is vulnerable, socially isolated seniors, racialized minorities, the homeless and those with chronic illnesses, including mental illness, are most at risk.

Extreme heat produces ill health in a number of ways. Nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds, emitted largely in our cities from motor vehicles, are catalyzed in high temperatures into ozone. Known to increase inflammation in the lungs, researchers have shown that for those with asthma, higher levels of ground level ozone are linked to higher emergency department visits and more hospitalizations. For Canadians with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a higher risk of death can be added to that list.

To help mitigate these ill effects on health, doctors wisely recommend seeking shelter in a cool, air-conditioned environment. Ironically, the use of air conditioners for temporary relief can be counter productive in the long run. Drawing power from an energy grid that still relies on carbon-based energy to meet peak demand pumps ever more greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere.

Unfortunately, these climate-related health consequences represent only the tip of the (rapidly melting) iceberg. Thankfully, both the health-care sector and policy makers are starting to take action.

Advertisement

Last year, CMA members directed their organization to divest its financial holdings in fossil fuels. This year, MD Management, a financial services company and subsidiary of the CMA, recently launched one of the few Fossil-Fuel Free mutual funds in Canada.

Just last month, Public Health in Toronto released "Health Benefits of a Low Carbon Future" -- a report zeroing in on the local health benefits of reducing greenhouse gases and the steps needed to achieve them. Though the scope of climate change's problems are large, it's prescription for local action, focused through health, is worth a closer look.

For example, the report lists transportation reform as a low-hanging fruit. Motor vehicles are amongst the worst climate change offenders. Encouraging active transport and alternatives to driving play an important role in changing that.

Building mixed-use neighbourhoods where errands can easily be accomplished without a car is one step in that direction. Cities as diverse as Calgary, Dartmouth and Saanich are using the principles of transit-oriented development' to accomplish this. Comprehensive bike-sharing services, like Montreal's BIXI and the recent aggressive expansion of Bike Share Toronto, are also a step in the right direction.

The old adage of "reduce, reuse, recycle" also still rings true.

In 2015, Vancouver took a major step forward via municipal legislation. Rather than dispose of organics in the trash, the city directs businesses and residents to separate organics, like food scraps, for collection and composting into nutrient-rich compost. This process creates climate-positive biofuels to power engines, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions created by decomposing, land-fill bound scraps.

Advertisement

The Toronto Environmental Alliance is helping its own city catch up. After three years of campaigning, it secured city council's unanimous support for a 3R strategy that embraces a path to zero waste as a long-term goal.

Reducing the impacts on the air, soil and water from waste transportation, processing and disposal is a big win for health.

Climate change is a complex problem, one that touches on so many parts of our lives. It links greenhouse gases with extreme heat, worsens medical conditions like asthma and COPD, and demands we change our approach to transportation and power generation.

Canadians innately understand how their health is linked with these issues. The question remains whether our current pace of change will be enough to match the urgency of the changing climate.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

MORE ON HUFFPOST:

Drone Images Highlight Climate Change See Gallery
BILL HINTON VIA GETTY IMAGES

Earlier this year, a group of cyber criminals targeted two Canadian financial institutions with a hybrid type of malware, GozNym. The first time GozNym was ever seen, it stole millions of dollars from the unnamed Canadian financial institutions along with several U.S. banks.

GozNym is just one example in a long string of pernicious malwares that are in circulation and actively targeting the Canadian financial sector right now. Despite its comparatively strong reputation for security, the financial services industry is still one of the most frequently attacked. And when it comes to reputation, a serious cyber attack can do major damage -- as well as lead to inevitable financial losses.

Advertisement

While external threats, such as the GozNym malware, are what we typically think about when we consider cyber attacks, many organizations fail to pay equal attention to the most common source of cyber threats -- those from within.

A company's own employees and third-party privileged users are reported to be the most likely causes of cyber attacks. Sophisticated cyber criminals often look to benefit from unaware or busy employees who can set a breach in motion with nothing more than an inadvertent click. Further, many employees contravene policies and guidelines deliberately -- mostly without malicious intent, sometimes because they are up to no good.

The scale of an insider threat is made more significant with the rise of social media and the Internet of Things (IoT). In Canada, 76 per cent of people possess a smart phone and 60 per cent say they like to be connected to the Internet at all times -- every single connection is now a potential point of entry. Companies are now installing internet-connected vending machines, coffee machines and light bulbs -- the list goes on. In a hyper-connected world, there are endless opportunities to infiltrate networks or wrongfoot employees into providing access to systems, as well as for legitimate users to instigate vulnerabilities.

Employees are the weakest link

Financial organizations need to understand the gravity of the risk of insider threat -- even if non-malicious in intention. Organized criminals, like the ones who orchestrated the GozNym attack on Canadian financial groups, are pooling their resources and working together in order to infiltrate even more financial organizations. This increased vulnerability has created a huge demand for experienced IT professionals, leading to a lack of talent in the industry, with financial institutions scrambling to fill the gap.

Advertisement

Additionally, with the ever-increasing volumes of data in a digitized financial services industry, it has become humanly impossible to go through all the information to identify potentially harmful threats in a network environment, in real time. This makes it very difficult for a business to have complete visibility of every access point, even with the largest or most talented security teams.

Financial institutions need to remember that IT security is everyone's responsibility in the company. Insider threat, even when non-intentional, can be just as dangerous as targeted, external threats. In fact, it often opens the way for these sophisticated outsiders.

Fighting back with Unsupervised Machine Learning

While the list of potential threats is sobering, the financial services industry can address these risks by incorporating new and advanced strategies like machine learning. Machine learning can help to process and make sense of the never-ending amount of data gathered.

This isn't a new concept to the financial sector -- artificial intelligence (AI) is used in algorithmic trading and credit risk modeling. However, this technology relies on previous information about potential and pre-programmed outcomes. It is considered to be a form of supervised machine learning.

Like traditional security approaches, supervised machine learning suffers from the constraint of requiring past knowledge of known attacks. However, as we saw with GozNym, new forms of threats are being developed every day, and so supervised machine learning and traditional approaches struggle to keep up with this rapidly evolving landscape.

Advertisement

Financial organizations should instead consider incorporating unsupervised machine learning into their cyber security plans. Unsupervised machine learning programs, like Darktrace, are continuously learning and re-modeling, using evolving information instead of relying solely on current information or historical knowledge.

By using a mathematical framework and complex algorithms, the network's daily pattern of life is studied, including every connected device, how devices are communicating, network traffic and employee behaviour online. After the baseline network behaviour is established, unsupervised machine learning can process the surge of data in real time before making logical, probability-based decisions against external and insider threats on behalf of system administrators. This allows for past unidentified threats to be detected.

With so many platforms, connected devices and applications in the financial sector to be compromised, and a constant stream of network traffic, cyber criminals can easily infiltrate a network from various points -- and quickly inflict systemic damage. The threat landscape is constantly evolving. From GozNym or its latest evolution, through to insider threat, financial organizations are more vulnerable than ever.

But by keeping employees informed, and deploying unsupervised machine learning software, which detects threats early in their life cycles, progress can be made to tangibly reduce risk and stop attacks from escalating. The corporate network has become a hidden battlefield -- ignore it at your peril.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

MORE ON HUFFPOST:
When it comes to sexual violence, people with disabilities are often the most vulnerable. Research shows that women with disabilities are three times as likely to be forced into sexual activity (Vecova).

But where are the stories of sexual violence survivors with disabilities?

femifesto spoke with two gender-based violence activists, Jess Reuger and Marianne Park, to get to the root of the issue.

Jess Rueger is a community mobilizer dedicated to ending gender-based violence. Jess began her work with the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, and then obtained a degree in Sociology at Brescia University College. As a queer person with a disability, Jess recognizes the need for an intersectional lens when confronting sexual violence and barriers to access. Jess is now locally organizing with London Ontario's own Women's Events Committee, creating safer and more accessible spaces for women and trans folks.

Advertisement

Marianne M. Park has the distinction of being a woman with a disability (low vision/albinism). She has worked in the violence against women field for 28 years as a court advocate, group facilitate and researcher. She is the founder of the UPI.

Interviewer: What are the challenges you have seen in mainstream media reporting on sexual violence enacted against people with disabilities?

Marianne: "I would like it to be acknowledged that it actually happens to us... People with disabilities in general, but particularly women with disabilities, are 'othered' so much. With the anonymity of the Internet, there's that 'otherness' that impacts us even more. On one hand, technology gives us a forum and a voice, but on the other hand, it marginalizes."

Jess: "What needs to change is for people with disabilities to be acknowledged as human in the first place."

Advertisement

Marianne: "There's also the legacy of residential schools and the legacy of institutionalization. For particularly women with developmental and intellectual disabilities, institutions cast a long shadow, and what was normalized and accepted in that format, we know now is abuse, and we know it was wrong."

Interviewer: How have seen people with disabilities creating consent culture?

Jess: "I watched a documentary on a woman with a physical disability who was an activist advocating for sexual rights of people with disabilities. She went around wearing a T-shirt with a slogan saying 'I am a sexual being.' It was radical because the media infantilizes people with disabilities... She challenged the stereotype of... being un-sexual by wearing that T-shirt. She got negative feedback in the form of disgust; that reaction was evidence of her statement's power, because it challenges the idea of people with disabilities not having agency. Her activist work illuminated her agency and put her in a position of being able to consent to sexual activity, which is something we don't normally acknowledge... People with disabilities have desires and are capable of having desire, and having healthy sexual lives."

Marianne: "People still don't want to acknowledge [disability]. People want to give you the compliment of saying 'I just think he was normal.' 'Normal' is nothing more than a dryer setting and also denying who we are. I know my albinism and my low vision, particularly my albinism, is just part of me. Is it inconvenient at times? Most definitely, but I would not change it. Yet, temporarily-abled people have the idea that we want to be like them, that we want to be 'normal'."

Interviewer: Often survivors are portrayed as white, straight, cisgender, able-bodied women. How can the media avoid minimizing stories about sexual violence against survivors that no not fit this description?

Advertisement

Marianne: "Often [when we are] depicted in media, it is centered around our disabilities, rather than our joys, frustrations, disappointments, grief, love, hate, which is the same as all people. On one hand, it's minimizing, particularly around sexual abuse not being acknowledged. On the other hand, [coverage of sexual violence] is sensationalized, like 'they must be a monster because why would they do that to a woman with a disability.'"

Jess: "I think our focus on disability still needs [to be to] give it visibility. I don't think that there is an excuse for keeping disability invisible. It's not just the characteristics you've described above: the person who's seen as a perfect victim is also virtuous, has a boyfriend and that's the only person she's ever had sex with, has good marks, and is a contributing member of society because she is not limited by disabilities or other debilitating factors. We can challenge this stereotype by [not] painting the perfect victim every time."

Marianne: "For anyone to disclose, there are so many barriers, but for those of us with disabilities, they are incredible... Even if you go through sexual assault centres. My sexual assault centre has not done the work on working with women with disabilities and women who are deaf. They take a cookie cutter approach... At every turn, road blocks are placed in our way to disclosing."

Interviewer: There's been a swell in media coverage of rape culture in recent months. What conversations are you glad to see happening, and what do we still need to address?

Jess: "I'm seeing more awareness about reducing barriers for people with disabilities. One of those barriers was a lack of training for police, but these days police are getting more training, and some of that training is coming from Marianne. On social media, people with disabilities [are] being included in the conversation about street harassment and having their voices heard."

Advertisement

Marianne: "I'm glad to see some things are changing. I can be a bit jaded and say they're not changed, but I want to be part of that change. And even if I don't see that change in my lifetime, then young women such as yourself and Jess, I'm hoping you'll be the beneficiaries of seeing that change and push it further down the road."

This blog is part of a series of interviews femifesto is publishing on media reporting and sexual violence in diverse communities across Canada.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this June 26, 2016, file photo, a woman holds a rainbow flag during the NYC Pride Parade in New York. Young Americans overwhelmingly say they support LGBT rights when it comes to employment, health care and adoption. Thatas according to a new GenForward survey, which finds 92 percent of young adults support HIV and AIDs prevention, 90 percent support equal employment, and 80 percent support LGBT adoption. Across ethnic groups, large majorities of Americans aged 18 to 30 favor training police on transgender issues, government support for LGBT youth organizations and insurance coverage for transgender health issues. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Many conservative Muslim leaders, at least in North America, no longer uphold the death punishment for homosexuality. There are popular speakers who still do so but they are increasingly finding that it is not politically expedient to air such views. Although, they still prescribe permanent celibacy to gay Muslims as a test.

Groups like Muslims for Progressive Values and Universalist Muslims fully affirm LGBT Muslims. However, there are some leaders, outside these circles, who have gone beyond the rhetoric of "the test of permanent celibacy." Muslim community members can learn how five such leaders support LGBT Muslims in their own ways as follows.

Advertisement

1)Rejecting sham marriages

In 2013, Ayman Fadel from Augusta, Georgia wrote a powerful article titled "My Journey from Homophobe to Less Bad of a Human!" The article did not include any hermeneutical gymnastics but simply the reflection of an honest Muslim wading through tradition and modernity.

Fadel argued that sexual orientation is innate and immutable, therefore gay Muslims should not be married against their will. He also expressed how their spouses become victims of such sham marriages.

Many conservative Muslim leaders who view homosexuality as a test from Allah have come to concede this much. Certainly, Muslim community members can at the very least reject sham marriages for the sake of both their gay and straight children.

2)Recognizing that family is family and love is love

In 2013, Omid Safi, a professor in Islamic studies, wrote that his support of same-sex marriage is based on the fact that family is family and love is love. Like Fadel, he did not delve into hermeneutical gymnastics but mentioned his own observations as a Muslim. He expressed how gay parents shower the "same love, affection, and attention on their children" as his own family does and that his children have gay and lesbian friends.

Advertisement

Certainly, Muslim community members can understand that their children are not growing up in vacuum and that they may have gay peers and colleagues. This should enable them to recognize the importance of family and love for their LGBT neighbours.

3)Expressing solidarity with LGBT Muslims

It is one thing to support the LGBT community and quite another to support LGBT Muslims. However, last year, the Grand Mufti of Zambia, Assadullah Mwale, pushed boundaries by supporting Muhsin Hendricks, an openly gay Imam. Mwale mentioned that he is encouraging other Imams to support "Brother Muhsin" for "he needs everyone of us."

Mwale believes that Allah has created people including gays and lesbians the way they are and that "everyone is allowed in Islam and very much welcomed." Like Fadel and Safi, he feels that the solution on Muslim LGBT concerns lies in "interaction" and "sensitization." Indeed, Muslim community members can stand by their LGBT co-religionists, as brothers and sisters in faith, against discrimination and prejudice.

4)Guaranteeing privacy and leniency

In 2013, the late Maher Hathout, founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, mentioned in an interview on the need for compassion towards gay offspring of Muslim parents. Specifically, he asserted that the parallel between a gay and straight person is not accurate for the latter has an option of sexual release through marriage. He acknowledged the tremendous burden on a gay Muslim dealing with permanent celibacy and even stated that, "whatever happens, should happen in privacy," leaving the judgment to God. Indeed, Muslim community members can ensure satr (privacy) and address issues with afw (forgiving mistakes).

Advertisement

5)Breaking the analogy of LGBT Muslim youth with Lot's people

While Hathout's proposal may be helpful in countries with draconian laws, his solution perpetuates the closet and is not feasible for places with legal same-sex unions. Fortunately, in 2012, Mohammad Fadel, a professor of Islamic law, supported same-sex marriage as a civil contract based on the argument of equal access to public benefits. Last year, he pushed further to reflect on the possible accommodation of same-sex relationships in Islam through the argument of necessity and reducing harm. He wrote:

"One might take the view that the homosexuality that the Qur'an condemns is that which is freely chosen and is thus condemned as a kind of sexual excess that knows no restraint. One could interpret the story of Lot in precisely such a way: that a substantial portion of the men in that town preferred same-sex relations over heterosexual relations, even though they were perfectly capable of heterosexual relations."

Certainly, and this maybe the hardest thing to do, Muslim community members can stop equating LGBT Muslim youth with Lot's people. Specifically, they can recognize that the conduct of Lot's people, which comprised of inhospitality (15:70), highway robbery and evil deeds in public assemblies (29:29), threats of eviction (7:82) and forcible access to guests (11:79), does not apply to vulnerable LGBT Muslim youth.

In conclusion, leaders outside progressive Muslim circles have moved beyond the celibacy prescription to address the concerns of their fellow co-religionists. Time may allow them to fully affirm gay Muslims in their own unique ways. Meanwhile, Muslim community members can certainly reject sham marriages, recognize that family is family, express solidarity with LGBT Muslims, guarantee privacy and for the sake of LGBT Muslim youth, push themselves towards a relevant and reasonable understanding of the Qur'an.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

MORE ON HUFFPOST:
Sure, he cites studies, he just contraindicates what the study actually proves. And nothing ticks me off more than this because people believe him just because there is a linked study -- no one ever bothers to check that the study says whatever Whitaker says it does.

Except, of course, the people who do -- the doctors. You know, the people who went to medical school for over a decade. You know, the people actually qualified to understand what all the fancy numbers mean. You know, those people.

And I, for one, rely a lot on what doctors make of medical data and they are the ones most able to refute Whitaker's claims.
in four years . Principal Autumn OBryan congratulated her recently departed seniors, Preparation for the ACT is one of the best things we can do for our students as they make post-secondary plans. The Class of 2016 continues to leave its mark by earning the highest ACT scores in recent years. Combined with a recent release showing large upturns in the schools AP scores, the district is celebrating as well. With 2015/16 state measures starting to come in, Cleveland High School is set to have one of its best years in recent memory. Once graduation rate and EOC/TNReady test results are released in the near future, well see just how good a year it may possibly be, said Michael Kahrs, the districts supervisor of Data & Assessment. Cleveland High Schools average ACT score is up to 19.9, a full point over last years mark and the schools highest composite score. Principal Autumn OBryan congratulated her recently departed seniors, Preparation for the ACT is one of the best things we can do for our students as they make post-secondary plans. The Class of 2016 continues to leave its mark by earning the highest ACT scores in recent years. Combined with a recent release showing large upturns in the schools AP scores, the district is celebrating as well.With 2015/16 state measures starting to come in, Cleveland High School is set to have one of its best years in recent memory. Once graduation rate and EOC/TNReady test results are released in the near future, well see just how good a year it may possibly be, said Michael Kahrs, the districts supervisor of Data & Assessment.

Director of Schools, Dr. Russell Dyer congratulated the entire school system, It is evident that a rigorous curriculum is in place in Cleveland City Schools. Educators in all grades should celebrate this ACT average since it takes a dedicated team from Kindergarten through Senior year to drive these high goals. The future is bright for the City of Cleveland and its public school system."

One of the reasons for Cleveland High Schools success seems to be from its voluntary ACT Blitz program. Students can sign up to attend two Saturday mornings prior to the state-wide ACT testing day; subject area teachers volunteer their time to come in for both an English day as well as a Math/Science day. One of these volunteer teachers is Mrs. Linda Lemons, an English teacher at Cleveland High School. Students came to the Saturday sessions eager to strengthen their skills for ACT. They worked hard, and that hard work paid off, bragged Lemons.

Preparation for the ACT at Cleveland High School isnt just set aside for two Saturdays. Officials say that a healthy dose of ACT content is woven into the schools new CLIMB period where enrichment activities take place for students without a need for remediation in other areas. Sophomores are focusing on ACT English and Reading skills, while Juniors tackle Math and Science during the schools new enrichment initiative.

With the state now ready to count a students best score on the ACT in future averages, schools like Cleveland High School are placing even more emphasis on retake opportunities. Seniors across the state are eligible to sign up for a free ACT retake on Oct. 22, this year. Cleveland High School Counselors are set to take full advantage, going class to class to hand out vouchers and make sure students register online by the deadline. Becky Guthrie, Senior Counselor, is glad to see the state coming on board with something she and her colleagues have promoted their entire careers. We encourage students to take the ACT multiple times, as research shows it usually results in better scores over time. While we celebrate great news like todays release of our state average, ultimately its about the student having more college options and scholarship opportunities that a higher ACT score brings.
flyzone via Getty Images A couple of wooden Muskoka chairs sitting on the dock with a lake and cottages across in the background. Perfect for cottage related applications

As a Brit who's lived in Montreal for 26 years, no season separates me from the herd like summer.

I first came here as a city-bred teen in January '89. When I came out of my hypothermic coma in April, the city was agog with talk of "the chalet." At first, I thought there was just one. A giant timeshare log cabin somewhere in central Canada, but it turns out that nobody knows where that is. No, seriously, that's true. And anyway, as my neurons thawed, I realized that Canadians just drop the possessive when talking about their summer homes. I still don't know why.

And so it was that I spent some 20 odd years trying to fit in during chalet, or elsewhere in Canada, cottage season; although, I would invent a script deadline or a family death whenever someone said: "there might not be enough room inside, so bring a tent just in case."

Advertisement

I would gamely participate in the planning; "A what? A kayak? Like a boat thing? No I don't have one sorry. Oh sure, certainly I can bring a jigsaw puzzle, that sounds fun." The meals; "Corn for 120 people? No problem. I'll just stick the jigsaw on the roof" The route; "Ok, if we leave Friday at 4 a.m. and take the 15N, we should get there by dawn Saturday. Oh yeah, we should have enough time to finish the jigsaw." The sleeping arrangements; "Of course I don't mind sharing the jigsaw table with your cousin. Yes, I'll bring sheets, pillows, a box spring and a sleeping bag." The excitement; "I know, it's gonna be great! No electricity or running water or Wi-Fi for a week! I am going to own that 1,655,000 piece puzzle!"

But to be honest, I never really got into the type of vacation spot that had the word "septic tank" and what and when I was allowed to flush down the toilet in a handwritten welcome note pinned to the fridge.

Until last year. After spending most of my adult life faking the joy, I finally understood the appeal of the chalet. The reasons were manifold I think. It was a particularly spectacular summer, I wasn't working very much (except for that time when I might have had to camp). I was desperate to get my boy off the screen as much as I could. I chalet hopped in some of the best company ever, and lastly but certainly not least, a very generous friend offered me what might be the most peaceful spot I'd set foot on since coming to Canada -- and I was desperately in need of some peace. Suddenly I got it.

And it wasn't just a one-off. We've packed up the car with bedding, bug spray, corn and UNO several times this summer too (I left the jigsaw puzzle somewhere years ago) and I'm developing what I think might be the beginnings of a love affair with The Chalet.

Advertisement

But while my newfound enthusiasm is as genuine as any Canadian's, there are still a few things that give me away as an amateur. Here they are in no particular order:

I am pretty much the only one not swimming in 24 degrees

I still can't find a decent marshmallow roasting stick after dark

The only difference I can see between a kayak and a canoe is in the spelling

Yes, really, honestly despite the billowing smoke from the campfire I am still getting bitten. But good for you that you're not! Yep, still biting...

I sometimes scare myself right out of the lake because sharks, leeches, water snakes, frogs and an episode I made on other lake monsters.

Hummingbirds still freak the f*&k out of me. They are bird/bug hybrids and you cannot convince me otherwise.

I nod sagely when discussing the difference between the Laurentians and the Eastern Townships but really, I don't f^&cking know.

I enjoy wandering the premises but have no heart at all for a "trail." I have never read a tragic wilderness news story where someone wasn't on a trail.

I don't know any of the words to Gordon Lightfoot

I really, really, really hate jigsaw puzzles.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
Lisa called me to get some advice about a colleague named Wendy whom she called a drama queen. (Both names are pseudonyms.) She started pointing out several exchanges and I asked her to just describe the last one.

As Lisa described what happened, she became emotional and declared that the woman hates her and is probably trying to have her lose her job.

Advertisement

She apologized for getting upset but was clearly having difficulty containing herself stating she had been feeling unfairly attacked lately; like things were her fault.

I really wanted to help Lisa and our simple consult was not going to be helpful if she was overwhelmed by her emotions.

Interrupt the dynamic

This conversation needed to move along. So, I asked her where she was sitting. She told me she was on her couch at home. So I asked her to get a chair and sit facing her couch.

Then I asked her to look at the couch as though it's a TV screen and that she is watching the last event being played out. I asked her to describe what happened in a detached, unemotional manner. Clearly, she was still emotional, so I cut her off again and asked her to move the chair away further back until she was no longer emotionally in the scene but just watching it as a curious observer.

Advertisement

I'm not sure how close she was to her couch anymore, but as an outside observer, how she related the event was quite different. The discussion quickly became about Wendy's struggles with her own boss.

"Just the facts ma'am"

Joe Friday had it right. While it's hard and exhausting, helping the other person get to a point where they can be an observer of the facts without being emotionally involved is the key to de-dramatization.

We all have a breaking point when situations drag on. Anyone of us at a different time might be seen as hysterical or overemotional. When we were little, it was called a tantrum or a fit. As we aged, it graduated to "drama queen", "drama king", "angry" or just a plain "difficult person".

Honestly, trying to get someone to think clearly doesn't always work. They have to be ready to break away from their pattern and reframe what is going on.

Being an observer of the facts without emotional involvement is the key to de-dramatization.

True "drama queens" will hate this request

People who are trying to drag you into their dramatizations may not like it when they are asked to stick to the facts. Remind them that you want to help them so it's important to look at facts that have a chance of being controlled or changed. After all, you want them to feel better and be equipped to manage the situation more effectively.

Advertisement

The true "drama queen" doesn't want to feel better. You will recognize them by their overactive imagination. Listen to their descriptions. They sound like they believe they are mind readers.

You will hear them say things like "She thinks 'this and that' about me". Or they proclaim things where don't have any evidence to back their statement up; just a gut feeling. The real test though is the chronic belief that they are victims and nothing can be done to change it.

The best course of action is to remain calm and keep bringing them back to the facts. If they are committed to be a "drama queen/king", and you insist they stick to the facts, they likely will find someone else to talk to instead of you in future.

In Lisa's case, she is not a drama queen, and I suspect, neither is Wendy. For one thing, a drama queen would not have followed my instructions to sit in a chair and visualize the event like Lisa did.

The underlying reason

Anxiety is the fear of what is happening or about to happen. If someone is chronically catastrophizing and expecting the worst, that person is under the influence of their overwhelmed emotions and is very likely suffering from anxiety.

Advertisement

This makes me sad, because anxiety is very treatable but they are often too anxious to even seek treatment. (Stigma is such a problem!) They can't look at the facts because their anxiety and their automatic responses are turned on.

Basically, they are operating out of their dinosaur brain. This is where our self-preservation kicks in and we automatically go into our Fight - Flight - Freeze modes of operation.

When our thinking brain is turned off...

It goes something like this:

You see a bear

It's a black bear and he's coming after you so you grab something and fight back. (Fight)

You see the bear and decide to outrun it. (Flight)

It's a grizzly bear so you play dead. (Freeze)

These are all great automatic reactions: BUT ONLY IF THERE IS A BEAR. Too many of us are in one of these reaction modes without any bears around.

Advertisement

If someone is caught up in their emotions, we need to reacquaint them with their thinking brain.

The way to do this is to redirect them to real facts. By asking someone for hands-on, measurable facts, they may not like the request or be able to go there easily.

Remember, this can happen to anyone, even you. So compassion and patience should be our automatic response as much as possible while firmly redirecting the person to their thinking brain.

So what happened to Lisa?

Once I had her change her physical space, she was able to emotionally distance herself from the event and we were able to have a clarifying conversation. Lisa brought up Wendy's pressures from her own boss and how poorly she was managing it.

This wasn't new information to her, but her own anxiety had grown and turned off her ability to logically think this through or reframe the situation. Suddenly, she didn't feel attacked. In fact she felt sorry for what Wendy must be going through. Now we had something better to work with.

With her own drama reduced, she can do something different. Compassion, empathy and emotional intelligence reside in our thinking brain. For our thinking brain to work well, we need to be able to observe the facts.

Advertisement

We discussed what part of the problem belongs to Wendy and how much of it belongs to Lisa. She decided it was time to have a conversation with Wendy.

We discussed remaining very curious about the factual details and not letting Wendy's fears and emotions guide the conversation.

Since Lisa's original request was about changing Wendy's behaviors, we discussed how to apply my simple 4 step script on how to "Ask for What You Want" while highlighting the importance of making it a two way dialogue.

Basically, in a nutshell, this is the breakdown of our conversation:

Be aware of our own drama playing in our head and calm our dinosaur brain Observe and reframe the other person's experience Decide what part of the problem we are willing to own or that belongs to us (to set boundaries) Plan out how to have a conversation in a compassionate manner using my cheat sheet

What do you find works when you are faced with a drama queen? And if you've figured it out for hormonal teenage girls, don't keep that one to yourself! You'll be rich! ;)

Advertisement
shutterstock fashion show

Calling all fashion designers, bloggers, enthusiasts and those who just simply support us fashion heads. As we all know the big nation in which we reside in, once had many fashion outlets for up and coming fashion designers known as fashion week. Fashion week was found in the four major cities in Canada; Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver (along with Western Canada fashion week and Atlantic fashion week).

In 2013, Montreal said goodbye to its fashion week. In 2014, Ottawa did the same, and now a little over a month ago, Toronto has officially followed suit. How much longer are we going to wait for Vancouver to shut down their respective fashion week? But more importantly, how much longer are we going to allow our Canadian fashion industry to continue collapsing?

Advertisement

Canadian fashion designers may be one of the most devalued and unsupported workers in this country. From unpromising support, small market (something we can't control unfortunately) and an unestablished industry. If we as Canadian fashion enthusiasts would like to put an end to this misfortune and fight for the rights of our careers and industry, it is time we put our foot down. Too many of us are taking this industry too lightly and as a hobby - fashion is not to be taken lightly.

Fashion is an art, fashion is culture, fashion is an identity, fashion is a multi-million dollar business around the world - fashion is what many need in order to survive. We need to start educating ourselves on the history of this industry and seeing how the four fashion capitals (New York, London, Milan and Paris) came to be and save our industry.

As a school of Journalism and Communications major who has never taken a course in international business, there's not much I can discuss in terms of the business side of this industry. But I can certainly discuss the history and logistics of the industry -- something that I've been hoping to get across to all my fellow fashion enthusiasts. First thing's first -- our industry will NOT move forward and I repeat will NEVER move forward without a fashion council in place.

For those of you who are not sure of what a fashion council is, it is the hub that governs the entire body of the fashion industry in major fashion countries. In the United States there's the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), in England there's BFC (British Fashion Council), in Italy there's Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and in France there is the Federation Francaise des Coturiers. Each of these councils hold a very important role for the fashion industry of each nation -- the fashion council is what governs the industry, promotes it and nourishes its up and coming generation.

Advertisement

Along with being the founder of fashion week (known as Press Week back in 1943) Eleanor Lamber was also the founder of the successful and prominent CFDA. Created during a time when American fashion designers, just like Canadians, had little to no opportunities. The CFDA is now what defends and protects the rights of the American fashion industry and its workers.

What are some of the benefits of having a council? First and foremost it is our God-given right as an industry, to have a council/sector just like any other industry. Fashion councils are also for non-profit organizations, that are funded by the federal government yearly.

With the council being for non-profit that allows businesses and corporations the ability to sponsor more fashion outlets and events, due to all of our mediums being owned by the council. Which is one of the main reasons, things such as Toronto fashion week and many other fashion weeks did not survive here in Canada.

Canada did once have a Canadian fashion council, it was started by Robin Kay who was also the founder of Toronto fashion week. In 2012 Robin Kay then sold Toronto fashion week, to American production company IMG -- due to the big production standards that IMG holds and the lack of funding Toronto fashion week was receiving, IMG pulled the plug on Toronto fashion week.

It is my understanding that the federal government has no interest in supporting the fashion industry financially. But if we put forth the right action plan, come together as one Canadian fashion industry (not as the Toronto fashion scene, Montreal fashion, Vancouver fashion scene etc.) and fight for our right to be creative and successful right here at home, I strongly believe that we could possibly see some change come into place.

Advertisement

Enough whining about people not caring or the government not providing funds -- we need to take matters into our own hands and show society that this is what most of us need in order to survive and this time we are not backing out easily. Panel discussions, social media posts, petitions and spreading awareness is what we need to do and most importantly uniting as one is the only way we can rebuild our industry and start off on a clean slate.
Darren Calabrese/CP

On Oct. 19, 2015, 39 per cent of Canadians who voted, voted Liberal, electing Justin Trudeau and the Liberals to government. In a matter of weeks they will have been in office a full year. Many remain concerned with the odd priorities of the current government: I have yet to meet a Canadian who has raised electoral reform or legalization of pot as their top priorities. Nor has the massive deficit spending or the repeal of sound economic policy such as pension reform and First Nations financial transparency received a ringing endorsement. Governing is more than the undoing of previous policy and an endless string of photo-ops or selfies. Yet setting its own agenda is the government's prerogative, and time will tell.

An area in urgent need of attention, however, is the continuing mishandling of judicial appointments and the government's astonishing neglect of Atlantic Canada, where I am proud to be from.

Advertisement

In almost a year, the government has appointed just over a dozen judges to fill the 44 (and growing) vacancies. It says it is working on creating a new, more accountable system. Of course, there is always room for improvement. There is no harm in seeking a better model. But claims of greater transparency won't matter if the process doesn't result in new judges.

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.

Even the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada is calling for the appointment of judges from the existing model, drawing from a list vetted by a non-partisan panel to fill the void. This process, used for almost 30 years, resulted in what the prime minister himself has described as a judiciary respected and admired around the world. So why change it?

It seems the government has launched a PR effort to create something that will look like a fix for something that may not even be broken. There is a cost to this. Judicial vacancies must be filled in a timely fashion. The failure to do so now has senior judges in many courts, Justice Ministry officials and constitutional experts concerned that courts may not be able to meet their constitutional obligation to give trial dates within a reasonable time. A recent Supreme Court decision underscores how these delays have dire consequences. The inevitable result of these vacancies is less access to justice and more criminals walking free, potentially endangering the public.

Advertisement

This national failure was compounded when Trudeau and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announced that the vacancy created by the imminent retirement of Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell may not be filled by a person from Atlantic Canada. 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. One could only imagine the outrage in Ontario, Quebec or the West if this were to happen. Firstly, 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.

The Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. Photo by Getty Images.

It's also a funny way to treat a region that started the "red wave" that gave the government its majority. The Liberals hold all 32 federal seats and all four provincial governments in Atlantic Canada. One would think some gratitude might result. Yet like the whittling away of the shipbuilding contracts in Nova Scotia and the decision to make an Ontarian the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the latest slight over a Supreme Court seat has been accepted with barely a whisper.

Some Liberal premiers have offered passive comments in support of an Atlantic Canadian on the top court. There have been tame murmurings from the Canadian Bar Association. But no one has called out the prime minister for what this is -- spit in our eye.

It would appear the government is committed to the importance of diversity by appointing persons who are ethnically diverse and bilingual. This is a laudable goal. When I was in government, we were proud to appoint in our region judges of Acadian, Metis and Asian descent. There were many others in other parts of Canada, all highly capable jurists. But there should also be emphasis on regional diversity, which has been historically important, given the rich cultural fabric the provinces brought into Confederation and the traditions that are still visible in the day-to-day lives of Atlantic Canadians.

Advertisement

The inclusion in the Supreme Court of Canada of a jurist drawn from these traditions and experiences helps preserve national cohesion. It ensures that the court will benefit from deep knowledge of the unique economic, social, legal and historical aspects of life in a part of the country that helped found the Canada we know. It's the ultimate irony -- a whole region seems set to be denied representation in the name of "greater diversity."

We are being taken for granted and ignored as a friendly backwater.

As a former federal minister, I can appreciate the need for fluency in both official languages, yet that does not mean that Canadians who are not proficient in both official languages are unsuited for office or the judiciary. Modern technology is sufficient to allow judges and others to do their work while acquiring proficiency in these languages. I have no doubt that many Canadians could point to some of the best judges and even politicians in our history who were not fluent in both French and English, including current members of the Supreme Court. To automatically disqualify all Canadians from those offices based simply on how many languages they speak is to deny Canadians the opportunity of have the most qualified and capable people considered for those positions.

The ultimate goal remains, as it must, quality and legal excellence above all else.The Supreme Court is too important to have the government conduct a social science experiment.

There are, of course, a great many bilingual jurists in Atlantic Canada who could be expected to serve their country with distinction, if selected. With the Trudeau government's hammerlock on all political power in the region, one would think it would warrant enormous influence. Yet the opposite seems to be true. We are being taken for granted and ignored as a friendly backwater. It's time for Atlantic Canadians, whatever their partisan affiliation, to stand up and make themselves heard. It may take courage to say so, but photo-ops aren't enough. We need representation from a government that takes Atlantic Canada seriously.

A version of this op-ed was first published on National Post.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

Advertisement
evgenyatamanenko via Getty Images happy child playing pilot aviator and dreams outdoors in autumn

Summer is a unique time of the year filled with sun, warm weather, outdoor activities and lots of cold beverages. We are now into the middle of August which reminds us that fall is fast approaching so we must start thinking about preparing for a new season. This means that the time is coming to prepare your outdoor living space for the fall.

The fall means colder and wetter weather but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy your outdoor living space but just in a different way.

Advertisement

"We specialize in helping to build the outdoor living space of your dreams, even in the fall," said XMT construction owner Adam Clark. Clark insists that even though we are approaching the end of the summer season it doesn't mean people can't enjoy their outdoor spaces.

"We do live on the West Coast after all so our summer goes longer and we have the mildest winters in Canada. You still have time to enjoy your outdoor living space,"said Clark.

Consider the below the top 7 tips on preparing your deck for the fall.

Be sure to take a few minutes with your partner/family to make a decision on how you would like to use the space. Perhaps on mild days you could use it with a heater to enjoy a hot cup of coffee while reading or appreciating your property. You could also decide to shut-down the space for the winter months.

Advertisement

No matter what your decision is on how you would like to use this space, be sure to properly prepare it. The Trex composite decks that XMT builds with are made of a blend of 95% recycled wood and plastic so the majority of the product is made with recycled material. This type of deck also needs significantly less maintenance than typical wood finished decks. Therefore, the preparation involved leading up to the winter months is less.

You've got to make sure that you inspect the hardware and replace bolts and other items that need are no longer up to par. Also, look out for sections where the wood finish, whether it be stain or paint, is failing. If you have a wood deck has been stained or painted, seal it with a water-repellent sealer. Get a sealer that does not need to be reapplied each year.

Advertisement

Throughout the months before next summer make sure that you clear the deck of leaves and other items. By keeping it clean, it helps make it look nice throughout the months but also makes the job of making it ready next summer easier.

Weather experts are suggesting that Canada, including Vancouver, will likely have a horribly cold winter ahead. During these months you don't want your pipes to freeze and create major issues for your home. Never use a power washer to clean your wooden deck as it will ruin the finish. . A real cleaning will remove gray surface wood, rust, dirt, algae, fungus and that layer of invisible stuff that prevents stain or paint from adhering to the wood.

Vancouver is extremely fortunate to enjoy mild and often sunny winter days so don't forget to enjoy your outdoor living space on those days. Sometimes February and March can see summer-like days so go out and enjoy some coffee with your loved one on the deck.

Advertisement

Make sure you think and ponder about the dream outdoor living space that you would like to create for next summer. Now is the time to think about it.

If you need some help for some ideas for your deck, be sure to check out XMT Construction's Pinterest Page here for some fantastic ideas.

The above are just a few considerations for you about maintaining your deck all year round. Also start thinking now about the kind of dream outdoor living space that you would like to create for next summer.

Advertisement

Professionals like XMT Construction are happy to work with you before the spring. "We know that building a deck can be a stressful project so let a company like ours worry about it for you. We can help you build the finest dream deck," concluded XMT construction owner Adam Clark.
tomorca via Getty Images Friends toasting with beer.

Though summer (and patio season) is soon coming to an end, there's no reason to exchange a cold brew for eggnog just yet. From full-bodied ales to refreshing lagers, craft beer has evolved from a fad to its own market. Whether you're in North America or across the pond, you're bound to find variations of a "cold one." Here are the top seven destinations in the world we recommend to grab a pint in, so you can become a true beer connoisseur.

1) Dublin, Ireland

Advertisement

This may be stating the obvious, but Dublin is known for some of the finest craft beer pubs in the world. With over 60 craft breweries operating in Ireland, Dublin offers more than just a typical Guinness. In addition to the must-see Guinness storehouse, there are pub crawls and the Irish craft beer festival. Let's not forget about those delicious beer and pub food pairings found in the city.

2) Portland, Oregon

Known as the artisan-beer mecca, Portland has more breweries than any other place in North America. The city offers over 100 beer-related festivals, brew 'n' view movie theatres, beer bus tours and the biggest outdoor beer party on the continent (Yes, you read that right). Since Portland leads the U.S. in percentage of craft beer sales, it's the best American city to fuel your brew needs.

3) Montreal, Quebec

Advertisement

As one of the largest cultural centres in the world, Montreal offers a unique, non-traditional range of beers. While you'll find the Quebec capital's breweries infuse both European and North American influences, it's the ales made with cranberries or maple syrup that contribute to a Canadian identity. You won't want to miss a chance to stop by the first brewery in North America -- the Molson Brewery, founded in 1786. Montreal's craft beer tours not only provide one-of-a-kind beer tastings, but a historic and cultural experience of la belle province.

4) Munich, Germany

How could we mention the best places to grab a pint without including the home of Oktoberfest? Munich's famous 16-day festival dedicated to all things beer not only serves up to 1.5 million gallons of the favoured alcoholic brew, but it brings in millions of tourists every year. Served according to German standards with four sole ingredients (barley, hops, malt and yeast), Oktoberfest beer may have you feeling happy a lot sooner, as it tends to be significantly stronger. In other words, put on your favourite dirndl or lederhosen (the classic Oktoberfest costumes) and get ready to drink in the name of Bavarian culture.

5) Denver, Colorado

Although Denver has become synonymous with mass American beer manufacturer Coors, the city is also known for its range of microbreweries. In fact, there are 15 microbreweries in downtown Denver alone, including two of the biggest in the entire country. It's no wonder why the Great American Beer Festival, which holds the record for the most beers on tap, has been held in Denver for the past 30 years. This leaves us asking, is it called the Mile High City because of its elevation above sea level or because of its elevation of beer choices?

Advertisement

6) Tokyo, Japan

While most would limit Japanese beer to the internationally-sold brand Sapporo, created in 1886, 200 microbreweries (also known as Ji Birus) have since emerged. Beer remains the drink of choice in Japan - which is why you can find your favourite ales 24 hours a day at convenience stores and in vending machines (who needs soda?). Take a trip to the Sapporo beer museum or hit up the local Izakaya (pub) to experience Tokyo's vibrant beer culture. Just remember: Japanese etiquette states that one should never waste beer.

7) Mexico City, Mexico

While you can find Mexican beer favourites, such as Corona, all over the world, Mexico only exports a few - which means you're missing out on a whole lot of cerveza. Light-bodied and crisp, Mexican beer tends to be served cold under the hot sun. Add in lime juice, and you have a michelada - a refreshing beer cocktail. Whether you're relaxing at the beach or watching the luche libre (Mexican wrestling) at the Arena Mexico, try a traditional Mexican pilsner, such as the Bohemia. As one of the finest beers in the world, you'll be saying "otra cerveza por favor!"

With the help of travelcuts, you can soon be en route to the best beer in the world. And if you really want to show off your brew knowledge, record your hunt for the ultimate pint on film and enter travelcuts' travel docs film fest by September 15th. With a chance of winning $5,000 in travel, you can go on a new hunt - this time, for the best red wine.

Advertisement
It has been one year since South Sudan signed a peace deal to end 20-months of conflict in the world's newest country. But with renewed violent clashes in July and mass internal displacement, long-term peace and stability remains uncertain. These South Sudanese children share what peace means to them.

Photo: Steph Glinski/World Vision

"Peace, to me, means love. My mother loves me very much. If all people loved, there would be peace. My family had to flee from my village because there was fighting. Here in the camp we have peace and I can play with my friends. I'm also going to school for the first time where I get to learn how to read and write. During my breaks, I play skipping rope with my friends. To me, this is peace.

Advertisement

We live in a tent now and not in a house anymore, but it's fine for me, because I have my family with me and a school I can attend." - Nyatap, eight years old.

Photo: Steph Glinski/World Vision

"I came to live at the PoC (protection of civilian site) two years ago, when it wasn't possible to live in my village any longer. We were woken up by fighting one night and had to run away. We left everything behind. I don't remember much of it anymore and don't want to think about it. We are safe here, and to me, peace means safety. I feel safe now, but sometimes I'm scared that new fighting will break out again." - Choul-Baping, eight years old.

Advertisement

Photo: Steph Glinski/World Vision

"I miss my home. Because of the fighting, all the schools in my village were closed and I came here to attend classes. I like that I can go to school, but I wish I could be with my parents. Many people were killed in my home and I am scared because my family is still there. I'm so far away now. I don't hear from my old friends anymore and rarely speak to my family. I have a good life here, but if the fighting stopped everywhere, maybe we could have a school in my village and I could return home." - Nhial, 10 years old.

Photo: Steph Glinski/World Vision

"My sister and I fled Malakal when fighting broke out earlier this year, and the two of us now live here in Juba. My mother is still in my village, but we don't know where my father is. I miss my parents and life here is hard. There are thousands of people here and I don't know most of them. It was very different in my village. I knew everyone and I didn't have to be scared. To me, peace is trust, not hatred. In South Sudan, many people don't trust each other and that can lead to hatred. I wish we could have more trust and more peace." - Nagal, 11 years old.

Photo: Steph Glinski/World Vision

"Peace to me means having a good life and not lacking anything. Right now, I don't have this. I arrived in Juba after a long journey from Unity in 2015. My brother and I came here together and we now run our own household. My parents are far away and I wish my family could be united again. Life is difficult." - David, 14 years old.

Advertisement

You can help support children and families affected by conflict in South Sudan, and others living in some of the world's most dangerous places. Become a Raw Hope supporter with World Vision today.

Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
Today this year's GCSE results were unveiled.

It really doesn't surprise me that research from City & Guilds this week has shown that young people are not even aware of the breadth of careers they can pursue. City & Guilds say it's a postcode lottery, career guidance quality differs depending on where you live. Their report also highlights the lack of aspiration in some areas of the country, why is this?

I remember when I was in school and told my careers advisor when I was aged 16 that I wanted to run my own business. She looked at me blankly and said, 'Oh, I don't think you can do that. That's only for those people on Dragon's Den. How about becoming a teacher?'

Young people need to be aware of all the options this results day, not just the college and university route. Already statistics have shown that the value of higher education may be in question. So why do we keep pushing young people down this path? We need careers advisors who have actually had careers and teachers who have actually had professional experience to be in our classrooms.

Advertisement

On this year's A-Level results day, I jointly launched an open letter to Skills Minister Robert Halfon with my colleague and fellow entrepreneur Jordan Swain.

The former education secretary and GCSEs founder has stated that University degrees do not necessarily equate to better job prospects and recent research suggests only 30% of graduates in the UK feel they are getting value for money from their courses.

Young people need to be inspired to try out alternative career options and that status quo of school, college, university needs to be broken. Full letter below.

Dear Mr Halfon,

We think career pathways for young people need an overhaul. We are getting worried about the amount of pressure put on students to pass exams and succeed through the traditional educational system through University in order to get a job and prosper.

Advertisement

There are other alternatives such as vocational training, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and social action.

Whilst the government is working in a programmatic way to strengthen such areas, young people still lack the social mobility and guidance to help them consider their careers carefully.

The former UK education secretary has stated that traditional degrees do not necessarily guarantee job success and I agree.

Both myself and my colleague Jordan Swain, a US based entrepreneur, are teaming up to design a movement which encourages young people to think in enterprising and creative ways about creating impact and indeed long term prosperity for themselves and their careers. The opportunity ahead of us transcends cultural barriers, beyond Britain or America. We are at a point in time where the exponential technologies available to us, such as the internet and information technology, will galvanize change unlike anything we've ever seen.

Cultivating entrepreneurial and creative thought leaders truly offers a paradigm shift in which the next generation can be empowered to mobility, economic development, and longterm wealth building, not only for themselves, but for their communities.

Advertisement

This issue is not unique to the UK, but I think we have a real opportunity in the wake of Brexit to start leading and equip the next generation with cutting edge careers which can withstand the difficult environment into which they will grow up in.

Will you join us in this quest for better careers education?

Sincerely,

Adam Bradford, social entrepreneur and Queen's Young Leader
Stringer . / Reuters

- We are the French Police! We're going to stop those terrorist attacks once and for all!

- Oh, thank goodness! How are you going to do that?

- At the beach!

- What?

- Yes! At the beach! We're going to make Muslim women strip in public, so that they stop supporting Isis by covering up their arms!

- Wait, what? You're going to make -- women -- strip?? Is it done by a female police officer?

- No we prefer to use like three or four armed, male officers per woman.

- This is at gunpoint?!

- No no. We just HAVE our guns. You know, on our belts. That way when we stand around her there's like, a perimeter fence of dicks and weaponry at eye level. Anyway they won't be assault rifles, they'll just be handguns. Oh and we'll have batons. And stab vests.

Advertisement

- That sounds like a lot of clothing for the beach.

- ...

- So how much clothing do you make them take off?

- Well, the mayor said they have to look like women with good morals.

- The mayor said women have to dress like they have good morals? Is he French? What do women with good morals look like?

- Kind of, white and naked I think.

- What about nuns?

- Nuns are different!

- Why, because they're Christian?

- Well, nuns are good, you know? Nuns are fine.

- So you wouldn't force a nun to strip.

- Of course not, come on, have some respect.

- Ok. So, once the Muslim women are naked enough to look like they have good morals, is that it?

- Yeah! They just have to be naked enough.

- To stop Isis attacking again.

- Yeah.

- Have many of the Isis attacks in France involved women in Islamic dress?

- Well no. Actually none of the Isis attacks in Europe have been committed by women at all.

- Huh.

- But you know, when they dress like that, it looks shifty. People don't feel safe at the beach when they can't see a woman's body. She might be hiding something.

- Like her body?

- Exactly.

- So what does your mother wear to the beach?

- Oh God! A kaftan! I don't want her wobbling around in a bikini!

- And your dad?
Consumers International and its Members are calling on KFC, McDonald's and Subway to take meat raised on antibiotics important for human medicine off their menus globally.

At the beginning of this month McDonald's USA announced that it had achieved its goal, of serving only chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine, eight months ahead of schedule. The announcement came in the run up to a UN High Level meeting on anti-microbial resistance, taking place in New York on 21st September.

Because of overuse, resistance to existing antibiotics is rising at alarming levels, and there is a dearth of new drugs being brought to market. Without antibiotics that work, infections, small cuts and minor surgeries could once again become killers.

Advertisement

Left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance (the collective term for resistance to all kinds of antimicrobial drugs, of which bacterial resistance to antibiotics is the most pressing) will kill 10 million a year by 2050 - more than cancer. It is already killing 700,000 a year. We are on the brink of what Professor Dame Sally Davies, UK Chief Medical Officer has called an antibiotic apocalypse.

Despite these dire warnings, animals destined to end up in our burgers, sausages and nuggets are being pumped full of antibiotics. In many cases, rather than being used to treat sick animals, antibiotics are being used to make them grow faster or to prevent the cramped unsanitary conditions they are kept in from making them sick. The more we use antibiotics, the more bacteria develop resistance to them.

There is strong consensus that measures to limit the use of antibiotics in farming should be a first port of call for the world's decision makers. The use of antibiotics in farm animals exceeds use in humans in many countries and globally is believed to be more than 50% of use. In the USA, more than 70% of antibiotics use is agricultural. Furthermore the use of antibiotics in farming is set to increase by two thirds from by 2030: from 63,200 tons in 2010, to 105,600 tons in 2030. The rise is driven by our monumental and growing global meat consumption.

So what has McDonalds actually done and will it make any difference? McDonald's has ended the use of antibiotics listed as critically important for human medicine by the World Health Organization in its poultry supply in the USA and has pledged to do the same in Canada.

Advertisement

In taking this action, McDonald's has gone further than some other chains in the USA. KFC, which has a larger number of restaurants in the USA than any other chicken chain and is the second highest in sales has not gone as far. It has said it will stop using just a handful of highest priority critically important antibiotics from the WHO list. KFC is under increasing pressure to go further. Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, (also subsidiaries of the Yum! Brands) have recently committed to serving chicken to its US customers raised without any of the antibiotics from the full WHO list. On 9 August, Yum! investors filed a shareholder resolution calling for KFC to follow suit.

On the other hand, there are chains in the USA that have gone further than McDonald's. Whereas McDonalds has only taken this action for the chicken it serves, Subway has committed to using chicken, turkey, beef, and pork raised without any antibiotics. In a report from a coalition of consumer and environmental groups last year Chipotle, Panera and Chick-Fil-A, were given A and B grades for their antibiotic policies whereas McDonald's was given a C.

The fact remains however, that these global chains are failing to make the same commitments outside of the USA. Whilst it is commendable that McDonald's has acted in the USA and Canada, where around 43% of its branches are located, it has not committed to act on pork or beef and has not made the same commitment on chicken in other parts of the world. McDonald's in Europe has said that it will stop the use of some important antibiotics in the chicken it serves, but fails to go as far as McDonald in the USA and McDonald in Canada. KFC and Subway have yet to make announcements anywhere outside of North America.

Of course we welcome any progress in this area and we don't suggest that the sole power to prevent an antibiotic apocalypse rests entirely with a few fast food chains - but these are significant players and can lead the way. When world leaders meet at the UN in September we will need strong, concerted, action on all fronts; including reducing use of antibiotics in human health and animal health and tackling the development of new drugs.

Given the scale of the global public health crisis the world is facing now due to antibiotic resistance, making partial commitments is simply not an option. There is no plan B.

Advertisement

KFC, McDonald's and Subway can and must go further. As awareness of the threat we are facing grows among consumers and politicians, they will be left with little choice. Far better to commit now, to work to set the standard for their industry globally, than be forced to catch up later.
By Order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered Tuesday, the law license of Matthew Jack Fitzharris was transferred to disability inactive status for an indefinite period of time pursuant to Section 27.3 of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9.

Mr. Fitzharris cannot practice law while on disability inactive status.

Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28.1, the Order transferring Mr. Fitzharris to disability inactive status is effective upon entry.

Mr. Fitzharris may petition for removal of disability inactive status pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 27.7.






Women are under pressure to be perfect. We receive constant bombardment from the media and society, stating that we need to be the perfect size. Men aren't under the same types of pressure as we are.

While portraying models with washboard stomachs and sexy figures, so many magazines criticise women if they put on weight - putting red rings around their body parts, body-shaming them... It's shocking!

Magazines suggest that we should be perfect lovers; amazing girlfriends, wives and mothers; have a perfect figure; have wonderful careers. In fact, we should be superwomen. This is impossible to live up to. It's a fantasy, an impossible ideal. When some women feel they are failing to reach the dizzy heights of this impossible fantasy, it can - and often does - lead to stress and depression.

Advertisement

I'm not sure when the penny dropped - maybe through the maturing of my own life. But I realised that being happy in my own skin was perfectly okay. My place in the world as a woman was just fine, thanks!

So, I would never be cast as a Bond girl - so what? Maybe, just maybe, I like being an intelligent, focussed woman, living life without worrying about my image. But I am sick of endless columns in newspapers and magazines, trying to shame women into conforming to images produced by photo-shopping and visits to well-known plastic surgeons. It's not good.

It's no coincidence that more and more ordinary women are turning to plastic surgery, often saving up or taking out loans to achieve what is deemed to be a supermodel figure. Some women become indebted, trying to create a celebrity look.

And still, this non-stop parade of body-shaming of women continues on a daily basis in today's celeb-obsessed media, driving doubt into how women see themselves in reality.

Advertisement

Wearing my magazine editor's hat, I'm acutely aware of the signals the media gives out to women. Consequently, I work closely with the picture editors to present women on the covers who represent diversity - in ethnicity, size, shape, and age. I'm very much aware of my responsibilities as a member of the media, so I take a keen interest in the issues that we choose to feature in our women's title, and who appears on the covers. I want to show women you could easily pass in the street, who sit next to you on public transport, who shop at the same shops as you. I want ordinary women represented on the covers.

In a recent survey by Holland and Barrett - The Good Life - a study of 2,000 adults, they found that women are more likely to struggle under pressure, since one in five admit to finding it hard to handle stress. This is hardly surprising, given the day-to-day pressures of life - but when this is coupled with the added stress of our celebrity-obsessed culture dictating how we should look, sound and feel, as women - living up to these expectations becomes overwhelming.

I have a male friend who once complained to me that his partner still had her baby-weight a few months after giving birth. He seemed surprised and disappointed that she had not retained her size 10 figure - unlike, as he pointed out, a certain celebrity.

My answer was: "Does your partner have a PR team focused on positioning her and raising her profile? Someone photo-shopping her image? A personal trainer? A chef? A nanny to take care of the baby while she devotes herself to sculpting her body?"

"No!" my friend answered, warily.

"Well, what are you talking about?" I said.

"Yes, you're right," he admitted, with a nervous laugh.

Dear female celebs - I understand that your image is honed by skilled agents, PR, management, but please stop pretending that losing your baby-weight was a breeze, or that your relationship is perfect.

Advertisement

Stop telling ordinary women that "You, too, can achieve this superwoman status."

The celeb in question has probably not even done this. Of course, they want to look great! They are living a lie to sell products, backed by agents, skilled marketers, image editors and photo re-touchers. Or, as Meghan Trainor asserted, their image has been manipulated against their wishes.

Sitting in a restaurant in my northern town, filing copy while sipping coffee between assignments, I overheard two men (no James Bonds themselves), commenting negatively about a full-figured woman wearing hot pants.

"She shouldn't come out dressed like that! She should cover-up," they said. "You wouldn't see her in [a celeb mag]," they sneered.

No, she would probably not be appearing in a celeb mag, sadly. But maybe the mag is wrong - not her. It should include real women; fuller-figured women; ethnic women; all types of women - all types of shapes. Make 'normal' the norm, so young girls can feel empowered, instead of trying to compete with airbrushed images, caricatures of superwomen and made-up lives.

Learn to love the body you're in and don't feel guilty about not fitting into a model-obsessed society that pushes women to all look a certain way.

Advertisement

As women, we need to learn to look in the mirror and love the person looking back. Stretchmarks, body-hair, cellulite, warts and all.

We, as women, are sassy and intelligent - with skill sets and, most importantly, life experience.
The nearest I've ever been to Mummy Wars was two of us reaching for the last sachet of tartar sauce at fish and chip lunch after playgroup one week. Obviously, we both backed down, and after a lot of, "no you have it", "no you were there first", "no really you have it", someone else lent in and picked it up leaving us both fuming with impotent self righteous, now we'll have to make do with salad cream, rage.

Mothers don't sit at playgroup on opposing sides of the room breasts and bottles primed and ready for battle. We sit together, older, younger, glam, scruffy, pondering sleep deprivation and potty training, lamenting election results, discussing schools or plotting occasional child free nights out. Some of us breastfeed, some bottle feed, some spoon feed infants from jars of mush and others delight in baby lead weaning. We don't sit in judgement over one another, we listen to and learn from each other.

So, in support of all mums and our thriving families, a few shocking truths.

Shocking truth number one, women do support other women (whatever you've read in the tabloids). The confidence I've gained from, and absolute respect for other women, since having my daughter has been a joyful revelation to me, we so can multi task!

Advertisement

Shocking truth number two, it's rare that women get criticised for breastfeeding in public. I had one comment about nursing (and one about wielding a bottle of formula), and other than that was offered hot drinks, a comfy chair, cake, chocolate and if I wanted it access to a quiet room. Once I'd got over the first time, I found it empowering, the idea of nurturing another person whenever and wherever she needed it, and necessary, the baby's needs come before other sensibilities.

Shocking truth number three is serious, in the UK some 81% of women start breastfeeding at birth only 1% breastfeed exclusively in line with WHO and UNICEF recommendations at 6 months (only 34% nurse at all at 6 months), most give up during the first four weeks. This does need to change. The benefits of breastfeeding are well documented and undisputed, for mother and child, and the issue of post natal depression being more prevalent in women who wanted to breastfeed but were unable to is very real. We need to get to the bottom of what causes this massive drop off and understand the reasons why.

I put myself under pressure to breastfeed, it was hard, incredibly hard (tongue tie, nose tube, poor latch, mastitis etc), but we combination fed, we both cried (a lot), we persisted, we got there. I consider us fortunate. I asked for, and was given, help time and time again.

Advertisement

Photo author's own

Shocking truth number four is also very real, there is a huge amount pressure (social and professional) on breastfeeding mothers to turn to formula, "you look so tired", "putting her on formula would get her to sleep better", "let someone else feed her" and so on from well meaning friends and family, and from health professionals. I was advised to stop breastfeeding completely and switch to formula by a health visitor at 4 1/2 months when my daughter wasn't sticking exactly to the centile growth curve (advice I stressed about, subsequently ignored, and of course she's absolutely fine). Trust your body and your baby, and ask for help if you need it.

Photo credit: Paul Clarke Photography

The key issue is that Mums need knowledgeable calm support (and to know that help is available and where), to start, establish and continue breastfeeding. We also need support if we're are unable to or make an informed choice not to breastfeed. While phone helplines are great, it's the face to face support and advice that makes the difference, and increasingly (back to women being nice to each other again) peer to peer support Mums get from many online forums.

I want my daughter to grow up in a society that doesn't send mothers to war over bottles and breasts, but one that celebrates families and encourages them to support each other, and gives us the courage to look for and find support when we need it... and despite the many column inches dedicated to making people think otherwise, in reality, I think she is.

You can do your bit (however you were fed or you feed your child)! Raise your children with an understanding that breastfeeding is perfectly normal and not to be sniggered at or shamed. Don't hide breastfeeding mothers under napkins, or make them feel self conscious, enjoy their joyful brelfies, and also help bottle feeding mums if they need boiled water or their lid has rolled out of reach under the table (I remember almost toppling off a chair trying to reach one and not drop my baby). Smile, offer a glass of water or better still chocolate and say something encouraging, mothers will welcome it.

Advertisement

Bugger the Mummy Wars. Be nice, eh, we all want our families to flourish and thrive!

Ellie Stoneley's first book MilkyMoments won the Children's Book of the Year in the People's Book Prize 2015/16, and is published by Pinter and Martin, http://www.pinterandmartin.com/milky-moments.html.

Follow on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MilkyMomentsBook.

World Breastfeeding Week runs from 1st - 7th August.
CAVATAIO VINCE/GETTY IMAGES

From an outside perspective, our family seems very normal - my husband, Andrew, is a plumber by trade and we live with our two children in Devon. However, despite his background, Andrew's life and job is surfing and his success has helped him become a Red Bull athlete. His infatuation with big wave surfing means that he can leave us to go and catch a wave anywhere in the world at any moment and be absent for days or even weeks on end, regardless of what is going on in our life and family. Many people may view this as a selfish act; an abandonment of those who depend on him to chase his - at times, very risky! - personal goals. To us, though, it's just a way of life and his passion is something that I feel is important to pass on to our children.

Advertisement

Since meeting Andrew six years ago through mutual friends, our family has blossomed into one filled with love and support. We have two children, Honey, eight, and Ace, four. Of course Andrew's job has an impact on the way we go about things, but I have such a good support network around me to help me deal with the day to day tasks, which I'm hugely grateful for. Living in Croyde, Devon has its benefits, as we live really close to my mum, sister, brother and lots of friends, so there is always someone to call on if I need a hand.

However, the unpredictable nature of his job does have a big impact on our lives. Andrew tends to go away a lot and his plans can be constantly changing right up until the very last minute. He could be absent from home for a few days to a few weeks and we never know for sure when he leaves how long it'll be until he is home, it really depends. But this is something that we have got used to and adjusted to cope with the spontaneity.

It's also something that our children have grown up with so they don't know any different. I don't believe that it has had any negative impact on either Honey or Ace because they know exactly what Andrew does and are extremely proud of him. We give them the chance to watch his documentaries so they can see what he's been up to and feel part of the journey he's been on. Andrew also regularly goes along to their school to give motivational talks and gets involved in activities with the children, which they love.

Advertisement

I don't personally surf, but I do pursue my own interests and, from that perspective, I completely understand his enormous passion. His drive and focus is what keeps him going and we know that whenever he goes away, whether it is for a few days or a few weeks, he'll always be back to make up for lost time. In reality, we're just like any other family where one parent has to have time away with work. It's just that ours involves a little bit more risk and adventure.

Christmas and birthdays are times that have been affected by his absence but, funnily enough, Andrew doesn't really enjoy those sorts of things anyway! For example, he wasn't around for Ace's birthday this year as he was in Mexico, but he made it up to him when he came back home. We make the most of the every day, rather than pinning family celebrations on certain days of the year which I think is a healthy approach to life.

I do worry about him, as it isn't just the surfing that involves risk, it's also the long hours of travelling and late nights of driving from place to place when he's tired. It is an incredibly high impact job from all sides, but Andrew and I are very like-minded. We both make the most of what is best for us and do the things that we love, which I think makes us good role models for our children.

We don't always get left behind either! Every October Andrew, the kids and I head off to Nazare, Portugal where we meet up with friends and get to see everything kicking off for the big wave season. Andrew and I went there on our honeymoon, so it's a placed filled with lots of great memories. We also go away as a family on surf trips at least 3 times a year and will be going to France, Portugal and Hawaii in the next six months.

Advertisement

Overall, Andrew and I have the same outlook in that you should never stand in the way of someone following their heart and their dreams and I think that's a powerful and inspirational message to pass onto our children. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have a passion for something or a really strong focus, and even though there are sacrifices that have to be made, they're always worth it. Our family set-up may not be conventional and our values slightly different from other parents, but we make it work and that's the most important thing.

Beneath the Surface is available now via the Red Bull TV app and website

This summer The Huffington Post UK is spearheading an initiative helping families thrive, with a focus on parent wellbeing, the challenges facing stay-at-home and working parents, friendships and navigating the landscape of modern parenting beyond the 2.4. To kickstart the campaign, Jamie Oliver guest edited the site, bringing a focus on feeding healthy families.
Filmography/PixelPoint London

On Friday 12th August 2016 the World Youth Organization set out to London Waterloo Station to perform a flash mob, in aid of International Youth Day. And what a success we made it!

After months of planning, we successfully completed the performance. Something which surprised me the most was the amount of on-lookers we had. A crowd gathered around the performance space while members of the public took pictures and filmed the occasion. My heart was racing so fast, my lips were bone dry, but wow what a feeling, to be performing at Britain's biggest and busiest train station, it was breathtaking.

Advertisement

Without the dedication of our dancers we wouldn't have made it such a success. We had a total of 14 dancers taking part from across London. While rehearsals for the performance were intense, looking back on them, I believe we nailed it on that aspect. To organise something on this scale was a first for me, but I am so happy that I never gave up on it.

I caught up with Chinelo Chizea (who performed in the flash mob) to see how she found the experience,

"Working with the World Youth Organization was an absolute privilege because I was given the opportunity to work with some very inspiring people and the environment was very welcoming and exciting!"

"I enjoyed the end result because all our Hard Work and endless rehearsals paid off! The choreography was brilliant and after the actual performance at Waterloo Station, I felt a very strong urge to do it over and over again."

"International Youth Day is considered to be an important event because as youths we deserve to be celebrated for our hard work and for simply being youths. As a young person, we should be encouraged to do better and achieve greater things in life because we are worth it!"

Photography/Ieuan Berry

After briefly speaking with dancer, Rebecca Letchford ex-student at Abbs Cross Academy and Art's College she said,

"I thought it was a great experience! I loved meeting new people and creating new friends. It was especially social during rehearsals because everyone got on so well! The World Youth Organization really does give young people a voice."

The backing track for the performance was named 'Wild Things' [by Alessia Cara], to signify freedom, youth and energy.

Advertisement
We've all had blood tests, and now we can take a DNA test to evaluate our health.

This new technology uses blood and saliva samples to measure genetic markers and biomarkers, including hormone and vitamin levels. Doctors can then isolate imbalances and underlying causes allowing them to apply a specific treatment program that go in-line with a patients unique DNA roadmap.

The difference between a blood test and this DNA test is that it integrates the genetics of a person, and the results give doctors an incredibly accurate tool to calculate how much medicine to recommend. The doctors and the patient can choose whether to incorporate pharmaceutical, supplements and or nutraceuticals. Blood tests aren't as detailed or as individualized. Individualization is a way of the future and is proving to have successful results. We have witnessed that works for one person, does not work for another. No human body is exactly alike and therefore this technology has emerged to ensure an individualized process. When blood analysis is hooked up with genetics, everyone gets extremely individualized results.

Science has been used to our advantage for centuries including DNA experimentations that have been used by researchers as a molecular tool to explore physical laws and theories, such as the theory of elasticity, the ergodic theorem, and now to solve patient's ongoing health impediments. Typically, a patient would want to have this test taken if they're experiencing consistent suffering, low energy, brain fog, and/or they're having difficulty losing weight, often due to stress. These are factors that typical doctors do not treat because the person is still within 'normal limits' shown by a simple blood test.

Advertisement

Integrated Genetic Solutions (IGS) in partnership with Empire City Labs is the leader in this form of testing and explains that testing our DNA gives far more accurate results then just a regular blood test because we all have different DNA mutations.

DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, a material present in living organisms as the main constituent of genes, and a carrier of genetic information. DNA was first isolated in 1869 by Friedrich Miescher. Then in 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick identified its molecular structure by whose model-building efforts were guided by X-ray diffraction data obtained by Rosalind Franklin. The unique material properties of DNA have made it an attractive molecule for material scientists and engineers. These are notable advances in the field of DNA and testing has been fundamental in the development of many scientific fields.

IGS founder Jonathan Orban used this technology to heal his body. After being in the Special Forces as a field surgeon, he became an athlete until a car hit him and had some major damage done to his body, which obviously required some extreme restorative attention. What followed were significant therapy exercises and an interest in what drives body chemistry and a partnership with a Medical Doctor. He wanted to know what are the primary drivers of body chemistry and how do we get people to where they need to be.

Patrick Fratellone, MD has been practicing Functional Medicine in New York for the past 25 years and is among one of the thirty doctors in the United States to incorporate IGS with his patients. "Many people are taking multiple drugs to help with their health issues, but are unaware they are taking some unnecessary things and may have even been overprescribed. Some their body may even be rejecting. We don't need to be putting "fillers" into our body just 'because'. If we don't need them we shouldn't take them and especially if our body is not absorbing them," said Dr Fratellone.

Advertisement

Scientists are also discovering genetic defects when an individual has been intoxicated with heavy metals, and are not able to detox, which leads to chronic disease like heart disease and Parkinson's. The driving principle of this IGS DNA test is to look at all of this. Following the initial IGS consultation, a customized wellness program is developed to balance the patient's unique body chemistry, and their tailored program can be custom-compounded, often reducing a complex list of ingredients into a few simple capsules. Quarterly follow-up tests provide measurable metrics and allows programs to be adjusted as the patient's body chemistry recovers. This technology can provide us the difference in accuracy we may have been looking for.

Brian C. Moraes, D.O. Internal Medicine Associates explains "This is the breakthrough in medicine that I have been waiting for. For the first time in my medical career, I am able to fine-tune even my healthiest patients and offer them a personalized prescription for optimal health. The IGS platform takes into account the multitude of variables that makes each person unique. No other test available today comes close to achieving the level of detail provided by IGS. Just as impressive is the relatively low cost to the patient." This DNA test is covered by insurance just like other tests performed by medical doctors.

DNA testing can also help with that frustrating belly fat around the middle section which Dr Fratellone says is "Due to cortisol levels from stress, and a lot of foods and supplements actually cause that." Most weight loss programs are not customized to ones specific genetic makeup; therefore most programs don't work for all patients. With laboratory certified DNA and blood testing, IGS doctors are able to find the right balance of hormones, vitamins, nutrition and exercise to bring patients to their unique optimal levels - making weight loss a lot easier.

A blood test will give us results and show if we are "within" normal limits, but does not provide as intricate details about our genes. For example after a blood test the doctor might say to you, do more Vitamin D, more protein, more iron etc but what the DNA test does is say exactly how much Vitamin D, how much supplements you need for your hormones, your tester one levels are at 200 you should be at 700 and here is how to get to that, etc. This also accounts for current lifestyle factors that a person may be going through that include elevated stress and divorce for example, instead of shooting from the hip giving dozens of calculations.

The patients who have tried this are already reporting more energy, weight loss, less mental fog and general wellness. It is giving doctors a new architecture platform to provide patient's results of where they are and can more accurately show them - this is where you need to be.

Advertisement

With all the emerging technology it's advantageous to be informed of what is new and actually working to help our health. IGS is the first company in the USA to capture both blood and DNA and base recommendations off that. We are witnessing an important time in history right. IGS was the cover story of MTHFR.Net in July on March 16, 2006.
A staggering 14 million UK residents are active on Instagram every single month, proof that our social media obsession shows no signs of slowing down. With 'super celebrities' such as Kim Kardashian West sharing their lives through social media, we feel closer than ever to our favourite celebrities.

Social media has also opened up countless opportunities for business too, particularly in the fashion and beauty industries. Scrolling through a newsfeed you can see hundreds of posts about inspirational money makers who claim to have made their fortune entirely through social network marketing. Here at The Mint Clinic we are able to instantly upload before and after pictures showcasing our work, and also network with fellow practitioners anywhere in the world... all in a single click!

Instagram, in particular, boasts thousands of fashion and beauty shops - where you can instantly snap up the latest designer inspired dress that you have just seen your favourite TOWIE babe post on her account.

Advertisement

But with celebrities and beauty bloggers posting seemingly everything they eat, drink and wear - could this new insight into their lives actually be compromising the safety of consumers?

Take Kylie Jenner for example - she was at the centre of a media whirlwind when she finally admitted that her lips were not the product of simply 'over lining' her pout, but were actually the result of injectable dermal filler. A year has passed since her confession, and lip augmentation with dermal fillers is now the third most requested treatment in the aesthetics industry. This is not coincidental, with countless girls inspired by Kylie's look to try the treatment.

So this is great for the aesthetics industry, right? Well perhaps in some ways, but it's important for professionals like me to tread with caution. With increased popularity comes an influx of underqualified (often unscrupulous) people happy to take advantage of the young girls requesting this treatment. There are lots of potential risks associated with cheap product, poor policies and protocols and sometimes even sharing syringes with multiple clients. A poor result isn't the worst case scenario, as a lack of health and safety processes could even lead to blood borne infections such as HIV being passed on.

Somewhat controversially it seems, I am of the opinion that only medically trained professionals should be carrying out aesthetic procedures and that safety should be paramount in everything that we do within aesthetics. With this in mind, it saddens me to see reality stars endorsing anyone who is not medically trained to carry out procedures such as lip filler. More responsibility needs to be placed on these people who have an influence on what we do to educate the public and help them make informed choices about medically based aesthetic procedures.

Advertisement

The issue of responsibility and safety isn't exclusive to the aesthetics industry. Take for example the recent trend of beauty bloggers trying a make-up hack in which children's crayons are used as eyeliner. Safe for your eyes? I don't think so!
nullplus via Getty Images

Summer is almost coming to an end but the hysteria and fixation surrounding Muslim women's attire is set to persist until the end of time. By now, there have already been thousands of tweets, Facebook posts and many articles on the debacle that unfolded on a Nice beach earlier this week, where armed police men surrounded a Muslim women and coerced her into forfeiting her right to feel comfortable in public. This Muslim beachgoer's attire presented such a threat to the French state that she was made to undress in the presence of hundreds of other sunbathers whilst her daughter wept, clearly frightened and intimidated by France's intolerance presented in the form of baton and pepper spray holding police men.

A bit of background information to enlighten readers about the frenzy surrounding the full-body swimsuit. Fifteen towns in France have banned this piece of clothing known as the "burkini" citing public order and security concerns, as it is believed that "beach attire that ostentatiously displays a religious affiliation whilst France and places of worship are the target of terrorist acts is likely to create risks to public order." Does this mean wetsuits will also become forbidden as many have alluded to the fact that the "burkini" is really not that dissimilar to it? To also throw another spanner in the works the "burkini" is essentially a long-sleeve shirt, leggings/trousers and a head covering made out of the material a wetsuit is made from, now I very much doubt the Mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard will call for French citizens to forgo their entire wardrobe now would he?

Advertisement

Everyone who truly espouses and advocates liberty, freedom of choice and self-determination has exhibited their fury at the image of the "burkini" police chastening the Muslim woman who dared to go sunbathe in the beach. Most have articulated the view that French authorities have illustrated their disregard for the values they so proudly laud themselves for. How is forcing a women to undress in public in line with French and western values of democracy and freedom of expression?

However there are two elements that have irked me most in the aftermath of the ban and since those nefarious images emerged online. They've been seldom alluded to in this ongoing flurry of "to dress or not to dress".

The deafening silence of white and French feminists brings into question their earnestness to advance and campaign for the rights of all women. Where are all those feminists who are amongst the first to take their clothes off in protest when brown men tell women how to dress. I was expecting French feminists to take to the beaches in "burkinis" and declare to the authorities that the patrolling and criminalising of a woman's body will not be tolerated in a "liberal" society. Why is it considered liberation when white men impose their chauvinism on women and oppression when the former do so? The duplicity is scandalous.

Advertisement

My final point and perhaps the most despondent aspect in all this, is stripping a Muslim women of her right to belong and identify with the place in which she resides. Home is where one is allowed to flourish through expressing themselves, this expression gives them a place in society but by denying anyone that right not just women, under the guise of maintaining state security is to tell them they are on the periphery of society, a mere onlooker who by choosing to go for a swim in modest attire is somehow pledging allegiance to a terrorist organisation.
DanHenson1 via Getty Images

Anjem Choudary, like many other imprisoned extremists and terrorists, is fortunately no longer able to exert the same influence on society. Rightly however, many have raised concerns over his potential influence on other inmates whilst in prison. Can prisons effectively challenge extremist perspectives, or do they incubate and encourage them to spread? How should we deal those who, like Choudary, are able to persuade and recruit individuals towards an extremist, and in some cases violent, mindset?

The British prison system currently deals with high-security terrorism convicts by sending them to dispersal prisons. These prisoners are distributed around six maximum security dispersal jails, and are regularly transferred from one to another. This is done to prevent them from establishing close relationships with other inmates, with the aim of decreasing the likelihood of radicalisation.

Advertisement

Increased fear over the proliferation of extremist literature, narratives and ideologies in prisons has led the former head of the National Counter Terrorism Office, Chris Phillips, to issue a warning over the expansion of Islamism in the current UK prison system.

In 2006, De Schie prison in Rotterdam created a special Terrorism unit concealed in the prison's top floor. Here, prisoners deemed capable of radicalising others were kept in an isolated unit. On reviewing this system, the UK is now planning to develop isolation units that segregate extremist leaders from the rest of the prison population. Although at face value this seems an effective way of curtailing the spread of radicalisation, it does not challenge those in confinement that already hold extreme views. Simply segregating extremist leaders may also have unintended consequences, allowing extremist groups to strengthen their hierarchical structures and organisational capacity.

In order to investigate how different prisons deal with the issue of radicalisation, Professor Peter R. Neumann at The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) conducted an extensive review of radicalisation in prisons across 15 different countries. He concludes that in prioritising security concerns over the potential to reform and re-integrate radicalised individuals, a valuable opportunity is overlooked to utilise innovative de-radicalisation approaches with extremist prisoners.

Shane Bryans, an ex-prison governor and criminal justice expert has rightly pointed out that although de-radicalisation programmes are currently operating on a small scale, they are the most effective when used in a "safe, secure and well managed custodial setting in which the human rights of prisoners are respected."

Advertisement

Furthermore, lawyer Andre Seebregts has argued that the Dutch system is counter-productive, finding that many prisoners he spoke to in these units had little to no interest of re-integrating with Dutch society. Published by The Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, The Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders highlights the importance of contextualising, analysing and examining each individual case in order to appropriately assess how to tackle their extremist ideology.

The ICSR's findings point towards a need to expand effective de-radicalisation and re-integration programmes. This would maximise prisons' potential as secure centres for reform and de-radicalisation. Combining de-radicalisation initiatives with specialist units for extremist prisoners can result in a more well-rounded solution: one where prevention and de-radicalisation can occur alongside each other. Furthermore, as Neumann notes, approaches must be contextualised within each social group, as there cannot be one universal approach to tackle radicalisation in prisons.

Proponents of extremist narratives have innovated in their recruitment style, approach and methodology and we should do the same. Choudary was able to tap into the hearts and minds of people who felt disengaged with society, aided and abetted by the platform provided to him by the media. This must not be allowed to occur during his incarceration.

Although there can be no universal strategy that is applicable to every different form of extremism, prisons need improvement. Isolation may be an effective way of preventing radicalisation, but it does not solve the root of the problem - the disengagement with society that leads people to become vulnerable to these toxic narratives.
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa enforced through legislation by the National Party, the ruling party from 1948 to 1994. Under apartheid, the rights, associations, and movements of the majority black inhabitants and other ethnic groups were curtailed, and white minority rule was maintained. Non-white South Africans were forced out of their homes into segregated neighbourhoods, were deprived of their citizenship and political representation. As could be expected, apartheid sparked significant internal resistance, violence, and a long arms and trade embargo by the global community.

Racial segregation had existed in South Africa since colonial times under both the Dutch and British but it was not until 1948 that apartheid existed as an officially structured policy. Rising tensions between white and non-white communities gave rise to the National Party, standing on a policy of apartheid with a set of draconian rules designed to assert white dominance. However, a majority of white South Africans did not vote for the National Party in 1948. In fact, only 37% voted for their vision of a divided South African society. Despite receiving fewer votes than the United Party, the National Party won most of the seats because of the distorting effect of the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system.

Advertisement

South Africa's broken voting system (the same one we still use in the UK) gave them a government that did not have majority support and ultimately gave them a racist system of oppression that lasted for over 40 years.

Over the next 10 general elections in South Africa, the pro-apartheid National Party won a majority every single time, sometimes with upwards of 80% of the seats, despite receiving less than 50% three times and never getting more than 65% of the vote. Their dominance in parliament allowed them to entrench apartheid segregation and consolidate power.

Advertisement

FPTP means that elections are decided by a small minority of voters, sometimes with disastrous results. Because parties can achieve a majority of the seats with a minority of the votes, there is no check on their power and they are free to rule entirely as they please, rather than in the interests of the majority. FPTP distorts the will of the people and hands political power to a small minority of swing voters in marginal constituencies.

In the 1990s, partly due to international pressure and partly due to internal violence, apartheid became untenable and reforms began to be negotiated to bring it to an end. Non-white South Africans were given the vote, First Past the Post was replaced with Proportional Representation and in 1994, South Africa had its first free elections. Nelson Mandela's African National Congress won 63% of the votes and thus 63% of the seats.

If South Africa had a proportional voting system in 1948, the National Party would not have won the election and instigated apartheid. Even if they had won the most votes, under a proportional system they would've been forced to work with other parties and make compromises; this would've helped prevent the hardline racist policies they pursued.
Andrew Benge via Getty Images

Writing an album is a strange thing. In the first instance you're never really sure you are writing an album as the mechanics of making the record are often beyond your own control. In the second instance there's no certainty that a song which closely follows on from another will necessarily make sense eventually when the scythe of mastering final tracks come into play. Each song has to work within its own limits and these limits are pretty well curtailed to two and a half minutes of lyric and music.

What is constant is the backdrop. When I was writing the songs that became Raintown I wasn't aware of any deadline and was only writing up against my own experience of life in Glasgow. Work, rain, home were constants and that nagging idea of home and how resonant that word was for so many people in so many places weighed heavily on me. The problem about making any record is that a song will come along which breaks up the narrative and bears very little relation to the theme you may well have been pursuing. Do you allow yourself to explore this new branch or do you continue scurrying up the same tree?

Advertisement

Most often there is no set theme but simply a background of life which can't be ignored. In beginning to write 'Believers' it was impossible not to be affected by the constant news images of people from Syria desperately trying to flee the war by boat. Turning on the web, the radio or watching the TV made it very difficult to ignore those risking everything to cross the Mediterranean Sea. My daughter had lived in Syria for 6 months in 2009 and another daughter and I went out to Damascus to visit her there in the November of that year. Remembering the kindness and hospitality of the people who had looked after us I found it hard to imagine what these families were experiencing.

What amazed me was that despite the insurmountable dangers and odds stacked against them so many people packed up what they had and set out on the sea knowing only about what they were leaving and almost nothing of the future other than the desperate search for a safe haven. Our responses were probably broadly similar: How could they risk so much? How could they not? Why are we not doing more to help? Like a number of people here we tried to get involved in some small way as it felt the only decent human thing to do.

However, what I couldn't get out of my mind in song after song was the image of the orange dinghies being thrown around on a perilous sea and people simply trusting in someone - anyone - to save them. Leaving the reasons for the conflict aside and notwithstanding the gulf in their experience to my own I think I understood why some of this happened.

When everything has been weighed up and assessed there will always be a moment when we discard so much of what our intellect is telling us and allow ourselves to follow faith. Malcolm Gladwell has described it as the 'blink' moment where we make momentous decisions in a relatively short space of time. In recent times we've had referendums over Europe and Scotland where, to be fair, a good proportion of people on both sides have probably followed their hearts over their heads.

Advertisement

I was taken with this idea in the song The Believers. I realised I was commenting about the people on either side of the news footage. Sure, those poor people forced to flee were certainly 'believers' who had staked their future on the thinnest of chances. But what kind of people were we? It seemed to me, and I asked myself this question at the end of the song, that we could be fearful, myopic and perhaps less than human if we chose to see all this as simply a problem. Wasn't there a good reason for us too to be 'believers?' Not in a political idea or a religious faith but in the one thing it's possible to change: ourselves.

Thinking back to that first record I kept thinking about the resonance of that idea of home. It's an idea more than a place and all of us are trying to find it. To misunderstand that search or try to build walls and defences in the way of that search is to distort that very idea. Our response to those out on the sea can only be made when we remember where we have all travelled from oursleves. It's taken some of us longer than others but all of us are looking to for safe places to live and grow old. In his recent biography AA Gill concluded, 'We are all in the same boat, all refugees from the past trying to find a home.'

It seems to me too that for humanity to survive we all too must trust the stranger. The alternatives are too awful to contemplate. And so, the song ends:

you wake up one morning

there's nothing you can do about it now

you know you're on one side or the other
Center for Creative Arts student LaJeromeny Brown is headed to study in New York City. An 11th grade CCA dance major, he spent five weeks this past summer at the prestigious summer dance intensive at the School of American Ballet (the affiliate school of the acclaimed New York City Ballet).

When he auditioned in Atlanta last February for the summer program, he was one of only a few students offered a full merit scholarship to the summer program on the spot. During his time in the summer program, LaJeromeny was offered a place in the year round training program of the ballet school, again at full scholarship.

He will complete his junior and senior year of high school training at the School of American Ballet to become a professional dancer, while attending the Professional Childrens School (on full scholarship) in order to earn his high school diploma.

Alumni of Professional Childrens School include such luminaries of dance, music, and theater as Savion Glover, Gelsey Kirkland, Marvin Hamlisch, Yo-Yo Ma, Sandra Dee, Carrie Fisher and Malcolm Jamal-Warner, to name a few.

To young LaJeromeny, dance has been a focus of his life since elementary school. He knew that it was time to take that passion seriously when he began thinking of middle school.

I had a hard time with name calling, causing me to remind myself that I was not a normal kid, says LaJeromeny. Constantly, I was thinking that I couldn't be myself at any other school, because I wasn't into sports. Center for Creative Arts opened me up to a whole new world and set of experiences. I was exposed to so much more than what I already knew. I was challenged artistically, but also academically. It is amazing how much I've grown since the 6th grade. I became more mature because of the discipline that ballet requires. I've gotten mentally and physically stronger. I have learned responsibility and so much more."

CCA also introduced him to one of the schools community cultural partners, Ballet Tennessee. Throughout his time at CCA, he has spent his days focusing on dance technique along with academic work, then adding evening and weekend classes at Ballet Tennessee.

As Artistic Director, Anna Van Cura says of him, LaJeromeny Browns gifts are many; talent in the truest sense, facility for classical ballet, motivation and a most generous spirit. The opportunity to continue his study of dance at School of American Ballet, a world-class organization, is a gift that he accepts with humility and commitment. I am convinced that he is following his dream. We will miss him bringing sensitive performances to Chattanooga audiences. He knows he is well loved and supported by the whole dance community from Chattanooga. 





Both the CCA community and the local dance community look forward to hearing of this young mans future accomplishments, and one day seeing him on New York stages.




If there's a smell that will always remind me of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it is that of burning plastic. In front of homes, on the sides of hectic streets, people are getting rid of their rubbish by setting fire to great piles of it. With no other form of waste disposal available, this is their only option.

Through gaps in the crowds, I can see puddles of standing, dirty water. It will only get worse when the rainy season hits any day now. In summary, this is the perfect environment for a mosquito-borne disease to spread.

I am in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC, a city of more than 10 million inhabitants. And a city that is facing a giant threat: Yellow Fever.

Advertisement

The country's first cases of the deadly disease were detected earlier this year and the virus has since found its way to the capital, where large-scale transmission is a looming risk.

Luckily, there is a highly effective vaccine - but about 7 million people in Kinshasa alone have never been vaccinated.

I am here with Save the Children, supporting a government-run mass vaccination campaign - one of the largest ever in Africa - against Yellow Fever.

The Ministry of Health wants to vaccinate virtually every person in the city in just 10 days. Save the Children is helping in a suburb called Binza Ozone, where 340.000 are being vaccinated. That's 96% of the population. As the Ministry of Health puts it: 'Vacciner c'est aimer' ('to vaccinate is to love').

Advertisement

We've reached more than 300,000 people already. Outside every vaccination site I have visited so far, people have been queuing from the early morning hours to get their shot.

They have seen Yellow Fever outbreaks before. They know how the virus causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and has people shaking with peaks of fever. They know that in severe cases, it can turn their eyes and skin yellow; it can even lead to bleeding from the eyes and mouth. And they know there is no reliable cure for Yellow Fever. On average, one in every ten people who catch the disease will die.

For those 7 million people who are believed to be unprotected in Kinshasa, the outlook is scary. That's why people start queuing up for jabs at 7am - and sometimes revert to creative methods to get their turn.

One boy I met a couple of days ago came to a vaccination site, claiming he was sick with Yellow Fever. The local doctor only needed a quick look to know that the child was actually in the best of health. He had simply tried to jump the queue. He 'recovered' in seconds when it was suggested that he be placed in quarantine.

Despite the enormous effort of the DRC's health ministry, an incredible challenge remains: a global shortage of the vaccine. Vials can take more than a year to produce, and that is far too long to wait.

Advertisement

To bridge the gap, people receive smaller, so-called 'fractionalised' doses. This means they are given one fifth of a normal dose each, enough to protect them for at least a year. This will at least allow some time for global production to pick up speed.

The number of people at risk, the shortage of vaccine and the urgency of taking action create a working environment that can reasonably be described as extremely challenging. That's where Save the Children's Emergency Health Unit - a team made up of doctors, nurses and other experts - comes into the picture.

We make sure vaccines are kept cold from the moment they leave a central storage point until they reach the vaccination sites. We also make sure the medical waste is safely disposed of. These activities seem trivial. They are anything but that, in a country where temperatures soar above 30 Celsius and where roadside ditches and waste disposal sites are considered the same thing.

It's the complex and often unglamorous details that are key to halting the spread of Yellow Fever, to bringing this outbreak under control and to protecting Kinshasa's population - and its children.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Over the last decade we have made important inroads to improve the food on offer to our children during the school day, all thanks to Jamie Oliver and then the School Food Plan by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent. Whilst there is a lot of work left to do to ensure the School Food Plan's recommendations are fully implemented, there is still one frontier where there has been a dearth in policy: child holiday hunger.

As Chair of the APPG on School Food, child holiday hunger has been an area I have championed for a number of years now. But, sadly, I have been met with the argument that once the school gates lock for the school holidays, it is none of our business about how a child eats, or doesn't in some cases.

Advertisement

However, recent research by SCHOOLS NorthEast found 14% of children in England rely upon a free school meal during term time, rising to 18% in the North East - making it the free school meal capital of England. Some of those children will still have access to food during the school holidays, but for many of them, there is no shadow of a doubt that they will have little, or no, access to healthy food over the holidays.

Evidence backs this concern when a study by Kelloggs last year found that a third of parents had skipped a meal so that their kids could eat during the holidays and 39% of teachers reporting that pupils in their schools did not get enough food over the school holidays. Families are struggling during the holidays and what is needed now is a plan from the Government to address child holiday hunger.

There is support out there, mainly from community groups, volunteer groups and church groups. A report published by the Holiday Hunger Task Group, a group set up by the APPG on School Food, published a report last November which highlighted best practice across the country and shone a light on the will out there to address the issue of food poverty in our communities.

The action by these groups is admirable and I thank each and every one of them for helping feed and enrich the lives of children this summer. Still, it is deeply shameful that when children are going hungry here in the UK that our Government is continually dragging its feet and failing to do more.

Advertisement

Poverty is not an inevitability in our society and we should never be complacent in addressing the causes of poverty or how we alleviate it. What we need is a plan.

Research will be needed to introduce this plan, however, the evidence is already surfacing with research projects, such as the Healthy Living Lab at Northumbria University and work by the Holiday Hunger Task Group, doing a lot of the ground work and can be picked up by the Government.

Two key things the Government can begin looking at as part of developing this plan would be to create resources and training for providers of holiday provision, and develop policy that supports holiday provision, which includes a meal and enrichment activities. These measures would go some way to helping address child holiday hunger once and for all.
Often contrary to what your head's telling you, it feels good to participate in something that seems, at the time, to be a leap of faith. The music world is full of such uncertain nuggets. Remixes and production jobs you never know will be approved. Gigs in strange places with hilariously convoluted logistics. Collaborations with orchestras that might, right up until you walk into the concert hall, turn out to be some elaborate practical joke. And spending a couple of years writing and recording music for a short film from under which the financial carpet has been pulled two or three times, but which ends up being completed via that seventh wonder of the altruistic digital age: crowdfunding.

Yes, it's true. The Five Wives And Lives Of Melvyn Pfferberg, the 17-minute comic epic to which I have added my Britpop-meets-Klezmer noises, has been filmed, post-produced and, finally, unleashed upon an unsuspecting global gaggle of film festival curators. Director, producer and general auteur nouvelle Damian Samuels must have done something right because LA Shorts Festival, that jewel in the Downtown LA cultural crown, has enveloped our movie into its enlightened bosom and will host Melvyn's world premiere on Sept 6. At times like this, I like to muse upon precisely which bits of our creation a hopefully-packed theater of LA hipsters will enjoy the most.

Advertisement

Will it be down-on-his-luck Melvyn weeping as he tramps through a park full of romantic couples taking a stroll? Will it be the unveiling of the "Cupidatron" - a futuristic helmet showing your future with anyone you shake hands with? Will it be the perfectly-timed performance by Smallville's Callum Blue as the dating night emcee? Will it be Melvyn's grand entrance, watched by gaping speed-dating colleagues including a cameo from Basement Jaxx's Felix Buxton? Will it be Melvyn's slushy picnic in the pretty company of TV's Brooke D'Orsay? Will it be the scene where Melvyn has a romp with a somewhat more enormously proportioned lover on a bed strewn with pizzas and tortilla chips? Will it be the bit where he's manacled to an S&M wheel, or confined to crutches by a clumsy girlfriend? Verily, this is a short movie that packs in as many comic highlights as an entire season of Extras, but without the crap bits.

I'm no expert at writing film music. That's it; there's no "but" following that statement. I haven't a clue. All I knew was that I could write and arrange some crazy mashups and record it with my production partner-in-crime Max Gilkes, and then slap it on the film, hoping that my years appreciating the work of Marvin Hamlisch, Elmer Bernstein and Hans Zimmer had done a tiny bit of good. To be fair, it took a few attempts. Several times Max and I had to return to the old drawing board, reminding ourselves that we were making a film soundtrack and not a cool indie record. At last we got the formula right, the man Samuels gave us the green light, and our sound designer - longtime Monty Python collaborator and general legend Andre Jacquemin - added the tunes to the action. Phew - it worked. only one question remained... a question that has bugged John Barry and David Arnold on many an occasion... who the buggering heck are we gonna get to sing the theme song?

Advertisement

Damian Samuels and I sat down with a vat of coffee and, if memory serves, drew up a massive list of people. All my names were either highly credible (i.e. unknown) or meat'n'potatoes indie rock and therefore utterly inappropriate. Samuels' suggestions were all as camp as Butlins and therefore thoroughly outlandish and unattainable. After a while we got out a marker pen and turned the list into a preposterously proportioned Venn diagram with - once we'd finished - only one name lurking in the crossover section, and that name was the Spice Girls' Melanie C. "Leave it with me," smiled Damian, and we parted, me thinking, "yeah... right," and him thinking, well, Christ knows what, really, but some sort of celebrity magic must have happened because a couple of weeks later we were sitting in the control room of Basement Jaxx's North London recording studio, with Mel C herself on the other side of the glass.

Pop-star dissenters can shelve all their nonsense: Melanie was absolutely bloody wonderful. She showed up, watched the film, had a cup of tea and then nailed it. The song went from sounding like a Blur C-side to a power-pop classic within, well, two minutes 20 seconds. Damian, producer Max and myself went straight to the pub and dumbfoundedly reflected on the musical conjuring trick that had just occurred. It's only a small part of the film, but as Damian put it, the whole thing has rocketed to another level as a result. What was I saying at the start of this blog about leaps of faith? It works both ways: when major players such as Melanie C, or Callum Blue, or Brooke D'Orsay, or Andre Jacquemin, or the Oscar-winning post-production houses Milk and The Mill, take a chance on a project such as ours, the momentum ratchets up a couple of amazing gears and the art that results acquires a fresh urgency and elevated quality: everyone wins.

Advertisement

We hope for many more festivals but if you're going to be in Los Angeles on Sept 6, take a trip down to LA Live and have a look at our movie, I guarantee you're gonna laugh your pants off...
Josh Sutton, Global Head, Data and Artificial Intelligence Practice, Publicis.Sapient

Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative types of technology that we have ever seen. This is a strong statement and one that I do not make lightly. While Forrester Research believes that over 25% of the job tasks in the world will be impacted by AI as soon as 2019, I believe that AI will transform nearly every business across the globe within the next decade. To paraphrase Mark Benioff (Salesforce CEO) at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, As a society, we are entering uncharted territory.

When we look back at this moment in time a decade from now, I believe that we will segment todays companies into three categories:

1. Those that did not use AI tools

2. Those that used AI tools to reduce cost and increase efficiency

3. Those that used AI tools to better engage with their customers

I believe that we will see a clear difference in the performance of those companies that embrace the third category versus those that fall into the first or second. We are going through a major business transformation cycle and companies need to recognize that AI will play an important role in their business success.

Advertisement

One of the earliest signs of AIs potential impact comes in the form of virtual assistants, often called chatbots. Nearly every company is exploring whether a virtual assistant could help their business and many companies have already launched their first prototypes. Very few companies have done this well, however, as most havent adhered to two critical rules that are fundamental to designing a successful customer interface:

1. Experience Matters: Virtual assistants are stand-ins for people  and, just as with sales and service people, if a customer doesnt like talking to a virtual assistant, s/he is unlikely to do so again  at least not by choice. The companies that have deployed successful solutions  ones that are creating real business returns  consistently place maximum emphasis on experience design.

2. Context Matters: When customers share information with virtual assistants, they do so in the same way they would with sales or service people  and with the same expectations. Specifically, customers expect that the information they share will remain secure and that it will be used to better understand their needs  and that they will receive more relevant and personalized products and services as a result. If companies arent prepared to use the information their customers provide to improve the customer experience, they shouldnt ask for the information in the first place.

The impact of AI technologies will go far beyond virtual assistants. These technologies are enabling a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. Just as the internet and mobile connectivity have enabled the world to have access to information at any time and any place, AI technologies will raise the bar for engagement with customers. People will expect meaningful, two-way dialogues. They will expect companies to use what they know about them already, and what they have given those companies permission to discover, to refine and complete their imprecise instructions. They will expect that the information they share will be device independent and that the conversations they begin on one will carry forward seamlessly in their service to the next. They will expect their attention to be drawn respectfully, appropriately, and always to their advantage. They will expect companies to anticipate their requests thoughtfully and without pressure.

Advertisement

As with the introduction of many new technologies, companies will tend naturally to focus AI efforts first on cost reduction and automation. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it should not be the only thing. As business models change and industry disruption continues, customer engagement will become progressively more important. AI uniquely can provide the insights needed to strengthen such engagement and those brands embracing AI for that purpose will be the ones that form the most lasting customer relationships. It may be useful to remember that Amazon wasn't necessarily the best online bookstore, but with its original mission to make buying books the fastest, easiest, and most enjoyable shopping experience possible," it gained people's trust. Similarly, companies shouldnt underestimate the importance of creating the dominant experience as it relates to artificial intelligence and customer engagement.

The companies that succeed in the future will use AI tools to engage their customers. They will take a customer-centric, outside-in perspective to enable the design of digital solutions that drive customer loyalty, engagement, consumption and satisfaction. They will use AI for more than just cost savings; they will use AI to build long-term customer loyalty and revenue growth.

About the Author

Josh Sutton is the Global Head of Publicis.Sapients Data and Artificial Intelligence Practice. In this role, he is responsible for leveraging big data tools as well as correlation-based and causal-based AI platforms to help clients transform their businesses. He works closely with clients to ensure that we align the right tools and platforms with their business objectives.

Advertisement

Josh also serves as a member of the executive leadership team for Publicis.Sapients Business Transformation Services group. This group is focused on helping clients identify and capitalize on opportunities to transform their business. Josh joined Sapient in 1995.

Josh serves on the board of directors for NPower, a New York based non-profit focused on mobilizing the tech community and providing individuals, nonprofits and schools the access and opportunity to build tech skills and achieve their potential.
Brian Shin, CEO And Founder, Visible Measures

Live video is making the world more interconnected than ever before. Real-time broadcasting is now being leveraged for a multitude of purposes, whether it is uploading a video to a friends social media page, reporting breaking news, or updating audiences digitally from a major event. It comes as no surprise that the tech titans in the industry have jumped headfirst into the trendFacebook pays celebrities millions of dollars to use Facebook Live, YouTube has brought live to mobile, Instagram has unveiled a new stories feature, and Twitter is rumored to be exploring a deal with Apple TV to stream its live content.

The History of Livestreaming

Livestreaming is not a revolutionary technology; it has been on the internet in various forms for over a decade. Mark Cubans Broadcast.com stream of the Victorias Secret Fashion Show in 1999 was the most notable turning point (despite being a very slow rendering one). Live streaming then went personal with such services as Justin.TV, UStream, Meerkat, Periscope and Twitch.tv. Twitter entered the market by acquiring Periscope and Amazon made waves by buying Twitch in a billion dollar play. So what triggered the Big Internet Companies to push Live with such vigor?

Why Now?

Consumers on-demand mindset triggered the rise of new technologies such as DVRs, time-shifted TV, even Netflix and Chill, and has led to the increased importance of live content for TV over the years. Its no secret that Internet giants covet TV ad dollars so there certainly are motivations to pursue Live video. However, one could argue that there is a more pressing strategic driver: the growth of Snapchat.

Advertisement

The Paradigm Shift

While Snapchat does not offer truly live video, it has prompted a paradigm shift through its Live Stories and selfie-centric camera to a more organic and first person perspective focused on capturing the NOW. Enabling a casual, stream-of-consciousness broadcasting of what people are doing in the moment, Live Stories, if done correctly, can make users feel like they are present with the person Snapping  a solution for satisfying your inner voyeur. Its for this reason that celebrities have become heavy users of the platform; they can connect with their fans by taking them to the red carpet, behind the scenes or show makeup tutorials all in real time.

For these reasons, Snapchats Live Stories have been eating into the mindshare of the other major social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, as it gives users the most real, of-the-moment experience. The companys continuous innovation is continuing to garner a larger and larger audience as it launches new capabilities such as selfie filters, enabling people to see whats going on in the world with Discover and connecting celebrities with their fans on an unprecedented level. It all comes back to the successful strategy: what is happening NOW.

The Tech Titans Response

Snapchats remarkable success with personal, in-the-moment video, has triggered the other Tech Titans to follow suit. Since Snapchats launch and tremendous rate of growth, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram have all rolled out live video stories and are investing millions to ensure their success.

As of right now, Facebook Live and the recently launched copy of Live Stories within Instagram are moving most aggressively toward Snapchat. Back when Snapchat was mostly about ephemeral messaging, Facebook showed its appreciation of what Snapchat might become by trying to acquire it with a multi-billion dollar offer. After being rebuffed, the once cool platform to share and connect with young people attempted to mimic Snapchat with Poke, but now Snapchat has become the place to share and be seen in real time.

Advertisement

What Lies Ahead

The NOW has become the focus of all social platforms, especially Facebook, who has demonstrated an uncanny ability to rally the troops around perceived threats. The infamous stories of how Facebook went into a lockdown to ward off Google+ are now part of Silicon Valley lore. Now, Facebook Live is essentially its version of lockdown for Snapchat. And the fact that Facebook Live is being used to broadcast protests and other pivotal events, as controversial and gut-wrenching as it has been at times, is validation that Facebooks approach is starting to work.

Snapchat started the NOW revolution and forced the other platforms to take notice and recognize that live video is their best shot at recapturing consumer and brands mindshare. The live streaming arms race is well underway, but which platform will become the dominant player in owning the NOW?
Jess Camp, Digital PR Specialist, Blue Fountain Media

Public Relations

According to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), public relations is defined as a strategic communications process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics. An organization can be can anything from a brand, company, or an individual. There are two forms of public relations, traditional PR and digital PR, which are differentiated by tactics, including the way these relationships are built and the channels in which they reach their audience.

Traditional PR

The media tactics that fall under the umbrella of traditional public relations are diverse, such as event coordination, crisis communications, reputation management, trade shows, sponsorship opportunities and press release distribution. The most prominent initiative of traditional PR is press outreach with special focus in traditional media outlets such as newspapers, television and radio. Professionals who work at traditional PR firms are likely to have a rolodex of media contacts they engage with often who are familiar with their clients.

Traditional PR can be very successful in terms of increasing brand awareness. However, exact metrics on audience reach are much more difficult to track. For example, broadcast and print numbers are estimations on potential audience or the average number of readers per month, making the question of how many people actually read or saw my clients feature? a bit hard to answer. Numbers aside, a key component of traditional PR is focusing on brand positioning within a media placement. Traditional publicists will be looking to see how their client is portrayed, how the messaging is communicated and how many times the brand is mentioned throughout the placement.

Advertisement

The traditional PR route also requires a bit of patience, as print publications will require a long-lead time. This means publicists need to research which topics are being covered in print magazines in which month and the corresponding publishing date. Outreach may not produce results for quite some time, which can be challenging for both publicist and client. Nonetheless, traditional PR is much more than media placements and your PR firm is likely to have diverse tactics that work best for your business.

Traditional Takeaways

Traditional public relations is still relevant in todays highly digitized world and will be able to encompass a wide range of components attached to a PR campaign. Positive, extensive brand building will be the main role of a traditional PR and this is something that will always be worth it.

Digital PR

The tactics involved in digital public relations are relatively similar to those of traditional. Building relationships and securing placements are at the forefront of this digital arm, however, digital PR has the added benefit of impacting SEO and link building across the web. These measurable, digital tactics provide tangible results and insight.

Another key differentiator of digital PR is the able to build connections with bloggers and influencers, who are key players in the digital space. These digital influencers often have just as much authority, if not greater reach, than traditional figures, and come with an extremely loyal following. Similar to traditional publicists, digital PR specialists will often have established relationships with bloggers in a given industry who they work with regularly and will share their content often. This can be in a blog post with followed links, impacting the clients websites domain authority or social shares. Digital platforms have a short-lead time and a pick up may result in a same day placement, or at most, in a few weeks.

Advertisement

While a digital agency may not emphasize elements of traditional PR, like event planning and trade shows, it will have its own unique set of benefits. Digital PR uses measurement tools like Mozs Open Site Explorer and Google Analytics to track the power of a digital placement. Google Analytics allows you to track how many users on a website are clicking a link to your clients site. You can completely track the users experience from first clicking the link within a placement through to the brands site and how they engage with the site. This information is invaluable and will impact your tactics moving forward by which initiatives should continue, discontinue or be altered.

Digital Takeaways

Digital public relations is measurable, immediate and produces easily sharable content. The realm of digital PR may be more specified than that of traditional, but it will help grow your brand online and make waves in a constantly evolving digital world.

The Right Fit

Determining whether traditional or digital PR is best for your business is a difficult question to answer. There is a great deal of overlap in tactics, for example, if you are reading a Sunday newspaper, it is very likely the same piece will run online the following week, or vice-versa.

The best way to decide which route to go is to first determine your business goals. Will the needs of your business be better executed in the traditional or digital space? Or perhaps, both?

It is not uncommon to employ both a traditional and a digital agency to completely cover your bases. If this is the way you choose to go, be sure to put your agency contacts in touch with each other so they can discuss objectives and avoid any overlap.

Advertisement

Author bio:

Jess Camp is a Digital PR Specialist at Blue Fountain Media who spends most of her time brainstorming story ideas and connecting with reporters. When not in her native New Jersey, you can find Jess wandering around music venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Follow Jess on Twitter: @ohheyjesscamp
Image: A winter view of Armenia's capital of Yerevan. Author: Serouj Ourishian (Wikipedia)

In less than a month Armenia will mark the 25th anniversary of its independence.

It should be a time for joy.

But like many Armenians I will be thinking about what might have been, about the opportunities lost.

As our country approaches the September 21 anniversary date, it remains one of the poorest in the former Soviet Union.

Corruption is rampant, and there's a huge gap between the rich and poor.

It's no consolation that corruption and a wealth gap are the norm in every other country in the region.

Armenians don't think much about what's going on elsewhere. Their focus is their own survival.

It makes me sad that many Armenians -- particularly older ones -- long for the days of the Soviet Union.

Advertisement

Although most Soviet citizens had few material possessions, everyone who wasn't a dissident was guaranteed a job, a roof over his head, enough to eat, electricity, water, gas, an education and medical care.

Now the guarantees are gone.

The government's pension reform program of 2013 didn't help our strapped pensioners. It simply made working people's paychecks smaller by forcing them to make mandatory pension-system contributions.

The change led to street demonstrations, as did the government's approval of transit-fee increases in 2013 and electricity-price increases in 2015.

During the Soviet era, all of Armenia's brightest students could gain entry to a top university.

Now, money talks. Mediocre students can enter an elite university by paying bribes. And they can get through it without even having to attend class -- also with bribes.

Advertisement

Money also talks in health care. If you need an operation or extensive treatment, you'd better have bribe money. Otherwise, you may not last long.

One of the major reasons why Armenia has been unable to do better since independence is that it is independent in name only.

In reality, it is still a Russian colony.

Russia provides Armenia with most of its gas. It also owns the pipeline system that delivers the gas across the country.

In addition, a Russian company owns Armenia's largest electric utility. It was that company that informed the government in the summer of 2015 that it planned to raised its rates 17 percent -- news that sparked nationwide protests.

Armenia had a great chance to reduce its economic dependence on Russia when, in the fall of 2013, it was ready to sign an association agreement with the European Union.

Advertisement

That agreement would have set it on a path toward full EU membership.

Armenians who knew anything about the world were eager to see their country join the EU because Europe is more prosperous than the former Soviet Union -- and why not go with the best?

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been trying to recreate the Soviet Union, would have none of that.

He summoned Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to the Kremlin for talks.

No one except Putin, Sargsyan and a few insiders from both governments know exactly what was said.

But it was obvious that Putin gave Sargsyan an ultimatum.

Shortly after the discussion ended, Sargsyan announced that Armenia would be joining the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Community instead of the EU. The announcement was greeted with street demonstrations in Armenia -- to no avail.

Not only is Russia maintaining its stranglehold on Armenia's economy, but it's also stationed troops in Armenia to insure that its vassal does not get out of line.

Putin hates the color revolutions that ushered in regime change in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. The last thing he wants is a liberal or even pro-Western political movement in Armenia, a country that Russia has subjugated for 300 years.

Advertisement

Ostensibly Russia's army and air force bases are in Armenia to protect the country from external threats.

But Armenians know full well that if anything that resembled a color revolution began bubbling on their soil, and Armenian troops were unable to contain it, Russian troops would.

Given Russia's continuing economic and military subjugation of Armenia, I will take no joy in marking Armenia's 25th year of independence on September 21.

Because our country is not yet independent.

My overriding emotion on that day is likely to be sadness rather than joy -- sadness for what might have been if the country had looked westward instead of remaining under Russia's thumb.
Two months ago, our community was the target of the largest mass shooting in American history. We lost 49 men and women at Orlando's Pulse Nightclub. Sadly, the public debate stalled as it has in countless tragedies before - Aurora, Newtown, San Bernardino - leaving us once again questioning what it will take for Congress to address common sense gun safety regulations.

When our federal representatives fail to act, it's time to look to our state elected officials to lead. We saw leaders step up in Connecticut, for example, after Newtown. Currently, a handful of states ban assault weapons like those used in Orlando. One of those states is Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has identified a simple, sensible and yet courageous solution to enhance her state's assault weapons ban: Massachusetts's law, which specifically includes a provision banning copycats, will be strictly enforced. It is an easy step, well-within the spirit and letter of existing long-standing law. And yet, unsurprisingly, the extreme wing of the pro-gun lobby has attacked Healey, an LPAC-endorsed and history-making first out lesbian Attorney General. Hateful insults have been thrown her way in the press and on digital platforms, including incredibly vile homophobic and misogynistic slurs.

Advertisement

As we have done with so many fights before, LGBTQ women must come together to support Maura Healey and the common-sense solutions she is proposing to curb the gun violence epidemic. Our community has good reason to demand safety as part of lived equality. Too often, we are the target of violence; and historically, we suffer greater rates of assault. Add that to the ease with which guns of any sort can be purchased, and gun control must be an LGBTQ issue. In fact, Healey noted that sales of the copycat automatic rifle jumped 450% in Massachusetts following the Orlando attack.
Quite early on in Catherine Corsini's embraceable French import Summertime (La Belle Saison), a group of young Parisian women run through the streets, laughing aloud while pinching male asses. The buttocks-ravished men are both startled and outraged. How dare they be made into sexual objects. One gent even starts whacking away at a lass, but to her rescue comes farm-girl/tractor-driver/physically strapping Delphine (Izia Higelin).

Please note the year is 1971 and feminism is a-brewing, pleasantly knocking the closeted, recent rural-escapee for a loop. Suddenly, she's not in a field with gaseous bovines but in a bus encircled by attractive, long-haired, rowdy, activist Amazons, who care not a whit whether one is into scissoring or the missionary position. All sex is good. All male subordination of the "fairer" gender is bad. They even sing, "Arise, enslaved woman."



In Summertime, young feminists fight for their rights and smoke Gauloises.

Suddenly, our enthralled heroine is attending political conscious-raising groups, helping to cause havoc at anti-abortion lectures, and pasting women's libber fliers on bare-bodied statues. She's having a hoot . . . and even more so when she meets Carole (Cecile de France), a beautiful, blonde, free-spirited Spanish teacher, who is, unbeknownst to Delphine, hetero-inflexible.

Advertisement

Yes, Carole is leading a robust copulatory life with her live-in comrade, Manuel (Benjamin Bellecour), an easy-on-your-eyes Commie chap. Clearly, she adores her new friend from the fields, but in that angst-generating, hands-off platonic manner we all know so well.

Frustrated, especially after discovering Carole's phallic leanings, a despondent Delphine no doubt recalls the conversation she had with her dad on the farm at the beginning of the film. He was prodding her to wed a former schoolmate, Antoine.

Delphine: I don't want to get married.

Father: You can't be alone forever. Loneliness is a terrible thing.

That's one reason she no doubt left the countryside. Well, things have to change so she passionately kisses Carole on a Parisian side street, then takes her home for some life-changing lovemaking.

Delphine (Izia Higelin) and Carole (Cecile de France) have a transformative smooch.

Will the two become a couple in a few short scenes? Just check out the photos accompanying this review for the answer. Poor Manuel! What's the lesbian version of that old chestnut, "If you go black, you'll never go back"?

Advertisement

Anyway, here are some other pertinent questions you might just want to ask. Will Carole go out nude on a balcony after achieving yet another orgasm and scream, "Down with bourgeois society"? Will something unforeseen occur that will force Delphine to return to haystacking? Will Carole follow? And will happiness ensue? Well, remember the action takes place in the 1970s.

Delphine finds momentary bliss.

But whatever occurs, this well-directed and intensely convincing offering co-written by Corsini and Laurette Polmanss, might just be the Carol and Blue is the Warmest Color of 2016. The leads are enthralling, and the way the semi-rocky romance is handled makes this a perfect Sapphic date film.

Summertime also supplies a considerably important history lesson on how the Women's Rights Movement was intertwined with the battle against homophobia. Without the former, there'd be no latter, a point many gay men are unaware of or simply refuse to acknowledge, which reminds me of The New York Times Op-Ed columnist Maureen Dowd's mother.

Dowd recalled in her quick-witted collection of essays, Are Men Necessary? that in 1982, for her 31st birthday, her mom wrote her, "Women can stand on the Empire State Building and scream to the heavens that they are equal to men and liberated, but until they have the same anatomy, it's a lie. It's more of a man's world today than ever. Men can eat their cake in unlimited bakeries."

Buns aside, if watching Corsini's Summertime is a beguiling experience -- and it is -- experiencing her garish 2001 self-hating-lesbian-themed flick, La Repetition, is a garish enjoyment, sort of like dreaming k.d. lang is topping you, only to wake up to discover your dachshund is where he shouldn't be.

Advertisement

The tale begins with two smiling little girls playing footsy with each other. Cut. Next shot: Louise (Pascale Bussieres) and Nathalie (Emmanuelle Beart) are now starring in an avant-garde college production. Louise, donning a huge pink wig that has to be held up by a clothesline, has the following memorable speech:

I'm dirty. Fleas devour me. When they see me, the swine vomit. The scabs and scars of leprosy have scaled my skin, covered with yellow pus. . . . In my right armpit, a family of toads have taken residence.

Her acting is as horrible as her lines while Nathalie, with a less macabre speech, is charismatic.

At a party afterwards, Louise has a jealous rage when she sees Nathalie dancing with a man. They battle, and Louise runs home, cuts her wrists, and decides never to see her friend again. Nathalie wonders why.

Louise (Pascale Bussieres) learns unrequited love hurts so she starts making dentures.

Jump ahead a decade or so. Nathalie is a critically acclaimed avante-garde actress living with her director. Louise, however, has become a prosthodontist and married a prosthodontist. Nevertheless, she still loves Nathalie. Then after some touch and go, the pair meet again, have one night of sex, and Louise realizes she's a lesbian. Nathalie though wants never to see her pal again, especially after she gets a bad stomachache, which she blames on same-sex coitus. It turns out to be appendicitis, which she also blames on lesbianism.

La Repetition asks, "What happens when a closeted prosthodontist bathes with an avant-garde actress?

One of the highlights is when Louise secretly fingers Nathalie's undergarments in her bureau like a pedophile tenderly reaching for a "Tickle Me Ernie." A low-rent take on Bernard Herrmann's music plays in the background. Yes, La Repetition makes The Killing of Sister George seem like The Little Mermaid. Let's hope in the very near future, the clearly first-rate Corsini takes on a contemporary project where two openly, well-adjusted lesbians meet, fall in love, and cohabitate forever more. Maybe if she needs a little drama, she can have --if she must -- a meteor fall on their house, but only when the characters have reached their nineties.
Supporters cheer as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally in Jackson, Mississippi, U.S., August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

The Alt Right's Emergence

As campaign rhetoric intensifies with each side calling the other bigoted, an amorphous little known ideological umbrella movement, the alt right has emerged into mainstream political lexicon. The alt right movement is an insurgent, racially tinged one that seeks to dismantle traditional conservative institutions to provide a political voice to an array of exiles on the far right. These include, but are not limited to, a unified array of influential hard-core racists and conspiracists, who oppose contemporary political processes, institutions, and both political parties as threatening not only national security, but the Euro-centric traditions of the nation as well with "white genocide."

With respect to its anti-immigration, anti-globalization and diversity doctrines the movement has analogues in England, France, Belgium, Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands. Today in Reno, NV., Secretary Clinton criticized U.K. Independence Party leader and "Brexit" promoter Nigel Farage's address to a Trump rally in Mississippi the previous evening, citing his hardened position against immigrants and calls for their disparate treatment.

Advertisement

The alt right regard mainstream conservatives as impotent, even corrupt, "cuckservatives," whose stances for compromise and lack of firm opposition to multiculturalism as traitorous. The term alt right is often credited to an ardent Trump supporter, Richard Spencer, a white nationalist, who runs the D.C. based National Policy Institute.

Criticism May Be Predictable, But Also Probative

Today, Mr. Trump preemptively criticized labeling him and his supporters as racists as a "tired disgusting argument" that is a totally predictable "play in the democratic playbook." He does, however, have near unanimous support among leading racist extremists -- something not seen in decades. Other alt right Trump supporters include the Nazi Daily Stormer's Andrew Anglin, anti-Semite Kevin MacDonald, Stormfront website founder and former Klansman Don Black, the American Renaissance's Jared Taylor and the racist leader of Traditionalist Youth Network Matt Heimbach.

Heimbach, one of a noticeable set of younger and Internet savvy movement leaders, achieved notoriety for his role in manhandling an African-American female protestor at a Trump rally in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this year. His group also engaged in a violent street battle with armed militant leftists in June in Sacramento. Trump, as Clinton pointed out, also has support from other racist leaders from the new Klan, as well as former Klan leader David Duke, and William Johnson. The latter's authorship of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at limiting citizenship to whites, caused him to lose his status as a Trump delegate this Spring.

In today's Reno address, Democratic nominee Clinton criticized Donald Trump's "embrace of the disturbing alt-right political philosophy" as giving a "national megaphone" to hate groups. As she stated last night in an interview broadcast on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360: "He is taking a hate movement mainstream. He's brought it into his campaign."

Advertisement

From a political standpoint, the more Secretary Clinton can align Mr. Trump, with a racially anchored movement, the better she can potentially checkmate his fledgling outreach to African-American and Latino voters, who are key voting blocks in crucial battleground states.

However, Mr. Trump's recitation of problems facing some segments of the African-American community in a Michigan address last week to a largely white audience has been criticized by Ms. Clinton and others. To those in the alt right universe, it read not so much a prescription for change, but a damning indictment, similar to those found on the narratives of hate websites that look at unemployment and crime as being "censored" indicators of racial inferiority. Ms. Clinton criticized Mr. Trump's address in Michigan today as "reinforcing harmful stereotypes and offering a dog whistle to his supporters."

A Celebrity For The Apprentices

To what degree Mr. Trump's initial, and sometimes shifting, invocation of the movement's more strident goals, is a mere political dalliance, or real adherence to its principles may be less relevant than his long term effect on the alt right's emergence as a political force.

Ms. Clinton accurately pointed out that Mr. Trump has emerged as the alt right's most lauded and charismatic political messenger of racially oriented, anti-globalist, false conspiracies and iconoclastic doctrines. However, that umbrella encompasses not only hardened overt racists, but some libertarians, and ultra-conservatives; who believe they have an uncensored voice with an alt right megaphone that mainstream conservatives and the rest of the Republican party deny to them. All these disenfranchised voices have now been provided with someone they lacked for decades-a mainstream popular leader with significant and sustained media access to plant their positions.

A Political Lottery Windfall

For the hardened bigoted core of this movement, the Trump candidacy, whether it pivots or not, has been a political lottery win. The overt racist hard core of it sees both overt support and a "wink and a nod" of its positions. Trump's rhetoric of racial and religious exclusion as a means of protecting society, whether they be retweets of false racial crime data, use of symbols taken from hate sites, or his proclamation that Islam hates us are lauded for their authenticity. Writing this Spring I observed:

Advertisement

As American Renaissance's [and alt right leader] Jared Taylor wrote last year: "Donald Trump may be the last hope for a president who would be good for white people." Trump is the first candidate he has ever endorsed and he's not alone. As the New York Times observed, "Mr. Trump's failure to distance himself more sharply from white-power adherents has been minutely observed in online discussion forums."

The exact parameters of this new alt right movement are subject to debate, as in its most mainstream manifestation it includes firebrands Milo Yiannopoulos (dismissed by the Nazis in the movement) and Ann Coulter; as well as the anti-establishment and often incendiary Breitbart political news website. Breitbart was run until earlier this month by new Trump campaign co-leader Steve Bannon, a theme that Ms. Clinton vigorously seized on today in her address. Breitbart presents a broad range of topics through a prism that attracts disenfranchised and alienated conservatives with sometimes controversial headlines like "Black Guns Matter", "'Climate expert: Marxist, global warming extremists control Vatican" and "Big gay hate machine closes Christian pizza parlor."

The Alt Right Is Somewhat Diverse

The alt right to be sure has aspects that lean far more to anti-establishment principles and countering "politically correct" hypocrisy, than to the most hard core hate. At its worst, however, the alternate right movement is much darker, even Hitlerian, including neo-Nazi and white separatists and other hardened overt racial separatists, who believe they steward the movement. Both the overt hard-core racists and the disenfranchised agree on key issues that the traditional white American way of life is under attack by growing diversity, globalization, socialism and the corruption of the political process. Andrew Anglin, 28, publisher of the alt right Neo-Nazi webzine Daily Stormer stated:

The Alt-Right is at its core a reactionary movement. Its ideology has been formed as a reaction, not as a continuation of an established school of thought. Obviously, influences and understandings have been drawn from previous movements, though a lot more has been drawn from Hitler than Buchanan.

At some point the movement itself will define its own parameters, and its likely that the more hardened bigots will cleave away from those who are more incendiary, than they are overtly bigoted. However, Paul Gottfried's 2008 hope of a tangible movement has materialized, and the damage may have already occurred as bigotry became an indelible element of it:

Advertisement

We are part of an attempt to put together an independent intellectual Right, one that exists without movement establishment funding and one that our opponents would be delighted not to have to deal with. Our group is also full of young thinkers and activists, and if there is to be an independent Right, our group will have to become its leaders.

Impact Beyond One Election

Among Secretary Clinton's strongest points today was distinguishing the contemporary alt right from some of the leaders, past and present of the proud Republican party, who are now met with disdain as self serving toxic apparatchiks by those on the fringes. Euro-nationalism and all the horrendous bigotry that is tied to it has not just emerged as an unwelcome visitor at the door of a major political party, but rather an occupant of its household. For Democratic partisans trying to defeat Republicans this point may be an effective political weapon.
UChicago To Freshmen: We Don't Do 'Safe Spaces' Or 'Trigger Warnings'

By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 25, 2016 3:08PM



University of Chicago / Facebook

A letter recently sent by the University of Chicago to incoming freshman notifies students that the school does not support so-called trigger warnings or condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces. The note has prompted vigorous debate among students, alumni and outside observers.

The letter, delivered from the Office of the Dean of Students, states that the decision is rooted in our commitment to academic freedom. It also states we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, which is perhaps a reference to DePauls denial to host Ben Shapiro, founder of The Daily Wire, earlier this month.

The letter was also accompanied by a monograph called Academic Freedom and the Modern University: The Experience of the University of Chicago, by Dean John W. Boyer. According to John (Jay) Ellison, Dean of Students, the book recounts the history of debate, and even scandal, resulting from our commitment to academic freedom.

Users on the Facebook forum Overheard at UChicago argued the merits of the universitys decision along with the letters tone:

"There are plenty excellent schools that have embraced the hugbox model of education," wrote one user. "If you want a hugbox friendly school, go to a hugbox friendly school."

The language is overly condescending for an official university statement, wrote another user who identified herself as an alum.

The majority of the people who appear to be so vehemently against safe spaces and trigger warnings are those who would never seek them out, so why is there such an attack on people who could really benefit and use safe spaces?" a current student wrote. "Whatever happened to empathy?

Osita Nwanevu, a formerly Chicago-based writer who now works at Slate, pointed out the ideological dissonance between the letter and the inclusive policies of UChicagos own organizations:



"I'm honestly just intrigued by the University's branding strategy. They reach out to incoming students and parents jittery about activism and/or minorities by scribbling out an anti-safe space letter that checks all the right anti-activist boxes even as they reach out to minority students and activists with diversity & inclusion initiatives and by literally running something called the "Safe Space Program."

In a heavily circulated blog post, Grand View University professor Kevin Gannon denounced the canard that intellectual freedom must exclude safe spaces and trigger warnings:



Students ought to be challenged, even made uncomfortable, in order to learn in deep and meaningful ways. And, of course, collegiate education is where students must encounter perspectives different from their own and thats what this Dean and the anti-trigger-warnings, no-safe-spaces crowd are counting on-that the surface veneer of reasonableness in these admonitions to the Class of 2020 will obscure the rotten pedagogy and logical fallacies that infest this entire screed... ...Displaying empathy for the different experiences our students bring to the classroom is not a threat to our academic freedom. Allowing for a diversity of perspectives to flourish, even when that diversity might challenge the very structure of our course and its material, is not a threat but an opportunity.

Early this year, the Washington Post published an opinion column by Northwestern University president Morton Schapiro in which he argued for the necessity of safe spaces.  Experts tell me that students dont fully embrace uncomfortable learning unless they are themselves comfortable, he wrote. Safe spaces provide that comfort.

Representatives from U of C's LGBTQ Student Life declined to comment to Chicagoist. The university's News Office and Public Affairs department did not return multiple requests for comment. The full text of the letter can be read below.
Russian President Vladimir Putin adjusts his jacket as he attends a meeting of members of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on October 22, 2015. President Vladimir Putin on October 22 accused the West of playing a 'double game' with terrorist groups in Syria, where a US-led coalition has conducted a bombing campaign with its allies. AFP PHOTO / POOL / ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AFP/Getty Images)

For years, the GOP has been moving away from its identity as a traditional center-right party and morphing into something that more resembles the populist fringe parties of Europe.

Donald Trump's candidacy has all but completed this transformation. If anyone still had doubts, Trump's hiring of Breitbart News chief Steve Bannon was the clearest sign yet that the Republican Party has become a vehicle for what in the U.S. is known as the 'alt-right' movement.

Advertisement

The alt-right thinks the mainstream conservative movement has been compromised by feminism, racial tolerance and "globalism," and that only a reactionary, populist movement that speaks to the plight of white men can save America from political correctness and multiculturalism. The alt-right is drenched in racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and misogyny. But that didn't stop Bannon from calling his outlet "the platform for the alt-right."

While avowed white nationalists have always had a place in the conservative movement--most recently, Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa proudly detailed his white supremacist views to a cable TV audience--Trump has thrown such forces into the mainstream.

Trump's view of America as a weak, crime-ridden and chaotic place would resonate with any regular reader of Breitbart's news coverage.

Breitbart News depicts an America where white people are under attack from the Obama administration, anti-Christian feminists and LGBT rights activists, African Americans who seek to discriminate against white people, Latino immigrants obsessed with rape and violence, and Muslim refugees who support terrorism.

Advertisement

The U.S. isn't the only country experiencing a surge in the alt-right's ideology. Anti-immigrant ethnic nationalists are on the rise in Europe, and European far-right leaders from France's Jean-Marie Le Pen to the Dutch politician Geert Wilders have jumped aboard the Trump Train.

This is all good news to one of the European far-right's most enthusiastic backers: Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia under Putin's leadership has been promoting ultraconservative political groups in Europe with the goal of weakening the EU and the liberalism, democracy and cultural pluralism that comes with it. The National Front, a French political party rooted in Holocaust denialism and anti-immigrant sentiment, is open about its financial links to Russian banks, and neo-fascist parties including Jobbik of Hungary, Vlaams Belang of Belgium and the Northern League of Italy likewise have Russian ties.

"As European far-right leaders openly voice their support for Moscow, it would be wise to remember that Putin's Russia is not just another 'meddling power' lobbying for its interests," writes Alina Polyakova. "It is a government hostile to the West and the value system--democracy, freedom of expression, political accountability--that it represents."

The Syrian refugee crisis has presented a great opportunity for these far-right movements in Europe to spread their messages of xenophobia. Russia, whose bombing campaigns in Syria have ravaged the civilian population, has been happy to help promote the anti-refugee message. Russian state-sponsored media outlets have enthusiastically fanned the flames of anti-refugee suspicion, bolstering the far-right's criticism of how the EU and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have approached refugee resettlement.

Advertisement

Beyond his expressed support for Russian policies, Trump seeks to govern in the same illiberal, authoritarian manner that Putin has demonstrated, itching to dilute the freedom of the press and laws barring war crimes and human rights abuses and deport undocumented immigrants and refugees legally settled in the country. Like the Religious Right activists who have rallied behind Putin, Trump believes that Christians have been sidelined and marginalized in America, promising to return them to their rightful positions of power.

Such contempt for civil rights, diversity and democracy pervades the alt-right, which calls for a more "masculine," racially chauvinist response to a society it sees as weak and rootless. One alt-right meme shows "President Trump" congratulating Putin, both decked out in military garb, "on retaking Constantinople."

While Trump and the alt-right emerged without the help of the Russian government, Putin's display of authoritarianism and aid to far-right movements have helped bring their ultraconservative designs into the political mainstream.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is more right than he knows about our NATO pledge to defend member nations from aggression. His many detractors on that score are ill-informed. They are echo chambers of the multi-trillion dollar military-industrial-counterterrorism-complex (MICC) terrified by the prospect of a quietus for presidential wars.

Both Trump and his detractors are wrong. But his detractors are more wrong than him.

On July 20, 2016, Mr. Trump hedged on whether as President he would defend Baltic State members of NATO from Russian aggression in an interview with reporters David Sanger and Maggie Haberman of The New York Times:

"SANGER: If Russia came over the border into Estonia or Latvia, Lithuania, places that Americans don't think about all that often, would you come to their immediate military aid?

Advertisement

TRUMP: I don't want to tell you what I'd do because I don't want Putin to know what I'd do...

SANGER: They are NATO members, and we are treaty-obligated--

TRUMP: We have many NATO members that aren't paying their bills.

SANGER: That's true, but we are treaty-obligated under NATO, forget the bills part.

TRUMP: You can't forget the bills...

SANGER: My point here is, Can the members of NATO, including the members in the Baltic, count on the United States to come to their military aid if they were attacked by Russia? And count on us fulfilling our obligations---

TRUMP: Have they fulfilled their obligations to us? If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes.

HABERMAN: And if not?

TRUMP: Well, I'm not saying if not...."

The All Star team of the MICC, ranging from Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, immediately assailed Mr. Trump's evasion of a putative United States NATO obligation under Article V to go to war on behalf of any member nation that is attacked. Mr. Sanger made that assumption in the Trump interview, and Trump did not directly contradict it. But the assumption is demonstrably false, and thrives only because it suits the ideological needs of Empire.

A page of history speaks volumes of logic over the interpretation of NATO's Article V.

President Woodrow Wilson's League of Nations treaty was defeated by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. His opposition was provoked by the treaty's obligation on the United States to employ military force to defend the borders of other nations without a congressional declaration of war required by Article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution.

Advertisement

President Harry Truman learned from President Wilson's defeat in negotiating the United Nations Charter. When it came to the use of military force authorized by the United Nations Security Council, Article 43, paragraph 3, stipulated that agreements for the use of the armed forces of member nations "shall be subject to ratification by the signatory states in accordance with their respective constitutional processes." The United States Constitution requires congressional authorization for any offensive use of the military. President George Washington, who presided at the constitutional convention, sermonized: "The Constitution vests the power of declaring war with Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they have deliberated upon the subject, and authorized such a measure." In accord with President Washington and more than 150 years of constitutional understanding and practice, President Truman cabled Senator Kenneth McKellar on July 2, 1945, "When any such [United Nations] agreement or agreements are negotiated [for the use of American armed forces] it will be my purpose to ask Congress for appropriate legislation to approve them."

The 1949 NATO treaty was antedated by Senate Resolution 239 (Vandenberg Resolution) on June 11, 1948. It endorsed United States participation in regional and other collective security arrangements that honor "constitutional process," i.e., require congressional authorization for offensive use of the United States Armed Forces to defend foreign nations.

The NATO text of the following year is faithful to the Vandenberg Resolution. Article 5 provides in relevant part: "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack on them all and consequently they agree that...each of them...will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking...such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area." Companion Article 11 makes clear, however, that decisions to use armed force shall be made in accord with the respective constitutional processes of the member nations: "This Treaty shall be...carried out by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes." For the United States, that means Congress, not the President acting unilaterally, decides whether to authorize use of the armed forces to defend NATO members from aggression.

That would be the rule even without NATO Article 11. The United States Supreme Court declared in Reid v. Covert (1957) that treaties are subordinate to the Constitution. They may not disturb the allocation of powers in our constitutional scheme. The Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice endorsed this understanding in a Memorandum Opinion advising the President and the Attorney General dated February 12, 1980.

This is the upshot. Contrary to the propaganda of the MICC and its exponents, the President would be prohibited by the Constitution from employing the armed forces to defend the Baltic States from Russian aggression without a congressional declaration of war or equivalent legislation. The same constitutional prohibition would apply if any other NATO member were attacked. Conventional wisdom expounded in the corridors of power that teaches the opposite is indefensible.
With grassroots anger driving this presidential election---anger at government, anger at Congress, anger at Wall Street, anger at the elites and the establishment, heck, anger at everything---Democrats could make electoral headway by addressing one of those objects with this do-able promise: "Make government work better."

And Democrats are the ones to make such promise, because, unlike Republicans who have ranted against all things government for generations now, Democrats still believe government can work for the benefit of the people.

Government touches our lives in many ways---at the federal, state, and local level. But those ways in recent years have not been altogether good, even including, sorry to say, during the Democratic administration of Barack Obama.

Advertisement

And who can forget the totally bollixed rollout of Obamacare, which ate the news for a good year and which still taints the program, despite its ultimately smoother---and successful---operation. Readers will have other examples.

Sometimes it's the nearby snafu, at the state or local level, that rankles the worst. Here in Washington state, the Department of Corrections mistakenly released 3,300 prisoners before their terms were up, due to computer error. Wait: Aren't humans in charge of the cell keys? This failure of central mission drives citizens nuts and, in this case, fear for their safety. Sadly, this happened on a Democratic governor's watch.

Mission review in the agencies should be conducted constantly, to ensure that the central mission is being met---and to ensure, at the very least, that no more prisoners are released prematurely due to computer glitches. (Washington is not the only state guilty in this regard; so are Michigan, California, and Nebraska.)

Advertisement

In reaction post-snafu, it's not enough for an agency head to cite complexity or enormity of scale as the reason for an operational snafu. Presidents and governors who appoint agency heads absolutely need to ensure their appointees bring executive and managerial skills and are not just being rewarded for political favors.

Over time, the unending drip-drip-drip of government snafus in the media creates, like the halo effect, a smear effect that, in the mind of the increasingly angry citizen, goes beyond the inept agency in the headlines to smear all of government. Indeed, the question becomes for the angry citizen: Does any government agency work as it should---and as it did, once upon a time, in Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration during the Great Depression and World War II. Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal is marked by many observers as the advent of the public's declining trust in government.

It is the citizen, of course, who is most injured and ill-served when a government snafu occurs. But the other injured party, one not often recognized, is the highly-skilled and dedicated public servant, who, by the millions, graduate top of their class and head to Washington, D.C. or the state capitals to render service to the public. It's a noble profession, public service, but after decades of anti-government venom and innumerable snafus, one wonders how much longer the same quality will want to become the much-maligned "bureaucrat"?

Democrats: We have a repair job to do. At the Democratic national convention in July, much was said about government's role, but not much was said, either in speeches or the party platform, about making the government we have work better. In a hurting economy, government waste infuriates. In a nation unsure of its greatness, government ineptitude disheartens.

Democratic politicians can give heart and gain votes by vowing to make government work better. Especially with the visible public projects that seem never to get finished, like road or bridge repair, vow to finish them---and then, once in office, do it. A strong example: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's vow to launch a $275-billion national infrastructure program, if she is elected.

Advertisement

Of course, to make government work better, we need political leaders who behave better. This is not to condemn the entire current roster, not at all; the Democrats in Congress are the members trying to make that dysfunctional institution functional; they are dedicated public servants of sound character. But, recurring to the smear effect again: All it takes in today's angry atmosphere is just one bad actor (for one, ex-Congressman Anthony Wiener), indulging in tasteless behavior or wrongdoing, to smear all of his cohorts, leading the public to conclude all politicians are perverts or crooks. This is a massive load for the conscientious politician (of whom, again, there are many).

And once in office, legislators must appropriate sufficient budget funds to the agencies, so agencies can get their legislated job done. A Congress back in the control of Democrats could end the endless Republican budget games.

To conclude: Donald Trump has stoked the anger and disillusion in the country with his slogan, "Make America great again," proposing authoritarian and xenophobic means to achieve a better day. Democrats recognize the perils of the present moment, but, more hopeful, believe adherence to America's foundational ideals will bring us to that better day, thus our favorite slogan, "We can do better."

So, Democrats: Make the U.S. government---once a marvel in world history---work better.
Ten years ago I attended a conference in an upscale national chain hotel in a small town in Virginia, just outside of Dulles International Airport. Even though we were all wearing badges with our name and affiliation or place, it wasn't one of the usual academic conferences I frequent. The stands were selling books that claim to prove the intellectual superiority of the "white race", while in the whirlpool a woman and two men were discussing which town had the best Ku Klux Klan (KKK) chapter for her children. In the plenary room a broad variety of speakers were lambasting "race traitors" and entertaining their audience of a couple hundred people with more and less subtle anti-Semitic and racist "jokes."

It was the annual conference of American Renaissance, a magazine that, according to its website, "promotes a variety of white racial positions." Its leader, Jared Taylor, has long tried to mainstream racist ideology in the United States. Although Taylor would stay away from addressing "the Jewish issue" himself, and even reach out to Jewish conservatives, he had no problem to collaborate with vicious anti-Semites like David Duke, a former KKK Grand Wizard, or Don Black, founder of the main neo-Nazi internet forum Stormfront. In fact, the most surreal experience occurred when Duke referred to "people of Lithuanian descent" in his speech -- one of many not so subtle code words anti-Semites use to refer to Jews. An older man in the audience stood up, identified himself as Jewish, shouted that Duke was an anti-Semite, and stormed out of the room. How he could have set through the previous two days of antisemitism and racism without understanding the premise of the conference was beyond me.

Advertisement

Jared Taylor and American Renaissance are among the main representatives of what many in the media have started to call the "alt-right." The term itself was never used by Taylor, or most of the other people now linked to the term. It was allegedly coined by Richard B. Spencer, who founded the website Alternative Right in 2010. In many ways Spencer is a younger version of Taylor: well educated, in tune with modern technology, and determined to bridge the gap between conservatives and "racial realists" (i.e. closet white supremacists). He is president of a think tank with the perfectly respectable name National Policy Institute (NPI), which attends and organizes conferences, including the more mainstream Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Both Spencer and the term "alt-right" were marginal within the US Right, and unknown to the US public, until the rise of Donald Trump. And it is actually not so much Trump but the mainstream media that has made them into recognizable names. In a misguided strategy of guilt-by-association, as if Trump's own words don't speak for themselves, Duke, Spencer and Taylor have been interviewed and mainstreamed by leading media outlets, expressing their support for Trump, arguing that he says what they have been saying all along. This has rejuvenated these moribund organizations and undoubtedly strengthened their appeal and support, at least in the social media. Similarly, the term "alt-right" is now used as if it has any clear meaning.

But unlike terms like conservatism and radical right, "alt-right" has no clear definition or philosophical foundations. It is also not new. Groups like American Renaissance have been around for decades. The term "alt-right" is nothing more than a clever marketing tool by a white supremacist activist, who knows that his ideology is considered unacceptable in today's society. Hence, he came up with a term that sounds acceptable to the conservative mainstream. For years it had little to no effect until uncritical and uninformed journalists did what he never could: mainstream his term.

Tellingly, with a few notable exceptions, most of the main individuals and organizations that are described as part of the "alt-right" by the media do not self-identify as such. While they use all kind of other neologisms, like "racial realists" and "white nationalists," they are, and always have been, white supremacists! They are racists (not "racialists") who believe in the existence of races and in the superiority of the "white race." As anyone with the most basic understanding of US history knows, there is nothing new about this!
Looked at superficially, as many do in the Age of Trump when politics is carried out in fewer than 140 characters, one could imagine that the LGBTQ community has recently suffered onerous setbacks in court.

Beginning with the Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College decision out of the 7th Circuit a month ago, where a three judge panel affirmed the lower court decision that employment discrimination against lesbians was not protected by Title VII, and continuing on through August with a federal district court ruling against a trans woman represented by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Michigan, a preliminary injunction against the Department of Education's guidance on trans Title IX rights in schools, and the most recent attempt to carve out a Hobby Lobby religious exemption to permit anti-trans discrimination in health care, the news has all been bad. Bad if you just read the headlines, and skip the decisions themselves and the back stories. Or, unfortunately, if you read some of the analysis in leading cultural magazines such as The Atlantic.

Advertisement

In The Atlantic Emma Green wrote a remarkably negatively-toned essay about the state of legal affairs in general, but clearly tainted both by Justice Breyer's recent "courtesy stay" in the Gavin Grimm Title IX case in Virginia and the 7th Circuit's decision in Hively. I call this the LGBT national advocacy organizational view of LGBT anti-discrimination law, one which, for various reasons, strongly emphasizes the primary need for Congress to pass the Equality Act to remove all such cases from what Ms. Green calls the "conceptual tangle" confounding the courts trying to untangle sex and gender. From this perspective court victories are seen as a distraction from Congressional action, and these national organizations, therefore, do little to educate LGBTQ persons about their current rights under federal law and the Constitution.

Spin matters. Culture drives much of what happens in the courts. Nothing Ms. Green wrote is wrong; it is just biased, incomplete, and twisted in a way which drains hope from those who read it. Ms. Green writes:

While courts have tried to express sympathy for the people who bring these kinds of discrimination cases, a handful of recent decisions suggest judges won't be willing, or don't feel able, to affirm LGBT discrimination claims in court until the Supreme Court--or Congress--tell them to do so.

She adds, in her next story, discussed below:

None of the circuit courts have ruled that "sex discrimination" can extend to sexual orientation, and the body of law on how that prohibition might apply to gender identity is contradictory and mixed. While some lower courts have accepted the logic of the EEOC and other legal advocates who say the law already fully protects LGBT employees from discrimination, the higher courts have not--and the Supreme Court has not yet ruled definitively on the issue.

Actually, no - the body of law on gender identity is not "contradictory and mixed," unless you take all the cases of the last 50 years and mix them together in a blender. There are two distinct eras, the former one of failures, the current one, since at least 2005, one of successes. Ms. Green's logic is that of the HRC and NCTE lawyers, going back to their erroneous understanding of the reach of the EEOC. They fall back on, as written by Ms. Green:

The EEOC only resolves employment disputes among federal employees, though, and courts are not bound to follow its rulings in the private sphere.

The courts are not bound by the EEOC's decisions, but generally show great deference to them. That is why there have been so many trans victories, particularly since the EEOC's 2012 Macy ruling, and it is only reactionary outliers like Judges Cox and O'Connor who deliberately act to obstruct the Commission's actions.

While it is true that progress on gay anti-discrimination cases is relatively recent, beginning with the EEOC back in 2011 in Veretto and Castello culminating in the Baldwin v. Foxx decision last year, the successes for trans persons continue apace. There has not been, as she says, "a bit more" success for the trans community; there has been much success since 2005 (beginning in the 6th Circuit, no less). It is all those successes which inspired the Department of Justice to come out of the closet in May and sue the State of North Carolina, and then issue its Title IX guidance. It is those successes, which include a growing number of settlements which rarely make the news, that lead me to suggest that all but a handful of Reagan and Bush-era conservative activist judges want to and will affirm LGBT discrimination claims.

Advertisement

A great example is Judge Rovner's words in the Hively case. She could have, if she had no problem being controlled by precedent, simply affirmed the lower court decision and left it at that. Instead, she acted as if she's being held hostage by her circuit's antiquated precedents and begs for someone (the entire en banc circuit or the Supremes) to rescue her from the absurdity of the situation:

Because courts have long held that Title VII will not support a claim for sexual orientation discrimination per se, many courts have been attempting to dress sexual orientation discrimination claims in the garb of gender non-conformity case law, with the unsatisfactory results seen in the confused hodge-podge of cases we detail above.

This is clearly not a judge happy with precedent and the status quo.

Greg Nevins, Counsel and Employment Fairness Strategist for Lambda Legal, says:



The Court acknowledges that this is the wrong outcome and repeats over and over again that the distinctions between discrimination on the basis of gender nonconformity which is prohibited by Title VII and sexual orientation discrimination -- which the Court says isn't prohibited under Title VII -- is an arbitrary line; the distinction creates 'an odd state of affairs' because it's a 'false distinction.' Nevertheless, the Court felt bound by prior Seventh Circuit case law. The writing is on the wall, the precedents the Court felt bound by need to be reconsidered and we need Congress to pass the Equality Act.

It is also not true, as Ms. Green opines, that federal judges are bound to consider Congressional intent, falling back on the understanding that Congress in 1964 had no intention of covering gay or trans persons under Title VII. They clearly did not, but neither did they have any intention of seriously covering women in general, either, as adding "because of sex" was just a ploy to derail the entire Act.

Advertisement

Even the late Justice Scalia recognized the absurdity of trying to discern the motives of Congresspersons when interpreting any law. He may have proudly been a textualist, but he vociferously denied being a mind-reader or "ventriloquist."

The Constitution gives legal effect to the 'Laws' Congress enacts, not the objectives its Members aimed to achieve in voting for them . . . it is utterly impossible to discern what the Members of Congress intended except to the extent that intent is manifested in the only remnant of 'history' that bears the unanimous endorsement of the majority in each House: the text of the enrolled bill that became law." [Graham County Soil, No. 08-304, slip op. at 12.]

So, for purposes of the law, we really have no need to become mired in academic arguments trying to tease apart the meaning of "sex" and "gender." The determining decision is Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, and it is no longer a stretch to truly understand how gender (sexual) expression and gender (sex) are irretrievably intertwined when it comes to people's lived reality.

To follow up on Ms. Green's assertion that many judges won't feel able to affirm the existence and rights of LGBTQ people, we now turn to the recent Michigan EEOC case, EEOC v. R.G. & G. R. Harris Funeral Homes. Once again Ms. Green is on the case, with her lede screaming out:

It is perfectly legal for a conservative Christian business owner to fire a transgender employee simply because the person wants to "dress as a woman."

Again, not really. Judge Sean Cox, a conservative activist judge and expert for the Federalist Society, had ruled that the plaintiff, Ms. Stephens, could have brought a sex-stereotyping claim (Price Waterhouse) but not a sex discrimination claim. He knows he is bound by precedent, just as Judge Rovner complained, and in his 6th Circuit that precedent would have yielded a win for Ms. Stephens had she argued in that manner. Clearly he is not one of those judges who believes that gender identity is a sexual attribute. He is also a judge that has no respect for the EEOC of the Obama administration, and he cleverly used Hobby Lobby against the EEOC. He did so in spite of Justice Alito's admonition not to expand the reach of the religious exemption in his Hobby Lobby decision. He ruled against Stephens because he could.

Jillian Weiss, currently Executive Director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) but formerly a trans employment lawyer in private practice who settled one of the EEOC's first trans employment cases and has won many others, said:

In ruling that an employer can force its employee to wear 'gender neutral' clothing because of the employers' religious beliefs, the federal court has ignored both Supreme Court and appeals court rulings that correctly understand gender discrimination to be as illegal as sex discrimination. It would be sad indeed if we are to go back to the days in which people could be forced to conform to outmoded masculine and feminine stereotypes in order to keep their jobs.

Then we had the judge-shopping by the red state attorneys general led by AG Ken Paxton of Texas, who found himself his own Bush 43 conservative activist judge, Reed O'Connor, from the nether lands up around the Texas-Oklahoma border to issue a preliminary injunction against the Obama Education Department's guidance on trans students under Title IX. This is all stagecraft; the guidance didn't have the force of law behind it, was requested by school administrators to guide them, and any student is welcome to file suit against her school district if they force her to use the inappropriate facility. The whole point of the guidance was to guide, as trans students have been winning cases and other districts wanted to know how to proceed. The counter-cultural warriors got their useless injunction, and we got to see their over-the-top arguments to be used against trans students.

Advertisement

And as if that suit wasn't enough, now they're suing to undermine the antidiscrimination policy in the Affordable Care Act, acting as if the law forces - yes, forces - Christian physicians to transition trans children against their beliefs. This effort is underpinned, once again, by the long-retired and infamous Opus Dei Catholic extremist psychiatrist, Paul McHugh. The more they win, the more absurd their arguments become. At the end of the day, the dialectic will bend towards justice, and we will all be comfortably protected without any anxiety.

Except, of course, under a President Trump.
If you only had time to watch one new show this summer and you picked HBO's The Night Of, you made the right call.

This dark murder mystery wraps up Sunday, 9-10:35 p.m. ET, and it evokes the two thoughts that all producers long to hear:

One, can't wait to see how it's resolved. Two, sorry it's going to be over.

Set in New York, the story through the first seven episodes - spoiler alert! - started with Pakistani-American college student Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmad) being arrested for the grisly murder of young rich Andrea Cornish (Sofia Black D'Elia).

Advertisement

He was driving his family's taxicab to a party when he picked her up and let her lead him back to her place, where he thought he'd hit the lottery with drugs and sex games.

Except the next morning he woke up to find her bloody, butchered and dead.

He's now on trial, represented by low-rent hustler attorney John Stone (John Turturro) and a newcomer who seems to have issues of her own, Chandra Kapoor (Amara Karan) (above).

The physical evidence, largely gathered by unsympathetic Detective Dennis Box (Bill Camp), seems overwhelming, and the District Attorney's office is under pressure to be sure someone is brought to justice. So the hammer is cocked for Nas.

But while that's the core plotline, it's only part of what the show has been about, and thus only part of the reason it has earned a gratifying level of buzz.

Advertisement

Working from a British series called Criminal Justice that ran four hours, writers Richard Price and Steve Zailian have expanded The Night Of to eight, by adding gritty and often uncomfortable detail.

We have seen Naz transformed from a timid prison rookie, easy prey, to an inmate who has allied himself with the veteran Freddy (Michael Kenneth Williams) (above). Yes, that has disturbing character implications.

We've seen the devastating ripple effect on Nas's family, starting with the fact that because the cab was apparently involved with a crime, his father and family can't get it back and thus can't make a living.

We've seen Stone's lonely life, with no self-pity, and we've seen hints that the case has stirred anti-Muslim prejudice in the city.

Interestingly, though, all this added detail has split fans of the show.

Some feel we've seen too many side issues that don't seem connected to the main plot thread, and that we've spent too much time watching, say, procedural routines at Rikers Island.

Advertisement

Others feel the show hasn't spent enough time developing characters like Kapoor or Nas's mother Safar (Poorna Jagannathan) (above), who is mortified, humiliated and struggling simply to keep functioning.

Then there is Andrea's stepfather Don Taylor (Paul Sparks), who has emerged as the most likely perp if Nas didn't do it. He was introduced late and with almost no background.

What fans in both camps probably agree is that they aren't sure what to make of the show's two most utterly bizarre subplots: the cat and the eczema.

The late Andrea had a cat, which she let outside before she and Nas got busy. Stone has adopted the cat, even though he's allergic to cats.

Stone also suffered, at the start of the show, from eczema so serious he couldn't wear shoes. We've watched him visit eczema doctors. We've taken trips to his eczema support group.

Advertisement

And where are either the cat or the eczema leading us? Excellent question. Presumably we will find out Sunday, because The Night Of was developed as a limited series, meaning that if it's not resolved Sunday, we will likely never know.

However it finishes, HBO is happy enough that it is reportedly considering a second season that would tackle a different case.

The Night Of isn't perfect and yes, it could have been told in four hours. But the extra time has rewarded us with plenty of good moments, thanks to the first-rate work of Turturro, Williams, Karan and others.


Victoria Rosborough working in a cleanroom where device processing is performed.

Victoria Rosborough's brilliance was evident early on. She became a college student at age 16, bypassing both her junior and senior years of high school. She enrolled in a remarkable learning alternative at Mary Baldwin College (MBC) - their Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG). This all-girls program is part of MBC's residential women's college, which is located in Staunton, Virginia.

After graduating in 2012 with a B.S. in physics, and a double minor in chemistry and mathematics, Victoria continued to excel in graduate studies. She next earned an M.S. in Applied Physics from the University of Oregon. But her sights are set on becoming a Photonics Engineer, and so to that end, she began a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 2014 and is currently a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She presented her first conference paper in July at the 2016 Advanced Photonics Congress. You can read it here: Integrated Indium Phosphide Pulse Position Modulation Transmitter for Free Space Communications.

I spoke with Victoria at length, and it was absolutely a no-brainer deciding to include her story in my 2016 blog series of amazing women's college STEM alumnae. Below are selected highlights from our conversation.

Advertisement

What is a Photonics Engineer?

"A photonics engineer designs and builds semiconductor devices that manipulate and route photons to perform a function. For example, a simple photonic integrated circuit (PIC) could consist of a laser and a modulator for generating and transmitting optical signals. Active components on a PIC are controlled electronically, thus integrated photonics is also referred to as optoelectronics. PICs are not as mature as electronic integrated circuits (ICs), so it's an exciting time to be a part of the field. There are many opportunities for startup companies, new designs, and big ideas. For example, to keep up with growing Internet data traffic, many companies and universities are working to integrate an efficient laser on silicon. Silicon is a great material for fabricating ICs, but it's not an efficient light emitter. Many different approaches to integrating lasers on silicon are being pursued and it's not yet clear which technique will become the forerunner."

Why did you decide to skip two years of high school to attend college?

"Around middle school and then into high school, my mom went looking for alternative educational programs because I wanted greater academic challenge and my school system didn't have any gifted or accelerated programs in place. By the time I was in high school, I was taking college-level math and writing courses online through Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth. Even so, I was still very unhappy at school, so my mom searched for more drastic options and that's when she found The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG) at Mary Baldwin College (MBC).

My mom and I felt PEG was a good option because I would be learning from professors while belonging to a group of other bright and motivated young women. My parents felt comfortable sending me to MBC at a young age because it is an all-women's college and the younger girls have their own dorm and staff with extra rules such as curfew. As far as I know, there aren't any other programs quite like PEG in the U.S. Even though some traditional colleges may accept outstanding young students when it is a good fit, at PEG I got to learn and bond with other girls in the same boat as me."

Advertisement

How did you decide to major in physics?

"When I began at Mary Baldwin College, I didn't know what to declare as my major. I thought I might study writing and philosophy to become a novelist, but I also liked math and science. I left high school before taking any physics classes and I didn't take general physics in college until my sophomore year. So when I did take physics, it seemed to challenge my thinking differently than other subjects. I really enjoyed the math and problem solving, but I also appreciated the philosophical nature of physics as a tool that can describe everything from subatomic particles to phenomena on the scale of the universe.

By my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to be a researcher, but had no idea what my specialization might end up being. Gradually, I learned about the subfields of physics where I could spend a research career. My adviser in physics, Professor Nadine Gergel-Hackett, taught me about her research with novel electronic devices."

What kind of research were you involved in as an undergraduate student?

"The research I was involved with as an undergraduate revolved around Dr. Gergel-Hackett's work with memristors. I was the first student to work with her after she came to Mary Baldwin College, so I spent a lot of time setting up the lab and characterizing devices fabricated at The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where Dr. Gergel-Hackett has collaborators.

The goal of my project was to investigate the physical mechanism behind the device switching behavior. I was looking to see if a switch was triggered by applying a certain voltage or by applying current over a set amount of time. The idea was that, if we could demonstrate one case or the other, this would reveal something about what physically goes on in the material itself (titanium dioxide) during a switch.

I presented some background and results at an undergraduate session of the annual American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting in 2012: Electrical Characterization of Flexible Titanium Dioxide Memristors.



Advertisement

I also did an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering department at Yale University. Through the REU and conversations with Professor Gergel-Hackett at MBC, I became familiar with some materials and device topics. At this point, I knew I wanted to get an advanced degree after college, but still wasn't quite sure what specialty to pursue."

How did you become interested in integrated photonics?

"After graduating, I found a master's program in semiconductor devices at the University of Oregon. As a part of this degree, I completed a year-long internship at IBM, where I had the opportunity to interact with Ph.D.'s in several areas of IC production expertise. When I applied to Ph.D. programs that year, I sent applications to electrical engineering and materials science departments. It was during this application process that I learned about integrated photonics. Photonics excites me because it's on the cutting edge of research while combining physics and technology.

Along the way, although I wasn't always quite sure where I'd end up, I kept pursuing the types of opportunities that excited me until I found my niche."



Victoria Rosborough in the device testing laboratory.

Now that Victoria has discovered her niche, I'm positive her career will continue to unfold, as a never-ending adventure steeped in physics.

In my next blog post I'll share with you the awesomeness of Victoria's alma mater, Mary Baldwin College--focusing on how the College for Women is expanding opportunities for their students, as well as other news-worthy announcements. News you won't want to miss, so do stay tuned!

Advertisement
As a small business owner, we understand the constant juggling act it takes to manage each aspect of your business. But you don't have to do it all by yourself and waste valuable production time and money. Take advantage of these must-have small business tools and work smarter, not harder.

WordPress

When it comes to optimizing your website for the search engines and getting your company known by consumers, you need to have fresh content on your blog. WordPress is the most well-known blogging software, and is user-friendly and offers tons of helpful plugins.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics gives business's access to just about every detail regarding your website traffic. It provides statistics and information regarding your visitor's demographics, what they do on your site, and how long they stayed on your website.

Advertisement

Skype

Skype allows you to connect with business partners and clients on your smartphone or computer without any phone fees. The multi-purpose tools allow you to send documents during a call all while chatting on your phone or sitting in for a group meeting.

DropBox

DropBox eliminates the need to keep track of piles of paperwork and creates an online link for all your images, documents, and videos. You can share all of your documents between employees and prevent anything from getting lost again.

MailChimp

Email marketing is very effective for all types of businesses and keeps your customers updated on what's new and trending in your industry. MailChimp is an automated email server that allows you to create newsletters and send them to all of your email subscribers with one click. It has been an invaluable tool for businesses like Artificial Plants and Trees who need to consistently reach customers to keep them inspired about their products, as explained here by CEO Doug Hopeman.

"MailChimp has helped my business effectively keep my customers updated on new blogs, DIY crafts, products, and specials. The platform is easy to use and the templates are clean and present our deals and products in an organized manner."

Advertisement

HubSpot

HubSpot is a popular inbound marketing tool used by businesses of all kinds. It is an all-in-one marketing software that manages everything from social media publishing, email marketing, content management, and reports on how well your content is doing.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a brand management service and social media tool that can be used for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. You can create content and set schedules for when it is published on each platform, all from one virtual location.

Evernote

Evernote was designed to help you keep track of your individual notes for a project. You can keep them all in one place, and can compile them to effortlessly create a presentation for a business meeting or client consultation.

Get Satisfaction

Get Satisfaction helps businesses connect with their customers and acts almost like a Facebook page on your website. Your customers can offer tips, share their experience with your services and products, and ask questions directly to your customer service representatives.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a bookkeeping service designed for small businesses to help manage invoicing, payroll, and expenses. You can connect the program to QuickBooks to send your invoices and expense reports directly to your accounts.

Advertisement
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen) in St. Petersburg, Russia, August 9, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

The long-awaited Turkish operation to create a security buffer zone along its border with Syria, in order to separate Syrian and Turkish Kurds, has finally started. It is somewhat ironically called "Defense of the Euphrates," indicating the limit sets by Turkey to where the Syrian Kurds can be. It is a geographic limit, not a demographic one, as Kurds are the vast majority of the population of both sides of the formidable Euphrates. While the official Turkish announcement about the operation seems to be targeting ISIS, the real goal is to prevent the Kurdish YPG militia [the People's Defense Units-the military wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces], which the Turks consider a terror movement in the service of the PKK [The Kurdish Workers Party -- the largest anti-Turkish Kurdish terror movement], from having a direct link with Turkey's own huge Kurdish minority.

Advertisement

History is the bread and butter of understanding Middle East politics, and here again, the immediate context may be the vicious terror attacks perpetrated against Turkish civilians, which the Turks attribute to both ISIS and the Kurds, however, the deeper background is the chronic Turkish fear of Kurdish separatism in Turkey, where the Kurds constitute 20 percent of the population, mainly concentrating along the borders with Iraq and Syria. This is the Kemalist ideology of the existence of only one nationality in Turkey, and perhaps it is the only element of Kemalism, that also the current Islamist AK party under President Erdoghan adopts and follows. In fact, Erdoghan is in the center of the current drama. He is engaged in an extensive, brutal, dictatorial drive to turn Turkey into an Islamic state, in all but name, in the aftermath of the failed coup. So alongside the historic strategic policy towards the Kurds, there are also domestic politics which dictate the timing of the current policy in Syria. Erdoghan needs industrial quiet inside Turkey, when he is so preoccupied with the systematic purge of domestic opponents in the military and the public service. The army is engaged in an operation, not a time for any opposition, whether in the military or the outside to cause troubles. Public opinion at large is happy with the show of resolve and force on the part of the leader, and the Turkish public genuinely supports anti-Kurdish operations because of the anger following recent terror attacks in Turkey. And then there is Fethullah Gulen. Here is where domestic and foreign policy considerations converge.

Erdoghan wants Gulen, no secret about that. Gulen is in the US, and the US does not want boots on the ground against ISIS, so why not let Turkey do the job. Well, Turkey may be after ISIS as a second rate target, but primarily after the Kurds, a little detail, so here is the solution. The US has its VP in Ankara exactly in the day when the Turkish operation starts, and the American leader who does understand one or two things about the Middle East, states, much to the delight of the Turkish hosts, that the U.S. resists forcefully any Kurdish crossing to the other side of the Euphrates, and also, what a surprise, that the U.S. wants to help Turkey in the case of Gulen. Another conspiracy theory? It may seem like that, but not this time. Let us put the dots together in place. Turkey wants to contain the Kurds, which is its main strategic goal, and it is ready also to attack ISIS , an organization which it helped so much before. And yes, Erdoghan wants Gulen. The U.S. wants and needs Turkey, wants to deal with ISIS and ready to pay with a coin with two sides -- one is called Gulen, the other are the Kurds.

Advertisement
While poachers are considered destructive criminals of the first order, few think of society as harboring a similar, if less blatant mentality in the handling of natural resources.

Yet a poacher-like attitude is more pervasive in society than one would expect, with instant gratification resulting in behavior that "kills the goose that lays the golden egg".

It's easy to separate ourselves as law-biding citizens from the heinous acts of poachers. Public outage is widespread at the wanton desecration of such species as the elephant and rhino, propelling them towards extinction.

Advertisement

On the European continent, it is easy to denounce French poachers' illegal pursuit of an immediate payoff from the trapping and wholesale depletion of goldfinches. Criminal traffickers are selling these wild song birds, which the public unfortunately snaps up as household pets. The methodology for capturing these birds produces cruel collateral damage in which nine goldfinches perish for every one recovered. Not surprisingly, in the past 16 years, the once ubiquitous goldfinch population in France has been reduced by half and the carnage continues, despite stepped up law enforcement. At some point, the poachers could conceivably exhaust the population and then move on to the next bird "du jour".

Bad news, but is humanity in general engaged all too often in a variation of the poacher's same reckless behavior?

In that vein, I think back years ago to a drive in the Chinese countryside. An eerie silence prevailed over the land. No birds, no insects, or other signs of wildlife were in evidence. The only animals to be observed were some domesticated stock when one passed an occasional farm.

The mystery was dispelled when I entered a nearby town and visited its open market. For sale primarily as culinary fare or decoration was every life form, big or small that had once inhabited the surrounding countryside.

Advertisement

This is an extreme example, but the truth is that no people are immune at times from being moved by greed, desperation, or some other motivation to care only for the moment in exploiting a resource.

The July 2014 Science Magazine identified 322 birds, mammals, and reptiles eradicated due to human activity. Most were probably not depleted in the purposeful fashion of the poacher, but the outcome was the same.

In our own country, streams that were once drinkable no longer are as a result of human activity. Some marine species have been decimated from overfishing, and forests with rare plants have been stripped bare. Wolves were wiped out in the Rocky Mountain West at agricultural interests' request, upsetting the balance of nature.

Are poachers an advance team for a human race of two-legged lemmings inexorably caught in a fatal march to the sea? Or will mankind be able to pull back from the brink and commit itself to a sustainable use of the earth's remaining natural resources?
'Empire' Is Being Sued By Ex-Cook County Juvenile Detention Center Residents

By Gwendolyn Purdom in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 25, 2016 6:39PM



Partial Empire cast, courtesy of Fox/Facebook

The Chicago-based Fox hit Empire is known for its drama on screenand this week the series proved once again it's a mink-draped fountain of real-life drama as well.

Just a few weeks before the show's Season 3 premiere, two unnamed former residents of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center filed a suit against the creators of the Emmy-nominated series, the superintendent of the center, Cook County and others Wednesday claiming that the show's shooting of two episodes at the facility last summer essentially placed its residents in "lockdown" and kept them from important services and resources.

During the filming, the suit says:

"The children for whom these facilities were intended, meanwhile, were ordered to remain in their cells, or were confined to the jail-style pod areas just outside their cell doors. There they were told to sit, for days on end. Their schooling continued in name only, visits from their families were interrupted, cut back, or effectively eliminated, sick-call requests were ignored, and programs that are intended to help them overcome the problems that landed them at the JTDC in the first place were cancelled or interrupted."

The episodes in question featured Terrence Howard's character behind bars and were shot in three- to five-day increments in June, July and August of 2015.

Wednesday suit, filed by two minors referred to in the filing as T.S. and Q.B. and their respective guardians, is just the latest legal trouble Empire has found itself in since the show debuted in January of last year. Last August, a Michigan woman sued creators of the show saying the Cookie Lyon character, played by Taraji P. Henson (who just nabbed her latest Emmy nomination for the role in July), is based on her life and memoir. According to Deadline, a judge ruled against a motion to dismiss that case just last week. Terrence Howard's former managers have also taken legal action, alleging they kept Howard from being booted from the show and are still owed money from Season 2.

The detention center has been a source of controversy on its own as well. In 2014, for instance, hundreds marched to protest what they saw as a crooked system that invests more in prisons than youth education. A study from the Chicago Youth Justice Data Project around that time showed incarcerated youth were 39 percent less likely than their peers to finish high school and 67 percent more likely of ending up in jail again before age 25, so it's not hard to see why the plaintiffs in this latest case weren't too happy with a Hollywood takeover getting in the way of the opportunities they did have while at the center.

T.S., Q.B. and their guardians (as well as up to 400 other class action members) are seeking profits from the episodes shot at the West Side center.
If you want to meet a shepherd who also likes Edward Hopper because of his light, you will have to journey to Sardinia. At one point the Mediterranean was a smaller, though not less turbulent world, and the tradition of shepherding comes from ancient Palestine, amongst other places. The Adoration of the Shepherds of course derives from the Nativity. Talking about art and shepherding Giotto was a shepherd. Shepherds not only herd goats and sheep, but some like Salvatore Porcu, the shepherd from Bosa with the interest in Hopper, turn their spiritual leanings into the art of making cheese. For instance Pecorino is made from sheep's milk. The process of making such cheeses is an ancient skill. Ricotta means twice cooked. Antonio Gramsci the Marxist philosopher who was born on Sardinia would probably have admired shepherd's work since it's one in which the worker experiences little of the alienation that results from division of labor and economy of scale, two principal tenets of capitalism that Marx indicted in his Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of l844. Come to Sardinia if you want a brief respite from the industrial revolution and the world of processed cheese.
Two months after Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner received a light sentence for sexual assault, university President John L. Hennessy banned distilled spirits on campus.

Turner blamed intoxication for his actions in the trial dubbed the "Stanford Rape Case," horrible PR for the school. And now, the university has taken action on spirits.

Stanford said: "The University is especially concerned about the misuse of distilled alcohol products ('hard alcohol'), and the dangers that arise from that misuse."

Advertisement

In response, the alcohol lobby Distilled Spirits Council said this policy singles out distilled spirits, but ignores beer or wine, suggesting, "that some forms of alcohol are 'softer' than others."

The Stanford ban comes after an onslaught of global efforts connecting alcohol to everything from cancer to gonorrhea. Many people are calling for more warning labels and question moderate alcohol consumption's health benefits.

But lost in all this is personal responsibility.

Despite Stanford offering alcohol education, the school is sending the same message to Americans as the Women's Christian Temperance Union before Prohibition -- it's better to prohibit alcohol than to respect it.

Would our country not be better off if we enjoyed alcohol vs. abusing it?

There's nothing quite like sitting next to a campfire with two fingers of bourbon or feeling the sea air upon your face with a rum punch in hand. These simple pleasures are enjoyed with friends and family and offer essence to life. Drinks can bring us closer together and help us work out our differences.

Advertisement

Just last year, President Barack Obama and Senator Mitch McConnell considered the "Bourbon Summit," a political event that didn't happen. Bourbon was never the discussion topic, but it was potentially a vehicle for political compromise.

When world leaders meet, they toast with their country's respective drink, to celebrate unity and peace.

Spirits are so prominent in world history, from distiller George Washington to Napoleon drinking before battle, that college courses should be offered to educate the masses on alcohol's political and governmental impacts. In Kentucky alone, with the average bottle being 60 percent tax, bourbon builds roads, schools and infrastructure to a state that's slowly losing its horse and coal industries.

But spirits are not taught in schools. They are treated as a loaded weapon with no Constitutional amendment. Stanford could promote how to respect alcohol and responsibly enjoy one or two drinks in an evening. Rather, the institution wipes away nearly a century's worth of progress and teaches young adults that it's better to prohibit alcohol from your life instead of drinking like an adult.

An annual federal study recently showed underage and binge drinking were at their lowest levels since the study's founding in 1975.

Advertisement

Many criticize the alcohol industry's promotion of "drink responsibly" and then encouraging Jameson, Fireball and Jagermeister shots in college bars. But responsibility education begins at home and in the schools.

It's on us, as parents, educators and citizens, to lead and live by example. Moderate and legal alcohol consumption encouragement and practice would do far greater good than prohibition or a warning label.

Stanford is attempting to punish its entire student body and local businesses for the horrible act of one man. But it won't work.

Stanford students will still drink distilled spirits at campus events. Only now, it's more likely they'll drink in spite of this 1920s-era policy.

Fred Minnick is the author of the new book, Bourbon: The Rise, Fall & Rebirth of An American Whiskey.

Advertisement

___________________
To help stem the tide of rhino poaching, some biotech companies such as Pembient are seeking to develop and manufacture synthetic horns that are biologically identical to the real thing. The thinking behind this is that the availability of bio-identical fake horns at a substantially lower price than wild horns would cause demand to shift towards the synthetic substitutes, which would reduce people's incentives to poach rhinos.

I have argued previously that--from the perspective of what would be most effective in curbing poaching--the synthetic horns should not be made to be perfect fakes, i.e., bio-identical. Instead, the synthetic horns should be engineered to be (i) difficult to distinguish from wild horns but (ii) undesirable or unappealing in some respect so that buyers would place little value on them. This proposal makes use of a phenomenon in economics known as adverse selection, which occurs when buyers in a market are unable to distinguish between high- and low-quality products, and their lack of information drives down demand--and, hence, prices--enough that high-quality products (which would be wild horns in the context of rhino horns) cease to be supplied by sellers.

For conservationists and others who are concerned about the fate of the rhinos, it is critical to understand why biotech companies would prefer making bio-identical synthetic horns--rather than undesirable fakes--because of the implications this has for conservation policies. Simply put, it would be more profitable to produce and sell perfect fakes rather than synthetic horns that would be considered undesirable. All else being equal, putting out undesirable fakes that buyers cannot distinguish from the real ones, by reducing demand for horns, would lead to lower prices in the horn market compared to the case with bio-identical synthetic horns. This, of course, would generate less revenue for the producers of synthetic horns.

Advertisement

Proponents of making perfect fakes could argue that bio-identical synthetics would be no less effective than undesirable fakes in bringing about adverse selection in the horn market and driving out sellers of wild horns. This is true if buyers view bio-identical synthetic horns to be significantly inferior to wild horns. However, as reported in The Guardian last year, Pembient's market research in Vietnam--one of the biggest markets for rhino horn trading--found that nearly half of the survey respondents who consume rhino horn for medicinal purposes would consider bio-identical synthetic horns to be suitable substitutes for wild horns. Moreover, a co-founder of Pembient suggested in the same article that perfect fakes could actually be better than wild horns due to their lack of contaminants. Therefore, bio-identical synthetic horns may not be undesirable or unappealing enough to drive out wild horn suppliers through adverse selection. In fact, if buyers consider perfect fakes to be more desirable than wild horns, the availability of synthetic horns could actually encourage more rhino poaching by driving up horn prices.

Advocates of making perfect fakes could also point out that--even if buyers do not consider bio-identical synthetics to be substantially inferior to wild horns--as long as there are enough bio-identical synthetic horns in the market, horn prices would be driven down to the point where wild horn sellers would be forced from the market. A rigorous theoretical analysis of this issue shows that it is not necessarily in the financial interest of synthetic horn producers to drive out all wild horn sellers; instead, they may prefer to prop up horn prices by keeping the production of synthetic horns at a relatively low level.

Rhino poaching numbers are climbing, and rising income levels in China and Southeast Asia--where demand for rhino horns is strongest--will almost certainly make matters worse in the near future if no significant changes occur. Economic principles tell us the availability of synthetic horns can decrease the supply of wild horns and reduce the amount of poaching. Since the development of undesirable fake horns or flooding the market with perfect fakes is incongruent with the profit motive, the real issue is just how big the effect of synthetic horns on poaching would be if the companies developing them are interested in profiting off of their products.

Advertisement

What policies can governments or conservation groups implement to ensure that the impact on poaching numbers is maximized when the biotech industry is ready to roll out bio-identical substitutes? To drive out wild horn suppliers using synthetic horns, the key would be to depress horn prices sufficiently. Here are a few suggestions for doing that. One is to subsidize the companies that produce synthetic horns--this would incentivize them to increase production and thereby drive down prices. Another option is to promote competition on the production side of synthetic horns. Financial incentives or policies that encourage more firms to enter the synthetic horn market would also put downward pressure on prices by raising the market supply. A third possibility is to make it easier or less costly for a non-profit organization to invest in or acquire the technology for producing synthetic horns since the non-profit entity could try to shut down the rhino horn market through adverse selection by making undesirable fakes.
Part-time or bi-vocational ministry is becoming commonplace, and frequently it is the go-to solution used by church leaders to address the needs of an increasing number of congregations.

This pattern is only going to intensify as mainline Protestant denominations shrink.

For example: 80% of all Episcopal churches are either family size congregations with an average Sunday attendance of 20 to 50 or pastoral size parishes with an average Sunday attendance of 75-140. The Very Reverend Kevin Martin, an authority on such matters, notes that both kinds of churches are in serious decline.

Denominational leaders need to ask themselves one set of questions, and clergy need to consider a second set. The answers they provide will be telling, for the churches, clergy and denominational leaders.

Advertisement

For denominational leaders, the questions are these:

1.Is part-time ministry dictated by the demographics of the area (which are largely out of the leader's control), or are they the product of choices that have been made by the congregation, its leadership, or the denomination?

2.If the latter is at issue and a church is moving to part-time pastoral care, why are leaders opting for part-time care? Was the church planted in a poorly chosen location? Is it in a location that no longer serves the needs of the community? Is the congregation lacking in vision or connection with the community? Has the church failed to offer the community a persuasive reason for attending church (i.e., does it preach the Gospel)? Is the church welcoming? Is the church mission-minded and open to change?

3.Is the assignment of part-time clergy a quick-fix or part of some larger vision for the future of the congregation? When churches are moved to part-time ministry, precedents are set for the congregation and for the denomination.

For clergy who are asked to take part-time responsibility for a congregation, these are the questions that they need to ask:

Advertisement

1.Where is the parish going, and what is the trajectory of the ministry that you are being invited to consider? What is the church's vision for its ministry? Are there reasons for the church to continue that rise above habit, practice, and sentimental attachment?

2.If there is no coherent answer to those questions, ask yourself and the leadership of the parish: Does the parish want part-time leadership with a coherent set of appropriate goals, or is the church simply trying to pay their pastor part-time pay for full-time work?

3.If there is no clear answer to the first and second set of questions, then clergy need to face the fact that the parish may not have a future. If that is the case, then ministry there may be hospice care for a dying congregation, and clergy need to ask themselves whether they have the gifts and graces for that kind of ministry.

Far too often, clergy say yes to caring for dying congregations because they don't know how to say no, but just because they are asked doesn't mean that ministry of this kind is their calling. More to the point, far too many clergy also struggle to help churches to survive that should have never been created in the first place.

Some years ago, sociologist, Robin Gill wrote a book on The Myth of the Empty Church in the United Kingdom, which is now in a second and significantly expanded edition. Gill points out that the thesis that church attendance is falling thanks to secularization misrepresents the truth about the life of the church in the UK. Many of the churches in the UK were never full and should not have been planted in the first place. Denominational leaders and clergy should take note of the same truth in North America where, Gill notes, the problem is even more common.

Advertisement
George Sifakis:

Welcome. Welcome to Ideagen, ideas leader radio. Today we have with us an exclusive Ideagen interview with one of the 2016 Power 100, UN Foundation President and CEO, Kathy Calvin.

Kathy, welcome!

Kathy Calvin:

Welcome to you! Looking forward to it.

George:

It's a tremendous honor and pleasure, especially based on all of the incredible things you're doing at the foundation, beginning with your bio. My goodness.

First of all, it's important to note that you're an advocate. You're a storyteller. You're a champion for girls. You're a motorcycle rider as a side kick, if you may, not the driver but the passenger, correct?

Advertisement

Kathy :

Correct. I have the lucky place on the back seat.

George:

That's so cool, and also equally importantly, a tri-sector athlete. Kathy's career has spanned across all sectors and walks of life including public, private and non-profit work. Kathy was made CEO by the UN Foundation Board in 2009 and President in 2013, which has been instrumental for advancing support for the UN mission as well as an advocate for public and private sector partnerships to bring about solutions to issues plaguing the world.

As the President and CEO of the foundation, Kathy works to bring about the inclusion of women into all sectors and opportunities across the globe. To work at the helm of the foundation advocate of the UN and connects people, ideas and resources form all over to help the UN on its many humanitarian missions. Being a public charity with partners, the foundation's work is committed to decreasing child mortality and to creating a clean energy future using mobile technology and development in improving U.S. and UN relations.

Kathy has received numerous awards and recognition for her philanthropic work including named to Newsweek's 150 women who changed the world in 2011 and in 2012. Kathy's on the board of International Woman's Media Foundation and plays an active role in empowering women via her innovation and leadership.

Kathy, I could go on with the unabridged version of your bio, but that would take up the entire interview spot and there's so much important work to talk about that you're working on.

Advertisement

Welcome again.

Kathy :

Well thanks, let's dig right in.

George:

Absolutely. Kathy, describe if you may the UN Foundation's unique mission and your work within the international community.

Kathy :

You know, it is a unique mission and it took a unique guy, Ted Turner, to recognize that there was a need for a UN Foundation. It didn't exist in 1997 when he had the bold audacious idea to make a billion, with a "b," dollar contribution towards the UN.

At the time he did it, it was before Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and audacious philanthropy, Sean Parker and all the people who have come since to make a really big difference with their philanthropy by thinking big and impacting a major institution, and what he wanted to do was to help the UN by ensuring that the U.S. always paid its dues on time and in full, so we do UN lobbying.

He wanted to make sure that lots of partners from all sectors could work with the UN and enhance the effectiveness around the world. He really believed that average individuals, whether you're a world leader or a billionaire or a 9 year-old kid could get involved with making a difference as a global citizen, and he wanted to make that possible.

It's unique and the UN calls us at various times to help them and we take that seriously and we're honored to be able to share that name with the UN and do that. We try to be like Ted Turner, innovative and bold, and using the power of communication to tell the story about what the UN does around the world.

Advertisement

George:

That's certainly one incredible commitment and certainly Ted Turner's vision and boldness is something that I think we all on the planet now appreciate based on all of the impact you have made in such a relatively short period of time.

I must also introduce today our team, Sabrina Parisi.

Sabrina:

Hi, nice to speak with you.

George:

... and Ben Hatchet.

Sabrina:

I do really find it interesting that you say his goal was to be innovative and bold, and so is the UN Foundation. Going off of that inspired you to join the UN Foundation?

Kathy :

Well, I hadn't worked in the non-profit sector and when Ted and the former president Tim Wirth invited me to join, I thought, "Wow. What do I know? What could I bring?"

I'm not a foreign policy expert, but in the end what inspired me was that I could see something big was happening in the non-profit sector. It was really becoming the place to be ... lots of innovation, lots of exciting opportunities to engage and make a difference. I thought the UN was the biggest brand around and would be a really interesting place to try to promote the partnership idea which was just becoming an idea at the time, about 15 years ago.

Lastly, I realized that one of my strengths and assets is that I'm pretty good at translating. At AOL I translated the new internet world to non-techies. When I was in politics I translated the candidates views to voters.

Advertisement

I love that I can help translate what the UN does on a daily basis to save lives and keep girls in school and ensure refugees have assistance. Those are very important things to be able to tell people about, so I love that opportunity to help change the world by helping translate what's going on and coming up with ideas and opportunities for people to be part of it.

For more information on Ideagen visit: www.Idea-gen.com
"Adam was singly taken aside by God from physically evolved humans and the image was divinely imparted to him."

Gary Fugle, biologist and author of Laying Down Arms to Heal the Creation-Evolution Divide

My previous post highlighted mere Christians like C. S Lewis (and I've written more on CSL here), who understood Adam and Eve as typological (or paradigmatic), but not historical. I'll call this Position A. Having read the comment section on that post, I realize many reject this position. And some vehemently!



So I now come to Position, B, those who say Yes to Adam and Eve as both typological and historical while engaging the consensus of modern science. They accomplish all this in some surprising ways.



Position B takes in the modern scientific consensus on the age of the earth and the development of hominins, but responds, "Hey, wait! We can't simply jettison Adam and Eve as real, historical people. There are biblical and theological commitments that are wrapped up in this." They believe that Adam and Eve are historical figures, but generally set out a period of time for common descent with other primates until a point in history when God decided to set Adam and Eve apart as the first and original human beings.

Advertisement

We could call those two groups "Adamites" and "pre-Adamites," as indeed the evangelical biblical scholar Derek Kidner does in his commentary on Genesis. Kidner proposed a "tentative" concept that could fit with population geneticists' theory of human origination. He proposed that pre-Adamites and Adamites shared the same genetic heritage. Because there was "no natural bridge from animal to man," God had to place his image upon Adam. He then may have acted similarly with the others who existed at that time, "to bring them into the same realm of being." In Kidner's view, Scripture presents Adam's sin "in terms not of heredity but of solidarity"--that is, in theological terms, his "federal headship." This headship may have extended, according to Kinder, "outwards to his contemporaries as well as onwards to his offspring, and his disobedience disinherited both alike."



To set out this perspective and as a voice who summarizes these positions and knows how to take the biology serious, I'll lean on my friend, colleague, and career professor of biology Gary Fugle as a guide. He sees a development through time from which homo sapiens sapiens (our species) emerged and then presents two possibilities for the historical Adam that square with modern science. First of all--as I quoted above--Adam was chosen by God to and "the image was divinely imparted to him." He adds, this image "was not something that simply evolved along with human physical features." The second possibility is that God "revealed himself in a special way to two individuals or a group of humans and this knowledge of God spread outward to other people who would hear."



Here the simple reader of the Bible might step back and muse, "There's nothing like this in the text. Genesis 2:7 states it simply that God created Adam from the dust of the ground. I don't see any other human-like creatures around." The response is that it may not be specifically in the text, but it's not contrary to the text and, even better, makes sense of some other texts--for example, where Cain and Seth found wives without their violating God's prohibitions for incest. And there's also the population of other human beings that's implied in Genesis 4:14,17.



What takes Positions A and B in different directions? Let's remember what they both affirm: that Jesus the God-man is historical that his bodily resurrection occurred in time and space. These two positions, however, diverge as to whether Adam and Eve have to be historical.



There are several biblical texts to consider, but two are absolutely critical--and it leads into the topic of original sin, of how Adam and Eve's disobedience affects us today. That is Romans 5, which I'll excerpt:

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.... Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people."

Paul in Romans 5: 5:12, 18

Secondarily, we arrive at Paul's succinct formulation:

"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

One man, the first Adam paired with one man, the new Adam. This seems fairly clear--Paul believed in an historical Adam (and Eve), and so should we. Here's why many evangelical mere Christians will find themselves uncomfortable with the purely typological approach. It doesn't seem to square with the natural reading of Scripture and certainly contradicts many statements of evangelical faith. Consider the traditional tenet (as summarized in Wheaton College's statement of faith) that "God directly created Adam and Eve, the historical parents of the entire human race."



With that in mind, does an historical or purely typological approach fit better with Paul? The noted Scottish evangelical biblical scholar James D. G. Dunn interprets Romans 5 with a nuance that fits with a typological approach:

"In particular, it would not be true to say that Paul's theological point here depends on Adam being a 'historical' individual or on his disobedience being a historical event as such.... Indeed, if anything, we should say that the effect of the comparison between two epochal figures, Adam and Christ, is not so much to historicize the individual Adam as to bring out the more than individual significance of the historic Christ." James D. G. Dunn

Dunn reminds us that Christ is the focus, not Adam. Therefore if Adam is not to historical, but typological or paradigmatic, there's no problem for what Paul is teaching here. Position A concludes: Yes, that's good exegesis and matches with excellent modern science.



Nevertheless, I imagine that many reading this would not want to disagree quickly or easily with the New York pastor and bestselling author, Tim Keller (I know I don't), who concludes,

"[Paul] most definitely wanted to teach us that Adam and Eve were real historical figures. . .If Adam doesn't exist, Paul's whole argument--that both sin and grace work 'covenantally'--falls apart. You can't say that 'Paul was a man of his time' but we can accept his basic teaching about Adam. If you don't believe what he believes about Adam, you are denying the core of Paul's teaching." Tim Keller

How do we decide between Positions A and B?



To answer that last question, let's remind ourselves that Christian faith is not named after Adam, but Christ. Therefore, Christians have to start with Jesus Christ--with his life, death, and resurrection, that he has saved us from sin, the world, and the devil--and then see what this implies about Adam. As the brilliant New Testament scholar N. T. Wright has taught me, when we hear the name "Adam" let's not only think "original sin," let's remember that Adam's vocation was to rule over all creation.



I arrive then at one, final Big Affirmation: mere Christians (whether evangelical or not) believe that redemption comes through the grace of Jesus Christ, received by faith. Within that affirmation, some say we need the historical Adam and Eve; others say we don't.



And that leads me to quote Greg Boyd (whom I cited in the previous post):

"this debate should be construed as a debate among orthodox Christians, not as a debate that determines whether or not one is an orthodox Christian"

as well as a a quip (behind paywall) from physicist, theologian, and bestselling author Karl GIberson (and Karl quips so well). Whether we believe in an historical Adam and Eve or not represents a

"disagreement that shouldn't cause us to hurl accusations of infidelity at one another."
This article was originally posted on Inverse.

By Eric Francisco

Conceived as the embodiment of the nuclear age in a devastated post-war Japan, Godzilla has destroyed Tokyo over and over again for six decades and counting. And in that time, many have wondered, why is Godzilla so angry? Is it simply in his nature? Is it because he was awoken from millions of years of deep sleep by the atom bomb? Maybe it's disappointment in the human race? Or could it be that Godzilla is just a lonely, horny, misunderstood monster?

Think about it: If Godzilla is aware of man's ability to love and have sex, but can't do it himself (blame American translations and Roland Emmerich for our assumption that Godzilla's a dude), wouldn't that upset him? Since his debut in 1954's Gojira, many experts have studied the legendary movie monster, and given serious thought to the mysteries of the big guy's anatomy.

So: does Godzilla have a penis?

"Yes, Godzilla has a penis," asserts writer and Godzilla expert Shyaporn Theerakulstit, pop culture pseudo-science expert who has given lectures on Godzilla's biology for panels at the Smithsonian and TEDx. Theerakulstit likens Godzilla's biology to that of most reptiles, pointing out his hemipenal bulge at the base of the tail below the belly. "If you look at pictures of this area on Godzilla, you will notice said bulge."

Advertisement

The company line, however, is that such anatomical specificity is off-limits.

"When you're working for Toho, it's just not a concern, you don't even think about it. It's not part of the design," explains Matt Frank, the comic book artist for IDW's ongoing Godzilla comic book series. "The design of Godzilla, Toho has to approve. You can't just have a hanging schlong out there."

But there have been few times that Godzilla's schlong has at least been referenced.

"There are a couple of pornographic comics that are official," recallsToho Kingdom blogger and Kanda University instructor Nicholas Driscoll. "One of them is a parody comic, Gojira Shin Kigeki (in English: Godzilla New Comedy), in which scientists are trying to stop Godzilla, and they create enemy Godzillas from his cells. One of them creates a cancer Godzilla. One creates a white blood cell Godzilla. The last one is made from Godzilla's sperm. They don't go into how they got the sperm, but it's a stupid-looking sperm with Godzilla's head, basically."

In 1985, an obscure Dr. Pepper commercial, tied to the Godzilla reboot released in Japan that year, featured Godzilla falling in love with a clearly feminine kaiju. To Frank, this is a misunderstanding of the kaiju mythos.

"The monsters are generally genderless, it's just not something Toho concerns themselves with," Frank explains. "The monsters aren't so much characters as they are actors. They're actors that Toho will plug into a film, and the monsters are rewritten to fit." In Gojira, Godzilla is a force of nature. In Terror of Mechagodzilla, Godzilla is a drunken git. In Son of Godzilla, the big monster is a reluctant, put-upon dad. And in terms of gender, well, it's just not acknowledged.

Advertisement

"The whole idea is that kaiju are inherently mysterious. If you know everything about them, they cease to be kaiju," Frank explains. "The term means mysterious beast, it means something unquantifiable. That's the thing Toho really stipulates nowadays. We can't really know everything about Godzilla. We're not even certain what he eats aside from radioactive energy. Unless it's a specific part of the story, [to know more] flies in the face of everything kaiju."

Godzilla's complicated continuity -- some of his movies are rebooted sequels that start their own parallel timelines -- make much of the monster's story canon up for debate. Dr. Bill Tsutsui, president of Hendrix College in Arkansas and author of Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters, agrees that Godzilla is complicated but does not think that Godzilla is any specific kind of mutated amphibian. As such, Godzilla may not necessarily have that hemipenal bulge, as Theerakulstit posits.

"That is one of those great mysteries of Godzilla," Tsutsui told Inverse. "In many films there [are] scientists speculating how Godzilla works internally. I don't think there's ever a definitive statement about Godzilla being biologically akin to any amphibian we now know."

Theerakulstit, on the other hand, believes there is no doubt about the matter, based on the canon established by Gojira and picked up again in the '80s. In that original film, Professor Yamane postulates Godzilla is a mutated therapod from the Cretaceous period that survived millennia in underwater caves. Triggered by the nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll, the therapod became Godzilla.

Advertisement

"Some believed it was the Abelisauridae, others speculated it was Ceratosaurus due to the armor plates along its back," says Theerakulstit. "However, Yamane was correct when he theorized Godzilla was from a transitional dinosaur form, as was confirmed in 1991 upon the discovery of the Godzillasaurus,' a specimen which survived on Lagos Island [in the film *Godzilla vs King Ghidora*]. It shortly mutated into a fully grown Godzilla."

So Godzilla may definitely have a penis, though we can't be sure. But let's assume, for a moment, that he does indeed pack heat. Can he use it? And does he just need a good shag to get rid of the pain of being a monster born of atomic warfare?

"I'm afraid your hypothesis is based on a faulty notion," Theerakulstit grimly states. "Godzilla's rages are fueled by humanity's tendency to blow up nuclear weapons next to Monster Island."

Theerakulstit also suggests that female kaijus (if Godzilla swings that way) may be bigger and more fearsome than any Godzilla we've seen, given that female lizards are bigger than their male counterparts. That would make for an absolutely gigantic kaiju; Gareth Edwards's Godzilla from 2014 and this year's Shin Godzilla have the monster just under 400 feet tall, which would tower over the Bank of America building in Manhattan.

"This sexual dimorphism explains why the female specimens never wander beyond territory, as they probably are less distracted by noises and shiny things than their male counterparts," he says.

Advertisement

So maybe Godzilla isnt looking for a sexual relationship, but what about something more meaningful, like love, as suggested in the Dr. Pepper commercials? Dr. Tsutsui agreed that Godzilla is, in fact, an emotional creature.

"It is implicit in the Japanese films that Godzilla is thinking and caring," he says. "It is in contrast with the American Tri-Star Godzilla, depicted as an animal driven by instinct."

Godzilla's American rival, King Kong, has demonstrated affection and desire by taking damsels for dates on the Empire State Building. But Godzilla has been chaste, favoring deeper connections like guardianship and family. While Roland Emmerich's 1998 monstrosity starring Matthew Broderick is regularly mocked by fans, a crucial plot point added reproductive wrinkles to Godzilla lore: The film posited that Godzilla can reproduce asexually.

"What in a Japanese film might be portrayed as affection for offspring, in that [Roland Emmerich] movie is portrayed as instinct that is less human than sort of the mother bear swatting anything near its young," Tsutsui says. "In the Japanese films, this is a monster that does have feelings. Whether love is one of them, that connection and defending human beings, is part of the question."

Advertisement

Long before Godzilla had an asexual offspring in 1998, he had a son in 1967's Son of Godzilla. A decade after Godzilla made his debut, his image as a horror icon loosened into an avenging sci-fi hero, and in Son of Godzilla he was given a son. Named Minilla (Godzilla Jr. in English translations), Godzilla fans remain doubtful over Minilla's origins.

"There is no area more gray than how [the] son of Godzilla appeared," Tsutsui comments. "We know there was an egg. We know a small, misshapen monster appeared from that egg, which doesn't look that much like his dad. But we don't know how that egg got there, what Godzilla's role in producing it was."

It's doubtful the filmmakers of a '60s monster movie considered the speculative science of atomic lizard reproduction, but as Dr. Tsutsui suggests, it's plot holes like these that have kept geeks debating for decades. "I don't know how to tell a male lizard from a female lizard to begin with," he admits, "but it really is as much about what you want to read into Godzilla's personality."

Driscoll thinks something happened off-camera. "The previous movie, Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, Godzilla kind of awakens to females," he explains. That movie was written as a King Kong movie, and King Kong likes girls. There's a scene where Godzillas checking out the main babe. He's staring, rubbing his nose, and its bizarre because Godzilla never does that in other movies. I imagine his lust awakened, then finds a real Godzilla girl, makes Minilla in-between."

Which brings us back to the question of Godzilla's biology, though we're less concerned with his theoretical monster than his internal reproductive organs.

Advertisement

Theerakulstit has another theory, one rooted in harder science. "It is generally accepted Minilla is a pre-adolescent Godzilla. He resembles Godzilla morphologically and the senior exhibits parental habits similar to crocodiles and birds," While Threeakultsit says no scientist "has witnessed a Godzilla mating, gestation, or egg-laying," he's confident that his mutation theory covers any doubts.

Birds and reptiles, which are closely related to dinosaurs, reproduce sexually. Dinosaurs have been shown to possess medullary bones, a type of bone found in birds used to store extra calcium for egg production. Like birds and reptiles, dinosaurs lay eggs, as well as build nests. And since Godzilla has evolved from a dinosaur, we can infer Godzilla reproduce sexually. And with that established, we can understand why Godzilla and Minilla seem to have a real connection.

"The two are able to communicate and the younger has similar energy projections to Godzilla," Theerakulstit adds. "Minilla was hatched from an egg prematurely on Solgell Island. It is unlikely some form of brood parasitism occurred which tricked Godzilla into caring for another species' offspring."

Ultimately, we may never truly know much about Godzilla's love life, though Driscoll once explored possible candidates at Toho Kingdom. Still, it doesn't make for a thrilling monster movie to see Godzilla break for lovemaking, but more importantly, maybe we're not meant to understand.

"Godzilla came from a certain historical context, and speaks to the Japanese people in a different way than it speaks to us," Tsutsui says. A Japanese-American who grew up in Texas and attended Harvard and Princeton, Dr. Tsutsui admired Godzilla as a child and used the movie monster as a bridge to his own culture and a launching pad for a career as a historical lecturer.

Advertisement

"People in the rest of the world can love Godzilla, but I think it touches different buttons for the Japanese than it ever will for us," he says. [He is more] than just a big lizard walking through Tokyo, but about some fundamental questions of Japanese society and culture."

When I asked him if Godzilla has a dick, he laughed.

"To my knowledge, no, but we don't have that kind of relationship."

Photos via Tumblr, GIPHY, Toho



MORE FROM INVERSE:
At this point, nothing about Tom Tancredo should surprise me, but surprised I was when he said Saturday he'd vote for Democratic State Sen. Morgan Carroll over Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman.

After Tancredo lashed into Coffman for caring about nothing except staying in office, KNUS host Craig Silverman asked Tancredo if he'd vote for Carroll over Coffman, if Tanc lived in Aurora where the Coffman and Carroll are battling each other in one of the closest congressional races in the country.

And Tancredo, whose Congressional seat was won by Coffman (with Tanc's support) after Tancredo stepped down, said he'd vote for the Democrat.

Advertisement

Silverman: Former Congressman Tom Tancredo says, 'Vote for Morgan Carroll over Mike Coffman.' Do I have it right? Tancredo: You got it right. [audio mp3="http://bigmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/Tancredo-For-Morgan-Carroll-08-20-16.mp3"][/audio]

But, I told Tancredo in a subsequent phone call, Coffman is much more hostile to immigrants than Carroll.

I told Tancredo I couldn't see how he'd favor Morgan Carroll, who, for example, has attacked Coffman for opposing the bipartisan immigration bill, and she supports a path to citizenship.

Advertisement

But didn't Carroll vote against the "Dream Act" in Colorado, Tancredo asked, reminding me that he'd referenced this on the radio, when he said, "Who knows, we may have something better [with Carroll]."

I told Coffman that Carroll had initially voted against providing in-state tuition for undocumented students in Colorado, but she later joined state lawmakers in passing the measure.

"With that in mind," Tancredo said after hearing this, "I guess I'd write somebody else in. That would probably be my fallback position."

Today, even with Coffman's shifts on immigration, Coffman is much more in Tancredo's immigration camp than Carroll, who's now as immigrant-friendly as they get, I told Tancredo.

Tancredo changed his mind. He wouldn't vote for Carroll.

"My point is this, more than anything else," said Tancredo. "... I am absolutely convinced that [Coffman] is a fraud. If Trump were [running] even in the district, or if [Trump] were ahead, I know that Mike Coffman would be putting ads on TV talking about how wonderful Trump is."

But does Tancredo think Coffman is sincere about his past and present opposition to the comprehensive immigration bill that Carroll supports?
Dear manager,

We need to talk about her. You probably know who. That analyst, designer, writer, engineer who has been at the organization for just a year or two and is already doing the work of someone several levels above her current pay band. Or maybe she's not even on your radar, because she's the dependable one who always delivers on-time and under budget, without any drama.

Despite this woman's outstanding contributions, you haven't promoted her or given her a raise. It's not fair, and you know it.

Advertisement

Maybe you think she has to wait her turn, or brush up on her soft skills and work better with others, or that she simply needs more experience. But all of those things also applied to the many talented men who have rapidly advanced through the ranks of your organization. They had somehow not been beholden to the same constraints of "promotions are given every three years" or "but what if so-and-so gets upset that they didn't get a raise, too?"



Despite this woman's outstanding contributions, you haven't promoted her or given her a raise. It's not fair, and you know it.



You've talked a big talk about mentoring and development opportunities, but when push comes to shove, you give her the less glamorous work, the "maybe next time" speech when she asks for a promotion or raise, the completed plan decided in a separate meeting without her, because it was just easier and perhaps you think she won't make as much of a fuss about it.

Maybe you even think you're getting away with it because she says "fine" and does a great job anyway. But do you really think that there's no resentment in that moment? No disappointment that's stacked on top of other disappointments that she suffers quietly with along with the occasional leer, dick joke and unwanted touching that she deals with as just the day-to-day life of a woman who is killing it in a company run by men?

Advertisement

She's no fool. She's taking classes outside of work, maybe with company support, but often paid out of her own pocket. She's got side projects where she's developing new skills and learning how to lead, because outside the company walls there's no one who can hold her back. She's got a network and she knows what her friends at other companies make and she has thought about what she might do if her paycheck were 20 percent, 30 percent, or 50 percent bigger.

It's not too late. You can still turn this around. But you'll have to move fast. Back up her decisions, especially when they are right but politically uncomfortable. Get her in front of senior leadership and show off her work. Give her a real challenge and the authority and space to operate. Show her how she can do better next time when she makes a mistake instead of just being annoyed. And pay her what she's worth, with a title to match. After all, she's grown more in the last six months than some of your team have grown in the last six years.

Do these things and she'll respect you and keep doing phenomenal work. Her dedication and ingenuity will pay off in dividends for your product, your team and your KPI's -- making you look like a star in front of your boss and your clients.



Sexism in the workplace is not always overt harassment. It can be downplaying the contributions of women ... or simply enforcing a higher bar for raises and promotions.



Fail to do these things and she will leave, probably after a big project wraps up because even in the end, she's still responsible. She'll take a better role at a new organization, where she hopes to have a manager who will appreciate what she brings to the table. You'll then have to write a job description, realize she was doing three people's jobs,and spend six months interviewing candidates, hoping to find someone as good as she was, only to discover that no one will accept a job at the salary you were paying her. And even after you finally hire her replacement(s), you'll still have to spend months getting them up to speed so that they, cross your fingers, might do as good a job as she did.

Advertisement

But all that hasn't happened yet. You still have time to make it right. So make it right.

***

Epilogue

First off, I'd like to say thank you to these wonderful women:

Belinda Chiang -- a Stanford classmate who's done impact investing in Cambodia, advised startups at Techstars, and is now a Product Manager at Hightower

Chevon Drew -- a former colleague at Percolate who's a senior digital communication associate at RaceForward

Sarah Allen -- a former coworker at the Presidential Innovation Fellowship who's a serial entrepreneur and team lead at Google.

These women took the time to provide meaningful feedback that improved this piece. I have immense respect for all of them and I hope you have a chance to work with, or work for, them someday.

This letter, addressed to both male and female managers, is inspired by the struggles I have heard from many talented, ambitious women who do amazing work that is as good and often better than the men around them, but don't get the recognition, compensation, or opportunity they deserve. These issues are often worse for women of color. Sexism in the workplace is not always overt harassment. It can be downplaying the ideas and contributions of women, comments like "she can be abrasive," or simply enforcing a higher bar for raises and promotions.

Advertisement

This isn't just something "other people" do. Well-intentioned men and women may still unintentionally reinforce patriarchal patterns and devalue women.

I include myself in that group.

While writing this post, I asked these women -- two of whom edit writing by trade -- to help review my article, for free. It was presumptuous and wrong of me to make such a request and not even offer to pay them for their time and expertise. #facepalm

I'm lucky that Chevon made the effort to call me out on this in a kind way and helped me see my mistake. Ultimately, I was able to provide direct financial compensation or make a donation on their name to RailsBridge, an organization that helps women and underrepresented minorities level up their programming skills. An important lesson learned.

Photo courtesy of wocintechchat.com.
One hundred years ago, leaders within the U.S government decided that the patchwork system of national parks created over the preceding 44 years needed a unifying structure. Over the years, Presidents and the Congress had set aside 14 national parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, and other familiar natural wonders, along with 21 national monuments.



But they were not uniformly managed in a way that would best preserve them for future generations. Different parks were managed by different agencies, including the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Army, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the General Land Office. Each agency had different priorities regarding the best way to utilize park resources.



Glacier National Park. Photo credit: Cristian Samper/WCS.



Thankfully, today we are celebrating the centennial of the signing of the Organic Act in 1916 that created National Park Service (NPS), the agency that has so ably served as steward of America's most treasured landscapes, seascapes, historical sites, and other special places.

Upon the NPS's insignia is the image of a bison, which is altogether fitting. The national parks conserve habitat for many of America's most iconic and important species, including the American bison - just adopted as the U.S. national mammal. National parks played a large role in the return of bison to the American prairie, which is acknowledged as the first conservation success story. They now live in nine different national park units.



The national parks were originally set aside for the enjoyment of people, but wildlife conservation has become an important mission for the NPS. Park biologists work to maintain the ecological health of a multitude of habitats within the parks, and that includes conserving many endangered species.





American bison in Yellowstone National Park. Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher/WCS.



Advertisement

For example, through the work of the NPS in Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of California, the critically endangered island fox has nearly recovered thanks to a program of captive breeding and threat mitigation. Out of the more than 400 units of the NPS, about half are home to at least one endangered species.



However, the conservation legacy of the National Park Service goes far beyond America's borders. Nearly every country on Earth has its own system of national parks, and many have benefited from the NPS's direct assistance. NPS's Office of International Affairs was established in 1961 and today continues to provide expertise in park and protected area management across the globe.



When the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) World Conservation Congress convenes in Honolulu, Hawaii next month, some of the conservation methods discussed will have been pioneered by the National Park Service.



Moose in Denali National Park. Photo credit: Chip Weiskotten/WCS.


Northwestern Study Says Yoga Can Help Disadvantaged Women

By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 25, 2016 3:06PM



Photo courtesy of Millennium Park.

The jolt of calm contentment yogis get from Child's Pose or Downward Facing Dog is universal, and now a new study out of Northwestern is suggesting it may even be more beneficial to practitioners who come from distressed backgrounds.

The study, headed by Northwestern's Inger Burnett-Ziegler, suggests mindfulness-based strategies like yoga and meditation can be particularly helpful for disadvantaged women.

Burnett-Ziegler and her team tracked the progress of 31 African-American women between the ages of 18 and 65 while they engaged in an eight-week program that incorporated meditation, yoga and body visualization exercises. According to a write-up about the study on Northwestern's site, 45 percent of the women said they had no prior experience with meditation and 71 percent said they'd never done yoga. After the eight weeks, patients a showed "significant" decrease in "depressive symptoms." The team conducted its research at the Komed Holman Health Center on Chicago's South Side where many participants were struggling with issues of poverty, violence, and a greater overall risk of depressive disorders.

These practices help them take a step back and live in the moment versus worrying about whats already happened or whats to come, Burnett-Zeigler said in a PR release. People who are depressed or who have depressive symptoms often have tunnel vision, whereby theyre only seeing information in the environment that supports their negative beliefs.

Such exercises and mindsets might be a helpful alternative to traditional therapy in disadvantaged communities where there's still a stigma around mental health services like therapy and many are without health insurance. The study, which was published earlier this month in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, found patients kept experiencing reduced symptoms of depression and stress even weeks after the program concluded. The approach is also promising because even in areas with minimal access to group classes or studios, websites, apps and other free resources are available to women who could benefit from them. Burnett-Ziegler said she's planning on using future studies to examine the feasibility of implementing low-cost mindfulness-based approaches to mental health nationwide. Women who were able to learn techniques for slowing down and connecting symptoms in their body with psychological stress showed improvement. Just a shift in mindset can be a big help, Burnett-Ziegler said.

[h/t: Chicago Tonight]
There is something wrong with the United States. It's like a Monet. The longer you stare at it, the clearer it becomes. The change is subtle, taking place over time and requiring outside perspective. This became clear to me as I returned to the US after spending a long weekend in Montreal, where I have been vacationing for twenty years.

I was in Montreal, on August 14th, to celebrate gay pride. I have attended the New York pride parade every year and this year I wanted to experience a Canadian rendition. There are stark differences between both events. And I now see how the United States has chosen a path of fear and isolation while Canada has chosen hope and integration.

In New York, like in many cities around the United States, the people in the parade and those watching from the sidelines are predominantly part of the LGBT community. However, Montreal has an additional group of attendees often missing from a United States pride parade: straight people. Husbands and wives with children in strollers; old women with their daughters and tourists from across Canada. These weren't people who had a gay son or daughter marching in the parade. These were people who had come out to support minority members of the larger Montreal community. To embrace the French motto of liberte, egalite, et fraternite.

Advertisement

The other stark difference between the New York pride parade and Montreal's was the security; or lack thereof. At the New York gay pride parade barricades line every street separating attendees from participants. There are even barricades set up on streets where the parade doesn't go, simply for crowd control. It's commonplace to see thousands of police officers some of which are in riot gear, flak jackets, and carrying semi-automatics; shutting down streets at a moments notice and barking orders to attendees to clear the way. This year I had to explain to an officer, who seemed stressed beyond a breaking point, that he had trapped my friends and I on a street that had already been closed at the other end.

In clear juxtaposition Montreal had a minimal police presence and lacked barricades separating attendees from marchers. The most shocking disparity came with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marching freely down the parade route, waving and smiling to an enthusiastic audience towering over his own security detail. It is true that as Senator Hillary Clinton has previously marched in the New York gay pride parade, but no sitting United States President has ever marched.

After the parade, I attended a free concert held in a park near Montreal's gay village. I was in line to enter and the girl in front of me fell to her feet. An old, white bearded security guard yelled out "Watch your step!" He wasn't there to pat her down or make sure that she went through metal detectors. He wasn't checking bags. He was only there to make sure the line kept moving. The outdoor event hosted tens of thousands of other revelers, gathered to listen to great techno music, watch Canada's drag queens, and celebrate the LGBT community. I had grown so accustom to security rifling through my bag that I actually felt uncomfortable when they didn't.

Canada isn't free from terrorism. In October 2014, the country experienced two shocking attacks that killed two officers and injured another. So why aren't they paranoid like us? Don't they know that the person sitting next to them might be carrying a knife or even an explosive?

Advertisement

Perhaps this is because Canada has made efforts to combat xenophobia and fear of terrorism. To date, Trudeau has contributed $100 million to the UN in order to aid the resettlement of Syrians to Canada. He doubled the amount of immigrant applications for parents and grandparents in order to foster family reunification. Then he provided all of them with health care benefits.

Even if Donald Trump loses the upcoming election, he's created a climate of isolation and paranoia. So it seems, in the coming years, the United States will be more likely to increase our police presence at community events and arm those officers with weapons that much more resemble war than those needed to keep the peace. We have become a society that distrusts one another that watches our neighbors. Where paranoia is the norm.

How do we put this hate fearing maniacal genie back in the bottle? A good place to start would be to look north to a country that has opened its hearts and hands to the less fortunate on this planet. A country that celebrates its diversity and in return lives relatively free from the fear.
Kurdish and Arab fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces during the Battle of Manbij, July-August 2016

On August 24, 4:00 a.m. local time, Turkish military forces crossed over into Syria and began a drive to oust Islamic State (IS) militants from the Syrian town of Jarabulus. The town is the last remaining stronghold of IS along the Turkish-Syrian border and has been used as a smuggling route to bring jihadists into Syria, as well as smuggle out antiquities and oil.

The Turkish intervention, dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield, is being supported by U.S. and coalition air forces and possibly US Special Forces units, as well as approximately 1,500 to 2,000 fighters drawn largely from the Jabhat al-Shamiya, Sultan Murad, Turkmen Martyrs Battalion, Nour al-Din al-Zinki and Faylaq al-Sham units, from the Saudi and Turkish supported, Ahrar al-Sham. The total size of the Turkish force is unclear.

Advertisement

This is the second time that Turkish forces have intervened in Syria. In February 2015, a Turkish force crossed the border to evacuate Turkish troops guarding the tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. The contents of the tomb were removed and taken to Turkey.

Both the Syrian government and the spokesman for the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) criticized the Turkish action. A Syrian government spokesman condemned the intervention as a "a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty." A Syrian Kurdish spokesman called it "blatant aggression," and declared that Syria would become a "quagmire for Turkey."

The Turkish intervention adds a new element of uncertainty to a battlefield that in recent weeks has been growing even more chaotic and complex. Recently, Syrian and American jets found themselves in a close encounter, while below them the U.S. supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were engaged with units of the Syrian Army. Meanwhile in northern Syria, the SDF clashed with the Turkish backed, Free Syrian Army (FSA) while both were contesting control of Islamic State occupied Jarabulus in northern Aleppo province.

Turkey's action was prompted by the refusal of the Kurdish led SDF to retreat from newly taken Manbij and withdraw to positions on the east bank of the Euphrates. Ankara's insistence that the SDF not advance beyond the Euphrates has been an issue between Turkey and the United States, but it now appears that Washington has come around to supporting Ankara's position and is also insisting that the SDF withdraw. Over the last year the SDF has emerged as Washington's most effective proxy in the Syrian Civil War and there has been close cooperation between the SDF and U.S. air forces.

Advertisement

Faced with the choice of having to live with either the continuation of the Assad regime, at least in the short-term, or the prospect of a Kurdish state along its southern border, Ankara has opted for the former. It's likely that Turkish overtures to both Russia and Iran, and Ankara's new, publicly stated willingness to accept the continuation of Bashar al-Assad as a short-term transitional figure in a post-civil war Syria, was a quid pro quo for acceptance of the Turkish intervention.

For Ankara, the most important objective now is neither the defeat of the Islamic State nor the overthrow of the Assad regime, but to prevent the seizure of the portion of Aleppo province that lies between the Kurdish controlled Kobani and Afrin cantons by the SDF.

At the moment there are three major theaters of operation and one minor one in Syria. Two of these theaters are primarily engaged with the Islamic State, while the other two involve conflict between the various Syrian rebel groups and the Assad government.

North Aleppo Front prior to the Turkish intervention

These theaters are: the northern portion of the Aleppo Protectorate between Afrin and Kobani cantons; the city of Aleppo and Idib province; and the core Islamic State Euphrates corridor between Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour, and the minor southern front theater. The Turkish intervention will likely impact all three major theaters.

The conflict in the northern Aleppo theatre involves a twofold struggle, first to oust Islamic State from the region along the Turkish border, and secondly to determine whether they will be replaced by the American-backed, Kurdish led SDF or the Turkish supported FSA.

Advertisement

As of Wednesday morning, Turkish authorities announced that Islamic State militants were withdrawing from Jarabulus and that the town would soon be secured. That leaves al-Bab as the last major IS stronghold in the region.

Islamic State has lost control of most of the major roads that connect the border areas with Raqqa and the rest of Islamic State territory. It was still able, however, to use secondary roads around Jarabulus to smuggle in jihadists and to a lesser extent smuggle out antiquities and oil.

For the SDF, control of the region is critical to enable a linkup between Afrin, Kobani and Jazira cantons. This is the core area of the recently announced Syrian-Kurdish state of Rojava. For the FSA, the region is the main supply line from Turkey to Aleppo. The FSA can also supply Aleppo through Idib province, but this route is longer and there are more opportunities for Syrian and Russian air forces to interdict supply convoys.

The second major theater, the conflict in the city of Aleppo and in western Aleppo and Idib provinces, is primarily a contest between the FSA and various Syrian rebel groups against the Assad government. Islamic State, however, has mounted opportunistic attacks against both the Syrian government and rebel forces and is determined to prevent either side from dominating this area. This is the core area controlled by the Syrian rebels and the only region that has access to direct Turkish aid.

The total rebel strength is estimated at between 75,000 and 150,000. These groups include the FSA, Ahrar al-Sham, the Saudi backed coalition of various Islamist groups that collectively are second in strength to the FSA, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, previously known as the al-Qaeda affiliated, al-Nusra Front, and a smaller Islamist alliance, also Saudi backed, Jaish al-Fatah. Ideological, religious and tribal divisions, however, hopelessly divide the rebels.

Advertisement

Against them are arrayed between 250,000 and 300,000 men consisting of Syrian Armed Forces, roughly half, various pro-Assad militias, a third, and with the balance made up of Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian sponsored militias. Not all of these forces, however, are in theater.

The rebels have been supplied by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies and some of the groups within the larger rebel coalitions have received military equipment from the United States. Their biggest weakness, however, is that they lack consistent air support. Syrian forces, on the other hand, have the advantage of numerical superiority, better equipment and, most importantly, Russian and Syrian air support.

The third major theater is the core Islamic State territory in the Euphrates River valley from Raqqa to Deir ez-Zour. This is where the bulk of the Islamic State's population in Syria is located. This is the heart of IS. At its northern end is the Islamic State capital of Raqqa and at the southern end is Deir al Zour, at the junction of the transportation link between the two parts of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Syrian civil war as of Augut 12, 2016

At the moment a force of SDF fighters have been slowly advancing toward Raqqa from the northeast. Syrian military forces have been advancing from the west toward Raqqa, while another force has been advancing from Palmyra, in the southwest, toward Deir al-Zour.

It's possible that the race to capture Raqqa might become a proxy contest between U.S. and Russian backed forces. The core IS territory is predominantly Sunni, however, and there are political issues with having a predominantly Kurdish force advancing into a historic Sunni area. Moreover, for the Kurds in the SDF, the primary objective remains the Northern Aleppo Theater. There is little interest in shedding Kurdish blood to liberate Sunni areas from IS control.

Advertisement

Syrian forces have been steadily advancing against both Raqqa and Deir al-Zour. Recent troop movements, and an escalation of Russian air attacks, suggest that Deir al-Zour is the immediate target of the Syrian advance. There are two Syrian brigades besieged by IS militants in the city. More importantly, the capture of Deir al-Zour would separate the last road link between the Islamic state in Iraq and Syria.

Eventually the war against Islamic State will come down to this core area. It's likely that IS will have been largely expelled from Mosul and the rest of Iraq by the time its core territory comes under direct attack. IS has had several years to prepare itself for the final onslaught. From here, its militants have nowhere else to go. In IS's apocalyptic vision of its future, it is here that the final battle will be fought.

The final theater is in the south and southwest. This is a minor theater that pits rebel forces against the Syrian government in the west and Islamic State in the east. This region is largely desert. Rebel forces here are cut off from the rebel forces in Aleppo and Idib provinces. More importantly, neither Israel nor Jordan, the two countries that border this region of Syria, has showed any interest in providing safe havens or assistance to the rebels. Despite some initial success, the rebels have failed to make any progress in seizing Damascus and this region, at least for now, remains firmly in Syrian government hands.

For now, the Syrian battlefield remains highly fluid. Islamic State is on the defensive but it still a long way from being rolled up and defeated. It has had several years to prepare for the defense of its core area in the Euphrates Valley between Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, and it can be expected to defend this area tenaciously. In the North Aleppo Theater, Islamic State is being rolled steadily back, but this success is in danger of being overshadowed by a potential conflict between the SDF and Turkish forces.

The Aleppo front represents the core theater in which the Syrian rebels are engaged. Despite being outnumbered, out gunned and lacking consistent air support, the rebels have held their own against Syrian government forces. The siege of Aleppo has become a sort of litmus test measuring the effectiveness of the rebels against the Assad regime. Aleppo is an important city, the financial capital of Syria and its second largest city. If the rebels lose control of Aleppo, then they have only Idib province in their rear to fall back on.

Advertisement

The Turkish intervention will spawn a host of critical questions. At the moment there are more questions than answers. As of wednsday night a least two questions were being answered. SDF forces confirmed that they were withdrawing to the east bank of the Euphrates and Turkish military sources confirmed they were not planning to leave anytime soon
NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado's mission is to protect abortion access and to oppose any and all attempts to limit it. In Colorado there is a 2016 ballot measure, Amendment 69, that has the good intention of universal healthcare, but a serious policy flaw that it cannot fund abortion care as written. While Amendment 69 does not outlaw abortion, it places a financial burden on women currently covered for abortion care under private insurance; coverage lost if this measure were to pass.

It is our basic guiding principle that abortion is a central component of reproductive health care and this is why NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado opposes Amendment 69, also known as ColoradoCare.

Why would Amendment 69 restrict access to abortion care? Because in 1984, Colorado voters passed a constitutional ballot measure that explicitly bans any public funds to be used for abortion care. NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado has outlined the issues with the Colorado Constitution's Article V, section 50 in our press statements.

Advertisement

ColoradoCare would be established as a "political subdivision" of the state, therefore prohibited from providing coverage for any abortion services to women except when continuing the pregnancy would endanger the life of the pregnant woman.

There is a lot of misinformation around abortion care, so let's be clear. About 89 percent of all abortions in the US occur in the first trimester, but women who find they are unable to carry a pregnancy to term may need to access care beyond the first trimester. Those procedures, while relatively rare, are also very costly. Insurance currently covers most of these procedures in our state, but would NOT be able to if ColoradoCare was implemented in state law as drafted. More than 550,000 women of childbearing age in Colorado - who, today, have insurance coverage for abortion services as part of their contracted benefits, will lose access to abortion coverage benefits if Amendment 69 passes.

It has been suggested that if voters approve this ballot measure in 2016 that it would overturn the current funding restriction. We believe that is false. A more recent ballot initiative that is constitutional does not automatically repeal something currently in our constitution unless it is specified. Amendment 69 is general, and not only lacks specific protections for abortion care, but is silent on the issue.

One of the more disturbing arguments we've heard is that abortion rights proponents should remain neutral despite these serious policy concerns, and work it out later. This amounts to nothing more than asking women to "wait our turn" while more important issues are considered. Comparing the relative importance of one health care issue over another is bad policy and bad politics. Women - and women's health care - have been asked to take the back seat, and our answer is NO.

Advertisement

Leaving women's medical coverage in limbo or up to the Colorado Supreme Court is not a viable option. In a legal environment where abortion rights have been limited by legal action in many states, it is a great risk to expect women to put aside a central component of our healthcare and equality. In a state where we have protections in the current health care system,. It is unacceptable to risk the loss of coverage for so many women, and outrageous to expect an abortion rights organization to be quiet.

We've heard from detractors that because Amendment 69 will guarantee access to birth control and because abortion is "elective" that our concerns are unfounded. That doesn't cut it, and it misses the point entirely - abortion care should not and cannot, be separated from comprehensive health care for Colorado women.

Experts agree: according to the American Congress of Obstetrician Gynecologists, "Safe, legal abortion is a necessary component of women's health care." Amendment 69 does not include it. It cannot add it, hope for it or make us wait to fix it later.

Here is an example of the kind of feedback we have been getting:

"If NARAL really cared about Colorado women's access to abortion, it would be campaigning for the repeal of Amendment 3 the Ban on Public Funding of Abortion Act, not opposing Amendment 69. Amendment 69 also known as Colorado Care would provide more access to prenatal care and gynecological services which in turn would reduce the necessity for abortions."



The reality of abortion care is that 46 percent of pregnancies in Colorado are unintended, so all the prenatal health care in the world won't eliminate the need to provide abortion care, even in the very best of circumstances.

If this writer had more knowledge about the ballot initiative process in Colorado, they would know that a successful "Yes" ballot campaign could cost upwards of $10 million, and take several years to plan. NARAL, in coalition and at great expense, successfully defeated personhood ballot measures in 2008, 2010 and 2014, so we have some experience in this area. Sometimes, policy and electoral processes aren't as clear cut as simply supporting an ideological idea. NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado firmly believe this funding ban must be overturned, but it will not be in time to work cooperatively with Amendment 69.

Advertisement
The world's second and third largest democracies by population, the United States and Indonesia, are far apart, at opposite ends of the world. They wrestle today, however, with eerily similar questions about religious difference. Religious diversity is, for both societies, a founding principle and a source of national pride. Today, however, tensions among religious communities, especially when expressed through political processes, indicate that cherished patterns of religious tolerance simply cannot be taken for granted.

Early this month, USINDOhttp://www.usindo.org/ (a longstanding entity that promotes joint efforts between the two countries) launched a new Indonesia U.S. Council on Religion and Pluralism in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Its mandate is above all about mutual learning, drawing on the rich and often underappreciated experience of the two countries. The effort has the blessing of the Presidents of the two countries (indeed, it was inspired by them) though it is deliberately and clearly non-governmental. The issues involved, not far removed from the eruptions of violence we are seeing across the world, could not have greater global significance.



The problem? Evidence that much vaunted religious harmony in both societies is challenged both by ideologies and groups, some that deliberately use violence to disrupt and foment discontent, others whose work unsettles an uneasy calm or betrays underlying fault lines. Lack of knowledge and ignorance also play significant parts. As one Council member noted, "if we do not know, we cannot love".

Advertisement

Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, takes pride in its distinctive approach to managing religious diversity. Muslims are a large majority but other religious traditions, notably Christians and Buddhists, are the majority in some regions. Though the principles of religious respect have a long history, Indonesia's democracy is relatively young, and a somewhat ironic challenge today is how religious difference plays out in a competitive, robustly open democracy. A vital aspect of the system today is decentralization, which means that local politics is often where touchy issues, like locations of religious buildings or issues around gender relations, are played out.

The United States, of course, in the throes of the 2016 electoral campaigns, is witnessing new expressions of anxiety about the "loss" of a Christian hegemony, worries about immigration from areas with religiously linked violence, and the evaporation of norms that often kept expressions of crude instincts of intolerance in check. The time-honored tradition of "being considerate" seems at times forgotten.

The new Council is to address these challenges: "In a world increasingly at risk owing to misunderstanding and intolerance of other religions, lack of appreciation of diversity, and religious extremism, it is important for the positive values of Indonesia and the United States to be shared and enhanced in both countries as well as more broadly."

The diverse group studiously avoided the temptation to cast the challenges in terms of "countering violent extremism", seeking instead to emphasize that there are countless heartening stories of courageous and creative community responses to unrest and unease. In both countries, where violent incidents or threats occur, spontaneous groups come forward to protect and console. In short, there is much positive experience as well as core principles grounded in faith to build on.

Advertisement

Four themes struck me forcibly

The challenges of language loomed large. How to define extremism? Pluralism? Even religion? Sect? How to avoid the tepid connotations of the important word tolerance? The group wrestled with differing understandings of terms that have to be used to communicate across divides and convey what is meant and what is envisioned for the future.

Significantly, education was a centerpiece of discussion and planned action. It's a complex challenge as well as an opportunity. It is close to a truism that educated citizens are the foundation for successful, tolerant, plural societies but the question remains how to do it when contending with huge and complex systems. Indonesia has a highly developed, diverse, and sophisticated Islamic education system that clearly plays vital roles in shaping attitudes and behaviors (the Muslim movement, Muhammadiyah, runs over 30,000 educational institutions including some 152 institutions of higher education). The U.S. education system, in all it complexity, also has roles to play in addressing the undercurrents of poor understanding and intergroup tensions.

Communications are pivotal so it is excellent that journalists are contributing. Their counsel is essential, whether in promoting positive understandings of other communities, in building bridges across divides, or in understanding radicalization.

And finally, as always, follow the money. Appreciating flows of funds but also the barriers to charitable finance is a vital part of understanding grievances as well as patterns of radicalization. It is equally vital for inspiring and channeling positive ideas and initiatives.
As college students return to campuses all over the country this week, two University of Texas students organized and pulled off a creative, impactful and provocative public protest against the new concealed-guns-on-campus law, passed by the Texas State Legislature last fall. Jessica Lin and Ana Lopez consider the new law allowing anyone with a Texas concealed carry permit to carry their gun onto all public university campuses an obscenity, which got their wheels turning.

University of Texas's flagship campus in Austin was the scene of America's first/worst school mass shooting back on August 1, 1966. Ironically, 50 years later, Texas right-wing legislators selected that same date in 2016 for the new campus-carry law to go into effect. 14 people on the UT campus were killed and 32 were injured by a student shooter perched on top of the Texas campus' most visible landmark in 1966. One has to wonder about short memories in the Longhorn state.

Now, thanks to a nationwide push by the National Rifle Association and their right-wing ideologue political supporters, several states have passed concealed-guns-on-campus laws over the past decade. Many other state legislatures have taken up bills relaxing concealed carry laws to include campuses, Georgia's legislature passed such a law which was vetoed by Republican Gov. Nathan Deal just a few months ago.

Advertisement

This week's UT-Austin protest was dubbed "cocks not glocks" with thousands of rubber dildos passed out and displayed by students to bring attention to the "absurdity" of allowing concealed guns on campus. When Lin and Lopez researched campus obscenity laws last fall, they found that it was illegal to openly display the sex toys and law breakers could receive citations from law enforcement. Thus the idea was hatched to highlight the absurdity that carrying a sex toy was breaking the law, while carrying a deadly loaded weapon was legal. The protest is meant to dramatize the absurdity "with something more absurd".

Said Jessica Lin recently, "If the guns around you aren't making you uncomfortable, then maybe this dildo protest will make you think twice about what it is that makes you feel uncomfortable, and why." Observers have labeled this type of symbolic protest agitprop and it may just catch on.

Local Texas news coverage has reported that literally thousands of UT-Austin students swamped the on-campus sites where dildos were given away and the hashtag #cocksnotglocks has caught fire on Twitter and Facebook. The local Moms Demand Action for Gunsense in America supported the protest and national gun violence prevention organizations and activists are taking note as well.
"You have to find the traces of fear and silence that are visible, whether it's in the furrow of someone's brow or in the water as it flows down an aging torso." Filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer talks about the making of his beautiful and hair-raising Oscar-nominated documentaries.

While Oppenheimer's two most-well known films focus on perpetrators living with impunity, his work generally centres on questions of the nature of being and time, an interest that led him to study theoretical physics and cosmology as a young man. "Gradually I discovered that these were philosophical questions - not precisely physical questions, but metaphysical questions." Filmmaking, for Oppenheimer, is a way of continuing this exploration of how we experience the world, an attempt at creating a "life practice" that examines how we perceive and feel ourselves in the universe.

Advertisement

In the Oscar-nominated film 'The Act of Killing' (2012) Oppenheimer challenges former Indonesian death-squad leaders to restage their mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish. Oppenheimer explains: "These performances of the present day lies, fantasies, stories, scripts that the perpetrators tell themselves so they can live with themselves" are what make up the film and become the basis of what the director sees as a new approach to non-fiction filmmaking in which everything is simultaneously real and fictional.

Joshua Oppenheimer (b. 1974) is an American producer and director, who has studied at Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts as well as Central Saint Martins in London. Oppenheimer has been Oscar-nominated twice - for 'The Act of Killing' (2012) and 'The Look of Silence' (2014). For these two documentaries he has furthermore received several prestigious awards including a Panorama Audience Award, the European Film Award for Best Documentary, a Robert Award, a BAFTA for Best Documentary, the Grand Jury Prize at the 71st Venice International Film Festival and the International Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI). Other movies include 'The Globalization Tapes' (2003) and 'The Entire History of the Louisiana Purchase' (1998). He lives in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Joshua Oppenheimer was interviewed by Roxanne Bagheshirin Lrksen at Cinemateket in Copenhagen, Denmark in April 2016.
This year, Americans celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service. On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act. The bill culminated decades of effort by a remarkable generation of dedicated men and women who fought to protect the nation's natural wonders for the democratic enjoyment of the people.

The greatest of these passionate parks advocates was John Muir, "Father of the National Parks." Muir was a naturalist and activist who wrote over 300 articles and a dozen books. In these works, he sang the praises of parks and other special natural places and called for their protection from commercial exploitation. His words still speak to us as the National Parks system enters its second century and remind us of his spirit and his principles.

Earlier this summer, my son and I backpacked for five days in Yosemite National Park. No place is more closely linked to Muir than Yosemite Valley. Overwhelmed by its beauty on his first visit in 1868, he lived in the valley for 11 years, beginning in 1869. In these years, he gained national recognition as a naturalist and nature writer. In 1880, he married, became a fruit-grower in Martinez, raised a family--and stopped writing.

Advertisement



"John Muir Cane" by Francis M. Fritz. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

At this point in his life, Muir had done little to earn the title "Father of the National Parks." In 1864, four years before he ever saw it, Yosemite Valley was given by Congress to California as a park. Yellowstone, the world's first national park, was established in far-off Wyoming in 1872, when Muir was still relatively unknown.

Muir's career took a dramatic turn in 1889, when Robert Underwood Johnson arrived in California. Johnson was the crusading editor of Century magazine and he was looking for West Coast authors. In particular, he wanted to get Muir writing again. The two men went camping in the Sierra. Disturbed by overgrazed mountain meadows and abused forests, they planned a campaign for an enlarged federal park in Yosemite. Muir wrote the articles describing the proposed park that Johnson published in Century, while Johnson pulled strings in Washington. Simultaneously, other advocates were promoting a park to protect the Sierra's ancient sequoia trees. In 1890, the two campaigns achieved the first major expansions of the parks with the creation of Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park.



"John Muir, Washington Column" by Francois Matthes. Public domain via Yosemite Online.

Johnson urged Muir to form an association to protect the new parks from destructive commercial interests. Muir co-founded the Sierra Club in 1892, which remains one of the nation's oldest and most influential environmental organizations. Johnson further encouraged Muir to write books to swell public appreciation for the parks. Muir set to work writing The Mountains of California (1894), Our National Parks (1901), and The Yosemite (1912). They did not simply extol the nation's parks. More importantly, these books called for better parks management and for protection for the nation's other natural wonders.

Muir's work ignited demand for further extension of the national park system. His 1901 Our National Parks only had three parks to cover. By 1916, when the National Park Service was established, there were 14. Sadly, Muir had died two years earlier, but he had already secured his title as "Father of the National Parks." His friend and mentor Johnson remarked, "Muir's writings and enthusiasm were the chief forces that inspired the movement. All other torches were lighted from his."

Advertisement

Now, one hundred years later, the commercialism that Muir fought so hard against is pushing harder than ever into the National Parks. Underfunded by Congress, the National Park Service courts corporate sponsors. A private concessionaire quietly trademarked iconic national park names and is demanding millions of dollars for the use of "Yosemite National Park," "Ahwahnee Hotel," and other names it had no role in creating. Anti-government ideologues and robber barons push to privatize the National Parks or devolve them to the states.

Nowadays, you sometimes hear that Muir is no longer relevant in the twenty-first century. Yet, as long as we continue to respect and protect the national parks he loved, his legacy will live on. Let us also endeavor to light our torches from Muir's and keep the light bright for future generations to enjoy.
JACKSON, MS - AUGUST 24: Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks to the crowd at a rally at the Mississippi Coliseum on August 24, 2016 in Jackson, Mississippi. Thousands attended to listen to Trump's address in the traditionally conservative state of Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

I can't believe I have to write this again. But too many in the media continue to promote a shallow narrative about Donald Trump and LGBT rights. They engage in dangerous shorthand, which betrays a lack of real interest in the issue while they try to easily slot Trump into a story.

Latest example: Week before last, The Washington Post's Phillip Rucker, in a story headlined, "For Millennial Voters, the Clinton vs. Trump Choice 'Feels Like a Joke,'" claimed that both Hillary Clinton and Trump are reaching out to millennials even though millennials supposedly aren't interested in either. Now, it's hard to find any examples of Trump even talking about millennials -- unlike Clinton many times discussing college tuition, for example, or discussing outreach to Bernie Sanders' supporters -- so Rucker grasps in giving an example of Trump not "ceding" this demographic.

Advertisement

"He talks openly about gay rights -- a greater priority for millennials -- and his 34-year-old daughter, Ivanka, has championed his cause with her peers," Rucker wrote.

I can't find any evidence that Ivanka Trump has "championed" any "cause" for gays -- unless you include her having a gay friend at her wedding. In fact, in at least one case, she apparently helped Trump nail down conservative delegates in North Dakota by assuring them he opposed marriage equality. But putting that aside, there is absolutely no evidence anywhere of Donald Trump promoting gay "rights" or talking openly about them-- except to take them away.

As I pointed out in the past when The New York Times' Maggie Haberman wrote a story which included a headline that touted Trump as "more accepting on gay issues," Trump is firmly opposed to the most prominent LGBT civil rights issue of our time, marriage equality. He has gone on the Christian Broadcasting Network and promised to put judges on the Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell ruling, which he called "shocking." And those among the list of justices he said he'd put on the high court -- in the mold of the late Justice Scalia, as he has put it -- would certainly harm LGBT rights in many other ways. Trump has said he supports the First Amendment Defense Act, which would discriminate against LGBT people. I've written over and over again about how Trump is a mortal threat to LGBT rights.

Advertisement

Without offering details of any kind, Trump has claimed he is better for LGBT people than Hillary Clinton, but after waffling he even defended North Carolina's transgender "bathroom bill," leaving it to the state to decide whether to discrimnate or not. And he's mentioned "LGBTQ people" a few times, but only in the context of protecting us from foreign terrorism, fitting it neatly into his demonization of Muslims and indeed attempting to pit gays against Muslims, exploiting the Orlando massacre for his own purposes. But that is not evidence of talking openly of gay "rights." That's about protecting queer people, like all Americans, from terrorism, as any president should do (as wrong-headed as Trump's policies are.)

Trump has never talked about protecting us from an ugly domestic ideology of the Family Research Council (labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center) and other extremist groups on the Christian right which have endorsed him and which seek to take away and impede our rights. (Nor has he discussed the brutal foreign ideology that oppresses millions of LGBT people in Russia, whose government's authoritarian regime he has actually defended.)

It seems as if Rucker may have taken his cue from a story a few days before in his paper written by Jeff Guo and terribly headlined, "Donald Trump is Teaching the GOP a Different Way to Embrace Gay Rights." It was a terrible headline because if you read the story, which is a bit confusing, Guo doesn't appear to mean Trump embraces gay rights. Guo appears to be saying that Trump is offering a strategy to the right on how to navigate the issue without actually embracing gay rights by borrowing from the European far right, which pits gays against Muslims. In a Twitter exchange with ThinkProgress' Zack Ford, who was baffled by the story, Guo even clarified that this was not a good development of any kind, saying that he was "comparing him to Swedish neo-Nazis" and that it's "scary."
At this point, the footage of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, who was rescued from the rubble of Russian airstrikes in Eastern Aleppo, has gone viral. Dazed, traumatized, yet completely silent, the video of Omran, like the picture of Alan Kurdi whose body was found washed upon a Turkish shore, has struck a chord. It has reminded the public that the war in Syria is still raging and that everyone, especially children, is suffering. In the wake of World Humanitarian Day, let's use this outrage and sadness to support civilians still in Syria, Syrian refugees in host countries, and refugees in the United States.

Photo courtesy of artist Khalid Albaih.

Helping Syrians in Syria

Despite the limitations on humanitarian aid entering Syria, several international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) like Save the Children, Mercy Corps and World Vision are providing goods and services to individuals in Syria and refugees in the surrounding countries and Europe. A list of INGOs and international organizations operating in Syria can be found here.

Advertisement

Syria's Civil Defense group, the White Helmets, have been bravely rescuing individuals from under the rubble and have saved 56,000 lives and counting. They accept donations to continue their work and to assist wounded or killed volunteers and their families.

Helping Syrian Refugees in Host Countries

In addition to the various INGOs in host countries, organizations like IAMYOU and Lighthouse Relief in Greece, Helping Refugees in Jordan and Jusoor in Lebanon are only some of the many non-governmental organizations and local initiatives working to abate the crisis. IAMYOU and Lighthouse Relief operate in several refugee camps in Greece and have established community centers, educational programs, and child-friendly spaces and activities. Helping Refugees in Jordan, a grassroots and volunteer-led initiative, helps meet the needs of local charities and NGOs by collecting, sorting, and distributing essential items and by supporting informal schools and child centers. Jusoor runs educational centers in Lebanon to provide Syrian refugee children with a holistic primary school education. Jusoor also assists Syrian students in securing academic scholarships at universities in the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East.

Because of the widespread use of cell phones by refugees, tech responses have also sprung up to assist refugees in host countries. Urban Refuge, an all-female group of students at Boston University, is creating a phone application aid locator to help urban refugees in Jordan locate and access aid and services. You can support Urban Refuge's Crowdfunding campaign to finish creating and launch the app. A team of Syrian refugees is creating Bureaucrazy to help other refugees navigate bureaucracy in Germany. They are also in the process of Crowdfunding initial funds for a January launch date.

Advertisement

Helping Refugees in the United States

The Obama administration has pledged to accept and resettle 85,000 refugees, 10,000 of whom are Syrian, by the end of September 2016. As of April 2016, only 1,800 Syrian refugees had been resettled. Several organizations, including the International Rescue Committee, Catholic Charities and the International Institute of New England, resettle and assist refugees with finding jobs and adapting to life in the U.S. You can help by donating and volunteering or interning with local resettlement organizations that are often the first to welcome refugees upon arrival. A full list of refugee and immigrant service providers can be accessed here.

You can also write to or call your state representatives showing your support for refugee resettlement. Other ways you can publicly demonstrate your support are organizing your community or social groups to fundraise, assisting refugee families being resettled in your area, and attending rallies or events that call for an end to the violence in Syria and an increased resettlement commitment.

Canadians marching behind the banner "Refugees Welcome" and urging the government to increase Canada's resettlement commitment. Photo courtesy of The Canadian Progressive.

There are many ways to help individuals affected by the Syrian Civil War. Continue to learn about the situation in Syria and help educate others about the reality on the ground, donate to organizations providing aid in Syria and host countries, volunteer with resettlement agencies, and speak up to ensure that outrage and sadness over photos of the children of Syria are translated into action. Thousands of children are still caught in the crossfire of the Syrian conflict, but by joining our efforts and taking action, we can ensure that it doesn't take another photo of a suffering child to stir us into action.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In the centuries before refrigeration, folks cooked up some pretty inventive (or, shall we say, strange) ways of preserving fresh food. We took a look at several methods for keeping uncooked eggs fresh for years on end--at least according to a 19th-century magazine and some half-crazy people who have attempted, despite modern technology, to put these time-honored techniques to the test.

Yep, down the Internet rabbit hole we went--and here's what we've returned with, just for you. First, a few caveats: These methods are designed for chicken eggs (though we imagine they'd work just as well for duck eggs, too).We haven't personally tested any of these methods for keeping eggs fresh (nor, ultimately, do we recommend them). But if you're into experimenting, and you live in the United States, use farm-fresh eggs (that are clean and free of cracks), as opposed to store-bought ones. When a hen lays eggs, they have a naturally occurring coating, called a cuticle or bloom, that prevents bacteria from getting in and moisture from getting out. In the U.S., commercial egg producers are required, per USDA regulations, to power wash eggs prior to selling them, which rinses that coating away.

Advertisement

We've learned of at least a half-dozen ways to store eggs for long periods of time. Not surprisingly, most of these methods date back long before the invention of the refrigerator. Some originated in the 1700s or earlier.

Turns out, we aren't the only people who get into this stuff. Jas. Townsend & Son, Inc., an Indiana-based company that specializes in things like 18th-century reproduction clothing and accessories for Revolutionary War re-enactors, covers such topics on its YouTube series. (Earlier this summer, they broke the Internet with an 18th-century fried chicken recipe.) The video that piqued our interest details the best ways to preserve raw eggs based on 18th-century practices. The company's president, Jonathan Townsend, wearing colonial-era garb, details the various tricks: Apparently, storing eggs in salt water makes the eggs salty. Storing them in wheat bran makes the eggs taste musty--and after eight months 70 percent of the eggs went bad. Then there's wood ash, which made the eggs taste like a campfire. That doesn't sound so bad, and in their experiment, only 20 percent of the eggs spoiled. Other practices included coating eggs in varnish, butter, or rendered animal fat (which had a 40 percent failure rate).

Reddit user Mr. Bungles claimed that he was able to keep eggs fresh for more than a year, by coating them in mineral oil and storing them in the fridge. Technically, does the use of modern technology negate this one? Whatever: "I was planning on letting it go until it failed a float test. But one of my kids ended up eating it, and at that point it was about a week away from being in the fridge for 3 years," wrote Mr. Bungles on a homesteading subreddit.

Advertisement

An 1862 edition of the Genesee Farmer, a monthly agricultural journal out of Rochester, New York, dedicated a few pages to egg preservation. The piece says one "excellent method" for preserving eggs is to store them in a solution of quicklime, salt, and cream of tartar, which the writer claims can preserve eggs for up to two years.

According to Townsend's video, though, one method stood out. He says the best way to preserve raw eggs is to store them in a solution of slaked lime (you can find it at a building supply store) and water, which, in his test, had a 100 percent success rate after eight months. That same Genesee Farmer article claimed this method could preserve eggs for six years or longer.

That's a mighty long time to wait for an omelette.

Also on HuffPost:
Eight people in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have been given prison terms for selling coins which they stole from an archeological site, a local court said on Wednesday.

They were sentenced to up to ten years by Huinong District People's Court in Shizuishan city of Ningxia.

The court heard that, in August 2014, Wu drove Zhou and Li to the site of the ancient Shengwei city, where, with the aid of the guard Lu, they filled several sacks with coins. On May 21 and 22 last year, they returned to the scene to steal more.

Wu later sold the coins for around 220 yuan (about 33 U.S. dollars) per kilogram.

Police have retrieved most of the 400 plus kilograms of coins stolen last year, but failed to get back those taken in 2014.

An official with the cultural heritage bureau of Ningxia told Xinhua that about over 100,000 coins, mostly from the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), and weighing close to 500 kilograms, were involved.

Zhou and Li were sentenced to ten years each. Lu was also jailed for ten years and fined 8,000 yuan. Other members of the group received lesser terms.

The site was first excavated in the 1960s. Apart from coins, pottery, bottles and bowls, many weapons were also found there, important in the study of Western Xia (1038 -- 1227) culture.
This post was coauthored by Nake M. Kamrany, University of Southern California and Cole Kosydar, University of Pennsylvania.

Ostensibly the hallmark or seal of Mr. Barack Obama's presidency is blemished with the radicalization of U.S. foreign policy. The lamps are going out across America and the western world and we don't see them coming back on for some time unless the U.S. changes course. Global circumstances may be far from what they were in 1914 and Sir Edward Grey's words today certainly do not carry the same prescient doom, but the global order that has been the bedrock of western stability since the end of the Second World War is shaking. NATO's commitment and resolve is under siege, Putin continues to flex Russia's military muscle in Eastern Europe in a seemingly vain attempt to reinvent the Soviet Empire, and the U.N., after failing to react in any substantial way to the ongoing refugee crisis is clinging to whatever prestige it has left. And throughout all of this, American leadership has been occupied by a selective but futile airstrike campaign in the Middle East.

Advertisement

In the snake pits of foggy bottom, the finger pointing is already under way. With his usual panache, Niall Ferguson has argued that the President's belief in the superiority of his own judgment and his aversion to the so-called Washington Playbook of tit-for-tat diplomacy is to blame. And there is some truth there. When the Washington establishment from Secretary of State John Kerry to Susan Rice, Obama's own National Security Advisor, argued that we needed to cross the red line, President Obama walked the other way.

But then again, why should he have acted? Washington titans like former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who voted for the Iraq War, have found various reasons to disavow their support. Moreover, there was no international coalition of the willing standing up to join him. And if Nestor, a boastful character from Greek mythology, himself could have conjured the last piece of resounding evidence to argue against intervention, it could have been hardly better than Obama's explanation, that the support of the American public for another war was simply non-existent. With supposed shrewdness, Obama backed down and instead opted for drone targeted attacks, carefully avoiding his Iraq or Vietnam disaster. Or so he thought.

Yet the use of drone warfare and airstrikes is not without severe collateral damage and growing legal concern. As Senator Kaine pointed out, in a notable disagreement with his running mate Hilary Clinton, the U.S. may lack the legal authority to carry airstrikes against Libya. If the military assault is to continue the Congress would have to authorize it and place limits on its extent and an exit strategy. More importantly, such tactics undermine our leadership role - using the threat system instead of propagating peace, economic development, education and liberal values.

Taking a long-term perspective, the U.S. must assess whether continued military engagement in the Middle East is even productive for our national security. After all, the nature of war has shifted drastically in this online age that has created new digital microcosms for extremism to fester. Moreover, radicalization is a very complex threat to identify much less defend against; good and bad people can become radicalized as the result of grief, revenge, antagonism, mental instability and a culmination of many other factors. Seamus Hughes from George Washington's Program on Extremism, lamented about the recent surge of American recruits to jihadism that there was " no clear profile. The path to radicalization wasn't linear or predictable." Because the radicalized lone wolves do not have a nucleus of command and control, it is difficult to create a coherent military strategy to defeat them. While drones and aerial bombing may eliminate their targets, ultimately they are not effective because the bombings of villages naturally foster more radicalization and serve to inflame the very problem we wish to address.

Advertisement
Earlier this month, several Chinese lawyers were convicted of "subversion" for colluding with "foreign forces" -- read: the United States. The fear is that America's aim is to ultimately foment regime change in Beijing with a popular uprising, like the "color revolution" in Ukraine and those of the Arab Spring. In what most regard as forced performances, some of the accused even confessed on TV that their legal challenges to the state were opening the doors to the deleterious influence of Western ideas. The Communist Party leadership also sees the promotion of Western-style practices, such as multi-party elections or an independent judiciary, as designed to undermine their rule through a creeping peaceful evolution that will inexorably result in turmoil.

To hammer home that message, China's chief prosecutor's office, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, released a video in tandem with the trials showing the chaos, violence and instability across the world where the West has sought to promote democracy, conveying to Chinese viewers (English subtitles provided by the South China Morning Post) that the stability they enjoy is due to China's one-party system. It is likely such a video was well received. According to a recent Pew Survey, 79 percent of Chinese polled believe their way of life must be protected against "foreign influence."

Advertisement

Regime change or fomenting a "color revolution" in China is not an active U.S. policy, as some top ranks of power in Beijing clearly seem to think. But there is nonetheless an ideological expectation among America's political class that China's governing system is "on the wrong side of history," as former U.S. President Bill Clinton once put it, and so destined to fail. And, in the minds of China's leaders, that no doubt amounts to the same thing.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has cited this issue as a perennial obstacle in relations between the world's two largest economies. The Chinese have concluded, he wrote in a report for the Belfer Center at Harvard, "that the United States has not, and never will, accept the fundamental political legitimacy of the Chinese administration because it is not a liberal democracy." Fu Ying, the powerful chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, confirms this point from the Chinese side. "The West will never accept that we are reforming until we have a [Mikhail] Gorbachev," she told me in Beijing last year, referring to the last leader of the Soviet Union.

No leading American politician today would risk publicly acknowledging that China's system of governance -- despite pronounced flaws like democracy itself -- is not only legitimate but admirable in its "encompassing" aspects, notably its capacity over the last 30 years to reduce massive poverty and lift general living standards.

Advertisement

There is an ideological expectation among America's political class that China's governing system is 'on the wrong side of history.'

This issue of political legitimacy thus always shades the background of every other dimension of U.S.-China relations. Absent acknowledgement of a "symmetry of validity" that changes the narrative, a Cold War taste will continue to sour the idea of any new relationship in the times ahead. It holds back any fuller embrace and raises suspicions over every initiative. Fearing subversion of their system, the Chinese crack down on lawyers and human rights activists. That, in turn, only reinforces Western perceptions that China's system is inevitably repressive and must be challenged.

As long as the Chinese see a threat, they will continue to inveigh against "Western values," further fueling the destructive cycle of this symbiotic antagonism. The Chinese would less defensively accept criticism -- for example, that censorship impedes the "seek-truth-from-facts" pragmatism that has guided reform efforts since Deng Xiaoping -- if it is rooted in a basic recognition of legitimacy. It would then not be seen as a ruse or plot to overturn their system of governance.

Europeans, after all, regularly criticize America's gun rights, urban racial strife and high prison population. Americans regularly criticize Europe's inability to assimilate immigrants. These criticisms are always annoying to those on the receiving end but are taken in stride because they are not seen as assaults on the foundations of each other's political systems.

Deng Xiaoping inspects a coastal oil base, 1985. (Sichuan Meishu Chubanshe)

Leninist Crackdown or Confucian Governance?

Is the current crackdown on so-called "civil society" in China nothing more than a Leninist impulse to crush any opposition so the corrupt nomenklatura, as in the old Soviet Union, can maintain the perks and privileges of power at the expense of the people? Chinese President Xi Jinping's protracted anti-corruption campaign, including against powerful party officials, suggests otherwise.

Advertisement

Rather, it seems something more profound is at work, something rooted in China's historical conception of the respective roles of the central state, society and the individual in governance that has sustained continuous rule for millennia. To understand the historical resonances of what scholar Pan Wei calls China's "institutional civilization" is not to justify or absolve repression. But it is to dispel the self-righteous illusion that change can be imposed from outside the organic evolution within a given society.

It took decades of emotional debate around family tables, in the media, the churches and legislatures for liberal American culture to even entertain the idea of transgender bathrooms, which the Obama administration has now instructed all public schools to include. Will modern China and other far less liberal societies who have not gone through that experience now be accused of human rights violations if they don't immediately follow suit? The Western values of a free civil society are not for everyone, and even if they are considered universal, historical development doesn't proceed everywhere at the same pace or along the same tracks. Change only establishes itself if owned by those who make it.

In 2015, 77 percent of Chinese polled said they are better off now than five years ago.

Because the party delivered a better life for most Chinese over recent decades, it has attracted, by all accounts of even Western pollsters, the allegiance of most of its population -- far from fertile ground for revolt by a discontented public. A Pew study in 2013 showed that more than 80 percent of Chinese polled said their country was headed in the right direction. In the poll, only 31 percent of Americans felt the same way about their country's trajectory. A 2015 poll also found that 77 percent of Chinese surveyed said they are better off than five years ago, despite major concerns about official corruption and pollution. These numbers suggest that, for now at least, China's Communist Party has achieved what the Italian political theorist from the turn of the 20th century, Antonio Gramsci, called "ideological hegemony."

Long before Harvard's Joe Nye came up with the idea of "soft power" vs. "hard power," Gramsci made a similar distinction between two different kinds of dominant power, or hegemony. For Gramsci, hegemony of the state is based on force, or hard power; the state must establish a monopoly over the means of violence in a society in order to impose and maintain order. But hegemony in civil society -- hearts and minds -- must be based on consent. For Gramsci, the allegiance to a worldview by the public at large must be earned and cannot be enforced. The public must buy into a governing narrative voluntarily or that narrative, by definition, lacks legitimacy. For Gramsci, it is soft power that legitimates hard power, not vice versa. Gramsci saw his Italian Communist Party as part of civil society, not the state. State power could only be held, in his view, once civil society was convincingly won over to the party's narrative.

Advertisement

In China, the party-state has merged these two forms of hegemony, opening the way to blurring force and consent in maintaining power. If the party authorities feel insecure that consent may wane as the economy slows, they are more than ready to deploy the hard power of police and prosecutions to enforce allegiance upon any "manufacturers of chaos" who seek to light a larger fire of discord.

The division between civil society and the state has never had the same grounding in China as in the West.

In an important way, the division between civil society and the state has never had the same grounding in China as in the West because China never experienced the historical contest between religious and political authority, which carved out separate realms of power. Though some have argued there was a kind of feudal pluralism that constituted rival power centers in China, the mainstream view is that China has always had a unitary state that encompassed all of society with no distinct realm beyond its fold.

For this reason, China's governing philosophy has also never developed the notion of an institutional separation of powers. Even the Qin dynasty (221-206 B.C.E.) "Legalist School" of philosophy -- which is said to be President Xi's primary inspiration in his anti-corruption campaign -- was meant to reinforce the administrative power of the unitary state. "Rule by law" is not meant to give the individual a way to redress abuses of power through the appeal to an independent judiciary as "rule of law" would do, but to ensure that rulers and citizens alike obey the laws set down by the state when their Confucian personal ethical fortitude falters.

Advertisement

In an effort to prevent any counter-hegemony or competing narrative from arising, the party-state in China has followed this inherited view from tradition and sought to limit any chance of an independent civil society or an independent judiciary from emerging (though recent reforms have set up county-level courts so they are free from the influence of corrupt local party bosses).

Chinese President Xi Jinping rides in an open top car in front of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during a military parade, marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, on Sept. 3, 2015 in Beijing. (Kevin Frayer/Getty)

In doing so, the party-state has at the same time created a kind of systemic accountability to the public despite the lack of autonomy of civil life outside state control. As the Singapore-based scholar Zheng Yongnian points out, the development of a civil sphere, such as it is, in China is a "dual process of legitimation and domination" that has mutually transformed both the party and civil society. By "taking into account the interests of other social forces and linking them with its own," Zheng writes, the party itself has, necessarily, been "self-transformed."

Unlike in the West where consent grants legitimacy, in the traditional Confucian perspective, legitimacy is granted by the virtue of the ruler who is bound in a reciprocal relationship with his subjects to serve their needs if obedience is expected. In the Analects, Confucius lays out the mutual obligations of a virtuous hierarchical order: "If a man is correct in his own person, then there will be obedience without orders being given. But if he is not correct in his own person, there will not be obedience even though orders are given."

Policies change but the party, like the emperor system before it, doesn't.

This dynamic of responsiveness to maintain legitimacy is the core of the "adaptive authoritarianism" and "inclusive hegemony" which has enabled the party to survive through pragmatic accommodation of policies to changing realities. Policies change but the party, like the emperor system before it, doesn't. The party has continuously morphed from a peasant organization dominated by Chairman Mao Zedong at its founding into a broad social tent that today has more than 80 million members, including even billionaires professing Buddhism.

Advertisement

The result is a kind of "fuzzy" power where there is a mutual dependence between the party-state and the people. The party-state is a utility shaped by its users. Its usefulness derives from its capacity to deliver the goods and respond to social concerns. If it can't, consent will erode and the ideological hegemony that cements the party's power will come unglued.

The "fuzzy" parameters are constantly shifting since the red lines that can't be crossed are defined by a constantly floating balance of power within society. Thus, the artist Ai Weiwei is one day proudly provided with the necessary permits to build a studio -- which is later bulldozed by the same authorities. One day, he is jailed and beaten, then put under house arrest and his passport taken away. Later, he is given back his passport and allowed to exhibit his decidedly political art in high-profile exhibitions in Europe. In March 2015, a privately produced video criticizing China's unlivable pollution was allowed to go viral on Youku, China's version of YouTube. Once it became "too viral," it was censored because the authorities began to realize they would be as much blamed for a ruinous environment as credited with trying to clean it up.

The Belated Birth of Civil Society in China

A clarification of this fuzziness in China's system of power may be in the works as an autonomous sphere for civil society of the kind associated with the West is emerging. The system, which has managed to balance stability and change for so long, is being challenged as never before.

What is different for China now than during its more than 2,000 years of institutional civilization is the intrusion of the information age, where all share the same access to information as their rulers. And it is here that the guiding anxiety of China's top party officials, who are determined not to succumb to the fate of the Soviet Communist Party, appears misplaced. They are laboring under the power of the wrong metaphor.

Advertisement

As Xi and his colleagues see it, the Soviet party met its demise because of Gorbachev's policy of "glasnost," or transparent information. They have thus concluded the way to survive is to construct a narrative people are compelled to believe in by controlling what they are otherwise allowed to know. The reality is that the Soviet party collapsed precisely because of a similar effort to disguise reality with a narrative that didn't square with the overall facts. When the lies were taken away under "glasnost," there was nothing there.

Whether China ends up on the wrong side of history or not depends on its ability to find a new balance between rule from the top and an emergent civil society from below.

The Chinese party could not be more different. In China, the emperor does have clothes. It has demonstrably delivered for its people over the last three decades precisely by following the pragmatic dictum of "seeking truth from facts" instead of spinning reality. Admitting mistakes -- brought to their attention by the activists and social media of a fledging civil society -- and fixing them, not covering them up, is what establishes legitimacy in the information age when everyone knows what's what anyway. The old system of hierarchical control that could once impose an authoritative narrative is doomed by the democratization of information.

Just as the bourgeoisie created the space for civil society vis-a-vis royal absolutism in Europe, and just as women are today the makers of a democratic public sphere vis-a-vis theocracy and patriarchy in the Islamic world, so, too, social networks and media are the makers of civil society in today's China.

This is a new and unprecedented development for such an old civilization. Whether China ends up on the wrong side of history or not depends on its ability to find a balance between rule from the top and an emergent civil society from below. We in the West should encourage China's effort to forge a new equilibrium out of its own experience, not seek to project our legacy onto their future.

Advertisement

Note: Parts of this essay have appeared in a different form elsewhere.

Related on WorldPost:
America has been committed to supporting the veterans of its wars since long before it had "United States of" in front of it. "It was a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire... horrible was the stink and scent thereof," William Bradford wrote after soldiers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony massacred a village of native Pequots. Later, the Pilgrims gave thanks to their veterans by passing a law to support wounded soldiers of the campaign. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) traces its spiritual roots to this ur-moment in 1636.

Today, citizens of the United States directly bear the burden of more than 150 years of warfare. As of May 2016, the VA was still paying benefits to one dependent of a Civil War (1861-1865) veteran, 88 dependents of Spanish-American War (1898-1902) veterans, nine dependents of veterans of the military campaign along the Mexican border early in the twentieth century, thousands of dependents of World War I (1917-1918) veterans, hundreds of thousands of World War II (1941-1945) veterans and dependents, hundreds of thousands of Korean War (1950-1953) veterans and dependents, around 1.8 million Vietnam War-era (1964-1975) veterans and dependents, and millions of veterans and dependents of the Gulf War (1990-1991) and of the ongoing War on Terror campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere (2001 to the present).

Advertisement

When President Abraham Lincoln took office in 1861, there were an estimated 80,000 veterans living in the United States. By 1865, the final year of the Civil War, there were so many more veterans in need of assistance that Lincoln called on Congress "to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan." Lincoln didn't live to see the end of that war and probably couldn't have imagined we'd still be paying the direct costs of his request in 2016. Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't live to see the end of the war he presided over either, but according to VA projections, 13,000 World War II veterans -- to say nothing of their dependents -- will be receiving benefits as late as 2034.

Given that the U.S. was still paying benefits to a dependent of an American Revolutionary veteran in the 1910s and to a Civil War widow as late as the 2000s, it's anyone's guess how long Americans will be paying the price of the dependents of all the veterans whose hearts were touched by fire in post-9/11 wars. In 150 years, will some writer be tallying up the number of widows and children still collecting on the wars, interventions, attacks, and raids in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, and elsewhere? Will these conflicts be as dimly remembered as the campaign against Pancho Villa along the Mexican border in the 1910s? Or will they still be fresh in the minds of Americans as a never-ending intergenerational campaign sees grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren fighting for elusive victories in the greater Middle East?

Today, Ann Jones, author of the highly praised They Were Soldiers: How The Wounded Return from America's Wars -- The Untold Story, takes up the questions of what and how we will pay (in every sense of the word) for the veterans of our current wars in "How Veterans Are Losing the War at Home." In an adapted version of the keynote address she recently gave to the annual convention of Veterans for Peace, Jones takes aim at schemes seeking to use veterans for corporate interests and dismantle the VA system in the name of privatized profits. Caring for veterans is a burden whose long-term costs have rarely been considered in the context of America's penchant for ceaseless warfare, but the costs of not properly caring for them, as Jones makes perfectly clear, may be even more dire.
While Bernie Sanders was doing a brilliant job of ripping into the Trans-Pacific Partnership during the livestreamed launch of the Our Revolution organization on Wednesday night, CNN was airing a phone interview with Hillary Clinton and MSNBC was interviewing Donald Trump's campaign manager.

That sums up the contrast between the enduring value of the Bernie campaign and the corporate media's fixation on the political establishment. Fortunately, Our Revolution won't depend on mainline media. That said, the group's debut foreshadowed not only great potential but also real pitfalls.

Even the best election campaigns aren't really "movements." Ideally, campaigns strengthen movements and vice versa. As Bernie has often pointed out, essential changes don't come from Congress simply because of who has been elected; those changes depend on strong grassroots pressure for the long haul.

Advertisement

It's all to the good that Our Revolution is encouraging progressives around the country to plan far ahead for effective electoral races, whether for school board, city council, state legislature or Congress. Too many progressives have treated election campaigns as impulse items, like candy bars in a checkout line.

Opportunities await for campaigns that might be well-funded much as Bernie's presidential race was funded, from many small online donations. But except for presidential races, the politics of elections are overwhelmingly local -- and therein lies a hazard for Our Revolution.

A unified set of positions nationwide can be helpful; likewise publicity and fundraising for candidates across state borders. But sometimes hidden in plain sight is a basic fact: National support does not win local elections. Local grassroots support does.

Backing from Our Revolution will be close to worthless unless people are deeply engaged with long-term activism in local communities -- building relationships, actively supporting a wide range of sustained progressive efforts, developing the basis for an election campaign that (win or lose on Election Day) will strengthen movements.

Advertisement

Sooner or later, some kind of culture clash is likely to emerge when social-change activists get involved in a serious election campaign. Running for office involves priorities that diverge from some tendencies of movement activism (as I learned when running for Congress four years ago). The urgencies and practicalities of election campaigns aren't always compatible with how grassroots progressive groups tend to function.

As a 501c4 organization, Our Revolution won't be running campaigns. Instead, it'll raise funds and provide support for campaigns while being legally prohibited from "coordinating" with them. And -- most imminently with the urgent need to stop the TPP in Congress during the lame-duck session -- Our Revolution could make a big difference in pressuring lawmakers on key issues.

Overall, the livestreaming debut of Our Revolution continued a terrific legacy from the Bernie campaign of educating and agitating with vital progressive positions on such crucial matters as economic justice, institutional racism, climate change, Wall Street, corporate trade deals and health care.

But throughout Our Revolution's livestream, war went unmentioned. So did Pentagon spending. So did corporate profiteering from the massive U.S. military budget.

In that sense, the evening was a step backward for Bernie. After virtually ignoring foreign policy and military-related issues during his campaign's early months last summer, he gradually criticized Hillary Clinton's record of supporting regime change. In early spring, during the New York primary campaign, he laudably called for evenhanded policies toward Israel and Palestinians. Although he never delivered more than occasional and brief glancing blows at the military-industrial complex during the campaign, Bernie did offer some valuable critiques of foreign policy.

Advertisement

But from the debut of Our Revolution, including Bernie's 49-minute speech, you wouldn't have a clue that the United States is completing its fifteenth year of continuous warfare, with no end in sight.

Now, sadly, there may be a need to reactivate the petition headlined "Bernie Sanders, Speak Up: Militarism and Corporate Power Are Fueling Each Other," which 25,000 people signed on a RootsAction webpage 12 months ago:

Senator Sanders, we are enthusiastic about your presidential campaign's strong challenge to corporate power and oligarchy. We urge you to speak out about how they are intertwined with militarism and ongoing war. Martin Luther King Jr. denounced what he called "the madness of militarism," and you should do the same. As you said in your speech to the SCLC, "Now is not the time for thinking small." Unwillingness to challenge the madness of militarism is thinking small.

As the petition page noted, Dr. King "explicitly and emphatically linked the issues of economic injustice at home with war abroad." In a society desperately needing "adequate funds for programs of economic equity and social justice," the challenge remains clear: "Overcoming militarism is just as vital as overcoming oligarchy. We won't be able to do one without the other."

If Bernie and Our Revolution continue to evade the present-day realities of "the madness of militarism," their political agenda will be significantly more limited than what our revolution requires for a truly progressive future.
"We're the kids who have stopped talking," a young woman mumbles in passing as she turns her back to me, declining an interview. "Write that down." A short moment later, a scrawny and disheveled man sporting a burning cigarette and black clothing taps me on the shoulder. "No filming. What the hell are you doing here? No cameras." I look up to find a set of eyes glaring at me from an apartment overhead. On the balcony, two red flags blow proudly in the wind, a symbol of socialism, communism, and left wing politics. I'm surrounded by a labyrinth of graffiti clad buildings, a never-ending art gallery reminiscent of a web forum. This discussion, albeit mostly made up of scribbled "anti-establishment" slogans sprayed illicitly on storefronts, is also home to some of the most stunning and detailed street art I have ever witnessed full of passion, wisdom, and intelligence concerning the current socioeconomic state of Greece. This is Exarcheia, a neighbourhood in downtown Athens known famously as a haven for self-proclaimed anarchists who are at war with the government, the police, and capitalism. It is also a breeding ground for brilliant artists, promising intellectuals, and philanthropists. Syntagma Square, home to the Old Royal Palace which has housed the Hellenic Parliament since 1934, is a short cab ride away.

I sit on a small ledge in front of a memorial for Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a fifteen year old Greek student who on December 6th, 2008 was shot in this very spot by Greek police in retaliation of a minor verbal clash with Alexandros and some of his friends. This tragedy triggered riots and protests for weeks which have since turned to yearly demonstrations. For some, the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos was an outlet for many frustrated and angry youth to unify against corrupt establishments, to freely speak their mind in hopes of becoming the catalysts for real change. "I was eighteen years old and I felt so free," a young filmmaker tells me from her apartment, minutes from Alexandros' memorial. "Marching in those streets, I finally felt a part of something. We were going to change the country for Alexis!"

Advertisement

For others, sadly, this was an open call to wreak havoc in the streets, to burn and destroy the very country they call home. Businesses that belonged to someone's grandfather, vehicles that families depended on. Since 2008, all of this destruction has overshadowed the real issues and young intellectuals who I feel can make a significant difference in this country have been labeled radical, destructive, criminals. What's worse, and because of such alienation, many of them now refuse to speak at all. "Their heads are not screwed on right," a taxi driver tells me. "They are hooligans and extremists looking for reasons to throw Molotov cocktails." My heart sank.

For three days and three nights we walked the streets of Exarcheia. I hold a camera in my hand but it feels like a gun. Heavily armed police officers keep watch on the outskirts of the neighbourhood, never to step into the heart of Exarcheia unless provoked. In similar fashion, we were instructed by a credible source to never take our cameras into that very heart, Exarcheia Square, as it was likely we would be physically abused and our cameras smashed. Not by anarchist youth, so much, but instead by the drug dealers and petty thieves who use Exarcheia's lack of uniform presence as an opportunity to build a thriving business. Word spreads fast in Exarcheia and we receive a call from our credible source explaining that a group of ten have gathered and slung together twenty five Molotov cocktails with our names on them. It's time to go.

Advertisement

We successfully had interviewed a few students and some artists who, since their self-described days of "unfocused angst", have now dedicated their time to their schooling and have faith that they can fix a broken system from within through their strong, credible voices as highly educated leaders of their respective communities. These are the young Greeks I wanted to listen to and learn from because, in numbers, they will change this country. I hope in ten years they are the ones who make up the identity of Exarcheia because, at times, I feel the true nature of this neighbourhood becomes lost in the burning fires left behind by those who I feel do not represent this nation's best interests and instead contribute much more to Alexandros Grigoropoulos having died in vain.

It is true that law enforcement officials in Greece need a wake up call. The judicial system in Greece needs a wake up call. The government of Greece need to understand that their lack of meaningful action in a nation hungry for leadership is alienating and silencing the very people who could bring this country back into the light. This need for autonomy and separation from the "establishment" is understandable but please do not abandon your country. I plead and I beg for those who have something to say to lay down their weapons, take off their masks, and engage in a conversation free of senseless disorder because the fact is, you are being antagonized and your precious words rendered meaningless. As we make our exit from Exarcheia, I remember walking past a boarded up window with rusted nails. I then ask to film a young boy who is sitting on a parked motorcycle with his father, playing. The father smiles and invites me over but before anyone says a word a woman comes running out screaming at me, "Get out of here! What do you think you're doing? We don't want you here!" The father's smile fades and the young boy drops his head. I, nor the world, may ever know what they have to say. In an era when Greeks, by all means peaceful, productive, and diplomatic, must make public their opinions, our silence is our greatest tragedy.
I heard America singing on Sunday night. Bluesman extraordinaire* Buddy Guy's music rang like the flip-side of Walt Whitman's famous poem. Whitman is considered one of America's most important poets. Those white workers of whom he sang are woven into our national psyche, perhaps because, as William James observed, Whitman was the "supreme contemporary example of ... an inability to feel evil." The blues provide some balance. Sunday night, as part of the enthralled audience sitting at Buddy Guy's feet, I felt as though we were hearing long suppressed verses of our national anthem. America's "had the blues" since 1619 when the first enslaved African arrived in Jamestown.

Buddy Guy's reputation assured that the evening would be entertaining. I'd also looked forward to seeing Spokane's Fox Theater restored to its former beauty. But the sense of epiphany as the evening unfolded was a jolt. It felt like a long forgotten inheritance.

No doubt, I'd been primed years ago, experiencing jazz mega-master Wynton Marsalis' astonishing, Pulitzer Prize winning Blood on the Fields at Atlanta's Fox Theater. Blood ... is Mr. Marsalis' "epic oratorio on slavery and freedom...mov(ing) beyond a preoccupation with personal power and learn(ing) that true freedom is, and must be, shared." His ode to freedom is the consummate companion for Buddy Guy's constant reminder: hatred debases us, love liberates.

Advertisement

I'd read Buddy Guy's 2012 book When I Left Home, anticipating recording a conversation with him that got scuttled by schedules. But the best book can only hint at authentic power. It came to life as he told stories of a sharecropper family in Louisiana: no running water or electricity into his teens, Jim Crow never mentioned but ever present and personified by the man in town who never, not once, called Buddy Guy by name. "Now my name is known all over the world, but all he ever called me was 'boy'." There is simply no separating the blues' sound and their indispensable lyrics from injustices and abuse that are -- finally -- gripping our headlines and, necessarily, our consciences.

Of course the Blues is/are not alone in evoking profound responses. Writer Jill Suttie describes how music hooks us and the thrill of being thrilled in the company of others. She recounts her response to a Peter Gabriel song with which apparently I, alone, was unfamiliar. Not having that shared experience explains why my universe did not shake when Mr. Gabriel spent an afternoon at our home in Atlanta where he had come to examine the possibility of music in bonobo culture. Spur of the moment, we invited him to join us at a friend's Christmas party. It was in experiencing other guests' reactions -- "Peter Gabriel?!?" -- that I grasped the power of his music and, more generally, the enduring impact music often has.

Jazz, Blues, Rock & Roll, R&B, Soul, Hip Hop ..., these are the quintessential American forms of music (with deep roots in oppression, Africa, the Caribbean and, later, South America). Perhaps they are America's most reliable gift to the world. Here at home, they reflect and express the challenges we continue to face.

On Friday night (Aug. 26th), Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra close their week at The Chautauqua Institution. Earlier in the day Mr. Marsalis will be joined by Geoffrey C. Ward, author of Jazz and Ken Burns' longtime collaborator. Topic? "The rich musical heritage of the American soul." Of course. Hatred debases us. Love liberates.

Advertisement

That our brains appear to have a distinct region specifically dedicated to music might further elevate the conversation for those seeking "proof" of music's profound social and emotional power. Today, I'll settle for having been 5 rows back when the great Buddy Guy beautifully balanced American history. And, lest the memory fade, I need only touch the guitar pick he -- grinning broadly -- tossed into the audience. I caught it. No foolin'.

______
When I was a kid, successive presidents told us we had to fight in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, because if we didn't fight them over there, we'd have to fight them on the beaches of California. We believed. It was a lie.

I was a teenager during the Cold War, several presidents told us we needed to create massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons, garrison the world, maybe invade Cuba, fight covert wars in all sorts of odd little places and use the CIA to overthrow democratically elected governments and replace them with dictators, or the Russians would destroy us. We believed. It was a lie.

When I was in college our president told us that we needed to fight in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua or the Sandinistas would come to the United States. He told us Managua was closer to Washington DC than LA was. He told us we needed to fight in Lebanon, Grenada and Libya to protect ourselves. We believed. It was a lie.

Advertisement

When I was a little older our president told us how evil Saddam Hussein was, how his soldiers bayoneted babies in Kuwait. He told us Saddam was a threat to America. He told us we needed to invade Panama to oust a dictator to protect America. We believed. It was a lie.

Another president told us we had to fight terrorists in Somalia, as well as bomb Iraq, to protect ourselves. We believed. It was a lie.

The one after him told us that because a bunch of Saudis from a group loosely tied to Afghanistan attacked us on 9/11, we needed to occupy that country and destroy the Taliban, who had not attacked us, for our own safety. The Taliban are still there 15 years later, and so is the American army. We believed. It was a lie.

After that the same President told us Saddam Hussein threatened every one of our children with weapons of mass destruction, that the smoking gun would be a mushroom cloud, that Saddam was in league with al Qaeda. We believed. It was a lie.

Advertisement

In 2011 the president and his secretary of state, now running for president herself, told us we needed regime change in Libya, to protect us from an evil dictator. We believed. It was a lie.

In August 2014 the president told us we needed to intervene again in Iraq, on a humanitarian mission to save the Yazidis. No boots on the ground, a simple, limited act only the United States could conduct, and then we'd leave. We believed. It was a lie.

That same president later told us Americans will need to fight and die in Syria. He says this is necessary to protect us, because if we do not defeat Islamic State over there, they will come here, to what we now call without shame or irony The Homeland. We believe. We'll let history roll around again to tell it is a lie.

The two main candidates for president both tell us they will expand the war in Syria, maybe Libya. Too many of our fellow citizens still want to believe it is necessary to protect America more. They want to know it is not a lie.

So candidates, please explain why what you plan is different than everything listed above. Tell us why we should believe you -- this time.
Illustrated by Norah Stone.

Often there's a fine line between fascinating and repulsive -- as Kanye West proves. Within the gray area, popping pimples falls somewhere between Yeezus and pulling gunk out of your shower drain. Check out Sandra Lee, MD, a dermatologist in Upland, CA, who goes by the alias Dr. Pimple Popper for proof. Her YouTube and Instagram accounts each have over 1 million followers, who watch her videos of the cheesy, lumpy, pussy, gritty, and goopy substances she extracts from the faces of her patients.

Dr. Lee has tapped into an audience that can't get enough of our urge to purge -- whether we're vicariously enjoying it on Reddit or doing DIY dermatology in real life. "I think watching popping is similar to seeing a scary movie or riding a roller coaster for some," she says. "You get a rush of euphoria and excitement."

The problem with popping, squeezing, and picking is that we know we can do some serious damage and make problems even worse. Yet we just can't keep our hands off. So before you start digging into your skin problems, you should learn what's happening to your brain chemistry and how you're damaging the structure of your skin.

Advertisement

Why We're So Hands-On With Our Skin

When you have an Everest-sized zit, the reason you have to pick it, to paraphrase George Mallory, is that it's there. "In the moment, people feel like they have to do something," says Amy Wechsler, MD, a dermatologist and psychiatrist in New York City. "The occasional popper or picker thinks they're making themselves better -- they think they're helping." In other words, we're trying to be problem-solvers -- or more like control freaks, Dr. Wechsler says. The immediate gratification of seeing stuff ejected from your pores feels productive.

The satisfaction of extracting a blemish releases dopamine, which activates the brain's reward center, explains Heather Berlin, PhD, a neuroscientist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "There's a cycle of anxiety or arousal before the act and a sense of relief after," she says. So there's a physical release of pressure from the extracted blackhead or squeezed whitehead, as well as a mental sense of calm and pleasure. It's hard to fight that combo.

Some people go beyond the occasional pop and develop serious habits. "There is a spectrum of behavior that ranges from normal urges to pick to disorders like acne excoriee and Skin-Picking Disorder, which are related to OCD," Dr. Berlin says. When the behavior is interfering with your daily life -- your job, socializing, relationships, health, sleeping -- you've veered into clinical territory.

Often compulsive behavior or a lack of impulse control is to blame. Dr. Berlin explains that people with impulse control problems may have an underactive prefrontal cortex, which serves as the brakes for the brain. If your prefrontal cortex is slow to react, your brain has a harder time resisting impulses -- so much so that some people can't pass a mirror without looking for something to pop.

Advertisement

Most of the time the act is so pleasurable, that it is hard to stop, Dr. Berlin says. If popping feels good and you're seeing results, why would you stop? "The people who feel guilty are the ones who think the behavior is abnormal -- that's who comes in for treatment," she says.



Illustrated by Norah Stone.

When Popping Becomes A Problem

Picking isn't a crime. In fact, Dr. Berlin says it's an absolutely normal behavior. (From an evolutionary-biology standpoint, we want to remove bumps from our skin because they could be parasites or infections, she explains.) But the problem is that we treat popping and squeezing like we do watching Gilmore Girls -- it's a challenge to stop doing it.

"The issue arises when you keep picking and ultimately cause more harm than good," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. "The problem is that when you don't see the result you want, it's easy to keep going -- and that's when the damage happens."

Worst-case scenario: You cause an open wound or infection. "I've seen this many times," Dr. Wechsler says. Now, you've extended your healing time and set yourself up for scarring and more breakouts -- it's a vicious cycle.

Like the proverbial iceberg, most of the blemish is below the surface. The clogging and inflammation that's causing the pain and swelling lies deep inside the pore. "Squeezing can cause more inflammation, push dirt and debris further down, and rupture the follicle -- you're causing collateral damage," Dr. Zeichner says. "The effects of squeezing are the worst when you're not getting the contents out of the skin, so you squeeze more."

Advertisement

Inflammation, from the original breakout or from squeezing, causes damage and scarring. "Your body creates a 'patch' to address any skin damage," Dr. Zeichner explains. "You produce new collagen, but it's not organized and smooth -- it's thick and disordered. It doesn't look like normal skin, and looks like a bump or depression." Too much damage disrupts the connections between skin cells, he says, so the body tries to reconnect them with scar tissue.

In the attempt to shield your skin from more damage, your body also creates pigment in response to inflammation -- much like you tan after UV exposure, but in a more localized way. "If you have more red pigment in your skin, you'll have more residual redness," Dr. Lee says. "If you have a darker skin tone, you're more at risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation." But there's no way to predict the exact way your skin will respond. The only way to avoid scars is to be hands-off.



Illustrated by Norah Stone.

How To Handle Your Popping Urges

"My job is to give you nothing to pick," Dr. Wechsler says. So your best coping mechanism is to see a professional to figure out how to clear up your skin. But even Kendall Jenner has the occasional zit crisis, so it takes some effort to avoid Pimple-gate.

"Throw out your magnifying mirror," Dr. Wechsler advises. "Nobody looks normal under a magnifying mirror, and you don't need to get that close." This way, you're less likely to find "faults" to pick at.

Dr. Wechsler also suggests some behavior modification -- limiting time in the bathroom and putting Post-its on the mirror that say "Hands off" or "Leave it alone." For more extreme measures, Dr. Berlin suggests treating a popping problem the way you might treat a smoking habit -- wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it when you have the urge, or reward yourself for every day you go without popping.

Advertisement

"I tell patients to apply a spot-treatment cream, or cover the area with a Band-Aid when they are at home to remind them not to pick," Dr. Lee says.

Simple distraction also helps. Celebrity aesthetician Renee Rouleau sells a toy that busies your hands and prevents you from poking at your face. Other derms suggest worry stones or Silly Putty as diversions. But perhaps the most satisfying skin-popping surrogate is found at Staples -- take out your frustration on a roll of bubble wrap.

For those who really need a fix, there are always Dr. Pimple Popper's videos. "Sometimes watching the video can bring the same satisfaction as actually popping," Dr. Berlin says. Dr. Lee says you don't have to be a popper to benefit from her cathartic videos. "I think my videos make a lot of people happy in general," she says.



The grown-up guide to dealing with acne. Read more from The Acne Diaries here.
Do you ever wake up and wonder where you are? If you travel a bit, it's a common syndrome--but all of us wake up and wonder, "What day is today? What do I need to do today?" Sometimes when a death, divorce, or tragedy hits, you wake up, and it takes a minute to remember the source of your inner sadness.

Lately, I have had a few mornings where I wake up with a certain feeling of dread. Then I remember that the campaign for president of the United States has descended to new lows and daily reports of violence around the world are deeply disturbing. Global warming looms while naysayers waste precious time.

As a global leader for Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), I have learned that it is easy to let these negative realities bog us down. To make matters even more challenging, sometimes out of our sense of powerlessness, we take our frustrations out on each other--whether in worshipping communities or our families.

Advertisement

Sometimes the frustrations come close to home. In my beloved denomination, Metropolitan Community Churches, we really struggled at our recent global conference to come to a consensus and elect my replacement as MCC's leader. Instead, we opted for an interim leader and process. We experienced a range of feelings--hurt, disappointment, confusion, hope, and resolve--as we navigated this major transition.

Our world is full of such moments. Each time, we have to clear the sleep out, face the sadness and joy of life, and keep moving toward the good we are called to create in the world. We strive for good even while a surge of racism, sexism, and classism is being unleashed by political rhetoric and abuse of power. When the prison-industrial complex feeds off desperate people, we have to wake up. Even as pundits say the next hurricane or torrential rains is just bad luck, we go to work for the love of God.

As a person of faith, I am called, in a counter-cultural way, to be fearless and strong through an unshakeable confidence in God's calling in my life. I am not here to serve myself or even save myself. I am not even here to save or serve people who are close to me--although all of us are included. I am here to respond to God who created the whole world--people of every religion and hue.

This past Sunday, a woman deacon in my home church stood up to give thanks for her husband's long recovery from a serious heart attack, and gave thanks for the people from other faiths who prayed daily in the hospital for her and her husband. She focused on the Muslim janitor who spoke to her daily of her prayers as he cleaned her husband's room. In tears, she recalled thanking him and hearing how afraid he was every day because of anti-Islamic hatred. She was fierce and unequivocal in her stance against that hate and made me glad to be in my home church. I wondered whether other churches in my community could be so clear about justice and interfaith collaboration.

Advertisement

I am called to God's holy service to those who have no home, voice, or power--those who need justice and hope. All people of faith must press on and help our communities to stop breaking hearts through persecution of people in other religions, exclusion of sexual minorities, racial bigotry, or subordination of women.



Loving God and serving the world is not the sole purview of Christians. Waking up through salvation, enlightenment, nirvana, or any other kind of revelation can lead any one of us to compassion and service. Wisdom in any tradition helps people wend their way through life to do the greatest good and the least harm.

In the documents of Vatican II, the Roman Catholic Church proclaims, "We reject nothing of what is true and holy in [other] religions," and often that truth is about how we treat one another in the name of whatever God we name and serve.



This calling does not stop at political borders. We are called to serve the whole world and to treat people of all classes and races like we all belong to the family of God. We cannot give into the fear mongering that is used to consolidate power into the hands of "strong men" whose goal is to fill their own coffers and massage their own egos.

More than anything, we dare not sleep through our lives and ignore the realities of the world. We have to wake up, move through that moment of dread, and serve the world. With eyes wide open, we must realize that we humans have a tendency to think our own perspective is the best one. Whether it is an individual, tribe, religion, or nation, we too easily succumb to self-righteousness. Nationalistic extremism is just the political version of fundamentalist extremism, which can supplant the faith, hope, and love that leads to God.

Today, a deadly brew of nationalism, religious fundamentalism, and violence threatens so many people, but we do not live alone on this planet. Globalization, for good and sometimes for evil, is here to stay. How can we create a more just and transparent way for us to live together on a shrinking planet? How can we work to do less harm and more good?

The door is unlocked and we are engaged with people around the planet.

Just as a local church cannot close its front door and say, "We are just going to focus on the people in our pews," and thrive, we will not thrive unless we are passionate about throwing open our doors and getting to know our neighbors. No peace treaty is needed. It is already happening.

Advertisement

To do this well, it will not be easy. We must be humble and have an unshakeable confidence in the greater good that we are seeking. As flawed people we must ask for and offer forgiveness with frequency and sincerity. We must be willing to hold each other accountable, even when it is uncomfortable, and to listen when it is difficult.

There is a way forward.

Politicians are hell bent to divide and conquer us as they try to accumulate positions and power. Can we be heaven bent on building community and relationships to tear down walls that divide us?

Find projects to share. Community comes from working together. There will be challenges, both large and small, but the world is waiting for leaders and average people to risk getting to know each other. Use technology, but gather face-to-face as well. Everywhere diversity is thriving. Be bold; reach out!

Are you an immigrant? Reach out to people who are long-time residents. Are you LGBTQ? Be bold about sharing your family with colleagues and the world. Are you Christian? Find a mosque or synagogue and attend an event where you can meet new friends.
amphitheatre of vines at Casa Valduga in Vale dos Vinhedos

I'm thrilled the Olympic Games in Rio went so well, exceeding expectations. I am happy to report that another potential source of pride for Brazilians is the fact that some excellent wines--yes, even medal worthy--are now being made there. Surprised? So was I.



I was fortunate to travel to the center of Brazil's fine wine production last December, on a trip sponsored by Wines of Brazil, The trip was led by Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier and author of the terrific Wines of South America. I'm a huge fan of Evan and have really enjoyed traveling with him in the past. I therefore took it on faith when he told me Brazilian wine country was worth a trip. I had tasted some okay Brazilian reds and fairly good sparkling wines prior to this trip that in no way prepared me for how excellent some of Brazil's top wines actually are.



Brazil's fine wine country--based in the more temperate southern end of the country--is also stunningly lush and beautiful, blessed with a few of the most gorgeous vineyards I have ever visited. The best of the wines have excellent fruit quality, relatively low alcohol and good balancing acidity. The food is also delicious there and the people warm and delightful, of course.

Background



Wine production in Brazil, spurred in large part by the many Italian immigrants in the south, who brought knowledge and grape cuttings with them, dates back to the mid-1800s. The production of fine wine, however, based on vitis vinifera grapes, really only got going in the 1970s, picking up steam with a growing number of boutique producers since the 1990s. A concerted effort to improve quality has been underway since 2000.



That said, the vast majority of the country's wine production--over 80%--is still very ordinary "vinho de mesa." That translates as "table wine," which makes it sound higher quality than it really is. Much of it is made with North American grapes, vitis labrusca, and hybrids, which have been widely planted in Brazil's humid climate because they fared much better than vitis vinifera, the type of grapes from which fine wine is made.

Advertisement

Nonetheless, vitis vinifera varieties like Merlot, and the grapes most commonly used for sparkling wine--Chardonnay and Pinot Noir--have been planted in increasing amounts in the southernmost Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul.

The center of fine wine production in that state is the region of Serra Gaucha, particularly in the area extending south and west of the city of Bento Goncalves. This area, called Vale dos Vinhedos--Brazil's only denominacao de origen (DO)--is essentially the Napa of Brazil, home to the vast majority of the most notable fine wine producers.

This was where our trip was focused, with side trips to a couple of other important areas in Serra Gaucha--Pinto Bandeira, source of grapes for Brazil's best sparkling wines; and Farroupilha.

Advertisement

Medal Winners

So after a week of sampling Brazilian wines from our base in Bento Goncalves, which producers do I think are the very best--deserving of gold and silver medals?

No one wants a bronze medal any more, except in the Olympics, so I won't bother nominating a producer for that--I'll only indicate a few other wineries that I think are among the top five or so of Brazil's best.

Gold: Don Giovanni

vineyards at Don Giovanni in Pinto Bandeira

My gold medalist makes a small amount of dry wine--most notably a wonderful Chardonnay--but its production is largely devoted to what I think is some of the very best methode traditionelle sparkling wine I've tasted outside of Champagne.

Don Giovanni is based in Pinto Bandeira. Their sparkling wines are so profoundly good that I would buy them every year if only they were available here in the U.S.

The winery sits on one of the most strikingly beautiful vineyards I've ever seen, which includes tall trees, carved stone markers and lots of thriving hydrangeas.

Advertisement

My single favorite of their sparkling bottlings is the Ouro, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that is aged 36 months on the lees. I rated it 94 points and it is savory, autolytic, hazelnut heaven. I also very much love the Stravaganzza Brut, which is aged one year on lees, and the Nature, with less than one gram of dosage and aged two years sur lie. Both of these I rated 93+ points.

Silver: Lidio Carraro

My silver medalist is Lidio Carraro, named after its owner, an influential and pioneering viticulturalist. While his two sons, Giovanni and Juliano, are involved in making the wine, they benefit a lot from the active involvement of consulting winemaker, Monica Rossetti, who still makes wine in Italy as well.

Lidio Carraro consulting winemaker Monica Rossetti

One of the distinctive features of winemaking here is the absence of any oak whatsoever. Longer macerations and bottle aging are used to supply the texture and firm tannins that oak might otherwise help provide. The focus is on the wines' fruit quality, which is very appealing and complex.

For me, the most impressive wines in the portfolio are the Elos Cabernet/Malbec blend, another red blend called Quorum, a varietal bottling of Teroldego, and a terrific Tannat. I scored the latter 94+ points.

Other Top Producers
A pedestrian walks past an ad for CAR Inc in Shanghai.[China Daily]

Despite posting a roaring 161 percent year-on-year profit growth in its half year financial report on Tuesday, China's biggest auto rental company CAR Inc may not in the mood to pop the Champagne and celebrate just yet over its booming business.

That's because Hong Kong-listed CAR is expected to see much fiercer competition going forward over market share as China's ride-hailing heavyweight Didi Chuxing confirmed it will launch an online car-rental service, said analysts.

Beijing-based Didi said on Monday it will use a so-called asset-light modelby cooperating with other car-rental companies and leasing companiesto offer online car-rental services in response to the boom in the short-term and tourist car-rental market as the population goes through a lifestyle revolution.

The initiative is Didi's latest strategic maneuver, after wrapping up its cash-burning competition with Uber Technologies Inc in China.

According to media reports, Didi is in talks to team up with eHi Car Service, one of CAR's major competitors in China, in the new service. Didi didn't confirm the possible tie-up on Wednesday, saying it is seeking to discuss cooperation models with car-rental companies.

Wang Xiaofeng, an analyst at consultancy Forrester Inc, said that Didi is a very strong competitor for CAR as it integrated its car-rental service in its existing app, which boasts more than 300 million registered users.

"Many of the smartphone users in China are reluctant to download an app for just one purpose, especially for a car-rental service that they are not going to use every day. Even if Didi only transfers a small part of its existing users to the new car-rental service, it could win a big share of the market from CAR," she said.

Unlike Didi, CAR runs its car-rental business via an asset-heavy model. According to its financial report, it had a fleet of 99,727 cars by end-June. The model has proved effective for CAR to date, allowing it to control the quality of its cars and its services, in the process boosting profit growth.

According to the Beijing-based CAR, net profit in the first half of the year soared to 1.06 billion yuan ($159 million), a rise of 161 percent compared with the same period last year.

Zhang Xu, an analyst with the Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys, said that Didi may make CAR feel the pinch from the competition, but it may not be able to shake CAR's No 1 position.

"The asset-light model makes it challenging for Didi to control the quality of the cars for rent as they will be provided by other companies. Once a car accident happens, it will be very complicated for Didi to split the responsibility from the car-rental firm," he said.

But Zhang expected Didi to make a big effort to boost the new service, because it was eager to find a new powerhouse to spur growth.
JACKSON, MS - AUGUST 24: Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, right, invites United Kingdom Independence Party leader Nigel Farage to speak during a campaign rally at the Mississippi Coliseum on August 24, 2016 in Jackson, Mississippi. Thousands attended to listen to Trump's address in the traditionally conservative state of Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

I recently returned from an international seminar where one of the scholars argued a point that is very important for every American to hear before November 8th.

He said that democracies come in many different forms with various structures and systems. But authoritarian regimes all have four characteristics in common:

Advertisement

Grievance-Driven Nationalism.

The narrative that the majority of people have been victimized by enemies - foreign and domestic.

The legitimation of conspiratorial thinking.

The argument that only the one strong man can come to the people's rescue.

These things are true whether they describe the authoritarian regimes of history like Mussolini and Stalin, or those of the current period, like Kim Jong-un in North Korea, or Putin in Russia - both of which Donald Trump apparently admires.

And those four characteristics practically define the Trump political message. Trump argues that he will make America "Great Again" -- that he will address the legitimate grievances of those whose incomes have stagnated by throwing out the immigrants, the Muslims, the "others" that have made it so -- none of which has anything whatsoever to do with the economic pain he alleges to address.

Many Americans have seen what happens when a strong man blames the "other" for a nation's sense of victimization. It always ends in tragedy, whether for the Jews of Europe or the Tutsis of Rwanda.

Trump has no compunction creating and legitimating conspiracy theories such as his "birther" fantasy that President Obama was born in Kenya and is not the "legitimate" President.

Advertisement

And Trump makes it clear every day that only he can fix the country's problems -- apparently through the force of his own will.

The so-called Alt-Right Movement championed by Brietbart.com, whose CEO is now directing the Trump campaign, is the face of right-wing authoritarian nationalism in the United States.

But it is critical to understand that Trump and his Alt-Right, white supremacist colleagues are not an isolated phenomenon. Right-wing nationalist parties are once again growing stronger and stronger in Europe as well. They too have fed upon the discontent spawned by wage stagnation and growing income inequality that -- while not as severe as it is in the United States -- has created fertile ground for the revival of grievance-based nationalist fervor. In Western Europe, their villains are the flood of immigrants from the Middle East that have fled the violence of the Syrian civil war, and workers emigrating to the West from Eastern Europe.

In fact, the leader of the British right-wing nationalist party, Nigel Farage, spoke at Trump's rally last night in Jackson, Mississippi.

Of course, the right-wing nationalists of Europe ignore entirely the fact that the major cause of income stagnation is the fact that billionaires like Trump have taken an increasing share of their country's economic output, just as they have in the United States.

Advertisement

Incomes are not flat for most Americans because the economy as a whole has failed to grow. In fact, per-person gross domestic product in the United States has increased 48 percent over the last 30 years. America is wealthier per person today than at any other time in its history.

Incomes are not flat because immigrants and poor people have taken money from the pockets of ordinary workers. Incomes are flat because billionaires like Donald Trump have siphoned off virtually every dime of that per-person economic growth and kept it for themselves.

They have used their political influence to manipulate the tax system, and cut their own taxes so they often pay lower tax rates than their secretaries or janitors. One of the few Trump tax returns that is publicly available showed that in the early seventies he paid virtually no taxes.

Now, he has steadfastly refused to disclose his more recent tax returns -- either because they too would show how little he has paid, or because they would show he is not as wealthy as he claims, or because they would lay bare his deals with oligarchs and other unsavory business schemes -- or all of the above.

And Trump has made a tax proposal that would give himself even more tax breaks.

A tiny fraction of wealthy Americans have siphoned off most of the increased income generated by our economy over the last three decades, and at the same time they have managed to avoid paying taxes on much of that increase. That has left most ordinary Americans with three bad options:

Advertisement

Slash the quality of their schools, roads and other public services;

Pay more in taxes out of stagnant incomes;

Borrow money from the very wealthy people who have refused to pay their fair share to cover a deficit - and pay them interest for the privilege.

This is not rocket science. If the increased economic growth had been equally distributed, we would all be 48 percent better off economically today than we were 30 years ago. But wages for most workers have remained stagnant. That growth went somewhere -- and we know from the data where; it is no mystery. It did not go to immigrants. It did not go to the poor. It did not go to pay "lazy workers." Virtually all of it went to the Donald Trumps of the world.

Right-wing authoritarian narratives may not be supported by the facts -- but they have a deep emotional appeal to ordinary people looking for someone to blame for their own economic frustration. And that makes those narratives very dangerous.

Right-wing authoritarian nationalism ripped apart the world 75 years ago in the form of World War II. It once again poses a threat to democratic societies. If it is allowed to succeed, it will endanger the democratic institutions and values in the United States and Europe.

Worse, if it is allowed to grow unchecked, authoritarian nationalism has one logical conclusion: violence and war.

Advertisement

Just ask the people of Europe and East Asia -- and the American Veterans of the "Greatest Generation" -- how well the rise of authoritarian nationalism worked out in the 1930s and '40s. Ask the relatives of the literally millions who died.

The Marshall Plan, the European Union and NATO were all created following World War II to prevent the nightmare recurrence of authoritarian nationalism in Europe. The EU and NATO have both begun to show the strains of pressure from resurgent right-wing nationalists' forces. And most Europeans are terrified at the prospect that Trump might become President of the United States -- destroy these critical institutions -- and fan the flames of xenophobia.

We can already see what fanning the flames of xenophobia can do. Several months ago David Petraeus, former U.S. Commander in Iraq and head of the CIA, wrote a piece in the Washington Post with the headline: "Anti-Muslim Bigotry Aids Islamic Terrorists."

The piece was explicitly aimed at Donald Trump.

Experts on the Middle East and radical jihadist terrorism are virtually unanimous in their view that Donald Trump's victory would be a bonanza for ISIS. In fact, ISIS is already using Trump's pronouncements in its recruiting videos.

The entire ISIS narrative -- and its appeal to young Muslims -- rests upon their argument that Islam is engaged in a massive historic struggle with the United States and the West. They argue that the U.S. is leading a great final "crusade" to take Muslim lands, Muslim oil, Muslim's heritage -- to destroy the Muslim religion.

Advertisement

Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric does more to legitimate that narrative than all of their clever social media work -- all of their horrific violent videos -- put together.

Just as bad, Trump makes it infinitely more difficult for the United States to engage moderate Sunni Muslim countries to join with us in the battle against ISIS.

And his rhetoric even plays into the hands of Iran's hard-line Shias that are engaged in a struggle for power with the growing moderate Muslim and secular elements of Iranian society.

The Shia religious and Republican Guard leadership in Iran completely despises ISIS and radical Sunni jihadists like Al Qaeda. To bolster their position they spin out conspiracy theories of their own -- that ISIS is actually the creation of the United States that was organized to check Shia power and legitimate the presence of the United States in the Middle East.

Then comes Trump, who actually says President Obama founded ISIS.

In his recent "national security" speech, Trump claimed that the United States should have occupied Iraq's oil fields -- completely legitimating the Jihadist narrative that the United States wants to take Muslim resources.

Advertisement

The logic of Trump's rhetoric about ISIS -- and for that matter his approach to Iran and his proposed abrogation of the agreement to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon -- will, if he is elected, inevitably lead to another major ground war in the Middle East.

That is exactly what ISIS is praying for. They desperately want to draw the U.S. into that kind of conflict on the ground throughout the Middle East -- a conflict that they believe will allow them to recruit thousands of young people and ultimately end in an apocalyptic defeat of the West.

As Petraeus put it in his Washington Post article: "....those who flirt with hate speech against Muslims should realize they are playing directly into the hands of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State."

Trump has become the leader of a right-wing, authoritarian nationalist movement that could be a grave danger to our own democratic institutions and to any hope we have for a more peaceful world.

But we can stop him. Sound the alarm. Make sure your friends and neighbors understand that Trump is not just another conservative candidate. Donald Trump is dangerous. And the one thing that could allow him to succeed is complacency and low voter turnout in the most important election of our lifetimes.

Advertisement
The Washington Post -- and much of the establishment -- wants you to buy a lifetime subscription to the politics of fear.

Dana Milbank, a columnist for the paper, popped up at Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein's news conference that focused on climate change. After Stein noted that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have gotten billions in free media, he chimed in: "Dana Milbank with the Washington Post segment of the corporate media. I have a conundrum I want to present to you. I could write about today and others could report here about what an important issue climate change is. And we would publish it or broadcast it. The fact is very few people will read it. They will go read or view stories about Trump's staff machinations or Clinton's e-mails. I'm not sure the issue is necessarily a corporate media but what people are demanding. Why is that? What is the way around that if there is one?"

Milbank is pretending to be so concerned about what it is people want. What came to mind for me was John Milton's aphorism: "They who have put out the people's eyes reproach them of their blindness."

Advertisement

Stein was more diplomatic: "Right now so many people are tuned out [of] the election and out of the political system in general because they are accustomed to being ignored by that system. Was Bernie Sanders tuned out? I don't think so. I think he had more attention from the American public than just about anyone at least from my point of view. It looks to me like he was the guy saying that the emperor had no clothes and everyone was agreeing with him. Even Trump supporters were agreeing with him. Polls showed that the majority of Trump supporters are not motivated by supporting Trump. They are motivated by not liking Hillary Clinton. Let's give them another choice besides Donald Trump as an alternative to Hillary Clinton."

Having been deftly rebuffed, Milbank didn't note his own question in his column in the Post.

Rather, he used mine. I actually had some rather hard questions in mind for Stein. I confess: I refrained. I sensed Milbank -- who was sitting next to me -- would use them to try to lynch Stein. It's hard to have an open conversation with a wolf at the door.

So I asked her relatively easy questions. He still used that to go after Stein.

The question I asked Stein was about her electoral hurdles, including the phony Commission on Presidential Debates and "isn't part of the issue that some people who agree with you are effectively driving down your numbers? Noam Chomsky is basically telling people: Climate change -- the very issue you talked about -- Trump is a climate denier, you've got to vote for Clinton in so-called swing states. How do you get past that hurdle when people who presumably agree with you on the issues are effectively driving down your numbers?"

Milbank transformed my question into Chomsky "has said that the only 'rational choice' for swing-state voters is to support Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. 'How do you get past that hurdle?' Sam Husseini from VotePact, a group that supports third parties, asked Stein from the audience."

Advertisement

First off, I identified myself as with VotePact.org, but Milbank drops the .org because he doesn't want people to check out the website. And of course he doesn't link to it. I mean, in this day and age -- how rude. After all, I did his work for him.

Second, VotePact.org does not "support third parties" per se. It can tersely be described as encouraging disenchanted Democrats and disenchanted Republicans to pair up and vote for the independent candidates the prefer. If people actually wanted Clinton or Trump, there would be nothing to the idea. But, as it is, that's not an idea the esteemed Mr Milbank wants to instill in the minds of readers.

And this shows Milbank's brazen hypocrisy since he was pretending with his question to be so concerned about giving the people what they want. I actually talked to him after the news conference, telling him that no poll is asking the U.S. public who they want to be president. The major polls all ask some variation of the same "if the election were held today, who would you vote for" question. But that question just replicates the bind the public faces in the voting booth, compelling people to vote for their "lesser evil". They are not public opinion polls. But they are reported on endlessly as if they are, thereby molding public opinion to discount alternatives to Clinton and Trump and buy into the the politics of fear. I actually gave Milbank a copy of a news release making this case. He feigned concern about why it would be that no pollster was asking the public what they want.

I say feigned in part because Milbank would later tweet a pic of the news conference that purported to show a low level of interest in the news conference, ignoring the dozen or so cameras that were there and the people who filled up the room by the time Stein got to the event. In his own column he sites what appears to be the lowest lowball of averages he could find regarding Stein's standing in the skewed polls. Some polls don't even list Stein. And of course, he ignores the argument I made to him about the skewed question all these polls are depending upon.

Advertisement

Milbank is a hatchet man and did a couple of similar jobs on Bernie Sanders, writing a piece "Democrats would be insane to nominate Bernie Sanders" early this year. This sums up the logic of the establishment in how it eviscerates choice: You can't vote for moderate change in the primary, because you'll lose in the general and you can't vote for change in the general because you'll end up with worse.

Milbank ends his column with the words: "If opposing Trump is subscribing to the politics of fear, then put me down for a lifetime subscription."

Indeed. That's what the emissaries of the establishment want: Just a lifetime of servitude. How troublesome is that, really? It's just your life and your political freedom. Why shouldn't you fork that over without troubling your pretty little head about possible ways out?

All this is exactly what VotePact.org is designed to over come. It's what Milbank -- as well unfortunately as Chomsky and even Stein and Nader -- have all ignored: Is there an actual solution to the "spoiler" problem?

I have in fact put forward two solutions, which are related. One relates to what pollsters should do, the other relates to what voters could do.

Advertisement

Pollsters should ask people who they want to be president, not "who would you vote for if the election were held today" -- which is a tactical, false hypothetical question that simply replicates the constraints of the voting booth. This is especially insidious given how the polls are used to exclude candidates from the debate stage. See my "How Presidential "Non-Opinion" Polls Drive Down Third Party Numbers and Facilitate Debate Exclusion."

The way that voters can overcome this problem is by pairing up. People who are mainly voting for Trump because they don't want Clinton should pair up with people who are voting for Clinton because they don't want Trump. They could instead vote their actual preferences, be that for Jill Stein of the Green Party, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party or any other independent candidate. The unfortunate reality is that this possibility has not only been ignored by the major media and establishment pollsters, but also by alleged political renegades and by independent candidates ostensibly searching for a path to victory.

That's the tough question for Stein I didn't ask: What's your strategy? Are you actually trying to win? Stein is almost there when she notes: "Polls showed that the majority of Trump supporters are not motivated by supporting Trump. They are motivated by not liking Hillary Clinton. Let's give them another choice besides Donald Trump as an alternative to Hillary Clinton." And she notes the the tens of millions of people who are heavily indebted could constitute an electoral majority. But that's not a strategy. VotePact.org takes those observations and points to a strategy: Get endorsements in pairs, with a would-be Clinton voter and would-be Trump voter who know and trust each other teaming up, overcoming their fear and voting for the third parties of their choice.

It seems increasingly clear: If you don't do this, you likely get exactly what Milbank unwittingly admits to: A lifetime subscription of the politics of fear.

And that is something anyone with a conscience should not buy -- and what we all should be truly afraid of.
The U.S. has substantially worse health outcomes than all its peer nations. In a list of non-communicable disease mortality in 17 high-resource countries, the U.S. has the second-highest death rate at 418 deaths per 100,000 people (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Mortality from noncommunicable diseases in 17 peer countries, 2008.

Data from World Health Organization. US Health in International Perspective. Shorter lives, poorer health. S Woolf, L Aron, eds. NRC and IOM. 2012.

Although American life expectancy has improved over time along with that of other countries, it has improved at a slower rate, resulting in the US falling substantially behind our peers. But this has not always been the case. Take the example of female life expectancy at birth (Figure 2). The U.S. was in the middle of the group of peer countries as recently as 1980. However, in the intervening 35 years, while all countries have improved, we have fallen behind, improving at a far slower rate.

Advertisement

Figure 2. US female life expectancy at birth relative to 21 other high-income countries, 1980--2006.

Data from the National Research Council, 2011. US Health in International Perspective. Shorter lives, poorer health. S Woolf, L Aron, eds. NRC and IOM. 2012.

Our underperformance is not the result of a lack of investment in health. The U.S. spends far more on health than any of our peer countries, and our rate of spending is increasing (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Average health care spending per capita, 1980--2009, adjusted for differences in cost of living.

Data from OECD Health Data 2011. The Commonwealth Fund. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/files/publications/fund-report/2014/jun/1755_davis_mirror_mirror_2014.pdf Accessed May 30, 2016.

What, then, does this spending get us? Improvement, as it happens, in one very specific area. While we have the worst mortality outcomes among our peer set throughout most of the life course, at the very end of the life course we actually move to the best (Figure 4). It turns out that the US has the best health indicators for those over 80 years old; this however has come at the expense of the cost of health for all other ages. Our enormous expenditures on all forms of medical care, including end-of-life care, result in suitably commensurate health indicators at the upper extreme of life, while our comparative lack of spending on the social, economic, and environmental conditions that actually determine health has resulted in us having worse health indicators than our peer nations for all but the oldest age groups.

Advertisement

Figure 4. Ranking of U.S. mortality rates, by age group, among 17 peer countries, 2006--2008.

Adapted from Ho and Preston, 2011. US Health in International Perspective. Shorter lives, poorer health. S Woolf, L Aron, eds. NRC and IOM. 2012.

These health challenges are even present in Boston, the city with the highest proportion of physicians compared with any other city in the US. Figure 5 shows the percentage of adults living with diabetes in various neighborhoods in the city, all within just a few miles of each other. The diabetes prevalence among residents of Maverick, Dudley Square, and Mattapan are 3-4 times greater than those of the wealthier areas around Back Bay and Fenway.

Figure 5. Percent of adults with diabetes by T stop, 2010.

Data from Health of Boston 2012--2013: A neighborhood focus. Boston Public Health Commission.

http://www.bphc.org/healthdata/health-of-boston-report/Pages/Health-of-Boston-Report.aspx Accessed May 30, 2016.

The stark variation in diabetes prevalence in these neighborhoods belies the presence of the often world-class medical facilities close to all of these areas (Figure 6). This reinforces the reality that deep-seated inequalities in health cannot be fixed by medical care alone. While issues of access and cost, among many other factors, contribute to less economically advantaged Boston residents not being able to fully capitalize on the medical facilities that surround them, this is only one relatively small part of the challenge. To truly improve the wellbeing of populations, we need an "all in" engagement with the foundational determinants of health, and a willingness to invest in improving these conditions.

Advertisement

Figure 6. Medical facilities near T-stops.

Compiled using Google Maps.

This investment is necessary because the production of health is driven by factors across the lifecourse and across levels of influence. It is difficult to quantify the degree to which these various levels influence health; however, the Network for Excellence in Health Innovation estimates that a large majority of health is determined by our environments and behaviors ( Figure 7). According to the NEHI, only about 6 percent of the production of health is attributable to medical care or access to medical care. This of course is in sharp contrast with our spending: almost 90 percent of our national health expenditure is spent on medical services.

Figure 7. The spending mismatch: Health determinants vs. health expenditures.

Healthy People/Healthy Economy: An Initiative to Make Massachusetts the National Leader in Health and Wellness. 2015. Data from NEHI 2013.

http://www.tbf.org/tbf/56/hphe/Health-Crisis Accessed May 30, 2016.

This speaks directly to the mission of public health--to focus on the social, economic, and cultural conditions that make populations healthy. Such a focus means, to an extant, moving away from the curative approach that characterizes the US investment in "health" towards a greater investment in the foundational determinants of wellbeing. This does not mean increasing spending; it means spending more strategically on the foundational conditions that shape the health of populations. The need for this new approach is well illustrated by Figure 8 below.

Figure 8.

The Commonwealth Fund. U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/oct/us-health-care-from-a-global-perspective Accessed May 30, 2016.

When one combines spending both on medical care (and I would argue that the light blue bar above would be better labeled "medical care" than "health care"), with a broad range of social investments in the resources that can shape the health of populations (above labeled "social care"), U.S. spending is roughly in the middle of the pack compared to peer nations. We are spending more on medical, curative care, but far less than other nations on building the conditions that make people healthy.

Advertisement

This narrative is true both in the national and the local context. Returning to Massachusetts, we have seen government medical spending increase by 81 percent over the past decade and a half (Figure 9). Unfortunately, as we have spent more money on medical care, we have spent less on the larger determinants of health such as education, early childhood care, the environment, and even public health. While there is clearly a growing global appreciation of the centrality of the social determinants of health, this appreciation is far from reflected in how we as a Commonwealth have been allocating our resources.

Figure 9. Change in Massachusetts state government spending, 2001--2014.

Healthy People/Healthy Economy: An Initiative to Make Massachusetts the National Leader in Health and Wellness. 2015. Data from Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Budget Browser. http://www.tbf.org/tbf/56/hphe/Health-Crisis Accessed May 30, 2016.

Our collective investment in a curative approach--in the health of individuals, as opposed to the health of populations--extends well beyond our increased spending on medical care. Our research enterprise has, over the past decade, focused more and more on funding individual approaches, moving us away from scholarship around the foundational determinants of population health. With the rise of genomics, and most recently the Precision Medicine effort, much of that funding has driven efforts aimed at genetic and molecular targeting. This research comes at a cost, specifically the price of funding population health. As calculated through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research portfolio online reporting tools, the proportion of NIH funded projects that include the terms "population" or "public" in their titles has fallen ten-fold over the past decade (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Proportion of NIH funded projects that included the terms "population" or "public" in their titles, FY 2004--2014.

NIH RePORTER. Search results for projects for which funding data are available. http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm Accessed November 20, 2014.

Advertisement

The picture here is clear. The U.S. is disinvesting in the social, cultural, and economic conditions that create health -- the core concerns of public health -- with attendant consequences for our poor national health indicators in the short-term. Bad as this is, it means we are positioning ourselves to do even worse in the long-term, as we decrease our research investment in these foundational concerns.

What exactly are these foundational concerns? A few examples.

Consider the role of income in determining health. Life expectancy has increased over time in the U.S., but only for certain people, with higher income groups gaining in life expectancy and lower income groups either not gaining, or losing. Figure 11 shows two birth cohorts--men born in 1930 and 1960--and estimates their life expectancy at age 50. As can be expected, the life expectancy for the 1960 cohort is higher overall than for the 1930 cohort. It is, however, lower for the poorest quintile of men, meaning that poor men born in 1960 can expect to have less life left at age 50 than their counterparts born in 1930. And this gap is widening. While the gap between the richest quintile and the poorest quintile for those born in 1930 was 5.1 years, that same gap is 12.7 years for those born in 1960. The health of populations is therefore tied closely to economics--health gaps and wealth gaps go hand in hand. It is also important to note that racial/ethnic divides in this country map frequently onto economic divides and are very much a part of the picture of health production in the U.S.

Figure 11.

National Academy of Medicine. The growing gap in life expectancy by income: Implications for federal programs and policy responses. 2015. http://www.nap.edu/download.php?record_id=19015# Accessed May 30, 2016.

Figure 12 further illustrates the existence of health gaps. While all other group mortality rates have declined since 1990, the mortality among U.S. white, non-Hispanics has increased. This is potentially due to an epidemic of non-intentional drug overdoses, largely attributable to the over-prescribing of pain medications in recent years. The cause-specific mortality rate from drug overdoses in the U.S. tripled between 1990 and 2006, and the burden of this increase has largely fallen on this vulnerable group.

Advertisement

Figure 12. All-cause mortality, ages 45--54 for US White non-Hispanics (USW), U.S. Hispanics (USH), and six comparison countries.

Case A, Deaton A. Rising morbidity and mortality in mid-life among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2015; 112(49): 15078--15083.

Culture is another key social determinant of health. Consider one of the past century's biggest public health milestones--the introduction of vaccines, which has saved the lives of millions of children. Figure 13 shows the dramatic decrease of measles incidence across the U.S. after the introduction of a measles vaccine in 1963. But recent controversy, and the rise of the anti-vaccine movement, has pushed back on some of this progress, despite no scientific evidence to back concerns. This has led to a recrudescence of measles cases around 2004, as shown in the darkening blue to the right of the graph.

Figure 13. Heat map showing the number of cases of Measles per 100,000 people.

DeBold T, Friedman D. Battling Infectious Diseases in the 20th Century: The Impact of Vaccines. The Wall Street Journal, February 11, 2015. http://graphics.wsj.com/infectious-diseases-and-vaccines/ Accessed May 30, 2016.

The concerns of population health are emphatically global in scope, and the drivers of population health are as much rooted in the foundations of health worldwide as they are in the U.S. Figure 14 scales the world's geography by preventable deaths, showing how extraordinarily fortunate we are in our health achievement in the U.S. (and in our peer countries), and illustrating the heavy burden of preventable death in Africa and southeast Asia.

Figure 14.

Worldmapper. Interactive map: Land Area. http://www.worldmapper.org/display.php?selected=1 Accessed May 30, 2016.

Advertisement

It is perhaps not surprising, then, to note that this picture maps well onto the picture of global poverty (Figure 15); a stark reminder both of the disproportionate global burden of poor health in low-income countries, and the degree to which this poor health is tied to the economic status of these countries.

Figure 15.

Worldmapper. Interactive map: Land Area

http://www.worldmapper.org/display.php?selected=1 Accessed May 30, 2016.

A global perspective also gives us the chance to identify the international trends that are becoming ever more ubiquitous, and the forces with which we must come to grips if we are to improve the overall health of populations. Two central such forces, probably the two most important demographic shifts over the past century, stand out--urbanization and global aging.

Urbanization has increasingly characterized the conditions within which we live. Figure 16 shows in dark blue the countries that are projected to have more than 50 percent of the population living in urban areas by 2050. Almost every single country is in dark blue; this is a very different picture than we saw 50 years ago. On one hand, urbanization presents challenges--cities are characterized by pollution, overcrowding leading to infectious disease, and the strain of health systems. But because cities represent a ubiquitous presence in the lives of global populations, urbanization is also an opportunity to think about how we may create healthier cities to the end of improving the health of populations worldwide.

Figure 16. Countries with more than 50 percent of the population living in cities, 2050.

Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision and World Urbanization Prospects: The 2007 Revision. http://esa/un.org/unup

Advertisement

Coincident with the rise of urban living, the world is being transformed by an aging population (Figure 17). By 2050, the proportion of people over the age of 65 is projected to be about three times as large as that of people under the age of five. In 1950, these proportions were reversed. As with urbanization, global aging presents both challenges and opportunities in the area of population health.

Figure 17. Proportion of global population by age, 1950--2050. Global health and aging.

National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, World Health Organization.

http://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/global_health_and_aging.pdf Accessed May 30, 2016.

These data are not meant to be a mere survey of the current state of population health. They are a call to action--action that is informed by the aspirations and strategies of public health.

History shows us what can be accomplished through such an approach. Figure 18 reflects one of the immense achievements of public health over the past century: the significant decrease in motor vehicle deaths in the U.S., even as the proportion of the population at risk--those who drive--has increased at about the same rate. This triumph was brought about not because we all suddenly became better drivers. Rather, we made it happen by acting on the conditions that surround driving--by improving cars and roads, by passing legislation that reduces drunk driving, and through the introduction of seat-belts and air-bags. This shows the potential of a public health approach that focuses on the conditions that we can change--on the possible.

Figure 18. Motor-vehicle-related deaths per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and annual VMT, by year - United States, 1925--1997.

Motor vehicle safety: A 20th century public health achievement. MMWR 1999; 48(18): 369--374.

Advertisement

To conclude--a metaphor.
I woke up this morning and saw this article in my WTOP news email update. I couldn't believe what I was reading.

I don't think I'd ever have suspected that one day I would be writing a blog about civility between wedding vendors, but apparently, it's become necessary. I've been hearing more and more atrocious stories about altercations - frequently in front of clients - that should never have happened.

Vendors have been angry in the past when I've said that all of us (the wedding planner, the venue manager, the photographers, the caterers, the DJ, etc.) are "the help." No, we don't like to think of ourselves that way because, after all, without the unique contributions made by every individual member of a wedding team, the big day itself would not be a success. Together, we are the spokes that make up the wheel that rolls the wedding forward. But when you set all that happy bullshit aside and get down to brass tacks, we - and by we, I include EVERYBODY who gets paid - are the staff who are there to make sure the wedding happens. We are not guests. We are not VIPs.

Advertisement

We are not there to be seen or heard (unless we're making announcements, taking drink orders, or creating music). We are not there to socialize. If the bride and groom don't know the names of all the servers and setup crew, it's not a negative reflection on the team's performance. It actually means that the wedding flowed so smoothly that the wedding couple didn't need to know their individual names. We are supposed to be in the background. We don't dress ostentatiously, we don't drink with the guests, and we do our very best to blend in so we won't even appear in the wedding photos.

Unfortunately, as the wedding industry has grown, the number of vendors participating in executing weddings has grown tremendously too. In fact, the industry has grown faster than vendors can properly train their staff. There are a lot of people who call themselves "wedding vendors" who do not know the basic etiquette of working a wedding. The results of these lower standards have been disastrous on many occasions, but never more so than at a wedding in Chantilly, Virginia, last weekend.

Late Saturday night, after a successful wedding at a park venue in Fairfax County, a suburb of Washington, DC, a disagreement between vendors not only ruined a wedding, it resulted in the death, by stabbing, of a caterer by an employee of the wedding venue. They were arguing over chairs. Chairs!!!

News reports indicate that the venue employee had called the police around 9 pm to make a noise complaint - and that's the first unfortunate thing that happened. Unless that wedding group was swinging from chandeliers (and breaking them), nobody from the venue should have filed a noise complaint against their own clients. When the police arrived, they were told the dispute had been resolved, and they chalked it up to a "domestic" incident. It sounds like nothing could have been further from the truth.

Advertisement

Supposedly, the venue employee and the murdered caterer exchanged words earlier in the evening. Details are fuzzy, but it sounds like that irritated park employee in charge of the venue for the wedding (something his employers say he'd been responsible for many times) actually cut the power on the wedding, while it was in full swing! There was no microphone available for the cake cutting. I'm not sure what happened with the music. But when the wedding reception ended, things blew up. Over chairs.

The venue employee accused the caterer of stealing chairs that belonged to the park venue, and argued with her as she was loading them into her catering van. It turns out, she had rented some chairs, and used some of the venue's chairs, and at the time she was attacked, she was actually sorting them out. This is freaky, because co-mingling wedding supplies is not at all uncommon. I've had to sort out tables and chairs at the end of an event, and I wouldn't want to be attacked over that. We've even made mistakes and taken each other's chairs, and had to return them the next day. But I've never exchanged an unfriendly word with any vendor over an unintentional swap late at night, after the entire crew has been working for 12 hours. At that point, we all just want to clean up and go home. Nobody has the energy to fight over chairs. That's just ridiculous.

But, likely fueled by whatever had happened earlier in the night, this disagreement over the chairs rapidly escalated, and the wedding venue employee pulled out a knife, and stabbed the caterer to death. Yes, you read that correctly. One wedding vendor killed another wedding vendor, in front of wedding guests. Over chairs.

I've planned more than 500 weddings in more than nine years of wedding planning, and never could I imagine any scenario where something like this could actually occur. I worry about stupid drunk wedding guests diving into shallow swimming pools and breaking their necks. I worry about unattended children knocking over tiki torches or wandering down to the ocean and drowning. I worry about rowdy wedding guests getting out of control and breaking things at the venue. But I do not worry about whether my vendors will physically attack, and maybe even kill, each other. Especially not over chairs.

Advertisement

This is an extreme case, to be sure. And the killer was an employee of a park venue, not a full-time wedding vendor. That said, it's a lovely venue that hosts lots of wedding and this wasn't his first time at the dance. He called 911 and made a noise and disorderly conduct complaint about the wedding reception at his own venue. Nobody does that unless the situation is getting dangerous. And if things were that out of control, the venue employee should have followed through with the police when they arrived, and had the event shut down under the supervision of law enforcement. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time that's happened. Drunk wedding guests have been known to act like idiots, and things can get out of control. Brides are some of the worst offenders, when it comes to creating a melee at their own wedding festivities. Seriously, if you Google "bride arrested" you'll be shocked and awed by the number of hits you'll get. And no, they're not all stories about the same psychotic bride, and they're not limited to the United States.

What you won't easily find when you search are stories of wedding vendors fighting with each other. Oh, it definitely happens. But most of the time, no matter how unprofessional the vendors may be, they still know enough to have their disagreements out of sight, and earshot, of clients and their guests. When they're not discreet, it ends with a lawsuit, not a stabbing. More experienced vendors set aside their anger and push through the event, then discuss the problem after the wedding, not at the venue. Why? Because at the end of the day, every wedding vendor knows we are there to help the bride and groom have a fantastic experience on what will likely be one of the most memorable days of their lives.

The most tragic thing here is the fact that a woman lost her life. Over chairs. Think about that. The second saddest thing about this tragedy is the fact that the newly married couple's wedding was ruined in the most awful way possible.

"It was a wedding. A woman's day when she will never ever forget. And now she'll never forget it for all the wrong reasons," a wedding guest who was a witness to the attack told the local NBC news affiliate.

Advertisement

Look, wedding memories get ruined by thoughtless people all the time. I'm pretty sure my bride whose grandfather and father got into a fist fight - and drew blood - at the cocktail hour would consider her wedding ruined. The groom who got into a fist fight with his new father-in-law at the wedding reception after-party was a doozy, too.

Those examples of violence at weddings were caused by inebriated family and guests. Not unprofessional, or homicidal, wedding vendors who couldn't control their tempers. Civility between wedding vendors, even when things aren't going well, is critical to the success of the event. No matter what goes down, or whose fault it is, we're supposed to work together to solve the problem, and keep a smile plastered on our faces while we do it. If a mistake is egregious enough, a wedding venue will ban the vendor from future events, and the wedding planner will simply stop using them for their clients. If it's the venue or the planner who is in the wrong, a vendor certainly has the option to choose not to work for them again.

There is nothing that could happen at a wedding that merits violence between wedding vendors. I'd like to pretend that this murderous park employee wasn't actually a wedding vendor - I mean, he was working for the park, not the wedding, right? But the fact of the matter is that he was employed to open and close and supervise the venue, and they say he'd done it for numerous weddings and parties in the past. Not only did he kill the power to the venue, he actually killed the caterer, too.
On August 27th and 28th, Japan will co-host the Sixth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, together with Kenya and major international organizations. TICAD VI represents the latest milestone in Japan's deep and longstanding commitment to Africa.

Following TICAD V held in Yokohama three years ago, this year's TICAD VI will be held for the first time on African soil, really historic.

Advertisement

When do you guess Japan started its cooperation with Africa? Some may assume in the 1970s, when the Japanese economy achieved full postwar recovery? No. Then around the 1960s, when many African nations gained independence? Not really. It was in 1927, almost 90 years ago. That was when Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese physician who dedicated his life to the cause of medicine, departed for Accra in Ghana, pledging "I shall not return home without achieving my objective."

Dr. Noguchi tasked himself with finding a cure for yellow fever, a disease that was causing hundreds of thousands of deaths in Africa. He did so despite partial impairment to his hand resulting from burns he had suffered in his childhood. Dr. Noguchi himself eventually succumbed to yellow fever, which cost him his life a year after moving to Accra.

"For the people of Africa." This firmly remains the guiding principle of our engagement with Africa and drives Japan's involvement in TICAD.

Africa has tremendous potential for sustainable growth. Yet daunting challenges remain in areas fundamental to development. Water supply. Food production. Healthcare. Lack of quality infrastructure. Lagging education and technical training. Political instability. All these challenges have hindered Africa's progress.

Advertisement

Africa's growth not only benefits Africa, but the world as a whole. Under this belief, Japanese government and businesses, as well as individual citizens, have all made contributions to the development of Africa.

Exactly 50 years ago, three young men, Mr. Hideo Rikitake, Mr. Takeshi Inada, and Mr. Goro Furuya, became the first volunteers to go to Africa as Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. They were tasked with the transfer of technology for electrical facilities and construction machinery to Kenya. These pioneering spirits were only the first of many. Since then, more than 15,000 Japanese young people in 31 countries across Africa have committed their time and skills under this program.

Our approach is to help African nations cultivate industries and to focus on each individual in Africa. This is why our economic development initiatives have initially focused on agriculture and light industries that are closely tied to people's lives. These are the areas where the technology required is relatively easy to acquire and simultaneously result in products that directly improve the wellbeing of individual Africans. In short, we support the formation of "homegrown industries." They will put Africa on a path to sustainable prosperity and self-sufficient growth.

Typically, African countries with abundant natural resources experience rapid economic growth when commodity prices are high, but this does not necessarily last. A downturn in prices negatively affects Africans by depressing wages. And sometimes this happens very quickly. The pace of development is therefore at the mercy of price movements in volatile commodities markets.

This is why I believe in the formation of "homegrown industries" throughout Africa.

To achieve the development of "homegrown industries" in Africa, building human resource capacity is vital. In Ethiopia, people are embracing the Japanese KAIZEN initiative that empowers all the workers to continuously improve their current working methods to increase productivity. The Toyota Kenya Academy equips African trainees with expertise in car maintenance, construction equipment and agricultural machinery. The Kenya Nut Company, launched by a Japanese entrepreneur, has developed into a world-class supplier of nuts with its popular "Out of Africa" brand. And in Tanzania, Japan's Sumitomo Chemical transferred production technology for Japanese-style mosquito nets, creating a local mosquito net industry and contributing to the prevention of malarial infection.

Advertisement

At TICAD V in 2013, I announced the African Business Education (ABE) Initiative for Youth to emphasize our commitment to human resources development. The initiative invites young Africans from across the continent to Japan in order for them to receive master's degrees at universities and participate in internships to groom future business leaders. African young people studying under this program will soon hit 1,000.

As Africa's human resources expand, our relationship with Africa continues to deepen with the public and private sectors working hand in hand. Going beyond a sell-and-buy relationship, we help African businesses develop by providing investment and technology as well as expertise in production processes.

Japan's businesses and universities are at the forefront of these efforts. In fact, a business mission with 77 leaders from Japanese businesses and universities will accompany me to Nairobi this time. More than 200 companies will also come to Nairobi to participate in a wide range of events, and as many as 72 MOUs with African nations are set to be signed. At TICAD VI, I will establish the Japan-Africa Public and Private Economic Forum, bringing together top business leaders from Japan and all over Africa to deepen economic ties.

We will provide US$ 200 billion in investment funds for infrastructure that will be highly sustainable and remain cost-competitive factoring in maintenance and repair over the mid- to long-term. These funds will further boost economic development in Africa.

Let me return to healthcare, another important cause in Africa. The deep conviction that drove Dr. Noguchi 90 years ago continues to be a source of inspiration in Japan today.

Advertisement

Dr. Satoshi Omura, who received the Nobel Prize last year, developed Avermectin, a therapeutic drug for endemic diseases caused by parasitic worms. The medicine has been provided for free to countries in Africa, in cooperation with Merck & Co., saving 300 million people each year from blindness. During the Ebola virus outbreak, Japan also provided financial assistance for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, dispatching experts and delivering medicine and medical equipment, as part of a $184 million assistance package. Additionally, we are supplying diagnostic equipment and mobile testing units for cancers affecting women.

This year, Japan unveiled a new vision to advance global healthcare. We will promote Universal Health Coverage to prevent and prepare for public health crises in Africa and across the world, and enhance emergency response capabilities. To support this drive, I announced an assistance package of $1.1 billion for the health sector.
Focus on the positive that you have. Envision your future with hope. Be always kind and never forget to be classy. Simonetta Lein

Driving in Los Angeles with my friend and publicist Tracie, I can finally see the ocean, which is always a beautiful and calming sight. We buzz the door, it opens, and waiting for us at the top of the stairs is very special woman: Carolina Bacardi. I am in her beautiful home, suffused with bright natural light, and from where you can see the lapping waves on the horizon. We sit down in the living room while her son runs and plays, and we start talking, feeling completely at ease, and I immediately discover a person who brings so much value with her story. The story of a family, a myth and a tradition, a migration from Cuba to America when the family became too powerful in Cuba and they were at risk, she says. Her personal story as a very beautiful and humble woman who lives totally according with the "pay it forward" philosophy which is the cause of The Wishwall Foundation that I founded. Being The Wishmaker, such a person intrigues me so much, that I know I absolutely must interview her. She offers us something refreshing to drink. It is hot in LA and dry, a real problem for those who live there. The water supply in California is a massive issue, as she points out, and we need to use it very wisely.

Advertisement

When you were a child, did you wish for the career and for the life that you have manifested today?

I was always part of the Bacardi family, I was born with it and I never thought about a different life. Sometimes in life it is what it is, and as a child I didn't know that my life could have been different than being part of my family.

**And what a family! From the New York Times we read: "Even after the Castro regime nationalized the company's facilities in 1960, the year almost all of the Bacardi family and many of the company's executives fled (leaving the nearly century-old coconut palm planted at the original distillery, as company legend has it, suddenly to wither and die), the Bacardis became the face, and one of the largest sources of money, behind the anti-Castro movement in America, which sometimes pursued its mission with almost unbelievable audacity." Life for the family in Cuba was too dangerous so they emigrated in Puerto Rico. At that point there was a sort of a Rum war, everyone wanted to know the secret recipe of the Bacardi and witnesses revealed that "El comandante" Che Guevara forced one of the Bacardi employees who stayed in Cuba to write down what he knew about it. That paper went missing and the recipe of Bacardi rum remains a secret to this day.

Name a wish that you had for your life or for humanity that finally came true.

My brother has a beautiful daughter with a rare disease called cardiomyopathy. I think that more people should know about it. Basically your heart grows too much for your chest. The family discovered that she needed to have her heart transplanted when she was four. My grandfather decided to donate money to discover a cure for this rare pathology and we all started to be involved as a family. Finally, we were able to have a heart transplanted but someone has to die to give someone else a life and that thought is always with me. Now she is twelve and she is a happy girl. That is my personal biggest wish come true.

Advertisement

**Carolina is truly emotional about this family story and she shows a personal and family commitment to help out other children affected by this rare disease. Thanks to the Bacardi family, life for other children will be greatly improved, and that to me is a symbol of a family who never lost contact with the real sense of life.

If you were granted one wish for humanity or for our planet, what would it be?

I wish for more water in California. It is a huge problem. I teach my son not to abuse water.

**Yes, climate change is real. Scientists keep on repeating it and year after year we see the effects of climate change more and more. California already has a desert climate and it was exacerbated by climate change. We can pretend it doesn't exist or we can become aware and start to live our lives without misusing resources. We have to start now.

If you could go back in time and ask one question from anyone from history, who would you want to meet and what question would you ask?

I would want to talk with my great-great-grandfather. I always wanted to ask him how did he come up with the idea of creating Bacardi. I have so many family stories I would have liked to witness, like Hemingway being a friend of my grandfather or Fidel Castro going to high school with my father.

**In 1862 Don Facundo Bacardi Masso' decided to create a rum like no other. He spent more than ten years trying to perfect the formula. Despite being on the verge of bankruptcy for almost forty years he never gave up with his dream and was helped by his wife who invested her inheritance for him. She was the person who also suggested the fruit-bat as the symbol that then became world-famous for Bacardi rum. The story continues when Facundo's third son opened an office in 1890 in the city of Havana and it was there that after the Spanish-American victory the American soldiers would mix their Coca-Cola with Bacardi Rum. And so the legendary Cuba Libre was born, celebrating freedom. Her family represents so much more than a drink, however. It represents the wish, the dream of an entrepreneur and his wife who together never gave up until they became leaders and part of history.

I found it very sweet that when after the interview we went out for dinner and at the end, Carolina ordered a Bacardi Rum with ice. She acts in such a simple way, and that brand it is not just a product, it means her traditions, her story, her family. And having a sip of it, is in a way, continuing that tradition.

Advertisement

Please tell me what influences your unique sense of style?

I go with whatever works for me, I don't follow the sense of style of trends, if I feel good in it, then that influences me.

Who is your favorite fashion designer or brand right now and why?

I love Prada, it is always very classy and chic.

What is your fashion mantra?

Jeans and a white shirt are super sexy. I believe in simple and classy, you can never go wrong with that.

What is your final message for our readers?

You have to focus on the positive that you have. I personally know that I come from a privileged family and I never take it for granted. I really want to remind anyone to never take anything for granted. Friends are a very big support for me, so my message is to dedicate time to friendship because it is one of the most precious bonds you can have.

**Thank you Carolina for allowing me to be part of a piece of history for a moment. I wish you the best, my friend. A big shout out to Tracie May Wagner and I still remember our women's dinner with lots of joy. We should do it again.

Advertisement

As always, make your wishes come true.

From Philadelphia, The Celebrity Wishmaker Simonetta Lein
Hillary Clinton is ahead in the polls, but it's more due to Donald Trump's many blunders than excitement with Mrs. Clinton. She has benefitted from being the anti-Trump. But new allegations about the FBI finding another 15,000 missing emails, as well as evidence of a possible "pay-to-play" donation system between her husband's Clinton Global Initiative and the Secretary of State's office, raises old perceptions about her untrustworthiness and dishonesty.

Mrs. Clinton's campaign is badly in need of a bold issue that fires the imagination of voters. Otherwise, if Trump stops the bloopers and regains his economic populism, this race could tighten very quickly.

What issue should Hillary Clinton focus on that will rally voters? Here's one that will neutralize her opponent's economic appeal: a dramatic expansion of Social Security.

Advertisement

This popular program, which celebrated its 81st birthday on August 14, enjoys stratospheric support, even among 70% of Republican rank-and-file voters. It's the greatest anti-poverty program that the US has ever devised. Three-quarters of Americans depend heavily on Social Security in their elderly years, and nearly half would be living in poverty without it. It's been an especially important support system for minority and female retirees. During the 2008-09 economic crisis, when home ownership, private savings and the stock market collapsed, Social Security remained stable.

Despite its popularity, critics have stoked the fear that Social Security will face a financial shortfall sometime in the 2030s. But that is overblown, Social Security has an established trust fund that, legally speaking, cannot spend more than it takes in. Any future deficits could be made up from any number of revenue sources. It's all a matter of budgetary priorities.

In fact the real problem with Social Security is not a shortfall but that its payout is so meager. Social Security is designed to replace only about 40 percent of a worker's wages at retirement, yet retirement experts estimate you will need almost twice that amount to live decently. With private retirement pensions, as well as personal savings centered on homeownership - the other two legs of the three-legged "stool of retirement" -still looking wobbly, and with incomes low and inequality high, tens of millions of retirees won't have much more than their monthly Social Security checks to live on.

So the real problem with Social Security is that it is too stingy to function as the nation's single pillar retirement system. The obvious solution, as Senator Bernie Sanders pointed out during his presidential run, is to expand Social Security, not cut it. There are numerous revenue streams that would allow an increase in the monthly payout for the 43 million Americans who receive retirement benefits.

Advertisement

How much should we expand Social Security? Senator Sanders proposed adding about $68 per month per beneficiary - better than nothing, but not nearly enough to make a significant difference. The US needs a much more dramatic expansion.

If we design it correctly, we can afford to double the monthly benefit for every retiree, creating a new system that I call Social Security Plus. This would come much closer to providing sufficient income for the nation's retirees, and also put the US retirement system in line with the benefits provided by many other developed nations. As demonstrated in my recently published book Expand Social Security Now: How to Ensure Americans Get the Retirement They Deserve, there is so much waste in the US tax system that if we simply close many of the tax loopholes and deductions that disproportionately favor wealthier Americans, the nation could easily afford this.



Social Security Plus: How to pay for it

How much would it cost to double the monthly payout? Approximately $662 billion. That seems like a lot of money, but here's how we could do it.



1. Eliminate the unfair Social Security payroll cap. Currently any income above $118,500 is not taxed for Social Security purposes. The practical effect of the cap is that billionaire bankers and CEOs contribute a far lower percentage of their income for Social Security -- much less than 1% -- than their secretaries and chauffeurs, whose income is taxed at a rate of 6.2%.

The old rationale for this discrepancy is that Social Security is not welfare, instead it is an earned benefit -- the more you pay into it, the more you receive. The maximum amount that a Social Security beneficiary can receive is capped at around $2600, and so if the benefit is capped, so should be the payroll deduction, goes this line of thinking. If we are going to lift the payroll cap and tax wealthier Americans more, shouldn't they also receive more of a payout?

But that's not how Medicare works, nor private company pensions, nor any other tax-funded government service. Wealthy people don't receive more access to doctors, hospitals, roads, schools or airports just because they pay more in taxes. The rationale for treating Social Security so differently might have made sense when it was launched over 80 years ago, and there was little tradition of government providing a helping hand. But it makes much less sense today in this time of rampant inequality and greater acceptance of government acting as a counter-balance to unstable market economies.

Advertisement

So simply making the payroll contribution more fair and equal by requiring all income levels to contribute at the same rate of 6.2% on all of their earned wages would raise approximately $135 billion toward the targeted goal.

2. Apply a Social Security tax to investment income. Many wealthy Americans make a lot of their money through investment income instead of from wages. Yet they make zero Social Security contributions based on that income. By applying Social Security rules on this investment income -- which is how Medicare is partly funded -- we would raise another $50 billion more for doubling the Social Security payout.

3. Eliminate tax shelters and loopholes for 1-percenter households and businesses. The loopholes crying out for elimination include capital gains and other types of investment income, such as 'carried interest' and the truly outrageous 'step-up in basis,' which exclusively benefits inherited wealth. These function as direct federal subsidies to mostly affluent Americans. And they cost the national treasury some $250 billion per year, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that a whopping 70 percent of this subsidy is hoovered by Americans in the top 1 percent income bracket (and nearly 93 percent by the top 20 percent bracket).

The 'step-up in basis' exemption is particularly repugnant. When a yacht, mansion or any other type of expensive asset is sold, the seller's profit is subject to the capital gains taxation rate of 15-20 percent -- already only about half the 39.6 percent tax rate that the wealthiest pay on their wage income. Normally, the amount subject to taxation is the difference between the sale price and the amount that the seller originally paid for that particular asset. But for inherited property, the difference is calculated using the date that the previous owner died and left it to the heirs. As a result, the appreciation in value is a lot less, and so are the capital gains taxes. Rather than a 'step-up in basis,' this dodge might more accurately be termed a 'step-up in privilege.' In 2015, this rule reduced federal revenues by an enormous $63 billion.

Step-up in basis is one of the 10 largest federal tax expenditures in the entire individual and corporate income tax system. And most of it is pocketed by the wealthiest of Americans. Of course none of the investment income received from the sale of these inherited assets is taxed for Social Security purposes. If it were, at the usual 6.2 percent Social Security tax rate that all workers pay, it would generate another $19 billion for the Trust Fund.

President Barack Obama has done next-to-nothing to close these loopholes while president, and Hillary Clinton has been mostly silent. Ironically, Donald Trump has been more outspoken about the unfairness of this system than most Democratic leaders. To his credit, Trump defended Social Security against budget cuts during the GOP presidential debates and primaries. So Mrs. Clinton is vulnerable on this issue.

4. Eliminate the tax exclusion that private employers receive for sponsoring their company's retirement plans. Not many people realize it, but every tax-paying American subsidizes the retirement plans provided by private companies, even though only a small slice of Americans -- about 15% of private-sector workers -- have pensions today. By implementing Social Security Plus, which would double the monthly benefit and make Social Security the de facto national retirement plan, employers would be liberated from having to provide retirement for their employees. So they will not need the substantial taxpayer-funded subsidies they receive from the federal government for their company's retirement plan. That will raise another $100 billion that can be used for Social Security Plus.

At this point, we have found nearly $600 billion in funding for Social Security Plus, nearly reaching our mark for doubling the monthly retirement benefit. So let's keep going and look for more sources of revenue for our increasingly expanded and financially sound national retirement plan.

5. Scrap other retirement tax breaks that disproportionately benefit wealthier Americans over middle class and poor Americans. Savings vehicles such as 401(k)s and IRAs have tragically failed to help most retirees for a very simple reason -- you can't put very much into your 401(k) if your wages are too low to save. And with aggregate wages in the US staying flat for the last three decades, the reality is that most middle- and poorer-class Americans haven't been able to sock that much away. Consequently, of the $165 billion that the federal government spends subsidizing individual retirement savings, nearly 80 percent goes to the top 20 percent of income earners. President Obama has proposed a universal 401(k), in which workers with no savings plan will be enrolled automatically in a 401(k) plan. But it seems pointless when wages are so low that the vast majority of middle class and poor Americans can't accumulate sufficient savings. Most Americans would be far better off if we scrapped the 401(k) and IRA subsidies, and instead doubled the Social Security monthly benefit.

Advertisement

The same is true for federal underwriting of homeownership, which totaled $154 billion in 2014. The federal subsidy for the home mortgage interest deduction amounts to around $70 billion per year, with Americans in the top 10-percent income bracket receiving a massive 86 percent of it. And the federal tax deduction allowed to homeowners to mitigate the cost of paying state and local property taxes on their houses cost the federal budget another $32 billion in 2014; a study by the Congressional Budget Office found that Americans in the upper 20 percent income bracket reaped 80 percent of that federal subsidy.

Just to make sure everyone understands whom the tax code favors, homeowners also do not have to pay taxes on up to $250,000 of their capital gains profits when they sell their home, which doubles to $500,000 for married taxpayers. That exclusion amounts to another giant subsidy amounting to $52 billion per year. And here's the real kicker: these three subsidies for homeownership, which in aggregate mostly benefit higher-income people, cost the federal treasury nearly four times the $42 billion that the Department of Housing and Urban Development spends on all affordable housing programs for low-income people. Renters and most low-income Americans don't benefit at all from the subsidies, and while some middle-income people benefit, the total amount of their deductions is too small to help them much. They would benefit a lot more from a doubling of their Social Security payout.

Whose entitlement? Who's the 'welfare queen'?

Critics of Social Security have derogatorily labeled it an 'entitlement,' but in reality these tax-code favoritisms are nothing more than entitlements for wealthier people at the expense of everyone else. The affluent recipients of federal largess are the true 'welfare queens,' since these subsidies are mostly unavailable to middle- and lower-income Americans.

Advertisement

If we combine those budgetary add-backs with our previous savings, we now have reached nearly $900 billion, well over the $662 billion we need in order to enact Social Security Plus. And note that we were able to do this without spending a dime more in taxpayer money or national wealth than what is already spent on the retirement system, or on subsidizing the savings of better-off Americans. We are just shifting existing expenditures that right now benefit a small number of people, and redirecting these resources toward the vast majority of people.

Social Security remains one of the most popular government programs ever. It's not only good for the nation's retirees, but also for US businesses and the broader national economy. Retirees spend their income to live, providing customers for businesses, even during an economic downturn. So Social Security acts as an automatic stimulus that helps to maintain levels of consumer spending that in turn help stabilize the economy.

Moreover, expanded Social Security would be a better fit for the type of high-tech digital economy that is slowly taking root. More and more Americans are working as contractors, freelancers, temps and part-timers for multiple employers; many Americans now are working several part-time jobs to make ends meet. Social Security Plus would form a core part of a portable, universal safety net that is badly needed, providing a new kind of deal for American workers.

More members of Congress, led by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as other political and media leaders and organizations like Social Security Works and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, have come to the conclusion that we need to expand Social Security. So has President Obama, who initially disappointed his backers by supporting ill-advised cuts to the program and appointing an ill-fated commission that tried to enact cuts. Unfortunately Hillary Clinton has been the worst kind of waffler on this issue. Her latest position is that she will support expansion, but only for those who need it the most, which means not many people. If she isn't careful, she is going to be leapfrogged by Donald Trump, who is unpredictable enough to take a bolder stand on Social Security.

The simple message is that we can pay for this expansion by enacting tax fairness, and ensuring that all Americans contribute their fair share to the nation's bounty and security. With support among even Republicans extremely high, there appears to be no political risk to Hillary Clinton being out front on this issue. And with her campaign teetering on the edge of a cliff of scandal and pay-to-play politics, the Clinton campaign needs a popular issue that excites voters. Social Security expansion provides a vision for not only how our nation will treat our retirees, but also for what kind of nation we want to be.
Several months ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to explore Iceland and learn about its unique energy policy through an 8-day Adventure Program on Renewable Energy and Sustainability offered through the GREEN Program. Although it was only eight days long, we were able to attend lectures from professors at the Iceland School of Energy in Reykjavik University, tour geothermal and hydropower plants, and see amazing landscapes as well.

The Appeal: Why renewable energy?

Before going on this trip, I had considered renewable energy to be a part of this utopian vision for an environmentally friendly future, with solar panels and wind turbines everywhere and all the plants, animals, and humans living in harmony. It may sound silly; however, having always heard of renewable energies in the context of climate change, they were and are often portrayed as a magic solution. They often come with a narrative that boasts about their potential to solve our world's major problems, namely:

1. Saving the Environment: Renewables don't pollute (as much).

Electricity production takes up the largest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. If we can switch our electricity production from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and petroleum) to renewables (solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, etc.), we will be able to drastically reduce our carbon footprint and hopefully prevent or considerably slow climate change.

Advertisement

2. Securing our Energy Supply: Renewables are (theoretically) replenishable.

The current issue that the world is often scared to face is that fossil fuels and other nonrenewable sources of energy are finite. Like we learn after every oil shock, the world is extremely dependent on an ever depleting resource. This makes the idea of a source of energy that can be "renewed" infinitely or used without depletion quite alluring.

The Leader: Iceland

Iceland, a small, isolated island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is home to a population of about 330,000. Beyond their beautiful glaciers, volcanoes, and landscapes, what makes this tiny country stand out is its leadership with renewable energy.

In 2014, 99.9% of Iceland's electricity production came from renewable sources, a combination of geothermal and hydropower. Not to mention the 90% of geothermal energy which was used for space heating (heating up buildings/homes).

Despite being such a small country, Iceland stands out as a major leader in this sector, showing the world how to be resourceful with the geography and resources you have.

Advertisement

The Culture Shock

Needless to say, when I first learned about Iceland's leadership with renewables, I was ecstatic. When I landed, I half-expected a land of progressive, climate conscious, environmentalists thriving in an area rich with renewable energy sources. I was in for a quite a shock.

Instead, what I saw was a culture of energy consumption. Everyone was driving oil-based vehicles. Swimming pools and outdoor hot tubs - with fresh water from the glaciers, heated using geothermal heat transfer - were a common tourist attraction that you could find almost everywhere. Highways were lit up with light posts every few feet, which even the taxi driver admitted was fairly excessive. Many of the roads in the city had pipes running geothermal-heated water underneath the pavement in order to melt the snow. While touring a geothermal plant, we learned that aluminum smelting factories, a very electricity-heavy industry, were flocking towards Iceland for its cheap energy costs. We visited one of several greenhouses that grow massive amounts of tomatoes, using electricity to power lights for the plants throughout the entire year, for twenty-four hours, every single day. Even in the university, rather than turning down the heat using a thermostat, the professors would simply open the window if it was getting too hot.

In this state of disbelief, I soon learned that while Iceland was a leader in the field of renewable energy, it was also a leader in energy consumption. With an energy use of 16,679 kg of oil equivalent per capita (as of 2013), Iceland has the highest amount of energy use per capita in the world - and by a long shot. According to the World Bank, Iceland's runner up, Luxembourg, lags behind at less than half the amount, with a mere 7,327 kg.

The Paradox: More Renewables = More Consumption?

After learning about Iceland's energy use, my immediate response was - why is their energy consumption so high?

Advertisement

There are many ways to answer this question (check out this video), but from what I contemplated and learned, the core of the answer lies in the very reasons we love renewables to begin with:

1. Saving the Environment: Renewables don't pollute (as much).

Translation: It's "guilt-free." To paraphrase my city tour guide, since all the electricity comes from renewables, you can use as much as you'd like! Go ahead, turn on the TV, take a trip to Spain, and come back a week later - no worries, no guilt - you're not harming the environment.

2. Securing our Energy Supply: Renewables are (theoretically) replenishable.

Translation: It's "infinite." There's no need to worry about using too much heat or water, we aren't going to be losing our energy sources anytime soon.

Lesson #1: Renewable energy is not synonymous with sustainability.

The first thing that learning about this paradox helped me do was check my assumptions. I realized that, up until that point, I had always seen renewable energy as the "magic solution" which would become the sustainable future (remember the happy plants, animals, and humans living in harmony?). However, what I realize is that while any sustainable solution to our problems would almost definitely include renewable energy as a major part of it, producing renewable energy doesn't necessarily mean that you have created a sustainable solution.

The way I see it, sustainability is a culture, a way of life, while renewable energy is a type of resource.

Advertisement

You can replace all of our fossil fuel-driven electricity plants with solar panels, wind turbines, biofuels, geothermal bore holes, and hydropower dams, and we can rejoice in the idea that we have plenty of clean energy that we can theoretically keep harnessing forever. However, what this ignores is the blatant environmental damage and unforeseen consequences that inevitably come with creating millions of solar panels, taking up miles of space to put up turbines, blocking the flow of rivers, and more. A switch to renewables alone is unable to create sustainability, or a way of life that would be able to support the planet and all of its beauty, inhabitants, and resources.

Lesson #2: We need to adjust our way of thinking.

It is not enough to simply replace the role of nonrenewable energy with renewable energy. While it is a better alternative, renewables are not the complete solution - adjusting our culture of consumption can be. Yes, you can excuse this whole paradox of consumption by simply waving your hand and saying "it's inevitable, it's economics - supply and demand." Sure, we are more likely to consume when we have more, and driven to conserve more when our resources are scarce.

However, it is the future and well-being of our planet that is at stake! If we want a better future, we must adjust our thinking and work to change our consumption. Simply because we can produce so much energy does not mean we should. And simply because we have more energy does not mean we need to use more of it.

We need to take a step back and understand that there is more to our problem than simply clean energy production. We can perfect the entire energy production process, and yet, that overlooks the entire waste process and the multitude of other side effects that come with our consumption. For example, the aluminum smelting industry, a major consumer of electricity in Iceland, has started showing signs of fluoride pollution in surrounding areas. In the United States, high water consumption combined with droughts are placing more stress upon our water supply and treatment systems. The more we consume, the more we waste, the more mess we make, and inevitably, the more problems we face. Therefore, we have all the more reason to focus on reducing our individual consumption whether or not our resources are seemingly abundant in the short-term.

Conclusion?

While it is important to be creative and innovative in the way we approach the environmental problems of our time, one should be weary of solutions that are too narrowly-focused. Renewable energy is a promising answer to a specific question, but only a part of a much-needed multifaceted solution.

Many of our environmental issues are deeply rooted in a culture of consumption that often arises when we are presented with periods of abundance. At the end of the day, even with the best technological solutions, we are the ones who can make a huge difference by curbing our consumption on all levels. Either we can choose to adapt and shift this culture - or Nature will choose for us.

--




By Christine Chiu

The Sunday following the shootings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and the five officers in Dallas, the pastor at my church gave a sermon on the recent events. He decided to end the service by inviting the congregation's black members to go up and share their story. That morning, a friend of mine decided to respond and share his story of dealing with racism. He has been, he told us, intentionally living to portray an image in direct opposition to how black men are historically and socially portrayed--violent and dangerous. As well as I thought I knew him, this was the side of him that I didn't know. It was at that moment that I, an educator, truly understood the importance of having a diverse teaching force as a way to ensure social justice.

Raised in predominantly white and Asian American, upper-middle class suburbia, my opportunities to hear black narratives were few. My friend's story prompted me to look inward and wonder about my own subtle racial biases. I wondered how different my teaching practice would have been had I been taught by a more diverse group of teachers. I wondered how different my friend's life would have been had he had black teachers to relate to and process his experiences with.

The more students can see positive role models that reflect themselves, the more they feel confident to succeed in the classroom. At the same time, the more students are exposed to different racial backgrounds, the greater their cross-cultural knowledge and empathy. Had I been taught by a diverse group of teachers growing up, I am sure it would have helped me develop empathy and unlearn racial biases earlier. Racial diversity has also shown to have a positive impact on academic achievement as well, strengthening students' critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Advertisement

The recruitment strategies start with teacher preparation programs through intentional outreach to minority populations. In the recruitment process, there should be a deliberate plan to visit schools predominantly populated by minority students to inform and empower them to become teachers. At these schools, accelerated programs could be developed at the secondary level where students would have the option to enter an academic track of study with a teaching focus. Upon graduation, they would be transferred into a teacher preparation program.

Teacher preparation programs should also start attracting minority students through offering scholarship opportunities specifically for students of color. But our work must not stop at recruitment efforts. In fact, our greatest struggle in increasing the number of minority teachers lies largely in attrition, not just recruitment. Therefore, we must also strengthen our retention efforts. Consistent and informative mentoring programs should be offered to these novice teachers as they enter the teaching work force.

In the interim, all educators, no matter the race, should be trained in culturally-relevant pedagogy and teaching practices. Classroom literature, discussions, and activities must reflect, embrace, and incorporate a variety of cultural and racial backgrounds. The new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires states to reevaluate how they rate and improve schools, offers a great opportunity to take a closer look at this area of instruction. What's more, a portion of ESSA's Title II funding, which focuses on teacher leadership and professional development, could be allocated toward training teachers in culturally relevant practices.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks on stage during a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, August 23, 2016. / AFP / SUZANNE CORDEIRO (Photo credit should read SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP/Getty Images)

For the first time, a Republican presidential candidate has named a woman as campaign manager. It's a bit late -- Susan Estrich and Donna Brazile got there decades ago on the Democratic side. Still, I keep hearing that it's a mark of progress, which will appeal to women voters, that Kellyanne Conway is Donald Trump's new campaign manager.

I can't agree.

The fact is that the Trump campaign is so steeped in misogyny that appointing a woman as campaign manager won't be nearly enough to convince women to vote for him. Especially a woman with Conway's extremist views.

Advertisement

Consider this, from an article in Jezebel:

To get a sense of Conway's perspective on gender and the "gender gap," take the speech she gave to the Conservative Women's Network in 2011, an event co-sponsored by the very conservative Clare Boothe Luce Foundation and Heritage Foundation. In the speech, Conway bemoans feminism as "gloom and doom," and argues that "femininity is replacing feminism as a leading attribute for American women." She then continues with some familiar talking points for conservative women, namely that hating men ("the revulsion towards men in your life") is "part and parcel of the feminist movement." She also shares some helpful fashion tips like, "If women want to be taken seriously in the workforce, looking feminine is a good place to start."

Kellyanne Conway has made a career out of trying to help far right-wing candidates get votes from women, despite the fact that they consistently promote anti-woman policies. Her roster of clients includes Todd Akin, the former U.S. Congressman and failed Senate candidate. As readers may recall, Akin justified criminalizing all abortions, including when the pregnancy results from rape, this way: "It seems to be, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, it's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down."

After Akin lost the election, Conway reportedly counseled Republican conservatives to simply stop talking about rape -- not that they should rethink their wildly unpopular ideas to ban all abortions under all circumstances. She likes to say, "we need to address women from the waist up," meaning, stay away from discussions about reproductive health care. But if she thinks evasiveness will fool women voters, she should think again.

While Conway has been the most visible public face of the Trump campaign in recent days, appearing on TV almost as many times as her boss used to, reportedly the political strategy is being shaped by Breitbart's Steve Bannon (the darling of the white nationalist "alt-right" crowd) and disgraced former Fox News chief Roger Ailes (who stands accused of horrific serial sexual harassment).

Advertisement

According to Politico:

"Kellyanne is not a campaign manager in the traditional sense of the word. She got the title as part of combat pay," said one source involved with the discussions. "She's the candidate manager, which considering how tough it is to manage someone like Donald -- who has the temperament of a 12-year-old who always gets what he wants -- is a far harder job."

By all accounts, Conway is smart and talented. But to bring women voters on board, she will need to do a lot more than manage her candidate. The problem is not simply how he comes across -- although certainly it is a huge drawback that he is seen as a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic man with the emotional self-control of a spoiled child. An even greater problem is that this spoiled child has truly terrible policy ideas.

Trump opposes sensible gun regulations, even though the risk of a domestic violence homicide is five times greater when there is a gun in the house.

Trump's idea of child care assistance is to give big tax breaks to the wealthiest families, leaving those who need help the most -- women in lower-income categories -- with little or nothing.

Trump's advice to women who face sexual harassment at work is to go find another career.

Trump wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, ending the requirement of full coverage for birth control, bringing back coverage denials for "pre-existing conditions," and forcing millions of women and their families to lose their health insurance altogether.

Trump supports overturning Roe v. Wade, even though according to a recent survey 53 percent of people who identify as pro-life say they want Roe to remain the law of the land, and acknowledged that "there has to be some form of punishment" for women seeking abortions.

No amount of spin can overcome this reality: Women voters are all too familiar with the authentic Donald J. Trump; that is why they reject him. At the end of the day, they are as turned off by his anti-woman policies as by his calling women "disgusting," "bimbos," and "fat pigs."

Advertisement
You are here: Home

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.
In the early 1940s, a young southern writer by the name of Flannery O'Connor spun a tale about an extremist politician and his base that resonates deeply today.

An election campaign is on for the governorship of a southern state. Every time the mild mannered college teacher Rayber goes to get a shave or a haircut, the men who work in the local barbershop are talking and laughing about their favorite candidate, the wildly racist strongman, Mr. Hawkson, known as "Hawk," and they often repeat with enthusiasm something outrageous he's just said at a public rally.

Hawk's campaign is all bluster and insults. He's got pet-names for his opponents, diminishing "effeminate" epithets that his followers relish and love to repeat. The head barber at one point says that all his talks are "killeroos," as he recounts to the roomful of chortling and celebrating men some of their candidate's most recent racist statements. Rayber is shocked that they're speaking so crudely while quiet George, a young African American man, sweeps the floor of the shop toward the back. The professor has to speak up.

Advertisement

"A great many people," Rayber said, "consider Hawk a demagogue."

He wondered if George knew what demagogue meant. He should have said "lying politician."

"Demagogue!" The barber slapped his knee and whooped. "That's what Hawk said!" he howled. "Ain't that a shot! 'Folks,' he says, 'them Mother Hubbards says I'm a demagogue.' Then he rears back and says sort of soft-like, 'Am I a demagogue, you people?' And they yells, 'Naw, Hawk, you ain't no demagogue!' And he comes forward shouting, 'Oh yeah I am, I'm the best damn demagogue in this state!" And you should hear them people roar! Whew!"

Rayber is stunned. He doesn't know what to say. There are so many issues at stake in this election. There are too many obvious things deeply wrong about this man, Hawk. The progressive but timid college teacher can't figure out where to start. He wishes the barber would read some things. The man says he doesn't have to read nothing. All he has to do is think, using horse sense. No big words are going to make any difference. Doesn't Rayber know that Hawk is gonna keep those other people in their place and make sure everybody like him and the teacher make more money if he's elected? Rayber tries to point out that a little extra money isn't going to mean anything if the state collapses under the weight of Hawk's total incompetence and crazy beliefs. So he vows to defend his own sensible candidate some time soon in the barbershop and enlighten all of them. The barbers laugh more and say that he just can't use the phrase 'goodgovermint.' That's not allowed, they snicker.

Advertisement

Rayber goes home and writes a two page statement about the vast differences between the candidates. At first, it's hard. The real issues are so obvious. Where should he begin? How do these men not see such things already? He laboriously writes out what's wrong with Hawk and what's right about the clearly better candidate, the reasonable and progressive Darmon. He then takes this little two page speech to a friend, the philosophy professor Jacobs, explains what's going on, and reads it aloud to practice and get some feedback. The philosopher says, simply, "I never argue." Rayber insists: But what if you're right? "I never argue," Jacobs repeats, knowing the futility of what his friend is attempting.

Our hero goes back to the barbershop and reads his treatise aloud, hoping to refute and reform these men, using the real issues and clear reason. They laugh and laugh and laugh. In the end, he punches the barber and runs out of the shop.

The seventeenth century French scientist Blaise Pascal, as well as the prominent eighteenth century British philosopher David Hume, both understood that, for most people, reason is the servant of passion and can rarely undermine or overturn its commitments. Emotion trumps all. So when a political candidate appeals to the basest and most fundamental fears, resentments, and sources of personal bitterness, no amount or quality of reasoning can possibly make a difference. You either walk away, or someone throws a punch.

It's a sad commentary on the human condition. And in this classic story, "The Barber," Flannery O'Connor anticipated well what's going on in our current presidential election. She captures in the character of Rayber the total confidence of progressives in being right, the accompanying astonishment that anyone could possibly support someone like Hawk, and our often Quixotic approach to any attempt at explaining what's what and turning things around.

Aristotle believed that politics is about how best to live well together. As such, in principle, political discussion should be among the most ennobling forms of discourse. When I recently suggested this during a breakfast in New York City at a table of corporate leaders overlooking the Statue of Liberty, everyone laughed so suddenly and loudly I thought a few might choke on their eggs. There can clearly be a huge gap between theory and practice. And it's one we're all experiencing quite vividly right now. And yet, despite Rayber's ratiocinative failure in the story, and my own experience of strict limits in similar efforts throughout the current campaign, I remain stubbornly convinced that cool and sensible reason has a role to play. Or else, our democracy is doomed. And if you happen to disagree, please don't tell me. I'd hate for somebody to have to get punched.
In September 2014 an Israeli government planning committee delivered a remarkable decision: it rejected a pilot project for non-conventional oil exploration in the country's Adulam region located between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, a pastoral rural area rich in biblical archeology with a strong eco-tourism sector.

The company that had submitted the request, Israel Energy Initiatives (IEI), had planned to use an untested technology called "In Situ Thermal Recovery" to produce oil by heating shale rock to temperatures as high as 950 degrees Fahrenheit. This releases organic matter known as kerogen, a compound that eventually transforms organic matter into oil and gas.

The committee's decision was a major victory for Israel's environmentalists, and a fatal blow for the IEI. IEI had argued that the since the project would operate underground, it would leave a minimal ecological footprint, and water resources would not be endangered because of an impermeable rock layer protecting them. However, the committee remained unconvinced, and its final decision determined that the technology posed a critical environmental risk.

Advertisement

The real winners here were the local activists whose health, environment and communities had come under direct threat by the proposed IEI project. Their media-savvy campaign presence has compared the conflict to the biblical confrontation between David and Goliath; the project location was in the same area where the diminutive David emerged victorious over the giant Goliath.

The local community's victory was an empowering experience for other communities, as well, demonstrating that corporations intent on extracting natural resources in disregard of the impacts on the environment and health of local communities can be stopped by a well organized group of dedicated citizens.

But while the celebrations for the Adulam victory were at their height, another government planning committee, this time in the northern part of Israel, approved the request of IEI's sister corporation, Afek Oil & Gas, for exploratory drilling in the Golan Heights.

While Afek is officially promoting the project as conventional drilling, Afek officials have admitted that the project does entail non-conventional drilling. Moreover, community activists are convinced that the company intends to use fracking during the explorations, and that fracking has probably already taken place.

Advertisement

The presence of chemicals stored at the drilling sites (fracking requires extensive use of chemicals in order to clean, widen, and keep open cracks in the rock, releasing the hydrocarbons) coupled with the refusal of government officials and Afek to release information on these chemicals and the company's declared need to extend the drilling in order to reach what it claims is a rich layer of hydrocarbons, substantiate these claims by activists.

This has raised an alarm among local communities determined to ward off what they are convinced will be an ecological and health disaster. They are particularly concerned over contamination of the area's water resources: the Golan Heights is marked by extreme water sensitivity with high quality aquifers as well as biodiversity-rich streams that feed into the Sea of Galilee, Israel's main surface drinking water source and only fresh water lake. Another source of worry beyond the impact of Afek's project on water quality is the massive quantities of water needed for fracking.

Moreover, local communities do not want oil pipelines running through or near their communities, nor do they wish for oil and gas trucks traversing their narrow, winding, country roads, already congested by much-wanted tourists.

Then there is the threat of earthquakes: the oil drilling license area is located on the rim of the great Syria-African Rift and is crossed by geologic faults and cracks. These faults and cracks provide potential pathways for pollutants. Coupled with normally occurring tectonic activity, this increases the potential for great intensification of earthquakes due to drilling and fracking activities, as experienced in Alberta, Canada, and in Oklahoma and Texas in the United States.

And all this leads to climate change. Environmentalists vehemently oppose these projects since they increase Israel's dependence on fossil fuels and deflect from government policy on decreasing Israel's greenhouse gas emissions.

Advertisement

IEI and Afek Oil & Gas are subsidiaries of Genie Oil & Gas Ltd. (GOGAS), a New Jersey corporation with headquarters in Newark that operates in Israel through these two subsidiaries.

Genie Oil & Gas is a subsidiary of Genie Energy Ltd., which was spun off in 2001 by IDT, the telecommunications company founded by Howard Jonas in 1990. Genie Energy Ltd. is a holding company for energy related businesses including Genie Oil & Gas, which is developing oil and shales reserves in Colorado, Israel and Mongolia.

In Israel, IEI and Afek have built their PR campaigns on making the country energy-independent, hyping what they define as Israel's huge reserves of oil shale and gleefully declaring that extracting oil and gas from these reserves could transform the country into a world energy power. But as pointed by Afek's CEO himself, while approximately 530 wells have been drilled since the country's establishment in 1948, commercial production of fossil fuels remains elusive.

Although the company reports finding evidence of hydrocarbons and/or gas in all the sites drilled so far (some in the form of liquid oil), the presence of water and the low permeability in the hydrocarbon and gas carrying strata made it difficult to extract viable amounts of liquid oil and gas under current permit restrictions. Reviewing its data, Afek has already announced that it does not plan to resume actual drilling before the Q4 2016, Q1 2017.

The burning question is: do people have the right to say no to these corporations that come into their communities creating these environmental and health risks? In Israel, communities are proving that they do have the right to decide. As documented in Josh Fox's epic documentary, Gaslands, fracking is tearing apart communities across the United States, contaminating well water, polluting the air, and making people sick.

Advertisement

The oil and gas companies retort that there is no evidence to support the claims of the anti-fracking forces. But the Israeli public isn't buying their excuses and is fighting tooth and nail to prevent these companies from operating in their communities. Communities together with environmental organizations are fending off attempts by US companies to copy and paste the US paradigm of non-conventional fossil fuel drilling in Israel.
A wedding day is one of the happiest days of people's lives, a day of love, smiles, and memories intended to be cherished forever. Unfortunately, it's also going to be one of the most expensive days.

The average cost of a wedding in the United States is about $26, 000. In the UK, experts put the cost of that dream wedding at a whooping 20, 000. In Nigeria, weddings cost an average of =N= 2,000,000 or more! I agree, love covenants don't come cheap!

First, to have a jolly good start to your matrimonial, you need a venue and venues don't come cheap. In some cases, they account for 20-40% of the cost. Not to mention the wedding dress, the tuxedo, the cake, the decoration, the catering, the band, the wedding planner, the videographer, the photographer! All these bills also need to get paid, and boy do they milk your piggy bank.

Advertisement

In case you're being tempted, don't elope just yet. You can have the dream wedding you have always wanted without risking bankruptcy. I am not talking about cutting costs, I am talking about paying the bills in a creative way.

When the proposal is over and the date is picked. The first thing you want to decide is how big you want your wedding to be. How do you dream about it? Is your veil as long as Princess Diana's with tens of bridesmaids and groomsmen or are you bare feet on an island in a casual ceremony?

Set the target, write a budget, write the figure, laugh, cry and just do it!

These simple tricks to making some money for your wedding should come in handy if you're planning.

The Guilt Trip-

This is common among African couples! They make some money back by enforcing a dress code. "If you are my friend, this is what you'll be wearing to my wedding!" That guilt card is so easily played yet it works. They make some money selling customized fabric. Interestingly, the little extra goes some way in catering to some aspects of the wedding.

Advertisement

The Community interest-free loan-

This majorly involves getting their buddies together to each contribute a certain amount of money. Each member of the community then takes turn to save the communal cash after a certain period. This is mostly common among Africans still, but then, who doesn't love an interest-free loan?

Stock Market-

Months before your wedding, take some of your savings out of the bank and dump it on the stock market. Wisely I must add or you would have no money at all for your wedding. Engaging in some stock broking could be an easy way to make some money early enough to cater to some of your wedding demands.

Create content and sell it-

Not many people can carry this out, but if you or your spouse is on the creative side of life, now is a great time to create a product or service related to you or your love story, and sell it. You could craft out a lovely frame with bespoke writings on them or an accessory that should be won on that day and sell. If you can dare it, make your wedding so entertaining and sell tickets to it. Crazily fun yes?
As the Iraqi army, backed by US airstrikes, attempts to take back the city of Mosul from ISIS we can't forget about humanitarian aid to civilians. When the guns start firing, Iraqi families are going to flee.

These war victims will need food, water and shelter. And we better be ready for this. Mosul is the 2nd largest city in Iraq. Potentially over a million civilians are going to need life-saving help.

Iraqi families fleeing Mosul find safety in Debaga camp, but many more are expected once the offensive on Mosul begins in full. (World Food Programme photo)

Advertisement

Hani El-Mahdi of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), warns, "To avoid a major humanitarian disaster, it is critical that any further military action in Iraq, especially around such a large city like Mosul, must be accompanied by serious advance planning and preparations for humanitarian needs."

CRS is working with their partner Caritas Iraq to gear up for the massive displacement of civilians the offensive on Mosul will likely cause. We need to provide more support to humanitarian agencies so they can do their job.

The response from the entire international community must be better than it was for the liberation of Fallujah. Those displaced civilians are living in terrible crowded conditions in extreme heat according to El-Mahdi.

Since the ISIS terrorists began attacking cities throughout Iraq in 2014, more than 3 million people have been displaced and needing food and other aid.

Advertisement

We not only have to save Iraqis from ISIS, but also from hunger. But tragically, there is another crisis within a crisis: low donations for food aid.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is reporting a massive funding shortage of US 77 million for its mission throughout Iraq. The WFP is already feeding civilians who fled the fighting in Fallujah and elsewhere. To feed Mosul's population will require even more donations from the international community.

New funding must come right away so the WFP can be prepared for the relief of civilians who flee Mosul. The funding is so low for WFP they had to reduce rations for Iraqis in Baghdad and the southern part of the country.

We need a quick scale up of food aid to Iraq. Hunger always comes with war and we must recognize this.

After World War II, for example, the United States appointed Herbert Hoover as a food ambassador to coordinate relief in Europe and Asia. He made sure food needs were met in war devastated countries. We need a similar approach today to make sure people are fed in every area in need.

Advertisement

You cannot stabilize Iraq if the citizens are starving or lacking clean water and shelter. You cannot rebuild agriculture and food production without funds. Without this assistance, hunger will continue even long after a military operation. The Middle East wars of Syria, Iraq and Yemen all have caused extreme humanitarian emergencies We have to respond timely. For until these wars end and reconstruction takes place, humanitarian needs will remain high.
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.
The G20 is the premier forum for global economic governance. It accounts for two-thirds of the world population, 85 percent of global GDP and 80 percent of international trade. As a result, it offers a comprehensive indicator for the health of the global economy. Nevertheless, in the past, the G20, like many other comparable groupings, has operated mainly under the interests of major advanced economies.

As the world turns its eyes towards the G20 in Hangzhou, China will set a different tone. It is one that the developing world has wanted since the postwar era: one that does not seek to threaten the existing multilateral organizations, but to complement them.

Cautious optimism

There is reason for cautious optimism. While G20 heads of government, or heads of state, have periodically met since the fall of 2008, this is the first time that the G20 Summit will be hosted by the largest emerging economy in the world; one in which living standards on average remain far behind those in advanced economies.

The role of the living standards matters. People who are subject to similar life conditions tend to share similar needs, interests and goals, across national boundaries. Until recently, they have lacked a representative voice in most international multilateral organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Bank. In the latter, advanced economies dominate financing, voting quota, leaders and thus effective policies.

Despite the sincere idealism of many in their work force, these organizations have not been truly international, but driven by the interests of, by and for major advanced economies.

Yet, a new, more multipolar world order has begun to emerge in the past few years, not least because the initiatives of China and other large emerging economies. One of the first signs was the creation of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), which was followed by the institution of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). In October, the Chinese renminbi (RMB) will join the IMF's international currency reserves, perhaps paving way for Indian rupee sometime in the future.

The lesson to be learned, however, is that none of these critical initiatives came about automatically, or through advanced economies' initiatives, or without significant behind-the-scenes friction.

In effect, G20 is a case in point.

Struggle for representative global governance

In his remarks at the media briefing on the G20 Hangzhou Summit on May 26, Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that the G20 is different from previous cooperation mechanisms. "Here, developed countries and developing countries sit at the same table as equal partners and discuss and decide on international economic matters on an equal footing," he said. "This reflects a major change in the world economic pattern and represents historical progress in keeping with the trend of our times."

International media, I am afraid, did not entirely catch the subtext of Wang's comment. What he did not say is that even G20 cooperation began only when advanced economies had exhausted all other alternatives.

That moment occurred in fall 2008, when for a few weeks the G7 economies faced the threat of a global depression that could have proven far worse than the Great Depression in the 1930s. In this sense, global cooperation did not begin in the previous decade when there were many opportunities to do so. Nor did it begin after the Cold War when military budgets were slashed and the so-called peace premium was within the reach of major advanced economies.

In effect, even though "emerging states" have been in the effective policy agenda of the advanced economies since the 1950s, reforms in global political governance have not.

G20 as G7 creation

Even the establishment of the G20 was not the result of a truly global multilateral consensus. It superseded the old G33 and was formally established by the G7 finance ministers in Berlin in 1999, mainly at the initiative of then German finance minister Hans Eichel.

Initially, the G7 created the G20 in its own image. Consequently, some large economies, such as Spain, Netherlands and Switzerland, were not included because the stated goal was global representativeness. Other motivations may have been geopolitical, which is why Iran was not included.

The only reason why the 2008 abyss was avoided was cooperation between the leading advanced economies and large emerging nations, which recognized their inter-dependency and need for collaboration. In return for cooperation, the major advanced economies pledged to speed up structural reforms in global governance to make the key organizations more representative of the world they claim to represent.

Nevertheless, as the reforms did not follow, China and other large emerging economies, particularly Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa began to promote complementary  not substitutionary - inter-governmental multilateral organizations.

Being on the right side of history

In the past two decades, we have witnessed a massive transfer of relative economic power from advanced economies to emerging nations. Yet, economic power is only remotely associated with the size of a population.

In brief, the G7 economies comprise less than 9 percent of the world's total population but continue to account for more than 47 percent of the world economy. Despite all the rhetoric of development in advanced economies and international multilateral organizations since 1945, barely one-tenth of humanity dominates almost half of the world economy.

It is thus hardly surprising that in many low- and middle-income nations development practitioners see China, given its rising economic and political position in the world economy, as a more credible "broker" to leverage power between advanced, emerging and developing countries, including the least developed countries.

It is time for emerging economies and international multilateral organizations to complement the incumbent ones. Why shouldn't these organizations look like the people they are supposed to represent?

That's why I believe this G20 summit will be different. Starting in Hangzhou, for the first time, emerging and developing economies can have a bigger voice in the global economy. It is a symbolic start of a long, complex and belated effort to shift global governance to better represent the world itself.

Dr Steinbock is an internationally recognized expert of the nascent multipolar world. He is also Guest Fellow of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) and the commentary is based on his SIIS project on "China and the multipolar world economy." For more about Dr Steinbock, see http://www.differencegroup.net/ For more about SIIS, see http://en.siis.org.cn/

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn.

For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/DanSteinbock.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Like agribusiness itself, he farm and ranch insurance sector continues to battle widespread misconceptions.It seems that the general public often knows very little about how their food is produced, Patrick says. I think the image in most peoples minds is still that pre-industrial farm with two or three red barns, maybe a silo and a little white farmhouse. Most of the farmers we work with are highly sophisticated, very entrepreneurial business owners. They watch their balance sheets, often daily, just like any business manager, and theyre very good about driving efficiencies and improving production outputs.That said, he continues, farmers often underestimate the scope of a typical farm policy, not realizing that their entrepreneurial drive often creates new exposuresthat may or may not be contemplated in their farm policy. Farm policies generally are not as broad as CGL forms with regard to commercial liability exposures; itsimperative the farmers use their insurance broker as a business advisor to ensure that they have a policy thats expanding with their operations.Trachier also stresses the inadequacy of a homeowners policy to address all the exposures inherent to even a gentleman or hobby farm.Dont expect the CPL section of a typical homeowners to respond to farming or ranching activities, she says. A farm owners and homeowners [policy] are not the same.In terms of essential coverages, Patrick says that while Great American continues to write a lot of traditional farm policies, the trend is moving toward more commercialtype coverages.In addition to traditional property and liability coverages, all large producers should have business income, pollution, employer liability and equipment breakdowncoverages, he says. Given my earlier comments about product exposure, a commercial GL form is becoming a more common need as well.Trachier also points to other specialty coverages that can be packaged with a standard policy.High-value dwelling enhancements that protect against escalating building costs, foreign objects in machinery, disruption of farming operations, livestock collisioncoverage, enhanced pollutant cleanup protection, equipment breakdown and identity fraud expense are a few of the coverages that can be packaged with a farm and ranch policy, she says. In addition, most farm MGAs offer a farm auto product and policies for unique inland marine risks like large center pivot irrigation systems.Patrick adds that he doesnt see as many requests for motor truck cargo coverage as one might expect  but that doesnt mean its not important. A lot of ag producers have cargo exposures, he says, and there can be significant gaps in coverage without an MTC coverage form.He also stresses the need for equipment breakdown coverage.Equipment breakdown is an increasingly vital coverage that is too frequently missing; all farmers should have an EBD coverage form, he says. Given the pricing in the marketplace, theres no reason to not have an umbrella either.In addition to assisting in finding appropriate insurance, brokers can help agribusiness clients by keeping the lines of communication open, Patrick says.I think the best brokers are the ones who ask a lot of questions so that they have a very good understanding of a farmers scope of operations, he says. Having more than one conversation throughout the policy term has to be a best practice; farmers are often moving quickly in their decision-making, and their insurance broker isnt usually top of mind. Brokers have to reach out to see what new thing the farmers purchased or what new revenue stream theyre pursuing in orderto make sure adequate coverage is in place.Patrick thinks workers compensation is where a broker has the best opportunity to demonstrate value to a farmer.Most WC carriers are enthusiastic about providing safety training to employees, he says. Brokers can be conduits to helping farmers get the resources they need to manage this exposure.Insuring farms and ranches can be a great business, Trachier adds. However, it is critical that retail agents understand the exposures they are attempting to address with their customers and that they work with companies and MGAs to focus on this market segment. Those that dabble in this segment on the agent, MGA and company side can quickly end up in trouble.
With a number of states approving health insurance rate increases for 2017, the federal government is looking to allay consumers worries by reminding them that tax credits could offset the costs of those who qualify for financial help.The Wall Street Journal reported that Tennessee has approved an average premium increase of 62% for next year. Similarly, Mississippi gave the green light for an average premium increase of 43%, and Kentucky allowed major carriers in the region to raise their rates by an average of 23%.The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an analysis yesterday that said tax credits available to several lower- and middle-income consumers would soften the impact of the increases. The tax credits would also ensure that about three-quarters of those who secured health insurance through HealthCare.gov would pay under $75 a month for coverage.Headline rate increases do not reflect what consumers actually pay, commented HHS acting assistant secretary for planning and evaluation Kathryn Martin.Those who do not purchase individual health plans on their respective federal marketplaces will pay the full costs of their premiums, increases and all. Individuals whose incomes are above four times the poverty line will also not qualify for tax credits.The ACAs pricing rules, however, apply to nearly all individual health plans, both on and off the federal marketplaces.Health insurers looking to raise their rates for next year reasoned that their decision to increase was due to their losses on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) federal marketplaces. Federal officials say that the increases are a response to the planned end of provisions in the ACA designed to financially support insurers taking in more high-risk customers.Officials also noted that later rate shifts are to be expected as health plans adjust to the ACAs overhaul of insurance pricing; such adjustments will require insurance to be sold equally to all consumers regardless of medical history or risk.Some state regulators have commented that they were faced with the difficult decision to either allow a carrier to raise its rates considerably for next year or to let the insurer withdraw its plans from the federal marketplace.As Nov. 1the start of the Open Enrollment Period for ACA plansnears, more finalized health insurance rates will be disclosed by the remaining states.
A combination of softening markets, greater regulatory pressure and changing consumer preferences has squeezed insurance agent commission to the point that many are leaving once-profitable lines of business  but it may not have to be that way, some industry professionals are saying.Insurer responses to the Affordable Care Act have fueled the biggest hits against agents. Earlier this year, four of the largest health insurance companies in the country announced they would be limiting and even completely axing the commissions they pay agents for selling their plans on ACA exchanges. Without that support, many agents say they can no longer afford to devote their time to the individual market.Every independent broker in the state would no longer write a policy  period, Mary Jennings, a Connecticut health insurance agent, said of ConnectiCares proposed plan to cut commissions. Many of my colleagues have already positioned themselves to exist.Group health is also suffering. While the majority of small businesses are still offering traditional employer-based plans, many are considering alternatives that either dont include agents or leave them in a financially unsustainable role.According to a recent survey from Arthur J. Gallagher , an estimated 15% of businesses are expected to switch to a defined contribution plan by 2018. Thats a whopping 650% increase in just two years, and one that would leave agents assisting in considerably less lucrative individual sales.Outside of health and benefits, agents report dissatisfaction with commissions paid by personal lines insurance carriers. In an August report from Channel Harvest, agents asked to rate their insurers gave companies comparatively low ratings on agency compensation  a product of serious financial headwinds and new competitors, says Channel Harvest Principal Peter van Aartrijk.Online shopping by consumers, coupled with the number of direct/captive carrier choices, are much higher [than in commercial lines], van Aartrijk said. There are also aggregators and shopping websites in the fray. With lower premiums, companies dont have the margins you might see in commercial lines. All of this puts downward pressure on compensation to agencies in personal lines.Insurance agencies have responded to this squeeze on commissions by diversifying their offerings or specializing in niche areas. These are important steps, but Bill Ziebell, Executive Vice President, North Central Region at Arthur J. Gallagher, suggests another.Why do you have to depend solely on commission? Ziebell told Insurance Business America. If your sole job is just one line, youre going to get squeezed. Why cant you get a retainer agreement or invoice the client for your services? Ask yourself what value you provide to your clients  not what commission rates are.Others have pushed back against the idea of changing agent compensation, however.I am comfortable with the commission structure, said Michael Gottlieb, managing director of BizCover. [Its why] the industry can operate and everyone can receive advice. If it all became fee for service, small businesses would not be able to afford advice.Tommy McDonald, MarshBerry vice president and author of recent report, Producer Compensation: Behind the Numbers, believes splitting the difference may be the best approach to solving commission woes. According to the report, most agents earn 40% on new business and 25% on renewal.But if agents are looking to grow their business?We believe in a higher new business split relative to renewal so there is an incentive for people to go out and hunt new business. A [15 to 20 percent] spread is typically what we recommend, he said. In fact, McDonald would argue that top producers who generate a lot of new business should be compensated with a much higher new business commission, such as 60%.The bigger the spread on new and renewal can be an effective way to drive new business to an organization. The last thing you want to happen is to lose your best producer because you did not think about something that matters in the comp change.Gradual, creative and strategic conversations around compensation can help add value and improve a business by transforming how it is structured. Then, communicating why you are adjusting compensation is key.If you can communicate to your sales people that the reason why you are adjusting comp is because you want to invest in the business and re-adjust so you can remain independently-held and continue to grow the company strategically, those are things that people need to realize, said McDonald.The bottom line: one size does not fit all. How a company structures comp differs based on circumstance, needs and goals. What is simple about comp is that there simply is no one comp plan that works across the board, and how agencies decide to do it can make or break their business.We take a cautionary line with how we approach our advising clients because of circumstance, McDonald concluded.
You are here: Home

 Flash

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.
You are here: Home

 Flash

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.
 Flash

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.
The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers.

To unlock this article:
Imperial Valley News Center

San Diego Zoo Global Aids Critically Endangered Jamaican Iguana

San Diego, California - The population of the critically endangered Jamaican iguana is on the rise, thanks in part to the efforts of San Diego Zoo Global and the Fort Worth Zoo. Earlier this year, Tandora Grant, a scientist at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, co-led the health checks of Jamaican iguanas that were head started in managed care at the Hope Zoo in Kingston, Jamaica.

The health checks determined that 37 of the 232 Jamaican iguanas at the Hope Zoo were healthy and large enough to be released back into their native habitat in the Hellshire Hills, on the south central coast of the island. This years health screen and release was assisted by returning volunteers from the Audubon Zoo.

The release, which took place in March 201620 years after the first releasemarks a milestone for the Jamaican Iguana Recovery Group, as the number of animals returned to their native habitat has passed the benchmark of 300 and now totals 315. The Recovery Group is a coalition of local and international collaborators, currently led by the Jamaican governments National Environment and Planning Agency, and includes the field component leads from the University of the West Indies.

The Jamaican iguana population experienced a drastic decline in the past century, due to habitat destruction and predation by free-ranging non-native cats, dogs, pigs and particularly mongooses. The mongooses and cats attack nearly all hatchling and juvenile iguanas, and there are ongoing efforts to trap these predators to protect the now-recovering Jamaican iguana population.

The headstarting program collects iguana hatchlings from the wild as they emerge from their nests, and cares for the animals until they are large enough to defend themselves from most of the introduced predators in their native habitat. Typically, the iguanas released are between 5 and 8 years old. The population is now increasingmeasured by the number of annual hatchlings counted and an eightfold increase in the number of nesting female Jamaican iguanas observed, compared to the first survey of the species in 1991. Before the Jamaican iguanas rediscovery in 1990, it was thought to have been extinct, since the last confirmed observation had been in the mid-1940s.

An off-island breeding population of Jamaican iguanas is cooperatively managed by members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan program, as an assurance against a catastrophe in the iguanas home. Member zoos contribute essential funds, staff hours and expertise for the recovery program, as well as raising awareness for the iguana, its unique and threatened habitat, and the role it plays in the health of the forest. AZA zoos and wildlife conservation organizations have directly contributed more than $1 million toward the recovery efforts in Jamaica since the iguanas rediscovery.

The first hatching of a Jamaican iguana at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research occurred Aug. 30, 2013 at the Kenneth and Anne Griffin Reptile Conservation Center, an off-display breeding facility at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The female, named Fay, is a second-generation captive-bred animal. His parents hatched in the first successful breeding of the species at the Indianapolis Zoo, in 2006.

Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is inspiring children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in childrens hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global.
NRL Demonstrates New Technology for Structural Health Monitoring Systems

Washington, DC - Navy researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have demonstrated new fiber optic sensor technology suitable for an in-situ structural health monitoring (SHM) system.

This technology enables autonomous monitoring of key structural parameters such as acoustic emission, temperature, and strain. The information can be used to monitor for damage due to impacts and cracks well before reaching critical levels.



"Primarily focused on monitoring the structural integrity of Navy assets, the technology may also have application on civilian aircraft, ships, and possibly bridges and buildings where continuous monitoring of critical components prone to fatigue and failure would prove beneficial," said Dr. Geoffrey Cranch, research physicist, NRL Optical Sciences Division.



To accomplish this goal, sensors that can detect acoustic emission signatures associated with crack initiation and growth, in near real-time, are required. Such a sensor must be smaller and lighter than existing electrical equivalents, possess comparable or improved sensitivity, be easily multiplexed, and achieve all of these components with a small system footprint and high reliability.



Funded partially by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Navy Materials Division, the NRL-developed laser sensor is integrated into a shallow groove formed in the lap joint and consists of a single fiber, similar in width to a human hair. In testing the application, optical and material science researchers installed distributed feedback fiber laser acoustic emission sensors into a series of riveted aluminum lap joints and measured acoustic emission over a bandwidth of 0.5 megahertz (MHz) generated during a two-hour accelerated fatigue test. Measurements were also taken with an equivalent electrical sensor.



The embedded sensors were shown to resolve low-level acoustic events generated by periodic "fretting" from the riveted joint in addition to acoustic emissions from crack formation. Timelapse imagery of the lap joint enabled correlation of the observed fracture with the measured signals.



In addition to crack detection, the fiber laser sensor also proved capable of measuring compromising impacts, and the potential to integrate with existing fiber optic strain and temperature sensing systems. Combined, this provides a multi-parameter sensing capability for meeting the full operational safety requirements for a SHM system, as well as significantly lower total ownership costs.



"Our research team has demonstrated the ability of this fiber laser technology to detect acoustic emission at ultrasonic frequencies from cracks generated in a simulated fatigue environment," Cranch said. "The novel part of this work is the fiber laser technology and how it is being applied."



Acoustic signals from cracks can also be measured using piezoelectric sensors, and this technology has driven the existing work on failure prediction. However, the piezoelectric technology is generally not practical for many applications due to its large size and limited multiplexing capability.



Currently there is no other intrinsic optical fiber sensor capable of matching the performance obtained in the laboratory from the fiber laser acoustic emission sensor. The fiber laser sensor has demonstrated acoustic sensitivity comparable to, or greater than that achieved by existing electrical sensors. This system has now been expanded to multiplex many fiber laser sensors onto a single fiber. Efforts are currently underway to interpret the acoustic emission data to calculate useful metrics such as probability of failure. Future enhancements include implementing phased array beam forming techniques to enable crack location.
President Obama Designates National Monument in Maines North Woods in Honor of the Centennial of the National Park Service

Washington, DC - Today, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, President Obama designated the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument encompassing awe-inspiring mountains, forests, and waters of north-central Maine. Building on the Administrations commitment to protecting our land, water and wildlife for future generations, this designation will permanently protect significant natural, scientific, and historic and cultural resources, wildlife habitat, and one of the most pristine watersheds in the northeast, ensuring that present and future generations are able to enjoy these lands.

The new national monument  which will be managed by the National Park Service  will protect approximately 87,500 acres, including the stunning East Branch of the Penobscot River and a portion of the Maine Woods that is rich in biodiversity and known for its outstanding opportunities to hike, canoe, hunt, fish, snowmobile, snowshoe and cross-country ski. In addition to protecting spectacular geology, significant biodiversity and recreational opportunities, the new monument will help support climate resiliency in the region. The protected area  together with the neighboring Baxter State Park to the west  will ensure that this large landscape remains intact, bolstering the forests resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Following years of support from many local and state elected officials, tribal leaders, businesses and members of the public across the state, this designation will build on the robust tradition of growing the park system through private philanthropy, and will reinforce the need to continue protecting our great outdoors as we enter the second century of the National Park Service. The land has been donated to the Federal Government by philanthropist Roxanne Quimbys foundation, Elliotsville Plantation, Inc., facilitated by the National Park Foundation as part of its Centennial Campaign for Americas National Parks. In addition to the donation of the land, the approximately $100 million gift includes $20 million to supplement federal funds for initial park operational needs and infrastructure development at the new monument, and a pledge of another $20 million in future philanthropic support.

Studies have shown that every dollar we invest in our national parks generates $10 for the national economy, most of which stays in the local communities, and our national parks, forests and other public lands attract visitors from all over the world, fueling local economies and supporting an estimated $646 billion national outdoor economy. Maines biggest national park, Acadia, which began as a national monument designated in 1916 by President Wilson with lands donated to the Federal Government, was the nations ninth most visited national park last year. In 2015, Acadia National Park attracted close to 3 million visitors, who spent an estimated $247.9 million in local communities. In addition to continuing to support traditional recreational activities such as snowmobiling and hunting, the new national monument will increase public access, help generate local and regional economic activity, and complement additional economic development efforts in the region.

About the National Park Service Centennial

Tomorrow, August 25, 2016, marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of Americas National Park Service. The Centennial inspires reflection on the history of Americas iconic landscapes and historical and cultural sites, as well as an opportunity to look forward toward the next century of conservation and historic preservation.

In addition to permanently protecting more than 265 million acres of Americas public lands and waters - more than any other president in history - President Obama has a strong record of protecting our nations natural resources and taking actions that will inspire the next generation of outdoor stewards and build an inclusive vision for the next 100 years of conservation. Under President Obama, this administration has:
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. [Photo/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 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.
Secretary of State Kerry To Travel to Dhaka and New Delhi

Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 29 to highlight the longstanding and broad U.S.-Bangladesh relationship. Secretary Kerry will meet with government officials to discuss our growing cooperation on global issues. He also will focus on strengthening our longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights.

On August 2931, Secretary Kerry will travel to New Delhi, India, for meetings with senior Indian officials. On August 30, the Secretary and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will co-chair the second U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD).

Secretaries 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 U.S. delegation and their Indian counterparts.

The S&CD is the signature mechanism for advancing the United States and Indias shared priorities of generating sustainable economic growth, creating jobs, improving the business and investment climate, enhancing livelihoods, and sustaining the rules-based global order.
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 }}

JFK's assailant, the moon landings and Hiddleswift - topics that have, at one time or another, had conspiratorial doubt cast over their very occurrences; add the burgeoning feud between Vin Diesel and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to that list.

It all began when Johnson posted an uncharacteristically heated message to his Instagram page branding one of his Fast 8 co-stars a "candy ass" and "chicken shit." Reports that followed suggested that co-star is Vin Diesel, the actor at the centre of the franchise since 2000.

Well, another theory has presented itself: the entire thing is a PR stunt building to a WWE Wrestlemania fight that'll take place within weeks of the film's release.

A new report from Life & Style claims that this admittedly leftfield rivalry is a complete fabrication. It reads: 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."

The best films of 2016 (so far) Show all 22 1 /22 The best films of 2016 (so far) The best films of 2016 (so far) Creed This empowering spin-off sequel to the Rocky franchise sees Sylvester Stallone return as the personal trainer to Odonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his old rival-turned-compadre Apollo (Carl Weathers). Barry Wetcher The best films of 2016 (so far) Room A grandstanding adaptation of the Emma Donoghue novel. At Room's heart is two towering performances from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay as a mother and son who find freedom after being locked away by in a boxed building for years. The best films of 2016 (so far) The Big Short Plenty of The Big Short's charm is manifested in the way that it takes a clunky story (the 2007-8 financial crisis) and transforms it into a cinematic experience. The best films of 2016 (so far) Spotlight The facts speak for themselves in this Oscar-winning biographical film about four investigative journalists who uncover a scandal of child molestation in the Catholic church. Strong performances and a firm directorial presence in Tom McCarthy make Spotlight a worthy recipient of this year's Best Picture Oscar. The best films of 2016 (so far) Bone Tomahawk The best films of 2016 (so far) Anomalisa Paramount Pictures The best films of 2016 (so far) The Witch Take any shot from Robert Eggers' assured debut - based on a New England folktale - and your spine will tingle. A masterclass in understatedness. The best films of 2016 (so far) 10 Cloverfield Lane If you're going to unveil a secret sequel-of-sorts to 2008 hit Cloverfield, this is how you do it. Essentially a chamber piece set in the same world of Matt Reeves' original, 10 Cloverfield Lane will hold you in a vicelike grip until its closing frame. The best films of 2016 (so far) High-Rise Ben Wheatley's fifth feature as director may not be to everyone's tastes but, should you be up to it, there's a lot to take away from this adaptation of J.G. Ballard's dystopian tale. The best films of 2016 (so far) Zootropolis Despite strong competition in the form of Finding Dory and Kubo and the Two Strings, Zootropolis - named Zootopia in the US - takes the trophy of 2016's greatest animated film. The best films of 2016 (so far) Victoria The best films of 2016 (so far) Captain America: Civil War Even those who aren't invested in superhero films will have a hard time keeping their breath in several of Civil War's action sequences. The best films of 2016 (so far) Son of Saul The haunting winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar, Son of Saul's technical mastery (courtesy of first-time director Laszlo Nemes) is backed up by a harrowingly real portrayal of life within a Nazi concentration camp. Sony Pictures Entertainment The best films of 2016 (so far) Everybody Wants Some!! Richard Linklater followed Boyhood with this charming coming-of-age story that bears similarity with 1993's Dazed and Confused. This time, our ensemble are a group of baseball-playing college freshmen. In the upper echelons of the year's best. The best films of 2016 (so far) Green Room The best films of 2016 (so far) Sing Street The best films of 2016 (so far) Love and Friendship The best films of 2016 (so far) Suburra The best films of 2016 (so far) The Neon Demon The best films of 2016 (so far) Hell or High Water The best films of 2016 (so far) Kubo and the Two Strings The best films of 2016 (so far) Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Considering the fact that WWE's Wrestlemania takes place on 2 April lends this theory some credence; the eighth Fast & Furious film is released 14 April.

When you factor in that Johnson - officially the highest-paid actor in Hollywood - would be foolish to sully his brand by shamelessly criticising his co-stars, it seems likely we could have all been duped by a spot of clever publicity.

Still, if not, a Wrestlemania fight's the only way to settle this. Right?
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 }}

Production on X-Men spin-off Gambit has faced yet another obstacle with director Doug Liman jumping ship to DC mashup Justice League Dark.

Gambit was originally due to be directed by Rupert Wyatt, the man who steered Rise of the Planet of the Apes to unprecedented success in 2013, before The Bourne Identity's Liman joined. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his departure is said to be a 'mutual split' between him and the studio.

Instead, Variety reports that he will oversee DC project Justice League Dark which focuses on a group of altogether darker superheroes to the ones who'll head up Zack Snyder's Justice League. While plot details remain unknown, the characters who'll appear include John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Deadman, Zatanna and Etrigan the Demon.

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

The film- which was first linked to Crimson Peak director Guillermo del Toro - is intended to introduce a 'dark universe' to DC's slate.

Liman (Edge of Tomorrow) recently completed work on The Wall, an Amazon Studios project starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Next, he'll direct both Chaos Walking and a new Tom Cruise actioner that recently had its title dramatically changed.

Production on the Channing Tatum-starring Gambit is expected to begin in January with the hunt for a new director already underway.
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 }}

Acting talent is great and all, but the ability to disseminate content to millions might be better.

This is the distribution-first approach Universal is going for with new movie Laid In America, which stars YouTubers Caspar Lee (6.5 million subscribers) and KSI (16 million) and has a supporting cast almost entirely populated by Instagram, Vine and YouTuber users with big followings (The US Offices Angela Kinsey is a notable exception, presumably there because there was a slightly older role to fill and YouTube stars in their 40s are hard to come by).

A cast list sent to journalists showed thumbnails of the stars, and read: SUPPORTING CAST Demi Olatunji - 5,458,218 YouTube subscribers Josh Leyva - 1,617,125 YouTube subscribers Madison Iseman - 184k Instagram followers Timothy DeLaGhetto - 3,075,797 YouTube followers Alexa Losey - 731k Instagram followers Bart Baker - 6,966,347 YouTube followers Angela Kinsey - 267k Twitter followers Bobby Lee - 148,254 YouTube followers Alexis G. Zall - 776,564 YouTube followers Gabbie Hanna - 3.8m Vine followers

 Laid in America Trailer

Laid In America, which is going straight to VOD in accordance with its demographic target, follows two libidinous British teens who head to America and blag their way into a much-hyped party. Aaaaaand let's just say things ESCALATE QUICKLY, MTV summarised (sic).

Hollywood is becoming increasingly tempted by the big viewership that comes with social media stars. Earlier this year, Alicia Vikander told us about an actor friend who lost out at an audition because they didnt have enough followers, while Bret Easton Ellis recently hired an Instagram star to play the lead in his upcoming web series.

Laid In America is released on digital download on 26 September. For reasons unknown, given the aforementioned strategy, it will also be out on DVD. DVD!
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 }}

More than four out of five people want laws protecting wildlife to remain as strong or be made tougher after the UK leaves the European Union, according to a new poll.

The EU has world-leading environmental protection standards and there have been fears of a bonfire of regulations in post-Brexit Britain amid pressure to cut Brussels bureaucracy.

However the poll, by YouGov for campaign group Friends of the Earth, suggests this would be an unpopular move  particularly among the most ardent supporters of the Leave campaign.

The survey found 46 per cent of people wanted a higher level of protection for wild areas and wildlife with a further 37 per cent wanting the legislation to remain the same  a total of 83 per cent. Just 4 per cent favoured weaker regulations.

And people who voted Ukip in last years election were more likely to back tougher laws than any other partys supporters.

Fifty-five per cent of Ukip voters backed greater protections, compared to 49 per cent of Labour supporters, 43 per cent of Lib Dems and 40 per cent of Conservatives.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Samuel Lowe said: This survey sends a powerful message to the UK Government that EU rules aimed at protecting our natural environment must be maintained or strengthened.

The poll completely undermines those who argue that Brexit should lead to a watering down of the UKs environmental commitments.

There is little public support for this  even from those who voted to leave the EU.

The survey, of 1,687 people, also found 81 per cent of respondents backed keeping the EUs ban on neonicotinoid pesticides because of the threat to bees. These have been found to have sub-lethal harmful effects on the important pollinators and a recent study concluded that use of the chemicals was linked to large-scale population extinctions.

Support for keeping the ban ranged from 79 per cent of Tories to 93 per cent of Lib Dems. Only 5 per cent thought the pesticides should be allowed.

The Government must stand up to pressure from the National Farmers Union and keep the EU ban on bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticides. This is what the science says, and the public demands, Mr Lowe said.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

Asked whether subsidies given to farmers should put more emphasis on environmental protection after Brexit, 25 per cent backed the idea, 32 per cent said they should remain the same and seven per cent backed less emphasis on this.

Eleven per cent said farming subsidies should be abolished, while 25 per cent said they did not know what should happen.

Asked about the polls findings and what would happen to environment regulations after Brexit, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: We are working hard to make our natural environment cleaner and healthier  woodland cover in England is at its highest level since the 14th century, we have improved water quality in 9,000 miles of rivers since 2010 and in the last five years we have created or restored over 100,000 hectares of wildlife habitat.

"Protecting our precious environment will form an important part of our EU exit negotiations and we will work to deliver the best possible outcome for the British people."

Neonicotinoid pesticides are currently banned under EU legislation but the Government can allow its use under licence. It recently refused a request to use them by the National Farmers Union.
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 }}

Authorities should launch a new star wars to take on Google, Facebook and Twitter and stop them enabling extremists and terrorists, according to MPs.

Social media giants are consciously failing to stop their sites being used to promote terrorism and recruit extremists, a new report by the Home Affairs Select Committee says.

Those sites  including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube  have become the vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda and the recruiting platforms for terrorism, according to a major new report. Those platforms are the lifeblood of Daesh, according to Labour MP Keith Vaz, chair of the committee.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

He said: "Huge corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter, with their billion-dollar incomes, are consciously failing to tackle 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."

Mr Vaz added: "The companies' failure to tackle this threat has left some parts of the internet ungoverned, unregulated and lawless."

Recommended Read more Twitter bans hundreds of thousands of terrorist accounts

In response the threat posed by those sites, British police need to launch a huge cyberweapon defence force  parallel to the Star Wars system that watches for nuclear attack  to monitor the sites and take down sensitive information, the report recommends. That hub would work around-the-clock to locate the perils early, move quickly to block them and [would be] able to instantly share the sensitive information with other security agencies.

The committee said that it was alarming that at those sites only a few hundred employees monitor content. It also expressed disgust that some sites dont actively report extremist content that they find to law enforcement agencies.

According to official figures, there is thought to be around 800 UK-linked fighters that have travelled to Syria and Iraq since conflicts began. About half to those have returned to the UK, and terror-related incidents have increased by a third.

That rise has been matched by police teams that are rapidly increasing the work they do to remove such content. A British police team works to take down such content, having nearly 300 pieces deleted each day.

 Anjem Choudary: Radical preacher found guilty of inviting support for Isis

The committee called for those companies to publish statistics four times a year that set out how many sites and accounts have been deleted.

The sites have done more to remove propaganda from their sites. Last week Twitter announced that it had removed 235,000 accounts for violating its extremism policies  bringing the total to 360,000 since the middle of last year, when it began an unprecedented crackdown.

That announcement came the same week that cleric Anjem Choudhry was convicted of inviting support for Isis. Authorities said that before he was convicted they had run into trouble when trying to get his posts removed.
 Flash

The Turkey-backed Syrian rebels captured the city of Jarablus in northern Syria on Wednesday, dislodging the Islamic State (IS) from their last stronghold on the Syrian-Turkish borders, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian rebels backed by Turkish tanks and special forces, as well as air cover by the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, stormed Jarablus, after crossing into that border city from Turkey at dawn Wednesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian rebels captured the city without mentionable resistance from the IS, which had withdrawn most of its fighters from the city, days before the Wednesday campaign.

The Observatory said the IS sent fighters from the city to the northern city of Bab in Aleppo and the al-Raqqa province, the de facto capital of the IS.

The rebels are not combing the city, as IS sleeping cells are still hiding in that area, the last IS foothold on the borders with Turkey.

With Jarablus now out of hands, the IS lost all routes toward the Turkish borders, but still had access to border towns between Syria and Iraq.

The Turkish-backed campaign came as part of Ankara's 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.

Some observers believed fighting the IS was not the priority of Turkey, saying that Ankara fears the advance of Kurdish forces in northern Syria toward Jarablus.

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.
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 }}

Scientists have found another Earth, which might have the right conditions for us or aliens to live. But will we ever actually get there and find out for sure?

Though the planet is in one sense our closest next door neighbour  orbiting around Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our own  its still a good 4.3 lightyears away. That will mean that it will be incredibly difficult to get there, and the conventional rockets that we have today would take thousands of years to arrive.

It will take new kinds of technology to actually reach our newly-discovered neighbour. Some of those are already in development  though not expected for some time, scientists and space fans hope that the discovery of Proxima b might encourage people to start work more quickly on developing them.

Scientists are so excited about the new planet because it is easily the closest second Earth that theyve yet found. It is rocky, is in the habitable zone of distance from its sun, and might have the right atmosphere to sustain life.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

That distance could mean that well be able to study it. But well need to do something very clever to actually do so.

Here are the different things we might try.

Ionic propulsion

Once considered the stuff of science fiction, ion drives have now been tested in a number of space craft.

The idea is to use electrical energy to propel charged molecules of gas, known as ions, from a thruster. It is far more fuel efficient than a traditional rocket, and despite producing a low level of thrust allows a long period of acceleration and build-up of speed.

This artists 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 (ESO/M Kornmesser)

The Deep Space One mission to Comet Borrelly, which used ion propulsion, reached a velocity of 35,000mph over a period of 10 months.

But even at this speed it would take more than 81,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri. Theoretically much more powerful ion thrusters could greatly reduce this journey time, but not by nearly enough.

Nuclear thermal propulsion

This is a concept that has been explored by Nasa and involves using nuclear reactions to heat up liquid hydrogen and channel it to generate thrust. Scientists have estimated that such a nuclear engine could power a spaceship to Mars in only 90 days. But a journey to the nearest star is a very different prospect - a one way trip to Proxima Centauri using this method would still take around 1,000 years.

Nuclear pulse propulsion

A frightening concept first proposed in 1946 by Polish-American mathematician Stainislaw Ulam, one of the architects of the Manhattan Project that developed the atom bomb. The idea, outlined in Project Orion which was shelved in 1963, was to release a series of nuclear bombs behind a spacecraft and explode them to provide a powerful accelerating force. Effectively, the spacecraft would ride the detonation wave, protected by a rear mounted "pusher" pad.

Theoretically a spaceship driven by a nuclear pulse engine could reach velocities as high as 5% of the speed of light. But the technology would be incredibly costly, not to mention potentially unsafe.

Fusion rockets

Here, pellets of deuterium and helium-3 are ignited in a fusion reaction, the same nuclear force that powers the Sun, to generate a high-energy plasma - a hot, charged gas - that can be directed by a magnetic nozzle to provide thrust.

A two-stage fusion rocket concept studied by the British Interplanetary Society, known as Project Daedalus, could theoretically make it possible to travel to Proxima Centauri in 36 years. But fusion power is still in its infancy and a long way from being able to generate enough energy for a trip to the nearest star.

Laser sail

One of the most promising technologies for interstellar travel, this was chosen by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner for his Breakthrough Starshot project that aims to send a fleet of tiny "nanocraft" to the Alpha Centauri system.

It involves shining a powerful laser beam on a large "sail" to push the spacecraft forward. The concept is simple, but has the potential to generate very high velocities up to half the speed of light and beyond. Milner's tiny craft, each weighing less than a gram, would be accelerated to 20% of light speed, making it possible to reach Proxima Centauri in 20 to 25 years.

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 the Solar System. The picture was created from pictures forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (Digitized Sky Survey 2 Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin/Mahdi Zamani)

According to a Nasa study published in 2000, a giant laser sail measuring 200 miles in diameter could make the trip to Proxima Centauri in just over 12 years.

Unfortunately, a laser powerful enough to drive such a sail to half the speed of light would consume a vast amount of energy and be extremely costly. In addition, the sail would have to be made from special resilient material to avoid melting.

Additional 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 }}

The US Treasury Department has launched a stinging attack on the European Commissions tax investigations in a bid to dissuade Brussels authorities from hitting Apple and other US multinational companies with billions of euros in underpaid taxes.

In a white paper released on Wednesday, US authorities said the EU was behaving like a supranational tax authority that endangered international tax reforms agreements.

The Obama administration warned that Brussels investigations into alleged tax avoidance by US companies, including Apple, Amazon and Starbucks, could create an unfortunate international tax precedent.

The criticism is the latest sign of growing tensions between the US authorities and the EU over Brussels treatment of US companies with headquarters in Europe.

Next month Brussels is expected to announce the results of its lengthy investigation into Apples tax affairs.

JP Morgan has estimated that Apple could be asked to pay up to $19 billion (14.4 billion). The tech giant denies any wrongdoing.

In December, Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, said the idea that Apple has been avoiding taxes on overseas profits is political crap.

Earlier this year, Jack Lew, US Treasury Secretary, accused the EU of targeting US companies disproportionately, in a public letter to Commission President Jean-Claude Junker.

The Treasury Department also argued penalties for these companies could have broader repercussions.

The investigations have global implications as well for the international tax system and the G20's agenda to combat [tax avoidance] while improving tax certainty to fuel growth and investment, Robert Stack, a Treasury Department deputy wrote in a blog on the agency's website.

A spokeswoman for the EU commission said there was no bias against US companies.

5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Show all 5 1 /5 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Facebook Facebook paid 4327 in corporation tax in 2014, after it made a pre-tax loss of 28.5 million, according to filings at Companies House. That's less tax that new average UK employee pays on their salary. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Amazon Amazons UK business paid just 11.9m in corporation tax last year, even though the online retail giant took 5.3bn in sales from British shoppers. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Google So well known for avoiding tax that it had the 'Google tax' on multinationals that move profits to low-tax countries named after it. Alarm bells started ringing in 2012, when Google revealed it payed only 11.6 million to the Treasury, despite taking 3.4 billion in the UK. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Uber Uber paid 22,134 in UK corporation tax last year despite making an 866,000 profit. 5 tax avoiding companies in the UK Starbucks In October, the European Commission ruled that Starbucks' tax deal in the EU was illegal, ordering it to pay pay between 20-30 million to the Netherlands.

The commission has been in contact with US authorities on this matter on several occasions already and remains available to offer all necessary further clarifications, she said.

Margrethe Vestager, EU competition commissioner, has already directed the Netherlands to recover 20 million to 30 million (17-25m)i n back taxes from Starbucks and Fiat. the Commission is also investigating tax arrangements that Amazon and McDonalds got in Luxembourg.

The companies all say they acted within the law.

The EU estimates that corporate tax avoidance costs member states 50 million to 70 billion a year in lost taxes.


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 }}

Thinking of putting your money into a fund that describes itself as ethical? Youd better read the fine print if backing Exxon Mobil and British American Tobacco isnt your idea of doing good.

The oil company accused of misleading investors by hiding evidence about climate change and Europes biggest cigarette maker are among the holdings of some of the 30 biggest funds that invest following environmental or social governance guidelines, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

While some funds are strict about supporting only clean-energy producers, others buy securities from Big Oil to Big Tobacco along with consumer brands such as Unilever and Facebook. The wide range of holdings is the result of each institution deciding on its own what meets the ethical threshold.

Loosening that definition has helped ethical investing grow about 80 per cent over the past five years to $223 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

The industry hasnt done itself many favors in making sure people understand whats what, said Charlie Thomas, who manages 950 million under Jupiters Ecology funds, which exclude oil and tobacco in favour of companies that have a solution for environmental issues.

The challenge that we have as a sector is to be very clear with the investor so they know what theyre actually buying. Not all ethical funds are the same.

Theres no agreed definition on what an ethical fund should be. That has allowed to mushroom the number of funds saying they support companies guided by standards on environmental and social governance. There are no set criteria for how companies report performance on those metrics, and no regulator lhas set out rules.

The looseness of the system is a concern to the G20 nations, which asked a panel led by Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England to draw up a proposal for voluntary reporting standards that companies could follow if they chose.

Ethical investing has grown into a $223 billion dollar business (Bloomberg)

Thats likely to offer best practices to companies and accounting firms that draw up sustainability reports and release data through organizations such as the non-profit CDP and Bloomberg.

Ethical, Social and Governance (ESG) fund strategies range from excluding only companies they score the worst in their industries on specific metrics to including only the best of their class. Some seek to spur change by working as activist shareholders. A few will invest only in companies that benefit the environment. The only way to tell the difference is to look at what the fund is holding.

No Simple Label

Theres not a simple label you can slap on it to solve the problem, said Greg Elders, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence in London tracking ESG data. Clients think its a shortcut for seeing how sustainable a fund is.

The Bloomberg survey found the number of environmentally friendly or ESG funds has more than doubled in the past decade to about 730. Of the top 30, at least six hold oil companies.

At Impax Asset Management Group, which runs a $568 million Environmental Markets fund, the number of companies that meet its rules has jumped to 1,500 from 250 in 1999, with the pool of firms eligible to be included growing to $4.1 trillion, according to Jon Forster, a portfolio manager at the firm.

Investors have benefited from the diversification of green funds. The main ethical investing index, the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, has risen more than 225 per cent from the March 2009 low, about as much as the S&P 500. The gauge includes 400 companies, with Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Verizon having the biggest weightings.

Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty

Growth in the sustainable-fund business, regardless of how green some of its investments are, is set to continue. A boom in renewable energy investment along with tighter environmental rules and increasing interest from younger people are the main drivers, said Sarbjit Nahal, head of thematic investing at Bank of America in London.

The word I would stress is mainstream, Nahal said. Theres been a huge change towards taking longer-term issues into account. This is a space that you want to be in.

Here are some of the top 30 ESG funds that hold oil and tobacco:

TIAA-CREF Social Choice Equity Fund, with $2.8 billion under management

Occidental Petroleum

Schlumberger

ConocoPhillips

Marathon Oil

KLP AksjeGlobal Indeks I, a $3.7 billion fund

Exxon

BP

Monsanto

The fund aims to achieve positive change through active ownership, said Annie Bersagel, responsible investment adviser at KLP.

DNB Global Indeks, a $1.4 billion fund

Avoids companies responsible for grave harm to the environment and that dont meet DNBs minimum ethical requirements, according to its website.

Exxon

Chevron

Mining giant BHP Billiton

ACTIAM NVs $1.3 billion Responsible Index Fund

Invests exclusively in shares that meet the ESG criteria, as formulated by itself according to its website.

British American Tobacco

Royal Dutch Shell

Pax World Management LLC, which manages ESG funds including the $1.9 billion Pax Balanced Fund

Occidental Petroleum

The Balanced Fund selects the best assets from a social and environmental perspective relative to their peers, according to Joseph Keefe, Pax Chief Executive Officer, who said he doesnt see the need for more definitive criteria in ESG investing.

Amundi Asset Managements Atout Euroland $1.4 billion fund

Shell

Repsol

Bloomberg
Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

A botched inquiry into alleged sex abuse at Britains leading Catholic school denied justice to a teachers victims, former pupils have claimed.

Dr Paul Sheppard, a 53-year-old teacher from Canada, was found not guilty last year of indecently assaulting a boy at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire in 1989.

An investigation and trial into the allegations was said to be incomplete and ineffective, after North Yorkshire police failed to contact at least two former pupils who had made complaints, The Times reported.

Recommended Read more Thousands share their experiences of sexual harassment in school

Former pupils claim that during the time of Dr Sheppards employment at the private school, several children complained of being stroked, touched and kissed by the teacher. The schools headmaster, Father Dominic Milroy, interviewed 11 children over the teachers alleged inappropriate behaviour and Dr Sheppard subsequently left the school. Jurors at Dr Sheppards trial were said to be under the impression that the case only involved one complainant, however.

Ampleforth boarding school charges 33,000 a year and educates pupils under the care of Benedictine monks. Alumni include former England Rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio, actors James Norton and Rupert Everett, Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes and the sculptor Sir Antony Gormley.

Pupils who learnt at the last minute they would not be giving evidence were falsely assured by the police that they were not required in court, because the defence had accepted their written statements, it was reported.

Dr Sheppard went on to teach at a number of schools around the world, including at the American School of Yaounde in Cameroon and St John's School, a boarding school in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, where he became headmaster in 2000. He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in December 2014 and detained on suspicion of serious sexual offences against an Ampleforth pupil in 1989. The pupil later committed suicide.

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

Dr Sheppard was accused of seven indecent assaults against five former pupils and was due to stand trial again last year, but rulings by the trial judge led to his alleged offences being withdrawn against all but one of the boys.

The former pupils and the family of the man who killed himself have spoken out against the judgement and claim that the way the case was conducted was shambolic.

One former pupil told the The Times that his experience with judicial process had left him "amazed that anyone is ever convicted in a British Court of historical sex offences against children." He added: "The jury had to choose between the word of an experienced teacher and that of one former pupil. They weren't told why Sheppard left Ampleforth in 1989. It was a complete travesty."

Dr Sheppard has denied any wrongdoing and said it was his own choice to leave the school.

During his trial at York Crown Court last year, jurors heard allegations that Dr Sheppard spanked a 10-year-old boy on his bare bottom as punishment for misbehaviour in a school dormitory. Other alleged offences involved two 11-year-old pupils, who claimed the teacher stroked and kissed one sleeping boy and pinned another to the ground while straddling him.

These incidences were dropped, however, after Judge Colin Burn ruled that neither incident amounted to circumstances of indecency.

Ampleforth released a statement after the news of the alleged cover-up was announced, in which it said it has publically accepted its responsibilities for past failings. A school spokesperson offered sympathies, prayers and thoughts to all survivors.

The statement said: Paul Sheppard was employed as a temporary supply teacher by Ampleforth for four months in the summer term of 1989. Sheppard was appointed following receipt of references from well-respected institutions and people, including Albert College, Brock University and St Pius X Junior High School.

"Allegations made against Sheppard to Fr Dominic Milroy were investigated by Fr Dominic at the time. These investigations did not yield allegations of sexual impropriety. Sheppard left at the end of July 1989 when his supply contract ended. The decision to leave was mutual. A reference supplied by the school at the time reflected his performance as a supply teacher during his short time at the school.

"Ampleforth has publically accepted its responsibilities for past failings and once again would like to offer its sympathies, prayers and thoughts to all survivors and their families. Ampleforth remains committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of each and every pupil in its care. The safeguarding co-ordinator of Ampleforth, a specialist ex-police officer, works closely with our Independent Safeguarding Commission; a body that oversees safeguarding at Ampleforth where all relevant statutory authorities are represented.

"Ampleforth works with all statutory authorities to ensure safeguarding issues are dealt with appropriately in line with current practice, and has cooperated fully with the police in its investigations."

Dr Sheppard was unreachable for comment.
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 }}

JK Rowling has responded to a controversial suggestion from Nicolas Sarkozy that wearing the burkini is a provocation by highlighting the hypocritical standards facing women and their bodies.

The decision by some French towns to ban women wearing full-body swimsuits on beaches has been shrouded in controversy in recent days after a picture of a woman appearing to remove her clothing while armed police stood over her on a Nice beach went viral.

On Wednesday, the former French president labelled the burkini a provocation.

In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans PA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Jenny Dawkins, a curate from All Saints Church in Peckham, at an anti-burkini ban protest at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans PA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Somayia Khan's six-year-old daughter at a protest against burkini bans at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Friends Rebecca (L) and Hannah (R) at a protest against burkini bans at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans Reuters In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans EPA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London People participate in a 'Wear what you want beach party' protest outside of the French Embassy in London EPA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London A protester holds a sign which reads "Are you Burkini Beach Body Ready?" as she lies on a beach towel outside the French Embassy in London on August 25, 2016, AFP/Getty Images

Wearing the burkini is a political act, it is militant, a provocation, he said.

Rowling replied:

The row over the burkini has intensified in recent days ahead of a court ruling in the country which will decide on whether the ban in 26 towns is legal after human rights groups claimed it breaches French law.

On Wednesday, LBC host James OBrien called out the hypocrisy of the ban by challenging those who support to it to explain how they would feel if nuns were made to take off their habits.
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 }}

Overnight Donald Trump proved his soundbites can still draw disbelief after veering off script at a Tampa rally and declaring Hillary Clinton's famous support base largely comprised of celebrities that arent very hot anymore.

Ms Clintons campaign has enjoyed support from a cross-section of the most high-profile and influential A-listers.

Katy Perry has emerged as one of her most enthusiastic supporters. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were spotted cosying up to her in a photobooth.

Robert DeNiro concededed that Ms Clinton, 68, has earned the right to be president". Even the seemingly politically apathetic Kim Kardashian, the proponent of gender equality who refuses to call herself a feminist, has shown her support for Ms Clinton in - what else - a selfie with the woman herself.

Fundraisers have been thrown by ultimate power couples such as Amal and George Clooney, while Lady Gaga, Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham have appeared in an array of imaginative outfits to express their support for the Democratic nominee and potential first female president.

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

But Mr Trump still managed to be dismissive about this backing in comments that did not appear on the teleprompter. The only people enthusiastic about her campaign are Hollywood celebrities, in many cases, celebrities that arent very hot anymore.

The 70-year-old business magnate has in the past singled out women and discussed their attractiveness, comments which do not need repeating here.

Mr Trump, meanwhile, has struggled to drum up similar levels of celebrity support. While Clintons opening night at the Democratic National Convention was a star-studded affair, he failed to bring the showbiz he promised his base at the Republican National Convention.
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 }}

Katy Perry has branded the targeted attack on Leslie Jones, which saw intimate photos of the actress and personal information leaked, as an example of misogynoir.

Jones, an actress who stars in the Ghostbusters film, had her website hacked with explicit photographs and personal information posted online on Wednesday. According to the BBC, the 48-year-old comedians Tumblr page was taken down after photos from her iCloud account, copies of her passport, driving licence, phone number and Twitter password were posted online.

The report also said an image of the dead Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe appeared in what appeared to be a racist insult. Jones has previously been the victim of a vitriolic racist campaign by internet trolls which saw her briefly take a break from Twitter.

The Australian Koala Foundation estimates there are fewer than 100,000 koalas left in the wild but that figure could potentially be as low as 43,000 (Getty Images)

Perry publicly condemned the attack on Jones and used the hashtag "Stand With Leslie" which has been trending on Twitter. Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I #StandWithLeslie, she wrote.

The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Show all 10 1 /10 The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Leonardo DiCaprio On climate change: 'Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.' Getty The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Chrissy Teigen 'I will never stop talking about how horrible Donald Trump is. Even after he loses, I will set an alert to my phone to remind me to not stop. Getty The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Nicki Minaj On the war on drugs and US prison system: What it has become is not a war on drugs. It has become slavery. Or something crazier. When I see how many people are in jail, I feel like, Wait a minute. Our government is aware of these statistics and thinks its OK The sentences are inhumane. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for A+E Networks The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Emily Ratajkowski 'I am not shamed or apologetic of what my body might represent to you. Its the body I was given. I'm no less worthy of making political points about feminism or fighting for the reclaiming of female sexuality because of it.' Andrew Toth/Getty Images The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Jesse Williams On racial equality: Now what we've been doing is looking at the data and we know that police somehow manage to de-escalate, disarm and not kill white people every day. So what's going to happen is we are going to have equal rights and justice in our own country or we will restructure their function and ours. Getty The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Zendaya On claiming a magazine photoshopped her: Had a new shoot come out today and was shocked when I found my 19 year old hips and torso quite manipulated. These are the things that make women self conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have. Getty The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Jennifer Lawrence Im over trying to find the "adorable" way to state my opinion and still be likable! F**k that. I don't think I've ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It's just heard.' AFP/Getty Images The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind John Legend On Black Lives Matter: 'We should not have to jump through hoops to prove black people shouldnt be shot by police during routine traffic stops. So many people work so hard to find a reason why executing a human being during a traffic stop is ok. ITS NOT OK.' Getty The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Amandla Stenberg On cultural appropriation: 'What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we loved black culture?' Getty Images The famous men and women who arent afraid to speak their mind Maisie Williams On feminism: I [also] feel like we should stop calling feminists feminists and just start calling people who arent feminist sexist  and then everyone else is just human. You are either a normal person or a sexist. People get a label because theyre bad.' Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Misogynoir, a term which was coined by Black Feminist scholar Moya Bailey, refers to combined discrimination on the basis of race and gender and ultimately defines the moment when racism and sexism meet. If you break down the word, miso means hater, while gyn means woman and noir" means black.

Bailey established the word misogynoir in 2010 and defines it a way to describe the particular brand of hatred directed at black women in American visual and popular culture. In turn, Bailey found a precise term to describe the experiences which only black women encounter. Misogynoir is founded in the notion of intersectionality which understands oppression from a combined perspective of social identities such as race, gender, and class.

A number of prominent individuals such as Patricia Arquette, Alyssa Milano, Patricia Heaton and Ghostbusters director Paul Feig have condemned the attack on Jones.

Jones has yet to release a statement or directly responded to the attack on her on social media so far. After the previous trolling campaign she was received, she condemned the racism she had been subject to and shared many of the vitriolic tweets she had been sent. Jones rejected the argument that she should not stoop to their level and instead argued it was imperative she publicly shamed individuals and stood up for herself in the face of harassment.

A representative for Jones did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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 }}

Action hero Steven Seagal was treated to a crop of watermelons and a meal of lard from a man known as the last dictator of Europe.

The Hollywood actor, a friend of Russian president Vladimir Putin, also accepted some freshly-harvested carrots from Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko.

Seagal has "long wanted to meet" the stern ruler - known for governing the Eastern European country with an iron fist - according to Presidential spokeswoman Natalya Eismont.

The veteran actor is a fan of Eastern Europe and is regularly hosted by Putin, who bizarrely proposed he become a Russian envoy to the US.

According to Buzzfeed, the idea was raised by the Eastern European leader when he met with Barack Obama at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.

Our reaction was, Youve got to be kidding, a US official who was present at the Lough Erne meeting told BuzzFeed News.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and actor Steven Seagal have forged a friendship

Seagal is a seventh dan black belt in the Japanese martial art Aikido and last June a video emerged of him flooring two opponents at the All-Russian Sambo Tournament in Saratov.

He was offended by speculation that his opponents were letting him win after they appeared to put up a weak fight.

When asked if the video was legitimate, Seagal replied: "I'm gonna try not to be insulted man.

I've been doing martial arts all my life. How could it be fake?

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, known as the last dictator of Europe, welcomes Seagal (AP)

During last year's harvest, Lukashenko  a keen farmer - hosted French actor Gerard Depardieu and gave him a lesson in hand scything.

Recommended Read more Red Hot Chili Peppers mistaken for Metallica by Belarus customs

Seagal has a consultancy contract with a Belarusian online game developer.

He has Russian roots and his grandmothers family is from Vladivostok.

He met Lukashenko at the presidential residence of Drozdy outside the Belarus capital of Minsk.

Lukashenko was re-elected for a fifth term in October last year, although the authoritarian leader of 21 years faced no serious competition in the election.
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 }}

Scientists have found a ghost galaxy  roughly the same mass as our own, but entirely made up of dark matter.

Dragonfly 44 is almost entirely made up of dark matter, the mysterious  and for now mostly theoretical  stuff that makes up 27 per cent of the universe but has never actually been seen.

Though the galaxy is relatively nearby, at least in the scale of the universe, it is so dark that scientists completely missed it for decades.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

But it was finally spotted last year. It sits in the Coma galaxy cluster, about 330 million light years from us.

When scientists looked at it further, they found that it was not just a normal set of stars  but instead a ghost, made up of dark matter. Though it has about the same mass as our own Milky Way galaxy, only one hundredth of one per cent is made of up of the normal matter like stars, dust and gas that surrounds us.

Rather, it is 99.99 per cent made up of dark matter. Nobody knows what exactly that is, how it came about  or even how a galaxy could have arisen that looked that way.

Dragonfly 44 does have some normal stars of its own. But our Galaxy has a hundred times more stars than are there.

Astronomers found out about the strange ghost galaxy by looking at the movement of the galaxys stars  movement that seemed to be influenced by matter that doesnt by normal measures exist.

Professor Pieter van Dokkum, a member of the team from Yale University in the US, said: "Motions of the stars tell you how much matter there is. They don't care what form the matter is, they just tell you that it's there.

"In the Dragonfly galaxy, stars move very fast. So there was a huge discrepancy.

"We found many times more mass indicated by the motions of the stars than there is mass in the stars themselves."

Scientists know that there must be something providing the gravity that is needed to hold the galaxy together. But the mass that would normally provide that isnt there.

Scientists from the Keck Observatory in Hawaii found the galaxy, and report their findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

They said that there may be many more of the strange, ghost galaxies waiting to be found.

Hubble telescope new galaxy

Co-author Professor Roberto Abraham, from the University of Toronto in Canada, said: "We have no idea how galaxies like Dragonfly 44 could have formed.

"The ... data show that a relatively large fraction of the stars is in the form of very compact clusters, and that is probably an important clue. But at the moment we're just guessing."

Dark matter remains perhaps the biggest mystery of the universe. While scientists know that it must exist  the calculations that account for the make-up of the universe require it  weve never actually seen it, and attempts to do so have failed.

But the discovery could let us finally find more about the mysterious stuff that surrounds us.

"Ultimately what we really want to learn is what dark matter is, said Dr Van Dokkum.

"The race is on to find massive dark galaxies that are even closer to us than Dragonfly 44, so we can look for feeble signals that may reveal a dark matter particle."

Only 5 per cent of the interchangeable mass-energy of the universe is made up of the kind of normal matter that we can see and touch. Dark matter makes up a large part of the rest.

Despite the fact that it constitutes 27 per cent of the universe, it doesnt reflect light and cant be seen by any means so far. Experiments to understand it usually require doing so through other means  but even they have often failed.

The remaining part of the universe is made by something even more confusing. Dark energy makes up 68 per cent of the universe, and is a kind of anti-gravitational force that is pushing galaxies apart, more and more quickly.
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 }}

British Muslim women wearing their hijabs while paddling in the sea drew a stark contrast to French officers policing their co-religionists' dress over the Channel.

Pictures of Muslim women in dark dresses with headscarves on were captured at Brighton Beach as they and their children enjoyed the waves in the summer heat.

The images contrast powerfully with that of a French Muslim citizen made to undress by four armed police as she lay on the beach.

While beachgoers looked on, the 38-year-old was made to remove her burkini - a swimsuit which covers the body and head - under the watch of four French policeman in accordance with a controversial new ban on the garment in parts of the country.

The photograph of officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray standing round as the woman removed a blue headscarf and matching top went viral on social media on 23 August.

When asked what the Muslim Council of Britain thought of the measure, one of its spokepeople said: "The French authorities are in good company: the only other people forcing women to change their clothing at gun point are Daesh [Isis]."

French Riviera resorts Cannes and Villeneuve-Loubet, along with Corsica, all currently have the ban in place. French ministers have said the law is in line with the country's historical separation of religion from public life.

And France's previous and ongoing ban on face veils, or the niqab, in public spaces was backed by the European Court of Human Rights two years ago.

The photograph of a woman forced to remove her clothing was met with outrage (Vantage)

But in Brighton, Muslim women are shown wearing their full hijabs while cooling off in the waves at the well-known pebbly beach.

"This is a heartwarming sight on a British beach," said one Twitter user in response to the picture.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted the right of women to wear what they wished without being told off.

"I'm a proud feminist. I don't think anyone should tell women what to wear," he said, according to ITV reporter Ria Chatterjee.

Laws in the UK enshrine a right to religious freedom and the full face veil is not illegal in public spaces or jobs.

Schools can decide their own dress code, however, and may prevent students from wearing face veils if they so wish. Several German schools have courted controversy by forbidding students from wearing a niqab in class on the grounds that is causes communication problems with teachers.

Brighton is one of the most popular seaside destinations in the UK, with thousands of visitors arriving for any one night in the peak summer season.
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd, L) holds talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida (4th, R) in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Tokyo 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.
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 }}

Women dumped tonnes of sand outside the French Embassy in London on Thursday for an impromptu beach party to protest the countrys burkini bans.

Demonstrators armed with lilos, inflatable flamingos and beach balls made sandcastles and chanted in opposition to ludicrous laws seeing Muslim women arrested and fined for covering up at Riviera resorts.

Esmat Jeraj, 27, organised the protest with friends after being shocked, as many were around the world, by images of a woman being ordered to remove her top by police officers in Nice.

No dress code for this beach party (PA)

Just seeing what happened to that woman in Nice made me incredibly frustrated and upset and I thought something needs to be done, she told The Independent. I cant even imagine how traumatising and humiliating that must have been.

Ms Jeraj, who wears a headscarf, said she wanted the London demonstration to show solidarity with anyone forced to wear anything, anywhere by anyone.

Different reasons have been given for the bans in more than a dozen French communes and cities but several officials have made a link to a recent wave of Isis-inspired terror attacks.

Its absurd, Ms Jeraj said. The war on terror does not begin inside a womans wardrobe.

By wearing a burkini, women are empowering themselves to go out and sit on the beach, and enjoy the sunshine and the French seaside with their loved ones and their families.

By banning that what you are actually doing is pushing them to no longer be part of that society, and marginalising them further.

In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans PA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Jenny Dawkins, a curate from All Saints Church in Peckham, at an anti-burkini ban protest at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans PA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Somayia Khan's six-year-old daughter at a protest against burkini bans at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Friends Rebecca (L) and Hannah (R) at a protest against burkini bans at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans Reuters In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans EPA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London People participate in a 'Wear what you want beach party' protest outside of the French Embassy in London EPA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London A protester holds a sign which reads "Are you Burkini Beach Body Ready?" as she lies on a beach towel outside the French Embassy in London on August 25, 2016, AFP/Getty Images

Thats incredibly worrying when you look at Islamophobia and the way Muslims are being treated in France.

Her fellow organiser, India Thorogood, was equally dismissive of claims that France is fighting female oppression with the burkini bans and its law forbidding full-face veils.

Its like they are trying to say that some men somewhere are sometimes telling women what to wear  but in response the French state are telling women what to wear, she said. Two wrongs dont make a right.

Their fellow protesters waved signs reading Down With Islamophobia Under a Cloak of Feminism and Hey Mister, Hands off my Sister and played with beach balls as bemused tourists took photos and armed police guarding the embassy steps kept a watchful eye.

Jenny Dawkins, a curate from All Saints Church in Peckham, joined the demonstration wearing a floor-length black cassock.

I wear this because I want to and because of my religious conscience, she told The Independent while blowing up a beach ball.

Jenny Dawkins, a curate from All Saints Church in Peckham joined in at an anti-burkini ban protest (Lizzie Dearden)

Im horrified that some women are being forbidden from wearing what their conscience dictates.

Ms Dawkins doubted whether she would be fined for wearing her outfit on Frances beaches, despite the vaguely worded laws failing to specify what clothing is forbidden.

Some of her fellow protesters at the Wear What You Want Beach Party donned bikinis and swimsuits, while one woman was wearing a burkini.

Aina Khan said she bought one of the swimsuits, which cover the body and hair, for herself last year.

When I walk onto a beach or in a public swimming pool, I dont think: Oh Im oppressed, some man told me to wear this, she said.

I chose to buy it because its my own religious convictions  no one has dictated that to me.

Hitting out at covert racism, she accused France of betraying its professed values of liberte, egalite and fraternite at the expense of laicite  constitutional secularism.

Friends Rebecca and Hannah, carrying a lobster-shaped lilo, said they were also concerned about the growing number of incidents showing xenophobia and racism in the UK.

Friends Rebecca (L) and Hannah worry xenophobia is growing in the UK (Lizzie Dearden)

France is a neighbouring country and its not that different from what is happening here, Rebecca said. I worry about what kind of society were heading towards.

While Islamophobia was a hot topic at the demonstration, many supporters saw the bans equally as a symptom of sexism, saying womens bodies were once again being used as a battleground for bigots.

Somayia Khan brought six-year-old daughter to the event with hand-drawn sign reading Let Them Wear What They Want.

She said: I didnt tell her it was a Muslim thing, I told her that every woman has the right to wear what she wants, wherever she wants, whenever she wants.

But not everyone at the protest agreed. A French woman shouted over demonstrators to announce her support for the burkini ban, telling the crowd how her mother had worn a veil in her home country of Algeria but never in France.

France is a secular country and you must respect their laws, she said. The state has to protect the secular constitution.

Somayia Khans six-year-old daughter came prepared with her own message for lawmakers in France (Lizzie Dearden)

According to a survey by Ifpop, 64 per cent of French people are in favour of the burkini bans, while 30 per cent described themselves as indifferent and only 6 per cent of respondents were opposed.

French politicians remain divided. Manuel Valls, the Prime Minister, said the garments represented the enslavement of women and were not compatible with French values but the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo condemned hysteria on the issue and called for more social cohesion.

Her London counterpart, Sadiq Khan, joined the criticism during his first official visit to Paris, saying: "I dont think anyone should tell women what they can and cant wear. Full stop."

The deputy mayor of Nice stoked further controversy on Thursday, claiming the sight of Muslim women fully covered on beaches made people feel "unsafe".

If you are in the swimming pool or you are on the beach, with the situation as it is with the terrorist attacks, with the war in the Middle East... people dont support it anymore, Rudy Salles said.

The countrys highest administrative court, the State Council, has started examining the legality of the prohibition in the commune of Villeneuve-Loubet.

Its ruling is expected within days and will set a legal precedent for the rest of France.
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 }}

Four of the five young men who died on an idyllic beach in East Sussex have been named after an "unexplained" drowning.

Nitharsan Ravi, Inthushan Sri, Kenigan Nathan and the latter's brother Kobi Nathan have been identified by Sussex Police as men aged in their late teens and early 20s from southeast London who got into difficulty at Camber Sands.

Five men, thought to be in their late tweens and early twenties from London, died in total in circumstances which belied the calm sea and shallow waters in the area.

Nitharsan Ravi is the first of the group of young men who died while in the sea at Camber Sanders to be identified (Facebook)

Another young man has reportedly been named locally as Kurushanth Anna, although this is yet to be officially confirmed. All are believed to be good friends from Sri Lankan communities in the capital.

The tragic incident unfolded throughout the afternoon as first three men, and later two more men, were pulled from the water after being spotted by a member of the public on 24 August.

They have now been identified after an operation involving the HM Coastguard, local council, rescue helicopter, RNLI lifeboat and emergency services - which sadly could not save their lives. No lifeguards are posted on the beach.

Kenigan Nathan was 19 and his brother Kobi Nathan was 22 years old, and their friend Nitharsan Ravi was also aged 22.

Tributes poured into the young men's Facebook accounts as their names were published in the Daily Mail and The Sun.

Kenigan Nathan and his brother both died in the East Sussex sea (Facebook)

Di Roskilly, chief superintendent of Sussex Police, said all the men had been in appropriate beachwear such as swimming trunks and shorts.

Media reports that the men may have got into trouble with jellyfish, or were "fully clothed" and may have been migrants, were both unfounded, a spokesperson for Sussex Police told The Independent.

"We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day," Chief Superintendent Roskilly said.

"We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area.

"These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day."

Sussex Police said reports that the men were "fully clothed" or migrants were unfounded (PA)

The first body was found at about 2.10pm on the stretch of beach renowned for its natural beauty close to Hastings and Rye. Another young man was seen in difficulty and then a third person spotted, yet all three were pronounced dead a short time later. The bodies of two more young men were then found in the water between 8.15pm and 8.45pm that evening.

No lifeguards are posted to the beach, Rother District Council confirmed with The Independent, but the beach patrol were alerted and the coastguard was called. Beach patrol staff advise people about danger in the water but cannot perform sea rescues.

An RNLI lifeboat from Rye Harbour, as well as rescue helicopter and emergency services, were dispatched to the scene.

The sea around Camber Sands has no especially dangerous features and the deaths remain "very much unexplained", said an RNLI worker positioned further up the coast.

There are no deep shelves there and the beach is known to be very, very safe, they told The Independent.

And there are no massive rip currents. Its all very much unexplained. If you see photographs of the sea at the time, its very calm.

It might be they had medical conditions, or they were very hot and got cold water shock  we just dont know."

The beach can be packed with up to 25,000 people at its busiest period, said Rother District Council (PA)

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.

Up to 25,000 people can be found on the beach at its most popular periods, said a Rother District Council spokesperson.

More people have started visiting who may not be familiar with the area, they added.

Although its too early to draw any conclusions from this latest incident, in recent years we have seen a change in the make-up of visitors to Camber, including more people from outside the area who are not familiar with the sea and the dangers it can pose," they said in a statement..

This has included visitors entering the sea although theyre not able to swim and in some cases entering the water fully clothed. We will continue to work with the emergency services and other colleagues to do more in educating people of the dangers of the sea.

Commentators on social media have asked why no lifeguards were present at the beach. The district council carries out assessments of the area and has concluded that it has decided none are needed.

"Regular assessments are carried out at Camber beach, along with the RNLI, to inform what measures need to be taken to guide visitor safety and ensure the beach is safe," said a Rother District Council spokesperson in a statement.

"To date this has not identified the need for lifeguards to be deployed at the beach and there have never been lifeguards employed at the beach."
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 dodo has become a byword for extinction since it was wiped out in its only native habitat on the island of Mauritius in the 17th Century, just a few decades after it was first discovered.

Very few remains of the large squat birds are in existence and only one complete skeleton from a single individual is thought to survive.

However, the first dodo skeleton on the market in nearly 100 years will soon be available at auction.

Summers Place Auctions, a Sussex-based specialist in natural history auctions, has announced the sale of a 95 per cent complete composite skeleton of a dodo  thought to be the first such sale since 1914.

The skeleton comes from a private collector who bought the majority of the bones in the 1970s and 1980s.

By the early 2000s he realised he had enough bones to construct a skeleton, only lacking part of the skull and one set of claws, both of which have been reconstructed to complete the skeleton for the sale.

Rupert van der Werff, director of the auction house, said: The rarity and completeness of this specimen cannot be over emphasised, and it provides a unique opportunity for an individual or an institution to own a specimen of this great icon of extinction.

Recommended Read more Dinosaurs died after asteroid hit oil field sending soot around planet

The majority of auction estimates are based on precedent of similar pieces being offered, which is impossible in this case, so given its rarity and desirability, we are anticipating an auction price in the region of a high six-figure sum.

Dodos were first found by humans in September 1598, when a flotilla of ships belonging to the Dutch East India Company discovered a remote island in the Indian Ocean, which we now know as Mauritius.

According to writer and extinct creatures expert Errol Fuller, the sailors had little difficulty catching the flightless birds, which were the largest fowl on the island, and ate them.

Soon after, the Dutch, the English and French arrived on Mauritius, bringing with them a host of invasive species to the previously untouched island, including dogs, cats, rats and monkeys, all of which preyed on the bird and its eggs.

By 1680, the dodo had been wiped out.

After the birds demise, hardly any bones were in existence, though a series of paintings, and various written descriptions of the birds remained, along with two poorly stuffed examples that were subsequently lost.

But almost 200 years after the last dodo died, Mauritian school teacher George Clark came across a marshy area called the Mare aux Songes, close to what is now the site of the an airport.

Mr Clark believed the swamp could contain the preserved bones of extinct creatures.

So, in 1865, he hired labourers from a local sugar plantation to wade waist deep through the bog and feel for bones with their feet.

The result was the excavation of hundreds of dodo bones, as well as those of other extinct Mauritian creatures.

According to Summers Place auctions, almost all dodo skeletons held in museums around the world are composites made up of bones from different individuals and these composites come from the bones collected at the Mare aux Songes.

The composite skeleton is 95 per cent complete, with one set of claws and part of the skull modelled from clay (Summers Place Auctions)

Only one skeleton survives where all of the bones are known to have come from the same individual. This unique specimen was collected in the early 1900s in a mountain valley and is on display in Port Louis, Mauritius.

Around the same time as the excavation of the bones from the Mare aux Songes, British author Lewis Carrolls book Alices Adventures in Wonderland was published.

Featuring illustrations by John Tenniel of the books talking dodo, awareness of the bird and its sad demise propelled the dodo to a level of public consciousness that has remained with humans far longer than the creature was able to itself.

The last time an almost complete dodo skeleton was available was in 1914, when a skeleton was sold to Cardiff Museum, which paid 350 for the remains. Summers Place Auctions estimates that would be roughly 5m today.

Archaeologists discover dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert Show all 3 1 /3 Archaeologists discover dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert Archaeologists discover dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert dinosaur.jpg EPA Archaeologists discover dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert dinosaur1.jpg AP Archaeologists discover dinosaur tail in Mexico's desert mexico.jpg AP

The skeleton will be auctioned on 22 November and will be on public display beforehand at the auction house.
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 }}

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has condemned a controversial burkini ban in parts of France, insisting that women should not be told what they can and cant wear.

It comes amid mounting controversy over the burkini ban imposed in several of the countrys world-famous Riviera resorts. Earlier this week photographs emerged showing four male police officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray forcing a woman on a beach in Nice to remove what they suspected to be a burkini.

Im quite firm on this. I dont think anyone should tell women what they can and cant wear. Full stop. Its as simple as that, Mr Khan told the Evening Standard.

 Burkini ban protest outside London's French Embassy

Recommended Read more Ukip leadership hopeful refuses to attack French burkini ban

He added: I dont think its right. Im not saying were perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we dont simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it.

Mr Khan, who was elected mayor of London earlier this year, was meeting his Parisian counterpart Anne Hidalgo for talks on trade, security and measures to tackle air pollution. London and Paris are two of the greatest commercial and cultural cities in the world and we have much to gain from working even closer together post-referendum, Mr Khan added.

"We have a thriving French community in London, who make a massive contribution to the economy and the vibrancy of our city, and I want to reassure them that they'll always be welcome.

The photograph of a woman forced to remove her clothing was met with outrage (Vantage)

"I'm here in Paris to make it clear that London is open - open to the world, open to trade, open for new business ventures and collaborations, open to new ideas, new talent and people.

"Following the EU referendum result, I'm working to ensure London remains the best place in the world to do business and that we have the powers we need to protect jobs, wealth and prosperity."

The London Mayor also pledged continued support for Paris following the terrorist attacks in the city last year. "London stands firmly with Paris in the aftermath of the horrendous attacks the city suffered. We will do everything we can to support Paris and all our European counterparts in the continued fight against extremism and those who wish to divide and harm us, he added.
Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The favourite to be the next Ukip leader has refused to attack French authorities for imposing their controversial ban on burkinis.

Diane James said she would not start criticising French officials enforcing the ban, which on Tuesday saw armed police forcing a woman on a beach to undress.

It comes as presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy branded the burkini a provocation that supports radical Islam, while Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage shared a platform with Donald Trump at a rally in the states.

Ms James is locked in a contest for the Ukip crown with, among others, Cambridgeshire councillor Lisa Duffy, MEP Bill Etheridge and former wrestler Phillip Broughton.

Challenged to say what she thought of the French approach, she told the BBC: Im not going to criticise.

Firstly its not French government policy... its something thats come out at a very local level.

So Im not going to start criticising the French.

She added: I dont see any reason to ban, or to invoke or introduce a dress code for beaches.

The candidate said there was no reason to introduce such a ban in the UK, claiming that if there was a citizens charter setting out how newcomers to the country should integrate problems like those appearing in France would never come about.

She admitted, however, that she would not be putting forward any policies during the leadership campaign, claiming it was unwise to create them on the hoof.

Ms James is also refusing to take part in any hustings, saying she could better speak to members at events where she is the only candidate available.

Controversy over the burkini ban imposed in a number of Riviera resorts heightened after photographs emerged showing police officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray forcing a woman on a beach in Nice to remove her burkini.

Frances former conservative President Mr Sarkozy said his country should not imprison women behind fabric, adding that doing nothing against the burkini would suggest France appears weak.
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 }}

John McDonnell has accused Labours HQ of a rigged purge against Jeremy Corbyns supporters after it suspended the chief of the Bakers Union but took no action against Lord David Sainsbury despite him donating over 2 million to the Liberal Democrats.

In an extraordinary intervention, the shadow Chancellor claimed thousands of members and registered supporters had been denied a vote without a proper explanation - and warned they would not accept "what appears to be a rigged purge of Jeremy Corbyn supporters".

Mr McDonnell, who is chairing Mr Corbyn's bid to be re-elected as Labour leader, said he was writing to the party's general secretary, Iain McNicol, about the incidents.

In a sign of the increasingly bitter divisions within Labour ranks, Mr McDonnell said: "The decision by Labour Party officials to suspend the bakers' union leader, Ronnie Draper, from the party and deny him a vote in Labour's leadership election over unidentified social media posts is shocking, and appears to be part of a clear pattern of double standards.

While Ronnie, a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, has been denied his say in Labour's election, no action is being taken over the Labour peer, Lord Sainsbury, who has given more than 2 million to support the Liberal Democrats.

"And no action has been taken against Michael Foster, the Labour party member who abused Jeremy Corbyn's supporters and staff as Nazi stormtroopers in the Daily Mail.

 Owen Smith and Jeremy Corbyn clash at latest leadership debate

"Both will, as things stand, be able to vote in this election. Meanwhile, thousands of other members and registered supporters are reported to have been denied a vote without being given an explanation or opportunity to challenge the decision or process.

"Labour party members will not accept what appears to be a rigged purge of Jeremy Corbyn supporters. The conduct of this election must be fair and even-handed."

A minister during Tony Blairs premiership, the former supermarket chairman Lord Sainsbury gave 2.15 million to Labour and 2.125 million to the Liberal Democrats in the period immediately before the European Union referendum, according to new figures released by the Electoral Commission.

Labours central office would not confirm whether Lord Sainsbury was a member of the party and was eligible to vote in the contest, adding: We dont comment on individuals.

A statement from Lord Sainsbury, issued by the Labour Party, added: "During the last two years I have helped put together the Stronger In Europe Campaign, and have provided them with funds.

"I have also made donations to the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and a number of other registered bodies.

I did so because I believe strongly that coming out of Europe will be damaging to our economy and society, and dangerously so if we come out of the Common Market. I am proud of what the Stronger In Europe Campaign did in explaining honestly and clearly the benefits we get from being in Europe and the damage from coming out."

The supermarket tycoon, who was Labours science and innovation minister in the Lords from 1998 until 2006 during Tony Blairs premiership, added: "I am sorry that we failed to convince the British people as I believe the dangers of Brexit are very real, and I hope that thoughtful and careful leadership by the new Prime Minister will mean that my worst fears are not realised."

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "Lord Sainsbury has been a major figure in progressive politics over four decades.

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

"We are extremely grateful for his practical support, which recognises the phenomenal campaigning abilities of the Liberal Democrats, who in the referendum campaign held 1,000 street stalls and were calling up to 100,000 voters a day.

"His help was a recognition that we had the second largest party political campaign for Remain and was a testimony to the hard work of our members. It is largely because we got across such a uniquely positive case for Europe that, since the referendum, over 18,000 people have joined the Liberal Democrats. We have enormous respect for Lord Sainsbury and we see his help in the referendum campaign as a huge endorsement of this party's campaigning strength and our unequivocally pro-European ideals."

In total, Labour received 6,186,695, while the Conservatives recorded 4,321,937 in total donations to the party coffers. The Conservatives biggest individual donor was businessman Gerado Lopez Fojaca, who gave the party 400,000, while Michael Davis handed them 262,500.

Labour's other major contributors were unions, with Unite donating 816,559, and Unison 604,411. The Liberal Democrats received 2,867,678 during the period in the run-up to the EU referendum vote, while Ukip took 1,252,891, the Women's Equality Party accepted donations of 154,570, and the SNP 20,612.

Electoral Commission spokesman Bob Posner said: "This data is hugely important in ensuring that our party finance system is as transparent as possible and it is therefore always disappointing when there is a failure to meet the statutory deadline.

"Where there is no reasonable explanation for such a failure, we will take a robust approach in dealing with this."
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 }}

Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he voted Remain in the European Union referendum  as his rival Owen Smith accused him of being happy about Brexit.

At a sometimes ill-tempered leadership hustings in Glasgow on Thursday night Mr Smith repeatedly accused the Labour leader of secretly wanting Britain to leave the EU, adding that he was not even sure of Mr Corbyns vote.

Mr Corbyn initially said he did not believe the question about how he had voted was grown up, but after repeated questioning responded fully.

Recommended Read more Labour conference could be cancelled as G4S turn down last ditch offer

Owen you know perfectly well what the answer is  that I voted Remain and I'm surprised that you even raised this question, he told the audience of Labour supporters.

Smiling after he received a large round of applause, he added: The only people who raised this question at the time were the Daily Mail.

Mr Smith pointed to Mr Corbyns criticism of the EU from 1992 and said the Labour leader had a record of criticising the union. Mr Corbyn said he now supported the EU because of its social protections, but that the result of the vote had to be respected.

Mr Smith went on to say: The reason I think that Jeremy can be so complacent and passive about this is that he's happy about the result. He's not bothered about the result.

If he's so concerned about protecting workers' rights why on earth would we allow the Tories to implement a Brexit deal which is going to see workers' rights in this country sold down the river?

The challenger said he was prepared to block Article 50 being triggered to leave the bloc by any means necessary and that his election manifesto would include a pledge to stay in the EU.

I will use absolutely every vehicle possible in order to do that, including voting in Parliament not to trigger Article 50. If I were leader of the Labour Party we would vote to block Article 50. Under my leadership we would be strong and we would remain in the European Union.

At another point in the hustings Mr Smith received raucous laughter from sections of the crowd after he said he believed Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale was doing a brilliant job.

Mr Corbyn said he would be happy to work with Ms Dugdale, who backs Mr Smith for UK leader, and that he was quite capable of forgetting and moving on from her criticism.

The hustings came hours after shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, accused his own partys officials of a rigged purge against supporter of the current leadership.

He said he was writing to Labours general secretary, Iain McNichol, to demand the reinstatement of Ronnie Draper, the general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), who was suspended on Thursday.

Mr Draper, who has been a party member for over 40 years, was suspended over tweets.

The decision by Labour Party officials to suspend the Bakers Union leader, Ronnie Draper, from the party and deny him a vote in Labours leadership election over unidentified social media posts is shocking and appears to be part of a clear pattern of double standards, Mr McDonnell said.

While Ronnie, a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, has been denied his say in Labours election, no action is being taken over the Labour peer, Lord Sainsbury, who has given more than 2m to support the Liberal Democrats...

Labour Party members will not accept what appears to be a rigged purge of Jeremy Corbyn supporters. The conduct of this election must be fair and even-handed.

I am writing to Labours general secretary, Iain McNicol, to demand that members and supporters who are suspended or lose their voting rights are given clear information about why action has been taken and a timely opportunity to challenge the decision.

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

There was also a row earlier on Thursday about the suspension of a former adviser to Labour MP Stella Creasy from the party. Jonny Chambers was accused of making tweets in support of the Conservatives  he says he was only expressing an opinion about the candidates in the Tory leadership contest.

It also emerged that Lord Sainsbury, a former minister in the last Labour government, had donated 2 million to the Liberal Democrats during the EU referendum campaign. He had also donated 2 million to Labour.

He said he made the donations because I believe strongly that coming out of Europe will be damaging to our economy and society, and dangerously so if we come out of the common market.

There were two further minor embarrassments for Mr Corbyn on Thursday. The Labour leader had previously claimed an endorsement by US politician Bernie Sanders, but the party admitted he had been misinformed by an aide. Mr Corbyn was also revealed to lack nominations from his MPs in Ipsos MORIs annual Parliamentarian of the Year survey, with only one backbencher putting his name down  an unusually poor showing for a party leader.
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 }}

Low-skilled EU migrants may have to apply for permits to work in Britain after Brexit, under plans being considered by the Government, it has been reported.

Sir David Metcalf, the head of the Migration Advisory Committee, told the Telegraph that both the number of migrants and the amount of time they spend in the UK could soon be controlled using work permits.

His comments came after the committee, which advises the Government on migration issues, published a report which found that migrants in low-skilled jobs had a small negative impact on wages of low-paid workers.

Sir David, a professor in industrial relations at the LSE, told the newspaper the scheme could be modelled on a previous work permit system for seasonal agricultural workers.

He said: It would be remiss of the Migration Advisory Committee not to have actually done a bit of thinking about some of these things.

I think it (work permits) is a pretty straightforward way and you already have a model that works.

The agricultural scheme was terrifically well administered, it was one guy at the Home Office working with operators and farmers.

It was time limited and capped. We could think of similar sectors where you have got a lot of unskilled European labour. That's very much tied up with what the Prime Minster is interested in.

Theresa May has refused to say whether EU migrants already living in Britain will be automatically allowed to remain after Brexit, despite mounting political pressure calling for her to give the assurance.

In a report, Work Immigration and the Labour Market, the committee found that low-skilled migrants can cause some pressures on public services.

It states: Costs, often focused in particular locations and sectors, include rapidly changing populations with possible implications for cohesion and integration.

It said it can also cause congestion by putting extra pressure on housing, education, health and transport services and causes a small negative impact on wages of low paid workers.

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

It also warned that some migrants faced serious exploitation because of inadequate enforcement of minimum labour standards.

The report said the main benefits go to labour-intensive employers who often cannot get workers from the UK, and migrants who command higher wages in Britain than they would in their home countries.

It concluded: Low skilled migrants have a neutral impact on UK-born employment rates, fiscal contribution, GDP (gross domestic product) per head and productivity.

With additional reporting by PA
Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The number of young people not in education, employment or training has decreased for the first time this year with a drop of 20,000, according to official estimates.

The new statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the proportion of so-called Neets, aged 16 to 24, has decreased from the previous quarter and is down by 78,000 from a year earlier. The total number of Neets now stands at 843,000.

The population of Neets in Britain has been falling steadily since June 2011 but had rose slightly in the previous two quarters. The percentage of all young people in the UK who are now classified by government officials as Neets stands at 11.3 per cent - a decrease of almost one per cent on the previous year.

The new statistics show a slight rise in unemployment among young people. The ONS measures unemployment from young people without a job who have been actively seeking work within the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks. From April to June 2016 there were 390,000 unemployed young people - up 9,000 from the previous quarter. The annual trend, however, is more positive: there are 41,000 fewer young people unemployed from a year earlier.

The number of economically inactive young people - who have not been seeking work within the last four weeks - is down 31,000 on the previous quarter to 453,000. Of these, according to the ONS, 274,000 were women and 179,000 were men.

Professor Geraint Johnes, director of research at the Work Foundation, told The Independent: The figures are driven by a reduction in the number of 18-24 year olds who are economically inactive. These fell by more than 30000 over the quarter. Unemployment amongst the young age groups has actually risen over the quarter, and amongst 16-17 year olds, the proportion who are Neet has risen."

He added: "The fall in the proportion of 16-24 year olds who are Neet continues a downward trend that has been in evidence since the series peaked in 2011. It mirrors the rise in employment and fall in unemployment that we have seen for the population at large.

"While the overall unemployment rate, at 4.9%, is now quite low, there remains slack in the labour market..In this respect, it is not surprising that labour market indicators have continued to improve  though the recent falls in both business investment and confidence might present a challenge in the months ahead.

"The latest available data on apprenticeship starts suggest that there has been a bit of an uptick amongst the 25 and younger age group  though the data on this arent recent enough to explain whats happened over the most recent quarter.
Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The General Secretary of the Bakers Union has been suspended by the Labour Party.

Ronnie Draper said he was disgusted and in shock after receiving a letter saying he could not vote in the forthcoming leadership election and said it was over comments made on social media.

Jeremy Corbyn specifically praised the Bakers Union after his shock victory in last years Labour leadership election. Shortly after, the more moderate trade union Community lost an election to seat on the partys ruling NEC to Pauline McCarthy, a representative of the Bakers Union.

That win was a significant boost to Mr Corbyn, not least when the National Executive Committee ruled in his favour last month, and decided he should automatically be on the leadership ballot and not have to seek nominations.

The party is understood to be working through a backlog of disciplinary complaints, with the vetting performed by a panel of NEC members.

Other members, who are not Corbyn supporters, have been suspended too. Jonny Chambers who worked as an advisor to MP Stella Creasy, was told he had been expelled on Thursday morning.

He had left the party in March over Mr Corbyns leadership before applying to rejoin in June, and was thrown out again before his cancellation had even been processed.

He said: "Today Ive been expelled from the Labour Party. A wonderful demonstration of Labours values: welcoming anti-Semites with open arms and kicks out long standing hard-working activists who have given many years of frustrated but dedicated service to a party I believed in, for the country love.

Labour claim that evidence shows I have demonstrated support for the Conservatives  something I have never done. I posted an article about why Labour people should have a stake and an interest in a race that was choosing our next Prime Minister  and I quite clearly said that whilst Theresa should be the next Prime Minister, I wanted a Labour leader than can beat her and the Conservatives."
 Flash

The 3rd meeting of China-ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA+China) and the 7th meeting of cultural ministers of ASEAN and its dialogue partners China, Japan, and South Korea (AMCA+3) were held here at Brunei's Prime Minister's Office on Thursday.

Ding Wei, Chinese vice cultural minister, attended the meetings along with high-ranking officials from China's Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Initiatives including deepening regional culture cooperations were discussed in the meetings.

During the 3rd AMCA+China meeting, Ding and relevant officials from ten ASEAN member countries exchanged views over the joint implementation of the five-year Plan of Action on China-ASEAN Cultural Cooperation, joining hands to enrich, enhance and update China-ASEAN Cultural Forum, and working together to deepen regional and sub-regional cultural cooperation featuring flagship cultural events. A wide range of consensus was reached during the meeting.

During the 7th AMCA+3 meeting, participants discussed topics including encouraging and supporting city level dialogue and collaboration between East Asia City of Culture and ASEAN City of Culture, intensifying cooperation and development on human resources across cultural fields under ASEAN plus Three (10+3) framework, exploring new fronts for 10+3 cooperation in specialized areas and pursuing tangible results.

Participants agreed to work together to bring 10+3 cultural cooperation to new highs and new dimensions and make more contributions to safeguard the peace, stability and development in the region.

They also expressed condolences to Myanmar in the meeting for the casualties and property losses including cultural heritage damage in Wednesday's earthquake and vowed to provide necessary support and assistance to its post-disaster reconstruction.
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 }}

In her speech to the 2015 Conservative Party conference Theresa May left the country in no doubt about her views on immigration.

The controversial address blamed immigrants for problems with public services and warned that "millions" wanted to come to the UK.

Here are some of the claims she made  and some of the reaction she got.

Her claims:

She warned that millions of people wanted to migrate to the UK.

There are millions of people in poorer countries who would love to live in Britain, and there is a limit to the amount of immigration any country can and should take.

She said Britain should focus on aid rather than helping refugees who had travelled to Europe.

The best way of helping the most people is not by bringing relatively small numbers of refugees to this country, but by working with the vast numbers who remain in the region

She argued that immigrants could make society less cohesive.

When immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, its impossible to build a cohesive society.

She blamed immigrants for pressures on public services.

Its difficult for schools and hospitals and core infrastructure like housing and transport to cope.

She repeated claims that immigration pushes down wages.

We know that for people in low-paid jobs, wages are forced down even further while some people are forced out of work altogether.

She blamed unemployment, the housing crisis, and underinvestment in schools on immigration.

Not all of the consequences can be managed, and doing so for many of them comes at a high price. We need to build 210,000 new homes every year to deal with rising demand. We need to find 900,000 new school places by 2024. And there are thousands of people who have been forced out of the labour market, still unable to find a job.

She claimed there was close to zero benefit from immigration, contrary to almost all economists analyses.

While there are benefits of selective and controlled immigration, at best the net economic and fiscal effect of high immigration is close to zero. So there is no case, in the national interest, for immigration of the scale we have experienced over the last decade.

She claimed EU immigration was unbalanced and unsustainable  and that the rules had to change.

For years, net migration from within the EU was balanced. The number of people coming to the UK was matched by the number of Brits and Europeans moving to other EU countries.

In recent years, the figures have become badly unbalanced  The numbers coming from Europe are unsustainable and the rules have to change.

She explicitly attacked EU freedom of movement rules.

Free movement rules dont just mean European nationals have the right to reside in Britain, they now mean anybody who has married a European can come here almost without condition.

She suggested asylum seekers should not even be allowed into Britain before their claims were assessed.

At the moment, the main way people claim asylum here is when theyre already in Britain. That fails on three counts  I want to offer asylum and refuge to people in parts of the world affected by conflict and oppression, rather than to those who have made it to Britain.

She claimed a significant number of asylum seekers were foreign criminals.

There is a huge difference between a young Syrian family fleeing the tyranny of ISIL or Assad, and a student who claims asylum once he has been discovered overstaying his visa, or a foreign criminal about to be sent to a prison in his own country.

She dismissed the idea that Britain was a country of immigrants.

Its often said  usually by advocates of open-door immigration  that Britain is by definition a country of immigrants. In fact, compared to the countries of the New World and compared to the countries of Europe with their shifting land borders, we have until recently always been a country of remarkable population stability.

10 things immigration has done for Britain Show all 10 1 /10 10 things immigration has done for Britain 10 things immigration has done for Britain The Mini The 1959 classic, that is, perhaps our greatest piece of industrial design, a miracle of packaging and revolution in motoring. Its genius designer was Sir Alec Issigonis, who was an asylum seeker. His family, Greek, fled Smyrna when Turks invaded this borderland in around 1920, and he wound up studying engineering at Battersea Polytechnic. He went on to create that most English of motor cars, the Morris Minor, as well as the Austin-Morris 1100, all much loved products of his fertile imagination. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain Marks and Spencer Once upon a time there was no M&S in Britain, difficult as that may be to believe. We have one Michael Marks to thank for our most famous retailer, and he was a refugee from Belarus, arriving in England in about 1882, and soon after set off to flog stuff around Yorkshire. He eventually teamed with Thomas Spencer to create the vast business we know today. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain Thunderbirds And many other TV shows created, funded and otherwise produced by that largest of larger-than-life characters, Lew Grade (also a world class tap dancer). The man who dominated commercial television gave us memorable entertainment such as The Prisoner, the Saint and brought the Muppets to Britain (a sort of fuzzy felt wave of immigration), as well as puppet shows where you could see the strings. All this from a penniless Jew from Ukraine, born Lev Winogradsky, who escaped the pogroms in Ukraine with his family in the 1890s. His nephew Michael Grade has also done his bit for British television. Rex Features 10 things immigration has done for Britain The House of Windsor Or the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha until George V prudently rebranded the family during the First World War. Well, our royals are a pretty German bunch, as well as having various types of French and other alien blue blood coursing around their veins. Twas ever thus. There was William the Conqueror, Norman French, who certainly broke the immigration rules; William of Orange, a direct import from Holland; the Hanoverian King Georges, the first barely able to speak English; Queen Victoria, who married a German, Edward VII, who couldnt stay faithful to his wife, a Danish princess; George V wed another German princess; Edward VIII married an American (though she hardly visited England and prompted his emigration and exile); and the Queen is married to man born in Corfu. The embodiment of the British nation, to many, but one thinks of them as quite multicultural really. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain I Vow To Thee My Country Our most patriotic hymn was the product of a man named Gustav Holst (pictured), born in Cheltenham, but of varied Swedish, Latvian and German ancestry, who adapted part of his suite The Planets to put a particularly stirring and beautiful poem to music, just after the Great War. As the second verse has it, there's another country/I've heard of long ago/Most dear to them that love her/most great to them that know. Imagine if the Holst family had been kept out because the quota on musical European types had been reached. Creative Commons 10 things immigration has done for Britain Curry and Cobra Chicken Tikka Masala is, so they say, a dish which not only the most popular in Britain but specifically designed to cater for European tastes. For that we probably have to thank an Indian migrant, Sake Dean Mahomed, who came from Bengal to open the first recognisable Indian restaurant, the magnificently named Hindoostanee Coffee House. History does not record if a plate of poppadoms and accompanying selection of pickles and yoghurts were routinely placed on the table for new diners, but we do know that we had to wait until 1989 to taste the ideal lager for a curry - Cobra. That brew was brought to us by Karan (now Lord) Bilimoria, a Cambridge law graduate who hailed from Hyderabad. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain That big red swirly sculpture at the Olympic Park Or Orbit, to give it its proper name, the work of Anish Kapoor, who arrived in 1973 from India and had the artistic imagination to fill a power station. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain The Sun Love it or hate it, and many do both, this has been a symbol of much that is successful and a lot that is awful in British journalism since its inception in 1969. In its turn it spawned the Page 3 Girl and some nastily xenophobic headlines. All the stranger when you consider its creator was, of course, Rupert Murdoch, born 11 March 1931 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain Marxism OK, Karl Marxs philosophy was not much of a gift to the world, but for a while it seemed like a good idea. Though we might not dare admit it, Marxism still has a few insights to offer to anyone wanting to understand the workings of capitalism, though too few to excuse everything that was done in its name. Born in Germany spent much time in the British museum and the British pub, buried Highgate Cemetery. Oddly, his ideas never really caught on in his adopted homeland. Getty Images 10 things immigration has done for Britain The NHS They came from many, many backgrounds, including Ireland, the Philippines, east Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and Africa, as they still do, but the contribution of the black nurses who came to the UK from the Caribbean to heal and care for is a debt of honour that must be recognised. It so sometimes forgotten that it was Enoch Powell, then Minister of Health (1960-62), who campaigned to recruit their skilled nurses to come and work over here. One abiding legacy we can thank Enoch for. Getty Images

Their reaction:

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said Ms May was peddling nonsense myths and vilifying migrants.

We are astonished by the irresponsible rhetoric and pandering to anti-immigration sentiment from the Home Secretary. It is yet another example of the Home Secretary turning away the worlds best and brightest, putting internal party politics ahead of the country, and helping our competitor economies instead of our own, Simon Walker, the groups director general said.

The myth of the job-stealing-immigrant is nonsense. Immigrants do not steal jobs, they help fill vital skill shortages and, in doing so, create demand and more jobs. If they did steal jobs, we wouldnt have the record levels of employment we currently do.

It is about time the Home Office stopped undermining business and our own governments efforts to secure productivity growth. Political leaders should stop vilifying migrants and acknowledge the hugely important contribution they make to this countrys economy.

Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren said Ms May's speech was thoroughly chilling.

The Home Secretary's clear intention to close Britain's border to refugees fleeing for their lives is thoroughly chilling, as is her bitter attack on the fundamental principle enshrined in international law that people fleeing persecution should be able to claim asylum in Britain.

Allan Hogarth, of Amnesty International, said Ms Mays was seeking to make it harder for desperate people to claim the protection they need.

"Theresa May's claim that mass immigration has undermined public support for refugees flies in the face of reality.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK have signed petitions, tens of thousands took to the streets and many more have written to their MPs to say that people fleeing war and persecution should be welcome in the UK.

Meanwhile, the Home Secretary sets out to make it harder and harder for desperate people to claim the protection they need and the UK has a duty to offer."

Siarah Grant from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said Ms May was scaremongering.

This is quite shocking because it sounded like a speech from a shadow home secretary. Lets not forget that Theresa May has been prevailing over immigration for the last five years, so this is under her watch.

More importantly, its the language she used. Shes talking about social cohesion  immigration destroying social cohesion. This is scaremongering. Her figures, her statistics have been selective. Immigration contributes.

This is an attack against campaigners, against human rights lawyers.

Alp Mehmet from Migration Watch UK said the speech was absolutely necessary.

Shes been saying much this for many, many years. I think what she was referring to mass immigration and she was speaking for 75 per cent or more of the people of this country. She was talking about the consequences of immigration on this scale.

People in this country want less migration. Thats all it is  lower immigration. It was a frank and clear, and absolutely necessary speech. Its not an attack on anyone its simply stating the facts, and its not before time. People in this country will welcome it.

Newspaper reaction:

A new low in the politics of refugees and migration  the Guardian

Dangerous and factually wrong  the Daily Telegraph
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

Two prominent Islamic politicians have been suspended from Moroccos Unity and Reform Movement (MUR) after they were allegedly caught having sex in a car on a beach.

Moulay Omar Benhammad, 63, and Fatima Nejjar, 62, had previously preached the importance of chastity and were both serving as vice presidents of the party.

Police said the pair were found in a sexual position in a car, the New York Post reports.

The incident is said to have occurred on Saturday at a beach in the port city of Mohammedia, about 16 miles north of Casablanca and 40 miles south of the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

Mr Benhammad, who is married and has seven children, was charged with attempted corruption. Ms Nejjar, a widowed mother of six, was charged with complicity to adultery.

The pair were released from custody and are due to appear in court on 1 September.

Religious movement MUR is part of another, more prominent party in the country, the Justice Development Party (PJD).

MUR released a statement on Monday saying the pair had been suspended from all structures of the movement, while party officials from PJD said the incident was an extremely serious fault that amounted to a violation of the principles of the movement, its orientation and its values, Middle East Eye reports.

Mr Benhammad reportedly said he lives with Ms Najjar in a common-law marriage and added that his wife does not want him prosecuted for adultery.

Extramarital sex in Morocco in punishable by up to a year in jail.

Following the incident, videos of Ms Nejjar telling female students not to give in to temptation and vice have been widely shared on social media.

Meanwhile, others said the incident was a conspiracy taking aim at the MUR and PJD ahead of legislative elections forecast for October.
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 }}

Al Shabaab militants attacked a beach restaurant in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, with gunmen raiding the building after setting off a car bomb, police and the insurgent group said.

Sporadic shooting could be heard as night fell, Reuters witnesses said. It was not clear how many casualties there might be.

A car bomb exploded at Banadir beach restaurant at Lido beach and there is exchange of gunfire. We have no other details so far, police officer Major Ahmed Ibrahim told Reuters.

Recommended Read more 10 dead after deadly terror attack in Mogadishu

Al-Qaeda-linked al Shabaab's military operation spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab said the group was responsible for the attack. We attacked the Banadir beach restaurant and now our fighters are fighting inside it, he told Reuters.

Al Shabaab has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Somalia to try to topple the Western-backed government. In January, its militants stormed another restaurant on Lido beach, killing 17 people. On Sunday, more than 20 people were killed when its suicide bombers detonated two car bombs at a local government headquarters in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region.

On Thursday, Reuters witnesses near the scene of the beach attack said the restaurant had been sealed off by security officers and that the attackers had lobbed grenades at the officers and fired at them. They said they had also seen two bodies lying on the ground.

Internal Security Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed said on his Twitter account: Warning: People near the blast scene should stay in the hotels and in their houses in which they are inside. Cars should not enter Lido beach area.

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

Al Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but has remained a potent threat in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government.

In a separate incident in southern Somalia, a roadside bomb believed to have been planted by al Shabaab militants wounded at three people in Baardheere town in Gedo region, Colonel Hussein Nur, a police officer in the town, told Reuters by phone.

Reuters
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 tropical wave in the Atlantic could turn into the first Hurricane to strike Florida in more than 10 years, before crossing the Gulf of Mexico to deluge Louisiana, which is still in the early stages of recovery from catastrophic recent floods.

The storm, which was situated in the Caribbean southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday morning, remains ill-defined and disorganised with no obvious centre, forecasters said. But the National Hurricane Centre said the system, currently known as Invest 99-L, had a 60 per cent chance of developing into a named storm in the next two days, and an 80 per cent chance over the next five days.

That would make it Hurricane Hermine, the eighth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June to November. The last storm of such force to hit Florida was Hurricane Wilma in October 2005, the states longest storm drought on record.

In the eleven years since Wilma, the states population has ballooned to more than 20 million, leaving many people and new infrastructure exposed to the dangers of a major storm. On Thursday, water managers in South Florida began preparing pumps and canals for flood control, the Miami Herald reported.

The storm, which would likely reach South Florida late on Sunday, would also bring with it a threat of more mosquitoes, days after state officials announced five new Zika cases in Miami, bring the total number of cases of the virus in Florida to 42.

If the storm hits Florida, it could continue west and make a second landfall on the Gulf Coast next week: troubling news for Louisiana, which suffered devastating floods beginning on 11 August, leaving 13 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. With the ground already saturated, the region could quickly experience flooding again, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in New Orleans told USA Today.

On the other hand, the system could dissipate and reach Florida only as a minor storm, or even veer away from the US coastline altogether. Forecasters have warned, however, that parts of the Caribbean  including Hispianola, Haiti, the Turks and Caicos and central Bahamas  should prepare for heavy rain and winds that could cause floods and landslides over the next 48 hours.
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 jury has convicted an Atlanta truck driver accused of pouring boiling water over two gay men as the couple slept in February.

The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes on Wednesday before finding Martin Blackwell guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault, according to the Associated Press.

Blackwell was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The 48-year-old wasnt charged with a hate crime because Georgia is one of five states that do not have hate crime statutes. An FBI spokesman told Reuters that federal investigators are considering whether to charge Blackwell with a federal hate crime.

Anthony Gooden had told his family he was gay shortly before the attack, which happened as Mr Gooden slept on a mattress in his mothers living room next to Marquez Tolbert, according to the Associated Press. The men had been dating for about six weeks.

Mr Tolbert suffered severe burns to his face, neck, arms and back that required extensive skin graft surgery (Jaya Tolbert/GoFundMe)

Blackwell, a long-haul trucker who stayed at the house when he was in town, came in and saw the two unconscious men lying next to each other.

He went to the kitchen, pulled out a pot, filled it with water and set it to boil. Moments later, he poured the scalding water over the men, The Washington Post reported.

I woke up to the most unimaginable pain in my entire life, Mr Tolbert said, sobbing frequently during his testimony, according to the Associated Press.

Im wondering why Im in so much pain. Im wondering why Im wet. I dont understand whats going on.

Martin Blackwell poured boiling water on the young gay couple, leaving them in need of medical attention for the next two years at least (YouTube/WSB-TV)

Then Blackwell allegedly yanked him off the mattress and yelled, Get out of my house with all that gay, Mr Tolbert recalled to WSBTV.

They were stuck together like two hot dogs  so I poured a little hot water on them and helped them out, he said to police, according to the incident report.

Theyll be alright. It was just a little hot water.

Blackwell claimed the two men were having sex when he poured water on them. Vickie Gray, a friend of Mr Tolberts, told the news station that was not true: they were asleep after a long day of work, not that the alleged attack would have been justified in any case, she noted.

The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe Show all 15 1 /15 The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 15. Italy Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 14. Macedonia The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 13. Poland Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 12. Liechtenstein The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 11. Lithuania The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 10. Latvia This content is subject to copyright. The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 9. San Marino The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 8. Moldova The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 7. Belarus Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 6. Ukraine Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 5. Monaco The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 4. Turkey Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 3. Armenia The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 2. Russia Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 1. Azerbaijan Getty/AFP

Mr Tolbert must now wear compression garments 23 hours a day for the next two years, Ms Gray wrote in an email to The Post, and is attending weekly counseling and physical therapy sessions to deal with his emotional and physical scars. It is difficult for him to go outside because sunlight exacerbates the pain of his burns.

Mr Gooden, who was burned even more severely, was in a medically induced coma for several weeks, Ms Gray said. According to the couple's GoFundMe page, more than 60 per cent of his body was burned, and he had to undergo skin graft surgery to repair damage to his face, neck, back, arms, chest and head.

Copyright: Washington Post
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The Pentagon has condemned the manoeuvres of four Iranian boats in close proximity to a US Navy warship in the Persian Gulf this week as harrassment that was unsafe and unprofessional.

A spokesman for the Navys 5th Fleet said the four vessels from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been provocative by coming too close to the USS Nitze, a Navy destroyer, in international waters around the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

The boats allegedly continued to close in on the Nitze even as US sailors tried to warn them away by firing off flares and sounding the ships horns. Video of the event was acquired by the Associated Press.

Ignoring those warnings, the Iranian boats had come to within 300 yards of the destroyer, US officials asserted, before slowing down and then changing course.

Meanwhile the Pentagon on Thursday described a separate, arguably more serious encounter involving another ship, the USS Tempest. Officials said an Iranian boat was speeding towards it head-on and came within 200 yards only to turn around when a second US vessel nearby fired three warning shots.

The incidents further highlight the dangers of confrontation between the US and Iran in the Straits of Hormuz. On Thursday the the semi-official Tasnim news agency of Iran quoted General Hosein Dehghan voicing defiance in the face of the Pentagons complaints.

If any foreign vessel enters our waters, we warn them, and if it's an invasion, we confront, Gen. Dehghan reportedly said, insisting also that Irans boats are entitled to patrol the waters of the Gulf to monitor traffic and foreign vessels in its territorial waters.

Tensions almost spilled over in January when Iran detained a group of 10 US Navy sailors who had seemingly erred into Iranian waters accidentally on launches. They were later released, but the brief capture of the Americans was seized upon by Republicans in the US presidential contest as evidence of weakness on the foreign stage on the part of Barack Obama.

The 5th fleet spokesman, William Urban, described what happened on Tuesday as a high speed intercept by the Iranian boats.

The Iranian high rate of closure on a United States ship operating in accordance with international law while transiting in international waters along with the disregard of multiple warning attempts created a dangerous, harassing situation that could have led to further escalation including additional defensive measures by Nitze, he said in a statement
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 }}

Survivors of the mass shooting in a Florida nightclub in June will not have to pay medical expenses, according to hospital officials.

Hospitals will instead write off about $5.5 million worth of costs.

The Orlando Regional Medical Centre treated 44 of the 53 victims who needed immediate medical attention as its trauma centre is only a few blocks away from the Pulse nightclub, where a lone gunman burst in and killed 49 people on 12 June.

One victim is still in hospital, more than two months after the attack.

Orlando Health president and chief executive, David Strong, told the Orlando Sentinel that the shooting was a horrendous tragedy for victims, their families and the community.

During this very trying time, many organisations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward.

Hospitals will instead consider state and federal money, as well as victim funds such as the One Orlando fund and means-tested programmes like Medicaid, to meet their bills.

Nine patients who were taken to hospital after the shooting died and their families will not be made to pay medical costs either.

In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Show all 44 1 /44 In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Frank Escalante AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Daniel Conde AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Brenda Lee Marquez McCool In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Joel Rayon Paniagua AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jerald Arthur Wright AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Paul Terrell Henry AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Shane Evan Tomlinson AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Antonio Davon Brown AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jason Benjamin Josaphat AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Enrique L. Rios, Jr. AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Darryl Roman Burt AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Cory James Connell REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Tevin Eugene Crosby AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jonathan Antonio Camuy-Vega AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Leroy Valentin Fernandez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Christopher Andrew Leinonen AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Angel L. Candelario-Padro AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Simon Adrian Carrillo-Fernande AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Javier Jorge-Reyes AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Gilberto Ramon Silva-Menendez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Juan P. Rivera-Velazquez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Miguel Angel Honorato AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jean Carlos Mendez Perez REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Mercedez Marisol Flores REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Anthony Luis Laureano Disla REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Franky Jimmy De Jesus Velazquez REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Oscar A. Aracena-Montero REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Martin Benitez Torres REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Stanley Almodovar Facebook/Stanley Manolo Almodovar III In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Eddie Justice Faebook/ Eddie Justice In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Vielma Twitter/@jk_rowling In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/ Eric Rivera In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Juan Ramon Guerrero Facebook/ Juan Ramon Guerrero In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz Facebook/ Peter Gonzalez Cruz In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Amanda Alvear Facebook/ Amanda Alvear In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Anthony Disla Facebook/ Anthony Disla In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Edward Sotomayor Twitter/@ryanraiche In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo Facebook/Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Kimberley Morris Twitter/ @katiezavadski

Florida Hospital, which looked after a dozen of the survivors, said they would not even contact the insurers, and would foot the whole bill.

It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting, president Daryl Tol said in a statement.

We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando.

One clubgoer, Mario Lopez, 34, told the Sentinel that the news was a "huge relief" as he was uninsured and could not afford to pay for medical treatment. He was shot and split his elbow on glass. After seven hours in hospital, he was charged $20,000.

Hospitals also said they would endeavour to work with the survivors for any future surgeries or medical care that they may need, even if they could not guarantee care would always be free.

In the days following the attack in June, people queued around the block by hospitals to donate blood for the victims.

 Orlando shooting was an act of 'revenge'

The Florida governor, Rick Scott, promised to devote every resource available to assist with the shooting.

The White House also waived federal medical privacy laws that so regional hospitals could communicate with survivors and victims families in the aftermath of the attack.
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 primary school teacher has defended her new "no homework" policy, saying it was in the best interest of her eight-year-old pupils.

In an interview with People, Brandy Young, a teacher at Godley Elementary School in Texas, said she had received full support from the schools administrators, parents - and espeically the young students.

"They're excited, but they do understand that not having a homework packet doesn't mean learning ends when they leave [the] classroom," she said.

"I'm encouraging them to develop new skills and spend time with their families and find something that engages them."

The 29-year-old teacher wrote a letter to parents to announce there would be no formal homework for the coming school year, which started on 22 August, except the work that students had not completed during class.

Instead, Ms Young encouraged families to eat dinner and read together, let their children play outside and get them to bed early.

The letter was posted online by parent Samantha Gallagher and it quickly went viral, with more than 72,000 shares on Facebook.

Ms Young said it would have been "tremendous" to have experienced the same policy when she was at school.

She said the amount of homework for children today appeared to have increased.

"Any homework that's given just needs to be meaningful.

"The kids are so busy and they work hard days, and when they go home, they don't need busy work, let's just make sure we're not giving busy work," she said.
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 }}

Students, faculty, and staff members opposed to the controversial new law that allows guns on Texas college campuses joined in a rather unusual protest at the states flagship university, as they brandished sex toys instead of firearms on the first day of classes.

Recommended Read more Fifty years after mass shooting University of Texas welcomes guns

The Wednesday C**ks not Glocks protest called for participants to strap the phallic sex toys on to their bags on the University of Texas at Austin campus in protest of campus carry gun law.

Signed into law by Gov Greg Abbott last year, campus carry went into effect on 1 August this year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary first high profile mass shooting in US history on that very campus that killed 14 people.

The law allows licenced gun owners, aged 21 and older, to carry a concealed firearm in most of the states public universities.

On Monday, a federal judge threw out a request filed by three UT professors to put an injunction on the law. They argued that campus carry infringed on freedom of speech in the classroom as the presence of a gun could stymie discussion of heated topics.

Its scary to think that at any moment you could be next to a person carrying a gun, second-year student Bianca Montgomery told Reuters. And if they go off their rocker, like a lot of people do in college, it is game for anybody nearby.

UT alumnus Jessica Jin announced the protest in October and told Reuters her aim was to fight absurdity with absurdity. Ms Jins group passed out hundreds of the rubber phalluses at the Wednesday event.

Texas has decided it is not at all obnoxious or illegal to allow deadly concealed weapons on campus, she said. But walking around with a dildo could land you in trouble.

Lets put a dildo in the hands of every pissed off college student who hasnt been heard in this safety conversation, she added. Strap it on, feel the discomfort, feel the weird looks. Were it loud, wear it proud, and dont take them off until people take their guns home."
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The same man who claimed that God sent natural disasters to punish gay people has been accused of smuggling approval for "gay conversion therapy" on to the Republican national agenda.

Tony Perkins, president of the conservative campaign group the Family Research Council, has never made his loathing of homosexuality a secret and once claimed that paedophilia was a "homosexual problem".

Now LGBT campaigners accuse him of smuggling his agenda on to the Republican manifesto by committing candidates to a programme that allows parents to choose whatever treatment they wish for their children despite conversion therapy - viewed by conservatives as a "cure" for homosexuality - being banned in five states.

Mr Perkins, along with other conservatives, made his move during the Republican National Convention in Ohio last month, where he read out a proposal to allow parents to send their young children to conversion therapy.

As reported by the Daily Beast, the proposal ran into objections from Anne Dickerson, a Republican platform committee member from New York.

She described the anti-gay agenda at the RNC was "provocative" and "outrageous".

"Stop repelling gays, for Gods sake. I mean honestly, paragraph after paragraph, so I must object to this and I hope I am supported," she said.

After the RNC members reportedly huddled together to discuss the issue, the proposal was watered down and passed under the new wording.

As it stands, the provision reads: "We support the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children."

Shannon Price Minter, legal director of the National Centre for Lesbian Rights, said the new wording of the "watered down provision fooled no-one.

"Weve ended up with a provision that doesnt explicitly mention conversion therapy but everyone knows thats the intent, and the folks behind it were really promoting conversion therapy," he told The Independent.

"Its the most anti-LGBT Republican agenda weve ever had," he added.

Gay conversion therapy is illegal for minors in the states of LIST but the practice is legal in the rest of the country.

There is no written record of the RNC event, according to the Daily Beast.

Mr Perkins insisted to the publication that he did not discuss or want to include any mention of conversion therapy, and said any reports to portray otherwise were "misleading".

His church recently received a $100,000 donation from Donald Trump after the Louisiana flooding.

On the Family Research Councils website, homosexuality is described as "unnatural" and "dangerous to society". 
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 }}

Donald Trump has made what appear to be attempts to reach out to black voters following dismal polling showed an historical low for a GOP candidate.

But the New York businessmans efforts have been criticised for what many call a half-hearted attempt to woo voters of colour, and in fact are only intended to soften his image to more moderate Republicans uneasy with voting for a racist.

What has he said?

Mr Trump appeared before predominantly white audiences in North Carolina and Michigan last week asking black voters, What the hell do you have to lose?

Youre living in poverty, you have no jobs, your schools are no good, he said. If you keep voting for the same people, you will keep getting exactly the same result.

During a speech in Austin, where he positioned himself as the law and order candidate, Mr Trump added: 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 happening now. Thats whats happening now.

What is the response?

President of the National Urban League told the New York Times that Mr Trump painted an incorrect picture of black communities in the US.

Its an inaccurate portrayal of the community that seeks to define the community by only its biggest challenges, he said. Black America has deep problems  deep economic problems  but black America also has a large community of striving, successful, hard-working people: college-educated, in the work force.

Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, criticised Mr Trumps apparent outreach to black voters while only speaking to mostly-white audiences. He claims to have passed along invitations to speak at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to no avail.

 Donald Trump defends Milwaukee police shooting

The fact of the matter is its something that youve got to be a little bit smarter about, he told the Wall Street Journal. You dont go to a white community to talk about black folks. Hello, it doesnt make sense.

Former publisher of the black-owned newspaper The Atlanta Daily World, Alexis Scott, told the Times that it appeared that Mr Trump was using the appeal to black voters as further outreach to moderately conservative white people.

I hear him not talking to black people, but talking to white people about black people so they will think he cares about black people, she said. The real thing that hes trying to do is try to protect some of the white vote by suggesting to them that he cares.

Many critics argue that Mr Trumps own history undermines his claim to be the the person to address racial inequality in black communities.

In the 1970s, Mr Trump faced a lawsuit from the Department of Justice over accusations that he violated the Fair Housing Act. The Trumps were accused of discriminating against black people who applied to their properties, even going so far as marking them with the letter C to denote coloured.

In 1989, before he named himself the law and order candidate, Mr Trump took out a full-page advert in the New York Daily News arguing for the execution of the Central Park Five  five boys wrongfully accused of raping a jogger in the Manhattan park.

Even after the actual perpetrator of the crime confessed, Mr Trump called a $14m settlement issued by the city to the exonerated group the heist of the century.

Why now?

While Trump has trailed Hillary Clinton significantly amongst black voters since he entered the general election, his polling hit rock bottom with only one per cent of the black vote according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll early in August.

Although Democrats have a loyal voter base among black voters, Mr Trumps polling has proven far less than previous Republican nominees since Barry Goldwater  the 1964 nominee who strongly opposed the Civil Rights act.

But recent polling also shows that Mr Trump only has the edge among non-college-educated white men, as college-educated and moderate Republicans are trepidatious about voting for the candidate give the controversy he generates.

Nevertheless, Mr Trump remains ever the optimist in his public addresses. If things go his way, he will most certainly win the black vote in 2020.

At the end of four years, he said last weekend, I will gain over 95 per cent of the African American vote, I promise you.
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 }}

President Barack Obama and his family visited Yosemite earlier this summer to mark the National Park Services centennial. Now, the rest of us can experience his second feature in a virtual reality film.

The Facebook-owned Oculus and Felix and Paul Studios released the 11-minute, 360-degree film on Thursday titled Through the Ages: President Obama Celebrates Americas National Parks.

The footage includes six days worth of the presidential visit, all with a narration from Mr Obama himself, who takes the time to take photos with children and warn of the looming threat of climate change.

We know that protecting and preserving places like Yosemite, and all of our National Parks, is more important today than ever, he says in the film. As we look ahead, in the coming years and decades, the changing and rising temperatures mean that birds and mammals who made their home at Yosemite for thousands of years are moving to escape the heat, he says in the film.

Recommended Read more How the National Park Service has made history in 100 years



In a Facebook post coinciding with the film's debut, Mr Obama said that the park is one of the most stunning places he has ever been to. He also encouraged people to visit their nearest National Park this weekend, as admission is free through Sunday.

Felix Lajeunesse, co-founder of Felix and Paul Studios, said in a statement that filmmakers were inspired by the idea that national parks were originally established for all people at all times.

Watch Through the Ages: President Obama Celebrates Americas National Parks in its entirety above.
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 }}

An Australian politician has condemned opportunistic calls for a ban on Muslim immigration following the murder of a British woman at a hostel.

Queenslands policing minister Bill Byrne called for calm after Smail Ayad allegedly stabbed Mia Ayliffe-Chung to death at the Shelleys Backpacker hostel in the small town of Home Hill on Tuesday evening.

Local police confirmed he screamed Allahu Akbar - or God is greatest - when he was arrested.

He has been charged with one count of murder, two of attempted murder and 12 counts of serious assault following the incident.

A British man, Tom Jackson, is in a critical condition in hospital with wounds to the head, chest and stomach after trying to save Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

Another British backpacker, Chris Porter, is being treated for wounds to the ankles and an Australian worker at the hostel, Grant Schulz, has been discharged after being stabbed in the leg.

Queensland police have ruled out extremism as a motive for the murder.

Despite this, far-right senator Pauline Hanson used the murder to reissue her call for a temporary ban on all Muslim immigration to Australia.

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

She said: Im not going to be silenced on yet another attack involving Islamic extremism  especially one occurring in the state I am representing in the Senate.

But Mr Byrne said the accusations of extremism from predictable sources was unhelpful.

He told the Australian Associated Press: Therell be those that seek to exploit this incident. What is required here is cool, calm and thoughtful consideration.

Its really opportunistic, in some ways, to make commentary on this set of circumstances.

Queensland MP George Christensen was defiant, saying the political correctness brigade was trying to silence him.

He wrote on Facebook: Sure, the killer's motivations may have been irreligious (some suggest unrequited love) but I have to say I've never heard of a Christian trying to sanctify a murder they've committed by yelling out 'Gloria in excelsis Deo!' or a Buddhist doing the same thing and yelling out 'Buddhabhivadana!'.

What I do know is that one Islamist prone to violent extremism let into our country is one too many.

Whatever we can do to tighten up our screening processes to weed out such violent extremists the better.

Forensic officers at the hostel in Queensland (Rex Features)

Ayad has been held in custody and will appear at the Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday.

He reportedly had become obsessed with the 21-year-old waitress after she arrived at the hostel last week to work as a fruit picker.

Witnesses said he had told other backpackers he planned to marry her in the days before the attack.

On Tuesday night he reportedly became enraged when he discovered she did not reciprocate his feelings.

Additional reporting by AP
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 Frenchman who stabbed a 21-year-old British woman at an Australian hostel was reportedly infatuated with her.

Smail Ayad, 29, was charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault after he stabbed Mia Ayliffe-Chung while screaming Allahu Akbar at the Shelleys Backpackers hostel in Home Hill, Queensland, on Tuesday evening.

He also attacked British tourist Tom Jackson after he selflessly rushed to her aid.

The 30-year-old from Congleton in Cheshire is currently in a critical condition in hospital after suffering wounds to the head, chest and stomach.

He remained very ill on Wednesday evening and his father is due to fly out to be with him in hospital.

A 46-year-old hostel worker, Grant Scholz, was also stabbed in the leg as he tried to help but has since been released from hospital. A third British backpacker, 21-year-old Chris Porter, is being treated for wounds to his ankles.

A dog living at the hostel was also killed in the attack.

Hostel owner John Nugget Norris told Australian news channel 9News that Ayad had become infatuated with Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

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

He had reportedly followed her around since she arrived at the hostel eight days earlier to work as a fruit picker, a visa requirement she was seeking to fulfill.

Mr Norris said that Mr Ayad, a former kickboxer, showed no sign of Islamic extremism.

Queensland police confirmed they were not treating the attack as a terrorist incident.

Local newspaper, the Townsville Bulletin, said Ayad had told the other backpackers that he and Ms Ayliffe-Chung were deeply in love and had become enraged when he realised his feelings were unreciprocated.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder of Queensland Police said they were exploring the possibility that Ayad had an unrequited romantic interest or obsession with Ms Ayliffe-Chung.

He also said there was an indication that Ayad had taken cannabis on Tuesday evening before the attack.

Police said he would appear at Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday.

Ayad will appear by videolink in court as there were a "number of concerns in relation to both officer and public safety", Mr Rohweder said at a press conference.

Forensic officers at the hostel in Queensland (Rex Features)

The 12 serious assaults he has been charged with are in relation to 12 separate police officers, he said.

Police said he has had access to legal representation and the French consulate and had declined to be interviewed.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung's post-mortem examination found her cause of death to be multiple stab wounds.

British High Commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings visited Home Hill to provide support to Britons involved in the attack.

She tweeted a picture of herself laying flowers and said: "Visited Ayr and Home Hill with consular staff to meet local police and UK nationals. Deep sympathy to all affected."

Additional reporting by AP
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 }}

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 October 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.

US President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Santos on Wednesday to congratulate him on the deal, the White House said.

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 US-backed offensive that killed many guerrilla leaders and halved their ranks.

FARC's weapons will be handed over to the United Nation (Reuters)

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.

But the FARC have much less popular support and will need to effectively organize in sparsely populated rural areas where they are likely to garner the most votes and among leftists in cities in order to win seats in Congress.

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 }}

An Austrian man has triumphed in a decade-long legal battle at Germanys highest constitutional court, winning a case in which he claimed he was overcharged entry to a spa swimming pool by 2.50 (2.14).

The incident occurred at a spa in Berchtesgaden in the German Bavarian Alps, The Local reports.

The spa had reportedly introduced a special offer that gave a third off the entry price for visitors coming from five particular German municipalities.

But the man, who had travelled from Salzburg in Austria, not from one of the municipalities covered in the special offer, was told he would have to pay the full charge  2.50 more.

Disgruntled at not being treated equally, the man took the case to court, initially having his claim rejected.

But over ten years, the Austrian took his case all the way up to Germanys Federal Constitutional Court  the highest in the country  arguing that he should not have had to pay the extra 2.50 to access the spa pool.

Recommended Read more Germany considers reintroducing conscription for civil defence

After a decade arguing his case, the Federal Constitutional Court has ruled in the mans favour.

The court said that the rejection of his claim by lower courts could not be understood from any perspective, according to The Local.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the court said although a business can favour locals, they need a good reason to do so.

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

As the pool was apparently attempting to attract visitors from far away, they did not have the right to exclude the Austrian man from the 2.50 discount deal.
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 deputy mayor of Nice has justified the ban on the burkini by insisting it makes people feel "unsafe".

Rudy Salles said a series of recent terror attacks had led people to be wary of those wearing the full body swimsuit.

"You are in the swimming pool or you are in the beach [sic], now the situation as it is with the terrorism attacks, with the war in the Middle East, with the war against [the ultra-conservative Islamic movement] Salafism, people dont support it anymore," he told the BBC World at One.

"And so when you see a burkini on the beach, people feel unsafe."

When pressed as to why he associated the burkini with terrorism - when there was no evidence to support a direct connection between the two - Mr Salles replied that the burkini was not associated with terrorism, but instead "with extremism of Islam".

The highest administrative court in France is set to rule on whether the ban imposed by 26 French towns, including Nice, is legal. Human rights groups argue the ban contravenes French law.

But multiple French politicians have spoken in support of the ban, including former president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

"Wearing a burkini is a political act, it's militant, a provocation," he told Le Figero.

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

French Education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, said that although as a feminist she does not like the swimwear, banning the burkini was stirring up racist feeling in the country.

Speaking on Europe-1 radio, she said: "My dream of society is a society where women are free and proud of their bodies."

But she said banning burkinis would only increase cultural dvisions following a string of deadly terror attacks across Europe.

"We shouldn't add oil to the fire," Ms Vallaud-Belkacem said.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The "burkini ban" recently implemented in a number of French cities has become a topic of global controversy this week after images spread online of a women being forced by a group of male police officers to remove her clothing at a beach in Nice.

But really, the French debate over Islamic clothing has been going on for years.

Hijabs were banned from public schools in 2004, along with other "ostentatious" religious articles, including large Christian crosses and the Jewish kippa. In 2007, full-face Islamic veils were banned from public places in France. In recent months, a number of French cities have issued their own bans on the burkini, a type of swimwear that covers most of the body.

In some ways, the French situation is hard to understand for outsiders: The country considers religion a private matter and its concept of laicite means that the country is officially secular. Even so, the sentiment behind the bans doesn't seem to be limited completely to France: Germany recently announced that it was considering some kind of ban on the full-face veil in public.

To many outsiders, however, there are a number of confounding facts surrounding the burqa and burkini bans. Here are just a few.

1. The burqa was extremely rare in France before it was banned.

In 2009, as France moved to ban the full-face veil, then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the burqa a symbol of "debasement" that was "not welcome" in the country. What Sarkozy didn't reveal was how many women actually wore the burqa in France. In fact, the French Interior Ministry's estimates suggested that only a few, if any, French women wore the burqa.

Part of this is simple semantics: The burqa describes a type of veil worn mostly in Afghanistan and South Asia. It is a single piece of cloth that covers the entire body with usually only a thin mesh for the woman to see out of. What you are more likely to see in Europe are niqabs, a veil more popular in Gulf states that usually covers the bottom half of the face and leaves the area around the eyes open.

The Interior Ministry estimated that just 2,000 French women wore the niqab (for reference, France's Muslim population is now estimated at 7.5 million) and some think that even that estimate was faulty and potentially too high.

Germany now seems to be following in France's footsteps. Despite a proposed ban on full-face veils and one prominent politician calling himself a "burqaphobe," German journalists have found little evidence of anyone wearing the burqa in Germany and only a few hundred are thought to wear the niqab.

2. Those who receive fines tend to be repeat offenders.

It doesn't seem like the ban acts as a great deterrent. Women still wear the niqab in France. French data from 2015 showed that 1,546 fines had been imposed under the law  even though police have stopped short of fully implementing the law due to concerns about public order.

More confoundingly, of these women who were charged, many were repeat offenders. One woman was fined 33 times. Agnes De Feo, a researcher and documentary maker who has followed around 150 women who wear the veil for years, explained recently that often these women viewed the act of wearing the veil as one of "rebellion" against the French state.

And while French law imposes a far heavier fine on any man who forces a woman to wear a full-face veil, there are no signs that anyone has ever been prosecuted for this act.

3. A single businessman has paid off a large number of the fines.

French women can face fines of 150 euros ($167) for wearing the full-face veil in public. However, a businessman named Rachid Nekkaz claims to have paid at least 1,165 fines in France so far, as well as a further 268 in Belgium, two in the Netherlands and one in Switzerland. The total cost, Nekkaz says, is around 245,000 euros ($278,000) with attorneys fees.

"Thanks to the fund allocated to the defense of these women's freedom to dress as they please in the street, women are no longer afraid of wearing the niqab," he said.

4. Some say that the number of women who wear the full-face veil has actually increased in France since the bans were implemented.

Some experts say that the law has actually propelled more women to wear the veil rather than discouraged it. De Feo said that many of the women she talks to who wear the niqab in France today were inspired to wear the veil by the law; often they are young converts to Islam. Many of the women who wore the niqab before the ban spend most of their time at home now, De Feo said.

"There are indeed more women who wear it in 2016 than in 2011," Nekkaz said. "The Sarkozy law is a failure."

 Video shows French women being ordered out of sea for wearing burkini

5. The burkini was invented in Australia and was designed as a means to allow Muslim women to participate in Australian culture.

The burkini did not originate in Afghanistan. In fact, given that it is a two-piece garment that doesn't cover the face, it doesn't have a whole lot to do with the burqa in general.

The burkini's origin can be traced to Australia, where it was created by a woman named Aheda Zanetti in the early 2000s. Zanetti, who had moved to Sydney from Lebanon at the age of 2, had been inspired to make Muslim-friendly sportswear after seeing her niece play netball in a more traditional hijab. She eventually created what we now refer to as the burkini (she actually owns the copyright to both Burkini and Burqini, though they are used as generic terms).

"I wanted to make sure we blended in with the Australian lifestyle," Zanneti recently told WorldViews.

The burkini really got its break in 2007, in the aftermath of anti-Muslim riots on Sydney's beaches. Surf Life Saving Australia, a nonprofit group, began looking for Muslim lifeguards to work on the beaches, and so they contacted Zanetti about her outfit and she made one for them in yellow and red.

The subsequent media attention helped launch both the concept of a burkini and Zanetti's own business worldwide. Zanetti said the only thing she worries about is the name, which is frequently misunderstood. "It's just a name that I invented. It doesn't mean anything," she said of the burkini. "It's really an Islamic two-piece bikini, but that sounds stupid."

Police on the beach in Nice confront a woman in a burkini (Feiza Ben Mohamed)

6. Non-Muslim women wear burkinis, too.

The burkini isn't just for Muslims. "We've sold to Jews, Hindus, Christians, Mormons, women with various body issues. We've had men asking for them, too," Zanetti explained. In a separate interview with Women's Wear Daily, Zanetti estimated that around 40 percent of her client base was non-Muslim.

Some non-Muslim celebrities have been photographed wearing similar outfits to the beach: In 2011, British chef and television personality Nigella Lawson was spotted wearing one during a holiday to Australia. The outfit was created by a British brand called Modesty Active and Lawson later said that she wore it to protect her skin. Other companies, such as Aqua Modesta, also create similar garments for Orthodox Jewish women.

7. Extremist groups have tried to use France's burqa ban as a recruitment tool.

A number of French citizens have noted that the photographs shot in Nice this week might serve as a recruitment tool for the Islamic State. "Jihadist sympathizers themselves seem surprised that the municipal police of Nice make their propaganda for them," David Thomson, author of "The French Jihadist," said in one interview published Thursday. "For them, this is a godsend."

Last week, Italy's Interior Minister said the country would not be implementing a burkini ban on public beaches, warning that such responses could "become provocations that could potentially attract attacks."

Extremist groups have already used France's ban of full-face veils as justification for attacks. The very first issue of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's Inspire magazine included an article titled "The West Should Ban the Niqab Covering Its Real Face." De Feo says that at least one of the French women she knows who started wearing the veil after the 2011 ban eventually headed to Syria to join a jihadist group.

Copyright: Washington Post
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

Frances highest administrative court has convened to rule on whether a string of burkini bans being enforced on the countrys beaches are legal.

Three judges at the State Council are examining an appeal to overturn the prohibitions by the Human Rights League (LDH) and Collective Against Islamophobia in France (CCIF).

The ruling is expected within the next two days and will be closely watched in France and around the world, after photos of armed police surrounding a Muslim woman as she removed her top on a beach in Nice sparked outrage this week.

The woman is forced to remove her clothing by French police (Vantage News) (Vantage)

A tribunal in the coastal city previously ruled a burkini ban in the commune of Villeneuve-Loubet was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder.

But the State Council (Conseil d'Etat) will now examine that verdict, effectively scrapping the ban in Villeneuve-Loubet if it is overturned and providing a legal precedent in France.

At least 15 cities, resorts and communes have implemented bans on modest swimwear this summer and many more are believed to be considering the same move.

The rules are seeing Muslim women cautioned, arrested and fined, including some wearing regular headscarves and Islamic clothing, rather than swimwear.

None of the vaguely-worded by-laws have specifically mentioned burkinis  a slang term describing a range of modest swimsuits covering the hair and body  but several officials have made it clear that Muslim clothing is being specifically targeted.

 Video shows French women being ordered out of sea for wearing burkini

In Cannes, which was the first city to announce the prohibition, the mayor specifically alluded to the recent attacks by Isis supporters in Nice and Normandy.

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.

The bans have since spread, sparking fierce debate about Frances secular values, womens rights and religious freedom.

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 governing womens clothing is a violation of human rights in any context.

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 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.

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

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.

Anouar Kbibech, the head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, called an urgent meeting with the French interior minister on Wednesday, saying he was concerned over the direction the public debate is taking.

Manuel Valls, the French Prime Minister, said he was not in favour of nationwide legislation but appeared to support the law in principle.

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.

Islamic dress has long been a subject of debate in France, which controversially banned full-face veils in 2010, six years after outlawing the headscarf and other religious symbols in state schools.
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 French politician is threatening legal action against social media users for sharing photos of police enforcing a ban on the burkini.

Christian Estrosi, the President of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, a region where the full body swimwear is prohibited, said official complaints had been filed about the distribution of the pictures of the police officers. He added the officials were just "doing their job".

Photographs of one incident where at least four armed police officers confronted a woman on a beach, reportedly fined her and made her remove clothing attracted widespread criticism on social media.

Another video circulated showed a woman being forced from the water by a policeman, although she was wearing a hijab and not a burkini.

Many have said the burkini ban is an act of islamophobia, misogyny and an attack on freedom of expression.

In response to the backlash, the right-wing politician said in a statement: I am denouncing what seems like a manipulation that undermines the local police, and puts the officers at risk.

 Video shows French women being ordered out of sea for wearing burkini

"Already, complaints were filed to prosecute those who spread the photographs of our municipal police officers and those uttering threats against them on social networks, he said.

In the days since the controversial ban came into force, 24 women have been fined.

The former mayor of Nice has been a vocal supporter of the Burkini ban, which was implemented after an attack on the city on Bastille day that killed 84 people.

In a statement after the law was introduced in many French towns, Mr Estrosi said the wearing of the modest clothing "undermines" French values.

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

The French Council of the Muslim Faith has asked for urgent talks with the interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, because of growing fear of stigmatisation of Muslims in France.

The ban has ignited fierce political debate, with members of the ruling Socialist party and the Green part condemning the ban.

On Thursday a bid to overturn the ban will come before the highest administrative court in France.
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 group of desperately poor refugees living on 2.50 a day have donated money to help people affected by the apocalyptic earthquake which devastated three towns in central Italy.

The 75 asylum-seekers, who are living in a shelter in the south-western town of Gioiosa Ionica, in Calabria, gave up their small allowance in a symbolic gesture of solidarity.

They are beneficiaries of the Sprar project (Protection System for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) and rallied together to make the 200 donation.

Project coordinator Giovanni Maiolo said: They wanted to make a small and symbolic gesture of solidarity with the victims of the terrible earthquake.

They decided to give up their pocket money, a small amount that is guaranteed for personal expenses, and direct it to the earthquake victims.

We are trying to figure out how to help them make the payment."

Mr Maiolo said it came from those who felt welcomed in Italy who wanted to somehow reciprocate the solidarity.

The death toll from the catastrophic disaster has risen to 247.

The mayor of Arquata, Aleandro Petrucci, said: Its a disaster. I feel like crying. Ive never seen such an apocalyptic scene.

It reduced three towns to rubble after hitting central Italy at around 3.30am local time on Wednesday.

A strong aftershock with a magnitude of 4.7 jolted residents awake at 5.40am on Thursday.

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

There were cries of relief in Pescara del Tronto, one of three towns to be hit, after a young girl was pulled from the rubble almost 24 hours after the disaster.

"The town isn't here any more," said Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice in northern Lazio, believed to be one of the worst-hit areas, where residents are buried under the debris of collapsed buildings.

The earthquake hit a relatively sparsely populated area on the border between three regions  Umbria, Lazio and Marche, causing damage in all three.

The most badly affected towns were believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, a spokesman for the Italian fire department Luca Cari told Reuters.

Among the victims was an 18-month-old girl whose mother survived a deadly earthquake which struck L'Aquila in 2009, killing 300 people.

Her mother moved away from the area afterwards to try and avoid any other catastrophes.

The news agency ANSA reported that the toddler, Marisol Piermarini, was sleeping in her bed in the family's vacation home in Arquata del Tronto when the quake hit.

Her mother, Martina Turco, survived and is being treated in a hospital after being pulled from the rubble.
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 }}

At least three Britons have been killed by the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that hit central Italy, according to Italian officials.

The news follows a statement from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson saying extra staff had been sent to the region to support Britons affected by the terrible quake.

An official in Amatrice told the BBC at least three British citizens were among the people killed in the town, which was one of the worst affected areas following the quake on Wednesday morning.

The Foreign Office have not confirmed the deaths and would not give any information as to whether any British nationals had been injured, as the death toll from the disaster continues to rise to at least 250 people.

Two of the Britons killed are understood to own an apartment in Sommati, just over a mile away from Amatrice, according to Sky News.

The third is understood to be a teenage boy of another family staying with the owners.

Searches for survivors have continued into a second day, as rescuers hunt through the rubble of destroyed historic villages, some of which have been practically wiped out.

The UK Government will offer any assistance that we can to Italian authorities, Mr Johnson said on Thursday.

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

My deepest sympathies are with the Italian people and everyone affected by the terrible earthquake that struck central Italy.

"The British Government has offered any assistance that we can to help with the recovery effort and I have spoken with Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni to express my condolences personally.

"As the scale of the disaster has become clearer we now know that a number of British nationals have been affected.

"British Embassy staff are in the region providing consular support, and we have deployed additional staff to support this effort."

The vast majority of the damage from Wednesdays quake appears to have been in the town of Amatrice, which continued to crumble on Thursday as a 4.3 magnitude aftershock hit the already-devastated settlement.

The towns mayor, Sergio Pirozzi, said up to 200 of the dead were Amatrice residents or visitors who had come to the area in anticipation of the 50th annual festival celebrating spaghetti allAmatriciana, which was due to take place this weekend.

That tally suggests as many as one in 10 of the towns 2,000 people have died.

Time running out as Italy earthquake death toll climbs

Firefighters and rescue crews using sniffer dogs have been working in teams around the hardest-hit areas of the country.

"We will work relentlessly until the last person is found, and make sure no one is trapped," said Lorenzo Botti, a rescue team spokesman.

Additional 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 }}

The search for a fabled Nazi gold train rumoured to be buried beneath mountains in Poland has ended in failure  but not for local residents, who have seen a surge of interest and investment in their town.

According to local legend, a treasure-filled train was hidden in a network of secret Nazi tunnels in the Owl Mountains, close to the town of Walbrzych in south-west Poland, as German soldiers fled from the advancing Soviet Army in 1945.

Last year two treasure hunters, Piotr Koper and Andreas Richter, sparked a media frenzy after claiming they were close to finding the train when radar images appeared to show several carriages buried nine metres underground.

But their week-long search ended in failure on Wednesday with no trace of the train having been found.

The explorers were forced to admit they had discovered no train, no tunnel as what initially appeared on radar images to be a carriage turned out to be a natural rock formation created by underground ice.

However, local residents have dicovered their own gold train, with the hunt for the Nazi train bringing a multi-million pound boost to the town of Walbrzych.

Tourism there is up 44% from last year, as treasure hunters and members of the public have flocked to help with the search.

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

The publicity the town has gotten in the global media is worth roughly around $200 million, Arkadiusz Grudzien, spokesman for the mayor of Walbrzych and head of the City Promotion Office, told the New York Times.

Our annual budget for promotion is $380,000, so think about that. Whether the explorers find anything or not, that gold train has already arrived.

Arleta Adamska, who runs an inn near the excavation site, said they had been "booked up all summer".

And the towns mayor, Roman Szelemej, has suggested naming a nearby roundabout after Koper and Richter in thanks for their services to our town.

Walbrzych is home to 120,000 people and has struggled with high unemployment after five nearby coal mines were closed in the 1990s. Illegal mining operations have been one source of employment, but the town now looks set to benefit from its unexpected foray into treasure tourism.

The Owl Mountains, where the gold train is rumoured to have been hidden, belonged to Germany at the time but are now part of Poland.

The train has long been the subject of treasure hunters attention, despite no scientific evidence that it exists.

While their recent efforts have uncovered nothing but dirt, the explorers plan to continue their search in September.
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 }}

Norway is building a steel fence at its arctic border with Russia after an influx of thousands of refugees last year.

The new fence, which will be around 660 feet long and 11 feet high, will stretch from the Skorskog border point, sources in the Norwegian government told Reuters.

Construction of the fence is due to finish before winter frosts set in, making it harder to enter Norway through the forest.

Deputy Justice Minister Ove Vanebo defended the gate and fence, telling Reuters they were "responsible measures".

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

Although around 23,000 people, mostly from Syria, applied for refugee status in Norway last year, the number of asylum seekers arriving plummeted by 95 per cent in the first third of 2016.

I cant see a need for a fence, Rune Rafaelsen, the mayor of the Soer-Varanger region which includes the border, told Reuters. There are too many fences going up in Europe today, he added, citing examples of barbed wire in nations such as Hungary.

Linn Landro, of the Refugees Welcome group in Norway, said: "We've an obligation to be a country people can flee to.

"The fence sends a very negative signal, including to Russia because it says that 'we don't trust you'."

Last year, Russia and Norway battled to repeatedly reject the same refugees.

Norway said it would begin sending refugees who have Russian residency permits back to Russia, arguing it had received no "satisfactory" explanation from Russia as to why it sent so many refugees to Norway rather than Finland.

Refugees used bicycles to cross the Arctic border, because Russian border police do not allow on-foot crossings and it is illegal to cross the Norwegian border if the driver does not have the correct papers.
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 record 4,542 asylum seekers withdrew their applications and left Sweden in the first eight months of 2016 as a result of long processing times, strict new rules on family reunion, and payouts to migrants who voluntarily returned to their country of origin.

There were also less than half as many new claims made between January and August 2016, as in the same period of 2015.

Sweden used to be one of Europes most popular destinations for migrants, with the number of asylum applications doubling between 2014 and 2015 to more than 160,000.

Recommended Read more Merkel calls for EU immigration deals with North African states

A high success rate  55 per cent of claims were accepted in 2015  combined with generous welfare benefits for asylum seekers, and a comparatively welcoming population, made the country extremely popular with people fleeing war and persecution, and left the Scandinavian nation with the second highest number of refugees per capita in Europe.

But for many asylum seekers who arrived during the influx last year, Sweden has proved less of a utopia than they hoped. Many faced a long, cold winter in political limbo, camped out in makeshift accomodation while the state struggled to cope with the large number of new claims. Less than 500 of the 160,000 arrivals have managed to secure jobs.

Concerned about the strain placed on the economy of the country, which was expected to spend about one per cent of its GDP on asylum seekers in 2016, the Swedish Migration Agency, a government department responsible for processing claims, introduced tougher rules at the start of 2016, designed to deter and keep out asylum seekers.

 Separated during migrant chaos, family reunites in Sweden

New border controls were brought in, as were stricter rules surrounding family reunion. Housing was withdrawn for failed asylum seekers and plans announced to expand immigration detention.

The Swedish public also appear to be have become more hostile to migrants.

A survey released in February showed immigration was the main concern for 40 per cent of Swedes, above worries about failing schools, joblessness and welfare. The change was the biggest opinion swing in the poll's history.

Most Swedes are not racist, said Ylva Johansson, the Minister for Employment and Integration. But when there is this special asylum housing when they cannot work, and cannot be part of society this is really a tension. This is a dangerous situation; we have a lot of people in no-man's land ... living outside society.

As a consequence of the change in rules and attitude, the Migration Agency is now predicting just 60,000 new asylum claims overall in 2016, and has revised its estimate of how much money it will need to accomodate asylum seekers to 4.8 billion less than was originally estimated.

As well as detering new claimants, the situation has encouraged a greater number of asylum seekers to take the government up on a scheme which has been in place since the start of 2013: offering grants of up to 30,000 Kronor (3,500) to individuals and 75,000 Kronor (8,600) to families who return to their country of origin voluntarily. The money is only handed out after the individual or family has left Sweden.

We are getting signals that asylum seekers are tiring of long processing times and that things have not turned out as they expected in Sweden, Kristina Ranner, a Migration Agency expert told local media.

As long as people drowning in the Mediterannean then enough isnt being done <p>Dr Erna Rijnierse, Medecins Sans Frontieres</p>

The situation has changed so much the number of people from Iraq who cancelled their asylum applications in 2016 (1,366) is actually greater than the number of new claims from Iraqi asylum seekers (1,243).

A similar trend can be seen among Afghans. Statistics show only 18 per cent of Afghans are likely to have their asylum applications approved, so many are choosing to leave of their own accord. In all, 500 people from Afghanistan have withdrawn their applications so far in 2016.

The climate here in Sweden has toughened considerably. That leads to a new kind of decision, added Ms Ranner.

Sweden's statistics, however, have to be viewed in the context of less refugees entering Europe overall in 2016 than in 2015. The Balkan route has essentially been closed off by the EU-Turkey deal, which forces migrants to return to Turkey unless they want to claim asylum in Greece, which would stop them travelling onwards to countries in northern Europe.

2016 has been the deadliest year so far for refugees trying to reach Europe, aid workers have said, telling The Independent in July they are frustrated at moves within the EU to keep more refugees out and to block off entry routes without providing safe legal alternatives.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

I think as long as people drowning in the Mediterannean then enough isnt being done, said Dr Erna Rijnierse, a doctor from Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Everyone has an opinion on how to keep these people out of Europe but no one has an opinion on where they are coming from or why they are running away.

These people have good reasons for coming, they are risking their lives.

The Office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned physical and legal barriers to migration were no match for human trafficking

Maria Grazia Giammarinaro said criminalising refugees made people fleeing conflict, persecution and extreme poverty easy prey.

Some countries have adopted restrictive approaches, which exacerbated vulnerabilities of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to human trafficking, she said.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The Israeli military has exonerated itself over a series of deadly air strikes during the 2014 war in Gaza.

Investigators had been collecting testimony from military officers and Gaza residents relating to seven incidents during the conflict, three of them lethal.

Among the cases the Israeli military will not proceed with is one air strike that killed ten Palestinians in a UN school.

Israel's domestic investigations are significant to the Palestinian effort to prosecute Israel for war crimes in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.

More than 2,000 Palestinians and 72 Israelis were killed during the war in Gaza. Two years after the end of the conflict, the Israeli military was still processing 500 allegations against its forces.

Human rights groups have claimed the Israeli military investigations are biased and ineffective and have called for an impartial inquiry into the alleged war crimes.

The most deadly case which was closed without charges on Wednesday was an investigation into the killing of 15 members of the same family by an air strike in Rafah, southern Gaza.

The military said the building targeted by the strike that killed the family was a Hamas command centre, a claim refuted by relatives of those killed. It ruled the air strike was in line with international law, although it conceded civilian casualties were higher than anticipated, AP reported.

"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."

Sari Bashi, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, told The Independent: "We do not believe that either the Israeli or Palestinian authorities are conducting adequate domestic investigations into serious allegations of war crimes.

"The Israeli military investigative system has proven to be unwilling to examine decisions made at a senior level that appear to violate the laws of war, including targeting apparently civilian objects such as residential buildings and firing heavy artillery into densely populated civilian areas.

"Instead, the military has prosecuted foot soldiers for misconduct such as looting and vandalism.

"We believe the international criminal court should investigate these potential crimes, because the Israeli military is unwilling or unable to do so."

Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack Show all 4 1 /4 Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216723.bin GETTY IMAGES Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216724.bin AFP/GETTY IMAGES Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216725.bin AP Israeli soldiers reveal the brutal truth of Gaza attack 216726.bin AP

Ms Bashi said the Israeli military were stopping outsiders from entering Gaza, meaning vital international observation of events in the war-stricken area was lacking.

"We are troubled by the unwillingness of the Israeli military to allow access for human rights investigators  thwarting relevant information from coming to light," she said. "Israel does not allow human rights personnel to travel into and out of Gaza, even though it says it relies on these human rights groups for physical evidence and witness testimony it cannot access."

Israeli human rights organisation, B'Tselem said in June it had stopped referring human rights abuses to the Israeli defence forces, calling its investigation apparatus a whitewash mechanism.
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 }}

Israel was supplying the Argentine government with weapons at the height of the Falklands War, newly declassified Foreign Office files show.

The UKs National Archives department has released files which cite evidence that Israeli weapons including Skyhawk jets were sold to Argentina prior to the war, which were later used to bomb British forces, killing 48 soldiers and sailors.

The documents also show that Israel was still exporting arms in 1984, two years after the war was over, the Telegraph reports.

The files back up a book published in 2011 called Operation Israel, by Argentine journalist Hernan Dobry, which explained how Israel sent Argentina the weapons via secret cargo flights that went through Peru.

In addition, the Official History of the Falklands Campaign, by Lawrence Freedman says: British troops entering Port Stanley at the end of the war came across Israeli equipment.

By 1984, Israel no longer denied the arms sales were taking place, and argued that the deals were essential for sustaining the countrys arms industry.

Meanwhile, Britain was also selling arms to Israels opponents in the Middle East.

Recommended Read more Falklands War veteran Simon Weston given Freedom of the City of London

Israel was one of the few countries to supply Argentina with arms during the Falklands conflict and has continued to do so, wrote C.W. Long, who was the UK Foreign Office's head of the Near East and North Africa region, in one of the documents.

The files also show that Israel was willing to sell Argentina spy planes and then Foreign Secretary, Geoffrey Howe, asked Israel not to go ahead with the sale.

But Mr Long thought Mr Howes intervention would not be heeded. He wrote: I do not believe the Israelis are to be moved on this issue.

This is not satisfactory, but Israeli interests in Argentina will outweigh any readiness they might otherwise feel to be helpful to us.

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

Four British warships were sunk by bombs dropped from Skyhawk jets, while another four were damaged.
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 }}

An Israeli soldier has shot a Palestinian man who stabbed him in the West Bank in the latest attack in an almost year-long wave of violence.

Officials said the attacker died of his wounds at the scene, while the soldier was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged shortly afterwards on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the assailant had thrown rocks from his car at a passing military patrol vehicle, which then gave chase near the settlement of Ariel.

A photo of Sari Abu Gharab, who was shot dead after attacking an Israeli soldier on 24 August

When the soldier approached, the man stabbed him and he responded by pushing the attacker backwards and shooting him, she said.

Graphic photos shared on social media and seen by The Independent showed the mans body in the drivers seat, attached to medical equipment.

The cars bodywork and tyres could be seen riddled with bullet holes as it sat on Route 60, a dual carriageway with restrictions for both Israeli and Palestinian drivers in different sections.

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine named the driver as Sari Abu Gharab, from the northern West Bank village of Qabatiya, near Jenin.

It claimed the 26-year-old was one of its members and hailed him as a martyr, saying he had recently been imprisoned by Israeli forces for militant links.

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

Islamic Jihad has been internationally proscribed as a terrorist group following decades of suicide bombings and attacks against Israel.

Gharabs family home was reportedly stormed by the IDF on Thursday morning, with soldiers carrying out searches and interviews in the area in a pattern seen after previous attacks.

His relatives rejected the claims that he attacked a soldier, Haaretz reported, saying he would soon be marrying his fiancee and was planning to open a restaurant within days.

Qabatiya was blockaded for several days earlier this year after clashes following the murder of a teenage Israeli border police officer by three local men.

Wednesdays incident was the latest in scores of stabbings, shootings and car rammings attacks by Palestinians in a new wave of violence that started in September.

Israeli soldiers search a house in the West Bank village of Madama after an attack on 24 August 2016 (EPA)

At least 33 Israelis and two visiting Americans have been killed, while more than 200 Palestinians have been shot dead by security forces.

Israeli officials said the vast majority were carrying out or attempting attacks, but others have been killed during protests.

Several incidents have been contested and the United Nations has voiced concern over the excessive use of force, calling for independent investigations into each death and injury caused by the security services.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has blamed the attacks on Palestinian incitement but the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said anger was "bred from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation".

Peace talks between Israel and Palestinians collapsed in 2014 and recent tensions have been inflamed by the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are widely regarded as illegal under international law.

The Gaza Strip was also bombed by the Israeli Air Force last week following a rocket attack by Islamist militants.
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 }}

Conjoined twins born in a rebel-controlled suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus have died while waiting to leave the country for vital surgery abroad.

The one-month-old brothers, Moaz and Nawaz al-Hashash, died of heart failure on Wednesday at a private hospital in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) said.

The twins were born on 23 July in eastern Ghouta, an area that has seen vicious fighting, air strikes and chemical attacks.

The boys, who were joined at the chest with protruding intestines and diagnosed with heart failure and liver distortions, were safely evacuated on 12 August to Damascus Childrens Hospital in the capital, which is predominantly under the control of President Bashar al-Assads forces.

In cooperation with the Italian Association Terre des Hommes, the twins had been accepted for surgery at Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome, Italy.

Conjoined twins Moaz and Nawaz being evacuated from Ghouta to Damascus by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent on 12 August (SARC)

All formal approvals were signed in order to travel and get the necessary surgical operation, SARC said. However, the babies died from heart failure before departure.

Mona Kurdy, a spokeswoman for the Red Crescent, told The Wall Street Journal that approval for the twins to leave Syria was granted Monday, but by then their condition had already started to worsen.

The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), a foundation supporting medical facilities in Syrias besieged areas, questioned why the twins were kept at a private hospital in Damascus for almost two weeks despite the urgency of their case.

In a statement the SAMS said they had been working actively along with other humanitarian groups, to secure the evacuation of the twins abroad for the needed surgery; however, lack of cooperation from the Syrian government and SARC hindered the evacuation process.

Dr Mohamad Katoub, SARCs Turkey advocacy manager, told The Wall Street Journal he believed the babies transfer abroad had been stalled by Syrias Foreign Ministry who, he claimed, were looking for a medical solution that matched its political interests" and "trying to secure medical treatment for the twins in a country with friendlier relations with Syria.

He tweeted a portrait of the twins by Syrian artist Akram Abo Alfoz shortly after their deaths had been announced, saying: The whole world couldnt have the permission to evacuate them.

Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Show all 13 1 /13 Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office Syrian children hold Pokemon Go pictures in the hope people will find them and save them RFS Media Office

The SARC said in a statement that the babies were being registered in the formal civil records and had passports issued for them while they were in intensive care in Damascus, but had been too ill to travel.

The SAMS said: The long and difficult process behind medical evacuations in Syria has led to the deaths of too many innocent Syrians living under siege.

"Syrian children like Moaz and Nawras often bear the consequences of bureaucratic delays driven by political interests. Medical evacuations should never be politicized and the needs of the patients must be prioritized in these critical cases.
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 }}

Kurdish forces in Syria have started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River, after more than 20 Turkish tanks crossed the border to help Syrian rebels take a key Isis stronghold.

Turkish tanks crossed into Syria as part of a huge operation to retake the city of Jarablus from Isis on Wednesday, with assistance from US fighter jets.

The incursion represents a dramatic escalation of Turkey's role in the Syrian civil war.

However, Ankara's objective goes beyond fighting extremists, it is also aiming to contain the expansion of Kurdish groups in Syria, who are backed by the US-led coalition.

 Syrian rebels and Turkish tanks 'seize' ISIL-held town

US Vice President Joe Biden flew into Ankara hours after the offensive was launched and backed Turkey, issuing a stern warning to the Kurds to stay east of the Euphrates, which crosses from Turkey into Syria at Jarabulus.

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, Mr Biden said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a predominantly Kurdish alliance backed by the US-led coalition, had advanced to within a mile of Jarabulus after driving Isis from swathes of northern Syria in recent months.

But Turkey has been concerned by the group's success, which has seen Kurdish groups including the People's Protection Units (YPG) take control of land stretching almost the entire length of the Syrian border.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the fighters "terrorists" and linked them to the separatist PKK group, which is fighting an insurgency in south-east Turkey.

Whether it's Daesh or the YPG, they are all terrorist organisations, he said on Wednesday, using the Arabic acronym for Isis.

A terrorist organisation fighting another terrorist organisation doesn't make it innocent.

The situation in Jarabulus early on 25 August, with Turkish-backed territory and operations shown in blue, Isis in black, and the Syrian Democratic Forces in yellow (Liveuamap)

US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that Kurdish forces were in the process of retreating east of the Euphrates, according to Turkish officials.

It is unclear whether the Turkey-backed rebels who seized Jarabulus will move against Isis-held towns or nearby Kurdish-controlled areas, including the town of Manbij, which Kurdish forces liberated from Isis earlier this month.

Manbij lies west of the Eurphrates and Ankara has demanded the Kurds hand it over to Syrian rebels and withdraw.

Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isik said the operation has two main goals: to secure the Turkish border and to make sure the Kurdish forces in Syria are not there.

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

American warplanes have supported the Turkish offensive, codenamed Euphrates Shield, with air strikes, but other members of the international coalition have made no move to lend their support.

I think the Turks are prepared to stay in an effort to take out Isil as long as it takes, Mr Biden said, a day after meeting Turkeys president.

I think there has been a gradual mind shift ... in Turkey, with the realisation that Isil is an existential threat to Turkey.

Turkey's assault came four days after a suicide bombing blamed on Isis killed 54 people at a wedding in the south-eastern city of Gaziantep.

A senior Turkish official told reporters that operations would continue until we are convinced imminent threats to Turkey are neutralised.

He said the aim is to create a terror-free zone in northern Syria to prevent militants from entering Turkey.
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 }}

More than 20 Turkish tanks have crossed the border into Syria in the second day of a new operation to drive Isis out of strategic territory.

Rebels backed by Ankara re-took the city of Jarablus on Wednesday after entering with little resistance following a night of heavy bombardment.

The incursion has received a cautious welcome by allies in Europe, amid concerns that militias backed by Turkey will come into conflict with Kurdish groups supported by the US-led coalition.

 Syrian rebels and Turkish tanks 'seize' ISIL-held town

The first clashes were reported within hours of the offensives launch, with the Kurdish news agency ANHA reporting minor skirmishes between members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey-backed factions of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) south of Jarablus.

Kurdish rebels are now reported to be retreating eastwards to cross back over the Euphrates River as part of an agreement struck by the US.

Colonel John Dorrian, the spokesperson for the US-led coalition, said the SDF had moved to "prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa" but it was unclear whether fighters would pull out the city of Manbij, which they seized earlier this month following weeks of bloody battles against Isis.

The SDF, a predominantly Kurdish alliance backed by the US-led coalition, had advanced to within a mile of Jarablus after driving Isis out of swathes of northern Syria in recent months.

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.

Whether it's Daesh (Isis) or the YPG, they are all terrorist organisations, he said on Wednesday.

A terrorist organisation fighting another terrorist organisation doesn't make it innocent.

Jarablus is a key strategic town on the Euphrates river (Reuters)

His interior minister, Efkan Ala, raised fears of imminent conflict on after saying that the Jarablus operation would continue until the last threat against Turkey is eliminated, CNN Turk reported.

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.

A commander from Faylaq al-Sham told Reuters most Isis fighters in the city had already withdrawn, with some surrendering as they arrived.

But Isis members in online messaging groups claimed the jihadists had started pulling out a week ago and regrouped elsewhere.

On a pre-planned visit to Turkey, the American Vice President attempted to calm tensions between Turkey and Kurdish groups on Wednesday.

Joe Biden said Washington had told the SDF to retreat east over the Euphrates River, adding: "They cannot, will not, and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment.

The Turkish foreign ministry said the pull-back had started on Thursday morning, adding that US Secretary of State John Kerry called his Turkish counterpart to confirm the move.

American warplanes have supported the Turkish offensive, codenamed Euphrates Shield, with air strikes but other members of the international coalition have made no move to get involved.

The situation in Jarablus early on 25 August, with Turkish-backed territory and operations shown in blue, Isis in black, and the Syrian Democratic Forces in yellow. (Liveuamap)

It is Turkey's first major military operation since a failed coup last month that caused thousands of members of its armed forces to be discharged amid international concern over wide-ranging purges.

It came four days after a suicide bombing blamed on Isis killed 54 people at a wedding in the south-eastern city of Gaziantep.

The foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, vowed to completely cleanse the terrorist group from border regions on Monday, as shock over the atrocity 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.

Syria's foreign ministry condemned what it said was a breach of its sovereignty and accused Ankara of launching the incursion to replace Isis with other terrorist groups.

Russia, which is supporting President Bashar al-Assad, said it was deeply worried by the escalation.
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 }}

Isis and the Syrian government used chemical weapons in Syria during 2014 and 2015, an international team has concluded.

The Syrian government used chlorine gas in two attacks and Isis militants used mustard gas in one attack, the team from the United Nations and the world body's chemical weapons watchdog said.

Samantha Power, US ambassador to the UN, called the use of chemical weapons "a barbaric tool, repugnant to the conscience of mankind," and 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 UN 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 pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Workers in protective clothing holds a dummy grenade In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Workers in protective clothing unload a dummy grenade at the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Workers check the cover of a dummy grenade at the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Destroyed ammunition is stored in a container at the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Syria has already missed several target dates to hand over or destroy its arsenal before a deadline and the United Nations-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) mission called on Damascus to move faster. 'Nearly one third of Syria's chemical weapons material has now been removed or destroyed' UN-OPCW coordinator Sigrid Kaag told a meeting of the watchdog at its Hague headquarters In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany GEKA is federally-funded facility and its sole function is the destruction of chemical weapons from military arsenals. Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons and disposal, which is already underway on an American ship in the Mediterranean, is scheduled to be completed In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany A worker stands next to a container that will be used to destroy chemical weapons from Syria in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Workers carry a dummy grenade into a bunker at the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany A worker in protective clothing stands at the door of a bunker at the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Workers unload a dummy grenade In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany UN Security Council resolution 2118 about destroying chemical weapons was passed after a massive attack killed hundreds in several opposition areas around Damascus In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany Workers sit in a trailer outside of the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany A worker stands next to a machine that will be used to destroy chemical weapons from Syria at the GEKA facility in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany A worker presents a machine that will be used to destroy chemical weapons from Syria at the GEKA in Munster In pictures: Syria surrenders a third of chemical weapons Germany A worker observes a furnace that will be used to destroy chemical weapons from Syria at the GEKA facility in Munster

In September 2013, Syria accepted a Russian proposal to relinquish its chemical weapons stockpile and join the Chemical Weapons Convention. The move averted a US military strike in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta the previous month.

A year ago, the UN Security Council established the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism - JIM - to identify those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.

Jim investigated nine cases in seven towns where an OPCW fact-finding mission found that chemical weapons had probably been used.

It determined responsibility in three cases, said three attacks pointed towards government responsibility but were not conclusive, and described three others as inconclusive.

 War in Syria: Intense bombing in Idlib and Daraya

US 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 UN and the OPCW and has placed "a high priority" on targeting Isis' chemical weapons capabilities, he added.

The US captured an Isis leader involved in manufacturing such weapons in March and used information from him for air strikes 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," Mr Price said.

Ms Power said Jim's findings mirrored "numerous other confirmed cases of chemical weapons use across Syria, and countless other allegations of such use, including as recently as several weeks ago".

A man breathes with aid of an oxygen mask following a mustard gas attack in Idlib, Syria, earlier this year (AFP)

In the report, Jim said that between December 2015 and August 2016 it received more than 130 new allegations from UN 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, four 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.

Russia, a close ally of Syria, has blocked sanctions and other council action against President Bashar al-Assad's government, but Moscow supported the establishment of Jim.

Louis Charbonneau, the UN's 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, 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 Isis was "the only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulphur mustard" gas in Marea in Aleppo governorate near the Turkish border on 21 August, 2015. At the time, Isis fighters were attacking rebels.

Jim said three attacks indicated possible government involvement - in Kfar Zita in Hama governorate on 18 April, 2014, and in Qmenas on 16 March, 2015 and Binnish on 24 March, 2015, both in Idlib governorate. It said all three needed further investigation.

Ms Power said the United States expected Jim to continue investigating the remaining confirmed cases and any others referred by the OPCW fact-finding mission.

The Security Council will discuss the Jim report on 30 August, but whether it will take any action remains to be seen.

Additional reporting by AP and 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 }}

US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, into the early hours of Thursday morning on ways to end Yemen's conflict and resume peace talks between the warring sides.

Kerry arrived in Jeddah from Nigeria for discussions with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states and will also update them on U.S. meetings with Russia addressing military cooperation in Syria, a senior U.S. official said ahead of the talks.

Backing by Gulf nations for the Syria plan is vital because they wield influence over Syrian opposition groups involved in Syria's civil war. Russia and Iran support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The talks come as Syrian rebels backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes entered one of Islamic State's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border, in Turkey's first major U.S.-backed incursion into its southern neighbor.

Earlier, the State Department said Kerry will meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Geneva on Friday to try to close a deal on possible military cooperation and intelligence sharing in Syria. It could see Assad's warplanes grounded, while Russian and U.S. militaries coordinate strikes against Islamic State militants.

In Saudi Arabia, talks with Mohammed bin Salman, which began late and lasted three hours, ended at 12:59 a.m. local time, U.S. officials said.

Kerry will meet Saudi King Salman later on Thursday. Afterwards, he joins foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and British Under-Secretary for the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, to explore ways to end Yemen's 16-month conflict, which has killed about 6,500 people, half of them civilians.

A Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen in support of the government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Iran-allied Shi'ite Muslim 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.

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

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 U.S. forces may also be responsible under the rules of war for civilian casualties because of its support for the Saudi campaign.

Kerry will raise our concerns about civilian casualties and damage to civilian targets inside Yemen, the U.S. official said, adding that he would press the Saudis to ensure air strikes were discriminate and precise.

An annual United Nations 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.
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 }}

After several sleepless nights and days of anticipation or concern, the GCSE results have finally arrived. Whether you got results of your dreams, or were unfortunate enough to have missed out on the grades you hoped for, there is a wide range of options to be explored. There is also still plenty of time for those of you who have just received A-level results to consider all of the exciting opportunities available before signing on the dotted line. After all, the options available today are more exciting and extensive than ever before.

For those of you who have fallen short of the GCSE grades you need for sixth-form - particularly if you narrowly missed out on a C grade in English or maths - you may want to consider applying for either a re-mark to challenge the result or a re-take, the first round of which takes place in November. Either way, its definitely worth getting in touch with your teacher or college of choice to know exactly where they stand.

However, there are many other well-respected opportunities available, namely BTec education or intermediate apprenticeships. Indeed, many of the UKs leading employers are increasingly looking at this as a preferred route for their future talent.

Designed to equip you with the skills to thrive in a working environment while gaining valuable vocational qualifications in the process, apprenticeships offer a paid alternative to A-level education. Apprenticeships are widely available across the UK and, while some may ask for a minimum of two or more GCSEs (A*-C), for some intermediate programmes formal qualifications are not required.

Whether or not you know exactly what career is right for you at this early stage, apprenticeships deliver many benefits, for hands on experience combined with traditional academic rigour and a paid job is a combination that is difficult to beat.

Similarly, for those of you who received A-level results last week, before making any final commitments, make sure you have explored all the options and are confident you are making the best decision for you. Theres often a lot of pressure to go straight to university, but just because the universities want you, it doesnt mean this is necessarily the best choice for you.

With a record number of A-level students now transitioning on to university this year, many seem to have jumped to the historically popular conclusion that university is right for them. However, a report by insurance company Aviva recently found as many as a third of students regretted attending university in 2015.

Indeed, if you have your heart set on getting a degree, there are an increasing number of degree apprenticeships, or higher apprenticeships, that will lead to professional and degree-level qualifications in a wide range of sectors.

And, of course, there is a financial incentive to pursue a higher degree or other apprenticeship. According to the Sutton Trust, those who complete higher-level apprenticeships can earn 50,000 more in their lifetime than undergraduates from some universities; thats before you consider the 27,000+ debt most students will build up during their undergraduate years.

While some employers may still request a university degree for certain roles, weve noticed many of the UKs best employers moving away from this and towards recognising the value of apprenticeships - for you and for them.

Currently, there are apprenticeship opportunities available in a staggering 170 different industries. While typically shorter than degree apprenticeships, higher and intermediate apprenticeships allow you to study and work in a field of your interest with the option to develop in it further if you decide to pursue a career in that field.

The real value of apprenticeships was brought home to me by a candidate for one of the UKs leading apprenticeship programmes at Jaguar Land Rover. Unfortunately for them, they werent successful in their application so they have taken their second choice - a traditional full-time university course.

Ultimately, whether youve just received your GCSEs or A-levels, for those of you who are disappointed, its important to take perspective; realise that whatever your results are, there is a range of valuable options available.

Most importantly, dont feel pressured to go down any one route until you have fully explored the options open to you.

David Allison is founder of GetMyFirstJob, a site that helps young people find traineeships, apprenticeships, higher and degree apprenticeships
Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

For many holidaymakers, September brings a sigh of relief and pleasure. School holidays will have finished  except in Italy, where they linger for an extra couple of weeks  and prices begin to dip to more reasonable levels. Days are sunny and seas are warm, but the pace is less frenetic and the crowds have thinned. For anyone not bound by the school calendar, September can be the best time to travel  particularly to other European destinations.

Go now

Morocco

Moroccos searing heat calms down a little in September, which is a good time to combine chilling out on the coast at Essaouria with diving into the madness thats Marrakech. Fleewinter (fleewinter.com) offers a five-night holiday with three nights in Essaouria at the intimate Dar Les Sirenes riad before going on to Marrakech. There youll stay at Les Trois Mages riad in the Medina, where theres a rooftop pool. Prices for September departures start at 255pp, including breakfast and transfers but not flights.

The beaches around Essaouira are popular with surfers (Getty Images)

Menorca

A welcome mellowness hits Menorca in September, when temperatures are in the mid to late 20s. Its excellent walking weather for treks along the tranquil coastal trails, which you can explore in a seven-night walking holiday with Headwater (headwater.com). A converted finca with a panoramic pool is the base for this self-guided break, which costs from 1,109pp and includes flights, half-board accommodation, maps and hire car. Departs every Friday in September.

Puglia

While southern Italy wont have quite the baking temperatures of August, it will still be pleasantly hot. Keep cool within the thick walls of a traditional trullo, the whitewashed conical cottages that are such appealing features of Puglia. Long Travel (long-travel.co.uk) has a week in Trullo Zingaro near Cisternino, which is about 14km from the Adriatric coast. This cosy trullo sleeps two and features a shared pool. Prices start at 953pp, including flights and car hire, for a 24 September departure.

Eastern Canada

Catch autumns blazing colours from behind the wheel of a car on a self-drive holiday through Ontario and Quebec. This 13-day tour with Wexas Travel (wexas.com) starts in Toronto before going past the Thousand Islands in the St Lawrence River towards Montreal and Quebec City. It then swings back into Ontario to the countrys capital, Ottawa, and delves into the wilderness of Algonquin Park and Muskoka before finishing in Niagara Falls. Prices start at 1,995pp and include flights, accommodation and car hire for departures before 30 September.

Book now

Burma

This fascinating corner of South-east Asia continues to open up to tourists after years in isolation, and December marks the end of the rainy season. Discover the thousands of gilded stupas, sacred sites, ancient cities and lush landscapes on a 14-day tour with Experience Travel (experiencetravelgroup.com). It includes the former capital of Yangon, the temples of Bagan and the stilt villages of Inle Lake, as well as Mandalay. The price of 3,200 is for 1-23 December departures and includes international flights, internal transport and B&B accommodation.

The temples of Bagan (Getty)

Christmas in the Alps

The ski season hasnt exactly had a promising start over the past couple of years, but things look better at high altitude. Snow-sure Tignes features the Grande Motte glacier at 3,456m and shares the Espace Killy ski domain with neighbouring Val dIsere. Spend Christmas at Chalet Hotel Le Touring with Inghams (inghams.co.uk), where a weeks holiday starts at 899pp and include flights, transfers, half-board accommodation and a special Christmas menu, departing 23 December.

Cuba

As the dry season comes to Cuba, December is the time to enjoy its temperate climate  but move quickly as accommodation gets snapped up for the Havana International Jazz Festival (11-19 December). Start in the capital before spending a week along the 20km of white sandy beaches in Varadero. The Holiday Place (theholidayplace.co.uk) has a 10-night holiday from 1,599pp, with three nights B&B at the NH Capri in central Havana and an all-inclusive week at the beachfront Iberostar Tainos Hotel in Varadero. The price for a 12 December departure includes flights.

Start your Cuban holiday in Havana (Getty Images) (Getty)

Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk
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 }}

If Nigel Farage and Donald Trump continue this new alliance, it could be a thrilling contest as they fight to outdo each other. Trump will open a rally with Let me tell you, Muslims frighten potatoes, their beards make them go mouldy  and thats a fact. So if you want to stop a famine, you better vote for Donald Trump. Then Farage will respond: Thats right Donald, and they go every year to Mecca to squirt Domestos at pandas. Thats what theyre doing out there and it has to stop.

Trump will storm into the lead with Hey, you know its interesting, there are some scientists, and theyve found that Mexicans are a species of greenfly, and Nigel will retort, Yes, and foreigners are up to 80 per cent more combustible than people who live in the country they were born in. The crowd will be screaming, as Trump booms, hijabs set volcanoes off, and Farage yells, when Barack Obama came to England he made all the fish die. But THEY dont want you to know, so they replaced them all from the Queens aquarium and hid the truth as usual.

Then the two of them will collapse, exhausted, like athletes at the end of the 10,000 metres. Well have witnessed one of the great political battles of history.

Trump claims to be a champion of Brexit, but a few weeks ago he made it clear he had no idea what the Brexit vote was about. But that doesnt matter. He can tell his supporters: The great news is Britain voted to no longer be in France, as it wasnt allowed to have its own sunlight and had to buy warmness off of Mexico  which runs the European Union.

Because one rule theyve both discovered is not only do you not have to bother checking if something is true before you say it, you dont even have to pretend its true when you do. The pair make a virtue out of things not being true.

So Trump can declare: Americans are sick of things having to be proved. All the things that set out to destroy this great country have been proved. Americans are sick of proof. Lets give some space for things that havent been proved. Then hundreds of people will faint and try to touch him, and scream no more proof, no more proof.

Farage ended his speech with a cry to defeat the establishment. This was the most heartfelt moment of all; no-one has had to fight harder against the establishment than Trump. His father was a common salt-of-the-earth property developer, much like Nigel Farage whose humble background at Dulwich College private school led to long hours on the stockbroking shop floor.

But now the establishment tries to mock the little man Trump, just because hes only got one tower named after him. The establishment may be used to having a second tower in the countryside, but theres none of that for Mr Keeping It Real Trump. At someone has finally emerged who can speak up for the ordinary billionaire.

The most unsettling part may be that there is one smidgen of truth in what this pair says  one arm of the establishment does despise them and their supporters. The old political parties are outraged that someone can break the normal rules of behaviour during an election and still secure millions of supporters.

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

Theres a similar process going on within the Labour Party. Commentators and politicians have spent years complaining the public wont join political parties, then when they do, they insist the new members must be humiliated, banned from voting, and declared to be lunatic anti-Semitic, misogynist, uber-feminist, Trotskyist, Stalinist, naive teenage idiots, behaving exactly as they did 40 years ago, a disorganised rabble that has carefully organised a takeover of the party.

Because surely people should understand the correct motivation for joining a political party, is to dedicate yourself to the service of keeping everything exactly the same. Thats exactly why mainstream politicians dont seem too bothered about Trump, reassured by the likelihood that Trump seems so unlikely to win.

And that would be fine  as long as the millions of angry Americans who have been inspired by the rallies and feel Trump is the first public figure to speak for them, calmly say to themselves: oh well, we had a go, but we lost. Now lets go home and be quietly unemployed without causing any bother.

In Britain, Owen Smiths recognition of the millions that feel left behind extends to insisting MPs should vote against leaving the EU, despite the result of referendum.

If we did as he suggests, and ignored the result of the referendum  and this may be over-dramatic but its always best to ask  I wonder if that may perhaps annoy some of the people that voted to leave in some way?

Im sure it would be fine, and the modest 52 per cent of the country that voted to leave the EU would accept that Owen Smith knew best after all.

At least hes consistent: whenever theres a vote, he feels the best thing to do is to take no notice of it. Soon hell announce the Labour leadership vote is only advisory, and its probably for the best if he takes over anyway  especially as hes promised to grow a beard and call himself Jeremy on alternate Wednesdays.
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 }}

Despite angry crowds, Francois Hollande defiantly declared: We've seen the protests, and I would say that in France all beliefs are respected. .... in particular freedom of expression." That wasnt a response to the Wear What You Want beach party outside the French Embassy today; it was the President last year after protests against Charlie Hebdo.

If there was any doubt that French belief in freedom of expression is wholly one-sided, it has surely vanished now. After being banned in Cannes - where no women were found wearing one - the burkini ban has now spread to 15 towns and cities across France.

And hows this for more freedom: the deputy Mayor of Nice has threatened to sue social media users who share photos of burkini fines, saying they "provoke defamatory remarks". Whats next, prosecuting the photographers who took the pictures of women being forced to undress by police?

French politicians are in favour of provocation and free speech, it seems, until Muslims exercise those freedoms. When many of us defended Charlie Hebdos provocative cartoons last year, we didnt realise we would be betrayed so quickly. If Muslims are being offended and provoked by cartoonists or satirists, commentators are quick to say they must get used to it. Fair enough. But when will the French public get used to being offended too?

A French magazine reported earlier this week that a former flight attendant from Tolouse, relaxing on the beach in Cannes, was abruptly asked by the police to remove her headscarf. She wasnt wearing a full burkini, just a headscarf. She refused. Egged on by the continuing spectacle some onlookers told her to go home, even though her family had been in France for three generations.

The burkini wasnt even intended to provoke; it was created by an Australian woman to make sure we blended in with the Australian lifestyle. She wanted to encourage women who wore more modest clothes to enjoy themselves at the beach. I can fully imagine many older Asian women, non-Muslims, opting for the same garment out of an ingrained sense of modesty. Should they be banned from the beach too? Who does this ban serve?

 Burkini ban protest outside London's French Embassy

France cannot be in favour of free expression when it offends Muslims, but whine about provocation when Muslims choose to be different. This is astonishingly hypocritical. It is even more so given the debates on free speech we had just last year.

Its the duty to French politicians to stand firm by their self-professed principles, not ditch them in the face of a populist mob. The Deputy Mayor of Nice told the BBCs World at One today: "When you see a burkini on the beach, people feel unsafe". Whether or not people feel unsafe over a slightly modest piece of clothing is besides the point - they should have no right to impose their prejudices on others.

Even more so, the bans are a boon to Islamists who say the French state has one rule for Muslims and another for the rest. That it is discriminatory. That only an Islamic caliphate can offer them true freedom. That the wests veneer of tolerance and freedom is slipping away. Are they right?

We assert our principles for a reason: to serve as the basis for comparing different groups in the same situation. So we can be fair and transparent and be judged on how we uphold them. By abandoning its belief in freedom of expression so easily, France is showing how little it believed in them in the first place.
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 }}

Youve got to hand it to Iraqs executioners. Since the days when they had to yank on a hanging mans legs to break his neck in American-occupied Iraq  because their victim was so tall that he could still stand on the edge of the "drop"  Iraqs state killers can now dispatch 36 men in a morning. That was quite a record by the Shia Muslim hangmen at the Nasiriyah prison this month when they strung up tens of Sunni Muslims for a 2014 massacre  while hundreds of their victims relatives invited for the occasion shouted in joy.

That wasnt quite the image which the invaders of Iraq wished to promote when they illegally blasted their way into the country 13 years ago to proclaim democracy, human rights, freedom from fear and an end to police state terror. Almost at once, Americas viceroy Paul Bremer suspended capital punishment because the Saddam regime used hanging as a means of oppression. That, at least, was true.

 Iraq hangs 36 men over 2014 Camp Speicher massacre

Saddams lads could break 2,000 necks in a day at Abu Ghraib  its later history to be avoided at all costs, for reasons we will not discuss here  and Iraqs pro-American "democratic" successors never reached that stage of professionalism. When they hanged Saddams half-brother Barzan Hassan in 2007, the rope was so long that his head, in the words of one witness, snapped off. In the case of the convicted "terrorist" too tall to hang  evidence of which came from a UK assistant to the then Iraqi government  the executioners eventually dragged the man to the corner of the death chamber and shot him in the head.

Its almost unfair to recall how European nations condemned Saddams own hanging  not because his killers jeered at him, but because Europeans didnt agree with capital punishment. Not a murmur this month, however, from Theresa May or Francois Hollande or Angela Merkel at the mass hangings in Nassiriyah. Nor did they say a word before or after the execution of a hundred prisoners before the Nassiriyah executions, 22 of them in one day in May.

The demand to reintroduce hanging in Iraq, of course, started within weeks of Bremers 2003 suspension of capital punishment. As sectarian killings mocked Americas promises of "democracy" in Baghdad and other cities, a frightening and soon very familiar claim was heard from Iraqis themselves: that in the choice between freedom and security, security came first. And so Saddams old execution prisons returned to their ferocious tasks, albeit slowly. Three convicted murderers were hanged in September 2005, then the execution of insurgents  those resisting American occupation or the "provisional" and then elected pro-American Iraqi governments  began. A year later, 26 men and one woman were hanged for high crimes [sic] against civilians. In 2009, the Iraqi government hanged another 120 men. Now their crimes were called terrorist offences, but Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and other rights groups were starting to record dozens of unreported hangings.

Its not that the desire for a return to executions was surprising. The rise of Isis and the vicarious mass murders which they committed only provoked the animosity of their victims families. Many of the witnesses to the Nassiriyah hangings cried out "Allahu akbar" when the trapdoors opened because they were relatives of the 1,700 air force cadets  almost all Shia Muslims  tortured and murdered at Camp Speicher in Tikrit when the Iraqi armys officers turned and fled at the first sight of Isis black-cowled supporters in 2014.

Sunnis have thus been the principal victims of the largely Shia hangmen now carrying out the "democratically elected" Iraqi governments executions. The inverted commas are necessary because European politicians continue to extol the unrepresentative but Shia-led Baghdad governments which have themselves been responsible for death squads, secret mass killings and prison rapes. In cases where defendants are even provided with a mockery of a trial, Amnesty has repeatedly condemned the gross disregard for justice and human life, and convictions solely based on confessions under torture.

Actual death sentences  92 in the first six weeks of this year alone  are achieving Saddam-like proportions. How soon, we must ask, before the present Iraqi government adopts Saddams practice of regularly "cleaning out" prisons  to make way for more inmates  by hanging convicted men even if they were not originally condemned to death?

The truth is that both the vicious Isis "executions" of Shia Muslims, Christians and other "apostates" are slowly being paralleled with an equally sectarian series of executions of Sunnis. Thus the hangings at Iraqs main prisons have now become part of the countrys sectarian war, merging imperceptibly, for example, with the slaughter of up to 900 Sunni detainees by a Shia militia during and after the capture of Fallujah from Isis in June. This particular outfit was fighting alongside the "official" Iraqi army, which was being assisted by constant US air strikes on the Isis defenders of Fallujah  who were themselves murdering Sunnis trying to flee the city. No wonder Washington has been downplaying the number of Sunni innocents murdered by the Shia "good guys" fighting for the Iraqi government in Fallujah and Ramadi.

For Americans are inevitably stained by their participation in a civil war. The same applies to other NATO forces dropping bombs in Syria. Western nations cannot decontaminate themselves from a civil war even if they do not themselves commit atrocities on the ground. The same applies to the Russians. Any pilot bombing Isis  or innocent civilians  is inevitably "helping to give the wheel a shove" for militias which then murder prisoners. We are presumably now going to see a far bloodier retribution carried out if Mosul is overrun by the Iraqi soldiers, Shia militia, Kurds and other assorted armed groups, supported  as usual  by the US air forces bombs.

And that is what we are now involved in. Still (theoretically) trying to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad government in Damascus while still (practically) trying to sustain the Haider al-Abadi government in Baghdad, we are bombing the Sunni enemies of both of them, and supported  in both cases  by the Iranians (whose nation, by the way, hanged almost 700 non-political convicted prisoners in the first half of last year). So every time we attack one side in this war, we are dipping our fingers in the crimes committed by the other side: detainee "disappearances", legal "executions", torture and kangaroo courts. Another victory for the Isis killers.
The Northern Ireland bus maker visited by then London major Boris Johnson on his whistle-stop tour ahead of the Brexit vote is to impose a hiring freeze as part of a "rationalisation plan".

Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson visited a Wrightbus plant in Ballymena, Co Antrim, in February.

There he signed a 62m deal for 200 new Routemaster vehicles - dubbed Boris Buses by Londoners - in his then capacity as the city's mayor.

Now, however a Wrightbus company memo states that the group board is finalising changes to its "organisational structure".

It said this was in response to "challenges in both the local and overseas markets".

The group's last financial figures, for 2014, showed it made an annual profit of 14.5m on a turnover of 297m.

The letter added that the changes, which will reduce operating costs, will be communicated to staff in the coming weeks.

The company said it had no comment to make but it is understood the move is about maintaining competitiveness rather than dealing with any particular issue.

Wrightbus employs more than 1,500 people, mainly in Ballymena. It is due to publish financial results for 2015 in coming weeks.

Earlier this year the company co-founder William Wright said that it had secured a major deal with a Hong Kong bus company.

But the firm said it did not comment on deals which had not yet been confirmed.
A disused customs post on the border between Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland and Newry in the North

Possible increased costs for Irish businesses, the desire for a "practically invisible border" with Northern Ireland, and the potential need to protect Irish industry from UK goods and services.

These are the vexed issues discussed at a specially convened meeting of Irish customs and business representatives in the wake of June's Brexit vote.

Revenue's Customs Consultative Committee gathered just days after the poll for preliminary discussions on the myriad issues faced by Ireland's exporting sector as a result of the referendum, according to a report prepared after the meeting.

The Committee is made up of top officials from Revenue, as well as representatives from a range of business groups, including the Irish Exporters Association, Chambers of Commerce, Ibec and freight groups.

Revenue officials warned that Irish businesses using the UK to ship goods to mainland Europe, or flying through UK airports, could see their costs jump in the wake of a British EU withdrawal.

They also said Irish industry and agriculture might need to be protected from UK goods and services in the event that there are differing tariff regimes between the UK and the rest of the European Union, signalling the possibility that Irish products could be disadvantaged.

"We must remember that, while open borders are very attractive, it is possible to envisage a situation where we would need to protect Irish agriculture or industry from UK goods or services because of differences between the EU external tariff and that of the UK," the report of the meeting states.

"The position adopted by the UK will also colour the answer to the question. Overall, it is a very complex matter."

A spokeswoman for Revenue couldn't say what those protections might entail at this stage, stressing it was much too early to say whether they would ultimately be required.

Officials also discussed whether ferries would in the future be regarded as transporters of goods.

"It is questionable whether the ferries could provide detailed information on goods carried by vehicles on board," the report of the meeting states.

"One possible solution would be to require the vehicle identification marks (number plate) only."

And number plate recognition is one method being looked at by Revenue as it strives to create a "practically invisible border" with Northern Ireland post-Brexit.

It said there would still need to be "customs facilitation points" to allow for examinations and spot checks of vehicles, but that shipments that are "green routed", that don't require an inspection, "should be able to cross the border without hindrance".

"We do not want an extensive network of customs stations on the land border," the note of the meeting states.

"General trade facilitation matters could be handled at existing Revenue offices. A combination of electronic clearance systems and possible innovative systems, such as number plate recognition, would be explored with the objective of achieving the desired free flow of traffic."

John McGrane, p7
St Patricks Day in Londons Trafalgar Square: Time and again, the free labour movement has saved us  and has also created a bland insouciance among the elites here

SO Brexit will, or possibly won't, happen. And if it happens we might ,or might not, see a significant change in how the UK interacts with the remaining EU - that is if there is a UK and it has not splintered.

Post-Brexit, we are likely to see a devalued sterling, and certainly will see a more volatile sterling, compared to the euro. We are going to see a disruption to the UK labour market, if Brexit is to mean anything and if prime minister May is to avoid being eaten alive by the eurosceptics that still exist in the Tory party.

A Brexited UK is likely to become a stronger competitor on FDI than it is as present, as those pesky labour and environmental safeguards are scrapped, allowing polluting and exploitative firms free reign.

And we are probably going to see dislocation to the all-Ireland energy market; not good news in an already hyper expensive Irish energy market.

But in all the discussions around the economic and business fallout we rarely see commentators noting one crucial fact, well known to students, practical and academic, of international business. Culture eats strategy.

In this regard we need to think hard about our place post-Brexit (assuming, as noted, that it ever happens). Business scholars have for decades been developing research on how to measure aspects of national culture, and this allows us some possibility of assessing brexit effects.

These studies show that national cultural differences are powerful explicators of cross-border trade and investment. Of course we cannot reduce something as sprawling as national culture to a number without losing a lot of nuance, but the reduction throws some concepts into stark relief.

On one measure, we are quite far away from the European norms. These look at how "flat" a society we are, how we deal with ambiguity, how long term is our orientation, among others. We are closer by a fair degree to the UK than to any other EU nation. In fact, we are even closer to New Zealand, the USA and Australia, in culture terms. This means that dealing with other EU countries without Britain runs a risk - perhaps a certainty - of greater friction than before with other states and the institutions.

The UK and ourselves ran on broadly parallel tracks in terms of how we thought, how we acted and how we interacted. Disengaged and half-hearted they may have been, but the UK was too big to ignore. We, on the other hand, are not. We will find the councils of power chillier, and the strictures of the EU more chafing.

What this means in practice is hard to assess clearly. But we can be sure of some things. One is that we will have to adjust our way of doing business as a nation. Looking at two elements - toleration for uncertainty and long-term vs short-term orientation - we are very far from the Franco-German axis.

Compared with us, these countries set more store by predictability and place greater emphasis on the long over the short-term We also place less emphasis on restraint. So when it comes to things like the existence of the Euro and its many many failings, these nations will "keep calm and carry on" while we have a greater - perhaps justified, perhaps not - tendency to flap and fluster.

This is not about the rights and wrongs of such attitudes - it is just how we do business. The UK was more or less like us, but with a higher, sometimes almost Germanic, degree of preference for avoiding chaos. So we can expect greater pressure for a more rules based approach, rather than a preference for national discretion.

This will impact on all sorts of things. From the application of directives, to the future direction of migration policy, we will find a more pragmatic but also a more rules-bound Europe. A further issue that needs to be brought into the open is how we deal with the other countries post-Brexit. This is of particular sensitivity when it comes to the labour market. A key plank of the Single Market is freedom of movement of labour. Much of the talk in Ireland has been around the common travel area (CTA). That is really missing the point.

The CTA is not, except by convention, a common labour market. It is in fact a visa-free travel area, such as Schengen. It has never been a free movement area. Try getting into or out of a port or airport in these islands without ID.

Post-Brexit the UK will, for political, if no other reasons, clamp down on the number of EU citizens working there. The ability of the poor and dislocated of the Irish labour market to go and work unrestricted in the much larger market next door has, in my view, been the saviour of the State.

Imagine in the 1980s when things were much, much grimmer, with a failed economy and a low-grade civil war threatening to engulf the island, if people had not been able to move to London or Edinburgh or Doncaster to work.

Imagine what would have happened in the bleak years of the 1950s, or the 1970s. The pot would have boiled over. Time and again, the free labour movement has saved us - and has also created a bland insouciance among the elites here.

They didn't need to create a working economy or society when, if we don't like what we have here we can, to put it bluntly, feck off to England. We cannot assume that this will remain the case.

There are many more - seven times as many - non-Irish EU migrants in the UK than Irish. We cannot expect to co-exist in an EU with Poland or Latvia where we have cut a special deal with the UK on our citizens as British immigration officers shuffle their citizens to the Dover mail boat.

Not that we have any problem with hypocrisy. Just see our treatment of undocumented economic migrants here and compare it with the ritualised outrage whenever one of our undocumented economic migrants is caught in Australia or the USA.

But we don't have to keep onside with states such as Nigeria. We do with Poland - a country which, compared to us, is a more hierarchical, longer-term orientated and less individualist society. Special deals are not the norm.

Then there is the North. Why are we not in Schengen? We are not in Schengen because of the CTA. But the CTA and a free labour market are not the same. If we cannot have free labour movement, do we need the CTA?

Would the EU, post-Brexit, countenance a special deal on migration and sharing of intelligence with a non-EU state? That is by no means clear. Post-Brexit, Schengen will cover the whole EU, bar Ireland. The pressure will be on for us to join, whether that is publicly articulated or not.

Of course, there is always a compromise. Last week we saw something that is bound to set the Elysee Palace alight - an "inversion" of a French company into Ireland. I'm sure that France would be amenable to allowing us to remain outside Schengen, in return for a chat on issues around corporation tax.

In a hubristic hysterical display of small dog syndrome, Brian Hayes has declared that he wants us all to die in a ditch to save our corporation tax regime. I doubt many will follow him.

On the contrary, a discussion on Schengen which develops into one on how we have managed to create an economy that is now swelling up like a puffer fish on tax-based corporate restructurings, might not be a bad tradeoff. Brian Hayes can munch on the liver of the Celtic Puffer Fish while the rest of us carve out the good bits.

Prof Brian Lucey is director of research, School of Business, TCD
Two Competitive Start Fund competitions for start-ups open on Wednesday 24th August, 2016

Two Competitive Start Fund (CSF) competitions  the International Entrepreneurship CSF and the Graduate Entrepreneurship CSF, combining a total of 1million in funding from Enterprise Ireland opened yesterday, Wednesday 24th August 2016.

Applications are invited from ambitious graduates and international entrepreneurs with early stage companies capable of succeeding in global markets, creating jobs and growth.

Twenty successful applicants will receive high-level business development support and an investment of up to 50,000 each. The CSF is designed to accelerate the growth of start-ups and enable companies to reach key commercial and technical milestones.

The funds are open to companies active in manufacturing and internationally traded services targeting Internet, Games, Apps, Mobile, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Food, Cleantech and Industrial Products.

The International Entrepreneurship CSF is a competition specifically for start-ups that are currently based overseas but are willing to relocate to Ireland. Successful applicants from outside the EU will be eligible for a Startup Entrepreneur Visa. Applicants for the Graduate Entrepreneurship CSF must be a graduate with a third level qualification within the last three years.

In addition to written online applications, companies will be asked to prepare an online video pitch. Companies must meet certain eligibility criteria and applicants may apply for either the International Entrepreneurship or the Graduate Entrepreneurship CSF, but not both.

Both competitions will close at 3pm on Wednesday 7th September 2016.

Full details are available at:

www.enterprise-ireland.com/CSFInternational

www.enterprise-ireland.com/graduatecsf
Revenue at Irish homebuilder Cairn Homes increased to 16m in the first half of the year after the company concluded its site acquisition phase.

The firm also reported strong progress on the Ulster Bank Project Clear portfolio. Cairn said it had realised 32m in proceeds from settlements and asset sales with nine sites (126.1m) transferred into direct ownership.

The homebuilder's core-landbank portfolio is now made up of 27 separate sites on which it will develop 11,500 units, 90pc of those are located in Dublin and the Dublin commuter belt.

The company generated gross profits of 2.6m with a profit margin of 16.5pc.

During the period Cairn snapped up sites in Hanover Quay, Cherrywood, and Maynooth, as well as acquiring Argentum.

Chief executive Michael Stanley said the firm has assembled a talented team to push forward with its plans.

"We are currently building new homes on five sites, with a further five developments commencing within the next 12 months. By mid 2017, we will support over 1,000 construction jobs, including apprentices, leveraging the substantial economies that that we will benefit from as a home-builder of significant scale," he said.
The former premises of Dublin superpub Zanzibar has now been brought to the market

A number of prospective buyers from Ireland and from overseas are expected to run the rule over the former premises of Dublin 'superpub' Zanzibar, which has just been brought to the market.

CBRE Hotels is seeking offers in excess of 5m for the property, which has full planning permission for the development of an 89-bedroom hotel.

With revenue per available room (RevPar) in Dublin now outstripping the rest of Europe, with growth of 21pc recorded in the seven months to July alone, the availability of such an extensive hotel development site in the heart of Dublin city centre represents "a unique opportunity" according to John Ryan of CBRE Hotels.

Located at numbers 34 to 37 Ormond Quay and overlooking the River Liffey and Ha'Penny Bridge, the property's current planning permission provides for the conversion of two protected structures and the provision of an 89-bedroom hotel totalling 7,077 sq m, of which 5,494 sq m is new build and 1,583 sq m of retained protected structures.

There are four floors of bedrooms, the majority of which are in the new extension to the rear and they each extend to approximately 23 sq m. There are also extensive food and beverage facilities. The permission also allows for the creation of a new walkway linking Ormond Quay to Great Strand Street.

Previously a venue within Liam and Des O'Dwyer's Capital Bars Group, Zanzibar opened for business in 1998 just as the Celtic Tiger was taking off. Created off the back of a 3.81m budget, it boasted a capacity of 1,200 and was part of the O'Dwyers' stable of superpubs, alongside Cafe en Seine, Major Toms and Bad Bobs.

The expected buyer interest in the sale of the Zanzibar premises isn't unusual when viewed within the context of the overall levels of activity in the Dublin hotel market. Indeed, some 420m in hotel sales in the capital are expected to close by the end of this year.

The sale of the Gresham Hotel to Spanish group Riu Hotels & Resorts for more than 90m is expected to close shortly.

And yesterday the Dalata Hotel Group announced that it had entered into talks to acquire the leasehold interest of the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Dublin 4 with another unnamed party, which is negotiating the purchase of the property.

The hotel, formerly known as the Burlington, is being sold by US private equity giant Blackstone in a deal likely to achieve some 180m. Blackstone bought the hotel in 2012 for 67m and is understood to have spent 20m refurbishing it.

Elsewhere, FBD Hotels & Resorts has announced its intention to carry out a 7m expansion at Castleknock Hotel & Country Club. The development will see the hotel extended by 21,280 sq ft, with the addition of 43 rooms and three suites bringing its room capacity to 190.
The headquarters of Portuguese bank Caixa Geral de Depositos is seen in Lisbon, Portugal July 21, 2010. REUTERS/Jose Manuel Ribeiro/File Photo

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 2.7bn 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 2.5pc of GDP in 2016 from last year's 4.5pc.

"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 2.7bn of capital into CGD, transfer 500m worth of its ParCaixa shares to CGD and convert 960m 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 1.65bn 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 205m 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.
Looking through the pages of the 1916 journal of the Surveyors' Institution, one is immediately struck by the names and indeed the addresses of those who made up the organisation's membership. Predominantly male, middle class and residing in leafy pockets of privilege such as Rathgar, Ranelagh and Sandycove in Dublin, and Greystones in Co Wicklow, they represent much of what today's Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland most certainly is not.

The society's current president is not only its youngest ever, but is also a woman. Given her age and gender, Claire Solon would not have fitted the profile for the office she now occupies had she been around 100 years ago.

But Solon, whose day job sees her manage a 500m real estate portfolio in Ireland and the UK as head of property at Friends First, still has some appreciation of the arcane attitude which once prevailed within the property profession.

Seated across from me at the imposing boardroom table of the SCSI's Merrion Square headquarters, the Mullingar native recalls an incident from early on in her career, in which an elderly, senior architect presumed far too little of her.

"I was tasked with managing a design team for a competition. We had architects and engineers at a meeting. So I had my agenda prepared for the meeting and handed it out.

"One of the architects began overruling me and saying 'no, I think we should do it this way'. He then handed me this very large A3 document and said 'I think we need this photocopied'. So I went off, and for the next half an hour photocopied these documents. By the time I went back into the meeting, it had moved on and I wasn't able to insert myself back into it."

While Solon may have been caught off-guard by the incident, an effective combination of adroitness and assertiveness saw her avoid a repeat of it the following week.

"Another meeting took place and the same architect handed me a stack of documents and said 'we need to have these photocopied'. So I said 'well the photocopier is down the hall, and now here's the agenda'. Ultimately, if I couldn't handle that meeting, I was never going to last in this career," she recalls.

The SCSI president says while such incidents have been rare in her working life, she may never know of the lost opportunities there have been on account of her being female.

She adds that she can certainly think of times where she has been supported for being female.

"I feel I've gotten support more than anything," she says. As with so many others, Solon's entry into the industry was inspired by the involvement of family.

"I came into the profession because of my parents. My parents are both architects and certainly property would have been the discussion over many a dinner table when I was growing up."

Clearly conscious of the precarious living to be made from architecture, Solon's parents encouraged her to direct her energies and talent towards surveying.

Having earned her degree in property economics, her first job involved what she describes as a "short stint in hedge fund administration". From there she went on to work as director of development at Bennett Construction.

When the recession hit, Solon moved to the ESB where she was took responsibility for project managing the redevelopment of its Fitzwilliam Street building. With planning permission for the utility's headquarters secured last year. Solon became the ESB's head of estate with responsibility for its overall Irish property portfolio. She moved to her current role at Friends First last September.

Having gained considerable professional experience in the both the private and semi-state sector, Solon is well-placed to comment in her role as SCSI president on the challenges facing the country.

Asked about the burning issue of housing, she says "with a bit of foresight", the current shortage could easily have been avoided.

"We made lots of calls highlighting this and it's very disappointing that action wasn't taken. Obviously, the government was 'fire fighting' on a huge range of economic issues and this slipped down the agenda. We now are where we are and there's a whole range of issues.

"The cost of the provision of housing is one. We did a study recently on the real cost of housing delivery where we analysed real projects. Surprisingly, the hard costs and the building costs amounted to 45pc of the cost of the house. Land, development levies and planning costs made up the rest.

"The difficulty for builders is that the [achievable] price of a house isn't 250,000 in a lot of areas, so it doesn't make sense for a developer or a builder to build houses. They have to make a profit. You won't get funding unless you make money and you have to be a bit greedy about that."

Solon doesn't agree with those who say builders are being too greedy in terms of the profit they expect to make on the houses they bring to the market.

"Personally, I think for a project to be viable to go ahead; again it depends on how risky the project is, normally you're looking at retaining between 10pc and 20pc as a profit. With anything less than 10pc, if you're looking at an adverse planning condition or a problem with your supply chain, the costs are absolutely huge. A delay of three months with a project will cost you 5pc of your margin. It will be gone. But at the same time, it's definitely wrong to be looking for super, abnormal profit. That is not a part of a proper functioning market."

Solon adds that house builders face an extra obstacle from the banks. On this, she says: "The banks before they will lend, want to see that that profit is capable of being made because they're very conscious of the risk they're taking on as well." Based on the assumption that there will be a return at some point to 'normal' levels of housing delivery, what form should the country's new homes take? Are we looking at the rollout of a new swathe of three-bed Semi-Ds with postage stamp lawns front and back, or something else?

"It's a mixture. We also have to look at household formation sizes which are reducing. It's more likely we're going to have smaller houses and apartment living. Again, we must make sure that there is quality," she says.

Solon is more exercised about where the nation's new homes will be located.

"Certainly there were houses built in the previous boom time in the wrong locations. We have to have the foresight to plan better, If you're doing the analysis of where housing is to be located, it's about where the jobs are, and how do people get to and from work. The trend is that there are a reducing number of people in houses, people are separating. And there are different types of families now compared to 30 years ago. We have to make sure our housing meets the type of demand that there is," she says.

Certainly, increasing densities where demand exists is better than having large commuter belts on the outskirts of cities. The lifestyle that comes with that [commuter living] doesn't make for high quality living," she adds.

While the SCSI president acknowledges the benefit to the country of the development of the motorway network to date, she believes a lot more needs to be done both with it and other crucial elements of our infrastructure.

She says: "The motorways are probably one of the few things that have been a positive out of the last number of years. Getting in and out of Dublin is a lot easier than it used to be. But the road network regionally requires a lot of work. Getting in and out Dublin might be fine, but how do you get from Limerick to Sligo or to Cork? It's the road network regionally that needs work. And there are other things such as broadband. If you're trying to encourage the creation of businesses outside of Dublin, you have to be able to support those businesses, and a pretty basic tool for that is internet access. So the provision of broadband to schools, and the development of adequate sewage and water treatment facilities are all vital. Ultimately, while the Government has earmarked 42bn for that [infrastructure], it needs to happen quickly."

Solon says a failure to deliver the necessary infrastructure could well impede the delivery of housing and commercial office space that she says will be required for Ireland to maintain its "position as a business leader in Europe".

Asked for her views on newly-appointed housing minister Simon Coveney's 'Rebuilding Ireland' plan, she describes it as "very appropriate" as a plan, but adds that it "will be all about the delivery".

She says: "One area it might have dealt with a little better is the private residential market. The priority is obviously the provision of social and affordable housing. As a plan, it's appropriate but it will really be all about the delivery. We've had a quite a few plans before by successive governments. Ultimately it will come down to where we are in two or three years time [with its delivery]."

The SCSI will be making a pre-budget submission to the Department of Finance in advance of this October's Budget.

Asked what the body will be recommending in terms of increasing the delivery of housing, and more importantly housing that prospective buyers might be able to afford, Solon cites the matter of a VAT reduction as one key area finance minister Michael Noonan should consider.

"A reduction in the rate of VAT on housing is one of a basket of options available to the Government. In the UK, they have zero VAT for new housing, so there is that precedent. We saw how it worked here for the tourism industry but it's only one item in the arsenal. We also need to look at other ways of reducing costs and increasing the supply of housing."

As the calls grow louder and ever more insistent for increased and accelerated development of new homes and commercial office space to deal with the potential inflow of businesses that may seek to relocate following the UK's decision to vote in favour of Brexit, is Solon concerned that Ireland's planning laws are fit for purpose?

"A lot of the problems we have are more to do with the enforcement of planning regulations rather than the regulations themselves," she says, adding: "There's definitely been an improvement in recent years with more standardisation across the board. But I think some local authorities are nervous or lack the capacity or the skills, I'm not sure which, to enforce them.

"So if there are developers who are not compliant, sometimes there can be a failing in the system in relation to dealing with that."
Digicel, the telecoms firm owned by billionaire Denis O'Brien, has appointed Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt as its chief speed officer.

The job-for-life will see Bolt engage with customers from both a commercial and community point of view. Digicel has sponsored Bolt since 2004 when he had just left high school.

The world's fastest man will also be doing a series of partnership initiatives for young athletes, including speed camps and motivational and mentorship session.

Digicel director of marketing Peter Lloyd said the company was "honoured" to turn its 12-year relationship with Bolt into a lifelong partnership.

"Our relationship with Usain transcends sport  he is a unique human being who inspires millions of people across the world. As our Chief Speed Officer, we expect Usain to challenge us constantly to deliver awesome experiences to our customers be it from a product, service or community perspective.

In accepting the new role and his lifetime contract, Usain said; Im very humbled. Its been an amazing journey with Digicel  they have been there for me since I was 17 years old and now we will be together forever. As Digicel CSO, I am opening a new chapter and will be making it my mission to ensure that speed stays at the top of the agenda.
Traders work at their desks in front of the German share price index, DAX board, at the stock exchange in Frankfurt. Photo: Reuters

Portugal's Finance Ministry got approval from the European Commission to inject as much as 2.7bn into state-owned Caixa Geral, the country's biggest bank by assets.

As part of the plan, the government will convert 960m of contingent convertible bonds subscribed by the state into shares of the Lisbon-based lender to bolster capital buffers, the Finance Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

Caixa Geral will also sell to private investors about 1bn of debt instruments that are eligible to meet capital ratios.

Elsewhere, political risk returned to haunt emerging markets, with investors selling assets in South Africa, Turkey and Korea. Shares in Europe rose for a third day while US stocks were little changed.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index reversed earlier losses to rise 0.4pc by mid-afternoon after its biggest gain in more than two weeks.

Advertising firm WPP jumped 6pc after the company said profit rose 15pc in the six months ended June 30 as a favourable currency translation more than offset Brexit's drag on the British economy.

Oil extended its decline after a government report showed that US crude stockpiles unexpectedly rose last week.

"We're still in a fundamentally oversupplied market," said Adam Wise, who helps run a $7bn oil and natural gas bond and private equity portfolio in Boston.

"The build was unexpected and comes amid a lot of OPEC chatter making for a sloppy, if range-bound market."

London's FTSE 100 index was down almost half a percentage point at mid-afternoon at 6835.

The German DAX was up 0.2pc and the French CAC had gained 0.3pc.

Dublin's ISEQ overall index of Irish shares was down slightly at 6102.44, having lost 0.18pc, or 11.16 points, by mid-afternoon yesterday.

Mining stocks yesterday afternoon rebounded somewhat, with gains for Aminex, Ormonde Mining and CPL Resources.

Financial services provider IFG group had the most impressive performance of the afternoon, with gains of 4.7pc. Bank of Ireland shares were up 3.2pc, Smurfit Kappa had risen by 2.1pc, while Applegreen stocks were up by 11.pc.

Shares in Paddy Power Betfair fell by 2.1pc after it emerged that the Irish betting chain's co-founder, Stewart Kenny, was to step down from the board.

Beverage group C&C's stocks were down 1.7pc.

On currency markets, the euro was down against the greenback, trading at $ 1.12, and was worth 84 pence sterling.
A sale of the Racing Post newspaper to London based Exponent Private Equity has been cleared by Competition authorities in Ireland.

Irish backers of current Racing Post owner Stradbrook Acquisitions are thought to include Alan Byrne, chief executive of the Racing Post.

Stradbrook Acquisitions took control of the business when it bought back the titles debt from the special liquidators of IBRC.

It was one of the relatively small number of cases where company debt was auctioned off in isolation rather than as part of a large portfolio  meaning the business own backers were in a position to bid.

The debt was then swapped for shares in the company.

A sale to Exponents Fence Bidco Limited has now been cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
State aid investigations by the European Commission involving a number of American companies, including Apple, is inconsistent with international norms and undermines the global tax system, the US Treasury has warned.

And potentially demanding back taxes from the companies concerned would set "an undesirable precedent" for tax authorities in other countries, the US said, in a strongly worded paper published yesterday.

Brussels has initiated a raft of investigations into the tax arrangements involving various US companies and their European host countries, including Apple, Starbucks, Amazon and McDonald's.

A decision on the Apple case could be imminent, as Finance Minister Michael Noonan said in June that a verdict could be delivered in September or October. The investigation could force Apple to pay substantial back taxes. It has said it will join Ireland in appealing any adverse ruling.

The row between the US and Europe over the latter's state aid investigations appeared to come to a head earlier this year as Treasury Secretary Jack Lew wrote to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager warning the probes potentially represented dangerous precedents.

Now it's ratcheted up further.

The US Treasury yesterday published a 25-page so-called white paper delving into Mr Lew's concerns in more detail.

The Treasury said the Commission's approach is new and departs from prior EU case law and Commission decisions. It also said Brussels should not seek "retroactive recoveries".

"Because the Commission's approach departs from prior practice, it should not be applied retroactively," the paper states.

"Indeed, it would be inconsistent with EU legal principles to do so. Moreover, imposing retroactive recoveries would undermine the G20s efforts to improve tax certainty and set an undesirable precedent for tax authorities in other countries." And it warned that the new approach is "inconsistent with international norms and undermines the international tax system".

The US said the Commission's actions undermine the international consensus on transfer pricing standards, calls into question the ability of member states to honour their bilateral tax treaties and undermines the progress made under the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project.

The European Commission has already ordered Dutch authorities to recover up to 30m from US coffee chain Starbucks and Luxembourg to do the same with Fiat Chrysler for their tax deals.

Apple to create 1,000 jobs here as development gets green light, Business p2
Zenith Motor Insurance has pulled out of the Irish market

THE crisis-hit motor insurance market has suffered a new blow after an insurance company said it would no longer write new business here.

Zenith Insurance, the largest Gibraltar-based motor insurer in Ireland, has decided to pull out of the motor market over soaring claims costs and losses for insurers.

The move comes after Aviva said that prevalence of whiplash claims were adding 130 to the average premium.

Premiums have shot up by 70pc in the last three years, and are up almost 40pc in the last 12 months.

One of the agents used by Zenith here, Galway-based Bump Insurance, confirmed that Zenith was pulling out of the market.

We wish to advise that Zenith Insurance plc, part of the Markerstudy Group, has decided to cease writing motor business in Ireland through all of its Irish managing general agents.

In respect of Bump Insurance, this means that no more policies will be written by us on behalf of this particular Insurer from February 2017 onwards.

The notice posted by Bump on behalf of Zenith blames an increasing regulatory burden and the uncertain legislative environment for decision by Zenith to get out of the market. It also blamed what it called a lack of engagement with us by Irish industry bodies.

Zenith is thought to have built up a 5pc market share here through agents such as Bump, Footprint Underwriting and Prestige Underwriting Services.

Zenith used underwriting agencies here. They operate between brokers and insurance companies, the insurer company ultimately taking the risk for policies.
WhatsApp is to start handing over user information to parent company Facebook, in a huge reversal of its previous policies.

The company has long been committed to ensuring that WhatsApp user data remains private  telling users when it was acquired by Facebook that Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA, and we built WhatsApp around the goal of knowing as little about you as possible.

But it has just announced that it will be making a change to those policies, allowing it to hand over information about its users to parent company WhatsApp.

The new changes to the terms and conditions allow Facebook to see the phone number that people use with their WhatsApp account. That gives them a way of tracking people that is shared across the two sites, helping Facebook gather data for ads.

WhatsApp says that the change has been made to help make the experience better for its users. But it might be a sign that the panic that set in with many people when Facebook bought WhatsApp  that private information and messages are going to be used for ads, which is Facebooks primary business.

But by coordinating more with Facebook, we'll be able to do things like track basic metrics about how often people use our services and better fight spam on WhatsApp, the official blog post said. And by connecting your phone number with Facebook's systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them.

For example, you might see an ad from a company you already work with, rather than one from someone you've never heard of. You can learn more, including how to control the use of your data, here.

The company assured its users that its belief in the value of private communications is unshakeable, and we remain committed to giving you the fastest, simplest, and most reliable experience on WhatsApp.

The company has added other features meant to keep messages secret, including end-to-end encryption. That update is also included as part of WhatsApps new terms.
Irish-listed mobile tech company Zamano had 7.4m in cash at the end of June as the firm prepares to ramp up its acquisition programme.

Zamano will look to acquire businesses in the mobile advertising, social, and billing areas, after being encouraged to go out and spend in a strategic review in June.

It is understood the company could move for as many as two different bolt-on acquisitions by the end of October.

Elsewhere sales at the company increased by 80.2pc in the first six months of the year to 18.74m. However, gross profit at the firm slipped to 2.33m, down 9.7pc.

The fall off in profits is down to a mix of the company operating in lower-yield markets and spending big on advertising and marketing during the period. The firm expects this to lead to far better earnings in the second half of the year.

Zamano acting chairman Colin Tucker said trading at the company was "somewhat mixed" during the first six months of 2016.

"Our ambition to achieve this strategic repositioning will run in tandem with adapting and optimising our existing business lines. In addition, we will continue to focus on delivering strategic acquisitions and we hope to make significant progress in this regard during the second half of the current financial year," he said.
Rose of Tralee winner Maggie McEldowney from Chicago is congratulated by this year's team of Roses at the Dome in Tralee on Tuesday night. Photo by Domnick Walsh

When we talk about the brands that are most admired and successful, we almost always focus on big, flashy international corporates like Apple, Coca-Cola, Guinness, Samsung.

Their scale provides an intrinsic credibility that can blind us to successes much closer to home - and there is no greater than the Rose of Tralee.

By any objective measure it should have been taken out behind the woodshed and shot long ago, but the cleverest of strategies has kept this venerable institution alive.

The Festival, as it is now called, hates being reminded of its status as a beauty pageant (technically a "lovely and fair" pageant, but they're two sides of the same pretty coin).

Watch footage of Terry Wogan judging the Jersey beauty contest (the winner got a nice holiday in the Channel Islands) and then watch him present the Rose and you'll see the thickness of a cigarette paper separates the two events.

As the decades have passed, one has been dropped as an embarrassing historical anachronism, the other cherished as a much-loved national treasure.

There is a well-known and possibly apocryphal story of an ad executive in New York being interviewed about how the Tylenol brand could be saved after the pills were linked to a number of murders in the US.

His quote was based on the assumption that only a miracle would work. "I want to find the guy who does that and get him to turn my water cooler into a wine cooler," he said.

That task looked easy compared with getting the Rose of Tralee to thrive in the modern world. No matter how it is spun, the central truth is that a group of unmarried young women are paraded on stage to be judged by a panel on their comeliness.

This is where the miracle occurs. By all reason, that central principle should hole the entire undertaking below the waterline. That it doesn't is thanks to a number of things.

Video of the Day

l Careful casting. The Roses are varied in looks and backgrounds and many come bearing sympathetic personal stories. Several are laden with ambition and PhDs;

l Ingenious packaging. It is a two-week event culminating in the dome, not a one-night parade of ladies;

l Perfect hosting. Daithi O Se has the wonderful ability to befriend the contestants, knock craic out of them and remain a likeable red-blooded male without ever getting within an ass's roar of sleazy.

Social media should eat the Festival alive. The fact that it doesn't, that criticism is usually limited to a few "lovely girls" gags, is astonishing.

It's an achievement that should be a lesson to the Apples of this world.

It's one thing to sell cutting-edge laptops; it's another to make an aged dowager from a forgotten era hang with the kids. But that's what the Festival has achieved.

Every year she reaches over to the bedside table, pops her dentures in, slips on a frock and heads for the dance floor. Our own little miracle.
Accusations that Game Of Thrones uses rape and violence against women as character development have been dismissed as nonsense by the head of content at broadcaster Sky.

Gary Davey, managing director of content at the channels, said he felt like he had been defending sex and violence on TV for most of his adult life.

Discussing depictions of both in a debate between channel controllers at the Edinburgh international TV festival, Davey said the violence in fantasy drama Game Of Thrones, which airs on Sky Atlantic in the UK, applies just as much to male characters.

He said: "Part of the issue is context ... Sky Atlantic is a good example, people know what to expect. It's challenging content, whether it's story structure or indeed the sex and violence, the context matters.

"It's interesting that this year with season six of Game Of Thrones, which was very intense, out of the seven million households that watched, we had three complaints."

Questioned specifically about the rape of the character Sansa Stark on her wedding night, which was a particularly controversial plotline and was even mentioned in the US senate, Davey denied it was used as character development.

He said: "I think that is nonsense. I think that is there is an awful lot of violence to men.

"For anyone who has watched the show, it can be a very violent show. I don't think the violence to women is particularly highlighted, it's just part of the story. The rape happens, it's party of the story, it was in the book. We are now past the book and the story is evolving,"

Davey also denied there were plans to move away from violent scenes now the show has got further than George RR Martin's source material.

He said: "Our audience knows what to expect on Sky Atlantic and we have sophisticated pin protection."
Irish comedian Brendan OCarroll has hit back at his critics here who he says have subjected his show Mrs Browns Boys to hurtful criticism.

This week, viewers in Britain voted the series as the best show of this millennium in an online poll for the 'Radio Times', with Ricky Gervais's 'The Office' coming in second.

A live episode last month attracted 8.82 million viewers, but even so Mrs Brown's Boys has struggled to win over critics.

Today, OCarroll told RTE's Liveline that he believes his harshest critics are in Ireland.

He said one critic wrote recently: "Id rather throw myself on top of a funeral pyre than watch Mrs Browns Boys." Other critics have called fans of his show "idiots".

Some of it is hurtful but some of it is very annoying, O'Carroll said.

To take 11.8 million people (the viewers) and call them idiots is insulting.

Maybe its sour grapes... its a comedy show... it shouldnt provoke that kind of anger. Its just a comedy show.

Well why don't you throw yourself on a funeral pyre then, he said.

He said he has no idea why his comedy generates such venom from critics.

During the interview, Jean Fenton (38), a woman with special needs, rang Liveline to say she loved the show. She watches it for a half an hour every night.

One of those phone calls will do me. The newspapers can go and get stuffed, O'Carroll told Jean's mother Anne.

Video of the Day

The most hurtful part of it is that it does come from Irish newspapers... youre thinking, ah lads, give us a break, were doing our best here.

I read reviews of the show and some of them are hurtful. Sometimes you read it and you say, hes right, we can change it.

But he said: Were not doing brain surgery... its a comedy show.

Comedy is very subjective... Ive no idea what provokes [the criticism]. I think whoever writes that kind of stuff takes it far too [seriously].

Meanwhile, O'Carroll described the writing process as "prison".

I put more in the bin than I put on the page, he said.
A 12-year-old Dublin boy has died after getting into difficulties while in a swimming pool on a family holiday in Spain.

Craig Williams (12) from Balbriggan was on holiday with his mum, Lorraine and sister Zoe (14) in the resort Lloret De Mar.

Last Thursday, he went swimming in the pool at the hotel his family were staying in - Guitart Central Park Hotel.

It is believed he suffered an epileptic fit while swimming and got into difficulties. His sister raised the alarm and lifeguards  two on duty and another two holidaying at the hotel  pulled the boy from the pool.

The lifeguards and emergency services performed CPR and the young boy was rushed to hospital. He was later airlifted to a hospital in Barcelona where medics fought for days to save his life. He died on Monday.

Following his death, Balbriggan Scouts wrote, It is with a broken heart that we learned that our fantastic Cub Scout Craig Williams has passed away in a tragic accident whilst on holiday with his family.

He was truly a great Cub and a pleasure to have with us as part of our group, a young gentleman. A scout that will stay in our hearts forever.

We would like to extent our deepest sympathies to his family at this difficult times, May he rest in peace, the scouts said on their Facebook page.

The scout group also wrote: The power of a smile can change the world. Craig definitely had a magic smile, we hope he is smiling down on us all now.

It is understood that Craigs aunts and cousins were also on the family holiday.

A statement from Guitart Hotels which owns the 252 bedroom hotel said the first people to help out were other tourists including two French lifeguards holidaying at the hotel, and two official lifeguards hired by a company with 16 years experience.

They tried to revive the boy and call the emergency services, the hotel said.

It said hotel bosses closed the swimming pool at 4pm the day of the incident to try to determine the cause and it was reopened the following day once security checks had been carried out to make sure it was safe to use.

It added that the boys family had been put up at a hotel belonging to the chain in Barcelona after he was taken to hospital and his mum and another relative had stayed there until Tuesday.

No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.
The 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 Diarmuid Martin confirmed he was boycotting the seminary.

As 14 new seminarians began their six years of training for the priesthood at St Patrick's College this week, Maynooth's trustees issued a range of directives aimed at rebuilding the seminary's tarnished image.

In a tacit acknowledgment of the problems that have beset Maynooth in recent months, the trustees warned in their statement: "There is no place in a seminary community for any sort of behaviour or attitude which contradicts the teaching and example of Jesus Christ."

They ordered Maynooth's seminary authorities to evaluate and review its policy regarding "the appropriate use of the internet and social media".

A source in Maynooth told the Irish Independent that the clampdown goes further than the directives announced by the trustees.

Earlier this month, Dr Martin announced he was withdrawing his seminarians from the Co Kildare college and sending them to the Irish College in Rome.

Expand Close Review: Maynooth College, founded in 1795 Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Review: Maynooth College, founded in 1795 Photo: Arthur Carron

In an RTE interview, the Archbishop spoke about the "poisonous" atmosphere in the college.

He described gay dating app Grindr as something which promoted promiscuity - and was therefore contrary to the teachings of the Church and the celibacy demanded for Catholic priests and seminarians.

Maynooth's trustees have asked the Irish Bishops' Conference to commission an independent audit and report of governance and statutes in Irish seminaries. This would cover, in addition to Maynooth, the Irish College in Rome and St Malachy's College in Belfast.

In tandem with this, the bishops have been asked to "urgently" develop a uniform national policy for admissions to Irish seminaries.

No such uniform national policy currently exists and so individual dioceses make the decision.

It is also expected that a pre-seminary year will become a mandatory requirement for all candidates for formation to the priesthood.

Another significant development will see the establishment of a sub-committee to examine the pastoral needs of priestly training in contemporary Ireland.

This sub-committee will involve lay people, families and "especially" women in priestly formation, as recently recommended by Pope Francis.

On the issue of whistleblowing, Maynooth's trustees have ordered a review of current policies and procedures for reporting complaints.

This is a matter of particular concern to those seminarians who claimed they were intimidated into silence when they witnessed inappropriate behaviour.

They said this has been directed with a view to adopting best practice and procedures for 'protected disclosures', or whistleblowing.

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 fallen to just over 40.
home Entertainment 'GTA 5 Online' DLC release date, features news 2016: DLC reportedly delayed as Rockstar launches 'GTA 5 Online' update

The release of a new "GTA 5 Online" update this week seems to confirm that Rockstar is delaying the launch of a new downloadable content (DLC) for the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One.

Earlier this year, leaked plans indicated that Rockstar is preparing to release a biker DLC sometime in August. But it now appears that the video game publisher has changed course. According to Express, a source claims that the biker DLC is now delayed past its initial launch date. The DLC is now reportedly set to arrive at a later date.

Apart from being biker-themed, the next "Grand Theft Auto 5 Online" DLC is said to include a new set of Adversary Modes, modding options, and vehicles. According to Express, the modding will not come via Benny's Original Motor Works, but will be part of an all-new garage. The new garage set-up will reportedly allow players to customize their vehicles from their very own base of operations.

Though Rockstar has not commented on the DLC, reports came out earlier this month about data miners finding script files for the "GTA 5 Online" biker DLC. The files allegedly mentioned vehicle exports, modding garages, biker rescue contact, and a "biker bad deal."

Aside from the rumored biker DLC, the other upcoming DLCs reportedly include new Hunting features and a new Police Mission functionality. In addition, free mode events could include new police-connected missions.

While these DLCs are said to be coming later this year, no official announcements have been made. Rockstar Games has yet to reveal its plans for "Grand Theft Auto 5 Online" for the year. Nonetheless, Take-Two Interactive, its parent publisher, confirmed earlier this month that it is developing new content for "Grand Theft Auto."

"We plan to continue to support our titles with an array of innovative offerings designed to promote ongoing engagement and drive recurrent consumer spending, including additional free content for 'Grand Theft Auto Online,'" Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive, said in a recent earnings statement.
A man is due in court this morning after gardai seized 30kg of cannabis worth an estimated 200,000 in a raid on a house in Finglas.

In an intelligence led operation members of the garda Special Crime Taskforce and the Organised Crime Bureau searched a premises yesterday afternoon and discovered the drugs, as well as a half kilo of cannabis herb and an estimated 6,000 in cash.

Two men, aged 45 and 56, were arrested and detained at Blanchardstown garda station for questioning under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (drug trafficking) Act.

One of the men is due to appear at a sitting of the District Court in the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning.

The second man remains in garda custody.
A UGANDAN lawyer has failed to secure a High Court order directing Facebook Ireland to take down alleged defamatory postings about him from its service.

Fred Muwema claimed he was defamed in postings by a blogger called "TVO" who accuses him of accepting a 900 million Uganda shillings (237,000) bribe and Facebook has a duty to ensure it is removed as publisher of the material.

Expand Close The High Court / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The High Court

Mr Muwema strongly denies the bribe claim and also denies another claim he was involved in a break-in in at his own office.

His injunction application was brought here because Ireland is Facebook's headquarters for its service outside the US and Canada.

Facebook denied it has a duty to remove the material particularly in circumstances where much of it is available across the internet by simply Googling "Muwema" and "bribe".

It had agreed to provide the lawyers with any details it holds in relation to the identities and location of the persons who operate the TVO Facebook page.

In his judgment Mr Justice Donald Binchy said he was dismissing the application for various orders sought by Mr Muwema.

The orders, including one compelling Facebook to take down the page, sought can only be granted in circumstances where it is clear the defendant had no defence that is likely to succeed.

However the Judge said Facebook has a defence to the claim of innocent publication as provided for in section 27 of the 2009 Defamation Act.

The Judge said the action should also be refused because it would serve no useful purpose. During the hearing evidence was given to the court that the same and other damaging allegations about Mr Muwema had appeared on other internet sites and publications.

Lawyers for Mr Muwema had argued the injunction would not affect Facebook's freedom of expression, and had been brought to preserve his reputation.

He needed a court order because despite the bringing of legal proceedings, the blogger had posted more defamatory material.

Material was on other parts of the internet because Mr Muwema had to give a interviews to a Ugandan media denying the allegations. He had no choice but to bring the proceedings.
Rose of Tralee chief executive Anthony O'Gara is at odds with the chair of the judging panel as to whether the issue of the Eighth Amendment has a place at the Kerry festival.

Mary Kennedy said the live televised finals were not the place to raise political issues.

The 'Nationwide' host made the comments after Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins (25) called for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment during Monday night's programme.

"I don't think the Rose of Tralee is a necessarily political platform, although for those two reasons (on Monday night) it did become political," she said. "The Sydney Rose is very deeply committed to women's rights and women's concerns.

Expand Close Anthony O'Gara speaking to the media in Tralee yesterday Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Anthony O'Gara speaking to the media in Tralee yesterday Photo: Frank McGrath

Read More

"She's done some wonderful, wonderful work in Australia. This was a point that she wanted to make but I don't think it's the place to do it."

Silly

However, Mr O'Gara said it would be a "bit silly" to expect the Roses not to have opinions, "controversial or otherwise".

Mr O'Gara said he was "delighted" the Sydney Rose had spoken out as she did.

"I think it's a great thing that... if someone has an opinion that they will express that opinion.

Read More

"If you bring 65 women from across the world together, I presume a significant number of them would share that opinion."

Video of the Day

The Pro-Life Campaign chastised the Sydney Rose for "dipping into the abortion debate".

Campaign spokeswoman Cora Sherlock told the Irish Independent that she didn't think the Rose of Tralee should be "politicised", adding: "It's the Rose of Tralee, not 'Prime Time'."

But yesterday Mr O'Gara said Roses are always asked controversial subjects during judging proceedings. "Every single year, as part of the judging panel, there are controversial questions asked, and they have to be really controversial questions. If someone becomes Rose Of Tralee, they are going to be asked their opinion. I think the judges are quite right to ask questions that are topical and controversial."

Meanwhile, the newly crowned 2016 Rose spoke about the value she places on her Catholic education. "I think Catholic education really moulded me into who I am today," she said.

Read More

Asked if she had an opinion on Brianna Parkins' comments, she said: "Honestly, at this point I don't.

"No offence to the Sydney Rose, but at this point I'm just trying to focus on what's ahead and all the wonderful things we'll be doing this year."

Last night RTE confirmed that it had received 13 formal complaints following Brianna's comments. The broadcaster stated that "as this formal process is under way, RTE will not be making any comment".
In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI's SWAT team of apostolic investigators swooped on the national seminary in Maynooth in search of immorality.

A year later, a summary of their findings was published. The report's venal criticisms undoubtedly prompted a collective sigh of relief within the Irish hierarchy. Nothing too untoward was uncovered and with a few screens and locked doors installed, seminary life went on as usual. But, as we all know, a wound left to fester is not likely to heal.

The future of Maynooth as a seminary hangs in the balance. A college which once catered for the spiritual needs of up to 500 men has seen the number of student priests plummet to roughly 50 this year. Fourteen men embark on six years of training this week.

Some will stay and some will drop out. Even if all of them stayed, it wouldn't be nearly enough to meet the needs of a church facing a vocations crisis and a rapidly ageing clergy.

The series of directives which emerged from the emergency meeting of the national seminary's trustees on Tuesday confirm what many have suspected for a long time.

Dysfunctional behaviour within the hallowed walls of this 200-year-old college has ruptured the camaraderie among the student body and the staff. It has shocked the faithful and diminished the priesthood in their eyes. Pockets supporting the training of priests may prove less deep in the future.

Some commentators have criticised the prurient interest in what seminarians get up to, arguing that as they are not ordained, they should be free to have the space to explore themselves.

If they are on Grindr - so what?

But the days of hordes of seminarians joining the college straight from school are long gone. Most of these men are at least in their late 20s and therefore they know what they are getting into. If they can't hack celibacy, then they should realise that this calling is not for them.

What many lay people find galling is the hypocrisy of conservative men pontificating to them on marital fidelity and no sex before marriage while indulging in no-strings-attached sex themselves.

The research for the book, 'Thirty-Three Good Men: Celibacy, Obedience and Identity', which was carried out by former seminarian Dr John Weafer, interviewed Irish priests on a number of issues. The research showed a difference between the ages on the issue of celibacy with older and middle-aged priests finding it difficult to see any positive side to celibacy, while younger priests regarded it as "key" to their priesthood.

That doesn't stack up with the "strange goings-on" in Maynooth.

One of the interesting directives to emerge from the trustees is the request that the bishops "urgently" develop a uniform national policy for admissions to Irish seminaries. No such uniform policy currently exists, which means the criteria for prospective seminarians vary from diocese to diocese. That can result in haphazard standards among candidates.

The introduction of a propaedeutic (pre-seminary) year for all applicants for priestly training is an attempt by the trustees to distil those who are serious about this life of service from those who may be drawn to priesthood for the wrong reasons. If Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's proposal for an apprenticeship model gains traction, then those keen to retain Maynooth as a seminary will need some good arguments to hold sway.
Distraught Helen Maughan and her husband Joe beside the desecrated grave of their son Bobby Maughan at Boharnabreena Cemetry. Photo: Colin O'Riordan

The leader of a vicious murder mob who is suspected of digging up a grave last week will remain in custody after gardai successfully objected to him getting bail, it has emerged.

Sources revealed that the feared gang boss is facing increasing pressure from rival criminals and even gangsters in his own organisation because his twisted crimes have attracted so much garda attention.

Jail might well be the safest place for him right now, this individual is starting to come under severe pressure, a source said last night.

The expectation is that when he is finally released from prison, he will be very much a marked man and even his former comrades are turning against him, the source added.

The latest outrage linked to the brutal gang happened shortly after 2am last Thursday at Bohernabreena Cemetery in Tallaght, when the grave of a relative of a man they are believed to have murdered was dug up.

The grave of Michael Maughan was unearthed under the cover of darkness.

Expand Close William Maughan and his partner, Anna Varslavane Photo:Damien Eagers / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp William Maughan and his partner, Anna Varslavane Photo:Damien Eagers

The sinister incident occurred a day after Michaels father Joe appealed for information to help find the remains of his son William (34) and Williams partner, Anna Varslavane (21), who were last seen in the Gormanston area of Co Meath on April 14, last year.

However, sources say the grave desecration may also be linked to an alleged incident in Tallaght in which a woman was stabbed in the neck with a fork.

A solidarity march will take place for the Maughan family on Friday at 6.30pm, starting in the home of the Maughans in Cushlawn Park. Supporters will march with the family to Michaels grave.

The gang suspected of being behind the murders of William Maughan and his partner Anna are also linked to the murder of 35-year-old Benny Whitehouse, who was shot dead outside a school in Balbriggan almost two years ago.

Gardai have been on high alert that slain Benny Whitehouses brothers Jimmy and Clifford will become the next targets of the mob.

Read More

The leader of the gang has been locked up since just after last Christmas. The Herald previously revealed that the thug taunted and laughed at gardai as they carried out searches for the missing couple last summer.

His gang have close links to English gangs and other Traveller crime networks.

His right-hand man is out of jail after spending a number of months on remand and gardai are fearful of more bloodshed.

A hitman who has carried out murders for the mob is also back in the country after spending some time in Spain.

It previously emerged that another gang has moved onto the turf of the jailed gang bosss organisation.

Apart from taking over his drugs rackets, sources say that the rival gang have moved in on his stolen car business.

When he gets out of jail, he is going to find things a lot tougher that is for sure, a source said.
'Figures obtained by the Irish Independent reveal several units, such as Portlaoise Hospital, only carry out the scan for clinical reasons or for women deemed at risk'

Thousands of mothers-to-be have no access to routine mid-pregnancy scans to check for major physical abnormalities in their babies, including fatal foetal conditions.

Pregnant women who would like the detailed ultrasound scan at between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy face a postcode lottery, depending on the maternity unit they are attending.

Figures obtained by the Irish Independent reveal several units, such as Portlaoise Hospital, only carry out the scan for clinical reasons or for women deemed at risk.

It does not perform these scans on site and refers women to the Coombe Hospital in Dublin.

These later scans are also just performed on high-risk patients in Limerick hospital, which had 4,726 births last year.

The scan looks in detail at the unborn baby's bones, heart, brain, spinal cord, face, kidneys and abdomen. It allows the sonographer to look specifically for 11 conditions, some of which are very rare.

The conditions which can be picked up include anencephaly and Edwards' syndrome.

These fatal foetal abnormalities can lead to some women travelling to Britain for a termination. The predicament faced by these women has been at the centre of the abortion debate, amid calls to repeal the Eighth Amendment to allow these terminations to be carried out in Ireland.

Expertise

A lack of qualified staff with the necessary expertise is among the main reasons for the lack of routine mid-pregnancy scans. Women who do not have the scan run the risk of having a baby whose anomaly has not been diagnosed.

The infant can have a worse outcome if they are born outside a centre of paediatric surgery.

Others whose baby will die are denied the chance to prepare for the death. And in other cases, a woman may undergo an unnecessary Caesarean section to deliver an infant who cannot survive.

Dr Keelin O'Donoghue and Dr Noirin Russell of Cork University Hospital said the majority of women in their unit, which had 8,113 births last year, cannot routinely access this second trimester scan.

They pointed out: "There is a need for the prompt recognition and timely diagnosis of foetal abnormality, largely through access to detailed ultrasound during pregnancy.

"This is essential if we are serious about equity of care for all pregnant women."

Whether people argue for equal access to either termination of pregnancy or perinatal palliative care in pregnancy with major foetal abnormality, the deficit in the routine availability of these scans in mid-pregnancy must be acknowledged, they added.

The HSE has said that its National Women and Infants Health Programme, established earlier this year, will lead to the development of these pregnancy scans in all maternity units. Women may not get the scan on site, but the plan is to make it available in the wider hospital group the unit they are attending is part of.
A 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."

He continued: "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.
Comedian Jarlath Regan has revealed that he is going to donate a kidney to save his younger brother's life.

Jarlath said that they recently discovered that he was a match for his brother, who needs a transplant, and the surgery will take place in the New Year.

"This is a result of failing to diagnose something very early in life. So he rang me and said 'Jar, will you come in to test and see if you are a match'... so I went over, did it and now it's happening, that's the process of me getting to the point of giving my brother a kidney to save his life, essentially," he said.

Jarlath also said there is a lot of debate within families on deciding whether or not to donate a kidney - but that was never an issue for him.

"There is debate. Families fall out over organ donation all the time, but of course I'm going to save my brother's life," he told the 'Eoghan McDermott Show' on RTE 2fm.

"I'll have medical evidence that I'm a decent human being," he jokingly added.
Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary are to be buried together at Corpus Christi Parish church in West Belfast after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary are to be buried together at Corpus Christi Parish church in West Belfast after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary are to be buried together at Corpus Christi Parish church in West Belfast after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

Undated family handout photo of Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary, who are to be buried together after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary are to be buried together at Corpus Christi Parish church in West Belfast after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary are to be buried together at Corpus Christi Parish church in West Belfast after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

Joseph Murphy, a victim of the 1971 British Army shootings in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and his wife Mary are to be buried together at Corpus Christi Parish church in West Belfast after dying on the same day, 45 years apart

A husband and wife who died on the same day 45 years apart have been buried together, after the widow passed away as his remains lay in a morgue following exhumation.

Joseph Murphy, who was shot dead in the Northern Ireland Troubles in the early 1970s, was exhumed last year by order of a coroner investigating the disputed circumstances of the killing.

His widow Mary, 83, died on Monday after a battle with cancer as her husband's remains continued to lie in a Belfast morgue. It was the same date Mr Murphy died in 1971.

He was one of 10 civilians shot dead by British soldiers in west Belfast in an incident known as the "Ballymurphy massacre".

The victims, including a Catholic priest and a mother-of-eight, died in an Army operation that saw paratroopers storm republican strongholds to arrest IRA suspects following the introduction of internment without trial.

Mrs Murphy and her family had long campaigned for justice and requested the exhumation to get to the truth of claims Mr Murphy was fired on a second time when in Army custody.

While in hospital before his death, Mr Murphy alleged he was first shot in the upper thigh on the streets of Ballymurphy, but he claimed soldiers then brought him into a nearby barracks and shot him again through his open wound.

A suspected bullet fragment was found among his remains after his exhumation. The findings will factor in a new inquest into the 10 deaths.

The coffins of Mr and Mrs Murphy were carried together into Corpus Christi church in Ballymurphy for requiem mass.

Parish priest Darach Mac Giolla Cathain noted the extraordinary chain of events that led the couple to be reunited in the church.

"When Joseph's body was exhumed early on October 27 2015 it was Mary's fervent desire that he have mass offered for the happy repose of his soul before he was reburied," he said.

"Little did she think that he would be buried 45 years to the day when he was first buried.

"More than that, that she would have the grace when she died that they would be side by side in the church and be laid to rest together."

He added: "God's timing really is perfect."

After the service, the couple were buried in the family plot in the nearby Belfast City Cemetery.
HUNDREDS of people have now joined a massive sea, land and air search for a solider missing off the Co Donegal coast since Tuesday.

More than 120 colleagues of the missing Defence Forces corporal have been joined by colleagues from the naval service and Air Corps.

RNLI and Coast Guard teams have also been joined by volunteers from the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team as well as the Garda Underwater Unit as the search to recover the soldier was extended today.

The missing corporal was swept out to sea after getting into difficulty at Tullan Strand in Bundoran around 6pm on Tuesday.

He is based in Athlone but had been attending an overseas deployment course at Finner Camp, outside Ballyshannon.

Two other soldiers from 2nd Field Artillery Regiment based at Custume Barracks were rescued during the incident.

The search was intensified this afternoon and extended further up the coast towards Rossnowlagh.

Inland Fisheries Ireland vessels and a number of fishermen have also joined the search.

An RNLI spokesman said there is a determination among those involved in the operation to recover the soldier from the sea.

Derek Flanagan from Malin Head Coast Guard said conditions had improved today.

We will continue the search operation from 7am to 9pm each day until hopefully its conclusion, he said.
A public meeting discussing the Repeal the 8th Amendment was cancelled after the venue received formal complaints.

The public meeting was due to take place in Parnell's GAA club in Coolock Village on Thursday August 25 but was cancelled fours hours before it was due to start.

Cllr John Lyons who was to chair the meeting said it was a disgraceful denial of free speech.

Why did those who complained not come along to the meeting and express their views? We would have been only too happy to discuss the issues with them at the meeting.

This is an example, yet again, of conservative forces in Ireland preferring to bury these issues so that a new generation of young people are denied the right to discuss them.

We shall be holding a meeting outside the venue at the gates of Parnells GAA and we urge all those who were to attend to come along. Our voices will be heard.

A spokesperson for Parnells GAA club confirmed the meeting was cancelled due to complaints but were unable to comment further.
Local and national Garda units tackling organised crime have seized close to 2m worth of drugs in the last 72 hours.

The seizures were a part of a series of raids carried out across the country, and includes operations in Dublin, Louth and Meath.

Speaking at a press briefing at Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park this afternoon, Det Supt Tony Howard of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) said that the operations were a "significant blow against organised crime".

The DOCB raids were carried out along with members of the newly formed Special Crime Task Force, which was launched last month to combat organised crime in the Dublin region as well as other areas on the East Coast.

Det Supt Howard said that the raids were being treated as four separate instances, and said that other operations targeting the "underbelly" of criminal gangs in the capital were ongoing.
THE family of missing William Maughan has vowed not to back down in the face of threats and intimidation.

"We are not going to back down, why should we back down," his mother Helen 'Nell' Maughan said defiantly at a solidarity march for the family this evening.

They spoke out this week against the gang they suspect murdered their 34-year-old son and his girlfriend Anna Varslavane (21).

Read More

The following day they discovered the grave of another of their sons desecrated.

Michael Maughan (30) had died of meningitis in April 2008.

His grave had been dug up in an act of intimidation, though the perpetrators did not reach the coffin.

More than 100 friends and neighbours from Tallaght marched from the family home in Cushlawn Park to the Bohernabreena Cemetery this evening in a show of defiance against the thugs.

They carried white and yellow balloons, symbolising peace and justice.

Joe Maughan, the father of the two boys, said he would not be intimidated.

He urged anyone with information "do the right thing" and contact the gardai.

William Maughan and Anna Varslavane were last seen alive on Tuesday April 14 in the Gormanston area of Co Meath.
Teens aren't easy to keep entertained on a weekend away. Surfing and zip-lining in Snowdonia could be the answer?

It's no mean feat getting a teenager away from his or her smartphone. Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook - hours and days are spent melting the batteries.

So what to do with a 15-year-old son and two pals with energy to burn, but not the inclination to plan anything for themselves?

How about 100mph zip lines, the world's first inland surfing lagoon or giant, sky-ride swings hoisting riders over 80-feet into the air?

It mightn't spring instantly to mind, but our nearest neighbour, Wales, is becoming a destination of choice for the outdoorsy and adventurous types.

Even better, it's possible to pack in a host of activities over even a short weekend break - much of the action is situated in the breathtaking Snowdonia National Park, which is a 50-minute drive from Holyhead, to which we travelled with Stena Line from Dublin.

Expand Close Jo Dennison, Surf Snowdonia / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Jo Dennison, Surf Snowdonia

Our first stop was Surf Snowdonia (surfsnowdonia.co.uk), the world's first inland surfing lagoon, in the heart of the beautiful Conwy Valley.

The boys were in good hands with head surfer Jo Dennison (above) - a former British champion and a big name on the international circuit - who got them from landlubbers to surf dudes in less than two hours.

While out at sea, you're at the mercy of the weather, but here, the waves are timed to perfection. Each minute, the massive pool generates waves up to a two-metres which can travel 150 metres in mere seconds.

From an initial briefing on dry land, the boys soon got to grips with timing their strides and catching the perfect rip current. Even after a lesson lasting less than two hours, they began to look the part, and a weekend here would get you easily from novice to a competent surfer.

Expand Close Surf Snowdonia / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Surf Snowdonia

The huge centre also plays host to the Crash and Splash lagoon - if you've ever seen TV's Ultimate Wipeout, you'll know what to expect. Teams have to dangle over the water on monkey bars, giant balls and very slippery rollers to get from side to side over the water.

And they frequently land on their backsides in the lagoon (bring a camera, it's hilarious). The high point (literally) comes when one team member jumps onto a giant air-filled balloon (above) and sits precariously on the end of it. His friend - well, former friend - then jumps down, sending the pal catapulting into the air before the giant splash back to the water. Priceless fun. The activity centre also has a good play area for smaller kids and outdoor trampolines. You can stay here too.

The glamping huts are right by the water's edge, so you can catch all the action - there's a full bar and cafe plus the dinner and breakfast (the latter included in the overnight price) are good value and tasty, again with a brilliant view of all the action.

And the best bit for the lads? The glamping huts have outdoor hot tubs, which they got plenty of use out of for night-time dips, and for once they even forgot that they'd brought their shiny smartphones.

Expand Close Zip Safari. Photo: Zipworld.co.uk / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Zip Safari. Photo: Zipworld.co.uk

A beautiful sunrise managed to wake up even the laziest of teens and we set off for the nearby Llechwed Slate Caverns (llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk) near the old mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, high up in the Snowdonia mountains. In its day, it was one of the centres producing Welsh slate - believed to be the best of its kind in the world.

Miners' lives were tough: 12-hour days, children working hundreds of feet below ground and a short life expectancy due to dust inhalation. The miners themselves gave birth to some of the country's best singing traditions amid a proud history.

With mining gone, and the jobs with them, the area has transformed itself into a tourism hub. Now, the drudgery of old has given way to modern-day fun, and we took one of the tiny mining trains to bring us 500 feet under the ground. And the lads were keen to try their hands at digging for slate on the tour which is an incredible - but eerie - experience.

For something completely different, you can bounce on huge nets deep underground below - sliding, rolling or jumping from net to net in a cavern the size of a cathedral. But we went above ground (even I had a go), taking a bus to a mountaintop for Zip World Titan (zipworld.co.uk).

The largest zip zone in Europe, you travel thousands of metres with great views (if you can face looking down) over the Welsh valleys. Maybe you've experienced zip-lining before, but this is something else and a must-do thrill.

Expand Close Visitors using one of the three long Zip World Titan wires at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. Photo by Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Visitors using one of the three long Zip World Titan wires at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. Photo by Colin McPherson/Corbis via Getty Images

All this in two days, with the inevitable pit stop for pizza (I'd recommend taking a few hours in the beautiful tourist town of Betws-y-Coed, where we ate at the cheap and trendy Hangin Pizzeria), with minimal driving and maximum fun.

But the best judges were the boys themselves. Before the trip, they couldn't get much beyond Gareth Bale when asked about Wales.

Now, they can't wait to return.

Get there

Flying with kids - and more so teenagers - can be a strain, and that's where the ferry comes into its own. We travelled with Stena Line (stenaline.ie), taking the 8.20am ferry on the Stena Adventurer out from Dublin and the 8.30pm on the Superfast X back from Holyhead the following evening.

One-way car fares start at 89, but check for offers, including the 10pc off for Surf Snowdonia activities and accommodation when booking a trip.

The private Stena Plus lounge is a good deal for 20 each. Free coffee, tea, soft drinks (they made short work of them) and nibbles, plus the big teen bonus: complimentary wifi to make the three hours and 15 minutes fly by.

A Surf Snowdonia glamping pod costs 100/116 a night for three to four people (with breakfast), but bring pillows and sleeping bags.

Beginner surf lesson-prices start at 40/46.50 (adult) and 30/35 (child); crash and splash costs from 15/17. Zipworld (around an hour and a half) costs 180/210 for a group of four; and the deep mine tour in Llechwed is 15/17 each for family bookings.

Deals are available on 4x4 mountain bike tours too.
How the West would love to believe that Turkey's army in Syria - all 10 tanks of it - are striking at last at everyone's enemy, the blood-soaked cult of the "Islamic State".

But few in Syria or Turkey will be fooled. Isil 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 Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

And yet again as Turkish troops advanced, he bundled up the YPG (People's 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 Isil.

In other words, he's calling both the anti-Assad Isil and the anti-Isil 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 July's failed coup, has been omitted from his latest "battle" objectives in Syria.

Erdogan's latest ally, Vladimir Putin, will have no objections.

At one blow, Turkey strikes - however feebly - at both Isil 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 Turkey's 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-Isil 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 don't 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 Turkey's 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.

It's all bad news for Isil, 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 Arab's "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 Isil than we might imagine. Now the Turks can discover this for themselves in the new ruins of Jerablus.
Despite the expectation that the 'little Englanders' of the Brexit campaign would never have their day in the sun; despite the hope that David Cameron and his slick Notting Hill colleagues would find a way out of the hole they had dug for themselves; despite the forecasts of all the experts and pundits, it seems now that the British political establishment is set on carrying out the full Brexit mandate - as dictated by its English and Welsh electorate.

From an Irish point of view the situation looks remarkably bleak. Not only has the currency in our main export market weakened considerably but a new European border separating North and South may well be created on the island of Ireland.

Such a hard border, involving immigration as well as tariff controls, would negate many of the most important elements of the Good Friday Agreement and could well undermine the whole Northern Ireland peace process. It is imperative, accordingly, that the Irish Government and every self-respecting political party on this island must do everything possible to prevent such an eventuality taking place.

The first thing NOT to do is to call for a border poll.

This would almost certainly be lost and would in any event create enormous sectarian tensions and divisiveness in Northern Ireland. It would make cooperation between North and South less, rather than more, likely.

What is needed instead is a plan that would attract the (not insubstantial) progressive elements within Ulster unionism without threatening their British identity, to which at least half the Northern Ireland population is still deeply attached.

To square this circle, some mechanism must be found that would allow Northern Ireland to continue to be a part of the United Kingdom while at the same time remaining within the EU.

As everyone is aware, this will be a very difficult task to undertake - but it is not altogether impossible.

For Northern Ireland to remain within the EU after the UK has left, a tariff and immigration boundary would have to be created around the island of Ireland, isolating it from the non-EU territory that Great Britain would become.

This would clearly be at variance with standard EU practice and regulations. However, some exceptions of a comparable nature do already exist. The strategically located Swedish-speaking Aaland Islands in the Baltic Sea fall under full Finnish sovereignty but have been granted a separate tariff and tax status - with full EU blessing. Likewise, Greenland was permitted to exit the EU (in 1985) although it remains an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

There are also the well-known entities of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, which have never been part of the EU but are sovereign British dependencies.

All of the above examples are clearly much smaller in terms of both their population and current political importance than Northern Ireland.

On the other hand, Brussels and most of our partners within the EU are only too well aware of the need to preserve the Northern Ireland peace process and to avoid a return to the 30 years of death and devastation that preceded it. Finding support for a compromise proposal in Brussels should not therefore be beyond the capabilities of our diplomatic service.

Furthermore, the Good Friday Agreement is an international treaty which guarantees that close links between North and South on the island will be maintained. These guarantees cannot be unilaterally withdrawn by the British Government. In this respect, it can be argued that Northern Ireland's claim for special treatment by the EU and by Westminster is much stronger than that of Scotland.

The real difficulty without doubt, however, will be the task of persuading at least some Northern unionists that such an arrangement with the EU will not pose a direct threat to their British identity nor to their fiscal links with Britain and with the pound sterling.

At the very least, a pro-EU majority must be forged within the Stormont Assembly if Whitehall is to be forced to pay attention.

If there is no alternative, the DUP and their ilk will have to be left out on a limb of their own making.

This will certainly not be an easy assignment to fulfil but it is one which every Irish nationalist political party on the island should now regard as a priority. Sinn Fein, in particular, must discard its traditional ambivalence towards the EU and also stop talking about border polls and reunification.

It must for once take into account the interests of all the people of this island and persuade enough Northern Protestants that remaining within the EU will not undermine their long-held traditions and beliefs.

Likewise, the Irish Government must stop worrying so much about the Common Travel Area (whose importance in any event is frequently overrated).

It should ensure instead that the focus of its strategy at the forthcoming Brexit negotiations will be first and foremost to prevent any further divisions or hard borders being created on the island of Ireland.

What is at stake is no less than the well-being of all the people of Ireland in the 21st Century.

Dr Niall Holohan is a retired Irish ambassador. He has served for several years with both the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in Belfast and the North/South Ministerial Council in Armagh
Nicole Scherzinger pulled out of Cats on Broadway in order to return to The X Factor as a judge

Nicole Scherzinger said Andrew Lloyd Webber has forgiven her after she pulled out of Cats to judge The X Factor.

The former Pussycat Doll withdrew from her lead role as Grizabella in the Broadway production of the hit musical, leaving Lloyd Webber in the lurch.

The impresario later said that he was "furious" and that her decision made him look like an "absolute twot".

Speaking at the launch of the next series of The X Factor, Scherzinger told the Press Association: "Andrew I think has forgiven me.

"We have made up. I love and respect Andrew and can't wait to work with him again.

"He's a legend. He's a genius. I love music. I grew up with theatre and stage.

"It will have its time again."

Hinting at a new project, she added: "I've got some ideas in my head actually."

Lloyd Webber had said: "I'm furious because I really believe she's the most fantastically talented girl, and I went out on a limb to get her for the London Palladium here, and it makes me look like an absolute twot with them all.

"But never mind, there'll be another girl on Broadway and Nicole will not get her Tony award."

Video of the Day

Leona Lewis later took on the star role, to mixed reviews.
Poldark and its dishy star Aidan Turner will returning for a new series (BBC/PA)

Fans of Poldark and The Fall were begged not to give away spoilers as they were given a first look at the highly-anticipated returning series at the Edinburgh International TV Festival.

The crowd whooped, cheered and swooned as they were shown the first episode of the second series at Poldark, which picks up hot on the heels of the devastating cliffhanger from April 2015, when Ross Poldark was arrested for murder and plundering a shipwreck and his wife Demelza was left alone on the Cornish clifftop.

In the new series Ross faces capital crimes while he and Demelza are still dealing with death of their daughter Julia.

While the first episode takes on a dark tone, there is still much for fans of star Aidan Turner's shirtless scything scene in the first series to enjoy.

New characters are introduced in the second outing of Winston Graham's 18th-century saga, including Midsomer Murders star John Nettles as Ray Penvenen and Gabriella Wilde as his niece Caroline.

W1A star Hugh Skinner stars as Unwin Trevaunance,a prospective MP who hoping to marry the wealthy heiress.

New characters are also introduced in the first episode of the third series of serial killer drama The Fall, with Wallander star Krister Henriksson and Coupling actor Richard Coyle joining the cast.

Before the screening, one of the show's executive producers implored the audience not to reveal anything on social media, saying "This is a treat, we don't want to spoil it."

At the end of last series, Jamie Dornan's serial killer Paul Spector appeared close to death in the arms of Gillian Anderson's troubled detective Stella Gibson after he was shot while in police custody.

The Fall will return to BBC Two this autumn while Poldark returns to BBC One on September 4.
A tourist who made a heartfelt online appeal for the return of her lost camera has said she has been overwhelmed by the response.

Sheila Flanagan, 70, from Argyle, Texas, posted on Facebook asking for help after losing her camera at Loch Lomond during a trip to Scotland.

The post was shared thousands of times and Mrs Flanagan said she has been inundated with messages from people trying to reunite her with her pictures.

Her camera is yet to be found but she still hopes she may get back photographs of what she fears might have been her last trip to Scotland - a country she loves so much that she has a "Made in Scotland" tattoo and wants her ashes scattered there.

She got the tattoo aged 66 on her first trip to Scotland in tribute to her Scottish mother Margaret, who was seven months pregnant with her when she moved to the US as a war bride.

Mrs Flanagan said: "I've had so many people trying their best to spread the word to help me find my camera. I just love Scotland and now this has happened it just tells me why.

"It's been heart-warming and very touching that so many people are willing to help me and who knows, maybe it will happen and I'll get the pictures back.

"If I never get my camera back, it really is okay because this experience has just solidified my love for Scotland and has shown me why I have had such a deep-seated love for the country all of these years.

"It's just a beautiful country with beautiful people. The kindness and caring has absolutely overwhelmed me."

She said in her original appeal: "I know this is probably crazy to think someone might have found my camera, but I'm going to post this anyway. I had the most fantastic trip to Scotland in May with my son and other family.

"We had left the Isle of Skye on our way to our last night in Glasgow and had stopped at Loch Lomond. The battery ran out in my camera and I thought I put it in the rental car. When I got back to Texas, I realised I didn't have my camera.

"I tried the rental car agency and the hotel we stayed in our last night in Glasgow, no luck.

"So, if anyone has found a red Canon Powershot camera and would like to contact me, I would LOVE to just get the pictures back. You are welcome to keep the camera.

"I turned 70 in July and I am afraid that might have been my last trip to my beloved Scotland."

Mrs Flanagan can be contacted at mishe74@verizon.net.
Jaffa Cake makers McVitie's issued an official statement confirming they were not for dunking

The usual Jaffa Cake debate centres on whether it can be classed as a biscuit or a cake.

But Paul Hollywood sparked a whole new divide among the British public on Wednesday night's opening episode of the new series of The Great British Bake Off: to dunk or not to dunk.

In response to the judge's brazen dip of the cake in his cup of tea, makers McVitie's have issued an official statement confirming that Hollywood made a big faux pas.

McVitie's brand director, Kerry Owens, said: "Only Brits could be so passionate about this issue, and they have spoken - Jaffa Cakes are not for dunking!

"As the experts of all things Jaffa Cake (and dunking) we tend to agree - the sponge base just isn't robust enough to hold up in a hot drink.

"However, Paul is the nation's expert of all things baking so maybe we'll see him starting a new trend."

Research commissioned by the company after Hollywood's etiquette error revealed three-quarters of Britons claim that they have never dunked a Jaffa Cake in their tea or coffee.

But 50% say they would try it in the future, suggesting that Hollywood may indeed by the next food trendsetter.

As ever, fellow judge Mary Berry provided comfort to the nation in this time of controversy.

She admonished Hollywood on the show, saying: "We don't do that in the South, you know."

The 12 new amateur bakers in the tent were set the task of making a dozen Jaffa Cakes for their first technical challenge of the series.

Every year, over one million Jaffa Cakes are made at McVitie's factory in Manchester and are their second most popular product - only behind chocolate digestives.

In a 1991 VAT tribunal, the government announced that Jaffa Cakes should be considered cakes on the basis of characteristics including hardening when stale and being substantially sponge.

The ruling makes them exempt from VAT, unlike their luxury biscuit cousins.
D-Day veterans Ted Pieri, left, and Fred Glover, both 90, after they made a tandem parachute jump at Salisbury's Old Sarum Airfield

Two 90-year-old Second World War veterans made their second tandem parachute jump in just five days on Thursday, with one even landing in a battlefield where he was shot down 72 years ago.

Wearing bright red jumpsuits and goggles, Fred Glover and Edward "Ted" Pieri hurtled hundreds of feet towards the ground at the Old Sarum airfield in Salisbury to raise money for the London Taxi Benevolent Association For War Disabled, also known as the Taxi Charity.

Last Saturday they parachuted into the Merville Battery in north-west France, a fortified German bunker which saw fierce fighting during the 1944 Normandy landings.

It was a fitting site for Mr Glover, from Brighton, whose glider was hit over the battlefield by anti-aircraft fire more than seven decades ago, making him crash into a nearby orchard.

After being injured he recouped at a Parisian hospital and later escaped with French Resistance support.

Speaking before the jump, he said he was "not at all nervous" and "really looking forward" to jumping with the Red Devils parachute display team.

He added: "I've been returning to visit the area since the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1994 and I have lots of friends in Normandy, they're a good crowd... I've been going for so many years now that some of the toddlers I've met are now grown up with families of their own."

Mr Pieri, from Kent, joined the 1st Airborne Division in 1943 while Mr Glover was a member of 6th Airborne "A Company".

The jumps helped raise money for next year's charity D-Day trip to Normandy, which is aiming to take around 150 veterans and 80 black cabs to Normandy for four nights, according to a committee member.

The London Taxi Benevolent Association For War Disabled was set up in 1947 in Fulham and relies on donations and volunteer London taxi drivers to provide their cabs and time for free.

Mr Pieri said: "I've been on a number of outings with the charity including a trip to Arnhem last year. At each event I have had a different taxi driver who hosted and looked after me throughout.

"Each showed a wonderful professional attitude and they go out of their way to do as much as they can. They do this in their own time, they are very special people."
An easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Belfast was delayed by over an hour after two members of the cabin crew were removed from the plane following a row.

The flight was due to take off at 2.45pm on Wednesday but was held up after what the airline confirmed was a "verbal disagreement".

TV presenter Dan Lobb was on board the plane and posted a series of messages about the incident.

He wrote: " This is a first. My easyJet flight has returned to gate because the cabin crew have had a tiff! One crew member being offloaded. Delayed."

Lobb described the situation as "unreal" with two crew members "being offloaded".

An airline spokesman said: "E asyJet 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 easyJet's highest priority and in order to deliver this easyJet's cabin crew need to be able to work as a team.

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the resulting delay."
Apple is investigating after spyware was found targeting an iPhone in the Middle East

Apple has issued a global update of its iOS mobile operating system after a botched attempt to break into the iPhone of an Arab activist using spyware.

The software took advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in the iPhone to take complete control of the devices, according to reports by the San Francisco-based Lookout smartphone security company and internet watchdog group Citizen Lab.

Both reports pointed towards the NSO Group, an Israeli company with a reputation for flying under the radar, as the author of the spyware.

"The threat actor has never been caught before," said Mike Murrary, a researcher with Lookout, describing the program as "the most sophisticated spyware package we have seen in the market".

The reports outlined how an iPhone could be completely compromised with the tap of a finger. The weaknesses could allow hackers to take control of targeted iPhones to spy on calls and messages.

Apple said it fixed the vulnerability as soon as it heard about it.

In a statement which stopped short of acknowledging that the spyware was its own, the NSO Group said its mission was to provide "authorised governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime".

The company said it had no knowledge of any particular incidents.

AP
A wooden urn with the ashes of Polish fighter ace Captain Kazimierz Sporny is greeted with military honours at the Krzesiny Air Base in Poznan (AP)

The ashes of Polish fighter ace Captain Kazimierz Sporny, who is credited with downing at least five enemy planes in the Battle of Britain during the Second World War, have been taken from London to Poland and buried with military honours.

The ceremony in Capt Sporny's home town, the western city of Poznan, was part of events honouring Poland's Air Force and marking the 10-year anniversary of its deployment of F-16 fighter jets, an element of the force's modernisation.

Poland's conservative government attaches great importance to defence amid tense relations with Moscow over Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine.

Six F-16 fighters flew over Poznan's Krzesiny air base as the wooden urn with Capt Sporny's ashes arrived, greeted by local authorities, regional Air Force commanders and Second World War veteran pilots. Capt Sporny's nephew, Zygmunt Sporny, was present.

A funeral service and burial took place with a Guard of Honour at the city's Milostow cemetery.

Capt Sporny was born in Poznan in 1916 and trained in Poland to be an Air Force pilot. When Poland was carved up by Hitler's Germany and the Soviet Union at the start of the war in September 1939, he headed to France, and then to Britain.

Along with thousands of other Polish men, he joined the British forces to be able to fight against the Germans. From 1940-44, he was a pilot in the Royal Air Force's Polish Fighter Squadrons 303 and 302. He flew on 93 mission against Nazi Messerschmitt fighters, and on 164 other missions.

He was awarded Poland's Cross of Valour three times, as well as the country's highest military distinction, the Virtuti Militari order, and Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross.

In 1946 he married Margaret McArthur, a British citizen, but soon was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He died in England in 1949 and was buried at London's Catholic St Mary's Cemetery.

AP
The gigantic pearl sits on a weighing scale in Puerto Princesa City on the southern Philippines island of Palawan. Photo: HANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images

A giant pearl - believed to be the biggest in the world and possibly worth more than $100m (88m) - has been discovered in the Philippines after a fisherman's family handed it over to authorities.

The huge pearl is confirmed to have come from a giant clam. It measures at 30.5cm in width and 67.5cm 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 massive find was handed in by a relative of the fisherman.

"We were amazed when he brought it to us," Ms Amurao told local media, the BBC reported.

Ms Amurao put out a plea on Facebook for expert gemologists to visit Puerto Princesa and help certify the pearl's authenticity, and officials are currently waiting on confirmation of the gem's status as the largest pearl in the world.

Prior to this discovery, the world's largest pearl was known to be the Pearl of Lao Tzu, also found in the Philippines, which weighed 6.4kg.
Victim Mia Ayliffe-Chung (right) worked as waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar along with bartender colleague Amy Browne Photo: PA

A British tourist killed at a hostel in Australia by a Frenchman yelling "Allahu Akbar" has been named as Mia Ayliffe-Chung.

The 21-year-old studied psychology and childcare before travelling to Surfers Paradise, in the state of Queensland, and worked as a nightclub waitress.

Expand Close Mia Ayliffe-Chung Photo: PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Mia Ayliffe-Chung Photo: PA

Police arrested a 29-year-old Frenchman and are investigating whether the "senseless" knife attack was motivated by Islamic extremism.

The man killed Ms Ayliffe-Chung and injured a 30-year-old Briton, as well as a dog.

According to her Facebook page, Ms Ayliffe-Chung was from Belper in Derbyshire.

Her identity was confirmed by local media in Surfers Paradise, where her workmates described her as "bubbly".

She reportedly travelled north from Surfers Paradise 10 days ago to work in a rural area to extend her Australian visa.

Dream

Last month, Ms Ayliffe-Chung wrote on Facebook that the "hardest thing living my dream" is "missing the important home things".

Describing her rural experience last week, she wrote: "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."

The attack happened on Tuesday night at a hostel in Home Hill, a quiet coastal town about 97km south of the city of Townsville in north Queensland.

The 30-year-old British man is in hospital in a critical condition.

According to witnesses, the killer yelled "Allah Akbar" - Arabic for "God is great" - during the attack and after he was arrested.

"We don't have a motive yet," said Superintendent Ray Rohweder.

"Police were confronted with a terrible scene when they arrived. There were up to 30 people who witnessed the incident."

A local resident was also injured, but not seriously, and a dog that lived on the premises was killed.

Police said the Frenchman was legally in Australia on a temporary visa and was not known to authorities. He had been in Australia since March.

"This person appears to have acted alone," said Steve Gollschewski, Queensland's deputy commissioner.

"He is a visitor to Australia and appears to have no known local connectionsThis is a tragic incident."

Mr Gollschewski said police were investigating whether the attacker was motivated by Islamic extremism, adding: "We could be dealing with a pure criminal act or something related to mental health or drug issues."

Amy Browne (19), from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender at the Bedroom Lounge Bar where Ms Ayliffe-Chung was a waitress, said: "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."

Reuniting

On July 19, Ms Ayliffe-Chung 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."

Tommy Martin (24), from Newbury, Berkshire, who met Ms Ayliffe-Chung in Bali before reuniting on the Gold Coast, said: "She was a free spirit who didn't have any set plans, but that's the way she loved it.

"I'm very shocked to see this and to be honest I've never known anyone to die so it's a bit much."

Mr Gollschewski said Ms Ayliffe-Chung was the first person to be attacked and that the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack.

Two police officers arrived and the attacker was then asked to lie on the ground before being arrested.

Police have informed British diplomats, who will attempt to contact the families.

Australia has experienced numerous attacks and plots by Islamic extremists in recent years, though they have typically involved local - and often Australian-born - citizens.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, was described as 'gorgeous' by friends

A FRENCHMAN who allegedly stabbed to death a young British female backpacker in their Australian hostel while shouting Allahu akbar may have developed a romantic infatuation with the victim, police believe.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung was killed in a frenzied knife attack as other travellers desperately tried to save the 21-year-old.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Victim Mia Ayliffe-Chung (above right) worked as waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar along with bartender colleague Amy Browne (above left) Picture: PA Mia Ayliffe-Chung Photo: PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Victim Mia Ayliffe-Chung (above right) worked as waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar along with bartender colleague Amy Browne (above left) Picture: PA

Another British backpacker, Tom Watson, remains in a critical condition after being stabbed up to 20 times in the face and body trying to protect her.

Smail Ayad, 29, injured several police officers and was reportedly screaming Allahu akbar, or God is Great, before he was subdued and arrested, but police played down a link to extremism or terrorism. He was officially charged on Thursday with Miss Ayliffe-Chung's murder, as well as two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault.

Detectives have found no terror links to him and are now investigating whether he had developed an obsession with Miss Ayliffe-Chung.

Asked if Mr Ayad had a romantic interest in Miss Ayliffe-Chung, Det Supt Ray Rohweder, regional crime co-ordinator from the Northern Region, said: "That's one of the lines of inquiry that we are conducting. There is certainly, at this stage, no indication certainly from Mia's point of view that there was any sort of romantic connection."

Expand Close Smail Ayad / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Smail Ayad

He also said that, although nothing was being ruled out, there was "absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or any political motive in relation to this matter".

Another Briton, Chris Porter, said he and Miss Ayliffe-Chung had been staying in the same room as the alleged knifeman.

Mr Porter, 22, from Rochester in Kent, woke to find her being attacked in the bunk below him.

After stabbing Mr Watson, 30, the attacker then turned his attention to Mr Porter who jumped from a second storey window of Shelleys Backpackers in Home Hill, south of Townsville, to escape.

The knifeman then continued to chase Mr Porter, who is believed to have fractured both heels in his leap.

Mr Porters brother, Aaron, told the Gold Coast Bulletin the alleged killer continued to pursue his younger brother, chasing him down the road with the knife.

He said: Hes had to wave down a car and this guy was trying to smash through the car window.

A dog was also killed in the attack.

The Frenchman had been staying at the hostel for several days and seemed an absolutely 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, Mr Porter's brother said. The guy was a nutter.

Mr Ayad, from Marseille, entered Australia in March on a temporary visa, and had been involved in an argument with his alleged victim before the attack, The Australian reported.

Bill Byrne, Queenslands police minister, described the stabbing attack as tragic and disturbing, but said it was not about race or religion.

The victims mother, Rosie Ayliffe, said her daughter would not want to be the reason for any hostilities caused by any misinterpretation of events.

Ms Ayliffe paid tribute to her daughter, calling her an amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit. Not only was she kind and funny, she was clever, sassy, with a sense of fun.

Mr Ayad, who has had a psychiatric assessment and undergone forensic analysis, stopped co-operating with police on Wednesday night after being initially co-operative and was Tasered and pepper sprayed by officers.

Mr Rohweder said: "When we transported the suspect from the Townsville hospital to the Townsville police station, the suspect behaved in an extremely violent manner which necessitated police stopping the motor vehicle and attempting to restrain him.

"As a result of that police received some injuries, including just cuts and aberrations but also a bite to the leg."

Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, studied childcare at Buxton & Leek College before embarking on a round-the-world trip which had seen her visit Morocco, India and Indonesia before arriving in Australia earlier this year.

She had been working as a waitress and with animals on a farm so she could extend her working holiday visa.

A former boyfriend said she had fallen in love with the country and had hoped to stay.

Jamison Stead, a 23-year-old sales rep, said: 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.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Hillary Clinton's meetings with donors to the Clinton Foundation while she was US secretary of state have been criticised by Republicans (AP)

Former US president Bill Clinton has said he is proud of people who have donated to the Clinton Foundation and the work the organisation has done, as he wades into a dispute that Republicans are hoping will damage his wife's presidential campaign.

"We're trying to do good things," Mr Clinton said. "If there's something wrong with creating jobs and saving lives, I don't know what it is.

"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."

He also defended Hillary Clinton's contact with donors to the foundation while serving as secretary of state, saying foundation donors like Bangladeshi economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus have no trouble reaching officials around the world.

An Associated Press report found more than half of the non-government officials who met with Mrs Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money to the Clinton Foundation.

The meetings between Mrs Clinton, now the Democratic presidential nominee, and foundation donors do not appear to violate legal agreements both Clintons signed before she joined the State Department in 2009. State Department officials have said they are unaware of any agency actions influenced by the foundation.

Yet the frequency of the overlaps shows the mixing of access and donations. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has criticised the links between the foundation and the State Department, accusing the Clintons of establishing "a business to profit from public office".

Mrs Clinton said the report had only "looked at a small portion of my time" as secretary of state and had drawn the conclusion that her meetings with Nobel laureates - such as Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel - were connected to the foundation rather than their work as global leaders.

"That is absurd," she told US TV channel CNN. She described the story as "all smoke, no fire".

Mr Clinton said changes at the foundation are needed if Mrs Clinton becomes president that were not necessary when she led the State Department. The foundation will not 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," Mr Clinton said. "If you're president, you can't."

A statement issued on Monday said those changes will go into effect if Mrs Clinton is elected. Mr Clinton said the foundation has begun looking for partners to take over some of its work in preparation for that outcome. That type of transition "takes a reasonable amount of time", he said.

"You have to do it 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."

AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, right, welcomes Nigel Farage at a campaign rally in Jackson, Mississippi (AP)

Nigel Farage has said he would not vote for US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton if he was paid, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing her rival Donald Trump.

The outgoing Ukip leader was speaking at a rally for Republican White House hopeful Mr Trump in Jackson, Mississippi.

The majority of his speech focused on the success of the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

He framed it as a victory for the anti-establishment movement - a theme that is also popular in Mr Trump's campaign.

He said: "Anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment."

Mr Farage condemned President Barack Obama's decision to intervene in the EU referendum and urge Britons to vote Remain.

"I could not possibly tell you how to vote in this election," he said. "But I will say this, if I was an American citizen I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me."

Earlier, on a visit to Florida, Mr Trump said polls showed him trailing the state.

Mr Farage told the audience at the Mississippi Coliseum that they could challenge the expectations of pollsters as Brexit campaigners had.

He said that he came to the UK with a message of hope that "the little people" could "overcome" big banks and multinationals.

He said: "We did it - we made June 23 our independence day when we smashed the establishment."
South African anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu has admitted himself to a Cape Town hospital for treatment of a recurring infection, according to his family foundation.

The 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner is expected to remain in the hospital for a week or two, said the statement issued by the foundation late on Wednesday.

Tutu underwent similar treatment last year, when he was in hospital several times.

Updated information will be released when it is available, said the archbishop's daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.

Tutu became the first black archbishop of Cape Town where he was an outspoken opponent of South Africa's apartheid regime, which enforced a harsh system of racial discrimination. Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Since the end of apartheid in 1994, Tutu has campaigned for human rights, to fight HIV/AIDS, racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia.

He also chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that investigated atrocities during the apartheid regime and granted amnesty to some accused perpetrators.

AP
An alcoholic mother is due to be sentenced today for twice urinating on a public war memorial, including on the eve of the Battle of the Somme centenary.

Drunk Kelly Martin, 42, desecrated the monument in Grays, Essex, in April and June in front of members of the public, including mothers with young children.

Pictures of the June 30 offence caused a public outcry when they were posted on social media on July 1 as the nation commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Somme offensive, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives in 1916.

Martin, of Grays, who was arrested on July 2, denied two charges of outraging public decency, and one each of common assault and using abusive language against a paramedic the same day.

She was convicted of all charges after a short trial at Basildon Magistrates' Court.

Martin will appear at the same court for the sentencing hearing.

At her trial on August 16, members of the UK Veterans One Voice organisation produced a letter for magistrates requesting a harsh sentence for Martin.

They said her actions had left many vulnerable ex-service personnel "nauseated and disgusted".

They wrote: "We feel that such a display of disrespect to our fallen brothers and sisters is a huge insult, not only to the fallen but to their families, who gave so much as well.

"These were not the actions of a drunken teenager on a night out celebrating exam finals, this was a coldly calculated loutish act, deliberate in its intention to both desecrate a memorial and insult those who have served the Crown."
Five men who died in a sea tragedy were in their late teens and early 20s and from the Greater London area, police believe.

Sussex Police said they understand the men were spending the day at the beach when they died off Camber Sands, near Rye in East Sussex, on Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly said they were wearing clothes "appropriate for being at the beach for the day".

Ms Roskilly said: "We believe we now know who the men are and that they came to the beach together for the day. We believe they are all in their late teens and early 20s and come from the Greater London area.

"These men were not fully clothed when they were pulled from the sea but wearing clothes appropriate for being at the beach for the day.

"We have no further reports of anyone else missing from Camber and there are no ongoing searches related to this incident.

"This has been an incredibly tragic incident and we are offering their next of kin support at this difficult time and our thoughts are with them."

It was feared a sixth person was missing but there was no search operation at the beach on Thursday and day-trippers were continuing to arrive.

The first three men died despite efforts by medics to save them after being pulled from the sea near Rye at about 2.15pm on Wednesday. Later in the evening a beach-goer found two bodies and reported another in the water.

One beach-goer said police told her to stay out of the sea due to a rip tide while another, 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 how the men had run into difficulties as the sea appeared calm.

"The sea is very shallow for quite a long way," he said. "It seems so strange how they got into trouble. There was no waves and no wind."

A spokesman for Rother District Council said that, despite there being no lifeguards, there are summer patrols to advise people of potential dangers, reunite lost children with their families and deal with incidents on the beach.

"While it's very upsetting to see two similar, tragic incidents this summer, over the years these kind of incidents are extremely rare and on a fine day around 25,000 people use the beach safely," he said.

"Although it's too early to draw any conclusions from this latest incident, in recent years we have seen a change in the make-up of visitors to Camber, including more people from outside the area who are not familiar with the sea and the dangers it can pose."

An online petition started a month ago to campaign for lifeguards on the beach has reached more than 3,600 signatures.

Eyewitness 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.

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 beach-goers.

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 17-year-old son.

The latest Camber Sands tragedy brings the death toll around Britain's coastline to 12 over the last week, prompting the RNLI to urge seaside visitors to take care and respect the water.

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, also died after getting into trouble as 13ft (4m) 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 difficulty while swimming off Jersey, and a man died despite the efforts of medics after getting stuck in a rip current at Sandbanks beach in Poole, Dorset.
An Irish man who was caught up in an earthquake in Italy earlier this week has described the area as devastated following the disaster.

Dublin man Marco Gentile, whose father was originally from Italy, was staying in the town of Amatrice with his family at the time of the quake.

Speaking to RTE Radio Ones Liveline on Thursday afternoon Mr Gentile said he was extraordinarily lucky to escape unharmed during Wednesday mornings shock earthquake.

He told the show his father was from a village close to Amatrice and he had been visiting the area regularly since he was a child.

My fathers actually from that area. Were from a smaller village, literally just 3km away, which in earthquake terms is pretty much on top of the site, he told the show.

He explained: We woke up at 3:30 or 3:45 in the morning, with the house literally shaking from left to right. It was the most extraordinary experience you can imagine.

My wife was amazing. She just literally grabbed our two sons  a six-year-old and a four-year-old - and just no socks or shoes or anything, just grabs and runs down two flights of stairs, out the back door and across to the local field where everybody else from the village was going.

We were extraordinarily lucky. The houses have been devastated in our village. Most of them havent actually collapsed completely but theyre devastated.

Theyll have to be torn down, but we were so lucky that everybody in our particular village walked out almost without a scratch.

He described Amatrice before this weeks disaster as a beautiful, beautiful town.

He explained: Most of the people there, a lot of the people there, would have work in Rome and all that kind of stuff but Rome is only a two hour drive away.

And so its one of these areas where Amatrice and its 45 villages around it would only have a population of about 2,500 during the year as normal, but come the summer time Rome obviously gets really warm and everybody comes up for the summer, it goes up to 25,000 [to] 30,000 people.

Mr Gentile said one of the only surviving buildings he could see was a clock tower in the town which carried a plaque with the names of fallen World War soldiers, including his uncle.

He said: Its just a beautiful country place and to see it devastated to the point where the place is in ruins. You can see the tower in the middle still standing.

Amazingly its still standing because not many years ago they actually did a reconstruction on that and they reinforced it. It was getting old and now you look at Amatrice and its almost the only thing standing. Its incredible to see that much devastation.

He also described the immediate response of his family when the earthquake began early on Wednesday morning.

Youre fast asleep. Youre in as deep a sleep as it gets. By the time your brain even switches on to whats going on and then its literally like all of your senses are being bombarded.

The whole house is shaking, I never felt anything like it. Its just an extraordinary sensation. The buildings are literally collapsing around you.

My bedside locker got demolished by a block of stone off the back wall of my bedroom. A couple of inches further over and it would have been worse. The house was literally crumbling as we were talking.

My six-year-old, he understands whats going on and he woke up to the rumble of it and just pulled the blanket over himself and started screaming because obviously he didnt have a clue what was going on.

He added: We knew all the people in Amatrice personally. Its total devastation on a physical and a personal level. Its extraordinary and its really quite emotional.

He also praised the response of Italian emergency services, saying: I have to say, its quite extraordinary. Within hours there was literally miles of emergency vehicles.

It just shows you when these things happen Italy really does come together, they will come from near and far.

Speaking to the shows host, Joe Duffy, Mr Gentile explained: I was looking around it and I kind of went this is what war zones look like. The only difference is that the emergency vehicles are a different colour.

Ill be coming back to Ireland soonWell just stay up in a hotel for a few days. Ill obviously want to go back to Amatrice and see. For starters I want to donate blood and see if theres anything I can do. Also I want to make sure that all of my personal relations are okay.

After that all I can do is fly home and then maybe go back in a months time and see what we can do with the houses.

Obviously were so upset because of the beauty thats been taken away but I mean what can you for the lives that are lost? All you can do is be grateful for the ones that werent and be positive.

The real hope is that the government do get together and get these people to rebuild it because if thats not done, these villages just die off.
A powerful earthquake devastated a string of mountain towns in central Italy yesterday, trapping residents under rubble, killing at least 120 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 140km east of Rome. It was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, each more than 220km from the epicentre.

Expand Close In the nearby town of Amatrice, the main street in ruins Photo: REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp In the nearby town of Amatrice, the main street in ruins Photo: REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

A family of four, including two boys aged eight months and nine years, were buried when their house in Accumoli imploded. As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant 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 235m of emergency funds.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis cancelled part of his general audience to pray for the victims.

Rescue workers used helicopters to pluck trapped survivors to safety in the more isolated villages, which had been cut off by landslides and rubble.

Expand Close A man is carried on a stretcher in the town of in Arquata del Tronto Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A man is carried on a stretcher in the town of in Arquata del Tronto Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

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. 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.

The national Civil Protection Department gave the official death toll of 120. Scores more will still believed unaccounted for, with the presence of the summer holidaymakers making it difficult to tally. Patients at the badly damaged hospital in Amatrice were moved to the street.

Expand Close A man pulled from the rubble Photo: REUTERS/Remo Casilli / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A man pulled from the rubble Photo: REUTERS/Remo Casilli

"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."

Stefano Petrucci, mayor of nearby Accumoli, said some 2,500 people were left homeless in the local community, 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 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 sent to the area.

Expand Close A victim gets aid Photo: Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A victim gets aid Photo: Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP

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.

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.

Most of the damage was in the Lazio and Marche regions. Neighbouring Umbria was also affected.

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. INGV reported 150 aftershocks in the 12 hours following the initial quake, the strongest measuring 5.5.

The damage was made more severe because the epicentre was at a relatively shallow 4km 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, said.

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.
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 Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on December 28 last year.

"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 said.

Plan

The gun used was his father-in-law's old service revolver, which he took to the care home from his home. 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 himself.

King denied murder at an earlier hearing but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and told police he wanted to stop his wife suffering.

Judge Gratwicke, sentencing, said: "This was, from every angle, a tragedy."

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.
A man is carried on a stretcher in the town of in Arquata del Tronto Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

An injured nun checks her phone Photo: Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP

In the nearby town of Amatrice, the main street in ruins Photo: REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

An Irish family were among thousands forced from their homes following a devastating earthquake in central Italy.

Speaking to the Herald from Rome, where many felt tremors, bar owner Michael Burns (41) said his family in the town of Amelia, 80 miles from the epicentre, had to flee their home during the night when the quake struck early yesterday.

"They had to get out of the house because it was shaking so bad. Most of the neighbours did the same," said Mr Burns, whose sons Wayne (9) and Killian (6) have Irish passports.

"They waited outside for 45 minutes wrapped in blankets before they felt it was safe to go back in again.

Expand Close Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Rescuers work on a collapsed building following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

"I got a call from my family in the morning just after the quake hit to let me know what happened.

"Later in the day, they had to get out again when the aftershocks came.

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

"It was very scary for the kids, but thankfully no one was hurt."

Closer

The Belfast man, who has lived in Italy for 21 years, added: "I've been hearing reports all day about how bad things are in Accumoli and Amatrice.

"The entire area has been left devastated.

Expand Close 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 / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp 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

"I don't even want to think about what might have happ-ened had we lived closer to the epicentre."

Mr Burns, who runs the Finnegan Irish pub in the Italian capital, said the surrounding area hit hardest by the quake was not somewhere that Irish holidaymakers would head for.

"It's well off the tourism track and I'd be very surprised to learn there were any people from Ireland living in the area," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has received no requests for consular assistance following the quake, but staff at the Irish embassy in Rome were continuing to monitoring the situation.

Expand Close People and rescuers stand near collapsed buildings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp People and rescuers stand near collapsed buildings following an earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Last night, President Michael D Higgins sent a letter of condolences to Italian president Sergio Mattarella.

Irish citizens with concerns about the quake are asked to call 01 408 2527.
A Filipino fisherman has found possibly the world's biggest pearl, which he had hidden under a bed for more than 10 years as a lucky charm, a tourism official said.

Aileen Amurao, a relative of the fisherman and tourism officer for Puerto Princesa city on western Palawan island, said the man gave her the pearl last month for safekeeping because he was moving to a new place.

Ms Amurao said the pearl, which weighs 75lb (34kg) and is 2ft 2in (67cm) long and 1ft (30cm) wide, was sitting on a bench in her home for weeks until she found time to check the internet, and she was shocked to learn that it could be the world's biggest.

The fisherman, his father and brothers found the irregular-shaped pearl inside a giant clam which stuck to their boat's anchor when they sought refuge from a squall on a reef, Ms Amurao said.

The family hid the pearl in a bag under a bed, rubbing it with their hands before going out to sea in the belief it would bring them luck, she said.

The fisherman did not want to be identified, she added.

She said that she, the fisherman and his family decided to hand the pearl over to the city's mayor, who had it displayed in a glass case in Puerto Princesa's city hall to attract tourists.

The fisherman will receive a still-unspecified reward from the local government, Ms Amurao said, adding that he never intended to sell it.

Experts from the University of the Philippines have expressed interest in inspecting the pearl, but she said no date has been set for their visit.

It would not be the first time giant pearls have been found off Palawan.

A 20lb (9kg) specimen, called Pearl of the King, was found in Palawan in 1939, and is on display at a hotel in the central island resort of Boracay.

Local media have reported that fishermen had recovered other huge pearls in the province, including one reportedly weighing 54lb (24.75kg).

Guinness World Records lists a 718.50-carat baroque abalone pearl as the biggest of its kind, measuring 5.5in (14cm) in length, 3.1in (8cm) wide and 1.6in (4cm) thick.

AP
Gay couples, single parents and foreigners would not be allowed to hire Indian women as surrogates under the proposed law (AP)

The Indian government plans to ban foreigners, single parents and gay couples from using India's surrogacy services under a proposed law intended to protect poor women from exploitation.

Only infertile couples who have been married for at least five years could seek a surrogate, who must be a close relative, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said.

"There will be a complete ban on commercial surrogacy. Childless couples, who are medically unfit to have children, can take help from a close relative, in what is an altruistic surrogacy," Ms Swaraj said at a news conference in New Delhi.

The bill does not say which relatives are close enough to be considered as potential surrogates. The proposed law will soon be introduced in parliament, where the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party commands a majority in the lower house.

Gay couples, single parents and foreigners would not be allowed to hire Indian women as surrogates under the proposed law, which would have to be passed by both houses of parliament to become law.

Over the past few years, India has become a popular destination for people wanting to have children using surrogate mothers, partly because its doctors and clinics broker the service at relatively low cost.

But many of the women are paid a pittance of the money that is paid to clinics by anxious couples yearning to have a child.

Ms Swaraj cited past cases where a couple took home one child from a twin birth or a couple left a disabled baby with the surrogate. "The law would stop such unethical practices," she said.

In 2001, India legalis ed commercial surrogacy, in which a surrogate mother can carry another's genetic child through a process of in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer for a payment. Although there are no official figures available, a 2012 UN report counted around 3,000 fertility clinics in India.

India's surrogacy business was estimated at around 1 billion dollars (65 million) a year and growing, but it had few regulations governing it.

In November, the government had instructed Indian embassies not to grant visas to foreigners who planned to come to India to engage a surrogate mother. The home ministry said a child born through surrogacy to foreigners would not be allowed to leave the country.

AP
US Secretary of State John Kerry has met with Saudi King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jiddah ahead of wider talks focusing on Yemen's 18-month-long war and the conflict in Syria.

The meetings come as UN-mediated peace talks to bring an end to the war in Yemen were suspended earlier this month.

They also coincide with the UN human rights chief's call for an international investigation into rights abuses and violence in Yemen's civil war, which has killed more than 9,000 people, including nearly 3,800 civilians, and displaced three million.

Mr Kerry announced nearly 189 million US dollars (140 million) in additional humanitarian aid for Yemen, bringing the total amount of US assistance to more than 327 million dollars (250 million) since October 2015.

More than 80% of the country, or about 21 million people, are in need of aid and some 10 million are in need of emergency food assistance.

Speaking at a press conference in Jiddah, Mr Kerry said: "The bloodshed, I think most would agree, has simply gone on for too long. It has to stop." He said he raised concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen during his meetings in Saudi Arabia.

The war in Yemen pits a nine-country Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia against Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen's former president. The Houthis, who are allied with Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran, seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

The US has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support.

The UN high commissioner for human rights earlier called on the international community to "refrain from encouraging or arming parties to the conflict".

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups have similarly urged the US, UK and France to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its air strikes in Yemen. A number of US politicians have also expressed concern about Washington's role in the conflict.

Mr Kerry said stability in Yemen is important to blunting the expansion of extremist groups such as Islamic State and al Qaida.

He said the US is "deeply troubled" over Saudi photographs showing Iranian-supplied missiles being positioned along the Saudi-Yemen border, and rocket attacks fired at Saudi Arabia's southern border from Yemen.

The strikes and armed attacks at the border have killed several civilians and dozens of Saudi border guards.

Mr Kerry's meeting with King Salman lasted roughly half an hour. The two spoke briefly about the monarch's health and an operation he had in the US, apparently for back pain. It was not clear when the surgery was performed.

After his meeting with the Saudi monarch, Mr Kerry wrote on Twitter that they discussed the "need to reach a political solution (and) address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen," as well as the war in Syria and the fight against IS.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states back rebels fighting Syrian president Bashar Assad's forces, and are members of the US-led coalition bombing IS in Iraq and Syria.

Mr Kerry also met UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The two later met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, British Under Secretary at the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, and the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He additionally met Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah before a meeting with other Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Oman is the only country of the six-nation GCC that is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

"The purpose of our meetings was, quite simply, to see if together we could find a way to end the violence of Yemen, to end the war, and to address the deeply troubling situation there," Mr Kerry told reporters before leaving Jiddah.

He said all participants agreed that a solution to the war must respect the security of Saudi Arabia and provide "the Houthis, a minority, an opportunity to be part of a government in the future".

Mr Kerry is scheduled to travel to Geneva next, where he will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A senior Emirati national security official is also expected to take part in the meetings in Geneva.

Those talks centre on proposals to share intelligence and coordinate militarily with Russia against the IS group and al Qaida.

Russia and Iran, however, are strong backers of the Syrian president and have been accused of targeting moderate opposition forces, some of whom are supported by Washington and Gulf Arab states.

AP
Mia Ayliffe-Chung was stabbed to death at an Australian hostel (Tommy Martin/PA)

A 29-year-old man accused of stabbing British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung to death in Australia may have been "obsessed" with her, police say.

Smail Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and twelve counts of serious assault.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was attacked at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night.

A 30-year-old British man, named by police as Tom Jackson, remains in hospital with critical head injuries, while a 46-year-old local man received non-life threatening injuries.

British backpacker Chris Porter, from Kent, jumped out of a second storey window to flee from the knifeman, who then chased him down the street, according to reports.

He is in hospital being treated for damage to both ankles.

Police are investigating reports that Ayad, a 29-year-old Frenchman, had an unrequited romantic interest or an "obsession" with Miss Ayliffe-Chung.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder of Queensland Police also said there was an indication that Ayad had taken cannabis on Tuesday evening.

Police have confirmed he shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack but said there is no indication that radicalisation or political motives were involved.

Mr Rohweder said there were a "number of concerns in relation to both officer and public safety" after the suspect allegedly attacked a number of officers.

A police statement said: "It will be alleged that as the man was being transported from the hospital to the watch house around 5.45pm, he assaulted two officers and resisted violently and police have had to use a Taser and capsicum spray on the man."

The 12 serious assaults he has been charged with are in relation to 12 separate police officers, Mr Rohweder said.

Ayad has had access to legal representation and the French consulate and has declined to be interviewed.

He is due to appear at Townsville Magistrates' Court via videolink on Friday.

Miss Ayliffe-Chung's post-mortem examination found her cause of death to be multiple stab wounds.

Her mother Rosie Ayliffe paid tribute to her daughter in a statement, saying she was an "amazing young woman with an adventurous spirit".

Mr Jackson was injured trying to help Miss Ayliffe-Chung. Police described his actions as "selfless".

He remains "very ill" and his father was due to arrive at the hospital.

Mr Rohweder said: "The prayers of the Queensland Police Service and, I imagine, the Queensland community, are with him."

British High Commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings is in Home Hill to provide support to Britons involved in the attack.

She tweeted a picture of herself laying flowers and said: "Visited Ayr and #HomeHill with consular staff to meet local police and UK nationals. Deep sympathy to all affected."
Turkey launched its biggest military operation in Syria yesterday in an effort to force Isil militants away from its border and to deter further advances by Syrian Kurds allied with Turkish separatists.

Airstrikes against jihadist positions around the town of Jarablus, reported by the prime minister's office, were backed by Turkish special forces soldiers on the ground.

The troops were working to help open a corridor for Syrian rebel forces on the border, the CNN-Turk network reported. State-run Anadolu Agency said Turkish tanks had crossed into Syria.

The operation marks a major escalation in Turkey's involvement in Syria, just weeks after it defeated an attempt by sections of the military to topple the government. At the weekend, a suicide bomber said to be linked to Isil killed at least 54 people at a wedding in Turkey's largely Kurdish city of Gaziantep, the latest in a series of attacks.

Syrian Kurds, meanwhile, have been seeking to link their enclaves by wresting control of major towns and villages along the frontier with Turkey from Isil. That has alarmed Ankara, which fears it will embolden the nation's own restive Kurds.

"Turkey is doing the right thing by shelling Isil but for the wrong reason, and that is purely to prevent the Kurds advancing," Dlawer Ala'Aldeen, founding president of the Middle East Research Institute, said by phone from Erbil. The intervention could undermine the war against Isil, he said, as "the Kurds have proven to be the most effective force on the ground".

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war through activists on the ground, said Turkey has deployed tanks and minesweepers to cut the roads leading to Jarablus, a city of 30,000, to make way for Free Syria Army rebels. The FSA took control of Keklice village on the outskirts of Jarablus with support from Turkish armoured units, according to Turkey's state media.

The operation's launch coincides with US Vice President Joe Biden's trip to Turkey to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His visit comes as bilateral ties are strained by Turkish demands that the US extradite the exiled faith leader whom Erdogan blames for instigating the foiled July coup. Erdogan said the offensive targeted both the jihadists and Kurdish fighters, vowing Turkey would "never kneel down." "If needed, Turkey is determined to actively intervene to protect Syria's territorial integrity," Erdogan said. "Turkey won't allow a fait accompli in Syria."

Turkey has been a fierce opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a main supplier of rebels seeking to oust him. But it's equally opposed to the major advances made by Syrian Kurds during the country's more than five-year war. Turkey has been fighting its own Kurdish separatists of the PKK for decades, a conflict that burst back into life last year as peace efforts collapsed.

A senior Obama administration official said that Turkey planned and executed the Jarablus operation after Syrian Kurds in the Manbij area advanced to the north of the city, beyond the agreed-upon front line.

The offensive, which the US had discussed with Turkey, intended to push Isil further inside Syria and create a buffer against Kurds if they attempt to move northward, said the official, who could not be named in line with government policy. The US will provide air support to Turkey if it's planning a major operation against Isil in the area.

Leader of the Kurdish PYD group Saleh Moslem said on Twitter that Turkey is "in the Syrian quagmire" and will be "defeated" along with Isil.

Moslem's remarks show the group's only aim is to carve out a separate homeland instead of fighting against Isil, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said later.
Mohamed Roble, a survivor of the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse, has been charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation (US Attorney's Office/AP)

A child survivor of a bridge collapse that killed 13 people is facing a terror charge after US authorities say he travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group just a few weeks after collecting more than 91,000 dollars (69,000) in settlement money for his injuries.

Mohamed Roble, 20, was charged on Wednesday with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.

He was weeks short of his 11th birthday in 2007 when the school bus he was in plummeted about 30 feet as the bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed into the Mississippi River. Roble, one of 145 people who were hurt, received the settlement funds on his 18th birthday.

Roble's name first surfaced in May during the trial of three Minnesota men who were convicted of conspiring to join IS. The bridge collapse was not mentioned at the trial, but The Associated Press news agency made the connection using public records.

Working phone numbers and current addresses for Roble's family members were not available and they could not be reached for comment.

Court documents filed on Wednesday show Roble received three court settlements when he turned 18 totalling 91,654 dollars. That money included a 65,431-dollar payment from the state's settlement fund.

According to evidence presented in federal court in May, Roble flew to Istanbul, Turkey, in October 2014 as part of an itinerary that included a trip to China. He was due to return to the US in June 2015, but never did, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force officer Joel Pajak said.

"We received information that Mr Roble ended up in Syria with his uncle, Abdi Nur," Mr Pajak said.

The FBI affidavit says Roble withdrew more than 47,000 dollars from his accounts over three months in 2014 while he was in Turkey.

"This large sum is consistent with previously mentioned CHS (a confidential informant working for the US government) reports that Roble was financially supporting himself and other members of Isil (another name for IS), including by purchasing vehicles to be used by members of Isil," the affidavit said.

Nur is among 10 men charged in the case and is believed to have joined IS. Nine others have been convicted on terror charges in Minnesota.

Prosecutors say the men were part of a group of friends in Minnesota's Somali community who recruited and inspired each other to join IS. The FBI has said that about a dozen young men have left Minnesota to join militant groups in Syria in recent years.

The affidavit filed Wednesday says that Nur was last known to be living in Syria with IS. Authorities say Roble and Nur accessed internet accounts from the same computer IP address within minutes of each other in May 2015, supporting the belief that they were in the same location.

AP
A MAN has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after throwing boiling water over a sleeping gay couple.

Martin Blackwell found his girlfriend's son asleep with another man in their home in the US state of Georgia.

He filled a large pot with boiling water, before throwing it over the sleeping pair.

Blackwell shouted at them: "Get out of my house with all that gay".

You were soulless, malicious and a violent person...You had so many outs where the voice of reason couldve taken over," the judge told him.

The two men were left with severe burns, and still suffer massive scarring despite multiple surgeries.

The 48-year-old was found guilty on all charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Nigel Farage has said he would not vote for US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton if he was paid, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing her rival Donald Trump.

The outgoing Ukip leader was speaking at a rally for Republican White House hopeful Mr Trump in Jackson, Mississippi.

The majority of his speech focused on the success of the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

He framed it as a victory for the anti-establishment movement - a theme that is also popular in Mr Trump's campaign.

He said: "Anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment."

Mr Farage condemned President Barack Obama's decision to intervene in the EU referendum and urge Britons to vote Remain.

"I could not possibly tell you how to vote in this election," he said. "But I will say this, if I was an American citizen I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me."

Earlier, on a visit to Florida, Mr Trump said polls showed him trailing the state.

Mr Farage told the audience at the Mississippi Coliseum that they could challenge the expectations of pollsters as Brexit campaigners had.

He said that he came to the UK with a message of hope that "the little people" could "overcome" big banks and multinationals.

He said: "We did it - we made June 23 our independence day when we smashed the establishment."
Donald Trump is backing away from his call for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, and even some of his rally-going supporters say they're fine with it.

If he wins the November election, the Republican presidential nominee said on Monday, he would do "the same thing" as President Barack Obama in prioritising the removal of criminals residing in the US illegally, but "perhaps with a lot more energy".

Trump appears to be heeding allies' longstanding advice to soften his stance on deportations, which they worry is toxic to Hispanic voters, now that he faces Democrat Hillary Clinton - and troubling poll numbers - in a general election fewer than 80 days away.

His move raised the hackles of some conservatives who see it as a step toward amnesty, but it's not clear his bid to broaden support will cost him many core supporters. "We're going to obey the existing laws. Now, the existing laws are very strong," Trump said on Fox News.

"The first thing we're going to do, if and when I win, is we're going to 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."

"As far as everybody else, we're going to go through the process," he 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."

In a town hall-style event hosted by Fox News on Tuesday, Trump was asked if there were parts of the law he'd change to accommodate law-abiding undocumented immigrants. "There certainly can be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people," he said.

He didn't indicate openness to considering legal status for those people, however, and reiterated that he intends to follow the law, which requires removing them from the country.

Some Trump supporters at his Akron rally said they understood why he's changing his position.

"You do one thing in a primary to get our core people, it's just American politics," said Tom Zawistowski (62), an Akron Republican in the telecommunications business.

But it's clear that "the American people have said we want something done with the illegals," Zawistowski said. "If you break the law, there should be consequences."

"It's a waste of resources" to try to deport millions of people, said Erik Schramm (21), a full-time student at Kent State University who voted for Ohio Governor John Kasich in the presidential primary and supports Trump now.

"If he wants to back down on things that are over the top, and say, 'Hey, I'll work with everybody a little bit' when it comes to his policies, I think he's trying to do that."
The hospitals that treated survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting will not charge them

The Orlando hospitals that treated dozens of people injured in the Pulse nightclub massacre are not charging survivors for medical expenses.

News outlets report Orlando Regional Medical Centre, which treated most of the survivors of the June 12 attack, announced it would seek payment from other resources such as insurance plans and a victims' fund established by city officials.

Florida Hospital, which treated 12 survivors, also said it would not bill for any of its services.

Officials said the two hospitals will write off an estimated 5.5 million US dollars or more in care.

The attack killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

The gunman, Omar Mateen, was killed by police after a three-hour stand-off.

AP
Roman Seleznev hacked into US businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, and stole credit card information

A US jury has convicted a Russian man of hacking into businesses to steal credit card information and orchestrating an international online theft scheme that made him millions of dollars.

Jurors deliberated for two days before finding Roman Seleznev guilty of 38 charges, including nine counts of hacking and 10 counts of wire fraud.

He could face up to 34 years in prison when he is sentenced December 2.

Seleznev hacked into businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, and stole millions of credit card numbers that he sold on underground internet forums, authorities said.

The thefts led to almost 170 million US dollars (130 million) in credit card losses around the world and made him "one of the most prolific credit card traffickers in history," prosecutors said.

Seleznev, son of a Russian MP, had faced a 40-count indictment that charged him with running the hacking scheme from 2010 until his arrest in the Maldives in July 2014.

US Secret Service agents captured Seleznev as he and his girlfriend arrived at the airport on their way back to Russia. The agents flew him by private jet to Guam and then to Seattle, where he has been in federal custody.

Seleznev was indicted on 29 felony charges in 2011, but a month later, he suffered a brain injury in a terrorist bombing in a cafe in Morocco. He was in a coma for two weeks and underwent a series of operations, according to one of his previous lawyers.

Federal prosecutors, calling Seleznev a leader in the marketplace for stolen credit card numbers, added 11 new counts to his indictment in October 2014, including wire and bank fraud, hacking and identity theft.

Although his lawyers have argued Seleznev's arrest was a "kidnapping" or an "illegal rendition" that violated international law, a federal judge barred that argument at trial.

The defence focused on challenging the evidence from Seleznev's laptop, seized by Secret Service agents during his arrest. His lawyers claim the agents mishandled the computer and failed to adequately secure it while it was kept in a vault in Seattle.

The only defence witness testified that the machine may have been tampered with, and the attorneys said any evidence taken from it was suspect. They also said prosecutors failed to make a solid link between the hacks and Seleznev.

The investigation started in 2010 when a deli in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, was hacked. Over time, agents were able to link the computer viruses used to steal the credit card data to computer servers where the numbers were stored. They then connected those servers to Seleznev through his online nicknames and other sites he frequented.

When he was arrested, agents found 1.7 million stolen credit cards on his laptop, along with the passwords to access those servers, prosecutors said.

Seleznev "left his digital fingerprints all over the crime scene," Assistant US Attorney Norman Barbosa said during closing arguments.

AP
US Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Turkish counterpart that Syrian Kurdish forces have started withdrawing east of the Euphrates River, Turkish officials said.

The pullback was a major demand by Ankara after Turkey sent in tanks and special forces backed by US air strikes across the border to help Syrian rebels take a key Islamic State stronghold on Wednesday.

Turkey's incursion into northern Syria was also meant to contain an expansion by Syria's Kurds amid the neighbouring country's civil war, now in its sixth year.

According to Turkish ministry officials, Mr Kerry and Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke by telephone on Thursday to discuss the Turkish military operation to retake the IS-held border town of Jarablus in northern Syria.

Mr Kerry stressed that the Syrian Kurdish forces "were in the process of retreating east of the Euphrates", the officials said in reference to the Syrian Kurdish forces.

Battling IS militants in Syria, the US-backed Syrian Kurds have been able to seize nearly the entire stretch of the border with Turkey in northern Syria.

Turkey has been deeply concerned by the advances of the Kurdish forces, fearing they aim to set up a Kurdish entity there. Ankara maintains that the Syrian Kurdish militia is linked to Kurdish rebels waging an insurgency in south-eastern Turkey.

US Vice President Joe Biden, who flew into Ankara hours after the offensive on Wednesday, warned that the Syrian Kurdish forces will lose US support unless they retreat east of the Euphrates.

On Thursday, at least 10 more Turkish tanks were seen crossing into Syria at the Turkish border town of Karkamis, the private Dogan news agency reported.

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.

A senior Turkish official told reporters that operations would continue until "we are convinced" that imminent threats to Turkey are neutralised.

He said the aim is to create a "terror-free zone" in northern Syria to prevent militants from entering Turkey.

AP
An investigation into human rights violations is being sought by the UN's human rights chief

The UN human rights chief has called for an international investigation of rights abuses and violence in Yemen's civil war, which has killed thousands of people.

Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein insisted that a domestic panel set up to look into violations has not been up to the task.

The call came as his Geneva office released a 22-page report chronicling abuses on both sides in the conflict, which pits the internationally recognised Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, against Shiite rebels known as Houthis and their allies.

In a statement, Mr Zeid's office said he called on the international community to establish an international, independent body to carry out comprehensive investigations in Yemen, noting in particularly challenges faced by the national panel set up under President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi - notably, security concerns.

Mohammad Ali Alnsour, who heads the Middle East and North Africa section of the UN Human Rights office, said a recent report by the national panel focused on alleged violations by the Houthis, and said a "more objective, more comprehensive" report of rights violations by all sides was needed.

"Unfortunately, the humanitarian situation in Yemen is very bad," he told reporters.

Mr Zeid, who is also a member of the Jordanian royal family, did not specify who would set up the international body, but he is expected to present the report's findings to the UN Human Rights Council at its session next month.

Last year, the council passed a resolution - brought by Saudi Arabia and allies - that deferred to national investigators to report on rights abuses.

Fighting in Yemen escalated in March 2015 with the start of Saudi-led air strikes targeting the Houthis. Mr Zeid's office says an estimated 3,799 civilians have been killed since then. The UN and rights groups estimate at least 9,000 people overall have died. Some 3 million people have also been displaced inside the Arab world's poorest country.

The report by the UN rights office also denounced the recruitment of child fighters in Yemen, civilian casualties linked to suspected US drone strikes that target al Qaida's local branch, attacks on human rights defenders and a crackdown on freedom of expression.

Last week, the aid group Doctors Without Borders announced a pull-out from northern Yemen following an air strike against a hospital it supported there - the fourth such deadly attack on one of its medical facilities in the war.

UN-mediated peace talks between the warring Yemeni sides were temporarily suspended earlier this month.

AP
The value of VW's settlement with around 650 US car dealers was not disclosed

Volkswagen has reached a tentative deal with its US dealers to compensate them for losses they said they suffered as a result of the company's emissions cheating scandal.

The value of the settlement with around 650 dealers was not disclosed, although Volkswagen said in a statement that it would include cash payments.

"We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States," said Hinrich J Woebcken, CEO of Volkswagen North America.

Details of the settlement are still under discussion. US District Court Judge Charles Breyer gave the lawyers until the end of September to submit a final proposal. The deal would require Judge Breyer's approval.

Volkswagen previously reached an agreement with attorneys for car owners. That deal calls for it to spend up to 10 billion US dollars (7.6 billion) buying back or repairing about 475,000 vehicles involved in its scandal and paying their owners an additional 5,100 dollars (3,800) to 10,000 dollars (7,600) each.

Details about the vehicle repairs have not been finalised.

The settlement also includes 2.7 billion dollars (2 billion) for unspecified environmental mitigation and an additional 2 billion dollars (1.5 billion) to promote zero-emissions vehicles.

Judge Breyer gave the deal preliminary approval last month.

It does not cover about 85,000 more-powerful Volkswagens and Audis with three-litre engines also caught up in the emissions scandal.

Volkswagen lawyer Robert Giuffra said the company was prepared to submit a fix for some of those vehicles by early November that would bring them into compliance with clean energy laws.

Any fix proposed by Volkswagen would have to be approved by government regulators before it could be implemented.
An autonomous vehicle is parked for a test drive in Singapore, where the world's first self-driving taxis, operated by nuTonomy, have been launched (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

The world's first self-driving taxis have begun picking up passengers in Singapore.

Select members of the public can hail a free ride through their smartphones in taxis operated by nuTonomy, an autonomous vehicle software start-up. While multiple companies, including Google and Volvo, have been testing self-driving cars on public roads for several years, nuTonomy says is the first to offer rides to the public.

Its launch in Singapore is beating ride-hailing service Uber, which plans to offer rides in autonomous cars in Pittsburgh in the US, by a few weeks.

NuTonomy is starting small - currently six cars, rising to a dozen by the end of the year.

The ultimate goal, company executives say, is to have a fully self-driving taxi fleet in Singapore by 2018, to help cut the number of cars on the city state's congested roads. Eventually, the model could be adopted in cities around the world, nuTonomy hopes.

For now, the taxis only run in a 2.5 square mile (6.5 square kilometre) business and residential district called "one-north", and pick-ups and drop-offs are limited to specified locations.

Riders must have an invitation from nuTonomy to use the service. The company says dozens have signed up for the launch, and it plans to expand that list to thousands of people within a few months.

The cars - modified Renault Zoe and Mitsubishi i-MiEV electrics - have a driver in front who is prepared to take back the wheel and a researcher in the back who watches the car's computers.

Each car is fitted with six sets of Lidar - a detection system that uses lasers to operate like radar - including one which constantly spins on the roof. There are also two cameras on the dashboard to scan for obstacles and detect changes in traffic lights.

The testing timeframe is open-ended, said nuTonomy chief executive Karl Iagnemma.

Eventually, riders may start paying for the service, and more pick-up and drop-off points will be added. NuTonomy also is working on testing similar taxi services in other Asian cities, the US and Europe, but Mr Iagnemma would not say when.

"I don't expect there to be a time where we say 'We've learned enough'," he said.

Doug Parker, nuTonomy's chief operating officer, said autonomous taxis could ultimately reduce the number of cars on Singapore's roads from 900,000 to 300,000.

"When you are able to take that many cars off the road, it creates a lot of possibilities. You can create smaller roads, you can create much smaller car parks," he said. "I think it will change how people interact with the city going forward."

NuTonomy, which employs 50 people and has offices in Massachusetts and Singapore, was formed in 2013 by Mr Iagnemma and Emilio Frazzoli, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers who were studying robotics and developing autonomous vehicles for the Defence Department.

Earlier this year, the company was the first to win approval from Singapore's government to test self-driving cars in one-north. NuTonomy announced a research partnership with Singapore's Land Transport Authority earlier this month.

Singapore is ideal because it has good weather, great infrastructure and drivers who tend to obey traffic rules, Mr Iagnemma said. As a land-locked island, the city of 5.4 million people is seeking creative ways to grow its economy, so it has been supportive of autonomous vehicle research.

Auto supplier Delphi Corp, which also is working on autonomous vehicle software, was recently selected to test autonomous vehicles on the island and plans to start next year.

"We face constraints in land and manpower. We want to take advantage of self-driving technology to overcome such constraints," said Pang Kin Keong, Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Transport and the chairman of its committee on autonomous driving.

Olivia Seow, 25, works in start-up partnerships in one-north and is one of the riders nuTonomy selected, took a test ride of less than a mile on Monday. She said she was nervous when she got into the car, and then surprised as she watched the steering wheel turn by itself.

"It felt like there was a ghost or something," she said.

But she quickly relaxed. The ride was smooth and controlled, she said, and she was relieved to see that the car recognised even small obstacles like birds and motorcycles parked in the distance.

"I couldn't see them with my human eye, but the car could, so I knew that I could trust the car," said Ms Seow, who hopes to use the time freed up during her commute, thanks to the technology, or use the service to help her father get around town as he grows older.

An Associated Press reporter taking a ride on Wednesday saw the safety driver step on the brakes once, when a car was obstructing the test car's lane and another vehicle, which had appeared to be parked, suddenly began moving in the oncoming lane.

Mr Iagnemma said the company is confident that its software can make good decisions.

The company hopes its head start in autonomous driving will eventually lead to partnerships with vehicle makers, tech companies, logistics companies and others.

"What we're finding is the number of interested parties is really overwhelming," he said.

AP
Dia de los Muertos: What to know about the celebration of life
SHARE Larry Gilreath is a veteran of the Vietnam War and fought in the battle of the Ia Drang valley in November of 1965. The battle was the basis for the book and movie "We Were Soldiers".

By Charmaine Smith-Miles of the Independent Mail

The Journey of a Soldier: Belton man shows how one decision can change so much

BELTON ? For a kid on the mill hill in the 1950s, a car was a seductive thing.

Even today, it's only a determined teenager who can resist that call to own a link to freedom. Larry Gilreath had the luck of being born in an era when cars were works of art with their chrome, unmistakable bodies and smooth interiors.

Gilreath, now 74 years old, settled in his recliner at his home in Belton on Thursday and explained how a car led him to make a decision that would change his life.

"A lot of the boys were getting cars. My family was a cotton mill family. So we couldn't afford that," Gilreath said. "I thought I'd quit school and buy me one. But it didn't work out that way."

That plan lasted 30 days. That's how long Gilreath, a kid from the Riverside mill village, stayed at the Southside mill on Shockley Ferry Road. They put him on the third shift, mopping floors. It wasn't for him. So he went to his local U.S. Army recruiter ? in the midst of a war.

"If you were dumb enough to join during the Korean War, the recruiter was going to take you if you could walk and breathe," Gilreath said.

So at 17, he went off to battle. A glitch in the paperwork landed him in Korea a year before he was eligible. After about 30 days there, the error was caught and he was pulled out of combat and sent to Okinawa to guard B-29s. His time for combat was yet to come.

Gilreath's story has been heard before, but only recently did it make the big screen.

Some locals know it, and his name. Others know his story, because they have read the New York Times bestseller "We Were Soldiers Once?and Young" or watched the 2002 hit movie "We Were Soldiers."

He was one of 38 who landed in the Ia Drang Valley in South Vietnam for the first major battle of the Vietnam War. Led by Lt. Col. Harold Moore, the men of the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 7th Calvary were the first trained to drop into enemy territory by helicopter.

"Col. Moore briefed us in Fort Benning, but we had no idea what we were going into," Gilreath said. "No one had made direct contact with the North Vietnamese. The others would shoot and then run. We hit this bunch and they didn't run."

It was 10:48 a.m. on Nov. 14, 1965. As he promised, Moore was the first to step foot on the battlefield. Gilreath, then a 30-year-old platoon sergeant, was in the same line of helicopters. His platoon followed Moore.

As soon as their boots hit grass, they started firing. And within the first moments on the ground, Gilreath's platoon captured a young North Vietnamese soldier. With an interpreter on hand, the young soldier gave Moore his first hint at the strength of their foe.

"He told us, ?We are very much looking for Americans and we want to kill them all.' That's how we found out they were hiding over the top of Chu Pong Mountain," Gilreath said. "I saw them coming off that mountain. All hell broke loose then."

More than 4,000 artillery rounds were fired that first day. Some of the artillery pieces were used so much, so fast, they melted and more were flown in, Gilreath said. For more than 72 hours, those 38 men, along with 412 more, led a steady firefight against 2,000 enemy troops in what was later called "The Valley of Death."

Moments came in those three days when it seemed the North Vietnamese were going to take the victory. One platoon was cut off from any support, except for artillery defense, or supplies until the dawning of the second day, Gilreath said. And on the second, Moore declared a "broken arrow," the U.S. Army's call for all available air support when ground troops are in danger of being overrun.

The U.S. Air Force dropped in napalm. It helped pull the enemy off. But some of it hit too close. American soldiers were burned. Some died of the heat and others were injured. Even now, four decades later, Gilreath remembers the intensity of that heat.

But he doesn't complain about that.

"The artillery and air support is what saved us," Gilreath said. "If it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation."

At the end of those three days, the North Vietnamese finally retreated. The Americans claimed a tactical victory but at great cost. Seventy-nine men were killed and 123 injured in those 72 hours.

Gilreath lost two men and had seven wounded soldiers in his platoon. He also lost his best friend, Sgt. First Class Wilbur Curry of Buffalo, N.Y. He died as they fired M-16s side by side and it was Gilreath who helped carry his body off the battlefield.

That battle was over on Nov. 17. But Gilreath went on to serve two more tours in Southeast Asia. Until May 1966, Gilreath remained in combat, continuing to fight against the North Vietnamese. After that, Moore promoted Gilreath and pulled him out of combat. He trained soldiers in Thailand and was eventually sent back to Vietnam to teach the South Vietnamese.

Finally, after 20 years if service, Gilreath, then a first sergeant, retired from the U.S. Army in 1972.

In the book "We Were Soldiers Once?and Young," Moore had this to say about Gilreath: "He trained more second lieutenant platoon leaders than he had fingers on his hands. Lieutenants came and went; Gilreath was forever."

Gilreath earned a chest of awards including a Combat Infantry Badge, an Expert Infantry Badge, and a Silver Star for Gallantry in Action. He also earned four Bronze Stars with Valor, four U.S. Army Commendation medals, two Air medals, seven Good Conduct medals and a Presidential Unit Citation for a unit that was outstanding in battle, an award given to him by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

He and his wife of 49 years, Jean, raised two children and three grandchildren. And when Gilreath retired in 1972, it was a Friday. By Sunday, he was working as a deputy with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office ? a position he held until 1992. Then he spent 16 years as an employee with Crescent Electrical Supply.

Now, Gilreath talks about his time in battle without much hesitation. He's had time to grow accustomed to questions since Hollywood took notice of that band of soldiers who fought off the North Vietnamese so bravely 44 years ago.

"It was hard to talk about," Gilreath said. "Besides, until that book came out, nobody knew where the Ia Drang Valley was."

This husband, father and grandfather is retired for good now. These days he has a small machine, on a table next to his favorite chair that helps him breathe. That and a busted eardrum are his battle scars. Today, his family will recognize their hero with a hearty meal ? maybe even a steak.

Gilreath will remember his ?other family' and a car he once had a dream of buying. But he'll have no regrets, he said.

"I got what I asked for," Gilreath said. "Given the same circumstances, I'd do the same thing again. The way I see it, I signed up for the Army. We were called into battle. And we did what we were trained to do."
In this edition of India Briefing Magazine, we make the case for why now is the right time for foreign firms t...
Ramya aka Divya Spandana is facing a sedition case filed against her for reacting to Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar's comment last week that "going to Pakistan is like going to hell". She had stated that Pakistan is not hell and the people are just like us and treated her very well.

The Actress-Politician has refused to apologize for her statement speaking to a leading news channel "I will not apologize as I have done nothing wrong. I am entitled to my views and that is what democracy is about,". "I can say sorry, it is the easiest thing for me, but if I do it in this case, the purpose is lost. Right now I really need to stand up for myself... What I said is harmless,"

Meanwhile the sedition case filed by Katnamane Vittal Gowda, will be heard on Saturday. Social media are largely divided by netizens both coming out in support and trolling Divya Spandana.
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
Merriam-Webster defines it as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. Others, many of whom are adversely affected, refer to this social phenomenon as the G-word suggesting the full syllabic uttering is a dirty word.

No matter what you call it, gentrification is a topic on the minds of many.

According to the Gentrification in America report, a collection of findings conducted by governing.com, nearly 20 percent of neighborhoods with lower incomes and home values have experienced gentrification since 2000, compared to only 9 percent during the 1990s. Some of the most common impacts include increased property taxes and economic disparity among citizens.

In Indianapolis, data shows that from 19902000, the share of eligible census tracts that were gentrifying was 3.3 percent. Since 2000, that number has risen to 12.2 percent.

This weekend, the Kheprw Institute, in partnership with Spirit and Place, will host the sixth session of an eight-part community conversation series titled Gentrify: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.

The convo on gentrification in Indy has unfortunately not been one thats been open and public, said Kheprws Executive Director Imhotep Adisa. We have created this with the help of community, to have honest dialogue around sensitive important subjects.

The event, which takes place on Aug. 28 from 35 p.m., will explore the topics of land, housing, real estate and global perspectives. Panelists include Elle Roberts (community engagement manager, House Life Project), Jackelyn Hwang (Princeton University Office of Population Research), Mike McKillip (executive director, Midtown Indianapolis Inc.) and Meredith Brickell (project leader, House Life Project).

Lashawnda Crowe Storm, of Spirit and Place, says the issues surrounding housing and equity nationwide in places like San Francisco, New York City and Portland are not far removed from the current state of affairs in the Circle City.

Regardless of where youre dealing with gentrification, theyre issues that are similar across the country; its just about what it looks like when it comes to your community, she said. I think we all know what it looks like in Indianapolis. It looks like having schools in certain neighborhoods that are being closed. We have situations where you may no longer have a community school, so that means kids who live there cant go to school there. How does this impact a family that already has transportation issues? We also see some of the typical things like people being pushed out of neighborhoods because the cost of living has gone up.

In terms of solutions, Storm and Adisa believe having open dialogue is the first step.

I think ultimately you cant come to alternative solutions if you dont first have a discussion and explore what you feel like is happening around the topic, said Adisa.

The fact that we ignited this discussion and we are getting people from all areas of the city and cross sector is the beginning for us to start working toward what are viable solutions for Indy as our communities begin to change.

Following the event on Aug. 28, Kheprw will hold two more sessions on Sept. 25 (Equitable Development vs. Economic Development) and Oct. 23 (Solutions). All events occur from 35 p.m. at Kheprw Institute located at 3549 Boulevard Place.

For more information, visit gentrify.kheprw.org.
The Black press lost one of its most celebrated warriors when George Curry, veteran journalist and former editor-in-chief of the NNPA News Wire, died on Aug. 20.

Curry, 69, died of a reported heart attack in suburban Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C.

On behalf of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), we are all saddened and heartbroken by the sudden passing of one our most admired, respected and gifted colleagues, George E. Curry, said NNPA President Benjamin Chavis. Black America, and in fact millions of African people all over the world, had come to know George Curry as a fearless scholar and writer who used his pen and wit to aggressively advance the cause of freedom, justice and equality for Black people and for the whole of humanity.

Chavis continued: George was our trusted comrade on the frontlines of the civil rights movement and on the front pages of the Black press of America. We will miss him.

Its hard to believe Curry, who led the NNPA as editor-in-chief of its news wire from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2015, has died, said Washington Informer Publisher and NNPA Chair Denise Rolark Barnes, who called Curry a giant in the journalism profession.

As publisher of The Washington Informer, I admired Georges leadership as editor-in-chief of Emerge, the preeminent monthly news magazine targeting issues impacting African-Americans, Rolark Barnes said. Georges uncompromising journalistic leadership delivered on Emerges promise to deliver edgy, hard-hitting, intellectual, well-written and thoroughly researched content that attracted national attention and left an indelible mark on the lives of many.

As a member and now chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, I was honored to carry Georges weekly column in The Washington Informer and to work with him while he served as editor-in-chief of the NNPA News Wire. George provided so much of his time, energy, wisdom and incredible journalistic genius to the Black press, she said.

His work will stand as a lasting legacy of journalistic excellence and integrity of which all of us in the Black press and the journalism industry at large can feel extremely proud. My prayers and sympathy extend to his family and closest companions. He will be sorely missed.

Freddie Allen, the managing editor of the NNPA News Wire, called Curry an icon in the Black press and said his legacy of mentoring young journalists will bear fruit for many years to come.

Recently, Allen and Curry were part of a Black media delegation that worked with the Black AIDS Institute to cover the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa.

George taught me what it meant to be a professional journalist and also about the importance of working in the Black press, Allen said. His writing and insight on critical issues affecting the Black community will be sorely missed. Im thankful for the time we spent together in Durban.

Curry was a consummate journalist with integrity as his mantra, said Dorothy R. Leavell, publisher of the Crusader newspapers in Chicago and Gary, Indiana.

We shall miss this voice of reason and thought-provoking columns full of researched facts. It was just the week of Aug. 13 that George wrote a column titled Even Funerals Are Not Family Reunions Anymore. He used his family as an example of the loss of closeness that he had enjoyed during his childhood and early adult life and bemoaned the fact that at his cousin Charlenes funeral the week before that closeness was no longer there, Leavell said.

What was ironic is that he pledged that he would try to get his family back together by saying, Neither Big Mama nor Aunt Julia Mae would be pleased that our once close-knit family is in shambles, but as long as I have breath in me, I am going to try to get my family back together. I know its a very long shot, but I owe that to Big Mama and Aunt Julia Mae to keep trying.

Im sure George meant to keep that pledge and perhaps the closeness of his family will become a reality, but at a large cost, said Leavell, adding that she hopes his family will reunite at his funeral. We miss you already, George.

The news of Currys death reverberated not only throughout Black media, but was also felt in the halls of government.

The Congressional Black Caucus joins with members of the press from around the country to mourn the loss of George E. Curry, a pioneer in civil rights and journalism, CBC Chairman G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), said in a statement. Curry was a giant in journalism and he stood on the frontlines of the civil rights era and used his voice to tell our stories when others would not. The CBC offers our sympathies and condolences to his friends and family, his readers from around the country and to the countless number of individuals he mentored in the art of reporting and journalistic writing until his untimely death.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton even took a moment from her campaign to express her thoughts about Curry, whom she called a friend.

I am saddened by the loss of an outstanding journalist and supportive friend. George E. Curry was a pioneering journalist, a tireless crusader for justice and a true agent of change, Clinton said in a statement. With quality reporting, creativity and skillful persuasion, he influenced countless people, including me, to think beyond their narrow experience and expand their understanding. George may be gone, but he will not be forgotten.

The Rev. Al Sharpton called Curry a trailblazer and said he was saddened beyond words at news of Currys death.

In 2003, Curry was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and hes also on NABJs list of the Most Influential Black Journalists of the 20th Century.

We pledge to keep the journalistic genius and spirit of George Curry alive in all that we will do in the future to sustain the liberating and empowering voice of Black-owned newspapers and media companies, Chavis said. George and I were life-long friends and co-workers at the NNPA, NAACP, SCLC, ANC and just about every other national and international organization that is serious about demanding justice and equality.

Chavis continued: The legacy of freedom-fighter journalists like George Curry will never pass away, but will always be kept dear and present in our continued struggles to liberate all from injustice.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police say a mistake in identity is to blame for the recent shooting of a civilian.

A little after 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 3600 block of Foxtail Drive following an emergency call from a homeowner whose wife was the victim of an armed car jacking in their driveway.

Carl Williams told dispatchers his wife was approached by a man yielding a long rifle, and her black Nissan Sentra had been stolen. In the 911 call recording released by IMPD, Williams can be heard describing the suspect as a Black man wearing a red shirt. Near the end of the call, Williams can be heard exclaiming, Is that him? According to authorities, this was in reference to the suspect, who had driven away in the couples vehicle.

Upon arrival, officers saw Williams standing inside his garage with a weapon. Reports of the incident reveal the officers approached Williams home in a dark vehicle with lights turned off and parked a few houses down.

According to a statement released by IMPD, The officers involved sought cover in an attempt to approach in a covert manner to investigate the vehicle. Officer Christopher Mills, a nine-year veteran of the force, shot Williams one time in the stomach. Williams was then transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in serious condition.

IMPD public information officer Sgt. Kendale Adams told the Recorder it is still too early to tell whether or not Mills followed proper protocol and procedure. In investigations like these, they are very detailed and it takes a number of witnesses statements and reviewing of the facts.

When asked how this incident will affect community and police relations, Adams said he thinks the fact that IMPD has been forthcoming with information will help.

We have to continue to advocate for transparency and legitimacy in policing, he said. Nearly 24 hours after this, we released a timeline, 911 audio and we gave a formal acknowledgement that this was a mistake  when police mess up, we want to hold them accountable.

Williams is expected to survive, and Mills has been placed on administrative leave. A series of investigations, both criminal and internal, will be conducted. The carjacking suspect has yet to be apprehended. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).
Two groups of Indianapolis activists are hoping to affect major change in central Indiana.

Indy10, the Circle Citys answer to the Black Lives Matter movement, and DONT SLEEP, an organization dedicated to eradicating systems of oppression, gathered supporters earlier this week to shed more light on how theyve been fighting for the community.

Many of the groups efforts have centered around their petition  Equity or Else: Accountable IMPD Policing Reform.

Dominic Dorsey, founder and president of DONT SLEEP (which stands for Deconstructing Oppression Now Through Solidarity Liberation Empowerment Equity and Perseverance), said people might mistakenly believe Indianapolis has avoided some of the prevalent policing issues that have been seen across the country, but he says just because Indy hasnt made national news, doesnt mean theres no problem to address.

We want to  make sure we can have a relationship between the community and the police in such a way that we feel as though theyre doing everything they possibly can from our perspective and learning from the mistakes of other cities and other states, he said, and making sure going forward that we have not a state where individuals fear police, but a state where we can hold police accountable when they step out of line, and where the individuals who are becoming police officers are fit to wear the badge.

To that end, the petition makes several demands that fall under four main categories: training, transparency, engagement and accountability.

Leah Humphrey, one of the original members of Indy10, said her group has been in contact with lawmakers to share concerns about House Bill 1019, which lays out rules for the viewing of videos from police body and dashboard cameras. The ambiguity of the law is one point highlighted in transparency portion of the petition.

Humphrey said shes been told that without a specific example showing flaws in the law or an instance of the law not being enforced, change will be hard to come by.

As much as were pushing, were getting a lot of pushback, she said. But we just want (the community) to know that we are working and meeting with people about the bill.

She also said in some cases city officials have told her to contact the state, and then the state in response has told her to contact the city.

Members of Indy10 have also been attending City-County Council meetings to address issues such as the police departments merit board.

The composition of the merit board is a focus of the accountability section of the petition, which calls for A Citizens Police Complaint Board (CPCB) that is constructed by open election and not internal appointment by the City-County Council, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Mayor.

Other points emphasized in the petition include revised training curriculum, more transparent reporting of officers use of force and resulting disciplinary outcomes and more.

If we have police who we are paying with taxpayer dollars to protect us and serve us, we need to make sure they are readily equipped mentally and physically.

To read the full petition, visit change.org and search equity or else.

Humphrey said Indy10 is also working on a documentary project featuring victims of police violence whose stories havent been told correctly or, in some cases, at all.

Maybe (the media) mention the person was mentally ill, but they dont really talk about the person as a person, she said.

Indy10 also has a Back to School Bash in the works for Sept. 18, which will feature a talent show, prizes, vendors, food, outdoor games, free haircuts and more. The group is also planning canvassing throughout September to meet community members and hear their concerns.

DONT SLEEP is also leading an economic boycott of companies that, in the organizations words, dont respect Black lives  just green dollars.

We will not lend our collective buying power to corporations that reap the benefit of cheap prison labor, in overcrowded prisons filled with mostly Black and brown faces, DONT SLEEPs website says. Companies included in the boycott are Walmart, McDonalds, Starbucks and many others.

Though the petition and the boycott focus strongly on issues related to the Black community, Dorsey stressed that DONT SLEEP is meant to address much more.

Were looking at ways to improve quality of life for all people. Were consistently working on ways to make sure everyone has equitable, inclusive access to all things and that the promise for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that everybodys been given is a reality thats tangible, he said.

In fact, the debacle that was Indianas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was one incident that prompted Dorsey to create his group.

It just seemed like an opportunity to have conversations under that mindset that oppression is linked and we can do a lot more together, he said. You dont have to separate the different causes; theres a lot of intersectionality, and liberation and oppression are not easily exclusive. We can work together on those issues. 

Therere a lot of issues going on, and I dont feel like we need to focus on just one when theres another thats happening simultaneously. When we focus on one issue, the other is getting progressively worse. Our movement is steadily growing so we can attack all these things at once.
On Sept. 30, Volunteers of America of Indiana and Mariah Ivey will host an open mic night called Convicted, Not Condemned.

This night of song, poetry, and art will provide an opportunity for individuals to share their stories of incarceration, reentry, and liberation. Featured spoken word artists include Theon Lee, Allison Victoria, and Voice. Visual artist Deonna Craig will also create a painting (live) during the event. DJ Lady Shay and Trebles Clef will provide music.

The event will take place at Our Restaurant, 3469 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205. Doors open at 7 pm and theres a $5 cover charge.

The funds raised by this event will support the Second Chance Mentoring Program at Volunteers of America of Indiana. Its mission is to provide the best possible tools and resources for those re-entering society after serving time in prison or jail.
Many American churchgoers are hearing at least some discussion of social and political issues from the pulpits at their houses of worship, a new Pew Research Center survey finds.

In the survey, conducted online and by mail June 5July 7 among a nationally representative sample of 4,602 adults, 40 percent of Americans reported attending religious services at least once or twice in the few months before the poll was conducted, the Pew report says.

Overall, about two-thirds (64 percent) of survey respondents said they heard clergy speak about at least one social or political issue, and 14 percent say they heard their clergy speak directly in support of or against a specific presidential candidate.

The survey results also compare responses and show differences among specific religious traditions, including Black Protestants.

Here are some highlights from the survey showing how Black Protestants responses compared to other survey respondents answers:

 Roughly three in 10 (29 percent) Black Protestants have heard clergy speak out in support of a candidate and an equal share have heard religious leaders speak out against a candidate. Smaller shares of Catholic, white evangelical Protestant and white mainline Protestant churchgoers  roughly one in 10 or fewer  say their clergy have publicly supported or opposed particular candidates.

 Fully 28 percent of Black Protestants say their clergy spoke out in support of Clinton in recent months, and an additional 8 percent say church leaders supported Bernie Sanders. In addition, one in five Black Protestants say their clergy have spoken out against Donald Trump, and 7 percent have heard religious leaders speak out against Clinton.

 Similar shares of white evangelical (45 percent), white mainline (38 percent) and Black Protestants (39 percent) have heard clergy talk about homosexuality in recent months, but the messages differ across the three traditions. White evangelicals and Black Protestants are more likely to say they have heard clergy preach against homosexuality than speak out in favor of acceptance.

 Fully half of Black Protestant churchgoers say their clergy encouraged them to vote during the primaries, and about six in 10 say their clergy have already encouraged them to vote in the general election. Roughly half of white evangelical Protestants (47 percent) have also been encouraged to vote in the upcoming election, while fewer white mainline Protestants and Catholics say their clergy already have urged them to cast a ballot this fall.

For full survey results, visit pewforum.org.
Demolition work on the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's casino in Massachusetts began in spring 2016. Photo from Facebook



The Obama administration is standing up for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts in a casino land case.

In a motion to reconsider that was filed in court on Wednesday, the Department of Justice said the tribe was "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934 even though its federal status wasn't formalized until 2007. That means the Bureau of Indian Affairs has the authority to approve the land-into-trust application for the First Light Resort and Casino , government attorneys wrote.

Judge William G. Young concluded otherwise in a July 28 decision that send the matter back to the BIA for further review. But government attorneys said his ruling stands in direct conflict with one from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals involving a land-into-trust application on the other side of the country.

In that case, the court concluded that the Cowlitz Tribe of Washington didn't need to have been "recognized" in 1934 in order to have been "under federal jurisdiction" at that time. The Obama administration argues that the same standard should apply to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.

"The courts ruling directly conflicts with the recent decision in Grand Ronde, in which the D.C. Circuit, consistent with every district court that has addressed the issue, upheld Interiors determination that the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, federally recognized in 2002, was 'under federal jurisdiction' in 1934," the motion stated. That case is known as Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon v. Jewell

The New England Casino Race: Tribal and commercial gaming facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island



Chairman Cedric Cromwell applauded the Obama administration for taking a stand but he said the tribe needs to be allowed into the case to tell its side of the story. A motion to intervene is pending before the judge.

"This action, coupled with the tribal councils decision to file a motion to intervene, will serve to strengthen our case as we will have a more direct role in defending our lands, shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. Department of Interior," Cromwell wrote on the tribe's website . "Nobody can explain the importance of our ancestral homeland and its significance to our survival better than we can."

The Massachusetts case is known as Littlefield v. Department of the Interior . The plaintiffs are citing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar in hopes of blocking the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's casino.

In Carcieri, the Supreme Court said the BIA can only place land in trust for tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. The justices, however, did not define the meaning of that phrase so the Obama administration has to consider each application on a case-by-case basis by reviewing history, treaties and other actions.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe broke ground on the casino in April but has put work on hold amid the uncertainty. The tribe was anticipating a June 2017 opening.

Read More on the Story: U.S. Department of the Interior fires back in Taunton casino land case (The Taunton Daily Gazette 8/25) Justice Dept. challenges ruling on Wampanoag's tribal land (The Cape Cod Times 8/25) U.S. Justice Department Files Motion to Reconsider in Wampanoag Case (CapeCod.Com 8/25) US asks judge to reconsider ruling on Mashpee casino (The Boston Globe 8/25) Tribe applauds Justice Department for challenging court ruling (WWLP 8/24)

Court Decisions: District Court of Massachusetts: Littlefield v. Department of the Interior (July 28, 2016) D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals: Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon v. Jewell (July 29, 2016)

Supreme Court Decision in Carcieri v. Salazar:

Department of the Interior Solicitor Opinion: M-37029: The Meaning of "Under Federal Jurisdiction" for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act (March 12, 2014)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories
Harold Frazier, the chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes, addresses a #NoDAPL rally outside of the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on August 24, 2016. Photo by Indianz.Com



The thousands of people who are resisting the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline are promoting peace not pipe bombs, the leader of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe said on Wednesday.

Speaking outside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., Chairman Harold Frazier dispelled rumors about the Camp of the Sacred Stones that were spread by top law enforcement and top officials in North Dakota. In direct response to one controversial allegation, he said no pipe bombs can be found at the site near Cannon Ball.

"That's not true," Frazier said of the rumor. "I've been at the camp nearly every single day."

Last week, Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier of Morton County raised eyebrows when he said he pulled back some of his officers due to concerns about the presence of pipe bombs, guns and other "weapons" at the site. Adding fuel to the fire, Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) signed an emergency declaration to address any "public safety risks" associated with the large gathering, which has swelled to more than 2,000 in recent days.

But Frazier said the fears were wildly exaggerated. During his visits to Cannon Ball, he's talked to the private security guards hired by the pipeline backers and has been reassured of their safety.

"All the Indian people give us water and food," Frazier recounted of his conversations with staff.

Despite Dalrymple's emergency declaration, the state has instead removed water trailers, air-conditioned trailers and a command vehicle from the site. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe , whose leaders established the sacred camp in April, had requested the assistance.

The gathering here remains 100% peaceful and ceremonial, as it has from day one. We are standing together in prayer No firearms or weapons are allowed," said LaDonna Allard , a Standing Rock citizen who serves as the director of the camp. "Why is a gathering of Indians so inherently threatening and frightening to some people?

Along those lines, Frazier took issue with the characterization of the camp as a "protest" site.

"We don't even have a word for protesters in our language," the chairman said.

"In our culture, respect is what we value," Frazier added.

Frazier was among a large delegation of leaders from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Oglala Sioux Tribe who traveled to the nation's capital for a court hearing on the controversial project. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is asking for a preliminary injunction to halt construction of the 1,172-mile pipeline, whose path comes within a half-mile of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and lies upstream from the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation

Judge James E. Boasberg did not issue a decision either way after an hour-long hearing but he said he would have one within two weeks. He took notice of the large crowd -- a second room had to be opened for the overflow -- and the significant interest in the case.

"This is your courthouse," Boasberg told the tribal citizens and allies who attended the hearing.

Additional Coverage: Hundreds Rally in D.C. as Judge Delays Ruling in Dakota Access Suit (Democracy Now 8/25) 'This Is the Only Way That Pipelines Will Be Stopped' (Esquire 8/24) Judge to rule on tribes oil pipeline request by Sept. 9 (AP 8/24) Celebrities Join Native American Pipeline Protest in Washington, DC (Reuters 8/24) Shailene Woodley Protests the Dakota Access Pipeline in Washington D.C.: 'Clean Water Is Now a Political Issue' (People 8/24) Judge hears tribe's argument against ND pipeline (The Hill 8/24) Iowa board halts pipeline work on 15 landowners parcels (AP 8/24) Tribe will have to wait on Dakota Access Pipeline fate (PBS 8/24) Hundreds of protesters gather in Washington D.C. for Dakota Access Pipeline construction hearing (KFYR 8/24) Gov. Dalrymple reacts to federal judge's nondecision on Dakota Access Pipeline injunction (KFYR 8/24) Dakota Access Pipeline protesters prepare for extended stay at Sacred Stone Camp (KYFR 8/24) Grand Forks deputies assisting at pipeline protest (WDAZ 8/24) Landowners affected by Dakota Access pipeline project are concerned about their soil (Siouxland Matters 8/24) Aerial view of Sacred Stone Camp, Dakota Access Pipeline construction site (KFYR 8/24) Standing Rock Sioux Chairman: Dakota Access Pipeline "Is Threatening the Lives of My Tribe" (Democracy Now 8/23)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories: Dave Archambault: Why the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is fighting (8/25) Native Sun News: Thousands join #NoDAPL resistance movement (8/25) Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sees strong support at pipeline hearing (8/24) Kayla DeVault: Navajo Nation must take a stand on Dakota Access (8/24) Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe seeks prayers ahead of pipeline hearing (8/23) Lakota Country Times: Oglala Sioux Tribe joins fight against pipeline (8/23) Brandon Ecoffey: The Horse Nations prepare for battle over pipeline (8/23) Simon Moya-Smith: Hillary Clinton remains silent amid pipeline feud (8/23) Steven Newcomb: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe challenges domination (8/23) Sheriff mistook sacred pipes for pipe bombs at pipeline protest site (8/23) Tribes prepare for critical hearing in Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit (8/22) Mark Trahant: Pipeline fight highlights power of political organizing (8/22) Lakota Country Times: Tribes unite to stop Dakota Access Pipeline (8/22) Vi Waln: Our water system is being threatened by energy pipelines (8/22) Winona LaDuke: Bigger problems ahead for Dakota Access Pipeline (8/22) Dallas Goldtooth: Tribes shut out of Dakota Access Pipeline process (8/22) Native Sun News: Resistance grows against Dakota Access Pipeline (08/18) Harold Frazier: Obama must put a stop to Dakota Access Pipeline (08/15) Tribes and Native youth join forces in campaign to stop oil pipeline (08/11) Democrats embrace tribal sovereignty in platform for convention (07/08) Dakota Access Pipeline to go underneath tribal burial site in Iowa (06/22) Native Sun News: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe battles oil pipeline (06/08) Iowa board approves energy pipeline work amid tribal objections (06/07) Native Sun News: Tribes score big in fights against energy projects (05/26) Standing Rock Sioux Tribe seeks halt to construction of pipeline (05/12) Native Sun News: Youth run 500 miles to protest new oil pipeline (05/11) Native Sun News: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe aims to stop pipeline (04/27) Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Army Corps to discuss oil pipeline (04/26) Native Sun News: Tribes gaining traction in war against pipelines (04/20) Brandon Ecoffey: Tribes continue battle against energy pipelines (04/19) Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sets up sacred camp to oppose pipeline (04/15) Native Sun News: Tribes organize against Dakota Access Pipeline (04/13) Native Sun News: Tribes organize against Dakota Access Pipeline (4/13) Iowa Tribe joins fight against oil pipeline on aboriginal territory (3/24) Native Sun News: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe battles pipeline plan (3/14) Native Sun News: Tribes fight another pipeline through Great Plains (07/07) Meskwaki Tribe opposes oil pipeline through aboriginal territory (03/17)
In another bold move which is certain to irk Pakistan, Modi government on Wednesday announced compensation for civilian victims of terror in the valley including the residents of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The government said that since people living in POK are our people too, they can claim the compensation. "Kashmiris in PoK are an important part of India and they can also claim such a compensation,"Minister of state for PMO, Jitendra Singh was quoted in IndiaToday.

The move came days after PM Modi raised to issue of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in his Independence Day speech.

AFP

The minister further said that there is nothing offensive in roping in the people of POK for compensation since POK also is a part of India occupied by Pakistan.

"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,"added Singh.

Jitender Singh's statement came 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.

Main features of the scheme

1. 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. Earlier there was no such provision where people living around international border getting compensation for loss of life during cross border firing.

2. Any civilian who dies in terror strike, be in Kashmir, north-east or LWE areas will be given Rs 5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim.

3. The person who receives 50 per cent or more disability in terror strike will also get Rs 5 lakhs.

4. 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 in 2008.
Theres no end to the amount of strange things that happen in India. There are nearly millions out there, with billion stories of injustice and heres another one making the wonder list of biases, inequality, and discrimination.

A destitute, tribal man carried the body of his dead wife on his shoulders for 12 km, after being denied a van or an ambulance. The district hospital authorities supposedly gave this poor man a hard time while all he sought for was a van.

indianexpress

Dana Majhi, a local from Melghar village in Kalahandi, wrapped his wife Amangadeis body in disused sheets from the hospital. Majhis wife was suffering from tuberculosis, and she died on Wednesday morning. Majhi was left with little to no money and thus he couldnt afford a van directly from the hospital. The authorities, however, refused to arrange for one.

Majhi started the journey with his teenaged daughter sobbing by her side and started walking towards his village Kalahandis Thuamul Rampur block which is about 60 km away.

I requested everyone, but no one listened. What option did I have other than carrying her, said Majhi.

On his way, some locals spotted him and it is only then when the authorities were informed about the issue. An ambulance was sent right after to take the body to his village.

This is not the first time that such an incident has happened in the vicinity. Many locals and relatives have carried the bodies of their family members on bikes or trolley rickshaw. More often than not, these villagers are denied the privilege of a vehicle to carry the dead bodies, if theyre out of money.

Majhi has been given Rs 2000 from the state governments funeral assistance scheme and Rs 10,000 from the District Red Cross Fund.
Almost every business leader in Kashmir will tell you that financial losses are irrelevant compared to the "deaths on our soil", but even going by a conservative estimate, trade and industry in the region have suffered a huge blow with es timates of losses hovering over Rs 6,000 crore in 45 days of strife.

TOI

Mohd Yasin Khan, president of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, told TOI the sector is bleeding by approximately Rs 135 crore every day. In the 46 days of curfew it would be upwards of Rs 6,000 crore," Mohd Yasin Khan, president of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, said.

flickr

"We're facing the worst economic crisis ever, but then this is happening again and again. We need a permanent solution to it and it has to be political. Losing our dear ones is a far greater tragedy for us. That has to stop," he added.

From horticulture to hospitality, almost all activities have come to a standstill. There is zero occupancy in hotels, and houseboats and shikaras have been empty for weeks now. Carpets and shawsl are lying unsold in shops across Srinagar. Those in transport say they haven't seen such bad days.

AFP

"Seventy per cent of apples that India gets are from Kashmir," a businessman said. "Imagine the situation in the orchards. Farmers have sent their labourers home, but what do they do in places like Sopore, Tarzoo and Anantnag, where the situation is worse?"

Faiz Bakshi, secretary of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, refuses to talk "about monetary issues in these circumstances". He said, "We will not talk about that now. What we will tell you is that it is time for a final settlement of the Kashmir crisis."

AP

On the ground, though, things are getting tough. Abdul Rouf Bhat, who sells packaged drinking water, said his firm Pagent Industries used to sell 1,500 cases of his product in the days just before July 8, when the killing of Hizb terrorist Burhan Wani triggered a chain of events that has now led to 67 deaths and 46 days of curfew. "Now I sell 50," he rued. Bhat said he has been paying only 50% wages to workers. "But how long can I continue? Even that will have to stop. They know this. They also know I am helpless."

AP

Basharat Ahmad, the only waterproofing applicator in Kashmir, said five cheques given to him by his clients have bounced. "Nobody is releasing payments," he added. "And I know I can't push them right now. The floods of September 2014 took away a lot. But 2015 looked better and I took huge loans. I am stuck."

AP

This is apart from what the unrest has had on Jammu's economy, roughly about 1,000-1,500 crore, according to the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The current predicament has visited the valley barely two years after massive floods, causing the economy to lose close to 5,400-5,700 crore in revenue.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday came under sharp attack from netizens on social media for his remark that people marooned by the swollen Ganga should feel fortunate to have received the Gangajal at their doorsteps.

AFP

During his visit to Maner on the outskirts of Patna, Lalu said in lighter vein, "Log kahte then Ganga niche chali gayi hai. Ab aapke ghar aa gayi hai."

Terming the current floods worse than the one that ravaged Bihar in 1975, Lalu asked the state government to take proper care of the affected people taking shelter in relief camps and arrange more boats to rescue those trapped in marooned villages.

hindustantimes.com

Expressing concern over loss of life, property and crops in the last one week, Lalu, who took stock of flood situation on the outskirts of the state capital on Tuesday, said the affected people have made a beeline for his home seeking help.

"Many people are still stranded in remote diara areas. My appeal to the people is that they should leave their houses and come to relief camps where state government will provide them proper shelter, food and medicine," Lalu said.

The RJD chief also asked the officials concerned to assess the loss of crop across the state and provide adequate compensation as early as possible. He appealed to the public representatives at lowest level, especially mukhiyas, to come forward and help the flood victims.

Update: Lalu has offered a clarification on the statement
Some may call it government's desperate attempt to douse the fire of discontent in the valley as Modi government at Centre plans to skill and employ 50,000 youth from the valley in next one year. The youth would be trained in such fields that would provide them with immediate employment. The government mainly seeks to target the school dropouts who struggle to get employed due to lack of education.

AFP

Minister of State for Minority Affairs (MoS) (Independent charge), Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has come up with a slew of measures for the uplift of the minority communities, especially the Muslims, including that of Kashmir.

Government aims upliftment of Kashmiri youth

While slamming the previous governments for not doing enough for minorities, Naqvi said that Modi government would leave no stone unturned to bring change in the lives of minorities including the youth of Kashmir. "So far under successive governments, only promises were made to the minorities of India and nothing substantial has come out of it as is evident from their dismal plight. The Modi government is making all out efforts to bring minority communities up to the contemporaty levels of development. In Kashmir Valley, unemployed youth will soon find themselves engaged in gainful employment," Naqvi was quoted in IndiaToday.

AFP

The ministry has already identified areas in which the youth would be given training. Private security, hospitals and house-keeping, artisanal training in brass-work, wood-work and carpet work are the main areas, the government has zeroed on.

Blueprint is ready, to be implement as soon as the situation improves

The minister also informed that a detailed blueprint has already been worked upon and we just need to current situation in valley to improve in order to implement our plans. "We had conducted a comprehensive survey of the scope and feasibility of the plan, but secretively. Top officials had visited the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Kargil and made an indepth report," infomed Naqvi.

Community Centres for minorities

Apart from the special plan to improvement the employment in the valley, the government has also planned to come up with nearly a thousand community centres for minorities across the country. The Centres will get constructed in districts where the minorities presence is thick. The main aim behind the construction of these centres is to built a common space where minorities can come, talk and discuss their matters, but also can utilize the building for trade and commerce of their traditional arts- and crafts.

These halls have been named as 'Sadbhavana Mandapas' or Centres of Harmony.

AFP

"These centres will not just be marriage halls, but will serve as centres which the minority communities can use to showcase their products and earn. This way we can have several such melas as the Surajkund one," Naqvi added. The sites for these buildings would be provided by state governments. Haryana chief minister Manohar lal has already proposed three sites, one each at Gurugram, Faridabad and Sirsa.
An attack on the American University of Afghanistan has ended after the attacker was shot down, a senior police officer, after at least 10 people were killed besides the two gunmen and more than 30 were wounded.

Reuters

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

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. Rahami said one foreign teacher had been wounded.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack on the university on the edge of Kabul. It was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the US system and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled. Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi earlier said it was still not clear if there were one or two attackers.

Reuters

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.

Reuters

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. AP photographer Massoud Hossaini was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus.

Obama/Hillary policy FAIL

Attack on American University Latest Sign of Growing Insecurity in Kabul#RadicalIslamhttps://t.co/uspH4qykvG  Linda Suhler, Ph.D. (@LindaSuhler) August 24, 2016

``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.

Reuters

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.

Press Office Director Trudeau on attack at the American University in Kabul, #Afghanistan. https://t.co/Zii4a9EpPV  Department of State (@StateDept) August 24, 2016

``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.

Reuters

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.

Attack on American University is an stack against education in Afghanistan aiming to prevent Afghans from education. #KabulBlast #AUAF  Abdullah Yadgare (@Abdullahyadgare) August 24, 2016

Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Reuters

The US State Department condemned what it called ``an attack on the future of Afghanistan.'' The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.
Going the distance has a new meaning altogether after this 30-year old woman redefined its standards for the world.

A Vietnamese woman paid her friend to cut her arms and foot in order to project a fake accident. Her motive behind this scam was to claim her insurance money. The sordid plans came to everyones notice after a 3-month long investigation was run by the police.

The 30-year old Ly Thi N claimed that she has been hit by the train and in this unfortunate accident she has lost her limbs; the amount that she wanted to claim from her insurance company was around $150,000.

araspot

During the course of this investigation, the police found out that she hired someone to do this for her and fake the entire accident. Her friend, Doan Van D was apparently paid $2,200 to chop off her limbs in May. He then called an ambulance and pretended to discover her injured on a railway track in Hanoi.

She was then taken to the hospital where doctors declared that it was impossible to reattach her limbs.

N hired D to cut her hand and foot, then continued to have him report false information to the police, Bac Tu Liem police chief, Nguyen Thanh Tung, told Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre on Tuesday.

The saddest thing about this entire situation is that how destitute she would have been to commit such a thing? In this, she has suffered a huge loss by losing both her hand and foot, on top of it, she didnt even qualify for the insurance money.
Yasmin was living at an Iraqi refugee camp for 2 weeks, yet every hour brings back memories of torture and rape at the hand of the Islamic State fighters.



She was beautiful, and that was her disadvantage, she decided.

nypost

So the 17 year old doused herself in gasoline and lit a match, burning her face and hair. Her nose, lips and ears peeled off.

That was how German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan found her in the camp last year, both physically and mentally scarred, still terrified that her former captors were coming for her.

Yasmin is among 1,100 women, mainly of the Yazidi religious minority, who 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.

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.

AP

Winfried Kretschmann, the governor of the prosperous western state of Baden Wuerttemberg (Germany) said: "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?"

AP

In the end, he decided upon 1,100 women and girls ranging in age today from 4 to 56.

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.

Twitter/Jan llhan Kizihan

"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." 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.

AP

"I couldn't take it anymore," she says. "And this is what happened to me."

"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.
How do you add trains to a city without adding to traffic and setting up ugly concrete structures?

It's a question that Indian Railways engineer Ashwani Kumar Upadhyaya has answered with his concept elevated "Caterpillar Train" (cTrain)

Upadhyaya's concept won him the MIT Climate CoLab competition. The arch-supported elevated cTrain concept was voted the best solution, among 29 submissions in the Transportation category of MIT's challenge. Upadhyaya's Mini Elevated cTrain is supported by thin arches that hold up 2 levels of cTrain traffic.

The rail cars are sleek and minimal, yet spacious Read more here.

Here are 5 more stories that may interest you:

1. Airfares May Increase If The Government Decides To Introduce WiFi On Indian Flights

Reuters

Wi-Fi may soon be available in Indian airspace which means you will be able to access the Internet when flying in India. The aviation secretary said on Wednesday that the government will decide on the issue of allowing Wi-Fi in Indian airspace in the next 10 days.

RN Choubey said, "The matter has been taken up with other government departments. You may soon get the good news as there is a broad understanding (on the issue)," Choubey said. However, this also introduces the possibility that air fares might shoot up because he added that the government will not interfere with the pricing of the service and added that it will not cap the same. More details here

2. World's Longest Aircraft 'The Flying Bum' Crashes After Hitting A Pole

PA

The world's biggest aircraft,the Airlander 10 airship, has crashed during a test flight in Bedfordshire in central England, the Press Association reported on Wednesday.

The airship, which had just undertaken a maiden flight 7 days ago, crashed after hitting a telegraph pole. Hybrid Air Vehicles, the manufacturer of the helium-filled airship, said no-one was injured during the second test flight. "All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries," it said on Twitter, without giving details of the incident. Read more here.

3. Afraid Of Being Raped By ISIS Again, Yazidi Teen Burns Herself

nypost

Yasmin was living at an Iraqi refugee camp for 2 weeks, yet every hour brings back memories of torture and rape at the hand of the Islamic State fighters.

She was beautiful, and that was her disadvantage, she decided.

So the 17 year old doused herself in gasoline and lit a match, burning her face and hair. Her nose, lips and ears peeled off.

That was how German doctor Jan Ilhan Kizilhan found her in the camp last year, both physically and mentally scarred, still terrified that her former captors were coming for her.

Yasmin is among 1,100 women, mainly of the Yazidi religious minority, who escaped IS captivity and are in Germany for psychological treatment. Read more here

4. India Takes Up Fight To Pakistan, Modi Announces Compensation For Terror Victims In PoK

AFP

In another bold move which is certain to irk Pakistan, Modi government on Wednesday announced compensation for civilian victims of terror in the valley including the residents of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The government said that since people living in POK are our people too, they can claim the compensation. "Kashmiris in PoK are an important part of India and they can also claim such a compensation,"Minister of state for PMO, Jitendra Singh was quoted in IndiaToday.

The move came days after PM Modi raised to issue of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in his Independence Day speech.

The minister further said that there is nothing offensive in roping in the people of POK for compensation since POK also is a part of India occupied by Pakistan. Read more here

5.This Kanpur Muslim Family Has Been Celebrating Janmashtami For The Past 30 Years!

ANI

Nature has no religion! All birds, animal, and plants created by god don't follow any caste, community or religion, then why do us humans follow these things despite the fact that we also are a part of nature?

God has not created religions so why are we following them blindly without finding any logic?

Today, while a lot of Indians are celebrating Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna, we bring you the story of a Muslim family in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh who has proved that humanity has no religion. Read the details here.
Nice, a southern town in France, and 14 others recently banned the burkini from their beaches after the country was hit by a spade of terrorist attacks. Pictures of a woman lying on the beach in a burkini being asked to remove it by the French Police have emerged on social media and are adding fuel to the fire that was sparked when the ban was introduced.

Guardian

The sun appears to be glaring in the picture and the woman is sunbathing, it seems, in a curled position and appears completely harmless when the police approached her and not only does it ask her to remove a part of her beachwear outfit but also fined her. The fine for wearing a burkini publicly is 38. This has, of course, led to mixed reactions on social media - some say that banning the burkini is enforcing what women can/cannot wear, while others say that the burkini does not in fact, comply with the French values of liberty, equality and fraternity.

The lady is seen removing the long sleeves shirt at the police's order and resumes her activity of sunbathing. Ironically the French government's minister for women's rights, Laurence Rossignol, defended the burkini ban and said, "The burkini is not some new line of swimwear, it is the beach version of the burqa and it has the same logic: hide women's bodies in order to better control them." Isn't the ban also "controlling" what women should wear by banning a swimming attire altogether?

An artist in the UK expressed her discontent about the ban through art and shared it on Twitter:

A burkini is a two piece swimsuit, similar to a wet-suit, is usually worn by Muslim women and includes a full-sleeves shirt, ankle-length leggings and a headpiece as well. Interestingly, the BBC reported that burkini sales are up by 200% since the ban.

Here's what some Twitter users had to say:

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

94 years later and women are still being policed on what they wear to the beach #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/VmcAbVC5kh  Shafeeq Younus (@Y2SHAF) August 24, 2016

Why are French feminists silent on #burkiniban ? The targeting of Muslim women for what they wear smacks of racism, islamophobia & misogyny  yvonne ridley (@yvonneridley) August 24, 2016

Opposing an enforced dress code for women by enforcing another dress code for women doesn't really make sense to me, France. #BurkiniBan  Gav (@miracleofsound) August 24, 2016
Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets.

Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials.

If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details.
The officials and the supporters of danish club are accusing the Swedish striker of racist behavior against South African international Lebogang Phiri during the first clash between the two teams in Athens, while UEFA had officially warned them before the second leg
The Ankara-Tehran-Moscow Coalition

By Pepe Escobar The policy shift is a direct consequence of the failed military coup in Turkey.. - Continue

=========

Its Not A Civil War  This Is A War ON Syria

By Eva Bartlett The Syrian Conflict is a PR war mounted by the western powers and their surrogates. - Continue

=========

The West & Syria: The Corporate Media vs. Reality

By Ian Sinclair The government prefers to treat the public like mushrooms  keeping them in the dark and feeding them bulls*it. - Continue

=========

The US: A Dead Nation Walking

By Paul Craig Roberts There is no sign that the Neoconservatives are willing to give up their hegemonic agenda for the sake of life on earth. - Continue

=========

=========

George Galloway on the Purges of the UK Labour Party

Audio The number of labour members now purged from voting in the Labour leadership election runs into the tens of thousands. - Continue

=========

Stone Cold Justice

Israels Torture of Palestinian Children

Video - Documentary Imagine a military prison where the inmates include children as young as 12, in shackles. - Continue

=========

Update Your iPhone or iPad

Israeli Cyber-spy Firm Can Hack You

By Tim Johnson The hack that would allow governments to spy on your every move through your iPhone and iPad has become reality. - Continue

=========

Turkish airstrikes kill 75 in Syria : Turkish shelling and airstrikes killed at least 35 civilians in Syria yesterday, the fifth day of an incursion against Islamic State jihadists and Kurdish militia

ISIS recaptures Al-Rai following massive attack : Just a few days following its massive retreat from the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, ISIS launched a large counteroffensive aimed at capturing the border town of Al-Rai and its surrounding towns.

120 militants leave Damascus suburb as Syrian Army regains full control  Russian military : "120 militants and their family members (230 persons in total) have left Darayya city of their own free will. They headed to Idlib ... on buses," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Syria: Government forces control Daraya: Government forces move into the besieged suburb after buses transfer the civilians and rebel fighters out of the area.

Turkey signals no quick end to Syria incursion as truck bomb kills police : Turkish forces will remain in Syria for as long as it takes to cleanse the border of Islamic State and other militants, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday, after a truck bombing by Kurdish insurgents killed at least 11 police officers.

Kurdish militant PKK claims attack on Turkish police HQ: website : Friday's suicide truck bombing at the police headquarters killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens, two days after Turkey launched an incursion against Islamic State and Kurdish militia fighters in Syria.

One Turkish soldier killed in Syria offensive: One Turkish soldier was killed and three others wounded in a rocket attack on a tank close to the northern Syrian town of Jarablus on Saturday, Turkish military sources said, after Turkey launched a cross-border offensive this week.

US 'Sacrifices' Its Kurdish Allies in Syria : By sacrificing its Kurdish allies in northern Syria, Washington wants to mend relations with Ankara and prevent Turkey from strengthening its ties with Moscow, thus far killing two birds with one stone,

U.S. seeks to soothe Turkey ties, press fight against Islamic State : A weakening of the U.S.-Turkish alliance is a concern for the United States, which is counting on support from Turkey - which has NATO's second-biggest military - in the battle against Islamic State.

Iraq: 22 ISIS militants killed near Mosul : International coalition aircraft carried out an airstrike on Friday evening, which destroyed a cache of ISIS weapons and also killed 12 ISIS members of the outfit. Attack was carried out in Sadia village.

ISIS kills 4 Federal Police officers near Ramadi: Mayor of Rutba district Emad Mashaal al-Delimi in a statement, said, A group of ISIS members attacked a checkpoint in Rutba district, killing four Federal Police officers.

Yemen cross-border shelling kills Saudi child: civil defence : A rocket fired from Yemen killed a three-year-old boy Saturday in the Saudi border region of Najran, a civil defence official said, in the latest cross-border attack by Iran-backed Yemeni rebels.

Saudi coalition strikes kill 7 Yemeni civilians: sources : Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition struck a rebel convoy near a taxi stand in central Yemen, killing seven civilians and nine insurgents, officials said Sunday.

Israeli Commander Violently Threatens Palestinian Youth : An Israeli army commander has made shocking threats to Palestinian youth held in the Al-Duheisha, saying he will make all the youth of the camp disabled, according to a Palestinian rights group, the Middle East Monitor reported on Friday.

Israel Primary Canceled, Netanyahu to Lead Likud Through 2023 : An internal court of Israels ruling Likud Party has canceled a planned primary election for party leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was announced the winner by default and will remain at the post through 2023.

18 pro-govt fighters killed, 120 wounded in Libya's Sirte : Medical source: Eighteen fighters loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government were killed and 120 others wounded in clashes Sunday with the Islamic State group in Sirte, a medical source said.

4 Chadian troops killed by Boko Haram mine : An army car hit a mine planted by Boko Haram at Kaiga Kindji, near the border of Chad and Niger. There were four dead and a dozen wounded,

US kills 22 Afghan soldiers: Helmand council: US drone attack has killed 22 Afghan soldiers held by Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province, while Taliban have overrun a strategic district elsewhere.

Taliban fighters overrun district in eastern Afghanistan : Taliban insurgents overran a district in eastern Afghanistan, killing and wounding dozens of police and soldiers and threatening strategically important road routes to Pakistan, officials said on Saturday.

Teen attacks priest with ax, attempts to detonate bomb in crowded Indonesian church : The assailant allegedly carried a symbol indicating support for Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).:

Australians rally against refugee detention centres : Protesters call for the closure of overseas refugee prison camps and demand asylum seekers be housed in Australia.

Russian Law Enforcers Kill Two Militants in Kabardino-Balkaria Republic : "According to preliminary data, two militants, who fought back law enforcement officers militarily, were killed during the special operation. An active phase of the operation is over," the source said.

Two Ukrainian soldiers killed in separatist east: Two Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in fresh clashes between government forces and proseparatist rebels in the country's war-torn east, the military said Sunday.

TTIP has failed  but no one is admitting it, says German Vice Chancellor : Germanys Vice Chancellor said in 14 rounds of talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated

Paraguay attack kills seven soldiers: Interior Minister Francisco de Vargas said the attack occurred on a rural road near the village of Arroyito, some 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of Asuncion.

Brazil's Circus Impeachment Trial Begins 3rd Day : The third day of the impeachment trial against the suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff started early Saturday a day after the session was suspended following a Senate session that the chamber's president said made the institution look like a "psychiatric hospital."

Venezuelan Workers Rally to Support Maduro : Venezuelan workers are marching in the streets of capital Caracas Saturday to show their support for the government of President Nicolas Maduro and to advocate for peace and stability in the South American country.

76-Year-Old Veteran Kills Himself in VA Parking Lot After Being Denied Treatment: He went to the E.R. and was denied service, one anonymous source said. And then he went to his car and shot himself.

The U.S. Army Lost Track of $6.5 Trillion : How could the Army misplace, fudge, misappropriate or otherwise lose $6.5 trillion? Its simple. Years of no oversight, bad accounting practices and crappy computer systems created this problem. And remember, this is just the Army and just its general fund.

Judge Gives Cancer Patient 90 Days Of Jail For Being Too Sick To Pay Bills : Judge Milas Butch Hale from Sherwood, Arkansas has been accused of running a modern-day debtors prison after he recently sentenced a 44-year-old man with pancreatic cancer to 90 days i

NSA Whistleblowers: NSA Hack Was Likely An Inside Job: In my opinion, if the Russians had these files, they would use them not leak them or any part of them to the world.

Man Who Killed Police Dog Sentenced to 45-Years in Prison : This week, a judge sentenced Kelontre Barefield to be incarcerated for 11 years on multiple burglary charges and 34 years for the death of Jethro, a three-year-old German Shepherd who served as a member of the departments K-9 unit

Colin Kaepernick protests national anthem and US flag: I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color, Kaepernick said.

Bush Advisor Wolfowitz Says He'll Likely Vote for Clinton : Paul Wolfowitz, 72, an advisor to former President Bush, discusses the dangers of a Donald Trump presidency, why he will likely vote for the Democrat's candidate this year and mistakes made during the Iraq war.

Hillary Ally Accuses Green Partys Jill Stein of Being Trump-like Russian Agent : ?The article begins by noting that she visited Moscow last winter to attend a conference hosted by RT, in order to call for an end to decades-long war and a militaristic policy that favors defense spending over serving the needs of the people.

State Department Stonewalled For Three Years On Clinton Foundation Donor Story : the Obama Administration delayed these journalist investigators for THREE YEARS in seeking this information from the State Department.
Turkey Invades Syria, Backed By U.S.

By Brandon Turbeville

August 23, 2016 "

Information Clearing House

" - "

Activist Post

"

-

On Wednesday morning, Turkey abruptly launched an all-out military assault on Syria, sending in tanks, troops, and engaging in airstrikes, in concert with airstrikes from the United States, to the northern portions of Syria near the Turkey-Syria border under the guise of combatting ISIS forces. At this time, the military operations seem focused around Jarablus.



According to the BBC, A dozen Turkish tanks and other vehicles have rolled across the Syrian border after heavy shelling of an area held by so-called Islamic State (IS). Military sources told Turkish media 70 targets in the Jarablus area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, and 12 by air strikes.



For those who may be wondering exactly what the Turkish goal might be, two points must be mentioned in regards to Turkeys actions which should go some length to demonstrate that the Turks are still focused on destroying the Syrian government as well as preventing the establishment of a Kurdish enclave either in Syria or Turkey.



First, the Turkish military is acting as the frontal assault for moderate rebel forces like the FSA who are marching in directly behind the Turkish military to hold territory conquered by the Turks. Any association with the Free Syrian Army, a gaggle of Western-backed extremists indistinguishable from ISIS, should be a major warning sign to any informed observer that the goal is not to aid in the destruction of terrorist forces in Syria or to assist the Syrian government in its goal to do so. Second, the Turkish invasion was accompanied by American airstrikes which clearly indicates that the Turks are operating closely with the United States, which has been chomping at the bit to either directly destroy the Syrian government via military invasion or to create buffer zones and safe zones in the country to act as forward operating bases for future terrorist proxy operations.





Al-Masdar reports on the progress of the Turkish military offensive by writing:





The Turkish Special Forces, alongside the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Faylaq Al-Sham, reportedly captured their first village during this new offensive dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield.

According to Faylaq Al-Shams official media wing, their forces captured the village of Tal Katlijah after the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists quickly abandoned the area in order to reinforce Jarabulus.

ISIS has mostly abandoned the small area between Jarabulus and the Turkish border, leaving only small units to resist the advancing Turkish-backed rebels.

The Turkish-backed rebels are now attacking the hilltop village of Tal Shaer, which is along the road to Jarabulus.



The Turk agenda here is also two-fold: On one hand, Turkeys Erdogan wants to continue to work with NATO and the United States to destroy the secular government of Bashar al-Assad while, on the other hand, Turkey needs to do all it can do to prevent an autonomous Kurdish enclave on its border with Syria. An effective way to do this is to create a buffer zone between the Kurds and Turkey while, at the same, making sure that the dimensions of the buffer zone are the same as the safe zone desired by NATO two years ago in order to keep terrorist supply lines moving through Turkey and in to Syria. That narrow and porous jihadist corridor has become known as the Jarablus corridor, the same areas which the Turks are now invading and filling up with terrorists as we speak.



For its part, the Syrian government has condemned the Turkish invasion. As ABC news reports,





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 YPG has likewise condemned the Turkish involvement in Syria, labeling it a blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs.



Turkeys move raises even more questions now regarding the nature of its recent failed coup as well as its relationship with Russia and the United States. A troubling new dimension has also been added to the Syrian crisis as the Turks have now officially invaded a sovereign country in an already volatile region.

Brandon Turbeville  article archive here  is the author of seven books, Codex Alimentarius  The End of Health Freedom, 7 Real Conspiracies, Five Sense Solutions and Dispatches From a Dissident, volume 1 andvolume 2, The Road to Damascus: The Anglo-American Assault on Syria, and The Difference it Makes: 36 Reasons Why Hillary Clinton Should Never Be President. Turbeville has published over 650 articles on a wide variety of subjects including health, economics, government corruption, and civil liberties. Brandon Turbevilles radio show Truth on The Tracks can be found every Monday night 9 pm EST at UCYTV. His website is BrandonTurbeville.com

In case you missed it:

Erdogan: Russian claim on Syria laughable : President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday blasted as laughable Russias accusation that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria.
The Russia-Iran Strategic Game-Changer By Pepe Escobar August 24, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " SCF " - Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers  as well as Sukhoi-34 fighter bombers  leave from the Iranian Hamadan airfield to bomb jihadis and assorted moderate rebels in Syria, and immediately weve got ourselves a major, unforeseen geopolitical game-changer. The record shows that Russia has not been present militarily in Iran since 1946; and this is the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that Iran allowed another nation to use Iranian territory for a military operation. Bets could be made the Pentagon would, predictably, freak out like a bunch of pampered, irate teens. They did not disappoint, complaining that Russias advance warning did not allow enough time to prepare  as in blaring all across the planet another episode of Russian aggression, on top of it in cahoots with the mullahs. Further desperation ensued, with Washington claiming Iran might have violated UN Security Council resolutions. Moscows spin, in contrast, was a beauty; this was all about logistics and cost cutting. Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov, chair of the State Dumas Defense Committee and a former commander of the Black Sea Fleet, gave a lovely explanation of the modus operandi: It is expensive and takes a long time to fly from bases in the European part of Russia. The issue of the cost of military combat activities is, at present, a priority. We must not go over the current Defense Ministry budget. Flying Tu-22s from Iran means using less fuel and carrying larger payloads... Russia wont be able to find a friendlier and more suitable, from the point of view of security, country in that part of the world, and strikes must be carried out if we want to end this war... Airfields in Syria are not suitable because of the constant [need for] flying over areas of combat activities. Dont mess with the SCO All fine and dandy then. The Pentagon will keep crying foul. Enraged Zionists in Israel and fanatic Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia will throw tantrums and turbo-charge the proverbial Iranian existential threat to apocalyptic levels. Whatever. These facts in the skies cannot be altered. Especially because if they open the way for a decisive victory in the battle for East Aleppo, the foreign-imposed Syrian civil war will be all but over. Ali Shamkhani, head of Irans National Security Council, made no mistake this is all about Iran-Russia strategic cooperation in a  real  fight against ISIS/ISIL/Daesh terror, and not, as spun by Western corporate media, the return of Iran as a military asset of a great power. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, for his part, stressed, I allowed the bombers to fly over because we received clear information about them. They make precise strikes, avoid casualties among civilians. So, we will consider all the requests concerning security of civilians in Syria. This was code for Baghdad coolly allowing Russian access through Iraqi airspace for the TU-22M3 bombers. Next inevitable step would be the Russian Caspian fleet launching cruise missiles over Iranian and Iraqi airspace towards those Beltway-protected rebels in Syria. And theres more, much more. A 2015 Moscow-Damascus agreement has now been ratified by Russia. That, in effect, turns the Russian air base at Khmeimim into a permanent military base in the eastern Mediterranean. Beijing and Damascus, for their part, have just agreed on closer military ties on top of Chinese humanitarian aid. Syrian Arab Army personnel will eventually be trained by Chinese military instructors. Beijing is now directly involved in Syria for a key national security reason; hundreds of Uyghurs have joined Daesh or follow al-Qaeda goon Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the much-appreciated-in-the Beltway leader of the Army of Syrian Conquest  and may eventually return to Xinjiang to wage jihad. And then, theres the absolutely delicious cherry in the cheesecake, as professor of Middle East Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, Zhao Weiming, told the Global Times; Beijings new power play in Syria is payback for Pentagon interference in the South China Sea. So what will Hillary do? All of the above points to the new look of what used to be a white elephant in the room; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) now means serious business. As the 4+1 (Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, plus Hezbollah) started to share intel and operation procedures last year, including a coordination center in Baghdad, analysts such as Alistair Cooke and myself saw it as en embryo of the SCO in action. This was definitely, already, an alternative to NATOs humanitarian imperialism and regime change obsession. For the first time NATO was not free anymore to roam around the world like an out-of-control Robocop. Even though only Russia and China were SCO members, and Iran an observer, the cooperation involved  at the request of a government fighting jihadis and still a target for regime change  already qualified as a major, new geopolitical fact on the ground. Now, this variant of the New Silk Roads  New Silk Airways?  involving Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria and precisely targeting Salafi-jihadism, qualifies once again as accelerated Eurasia integration. Both SCO heavyweights China and Russia will not only admit Iran as a full member as early as next year; they know Iran is a key strategic asset in a battle against NATO, and they will never let Syria become the new Libya. In parallel, Russias strategic moves in Crimea and Syria are set to be dissected in excruciating detail in Chinese military academies. Eurasia integration is being progressively intertwined with the SCO. Whatever Tel Aviv and Riyadh  with their massive Washington lobbies  may fear about Russian-Iranian security cooperation, its NATO thats livid. And much more than NATO, Hillary Queen of War Clinton. The record shows Hillary with a severe crush on Assad to be dispatched the Gaddafi way. In the event of a Hillary presidency, bets can be made she will force the Pentagon to impose a no-fly zone in northern Syria and weaponize assorted rebel remnants to Kingdom Come. And then theres Iran. During the 2008 US presidential campaign, I was on the floor as Hillary addressed the AIPAC conference in Washington, a truly frightening spectacle. Using the  false  premise of an Iranian attack on Israel, she said, I want the Iranians to know that if Im president, we will attack Iran. In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them. Oh really? Over Russia-Iran strategic cooperation? Over a progressively integrated SCO? Bring it on, Queen of War.
Home Sign up for our FREE Daily Email Newsletter Trump vs. Hillary: A Summation



By Paul Craig Roberts



August 24, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The US presidential election this November will tell whether a majority of the US population is irredeemably stupid. If voters elect Hillary, we will know that Americans are stupid beyond redemption.



We dont know much about Trump, and anti-Trump propaganda rules in the place of facts.



But we know many facts about Hillary. We know about her violation of classification laws and the refusal of the Democratic administration to do anything about it. The Democrats prefer to control the White House than to enforce the law, another nail into the coffin in which the rule of law in the US lies.



We know from their words and deeds and material success that the Clintons are agents for Wall Street, the Big Banks, the military/security complex, Israel, agribusiness, and the extractive industries. Their large personal fortune, approximately $120 million, and the $1,600 million in their foundation, much of which came from abroad in exchange for political favors, attests to the unchallengable fact that the Clintons are agents for the oligarchy that rules America, indeed, that rules the American Empire from Australia and Japan, through North America and Western and Eastern Europe to the Russian border.



We know that Hillary, like Bill, is a liar.



We know that Hillary is a warmonger.



We know that Hillary made the most irresponsible statement ever uttered by a presidential candidate when she declared the President of Russia to be the new Hitler, thereby raising tensions between the US and Russia to a higher level than existed during the Cold War.



We know that Hillary is allied with the neoconservatives and that her belief in the neocons ideology of US world hegemony is likely to result in war with Russia and China.



All we know about Trump is that the oligarchs, who sent Americas jobs overseas, who flooded the country with difficult-to-assimilate immigrants, who destroyed public education, who bailed out Wall Street and the banks too big to fail, who sacrificed American homeowners and retirees living on a fixed income, who intend to privatize both Social Security and Medicare, who have given the public killer cops, relentless violations of privacy, the largest prison poplulation in the world, and destroyed the US Constitution in order to increase executive power over the American people, are violently opposed to Trump. This opposition should tell us that Trump is the person we want in the Oval Office.



Some claim that it is all a charade and that Trump is playing a role in order to elect Hillary. American politics are so corrupt that anything is possible. However the ruling elites and their puppets seem to be genuinely concerned about Trumps challenge to their control, and they have united against Trump. They have used their money to buy up progressive websites paid to bring the print and TV anti-Trump propaganda onto the Internet, thus joining the Internet presstitutes with the print, TV, and NPR whores who are working overtime to demonize Trump and to elect Hillary.



The entire power structure of our country is behind Hillary. Both political parties, Democratic and Republican, and both ideologies, neoliberals and neoconservatives, are united behind Hillary.



How much more evidence do Americans need in order to know that a vote for Hillary is a vote for their own emasculation?



Apparently, Americans remain captives of their insouciance. According to news reports, a majority of voters still havent a clue about the consequences of voting for Hillary. Polls report that Hillary is well in the lead. Are these real polls or just another presstitute lie to discourage Trump supporters? Why vote when they have already lost?



The propaganda assault against Trump, vicious as it was, did not succeed during the Republican primary. Despite the media condemnation of Trump, he swept the other Republican candidates aside effortlessly.



The current media demonization of Trump might fail as well. Indeed, it is so transparent that it could elect him.



All that is required is for enough Americans to awake from their insousiance to recognize that it is the enemies of their own lives, their own living standards, and their own liberty who are violently opposed to Trump.



If Americans cannot reach this realization, they have no future, and neither does the planet Earth.



The ruling oligarchy hates Trump because he disavows war with Russia, questions the purpose of NATO, opposes the offshoring of Americans jobs, and opposes the uncontrolled immigration that is transforming the United States into a multi-cultural entity devoid of unity. The oligarchs are replacing the United States with a Tower of Babel. Oligarchic power grows exponentially among the confusion of diversity.



In other words, Trump is for America and for Americans.



This is why the oligarchs and their whores hate Trump.



The imbecillic Americans who vote for Hillary are voting for war and their own immiseration.



Possibly, a vote for Trump is the same. However, in the case of Trump we do not know that. In the case of Hillary we most certainly do know it.



Of course, it could matter not how Americans vote. Those who program the electronic voting machines will determine the vote, and as the establishments of both political parties totally oppose Trump, the programmed machines can elect Hillary. We know this from our electoral history. The US has already experienced elections in which exit polls show a winning candidate different from the candidate selected by the electronic machines that have no paper trail and no way of affirming the vote.



If Hillary gets into the Oval Office, I predict nuclear war before her first term is over. A vote for Hillary is a vote for nuclear war.



If you look at the forthcoming election realistically, you have no alternative but to conclude that the entirety of the presstitute media and American Establishment prefers the risk of nuclear war to the risk of losing control of the government to the voters.



That Americans permitted the rise of unaccountable power tells us all we need to know about the dereliction of duty of which United States citizens are guilty. The American people failed democracy, which requires accountable government. The American government has proven that it is not accountable to the US Constitution, to US statutory law, to international law, or to voters.



If the result of Americans dereliction of duty is nuclear war, the American people will be responsible for the death of planet Earth. One would hope that with responsibility this great on their shoulders, the American people will reject the unequivocal war candidate and take their chances on holding Trump accountable to his words. 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 . 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.
Through a Glass Darkly: I Remember My Name By Reviewed by Hatim Kanaaneh (I Remember My Name  Poetry by Samah Sabawi, Ramzy Baroud and Jehan Bseiso. Vacy Vlazna, ed., 2016, Novum Publishing. Kindle Edition.) August 24, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - "In penning this review, the primacy of Israel in North Americas hegemonic cultural circles limits my expectation of a sympathetic Western readership. The recent furor in Israeli government circles over the public broadcasting of Mahmoud Darwishs poem is only a warning signal. Thugs and war criminals take on the mantel of literary critics to attack Palestines national poet and ascribe to him their own internalized fascist values. Judging from experience the malicious smear is bound to gain traction in Zionist-aligned literary circles at home and abroad. Our lead Palestinian politician in Israel, Ayman Odeh, explains well the Israeli officials fear: If we were to know and acknowledge each others culture we may finally want to live together, [al-Ittihad, July 21, 2016.] I am an Israeli citizen and know firsthand how Israels rightist leaders view the world. I know precisely where my place is in their narrow field of vision. I experience daily how they deal with my issues of the heart; such issues always fall outside the purview of the Israeli majoritys definition of itself. Their politically inspired national, religious and racial exclusionism debases what I and other outfielders say. I live that reality and it strains my ability to reach out to the world, to humanity as a whole. It threatens my poetic and intellectual freedom. I worry that the pro-Israel hegemonic sway in Western culture will affect a security wall around my intellectual property and that of other Palestinian writers and of kindred marginalized groups. That, in turn, dims my hope to be understood by the world at large and hence my worry. The dedication of the current thin collection of poetry by the three internationally savvy poets, Samah Sabawi, Ramzy Baroud and Jehan Bseiso, to Gaza and Gazans blows their cover: They are diaspora Palestinians, world citizens and enemies of hegemonic cultural Zionism from within its field of operation; they are Trojan horses. Between them they span the globe in poetic exile seeming to be in constant flight from the inescapable curse of who they are, Palestinians by nature and nurture. The book is by four poets, not three, for I cried just as much peering into the illustrations as I did reading the lines that inspired them. The way David Borrington renders the feelings behind the words of the poets in heartfelt visual images is a form of poetry as well. How else can he show you again and again what it means to be anxious at the cellular level for example? Samah Sabawi admits to using her 140 characters to liberate Palestine. Within Israel lesser thought crimes led to a pre-dawn police raid and landed the poet Dareen Tatour first in jail and later in exile from home. The state has deemed her too much a threat to have access to the Internet, or to be free on her own recognizance till the formal court proceedings. But Samah Sabawi, Ramzy Baroud and Jehan Bseiso all have escaped the geographic confines of Palestine/Israel to their emotional and physical global exile. Tethered by their heartstrings to their shared homeland and Gazan suffering, all three transcend their Palestinian roots to a universal core that snares readers everywhere. They soar across the globe to share in the pain of others whether in Kashmir, South Africa, Chile, Burma or Mali. Between the three of them our poets cover a wide span of the literary field and the physical globe: There isnt a continent or a writing art they havent visited. Whether they cut their sentiments in stone or siphon them from an ocean, the classic similes for the craft of Arabic poetry, all three share the common demeanor coloring the lives of Palestinians everywhere: They harbor a sense of injured pride at the deferred and devalued, even if no longer totally denied, innate justice of their case, the Palestinian Nakba. The hue each of them reflects of this shared, heartfelt and pervasive Palestinian sentiment sets them apart from each other. The editor tells us: Although Samah, Ramzy and Jehan have distinctive styles, they possess in common incisive intellects, finely tuned by a sense of justice inherent in the Palestinian experience and in their love for Palestine particularly besieged and suffering Gaza. All three poets harbor a deep sense of history, of time and place that always translates to Palestine. I have travelled and met many fellow Palestinians in their diaspora. The phenomenon of Nakba-centered existence is near universal among us. Like a hereditary trait it spans generations and transcends time and space, it colors a Palestinians existence wherever he/she treads and whatever air he/she breathes. Take Samah for example: She smiles at us brightly from the first page of her contribution. There is no mistaking her striking Greek (or is it Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Native American or South-East Asian) looks. Speaking for her fellow Palestinian poets, her words live up to the global sentiment her looks spark: I am a Palestinian-Canadian-Australian writer, commentator and playwright.  I travelled the world and lived in its far corners, yet always felt haunted by the violence and injustice perpetrated against the poor, the marginalized, the colonized and stateless. No matter where I was, or how vast the world appeared around me, I always felt as though I remained trapped in my place of birth Gaza. The war torn besieged and isolated strip shaped my understanding of my identity and my humanity. Ramzy concurs: Wherever I am in the world, from Seattle to Chile to South Africa and regardless of which struggle I am involved in, from Mali to the Rohingya, I am always thinking Palestine, even when I am not conscious of it. So, dont talk to me about the Pharaoh: My Fathers blood drenched the skin of Jesus After the Romans caught him at a checkpoint Hiding a recipe for revolution, and a love poem And here is Jehan Bseiso: Since 2008 I have been working with Medecins Sans Frontieres  Doctors Without Borders. My work has taken me to countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Ethiopia and others. In all my travels and encounters, Ive experienced how support and understanding of the Palestinian cause can cross borders and traverse barriers of culture and language. The with-it modernity of the three exiled Palestinian poets is such that it makes it possible to include such scribbles as @ CNN@ Foxnews meaningfully in a poem. Yet on the first reading, it is only at the very end that the picture becomes stunningly clear, explained in a single exclamation Hashtag Gaza. This gives the entire collection its full clarity: Samah floats on an ethereal atmosphere focusing on Gaza willingly or against her will, Ramzy fills every internationally significant calamity with his remembered Gazan content and Jehan experiences everything firsthand as #Gaza. How [else] can we remember what we cant forget? Aversion to hyperbole limits ones choices for comparison. Still, Gazas reality is of the same genre as the Holocaust or Hiroshima. Except that Gazas plight is stretched out over decades with the perpetrators skilled consistency and aggressive projection of inner violence on its victim so artfully that violence becomes the norm for Gaza if not for the whole of Palestine. The international community is numbed into accepting the buzz of its drones, helicopters and F-16s as part of the standard background noise and its fireworks as another light show to observe and to report on occasionally to fill the bulk requirements of international dailies. Counting lashes is unlike receiving them, a Palestinian saying goes. The Palestinian experience, especially in Gaza, not only of suffering but also of being ignored, shunned and ridiculed for incurring such punishment is extremely private. It is so private and foreign it is difficult to communicate to others. The basic elements of their private world are so harshly incomprehensible that even when you scream them at normal people you do it out of despair knowing that such reality is unexplainable, that only living such reality permits one to understand it. Hence, and logically, some of the language is so unusual as poetry that it rubs against the grain. And yet, there is an amateurish freshness to the raw rub and the sanguinity of it all. It is so painfully touching it sinks and sticks to the depth of the heart: Habeebi, I thought you lost my number, turns out you lost your legs. How else can one perceive such nightmarish reality as: In the hospital, they put the pregnant women alone, because theyre carrying hope, because they dont want them to see what can happen to children.  Theres more blood than water today in Gaza.  Dr. Hatim Kanaaneh is the author of Chief Complaint as well as A Doctor in Galilee: The Life and Struggle of a Palestinian in Israel (Pluto Press, 2008).
Israeli Think Tank: Dont Destroy ISIS - Its a Useful Tool Against Iran, Hezbollah, Syria



Head of a right-wing think tank says the existence of ISIS serves a "strategic purpose" in the West's interests



By Ben Norton August 24, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Salon " - According to a think tank that does contract work for NATO and the Israeli government, the West should not destroy ISIS, the fascist Islamist extremist group that is committing genocide and ethnically cleansing minority groups in Syria and Iraq. Why? The so-called Islamic State can be a useful tool in undermining Iran, Hezbollah, Syria and Russia, argues the think tanks director. The continuing existence of IS serves a strategic purpose, wrote Efraim Inbar in The Destruction of Islamic State Is a Strategic Mistake, a paper published on Aug. 2. By cooperating with Russia to fight the genocidal extremist group, the United States is committing a strategic folly that will enhance the power of the Moscow-Tehran-Damascus axis, Inbar argued, implying that Russia, Iran and Syria are forming a strategic alliance to dominate the Middle East. The West should seek the further weakening of Islamic State, but not its destruction, he added. A weak IS is, counterintuitively, preferable to a destroyed IS. Inbar, an influential Israeli scholar, is the director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, a think tank that says its mission is to advance a realist, conservative, and Zionist agenda in the search for security and peace for Israel. The think tank, known by its acronym BESA, is affiliated with Israels Bar Ilan University and has been supported by the Israeli government, the NATO Mediterranean Initiative, the U.S. embassy in Israel and the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. BESA also says it conducts specialized research on contract to the Israeli foreign affairs and defense establishment, and for NATO. In his paper, Inbar suggested that it would be a good idea to prolong the war in Syria, which has destroyed the country, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing more than half the population. As for the argument that defeating ISIS would make the Middle East more stable, Inbar maintained: Stability is not a value in and of itself. It is desirable only if it serves our interests. Instability and crises sometimes contain portents of positive change, he added. Inbar stressed that the Wests main enemy is not the self-declared Islamic State; it is Iran. He accused the Obama administration of inflat[ing] the threat from IS in order to legitimize Iran as a responsible actor that will, supposedly, fight IS in the Middle East. Despite Inbars claims, Iran is a mortal enemy of ISIS, particularly because the Iranian government is founded on Shia Islam, a branch that the Sunni extremists of ISIS consider a form of apostasy. ISIS and its affiliates have massacred and ethnically cleansed Shia Muslims in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. Inbar noted that ISIS threatens the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. If the Syrian government survives, Inbar argued, Many radical Islamists in the opposition forces, i.e., Al Nusra and its offshoots, might find other arenas in which to operate closer to Paris and Berlin. Jabhat al-Nusra is Syrias al-Qaida affiliate, and one of the most powerful rebel groups in the country. (It recently changed its name to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.) Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based militia that receives weapons and support from Iran, is also being seriously taxed by the fight against IS, a state of affairs that suits Western interests, Inbar wrote. Allowing bad guys to kill bad guys sounds very cynical, but it is useful and even moral to do so if it keeps the bad guys busy and less able to harm the good guys, Inbar explained. Several days after Inbars paper was published, David M. Weinberg, director of public affairs at the BESA Center, wrote a similarly-themed op-ed titled Should ISIS be wiped out? in Israel Hayom, a free and widely read right-wing newspaper funded by conservative billionaire Sheldon Adelson that strongly favors the agenda of Israels right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the piece, Weinberg defended his colleagues argument and referred to ISIS as a useful idiot. He called the U.S. nuclear deal with Iran rotten and argued that Iran and Russia pose a far greater threat than the terrorist nuisance of Islamic State. Weinberg also described the BESA Center as a place of intellectual ferment and policy creativity, without disclosing that he is that think tanks director of public affairs. After citing responses from two other associates of his think tank who disagree with their colleague, Weinberg concluded by writing: The only certain thing is that Ayatollah Khamenei is watching this quintessentially Western open debate with amusement. On his website, Weinberg includes BESA in a list of resources for hasbara, or pro-Israel propaganda. It is joined by the ostensible civil rights organization the Anti-Defamation League and other pro-Israel think tanks, such as the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP). Weinberg has worked extensively with the Israeli government and served as a spokesman for Bar Ilan University. He also identifies himself on his website as a columnist and lobbyist who is a sharp critic of Israels detractors and of post-Zionist trends in Israel. Inbar boasts an array of accolades. He was a member of the political strategic committee for Israels National Planning Council, a member of the academic committee of the Israeli militarys history department and the chair of the committee for the national security curriculum at the Ministry of Education. He also has a prestigious academic record, having taught at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown and lectured at Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Oxford and Yale. Inbar served as a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and was appointed as a Manfred Worner NATO fellow. The strategy Inbar and Weinberg have proposed, that of indirectly allowing a fascist Islamist group to continue fighting Western enemies, is not necessarily a new one in American and Israeli foreign policy circles. It is reminiscent of the U.S. Cold War policy of supporting far-right Islamist extremists in order to fight communists and left-wing nationalists. In the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the CIA and U.S. allies Pakistan and Saudi Arabia armed, trained and funded Islamic fundamentalists in their fight against the Soviet Union and Afghanistans Soviet-backed socialist government. These U.S.-backed rebels, known as the mujahideen, were the predecessors of al-Qaida and the Taliban. In the 1980s, Israel adopted a similar policy. It supported right-wing Islamist groups like Hamas in order to undermine the Palestine Liberation Organization, or PLO, a coalition of various left-wing nationalist and communist political parties. Hamas, to my great regret, is Israels creation, Avner Cohen, a retired Israeli official who worked in Gaza for more than 20 years, told The Wall Street Journal. As far back as 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower insisted to the CIA that, in order to fight leftist movements in the Middle East, We should do everything possible to stress the holy war aspect. Ben Norton is a politics reporter and staff writer at Salon. You can find him on Twitter at @BenjaminNorton.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Gidan Taki camp Thursday protested while demanding the immediate removal of the camp chairman over allegations of diversion of foodstuff meant for their upkeep.

They also protested the lack of potable water and medical supplies in their camp.

It was learnt that the IDPs from the camp took to the streets of Maiduguri in their numbers and barricaded the Maiduguri-Gamboru Ngala road hindering movement of vehicles for over an hour.

They demanded for the sack of Mohammed Sema, the camp chairman over allegations of diverting supplies until security personnel at the camp intervened.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has declared that he is not in a hurry to die, but live to complete his assignment for people of the state.

He made this declaration early hours of today while reacting to rumours of his ill-health shortly after arriving Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, from a foreign trip.

Addressing a large crowd that gathered at the airport to welcome him, Okorocha described the rumours of his health condition as false.

I am not in a hurry to die; I will live to complete my assignment for Imo people.

I went to the land of the dead and our ancestors turned me back saying it was not yet time, he said.

The governor however, acknowledged that he had a challenge that took him far from the physical.

He told the crowd that he was healthy and strong, adding that those who wished him dead were enemies of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Sam Onwuemedo said last week that Okorocha traveled outside the country to attract investors to Imo.

Shortly after the governors departure, it was widely rumoured that he was dead, while some reports in the social media claimed that the governors health condition had worsened.

Okorocha, who is chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, is presently in Kaduna for the 4th Progressive Governance Lecture Series.
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and claimant to the governorship seat of Abia State, Dr. Uche Ogah, has dismissed as erroneous, the insinuation in some quarters that he is standing trial for alleged corruption.

Rather, Ogah said he was the person who first approached the courts to protect the business interest of his company, Masters Energy Oil and Gas.

A statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Kingsley Ibeawuchi, explained that the dispute in a business between Ogahs firm and another firm, Mut-Hass Petroleum, dated back to 2011, when the latter allegedly approached masters Energy Oil and Gas for an oil business collaboration, which he said was sealed and entered into after a memorandum of understanding, MoU, was signed by the two parties.

Specifically, Ibeawuchi, explained that the business was an offer by Mut-Hass Petroleum to Masters Energy to sell, transfer and assign her companys interest on the 10,000 Mt of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) allocation for the period of second quarter for the year, 2011, as a result of lack of funds and expertise to carry out the transactions.

The spokesman noted that the offer was considered based on a plea by the owners of the company and a MoU that was entered into by the two firms.

The MoU was dully signed conscientiously, on the 6th of May, 2011 between the two firms and in her haste to get the business started, the owner of the other firm allegedly offered to prepare a handwritten invoice in respect of the 10,000 MT of PMS, which she said was to ensure the entire transaction commences.

In the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both companies, it was clearly stated that all rights, interest, privileges, obligations and the permit to import 10,000 Metric Tons (MT) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) Scheme for the second quarter of the year 2011 be transferred to Masters Energy Oil and Gas Ltd, and by virtue of the Memorandum of Understanding, based on those clearly spelt out terms of the agreement, Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited paid the total sum of =N=26, 820, 000.00 Only (Twenty Six Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) as full and final Consideration to Mut-Hass Petroleum Nig. Ltd, he explained.

He went further to give the bank and the numbers of three cheques issued by Ogahs firm covering payment for business deal, allegedly issued to the firm.

Instead, Mut-Hass Petroleum flouted the MoU, Ibeawuchi alleged, prompting Ogahs firm to approach the court of law in (Suit NO: FCT/HC/2196/14) to address their grievances.

He said they decided to make the clarification so that the public would be misled.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III-led Jamaatu Nasril Islam, JNI, has condemned the mob attack in Zamfara State, which left eight people dead, following an alleged blasphemy on Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The JNI said the attack was most unfortunate.

The incident occurred at Abdu Gusau 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.

The Sultan, 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 descended on and killed Bridget Agbahime, a trader and wife of a Pastor in Kano, over allegations she committed blasphemy in an open market.

In July, Deaconess Esther Olawale was also killed in Abuja while preaching around her neighbourhood in the morning.

Full statement reads:

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.
A 40-year-old man has been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly raping a 13-year-old Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Borno on Thursday

Confirming the arrest, the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the victim, an indigene of Chibok was staying at the Colori Camp with her aunt.

Alh Ibrahim added that the suspect was arrested in a house in Colori ward behind the NNPC quarters, Dala area of the state capital where he allegedly lured the girl to perpetrate the evil act.

The suspect held the victim hostage for two days in his house. After intensive search by the command, the girl was later found with the culprit, he said.

The commandant decried the increasing rate of domestic abuses ranging from defilement to rape, in the state, adding that the culprits usually take advantage of the poor living condition of their victims and abuse them.

He however appeal to residents to always be alert and report any suspicious activities that can cause havoc in the society.
A black American woman in Indianapolis in a working class neighborhood was on her way out on a Tuesday morning when her car was stolen right in front of her house. She ran back to her house to tell her husband who immediately put a call through the police to inform them of the incidence.

After the call,48 year old- Mr Carl Williams went ahead to the garage of their house,and surprisingly he was shot by a police man.

Obviously,everything contradicts cases such as police brutality,gun rights and racial profiling like this story. The officer in question, Christopher Mills says the shot was a mistake. He said he shot in self defense because the man was assumed to be the robber that was reported, because he was with a gun and looked suspicious at the garage.

Angela Parrot who also lives in the same neighborhood said it was crazy for the officer to have assumed the man( as the thief) who wanted to protect his wife and family,of which hes currently on the hospital bed while the culprit is out there as a free man.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that more of its members would be arrested and prosecuted if they continue to go against the law.

The PDP chairman in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, had on Tuesday threatened to mobilize members of the party to stage a peaceful protest over the arrest of 13 of its members recently in the state.

In his reaction, Mr. Oshiomhole said nobody was exempted from prosecution under his administration.

Speaking at a meeting with youths from Ovia North East, who were at the Osadebe Government House in Benin City to endorse the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate, Godwin Obaseki, the governor said the PDP members that were arrested for going against the law have been charged to court to show that the state was not a banana republic.

You need courage to put an end to exemption. As long as I am here, there is no exemption for anyone. Nobody has the right to behave like an emperor. We were carrying poles to extend electricity to some villages but they (PDP) arranged some boys to block the vehicle. They forced the driver to stop, attacked one of our commissioners and said nothing will happen, he said.

Governor Oshiomhole said it was ridiculous for the PDP chieftains to boast that nothing would happen when they broke the law and attacked a member of his cabinet.
Traditional rulers and stakeholders from the Niger Delta on Thursday met with representatives of the Federal Government and read out terms that would build confidence as well as restore peace in the troubled region.

The parley came on the heels of a ceasefire announced by the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups in the region on Sunday.

In a communique, which was read at the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Abuja by the Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Wellington Okirika, the traditional rulers listed six things the Federal Government should do in order to build confidence and stop the destruction of the countrys oil assets by militants in the region.

Armed troops some few months ago stormed Gbaramatu in Delta State in search of former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.

In the wake of the visit, the troops allegedly left tales of sorrow, destruction and tears following their inability to find their target.

The communique reads: Having acceded to the call for a ceasefire by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on August 4, 2016, the buck has now been passed to the table of the Federal Government as driven by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources  a representative of the Federal Government.

For the purposes of building confidence in the system, we wish to state here that as a matter of urgency the Federal Government should appoint/constitute a Federal Government dialogue team; release the 10 innocent school children arrested by the Nigerian Army on the 28th of May, 2016 in Oporoza and others in detention on trumped up charges.

Return the Golden Sword, being the symbol of authority in the Gbaramatu traditional institution; return the three traditional council speed boats in custody of the Nigerian Army; cessation of hostilities perpetrated by the military in the Niger Delta region; and equally important, the Federal Government should make a categorical statement about the opening of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko Delta State for academic activities in the 2016/2017 session.
Vanguard

A lawmaker representing Epe Federal constituency in Lagos State, Mr. Wale Raji, has assured Nigerians that the truth about the budget padding would be revealed, as the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, has declared zero tolerance to corruption.

Punch

The Biafran Independence Movement has urged underperforming governors in the South-East to vacate their offices since they have lost focus and derailed from their political promises.

Thisday

In a role reversal, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, wednesday launched an attack on the federal government similar to the those made by his predecessor, Rotimi Chibuike Amachi, against former President Goodluck Jonathan, with Wike accusing the federal government of contributing to the underdevelopment of states across the country, particularly Rivers State, due to its overbearing attitude and its dysfunctional agencies.

The Sun

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has warned State governors against reducing workers working hours and salary

Guardian

A militant group, the Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta (UWND), has urged the Federal Government to promote a dialogue that will include all ethnic nationalities in the South-South region.

Daily Trust

More members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be arrested and prosecuted if they continue to go against the law, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said.

Leadership

Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday, described the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, as an ambassador of peace, promoter of national unity, champion of national development, embodiment of tradition and culture and a source of inspiration to many Nigerians.

Tribune

NATIONAL chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday, expressed optimism that the party would win the September 10 governorship election in the state, on the basis of performance.

The Nation

How did the Army spend a N5billion vehicles purchase grant from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) ?




The PDP took to its twitter handle to voice their displeasure at the current exchange rate by uploading a picture depicting when the exchange rate was 1 dollar to 216 Naira before the 2015 general election with the APC promise of change. They went further by uploading the prevailing exchange rate when the APC got into power. They concluded their piece with the post below.

Globally, only the Venezulan bolivar & the Suriname Dollar have performed worse than the Naira in 2016.  PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) August 25, 2016

Under the @MBuhari admin, the Naira is the worst performing currency in Africa in 2016 & the third worst worldwide pic.twitter.com/UK0A0oomdN  PDP Nigeria (@PdpNigeria) August 25, 2016

But this did not seem to go down well with their followers as they took their turns to troll them.

@PdpNigeria you people are angry and desperate because there isnt money to steal anymore. The mess u created is difficult to clean .  Baba=jk (@Jbmomoh) August 25, 2016

@PdpNigeria @MBuhari No thanks to GEJ who caused it.  Stephen Emmanuel (@Emmysteve9) August 25, 2016

@PdpNigeria @MBuhari @pdp are not ashamed a your statement? Remember you laid foundation for our destruction you looted the entire reserve .  M. Nass (@mohmoh1414) August 25, 2016

@PdpNigeria I totally disagree, I know naira is performing badly but it isnt the worst in Africa yet. The Zimbabwe currency is the worst.  Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo (@Mr_Wizzo) August 25, 2016

@PdpNigeria @MBuhari a direct result of the massive looting of our common wealth by PDP for 16yrs  Anthony (@tonypefa) August 25, 2016

This user sarcastically referring to the claim that Jonathans administration started the Abuja to Kaduna light rail project.

@PdpNigeria @MBuhari Should we take this as continuation of Jonathans govt just as we were informed of recent launch of Abuja-kad rail  Tunji Iromini (@Detunjiprimo) August 25, 2016
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, yesterday, said eight people killed in Talata-Mafara over alleged blasphemy, were not Christians.

The governor, who spoke to newsmen after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, described the act as unnecessary and act of the devil.

Yari said: From the intelligence I gathered from security agencies, there was a fight between two students of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic. One of them started shouting that the other person abused Prophet Muhammad.

Other students came and beat the other boy, who is a Yoruba from Kogi State. Some people say he was a Muslim, other say he was a Christian. They beat the student until he collapsed and thought he was dead.

Then security personnel requested help from one shop owner, who then took the boy to the hospital in his car. When the students heard that the boy was still alive and in the hospital, they went to the hospital. But he was rescued by the army.

The students went back to the polytechnic and burnt down the shop of the Good Samaritan. They then went back to town, and threw tyre in the mans house and burnt it down.

That was how everybody in the house was killed and everybody killed in the house were Muslims and not like the rumours going around in the social media that Christians are being killed in Zamfara.

In fact, the mob wanted to go and burn churches and attack non-Muslims, but security forces stopped them. Its my home town and thats where I live.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has inaugurated screening committee to screen aspirants who recently bought the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the forthcoming governorship election of Ondo State.

The committee led by Yunusa Mohammed, shortly after its inauguration, began screening of aspirants who were present at the event held at the Maitama residence of Mr. Sheriff in Abuja.

Present at the inauguration for screening were aspirants from Ondo State including Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, Prince Bamiduro Dada, Hon. Niran Sule, Hon Sola Ebiseni and Barrister Abiye Ademoye.

In a brief remark, Sheriff said his duty was to do everything democratically possible to ensure a level playing field for the primary election, adding that the decision on who emerges as PDP candidate for the election was with the delegates.

He also received a report on Ondo Governorship Delegates Election presented to him by chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Sheikh.

Sheikh said the delegate election was done without rancour.
The Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 28-year-old woman, Mary Mathew, for allegedly caging her four-year-old foster daughter inside the bush for over five months at Imafon Village in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State.

According to Mary, she put the little girl (Precious Michael) in isolation after suspecting her of being possessed with witchcraft and also inflicted with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, which reportedly killed her mother last year

The suspect, a relative of the victims late mother, brought the little girl to Imafon in December 2015 after the death of her mother.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Harrison, while parading the suspect at the headquarters of the command in Akure on Thursday said she was arrested following a tip off by the residents of the village.

Mary Mathew and her husband who alleged that the girl was possessed and thus decided to lock her outside the house. On receipt of the information, personnel attached to Juvenile Welfare Center of the police command visited the scene and met the girl in the cage as reported, the commissioner said.

She (the girl) was immediately rescued and taken to police clinic for medical attention while the suspects are under interrogation and will soon be charged to court 

Harrison further explained the victim would be taken to the state welfare home of the Ondo State Ministry of Woman Affairs and Social Welfare .

Also speaking, the police officer at the JWC of the command, Mrs. Olayemi Ojumu (ASP), who led the team that rescued the girl, said that Precious had tested negative for HIV.

In her statement, Mary, a farmer and indigene of Enugu State said she only caged the victim to a corner in her shop and that she used to release her in the evening whenever she came back from the farm and cage her back in the morning.
COLUMBUS  Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Labor announced it's doubling the minimum income for salaried employees, from $23,660 a year to $47,476.

Now human resources departments and companies across the country are scrambling to decide what to do with salaried employees who earn less than that amount before the rule takes effect Dec. 1.

To help with the process, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a presentation Wednesday by John Hill of HR Total Solutions in Hastings to discuss the ruling, who qualifies for overtime and what employers options are.

According to the Department of Labor, under the new guidelines 4.2 million employees will now qualify for overtime pay. In Nebraska, the number of impacted workers is estimated to be 28,000.

The new overtime rule is mainly intended to protect service and white-collar workers. Some professionals, such as teachers, doctors and lawyers, are exempt from overtime rules, so area schools and hospitals said the law will have little impact on them.

Mike Oglevie, human resources director for the city of Columbus, said salaried municipal employees are already compensated above the threshold, so they would be not be affected by the new rule. Retail sales workers whose regular pay rate exceeds 150 percent of the minimum wage are exempt, as well.

The federal salary figure was last raised in 2004. Hill said he agrees $23,660 is too low for someone to not receive overtime, but added that the new law goes too far.

Nobody doubts that it needed to change, but its that doubling that everyones going on about, he said. This is a once-in-a-generation kind of change.

When the proposal was first announced by the Obama administration, the minimum salary was going to be raised to $50,440. Chamber President K.C. Belitz, along with other local business and chamber representatives, went to Washington, D.C., to lobby against the plan. The threshold was lowered to $47,476, but Belitz said its still too high.

That big of a jump is not going to work out the way it's intended, he said. Its going to be very difficult for businesses to adapt.

The salary amount will automatically rise every three years under the policy, meaning employers will have to re-evaluate an employees status again in 2019, when the figure goes up to $51,900.

Belitz said he's heard from a number of local businesses concerned about how this change could affect their bottom lines.

In fairness, to some of them it isnt a huge deal if they dont have employees in this classification and they dont have people working overtime. Theres certainly some of those, Belitz said. And theres some who dont know how theyre going to do the things theyre doing today with the new rules.

The first step for employers is evaluating who qualifies for a salaried position. Even if someones pay is below the threshold, in order to qualify their job description has to include some management and decision-making. Their income also has to be stable  if they are subject to deductions for performance, they cannot be salaried.

Hill said employers have a couple of options for salaried employees who earn less than figure that takes effect in December.

They can either raise the worker's salary, or switch them to hourly and pay overtime.

Hill recommends employers do the math based on how often an employee works overtime to determine which option is the better fit. Promised bonuses that make up at least 10 percent of an employee's salary can be used to push someones income above the threshold.

Some employees may see being moved to hourly as a demotion, since it offers less flexibility and requires them to track their hours, but Hill said some may be happy to receive overtime pay.

Employers can also realign duties and tasks so hourly employees dont have to work overtime or hire more workers to fill the gaps.

A few bills regarding the overtime rule have been introduced in Congress. But since the rule takes effect Dec. 1, it may be too late to overturn it.
The ongoing agro-business scheme being run by the Lagos State government in Kebbi State will soon put an end to the high cost of foodstuff in the South-western part of the country, chairman of Alimosho Local Council, Mr. Ganiyu Quadri, disclosed this on Tuesday.

Specifically, the council boss said the price of a bag of rice, which is currently at N18, 500, would drop sharply to N9000 before the end of the year.

Quadri gave the assurance while receiving in audience, a delegation of Rotary Club of Akowonjo 9110, led by its District-Governor, Rotarian Patrick Ikheloa, and President, Rotarian Shola Abidakun.

According to the council boss, the All Progressives Congress administration in Lagos had swung head-long into agro-business with a view to ensuring food security for its teeming population.

By the end of this year, or the first quarter of next year, things will immediately change in Lagos. Already, we are into agro-business in Kebbi State. We have massive land on which we planted various grains, among which is rice, our peoples staple food. And it is expected that the truckloads of rice will storm Lagos very soon.

Source: Guardian
On this day in 2015;President Muhammadu Buhari, set up a 13-member panel to probe two of his predecessors, late Umaru Musa YarAdua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on procurement of arms and ammunition for the Armed Forces.

The investigative committees mandate was to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces. The committee, which was constituted by the the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), on the directive of the President, is headed by AVM J.O.N. Ode (retd.) while Brig-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa is secretary. Other members are Rear Admiral J. A. Aikhomu (retd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (retd.), Brig-Gen. L. Adekagun (retd.), Brig-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (retd.), Brig-Gen N. Rimtip (retd.), Commodore T. D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (retd), Air Commodore I. Shafii, Col A. A. Ariyibi, GP Capt C.A. Oriaku (retd) and Mr. I. Magu (EFCC).

Also on this day in 2014; Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, intervened in the suspension of Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, David Paradang, pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to show mercy.

Lalong, who was on this day at the Presidential Villa on behalf of the embattled Immigration boss, spoke to newsmen after a meeting with the President.

And on this day in 2014;Bodies of the four Nigerians, who died of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, was cremated in line with World Health Organisation, WHO, requirements for disposal of such corpses.

The body of the index (first) case, Patrick Sawyer was the first to be cremated on July 25, 2014. The decision to cremate the bodies, it was gathered, may not be unconnected with the deadly nature of the Ebola Virus which is known to be easily transmissible from human to human during handling of corpses of victims.
TV Host Eku Edewor is pregnant with boyfriend Chini Odogwus baby, and the couple could not be more thrilled!

According to LIB report, the 30-year-old media personality is about 7 months and shes due to give birth in October.

The source added that, Eku is currently in London, where shes expected to give birth. Her friends have also been busy planning her baby shower ahead of her delivery date.

Eku has been dating Chini Odogwu, the son of billionaire businessman, Sunny Odogwu, for about two years.

Congrats to them!
Deborah Faleke, the young girl electrocuted at Fagbenro Street, Alakuko, Lagos State on May 21, two weeks after she finished writing her WASCE examination, had two distinctions and six credits in the just-released results.

Pastor Ademola Faleke, her father, disclosed yesterday that Deborahs result was one of the best in her school.

He said: Deborah had two distinctions and six credits out of the nine subjects she sat for in the 2016 May/June WASCE: C6, Economics; B3, Geography; C5, Civil Education, and C4 in English Language. She also had C4 in Mathematics; B3, in Chemistry; E8, Biology; C6, Physics and F9 in Marketing. 

The pastor, moved to tears while reeling out the result, said Deborah had desired to study Bio-Chemistry in one of the private universities in Ogun State before her death.

He said: My daughter was the Senior Girl and President of the school Jets Club and the Secretary of its Literary and Debating Society. I had promised her that I would do everything within my power to ensure that she achieved her education goals, but the will of God must prevail.

Deborah had gone to stay with her cousin, Bukola Ogunbanjo, when the incident that led to her untimely death happened.

The high-tension, which belonged to Ikeja Electric, IE, fell on Deborah immediately electricity supply was restored to the area around 10a.m., on the fateful day. According to Faleke, the management of IE visited my family once. Since then, my family had not seen or heard anything from them.

He also said that recently the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, sent its representatives to commiserate with him and his family over the loss. However, IEs Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said that the matter was being handled by its legal unit.

Source: Jtown Connect
A plan by the U.S. government to require some foreign travelers to provide their social media IDs on key travel documents is drawing outrage.

People who responded to the government's request for comment about the proposal spared little in their criticisms. They call it "ludicrous," an "all-around bad idea," "blatant overreach," "desperate, paranoid heavy-handedness," "preposterous," "appalling," and "un-American."

But the feds are most serious about it.

The plan affects people traveling from "visa waiver" countries to the U.S., where a visa is not required. This includes most of Europe, Singapore, Chile, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand -- 38 countries in total.

Travelers will be asked to provide their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+, and whatever other social ID you can imagine to U.S. authorities. It's technically an "optional" request, but since it's the government asking, critics believe travelers will fear consequences if they ignore it. Business and pleasure travelers are affected, too.

People who are traveling from a country where a visa is required, such as India or China, get a security vetting when they apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate. This proposal doesn't apply to them. But the U.S. is attempting to deepen its checks of people coming from countries such as the U.K., France, Iceland and Italy, among others, where the travel rules aren't as rigorous.

The government "sees the visa waiver program as easier to abuse, from a security standpoint, than regular visa processes because there is no Department of State consular review of the application," said Ian Macdonald, an immigration attorney at Greenberg Traurig in Atlanta.

Macdonald, in an interview, doubts the social media ID data gathering will help security. The requirement has no teeth, and even if it was mandatory people who "have something to hide are probably going to be more sophisticated and at least have fake accounts. I don't see it improving security that much, if any," he said.

Reaction is harsh. The U.S. period for comments about the new rule closed Monday. Nearly 800 responded. The rule was called "a grave invasion of privacy," "1984," or "It's none of your business."

Nobody, it seemed, has anything nice to say about the Obama administraion proposal.

"Is this a Donald Trump proposal?" wrote one respondent. The Trump question is beyond the pale. The candidate has called for "extreme vetting" in immigration, but hasn't offered many specifics.

The administration's social media ID proposal follows adoption by Congress of the Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, which tightened some travel rules. The government says the social media ID request is being made to meet the law's requirements.

"Such a request for information lends itself to potential abuse and harassment by CBP (Customs and Border Protection) officers who disagree with an individual's political leanings, particularly in light of the unprecedented endorsement of Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, by the National Border Patrol Council, which represents 16,500 border patrol agents," wrote Jose Magana-Salgado, managing policy attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

The social ID rule is broadly opposed by privacy groups, who asked whether social media postings might be grounds to deny someone U.S. entry. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, among its many objections, said the proposal "does not state what standards" it will use to evaluate social media posts.

"I think there is concern people could be denied (entry) for reasons that are not necessarily warranted," said Betsy Lawrence, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, liaison director, in an interview. "It sort of feels a little bit like a fishing expedition."

Some 30 groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists, submitted a letter calling the plan "highly invasive," and "ineffective."

Business travelers coming into the U.S. on a visa waiver for business can do many of the same things a visitor on a B-1 business visitor visa can do, such as attend conferences and consult with U.S. colleagues.

The social media questions will come on the ESTA form (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), a pre-clearance process in lieu of a visa. But the I-94 form that travelers fill out on arrival may ask a similar question.

This story, "Proposed 'social media ID, please' law draws outrage" was originally published by Computerworld .
Open Enrollment 101: Make the Most of Your Benefits Young & The Invested - 1 hour 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.

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%)

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%)

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)
Editors Note: This article was first published in August 2016.

If you have some extra cash, and you want to give your political candidates a boost this fallwhile also getting a nice tax breakyouve come to the right place.

We know what youre thinking: Campaign gifts arent tax deductible. Thats true, technically. But the beauty of Americas hallowed institution of philanthropy is that the rules around giving are so loose that any smart donorpeople just like youcan make gifts to achieve partisan goals and get the same tax deduction as if, say, they were helping out blind kids.

How exactly does this work in practice? Im glad you asked. Here are seven tips for deploying your tax-exempt charitable dollars to get your candidates elected. But with November right around the corner, youll need to hurry!

(1) Give to Mobilize Your Sides Voters

Everyone knows that elections are decided by turnout, and your gifts can ensure that the right voters come out in droves for the candidates you like. Its as simple as giving money to nonprofit groups that register voters known to back candidates on your side, or that push for laws making it easier for such folks to vote. Yup, thats all perfectly legal work for 501(c)(3) organizations. If youre rooting for Democrats, youll want to send your checks to groups that register low-income, nonwhite voters or seek full implementation of the National Voter Registration Act, which allows people to register when they get public assistance. Make sure only to back such work in swing states. No need to waste your generous gifts to improve civic life in places like California. If youre a Republican, Id recommend faith-based nonprofits seeking to register and educate evangelical voters. Youll be amazed by how those doing Gods work can sway elections by a few crucial percentage points.

(2) Finance Efforts to Suppress the Other Sides Voters

Turning out more of your sides voters is great, but even better is keeping the other teams voters away from the polls. If youre a Republican, I have some good news: Lots of 501(c)(3) organizations are working to do exactly that by pushing voter ID laws in the states or defending existing ones. Whats so great about voter ID laws? Thats easy: African-Americans and Latinos are far less likely to have ID! And we know how those folks tend to vote. So go crazy on this one, and dont worry about the IRS. Who are they to argue with nonprofit efforts to preserve the integrity of the U.S. electoral system? Also, if youre a wee bit embarrassed by this kind of givingsince people, um, died for the right to votejust use an anonymous donor-advised fund like DonorsTrust. Your secret will be safe forever. Again, though, remember to stick with giving in swing states. One other thing: If youre worried about recent court challenges to voter ID laws, I have plenty of legal policy groups I can highly recommend, like Judicial Watch, which is doing heroic work to keep people of color out of voting booths. Who said Jim Crow was dead?

(3) Smear Politicians You Dislike

Okay, enough with that all boring voting stuff. Lets get down to brass tacksnamely, finding ways your tax-exempt charitable gifts can be used to attack and discredit politicians you really dont like. I know, I know: Such work sounds like its gotta cross the legal line, and youre probably a little nervous about this kind of talk, as much you love the sharp elbow stuff. Actually, though, using philanthropy for character assassination is a piece of cake and will even pass muster with the lawyers at your family office. Richard Mellon Scaife could write a book on this subject (I mean, if he were still alive.) Scaife was the genius billionaire heir who was at the center of the quite real vast right-wing conspiracy that went after the Clintons in the 1990s, culminating in the impeachment of Bill.

Whatd Scaife do, exactly? For starters, he used his foundation to bankroll a nonprofit conservative magazine, the American Spectator and its Arkansas Project, which worked to dig up dirt on Bill. The Spectator scored big with the Troopergate story, which led to the Paula Jones lawsuit that, in turn, eventually arrived at Monica Lewinskys doorstep. That suit was supported over years by lawyers with ties to a nonprofit legal group that Scaife had also long supported, the Federalist Society. And many of the costs were borne by another nonprofit, the Rutherford Institute. These modest philanthropic investments paid off big time, since Clintons impeachment arguably explains Al Gores narrow loss to George W. Bush at a moment of record prosperity. Ask any Iraqi how the rest of the story goes.

Now, youre probably wondering what all this ancient history has to do with your charitable gifts. Its really pretty simple: All these same tactics still work today. If youre not a fan of Hillary Clinton, for example, Id recommend cutting a checkand fast!to the Government Accountability Institute, which is a nonprofit that describes itself as investigating crony capitalism and government malfeasance, but mainly seems to be a platform for Peter Schweizer, whos lately made a career of attacking the Clintons and the Clinton Foundation, through his book Clinton Cash and myriad media appearances. Wait, youre thinking, can your charitable gifts really bankroll a one-man partisan wrecking crew like Scheizwer? You bet they can. Just ask hedge funder Robert Mercer, who got to write off a $1 million gift to GAI in 2013.

(4) Defend Politicians You Like

Getting down in the gutter isnt for every philanthropist, I realize, and so you may be wondering how your gifts can be used to stand up for the worthy politicians you care about. Well, youre in luck, since there are plenty of options on this front, too. Consider David Brocks nonprofit operations. While Brock was the author of that Troopergate article I mentioned above, hes since turned into Hillary Clintons most aggressive defender. Brock is the guy who started Correct the Record, which works night and day to swat down Clintons critics. You cant get a deduction for donating to that group, which is a Super PAC, but you can give a generous charitable gift to Brocks other operation, Media Matters for America, a 501(c)(3) that also does a fair amount of swatting of Clinton attacks in service of its mission of comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. For example, it has run dozens of blog posts rebutting media claims about corruption at the Clinton Foundation. Media Matters is also pretty good at whacking Donald Trump for his many inanities, so this one is a twofer.

(5) Arm Your Candidates With Strong Ideas

At the end of the day, if you want your candidates to win elections, they better have some good ideas and smart advisors. Fortunately, this is the easiest kind of help you can provide with your charitable gifts. Just pump money into one of the many think tanks that work hand-in-glove with partisan public officials. If youre on the right, Id recommend the American Enterprise Institute, which offers a home to lots of former Bush administration officials who are deeply plugged in to GOP politics. Of course, the Heritage Foundation is another choice if you're a Tea Party type. As for Democrats, the Center for American Progress is the obvious place to send your tax-deductible gift, seeing as how its founder, John Podesta, now chairs Hillarys campaign and its current CEO, Neera Tanden, is a former Clinton aide who may well serve in her administration. CAP has provided all sorts of policy ideas that have been reflected in Hillarys positions. Lots of bang for the buck, here.

(6) Make Sure That People Like You Can Give Unlimited Donations to Politicians

All this roundabout philanthropy to influence elections may sound like a lot of trouble to some wealthy readers, whod rather stick to direct political giving. So lets talk about how your charitable gifts can allow you to play that game on a big, bold level. As you may know, Citizens Unitedwhich is boon to political junkie donors like youis likely to come under fierce attack in coming years, as the Supreme Court tilts left. If you want this landmark decision defending free speech to survive, Id recommend giving money to the conservative judicial groups that will be fighting tool and nail to preserve Citizens United. If you have to redirect some of your gifts away from Andover and Harvard, it will be worth it. Remember, we're talking about individual liberty, here.

(7) Stop Rich People From Giving so Much Money to Politicians

It sounds crazy, I know, but not all wealthy people want to be able to pay legal bribes to politicians. Some actually believe we should get money out of elections so that the will of the people triumphs over special interests and, presumably, ushers in a new era of progressive policymaking. If youre one of these rich liberals (a.k.a., class traitors), there are plenty of nonprofits working to get money out of politics at both the federal and state level, so take your pick. Bizarrely enough, some of America's top campaign donorslike George Sorosalso support such outfits. If I had more time, I'd square that circle for you.

One last thought: If money is ever actually barred from politics in any significant way, philanthropy will become an even bigger tool for influencing electoral outcomes and public policy. But heres some good news for the wealthy donor class: Pretty much the entire nonprofit and foundation establishment is dead set against tighter restrictions on the use of private wealth to influence public policy. So no matter what happens, rich people like you will always find a way to speak more loudly than your fellow citizens. I bet Alexis Tocquevillethat great early cheerleader for American civil societyis smiling from his grave. Right?
COLUMBUS  Photographer Michael Forsberg and videographer Peter Stegen are getting an up-close look at the Platte River  the entire Platte River.

The men began traversing the river July 1, starting at its beginning in western Wyoming.

But when they were traveling south of Columbus last weekend, they had to walk instead of paddle.

There wasnt enough water to float the canoe, said Forsberg. It became basically a llama to carry our equipment.

It's part of canoeing on the Platte, he said.

Forsberg has been documenting waterways since 2011 when he and Michael Farrell, a special projects manager at NET television, started a time-lapse project to explore waterways across the state. Their final destination is where the Platte meets the Missouri River south of Omaha.

I thought (this project) would be a good way to connect the dots of all these places, said Forsberg. I wanted to explore where our water comes from and explore its story as it makes its immense journey.

Along the way hes taken note of wildlife, such as deer, coyotes, raccoons, great horned owls and screech owls. Forsberg said hes also seen some wildlife that were endangered but seem to be thriving along the river, such as bald eagles.

We saw a family of river otters, which was really cool, he said. River otters are making a comeback in Nebraska, but theyre very uncommon, so that was really neat.

Hes also seen some of the challenges for the rivers ecosystem.

It's not Disneyland out there, Forsberg said. There are huge issues with invasive species.

One of those invasive species is the Asian carp, which is causing problems in rivers across the Midwest and South and threatening the Great Lakes. Forsberg has seen the fish in the Platte.

Theyre infamous. When youre paddling, theyre like fish shot out of a cannon, he said. They fly out of the water.

Humans are also responsible for some of these challenges.

Theres some areas of the Platte that are really beautiful and theres other areas where its trashed, where theres a bunch of junk in the river, said Forsberg. Its not that way everywhere, but thats the reality.

Forsberg and Stegen have met and heard the stories of people whose lives are closely tied to the river  either they live, work and, increasingly as they travel east, vacation along the water. South of Columbus, an area businessman gave them permission to camp on his land for the night.

They think were nuts but then they want to know more (about the project) and then they think its cool, he said. Pete and I are doing this trip to tell the story of water and what it means in our lives. Its also a gateway to other peoples lives."

Forsberg found many people with personal memories of the river.

My impression is how intimate water is in their lives. They remember the time the river flooded, or remember growing up along the banks of the Platte hunting or fishing with dad, the first time they saw an eagle, said Forsberg. Its those stories.

Forsberg said the area south of Columbus is particularly important for the life of the river because that's where the Loup River flows into the Platte, bringing water from the Ogallala Aquifer.

When you turn on your water in Lincoln, it comes from three places. It comes from snowpack in the Rockies, rainfall and from the aquifer, Forsberg said. Very few of us understand the story of it except that were thankful it comes out of the tap. But we dont want to take that for granted, because its not guaranteed.

Forsberg and Stegen arrived Wednesday at the Missouri River, completing the 1,000-mile journey. Their route, images and reporting on the river and water issues can be viewed online at plattebasintimelapse.com.
Who's the "Prince of Silicon Valley"? South Philly native Frank Quattrone has made a living as one of the leading investment bankers for Silicon Valley, helping spearhead landmark IPOs of companies like Amazon.com in a career that dates back to the 1980s, and which landed him in serious hot water in the dot com era.

After graduating from Wharton and Stanford, Quattrone began in finance with Morgan Stanley. He's been advising technology companies since the early 1980s, and headed the global technology groups for Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse. In 2008, Quattrone co-founded Qatalyst Partners.

It's unclear how much Quattrone is currently worth, but he once earned more than $120 million in a year. With Quattrone's successes, though, he's also dealt with controversy. Last decade, he faced obstruction charges before the case was eventually dropped.

At IP, we've looked before at financiers with controversy in their past who've also engaged in philanthropy in a big way. Michael Milken and Steve Cohen come to mind. To be fair, some of these donors engaged in charity well before they were in the negative spotlight.

As for Quattrone, he and his wife Denise established their Frank and Denise Quattrone Foundation in 2002. The foundation provides grants for educational scholarships, medical research, science and technology, social justice, a healthy environment and the arts.

Let's talk about the couple's social justice focus for a bit. Denise plays a strong role in this area. She's an advocate for criminal justice reform who serves as a research volunteer and advisory board member of the National Registry of Exonerations, a joint project of the University of Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. The family, via their foundation, has supported the University of Michigan Law School.

Moreover, a few years ago, the couple gave a $15 million gift to create the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at Penn Law. The center describes itself as a "national research and policy hub created to catalyze long-term structural improvements to the US criminal justice system." UPenn graduates Quattrone and Denise both serve on the advisory board of the center.

Chalk up yet one more major donor who's lately taken on criminal justice. We're coming across more and more of these folks, and it's easy to see why. Not only is the U.S. justice system cruelly dysfunctional, but the stars finally seem to be aligning for real reform. And as we know, philanthropists prefer to push doors that are likely to open.

Related:

But consider the irony of Quattrone's interest in this issue. A big fish who navigated the justice system with high-powered lawyers is now looking out for the little guy navigating the justice system, often with grossly inadequate legal counsel. Interesting.

Similarly, Maryland liquor retailer David Trone, now a major benefactor of the ACLU, once had charges pursued against him by an AG before the case was thrown out.
In a move suggesting that mid-sized symphonies can thrive during precarious times, the Kansas City Symphony received a $2.7 million donation from the remainder of the David T. Beals III Trust to endow the assistant conductor position.

You read that right. The symphony received a hefty donation to endow the assistant conductor position.

Of course, the symphony reminds us that the newly named David T. Beals III Assistant Conductor plays an important and influential role at the symphony, leading all pops, family, holiday and special concerts each season.

But the gift is nonetheless pretty impressive.

For an answer about how the symphony pulled it off, let's first step back and contextualize the gift by understanding some of the challenges facing mid-sized symphonies across the U.S.

Last year, we called attention to a piece from Michigan public radio which posited that, on the heels of high-profile labor disputes at the Grand Rapids Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, symphonies will need to get creative and find new sources of funding to adequately pay their musicians in order to survive.

Fortunately, the Kansas City Symphony was able to reach an agreement with its musicians without the kind of drama that plagued its fellow Midwest brethren.

Back in late May, the musicians of the Kansas City Symphony voted to ratify a four-year contract that will give them a 19.7 percent increase in wages over four years, as well as greater benefits in healthcare and long-term disability insurance. The agreement was reached in eight meetings with, incredibly enough, no attorneys present.

According to Brian Rood, third/utility trumpet player and chairman of the negotiating committee, the raise was needed to keep the symphony on an even playing field. "We were losing too many talented musicians to other orchestras," he said, "and while we will not be able to keep them from going to Chicago and Boston and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, maybe we could do more with salary and working conditions to keep them from going to Utah, Oregon, Nashville, or even Cincinnati."

Of course, other musicians could make an equally compelling argument in their home cities. So why did the players find a sympathetic audience (pun intended) in management? Turns out the answer is a structural oneand one that other symphonies should take to heart. Four musicians are on the symphony's board of directors, with two musicians on the finance committee.

We mention this backstory only to underscore a principal (and obvious) rule of philanthropy: Donors like stability. Would the David T. Beals III Trust have awarded the aforementioned $2.7 million if the symphony was locked in the throes of a nasty labor dispute? Possibly. But does the risk/reward calculus appear more palatable knowing that management and musicians are simpatico?

We'd venture to say "of course."

Which brings us to David T. Beals III. In 1982, the David Beals Charitable Trust, for which Bank of America, N.A. serves as the trustee, was established to further the development of charitable purposes in the public's interest. Mr. Beals' wishes were to distribute the remainder of his trust 10 years after the passing of his wife, Jeanne McCray Beals.

In late 2015, it awarded a $250,000 grant to Union Station Kansas City, Inc., which operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to science education, celebration of community, and preservation of history.

In fact, it's been a good few months of Midwest symphony orchestras.

Back in June, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) received $2.9 million from the estate of Dr. Clyde and Helen Wu to support music education programs through the Wu Family Academy for Learning & Engagement. Check out our take on this gift here.
Child marriage is a clear violation of human rights and the practice is also a direct threat to girls health, education, economic security and overall well-being. According to Girls Not Bridesa 600-member coalition shining a brighter light on child marriage with the ultimate goal of complete eradicationif this practice isnt slowed, there will be an estimated 1.2 billion child brides by 2050.

While there are now a relatively large number of funders paying attention to gender equality and womens empowerment, very few are investing heavily to end child marriage. The Kendeda Fund is one such funder.

Kendeda was established in 1993 by Diana Blank, the former wife of Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, and until fairly recently, maintained a low public profile. That's surprising, given that it makes between $40 and $50 million in grants each year, and has awarded over $500 million grants since its inception.

Prior to the launching of its website not so long ago, information on the fund was difficult to come by, making it tough to determine just what this funder was into. What was fairly easy to determine about Kendedas early years was that its grants went almost exclusively to support environmental groups. Then it diversified its focus in a big way.

Related:

In 2013, Kendeda announced a $23 million commitment to CARE USA and the American Jewish World Service (AJWS) to combat child marriage in South Asia. CARE received $7.7 million to continue its program to mobilize the local community about the issue of girls rights, and AJWS received $15.3 million toward its work addressing the economic and social causes of child marriage. That year, the fund would award two more grants related to child marriage: $1 million was awarded to the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere for its program addressing the underlying causes of child marriage and close to $700,000 was awarded to AJWS to support its Child Marriage Initiative.

The following year, Kendeda raised its support, giving AJWS over $4.1 million for its Child Marriage Initiative and $2.1 million to the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere for its child marriage program, though this grant supported the expansion of the program to explore those causes in Bangladesh, Nepal, and the United States. Newcomers that year included Human Rights Watch ($250,000), the Global Fund for Women ($130,000), and Girls Not Brides ($250,000).

Related: Kendeda Fund: Grants for Human Rights

Kendeda gave its recent child marriage-related grants through its Girls Rights program, which is currently focusing its grantmaking on South Asia where, according to the funds website, child marriage is particularly common. The program has two main goals. The first is to hasten the pace of attitudinal and behavioral change at the local level. This is what Kendeda refers to at the workhorse of its overall strategy.

The second objective of the Girls Rights program is to build global awareness of child marriage, which includes promoting advocacy work, engaging policymakers both in the United Sates and around the world, and reframing the way cultures value girls.

Kendedas Girls Rights program also awards grants to groups tackling other major rights matters, such as sexual and reproductive health rights. A common thread, though, is that the majority of these grantees are also touching upon early and child marriage.

In spite of international laws prohibiting marriage without the full and free consent of both parties and the fact that most countries around the world have a minimum age of marriage, child marriage is still a widespread practice that continues to occur at an alarming pace. In least-developed countries, one in three girls is married before she turns 18 and one in nine girls is married before she turns 15.

Child marriage is an exceedingly complex matter. Yes, there are laws on the books meant to prevent girls and young women from being forced or coerced into marriage before they are ready, but there are also provisions to those laws that allow parents to marry off their young daughters whether those girls want to or not. Poverty, lack of education, and cultural beliefs and practices are also contributing factors leading to some 15 million girls under 18 married each year.

Kendeda isnt alone among funders in its global fight against child marriage. In 2013, the Ford Foundation made a $25 million commitment to end the practice in developing countries including India, Nigeria, Egypt, Central America, Southern Africa and West Africa. Since then, Ford has dedicated over $8.2 million to the cause. The NoVo Foundation is also a major player in this relatively uncrowded funding field.

Related: What Does Ending Child Marriage Have to Do with Economic Opportunity?

In 2011, co-founder Jennifer Buffett penned an op-ed piece titled Lets End Child Marriage in a Generation, writing that while she was in Ethiopia, she came face to face with one of the biggest challenges that holds back the worlds female population and keeps countries mired in poverty: child marriage.

Despite some important victories like Sierra Leone becoming the 15th country to launch an African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage, a lot more work needs to be done. Although progress is being made, those changes are pretty slow to come. That makes the work of funders like Kendeda, Ford, and NoVo that much more important.
Become a member and find grants for nonprofits.

Subscribe
Canadian self-storage operator StorageVault Canada Inc. has released its financial statement for the quarter that ended June 30, 2016, showing gains in key areas including revenue and net operating income (NOI). Revenue for the second quarter increased to $6.3 million from $5.3 million the previous quarter, while NOI grew to $3.8 million compared to $3.1 million. The increases were attributed primarily to recently acquired properties being integrated into the companys portfolio. Same-store revenue and NOI increased 13.3 percent and 22.6 percent, respectively, year over year.

Funds from operations were $1.7 million during the quarter compared to $1 million during the first quarter. A quarterly net loss of $700,000 was a direct result of $0.2 million in acquisition and integration costs and $2.3 million of depreciation, company officials said in a press release.

"We continue to see strong performance from the stores acquired in 2015 as we streamline and integrate these assets into our operations, said Iqbal Khan, chief financial officer. The results were above our projections, and we are on pace to achieve our expected annual results. We have had success in achieving and exceeding our acquisition plan and continue to focus on increasing our share capital and improving our operational results. To date, we have closed or announced $98.5 million in acquisitions; closed on our bought deal raise for gross proceeds of $57.5 million; declared our first quarterly dividend; and increased net operating income from the prior quarter by 22.6 percent."

StorageVault operates several self-storage facilities and more than 3,200 portable-storage units in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
SkyView Advisors, a Tampa, Fla.-based investment-sales and advisory firm focused on the self-storage industry, has promoted Joseph Brazill to vice president of investment sales. Brazill joined the company as an analyst in 2013 and quickly advanced to vice president. Hell work directly with the companys other self-storage brokers including managing partners Jay Crotty and senior vice president Ryan Clark.

Brazill has helped business owners, including individuals, partnerships, real estate investment trusts and pension funds, with their self-storage investment goals, according to a company press release. Throughout his self-storage career, he has demonstrated a track record as a real estate agent who ensures clients receive maximum value and the best terms for their assets during a sale, the release stated.

"Joe has been an instrumental member of our team and has played a key role in SkyView's growth and success in the industry, Crotty said. He has consistently met and exceeded opportunities that have been presented to him, so it is with great confidence that we are promoting him.

SkyView is a boutique firm specializing in self-storage acquisition, development, facility expansion and renovation, refinancing, and sales. Based in Tampa, Fla., the firm also has offices in Cleveland and Milwaukee.
Big Yellow Self Storage in Norwich, England, is helping to protect a rare blossom that blooms for a few weeks each year near its property on Canary Way. Bee Orchids, which look as though theres a bee resting on the flower, were first spotted in 2009 by Chris Durdin, a local wildlife enthusiast, according to the Big Yellow blog. He requested the area be left unharmed so the orchids could continue to flourish. Each spring, the self-storage facilitys employees protect the grounds to encourage the flowers to bloom.

Despite a downturn in weather earlier this summer, this years tally of flowers has doubled, with 30 spikes appearing. At Big Yellow, we know the most important space of all is the environment that surrounds us, and we are keen to enhance local wildlife habitats where possible, said store manager Gavin Thomas. Were really proud to be part of conserving this beautiful flower, and we look forward to its blossom each year.

The Bee Orchid develops small rosettes of leaves in autumn, which continue to grow through the winter. The plant blooms from mid-April to July and produces a spike composed of one to 12 flowers. Its commonly found in Central and South Europe as well as the Middle East and North Africa. The Bee Orchid is the county flower of Bedfordshire, England.

Big Yellow has made additional strides to be more eco-friendly. The company has invested in a number of renewable power sources including rooftop solar panels at 14 of its facilities and wind turbines at its location in Merton, England. Most stores also feature energy-efficient lighting, and a few have green roofs.

Big Yellow Norwich is operated by Big Yellow Group PLC. The company has 84 locations in the United Kingdom under the Big Yellow Self Storage and Armadillo Self Storage brand names, with most concentrated in Greater London. Its total portfolio comprises 5.1 million square feet.
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.)
The ongoing soft market across the insurance industry has been a cause for concern for many but the leader of the largest broker network in Australia has said that the tougher conditions create opportunities for brokers to grow their businesses.With organic gross written premium growth up by 1.5% at Steadfast over the past year, Robert Kelly , managing director and CEO of the company, told Insurance Business that opportunity can find brokers even in a tough market.In a tough market, opportunities come your way, Kelly said.As much as you have to defend your book, there is actually a whole range of brokers out there who dont market their products, dont go to market and so that creates opportunities for aggressive brokers.Kelly says this is a good time for brokers to grow organically by attacking businesses.A lot of these guys go back to people they quoted three years ago and say hey, you know how we quoted your business, we would love to have another go because we think we have got a specific deal that might suit you, and probably 50% of consumers will go yes, Ill do that and probably 50% of those will move, he said.As one of the busiest firms in the insurance industry from a M&A perspective, Kelly added that Steadfast will without a doubt continue its activity in the M&A space.We are continually looking, Kelly said. We have an M&A team of five here that are continually looking and continually going through it.We are continually in the process of doing due diligence and we dont normally tend to have to source that out too much. People come to us all the time. Sometimes the deal we can do and other times we get right through due diligence and go no, not us.Stephen Humphrys, chief financial officer of Steadfast, told Insurance Business that the results announced yesterday highlight the resilience of brokers.I am really pleased that the bottom line number is moving in the right direction in such a competitive environment as the past year has been, Humphrys said.It really shows you the potential for the good times.Kelly expects the soft market to continue for some time and said that it is important for brokers to become generalists, in order to seek out more new business.In a small population, you have to be a generalist because if you decide if you are only going to do specie insurance well, there is [virtually no] specie insurance in Australia so specie has to become part of what you do; you have to be able to turn your hand to most parts of insurance.
LINCOLN  Violence at Nebraska's prisons appears to be getting worse, a key state lawmaker said Thursday, a day after an assault by inmates left nine Lincoln Correctional Center staff members in the hospital.

"My overall concern is that it's escalating," said Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings, who heads the Legislature's Judiciary Committee along with a special committee investigating problems within the state Corrections Department.

Wednesday's incident started when a group of inmates refused to leave an isolated yard on the prison grounds and return to their cells shortly after 6 p.m., said prison spokeswoman Tammy Kluver. One inmate hit a staffer and others followed, assaulting several corrections officers and caseworkers before being restrained.

About a dozen inmates have been identified so far, Kluver said.

Ambulances took six staff members to the hospital; three others were transported by fellow prison employees.

All nine returned home from the hospital Wednesday night.

One female staffer suffered "a pretty good cut to her head that they ended up stapling," Kluver said. She described the other injuries as cuts, swollen faces and sore backs.

Still, she said, staff did a "remarkable job" bringing the situation under control before the prison system's emergency response team even arrived. Pepper spray was used to disperse the inmates at one point, and some staff might have been exposed, she said.

The prison is now under lockdown, the inmates involved are in a segregated area and investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol are reviewing footage of the incident and working to determine if other inmates were involved.

Kluver confirmed that investigators are looking into whether an inmate triggered the violence because he was upset about being transferred to another prison.

The medium/maximum security prison, near Pioneers Park at 3216 W. Van Dorn St., is designed to hold 308 adult male inmates but Wednesday night had 506 in custody. The prison was fully staffed at the time of the incident, said Dawn-Renee Smith, department spokeswoman.

Overcrowding and understaffing issues at Nebraska prisons have been well-documented in recent years. Kluver couldn't immediately provide staffing numbers for Lincoln Correctional Center.

State Sen. Colby Coash, whose Lincoln district includes the prison, said he was told late Wednesday that "all hell (was) breaking loose" there.

"It's time to start listening to the line staff about what they need. They are the ones getting hurt," Coash said. "The ones I talk to don't feel listened to."

The Legislature's special investigative committee will quiz Corrections Director Scott Frakes about prison staffing issues Wednesday during a public hearing.

A spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts said late Wednesday that Ricketts had been briefed on the situation and will work with Frakes "to determine what action needs to be taken to stabilize the environment" at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

Ricketts canceled a town hall meeting scheduled in Lexington on Thursday to meet with Frakes and corrections staff, the governor's office said.

"It's getting frustrating because this just happens more and more and more," said Mike Marvin, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, the union which represents corrections officers and other state workers.

Over the weekend, an inmate wrapped his arms around a staffer's neck at Lincoln Correctional Center, causing injury. The previous weekend, staff used pepper spray to subdue an inmate after he began punching a caseworker in the head.

Earlier this month, an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary punched a corrections officer in the face then hit two other officers who intervened. That incident, on Aug. 9, came a week after a tower guard at the penitentiary fired a warning shot to disperse inmates who had converged on staff and refused to leave the yard.

"The department seems to have no plan for how to deal with the escalating violence of the inmates," Marvin said.

Such incidents have a physical impact on those involved, but the mental toll can affect every corrections staffer, he said.

"You see your friend go down and then you start wondering, is it going to happen to me?" Marvin said. "I just don't think that these people are getting the mental support that they need."

The Corrections Department did provide counselors at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution following a Mother's Day riot there in 2015. That incident left two inmates dead and resulted in extensive reviews of safety and staffing within the state prison system.

By then, Nebraska's correctional system was already under scrutiny because of prison overcrowding and hundreds of inmates who were released early because of mistakes in calculating their sentences.

Lincoln Correctional Center has been without a permanent on-site leader since former Warden Mario Peart was reassigned, then retired following the June 10 escape of two convicted sex offenders. Fred Britten was named interim warden in Peart's place.

Lincoln's new fire chief said Thursday that Lincoln Fire & Rescue will refine its process for responding to assaults at correctional facilities following Wednesday's incident.

Rescue crews couldn't immediately get onto the prison grounds while waiting for "some level of security," Lincoln Fire and Rescue Chief Micheal Despain said.

The first unit reached the scene within 3 minutes of the initial call, but it's unknown how long it took for crews to reach the assault victims, he said.

Five out of six of the city's ambulances responded to the prison with 11 fire units, Despain said.

Despain said LFR doesn't respond to all staff assaults at prison facilities. It depends on the injuries and sometimes victims are treated in-house, he said.
A Catholic school in New Jersey has settled allegations of child sexual abuse for $1.9 million.

The agreement between Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell and 21 former students who said they were sexually abused by staff at the all boys school between 1963 and 1978 was reached in November. But advocates for victims of sexual abuse held a news conference outside the school on Monday.

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian released a copy of the settlement in which the school did not admit any wrongdoing, guilt or liability. The school says the money does not relate or correlate to the merits of the allegations.

The former students, who are now 53 to 68 years old, will receive from $65,000 to $115,000.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey
East Providence, R.I., police and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshals Office are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of whoever was responsible for two arson fires last month.

Det. Lt. Raymond Blinn said both of the fires were started around 2:15 a.m. on July 25.

The first blaze was reported at a home on Earl Avenue by a neighbor. Blinn said the fire was started in a truck and then spread to a boat and garage.

While firefighters were extinguishing the first fire, the same resident who called it in reported that his own car was on fire across the street.

Anyone with information is urged to call the fire marshals hotline or East Providence police.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A New Jersey waterpark visitor who was partially paralyzed in a 2010 accident while on a ride that simulates surfing can proceed with a lawsuit, the state Supreme Court ruled this week.

Roy Steinberg and his wife claim employees at Sahara Sams Oasis Water Park in West Berlin, N.J., about 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Penn., didnt properly instruct him about safety on the FlowRider, a ride that simulates surfing by having a sheet of water flow toward the rider.

Steinberg said he wasnt told that as a novice he should lie on the board instead of standing, and that he shouldnt use both hands to hold onto a rope held by a park employee.

According to the lawsuit, Steinberg fell off the surfboard shortly after the ride began and hit his head, causing a catastrophic spinal cord injury.

A lower court and an appeals court had dismissed the case, which seeks monetary damages. Both ruled Steinberg couldnt sue for simple negligence since he had signed a waiver before getting on the ride.

The waiver didnt prohibit a claim under the more serious charge of gross negligence, the courts acknowledged, but they rejected Steinbergs argument that a jury could find Sahara Sams actions met that higher standard.

The state Supreme Court disagreed. Writing for a unanimous court, Justice Barry Albin concluded a review of the evidence demonstrates that a rational factfinder could conclude that Sahara Sams conduct constituted gross negligence.

Albin noted the park failed to display the most recent safety signs recommended by the manufacturer, which included drawings depicting the rides dangers as well as safety techniques.

The newer signs included stronger warnings about potential risks, Albin wrote, including one that read, failure to comply with signs or instructions may increase the risk of severe permanent injuries or even death. They also recommend watching a safety video, which Steinberg wasnt shown, according to Tuesdays opinion.

An attorney representing the waterpark and a waterpark spokesman didnt return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation New Jersey
XL Catlins insurance operations announced the appointment of Bonnie Chow as senior underwriter, Political Risk and Trade Credit insurance for Asia Pacific. She will be based in Sydney.

Chow has over 20 years experience in the insurance and banking industries, specializing in complex cross border trade transactions and credit risk management, according to a statement issued by the company. She joins XL Catlin from Zurich Insurance Australia, where she spent eight years in the credit and political risk division. Prior to Zurich, Chow worked at Atradius Credit Insurance, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Export Finance and Insurance Corp. (EFIC) as well as Westpac Banking Corp.

Chow brings a wealth of experience and technical expertise which will further strengthen our offering at a time when demand for coverage is on the rise across Asia Pacific, said Mark Houghton, regional head of Political Risk and Trade Credit insurance for XL Catlin in Asia Pacific.

The increasing pace of globalization has accelerated the interplay between geopolitics and economics, said Craig Langham, chief executive, Asia Pacific  Insurance. According to the Global Risks report published last year by the World Economic Forum, it is the first time in the reports 10-year history that geopolitical risks are the foremost concerns for many organizations.

He noted that these risks include interstate conflict, failure of national governance and state collapse or crisis.

As more of our clients seek out opportunities in emerging markets, were seeing a greater demand from clients to protect their investments and manage their geopolitical risk. Bonnies appointment underscores XL Catlins commitment to delivering vital Trade Credit and Political Risk coverages to better serve our clients evolving needs in the region, Langham continued.

Source: XL Catlin

Topics AXA XL
The first driverless taxi began work on Thursday in a limited public trial on the streets of Singapore.

Developer nuTonomy invited a select group of people to download their app and ride for free in its robo-taxi in a western Singapore hi-tech business district, hoping to get feedback ahead of a planned full launch of the service in 2018.

This is really a moment in history thats going to change how cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings, nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters.

The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if necessary.

The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows private testing that began in April.

Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore government on the project, said he hoped to have 100 taxis working commercially in the Southeast Asian citystate by 2018.

NuTonomy is one of several companies racing to launch self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms striking new alliances.

Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a $300 million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber to develop a driverless vehicle.

Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said its vehicle, developed with Delphi Automotive Plc, would be ready for production by 2019, while Ford Motor Co. said its self-driving car was slated for 2021.

(Writing by Patrick Johnston; editing by Robert Birsel)
The worlds 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-meter Airlander 10 made its first test flight earlier this month and the company had posted photographs of it up in the air before Wednesdays 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 airplanes 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.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Sarah Young; editing by Stephen Addison)

Topics Aviation
Gjensidige Forsikring ASA is on track to become the first insurer to issue a new type of bond that will become the industrys riskiest debt.

The Norwegian company may sell as much as 1 billion kroner ($120 million) of so-called restricted Tier 1 notes, according to Janne Flessum, its head of investor relations. The insurer has met investors this week to discuss the potential sale of the bonds, which are meant to prevent taxpayers being on the hook for losses at a financial institution.

This will lead to more excess capital and its a foundation for an extraordinary dividend, Chief Executive Officer Helge Leiro Baastad said in an interview in Oslo on Thursday.

Regulators devised the notes alongside the new Solvency II capital regime, and they will be the first bonds to take losses if an insurer runs into financial difficulties. Investors may accept this risk because of comparatively high interest payments, said Philippe Picagne, a London-based analyst at CreditSights.

There could be huge demand, he said. Pension funds are among potential investors because the notes may have investment-grade ratings, he said.

Restricted Tier 1 bonds are similar to additional Tier 1 notes sold by banks because holders will suffer losses if capital falls below a trigger level. Issuers can miss coupon payments to help boost capital, and the bonds can be written off or converted into shares.

Potential Market

European insurers could eventually replace their combined 21.2 billion euros ($24 billion) of outstanding Tier 1 securities with the new notes, according to Francois Lavier, Paris-based fund manager at Lazard Freres Gestion, which oversees about 17 billion euros. Still, that wont happen in the short term because investors will first want to see how the new Solvency II capital rules work in practice, he said.

It will take time to develop into a true market with lots of issuers, he said.

Lysaker, Norway-based Gjensidiges notes may have a yield premium of at least 500 basis points above the Norway Interbank Offered Rate, according to CreditSights. The research company said estimating a price was challenging because of the lack of a comparable previous issue, the small size of the possible sale and its kroner denomination.

S&P Global Ratings will probably give the bonds a BBB- grade, the lowest investment level, Gjensidige said in an investor presentation.

With assistance from Jonas Cho Walsgard

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers
The Missouri Department of Insurance has once again refused to renew the non-resident producer license of the owner of an Illinois managing general agency that has been able to continue operations despite having his license revoked or non-renewed previously in both Illinois and Missouri.

On Aug. 24, Missouri Insurance Director John M. Huff signed the order to non-renew the license of Todd Jeremy Fendler, owner of Northern Illinois Insurance Agency (operating as Northern Underwriting Managers, or NUM), based in Rockford, Ill.

NUM operates as a managing general agent in all states except Alaska, according to information on the companys website.

Missouri insurance regulators previously issued a non-renewal notice to Fender in May 2015. The Illinois Department of Insurance revoked Fendlers license twice  once in 2014 and again in 2015.

The previous Illinois and Missouri revocation/non-renew orders allege that Fendler and his company had a pattern of wrongly debiting funds from client accounts electronically, via Automated Clearing House (ACH) withdrawals, without authorization. Accounts were allegedly debited even when premiums had previously been paid or the policy had been cancelled.

Fendler and his agency have been able to continue operating through legal maneuvers and appeals, however.

In July, Anjali Julka, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Insurance, confirmed that the licenses of NUM and Fendler had been revoked, but the revocation orders had been stayed by operation of law in that state.

Yaryna Klimchak, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Insurance, confirmed Fendlers 2015 license non-renewal order had been held up in an administrative appeals process.

In Missouri, Fendlers license was due to expire on Aug. 24, 2016. According to the Missouri order issued on Aug. 24, Fendler applied for license renewal on Aug. 23.

Surplus Market Solutions

In addition to citing numerous instances in which Fendler and NUM wrongly debited client accounts, over-charged clients and failed to submit premium payments to insurance companies, the Aug. 24 Missouri order alleges that Fender falsely applied for a non-resident license for a new company, Surplus Market Solutions LLC, using the license number and name of a former producer, Mark Traviranus. Traviranus is listed on the application as producer, applicant and sole owner of Surplus Market Solutions in Crystal Lake, Ill., the order alleges.

Traviranus previously held a non-resident producer license in Missouri and voluntarily surrendered his license in January 2016. The order states that while Traviranus in August 2014 had explored the possibility of entering a business relationship with Fendler, he ultimately decided against it and cut ties with Fendler in June 2015.

According to the Missouri order, Traviranus had no idea he was supposedly the responsible producer or sole owner of Surplus Market Solutions, and had not authorized Fendler or anyone else to submit a license application on his behalf.

Missouri discovered as of Aug. 1, 2016, that the 2016 annual report filed for Surplus Market Solutions lists the companys address as 6090 Strathmoor Dr. #3 in Rockford, Ill., not in Crystal Lake, as is indicated in the license application. The Rockford address is the same as that listed for Fendler and NUM.

Additionally, the order states, Fendler, not Traviranus, was named in the annual report as the sole manager of Surplus Market Solutions.

The order alleges that not only did Fendler falsely submit the license application for SMS under Travinarus name without authorization, he lied by omission by doing so and by neglecting to disclose the Illinois administrative action against him and Northern Illinois.

Complaints

NUM previously advertised with Insurance Journal and its affiliate, MyNewMarkets.com. IJ became aware of the situation with NUM via complaints submitted to both sites that mirror those described in the two orders of revocation issued by Illinois, which Insurance Journal obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, and Missouris non-renewal orders, which are accessible on the insurance departments website.

Fendler confirmed in April that NUM operates as an ACH only company. NUM bills in two ways, he said. We bill pay in full or via the ACH. So if we allow someone to do monthly payments, were going to do it via ACH.

Fendler suggested at that time that customers who have submitted complaints have premiums that are past due and either dont have the money or dont want to pay.

You have people complaining because they are angry, that doesnt mean were guilty. Just because a theres a bunch of them doing it at once doesnt mean were guilty either, he said.

Related:

Topics Excess Surplus Missouri Illinois
Law enforcement officials in Kansas cannot stop and search motorists just for having out-of-state license plates from states that have legalized marijuana, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit filed by a Colorado motorist, Peter Vasquez, against two Kansas Highway Patrol officers who pulled him over and searched his vehicle as he was driving alone at night through Kansas on his way to Maryland.

The KHP officers, Richard Jimerson and Dax Lewis, stopped Vasquez when they could not read the temporary tag taped to the inside of the cars tinted rear window. The officers contended they were justified in searching the vehicle because Vasquez was a citizen of Colorado driving on I-70, a known drug corridor, in a recently purchased, older-model car. They said he also seemed nervous.

A divided panel found the officers violated Vasquezs Fourth Amendment rights in searching his car without his consent. Nothing illegal was found.

Twenty-five states permit marijuana use for medicinal purposes, with Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Washington, D.C., permitting some recreational use under state law, the court noted.

The officers reasoning would justify the search and seizure of citizens of half of the states in the country, the court said, adding it is wholly improper to assume someone is more likely to commit a crime because of his state of residence.

Accordingly, it is time to abandon the pretense that state citizenship is a permissible basis upon which to justify the detention and search of out-of-state motorists, and time to stop the practice of detention of motorists for nothing more than an out-of-state license plate, the ruling states.

A lower court had ruled the officers were entitled to qualified immunity when it threw out the case, but the appeals court disagreed and sent it back for further proceedings.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto Colorado Kansas
An organization that advocates for walkers and bicyclists in the St. Louis region is pushing for stiffer penalties for drivers who strike pedestrians.

Trailnet wants more to be done to make sober drivers more accountable, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The non-profit points to the deaths of 19-year-old LaTonya Williams and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Jermaine Byrd, who were fatally struck by a car last year while walking on a St. Louis County sidewalk. The driver wasnt charged.

Its really kind of disturbing to us and our organization, Trailnet executive director Ralph Pfremmer said. It speaks to how vulnerable everybody is and how the system doesnt always work in favor of the victim.

The accident was among several last year involving pedestrians in the St. Louis region in which no one was charged. Nationally, about 5,000 pedestrians are killed by drivers each year, accounting for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Williams and Byrd were walking home from a store when a 19-year-old driver struck them. She told police another vehicle came flying toward her, forcing her to swerve, jump a curb, and drive onto the sidewalk. She passed a sobriety test.

Prosecutors chose not to pursue criminal charges, though four traffic tickets were issued to the driver for speeding, failure to drive within a single lane, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, and driving without insurance. The driver later negotiated an agreement with a county prosecutor that amended the speeding ticket to a nonmoving, illegal parking violation; the other three citations were dismissed. A municipal judge 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, stood by the decisions. He said that because the driver wasnt charged with a crime, the court didnt hold her accountable for the deaths. He said she could have been speeding to avoid a head-on collision.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto Missouri
LINCOLN  Legislative leaders are seeking more detail on why Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson's office chose not to file criminal charges against state Sen. Bill Kintner.

Kintner was fined $1,000 by the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission  a civil penalty  for misusing government property after he acknowledged using his state-owned laptop to have cybersex with a stranger last year.

The same state law that allowed for the civil penalty also includes a potential misdemeanor criminal charge, punishable by three months in jail and an additional $500 fine.

Peterson's office has said it did not charge Kintner because the misuse took place in Boston, outside Nebraska's jurisdiction.

Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley and Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers questioned that conclusion last week as members of the Legislature's Executive Board met to consider taking action against Kintner. The board will meet again Monday.

In the meantime, Executive Board Chairman Bob Krist has requested more information on the attorney general's review of the case.

"We would appreciate clarification as to why if Nebraska criminal statutes do not apply in this situation, then how can the laws and sanctions found in the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act apply?" Krist wrote in a letter to Peterson dated Aug. 19.

Peterson's office did not comment in response to similar questions Wednesday from the Lincoln Journal Star.

Chambers has called for an "objective" review of Kintner's case by attorneys outside Peterson's office.

Speaking of Kintner, Chambers said Friday, "When he brought that (laptop) back to Nebraska, he brought that misuse with him."
They may not have a 401(k) plan, but drivers working through Uber Technologies Inc.s platform will soon be able to open a retirement account right in the app. And in traditional Silicon Valley style, the ride-hailing company is partnering with another startup to do it.

While fighting a pitched court battle to prevent drivers from being classified as employees, Uber has simultaneously joined forces with Betterment LLC, a robo-adviser valued at $700 million, to offer them IRAs. Rachel Holt, Ubers regional general manager for the U.S. and Canada, said the option will be fee-free for the first year.

Uber, which approached Betterment a few months ago, announced on Wednesday that the option will be available to drivers in Seattle, Boston, Chicago, and New Jersey, with plans to expand to other cities later this year. Drivers who choose the option will avoid one year of IRA charges that range from 0.15 percent to 0.35 percent, depending on the account balance.

The Uber deal may be the beginning of what Betterment said is a new segment for it to tap. The robo-advisers co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jon Stein predicted potential to attract freelance workers elsewhere in the burgeoning gig economy.

Im excited about where we can take this from here, because it is very much aligned with our long-term mission, Stein said.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Personal Auto
Fitbit Inc. did not steal rival Jawbones trade secrets, a U.S. International Trade Commission judge ruled on Tuesday, dashing Jawbones hopes of securing an import ban against Fitbits wearable fitness tracking devices.

The judge, Dee Lord, said that there had been no violation of the Tariff Act, which gives the commission the power to block products that infringe U.S. intellectual property, because no party has been shown to have misappropriated any trade secret.

The ruling means Jawbone comes away with nothing from a complaint it filed with the trade agency in July 2015, accusing Fitbit of infringing six patents and poaching employees who took with them confidential data about Jawbones business, such as plans, supply chains and technical details.

Two of the patents were withdrawn, however, and four others were invalidated by the judge, before a May trial that was limited to the trade secrets claims.

Fitbit Chief Executive Officer James Park said in a statement on Tuesday that Jawbones allegations were without merit and an attempt to disrupt Fitbits momentum to compensate for their own lack of success in the market.

A representative for Jawbone could not immediately be reached for comment.

Fitbit is biggest maker of wrist-based and clippable fitness devices, which track users steps, calories burned, heartrates and other parameters. It sold 5.7 million devices in the second quarter, beating revenue estimates.

Jawbone makes a range of activity trackers under the UP brand but has been losing market share. It is no longer among the top five wearables vendors, according to market research firm International Data Corp.

Tuesdays ruling comes on the heels of a victory for Jawbone in a separate trade case filed against the company by Fitbit. On July 19, another commission judge found all three Fitbit patents in that case were invalid. Fitbit has asked the full trade commission to review the ruling.

Jawbone first sued Fitbit last year over trade secret violations in California state court, where the case is still pending. The companies, both based in San Francisco, are also litigating over patents in federal court.

The case in the U.S. International Trade Commission is, In the Matter of Certain Activity Tracking Devices, Systems and Components, No. 337-963.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Cynthia Osterman)

Topics USA Legislation
Generali Global Assistance has named Julie Jamsa as vice president, Service Delivery, for the companys Identity and Digital Protection Services Global unit.

GGA recently launched Iris OnWatch, an identity protection platform that provides prevention, monitoring, alerts and resolution. Jamsa will support the Iris team as the company deploys the platform for new clients.

Jamsa has 25 years of experience as an operations executive Prior to GGA, she served as vice president, Catalog & eCommerce Operations, at National Geographic. Earlier in her career, she worked at ThinkGeek.com as vice president, Sales & Operations.

Generali Global Assistance, formerly Europ Assistance in the U.S., is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Topics Generali Life Assurance (Thailand) Plc.
Wholesale broker and managing general agent, M. J. Kelly Company-Texas, has added Vicky Fonseca as marketing representative in Fort Worth. The company also announced the retirement of Robert Grace.

Fonseca is an insurance industry veteran who will assist producers in placement with M. J. Kellys wide range of insurance markets specializing in commercial products.

She has served as a retail agent, customer service representative, and in the excess and surplus (E&S) lines industry as an underwriter and branch manager for more than 25 years.

Grace has been with M. J. Kelly for over 10 years serving retailers throughout Texas. He holds the CPCU designation and has enjoyed a 43-year career in the E&S industry.

He served on the boards of the Texas Surplus Lines Association, Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas, and two insurance companies. He is a past president of the Fort Worth Chapter of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.

Source: M. J. Kelly Company

Topics Texas Excess Surplus
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed suit against national insurance brokerage firm Brown & Brown, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., over allegations it violated the Civil Rights Act by rescinding a job offer to a pregnant woman. Brown & Brown denies the allegations.

The suit alleges that Brown & Browns Daytona Beach location offered the position of personal lines technical assistant to Nicole Purcell back in March of 2015. Purcell says after receiving her offer letter and employment agreement form via e-mail, but before formally accepting the offer, she disclosed to Brown & Browns employee services coordinator that she was in the early stages of pregnancy and asked about the firms maternity benefits.

Purcell said she told the Brown & Brown representative that she did not intend to take extended leave from work.

According to the court documents, Brown & Browns representative responded that she would have to get back to Purcell and mentioned a former employee who was pregnant, and that it didnt turn out well.

Purcell said later that day she received an email from Brown & Brown rescinding the job offer saying the company had a very urgent need to have somebody in this position long term We appreciate you telling us beforehand.

In the suit, EEOC claims Brown & Brown committed unlawful employment practices causing out-of-pocket expenses, lost earnings, compensation and benefits as Purcell had already submitted her two week-notice to her previous employer in anticipation of taking the new position. The EEOC also states that Purcell suffered other damages including emotional pain, mental anguish, suffering, humiliation inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life.

The company is being accused of violating Title 1 of the Civil Rights Act and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act for allegedly discriminating against Purcell by failing to hire her because of her pregnancy, a condition of her sex.

EEOC filed suit July 25 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division (EEOC v. w Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc., Case No. 6:16-cv-1326-ORL18-DAB) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

Brown & Browns attorney Todd Aidman, a partner with national labor and defense firm FordHarrison in its Tampa office, said lawsuits allegations against the company are untrue and that the broker hires based upon merit and merit alone.

Brown & Brown is firmly committed to complying with the law and does not discriminate against people based on pregnancy or any other protected category, Aidman told Insurance Journal. Any other allegation otherwise is simply not true.

The EEOC hadnt yet served Brown & Brown when it announced its lawsuit against the company via press release on July 25.

Aidman said he wouldnt get into specifics of the case on what statements may or may not have been made, but said that Brown & Brown was not expecting the EEOC to file suit. The company was eventually served in mid-August.

According to the press release from the EEOC, the agency seeks back pay and compensatory and punitive damages for the applicant. The suit also seeks injunctive relief to prevent and correct pregnancy discrimination, the posting of anti-discrimination notices, and training of Brown & Browns managers and employees about federal equal employment opportunity laws.

Pregnant women have the right to seek jobs and not be denied employment because they are pregnant, Robert Weisberg, EEOCs Miami regional attorney, said in the press release. The federal law which prohibits pregnancy discrimination against pregnant employees also applies to pregnant applicants. EEOC continues, with this suit, to seek vigorous enforcement of the laws that protect all women from this kind of intentional and harmful discrimination.

Michael Farrell, director of the Miami District Office added, Pregnant women have the right to seek employment free of discrimination and EEOC remains steadfast in its commitment to take legal action against employers who employ such tactics.

Aidman said he doesnt know when the case will be brought to trial, but he did say that Brown & Brown will continue to fight the charges.

Any employment rescission related to Ms. Purcell was not related to pregnancy, he said.

Brown & Brown Lawsuit Doc

Topics Lawsuits Florida
Gov. Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency for 20 Eastern Washington counties in response to multiple wildfires that threaten homes and natural resources.

Inslee issued the declaration Tuesday after touring fires in the Spokane region.

Inslee noted that hot and windy weather conditions are forecast for the next seven days.

Inslees proclamation directs state agencies to do everything reasonably possible to assist local governments in responding and recovering from fires.

It also calls on staff at the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate state firefighting efforts and allows the use of the National Guard if local jurisdictions need more resources.

The proclamation covers Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Yakima, Walla Walla and Whitman counties.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Washington
Arizona officials say they received hundreds of applications for roughly 30 new licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries.

The Department of Health Services says it has processed 750 applications and that it anticipates awarding 31 dispensary licenses after reviewing those applications that are deemed to be complete and in in compliance with requirements.

Arizona now has 99 licensed dispensaries and that 92 of those are open and operating.

According to the department, 97 percent of the states residents live within 25 miles of an operating dispensary.

The department administers the medical marijuana program launched through voters approval of a 2010 proposition put on the 2010 ballot through an initiative campaign.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Arizona
Officials say a Las Vegas construction worker has died after a scaffolding collapse.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue says the scaffolding collapsed at a Tivoli Village construction site on Monday afternoon. One man fell with the scaffolding and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fire officials say two other workers jumped to safety and were not hurt.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

The Clark County Coroners Office will release the identity of the dead construction worker once his family has been notified.

Tivoli Village management says it is saddened by the incident and will stop construction while officials investigate.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Construction
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.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have come a long way since the first U.S. fund, Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts, better known as spiders (SPDRs), was launched back in 1993.

This first ETF tracks the S&P 500 and its popularity with investors led to the introduction of ETFs based on other benchmark U.S. equity indexes, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq 100.

From their early beginnings as equity-index trackers, ETFs have grown to encompass a huge array of investment choices, but they aren't all equal in quality.

In fact, the flip side to the phenomenal growth in ETFs is that it increases the risk that some of them will be liquidated, primarily due to a lack of investor interest.

And that makes it all the more important to choose wisely.

Key Takeaways As an investor, buying ETFs can be a smart and low-cost strategy to build an optimal portfolio.

But, with so many ETFs out there, it can feel overwhelming to select just those that fit your strategy and goals.

Luckily, there are several tools out there to help you narrow down the right ETFs and to find the lowest cost, most efficient one for each asset class or index you want to own.

2:19 Click Play to Learn More About ETFs

Narrowing a Wide Selection of ETFs

The choices in the ETFs space include traditional index ETFs based on U.S. and international equity indexes and subindexes, and others that track benchmark indices in bonds, commodities, and futures.

There are ETFs based on investing style (value, growth, or a combination of both) and that focus on market capitalization.

You will also find leveraged ETFs that provide multiples in returns (or losses) based on the underlying index's movements, as well as inverse ETFs that rise when the market falls and vice-versa.

There are currently more than 2,000 ETFs listed on U.S. exchanges with combined assets exceeding $5.8 trillion.

As an investor, the first thing you need to do is narrow down this enormous universe of ETFs and focus on just those that will suit your portfolio and long-term investment strategy. There are many ways to do this, but you can start with an asset screener that will filter out anything you don't wantlike those riskier leveraged or inverse ETFs, perhaps.

Even after you've settled on the types of ETFs you want and the general asset classes or indexes that you want to track, you still have some work to do.

Competition Among Similar ETFs

The ETF market has become intensely competitive. This has generally been positive for investors, as it has driven the fees associated with ETFs down toward zero, making them extremely low-cost and efficient securities.

But that can also leave investors confused. If you want an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 index, you can go for the original SPDR (SPY). But there is also a Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, a Schwab S&P 500 ETF, and an iShares S&P 500 ETF. In fact, there are at least a dozen S&P 500 ETFs listed on major U.S. stock exchanges.

In a bid to differentiate themselves, some ETF issuers have developed products that are either very specific in focus or are based on an investment trend that may be short lived. An example is the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy ETF (CNCR). This esoteric ETF tracks the Loncar Cancer Immunotherapy Index and invests in 30 stocks that focus on the research and development of drugs and technology to fight cancer using immunotherapy.

As for ETFs that are based on hot investment trends, examples include the recently launched Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) or the Drone Economy Strategy ETF (IFLY).

There's even one called the Obesity ETF (SLIM) that invests in companies in the business of fighting obesity and related diseases.

Picking the Right ETF

Given the bewildering number of ETF choices that investors now have to contend with, it's important to consider the following factors:

Level of Assets : To be considered a viable investment choice, an ETF should have a minimum level of assets, a common threshold being at least $10 million. An ETF with assets below this threshold is likely to have a limited degree of investor interest. As with a stock, limited investor interest translates into poor liquidity and wide spreads.

: To be considered a viable investment choice, an ETF should have a minimum level of assets, a common threshold being at least $10 million. An ETF with assets below this threshold is likely to have a limited degree of investor interest. As with a stock, limited investor interest translates into poor liquidity and wide spreads. Trading Activity : An investor needs to check if the ETF that is being considered trades in sufficient volume on a daily basis. Trading volume in the most popular ETFs runs into millions of shares daily. Some ETFs barely trade at all. Trading volume is an excellent indicator of liquidity, regardless of the asset class. Generally speaking, the higher the trading volume for an ETF, the more liquid it is likely to be and the tighter the bid-ask spread. These are especially important considerations when it is time to exit the ETF.

: An investor needs to check if the ETF that is being considered trades in sufficient volume on a daily basis. Trading volume in the most popular ETFs runs into millions of shares daily. Some ETFs barely trade at all. Trading volume is an excellent indicator of liquidity, regardless of the asset class. Generally speaking, the higher the trading volume for an ETF, the more liquid it is likely to be and the tighter the bid-ask spread. These are especially important considerations when it is time to exit the ETF. Underlying Index or Asset : Consider the underlying index or asset class on which the ETF is based. From the point of view of diversification, it may be preferable to invest in an ETF that is based on a broad, widely followed index rather than an obscure index that has a narrow industry or geographic focus.

: Consider the underlying index or asset class on which the ETF is based. From the point of view of diversification, it may be preferable to invest in an ETF that is based on a broad, widely followed index rather than an obscure index that has a narrow industry or geographic focus. Tracking Error : While most ETFs track their underlying indexes closely, some do not track them as closely as they should. All else being equal, an ETF with minimal tracking error is preferable to one with a greater degree of error.

: While most ETFs track their underlying indexes closely, some do not track them as closely as they should. All else being equal, an ETF with minimal tracking error is preferable to one with a greater degree of error. Market Position: The first ETF issuer for a particular sector has a decent probability of garnering the lion's share of assets before others jump on the bandwagon. It is prudent to avoid ETFs that are mere imitations of an original idea, because they may not differentiate themselves from their rivals and attract investors' assets.

In Case of ETF Liquidations

The closing, or liquidation, of an ETF is usually an orderly process. The ETF issuer will notify investors, generally three to four weeks in advance, about the date when the ETF will stop trading. That said, an investor with a position in an ETF that is being liquidated still has to decide on the best course of action in order to protect the investment. Essentially, the investor has to make one of the following choices:

Sell the ETF shares before the "stop trading" date : This is a proactive approach that may be suitable when the investor believes that there is a significant risk of a substantial near-term decline in the fund's price. In such cases, the investor may be willing to overlook the wide bid-ask spreads that are likely to be prevalent for the ETF, due to its limited liquidity.

: This is a proactive approach that may be suitable when the investor believes that there is a significant risk of a substantial near-term decline in the fund's price. In such cases, the investor may be willing to overlook the wide bid-ask spreads that are likely to be prevalent for the ETF, due to its limited liquidity. Hold on to the ETF shares until liquidation: This alternative may be suitable if the ETF is invested in a sector that is not volatile and the downside risk is minimal. The investor may have to wait a couple of weeks for the issuer to complete the process of selling the securities held within the ETF and distributing the net proceeds after expenses. Holding on for the liquidated value eliminates the issue of the bid-ask spread.

In any case, the investor will have to contend with the tax issue. If the ETF was held in a taxable account, the investor will owe taxes on any capital gains.

The Bottom Line

When selecting an ETF, investors should consider factors such as its level of assets, trading volume and underlying index. In the event that an ETF is to be liquidated, an investor has to decide whether to sell the ETF shares before it stops trading or wait until the liquidation process is completed, with due consideration given to the tax aspects of the ETF sale.

Investopedia does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice. The information is presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Although the Presidential election drew most of the attention in November of 2020, there were several other important decisions made at the polls as well: notably, several states held votes to determine the future of the legal cannabis industry in one form or another. Taking a leaf out of Colorado or Washingtons book, four statesNew Jersey, South Dakota, Montana, and Arizonapassed measures to make marijuana consumption for recreational purposes legal. Mississippi also voted to allow medical marijuana.

State legislation remains heavily divided on the topic. Since the 2020 election, South Dakota Circuit Judge Christina Klinger ruled that the measure was unconstitutional. In November 2021, the South Dakota Supreme Court agreed and ruled against pot legalization. On the other hand, Arizona has collected more than $284 million of tax revenue since the legalization of marijuana in the state.

All told, more and more states are moving to legalize marijuana (whether for medicinal or recreational use, or both). The legal changes have spawned a burgeoning industry of legal cannabis companies, including those which aim to research and develop cannabis-based medical products, those which are working to distribute and grow marijuana, and many others.

As of May 2022, 37 states allow the use of medical cannabis products, while 18 states allow the use of non-medical cannabis products for personal consumption. States are continuing to propose new legislation to encourage legal activity. Delaware is circulating HB 305, a bill that would make marijuana legal for adults. Meanwhile, 62% of Marylanders now support non-recreational legalization.

The economic benefits of legalizing weed have already been apparent as the first states have moved to change their legal positions. Overall, legal marijuana could mean a big push for state economies and big bucks for both the state and the federal governments. Though state law and federal law remain divided on the issue. let's explore some of the key economic benefits of legal marijuana.

Key Takeaways There has been a growing popular movement in the United States to legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses, with several states adopting such measures already.

One motivation for legalization is the economic benefits that can come from the regulated commercial availability of marijuana.

Increased tax revenues, job growth, and investment opportunities all are powerful incentives to push for legalization.

As of May 2022, 18 states allow for personal consumption of marijuana, while 37 states allow medical usage.

Although the collection of tax revenue has yet to start in many of these states, a total of $3.7 billion of proceeds were collected in 2021, more than double tax revenue generated in 2019.

Impact on Tax Revenue

Better than expected sales of marijuana in Colorado and Washington over the past several years have resulted in buoyant tax revenues. In 2021, Washington collected $559.5 million of legal marijuana revenue, over $85 million more revenue than 2020. Meanwhile, Colorado collected $423 million of marijuana tax revenue in 2021, up almost 10% from the year prior.

In 2019, total tax revenue collected by all states topped $1.7 billion. two years later, the total dollar revenue had more than doubled. Aggregate revenue for all states hit $3.7 billion for legal, adult-use cannabis sales, and this does not include revenue generated for statewide budgets, cities, and towns. In addition, six states that have approved marijuana use had not started collecting marijuana tax revenue in 2021.

Should marijuana become legal on a federal level, the benefits to the economy could be exceptional: A report from cannabis analytics company New Frontier suggests that federally legal pot could generate an additional $105.6 billion in aggregate federal tax revenue by 2025.

Colorado began collecting marijuana tax revenue in 2014. In 2021, it's total life-to-date collections surpassed $2 billion.

Income and Jobs

Setting up marijuana nurseries and dispensaries would be the first step for the states that voted in favor of medical marijuana. These would not only create jobs but also set the ball rolling for economic activity in the pot industry in these areas. In the case of states like California and Nevada where such infrastructure already exists, the economic impact has become more quantifiable as the sector has matured.

An RCG Economics and Marijuana Policy Group study on Nevada says that legalizing recreational marijuana in the state could support over 41,000 jobs till 2024 and generate over $1.7 billion in labor income. The ICF study estimates at least 81,000 additional direct, indirect, and induced jobs in California as a result of legalized marijuana sales. It also projects an increase in total labor income by at least $3.5 billion.

New Frontier's report predicting the impact of federally legal marijuana suggests that nationwide legalization could generate 1 million jobs by 2025. These jobs would likely come from the quickly growing industry which would spring up across the nation. Workers would be needed to farm, process, distribute, and sell marijuana-based products. Further, there would be ample opportunities for secondary industries that are related to legal cannabis although not directly involved in its production and distribution. These might include software developers, financing services, construction companies, and many others.

Investment Opportunities

Legal marijuana presents the possibility of tremendous benefits to economies on a local and a national scale. It also could help to secure the investment portfolios of investors across the country and further afield as well. While marijuana remains illegal on the federal level, it is difficult for investors to capitalize on the growth of the industry. The number of marijuana-related companies trading on public stock exchanges is minuscule, and while investors do have the option of working with over-the-counter exchanges, many of the most successful businesses in the early legal cannabis space have been based in Canada or other countries.

Should marijuana become legal on the national level, marijuana companies would be free to list their stocks on all U.S. exchanges, thereby enhancing liquidity and opening up access to many more investors. Should the growth rates for the cannabis space continue as they have in recent years, it's likely that investors would express a keen interest in the industry.

As of March 2022, the largest marijuana ETF was AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF with over $1 billion of assets under management.

Saved Money

When considering the economic benefits of legal marijuana, it's important to think of the money that might be saved as well as revenue that could be generated through such a process. Currently, federal marijuana enforcement costs several billion dollars per year. A 2013 report by the American Civil Liberties Union found that the costs at that time were approximately $3.6 billion per year.

The more states that legalize cannabis, the lower the cost of enforcement would likely be; if marijuana were to be legalized on a national level, these costs would likely drop considerably. If marijuana were removed from the list of controlled substances, far fewer court cases involving the substance would go to trial, resulting in fewer incarcerations, and, in turn, more money saved.

Legalized marijuana also stands to benefit medical consumers of cannabis-based products. As marijuana becomes legal in more and more parts of the country, it's likely that the price will drop overall as a result of commoditization. This may not immediately seem like good news for overall tax revenue or for marijuana companies looking to maximize profits. However, individuals utilizing marijuana-based products for medical treatment would stand to benefit considerably from lower prices for these items.

How Many States Have Legalized Marijuana? As of May 2022, 18 states have legalized the personal use of marijuana. In addition, 37 states have legalized the medical use of marijuana.

How Much Money Are States Collecting in Marijuana Tax Revenue? In 2021, the states that legalized marijuana for personal consumption generated $3.7 billion. This revenue does not include city revenue or proceeds distributed to smaller municipalities.

What Is the Economic Impact of Legalizing Marijuana? States that legalize marijuana have recognized various economic benefits. There are direct tax proceeds generated for the state. States employ thousands of employees of oversee the production, distribution, and management of the sector. There are also potential savings to the legal enforcement of the industry if certain criteria are no longer considered illegal.

The Bottom Line

There is ample pushback against the idea of legalizing marijuana across the country. Critics cite the potential for confusion among law enforcement officers aiming to keep up with shifting regulations, a concern about increased homelessness or youth use of the substance, the potential for decreased property values, and much more. Some are opposed to changing the regulatory status of marijuana simply because it means a change to the status quo.

All of these reasons combine to decrease the likelihood that marijuana will become legal at a national level any time soon. However, as more and more states move to individually decriminalize pot use in various ways, and as the economic benefits of a legal marijuana industry take effect, there are also many compelling reasons to consider nationwide legalization.
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




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.
When the school year begins in the US, 20 Irish American students will have particularly envy-inspiring answers to the question How was your summer?

These are the graduates of the first-ever Global Irish Summer Camp (GISC), a program smaller in scale but similar in scope to Israels famous Birthright initiative. The 20 students of Irish descent who participated in the pilot program ranged in ages from 15 to 17 and hailed from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Washington State. The group consisted of a mix of second, third and fourth generation Irish, none of whom had ever been to Ireland before.

From July 20 - August 4, they received an immersive crash course in Ireland  its culture, history, language and landscape  at the Institute of Study Abroad, Ireland in Bundoran, Co. Donegal. The program was first outlined in Irelands first official diaspora policy, published in March 2015, and was funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. All program expenses within Ireland were covered; participants and their families were responsible only for the cost of their travel to and from the Emerald Isle.

The three core aims of the GISC were, according to Mary Connery, the Deputy Director of Irish Abroad with the DFA, to To encourage participants to have a greater awareness of their Irish heritage, to solidify links with the Irish diaspora, and to encourage greater links with Irish communities throughout the US.

So, how did it go?

Connery told IrishCentral that during a farewell ceremony at the DFAs Iveagh House in Dublin on August 3, after Minister for the Diaspora Joe McHugh presented the students with special certificates, they were each asked to talk about their experiences over the past two weeks.

It was clear that these young adults were leaving Ireland which a much greater awareness and appreciation of their Irish heritage and were keen to develop this further on their return to the US.

(Note: The DFA did not accept media requests to talk with any of the students since they were minors, but if you went on the program and are reading this we would love to hear from you!)

Heres a look at what they got up to:

Visited Google HQ:

The Letterkenny Institute of Technology:

Learned all about hurling:

Visited Glenveagh Castle:

Learned about Irelands Great Hunger at the Ballyshannon Workhouse:

And saw the port where so many left for the US:

Went cliff diving in Bundoran:

Visited the Ulster American Folk Park:

Had a vital cultural encounter with 99s:

Met the Bogside Artists at the Derry Peace Murals:

Traveled to Galway:

Met their counterparts at University College Dublins Clinton Institute:

Visited Aras an Uachtarain, the home of the Irish president:

And the residence of US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin OMalley, also in Dublins Phoenix Park:

For those of you reading this who would like to apply for next summer, dont start filling out the forms just yet. Connery told IrishCentral that the DFA is in the process of getting more feedback from the first participants. As this years program was a pilot project, an evaluation of the first year of the Camp will be undertaken before any decision will be taken on whether a similar program will take place in subsequent years, she explained. Feedback from the 20 participants is currently being sought which will form an important part of this evaluation. A number of other aspects, including issues such as the future financial sustainability of any program and its geographic focus, will also be important factors in this analysis.

But, if the Global Irish Summer Camp gets the green light for a second year, she did offer this insight: It must be said that the enthusiasm and willingness to take part and learn displayed by the 20 participants in the inaugural [summer], as well as their passion to continue exploring their Irish heritage and connection to Ireland when they return home, were extremely important in ensuring the success of the pilot program.

For more info, visit the Global Irish Summer Camp website.
Some things are worth waiting for, and the next film from Martin Scorsese, The Irishman, would appear to be just that.

The long-discussed film, which will co-star icons Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, wont start production until next year, with an eye towards a late 2018 release. Producers, though, have already scored a huge coup, securing a distribution deal for the lucrative China market, according to Deadline. It wasnt that long ago  1997  that Scorsese was banned from entering China because the government was opposed to his film about the Dalai Lama, Kundun.

The Irishman will tell the story of a hitman, Frank The Irishman Sheeran, and the disappearance of the Teamsters union boss Jimmy Hoffa.

Paramount will distribute the film in the U.S., and the production pricetag is a healthy $100 million which should ensure more superstars are added to the cast.

Im working on The Irishman with Marty Scorsese, and there are sections, earlier periods in the film, where were experimenting with how I can [look younger], like Benjamin Button. Not only me, but the other actors too, De Niro told Empire Magazine last year.
A St. Louis professor believes he has finally discovered his lucky pot of Irish gold after 13 long summers at an archaeological dig in Co. Roscommon.

St. Louis University history professor Thomas J. Finan has visited the same remote field called Purt Na Carce (Port Nah Carr-rick) in Co. Roscommon, 60 miles north of Galway, every summer for over a decade, but it wasnt until the summer of 2016 that he finally made the discovery that made it all worthwhile.

I think we hit the jackpot, Finan told The St. Louis Post Dispatch, shortly after returning to the US following his thirteenth summer in Ireland.

Our dig produced some pretty clear evidence. Weve managed to build the skeleton, and now we can start filling that skeleton out.

Proudly wearing a Roscommon hat! pic.twitter.com/81VHqFt3yN  Thomas Finan (@tjfinan) May 28, 2014

The skeleton Finan refers to is not exactly what you might think. The Roscommon site didnt reveal human remains of our ancient forefathers, but the skeleton of a town dating to a time when it was believed the Irish did not build such things.

Speaking in 2013, Finan, the Associate Director of St. Louiss Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, had previously explained his beliefs that Purt na Carce could reveal a secular Irish settlement dating from 1200, which would contradict previous assumptions that the Irish of that time did not live in communal settings but as Nomads. Although certain Irish cities such as Dublin and Waterford may predate this time, they were founded by Viking settlers and not by the native Irish themselves.

In 2013, we were excited about finding this town, but it was pretty much supposition on our part, Finan continued.

But now we have clear evidence that this was an important market town, a town engaged in the industrial market, metal-making and grain-processing, and trading with the English.

The findings at the dig could also reveal how Ireland was affected by global climate change as far back as 1200.

Ambassador O'Malley gave great address. pic.twitter.com/NtsKnMU8SM  Thomas Finan (@tjfinan) May 14, 2016

Such was the success of the last few months of the dig that the excavation site has garnered interest from the US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley, who is from St Louis, and from the St. Louis Higher Education Channel, which spent a month filming with the archaeological crew as they hit the jackpot.

They may not have seen gold, however, as to their untrained eyes, the importance of Finans discovery was not always so clear.

Theyd look at us and wonder what we were getting so excited about. I think they were waiting for us to pull up some golden chalice, Finan said.

But its actually more like pieces of unprocessed bronze, pollen, seeds and insects.

Read more: Archaeologists found a 2,600-year-old Celtic Princess in Germany

The documentary makers also found themselves battling the elements and Ireland's geography. The crew had to persevere through some pretty rainy weather during the month they spent with the dig while the lack of cell service and good quality, high speed WiFi meant they were essentially cut off from the rest of their workloads.

It rains a lot in Ireland, and even [natives] said it was awfully rainy. It rained every single day, said Kathy Bratkowski, producer of the HEC documentary.

So that was the challenge.

Theres no Wi-Fi and very little cell phone reception, so checking emails and voicemail was a big problem, she continued.

The documentary, with its rough working title The Irish Dig, is planned for release early in 2017, no later than St. Patricks Day, according to Bratkowski.
The incredible story of Private Martin "Matty" Teahan's rifle and the journey of his nephew to uncover the lost memory of a fallen family hero

Jim Farrell shares the story of his Uncle Matty as he follows the journey of Mattys rifle from the battlefield in Normandy where he was slain to its display in the office of US General Mark A. Milley more than 70 years after Mattys death.

If I were to report the facts, I would tell you Private Martin Teahan of HQ Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), died on June 6, 1944, near a church in Picauville, Normandy. While scouting a position, he was shot in the leg, captured, and then killed by a German soldier who thought he was reaching for a weapon. A few weeks after D-Day, a French farmer in the area found a rifle with the name M. Teahan engraved on the butt of the rifle. No one knew what the farmer did with the rifle for 72 years, until it was discovered this February by a French Army Paratrooper Commander named Colonel Patrick Collet.

Those are the facts, but the story associated with the rifle tugs on something much deeper for me. You see, Private Martin was my Uncle Matty. Stories of his bravery resonated with me as I grew up in the same rough Irish neighborhood in the South Bronx. Matty's mom had immigrated from Galway; his father from Kerry. He enlisted in the army at age 17, after graduating from graduated from St. Jerome's High School on 138th Street, by forging his Mom's signature. He volunteered for the paratroopers. He was 20 years-old when he died.

Five days prior to the discovery of the rifle I visited my roots for the first time since childhood. I stood in grand St. Jeromes Church and thought of my Uncle Matty as I looked at his name, engraved in the cool stone of the somber building.

Then, as if by fate, we received an email (on Saint Patricks Day) from Colonel Patrick Collet, a French Army Paratrooper commander who grew up in Normandy. He had acquired an M1 Garand rifle from a descendant of the farmer in Picauville. Once he saw the named M. Teahan engraved on the rifle, he knew he had something special and was determined to find who M. Teahan was.

My sister Liz and I long ago became members of the 508th PIR to honor our uncle Matty. Liz setup a profile page on the 508th PIR website, listing herself as a contact. Who knew this simple process would result in such a life altering discovery, as the first place Colonel Collet searched was the 508th PIR website. He found the match and notified Liz. I knew, she knew, the moment we found out, the rifle was our Uncle Matty coming home after 72 years.

Colonel Collet invited my wife Monica and me to visit this June. We got to hold the rifle; I felt the cold metal of the weapon on my fingertips, and envisioned my uncle, bravely marching forward through enemy territory. I was also in the army, many years later, but never engaged in the sort of battle in which so many young men of WWII fought and died. We decided this majestic representation of history should be returned to Martin Tehans brothers-in-arms, the 82nd Airborne Division, 508th PIR.

It was an honor to have General Milley, the US Army Chief of Staff salute and say a prayer at Uncle Matty grave - Thank you General - RIP Martin "Matty" Teahan Posted by Uncle Matty Comes Home on Sunday, June 5, 2016

Our visit didnt end there. Colonel Collet had arranged an unbelievable itinerary for us. We were directed to the site of Uncle Mattys grave, where we met the U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Milley to salute and say a prayer. A man of quiet authority, I immediately jumped to attention and snapped Yes Sir at his direction. Monica of course found this to be hilarious, but she understood, as I did, the magic of the moments we were sharing on this trip.

And what a trip! After the cemetery, we visited Omaha and Utah beaches, including an amazing jaunt to Pointe du Hoc. This moment, staring at the cliff of Pointe Du Hoc, will forever blaze in my memory. General Milley and his staff guided us through each site, and their descriptive stories provided the fields for our imaginations to roam.

Martin Teahans rifle will be brought over to General Milley by Colonel Collet and the French Army Chief of Staff General Bosser later this year. General Milley has invited my entire family to officially donate the rifle at a ceremony at the Pentagon. I suspect the plaque will look something like my first paragraph, with some added words about bravery and duty. As appropriate as it will be, I doubt it can ever capture the emotion, the power, and the change we experienced as a result of the rifles discovery. Thank you, for a piece of my heritage is now coming home.

* Originally published in 2016.

Since the time this article appeared on IrishCentral, Jim has finished writing and published his book on the whole experience titled "Uncle Matty Comes Home." A Facebook page has been created in Martin Teahans honor and has since gained over 86,000 fans. With the help of General Patrick Collet and the US Army Chief of Staff General Milley, Uncle Matty came back home as his rifle is now proudly on display in General Milleys office in the Pentagon. To all 82nd Airborne brothers, this is a reminder that no matter how much time has passed, what you have done for our freedom will never be forgotten.

The book "Uncle Matty Comes Home" can be purchased on the Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites. Its available on Kindle, in paperback and hardcover.
ARE YOU A TOP COMPANY?

What it Really Means to be a Top Company!

To be a Top Company in Irish Construction Industry Magazines Top Companies listing means far more than just a rank and position in an ordered catalogue of names. To us, it means that your efforts to be the best you can be and to excel in your industry and sector have been effective and have paid dividends. To us, it means that your determination and commitment to develop and instil a positive work culture and environment have brought your business due success plus satisfaction. We see it as you being a supportive and inclusive place in which to work that strives to bring the best out of everyone across every level of the organisation.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Businessman, farmer, and property developer Michael Scully of Dunowen Farm Enterprises has lodged an application for change of use of buildings he acquired last year at the Waterfront plaza, previously acquired by Lyonshall director Kieran Coughlan, and who has retained much of the former waterside GAA club site in the town.

Mr Scully, who has a number of Polish property investments, said Clonakilty Distillery will include a visitor centre, tasting room, 80-seat cafe, media room and sales, and could provide up to 40 jobs, incorporating a distillery for gin and single pot still whiskey.
Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier

Those who habitually put items in their recycling bins that don't belong there are the target of the ordinance amendment, not those who make an occasional, accidental mistake, said Public Works Director Jeff Demers.
The largest hotel operator in the country  via its Maldron and Clayton brands  yesterday announced it had started exclusive discussions regarding the iconic hotel, which currently trades under the DoubleTree by Hilton brand.

Private equity group Blackstone bought the former Burlington Hotel for 67m in 2012 before spending another 20m on its refurbishment. A price tag of between 140m and 180m has been linked to the upgraded premises.

At Dalatas AGM in April, chief executive Pat McCann ruled out a bid on account of the perceived high asking price.

However, it was announced yesterday that this approach is in collaboration with a partner, which would purchase the property leaving Dalata to acquire the operating interests and leasehold.

A deal will likely take some time as further due diligence is yet to be carried out and a transaction would still probably need competition approval.

Dalata recently delayed its aggressive UK expansion plans until the real ramifications of Junes Brexit vote are known, but it is forging ahead with its growth in Dublin, where it is looking to add another 1,000 rooms by 2018.

It is eyeing a small number of new builds in Dublin and could buy some existing properties it operates by lease agreement.

Dalata currently has around 3,200 rooms in Dublin and derives 56% of its earnings from the capital. A successful deal for the Burlington would boost the groups share of the Dublin market from 19% to 22%.

The company continues to add capacity in markets that are experiencing high levels of growth and the addition of 500 rooms in Dublin would be a positive step, said Davy Stockbroker analysts Robert Stokes and David Jennings in a joint research note.

Dalatas share price was up 5.4% at 4.53 yesterday, but is still down by around 18% on the start of the year.

Elsewhere yesterday, FBD Hotels & Resorts announced construction on the 7m expansion of its Castle-knock Hotel and Country Club is to commence imminently.

The 21,280sq ft expansion will create an additional 46 rooms at the hotel, bringing its total to 190.

Building work is due to begin in November, with up to 100 construction jobs set to be created and a further 20 full-time positions coming on stream when the expanded hotel is up and running.

Earlier this year, the company  which operates properties in Ireland and Spain and which bought out FBD Holdings 50% stake in its interests last year  said it is targeting 50m in operating profits over the next four years.
Farmers gathered for an IFA protest at Drogheda port said they were very angry that brokers are importing barley at a time when plentiful domestic supplies have driven prices below Irish farmers 145-150 per tonne production costs for the current harvest.

The growers are also frustrated by the failure of the EU Commission and the Government to intervene in the ongoing income crisis.
Presenting the groups first set of results since its merger earlier this year, chief executive Breon Corcoran yesterday said it is understandable that Paddy Power-Betfair is being linked with possible further merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, noting its highly cash generative status, strong balance sheet, and ambitious management team and said that further consolidation is probably inevitable.

However, he said that nothing is in the pipeline at present and further cash could be returned to shareholders, down the line, if no M&A or other capital deployment options are identified.

Yesterdays results show an operating loss of 47.5m (55.8m) for the first half of the year, brought about by the costs of the merger. On an underlying basis, operating profit was up by 39% at 147.6m and total revenue for the six months rose by 18% to 759m, aided by a strong betting finish to Euro 2016.

The group said the second half of the year has started well and full year earnings are expected to come in at between 365m and 385m, representing a small upgrade in guidance.

Double-digit revenue growth was seen in the first half across all key divisions of online, retail, Australia, and the US  with online/digital revenues up 20% at 440m.

While Mr Corcoran said the group will continue to gradually increase its retail portfolio in Ireland and Britain he said online/digital will be the primary growth area, with 87% of group revenues currently coming from that area.

To that end, he said the group would not be a bidder for any element of the 400 or so UK shops having to be sold to enable the merger of rivals Ladbrokes and Coral.

As expected, the Paddy Power-Betfair merger is set to deliver more cost savings than anticipated and in a shorter period of time.

While previously anticipating 50m in synergies over a three-year period, the group yesterday said full savings should amount to 65m with the full benefit being achieved in 2017.

About 60% of those savings are coming about through headcount reduction  300 Irish-based job cuts having already been announced  with the rest from other areas such as centralised purchasing.

Mr Corcoran also warned that Horse Racing Irelands call for a doubling in betting tax for Irish-based bookmakers  to 2% of turnover  would squeeze more independent players out of the market, result in more shop closures and job losses.
Pfizer will pay $550m to AstraZeneca when the transaction closes, and make another payment of $175m in January 2019.

In addition, AstraZeneca is eligible to receive as much as $250m in milestone payments, up to $600m 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, the Botox maker which is based here.

The US drugmaker this week agreed to buy Medivation, maker of the Xtandi prostate cancer drug, in a $14bn deal.

AstraZeneca, meanwhile, has been shoring up falling revenue by licensing out and selling assets not central to its business, enabling investment in focus areas, such as cancer research.

The London-based drugmaker in June sold rights to its anaesthetics medicines, another non-essential area, to Aspen Pharmacare. Revenue from externalisation, as the company calls it, and divestments was $2.3bn last year. AstraZeneca has said it would generate more than that this year.

Pfizer shares were slightly higher yesterday and have risen 9% this year. AstraZeneca also rose slightly and have gained 10% this year.

As a result of the divestment, AstraZeneca will cease to invest in commercial activities in its small molecule antibiotics business, and does not anticipate that any of its sales force will be transferred to Pfizer as part of the transaction, a spokeswoman said.

Pfizer is buying rights to several of AstraZenecas experimental and approved antibiotics in global markets outside the US, 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.

AstraZenecas portfolio will add to more than 60 anti-infective and anti-fungal medicines. It said it was pleased that our strong science in antibiotics will continue to serve a critical public health need through Pfizers dedicated focus on infectious diseases.
Australias flagship carrier  known colloquially as the flying kangaroo  has shed thousands of staff, cut capacity to keep ticket prices up and locked in fuel hedging contracts that let it benefit from a slump in the oil price.

Transformation has made us a more agile business, created value for our shareholders, and given us a platform to invest for the future, chief executive Alan Joyce said.
It comes as the clock ticks down to decision day in the Apple tax case, the most contentious of several investigations undertaken by EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, which effectively alleges Ireland struck a too-sweet deal over the tech giants tax affairs.

In a white paper published yesterday, the US Treasury bluntly accuses Brussels of overstepping its powers and putting at risk existing global agreements that aim to crack down on underpayments of corporate tax.

It says Brussels could undermine the multilateral process driven by the OECD under the so-called base erosion and profit-sharing (Beps) initiative to end global tax avoidance by multinationals.

In the last two years, the European Commission has launched a series of probes into alleged state aid by EU governments in their dealings with corporate giants, including Fiat Chrysler, Starbucks, and Amazon.

The Apple investigation could be decided as early as next month.

Coming as the race for the White House enters its last lap, the white paper takes on even greater importance as the US Treasury warns that the tab for any retrospective recoveries imposed on US companies could likely end up in the lap of the countrys taxpayers.

The Us Treasury also says that the European Commissions probes are counter to EU case law and are inconsistent with international norms and undermines the taxation system.

First, we highlight that the commissions approach is new and was unforeseeable by the relevant companies and EU member states, says the Treasury.

Second, we emphasise that the commission should not seek to impose recoveries under this new approach in a retroactive manner because it sets a bad precedent for tax policymakers around the world.

Finally, we explain that the commissions approach undermines US tax treaties and international transfer pricing guidelines already accepted broadly in the global tax community and undermines the work done as part of the Beps project.

Treasury says US president Barack Obama plans a robust tax reform and shares the commissions concerns over multinationals tax affairs.

We are concerned that the European Commissions state aid investigations threaten to undermine progress in this area and could create an unfortunate international tax policy precedent, it says.

These investigations have major implications for the United States. In particular, recoveries imposed by the commission would have an outsized impact on US companies.

Furthermore, it is possible that the settlement payments ultimately could be determined to give rise to creditable foreign taxes.

If so, US taxpayers could wind up eventually footing the bill for these state aid recoveries in the form of foreign tax credits that would offset the US tax bills of these companies.

A spokesman for the Department of Finance said Ireland had strongly supported the process driven by the Paris-based OECD, which aims to reform the way international companies pay their tax.
Gardai were called to the Kinsale Rd facility at around 8.15pm on Tuesday and found the body of the 36-year-old woman from South Korea dead in her room. She had been living at the facility for between six months and a year.

A Garda spokesman confirmed they are treating the death as a personal tragedy, and are liaising with embassy officials as they prepare a file for the coroners court.

Residents at the centre said the woman had a history of depression, had little English, and kept to herself.

Zoya Zoya, a Pakistani beautician who has been living at the complex for a year, said fellow residents were shocked by the death.

She was a very quiet woman. When she came in to the dining room, she didnt really talk to anyone. She kept to herself. But we didnt expect she would do something like this, she said.

Residents of the Kinsale Rd direct provision centre in Cork hold a vigil last night after a young mother took her own life there. Picture: Jim Coughlan

The Department of Justice, which oversees direct provision through the Reception and Integration Agency, confirmed that the woman had been receiving support services from Cork University Hospital.

A spokesman said counselling and other support services will be made available to the centres residents and staff through the HSE.

Any other supports required, including the holding of a memorial service, will be facilitated in due course, said the spokesman.

The Green Partys representative for Cork North Central, Oliver Moran, described direct provision as like modern-day concentration camps.

Im devastated by this death because it was preventable and this is a result of conscious policy decisions over time. Were reiterating our call to end direct provision. Now isnt the time for wringing hands. We need to accept responsibility.

A young boy shows his support during the vigil last night. Picture: Jim Coughlan

The Green Party representative for Cork South Central, Lorna Bogue, said the State needs to accept responsibility for the death of a young mother in its care.

Last year Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald revealed that between 2002 and 2014, 61 asylum seekers, including 16 children under six, died in direct provision centres.

While all of these deaths are, of course, tragic, they need to be viewed proportionately and against the background that RIA has provided accommodation for almost 53,000 persons over the course of the 14 years the direct provision policy has been in place, Ms Fitzgerald said at the time.
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confirmed yesterday that, to date, five consignments of puppies were seized at ports in Ireland and Scotland.

Law enforcement authorities took three consignments at the Scottish ferry port in Cairnryan, and two at Dublin Port.

The surge in seizures follows the launch 18 months ago of Operation Delphin, a multi-agency initiative to end the illegal trade in puppies.

Under the operation, investigators are using new powers to stop and search the vehicles of those it suspects of illegally trafficking puppies.

The latest consignment included 22 puppies and a pregnant dog. It was seized by gardai at a checkpoint on Tuesday at Dublin Port.

The puppies, now in the care of the DSPCA, were travelling in a Ford Transit van with two men. The driver confirmed to gardai that they were destined for export to Britain.

The puppies that appeared to be aged between eight and 10 weeks old were not microchipped and did not have the required passports.

The DSPCA said the seizure was sadly yet another example of the absence of any regard to the health and welfare of the animals by those involved in the illegal trafficking of puppies from Ireland.

The DSPCA is cooperating with the other SPCAs in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK together with the customs and taxation authorities in these islands, under Operation Delphin, to bring an end to this horrific trade, it stated.

DSPCA spokesperson Gillian Bird said some consignments that had left Ireland were part of ongoing investigations.

We are trying to find out where they are coming from and where they are going to so we can put an end to the trade, said Ms Bird.

A lot of puppy seizures that have taken place are chance finds, but the customs and police now know how to react when they come across a consignment.

While carrying out a checkpoint, gardai stopped a van at Dublin Port which contained 15 puppies without the relevant papers. The dogs were seized and given to the DSPCA

Anyone with puppies or dogs has to have permission to travel with them and all of the dogs have to be microchipped, vaccinated and have pet passports.

The DSPCA and the Scottish SPCA played a leading role in establishing Operation Delphin, and Ms Bird said she was happy with the joint endeavour.

Prosecuting the offenders will lend weight to the process because we will be able to show what happens to them, she said.

Ms Bird said the minimum age of a fully vaccinated dog with a pet passport was 15 weeks. But nobody wants to buy a 15-week-old puppy, which is the main reason they are being smuggled out of the country.
Assistant Commissioner Michael OSullivan said the additional overtime that has so far been provided had definitely saved lives.

He confirmed reports in yesterdays Irish Examiner that some 11 attempted feud murders have so far been thwarted.

AC OSullivan said Garda members have stepped up and put themselves in danger, and have cancelled leave and weekends to tackle the gangs.

Figures show that the Garda overtime bill for Dublin has risen by 62% this year to 18.5m  directly in response to the threat posed by the Kinahan-Hutch feud.

The feud has so far claimed at least eight lives, with two other murders also being investigated.

AC OSullivan said the overtime operation had yielded huge results: When you look at costings, its very difficult to say what is the cost of a human life, but lives are being saved.

He told Morning Ireland on RTE: In the last few months we have certainly foiled quite a number, probably as high as 10, 11, assassination attempts.

He added: Only in the last two to three weeks, we seized a car with false number plates and firearms in it, ready to be used, to shoot a particular individual.

And on Monday, gardai seized a submachine gun capable of firing up to 600 rounds a minute  at a purported cartel safe house in a leafy part of north Dublin.

AC OSullivan said gardai were coming from a very low base in terms of resources.

This time last year, we hadnt the financial resources  we hadnt the challenges we have now.

Every so often the Garda Siochana is faced with serious challenges. My mind goes back to the Veronica Guerin case when again huge financial resources were provided and from those resources you will get those results of lives being saved, of persons being arrested.

He said: We have been given sufficient funding to carry out our operations, there is no bar, and any further funding we need the department has promised us there is no shortage of funding. There is certainly no shortage of resources.

He said the overtime many gardai were earning reflected the protracted nature of operations, often lasting days and sometimes weeks.

We are asking people to step up and they are stepping up: to put themselves in the line of danger, to put themselves in the line of harm, to work double tours, to cancel weekends off, to cancel holidays, to carry out the work we are asking them to do. Its needed, necessary. Its unfortunate we have to do that, but thats what it takes.
Inspectors from the European Commissions Directorate General for Health and Food Safety said the lack of laboratory capacity at the Public Analysts Laboratory (PAL), which is located in St Finbarrs Hospital in Cork, limits the number of samples that can be analysed.

The PAL is one of two laboratories responsible for analysis of GMOs used in food, feed, and seed in the Republic. The other is the UKs Food and Environment Research Agency based in York, which is Irelands national reference laboratory.

Although the Cork laboratory fulfils the requirements of international standards and guidelines for GMO analysis, EU officials said its analysis capability was very limited. They found the facility can only conduct six out of 15 tests on genetically modified maize and one out of 15 tests on genetically modified soya bean.

The results of the audit also found analytic methods used for testing rice products imported from China were not carried out in accordance with EU regulations.

Shortcomings in analytical procedures for testing of rice products imported from China might lead to unidentified GM rice being imported and placed on the market, it concluded.

Nevertheless, only four out of 22 consignments of rice from China between 2012 and 2015 were accepted and imported as the remainder was non-compliant and was consequently destroyed or sent back.

The audit said the level of co-operation between PAL and the laboratory in York, in relation to co-ordination of activities, exchange of information, and technical assistance was not fully compliant with EU regulations.

It also claimed the layout of the Cork lab was not fully adequate to avoid the risk of cross-contamination.

Overall, EU inspectors were satisfied that a well-organised control system was in place in Ireland and that resources were allocated to implement GMO controls in all the necessary areas including field trials and seeds.

Checks on imported foods were deemed appropriate with the major concern relating to shortcomings in sampling. Prioritisation of controls was carried out on a risk basis when sampling food, feed and seed.

Inspections are carried out by trained and technically competent staff generally using appropriate methods, the EU officials concluded.

There is no commercial growing of GM crops in Ireland. Some field trials with GMO plants have been carried out since 1997 and there is currently one trial authorised on GM blight tolerant potatoes which is overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said GM food was not considered as a specific safety concern. The Department of Agriculture said sampling and analysis were targeted at whole grains and feed materials imported from outside the EU where GM crops are grown, but not labelled as GM.

Risk crops are regarded as maize, oil seed rape, beet, and soya bean, which are mostly sourced from North and South America. Responding to the audits findings, the PAL and FSAI said they would review the existing scope of the laboratorys analysis of food samples to comply with EU regulations.
They praised the flight crew for how they handled the crisis and said they only realised something was wrong when they saw fire engines and ambulances on standby at the airfield just seconds before they landed.

However, people who were waiting anxiously at the airport terminal for loved ones criticised the lack of information from airport management as the emergency unfolded.

Elderly rights campaigner, Paddy OBrien, who was waiting for his son, Ronan, due to arrive on another flight around the same time, said some people were terrified when they saw the emergency services arriving.

I feel the airport should have made announcements about which plane was involved in the emergency, he said.

This is my first experience ever of this kind, in an airport, and I wouldnt want to experience it again. There were people here in a state of collapse, quite honestly.

The captain of flight EI3701, an Aer Lingus Regional flight from Birmingham to Cork, operated by Stobart Air, with 59 passengers and four crew on board, declared an emergency yesterday about 25 minutes before the aircraft was due to land at Cork Airport at 10.10am.

It is understood that smoke was detected on the flight deck of the ATR 72 aircraft at around 9.40am.

Airport management triggered its full emergency plan and a fleet of ambulances and fire brigade units from the city and county rushed to the airfield to provide back-up to the airports own fire and rescue service.

However, the aircraft landed safely without incident at 10.06am, the passengers disembarked a short time afterwards, and the emergency response was stood down.

BREAKING: Aircraft has landed safely at @CorkAirport after declaring emergency. Flight crew still in cockpit #Cork pic.twitter.com/EBG8mlT8yQ  Eoin English (@EoinBearla) August 24, 2016

Gwen George, who was flying to Cork for a holiday with her children, Katie, 10, and William, six, said she noticed a burning-type smell in the aircraft during the flight but took no notice.

To be honest, we didnt realise anything was wrong until we landed and saw the fire brigades, because they were really calm on the flight, she said.

There was a funny smell on the plane, alright, but it was totally calm on board. It was a lovely smooth landing. The most stressed were the people waiting in the airport because some of them heard it was the Stansted flight.

She said some passengers didnt even realise there had been an emergency until they checked social media while collecting their baggage.

Airport spokesman Kevin Cullinane said the emergency plan worked well but accepted that people often hear about such incidents first through social media channels.

We apologise if meeters and greeters were somewhat in the dark but our priority was for those on the aircraft, he said.

Mr Cullinane said there will be a full review and debrief of how the response plan worked to ensure that lessons are learned.
Fianna Fails finance spokesman Michael McGrath said, despite premiums increasing by 38.6% in the year to July, car insurance costs may have increased further since then, even as one firm was urging customers to play a role in reducing them.

Deputy McGrath referred to a letter issued by insurer Aviva to its customers in which it said it was very concerned about the impact of rising insurance premiums and sought to explain the reasons for the price rises.

In the letter, Aviva said Ireland had the highest claim award levels in Europe, mostly linked to claims of whiplash, and that the excessive nature of award levels in Ireland is increasing the incentive to commit insurance fraud.

The company said there were inconsistent award levels and it claimed there had been a lack of regulation, referring to difficulties at companies such as Setanta Insurance, Enterprise Insurance, and Quinn Insurance.

Aviva said the Injuries Board needed more power, and it said there was a requirement for additional garda resources to increase the level of insurance fraud investigation, leading to more custodial sentences being handed down, where it is proven that insurance fraud has taken place/

Representative body Insurance Ireland said: We share our customers frustration at the increases in motor premiums and recognise the public concern that exists on the issue. High premiums are not in insurers interests, as the threshold of affordability is raised, it leads to more uninsured driving, which is a major road safety issue.

It said more traffic enforcement was also needed and added.

Premiums are a function of the cost of claims and, at present, motor insurers are pricing insurance in an environment where the number of claims is increasing on top of the increasing cost of processing them and settling them.

Fianna Fails finance spokesman Michael McGrath

In emails, Aviva sought customers help.

You can help us by asking your local public representatives to address this important topic as a matter of urgency in the Oireachtas, it said.

However, Mr McGrath said insurance firms now seemed to be blaming others for the soaring cost of insurance.

The blame game is now in full swing, he said.

We now have a situation where all the stakeholders are blaming each other for premium hikes, but it begs the question, who is looking after the interests of consumers in all of this?

Every week now, I am being contacted by motorists who are receiving a renewal notice in the letterbox with much larger increases. Premium increases of 60%, 70% and even higher are not uncommon.

He said there needed to be greater independent oversight, adding that the Government needed to set a tighter deadline for the task force charged with investigating the issue to report back and then needed to quickly implement its recommendations.
The building is a modern contemporary design, according to a spokeswoman.

It replaces the Old Snack Bar, and incorporates a modern food hall, called The Old Weir Food Hall on the ground floor, and The Riverside Bar on the upper level with an adjacent viewing area that has magnificent views of the Parade Ring.

The Old Weir Food Hall is designed to serve people who want to grab a quick bite, but not spend too long eating when they want to be watch and bet on races.

The Riverside Bar will accommodate sponsors, owners and trainers on race-days.

David Fitzmaurice, chairman of Listowel Race Company, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, cut the ribbon at the end of the opening ceremony to officially declare the new building open. Canon Declan OConnor then blessed the building.

Built by Monami Construction Ltd, the new building has been part-financed by Horse Racing Ireland through its Racecourse Capital Development Scheme, which provided funding of over 600,000. Construction began in January, and was completed ahead of schedule in mid-July.

The 158th harvest racing festival will take place from September 11-17.

For more information, visit www.listowelraces.ie
Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea said it is worrying that Mr Varadkars department appears to have underestimated how much it will need to pay out for the support. He was responding to figures published by the Irish Examiner yesterday showing the 38.8m allocation is likely to be inadequate.

Expecting fewer families to qualify, the Department of Social Protection last October set aside 35.5m for the scheme in 2016, down from last years 41m budget. It was later hiked to 38.8m, but nearly 33m has already been paid with less than half of the 45,000 applications received to date finalised.
Sports Minister Shane Ross and his junior minister Patrick ODonovan confirmed the situation at the launch of the vital investigations terms of reference, which will allow the inquiry to stretch back to at least the London 2012 Olympics.

Speaking as two Olympic Council of Ireland officials prepare to speak with Rio police today, as pressure continued to mount on FAI chief John Delaney to break his silence on the issue and as THG refused to comment on emails between its owner and OCI president Pat Hickey, the ministers said they want the inquiry to conclude within three months.

However, in a move that will raise fresh concerns over the scale of work involved, they admitted there is no limit of time or boundaries and that an extension will be considered if it is sought by the overseeing retired High Court judge Mr Justice Carroll Moran.

The intention is a 12-week target, but if the judge comes back and says hes being led down a road that he didnt expect wed have to consider it [an extension], Mr Ross said when asked, before Mr ODonovan added: If this goes beyond the 12-week period were in a position to say to the judge, there is no limit of time or boundaries.

FAI chief John Delaney

Last night, the OCI welcomed the appointment of Mr Justice Moran and said it would hand over the findings of a review of its electronic data to the judge.

Under the terms of the inquiry, investigators will be asked to examine the receipt, distribution, and sale of tickets for Rio 2016.

In addition, the inquiry will also be specifically tasked with examining the policies, procedures and procurement, including any resale of any tickets as part of hospitality packages for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the London 2012 Olympics and any previous summer or winter games.

The inquiry will be able to examine corporate governance at the OCI and how taxpayers funding for the body has been spent, in addition to the relationship between the OCI, Pro10, and THG, which held the ticket resale contract for London 2012.

However, while an allowance has been made for Mr Moran to recommend a full-blown State inquiry with powers of compellibility should he feel it necessary, calls by Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein for a specific clause to be included allowing this move at any stage of the probe have been rejected.

Mr Ross dismissed criticism from Labour leader Brendan Howlin that the non-statutory inquiry is the wrong course of action in light of the Brazilian investigation by saying it remains appropriate.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin

The terms of reference launch came as OCI officials Kevin Kilty and Stephen Martin prepare to speak with Brazilian police today after being named as suspects in the investigation.

Both have been unable to leave Brazil after their passports and a significant amount of unsold OCI tickets were seized on Sunday.

OCI officials Kevin Kilty and Stephen Martin

On Tuesday, Brazilian police also published detailed emails between Mr Hickey  who is unlikely to appear in court until next week  and THG owner Marcus Evans on the eve of the Olympics seemingly suggesting an international ticket touting conspiracy exists.

However, despite the revelation, THG yesterday refused to comment.
The young women involved are exceptional people, they are independent obviously, and it would be a bit silly to expect that they wouldnt have opinions, controversial or otherwise, on different things, said Mr OGara.

I am delighted that people express their opinions and that there is reaction and let that flow.

On Monday night, Brianna Parkins, 25, told Rose of Tralee host Daithi O Se that she hoped there would be a referendum held on the Eighth Amendment, to give women a say in their own reproductive rights.

Mr OGara, the executive chairman of the festival, said it was a great thing that contestants expressed their opinion. He assumed that more people held similar opinions to Ms Parkins.

I think its a great thing that you know that, if someone has an opinion, they will express that opinion. When you have 65 women from different parts of the world together I would presume a significant number of them share her opinion, he said.

Its a bit like any other part of society; you ask any of the escorts their views I think youd get a mixed opinion. But we have to deal with the reality.

Mr OGara also said the festival was about celebrating the wider Irish family.

Sometimes in our views, we are very narrow in what being Irish is. Very often an American or an Australian girl might be pilloried because they speak in a different accent with a different attitude about things.

He said it was time to wake up to the reality that there were strong Irish people around the world, who were just as Irish as anyone else, whether they are first or fourth generation.

His views are at odds with the chair of the judging panel, Mary Kennedy, who said the Rose of Tralee stage was not the place for Ms Parkins to express her opinion on the Eighth Amendment.

Meanwhile, RTE has said the crowning of the Chicago Rose as the new Rose of Tralee drew a peak of 743,800 viewers.

Over the two days a reach of over 1.7m people tuned in to watch the Rose of Tralee, making it one of the highest rating programmes of the year, said RTE.
The 30-year-old serviceman was arrested in a pre-planned swoop in Somerset, England, yesterday.

The operation involved searches at a house and wooded area in south Devon.

In the North, 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 the North, was detained on suspicion of preparation for acts of terrorism.

While the threat posed by violent dissident republicans in the North has been classified as severe for a number of years, in May the British 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.

Since 2009, dissidents have murdered two soldiers, two policemen, and two prison officers in the North.

A stretch of terraced homes on the Old Glenarm Road in Larne was the focus of the Police Service of Northern Ireland searches yesterday.

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 throughout the day.

Scotland Yard said the arrest in Somerset was carried out by officers from the Metropolitan Police Services Counter Terrorism Command, supported by local police.

A UK 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 report said organisations such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have become the vehicle of choice in spreading propaganda and the recruiting platforms for terrorism.

House of Commons Home Affairs Committee chair Keith Vaz said the internet was the modern front line in the war against terrorism.

Mr Vaz said corporations such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter were hiding behind their supranational legal status, but claimed their platforms were the lifeblood of Daesh, also known as Islamic State or IS.

The report heard witness evidence from the three corporations, as well as police, experts, Muslim leaders, and affected families.

Social media companies are consciously failing to combat the use of their sites to promote terrorism and killings, said the report.

Mr Vaz said: We are engaged in a war for hearts and minds in the fight against terrorism. The modern front line is the internet.

Huge corporations like Google, Facebook, and Twitter, with their billion- dollar incomes, are passing the buck by hiding behind their supranational legal status, despite knowing that their sites are being used by the instigators of terror.

Facebook and Twitter have their European headquarters in Ireland and Google, which owns YouTube, also has its European headquarters here.

The report called for a zero tolerance approach by the corporations to online extremism, including enticement to join extremist groups or commit attacks of terror or any glorification of such activities.

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, the report said.

In their evidence, the internet giants told the committee they took their responsibilities very seriously.

Facebook and Google said they proactively notified law enforcement agencies about terrorist material which was a threat to life.

Twitter said that, between mid-2015 and February 2016, it had suspended 125,000 accounts globally that were linked to terrorists, while Google said it removed more than 14m videos globally in 2014, which related to all kinds of abuse.

However, the report said this was a drop in the ocean. The report said these companies, along with Microsoft, had agreed in May to new EU rules on taking down illegal hate speech. It said these efforts should be replicated to counter online extremism.
The UK Home Affairs Committee said full engagement should be built up with all sections of the Muslim community and not just established groups.

The report, published today, will be of keen interest to Department of Justice officials and Garda chiefs who are grappling with the same issues here.

There is no evidence that shows a single path or one single event which draws a young person to the scourge of extremism: every case is different, states the report.

It says Britains independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson, had described two possible contributory factors  grievances and ideals.

The sources of grievances varied extensively but could include poor family relationships, bullying at school or within social groupings, and the UKs foreign policy.

Mr Anderson told the committee that once negative viewpoints set in in some people, radical ideology then battens on to the grievances and makes sense of the grievance and that makes sense of the persons life.

The committee identified other factors, including brainwashing and involvement in crime, and said that identity could be a factor.

The committee said there was dispute among expert witnesses as to whether alienation from mainstream society was a factor.

Identifying people at risk of being radicalised and then attracted to extremist behaviour is very challenging, states the report.

If the Government adopts a broad-brush approach, which fails to take account of complexities, and the gaps in existing knowledge, that would be counter-productive and fuel the attraction of the extremist narrative.

It says the Government should take a more sophisticated approach and work with academics.

Garda security chief John OMahoney told the MacGill summer school last month there was a greater need to engage and collaborate with academia and industry to bridge some of the intelligence and competency gaps which currently exist.

The UK report calls for full and wide engagement with all sections of the Muslim community, including at grassroots level and not just with established groups.

It calls on the Muslim community to take on a leadership role and says the Muslim Council of Britain could do more to expose and remove those who preach hate, intolerance and extremism.

parliament.uk/homeaffairscom

Editorial: 10
Admitting that this was her third time entering the competition, she deftly handled questions about the views of the Sydney Rose, who said she hoped there would be a referendum on the Eighth Amendment, by saying her Catholic education has moulded her into who she is and that she has no view on the comments.

Education and Catholic faith [are very dear to me]. I think Catholic education really moulded me into who I am today and Im very passionate about raising awareness for Catholic education, she told the Irish Examiner yesterday.

Ms McEldowney, 27, was then asked about the comments from Sydney Rose, Brianna Parkins, on Monday night.

Ms Parkins, a journalist with ABC news in Australia, told Daithi O Se that she hoped there would be a referendum held on the Eighth Amendment, to give women a say in their own reproductive rights.

Ms McEldowney was asked if she herself had any views on the comment.

Honestly at this point I dont. No offence to Sydney or anything like that.

At this point Im just trying to focus on what I have ahead and things that we will be doing this year, she said.

Sydney Rose Brianna Parkins

The new Rose of Tralee works as a director of development at a Catholic high school in the south side of Chicago. She said she is passionate about raising money for families who could not otherwise afford Catholic education.

Im very passionate about it, its a career but its also a joy to be there every day.

Its not a job when you go in there and you love it. Im very lucky to be where Im at today.

Her family came from Co Derry and her boyfriends (Jim Fitzgibbon) family are from Co Limerick.

Jim sent her a video message that was played live on air, while Ms McEldowney was on stage. They have been together for 18 months.

The 2016 International Rose of Tralee had entered the competition twice previously.

Im a perfect example of if at first you dont succeed try, try again. I dont think I really knew what I was getting into the first time.

The more time I spent with my centre and the more I could learn about the festival and everything youre able to do with it, I just dove head first into it.

It called to me. The second time didnt work out but weve such an amazing group of women in Chicago I was delighted for last years Rose and we supported each other.

Its all hands on deck and were a team at the Chicago centre.

Ms McEldowney woke up yesterday morning, after two hours sleep, wondering if it all been a dream.

When I woke up this morning I was wondering if it was all a wonderful dream, but its a dream come true and here I am.

Just meeting all these people, name after name, is so inspiring, she said.

The 2016 Rose hopes to spend as much time as possible in Ireland over the next year, describing the country as her second home.
The future Sinn Fein Stormont minister was arrested in the Netherlands in 1986  about three years after the biggest prison escape in UK history  and extradited back to the North to face charges relating to the attempted murder of a prison officer.

Conditions set by the Dutch meant he could not face charges relating to London bombings for which he had already been convicted and was serving life sentences, leading UK officials to cancel the sentence.

Northern Ireland Office (NIO) correspondence from 1986 about Mr Kelly was released by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

A senior NIO official wrote: With considerable reluctance, however, I accept that the balance of advantage overall lies in our taking Kelly on the conditions offered rather than refusing to take him with the prospect of his then being released in the Netherlands.

The Maze housed some of the Norths most notorious paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles.

Mr Kelly, now a senior member of Sinn Fein who represents North Belfast in the Stormont Assembly, had been jailed for life in 1973 for the Old Bailey and Scotland Yard bombings.

He was among 38 IRA inmates who fled the Maze in Co Antrim in September 1983. They used smuggled guns and knives to overpower prison staff before hijacking a food lorry and driving to the main gate.

After his capture in Holland, a court prohibited Mr Kellys extradition on grounds of his life sentences for explosives offences, permitting it only on the charges of attempting to murder a prison officer, causing grievous bodily harm and certain others.

The NIO official wrote: I find this case much more difficult. He added: If we accept him on the conditions set out by the Dutch Supreme Court, I assume action will be necessary under the royal prerogative to remit his life sentences.

The royal prerogative of mercy, commonly known as a royal pardon, allows changes in sentences without the backing of or consultation with parliament.

In other documents, the IRA prisoner who oversaw the hunger strikes inside the Maze Prison was to be given a royal pardon for explosives charges. The measure was considered as part of extradition proceedings against the officer commanding in the top security jail, Brendan Bik McFarlane, during the 1981 republican protest.

Mr McFarlane also took part in the biggest escape in UK prison history from the Maze in 1983.

An official wrote: The use of the Royal Prerogative to set aside Kellys [and McFarlanes] life sentences will be extremely controversial and is quite likely to be widely misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misrepresented.
WHETHER its his 46th or 47th film Woody Allen, now 80, cant quite remember. But whos counting? With his latest feature, Cafe Society, he has made an unadulterated romance.

I do a certain amount of romantic movies, Allen explains. It comes from my upbringing. I was brought up on Hollywood movies and they had indelible influence on me.

Set during Hollywoods golden years, Cafe Society stars Jesse Eisenbergs Bobby Dorfman, a nervy verbose Woody clone, who is not unlike the character Eisenberg played in Allens 2012 movie To Rome With Love. As with Bullets over Broadway, the New York director reminisces about a bygone world he adores.

Hollywood in the 30s was dominated by the studios and the carnage and backbiting and the love lives of the stars were very hot news to the public, he says. It was a dog-eat-dog industry and probably still is for all I know. I never go out to Hollywood.

Initially in the film, Bobby, a Jewish New Yorker, moves to Los Angeles and through his movie producer uncle Phil (Steve Carell) meets the young and innocent Vonnie (Kristen Stewart) and they fall in love.

When it turns out she prefers his rich married uncle, with whom shed already been having an affair, Bobby moves back to New York to run his gangster brothers nightclub and marries the sophisticated divorcee Veronica (Blake Lively) and they settle down and have kids.

Years later when he runs into a vastly changed Vonnie, he realises she is still his soul mate.

Its largely because of Allens two actresses that the film, widely considered his best since Midnight in Paris, works so well.

Kristen was perfect for the part of Vonnie, he says. I needed somebody who could play an adorable little secretary from Nebraska with little white socks and little dresses who then transforms into a sophisticated beauty in cosmopolitan Manhattan.

Kristen has a smaller dark beauty in the tradition of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, while Blake is more like Grace Kelly. She is tall and gorgeous and looks like an aristocrat who grew up riding horses and going yachting.

Allen, born Allan Konigsberg, admits the most biographical characters in the film are Bobbys parents, played by Jeannie Berlin and Richard Portnow. Theyre constantly bickering and berating each other and occasionally speaking Yiddish and thats how I grew up.

He also cast himself as the narrator. Originally I wanted to have the structure of a novel, to tell the story of a family over a period of time. Like a novel you should have the voice of the author and since I was the author I did the narration.

Even at 80 Allen doesnt suffer from writers block and never has. Ive suffered from everything else but not that, jokes the self-confessed hypochondriac.

If you said to me now, I will give you money to make a film in Serbia, then I could go in the next room and write a film for Serbia, and I have never been to Serbia but I just feel I can do that. Why? I dont know. Maybe because when I started I was a television writer, I was 16 and had to write a live show for every Saturday night. You couldnt sit there and wait for your muse to come.

Today Allen enjoys it as much as ever.

To me writing is relaxing. Im at home lying on my bed and Im living in a fantasy world making up stories and characters. When youve finished, you want to go on to the next thing, but you have to stop and take a year off to make the movie.

This he finds harder. Still it helps that he is able to hire some of Hollywoods best actors. Even if he cant pay them much they appreciate that he gives them a lot of freedom and doesnt take up much of their time.

Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake have come on board for this years movie, an annual event Allen adheres to like the creature of habit that he is.

He still plays in his jazz band and is doing their weekly gig at Cafe Carlyle in New York from September 12 and says he is astonished by how youthful he feels.

Im still agile and nimble and mentally alert. I eat well and exercise. But a lot of it is down to luck and good genes. My father lived to slightly over 100 and my mother to almost 100.

Then again, sounding more like one of his pessimistic characters, he adds, Im sure one day Ill wake up in the morning and Ill have a stroke or something. I might be one of those people in the wheelchair where youll say, Remember him? Until that happens Im going to continue to make films as long as people are foolish enough to put up the money.

Filming abroad with foreign financing has long been on the cards. This was especially the case following the revelation of his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow to whom hes now been married for 18 years.

His reputation took another battering when he was accused of molesting his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, which he has long denied.

He turned to making films in Europe, where he has long enjoyed a huge fan base, especially in France. Initially, he made films in London with mixed results.

Match Point did well, while Scoop and Cassandras Dream were flops.

He then moved to Barcelona and made Vicky Cristina Barcelona, his third movie with Scarlett Johansson, which was a hit. Penelope Cruz also became a fan and came back for more in To Rome with Love.

Allens canny ability to attract talented, beautiful actresses to his movies has resulted in two best actress Oscars, for Diane Keaton in Annie Hall and Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine.

Earlier in his career hed made movies with his real life partners, 13 with Farrow and eight with Keaton, which he now concedes probably wasnt a great idea.

Ive been most happy in recent years and this is an accident, as most people are happy when theyre younger, he says.

This is the third time I have been married. I first married when I was 20 years old and that was wrong. I married years later to a wonderful, wonderful woman [comedy actor Louise Lasser] whom I am still friendly with, but that was wrong.

Now I am married to a much younger woman, who was the daughter of the woman I was seeing, and that was in the newspapers all over the world. That was a problem.

Part of the success of their marriage is that Soon-Yi enjoys the lifestyle that comes with her husbands fame and she gives back in droves by organising their lives with their two adopted daughters.

Allen appears devoted to his 45 year-old wife who as a child was abandoned her mother in the slums of Seoul.

We have a big conflict in that my wife wants go to Seoul, to visit Asia, but Ive kind of slithered out of that because its a long trip for me and I get crazy on the plane, says Allen.

I dont have the attention span to sit on plane for so long. Eventually Im going to have to go because she wants to go so badly and I want to make her happy.
SHINY new shoes, a schoolbag thats way cooler than last years and the incomparable smell of a brand new pencil case  my memories of going back to school are all good, and revolve around getting new things more than ABCs.

Im sure for my parents it was a different story  paying for four children to go to school in 1980s Ireland was no easy task.

And today, its tougher than ever, with parents of older children footing the bill for tablets on top of everything else.

With my own kids back to school costs, I tend to spread the buying over four months to limit the impact, so when the Irish Examiner asked me to track my spending, I was curious as to the outcome.

Uniform and shoes

My children need crested uniforms from specific shops, so theyre not cheap.

However, they are good quality, so this year we only had to buy a full uniform for my youngest, who is starting junior infants.

For my older two, I replaced two shirts and a tracksuit. The skirt my middle child will wear in September has been worn for two years already and its still in good condition  the same goes for her jumper.

My kids only have one of each uniform item and I wash them at weekends.

I imagine if we could buy in a department store, wed buy more of everything, and when I did a straw poll among friends, this seemed to be the case  those buying crested uniforms only bought one.

But not all crested uniforms are good value, as my friend Cathy points out.

I had to buy a poor quality and expensive school uniform from a designated shop, and this is a Deis school too.

Another friend, Nicola, also has to buy from a specific shop for her secondary school student, and finds it very frustrating.

Its colossal money, poor enough quality and I dont mind telling you, it breaks me every year.

For the last 11 years, Barnardos has conducted a survey on what parents pay to send their children back to school. This years report shows that 87% of parents with primary school children must buy a uniform, and just 16% of those are non-crested.

Barnardos recognises the value of uniforms in giving the school a sense of identity and the majority of parents favour uniforms as it treats all children equally, says June Tinsley, head of advocacy at Barnardos.

However, crested uniforms are far more expensive than generic uniforms so Barnardos is calling on schools to review their school uniform policy from a value for money perspective and explore options such as iron-on crests, reducing the number of crested uniform items, switching to generic uniforms, and holding secondhand sales.

Unlike uniforms, new shoes were something we couldnt avoid this year, and I braved the childrens footwear department with three kids one busy Saturday afternoon.

For three pairs of shoes I paid 148. Im conscious that this was discretionary spending  I could have paid between 15 and 25 a pair if Id gone to a department store. But from experience, cheaper shoes dont last a full year, and admittedly theres probably some childhood conditioning at play here too, but either way, I always buy them one pair of good shoes before school starts each September.

At least we can buy any type of shoes as long as theyre black  Nicola has to buy specific shoes for her daughter.

Weve a choice between two pairs; black or brown, at 75 or 100. And if they choose to wear a scarf, even that has to be bought from the designated shop, so that its the school shade of red.

Books

Our school has a good book rental scheme for textbooks, so we only buy workbooks, costing 186 in total.

Many parents find the requirement to buy workbooks particularly irritating, because they cant be passed on or bought second hand.

Parents are frustrated about workbooks, says June Tinsley.

Over the years there have been some improvements with regard to books, such as the greater availability of school book rental schemes at primary school level, however theyre not universal and theyre not comprehensive.

Mum of four Susanne, who is also a teacher, sees the issue from both sides. I find back to school a very expensive time.

"The primary school that my three younger children go to has a book rental scheme, which halves the cost of the books. Some of the workbooks still need to be bought though.

In some of the higher classes, the children dont write in the workbooks, which is great. However as a teacher, this is harder to do in the younger classes, so the cost of the workbooks is a necessary evil.

"As teachers, we need them; with 30 children in the class, it would be impossible to work without workbooks.

Stationery and class extras

I spent about 30 on stationery, buying it online along with the books. I dont know how long it will last  by October, homework is delayed every evening because we dont have a single pencil in the house.

My friend Elizabeth has the same problem. We have to buy things like Twistables and Pritt sticks for school use.

They last about three minutes and despite buying several packs for each child Ive had notes home telling me that they have none and I need to purchase.

There should be a supply on each table and they should stay there.

MY TWO older children already have pencil cases but I did buy one for my junior infant  letting him pick his own. Happily he had no interest in the one for 34.99 (yes, for a pencil case) and opted for one that was 1.29. Long may this frugal attitude last.

Class extras like PE, art supplies, and computer software are paid for by parents in 73% of schools, and its another cost that tends to frustrate. The reality is, schools are underfunded by the State, and seek out ways to cover running costs through charging for classroom resources, asking for voluntary contributions, and fundraising, explains Tinsley.

The Department has cut back on capitation rates and schools are running on less money, as the population is going up. Barnardos is calling on the minister to invest the 103m thats required to provide a genuinely free primary school system.

"It would cover all school books and workbooks, it would remove any need to pay voluntary contributions and cover classroom resources, it would restore the capitation rates back to 2010 levels, and would provide free transport for those using the transport scheme.

"Its cheap  the department budget is 8bn so 103m is change. Its really in the ministers gift to do this  what were calling on is political leadership to run with it.

In the meantime, there are practical things parents can try, says Susanne.

Most schools have a small fund to help parents in difficulty  dont be afraid to ask about it.

Talk to your parents association about setting up a book rental scheme, and talk to parents of children in older classes to see if they have uniforms you could buy secondhand.

Schools and teachers are constantly trying to reduce costs to help reduce financial stress.

Remember lots of us are parents too, facing the same costs.

My own final figure of 957 took me by surprise  even without buying uniforms every year and with a book rental scheme in place, its high, especially for what is supposed to be a free primary education system.

June Tinsley puts it succinctly: Education is the great leveller but if cost is such a barrier from the outset, then youre not going to be able to participate wholeheartedly.

"One parent has told us that their teenage children are offering to drop out of school because it costs so much  thats not what we as a society should be recommending.
I wonder were the bones found in a cave in Co Mayo earlier this month those of hunter-gatherers, or are they that old? Once the archaeologist have dated them, the geneticists might decide to DNA analyse them, and find their genetic history. Who knows what information about the journey of mankind to this sacred isle such bones might reveal.

In 2015, study of the remains of a woman who died 5,200 years ago in Co Down revealed that she was of Middle Eastern extraction. She would have been a member of a group of Stone Age farmers, our forbearers, themselves descendants of the first agriculturists in the fertile crescent of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that flow into the Persian Gulf. She had black hair and brown eyes, typical of Middle Eastern people. Middle Eastern DNA perhaps Syrian?  is in our blood.

The first cereals were grown in Syria 9,000 years ago; the first hybrid trees in Jordan, 2,000 years earlier. Her ancestors arrived in Ireland, bringing with them cereals, livestock and pottery, and the colourful, edible snail we find everywhere, but often close to the sea.

The banded snail, Capaea nemoralis, most likely arrived in Ireland with Mesolithic migrants moving west. Evidence of its presence begins 8,000 years ago, and there is a continuous fossil record from that time. Its DNA matches that of banded snails found only in the Pyrenees, on the route Mesolithic migrants would probably have taken to Ireland. They may have carried them as a fresh food source.

In tandem with the study of this Stone Age womans remains, the Trinity College/ Queens University team studied the DNA of three men buried on Rathlin Island, Co Antrim 1,000 to 1,500 years after she died.

Using a technique called whole- genome analysis to read not only the unique characteristics of individuals but to compare the DNA from all four bodies, the scientific teams aimed to arrive at a broader understanding of migration and settlement.

The three men in Rathlin lived in the Bronze Age and were descendants of peoples that originated in the Pontic Steppe in southern Russia, the Baltic States, Poland and Central Europe. That we have some of their DNA sequences is beyond doubt.

They carried a distinctive genetic disorder called haemochromatosis, a hereditary variant which causes the body to store too much iron in the liver, heart and pancreas. The variant is evident in almost all Irish DNA, so universal that it has been called the Celtic disease.

They also carried the gene that allows adults to digest milk useful in the largely dairy-product economy that Ireland has become. Many other races become intolerant to milk after infancy. They were more like the Irish of today. Their eyes were often blue; their antecedents, the farmers, had brown eyes. Their language may even reflect an early form of our national language.

Early newcomers did not compete with those already on the land but became Irish themselves.

These northern Europeans brought the Bronze Age  bronze ploughshares, metal tools and craftsmanship in gold. By the time of their arrival, the farmers would already have subsumed, or integrated with, the hunter-gatherer population that preceded them.

So, the Irish moved from hunting-gathering, to farming, to a metal age culture.

The human story is a narrative of movement and migration, and an exchange of genes and cultures that over-ride border controls.

After the Bronze Age came the Iron Age and the legendary Celts, with their flowing hair and flowing robes. They began their migration out of Central Europe in 1,000BC, possibly under some pressure from the Roman Empire, and began to reach Ireland from about 600BC onward. Before long, the old Bronze Age culture was supplanted but, of course, farming never stopped.

Another migration, another step forward, added DNA and, possibly, hybrid vigour. With the Celts, we became more technologically, artistically and linguistically sophisticated.

What these lately-discovered Co Mayo bones will tell us is not known. Perhaps their owners were Stone Age farmers, Bronze Age metal workers, bardic Celts or perhaps they lived in the ancient days of picking berries and hunting giant elk, or knocking trees and creating arable land, like the Ceide Fields in Mayo, 6,000 years old.
IN EUROPE, however beset by the continued weakness of the euro, Britains vote to defect from the EU, and the rise of the far right, a vacation is a right for oneself, a duty to ones family.

In Italy, especially, the beach doesnt just beckon  it commands attendance. But, as Corriere della Seras commentator Beppe Severgnini observed, its a summer composed of sun and insecurity, fun and fear.

Italys peninsula isnt just seductive for natives and visitors; it is also for the migrants who continue to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean to get to a country that has, till now, remained relatively calm about the influx. It even welcomed them  perhaps heeding Pope Francis passionate plea for tolerance towards immigrants.

That toleration is breaking down now, however, out of a growing fear that agents of IS lurk among the migrants, ready to unleash more terror on a European state that has suffered relatively little.

That last fact allowed Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano to declare that he would not go down a road that, were it not so serious, would have otherwise seemed a product of the August silly season: A ban on Muslim women wearing an article of clothing called a burkini.

A burkini is a linguistic cross between a burka and a bikini. But it is most of the former with none of the latter. Likely invented in 2004 in Australia, it is a one-piece swimsuit that covers the body, with only the face, hands, and feet exposed.

[social-twitter]https://twitter.com/yasminebal/status/768353587441373184[/social]

It seemed to cause no great fuss in Australia. But it did in Paris in 2009, when a woman wearing one was banned from swimming in a public pool. Now some French resorts, starting with the classiest, Cannes, have ruled the burkini against the law and levied fines on those defying the ban.

It hasnt stopped at the beach resorts. Looking a little embarrassed (as well he might), French prime minister Manuel Valls has said he supported mayors who had banned the garment because it is not compatible with the values of France. He did not announce a national ban, though.

Valls and the various mayors are appealing to Frances strict secularism, which bans all wearing of religious symbols in public institutions, though not, until now, on beaches. Secularism has been a national choice for a century. But applying it to Muslim women who wish to remain modest, as seems to be the case, tips into legal extremism and makes the state look ridiculous.

Critics say the ban could provoke a violent reaction from Islamist terrorists, in a country that has had more than its share of attacks. Indeed, that was the main reason Alfano, the Italian minister, gave for rejecting a burkini ban. He received a justified rebuke from centre-right senator Lucio Malan, who said laws should not be adopted, or not adopted, based on presumed threats.

Would French authorities force these women to remove their outfits for not "respecting good morals" ?!!#BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/QcCpXJdBT4  Said Shoaib | GAZA (@saidshouib) August 24, 2016

Both the far right and centre right are beating hard on the drum of fear. The French mayors who have banned the burkini are largely centre right. In Italy, the most right wing of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconis TV channels, Canale 4, broadcast a programme last week that featured the town of Mirandola, which was the epicentre of a serious earthquake in 2012 and where a beloved church remains unusable.

Yet a new mosque has opened in the town, built with public funds, as well as money from Qatar. Citizens, massed in the square, screamed Shame! Shame! at the lonely spokesman from the governing centre-left Democratic Party, whose plea for understanding seemed to enrage them more.

The miasma of fear spreads across the West, prompted by massacres in France and the US, by the continuing official police warnings of the not if but when variety, by the evident enthusiastic ruthlessness of IS and other terrorist groups, as well as freelance murderers who act in their names after brief exposure to their methods on the internet.

There seems no point in saying that more victims die in highway accidents in a month than terrorism in a year, nor that IS is losing territory in Syria, Libya, and Iraq.

The fear of evil hidden in the community is too great for that kind of reckoning. It has become a political fact on the ground, which causes leaders who probably know better to back futile and perhaps illegal bans.

1925 vs 2016. 90 years later and we're still policing women on what they wear to the beach. #BurkiniBan pic.twitter.com/gOUKM8H8NZ  Matthew Ruddle (Parental Leave til 2023) (@RuddleMatthew) August 24, 2016

Donald Trump has long known the power of the fear of terrorism, and his speech this past week on immigration was one of his most carefully constructed. That isnt saying much because many of his remarks seemed streams of reactionary consciousness. But one proposal was actually doable  if still extreme. Trump pulled back from his blanket temporary ban on all Muslim visitors to the US and called instead for a ban confined to nations where terrorism was out of control and for an ideological test on those who did seek to come to the US.

Peter Feaver, a former George W Bush official who signed a letter along with 50 top Republican former national-security officials saying they would not vote for Trump, said it was a surprisingly serious speech.

He added, though, that the good parts are not new and the new parts are not good.

It was serious, though, because Trump knows he has to be credible on the issue. This is what people beyond the roughly 30% of the population who strongly believe in him are fearful about  and fearful for their children.

This is big politics, which can make a centre leftist like Valls endorse nonsense because, if he doesnt, his already unpopular government may slide into toxicity. This is the largest element that created the majority in the UK for Brexit.

This is a defining period in the Wests relations with the Muslim world.

One that fear, even on sunny beaches, makes it very hard to manage.

John Lloyd co-founded the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, where he is senior research fellow. Mr Lloyd has written several books, including What the Media Are Doing to Our Politics
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 Shelleys Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland at about 11.15pm on Tuesday.

Ms 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 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 to stay strong and beat this for yourself and all of your friends and family who love you.

Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender at the Bedroom Lounge Bar, where Ms Ayliffe-Chung was a waitress, said: 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.

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.

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.

He said Ms 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.

Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said the suspect 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.
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. The charity said the Khan Younis zoo suffered financial difficulties earlier this year and could not provide the animals with proper care and food. After the zoo owner asked the organisation for help, Four Paws provided food and medical checks. It was later decided he animals would be transferred elsewhere.
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.

Earlier, US news broadcaster CNN, citing unnamed US officials, reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other US security agencies were investigating cyber breaches targeting reporters at the Times and other US news organisations 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 organisations as part of a broader series of hacks that also have focussed on Democratic Party organisations, the officials said, CNN reported.

The FBI declined a request for comment. Representatives for the US Secret Service, which has a role in protecting the country from cyber crime, did not reply to a request for comment.

A US government official briefed on the inquiry told the Times that the FBI was looking into the attempted cyber attack but was not carrying out similar investigations at other news organisations.

The Times had not hired outside firms to investigate the attempted intrusion, contrary to the CNN report, said Ms Murphy.

Reports of the cyber attack comes amid a wave of similar attacks targeting major US political parties have surfaced in recent weeks ahead of the November 8 presidential election.

The Democratic National Committee, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons campaign, and the partys congressional fundraising committee have all been affected.

Hackers have also targeted the computer systems of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican Party organisations, sources have claimed.

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.

A breach at the Times would not be the first time foreign hackers infiltrated a news organisation. Media are frequently targeted to glean insights into US 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.
In an immigration town hall event with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, Mr Trump was asked whether he would be willing to change US 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 were not looking to hurt people, Mr Trump replied, insisting there were some great people among the immigrant population.

It was the latest example of Mr Trump appearing to waver on a long-held stance he would deport all illegal immigrants back to their home countries.

His new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, told CNN that Mr Trumps proposed deportation force for the 11m people in the US illegally was to be determined.

Later, at a rally in Austin, Mr Trump appeared to shift his emphasis to dealing with illegal immigrants who commit crimes in the US. He also brought on stage eight mothers whose children had been killed by illegal immigrants.

Mr 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. Were not going to let it happen to our country.

Mr Trump said he would stop some major cities practice of providing sanctuary for illegal immigrants and stop immigrants from overstaying their visas.

A move to modify his stance on immigration could help Mr Trump attract more support among moderate voters in his uphill drive to win the November 8 election.

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Democrat Hillary Clinton expanding her lead over Trump to 12 points among likely voters, with 45%support to 33% for Mr Trump.

A change in Mr Trumps position could prove to be dispiriting to some of his strongest supporters. Mr 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 US senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

When you have no governing philosophy, pivots are par for the course. Guess we wont need Mexico to build that wall.

At the Austin event, attended by thousands who packed a rodeo arena, some were shouting build the wall long before Mr Trump even showed up, a reference to the New York businessmans oft-stated promise to build a wall along the US with Mexico.
Prime minister Matteo Renzi spoke in the provincial capital of Rieti after visiting rescue crews and survivors in the hard-hit town of Amatrice.

He also flew over other demolished towns in the nearby Le Marche region.

Mr Renzi said 34 people had died in Le Marche, the rest from the other towns.

He also said the identification of quake bodies was a difficult process.

The magnitude 6 quake struck at 3.36am local time yesterday and was felt across a broad swathe of central Italy, including Rome, where residents woke to swaying followed by aftershocks.

Hardest-hit were the tiny towns of Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, 130km north-east of Rome, and Pescara del Tronto further east.

The body of an unidentified child on a bench in Arquata del Tronto yesterday

The area is a popular holiday spot in the summer, with populations swelling, making the number of people in the area at the time difficult to estimate.

The centre of Amatrice was devastated, with entire blocks of buildings razed and the air thick with dust and smelling strongly of gas. Amatrice 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.

A man leans on rubble in Amatrice, one of the towns devastated by yesterdays earthquake. Picture: Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP

The town isnt here any more, said Sergio Pirozzi, mayor of Amatrice. I believe the toll will rise.

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 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 did not 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. I dont know what well do.

A nun checks her mobile phone as she lies near a ladder following the disaster in Amatrice. Picture: Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP

Residents, civil protection workers, and even priests dug with shovels, bulldozers, and their bare hands to get 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, said civil protection worker Andrea Gentili. Italys national blood drive association appealed for donations to Rietis hospital.

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 Dantes 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.

Firemen and rescuers inspect damaged buildings in Amatrice. The centre of the town was devastated. Picture: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Ryan Sloan, a lawyer based in Glasgow, described the moment the earthquake woke him in Rome as the most terrifying moment of his life.

The devastation harked back to the 2009 quake that killed more than 300 people in and around LAquila, about 90km south of the latest quake. The town, which still has not bounced back fully, sent emergency teams yesterday to help with the rescue.

Another hard-hit town was Pescara del Tronto, in the Le Marche region, where the main road was covered in debris.

A survivor looks at the collapsed buildings of the town of Pescara del Tronto, where residents dug neighbours out by hand. Picture: Cristiano Chiodi/ANSA via AP

Residents were digging their neighbours out by hand since emergency crews had not yet arrived in force. Photos taken from the air by firefighters showed the town essentially flattened; Italy requested EU satellite images of the whole area to get the scope of the damage.

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 said the region is popular with tourists escaping the heat of Rome, with more residents than at other times, and a single building collapse could raise the toll significantly.

Seismic activity picked up in Wexford

- Linda McGrory

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Italy early yesterday was picked up by a seismic activity station in Co Wexford.

An image of the vibration received at the Wexford station at 1.40am. Picture: www.dias.ie

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) maintains the Irish National Seismic Network at six locations around the country.

It said that the tremors began registering at the Wexford station several minutes after the Italian earthquake occurred.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 occurred in the Lazio region of Central Italy, on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, at 01.36am (03.36am local time), DIAS said in a statement.

Many aftershocks have occurred since the main shock whose epicentre lies 38km north west of that of the April 6, 2009, lAquila earthquake (magnitude 6.3).

The first arrival at INSN was recorded at the IWEX (Wexford) seismic station at 01:40:25 UTC.

A man walks with a baby carry cot past a partially collapsed building after the earthquake in Accumoli.

Global and domestic seismic data has been recorded in Ireland since 1978.

There are currently six permanent broadband seismic recording stations around the country. They are located in the Dublin Mountains; Carrickbyrne Hill, Co Wexford; Inch Island, Inishowen, Co Donegal; Oughterard, Co Galway; the Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth, and Valentia Observatory, Co Kerry.
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 last year  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 programme that Dr 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, 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 reprisal from IS sympathisers.

It was on August 3, 2014, that IS fighters swept into the Sinjar region of northern Iraq, home to the majority of the worlds 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 did not convert to Islam; and women and girls sold into slavery, such as Yasmin.

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 western state of Baden Wuerttemberg, was moved and decided to act.

He asked us: what can we do? Were a state, we dont have an army, recalls Michael Blume, the states expert on minority issues.

We looked into it and said, no states ever done it, but we could bring a special quota here.

The state parliament committed 95m over three years to bring women abused by IS  mostly Yazidis but also Christians and Shia Muslims  to Germany. Mr Blume reached out to Dr Kizilhan, a psychologist specialising in trauma.

From February 2015 to January 2016, small teams of experts, including Mr Blume and Dr Kizilhan, went to refugee camps in northern Iraq. Dr Kizilhan made 14 trips and personally interviewed the women and girls, trying to determine who would benefit from the limited program.

It was an evil that I had never seen in my life, he says. I had already worked with patients from Rwanda, from Bosnia, but this was different. If you have an 8-year-old girl in front of you who was sold eight times by IS and raped 100 times during 10 months, you ask how can humankind be so evil?

In the end, he selected 1,100 women and girls ranging in age today from 4 to 56.
The ruling came at the end of an unusual bench trial in Chicago that pitted Scottish-born Peter Doig against Canadian Robert Fletcher, who paid just $100 in the 1970s for the desert landscape painting and had hoped for a windfall of millions of dollars in retirement.

Authenticity disputes typically arise long after an artist dies, not when the artist is alive and flatly denies a work is his. This case created a stir in the art world, where it is widely accepted that artists word on whether a work is theirs or not is final.

Judge Gary Feinerman spent nearly two hours explaining his decision and going through evidence, from school yearbooks to prison records, all of which demonstrated, he said, that Doig absolutely did not paint the work in question.

In a written statement after the verdict entirely in his favour, Doig, 57, said justice prevailed, but it was way too long in coming.

That a living artist has to defend the authorship of his own work should never have come to pass, he said.

The trial stemmed from Mr Fletchers 2013 lawsuit in Chicago, where one auctioneer was located, in which he sought millions in damages after the paintings projected sale price tanked following Doigs disavowal of it. The judge ruled Mr Fletcher was not entitled to any money.

The evidence, the judge said, showed this was a case of imperfect memories, coincidences and mistaken identity. He said it was a different Peter Doige, who spelled his name with an e, who created the artwork. Mr Feinerman rejected the idea that Doig, the renowned artist, and Doige were the same person.

Mr Fletcher, 62, testified that he bought the painting of a desert landscape while Doig was serving prison time in Canadas Thunder Bay Correctional Center. However, Mr Feinerman said it was Doige  who was several years older and painted at the time  who was briefly in prison.

After Tuesdays decision, when a reporter asked Mr Fletcher if he was still convinced the man he bought the painting from in prison and the internationally acclaimed artist were one and the same in spite of the judges conclusion, he responded: I am.
In a memo to staff, Mr Horta-Osorio addressed reports that he had spent almost 4,000 while entertaining an alleged lover during a trip to Singapore.

The letter 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 groups reputation.
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, saying: We are trying to assess the situation.

Dejan Panic, the programme director at Kabuls 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.

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 university 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 has been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.
The pontiff cancelled a scheduled speech to a religious education forum to instead lead a thousands-strong crowd in prayer.

He also sent one-sixth of the Vaticans tiny fire department to join rescue efforts in central Italy.

The Vatican said six of its firefighters travelled 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-states fire department numbers 37.

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, Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peters Square.

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.

Firefighters search through rubble following an earthquake in Accumoli.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan offered his heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of those affected by the disaster.

He added: The Irish embassy in Rome is monitoring the situation and, to date, has received no confirmation of Irish casualties.

US president Barack Obama, speaking by telephone to Italian president Sergio Mattarella, said the US sent its thoughts and prayers to the quake victims and he saluted the quick action by first responders.

Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo, Greek president Prokopis Pavlopoulos, and Britains Queen Elizabeth were among the world leaders to send messages of condolence to Italy.

A man leans on rubble following an earthquake in Amatrice. Pictures: AP

Several countries, including Russia, Israel, and Poland, offered to send additional rescue workers and equipment, but the Italian co-ordinators of the rescue effort said they had matters in hand.

Anyone with concerns for Irish people in the region can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs on 01 408 2000.
Five others who lived in the building are now homeless.

Raymond Mazzarella, 51, has been in Luzerne County jail on reckless endangerment and other charges following the incident in Pittston Township. He is also charged with aggravated assault after allegedly getting into a fight with a neighbour.

A township code official says the tree was not on Mazzarellas property, but its branches were hanging over his parking place.

Pre-death funeral

Bosnia: A childless couple have staged and attended their own funeral, saying they wanted it to be an opportunity to celebrate life with friends and family.

Dragan Maric, 61, and his 65-year-old wife Dragica had sent invites to their pretend funeral and some 200 people turned up.

During the ceremony at a cemetery in the northern village of Pojezdina, Maric held a speech about the couples love-filled life.

The mourners then proceeded to a traditional post-burial feast in a restaurant which turned into an all-night celebration with music and dancing.

Maric said: We do not have children so we had to organise a proper funeral for ourselves before we die. Our only obligation now is to die when our time comes and that is just a formality.

From pennies to millions

USA: A Hawaii woman has won over $10m (8.9m) playing the penny slots in Las Vegas.

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 9pm on Sunday at the Strip casino on an IGT Megabucks Wynn Wheel slots machine.

Cat monkeys about

Russia: A cat has adopted a baby squirrel monkey after he was abandoned by his mother at a zoo, comforting the little primate by letting him cling to her back for warmth.

Tatyana Antropova, the director of the zoo in the Siberian city of Tyumen, saysthat she took the newborn monkey home three weeks ago after his mother refused to carry him on her back.

To Antropovas surprise, her 16-year-old cat Rosinka accepted the baby, who is called Fyodor. By now, though, the elderly cat is getting a bit tired of the little monkey because he is getting naughty and has started biting and pinching her.

The cat just has to hold out for another month, when Fyodor will go back to the zoo to live with other squirrel monkeys.

Pig pegs it

USA: A Pennsylvania couple is offering a $500 reward for the safe return of their missing potbellied pig, who also serves as a therapy animal.

The Vietnamese potbellied pig named Charlotte was last seen July 11.

Charlotte served as a therapy animal at Beaver Elder Care and Rehab Centre in Hopewell Township, where she helped cheer up residents.

Katie Manni and her fiance, Edward Perry, got Charlotte in February when she was six weeks old.

The pig was left in a car with a pair of pugs for about 10 minutes in July while Perry ran into the centre to get keys from Manni, who directs nurses there.

Manni says someone might have opened the car door to help Charlotte get out or to see her up close, and the pig escaped.

Ducking out

Scotland: 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 from a poultry farm near Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire.

Police officer 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.

That snakey feeling

USA: A large snake believed to be lurking along a riverbank in Maine does not appear to be a fan of Donald Trump.

In a Twitter account created for the snake dubbed Wessie by people in Westbrook, Maine, Wessie P Thon says it would like to give the Republican presidential nominee a really long hug.

The reptile created a media sensation when it was seen earlier this summer eating a beaver along a riverbank in Westbrook.
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 IS-held village near Jarablus  with the support of Turkish armoured units.

The village is some 3km 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 IS and a US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia that is affiliated with Turkeys outlawed Kurdish rebels.

Mr 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.

Yesterdays dual-purpose operation puts Turkey on track for a confrontation with the US-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria, the most effective fighting force against IS in the area.

Turkey is concerned about the growing influence of the group, which it says is linked to Kurdish groups waging an insurgency in south-eastern 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 (PYD), tweeted that Turkey is in Syrian Quagmire. Will be defeated as Daesh. Daesh is the Arabic language acronym for IS.

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 IS-held towns between Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria.

It is located 30km from the town of Manbij, liberated from IS by Kurdish-led forces earlier this month.

Taking 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 on both sides of the Euphrates.

Turkeys private NTV television, which said that up to 20 Turkish tanks crossed the border, earlier 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 IS in Jarablus.
Burma ANP Demands Cancellation of Kofi Annan-Led Arakan State Commission

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will chair a nine-member advisory commission to find solutions to the unrest in Arakan State. / Reuters

RANGOON  The Arakan National Party (ANP) has demanded that the government cancel the new Arakan State Advisory Commission formed on Wednesday, of which former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will serve as the chairman.

The nine-member team includes three international representatives, including Kofi Annan, and six from Burmaincluding two Buddhist Arakanese members, two Rangoon-based Muslim members and two government representatives.

In a letter to the government, the ANP expressed objection to the three non-Burmese members selected to serve on the commission, stating that they would not be able to understand the background of and the current situation on the ground in Arakan State.

The region saw significant violence in 2012 and 2013, largely affecting the stateless Muslim Rohingya community and displacing 140,000 civilians. The ANP does not recognize the self-identifying Rohingya minority as belonging to Arakan State, instead describing them as Bengali migrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

The ANP announcement stated that the formation of the new commission would likely harm the rights of indigenous peoplea reference to the Buddhist Arakaneseand national sovereignty. The problems of the state, said the ANP, is a matter of internal affairs which previous governments have failed to resolve in line with current laws.

Muslim commission member Al Haj U Aye Lwin, founder of the interfaith group Religions for Peace, told The Irrawaddy that he finds the involvement of international committee members acceptable and does not believe that the new commission will interfere with Burmas sovereignty, as the ANP alleged. The work of the committee, he explained, is to make recommendations to the government based on their findings, rather than to take action themselves.

The Burmese government, U Aye Lwin said, needs to take into account the international communitys perspective, because the challenges facing Arakan State have grown beyond those of a domestic issue and have become the focus of global concern.

So many government experts have tried several times to explain to the international community what is happening. However, they havent solved the problem yet. Thats why the government seeks a third partys perspective, he said. We will explain [this situation] to the rest of the world.

Some members of Burmas Muslim community also reportedly expressed concern over rumors that the advisory commission had not two, but three Arakanese Buddhist representatives, but U Aye Lwin said that this did not come as a surprise.

We expected this kind of complaint before the formation, he said, referring to worries from both Buddhist and Muslim communities regarding the make-up of the commission. Everybody can share their own opinion in a democratic society. They have the right to criticize. It doesnt matter.

The Buddhist Arakanese members of the commission include U Win Mra, who chairs Burmas National Human Rights Commission, and Daw Saw Khin Tint, who chairs the Arakan Literature and Cultural Association and is the vice-chair of the Arakan Womens Association.

In addition to Al Haj U Aye Lwin, U Khin Maung Lay, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, will be serving on the commission as a Muslim representative.

The Burmese governments delegation includes two doctors: Thar Hla Shwe, president of Burmas Red Cross Society, and Mya Thida, President of the Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of Burma.

There are no Rohingya members on the commission.

U Aye Lwin added that the three international members come from high profile backgrounds, and are believed to be Christianrather than Buddhist or Muslim. In addition to Kofi Annan, the non-Burmese members are Ghassan Salame, a scholar from Lebanon and once-advisor to Mr. Annan, and Laetitia van den Assum, a diplomat from the Netherlands and a UN advisor.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) also released a statement of its own about the advisory commission on Thursday, pointing out that the committees endeavors were humanitarian and ignore the state security issue in the region.

According to a government announcement, within the next month there will be a signing ceremony between the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Burmese government, initiating the commissions work.
Culture Bagan After the Quake: Concerns Over Manhandling of Debris

Damage to the entrance gate of Bagans Dhammayangyi temple, seen on Thursday, after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Burma on Wednesday evening. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAY  A team from Unesco, the United Nations cultural agency, is traveling to Bagan to conduct a comprehensive review of damage to historical pagodas and temples after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Burma on Wednesday evening.

Members of the team have expressed concern that premature efforts from local authorities to clear debris may disturb the archaeological record, result in losses to historical artifacts, and complicate eventual restoration efforts.

On Thursday morning, a company of Burma Army soldiers spotted cleaning up the debris at damaged temples caused alarm among locals. A video of them sweeping rubble at one temple has since spread over social media, prompting a mixed response.

If they clean up the debris like that, how will the experts get reliable data? said Min Naing Aung, a member of a Bagan appreciation group, who said he was aware of the imminent arrival of the Unesco team.

We are also worried that ancient artifacts might get stolen or lost because of unsystematic cleaning and restoration, without anyone taking responsibility, he said.

The earthquake struck at 5:04 p.m. on Thursday, 25 kilometers west of Chauk in Magwe Division, at a depth of 84 kilometers. It was felt across Burma, and in neighboring countries.

The Bagan Archaeological Department has cited damage to 187 pagodas and temples across the Bagan plain, including iconic favorites Sulamani, Ananda, Htilominlo, Myazedi, Shwesandaw, Lawkananda and Dhamma Yazaka, and the murals at Ananda Oakkyaung.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has sent notice to officials in the Bagan archaeological zone not to rush the restoration of the damaged pagodas, and to seek technical assistance from Unesco.

The temples of Bagan, dating from between the 9th and 13th centurieswhen the Kingdom of Pagan ruled over much of lowland Burmaare considered Burmas biggest tourist draw, although the ancient capital has yet to be granted World Heritage Site status, allegedly on account of sub-standard, inauthentic restoration efforts under previous governments.

Local Unesco officers traveling to the site said the UN agency would need the full collaboration of authorities, including from the governments archaeological department, to maintain the historical value of the damaged temples and pagodas.

Weve already requested the department of archaeology to ensure that affected temples remain un-touched till the damage has been systematically documented, said Ohnmar Myo, a Unesco project coordinator.

She said that a thorough survey would support future restoration work and aid Bagans candidacy as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

We are highly concerned that no one touch or move away debris, because every single piece of these ancient temples has high historical and cultural value, which needs to be recorded, she said.

In addition, we would like for authorities in Bagan to ensure that no one goes near damaged temples, to prevent possible injuries and further damage, she added.

The director of the Bagan Archaeological Department Aung Aung Kyaw said the department had already requested the army to halt cleaning till we get the green light [to continue] from the experts.

We are also planning to restrict visitors to these [damaged] temples, director Aung Aung Kyaw said.

On top of the survey, Unesco has said it would provide financial and technical assistancein line with international standardsfor the restoration of affected structures in Bagan.

We very much hope there will be no pressure to glitter up or overly renovate these damaged temples, as happened under previous governments, which would ruin their cultural value, said Ohnmar Myo of Unesco.

According to the Ministry of Information, outside Bagan, 33 other historic temples and pagodas were damaged across Burma, in Meiktila, Myingyan, Yamaethin, Taungtha, Salae, Sagaing and Mrauk-U.

In Chauk of Magwe Division, the closest town to the earthquakes epicenter, two buildings developed cracks, and a portico of the township police station collapsedbut more serious damage has not been reported, nor any casualties.

I was standing and almost fell down as the earthquake hit the town with a roaring sound. It shook for three to five minutes and the whole town filled with shouts, cries and sirens from fire engines, said Chauk resident Htoo Win.

Everyone rushed outside of the buildings and some old people even vomited because of dizziness. Im glad that most of the buildings and people are safe but we are still afraid of aftershocks, he added.

In Pakokku of Magwe Division, a man died and another was injured after the roof of a tobacco factory collapsed.

In Yenangyaung, also in Magwe Division, two girls, seven and 15 years old, died as a toilet in the compound of a pagoda collapsed in on them, according to locals.

In Bagan, which sits in Mandalay Division near the border with Magwe Division, an Italian tourist watching the sunset from a temple fell and injured herself due to the quake, and was sent to Mandalay General Hospital, according to the Ministry of Information.
Burma Chinese Envoy Encourages UWSA, Mongla Group to Participate in Peace Conference

Chinese envoy Sun Guoxiang meets with the UWSA at their headquarters of Pangshang in northern Shan State on Tuesday. / Wa State Media

Chinas Special Envoy on Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang has met with two ethnic armed groups based along the Burma-China border, encouraging them to take part in the 21st Century Panglong peace conference, scheduled to begin on August 31.

Sun Guoxiang met on Tuesday with the United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burmas most powerful non-state armed group, in their headquarters of Pangshang in northern Shan State. On Wednesday, he met with the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) in their headquarters of Mongla in eastern Shan State.

[China] does not interfere in the affairs of our country. This is their policy. But, [the Chinese envoy] told us that it is important to be involved in the peace process, because China wants to see peace and stability along its border [with Burma], said Kyi Myint, who represented the NDAA (popularly known as the Mongla Group) at the Wednesday meeting,

Kyi Myint said his armed group would attend the peace conference. He expected that all ethnic armed groups would be able to attend. If there are problems, they can be discussed and solved at the conference, he said.

The Burma Army has insisted that three ethnic armed groupsthe Taang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armymake a pledge to disarm before taking part in the peace conference; the three groups have refused, insisting instead that the Burma Army commit to halting all offensives against them.

Kyi Myint downplayed the significance of the Burma Armys demand, which does not entail actual, immediate disarmament but a commitment to do so at an unspecified point in the future: the current dispute between the Burma Army and the three armed groups is a disagreement over words, and could readily be solved through negotiation.

Traditionally maintaining an aloof stance towards politics and conflict in Burma, China has recently become more vocal and demonstrative in its support of the peace process.

Chinese envoy Sun Guoxiang addressed a summit of ethnic armed groups in the Kachin State border town of Mai Ja Yang in July: he expressed confidence that all ethnic armed groups would be able to attend the peace conference, and announced that China had donated US$3 million in support of Burmas peace process, via the UN.

There are five major ethnic armed groups based along the Chinese border: the United Wa State Army, the Kachin Independence Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (Kokang), the National Democratic Alliance Army (Mongla), and the Taang National Liberation Army. They have benefitted from border trade agreements with China, alongside private Chinese investment.

Chinas leverage over these groups is significant, leading to speculation that China may hold the key to Burmas peace process.
Burma UNFC: We Will Join the Union Peace Conference

Gen NBan La, of the Kachin Independence Organization and chairman of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), addresses the UNFC on Thursday at an emergency meeting called by the ethnic armed group coalition to decide whether their representatives would attend Burmas upcoming Union Peace Conference. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  After an emergency meeting in Thailand, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)an ethnic armed alliancehas confirmed that they will attend Burmas Union Peace Conference, scheduled to commence on Aug. 31.

Senior leadersrepresenting each of the ethnic armed groups that are members of UNFCattended the meeting, which began on Wednesday and lasted one-and-a-half days.

We will join the 21st Century Panglong [conference]as it is just the grand opening, and the first session, said Tun Zaw, a UNFC secretary, referring to the Union Peace Conference by its other commonly used name.

The UNFC delegation met with the governments negotiation team in Rangoon from Aug. 20-22 and exchanged views on the proposed political dialogue framework.

The Union Peace and Dialogue Joint Committee has said that in the first session of conference no decisions will be made, but the estimated 750 conference attendants will be allowed to discuss the policy statement and relevant issues for ten minutes each. Continued negotiations will be held in subsequent sessions every six months.

The UNFCs seven-member teamincluding Gen Sai Htoo of the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and Gen Gun Maw of the Kachin Independence Organizationwill be part of the Union Peace Conferences convening joint committee.

Tun Zaw said his coalitions members will fully participate in each process regarding the conference, as they have a level of ownership in the proceedings.

Decisions about who would attend the conference from among the UNFCs member groups were made at the emergency meeting on Thursday, he added, explaining that each organization can send up to 12 representatives for the five-day event.

The peace conference will host around 1,600 attendees on its opening day, while 750 standby attendees will discuss issues of politics, security, economics, land, the environment and social concerns.

Talks about three additional armed organizations in active conflict with the Burma Armythe Arakan Army, the Taang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armywere off the agenda in the UNFCs recent meeting, Tun Zaw said, adding that this was due to the fact that the government had been negotiating with these groups directly.

On Wednesday in Naypyidaw, the eight armed groups that acted as signatories to the 2015 nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) under the previous government met with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the morninga second meeting called for by the signatories Peace Process Steering Team. Later that afternoon, the first Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) was held regarding the ceasefire.

Those present at the JICM discussion expressed support for a five-way joint chairmanship at the Union Peace Conferencea facilitation strategy also supported by the Burma Army delegationin which the chairmanship is shared between representatives from the government, Parliament, political parties, ethnic armed groups, and the Burma Army.

Debate on the number groups sharing the chairmanship was one of the issues unresolved between the ethnic armed groups and the government during the recent meeting in Rangoon. NCA non-signatory ethnic armed groups had originally proposed a tripartite chairmanship, shared by the government, political parties, and ethnic armed groups, on the basis that if there were five delegations in the role, three would be on the side of the governmentthe government itself, the Parliament and the armythereby weakening the ethnic position in negotiations.

Tun Zaw said that making such a decision regarding chairmanship would be premature. Rather, he said, it is an issue to be discussed at the upcoming conference convening joint committee meeting in Naypyidaw, from Aug. 27-29.
Burma USDP Eyes 2020 Presidency

USDP press conference in Naypyidaw on Wednesday. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Burmas main opposition party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has pinned its hopes on new leader Than Htay securing Burmas top job in the 2020 election.

At a press conference on Wednesday, USDP spokesperson Khin Yi boasted that the new chairman was a versatile man and the right person to lead and reform the former ruling party.

Than Htay replaced former President Thein Sein as the party chairman on Tuesday, the second day of the party convention, which was held from August 22-24 and saw newly elected central leadership.

Since he [Than Htay] is at the helm of the party, he will get most of the benefits and entitlements from the party, said Khin Yi, referring to Burmas presidency.

However, there is a talk among USDP members in Naypyidaw that former Snr-Gen Than Shwe, the founder and patron of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA)which transformed itself into the USDP ahead of the 2010 electiontold the party that he wanted to see new leadership, which led to the reshuffle.

The Irrawaddy could not independently confirm that claim.

Than Htay told reporters that he is willing to do what is best for the political, social, economic and security affairs of the country, if he can form the future government.

Politics is something only those who have a philanthropic spirit can be involved in. Everything [a politician] does must be for the sake of the country and its people, said Than Htay.

Despite a 2015 defeat, Than Htay insists that the USDP remains a powerful force in the country. As for the reshuffling, he said leadership was peacefully transferred through internal elections to young, capable members, from former leaders who could no longer serve due to age and health concerns.

My plan is to win the election and gain power. By nature, victory and defeat are not permanent. You may win this time and lose next time. Our party will try to achieve certain targets in the 2020 election, he said.

He also criticized Burmas Parliament, saying that it was undemocratic to be dominated by a single partyreferring to National League for Democracy (NLD).

When asked by The Irrawaddy about party assets and the transfer of assets when the USDA was transformed into the USDP, Khin Yi replied that the question should be directed to the person in charge of party finances.

Then Irrawaddy asked how this person could be reached. Khin Yi replied that no one had been appointed to the position yet.

Since 2010, [those assets] have been clearly under the partys ownership. As of now, I cant explain it in detail. But I can assure that there was no misappropriation. All of the assets officially belong to the party, said Than Htay.
Interview Than Zaw Oo: A Natural Disaster Cant Devalue Bagans Heritage

Sulamani Temple, one of the nearly 200 damaged temples in Bagan affected by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Burma at 5:04 p.m. on Wednesday. Centered about 15 miles west of Chauk, it damaged 187 temples in the ancient capital Bagan, a town north of the epicenter. The Irrawaddy spoke to Than Zaw Oo, director of Burmas branch of the World Heritage Site Committee, about the governments restoration plan.

Please tell me about the condition and severity of the damage in Bagan following the earthquake tremors.

Because temples in Bagan experienced a major quake in 1975, some damages were to temple restorations from after that time. But, these damages could also have impacted the original structures, as these restorations were attached to the originals.

According to recent statements from the government, we are aware that respective teams are heading to the affected areas in Bagan. What are the plans regarding the damage?

The first thing we have to do is an assessment. We have a GIS [Geographic Information System] team in Bagan and other GIS teams from across the country are heading to Bagan to [conduct] inventory and assess the damage to the temple.

Also, security becomes important for damaged temples. We have concerns about precious objects that are enshrined inside. Its possible that we should leave some of the damaged areas as they are for the time being, and restore them later with the help of archaeology experts. Currently, our branch in Bagan is taking care of security and collecting data on the damage. After that, we will assess which temples suffered the most severe damage and which repairs should be prioritized.

Depending on the assessment, the next step would be to protect the temples from rain by covering them. This is urgent. We cant talk about it and waste time. We must do it right away. Only once the temples are protected from the rain can we continue doing other work.

Will this damage have an impact on Bagans bid to become a UNESCO world heritage site?

A natural disaster will not impact Bagans bid to become a UNESCO world heritage site. It [the disaster] didnt happen from human impact, [but] natural causes. A natural disaster cant devalue Bagans heritage.

If it wont devalue the heritage, could it enhance it since some inappropriate restorations cited by UNESCO were destroyed in the quake?

Our country has a Buddhist majority. The community is very generous and has over-repaired Bagans ancient temples. We explained this to conservation organizations and they understood. We showed them evidence of the renovations that were done after the 10th century. But in recent years, we have let them know our methods for restoring temples with regard to tradition and ancient technology. We let them check our restoration work and request their guidance as well. As far as I understandand according to my experiencethe damage is not going to interrupt Bagans bid to become a world heritage site.

You mentioned that most damage could have been to renovations carried out after 1975. Can you identify specifically when this work was done? Some people say that these improper renovations were carried out under the management of U Khin Nyunt, the former Chief of Intelligence and Prime Minister.

I am on the way to Bagan now and have yet to check the damage. But, we have already confessed our past conservation errors, which were partly motivated by the generosity of our community. I dont want to point a finger at anyone, anymore, regarding these faults. We are all to blame.

Please comment further on the current situation in Bagan.

We have disaster risk management and preparedness in conservation plans for Bagans temples. But as we are aware, Burma ranks second in the most at risk countries for natural disasters in the world and is in a very fragile situation. This is a fact that we cant deny. We also have budget allocations for renovations in the case of natural disasters. But currently, the damage is massive and we will only understand how severe it is in about one week to 10 days. The first priority is to collect data about the damage and protect the affected temples from rain.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
My name is Matt, I am photographer and "BTS search Guru".On ISO 1200 Magazine we have the best team searching brand new behind the scenes videos around the world to learn all the secrets of the best photographers
Thursday, August 25th, 2016 (7:14 am) - Score 897

Patients, visitors and staff at three of Dorsets (England) most important hospitals in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole should now be able to access a free WiFi wireless Internet service thanks to a joint effort by The Cloud (Sky), the Bournemouth Hospital Charity and Hospedia.

Over the past few years weve seen a growing number of hospitals provide free WiFi to patients and indeed Hospedia already help to serve 21 such networks. The service helps to keep friends and family in touch with those outside and apparently results in the related hospitals receiving a greater degree of positive feedback.

Hospedia Statement The Hospedia Wi-Fi service provides a familiar, easy to use interface, which provides a personalised hospital landing page, links to hospital information and opportunities to complete the friends and family test. In addition, due to its partnership with The Cloud (Europes largest WiFi provider), users of the service can quickly and easily access the thousands of Cloud WiFi hotspots throughout the UK once they leave hospital, including at venues such as Marks & Spencer, the City of London, Wetherspoons, PizzaExpress, Caffe Nero, Eat, pubs, leisure facilities, restaurants and mainline stations.

The vast majority of The Cloud WiFi venues are free, but some do require you to obtain a free code, or purchase a voucher to get online. Subscribers of Sky Broadband should benefit from free access to all of the related hotspots (just use your Sky iD to sign-in).
HP Inc., the version of HP that sells personal computers, tablets and printers, reported strong results this quarter, but behind these results are three key elements.

First, the firm has a relatively stable and experienced executive team. Second, it is very focused on a limited number of segments. And third, it appears to be out-marketing every other firm in its segment. Oh, and it has one huge potential killer product in its 3D printer, which is now shipping to key customers like Rolls Royce. Cars in this class have a high percentage of very unique parts, making them an ideal candidate for a production level 3D printer like HP Inc.s.

Lets talk about the pillars that support HP Inc.s strong financial results.

Stable/Loyal/Experienced Executive Team

From the standpoint of staffing, when HP split into two parts, HPE and HP Inc., it was clear that HP Inc. made out like a bandit in executive staff. Each of the top executives had decades of experience in the industry. In two critical areas, Finance and HR, these people represented some of the best in the industry. Even the CEO, while new to the position, was deeply experienced with personal computers and came to the job very highly regarded.

This creates a foundation of stability and excellence that bleeds down through the organization. Until recently, most of the HP folks I know who left the firm would never even consider going back. There has been a wave of returning HP folks to HP Inc. and they talk about the company as if it were young, vibrant and very different from the HP they left.

Successful companies are often defined by stability, loyalty and experience. This foundational concept was showcased in the financials this week.

Focused Strategy for HP Inc.

A lot of technology companies are suffering as they attempt to pivot to new industries and opportunities while trying to maintain the revenue streams that pay the bills. HP Inc. doesnt really have this problem at the moment. PCs and Printers was and remains a relatively focused market, and while both segments appear to be in decline, the theoretical causes of the PC decline, tablets and smartphones, are themselves in trouble. Printing is in decline, but the rate is very slow and people dont like change so they are holding on to printing for some things. And HP continues to innovate here so its supply numbers, while weakening, remain surprisingly strong.

Their printing pivot to 3D printing is now rolling into production and, unlike most composite 3D printers, which turn out prototypes that cant be used in production, HP Inc.s printed parts are in many cases usable in final products. This is likely why companies like Rolls Royce are using them. This one line has massive upside potential and while the printers are just ramping out of test runs to production runs, they could be a powerful foundation for growth come 2017.

Marketing at HP Inc.

Marketing is one of those things that makes me wonder how many tech CEOs actually attended business school, or paid attention to the marketing classes while there. Currently, a good chunk of the cause of the technology downturn is a distinct lack of demand generation for the related products. HP Inc. is the counterpoint to this, as it appears to be outspending and out-executing every other company in its segment, and this likely also speaks to why its results were so strong.

What makes HP so unique is that a number of key players have marketing backgrounds that are surprisingly broad. Antonio J. Lucio traces back through PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble, which is surprisingly deep for a tech CMO. Ron Coughlin, who heads Personal Systems, was the CMO for Pepsi and has degrees in marketing.

This likely explains why the firm is out-executing its peers in terms of demand; it not only has one of the strongest CMOs from the standpoint of experience, but the guy running Personal Systems has a very similar background and he controls a good chunk of the marketing budget. Having experience and understanding for marketing in operational roles is something we havent really seen since Steve Jobs death, and HP Inc.s results showcase why this is important.

Wrapping Up: Foundations of Success at HP Inc.

There is a foundation for success in a company. It starts with a stable, loyal qualified executive team, followed by a lack of complexity in the business model and the requisite focus. Finally, the company needs adequate marketing skills and resources so that the team not only knows what to do, but can afford to do it. This is all highlighted in HP Inc.s financial results.

I should add that I watch two people closely who represent the best of what they do: Cathie Lesjak, the CFO, who was known at HP for pretty much being right every time; and Tracy Keogh, the most experienced HR manager Ive met since the 1970s or when HR was last treated as a true profession, not just a compliance organization.

In the end, HP Inc. is the part of HP Im no longer worried about, for good reason.

Rob Enderle is President and Principal Analyst of the Enderle Group, a forward-looking emerging technology advisory firm. With over 30 years experience in emerging technologies, he has provided regional and global companies with guidance in how to better target customer needs; create new business opportunities; anticipate technology changes; select vendors and products; and present their products in the best possible light. Rob covers the technology industry broadly. Before founding the Enderle Group, Rob was the Senior Research Fellow for Forrester Research and the Giga Information Group, and held senior positions at IBM and ROLM. Follow Rob on Twitter @enderle, on Facebook and on Google+
Fans were hyped up at the thought of Khal Drogo's comeback in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. This was after actor Jason Momoa shared a hint in his post that sparked the said rumor.

The Aquaman actor took to Instagram on Saturday and shared an interesting snap of him with three other guys.

"Drinking mothers milk With my brothers @captainriff dan and david," he wrote. "Love ya GOT greatest show on earth ALOHA DROGO."

Cheeeeehhoooooooooo. @Guinness in Ireland. Drinking mothers milk With my brothers @captainriff dan and david. Love ya GOT greatest show on earth ALOHA DROGO A photo posted by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Aug 20, 2016 at 2:21pm PDT

Momoa has been regularly posting several photos and messages in the past, expressing his unwavering support to "Game of Thrones". This latest post could easily be one of them.

However, the fact that Momoa's photo op which includes "Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss took place in Belfast, Ireland (the show's pre-production location) might send a cryptic message. Is there a chance that Khal Drogo could return to "Game of Thrones" Season 7?

According to POPSUGAR, it is a possibility. With Jon Snow's resurrection from Melisandre on the show's season six, bringing Khal Drogo back to life is encouraging. Fans also speculate that Momoa might be doing flashback scenes for Season 7 just like the vision scenes he did in season two.

Reports also revealed that the showrunners are in Belfast, Ireland for the pre-production and that filming might begin in October.

Although no other "GoT" cast members were spotted in the said location and there's no official filming yet, fans are still hopeful that a Khal Drogo comeback will take place soon.

In fact, fans were swooning about the possibility of seeing Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo together again. It can be recalled that a heartbreaking end of Drogo took place in season one, when Daenerys burned him in the pyre of wood during the final ritual. In season two, a vision scene took place with the Queen of Meereen visiting the House of Undying, seeing both her husband Drogo and son Rhaego.

Fans are anticipating whether Dany can get a glimpse of her family again before, during, or after the impending war in "GoT" Season 7.

The "Game of Thrones" Season 7 will premiere on HBO next year.
An iPhone 6 SE may be the last thing people want to see after a very long waiting game. After all the rumors and leaks that have surfaced online, the images of the iPhone 6 SE that rolled out may be the most undesirable of them all.

GSMarena posted the image alongside the report that this photo may have raised some eyebrows. As per the post, there had been a joke saying that Apple may have ran out of idea for their new flagship phone. This means that instead of getting the much awaited iPhone 7, the company might surprise everyone with an iPhone 6 SE.

With a rumor like that, it can actually trigger a debate. Not everyone could be mad though, as there are some post commenters who say that they don't mind if the company would release an SE instead of a regular flagship. There are also those who say that an SE may not be a good idea.

Nonetheless, this photo is in no way confirmed by Apple and even GSMarena thinks that it may be Photoshopped, considering how the image has wiped out the supposedly phone specs on the box.

However, even though those photos are somewhat sketchy in one way or another, there is another leak that continues to fuel the fire about an iPhone 6 SE. Apparently, a person in China got a hold of an iPhone prototype and was lucky enough to run Geekbench on the device. The photo depicting this Geekbench showed that the phone model is an iPhone SE and it is running iOS 10.

The Geekbench scores is actually higher than that of the iPhone 6S, so it clearly means that this new device has a new chipset. Furthermore, the leakster also provided more details about the upcoming phone. It was said that the new iPhone will still have a physical button, in contrast to the rumored capacitive home button. It will also have iPad Pro 9.7's True Tone display technology while maintaining the resolutions from the previous models.

Further details from the source suggest that Apple will still sell the 6S gen even when the 6 SE comes out. However, model colors may be limited to silver and gray.

Since this isn't confirmed by the company itself, it is important to take this rumor lightly. You can be happy at the thought of an iPhone 6 SE considering that the latest iPhone SE came with a price cheaper than the regular flagships'. However, until an official statement comes from Apple, there really is no telling for sure whether it would be an SE that is coming out or just a regular iPhone7.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is undeniably the best phone that has been launched yet and it looks like it is blowing every smartphone out of the water not just in terms of its features, but in terms of initial sales as well. It just goes to show that the South Korean tech giant is doing something right as consumers rushed to pre-order the flagship as soon as it was announced available showing their belief in the product.

This positive response should be good news for Samsung, but unfortunately due to high demand of the Galaxy Note 7, the release date has been delayed a month as the pre-order results trumped the supply. The electronic titan expressed their appreciation for the strong demand that consumers have shown towards the Galaxy Note 7. Since the demand exceeded their estimates, they are already working on adjusting the release dates in some markets.

CNBC reports Samsung guarantees that the shortage is not a long term problem. They are doing everything that they can to address the supply challenge as their stocks have already fallen down by 2 percent from pushing back the release date. They also fear that consumers may switch to the iPhone 7 instead due to the disatisfaction caused by the delay.

Although Nomura analyst C.W. Chung reassures that this situation is not a major risk for Samsung and stated, "The party got more visitors than Samsung expected, so they just need to put more food out,"

It should not be a surprise that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is in demand. After all, this is the latest big-screen handset with a stylus from Samsung. As reported in IBTimes, the Galaxy Note 7 is equipped with an iris scanner for increased security. It is also going to have a pair of high quality cameras, a waterproof design and a powerful 8 core processor which means a faster and smoother performance.
One of the characters on "Stranger Things" Season 1 that the fans have grown to love is Barb (Shannon Purser) and the fans are demanding justice for her demise in the next season. In addition to this, Season 2 of the series is said to be darker and even weirder than the first.

Throughout the summer that "Stranger Things" has been airing on Netflix, the series has gotten high ratings and millions of viewers. With that, many of them have already learned to love the characters on the series. One of the most loved characters is Barb, and her death in the first season has led to the dismay of the viewers.

According to Bustle, Barb had an unexpected death during the first season, and the co-creator of the series says it is unlikely that she will be returning for the second season. According to Matt Duffer, he doesn't see Barb coming back but she will never be forgotten. Her disappearance will allegedly be a theme and a main event on the upcoming season two of "Stranger Things."

"Barb will not be forgotten," Matt said. "We'll make sure there's some justice for Barb. People get very frustrated, understandably, that the town doesn't seem to be really dealing with Barb. That stuff is all happening. We're just not spending any screen time on it."

Season Two Of "Stranger Things" Darker And Weirder

More updates have been teased on what is in store for the upcoming second season even though it hasn't been officially confirmed yet. Game Spot reported that the second season will take place in the 1984 era, saying it will be darker and even weirder compared to the first.

In an interview with one of the creators, Ross Duffer said that the second season will have a story of its own despite the first one ending with so many questions. Considering a one-year time jump for the second season, it will definitely have a new tension created around the characters and have it resolved by the end.
Xiaomi defies the odds by battling up with the tech giant, Samsung, to improve its reputation and to potentially increase its sales. But is it really worth the try?

Xaomi Mi Note 2 Overview

Xiaomi is a very aggressive campaign as it wanted to get out of the nutshell by tapping into the American market, with its upcoming flagship smartphone, the Mi Note 2. Based on a statement released by Bloomberg, the Chinese phone maker confirms its plans to enter the US market to increase its sales and reach.

Hugo Barra, the Vice President of Xiaomi says that the U.S. market "is a market that we definitely have in our sights." The vice president also confirms that it had previous plans years ago in taking on the American market, but 2016 is the most favourable time for them to enact their long-awaited mission.

Bara adds, "We will lead with social media, with the channels that allow us to get in touch with the young generation that is enthusiastic about new technology. We are definitely going there."

Galaxy Note 7 Review

On the other hand, Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 is set to be released on September 2. This would surely be a barricade for Xiaomi's ambitious plans of suddenly entering the American market.

What makes the Galaxy Note 7 a wonderful option to pick is that it features a very light and slim design; making it not feel like a phablet despite the 5.7-inch size. Though it is not bigger than its counterpart the S7 Edge, the phone is still way more user-friendly.

The Galaxy Note 7 is also one of Samsung's phones that will be waterproof, similar to the S7. What makes this even more compelling is that the S Pen which is inside the phone will also be a water resistant one.

The Galaxy Note 7 will also likely to feature a 4K or a 6K resolution.

With this, the expansion of Xiaomi's reach is not as easy as it sounds as it will face one of the biggest names in the phone industry - Samsung, and its Galaxy Note 7, being a direct competitor of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2.
Uber has announced its partnering with investment app Betterment to provide its drivers with an option to sign up for free retirement accounts.

Uber's Retirement Plan

According to Bloomberg, even if Uber drivers have a freelancer status, they will get s retirement option. Drivers working through Uber Technologies Inc.'s platform, while they may not have a 401(k) plan, will soon be able to open a retirement account right in the app.

The ride-hailing company is partnering with another startup to provide the retirement option to its drivers, in traditional Silicon Valley style. Through robo-adviser Betterment,Uber drivers will be able to set up an individual retirement account (IRA) on its app.

CNN Money cites Rachel Holt, Uber's regional general manager in North America, who explained the reasons for the company's decision. According to her, many of the Uber freelance drivers have trouble saving for retirement, an issue common for many Americans.

Uber drivers in Boston, Chicago, Seattle and New Jersey will be able to sign up for a Betterment IRA starting Wednesday, August 24. For the first year all fees will be waived.

Uber Freelance Drivers Part Of "Gig Economy"

Jobs like Uber drivers are part of a new niche dubbed the "gig economy." The problem with this type of jobs is that they usually do not provide benefits such as unemployment insurance, health care and retirement savings.

Many criticisms of the "gig economy" have come from various sources, from NGOs to economists, job market analysts and politicians. For instance, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren warned in May about the dangers of the ridesharing emerging businesses. According to her, Uber drivers like workers in any job, should also have basic benefits coverage.

By giving drivers unique perks such as exclusive discounts on cell phone bills and auto repairs, Uber has already been trying to address those concerns. Now, the ridesharing company is taking a further step by providing a retirement option via a free Betterment IRA account right from the Uber app.
Being lost in space would surely be one of the most terrifying nightmares imaginable to man. However, this time, it is not a mere nightmare, but a reality experienced by NASA over two years ago. NASA's STEREO has been lost in space on 2014, and after two years, it was back to life, thanks to a possible extraterrestrial interference.

Fortunately, it has resurfaced and showed up out of a sudden. It is obvious that NASA will take the credit for saving the spacecraft, still, the space agency is not free from the scepticisms that an extraterrestrial race may have found it and fixed it.

STEREO have entered the orbit of the sun in 2006 and since then, it had gathered a considerable amount of data and information from our star. It did an unexpectedly great job over the course of a few years, drastically increasing our knowledge about the sun.

But suddenly, the STEREO became quiet in 2014. NASA hasn't come up with a credible explanation of the incident, but several theories came out of the mouths of creative, sceptical, and open minded fellow human beings.

There are a lot of theories that there are UFO circles that appear to be orbiting the sun, possible the home of aliens. This alien species might use the sun as a source of fuel and might even use solar energy to power up their civilization.

The theory suggests that these UFOs have a brief encounter with NASA's STEREO spacecraft two years ago. The strange gesture might be a sign of gratitude for NASA, which is why they have fixed the earthly and primitive STEREO up.

Alien life forms inhabiting the sun do not have a rock solid proof to be true. But fortunately for sceptics, the SOHO satellite was able to capture a satellite image that most UFO researchers believe to be a gigantic entrance door into the interior of the sun.

The Hollow Sun Theory, as what this theory is called, is resurfacing back to people's minds thanks to this incident.

Whichever the case may be, it is a good gesture to say "thank you" to these alien extraterrestrial beings.
Sarah Jessica Parker, well-known for her role in "Sex and the City," is now coming back to the small screen. She is the lead star in another original HBO dramedy series titled "Divorce."

Sarah Jessica Parker was also involved in the development of the series. In fact, she's one of the executive producers of the show. She also revealed that she and her partner, Alison Benson, has been developing the show for the past four years and SJP didn't think that she will play the lead role. It took some time for her to consider it and some discussion with her family as well.

SJP said, "My kids are now at ages where they can express how they feel about my absence. It affects them. Luckily, they were really supportive."

From the title itself, we can tell that this is not a spin-off from Sex and the City, but since it stars Sarah Jessica Parker, fans can also expect it to be different. Parker is going to play the role of Frances, which according to People is a mom who is "in battle with a man she loved" - Robert, played by actor Thomas Haden Church.

The teaser for "Divorce" starts with Frances (Sarah Jessica Parker) telling her husband, Robert, (Thomas Haden Church) that she wants a divorce. Her husband amusingly answered "Are you drunk?" The teaser then shows the couple frequently cursing and annoying each other. There's also a scene where the couple is undergoing therapy sessions and it addresses their different opinion and definition of what an "affair" is. It is amusing and realistic at the same time - a tricky combination.

"Divorce" is set to air on Oct. 9, 2016. According to TV Series Finale, the series will show how the divorce will affect the lives of Robert and Frances children, Lila (Sterling Jerins) and Tom (Charlie Kilgore), their friends, and how it changes them as well.
After years and years of research for Earth-like worlds outside the solar system, a group of scientists' effort from the European Observatory has finally paid off. Today, they revealed their newest discovery - it appears that they have found an exoplanet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the star closest to Earth.

CNN reports Proxima Centauri is a moderately active, small low-mass star and is known to be the Sun's closest neighbor. It's approximately 4.25 lightyears away from Earth, and the exoplanet orbiting around it is dubbed as Proxima B.

It is known to be a rocky planet and possibly more massive than Earth; and according to ESO's findings, "The rocky world has a temperature suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface" and is just a little bigger than Earth," Since Proxima B also orbits its sun(Proxima Centauri) which leads them to believe that it is a habitable planet that can foster life or "habitable zone".

Guillem Anglada-Escude, a physics and astronomy lecturer from Queen Mary University in London, led the group of astronomers that examined Proxima Centauri once stated "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,"

Since 2009, 3,000 exoplanets have already been discovered including the first one that was found in 2014. This planet is said to have the same size as Earth which is why astronomers dubbed it as Kepler-168f. Due to these unstoppable breakthroughs, it only made scientists giddy into exploring Proxima Centauri extensively with the help of Stephern Hawking's nanocraft called Breakthrough Starshot.

According to Hawking,"With light beams, light sails and the lightest spacecraft ever built, we can launch a mission to Alpha Centauri within a generation."

With this dedication, there's no doubt that the next mission might be the search of life on Proxima b.
Bella Thorne comes out as a bisexual in the most casual way possible. When a fan asked her in Twitter if she's bisexual, she replied with a candid "Yes."

Fans who are following the 18-year-old actress in Snapchat have been speculating this when a photo of Bella kissing another girl surfaced. And the other girl turns out to be her brother's ex-girlfriend Bella Pendergast. According to Huffington Post, before Bella Thorne's Twitter announcement, she retweeted several Snapchats of her and Pendergast where they are cuddling and locking lips with each other. Her fans are very supportive of her after her announcement.

@bellathorne yes baby! everyone w this sort of platform that is open like this makes it easier for the rest of us! pic.twitter.com/QCZZZxRc4w  lil lily lane (@LilyLaneMusic) August 23, 2016

@bellathorne it actually makes me so happy that you're open about it. u do u babygirl  bella love  (@bellalovelycute) August 23, 2016

Thorne showed her appreciation by saying "Aww thank you for all the accepting tweets from everyone. I love you guys."

Aww thank you for all the accepting tweets from everyone. I love you guys  #pride  bella thorne (@bellathorne) August 23, 2016

Bella Thorne's fans are curious to know if her rumored relationship with Bella Pendergast is the cause of her breakup with 24-year-old actor Gregg Sulkin. She simply said "Things just didn't end up working the way we had hoped." She also added that Sulkin had been there to help her get through tough times and that she will always be thankful for it. Thorne also added that she will always love Sulkin.

Is she and Bella Pendergast really together? I guess, we just have to wait for another Twitter announcement.

And who is Bella Pendergast? According to Hollywood Life, Pendergast is a student at UC Davis and is currently taking up Animal Science. She loves animals and her social media pages are full of pictures of horses, dogs, and other animals. She also volunteers her time in providing free healthcare for animals. She and Bella Thorne became close when she dated Thorne's brother, Remy. She's a talented equestrian and also loves running.

For now, USA Today reported that Bella Thorne is busy shooting for an upcoming TV series, "Famous In Love" co-starring with Stephen "tWitch" Boss.
For years, analytics specialist Teradata has been helping companies like Union Pacific Railroad make sense of sensor data and to integrate that data with its business processes. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Chad Meley, vice president of Marketing at Teradata, says todays internet of things (IoT) innovations are poised to rewrite the playbook in manufacturing, transportation, mining, energy and utilities.

We really see IoT being at a tipping point, Meley says.

And Teradata plans to leverage its experience with companies like Union Pacific to help others make the leap. The company today announced four new services  combinations of technology-agnostic intellectual property and professional consulting services  aimed squarely at helping organizations transform sensor data streams into revenue streams.

[ Also on CIO.com: Dont rush your company into an IoT app platform ]

The 154-year-old Union Pacific Railroad company is the largest railroad network in the U.S., operating 8,500 locomotives hauling freight over 32,100 route-miles of track in 23 states. With that many trains running over that much track, derailments are more or less inevitable. They can cost between $20 million and $40 million in damages.

20 million sensor readings on track

For more than a decade, Teradata has helped Union Pacific equip sensors that listen to the sounds a trains wheels make going over the tracks. Other sensors measure the temperature of wheels bearings. The sensors deliver more than 20 million sensor readings daily.

They could detect an imminent problem, Meley says. Maybe a wheel exceeded a threshold in terms of heat. They could determine that in the next hour, its going to derail.

Those sorts of warnings reduced derailments, Meley says, but didnt eliminate them entirely. And with only about an hour of lead time, the company was still losing a massive amount of revenue every time a train was pulled. Even a delay of just a couple of hours could have repercussions for customer commitments up and down the line.

When your predictive models are trying to guess something immediately before it happens, its not going to be the best model, Meley says. Youre still going to have derailments.

Modern predictive analytics can ingest and process the streaming data much more rapidly and efficiently. Meley says Union Pacific can now predict a derailment with a high degree of confidence more than a week out, which has cut bearing-related derailments by 75 percent and allowed it to adjust maintenance schedules to reduce maintenance-related delays.

Riding sensors to profitability

In Spain, Teradata has helped Siemens deliver high-speed trains that have made the route between Madrid and Barcelona hyper-reliable. Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, was under pressure to increase profitability on its Alta Velocidad Espanola (AVE) high-speed rail between the two cities.

They wanted to increase the profitability of that route, Meley says. But business travelers preferred to fly because there was a greater likelihood they would get to their meetings on time.

With Teradatas help, Siemens was able to leverage sensor data to optimize preventative maintenance for the trains. The effort was so effective at making the route reliable that Renfe was able to give travelers a guarantee that if their train was delayed by more than 15 minutes, it would pay back the whole ticket.

They were able to capture a huge chunk of the segment that was originally flying as a result of this super-reliable route, Meley says.

Of course, the opportunity doesnt lie with just trains. Manufacturing equipment, oil and gas pipelines, truck fleets, even server farms and retail floors represent massive opportunities. PwC forecasts the digital universe will consist of 21 billion connected things by 2020. Data volumes generated by the IoT already dwarf the data created by social media, and that machine data will continue to grow. Teradata says companies are going to need guidance to generate business value from the enormous volumes of IoT sensor data to come.

Thats the role the company sees for itself, Meley says. Its new Analytics of Things Accelerators (AoTA) are derived from its IoT field engagements in manufacturing, transportation, mining, energy and utilities. Meley says the new AoTA will help organizations determine what sensor data to trust and keep, while choosing types and combinations of analytical techniques to best address specific business questions. The idea is to move away from brute force one-off projects to enterprise-class solutions that can scale across thousands of complex devices and assets, resulting in continuous positive business impact.

The new Teradata AoTAs are the following:

Condition-Based Maintenance Accelerator. This AoTA are for use cases like Union Pacifics. Its for continuously monitoring and analyzing asset data at scale to increase availability, improve safety and reduce costs.

This AoTA are for use cases like Union Pacifics. Its for continuously monitoring and analyzing asset data at scale to increase availability, improve safety and reduce costs. Manufacturing Performance Optimization Accelerator. This AoTA is intended to identify complex production problems across equipment performance and availability for quick corrective action.

This AoTA is intended to identify complex production problems across equipment performance and availability for quick corrective action. Sensor Data Qualification Accelerator. This AoTA addresses a key bugbear of IoT analytics: It automates recommendations on the optimal frequency of sensor readings based on relevant anomaly patterns.

This AoTA addresses a key bugbear of IoT analytics: It automates recommendations on the optimal frequency of sensor readings based on relevant anomaly patterns. Visual Anomaly Prospector Accelerator. This AoTA mines large amounts of multidimensional time series (MTS) data to visually help an end user discover anomaly patterns that frequently precede a key event.

Teradata AoTAs are already addressing and resolving $100 million problems for premier producers of vehicles, equipment, oil and gas systems and consumer goods, Oliver Ratzesberger, executive vice president and chief product officer at Teradata, said in a statement Wednesday. These challenges represent billion-dollar budgets for each company, to be clear on the scale of business value addressed by AoTA. For example, our AOTAs have increased Overall Equipment Effectiveness as much as 85 percent, while also improving predictability and asset availability. We are seeing a lot of excitement around our accelerators, because the return on investment is transformational in scope and compelling in business impact.
Free catered lunch and a dog-friendly office are two of the perks offered by an educational technology company in Palo Alto, Calif., thats looking to hire a machine learning engineer. The position, posted on Dice, will pay between $140,000 and $160,000 to the right candidate whos skilled in machine learning platforms as well as data mining, statistical modeling, and natural language processing.

Job-seekers who possess those skills typically could expect multiple job offers, says Matt Leighton, director of recruitment at Mondo, which specializes in digital marketing and technology staffing. The job titles vary from company to company; some might post positions in search of a data scientist or machine learning engineer, others might be after a natural language processing (NLP) programmer or cognitive computing engineer.

But hiring companies are seeking the same talent: "They're people who create algorithms through code that allow computers to self-learn, Leighton says. "That's the future. That's artificial intelligence, that's [IBM] Watson, that's everything that is predictive analysis, forecasting, analytics. That's what we get requests for all the time."

Companies are paying top dollar for people with these skills. "A good data scientist who can do predictive analytics using the language R to help computers self-learn, so to speak  those people can get $120 or $130 an hour, or $200,000 a year, he says. But theyre hard to find and typically wind up with multiple suitors. "Theres not enough supply out there to meet the demand. Any candidate that has this skill set will be interviewing for five or six or seven different positions.

Another area thats driving demand for skilled talent is virtual reality. Companies are seeking virtual reality engineers who have experience with platforms and tools such as Unity and OpenGL.

"Unity engineers are going for over $100,000 now. When I first started seeing the requests come in, they were more like $70,000 or $75,000, Leighton says. Developers are smart; they know they have something niche, and they know they can start charging more."

Demand for machine learning experts and virtual reality pros is spiking as enterprise adoption of these technologies grows.

While the concepts of machine learning arent new, adoption among businesses is becoming more pervasive. Consumers are accustomed to shopping recommendation engines that anticipate probable purchases, and theyre growing more dependent on driving optimization tools that use sensor data to suggest less congested traffic routes.

Companies that are making the transition to digital businesses aim to make better use of all the data theyve been gathering and analyzing  creating new business opportunities and new ways to reach customers. Research firm IDC forecasts global spending on cognitive systems will reach nearly $31.3 billion in 2019 with a five year compound annual growth rate of 55%.

What does that mean for technical talent? Roughly 36% of all developers who are actively working on big data or advanced analytics projects now use elements of machine learning, according to a new survey from Evans Data.

Likewise, virtual reality is making its way out of niche applications and into the broader corporate landscape. Lower cost and higher quality motion sensors, screens and processors are fueling enterprise interest in virtual reality technology for applications such as prototyping, product development and virtual showrooms. Research firm Forrester estimates that 52 million units of VR head-mounted displays will be in enterprise and consumer use in the U.S. by 2020.

"I think [virtual reality] is as forefront in American society as it's ever been, Leighton says.

A third area thats driving new demand for skilled talent is the distributed ledger technology blockchain.

"The use of blockchains, of which bitcoin is but one implementation, has the potential to deliver disruptive change, as cryptocurrency-based technologies become more widely adopted and evolve to powerful decentralized platforms supporting diverse scenarios for value exchange," writes research firm Gartner, which predicts that by 2020, autonomous software agents outside of human control will participate in 5% of all economic transactions.

"Getting money quickly from platform to platform  that is an ecommerce company's golden ticket," Leighton says. But its still a niche skillset. According to Mondo, a blockchain engineers job responsibilities could include building, maintaining, and upgrading infrastructure that supports blockchain nodes; working within the company to develop best practices in order to improve the setup; and staying on top of the latest programming languages. Along with analytical skills and knowledge of different programming codes, blockchain engineers need an understanding of blockchain protocols including bitcoin as well as the ability to work within mobile, e-commerce, and cloud-based platforms.

Use in financial services isnt the only avenue for blockchain applications. Companies in healthcare and supply chain, for example, are also finding emerging use cases. "We see a lot of people that are trying to get into it, Leighton says. "It's something that a lot of people talk about, but it's not something that a lot of people do." (See: Blockchain: Youve got questions; weve got answers)

In the bigger picture, overall IT hiring remains robust. In the second half of 2016, 21% of CIOs surveyed plan to expand their technology teams, according to Robert Half Technology. Sixty-three percent of CIOs intend to only fill open roles, 13% anticipate putting hiring plans on hold, and 3% expect to reduce their IT staff in the second half of the year.

"The real technical people? They don't stay on the market for more than two days. They're always off the market," Leighton says of the hiring climate for IT pros. As companies struggle to find the talent they need, theyre bolstering their employment packages to include more benefits and perks. Telecommuting, in particular, is becoming a must-have option, Leighton notes.

"If you're looking for a high-end developer or subject matter expert on a particular technology, it's almost goes without being said that they'll be able to work from home.
To spy on a human rights activist, hackers allegedly connected to a Middle Eastern government used three previously unknown vulnerabilities in Apples iOS.

The claims -- from research at Toronto-based Citizen Lab and mobile security firm Lookout -- focus on spyware that targeted Ahmed Mansoor, an activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier this month, Mansoor received an SMS text message on his iPhone claiming to offer new secrets about tortured detainees in his country. However, inside the message was a link that, once clicked, can infect an iPhone with spyware, using three zero-day exploits of iOS, the research found.

The exploits work by remotely jailbreaking the device to secretly download the spyware  which can then access the iPhones camera, microphone, and messages.

Lookout called the attack the most sophisticated its ever seen on a device. The researchers have already informed Apple about the exploits, and iOS version 9.3.5 -- which was released on Thursday -- fixes the issues.

The attack is rare because it used three previously unknown vulnerabilities, suggesting the hackers were well-funded. Just one of these exploits can be worth US$1 million.

Citizen Lab, however, is pointing fingers at an Israeli security firm called NSO Group, which reportedly specializes in monitoring smartphones of government targets.

NSO Group doesnt maintain a website, and an email to the company went unanswered. But Citizen Lab said leaked documents appear to show the Israeli company selling a spyware product called Pegasus, which matches with the three zero-day exploits found.

Citizen Lab also analyzed the domain name in the link Mansoor received via SMS text message. Following a long internet trail, it found an NSO Group registered email as part of evidence tying the Israeli company to the attack.

The UAE likely hired NSO Group to spy on Mansoor, Citizen Lab added. Mansoor has previously been the target of commercial spyware back in 2011 and 2012.

While these spyware tools are developed in democracies, they continue to be sold to countries with notorious records of abusive targeting of human rights defenders, said Citizen Lab, which is based out of the University of Toronto.

The UAEs embassy didnt immediately respond for comment.
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.
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience  the local community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.

Close
Town sued over denied water service The town council met in executive session last week to discuss its defense after a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by a Jamestown homeowner who was denied permission...

Scout earns Eagle rank with boardwalk work A local Boy Scout is the latest member of Troop 1 Jamestown to lead an environmental project at a wildlife sanctuary in his mission to attain the Eagle rank. Alex...

State: Steer clear while deer breeding As deer begin mating during the rut, public safety officials are urging drivers to be cautious on the roads because herds tend to move around more frequently during this time....
Two area municipalities continue to search for a police chief, with one poised to hire a new top law enforcement officer.

Both North Middleton Township and Carlisle Borough are looking for someone to fill a vacant position of permanent police chief.

In Carlisle, Lt. Stephen Latshaw took over the helm as interim police chief following the retirement in March of Stephen Margeson, who spent more than two decades as chief of police.

Weve had some really excellent candidates, Borough Manager Matthew Candland said.

Candland said the borough is expected to hire Margesons replacement by the end of this month.

North Middleton Township on the other hand has just begun its search.

Former police chief Douglas W. Reitz resigned the position in July to take a new job as chief administrator of a department being formed in Mount Airy, Maryland.

Reitz joined the North Middleton Township Police Department in April 2012. Prior to coming to Cumberland County he had served more than 20 years with Maryland State Police.

Township Manager Deb Ealer said no interviews have been conducted and the township supervisors were currently reviewing their options to replace Reitz.

The board has not made any decisions, Ealer said. We have an interim police chief who is presently running the department.

Cpl. Gary Carver is the interim police chief in North Middleton Township.
Email

Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday.
A Mechanicsburg woman has been charged after police say she supplied alcohol for a party at a local hotel that sent one youth to the hospital for an alcohol overdose.

Sarah K. Napoli, 21, has been charged with misdemeanor corruption of minors and selling or furnishing alcohol to minors after Upper Allen Township Police said a juvenile overdosed on alcohol at a party she held a local hotel and had to be taken to the hospital.

The juvenile was reported missing around 11:20 p.m. June 11 and was found a short time later at the hotel, police said.

Police later identified Napoli as the person who supplied the alcohol for the party and a preliminary hearing was held Monday in front of Magisterial District Judge Mark Martin.

Martin allowed Napoli to be released on her own recognizance. However, she is being held in Cumberland County Prison in lieu of bail in an unrelated case, according to court records.
Pennsylvania State Police are seeking the publics help in finding a suspect they say robbed a convenience store in West Pennsboro Township.

Around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, a male suspect entered the Uni-Mart in the first block of Main Street, brandished a wooden handle and made off with money from the stores cash register, police said.

The suspect is described as a white male with a stock build, dark hair and a beard who was wearing glasses, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 249-2121.
Reddit Email 0 Shares

By Todd Miller | (Tomdispatch.com) |  

At the federal courthouse, Ignacio Sarabia asks the magistrate judge, Jacqueline Rateau, if he can explain why he crossed the international boundary between the two countries without authorization. He has already pleaded guilty to the federal misdemeanor commonly known as illegal entry and is about to receive a prison sentence. On either side of him are eight men in the same predicament, all still sunburned, all in the same ripped, soiled clothes they were wearing when arrested in the Arizona desert by agents of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Once again, the zero tolerance border enforcement program known as Operation Streamline has unfolded just as it always does here in Tucson, Arizona. Close to 60 people have already approached the judge in groups of seven or eight, their heads bowed submissively, their bodies weighed down by shackles and chains around wrists, waists, and ankles. The judge has handed out the requisite prison sentences in quick succession  180 days, 60 days, 90 days, 30 days.

On and on it goes, day-in, day-out. Like so many meals served in fast-food restaurants, 750,000 prison sentences of this sort have been handed down since Operation Streamline was launched in 2005. This mass prosecution of undocumented border crossers has become so much the norm that one report concluded it is now a driving force in mass incarceration in the United States. Yet it is but a single program among many overseen by the massive U.S. border enforcement and incarceration regime that has developed during the last two decades, particularly in the post-9/11 era.

Sarabia takes a half-step forward. My infant is four months old, he tells the judge in Spanish. The baby was, he assures her, born with a heart condition and is a U.S. citizen. They have no option but to operate. This is the reason, he says, that Im here before you. He pauses.

I want to be with my child, who is in the United States.

Its clear that Sarabia would like to gesture emphatically as he speaks, but thats difficult, thanks to the shackles that constrain him. Rateau fills her coffee cup as she waits for his comments to be translated into English.

Earlier in April 2016, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, still in the heat of his primary campaign, stated once again that he would build a massive concrete border wall towering 30 (or, depending on the moment, 55) feet high along the 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexican border. He would, he insisted, force Mexico to pay for the $8 billion to $10 billion barrier. Repeatedly throwing such red meat into the gaping jaws of nativism, he has over these last months also announced that he would create a major deportation force, repeatedly sworn that he would ban Muslims from entering the country (a position that he regularly revises), and most recently, that he would institute an extreme vetting process for foreign nationals arriving in the United States.

In June 2015, when he rode a Trump Tower escalator into the presidential campaign, among his initial promises was the building of a great and beautiful wall on the border. (And no one builds walls better than me, believe me. I will do it very inexpensively. I will have Mexico pay for that wall.) As he pulled that promise out of a hat with a magicians flair, the actual history of the border disappeared. From then on in Election 2016, there was just empty desert and Donald Trump.

Suddenly, there hadnt been a bipartisan government effort over the last quarter-century to put in place an unprecedented array of walls, detection systems, and guards for that southern border. In those years, the number of Border Patrol agents had, in fact, quintupled from 4,000 to more than 21,000, while Customs and Border Protection became the largest federal law enforcement agency in the country with more than 60,000 agents. The annual budget for border and immigration enforcement went from $1.5 to $19.5 billion, a more than 12-fold increase. By 2016, federal government funding of border and immigration enforcement added up to $5 billion more than that for all other federal law enforcement agencies combined.

Operation Streamline, a cornerstone program in the Consequence Delivery System, part of a broader Border Patrol deterrence strategy for stopping undocumented immigration, is just one part of a vast enforcement-incarceration-deportation machine. The program is as no-nonsense as its name suggests. Its not The Wall, but it embodies the logic of the wall: either you crossed illegally or you didnt. It doesnt matter why, or whether you lost your job, or if youve had to skip meals to feed your kids. It doesnt matter if your house was flooded or the drought dried up your fields. It doesnt matter if youre running for your life from drug cartel gunmen or the very army and police forces that are supposed to protect you.

This system was what Ignacio Sarabia faced a few months ago in a Tucson court. His tragedy is one that plays out so many times daily a mere seven blocks from where I live.

Before I tell you how the judge responded to his plea, its important to understand Sarabias journey, and that of so many thousands like him who end up in this federal courthouse day after day. As he pleads to be with his newborn son, his voice cracking with emotion, his story catches the already Trumpian-style of border enforcement  both the pain and suffering it has caused, and the strategy and massive build-up behind it  in ways that the campaign rhetoric of both parties and the reporting on it doesnt. As reporters chase their tails attempting to explain Trumps wild and often unfounded claims and declarations, the on-the-ground border reality goes unreported. Indeed, one of the greatest secrets of the 2016 election campaign (though it should be common knowledge) is that the border wall already exists. It has for years and the fingerprints all over it arent Donald Trumps but the Clintons, both Bills and Hillarys.

The Wall That Already Exists

Twenty-one years before Trumps wall-building promise (and seven years before the 9/11 attacks), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began to replace the chain link fence that separated Nogales, Sonora, in Mexico from Nogales, Arizona, in the United States with a wall built of rusty landing mats from the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. Although there had been various half-hearted attempts at building border walls throughout the twentieth century, this was the first true effort to build a barrier of what might now be called Trumpian magnitude.

That rusty, towering wall snaked through the hills and canyons of northern Sonora and southern Arizona forever deranging a world that, given cross-border familial and community ties, then considered itself one. At the time, who could have known that the strategy the first wall embodied would still be the model for todays massive system of exclusion.

In 1994, the threat wasnt terrorism. In part, the call for more hardened, militarized borders came in response, among other things, to a never-ending drug war. It also came from U.S. officials who anticipated the displacement of millions of Mexicans after the implementation of the new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which, ironically, was aimed at eliminating barriers to trade and investment across North America.

And the expectations of those officials proved well justified. The ensuing upheavals in Mexico, as analyst Marco Antonio Velazquez Navarrete explained to me, were like the aftermath of a war or natural disaster. Small farmers couldnt compete against highly subsidized U.S. agribusiness giants like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland. Mexican small business owners were bankrupted by the likes of Walmart, Sams Club, and other corporate powers. Mining by foreign companies extended across vast swaths of Mexico, causing territorial conflicts and poisoning the land. The unprecedented and desperate migration that followed came up against what might be considered the other side of the Clinton doctrine of open trade: walls, increased border agents, increased patrolling, and new surveillance technologies meant to cut off traditional crossing spots in urban areas like El Paso, San Diego, Brownsville, and Nogales.

This administration has taken a strong stand to stiffen the protection of our borders, President Bill Clinton said in 1996. We are increasing border controls by fifty percent.

Over the next 20 years, that border apparatus would expand exponentially in terms of personnel, resources, and geographic reach, but the central strategy of the 1990s (labeled Prevention Through Deterrence) remained the same. The ever-increasing border policing and militarization funneled desperate migrants into remote locations like the Arizona desert where temperatures can soar to 120 degrees in the summer heat.

The first U.S. border strategy memorandum in 1994 predicted the tragic future we now have. Illegal entrants crossing through remote, uninhabited expanses of land and sea along the border can find themselves in mortal danger, it stated.

Twenty years later, more than 6,000 remains have been found in the desert borderlands of the United States. Hundreds of families continue to search for disappeared loved ones. The Colibri Center for Human Rights has records for more than 2,500 missing people last seen crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. In other words, that border has become a graveyard of bones and sadness.



Despite all the attention given to the wall and the border this election season, neither the Trump nor Clinton campaigns have mentioned Prevention Through Deterrence, nor the subsequent border deaths. Not once. The same goes for the establishment media that cant stop talking about Trumps wall. There has been little or no mention of what border groups have long called a humanitarian crisis of deaths that have increased five-fold over the last decade, thanks, in part, to a wall that already exists. (If the people dying were Canadians or Europeans, attention would, of course, be paid.)

Although wall construction began during Bill Clintons administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) built most of the approximately 700 miles of fencing after the Secure Fence Act of 2006 was passed. At the time, Senator Hillary Clinton voted in favor of that Republican-introduced bill, along with 26 other Democrats. I voted numerous times when I was a senator to spend money to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in, she commented at one 2015 campaign event, and I do think you have to control your borders.

The 2006 wall-building project was expected to be so environmentally destructive that homeland security chief Michael Chertoff waived 37 environmental and cultural laws in the name of national security. In this way, he allowed Border Patrol bulldozers to desecrate protected wilderness and sacred land.

Imagine a bulldozer parking in your family graveyard, turning up bones, Chairman Ned Norris, Jr., of the Tohono Oodham Nation (a Native American tribe whose original land was cut in half by the U.S. border) told Congress in 2008. This is our reality.

With a price tag of, on average, $4 million a mile, these border walls, barriers, and fences have proven to be one of the costliest border infrastructure projects undertaken by the United States. For private border contractors, on the other hand, its the gift that just keeps on giving. In 2011, for example, the DHS granted Kellogg, Brown, and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, one of our warrior corporations, a $24.4 million upkeep contract.

In Tucson in early August, Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence looked out over a sea of red Make America Great Again caps and t-shirts and said, We will secure our border. Donald Trump will build that wall. He would be met with roaring applause, even though his statement made no sense at all.

Should Trump actually win, how could he build something that already exists? Indeed, for all practical purposes, the Great Wall that Trump talks about may, by January 2017, be as antiquated as the Great Wall of China given the new high-tech surveillance methods now coming on the market. These are being developed in a major way and on a regular basis by a booming border techno-surveillance industry.

The twenty-first-century border is no longer just about walls; its about biometrics and drones. Its about a layered approach to national security, given that, as former Border Patrol Chief Mike Fisher has put it, the international boundary is no longer the first or last line of defense, but one of many. Hillary Clintons promise of comprehensive immigration reform  to be introduced within 100 days of her entering the Oval Office  is a much more reliable guide than Trumps wall to our grim immigration future. If her bill follows the pattern of previous ones, as it surely will, an increasingly weaponized, privatized, high-tech, layered border regime, increasingly dangerous to future Ignacio Sarabias, will continue to be a priority of the federal government.

On the surface, there are important differences between Clintons and Trumps immigration platforms. Trumps wildly xenophobic comments and declarations are well known, and Clinton claims that she will, among other things, fight for family unity for those forcibly separated by deportation and enact humane immigration enforcement. Yet deep down, the policies of the two candidates are far more similar than they might at first appear.

Navigating Donald Trumps Borderlands Now

That April day, only one bit of information about Ignacio Sarabias border crossing to reunite with his wife and newborn child was available at the Tucson federal courthouse. He had entered the United States near Nogales. Most likely, he circumvented the wall first started during the Clinton administration, like most immigrants do, by making his way through the potentially treacherous canyons that surround that border town.

If his experience was typical, he probably didnt have enough water or food, and suffered some physical woe like large, painful blisters on his feet. Certainly, he wasnt atypical in trying to reunite with loved ones. After all, more than 2.5 million people have been expelled from the country by the Obama administration, an average annual deportation rate of close to 400,000 people. This was, by the way, only possible thanks to laws signed by Bill Clinton in 1996 and meant to burnish his legacy. They vastly expanded the governments deportation powers.

In 2013 alone, Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out 72,000 deportations of parents who said that their children were U.S.-born. And many of them are likely to try to cross that dangerous southern border again to reunite with their families.

The enforcement landscape Sarabia faced has changed drastically since that first wall was built in 1994. The post-9/11 border is now both a war zone and a showcase for corporate surveillance. It represents, according to Border Patrol agent Felix Chavez, an unprecedented deployment of resources, any of which could have led to Sarabias capture. It could have been one of the hundreds of remote video or mobile surveillance systems, or one of the more than 12,000 implanted motion sensors that set off alarms in hidden operational control rooms where agents stare into large monitors.

It could have been the spy towers made by the Israeli company Elbit Systems that spotted him, or Predator B drones built by General Atomics, or VADER radar systems manufactured by the defense giant Northrup Grumman that, like so many similar technologies, have been transported from the battlefields of Afghanistan or Iraq to the U.S. border.

If the comprehensive immigration reform that Hillary Clinton pledges to introduce as president is based on the already existing bipartisan Senate package, as has been indicated, then this corporate-enforcement landscape will be significantly bolstered and reinforced. There will be 19,000 more Border Patrol agents in roving patrols throughout border enforcement jurisdictions that extend up to 100 miles inland. More F-150 trucks and all-terrain vehicles will rumble through and, at times, tear up the desert. There will be more Blackhawk helicopters, flying low, their propellers dusting groups of scattering migrants, many of them already lost in the vast, parched desert.

If such a package passes the next Congress, up to $46 billion could be slated to go into more of all of this, including funding for hundreds of miles of new walls. Corporate vendors are salivating at the thought of such a future and in a visible state of elation at homeland security tradeshows across the globe.

The 2013 bill that passed in the Senate but failed in the House of Representatives also included a process of legalization for the millions of undocumented people living in the United States. It maintained programs that will grant legal residence for children who came to the United States at a young age and their parents. Odds are that a comprehensive reform bill in a Clinton presidency would be similar.

Included in that bill was, of course, funding to bolster Operation Streamline. The Evo A. DeConcini Federal Courthouse in Tucson would then have the capacity to prosecute triple the number of people it deals with at present.

After taking a sip from her coffee and listening to the translation of Ignacio Sarabias comments, the magistrate judge looks at him and says shes sorry for his predicament.

Personally, Im mesmerized by his story as I sit on a wooden bench at the back of the court. I have a child the same age as his son. I cant imagine his predicament. Not once while he talks does it leave my mind that my child might even have the same birthday as his.

The judge then looks directly at Sarabia and tells him that he cant just come here illegally, that he has to find a legal way (highly unlikely, given the criminal conviction that will now be on his record). Your son, she says, when he gets better, and his mother, can visit you where you are in Mexico.

Otherwise, she adds, hell be visiting you in prison  not exactly, she points out, an appealing scenario: seeing your father in a prison where he will be locked away for a very long time.

She then sentences the nine men standing side by side in front of her for periods ranging from 60 days to 180 days for the crime of crossing an international border without proper documents. Sarabia receives a 60-day sentence.

Next, armed guards from G4S  the private contractor that once employed Omar Mateen (the Pulse nightclub killer) and has a lucrative quarter-billion-dollar border contract with Customs and Border Protection  will transport each of the shackled prisoners to a Corrections Corporation of America private prison in Florence, Arizona. It is there that Sarabia will think about his childs endangered heart from behind layers of coiled razor wire, while the corporation that runs the prison makes $124 per day for incarcerating him.

Indeed, Donald Trumps United States doesnt await his presidency. Its already laid out before us, and one place its happening every single day is in Tucson, only seven blocks from my house.

Todd Miller, a TomDispatch regular, is the author of Border Patrol Nation: Dispatches From the Front Lines of Homeland Security. He has written on border and immigration issues for the New York Times, Al Jazeera America, and the NACLA Report on the Americas and its blog Border Wars. You can follow him on twitter @memomiller and view more of his work at toddwmiller.wordpress.com.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardts latest book, Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World.

Copyright 2016 Todd Miller

Via Tomdisptach.com
Reddit Email 0 Shares

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Turkish military sources told the Anadol news agency that Wednesdays military attack on the Syrian border town of Jarabulus, held for years by Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), involved hitting 82 targets. The objective, Ankara said, was to secure the Turkish border and to support the US-led Coalition in its war on Daesh and guarantee the unity of Syrian territory.

The Turkish military chief of staff and his deputy said they followed the course of the operation from their operations room in Ankara.

Daesh fighters withdrew from much of Jarabulus and surrounding villages, heading south to al-Bab, now the northernmost Daesh outpost in Syria.

The YPG leftist Kurds alleged that Turkey is using fighting Daesh as a pretext to destroy what it called the Democratic project of Rojava (the Kurdish mini-state in northern Syria). Aranews said, the co-head of the Democratic Union Party in Syria (PYD) Salih Muslim said that Turkey is entering a Syrian quagmire, and will be defeated as Daesh.

However, the YPG leftist Kurdish forces that recently took Manbij away from Daesh is said to have withdrawn to the east of the Euphrates and is considering taking al-Bab as their next target. US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Ankara, asked the YPG to withdraw from west of the Euphrates. The YPG is part of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, among whom some 200 US special operations troops are embedded. They have been effective in attacking Daesh but have an ulterior motive in wanting to establish their own Kurdish mini-state in northern Syria, which they call Rojava. They have 400 km of the 500 km border region that they envision for Rojava. Jarabulus would have been part of it, but they have now been blocked by the Turkish incursion into that zone (with 10 tanks).

A spokesman of the Kurdish YPG or Peoples Protection Units, Reidar Khalil, said that the Turkish military incursion into Syria constituted a naked act of aggression and intervention into the internal affairs of Syria. He claimed that it derived from an agreement among Turkey, Iran and the Syrian government.

(Khalil is alleging that all three of these regional powers have large Kurdish populations and none wants to see the emergence of another Kurdish mini-state, this time in Syria, since that might encourage further Kurdish separatism ).

Khalil said that Turkish demands that the YPG withdraw to the east of the Euphrates cannot be acquiesced in, except by the Syrian Democratic Forces coalition supported by the United States.

For its part, the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus condemned the Turkish incursion, deploring the crossing of Turkish tanks and armor of the Syrian border and into Jarabulus under air cover by the American coalition and describing it as a stark violation of Syrian sovereignty.

A spokesman for the Syrian foreign ministry said, combating terrorism on Syrian soil, no matter who does it, needs to be coordinated with the Syrian government and the Syrian Arab Army, which has been engaged in these battles for five years now.

He added, you cant fight terrorism by expelling Daesh and replacing it with other terrorist organizations directly supported by Turkey.

Syria views the Muslim-Brotherhood-linked remnants of the Free Syrian Army as terrorist organizations, while the US CIA maintains that it has vetted some 30 of them and found no sign of terrorist activities or ties. (This CIA line is clearly at least somewhat inaccurate, since some vetted groups have cooperated on the battlefield with al-Qaeda operative Abu Muhammad al-Julani (who now leads the Army of Conquest but has not renounced his pledge of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, a mastermind of the 9/11 attacks).

So to sum up: The YPG Kurds are upset about being blocked from going into Jarabulus, which would have allowed them to knit together the cantons of Afrin and Kobane and finally achieve Rojava. However, they likely will in fact withdraw east of the Euphrates, since they value their alliance with the US and Washington has asked them to do this.

The Syrian government says it upset that Turkey is not coordinating with it and that Turkey is bringing in fundamentalist militias to run Jarabulus. (Damascus appears to have long valued Daesh as a distraction from its own use of torture and its reckless endangering of civilian populations. The Syrian Arab Army has seldom fought Daesh head on). So I dont think Ankara is likely all that upset about Daesh losing Jarabulus, but it might be apprehensive about what comes next.

-

Via France 24:  Syria: Turkey launches vast military operation to retake Islamic state stronghold of Jarablus 
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 24, 2016) - Medgold Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE:MED) (the "Company" or "Medgold") is pleased to announce that drilling has started at the Boticas Gold Project in Portugal. Medgold is planning a 15 hole 2,500m diamond drilling program, targeting a medium-grade sheeted vein system. The first drill hole is designed to test grade continuity below a contiguous Medgold channel-chip result of 3.98 g/t Au over 14.10m.

Dan James, President of Medgold, said: "We are very pleased to start drilling at Boticas. Our program will aim to confirm the historical drilling results from previous operators of the project. It will also test a number of large undrilled zones to investigate their gold resource potential. The work will focus on the Limarinho Zone where nearly 2,600m of historical drilling outlined mineralization over a 600m strike length, up to 300m wide. We'll also be drilling some holes into the Limarinho South zone, which appears to be similar in terms of area to the main Limarinho Zone, but has very little drill data. We look forward to keeping our shareholders updated on the drilling over the coming months."

The exploration work at the Boticas-Chaves project is fully-funded by Medgold's joint-venture partner Centerra Gold Inc. The Medgold-Centerra joint venture started in December 2015, and since then Medgold has undertaken grid-soil sampling over Limarinho and the wider region, and has completed a number of phases of channel-chip sampling.

The Boticas-Chaves Gold Project

The Boticas-Chaves Gold Project is comprised of two exploration licences covering a total area of approximately 600 sq km located in the north of Portugal close to the Spanish border. The principal prospect at Boticas is the Limarinho zone.

In the 1980s and 2000s COGEMA and then Kernow Resources, respectively, completed over 3,000m of diamond drilling at Limarinho. The drilling cut broad zones of low-grade gold mineralization (approx. 1 g/t Au), and also multiple mineralized corridors of much higher grade (2-3 g/t Au) that are continuous over significant strike lengths.

The mineralized corridors trend east-northeast, while the veins within them trend northeast. The mineralization is structurally-controlled and developed within a large deformational zone which coincides with the surface soil geochemistry, outlining a northeast-elongate area of approximately 4km by 2km. This anomaly covers both Limarinho and Limarinho South which are located in the centre.

Quality Assurance/ Quality Control

Samples were prepared by ALS Minerals at the Seville Laboratory, Spain. Soil samples were analyzed for gold using 50gm fire assay with ICP analysis and multi-elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer by ALS Minerals at the Omac Laboratory, Ireland. Rock samples were analyzed for gold using 50gm fire assay with AAS analysis and multi elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer by ALS Minerals at the Omac Laboratory, Ireland.

Certified reference materials, blanks, and field and laboratory duplicates were routinely inserted for quality assurance and quality control.

Qualified Person

David Clark, PGeo, consulting geologist to the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Clark has reviewed and approved the disclosure of technical information contained in this news release.

About Medgold

Medgold is a European-focused, TSX-V listed exploration and development company targeting gold properties in northwest Iberia and the under-explored gold provinces of southern Europe. Run by a highly experienced management team with a successful track record of building value in resource companies, Medgold is aiming to become a leading European gold company.

Additional information on Medgold can be found on the Company's website at www.medgoldresources.com and by reviewing the Company's page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Daniel P. James, President & Director

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 statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and include, without limitation, statements about the drill program on the Boticas-Chaves Gold Project. Often, but not always, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

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 results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; whether the drill program on the Boticas-Chaves Gold Project will be completed as planned; the Company or any joint venture partner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration and development goals; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to: that the drill program on the Boticas-Chaves Gold Project will be completed as planned; that the Company's stated goals and planned exploration and development activities will be achieved; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
   ,     :         ,   -  
Cool temps and falling leaves are usually the first signs of fall, but in the Parkland area, you know autumn is right around the corner when the Mineral Area Council on the Arts announces its new season.

Kicking things off this season is the councils annual Fall Party to be held on Sept. 17 at Twin Oaks Vineyard in Farmington.

As in years past, the council will be offering an evening of great music and a chance for local artists to sell some of their work during the silent auction.

We will have about 30 pieces of art from local artists for the silent auction, said Danielle Basler, the executive director for Mineral Area Council on the Arts (MACOA). We will also have some baskets and a package from Twin Oaks.

While enjoying the hors doeuvres and trying to decide on a piece of art, guests will be entertained this year by Sweetie and the Toothaches, a jump and barrelhouse blues group from St. Louis recommended by Miss Jubilee, who performed at the annual party the last couple of years.

They are an up and coming group out of St. Louis, Basler said. They have as similar sound, but its just a little bit different. I think people are going to like a fresh, new sound.

Tickets for the event are $25 a person and can be purchased through the councils website, MineralAreaArts.org.

Following the Fall Party, MOCOA will welcome Grupo Atlantico as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Mineral Area College Fine Arts Theater.

Grupo Atlantico is an organization that features music and dancing from countries, such as, Venezuela, Columbia and Puerto Rico, Basler said. We always try to do some type of arts from a different culture.

For something completely different, the council on arts will be sponsoring The Kitchen Table, a one-women show written and performed by Sharon Bebout-Carr.

Bebout-Carr, who hails from Lesterville and is a retired instructor of drama at Southeast Missouri State University, will tell the story of growing up as a coal miners daughter, Basler said.

The council will be teaming up with the city of Farmington to present Lets Hang On, a Frankie Valli Tribute at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Centene Center.

They say they are the number one Frankie Tribute band. Basler said. They have toured nationwide, and I think this will be a good show for us and the city of Farmington to bring to town. Frankie Vallis music appeals to a lot of people. First, just for those who like his music, and then there is a whole new group of people who enjoyed Jersey Boys.

Tickets for the performance will be $17.50 per seat and are available through the MOCOA website.

To begin the new year off, MACOA will be bringing the all-male A Capella group, Vocal Edge, to the MAC Fine Arts Theater on Jan. 14.

Vocal Edge is an A Capella group out of St. Louis, comprised mostly of music instructors who still have a love for performing and singing. They actually came to town last January and performed at the Park Hills-Leadington banquet. We got to preview then, and they are really good.

According to Basler, the group has a wide range of music that should to appeal a diverse audience.

On the heels of Vocal Edge, MACOA will once again partner with Farmington in presenting Junie Bs Survival Guide to School at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Centene Center.

We are very excited to bring this show to the Centene, Basler said.

Closing out the touring season the council on arts will welcome St. Louis Wind Symphony in concert on April 2, at the Ste. Genevieve Performing Arts Center.

Just to be clear, this is not the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Basler said. It a group of musicians that have a long standing reputation of being a quality organization.

For any questions, contact Basler at MineralAreaArts.org or at 573-518-2125.
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.
A secret mission carried out using an unmarked cargo plane carrying piles of currency acquired from the central banks of the Netherlands and Switzerland. This sounds like a scene from a James Bond movie, but in fact this is an actual scene of a secret mission carried out under the Obama Administration. It was recently uncovered that the Obama Administration shipped $400 million dollars using an unmarked cargo plane to Iran. Shortly after this money was shipped to Iran, American hostages were released. Coincidence? I think not.

If the $400 million dollars was not being used to pay a ransom to Iran for the release of American hostages, then why did the money have to be flown to Iran on an unmarked cargo plane as a secret mission? If the Obama Administration was really using this money to settle a decades-old dispute over a failed arms deal signed before the 1979 fall of Irans last monarch like they claim, then why didnt they just publicly disclose that to the American people? It seems like the Obama Administration went to great lengths to hide the spending of $400 million dollars. In fact, President Obama failed to disclose the spending of $400 million in a statement he gave at the White House on January 17th. Further, the Iranian commander of the Basij militia was quoted as saying that the money Iran exchanged with the U.S. was in return for the release of American spies.

After lying to the American public for almost seven months about how this top-secret $400 million was used, the Obama Administration finally confirmed yesterday that they did in fact use this $400 million to pay a ransom to Iran for the release of American hostages. This comes as no surprise to me because the Obama Administration continues to betray public trust. This ransom payment is a direct violation of the U.S. policy to not pay ransoms in order to discourage future hostage situations. What is alarming is that the Obama Administration has vehemently denied requests by Congress to disclose just how they spent a total of $1.7 billion dollars to Iran by the U.S. It is outrageous that the Obama Administration has out right lied to Americans for almost seven months about paying a ransom to Iran. American security is now in danger because of the actions of the Obama Administration.

It is no surprise that the Iranians are suspected of this $1.7 billion package to build up their own military. In fact, John Brennan, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said that they have found evidence that Iran has used the money it has received from the U.S. to build up its infrastructure. In other words, the U.S. is basically funding the dangerous Iranian military through funds approved by the Obama Administration.

This is completely unacceptable and infuriating especially because we already know how unaccountable the Obama Administration agencies and departments have been on a number of other issues. However, the U.S. should under NO circumstance enter into agreements with our enemies because that threatens American security, and the payment of ransom to Iran is a direct violation of our long-standing military policy to not pay ransom to countries that engage in terrorism. Last year, I voiced my opposition and then voted against the dangerous Iran Deal because it is clear that Iran is not a friend of the United States. Unfortunately, just as anyone with common sense would have predicted, lifting sanctions in Iran and providing them with resources is essentially rewarding bad behavior and condoning acts of terrorism. Again and again the Obama Administration has failed Americans and put our security at risk. They have lied to Americans for seven months about this issue, and potentially jeopardized our security in any number of ways. At a time when the U.S. needs to be projecting strength for our people and our allies, current American leadership has failed them and the only response is to present a "coincidence". We can and must do better, and as we were once told - let's hope for change.
A former law enforcement officer recently pleaded guilty to felony stealing stemming from an incident that occurred in September 2014.

Appearing with his lawyer Jason Tilley, Eric E. Smith stood before Circuit Judge Wendy Wexler Horn and entered a plea of guilty to the class B felony of stealing.

A former police officer for the city of Leadwood, Smith was working as a deputy for the Madison County Sheriffs Department when he was arrested for allegedly stealing $40,000 from a woman.

According to court records, Madison County Sheriff Bobby Spain requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol conduct an investigation into an allegation by a woman who said Smith stole about $40,000 in cash from her home. Spain said the incident took place while Smith was off duty and in plain clothes.

During the ensuing investigation, $26,875 in cash was found in Smith's residence. He later admitted to investigators that he stole the money from the woman on Sept. 28, 2014 while at her home in rural Madison County. He said he went to her residence as a follow-up to a call from the previous night.

Smith told authorities that while the woman was outside in her yard, he went inside and took the money from the safe in her bedroom. Smith said he knew the safe was there because the night before he had carried it into her home for her. The safe had been open so he knew there was money inside.

Because Smith was a Madison County deputy when he was arrested by highway patrol investigators in October 2014, he was booked into the Wayne County Jail.

After Smith entered the guilty plea, Judge Horn ordered a sentencing assessment report be completed by the Missouri Department of Corrections and set Smiths formal sentencing hearing on Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. Horn further ordered that Smith be allowed to remain free on bond until that date.

Smith faces up to 15 years in prison.

This wasnt the first time Smith faced felony stealing charges while acting as a commissioned law enforcement officer. While he was working as a police officer for Leadwood he was charged in Perry County with stealing and stealing by deceit, both class C felonies.

In that case he was accused of taking money from more than 30 customers for taxidermy work between September of 2011 and December of 2012 and not doing the work or returning the customers property. His taxidermy business was located in a garage next door to his home on Route O in Perry County.

A one-day trial was held in Cape Girardeau in August of 2013 on a change of venue. The judge found him not guilty of the charges.
A Farmington woman finally reunited with the child she gave up for adoption three decades ago is seeking to help adult adoptees make a connection with their birth parents thanks to a new state law that allows them to obtain a copy of their "original" birth certificate.

According to Missouri statutes, when an individual is adopted, an amended record of their birth certificate is established in the name of the adoptive parent or parents and their original birth certificate is sealed. A new certificate is then issued with all reference to the biological parent(s) names, as well as the adoptee's original name removed.

Prior to the recent signing of the Missouri Adoptee Rights Act by Gov. Jay Nixon, adoptees could only obtain their original birth certificate through a court order. They could only access identifying information in their adoption file if their biological parents gave their consent or died, but remained sealed if their biological parents could not be found.

Marge Hinkebein said the bill, sponsored by State Rep. Don Phillips, R-Kimberling City, would have never made it into law without the hard work of the Missouri Adoptee Rights Movement (MARM).

This is a good time to backtrack a little and learn how Hinkebein came to be a part of MARM.

Thirty-three years ago she was forced by her parents to give up her baby, a little girl. For years Hinkebein grieved the loss of the child she never knew.

"It was eating at me the whole time," she said. "I always thought of her  every birthday, every Mother's Day, every Christmas. When my other daughters were born, I just couldn't help thinking about it.

"I spent thousands of dollars trying to find my daughter through private detectives, Search Quest America, [adoptee locator] Troy Dunn  all of those and pretty much they just take your money. That's what they do to the adoptees too," she said.

After years of fruitless searching Hinkebein attended her first MARM meeting not knowing what to expect.

"I thought I was going to a support group," she said. "I met a lady there and she was like, 'We need birth mothers to help get this law passed. Heather Dodd, the founder of [MARM], said, 'I'd like to help you search for your child. I kind of laughed and said, 'OK, good luck on that one.' She found her in four hours."

While Hinkebein said she understands why the birth certificates of adopted children are altered, she insists they still have a right to know the identity of their birth parents. Now, because of the new law, she said that adopted adults born in Missouri prior to 1941 will be able to submit a request for a copy of their unaltered original birth certificate beginning Aug. 29. The state's birth certificate access laws became more strict in 1941.

"This Monday, Aug. 29, we've got a big deal going on," Hinkebein said. "We will be taking anyone born before 1941 to Vital Statistics in Jefferson City where they'll be able to file for their birth certificate.

"They said the reason they closed the records was because they promised mothers secrecy and all of that sort of stuff. I know I was never promised that and I've talked to quite a few other women who have never been promised that.

And as for adopted adults born in Missouri after 1940, Hinkebein said they will be able to submit their requests as of Jan. 2, 2018.

"There will also be a New Years event for those coming to Jefferson City to make their request," Hinkebein said. "We've already got like 400 people signed up for that. Missouri born adoptees may contact us through our website to be added to the notification list for that event."

Hinkebein noted that there is a $15 fee for the copy of the original birth certificate which is the same as the fee for the amended birth certificate.

Of course, while an original birth certificate can provide an adoptee vital information about their birth parents, actually finding their current whereabouts can still be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

"Heather will help them out," Hinkebein said. "We're going to build this. This group only started about two years ago and she stays busy. She's reunited more than 100 people. Heather is a Search Angel  volunteers who have the desire to reunite adopted children with their birth parents. The only thing they get out of it is the satisfaction of doing it  and there's quite a few of them around the United States."

But what about birth parents who don't want to be contacted by the children they put up for adoption?

"They can fill out a non-contact form and then they can still give the adoptee their medical records if they're at least willing to do that," Hinkebein said.

Some may wonder why after reconnecting with her own child that Hinkebein is spending her time and effort helping others do the same. She said, "This is my lifelong passion. It's the joy. I really feel that this is what God wants me to do. It's my mission and I'm one that will stand up and speak out and I don't care what people think about me. Back in the day people would say I was so horrible. I want other birth mothers not to be ashamed."

And by the way, Hinkebein's mother ended up helping in the search for the child her daughter gave up for adoption and became a participating member of MARM herself.

"My mom passed away in May at 84 years old in a motorcycle wreck," she said. "Before that, Mom went up with us to Jefferson City. I forgave her many, many years ago, but it was such a human process for her and helped her not to feel so bad.

"She was killed the day after the bill came through and we knew it was going to be signed by the governor, but she did know the birth certificates were going to be opened. I'm going to miss her this Monday because she would go in and talk to the representatives and the legislative assistants. She was right there beside me."

For more information about MARM and/or its upcoming events, visit the organization's website at www.missouriadopteerightsmovement.com or go to its page on Facebook.
North County Alumni Cadet Kalen Kahn of Bonne Terre has completed Cadet Basic Training (CBT) at the U.S. Military Academy.

Kahn entered West Point on June 27 and has successfully completed six weeks of CBT. According to a press release from West Point, CBT is one of the most challenging events a cadet will encounter over the course of their four years at the academy.

The initial military training program provides cadets with basic skills to instill discipline, pride, cohesion, confidence and a high sense of duty to prepare them for entry into the Corps of Cadets. Areas of summer instruction included first aid, mountaineering, hand grenades, rifle marksmanship and nuclear, biological, and chemical training.

Kahn began classes Aug. 15 and the West Point curriculum offers 37 majors balancing physical sciences and engineering with humanities and social sciences leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.

Kahn graduated from North County High School this past spring and received a Principal Nomination to the Academy from Congressman Jason Smith. Each member of Congress or MOC (Senators and U.S. Representatives) and the Vice-President can have a total of five cadets at West Point at any one time. Typically each MOC appoints one candidate per year. That way, there would be four or five cadets at West Point at any one time - usually one in each class.

When those cadets appointed by the MOC, graduate or drop out, another slot or slots are available for the MOC to fill. That's why in some cases a MOC can send more than one person to an academy in a given year.

Kahn plans to graduate from West Point in 2020 and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In an earlier interview, Kahn said he was a little surprised and excited when he received the nomination, but was happy to have the opportunity to have the chance to prove himself worthy. He said it was something he worked hard to achieve

Kahn also had the opportunity to attend the West Points prestigious Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) the summer before his senior year, which only confirmed his desire to attend West Point. Kahn was also a recipient of a presidential nomination while attending the summer course, which only 100 of those were given to attendees.

The mission of the U.S. Military Academy is to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as one of our nations premier leader-development institutions, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constantto educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I lost my place of residence two months ago, but I was able to stay with my family and friends until I came up with a way to sustain myself during this turbulent time of my life. I went to the local government offices and told them my situation, and they were able to provide me with a place to sleep in a men's shelter. This is a rough experience for me because I did not expect to be homeless. I would like to know how I can stay encouraged while this is going on. -- Keeping My Head Up High, New York City

DEAR KEEPING MY HEAD UP HIGH: I'm so sorry for your current state. Dealing with the stress of losing your home has got to be extremely difficult. The good news is that it seems you have been taking actions to stabilize your life. Better still, as in most cities, New York City government has many programs in place to help people get back on their feet. Ask people in charge at the shelter for what opportunities they know about that you can access. Talk to the people in administration to learn about subsidized housing availability and jobs. Get help updating your resume or creating one if you didn't have one before. Let the experts help you, as this is their job. By staying on top of things, you keep busy, which should help with your morale.

Look around you as well. You will notice that people from all walks of life sometimes find themselves in your position. By noticing the connection of humanity across color, age and class lines, you may be able to feel a little better. Stay focused on achievable goals, meaning break up your big goals into little ones. Every day, check something off of your list that you have accomplished.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a single woman, and I recently went back to college at 55 to receive my bachelor's degree. I kept this journey secret because I was embarrassed, since I should have finished my schooling 30 years ago. I received my diploma to no fanfare because I did not invite my family members to my graduation ceremony. I would have liked to invite my loved ones to attend, but my shame would not allow me to ask. I do not want to live in the shadow of shame and embarrassment anymore. How do I celebrate my life? -- No More Shame, Newark, New Jersey

DEAR NO MORE SHAME: Congratulations on your most recent achievement! That you went back to school in your 50s is commendable. Whenever you decide to tell your family, they will likely be very happy for you. More importantly, it is time for you to choose to be happy for yourself. It doesn't matter when your focus on personal achievement kicked in. What is important is that you are dedicated to fulfilling your dreams now. The way you celebrate is by continuing to put one foot in front of the other and doing what you heart desires -- and by letting your loved ones know so that they can celebrate your victories, large and small, with you.

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
Country

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 Bahamas, Commonwealth of the 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 Canada 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 Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic 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 Haiti, 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 Jamaica 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 Mexico, United Mexican States 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 US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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
KEARNEY  A 26-year-old Kearney man being held at the Buffalo County Jail today was accused of breaking a mans eye socket.

Around 10:20 p.m. Sunday, Kearney Police Department officers received a report from a 45-year-old Kearney man that someone had assaulted him with a pair of brass knuckles at Prairie View Apartments in southeast Kearney. When police arrived, they contacted the 26-year-old man and arrested him on suspicion of felony second-degree assault, using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A 17-year-old Kearney teen was also cited for misdemeanor third-degree assault in the incident.

A police incident report says the 45-year-old mans eye socket had been broken. The man was treated for his injury at Good Samaritan Hospital and released.

This morning, formal charges hadnt been filed by the Buffalo County Attorneys Office.

e-mail to:
LINCOLN  Violence erupted again Wednesday evening at a state prison, sending nine correctional staff members from the Lincoln Correctional Center to a hospital.

The confrontation flared when several inmates refused to return to their housing units. A special detail in riot gear was eventually deployed to help end the disturbance.

All inmates are in their cells, the facility is locked down and there is no risk to the public, said Dawn-Renee Smith, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. The immediate priority is getting medical care for staff members.

Six staff members were taken to a hospital by Lincoln rescue personnel and three by private vehicle, she said.

All were expected to be treated and released Wednesday night, Smith said.

Lincoln Fire Department radio transmissions indicated that two of the staff members lost consciousness, including a 50-year-old woman. Both were found in the infirmary in the basement. Another injured employee, a 24-year-old man, had been struck by a homemade weapon, according to radio transmissions.

Some corrections officers suffered from the effects of pepper spray.

Rescue personnel were first called to the prison, on the west edge of Lincoln, about 6:30 p.m.

Access to the prison was blocked off, and a stream of state vehicles arrived, including one driven by Col. Brad Rice, the superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

The disturbance marked the third time in 12 days that corrections staff required medical treatment following assaults at the Lincoln Correctional Center, a medium-maximum security facility designed to hold 308 inmates. The facility held an average of 502 inmates during the second quarter of 2016, which is about 70 percent over capacity.

The correctional center was put on lockdown status Wednesday night, meaning that inmates are mostly restricted to the cells, even during meal time.

The Lincoln prison was the site of a daring escape in June in which two prisoners slipped out by hiding in a laundry cart. An investigation into that escape is nearly completed, and some changes in security are underway at the facility, but there was no indication, as of Wednesday night, that the changes contributed to Wednesdays disturbance.

Mario Peart, who was warden at the time of the escape, retired on July 1 and was replaced by veteran warden Fred Britten, who also oversees the adjacent Diagnostic and Evaluation Center.

Mike Marvin, the head of the state employees union that represents corrections officers, said that he had few details about Wednesdays prison disturbance, but that staffing shortages have contributed to the incidents.

Overtime is frequently required to fill shifts, leading to tired officers and less-than-ideal conditions for security, he said. Inmates get less yard time and fewer privileges with skeleton staff, leading to unrest, Marvin said.

Things have been tense everywhere, he said of the states 10 prisons.

Another facility in Lincoln, the Nebraska State Penitentiary, had been put in lockdown status twice in recent weeks because of disturbances.

Assaults on officers had increased nearly threefold from 2013 to 2015, according to state statistics obtained by The World-Herald in April.

The Department of Corrections has wrestled with multiple problems in recent years, including overcrowded prisons, miscalculation of hundreds of inmate release dates, and high staff turnover and mandatory overtime. That led to the hiring of Scott Frakes, a 30-year veteran of the Washington state prison system in February of 2015. Gov. Pete Ricketts gave Frakes the task of changing the culture of the agency.

Three months after the new director arrived, a riot erupted at the Tecumseh State Prison that resulted in the deaths of two inmates and more than $2 million in damage. It was the worst prison uprising in Nebraska in six decades.
If ever there was a time for leadership in the Democratic Party on abortion, it is now. Americans are looking for a presidential candidate. They find themselves unable to vote for either major candidate in good conscience. A change in their positions on abortion could make a difference.

Perhaps thats why Hillary Clinton made reference to an unborn person on Meet the Press during this campaign cycle  an awareness that there are people she and her party completely alienate because of radicalism on abortion. But she didnt actually give an inch on her position.

Despite President Bill Clinton vetoing a ban on partial-birth abortions twice, the safe, legal and rare language of his White House years was encouraging. It acknowledged that the prevalence of sonograms makes it harder to deny that theres something that looks a lot like human life going on in a mothers womb, way before delivery.

And yet, even with that language, one only had to listen to pro-choice activists over the last decade to know that there was not a lot of tolerance for what many Americans might consider reasonable restrictions on abortion. Putting the Hyde Amendment on the chopping block has long been on the wish lists of advocates for legal and expanded abortion. With Republican speakers of the House of late, that wasnt happening. But with Catholic vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine giving cover for the position, this past week Planned Parenthood tweeted: The Hyde Amendment isnt just bad policy  its unpopular. Americans want abortion coverage for all!  with the hashtag #BeBoldEndHyde.

The Hyde Amendment is about government funding for abortion. Being bold, in this case, would be hubris. And its bad politics  if youre honest about it.

Instead, Planned Parenthood buttresses its anti-Hyde campaign with a poll from Hart Research Associates that asks respondents to agree or disagree with the statement, However we feel about abortion, politicians should not be allowed to deny a womans health coverage because she is poor. Health coverage? What Hyde actually does is keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortion. When you ask about that issue, as Marist did in July in polling commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, you learn that two-thirds of Americans agree Hyde is good policy.

Americans are a generous people who could never be completely comfortable with abortion. Many tolerate it because they want to know that a woman in a tough situation has a way out. Of course, ways out could include adoption, and for the sake of defending human life and families, we should do everything we can to make sure women know that is an option with support.

The fact of the matter is that, as lazy as it is to say pro-lifers only care about life in the womb, much of the country only knows the pro-life movement for what it is against. The faces and names and addresses of organizations who will walk with women and families and give them the help they need  like the Sisters of Life, Women Care Centers, maternity homes and crisis-pregnancy centers  need to become the same household names Planned Parenthood is.

Imagine for a moment: What if Hillary Clinton committed to codifying the Hyde Amendment and making it a formal law, so it would cease being a matter of endless, miserable debate? And what if she said that Planned Parenthood should no longer receive federal funding? Shed show some leadership of the kind weve long needed.

Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review Online and founding director of Catholic Voices USA.
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. Burkinis vs. bikinis. Beneath the clash over how to dress, or undress, on the beaches of France simmers an issue that for decades has divided the nation, and grown more complex in this time of terrorism.(AP Photo, File)
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)
Kashmiri Muslims offer prayers for Amir Mir who died of pellet injuries in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Severe protests continued in the valley with tens of thousands of Indian armed police and paramilitary soldiers patrolling the tense region after the killing of a popular rebel commander on July 8 sparked some of Kashmir's largest protests against Indian rule in recent years. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)


If you are one of those that enjoys shopping on Instagram, beware of the store that is called Azharas Boutique!

A KFBer reported this disappointing News to us.



So my colleague Nancy had her birthday on the 18th of August 2016. Her friend in Benin had asked her to pick an item on the Azharas boutique page on Tuesday 16th of August 2016.

Luckily, my Nancy was not greedy and she picked a sandal of N4,000, then sent the picture to her friend. She began talking to the Azharas boutique representative and she insisted that the item must be paid for upfront.

Well, the payment was made immediately into a Diamond bank account of one Azharas Mohammed and she confirmed payment immediately and was supposed to be delivered 2 days after, on Nancys birthday.



As of now, the item has only not been delivered, but Azharas boutique has blocked her on Instagram and refused to pick her calls and that of any other that brings up the issues.



Theres been investigations here and there and she is notorious for duping people. She either not deliver all of your items or not bother at all.

This girl needs to be stopped. It is really not about the N4,000, but that she has been in this since 2011.

Please find attached evidences KFB.

A scammed online user posted this on the 2nd of August

Another scammed victim

A chat with the scammer

A chat with the scammer, Azharas boutique

Chat continues

Another scammed victim cries out

Another scammed victim

Another chat

Guys, spread the word and be careful when you shop onlinethat is why it is always advisable to pay on delivery even when you have to order stuffs online!
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.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
Back in the late 90s, I began saying, Ill give the EU twenty years. At that point, the EU seemed to be going great guns, but I believed that it was an ill-conceived concept that wouldnt stand the test of time.

There were several reasons for my view. First, I didnt believe that those countries that were entitlement-focused, such as the Greeks, would ever be as fiscally responsible as, say, the Germans, so the Germans (and other countries where there was a responsible work ethic) would end up subsidizing the Greeks (and to a lesser extent, Spain, Portugal, etc.)

Second, culturally, there was so great a divide between, say, the Austrians and the French, that they could never substantially agree on the unions laws and directions.

Third, the countries of Europe have been at war with each other countless times over the centuries. They might agree to trade cooperation, but they would never agree to having a former enemy dictate policy to them. And it was baked in the cake that some members would have a louder voice than others and so, would seek to dominate.

In recent years, weve watched the EU stumble repeatedly. Invariably, Brussels has arrogantly assumed that it can dictate to all EU members, and offers few apologies for doing so. The individual countries leaders then do their best to explain to their own voters why Brussels should be able to behave like an oligarchy, and the voters understandably have become increasingly angry.

Eventually, the wheels were sure to come off the trolley and, with the UK Brexit vote, weve witnessed the first major blow to the survival of the EU.

Whilst the leave vote has been acknowledged, we should expect to see politicians placing stones in the road to Brexit, in addition to creating repeated delays. It would also not be surprising to see demands for a recall or even a nullification by the UK Supreme Court.

In the midst of this, were already seeing the predictable back-pedaling by those politicians and pundits who, up until the vote, were warning that a Brexit would spell unmitigated disaster for Britain. Most of them are now speaking instead of working on crafting a successful settlement. (After all, when the sky has failed to fall, they wont want the public to remember that they ranted like veritable Chicken Littles prior to the vote.)

But, in one sense, the Brexit will unquestionably spell disaster  not to Britain, as was claimed, but to Brussels.

Britain was never fully married to the EU; she was more a woman on the side, but in this case, it was the woman that was picking up the tab for the affair. In 2015 alone, the UK paid 13 billion into the EU budget, whilst EU spending on the UK was 4.5 billion. The UK's net contribution was therefore about 8.5 billion - a loss of 65% of its investment. Not money well-spent, considering the trade restrictions heaped on the UK by Brussels.

The 8.5 billion loss, of course, went to support the net-receiver members of the EU, such as the ever-unapologetic Greece.

Most of the above will be common knowledge, but heres a few pertinent questions that no one seems to be asking - at least not publicly:

At what point does the UK cease to pay into the EU?

Well, Brussels and those UK politicians that support the EU oligarchy concept will wish to delay that eventuality as long as they can. Consequently, we shall witness a struggle within British politics as politicians attempt to appear as though theyre honouring the voters edict, whilst finding repeated excuses to delay the Brexit. On the surface, it might not seem that theyd receive significant push-back, but, for those Britons who voted leave and, indeed for many who voted remain, the idea of Brussels demanding continued annual payment, whilst kicking the UK for choosing to leave, will result in the great majority of Britons becoming more than a little cross. (If were going to split the sheets, lets get on with it. Any discussion of alimony should be a non-starter to say the least.)

Whos going to pick up the tab when that flow of revenue ends?

Well, now, that really is a puzzler. A large part of the reason why the UK had to be such a significant net-contributor was that most full EU members couldnt scrape up their fair share. Even most of the larger members, such as France, are broke. They can no longer pay their domestic bills, let alone take on more major EU funding.

When all else fails, it typically falls to Germany (the country that was really responsible for the EUs creation in the first place) to pick up the tab. And it wouldnt be surprising if Mrs. Merkel were to attempt to sell the idea to the German people that her Fourth Reich must come up with the cash, or her dream will fall apart.

Interestingly, Mrs. Merkel enjoyed an increase in popularity after the Brexit vote, after having lost a great deal of support as a result of the refugee crisis. However, once the German people learn that they may be hit with yet another EU bill, her ratings may head south again. Shes up for a fourth term in 2017 and its uncertain whether the German people will know by that date how the EU hopes to share out the former UK portion of the EU tab.

Will that impact the continuation of the EU?

The bill will most assuredly go to the remaining net-payer members and, whoever gets handed the tab, the voters in these countries will most assuredly be asking themselves whether theyre facing diminishing returns. Certainly, Germany, France and the UK are presently taking the greatest shellacking. Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Finland are also net-contributors. But all the other 19 members are net-receivers.

Certainly, the politicians in these countries share in the EU power and will want to stay in, but their voters who, increasingly, are feeling the squeeze of the unacknowledged Greater Depression may assert themselves at the polling stations, demonstrating that theyre not willing to throw good money after bad.

In the end, the conceptual problems with the EUs existence may be outweighed by the economic ones. But of one thing we can be fairly certain: should the EU bite the dust in the coming years, the demand for its demise will come from the bottom up, not the top down.

Jeff Thomas

International Man and Strategic Wealth Preservation

jeff.thomas1066@gmail.com
Aug 25 (Reuters) - China's central bank has urged banks to spread out the tenors of their loans, hinting at its displeasure with a recent trend of banks focusing on overnight lending, banking sources told Reuters on Thursday.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) met with major banks on Wednesday to discuss management of liquidity in Chinese markets amid rising speculation over whether Beijing would continue its monetary policy easing or not, the sources said.

The PBOC declined comment.

(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Writing by Lu Jianxin and Nathaniel Taplin; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - Taiwan's overnight interbank rate opened lower at 0.175 percent on Thursday, from its previous session open of 0.178 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 overnight interbank rate has been guided to between 0.174 percent and 0.180 percent, from 0.20 percent since the central bank cut policy rates in late June.

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)
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 CMZN3 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 HER.TO , 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.

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 GMR.AX .

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 1208.HK , 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 IVN.TO 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 IBG.AX , 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 GLEN.L , 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)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - A dispute over C$2 billion ($1.55 billion) worth of Canadian canola exports to China intensified on Thursday when Beijing criticized Ottawa's insistence that bilateral relations could not improve until the matter is settled.

The situation threatens to mar Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China next week.

"We oppose linking a concrete issue of bilateral trade with China-Canada relations," the Chinese embassy in Ottawa said by email.

Canada, the world's biggest canola exporter, wants China, its top export market for the oilseed, to drop plans to toughen inspection standards on Sept 1. The crop is used mainly to produce vegetable oil.

China says the tougher standard on foreign material is needed to protect against crop disease.

"The quarantine of canola is merely a technical issue that should be solved properly through consultations by relevant competent departments," said the embassy.

The mission issued its statement after Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday that "we cannot take the next step in our relationship with China" until the issue had been resolved. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N1B51W5 Freeland called Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng late on Wednesday to convey Canada's concerns, but her intervention did not produce an immediate breakthrough.

"They agreed to continue working closely and to remain personally focused on a solution," said Freeland's spokesman, Alex Lawrence. Asked about the embassy statement, he said Freeland had nothing to add.

China imports 3 million to 4 million tonnes of Canadian canola seed annually.

"If one of your biggest customers isn't there to buy from you, in combination with (big) canola production, prices are going to have to come down," said Tony Tryhuk, manager of commodity trading at RBC Dominion Securities.

ICE Canada canola futures for November delivery RSX6 fell 1.7 percent on Thursday.

China has raised concerns for years that blackleg disease could spread from canola into Chinese rapeseed, another name for the oilseed.

Traders suggest China's real reason for a higher standard is its ample domestic rapeseed oil stocks, similar to other disputes.

China effectively halted imports of U.S. corn and corn products for more than a year beginning in late 2013 as the country rejected shipments of an unapproved biotech variety.

Traders speculated that the spat was tied to China's domestic grain surplus.

Similarly, some traders believe a recent antidumping dispute raised by China over U.S. distillers' grains is aimed at supporting China's ethanol industry.

($1=$1.29 Canadian) (Additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Alan Crosby and Bill Rigby)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG VOWG_p.DE has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion to compensate its 650 U.S. dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday.

The company and a lawyer for VW dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco, but declined to disclose the amount. The settlement, which followed talks that began in May, came as a judge ordered VW to move quickly to decide whether to fix or buy back 85,000 3.0 liter luxury vehicles with polluting engines.

The settlement includes $1.2 billion in payments for the reduction in value of VW dealerships and additional payments for vehicles that could not be sold, the sources said. VW has also agreed to continue to make certain incentive payments to dealers, they said.

"We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States," said Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of VW's North American region.

The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5 billion in total in the United States to address emissions issues, but by no means is out of the woods. Volkswagen still faces billions of dollars in potential civil and potential criminal U.S. fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines.

VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 U.S. states.

VW's U.S. dealers have been barred from selling new diesel vehicles for nearly a year.

The agreement in principle must still be approved by the court. Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to repurchase unfixable, used 2.0 liter diesel vehicles on dealers' lots under the same terms of a consumer buy-back, said Steve W. Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers at the hearing.

The deal would help "heal the wounds between Volkswagen and the dealers," who "like consumers, have been financially hurt here," he said. "They have cars on their lots they can't sell, their franchise value has gone down and they've invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises." As a result of the scandal, the automaker's U.S. sales are down 13.6 percent in 2016 after falling 5 percent last year.

VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines at a cost of up to $10.03 billion.

Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Volkswagen and federal regulators to start settlement talks to resolve the fate of 85,000 3.0 liter diesel vehicles that could include a buy-back offer for those Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles.

Buying the expensive larger cars and SUVs sold since 2009 could cost VW billions of dollars.

But VW lawyer Robert Giuffra said the automaker believes it can fix those vehicles. "We've got to persuade the government that we have a fix," he said, adding that the issue is extremely complex and involves "two million lines of code." Breyer set a Nov. 3 hearing for an update on the status of the talks and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue. He said he wanted to ensure "a strong sense of reality" in finding a solution, calling it "intolerable" that the polluting cars remain on U.S. roads.

Breyer said VW will be forced to repair the polluting vehicles, buy them back or offer both options.

VW must submit by late October its specific plans to fix the 3.0 liter vehicles, which it said include a mix of software upgrades and emissions equipment modifications.

Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. The settlement is worth about $1.8 million on average per dealer, but Berman said in a statement that dealer payouts "under the proposed settlement will depend on the size of the dealership and the size of the market it serves, among other factors." VW and the dealers told Breyer they plan to file details of the agreement by the end of September.

The U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency have not yet reached a deal with Volkswagen on fines as part of a separate settlement that could lead to an outside monitor overseeing VW's compliance with U.S. laws.

Reuters reported that VW held preliminary talks this month with the Justice Department to settle outstanding issues. It also agreed to open settlement talks with four states that have sued over environmental harms.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler and Meredith Mazzilli)
By Tad Sooter of the Kitsap Sun

BREMERTON  Port of Bremerton commissioners awarded a contract Tuesday night to continue cleanup of an industrial building contaminated by metal-plating businesses.

Rivers Edge Environmental Services Inc. entered the lowest of three bids for the project at $74,460 (the port will pay about $81,000 after taxes). The work will take a month. Port Facilities and Planning Director Steven Sparks said there were few firms qualified to handle the complex removal of trace chemicals.

"It's a very specialized industry," he said.

The port already spent about $35,000 for testing and cleanup at the Olympic View Industrial Park building, which had housed metal-plating businesses for nearly 20 years. Chemicals used in the plating process had soaked into the concrete floor, the soil underneath the structure and drywall. Additional tests found trace chemicals coating horizontal surfaces in the upper reaches of the shop. Toxins identified in the building included arsenic, cadmium, cyanide and lead.

Sparks said the port will have to pay more money to have contaminated material removed. The port plans to contact insurance companies for the previous tenants to seek compensation.

The most recent tenant was Art's Custom Chrome, which moved out in November. Reached for comment Friday, owner Art Bottger said he spent $30,000 clearing out the shop, scrubbing floors and disposing of leftover chemicals before vacating. He noted his business occupied the building for three years, after taking over the lease from Electro Forming Systems, which had been there since 1998. Bottger said he hadn't heard from the port in months and was surprised to learn of the extensive cleanup project underway.

"We left absolutely nothing but the concrete," Bottger said. "Here I thought I'd done a good job, but now it sounds like not so much."

Neighboring tenant Stripe Rite, which shares a wall with the former metal-plating shop, was equally surprised to find out about the cleanup. Stripe Rite branch manager Eben Erickson told the port commission Tuesday that he didn't know about the contamination until reading about it in the Kitsap Sun.

"As a tenant, wouldn't you expect a landlord would make you aware that there's a toxic cleanup underway next door, when you're sharing the building?" Erickson said. "I think it's inexcusable that the port has known about this for an extended amount of time and allowed me and my employees to occupy the building."

Port CEO Jim Rothlin declined to comment on why Stripe Rite wasn't notified, following advice from attorney Gordon Walgren.

Update: Port CEO Jim Rothlin said Thursday the port previously contacted the Stripe Rite corporate office to notify them of the cleanup, but that information may not have been relayed to employees at Stripe Rites Bremerton branch. Rothlin said testing showed contamination was contained to the former chrome plating businesss shop space, which is separated from Stripe Rite by an office space.
Chain saw artist Tony Robinson, of Ocean Shores, sculpts Bigfoot during the woodcarvers show Wednesday at the Kitsap County Fair. He won the contest.

LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

SHARE The audience cheers for chain saw artist Tony Robinson's Bigfoot creation at the woodcarvers show Wednesday at the Kitsap County Fair. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Chain saw artists Tony Robinson (left) and Josh Blewett compete Wednesday at the woodcarvers show at the Kitsap County Fair. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Related Coverage Mail truck delivers the past

By Christian Vosler, christian.vosler@kitsapsun.com

FAIRGROUNDS  Patrons Wednesday at the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede were privy to a perplexing sight: two competitors, armed with chain saws, duking it out to see who could create the best sculpture in 15 minutes.

By the time they were done, two normal-looking logs had been transformed into works of art, and one audience member walked away with an impressive rendition of Bigfoot.

Professional chain saw carving is a niche profession, but one that Steve Backus, owner of Big Shot Woodcarvers, said has been gaining popularity over the past 15 years. The exhibit, in its freshman year at the fair, is unique in that carvers can work continuously throughout the day, giving fairgoers something to watch no matter the time of day.

Backus, a second-generation carver and self-described "elder statesman" of the craft, has been coordinating carving events like the one at the fair for more than 30 years. The main pull of chain saw sculpture, he said, is its curious juxtaposition of beauty and destruction.

"It's kind of an industrial art form," he said. "It's messy, it's noisy, it's like war."

The art evolved out of the timber industry in the Northwest, Backus said, and has developed into a worldwide phenomenon. He recently returned from a competition in Germany. Another sculptor, Bruce Thor, has carved in Japan, Germany, England and Scotland. The independence and freedom of expression that comes with carving drew him to the craft.

"The fact that a chain saw has taken me all over the world ... all of it, you see all of these great, amazing, wonderful things because I create art with a chain saw," he said.

While Backus' business is the headliner at the fair, the group of carvers come from a background as diverse as the sculptures they craft.

Tony Robinson, the creator of the winning Bigfoot sculpture, takes his life motto from William Blake: "I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create."

"We don't care, we just have fun, you know, we're like a family," he said. Robinson has been carving for about five years, picking it up at a low point in his life. Now, he has his own carving business in Ocean Shores. Josh Blewett, his opponent, also has his own business in Oregon.

Part of the goal of shows like the one at the fair is to help create job opportunities for the artists, Backus said. At the conclusion of "quick carve" competitions, artists' work is auctioned off to the audience. Larger, more involved pieces are worked on steadily throughout the week and will be auctioned off Saturday night at the fair.

"Any of these guys here that showed up with a healthy attitude and prepared some inventory should make some money," Backus said.

Ultimately, what makes chain saw artists tick is the same thing as any other artist: the love what they do.

"I create happy art and I like to be happy, and some of the stuff I've created for people they've had for five to 10 years," Thor said. "They call me still and tell me still how much it inspires them and how good it makes them feel. It always surprises me that a simple cartoonist from Kent, Washington, can pick up a chain saw and make a log into something that will inspire somebody for a decade."

Big Shot Woodcarvers and associated chain saw carvers will be at the Kitsap County Fair through Sunday. Quick-carve competitions are held at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily. An ice-carving competition is slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday followed by the auction at 5 p.m.

Kitsap County Fair and Stampede

Thursday highlights

Discount day: Hero Day, $5 admission for all military (active duty, retired and dependents) and first responders with ID

Rodeo: 6:30 p.m. at Thunderbird Stadium

Featured music: Jackson Michelson, about 9 p.m. at Thunderbird Stadium (after the rodeo)
SHARE

Larry Seaquist, Gig Harbor

WSF gives up on locals with galley change

Like thousands of other ferry riders, I was alarmed when Washington Ferry Service headquarters suddenly announced that they were abandoning our local food service vendor and his longtime local employees in favor of a large East Coast corporation with a troubled track record. Worse, by forcing an immediate handoff, WSF will shut down food service during the height of tourist season. I joined more than 13,000 others to sign a petition to the governor. I also wrote directly to Olympia higher ups asking them to reconsider.

I just got an e-letter back from WSF with the basic message to go pound sand. Only an agency in need of reform could come up with this "logic": They agree they are supposed to give local Washington companies preference but claim they selected the East Coast company so they could feature more local products. They agree they need the trained local staff to do the work but insist the current crew will get preference (after they are laid off during the shutdown/turnover).

I had hoped that after years of bipartisan pressure, our ferry system headquarters had begun to reform itself, take better care of their employees, and deliver better service.

Gov. Inslee, a longtime ferry rider, knows the system well. This an opportunity for him to step in, unravel this mess  and maybe fire a few people.
Stuff reports:

Dairy giant Fonterra has been accused of economic treason after shipping thousands of dairy cows from Timaru to China.  New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said this trend would cripple our competitive strength and exporting dairy cows to China was a betrayal of the nations economy.

The person guilty of economic treason is Peters who campaigned against the China FTA which has seen exports to China soar.

As usual, Peters is making things up.

However, a Fonterra media spokesperson said the cows that left Timaru had not been sold to the Chinese, but they would be going to one of five farming hubs in China owned by Fonterra. We import our own animals to help us maintain our high standards of milk quality, which ultimately helps us secure a premium price for our milk in the Chinese market, she said.

So this helps Fonterra sell more milk in China. Farmers should tell Peters to butt out of telling them what to do  just as they have with Silver Fern Farms.

Rearing and grazing livestock for export also provided an important additional source of income for many farmers in New Zealand, she said.

So Peters is against farmers being able to produce more income for themselves.

Share this: Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Reddit

WhatsApp

More

Pinterest

Print



Tumblr


The Privacy Commissioner, John Edwards, writes:

Under current law, there is little to stop the NZSIS accessing any public or private sector database with the consent of the agency concerned, and allowing the SIS to have access is never a breach of the Privacy Act. Cullen and Reddy described this as open slather. It also lacks transparency. Part 5 of the Bill provides for the intelligence and security agencies to have routine direct access tospecified databases, but this access will be governed by direct access agreements entered into between the minister responsible for the agency with the database, and the minister responsible for the intelligence and security agency. In preparing those agreements, the ministers have to consult with the Privacy Commissioner, and the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security, and must have regard to our comments. We will be looking for proportionate access, good record keeping and audit, and sound policies around the retention of the data accessed. Those agreements will be publicly available. That represents a significant improvement on the status quo in relation to those databases.

That is a significant change.

for the last 23 years, the intelligence and security agencies havent even had to worry about complying with the information privacy principles everyone else has to comply with (except for 6 and 7 which provide for your access and correction rights, and 12 which is about unique identifiers). Neither the Law Commission in its review of the Privacy Act in 2011, nor the Cullen/Reddy review recommended changing that position. However, my office continued to advocate for the agencies to be subject to a greater range of privacy principles. As a result, the government has agreed that the intelligence and security agencies should be exempt only from principles 2, 3 and 4(b). Ill be taking that up with the Select Committee, but the Bill as introduced represents a significant advance. Principles will have exceptions to allow the agencies to carry out their statutory functions, and I want to look at whether those are sufficiently clear to ensure the application of the privacy principles will be meaningful. Id like to have seen a link to a more clearly defined imperative to protect national security, but well keep working on it, and see if we can come up with something workable for the committee to consider. The fact that the agencies will be subject to nine of the 12 privacy principles means that my office will play a greater role in the oversight of the agencies, and concerned individuals will have a right to make complaints about a wider range of activities. Ill work out with the Inspector-General which cases it will make more sense to transfer to her, but again, that represents an improvement on the status quo.

Worth remembering this as the Greens and Peter Dunne denounce the bill.

The Inspector General has been very active in examining the practices and procedures of the GCSB and NZSIS. Of course she is there to ensure they are complying with the law, but she has increasingly pointed out risks and practices that could be improved, even when they are not unlawful. Take security vetting for example. The SIS holds very personal and intimate details about thousands of New Zealanders who needed to undergo vetting as a condition of their employment. She has reported on her concerns that vetting information could be used by the Service for unrelated purposes. I share that concern. The Bill proposes that that information be subjected to protections even more stringent than the Privacy Act, so that is another improvement on the what we have at the moment.

Also sounds good.

Share this: Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Reddit

WhatsApp

More

Pinterest

Print



Tumblr


Stuff reports:

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.

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.

WikiLeaks global crusade to expose government secrets is causing collateral damage to the privacy of hundreds of innocent people, including survivors of sexual abuse, sick children and the mentally ill, The Associated Press (AP) has found.

Theyre becoming like Gawker!

They published everything: my phone, address, name, details, said a Saudi man who told AP he was bewildered that 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.

Assange doesnt care.

The Saudi diplomatic cables alone hold at least 124 medical files, according to a sample analysed by AP. Some described patients with psychiatric conditions, seriously ill children or refugees.

This has nothing to do with politics or corruption, said Dr. 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. Dr. 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 in a telephone interview. It is illegal!

The AP, which is withholding identifying details of most of those affected, 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.

One, a partially disabled Saudi woman whod secretly gone into debt to support a sick relative, said she was devastated. Shed kept her plight from members of her own family.

This is a disaster, she said in a phone call. What if my brothers, neighbours, people I know or even dont know have seen it? What is the use of publishing my story?

Medical records are widely counted among a persons most private information. But the AP found that WikiLeaks also routinely publishes identity records, phone numbers and other information easily exploited by criminals.
From left, teachers Ashley Brooks, Debbie Kipp, and Lisa Stone at Elkmont this summer.

SHARE Ashley Brooks, a teacher at Dogwood Elementary, at the foot of one of the largest trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this summer. From left, teachers Debbie Kipp, Lisa Stone, and Ashley Brooks visit Newfound Gap. Gloria McElroy in a World War II fighter plane on the U.S.S. Midway this summer.

By Rebecca D. Williams, Special to the News Sentinel

For many teachers, summer is a time to rest and recharge for the new school year.

But some educators take on a second job, or they spend weeks away from home attending professional development classes to further their own education.

Several local teachers were admitted into competitive teacher teaching and learning programs. Here's how they spent their summer vacations-that-weren't-vacations:

wild ENCOUNTERS

Ashley Brooks, a special education teacher at Dogwood Elementary School, said she encountered serious wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a six-week paid position with the Teachers in Parks program.

"Well, I was charged by bears and elk," said Brooks. "Plus I was a foot-and-a-half from a rattlesnake. He was pretty docile, but he let out a little rattle to let me know he was there."

"I usually get a second job in the summer at a restaurant, but they were slow this year, so I jumped at this chance," said Brooks. "I learned so much. It'll be interesting to weave those lessons into my teaching at Dogwood."

Brooks said Dogwood partners with the park to train teachers how to use their outdoor classroom and a trail they have on school grounds.

"It would blow your mind to know how many students have not visited the national park," said Brooks. "We have a culture so involved in technology and indoor settings, plus a lot of our kids are from the inner city and low economic settings, and they do not have backyards. But they love to get outside, and I think this will be a real treat for them."

In addition to Brooks, Debbie Kipp and Lisa Stone, who teach Spanish 1 and 2 at Sevier County High School, were also in the Teachers in Parks program.

All three teachers worked alongside a group of about 20 high school interns from Tennessee and North Carolina participating in the American Conservation Experience, a program for teenagers interested in park careers.

The teachers supervised the students, participated in the Synchronous Firefly Event, assisted in park research on fisheries and birds, and led some of the popular Junior Ranger programs like the "Stream Splashers" event at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.

"I can understand how biology teachers are connected with the national park, but I have found so many ways I can connect the park with my classroom and promote it with my Spanish students," said Stone.

"For example, I learned there are 30 species of birds in our national park that are migratory. We share them with Central and South America. It is considered a temperate rain forest."

On Oct. 8, Kipp and Stone will return to the park and volunteer for a Spanish language event called "Encuentre Su Parque," or "Find Your Park" in Spanish.

The two have been helping to develop Spanish language materials this summer (see sidebar).

"We're really just following along with the (National Park Service) centennial theme, Find Your Park," said Stone.

"Debbie and I are so honored to be working on this first-time project, because diversity is so important for the future of the National Park System," she said. "Our focus is on diversity and trying to get all people to come to the park."

Urban History

Bearden High School government teacher Gloria McElroy applied for two prestigious seminars this summer and got accepted to both, earning her an all-expense-paid trips to both New York City and San Diego.

In New York, she was one of 30 teachers chosen for a week-long seminar called "The Founding Era," at the Gilder Lehrman History Institute of American History. Taught by historian Richard Brookhiser of the National Review, the seminar was about the American Revolution and its aftermath and included access to source materials from the Gilder Lehrman Collection.

"I got to see an original Paul Revere silver etching of the Boston Massacre," said McElroy. "Of course we went to Alexander Hamilton's house and visited his grave. It was an unbelievable experience. I learned so much, and I've taught government for years."

McElroy also traveled to San Diego for two weeks to attend the Midway Institute for Teachers' Cold War, Korea and Vietnam program for history teachers. It included lecturers, university historians and meetings with individuals who experienced the events of the area.

"We met and visited with people who were saved from Vietnam after the war, by the U.S.S. Midway," said McElroy. "It was incredible to meet those people."

At the end of her summer of learning, McElroy said she still had time for some fun. "Many teachers are so overwhelmed, they don't want to do anything in the summer," she said. "But after the seminar, of course I went to Disneyland. And even at my age, I rode Dumbo first!"
This is a tri-colored bat with white-nose syndrome. Researchers estimate the tri-colored bat population in the Smokies is down 73 percent since the disease hit the park. (GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK)

By Kristi L. Nelson of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Two nonprofits have announced they'll put $100,000 toward fighting a fungus that is wiping out several species of cave bats.

Bat Conservation International and the Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy will give $100,000 in funding to support three research projects to fight white-nose syndrome.

The lethal disease, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans fungus, was named for the powdery flecks it forms on bats' muzzles. This past winter, researchers surveying caves in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park found a decline of 83 percent to 94 percent among the six bat species living there. The park has closed caves in an attempt to minimize the spread.

The projects the two organizations will fund vary widely in their approaches to managing the fungus.

"We need to have many different tools in our toolbox," said Katie Gillies, Imperiled Species director for Bat Conservation International. "With the recent jump of white-nose syndrome to Washington State, more than 1,300 miles from the nearest confirmation of the disease in the east, it is important now more than ever to have a range of tools in our arsenal against the fungus. There isn't likely to be a single silver bullet, as white-nose syndrome is affecting several species across a broad geographic area. Developing a suite of tools is likely to be more effective than putting all our eggs in one basket."

One project, proposed by Dr. Jeff Foster at Southern New Hampshire University, uses an environmental cleaning agent  chlorine dioxide, already widely used to sanitize fruit, eggs and drinking water  to reduce the amount of fungus in human-made bat hibernation sites, like mines.

Another, proposed by Dr. Maarten Vonhoff at Western Michigan University, will use the natural biopolymer chitosan to treat bats in the wild, to see if it increases the survival of bats exposed to the fungus.

The third, proposed by Dr. Craig Willis at the University of Winnipeg in Canada, will test the safety and efficacy of two antimicrobial and enzyme inhibitor treatments for white-nose syndrome, hoping at least one can help bats better survive exposure to the fungus.

Great Smoky Mountains Park wildlife biologist Bill Stiver told the News Sentinel in March that a small percentage of bats survive the fungal infection, "but we're not sure why."

Since its 2006 arrival in North America, white-nose syndrome has killed more than 6 million bats of seven different species. It's been found in 29 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces.

Both organizations are soliciting donations to fund research into the problem, at www.batcon.org/wns_donate or www.nature.org/tngiving.

SEE ALSO:

Smokies to host appreciation luncheon for employees today

4 East Tennessee cities call on Congress to pay for repairs in Smokies
By Travis Dorman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Lenoir City will pay out "six figures" to stave off the threat of a lawsuit from the family of a man killed by a police officer in March, an attorney said Wednesday.

The city reached the agreement Monday with the family of Joshua William Grubb of Clinton, said T. Scott Jones, the family's attorney. He wouldn't give a specific amount.

"We were pleased with the resolution," Jones said. "Obviously, we were incredibly chagrined that the young man lost his life, and there is no amount of money to compensate his mother and his family for the loss."

A Loudon County grand jury in April ruled out any charges against Lenoir City Police Department Officer Tyrel Lorenz in the case. Lorenz later resigned.

On March 13, Lorenz responded to a report of a drunk driver at Bimbo's, a convenience store on U.S. Highway 321. He was in the process of arresting a passenger in Grubb's pickup for public intoxication when Grubb, 30, began to drive off, and the 6-foot, 8-inch tall Lorenz either fell or leapt into the bed of the truck, authorities have said. Lorenz's body camera captured the incident on video.

That video and security footage from a store camera showed Lorenz shouted twice for Grubb to stop the vehicle before shooting at him nine times through the back window, approximately six seconds after entering the truck bed. The mortally wounded Grubb crossed the U.S. 321 median and traveled nearly a mile in the wrong direction before crashing into a utility pole.

An autopsy later showed Grubb was under the influence of alcohol and drugs that included methamphetamine, morphine and Valium at the time of the shooting. Lorenz shot Grubb in the back, in the head, three times in the right arm and shoulder, and once in the left shoulder and forearm, the autopsy found.

Grand jurors ruled in April that Lorenz shot Grubb in "an attempt to stop Grubb as Lorenz was in fear for his life and the safety of others on Highway 321." Lorenz, who was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting, was put back on the street on April 14. He resigned on May 25.

Jones said the Grubb family disputed the grand jury's findings. He said he drafted a complaint that argued Lorenz's "cowboy cop position" and "lack of training" led to Grubb's death and presented it to city officials.

"We recognize that a lot of folks would have said if it weren't for Joshua Grubb beginning to drive off, it wouldn't have happened," Jones said. "But committing what amounts to a misdemeanor does not put you in a position where a law enforcement officer is allowed to take your life. ... He basically appointed himself judge, jury and executioner."

Lenoir City Assistant Administrator Amber Scott confirmed the negotiations took place but said the final documents weren't available on the payout Wednesday.

"I'll let the paperwork speak for itself," she said.

Lenoir City Police Chief Don White didn't immediately return a call Wednesday.
By Gerald Witt of the Knoxville News Sentinel

MARYVILLE  A Maryville police officer shot and killed while answering a domestic violence call was identified Friday as Kenny Moats.

Moats, 32, was killed by a single gunshot wound to the neck just above his ballistics vest, according to the Maryville Police Department.

Moats, the father of three children, had been with the MPD since 2007 and was a graduate of Maryville High School. He also graduated from the Walters State Police Academy in 2005.

The alleged shooter, identified as Brian Keith Stalans, 44, was taken into custody and is being held for investigation pending charges that will likely be placed on him Friday, according to the Blount Count Sheriff's Office.

Moats was pronounced dead Thursday at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said.

The chief asked for prayers as he spoke at a news conference outside the emergency room just before dusk.

"We ask our citizens to remember this officer's family and his three small children," Crisp said.

See also: Social media tributes pour in after fallen Maryville officer shot, killed

The shooting happened around 4 p.m. near the corner of Kerrway Lane and Alcoa Trail, Crisp said.

Officers had been called to the home earlier in the day but left without making an arrest, the chief said. He didn't say why no arrest was made.

The Maryville officer and a Blount County Sheriff's Office deputy, both members of the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force, responded to the second call, which "involved a gun," Blount County Sheriff James Berrong said. He didn't give the deputy's name.

Another unit had been dispatched, but the narcotics team was in the area and responded to the call, authorities said.

The law enforcement officers parked their car at a residence about 70 yards behind the house from which the call originated, according to the Blount County Sheriff's Office news release sent late Thursday night.

Once on the scene, investigators were able to take the victim, who is Stalans' father, into a safe area. The officers had then positioned themselves behind their vehicle waiting on help to arrive while watching the house when Stalans opened fire on them from his father's garage, the news release said.

The other investigator, a Blount County deputy, returned fire on Stalans. Another Blount County deputy arrived on the scene during this time and returned fire on Stalans.

The deputies were able to take Stalans into custody and he was transported to the Blount County Detention Facility.

The two Blount County deputies are currently on administrative leave with pay.

Zack Wooldridge, who lives nearby, said he heard the gun battle break out.

"It was definitely more than one shot  multiple gunshots," he said.

Knoxville police escorted the ambulance carrying the officer on the drive to the hospital along Alcoa Highway. Deputies remained at the shooting scene into the night, with much of the road closed, while deputies from neighboring Loudon and Anderson counties helped out with patrols.

His voice wavering during the news conference, Crisp said Moats had been with the Maryville Police Department for "several years."

"He had recently been assigned to the narcotics unit," Crisp said.

The last time a Maryville police officer was killed on duty was more than three decades ago on Feb. 21, 1981, when John Michael Callahan II was struck by a drunken driver while riding his patrol motorcycle on Merritt Road, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks police deaths in the line of duty.

Crisp said officers of the department will lean on one another for support in the days to come.

"We live in a great place, and we're not immune to tragic events like this," Crisp said. "We're grateful for our city, and this is a sad day for our city. We ask all people to join in our prayers."

Nationwide, 75 officers have died in the line of duty so far this year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation website.

Four of those deaths had been reported in Tennessee as of earlier this week. The state is tied with California for third in the nation, according to the foundation.
SHARE

By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE  A jury convicted a member of the Crips street gang on Thursday of robbing a 79-year-old man, according to a news release from Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen.

Dennis Christopher Lowery, 35, was convicted of robbery and theft over $10,000. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 22.

The elderly man had just eaten breakfast at the Hardee's restaurant on Chapman Highway, and he was headed to the bank to deposit $26,000 in cash when Lowery approached, chased him around his vehicle and grabbed the cash from his pockets, according to the release.

Lowery was identified by multiple employees, and he was recorded on the restaurant's surveillance cameras.

At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors will seek an enhanced sentence because of the nature of the crime, as well as Lowery's membership in the Crips gang, according to the release.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday's News Sentinel.
SHARE Donald Ray Hunt, charged with the March 2015 murder of Kendale Gardner, 19. (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

After a trial in which a special prosecutor impugned an entire Knoxville neighborhood and a defense attorney mounted a rare false confession argument, a jury on Wednesday served up an acquittal in the fatal shooting of a teenager.

A six-man, six-woman jury in Knox County Criminal Court spent roughly five hours deliberating before finding Donald Ray Hunt not guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Kendale Garner, 19, and of attempted first-degree murder in the wounding of Garner's brother, Demetrius K. Holmes Jr., 22, in March 2015.

Hunt was 17 at the time of the shooting, which occurred a block away from Knoxville Police Department headquarters on the outskirts of downtown Knoxville. Garner, testimony showed, believed Hunt had called his girlfriend a derogatory name. Twice, the pair almost came to blows.

But Hunt insisted in testimony Wednesday he wasn't there the night Garner and Holmes were shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex at the intersection of Hall of Fame Drive and Summit Hill Drive  even though a day after the shooting, Hunt told Knoxville Police Department Investigator Clayton Madison he was not only there, but that he was the shooter.

Defense attorney Adam Elrod contended Hunt was a scared boy whose older brother was initially being implicated when Hunt agreed to talk to Madison. Elrod said Madison pushed Hunt to say the shooting was an act of self-defense, which he did.

"(Police said) 'Tell us it was self-defense,' " Elrod said.

Elrod also presented testimony about the danger of false confessions by teenagers who feel pressured.

Holmes, who is in prison for violent crimes, didn't identify Hunt as a shooter until he wound up facing imprisonment and only after Hunt had confessed. Both Garner and Holmes were armed that night. Testimony showed a second shooter's bullet struck Holmes in the leg, but that suspect has never been charged.

Because the Knox County District Attorney General's Office prosecuted Holmes, special prosecutors Justin Walling and Tony Craighead handled the case.

Craighead in closing arguments lambasted Knoxville's inner city for its casual gun violence.

"I'm a small-town country boy," he said. "I can't imagine living that way. That's the life these people live. To us, that's crazy. In that part of Knoxville, that's how life is."
SHARE Governor Bill Haslam.

By News Sentinel Staff

Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday announced he will visit members of his Teacher Cabinet in their schools this school year as he continues to keep the lines of communication open between classrooms and the Tennessee Capitol.

Haslam kicked off this year's "Capitol to the Classroom" visits Thursday in Memphis, where he sat in with Karen Vogelsang's third-grade class at Winridge Elementary School. Vogelsang was the 2015 Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

"Tennessee is the fastest improving state in the country thanks to the hard work of our teachers and students, and we've followed up the success we're seeing in the classroom by making record investments in our schools, including the largest investment ever without a tax increase in this year's budget," Haslam said. "We are asking more of our teachers and students, and they are delivering in a big way."

Haslam in previous years has traveled the state to hear from educators. This year, as part of his new effort, the governor will add a quarterly meeting with his 17-member Teacher Cabinet to received information from the classroom and feedback on policy considerations, including educator support and preparation, assessment, teacher evaluation, response to intervention implementation and the state standards review process.

"We never want the Capitol to be far from the classroom, and the Teacher Cabinet has given us an open line of communication with teachers on the front lines of what we're trying to accomplish in education every day," Haslam said. "They typically come to the Capitol, so I'm excited to get out and visit their classrooms to learn more about what makes them successful and what we can do to improve and support them."

The teacher cabinet, nominated by directors of schools and chosen through an interview process, includes a mix of backgrounds and experience. Members represent each of the state's three grand divisions as well as cities, suburbs and rural areas and have varying years of experience teaching first through 12th grades.

Haslam's 2016-17 state budget, which was approved by the Legislature in April, includes $258 million for K-12 education, the largest investment without a tax increase in Tennessee's history. The funding package has more than $100 million for teacher salaries, nearly $30 million to fund the 12th month of insurance for teachers, and $15 million for recurring technology funds for schools  an amount that doubles the state's current investment and addresses concerns related to devices, infrastructure and instruction.
Nancy Smith Wright, one of first six black students to attend Maryville College in the modern era, died Tuesday.

SHARE

By News Sentinel Staff

Nancy Smith Wright, the first black woman to graduate from Maryville College and a longtime member of Knoxville's Beck Cultural Exchange Center's board of directors, has died.

Ms. Wright, known for her unselfish giving and mentoring, died Tuesday at West Hills Rehabilitation Center.

A 1954 graduate of all-black Austin High School, she and her pastor at Shiloh Presbyterian Church in Knoxville wanted to test that year's Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said segregated schools were unconstitutional.

Maryville College had agreed to accept black students, so Ms. Wright enrolled, joining five other black students on the Blount County campus. While the so-called "Maryville 6" were pioneers during the civil rights era, Maryville College had black students periodically until about 1901.

In a 2011 interview with the News Sentinel, Ms. Wright said the campus was more receptive to the black students than the city of Maryville.

"We still couldn't sit at the lunch counter or to go to the theater," she said.

Still, the campus had its troubling moments  something Ms. Wright discovered from the beginning.

Entering her dorm, she discovered that because she was black she would not be sharing a room with a fellow student like the other freshmen.

"You know, you look forward to getting a roommate  and how you are going to decorate your room together," she said in a 2009 interview with the News Sentinel. "That was just a very lonely first year."

Ms. Wright decided to leave Maryville College after two years to attend nursing school in Memphis. She later returned to Maryville College and in 1960 became the first black student to graduate in the modern era and also the first black woman of any era to graduate from the school. She later earned a master's degree at the University of Pittsburgh.

When she returned to Knoxville, Ms. Wright joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee's Department of Health and Human Services and later became an academic adviser in the university's business school.

After retiring from UT after 20 years, Ms. Wright volunteered at Knoxville College and Sarah Moore Greene Elementary school.

Maryville College has honored her with two student awards in her name: the Nancy Smith Wright '60s Diversity Scholarship and the Nancy Smith Wright UNITY Award, which is presented to individuals or a group of students who contribute to the diversity on campus.

Mrs. Wright is survived by daughters Shirley Wright Davis of Atlanta and Gretchen Wright of Washington, D.C.; and sister, Adonna Maxine Alford of Philadelphia, Pa.

Receiving of friends will be 2-3 p.m. Saturday at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 4904 Asheville Highway in Knoxville. A celebration of life will follow.
SHARE

One hundred years ago today, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the act that created the National Park Service. The intent was "to conserve the scenery and the national 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 future generations."

Americans embraced the idea then and now. The national park system includes 412 areas  national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails  covering more than 84 million acres.

In East Tennessee, we are particularly blessed with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area, the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the Obed Wild and Scenic River, and the system's newest addition, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. With nearly 11 million visitors last year, the Smokies is by far the most popular national park. Yet while Americans love their national parks  surveys show the public gives the system a 95 percent approval rating  Congress refuses to give the National Park Service the support it needs.

The Park Service has a staggering $11.9 billion backlog for infrastructure repairs. In the Smokies alone, about $232 million is needed to make up the ground on deferred maintenance. Of that amount, the park needs roughly $175 million to repave and make other repairs to roadways.

The park also needs $17.4 million for repairs to its 848 miles of trails; $16.7 million to upgrade its restrooms, visitor centers and other facilities; $7.2 million to improve its water treatment system; $5.7 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment system; $2.1 million to repair its campground facilities; and $1.1 million to improve park housing.

The park generates $806 million in business for local communities, but the local economy could be damaged if people opt to vacation in other places where bathrooms are plentiful and clean, the campgrounds are well maintained and the roads are in good shape. Ian and Charity Rudder, who run a fly-fishing guide service in Townsend, say local businesses and the park are interdependent. "We don't just take people fishing," Charity Rudder told the News Sentinel, "we are ambassadors for the national park."

Businesses and volunteer groups like the Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association have stepped into the breach, but they can only do so much. Volunteers do not pave roads.

City governments in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Maryville have all passed resolutions asking Congress to create a "reliable, predictable stream of resources" to address the backlog of needed maintenance at the park.

Congress must listen. U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who serves on the Senate committee that oversees the Park Service, is in an ideal position to push for more funding. Our national parks have enriched our society in many ways, and to continue to neglect them would be a disgrace.
Premium German car brand supports youth empowerment, cares for underprivileged

By Lee Hyo-sik





Mercedes-Benz Korea Dimitris Psillakis speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office, downtown Seoul, Wednesday.

/ Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

Mercedes-Benz has become a top luxury car brand here over the years for its highest-quality products and superb customer services. Building on its premium product image, Mercedes-Benz Korea (MBK) has begun a campaign to enhance its corporate brand as a responsible corporate citizen.

The German car brand has been spending hundreds of millions of dollars over the past few years building showrooms and workshops, as well as training centers and parts warehouses, providing a much-needed boost to the sagging local economy.

In line with its burgeoning business, the company has expanded its workforce, creating thousands of decent jobs for young jobseekers.

It has also implemented a range of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to give back to the local community. Among others, MBK has placed top priority on empowering young people and supporting the livelihoods of the underprivileged.

In an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday, company CEO Dimitris Psillakis said giving back is in Mercedes-Benz's DNA, pledging to set an example for other imported auto brands.

"We are strongly committed to Korean society," the Greek-born CEO said. "We pay taxes, invest, create jobs and contribute to social funds for promoting education and implementing welfare programs. We spend a good part of our resources to invest back into local society."

Citing audit reports published in April, MBK was the largest taxpayer among all foreign car brands operating in the country, Psillakis said. "We pay our duties and contribute to Korean society strenuously. We also spent the most money to finance social programs among all imported auto brands in 2015."

MBK has been carrying out many types of CSR programs since 2002 when it was founded, according to Psillakis, who said he will focus more on educating children and supporting senior citizens living alone and other underprivileged people.

"We will bolster coordination with our dealerships when implementing social programs to maximize effect," he said. "We have been educating young students about traffic safety. For older students, we have given them opportunities to learn more about how cars are built and operated so that they can develop an interest in cars."

MBK has been spending hundreds of millions of dollars, along with its dealerships, to build showrooms, workshops, training centers and other business facilities.

In 2015, the German car brand invested 25 billion won ($23 million) to construct a training academy in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the largest such facility in Korea among import car brands.

In 2014, it spent 52 billion won to open a parts distribution center, making repairs faster and cheaper for customers.

"These investments highlight our efforts to further strengthen training infrastructure and the capacity of staff in delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction with the highest level of professionalism," the CEO said. "The parts distribution center enhances the overall quality of and customer satisfaction in after-sales services in Korea through the stable supply of parts."

In the first six months of this year, MBK opened two new showrooms and three new workshops, according to Psillakis, who said the firm will open two more showrooms and five more service centers in the second half to better serve customers.

"Mercedes has also been creating hundreds of decent new jobs each year. By the end of this year, we, along with our dealer network, will employ a total of 4,000 people," he said. "We cannot operate a plant in Korea, given the scale of our business. But we source various parts from Korean suppliers. It is our long-term strategy to buy more parts and components from local parts makers."

Mercedes-Benz outperforms market

Despite Korea's sluggish import car market, Psillakis is confident that MBK can achieve its goal of selling 50,000 vehicles this year, betting high on the new E-Class and the SUV lineup  the GLA, the new GLC, the new GLE, and the G-Class.

"The import car market contracted by 2.6 percent in the first half, due to the infamous diesel gate and other unfavorable factors. The truth is the market will not grow by as fast as it used to in the past," the CEO said. "However, we cannot just sit idle and blame unfavorable market conditions. We will do what we do best. We will continue to invest in our dealerships and workshops, as well as train our employees. Above all, we will bring good products that Korean consumers seek."

He said MBK will continue to promote the new E-class gasoline and diesel sedans, and launch new SUV models in the second half of the year.

"There is no magic. It takes hard work, investments and new models that suit the characteristics of our customers if an auto brand wants to succeed," Psillakis said. "Things are not looking favorable in the latter half with the government ending the auto sales tax cut in June. Consumers' growing distrust of diesel vehicles will also make it harder for imported auto brands. But still, I am confident that Mercedes-Benz will outperform the market and sell more than 50,000 cars this year."

During the January-to-June period, Mercedes-Benz sold 24,488 cars, up 6.8 percent from the same period last year, while the overall import car market fell 2.6 percent to 116,749.
Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-keun, third from left, poses with foreign students during a scholarship awards event at a conference hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in central Seoul, Wednesday. A total of 100 foreign students were granted 400 million won in scholarships. / Courtesy of Booyoung Group



By Jhoo Dong-chan

Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-keun has awarded 400 million won ($357,557) in scholarships to foreign students in Korea. A total of 100 Asian and Africa students studying at Korean universities are being granted the scholarships.

According to a Booyoung Group official, the foundation established by the group held a scholarship award event at a conference hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Wednesday.

A total of 150 people, including foreign students from 13 countries and their ambassadors, participated in the event. Former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo also joined the event.

"I hope the scholarships can help students achieve their academic goals, giving them the foundation to become global leaders," said Lee.

"We at Booyoung Group will stay active in supporting future talent in education and culture."

The foundation was established with Lee's funding in 2008. It has granted scholarships twice a year to foreign students from Asian and African countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Kenya since 2010. So far, 992 students have benefitted with a total of 3.8 billion won in scholarships.

In February, Booyoung Group donated 5,000 digital pianos and 50,000 blackboards to local elementary schools in the Philippines. Since 2004, it has made donations to 18 countries, including Vietnam, Laos and Rwanda, amounting to 60,000 digital pianos and 600,000 blackboards worth approximately 500 billion won ($419 million) in investment.
By Jhoo Dong-chan



Hanjin Shipping, which has been struggling to stay afloat under mounting debt, submitted a self-rescue plan to creditors, Thursday.



According to financial circles, the plan, which hinges on tentative negotiations over reducing charter fees and securing liquidity, was submitted to the ailing shipping company's main creditor, the Korea Development Bank (KDB).



The main issue is Hanjin Shipping's drained liquidity, under which its remaining loans, reportedly worth up to 1.2 trillion won, are set to mature next year.



Hanjin Group, the beleaguered shipper's mother company, has requested further financing from creditors while offering to supply the shipper with 400 billion won through capital increases by issuing new stock.



However, creditors have refused the group's offer, conditioning "at least 700 billion won" for such a request. If the group offers below 700 billion won, creditors have said the shipper will go into court receivership.



Industry observers expect Hanjin Group to offer more than 500 billion won in the self-rescue plan this time.



The KDB and other creditors are expected to meet on Friday to discuss whether to support the shipping company's management normalization or hand it over to court receivership.



"Now, it's up to the KDB and creditors," an industry insider said. "It takes some time to conclude the decision. I believe now it's a 50-50 chance whether Hanjin Shipping goes into receivership."



Some experts say it is unlikely creditors will push the shipper through a de facto bankruptcy process.



"It is the nation's largest shipper," one said. "They won't just give in to the company if considering the consequences."



As part of its efforts to secure liquidity to stay afloat, Hanjin Shipping sold its 21 percent stake in Tan Cang Cai Mep International Terminal in Vietnam for 23 billion won to Hanjin Transportation, a parcel delivery company also under Hanjin Group. It also sold a bulk carrier to H-Line Shipping for 14 billion won and its H-Line Shipping stake for 33 billion won.



In June, it sold its trademark rights to Hanjin Kal for 74.2 billion won and operating rights on eight Southeast Asian routes for 62.1 billion won. The company also sold its London and Tokyo offices for 32.2 billion won and 8.2 billion won, respectively. Through the selling spree, the company has so far secured 267.7 billion won.



Hanjin Shipping is also expected to reach an agreement with its 22 ship owners to reduce charter fees by 25 percent to 27 percent, another condition for its management normalization the KDB and other creditors ask of the shipper.



Seaspan Corp., a major ship owner, has reportedly shifted its stance, positively reviewing a reduction in its charter fees to Hanjin Shipping.



Hanjin Shipping has been chartering 47 container ships and 13 bulk carriers. Of them, Seaspan Corp. has the largest number on charter to Hanjin Shipping, with seven 10,000 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) ships.




Shinhan Financial Group Deputy President Lim Young-jin, second from right, poses with Jung District Mayor Choi Chang-sik, second from left, and other officials after donating 100 million won to the district office's welfare project at Jung District Office in Yegwan-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Shinhan Financial Group



By Nam Hyun-woo

Shinhan Financial Group donated 100 million won ($89,549) to the Jung District Office in central Seoul on Tuesday to support people in the district who are in need, the banking group said Thursday.

The donation ceremony at the office was attended by the group's Deputy President Lim Young-jin, Jung District Mayor Choi Chang-sik and officials from welfare centers in the district.

The group said it has been supporting the office's welfare projects since 2004. Also, the group has been extending its efforts by sponsoring the office's welfare projects tailored to the beneficiaries' life cycles and income levels, dubbed Dream Hearty, since 2012.

Before the ceremony, Shinhan Financial Group on Aug. 11 signed an agreement of support with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Comprehensive Support Center for the Elderly Living Alone. After the agreement, the group also donated 128 million won and supplies to help the elderly to get through the summer.

"We hope the group's efforts can help our neighbors who are going through financial difficulties," an official at the group said. "To support them, the group will carry out various philanthropic activities and continue to pay attention to them down the road."
[Classical Concerts]



SAC 11am Concert'

Seoul Arts Center*

Until Dec. 8

On every second Thursday of each month, an "11am Concert" will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center. Chong Park will host the shows with commentary, and coffee will be provided for free. With distinct soloists for each concert, the Korean Symphony Orchestra will perform at all of the concerts.

Tickets cost 20,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.

Sumi Jo: La Prima Donna

Seoul Arts Center

Aug. 28

World-renowned soprano Sumi Jo will have a concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of her international debut at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on August 28.

Jo's first appearance on the international scene took place in 1986 as the prima donna in the opera "Rigoletto" at the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi. Ever since, she has actively extended her role in various opera productions. "La Prima Donna" concert will feature songs from well-known operas, including "Caro Nome" from "Rigletto," Liszt's "Liebestraume," Balfe's "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" and "Doll Song" from "The Tales of Hoffmann." Pianist Jeff Cohen will accompany the performance.

Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 3461-0976.

[Big Tickets]



Notre Dame de Paris'

Gyeonggi Arts Center

Oct. 14-16

French musical "Notre-Dame de Paris" based on the well-known novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" will be performed at Gyeonggi Arts Center from Oct. 14 to 16, following its Seoul performance.

With its beautiful numbers including "Le Temps des Cathedrals," "Belle" and "Vivre," the musical Notre Dame de Paris has drawn a vast number of audiences all over the world. Following the premiere in 2008, this year's Korean licensed performance will have Hong Kwang-ho, K-Will and Moon Jong-won playing Quasimodo and Yoon Gong-ju, Lina and Jeon Na-young playing Esmeralda.

Tickets cost 70,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 541-6236.

Wicked'

Seoul Arts Center

Until Aug. 28

"Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz" returns to the stage with a new cast in July, following its 2013 Korean premiere.

Based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel "Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," it tells the story of two witches  Elphaba and Glinda. Elphaba is a green-skinned witch who is often alienated and Glinda is a popular blonde witch. Veteran actress Cha Ji-yeon is sharing the role of Elphaba with actress Park Hye-na, while Jeong Sun-ah will share the role of Glinda with Ivy. With its spectacular fantasy storyline, "Wicked" shows life-changing friendships while growing up.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit www.wickedthemusical.co.kr or call 1577-3363.

[Pop & Jazz]



Someday Festival 2016

Nanji Hangang Park

Sept. 3 to 4

This year's Someday Festival will be held at Seoul Nanji Hangang Park for two days, Sept. 3 to 4.

Launched last year, Someday Festival is a two-day outdoor event that features a variety of musical genres. The festival this year will feature: Vibe, Jeong-yeop, Kiha & The Faces, Akdong Musician, Busker Busker, Yoonha, J Rabbit, Kim Bum-soo, Jang Bum-joon, 10cm, Beenzino, Zico, Crush and Dean.

A one-day ticket costs 88,000 won and a two-day ticket costs 119,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 3780-0611.

Sechs Kies

Olympic Park

Sept. 10-11

Sechs Kies, one of Korea's first-generation idol groups, will hold a two concerts at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena on Sept. 10 and 11.

The concert titled "Yellow Note" is the group's first concert in 16 years, following its split in 2000. Its members returned to the K-pop industry earlier this year, building a new career. Their numerous hit songs will be performed at the concerts, including "Couple," "Reckless Love," "School Song," and "The Way This Guy Lives."

Tickets cost 99,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.auction.co.kr or call 1566-1369.

[Plays & Musicals]



Bare the Musical

Doosan Art Center

Until Sept. 4





"Bare the Musical" is staged at Doosan Art Center through Sept. 4. / Courtesy of Marketing Company Achime



"Bare the Musical" will be staged again at the Doosan Art Center following its 2015 Korean premiere.

The musical is about two teen boys, Peter and Jason, who are secretly in love with each other while attending a conservative Catholic high school. Jung Won-young, Song Seung-won and Park Kang-hyun share the role of Peter, and Kim Seung-dae, Sung Doo-seop and Seo Kyung-soo play Jason. Choi Seo-yeon and Min Kyung-ah also star as Ivy.

Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 556-5910.

Peste

LG Arts Center

Until Sept. 30

The musical "Peste" will premiere on July 20 at the LG Arts Center.

"Peste" is based on French author Albert Camus' novel "The Plague" and combined with Seo Tae-ji's legendary songs. With musical numbers from Seo, "Peste" will display tragedy among the main roles _ Rieux, Rambert, Tarrou, Cottard, and Grand. The story takes place during a bubonic plague, and explores basic human nature in disastrous situations. Kim Da-hyun, Sohn Ho-young, and Park Eun-suk will play Rieux, and Kim Do-hyun and Yoon Hyung-ryul will play Rambert.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-3363.

Hamlet the Play

Chungmu Art Center

Until Oct. 16





One of the most famous tragedies of all time, William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is staged at Chungmu Art Center through Oct. 16. Courtesy of the Best Play



One of the most famous dramas of all time, William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" will be staged at Chungmu Art Center from Aug. 2 to Oct. 16.

It will follow the plot of the original work: Prince Hamlet learns that his father has died and his mother has remarried his uncle Claudius who is now the king. The ghost of Hamlet's father appears and tells his son that he was murdered by Claudius, so Hamlet vows vengeance. Hamlet the Play is planned to include a few additional characters, in order to make the tragic story of Hamlet more dreadful. Kim Kang-woo, Kim Dong-won will play the title role of Hamlet, and Lee Kahp-sun and Kim Dae-ryung will play Claudius.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 766-6007.

True West

Yegreen Theater

Until Aug. 28

Sam Shepard's play about brotherhood is being performed at Yegreen Theater until Aug. 28.

"True West" was first performed in San Francisco, where Shepard was a resident playwright. It had its world premiere there in 1980, and first came to Korea in 2011. Since its Korean premiere, the play has accumulated a solid fandom. Austin, a Hollywood screenwriter and Lee, a drifter, are brothers. In their home, Lee threatens to obliterate everything around him, facing off against Austin. While their mother goes on a trip to Alaska, they seek freedom from each other. Bae Sung-woo, Oh Man-suk, Kim Jong-gu and Seo Hyun-woo play Austin, while Jung Moon-sung, Lee Dong-ha, Lee Hyun-wook and Kim Seon-ho play Lee.

Tickets cost 45,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 764-8760.

Treasure Island

Seoul Arts Center

Until Aug. 28

A musical based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novel of "Treasure Island" is staged at Jayu Theater of Seoul Arts Center.

This musical play centers on the life of Jim Hawkins, depicting his boyhood adventures on a quest for buried treasure. Hawkins' story expands as he decides to step on a mysterious island in search of treasure. He encounters a number of people there, including the infamous Long John Silver, a cunning pirate.

"Treasure Island" is directed by Lee Dae-woong and stars Bae Bo-ram, Kim Sang-bo, Yu Seung-rak, Han In-su, Kim Do-wan, Kim Jin-gon, Jeong Hyun-chul, Kim Ho-jun and Hwang Uie-jeong.

Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr call (02) 580-1300.

[Dance]



Archive Platform

ARKO Performing Arts Center

Aug. 26 to 28





Korean National Contemporary Dance Company holds a dance contest at Arko Performing Arts Center on Aug. 26-28. / Courtesy of KNCDC



The Korean National Contemporary Dance Company holds an archive contest exhibition that features historic events. On the extended line of the accumulated past, the company seeks out new creations through a perspective that views and reconstructs modern problems anew. The contest will be open to domestic choreographers, regardless of genre, for newly created works that utilize archives. The final selections after evaluation will be staged as productions.

Tickets cost 20,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02)3472-1420.

[Clubs]



Club Octagon

Nonhyeon

Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The club offers a stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.

Club Globe Lounge

Itaewon

Club Globe Lounge is famous among women looking for a place to throw birthday parties or enjoy a light dinner. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., it serves as a bar, changing into a club after 10 p.m. Every Thursday, Club Globe Lounge has a Happy Hour buffet for guests. Club Globe Lounge is located near the Hamilton Hotel by exit 2 of Itaewon Station, subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 792-1127.

Club Evans

Hongik University

Club Evans is a live jazz club that has served as a platform for emerging jazz artists for a decade. It operates jazz recording studios and a jazz academy as well, producing albums for many local jazz artists. Club Evans provides jazz concerts and leads music sessions every Monday and Tuesday. Club Evans is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station, subway line 6. It opens at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit clubevans.com or call (02) 337-8361.

Once in a Blue Moon

Apgujeong

Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best-known and well-established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong Intersection and Galleria Department Store in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, visit onceinabluemoon.co.kr or call (02) 549-5490.

Club Answer

Cheongdam

Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides a spacious interior and brilliant lighting system with entertaining DJs on stage nightly. Club Answer is in the classy area of Cheongdam, a district known to lead the party culture of Seoul. It is located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 514-4311.

Club Double Eight

Sinsa

Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to its heights. Located in Gangnam, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with exuberant DJs. It is located near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on Line 3. For more information, call (02) 543-8803.








By Yun Suh-young

For those who have seen the film "The Last Princess" released earlier this month spanning the tragic life of Yi Deok-hye the last princess of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), they may relate more to her story when visiting Changdeok Palace in the heart of Seoul.

The beautiful cozy palace located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, which was where the last princess lived until her final days, opens up for a "moonlight tour" every year during spring and autumn. It has already conducted spring programs from March through June and opens up once again for fall programs from August through October. The tour is scheduled around the days when the full moon shines.





A cheongsachorong is hung on the door leading into Nakseonjae. / Korea Times photo by Yun Suh-young

The tour begins at Donhwamun, the entrance to Changdeok Palace and through Jinseonmun, Injeongjeon, Nakseonjae, Sangryangjeong, Buyongji, Bulromun, Yeongyeongdang and the Huwon forest trail, and back to Donhwamun.

Nakseonjae is where Princess Yi Deok-hye, the youngest child of King Gojong, lived until her death after returning to Korea in 1962 at the age of 50, over three decades since her departure to Japan. When she was 13, she was forced by the Japanese to study in Japan and was later coerced to marry a Japanese count. She returned to her home country suffering from schizophrenia and died at Nakseonjae in 1989. All of the members of her royal family had lived in Nakseonjae until their death, including her brother King Yeongchin and his wife Lee Bang-ja, who both returned from Japan at an old age. At Nakseonjae, visitors can view the interior of the palace from the outside.





A daegeum (bamboo flute) player performs traditional music inside Sangryangjeong.

/ Courtesy of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation



At the beginning of the "moonlight tour," participants are given a cheongsachorong, a traditional Korean lantern, with red-and-blue silk shades, to carry throughout the tour to light their way. At the entrance, participants are grouped in five teams of 30, each team led by a tour guide.

Donhwamun is where the tour starts. Built in 1609, it is the oldest remaining structure in Changdeok Palace. Then participants are guided along Geumcheongyo, the oldest stone bridge inside the palace, after which they encounter Injeongjeon, where kings were crowned and where they used to greet foreign envoys and hold important meetings. The next building they see is the famous Nakseonjae, which was built in 1847 by King Heonjong for his beloved royal concubine. It is where Princess Deokhye and her sister in law Lee Bang-ja lived until they passed away.







Participants of the Moonlight Tour walk around Buyongji which was the king's pond.

/ Courtesy of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation



Then participants walk up to the Sangryangjeong, a pentagon-shaped tower behind Nakseonjae, where they watch a daegeum (bamboo flute) player performing traditional music. The flute program was added to the tour this year.

The view overlooking the city from Sangryangjeong is dreamy with the full moon in the sky and with the traditional flute music in the background. After enjoying the calm, participants are guided to Buyongji which is a royal pond built for the king's private use.

Finally they pass through Bulromun which means the "gate of eternal youth," built to wish for a long life for the king. Passing the gate, visitors arrive at the Yeongyeongdang, where they are treated to a fabulous traditional music performance played from inside a hanok (traditional Korean house) under the moonlight. Yeongyeongdang is a series of 120 houses built inside the palace by Prince Hyomyeong, son of King Soonjo and father of King Heonjong who built the Nakseonjae. Yeongyeongdang was used as a venue for banquets during King Gojong and King Soonjong's reign.

Meeting up to its original purpose, here visitors listen to a gugak (traditional Korean music) troupe perform a variety of genres from string ensembles to pansori to gayageum, ending with foreign songs played on Korean instruments. Before entering the show, guests are provided with a package of biscuits and tea.

The tour overall is of high quality, mainly because of the superb explanations by experienced guides. The moonlight tour's guides have over five years of experience in guiding palace tours. Tours are offered in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese. Each tour guide speaks Korean and a second language.

Other than the mesmerizing scenery of the palace at night, watching the gugak performance is another gem of the tour. Also, it is an exclusive opportunity to view Nakseonjae and Sangryangjeong which are only opened to the public during the moonlit tours.

The August program ended on Aug. 20. but its September tour will be available at 8 p.m. from Sept. 12 to 13 for foreigners and Sept. 14 through 17 for locals. In October, the tour for locals will be offered from Oct. 6 through 16 twice at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., while for foreigners, it is available only on Oct. 8. at 7 p.m.

The program accepts 150 participants a day on a first-come first-served basis. The fee is 30,000 won and ticket reservations can be made at http://ticket.interpark.com or http://ticket.interpark.com/Global for foreigners. For further information, call 02-2270-1233.

On Aug. 29, a special program awaits at Changdeok Palace. An upcoming fantasy animation film "Moonlight Palace," scheduled for release in September, will be previewed at the palace. The film is about an adventure inside Changdeok Palace.
Wu Xiaowei

This is the third in a series of contributions about Seoul's charms as seen from foreigners' points of view.  ED.

By Wu Xiaowei

I've been living in Seoul for 11 years.

There are many attractions here, such as delicious food, hallyu and nightclubs, but if I had only one week in Seoul, I would choose shopping.

Dongdaemum, Asia's fashion center

Dongdaemun has all the Korean-style fashion items that are popular in China.

When my friends from China visit Korea, Dongdaemum is a must-visit place in the evening. We always head to Doota, a fashion shopping mall where my friends try handmade accessories, take selfies with the items and send the photos to friends in China.

Then we head to Hyundai City Outlets Dongdaemun or Lotte Fitin for business casual shopping, and to U:US which opens at 8:30 p.m. My friends send the purchased items to China via shipping services available in front of the building.

Nighttime is the highlight of shopping at Dongdaemun. We can shop, eat food from street stalls that operate even until 2-3 a.m. and see amateur performances.

Garosu-gil, celebrity's choice

Last spring, two of my friends came from Beijing to Seoul only to shop on Garosu-gil, a tourist district in Gangnam, southern Seoul. They like Garosu-gil because many Korean celebrities buy items here. And the items are one of a kind, made by designers of each shop.












/Courtesy of Twitter

By Lee Han-soo

Prosecutors have demanded seven years in prison for a woman who allegedly raped her husband, in the first trial of its kind in Korea.

The woman, surnamed Shim, allegedly tied up her husband  with the help of an accomplice  in a studio apartment for 29 hours in May 2015. During his captivity, she allegedly raped him.

Prosecutors have added coercion charges against Shim for allegedly pressuring her husband to speak about an extramarital affair. She did that to give herself an advantage during a divorce, they said.

"Shim has no regret over her actions," one prosecutor said. "The victim does not want to forgive her as well."

The prosecutor also said that although Shim denies raping her husband, prosecutors have confirmed the victim's desperate phone call to police during his captivity.

Prosecutors have demanded a three-year prison term for the accomplice, surnamed Kim.

Shim admitted tying up her husband and confining him but denied the rape charges, the prosecutors said. She argued the sex was with consent.

Shim is the first woman to be prosecuted for rape after the Supreme Court overruled existing precedents and dismissed alleged rapes among married couples.

Shim's trial is set to open on Sept. 9.
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday met with a U.N. intellectual property agency chief to discuss cooperation between South Korea and the international agency, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.

Francis Gurry, the director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), visited the presidential office to explore cooperative projects, particularly ones to support developing nations in the realm of intellectual property, Park's aides said.

During their talks, Park was expected to highlight that protecting intellectual property rights is crucial in advancing her "creative economy" agenda.

The creative economy refers to Park's growth strategy that calls for boosting the economy by creating new business opportunities, industries and jobs through the fusion of information and communication technology, culture and other areas.

Established in 1967, the Geneva-based WIPO is one of the specialized U.N. agencies. Since 2008, Gurry has led the agency, which seeks a "balanced and effective" international intellectual property system that enables innovation and creativity for all countries.

The agency currently has 189 member states, including the United States, Japan, China, Germany and France. South Korea joined it in 1979. (Yonhap)
Yeouido water rescue brigade member Kim Ji-hoon, 34, stands alert while on patrol. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



'Han River has two faces  one where people can enjoy and another where people spend the last minute of their lives.'



By Lee Han-soo, Lee Jin-a



With the blazing sun vertically above, an open-air swimming pool in Yeouido, Seoul, was bustling with people cooling off, kids and adults alike, on Aug. 11. Their screams of joy, often mixed with the sound of the breeze blowing from the Han River, created the typical laid-back atmosphere of the summer break season.

But just a few hundred meters to the east, where the jovial sound was still heard, such a recreational spirit had no place. Instead, tension and anxiety filled the air.

"When we receive a rescue call, we have to move as quickly as possible to get the job done within four minutes," said Hur Jeong-ok, leader of Yeouido water rescue brigade's team 1, looking across the river from their floating office. "We receive more calls in summer. So we are staying alert even when things appear calm and peaceful."





Water rescue brigade member Kim Ji-hoon, 34, dressed in full gear. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



His brigade, comprised of three teams, is one of three dedicated to covering a section of the Han River running through Seoul. The Yeouido brigade is responsible for an area from Han River Railroad Bridge to Banghwa Bridge. But its job is made tougher by Mapo Bridge, one of the city's most suicide-prone structures.

Nearly 30 percent of suicidal jumps  443 out of 1521  from bridges crossing the Han River from January 2010 to September 2015 were from Mapo Bridge, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters. This has earned the bridge the infamous nickname "suicide bridge."



"Bolting out of the office to rescue a suicidal jumper is not a daily routine," Hur said. "Sometimes we call it a day with no rescue calls received but sometimes we receive many. We received a whopping 11 calls one day in July 2013. It was just days after a well-known male chauvinist jumped to his death from Mapo Bridge."

Hur said the team received more calls during summer than other seasons.

"There are some days we work with higher readiness," he said. "One of the days is the day of the once-in-a-year college entrance exam." He looked gloomy when he mentioned that the age of jumpers is getting younger.

"It's unclear why the bridge has become a magnet for those trying to kill themselves," Hur said. "Perhaps because of its easy access."

Saving suicidal jumpers is not the only work his team does. Other duties include rescuing people who have capsized their canoes or boats, cracking down on unauthorized fishing and extinguishing any fires along the river.

"Han River has two faces  one where people can enjoy and another where people spend the last minute of their lives," Hur said. "Anything can happen in the river. It can be enjoyable but we also need to be alert to protect my crew and serve anyone in need."





Water rescue brigade member Kim Ji-hoon, 34, dressed in full gear on patrol boat / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Stay alert



There are 18 rescuers in the Yeouido brigade  six with each team. Two teams are rostered on daily, working 12-hour shifts to provide a 24/7 rescue operation.

Teams patrol the brigade's area four times a day. During off-patrolling hours, rescuers spend time in summer swimming in the river or working out to stay strong.

"Whatever we do, our attention is always toward a rescue call receiver," said rescue worker Kim Ji-hoon. "When the receiver's bell goes off, we bolt out of the office. It's like a knee-jerk reaction. We were trained to do so."

The two reporters visited the Yeouido brigade on Aug. 11. Its floating office was filled with CCTV monitors showing pictures of the brigade's area. When the reporters arrived, Hur's team had just returned from rescuing a jet-ski driver trapped in a mud patch on a small island.

"Nice work in this hot weather! Thank you," was heard from the 911 dispatcher over the two-way radio.

The Yeouido brigade estimates that about 70 percent of its jobs relate to suicide jumpers.







According to the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Department Headquarters, more than 1,000 people attempted suicide by jumping from bridges on the Han River in the past four years. Nearly 90 percent survived in 2015, up from 51 percent in 2011, largely due to the quick action of rescue workers.

"The most satisfying moment while doing this job is when I manage to save someone," said Kim Ji-hoon, a Yeouido brigade member. He recalled the moment a colleague resuscitated a female jumper who had lost consciousness after dropping from the bridge.

"Most suicide jumpers thank us for our work after we save their lives," Hur said. "They change their mind and try to live."

With a smile on his face, he showed a letter from a student he rescued from drowning years ago.

"Thank you for saving me," the student wrote. "I cried a lot while I was in the bottom of the river. I prayed to God that if I managed to survive from these cold waters I would never again try to give up my life.

"I am very well and even healthier than before ... Thank you for your service."



Heroes have dark sides too



On Aug 8, the Yeouido brigade retrieved the body of a woman, 24, that had washed up near an island near Seogang Bridge.

"Her body was severely decomposed within just a few days because during the summer the water temperature often rises over 28 degrees Celsius," Hur said. "We were only able to identify the body by her clothes due to the fact that her face and other features were barely recognizable."

Hur said it is hard to get the images of the bodies out of his head.

"The images stay with me even long after the incident," he said. "Of course, it gradually fades away but it's hard for a couple of days, I can neither eat nor sleep."

According to the Ministry of Public Safety and Security, 6.3 percent of the rescue workers in Korea (36,912) were suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2014, 10 times higher than the general population.

The situation has been improving since 2012 and as of 2016 the Ministry of Public Safety and Security and Seoul City provide free PTSD therapy to rescue workers.

But no one in the Yeouido brigade has benefited from the treatment.

"When everyone in the team suffers from some form of mental hardship it is hard to recognize the problem," Hur said. "The bodies have made me numb to a certain extent that sometimes my family calls me cold-hearted in emotional situations."





The team enjoys some leisure time in the Han River after their daily patrol. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Mission goes on



As the red sunset glowed on the river's surface, the Yeouido brigade again started its patrol boat engine.

While people were enjoying the scenery from the cruise ships, the rescue workers on the speed boat carefully watched over the banks and bridges to detect any strange movement.

"There is a suspicious person looking down the river from the southern side of the Mapo Bridge," a rescue worker radioed on the boat. "We will get closer to the bridge." She disappeared as the boat approached.

"Most of the suicidal jumps are reported between 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.," Hur said. "That means our mission has just begun."
Critics say change in work culture is required



By Lee Kyung-min



The government has announced another set of measures to tackle the nation's low birthrate.



However, doubt remains over the efficacy of the new 64 billion-won ($57 million) budget measures, as the downward trend will not change unless an overhaul of family-unfriendly corporate culture is carried out.



The Ministry of Health and Welfare rolled out the measures, Thursday, only about half a year after it had announced other measures. It came as the number of newborns between January and May decreased to 182,000, down by 10,000, or 5.3 percent, from the same period a year earlier _ suggesting that earlier measures had failed. In particular, the number of newborns in May was 34,400, the lowest monthly figure since the data began to be compiled in 2000.



Under the new measures, all subfertile couples will be eligible to receive 1 million won per fertility treatment, such as artificial insemination, on up to three occasions regardless of their income. So far, high-income couples, meaning households with monthly income surpassing 5.83 million won, have been excluded from any government support.



The measure is expected to benefit 96,000 people, almost double the 50,000 who are currently undergoing fertility treatments. Last year, 4.4 percent of all babies were born through such means.



Starting July 2017, the government will also increase the monthly payment for fathers taking paternity leave for a second child to 2 million won from the current 1.5 million won for the first three months. The fathers can take the leave for up to one year.



The measure is to encourage more fathers to participate in childrearing. According to a study by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, fathers accounted for only 5.6 percent of parental leaves last year.



The government will also prioritize double-income households with three children or more for admittance of their children to daycare centers. Some 60,000 such households will also be given priority in applying for state-built housing.



However, critics say introducing more new measures will not be enough to encourage couples to have more babies, and the government should focus on changing the social environment where employers discourage workers from taking childcare leave and force employees to work late.



"Even now, fathers can take paternity leave according to the law. What prevents them from doing so is corporate culture, where taking the leave means the fathers would face disadvantages in evaluations, promotions and other future work," said an office worker in Seoul who has a five-year-old daughter.



In that sense, Health Minister Chung Chin-youb issued an appeal to the private sector.



"Employers, please make a workplace where workers can take childbirth and childcare leave freely and spend more time with their families," he said. "Corporate culture should become family-friendly so that employees can maintain a healthy work-family balance. Family culture should also become more gender equal."




By Jun Ji-hye

As North Korea is advancing its submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology, analysts here are raising questions about the effectiveness of a U.S. anti-missile system scheduled to be deployed in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, next year.

Some say that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery would not be able to defend the nation if the North's submarines launch ballistic missiles from waters off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, given that THAAD is designed to shoot down North Korean missiles fired from the north.

Pyongyang test-fired an SLBM, Wednesday, that flew about 500 kilometers and splashed down in waters under Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) in the East Sea, showed a significant improvement from past tests. Defense officials here are reportedly looking at the possibility that the North will be able to effectively deploy the SLBMs by the end of this year.

Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said THAAD's AN/TPY-2 radar would be aimed in a northward direction and will only offer a 120-degree azimuth of coverage.

"THAAD will be useless if the North Korean submarines infiltrate South Korean waters to the south and launch an attack from there," he said. "The North's latest SLBM launch means the planned deployment of THAAD could be meaningless."

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, echoed Kim's view, saying that it will be almost impossible to respond to the North's SLBMs with THAAD.












Earlier this month Iran executed at least two dozen political prisoners on various charges of activities against the regime or membership in extremist groups. Though there was nothing new either with the charges or the number of executions, the action this time brought wide condemnation, especially by Kurds who thought the world was turning a blind eye to Iran's human rights violations due to its nuclear deal with the West.





"The application of overly broad and vague criminal charges, coupled with a disdain for the rights of the accused to due process and a fair trial have in these cases led to a grave injustice," said Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.





Among those hanged was Hassan Afshar, a 19-year-old who was arrested and convicted of rape at the age of 17. Al Hussein called the execution of juveniles "particularly abhorrent."





On August 2, the Iranian government announced that it had executed 20 members of a "takfiri" group (a term used by Iran to denote false Islam) that were mainly Kurdish and Sunnis. A few days later, members of the family of Kurdish nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri said that he had been executed.





These executions immediately caught the attention of rights groups who described them as shameful and made Iran a regional leader in executions.





"Iran's mass execution of prisoners on August 2 at Rajai Shahr prison is a shameful low point in its human rights record," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, in a press release on August 8.





"With at least 230 executions since January 1, Iran is yet again the regional leader in executions but a laggard in implementing the so far illusory penal code reforms meant to bridge the gap with international standards," she added.





Many have blamed the West, the United States in particular, for not holding Iran accountable to its human rights violations mainly in order to keep their Vienna nuclear deal in place. But the US State Department says that it remains concerned about human rights in Iran and has raised the issue with them through many channels.





"We reaffirm our calls on Iran to respect and protect human rights, and to ensure fair and transparent judicial proceedings in all cases," a State Department official told Rudaw English. "We have consistently and publicly expressed our concerns about Iran's human rights record through a range of channels."





Emad Kiyaei, Director of External Affairs at the American Iranian Council, says that his council has condemned the recent executions in Iran and that it has raised the issue with the US government. However, he believes that the nuclear deal does not mean Iran has been given a blank check to act as it wants. On the contrary, he sees the deal as a chance to bring the Islamic Republic out of isolation and help improve its human rights record.





"Instead of resorting to coercive policies, the Council recommends the creation of a joint working group between Iran and the EU to examine policies and methodologies to reform the judicial system in Iran," Kiyaei told Rudaw English.





Kiyaei said that the issue of human rights in Iran should be separated from the nuclear deal as it was specific to dealing with Iran's nuclear program, which was not intended to address all the issues that exist between Iran and the international community. "Therefore, it is unlikely that human rights issues would derail this accord."





He argued that keeping the sanctions on Iran could only worsen the situation for prisoners and would not necessarily reduce the number of executions.





"The Council does not believe that coercive or further sanctions on Iran would improve the human rights condition within the country," Kiyaei said, adding, "Instead, through open dialogue, diplomacy and weaving Iran more intimately within the international community would be more conducive in empowering those within the Iranian government who seek to reform, moderate and transform the country to be more in line with universal human rights."





Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow and Iran expert at the Middle East Institute in Washington differs. He does not think the nuclear deal would improve Iran's human rights record as it was only to make sure Iran did not become a nuclear power which has now turned into a business scheme.





"The nuclear deal was never meant to change Iran's overall character but simply to make sure it did not become a nuclear weapons power," Vatanka told Rudaw English. "I don't see any signs that the P5+1 would want to void the deal because of Iranian behavior towards its own people at home."





Vatanka believes that Tehran uses the executions as a show of force especially to deter its opponents and drown any dissent.





He argues: "At the moment the int. community wants to safeguard the nuclear deal and is looking for commercial opportunities in Iran. Unfortunately the human rights record of Iran is not on the top of the list in either Europe or in America."





Some critics of Iran's judicial system believe that the authorities seem to be particular in who they execute and they mostly target minority groups, chief among them the Kurds.





"We should know that currently out of 915 political prisoners documented, 411 are Kurds," Taimoor Aliassi, UN representative of the Association for Human Rights in Kurdistan - Geneva (KMMK-G), told Rudaw English, adding that 75 % of Kurdish prisoners are accused and convicted of being mohareb, a judicial term in Iran for enmity against God.





Aliassai said that since the establishment of the Islamic Republic nearly 4 decades ago more than 14,000 prisoners have been executed, a great majority of them ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Balochis and Afghan refugees and most of them not announced to the public.





"A significant number of these victims are political prisoners and ethnic rights activists who were executed under the cover of drug offences," he said. "Regarding the last mass executions, they are all Kurdish and faith political prisoners sentenced in a hasty and unfairly manner for crime of mohareb based on Articles 279 and 286 of Iran???s Penal Code."





In 2015, Iran was the 2nd highest executioner in the world after China but 1st per capita.





Aliassi urged the world powers, especially the US and European Union, to make the lifting of sanctions and easing of economic and diplomatic ties conditional to Tehran's respect for human rights and the rights of groups such as Kurds, Ahwazi Arabs and Baluchis.





"The Islamic Republic of Iran is governing by spreading violence, fear and terror. So hanging prisoners in public is part of controlling mechanism and Islamic Republic will not abolish death penalty unless there is a change of regime."

 | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!

Source: rudaw.net , August 25, 2016
By Kim Hyo-jin



South Korea and Japan have agreed to offer 100 million won ($89,600) in cash to each surviving Korean victim of Japan's wartime sex slavery and 20 million won ($17,900) to the families of the deceased victims.



The agreement was reached at a meeting of the countries' foreign ministers in Tokyo this week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday.



The victims' group has repeatedly said what they want is not money, but a sincere apology from Japan.



"The money is to heal the wounds and recover the dignity of the victims who were coerced into sexual servitude for Japanese soldiers," a ministry spokesman said.



The official said more detailed plans will be set up on how to use the 1 billion yen ($9.97 million) provided by Japan to the foundation for the victims that was started here in July.



"The foundation will measure the demands and distribute the money based on that," the official said



The foundation will also determine the scope of other humanitarian projects for the sex slavery victims based on the agreement reached by the Korean and Japanese governments.













The announcement came after the Japanese government endorsed the plan to contribute 1 billion yen to help the Korean sex slavery victims during a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday.



The plan was pledged during a landmark deal between Seoul and Tokyo late last year.



On Dec. 28, South Korea and Japan reached a deal in which Tokyo expressed an apology for its colonial-era atrocities and agreed to start a foundation dedicated to supporting the surviving victims of sexual slavery. Japan also promised to contribute 1 billion yen for the foundation.



The foundation is expected to engage in aid projects for sex slavery victims such as providing medical and welfare services.



Controversy still surrounds the nature of the money to be offered by the Japanese government.



The Korean government views it as a form of compensation based on Tokyo's recognition of its responsibilities for the wartime atrocities as the money will be provided by the Japanese government.



But some of the victims and activists say the foundation is not meaningful as long as Japan does not admit its "legal" responsibility for the sexual slavery.



South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his counterpart Fumio Kishida met Wednesday on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting between the top diplomats of South Korea, Japan, and China and agreed to "faithfully" honor last year's deal.
Surviving separated family members of the Korean War, who are aging rapidly, are rushing to take DNA tests that will allow their offspring to meet future relatives in North Korea. / Yonhap



By Hong Dam-young

More South Koreans who were separated from their families because of the Korean War are taking a DNA test.

The collected genetic data will allow chronicling and verification of their separated families and increase the chance their offspring will meet future relatives in North Korea, Segye Ilbo reported, Thursday.

The results will be kept as a database and DNA samples will be stored in a cryogenic refrigeration system.

The project was initiated in 2014 under the government's ordinance to confirm separated families and promote their exchanges. It has been operating through bidding, and Dowgene has been testing the applicants' DNA for the past three years.

The Ministry of Unification collaborated with the Korea National Red Cross in starting the project. About 2000 people so far this year have agreed to take the test, according to the ministry.

But chances of people meeting lost family members at an inter-Korea exchange program seem unlikely because relations between the two Koreas have grown frostier.

Some 60 percent of the 63,670 surviving separate family members in South Korea are in their 80s to 90s, according to government data. But more than half the separated families the Seoul government documented between 1988 and 2016 have died.

It is the first time the number of dead has exceeded the living.

"Finding separated families depending solely on memories can have its own limitation because too much time has passed since the division," an official from Dowgene said.

"But genes can solve the problem."
By Frank Ching

Of late, discussion of Hong Kong's possible independence from China has been in the air, a cause no serious politician has espoused since the former British colony returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. What happened?

This phony issue stems from a lack of confidence in China's pledge to allow Hong Kong "a high degree of autonomy" for 50 years. It is an attempt to provide an alternative to integration with the mainland, which many assume would happen if "one country, two systems" failed.

The Hong Kong government, determined to show its loyalty, is suggesting that the mere discussion of independence is dangerous, possibly illegal. But there's really plenty of room for discussion, such as assessing its feasibility, the pros and cons of independence and its legality.

Actually, the government should welcome discussion because pro-independence advocates will have to defend a proposition that, on the face of it, is indefensible. Such advocates have so far failed to show that they arecharting a course into anything but a blind alley.

The Chinese government has responded on two levels. On one level, state leader Zhang Dejiangdeclared during a visit in May that "one country, two systems" is a national policy and will not change.

On another level, Chinese officials point to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document, whose first article says: "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China."

To them, that's the end of the discussion. By law, Hong Kong cannot be independent.

Not all countries cling to every inch of their territory this way, without regard for popular sentiment. Thus, the British government agreed that Scotland could hold a referendum in 2014 on the question,"Should Scotland be an independent country?" The proposition was defeated and Scotland remains part of Britain.

In Asia, there are a number of independence movements, such as in the Philippines and Myanmar. They are armed movements with poor prospects of success. In fact, very few independence movements in Asia have resulted in the emergence of new nations.

Singapore, interestingly, became independent of Malaysia in 1965 not as a result of an independence movement but because it was expelled from Malaysia. So, in a real sense, independence was forced on Singapore.

That may well be unique. In most cases, the road to independence is strewn with bodies. Take, for example, Bangladesh. The former East Pakistan had to fight a bloody liberation war in 1971 before it won its independenceand became the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the world's eighth most populous nation.

On the other end of the scale is tiny East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, with little more than a million people. It declared independence from Portugal in 1975, only to be invaded and annexed by neighboring Indonesia, a move not recognized by the United Nations. In 1999 the United Nations organized a referendum in which an overwhelming majority favored independence, and so Timor Leste came into existence, ranking 154thin terms of population.

From a geopolitical standpoint, Hong Kong's independence is improbable although, if it were to happen, it would be bigger than either Timor Leste or Singapore. Hong Kong would rank 101st in the world. ButHong Kong relies on China formost of its water and for much of its food. Hong Kong can only become independent with China's blessing, which seems highly unlikely. There is little reason for China to decide to expel Hong Kong, as Malaysia expelled Singapore.

The United Nations, too, is unlikely to back a referendum, as it did in East Timor. Hong Kong's handover to China was recognized by the United Nations, and the Sino-British Joint Declaration was lodged as a treaty with the world body in 1984.

So what options are left? Are pro-independence young people, mostly students, willing to go to war with the People's Liberation Army, like East Pakistan took on West Pakistan?East Pakistan had a bigger population and economy than West Pakistan. Hong Kong is tiny compared with the mainland, in all respects. It has no army of its own.

The only alternative, and a peaceful one, is for China itself to want Hong Kong to be independent. Perhaps that is what the pro-independence advocates should work toward: a scenario in which China is so sick of Hong Kong that it thinks the best thing to do is to expel Hong Kong and its 7.2 million people from the Chinese nation.How's that as a solution? Would that be good for Hong Kong? Is that what people want?
A U.S. private humanitarian group will send medical aid to North Korea next month as part of its efforts to help the impoverished nation, a Washington-based radio station said Thursday.

AmeriCares, a nonprofit organization based in Connecticut, will ship medicine and sanitary goods to seven hospitals and health clinics in Pyongyang, Nampo, North Hwanghae Province and South Pyongan Province, the Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.

According to RFA, the medical goods include antibiotics, medicines for allergy, heart and respiratory disease.

Since its first humanitarian aid in 1997, AmeriCares had sent medical aid to the reclusive country four times every year. In 2016, it said it only sent a shipment out in February, mainly dues to shortage of aid goods.

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization that delivers medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world and across the United States.

An official of the aid group told RFA that its medical assistance to North Korea has been mainly made through donations in the United States, saying, however, the donation efforts appear to be lackluster these days probably due to Americans' views towards North Korea.
A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) being fired early Wednesday in waters off Sinpo, Hamgyong Province.

/ Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo

North Korea's test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Wednesday, is raising concerns that it could deploy the weapons earlier than South Korea expected.

With the launch seen as a success, it also revealed that the military here underestimated Pyongyang's SLBM technology and failed to accurately track its rapid progress. The missile flew 500 kilometers, well beyond the minimum 300 kilometers for a launch to be considered successful, before landing in waters under Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone.

Defense officials here are reportedly looking at the possibility that North Korea will be able to operationally deploy the SLBMs by the end of this year.

Some military sources said the officials were wrong about their previous analysis that it would take four to five years for Pyongyang to fully develop SLBMs when the Kim Jong-un regime test-fired one on May 8, 2015. It failed in its initial flight stage.

While criticism was poured on the military and intelligence authorities here, President Park Geun-hye warned, Wednesday, that Pyongyang's military threats were becoming "tangible."

She cited the one-man rule of the unpredictable North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who declared that the launch Wednesday was, "the greatest success and victory," according to Pyongyang's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KNCA), Thursday.

The KCNA said that the young despot also ordered the bolstering of efforts to develop transport devices for nuclear weapons.

"Under these circumstances, the government must make sure to analyze information thoroughly, to relieve the people's anxiety by making sure that information is correct, and then bolster national defense, making it ready for any emergency," said minor opposition People's Party interim-leader Park Jie-won. "It's so apparent that the government falsely informed the people concerning the North's SLBMs."

Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, speculated that the SLBMs were "in the final stage of preparation for deployment" along with the Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). North Korea successfully launched a Musudan missile on June 22.

"The SLBM will be ready for use once North Korea develops the Gorae-class ballistic missile submarine," Yang said.
By Anais Faure

During 2016, Korea has shown renewed efforts on the economic diplomacy front, particularly so towards Latin America. In that region, free trade agreements (FTAs) are in place with Chile, Peru, and Colombia  the latter of which came into force July 15. Currently, multilateral negotiations are underway with countries from the Central American Integration System (SICA) since June and bilaterally with Ecuador since August 2015. Negotiations for an FTA with Mexico, stalled since 2012, are expected to be re-launched by the end of this year.

While on the economic front the expansion of Korea's networks with Latin America will help the country secure new markets in the midst of falling exports, on the diplomatic front this trend holds greater significance. Through this strategy, Korea is institutionalizing long-term cooperation with Latin American countries. More importantly, considering that Korea was the first East Asian country to seek FTAs with Latin American partners in the early 2000s, and that since then both China and Japan have followed suit, Korea can be seen as leading the way for economic integration between the two regions.

After signing its first-ever FTA in 2004 with Chile  for whom it was also the first with an East Asian country  South Korea has inked FTAs with 52 countries. Among them, the FTA with Peru was signed and entered into force in 2011. Adding the recently enforced one with Colombia, and the upcoming ones with SICA, Ecuador and eventually Mexico, Korea will have trade agreements with 11 countries in Central and South America. Comparatively, Japan holds FTAs with three countries (Mexico in 2004, Chile 2007 and Peru 2011) and is negotiating one with Colombia. As for China, despite being one of Latin America's biggest trading partners, it has so far institutionalized economic ties through FTAs only with Chile (2005), Peru (2009) and Costa Rica (2011).

Beyond the potential for expanding commerce on Korea's traditional exports, FTAs with Latin America are expected to create opportunities for Korean businesses in new areas such as energy and infrastructure, medicine and food, among others. Even further, the inclusion of a Youth Forum in the 2016 Korea-Latin America Partnership Forum held in Seoul in June reflects the Korean government's aim to support people-to-people exchanges with the region, with a view to nurture a sustainable network for business-to-business exchanges in the future.

For Latin America, free trade with Korea naturally represents both challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, strong domestic opposition from sectors such as the automobile industry has been a key factor behind stalled negotiations with Mexico and delayed enforcement with Colombia. On the other hand, the potential for increasing Latin American exports to Korea is clear. Trade between Central America and Korea has seen an average annual growth of 16 percent within the last two decades, reaching up to $5 billion in 2014. As illustrated by the Chilean example, this would only increase in the aftermath of an FTA. Korea's bilateral trade with Chile, which stood at $1.6 billion in 2003, surged more than 300 percent up to $6 billion in 2015. Based on this successful experience, Chile and Korea are now seeking to further expand the scale and scope of their agreement into new sectors.

However, the importance of Korea-Latin America commercial ties goes well beyond bilateral trade figures. As stated by Andres Rebolledo, Head of the Department for International Economic Relations of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his recent visit to Seoul, the Chile-Korea FTA "was the first step for Chile's insertion in Asia and served as a model for FTAs with the other great economies in the region, China and Japan." Similarly, Colombian trade experts have emphasized the importance of the Colombia-Korea FTA, being not only their first with an Asian country but also serving as a platform for furthering Colombia's relations with East Asia as a whole.

As illustrated so far, Korea's engagement with Latin American countries should be seen not only as pursuing the urgent task of revitalizing the Korean economy, but also as an opportunity to play a strategic role in nurturing interregional exchanges. By building up on Latin America's growing interest in Asia and by steering the institutionalization of economic ties through FTAs, as well as fostering closer bilateral and multilateral cooperation, Korea has a clear chance for leadership in East AsiaLatin America relations.

The writer holds a master's degree in Korean studies from the Academy of Korean Studies and a master's degree in development policy from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. She can be reached at faure.ag@gmail.com.
The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Saturday, Aug. 20.



More than broken buildings and twisted rebar, more than images of Su-34 bombers and pickup trucks toting soldiers armed with AK-47s, the face of Omran Daqneesh, 5, tells the story of Aleppo, Syria.



In a photo taken after an airstrike hit his apartment building Wednesday, the dust-covered boy sits in an ambulance, staring blankly. The left side of his face is caked in blood. His left eye is nearly shut, his right eye appears encircled by a large bruise. His floppy hair is filled with dust, blood stains the neckline and sleeves of his shirt. He isn't crying, he shows no signs of being in pain. We don't know what he's thinking, but he appears numbed, patient even.



Omran was pulled from the rubble of his family's apartment building. His siblings, ages 1, 6 and 11, along with his parents, were also rescued from the building. An hour after Omran and his family were saved, the building collapsed. Neither Omran nor the rest of his family were seriously hurt.



The same shell-shocked visage can be seen in civilians every day in Aleppo, Syria's largest city, ravaged by five years of civil war  the span of this boy's life. Images like Omran's face remind us that the mission in Syria isn't just about Islamic State and Assad, Iran and Russia. It is about civilians trapped by a war that, in places like Aleppo, have turned everyday life into moment-to-moment survival.



Aleppo has long been ground zero in the war between Syrian President Bashar Assad and opposition rebels. Now it's at the center of an all-out offensive by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Assad to drive rebels out. Syrian and Russian fighter jets have been pounding rebel-held districts, indifferent to civilians there. Human rights groups say there's growing evidence that Syrian and Russian pilots are using incendiary bombs similar to napalm against rebel strongholds.



In April 2012, Obama promised Syrians that he would stand by them as they were "subjected to unspeakable violence, simply for demanding their universal rights." That promise rings hollow. Obama has largely sidestepped the plight of Aleppo and of civilians across Syria. A half-hearted, long-delayed effort to train and equip Syrian rebels collapsed. Cease-fires have come and gone. U.S.-brokered diplomacy has spun its wheels.



More recently, Secretary of State John Kerry has been trying to cajole Putin into reining in Assad's indiscriminate bombing, in exchange for joint U.S.-Russian operations against certain opposition rebels that both sides see as terrorists. The soft-sell approach to Putin has yielded  and will yield  nothing.



The Kremlin has a singular goal in Syria: Keep Assad in power  a goal shared by Iran.



Obama's goal looks to be: Appear engaged without doing much of anything.



Putin won't be deterred unless the U.S. wields leverage against him. Raising the prospect of military action against Assad, as a group of State Department officials suggested earlier this year, could provide that leverage. Those officials sent a cable to Obama, urging stronger military action against Syrian government forces. They suggested that could include cruise missiles and "targeted airstrikes."



That's what we mean by leverage, of a sort Putin would comprehend. It could entice moderate Syrian Sunnis, who oppose Assad, to side with the West in the fight against Islamic State.



Obama seems content to leave an ever-worsening Syria slaughter to his successor. Obama also will leave Syrian civilians trapped in a conflict the president should have taken seriously around the time Omran was born.



This editorial appeared on the Chicago Tribune and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.o.kr




Reversing birthrate descent takes extra efforts from local gov'ts



Korea's birthrate of 1.24 per woman is one of the lowest among OECD members, ranking 33 out of 34 countries. But not all parts of Korea are stuck in the declining trend. The baby boom in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province, has lessons for other local governments.



Haenam's birthrate is 2.46, which is the highest in the country, followed by 2.16 in Gangwon Province's Inje County and 2.11 in Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province. Haenam's rate is well above the government's target of 1.5 per woman by 2020.



The reason for Haenam's baby boom is that the local administration has been implementing support programs for women that actually encourage them to have children.



The central government's pro-birthrate policies have failed, as shown in the fact that they have not pulled up the rate which has remained stuck in the range of 1.2 per woman since 2005. Haenam's unique success in boosting the birthrate shows the important of a local government's tailor-made policies.



All local administrations should benchmark Haenam's success resulting primarily from administrative efficiency and budgetary attention. In 2008, the Haenam County administration was the first among regional governments to establish a department for boosting the birthrate. A woman residing in Haenam receives 3,000,000 won for having her first child, 3,500,000 won for a second child, 6 million won for a third and 7.2 million won for a fourth. The county also provides various incentives, such as public postpartum care centers that offer cheaper rates than those in bigger cities and assistance with medical fees for couples who have difficulty conceiving. After birth registration, new moms and babies receive gift baskets from the county containing nutritious food products for women after birth and baby clothes.



These bold initiatives have led to Haenam's current status as the nation's birthrate leader, which the county has held consistently for the past four years. Last year, 839 babies were born in the county of 75,600. An average of two babies is born daily in Haenam. This is amazing when considering that just 10 years ago, Haenam's birthrate was 1.42.



The government announced a five-year plan late last year to raise the birthrate to 1.5 per woman by 2020 that will cost more than 100 trillion won. But the national goal of boosting the rate takes more than just the central government, which has already lost credibility among most Korean women. A recent report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs showed that only 2.5 percent of respondents believed that the government's birthrate policies were effective.



To turn around the demographic descent, Korea's corporate sector also needs to step up. They need to expand work-at-home programs, in-house daycare facilities and paid parental leave.




Song Jae-ho, vice president in charge of KT's future business, introduces the company's healthcare business strategy at a restaurant in central Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of KT



By Lee Min-hyung

Mobile carriers here are gearing up for the emerging big data era, as the wired and wireless telecommunications market is nearing saturation point.

KT, the nation's largest fixed-line operator, is no exception in its bid to gain a foothold in the next-generation growth engines. In recent years, the company has invested hugely on building ICT infrastructure to be in line with the data-driven telecom and mobile ecosystem.

The company previously set its five future growth engines  including smart media, integrated security and healthcare  seeking to grab a leading position in new revenue sources.

The company held a media forum Thursday where it unveiled its plan to tap deeper into the profitable healthcare industry.

The mobile carrier said it plans to launch a smart fitness band, Neofit, next month, seeking to capitalize on its expertise in big data and Internet of Things (IoT).

KT is focusing on the bio-converged, personal healthcare industry, meeting growing demand for real-time health monitoring.

"NeoFit can track and monitor 100 physical activities of users, allowing the device to gather massive datasets and offer health-related advice more precisely than other existing smart bands," Song Jae-ho, vice president in charge of KT's future business, said at the forum.

"The healthcare business is one of KT's next-generation growth engines, using our network infrastructure, IoT and big data," he said. "We are going to continue to expand our presence into the global market."

One of the selling points of the new healthcare device is that it can precisely check every movement of a user, as the company focused for more than seven months on building an algorithm, according to KT.

Neofit's counterparts include Mi Fit of Xiaomi and Gear Fit of Samsung Electronics.
By Lee Min-hyung

The government's latest decision to delay its ruling on whether to allow Google to host detailed map data on its worldwide servers reflects how sensitive and tricky the issue is, officials said Thursday.

It shows that the government has been stuck in a dilemma  it is reluctant to provide the map data to Google due to national security concerns, but it is worried that its rejection of the company's request could cause trade friction with the U.S.

A special committee  consisting of seven government bodies  failed to meet the deadline set for Wednesday, delaying its final decision for another two months. Google has requested the local geographic data from the government for its Google Maps service which would be hosted on a server operating outside the country.

The committee said it needs a more comprehensive review of the consequences.

In response, Google issued a statement that it would fully comply with the government to narrow their differences.

"Google will sincerely respond to all the government's concerns over the map data issue," Google Korea said in a statement. "We hope to offer better map services for our users across the world."












Texas death chamber

Texas' execution protocol is constitutional, a federal judge ruled, dismissing a lawsuit from 5 death row inmates who say the state should retest its drugs before killing them.





Texas revised its lethal-injection procedure in 2012 from a 3-judge cocktail to a dose of compounded pentobarbital. Since then, Texas has executed 30 prisoners without any reported problems, according to U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes' Aug. 19 ruling.





Texas changed its protocol and started buying its pentobarbital from a compounding pharmacy after large drug manufacturers, unwilling to be complicit in the death penalty, stopped producing the drugs the state used.





Lead plaintiff Jeffery Wood sued 2 directors of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the warden of the Huntsville prison on Aug. 12, seeking an injunction to stop the state from carrying out his execution, which was set for Aug. 24.





Though Hughes refused to grant Wood relief in the federal case, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday afternoon remanded Wood's case to the trial court that oversaw his death penalty conviction.





The appeals court told the trial court to look into allegations from Wood's attorneys that a psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution, the late Dr. James Grigson, dubbed "Dr. Death" by the media, lied to the jury about how often he found defendants pose a danger to society in the numerous capital murder trials in which he had testified. Wood's reprieve came on his 43rd birthday, the Texas Tribune reported.





Church leaders, death penalty opponents and state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, say Wood does not deserve the death penalty because he didn't kill anyone.





Wood was sentenced under a Texas law that makes anyone involved in a crime that causes death equally responsible.





A jury convicted Wood for the 1996 murder of a convenience store clerk in Kerrville, though Wood was sitting outside the store in a pickup when his friend fired the fatal shot.





Wood is fighting to overturn his death sentence in the state case, but his conviction will stand.





In his federal lawsuit, Wood says that because Texas agreed to retest its compounded pentobarbital before using it on inmates Perry Williams and Thomas Whitaker in a settlement of their 2013 federal lawsuit, the state should do the same for him and his 4 co-plaintiffs.





He claims that Texas will violate his Eighth and 14th Amendment rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by using a drug that presents a "substantial risk of causing severe pain," an argument his attorneys backed with an affidavit, medical report and lab results from pharmacologist James Ruble and anesthesiologist David Waisel.





Judge Hughes didn't buy it. Describing Ruble's report as a "pseudo-scientific dump of partial facts and incomplete data" and Waisel's affidavit as rife with "speculative, unsubstantiated, and partial data," Hughes dismissed the case Friday.





Wood et al. claim Texas uses expired pentobarbital, an argument Hughes found unpersuasive, because the state administers twice the lethal dose to execute prisoners.





"The plaintiffs have not shown that Texas uses expired drugs to execute people. That should end the inquiry. Their medical support is wholly unreliable to show that the drugs have a demonstrated risk of severe pain," Hughes wrote in a 12-page order, voluminous compared to his typically terse rulings.





Hughes dismissed most of the claims for not meeting Texas' 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.





"The equal protection claim will be dismissed because the plaintiffs have not shown that Texas has infringed upon a fundamental right," he wrote.





Here are the other plaintiffs and their execution dates: Rolando Ruiz, Aug. 31; Robert Jennings, Sept. 14; Terry Edwards, Oct. 19 and Ramiro Gonzales, Nov. 2.





Texas leads the nation with 6 executions so far this year.

 | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!

Source: Courthouse News, August 24, 2016
SK Holdings C&C President and Chief Technology Officer Lee Ho-soo, third from left, poses with executives from SK and IBM at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Thursday, during a launch ceremony for their cloud data center. From left are IBM Korea General Manager Jeffrey Rhoda, IBM Cloud Senior Vice President Robert LeBlanc, Lee and SK Holdings C&C Digital and Finance Business Group Executive Vice President Lee Ki-yeol. / Courtesy of SK Holdings C&C



By Yoon Sung-won



SK C&C and IBM Korea said Thursday that they have begun operation of a cloud data center (CDC) here.



The partners pledged to provide more agile hybrid cloud services to help clients speed up the digital transformation of their business structures.



"In partnership with IBM, we will expand our business portfolio to artificial intelligence (AI), smart factories, big data and integrated logistics based on the success of our CDC," SK C&C President and CTO Lee Ho-soo said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday.



IBM Korea General Manager Jeffrey Rhoda said, "One of our key cloud business strategies is to cooperate with a local business that understands the market. With SK, we will also cooperate for cognitive AI technology and network system security, too."



Last October, the two companies agreed to jointly push for new technology business including the establishment of a CDC here.



Located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, the new CDC is in a ten-story building designed to survive earthquakes. The data center also has an advanced security system provided by SK Infosec.



Clients can access their allocated server in the CDC to establish and run their business systems. Because the CDC in Pangyo is connected to over 40 IBM global data center network, clients can access the international chain. The two companies said their clients can transfer data within IBM's cloud data center networks free of charge.



"In the second phase of cloud computing, it is important to realize actual applications such as blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), analytics and our Watson cognitive AI to create value," IBM Cloud Senior Vice President Robert LeBlanc said.



Pointing out that existing cloud services from retail and telecom businesses here have remained on the business-to-consumer level, the two companies said they will provide services tailor-made for enterprises, based on their long-accumulated knowhow in the business-to-business sector.



"Business are shifting from traditional IT systems to new models such as cloud, big data, IoT and mobility," SK Holdings C&C Digital and Finance Business Group Executive Vice President Lee Ki-yeol said. "We can be the best partner for them because we understand the B2B sector."



Based on the CDC, the two said they combined IBM's SoftLayer and SK's Cloud Z to provide a hybrid cloud service. This allows clients to tap into the openness and agility of public cloud systems while maintaining their private data on their on-premise systems.



Lee also said the two partners will comply with regulations in the domestic cloud services market, aiming at attracting clients such as financial institutions and government agencies.



As the government is likely to release its standards that define relatively less sensitive data that can be stored in cloud networks next month, service providers are keen on winning bids from the financial and government sectors.



As Amazon Web Service (AWS) and Microsoft have been boosting their presence in the Korean cloud service market with their own CDCs here, Lee said the SK-IBM alliance has strength in dealing with large-scale projects especially in the financial sector and thus has more potential for attracting new clients.



"Amazon has been doing well, but their clients are mostly from certain industries such as gaming, app development and web portals," Lee said. "But government and financial sectors are completely different ecosystems. We have never failed in handling massive data migration projects for the financial sector here. Amazon may feel threatened by the birth of the SK-IBM alliance."
Utilizing the BEAR project, Namibia took part in the World Skills Competition, the world's largest vocational skills competition, in August 2015. / Yonhap



By Hong Dam-young

Korea will support African countries with Korean-style vocational education for the next five years, the Educational Ministry said Wednesday.

"Better Education for Africa's Rise (BEAR)" is a five-year development assistance project that Seoul launched in 2011 through a request from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), according to Yonhap news agency.

This year marks the second stage of the project, which will be implemented in five African countries  Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar.

During the first phase, from 2011 to 2015, Korea offered UNESCO $10 million for developing curriculums and related textbooks and training teachers in Botswana, Congo, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi.

It resulted in Namibia, for the first time, taking part in the World Skills Competition in Brazil, the world's largest vocational skills competition, in August 2015. The country also utilized the BEAR program to develop curriculum and help technicians obtain certifications in Zambia.

The ministry said 10 vocational education experts from the countries that employed BEAR in the first phase have been invited to Korea in August to visit the country's vocational education institutions and met Korean experts.

The ministry also will support the five countries from the project's first phase without UNESCO.

"Many other African countries have asked us for help in the BEAR project for Korean-style vocational education, as it is the latest craze among African countries," said Kim Young-gon, a senior official in charge of international cooperation at the ministry.
"The death penalty heavily depends on the county in which a defendant is tried."

Just 16 counties in the US are driving the use of the death penalty, despite a nationwide movement away from the sentence, a new report from the Harvard Law School's Fair Punishment Project has found.





The "outlier counties" - scattered throughout Alabama, Florida, California, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas, and Arizona - have each imposed five or more death sentences between 2010 and 2015, a major departure from the overall downward trend in death penalty use since it peaked in 1996 with 315.





The report determined that the reasons behind the counties' deviation can be boiled down to 3 "structural failures" that they tend to have in common: overzealous prosecutors, inadequate defense lawyers, and racial bias and exclusion.





The outcomes of these sentencings, according to the report, regularly resulted in wrongful convictions and excessive punishment of young people, or those who suffer from mental illnesses or disabilities.





"Studies have shown [death sentences] to be extremely expensive, prone to error, applied in discriminatory ways, and imposed upon the most vulnerable, rather than the most culpable people," the report said.





For instance, in Maricopa County, Arizona, the report found that a disproportionate 57% of those sentenced to death between 2010 and 2015 were people of color. The county is notable for drawing national scrutiny in recent days - its sheriff, Joe Arpaio, was referred by a federal judge for criminal contempt charges last week after he allegedly failed to abide by a court order meant to prevent his office from racially profiling Latinos.





Arpaio has been accused by the Department of Justice of overseeing the "worst pattern of racial profiling by a law enforcement agency in US history."





The report also looked into Duval County, Florida, where 87% of its death sentences since 2010 have been used on African-American defendants. The report attributed much of the county's outlier status to State Attorney Angela Corey, who is currently campaigning for re-election and was dubbed the "cruelest prosecutor in America" last week by The Nation magazine.





Corey slammed the Fair Sentencing Project's statistics as being unfair in an interview with the Florida Times-Union on Tuesday.





The study's focus on 16 counties hearkens back to Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's dissent in the 2015 Glossip v. Gross case, in which he pegged geography as being a major factor in determining which defendants are sentenced to death.





"Within a death penalty State, the imposition of the death penalty heavily depends on the county in which a defendant is tried," Breyer wrote.





The report, released Tuesday, examined just 8 of the 16 counties, while a second report detailing the remaining eight is set to be released in September.





Source: Business Insider, August 24, 2016





Harvard Death-Penalty Study Rips Maricopa County Prosecutors

Maricopa County's death-penalty system is plagued by "overzealous" prosecutors and creates a high number of questionable death-penalty cases, according to a new Harvard Law School report.



"Too Broken to Fix: Part I: An In-Depth Look at America's Outlier Death Penalty Counties," by the school's Fair Punishment Project, identifies Maricopa as 1 of 16 "outliers" among the nation's 3,143 counties or "county equivalents," for having sentenced 5 or more defendants to death during the period 2010-2015.



The report calls out three deputy county attorneys by name, suggesting they're reckless, and it lays heavy implications on the current county attorney, Bill Montgomery. But it also notes that the number of death-penalty cases has declined since the departure of former county attorney Andrew Thomas.



Thomas, who resigned office in 2010 for an unsuccessful run for state Attorney General, was disbarred in 2012 for abuse of power - as the Harvard study prominently mentions. Voters put Montgomery, also a Republican, in office in 2010 with a special election, re-electing him in 2012. He's running for office once again in 2016 against low-profile Democratic contender Diego Rodriguez.



For much of Montgomery's time in office, he has sought the death penalty at a higher-than-average rate, according to the study. Between 2010 and 2015, the county had 28 capital-punishment cases. On a per-homicide basis, the county's rate of death sentencing is 2.3 times higher than the rest of Arizona. Nationally, it accounts for about about 1 % of the country's population but 3.6 % of the country's death-penalty cases between 2010 and 2015.



"If I were charged with a crime in Maricopa County, based on what we've seen in capital cases - it's not a place where I would feel confident that the county attorney's office would play by the rules," Robert Smith, a Harvard researcher and director of the Fair Punishment Project tells New Times.



The report illuminates problems that go back much further than 2010, showing that Maricopa County has had more cases - and more problems with those cases and its prosecutorial system - than nearly any other U.S. county.



Founded in 2005 by Harvard Law School professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr., the Fair Punishment Project has a stated mission to serve as a "critical critical bridge between scholarship, law, policy and practice to solve the challenges of a multi-racial society." The project, led by professor Ronald Sullivan Jr., is a collaboration between the law school's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice and its Criminal Justice Institute.



Citing media coverage, including stories from New Times, the report notes that starting in 2004, Thomas sought capital cases at twice the rate of his predecessor, Rick Romley - thus crippling the county's public-defender system and leaving a dozen murder defendants without lawyers. While the county has backed off its zeal for the death penalty since 2010, Montgomery's office retains three deputies whose strong interest in capital cases appears to color their conduct in court.



Jeannette Gallagher, Juan Martinez, and Vincent Imbordino account for more than 1/3 of all of the capital cases (21 of 61) in which the Arizona Supreme Court has found problems on direct appeal since 2006. The higher court overturned or vacated the death penalty in 4 of the 21 cases and found instances of "improper behavior" in 8 of the cases.



The report notes that the state Supreme Court found that Martinez - who gained worldwide fame as the prosecutor in the Jodi Arias murder trial - committed misconduct in at least 3 capital cases. Additionally, the state's high court cited 17 examples where Martinez had acted "inappropriately" in the murder prosecution of Shawn Patrick Lynch. (The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the death penalty in that case for reasons unrelated to alleged prosecutor problems.)



The report cites instances in which the state Supreme Court deemed Gallagher's conduct "improper," "very troubling," and "entirely unprofessional."



"Gallagher, who heads Maricopa's capital case unit, has personally obtained at least nine death sentences, including against a military veteran diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and a brain-damaged child whom she described to the jury as '16 going on 35,'" according to the report.



Smith has harsh words for the 3 prosecutors.



"They don't have the temperament required to prosecute a jaywalking citation, and what they're being entrusted with is the death penalty," he tells New Times. "They shouldn't be prosecuting misdemeanor cases, much less deciding whether or not somebody lives or dies."



The report delves into the problems behind the high rate of cases, noting overworked or incompetent defense attorneys, racial bias, and the exonerations of 5 Maricopa County death-penalty defendants since 1978. More than 1/2 of the people sentenced to death between 2010 and 2015 were people of color. The Fair Punishment Project can't say for certain whether Maricopa County has executed any innocent people, but Smith says it has come "perilously close."



It's Montgomery's responsibility to fix the county's sorry record on the death penalty, Smith adds, even though many of its problems predate his tenure. As things stand now, Montgomery shows a "callous disregard" for the people he's been entrusted to protect, Smith says.



Montgomery did not return a message seeking comment.



Source: phoenixnewtimes.com, August 24, 2016



Harvard Law: Duval County among nation's leaders in death penalty sentences

In Duval County, it has taken just 66 minutes in the sentencing phase to decide to impose the death penalty on a murderer. And often, it has been done without a unanimous jury.



That stat illustrates why one group believes Duval is among the worst of the worst when it comes to death penalty sentences, with roughly 1/4 of Florida's death sentences coming from Duval County, with a mere five percent of the state's population.



A new report from the Harvard Law School's Fair Punishment Project contends Duval County is one of a group of "outlier" counties, where the death penalty is used more than anywhere else in the country.



The report contends Duval and other so-called outlier counties are "plagued by prosecutorial misconduct, bad lawyers, and racial bias."



Turning its attention to Duval County specifically, the report contends 48 % of Duval County death penalty cases involve defendants who have an intellectual disability, brain damage, or mental illness.



The report cites a death penalty conviction for a man with an IQ of 67 who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a vivid example.



Further, 20 % of those death penalty cases involve defendants under the age of 21.



Duval County had findings of prosecutorial misconduct in 16 % of its cases; Angela Corey, the current state attorney, and her chief prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda were named in the report specifically.



"Of the death sentences that the Florida Supreme Court has reviewed from Duval County since 2006, 1 in every 6 cases involved a finding of inappropriate behavior, misuse of discretion, or prosecutorial misconduct, including 2 recent death sentences tried by Bernie de la Rionda that the Florida Supreme Court vacated due to their excessive harshness," the report contends.



Other issues arose also, according to the Fair Punishment Project.



In Duval, the guilty verdict and the sentencing often occurred in the same day, permitting no mitigating evidence to be offered.



Of the defendants sentenced to death in Duval County, 87 % were African-American.



This trend predated Corey, claims the FPP, though it has escalated under her watch.



"Between 1991-2009, 62 percent of death sentences from Duval County were imposed against African-American defendants, compared to just 33 % in the rest of Florida. Since 2010, 1 year after Angela Corey took office, 87 % of death sentences have been imposed against African-American defendants, compared to 44 % in the rest of the state. African-Americans make up approximately 30 % of Duval's population, and 17 % of the state's population," the report contends.



Of those sentenced to death, 88 % were "non-unanimous," the report added.



An expert quoted in the press release lamented the insufficiency of defense in counties like Duval.



"This report vividly shows how the last remnants of the American death penalty still survive: in counties that have wholly crippled the defense function," said Professor Brandon Garrett of the University of Virginia School of Law. "Conversely, in the places that provide minimally fair resources for defense representation, we have seen a steep decline in death sentences. Readers of this report will learn that what is left of the death penalty persists only through extreme unfairness and arbitrariness."



With Corey facing a competitive primary in the state attorney race, national scrutiny has been inconveniently timed for the 2-term incumbent.



The Nation posed the question: "Is Angela Corey the cruelest prosecutor in America?"



When asked about this article last week, Corey was dismissive, saying that the article was from a "liberal blogger in San Francisco."



One can expect a similar response to this report.



Source: floridapolitics.com, August 24, 2016



State Attorney Angela Corey calls new Harvard study about death-sentencing 'unfair and untrue'

Duval County is again among a handful of U.S. counties that most frequently send convicted criminals to their deaths, according to a Harvard University study released Tuesday.



The Fair Punishment Project, of Harvard Law School's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice and its Criminal Justice Institute, highlighted the 16 U.S. counties that sentenced at least 5 people to death from 2010 to 2015. Duval had 16 death sentences, and 88 % of its death sentences since 2006 were not unanimous.



The same day the Harvard report was released, a New York Times Magazine story highlighting the top death-sentencing counties focused on the murder of Shelby Farah of Jacksonville. Farah's mother, Darlene, has asked local prosecutors not to seek the death penalty, but they are still seeking death.



The feature also discussed the area's chief assistant public defender, Refik Eler, who has had 2 death cases overturned because of his ineffective assistance of counsel.



"I wouldn't say it's troubling. There were only 2 cases reversed" and 1 is pending on appeal, Eler said. "In a 30-year career, I've tried several hundred cases."



As one of the attorneys who's represented many poor clients in death cases, Eler said, he's proud of the times he has succeeded. "You have to really be there and do it and understand the many factors that go into strategic decisions."



State Attorney Angela Corey rebutted the Harvard Law School report, saying the statistics were unfair and the researchers should've shared data with her before publishing.



The report focused on:



-- Corey's "overzealous" prosecution



-- Public Defender Matt Shirk's office providing ineffective counsel



-- Racial bias at the courthouse.



("Since 2010, 1 year after Angela Corey took office, 87 % of death sentences have been imposed against African-American defendants, compared to 44 % in the rest of the state. African-Americans make up approximately 30 % of Duval's population, and 17 % of the state's population.") The Times story was the 2nd magazine article in a week focusing on Duval's role as a leader in tough-on-crime sentencing. Last week, liberal magazine The Nation published a feature asking, "Is Angela Corey the Cruelest Prosecutor in America?", and back in June, conservative magazine National Review criticized her.



"It's totally without merit," Corey said of the report, saying she was unfairly targeted when she didn't divert from her predecessors' approaches to prosecuting death-penalty cases.



COREY HAS ANOTHER EXPLANATION



Corey called the Fair Punishment Project report and the magazine story untrue. She questioned why the report came out a week before her Aug. 30 primary.



But Rob Smith, the legal research fellow who headed the project, said the election had nothing to do with the timing.



"We looked at the study not to persecute her. We weren't just picking anecdotes out and picking on people. We wanted to have an objective, thematic, national look. Surely she doesn't believe the Fair Punishment Project at Harvard Law School decided to create a gigantic project with a dozen people working on it over months to pick a time period just to affect Angela Corey's election. ...



Contrary to Ms. Corey's belief, the world doesn't revolve around her."



Smith said, 'I also think that she's a bully, and what I mean by that is that when a Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz called her out in a case, she calls and threatens the university. When her predecessor critiques something she did, she criticizes Mr. Shorstein. When her IT person criticizes something she does, she fires that person. She gets upset and she lashes out. Bullies shouldn't be deciding who lives and who dies."



In interviews Tuesday, Corey said it was unfair to report on the findings without first reviewing the data the project collected. Over the course of 2 telephone interviews, Corey grew increasingly combative while 2 of her top homicide attorneys remained collegial. 3 times she interrupted one of them to tell him to stop being apologetic.



Those attorneys, Bernie de la Rionda and Mark Caliel, addressed many of the statistics in the report and said why they felt they were misleading. Caliel said when considering the race of all 1st-degree murder suspects, there likely isn't a disparity between those who qualified for death and those sentenced to death. They said they believe seeking the death penalty honors the many black victims of murder.



"What scholars tend to forget is all lives matter," de la Rionda said. "I'd venture to ask this question. Who are our victims? If the focus is going to be on race, what was the race of our victims?"



He said he respects organizations that oppose the death penalty, but he believes it's the right punishment for certain crimes.



Corey and de la Rionda also said the manner of handling death cases and the number of death cases haven't changed much since Ed Austin and Harry Shorstein were the elected state attorneys before Corey. Smith disagreed, saying that while most the country reduced the number of death sentences, Corey increased it even when the murder rate dropped.



THE TIMING OF THE REPORT



Harvard's Smith, who has handled death-penalty cases, said the decision to do this study came after a Supreme Court dissent last summer noted the geographic concentration of death-penalty cases. At the time, only 15 counties had 5 or more death penalties from 2010 to 2015; that number grew to 16. Many viewed that dissent as an open invitation to challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that the intellectually disabled and juveniles should not be executed. Smith said he wanted to see if the few counties still sending people to death were sentencing "the worst of the worst" or the types of people the Supreme Court said shouldn't be executed.



Smith has previously published reports noting that de la Rionda is one of the nation's most prolific death-penalty prosecutors.



"In Duval what happens is you have both this aggressive prosecutor in Angela Corey where she seeks the death penalty in cases where many other prosecutors would not and this non-unanimous jury rule," he said. The law didn't used to require any specific number of jurors to agree to a death sentence; it now requires a 10-2 decision. "Those 2 things work together."



Smith said in places like Duval County, he found that the people on death row were not the most heinous criminals. Instead, the report noted, 48 % had an intellectual disability, severe mental illness or brain damage. 1 in 5 were younger than 21.



And shockingly, he said, the sentencing phase of the trial - when prosecutors explain why a crime is particularly egregious, defense attorneys explain why someone shouldn't be executed and a jury decides death or life - in Jacksonville lasts one day. That means opening statements, witnesses, evidence, closing statements and jury deliberation all occur in the same workday.



For that, Smith blamed defense attorneys. "You have an overaggressive prosecutor and defense lawyers who you wouldn't want to represent you in a parking ticket case."



Source: jacksonville.com, August 24, 2016





 | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com




It is great that God described you, and knew about such wise people as yourself!



1 Corinthians

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:



I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.[c]



20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
To support Hillary Clinton is to support our Global Governance Crowd and their Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority, WTO, NAFTA, GATT, CAFTA, and the TPP deal ___ all used to circumvent America First trade policies, while fattening the fortunes of Hillary Clintons international corporate giant donors who have no allegiance to America or any nation.

See: Chelsea Clinton Will Stay on Board at the Clinton Foundation August 25, 2016In recent months we have seen numerous reports how the Clinton family has fattened its personal fortune using a charitable organization in a pay to play operation giving its donors access to decision makers in our Executive branch of government in return for contributions, many of which are craftily disguised as speaking fees.Among these speaking fees it was reported thatSEE: $153 million in Bill and Hillary Clinton speaking fees, documented The vast majority of these speaking fees are paid by our Global Governance Crowd but this is in addition to foreign dignitaries, some representing the interests of oppressive Islamic controlled countries.And now we learn, even after the foundation has been exposed as a money laundering operation, Hillary Clinton will not close this cash cow down. What we are told is Bill Clinton would resign from the Clinton Foundation board if Hillary is elected, and he would not give a paid speech for the entirety of her presidency.But that leaves Chelsea Clinton, a darling of our global governance crowd, who will take over the reins of this money laundering operation. To view the names of some of the players in this crowd see Council on Foreign Relations Membership Roster , click on CWell, isn't this a surprise? Chelsea Clinton and Bill Clinton appear on the roster of this global governance crowd.JWK
Dominos Pizza is planning to become the worlds first company to offer a commercial drone delivery service after conducting a trial run in New Zealand.

The pizzamaker carried out a demonstration delivery by drone in Auckland today, and afterwards said it aimed to launch a regular service in late 2016.

Amazon and Google are among companies looking to make deliveries by drone, and aviation authorities in the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand have been relaxing rules for this purpose.

Last month, US convenience store chain 7-Eleven trialled the first single commercial drone delivery of coffee, doughnuts and a chicken sandwich.



Don Meij, the chief executive of Dominos Pizza Enterprises, said: Weve always said that it doesnt make sense to have a 2-tonne machine delivering a 2kg order.

Last year, New Zealand became one of the first countries to allow commercial drone deliveries. Speaking after the Dominos test flight, the transport minister, Simon Bridges, said: Our enabling laws and regulation means we have the ideal environment.

But Philip Solaris, the director of drone company X-craft Enterprises, said Dominos could be hampered by a rule requiring drones to be kept in sight at all times.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
A Kenyan man is aiming to enter the Guinness World Records as the person with the longest nails on earth. 34-year-old John Waweru said his over 30 centimetre-long nails on his left hand are his main source of income.

This is my job, this is what feeds me. I go to the beaches and tourists pay to see the fingernails. I also go to places like Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) shows, get-togethers and schools where people pay to see my nails, the Mombasa-based man told the Daily Nation.



Waweru said that the nails earn him between KSh 2,000 and KSh 10,000 a day.

He has managed to build a four roomed Swahili house and start a nail salon for manicure and pedicure from the income.

However, having the longest nails in the country comes at a cost.

Waweru said he could neither cook nor wash his clothes due to the long nails. He also stopped covering himself with a bedsheet while sleeping in order to avoid breaking the nails.

The Kenyan is still hundreds of centimetres away from breaking the Guinness World Record held by Indias Shridhar Chillal. So? Loool.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
LEBANON  Skyler Todd Lien, 26, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine Thursday morning at 2800 South 9th St., Lebanon.

The arrest was made by officers from the Sweet Home Police Department, assisted by the Lebanon Police Department and Linn County Sheriffs Office.

When serving a narcotics search warrant, officers found two adults leaving the residence on a traffic stop by Lebanon Police.

Sweet Home Police Chief Jeff Lynn said that during the investigation, detectives seized evidence related to heroin distribution and use, as well as methamphetamine use.

A narcotics investigation was opened by the Sweet Home Police Department due to reported drugs sales, frequent short stay traffic and suspicious activity related to the occupant at the residence.

Christina Cash, 23, was interviewed and released from the scene. Lynn said charges related to her presence at the residence are expected to be filed at a later date.

Lien was also charged with an additional count of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of heroin related to a drug sale that occurred in July.

Lynn said the investigation found that a moderate quantity of heroin that Lien was distributing regularly flowed into the Sweet Home area.

Lien was lodged at Linn County Jail.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call detective Cyndi Pichardo at the Sweet Home Police Department, 541-367-5181.
An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE  Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at...

Chamber retreat helps discover strengths in communication The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce has proved that networking can come in many ways. It doesnt have to come at a luncheon or happy hour or Christmas party, but...
Road to Healing Audio Article Ceyapi, this past Saturday we cried as we listened to the stories of many who were hurt in one of...

Disparities can bring early death Audio Article This past week brought me to the Black Hills and to Bear Butte. Bear Butte is a one of small...
An Albany man was injured in a head-on crash that resulted in a fatality along Buena Vista Road on Wednesday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

A Polk County press release stated Daniel Chico Hernandez, 37, of Monmouth, was killed when an oncoming vehicle, driven by Kester Harry of Albany, crossed into his lane and struck his vehicle. The Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the two-vehicle crash at 4:49 p.m.

Authorities said Harry was transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis and then sent to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, due to the extent of his injuries.

There were no other passengers involved in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing with the assistance of the Oregon State Police, Polk County District Attorney's Office and Medical Examiner's Office.
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

Read more
LEBANON  Add this to the list of things banned without prior permission on the grounds of Oregon's public schools: flying a drone.

The Oregon School Boards Association in June put together a "conditionally required" policy for school districts on the use of unmanned aircraft systems, which includes the prohibition. School districts, including Lebanon, are beginning to adopt that new policy as they get ready for a new school year.

Members of the Lebanon School Board voted 4-0 on Aug. 18 on a first reading of the policy, without comment. Chairman Russ McUne said following the meeting he was wondering about public use on grounds outside school hours, but that the district had no choice but to adopt the policy as written if it ever uses drones for a class project.

"I don't know if we're going to do it, but it's sure something we're going to be talking about as an option," McUne said.

House Bill 4066, which Oregon lawmakers passed in their short session earlier this year, requires any public body that operates an unmanned aircraft system to establish policies and procedures for the use, storage, accessing, sharing and retention of any data those drones generate, including video and audio recordings. The bill takes effect in January.

That means if districts plan to use drones as part of their curriculum, they are required to have a policy in place on how they'll be used, said Alex Pulaski, communications director for the Oregon School Boards Association.

Policy ECACB  which falls under OSBA's subcategory of "Video Surveillance" under its policy section on buildings and grounds  states third-party drone use on district property or at district events is prohibited unless the superintendent or designee has given permission.

Pulaski said that portion was based on two issues: potential liability, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of students and staff who use the school grounds.

Even with permission, however, the operator must first provide the district with proof of insurance "that meets the liability limits established by the district," proper registration and authorization by the Federal Aviation Administration and "a signed agreement holding the district harmless from any claims of harm to individuals or damage to property."

OSBA is holding the line on the literal reading of the policy, Pulaski said.

"As a practical matter, your kids could go fly their drone at school on a Saturday," he said, "but as they would be in violation of district policy, if someone from the schools spotted them, that person should instruct the kids to leave unless they had the requisite permission and signed forms."
This article appears in the August 26, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

THE GERMAN QUESTION

The Spark for the Collapse, or

a Driver for World Development

[PDF version of this article]

Aug. 20If Deutsche Bank is allowed to descend into an uncontrolled collapse, exploding the largest pool of derivatives among the worlds banks, not only will the German economy be destroyed, but all of Europe and the United States with it. And yet, that is what is on the agenda, literally any day. Yet another voice from the financial elite screamed the alarm Aug. 16: Deutsche is in more trouble than people realize, said Brad Lamensdorf of Ranger Equity Bear in an interview with The Express of London. Something is very, very broken.

Die Welt of Aug. 13 headlined their story on Berlins impotence: The Fears of the Powerful Faced with Deutsche Bank, and proceeded to quote an anonymous government source that nobody knows how bad Deutsche Banks derivatives porfolio actually is. They report that when Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble was asked about the bank at the G-20 Finance Ministers meeting, he could only comment tersely, Im not saying anything about that.

Nothing is stable in the European banking system, said Lyndon LaRouche in response on Aug. 17. The German economy is on the edge of an explosion. Merkel and Schauble are trying to manage the impossible. They must go. Its only a question of when the break will occur. Germany must make a decision to cast off the London and Wall Street-centered derivatives and related speculative toxic assets. Deutsche Bank competes for the top of the list of the 10 banks in London, which, as mutual counterparties, control over 92% of Londons derivatives turnoverwhich is in turn 46% of world derivatives turnoverjust among themselves! Way behind London, Wall Street and the United States come in with 24% (in 2011). This is what led the IMF to call Deutsche Bank the most dangerous bank in the world.

There is a means to solve this crisis, but only if leaders emerge immediately in Germany to restore stability. This requires, first, the recapitalization of Deutsche Bank under a new regime which writes off the worthless derivative bubble and restores commercial banking under Glass-Steagall-style regulation. Deutsche Bank must be returned to the policies of its former Chairman Alfred Herrhausen, murdered in 1989 by still-unidentified assassins. If that is done now, LaRouche said, then Germany, in cooperation with Putins Russia, can avoid a sudden crash and drive a new paradigm of cooperation between the trans-Atlantic nations and the Russia-China partnership which is now leading the world economy forward, despite the Western collapse.

In her July 29 speech at the Chinese led G-20 Think Tank (T20) preparatory meeting in Beijing, Helga Zepp-LaRouche called for a global Glass-Steagall to be linked to the global adoption of the World Silk Road growth plan at the September G-20 Summit. As the European Union is dysfunctional, as the case of Deutsche Bank demonstrates, the responsibility and necessity rests now upon Germany to prevent a chaotic financial collapse and show the way of cooperation with Russia and China.
PRESS RELEASE

Despite Tensions, Chinese, Japanese and South Korean Foreign Ministers Meet and Commit to Future Collaboration

Aug. 24, 2016 (EIRNS)Despite the many well-known tensions among them, the Foreign Ministers of China, Japan, and South Korea met in Tokyo yesterday, to discuss regional as well as bilateral issues, and to establish a basis for continued cooperation in a region rife with U.S. and British imperial provocations. It wasnt clear until late Monday that the meeting would take place, and there was no joint communique issued at the end. Nonetheless, progress was made. Chinas Wang Yi, Japans Fumio Kishida, and Yun Byung of South Korea pledged to bring their heads-of-state together for a trilateral summit by the end of this year.

Just before the summit began, North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which fell into the Sea of Japan, within Japans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), Xinhua reported today. In this context, all three ministers stated their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Wang Yi underscored, that nuclear issues must be settled through dialogue and negotiations.

On the sidelines of the summit, each of the foreign ministers held bilateral meetings with his counterpart from the other two countries, described, in some cases, as quite tense, given several festering issues. However, in the joint press conference of the three, Kishida stated that "there are various issues among the three countries, but we have to overcome that with our political wisdom." Wang Yi added, that

"despite the issues the three countries have, we have an important responsibility for the peace and stability of the region. We would like to enhance our cooperation by overcoming the difficulties,"

The Japan Times reported.

The upcoming G-20 summit was also discussed, and in remarks quoted by Xinhua, Wang Yi said that China wants to strengthen cooperation and communication with Japan and South Korea

"to make the summit a conference that boosts confidence, helps build consensus, guides future directions, and makes due contribution to promoting world economic development and improving global economic governance."

The three countries, he said,

"should shoulder the responsibility 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 contributions to the overall revitalization of Asia as well as to world peace and development."

All three foreign ministers pledged to make concerted efforts to ensure the success of the G20 summit. "China, South Korea and Japan," Wang Yi affirmed, "should develop their relations in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking to the future."
PRESS RELEASE

Iran To Become Major Player in Silk Road Belt

Aug. 24, 2016 (EIRNS)A week-long forum in Tehran on the Silk Road Economic Belt indicated great enthusiasm for this project, which is quickly catching on in the Middle East.

The conference was opened by Ahmad Mohammadi, the head of the Iran-China Friendship Association. 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, he said, the first step is to establish a secretariat of the project in China, adding that this can be followed by sessions of the secretariat with the representatives from the participation states.

Mohammed Reza Dashiri, the head of the international department of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said the Belt and Road is aimed at creating a friendly environment for a 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,

Dahshiri 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 Irans 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.

Since some financial sanctions by the West against Iran are still in place, it would be a good idea to develop mechanisms for transactions between Iran on the one hand and China and other countries involved in the initiative on the other,

said Mohsen Shariati Nia, a professor at Tehran Shahid Beheshti University.

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.

He said Irans 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.

Concurrently with the conference, Tehran is also hosting a cultural festival called 2016 Experiencing China in Iran, showcasing northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and featuring a photo exhibition, music and dance performances, and other cultural activities.
PRESS RELEASE

South Korea Advances Technology for Tritium Fusion Fuel Production

Aug. 24, 2016 (EIRNS)The National Fusion Research Institute (NFRI) of South Korea has succeeded in developing the technology for the "mass" production of tritium fuel that will be needed for the ITER fusion tokamak, todays Korea Times reports. The new technique will enable the production of more than 50 kilograms of tritium per year. While another isotope of hydrogen, deuterium, also a fusion fuel, occurs naturally, tritium, aside from very small trace amounts. can only be produced artifially. ITER will demonstrate fusion with the D-T reaction, which is the easiest reaction to create, requiring the least amount of energy in-put.

NFRI says that this new production technology will lower the cost of importing tritium for ITER, which currently stands at a cost of about $26,000 per kilogram.

Each of the ITER partners (U.S., Russia, Japan, Europe, India, China, South Korea) contributes about 9% of the cost of the tokamak project, not in money, but in hardware. South Korea is working on 10 procurement items, and tritium systems is one of the ten.
Film Review - The People Vs Fritz Bauer - When History Is Hidden

Festival winner, the German film The People Vs Fritz Bauer tells the 1957 struggle of Hessen's Attorney General Fritz Bauer and his obsession with finding Adolph Eichmann to bring to justice.

Having fled during Hitler's reign and returning from exile in Denmark, Fritz Bauer (Burghart Klaussner) is determined not only to see justice done and but fear for the future of his country. He soon realizes that most of the government officials now in office are still Nazi-sympathizers and glorifying in their past war efforts.

Fanatical about preventing Fritz from pursuing his discovery, Federal Office of Criminal Investigation officer Paul Gebhardt (Jorg Schuttauf) joins with public prosecutor Ulrich Kreidler (Sebastian Blomberg) as they attempt to murder Fritz and to make it appear as a suicide. They are thwarted when Fritz's assistant State Attorney Karl Angermann (Ronald Zehrfeld) discovers Fritz and summons help.

Fritz continues to try and educate the younger generation on what had really happened, to break the silence, and to come to terms with their past. For his efforts receives death threats.

Receiving a letter from a stranger in Buenos Aires that he believes Eichmann lives nearby, Fritz attempts to get the government involved, but no one will help. No one wants to see Eichmann on trial in Germany. In desperation, even though he knows it is treason, Fritz flies to Israel hoping to get the Mossad involved, meets with Israeli attorney general Chaim Cohen (Dani Levy) and Mossad director Isser Harel (Tilo Werner). He ends up hiring a journalist Morlach (Paulus Manker) to help find more information.

Even as Eichmann is arrested by Mossad and Karl and Fritz celebrate, the higher ups are not pleased and are determined to still bring them down especially both men - Fritz and Karl - hide a secret. Attracted to men, they fear for their professional lives since Paragraph 175 of the German Code made homosexuality a federal crime. When Karl's dalliance is discovered, he's threatened. Expose his boss or go to jail, himself.

In the 1960s, Fritz is instrumental in establishing the Auschwitz trials, however, his participation in helping to capture Eichmann was not known until many years after his death.

Director Lars Kraume, screenwriter Olivier Guez and producers Thomas Kufus and Christopher Friedel have drawn a powerful portrait of a courageous man battling for truth and justice, an outsider fighting against an all-powerful system.

Other notables in the movie included Laura Tonke, Gotz Schubert, Cornelia Groschel, Robert Atzorn, Matthias Weidenhofer, Rudiger Klink, and Michael Schenk. Cohen Media Group is the distributor.

Since it was in German with English subtitles, it would have been nice to be able to read them. Sometimes the white or light background swallowed up the words making it hard to read. But it wasn't necessary to read each and every word to know the intense impact of this story.

I highly recommend the story not only as education for our young, but education for those of us who lived through that perilous time.

It is being shown at select theatres around the world and a listing is available at the Cohen Media site.
Bright lights, big hair: Once upon a time, in a gallery somewhere in Alphabet City, you might have glimpsed the 1980s NYC literati swilling champagne and snorting Bolivian marching powder under the gleeful gaze of photogs from Interview, the Soho Weekly News and the New York Posts Page 6.

Dubbed the literary Brat Pack, writers Tama Janowitz, Brett Easton Ellis, Jay McInerney and Fran Lebowitz pioneered a kind of authorial celebrity thats become commonplace. Young, smart, photogenic, they exuded a detached downtown cool at odds with the image of the writer as bleary-eyed, ink-stained wretch hunched over a Royal Upright typewriter surrounded by drifts of rejection slips.

Janowitz joined the club with her second book, the 1986 story collection Slaves of New York. Shed already published stories in the New Yorker, but the one that got everybodys attention was Modern Saint #271. Written in 1979, it featured a part of the male anatomy that dared not speak its name.

Advertisement

Nobody wanted that story, Janowitz writes in her new book, Scream: A Memoir of Glamour and Dysfunction, not even the tiny photocopied magazine that finally did publish it. Nobody then used the word penis except perhaps for doctors. You cant explain to people, when you are writing about the past, how taboo things were then .

Janowitz memorably evokes her anxiety when she first read the storys opening sentence at a group reading at Symphony Space. After I became a prostitute I had to deal with penises of every imaginable shape and size.

Out in the audience there was a sharp intake of air  and then they began to laugh  [i]t was like throwing a bucket of water on everybody. Ice-cold water. They woke up, they were alive, my story was alive.

Its a great scene and a great evocation of the instant when a writer suddenly realizes her power. Sad to say, its one of the few moments in Scream when one gets a sense that Janowitz may have been an author whose work changed how Americans write about sex and power (and real estate).

But Janowitz, like her New York cohort, is still best known for her early work (with the exception of Ellis, who saw controversy and success with American Psycho). All are essentially one-hit wonders, and some readers may long for Janowitz to break out of this particular club with her new memoir.

One sympathizes with the so-called hicks shes lambasting, rather than the poor little it girl.  Elizabeth Hand on Scream

While there are some fine and even heartbreaking chapters in Scream, the books is surprisingly scattershot in its depiction of Janowitzs life: the narrative leapfrogs from the recent past to the authors childhood, to New York City and London in the 1970s, to upstate New York in the present, then back to her 1980s heyday, when she was on the cover of New York magazine, beautiful with a Medusas mane of dark hair, and palled around with Andy Warhol and Lou Reed.

Janowitz amusingly skewers the socialites she meets, women like Lee Radziwill and Nancy Reagan who spent a lifetime not eating  . No matter what you look like, when you spend time with one of these women you not only feel fat but expect to be responsible for one of their twigs snapping off.

But the balance is heavily weighted toward dysfunction rather than glamour. Janowitzs father was a wealthy, philandering, pothead psychiatrist who, well into his 80s, consorts with drug dealers and keeps a sawed-off shotgun under his bed. As depicted here, his behavior to his wife and daughter was so appalling and emotionally abusive that one wonders why on earth Janowitz didnt sever contact with him decades ago.

Her accounts of her mother, the noted poet Phyllis Janowitz, form the memoirs emotional core, especially as Phyllis develops dementia and her daughter moves to upstate New York to care for her, first at home and then in a series of nursing homes. Upstate, the former scenester shacks up with a hunky contractor, but her observations of the people she meets are off-puttingly sour and condescending.

They had the bleak haunted look of men who had never eaten anything outside of the hamburger, mayonnaise and Dorito food categories.  [Yet] they were all as interesting to me  or more interesting!  than the sculptors and artists and actors in New York hustling and jockeying for position and trying to impress you ... . Most of Janowitzs fish-out-of-water anecdotes about rural life backfire: one sympathizes with the so-called hicks shes lambasting, rather than the poor little it girl.

Janowitz herself remains pretty much a cipher throughout. She drops information but not insight. She owns eight poodles: why? Shes appears to be sleeping with the contractor and also still married to her husband  whats that about?

Were told repeatedly what bum luck shes had, often living in poverty; yet she owns real estate, is well-traveled, graduated from Barnard cum laude, received an M.A. from Hollins on a full scholarship, was accepted to the Yale School of Drama. In the 1970s she lived in London and witnessed the birth of U.K. punk. At 19 she had a correspondence with Lawrence Durrell, who invited her to visit him in France, which she did. After the success of Slaves of New York, she met famous artists and writers and got cool magazine assignments, traveling to Machu Picchu, Egypt, the Amazon, Wyoming, Anguilla. She was even a guest editor at Mademoiselle magazine, just like Sylvia Plath.

These experiences are described so fleetingly and dismissively, and in such a random fashion, that the effect is like meeting an intriguing stranger who, by way of introduction, holds up a box of personal photos, dumps them onto the floor, then walks away.

I wasnt writing about nice people or people who were redeemed, Janowitz states about her early work. I found rotten people to be more interesting. What made them the way they were? Her memoir features a lot of rotten people  lousy neighbors, creepy men, a ghastly father, a mean brother, an architect who screams a lot, and all those skinny rich ladies  but no speculation or insight as to what made them what they were.

Still, Screams final chapters, dealing with her beloved mothers death, are harrowing and heartrending, as are nearly all of the sections about their often fraught but enduring and loving relationship. One wishes shed chosen to focus on this one complicated, loving, resilient person and less on the rotten ones.

Hands most recent novel is Hard Light.

::

Scream: A Memoir of Glamour and Dysfunction

Tama Janowitz

Dey Street: 304 pp., $25.99
Cars that wirelessly talk to one another are finally ready for the road, creating the potential to dramatically reduce traffic deaths, improve the safety of self-driving cars and, perhaps, someday help solve traffic jams, automakers and government officials say.

But theres a big catch. The cable television and high-tech industries want to take away a large share of the radio airwaves the government dedicated for transportation in 1999 and use it instead for super-fast Wi-Fi service. Auto industry officials are fighting to hang on to as much of the spectrum as they can, saying they expect they will need it all for the new vehicle-to-vehicle communications, or V2V.

The government and the auto industry have spent more than a decade and more than $1 billion researching and testing V2V technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to propose as early as next month that new cars and trucks come equipped with it. General Motors Co. isnt waiting for the proposal, saying it will include V2V in Cadillac CTS sedans before the end of the year.

Advertisement

The fight pits two government agencies against each other: the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates spectrum and sympathizes with wireless proponents, and the national traffic board, which regulates auto safety and has long made V2V a top priority. The White House, which is reviewing the traffic safety administrations proposal to require the technology in new cars, is caught between two of its goals: greater auto safety and faster wireless service.

With V2V, cars and trucks wirelessly transmit their locations, speed, direction and other information 10 times per second. That lets cars detect when another vehicle is about to run a red light, is braking hard or is coming around a blind turn in time for the driver or, in the case of self-driving cars, for the vehicle itself to take action to prevent a crash.

V2Vs range is up to about 1,000 yards in all directions, even when sight is blocked by buildings or other obstacles. That means the technology could detect a potential collision before the driver can see the threat, unlike the sensors and cameras of self-driving cars that sense whats immediately around the vehicle.

The government estimates that V2V eventually could prevent or mitigate more than 80% of collisions that dont involve a driver impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Ultimately, self-driving cars also equipped with V2V may be the answer to traffic congestion because theyll be able to synchronize their movements, industry officials say, so that they can merge seamlessly and travel in long, closely packed caravans at higher speeds. That would improve traffic flow and increase highway capacity. Cars also could communicate with traffic signals to make intersections more efficient.

Its these two technologies converging together that get you to the self-driving utopia that were all shooting for, said Hilary Cain, Toyota Motor Corp.s technology and innovation policy director.

Those who want more of the airwaves for Wi-Fi say that with self-driving cars on the horizon to eliminate human errors, the safety benefits of V2V are less important. They point out that it could be more than 20 years before the full benefits of V2V are realized because it takes decades for the automotive fleet to be completely replaced.

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has derided V2V as a turn-of-the-century technology, saying this year that its time to put the spectrum reserved for auto safety to better use.

As the airwaves grow more congested with traffic such as video chat and streaming, new, unreserved swaths of spectrum are seen as key to creating the wider pipe needed to meet demand.

Automakers say theyre willing to share the spectrum, but only if it wont cause V2V signals to be dropped or slowed. The safety signals need to transmit 10 times faster than a typical cellphone call and be 100% reliable. The FCC plans to test proposals to share the airwaves.

Meanwhile, wireless supporters have petitioned the FCC for an emergency order to put off using V2V in the contested spectrum until cybersecurity standards are developed. Automakers contend that such safeguards already are built in.

ALSO

Will Hyundais eco-friendly Ioniq woo hearts away from Prius?

Karma expands its California presence with an Irvine office lease

VW and dealers reach tentative settlement in emissions cheating scandal
Volkswagen continues to make amends, reaching a tentative agreement with its U.S. dealers to compensate them for losses they suffered as a result of the automakers emissions cheating scandal, attorneys for VW and dealers told a federal judge Thursday.

The value of the settlement with the roughly 650 dealers was not disclosed, although the German automaker said later that it would include cash payments.

We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States, Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of Volkswagen North America, said in a statement.

Advertisement

Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said VW dealers on the whole have been hit a lot harder than the brand theyre selling.

Volkswagen will have to find a way to pay them back for losing up to a quarter of their total sales  the rough percentage that diesels represented of all VWs sold in America.

The new car business is not a huge margin business, and diesels were a very profitable portion of the VW sales, Nerad said.

Details of the tentative settlement still were under discussion. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer gave the attorneys until the end of September to submit a final proposal. The deal would require Breyers approval.

Volkswagen previously reached an agreement with attorneys for car owners. That deal calls for it to spend up to $10 billion buying back or repairing about 475,000 vehicles involved in the scandal and paying VW owners an additional $5,100 to $10,000 each.

The settlement with car owners also includes $2.7 billion for unspecified environmental mitigation and an additional $2 billion to promote zero-emissions vehicles.

Breyer gave that deal preliminary approval last month. It would be the largest auto scandal settlement in U.S. history and is part of Volkswagens sweeping efforts to address the legal fallout from its admission that its vehicles were designed to fool emissions tests.

It does not cover about 85,000 more-powerful Volkswagens and Audis with 3-liter engines that also were caught up in the emissions scandal.

Volkswagen attorney Robert Giuffra said the company was prepared to submit a fix for some of those vehicles by early November that would bring them into compliance with clean-energy laws. Any fix proposed by Volkswagen would have to be approved by government regulators before it could be implemented.

Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with Edmunds, called this weeks proposed settlement a step in the right direction, but she wasnt sure it could be enough to offset the damage done. Volkswagen market share fell from 3% in 2012 to about 1.7% today, which means VW dealers have not been selling cars.

VW sales have taken a hit, and the dealers have really been struggling, Caldwell said.

Heather McLeod-Rice of Simi Valley said she and her husband bought a 2015 VW Golf TDI two weeks before the emissions scandal broke last year. She said she feels sorry for the dealership that sold her the car, Neftin Volkswagen of Thousand Oaks.

Theyve been screwed a bit too, she said. They have to deal with all the customers who bought these cars. Theyre in a bad position.

McLeod-Rice and her husband love the car, she said, except for that whole toxic fumes thing.

But now they want to get rid of it and dont believe the dealership will offer enough cash back to recoup their loss  or fix it in a way that will protect their investment.

These cars are marked, she said. Whats the resale value going to be? Weve decided to let them buy it back and walk away.

The Associated Press was used in compiling this report.

ALSO

Will Hyundais eco-friendly Ioniq woo hearts away from Prius?

Karma expands its California presence with an Irvine office lease

Even more Ludicrous: Elon Musk says Tesla now has the worlds fastest production car

UPDATES:

2:10 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes from an analyst and a VW owner.

This article was originally published at 1 p.m.
An insurer for the shuttered Marinello Schools of Beauty has agreed to pay $13.5 million to settle allegations that the cosmetology school ripped off the federal student loan program, the U.S. attorneys office said Wednesday.

The federal government had alleged B&H Education of Beverly Hills, the operator of the schools, gave students bogus high school diplomas so they would be eligible for federal money. Those aid funds would then flow to B&H when students enrolled in the Marinello cosmetology schools, according to the government.

Marinello schools received more than $87 million in federal aid for the 2014-15 school year, the government said.

Advertisement

B&H shut down all its 56 Marinello campuses this year after the Department of Education said it would stop providing aid to 21 campuses in California and two in Nevada.

The operator of this school manipulated the system in order to fraudulently secure student aid funds without which the school could not function, U.S. Atty. Eileen M. Decker said in a statement.

B&H, the department alleged, allowed students to repeat the same high school diploma tests until they passed, use their phones to look up answers and took the tests without supervision.

Then when the students enrolled in cosmetology and barbering, Marinello failed to follow through on promised training, the government said this year when it decided to stop providing aid.

Department staffers, for example, spoke with students who supposedly graduated yet were unable to cut hair, the government said.

The settlement, paid by Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. because B&H shut down, ends the allegations.

Out of the $13.5-million settlement, $8.6 million has been paid to the federal government. The rest goes to six former B&H employees and their attorenys, who brought the case to authorities.

The Obama administration has been scrutinizing for-profit colleges since 2009 amid evidence that many schools were saddling students with massive debts they couldnt repay. The industry soared during the Great Recession as schools marketed heavily to growing ranks of unemployed workers seeking new skills.

Among the high-profile cases was Santa Ana-based Corinthian Colleges, which shut down and filed for bankruptcy last year after a department investigation into falsified job-placement rates.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter
The number of juveniles in Linn County referred to the Linn County Juvenile Department for marijuana-related offenses during the first six months of the year is nearly double that of the same time period a year ago, department director Torri Lynn told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Oregonians legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, effective July 2015.

According to Lynn, the number of juveniles from 12 to 17 years of age referred to the department due to unlawful possession of a marijuana product, unlawful delivery of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, or attempting to purchase or consume marijuana went from 39 in the first six months of 2015 to 62 this year.

The total number of referrals went from 39 to 64.

The number of criminal allegations doubled from four to nine and the number of non-criminal allegations increased from 39 to 69.

Linn said the increase was no surprise. Its just more available. We expected more referrals.

Commissioner Roger Nyquist said, Its all about supply and demand. Oregon produces marijuana at a far greater rate than can be consumed. It can be found literally anywhere.

And, Nyquist said, the Oregon Legislature prohibited the Oregon Liquor control Commission from capping the number of growers in the state.

The information comes as the state released information that it has collected $25.5 million in taxes from the sale of recreational marijuana during the same time period.

Linn, Nyquist, Rep. Andy Olson and commissioners John Lindsey and Will Tucker strongly supported a legislative measure that gave law enforcement agencies authority to deal with students who come to school under the influence of marijuana.

Opponents of the bill said there is no test to determine the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol in marijuana, so it would not be possible to tell whether a student had consumed marijuana that morning or several days before hand.

Recreational marijuana sales remain illegal in 46 states and under federal laws.

Residents of several communities in Linn County will vote on whether to allow recreational marijuana sales on the November ballot.
For LPL Financial Chief Executive Mark Casady, one key to success is not losing sight of your game plan in the midst of distractions.

Its advice that can be applied to investing or to running a business. Over the last couple of years, there have been more than a few distractions for LPL Financial, the largest organization of independent financial advisors in the country.

They include turnover in senior management after an initial public stock offering, the integration of about a dozen acquisitions, increased regulation and a few costly compliance missteps.

Advertisement

Through it all, Casady believes, LPL Financial stuck to its plan of rebuilding its infrastructure to better support its 14,000 affiliated independent financial advisors  focusing on technology, risk management, research, trading and other services.

We have had plenty of things that have tried to distract us over time, the noise going on around us, said Casady in an interview. I think we have been pretty consistent against the plan we set out.

Casady, based in Boston, came to San Diego for LPLs Focus 2016 Conference, attended by about 6,000 financial advisors and business partners.

LPL Financial has a long history in San Diego. The company was formed in 1989 when Boston brokerage firm Linsco bought San Diegos financial adviser Private Ledger  hence the LPL name. It currently has about 1,600 local employees, roughly half its total workforce. They include several senior executives.

Casady sat down to talk about the investment landscape and how the coming wave of tech-savvy millennials could affect the financial advisor business. Here are some excerpts:

Whats the state of the investment market?

Generally speaking, what we see is an economy that we think is strong. It isnt growing as fast as everybody would like. But generally, unemployment is getting better. More people are working, and you still have a lot of household formation, particularly among millennials or younger people.

The downside is we are in year seven of a bull market, so at some point you get what is happening in 2016, which is volatility. You had it in January and February. You had it with Brexit, though it was pretty short. We would say you are likely to get some more in terms of stock market volatility.

But for long-term investors, you shouldnt worry about that. It is best to stay invested and believe over the medium or longer term the values of your stocks are going to grow.

Any asset bubbles out there?

I dont see a major correction or a recession in the economy. We would say the market is probably a little ahead of itself right at the moment. Although the multiples in terms of valuations arent outlandish  this isnt 1999 again  they are a bit higher than you might want as it relates to earnings growth. So you are likely to see some correction, then back at it in terms of growth.

For most investors, the trick is to save money. Nothing will get you a better outcome than saving money. Then staying invested through volatility is the second thing you should do as an investor thinking about the markets and your long-term outcomes.

Theres a lot of talk about technology and automation in financial services, especially as more millennials begin investing. How do you view so-called robo advisors and other technology in the sector?

Millennials are more critical technology buyers. I think the reason they like robo advisors is they dont have a lot of money. And their problems are not that hard to solve. Their main problem is they need to save.

I think demographically this is still the age of the baby boomer in our industry, and it will be for quite some time. There is still a lot of money flowing in, and boomers are likely to delay retirement, mostly because they are living longer.

Millennials grew up technology enabled, but they are just entering their savings years. Most of it is happening at the work site, 401(k) plans or other savings. We have a very large 401(k) business at LPL  35,000 plans. So our way of approaching millennials is at the work site.

And we have rolled out a platform called Guided Wealth Portfolios, which essentially is an automated investment mechanism that is low cost. It serves you well if you are in your early saving years.

Studies have shown that consumers, when they have less than their annual income saved, it is a hobby for them. When savings get to equal their income, it becomes serious. When its two times their income, they run to somebody who can help because it implies that you can make a mistake that can be very impactful.

I personally believe millennials will take a path very similar to boomers in that they will seek advice. It will be technology enabled, it will easy to use because of technology. But fundamentally, it is a relationship business.

Whats ahead for LPL?

We have been through a very heavy growth spurt. We bought 12 companies back in the mid-2000s. We integrated all those, and we basically have been rebuilding the infrastructure of a much larger company over the last three years. That phase ended in 2015. Now it is about executing our strategy around serving advisors in three key areas: One is the service we provide them so they can provide better service to their investors. Second is risk management and making sure they are as risk protected as possible and that investors are risk protected. And the third area is technology. Those are three big areas of investment for us.

mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com
A bill that would grant California widows and widowers greater protections against foreclosure heads to Gov. Jerry Browns desk after passing the state Senate on Wednesday.

The proposal is geared at giving surviving spouses who own their home but are not on its mortgage note a better shot at obtaining a loan modification.

Consumer groups say survivors  including those who inherit property after a death  face considerable resistance from loan servicers when trying to obtain modifications.

Advertisement

Servicers will generally accept a surviving spouses loan payments, but red tape involved in proving ownership can stall a modification while foreclosures proceed, according to advocates.

The bill, by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), passed the state Senate in June and earlier this week the Assembly, where it was amended.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed that amended version, which includes a three-year sunset provision and exempts small banks from the additional regulations.

Despite those changes, consumer groups praised the passage.

We hope and expect that when the bill becomes law, that servicers will improve their systems, policies and procedures to be in compliance, and we would hope they would not revert back to harmful practices in a few years time, said Kevin Stein of the California Reinvestment Coalition.

If the governor signs Senate Bill 1150, survivors would gain many of the rights borrowers already have under the California Homeowner Bill of Rights. Among those is a ban on dual tracking  the practice of negotiating with clients to modify a mortgage while simultaneously pursuing foreclosure.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently imposed similar federal rules on servicers nationwide, leading the banking industry to call the California bill unnecessary.

Consumer groups, however, noted that the federal rules wont take effect for roughly 18 months and they argued that the national regulations are more difficult to enforce. Advocates say the state bill also includes a more expansive right to sue to stop a foreclosure or for economic damages if one proceeds.

Industry groups, including the California Bankers Assn., have expressed concerns those rights will expose their members to frivolous lawsuits.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter
A botched attempt to break into an activists iPhone using hitherto unknown espionage software has triggered a global upgrade of Apples mobile operating system, researchers said Thursday.

The spyware took advantage of three previously undisclosed weaknesses in Apples mobile operating system to take control of iPhone devices, according to reports published Thursday by the San Francisco-based Lookout smartphone security company and Internet watchdog group Citizen Lab. Both reports pointed to the NSO Group, an Israeli company with a reputation for flying under the radar, as the author of the spyware.



For the record: An earlier version of this article misspelled researcher Mike Murrays name as Murrary.

The threat actor has never been caught before, said Mike Murray, a researcher with Lookout, describing the program as the most sophisticated spyware package we have seen in the market.

Advertisement

The reports issued by Lookout and Citizen Lab  based at the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs  outlined how an iPhone could be compromised with the tap of a finger, a trick so coveted in the world of cyberespionage that in November a spyware broker said it had paid a $1-million bounty to programmers who had found a way to do it.

Such a compromise would give hackers full control over the phone, enabling them to eavesdrop on calls, harvest messages, activate cameras and microphones and drain the device of its personal data.

Arie van Deursen, a professor of software engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said both reports were credible and disturbing. Forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski described the malicious program as a serious piece of spyware.

Apple said it fixed the vulnerability immediately after learning about it, but the security hole may have gone unpatched had it not been for the wariness of a human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahmed Mansoor, a well-known human rights defender, first alerted Citizen Lab to the spyware after receiving an unusual text message Aug. 10. Promising to reveal details about torture in the United Arab Emirates prisons, the unknown sender included a suspicious-looking link at the bottom of the message.

Mansoor wasnt convinced. Not only had he been imprisoned, beaten, robbed and had his passport confiscated by the authorities over the years, he also had repeatedly found himself in the crosshairs of electronic eavesdropping operations.

When Mansoor shared the suspicious text message with Citizen Lab researcher Bill Marczak, they realized hed been targeted again.

Marczak, who had already been looking into the NSO Group, said he and fellow researcher John Scott-Railton turned to Lookout for help picking apart the malicious program, a process which Murray compared to defusing a bomb.

It is amazing the level theyve gone through to avoid detection, he said of the softwares makers. They have a hair-trigger self-destruct.

Working over a two-week period, the researchers found that Mansoor had been targeted by an unusually sophisticated piece of software that probably cost a small fortune.

In a statement that stopped short of acknowledging that the spyware was its own, the NSO Group said its mission was to provide authorized governments with technology that helps them combat terror and crime.

The company said it had no knowledge of any particular incidents. It said it would not make any further comment.

The apparent discovery of Israeli-made spyware being used to target a dissident in the United Arab Emirates raises awkward questions for both countries.

The use of Israeli technology to police its own citizens is an uncomfortable strategy for an Arab country with no formal diplomatic ties to the Jewish state. And Israeli complicity in a cyberattack on an Arab dissident would seem to run counter to the countrys self-description as a bastion of democracy in the Middle East.

Authorities in both countries did not return calls seeking comment.

ALSO

WhatsApp is going to share your phone number with Facebook

Young kids love YouTube more than Disney and Oreo, study finds

EpiPen maker boosts discount programs but holds price steady, despite outrage

UPDATES:

2:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 10:55 a.m.
Sculptural pieces that dwell on material and color. A performance inspired by the work of women sculptors. Paintings that draw from the unremarkable aspects of L.A.s urban settings. And a daylong dance choreography that looks at identity in antiquity. Here are four openings and events to check out in the coming week:

Bosco Sodi, Malpais, in a pop-up exhibition at 143 N. Robertson. The Mexican artist is known for densely pigmented monochromes and geometric clay cubes (evocative of the work of Isamu Noguchi) that play with color and the visceral qualities of his earthy materials. This one-off show is presented by the New York-based Paul Kasmin Gallery with Brandon Davis Projects and Jose Mestre. Opens today and runs through Oct. 8. 143 N. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, brandondavisprojects.net.

After 5: Renee Petropoulos: Cheek by Jowl, at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel. Organized by Los Angeles-based Petropolous, this performance takes the gallerys show of sculptures by women  Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016  as a point of inspiration for a performance. The piece engages art history, but also the domestic and private lives of the artists who made each creation. 7 tonight. 901 E. Third St., downtown Los Angeles, hauserwirthschimmel.com.

taisha paggett & Yann Novak: Mountain, Fire, Holding Still, at the Getty Villa. Paggett, an L.A.-based dancer, is teaming up with Novak, a sound artist, for a daylong performance that examines issues of blackness in antiquity. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. The performance will take place in the Outer Peristyle, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, getty.edu.

Karla Klarin: Subdividing the LAndscape, at CSUN Art Galleries. The San Fernando Valley-raised artist examines some of our citys more quotidian landscapes in a series of painted works that take sprawl and the suburban as points of inspiration. But dont expect the cookie cutter: Klarins works have a way of capturing grit. Opens Monday and runs through Oct. 8. A reception will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10; an artist talk will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, csun.edu.

LAST CHANCE

Advertisement

Sam Maloof Woodworker: Life/Art/Legacy, at the Maloof Foundation. The foundation is celebrating the centennial of the birth of the renowned Southern California woodworker, whose elegant objects and furnishings are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the L.A. County Museum of Art and the Smithsonian. The exhibition features more than 60 objects from throughout the artists life, including furnishings, drawings, photographs and other ephemera. Through Saturday. 5131 Carnelian St., Alta Loma, malooffoundation.org.

Teen Choice, at C. Nichols Project. A summer group show featuring work by various artists, including painter Zak Smith, video artist Stanya Kahn and collagist Bjorn Copeland, riffs on that in-between state of adolescence  and all the conflict and desire it entails. Through Saturday. 12613 1/2 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista, cnicholsproject.com.

Southland: A Group Exhibition Inspired by the Greater Los Angeles Area, at Charlie James Gallery. Organized by artist and curator Patrick Martinez, this group show takes Southern California as its point of inspiration. Martinez gathers works by a range of figures  including Gregory Bojorquez, Sandow Birk, Mario Ybarra Jr. and Kenturah Davis  that in some way depict or deal with different aspects of the citys landscape. Through Saturday. 969 Chung King Road, Chinatown, Los Angeles, cjamesgallery.com.

Deanna Thompson, at Kayne Griffin Corcoran. The California painter has a posthumous exhibition (she died last year) that brings together images of isolated desert homesteads and paintings of cars. They are simple works that emanate a vibrating intensity. Through Saturday. 1201 S. La Brea Ave., Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles, kaynegriffincorcoran.com.

Sigrid Sandstrom, Other Places, at Anat Egbi. New works by the Swedish painter takes abstraction to an intimate scale with a series of small, portrait-sized canvases that play with form and color. Through Saturday. 2660 S. La Cienega Blvd., Culver City, anatebgi.com.

Martine Syms in Made in L.A. 2016, the Hammer Museum biennial. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times )

Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only, at the Hammer Museum. The third iteration of the Hammers SoCal-focused biennial keeps things wondrously minimal, featuring thoughtful exhibits by 26 artists that jump between art-making styles, ideas and generations  from the powerful totemic wood sculptures of Kenzi Shiokava to the bright, graphic paintings of Huguette Caland to the humorous research-based installation of Daniel R. Small. The show is a testament to the notion that, in Los Angeles, many ideas can bubble to the surface at once. Through Sunday. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood, Los Angeles, hammer.ucla.edu.

In Focus: Electric! at the Getty Museum. Electricity: It powers your home, it powers your work and it powers the phone on which you are likely reading this post. This photographic exhibition at the Getty gathers historic images that showcase the allure of light and power. Through Sunday. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood, Los Angeles, getty.edu.

Ambos, at the U.S.-Mexico international border. Tanya Aguiniga, a Tijuana-born, L.A.-based artist, has organized a series of happenings and events at the international border  from image projections to a hyper-local pirate radio station run out of a station wagon. Events will take place at the Mercado de Artesanias, the craft market situated between the regular lanes and the medical pass lanes on the Tijuana side of the border. Through Sunday. See the website for a calendar of events and the Google Map coordinates for exact location. San Ysidro Port of Entry, international border, Tijuana, Mexico, ambosproject.com.

Art of the Austronesians: The Legacy of Indo-Pacific Voyaging, at Fowler Museum. A look at the legacy of Austronesian-speaking peoples gathers art and artifacts from the Philippines, Indonesia and other points in the South Pacific. This includes nearly 200 works, from wood sculptures to ceremonial textiles to canoe prow ornaments. Through Sunday. 308 Charles E. Young Drive N., Westwood, fowler.ucla.edu.

Duchamp to Pop, at the Norton Simon Museum. Drawing mostly from the Norton Simons permanent collection, this exhibition looks at the influence Duchamp likely had on generations of artists, from assemblagists to pop painters  figures who have appropriated elements of the everyday world and transformed them into art. Through Monday. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, nortonsimon.org.

Maiden L.A., in locations around Los Angeles. Part of a monthlong series of happenings around the county, Maiden L.A. features talks, exhibitions, digital projects and open studios. This includes a peephole cinema in Chinatown and sculpture inspired by surrealist fistfights. Through Wednesday. Locations around Los Angeles, maiden.la.

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

Closing Celebratory Show, at Rosamund Felsen Gallery. On the Los Angeles gallery scene since 1978, Rosamund Felsen is bidding farewell to her space with this group exhibition featuring works from her stable of gallery artists  which includes figures such as painters Karen Carson and Steven Hull and sculptors Jacci Den Hartog and Tim Ebner  among countless others. On view through the summer. 1923 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown Los Angeles, rosamundfelsen.com.

Veronika Kellndorfer, Tropical Modernism: Lina Bo Bardi, at Christopher Grimes Gallery. The German artist explores the work of Brazilian Modernist architect Lina Bo Bardi  among other influential Brazilian designers  in works that place silkscreened photographic images onto reflective glass paneling. The focus, ultimately, is on unusual pairings  of the architecture and Brazils riotous plant life. Through Sept. 2. 916 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, cgrimes.com.

Betty Tompkins, Sex Works/WOMEN Words: 1000 Words, Phrases and Stories, at Gavlak. Known for paintings that take graphic images of pornography and give them a distinctly feminist cast, Tompkins has taken on the ways in which women are referred to in our society. An installation of 1,000 paintings features words that describe women  from babe to sis to hot tomato to others that remain unprintable. The show also includes works from her various series devoted to sex and sexuality. Expect up-close views of various body parts. Through Sept. 3. 1034 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, gavlakgallery.com.

TMR as Hub: Paramo, at the Mistake Room. As part of its TMR as Hub series, the Mistake Room is showcasing the works of other cultural platforms  from galleries to artist-run spaces to schools. For this iteration, they are featuring the work of the Mexican collective Gabinete Homo-Extraterrestre (Gabinete H-E) in collaboration with the Guadalajara gallery Paramo. For this, their first Los Angeles exhibition, Gabinete has produced a body of new work that riffs on a symbolic exhumation of their past projects. Through Sept. 3. 1811 E. 20th St., downtown Los Angeles, tmr.la.

Large sculptures by Ruth Asawa are part of Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016, at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times )

Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016, at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel. The debut exhibition at the citys newest gallery tackles more than half a century of sculpture by women, featuring key works by important international figures (Louise Bourgeois, Lee Bontecou) and key California artists (Ruth Asawa, Clare Falkenstein). Pieces range from the ethereal (Lygia Papes golden threads) to downright hilarious (Lara Schnitgers lacy/cat/fur assemblage sculptures). Altogether, the show offers an alternative to the narrative of the macho man postwar painting scene that has so dominated the story of 20th century art. Through Sept. 4. 901 E. Third St., Los Angeles, hauserwirthschimmel.com.

Gronks Theater of Paint, at the Craft and Folk Art Museum. The Los Angeles artist Gronk (born Glugio Nicandro) is widely known for his career as a painter, conceptual artist and for his work with the inventive 1970s collective Asco. He is also a longtime set designer, one who has built and painted elaborate sets for performances, plays and avant-garde operas, including works by the celebrated director Peter Sellars. This exhibition that tracks a long-running practice that melds art and architecture with the theatrical. Through Sept. 4. 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles, cafam.org.

Ed Ruscha: Books & Co., at Gagosian Gallery. For their summer group show, the gallery is gathering historic artist books by Ed Ruscha (think: the seminal Every Building on the Sunset Strip) and exhibiting them with a range of book and book-inspired works by other artists, such as Amy Parks ambitious paintings project that renders Ruschas famous work as a series of watercolors, as well as other pieces that bear Ruschas influence in less direct ways, such as Jennifer Daltons exhaustive catalogue of potentially hazardous environmental sites in Brooklyn. Through Sept. 9. 456 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, gagosian.com.

Phantom Limb, at Shulamit Nazarian. A group exhibition features the work of five artists whose work treads the line between the figurative and the abstract, including the wild collaged canvases of Trenton Doyle Hancock and the paintings of Scott Anderson, whose abstracted figures and landscapes manage to nod to art history even while feeling totally sci-fi. Through Sept. 9. 17 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, shulamitnazarian.com.

Ken Price, Drawings, at Matthew Marks Gallery. The gallery is displaying more than 40 drawings from the estate of the artist, one of the largest West Coast presentations of the famous ceramicists work on paper. He produced often whimsical and otherworldly renditions of mundane objects, as well as sketches for possible sculptures. The exhibition will also feature a small selection of the three-dimensional works. Through Sept. 10. 1062 N. Orange Grove Ave., West Hollywood, matthewmarks.com.

Claire Falkenstein: Beyond Sculpture, at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. The 20th century California artist, whose name has is circulating once again after being included in the debut exhibition at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, is now the subject of her own retrospective, tracking her entire career, from the 1930s to the 90s. (She passed away in 1997.) The artist, who worked in San Francisco and Los Angeles  as well as Paris  produced prints and murals, among other works, but she is best known for her sculpture: in particular, her often gritty assemblages made out of wire studded with chunks of glass. Through Sept. 11. 490 E. Union St., Pasadena, pmcaonline.org.

Danielle Abrams, Quadroon, at the Grand Central Art Center. A reference to someone who is one-quarter black, the term quadroon gets at the absolutist ways in which race is viewed in the United States. (Someone who is part black is regarded simply as black.) Abrams is part Jewish and part African American, and in this video installation, she picks apart the myriad elements  beyond simple ethnicity and race  that come together to make up any one persons identity. Through Sept. 11. 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, grandcentralcenter.com.

Hito Steyerl: Factory of the Sun, at the Museum of Contemporary Art. A video installation by the German artist takes the viewer into a dystopia where the movements of workers are harvested to create artificial sunshine. The piece, which debuted at the Venice Biennale in 2015, is a mash-up of contemporary communication, told as video game, news report documentary film and Internet video. Through Sept. 12. MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, moca.org.

Alex Da Corte, A Season in Hell, at Art + Practice. An exhibition by the New Jersey-born conceptual artist includes a series of works inspired by French poet Arthur Rimbauds influential prose poem, A Season in Hell, which explores topics of morality, desire and death. In video and in sculptural installations  works that employ banal consumer goods and pop cultural tropes  Da Corte takes on these topics and others, touching on issues of identity, alienation and instability. Through Sept. 17. 4339 Leimert Blvd., Leimert Park, Los Angeles, hammer.ucla.edu and artandpractice.org.

Tanya Aguiniga, Loie Hollowell and Lenore Tawney, 3 Women, at the Landing. A three-woman show  inspired by the Robert Altman movie of the same name  serves as a cross-generational gathering of works that blur the line between craft and fine art. These are represented by the weavings of Tawney, a contemporary of painter Agnes Martin; Hollowell, who paints pulsing abstractions inspired by the female form; and Aguiniga, who uses modern and traditional weaving techniques to create wild biomorphic forms. Through Sept. 17. 5118 Jefferson Blvd., West Adams, thelandinggallery.com.

Reflections on the Self, at the California African American Museum. Drawn from the museums permanent collection, this wide-ranging exhibition looks at the representation of the self, examining the idealized and mythicized ways that artists have portrayed pop and cultural icons, from Malcolm X to Thelonious Monk to a New Orleans grand marshal. Also on view at the museum is Oh Snap! West Coast Hip Hop Photography, which will feature an array of hip-hop artists who came up in the 90s, such as Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur and others. Through Sept. 18. 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, caamuseum.org.

Play: Open Call 2016, at the L.A. Municipal Art Gallery. A community-based biennial riffs on the notion of play  featuring works of painting, photography, collage and more by 300 L.A. artists. Through Sept. 18. 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, lamag.org.

In the Cut, at Gallery Luisotti. A group show curated by Michael Pena explores the myriad meanings of the phrase in the cut  from the idea of a wound to places that are remote, either physically or psychologically. The show brings together photography by Sam Contis, Whitney Hubbs, Lisa Ohlweiler and Cindy Bernard, depicting secluded desert spaces, nudist camps and a Riverside ranch, among other spaces. Through Sept. 24. An artists reception will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 13. Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Building A2, Santa Monica, galleryluisotti.com.

Fast Forward: The Architecture of William F. Cody, at the Architecture and Design Museum. A new exhibition looks at the career of one of Palm Springs most notable Modernist architects  known for a range of designs (some quite flamboyant) that included homes, condominiums, commercial centers and the temple-like El Dorado Country Club for a clientele that included Frank Sinatra, Walt Disney and Bing Crosby. Through Sept. 25. 900 E. Fourth St., downtown Los Angeles, aplusd.org.

Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle and Tyler Matthew Oyer, Exploring The Nowannago: Kentifrican Modes of Resistance, at Grand Central Art Center. A combination of performance and video piece, Exploring the Nowannago is part of Hinkles long-running exploration of the ways in which black female bodies are commoditized and exoticized. Also on display is Jesse Kees sound installation featuring a series of pieces drawn from the artists experience working in Santa Ana. Through Oct. 16. 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, grandcentralartcenter.com.

London Calling, at the Getty Museum. Drawn primarily from the collection of the Tate in London, this exhibition brings together six of the leading British painters of the 20th century, figures who resisted trends toward abstraction to focus on the figure, revolutionizing the act of painting in the process. Through Nov. 13. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood, Los Angeles, getty.edu.

 WATCH: Writer-director Guillermo del Toro takes us on a tour through Bleak House, his suburban L.A. home where he has amassed a formidable collection of art, books, horror movie props and other oddities that serve as inspiration for the filmmaker.

Guillermo del Toro: At Home With Monsters, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The filmmakers work  which includes movies such as Pans Labyrinth, Hellboy and Pacific Rim  all play with notions of the fantastical. This exhibition looks at the directors artistic process, including plenty of drawings and maquettes, along with the objects that inspire him (including some truly odd and macabre works from LACMAs permanent collection). These are presented in a series of thematic rooms that explore magic, occultism, death and monsters. A totally wild ride. Through Nov. 27. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles, lacma.org.

Marcos Ramirez ERRE and David Taylor, Delimitations: A Survey of the 1821 United States-Mexico Border, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. In 2014, Ramirez and Taylor set out on a more than 3,000-mile journey to mark the 1821 border between the U.S. and Mexico, which took them to unlikely places such as Medicine Bow, Wyo., and Dodge City, Kan. This exhibition presents photography and other documentation from that journey, one that looks at the fragile nature of political borders. Also on view will be the wild urban architecture-inspired sculptures of L.A. artist Ruben Ochoa  rising like monsters from the gallery floor. A pair of shows not to miss. Through Nov. 27. Jacobs Building, 1100 Kettner Blvd., downtown San Diego, mcasd.org.

American Mosaic: Picturing Modern Art Through the Eye of Duncan Phillips, at the Orange County Museum of Art. In the early 20th century, at a time when many U.S. moguls were focusing on amassing European masters, banking and steel scion Duncan Phillips focused his collecting efforts on American art, acquiring canvases by now venerated painters such as Thomas Eakins, Marsden Hartley, Winslow Homer, Georgia OKeeffe and Helen Frankenthaler. This exhibition brings together more than five dozen works from his collection. Through Dec. 4. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, ocma.net.

The Spun Universe: Wixarika (Huichol) Yarn Paintings, at the Fowler Museum. A new show at the Fowler gathers the brightly woven yarn paintings of Wixarika artist Ramon Medina Silva, known for his elaborate compositions depicting astral figures, holy plants and important ritual objects, all crafted with brilliant threads. Through Dec. 4. UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Drive N., Westwood, Los Angeles, fowler.ucla.edu.

MOLAA at Twenty: 1996-2016, at the Museum of Latin American Art. The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach is celebrating two decades in existence with a show that draws from the museums permanent collection of more than 1,600 objects. These include works by renowned Modernists Joaqun Torres-Garca and Wifredo Lam, Argentine conceptualist Len Ferrari as well as contemporary figures such as Alexandre Arrechea and Patssi Valdez. Through Jan. 1. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, molaa.org.

Ernesto Yerena Montejano, Espejismo/Cicatriz, at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes. A series of intensely detailed, layered collages by the Los Angeles-based artist explore issues of identity in the Latino community. Through Jan. 1. 501 N. Main St., downtown Los Angeles, lapca.org.

Senses of Time: Video and Film-Based Works of Africa, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For one of its long-term installations, the museum has gathered works of video or film by contemporary African artists that explore the body and the looping nature of time. This includes pieces by figures such as Yinka Shonibare, Sammy Baloji, Berni Searle, Moatax Nasr and Theo Eshetu. Through Jan. 2. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org.

Installations by Robert Gober and Kerry James Marshall touch on violence and death at the Underground Museum. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times )

Non Fiction at the Underground Museum. An emotionally charged exhibition curated by the late Noah Davis, in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles brings together works that explore issues of race and violence. This includes important works from MOCAs permanent collection by artists such as Robert Gober, Kara Walker, Henry Taylor and David Hammons. Through March. 3508 W. Washington Blvd., Arlington Heights, Los Angeles, theunderground-museum.org.

Islamic Art Now: Part 2 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Contemporary works from LACMAs permanent collection by 20 artists who live in or have roots in the Middle East look at questions of society, gender and identity. Runs indefinitely. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org.

Loris Greaud, Sculpt, at the L.A. County Museum of Art. The entire theater has been taken over by the European artist for a film that only screens to one person at a time. The nonlinear picture follows a man about whom we know very little, who seems to be constantly developing the concept of what experiencing beauty, thought, or obsession can be, according the write-up. Times critic Christopher Knight describes it as pretentious and uninvolving. A good hate-watch, maybe? On view through a yet to be determined date. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles, lacma.org.

Stay up on the latest with our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter. Sign up today! 

Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.

ALSO

In Gary Edward Blums paintings, everything is not what it seems

The art of the developmentally disabled on its own terms, minus the lens of sympathy

Laura Lasworth paintings read as luminous reflections of life

L.A. theater openings, Aug. 28-Sept. 4: The Importance of Being Earnest and more
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
The dust still hasnt settled between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in the wake of the exes divorce agreement.

The actors are still at odds over the Pirates of the Caribbeans stars donation of Heards divorce settlement monies to the charities of her choosing.

The Magic Mike XXL actress, who revealed that she was awarded $7 million in the agreement earlier this month, announced that she would donate that money to the American Civil Liberties Union, with a focus on battling violence against women, and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, where she has volunteered for 10 years.

Advertisement

However, Depp has since decided to cut out the middle man and, instead of giving his ex-wife the money directly, said Thursday that he would be donating the money to the charities himself, TMZ reported. The ACLU and CHLA have already received the first installments of Depps $7-million pay-out on behalf of Heard, the site said.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

But the actress promptly rejected the idea that Depp could do that. In a statement on Thursday, her team said that she appreciates Johnny Depps novel interest in supporting two of her favorite charities and the actors move is great and unexpected news, but it was not OK because it changes the terms of their agreement.

If Johnny wishes to change the settlement agreement, we must insist that he honor the full amount by donating $14 million to charity, which, after accounting for his tax deduction, is equal to his $7 million payment obligation to Amber, her team said, adding that the actor should also donate the amount in its entirety immediately rather than have it be drawn out over many years.

Anything less would be a transparent attempt by Johnnys counsel, Laura Wasser and Patti Glaser, to reduce their clients true payment by half under the guise of newfound concern for charities that he has never previously supported, the statement said.

Heard filed for divorce on May 23 after a year of marriage. She was granted a temporary restraining order against Depp based on her allegations that the Alice Through the Looking Glass star had been physically abusive, a claim her legal team supported with photographs of Heards bruised face, taken in the aftermath of an alleged dispute with Depp.

The veteran actors legal team denied all allegations of abuse toward Heard and in preliminary hearings suggested that his estranged wife was merely looking to financially capitalize on their divorce.

After their case was settled on Aug. 16, the Rum Diary costars issued a joint statement reading, Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm. Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future. Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity. There will be no further public statements about this matter.

Clearly, there have been.

Follow me: @NardineSaad

ALSO:

Amber Heard donates $7-million Johnny Depp divorce settlement to charities

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard reach divorce settlement, avoid court hearing

Amber Heard alleges Johnny Depp physically abused her; judge grants her a restraining order

New photos of Amber Heard show bruised eye and bloody lip

Amber Heard was accused of domestic violence by a former girlfriend in 2009

Amber Heard didnt report abuse by Johnny Depp in order to protect him, attorneys say
Director, actress and activist Kamala Lopez stumps for womens rights in her searing documentary Equal Means Equal. With a ruthless, surgical approach, Lopez breaks down legal gender inequality in the United States, what she terms the War on Women. Lopez primarily attacks the laws, acts and legislation put in place to prevent gender discrimination that have been gutted and loopholed to death, rendering them useless in protecting women.

In going after governmental issues such as equal pay, family leave, welfare and reproductive rights, she illustrates how the system fails women as it demands both their labor under capitalism and their social functions as mothers.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Advertisement

The firehose of information is almost too much to take in a single sitting, and the film barely gives you enough time to process the horrors of one issue before diving into the next. However, Lopez presents solutions in both the international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (the U.S. is one of six countries out of 194 that has not signed this treaty), and the Equal Rights Amendment, which fell just three states shy of ratification in 1980.

Movie Trailers

That may come as a surprise to millennial feminists, and Lopez urges action on the new ERA movement, citing the web of social problems (poverty, rape, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation) that are connected to gender discrimination. Equal Means Equal is a lot to process, but offers an unflinching look at the fight for equal civil rights for all.

-------------

Equal Means Equal

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills
If the 2001 documentary Dog Town and Z-Boys engagingly gave Southern Californias skateboard culture its influential due, then Made in Venice comes across as its scrappy, but no less lovable, kid brother.

While he profiles many of the boarders who also figured into the Stacy Peralta film, director Jonathan Pensons main focus is on the creation of the oft-delayed, world-class Venice Skatepark  an endeavor that proved more challenging than a 1440 flip.

But first he provides a lively history of the place where the debris meets the sea, dating back to developer/conservationist Abbot Kinney, who unveiled his Venice of America in 1905.

Advertisement

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Cut to a century later, when the demolition of Venice Pavilion, the long-neglected recreation area known as The Pit, left beachside skaters with no permanent place to strut their stuff, setting the stage for a decade-long process that would turn a number of those original Z-Boys into social crusaders.

With a final push from former L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, the $2.5-million Venice Skatepark officially opened for business on Oct. 3, 2009.

Movie Trailers

Packing rare Super 8 and video footage into a compact 77 minutes, the film might overlap with what came before, but its also an affectionate tribute to legendary 80s street skater Jesse Martinez, for whom the skatepark took on a deeply personal significance.

If Tony Alva, Jay Adams and Ray Flores are among the Z-Boy lords of Dogtown, then Martinez, whod wake before dawn to voluntarily sandblast graffiti off its frequently vandalized walls, serves as its honorary mayor.

-------------

Made in Venice

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 17 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica
It takes one to know one, apparently, despite the titular protestations of I Am Not a Serial Killer, Irish horror filmmaker Billy OBriens adaptation (with co-writer Christopher Hyde) of Dan Wells young adult novel. The surprisingly warm and fuzzy horror-dramedy wonders can serial killers love?

Max Records (who played Max in Spike Jonzes Where the Wild Things Are) is John Cleaver, a clinically diagnosed teen sociopath who has a penchant for true crime and displays all the predictors of future serial killing. With the help of his therapist, John is highly self-aware, and his dark obsessions and predilections come in handy when a murderer terrorizes his small Midwestern town.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Advertisement

OBriens film has an appealingly retro look, shot on grainy 16-mm, a soundtrack featuring both grunge and classic rock hits and spooky-scary, bump-in-the-night organ music (it bears a passing resemblance to Netflixs hit series Stranger Things). The director uses Michael Myers-style point-of-view shots and other visual references to elicit the familiar feel of 70s and 80s horror classics.

John learns to get into the mind of the serial killer stalking those near and dear to him, with much hand-wringing from his mortician mother who worries that the family business may have overly influenced her son.

Movie Trailers

The film meanders, and the climax descends into campy fantasy worthy of any 80s B-movie, but Records is quietly winning. As John, a kid who doesnt feel much, he wants to be a good guy anyway. Christopher Lloyd costars as Johns crotchety neighbor with whom he shares more in common than hed like to admit.

-------------

I Am Not a Serial Killer

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

Playing: Arena Cinema, Hollywood
Two small objects were stacked on a worktable in the East Hollywood office of filmmaker Fede Alvarez on a recent morning, one prop each from his first two features. From his feature debut, 2013s Evil Dead, was a midsized book, crafted and distressed to look like the mystical ancient tome known as the Necronomicon. From his new film Dont Breathe was a simple kitchen baster, its innocent small bulb and pointed end belying the more sinister use it is put to in the film.

Dont Breathe is not unlike that baster on the table, rather unassuming but revealing itself to be darker and capable of being more disturbing than it may appear on first glance. The film is a hybrid horror-shocker and something of a home invasion thriller in reverse, as a trio of thieves find themselves locked in a house with a victim set on not letting them get away.

When Dont Breathe had its world premiere earlier this year at the South by Southwest Film Festival, Alvarez declared that it felt like his first film. The words seemed odd coming from someone who had already made a movie that had earned nearly $100 million worldwide. Given that Evil Dead was made with the original films writer-director, Sam Raimi, and producer, Rob Tapert, as part of its creative team, it wasnt so much that the remake felt meddled with or compromised, for Alvarez it just didnt feel entirely his own.

Advertisement

It wasnt that I felt I couldnt do what I wanted to do on Evil Dead and did on this one, it was more my fantasy of how do you get to make movies, said Alvarez. You start with a personal movie you write that nobody knows about and you put it out there and then you make something more high profile. I was missing that, I really needed to do that.

After Evil Dead, Alvarez turned down chances to get on the franchise train of comic book movies that now seems a regular part of a young directors trajectory in Hollywood  my dream of being a filmmaker was never that way  preferring instead to go smaller and make an original story instead.

Originally from Uruguay, Alvarez, 38, was living in Montevideo and running a post-production visual effects house when in 2009 he posted online a manic, apocalyptic short film called Panic Attack! He awoke the next day to countless messages from interested producers, agents and managers and immediately found himself flown to Hollywood for the start of a process that would end with meeting Raimi and making Evil Dead.

At that point I thought, This town is easy, said Alvarez. You bump into people in the street and they give you a movie deal!

It was not until after making Evil Dead that Alvarez officially moved to Los Angeles, waiting to first see how his adventure in Hollywood might turn out. Raimi and Tapert again helped navigate him through the system on Dont Breathe, producing the film through their Ghost House Pictures label, and assisting in securing financing and distribution.

Im not really his mentor, Im just a friend who has had experiences I can share with him and certain powers Ive earned that I can share with him also, said Raimi in a separate interview.

I feel like Im a plumber and Ive got the plumbing skills and I can really recognize another good plumbers work, Raimi added. So I look at myself as a contractor saying, look the guy did good work.

Alvarez and his co-writer, Rodo Sayagues, came up with the story of a trio of young thieves (Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto) who have been hitting houses in the better neighborhoods of Detroit thanks to codes lifted from a security company. They set their sights on a blind man (Stephen Lang), a vet who lives alone with a rumored cash settlement in the house. Once inside the house they realize he is far from helpless, with reasons of his own to not let them get out.

Though the story is set in Detroit, the majority of the film was shot on soundstages in Budapest. In one of the new films most dazzling set pieces, Levy and Minnette are in the basement of the house when Lang turns out the lights and things go completely dark. Alvarez, working again with his Panic Attack! cinematographer Pedro Luque, shoots the sequence with a milky look that isnt quite like the green-tinted view of night vision technology but rather akin to the effect of when your eyes adjust to extreme darkness.

Im so happy about that, said Alvarez. Every time I make a movie I try to do something that just pushes filmmaking just this much, but is making an advance. Because thats moviemaking, its evolving all the time.

As the film goes on, the intruders come to realize there is more going on in that house than they initially expected. The film takes an even darker turn when Levys character is nearly violated with that kitchen baster. That scene, and the turn toward sexualized violence, stirred some controversy when the film premiered at SXSW and is bound to start more conversations now that the film is meeting wider audiences.

Its one of those things Im actually happy to know polarized people, said Alvarez. If Im making a movie thats making everybody happy Im doing something that is watered down.  But thats what the genre has always been proud of doing, being anarchic and chaotic and just bringing some of that chaos to the comfort of the movie theater where everyone feels safe.

For his part, Raimi trusts that Alvarez knows what he is doing and just how far he can push audiences.

I think Fede has the brains to realize that was taboo and only hint and tease the audience without actually showing them the actual act, Raimi said of the turkey-baster scene. There are things that are unpleasant to watch, but thats part of the formula of horror films  the gross out  and I cant fault anyone for that. Its just another tool, and the trick is just to use the right amount to make it a really enjoyable, terrifying, fun experience.

With Dont Breathe tracking to be a box-office hit, Alvarez is looking toward the next thing. He recently became attached to an adaptation of the cult board game Monsterpocalypse that he and Sayagues are writing. They also have a number of TV projects in varying stages of development.

Alvarez could see himself branching out to other genres  though I dont see myself making a comedy, he said  but for now he feels the horror-thriller hybrid just may be his strong suit.

What I love with horror is that it has that power, even with a small budget and simplicity, said Alvarez. It can take you to a level of emotion, a feeling that is so strong it gets people jumping in their seats, covering their eyes. They think they are threatened physically even though they know its a movie and nothing is going to happen. So I put audiences through very strong emotions and I earn their money.

SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter 

Mark.Olsen@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus

ALSO

Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges celebrate the cowboy poetry of modern western Hell or High Water

Why Clea DuVall cast Melanie Lynskey and other pals in her directorial debut The Intervention

Ira Sachs new film Little Men mines big drama from seemingly small issues
One of the first things you see in Ixcanul, a vividly observed debut feature from the Guatemalan-born writer-director Jayro Bustamante, is the face of a teenage peasant girl as shes being dressed for a meeting with her future husband. Like almost everything here that passes before the cameras steady gaze, the face  which belongs to first-time actress Maria Mercedes Coroy  seems entirely untouched by the modern world. Its a beautiful face, so serene and impassive that it almost looks sculpted, yet theres a tremor of restlessness, a suggestion of a frown, that hints at the elemental conflict bubbling up beneath the storys placid surface.

Thats fitting for a picture that unfolds almost entirely in the shadow of a volcano, albeit one that remains dormant throughout and that looms more scenically than ominously in the background of cinematographer Luis Armando Arteagas graceful widescreen images. The word ixcanul even means volcano in Kaqchikel, the Mayan language spoken by the films principal characters: a small family of coffee harvesters dwelling on a plantation in the remote Guatemalan highlands.

The girl, Maria, has been promised in marriage to the plantation foreman, Ignacio (Justo Lorenzo), a match that will ensure her future as well as that of her hard-working parents, Juana (Maria Telon) and Manuel (Manuel Antun). But while she quietly goes along with the arrangement, Maria is drawn to a young plantation worker, Pepe (Marvin Coroy), and when she finally acts on her feelings one night  emerging from the shadows with silent, steely resolve to seduce the drunken young man  its clear that her youthful lust carries a pragmatic streak. In Pepe, who dreams of migrating to the United States, Maria sees a chance to seize her own dream of a better life.

Advertisement

The opposite turns out to be true, and the cruel consequences of Marias actions will ripple across the remainder of Ixcanul, complicating her impending marriage to Ignacio and threatening her familys already tenuous hopes of survival. But as the director and his lead actress make clear, the events have an even more profound effect on Maria herself, forcing this young woman to see everything  from her body to her place in a world that is bigger and more unknowable than she could have imagined  with a shattering new clarity.

Bustamante, who grew up in the highlands and identifies as mestizo, dramatizes his characters and their indigenous way of life with a powerful, almost feverish sense of immersion. You can sense the directors respect for his subject in the movies unhurried dramatic rhythms, its grounding in the earthy rituals of everyday life and its strong cast of nonprofessional Maya actors. Like the untamed sounds of the natural world that dominate the movies aural track, the actors untrained yet intuitive performances pull you into a world that, with its cherished customs and its closely guarded myths and superstitions, seems to have existed long before Bustamante had the inspiration to turn his camera on it.

In this landscape of rough, smoky terrain and ash-black soil, the mundane spectacle of a pig being brought into a pen to mate with a boar carries an obvious metaphor for the life of marriage and child rearing to which Maria has been assigned. No less fraught with meaning is an infestation of snakes on the plantation grounds, all but suggesting a toxic manifestation of the rampant forces that seek to keep these indigenous people in poverty and oppression, not least the language barrier that separates this Maya community from the broader Spanish-speaking world.

The symbolism is there for the taking, but the picture doesnt draw undue attention to it. What distinguishes Ixcanul  which first screened at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival, where it won the Alfred Bauer Prize for opening new perspectives  is that its evocation of this far-flung culture never softens into an uncritical embrace. Bustamante has made a film that sits astride the age-old clash of tradition and modernity, and casts a harshly appraising glance in either direction. It is scornful of the opportunistic Ignacios of the world, but also of the willful ignorance and patriarchal thinking that hold sway even within Marias family.

Yet even as it moves from tender ethnographic portraiture into a realm of hushed, intimate tragedy, Ixcanul quivers with a fierce if understated feminine energy. You can feel it in the womens honest, matter-of-fact acknowledgments of desire (notably, every sexual encounter in the picture is initiated by a female). And the movies true hero is arguably not Maria but Juana, wonderfully played by Telon as a pillar of big-hearted resilience even as she acknowledges the limitations of her knowledge. In the storys most devastating moment, Juana cradles her daughter in her arms in the back of a moving truck, weeping as they race the clock toward an uncertain future. And in a radical formal gesture, the once-stationary camera begins to rumble and shake beside them, as if the mountain of the title were suddenly, if only for a moment, erupting to life.

------------

Ixcanul

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Playing: Laemmles Monica Film Center, Santa Monica, and Laemmles Playhouse 7, Pasadena

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 
While concerned cineastes bemoan the lack of women behind the camera, Italian writer/director Nanni Moretti makes one his autobiographical avatar in Mia Madre, about an emotionally fraying filmmaker (Margherita Buy) dealing with crises professional and personal, namely a problem-beset movie shoot and the declining health of her mother (Giulia Lazzarini), a beloved Latin teacher. (Morettis own mother passed during the filming of one of his movies.)

This quietly wise, funny and openly sentimental mix of a gentler 8  (there are dreams not readily recognizable as such) and an illness drama is tinged with the kind of honest sadness and comic frustrations that suggest a daily journal come to life.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Advertisement

With an unassuming directness, Moretti  who also plays Margheritas brother and partner-in-caregiving, Vittorio  toggles between work and life pressures in a way that finds the curious feelings and epiphanies that bind the two, and somehow give meaning to the whole dance.

Movie Trailers

A lot of that comes from Buys rich, deep sigh of a portrayal, equal parts self-doubt and forthrightness. (At one point, after a change-of-shot setup goes badly, she hilariously berates her crew for listening to her.) Theres also a wonderfully outsized turn by John Turturro as a blustery American movie star who can never remember his Italian lines. Hes a figure of eye-rolling irritation for Margherita, until even he finds his grace moments, off and on camera. Mia Madre is on one level about loss, but its also a humorously poignant movie about whether any of us know exactly what to do when life says Action.

-------------

Mia Madre

In Italian and English, with English subtitles

Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

MPAA rating: R, for language

Playing: Laemmle Royal, West Los Angeles; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena; and Laemmle Town Center 5, Encino
Given that it was booed after screening at 2015s Cannes Film Festival and is opening against a tide of poor advance reviews, Gus Van Sants The Sea of Trees proves a stronger movie experience than one might expect. Its anchored by a fine, understated performance by Matthew McConaughey and a deeply felt, if at times melodramatic, story that proves strangely immersive.

McConaughey plays Arthur, a depressed scholar who travels from Massachusetts to Japan to take his own life in the vast Aokigahara forest, a legendary suicide spot. (It was also the setting for this years supernatural thriller The Forest.) Once there, things dont go quite as planned, especially when Arthur meets a Japanese family man (Ken Watanabe) also preparing to kill himself. A bond of sorts forms between the two melancholy men until Arthur must spring into action to save them both  physically and spiritually.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Arthur flashes back to what led him to consider suicide: his guilt over the demise of his alcoholic wife (Naomi Watts), with whom he shared a troubled, complex relationship.

Movie Trailers

Director Van Sant, who notably ping-pongs between more mainstream and riskier film fare, lands somewhere in the middle here, carefully  and mostly successfully  juggling the intimate demands of Chris Sparlings reflective script with the tales ethereal, often demanding backdrop. Stirring cinematography by Kasper Tuxen is another plus.

-------------

The Sea of Trees

Rating: PG-13, for mature thematic material, some disturbing images and brief strong language

Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes.

Playing: Sundance Sunset Cinemas, West Hollywood; also on VOD
Sonia Rykiel, a beloved French designer synonymous with striped sweaters and Left Bank insouciance, died Thursday in Paris after years living with Parkinsons disease and osteoporosis. She was 86.

Jean-Marc Loubier, president and chief executive of First Heritage Brands, the holding company for Sonia Rykiel and Delvaux, confirmed her death to WWD.

He called her a fashion pioneer who considered her designs aids to liberate and empower women as they gained fuller participation in society.

Advertisement

A sign of her zesty personality, she did not consider pants a way for women to be equal with men but to afford equality to women who might not have beautiful legs, he noted.

She had this tremendous seduction: Her eyes, voice, attitudes, words, said Christian Lacroix. She epitomizes a certain brand of French-ness and Paris since the Sixties  free and elegant girls, with French style, French attitude and French freedom, both erotic and intellectual.

She was the link in between Vionnet, Schiaparelli, Chanel and her generation of women designers, with a modern, feminist, optimistic and free approach to fashion, the world and the times.

Lacroix associates her name with a very precise, sinuous silhouette, knitwear forever, stripes, sequins, fedoras, Twenties makeup, black and beige.

Sonia Rykiel was a revolutionary designer. I have great admiration for the work that she has done on liberating women and their fashion. And she gave the inspiration and the style to all of us, Jean Paul Gaultier told WWD.

Rykiel had long since passed the design reins to a series of young designers. Julie de Libran, an alum of Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu, is the current creative director.

Famous for her triangle of red hair and saucy personality, Rykiel won fans with her feminine, witty sweaters, often striped, sequined or imprinted with words  though she never learned to knit herself.

Born in the Paris suburb of Neuilly, the eldest of five daughters of a Russian mother and a Romanian father, Rykiel, nee Flis, never aspired to be a designer.

I was supposed to be a mother like my mother, who didnt work, she said. My husband [Sam Rykiel, whom she married in 1953] had a boutique called Laura.

When she became pregnant, I wanted a maternity dress, but I couldnt find anything I liked. Everything was abominable. So I made one. Then I made a pullover. Elle put it on the cover. Then WWD elected me the Queen of Knitwear.

Her shrunken 1962 poor-boy sweater, with its fine ribbing, which she prevailed upon the Laura knitters in Italy to make, became a landmark design of the early Sixties.

A Laura boutique opened in Galeries Lafayette in 1964. Rykiel, who had her daughter Nathalie in 1956 and her son Jean-Philippe in 1961, divorced her husband in 1968 and opened her first self-named shop in May of that year on the Rue de Grenelle in the heart of the arty Saint-Germain-des-Pres area.

The neighborhood, rocked by student protests at the time, was right for a designer like her  although she had to close her shop the day after she first opened it because of unrest in the streets. Success came quickly, and her business grew. In 1969, she opened an in-store shop at Galeries Lafayette, and her clothes were picked up by Bloomingdales and Henri Bendel in New York.

Looking back on those years for WWD in 2008, Rykiel said, Since I didnt know anything, I did everything I wanted. I didnt listen to anyone. I was so violent, so authoritarian, only listening to what I wanted and myself. People loved me or hated me. Those who loved me, loved me a lot. The others, I didnt bother with them very much.

Rykiel kept the company in the family, one of the last French houses to remain that way, until 80 percent of it was purchased by Fung Brands  a luxury company owned by two Hong Kong billionaires, Victor Fung and William Fung, and headed by Loubier  in February 2012. The family retained a 20 percent stake.

Nathalie Rykiel, who had begun working at the house by modeling for it in 1975, became its managing and artistic director in 1995, its creative director the next year, and expanded the fashion house into childrens wear, a diffusion line now called Sonia by Sonia Rykiel and introduced shoes and accessories. The Rykiel Homme collection, first designed by Tomas Maier, was produced from 1990 to 2009.

Sonia Rykiel was also known for her long, slim shapes, often in jersey; knits that were either cropped or oversized, and fur chubby jackets in shades such as bright pink and blue. Red, white and black were important elements in her signature palette.

In 2002, the company tried something new by launching Rykiel Woman, a lingerie and erotica shop on the Rue de Grenelle, which sold sex toys. Nathalie Rykiel said of this, It worked out, because my mother strove to liberate women. [Forty] years ago, she told them to ditch their bras under her little poor-boy sweaters. She told them to embrace liberty. Now we are being provocative in another way. Nathalie did a clothing collection for La Redoute in 1995 and a lingerie line for H&M in 2009, with an accessories and knitwear collection for that firm launched the next year.

For Sonia Rykiel, in fact, being provocative was as important as the sweaters that became her trademarks. Her first slogan sweater in 1971 broadcast Sensuous, a term that WWD had used to describe her and. It became a bestseller. She often spoke of the importance of lovers in a womans life.

Rykiel created clothes that were unpretentious and woman-friendly at a time when French feminism was being revived by the youthful rebellion of 1968. Her Seventies heyday reflected the freedom in the fashion air; her styles were most commonly described as eccentric, whimsical and oh-so-French. Nineteen-sixty-eight was the beginning of the hippie movement in fashion, she told W magazine in 1997. That movement made fashion change completely. It was not necessary to be always dressed up. You could be dressed the way you wanted  it was absolute freedom.

She went on to state matter-of-factly, I invented everything in the Seventies. Sweaters without shoulders; quilted jackets; showing inside seams outside.

Regarding the unchanging nature of some of her designs, she quoted Jean Cocteau, who said that he always made the same portrait. The trick is to last, and to last while not always doing the same thing, but not doing something entirely different. Its important in fashion to stay who you are, but to always be in the mood and the air du temps [italics].

Rykiel believed women should define their own fashion, not the other way around. In the late Seventies, in fact, she began to say that fashion itself was demode, and in 1978 she showed a collection which mixed her clothes with those of other designers on the runway, the way theyre worn in real life. She expressed these views in her first of her many books, which were often done with photographer Dominique Issermann, a novel in diary form, Et Je la Voudrais Nue [And I Would Like Her Nude] in 1979.

She published an erotic novel, The Red Lips, in 1996. She said it was about a love triangle between a man, a woman and a sweater. In describing her early design process, she said, I made clothes spontaneously. When it rained, for example, I designed a trenchcoat. When it was cold, I did a coat. I followed my instincts.

Rykiel also had a hand in decorating some of Pariss most luxurious hotels. She was asked to help revamp the interior design of the Hotel de Crillon in 1982, and she worked on the redesign of the Hotel Lutetia and its brasserie in 1985. Andy Warhol painted his four famous portraits of the designer that year.

In 1994, Rykiel was even featured in Malcolm McLarens album Paris, singing in a song called Who the Hell is Sonia Rykiel? Robert Altman was inspired to make his 1994 film Pret-a-Porter after he and his wife attended a Rykiel fashion show.

Rykiel had seen a great deal of change during her years in fashion. The metier, she told WWD in 2008, is completely different to when I started. Fashion today is another story. Today I dont invent in the same way. We dont live in the same way. With all of the computers, it has changed the way we design and cut. Its incredible. Before I went to the factorywe did everything manually. The computer does everything today. Also, fashion isnt sold in the same way. There are the big groups. There are very few people like us, outside of the machine.

To commemorate the firms 40th anniversary in 2008, Nathalie Rykiel threw a party in her mothers honor, which included the designers latest collection and, as a surprise, she asked a group of designers, including Martin Margiela and Ann Demeulmeester to create dresses in homage to the Rykiel style. The designer also put on a retrospective at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in 2008 which featured about 200 outfits and showed not only her fashion but illustrated her role as an inspiration to her peers.

Olivier Saillard, the curator of the exhibition, said, Rykiel did minimalism before the Japanese and turned clothes inside-out before the Belgians. He added, There was a sense of permanence to her work. When you look at older pieces alongside the more recent, the older ones arent out of fashion.

In 2007, Nathalie Rykiel became president of the company, and Sonia Rykiel appointed Gabrielle Greiss as its new creative director. Rykiel noted in an interview with WWD, I worked alone for 35 years. And now, for the last five years, Ive started working with a team. It was a decision. I knew I needed to accept that if the name was to exist in time. Greiss held the job for a year. Subsequent creative directors included April Crichton and Geraldo da Conceicao.

In 2009, Rykiel was given the Legion dHonneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy praised Rykiel in a speech before making her a commander of the order. (She had been named an officer of the French Ordre des Artists et des Lettres in 1993 and an officer of the Legion dHonneur in 1996.)

You are terribly French, he said of Rykiel. We need more free spirits like yours to turn our habits on their heads. Our country is too conservative; you contributed to French elegance.

In addition to expanding her namesake brand, Rykiel dabbled in acting and designed costumes for plays. She was also an inspiration for many artists exhibitions and books.

In 2009, Rykiel designed a plastic belt that was purchased by First Lady Michelle Obama. The designer said, [Everyone at the fashion house] is happy when Madonna wears one of my dresses, but added that she herself was more excited that someone like Michelle Obama is a fan. I find her fascinating: a very strong woman and a huge asset to her husband, she said.

Of her decades-spanning career, Rykiel said, I think there is a future for a house like ours with a way of acting thats different. I love this metier. Its what makes me happiest.

WWDs Ryan Stevens contributed to this report.

ALSO

French burkini ban puzzles, upsets Muslim fashion designers

Paris Fashion Week: Sonia Rykiel back on the map

Fashion industry remembers Bill Cunningham
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
Coral Salvador thought her 4-year-old son was asleep when she peered into a bedroom and realized he wasnt there. As she walked toward the front door, she heard gunshots, and saw her sons motionless body on the front porch.

There was blood everywhere, she said.

Salvador grabbed the boy and ran inside, where she performed CPR in the living room and cradled his small head. She could feel where a bullet had punctured his skull.

I knew he wasnt going to make it, but I held out hope, she said.

Advertisement

Doctors at the hospital tried to resuscitate the boy but were unsuccessful. He died shortly after midnight.

Nearly two months later, Salvador, 23, returned to the home along with other family members and Los Angeles County sheriffs homicide investigators to ask the public for help identifying the shooter and to publicize a $20,000 reward.

Standing a few feet from a small shrine for Salvador Esparza III on Thursday, Coral Salvadors voice shook as she pleaded for someone to speak up in the killing of her son, who she called Baby Chavita.

An innocent little boy was my world, he was my everything, she said. It has affected me in ways I never thought it would.

Her son was shot July 5, when a man walked up to a home in the 500 block of Figueroa Drive and began shooting at people on the porch, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The gunman fled in a dark-colored car, investigators said.

Authorities said last month that the target may have been Coral Salvadors boyfriend or his brother, but on Thursday, they said they believe a 27-year-old gang member who was visiting the home was the intended target. He was wounded in the attack but survived.

About two hours earlier, the man had been in an altercation down the street from the home, which authorities believe motivated the shooting.

When he came to this house, he brought the problems with him, sheriffs Lt. John Corina said.

 Nearly two months after a 4-year-old boy was gunned down in Altadena, investigators and family gathered at the scene Thursday to ask the public for help in identifying the gunman.

Since the shooting, Salvador has been unable to go back to work as a medical assistant at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

She was recently diagnosed with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder  issues she has never dealt with before, she said. At one point, she was hospitalized after overdosing on her anxiety medication because I just didnt want to be here.

I miss him so much, she said. He was my baby, my son. I dont have any other kids.

At the news conference on Thursday, neighbors spilled out of their homes to watch television news trucks and cameras assembled on the road as Salvador made her plea. A half-block down the street, residents of a peach-colored apartment complex crowded the buildings entrance to get a better look.

Corina said he hopes anyone who saw anything suspicious the night of the killing will come forward to help investigators. On that warm night, people were outside in their yards or on their front porches and would have seen something, he said.

Investigators believe the shooter has ties to the area and are hoping the reward will inspire tips.

We just havent had any phone calls on this, Corina said.

After the news conference, deputies walked door to door in the quiet neighborhood and passed out fliers with photos of the child with bright brown eyes, smiling.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriffs Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

nicole.santacruz@latimes.com

For more crime news, follow @nicolesantacruz on Twitter.

UPDATES:

7:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the shooting.

This article was originally published at 3 p.m.
Standing in the heart of Koreatown, novelist Krys Lee is turned around.

Was this the direction to the Korean market to which her family made a pilgrimage every weekend, and her mother would rent her cache of Korean videotapes? Which way was the tofu restaurant she and her pastor father walked to countless times, after her mother died and there was no one to cook him Korean food?

And where was her fathers final apartment, where he lived, broken and lost, until he suffered a heart attack mid-sermon at the pulpit?

Advertisement

The gleaming new condos and countless new restaurants are disorienting, and in all the years she moved around all over Southern California following her fathers restlessness and church assignments, Lee never actually lived in Koreatown. But it nonetheless holds an important place in her imagination, in the world she mines for her fiction.

Koreatown, symbolically, imaginatively and literally, it is a kind of locus for me, Lee, author of the new novel How I Became a North Korean, says on a recent Thursday. Coming to Koreatown was definitely a kind of ritual, in some ways one of the few positive family memories I have.  This is the place that inspires my work.

Lees novel, her first, is set in the harsh, unforgiving hinterlands near the border of China and North Korea, a world away from the sprawling, sun-soaked Southern California of Lees youth.

The book follows three young protagonists  two escapees from North Korea and an ethnically Korean Chinese-national runaway  who endure the family rifts, betrayals, abject despair and unbridled fear that abound along the human smuggling routes out of North Korea through China. Their stories are inspired and informed by the more than a decade Lee has spent working with and befriending North Korean refugees, both in Seoul, where she now lives, and at the China-North Korea border.

It taught me that this culture is incredibly rich and interesting and confused, and how you can love a crazy culture. And recognizing the madness in myself  Krys Lee on moving to Seoul

As the title of her novel suggests, it is only in being torn away from home, crossing a border and landing in a new, foreign place that Lees protagonists discover the burden and ramifications of their identities and feel the yoke of where they come from  an experience immigrants to the U.S. are familiar with, if on a smaller scale. The book also unflinchingly portrays the mixed motives behind the Christian missionaries who dominate the underground network.

There are tinges of Lees own life in the character Danny, who leaves behind the comforts of San Bernardino County, where he had immigrated with his family, to return to China. He ends up with a ragtag band of North Korean refugee boys, all in search of a place to belong.

Dannys meandering, convoluted path is not unlike Lees own lengthy, ongoing search of a home, of a tribe.

After she immigrated with her family to the U.S. as a toddler, Lee was raised as a P.K., a pastors kid. In the Christian-dominated Korean immigrant community, that meant you learn at a young age, everything will be private, everything will shame the family, Lee recalls.

Her fathers insecurities and propensity for violence, and the familys financial struggles, were never to leave the four walls of their home, Lee says over lunch at the bustling tofu restaurant, down the street from her fathers former apartment. To this day, Lee is unsure of many details of her personal history because of her fathers shifting stories.

Growing up in that environment, she came to resent and reject all things Korean, Lee recounts. Koreanness seemed to be synonymous with patriarchy, violence and inequality in the family where she felt silenced, she says.

That frustration is expressed in the short story Pastors Son from her 2012 collection Drifting House by protagonist Jingyu. I wanted to be part of a household where the father wasnt king and his kids the subjects, he says. The pastor father in the story was also cruel to his late mother: He was a man who had terrified her into becoming invisible.

Like Lee herself, growing up P.K. meant Jingyu was unable to speak to people because anything that felt true about me was a secret.

After her mother passed away from cancer during her college years at UCLA and her family was left emotionally and financially in tatters  No health insurance means you lose everything, she says  Lee traveled to Seoul for what she thought would be a brief stay.

Yet once there, she came to understand her parents, and especially her father, in a way she never had been able to before.

It helped me really see Korean men as people with their own sufferings and insecurities and problems and complexes, she says. It taught me that this culture is incredibly rich and interesting and confused, and how you can love a crazy culture. And recognizing the madness in myself.

Although shed always been a writer, it was in moving to Seoul, Lee says, that she found her material.

There were so many things I suddenly felt like I had to write. The lives I saw around me that also felt like mine, she says.

In her first years there, Lee saw a small notice in the paper about a meeting on human rights in North Korea. Left with what she calls the stain of really wanting a morally upright world after growing up in the church, she went to the meeting and started volunteering.

Among North Korean refugees, each of whom had survived harrowing journeys to get to Seoul, she found an unlikely surrogate family of those all trying to find their place in a new, strange home.

They want to trust people but they dont trust.  Theyve been betrayed by their government, by governments, and so many people along the way, Lee says. I understand that place of loss very much.

In the novel, Lee takes the reader along on the arduous path many of her North Korean friends braved to flee the country.

We scattered into small dark spaces in the backs of buildings, trains, and buses, through the great mouth of China. Our feet made fresh tracks as we weaved through mountains and made unreliable allies of the moon and the night and the stars, she writes in the voice of Yongju, a Pyongyang elite who is forced to flee when his familys stature falls overnight. Each body of water reminded us of the first river, the river of dreams and death where we saw the faces of people we knew and would never know frozen beneath the Tumen River.

Like most Korean immigrants in the U.S., many of Lees characters have two names. Danny is also Daehan, and we never learn the real name of Jangmi  rose  who is rechristened upon arriving in China from North Korea as a for-sale bride.

In Seoul, Krys Lee is also Un Kyung, an accidental transplant, professor of creative writing at Yonsei Universitys Underwood International College, and an activist for and friend to North Korean refugees.

Back in Koreatown, a place she left behind because she couldnt bear the history and the memories, Lee says she flirts with the idea of setting a novel here, or even someday penning that memoir her publisher keeps urging her to write.

As Yongju says in her novel, the years have made it easier for Lee to confront and talk about her past.

Time has been generous that way, he says, releasing me from one detail then another.

victoria.kim@latimes.com

For more California news, follow me on Twitter @vicjkim
Prosecutors in the case against former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca have asked a federal judge to determine whether Baca is fit to stand trial.

The request for a finding on Bacas competency came late Wednesday, after a morning court hearing during which Bacas attorney made the latest in a series of comments meant to cast doubt on the mental acuity of Baca, who has Alzheimers disease.

In a court filing, Assistant U.S. Atty. Brandon Fox wrote that the government does not believe Baca is incompetent, but was seeking a definitive ruling in order to lay to rest doubts raised by the Alzheimers diagnosis.

Advertisement

Baca, 74, is facing charges of obstruction of justice and lying that stem from his alleged role in a 2011 scheme by sheriffs officials to thwart an FBI investigation into widespread abuses by sheriffs deputies working in county jails.

Fox asked U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson to order Baca to undergo an evaluation in coming weeks by a medical expert chosen by the government or, failing that, by an expert appointed independently by Anderson.

Although Bacas attorney Nathan Hochman has not asserted that his client is unfit to stand trial  and Anderson, in fact, concluded at a recent hearing that Baca was able to understand the legal proceedings  Fox pointed to several comments inside and out of court that have raised the prospect of incompetency. His request seemed aimed at putting to rest any doubts.

At his arraignment earlier this month, for example, Baca told Anderson that he had been suffering from periods of cloudiness in my brain  for quite a while. And when asked by Anderson if he understood the charges against him, Baca responded, I cant say I fully get it.

Hochman and Bacas previous attorneys have also indicated in past comments that they would move to have Bacas competence for trial evaluated if his condition worsened.

Discussion of Bacas mental abilities dominated the hearing Wednesday. In an effort to win more time to prepare for the trial, Hochman told Anderson he needed to have medical experts evaluate Baca in order to determine whether he would raise Bacas mental condition as a defense at trial.

Anderson rejected the plea, setting the trial to start Dec. 6.

Fox proposed that if the judge agreed with the need for a competency hearing that he order the medical evaluation and then hold the hearing at the end of November.

Baca is accused of having a hand in an organized effort to interfere with the FBI jail probe and later lying to federal investigators about his awareness of the plan and his role in it. His second in command, Paul Tanaka, and several lower-ranking members of the department have already been convicted of participating in the obstruction ploy.

The former sheriff struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to a single charge of lying to investigators, but that agreement fell apart when Anderson concluded it would not send Baca to prison for a sufficient amount of time.

joel.rubin@latimes.com

Follow @joelrubin on Twitter

MORE LOCAL NEWS

Painter gets life in prison for shooting San Diego TV anchor in money dispute

3 kidnapped children of slain woman found safe in New Mexico

Lawsuit alleging excessive force by LAPD at black USC student party settled for $450,000
Skid marks on a wilderness roadway led authorities to a more gruesome find: the skeletal remains of a person who may have been missing for years.

A crew from the California Department of Transportation working along Angeles Crest Highway near Mt. Wilson spotted the skid marks Tuesday and alerted police, according to the Los Angeles County sheriffs department.

Sheriffs deputies arrived to investigate and found an SUV about 500 feet down the side of the highway, which snakes through the rugged Angeles National Forest.

Advertisement

A search-and-rescue team rappelled down to the vehicle and saw that it appeared to have been abandoned.

Deputies checked the vehicles identification information, which showed the car was involved with a missing person case from 2014, sheriffs officials said. The Los Angeles Police Department had been investigating the disappearance.

After returning to the scene Wednesday morning, deputies found the human remains near the SUV. Coroners officials helped to recover the remains and examine the area.

Sheriffs officials said the identity of the person was unknown, but the body would undergo an autopsy to determine how the person died.

Officials did not release details about the 2014 missing-person case.

As for the skid marks, investigators later concluded that they originated from a more recent collision.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno.

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
Zach Johnson had his car stolen last week. He doesnt care so much about the Chevy Malibu, what he really wants back is what was inside: his fathers ashes and mementos.

While moving into a new apartment in San Diegos Cortez Hill neighborhood, the 22-year-old Johnson decided he was done for the day. He would finish unloading in the morning. But by then, his car would be gone.

Hes heartbroken over the loss.

My dad gave me these mementos before he died, Johnson said Thursday. They were all in there.

Advertisement

What he lost includes his dads coin collection, an inscribed watch, an old cigar box with Disney tickets from a trip the two took together, and the ashes.

Johnson was moving into an apartment on Date Street near 8th Avenue on Friday, and about 4:30 p.m., he called it quits and went upstairs for the night. The next morning, when he didnt see his car, I walked around the block three times, just in case Id gotten turned around, he said.

It finally hit me: My cars gone.

He called the police and filed a report. Then he posted photographs of the white 2011 Malibu on Facebook. While getting the car back would be nice, he is really hoping to be reunited with his fathers things. And his voice.

Three years ago, Johnsons father died in his sleep. His health had been failing for years, and he had started to pass down things to his son. A week before he died, Johnson got a voice mail message from his dad, who lived in Texas while Johnson lived with his mom in Arkansas.

He just said that he loved and missed me, Johnson said. The message wasnt long, but it means a lot to me. He saved that phone so he could replay the message when he wanted to hear his dads voice. That was in the car, too.

There were other things stolen, including a computer and most of his winter clothes, worth a total of about $2,000. The thieves can keep it all, he said. He just wants his mementos back, he said.

That stuff has no value to them and it means everything to me, he said.

Anyone with information about Johnsons car can call police at (619) 531-2000.

Winkley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Stop us if you've heard this before: Increasingly severe wildfire seasons have sapped the resources of the government agencies charged with fighting those fires. Officials are forced to reassign money and personnel that had been earmarked for other programs into firefighting efforts. As each fire season seemingly burns hotter and wilder, the agencies charged with firefighting are stretched to the breaking point.

That's been the situation for years with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, the two agencies that shoulder the bulk of the firefighting work on federal lands.

So it wasn't surprising to learn this week that the same is true for the Oregon Department of Forestry, the agency that takes the lead in fighting fires on state lands.

The Oregon Secretary of State's Audit Division issued a report this week about the challenges facing the Department of Forestry. The issues identified were very similar to the issues facing the department's federal counterparts.

The audit noted that as fires have grown in size, frequency and complexity, the amount of money the department spends fighting them has dramatically increased: Before 2013, the seven-year average gross cost to the department for fighting large fires was $9.7 million a year. Since 2013, however, the average gross cost has ballooned to $92.4 million per year. As of Aug. 22, the audit noted, 547 fires have burned more than 4,300 acres on forests protected by the department.

The fire seasons in recent years not only have strained the department's budget, the report found, but also are taking a toll on its staff members, who often spend days away from home during fire season. The tab for overtime related to firefighting has increased nearly 200 percent in recent years, the department found. The agency has about the same number of employees, about 870, as it did 20 years ago.

Of course, as firefighting costs suck away the department's resources, what suffers are programs that would help reduce the severity and frequency of wildfires  for example, restoration work. It's the state's version of the same vicious cycle that is bedeviling federal firefighting efforts. Meanwhile, the audit noted, millions of acres of forests across Oregon are badly in need of restoration.

The audit recommended that officials do a better job of tracking how firefighting costs impact other programs in the department, so that they more clearly communicate those issues. The audit also recommended that department officials evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different fire prevention and detection strategies. (The online version of this editorial includes a copy of the audit.)

Suggestions like those could be useful, but they skirt this key issue: Figuring out a way to protect, to the extent possible, the resources the department has allocated to fire prevention and forest maintenance. In his response to the audit, Doug Decker, the retiring state forester, made a useful suggestion along these lines when he noted that the state could continue to contribute to a federal program designed to increase the pace of restoration work.

Oregon leaders also could consider taking a page from the federal proposal that would treat the very biggest wildfires as natural disasters, and pay for those fires from a different fund. Such a strategy could protect some of the money the department has set aside for its other programs.

The federal proposal still is jammed up in Congress, but perhaps Oregon could show the feds how it would work  and give weary state firefighters a bit of a break as well. (mm)
The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was found dead in the closet of an Echo Park home was charged with murder Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.

Veronica Aguilar, 39, faces one count each of murder and child abuse resulting in death.

Aguilars son, Yonatan Daniel Aguilar, was lying in a closet, wrapped in a blanket, when police arrived at the familys home in the 2100 block of Santa Ynez Street on Monday afternoon.

Advertisement

Prosecutors said the boys body showed clear signs of neglect and malnourishment to a degree that the murder charge was warranted.

During a brief appearance at a downtown L.A. courtroom, Aguilar stood expressionless in the defendants area. Through a Spanish-language interpreter, she delayed entering a plea until Sept. 8. A judge ordered she be held in lieu of $2 million bail.

Yonatan had been dead for at least several hours, had visible injuries indicative of physical abuse and appeared to be malnourished when his body was discovered, said Capt. Julian Melendez, commanding officer of the Los Angeles Police Departments Juvenile Division.

Several law enforcement sources said the boy was severely underweight with festering wounds and healed injuries that showed signs of long-term abuse.

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, Melendez said.

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 the department was prohibited by law from confirming or denying whether it provided services to the child or family.

Montiel said information about the agencys interaction with the boys family will be released at a later date.

Police arrived at the home Monday afternoon after receiving a call from the boys stepfather, Jose Pinzon, who said he had come home from work and was told by his wife, Aguilar, that the child was dead. Pinzon told officers that he saw the boys body and ran to a 7-Eleven on Sunset Boulevard to call police.

Pinzon was not arrested.

Aguilar was arrested Tuesday. If convicted as charged, she faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison, according to the district attorneys office.

An autopsy on the boy was not yet completed on Thursday afternoon, said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroners office.

richard.winton@latimes.com

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes and @haileybranson

UPDATES:

5:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from Veronica Aguilars court appearance.

This article was originally published at 3:05 p.m.
Warren Hinckle, the writer who transformed Ramparts magazine from a small quarterly Catholic publication in the 1960s to one that focused on political and investigative journalism, has died. He was 77.

Hinckle died Thursday morning of complications from pneumonia, according to daughter Pia Hinckle.

Hinckle, who wore a rakish patch over his left eye because of a childhood car accident, had been in declining health for years and spent the last few weeks in a San Francisco hospital, family members said.

Advertisement

In the mid-1960s, Hinckle worked as a writer, promotions manager and executive editor of Ramparts, a popular New Left publication that once boasted a circulation of nearly 400,000. Some of its biggest stories include covering the nascent Black Panther movement and how the CIA gave money to civilian organizations such as the National Student Assn.

What he really wanted to do with Ramparts was to create a Time magazine for the radical left, with very high production values, good writing, good graphics and exciting topics, said Peter Richardson, who wrote a book about Ramparts magazine in 2009.

[Ramparts] hit upon this kind of formula that they would do stories that no other outlets would touch and would publicize them in a way that they couldnt be ignored, he said.

Family members recalled how Hinckle loved to write and schedule interviews in bars around town, like the Dovre Club in San Francisco. His children often tagged along on his trips to bars and saloons.

[Hinckle] was able to have conversations and friendships and hatch schemes with everyone from cab drivers to heiresses, Pia Hinckle said.

Hinckle left Ramparts years before it folded in 1975. He gained notoriety when he worked for other San Francisco-based publications, including Scanlans Monthly, where he helped give birth to gonzo journalism, according to Richardson, when he paired writer Hunter S. Thompson and illustrator Ralph Steadman for The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved.

Thompson, who went on to write the famed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, was among the many guests that Pia Hinckle recalled seeing around the house.

[My dad] really felt like he needed to fight for justice and do it through his writing, Pia Hinckle said.

He also urged his children to pursue what they were passionate about, she recalled.

He believed that every obstacle was an opportunity for creating a better plan, she said.

In addition to Pia Hinckle, he is survived by his partner, Linda Corso of San Francisco; another daughter, Hilary Hinckle of New York; and a son, Warren Hinckle IV of Boston. He has five grandchildren.

shane.newell@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @journoshane.

ALSO

San Bernardino County rejects a controversial solar power plant proposed for the Mojave Desert

Suspect in critical condition after hes shot by police in Anaheim

California and local education officials laud progress on still-lagging test scores
Surveying the devastation of centuries-old villages pummeled by a major earthquake in central Italy this week, its easy for Californians to think that the more modern buildings here would better survive the shaking.

But seismic experts and structural engineers say there remain many buildings across California that could not withstand the type of magnitude 6.2 temblor that on Wednesday hit Amatrice and other rural villages in the Apennine Mountains that form Italys spine.

The structural flaw in those ancient stone homes is not so different from unreinforced brick buildings built in California before 1933, they say. That year, the Long Beach earthquake flattened many structures and left 120 people dead.

Advertisement

The Long Beach quake was similar in several ways to this weeks temblor in Italy. It was more powerful, estimated at magnitude 6.4, and like this weeks temblor was shallow, meaning the shaking was particularly strong at ground level.

The shaking in Long Beach turned the mortar between bricks back into sand. With nothing tying the walls to the roof, bricks shot out from walls like cannonballs, and roofs came crashing down. Numerous office buildings, stores and schools collapsed.

The devastation began decades of earthquake safety measures in California, including a ban on new brick buildings that have not been reinforced. Some cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, forced property owners to retrofit or demolish existing unreinforced masonry structures.

But thousands remain. Officials have expressed particular concern about cities including San Bernardino and Bakersfield, where there are clusters of these commercial and residential buildings and no retrofitting requirement.

They are unbelievably dangerous buildings, said structural engineer Kit Miyamoto, a member of the California Seismic Safety Commission, who has visited Italy before to study earthquake damage. The things that we see [in Italy], there will be similar things that we see here.

In central Italy, the quake also damaged brittle concrete buildings built in the 1960s and 1970s, Gian Michele Calvi, structural design professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Pavia, said Thursday in a telephone interview. Hundreds of similar buildings  mostly unretrofitted  exist across California.

But the lions share of casualties in Italy are believed to have been people trapped in the rubble of unreinforced stone homes that date back to medieval times, Calvi said.

It was just terrifying  really, quite a bit of destruction, U.S. Geological Survey geologist Kate Scharer said. Its one of the most problematic [types of buildings] for withstanding even moderate magnitude earthquakes.

Brick and brittle concrete buildings have been the focus of much debate in recent years. Los Angeles last year passed the nations toughest earthquake safety rules, requiring retrofitting of brittle concrete buildings, and San Francisco is studying similar rules. There has also been a push in some areas to deal with vulnerable brick buildings after recent California quakes highlighted the dangers.

After the 2014 Napa earthquake, South Pasadena began to study its seismic vulnerabilities. The results were disturbing: Out of 60 brick buildings, 27 were still not retrofitted. Signs were not posted warning about the earthquake risk.

Last week, the South Pasadena City Council voted 4-0 to require the rest of them to be fixed, giving owners a deadline of 2 1/2 years once they receive a new order to comply. The affected buildings include stores, restaurants, churches and apartments.

Safety is not negotiable, said city manager Sergio Gonzalez.

Retrofitting a brick building is relatively inexpensive. The basic approach involves pushing steel rods to affix the brick wall to the buildings ceilings and floors. More extensive versions involve installing diagonal braces or adding reinforced concrete or polymers to the walls.

You basically have four walls being held up by the weight of the roof, so when they shake, theres nothing to keep them together, Gonzalez said. The reinforcement allows people enough time to get out safely once the shaking has stopped.

Concrete buildings are generally much larger than brick ones. They can cost more than $1 million to fix, making them far more expensive.

The earthquake struck Italy at perhaps the worst possible time  the late summer season, when children from the city are sent up to their grandparents ancestral homes in the mountains, filling residences that are usually empty. The region has only 5,000 or so residents, but is now filled with tens of thousands of visitors.

This is the reason there are so many victims, because there are many people there who are not normally living there, said Calvi, the Italian professor. It is well known that there is a very high vulnerability, and consequently, there is a very high chance of collapse in case of a strong earthquake, like this one.

It wasnt just homes that are gone. A hospital collapsed, and buildings for police and firefighters were ruined, Calvi said. In one town, there was not a single building safe enough to set up an emergency command post, so officials were forced to set one up in the town square, Calvi said.

In a high seismicity zone, this is really unbelievable, Calvi said. He said lawmakers have considered, but never acted on, reforms to convince owners to retrofit these quake-vulnerable buildings. Calvi said there is not much motivation for owners to retrofit.

This is a problem related to the fact that politicians have not really paid attention, Calvi said.

There was one exception. One town near the epicenter, Norcia, saw no deaths, said Paolo Bazzurro, professor of structural engineering at the Institute for Advanced Studies of Pavia. I heard there was not even a single injury.

Thats because the town was struck by a moderate earthquake in 1997, and money poured in to strengthen structures.

A lot of buildings were retrofitted, and therefore, they fared way better, Bazzurro said. This is certainly a lesson to learn.

The Italy earthquake is similar to the kinds of earthquakes seen in California. Even a magnitude 6 earthquake can cause severe damage if its shallow, and hits directly underneath a populated area.

It was kind of a perfect storm, locally, said USGS seismologist Susan Hough. Italys earthquake struck only six miles deep. By contrast, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Myanmar, also on Wednesday, was more than eight times deeper and caused far less damage and deaths.

Think of an earthquake as a bomb underground, Hough said. Whether its six miles below your feet, or 50 miles down, makes a big difference.

Aerial drone footage shows the town of Amatrice devastated after a powerful earthquake struck Italy at 3:36 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade)

Other shallow earthquakes have walloped California in the past, such as the 5.9 Whittier Narrows earthquake of 1987, which severely damaged brick buildings in Pasadena, Alhambra and Whittier.

You dont expect very long shaking, but it can be very intense, especially for unreinforced brick construction, which there is quite a bit in Italy, said Tom Heaton, Caltech professor of engineering seismology.

Even worse was that many of the Italian villages were at the tops of mountains.

Mountains sort of behave like a loudspeaker, said Caltech mechanical and civil engineering professor Domniki Asimaki. As seismic waves move up to the peak, the earthquake energy is funneled into a smaller space, making the shaking worse at the very top.

The principle was confirmed in USGS helicopter observations of villages after last years 7.8 earthquake in Nepal. Some of those villages built at the tops of those mountains, the structures almost appear to have exploded, Asimaki said.

Knowing that earthquakes are a fact of life should be a warning for those in Italy and in California.

Why are so many people dying in terrible buildings? To answer that question, you only have to spend time in beautiful Italy to appreciate that, in a sense, we go there, we enjoy it because of those beautiful old buildings, said former USGS geophysicist Ross Stein, who writes about earthquakes at temblor.net. Strengthening these buildings is expensive. People resist because theyre beautifully, culturally treasured buildings. But they kill people.

ron.lin@latimes.com

Twitter: @ronlin

ALSO

What are the odds of dying in an earthquake?

Major earthquake overdue in Californias Eastern Sierra, study finds

The Holy Grail for earthquake scientists has been accidentally destroyed

UPDATES:

1:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about the relative magnitude of the Long Beach earthquake of 1933 and the types of buildings in California that remain vulnerable to quakes.

This article was originally published at 11:15 a.m.
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a $450,000 settlement of a lawsuit by USC students who alleged that LAPD officers in riot gear used excessive force and falsely arrested attendees at a predominantly black off-campus student party.

The six students who sued over the raid during the early hours of May 4, 2013, accused Los Angeles police of racial bias because they allowed a predominantly white student party across the street to continue. They alleged that officers violated their civil rights and assaulted and battered them. One student, Christian Sutton, alleged in the suit that he was tackled to the ground by officers and arrested for taking a video of their actions.

In June, a jury found in favor of several of the students, determining that some of the officers used excessive force, did not have probable cause for an arrest and acted with malice. LAPD Officer John Carlyle was found to have used excessive force on Sutton. Jurors also found that Carlyle had no probable cause for the arrest and acted with malice. Sgts. Boris Washington and Brandon Rockett were also found to have used excessive force and to have acted with malice. Jurors, however, did not find that officers acted with racial bias. After the verdicts, the city agreed to settle the case.

Advertisement

Neither the city attorneys office nor the attorney for the students could be reached for comment.

The end-of-semester party took place at a house a few blocks from campus near West 23rd and Hoover streets. A neighbor called police complaining about the noise. Police arrived shortly after 2 a.m., and the situation escalated with the arrival of dozens of more officers in riot gear. Six people were arrested and one officer was injured. Two of those arrested were treated for minor abrasions, police said.

At one point, officers formed a skirmish line on nearby Hoover Street.

The clash roiled the USC campus, prompting a student sit-in at the center of campus a few days later.

The students lawsuit alleged that the mostly minority student party properly registered their party with the University of Southern Californias Department of Public Safety, the Universitys law enforcement arm. The hosts ... also properly checked student IDs at the door, a requirement for such parties. The mostly Caucasian party did neither of these things.

After the incident, the LAPD launched an internal investigation into partygoers complaints but defended the actions of the officers, who said that they asked organizers to shut down the party but that it started up again.

It was a party that got out of control, people were throwing things at the police, so we donned protective gear, Capt. Andrew Neiman told the Times in 2013.

Neiman said officers used force on one partygoer because he resisted arrest. He was arrested on suspicion of felony interfering with the work of police officers. Four others were arrested on suspicion of failing to disperse, and another was arrested on suspicion of interference.

Attendees of both parties took to social media, posting videos of the confrontation and personal accounts of what they perceived to be racial profiling by law enforcement.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes

ALSO

L.A. Unified finds money to expand health benefits despite budget worries

Warren Hinckle, former editor of Ramparts magazine, dies at 77

San Bernardino County rejects a controversial solar power plant proposed for the Mojave Desert
President Obamas civil rights lawyers are seeking a potentially far-reaching ruling to hold that the Constitution forbids the common practice of keeping people in jail prior to a trial, even for minor offenses, just because they are too poor to pay for bail.

Every day, about 450,000 people are held under arrest in city and county jails because they cannot afford bail, according to the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta and Equal Justice Under Law, a Washington-based civil rights group.

Last week, the Justice Department intervened on their side in a Georgia case which challenges the use of fixed bail schedules for people who are arrested.

Advertisement

It began when Maurice Walker, a poor and disabled man, was arrested last year as a pedestrian under the influence and was held in jail for six days in Calhoun, Ga., because he could not afford the standard $160 bail.

The Constitution forbids punishing people for their poverty, the governments civil rights lawyers argued in a brief to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The 8th Amendment says excessive bail shall not be required. And the 14th Amendment, which protects the rights to liberty and equal protection of the laws, should be read to prohibit bail practices that incarcerate indigent individuals before trial solely because of their inability to pay, they said.

They agreed, however, that arrested people can be held if a judge believes they pose a danger if released or are likely to flee.

The Justice Departments intervention is the latest step in a growing legal and political attack on the money bail system. It arose in part from investigations that revealed how poor people in Ferguson, Mo., had become trapped by escalating fees and fines for relatively minor offenses.

Civil rights lawyers describe the traditional bail system as a wealth-based detention scheme that has largely escaped the scrutiny of the nations highest courts.

This is a huge scandal, and its been almost ignored over the last 30 years, said Alec Karakatsanis, co-founder of the Equal Justice project. If you are dangerous but rich, you can walk free. Whether you stay in jail or not shouldnt depend how much you can pay.

He said this system takes its harshest toll on the poorest people for whom a few days in jail can mean the loss of a job or, for a single parent, a loss of children. The prospect of being held in jail also prompts arrested people to plead guilty to crimes, even if they are innocent, he said.

Some people die in jail too, he added. Sandra Bland couldnt pay and died in a Texas jail, he said.

Bland, a black woman from the Chicago area, was stopped last year by a white police officer on a Texas highway who said she made an improper lane change. When the two quarreled, Bland was arrested and taken to jail. She was unable to post a $500 bond and was found dead in her cell, reportedly of suicide, three days later.

The Equal Justice group has filed lawsuits challenging the money bail system in cities across the South, including Houston, and has pending suits in San Francisco and Sacramento. Several cities have agreed to stop required money bail for new arrestees.

When the city of Calhoun was sued, it adopted a new policy to give people who are arrested a hearing within 48 hours. But a federal judge ruled it was unconstitutional to arrest people for misdemeanors and keep them in jail over the weekend because they could not afford to pay bail. The city appealed to the 11th Circuit, the first of the suits to reach a U.S. appeals court.

The lawyers expect the case of Walker vs. Calhoun will be set for argument in the fall.

In December, the White House convened a meeting to take aim at the criminalization of poverty, and Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch cited the money bail system as part of the problem. In a country where we have ruled debtors prisons are unconstitutional, too many of our citizens are simply in jail because they dont have the money to get out, she said.

The American Bar Assn. and the libertarian Cato Institute joined the administrations side this month in the Georgia case. The ABAs lawyers said they have been skeptical of the money bail system for decades and have now concluded fixed bail schedules should be abolished.

They said there are other ways to assure that defendants appear for their trials.

But the lawyers challenging the money bail system do not have a clear Supreme Court precedent on their side.

In 1983, the justices ruled poor people cannot be imprisoned simply because they cannot pay a criminal fine, but they have not questioned the long-standing American practice of requiring people to post bail to get out of jail before trial.

This is an open question. This is first time Ive seen appellate litigation on it, said University of Pennsylvania law professor Stephanos Bibas.

The argument here is that a crude bail schedule discriminates against poor people. It sure feels wrong to punish people who are not dangerous and who are on the margins of society, he said. But he also noted that the justices have not previously ruled that the equal protection clause generally forbids policies that discriminate against poor people.

The American Bail Coalition and the Georgia Assn. of Professional Bondsmen hired former U.S. Solicitor Gen. Paul Clement to argue in the defense of the bail bond system.

The challengers would effectively abolish monetary bail and entitle poor defendants to immediate release, Clement wrote. Nothing in the Constitution supports that extreme position.By enabling defendants to post bail with only a fraction of the required amount, the commercial bail industry allows individuals of all financial means to leverage their social networks and community ties to obtain pretrial release.The modern system of bail is fundamentally not about poverty or wealth but instead about preserving liberty while ensuring community safety and appearance in court.

Would happen if money bail were abolished?

The ABAs lawyer says cities and counties would save the immense cost of locking up people needlessly. The total annual cost of pretrial detention is estimated to be $9 billion, they said.

Clements brief on behalf of the commercial bail industry said far more people would not show up for their trial, and the police would have to spend more time and money rearresting these fugitives.

Jeff Clayton, policy director for the American Bail Coalition, said doing away with bail bonds would lead to more people, not fewer, being held in jail. Judges would decide it was too risky to release an arrested person. It would mean an expansion of preventive detention, he said.

But reform advocates say the money-based system locks up the wrong people.

About 12 million people are put into jails every year, and more than three-fourths of them are accused of misdemeanors, said Cherise Fanno Burdeen, chief executive of the Pretrial Justice Institute, a group that opposes the bail system. And in some areas, she said, as many as nine out of 10 cannot afford bail.

We need to replace the existing system and focus instead on who is a risk and not on their money, she said.

ALSO

Clinton takes aim at Trumps ties to alt right world of radical conservatives

Blunt discrimination by police and crisis levels of racism: A senior U.N. official reflects on America

CIA releases thousands of previously classified briefings to Presidents Nixon and Ford
Its not every day that a senior United Nations official reprimands the U.S. for its race relations, saying the country is struggling to live up to its ideals on equality, that blunt discrimination by police against black Americans has reached crisis levels, and that Congress is dysfunctional in how it responds to problems.

But after a 17-day visit that included cities that have become flashpoints in police and race relations, such as Ferguson, Mo.; Baton Rouge, La.; and Baltimore, thats what Maina Kiai concluded.

A Kenyan human rights lawyer, Kiai is the U.N.s special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and his trip last month was meant to examine how Americans handle protests.

Advertisement

He had planned his visit with the State Department for months and expected hed have to search hard for demonstrations when he arrived. Instead, Kiai stepped into a country reeling from back-to-back police shootings of black men and attacks on police in Baton Rouge and Dallas where controversy over race and policing was front and center.

Theres a deep divide in how blacks and whites see race. These numbers prove it. 

Kiai recently released a letter about his travels in which he credited the U.S. for its resilience despite difficulties, and wrote at length about workers rights, immigration law debates, counter-terrorism, policing and how each relates to 1st Amendment rights.

The focus of my mission was not race or discrimination, he said in his statement, a prelude to a fuller report expected next year. But it is impossible to discuss these rights without issues of racism pervading the discussions.

He said he saw such issues first-hand during meetings with police departments in New York, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Jackson, Miss. At the federal level, Kiai met with officials at the White House  though the schedule did not include President Obama  and the departments of State, Labor, Homeland Security and Justice. He also went to New Orleans and to the sites of the major political conventions  Cleveland and Philadelphia.

People are being approached because they are black, not because they are bad drivers. Police and police chiefs have to start thinking differently.

People have good reason to be angry and frustrated at the moment. And it is at times like these when robust promotion of assembly and association rights are needed most, Kiai wrote in his initial report.

I was pleased to observe that police in the states I visited have a good understanding of the best practices of managing assemblies, and that they have the capacity to implement them, which they often do, he later added. But they also sometimes ignore these best practices, preferring intimidatory and discriminative tactics.

The Times spoke to Kiai, who has been the first special rapporteur  an independent, volunteer expert  on freedom of assembly since 2011, and has made similar visits to Britain, Rwanda, Georgia, Oman, Kazakhstan, Chile and South Korea.

Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

The U.S. doesnt rank high on lists of countries with human rights issues, unlike some of the others youve visited. Why here?

I only go where I am given access. I have tried to go to other countries, like Russia, but they have not allowed me in. Meanwhile, the U.S. made it very easy for me to come. Theres an openness and willingness to improve.

That said, theres no perfect society. There is no country anywhere thats got a perfect human rights record. There are always concerns and issues. So we try not to make comparisons. Its not about who is better. What is important is really talking to people who are living there who feel their rights are being violated. You will get people who say, Why look as us? We are not the worst in the world. But we need to look.

What stood out in your travels?

Police who work with the community are incredible, and they are out there. If they dont, there is trouble, and some have at times become oppositional. If a person takes a community approach to policing, there is much more comfort between police and the community.

Even though there are all these restrictions and rules, generally protests still can happen in the U.S. Thats a good thing.

The other thing that stuck out is the role of the civil rights division of the Department of Justice. It can play a tremendously effective role when it comes in and looks at a police department. The mayor of New Orleans invited the Justice Department in, and it has borne fruit. On the other hand, you have a police force like in Ferguson that had a lot of work to do.

On the civil society side, I have been thoroughly impressed by the doggedness of activists.

Is there a problem with race and policing?

There are serious tensions between police and communities. Partly, its about how police operate. One of the most interesting events I attended was in Philadelphia. There was a civil rights activist at a forum; he was white and a lawyer. He said, I drive badly. I dont indicate when Im turning; I speed. But in 40 years I have never been stopped. Then a black community member talked about how he always gets stopped. Thats one problem with how police are policing. Its what is getting people angry.

You were in Baton Rouge right after the height of protests over the death of Alton Sterling, whose July 5 shooting by police was caught on video and spurred demonstrations around the country. What was your reaction?

My condolences to the families of police and those killed by police. But there are frustrations. The best way to ease them is to allow as much protest as you can. In Baton Rouge, the protests were peaceful and police let them happen with little interference. Then they began arresting peaceful protesters and bringing out riot gear, and the tone changed. Dialogue between police and protesters needs to be more effective.

How do people in Kenya and elsewhere view race and policing in the U.S.?

The first time we saw the militarized police in Ferguson was a huge shock. I was thinking, my goodness, the U.S. seems to be becoming what you see in Russia. But the other thing one has to say is that even though there are all these restrictions and rules, generally protests still can happen in the U.S. Thats a good thing. Many countries work so hard to prevent protests and hurt protesters, so often people are left with little choice of what to do.

As a special rapporteur, your recommendations could be completely ignored. Whats the point?

We have to accept that the U.N. system is based upon willingness of countries to make changes. But it also comes with moral pressure. Its a public report and civil society in the U.S. can use it to make its case. Other countries can also look at a report like this and pressure the U.S.

I do really believe the U.S. is interested  at least with the current administration  with becoming better, with having a good international image. You invite in someone like me because you want ideas.

jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com

Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

ALSO

CIA releases thousands of previously classified briefings to Presidents Nixon and Ford

Nuclear accident in New Mexico ranks among the costliest in U.S. history

Soldier who killed 5 Dallas police officers showed PTSD symptoms, documents show
lando Health and Florida Hospital will not bill survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre for out-of-pocket medical expenses, officials announced Wednesday.

Instead, the hospitals will write off an estimated $5.5 million or more in care.

The pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community, Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said. During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward.

Advertisement

Its main hospital  Orlando Regional Medical Center  treated 44 of the more than 50 victims who needed immediate medical attention from the June 12 attack that killed 49 people. The nightclub is only a couple of blocks from the Level 1 trauma center.

Nine of the Pulse patients died shortly after arriving at ORMC, and their families also will not be charged, hospital officials said. One victim remains hospitalized there.

At Orlando Health, bills will be sent to health insurers for patients who had coverage, but whatever those policies dont cover will be absorbed by the hospital chain, said spokeswoman Kena Lewis.

At Florida Hospital, which treated a dozen of the clubgoers, officials said they would not even bill the victims insurance for the treatment, nor will they bill for follow-up surgeries the survivors may need.

It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting, said Daryl Tol, Florida Hospitals president and CEO. We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando.

Survivors welcomed the news.

I was so worried because I cant afford any of that, said Mario Lopez, 34, who was visiting from Miami when he went to the club after a friends housewarming party.

I just went out for a fun night with friends. No one expected this to happen. My life was turned upside down, and then I had to worry about how I was going to pay back the hospital.

Lopez, who is uninsured, was grazed by a bullet and had fragments explode into his left side. After he was hit, he fell and split his elbow on a shard of glass. His seven-hour hospital visit left him with a new nightmare: a potential $20,000-bill.

Its a huge relief to know he wont have to pay, he said.

At Orlando Health, Lewis said the hospital would work with victims who will need future surgeries as a result of the shootings.

We cant predict the future needs of these patients, their financial situations or what the state or federal governments may require us to do for charity policies, she said. While we cant assume the answer is free care forever, we will use our very generous charity and financial assistance policies to assess the best way to help.

As it is, the hospital chain is expecting to shoulder at least $5 million in unreimbursed care for the Pulse victims, many of whom had extensive injuries, Lewis said. Florida Hospital officials said the bills there totaled more than $525,000.

As for Lopez, his physical wounds are healing, he said, but the emotional trauma still feels raw at times.

Its tough, he said. Each day, I have my moments.

Kate Santich and Christal Hayes write for the Orlando Sentinel

ALSO

Blunt discrimination by police and crisis levels of racism: A senior U.N. official reflects on America

Nuclear accident in New Mexico ranks among the costliest in U.S. history

Soldier who killed 5 Dallas police officers showed PTSD symptoms, documents show
Trumps new campaign chief arrested for domestic violence in 1996, according to reports

Stephen Bannon, the newly minted chief of Donald Trumps presidential campaign, was arrested on domestic violence charges two decades ago, according to a report in the New York Post.

A fight between Bannon and his then-wife occurred on New Years Day 1996 after an argument over finances, according to the Post and other published reports. Police in Santa Monica responded to the couples house and found Bannons wife with bruising on her neck and wrist, the reports said.

Bannon, who has taken a leave as the head of Breitbart News to become the Trump campaigns chief executive officer, was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and dissuading a witness, according to the reports. The charges were dropped when Bannons wife did not appear in court, they said, and the couple, parents of twin infants, divorced the following year.

The bottom line is he has a great relationship with the twins, he has a great relationship with the ex-wife, he still supports them, Alexandra Preate, Bannons spokeswoman, told Politico.

Bannon was brought on to lead Trumps White House effort last week after turmoil in the campaign.

The investment-banker-turned-Hollywood-producer has no experience leading a political campaign, but he is known for his pugilistic style and his conservative news organization has long been pro-Trump.
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.
Im Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today.

TOP STORIES

Italys Sorrow

Advertisement

A rising death toll. Villages destroyed. And amid the rubble, a few miracles. Central Italy is digging out after a powerful, relatively shallow earthquake struck early Wednesday. It was a boom  but it was noise you felt through your bones, rather than heard, said one survivor of the latest in Italys long history of deadly quakes. More from the scene in Amatrice.

Clintons Cash Machine Cant Stop, Wont Stop

When is enough money enough? Even some Hillary Clinton supporters are flinching at the big fundraising drive that Clinton has embarked on through the nations elite enclaves, including Beverly Hills, Marthas Vineyard and the Bay Area. It may not look good, but as an old saying goes, you can never be too rich  especially when the pressure is on to raise money for swing-state campaigns and Senate and House candidates. Take a look inside the moneyed corridors.

More Politics

-- Trumps shifting talk on immigration shows his struggle to reach beyond his core supporters.

-- Bernie Sanders launches a political organization to further his progressive ideals.

-- Trump delivers his biggest insult yet, demeaning celebrities for their not-hotness.

An End in Sight to 52 Years of War in Colombia

The longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere looks to be coming to an end. Colombias government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said theyve reached an agreement to end the fighting thats estimated to have killed 220,000 people and displaced 6 million since 1964. Voters still must approve it in polling that could come as early as next month.

Why Turkey Went After ISIS in Syria

On the border with Turkey near the Euphrates River, the Syrian city of Jarabulus has been a way station for jihadis since Islamic State overtook it in 2013. Now, officials say Syrian rebel fighters backed by the U.S. and Turkey have taken it back. Turkish officials said the incursion into Syria was payback for recent terrorist attacks, but it has another purpose too: to keep Kurdish militias, Ankaras archfoes, from establishing a foothold.

California Students Didnt Ace This

The report card is out on how well Californias students are meeting Common Core learning goals. The result: needs improvement. The scores on the states new standardized tests are up, but only 48% of students met English language arts standards and 37% met math standards. Heres a crash course on the results, how they broke out along racial groups, and a database that lets you look up how schools near you fared.

L.A.s Fire Marshal, Over and Out

The city of L.A.s fire marshal is stepping down after turmoil surrounding a backlog of building inspections. John Vidovich was barely two years into his assignment of enforcing safety codes for high-occupancy buildings such as apartments, schools and hospitals. Last year, a Times investigation found about 6,800 buildings were overdue for inspection. Vidovich vowed to clear the backlog, but inspectors told The Times they were pressured to cut corners.

The Earth-Like Planet Next Door

Dont make your travel plans yet, but astronomers have finally found an Earth-sized planet that could conceivably support life. Proxima b circles the closest star to our solar system, just 4.2 light-years away. Though some scientists are holding out hope of finding a more exact Earth twin, others are excited about studying this planet more. How to get there? Well, theyre working on that too.

CALIFORNIA

-- Gov. Jerry Brown hailed two sweeping climate bills and said he plans to sign both into law.

-- The LAPD says a malnourished boy found dead in an Echo Park closet was the subject of earlier child abuse reports.

-- The Santa Monica City Council voted to close the citys airport by July 2018.

-- Cancer surpasses heart disease as the leading cause of death in California and 21 other states.

NATION-WORLD

-- Attackers carried out a deadly assault on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul.

-- An official says strong evidence suggests a Peruvian police death squad set up and killed criminal suspects.

-- The CIA has released thousands of previously classified briefings to Presidents Nixon and Ford.

-- As women are fined for wearing head scarves, French activists push back on the burkini ban.

-- The aging paradox: The older we get, the happier we are.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

-- Mary McNamara: In the social-media age, the good, old TV confessional has gone by the wayside. Is there anyone who could bring it back?

-- Hollywoods summer problem? Reboots people dont want.

-- Is the AFIs cancellation of a screening of The Birth of a Nation amid the Nate Parker controversy a sign of things to come?

-- As HBOs The Night Of signs off, star Bill Camp reflects on the subtle beast of his character.

-- Hackers attacked actress Leslie Jones website; shes recently been the target of social-media abuse too.

BUSINESS

-- State agencies say the threat of a Southland energy shortage due to Aliso Canyon is fading.

-- Uber drivers new option: Start a retirement account through the app.

SPORTS

-- No rest for bronze medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross: Theyre back on the volleyball sand in Long Beach.

-- How Jim Harbaugh, the Donald Trump of college football, is upending the sport.

OPINION

-- Sick and tired of hearing that Clinton is sick and tired.

-- The Patt Morrison podcast: How African American vernacular English affects black kids.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

-- Researchers are working to make blindness a thing of the past. (National Geographic)

-- Mourning the loss of the front porch as sacred space to gun violence. (The Undefeated)

-- Meet the Octobot, the first autonomous, entirely soft robot. (Popular Mechanics)

ONLY IN L.A.

Would you like an iced tea, hold the ice? A U.S. District judge essentially said that request is simple enough in dismissing a lawsuit brought by an L.A. man alleging Starbucks misrepresents the sizes of its iced drinks. As young children learn, they can increase the amount of beverage they receive if they order no ice, Judge Percy Anderson wrote. Ice-cold, indeed.

Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj.
Ojai artist Betsy Davis was facing a terrible ending. She had ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a particularly horrible and incurable degenerative disease in which the bodys functions shut down  speech, movement and finally, irrevocably, the ability to breathe.

Rather than endure this punishing fate, she threw a goodbye party for herself this summer before ingesting a fatal cocktail of prescription drugs. She died surrounded by friends and family, and before all her faculties had failed her.

Davis could obtain the prescription legally thanks to a new state aid-in-dying law that took effect June 9. What would most likely have been a scary, painful and nasty ending was transformed into a reason to celebrate, her sister wrote.

Advertisement

In the more than two months since Californias End of Life Option Act took effect, an unknown number of terminally ill patients have signed up for a lethal prescription to take control of their final days. We wont know exactly how many until the state makes its first annual report next year. Anecdotally, however, about 30 people are known to have requested the lethal prescription since June 9, according to Compassion & Choices, an aid-in-dying advocacy group.

But this option may be denied other terminally ill people as soon as Friday, when a legal challenge to the new law comes up for a key court hearing. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Daniel Ottolia is expected to decide whether to put the law on hold until the case is resolved.

If he does, it could be years before the law goes back into effect, if ever, causing needless suffering for untold terminally ill people. Yet thats what would happen if Ottolia grants the injunction sought by the American Academy of Medical Ethics, several physicians and the Life Legal Defense Foundation, an anti-abortion and anti-assisted suicide group.

The lawsuit claims that the End of Life Option Act violates the civil rights of terminally ill patients by labeling them as such, depriving them of some of the safeguards that protect the lives of other Californians. Furthermore, it alleges that the law is unconstitutional because it was passed in a special session intended specifically to plug a financial hole in Medi-Cal.

Its a stretch to see how giving all Californians the same right should they become terminally ill can also be a violation of someones rights. And while the End of Life Option Acts route to becoming law was a classic example of how the Legislature circumvents the normal process to pass controversial bills, it doesnt seem to have violated the state Constitutions restrictions on special sessions. The proclamation that established the session in question left the door wide open to any healthcare-related legislation.

People are free to sue over laws they feel are unjust, of course. But the concern that the law will result in ailing or disabled people being encouraged or coerced to kill themselves is not supported by facts. There is no evidence to suggest that Californias new aid-in-dying law is bound to be abused.

Indeed, data from Oregon, where a pioneering Death With Dignity law has been providing compassionate end-of-life options for almost two decades, indicate that the option is rarely used. Just 1,545 people in Oregon, or less than 0.05% of the states population, requested a life-ending prescription from a doctor over the laws first 18 years, and more than a third of those with prescriptions didnt use them. But they had the option to do so if the suffering became too great  and thats the point of aid-in-dying laws.

There are also sufficient safeguards. A doctor has to declare that the patient is terminally ill and has no more than six months to live. A second doctor must agree. The patient must be mentally competent and able to self-administer the medication. Theres a waiting period and a pile of forms to fill out at various points during the process.

In fact, the rules may be too strict. At least, thats the opinion of one woman who chronicled the daunting and onerous process her dying mother went through to obtain a life-ending prescription under this new law.

We hope the judge will consider that the arguments in this case are based on fears, not reality. Moreover, suspending the law, even just for the duration of lawsuit, would be cruel to Californians trapped in an excruciatingly painful terminal illness who, like Betsy Davis, desire one final measure of control over their life.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Show of hands: you work side-by-side with people who are much poorer or wealthier than you  and you share your living space with someone from a religion, race, nation or sexual orientation other than your own.

We suspect few adults have their hands in the air. The vast majority of Americans live and work primarily with people much like themselves.

The clearest exception to this demographic homogeneity occurs in academe. It wasnt long ago that students at our nations colleges and universities were predominately white, male and from affluent families. Today, only 44% of college students are men, and 52% are white. Fully 39% of undergraduates come from families with incomes low enough to qualify for Pell Grants. Especially notable, the most selective schools  those with applicant pools large enough to fill their classes many times over  have transformed their student bodies, going from among the least diverse to among the most.

Advertisement

These students are coming of age in a time of political, social and economic turbulence unseen in a generation.

In light of all that, no one should be surprised that student unrest has rocked campus after campus over the past year. What began at the University of Missouri quickly spread across the country. Whether public or private, large or small, urban or rural, few were immune.

Were diversity and inclusion easy, other sectors of society might have already succeeded at it. Apartment buildings and suburban enclaves, corporate work teams and boardrooms, the U.S. House and Senate  all would be appreciably more diverse.

The young adults moving onto college campuses over the coming weeks arrive from communities and K-12 systems that are largely segregated by race and by income; they may graduate into jobs and neighborhoods that remain so as well. But while on campus, a daughter of a hedge fund parent may share a room with the daughter of a migrant worker; a straight Republican may room with a gay Bernie Sanders supporter. Everyone is here, and everyone lives together, if not in perfect harmony. Still, for four precious years they share classrooms, bathrooms and, for most, an abiding affection for their future alma mater.

They are part of an ambitious experiment in diverse populations living together. Unlike experiments in medicine or engineering, however, there is little empirical research to guide anyone and no controlling for conditions. On the contrary, the participants have no interest in being controlled or viewed as subjects.

If this academic year is anything like the last, some students will proclaim loudly what a terrible job college administrations are doing to create an inclusive community and will demand change. Others will work with one another and with faculty and administrators to advance diversity and facilitate better mutual understanding. Some will do both. Still others will quietly decline to participate by self-segregating or even dropping out.

As college presidents ourselves, of course it is our preference that students collaborate with faculty and administrators rather than occupy offices, shut themselves off from fellow students with whom they disagree, or leave school. But we recognize and accept that these students are coming of age in a time of political, social and economic turbulence unseen in a generation. This years presidential election rhetoric only makes things more volatile.

We have less patience with pundits and politicians who opine from gated communities and segregated offices about campus incidents that, for all their notoriety, are utterly unrepresentative of the main points of tension on campuses. For every student who complained about inauthentic ethnic food in the cafeteria, to cite one well-publicized example, exponentially more Asian and Asian American students endured insults and snubs based on jealousy, stereotypes or outright hatred. Likewise, for every example of students demanding safe places or trigger warnings so as to avoid material they consider offensive or upsetting, innumerable LGBT students and students of color found themselves in situations where they were affronted or physically threatened.

Social experiments often fail, as any baby boomer who joined a commune in the 1960s can attest. But the efforts currently underway on college campuses to enact the American ideals of opportunity, diversity and unity are noble, and the participants deserve respect for trying to achieve them.

The surprise isnt that theres friction on campus these days, but how well this unique experiment actually works.

Barry Glassner is president and professor of sociology at Lewis & Clark College. Morton Schapiro is president and professor of economics at Northwestern University.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
For a westerner, it felt like an abundance of water in a year of drought as we stood at the overlook of Great Falls watching the Potomac River being funneled through the Mather Gorge named after Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. The cascading rapids and dramatic pour-offs were mesmerizing and soul-restoring in the extreme heat of McLean, Va., where high humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s were drawing larger crowds than usual at this 800-acre national park, only 15 miles from our nations capital.

I stood on one of the viewing platforms with a dozen or more people at sunset: a friend from Rwanda, a family from Pakistan, another family from India, and three women from Saudi Arabia, all of us searching for words to express the sense of awe we were sharing in the last light of day. Later, a couple from Washington joined us.



For the record: National parks -- An Aug. 25 op-ed about Great Falls National Park said that George Washington began working to fund the Patowmack Canal in 1874. The year was 1784.

Our national parks are breathing spaces in a society increasingly holding its breath.

We come here every week, they said. D.C. would be intolerable in the summer without Great Falls. It is our refuge.

On the centennial of the National Park Service, we can acknowledge the great gifts that our national parks bring to us, personally and collectively, as well as what they mean to the rest of the world. We can recommit to taking care of what is an extraordinary legacy for all people for all time.

Americas public lands, more than 650 million acres of forests, deserts, prairies and seashores, many protected through our national parks, monuments, wilderness areas and wildlife refuges, are our inheritance. We the People are land-rich.

Advertisement

As a child growing up in Utah, I saw Zion, Bryce, Capital Reef, Arches and Canyonlands national parks simply as an extension of my own backyard. But even though I am a frequent visitor to Washington, I did not know until this summer that these 800 acres on the edge of the Potomac were part of the National Park System, or that close to a million people come here annually.

Great Falls has been a gathering place of water and humans for 10,000 years, beginning with the indigenous people whose petroglyphs can still be seen on the cliff faces of the gorge. Starting in 1874, George Washington helped fund the locks and gates of the Patowmack Canal, engineered to skirt Great Falls in the name of commerce. Distinct stonemasons marks left on the nearby ruins of the canal match the signature on the foundation stones of the White House and the United States Capitol.

In the 20th century, Great Falls was the end of a trolley line that originated in Georgetown and the site of an amusement park complete with a carousel. The park was destroyed by a flood, a reminder that nature rules, something canal-builders may forget.

On my visit, a flurry of black vultures crossed the river at dusk to roost. Half a dozen kayakers circled in the currents below the falls looking up at the rapids wondering if they had enough light to make one last run. Bass fishermen, perched on the banks like herons, reeled in their lines one last time. Our national parks are breathing spaces in a society increasingly holding its breath.

I wonder why in this presidential election year, we hear so little about these breathing spaces, these lands that mean so much to the soul of America. Over 300 million visits to our national parks last year tells me I am not alone. What I read are headlines like this: GOP Platform Endorses Disposing of Federal Lands. What I find is a bipartisan outrage over the selling off of our public lands, be it to the states or the highest bidder at the Bureau of Land Managements quarterly oil and gas leasing auctions, beginning at $2 an acre.

Remove our national parks and wildlands from the United States and what remains? An intolerable and lonely self-constructed world without the wisdom and beauty of a landscape much older and wiser than we are. We need human endeavor and intelligence, but we also need the intelligences of the wild  the millennial authority of redwood trees, the forbearance of bison or the lyrical sermon of a hermit thrush at dawn.

We are not the only species who lives and dreams on this planet. Can we continue to extend the notion of freedom to all living things? And in so doing, save ourselves in the process from the press of our own ambitions? The centennial of the National Park Service reminds us of history, both human and wild, and why we need our public lands more than ever in a changing world.

Here is what we must promise the future: a legacy of care. That we will be good stewards and not take too much or give back too little, that we will recognize wild nature for what it is: unfathomable wealth that should be consciously saved, not ruthlessly spent. Privilege is what we are granted as Homo sapiens, the privilege to think, to choose, to imagine and consider what our responsibility is to the generations who will survive us.

Our national parks remind us that natural beauty is not optional but essential for survival.

We need the tonic of wildness, wrote Henry David Thoreau. Standing at Great Falls on a hot, humid day when the political temperature in Washington registered like a high fever, an uncommon peace came over me. I allowed myself to believe that in another 100 years, there will be others standing on this same brink of beauty and terror, grateful for all that remains wild and wholesome and free.

Terry Tempest Williams is the author, most recently, of The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
To the editor: The appearance of posters financed by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson listing members of the group Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA as Jew haters is appalling. (How a casino tycoon is trying to combat an exploding pro-Palestinian movement on campuses, Aug. 21)

There is plenty of injustice to protest in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus treatment of Palestinians. Informed debate is impossible when anyone who criticizes Netanyahus policies on settlements, the wall and blocked humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is accused of being a Jew hater.

The Palestinians side of the story has long been suppressed, and those who try to address issues of injustice receive death threats for exercising their right of free speech and advocating for Palestinians.

Advertisement

The status quo is unbearable for Palestinians and, in the long run, untenable for Israel. Anyone who loves Israel should encourage meaningful discussion and work for a resolution of the occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Anne Hormann, Pasadena

..

To the editor: This article failed to describe how Jewish students are targeted by the pro-Palestinian BDS (or boycott, sanctions and divestment) movement against Israel.

The Times could have juxtaposed UCLA student Robert Gardners experience with that of Rachel Beyda, a Jewish student at the university who was initially rejected from serving on a student governments judicial board because she supports Israel. It could have also profiled Milan Chatterjee, the former president of the UCLA Graduate Student Assembly who was defamed by Students for Justice in Palestine.

This would have provided the reader with a more balanced perspective. Instead the article painted the Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson as the aggressor. The antisemitic innuendo of the rich and powerful Jew cannot be ignored.

Brian Cohen, Beverly Hills

..

To the editor: I am a professor of Jewish studies at Loyola Marymount University and teach courses on the politics of Israel and Zionism.

The exchange of ideas about the Middle East conflict on college campuses should be encouraged. I believe that colleges should provide space for this discussion to take place.

However, space is also available for a different kind of discussion. Many scholars and stakeholders are convinced that a two-state solution is in the national interest of both the Palestinians and the Israelis. Therefore, the discussion should be about implementing that solution.

This is a practical, land-based problem that can be solved, and while vitriol has its place, I challenge everyone to take part in the very practical discussion of how we live together. Calling for the destruction ofIsrael is a dead end, and blaming all criticism of Israel on anti-Semitism is a tactic used to avoid addressing real issues.

Michael Davidson, Altadena

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Hillary Clinton launched into a new, aggressive line of attack against Donald Trump on Thursday, accusing him of helping foment racial hatred and refashioning the Republican Party as a welcome home for white nationalists.

He is taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican Party, Clinton said. His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous.

In a presidential race that already stood out for its relentless volleys of personal insults and accusations, Clintons allegations that Trump is warmly welcoming Ku Klux Klan sympathizers, neo-Nazis and other fringe racist elements into GOP politics stands out.

Advertisement

Trump didnt wait for Clinton to deliver her highly anticipated speech to respond, using his own appearance earlier in the day in Manchester, N.H., to call her remarks a disgusting effort to deflect attention from her own controversies. But he avoided denouncing or otherwise criticizing the elements Clinton associated him with. Trump said that Republicans who have responded in such a way in the past were weak apologists.

In unrestrained language, Clinton took aim at Trumps affiliations with the so-called alt-right movement, a loosely organized network of anti-establishment activists on the right that helped fuel the GOP nominees rise. The largely online movement includes legions of openly racist and anti-Semitic activists who operate in what Clinton described as the far dark reaches of the Internet.

The alt-right has long cheered Trump, but his ties to the movement intensified with his latest campaign shake-up. Stephen K. Bannon, former editor of the alt-right favorite Breitbart News, now runs Trumps campaign.

Theres always been a paranoid fringe in our politics, a lot of it arising from racial resentment, Clinton said. But its never had the nominee of a major party stoking it, encouraging it, and giving it a national megaphone until now.

Clinton called out Trump for retweeting white supremacists, for posting an online attack of her widely perceived as anti-Semitic  it included a Star of David imposed over piles of dollar bills  and for initially selecting a white nationalist leader as a convention delegate from California.

When Trump was asked about anti-Semitic slurs and death threats coming from his supporters, he refused to condemn them, Clinton said. Through it all, he has continued pushing discredited conspiracy theories with racist undertones.

During his own speech just before, Trump accused Clinton of making a desperation play as controversies continue to swirl around her involving her private email server and questions of whether big donors to the Clinton Foundation got special access to her when she was secretary of State.

Its the oldest play in the Democratic playbook, Trump said. When Democratic policies fail, they are left with only this one tired argument: Youre racist, youre racist, youre racist. ... Hillary Clinton isnt just attacking me. She is attacking all of the decent people of all backgrounds who support this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime movement.

No presidential nominee in recent election cycles has been as adored by white nationalists and anti-Semites as Trump. They are encouraged by his vows to deport millions of people in the U.S. illegally, build a giant wall on the border with Mexico and ban Muslims from entering the country.

Its not the first time a presidential candidate has been in the uncomfortable position of having fringe racists cheer them on, but others before Trump have tended to be much more aggressive about immediately distancing themselves from such supporters.

In 2008, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) famously pushed back against a voter at a town hall who launched into a rant about then-Sen. Barack Obama supposedly being a Muslim; Obama is Christian. Clinton remarked in her speech about how former President George W. Bush led the call for religious tolerance in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when there was heightened anti-Islamic sentiment in the country.

Trump has been more cautious about disavowing support from white nationalists. When asked in February by CNN about his endorsement from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke of Louisiana, Trump first said he knew nothing about Duke. After the moderator explained he was a former Klan leader, Trump said: Honestly, I dont know David Duke. I dont believe I have ever met him. Im pretty sure I didnt meet him. And I just dont know anything about him.

The Clinton campaign included footage of such wavering in a video released Thursday that included white supremacists offering praise for the GOP nominee. It closed with a warning in bold text: If Trump wins, they could be running the country.

In Nevada, where Clinton delivered her address Thursday, she and Trump are locked in a close race. Her success there depends largely on whether she can turn out a large share of Latino voters, and the speech sought to motivate them by linking Trumps mass deportation plan and calls to build a border wall to white nationalists.

Trump is making his own, very different appeal to minorities. In New Hampshire, he continued his What the hell have you got to lose? appeal to African Americans, during which he proposes they take a chance on him if for no other reason than his dim assessment of the conditions they live under in Americas Democratic-controlled cities.

It cant get any worse than it is right now, Trump said.

He charged Democrats with confining blacks to a dismal existence of horrendous schools and unsafe neighborhoods, and said he could pull them out of it. The pitch, which Trump continues to make before mostly white audiences, has been met with little enthusiasm by nonwhite voters.

Clinton said Trumps very pitch is offensive.

Trump has stood up in front of largely white audiences and described black communities in such insulting and ignorant terms, Clinton said. It really does take a lot of nerve to ask people hes ignored and mistreated for decades, What do you have to lose? because the answer is everything.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Follow me: @evanhalper

ALSO:

American Independent Party nominates Donald Trump for California ballot

Hillary Clinton is exploring the outer limits of fundraising like no presidential nominee ever has

Donald Trumps shifting talk on immigration shows his struggle to reach beyond his core supporters

Can Donald Trump really round up and deport 11 million people?

UPDATES:

2:50 p.m.: This story was updated throughout with Clintons speech.

8:10 a.m.: This story was updated with comments from Donald Trumps campaign.

This story was originally published at 3 a.m.
By Jose Esparza

If you have driven by the corner of West Alameda Avenue and Irving Street in West Denver, you probably have seen very large piles of dirt being moved around. Behind those dirt piles, contractors have been very busy since breaking ground a few months ago on constructing Westwood Crossing, a project that will include 98 affordable apartments and about 5,000 square feet of ground-floor office or retail space within a four-story building.

The asbestos in the four houses on the site was abated and houses demolished. The residents moved into new homes under McDermott Properties relocation program.

Earth work is now completed. The rains of April and May slowed this phase of the project down, but concrete is being poured and the walls built for the podium.

On the east side of the property, along South Irving Street, you can see the first floor being constructed which is where the leasing offices will be located. Due to the slope of the site, the podium is at street level with Alameda Avenue and one-story high looking north from West Nevada Place.

~~~

Jose Esparza came to Denver in 2011 to study urban planning. He attained a BS in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a MURP from the University of Colorado Denver. Currently, Jose is Executive Director of West Community Economic Development Corporation, a 501c3 non-profit in west Denver, and serves on the Mayors Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Donald Trumps supporters have darker views of immigrants in the country illegally than do most other Americans, according to a new poll Thursday from the Pew Research Center.

Most people in America, an overwhelming 76%, believe these immigrants are as hard working as U.S. citizens, and 67% say they are no more likely than Americans to commit serious crimes. Sixty-one percent oppose building a wall along the border with Mexico.

But among Trump backers, its another picture.

Fully half of Trump backers believe the immigrants are more likely to commit crimes, though other studies have suggested this is not true. And one in three say the immigrants are not as hard working as Americans. For Trump fans, 79% favor his signature campaign promise, often chanted at rallies, to build the wall!

Advertisement

And while 24% of Americans see immigrants as taking jobs from Americans, that view rises to 35% among Trump supporters.

The survey offered a fresh reminder of just how far the views of Trumps supporters are from those held by most others in America, and could help to explain why the GOP presidential nominees campaign has fallen far behind Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in key polls. The deeper the support for Trump, the dimmer the views of immigrants, the survey said.

Those who express strong support for him hold more negative views of undocumented immigrants than those who support him only moderately or lean toward him, according to the poll, a survey of 2,010 respondents, conducted in English and Spanish, earlier this month.

For more on immigration and the campaign 

As Trump trails Clinton, he has been softening his tough stance on illegal immigration for a still evolving new one. His original plan to deport 11 million immigrants is now in question. A planned Thursday immigration speech was scrapped.

Trump suggested Wednesday night that those here illegally could pay back taxes as a way to remain in the U.S. We work with them, he said during a Fox News town hall.

Trump appears to be trying to widen his campaigns appeal not only to Latino and immigrant voters, who mostly oppose him, but also to stem losses among moderate whites who may disagree with his harder views on immigration.

Fifty-four percent of white voters oppose the wall, according to the Pew survey, even though most Republicans, 63%, favor it.

Its all about the white vote, said Kica Matos, director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at Center for Community Change Action, who said minority communities remain unconvinced Trump is trying to appeal to them.

As far as were concerned, Trump gave his immigration speech a long time ago, said Cesar J. Blanco, interim director of the Latino Victory Fund, a PAC that supports candidates aligned with Latino priorities. The GOP presidential candidate has done a remarkable job of making it clear he doesnt like us.

The Pew survey showed that American attitudes about the nations illegal immigration issues have remained largely constant from past polls.

But Pew also noted that Americans share more common ground over what to do about the problem than the heated campaign trail rhetoric might suggest.

For the first time, slightly more people, 29%, favored a path to citizenship for immigrants who meet certain criteria, compared to those who want beefed up border security, 24%.

And while Democrats and Republicans continue to split along partisan lines over those priorities, a plurality, 45%, said both policy options should be equally pursued.

The common ground extended across the party lines. Among Republicans and independent voters who lean Republican, 41% say border security and law enforcement should be the focus, the report said.

But about as many, 45%, say that both stronger law enforcement and a path to citizenship should be given equal priority.

A similar dynamic emerged on the Democratic side. While 43% of Democrats want a path to citizenship, 47% think both approaches should be given equal priority.

Both presidential candidates have pushed immigration into the race, with Trump vowing to end President Obamas executive actions, which halted deportations for some immigrants, and Clinton promising to pick up where Obama left off, helping immigrants avoid deportation if they are law-abiding and meet other criteria.

Congress considered a sweeping immigration overhaul in 2013 that would have put immigrants on a 10-year path to legal status if they came forward, paid fines and fees, with the opportunity later to apply for citizenship. The bill passed the Senate but was met with Republican opposition in the House.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

Twitter: @LisaMascaro
Hillary Clinton today will go after Donald Trump in a new way, tying him to fringe groups that she will say have fueled his rise and damaged the nations political discourse.

Im Christina Bellantoni, and todays Essential Politics begins with Clinton in Reno, Nev., known as The Biggest Little City in the World.

The Democratic nominee will make the case that Trump should be held accountable for support from white nationalists, neo-Nazis and other right-wing extremists.

Advertisement

As Evan Halper writes, Clinton is taking aim at the so-called alt-right movement, a loosely defined and relatively new network of anti-establishment activists on the right that extends from mere outside-the-box protectionist thinkers to flagrantly racist and anti-Semitic hatemongers.

At the same time, Trumps actions of late have underscored the challenge of speaking to multiple audiences at once. Noah Bierman and Michael Finnegan look at how the GOP nominee has moderated his message a bit on immigration when his support among Latinos, blacks and other minority voters ranks, in some cases, among the lowest ever recorded in polls.

But toning down the rhetoric risks alienating many of his 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.

Finnegan also writes that Trump suggested on Fox News he might allow some of those here illegally to remain in the United States if they pay back taxes.

No citizenship, he said. Let me go a step further: Theyll pay back taxes. They have to pay taxes. Theres no amnesty, as such. Theres no amnesty, but we work with them.

Trump campaigns in New Hampshire on Thursday. Well be tracking the latest from the campaign trail on Trail Guide. You can also follow @latimespolitics and check our daily USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times tracking poll at the top of the politics page.

WHEN FUNDRAISING ANNOYS EVERYONE

Clinton wrapped up a three-day fundraising swing through California on Wednesday that included dinners and cocktail parties with A-list Hollywood celebrities, wealthy coastal residents and Silicon Valley royalty. The final numbers are still being tabulated, but Seema Mehta reports that Clinton had already raised well above $12 million in the first two days of the trip.

Still, Halper reports that Clintons big-dollar fundraising is unprecedented and makes some of her supporters chafe. And it creates potentially bad optics as her campaign is pushing the boundaries of fundraising further than any presidential nominee ever has.

A SWEEPING CLIMATE DEAL LANDS ON GOVERNORS DESK

At the beginning of the month, it seemed likely that no legislation on climate change would be passed in California this year. But after intense debate on Wednesday, two major measures had reached Gov. Jerry Brown, and he said he will sign them both.

The first one, Senate Bill 32, sets a new, tougher target for reducing the states greenhouse gas emissions. The second, Assembly Bill 197, increases legislative oversight of climate programs and prods regulators to help communities suffering the most from pollution.

And George Skelton weighs in, noting that the compromise wasnt all Brown wanted, but is still a victory for the governor. He sums it up as Brown getting even with the oil lobby, one year later.

Dont miss our comprehensive coverage of the climate debate and its many twists and turns.

There are six days left for the California Legislature to handle all of its business. Were tracking where the biggest issues stand and monitoring breaking news, so keep an eye on our Essential Politics news feed for the very latest from Sacramento.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

 Trump, who predicts he will be called Mr. Brexit, campaigned with man who led Brexit.

 Watch Brown criticize Trump over climate change.

 Heres what Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have in common with The Killers.

 California could decriminalize prostitution if Brown signs these two highly debated bills.

 Sex offenders would have to disclose their email addresses and usernames to law enforcement under a bill sent to the governor Wednesday. SB 448 would amend parts of California law enacted by statewide ballot in 2012 that have been challenged in court.

 California could soon expand its legal definition of rape. Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia and Susan Eggman introduced the legislation in the wake of public outrage over the Stanford sexual assault case.

 Cops and holders of concealed weapon permits who leave a firearm in a car would need to put it in the trunk or in a locked container out of plain view under a bill sent to the governor.

 A troubled water board in L.A. County is the target of a measure sent to Brown.

 This bill targets the use of drones in illegal activities, one of a few bills left after drone manufacturers and associations boosted politicking this legislative session.

 Some felons will have more time to ask for lighter sentences offered by 2014 ballot measure Proposition 47, which reclassified some nonviolent drug and property crimes as misdemeanors, if Brown signs this bill.

 Major legislation to limit California polices ability to permanently seize peoples property without a criminal conviction is heading to Browns desk.

 Public schools soon could expel students for bullying through video or sexting if Brown signs two bills sent to him Wednesday.

 What do you think of Clinton? We want to hear from you.

 Who will win the November election? Give our Electoral College map a spin.

LOGISTICS

Miss yesterdays newsletter? Here you go. Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics?

Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.
This exhibit is a retrospective of my work, said artist Scott Young, who is currently exhibiting his ceramic creations in a show titled Serial Ceramics at the Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery. I have included some pieces I did many years ago, along with a series of the profile heads I am currently doing. So, it is a show that somewhat highlights my evolution.

Young attended the opening-night reception held at the gallery located within George Izay Park this past Friday evening.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Youngs creations have been featured in numerous exhibitions both locally and nationally. Along with the colorful and playful wall-mounted profile heads, his current exhibit also features more than 60 pieces of his work ranging from pinch pottery and slab-built scoop vessels to unique folded boxes.

An adjunct ceramics instructor at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo since 1986, Young has also taught at numerous community colleges throughout Southern California and currently provides training at Burbanks Creative Arts Center.

That Burbank connection brought out students as well as other local ceramic instructors including Michael Hirsch to Fridays opening. Hirsch, who is a collector of vintage and antique pottery, is a much sought-after instructor who teaches both adults and children at the center and privately in his own Burbank studio.

The center, which houses a pottery studio and classroom, offers a variety of classes for people of all ages and skill levels. A listing of the classes provided, in ceramics, pottery and other visual and performing arts, can be found in the citys recreation guide, which is available at burbankca.gov.

The centers gallery features a showcase for artists that changes on a monthly basis. Following Youngs show, artist Lois Ramirez will present Lay of the Land, which will run through the month of September.

The show will feature a collection of Ramirezs latest works: a variety of abstract acrylic paintings with rich, colorful surfaces that are rooted in her abstraction of elements in nature and architecture.

The opening night reception for Ramirezs show is slated for 7 p.m. on Sept. 9.

The Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery is located at 1100 W. Clark Ave. For more information about classes, upcoming shows and exhibits and gallery hours, call (818) 238-5397.

--

DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
Sisco, a village on the French island of Corsica, became the third municipality in France to ban burqinis, a full-body Islamic swimsuit.

Village mayor Ange-Pierre Vivonis announcement follows similar bans in Cannes and Villeneuve-Loubet and was sparked by weekend fights: Locals clashed with families of North African origin after tourists photographed women in burqinis, Agence France-Presse reports.

Vivoni said the ban was not against the Muslim religion but to avoid the spread of fundamentalism.

I am absolutely not racist. I want to protect the population, notably my areas Muslim population because I think that they are the main victims of these extremist provocations, he said.

Womens Rights Minister Laurence Rossignol was critical of the burqini: "[It] has a goal. The goal is to hide womens bodies to hide women  there is something profoundly archaic about it.

Rossignol did not give a position on the ban, but she warned against ulterior motives of some conservatives, whom she accused of stoking debates to win votes from the far right.

Q. What do you think of the ban? Do you see the burqinis as a form of religious expression or female oppression?

Banning a certain style of clothing wont hinder the spread of fundamentalism, however you define it. The real issue here is the condition of the human heart, from which our behavior, good or evil, flows. External adornment cannot affect inner disposition. It is inner disposition that motivates external adornment. So Mayor Vivoni must positively affect the hearts, not just the fashion preferences, of his fellow citizens and visitors to accomplish his peaceable desire.

The problem with Man during the days of Noah was that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). God was grieved in his heart (:6) at the poor heart condition of man who he made in his image. God still grieves over our sin. But there is hope! Our hope is rooted in what God has done for us. Paul encouraged the Roman believers: thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed (Romans 6:17). That teaching was the gospel of Jesus Christ, which, when believed, changes us from the inside. What consequently flows out from within is called the fruit of the Spirit [which is] love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). The truest change happens through conversion, not legislation.

Pastor Jon Barta

Burbank

I appreciate that the French embrace " Laicite" or secularism in public life, which is ostensibly the justification for this ban, however I do not think much of the ban itself and do not see anything good coming of it.

Telling women what they cant wear to counteract them being told what they must wear makes no sense to me.

The ban raises a number of other questions. Why is a burqini singled out among many other religions garbs and symbols? How can the ban be fairly enforced when French law contains no standard legal definition of the garment? Will women who wear other sorts of cover-ups on the beach  for modesty, vanity or health concerns  be asked to uncover or leave?

If I were told to wear a burqa I would certainly call it oppression and refuse to comply, but my view cant substitute for a devout Muslim womans. It is my understand that in conservative Muslim countries in the Middle East, observant Muslim women wouldnt go to the beach at all if men are present, making the burqini a liberating innovation.

I cant see the ban as anything other than discrimination against Islamic women by France.

Roberta Medford

Atheist

Montrose

Like so many things, there are at least two sides of this issue, and neither really has anything to do with us. Currently its a French issue, and France has to deal with the preservation of its culture as it sees fit. I can understand why France may wish to ban the burqini, as its had a terrible time with recent terrorism, and just about everything that smacks of Islamic extremism probably makes the French cringe. As long as the Muslims act like Frenchmen outwardly and maintain a liberal religious perspective behind closed doors, it would probably be fine with their adopted homeland, but of course this isnt going to be the case, and the burqini will continue to draw attention and translate into contention.

To us it seems ridiculous, as we wonder, Whos business is it of yours to tell someone what to wear when they go swimming? And whether anyone thinks it oppressive to women will not change the position such women who wear burqinis take. If they are allowed to enjoy the water as swimmers, they will not do it without their burqinis, so it doesnt do them any good to tell them they are oppressed, then further oppress them and take away one more personal freedom.

In America we have groups like the Amish, whose fashion sense ended a couple centuries ago, yet we dont ban their attire as unAmerican, or prevent them from swimming on public beaches, but thats us, and were not French. When you think about it, these subgroups, like the Amish, or the Muslim population on Corsica, are strict about their own dress codes. Nobody can be part of their group without wearing the uniform. So what happens when the subgroup is the main group, like the French population in general? Their dress codes and cultural expectations are not being met by the subgroup. Should they even be allowed citizenship? After all, the French invented the bikini, so Im guessing if youre not somewhere on that end of the spectrum it would seem rather unpatriotic and antithetical to the bigger group ethos.

If anything, modesty might more be the subject of discussion here, as the French seem to have little and the North Africans have too much. Is there a middle ground? Something we Americans ought to start thinking about

Rev. Bryan A. Griem

Tujunga
A Newport Beach man has been sentenced to five months in prison for aiding in the disposal of hazardous waste without a permit.

William Michael Manclark, 51, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting others in knowingly making false material statements to the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In addition to prison time, Manclark will spend five months in home confinement, followed by a year of supervised release. He has also been ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.

The ruling comes after his former company, Costa Mesa-based Leading Edge Aviation Services Inc., admitted guilt to treating, storing or disposing of hazardous waste without a permit at its now-shuttered Greenville, Miss., facility until 2013, according to the news release from the Justice Department.

Manclark was the president and sole shareholder of the Leading Edge at the time.

The type of paints and solvents used by the defendants company are especially hazardous and can put public health at risk if not handled and disposed of properly, Andy Castro, acting special agent in charge of the EPAs criminal enforcement program in Mississippi, said in a news release.

Leading Edge was ordered to pay $1 million in penalties, according to the news release.

The Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality investigated the case.

A Leading Edge representative denied the Daily Pilots request for comment.
A week after the mother of a 16-year-old Corona del Mar High School student raised questions of whether ocean water played a part in her daughter becoming severely ill, local health experts said they see no cause for concern.

Julianne Bartz reportedly was hospitalized this month with a dangerous form of pneumonia about two weeks after participating in a junior lifeguards regional competition at Huntington State Beach on July 22.

Her mother, Catherine, would not comment to the Daily Pilot last week about her daughters condition.

But she earlier told KCBS-TV/2 that an infectious-disease doctor had discovered her daughter had been exposed to strep bacteria, possibly contracted orally through ocean water.

Catherine Bartz wondered whether bacteria from a sewage spill that occurred in Los Angeles three days before the competition may have caused her daughters illness.

So the infectious-disease doctor was finally able to get a culture  and one of the first things she asked us was if she had been swimming, Bartz told the TV station. And thats when the light kind of came on. She had been very, very healthy up until the day she did that regional competition where she was in the ocean for so long. And in the back of my mind, it had always been a question.

Jessica Good, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Health Care Agency, said she knew of no other illnesses possibly linked to the lifeguard competition and that the agency had received no official diagnosis from Juliannes doctor or family.

Generally, the agency accepts reports when a person experiences a possibly ocean-related illness.

Such bather illness reports have not shown a doctors diagnosis of pneumonia since 1997, Good said.

Samples are regularly taken from ocean water to test them for bacteria, Good said.

There are 140 locations in Orange County oceans and bay waters that samples are taken from, Good wrote in an email. These samples are taken at least weekly.

The Health Care Agency said one water sample from Huntington State Beach was collected at Magnolia Street on July 21, the day before the junior lifeguards regional competition.

Magnolia Street is about 1,000 feet from Newland Street, where Good said Julianne and the other junior guards were swimming.

The sample was collected because of a higher than acceptable level of enterococci bacteria in that area on July 20, according to Good.

Enterococci bacteria are usually found in high concentrations in human feces. Theyre also used as indicators of fecal contamination in recreational waters, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Enterococci also can be found in soil, storm water, animals and sewage.

According to the EPA, enterococci bacteria can cause diseases of the skin, eyes, ears and respiratory tract. They also can cause infections to wounds and the urinary tract, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jennifer Cabral, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sanitation District, said her agency did not have concerns about local water quality after the Los Angeles sewage spill.

Ocean waters have met our public health state standards, she said. We do not have any evidence that the L.A. sewage spill reached Orange County waters.

Beaches just south of the San Gabriel River and Seal Beach were closed immediately after the spill July 19. The water samples the Sanitation District took during that period did not exceed state standards for bacteria, according to Cabral.

Brian ORourke, junior lifeguard captain for Newport Beach, said he usually doesnt worry about the possibility of dangerous bacteria in the ocean.

The county Health Care Agency regularly updates the Newport Beach Fire Departments Marine Operations about water quality, ORourke said.

The water is generally clean, he said. Theres been nothing this summer regarding water quality that gave us cause for concern.

ORourke said he called Catherine Bartz to ask about her daughters condition but had not heard back.

The Health Care Agency encourages swimmers who might be experiencing an ocean-related illness to call (714) 433-6280 to be interviewed and file a complaint.
A Newport Beach resident is seeking a court judgment mandating that City Council candidate Fred Ameri use his given name instead of his nickname on the November ballot.

Ameri, whose given name is Farrokh Ameri, is running to replace termed-out Councilman Keith Curry representing District 7, which includes Newport Coast and Newport Ridge. Also vying for the seat are local attorney and Finance Committee member Will ONeill and attorney Phil Greer.

Ameri, who was born in Iran, is a 19-year Newport Beach resident, a retired business executive and a former city planning commissioner.

Resident William Stewart filed a lawsuit Monday in Orange County Superior Court against Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley and Newport Beach City Clerk Leilani Brown.

Stewarts attorney, Bruce Peotter, brother of Newport Councilman Scott Peotter, wrote in court documents that the state election code mandates that a candidates legal name be used on the ballot and that Kelley and Brown should be required to amend the document to list Ameris given name.

Farrokh Ameris name must appear on the ballot, not a fictitious name that will mislead voters, the lawsuit states.

Ameri, who said he does not know Stewart, said he is angry that hes being accused of being dishonest. He said the lawsuit is a way to distract people from the real issues facing the city.

The suit lists several Irvine police officers, a U.S. District Court clerk who processed Ameris naturalization papers in 1989 and several notaries who Stewart believes, based on court records, know Ameri as Farrokh instead of Fred.

Stewart also points to misdemeanor charges filed against Farrokh Ameri in 2004 alleging driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level higher than the legal limit. Ameri pleaded not guilty in 2004, and all charges were dismissed that year, Orange County Superior Court records show.

Thats part of the evidence that hes not using his legal name, Bruce Peotter said Wednesday. Its part of the argument that someone can avoid scrutiny by using a name that people cant research. If youre a regular old citizen doing background searches, youre not going to find them in public records because you dont have the right name.

Ameri said he is widely known as Fred and that its not a nickname he invented to mislead voters.

These are racist allegations, and for me, as a person that has lived in this county for 55 years and Newport Beach 19 years without having a single negative spot on my record, this hurts me emotionally and physically, he said.

Stewart also is requesting that Ameris candidate statement, which will appear in documents received by voters, remove what Stewart interprets as a reference to other candidates for elected office.

Stewart takes issue with Ameris statement that since he is providing the funds for the majority of his campaign expenses, he is the only independent candidate.

The California election code says any candidates statement shall be limited to a recitation of the candidates own personal background and qualifications and shall not in any way make reference to other candidates for that office or to another candidates qualifications, character or activities.
La Canada Unified students earned top marks in CommonCore-focused standardized tests administered last spring, according to results issued by the state Wednesday, outperforming most other school districts and even improving upon last years stellar scores.

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CASSPP) test results released Wednesday by the state Department of Education indicate 88% of LCUSD students met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts, while 84% met or exceeded the math benchmark.

Those figures are up slightly from last year, which placed 85% of La Canada students at or above the English standard and 82% in math. But this years results place La Canada Unified students well above the state average of 49% proficiency in English and 37% in math.

But while the numeric news is good, mere test results alone are no longer considered the end-all-be-all of students true academic capabilities in the new age of Common Core standards.

Although the state has not yet fully conceived how it will provide true measure of a school or districts performance, educators do know it will involve several different factors, Lindi Dreibelbis, the districts chief director of assessment, said Tuesday.

While test scores are still very important, the new system will be very, very different, Dreibelbis said. We expect it to be a multimeasure system including a variety of things, such as graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates (and) parent involvement.

Understanding that  when the district has for years relied on exemplary test scores, in the form of the state-designated Academic Performance Index (API) to bolster its academic reputation  may be a steep learning curve for the LCUSD school community, Dreibelbis acknowledged.

Still, educators are busy breaking down the numbers to tell a story of progress and where improvements may still be made.

During the assessment period, nearly 2,200 La Canada Unified students in grades 3 through 8, as well as high school juniors, were tested in English and math. The online tests were designed to be interactive and to delve more deeply into problems and questions to determine a students thought process and understanding of concepts.

In addition to showing school and grade level test scores and proficiency, available online at caaspp.cde.ca.gov, the results are more fine-tuned than in years past, showing how well test takers performed in different achievement areas related to each subject.

For example, 69% of LCUSD students performed above standard in their ability to communicate in writing on the English assessment, while 70% performed at the same level when it came to using mathematical rules and ideas.

But only 44% enjoyed similarly high rates in English in understanding spoken information. And while 94% of juniors scored near or above standard in showing and applying problem-solving skill, only 56% of those were found to be above standard.

Dreibelbis said considering achievement area results and looking not just at percentages, but at the mean scale scores for each school and grade level will be useful in helping communicate where exactly schools, teachers and grade levels might focus their attention and lessons in the future.

The tests also allow number crunchers to compare this years fourth-grade test results, for example, not only to last years fourth graders, but to the results they earned the year before as third-graders.

I think that is the meat of our work, Dreibelbis said. That gives teachers direction in where theres been tremendous success and where we find areas where we might have room for improvement.

Despite the finer distinctions that can be made, LCUSD students are continuing to rank among the highest in the state, along with other high-performing districts such as San Marino Unified, Alameda Countys Piedmont Unified and Palo Alto Unified.

La Canada students ranked among the top three in the state in all grades except seventh tested for English Language Arts and math. Three of those rankings placed LCUSD in the No. 1 spot for fifth- and eight-grade English and sixth-grade math.

In a statement Wednesday, La Canada Unified Supt. Wendy Sinnette praised the collective work and contributions of all the districts stakeholders for the recent good news.

Placing among the highest performing school districts in California is a great accomplishment, and our students should be proud of their significant achievements on this statewide assessment, Sinnette said.

I am grateful to our teachers and support staff for their dedicated professionalism, the superintendent continued. Our parents are equal contributors to these stellar outcomes, continually partnering with our schools to strengthen our districtwide commitment to personal growth and academic excellence.

--

Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine
If you are very still, you can almost hear it: our kids just lost  again. It can be difficult to hear. It better approximates silence than anything else, but it is deafening nonetheless.

Earlier this week, the California Supreme Court brought a swift and near-silent conclusion to the plight of schoolchildren around the state. These kids had sued California, claiming that teacher tenure, layoff, and dismissal laws violated our states constitution. At trial, they won. On appeal, they lost. And this week our state Supreme Court decided to pass on the case altogether  leaving in place the Court of Appeals decision.

And so California schools are, as they always are, back where they began.

The dissenting justices on the state Supreme Court noted the sheer significance of the laws in question to the lives of every child in our public school system.

Whenever Californias irresponsible budgeting leaves school districts on the hook, the state requires school districts to ignore local needs and considerations and to blindly lay off first their most junior teachers, no matter how effective they are.

California requires school districts to either dismiss or grant permanent status (i.e. tenure) after about 16 months of classroom performance. This status makes a teacher more legally entitled to his/her job than you are legally entitled to your physical property. You could fill about 3 Rose Bowl stadiums with all of Californias public school teachers in the last 10 years. Ninety-one of them  0.003%  were tenured and lost their jobs. Of those, only 19  0.0007%  were dismissed for poor teaching performance.

No one is immune to a system so plagued. Not even La Canada.

These restrictive laws force our board of education to make high-stakes decisions on impossibly short timelines. By March of a teachers second year with the district, the school board is given just two choices: let the teacher go, or keep them forever. Imagine the excellence that has slipped through our fingers in the name of abundant caution. We dont need our imagination to know the harms of erring in the other direction.

And what about the states insistence on a blind allegiance to seniority? Think about your top five favorite teachers in the district. My guess is that at least one  maybe more  are among the newer faces to our family. The law requires that they be the first to go.

Public education makes up about 50% of our state budget, and nearly 100% of our states future depends upon us getting it right. While I would be skeptical of anyone who claimed they knew exactly what right was, I am equally skeptical  and horrified  at anyone who cant see that what we are doing is patently wrong.

Which is why I am so embarrassed by our state Supreme Court, and I am so ashamed of our state Legislature. At every turn, those who would purport to lead, represent and serve us, have shown up only to abstain. Its not just that they wont find an answer, it is that they have declined even to ask the question. They have cowered at the question.

No doubt it is because something this important is, of course, very complicated. And even more to the point: There are those that benefit from the status quo and fight vigorously to defend it. But these are precisely the sort of challenges children are counting on adults to take on.

Children are resilient and forgiving; they will excuse our inability to strike at perfection every time. What they cant afford is the complete abdication of our responsibility to build for them a better system. It is what our Legislature has done through its inaction. It is what forced nine schoolchildren  on behalf of millions  to seek redress for their squandered futures in the judiciary. It is what happened Monday, when they were told they would simply not be heard by the highest court in our state.

And it is what we enable, through our deafening silence.

This upcoming election represents our chance to be the loudest we have been in a while, and the loudest we will get to be for some time. Those willing to engage in these tough conversations  those unwilling to acquiesce silently to the status quo  will sometimes be demonized for their audacity.

But thats a small price to pay. And Im going to support those who think that  for our kids futures  its a steal at twice the price. I hope you will join me.

ANDREW BLUMENFELD, an educator and former member of the La Canada Unified School District Governing Board, can be reached at aj.blumenfeld@gmail.com.
Solana Beach has quietly become one of the more popular towns along the Southern California coast. Its not as flashy as Encinitas or Del Mar, its neighbors to the north and south. But the beaches are relatively uncrowded, the food is terrific and the people are relentlessly friendly. The tab: Three nights in July at the Courtyard by Marriott was a hefty $1,075. (Theres a three-night minimum during the Del Mar racing season, which ends Sept. 10.) Breakfast at the Hideaway Cafe was $25 with tip. And dinner at Claires on Cedros set us back $101, including a $15 corkage fee.

The bed

Solana Beach has only three hotels  two of which are a Courtyard by Marriott and a Holiday Inn Express. The most interesting choice, the Winners Circle Resort, was booked when we tried to make a reservation, so we chose the Marriott (717 S. Highway 101, Solana Beach; [858] 792-8200). The staff was courteous and efficient. The room was spacious and clean. The only thing missing was charm. A good thing about the hotel, however, is its proximity to the beach. If you go out the back door, turn left and then right on Del Mar Shores Terrace, youll find a path that will lead you down about 160 stairs to a beach as beautiful as any along the Southern California coast.

Advertisement

See the most-read stories in Life & Style this hour >>

The meal

The tiny Hideaway Cafe (150 S. Acacia Ave., Solana Beach; [858] 755-3388), covered in vines, sits a block off of Highway 101 near the beach. The cafe, open only for breakfast and lunch, is the kind of place where the waitresses call customers by name and ask about their kids. The egg dishes are excellent (have them with the potato pancake), but the real treat is the California French toast made from Hawaiian bread in orange batter and topped with brown sugar and butter.

Claires on Cedros (246 N. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; [858] 259-8597) is known for its outstanding breakfasts and lunches. But several years ago it opened on Friday and Saturday nights, and now its dinners are equally famous. My wife ordered the chili-rubbed chicken, spicy cornbread dressing and stir-fried summer vegetables. I chose the grilled chimichurri steak with warm potato salad, sweet peppers and grilled scallions. The outdoor patio is beautiful and quiet, an ideal place for dinner and that restaurant rarity, conversation.

The find

In the 1950s Cedros Avenue was a collection of dusty industrial buildings on the wrong side of the tracks. Today, however, the area has been converted into the Cedros Avenue Design District, one of the hippest collections of furniture stores, art galleries, gift boutiques and apparel shops in San Diego County. The David Alan Collection (241 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach; [858] 481-8044) is an extraordinary combination of distinctive furniture and accessories, jewelry and primitive folk art. The centerpiece of the collection is an amazing assemblage of single-piece slab tables made of wood gathered from Indonesia, Malaysia and elsewhere across the South China Sea.

The lesson learned

Nearly everyone, from runners on the beach to moms pushing strollers on the sidewalks, greeted us with a friendly hello wherever we went in Solana Beach. At a time when some locals in some cities (hello, Malibu and Palos Verdes Estates) are less than welcoming to outsiders, Solana Beach is different. It may just be the friendliest beach city between L.A. and San Diego.

travel@latimes.com
If you follow the White House on Instagram (@whitehouse), you wont see the usual presidential goings-ons. Photographers, adventurers and outdoors lovers have taken over the site Thursday in honor of the National Park Services centennial.

You can spend the day cherishing some of the most beautiful spots in our national parks, courtesy of some high-profile outdoors lovers. The first three photos posted Thursday featured national parks in California.

California photographer Chris Burkard (@chrisburkard) was the first to share an other-worldly photo of Yosemite National Park. Rock climber Sasha DiGiulian weighed in with a photo of Lost Arrow Spire, a big-wall climb on a pillar near Yosemite Falls.

And Loki the Wolf Dog (@loki_the_wolfdog) reflects on the big trees in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California.

Stay tuned for others, like photographer/mountaineer Jimmy Chin and snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, as more photos are posted throughout the day.
The rescuers hopes were dashed when they touched the small, cold leg protruding from a mountain of debris in this quake-ruined village. Clearly, the little girl was dead.

But not all hope was lost. As they dug, the rescue crew could see that entwined in the dead 8-year-old childs arms was her 4-year-old sister, Giorgia. And she was still breathing.

They were lying embraced under the rubble, one of the rescuers recounted. We heard a moan, and realized she was alive.

Advertisement

Many more were not so lucky. As of Thursday afternoon, the death toll from the earthquake that had ravaged a string of formerly postcard-perfect Italian mountain villages early Wednesday stood at 250, with hundreds more hurt.

For the 5,000-strong rescue force that converged from across Italy and Europe, the digging out had by then become a harvest of death, with corpses unearthed at every turn. Onlookers sobbed in recognition as bodies were carefully lifted from the crumbled wreckage.

As hundreds of aftershocks rumbled through the quake zone, about 85 miles northeast of Rome, rescue teams dodged falling debris and bleary-eyed survivors settled in for a second full night in the open air. More than 1,200 people were sheltering in tents, cars and camping trailers, afraid to venture indoors.

The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, reduced hundreds of structures  some of them historic homes and churches that had stood for centuries  to monumental heaps of rubble and dust.

Despite the devastation, rescuers pressed ahead.

We want to believe there are still people alive under there, said firefighter Danilo Dionisi, whose team in the village of Pescara del Tronto unearthed the entwined Rinaldi sisters Wednesday night after their frantic parents showed where to dig for them. We are still hunting hoping there will be more Giorgias.

In far-flung corners of Italy, people paid tribute to quake victims. Flags flew at half-staff, and the culture ministry said all proceeds from public museums on Sunday would be donated to restoration efforts.

As clouds of cloying white dust kicked up by the temblor began to settle, the first in a round of expected finger-pointing began. Prosecutors in Rieti province on Thursday launched an investigation of culpable disaster in earthquake preparations, Italys Ansa news agency reported.

Aerial drone footage shows the town of Amatrice devastated after a powerful earthquake struck Italy at 3:36 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade)

The countrys last major earthquake, which hit in 2009 about 50 miles south of the current quake zone, killed some 300 people and set off angry recriminations over unsafe building procedures and other safety lapses.

Pescara del Tronto, once one of the regions beauty spots, bore the full brunt of the quakes fury, with nearly four dozen inhabitants killed as fallen homes sent masonry cascading down steep, narrow streets. The village, flanked by fragrant fig trees, was transformed into little more than a dusty scar in the greenery, patrolled by soldiers and sifted through by firefighters.

The quakes capricious power could be seen everywhere  one home left standing while another fell, often depending on the building standards used.

One survivor, Bruno Filotei, rushed out of his home when the quake hit  just in time to see his mothers house just across the street collapse, killing her.

My house was new.thats the difference, he said, distraught.

Local landmarks were rendered unrecognizable. This was once a road, I think, a volunteer in Pescara del Tronto said, studying the rubble like an archaeologist.

In the nearby town of Accumoli, a venerable church steeple toppled onto an adjacent home, killing a family of four.

Governments of neighboring European countries, meanwhile, sought to account for missing nationals who had been working or vacationing in the idyllic Apennine mountains at the height of the summer tourist season. Romania said five of its citizens died in the quake and nearly a dozen others were unaccounted for, and Spain reported the death of at least one Spanish national.

Dionisi, the firefighter whose team rescued Giorgia, told of another heartening save, also within hours of the quake. Two brothers, 4-year-old Samuele and 7-year-old Leone, were trapped when the roof of their house partly collapsed. It was a delicate rescue; the boys were shielded by toppled beams, with enough air to breathe, but they grew frightened as efforts to extricate them dragged on.

I freed Samuele, but it took a long time to get Leone out, Dionisi said. To comfort and distract the little boy, the rescuers promised him a ride on their fire engine when he got out. Soon after, they plucked him to safety.

Such uplifting outcomes were in painfully short supply. Italian news reports focused on one particularly wrenching case: the death of an 18-month-old girl whose mother had moved away from the area after living through the lethal 2009 quake in LAquila.

The infant, identified as Marisol Piermarini, was killed as she slept in the familys vacation home in Arquata del Tronto, in the heart of the quake zone. Her mother again survived.

Not only the physically injured needed comforting. Giovanni DErcole, the bishop of nearby Ascoli Piceno, gently approached a group of residents in Pescara del Tronte who stood gazing numbly at their villages razed remains.

When I ask survivors how they feel, they say, Nothing  they feel their world is finished, the bishop said. Instead of offering counsel, he wordlessly embraced them.

The bishop, galvanized by the sight of tons of stone and brick flung into the winding streets of towns where seismic activity posed a well-known threat, had some pointed advice for the Italian authorities.

Rebuild, he said. But this time, with wood.

Special correspondent Kington reported from Pescara del Tronto, Italy, and staff writer King from Washington.

MORE WORLD NEWS

At least one dead, 26 hurt as gunmen attack American University in Kabul

As women are fined for wearing head scarves, French activists push back on burkini ban

Strong evidence suggests a Peruvian police death squad set up and killed criminal suspects

UPDATES:

1:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with more information on rescue efforts.

11 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details and quotes from earthquake survivors.

9:20 a.m.: This article was updated with a new death toll.

This article was originally published at 7:05 a.m.
Masouma Ahmadi, a senior at the American University of Afghanistan, was in class listening to a lecture when an explosion shook the campus.

The power went out. Everywhere turned to dark, Ahmadi said. The ceiling collapsed, and dust blocked my view.

Her classmates at the prestigious university in Kabul knew immediately they were under attack. Some rushed to the door, others to the window, looking for an escape.

Advertisement

Ahmadi and other students ran out of the building and toward the main gate of the campus, where three security guards led them to an emergency exit. As they followed the guards, Ahmadi heard gunshots and looked behind her: Five of her classmates lay on the ground, bleeding.

They were believed to be among the 13 people killed by militants in a complex attack on the university that ended Thursday morning.

Three assailants also were dead by the end of the siege. One blew himself up in the attack; two were killed by security forces, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

The dead consisted of seven students, three members of the Afghan security forces, two university security guards and a lecturer, according to a statement from the presidential palace. Thirty-six students and employees and nine police officers were wounded.

One of the militants detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the U.S.-funded university in western Kabul about 7 p.m. Wednesday during evening classes, Sediqqi said. They had accessed the entrance of the university through a vocational school for blind pupils next door, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.

Two other attackers then stormed the campus, shooting dead seven students outside before reaching the third story of the main university building, Sediqqi said. The militants took up positions there and began battling security forces, including members of a rapid-response police force who arrived soon after the attack began.

Our two police were killed when the assailants threw hand grenades at them, Sediqqi said.

Hundreds of students were on campus at the time, some of whom barricaded their classrooms or fled via emergency exits. About 700 students were rescued, Rahimi said.

Ahmadi, who was still shaken Thursday as she described the attack, said she was lucky to escape uninjured. University guards led her and others to a safe area on campus, where they were told to dive to the ground several times to avoid being seen, she said.

We really didnt know what was happening and didnt know what to do. We just panicked, she said. Im sure we are all traumatized. I wasnt sure if I was alive.

A classmate leaped from a third-floor window and was in critical condition, she said.

Established in 2006 with U.S. government funds, the university teaches an American-style liberal arts curriculum. More than 1,000 male and female students are enrolled.

Though no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the American University  one of the countrys best-known learning institutions and a symbol of U.S. largess  has long been in the crosshairs of the Taliban and other militant groups.

Afghan officials pointed the finger at Pakistan, where the Taliban leadership is based. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani spoke by phone to Pakistans army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, and urged an investigation.

U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry condemned the attack, calling the university a beacon of hope for all Afghans.

This was a cowardly assault on talented and motivated scholars  students and faculty alike  dedicated to a better and more prosperous future for Afghanistan, as well as the police and security staff who help make that future possible, Kerry said in a statement.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said a small number of U.S. military advisors assisted Afghan forces responding to the attack, though they were not directly involved in combat.

Two weeks ago, two university staff members, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

Special correspondent Faizy reported from Kabul, and staff writer Shashank Bengali from Mumbai, India.

MORE WORLD NEWS

Syrian rebels backed by Turkey and U.S. claim major victory over Islamic State

Death toll reaches 159 in powerful earthquake that rattled central Italy

Colombia, FARC rebels announce accord to end 5-decade war

UPDATES:

Aug. 25, 12:30 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with new interviews and additional details.

9:55 p.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting, including a higher death toll.

This article was originally published at 8:25 p.m. Aug. 24.
With a peace deal in hand to end the longest-running conflict in the Western hemisphere, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos must now turn to a new task: convincing voters to approve it on Oct. 2.

Recent polls show Colombians are sharply divided over the peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and generally give Santos low marks as president. Against that backdrop, Santos will now mount an intense campaign to convince them peace is worth the concessions the deal would provide the rebels.

We now have two choices: continue down the agonizing path of war or move toward a firm peace, the governments lead negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, said at a news conference in Havana on Thursday, a day after the agreement was announced there. I am convinced this is the best agreement possible.

Advertisement

It faces well-financed opponents led by ex-president Alvaro Uribe, now a popular senator. Uribe says the deal was too generous to a rebel group that in his view was nearly defeated on the battlefield in 2012 when Santos initiated talks.

Among the deals most contentious terms is a pledge to give the FARC 10 congressional seats. Many Colombians also oppose the promise to give rebels relatively light sentences even for crimes such as murder and kidnapping as long as they confess and ask forgiveness.

The high cost of implementing the agreement  as much as $70 billion over the next decade, largely in aid programs for demobilized guerrillas  could also dissuade voters from approving it, said Ariel Avila, assistant director of the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation in Bogota.

Avila and other analysts predict the agreement will win the plebiscite but that the vote may be close because of the revulsion many Colombians feel for the FARC. Several said Santos has done a poor job rallying Colombians to his side

I think the deal is a good one, but what worries me is the poor selling job by the government, Avila said. This is a very polarized country, and reconciliation wont happen in a month.

The accord means the country may finally know peace after having been at war since 1964. The conflict has cost 220,000 lives and forced millions to flee their homes. Santos and his supporters will tout a peace dividend of economic growth, more jobs and rural development .

Christopher Sabatini, a lecturer in international policy at Columbia University, said Santos has to set an overarching narrative as to why peace is good and that this deal is not a sop to the FARC.

That wont be easy, he said, because the four-year peace talks have been shrouded in mystery, leaving many Colombians with a sense that they were excluded from the process. Opponents of the deal may have an opening to argue that the government conceded too much.

Adam Isacson, a senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America think tank, said the opponent have a huge head start in the campaign. They have organized more quickly and are more nimble using social media, even though much of what they say is untrue, he said.

Santos has scheduled the plebiscite to come after the formal signing of the agreement in a ceremony Sept. 23 that would likely include various Latin American presidents. Isacson said that was wise timing.

The yes vote should win in the wake of the huge celebration well see during and immediately after the signing ceremony, Isacson said. The question is whether yes will win with a strong or weak mandate. A narrow win could take the wind out of the sails of Colombian politicians and make them less willing to see this thing through.

Kraul is a special correspondent.
They are called canguritos, little kangaroos, because of the plastic trays of candy, cigarettes and other goods strapped across their bellies.

There is Juan Gonzalez, 10, selling gum for pennies. There are Humberto Vazquez, 11, and Wilmer Hernandez, 13, shining shoes.

And a few dark-skinned girls, none taller than 4 feet nor older than 12, wrapped in colorful indigenous cloth as skirts and offering tired pastries.

Advertisement

The northward passage of Central American children, many without their parents, is a familiar sight along Mexicos southern border with Guatemala. Though the exodus has been dominating U.S. headlines of late, tens of thousands of youngsters have waded the Suchiate River or floated across it on inner-tube rafts annually for many years.

Some are stranded here, unable to afford to go farther  and vulnerable to abuse. Others arent even trying to reach the United States. Their hometowns are racked by such violence and poverty that a city as scruffy as Tapachula, on Mexicos southernmost tip, is better than where they were.

Little has been done to address what diplomats, activists and the migrants themselves say is a central problem: the complicity of police and other local officials who prey on those fleeing Central America, demanding bribes or sexual favors.

There is a spectacular vulnerability, said Diego Lorente, director of the Friar Matias de Cordova Human Rights Center in Tapachula.

Without a network of corruption of the authorities, he said, it would be impossible to have undocumented foreign children [working or begging] on major street corners. How else could it function?

::

Humberto has been in Tapachula since leaving Huehuetenango, Guatemala, four years ago. He lives with an uncle and rarely attends school

Its a lot of work, but I can make more here, he said.

What has changed this year is that the number of children traveling without a parent has soared, the children are younger than ever and more are girls. According to a new study by the Pew Research Center, the number of minors age 12 and younger has grown 117% compared with 2013, while the number of girls younger than 18 caught at the U.S. border was up 77% this year through May. That compares with an 8% increase for males.

The Mexican government, under U.S. pressure, recently sought to make a show of restricting immigration. Most of the actions the government has trumpeted, however, are a repeat of measures announced a year ago, and largely ineffective, critics say.

They include temporary work permits for some Central Americans, but only for use in southern border states; nominal improvements to La Bestia, the precarious freight trains used by migrants to traverse Mexico; and, more quietly, stepped-up deportation.

But Lorente pointed to what he said were well-organized networks that traffic minors to Tapachula and beyond, often from the same handful of Honduran or Guatemalan towns. They are influential and powerful gangs, Lorente said. To touch them is very dangerous.

Once the purview of the notorious Zeta cartel and paramilitary force, the deadly trade has increasingly been taken over by gangsters from the same Central American countries as their victims, with the compliance of police or immigration authorities, migrants and activists say.

Last year, 11 police officers were dismissed after reports that they were charging Central American children fees to work the streets. But the officers were not prosecuted.

Ramon Verdugo, who runs a shelter for migrant children in Tapachula and who has received death threats for his efforts, said the practice is rampant; police or other local officials demand weekly quotas equivalent to about $20 from youngsters who work as prostitutes, he said.

They are exploited time and again, first by the smugglers, then by the government, Verdugo said.

::

Verdugo was installing surveillance cameras and an alarm system at his shelter the other day, after veiled threats of violence, probably from those powerful gangs.

Three children  brothers Anderson and Jefferson Daniel, 7 and 10, and Anthony Fabricio, 5, all from the violent Honduran city of San Pedro Sula  watched a one-legged man, Jose Vazquez, who was lying listlessly on a bunk bed. Like many, Vazquez lost a limb in an accident on La Bestia.

My family couldnt afford school for me, so here I am, said Michael Morales, 13, from Concepcion, Honduras. He had been in Tapachula for three months, and was living with uncles. He earns the equivalent of about $11 a month selling gum and lollipops.

At another shelter in Tapachula, run by the Roman Catholic Church, a group of men studied a map of Mexico and with their calloused fingers traced the train routes. Posted on the map were distances.

Tapachula to New York: 2,718 miles

Tapachula to Los Angeles: 2,501 miles

Tapachula to Chicago: 2,285 miles

The shelter also cautioned about the danger to anyone, adult or child, of the route north.

The walls were plastered with numerous warnings and mug shots of suspected coyotes, or guides: Brother migrant, dont trust people who arrive here and offer to accompany you.... There are gangs waiting to take the little you have, and you run the risk of death.

In Arriaga, about three hours north of Tapachula, more women and children waited in a shelter. Zoila Vazquez of La Ceiba in northern Honduras, was stirring a vat of bean soup. Two months ago, she grabbed her 10-year-old son, Oscar  her youngest child and only male in a brood of daughters  and headed north.

Family in Los Angeles had told her that it was the time to go, that she could probably enter the U.S. and would be allowed to stay.

But she and her son, waiting in southern Mexico for the freight train, were kidnapped by heavily tattooed gangsters from, she believes, El Salvador. They held them for several days, demanding payment. She had no money.

I prayed and prayed and prayed and knew only God could save me, Vazquez said.

Only the sudden derailment of the train, which scattered people gathered trackside, allowed Vazquez and Oscar to escape. They reported the crime to Mexican authorities and are now hoping for papers that will allow them to travel across Mexico legitimately by bus.

The window that Vazquez thought had opened at the U.S. border, however, has closed. Her relatives are telling her not to turn herself in to U.S. immigration authorities as originally planned but to go the old-fashioned way, hooking up with a coyote and crossing illegally.

It is too hard at home, she said of the remote, Caribbean La Ceiba region, now a prime transit point for cocaine from South America.

There are narcos everywhere, the factories are closing, gangs ransack homes, no more tourists come, Vazquez said. She lost her job ironing shirts at a maquiladora when it shut down amid security problems.

It has taken Ingrid Palacio Vasquez four months to get this far from her home in Progreso, Honduras, with her children Alesandra, 5, and Kevin, 2. They left because gangs were stealing their possessions, trying to seize their home and demanding they get tattoos and join the ranks.

They threatened to kill the children, Palacio said. We hope to have better luck now. I dont know what will happen. But you lose nothing trying.

wilkinson@latimes.com
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
The largest of four wildfires now simultaneously burning in Yellowstone Park (Maple, Buffalo, Fawn, Boundary fires) has Wyoming fire officials scrambling in a desperate effort to keep it from spreading to areas housing some of the park's tourist attractions.

As of Monday, all of the park's main tourist facilities remained open, even though the Maple fire (the biggest blaze among the four fires) is reported to have grown by nearly 10 square miles in a span of a few hours, prompting authorities to order more firefighters to the area. As authorities keep a vigilant eye on the nearby Madison Junction area of the park reserved for hiking, fishing and other activities, firemen are now working around the clock to contain the blaze. A 10-mile stretch of road leading to Yellowstone's South entrance has already been shuttered.

Conditions Hampering Firefighters

Thus far, warm and windy weather has hampered efforts to contain the flames, which have charred approximately 35 square miles of primarily remote forest land. The proximity of the fire is reported to be between West Yellowstone, Montana, a town of about 1,300 situated just outside the park's western boundaries, and Madison Junction, a recreational area that sits within the park's confines.

Containment Essential

"As it's pushing off to the north and east, there's not a lot of values at risk as far as infrastructure goes," said Mike Johnson, a spokesman with the National Park Service. "We're going to keep the fire to the north of the West Entrance Road, and we have plans in place that if the fire were to move to the west toward West Yellowstone."

Madison Junction is also home to a campground, some visitor facilities and staff housing. It's described as where West Entrance Road intersects with the park's Grand Loop Road, linking such major tourist attractions as Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake.

Johnson added firefighters are also busy battling the three smaller fires that have swept across the area.

As of early in the week, the Maple fire remained confined to about three miles away from Madison Junction and about four miles from the West Yellowstone Entrance station. On Sunday, the blaze spread several thousand more acres to now consume roughly 27,000 acres in total.

Meanwhile, authorities are now monitoring the two-week old, lightening caused Fawn fire by both ground and air with the acerage of the blaze currentlyb at around 1,800 acres.

The Buffalo fire in Tatanka Complex about 3 miles northeast of Tower Junction has simmered a bit and is now being managed via monitoring and so-called point-protection strategies.
Nielson released a report this week that examined in-depth the growing Latino population in the United States and emphasized the extent of this population's increasing influence on the country.

From rising representation in U.S. population to exponentially increasing financial clout, Nielson noted that Latinos in America are becoming increasingly more informed and active participants of the U.S. electorate - an important observation to take into consideration during an election year.

The report, titled "From the Ballot Box to the Grocery Store: A 2016 Perspective on Growing Hispanic Influence in America," made clear a number of things in terms of Latino influence on U.S. culture, including the fact that the Hispanic demographic has the potential to wield major influence in the 2016 presidential election.

"Due to the size and increasing influence...political groups must appeal to Hispanics and actively engage this segment," said Monica Gil, senior vice president and general manager for Multicultural Growth & Strategy at Nielson. "There is no 'one size fits all' solution to reach all Hispanics...we are diverse, we speak two languages and we are paying attention."

Several issues related to the Latino community were highlighted in the Nielson report, and the following were among the most interesting and thought-provoking statistics presented.

Looking at the current and future rapidly growing Latino-American population as well as related trends in terms of increasing economic power, Nielson revealed that Latinos are expected to make up approximately one-quarter of the U.S. population by 2040 and that number is expected to increase to one-third of the population by 2060.

On a related note, the Nielson data shows that over the next 45 years, 65 percent of the total U.S. population growth is expected to come from Latinos.

Examining the increasing economic power that the U.S. Latino population holds, Nielson statistics showed that Latino buying power in the country rose to $1.3 trillion in 2015. This is an amount greater than the gross domestic product (GDP) of either Australia or Spain - and this financial trend is expected to continue on an upward spiral.

Looking at the powerful reach and influence, as well as noted unpredictability of the Latino vote, Nielson researchers had this to say:

Currently there are 27 million Latino voters eligible to take part in the Nov. election, which comprises 12 percent of the entire U.S. electorate. Looking at party affiliation, 52 percent of Latinos living in the U.S. identify themselves as Democrats, 30 percent as Independent and nine percent as Republican.

"A larger percentage of Hispanics said the Democratic party rather than the Republican party has the better vision to address major issues like the economy, jobs, education, and protecting the environment," Nielson researchers wrote. "But for most issues, more than half of those asked did not affirmatively identify either party as having the better vision on the matter in question."

With eight million eligible Hispanic voters identifying as "Independent," this represents a decidedly large block of votes in the 2016 election.

"Looking more deeply at the self-declared Independent group, more than half (56 percent) claim to lean neither Democratic or Republican," Nielson researchers said. "[This suggests] that the Hispanic vote would appear to be more in play than is often assumed."
Chick-fil-A is set to mark the opening of its first store in Queens by offering free meals for a year to the first 100 people in line.

Located in the Queens Center mall, the new outlet is slated to officially open on Sept. 1, at 9:30 a.m. As part of its "First 100" promotion, the first 100 patrons 18 and older will win 52 meals for the year. The digital offer cards given to each winner represent a grand total of $37,000 in free food.

Rules Apply

Rules stipulate that only residents residing in one of the five boroughs are eligible and if more than 100 people are on-site when the line is officially allowed to form at 5 p.m. on Aug. 31, all 100 spots will be determined by a drawing held later that evening.

The new owner of the location is native Queens resident Paul Daniels, who estimates he will need to employ a staff of somewhere around 80 part-time and full-time workers. He stressed all of the employees will be area residents and will be paid more than $12 minimum wage set to go into effect later this year.

"Queens is a thriving global community, and my goal for this restaurant is to establish a global family," he said. "I want to make sure that my team members seize the opportunity to learn from one another and embrace the qualities that make each one of us unique."

Currently, there are two other Chick-fil-A locations in Manhattan, and the three will now partner to donate surplus food supplies to the New York Common pantry for hungry families.

Opposition Expressed

Not long ago, the chain drew heavy criticism over strong anti-LGBT sentiments expressed by CEO and President Dan T. Cathy, a reality openly gay New York Counciman Daniel Dromm pointed to in requesting that mall officials "reconsider" the company's lease.

"I am deeply disturbed that Chick-fil-A continues to give 25 percent of their charitable contributions to anti-LGBT organizations," he said in a statement. "This group imparts a strong anti-LGBT message by forcing their employees and volunteers to adhere to a policy that prohibits same-sex love."

After Cathy's rant, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is also on record in expressing his opposition to the chain setting up another outlet in his city.

"I'm certainly not going to patronize them and I wouldn't urge any other New Yorker to patronize them," he said back in May. "But they do have a legal right."
Days after a mysterious mailer sparked outrage by slamming Liberty High School, an employee of developer Abe Atiyeh filed a public records request seeking 10 years of student arrest records for the Bethlehem school.

This fledgling Catasauqua charter school denies authorizing, paying for or sending out this mailer.

The mailer promoting the new Innovative Arts Academy Charter School in Catasauqua references the 2015 drug arrest of a 17-year-old Liberty student accused of having more than $3,000 in heroin and cocaine in his backpack.

The charter school is leasing its building at 330 Howertown Road from Atiyeh, who also leases space to several Lehigh Valley charter schools and has helped some get up off the ground.

The mailer 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."

The charter school has strongly denied any involvement with the mailer or two Morning Call full-page color ads that promoted the school's opening and admissions. It is pursuing legal action against whoever is behind the mailer and ads.

Atiyeh declined comment Monday as the controversy over the mailer's origin unfolded. He hung up on a reporter then and has not returned further messages seeking comment, including one left Thursday.

Records show that on Tuesday, David Harte, of Willow Race LLC, filed a Right-to-Know request with the Bethlehem Area School District seeking a list of all the times and reasons police were called to Liberty High in the last decade. The school district provided lehighvalleylive.com with a copy of Harte's request in response to the news organization's own Right-to-Know request.

Harte also sought all incident reports for activity that required a police response to the high school.

Harte is vice president of business development for PA Venture Capital, an Atiyeh company. He did not return a e-mail message seeking comment Thursday. His request did not say why he wanted the records and is not required to specify that.

In response to his request, the school district said the information already is available on the state Department of Education website.

The records request by Harte provides another link between Atiyeh and the Liberty High controversy just hours after charter school CEO Loraine Petrillo resigned, citing concerns over Atiyeh's involvement with the charter school and associations with board members.

Innovative Arts Academy's Sept. 6 opening date is in jeopardy as a result of Petrillo's abrupt departure Thursday, officials said. Petrillo had announced her resignation Tuesday but agreed to stay on until her replacement was found.

She changed course on Thursday and resigned immediately.

Bethlehem school superintendent Joseph Roy disclosed Thursday that Petrillo had told him Atiyeh had agreed to loan $100,000 to the fledgling charter school after its application for a line of credit was denied.

Charter schools are funded by tax dollars that follow a student from their home district to the charter. But Innovative Arts won't see any payments from schools districts until the 330 students enrolled actually start the school year.

The mystery mailer was printed and shipped by Tribune Direct, which is part of The Morning Call's parent company Tronc and has the same address as the newspaper building in Allentown.

The state auditor general this week pledged to get to the bottom of who is responsible for the mailers and ads that the charter school says it did not authorize.

The Morning Call has not identified who placed the newspaper ads to its reporters or the public. Its director of marketing and promotion has said it is against company policy to reveal such information.

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
A stretch of Freemansburg Avenue was shut down Thursday morning after a sport-utility vehicle crashed into a power pole and tree before erupting into flames in Bethlehem Township.

The road was closed in both directions just after 9 a.m. between Willow Park Road and Washington Street. Bethlehem Township Fire Capt. CJ Kuronya said firefighters received the call at 9:02 a.m.

The female driver, wearing what appeared to be blue medical scrubs, managed to escape from the vehicle as it burst into flames. It wasn't immediately clear if there were any other passengers or what led to the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

There were no reported injuries, Kuronya said.

Paula Moffo, who lives in the 1600 block of nearby Lindberg Road, said she heard a popping sound and then her house went black.

"I walked down and saw smoke," she said. "And then I really saw the gravity of the situation."

The utility pole snapped during the crash, causing wires to become tripped and power to go out in the neighborhood. PPL arrived about 9:30 a.m. and crews began working to restore power.

Kuronya said he expected power to be out for a short time and Freemansburg Avenue to be closed for an extended period as crews worked to clear debris.

"Freemansburg Road is being closed at this point ... also due to low-hanging wires," he said.

Traffic was diverted from Freemansburg Avenue to Willow Park Road and from Freemansburg Avenue to Washington Street. Linden Street also was closed between Third Street and Willow Park Road.

Also responding were the Nancy Run Fire Company, township police and firefighters from Freemansburg Fire Co.

Tony Rhodin contributed to this report.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Mike Casey and Perry Petrozelli could have moved anywhere to reinvent themselves and put their tech startup on the map.

They chose Easton.

"We were looking at going to San Diego. We were looking at Manhattan, at all the big tech hubs," said Petrozelli, who co-founded Aventr with Casey.

They moved into the Pomeroy's building in June. They are enjoying the canal towpath and the interest from their new neighbors, who want to learn about their plans and help if they can.

"It's been surprisingly rewarding, coming here where people care as opposed to New York where everyone is struggling to survive," Petrozelli said.

Hagai Feiner found a similar warmth to the community, which is why he wants to move the East Coast hub of his technology business, Access Networks, to Easton.

The Aventr founders said they met with and were encouraged by Mayor Sal Panto Jr.

Casey, 29, grew up in Reading but Petrozelli grew up in Clinton, a short drive out Interstate 78 from Easton.

"When I was in high school, we weren't allowed to trek out this way," Petrozelli said. The city has rebounded in a big way since then for the 27-year-old.

"Now it's unbelievable, which is why we made the move," he said.

The Aventr founders are part of a five-person team. The fledgling company's sole project is the app Happster, which is designed to help create a positive workplace culture.

Companies have tried lots of ways to keep millennials from bolting -- "bring-your-pet-to-work day, unlimited keg-erators, happy hours, stocked fridges" -- when what they really need to do is make employees proud of what they do and know their opinions are valued.

"Everyone's jumping from company to company to company. It's a millennial thing. (The employers) were missing out on some fundamental keys of human interaction," Petrozelli said.

By September the Aventr team wants to have the app ready for employee use. Users can nominate workplace "superheroes" and comment on the positives and negatives of their workplace and co-workers.

Aventr hopes employees will impress the value of the app on their employers. An employer version is on track for release by 2017.

Casey and Petrozelli say they're surprised more tech companies don't take advantage of the low cost of living, restaurant community, proximity to New York and Philly, reclaimed historic buildings and positive feedback Easton offers.

"When we first moved to Easton we noticed there was a great creative and artistic community here," Casey said. "We were surprised there weren't more tech startups."

"Easton in many ways is set up better than Silicon Valley," Petrozelli said.

You can find out more about the company at aventr.com

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Investigators asked for the public's help Wednesday night in tracking down a driver who kicked the car door of a 68-year-old woman in Glendon.

It occurred about 4:40 p.m. Wednesday at Main and South 25th streets in the borough, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast.

A male driver exited what is described only as a red Jeep and kicked the driver's side door of the woman's 2015 Nissan Versa, according to Trooper Nathan Branosky.

Police did not indicate the woman, who is from Easton, was injured or that the door sustained any damage in what is being labeled a criminal mischief incident.

Police asked anyone with information on the incident to call 610-759-6106. The incident number to reference is PA16-564576.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Why does Atiyeh exec want 10 years of Liberty High arrest records?

The CEO of the new Catasauqua charter school embroiled in controversy over an unauthorized mailer quit Thursday morning amid concerns about the landlord's involvement in the school.

The school is located at 330 Howertown Rd. in Catasauqua.

Innovative Arts Academy Charter School is set to open Sept. 6 at 330 Howertown Road in a building owned by developer Abe Atiyeh. About 330 students are enrolled in the grades 6-12 school.

On Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer Loraine Petrillo announced she planned to resign once a replacement was found due to concerns about outside forces undermining her efforts.

In e-mail messages obtained by lehighvalleylive.com Thursday morning, Petrillo announced her resignation was now effective immediately and raised major concerns about Atiyeh's involvement in the school and charter school board members' ties to him.

Atiyeh agreed to loan $100,000 to the fledgling charter school after its application for a line of credit was denied, Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Roy said.

Roy said he learned of the loan in a conversation with Petrillo. The school has borrowed $75,000 from Atiyeh so far, according to Roy.

Reached by phone Thursday, Petrillo declined further comment but confirmed she sent the emails.

"Those emails were internal emails," Petrioll said. "I am very, very upset that they were leaked."

The educator said she feels terrible for the wonderful parents, teachers and students enrolled in the school. She feels confident the school will still do great things.

Board President Kelly Bauer said that the school got a loan from a company she believes is called Catty Charter Schools LLC.

Innovative Arts was referred to the company by its attorney Daniel Fennick and its former consultant and ex-Bethlehem schools Superintendent Joseph Lewis, she said. Bauer said she does not know who the company's shareholders are.

"The landlord has not directly financed anything the school has purchased or paid for so far," Bauer said.

Property records indicate that Atiyeh sold 330 Howertown Rd. to Catty School LLC for $1 in May 2007, the same month he bought the building for $900,000.

"For the life of me, I don't understand why the board is still seeking the landlord or associated company's involvement in our financing after this past weekend," Petrillo wrote in an email to the charter school board. "It might be 'legal' but certainly, in my humble opinion, unethical."

The Bethlehem Area School District's solicitor is investigating the charter school's finances and contracts in light of the revelations, Roy said. The school district sends the charter school money on a per-pupil basis.

Lehighvalleylive.com submitted a Right-to-Know request Wednesday seeking the lease and any other agreements Atiyeh made with the school.

Fennick promised to send the lease later this week, but Petrillo indicated in her e-mail to the board that Fennick told her Thursday he didn't have a copy of the lease.

"I now believe some of you thought you hired a puppet who would not ask questions and go along with things," Petrillo wrote. "When asked recently about where we stand with financing, I have been told...'I got this...I am speaking to people I know, I don't need to know this;' when questioned."

Petrillo said she was soured and disturbed by recent developments.

"It is sad that this has worked out the way it has," she said as part of her email chain with the charter's board and lawyer. "Something sinister has been going on behind the scenes, and I am not going to take anymore of a hit for whatever arrangements have been made with the landlord."

Bauer said that the board of trustees and Fennick plan to speak by phone Thursday evening to decide whether the school can open as planned on Sept. 6. The charter school already was interviewing new CEO candidates in anticipation of Petrillo's planned departure.

"Obviously, we weren't expecting this," Bauer said, acknowledging the opening may need to be delayed. "I don't really have any answers right now."

Over the weekend, some Bethlehem residents found a postcard in their mailbox that references the 2015 drug arrest of a 17-year-old Liberty student. The teen early last school year was found to have both heroin and cocaine with a street value of more than $3,000 in his backpack.

The mailer 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."

Four Bethlehem Area School District students have left the district for the new charter, two elementary-aged students and two Liberty students. Seven district students that last year attended other charter, private or parochial schools are now enrolled at Innovative Arts.

The charter school board has emphatically denied having any involvement in the mailer or two separate, full-page newspaper ads trumpeting enrollment and published recently in The Morning Call. Atiyeh declined comment when reached Monday and hung up on a reporter. He has not returned further messages seeking comment.

The weekend mailer sparked outrage among Liberty High alums and parents, and it kicked up a firestorm on social media, which spread the hashtag #BASDProud.

"Ms. Kelly Bauer and I have been personally and unfairly attacked for someone's malicious act," Petrillo wrote in her official resignation statement. "My hope is that the media uncovers the individual(s) behind this undeserved smear campaign against Liberty High School. It is sad that someone would sink so low as to undermine all of our efforts to provide another avenue for students and to drag Liberty High School into this nightmare."

Petrillo 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.

Fennick, the school's attorney, has said he is exploring any legal recourse against the person who sent the mailer. The mailer was sent by Tribune Direct, which is part of The Morning Call's parent company Tronc and has the same address as the newspaper building in Allentown.

The Morning Call has not identified who placed the newspaper ads. Its director of marketing and promotion has said it is against company policy to reveal who placed the ad.

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

Save

Save

Save
The vast majority of young women who collected their leaving cert results at Scoil Chriost Ri in Portlaoise appear to have realised their academic goals, with high marks across the board in all subjects this year.

A top mark of 625 was achieved by Portlaoises Anna Healy, who garnered 7 A1s.

A further three students got 7 As, and principal, Helen ODonnell told the Leinster Express that the majority got what they needed, or got something that will bring them to college.

Praising the great, great results of the students, Ms ODonnell said that the standard was up this year, with most planning to go on to third level education.

Among the many delighted young ladies was Cliona Browne, Portlaoise, who obtained an A2 in French.

With an impressive overall score of 505, she said she was absolutely delighted and is planning to go on and study primary school teaching.

Sarah Cullen, Portlaoise, said she was absolutely ecstatic with her score of 415, which is enough to secure her a place on her first choice course of journalism.

Julianna Neiman, originally from Russia but living in Ireland most of her life, said: Im dont know if Im happy or not. I got most of the stuff I wanted, but I didnt get enough in history.

I got enough for second choice. My best was an A1 in Russian.

Her friend, Serena Kienge, Portlaoise, said: I did better than I thought I would, I thought Id failed biology. I got enough for my second choice, DCU studying international languages. Im happy.

Eadaoin Kinsella, also Portlaoise, said: Im happy enough with what I got, I think Im okay, Ill have to wait until next Monday to see the offers. My first choice is Cork to do nutritional sciences, so fingers crossed. Im happy enough.

Josephine Delaney, Portlaoise, said she had done brilliant and was delighted to have got enough for her second choice, midwifery, as her first choice was a long-shot.

Grainne Delaney, Portlaoise, said she was shocked to have done so well, and had secured enough to do her first choice of art and design.

Her best subjects were English and business.

Her friend, Ciara Ramsbottom, Portlaoise, said she was happy enough with what were very high grades, but as she was 20 points off securing her first choice of law she intended getting some of the subjects rechecked.

Im definitely getting my business rechecked, the same with Irish, she said.

Most of the students intend going on to third level education, with a lot of interest expressed in science-based courses this year, as well as quite a few interested in primary school teaching.
They are the unsung heroes of our community, the volunteers who help assist in search and rescues, and sadly, recoveries on our waterways, the people who are there for others who need help most.

More than simply a social and sporting association, the Leitrim Sub Aqua Club is a member of the Irish Underwater Council and also has members affiliated to PADI Professional Association of Diving Instructors and SDI/TDI Technical Diving International.

Leitrim Sub Aqua Club was formed in 2006 from members of two smaller clubs - Strokestown and Manorhamilton and members hail from Counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Dublin and Fermanagh.

Gerry Gilroy, Leitrim Sub Aqua Club Diving Officer, explains: Some of our members have been diving over 30 years not to mention Fergus Millar, Dr Cyril Crosby and Padraig Ruane.

Our club normally dive in the Atlantic off the coast of Sligo, Mayo or Donegal popular would be Mullaghmore or Achris Head, Sligo, St Johns Point, Donegal or Kilcummin, Mayo are some of our favourite dive sites.

At present we have 22 working members with another 12 overseas who dive with the club when home, at one stage we had over 60 members on our books. We also have a snorkeling section for non-divers. Membership is 250 for 2017 this covers your insurance and training with all equipment supplied for the first year.

Training starts in the pool with an exam before participants progress to the sea.

The emphasis is on fun when scuba diving but there is a serious side, we may be called to assist the Garda Sub Aqua Unit or the Civil Defence, says Gerry.

Leitrim Sub Aqua Club also does safety cover for large swims like the Lough Key Tri-Athlon and Blueway events on the river or sea

Each year the Club holds a fund raiser - The Great Jamestown to Drumsna Swim, Fin and Snorkel.

This year is our 10th year to hold the swim, it is always on the last Saturday in August and this year it falls on August 27. This year we have the Drumsna Development Association and Jamestown Pre-School on-board which will add a new dimension to the event with a 1920s fancy dress, live music on the street with Chris Cronin and a Sean Nos Dancing completion with Edwina Guckian picking the winners. There will also be a duck race on the Shannon, he said.

Registration is on Saturday, August 27 at 12pm at Drumsna Quay with the Swim starting at 2.30pm from Jamestown Weir.

If you would like to join Leitrim Sub Aqua Club email: leitrim.sub.aqua.club

@gmail.com or call 0868588328 to speak to the club diving officer.
I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather.

More on who I am is here.

Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com
At Liberal Democrat autumn conference party members will have the opportunity to debate a Federal Policy Committee policy paper and an accompanying motion laying out an overall vision for the social security system  the first such policy paper on the subject for over a decade. Sadly, however, the contents of the paper and motion are scandalous in their blatant disregard for the views of party members.

As part of the process of writing the policy paper, the working group which wrote it ran a members survey which included a question about which model should be used as the basis for social security.



The options offered were Basic Income, Negative Income Tax (both of which involve providing a basic level of unconditional support as the core of the social security system), the current Universal Credit system or Other.

In the responses, 56% of people backed Basic Income (BI) or Negative Income Tax (NIT). Just 24% backed the current system while 20% picked Other.

Yet the policy motion on welfare which will be debated by autumn conference ends with a paragraph completely denouncing Basic Income and Negative Income Tax.

How could the partys policy paper on welfare end up so at odds with the opinions of members?How could it set out to comprehensively rubbish principles that the majority of survey responders believe in?

I was a member of the working group so I could give you my perspective, for what it would be worth, but I shouldnt have to. It shouldnt be my job to explain why a report submitted to the Federal Policy Committee completely rejects the favoured policy of members. Or to explain why it doesnt even openly acknowledge what the consultation and survey responses said.

Sadly, however, what happened is something which seems to be all too common at the top of the party. Members were asked what they thought and then any replies which disagreed with the majority view of the group writing the paper were discarded on the grounds that the group members surely knew best.

And this is how we have ended up with a policy paper put before conference does not reflect the vision of social security shared by the majority of members who responded to the consultation.

The group members had the option of taking the members vision (a system which provided a basic level of unconditional support to everyone in need) and applying their expertise to produce a blueprint for practical implementation which resolved any concerns with the concept. But the majority chose not to do this.

Instead, it was decided replacing the entire welfare system overnight with a pure BI or NIT scheme could create too many losers and be too disruptive and, therefore any possible version of the two systems had to be terrible so the views of members should be ignored.

Is this really how party policy processes should work? Members being consulted but then ignored if unelected members of a working group decide that they dont like what members think? And how often does this happen? Will this cavalier approach to members input also be seen with the manifesto consultation and the Your Liberal Britain exercise? Will the consultation responses even be published?

Ive worked with a small group to write an amendment to correct this motion and make it something Liberal Democrats can proudly support. I will be writing about the amendment in the near future. But in the meantime, members would be justified in asking serious questions of the Federal Policy Committee  and they should have every right to expect real answers.

* George Potter is a councillor in Guildford
In the immediate aftermath of the EU Referendum, Nicola Sturgeon played an absolute blinder. She seemed like she was the only grown-up in power. She was calm, she was reasonable and she put up a massive big tent that allowed all parties to unite. Well, not the Tories, but who cares about them in Scotland, anyway? Given the chaos they have inflicted, as Brexit gets underway, I suspect that their good performance in the Holyrood elections will turn out to be a high water mark.

Within days of the result, the Scottish Parliament debated and passed a motion which authorised the First Minister and the Scottish Government to look for a way to preserve Scotlands relationship with the EU. It was not, Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament, about independence.

However, let me be clear that if the Government concludes that the best or the only way to protect Scotlands place in the EU is through a referendum on independence, we will return to Parliament with that judgment and it will then be for Parliament to decide. I am emphatically not asking Parliament to endorse that step today. A vote for todays motion is not a vote for a referendum on independence.

I was glad to see that the Scottish Liberal Democrats backed Nicola Sturgeons efforts. Everyone seemed to be working together well with the SNP even removing wording from the motion to make sure it was something all the parties except the Tories (who ultimately abstained) could sign up to.

Since then, however, Sturgeon, after an initial flurry of meetings and initiatives in Brussels, has stopped talking about such options as a reverse Greenland and she and her ministers have done little except talk about independence. The big tent has been blown down.

We all thought she was absolutely serious about trying to get a settlement for Scotland yet only weeks later, she seems to have retreated from that. Even as figures showed that Scotland would have an almost 15 billion (around half its actual budget) deficit, she still intends to bring forward legislation for a second referendum within weeks. The polls are showing a majority in favour of staying in the UK after an initial surge for independence in the immediate aftermath of the referendum.

However, its not going to be that easy for her to win a referendum. People dont tend to vote for unpredictability when things are bad  and as we move towards Brexit, things will get very bad indeed. However much I might have wanted to cut loose from the English voters who had ruined our future in the early hours of 24th June, it didnt take me long to realise that the practicalities of why it wasnt a good idea last time hadnt been resolved.

The biggest sign that Nicolas no longer interested in consensus is her appointment of a Minister to work with the UK on Brexit. Given that the three UK ministers in charge of Brexit are, not to put too fine a point on it, fairly controversial mavericks who are already falling out amongst themselves, you would think that she would have wanted to put a grown-up in the room. It needs someone with diplomatic skills, finesse and interminable patience to deal with Fox, Johnson and Davis. So what does she do? Only appoint the controversial former Education Secretary Mike Russell. He also is a bit of a maverick who spent his 8 years in office mostly upsetting people. During his term of office, the education system slid way down the world rankings. He makes a bull in a china shop look a master of subtlety. You wouldnt send a tanker of kerosene into an almighty conflagration. Nicola just did.

This looks very like shes pursuing the old grievance strategy. Russell is there to pick fights. Its a massive slap in the face for her Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop that Russell is being sent into this arena. There are plenty capable women she could have sent if she was interested in actually getting somewhere.

It worries me that these four volatile men are driving forward Scotlands and the UKs Brexit operation. Im disappointed that Nicola appears to walking away from that big tent so soon. Of course they were going to go for independence at some point. You expect that. Its what they believe in. However, I dont want her to let down the likes of Gibraltar either. Together they might actually get somewhere if they put their energies into something like a reverse Greenland plan. Gibraltar may not fare so well on its own.

Nicola was quite good at the statesmanship stuff. Its a shame shes given it up so soon.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Losers, dragging the House Dems down with them



Polling results showing Hillary leading Mr. Trumpanzee in the Philly suburbs are stunning. Those suburbs are considered among the most swingy districts in the country but she's ahead of him by 40 points! So you'd like even the DCCC-- as lame and incompetent as it is-- could win the 3 districts that make up those 'burbs, right? Of course not; haven't you been paying attention for the last 10 years or so?





The Republican state legislature has gerrymandered 2 of the 3 congressional districts into misshapen Frankenstein-monstrosites, PA-06 and PA-07, which should be stuck down by a court based solely on the way they look on a map-- and the men who drew them should be thrown into prison. The 6th, which is represented by Republican Ryan Costello, includes parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lebanon counties. The 7th, which is represented by Republican Pat Meehan, includes most of Delaware County and parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and (a tiny bit of) Lancaster counties. Here's how those 6 counties voted in the 2012 Senate elections between Democrat Bob Casey (D) and Tom Smith (R):

 Berks- Casey- 51%, Smith- 48%

 Chester- Casey- 50%, Smith-48%

 Delaware- Casey- 62%, Smith-37%

 Lancaster- Smith- 58%, Casey- 40%

 Lebanon- Smith- 60%, Casey- 38%

 Montgomery- Casey- 58%, Smith-41%

But the 3 districts have Republican incumbents because Pelosi has managed to craft the most astonishing incompetent DCCC in the history of mankind-- with Rahm Emanuel, Chris Van Hollen, Steve Israel and now some clueless lummox name Ben Ray Lujan doing all he can to emulate the worst of all Pelosi's chairmen, Steve Israel. They lost the districts and managed-- because of their relentless war against progressives-- to keep the districts lost, applying the DCCC's faulty operating theory, namely that Democratic voters want nominees just like Steve Israel (i.e., grotesquely corrupt and venal conservatives with breathtakingly low IQs). But they don't. Which is why the Democrats keep losing more and more seats in Congress, including overwhelmingly blue districts.





Off on a tangent but let's look at 3 examples of blue seats that Israel screwed up. Obama won NV-04 both times, 56-41% against McCain and 54%-44% against Romney. But the Democratic congressman, Steven Horsford, was an African-American and when he went to Steve Israel for aide, Israel-- a repulsive racist who doesn't think blacks should represent white majority districts , refused and the seat was lost to a far right Bible thumper, Cresent Hardy, who is a huge Trumpanzee enthusiast. Next, let's look at NY-24, basically Syracuse, NY, an even bluer district, where Obama beat McCain 56-42% and beat Romney 57-41%. How do the Democrats lose a seat like that. Steve Israel, take another bow and say bow-wow-wow. Dan Maffei, a faceless conservative New Dem had already been booted out by Democrats who had refused to vote for him, angered by a record that leaned way too far to the right (like the way Steve Israel prefers). So Israel recruited him to run again and he voted with the GOP again and Democratic voters refused to go to the polls to reelect him again. This is where Steve Israel's incredibly low IQ comes in. He can't understand this simple concept and keeps repeating the pattern. He's re-recruited a whole bunch of equally horrible corrupt conservatives this cycle in blue districts with GOP incumbents and then may get swept into Congress by the anti-Trump tsunami, whereupon they will vote like Republicans and lose in 2018 again. And the third district, the bluest of the three, was Iowa's first district, where Obama beat McCain 58-40% and then beat Romney 56-42%. Israel preferred a conservative "ex"-Republican who lost the primary. So he sandbagged the progressive. It was a wipe-out in Iowa that year because of the worst gubernatorial and Senate candidates anyone can remember and the sandbagged liberal lost but did better than anyone else in Iowa who got dragged down by the top of the ticket. This year, Israel sabotaged his primary and got the "ex"-Republican nominated. It goes on and one and on.





The Hill, another tale of willful DCCC incompetence, with starring roles by corrupt right-wing Democrats Steny Hoyer (MD), Cheri Bustos (Blue Dog-IL) and Denny Heck (New Dem-WA). We've been writing a lot how the after she beat their preposterous Wall Street recruit, Bill Golderer, 74-26%. They would rather throw the perfectly winnable district away, where Hillary is going to win by a gigantic landslide than see a progressive like Mary Ellen win. This is what Guccifer leaked to The Hill: No one ever reports these stories in the media. But yesterday Guccifer 2.0 leaked some embarrassing info about the Philly suburban districts to, another tale of willful DCCC incompetence, with starring roles by corrupt right-wing Democrats Steny Hoyer (MD), Cheri Bustos (Blue Dog-IL) and Denny Heck (New Dem-WA). We've been writing a lot how the DCCC is sabotaging Mary Ellen Balchunis' campaign in PA-07 evenshe beat their preposterous Wall Street recruit, Bill Golderer, 74-26%. They would rather throw the perfectly winnable district away, where Hillary is going to win by a gigantic landslide than see a progressive like Mary Ellen win. This is what Guccifer leaked to

[In] district seven, memos show a concerted effort by the DCCC to recruit Pastor Bill Golderer as a candidate. Golderer was eventually defeated in the primary by La Salle University Professor Mary Ellen Balchunis.



As late as May, the DCCC believed that incumbent GOP Rep. Pat Meehan was vulnerable, noting that historically a Democrat held a slight edge.



The DCCC began to solicit Golderer in the summer of 2015. Memos to Reps. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), Bustos and Heck giving strategy tips for the trio to encourage Golderer to run emphasized two key points.



The DCCC thought his story would make for a compelling foil to Meehan-- Golderer founded the Broad Street Ministry, an alternative church emphasizing inclusiveness and civic outreach. It also felt that Golderer could mount successful fundraising efforts through an extensive rolodex from his public ventures and past political work and can mount a credible challenge.



But after Golderer declared and the primary race went on into 2016, the focus of the memos switched to pleading with the candidate to stay in contention.



A troubled campaign since the New Year, the DCCC wrote in the memos, after key advisors left the campaign and the DCCC needed to step in to shore up necessary signatures for the primary. Golderer has tried to exit the race several times.



Please ask him to stop telling supporters or members about his plans to exit the race without a plan in place, asks one memo of Lujan.

Today Mary Ellen is still being sabotaged by Steve Israel, Cheri Bustos and Denny Heck, who urge institutional contributors not to "waste" their money on her race. Blue America has endorsed her and we're asking progressives to contribute to her on a page dedicated to progressives who won their primaries and who are being undermined by Steve Israel and his team of odious conservative monsters. Just click the thermometer:
INVESTIGATIONS are underway after a 13-year-old boy was reportedly threatened at knifepoint by a man who broke into his home near the city centre.

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, which happened at around 7pm on Tuesday.

We have received a complaint and we are carrying out inquiries into the matter, said a garda spokesperson who declined to comment further or to elaborate on the exact details of the complaint.

Such is the seriousness of the allegations, the Limerick Leader has learned a number of detectives have been assigned to the investigation.

It is understood the boy was at home alone when the intruder entered the property as his mother had left the house a short time earlier.

It has not been disclosed by gardai how the suspect entered the house or how he made his escape.

While the teenager was not physically injured during the incident, which lasted for several minutes, sources say he was threatened by the intruder that he would be stabbed if he did not cooperate.

He threatened him and demanded that he hand over his phone, said a source who is familiar with the investigation,

It is believed the culprit then forced the boy to bring him around the house and show him where items of value, such as jewellery and cash were being kept.

Investigating gardai believe the suspect was in the property for less than ten minutes and that he escaped with a number of items which were of nominal value.

Gardai were alerted to the burglary a short time later and an investigation was immediately launched.

Because of his age, it is likely the teenager will be spoken to and interviewed by specially trained gardai.

The house has been forensically examined by members of the divisional scenes of crime unit and house to house enquiries have been conducted in the area near the teenagers home.

CCTV footage from the locality is also being viewed as part of the investigation in a bid to identify the culprit.

Gardai attached to Henry Street station are investigating the incident and anyone who saw anything unusual or who has information about what happened is asked to contact them at (061) 212400.
LIMERICKs Live 95FM is to join forces with Limerick Greyhound Stadium as part of its annual 95-Stop-Tour charity fundraiser.

This is the 7th year of the event which, to date, has raised over 400,000 for the Childrens Ark at UHL and CARI Limerick, which helps children affected by sexual abuse.

As part of this years event, A Night at the Dogs' will take place on Friday, September 16 at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

The night will feature the usual 12 races in addition to a special human race which will feature representatives of shows from across the radio stations daily schedule.

Limerick Greyhound Stadium is synonymous with fundraising in the region, and therefore we are delighted to be able to offer our venue as the launch-pad for this years programme. We look forward to welcoming all both young and old, on what promises to be a fantastic night, said John McCarthy of Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

Nichola Quinn, coordinator of the of the 95-Stop-Tour, says everyone at the radio station is looking forward to this years event, which will see various shows being broadcast from locations across Limerick between September 26 and September 30.

We are delighted to be involved with these fantastic causes and to help in raising vital funds again this year. We are thanking the listeners of Live 95FM for their support over the years. We simply would not have been able to raise this amount of money without them, she said.

For more, see www.95stoptour.com.
LIMERICK Youth Service (LYS) has paid tribute to its students who successfully completed the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) earlier this year.

The 11 students received their results last week and all are now preparing to move on with the next stage of their lives.

According to Noreen Murphy of LYS, the results achieved by the students were among the highest in the country.

They worked very hard and this has been reflected in their results which are simply outstanding, said Ms Murphy who is LCA coordinator at LYS, which is based at Glentworth Street.

They should be very proud of their achievements and we wish them all the best in this next step of their lives, she added.

One of the students, 18-year-old Stella Masterson from Raheen, said she was delighted with her results.

I did really well and would like to thank the staff at LYS for all their support, said Stella who plans to study Broadcast Journalism and Media Studies at Limerick College of Further Education.

According to the State Examinations Commission, a total of 159 students across Limerick city and county sat the Leaving Cert Applied in June.

Young women accounted for 94 while 65 were young men. The total figure compares to the 2,573 who sat the Leaving Certificate exams.
OVER 60 tiny, brightly-coloured jumpers are hanging on a clothesline in Munchins Centre ready to be delivered to poverty-stricken newborn babies in Africa.

As part of the international Chip Shop Babies initiative, members of the senior club in the centre knitted the jumpers for the underprivileged children.

The term Chip Shop Babies began when it was discovered that many newborn babies in developing countries were born without any clothes to put on.

As a result, the newborns were then wrapped in newspaper, similar to a traditional fish and chips supper.

Tutor at the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board Bernadette Bourke, who has knitted some of the jumpers, said: A Reparation sister travels all over the developing world. She was in contact with a midwife in Africa where children were being brought home in newspaper because their mothers were so poor. She then developed a simple knitting pattern. Its a lot nicer and warmer than a piece of newspaper.

The jumpers are knitted with acrylic wool in bright colours so that they are attractive looking and easy to wash.

We might be more inclined to put white, pink, or blue on our babies, but those colours arent attractive culturally to people in Africa. For example, white is a symbol of death over there, explained Ms Bourke.

The jumpers are delivered in person by the sister, to poverty-stricken or sick children.

Some of the babies are born with Aids or are born in war-torn countries where children are rearing children themselves, she said.

She added: Its a lovely thing (handing over the jumpers). Its like when people fall in love and get married or have a baby and everybody gathers around and gives them presents.

Everyone is very touched by the gesture.
STAFF at the industrial diamond manufacturer Element Six in Shannon have voted almost unanimously to take industrial action over work practices.

Workers represented by Siptu voted by a margin of 96% to 4% to take the action which could go all the way up to walk-outs at the company  formerly known as De Beers  which employs almost 400 people.

While representatives of Siptu were unavailable for comment this Wednesday, the Limerick Leader understands a meeting will be held this Saturday, when it will be decided what course of industrial action may be taken.

Central to the staffs reason for initiating a ballot is the proposed introduction of shift working in the grit section of the plant  which opened in Shannon in 1963  proposed changes in relation to the firms distribution centre, a redundancy package that the company was offering, and the payment of shift premiums.

These matters were the subject of a Labour Court case which took place in June.

In a written summary, Alan Haugh, deputy chair of the Labour Court noted that in response to negative global and economic trading conditions, Element Six has proposed a range of operational changes which affects workers employed in the Grits section and the distribution centre.

Five issues were brought to the court after the company tried to implement what it described as a Shannon Sustainability Plan.

The court heard that the company planned to introduce shift working in grits plus subcontract the distribution centre to a third party operator.

Mr Haugh recommended these workers should be offered the option of availing of a redundancy package, or redeployment to work elsewhere in Element Six Shannon.

He also recommended the union and the company should implement terms proposed under working unsociable hours.

In the event the parties are unable to resolve the Banked Hours issue through local level discussions and/or with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission, the courts services remain available to assist the parties, he added.

Element Six products are used in applications like cutting, grinding, drilling, shearing and polishing.

The company did not respond to requests for comment from the Limerick Leader.




And why is Bernie blocking Obama's nominee for FDA head? Obama's done a lot of good things as president and there's a tendency for progressives to be favorable towards him. But it behooves us to remember he's a politician-- from Chicago-- and that he's done a lot of bad things as well and to be wary of what he's up to now. Bernie's 100% right to block Obama's FDA nominee-- and 100% is more than 99%.





This morning in a letter to his supporters, southwest Michigan congressional candidate Paul Clements, a progressive who supported Bernie in the primary, asked "What does a 10% cost increase mean to you? For many seniors a 10% increase in the cost of medication can mean the difference between this medicine or that one, between taking the whole pill, or half. Or it can mean the difference between food and medicine. Right now our laws put corporate profit above seniors' needs. A new independent analysis published yesterday says the cost of hundreds of medications in the Medicare Part D program rose by 10% since 2014. Even more, the cost of simply enrolling in Part D rose 13% over last year alone. We need to let the government negotiate drug prices. In Congress I will be a leading proponent for it, and Congressman Upton has led efforts banning such negotiations. That's why I'm running, because simple, practical changes to our laws can make life changing differences to millions of Americans." (You can support Clements' bid to defeat anti-health care reactionary Fred Upton here . His opponent, Fred Upton, is among the biggest bribe takers from Mylan and Big Pharma in general, and makes sure their agenda sails through his committee and through Congress.)









DWT. Yesterday Lee reminded me that aside from the Manchin daughter giving herself a 671% pay increase to celebrate all the people who would die when she raised the price of EpiPen-- from $2,453,456 nine years ago to $18,931,068 today-- she also A few days ago, Lee Rogers broke the story about how Joe Manchin's greed-driven, avaricious daughter-- who, like her father, has a clear record of being a cheat and a lowlife-- right here at. Yesterday Lee reminded me that aside from the Manchin daughter giving herself a 671% pay increase to celebrate all the people who would die when she raised the price of EpiPen-- from $2,453,456 nine years ago to $18,931,068 today-- she also illegally used inside information to trade over 100,000 shares in early August, anticipating her company's stock collapsing when news broke about Mylan's plan to murder their customers. The average price she got was around $50/share, bringing the greedy little monster $5,010,000.00, leaving her with another 828,318 shares valued at $41,415,900.00. The share price has been crashing ever since Rogers wrote his piece about how she raised the price of EpiPen to $635. (from $57).









And this is how the stock was performing as I was writing this post:









Were the Manchin daughter to sell her 100,200 shares at $43 instead of the $50 she sold it at when only she knew what was about to happen, she would have netted $4,308,600, nearly a million dollars less than she was able to bank. I have a vague recollection from my days working inside corporate America that insider trading is highly illegal and that all senior level executives are warned about the dangers, but from what I've been able to discern, she hasn't been fired or arrested yet-- or even questioned.





The Manchin daughter is a former lobbyist for the company and when she took over as CEO, the amount Mylan spent on lobbying soared astronomically. She contributes to political campaigns-- a legalistic term for bribery-- through the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, which spent $175,448 bribing members of Congress last cycle. The crooked Members who took the biggest bribes in 2014 were notoriously corrupt Republicans Mitch McConnell (KY), Joe Pitts (PA), Fred Upton (MI) and Lamar Alexander (TN) and so far this cycle Manchin's daughter has made sure the crooked members who got greased we're Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tim Scott (R-SC), hometown boy David McKinley (R-WV), Keith Rothfus (R-PA), Fred Upton (MI) again... and she made sure Pelosi's corrupt DCCC chairman Ben Ray Lujan got a taste as well. And what did she want for her bribes? Mylan successfully pushed through legislation to encourage use of the EpiPen in schools nationwide, as well as about $4 million in lobbying for the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act.





L.A. Times readers that little Heather, Manchin's horrid daughter, has condoned a Michael Hiltzik pointed out forreaders that little Heather, Manchin's horrid daughter, has condoned a tax-dodging scheme for her company as well, as had Rogers when he first broke the story on Monday. "[T]heres another reason," wrote Hiltzik, "to detest this remarkably amoral corporation: Its also a tax dodger. Mylan is one of the leading exploiters of the technique known as inversion, in which a U.S. company cuts its tax bill by acquiring a foreign firm and moving its tax domicile to the acquired companys homeland." Heather's not making America great again.

Mylans 2014 deal involved its buying a generics manufacturer from Abbott Laboratories and reincorporating in the Netherlands, the subsidiarys home. As in all inversions, nothing else changed: Mylans operational headquarters remained in Pennsylvania, and its main workforce didnt relocate. At one point, Mylan even appealed to U.S. antitrust officials to help it block a takeover bid from an Israeli company. But the deal did allow the firm to cut its U.S. tax bill.



President Obama has labeled inversions unpatriotic and one of the most insidious loopholes out there. The Treasury Department has tightened tax rules several times to discourage them, and public disapproval has spiked a deal here and there.



New York Times, You cant maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean you just cant. Credulously, the Times Mylans inversion helped give this variety of loophole its noxious reputation, in part because defense of its deal was so transparently self-serving. Its CEO, Heather Bresch, daughter of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), wrung her hands over the anguish she suffered in deciding to skip out on the companys obligations as a U.S. corporation. She told the, You cant maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean you just cant. Credulously, the regurgitated that she made the decision reluctantly, and she genuinely seems to mean it.



Should Mylan be believed? Lets judge it by its marketing of the EpiPen. The spring-loaded syringe-like device is designed to deliver a measured dose of epinephrine, which instantly reverses the swelling, breathing problems and other manifestations of severe reactions to peanuts, bee stings and other allergens. The pens come in two-packs in order to provide a second dose if needed. Families with allergy-prone kids have to lay in a supply of several packs, say for home and school, and replace them once a year when they expire.



Since acquiring rights to the product in 2007 when a two-pack sold for about $100, Mylan has relentlessly raised its price, to more than $600 now. That can place the product out of reach of families whose insurance doesnt fully cover the cost, forcing them to use expired pens or resort to hand-injections, which can be dangerous.



The price increase isnt driven by Mylans costs. The manufacturing cost is essentially pennies per device, and the active ingredient, epinephrine, is a generic drug that has been in use for decades, so the company isnt working down any research and development costs. Instead, its simply profiteering from market dynamics: Its main competitor, a product made by Sanofi, was taken off the market last year because of manufacturing defects. Another potential rival, from the generics company Teva, hasnt yet won approval from the Food and Drug Administration.





Mylans price-gouging has enraged patients and doctors and created whitecaps on Capitol Hill. On Monday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), ranking member of the Senate antitrust subcommittee, asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into the matter. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, also has questioned the increases.



There does not appear to be any justification for the continual price increases of EpiPen, Klobuchar wrote the FTC. Manufacturing costs for the product have been stable and Mylan does not need to recover the products research and development costs... Not only is this alarming price increase unjustified, it puts life-saving treatment out of reach to the consumers who need it most.



Mylan rationalizes the EpiPens price as the fair cost of a life-saving drug, as Bresch told Wall Street analysts this month. Under the circumstances, she said, I think that you can see it falls as not an expensive product. She did acknowledge, however, that as employers shift more cost to employees and make that everything has got to come out of pocket before you hit your deductible... youre seeing a lot of noise around EpiPen.



A lot of profit too. Mylan recorded $847 million in net income last year on sales of $9.4 billion. The EpiPen was a significant contributor, with sales of $1 billion.





The company has tried to have it both ways in relation to its inversion deal. Lets examine Breschs assertion that the company found it just impossible to maintain competitiveness under U.S. tax rules. At a 2015 forum sponsored by Fortune Magazine, she griped that there is an unlevel playing field in our country. We really penalize U.S.-based companies.



Is that so? As we pointed out at the time of its inversion, over the previous two years, its sales had increased 12.7% and profits 16%; among its big competitors paying putatively lower taxes, British-based GlaxoSmithKline had gained only 3.14% in sales and 11.23% in profits. Israel-based Tevas sales had risen 11%, and its profits declined 54%. Israels top corporate tax rate is 26.5%, the equivalent top U.S. federal rate is 35%.



But Mylan didnt pay that top rate, of course. Almost no U.S. corporation does; CEOs use the statutory rate as a political boogeyman. Mylans effective tax rate had been only 16.2% in 2013, 20% in 2012 and 17.7% in 2011.



Breschs contention that Mylan was a reluctant inverter doesnt hold much water. At that Fortune event, she reiterated the claim that Mylan hadnt been seeking an inversion partner but had been willing to look into a deal if the opportunity presented itself. But she also seemed to say that its search for a partner was rather more proactive than that. When we were inverting, we  looked at a lot of countries because we had the opportunity to really domicile where we wanted to, and the Netherlands was a... natural.





Corporate mouthpieces and other defenders of inversions say theres nothing wrong-- even something admirable-- in a companys trying to do the best for its shareholders by cutting their tax bites. The argument is: You dont like it? Change the tax law.



The problem with this position is that U.S. corporations have lots of advantages over foreign competitors that have to be paid for by taxes; inversions just amount to sticking the cost to someone else. Mylan itself proved this point last year, when it tried to fend off a takeover attempt by Teva by asking the U.S. government to declare it a U.S. company. That would have given U.S. antitrust officials the opportunity to block the takeover by a foreign company. Tevas takeover attempt eventually broke down anyway.

Dena Grayson is running for an open congressional seat in central Florida. Her statement on Mylan is exactly the kind of strong position voters are looking from for leaders. Please wrap your head around what she's saying and then, if you agree, consider contributing to her campaign here





"As a doctor and medical researcher, I know first-hand how much innovative new treatments can relieve suffering and save lives. And I know that it takes many years and extraordinary effort to discover and develop effective treatments for deadly diseases. But this isnt scientific innovation by Manchins daughter at Mylan. Its good ol' fashioned greed, plain and simple. Even worse, it's at the cost of the most vulnerable members of our society: sick kids. While Manchins avaricious daughter relaxes in her mansion, parents are forced to make a choice that no parent should ever have to make: whether to protect their child from dying from a fatal allergic attack, versus paying the rent. Yes, Mylan produces a tried and true medicine that saves lives, but its not innovative. Its as though Mylan stumbled upon an cheap, old print of a Monet painting in their grandmothers attic, and are now trying to pass it off as an original masterpiece. If Mylan is unable or unwilling to control their greed, then we will have to do it for them. Plain and simple."





Blue America has billboards up all over Polk County right now









UPDATE:





Manchin's not very bright daughter-- and utterly devoid of a moral compass-- has cost Mylan's shareholders in the realm of $3 billion dollars, just so she could pocket a few million for herself. So far she's still neither fired nor arrested... but I bet no one's too happy about this:




Hotchner says Service Women FDC one of the most spectacular Ive ever seen: U.S. Stamp Notes

Aug 25, 2016, 5 AM

This first-day cover for the 3 Service Women stamp features a hand-colored Schacht cachet, other stamps honoring those who served in World War II, and autographs of the leaders of the womens Army, Navy and Marine Corps components when the stamp was issu

By John M. Hotchner

Linns reader Alex Hall has come up with one of the most spectacular first-day covers for the 1952 3 Service Women stamp (Scott 1013) that Ive ever seen.

The Service Women stamp was issued Sept. 11, 1952, in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the stamp and first-day cancel, this seldom-seen Schacht hand-colored cachet also bears the 1945-46 stamps honoring the other services that fought and died in World War II.

Connect with Linns Stamp News:

Sign up for our newsletter

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

On the left side of the cover are the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine stamps (Scott 936, 939) issued Nov. 10, 1945, and Feb. 26, 1946, respectively.

On the right are the Navy and Army issues (Scott 935, 934) of Oct. 27 and Sept. 28, 1945, respectively. At the time these stamps were issued, the Air Force was part of the U.S. Army, called the U.S. Army Air Forces, and is represented by the bombers on the Army stamp.

In the center is the vertical Iwo Jima (Marines) stamp (Scott 929) issued July 11, 1945.

If the cover stopped here it would be a very nice addition to an FDC collection, but this cover has four autographs that match up with three of the services shown on the 1952 Service Women stamp: the Marine Corps, the Army and the Navy. The Air Force, which had become a separate service Sept. 18, 1947, also is represented on the stamp.

Autographing the cover were Col. Mary A. Hallaren, Capt. Joy Bright Hancock, Col. Ruby F. Bryant, and Col. Katherine A. Towle.

Hallaren (1907-2005) was the first woman to officially join the Womens Army Corps in 1942. She became its director in 1947, serving into 1953.

Hancock (1898-1986), who served in the Navy in World War I, joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) in 1942 and was the director from 1946-53.

The second graduate of the Army School of Nursing in 1932, Bryant (1906-2002) rose to become chief of the Army Nurse Corps from 1951-55.

Towle (1898-1986) joined the Womens Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. She served as director from 1945-46 and then director of womens Marines from 1948 to 1953.

Not represented by an autograph on the FDC is Col. Mary Jo Shelly (1902-76), the second director of the Women in the Air Force (WAF), serving in that capacity during 1951-54. Even without that signature, this is an exceptional and historic cover.
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.
Local firms are worried that the tax spotlight could be turned on them.

Official statistics show a third of foreign-invested companies in Vietnams furniture industry are from China.

Since 2015, the U.S. has imposed import tariffs on Chinese furniture including beds, nightstands and other wooden wares in an attempt to protect its domestic manufacturers from Chinese dumping, or the export of goods at an unfairly low price.

As a result, many Chinese furniture companies have moved their manufacturing facilities to neighboring Vietnam to get around U.S. anti-dumping duties.

In addition, labor costs are about 20 percent less in Vietnam than in China, according to the Ho Chi Minh City-based business advisory firm Infocus Consultants, which makes the Southeast Asian country an attractive manufacturing hub for foreign furniture companies, especially China.

U.S. furniture imports from China total roughly $12 billion annually, according to data from the U.S. Customs Service. Vietnam is second to China with more than $2 billion in exports to the U.S. as the country evolves into one of the worlds largest wooden furniture producers.

The fact that a large number of Chinese companies are exporting to the U.S. from Vietnam has led to growing concerns that Vietnamese manufacturers will soon come under the radar of American anti-dumping investigators, said Nguyen Ton Quyen, chairman of the Professional Association of Timber and Wood Products (Vifores).

He also added Chinese companies are planning to take advantage of tariff incentives Vietnam is expected to enjoy from new-generation free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the pact with the European Union (EVFTA).

For instance, the TPP will either cut or eliminate tariffs for various Vietnamese exports to other member countries.

Chinese companies have recently stepped up their efforts by acquiring majority stakes in local producers, said Huynh Van Hanh, deputy chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association in Ho Chi Minh City.

A sudden surge in export volume, no matter what the export industry is, could lead to Vietnamese companies being accused of dumping, Hanh said.

Moreover, as Vietnam has not been fully recognized as a market-based economy, domestic companies could face double tariffs with anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, Hanh continued.

Vietnam exported $3.8 billion worth of wood products during the first seven months of this year, slightly up from the same period last year.

Vietnams furniture exports have experienced average annual growth of 7 - 8 percent in recent years, said the Vifores chairman.

However, the industry may miss its export target of $7.6 billion in 2016, he added.

Related News:

>Vietnam to ratify TPP trade deal by August 9

>Vietnam to shake up supporting industries to seize TPP opportunities

>TPP offers promising new world for Vietnam's textiles sector
Rice exports to EU: making the most of zero tariff

Vietnam's rice exports will enjoy a zero percent tariff to the European Union from 2018.

The free trade agreement between Vietnam and the E.U. (EVFTA), which comes into effect in 2018, will allow the country to export 100,000 tons of rice each year to the E.U., quadruple the current figure.

Many countries around the world have applied measures to restrict rice imports and even refused to open their rice markets during FTA negotiations, but the E.U. has spared some space for Vietnamese rice.

The E.U. has approved an import quota of 100,000 tons of rice per year for Vietnam with a zero percent tax rate once the agreement takes effect. Broken rice will be exempt from import duties for seven years with no limit on quantity.

According to analysts, the commitment will help Vietnamese enterprises save up to 17 million ($20 million) per year.

Vietnam is the worlds third largest rice exporter.

Having joined the global rice market 20 years ago, Vietnam is now the worlds third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. However, Vietnam's market share has fallen in the face of fierce competition from rice export rivals over the last few years.

While other countries focus their attention on rice quality, Vietnam still aims for quantity.

This is why Vietnam's rice exports to the E.U. remain modest, said Dang Hoang Hai, head of the European Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Data from the Vietnam Food Association showed that the country exported 18,000 tons of rice to the E.U. last year, down 10 percent from 2014 and 25 percent from 2013.

In 2013, Vietnam accounted for 3 percent of the E.U. rice market, while Thailand made up about 18 percent, Cambodia 22 percent and India 24 percent.

Once the EVFTA comes into force, Vietnams rice industry can expect higher import figures, Hai said.

He added that the E.U. market has strict requirements for rice import, ranging from quality standards to environmental rules. Europeans also prefer high-quality products like the ones grown in Cambodia, rather than Vietnamese rice.

Vietnamese farmers dont favor rice that takes a long time to grow and produces lower yields. Theyve been loyal to output targets, so they cant produce good rice. Even if the rice is good, its impossible to compare it with Cambodian rice, said agricultural expert Vo Tong Xuan.

The expert said that Cambodia only entered the global rice market five years ago, but its rice has won the worlds best rice award at the annual Rice Trader Conference for three consecutive years.

Last year, a product produced by Vietnams Loc Troi Company was also listed in the top three rice products in the world, pushing the price up to $700 per ton from $370-380.

Dang Hoang Hai, head of the European Market Department, claimed that to compete with Cambodia as well as other rice suppliers in the E.U. market, Vietnam should shift its production routines from low-quality rice to high quality, but that won't be easy.

Related news:

> Flood crisis threatens to kill Vietnams rice bowl

> Vietnam rice exports shrink to seven-month low in July

> Rising supplies eat into Vietnam's rice export prices
The local steel firm is owned by Vietnams eleventh richest person.

Local privately-owned Hoa Sen Group and Ninh Thuan's provincial government are expected to sign a strategic partnership agreement under which the steelmaker will invest in a number of large-scale projects in the province, Dau Tu (Investment) Online reported on Wednesday.

The deal, to be signed at the Ninh Thuan 2016 Investment Promotion Conference on August 27, will map out investment of nearly $15 billion for an integrated complex centering on a $10.6 billion steel plant in the coastal province.

The complex will be built in five phases, and have a total capacity of up to 16 million tons per year.

Currently, the notorious Ha Tinh Formosa Steel Plant built by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics in the central province of Ha Tinh is the largest steel project in Vietnam. Formosa plans to invest $10 billion in the first phase of its plant that will turn out 7 million tons per year. It is also looking at a further $10 billion for the second phase of construction that would raise the plant's crude steel capacity to around 22 million tons per year. The company is currently carrying out trial runs at the plant.

Hoa Sen Group plans to spend another $400 million to build the Hoa Sen Ca Na Industrial Park where the steel project will be located, $800 million to set up an international port in the area, and various other projects such as cement plants and thermal power projects, the daily said.

The two sides plan to set up an economic development committee with leaders from Ninh Thuan's government and Hoa Sen to realize their strategic partnership.

The new partnership pact will replace an agreement signed in October last year under which Hoa Sen pledged to invest $3.8 billion to build a 6 million tons/year steel plant and other supporting projects in the province.

In 2008, Ninh Thuan granted permission for a joint venture between Vietnams Vinashin and Malaysias Lion Group to build an integrated steel complex, worth $9.8 billion, in the provinces Ca Na Industrial Park. But the province ended up revoking the investment license in 2011 following the withdrawal of the Malaysian investor.

Ninh Thuan is situated in the southern central coast of Vietnam, about 350 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 60 km from Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa Province. Its coast line along the East Sea, internationally known as South China Sea, stretches 105km, according to the Ninh Thuan Peoples Committee website.

The Vietnamese government has selected Ninh Thuan to build the countrys first and second nuclear power plants. Work on the first project has been put back to 2028, instead of 2020.

Hoa Sen Group was founded by Le Phuoc Vu in August 2001 and is headquartered in the southern province of Binh Duong. The company was listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange in 2008. At present, Hoa Sen has nearly 6,600 employees, eight steel plants and 200 wholesale and retail outlets across the country.

Le Phuoc Vu (C) in a meeting with Ninh Thuan's provincial government in October 2015. Photo from the website of Ninh Thuan People's Committee

The group made revenue of VND17.7 trillion ($793 million), net profit of VND650 billion and production capacity of 1.2 million tons of steel sheet in the 2014-2015 financial year (October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015). It is aiming to raise revenue to $1.5 billion and production capacity to 2 million tons/year in 2017.

Le Phuoc Vu was the eleventh richest person on Vietnam's stock market in 2015, with total assets worth VND1.383 trillion (around $62 million).

Related news:

> Chinese steel tagged with Vietnamese labels to avoid high EU taxes

> Vietnam sets new tariffs on imported steel

> Vietnam imposes safeguard tariffs on steel imports to block Chinese products
One of the two new warships. Photo courtesy of People's Army Newspaper

They have the power to destroy warships and protect submarines.

The Ba Son Shipyard under Vietnams Ministry of National Defense is carrying out trial runs to prepare for formal handover of two more fast-attack missile ships to the Navy.

The four-day test runs of the M5 and M6 vessels at sea are wrapping up on Friday following the successful trial operations at the dock, the government portal reported Thursday.

The two vessels were launched in April this year.

Vietnam received the first two Russian-made ships of Molniya class in 2007 and 2008. Under a technology transfer agreement signed by Vietnam and Russia in 2009, the latter agreed that six more will be built and assembled under license in Ba Son shipyard. So far four have been handed over to the Navy and M5 and M6 are the fifth and sixth.

The vessels are designed to destroy warships, amphibious vessels, corvettes, and other enemy targets. They are able to help protect submarines and amphibious ships, and perform reconnaissance missions at sea.

Russia has already handed over five out of the total six submarines to Vietnam. The last one is expected to be delivered at the end of this year.

The two corvettes are equipped with advanced weapons and functions. They are able to operate at sea for 10 straight days and can attack targets both in the air and at sea.

Apart from a modern radar system for tracking targets, each of the vessels is also equipped with 16 sea-to-sea Uran-E missiles arranged into four modules for launch on each side with a range of 130 km.

The other weapons installed in each vessel include two AK-630 ship-borne artillery systems with 4,000 shells each, which can fire at targets at a range of 4-5 km, and an AK-176M automatic gun with a range of 15 km for sea and land targets and 11 km for air targets.

Related news:

> Vietnams Kilo-class submarine brigade honoured

> Vietnam Coast Guard chases down illegal Chinese fishing vessels

> Vietnam Coast Guard builds muscle with new vessels
Consumers have no idea if what they're putting in their mouths could give them cancer.

Demand for safe food is rising in Vietnam, and many consumers have become suspicious of goods touted as safe on the local market. This was the focus of a businessconsumer connection forum held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Wednesday.

Vietnam seems to be stuck in a circle of trust and moral deterioration between consumers and companies at the moment, and the consequences appear to be a slow erosion in its citizens health and a bleak outlook for Vietnamese food industry.

Experts said that lack of trust in food processors and sellers, who have far too often been proved reckless in their pursuit of profits, has left food on the shelves which in turn has made it difficult for them to remain straight.

In recent years, its become increasingly common to hear about cases of unscrupulous food sellers in Vietnam using banned chemical in meat or excessive concentrations of pesticide in vegetables to increase or maintain the foods appeal to consumers.

Cong An Nhan Dan (People's Police) newspaper said in a report Wednesday that in 2015, the country recorded 171 food poisoning cases with nearly 5,000 people affected. Each day, people in Hanoi consume about 1,000 tons of meat, 600 tons of fish and 3,200 tons of vegetables, but only a handful is clean or has been proven place of origin, said experts at the forum.

For some, the situation is even grimmer than it looks. I dont believe there are clean vegetables (in the market) anymore, because Vietnam imports 4,100 types of pesticides and 1,643 different chemical ingredients, 90 percent of which come from China," the report quoted Nguyen Lan Dung, chairman of the Vietnam Biotechnology Association, as saying ."Its impossible to control how our farmers use them, .

According to the report, in a recent inspection conducted by the National Institute for Food Control (NIFC), 40/120 vegetable samples were found to have excessive levels of chemical pesticides, and 455/735 samples of meat products were unsafe for consumption. The unethical practice of mixing dirty food with safe produce to sell at a higher price is common in the market, even in supermarkets and other places that naturally enjoy higher consumer confidence.

While these cases are not common, the government's ineffective response to tighten food safety control has further eroded consumer trust.

The terrifying fact about these unethical practices is that the damage caused by unsafe products does not usually come to light immediately. According to Prof. Hoang Dinh Chau, director of the Hung Viet Cancer Hospital, each year Vietnam has 150,000 new cancer patients, and 75,000 people die from cancer annually. It is estimated that about 35 percent get cancer from consuming dirty food, topping the 30 percent of lung cancer patients who contract the disease from smoking.

Chau said chemicals used in livestock feed and plant protection products such as preservatives and pesticides are the main causes of cancer and other illnesses in the country.

Remaining issues that gain attention

With pressure mounting to strengthen food safety measures, the Vietnamese government has been urged to put food safety higher on national agenda and to issue policies that are strong enough to encourage the production and supply of safe food.

Tran Quan, director of a chain of seafood stores called Soi Bien (Sea Wolf), said that the MARD has yet to issue standards for organic agricultural products, forcing him and other businesses to search elsewhere overseas for applicable standards.

Quan also added that overlaps in food safety management have frustrated many in the industry. There are inspection teams from the health and agricultural sectors. Then there are teams from the ward, district and even inter-agency teams from a municipal level. Why can't these teams share their test results to save costs and cut the onerous red tape? said the director.

Blaming Vietnams poor market discipline and questioning the government's protection of consumers, Chairman of the Hanoi Supermarkets Association Vu Vinh Phus opinion has received from other experts. We aren't able to distinguish between an honest business and an unscrupulous one And dont ask the consumers to wise up; the authorities must actively protect them, Phu said.

On the other hand, Le Tu, director of Hong Thanh Viet  a catering business in the southern city of Vung Tau  revealed that even food safety certificates such as VietGap  the Vietnamese good agricultural practice standard  have a price tag, adding a challenge that the government and consumers have to confront .

Someone even offered to sell me a VietGap certification, Tu told Cong An Nhan Dan. "If it's that easy to buy, then what can the consumers believe in nowadays?

Vietnam has seen numerous problems related to food safety in recent years, mostly resulting from imports of food preservatives from China.

Taiwan's Formosa Plastics Group, which owns Formosa Plastics, was ordered to pay a $500 million fine for discharging toxic waste from its steel plant in the central province of Ha Tinh in April, killing large numbers of fish. The incident could have resulted in a serious health hazard.

Under new food safety laws revised in July, the maximum punishment for food poisoning and other violations in Vietnam was raised from five to 20 years' imprisonment. Fines were also increased tenfold to VND500 million ($22,425).

Related news:

> Vietnam takes action against seafood firms after EU issues food safety warning

> 70 tourists suffer food poisoning at popular Vietnamese beach resort

> Coca Cola Vietnam fined $19,186 for food safety violations
If one cup of coffee keeps you perked up all day, you may be able to thank your genes for that long-lasting caffeine kick, a new study finds.

Scientists in Scotland have identified a gene that may play a role in how the body breaks down caffeine, according to the study  and variations in this gene may influence how much coffee a person drinks.

In people with a certain variation of a gene called PDSS2, caffeine is broken down in the body more slowly, according to the study, which was published today (Aug. 25) in the journal Scientific Reports. Slower breakdown means that the caffeine stays in the body longer, so a person doesn't need to drink as much coffee to get the same effects, the researchers said. [10 Interesting Facts About Caffeine]

In the study, the researchers examined the DNA of more than 1,000 people in northern and southern Italy and more than 1,700 people in the Netherlands. Everyone in the study also filled out a questionnaire that included questions about how much coffee they drank each day.

Among the Italians in the study, those who had a certain variation in their PDSS2 gene tended to drink less coffee, by about one cup a day, on average, than those who did not have the variation, the researchers found.

The reason might be that people with this gene variation break down caffeine more slowly, so the chemical stays longer in their bodies, and they tend to drink less, the researchers said.

Similarly, among the Dutch people in the study, those with that same gene variation also drank less coffee each day, on average, though the difference was not as large as the difference observed in the Italians, according to the study.

This discrepancy may be due to the fact that coffee-drinking styles vary in the two countries, the researchers added. In Italy, people typically drink small cups of espresso or mocha, whereas in the Netherlands, it is more common for people to drink filtered coffee. These differences in preparation result in different amounts of caffeine per cup. Indeed, the intake of caffeine per cup among the Dutch is almost three times higher than that of Italians, according to the study.

The PDSS2 gene isn't the only gene that's been linked to caffeine consumption, however. Previous research has shown that other genes that code for enzymes that break down caffeine are also linked to how much coffee people drink, according to the study.

It's possible that PDSS2 blocks the expression of these enzymes, the researchers wrote. By blocking the enzymes, the body doesn't break down caffeine as efficiently, they wrote.

"The results of our study add to existing research suggesting that our drive to drink coffee may be embedded in our genes," said Nicola Pirastu, a research fellow in statistical and quantitative traits genetics at the University of Edinburgh and the lead author of the study.

More research is still needed to understand the link between the genetic variation and coffee consumption, Pirastu said.

One of the researchers involved in the study works for the coffee company Illy; however, the company did not provide funding for the study.

Originally published on Live Science.
At least 187 of the brick temples were damaged in a powerful earthquake.

Myanmar took stock of toppled spires and crumbling temple walls in the ancient capital Bagan Thursday after a powerful earthquake hit the country, killing three and damaging the top tourist destination.

Myanmar weighs damage after earthquake rattles Bagan pagodas Myanmar quake damages ancient temples Two young girls and a man died in Magway region where the 6.8 magnitude quake struck Wednesday evening, cracking buildings across center of the country and sending tremors that were felt as far away as Bangkok and Kolkata.

In nearby Bagan, home to a vast plain of some 2,500 Buddhist monuments that are among Myanmar's most venerated religious sites, teams of government-dispatched engineers and architects surveyed damage to nearly 200 of the prized pagodas.

"First we need to figure out the extent of the damage," Arkar Kyaw, the deputy director of Myanmar's culture ministry said.

"Then we will make a renovation plan," he told AFP, adding that the government is working directly with UNESCO.

First estimates showed at least 185 pagodas at Bagan were damaged, as security officers blocked tourists from entering temples while workers cleared piles of bricks, swept the grounds and sorted through fragments of murals.

The top of a collapsed pagoda is seen after an earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar August 25, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun

"I heard sounds after I paid homage at a pagoda. There were foreign tourists there as well," said Khin Maung Toe, a Myanmar man who was visiting Bagan for the first time when the earthquake struck.

"My wife barely escaped outside as the pagoda collapsed," he told AFP.

The temples, many of which are around 1,000 years old, are a top attraction for tourists flocking to Myanmar as it emerges from decades of military rule.

Bagan's sweeping expanse of temple ruins, which make for a staggering sunset vista have survived wars, earthquakes and centuries of tropical sun.

In its heyday, between the 9th and 13th centuries, the city was the capital of a powerful kingdom and one of Asia's most important centres for learning.

"It's really heartbreaking. I cannot even eat," said Tin Hla Oo, a trustee of the three-story Htilominlo pagoda, which was badly damaged by the quake.

"We are suffering because this is a great loss, as these (pagodas) are priceless."

Haphazard renovation

Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, which lies in a tectonically active region.

The last major quake to seriously damage Bagan struck in 1975 and was followed by a controversial restoration effort under the military junta that stepped down in 2011.

Experts said the haphazard renovation work, much of it hastily done with modern materials, significantly altered the original architecture and design of some monuments.

In recent years, as the country undergoes a democratic transition and opens up following decades of isolationist junta rule, UNESCO has worked directly with the government to safeguard the monuments.

Myanmar is eager to see the city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"We believe this time the restoration will follow international standards," said Sardar Umar Alam, the head of UNESCO's office in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

"It takes time to know how the structures are stabilized and how bad the actual damage is, if a roof collapses, how much it affects different walls and mural paintings," he added.

People wait to see the sunset from the top of Shwesandaw Pagoda in the ancient city of Bagan February 13, 2015. Photo by Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun/Files

Travel to once-cloistered Myanmar used to be reserved for the well-heeled and intrepid, prepared to endure the travails of a country under military rule with patchy electricity and limited communications.

But foreign tourists have poured in since the military stepped down in 2011, many of them making a beeline for Bagan.

This year Myanmar is on track to welcome 5.5 million tourists, nearly a million more than 2015, according to Tint Thwin, director-general of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

Related news:

> Italy quake kills 159 as rescuers race to find survivors

> Strong quake strikes northeast Taiwan, shakes buildings in capital
Editor's Note: This article was updated on Aug. 25 at 1:25 p.m. E.T. and Aug. 29 at 10:25 a.m. E.T.

Blink and you'll miss it: The Tesla Model S was just rated the third-fastest accelerating production car in the world, beating out cars such as the Lamborghini Aventador and the Bugatti Veyron.

The head-snapping acceleration of the new supercharged Model S raises a question: Just how did engineers at Tesla get the electric, seven-seat family sedan to go so fast?

It turns out, one part of the car largely determines the Tesla's impressive performance.

"They're adding a bigger battery, and adding a bigger battery makes it more powerful," said Mike Duoba, a mechanical engineer at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, who develops standards for hybrid plug-in vehicles. [Hyperloop, Jetpack & More: 9 Futuristic Transit Ideas]

Fastest ever

The Tesla Model S, used in what the company calls "Ludicrous mode," can go from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds, the company said in a statement. The only commercial cars on the planet that can beat the Tesla Model S, the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder, each cost about $1 million and are "tiny" two-seater roadsters. Neither was built for the masses and neither is currently being produced. (The fastest custom-built race car, the Grimsel, can reach the same speed as the Tesla in about 1.5 seconds.)

Tesla confirms that the secret sauce behind this record-breaking time is the new battery. (Those who want to upgrade their existing Model S can purchase a bigger battery for $10,000.)

Better batteries

In general, a battery's energy density predicts how much energy it can release (meaning how far the car drives) before recharging, while the power density (the energy density delivered per second) determines how fast energy can go in and out of the battery. That, in turn, governs how fast a car can accelerate, said Jordi Cabana, a chemist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who studies battery chemistry.

The new Tesla battery helps quickly achieve these lightning-fast speeds by increasing the latter, Cabana said.

Though exact details haven't been released, the Model S likely uses a lithium-ion battery where one layer, called the cathode, is made of a blend of nickel, manganese and cobalt oxide (NMC), Cabana said. When charged, lithium ions from the cathode are driven through an electrolyte solution into the anode, which is made of stacks of graphite. Lithium-ion batteries that overheat can sometimes produce a runaway chain reaction and catch fire; to prevent that, manufacturers encase individual cells containing both a cathode and anode in protective shells. The Tesla Model S battery likely has thousands of these cells, Cabana said. (Tesla's home battery uses similar technology.)

The new battery may have crammed more cells into the same space of the older Tesla S battery pack, Cabana said.

"It looks like they changed the internal design of the battery pack," Cabana told Live Science. "They reduced the amount of packaging that they put in the battery to make it safe."

Historically, batteries that could produce enough power for fast acceleration or enough energy for long-range driving were typically quite expensive. That's in part why battery-powered electric cars had a reputation for being less peppy than an equivalent gasoline car, Duoba said. However, a 2014 study in the journal Nature (opens in new tab) found that the cost of electric batteries has been plummeting, paving the way for cheaper, speedier, longer-range vehicles.

Built-in advantages

Take the battery out of the equation, and electric cars have an edge in speed tests.

For one, engines have myriad tiny parts that must spin, push, open and close to produce internal combustion at the right times, Duoba said.

"An engine is a sort of a breathing animal: It has to take air in and squeeze it," Duoba told Live Science. "Those processes are not instantaneous." (In a gas-powered engine, a piston compresses a mixture of air and fuel, causing combustion, which turns the motor.)

Electric motors, meanwhile, don't have all those tiny moving parts.

"The electronics in an electric motor are almost instantaneous," Duoba said. "There's no delay in power, no waiting for throttles to close. All those little effects add up."

Torque mismatch

Electric motors can achieve their maximum torque, or the rotational force that is transmitted from the motor to turn the wheels, anywhere from 0 to 4,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), which roughly corresponds to vehicle speeds between 0 and 30 mph (48 km/h), said Paul Chambon, a controls engineer who is an expert on powertrains at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

In contrast, gasoline-powered cars cannot achieve peak torque at either a very low or very high rpm. Engines are optimized to run best with certain combinations of air flow, temperature and rotational speed. That means the torque in gas-powered engines peaks around 4,500 rpm, and that a graph of torque versus rpm looks like a domed hat, Chambon said.

So at zero speed, gas-powered engines are not at their peak.

"They don't have that peak torque right away, you have to accelerate to middle speed to gain enough torque," Chambon said.

Shifting gears

The dome-shaped torque graph also has another implication: At low speeds, the torque needed to propel the car doesn't match the torque produced by the engine.

As a result, manufacturers place a gearbox between the engine and the wheels, which matches engine speed to that needed to rotate the wheels at a certain torque, Chambon said. Gear shifting creates lulls in the car's acceleration.

But because electric vehicles can operate at peak torque anywhere from 0 to 4,000 rpm and can spin faster than engines, they often have no gearbox.

"There's no gear shifting, that alone is probably worth half a second or maybe a third of a second," in the 0-to-60 test, Duoba said.

Editor's Note: This article was updated to correct the make and model for the Lamborghini Aventador and Bugatti Veyron, which were swapped in the original article. The article was also corrected to update how the range of rpms in electric motors corresponds to maximum torque, as well as road speed.

Original article on Live Science.
A "weather bomb" is a storm over the ocean with intense central pressure, producing strong winds and ocean swell that result in some wave-generated seismic activity.

Small, intense storms known as "weather bombs" may trigger rare tremors deep within the Earth, offering scientists a new way to study the mysterious structure and inner workings of the planet, according to a new study.

A "weather bomb" is an extratropical (outside of the tropical zone) storm in which the central pressure intensifies rapidly. These storms produce very strong winds that cause the ocean to swell, generating powerful waves. Some of the wave energy from these storms interacts with the seafloor, causing wave-generated seismic activity.

Known as microseisms, these seismic waves are detectable anywhere in the world, because they penetrate the Earth deeply and can be observed at faraway land seismic stations, the researchers said. [Hurricanes from Above: Images of Nature's Biggest Storms]

However, observations and analysis of microseismic activity have focused mostly on P waves  the first set of waves in an earthquake that deliver a sharp jolt  because of their larger amplitudes. This gives scientists only a narrow view of the Earth's structure, because P waves typically travel in straight lines.

The faint and deep tremors "weather bombs" can cause in the oceanic crust run through the earth and can be detected in places as far away as Japan. (Image credit: Kiwamu Nishida and Ryota Takagi)

In their new study, the scientists detected so-called S wave microseisms, which travel much more slowly and curve through the ground but are generally more difficult to observe. The previously unobserved S waves were generated under a weather bomb between Greenland and Iceland in December 2014.

The researchers detected both P-wave and S-wave microseisms triggered by the severe North Atlantic storm at their station in Japan. In their paper, the authors described the direction and distance to the waves' origins.

Mapping the microseisms provides insight into the planet's deep structure. As seismic energy from the weather-bomb storm travels through the deep Earth, the planet's interior structure is revealed, the researchers said. This is especially beneficial in areas where such monitoring is limited  such as the oceans.

"We would like to explore the Earth's interior beneath the storm in oceanic areas, where no earthquakes and no stations exist," study co-author Kiwamu Nishida, a professor at the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, told Live Science.

With more acute observations of these storms and the microseisms they cause, scientists can better understand the Earth's internal structure. And understanding the precise locations of P waves and S waves and how they move can also help scientists learn how the seismicity occurs, the researchers explained in their paper.

"Delineation of the source locations and energy partition of the seismic wave components are key to understanding the excitation mechanisms," the authors wrote. As such, the findings could contribute to more accurate detection of earthquakes and oceanic storms.

The new study was published online today (Aug. 25) in the journal Science.

Original article on Live Science.
"It will be bloody and we will not give it [the sea] to them [China] easily," said Duterte.

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 (Vietnam's East 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.

Related news:

> Philippines says omission of arbitration ruling in ASEAN statement not victory for China

> China-Philippines should 'turn page' on sea row: Kerry

> China asks US to support resumption of talks with Philippines
If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option.
Wednesday was a memorable day for the Brady family of Purth, Colmcille.

After a nervous wait of two months, Stephen and Nathan, sons of Seamus and Joan, opened their Leaving Certificate results at Cnoc Mhuire, Granard, revealing the spectacular grades they had earned.

Both known for their musical talents, along with their sister Rebekah, Stephen and Nathan earned 600 and 515 points respectively.

I'm over the moon, Nathan said, admitting that he had been thinking of the worst case scenario. Aiming for around 550 points, Nathan said he jumped for joy on opening his results. He now hopes to realise his childhood dream by studying Medicine in Trinity College, Dublin.

When I was in Senior Infants the teacher asked us all what we wanted to be. I said 'a doctor', and it hasn't changed, he smiled.

Nathan's older brother Stephen said he had also been expecting the worst, and was in disbelief when he realised he had earned 515 points.

I was ecstatic - I was worried whether I had calculated it right so I checked it twice!

He explained that he now hopes to study Primary School Teaching in St Patrick's, Drumcondra.

The brothers weren't the only pupils to achieve high marks in the county. One student in both Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon and Lanesboro Community College exceeded 600 points in what proved to be a record year for the Lanesboro school.

In Mean Scoil Mhuire, an ecstatic Wiktoria Glogowska, who arrived to the school from Poland in her second year, was blown away when she realised that she secured 600 points.

After reading her results, which consisted of 6 A1s and a B2 in English, she exclaimed; I cant believe it. I cant believe the As, I didnt expect it at all!

Wiktoria, who plans to study Science in University College Dublin (UCD) was one of three in her school to achieve top marks. Her classmate Alannah Dolan, a native of Derryadd, Killashee was likewise thrilled with her performance in the exams.

It was a surprise - thank God the work paid off!

I was just hoping it'd go all right.

In reality, it went more than just all right for Alannah, who earned an impressive 615 points.

We were in the car and I just flipped over the page and I started screaming and Mammy started screaming, she laughed. There were a few tears.

Alannah now hopes to study Medicine in UCD.

For more from this year's Leaving Cert, turn to pages 30 & 31.
Thanks be to God the long wait is over.

The words of Mean Scoil Mhuires Deputy Principal, Mairead Lyons were echoed by her counterparts across the county last Wednesday, as pupils collected their Leaving Certificate Results.

Both Ms Lyons and former Principal Paul Costello pointed out that the girls hard work had paid off with excellent results.

Theyre happy, so Id say the results are as good as ever, remarked Mr Costello.

The results in St Mels College were very solid according to Principal Declan Rowley, who added; It seems to be that theyre all achieving their potential and thats whats important.

Everybody seems to have got on well, said Moira Mahon, Principal of Cnoc Mhuire, as she wished the class the very best in their futures and paid tribute to the teachers who were present in the school on the morning.

A thrilled Templemichael College Principal Sorcha Nic Dhonnacha also praised her teachers for the effort theyve put in over the past number of months and years.

French was excellent and wed a good result in Maths. The students did very well, we were delighted.

Josephine Donohue, Principal of Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon was also happy for her students.

All has gone very well and Id like to congratulate the students and their parents and teachers. Across the board we had a good spread of results.

Principal of Ardscoil Phadraig Gareth Buckley, who is returning after a year to take over from Acting Principal Brid Nevin, admitted that there were more and more people taking on Higher Level papers in the core subjects, with great success.

Everyone that did Higher Level Irish got it, same with Maths. Nobody failed Higher Level Maths, he revealed.

Were very pleased with our results, smiled Ballymahon Vocational School Principal Rosemary Johnston. Were very pleased overall and the students were happy with themselves.

With Maths causing a lot of worry nationwide, it seems that Longford bucked that trend, with a number of the Principals reporting excellent results in Higher and Ordinary Level Maths.

Ms Johnston said she was extremely pleased with the Maths results, while Principal of Moyne CS, Des Cullen reported that one sixth of the year completed the Higher Level exam and performed extremely well.

Were very, very pleased with the whole lot of them, he pointed out. Nobody has done a bad Leaving Cert.

Maths also went well in Lanesboro Community College, with outgoing Principal Jimmy Flanagan pointing out that; Our Maths were absolutely fantastic, both Higher Level and Ordinary Level.

It seemed to have been a great results all round for the school, as he added; We had a fantastic day - we had our highest ever points!

The hype is over for another year, and it brought with it, as it usually does, plenty of joy and some disappointment. But, as Cnoc Mhuire Principal Moira Mahon pointed out to the class 2016; You are a success - youve got this far so you are certainly a success.
For many years, USA-based Monsignor Michael Doyle has celebrated Mass in St Mary's Church, Cloone for the deceased members of the Creegan Family, Drumkeeran, Parish of Cloone on the last Friday of August. This year the Mass will be celebrated again, this time by a friend of Monsignor Doyles.

Monsignor Doyle is a native of Colmcille Parish, Co Longford. His mother was formerly Rosetta Creegan from Drumkeeran townland, Cloone and all the Creegans in this region are descendants of one Creegan man who left Newcastle West, Co Limerick in 1700 AD and arrived  most likely via the River Shannon  in Killeveha, Cloone.

The Creegan family can trace their ancestry to 1601 AD when the Clan left their native Tyrone and travelled with O'Neil and O'Donnell to Kinsale to fight for Irish freedom. After their defeat in battle they could not return to their homeland.

Some settled in Cork; some changed their surname to Creedon, a common Cork name to this day. Another section of the Clan settled in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, the present home of the famous Hurling All-star that is Eamonn Creegan.

This Cloone Mass was celebrated mainly for the Drumkeeran wing of the family but all Creegans are remembered.

At this time, Monsignor Doyle is recuperating at his Parochial Residence in Camden, New Jersey, USA after a serious illness. This year, his good friend Rev Peter Beglan, a native of Mullinalaghta and a classmate of Monsignor Doyle in Moyne Latin School and through College, has graciously and happily replaced his pal for this years Mass this Friday, August 26 in Cloone Church at 8pm. All Creegans and the many extended family relations are cordially invited.

All present at the Mass are then invited for a chat and a bite to eat in the homely surrounds of Tommy Creegans pub.
Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: August 25 2016

The Nassau County Narcotics Vice/Squad reports the arrest of a Ronkonkoma woman for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance that occurred on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

Ronkonkoma, NY - August 24, 2016 - The Nassau County Narcotics Vice/Squad reports the arrest of a Ronkonkoma woman for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance that occurred on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 1:53 pm.



According to Narcotics/Vice Bureau detectives, an extensive investigation of a heroin overdose that occurred in Nassau County was conducted by the Narcotics/Vice Bureau. The investigation led to the arrest of Melanie Sterling, 21, of Ronkonkoma.



On Tuesday, August 23, 2016, Sterling met with an undercover narcotics detective to conduct a sale of heroin at which time Sterling was placed in police custody with the assistance of the Nassau County Bureau of Special Operations and the Nassau/Suffolk Heroin Task Force. At the time of her arrest, Sterling was found to be in possession of 10 bags of a substance believed to be heroin.



Melanie Sterling is charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree. She was arraigned on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at First District Court in Hempstead.
Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Zimmerman/Edelson Published: August 25 2016

Leading strategic communication firm on Long Island expands its public relations division.

Great Neck, NY - August 24, 2016 - Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc., Long Islands leading strategic communication firm, specializing in public relations, advertising, marketing and social mediatoday announced it has expanded its public relations division, including two promotions and a new hire.

Jake Mendlinger, of New Hyde Park, has been promoted from senior account manager to director of public relations; Jill Skuza, of Bethpage, has been promoted from associate account executive to account executive; and Kevin Wilkinson, of Bayport, has been hired as an assistant account executive.

These exciting changes inside the firm are designed to further enhance the high-level consultation it offers and optimize the team-approach to successfully help clients accomplish their goals as Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc. continues to expand its operations.

We have built a strong reputation in the strategic communication industry. The changes within our public relations division reinforce our commitment to providing clients with high-level consultation and securing valuable coverage they expect, said Robert Zimmerman, president and co-founder of Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc. Both Jake and Jill have been exceptional assets to our company for several years, and we are excited for the guidance they will bestow on our junior staff as we continue to grow our public relations division. Kevin is a wonderful addition to our team with tremendous creativity, and we look forward to what he will bring to our clients and office culture.

Jake and Jill consistently prove their dedication and commitment to their clients and continue to exhibit the professionalism our clients expect from our public relations division, said David Chauvin, vice president and partner of Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc. We are thrilled to promote Jake and Jill to roles that allow them to bring our business to the next level.

Director of Public Relations Jake Mendlinger graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College. Prior to joining Zimmerman/Edelson, Jake worked at Kwittken + Company in Manhattan, helping lead the media relations efforts for several of the companys largest financial services and medical technology accounts. Jake is responsible for supervising account teams, providing strategic-communication consultation and developing tactical messaging platforms for Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc.s municipal and corporate clients

Jill Skuza joined Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc. as an assistant account executive after interning with the firm in July 2014. She is responsible for handling the day-to-day media relations and client servicing for many of Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc.s largest school district and municipal accounts. Jill recently received Long Island Business News Rising Star Award as part of its Excellence in Communication Awards in March 2016.

Assistant account executive, and newest member of Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc. staff, Kevin Wilkinson brings experience in media/public relations and policy work. As an assistant account executive, he is responsible for providing communication guidance to Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc.s clients. Graduating from American University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public communications, Kevin has overseas experience in London, where he worked at a political campaign headquarters.

For more information about Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc., and the strategic communication services it offers, please visit the website.

About Zimmerman/Edelson Inc.:

Zimmerman/Edelson, Inc. was established in 1988. With a quarter century of steady growth, we've earned a reputation for being smart, creative and innovative. Our talented professional staff, including our own in-house creative and graphics division, strategically balances public relations, advertising/marketing and social media to develop communications and branding campaigns that get our clients results.
Family & Parenting, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Press Releases

By Legislator Anker's Office Published: August 25 2016

Not-for-profit organization Suffolk Aspergers/Autism Support and Information (SASI) seeks to help families with education and advocacy, as well as provide financial and emotional support.

Huntington, NY - August 25, 2016 - Created in 2015 by two Long Island mothers with children on the autism spectrum, the not-for-profit organization Suffolk Aspergers/Autism Support and Information (SASI) seeks to help families with education and advocacy, as well as provide both financial and emotional support. A lack of resources for their children inspired the two mothers, Priscilla Arena and Stephanie Mendelson, to create the organization, which started as a small support group in Mount Sinai and has blossomed into an array of programs and services, as well as a tight-knit online network with over 460 members across Long Island.

SASIs mission is to provide materials to guide families in finding resources, programs and therapies for their children. They aid families in navigating the New York State Office for Persons with Development Disabilities process, as well as provide financial support for necessary services that may not be covered by insurance. The organization also hosts a variety of support groups and events to boost socialization and emotional wellbeing of children on the autism spectrum.

On Saturday, August 27th, SASI will host their First Annual Family Fun day at West Hills Day Camp (21 Sweet Hollow Road, Huntington, NY). The event will include a trampoline park, zip lines, a water slide, face painting, temporary tattoos, refreshments and more! The event is free for SASI members with valid a membership card. Cards, which can be used for admission, will be distributed at the event.

For more information, please visit SASI at www.sasiny.org or call Legislator Ankers office at 631-854-1600.
Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: August 25 2016

Armor Correctional Health Services will not renew its contract with Nassau County jails.

A.G. Schneiderman: "Armor's history of poor and inadequate healthcare is exactly why my office filed suit against the company last month, and is why we sought an end to Armor's contract as part of our lawsuit."

New York, NY - August 24, 2016 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued the following statement in response to Armor Correctional Health Services decision to not renew its contract with Nassau County jails:

This is an important and positive step forward for Nassau County taxpayers, who have been forced to foot the bill for a company that has failed to live up to its obligations and put patient health at risk in the process. Armor's history of poor and inadequate healthcare is exactly why my office filed suit against the company last month, and is why we sought an end to Armor's contract as part of our lawsuit. While I am pleased by today's news, the company's withdrawal from Nassau County does not erase Armor's history of failure, and our claims against the company on behalf of the people of New York will continue moving forward.
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
Dorothy Gallagher served on the Board of Regents for Nevada System of Higher Education representing Elko and rural counties for nearly three decades. Educating the people of our state is our whole future  it is important that we do it well, she once said, summing up the reason for her work in Nevada higher education.

Dorothy Gallagher was born in Elko on Sept. 14, 1925, to J. Harvey and Mollie Sewell. The family, with younger sister Mary Lou, moved to Salt Lake City, then Reno. She graduated from Holy Rosary Academy in Woodland California and began studies at University of Nevada, Reno. There she met her husband, Thomas Gallagher. After graduation from UNR, they married August 30, 1947.

In 1951, the Gallagher family, with sons Michael, Thomas, and Frank, moved to Elko where Tom joined his familys dental practice. Dorothy became involved in her childrens PTA and Boy Scout activities as well as running the family ranching company. She stepped into public service when she was elected to the Elko General Hospital board of trustees for a four-year term.

Dorothy was asked by Bill Berg and Charles Greenhaw to run for the Board of Regents seat in District 8. First I said no, but then Tom and I talked about it, she said in a 1992 interview. He said if we wont do it, who will. They both saw this as an opportunity to give back to the educational system. Dorothy won the election in 1981 for her first six-year term and was re-elected four times.

Tom flew Dorothy to meetings all over the state. In 1989, she was elected as chairman of the Board of Regents for a two-year term. During her years on the Board, she helped Great Basin College grow to serve rural counties and develop four-year degree programs. Additionally, she was a member of the board of directors of Elkos Vitality House.

Among numerous awards for her service, she was honored in 2003 with the Distinguished Nevadan Award. Also that year, the Health Sciences Building at GBC was dedicated in her name. Dorothy began her final term in 2004 and retired at its conclusion.
Turkey launched its largest military operation into Syria today, sending tanks, planes and ground forces into Jarabulus in an effort to clear the Islamic State from its last remaining frontier with Turkey. The offensive, led by Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, came days after an Islamic State-linked suicide attack in a Turkish border town. The main objective for the operation, however, was to counter recent advances of US-backed Syrian Kurds along the Turkish border.

Above all, it was a message: a reminder of Ankaras determination to limit US cooperation with the Kurds, Washingtons most effective partner against the Islamic State in Syria.

Turkey has been preparing for the Jarabulus operation for days. Last weekend, an Islamic State-linked suicide bomber attacked a Kurdish wedding in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, killing 54  many them children. The attack was the latest in a string of Islamic State-linked bombings that have killed hundreds in Turkey over the last year. But it triggered a much stronger response than previous assaults. On Aug. 22, Turkey vowed to completely cleanse the Islamic State from its border region  referring to Jarabulus, the only remaining Islamic State territory at the Turkish frontier. Yesterday, the Turkish military began firing artillery into northern Syria and shelled Islamic State targets 224 times. This morning, Syrian rebel fighters crossed into Jarabulus from Turkey, and with Turkish and US air support, launched operation Euphrates Shield to liberate the city from the Islamic State.

But the offensive was not merely an effort to cleanse the Islamic State from Turkeys border. Jarabulus has been under Islamic State control since January 2014, and has until recently served as a major route for foreign fighters seeking to join the terror group. For years, Ankara turned a blind eye as smuggling of militants and materials to the Islamic State continued from the border. While Turkey stepped up its border security amidst devastating terror attacks in the last year, Ankara was unwilling to carry out a military operation across the border. Notably, Turkeys diplomatic fall out with Russia in November 2015 was a major deterrent against Turkish incursions into Syria, until Ankara and Moscow restored relations this June. But the primary trigger for todays offensive was a recent Kurdish victory against the Islamic State in a strategic town along the Turkish border.

The Syrian-Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) is a key US ally in the fight against the Islamic State, often acting as the effective ground force for the US-led coalitions operations in Syria. But it is also the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist group leading an insurgency in Turkey  a designated terrorist organization by Turkey and the US. Since 2014, Washingtons military cooperation with the YPG in Syria has incensed Ankara, which sees the YPGs territorial expansion along the Turkish border as a major security threat. As a compromise, the US has built an umbrella organization, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes both Arab and YPG forces. And Turkey has largely tolerated US cooperation with SDF, despite its Kurdish dominance. But Ankara also declared a red line: it would not allow the YPG to cross to the west of the Euphrates River. (The Kurds controls three unconnected cantons in northern Syria along the Turkish border, which they could unite by crossing the river.)

This month, the YPG crossed that red line. In a US-backed military operation against the Islamic State in Manbij, the SDF scored a major victory against the jihadi terror group and cut off one of the Islamic States most important supply lines. The conquest also meant that the Kurds were now poised to move against the Islamic State in Jarabulus. To preempt such an advance, Turkey had to launch its own operation, with its own rebels of preference, to liberate the town from the Islamic State. Indeed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not have been clearer in his remarks on today: Turkey will take matters into its own hands if required to protect [Syrias] territorial integrity, he said in a speech in Ankara. He was referring to the Kurds efforts to establish autonomy within northern Syria.

Clearing the Islamic State from the Turkish border is as much a win for the United States as it is for Turkey, and operation Euphrates Shield reportedly employed US intelligence and air support. But that support also risks undermining Washingtons military relationship with the Kurds, who have contributed more to the coalitions battle against the Islamic State in Syria than any other actor, including Turkey. With the Jarabulus operation, Turkey has reminded both the US and the Kurds that its military is prepared to enforce its red lines. And by supporting the operation, Washington has reminded the Kurds that Ankara is still an ally.

Crucially, during his visit to Turkey today, Vice President Joe Biden declared that the Syrian Kurds would lose US support if they did not retreat to the east bank of the Euphrates. The promise was Washingtons most powerful public reassurance to its embittered NATO partner to date. To the Kurds, it was a slap in the face.

To be sure, the Jarabulus operation came at an exceptionally sensitive time in US-Turkish relations  one that certainly played to Turkeys advantage. Bilateral ties have suffered greatly since a failed coup attempt in Turkey in June, in which some Turkish officials have alleged US complicity. The Turks have identified a US-based Turkish cleric as the main culprit, and demanded his extradition. Anti-American sentiment in Turkey is at its peak. Moreover, high-level bilateral meetings with Russia and Iran since the abortive coup have stirred suspicions of Ankara moving closer to Moscow at the expense of its partnership with Washington. Vice President Bidens trip to Turkey today was primarily aimed at smoothing relations by showing US solidarity with Ankara.

But in Syria, differences between the two NATO allies run deep and are likely to persist. Despite todays cooperation against the Islamic State, Turkey and the US are far from seeing eye-to-eye on the future of Syria, or on picking the right partners on the ground. Washington continues to rely on the Kurds in its fight against the Islamic State. Turkey continues to support Islamist groups, and turn a blind eye to the jihadists. Reports of some jihadists involvement in the Jarabulus operation today will only exacerbate U.S. concerns about any proactive role for Turkey in the Syrian conflict. For now, operation Euphrates Shield appears to have strengthened Turkeys hand against the Kurds. But Washingtons cooperation could prove just as tactical as has been its support for the Kurds.

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.
Credited with delivering 5,000 babies in Elko, Dr. Les Moren served as an obstetrician and family practitioner for over fifty years and was one of the founders of two Elko institutions: the Elko Clinic and Great Basin College.

Dr. Leslie Arthur Moren was born in Webster, Wisconsin in 1914. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1937 and moved to Elko a year later. He opened his own practice and met Laurena McBride. They married September 9, 1939.

During his first years in Elko, Dr. Moren served as a general practitioner and along with Drs. A.J. Hood and Fred Poulson, treated injured passengers from the City of San Francisco train wreck west of Carlin in 1939. He and Laurena briefly relocated to St. Paul where he enlisted in the Minnesota State Guard at the start of World War II.

Serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Dr. Moren was stationed in Italy. After being discharged, the family with daughter Ann and son Allen, permanently moved to Elko where Kristen and Jim were born.

Dr. Moren partnered with Drs. Robert Roantree, George Collette and Dale Hadfield to form the Elko Clinic in January of 1948. Their first office was on the corner of Fifth and Railroad street, now Nevada State Bank, and was the first multi-specialty clinic in the state of Nevada.

As a family practitioner, Dr. Moren treated Elko residents for a variety of non-life threatening ailments along with delivering 5,000 babies during his career. He served as the Chief of Staff at Elko General Hospital, was named 1973 Nevada Physician of the Year and honored by the University of Nevada Renos School of Medicine.

In addition to his medical work, Les also served on the Elko County School Board and was one of the founders of Elko Community College, now Great Basin College. He also supported Laurenas campaign to build the Elko Convention Center and Auditorium.

Dr. Moren took part in UNRs Oral History Program and published the book Fifty Years an Elko County Doctor. He retired in 1993, and the following year was named the grand marshal of the Nevada Day Parade.
The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival.
ELKO  What would you do if you came upon the scene of a crash?

Jamie Mika asked herself that question Aug. 13 on Oakmont Drive in Spring Creek. Now, she would like to help a Tucson, Arizona, native and his family during his recovery at a Salt Lake City hospital with a care package.

The mother of five is hoping the community can come together to help in her endeavor, especially local businesses.

Mika was driving home to call her husband and get more supplies, while camping in Lamoille, when she came upon the 20-year-old identified as Taryn James Davis.

I was almost home and I looked over and I saw this young man laying in a ditch, she said. Mika exited her vehicle, called 911 and approached him.

Davis was unconscious but Mika could see he was breathing and suffered from head trauma.

The accident report stated Davis was riding a dirt bike, the only vehicle involved, south on Oakmont Drive and failed to maintain the lane.

The bike traveled to the left shoulder of the road, causing him to lose control, said Undersheriff Ron Supp.

It would appear speed was a factor in this case, he said, ruling out alcohol or drugs.

Davis was flown to Salt Lake City.

After that night, Mika began to search for a way to get in contact with Davis family to see how he was, and soon enough, she received a message through LinkedIn from his mother Wendy Davis.

They have been in touch through text since that time.

Being a mother of five sons, if this were to happen to me, I would hope people would reach out and do the same, said Mika, expressing why she would like to put together a care package for the family.

Wendy Davis is a police officer in Arizona and Mika feels, with that occupation, Davis been helpful to her community. With these things in mind, she would like to get items such as head pillows, blankets, gift cards, food and more to help with the hospital stay.

TJ Davis has lived in Spring Creek since December with his cousin Damon Vallejos. Davis daughter Autumn will be 2 years old at the end of the month, said Mika.

Wendy Davis told Mika TJ came out of the coma Aug. 18. He is breathing on his own, opening his eyes and responding to directions. It will be a long recovery, but he is doing much better than doctors expected, she said.

Mika can be contacted at 934-0382 or at jjmika76@gmail.com if businesses or community members would like to donate items, which she is willing to pick up.

The family has also created a GoFundMe called TJs Medical/Living Expense Fund.

While T.J. is insured by his mother, associated medical and living expenses are anticipated to mount at a rapid pace, stated the page, explaining all donations will go directly to those expenses for the family.
Kabul : At least nine people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said today, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students. Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began yesterday evening, just weeks after two university professors -- an American and an Australian -- were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government. Seven students were martyred, and 30 other students and lecturers were wounded," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP, adding that two policemen were also killed. Hundreds of students were rescued during the overnight operation, he said, many of whom tweeted 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. The attack began just after dusk, 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," an anxious student told AFP by telephone, before fleeing the campus.

Authorities refused 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. Many of the wounded were rushed into waiting ambulances outside the university on stretchers, as erratic gunshots rang out through the night from inside the complex. "We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those killed and our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded," the US National Security Council said in a statement, strongly condemning the attack. The elite American University of Afghanistan, which opened in 2006 and enrolls more than 1,700 students, is seen as a high-profile target for militants partly because it attracts foreign faculty members.

PTI
Marijuana and the military

As state recreational and medical marijuana laws change throughout the country, Air Force Reserve Command officials remind reservists that any marijuana use or possession by uniformed service members is still illegal under federal law. And the consequences for breaking this law could be career ending.



Air Force Reservists, like their active-duty counterparts, serve under Title 10 of the United States Code and are subject to the provisions of the Controlled Substance Act, which considers marijuana use or possession to be a crime, regardless of state laws.



Even if a state has legalized medicinal marijuana, it is still illegal to use or possess it under the Controlled Substance Act, 21 U.S.C. 802, as it is a Schedule 1 drug, said Lt. Col. Michael Roderick of AFRCs staff judge advocates office at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. According to the CSA, Schedule 1 drugs, substances or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.



Currently, recreational marijuana use is legal in four states -- Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Alaska -- and the District of Columbia. Limited medical marijuana use is now legal in 24 states. A number of states have recreational or medical legalization on the ballot this November.



The Department of Defenses position on drug use within the services, as stated on the Military OneSource website, is clear: Drug abuse and dependence are incompatible with readiness, the maintenance of high standards of performance and military discipline. As a result of this position, each of the services conducts a drug testing urinalysis program to deter and detect drug misuse among service members and to permit commanders to use the results to separate service members from the military.



Under AFRCs drug testing program, more reservists test positive for marijuana than all other illegal drugs combined.



Marijuana continues to be the drug of choice for Air Force Reservists who test positive during routine urinalysis, said Dr. Don Jenrette, the commands Drug Demand Reduction Program manager. In fact, for AFRC over the past 18 fiscal years, two-thirds of the positive drug test results are for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.



Jenrette said all reservists know that marijuana use is illegal while they are in military status, but some may wrongly believe that the laws in their state make marijuana use acceptable when they are not on duty. Reservists who use marijuana while they are away from their military job can still test positive if selected for a drug urinalysis test during a unit training assembly.



Some reservists also believe that having a prescription for medical marijuana protects them if they should test positive.



Whether or not they have a valid prescription, marijuana use is still illegal for military members, Jenrette said. Most conditions that would require a prescription for marijuana would be disqualifying for a reservist anyway, but if a reservist is prescribed marijuana by his physician, he or she should refuse it and ask for an alternative.



Reservists should also be careful if their spouse or other family members use marijuana, even if they use it legally either recreationally or for medicinal purposes. There have been reported cases among other services where the spouse of a service member placed medically prescribed marijuana in their vehicle, only to have it discovered by security forces members on base.



Even if marijuana possession and limited use has been legalized in your state, military installations are considered federal property, according to Military OneSource. If you or a family member is found on an installation in possession of or using marijuana, you will be subject to the federal laws related to marijuana, not the state laws.

Military OneSource goes on to warn military members against accidental ingestion or exposure.



If limited possession and use is legal in the state in which you live, the availability of the drug can lead to accidental exposure or ingestion that could cause trouble for your military career, according to the website. You can minimize your risk by being aware of your surroundings, being cautious about eating foods in homes where marijuana is present and knowing whether establishments in the community allow recreational use. By remaining vigilant and avoiding establishments permitting recreational use of marijuana, service members can help to ensure they do not jeopardize their careers.




Interview with Ryan Kartawidjaja, Deputy CEO of pegipegi



What is a problem solving specialist?

Usually in a company you have two problems, internal and external, related to them. In this start-up business, the company does have a lot of internal problems within our nine departments. Mainly, it is about communication problems between all those departments, and information sharing. My job is to collaborate with each and every department so they have the necessary information, so it is not really mixed up. That is my main job that I do in here.

Tell me a little more about pegipegi. Why was pegipegi created?

At first, pegipegi was created to support in-region tourism. On top of that, we also provide online booking systems for hotels. Why? Because we would like to make all Indonesian customers able to travel easier. To also enhance their travel experience, pegipegi also provides additional products, such as flight and train tickets. By providing all of those selections, we hope that Indonesian customers will be able to select their preferred hotels, their preferred flight, or even train, to travel all around Indonesia.

What additional services you offer?

As an additional service (and our customers can use it for free) we have a very attractive and complete travel blog we called as Travel Tips. We can be proud if our blog is the most updated and has a wide range of topics, comparing to our competitors.

We update the blog every day and provide all those information for traveling needs.

How competitive is this environment in Indonesia?

Indonesia travel environment is very very competitive. Obviously one saw a lot of competition in our side. We are trying to make a one-stop travel solution for Indonesian customers by providing three different products: hotels, flight tickets and also train. In addition to that, we provide all those in our travel tips. And what we are good at, is actually we focus, for now, only on Indonesian customers. That is why we believe that we understand Indonesia better than our competitors.

When are you planning on focusing on international travellers coming to Indonesia?

For the next three years, we are going to focus only on Indonesia. pegipegi has investors from Japan, Recruit Holdings, which owns the biggest OTA in Japan called jalan.net, and three different OTA in three different countries; one in Indonesia (which is considered to be one of SEA largest market), the second in Vietnam, and also in the Philippines. Possibly in the future, we would like to combine everything as one.

Are the plans of expansion only in Indonesia?

For now, each and every strategy that we have, we focus on Indonesia first for until the next three years.

What are your expectations for pegipegi in the next three years?

As any other companies, we aim to be the best in this field. But, to achieve that, we need the market to grow first. In this case, we are hoping that Indonesias tourism grow faster by the support of governments program.

We believe that our government has tried their best to create amazing plan and strategies to make more people know about Indonesia by building up infrastructures. But we also knew that not 100% that strategies executed well. Theres still many programs here and there that not working as planned.

If the programs can be realized as planned, I believe its going to be a very big impact. Why? Because as we all know, Indonesia has a lot (by a lot, I mean A LOT) of different tourist destinations. They are freaking beautiful but unfortunately is difficult to reach at the moment.

Should the airports, highway, ports, and any other infrastructures built, it will be easier for everyone to explore and enjoy it.

What does growth in the future look like?

We have looked at the data for international travellers on our airlines. Back then when we checked data 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, the growth rate is not that high. 2013-2014, around four percent, 2014-2015, less than one percent. Maybe it would not grow that much. Maybe less than three percent, for now.

Most visitors can get a Visa on arrival. When do you expect this growth to start happening?

We believe the growth will start happening two years from now because Building infrastructure is not easy, it takes time.

Where are the new travel areas that will attract infrastructure to be built?

The new travel destinations would be Eastern Indonesia because there are soooo many beautiful objects to explore there in the far east. And sadly, current development are mainly focusing in Java & Bali. Sumatra and Kalimantan are already well-known while the eastern such as Papua, Maluku? Not many know them. Some even confuse them as a part of other countries.

Because of lack of infrastructures, in these places (eastern Indonesia) anything are much more exensive compare to those in Java. Food, electricity, gasoline anything!

And we appreciate our current government that starting to taking more care about eastern Indonesias development. We believe, if those facilities are built, more new travel destinations will be discovered, and economic growth of the local is increasing as well.

Is there social and economic impact the tourism sector can have in all these new potential destinations?

Of course it is. The improvement in tourism sectors always brings a domino effect for locals growth, both in economic and social. In economic, we see that tourism growth also increase locals empowerment, resulting in the rise of their income, etc.

In social, we see that there will be change in the culture, including the will of the locals to study about tourism, learning foreign languages, and any other skills that can make them better person, and a growing, wealthier society

Is Indonesia taking advantage of how safe the country is?

Yes, Indonesia is quite a safe country and tourists love to come because of this safety things. Although for several cities, I can say it is not that safe. When you are talking about Bali, of course it would be safe. When you are talking about other cities, especially Jakarta, and which part of Jakarta we are talking about, some places are really dangerous. We believe the government is working on it by increasing the police force.

Do you focus on Indonesia travellers going to different countries in the region?

We trust the power of focus, and we believe that the Indonesian market is very large. Why not focus on this first, and then we tackle other markets after we are number one?

We trust the power of focus, and we believe that the Indonesian market is very large.

Travellers want to know what to visit and what activities are available. Is that something you are working on?

Aside of that, currently we have a travel blog that probably the most active blog compared to our competitors. This travel blog contains not only recommended destination and activities which we updated daily

Do you see yourself as one of the top travel agents in Indonesia?

The travel industry is a big thing. Its true that conventional travel agent has already been in existence for a long time in Indonesia and win a quite a big share.

But in the online travel agent, which is the new model of business, we believe pegipegi is one of the top agents.

Why Indonesia? What makes it attractive?

The market is potentially large. Indonesia has a lot of different tourism destinations. By looking at these two points, why not Indonesia?

Who are the other players?

For domestic players, we are competing against Traveloka, and also Tiket.com. We look at both of them as the strongest competitors for us, for now. But we never forget about Agoda because they have already been in existence for seven, eight years as an international competitor. Two of the strongest media groups, MNC Group and EMTEK Group, have started to establish new online travel agents.

Is the market getting more competitive?

Yes, the market is getting more and very competitive as I mentioned before, currently more and more players are compete in this field, including 2 giant media groups.

But, pegipegi doesnt think of them as competitors, but more as a partner to support Indonesia tourism.

What are some of the technical steps you take in order for pegipegi to be number one?

What pegipegi does is invest in people. Also, we try to find more partners so we can collaborate with each other to give our customers a better promotion, and of course everyday we widen our hotel network to provide more choices to our customers.

For boosting promotional benefit, we are partnering not only with online partners, but we also do a lot with the offline ones.

Talk about the growth of the company. What is your number of employees?

In terms of number of employees, last year the company had approximately 100 employees. Right now, we have around 170 employees, so the company has been growing. In terms of transactions, we have grown around 355 percent from 2014 to 2015, and we are looking for even better growth this year.

Do you feel there is market potential?

As we all know, the economic condition in Indonesia is not doing really well right now. When we are looking at the travel business, we are talking about pleasure. It seems a lot of people are stressed out, so they do travel more. And instead of travelling internationally, they travel domestic, because the cost is cheaper and you actually can find good places in Indonesia. Because of those reasons, yes I can say our business is doing really great because this potential market.

What is your market share?

For market shares, we never do any research. But, of course we monitor our positioning to each of our vendors (hotel, flight and trains). For some vendors, we already be the best OTA, while on some we arent achieve yet.

Do you show that people still use traditional travel agents?

Yes, currently there still a lot of people using traditional travel agent as a result of trust issues (fear of fraud, not familiar with payment method, etc). This is also the reason why traditional, big player as Parnorama and Dwidaya are still existed till now, although the main focus is already different (they are focusing on tour package mostly)
Algeciras Bay Port Authority in southern Spain has put up a tender for its third container terminal, and China's Cosco Shipping Ports is already being mentioned as a fore runner candidate, says a report by Caixin.

According to port authority, Algeciras is Spain's biggest container port and oil importing dock, and handled 2.3 million 20-foot containers in the first half the year  a 13 percent year on year increase.

Cosco Shipping Ports Ltd., the port operating arm of state-owned China COSCO Shipping Corp., is the world's fourth-largest container operator by capacity.

Its recent overseas shopping spree includes buying two-thirds of Piraeus, the largest port in Greece, for US$ 409 million last August and upping the stakes in Euromax Terminal Rotterdam BV, a container terminal operator in the Netherlands, to become its largest shareholder in May.

The Algeciras Port Authority on August 1 issued a tender notice calling for bidders to build and operate  for 50 years  a third terminal, which covers an area of about 37 hectares. Contenders have until November 30 to present proposals, which must include plans to automate the facility.
ELKO  Local art is on the scene with public installations and the 2016 Mayors Arts awards.

The Elko City Council unanimously approved two items related to the Arts and Culture Advisory Board Tuesday.

The first item was related to the pre-purchase of decorative boots for the boards community boot program. The City was being asked for the initial $3,000 to begin the process and complete the cast.

These boots are to help the City in its upcoming centennial celebration and will be painted by local artists and installed at a place set by the sponsor.

Boots represent the heart of Elko as a tough, hard-working, western town, said Chairperson Catherine Wines, in a letter to potential sponsors.

The boots are to be made of high strength fiberglass and stand at 6 feet.

Pieces such as these are seen across the country.

Sponsorship is $1,500, including the boot, working with a local artist, other expenses and maintenance.

They will be all over the city serving as a unifying art endeavor and telling the world you can leave your boots on when you come to Elko, she said.

The Arts and Culture Board was authorized to create a business plan and seek sources of funding, according to documents provided by the City.

A minimum of 10 businesses were needed to sponsor the program. Wines said the required amount has committed to the project and she anticipates a total of 20 commitments by the time the boots are ordered.

Wines said she was told by Public Works Director Dennis Strickland the Citys street department will help with the installation.

Mayors Arts Awards

The second topic concerned the creation of the awards for the 2016 Mayors Arts Awards.

I am just colossally disappointed  I think your (the Mayors) board should be commended for the support of the arts that you have given, and the arts community in Elko has failed you in this, said Wines, explaining there was a call to artists without any response.

She said there is talk about more support being needed for the arts, but then there is this occurrence.

Because the awards are set to be given in November, the Arts and Culture Advisory Board is recommending hiring an artist from Eureka. The selection was Deon Reynolds, a photographer who is also a member of the Nevada Arts Council.

We dont feel like we, just in the interest of fairness, that we can hire anyone from inside the county, because thats who we put the call to artists to, said Wines.

Reynolds has agreed to create five awards for $1,000.

He is very active in this community, in the arts community, she said. Reynolds has a piece in the Northeastern Nevada Museums permanent collection.

Councilman John Patrick Rice said he thought the recommendation was good and shared Wines disappointment.

In its second year, the Mayor recognizes the commitment of local artists and organizations to the arts with these awards.
The captain of the doomed El Faro cargo ship sounded an alarm for his crew to abandon the vessel shortly before it sank last fall in a hurricane near the Bahamas, killing all 33 onboard, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Wednesday.



Twenty-six hours of newly recovered audio, captured by microphones on the ship's bridge, offer chilling detail into the final hours before the 790-foot (241-meter) ship sank on Oct. 1, after sailing into Hurricane Joaquin on a routine cargo run between Florida and Puerto Rico.



The NTSB released preliminary details from information it recovered from the ship's voyage data recorder, found earlier this month on the ocean floor after a 10-month search.



The data includes weather and navigational detail, in addition to recorded conversations, that could provide crucial answers to what happened in the worst cargo shipping disaster involving a U.S.-flagged vessel in more than three decades.



In their final morning, El Faro's crew were clearly in trouble, according to the data recordings, which began hours after the ship's departure from Jacksonville, Florida two days earlier, before a brewing storm had developed into a hurricane.



At 6:13 a.m., the crew was discussing flooding and lost propulsion. In a phone call, the ship's master informed staff on shore that the situation was critical, the NTSB said in a statement. He was preparing to abandon ship if necessary.



At 7:30 a.m., he sounded the alarm to abandon ship. The recording ended about 10 minutes later, the NTSB said.



The chronology, and previously disclosed details, suggest the ship was flooding before it lost power, said maritime attorney Rod Sullivan, who represents the family of a deceased crew member and has been closely following the investigation.



"It indicates some type of structural failure on the ship," he said, adding that the captain also appeared to have waited a long time to call for help.



Thomson Reuters Eikon data previously revealed that the El Faro was sailing at near full speed into the center of the storm, raising questions about the captain's voyage plan.



A U.S. Coast Guard panel investigating the sinking was hoping to have information from the data recorder before its third set of hearings on the disaster, not yet scheduled.



In hearings earlier this year, the panel learned that the ship had received outdated weather information as the storm intensified, due to delays in data from its weather reporting service.



The NTSB said information recovered from the recorder is preliminary, and the timeline could change. It did not know how long it would take to fully review and transcribe the recording.



High levels of background noise were making it difficult to decipher some of the crew's conversations, the agency said, but audio filtering had been helpful in recovering some details.



Families of the deceased crew members were briefed about the information earlier on Wednesday, the NTSB said in a statement.





Reporting by Letitia Stein
Cosco (Dalian) Shipyard Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of its 51 percent owned Cosco Shipyard Group Co., Ltd., has delivered two jackups to the Foresight Group of companies through United Arab Emirates-based drilling and rig management services firm Hallworthy International FZC.

Cosco Dalian signed the delivery documents for the two jackups,"N527" and "N581" -- possibly Vivekanand 2 (350' ILC) and Vivekanand 3 (350' ILC) -- with the buyer recently.

The jack-up rigs, both measuring 74.09 meters in LOA (length of all), 62.80 meters in width, are designed to operate at water depths of 350 feet and is capable of performing drilling operations at depths of up to 30,000 feet.

Separately, Cosco indicated that Cosco (Guangdong) Shipyard Co., Ltd., a unit of Cosco Shipyard, has delivered a platform supply vessel, named "VOS PASSION", to its European buyer. The vessel is 274 feet (83.48 meters) in length, 59 feet (18 meters) in breadth and 26 feet (8 meters) in depth.

These deliveries come after the shipbuilder entered into a contract with a European buyer for three 1750 TEU container vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2019.
With the new Alfa Laval DuroShell plate-and-shell heat exchanger, Alfa Laval aims to strengthen its offering in LPG/E cargo reliquefaction with a construction that increases resistance to thermal and pressure fatigue.

Alfa Laval DuroShell is a specially engineered plate-and-shell heat exchanger with unique design capabilities. Already used in the offshore oil and gas industry, it is now being introduced for marine duties such as LPG/E cargo reliquefaction. An innovative construction and a patented roller coaster plate pattern make DuroShell more robust, allowing it to condense cargo with a higher ethane content.

DuroShell is a remarkable advance in heat exchanger design, said Matilda Mellby, Application Manager, Gas Components at Alfa Laval. As an LPG/E cargo condenser, it provides far greater resistance to temperature and pressure extremes than most other welded solutions.

Like Alfa Lavals AlfaRex plate heat exchanger, DuroShell is a laser-welded solution combining high thermal efficiency with a very small footprint. But whereas AlfaRex handles pressures of around 30 bar and temperatures down to -50C, DuroShell withstands pressures up to 35 bar when titanium plates are used, along with temperatures as low as 198C.

An extended pressure range is important as the ethane level in LPG/E increases, Mellby said. DuroShell is more than robust enough to handle ethane condensation, which demands pressures in excess of 30 bar.

The robustness of DuroShell is the result of many factors, including the patented roller coaster pattern of its cut-wing plates. The roller coaster pattern ensures even expansion around the plate circumference, which eliminates potential weak spots and increases the heat exchanger lifetime. In addition, the entire plate pack is precompressed, which minimizes the effect of large differences and variations in temperature.

Further strength is added by the distribution tubes that extend through the laser-welded plate pack. These relieve stress on the plate pack itself, while at the same time ensuring the best distribution of media. Together with the roller coaster pattern, which creates high turbulence even at low velocities, the distribution tubes ensure excellent thermal performance.

The DuroShell design merges stability with thermal efficiency, and it minimizes fouling to ensure high performance over time, Mellby said. For LPG/E cargo reliquefaction, no solution compares to DuroShell in simplicity, capability or reliability.
Iran's defence minister said on Thursday four of his country's vessels accused of harassing a U.S. warship were only doing their job, and Tehran would contront any American ship that entered its waters.

The vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted what a U.S. defence official described as a "high speed intercept" of the warhip on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz.

The official said two of the Iranian vessels came within 300 yards of the USS Nitze in an incident that was "unsafe and unprofessional," underlining the tensions that remain more than a year after Washington and other Western powers reached a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and lifted sanctions.

Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Thursday that the ships had only been carrying out their regular duties monitoring foreign ships near Iranian waters.

"If an American ship enters Iran's maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them," he said in a stark statement reported by the Iranian Students' News Agency.

The United States and its allies are concerned about Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war, Tehran's ballistic missile programme, and its backing for Shi'ite militias accused of abusing civilians in neighbouring Iraq.



(Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh)
Navigating into seaports is now safer and more efficient for mariners thanks to improved NOAA technology that ships rely on to give them information about currents. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) developed a more reliable, cost-saving version of a current sensor system that can now be placed at more remote locations along navigation channels.

The updated Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) system provides real-time current speed and direction observations where many mariners need it mostat U.S. Coast Guard Aids-to-Navigation (ATON) buoys along major shipping channels. Accurate information about ocean conditions helps ship operators protect their cargo and the environment as they navigate narrow channels with increasingly larger vessels.

More than a decade ago, CO-OPS heard customer requests for tidal current data near navigation channels and developed a real-time current measurement system for placement on ATON buoys as an enhancement to the PORTS program. At the time, the new system marked an important step forward for delivering current data to users. The buoy-mounted ADCPs used a radio link for data transmission, whereas more traditional seafloor bottom-mounted sensors used communication cable tethers that limited where they could go, were vulnerable to being snagged by anchors, and were costly to install and repair.





Solving a Technology Challenge

In late 2014, CO-OPS engineers were challenged to design, develop, and test an improved version of the current sensor system in use at 24 sites in nine PORTS locations across the nation. The new version had to be more reliable, since several stations were experiencing data transmission issues, and it had to be simpler to install and maintain.

The team designed and developed a prototype ADCP system consisting of a single buoy-mounted component that automatically transmits data using real-time telemetry via an Iridium satellite. The new approach eliminates the less reliable radio communications link and the entire data-receiving shore station employed by the old system.

Together, these improvements will reduce costs for PORTS partners by an estimated one-third or more. The satellite transmission also does not have a range limit, so current sensors can be placed on virtually any ATON buoy where ship operators need information, allowing them to be placed on ATONs further offshore than before.

In May 2016, following a year of successful field trials, CO-OPS placed a new system at an operational ATON buoy of the South Chesapeake Bay PORTS in Virginia. The field demonstration will likely last through the fall of 2016 before the system becomes fully operational.
The Company:

TPG Marine Enterprises, LLC is an operations, logistics and consulting company that specializes in all aspects of cargo movement on the Inland Waterways System. The firm owns and operates eight facilities in the Midwest and has about 200 employees. TPG Marine has interests in terminals servicing the Ohio, Green and Illinois Rivers along with a shipyard in Chicago.



The Case:

TPG brings innovation, efficiency, professionalism and harbor service/shipyard infrastructure (new dry docks, new cranes, new boats, and SOTA cleaning equipment to inland rivers facilities. Offering unique access to both the Great Lakes and inland rivers, TPG is adding a third full size dry dock to its Chicago Dry Dock operation which -- in tandem with another large dry dock -- will allow full dry dock repair of 300-foot tank barges without having to go all the way to Sturgeon Bay, WI or Cleveland, OH. TPG continues to expand its harbor service operations (including harbor management software) and through maritime construction.

1341 North Capitol Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46202

Tel: (317) 631-0234

Website: www.tpgmarine.com

CEO: Daniel B. Altman

President: Don W. Miller, Jr.
J.F. Lehman & Company (JFLCO) informs it has signed a definitive agreement with Oldenburg Group Incorporated to acquire its Heavy Equipment Group, including both its defense and mining business units. The new company will be named Lake Shore Systems, Inc., in a return to its roots dating back to 1858. The acquisition will represent JFLCOs 25th sponsored platform investment since the firms 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, Wisc.; Iron River, Mich.; Kingsford, Mich.;, and Ontonagon, Mich. 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 todays 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.
Naval architect and marine engineering company Foreship has created a wholly-owned subsidiary located in Tallinn to strengthen ties with shipowners, shipyards and marine equipment suppliers in Estonia, and support the development of locally-based design skills.

Foreship OU will commence operations on October 1 from its own premises, located in the brand new Opik building within sight of Tallinn Airport, Lake Ulemiste and Tallinn Old Town.

The new company, which is 100 percent held by Helsinki-based Foreship Ltd, will be headed by Estonian national and structural engineer Sven Varushkin. Initially, Varushkin will be joined by two further Estonian structural engineers, transferred from Foreships Finnish headquarters, but Foreship Ltd Managing Director Lauri Haavisto sees the number of locally-employed specialists expanding to seven or eight within a year.

The Estonian Maritime cluster is vibrant and growing, said Haavisto. The launch of Foreship OU demonstrates our commitment to the newbuild ship design and retrofit needs of a distinct and significant group of Baltic ferry owners, workboat builders and repair yards.

Haavisto added that a number of Estonian graduates who had studied naval architecture and structural engineering at the University of Tallinn had moved on to MSc studies at Helsinkis Aalto University, before finding a post with Foreship. We are also delighted to establish Foreship OU as a way of attracting more of the brightest and best from Estonias naval architecture community to Foreship, he said.

The new operation in Tallinn will work closely with existing Foreship Group offices in Finland and Miami, but Haavisto said that Foreship OU would also be tasked with expanding group activities inside Estonia.
ELKO  The Elko Chamber of Commerce touts its services as the business behind business. The workload is immense and the staff miniscule. In fact, events and sales director Emily Anderson is one of only three employees for the entire operation.

A lot of people dont know what the chamber is or what we do, said Anderson.

At first glance the Sherman Station may seem like just another historic monument in a city with plenty of past. Step beyond the Western artifacts that decorate the lawn and the log exterior of the building and you will find a hub of activity.

The chamber serves around 750 businesses in our region. In the summer the center gets 600  700 visitors a month. Their website often exceeds 53,000 hits in any 30day period.

When people are looking for major events they look at our website first or call, said Anderson.

Besides assisting local business and helping visitors in our area the chamber also serves as the main resource for people who are planning to relocate to Elko. They provide information about schools, jobs, housing and a myriad of other needs and services in the community. Anderson estimates that they send out an average of five info packets a week.

On top of all of this the staff manages three major events each year. These include the Home and Business Expo, the Beer Fest and the annual Sherman Dinner that brings in funds to maintain the 113 year-old building.

They also organize Business After Hours each month and Business Before Hours every other month. These are mixers that promote public and business interaction.

Lunch and Learn is one of the services that the chamber provides for anyone who wants to attend just for the love of knowledge. The free lectures include topics on business but other subjects are scheduled from time to time. The schedule can be found at www.elkonevada.com.

Despite the hectic schedule and the wearing of multiple hats, Anderson loves her position with the chamber. She enjoys helping others.

I was raised in a small town in Nevada, said Anderson. I understand how small towns need to support themselves. Its important that we stick together.
Africa's biggest shipping group Grindrod reported a first-half loss on Thursday, pressured by low global growth and declining dry bulk shipping rates but it expects demand for commodities to pick up this year.



Africa's biggest shipping group, which is present in 37 countries worldwide, reported a headline loss per share of 50.8 cents for the six months to June 30 versus a profit of 43.6 cents a year earlier.



Headline earnings per share, the main profit gauge in South Africa, strips out certain one-off items.



The global shipping and freight industry is struggling through its longest downturn in three decades. In February maritime consultancy, Drewry, forecast that the global shipping container industry would loose $5 billion this year due to lacklustre freight rates and high operating costs.



"We are cautious. Very cautious," Grindrod Chief Executive Alan Olivier said. "I don't expect commodity prices to ramp up at all. But I do expect to see some improvement in demand ... Cautiously optimist but it is going to be a gradual process."



In a statement, Grindrod said the "recovery of the market continues to be weak despite increased Chinese iron ore imports and higher coal prices".



Olivier told Reuters the company was focussing on delivering its capital projects, including dredging the access channel to the port of Maputo in Mozambique by the end of the year.



Its shares were down 7.3 percent at 11.12 rand by 1120 GMT.

Reporting by Zimasa Mpemnyama
1864 - CSS Tallahassee, commanded by Cmdr. John Taylor Wood, returns to Wilmington, N.C. to refuel on coal. During her more than two week raid, CSS Tallahassee destroys 26 vessels and captures seven others.

1927 - USS Los Angeles (ZR 3) rises to a near-vertical position due to the sudden arrival of a cold air front that lifts the airships tail, causing it to rise before she can swing around the mast parallel to the new wind direction. Los Angeles only suffers minor damage but the affair demonstrates the risks involved with high mooring masts.

1943 - Depth charges from USS Patterson (DD 392) sink the Japanese submarine RO-35, 170 miles southeast of San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands.

1944 - USS Picuda (SS 382), in attack on Japanese convoy at the western entrance to the Babuyan Channel, sinks destroyer Yunagi 20 miles north-northeast of Cape Bojeador, Philippines and merchant tanker Kotoku Maru.

1951 - 23 fighters from USS Essex (CV 9) escort Air Force heavy bombers in an attack on Najin, Korea due to the target being beyond range of land-based fighters.

(Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division)
Huisman has secured new crane contracts with a total value of around 300 million Euro from various major offshore, shipping and wind farm installation contractors:



 2 x 900mt Heavy Lift Mast Cranes for BigLift Shipping;

 1 x 1,600mt Leg Encircling Crane for Van Oord;

 4 x 2,200mt Offshore Mast Cranes for OOS International;

 1 x 3,000mt Offshore Mast Crane for Boskalis;

 1 x 5,000mt Tub Mounted Crane for Allseas.



The cranes will be built at the Huisman production facilities in The Netherlands, Czech Republic and China. Deliveries are scheduled for end 2017, 2018 and 2019.



The two 900mt Heavy Lift Mast Cranes for BigLift Shipping are envisaged for Biglifts third Happy S-type vessel Happy Sun. The new built vessel is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2018.



The 1,600mt Leg Encircling Crane for Van Oord will replace the existing 900mt crane onboard their offshore installation jack-up Aeolus. The new crane will enable Van Oord to install bigger and heavier foundations and turbines for offshore wind farms. The crane will be delivered and installed in the first quarter of 2018.



To further expand their current fleet, OOS International has ordered two new build semi-submersible accommodation crane vessels. For the new vessels, Huisman will deliver two sets of 2,200mt Offshore Mast Cranes with deep water auxiliary hoist system and two telescopic access bridges. The two semis will be built for the oil & gas, renewable energy and decommissioning markets, delivery is scheduled for 2019.



The 3,000mt Offshore Mast Crane for Boskalis will be installed onboard one of its existing F-class heavy transport vessels, which will be converted into an offshore transport and installation crane vessel. The delivery of the crane is expected by the end of 2017.



The 5,000mt Tub Mounted Crane for Allseas will be installed onboard their new-build, offshore vessel Pioneering Spirit. The crane design is based on the use of a 20 metre diameter slew bearing which is designed and manufactured entirely by Huisman. The 5,000mt Tub Mounted Crane will be delivered in the second half of 2018.
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.

It remains to be seen whether these actions were carried out by rogue Revolutionary Guard commanders or sanctioned by senior officials in Tehran, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"For four decades the Revolutionary Guard have been told that America is the greatest threat to the Islamic Revolution," said Sadjadpour. "This institutional culture hasnt changed after the nuclear deal," he added.

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. Additional reporting by Warren Strobel; Editing by Grant McCool and Andrew Hay)
A U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots after an Iranian fast-attack craft approached two U.S. ships in the northern Gulf on Wednesday, a U.S. Defense official said.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said three warning shots were fired from a .50 caliber gun after warning flares did not work.

The incident started with three Iranian vessels, but there was only one Iranian vessel around by the time the warning shots were fired, the official said.

The official added that at one point an Iranian vessel came within 200 yards (193 meters) of a U.S. ship.

The United States on Wednesday had reported another incident in which it said Iranian vessels harassed a U.S. warship near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.





(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Paul Simao)
From Brazil to China and then back to Brazil, five pipe racks and three modules weighing a total of 1,871.51 metric tons and measuring 24,075 m will be transported by heavy lift shipping specialist HANSA HEAVY LIFT for a new floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) to eventually operate off the coast of Brazil.

With the heaviest piece weighing 730 metric tons, the cargo was loaded onto the HHL Valparaiso at the ports of Itajai and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil before being transported to Qingdao, in the Shandong Province of China, where it will undergo final outfitting before being transported back to Brazil.

Our in-house team of engineers worked closely with the customer from the onset of the order to come up with the most viable and cost effective transport solution for this very complex project, said Joerg Roehl, Chief Commercial Officer, HANSA HEAVY LIFT.

This included custom-built grillage for loadspreading on deck to accommodate the heavy modules, the modification of lifting lugs and the installation of platforms for safe access."

We also had limited cargo information which meant a cargo inspection was necessary to assess the clash of rigging arrangements with the equipment and protrusions, said Ian Broad, Director Cargo Management, HANSA HEAVY LIFT.

The heavy lift specialist also faced additional challenges which included draft and navigational restrictions at the river passage in Itajai, tight stowage, and a long waiting time at all ports, which made general planning more difficult.

The pipe racks and modules belong to the FPSO unit P-67, which is being designed for the pre-salt clusters off the coast of Brazil.
With todays focus on digital technology, mobile apps, enhanced reality and the overall digital landscape, the maritime industry often gets overshadowed, leaving some to ask, Does maritime still play a significant role in todays society? The answer, of course, is a resounding Yes!



Maritime museums, such as GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, are here to introduce to some (and reinforce to others) the continued importance of maritime history and the cultural and economic impact the industry has on a global scale. By doing so, more and more millennials are discovering jobs outside of Silicon Valley, ones that do not require sitting behind a desk all day; jobs that enable you to travel the globe, experience other cultures and have a significant and visible impact on the global economy.



GulfQuest, the worlds only maritime museum dedicated to the historical, cultural and economic significance of Americas Sea - the Gulf of Mexico - aims to help expose people to this industry. With 90 interactive exhibits housed inside the stern of a full-sized replica of a containership, GulfQuest encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the maritime industry and show them how they can be part of this exciting industry.



We have taken extra measures, every step of the way, to design an immersive experience for our visitors. The exhibits are both entertaining and educational, and encourage visitors to explore every maritime aspect of the Gulf of Mexico, said Tony Zodrow, GulfQuest executive director. From the ramp ways on either side of the [container] ship, to the sounds of the ships engines humming, to the lighting effects, visitors will feel very much like they are inside a life-size vessel.



GulfQuests containership, the SS McLean, commemorates the concept of containerization, an idea pioneered by Malcom McLean in the 1950s as the owner of Waterman Steamship Corporation in Mobile, the museums home port. Containerization revolutionized world trading by dramatically lowering shipping costs, thus making it possible for companies to manufacture their products and ship them worldwide at affordable costs.



Interactive maritime museums such as GulfQuest allow visitors to experience of the industry in a more hands-on way. As Joan Wages stated in a recent Huffington Post article tilted Why Museums Are Important, Seeing something in person is quite different than seeing it in the pages of a book or on a computer screen.



By exposing the public to the wonders of the maritime industry, translating the industry language to the laymen and passing our maritime traditions down to the next generation in an interactive, fun and engaging way, we can ensure the achievements, culture and impact of the industry will continue to be felt across the globe.



If we can inspire one person, just one, to consider maritime as a career option, then we know we have done our job.





The Author

Jeremy Bonds is the Public Relations Coordinator at GulfQuest. Before joining GulfQuest, Jeremy was Assignment Editor for the NBC affiliate in Mobile and a radio producer/marketing specialist for two local radio stations. A graduate of the University of South Alabama, Jeremy previously free-lanced as a properties artisan in New York City, creating specialty props for TV, film and Broadway, and interned for late-night talk show CONAN on TBS.
Matson Navigation Company, Inc., a subsidiary of container shipper Matson, Inc., has signed a contract with U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO to build two new combination container and roll-on/roll-off (Con-Ro) vessels for its Hawaii fleet at a contract price of $511 million for both vessels with deliveries scheduled for the end of 2019 and mid-year 2020.

Matson is calling these vessels the Kanaloa Class in honor of the ocean deity revered in the native Hawaiian culture and will name each of the new vessels after predecessor ships from its 134-year history. The first vessel will be named Lurline, the sixth Matson vessel to carry that name, while the second vessel will be its fifth named Matsonia.

The Kanaloa Class vessels will be built on a 3,500 TEU vessel platform, which is 265 meters long, 34.9 meters wide (beam), with a deep draft of 11.5 meters and enclosed garage space for up to 800 vehicles. In addition, the new vessels will have state-of-the-art green technology features, including a fuel efficient hull design, environmentally safe double hull fuel tanks, fresh water ballast systems and dual-fuel engines, meaning that they will be able to operate at speeds up to 23 knots on either conventional fuel oils or liquefied natural gas (LNG) with some adaptation for LNG. These advancements are important to Hawaii as a means to reduce fuel consumption, and will result in significant emissions reductions over time.

The two Kanaloa Class ships will replace three diesel powered vessels in active service, which will be moved to reserve status. With delivery of the Kanaloa Class ships, along with its two new Aloha Class ships, Matson will have completed the renewal of its Hawaii fleet, allowing it to retire its seven older steamship vessels that will no longer comply with environmental regulations in 2020 without substantial modification.

The larger capacity of the Aloha Class and Kanaloa Class vessels will allow Matson to return to an optimal nine-ship fleet deployment in Hawaii, increasing efficiency and lowering operating costs. The Kanaloa Class vessels are expected to be more fuel efficient than the ships they will replace and will add rolling stock carrying capacity while lowering operating, repair and maintenance, and dry-docking costs.

This vessel order underscores Matson's long-standing commitment to serve Hawaii with the largest, most reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly fleet for the long-term, said Matt Cox, president and CEO. The Kanaloa Class ships will be built specifically to meet Hawaii's freight demands while reducing our environmental impact and improving our efficiency for decades to come.

Matson said it expects to finance the Kanaloa Class vessels primarily through cash flows from operations, borrowing available under the Company's unsecured revolving credit facility and additional debt financings, which could include U.S. Government guaranteed vessel finance bonds (Title XI).
Subscribe for

Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Battle Mountain Airport will receive $924,046 in federal funds for rehabilitation of runways and taxiways, Sen. Harry Reid announced this week.

This project will fund crack filling, seal coating and new pavement markings on 7,300 feet of Runway 03/21 and 7,299 feet of Runway 12/30 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.

The same work also will be done on 8,000 feet of Taxiways A, B, C and connectors, along with 16,000 square yards of the existing apron.

The grant is part of $5.4 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds Reid announced this week to improve and modernize airports throughout the Silver State. The grants will also fund projects at Las Vegas McCarran International, North Las Vegas and Boulder City.

Reid said he has secured nearly $18 million in funding for Nevadas airports so far this year.

Transportation is key to Nevadas growth and is a driver of the Silver States economic engine. These funds are necessary for us to meet the demands brought on by our states continued growth and vital for our ability to keep building on that successful expansion, he said.
United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), which is close to merging with Hapag-Lloyd, revealed enormous deficits and a massive debt in its key financial figures, says Alphaliner.

The first-time revealed UASC financial figures uncover more than $4bn of debt incurred during a major fleet expansion program and a net loss of $384m last year, were described by analyst Alphaliner as UASCs dismal financial performance laid bare.

Revenues for the last year reached $3,318M. These figures were provided by Hapag-Lloyd as part of the disclosures for an upcoming Annual General Meeting, scheduled to be held in Hamburg at the end of August.

UASCs poor financial performance has continued in 2016 with an operating loss of -$132 M and net loss of -$201 M on revenues of $1,532 M in the first six months of this year.

UASCs financial records have been a commercial secret until now as it was a private company. Its total financial debts as at June 30, 2016 were $4.06bn against an equity base of just $1.89bn.

At this occasion, the German carrier is seeking shareholders approval to amend its capital structure to complete a planned merger with UASC.

UASCs equity position fell short of the minimum threshold of $1,950 M that was agreed with Hapag-Lloyd under the terms of the planned merger. This could mandate a compensatory payment by UASC shareholders at the time of mergers completion.
Some 50,000 trade visitors from the whole of the world are expected in Hamburg for the start of SMM in less than two weeks. And once again, it is fully booked  with a total of more than 2,150 exhibitors from 67 countries, presenting their most innovative products and services. SMM will live up to its reputation as the pacemaker of the industry again, with exhibitors from every part of the maritime value chain and a high-quality conference program, says Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.



One of the keys to the success of SMM has always been the enormous innovative power of the companies participating. SMM features exhibitors of all kinds, from market leaders to young start-ups, with two thirds of them based outside of Germany. They will present their latest technologies and services, and in many cases exclusive world premieres. Excitement is building up  The tremendous challenges within the maritime industries make SMM a key indicator and trendsetter. It is presenting today the course that the industry will take tomorrow, says Bernd Aufderheide.



Solutions at all levels

Powerful, environment friendly marine engines, navigation systems giving maximum precision, innovations in shore power supply, and smart water processing systems  these are just some of the areas where the maritime industry is optimizing, renewing and inventing. Digitization is naturally a major topic, and Green Propulsion plays a major role. Space at the fair has been specially expanded, adding 3,500 square meters dedicated to innovative propulsion technologies. The focus there will be on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. Exhibitors in this area include Hybrid Port Energy, a subsidiary of Becker Marine Systems. The innovative LNG Hybrid Barge, a floating power station to supply cruise ships in port with electricity, is already in successful operation. The latest highlight is the modular special-purpose container LNG PowerPac, developed for power supply to container ships. Both of these product developments can give significant reductions in emissions such as NOX, SOX and CO2.



Clean power solutions are also presented by MTU, a manufacturer which belongs to Rolls-Royce Power Systems. This year, the company will present an LNG marine engine for the first time. The 16-cylinder variant covers a power range from 1,500 to 2,000 kilowatts. We are convinced that LNG engines will become more and more important to complement the proven diesel engines in shipping, says Dr Ulrich Dohle, Chairman of the Board of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The first series-manufactured LNG engines are to be delivered from 2018 onwards. An exclusive first will be presented in advance at SMM. Rolls-Royce will also exhibit new propulsion systems for commercial, offshore and public service vessels, and for private yachts.



RWO, a part of the Veolia Group from France, one of the worlds leading maritime water processing systems, will present the CleanSewage Bio biological maritime waste water treatment system, which is particularly space saving, low-maintenance and easy to operate. RWO also presents its SRO-COM desalination system, featuring high energy efficiency thanks to a new type of membrane. Another highlight of the RWO stand will be the OWS-COM oily water separation system, the worlds leading product in its category with a total of more than 14,000 installations.



More performance, less maintenance

The search for greater efficiency is one of the drivers of new inventions and further developments. That certainly applies to Raytheon Anschutz, the worlds leading supplier of navigation equipment. This subsidiary of US defence and electronics company Raytheon presents the Synapsis NX INS-architecture. It is based on modern network infrastructure, modular software and the new Small Marine Computer, which serves as the standard for all workstations and bridge applications. The special features here are new applications and operating concepts, and better integration on the bridge.



Siemens has a logistics concept based on a modular container solution to accelerate maintenance work in dock. A standard seafreight container is individually fitted for the repair and maintenance requirements. This mobile ship service workshop includes standard and special-purpose tools, and also air-conditioning and heating equipment and special lighting systems so that service engineers are equipped for every work environment on site. The effect is impressive  cutting maintenance time by up to 15% and substantially reducing risk during maintenance work. Siemens presents this container at SMM in the outside space in front of Hall B6.



Safety and navigation

High-ranking representatives of navies and coastguards are expected to attend SMM, as usual. They make presentations in the exhibition halls on the latest developments for more security at sea. The German Armed Force (Bundeswehr) for example have announced three exhibits. The airborne reconnaissance drone for close area imaging (ALADIN) provides real-time airborne reconnaissance and surveillance with a range of about five kilometers. The specially developed stability calculation software for all ships and vessels of the German Navy will also be presented live. A special feature for combatting cyber risks will be presented by the classification society DNV GL  the Cyber Quick Check application helps to protect fleet software and ship systems from potential attacks. The range of products includes further apps, e.g. for comparison of the individual energy efficiency of ships with global fleets, or for information on LNG in shipping.



The Fraunhofer Transport Alliance provides its combined know-how at SMM again with a joint stand run by seven of its organizations. The researchers present an autonomous navigation system including modules for bad-weather navigation and collision avoidance, and a Crew Compliance Optimizer, which simplifies the complex administrative operations for putting together the crew and work schedules.



The industry needs to re-invent itself, said Martin Stopford, a prominent shipping expert, at the recent advanced press conference for SMM. Exhibitors at worlds leading maritime trade fair will show that they take a leading role in doing that. Their innovations are making shipping fit for the future.
The Danish Maritime Authority has changed the size of the area of prohibition that was established on 17 August in the North Sea off the coast at Esbjerg in connection with the discovery by divers of a submarine on the seabed.



"Initially, the area of prohibition had a radius of 1,000 metres from the wreck, says Director Jan Thorn, Safety of Navigation, National Waters."Subsequently, we have engaged in dialogue with the Defence as well as the local fishermen's association. On the basis of the assessment by the Defence of the danger related to the ammunition found on the submarine, we have decided to change the size of the area of prohibition. This is primarily done in consideration of the fishing activities in the area.""



Now, the area of prohibition has a radius of 100 metres from the wreck  the prohibition applies to all unauthorised fishing, anchoring, diving and other works on the seabed.



The area of prohibition has been established because the wreck is reported to contain unexploded mines and torpedoes.



Navigational warning issued by the Danish Maritime Authority

For safety reasons, the Danish Maritime Authority prohibits all unauthorised fishing, anchoring, diving and other works on the seabed within a radius of 100 metres from the wreck in the position 55 30.620 N  007 56.841 E.
Why Putin Might Be on His Way Out

BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : Russian President Vladimir Putin recently did three very interesting things.

First, he fired his long-time aide and chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, and moved him to a lower position. A few weeks earlier, Putin fired at least three regional governors and replaced them with his personal bodyguards.

Removing that many governors is a bit odd. Replacing them with bodyguards is very odd. Then removing someone like Ivanov is extremely odd.

Second, Russia raised pressure on Ukraine. The Russians claimed that Ukrainian special forces attacked Russian-held Crimea. They announced that they sent S-400 anti-air missiles to Crimea. With a 250-mile range, these missiles can reach deep into Ukraine.

Finally, Putin has shown some signs that he may force Armenia to return parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, a contested region, to Azerbaijan.

Armenia is hostile toward Turkey over what it calls the Armenian genocide and Turkeys refusal to apologize for it. Armenia is historically a close Russian ally, and Russian troops are stationed there.

After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans visit to Moscow, Putin met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and gave him the news.

This is a radical change in Russian policy .

Putin is now seen as an aggressive absolute dictator making large foreign policy concessions at the expense of close alliesfor what seems like no visible gain. But the truth has always been far more complex.

Now, it is even more convoluted.

Putin's two major problems

Putin has two huge problems.

I have already written about how Russias economy has been in free-fall since oil prices dropped. Russia recently released its Q2 GDP estimate that showed a slowing in economic contraction. That is good news, in a way.

The second problem is Putins failure in Ukraine. The West sees him as the aggressor, and he was. Yet, the tale began with Western-backed protesters ousting a pro-Russian government and replacing it with a pro-Western one.

Putin seized formal control of Crimea even though Russia had broad informal control through its large military presence. He tried to incite an uprising in eastern Ukraine but failed. The Russian-backed rebels were forced to a stalemate by Ukrainian troops. Putin became aggressive after he suffered a grievous reversal in Ukraine, but it didnt get him what he wanted.

In Russia, the sense of a national security threat eclipsed the economic crisis. At first, such threats spawn huge support for a countrys leader (the same is seen in the US). But, support fades over time when no solutions are found.

It has been two years since the twin crises happened. Putins support will inevitably erode.

Two layers of support

Putin has two layers of support.

One is public opinion. This is not trivial, but in the end, not decisive. The other is the elite, which in Russia consists of oligarchs and the intelligence apparatus. During the collapse of the Soviet Union, these two groups meshed in a way that benefitted both.

There is a great deal of infighting in these groups, and Putin has cracked down on some oligarchs who were seen as a threat to his power. Structurally, though, there is a coalition of elites in Russia to whom Putin must answer.

Boris YeltsinPutins predecessorwas deposed by a coalition of elites because he allowed the economy to virtually disintegrate and the US to embarrass Russia during the Kosovo war.

Putin was elevated to leadership to fix the economy and restore Russia as a great power. For Russians, this means a great deal. They remember what Stalins lack of preparedness in World War II did to them.

Questionable loyalties

It is now 2016, and the elitesand increasingly the publicare realizing that the economy is not going to recover.

They know that slowing the economic decline is the best they can hope for. They also realize that Ukraine has not been secured, and that the grand foray into Syria has become a stalemate.

The Russian situation was much better in 2013. There was no reason to question Putins leadership. What lurked under the surface could be ignored. But today, the wealthy are hurting.

This is not to say that Putin is without power. He has a strong network of supporters, money, control of the security services, and so on. His problem is that the Russian elite is uneasy, and loyalties can shift. It is not paranoia to be uncertain about who remains loyal and who is plotting.

Putin is not nearly as powerful as Erdogan, so using a coup to purge the entire country isnt going to work because it might succeed.

Explaining Putins moves

Putin can act on two principles. When he detects a threat, he can move against it very quickly. Or if he doesnt detect a threat, he can assume one still exists.

In that case, he would destabilize a potential threat by removing key players. Whether they were an actual threat or not doesnt matter.

Everyone else will wonder.

Further, Putin would replace former key players with people who never dreamed of attaining such a high rank. They know that if anything happened to Putin, they would be return to the cold.

That explains the firings and replacements. I think that Putin knows there is a threat but is uncertain of its origin. His actions are a way to declare that he knows more than he actually does.

That will not be enough.

He must do something substantial, and that can only happen in the area of national security. He has been courting China for a significant alliance, but the Chinese dont see how Russia can help them.

The coup in Turkeyand Erdogans apology for the downing of a Russian jetopened the door for him. A strategic alliance with Turkey would disrupt the American containment policy and allow Russian influence in the Middle East to surge.

Putin needs to convince Erdogan to enter into an alliance. As a down payment, he offered Armenias national interests. I doubt that Erdogan is buying, but he will use it to extract concessions from the Americans.

Putin must also address his Ukraine problem, and that is precisely what he is doing.

In my view, the Russian military is still not in a position to move into and occupy Ukraine, even without resistance. And Putin knows it is not a slam dunk.

His actions create the image of confronting the Ukrainians. It could mean war, as I might be wrong about either Russias military or Putins eagerness. But I think it is a prelude to negotiations.

Putin wants a neutral Ukraine, without Western weapons or guarantees. If Putin can force a negotiation and come away with a concession, it will do wonders for his image.

In the meantime, Putin looks good in Russia when he really needs to shine.

Putin should survive until 2018

Putins personal future is of little consequence. Whoever replaces him will come from the same elite. Any newcomer will face the same problems and lack of options.

And this is Putins highest card.

The prize for anyone who topples him is to become the leader of a country in deep economic and strategic crisis. It would be much easier to let Putin carry the blame (and what little glory he can extract).

But, this is where Putins pre-emptive moves on personnel become dangerous. He may convince powerful people that they are in danger, forcing them to defend themselves.

I think that Putin will survive until the end of his elected term. But fear makes politics unpredictable, and geopolitical analysis doesnt work on the thinking of worried men drinking vodka to calm their nerves.

Join 250,000 readers of George Friedmans Free Weekly Newsletter

George Friedman provides unbiased assessment of the global outlookwhether demographic, technological, cultural, geopolitical, or militaryin his free publication This Week in Geopolitics. Subscribe now and get an in-depth view of the forces that will drive events and investors in the next year, decade, or even a century from now.

John Mauldin Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Need-to-Know Tips for Safeguarding Your Precious Metals

Gold and silver investors have strong opinions about third-party storage of metals. Privacy, the lack of counterparty risk, and precious metals role as crisis money are among the most attractive features of physical bullion. So it is no surprise that many investors are totally committed to storing metals at home or someplace else that is both private and accessible 24/7.

We wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment and always recommend personal possession when it comes to at least some of your metals. However, there are a number of circumstances where third-party storage makes a heck of a lot of sense. Lets take a look at the most common

Physical Security and Insurance Coverage are a Top Priority

Some folks live in high-crime neighborhoods and may have experienced a home invasion or burglary. Others may have a large holding where maximum, around-the-clock security is only prudent given the stakes involved.

We even have customers worried about family members with an addiction problem and a history of stealing.

There are ways to improve security when storing at home. However, when it comes to physical security, a professional vaulting service such as Money Metals Depository cannot be matched  not even by banks. The best depositories offer armed guards, Class 3 vaults, multiple perimeters, state-of-the-art electronic security, dual controls, fully segregated storage, and, perhaps most importantly, insurance coverage for your holding.

People with safe deposit boxes at a bank are often surprised to learn the contents of their box are NOT insured. Worse, banks have a history of working with regulators and may well be complicit in any government scheme to declare a bank holiday and bail-in or confiscate assets.

Secure storage at a non-bank institution is a far better idea.

Silver Can Be Heavy and it Needs More Space

A monster box of 500 silver American Eagles weighs roughly 40 pounds. That is more weight than some customers want to handle. Some simply cant.

Silver can also be space intensive. 500-ounce silver boxes are roughly the size of a larger shoe box. The more of them an investor accumulates, the greater the chance the holding will outgrow the space available in their safe. And getting a larger safe isnt always an option.

Minimize Costs and Transact More Efficiently

Bullion investors are well acquainted with the advantages of holding tangible coins, rounds, and bars. But buying and selling involve transaction costs, including shipping.

Of course, some companies such as Money Metals Exchange ship and insure all orders at no cost. However, when it is time to sell metal, there is going to be some expense involve with the return shipment. Not to mention the time and effort needed to get the metals packaged and mailed.

None of this is a big deal for investors who plan to buy and hold the metal indefinitely. Its another story for investors who trade more often. Some trade based on the gold-silver ratio and periodically swap one metal for the other. Other investors are buying and selling metal on a structured basis  perhaps weekly or monthly.

Then there are individuals who simply want the lowest possible premiums and prefer exchange-sized gold and silver bars. For these bars, a third-party vault which offers storage locations inside the COMEX system, is essential.

100-ounce gold bars must be shipped via armored truck in order for the shipment to be insured. That can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to arrange. 1,000-ounce silver bars weigh 70 lbs apiece, making them both awkward to handle and very expensive to ship via the Postal Service or UPS.

On top of this cost and hassle will be costs associated with having the bars melted and re-assayed when they are sold. This is a requirement for all bars coming from outside the COMEX chain of custody.

There is no cost to ship and insure when customers buy from Money Metals Exchange and store with Money Metals Depository. The reverse is also true; there is no shipping cost when selling stored metals back to us. And transactions can be completed without hassle or transit delays.

Hold Bullion inside an IRA

More and more people are dumping conventional (paper) securities and transferring funds into self-directed IRAs where they can invest in tangible assets such as bullion. However, IRS rules restrict investors from directly holding the assets. That means finding a depository to store the IRA metals.

Note: A few IRA custodians and metals dealers are promoting self-storage or home storage IRAs that attempt a clever work around to the third-party storage requirement of the IRS. The scheme requires strict record keeping, significant set-up expenses, and plenty of risk because it has not been fully tested in court. It may be disqualified, leaving people liable for taxes and penalties. Accordingly, we advise great caution and strongly suggest storing with an approved vault instead.

To sum up, people should at least have an emergency stash of metal they can access at any time. That does not mean 100% of investors should have 100% of what they own stored at home. There are plenty of cases where a secure storage facility is the way to go.

By Clint Siegner

MoneyMetals.com

Clint Siegner is a Director at Money Metals Exchange, perhaps the nation's fastest-growing dealer of low-premium precious metals coins, rounds, and bars. Siegner, a graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, puts his experience in business management along with his passion for personal liberty, limited government, and honest money into the development of Money Metals' brand and reach. This includes writing extensively on the bullion markets and their intersection with policy and world affairs.

 2016 Clint Siegner - 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.




Brexit Effect works to Boost Diageo shares

Alexander Bowring writes: After the referendum result was announced, Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes went on to say the decision was better for the UK, better for Diageo and better for the Scotch whisky industry that we remain in. This begs the question, why have Diageos shares risen dramatically immediately following the leave vote? Sitting at under 18 prior to the result, they jumped to almost 20 each, signalling a new high for the last 12 months.

As with all shares on the volatile stock market, the change is short term. When economic times are uncertain, investors prefer to hold their money in companies that pay a regular dividend, an area where Diageo shares have performed strongly before 2016. With a strong presence in many global markets, and all within sectors where consumers generally do not cut back on during hard times, the company is in a noticeably strong position. However, this is not the sole reason. Following the fall in the pounds value, exports have instantly become cheaper, and since less than 10% of revenue for Diageo is from within the UK, this drop instantly benefits the profits they generate.

This change is not exclusive to Diageo shares, and other scotch producers will also benefit if they export a fair share of their production. Wine producers will also be in a strong position, assuming they export significantly, however if they import the majority, they will find the climate more difficult.

The lower pound will also effectively make Diageos debt comparatively cheaper, as the majority is valued in sterling. All these short-term benefits have directly impacted Diageo shares, helping stimulate the rise in value. However, this change shouldnt have too much effect in the short-term.

Taking the above into consideration, the anxiety seen within the statement by Diageo CEO Mendez will materialise in the future. Once Article 50 is invoked, British companies only have a period of up to 2 years before severe changes are made. During this process a lot of announcements will be made, and the volatile nature of the stock market will be seen in full effect as investors react.

There are a lot of unknowns, and no one will know for sure whether UK producers will be able to export in the same manner as they do today. With trade deals being negotiated independently, it will create a lot of varying rules and regulations, and those currently in place may no longer be existent.

The term Scotch Whisky is one protected due to Geographical Indication, similar to Champagne. However, once Brexit takes place, will this remain? There is a lot of uncertainty, and while many believe that the reduced value of the pound may outweigh any potential long-term negatives, many believe Diageo shares and other similar Scotch producers share prices will remain volatile. All in all, when it comes to Diageo shares, its safe to say that things are up in the air and that there are many twists and turns likely to unfold before the post-Brexit market steadies.

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.




ELKO  Despite a warning being issued in the Salt Lake area regarding the Zika virus, Elko hasnt seen any local cases of the disease.

Utah reported the nations first Zika-related death last month, and warned people returning from the Olympics in Brazil this week to take precautions against potentially transmitting the disease. Cases have also been reported in Clark County.

Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital Public Relations director Bill Applegate said the hospital has not treated any patients that have contracted the virus.

Because the hospital does not consider the virus a concern for Elko area residents at this time it does not plan to issues any kind of a warning on how locals can avoid contracting Zika.

The Center for Disease Control warns that travelers visiting areas where the disease is prevalent should try to avoid mosquitoes that may be carrying the virus.
Hillary Clinton has assured the nation shes not in poor health and says all the speculation to the contrary is crazy.

I dont know why they are saying this, Clinton said to Jimmy Kimmel in an interview in which she opened a jar of pickles to prove shes fit as a fiddle.

Well, thats good enough for me.

I mean, Hillarys been so honest and forthright about her emails, the Clinton Foundation fundraising, Benghazi, taking enemy sniper fire in Bosnia, Whitewater, cattle futures and the White House travel office, why wouldnt anyone believe her when she says shes in perfectly good health?

Meanwhile, CNN and the mainstream media continue to look under ever rock for Republicans who arent supporting Donald Trump. And their unrelenting search recently landed in Las Vegas.

Jim Murren is chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. Hes a corporate executive, not an entrepreneur who started his own businesses like Steve Wynn or Sheldon Adelson.

Or Donald Trump.

Politically Murren claims to be a Republican. But he was prominently featured as a member of Republicans for Reid  a group of Republicans who supported Democrat U.S. Sen. Harry Reids re-election campaign in 2010and is now publicly supporting liberal Democrat Hillary Clinton for president.

For some reason, the acronym RINO (Republican in Name Only) keeps popping into my head. I wonder why?

As for Donald Trump, I dont know if hes ever read Rules for Radicals, but in many ways his presidential campaign is embracing Saul Alinskys strategies/methods against Alinskys protege. Consider this advice from Alinsky and tell me if it rings any bells 

The job of the organizer is to maneuver and bait the establishment so that it will publicly attack him as a dangerous enemy.

Sound familiar?

The word enemy is sufficient to put the organizer on the side of the people, to identify him with the Have-Nots

A common refrain from the Trump campaign: Im with you, theyre with her.

 but it is not enough to endow him with the special qualities that induce fear and thus give him the means to establish his own power against the establishment. Here again we find that it is power AND fear that are essential to the development of faith.

Clearly Hillarys campaign and the Washington, DC establishment perceive Trump as a powerful opponent. That perception has fueled his grassroots movement. Indeed, if the faithful didnt have faith that Trump was powerful enough to actually prevail against the establishment, his campaign never would have taken flight.

As for fear 

This need is met by the establishments use of the brand dangerous, for in that one word the establishment reveals its fear of the organizer, its fear that he represents a threat to its omnipotence.

I wish I had a nickel for every time Trump has been called dangerous the election cycle. The smell of fear is, indeed, in the air.
COLLLINSVILLE  A Henry County judge ruled this week that a man violated his probation after he absconded from Virginia and moved to Georgia without permission.

In Henry County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Judge David V. Williams sentenced James Morris Adkins, formerly of Moneta, Virginia, to two years and two months in prison, of which he must serve one year and one month, with the balance resuspended on condition of five years of good behavior and payment of more than 19,000 in restitution.

According to Henry County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Dawn Futrell, Adkins was convicted of grand larceny in Henry County in 2011 and ordered to pay $20,000 restitution. Futrell said he has paid a little less than $500 of that and still owes $19,515.

Sometime after Adkins 2011 conviction in Henry County, he was granted permission to move to Bedford County, Virginia, and continued under probation there. The probation violation stems from Adkins moving to Georgia without permission of Virginia authorities.

Adkins maintains that he signed a document in March 2015 that he believed released him from Virginia probation. He says he moved to Georgia because of work opportunities and to help support his wife and young children. He also maintains he has paid only a fraction of the restitution because he couldnt find work in Virginia. He works full time now in Georgia and said he is in a better position to pay the restitution.

Futrell argued that Adkins contention that he thought he had been released from probation when he signed the document in March 2015 doesnt make sense, because he was last in contact with a probation officer in Bedford County in September 2015.

Also in Circuit Court, Brandon Lee Lester, of Ridgeway, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribute methamphetamine.

Judge Williams sentenced Lester on each charge to five years and three months of incarceration, with five years of that suspended and three months active, which is a total of six months active time for the two charges.

The suspended parts of the sentences are on condition, in each case, of two years of probation, five years of good behavior and suspension of his drivers license for six months. Williams also ordered Lester to pay the Henry County Sheriffs Office a total of $575 in restitution for the two cases.

Lester allegedly distributed 0.933 gram of methamphetamine on June 18, 2015, and allegedly distributed 1.52 grams of methamphetamine on June 30, 2015.

Also in Circuit Court, Brandon Lamar Dishmon of Axton entered a no contest/Alford plea to charges of grand larceny and breaking and entering dwelling to commit larceny (statutory burglary).

In an Alford plea, a defendant maintains his innocence but admits the commonwealth likely could prove the charge.

Henry County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jessica Henson, in summarizing the commonwealths evidence, alleged that on Dec. 21, 2016, Dishmon went into the home of Jason White of the Axton area and took a collectible Dukes of Hazzard trash can filled with coins, then took the coins to a coin machine and got about $1,410 cash, with a processing fee of about $172. Those amounts totaled $1,582.

Henson said restitution has been repaid, and the collectible trash can has been returned.

Dishmon testified that he and White, a friend of his, were on a ski trip prior to the incident in question and White gave him permission to go in his home and get the money.

White denies that, according to testimony.

Judge Williams sentenced Dishmon on each case to two years in prison , suspended for two years, with one year of active probation and three years of good behavior.

In another case, Judge Williams sentenced Justin Glee Brandon Bowman of Collinsville, who pleaded guilty to distribute oxycodone, to five years in prison, suspended for five years on condition of two years of supervised probation, five years of good behavior, $260 of restitution with interest to the sheriffs office, and revocation of his drivers license for six months. Williams granted Bowman a restricted license to drive to and from work, to the probation office and to any treatment recommended by the probation office. The offense allegedly happened on Aug. 17, 2015.

The commonwealth previously dropped a related charge of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

In another case, Judge Williams sentenced Emma Louise Vance of Martinsville, who pleaded guilty to third-offense shoplifting, to five years in prison, of which she must serve three months, with the balance suspended on condition of two years of supervised probation, five years of good behavior and payment of $6.88 in restitution to Walmart. Williams also ordered Vance not to go back to Walmart for two years. The offense allegedly happened on Feb. 2.

Also in Circuit Court, Judge Williams sentenced James Marvin Hundley of Axton for third-offense shoplifting and also probation violation. On the shoplifting charge, Williams sentenced Hundley to five years in prison, of which he must serve one year and one month, with the balance suspended on indefinite probation. Hundley allegedly shoplifted shoes valued at $79.98 from Shoe Department on Sept. 7, 2015.

On the probation violation, Judge Williams sentenced Hundley to active time of seven months.

Also in Henry County Circuit Court, Williams sentenced Austin Garrett Martin, 21, of Bassett, who pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny and two misdemeanors -- obtain money or property by false pretense and enter property with intent to interfere with property rights -- all alleged to have happened on Aug. 18, 2015.

Judge Williams sentenced Martin on the felony charge to five years in prison and on each of the two misdemeanor charges to 12 months in jail. On each charge, Williams suspended the sentence, with two years of probation and five years of good behavior. Williams also ordered Martin, either by himself or with a co-defendant, to pay restitution of $2,374.81 to Charles Adam Finney of Bassett and $30 restitution to Riverside Pawn.

MARTINSVILLE CIRCUIT COURT

In Martinsville Circuit Court on Tuesday, Tanequa Shanea Smith of Hinton, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery and misdemeanor obstructing justice. She allegedly resisted arrest by police officers and kicked police officer Anita Sowers after being told she was under arrest for another charge.

On the assault and battery charge, Judge G. Carter Greer sentenced Smith to six months of incarceration, with five months suspended and 30 days active. He also ordered her to be on good behavior for two years, to pay a $300 fine and to write a letter of apology to Sowers.

On the obstructing justice charge, Judge Greer sentenced Smith to 30 days in jail, all suspended on condition of two years of good behavior and a $100 fine.

The offenses allegedly happened on Sept. 1, 2015. In the assault case, Smith originally was charged with felony assault and batter a police officer.

Also Tuesday, Steven Jackson Morrison of Martinsville, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribute cocaine and one count of distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, in connection with offenses in July 2015 involving small amounts of cocaine. Judge Greer scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22 at 2 p.m.

The commonwealth dropped one count of distribute cocaine.
MARTINSVILLE  Plenty of jobs are available locally, but people must be motivated to work and seek training, according to city officials and an economic developer.

During a Martinsville City Council meeting Tuesday night, they estimated that about 1,400 jobs are available in the area.

"We dont have an employment problem. We have a participation problem"  people dont want to be part of the workforce anymore, City Manager Leon Towarnicki told the council. He said he was quoting remarks that he recently heard Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) President Angeline Godwin make.

Mark Heath, president and chief executive officer of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC), said the key to filling available jobs is "to motivate people that its better to have a job and go to work" than to rely on government aid to sustain themselves.

Officials repeatedly have said that local firms with jobs available have had trouble finding people qualified to do their jobs.

Heath mentioned film manufacturer Eastman Chemical Co. as an example.

"There are jobs there," he emphasized. "They are hiring."

The Center for Advanced Film Manufacturing (CAFM) was started at the New College Institute (NCI) in 2014 to train employees for jobs at Eastman and other local high-tech manufacturers. Students in the program take 28 credit hours of coursework over two semesters.

Everyone who has successfully completed the program has been offered a job, Heath said. Some have gone to work for companies other than Eastman, he said, mentioning that 80 percent of the skills taught at the CAFM are relevant to various industries.

Financial aid is available to CAFM students, he added, emphasizing that nobody is turned away from the program due to an inability to pay for the instruction.

"Thats how important it (the program) is to our community," Heath said.

But he and others involved in establishing the program are "a little disappointed" at participation so far, he said.

Fifteen people are enrolled for the semester that started Tuesday. Heath said he had hoped to see as many as 40 to 45.

NCI, PHCC and the EDC are among collaborators in the CAFM. Officials with those entities on Wednesday did not have access to, or could not be reached for, statistics showing how many people have completed the program.

However, an earlier Martinsville Bulletin story reported that at the end of its first year, 12 students had completed the program and of those, 11 had been hired at Eastman.

Eastmans human resources manager, Charles Fraley, said in the story that the company eventually wants to make the CAFM its "principal hiring pool."

Heath said he plans to talk with local school division superintendents soon about making younger students, such as those in high school, more aware of the CAFM and career opportunities that its training provides. Older students so far have been targeted, he said.

Martinsville Vice Mayor Jennifer Bowles said high-schoolers interested in the program need to know what courses they need to take in preparation for it.

The EDCs responsibility, Heath said, is to recruit companies paying higher salaries  such as advanced manufacturers  so people will be motivated to pursue jobs provided by the firms and seek training.

When a company pays $9 or $10 an hour, "youre going to have a hard time" convincing people to apply for its jobs, whereas if the firm pays about $15 or more per hour, people are more likely to apply, he said.

The EDC, Martinsville-Henry Countys lead industry recruiting organization, is working with 12 companies that are actively considering locating here and another 11 that have made inquiries about the community, Heath said.

Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre, a new industrial park under development along U.S. 220 south of Ridgeway near the North Carolina line, is helping to generate interest among companies, he indicated.

Two lots there have been made ready for companies, while work still must be done on the other two, Heath said.

He said that while he does not know when a company will decided to locate there, the park is enabling the EDC to talk to companies that otherwise would not have considered coming to the area.

Mickey Powell reports for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at mickey.powell@martinsvillebulletin.com.
COLLINSVILLE-A Rocky Mount man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to distributing oxycodone and methamphetamine in Henry County, but will serve no time in prison.

Jesse Lewis Martin entered the plea in Judge David Williams courtroom and was sentenced on each count to five years in prison, all suspended. The condition set forth by Williams was that Martin go through two years of supervised probation, five years of good behavior and the mans drivers license will be suspended for the next six months, with one exception. Williams said that Martin would be allowed to drive to and from work and the probation office. He was also ordered to pay $775 in restitution. The offenses were alleged to have happened on April 27 and May 20, 2015.

Also in Circuit Court, Judge Williams dismissed charges of grand larceny and statutory burglary of a building with intent to commit larceny against Scott Griffin White of Martinsville, citing a lack of evidence. Griffin was accused of breaking in a home on Applewood Road in Martinsville and stealing a few hundred dollars worth of property between Dec, 15 and Dec. 20, 2014.

Also in Circuit Court, Brandon Christopher Dennis of Madison, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to amended charges of two counts of misdemeanor petit larceny (he originally was charged with two counts of felony grand larceny) and one count of misdemeanor entering a vehicle with intent to commit mischief, a misdemeanor.

Judge Williams sentenced Dennis to 12 months of incarceration on each case (a total of 36 months) and ordered that he serve 18 days of that, with the balance suspended on good behavior and payment of several hundred dollars in restitution.

The charges involved some properties that were stolen at a party in Henry County on Nov. 13, 2010, according to testimony.

More people were involved than me, Dennis testified in court. He also said, My record is not bad.

Also in Circuit Court, Kimberly Ann Pinnix of Walkertown, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to credit card theft and grand larceny in connection with the theft of a womans purse from Walmart on Sept. 30, 2015, and the use of her debit card at some businesses. Pinnixs lawyer indicated the offenses stemmed from Pinnixs drug addiction.

Judge Williams sentenced Pinnix on each charge to five years in prison, of which she must serve six months, for a total of one year. The suspended sentences are on condition of two years of supervised probation and five years of good behavior and payment of restitution totaling $1,865.82.

The commonwealth dropped charges against Pinnix of credit card fraud, grand larceny and third-offense attempt to obtain money or property by false pretense.
Rocky Suhayda, chairman of the American Nazi Party, wrote recently to his followers: Donald Trumps campaign statements, if nothing else, have SHOWN that our views are NOT so unpopular as the Political Correctness crowd have told everyone they are!

Suhayda is not the only white nationalist thrilled with Trumps campaign. The video blogger Paul Ray Ramsey tweeted, The GOP is becoming the de facto white party. Nothing wrong with that.

David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader now running for the Senate in Louisiana, was asked on NPR if Trump voters are your voters? His reply: Well, of course they are. Because I represent the ideas of preserving this country and the heritage of this country, and I think Trump represents that as well.

We are not calling Trump a racist; most of his supporters arent racists, either. And the candidate, albeit reluctantly, disavows the support of white nationalists.

But words matter. Candidates have to take responsibility for the impact of what they say. And theres no doubt that Trumps anti-foreigner tirades deliberately appeal to the darkest instincts in the American soul.

Republican leaders were already appalled at Trumps rhetoric. Paul Ryan, the speaker of the house, called his attacks on a federal judge of Mexican ancestry the textbook definition of racism. But their despair only deepened when Trump appointed Stephen Bannon, head of Breitbart News, to head his faltering campaign.

Ben Shapiro, who worked at Breitbart for four years, wrote in The Washington Post that Bannon had turned the website into a cesspool of the alt-right, a political movement he describes as shot through with racism and anti-Semitism.

Republican consultant Rick Wilson, an ardent Trump foe, told the Post, Bannon will pivot you in a dark, racist and divisive direction. Itll be a nationalist, hateful campaign. Republicans should run away. Just to confirm Wilsons point, self-described racialist Jared Taylor expressed elation: Bannon is making me hope again, making Trump Trump again.

Peter Wehner, a veteran Republican strategist, said of the alt-right championed by Bannon: Movements like this, with toxic and nasty stuff, have existed in one form or another, but theyve been kept on the outer fringes of American political life. Now its command and control at headquarters.

Trump is a very American figure. The toxic and nasty stuff he spouts is painfully familiar. As Steve wrote in his book, From Every End of This Earth, throughout American history, immigrants have been demonized for despoiling or diluting the countrys ethnic heritage. And that nativism tends to flourish in times of economic dislocation and anxiety  like now.

In 1753, Ben Franklin called the Germans flocking to Pennsylvania generally the most stupid sort of their own nation, and warned: They will soon outnumber us, (and we) will not, in my opinion, be able to preserve our language, and even our government will become precarious.

Franklins xenophobia was echoed in the anti-Catholic platform of the Know-Nothing Party that won 25 percent of the presidential vote in 1856. In 1882, Congress passed a law barring immigrants from China  a law that was not repealed until 1943.

In 1891, 11 Italians were lynched in New Orleans. During World War II, more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans were shamefully interned on the West Coast as threats to national security.

In the early 1950s, Sen. Joe McCarthy conducted an anti-Communist witch hunt laced with anti-Semitic overtones. In 1968, George Wallace ran for president on an openly segregationist platform and won five states and almost 10 million votes.

So when Trump calls Mexican immigrants rapists, when he advocates a wall across the Southern border and vows to bar Muslims from the country, he is joining a long and sordid line of American politicians who have stirred the same embers of fear and hatred than Franklin inflamed 263 years ago.

Wehner is right to warn that Trump is taking these despicable appeals and moving them from the fringe of American political life to the center. McCarthy and Wallace, after all, never came close to a major party nomination, let alone the White House.
MONDAY'S WORD is divagate (div-a-gat). Example: After winning in singles competition, Usain Bolt divagated from his regular routine and joined the Jamaican relay team.

SUNDAYS WORD was cupidity (kyu-pi-de-tee). It means avarice or greed. Example: The mans cupidity got the best of him after hearing the offer on his house.

Breakfast Club to meet

The Henry County Senior Services Breakfast Club will get together at the Fieldale Cafe tomorrow. The club meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. at the cafe, 63 Marshall Way, and all seniors age 50 and over are welcome. Anybody with questions can call Henry County Parks and Recreations Senior Services department at (276)-634-4644.

Trade-o-Ree on the way

Do you like to trade Boy Scout patches? Or maybe youve got some Boy Scout material and youd like to know more about it? Or maybe you want to buy or sell some stuf from when you were a Boy Scout? Well, coming up this Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., there will be a Patrick Henry Trade-o-Ree going on at Fieldale United Methodist Church, 36 Field Avenue. Anybody is welcome to come.

Searching for classmates

Were you a part of the Martinsville High School Class of 1981? If so, some of your classmates want to get in touch with you for the upcoming 35th Reunion. The reunion committee is asking for you to email Kathy Horne Frazier at kathyfrazierphd@yahoo.com, Tonya Ingram at tingram@piedmontcsb.org or Marla Rogers at marlarva@yahoo.com. As for when its happening, the reunion will be the weekend of Oct. 14.

Annual picnic

The AARP Chapter 317 Luncheon Group will get together for their annual picnic at 12:45 p.m. this Thursday. For more information you can call (276)-650-8533.

Family reunion coming up

The Hundley reunion, for the descendants of Joseph Taylor Hundley and Mary Etta Hopkins Hundley, will be this coming Sunday at the Rangeley Ruritan Building. The event will start at 1 p.m. and anyone whos coming is asked to bring a dish for the potluck.

Free meal

The next edition of Neighbors Eating Together is coming up this Saturday. Stanleytown United Methodist Church, over at 24 Maplewood Avenue, will have a free meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Theres going to be different types of sandwiches on the menu, along with chips, desserts and drinks. Anybody is welcome to come.

TRIVIA QUESTION: There is a member of the nut family that we use in many things throughout the day. The interesting part is that it has a tie to Virginia, as thats where it was first grown in the New World. What is this nut? The answer will be in tomorrows Stroller.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Georgia is the peach state. Idahos state fruit is the huckleberry. What is the state fruit of Virginia? Now this is where it gets interesting. Virginia doesnt actually have one. It has a state dessert, which is ice cream. It has a state muffin, which is blueberry. But it doesnt actually have a state fruit. Anyone out there have an idea what the state fruit of Virginia should be? Email those ideas to brian.carlton@martinsvillebulletin.com and well run the answers later this week in the Stroller.
In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used.

This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly.

The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. However, without providing us with your personal data, you will be unable to (as appropriate): contact us; subscribe to our mailing list; subscribe to any of our publications; or receive information about In Defence of Marxism.

We collect information about you:

(1) When you give it to us DIRECTLY

You may give us your personal data in order to subscribe to a newsletter or publication, when you contact us by phone, email or post, when you sign a petition / statement, and/or when you donate money to us.

(2) When you give it to us INDIRECTLY

Your information will also be provided to us when you follow us or otherwise interact with on or via Twitter, when you like and/or join our page on Facebook or interact with us in other ways on or via Facebook.

(3) When you give permission to OTHER ORGANISATIONS to share it or it is AVAILABLE PUBLICLY

We may combine information you provide to us with information available from external publicly available sources. Depending on your privacy settings for social media services, we may also access information from those accounts or services. We use this information to gain a better understanding of you and to improve our communications and fundraising activities.

(4) When you visit our WEBSITE

We use cookies to identify you when you visit our website. Please refer to our Cookies Policy for details on the way our use of cookies affects your personal data.

What information do we collect?

We may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal data:

(1) We will typically hold your name and contact details, including telephone number, location, and e-mail address. However, we may request other information where it is appropriate and relevant, for example:

Your bank details or debit/credit card details (if making a donation).

(2) any communication preferences you give;

(3) information about your computer and about your visits to and use of this website including your IP address, geographical location, browser type, referral source, length of visit and number of page views; and/or

(4) any other information shared with us as per clause 1.

Do we process sensitive personal information?

Applicable law recognises certain categories of personal information as sensitive and therefore requiring more protection, including political opinions and trade union membership. In limited cases, we may collect sensitive personal data about you. We would only collect sensitive personal data if there is a clear reason for doing so; and will only do so with your explicit consent.

How and why will we use your personal data?

Personal data, however provided to us, will be used for the purposes specified in this Policy or in relevant parts of the website.

We may use your personal information to:

(1) Enable you to subscribe to our hard copy publications;

(2) Send you information about our work, campaigns, organisations and any other information, products or services that we provide (this will not be done without your consent);

(3) Provide you with the services, products or information you have requested;

(4) If you request, put you in touch with other supporters in your area (who have also provided such consent);

(5) Handle the administration of any donation or other payment you make via credit/debit card, cheque, standing order or BACS transfer;

(6) Collect payments from you and send statements and/or receipts to you;

(7) Conduct research into the impact of our activity / campaigns;

(8) Deal with enquiries and complaints made by you relating to the website or us in general;

(9) Make petition submissions to third parties, where you have signed a petition and the third party is a target of the campaign to which the petition relates; and/or

(10) Audit and/or administer our accounts.

Supporter Analysis

Google Analytics

We may use some of your personal information to analyse our digital performance, for example to see how our website can be improved to help us achieve the purposes set out in section 9 below, to record how you are using our website or to assess the popularity of different articles / campaigns.

For more information on how we use your personal information in relation to Google Analytics, please view our cookie policy by clicking this link cookies policy



You can opt-out of the collection of information for such purposes here: http://www.aboutads.info/choices

Communications, updates, fundraising

Where you have provided appropriate consent, we will contact you by telephone and e-mail, with targeted communications to let you know about our events and/or activities that we consider may be of particular interest; about the work of In Defence of Marxism; and to ask for donations or other support.

Donations and other payments

All financial transactions carried out on our website are handled through either:

PayPal (Europe) S.a r.l. (PayPal), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read PayPals privacy policy (available at https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full?locale.x=en_GB ) prior to effecting any transactions with us through PayPal; or

GoCardless Ltd (GoCardless), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read GoCardlesss privacy policy (available at https://www.gocardless.com/legal/privacy) prior to effecting any transactions with us through GoCardless.

We will provide your personal data to PayPal / GoCardless only to the extent necessary for the purposes of processing payments for transactions you enter into with us. We do not store your financial details.

Childrens data

We do not knowingly process data of any person under the age of 16. If we come to discover, or have reason to believe, that you are 15 and under and we are holding your personal information, we will delete that information within a reasonable period and withhold our services accordingly.

Security of and access to your personal data

We endeavour to ensure that there are appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to prevent the loss, destruction, misuse, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or of access to your personal information.

Your information is only accessible by appropriately trained staff and volunteers.

We may also use agencies and/or suppliers to process data on our behalf. We may also merge or partner with other organisations and in so doing transfer and/or acquire personal data.

Please note that some countries outside of the EEA have a lower standard of protection for personal data, including lower security requirements and fewer rights for individuals. We may transfer and/or store personal data collected from you to and/or at a destination outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Such personal data may be processed by agencies and/or suppliers operating outside the EEA. If we transfer and/or store your personal data outside the EEA we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient implements appropriate measures to protect your personal data.

Otherwise than as set out in this Privacy Policy, we will only ever share your data with your informed consent.

Your rights

Where we rely on your consent to use your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This includes the right to ask us to stop using your personal information for direct marketing purposes or to be unsubscribed from our email list at any time. You also have the following rights:

(1) Right to be informed  you have the right to be told how your personal information will be used. This Policy and any other policies and statements used on our website and in our communications are intended to provide you with a clear and transparent description of how your personal information may be used.

(2) Right of access  you can write to us to ask for confirmation of what information we hold on you and to request a copy of that information. Provided we are satisfied that you are entitled to see the information requested and we have successfully confirmed your identity, we have 30 days to comply.

(3) Right of erasure  as from 25 May 2018, you can ask us for your personal information to be deleted from our records.

(4) Right of rectification  if you believe our records of your personal information are inaccurate, you have the right to ask for those records to be updated.

(5) Right to restrict processing  you have the right to ask for processing of your personal data to be restricted if there is disagreement about its accuracy or legitimate usage.

(6) Right to data portability  to the extent required by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) where we are processing your personal information (i) under your consent, (ii) because such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are party or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contact or (iii) by automated means, you may ask us to provide it to you  or another service provider  in a machine-readable format.

To exercise these rights, please send a description of the personal information in question using the contact details in section 15 below. You can also unsubscribe from our email list by sending a blank email to news-unsubscribe@marxist.com

Where we consider that the information with which you have provided us does not enable us to identify the personal information in question, we reserve the right to ask for (i) personal identification and/or (ii) further information.

Lawful processing

We are required to have one or more lawful grounds to process your personal information. Only 4 of these are relevant to us:

Personal information is processed on the basis of a persons consent Personal information is processed on the basis of a contractual relationship Personal information is processed on the basis of legal obligations Personal information is processed on the basis of legitimate interests

(1) Consent

We will ask for your consent to use your information to send you electronic communications such as newsletters and and fundraising emails, and if you ever share sensitive personal information with us.

(2) Contractual relationships

Most of our interactions with supporters are voluntary and not contractual. However, sometimes it will be necessary to process personal information so that we can enter contractual relationships with people. For example, if you subscribe to one of our publications, or purchase merchandise online.

(3) Legal obligations

Sometimes we will be obliged to process your personal information due to legal obligations which are binding on us. We will only ever do so when strictly necessary.

(4) Legitimate interests

Applicable law allows personal information to be collected and used if it is reasonably necessary for our legitimate activities (as long as its use is fair, balanced and does not unduly impact individuals rights).

We will rely on this ground to process your personal data when it is not practical or appropriate to ask for consent.

Achieving our purposes

These include (but are not limited to) promoting socialist policies

Governance

Internal and external audit for financial or regulatory compliance purposes

Statutory reporting

Publicity and income generation

Conventional direct marketing and other forms of marketing, publicity or advertisement

Unsolicited messages, including campaigns, newsletters, and fundraising appeals

Analysis, targeting and segmentation to develop and promote or strategy and improve communication efficiency

Personalisation used to tailor and enhance your experience of our communications

Operational Management

Maintenance of suppression files

Processing for historical, scientific or statistical purpose

Purely administrative purposes

Responding to enquiries

Delivery of requested products or information

Communications designed to administer existing services including subscriptions, administration of petitions and financial transactions

Thank you communications and receipts

Maintaining a supporter database and suppression lists

Financial Management and control

Processing financial transactions and maintaining financial controls

Prevention of fraud, misuse of services, or money laundering

Enforcement of legal claims

Reporting criminal acts and compliance with law enforcement agencies

When we use your personal information, we will consider if it is fair and balanced to do so and if it is within your reasonable expectations. We will balance your rights and our legitimate interests to ensure that we use your personal information in ways that are not unduly intrusive or unfair in other ways.

Data retention

The length of time each category of data will be retained will vary depending on how long we need to process it for, the reason it was collected, and in line with any statutory requirements. After this point the data will either be deleted, or we may retain a secure anonymised record for research and analytical purposes.

In the event that you ask us to stop sending you direct marketing/fundraising/other electronic communications, we will keep your name on our internal suppression list to ensure that you are not contacted again.

Policy amendments

We keep this Privacy Policy under regular review and reserve the right to update from time-to-time by posting an updated version on our website, not least because of changes in applicable law. We recommend that you check this Privacy Policy occasionally to ensure you remain happy with it. We may also notify you of changes to our privacy policy by email.

Third party websites

We link our website directly to other sites. This Privacy Policy does not cover external websites and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external websites you visit via links on our website.

Updating information

You can check the personal data we hold about you, and ask us to update it where necessary, by emailing us at webmaster@marxist.com

Contact

We are not required by law to have a Data Protection Officer  however we have a Data Protection Manager.

Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com
SPRINGFIELD -- Chinese rail car maker CRRC plans to start hiring production workers for its new subway-car plant here on Page Boulevard in October and start sending them to China for advanced training by February.

That's the next step, CRRC officials said, following Thursday's "topping off" ceremony at the $95 million plant in East Springfield.

"This first group of workers will come back and help train others," said Bo Jia, vice president of CRRC MA, through a translator. "We are very excited."

Company officials later clarified that there will likely be two groups of Springfield workers headed to CRRC factories in China in succession.

Gov. Charlie Baker and officials from CRRC and from the MBTA celebrated the "topping off" ceremony at the 204,000-square-foot factory Thursday. Union steelworkers hoisted the ceremonial last piece of steel into place with the construction process currently about 60 days ahead of schedule.

Work on the plant, which will employ 150 workers, is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017. The first rail cars are scheduled to be delivered in 2018.

CRRC said production jobs will pay $55,000 to $60,000 a year.

CRRC has reached out to unions and trade schools including Roger L. Putnam Vocational Academy in Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College and Western New England University, the Regional Employment Board, and sheet metal and electrical union locals to find the workers it needs.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, said some executives and engineers with CRRC have already bought homes and settled in Springfield.

"First of all, its a great project for Western Mass , but its also a great project for Massachusetts period," Baker said, adding that the MBTA cars the plant will build are sorely needed.

The subway cars produced at the Springfield plant will replace cars that date back to the 1970s.

"No more sleepless nights with 40-year-old subway cars rattling under the streets of Boston," said CRRC Chairman and President Chuanhe Zhou through a translator. "Boston is a center for great transportation and should be able to point with pride to its subway cars."

The Red and Orange lines are the busiest in the network, together carrying 40 percent of the MBTA ridership, said MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve.

In 2014, CRRC received a $566 million contract 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.

The plant will have a 2,240-foot dynamic test track.

The state, under then-Gov. Deval Patrick, said no to 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.

On Thursday, Baker credited the Patrick administration and his former chief of staff, Rick Sullivan, for the project. Sullivan, a former mayor of Westfield, is now president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.

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 working Wason trolley car built in Springfield in 1896 and offers rides.

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.

On Thursday, Beijing-based CRRC Corp. China vice-president Yu Weiping spoke repeatedly about using the plant to bring manufacturing back to Springfield.

And its not just the MBTA contract, which is expected to last for just five years of production.

Jia said CRRC is working to get business building transit and high-speed rail for Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York City and elsewhere.

In March, CRRC signed a deal with Chicago transit officials to build 846 metro cars there. That Chicago will employ 170.

"The market in North America is too big to serve with just one plant," Jia said. "This will be our hub. It depends on the capacity here, but the skilled manufacturing will be here."

Internationally, CRRC has recently sold cars to railroads in: China-Laos, China-Thailand, Hungary-Serbia, Russia, Jakarta-Bandung in Indonesia and the Pacific-Atlantic Railway in South America.

China-owned Plaza Construction is the general contractor for the plant. But CRRC said Thursday subcontractors and union construction workers were all hired locally.

Consigli Construction Co. Inc. in Milford is the contractor renovating the lone standing Westinghouse building into new offices for CRRC. All its employees on the job are from Massachusetts.

Anthony Consigli, CEO of Consigli Construction Co., Inc. in Milford said:

"As a Massachusetts company, we understand the importance of this project as a historic manufacturing plant will once again be a crucial component of our state's economy. From local jobs to new public transportation, we're proud to be a part of a project that will have a major impact on our community for years to come."
Consumer Spending

Consumer confidence dropped in Massachusetts in the third quarter, confidence nationally is up.

(AP file photo)

SPRINGFIELD -- While still generally optimistic, Western Massachusetts residents are less likely to say the Bay State is headed in the right direction than those who live in the Boston suburbs.

When pollsters for the Mass Insight Consumer Confidence Index asked Western Massachusetts residents to look forward five years, 68 percent said the state is on the "right track" and 32 percent said "wrong track." In the Boston suburbs, 77 percent said "right track" and just 20 percent said "wrong track."

The jobs situation was similarly glum in Western Massachusetts. When asked if they or a member of their households had been involuntarily out of work in the last 30 days, 27 percent of Western Massachusetts residents said yes while just 16 percent of the folks in the Boston suburbs said yes.

The results are part of the quarterly Mass Insight Consumer Confidence Index for Massachusetts released Wednesday.

The index, while generally positive, showed a 20-point drop from 125 points in April 2016 to 115 points in July.

The statewide consumer confidence number remains 20 points higher than the national consumer confidence number of 97.3 points recorded by the Conference Board. Both consumer confidence numbers are set on a scale where 100 is considered neutral. Everything greater is positive and anything less than 100 indicates a generally negative view of the economy.

Mass Insight Global Partnerships CEO William H. Guenther said the decline in the overall index was fueled by drops in both current positivity and optimism about the future. Optimism with current conditions fell nine points, while positive assessments of the future fell 12 points.

When asked if they think now is a good time to make a major household purchase, 28 percent now disagree, up from 22 percent in the last quarter. In addition, 72 percent believe the state is heading in the right direction in the next five years. That is down from 80 percent last quarter.

Mass Insight, a Boston-based think tank, does its quarterly survey online targeting 450 adults in all parts of Massachusetts. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.6 percent.

Massachusetts Consumer Confidence by Jim Kinney on Scribd
cranberry-harvest.JPG

09.11.2014 | MARION -- Bill Morrisson, of Eagle Holt Brand, uses a water picker to harvest the first cranberries of the season at a bog in Marion. The cranberries will be used to make juice by Ocean Spray.

(Peter Pereira / Standard Times via AP (file))

By ANDY METZGER

BOSTON  On the brink of the harvest season and amid concerns about the ongoing drought, Massachusetts cranberry growers have been told to expect a 5 percent dip compared to last year's crop.

In late summer, sufficient water is "critical to ample fruit sizing," according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, which said the sustained drought is growers' "greatest concern."

"Growing berries need rain in order to develop in size," the association said Wednesday. "Although bogs are built with in-ground irrigation systems, they are generally not sufficient substitution for natural rainfall, which yields uniform sizing of the fruit."

Bogs are flooded during harvests, as berries are shaken and then scooped off the water's surface, and growers use their irrigation systems to protect their crops from frost.

A drought that has reached extreme levels in 16.8 percent of the state threatens all of those water-intensive processes as farmers' irrigation ponds run low.

Brian Wick, executive director of the association, said less than 5 percent of the cranberry crop in Massachusetts is dry-harvested, and it is "possible" there will be more of that this year, though farmers lack the equipment to harvest cranberries without flooding their bogs.

"They're usually set up for one or the other," Wick told the News Service.

Globally, last year's crop hit 1.18 billion pounds, according to Ocean Spray, a Lakeville-Middleborough-based company whose grower-owners were responsible for more than half that amount.

The estimate of a 5 percent downturn was made recently by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistical Services at the Cape Cod association's 129th annual gathering, according to the association, which announced the numbers Wednesday.

Kellyanne Dignan, a spokeswoman for Ocean Spray, has a more optimistic outlook on the Massachusetts crop for now, though she expects more data next week that could alter the forecast. Dignan said she expects Massachusetts to repeat its record crop year of last year.

"The water for harvest, we still have some time on," said Dignan, who said globally growers are expecting a "large crop."

Wick said the drought "has the potential" to lower the estimated 5 percent drop in the harvest, though he also said, "No one is dropping their estimates yet."

The 207 million pounds of cranberries expected to be raked off Massachusetts bogs this year would be enough to supply about half the United States. According to the government-backed Agriculture Marketing Resource Center, Americans consume 400 million cranberries per year, about 20 percent during Thanksgiving week, and only 5 percent of cranberries are sold fresh.

Wisconsin is the heavyweight in the world cranberry market, and Badger State growers expect about 520 million pounds produced this fall.

Quebec surpassed Massachusetts in 2014 to become the world's second-largest cranberry producer, and Wick said he expected the Canadian province to remain there in 2016.

The global market for the North American fruit is also expanding, with exports to China ticking up 55 percent, and other growth in Germany, Poland, Hungary and Mexico, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, citing the Wareham-based Cranberry Marketing Committee.

"I don't look at it that there's a competition," Tom Lochner, executive director of the Wisconsin growers group, told the News Service. Lochner said Wisconsin has had a "soggy" summer, and attributed his state surpassing Massachusetts in cranberry production to a number of factors.

"We're a farm state. Agriculture is big business here," Lochner said. He said ample land, large farms with modern layouts, and newer more productive varieties of cranberry have contributed to Wisconsin's success.

In more urban Massachusetts where farming is more boutique, cranberries and apples are two main agricultural exports, while other products turn up at farm stands and farmers markets.

Deemed a healthy choice fruit, rich in antioxidants, cranberries do not need to travel fresh, as they are more likely to be converted into concentrate or dried fruit before hitting markets in the U.S. and around the world.

The Wisconsin association credited efforts by the federal government to help deal with a glut of cranberries.

"We are also encouraged by signs that the oversupply issue we have faced during the past few years is beginning to turn around, thanks to the industry's aggressive marketing efforts and support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Lochner said in a statement.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a little more than 40,000 acres of cranberries have been harvested in recent years. According to the data, the crop's total value fell around 2013, and has since climbed back up well above $250 million.

Dignan said Ocean Spray growers receive around $45 per barrel of cranberries, or a little less than 50 cents per pound.
BOSTON - The family of Usaamah Rahim is still digesting the Suffolk County District Attorney's report into a Boston Police detective and a FBI agent fatally shooting the 26-year-old in June 2015, but the family attorney declined to rule out a civil suit.



"Nothing's off the table," the attorney, Ronald Sullivan, Jr., told reporters on Wednesday.



Sullivan said the five law enforcement officials who approached Rahim could have further de-escalated the situation. Rahim was wielding a knife and advanced on members of the anti-terrorism team monitoring him, prosecutors say.



The family was "absolutely floored" by prosecutors' allegations that Rahim had ties to ISIS, the terrorist organization, Sullivan said as family members stood behind him outside the Suffolk District Attorney's office. They viewed him as a "gregarious" and "happy" young man, he said.

Usaamah Rahim

The family members plan to take a look into the 700-page version of the DA's report. "As I said a year ago, the facts will lead us where the facts lead us, but at this point we don't have anything further to say until we've had a chance to really take a deep dive into those 700 pages," Sullivan said.

Dan Conley, the district attorney, said law enforcement officials were investigating Rahim, citing an alleged plan to behead a New York City resident. The plan was later abandoned, and the plan's focus turned to targeting Boston police officers, according to prosecutors.



Conley said he would not seek criminal charges against the officials, since they had probable cause to arrest him, did not require a warrant an they acted in self defense.



"The family is heartened by the fact that the DA has spoken with them throughout this process and has explained himself fully," Sullivan said.



"The disappointment comes in the fact that the investigation was limited only to an alleged criminal conduct by the officers. There are far broader issues at stake here," Sullivan said, referring to a potential constitutional violation.



They could have gotten a warrant for his arrest, Sullivan said.



Conley met with the family for 90 minutes. They had many questions, he said, and his office told them they're available to answer more if they arise.



Conley said he apologized to the family for the report taking a "little bit too long," and added that prosecutors in his office have been working on other cases at the same time as handling the Rahim case.
Elko wouldnt be here if not for mining and the railroad, but the bedrock of northeastern Nevada is the family ranch.

The hardy pioneers who settled here to plant crops and raise livestock spread throughout the county, their ranch properties forming a lattice around which communities sprang up. Our recent articles by correspondent Adella Harding described some of the challenges that descendants of these families face to keep their ranches going.

We were surprised to see that Elko County ranches are not only surviving but thriving, with property valuations increasing by an impressive 50 percent over the past decade. And while many large ranches are now in the hands of corporations including mines, there is still a strong legacy of family ownership.

When you think about Elko County ranches you have to think big. Sure, the largest private ranches are located in Texas, but most of them are fragmented and lack the availability of public grazing land. Dwarfing them all is the Winecup Gamble  a solid block of nearly one million acres of private and federal ranch land in northeastern Elko County.

The Winecup is one of those ranches that was too big for a single family to manage. Started in 1868 by John Sparks, who went on to become Nevadas 10th governor, it was later purchased by Utah Construction Land and Cattle Company and even later by actor Jimmy Stewart.

When former Reebok owner Paul Fireman put the ranch up for sale six years ago he was asking $50 million. This year it is back on the market for $77 million  increasing in value along the lines of other ranches in the county.

Ranch owners who spoke with Harding mentioned the pressures they face in keeping their properties in the family. Some of the forces act from within  such as sibling battles or lack of interest from descendants to maintain the rural lifestyle  while others are exterior. Among these are the increase in federal regulations and pressure from environmental/conservation groups.

A year ago the federal government designated much of northern Elko County as priority sage grouse habitat, bringing a host of new restrictions that have impacted mining exploration.

We have yet to see any crippling impact on ranching from the sage grouse restrictions, but groups like Western Watersheds Project in Idaho are relentless in their efforts to eliminate grazing on public lands. Their director wrote a letter to the editor after reading our series to encourage ranch owners to sell out, claiming there are plenty of conservation dollars out there waiting to take land out of private ownership and return it to the wild.

We encourage Elko County ranchers to do just the opposite, and maintain our regions proud heritage of large family ranches. They are still the backbone of smaller communities scattered around the county, and this would be a much lonelier place without them.

It was comforting to learn earlier this month that we are not alone in this perspective. Three top officials from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service  the agency responsible for determining threats to species nationwide  took the unusual step of writing a commentary in support of public lands ranching as a tool in maintaining habitat on public land.

Their carefully worded statement acknowledged the damage that can be done by overgrazing, yet affirmed that proper grazing can achieve healthy outcomes. The trio said we are aware of many examples of ranchers grazing livestock in a manner that keeps the sagebrush ecosystem healthy for both wildlife and people.

Thats a pretty strong endorsement of the role ranchers can play in the ongoing war over public land use. We think it speaks favorably of the chances for Elko Countys family ranch industry to keep increasing in value in the decades ahead.
WATERBURY, CT  Four teenagers have been arrested in connection to the slaying of a Chinese food delivery woman that occurred in Waterbury on Tuesday night, according to the New Haven Register.

Helena Vargas, 59, was shot in the neck on Tuesday night, while attempting to make a delivery for the Golden Wok, the restaurant where she worked.

Vargas was working with a male employee, identified as Rolando Alvarez, 60, who was also assaulted during the incident.

Both employees were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where Vargas died from her wounds.

Police arrested four teenagers on Wednesday morning in connection with the shooting, including a 16-year-old girl, a 17-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy. The only suspect who has been publicly identified is 19 year-old Anthony Wright, of New York.

Fox 6 reports that Wright is a member of the street gang known as the "Crips," and that he has a criminal record that includes first degree robbery.

It is not yet clear whether the teenagers have legal representation at this time.
Connecticut State Police have charged a married couple with animal cruelty as a result of an investigation into the discovery of two emaciated dogs.

Arrested were Edward Szachewicz, 54, and Sharon Szachewicz, 47, of Chester, Connecticut. Each was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals, police said.

They were arrested Tuesday by Connecticut State Police on superior court arrest warrants that resulted from an investigation that began in March, police said.

State police and the Chester animal control officer were called to the Szarchewicz home on Castle View Drive on March 23 for a report of two dogs that had been abused and neglected. They found the two dogs, both 8 years old, to be severely emaciated and in need of medical attention, police said. The owners surrendered the dogs to animal control.

The dogs, described as an Akita/chow mix and a vizsla, were examined by a veterinarian and found to be severely undernourished and covered with fleas. Each has been nursed back to health and are ready for placement, police said.

Edward and Sharon Szachewicz were booked and released on $5,000 bond. Each is due to appear for arraignment on the charges in Middlesex Superior Court on Sept. 9.

Chester, Connecticut, is a town of around 3,700 residents located between New Haven and New London.
As many as 600 animals have been rescued from the Louisiana floods and local shelters are filling up quickly. Ashley Loehn, Dakin Humane Society adoption counselor, made the trip from Springfield to Louisiana to assist.

Shelters have been asking for help with previous animals so they can make room to hold lost animals while they attempt to reunite them with owners.

Loehn told the Daily Hampshire Gazette she remembers when they needed help after the 2011 tornados and this was the least she could do.

"We've been on both sides of the coin," Karina King, Dakin Humane Society's director of operations told the Gazette. "So when we get a chance to help, we're glad to do that."

The kittens could be ready for adoption in as early as two weeks, according to the Gazette. But there are many other animals in need until then.

Those wishing to help but can't adopt an animal can donate to the various shelters and the GoFundMe pages specifically for help needed due to the Louisiana flood.
SPRINGFIELD -- The public will be able to obtain free E-ZPass transponders, which are being distributed for the Massachusetts Turnpike, at two senior centers in Springfield on two separate dates.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation E-ZPass van will provide the passes on the following dates and at the following locations:

Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Clodo Concepcion Community Center/Senior Center at Greenleaf, 11871/2 Park St.

Wednesday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hungry Hill Senior Center, 773 Liberty St.

State Rep.

Jose F. Tosado

and Janet Rodriguez-Denney, director of the city's Department of Elder Affairs collaborated to bring the state's E-ZPass van to the two sites.

The events are open to the public, including reaching out to senior citizens, Rodriguez-Denney said.

"With the changes occurring with the new toll systems, it's great that MassDOT is providing this service to educate, inform and prepare the public regarding travel on the Pike" Tosado said.

The event at the Clodo Concepcion Center will begin with a press conference attended by local and state officials.

Tosado said he contacted Rodriguez-Denney after an overwhelming response to the E-ZPass van at locations around the state.

John Naughton from MassDOT, who has been providing the transponder sign-up service, agreed to coordinate the event so that local residents can sign up for free transponders, according to a news release from Tosado.

Sarno said he is pleased by the effort by Tosado and Rodriguez-Denney to bring "'the convenience of Boston' right here to our Springfield residents, especially to our senior citizens."

MassDOT is in the process of converting to all-electronic tolling for the Mass Pike (Interstate 90) in both directions. MassDOT intends to test electronic tolling software during the summer of 2016 and to activate the system by the end of the year. A previously scheduled "go live" date in the month of October will occur if software testing goes as planned before September, the press release stated.

Gantries placed over the road and equipped with sensors will electronically register tolls from vehicles that pass beneath them. Drivers will no longer have to stop at toll plazas.

If a vehicle has an E-ZPass transponder, the toll is automatically charged to the customer's E-ZPass account. If a vehicle does not have an transponder, cameras mounted on the gantries will capture photographs of its license plate, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be sent an invoice. Pay-by-plate users will pay a surcharge on top of the regular E-ZPass toll rate.

Drivers who currently have no E-ZPass transponder are encouraged to obtain one. Applicants must bring vehicle registration, $20 (credit card or check only) to open an E-ZPass account and photo identification. The transponders are issued free and the $20 account will be used to pay Massachusetts Turnpike charges.
westtiger 006.JPG

Westfield Technical Academy logo

WESTFIELD - The Federal Aviation Administration Thursday presented its formal certification of Westfield Technical Academy's new aviation technology program.

And, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., which operates a maintenance repair facility at Barnes Regional Airport, provided an additional $100,000 to its already committed $200,000 to help finance the program.

John Feliciano, manager of the FAA office at Bradley International Airport, along with several other FAA representatives presented program certification to Superintendent of Schools Stefan Czaporowski and teacher Galen B. Wilson during a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Westfield Technical Academy.

Timothy Shaver, FAA manager of aircraft maintenance, traveled from his Washington D.C. office to tell the nine students who are now entering their second year in the WTA program that "the sky is the limit for students in this program."

FAA Senior Advisor Tony Janco said "credit is given to those people who pushed for the creation of this program. We are counting on this becoming the best (such program) in the country."

To help achieve that status, Fran Ahearn, general manager of Gulfstream's Westfield facility presented school officials with an additional $100,000 to help finance the program. Gulfstream last year committed $200,000 at four $50,000 annual installments, to help secure the program in the WTA curriculum.

Ahearn said Thursday "our people are our biggest asset. Westfield Technical Academy will now provide companies like Gulfstream with a pipeline of certified technicians."

Czaporowski, who with several members of WTA's general advisory board, launched efforts 2.5 years ago to create the aviation technology program at the technical school.

Since then, in addition to the Gulfstream financial help, the program has benefited by numerous donations of equipment, tools and surplus aircraft for students to learn from.

Newly appointed WTA principal Joseph Lagone said "WTA staff and students will now work to make sure this program develops in response to the needs of our school and community. We will be the manpower pipeline for the industry."

The WTA program is only the third high school program in the country certified by the FAA. The others are located in Florida and New York.

State Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, called the program "awesome" and promised that he and State Sen. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, will continue efforts in support of the program.

Wilson, who will introduce additional students to the program beginning next week, said "this is a proud day for me and this program will become the most respected program in the country."
SPRINGFIELD -- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday the process of removing the judge in the David Becker sexual assault case from the bench belongs to the lawmakers, not to himself as chief executive.



"You do have a recall process in Massachusetts," Baker told reporters in a short press availability following the topping off ceremony for the CRRC rail car factory in East Springfield. "And it is one that has been used before successfully. And it has been used to engage the conversation around recall."

Charlie Baker

When asked if he could start such a recall process, the governor replied, "The answer is I'm not sure. But my recollection is that it is a legislative process."

A movement to remove District Court Judge Thomas Estes from the bench grew this week after The Republican / MassLive reported that Estes sentenced Becker, a former East Longmeadow High School student-athlete, to two years of probation after Becker admitted to indecent assault against two women who were passed out at a house party.

Estes ordered Becker's case continued without a finding for two years, during which time Becker must remain drug- and alcohol-free, must submit to an evaluation for sex offender treatment and must stay away from the two 18-year old victims.

According to court documents, Becker, 18, had been charged with two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault stemming from an April 2 incident.

Baker declined to talk Thursday about Becker.

"I don't know much about the facts of that particular case," the governor said.

Baker said he's always been cautioned not to reach conclusions about legal proceedings unless he'd sat in the courtroom and heard all the testimony himself as a juror would.

There was no trial in this case. Becker avoided one because he submitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. As long as he complies with the conditions of his probation, the charges will be dismissed after two years.

The sentence struck a nerve with many people already angered over the Brock Turner case at Stanford University and other instances of sexual assault perpetrators not being heavily punished.

An online petition to have Estes removed from the bench has more than 17,000 supporters. AntiSexism group UltraViolet also called for Estes to be removed.
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.








Blizzard have really gotten embroiled in the expansion and overhaul of their flagship MMORPG World of Warcraft, as it seems like they're already planning past the Legion expansion content-wise, even though that much-awaited and hyped chunk of new content hasn't launched yet. A day ago, patch 7.1, the first post-Legion patch, called Return to Karazhan, has been announced, and details regarding the tweaks and content it will bring are already available.





So what exactly are we looking at? The titular area, Karazhan, will be back as a 5-player dungeon, featuring 9 bosses. To make a long story short: it will be an area well suited for farming items and gathering resources. In addition to that, there's also going to be a small raid amidst the Emerald Nightmare and the Nighthold, with an actual impact on the storyline: this bit is supposed to wrap up the Stormheim story.





The Nightfallen story will progress as well with the patch: there will be some outdoor Suramar content for this purpose. The great news about patch 7.1 is that players will be able to put it to the test early, as the PTR goes live right after the launch of Legion on August 30.





Among a myriad of tweaks and changes, not to mention tons of new content, Legion will see the return of one of the iconic heroes of the WOW universe, Ilidan. The expansion will include some Destiny-inspired content too, as we have pointed out before, in the mysterious salesman Xur.





Philip Thalberg is tasked with The International coverage at Gosugamers.net.
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.

By Jonathan B. Jarvis  director of the National Park Service.

Full Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/we-must-recommit-to-national-parks-americas-cathedrals/2016/08/24/52e803ba-5b5a-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html?utm_term=.fd9db9f149d7

***

Department Of Commerce To Broadcast (Online)National Park Service Centennial Event, An Evening At The Arch, Live From Gardiner Thursday 8/25 at 6:45PM http://www.matr.net/article-73090.html

***

"Wilderness is Important to Everyone" Smoke Elser  The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project Needs to Be Approved Now! http://www.matr.net/article-73094.html

***

Choose Montana  Where We Play From the Mountaintops  http://choosemontana.com/
Pursuing MBA from MBA colleges in Coimbatore, Known as the Manchester of South India, is the prime choice of youths who wish to make business management as their career or want to embark on entrepreneurship journey after completing their MBA education. If you are planning and searching for the most suitable MBA colleges in Coimbatore, your search is now over!

Doing MBA in Coimbatore from one of the top MBA colleges like Amrita School of Business; PSG Institute of Management; GRG School of Management Studies; Firebird Institute of Research in Management; Sreekrishna Institutions (SKIM); KCT Business School; Jansons School of Business; Karunya School of Management; Hindustan College of Arts & Science among other MBA colleges in Coimbatore offers you good career opportunities in Corporate World. These MBA colleges in Coimbatore have made the city a preferred MBA destination.

CHECK & COMPARE TOP MBA COLLEGES IN COIMBATORE BY RANKING.

Top MBA colleges in Coimbatore carry high RoI and offer good opportunity to get more industry exposure leading to good career prospects. As Coimbatore is one of the largest industrial cities of India and many international & national companies have invested and opened their offices here, the demand for pursuing MBA in Coimbatore is rising significantly. With the emergence of diverse sectors apart from textile, like real estate, retail, health, financial services, banking, consulting, manufacturing and ITES, it is right to predict that making a choice of doing MBA in Coimbatore would be a right decision.

Based on in-depth research, MBAUniverse.com will help you know all about most suitable MBA colleges in Coimbatore. So read this article for list of MBA colleges in Coimbatore, Placements, Fee, Cut offs and much more to help you choose the right MBA college in Coimbatore accepting CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SNAP, MAHCET scores for MBA admission.

Why Coimbatore is a preferred MBA destination

Before you know about the various MBA colleges in Coimbatore, you should know what makes Coimbatore a preferred MBA destination:

Manchester of South India

Coimbatore is known as Manchester of South India since it is an industrial hub of Tamil Nadu. MBA colleges in Coimbatore offer quality MBA education in a healthy and scenic natural environment clubbed with high industry exposure and placement prospects. Top MBA colleges in Coimbatore are few but these MBA colleges in Coimbatore are the most sought after destination to pursue the dream of doing MBA.

Largest City with High Placement Prospects

Coimbatore also known as Kovai, is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu, after Chennai. The MBA colleges in Coimbatore are also highly ranked.

Hub of MBA education

Well known management institutes and universities are located in Coimbatore. Top MBA colleges in Coimbatore are Amrita School of Business; PSG Institute of Management; GRG School of Management Studies; Sreekrishna Institutions (SKIM); KCT Business School; Jansons School of Business; Karunya School of Management; Hindustan College of Arts & Scienceand many other MBA colleges in Coimbatore have made the city a preferred MBA destination.

Know about MBA colleges in Coimbatore

We will now discuss about the MBA colleges in Coimbatore and will cover the following information:

MBA colleges in Coimbatore under CAT, XAT, SNAP, CMAT, MAT, MAHCET

MBA colleges in Coimbatore with Fees

MBA colleges in Coimbatore with Placements

Known as the Manchester of South India Coimbatore is one of Indias most preferred MBA destination. Based on reputed Rankings, the top 5 MBA colleges in Coimbatore are Amrita School of Business; PSG Institute of Management; GRG School of Management Studies; Sreekrishna Institutions (SKIM); KCT Business School

Top MBA Colleges in Coimbatore

Let us know about the USPs of some of the best MBA colleges in Coimbatore like PSG Institute of Management, Amrita School of Business which have earned a great reputation in imparting management education and are the renowned MBA colleges in Southern India.

PSG Institute of Management (PSGIM)

Started in 1971 and later metamorphosing into a full-fledged institute in 1994, spurred by the onset of the liberalization of the Indian Economy, the 50+ year legacy of PSG Institute of Management makes it one of the pioneering management institutes in Southern India. Active collaborations with IIFT, Alliance Francaise and University of Toledo, Hof University, Germany have put the institute in the forefront of management education today.

PSGIM offers 2 years full time MBA and PGDM programmes. MBA is a two year program affiliated to Anna University, approved by AICTE, New Delhi and also is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The AICTE approved 2 year full time Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) a complete study package that connects industry with time tested concepts and tools. Throughout the expedition, industry & academic experts help you imbibe business concepts and lend a supportive hand in building strong relationships with the practical world.

Amrita School of Business

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham established under UGC Act of 1956 offers more than 200 professional programs through 15 schools across 6 different campuses in 3 South Indian states. It was awarded 5th position in the MHRD-NIRF University rankings 2021. The MBA programme at the Amrita School of Business Coimbatore is highly ranked with highest placement running at Rs.20.5 lakhs. The MBA at the B-school offers specializations in all the key areas of management. It also offers Dual Degree MBA in partnership with international management institutes and universities. Read More

Jansons School Of Business

Jansons School of Business is affiliated to Bharthiar University and offers university MBA degree. The institute is AICTE approved and NBA accredited in India and internationally accredited by ACBSP. MBA at Jansons School of Business is a reputed programme with high placements.

Karunya School of Management

Established in 1994, Karunya School of Management (KSM) operates under the aegis of Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (A deemed to be university). The MBA program at KSM focuses on regular Industry interaction & mentoring programs, along with good placement opportunities. KSM was ranked among the Top 100 B-Schools by Dalal Street and is AICTE Approved and NAAC Accredited.

Firebird Institute of Research in Management

Firebird Institute of Research in Management (FIRM), Coimbatore is a premier Business School established in 2016 under the aegis of Dr SVK Educational Charities backed by Shiva Texyarn Private Limited. The institute is located in Chettipalayam, Coimbatore, in a sprawling campus and with world-class infrastructure to sculpt global leaders. Set up by Rs 1500 crore industrial group from southern India - Bannari Amman spinning Mills/Shiva Texyarn Group of companies, Firebird Coimbatore was started with the objective of providing industry ready students on day one of graduation. Top Industry Professionals and Academics on Firebird Advisory Board include Dr. Prafulla Agnihotri, Former IIM Trichy Director and Professor of IIM Calcutta; Mr C.K. Ranganathan, Founder & Chairman, Cavinkare; Dr. B. Santhanam, President, Saint Gobain Ltd. Read More

Hindustan College of Arts & science

Department of Management Studies at Hindustan College of Arts & Science has Started functioning From the Academic Year 2005-06. It is approved by AICTE and affiliated to Bharathiar University with 180 seats for MBA and the college is providing Specializations of Marketing, Finance, Human Recourse, Media Management, Logistics Management, Production Management. The department has produced University Ranks and many of the candidates with Distinction.

MBA Colleges in Coimbatore accepting CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT scores

Most of the MBA colleges in Coimbatore shortlist the candidates and offer admission to their flagship MBA/PGDM programmes on the basis of CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT and also state level TANCET exam scores.

Amrita School of Business, PSG Institute are the most sought after MBA colleges in Coimbatore with low fee structure, strong alumni base and high placements. The CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT exam scores cut off in the top MBA Colleges in Coimbatore is 60 to 70 percentile.

MBA Colleges in Coimbatore accepting MAT, TANCET; Cut offs

If you dont have a high CAT, XAT or CMAT score, dont worry. Most MBA colleges in Coimbatore namely PSGIM, KCTBS, GRGSMS, Firebird Institute of Research in Management among others also offer admissions based on MAT and TANCET exam scores, apart from CAT, XAT scores. If you have 60 to 80 percentile score in MAT or TANCET, you stand a good chance.

Fee for MBA Colleges in Coimbatore

There are good MBA colleges in Coimbatore with low fee structure but offering quality MBA education. Plenty of options for MBA in Coimbatore exist at moderate fee. The fee range for MBA colleges in Coimbatore is not high. Do you know that KCTBS has a very low fee structure? There are many good MBA colleges in Coimbatore that charge low fee as against other parts of the country and offer good education and placements. Lets look at fee for a few select B-schools:

MBA College in Coimbatore Fee for 2 year MBA/PGDM (Rs.in lakhs) (Under Revision) Amrita School of Business 10.60 PSG Institute of Management 8.00 GRG School of Management Studies 2.85 Firebird Institute of Research in Management (FIRM) 5.30 KCT Business School 8.00 SardarVallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management 2.60 Jansons School Of Business 5.20 Karunya School of Management 4.78

MBA Colleges in Coimbatore Placements

MBA colleges in Coimbatore have registered strong placements over the years. Below are shared the average placement packages recorded recently by MBA Colleges in Coimbatore
TWIN FALLS  Three days after a 20-year-old woman was found dead in a home on Filer Avenue, a man walked into the Twin Falls Police Department and confessed to murdering her, police said.

Glenn Joseph Tures, 44, of Twin Falls told police Wednesday that he strangled Anessia Shaye Winterholer, court documents said. Tures is charged with first-degree murder and will be arraigned at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Glenn Joseph Tures came to the Twin Falls Police Department on his own accord and confessed to me that on August 20 he led the victim to the basement  and killed her, Detective Jonathan Wilson wrote in a sworn affidavit.

He said he decided to strangle her once they were in the basement, Wilson wrote. He described placing his hands around her throat and squeezing until she stopped resisting and stopped breathing.

Court documents do not describe a motive for the killing but show that Tures lived on Van Buren Street, less than two blocks from where Winterholers body was found.

Tures told detectives he wiped his face with a towel and left it in the basement and took a note from his pocket and left it on a chair near Winterholers body, court documents said. Detectives went to the home Wednesday to search the basement again.

All of these items were found where he described he left them, Wilson wrote.

Police were notified of Winterholers death Sunday when a man called and reported he found a female deceased in the basement of his residence, court documents said.

County Coroner Gene Turley on Monday described the basement as a workshop area and said Winterholers body had suspicious markings. Her body underwent an autopsy in Boise earlier this week.

Tures has no prior criminal history in Idaho. The only court records available show he was issued a citation last August in Blaine County for a seat belt violation. That record lists his home address as Henderson, Nev.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, said Tures is from New York and they have reasonable cause to believe (he) will flee prosecution.

(Tures) is from New York and has only been in the Twin Falls area for approximately eight months, prosecutors wrote.

The murder charge is the first this year in Twin Falls, though there have been two other homicides.

The February slaying of 38-year-old Joseph Lee Mohlman and the May drive-by killing of 15-year-old Vason Lee Widaman remain uncharged.
Ethan Hawke in an image from 'The Magnificent Seven'

US movie star Ethan Hawke will receive the Donostia Prize at the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival for his illustrious career, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the festival. The actor will accept the award on September 17, while the other recipient, actress Sigourney Weaver, will accept hers on the 21st, as was announced in July.

In both cases, the ceremony will be held just before a screening of each actors latest film: for Hawke, a remake of The Magnificent Seven, directed by Antoine Fuqua, and for Weaver, the European premiere of A Monster Calls, from J. A. Bayona.

Hawkes career, spanning 30 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, says the festival in the same statement. The actor was aiming for the prize for his work in Training Day with Fuqua and Boyhood, as well as for the scripts of Before Sunset and Before Midnight. He is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Richard Linklater, who directed Boyhood as well as the Before trilogy. Last year, Hawke made an appearance at the festival to present Regression, a film by Alejandro Amenabar in which he starred.

The San Sebastian Film Festival has recognized other films of Hawkes as well, as mentioned in the statement announcing Hawkes selection:

Earlier this year marked one of the actors most celebrated and critically acclaimed roles as the late Chet Baker in Robert Budreus Born to Be Blue, a performance that, according to Rolling Stone, contained everything that makes Ethan Hawke an extraordinary actor  his energy, his empathy, his fearlessness, [and] vanity-free eagerness to explore the deeper recesses of a character, and which Variety called one of the best performances of his career. The festival cites some of his other movies that made it to the big screen this year, such as The Phenom, Maggies Plan, and In a Valley of Violence.

Opening Night

The festival has announced that the opening night will feature the French film La fille de Brest / 150 Milligrams from director Emmanuelle Bercot, also making its European premiere. Bercots fifth feature film will be competing for the Golden Shell (the festivals highest prize), and stars Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen and French actor Benoit Magimel.

English version by Allison Light.
Victim Ana Huete with her partner.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed to EL PAIS that a Spanish woman is among the victims of the earthquake that struck central Italy on Wednesday. Ana Huete, 26 and from Granada, was on vacation in the area where the disaster struck with her Italian boyfriend, according to the Red Cross.

The parents of the victim traveled to Italy on Wednesday night to bring her body back to Granada

The earthquake affected a mountainous and sparsely populated area, around 140 kilometers from Rome. Another devastating earthquake struck the same area in 2009. The historic town of Amatrice is among those that have been razed to the ground by the natural disaster.

Huete was from the Granada town of Alfacar. She was employed at a pizza restaurant on Constitucion avenue in the center of the city and was in Italy with her boyfriend for a break that was to last several days. The parents of the victim, who were informed of the news by her boyfriend, traveled to Italy on Wednesday night to bring her body back to Granada, where her funeral will take place.

The earthquake, which measured 6 on the Richter scale, hit the center of Italy in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The death toll currently stands at 247, with hundreds injured or still missing.

Since the tragedy struck the Spanish embassy and consulates have been in contact with the Italian authorities to check on the situation of Spaniards who could have been in the affected areas. The Foreign Ministry has called on Spanish citizens who are in the area to call +39 335 33 34 38 and report on their whereabouts and situation.

English version by Simon Hunter.
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.
A user swiping right to give a like on the dating app Tinder.

Oriol, Tinder is giving me your exact location. I know that youre in the dining room of your house. Computer engineer Marc Pratllusa couldnt hide his surprise when he discovered that the popular dating app was sharing the exact coordinates of fellow security-specialist engineer Oriol Martinez. Pratllusa is a programming expert, but hes no hacker  and he didnt need to be to enter Tinders servers and access this information. Until this week, a design error in the app allowed someone with minimal computing knowledge to determine the latitude and longitude of each and every one of your matches.

We dont know how long its been like this. We can confirm at least three months, but we suspect much longer

The popular dating app offers users various photos of people within the distance theyve specified, and when both people indicate like on each others photos, the message Its a Match! appears. After this step, the engineers found that users were able to identify their matchs exact location. The error was active as millions of users connected every day, even if after blocking a user, until this Tuesday when the programmers quietly fixed the glitch without announcing an update or making any other visible changes to the app.

What most worried the Spanish engineers was that the tracking capability was updated each time the user opened the app in a different place. You had to have moved two kilometers from your previous location in order for the new one to appear, explains Martinez. When they realized that the coordinates were changing as the hours passed, they decided to conduct a test. Martinez spent a day moving around Barcelona and the surrounding area. He opened the app six times, in six different places. Pratllusa remained in front of the computer; there was no need for him to leave the house. I was monitoring everything. I knew that at 12.01pm he was leaving Mollet de Valles and that at 12.21pm he was entering Granollers.

Map created by the engineers showing the exact locations of users over a day of using Tinder

Tinder has not issued a comment on the design flaw. The privacy and security of our users is our top priority. We do not discuss specific vulnerabilities that we might find in order to protect them, the company told EL PAIS. The answer differs little from what they told the engineers when they brought the glitch to their attention three months ago. It was an automatic response. Thanks for your feedback. Almost three months later, and no change had been made, until we went public with the problem and you all got in contact with them, they explain.

Martinez and Pratllusa discovered the error almost by accident. In May Pratllusa was working on an application that searched for flights, and he was examining major apps to see how they were built. We had inspected Facebook, Spotify, Wallapop... and then we tried Tinder, he says. While studying the design, he realized that it was transmitting unnecessarily precise information. Its true that its an app that needs to know your location in order to be able to show you new nearby users, but the information should be given in distance, not in coordinates, described Pratllusa.

A user's exact coordinates, shown by Tinder Marc Pratllusa/Oriol Martinez

To access this information, the engineers only had to install a proxy between Tinders servers and the cell phone. This element, which exists in between the two, can read the information being sent to the users phone. Knowing how to place a proxy is simple. Even someone who hasnt finished an engineering degree can do it. All it takes it having some basic knowledge about how applications and their servers work, adds Martinez.

When they placed the proxy and saw that something wasnt functioning correctly, they decided to create a couple of false Tinder profiles to match with other users and confirm that what they were observing on worked with any kind of user. And it did. After they had matched with someone from the app on their cell phone, they could analyze the information and see that persons exact location. It seemed like something very serious. We dont know how long its been like this. We can confirm at least three months, but we suspect much longer.

English version by Allison Light.
A report published by the London School of Economics last month found extreme levels of bias in BBC reporting. The impartial BBCs early evening news was almost five times more likely to depict Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a negative light. In the time period studied (September 1  November 1, 2015), no headlines on this key news programme presented Corbyn in a positive light.

But this is a mere drop in the ocean of the corporations pro-establishment bias. It could hardly be more obvious that BBC news reports, comment pieces and discussions are overwhelmingly hostile to US-UK government enemies like Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea and Syria, and overwhelmingly favourable to the United States and Israel. It has long been clear to us that BBC journalists perceive this, not as bias, but as an accurate depiction of a world that really is divided into well-intentioned Western good guys and their enemies, the bad guys.

On August 20, the BBC website featured a Radio 4 Today programme discussion hosted by former political editor Nick Robinson interviewing BBC World Affairs Editor John Cody Fidler-Simpson and Dr. Karin von Hippel, a former State Department official dealing with US strategy against Islamic State.

The discussion was introduced with the following written text, which was repeated in slightly altered form in Robinsons spoken introduction:

Exactly five years ago President Obama called on the Syrian President Bashir-Al-Assad to step down but today he is still in power.

The prominence and repetition of the observation of course conferred great significance. The implication: for the BBC, Obama is not just the leader of another country, he is a kind of World President with the authority to call on other leaders to step down. In reality, Obama made his demand, not in the name of the United Nations, or of the Syrian people, but because, as President George H.W. Bush once declared: what we say goes.

In his introduction, Robinson described a disturbing image that has gone viral on social media of a Syrian child allegedly injured by Russian or Syrian bombing. The child, five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, is depicted sitting between Obama and Putin. Robinson noted that one of these images carried the sarcastic caption: Thank you for keeping me safe. We have found the image but not that caption.

One reasonable interpretation of Robinsons introduction, then: five years ago, Obama called on Assad to go, but failed to follow through in making that happen  little Omran, and numerous other Syrian civilians, are continuing to suffer as a result. Adam Johnson writes that the viral picture of Daqneesh has amped up calls for direct US intervention against the Syrian government made by numerous laptop bombardiers jumping from one outrage in urgent need of US bombs to the next. The BBCs Today programme discussion can be understood as a further example of this media herd behaviour.

John Simpson agreed with Robinson that Obama had been keen to avoid the kind of dreadful errors  he meant crimes  that George W. Bush had committed in Iraq, and so had wanted to stay out of things. According to Simpson, Obamas failure to intervene in Syria has been a disaster. After all, Russia recently managed to attack Syria with its planes from the airfields of Iran. As investigative journalist Gareth Porter notes below, the Syrian government in fact invited Russian military support, so Russia can hardly be described as attacking Syria. Simpson, by contrast, argued that Russo-Iranian cooperation was a link up which would have caused absolute consternation in the United States, and worldwide, just a few years ago. In other words, the worlds sole superpower has proven powerless to stop the kind of military cooperation it practices the world over all the time  how awful!

Simpsons imperial sympathies have been aired before on the BBC, notably in October 2014:

The world (well, most of it) wants an active, effective America to act as its policeman, sorting out the problems smaller countries cant face alone.

Interfering In A Big Way

In a classic example of BBC imbalance, Dr. von Hippel then supported Robinsons and Simpsons interpretation of the cause of the Syria disaster, noting of Obama that, as John Simpson was saying, he didnt believe that America interfering in a big way would help he was never convinced that force, or greater use of force, would make a difference. Now, I personally disagree with that.

Von Hippel went so far as to assert that there were many things you could do between sending 100,000 troops in and nothing. The comment was ambiguous but, in the context of the discussion, invited listeners to conclude that Obama had indeed done next to nothing in Syria. And yet, von Hippel herself noted that US special forces are working with anti-Assad groups in Syria and Turkey, and that this and other support has made a difference.

In fact this is only the tip of the iceberg. In June 2015, the Washington Post reported of the US:

At $1 billion, Syria-related operations account for about $1 of every $15 in the CIAs overall budget US officials said the CIA has trained and equipped nearly 10,000 fighters sent into Syria over the past several years  meaning that the agency is spending roughly $100,000 per year for every anti-Assad rebel who has gone through the program.

The US media watch website, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, added some context:

In addition to this, the Obama administration has engaged in crippling sanctions against the Assad government, provided air support for those looking to depose him, incidentally funneled arms to ISIS, and not incidentally aligned the CIA-backed Free Syrian Army with Al Qaeda. Regardless of ones position on Syria  or whether they think the US is somehow secretly in alliance with Assad, as some advance  one thing cannot be said: that the US has done nothing in Syria. This is historically false.

Ignoring these entirely uncontroversial facts, Robinson observed that, there were a series of occasions in which David Cameron tried to persuade Obama  others were doing it, too  to take some form of military action, and at each stage he didnt want to do it. Yes, Simpson replied, I think that David Cameron was really frustrated towards the end.

Obama, we are to believe, then, repeatedly refused to take some form of military action and is even guilty of silence, almost on Syria. Robinson then affirmed the whole narrative:

So, in other words this is a disaster, not just for the people of Syria, but a strategic disaster for the United States  makes them look weak.

If there was any doubt what strong means to Robinson, it was removed when he concluded the discussion by asking Simpson to respond to potential listener criticism:

Just address those people who we know are listening at home wholl go: Havent they learned anything? We know that military intervention in the Middle East always produces a worse disaster than the one that we started with.

In a tragicomic, Rumsfeldian reply, Simpson acknowledged that the conflict is fiendishly complicated, Nick, really, as you know, adding:

Whatever you do is going to have tremendous downsides. But that doesnt mean to say that everything you do, or dont do, um, is, is, is simply going to be the worst thing you can possibly do. There are some things that are worse than others.

Perhaps it takes a World Affairs Editor to join the big picture dots with such insight. Simpson continued:

And I think, sitting on your hands watching Putin running away with the whole thing is the worst possible thing that Obama could have done, and I think its going to be a stain on his reputation permanently.

This reminded us of the many sociopathic comments that viewed the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq as primarily a problem for the American brand, with tragic implications for the reputations of George W. Bush and Tony Blair.

Any Flavour You Like  Gareth Porter Responds

We were so astonished by the propaganda bias and gross omissions in this BBC discussion  with literally no balance challenging the false consensus that Obama had been sitting on his hands on Syria, even doing nothing  that we sent the discussion to Gareth Porter, one of the most knowledgeable and honest reporters on Syria. We expected a paragraph or two in reply, but Porter felt moved to respond at some length:

The BBC interview is so one-sided and distorts the most basic realities of the issue in Syria that it is a caricature of the media propagandizing for war. It has offered the public two flavors of essentially neoconservative thinking  one perhaps closer to Bush administration thinking, the other closer to the views of Hillary Clinton. John Simpson and Karin von Hippel both score the Obama administrations policy for failing to exert more power in Syria and thus allowing Russia to play a dominant power role in the conflict. Simpson is scandalized by the fact that Obama allowed Russia, which he calls a second-rate or even third-rate country to run away with the whole thing in Syria, which he calls the worst possible thing Obama could have done. Von Hippel similarly laments the fact that Obama did not take steps to build up the Syrian armed opposition and has now allowed the Russians to play the role of peacemaker in Syria. She invokes the threat of a power vacuum in the Aleppo area because Obama did not intervene on the side of the armed opposition. That phrase recalls Hillary Clinton criticism of Obamas Syrian policy for having created a power vacuum by refusing to support a proposed CIA program for building up the armed opposition when she was Secretary of State. BBC listeners were not made aware of the crucial fact that Russia was able to play the role it has in Syria because it is intervening at the request of the Syrian government. Nor were they told that the Obama administration, on the other hand, has been seeking to overthrow the regime in cooperation with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which began in 2012 supplying arms to Islamic extremists who cooperated with al Qaedas Syrian franchise, al Nusra Front. By early 2013, it was already clear to close observers of the war that al Nusra Front was the dominant armed opposition organization in Syria. By 2016 none of the U.S.-supported armed groups were willing or able to fight without the full cooperation of al Nusra Front. That reality helps to explain why Russia, and not the United States, was better positioned to broker a ceasefire in 2016, and why the Obama administration has been unwilling or unable to get the opposition it supports to go along with it. As for von Hippels complaint about Obamas failure to arm the opposition earlier, she should know very well (because Hillary Clinton acknowledges it in her memoirs) that Obamas argument to his advisers was that the United States should not repeat the mistake it made in Afghanistan, of arming anti-regime rebels only to contribute to the rise of al Qaeda. Since there was never a time when that was not a very serious threat, the argument for an aggressive CIA covert operation in Syria was always highly questionable  except, perhaps to those seeking to make a career out of interventionism, like von Hippel. But von Hippel never even mentions the fact that a jihadist terrorist organization that is officially regarded by the United States as a primary global security threat is the most powerful political-military force seeking to overthrow the regime. Nor does either von Hippel or Simpson acknowledge that the Obama administration sold 15,000 TOW anti-tank missiles to Saudi Arabia in late 2013 knowing that hundreds or thousands would be sent to armed opposition groups in Syria. That was a very risky move, given the near certainty that large numbers of those highly effective weapons soon ended up in the hands of al Nusra Front. In the context of the Syrian war in 2016, with a powerful al Qaeda-led military coalition that had gained control over an enormous territory and planning to declare an Islamic emirate in northwest Syria, the argument that Obama is risking a power vacuum in Aleppo is the height of dishonesty. The only real power vacuum that is being risked is the one that would be created if the al-Qaeda-led coalition were to be successful in defeating the Assad regime. Then Syria would either have a jihadist terrorist state in Damascus or would experience a civil war between ISIS and al Qaeda similar to the civil war among jihadists in Afghanistan after the Soviets withdrew. That outcome  not the success of Russia in brokering a peace agreement that keeps the Syrian government intact  would be the worst possible thing that Obama could have done. But BBC listeners have been spared having to deal with such troublesome realities. (Gareth Porter, email to Media Lens, August 22, 2016)

None of this should come as a surprise. BBC balance typically involves the selection of interviewees guaranteed to accept false propaganda claims made by the interviewer. This is how elite media manufacture the kind of false consensus that is vital for the proper functioning of a managed democracy.

DE

Our work is crucially dependent on our ability to search press archives. If anyone is willing and able to donate a Lexis-Nexis account to the Media Lens cause, we would be extremely grateful. Please contact us: [email protected]

Suggested Action

The goal of Media Lens is to promote rationality, compassion and respect for others. If you do write to journalists, we strongly urge you to maintain a polite, non-aggressive and non-abusive tone.

Write to Nick Robinson at the BBC:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @bbcnickrobinson
by Dave Morgan , Featured Contributor, August 25, 2016

This column was originally published in an earlier edition of Online Spin.

Ive written a couple of times recently about my views on the rise of marketing technology and its implication for our industry. Lots of folks have been reacting to it, so Im taking that as a message that I should continue to push forward on this meme.

I believe that the rise of mar tech is going to have an enormous impact on the structure and operation of the digital advertising supply chain. Put simply, it will obliterate the supply chain as we know it today.

That the digital ad supply chain is problematic has been a top-of-mind issue among industry leaders for years. The supply chain is massively complex. It leaks tons of data. It leaks tons of money. It is a patchwork quilt of thousands of companies and different technologies and protocols that has been exploited by fraudsters, bots and zillions of redundant intermediaries for billions of dollars a year.

advertisement advertisement

If that's not enough, the supply chains end product, the consumers digital ad experience, has become so poor that tens of millions of consumers have turned to ad blockers in the last year alone to remove, declutter and de-clog their digital devices of redundant, irrelevant, annoying ads.

Most of the technology driving digital advertising today is designed to serve the needs of the ad ecosystem -- but not necessarily the needs of marketers. Impressions, cookies, bidding, headers, etc. are bought and sold again and again. These arent necessarily things that explicitly drive sales and ROI for marketers. However, what they do always do is drive revenue for the people that buy and sell and trade things, and for the people making the technology to help them do it.

That is going to change. As Peter Drucker taught us, the purpose of marketing is to create customers: nothing more, nothing less. As more and more companies connect their back-end customer and sales systems to their front-end communication channels, activities that provably create customers will get more resources. Those that dont will be starved.

That level of scrutiny and accountability is going to be applied across all marketing activities, the vast majority of which are now digital, or at least are now all digitally measurable, such as with TV.

That kind of scrutiny will have a clarifying and purifying effect on the digital-ad supply chain. Like gravity on the mighty Mississippi, outcome-based accountability will help marketers dollars find that fast and best path to customer creation, cutting right through the hundreds of dams, dikes and canals that ad-tech companies have constructed along the digital ad supply chain's banks (to mix a metaphor here) to siphon off some of its money and power for their own purposes.

Over time, the hundreds of miles -- and thousands of companies and their little towns and hamlets -- of the meaningless, meandering watercourse that the ad tech supply chain has become, will be bypassed, left fallow to turn into ghost towns as ad-dollar nourishment dries up.

Sound farfetched? I dont think so. What do you think?
by Chase Martin , August 24, 2016

Consumer adoption of artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistants will increase, but some brands dont see the capabilities fully replacing humans.

The number of active users of virtual assistants will grow to 2 billion consumers in 2021, up from 390 million last year, according to new research from Tractica.

Global revenue generated by virtual assistants will grow to $16 billion by 2021, up from $2 billion last year. The majority (75%) of revenues will come from the consumer side of the market, according to Tractica.

The Asia Pacific region will lead the market in revenue and multiply in value by 10 times to account for more than $5 billion by 2021.

The consumer and enterprise use cases for virtual digital assistants are proliferating rapidly thanks to accelerated innovation and scalability of underlying technologies, such as natural language processing and artificial intelligence, Mark Beccue, principal analyst at Tractica, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, most of the worlds technology giants believe virtual assistants will be vital to their businesses in the future, and they are investing significant resources to capture market share at this early stage.

Smart audio devices like Amazons Echo or the not-yet-released Google Home act as the physical bridge connecting consumers to their virtual assistant services and that market alone will generate more than $5 billion by 2020, according to a recent study by Juniper Research.

The driving force behind increasing consumer adoption of virtual assistants is the demand for smart software or devices that can carry out time-intensive tasks, complex tasks or uninteresting tasks, according to Tractica.

Scheduling meetings and coordinating calendars is an example of a use case where virtual assistants can provide value to consumers. Rather than relying on a consumers time to carry out repetitive tasks, an artificial intelligence component can analyze calendars, automate e-mail messages and coordinate optimized meetings.

Some brands are developing online remote services that do just that, such as Clara, an online office scheduling assistant centered around artificial intelligence.

However, others see opportunity in using such AI components as a complementing power to humans, rather than a full replacement.

Lola Travel, a travel concierge app from the founders of Kayak, utilizes the power of AI to improve efficiency of tasks that normally would tie up the time of their human representatives, according to Lola VP of product Ellen Chisa, who recently spoke at the Future of Consumer Mobile event in Boston.

However, the objective is to play to the strengths of current AI capabilities, which means automating analytic and repeatable tasks, in order to free up the companys humans to play to their strengths.

As a result, the opportunity for deeper, more genuine human-to-human interaction is larger, which ultimately can improve the customer experience, according to Chisa.

Overall lack of consumer confidence in compelling use cases and the inability to automate the interpretation of human communication are barriers to the success of virtual assistants, according to the Tractica research.
by Thom Forbes @tforbes, August 25, 2016

Its been years in the making but the controversy swirling around Mylans jacking up the price of its auto-injector EpiPen, which can be a life-saving intervention for children suffering from severe allergic reactions, is gathering multiple angles and increasing force as the week goes on.

EpiPen Price Gouging Came As Mylan Pulled Off Tax Inversion, reads the headline on Liz Clamans piece for Fox Business.

Mylan Execs Gave Themselves Raises As They Hiked EpiPen Prices, Ben Popken tells us on NBC News  including a 671% increase for CEO Heather Bresch over an eight-year period.

Mylan Raised EpiPens Price Before the Expected Arrival Of A Generic, according to Andrew Pollacks piece in the New York Times.

advertisement advertisement

And so, as you might expect, the political pressure continued to grow Wednesday with another Senate committee demanding answers for why the cost of EpiPens has skyrocketed and Hillary Clinton denouncing the price hike on the presidential campaign trail, writes Catherine Ho for the Washington Post. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the chair and ranking Democrat of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, sent a letter to Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch seeking information on the companys pricing practices.

Lets back up a bit.

With a quick stab to the thigh, the EpiPen dispenses epinephrine, a drug that reverses swelling, closing of the airways and other symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to bee stings, peanuts or other allergens, wrote Tara Parker-Pope and Rachel Rabkin Peachman in a New York Times Well column published Monday evening that seems to have ignited national attention to the issue.

They described a grassroots advocacy effort by consumers and lawmakers who worry that parents wont be able to afford the pens for children heading back to school. Wholesale prices have risen from less than $100 for a two-pen set in 2007, when Mylan acquired the product, to $608.61 this May.

Last September, though, Bloombergs Cynthia Koons and Robert Langreth wrote a story titled How Marketing Turned the EpiPen Into a Billion-Dollar Business. It chronicles the way the company boosted revenue from $200 million in annual sales to more than $1 billion. In its own words, it did so by [working] tirelessly over the past years advocating for increased anaphylaxis awareness, preparedness, and access to treatment.

That included lobbying with patient groups to push for federal legislation encouraging states to stock epinephrine devices in schools. It didnt hurt that Mylan CEO Bresch, who is credited with hitting on the idea of using old-fashioned marketing in part to boost sales among concerned parents of children with allergies, is the daughter of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)

They have done a tremendous job of taking an asset that nobody thought you could do much with and making it a blockbuster product, Leerink Partners analyst Jason Gerberry told Koons and Langreth.

Because epinephrine is unstable, the EpiPens need to be replaced every year. And kids need them in many places, Aaron E. Carroll a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, blogged in the NYTs The Upshot on Tuesday. They need them at home. They need them at school. They need them at camp. They may even want to stash one at Grandmas house. So people often need to buy quite a few.

A petition to Congress protesting the price increase, called Stop the EpiPen Price Gouging, has emerged on social media. It has collected more than 48,000 signatures, Parker-Pope and Peachman wrote Monday. As of early this morning, nearly 71,000 people had sent more than 107,000 letters and emails, and several were being added every minute.

Prof. Carroll concluded: By digging a bit further, the story of EpiPens can also explain so much of whats wrong with our health care system.

And thats exactly what has been occurring as the week unfolds. But Carrolls take is decidedly different from Mylan CEO Breschs.

On an earnings call earlier this month, Bresch blamed EpiPen sticker shock in part on Obamacare. She said that employers increased use of high-deductible plans, one of the side-effects of the law, has resulted in patients paying more out of pocket for the drug, and thats where youre seeing a lot of noise around EpiPen, writes Jen Wieczner for Fortune. Whats more, Bresch, citing the roughly $600 wholesale cost, added that when you look at other treatments, the EpiPen does not fall into the category of an expensive product.

Referring us to a profile she wrote last year  Why Wall Street Loves to Hate Mylans CEO  Wieczner says but Epipen  is supposed to be the companys shining success story.

Its becoming a case history in overreaching instead.
by Aaron Baar , August 25, 2016

Politics is a dirty business -- and Maytag is ready to clean it up.

The company, which is launching a new line of fingerprint- and smear-resistant stainless steel appliances this fall, is looking to clean up consumers interactions with the presidential election.

The Google Chrome plug-in replaces negative, smearing political content with more lighthearted and positive information.

The connection between smears in [politics] and smears on appliances triggered a response for us, Brendan Bosch, senior brand manager for Maytag, tells Marketing Daily. We wanted to replace [negative content] with something thats fun.

The initiative was born out of a company insight that showed 73% of consumers had unfollowed, blocked or hidden posts from another persons social media posts because they didnt like the content shared.

advertisement advertisement

Developed in partnership with University of Michigan professor and political scientist Arthur Lupia, Maytags Chrome plug-in combines keywords that may be linked to objectionable or negative content with keywords associated with the presidential campaign.

As the campaign goes on, well continue to update it to make it as relevant as possible, Bosch says.

The plug-in, which only works on desktop versions of Chrome and on Twitter and Facebook, replaces the political content with a message that negative content has been blocked and an animation of patriotic images (such as an eagle or Uncle Sam) etched in stainless steel giving a thumbs-up. Users do have the option to unblock the content if they want to see it.

Consumers get negative posts in their social spheres, and the only option is to block that user completely, Bosch says. This will help keep consumers from having to use that nuclear option.

To support the plug-in, Maytag has enlisted actress and comedian Abby Elliott to promote the No Smear Campaign on her social media feeds and in media interviews. The company is also working with satirical news site The Onion on a branded content section taking on the negativity of political discourse.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 25, 2016

Snapchat has asked a federal judge to send a biometrics-privacy lawsuit against the company to arbitration.

Snapchat says in new court papers that the people who sued, Illinois residents Jose Luis Martinez and Malcolm Neal, agreed to Snapchat's terms of service -- including a requirement that all disputes be settled through arbitration.

"A valid arbitration agreement exists, and it encompasses this dispute," Snapchat writes in papers filed this week with U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson in Los Angeles.

The company's papers come in response to a lawsuit centered on Snapchat's "Lenses" -- filters that allow people to supplement their selfies with animation and graphics.

Martinez and Neal alleged in a potential class-action that Snapchat scans users' faces each time they use Lenses, and then stores information about people's face geometry. They say the company is violating the Illinois Biometric Privacy Information Act, which requires companies to obtain written releases from people before collecting certain biometric data, including scans of face geometry. That measure, passed in 2008, also requires companies that gather biometric data to notify people about the practice, and to publish a schedule for destroying the information.

advertisement advertisement

In addition to arguing that the case belongs in arbitration, Snapchat denies that Lenses uses facial recognition technology. "Instead, it uses object recognition technology, which allows Lenses to identify a nose as a nose or an eye as an eye, but does not -- and cannot -- identify a nose or an eye, let alone a whole face, as belonging to any specific person," the company wrote in court papers.

Snapchat isn't the only company facing lawsuits for allegedly violating the Illinois measure. Google and Facebook also are defending themselves from similar accusations.

The lawsuit against Google is pending in federal court in Illinois, while the matter against Facebook is in federal court in California.
Conventional notions have described aging as an ongoing process of physical and cognitive decline, with mental health mirroring the downward trend. However, a new study by researchers at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine suggests that people become happier about their lives decade after decade. Share on Pinterest As people age, their mental health improves consistently, and they feel better about themselves. Findings of the research  published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry  show that the mental health of aging adults consistently improves over time. Their improved sense of psychological well-being was linear and substantial, says senior author Dilip Jeste, M.D., 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, he adds. Jeste and colleagues noted that individuals in their 20s and 30s exhibited increased levels of perceived stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This fountain of youth period is associated with far worse levels of psychological well-being than any other period of adulthood, says Jeste. The recognized model of aging follows a deterioration of both the body and thinking over time. However, the study states that little has been discussed about mental health in the context of aging, other than the assumption that mental health worsens in the same way as physical and cognitive function.

Psychological well-being, mental health improves with age Jeste is 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. He has led research on understanding how Americans age and how to help them age well and healthfully. He says that other studies have produced mixed findings regarding the aging versus mental health phenomenon. 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. Dr. Dilip Jeste, UC-San Diego While the differences in results of various studies are not clear, the inconsistencies could be due to measurement variation across studies and researchers highlighting different indicators that lead to different conclusions. One factor all the studies do have in common is improved well-being in the second half of life. The research focused on not only psychological well-being, but also the broader area of mental health, which also includes satisfaction with life and low levels of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. Excluding dementias, most previous studies suggest that mental illness is less likely in older adults. Some cognitive decline over time is inevitable, 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. Jeste and team collected data using random digit dialing of 1,546 adults living in San Diego County aged between 21-100 years. The researchers analyzed the participants physical health, cognitive function, and other measures of mental health. Participants were formed of an almost even split between men and women, arranged by age data, with an oversampling of adults over 75 years old.
Socialist Party leader Pedro Sanchez in Congress on Wednesday. Mariscal

If, as appears likely, the Popular Party (PP) leader Mariano Rajoy fails in his bid to be voted back in as prime minister at next weeks investiture debate, Spaniards are set to be called to a third general election in a year  this time, on Christmas Day. In a bid to avoid this extraordinary turn of events, which would be unprecedented in Spains democratic history, the main opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) is planning on tabling a legal reform that would halve the duration of the election campaign, which is currently bound by strict timetables  hence the December 25 date for the polls.

It was acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy himself who determined that Christmas Day would be the date for a third poll

Barring a change of heart on the part of the leadership of the PSOE, the proposal would be presented in Congress at the start of September, and its approval would need the support of other parties and depend on the blessing of the PP, which could block it.

At the two inconclusive general elections, in December 2015 and June of this year, the PP won most seats in Congress, but fell well short of an absolute majority. Rajoy will be likely going to the investiture vote next week with the support of emerging center-right group Ciudadanos, which is in negotiations with the PP this week over a number of points in exchange for its votes, including crackdowns on political corruption and greater financial assistance for workers on low incomes.

But even with the help of Ciudadanos, Rajoy will not have the support of enough deputies to win the first investiture vote, which requires an absolute majority. To win the second vote, at which a simple majority is needed, he will need 11 abstentions. The PSOE, so far, has refused to agree to abstain. If Rajoy loses the two votes, the electoral timetable will kick into action, with the third general election in just over a year scheduled for Christmas Day.

The PSOEs proposal for a change in the law would see the election campaign cut from 15 days to seven

The third elections will fall on December 25 due to the current legislation governing elections. But it was Rajoy himself who determined that this would be the date for a third poll, given that he fixed the investiture debate for August 30. The Socialists have interpreted this as being a strategy on the part of the PP to use the threat of an election on Christmas Day to pressure them into abstaining.

The PSOEs proposal for a change in the law would see the election campaign cut from 15 days to seven, meaning that the election would fall on December 18 and not the 25th.

Its success, however, will depend on the support of the other parties  in particular the PP. Even if the conservative group were to allow the change to pass Congress, it could still be halted or delayed in the Senate, where the PP enjoys an absolute majority.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Researchers at Linkoping University have developed in collaboration with French colleagues a small device that both detects the initial signal of an epileptic attack and doses a substance that effectively stops it. All this takes place where the signal arises - in an area of size 20x20 m known as a "neural pixel".

The results, from the Laboratory for Organic Electronics at LiU's Campus Norrkoping, have been published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), with Asst. Prof. Daniel Simon as main author.

According to a recently produced estimate, no less than six percent of the Earth's population suffers from some type of neurological illness such as epilepsy or Parkinson's. Some medicines are available, but when these are taken orally or injected into the bloodstream, they also end up where they aren't needed and may cause serious problems. All medicines have more or less severe side effects, and no fully satisfactory treatment for neurological illnesses is available.

Neurons, or nerve cells, are the cells in the body that both transmit and receive nerve impulses. The small 20x20 m device developed by the scientists can both capture signals and stop them in the exact area of nerve cells where they arise. No other part of the body needs to be involved.

"Our technology makes it possible to interact with both healthy and sick neurons. We can now start investigating opportunities for finding therapies for neurological illnesses that arise so rapidly and so locally that the patient doesn't notice them," says Daniel Simon.

The experiments were conducted in the laboratory on slices of brains from mice. The device consists of a sensor that detects nerve signals, and a small ion pump that doses an exact amount of the neurotransmitter GABA, a substance the body itself uses to inhibit stimuli in the central nervous system.

"The same electrode that registers the activity in the cell can also deliver the transmitter. We call it a bioelectronic 'neural pixel', since it imitates the functions of biological neurons," says Daniel Simon.

"Signalling in biological systems is based on chemical signals in the form of cations, which are passed between transmitters and receptors, which consist of proteins. When a signal is transferred to another cell, the identification of the signal and the triggering of a new one occur within a very small distance - only a few nanometers. In certain cases, it happens at the same point. That's why being able to combine electronic detection and release in the same electrode is a major advance," says Professor Magnus Berggren.

The small ion pump, which was developed at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics, attracted a great deal of attention when its first application as a therapeutic device was published a year ago. The sensor that captures the nerve signal has subsequently been developed by the LiU researchers' collaborators at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines in Gardanne, France. The mouse experiments were performed at Aix-Marseille University. The entire device is manufactured from conductive, biocompatible plastic.

The Swedish part of the research was funded by Vinnova, the Swedish Research Council, and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The work took place at the OBOE centre, under the leadership of Asst. Prof. Daniel Simon and Professor Magnus Berggren.

Article: Bioelectronic neural pixel: Chemical stimulation and electrical sensing at the same site, Amanda Jonsson, Sahika Inal, llke Uguz, Adam J. Williamson, Loig Kergoat, Jonathan Rivnay, Dion Khodagholy, Magnus Berggren, Christophe Bernard, George G. Malliaras, Daniel T. Simon, PNAS, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1604231113, first published online 23 August 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 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.
Chemicals used in certain pesticides and as insulating material banned in the 1970s may still be haunting us, according to new research that suggests links between higher levels of exposure during pregnancy and significantly increased odds of autism spectrum disorder in children.

According to the research, children born after being exposed to the highest levels of certain compounds of the chemicals, called organochlorine chemicals, during their mother's pregnancy were roughly 80 percent more likely to be diagnosed with autism when compared to individuals with the very lowest levels of these chemicals. That also includes those who were completely unexposed.

Although production of organochlorine chemicals was banned in the United States in 1977, these compounds can remain in the environment and become absorbed in the fat of animals that humans eat, leading to exposure.

With that in mind, Kristen Lyall, ScD, assistant professor in Drexel University's A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, and her collaborators, decided to look at organochlorine chemicals during pregnancy since they can cross through the placenta and affect the fetus' neurodevelopment.

"There's a fair amount of research examining exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy in association with other outcomes, like birth weight - but little research on autism, specifically," Lyall said. "To examine the role of environmental exposures in risk of autism, it is important that samples are collected during time frames with evidence for susceptibility for autism - termed 'critical windows' in neurodevelopment. Fetal development is one of those critical windows."

Their paper describing this study was titled, "Prenatal Organochlorine Chemicals and Autism," and published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Now a researcher in the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute's Modifiable Risk Factors Program, Lyall was with the California Department of Public Health when she began the work. She teamed with researchers from the department, including Gayle Windham, PhD, and Martin Kharrazi, PhD, members of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research (which includes the study's principal investigator, Lisa Croen, PhD), as well as an expert on measuring organochlorine chemicals, Andreas Sjodin, PhD, of the Division of Laboratory Sciences of the National Center for Environmental Health.

The team looked at a population sample of 1,144 children born in Southern California between 2000 and 2003. Data was accrued from mothers who had enrolled in California's Expanded Alphafetoprotein Prenatal Screening Program, which is dedicated to detecting birth defects during pregnancy.

Participants' children were separated into three groups: 545 who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, 181 with intellectual disabilities but no autism diagnosis, and 418 with a diagnosis of neither.

Blood tests taken from the second trimester of the children's mothers were used to determine the level of exposure to two different classes of organochlorine chemicals: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, which were used as lubricants, coolants and insulators in consumer and electrical products) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs, which include chemicals like DDT).

"Exposure to PCBs and OCPs is ubiquitous," Lyall said. "Work from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which includes pregnant women, shows that people in the U.S. generally still have measurable levels of these chemicals in their bodies."

However, Lyall emphasized that exposure levels were key in determining risk.

"Adverse effects are related to levels of exposure, not just presence or absence of detectable levels," she said. "In our Southern California study population, we found evidence for modestly increased risk for individuals in the highest 25th percentile of exposure to some of these chemicals." It was determined that two compounds in particular - PCB 138/158 and PCB 153 - stood out as being significantly linked with autism risk. Children with the highest in utero levels (exposure during their mother's pregnancy) of these two forms of PCBs were between 79 and 82 percent more likely to have an autism diagnosis than those found to be exposed to the lowest levels. High levels of two other compounds, PCB 170 and PCB 180, were also associated with children being approximately 50 percent more likely to be diagnosed - again, this is relative to children with the lowest prenatal exposure to these PCBs.

None of the OCPs appeared to show an association with higher autism diagnosis risk.

In children with intellectual disabilities but not autism, the highest exposure to PCBs appeared to double the risk of a diagnosis when compared to those with the lowest exposure. Mid-range (rather than high) OCP exposure was also associated with an increased level of intellectual disability diagnosis when measured against children with the lowest exposure levels.

"The results suggest that prenatal exposure to these chemicals above a certain level may influence neurodevelopment in adverse ways," Lyall said.

These results are a first step to suggest these compounds may increase risk of development of autism, and Lyall and her colleagues are eyeing up more work in the field.

"We are definitely doing more research to build on this - including work examining genetics, as well as mixtures of chemicals," Lyall said. "This investigation draws from a rich dataset and we need more studies like this in autism research."
Findings from a new study, reported in the journal mBio, may help food companies improve the quality of dairy products. The researchers have discovered that bacteria in raw milk arriving at dairy processing facilities are highly diverse and differ according to season, but still contain a core microbiota.

"The ultimate goal in all of this research is to get dairy products with longer shelf life, less spoilage, and less waste. We don't know what kind of influences the environment has on the microbiome on our foods, and this study is a step forward in that direction," said Maria Marco, PhD, associate professor, Department of Food Science & Technology, University of California-Davis, and lead author of the paper. "If we can better understand and control the microbes coming into processing facilities, we can avoid some food waste."

The microbial composition of raw milk has an impact on the quality, shelf life, and safety of processed milk and other dairy products. While harmful bacteria rarely reach the consumer, because they are destroyed during pasteurization, other bacteria can cause spoilage issues or defects in the product, such as off-flavors in cheese, which can result in product being thrown away. While scientists have intensively studied the microbial ecology of fresh produce and animal products, little is known about the influences of storage, transport, and processing facilities.

In the new study, researchers set out to identify the microbiota of raw milks collected for large-scale product manufacturing in California. California is the largest producer of milk in the United States, producing 20% of the total U.S. milk production. The scientists analyzed the bacteria in raw milk arriving in 899 tanker trucks at two different dairy processors in the California Central Valley in the fall of 2013 and the spring and summer of 2014.

Bacteria varied by season and were highly diverse, with roughly 50% of the taxa present at less than 1% relative abundance. As a comparison, roughly 20% of human fecal communities are composed of taxa below 1% relative abundance. Milk also had a core microbiome composed of 29 different taxa, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and unidentified Clostridiales.

Another important finding was what happened to the milk after it got into the dairy processing plant. "We saw this interesting shift of the types of bacteria that are dominant in the milk when it goes from the truck to silos where the milk is stored before pasteurization," said Dr. Marco. The effects of the processing facility outweighed the raw milk microbiome and the microbial composition changed distinctly within some, but not all silos, a short time after transfer.

By knowing the types of microbes present in foods, scientists can devise ways to manage or get rid of spoilage microbes, so they don't make their way into the final product and cause quality problems. "This study was an exploratory mission to find out what types of bacteria are in our raw milk and what happens to them when they reach the built-environment," said Dr. Marco. "We now need to tackle the bigger problem of how can we control those microbes in an effective way."

Article: The Core and Seasonal Microbiota of Raw Bovine Milk in Tanker Trucks and the Impact of Transfer to a Milk Processing Facility, Mary E. Kable, Yanin Srisengfa, Miles Laird, Jose Zaragoza, Jeremy McLeod, Jessie Heidenreich, Maria L. Marco, mBio, doi: 10.1128/mBio.00836-16, published online 23 August 2016.
In this free webinar, learn about the rapidly growing cell and gene therapy and vaccine markets. Attendees will get an overview of the manufacturing process for adeno-associated virus (AAV) and how Akron Bio's new facility is designed to address ...
On June 4, 2016, Alawite officer 'Alaa Makhlouf, a bodyguard of President Bashar Al-Assad's wife Asma, was assassinated after a bomb was placed in his car. A group called the Free Alawite Movement claimed responsibility for the act, thus becoming the first Alawite group to openly undertake military action against regime forces.

An examination of its social media pages indicates that the Free Alawite Movement, led by Sheikh Mohsen Al-Haidari, was founded in February 2016 to combat the Assad regime and defend the Alawite sect from it. The movement operates on three levels - political, informational, and military; its military activity is carried out by its armed wing, the Free Alawite Brigade. The movement openly advertises its activity in and out of Syria and expresses its desire to cooperate with other Syrian rebel groups and opposition factions. Statements issued by the movement indicated that its founders' opposition to the Assad regime is also the result of years-long rivalries between various factions within the Alawite sect,[1] specifically between the Kalaziya faction - the majority faction that includes the Al-Assad, Makhlouf, Shalish, and Kheirbek families - and the Haidariya and Makhousiya factions, and possibly others as well.[2] The movement stresses that the regime is not as tied to the Alawite sect as it claims but rather harms the sect, and that many Alawites do not support it.



Free Alawite Movement slogan: "Syria and Nothing Else" (Facebook.com/1192248117460289)

It should be mentioned that the anger directed at President Assad and his regime from within the Alawite sect is not new, and was manifested by widespread anti-regime protests in August 2015 in the regime strongholds of Latakia and Tartus, and the founding, on October 22, 2015, of an Alawite political opposition group operating outside of Syria called the Upcoming Syria movement.[3] However, this is the first time since the onset of the Syrian crisis in 2011 that an Alawite movement claims responsibility for military action against the regime.

It should be mentioned that this report is based on the Free Alawite Movement's Facebook and Twitter pages, and that no other sources of information about the movement exist. As a result, the movement's size, the scope of its activity, and the level of its support remain unclear.

This report will review the platform and activity of the Free Alawite Movement:

The Movement's Platform: Assad Regime Will Be Held Accountable For Its Crimes; Syria Is The Homeland Of All Its People, Regardless Of Sect

On April 24, 2016, the Free Alawite Movement issued its founding statement. The statement called to view Syria as a homeland for all its residents, regardless of ethnicity or sect, and to distinguish Alawites who were not party to the crimes of the Syrian regime from those whose hands are covered in the blood of their Syrian brethren, and who should be held accountable for their actions. According to the statement, the movement's goals are to assist all Alawites who wish to rebel against the rule of the Kalaziya faction and its loyalist families, and to establish political and military wings that work against these families and assist the Free Syrian Army. The movement expressed support for Alawite organizations and figures who oppose the regime, such as Monzer Makhous, spokesman for the Syrian High Negotiations Committee, and the Upcoming Syria movement. To highlight its rivalry with the Assad regime and its patrons, the movement stated that it saw Iran, Russia, Hizbullah, and the Shi'ite militias in Syria as enemies, and that the Alawite sect has no true religious ties with Iran; on the contrary, the movement stressed that there was historic hostility between them.

The founding statement reads: "The movement was founded on February 20, 2016. It includes a group of leaders from the Haidariya and Makhousiya [factions of the] Alawite sect, as well as some officers in the regime army, retired officers, and some current and former politicians.

"The movement's founding principles:

"- Syria is the homeland of all its sons, regardless of sect... religious school, or ethnicity.

"- Anyone of us who spilled the blood of his Syrian brethren is a criminal who will be held accountable by tribunals.

"- The movement will absolutely not serve as a cover for criminals and will work to extradite any criminal whose crimes are proven.

"- We charge our brethren in the homeland to refrain from holding all of us [Alawites] responsible for the events in Syria. A large number of us oppose these crimes and some were thrust [into the war] following sectarian brainwashing by regime loyalists.

"The movement's goals:

"1. Freeing the Haidaris and Makhousis from the control of the Kalaziya [faction] and the Al-Wahsh,[4] Makhlouf, Shalish, and Kheirbek families.

"2. Defending our remaining youths from inevitable death in the service of these families.

"3. Stressing to our youths that they are dying for families and not for the homeland, while Kalaziya members and the Al-Wahsh [Al-Assad], Makhlouf, and Shalish families sit in their palaces and offices and gamble.

"4. Establishing a political force of free sect members to defend the sect from Kalaziya [loyalists].

"5. Ensuring safety for defectors, escapees, and those who refuse to be led to battle.

"6. Establishing charity foundations to ensure aid to families that the regime refuses to help due to their opposition to its crimes.

"7. Establishing a military force including officers, enlisted men, and youths who defected [from the regime army].

"8. Striving to eliminate the Shabiha[5] activists of the Al-Wahsh, Makhlouf, and Shalish families in all areas.

"9. Supporting Monzer Makhous and the leader of Upcoming Syria, brother Fouad Hamira.[6]

"10. Contacting the Free Syrian Army... to provide information and support and to defend it in all [our] areas.

"11. To distribute and put up flyers to expose criminals.

"12. To treat Iran, Russia, Hizbullah, and the militias sent by Iran to Syria as our common enemy.

"13. [To stress] that nothing ties the Free Alawite Movement to Iran religiously, and that there is a historic hostility between us [Alawites] and them...

"14. [To reiterate] that Iran is implementing its ancient plan... to transform part of the Alawite sect into its servant in the region."[7]

Military Activity: Free Alawite Brigade Targets The Regime

As stated above, unlike other Alawite opposition movements, the Free Alawite Movement is the first to reportedly carry out armed resistance to the regime, although apparently on a limited scale, so far. The movement's military wing is the Free Alawite Brigade, and is likely comprised of Syrian army defectors. There is no information regarding the brigade's commander, but it is known that his lieutenant is Colonel Muhammad Barakat, who defected from the regime army on May 2, 2016, to join the brigade.[8]

The brigade claimed responsibility for a number of operations, the most prominent of which was the assassination of 'Alaa Makhlouf, the bodyguard of President Assad's wife Asma, on June 4, 2016 by placing a bomb in his car.[9] On June 12, the Free Alawite Movement tweeted that the one of its fighters "managed to blow up the headquarters of a brigade in the [Syrian army's] 4th Division and escape safely."[10]



Bombing a brigade headquarters in the Syrian army's 4th Division (Image: Twitter.com/jojohm7, June 12, 2016)

Additionally, on May 19, 2016, the movement claimed responsibility for bombing an ammo depot belonging to the regime's National Defense militia in the city of Al-Suqaylabiya.[11]

Informational Activity

It appears that the movement's activity focuses on the informational level, mainly via its Facebook and Twitter pages, criticizing the Al-Assad, Makhlouf, and Shalish families and the Assad regime in general. The movement's main argument is that these families, and the Assad regime, do not represent the Alawite sect and even exploit it in the service of Iran. Thus, for example, on April 13, 2016, the movement posted a Facebook status arguing that nothing tied Alawites to Shi'ites, and that those who spread Shi'a Islam among Alawites was the family of Suleiman Al-Assad, which was not originally part of the Alawite sect and came to Syria from parts unknown.[12] Another post argued that the Al-Assad family lives at the expense of impoverished Alawites, who make up some 50% of the sect, and works with Iran to control Alawite opponents of the regime, thus enabling Iran to take over Syria.[13]

A post on May 10 stated that the Assad regime uses loyalists of Alawite factions that are not among regime supporters as cannon fodder, citing as evidence the number of Alawites belonging to the Kalaziya faction killed during the war, which is far lower than the death toll among loyalists of the other factions.[14] It further claimed that the Assad regime was responsible for the massive terror attacks in Jableh and Tartus on May 23, 2016, which claimed 317 lives, all of them members of the Haidariya and Makhousiya factions.[15] Even though ISIS claimed responsibility for these attacks, the movement claimed that the Assad regime had carried them out to prevent the outbreak of an "Alawite intifada" on the Syrian coast.[16]

On April 30, 2016, following the start of a massive Assad regime campaign in Aleppo, the movement condemned the regime's crimes, claiming that the movement itself could not be held accountable for the regime's actions.[17]



Free Alawite Movement symbol (Facebook.com/1192248117460289, May 2, 2016)

Political Activity

The movement claims to be conducting political activity beyond Syria's borders. For example, on May 19 it posted a Facebook status claiming that "the supreme authority of the Free Alawite Movement has launched day 3 of its meetings in France. The movement rejected a request by Rifa'at Al-Assad [President Bashar Al-Assad's uncle] to join the movement due to his poor record. The movement will issue a statement after its meetings. These are the final days of Bashar Al-Wahsh, and the whole world agrees on this."[18]

According to the movement, it has held ties with the Syrian High Negotiations Committee through its spokesman Monzer Makhous, who is a member of the Alawite Makhousiya faction. Following the May 2016 terror attacks in Jableh and Tartus, the movement's leader, Sheikh Mohsen Al-Haidari sent a letter to Makhous asking him to inform international elements that Kalaziya loyalists were on their way to massacre displaced Sunnis on the Syrian coast.[19] Beyond that, there is no information on ties between the movement and other large Syrian opposition bodies such as the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.

The movement's Facebook page also reported on ties with former Syrian defense minister and chief of staff 'Ali Habib, who is an Alawite and was ousted as defense minister by President Assad in August 2011. On May 10, 2016, the movement posted an "announcement from Paris" stating that "Major General 'Ali Habib, the former Syrian defense minister, spoke with some opposition factions and world officials [in Paris] in order to find a solution for the Syria war that would lead to the expulsion of the Al-Wahsh, Makhlouf, and Shalish families from Syria, and the punishing of anyone with Syrian blood on their hands." The post further mentioned an upcoming meeting "attended by Major General 'Ali Habib, Brigadier General Manaf Tlass [a former general in the Syrian regime army and Assad associate who defected in 2012], and a number of [other] senior officers who defected from the Al-Wahsh [Al-Assad] family army, in order to establish a transitional military council that would lead Syria towards becoming a free democratic country with no room for the Al-Wahsh, Shalish, and Makhlouf families, and that will hold all criminals accountable. Our Sheikh [Mohsen Al-Haidari] will join the meeting as head of the Free Alawite Movement and the Free Alawite Brigade."[20]

On July 12, 2016, the movement posted a Facebook status stating that Al-Haidari had arrived in Ankara together with 'Ali Habib, and that they had begun a series of meetings with military and political leaders, including Khaled Al-Mahamid, who is in charge of coordinating with defecting officers in Syrian opposition factions in South Syria. It was said that the meetings would last two days, after which the two would depart for Moscow.[21]

It should be mentioned in this context that 'Ali Habib's meetings in Ankara were reported by other outlets, but none of them mentioned the Free Alawite Movement or Al-Haidari. Thus, the Syrian oppositionist website Orient-news.net reported on July 12 that 'Ali Habib had arrived in Ankara from Paris two days prior to meet with the Turkish military high command to discuss the establishment of a wide military government in Syria that would be headed by and include many defecting officers from the regime, and also to discuss the establishment of a core for a new national army. The report stated further that, after the deliberations in Ankara, Habib would continue his meetings in Moscow. However, as stated, the website did not mention the Free Alawite Movement.[22] Additionally, some reports denied that Habib had left Syria at all.[23]

Endnotes:
RAQUEL MARIN

As recently as a decade ago, there was little place for racism and xenophobia in Europe; now they both seem very much at home. And the 21 million Muslims who live in Europe, both individually as well as collectively, are the scapegoat nearest to hand. The rise of Islamophobia suggests that the European principles of freedom, equality and solidarity were never more than words. Thats to say, Europes crisis is above all a crisis of principles.

The inclusive legislation that at one time characterized the EU is now being undermined at an alarming rate by a series of political and legal initiatives to segregate Muslims from the rest of society, effectively discriminating against Islam as a religion.

At the same time, widespread xenophobia provides some consolation to the growing number of people disgusted with an EU where one in four people is now at risk of marginalization, while at the same time threatening the social progress that its largely symbolic legitimacy has been built on. The outcome is that for too many Europeans, Europe is less white, less Christian, and less middle class. A culprit has to be found.

Europes relationship with Islam has changed a lot since Lawrence of Arabia was able, a century ago, to justify Britain breaking its promise of giving the Arabs independence by saying Maktub! (it is written). During the colonial era, Islam was used as an excuse to reduce Muslims to the role of subordinates in need of European enlightenment. Today Islam is part of the European reality and European Muslims are the masters of their history in just the same way other Europeans are. This is a radical change, and one that for many Muslims has proved traumatic to assimilate.

Not even Londons new mayor, Sadiq Khan, who among other things is a Muslim, has been spared scrutiny

The disproportionate attention the public gives to European Muslims religious identities means that the latter are continually having to define themselves in defensive terms: jihadism, the burka and immigration are the latest threats to a pax europaea, which at this point in time seems largely inexistent. Even teenagers, under the weight of inquisitions from school friends and teachers, are beginning to see themselves as dangerous Muslims. And woe betide any Muslim who tries to abstain from the debate: impossible, because a Muslim is always a Muslim!

The reason for the suspicion that hangs over Muslims are policies by our governments that keep the community, and in particular, young Muslims, under permanent scrutiny while the rest of the population tries to avoid contact with them at all cost.

In France, the governments latest move in its war against terrorism, jihadism, and radical Islam consists of locking up radical young people in specially created rehabilitation centers. Quite how the term radical is to be interpreted hasnt been explained.

Meanwhile, in Spain, mere suspicion of having begun a radicalization process is on the way to entering the statute books as a crime. At the end of last year, the Interior Ministry set up a service to allow people to anonymously identify suspected radicals.

Not even Londons new mayor, Sadiq Khan, who among other things is a Muslim, has been spared scrutiny. During the election campaign, his Conservative Party rival Zac Goldsmith used Khans religion to question his patriotism, while nobody would have questioned Goldsmiths patriotism because he is a Jew. Khans message during and after the campaign was one of conciliation.

What Muslims want from Europe is basically bread, freedom, and social justice

Europe and its Muslims are in the same boat. The Muslim community has much at stake, but so does Europe. The European project, based on equality, also depends on its attitude toward Muslims here. The xenophobic rhetoric of nationalist parties on the rise, keen to garner votes, threatens the principles of the EU. Its Islamophobia is open, explicit and arrogant.

The worst exponent of this trend is Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party, which compares the Quran with Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf and calls for it to be banned. But there is an even more dangerous type of Islamophobia that is weakening the foundations of an integrated Europe. This is a more subtle Islamophobia based on seemingly enlightened principles and arguments, one never made explicit, although it occasionally lets its discriminatory veil slip. The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, is a master of this approach. He distinguishes between what he calls the Islamic fascism of some groups (which at the moment are the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS) and a more agreeable Islam, one that is largely invisible. Can we imagine anybody daring to talk about Christian fascism or Judeo fascism, or Buddhist fascism? There is no shortage of examples of countries where all the major religions have been involved in violence in recent years, and neither is there of its role in providing an ethics of compromise and human dignity.

Reducing things to the level of a confrontation between European Muslims and the rest of the population is the core of the Islamophobic project. Making Muslims outsiders, putting them on the defensive and attributing obscure objectives to take over the world is far from accidental. What Muslims want from Europe is basically bread, freedom, and social justice; which is pretty much what everybody else wants, sick and tired as we are of the supremacy of the markets and seeing our sovereignty undermined.

Brexit has wiped the smile off the faces of our elites. The response on the part of our leaders has always been to sweep the dirt under the carpet, but such is the legitimate anger of British fishermen, workers and shopkeepers, that Brexit may well set off a chain reaction across the English Channel.

A growing number of people in the Netherlands already talk openly about Nexit. While in Spain, recent elections have shown us to be a more nationalist and less self-critical country than we imagined. Trying to address these issues with late-empire populism in the case of Britain, or clumsy manipulation in the case of Spain, will solve nothing. And neither will yielding to the ever-present temptation to make Europes Muslims the scapegoat for the political and moral crisis Europe is living through. The problem is simple: Europe itself is absent.

Luz Gomez is professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

English version by Nick Lyne.
The voice, authority and experience of the UNHCR is necessary for the promotion and support of democratic and practical solutions within the framework of the European Union and worldwide, Alternate Foreign Minister Nikos Xydakis stressed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, PhilippoGrandi, during their one-on-one meeting this afternoon.



Their meeting was preceded by Mr. Grandis joint meeting with the Alternate Ministers of Defence, D. Vitsas, Citizen Protection, N. Toskas, Migration Policy, G. Mouzalas, Labor, F. Fotiou, and Foreign Affairs, N. Xydakis. Also participating in the meeting were the Secretary General of the Education Ministry, G. Pantis, the head of the European Office of the UNHCR, Vincent Cochetel, and the UNHCR representative in Greece, Philip Leclerc.



The purpose of the meeting was the deepening of cooperation betweenthe Greek State and the UNHCR on management of the refugee problem. The Greek side presented new data, analyzed needs, and explained areas where the UNHCR could help. There was a discussion of the prospects for more effective cooperation on all levels. Mr. Grandi was very supportive on issues of content and procedures, as well as on funding issues. He showed particular sensitivity to the urgings for immediate assistance in accommodating unaccompanied minors.



Mr. Xydakis raised issues of mutual support and cooperation. Emphasis was put on the Greek presence at the upcoming UN Meeting scheduled for 19 September, in New York. Also discussed was the need to support the new European Asylum System in a democratic and functional direction. Weneedfresh, newideasthatbringpracticalresults. Housing, education, employment are the triptych on which the UNHCR can help with its experience, Mr. Xydakis concluded.
Dear Nicolas,

Distinguished friends,



I would like to start by thanking the leadership of your countrys Foreign Ministry, and above all my friend Nikola, who shares my name, for this invitation, which is a great honor for me.



Today we are living in a difficult era. At the same time, of course, it is an extremely interesting period. The world is changing. The West is no longer the sole power in the world, though it is certainly still the main power. Demographically, the West is declining  particularly Europe. Democracy, which appeared to be the winner at the end of the 20th century is once again in retreat and demands our constant care and attention.



New powers are emerging on the global stage. Some of these powers want to function within the existing rules. Others want to revise the structures of the global system. The latter often combine internal authoritarianism with revisionism, while in the most extreme cases we witness expressions of chauvinism.



Those theories of 20 years ago, according to which the 20th century would be the century of the EU and of Europe, were not proven valid by the facts. The Lisbon decisions which sought to make the EU a the key player in new technologies were not carried through. At the same time, the EU, while following the path of enlargement, did not secure adequate mechanisms and structures for the further deepening of the European project and for a stronger integration course, particularly in the political sphere.



The EU is in crisis, but it is nevertheless  in spite of the contradictions and deficiencies  a model of rule of law and protection of human rights. It is our duty to bring it out of this crisis. To make it even better. To develop its positive aspects and leave behind the negative phenomena created by the crisis.



Over the past two years, the Greek side has repeatedly proposed a broad discussion on the future of the EU. And this is because, in contrast with the past, debates in the EU tend to be limited to monetary/financial issues, sanctions, embargos and fiscal adjustment programmes. Undoubtedly, these discussions are also necessary, under certain conditions. However, they cannot and should not be Europe's main concern.



A democratic debate on the future of the EU is long overdue. And the questions that arise at the end of the day are What Europe do we want in the 21st century? Which principles and values will it move forward with? Which institutions and which countries will we build this Europe with? We need to develop a strategy that does not miss the forest for the trees.



There is a danger at this time of multifaceted crisis for the EU: That it expands, but, through this enlargement, evolves into a Europe of two speeds. Those who join, as well as a number of its current members, risk remaining in an outside circle, essentially just implementing the decisions of the inner circle. Something along these lines may be seen as a solution in conservative circles, but rather than solving the problem, it will only serve to reproduce the problematic dividing lines in Europe itself.



What the EU really needs is the development of a number of policies and structures through which it can gain democratic normality and enhance society potential. In other words, we are in need of policies and structures that will contribute to overcoming the asymmetry that characterized the one-sided development over the past 15 years, which after all led to multifaceted crisis.



The EU is experiencing a multiple crisis that can either disrupt the Union or guide it to a bright future. Specifically:



First, the EUs crisis is an identity crisis.

What exactly is the EU ?

What would the players within it like to make it?

What does it need to do?

How far can it go?

Will it return to nation states?

Will it overcome them?



Our opinion is that the EU needs to move in a federal direction and also acknowledge that nation states exist and will exist for a long time to come. At the same time, the Union's development should concern mainly the democratic and social rights of its citizens and societies that are in decline and the quantitative and qualitative enhancement of these rights. This way, we can politically overcome the asymmetrical and one-sided development which has characterized the EU over the past two decades.



It has to be understood that the EU does not lose out on competitiveness through more democracy and stronger social policies. In fact, more democracy and stronger social policies will move it to a higher level, where competitiveness doesnt have to do with lowering costs, but with greater specialization and capitalization on new technologies, thus leading to the creation of new products and the implementation of new and more democratic methods of organization of production and services. A true smart economy.



Second, next to the identity crisis, the EU is entangled in a politically multifaceted crisis. The Brexit referendum is only the tip of the iceberg. On the one hand, there are many in the EU who would like the results of the referendum not to be respected. And on the other hand, there are others who want to push the UK out of the EU as fast as possible. This controversy between ignoring the result and accelerating its implementation is leading the UK and the EU into an inertia that is much worse as a choice than the one supported by either side in the controversy.



The outcome of the UK referendum is not the cause of the EUs political crisis, but rather a result of this crisis. Of course, the outcome accelerates the crisis. The result is a product of the policy of one-sided austerity being implemented by the majority of EU member states. It is the product of the increasing inequality in distribution of income and assets and of the increase in poverty.



The complete dominance of neoliberal doctrines in the EU and its economic policies has resulted in a decline of the EUs international competitiveness. Consequently, any weaknesses the EU has are not associated with democracy itself or the EU's social model, but rather they result from those doctrines and the obsession with their implementation.



The EUs political crisis has to do with the limiting, or even the elimination, of all those components that, until recently, characterized the European model such as:



 The diminished acceptance by the people or demos of the European project, which evolves into a project of the European elites;



 the lack of vision;



 the one-sided development of European cooperation in the priority fields of neoliberal economic doctrines;



 the limiting of the social policies of the Union



 last but not least, the fact that, in most of its member states, there was a lack of democratic safety valves for overcoming the crisis.



All of these factors are causes and accelerators of the political crisis, while they make it easier for authoritarian movements to gain momentum.



Third, the EUs crisis is also a crisis of economic model and policies, namely, of the abandonment of the unique European traditions that gave great push to the Europe of the 20th century.



Fourth, combined with all these crises which I already mentioned, is the refugee crisis which we experienced together, very intensely during the past year. The fact is that there was no unified European response, and that when such a response came, it was only on paper. The imported problem of the refugee crisis and massive economic migration has revealed a number of problems. These pertain to the functioning of the Union, to how various states perceive these issues, to a lack of vision and to how we implement our common system of values.



The refugee problem once again has highlighted two needs: a) to promote the policy of European integration, and b) to open a broader debate on the future of Europe.



Our two countries do not just belong to Europe. They also belong to a wider region that we often call Southeast Europe, centered in the Balkans.



This region - as I have been pointing out for two years now  is located within a triangle of instability, with multiple repercussions and risks. To our north is Ukraine, to our south-west, Libya, and to our south-east are Syria and Iraq.



Greeces foreign policy has always aimed at contributing to the stabilization of the region, particularly the eastern Mediterranean. In recent years, together with Cyprus, we have put together a number of separate trilateral relationships, with Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Israel. These trilateral cooperation configurations have been extended into all policy sectors. Cooperation is taking place between all ministries, especially with Egypt and Israel, on all levels, departmental, Secretaries General, ministers, prime ministers and presidents. These relations are developing rapidly. We now look forward to similar cooperation schemes with more countries.



In the context of the stabilization of the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and, by extension, the Middle East, from our standpoint and within our given capabilities, we moved ahead last year to the convening of a major international conference on the protection of religious and cultural communities in the region. More than 200 patriarchs, foreign ministers, heads of international organizations and scientific experts of institutions attended this conference. The result was the founding and entry into operation of a special observatory, as well as the decision to convene the second conference in 2017, in collaboration with another EU member state (Austria) and an Arab country.



Of equal importance is the convening of the first conference for Security and Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, a few days from now, in Rhodes, on 8 and 9 September. Initially we invited 4 EU, and 5 Arab countries to this conference. In the end, a total of 16 countries - seven of them European, including ourselves as hosts and nine Arab countries- will be attending. This increased participation reflects the high level of interest, as well as Greeces increased diplomatic role..



This conference complements the EUs initiative for the Mediterranean (the Barcelona Process) and the group of seven Southern/Mediterranean EU member states, known also as the Euromed group. This group of 7 has been convening for some time now at the level of foreign ministers. This year, Greeces prime minister took the initiative for the Euromed to have its first meeting at the level of heads of state and government, in Athens, also on 9 September, shortly before the extraordinary EU summit meeting in Bratislava.



The Rhodes meeting has another aspect: It is the first format linking Southeast Europe with the Eastern Mediterranean into one group. Two regions of great instability, but also of vital importance for international peace and security.



Next to the two major circles  Europe and the (Eastern) Mediterranean/Middle East  there is a space decisive to our common future: namely, the Balkans. We have added two very important new configurations and initiatives to the many that already exist in our region. The first is the cooperation of the Balkan EU member states.



The second is the collaboration of the southern states of Europe: your country, Greece, Albania and Bulgaria. Two EU member states and two candidate countries.

This configuration strengthens our cooperation, our joint handling of the major problems we are dealing with. It will promote joint cooperation measures.



This institution, to which we attach great importance, met in the first half of this year and will reconvene this October, in Thessaloniki. We may also carry out a joint visit to Mount Athos. Starting next year, we will meet every six months in cities of the other states as well as in Greek cities.



In the 1990s, we were all focused on shaping a Balkan hinterland. On introducing the rule of law. We saw the development of a peculiar capitalism. The introduction of the market economy was accompanied by an aggressive policy of privatizations that had many characteristics of primitive accumulation of capital. In that decade, our minds were focused on how to increase economic, social and political relations and connectivity in our region.



Later, early in the 21st century, our attention turned to the European path of the Balkan states. Initially, to the states of the eastern Balkans, and later, to those of the western Balkans. The states of the region chose, from one perspective, individual paths. Each pursued, for itself, the shortest route to membership in the Euroatlantic institutions. To a certain degree, the Balkan hinterland was disrupted. More and more states in the region sought support and institutional contacts with the powerful states of the EU and NATO.



It is Greeces and my personal assessment that, today, we need to ensure a combination of the two aforementioned options of the past 25 years. EU accession will be delayed for many states, also due to the multiple internal crises of the EU. But even if these states accede to the EU soon, a Union of 40-plus members will certainly not be an environment in which a state with a population of 2 or even 5 or 7 million citizens will be able to maneuver with great ease. All the more so, when they have a GDP 200 or 400 times smaller than that of Germany and 2,000 times smaller than that of the U.S.



.



This is why I support that it is important to strengthen our hinterland with the aim of fully maximizing current potential, until all the states of the region accede to the EU and for these states to have a real role in the EU after they accede. In this context, the Balkan initiatives I mentioned earlier provide added value.



The reconstruction of the socioeconomic and political hinterland of the Balkans within a stable European course is, in my opinion, the strategy that must be followed today. It is the political choice that will help us grow in strength and have a strong role in the future EU.



The meeting of the four countries was very productive and promising. It was yet another dimension in the cooperation between our two states. Our cooperation was an unexpected step forward and came as a surprise to many, certainly to all those outside your country who believe  very mistakenly  that your state is transitory or troublesome. To the contrary! Your country is a state that, also during the recent events, has demonstrated stability and acted as a factor of security in the region, irrespective of the domestic political crisis. A crisis that I am deeply convinced, your country can overcome on its own. As long as democracy is further consolidated.



Unlike many other EU member states, Greece avoided expressing an opinion or getting involved in the domestic affairs of our important northern neighbour. We believe that, in our time, such a stance is not only mistaken, but also unacceptable. Outside interference has, as a rule, the opposite of the desired effects.



Addressing you here, allow me to argue for a general rule that I try to follow personally, too, though without always managing to do so: Every state, domestically and in its international/external relations, has to develop certain necessary characteristics that seal its modernity and Europeanism. Among these, a defining role is played  in my opinion  by the democratic culture of dialogue, consensus and accord. The other side, whether it is the state or its citizens, is not the enemy, but a different culture, opinion, outlook or simply another response. And within this difference  even if it is mistaken  there always lies a grain of truth.



We have a positive appreciation of the existence of our northern neighbour, in which we are first in investments and trade, first in tourism and intercommunal contacts. At the same time, we would like to believe that an irredentism that, in our opinion, serves no purpose and is not supported by historical or current realities, will be overcome.



It is clear that the insecurity regarding the acceptance of the existence of your state, as well as irredentism, for some time generated feelings of distrust. Today we have taken an important step forward. The personal relations between myself and Nikola speak for themselves. The relations between the Balkan 4 as well. The road is still long, of course, but we are determined to travel it. This is what I believe and hope and in this direction we are working.



Societies and countries need a climate of trust in order to share a common course.. We need to understand the existing difficulties and, in a climate of optimism, find and develop ways past them.



We need to talk so that we can understand one anothers thinking, even in the context of the deepest disagreements that may exist.



We need to show and prove our dedication to the good of our peoples, our citizens.



We need to be aware of each others interests and special circumstances so that even the most difficult negotiations can be carried out more effectively.



We need to do what is right, fair and necessary at the appropriate time.



We mustnt take advantage of situations or close windows of opportunity when these can be opened and bring in fresh air.



Our role is to contribute to positive, peaceful, effective changes and be an agent and part of these changes.



We need to be able to distinguish what is secondary and not important from what is of key importance, focusing on the latter persistently, steadily and creatively so that we can find constructive solutions.



We need to find and capitalize on what we have in common, and tolerate and respect differences, without sacrificing our common future to those differences.



An important step forward was the establishment of the confidence-building measures (CBMs) being promoted by our two sides, whether these concern connectivity in the sectors of transport, economy, universities, or whether they concern cooperation in the areas of security, fire-fighting, dealing with natural disasters and emergency situations.



As we saw following the recent catastrophic floods  and here I would like to publicly express my condolences at the tragic loss of human lives  these situations can bring our peoples closer together through cooperation during humanitarian crises.



I believe that, overall, we are on a good path to further strengthening our relations. I believe that your state, despite your difficulties, is an element and factor of stability in the region. From this perspective, Greece is making and will continue to make every effort to contribute to the development of our neighbouring country.



At the same time, we will do everything we can, in order not to allow the imposition of external measures against your country. In this context, in the EU Foreign Affairs Council, we recently objected to various ideas regarding sanctions against you.



Our two countries need to live together in peace, cooperation and prosperity. If and when the name issue is resolved and all irredentism is confronted, the two countries will walk together on the path of the EU and security structures.



Greece will become the supporter and mediator of such a course.



My speech here today is a step in the direction of creating a climate of trust and establishing a culture of dialogue and consensus.



Another step was the kind invitation of your Foreign Minister as well as your patience in listening to me, as I described my vision for strengthening the friendship, cooperation and good neighbourly relations between our countries and for the European future of the whole region..



I thank you again.
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.
BAD AXE  The Huron County Board of Commissioners appointed Ann Hepfer as the countys health officer Tuesday morning.

If the Tuscola County Board of Commissioners approves her appointment tonight, Hepfer will take Gretchen Tenbuschs place Nov. 18.

Shes training in the meantime, Huron County board Chairman John L. Bodis told the Tribune. Gretchen is working with her, so it will be a seamless transition.

Both Thumb boards had to give preliminary approval in June before sending the decision to state officials. The appointment as associated health officer/chief executive officer for the Huron and Tuscola County health departments is final once both boards have given final approval for Hepfer.

She is the current nursing administrator at the Tuscola County Health Department, Tenbusch told the tribune in June following the Huron County boards initial approval.

She has over 28 years of public health experience, and is an excellent individual for the job Tenbusch said.

Hepfer will be an employee of Tuscola County, and will contract with Huron County, Bodis sad.

In other business Tuesday, the Huron County board:

 Authorized Green Acre Landscaping to install brick pavers establishing a walkway between the Huron County Veterans Memorial and the Bad Axe DDA Park at a cost of $4,328.

 Appointed Bodis as the officer delegate to the Michigan Employees Retirement System, and Jodi M. Essenmacher as officer alternate.

 Established a purchase price for the 2016 Huron County Plat Book at $35 per book.

 Approved the employment of Timothy Anderson as a part-time deputy sheriff.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

RUTH  Where will the turbines be located?

This was the most common question asked by people attending an open house of NextEra Energy Resources on Tuesday night at the Ruth Knights of Columbus Hall.

As wind energy protesters picketed outside, Bryan Garner, manager of communications for NextEra Energy Resources, explained that there are a number of steps to go through in the process of establishing a wind overlay district before it is known exactly where the turbines will be built.

The proposed district includes parts of Sand Beach, Delaware and Sherman and Sigel townships.

Among the open-house attendees was Roland Siemen of Sand Beach Township, who says he was one of the first to sign up years ago to allow his 370-acre farm to be used as a site for wind turbines.

I dont go along with some of the knit-picking going on, Siemen said. The ones knit-picking would be the first to squawk if they turned the light on and it wasnt there.

About 12 people picketed outside with signs reading 2 Tall, 2 Many, 2 Close, among others.

Sally Kain of Meade Township was one of them, and explained why she was protesting.

Huron County already has too many (turbines) and its time to stop, she said. We are already thoroughly saturated and weve met our quota.

Many of those opposed to the turbines complain about blinking red lights that are visible at night.

But they do not bother Harold Dropeski of Sherman Township, who is hoping to have a contract with NextEra. He farms 430 acres.

Across the road at night, I can see 50 lights flashing, he said. They dont seem to bother me.

Once participating landowners were identified, Garner said, the district was outlined, and the number of turbines to be built was determined.

The wind park is expected to hold 65 turbines.

Now the township or county planning commissions will decide whether or not to recommend that their governing bodies approve the district.

Sand Beach and Delaware are self-zoned townships, while Sherman and Sigel are county-zoned.

First, the planning commission for each jurisdiction reviews the district, then it holds a public hearing before voting on whether or not to recommend that the governing body approve it.

Next, the issue will go before the board of trustees in Sand Beach and Delaware townships.

For the turbines to be built in Sherman and Sigel townships, the issue must go before the Huron County Board of Commissioners for final approval.

Once the district is approved by all necessary governing bodies, NextEra will determine where the turbines will be built.

The Huron Wind Energy center is expected to produce 150 megawatts, with each of the 65 turbines having a capacity of 2.3 megawatts.

Each turbine will be 94 meters tall from the ground to the hub in the center of the blades.

Benefits cited by NextEra include the following economic impact over the first 30 years of the project:

 Property taxes: $36 million

 Landowner payments: $24 million

 Construction jobs: 200

 Full-time operations jobs: 6-10

 Capital cost: $260 million
The Russian Imperial Army has been portrayed as unfit to wage a modern war. It is best known for a catalogue of disasters at the hands of the Germans, notably at Tannenberg in 1914 and Gorlice-Tarnow in 1915, and then for its sudden collapse in the 1917 revolution.

Yet General Alexsei Brusilov launched one of the most successful offensives of the First World War in June 1916  an event in sharp contrast to the failed offensives at Verdun and on the Somme.

In 1914, Russian successes against the Austro-Hungarians and a subsequent advance to the Carpathian Mountains, which threatened an invasion of Hungary, were counter-balanced by defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes at the hands of the Germans.

The stalemate reached at the end of 1914 was broken by the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive of May 1915, which broke through the Russian defences east of Cracow and led to the Great Retreat of the Russians along the entire Eastern Front.

This rescued the Austro-Hungarians in the Carpathians, and ended the Russian threat to Hungary and Silesia. But, despite huge losses in men and materiel, the Russian armies survived and established a new line running from Riga in the north to Czernowitz in the south.

Many incompetent commanders were removed or reassigned, notably Nikolai Ivanov, who was replaced as commander of the South-Western Front by Alexei Brusilov in March 1916.

The winter of 1915/1916 allowed the Russians to rally. The Army recovered its strength, the war economy cranked up, and the munitions factories increased the production of shells. By 1916, the Russians were ready to take the offensive again. Brusilov was to play a major part in reversing Russian fortunes.

An Allied conference at Chantilly in December 1915 agreed that offensives would be launched on the French, Italian, and Russian fronts. The aim was to keep the forces of the Central Powers dispersed. The Russians were to attack by early June.

Accordingly, in April 1916, a conference of front commanders at Mogilev chaired by Tsar Nikolai and General Alekseev agreed to launch simultaneous assaults by all three fronts (Northern, Western, and South-Western). These Allied and Russian plans were disrupted by the German offensive at Verdun and the Austrian offensive at Asiago in Italy. This prompted the French and the Italians to increase the pressure for Russian action.

This was the immediate context for Russian attacks at Lake Naroch in March and on Brusilovs South-Western Front in June. Rather than attacking on a narrow front, Brusilov decided to launch simultaneous assaults with all his armies. This meant dispersion of force, not least artillery.

He was deliberately forsaking the concentrated, sustained artillery bombardment that usually preceded offensives and was designed to pulverise the enemys defences on a particular sector of the front. Both the Tsar and Alekseev opposed Brusilovs plan, arguing for the traditional approach and a concentration of Russias limited resources on a narrow front.

Making a virtue of their ammunition shortages, on 4 June 1916 the Russian artillery mounted an intense and brief but accurate and effective hurricane bombardment of the Austro-Hungarian defences.

Seeking shelter from the bombardment in their deep dugouts, the Austro-Hungarian defenders were unable to fire on the advancing Russians and, once their positions had been overrun, they surrendered in their thousands. By the end of the first day, there was a 20-mile wide by five-mile deep gap in the Austro-Hungarian line.

Brusilov had achieved the breakthrough that most commanders could only dream of during the First World War. As there were no substantial defences behind the first trench line, the Russians were able to advance very quickly during the next three days, capturing more than 200,000 enemy soldiers. The Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff was forced to seek German assistance and to close down the Asiago offensive as he moved his divisions back to Galicia.

Brusilov lacked the reserves to sustain his breakthrough offensive. The Russian Army was not yet mechanised, still relying on horse-drawn transport, and the creaking Russian infrastructure simply could not deliver the necessary flow of fresh men and munitions needed to power a continuous advance.

The incompetence of most senior Tsarist commanders  many of them court favourites and aristocratic non-entities  remained a crucial failing throughout the war. The high command was also divided by rivalries and personal disagreements which prevented close cooperation at crucial moments.

By the time Brusilov had regrouped, been reinforced by the Guard Army (Aleksandr Bezobrazov), and resumed the offensive on 28 July, the opportunity to exploit the initial success had passed.

In an impressive feat of logistics, the Germans had transferred ten infantry divisions so as to establish a defensive line opposite Brusilov strong enough to repulse renewed Russian attacks with heavy losses. Brusilov launched another offensive between 7 August and 20 September. This reached the Carpathian Mountains, but suffered further heavy losses, then lost momentum.

The offensive finally ran out of steam in October as Brusilov exhausted his supplies and reinforcements. Blaming the Tsarist system for his inability to exploit the initial success of his offensive, Brusilov, like many others, began to think that only revolution would enable Russia to modernise and secure victory.

Dr Simon Innes-Robbins, a graduate of the University of Nottingham and Kings College London, is Senior Archivist at the Imperial War Museums. This is an extract from an article that appeared in issue 71 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.
U.S. Army maneuver officials are fine with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle serving as the service's Light Reconnaissance Vehicle -- as long as it carries two more soldiers and a cannon more potent than the pre-World War II .50-caliber machine gun.

The service soon will begin fielding the JLTV to replace a large portion of the service's outdated Humvee fleet. Senior leaders have decided that the four-seat, armored vehicle will replace the Humvees used by scout platoons in light infantry units despite a multi-year push by maneuver leaders for a specialized Light Reconnaissance Vehicle.

Scouts need a vehicle designed specifically for their unit with enough firepower to destroy enemy recon formations, maneuver officials maintain.

Leaders from the Army Capabilities Integration Center and the Maneuver Center of Excellence are working with JLTV program officials to tweak the vehicle's design so it's more suited to reconnaissance units.

"It would have to carry six soldiers and a 30mm cannon," Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, director of ARCIC and deputy commanding general of Futures at Training and Doctrine Command, told Military.com.

The Army awarded Oshkosh Corp. a $6.7 billion contract last fall to build the first 17,000 production models of the JLTV. The Army and Marine Corps plan to buy a total of nearly 55,000 of the combat vehicles, including 49,100 for the Army and 5,500 for the Corps, to replace about a third of the Humvee fleets.

Gaps Exist

"The JLTV is a great vehicle. I mean it is a nice vehicle; it satisfies about 90 percent plus of what the Army wants extremely well," said Col. William T. Nuckols Jr., director of Mounted Requirements at the Maneuver Center of Excellence, or MCOE, at Fort Benning, Georgia.

"From MCOE's perspective, Gen. McMaster's and ARCIC's perspective, we are good with that, but there are some gaps that exist with the JLTV in a reconnaissance/scout platoon role," Nuckols told Military.com in an interview.

Scout platoons operate out ahead of larger combat units and need more firepower to deal with chance contact with a larger enemy force, maneuver officials maintain.

"That is going to get addressed regardless," Nuckols said. "We are working now on a medium cannon upgrade to the JLTV that will serve in that reconnaissance variant role."

No decisions have been made, but the cannon will be "similar to what the Apache has right now," the M230-LF 30mm cannon, Nuckols said.

"We may go a little bit smaller, but we obviously want something better than the 100-year-old .50 cal.," Nuckols said. "As Gen. McMaster likes to say, 'Currently when our scouts bump into the enemy ... it's a fair fight at best.' And we don't want a fair fight. Gen. McMaster likes to say, 'We want smoking boots on the other end.' "

There is "general agreement" in the Army for that improvement, and there has been money applied to a program that would buy about 2,000 of these cannons by the "early-to-mid-20s," Nuckols said.

Maneuver officials are also hoping to convince senior leadership, as well as Congress, that scout units need a larger variant of the JLTV, one that carries six soldiers instead of four.

The 6-by-36 Concept

The "6-by-36 concept" works out to six vehicles for every scout platoon of 36 soldiers, Nuckols said.

"With a four-seater, you would have to manage nine vehicles instead of six; it makes [it] a little more manpower intensive," he said.

A six-seater vehicle also increases the effectiveness of scout platoons, Nuckols said.

"You can increase the duration and number of dismounted patrols, you can increase the number and duration of dismounted observation posts," he said. "It allows you to increase the combination of leader to led ratios. They don't sound like much, but in the aggregate, the capabilities of that scout platoon increase pretty significantly.

Nuckols said he was surprised at how effectively scout platoons from 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, performed at the National Training Center in 2014 using the six-by-36 concept.

"We have collected a lot of data on the utility of that design," he said.

Maneuver officials have also looked at the Ground Mobility Vehicle as an alternative to developing a six-seat variant of the JLTV, an effort that is likely to take eight to 10 years, Nuckols said.

Special Operations Command in 2013 awarded a contract to buy about 1,300 GMVs. General Dynamics Corp. won the award with its Flyer Advanced Light Strike Vehicle, designed to carry seven passengers, weigh less than 7,000 pounds unloaded and be internally transported by a number of aircraft.

The GMV 1.1 likely will be presented as an alternative course of action to be used for scout platoons in units tasked with conducting forcible-entry operations, Nuckols said.

"Part of our job here is to develop courses of action," Nuckols said. "What we are trying to do is provide our senior leaders with options."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related Video:
The commander of Army forces in the Pacific said Wednesday that North Korea's 300-mile launch of a missile from a submarine was more evidence of the drastically increased missile threat under the latest Kim family dictator, Kim Jong Un.

North Korea has launched 31 missiles in the four years since Kim succeeded his late father, Kim Jong Il, compared to the nine missile launches in 17 years of the elder Kim's rule, said Army Gen. Robert B. Brown, commander of U.S. Army Pacific.

"That tells you a lot about North Korea's intentions," Brown told Pentagon reporters by phone from his headquarters at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. "I am very worried, as you look at the trend. "

The message for the Army was that "we'd better be prepared should North Korea do something stupid," Brown said.

U.S. Strategic Command reported earlier Wednesday that the launch of a suspected KN-11 missile from a submarine was detected off Sinpo on North Korea's east coast.

The missile flew over the Sea of Japan toward Japan and fell into the sea about 300 miles off the coast of North Korea. The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined that the missile launch did not threaten the United States, StratCom said.

The submarine launch appeared to mark a major advance in North Korea's technology and methods for potential attack, and also brought about a rare moment of agreement among Japan, South Korea and China. The foreign ministers of all three countries, which have been at odds over China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, condemned the North Korean missile launch.

The missile launch came amid an escalating series of threats from Pyongyang against annual military exercises near the Demilitarized Zone by South Korea and the U.S. The Korean Central News Agency, the official North Korean outlet, has carried official statements calling the exercises a prelude to invasion and warning of a pre-emptive nuclear strike. North Korean troops also have reportedly been planting land mines in the DMZ.

Brown said USARPAC was better configured to respond to a crisis on the Korean Peninsula since the "Pacific Pathways" program to boost the Army's role in the region was inaugurated in 2014 as part of the rebalance of forces to the Pacific.

Under Pacific Pathways, more Army troops have been forward deployed to respond to threats and humanitarian crises and the command now consists of about 100,000 troops, compared to 70,000 when Pacific Pathways began, Brown said.

U.S. Army Pacific now essentially keeps a brigade in South Korea, with other units poised to respond to a crisis, Brown said.

"I think we're postured very well" with the existing airlift and sealift to move units into the region, Brown said, "but I wouldn't turn down more airlift and sealift it it were offered."

Pacific Pathways and a more prominent role for the Army in U.S. Pacific Command were initially met with skepticism by traditionalists who saw the region as better suited to the Navy and the Marine Corps, but Brown said that USARPAC was now an established force holding joint exercises with more than 30 nations in the region.

Brown assumed command of USARPAC in April, succeeding Gen. Vincent Brooks, now commander of U.S. Forces-Korea.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Corrupt have joined hands and working against the country: Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri

LAHORE: The corrupt forces in the country have joined hands and forces and are now working against the very existence of Pakistan. This was stated by chairman of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri while addressing the Qisas rally and sit-in held in Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday, via video link from Lahore.

He said it seems as if though the speech was written in Islamabad and sent to London, from where it was read out and the anti-state activities and arson was witnessed in Karachi. He said if the evidence given to the British Government is creditable than why the Pakistani government has not registered a treason case as yet.

The PAT Chief repeated his allegation that the prime minister, Punjab chief minister and his cabinet are responsible for the Model Town killings and PAT will not rest until Qisas is paid in this case. He said the person who was bringing and delivering messages between the two Sharif brothers, Dr. Tauqeer has been awarded and made Pakistans envoy to Geneva. The person who ordered the firing SP Salman has been sent abroard, the DIG Abdul Jabbar, who oversaw the whole operation has been granted two years leaves and sent abroad, while the third main culprit SP Umar Riaz Cheema has also been given two years leaves and he has also disappeared. He said the rest are all set to either go abroad or disappear. He said even after all this does one need to understand who was behind the Model Town incident.

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri chanted Pakistan ZIndabad slogans. The rally started from the Faisal Masjid and concluded at the Traffic Chowk. Sheikh Rashid, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Khawaja Aamir Fareed Koreja, Fayyaz Warraich, Dost Mohammed Khosa, Sardar Saif Uddin Khosa, Sardar Shakir Mazari, Sardar Saif Ullah Sadozai, Sardar Riaz Khan Leghari and Malik Akhtar Mallana also addressed the sit-in rally.

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri said that in the month of Independence several attacks have been witnessed on the parliament, inside and outside, but we have not seen any suo moto action by the superior court. He said the same mindset that has been witnessed in the Quetta attack is behind the ransacking and arson in Karachi. He said all this is being done to put extra pressure on the Pakistan Army, incite the public and take away the media attention from important national issues so as to give relief to the under pressure Sharif Government, which cannot find a way out of the Panama Leaks issue and the Model Town killings.

The PAT Chief said that the PM is only offering lip-service and has failed to present any concrete measures for the national security. All the PM has done is present resolutions and issue press statements. He said no implementation has ever been seen on the orders of the PM. He said before the Karachi incidents the issues that were being discussed included the PAT Qisas movement for justice in the Model Town incident, the Panama Leaks issue, Indian Held Kashmir killings and curfew, illegal assets issue. The Nawaz government was not happy on the debates that were being held on TV channels and on the streets by the common man, stated Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri. He said the timing is of utmost importance as the Model Town incident and the Karachi issue have a deep connection.

The PAT chief said that the Punjab government has neglected the issues of South Punjab for several years. He said DG Khan is given 1.3 per cent of the budget while Lahore gets 58 per cent and this is simple discrimination with the people of the area. He said the support price of wheat is Rs 1300 but the people of South Punjab are given Rs 1100 and each year floods take away the belongings of the people of South Punjab but the Punjab Government cannot see anything beyond Lahore and the Orange Train and Metro projects.

At the conclusion Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri advised the police to mend its ways as the rule of the Sharifs is nearing its logical end. He announced Qisas movement and national solidarity sit-ins and rallies in Multan on the 27th and in Rawalpindi on the 28th.
Volkswagen Emissions Deal

DETROIT - Volkswagen AG and about 650 U.S. dealers have reached a preliminary agreement for compensation due to business lost in the wake of a diesel-emissions scandal.

The German automaker had been in negotiations with a group of six dealers since June. On Thursday, a plaintiffs attorney representing the dealers told U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer they had reached a preliminary agreement.

Details of the deal have not yet been disclosed. The settlement has to be submitted to the Northern California court by Sept 30 for final approval.

In June, Volkswagen agreed to a $15.3 billion settlement with consumers and state governments.

Volkswagen has admitted to using software, known as a defeat device, in half a million cars with diesel engines to trick U.S. emissions tests.

The affected cars would meet emissions standards tests in a laboratory or testing station, but in normal operation, they emit nitrogen oxides at up to 40 times the standard, according to the EPA.

"Reaching an agreement with dealers is yet another step in fixing the Dieselgate mess," said Akshay Anand, analyst with Kelley Blue Book. "As time passes, news and buzz about the scandal seems to be waning, which is great for VW. There is still much more to be done, but over time, it seems Volkswagen may be able to move on and get back to focusing on what truly matters - building cars."
Clinton crash map.png

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, MI - A 26-year-old Clinton woman died Wednesday, Aug. 24 in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 12 in southwestern Washtenaw County.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Michigan State Police troopers responded to a crash near Lima Center Road in Bridgewater Township, near Clinton in Lenawee County.

Gloria Young was driving a 1997 Honda Accord eastbound on U.S. 12 when she crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a 2016 Kia Sportage, which was headed westbound, police said. Young was pronounced dead at the scene.

Huron Valley Ambulance took the Kia driver, a 49-year-old Adrian man, to the University of Michigan hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and police don't believe speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

U.S. 12 was closed from Lima Center Road to McCollum Road for about three hours late Wednesday.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Clinton Police Department, Clinton Fire Department, Lenawee County Sheriff's Office and Huron Valley Ambulance assisted Michigan State Police at the scene.
ANN ARBOR, MI - When Ann Arbor Public Schools decided to adopt an International Baccalaureate curriculum at three of the district's schools, educators there had to adapt to a new way of teaching lessons.

Today, the district has high hopes for staff and student success as the program begins its third year.

The Ann Arbor board of education in March 2014 approved starting IB programs for preschool through 12th grade at Mitchell Elementary, Scarlett Middle and Huron High Schools.

That set into motion a process that has included rewriting curriculum, re-hiring teachers and changing the way educators and families think about learning.

In the fall of 2017, AAPS hopes to secure IB's "world-school authorization" for the three schools. That would make Ann Arbor one of just three districts in the state to offer IB programs from preschool through 12th grade, with the most extensive high school Diploma Programme course offerings in Michigan.

"I'm very proud to share that we're either on pace or ahead of pace in every area for the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme," said Superintendent Jeanice Swift, adding that IB curriculum is one of the top requests she heard from parents when she began leading the district in 2013. "That's quite an endeavor. It's been made possible because of the incredible work of our teachers in those schools."

IB is a nonprofit organization that provides schools with a blueprint for developing curriculum based on five pillars: inquiry, global awareness, action and service, world languages, and equitable access to education.

That translates into project-based lessons driven by student inquiry. For example, fifth graders at Mitchell Elementary built satellite replicas designed to withstand a wind tunnel as part of a lesson on the solar systems, velocity and orbits last school year. In a second-grade class, students researched environmentally-friendly cleaners and then created their own cleaner and shared it with every classroom in their school.

IB aims to make students more culturally aware, to encourage them to connect ideas across subject areas and to instill in them the principles of good citizenship, locally and globally.

Enrollment at AAPS' budding IB schools show parents appreciate the approach.

Mitchell's enrollment jumped from 275 to 317 students in the 2015-16 school year, the second year of AAPS' transition to the IB curriculum. Scarlett's enrollment increased by 23 students over those same school years, and Huron's enrollment held steady, although district IB coordinator Kevin Karr said Huron's freshmen class last year grew by 75 students.

"Overall, when we look at Schools of Choice and district transfers, we've got a large number of kids and families who are choosing (IB)," said Karr, who also is principal of Mitchell Elementary.

In all, the IB program will serve approximately 2,500 of AAPS' 17,200 students.

"People understand that IB means really thoughtful teaching and learning," Karr said. "These teachers have started something very special, and it has required significant work. It will be excellent when we are fully authorized. It's going to be something very special, but it will have taken a commitment and perseverance."

Matching needs to strengths

Teachers at Huron, Scarlett and Mitchell were given a choice: commit to the extensive professional development required to usher in the IB program, or transfer to another school within the district to continue teaching general curriculum.

All teachers at the three IB schools have to re-apply for their jobs over the course of three years, which started with the 2015-16 school year. Because Ann Arbor dubbed IB a "pilot program," teachers are interviewing for those jobs without union contract conditions that apply to general education programs.

"It really has been a process of making sure we match the needs of the program with the strengths of the teachers," Karr said. "That interviewing process has been designed just to do that and make sure we hire teachers who are rooted in doing IB education and inquiry-based teaching."

The Ann Arbor Education Association has been wary of the IB program since the start, fearing the rehiring process would lead to high teacher turnover at the IB schools.

"When they declared it a pilot, the union was hands off," said Linda Carter, president of the AAEA. "I've been watching. I've been visiting all three schools. ... We're watching very closely, and it will be interesting to see how it goes."

Michigan law says decisions about staffing pilot programs are exempt from the collective bargaining agreement, so agreements about how seniority should factor into hiring decisions, professional development hours and other aspects of the teacher contract are suspended.

It's hard to say whether the rehiring has contributed to higher than usual teacher turnover at the IB schools, said district communications specialist Andrew Cluley, because turnover rates vary from school to school. It depends on how much of the staff is reaching retirement age, Cluley added, and whether other personal or professional reasons prompt people to transfer to other schools or leave the profession.

In the 2015-16 school year, the teacher turnover rate was 29 percent at Mitchell, 21 percent at Scarlett and 21 percent at Huron, based on a comparison of staff lists from 2014-15 to 2015-16.

Of the 31 teachers who transferred from IB schools going into the 2015-16 school year, Cluley said 14 transferred for reasons related to the IB program.

Swift says the administration set two main goals when launching the pilot program: to give every teacher the choice of whether they wanted to teach in an IB school, while guaranteeing no one would lose their job; and to ensure the faculty at the three IB schools are well-matched to the "significant endeavor" of achieving world school authorization.

"It's a big shift in pedagogy to teach in an IB school," Swift said. "We didn't assume that teachers wanted to go at that work or that that was the right work for them."

The 187 AAPS teachers who completed IB training in the 2015-16 school year put in more than 34,000 hours of professional development and wrote or mapped out 157 units, Karr said.

That averages out to 182 hours of professional development per person for IB teachers, compared to the 37 hours of professional development required under the regular teacher contract.

Charmin Archer and Chrissy Morse, kindergarten teachers at Mitchell, have enjoyed the transition to the IB program. They wrote several units incorporating IB principles last school year and both said their students are more engaged in class under the IB approach.

"With the inquiry-based, for me, that's been the biggest difference," said Archer, who was a new hire at Mitchell for 2015-16. "It's just letting what the students are wondering about and interested in drive the lesson."

Seeking transparency

Latin and English teacher Doug Julius applied in May 2015 to continue teaching at Huron High School. But he ended up transferring to Pioneer High School for the 2015-16 school year after the Human Resources department flip-flopped on its decision about hiring him for the IB program, he said.

While Julius says he had a positive experience at Pioneer last school year and respects the teacher who got the Huron position instead of him, he still isn't sure why he wasn't considered the most qualified candidate for the job.

He would have liked more transparency in the IB hiring process.

"I think there was a lot of hurt feelings and frustrations and bitterness (related to the IB hiring process). I'm still not sure to this day why they considered me a less-qualified candidate," Julius said. "It was not a transparent process. ... You go where you're sent, but it left a bad taste in people's mouths because it was like, 'You're not good enough for (IB).'"

Factors like Julius' 17 years of teaching - at the time he applied - and his master's degree and continuing education credits beyond that may not be given the same weight in hiring for a pilot program as AAPS' previous teacher contract dictated.

The AAEA does have any input on which school teachers are assigned to, regardless of whether it's a pilot program, Carter said.

After interviewing for the Huron position in May 2015, Julius found out in July he didn't get the job and instead would be transferred to one of the other high schools, according to an email exchange between Julius and district administrators obtained by The Ann Arbor News. Frustrated with the outcome, Julius solicited letters of support from parents of former students and asked the HR department for an explanation of the decision.

An HR employee sent Julius an email saying the department had reversed its decision and he would in fact be teaching in the IB program at Huron. But then the administration changed its mind again and, on July 28, 2015, Julius was notified he would be teaching at Pioneer this past school year.

"I met with the hiring committee that had done the interviews and they just stonewalled me," Julius said. "They said, 'You have to trust the process.' I said, 'I just want to know what are you looking for that you didn't see, what did you see that you didn't like' and they just said, 'Well we can't say that.' ... It was very frustrating."
ADRIAN, MI -- The first case of the Zika virus in Lenawee County is confirmed by the county health department.

In a press release issued on Tuesday August 23, 2016, the Lenawee County Health Department announced the disease had made its way to the county, but that it was not caused by local mosquitoes.

All confirmed cases in the state of Michigan have been associated with travel to places where the disease is present outside of Michigan.

The release did not say where the person who contracted the virus lived in the county.

The health department is encouraging anyone who has visited South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Pacific Islands and parts of Miami-Dale County, Florida to check for symptoms of the virus.

Symptoms include:

Fever or rash

Joint pain, muscle pain and headache

Red eyes

The symptoms last for several or up to a week and there is no vaccine or medicine for Zika. The disease is extremely dangerous for pregnant women as can cause a sever birth defect that affects brain development in babies.

The disease can be transmitted through being bit by a mosquito carrying the virus, or through blood transfusions and sexual contact.

According to information on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website, 39 travel-related cases have been identified in Michigan.

If you have questions about the virus or would like more information, you can contact the Lenawee County Health Department at 517-264-5234 or visit the Center for Disease Control website.
011812_NEWS_Student_MRM

University of Michigan graduate research assistants voice their support during a press conference for fired Michigan graduate student Jennifer Dibbern in 2012. Melanie Maxwell I MLive photo

ANN ARBOR, MI -- A ruling that graduate students who work as teaching or research assistants at private universities are school employees is a step in the right direction for graduate students in higher education as a whole, University of Michigan Graduate Employees' Organization President John Ware said.

Ware, who has been both a graduate student instructor and a research assistant at U-M while pursuing a doctorate in physics, said the decision is meaningful both symbolically and for the momentum of the academic labor movement, but it won't have a direct impact on U-M graduate student research assistants.

"It's an intensely meaningful decision, even if it has no direct impact on our collective bargaining rights at U-M," Ware said. "It's an enormous moment for the academic labor movement.

"It's my hope that all states, including Michigan, will follow the example of the (National Labor Relations Board) and that Michigan will reverse its 2012 decision, allowing research assistants to make the decision to form a union by itself," he added.

The 3-1 ruling by the National Labor Relations Board overturns a 2004 decision that said graduate students were not employees covered by the National Labor Relations Act, the Associated Press reported.

The Aug. 23 decision in a case involving graduate students at Columbia University potentially affects graduate students at hundreds of private colleges and universities throughout the United States. Graduate students at many public universities, which are covered by state labor laws, are already unionized.

Research assistants at U-M, however, are not able to unionize, despite efforts as recently as four years ago to do so.

Graduate students working as teaching assistants at U-M - a separate classification than a research assistant - won their first contract in 1975, becoming one of the first unions in the country to do so. They have since negotiated contracts providing tuition waivers, health benefits and child care waivers.

In 2012, however, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill preventing university graduate student research assistants from joining a union, a plan backers said protected the student-teacher relationship. The new law clarified that the research assistants are not public employees as recognized by the state Public Employment Relations Act.

The bill included an exception for graduate student research assistants, stating that the students do not fit the definition of a public employee because they primarily are in school to learn from their professors and earn advanced degrees rather than to earn a wage. Because they are not considered public employees, the students are prohibited from joining a union.

Snyder signed the bill - Public Act 45 of 2012 -- shortly before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission was expected to discuss the issue and potentially make changes to a 1981 decision preventing research assistants from unionizing. The bill thwarted a yearlong mobilization effort by a group of University of Michigan student researchers.

Previously, U-M's Board of Regents voted in favor of considering student researchers employees and gave GSRAs the green light to vote to form a union.

A federal judge struck down the Michigan law in February 2014 that blocked graduate student research assistants from joining a union at public universities.

The law was declared unconstitutional by Flint Judge Mark Goldsmith, who said provisions of the law related to graduate students were in a bill that was originally drafted to address powers of emergency managers.

Goldsmith sided with U-M's Graduate Employees Organization in a challenge to Michigan's Public Act 45 on 2012 filed by GEO's American Federation of Teachers-Michigan.

Although the ruling was in favor of research assistants at U-M and other public universities in Michigan, Ware said it did little to help unionizing efforts on behalf of research assistants because MERC hasn't made any changes to its 1981 decision.

"(Research assistants) are still excluded from (bargaining) because MERC hasn't changed its decision, which is true whether or not it's excluded in the state statute," Ware said. "There would have to be a change to the MERC precedent for that to change."

U-M's GEO represents approximately 1,900 graduate student instructors and staff assistants, Ware said. It is in the final year of a contract that has lasted six years, expiring on May 1, 2017.

While GEO soon heads into collective bargaining negotiations, Ware said he hopes more research assistants continue to forge a relationship with the organization.

"We continue to hope research assistants will be involved in the union, even though we don't bargain a contract for them," Ware said. "A lot of what we do has an impact on their work life. A lot of the pay and benefits they receive are patterned after research instructors."
Update: Susana Bernabe-Ramirez and her 16-year-old daughter Sayra Hernandez were deported at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26. Bernabe-Ramirez's 11-year-old daughter Isabella remains in the country. The GoFundMe campaign raised more than enough to cover the family's legal expenses, and the extra money will go to cover Isabella's medical and other expenses.

ANN ARBOR, MI - A mother and her 16-year-old daughter who are in Michigan without immigration permission have only hours left before they face deportation to Mexico.

Their case has been chronicled by MLive and The Ann Arbor News as they try to stay in the United States. If they are deported, they will leave behind an 11-year-old who is a U.S. citizen. Both children attend Ann Arbor Public Schools and the family lives in Ypsilanti.

Immigration law firm Marshal E. Hyman and Associates is making a final effort to prevent the deportation set for Friday, Aug. 26.

Susana Bernabe-Ramirez, 39, first feared she and her 16-year-old daughter Sayra Hernandez would be deported on April 29, leaving behind her 11-year-old daughter Isabella.

The efforts of their immigration attorney Brad Thomson and the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights bought them some more time, but now it seems they will be sent back to Mexico.

Two days before Bernabe-Ramirez and Hernandez were initially set to be deported, Thomson, of Immigration Law in Ann Arbor, filed a motion asking the Board of Immigration Appeals to reconsider their case for asylum.

WICIR had held a rally the previous week to raise awareness and draw media attention to the family's plight, hoping that would prompt Congress to intervene.

The motion for an appeal bought temporary relief for the family, but still Bernabe-Ramirez lived with the anxiety of not knowing whether her family would eventually be separated.

Her fears were realized on Monday, Aug. 22, when she found out Thomson's appeal had been denied and her deportation was scheduled for Friday.

In a last-ditch effort to keep the family together and at their home in Ypsilanti, WICIR is raising money to retain Marshal E. Hyman and Associates of Troy. The firm has filed another appeal in the case, which is pending.

WICIR already raised more than $1,000 to have the immigration law firm review Bernabe-Ramirez's case, and the organization is asking for the community to continue donating money to help the family cover the legal expenses needed to fight their deportation.

Those interested may contribute through the "STOP Susana & Sayra's Deportation!" GoFundMe campaign.

Bernabe-Ramirez and her daughters have lived in the United States since 2001. Isabella was born here. In 2010, Bernabe-Ramirez went back to Mexico to care for her ailing mother, who since passed away. Her husband was deported that same year.

Bernabe-Ramirez returned to America in 2014 and rather than enter illegally again, she requested asylum at the border. She was not granted asylum, but she was allowed to enter the country and then removal proceedings were initiated.
The Tanintharyi Region government has rejected a recent proposal by Salt International Company to extract sand from Myeik district and export it to the Maldives, the regions chief minister told The Myanmar Times yesterday.





The company submitted the proposal in July, asking for a 15-year permit to take sand from a natural coastal sandbank in Pyinponegyi village, Pulaw township.

As an incentive, Salt International said it would share the profits 50-50 with the local government, contributing around US$250 million in payments over five years, Chief Minister Daw Lae Lae Maw (NLD; Thayatchaung) said yesterday by telephone.

The company also said it would help the government to generate electricity in Palauk town, Pulaw township, for 50 years using the profits from its business, according to a letter to the regional government office.

We rejected the proposal in the second week of August during a regional government meeting, because of local opposition, Daw Lae Lae Maw said.

A spokesperson for Salt International  a locally registered company based in Yangon  declined to comment on the rejection.

The company toured a number of villages earlier this month to present the project and explain how the benefits would be shared with local communities.

Alarmed about the environmental damage the project could cause, residents posted their concerns on local websites. The news spread fast, said U Wai Phyo, founder of Dawei Active Youth.





The regional government decided to hold a press conference yesterday, to clear up the rumours, he said. The people have been concerned since mid-August that the project could leave communities exposed to storms and floods.

He said the region needs electricity, but that environmental protection is just as important. Companies must share the benefits of their investments with local people, he added.

People around that area are benefiting from small-scale fishing at the sandbank and they were afraid their livelihoods would be ruined by the project.
The Chin State government will focus on developing three main areas of the local economy over the next five years  trade, small and medium enterprises, and tourism  according to the state minister for development, electricity and industry.





Local officials will work with the Union government to develop trade links with India by opening border camps at Rihkhawdar, as well as at Myeikwa in Paletwa township and Saisi Hchuak in Htantlang township, said minister Salai Isaac Khen. Better infrastructure will also help to boost trade, he said.

Chin State is the poorest region in Myanmar. Deeply isolated, it lacks basic infrastructure and suffers from frequent natural disasters including landslides, particularly during the monsoon season.

The state government has asked the Union government to support trade border camps because there is not yet an official trading point in Chin State, said Salai Issac Khen.

Id like to open an official border point as soon as possible. Then we can form a collaborative team to reduce the illegal trade in drugs, weapons, explosive and cattle, he said.

To develop the SMEs sector, the state government will provide financial support to 1000 women over five years to help them develop small enterprises including growing profitable and organic crops, he added.

It will open wholesale trading centres, support the development of household industries, and work toward providing electricity to small businesses not connected to the national grid.





The government will welcome local and international investment, and regional development aid, assuming permission from the Union government, Salai Issac Khen said, while investment will be spread equitably across the states nine townships.

Chin State is well known for its beauty, but lacks tourist infrastructure. Earlier this month the government proposed building the first hotel in the state capital, Hakha, which would be just the fifth international-standard accommodation in the state.

Salai Issac Khen told The Myanmar Times earlier this month that a lack of hotels restricts tourism potential.

We must ensure hotel facilities for the development of tourism, or the visitors wont come ... We dont want to miss out on business because visitors feel they arent getting what they want, he said.

He wants at least three villages a year to work with the government, travel agencies and civil society organisations to launch community-based tourism projects.

The government is also inviting investors to develop hotels, will draw up a plan for developing tourism destinations and will open a training centre for hotel service.

Besides these strategies, officials will prioritise infrastructure development. Better transportation links will support regional development and help to unify the state, he said.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Embraced by kings and freedom fighters alike, Myanmars 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, Myanmars 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. Thats 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 Myanmars 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  its a blow to the national psyche.

The bird occupies a lofty place in the countrys culture.

For decades it was the official symbol of Burmas 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 20th century, independence hero Aung San  the father of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi  created a magazine named the Fighting Peacock.

Years later, Aung San 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 years elections, Suu Kyi delivers press conferences beside visiting dignitaries in front of an embroidered peacock wall hanging.

But some worry the birds will soon only be visible inside history books and at political rallies unless action is taken.

Having once ranged from India to Indonesia, the green peafowl, as it is 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, Chinas Yunnan province and on Indonesias 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 Indias far- northeastern Manipur state bordering Myanmar.

The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry in Nay Pyi Taw 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 peacocks legally protected status, poaching them for their eggs, meat and bright feathers.

Greater public awareness of the peacocks plight, particularly in rural areas, will be critical in bringing Myanmars 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 Myanmar should be proud to have peacocks, he said.

 AFP
A surgeon, activist, writer, and recipient of several international human rights awards, Ma Thida, who is known under the pseudonym Suragamika celebrated the launch of the English-language version of her book, Prisoner of Conscience: My Steps Through Insein at the PEN Myanmar office on August 23.





The book recounts Ma Thidas experience as a political prisoner in Insein Prison and details her relationship with Vipassana, a form of meditation she used to cope during her time. Though a translation, the English version retains the dedication by Burmese poet Sayar U Tin in the original Myanmar language.

Famed Myanmar writer Ma Thanegi was struck by Ma Thidas work, noting that any audience interested the book will find a way to read it  in either Myanmar or English. An international audience will take interest in this book because its nature and subject are so unique and rather strange. I am very pleased with this book, she said.

Ma Thida says she would not have survived Insein Prison were it not for Vipassana, and those who follow Buddhism will understand how her faith and concentration on Buddhist teachings lifted her in times of struggle.

I would like to share the message that although we may forgive the people who are responsible for my case, they also need to beg for forgiveness, Ma Thida said.

Still, some of the books key concepts may be difficult to understand. As with every translation, there is never an exact transfer of meaning.

To that Ma Thida says simply, Very well. She is pleased only that her story is being told and published with such a fervor. Plans are under way to translate her account into German and Italian.





Ma Thidas harrowing story has already reached a wide audience, with a new and increased popularity in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand. The Myanmar language version known as Sanchaung, Insein, Harvard was published by Ngardo Sarpay in 2015, though the publishing house has recently re-released the book. Chiang Mais Silkworm Books publishing house and Siam Paragons Centre of Asian Books store launched the English- language version on July 28.

Prisoner of Conscience: My Steps Through Insein can be purchased at TAB Book Centre and Myanmar Book Centre in Yangon for US$19. You can also purchase the book online.
Ahead of the premiere of his documentary Sound of Silence in Spain next month, Weekend reporter Lillian Kalish caught up with filmmaker Thet Oo Maung to find out more.





In the final shot of Thet Oo Maungs documentary, Sound of Silence, raindrops fall over a large clay pot as the films two characters disappear off screen. The audience is yet again left with the mundane sound of a rainy monsoon afternoon.

The gloomy denouement encapsulates the films storyline, which follows former Tatmadaw soldier Saw Aye Thein as he adjusts to life after losing both his legs to a landmine. A poignant meditation on the experiences of people with disabilities in Myanmar, Sound of Silence will premiere in Spain next month at the Festival de Cinema de Girona.

Thet Oo Maung met Saw Aye Thein and his wife Daw Khin Win Yee as a child, when the couple lived next door to his familys house. He remembers watching Saw Aye Thein use wooden blocks to propel himself forward when he didnt have his wheelchair.

We [children] didnt really consider him but whenever I saw him in the streets he would sing gospel songs and hymns, Thet Oo Maung said. Even though he didnt have legs, he was always singing.

The filmmaker became obsessed with the question of a fulfilled life, wondering how his neighbour could enjoy and fill life with song despite his daily mobility challenges. He wanted to understand how disability is treated in Myanmar, a country where, according to the 2014 census, 2.3 million people live with disabilities and 53 percent of them face barriers to education.

For Thet Oo Maung, whose artistic eye falls somewhere between the personal and the political, film is not just a medium through which to unearth erased stories, but a way to interact with people in a new light.

We are not talking about events. Journalists and NGOs focus on the hot issues but documentary filmmakers, we go a little deeper. We meet people, make friends, and eventually become like family members. That is when we start making the films, he said.





Not that filmmaking in Myanmar is easy. The film censorship board  which includes 15 members from media organisations such as the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization (MMPO) and the Myanmar Music Association  imposes strict controls on any material considered controversial, and is particularly sensitive about anything involving the Myanmar military.

While the National League for Democracy government has ushered in a new ministry of information, Thet Oo Maung says the film censorship board is a hangover from the junta era.

The documentary film community has suffered as a result, with few investors or production companies looking to finance films. Thet Oo Maung often has to fund his projects himself, and works long hours to get them off the ground.

Thanks to online groups such as the Myanmar Filmmakers Network and other private groups, he is now able to connect with a community of artists, share resources, and speak freely about the challenges of censorship and distribution.

We dont want to get licences. We are some type of rebels, he said, laughing. We dont really care.

While Thet Oo Maung may scoff at censorship, his contemporaries know how serious he is when it comes to filmmaking.

He is always making documentary films about disabled people to raise awareness, says director Tin Win Naing, who has known the filmmaker since they attended the Yangon Film School together in 2012 and has since worked with him on several NGO-funded films about the plight of women in Myanmar.

He is one of the best documentarians I know. Hes lucky; his films both attract and teach audiences of all kinds, said Tin Win Naing, whose film In Exile will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

At the 2014 Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival, the film censorship board told Thet Oo Maung to cut nearly 10 minutes of bloody KNU-Myanmar military war footage from Sound of Silence, which he had acquired from a friend of a friend  a soldier who risked his life on the front lines in Kayin State.

Two years later, not much has changed. At the 2016 festival in June, the censors abruptly cancelled a screening of Twilight over Burma  which tells the story of the Tatmadaws destruction of the life of a Shan prince and his Austrian wife by the military coup in 1962  citing concerns about national reconciliation.

While Thet Oo Maung was angry to have his film edited  at a human rights festival, no less  he was able to show the original version of Sound of Silence at Yangons first Nelson Mandela International Day in 2014, hosted by the French Institute.

Creative restrictions push many Myanmar filmmakers to try their hand in the international film festival arena, and even then they must search for festivals which allow applicants to upload films via Dropbox instead of sending a traditional DVD  a slow method unlikely to skirt the censors radar.

The tedious process of film-making here sometimes leaves Thet Oo Maung indifferent. He throws up his hands and laughs as he describes the hurdles he has to jump over before moving on to his next venture.

Still, he never forgets why he became a documentary filmmaker in the first place. He made his first film around 1999 or 2000, after his father returned from the US with a handicam as a gift for him. He watched a kingfisher bird make a hole in the wall of his familys home, eventually building a nest and hatching chicks outside his house. As a child, he says he was captivated by this experience of new life.

Sometimes I would hide in the bush to get a good shot, he said, sitting back in his chair. My mom thought I was crazy but that was my first experience. After that, I was possessed.

Since then, he has never looked back. Between working part-time as a filmmaker for the European Unions Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), delivering training for CSOs and making music videos for friends, his schedule is busy but leaves him just enough time to pursue his own projects.

With the Girona Film Festival on the horizon, Thet Oo Maung hopes to further explore the personal stories of those wracked by war.

If I get the chance, I would like to make a film about people in the refugee camps. I might focus on women or on children. And not just on the Thai-Myanmar border, Thet Oo Maung says, an area where his mother lived for six years as a translator and counsellor in refugee camps.

But first he has the birth of his first child to look forward to. And he plans to keep the cameras rolling even in the delivery room.

My belief is to deliver expression, you have to feel it first, feel it inside, said Thet Oo Maung who says he works so closely with the people in his films that he feels a sense of inherited trauma, and is often haunted by nightmares of the same scenes of war that plague his childhood neighbour.

You cant just work with the brain, he said, pointing to his chest. You have to work with the heart.
The United States is continuing its tough stance toward Myanmars controversial jade and ruby industries.





US Customs and Border Protection updated its rules regarding these gemstones on August 23 with strict conditions similar to past years.

The United States maintains a ban on the import of Myanmar-origin rubies, jadeite and jewellery that contains them, a US embassy spokesperson told The Myanmar Times. The changes to US sanctions in May did not alter that fact.

While other US sanctions on Myanmar have been dropped or amended as the country has liberalised, this move seems to signal an ongoing resoluteness toward the jade and ruby trade.

The jade industry in particular remains marred with accusations of severe corruption, environmental harm and human rights abuses.

A 2015 investigation by advocacy group Global Witness claimed the industry was worth up to US$31 billion in 2014 alone  that is equivalent to nearly half the GDP for the whole of Myanmar, but hardly any of the money is reaching ordinary people or state coffers.

The sector is secretly controlled by networks of military elites, drug lords and crony companies associated with the darkest days of junta rule, the report said.





In July, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation announced it would not renew mining permits for gems when they expire and will only consider issuing new permits once by-laws to the Myanmar Gemstones Law have been passed.

This followed a series of deadly landslides in the jade-mining town of Hpakant in Kachin State, and continued pressure from domestic and international actors to reign in the industry.

Ministry data shows 420 mining permits expired last month alone in Kachin and Shan states and Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

US sanctions have been the topic of contention in the Pyithu Hluttaw of late. Union Solidarity and Development Party MP U Than Soe (Thazi) tabled a proposal last week urging the government to lobby for the removal of US sanctions.

The National League for Democracy majority saw 219 MPs vote against the proposal, with 151 votes being cast in favour, as well as 16 abstentions.
Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan will head an advisory commission aimed at finding a long-term solution to communal violence in Rakhine State.





The State Counsellors Office said in a statement released yesterday that it would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kofi Annan Foundation soon, but it did not specify the date.

The advisory commission is composed of three international experts  including Kofi Annan  and six Myanmar nationals, including Myanmar National Human Rights Commission chair U Win Mra, and representatives from the Buddhist and Muslim communities.

The commission is tasked with finding preventive measures for conflicts; ensuring humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation; establishing basic infrastructure; and promoting development plans in the state.

The commission will submit its findings to the government through the state counsellor and will release that report to the public within one year.

Amnesty International welcomed the commission in a statement released yesterday but stressed that the commission should pave the way for the realisation of human rights for all people in the state.

The commission should investigate decades of discrimination against minorities in Rakhine State, ensure accountability, recommend reparations and lead efforts at reconciliation, said Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty Internationals director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.





As part of the governments first 100-day plan, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population issued white cards to some Muslims in Rakhine State, allowing them to go through the township, state and Union-level citizenship verification processes. However, protestors and Rakhine politicians have accused governments initiatives of being fraudulent and not credible.

U Aye Lwin, founder of Religions for Peace (Myanmar), an interfaith group, and a member of the advisory commission, said the commission would conduct widespread consultation with the various communities in the state prior to submission of the report to the government.

We cannot do this process for a short period, he said. We have to take time while consulting with the people on the ground to find facts about their physical and mental situations. Then we will have to provide advice to the state.

It is just an advisory body, he added. Therefore, we will report our findings based on the realities on the ground. We will not exaggerate or hide the real situation.

The international experts involved in the commission, including Kofi Annan, are reliable individuals to take on such a big responsibility, he said.

Rafendi Djamin also said that the advisory commission must ensure independent, impartial and thorough investigation of human rights violations in Rakhine State in order to be truly effective.

Only once the facts have been established can Myanmar move toward accountability and dismantle the systemic discrimination that the Rohingya face, he said, referring to the Muslim minority in northern Rakhine who self-identify as Rohingya but who were officially known as Bengalis by the previous government.

Rakhine Literature and Culture Association (Yangon) chair Daw Khin Saw Tint, who is Rakhine and has been appointed a member of the commission, said she believes working together with independent and highly respected international figures will present a clear image of what is happening in Rakhine State to the international community.

The problem can only be solved with a bilateral approach, she said. I think it is good to include unbiased representatives from the Muslim community because their consultation with the local residents will help us find the best solutions and understand what is happening on the ground.

Social harmony between the Buddhist and Muslim communities broke down when violence erupted in 2012, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of residents, the displacement of hundreds of thousands, and the destruction of homes, buildings and infrastructure.

Similar episodes of communal violence plagued the country the following year, leaving displaced residents in camps in locations in Rakhine State and Mandalay Region.

Since then, anti-Muslim sentiment has been widespread across the country, fueled by ultra-nationalist groups and monks. The use of the term Rohingya, the term the stateless Muslim community in Rakhine uses to identify themselves, has been widely protested by majority Buddhists, and by the former government.

UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee said during her visit earlier this year that the National League for Democracy government needs to do more to remedy the humanitarian issues in the state.

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has faced widespread criticism from people who say she is afraid to speak out on behalf of the Muslim community. Her NLD party, which won a landslide victory in last years general election, did not field a single Muslim candidate in fear of losing public popular votes.

However, nationalist forces had accused her party of being pro-Muslim for not taking a hard-line stance against the Rohingya in Rakhine.

In a press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry in May, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urged the international community to give her government enough space to find a practical solution acceptable for all communities in the Rakhine state.
At least three people were killed and more than 100 ancient pagodas and stupas were damaged by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck yesterday near Chauk, a Magwe Region town on the Ayeyarwady River about 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Bagan.





The temblor was felt across the region, including in Bangkok and Dhaka.

U Myo Thant, secretary of the Myanmar Earthquake Committee, said nearly all of western Myanmar could feel the quake, and that even some living in the western part of the Shan Plateau could also sense the jolt.

According to the Department of Relief and Resettlement, in Magwe Region the earthquake killed two girls in Shar Pin Yone village, Yenangyaung township, and a man from Kon village in Pakokku township.

The Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs released a statement saying 171 ancient pagodas, stupas and temples in Bagan, the popular tourist draw in Mandalay Region, were damaged by the quake, with local authorities still collecting data on the extent of the destruction. The Ministry of Information had raised that estimate to 187 pagodas damaged in Bagan, and 228 across Mandalay Region, by midday.

Well-known structures such as the Sulamani, Dhammayangyi and Pya That Gyi temples were among the victims, possibly jeopardising an ongoing bid to get Bagan recognised as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).





Now, we are still checking others, said U Aung Aung Kyaw, director of the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library. We are disappointed the earthquake hit while we are trying to be listed by UNESCO.

In Sagaing Regions Salingyi township, nine pagodas and stupas suffered damage, the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs said.

The Myanmar Times Magwe Region correspondent reported that Nga Pwet Eai Mountain was also affected, with molten lava cascading from its face following the quake.

U Kyaw Lwin, a senior official from Rakhine States Department of Relief and Resettlement, said three pagodas in Mrauk-U  another site on the tourist trail  were damaged along with one school building and some residences in the state. We noticed a 15-second-long shaking, he said.

The three Buddhist shrines in Mrauk-U are Koe Thaung Temple, Yandan Man Aung Pagoda and Yadana Pagoda.

The Myanmar Times Nay Pyi Taw correspondent reported yesterday that residents of the capital also felt the seismic upheaval, which even disrupted a gathering related to Myanmars ongoing peace process.

Government officials and representatives of ethnic armed groups ran away from the building during the JICM meeting, he said, referring to a Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting held yesterday between the government and several ethnic armed organisations.

Amyotha Hluttaw lawmaker U Ba Myo Thein (NLD; Yangon 5) told The Myanmar Times that the parliament building sustained damage and a workshop on federalism held in the Amyotha Hluttaw chamber was cut short due to the earthquake. We felt the parliament building shaking and we were frightened and ran away from the building suddenly, he said.
Gold-leaf producers in Mandalay are feeling the squeeze, as rising gold prices, commercial tax and the monsoon season take their toll on the industry.





Despite having customers nationwide in the form of pagodas, the gold-leaf industry is in a sorry state, business owners say.

With gold prices on an upward trajectory, estimating the cost of a project in order to submit a tender becomes a tricky proposition, with some gold-leaf sellers saying they find themselves absorbing significant losses.

The international gold price increased from US$1058-$1061 per ounce in the first week January to $1335-$1343 in the third week of August.

This has driven local gold prices up to K860,000 per tical (a traditional measurement for the commodity, equal to 0.576 ounces or around 16 grams).

The gold price always goes up, Daw Nwe New of Shwe Hninsi Gold Leaf told The Myanmar Times.

Daw Thin Thin Htwe of Sein Thiha gold leaf said she has also experienced difficulties with tenders in the past as a result of price variability.





After we accepted the tender for Bagos Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the gold price increased sharply. But we are working with the contract. We faced a loss but we must give them the gold leaf as per the contract. If the pagoda gave us the gold for the gold leaf, we would not worry about the price, she said.

Orders of gold leaf are made according to size specifications made by the client. The most common size ordered is around 2 square inches, which sells for about K39,000 for a pack of 100.

On top of gold price woes, commercial tax presents another issue for suppliers.

In the past, we paid K200,000 [$170] for tax. But this year, the tax has increased. For example, Mahamuni Pagoda bought gold leaves from us for about K30 million [$26,000] in 2015. We have paid K1.6 million [$1350] in taxes this year, Daw Thin Thin Htwe said, adding that gold leaf producers face additional expenses including wages, raw materials and industry registration fees.

She said gold-leaf workers  who use traditional, labour-intensive means to create the thin sheets of gold  are also likely to receive a pay rise once the monsoon season is over, following complaints by employees.

The price of gold leaf will increase, but all gold-leaf businesses need to consider this carefully because our products are for pagodas, she said.

Daw Nwe Nwe said the gold-leaf market is a crowded game these days.

When I was young, there were 20 to 30 [gold-leaf producers], but now there are over 100, she said.

Pagodas put out a call for tenders at set intervals: For some it is once every three years, for others every six months. Some do it as often as every six weeks.

Mandalays Mahamuni Pagoda called for tenders five times last year. Over 100 bids were made on the first tender, with 66 businesses receiving orders.

Myanmars gold-leaf producers have also faced competition from neighbouring Thailand, where non-handmade alternatives have entered the market.

That was used in Shwedagon, said Daw Nwe Nwe. But most [pagodas] like our handmade products. Our products are traditional, handmade artwork.
China has extended an offer to assist Myanmar with a large-scale project to prevent natural disasters, says the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.





Chinese ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang met with Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Win Myat Aye in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Our country has suffered natural disasters each year because of global climate change and as a consequence of the countrys ecosystem changing, including forest depletion, rivers becoming silted-up, and [the weakening over time of] dams and irrigation canals, U Win Myat Aye said.

Now China has come to discuss this and told us they will give as much help as they possibly can, he said.

Mr Hong heard about the need for rehabilitation of flood-affected areas, and says China will continue to provide assistance.

Myanmar suffers flooding almost every year. When we investigated the cause of this natural disaster, we found that it concerns river management. During Daw Aung San Suu Kyis visit [to China last week], the two governments made an agreement that we will cooperate on a management plan for the Ayeyarwady River, he said.

Chinas deputy minister of commerce visited Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, and was scheduled to meet with officials to discuss implementation of agreements made between the two countries. During State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis landmark visit to Beijing, China pledged to provide 1 billion yuan, or around US$150 million, for disaster relief.

We will fix causes of this nationwide natural disaster and China said they want to help us in implementing such large-scale projects, U Win Myat Aye told reporters.





Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar and two Chinese companies donated K40 million (US$33,000) to flood victims at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement yesterday.

Half of the cash came from the embassy, with the State Power Investment Corporation and Huawei Myanmar also contributing K10 million apiece. The embassys money came through donations from staff members, the ambassador said.

China and Myanmar are pauk phaw [brotherhood] friends and it is a good custom to face the disaster together, said Mr Hong. Our suffering is equal to Myanmars and we want to help Myanmar just like before.

Weather conditions exacerbated by El Nino have caused flooding throughout China this year and relief operations are being carried out, but Myanmar and Chinese citizens are equal, he said.

The donation will support the emergency aid and resettlement operations for flood victims, said U Win Myat Aye.

Translation by San Layy and Zar Zar Soe
Intense fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) continues with just one week before the start of the 21st-century Panglong Conference, to be held from August 31 to September 4 in Nay Pyi Taw with the hopes of fostering peace between the countrys armed ethnic groups.





Fighting erupted last week in KIA-controlled areas but has intensified this week. Lieutenant Colonel Naw Bu, communication officer for the KIA, told The Myanmar Times yesterday that the Tatmadaw had used military aircraft against the Kachin group on August 23.

Yesterdays exchange of fire between government forces and the KIA started early in the morning, he said.

The fighting area is very close to the headquarters of the KIA in Laiza, he said. It happened near Lai Hpawng village where a KIA battalion has bases.

Secondary confirmation of the fighting could not be made with the Tatmadaw. Casualties for both sides also remain unconfirmed.

Fighting started on August 18 when Tatmadaw forces launched artillery attacks against KIA posts near its Laiza headquarters.

I think the Tatmadaw want to exert pressure on the KIA to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement and to attend the political dialogue, Lt Col Naw Bu said.

At the end of July, the KIA hosted a summit of armed ethnic groups in its territory of Mai Ja Yang, with ethnic politicians and civil society organisations, in preparation for the 21st-century Panglong Conference.





Last week, representatives from the Delegation for Political Negotiation, a body representing the United Nationalities Federal Council, met with the governments peace negotiators, political parties and the armed ethnic groups that have signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement, to review the framework for political dialogue.

Being an influential group inside the United Nationalities Federal Council, the KIA declined to sign last years NCA even though the group and another six armed ethnic groups received an invitation from then-president U Thein Sein.

A 17-year ceasefire between the KIA and the government broke down in 2011 when the Tatmadaw launched offensives against KIA positions, causing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee the area.
Yangon police have sought to quell speculation over the quadruple homicide of a former police officer and three of his family members in Mingaladon township last week, after rumours about possible motives and culprits circulated widely on social media.





The body of 37-year-old U Soe Naung and his 34-year-old wife Ma Cherry Pwint, and sons Maung Han Thura, 13, and Maung Swan Htet Myat, 8, had been found by a neighbour on the morning of August 20. All were reportedly found with visible stab wounds and the bodies were sent to Insein Hospital for postmortem examinations.

One popular version of the story doing the rounds on Facebook was that the killings were related to a thwarted drug bust former officer U Soe Naung had supposedly been involved with.

This rumour involved U Soe Naung and three other officers failing to stop a van at a checkpoint, then somehow climbing aboard and clinging to it for quite some distance before it stopped and the driver escaped, leaving behind the vehicles cargo of 6 million yaba pills. U Soe Naung was reported to have quit the force out of shame.

In a statement issued yesterday, police said the story was likely an echo-chamber version of a case in which Narcotics Task Force 42 and Mayangone police arrested six people with 640,000 yaba tablets, 44 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 54 grams of opium and K10 million (US$8500). But this case took place on March 3 of this year, and U Soe Naung reportedly resigned from the police force in 2014.

The second rumour police sought to address was that of U Soe Aung having accepted a bribe in February when he arrested one Ko Win Ko Oo over firearms possession and having an unlicensed vehicle in Bago Region in February. Police say Ko Win Ko Oo has been cleared as a suspect.

Yangon police have distributed a photograph of three men who are wanted for questioning in relation to the case.

The murders are still under investigation and police have appealed to the public for any information.





Translation by Khant Lin Oo
Squatters living in five villages of northern Yangon Region have been given a September 5 deadline to clear out of their illegal dwellings, according to a press conference held by members of the affected populations.





About 1000 people living in the Hlegu township villages of Sa Khan Gyi, Yadanar Aung, Aung Yadanar, Kant Kaw and Sein Lan received notice of the impending eviction.

A group of leaders from the villages held a press conference yesterday to explain their reasons for staying in the villages illegally and convey difficulties they face. They also requested that any forced eviction come only if an alternative living arrangement can be offered.

On August 21, the director of the Ministry of Constructions Urban and Housing Development Department for Yangon Region, U Yu Khine, told the squatters to move out by September 6, according to U Pyone Cho from Yadanar Aung village.

U Yu Khine reportedly told the affected communities that there were plans for a housing project and construction of schools and other buildings in the areas in question, necessitating the eviction.

An 88 Generation Karen students organisation has issued an appeal letter to Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein on behalf of the squatters regarding the planned eviction. Copies of the letter were sent to the Ministry of Construction and U Yu Khine on August 23.

We are just helping them since they asked for help, said Nann Mu Khan, a member of the organisation.





U Pyone Cho said removing the squatters against their will would not likely produce the regional governments desired outcome.

If they are going to destroy [our houses] again, we just have to watch it happen and then we will build tents again since we have nowhere to go, he said.

The Yangon Region administration has struggled to tackle the issue of illegal residency in the commercial capital and its outlying townships, where tens of thousands have moved in recent years seeking employment opportunities.

The previous government was partial to forcibly clearing squatter-dense wards, sometimes dismantling their shanties in the early hours of the morning.
Warning: Most of the quotes in this article were made by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, a man who uses vulgar language and gratuitously insults women, gays and human rights advocates.





His remarks are abhorrent and readers are urged, for their own self-respect and that of their loved ones, to avoid repeating them in civilised company.

Also, please keep in mind that Duterte, 71, won a landslide election victory in May after a campaign in which he vowed to eliminate drug dealers and reintroduce the death penalty.

So the man has a valid platform from which to encourage police and civilian shooters to hunt down and kill suspected criminals without fear of prosecution  indeed, they are praised for their actions.

Recent figures show that in the past two months, 1779 supposed drug-traffickers and other felons have been shot  712 by the police and the rest by self-styled vigilantes.

Thats five every day. So think twice about going to Manila or Cebu; you may be better off going to Beirut or Damascus.

And it is just the beginning. Duterte has vowed to exterminate 100,000 alleged drug dealers and other criminals during his term in office.





The key word, by the way, is alleged. None of these victims have been proved guilty of any crime; most of them have merely been fingered by informants in return for cash payments.

Assuring his official assassins that they are justified in killing these people, Duterte said, Each do your duty, and if in the process you kill 1000 people, I will protect you.

In short, the president has revealed himself as a bounty hunter, but he lets others do the hunting, while his prodigious bounty is the presidency and all its trappings.

Any criticism of his disdain for the rule of law  either by the United Nations, Washington or the Vatican, elicits an expletive-laden retort that even drug dealers would be hard-pressed to emulate.

On August 21, for instance, he verbally assaulted two mild-mannered UN representatives who had the temerity to urge him to curb the state-sponsored vigilante murders.

Responded Duterte, F**k you, UN, you cant even solve the Middle East bloodshed. If you sons of a bitches are so disrespectful, we will just leave you. Why do we have to listen to your stupid organisation?

Earlier, he had given the Catholic Church a tongue-lashing. First, he denounced the bishops for corruptly accepting gifts of cars from former president Gloria Magapagal Arroyo. Then, when Archbishop Oscar Cruz replied that the cars were for charity work and had been returned later, Duterte scoffed, Dont f**k with me, Cruz!

As if that were not bad enough, Duterte even chastised the visiting Pope Francis when he found himself caught in a traffic jam caused by the papal entourage. Fumed Duterte, Pope, you son of a whore, go home! Dont visit here anymore.

The Philippines is a strongly Catholic country, although the president has revealed he no longer subscribes to that faith, but instead belongs to the Iglesia ni Duterte (Dutertes Church).

Perhaps his most offensive remark came when he was discussing the gang rape and murder of an Australian missionary by inmates of a prison in Davao City, where he was mayor at the time.

Said Duterte, I looked at her, son of a bitch, she looked like a gorgeous American actress. I was angry shed been raped, thats one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have had first go. What a waste.

Among those censuring Duterte for this shocking comment was Philip Goldberg, the US ambassador to the Philippines, who is gay  and hence another target for Dutertes prehistoric mindset.

In a television broadcast, the Philippine president  and this is 2016, remember  said hed enjoyed meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry, but that his gay ambassador, that son of a whore, he pissed me off.

Washington protested and a State Department official said, Weve seen those inappropriate comments made about Ambassador Goldberg. Hes a multi-time ambassador, one of our most senior US diplomats.

It made no difference to Duterte, who has now queried the purpose of the defence alliance with the United States and recently asked Goldberg, Are you with us or are you not with us?

Indeed, Duterte not only tells the US, the UN and most of the rest of the world to eff off, but his words and actions also betray contempt for his own people, who appear abjectly in thrall to their bullyboy president.

Consider, for instance, the way he justifies his obscene vigilante killings by saying that he used the same tactic when he was mayor of Davao City and that it resulted in a huge reduction in crime levels. It is a lie.

Today, after enduring 22 years of rule by Duterte, Davao City remains the most crime-plagued place in the whole nation.

Figures released this year by his own national police force show that from 2010 to 2015, Davao City had the highest murder rate and the second-highest incidence of rape in the Philippines.

And yet, although his Dirty Harry tactic has been a complete failure, it has proved to be great PR and Dutertes popularity among the masses remains high.

Meanwhile, the domestic media has little chance to challenge him about his lies because he refuses to talk to journalists, complaining  in his usual lewd manner  that they misinterpret him.

Perhaps eventually Filipinos will wise up about Duterte, but dont count on it. And dont count on him being reformed from within, for there is no way to put lipstick on this pig.

As Forrest Gump might say, stupid is as stupid does, and no one is doing anything more stupid than those who refuse to see Duterte for what he is: a dishonest, potty-mouthed bum selling swagger.
Old El Paso was one of the first marketers to leverage Pinterest's Promoted Video unit by targeting food enthusiasts with a simple recipe and animating the preview as they scrolled back and forth, resulting in four times more memorability than a non-video ad.

The Mexican food brand tapped the new ad format to target cooking enthusiasts using the Pinterest mobile application and showcase one of its basic recipes in an enticing light. Old El Paso took advantage of Pinterest?s brand measurement collaboration with Millward Brown Digital to examine the campaign?s results, which culminated in a significant lift in brand awareness and purchase intent for its products.

?Old El Paso was looking for a way to make its products stand out more on the Pinterest platform and make them more engaging to viewers,? said James R. Jarzab, supervisor, media group, West at Millward Brown Digital. ?The goal was to create some easy to follow, engaging video content to showcase Old El Paso products in an interesting way.?

Heating up brand visibility

Old El Paso served as the alpha tester for the social network?s new Promoted Video unit, which lets brands engage in storytelling with a video created to spur purchase intent.

The Mexican food marketer also sought to leverage the stop-motion video unit to ramp up brand metrics, such as recipe intent and Pin awareness.

Prior to launching the campaign, Old El Paso examined its target audience?s behavior across Pinterest?s platform and found that dessert-related content is saved more often than recipes for appetizers and lunch combined. This prompted the brand to center its Promoted Video on a recipe for Mini Churro Taco boats ? a dessert that does not require baking.

?It shows, ?look how easy this is,? and how simple using Old El Paso products can be,? Mr. Jarzab said.

Pinterest?s Promoted Video format captures individuals? attention through an interactive preview displaying the clip's best branded content. The preview animates as users scroll backwards and forwards.

This makes the motion completely adaptive and allows the user to be in control of the viewing experience. Once a Pinterest user decides to watch the entire video, he or she can click to enable the sound and view the clip in the social network?s new native player.

Old El Paso opted to target ?foodies? with this campaign ? individuals who actively save food-related content to their Pinterest boards.

Millward Brown helped measure the campaign?s effectiveness by leveraging Pinterest?s in-app survey solution as well as various control groups.

Unfolding positive results

Old El Paso?s Promoted Videos were four times as memorable as non-video ad units, suggesting that interactive clips are best-suited to capturing social media users? fleeting attention.

The longer format of the video also resulted in consumers who viewed it feeling more favorably toward the brand and more likely to consider Old El Paso to be creative.

Targeted users also drove a 7.9 percent increase in purchase intent for Old El Paso products, since many were interested in testing out the featured dessert recipe on their own.

Pinterest has been proven to directly affect individuals? purchasing decisions, with research revealing that 72 percent of Pinterest users have bought something that they saw on Pinterest in a real-world shop and 64 percent of Pinterest users actually look at items that they have pinned while they are in-store (see story).

The social network may see an onslaught of other consumer packaged goods brands clamoring to use its Promoted Video format to target foodies in the near future.

?Pinterest has made a lot of effort to make sure these food marketers are getting the best learnings they can from its platform,? Mr. Jarzab said. ?I think that sometimes it can be intimidating for someone to see a recipe with 10 steps.?

?A video could be a great way to not only provide the recipe, but showcase how easy it is. It can be very instructional.?
25.08.2016 LISTEN

A youth gospel organization, Redemption Gospel Crew is ready to let the people of Accra especially those living in Achimota and its environs feel the presence of God.

The crew which is known for spirit-filled praises and worship presents "Just Try Praise" which is slated on Saturday August 28, 2016 at the Church of Pentecost (Royal Assembly) , Flat Top off Lapaz Achimota road.

According to the host, Nana Kwaku, the programme is expected to draw people of all walks of life as it is fully packed with spirit-filled Guest Speakers from different dimensions.

Speakers such as Prophet Agyenim Boateng, Nii Laryea Affortey, Paul Wambantem, Paa Sammy coupled with performances from CAC choir voices of men, Judah, Abeka District Youth Choir and many others are expected to let the audience feel the presence of heaven on earth.

The manager of the crew Rexford Owusu Asimeng is urging all christians to take this oppourtunity to thank their maker through praises and worship.

He also appeal to benevolent individuals to come to their aid so that they can spread the gospel as well as peace messages across the country before, during and after the general elections.

The main speaker for the event is Elder Godfred Asare and the theme for the event is " ....and when they began to sing and praises, the Lord set ambushment against the children of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir which were come against Judah and they smitten....(2 Cronicles 20:22)

Come and lets give the King of Glory His praise!
An Accra-based lawyer, David Annan, has threatened to sue his popular learned colleague, Maurice Ampaw, if the latter does not fulfill his pledge to go on hunger strike.

Maurice Ampaw on Monday threatened to embark on 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.

But, with some eight days left for Maurice Ampaw to complete his hunger strike, David Annan has called his bluff, saying he knows Maurice Ampaw loves food to an extent that he can never go on a hunger strike.

Maurice Ampaw should make sure that he does his hunger strike in public for everyone to know and not do it in his room else if he dares to eat, we will take him to court.

I know Maurice likes food a lot and so I doubt that he could even stand hunger just for a day. He should come out and do whatever he wants to do to protest Mahama's decision in public and not in his room because we are closely monitoring him, David Annan stated during an interview with Adom FM.

He continued that Maurice Ampaw should not only complete the hunger strike, but should do it in public for all to see.

In an interview with NEWS-ONE, Maurice Ampaw explained his exact reasons for the hunger strike, saying, 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.
Award winning dancehall act, Shatta Wale, Thursday afternoon paid a courtesy call on the Ghanaian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Mr Victor Smith.

The musician who is currently in London for his much-anticipated show, Shatta Live In London, scheduled for the Indigo 02 on Friday, August 26, was in the company of his management team and organisers of the show, Akwaaba UK.

Shatta Wale took the opportunity to introduce to the High Commissioner his Corporate Social Initiative, Shatta Supports.

He also spoke about the dynamics for his Peace Advocacy Campaign, #Shatta4Peace, which aims at maintaining the peace and stability in the country before, during and after the general election in December 2016.

Shatta Wale presented copies of his latest album, "After The Storm" to Mr Victor Smith and staff of the High Commission.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Boss Nation Music is preparing for the official release of comic actor, DJ Lil Win's music video for Choices and I Dont Think Far.

According to management, these videos before its official release will be premiered inside X5 Pub located at Krofrom on September 11 2016.

This is a special Sala gift from Boss Nation Music Crew to fans of the actor. Razak, manager stated..

Lil Win To Premiere 'I Dont Think Far' & 'Choices' Music Video On September 11th

Artistes billed to perform that day include all Boss Nation Artistes, which include Zack, Sherry Boss, Top Kay, Young Chorus, Ohemaa Dadao, Obibini Takyi Jnr, Sylvia, Eimen, Little Kay, Papa Kumasi, Big Akwess, among others. Also on bill are Guru, Flowking Stone, Medikal, and many more.

There will be red carpet for fans to get the chance to interact and take pictures with their favorite celebrities that day. The show starts at 12 midday till day break.

This event is sponsored by Joy Daddy, Obibini Blackman & Rush Energy Drink.

Before you witness the video premiere of I Dont Think Far & Choices, enjoy the trailers below....
Hollywood actor - Boris Kodjoe, full name Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe has given a big shoutout to his Ghanaian heritage by uploading a photo on his Facebook and adding a touching history to it.

Kodjoe was born in Vienna, Austria to Ursula, a German psychologist of partially Jewish descent and Eric Kodjoe, a Ghanaian physician who is of an Nzema descent.

On Wednesday, he dug deep into his historical archives to share a childhood picture of his family and narrated the story that went with it.

Heritage Wednesday

Accra Ghana circa 1950.

My grandparents, Chief of Police Joseph Cecil Ofuatey-Kodjoe and Elsie Ofuatey-Kodjoe, and behind them standing from left to right, my father Eric, Kiddie, and Freddie. Why my aunt Esther wasnt in the picture I do not know. This shot was taking a few years before Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) to Independence from Britain.

Side note; my grandmother didnt look into the lens because she didnt know where it was. She had gone blind from cataract left untreated. I never noticed she was blind because she would always comment on my clothes and what I was doing. Little did I know that while I was sitting on her lap her housekeeper was feeding her intel in her native dialect. By the way, she founded the girl scouts in Ghana.
The Great British Bake Off viewers have been left hot under the collar by hunky contestant Selasi Gbormittah.

The Ghanaian-born baker was an instant hit among viewers after the first episode of the new series aired on Wednesday night.

The 30-year-old proved to be one cool customer in the typically pressured environment of the baking tent, not even letting the fact he forgot to put a key ingredient in his drizzle cake phase him.

Females all-over the country swooned at his relaxed attitude, taking to Twitter in their droves to discuss their new crush.

One wrote: "Already in love with Selasi #GBBO2016" while another cheekily took things a step further by tweeting a pun-filled post: "urgh Selasi makes me moist. I'll be his tart. #GBBO".

The city banker - who moved to England with his family 15 years ago - now lives with his girlfriend in London, but that didn't stop one woman's plan to waltz off into the sunset with him once the show was over.

Despite having a girlfriend, one woman planned to elope with the baker

She wrote: "Selasi will win bake off, and then we will elope. Mark my words."

As if his chillaxed approach to whatever judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry threw at him wasn't enough, show bosses also treated fans to a clip of Selasi riding to work on his motorbike, before seemlessly removing his biker jacket to reveal his smart suit underneath.

Another viewer wrote: "Selasi's intro taking off his motorcycle jacket revealing his suit underneath is fantastic and I love it. #GBBO."

A fellow fan added: "Selasi looks like he gives amazing hugs. I just want to cuddle him #GBBO2016".

Even men were falling for the baker

Many thought Selasi was robbed of star baker

His fan club were up in arms about the decision

Even men were taken by his charm, with one male viewer tweeting a picture of Rihanna looking impressed with the caption: "Selasi though."

The newly formed Selasi fan club were up in arms at the end of the episode, when their hero missed out on the Star Baker title to rival Jane Beedle.

One angry viewer wrote: "Selasi was robbed of the star baker he was flawless??? Jane who??? #GBBO" while another added: "Selasi was ROBBED star baker #GBBO2016".
By Belinda Ayamgha,GNA

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - Mr Robert Porter Jackson, Ambassador of the United States of America to Ghana says the launch of the Appolonia Business Park will attract more investment into Ghana.

He said the 70-acre-park, designated for light industrial companies, will offer Ghanaian and international companies, access to world-class infrastructure and estate management services, which will allow businesses to focus on their core businesses and expand and optimise production processes.

Speaking at the launch of the Appolonia Business Park, park of the 2,250-acre Appolonia City development, Mr Jackson lauded the project's potential to attract increased investment into Ghana.

'The park really offers opportunities and can bring more local and international investment to Ghana'.

He said the opening of the Business Park, backed by US investment, was an evidence of the strong commercial relationship between Ghana and the US, adding that the embassy expected a number of US companies to invest in the country.

He said the Park will make Ghana a more attractive investment destination and help to achieve the vision of doubling the amount of bilateral trade between the two countries over the next three years.

Ambassador Jackson said the renewal of the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) for a further ten years was the longest extension in the history of the program saying the US is serious about expanding its trade relationship with Africa.

'We congratulate Rendeavour for its dedication to 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' he said.

Mr Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, the lead investor and developer in the Appolonia City development, in partnership with the Appolonia Development Company Limited, said the Rendeavour's platform will hugely reduce the hassles normally associated with land ownership and industrial infrastructure.

'Rendeavour offers your business the best and most secure platform for growth in Ghana and across Africa' he said.

Mr Holgar Adam, Country Head of Rendeavour, said the Park, will offer business all amenities including water, power from its dedicated 33KV power station, as well as facilities management services.

Mr Fredrick Alipui, the Policy Advisor of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, commended Rendeavour for the laudable initiative that sought to impact livelihoods of citizens by creating jobs.

He said the launch of the Appolonia Business Park was a model development in Ghana especially when it aimed at creating a continental free trade area.

'Indeed we share the vision of the founder and vision of Appolonia that aims at making Ghana West Africa's Silicon Valley,' he said.

Mr Alipui urged all land developers to emulate Rendeavour and Appolonia's initiative for commercial entities that would serve the country economically.

He pledged of the Ministry's commitment in making the goals of Rendeavour and Appolonia worthwhile.

Mr James Asare-Agyei, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries, said the availability of such platforms would help industries in the country to grow.

'We need more of such initiatives and we are inviting all our members to take advantage of the project and all who are not members too, take advantage of it so we don't go through the hassle,' he said.

Nii Neurtey Amobi II, the Chief of Appolonia, said the partnership between Appolonia and the community is one bond to better their surroundings and the launch of the Business Park was another step in building the community.

He commended Rendeavour for helping to develop the Appolonia community.

GNA
Sydney, Aug. 24, (GNA/dpa) - Australia's Health Minister, Sussan Ley, on Wednesday warned athletes returning from Rio of the need to practice safe sex in order to avoid transmitting the Zika virus.

Ley, who was among officials greeting the athletes at Sydney's airport as they arrived home, said earlier in the day there was a risk the virus could transmit person-to-person through sexual activity, "so Australians returning from Brazil should use condoms or avoid unprotected sex for at least eight weeks."

"We are absolutely vigilant with every aircraft coming in that may be carrying mosquitoes," she said.

According to the Australian Department of Health, there have been 44 confirmed cases of Zika in Australia this year, all acquired overseas.

The virus is thought to cause birth defects in babies.

Australia's Olympic team was given a hero's welcome Wednesday after returning from their Rio campaign, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meeting the athletes at the airport.

"They are all champions, every single one of them," Turnbull said. "All this is a family occasion, the big Australian family - 24 million of us. We embrace you, we applaud you, we've been inspired by you, we are so proud of you."

Governor General Peter Cosgrove, opposition leader Bill Shorten and several cabinet ministers also attended the welcome home ceremony, but the event was dominated by the athletes' families and friends.

The athletes arrived in Sydney on a chartered Qantas flight, on which medal winners travelled in business class.

Swimmer Mack Horton, who won gold in the 400m freestyle event, said he was excited to be home but was "sad to be leaving the team."

Chloe Esposito, who won gold in the women's pentathlon, said she was glad Australia could watch her win the country's first medal in the event. "It's so special and it really is sinking in now, seeing all of this," Esposito said.

Australia finished tenth on the medal table, winning eight gold - their worst performance since the Barcelona Games in 1992.

Sports analysts have slammed the poor results which came despite the country investing half a billion AUD (750 million US dollars) in preparation for Rio.

GNA
The 2016 Presidential candidate of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has thrown a challenge to President John Mahama for a debate ahead of the December elections.

He wants the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate to face him to debate policy issues and defend his claims that Ghana has transformed under his leadership.

I challenge the President for a one-on-one debate to tell Ghanaians who can improve the general wellbeing of the citizenry he says.

Dr. Nduom was speaking Wednesday on Adom FMs current affairs programme, Burning Issues hosted by Afia Pokua.

The programme discussed plans by various presidential candidates to reduce the spiraling youth unemployment rate ahead of this years crucial elections.

Dr Nduom criticised the President for touring regions in the country with false claims that he has changed lives of Ghanaians and transformed the economy.

A recent report by the World Bank indicates that about 48 percent of Ghanaian youth between 15-24 years are jobless.

Although the President has said NDC manifesto for this year's election will be focused on jobs, the PPP flagbearer thinks that is an empty promise.

Story by Ghana/Adom News I Abednego Asante Asiedu I [email protected] twitter: @Abednegoasante
Libreville (AFP) - The increasingly disgruntled people of Gabon go to the polls Saturday in a presidential election in which a last-minute opposition pact has robbed incumbent Ali Bongo of a clear run at a second term.

Bongo, 57, has long sought to emerge from the shadow of his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the country of 1.8 million people for 41 years until he died in 2009.

The president's only credible challenger, former senior African Union official Jean Ping, 73, is carrying the flag for the old guard of Bongo senior's cronies.

It was only last week that protracted negotiations finally led the last of other prominent opposition hopefuls to give way to Ping.

Until then, their presidential ambitions would most likely have mathematically ensured Bongo won another seven years in office.

Nine other runners have a negligible chance of winning the election, which will be decided by a simple majority after a single round of voting.

A man watches a televised political debate in Port-Gentil ahead of presidential elections in Gabon

Fears that the results will deliver unrest are fuelled by memories of the violence that followed Bongo's 2009 victory against Andre Mba Obame.

Several people were killed, buildings looted, a ceasefire imposed and the French consulate in the economic capital Port-Gentil torched.

There has been growing popular discontent and numerous public sector strikes in recent months.

- Fears of violence -

The country's economic woes are closely tied to the fall in the global price of oil, the mainstay of Gabon's perilously undiversified economy.

Thousands of oil workers have lost their jobs, according to the sector's main union, ONEP.

Gabon's main opposition presidential candidate Jean Ping is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally

"If these people and their families express their frustration at the ballot box, well, that could end badly for the government's candidate," said ONEP's deputy head, Sylvain Mayabi-Binet.

"There are enough frustrated people for the slightest spark to send people into the streets," he added.

Bongo, 57, has campaigned under the slogan "Let's change together," playing up the roads and hospitals built during his first term and stressing the need to break with the bad old days of disappearing public funds and dodgy management of oil revenues.

The campaign period has been marked by months of bitter exchanges between the two camps, including accusations, and strenuous denials, that Bongo was born in Nigeria and therefore ineligible to run.

Ping's own roots -- he is Sino-Gabonese -- served as ammunition for Bongo's camp, which has suggested he and his son are secretly serving Chinese interests.

The two rivals go back a long way, having worked for years together under Bongo senior, who was responsible for getting Ping his job as chairman of the African Union Commission.

Ping also has close family ties to the Bongo dynasty: he is the father of two children by Ali's sister.
Libreville (AFP) - Gabon's leading presidential challenger Jean Ping is a career diplomat determined to wrest power from the Bongo dynasty in Saturday's election after serving the family for two decades.

Foreign minister of the small oil-rich nation from the late 1990s until being elected to the high-profile post of chair of the African Union (AU) Commission in 2008, he is among a few Gabonese figures to be well-known internationally.

The Paris university graduate was one of late president Omar Bongo's closest and longest-serving ministers, holding a succession of prestigious posts before turning against President Ali Bongo who stepped in after his father's death in 2009.

Dubbing the regime that has run the nation on the Equator "a pure and simple dictatorship", Ping turned on Bongo junior in 2014 and now hopes to stop him winning a second seven-year term.

Launching his campaign in the central town of Lambarene in mid-August, the 73-year-old pledged that if elected he would ensure Gabon would be "sheltered from need and fear".

The half-Chinese veteran of Gabonese politics has since secured the backing of other opposition heavyweights in a concerted bid to end the reign of the powerful Bongo clan.

Former prime minister Casimir Oye Mba and Guy Nzouba Ndama, who was a long-serving parliamentary speaker, have both agreed to back Ping for president, as has former intelligence chief Leon Paul Ngoulakia, also a first cousin to Bongo.

"I am here because you decided that we needed a single candidate to end this dictatorship that we've been living through," said Ngoulakia.

None of the other 10 candidates approved by the electoral commission have the stature of the old servants of the regime, whose show of unity is a first in a nation where the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has an entrenched powerbase.

Government spokesman Alain-Claude Billie By Nze however had denounced the "unnatural alliance", calling it "horse trading whose only aim is to share out privilege and power".

- 'Like the Titanic' -

Fast-talking and vocal Ping, who made a host of friends during his AU stint, told the French daily Le Monde in March that "Gabon is a pure and simple dictatorship in the hands of a family, a clan."

"Gabon is like the Titanic, heading for an iceberg and the band is playing on. And that iceberg, if nothing is done, is civil war."

Bongo-friendly media have repeatedly focused on reports that Ping's son took commissions from a Chinese group bidding for public works contracts.

An extrovert equally at ease in English and French, Ping married Omar Bongo's eldest daughter, Pascaline, herself a senior politician. The couple had two children.

He later married an Ivorian woman, and is today a father of eight.

Before embarking on a ministerial career, Ping earned a doctorate in economics from France's Sorbonne University and was an international civil servant for the Paris-based UNESCO.

During his AU tenure, he built strong ties with Turkey, India and most notably China, which financed the $200 million (160 million euros) construction of the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

"While he's very weak at building cohesion within Africa itself, he does seem to have been much more effective than previous African leaders at building these key alliances externally," said Phil Clark, politics professor at London's School of Oriental and African Studies (OSSA).
Private Legal Practitioner, Ace Anan Ankomah, has indicated that President John Mahama's decision to grant remission to the Montie trio, could be challenged by an application for review at the Supreme Court.

According to him, President Mahamas use of his prerogative of mercy in this case has presented a legal opportunity for clarity on the exercise of the Article 72 powers granted by the constitution.

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of a lecture organised by the Forum on Media and Democratic Governance, Ace Ankomah explained that the exercise of the President's Article 72 powers had to be tested against the standard for the exercise of all constitutional donated powers. The exercise must be fair, it must be exercised in a candid manner, it must not be capricious, arbitrary or based on bias.

Every power that is donated by the constitution is not absolute and that if the test under the constitution is not met, the court then has the power to do a judicial review of it, the legal practitioner added.

Ace Ankomah noted further that Article 2 of the constitution allows the Apex court to review such decisions as such reviews had happened so many times in our law. The question is if this is a proper case for the Supreme Court to exercise its review power.

The Montie 3 pardon

President Mahama on Monday granted remission to the incarcerated three after consultation with the Council of State.

The three; Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, had been sentenced to serve four months in jail and paid a fine of GHc10,000 each after threatening the lives of judges on a live radio programme.

A statement signed by the Minister of Communications on Monday, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, said that the President had taken the decision to pardon the three on compassionate grounds given the remorse they had demonstrated.

Mahama didnt act in the interest of the State

But President Mahamas decision to pardon the trio did not sit well with sections of the public with the Minority Spokesperson on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Joe Osei-Owusu, saying the pardon smacked of partisan activism .

Rather than being a statesman, he has behaved like a party activist, Mr. Osei-Owusu has noted whilst also describing the whole process leading up to the pardon as a ruse.

Mr. Osei-Owusu, also a lawyer, acknowledged President Mahama had every right to exercise his prerogative of mercy per the constitution, but in this particular instance, he insisted that the President had not acted in the interest of the state.

Debate over pardon needless  NDC

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said however said any debate over the pardoning of the Montie 3 is needless and misplaced as the President has acted within the remit of his powers.

He indicated argued that President Mahama under Article 72 has been given that power and all Presidents in Ghana have had occasion to exercise it. It is called a prerogative of mercy.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia also held that, the President needn't provide justification of his decision to pardon the Montie 3, despite the criticisms coming from political parties and the general public.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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 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.


The Convention People's Partys (CPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Talensi Constituency, Mr. Clinton Nambuligyin Bukari, has urged Ghanaians to reject both the opposition New Patriotic Party, and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming general elections.

He argued that the two parties are only exploiting Ghanaians and plunging the country into total mess resulting in high cost of living.

He said the governing NDC has woefully failed to deliver the better Ghana agenda it promised Ghanaians, but has rather worsened the plight of citizens.

Mr. Bukari said this in Winkogo after he was confirmed as the parliamentary candidate to contest the 2016 parliamentary elections by the Director of the Electoral Commission in Talensi, Mustapha Jonas.

He said both the NDC and the NPP have instead enriched themselves at the detriment of the country.

The NDC and NPP are the cause of the problems Ghanaians are going through today. The high cost of living, high utility tariffs, high school fees, high taxes, high unemployment rate among others are due to a so called IMF conditionality. What crime have Ghanaians committed against these two parties to deserve the kind of leadership they either gave us or are giving us. The NDC and NPP have failed us and now is time for Ghanaians to believe in self government and that the policies of the CPP under Greenstreet will make Ghana work again.

Mr. Bukari said the people of Talensi deserve better than what has been given them considering the mining resources, tourist sites, vast lands and other socio-economic potentials.

He added that, a CPP government will regularize illegal mining to create jobs for Ghanaians including the youth in Talensi. This will help contribute to the countrys GDP since most of the gold monies will be retained in Ghana.

Mr. Bukari pledged to establish community development fund in all communities in the constituency through Susu contributions when elected, to support the education of needy but brilliant students.

He said more dams for irrigation are needed to support farmers to increase productivity, adding that, more resources will be directed at training more community volunteers in the health sector to cater for the health needs of constituents as a way of complementing the efforts of the Ghana Health Service.

Mr. Bakuri impressed on the constituents to vote massively to elect him as Member of Parliament to bring the needed development to Talensi.

He urged the constituents to reject the goodies both the NDC and the NPP parliamentary candidates will bring to them as an inducement for their votes since both of them have failed them.



By: Frederick Awuni/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
The spokesperson for Nana Akufo Addo, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mustapha Hamid, has suggested that President Mahama might have pardoned the Montie FM contemnors to resume their insult attacks on the opposition candidate.

He was responding to comments President Mahama had made during his four-day tour of the Northern Region that the NPPs presidential candidate 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.

According to Mustapha Hamid, the President may have grown weary of constantly having to attack Nana Addo, which he believes the governing party has resorted to because they have no message for the people.

He believes that the incarceration of the Montie trio had forced the president to take up the personal attacks on Nana Addo which he said 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.

Mustapha Hamid

Clean campaign

Mustapha Hamid 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 unmmotorable 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 therefore, 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
Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL.
President Mahama is absolutely right on this occasion for insisting that former President Kufuor has an unbelievable discernment and doesnt talk anyhow (myjoyonline.com ; ghanaweb.com, 23/08/2016).

President John Mahama has commended former President John Agyekum Kufuor for his comment that four years is not enough for presidents to achieve their target.

Isnt it quite ironic that President Mahama is now in agreement with former President Kufuor?

Former President Kufuor is a sensible person, very experienced president, not long ago he said the four years is not enough, President Mahama said.

Indeed, it is quite strange that President Mahama is now eulogizing former President Kufuor for suggesting that a four year term is not enough for a president to achieve a realistic target.

Is it because former President Kufuors suggestion supports his claims that he needs more time to solve the existential dumsor?

Apparently, it was the same President Mahama who upbraided former President Kufuor for voicing out his opinion in Kennedy Agyapongs case some time ago.

In retrospect, the Attorney Generals office charged Kennedy Agyepong with Treason, Terrorism & genocide and former President Kufuor humbly appealed for calm, and suggested that the government should avoid killing a fly with a Sledge Hammer.

President Mahama, who was the Vice President back then, subsequently replied hastily and lividly: We will kill a fly with a Bulldozer.

Yes, he had an impertinent boldness to tell former President Kufuor to shut up his mouth.

As a matter of fact, former President Kufuors comment was coherent and benign, so I have been struggling to come into terms with President Mahamas lividness towards him.

Was it because former President Kufuors comment did not go down well with him?

In my humble opinion, former President Kufuors comment back then was as sensible as his four year term comment President Mahama has chosen to commend.

Well, it appears as an illustrative case of selective amnesia.

Everything aside, I agree with you that former President Kufuor is sensible. For it is only a sensible leader that can introduce the free Maternal Care, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Mass Transport System, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the National Youth Employment Programme, now known as GYEDA, and many other social interventions.

Addressing voters as part of his campaign tour of the Northern Region, President Mahama said four years is simply not enough for any government to achieve their campaign promises.

You are wrong once again President Mahama, because four years term is long enough for any serious leader to hit the ground running.

Tell discerning Ghanaians, does it take more than four years to solve a pressing issue such as dumsor? No.

As a matter of fact, any serious and committed leader will solve such an important issue such as dumsor within four years.

Ex-President Kufuor not long ago reiterated his call for an extension of the presidential term arguing, the four-year term is not enough to make a meaningful impact as president.

To be quite honest, it was President Kufuors opinion and he has every right to express his opinion.

Even though I respect President Kufuors opinion, I disagree with him on this occasion. This is because four years is good enough for any serious and committed leader to get things under way as he, President Kufuor, managed to discharge his duties admirably.

President Mahama said the work of the President is like that of a mason, the first four years is used to lay a good foundation and the next four years is used for the construction of the building adding there are different housing styles in the country.

I must admit, I am struggling to come into terms with the sort of a good foundation President Mahama is claiming to have laid.

If anything at all, it was President Kufuor who laid a good foundation by moving Ghana from the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) status to a Lower Middle Income status.

By the end of 2008, Ghana's economy had been quadrupled to US$ 16 billion, a period of eight years under the leadership of President Kufuor. The average GDP growth of the NDC from 1993-2000 was 3.8% while that of the NPP from 2001-2008 was5.2% with economic growth reaching 6.3% in 2007 (Daily Guide, 2016).

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia while addressing students of the Jasikan College of Education, said In the last seven years alone under this NDC government, Ghanas total debt has ballooned from GH9.5 billion to a projected GH99 billion by the end of 2015.

What is clear is that, 90% (i.e. GHC89.5 billion) of Ghanas total debt since independence has been accumulated under this NDC government between 2009-2015 i.e. the last seven years, he said (cityfmonline.com).

So, what good foundation are you talking about President Mahama?

In fact, if anything at all, youve rather undone the good foundation former President Kufuor laid.

President Mahama told the electorates only a renewal of his mandate will bring about the social and economic transformation he has promised Ghanaians.

I recall you gave a slew of promises, including making dumsor a thing of the past, putting money in Ghanaians pocket, creating more jobs for the jobless, stabilising the economy, protecting Ghanaians from the menaces of galamsey and Fulani herdsmen, bringing an end to dubious judgement debt payments, fighting the rampant sleaze and corruption, working with lean government etc.

However, you have reneged virtually on all the promises. So where is the guarantee that you will fulfil another promise?

With all the broken promises, how would you then expect the electorates to take you seriously when you come round next time with myriad of promises?

K. Badu, UK.
Charitas Ghana report has described the rampant land grabbing spree as evil which has led to the major loss of livelihood and deaths in Ghana and Africa.

The 2016 Charitas Ghana report, which is a joint collaboration between the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference and others, indicated that land grabbing has been the cause of so much confusion, conflicts and protracted disputes within and between families and communities.

Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary, Charitas Ghana indicated that 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.

He said that land ownership in Ghana since the pre-colonial days has been chequered and plagued by a lack of comprehensive ownership information and use of outdated legislation.

Mr. Akologo said this at a ceremony to launch the 2016 report on Unmasking Land Grabbing in Ghana; Restoring Livelihoods; Paving way for Sustainable Development Goals in Accra.

Mr. Akologo indicated that the concept of land grabbing is not a recent phenomenon but long associated with land conversions in peri-urban areas where agriculture lands have been converted to residential use.

He noted that most of the peri-urban land conversions that take place at the fringes of cities lead to displacement of farmers who, in most cases, do not receive any compensation from the chiefs, queen-mothers or government.

The continual neglect and displacement of the indigenous people especially as a result of the peri-urban land conversions has had significant effects on many livelihoods particularly women, he stated.

Mr. Akologo posited that a 2010 report by the Friends of the Earth indicated that about 37 percent of Ghanas crop land has been acquired by both foreign and local businesses for the cultivation of the Jatropha for biofuel energy.

He indicated that land owners were not getting their fair deals from these land conversions associated with the speculative use.

According to him, the Charitas report presents three case studies which demonstrates 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.

He added the narrations of the cases of three communities, Okumaning, Babator and Brewaniase that are chilling and sometimes heart-breaking from the level of atrocities and fragrant disregard to peoples well-being.

Mr. Akologo indicated that the dynamics of land grabbing are tactfully driven and controlled by the foreign investors with their ability to exploit loopholes in national legal frameworks and the ignorance of communities.

He added that the potential for corruption, manipulation, threats and intimidation that pave the way for land deals in surreptitious circumstances.

Mr. Akologo noted that the report calls for the creation of awareness of communities on the dimension of land grabbing within communities as well as educate members of communities on their land rights.

Contracts of land acquisitions that the government is involved should be made accessible and open to the community, he intimated.

He calls for policy articulation and surveillance that guarantees livelihoods at all times.

Mr. Akologo further emphasized that the report provides lessons for the church in its attempt to tackle this menace in Ghana, from the adage Forewarned is forearmed.

Reverend Father Wisdom Larweh, Assistant Secretary of the National Catholic Secretariat reiterated Pope Francis proposals that this should include analyses of the current situation; concrete proposals for dialogue and action, and consensus building.

He added that the church wishes to encourage a dialogue, honest and open debate so that there can be a united effort at saving the earth which is our common good.
The call for the establishment of the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) is not without cause. In the 21st century, infrastructure is the lifeblood of prosperity and economic confidence, globally. Successful delivery of well-planned infrastructure investments offers developing economies and for that matter Ghana, an opportunity to compete in the global marketplace. Construction is the mechanism through which infrastructure is delivered.

This evidence notwithstanding, the construction industry in Ghana is substantially underdeveloped and plague with numerous constraints. Economic development cannot therefore be achieved on the back of a fragile developmental framework and ill-equipped construction industry. In this article, I explore some of the major constraints and discuss current initiatives towards developing the construction industry in Ghana.

The collapse of buildings in the country in recent times has become very alarming, resulting in the killing of innocent people, infringing permanent disability on many and destroying properties. Between 2012 and 2016, Accra, the capital city of Ghana, officially recorded five major building collapse that claimed a total of 19 lives. The Melcom building collapse near Achimota in 2012 claimed 14 lives whereas the Grand View Hotel building collapse at Nii-Boi Town in 2014 recorded four deaths.

Two other buildings collapsed in 2014; the building near Akai House at Cantonments owned by the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF) claimed one life while the Central University hostel building collapse in Dawhenya recorded no death.Recently, there was another multi-storey building collapse in Cantonments that recorded three deaths. A recent one is collapse of an uncompleted building located between Holiday Inn and Marina Mall around Airport in Accra The building belongs to Empire Concrete but the contractors are Ferreira Building Power.

After the collapse of the Melcom building in 2012, a spokeswoman for Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization, Kate Adobaya, said structural weakness had caused the collapse, as reported by AP news agency. She was also quoted as saying that: "The foundation was not good enough. Similarly, the Ghana Institution of Engineering Vice-President Magnus Quarshie told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme before a comprehensive investigations was carried out that: looking at the debris, it shows workmanship was very, very poor.We can tell the concrete mix was not to the specifications we require".

Ghanaians have become so used to institutional inefficiencies that sadly, it seems stories of collapsed buildings, floods, fires in Ghana are no longer news to us. A critical review of these buildings showed that almost all buildings that collapsed within this period were privately owned properties. In Ghana, almost all structural failures could be attributed to man-made phenomena. These man-made phenomena are very noticeable and the commonest in our construction industry that usually contribute to structural failure include lack of soil type investigation, poor building design and planning, use of inferior or sub-standard building materials, weak supervision, use of incompetent contractors, and lack of enforcement of building standards and codes.

Even before the collapse of these buildings, many construction industry captains, renown amongst, Mr. Rockson Dogbegah (Executive Chair of Berock Ventures Limited) and academics (Professor George Ofori, Dr. DeGraft Owusu-Manu et al) had on numerous occasions and platforms argued for the need for keen regulation and monitoring of the construction industry. As far back as 2009, Dr. Ahadzi of the KNUST, published an article recommending the need for a Construction Industry Development Agenda.

As the President of the Ghana Contractors Association, Rockson Dogbegah was captured by Citi Fm to have advised government to set up a construction industry development board to ensure that building projects are properly monitored. As far back as 2012, he as the Technical Committee Chairman of the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana, Rockson Dogbegah was reported to have said the growth and development of the construction industry hinges on effective regulation.

His call came on the heels of an incident at the Sofoline Interchange project site in Kumasi, where three youth drowned in a deep, water-filled trench, dug by the contractors but without warning signs. Alluding to the death of the three, Mr. Dogbegah admonished the government to seriously consider the constitution of a regulatory body to enforce the adherence to health and safety provisions in the execution of contracts.

Under his leadership as the President of the Chartered Institute of Buiding (CIOB)  Ghana, Mr Rockson Dogbegah championed the commissioning of a team of consultants to study the construction industry and recommend possible ways to establish a Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA). A Steering Committee made up of the Presidents of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA), Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP), Ghana Contractors Association Council (GCAC), Ghana Institute of Technicians (GIT) and the Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG) was set up by BUSAC to led the process towards establishing a central agency for the construction industry. A bill was designed out of the process and presented to the government and parliament to study and pass into law.

There is no better time than now to quicken the process of setting up a central regulatory body to manage the development of the construction industry. Similar challenges in other emerging countries resulted in the establishment of central agencies to coordinate the activities of all construction works. Interestingly, most of these countries are making very remarkable strides comparatively towards economic development. It is widely acknowledge that a strong construction industry, which is properly regulated by designated bodies, is a major stimulator of development in these countries.

For instance, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa have the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB); Construction Industry Council (Hong Kong), Construction Industry Development Council (India), National Construction Services and Development Board (Indonesia) and the Institute for Construction Training and Development (Sri Lanka). Typically in Africa, countries like Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania all have central bodies that are mainly responsible for the regulation and development of their construction industries.

Under its purview, the CIDA shall be responsible for the construction industry which may be defined: as the part of the economy which plans, designs, builds, maintains, refurbishes, extends, and eventually demolishes buildings and items of infrastructure of all types. The CIDA would be:

championing and leading for the regulation and strategic development of the construction industry; advising the government on relevant aspects of the construction industry; formulating regulations, standards and codes to guide practice and procedure and nature of output in the construction industry; registering contractors and consultants, and enterprises linked to the construction industry, such as suppliers of materials, and monitor and control their performance; proposing guidelines and frameworks to help to streamline the work of, and promote good practice in, both public and private organisations involved in the construction industry; providing and administer incentive schemes to organisations to improve their performance; collecting, processing, maintaining and disseminating information that is crucial for activities in the construction industry;

This is another call on the government of Ghana and all stakeholders to increase efforts to strengthen the construction industry. Setting up the CIDA is a sine qua non and therefore cannot be overemphasized.

Kenneth A. Donkor-Hyiaman

Research Fellow, Property & Planning Institute of Technology (PPIT)
The decision by President Mahama to release the Montie Three contemnors from their sentence is the most misguided decision by any president in recent history.

It was made without lawful authority, against the constitution of Ghana, and signifies the most abject interference of a judicial process.

In spite of the prevalence of proper counsel, the president listening to baseless legal arguments and improperly informed sources has taken the unlawful step contrary to:

Article 125 ( 3,4,5) and Article 127 ( 1,2 )

The decision by the Supreme Court to commit the Montie Three was done in accordance with the law. It was right and as explained by Justice Sohia Akuffo JSC and other Justices who were present, it was in response and in accordance with the administration of justice. [We note the presence of familiar judicial personalities in the persons of Justices Anin Yeboah JSC, J. Ansah JSC who are meticulous in their work, together with Justices A. Benin JSC and G. Pwamang JSC].

The abject disregard or lack of understanding is what empowered some of the multitudes who signed a petition to the president, who has affirmed his support and unlawfully pardoned personalities who have claimed and admitted in court that they intend to kill and harm the Chief Justice and other Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

It is the first time in the history of the nation or possibly any where in the world that a president of a democratic nation has endorsed the declaration to harm and or assassination of judicial personalities. It is a shameful decision taken without lawful authority and in contravention of the constitution of Ghana.

The decision by the president to pardon the Montie Three was unlawful and without due authority.

We will look at the decision of Justice Sophia Akuffo and her colleagues and explain it in the simplest terms such that even a child will understand. Obviously this basics in law has eluded some professors and advocates of law and justice and this failure has contributed to the break down of law and order, and exposed the eminent Justices to unnecessary peril.

A person convicted of contempt of court is identified with the name contemnor. Perpetrators of other crimes are identified as convicts or felons. Contempt of Court prosecution is a remedy which is given to the Judiciary to protect the integrity of the courts and to ensure that anyone who goes to court will receive a fair hearing and justice will be disbursed fairly.

It relates only to the administration of justice and is the exclusive preserve of the Judiciary and not subject to any effect by anyone outside the Judiciary. It is separate from the constitutional process for bringing a case to court and the decisions of which the president may exercise his prerogative of pardon.

The constitution is clear about this judicial provision and states that it must not be interfered with by anyone, particularly The President and the Council of State.

127.

(1) In the exercise of the judicial power of Ghana, the Judiciary, in both its judicial and administrative functions, including financial administration, is subject only to this Constitution and shall not be subject to the control or direction of any person or authority.

(2) Neither the President nor Parliament nor any person acting under the authority of the President or Parliament nor any other person whatsoever shall interfere with Judges or judicial officers or other persons exercising judicial power, in the exercise of their judicial functions; and all organs and agencies of the State shall accord to the courts such assistance as the courts may reasonably require to protect the independence, dignity and effectiveness of the courts, subject to this Constitution.

A lot has been said about the powers of the president to exercise his prerogative for pardon, but the constitution is very clear - for the purpose of administering justice, no one including the President, the Council of State or anyone is allowed to interfere.

Mahama can be deemed a contemnor for interfering in the administration of justice without due authority or he can attract a charge of perverting the course of justice. That is a crime and can raise the spectre of impeachment.

Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo was clear in her statement and stated thus [paraphrasing]:

Even though there is clear evidence and an admission of crime, in the absence of any action to prosecute by parties and agencies outside this court, the court can only deal with the affront caused to its authority and personalities of this court and treat the actions thereof only as contempt.

It was a clear statement in respect of constitutional boundaries, stating that the power to initiate a criminal prosecution was not the responsibility of the court and it was clear to see their frustration on the inaction of the agencies of state and the Attorney General whose responsibility it is.

Two people of a degenerate sort, go on an allied broadcast program and made proclamations of threats to harm and assassinate The Chief Justice and other judges. They give the name and address of their accomplice assassin and the Attorney General and law enforcement agencies do not move a muscle.

Eminent legal personalities like Mr. Sam Okudzeto counselled against sending the wrong signal by siding with the contemnors. With these voices of reason Mahama should have listened. Instead he chose to listen to the loud mouth personalities who tout themselves with accolades but cannot make out the basic differences on the jurisdictional applications of law.

This singular action to pardon the Montie Three from their contempt charge is an executive over-reach. The president has no authority under the law and interfered in the administration of justice contrary to the express statement of the Constitution of Ghana.

It is difficult to fathom what the response of the Supreme Court will be. However the Justices of the Supreme under the Chief Justice Georgina Wood will abide in wise counsel and are unlikely to exert any escalating response at this time, particularly with parties who appear have scant regard for the laws of the land.

There must be no doubt however that these judicial personalities take a very dim view of subversive act of the law and will act at the correct time to ensure that this is clear.

All this has come about because the person tasked with running the election to enable the nation to rid itself of the lawlessness and the rot, is conducting herself in a manner which indicate that she is an integral part of the problem and unlikely to be useful in the drive to excise the possibility of corruption which will save the people of being robbed of a golden opportunity at the next election.

She has already made her contribution to the corrupt effort by making payment with the peoples money for a stolen logo. Her failure to comply with the remit of her task is the cause of the lawless proclamation to harm and kill The chief Justice and other Justices of the Supreme Court; an act which has now been endorsed unlawfully by the president.

Making threats to kill or harm is a crime, to do so to subvert justice is also a crime and to interfere with the administration of justice without due authority is a criminal act and that is what the president has done.

Jedd Rii
Hillary Clinton

25.08.2016 LISTEN

Saul Alinsky remains the man the right perennially most loves to hate. Somewhere in Heaven  or Hell  Alinskys surely enjoying a fine laugh.

Dr. Ben Carson, in his speech before the GOP Convention , departed from his prepared remarks. He extemporaneously added a riff on Saul Alinsky. He debuted this right wing crowd-pleaser in his keynote speech at the Faith And Freedom Coalition Gala, a speech which I critiqued at length in an essay at ThePulse2016, Ben Carson, Hillary Clinton, Saul Alinsky, and Donald Trump ). Heres how it goes:

Now, one of the things that I have learned about Hillary Clinton is that one of her heroes, her mentors was Saul Alinsky. And, her senior thesis was about Saul Alinsky. This was someone that she greatly admired and that affected all of her philosophies subsequently.

Now, interestingly enough, let me tell you something about Saul Alinsky. He wrote a book called, Rules for Radicals. On the dedication page it acknowledges Lucifer, the original radical who gained his own kingdom.

Now, think about that, this is a nation where our founding document, the Declaration of Independence talked about certain inalienable rights that come from our creator. This is a nation where our Pledge of Allegiance says we are one nation under God.

(CHEERING)

This is a nation.

(APPLAUSE)

This is a nation where every coin in our pocket, and every bill in our wallet says, In God We Trust. So, are we willing to elect someone as president who has as their role model somebody who acknowledges Lucifer? Think about that.

Im a card-carrying (low serial number!) member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and a genial Theist to boot. Im also deeply immersed in, and devoted to, the legacy of Saul Alinsky. Theres no contradiction.

Dr. Carsons sly riff was riddled with errors, omissions and innuendos. It culminates in a rather shameful imputation of a Satanic cast to Hillary Clinton. Lets set the record straight.

Alinskys over the shoulder acknowledgement to the very first radical, Lucifer, was amidst the epigrams to, not the dedication of, Rules for Radicals (which in truth is dedicated to Irene, Alinskys wife.) It is the third of three epigrams, following:

'Where there are no men, be thou a man.'  RABBI HILLEL

'Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul' THOMAS PAINE

His third epigram, mischievously referencing Lucifer, is contextualized by Alinskys lifelong credo stated by Rabbi Hillel. Hillel was one of the greatest and most revered of Jewish sages. That is followed by a patriotic epigram from the first of Americas Founders, Tom Paine, moreover referencing the misery of devils.

The context puts quite a different light on the over-the-shoulder Luciferian epigram:

Lest we forget at least an over the shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins  or which is which), the very first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom  Lucifer.

Alinsky (much as is Carson) was a provocateur. In Yiddish a mazik, an imp. He obviously intended to epater les bourgeoishere. The third epigram is entirely in the spirit of another provocateur, Sir Winston Churchill, who once observed, on the eve of Operation Barbarosa, If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. These fillips do not implicate either Alinsky or Churchill in Satanism.

Alinsky was conveying the opposite of the meaning inferred by Dr. Carson. In a long interview published in Playboy shortly after, before his untimely 1972 death Alinsky (a genial agnostic and proudly self-identified Jew, no Satanist, not even an atheist) was probed and responded:

ALINSKY : Sometimes it seems to me that the question people should ask is not Is there life after death? but Is there life after birth? I dont know whether theres anything after this or not. I havent seen the evidence one way or the other and I dont think anybody else has either. But I do know that mans obsession with the question comes out of his stubborn refusal to face up to his own mortality. Lets say that if there is an afterlife, and I have anything to say about it, I will unreservedly choose to go to Hell.

PLAYBOY: Why?

ALINSKY : Hell would be heaven for me. All my life Ive been with the have-nots. Over here, if youre a have-not, youre short of dough. If youre a have-not in hell, youre short of virtue. Once I get into hell, Ill start organizing the have-nots over there.

PLAYBOY: Why them?

ALINSKY : Theyre my kind of people.

Hello Dr. Carson? This is a counsel of compassion. Not evil.

If Dr. Carson had taken a moment from his misplaced glee even to casually study Saul Alinsky he would have discovered that Alinskys spiritual mentor was none other than Jacques Maritain , one of the great Catholic philosophers of the 20th century and a prime author of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Alinsky and Maritain maintained a multi-decade affectionate correspondence, collected in The Philosopher and the Provocateur .

In his final letter to Alinsky, Maritain writes, of Rules for Radicals,

A great book, admirably free, absolutely fearless, radically revolutionary. It brings to us the fruit of your experience as an incomparable creative organizer, an experience which is both indomitable generosity and magnanimous sadness with regard to human nature, and which proceeds from the life-long dedication of the greatest man of action of our modern age.  I regard the book as history-making; in your final pages, about middle-class people and the possibilities they offer, have crucial importance; if middle-class people can be organized, and develop a sense of and a will for the common good,and if Saul is there to inspire them!they are able to change the whole social scene, for the sake of freedom.

Alinsky inscribed Maritains copy To my spiritual father, and the man I love from his prodigal and wayward son. Maritain goes on gently and trenchantly to dispute two of Alinskys points although not the epigram to Lucifer. Maritain does so with profound nuance and with deep respect: you appear to me (thats what you are in reality) as an incurable idealist, a living, I would say a heroic witness of Judaeo-Christian tradition and true democracy.

Alinsky:

The greatest man of action of our modern age.

Incurable idealist.

A heroic witness of Judaeo-Christian tradition.

Alinsky was no Satanist. Nor was he a Stalinist, nor a communist of any stripe. Alinsky, in that Playboy interview, upon being asked whether he ever considered becoming a member of the Communist Party:

Ive never joined any organization  not even the ones Ive organized myself. I prize my own independence too much. And philosophically, I could never accept any rigid dogma or ideology, whether its Christianity or Marxism. One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether youre right. If you dont have that, if you think youve got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated. The greatest crimes in history have been perpetrated by such religious and political and racial fanatics, from the persecutions of the Inquisition on down to Communist purges and Nazi genocide.

To anchor this point further, note that Alinsky was summoned to Milan by its then cardinal archbishop Giovanni Montini (later to become Pope Paul VI) to advise him on how to counter the increasing grip of the Communist Party on the population of the Italian industrial North. They hoped that Saul might come up with ideas on how to reverse the rising tide without reinforcing the reactionary elements who had less interest in democracy than in squelching the working man.

Saul Alinsky: Commie Fighter.

The plot further thickens.

Alinsky utterly detested Big Government.

Alinsky publicly called LBJs Great Society and War on Poverty political pornography  much to the consternation of Lyndon Johnsons acolyte Sargent Shriver, its architect . If Dr. Carson had read past the page of epigrams in Rules for Radicals he might have encountered this passage at pages 122-3 (among many others displaying an identical ethos):

Self-respect arises only out of people who play an active role in solving their own crises and who are not helpless, passive, puppet-like recipients of private or public services. To give people help, while denying them a significant part in the action, contributes nothing to the development of the individual. In the deepest sense it is not giving but taking  taking their dignity. Denial of the opportunity to participate is the denial of human dignity and democracy.

Of course, Dr. Carsons real target is not Saul Alinsky. Alinsky is a mere proxy by which to implicate Hillary Clinton via guilt by association. This attack, too, misfires.

Yes Hillary Rodham wrote her honors thesis on Alinsky (from whom she turned away, choosing instead to advance her humanitarian aspirations within, rather than outside, the System). I have written about it here in The Secret Hillary Rodham, Parts One and Two . The thesis is the work of a prodigy, well worth reading in its entirety. One passage especially stands out:

[S]ome New Left strategists , although, disenchanted with Alinsky-like faith in individuals, apply many of his tactics in confrontation politics.

The problems inherent in such an approach, including elitist arrogance and repressive intolerance, have become evident during recent university crises.

Hillary turned down Alinskys job offer. And there is nothing unseemly in her thesis. Rather the contrary.

Hillary, notwithstanding our deep policy disputes, presented and presents as an excellent Methodist . Not a Satanist. Not a Marxist. Just an idealistic young woman concerned with social justice and how best to bring it about.

Alinsky had a major impact on, and might even be said to have redefined, modern politics. It is no accident that young Barack Obama and young Hillary Clinton, influenced by his work, went on to political glory.

Our political culture has not yet assimilated Alinskys profound ethos of human dignity  abjuring elitist arrogance and repressive intolerance  to the same extent that it has assimilated his tactics. Alinskys legacy very much remains a work in process. Its a really valuable one that should be explored rather than grotesquely caricatured.

Misunderstanding and misrepresenting Saul Alinsky is an obsession on the right. Dinesh DSouza is a notable recidivist perp . Charles Koch, in an essay in The Wall Street Journal , made the manifestly absurd accusation that Alinsky was a collectivist and was opposed to free and open debate. These are two principles to which Alinsky was passionately, courageously, devoted.

Newt Gingrich made Alinsky a regular epithet throughout his 2012 primary campaign. The list is too long to cite in full yet lest we forget, at least an over the shoulder acknowledgement to true fellow radical David Horowitzs uniquely lucid critique of Alinsky, Barack Obamas Rules For Revolution: The Alinsky Model .

Journalist Clarence Page concluded Im changing my view of Gingrichs Alinsky obsession. It might be the result of love more than hate. After all, they have so much in common.

Saul Alinsky, ironically, is the chief object of fascination of the most enthusiastic provocateurs of the right.

Currently prominent among these: Dr. Ben Carson.

Think about that.

Originating at Forbes.com .
A leading member of pressure group - Occupy Ghana - Ace Ankomah believes although the President has exercised his constitutional powers by freeing the Montie 3, that decision can be reviewed.

On Friday August 26, the infamous Montie three will be released from jail after they were pardoned by President John Mahama following a petition to him.

Speaking at a symposium organized by Forum for Media Accountability and Democratic Governance (FORMADEG), Mr. Ankomah said the Supreme Court can test the exercise of Mahamas power to free the Montie contemnors.

The President has exercised powers that he has [and] nobody can question the fact that he has the power. Someone has gone to court to say that the exercise of that power be tested against the standard for exercise of all constitutional or statutory dominated powers.

Which is that the exercise must be fair, it must be exercised in a candid manner, it must not be capricious arbitrary based on bias... so we will wait for the court to test it that under this circumstance leading to this matter was the exercise of the power proper.

Parliament can pass laws but if parliament passes a law and the law doesnt fit the constitutional standard, the law says the court can struck it down...so every power that is donated by the constitution is not absolute and that if the test under the constitution is not met, the court then has the power to do a judicial review of it, the legal practitioner added.
The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Barima Dr. Ofori Ameyaw I, has blamed the association's inability to deal with the takeover of the retail business by foreigners, on administrative constraints at some state institutions.

He argued that several attempts to get the issue resolved, have been met with numerous demands for evidence to back such claims.

Barima Dr. Ofori Ameyaw I's comments come after the executives visited some shops of members who complained of the continuous stay of foreigners in the retail trade despite attempts to get rid of them.

We have complained to the various government institutions about the influx of foreigners who have actually taken over our businesses. But whenever we have had such discussions, some top officials in government claim we haven't gotten adequate evidence to back our case. That is why we went to the field to gather the necessary evidence and then submit to the ministry, he stated.

He added, We will not sit down for our businesses to be taken over because Ghana belongs to all of us. We will not sit down for the authorities to behave as if nothing is happening. There is a limit to everything.

The GUTA boss also recounted how previous consultations with the sector Ministry have failed to yield any positive result.

The traders have made several complaints to Citi Business News about their businesses nearing a collapse due to the invasion of the foreigners in the retail markets.

One of the traders who spoke to Citi Business News said, The issue is really appalling; all our shops are empty and these Chinese are doing business. Meanwhile we are being harassed for tax payment, VAT and other expenses and yet we are not making ends meet,

Another remarked, You go to a Chinese shop and as you can see, people are buying because the goods are cheaper. Meanwhile we are the tax payers, we pay our tax and we have workers we pay yet we find it difficult to meet our operating expenditure.

Meanwhile Barima Dr. Ofori Ameyaw I, says he is hopeful the issue will be resolved as soon as possible.



By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
By Lydia Asamoah, GNA

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Produce Buying Company (PBC) Limited recorded a modest net profit of GH E 6.27 million for the 2014/2015 financial year as compared to a net loss of GH E 25.31 million recorded the previous year.

The Board of PBC, however, could not recommend the payment of any dividend as was the case in the 2013/2014 financial year.

At the 15th Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday in Accra, Mr Maxwell Kojo Atta-Krah, the Chief Executive Officer of PBC, attributed the company's performance to the unfavourable weather conditions that significantly affected the national cocoa output and reduced the quantity of cocoa purchased and delivered by the company in the year under review.

He said the company's continued reliance on borrowings from the market to supplement funds for purchases presented it with a cost outlay too heavy to bear.

Besides, the need for supplementary funds beyond that from the traditional COCOBOD source continued to place the operations of the company on excessive short term borrowings at high interest charges.

'In the year under review, the company spent 51.2 per cent of its gross operational earning in servicing finance cost,' Mr Atta-Krah said.

He said the general unfavourable economic condition caused by excessive increases in costs of all major operational inputs and logistics was another factor that militated against the smooth operations of the company.

He, therefore, said the raising of the equity capital for the company through a 'Rights Issue' or 'Private Placement' which had been on the drawing board for a number of years should be pursued to its logical conclusion as the Board of Directors continued to engage the major shareholders on the issue.

Reviewing the general performance of PBC, Mr Atta-Krah announced that the total revenue earned of GH E 1.471 billion arose out of the three core activities of the company, namely cocoa operations with revenue of GH E 1.413 billion, sheanut activities, GH E 35.660 million, and haulage services, GH E 7.986 million.

He said the revenue for cocoa operations increased from GH E 1.115 billion, an increase of 26.6 per cent due mainly to the increase in producer price of cocoa purchased from GH E 5, 600.00 per tonnes to GH E 6, 800.00 per tonne in the year under the review.

'With a decrease of 17.5 per cent in national cocoa purchases from 896,917 tonnes in 2013/14 to 740,254 tonnes in 2014/15, the company's purchases similarly decreased by 21.5 per cent from 294,261 tonnes in 2013/14 to 230,989 tonnes in 2014/2015,' he said.

The Chief Executive Officer said total expenses, excluding financing cost, increased by 34 per cent from GH E 84.263 to GH E 113.751 million, thus the company recorded an operating profit before financing cost of GH E 92.662 million as compared to the previous year's figure of GH E 34.726 million, an increase of about 167 per cent.

On the outlook for the new financial year, Mr Atta-Krah said the Board of Directors and management would continue to dialogue with the major shareholders to ensure that all outstanding issues relating to Equity Capitalisation were resolved.

He said they would also continue to put in place the needed strategies to improve its operational capacities and efficiency to increase its market share and volume purchases to enhance its revenue and boost its profits levels in the years ahead.

'Again, the company would put in place appropriate strategies to monitor and effectively and efficiently manage the various investments being undertaken to ensure maximum return', he said.

Captain Kwadjo Adunkwa Butah (Rtd), Board Chairman of PBC, said the newly established Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi operated through the whole year as a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the company and it was expected that with positive patronage the end of year result would be profitable.

He said the Shea factory, a potential rich foreign exchange earner for PBC Ltd and a great potential revenue generating outlet, was seriously being worked on to get it into full working order as quickly as possible to add to the fortunes of the company.

Captain Butah said the PBC also provided modest support and donations to various organisations and farmer communities in the course of the year totaling GH E 110,000.00, adding that as the company's earnings improves in subsequent years it would become possible to improve such support to the farmers.

Meanwhile, a section of the minority shareholders who presented a petition at the AGM, called for urgent recapitalisation of the company to enable them to gain some dividends, saying the current situation had led to dwindling in the revenues of shareholders.

Other shareholders also urged management of PBC to increase farming support to farmers, especially cocoa farmers, to entice them to produce their cocoa for the company.

GNA
The paramount chief of the Tatale traditional area in the Zabzugu-Tatale constituency in the Northern Region, Obore Gariba Yankosor II, has backed President John Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) for victory in the 2016 polls.

Obore Gariba Yankosor II also enskinned President Mahama as a sub chief along side a bull, 100 tubers of yam and two doves to for shadow the hoped-for victory.

The Tatale chief is the second in the region to openly declare his support for the President on his campaign tour of the Northern Region, after the paramount chief in East Gonja, Kpembe Wura.

Kpembewura Bismark Haruna pledged the support of every Gonja living everywhere for the NDC flagbearer against recent calls by the National House of Chiefs to various chiefdoms across the country to desist from partisan leanings.

Kpembewura Bismark Haruna

During his campaign tour on Wednesday, the spokesperson for Obore Gariba Yankosor II announced, We have given his Excellency, the President of the republic of Ghana a very fat bull, 100 tubers of yam and two doves to signify his two terms in office. So your Excellency, our blessing is already on you. You are going for the second term and there is no challenger.

We are also giving you symbol of a chief, we are going to make you chief today and we are thanking you and telling you that we are surely behind you, he said to President Mahama ahead of the honorary enskinment as a sub-chief.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow the hashtag #GhElections on social media for more election related stories.
The Heads of Mission, in their closing remarks at the training session, reminded observers of the critical role that was bestowed upon them and wished them success and safety in their respective assignments. The twenty-seven (27) observer teams will be dispatched across the country starting 25 August 2016 until 28 August 2016.

The objective of the AUEOM is to make an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the Presidential Elections in the Republic of Gabon in accordance with the national, regional and international standards in view to reinforce and consolidate the democratic aspirations of the country and its people.

Seventy-five (75) continental short term and long term observers drawn from thirty-two (32) Member States underwent an insightful two (2) day briefing programme that aimed to empower them with tools and information that will ensure their successful deployment and engagement in all electoral zones of Gabon during the Presidential Elections to be held on 27 August 2016.

During the programme, the observers of the Joint African Union (AU)  Economic Communities of Central African States (ECCAS) Election Observation Mission, drawn from the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were briefed on Continental and International legal instruments and observation standards that will allow them to conduct their observation mission professionally and impartially as well as enable them to report their findings efficiently and accurately while preserving neutrality throughout the Electoral process.

The observers were briefed and interacted with representatives of key national stakeholder. The sessions provided an opportunity to discuss current electoral guidelines and best practices as well as to identify challenges and concerns in regards to the overall electoral campaigning and voting processes.

The Heads of the Joint AU-ECCAS Elections Observation Mission in Gabon H.E. Cassam UTEEM, former President of the Republic of Mauritius and H.E. Mr. Abou MOUSSA, Former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) held audience with key stakeholders in the country with aims to gather as much information on the conduct of the electoral campaigns and get insight on preparations and the overall state of readiness for the upcoming electoral process. Among others, they met with: The Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; The Secretary General at the Office of the President; The President of the National Communication Council (CNC); The Minister of Equal Opportunities; The Minister of Interior; The President of the Constitutional Court; And the President of the National Autonomous and Permanent Elections Commission (CENAP).

H.E. Cassam UTEEM and H.E. Mr. Abou MOUSSA also held bilateral meetings with international stakeholders, namely: The Head of the European Union Observation Mission; The Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA); The African Diplomatic Corps in Gabon; As well as the Head of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). They will continue meeting with key actors and representatives of the media in order to ensure the Missions credibility and visibility.
The Bidco Truth Coalition (www.No2Bidco.org), an alliance of East African activists exposing bad business ethics of Bidco Africa, strongly condemns Bidcos claim that the coalitions actions amount to extortion.

No2Bidco.org has never demanded anything from Bidco other than good governance.

Once again, Bidco and its CEO, Vimal Shah, are hiding behind the veneer of a carefully crafted image that deceives the public and the companys partners about Bidcos cruel labour practices, mass deforestation and large-scale tax evasion.

A press release issued by Shah, following a successful protest by No2Bidco.org in London, shows that this veneer is cracking, as No2Bidco.org reveals the truth about the Shah family.

In his accusations, Shah claims that the demonstrators are bodies for hire because they could not pronounce his and the companys names correctly. Not only is this attack arrogant and insensitive toward peoples with different dialects, languages and accents, it reveals publicly Shahs reportedly racist tendencies, which permeate Bidco, according to present and former workers.

Remarkably, in his statement Shah does not deny that his company deforested 18,000 acres of pristine land in Kalangala District, on Bugala Island, Uganda. Further confirmation of this travesty is provided by photos posted by Bidco in social media, showing oil palms as far as the eye can see. This is where some of the most lush and beautiful rainforest in the world once stood, before being mowed down so the Shahs could line their pockets with more ill-gotten gains.

No2Bidco.org is not anonymous and faceless. Countless courageous members have spoken out publicly about their treatment by Bidco. Dozens of independent media and NGOs have reported on them  from The Guardian to Agence France Presse and USAID to Friends of the Earth. From the shores of Bugala Island to the dusty slums of Thika in Kenya, where Bidco workers live, members of our coalition have names and faces, and they live in fear of Shahs henchmen coming to silence them.

The situation in Kalangala District is far from the ideal Bidco presents in its statement. While Bidco takes credit for building wide roads to accommodate the companys fume-spewing trucks, a report called Pro-Poor Land Records, Palm Oil and Prosperity: Any Proof from Bugala Island, Uganda?, presented at the Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty on 23 March 2015, found that a hospital or dedicated public medical facility is still lacking on the island, alcoholism and HIV/AIDS have been on the rise and require intervention, and environmental risks concerning the chemical fertilizer required for the palms are expected to reduce the fish stock in the medium term.

Meantime, Kalangalas outgrower farmers have protested Bidcos low payments for their crops. In March, the farmers resorted to processing their own oil when Bidcos prices failed to meet international standards stipulated in their contracts. More than a dozen farming families are suing Bidco in Uganda after the company grabbed their land.

The only positive words Kalangalas farmers have for Bidco can be found in a 2015 propaganda video produced by Bidco management. The farmers later said they spoke under duress.

With the facts clearly on the side of No2Bidco.org, Shah has resorted to calling in his Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) puppet Carole Kariuki to defend him. No2Bidco.org sent Kariuki several court decisions that prove Bidcos labour violations, as well as more than 500 pages of documents which implicate Bidco in a Sh5.7 billion ($57 million) tax evasion, but she lamely states that No2Bidco.org has refused to come forward to prove their claims. What many in Kenya know is now proven publicly by Kariuki herself: she and Shah have turned the organisation into a lobby for Bidcos interests, and KEPSA is party to Bidcos crimes.

The website www.No2Bidco.org is a reference tool for all information that the Shah family has tried to hide for years. The articles and documents are from independent sources that have much more credibility than Bidcos empty pronouncements. We urge the public and Bidcos partners to study the information and come to their own conclusion about Bidco Africa. Some of the greatest changes in companies and society have come through activism, and this inspires us.
FORMER TRADES Minister, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, has observed that the country is currently in economic distress because National Democratic Congress (NDC) government cannot solicit support outside.

According to him, the ruling political party lack international touch and because of this they (NDC) are not able to attract adequate international support to help the country to overcome its present financial difficulties.

Dr. Konadu Apraku opined that Ghana's economic problems, which had impoverished majority of the citizenry, could have been averted if the NDC government and its top members had a clout of the international stage.

The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso North Constituency in the Ashanti Region stated that NDC's lack of international links was also preventing potential foreign investors from investing in the country.

He therefore appealed to the electorates to vote massively for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who have strong international links to help Ghana overcome its problems.

We are experiencing one of the worst economic problems in the history of our country presently because the ruling NDC and their leading members don't have international links who can assist the country.

Nowadays we hardly see foreign investors visiting our country to do business to expand the economy and create job opportunities for the unemployed youth, he said whilst speaking at the Asawase Constituency NPP campaign launch.

Dr. Konadu Apraku therefore urged the electorates to vote massively for the NPP because this is a party whose leading members have strong links outside which can attract foreign investors to boost the economy.

Most of the NPP leading members either schooled or worked in America, Europe or Asia so we have classmates and friends who are making it big in their various countries and would therefore readily come to invest here if the NPP is in power.

The programme which was christened 'People's Forum' and aired live on Ashh FM in Kumasi was attended by NPP Presidential Candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Joe Gartey and other top party members in the region.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
President Mahama has come under intense criticism for his decision to grant pardon to the Montie three; Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson.

Each of the three was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the Supreme Court on their own plea of guilty of contempt after they threatened to kill some of the judges who were sitting on an electoral case.

But barely a month after their imprisonment, the President decided to remit their sentence thereby attracting condemnation from various quarters.

The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) is one such group which thinks the President has committed a political suicide and the people of Ghana must bury his political ambitions come December 7, 2016.

In a statement issued yesterday, National Secretary of the party, Murtala Mohammed said the President's decision to pardon the Montie 3 is in bad faith and will remain a scar on our democratic credentials.

The history and tradition of the NDC regarding alleged murder of judges, victimization of journalists and threats to judges (there are many ways to kill a cat) recently was enough deterrent for John Mahama to thread with caution and not to hasten to destroy the little credibility the NDC has chalked under the watch of his predecessor, the late Professor J.E.A Mills, he emphasised.

With that, he indicated the President has proven weak amidst pressure from party members whose intentions are based on sentiments and emotions without looking at the interest of the state.

By exercising his powers per article 72 to pardon the three contemnors, the President has rendered the Judicial Service toothless and ineffective, the statement noted.

Whiles he admitted to the fact that the President may have acted constitutionally, the PPP scribe insisted that he has tempered with the powers of the judiciary which would go a long way to affect the work of the judges in the future since according to him, the prerogative right of mercy granted by the President was uncalled for and untimely.

The parties also expressed disappointment in the Council of State regarding their role and advice to the President which led to the remission of sentence for the trio.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu


Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Minister for Trade and Industry, has urged the Turkish businesspeople in the country to consider their Ghanaian counterparts as shareholders.

According to him, Ghanas human resource is one of the most valuable resources so I encourage you to make them shareholders.

Mr Spio-Garbrah, who was speaking at the first Turkish Products Fair in Accra, urged the Turkish business community to consider Ghana as a strategic trade partner due to its geographical position.

I am looking at a joint venture that will benefit the two countries, he said.

Mr Spio-Garbrah commended the Turkish government for reposing confidence in the countrys economy, saying its few months to elections yet you have decided to provide the needed platform for a joint venture.

The four-day Turkish Fair, which was put together by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, seeks to contribute to the strengthening of the economic and trade relations between Turkey and Ghana.

Turkey Ambassador to Ghana, Nesrin Bayazit, said Ghana is Turkeys fourth largest trade partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, adding that the trade volume between the two countries reached approximately $400 million in 2015.

She explained that Turkeys export to Ghana amounted to $230m and imports from Ghana, $170m, adding that Turkish products are well-known for their quality and competitive prices worldwide.

Vice President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Dursun Topcu, expressed optimism that the inaugural event in Ghana would create opportunities for new partnerships.

[email protected]

By Cephas Larbi
Suspended New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman Paul Afoko has filed a notice of appeal challenging the judgement delivered by an Accra human rights court in favour of the opposition party.

Mr. Afoko wants the Court of Appeal to set aside the affirmation of the NPP's decision to suspend him by the trial court, presided over by Justice Anthony K. Yeboah.

The notice of appeal was filed on August 22 on behalf of Mr. Afoko by O.K. Osafo-Buabeng of Oseawuo Chambers & Co, solicitors of the appellant.

The relief being sought by Mr. Afoko is that the judgement of August 15, 2016 be set aside and the plaintiff be granted all the reliefs endorsed on the writ of summons.

On the notice of appeal, Mr. Afoko is complaining about the whole decision of the human rights court and said, The learned judge erred in declaring the plaintiff as the indefinitely suspended member and National Chairman of the 1st defendant (NPP) in the absence of any counterclaim by the 1st defendant or evidence on record.

Main Action

Mr. Afoko sued the NPP and its Acting National Chairman, Freddie Blay, who doubles as the First National Vice Chairmen of the party after he was suspended indefinitely in October last year.

The party's Disciplinary Committee (DC) had recommended his suspension from the NPP after a petition by two members; and Mr. Afoko wanted the court to order his re-instatement as the National Chairman because he claimed that the party's action was unconstitutional.

A similar case instituted by Sammy Crabbe, the suspended 2nd Vice Chairman, was thrown out by another human rights court for lacking merit.

Mr. Afoko's action, which started in December 2015, contended the constitutionality of the party's Disciplinary Committee that recommended his suspension.

He was accused by his party of working behind the scenes to block the party's chances of winning the December 7 elections.

In what looks like a massive boost for the party as it prepares for Election 2016 in December, the court said the NPP did not breach its constitution in suspending Mr. Afoko.

Justice Yeboah said Afoko failed to prove that the party erred in suspending him, saying that the NPP acted fairly and lawfully in the decision to suspend him.

Final Blow

Taking into account all the available evidence and on the balance of probability, the plaintiff's (Afoko's) action fails. His claims for reliefs are dismissed, Justice Yeboah had said in his 85-page judgement that lasted more than two hours.

The plaintiff should remain as the indefinitely-suspended Chairman of the first respondent (NPP), the court declared.

It also held that not only is Afoko suspended as an officer (National Chairman) of the NPP, but also as a member of the party per the judge's interpretation of the NPP constitution.

By William Yaw Owusu
I just got myself a new phone. It cost me almost a fortune. I have been forced to acquire this phone because somehow I couldn't bare myself in ' an incommunicado' state anymore after my young boys mischievously made sure my two year old phone would not respond to any command. Even though I am excited about this new toy of mine, I am worried about the persistent worsening economic conditions of the masses in this country . It does look like nothing would ever happen to bring some respite for anybody in this country. I don't care about what anybody would say. This country is not making any progress: nothing is happening.

And just like any Ghanaian who is honestly or pretentiously seeking for that leader who would come to lead the country into making real progress, I am tempted to be in high hopes for this election. But sometimes I ask myself whether all these calls to prayers and fasting for that anointed leader each election year is not just an exercise in futility .

Because even as we call on the supreme being to direct us in our choice of leaders in each election, we would go to the polls in our partisan best; we would go to the post with our ethnic and religious biases; we would go to the polls as people who would buy and sell our votes; we would go to the polls in our unpatriotic selves. But in all these frailties, we always have hope that God would find a way to make his Choice for us. And as in our case, it doesn't matter whether a section of the populace would cry a stolen verdict or not after the election , some of us would go on the street dancing and singing that the elected leader is God's own choice for us. Soon, we would realize that that was another false hope exercised by us.

It is like a vicious cycle. For almost sixty years after independence, we still hear each elected leader singing its own high praise that it has laid the foundation for the country's economic take off. The current president is seeking reelection singing the same tune. It has taken us sixty years just deciding how to dig the foundation of this country. As at now, I cannot bet my last cedi on the idea that this would be the last foundation that would ever be dug for this country's by an elected leader.

It does look like there is something we cannot get about in respect of our aspirations and desires for this country. I am beginning to think whether or not there is a way to halt this cycle of false hopes that our elected leaders always leave us with. I am beginning to question whether the answer to our societal aspirations truly lies in finding that leader.

The people of Israel came to their prophetic leader Samuel to demand their own King as all other nations had . They had believed that having their own King as other nations had would ensure that they would be better protected from their enemies than they had been before ; their own earthly leaders would serve better in leading them to achieve their aspirations as a young nation. Even when God had warned them that their own earthly kings wouldn't act to serve their interests, the people insisted they wanted their king.

God gave in to the nation's demand and gave the young nation Israel a first king in the person of Saul. Just as was predicted by God, kings after kings could not meet the people's aspiration. They couldn't even protect the people against their enemies; least leading the people to achieve statehood. Scandals upon scandals were associated with the leadership group. Whilst the people were at war battling their enemies, the army commander -the King himself -was at home sleeping with a young solder's wife. Even Solomon who was tauted as most wise king was not better. He came with a gargantuan plan to build a temple for God who had been a fortress for the people all these years. Any time the people had sought for help when their earthly leaders couldn't protect them from their enemies, God had intervened. So the people thought it was fit to build a temple for God. If he God was given a dwelling place among the people, he would be quick to come to their aid when the need arose.

For twenty years the people had laboured to build the temple. They had cracked stones; they had fetched stones, sand and water just to build a temple for God. It was a good plan by the king. The people went through the unending difficulty to finish the temple. The least the people expected from their king(president) was to lead them to give reverence to the place they had bled to build for God .

Before the people could say Jack, Solomon had abandoned temple prayers. He was more interested in worshipping at the shrines of the gods of his numerous concubines. It is not today that leaders started disappointing their followers. That is why you shouldn't be surprised that the president would go against all common sense to release the 'Montie 3' in spite of what anybody would say. Leaders do not always act to the expectations of the people. They can act in the most uncommon manner.

The people of primitive Israel never had the leader they had desired until Jesus arrived on the scene. Even when Jesus had arrived, the people were in dire need of a leader especially when they were under the Roman colonial rule. They had wished Jesus would serve as the earthly leader they desired. But Jesus had told them what they couldn't understand. He told them about the change of heart of the individual. That the problem was not about finding a leader to lead the liberation of the people. But the call was to ask the people to have a change of hearts. That the people must pursue a new path.

Think about it. If we here would be honest in our body politics; if we would be guided by truth in our electioneering process; if we wouldn't be tribalistic; if politicians were to be truthful and honest even as they seek our votes; May be, we would in the end be able to vote into the right places men of integrity to see to the affairs of the state. Men who would always act in our general interest . We would not have leaders who would go and steal our monies in state coffers; such people wouldn't find a place in our governance system. These vile men who would offer our young women for a night what they offer their fathers for a month's pay in the public service.

As at now, our leaders have no clue about how to get this country back on track . The president at the moment is following suit to give our state enterprise to foreigners for pittance. Close to four hundred of such had been sold off by past governments to foreign interest.

These are difficult matters. In this election, I am tempted not to worry myself about whether it is the elephant or the umbrella that would win the election. Don't get me wrong. I am not pessimist. I just want to protect myself against getting disappointed again. I just hope we will one day find that significant leader. I hope he would appear soon. I hope we would not be back into our past colonized state when he appears.

For now, I will pause here and relish this moment with my new Infinix Hot Note that cost me a fortune to buy. PAUL ZOWONU - ACCRA
Well, I was amazed myself after my research on the Hibiscus tea known as Sobolo in Ghana and Prostate health. I always thought green tea was excellent for prostate health but after reading more scientific papers on this great plant I have decided to do more extensive work on it. My research currently with Da Vinci College of Holistic Medicine, Larnaca City, Cyprus which recently appointed me as a research Professor of Prostate Cancer and alternative medicine for five years is on this plant.

So if you thought green tea was the healthiest tea you could drink, let me introduce another possibility to you: hibiscus tea. In fact, hibiscus tea contains more antioxidants than the top of the line green tea, matcha tea, and it doesnt contain caffeine. You may find you like the taste even better than other teas. So what should men know about the healthiest tea in the world as I start my extensive research on this plant? It is everywhere in Ghana, you drink it, but are we doing something right about the hibiscus tea. Anywhere, watch out for my recommended version of how to use hibiscus tea. Avoid adding sugar, whether brown or refined. Sugar is a fuel for cancer cells.

What is Hibiscus Tea?

Hibiscus is a bright colored flowering plant that is native to tropical and subtropical areas of the world, but especially China, Egypt, Mexico, Sudan, and Thailand. More than 200 species belong to the genus Hibiscus, and the plant is often referred to sorrel or flor de Jamaica (or sometimes just Jamaica). The flowers are trumpet shaped and consist of five or more petals with colors that range from white to yellow, pink, red, purple, or orange.

The plant typically used to make hibiscus tea is from the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower. Hibiscus tea is an excellent source of various organic acids (e.g., citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid), as well as vitamin C and minerals. The tea has a cranberry-like color and flavor and is tart, so you may want to add a little natural sweetener.

Perhaps the most important thing that can be said about hibiscus tea is that it is one of the richest sources of antioxidants in a beverage in the world. In a study published in Nutrition Journal , researchers explained how they developed a comprehensive food database that listed the antioxidant content of more than 3,100 foods, spices, beverages, herbs, and supplements.

After analyzing 283 different beverages, hibiscus tea beat matcha green tea when it came to antioxidant content. Remember that Matcha green tea is the best green tea in the world but Hibiscus beats it. Wow! While green tea is still a very good beverage choice for antioxidants, hibiscus tea tops the list.

Over the centuries, hibiscus has been valued for its ability to support heart health, soothe upper respiratory conditions, help skin health, and relieve constipation, but the one condition that has been supported by research is high blood pressure.

My Postdoctoral research submitted to Da Vinci College of Holistic Medicine is titled: Does Drinking Hibiscus Tea also known as Sobolo by Ghanaian men diagnosed with Prostate cancer have any effect on Prostate Specific Antigen

Remember, the PSA is the best marker in terms of the disease monitoring or progression if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Brief Overview:

Prostate cancer is a central issue of concern in the black communities. Black men have higher chances of getting prostate cancer than men of other races. Black men have 60% chances of getting prostate cancer and more form of the aggressive cancer when diagnosed with the disease. Race is one of the key risk factors of getting prostate cancer as the skin of black men acts as a protective covering from getting the right amount of Vitamin D level needed for prostate health.

Vitamin D and prostate cancer has a correlation. Conventional treatment of prostate cancer such as surgery, irradiation, hormone therapy et al is not without side effects which rather end up in death of the patient rather than the disease itself. Not all men diagnosed with prostate cancer need treatment. Therefore there is the need for evidenced based alternative ways of managing prostate cancer in men diagnosed with the disease in Ghana and black communities. Alternative medicine plays a key role in the management of prostate cancer and dealing with the side effect of conventional treatment.

In Ghana about 80% of the population rely on alternative medicine and the practice is regulated by the ministry of Health under the auspices of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Practice Council. There is therefore the need to further research into alternative medicine in Ghana and train more professionals in the field.

Existing orthomolecular research indicates that most cancers may be treated with the same regimen of vitamins because orthomolecular treatments for cancer do not focus on the cancer tissues themselves, but rather attempt to boost the bodys own natural defense system to control the cancerous growths.

This research offers a novel examination of this problem in the light of more Ghanaians relying on one alternative medicine to treat prostate cancer. I have been investigating into prostate cancer in Ghana and helping to raise awareness with policy formulation with the recent proposal of fathers day as national prostate cancer awareness day in Ghana.

This work is a natural outgrowth from my PhD thesis, which dealt with a number of aspects of the alternative medicine impact on Ghanaian men diagnosed with prostate cancer in particular with the use of local plant Croton membranaceus. In this current research which aims to conduct extensive research into areas of alternative medicine for five (5) years. The project would help deal with the side effect of conventional prostate cancer treatment and improve quality of life (QOL) of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and also as a preventive medicine.

Research Interests and Goals

My research interests are focused on the prostate cancer in black men, prostate cancer screening in black communities, orthomolecular oncology, functional medicine and integrative approach to prostate cancer management in Ghanaian men.

Specifically, I am interested in examining the effects of alternative medicine use in Ghanaian men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

This observational study will not only yield a deeper basic understanding of alternative medicine and prostate cancer management in Ghana by men diagnosed with the disease. But also, the evolutionary processes of new era of medicine in the system in management of prostate cancer and finding ways to deal with the side effect of conventional prostate cancer treatment. It may aid in finding a breakthrough in cancer management and also help in finding how alternative medicine can act as a natural immunotherapy agent to aid breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment using alternative ways.

Previous Doctoral Research

Summary

My doctoral work centered on the impact of alternative medicine use in Ghanaian men of West African descent diagnosed with prostate cancer and the sue of local plant croton membranaceus and gave promise, inter alia, of improvement of croton membranaceus and prostate cancer treatment in Ghana by the Herbal Practitioners, and of the deepening of our understanding of the role of alternative medicine in prostate cancer management and root evolutionary causes of high prostate diseases in Ghana

Therapeutic relevance

In the PhD research, the work provided the best knowledge in the use of croton membranaceus in the management of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and the role of alternative medicine in the management of prostate cancer

Proposed Research

Background

The use of Herbal teas are used widely as preventive medicine in Asia and others to deal with the side effect of conventional prostate cancer treatment. The research would help to redefine and bring hibiscus tea use in Ghana in the management of prostate cancer to ascertain its anticancer properties like the Green tea. This research would be the first of its kind in Ghana for research to focus on prostate cancer and the Hibiscus tea.

Proposal

In contrast, I propose a two stage approach to the study of the hibiscus plant on PSA level of prostate cancer in Ghanaian men. My approach examines the quality of life (QOL) effects of Ghanaian men diagnosed with prostate cancer and the use of hibiscus tea.

Stage One would look at the PSA level of Ghanaian men diagnosed with prostate cancer before the use of hibiscus tea and the quality of life after.

Stage Two is an observational study  to look at the effect of drinking hibiscus tea on PSA level of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer and the effects of that specific anticancer effect and the quality of life

This approach leverages many millions of years of wisdom of the use of PSA in the management of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The PSA is the best marker in terms of the disease progression or monitoring. This research could greatly expedite the process not only on developing cocktails or refined versions of hibiscus tea in Ghana used on occasion or fun but also to bring the novel holistic healing and therapeutic effects, and/or dealing with the diminished side effects of conventional prostate cancer treatment, but also on refining and/or further research into testing models of the hibiscus tea.

Among others, I will apply this two-stage approach to the study of the mechanism of action of the hibiscus tea and its use in the management of prostate cancer.

However, this approach, if successful, could be generalized for application to holistic healing of many complex human cancers.

My PhD research transforms the static snapshots of prostate cancer in Ghana and the way forward for black men. The research engineered the Ghana Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign. The research also engineered integrative approach in prostate cancer management in Ghana. The value of this kind of modelling is that it empowers the patients to take charge of their own health and deal with the side effect of conventional prostate cancer treatment.

In order to do this, I have been engaged in the following work:

Researching locally into prostate cancer and raising awareness on the disease in Ghana

Formulating prostate cancer policies in Ghana and pushing for the declaration of fathers day in Ghana as national prostate cancer awareness day to strengthen the fight against the disease.

Researching into alternative medicines and the key role it plays in the management of men diagnosed with prostate cancer as the national president of the Alternative Medical Association of Ghana(AMAG)

Have been playing key role into national policies and streamlining alternative medicine practitioners in Ghana and drafting curriculum in courses in alternative medicine in Ghana.

Conclusion

In summary, my approach to understanding prostate cancer treatment and the use of alternative medicine has changed considerably after my PhD research. I see more patients and support them with this approach. This current postdoc work would bring the hibiscus plant into the limelight of Medical science.

If you are interested in this project also please kindly contact me as holistic Urology is the key to support men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Support my work in any form, cash or knowledge. Thank you

Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu is a Research Professor of Prostate Cancer and Holistic Medicine at Da Vinci College of Holistic Medicine, Larnaca City, Cyprus. He is the National President of the Alternative Medical Association of Ghana (AMAG). A registered alternative Medical practitioner with specialty in orthomolecular oncology, Prostate Cancer Policy maker and researcher. He can be reached on 0541090045. E mail: [email protected]
The U.S. Embassy in collaboration with UNESCO and the Institute of International Education (IIE) will launch the inaugural TeachHer Master Class from August 29 to September 2, 2016 at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Addis Ababa.

TeachHer is a new public-private partnership (PPP) spearheaded by the United States Government, UNESCO, the Institute of International Education (IIE), Microsoft, Fitbit, and other NGO and private sector partners. It aims to empower young women to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, and Math (STEAM) careers, and transform the career trajectories of young women around the world.

High ranking officials from U.S Embassy, UNESCO, and IIE will address participating teachers, school administrators, and education ministry officials from six African countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa will participate in this event.

The United States Embassy in Addis Ababa invites you to attend the opening event.

Date: Monday, August 29, 2016 at 8:45 am

Venue: Golden Tulip Hotel (around Bole Medhanialem)

Please RSVP to Rahel Zewdu 0961 284 012 or Ali Suleiman 0911 509 510
The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wougon has advised President John Dramani Mahama to leave the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party out of his campaign message.

Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko said the President should rather focus his campaign message on issues related to development under his administration.

This follows the presidents call on Ghanaians not to vote for his opponent, Nana Akufo-Addo whom he described as a dictator.

President John Mahama pictured in striped polo shirt

While addressing party supporters at Bimbilla in the Northern Region, Mr Mahama hit hard at the NPP flagbearer accusing him of being divisive and leading the campaign to suspend the two National Executives of the party

Related: Akufo-Addo is a dictator, dont vote for him  Mahama tells supporters

In a response on AM show, Mr Keremateng Agyarko said neither NPP nor its flagbearer did anything wrong in suspending its National Chairman, Paul Afoko, and that has been affirmed by the Accra High Court.

Related: Afokos case dismissed

Has he forgotten what is happening in his own party? The NDC has birthed about three different parties and the wife of the founder of the party has broken away to found her own party. A party which calls its founder a barking dog that has been tamed, and the President is talking about divisiveness? the legislator quizzed on MultiTVs AM Show on Thursday.

In Mr Keremateng Agyarkos view, President John Mahama has no message for Ghanaians, hence his constant attack on the NPP Flagbearer.

In his 2012 manifesto he told Ghanaians he would improve certain areas to make life better, that is what President Mahama should be updating the people on, the MP added.

Related: NDC 2012 Manifesto

The former Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Authority under the Kufuor administration lamented the deteriorating National Health Insurance Scheme, the ailing economy and the high level of corruption in the current government and urged the President to deal with those issues.

On the issue of infrastructural development the President stood before us in Parliament and said by end of his term, he would have built 200 senior high schools, how many has he built? How many has he inaugurated? Mr Kyeremanteng indicated.

The Member of Parliament rated the performance of President John Mahama 1.8 on a scale of 1-10.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | [email protected]
The chairman of Afahye planning committee, Nana Kow Amoasi receiving the cheque on behalf of the traditional council.

MTN, one of the leading telecommunication networks operating in the country on Tuesday donated a cheque of GH5,000, MTN recharge cards worth GH1,000 and some drinks to the Oguaa Traditional Council.

The donation was in support of this year's Oguaa Fetu Afahye celebrated by the chiefs and people of Cape Coast which was on the theme The falling standards of Education in the Cape Coast Metropolis, the Stakeholders' Responsibility.

Making the presentation, the Senior Regional Manager for the South-West Business District, Simon Amoh said it has been the responsibility of the company to support traditional authorities across the country to keep alive the values and principles that identify Africans because the company believes in African values and heritage.

Mr Amoh stated that through the continuous support of the Fetu Afahye, the company has contributed in projecting the festival by creating jobs for the youth during the celebration as well as promoting music, sports, and tourism in the area.

2016 Afahye coincides with our company's 20 years of operations in Ghana and we thank the people of Oguaa for your contribution over two decades and hope our support had also brought growth and development to the traditional area, he pointed out.

He added that beyond the donation to the traditional council and other traditional councils, the company has carried out extensive corporate social interventions throughout the country, saying the MTN Foundation has improved access to health and education and improved the economic livelihood of many by investing more than GH22.2 million in over 135 major projects which were impacting the lives of more than three million Ghanaians.

The paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II commended MTN for its kind gesture.

He appealed to other corporate organizations to emulate MTN's example to make the festival a memorable one.

Email:[email protected]

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast
25.08.2016 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 peacemaker, 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 from the 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.
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in all the eight district offices in the Tema Region, on Wednesday, turned away clients who visited their offices as they embarked on a three-hour demonstration against the government's planned privatisation of the company.

The workers, clad in red apparel, held placards and danced to songs provided by a cultural group. Some of the placards read Stop ECG concession, Politicians stop dumping substandard meters on ECG, Private sector participation! Where is Aqua Vitens Rand from South Africa? A lesson to be learnt Mr President.

The Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU), on Tuesday, declared a three-day demonstration nationwide to back its demands. The move is to buttress their resolve to resist the privatisation, and also force the government to review the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, which seeks to cede the ECG to a private investor for a period of 25 years.

Mr. Frank Adjetey Badu, General Secretary for the Junior Staff Union of ECG, told the Ghana News Agency that the workers would not change their decision on the planned concession.

Mr. Badu said the workers were not fighting for their own interest, but rather to save the entire country, saying, If monopoly under [the] government was not yielding the necessary results, how much more under a private monopoly?

He said their actions would yield the needed results, adding that should the government refuse to heed to their warnings, they would take another action. He stated that the demonstration would continue for three days, unless they hear some favourable news from the government.

Source GNA


25.08.2016 LISTEN

From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi

THE DEPUTY General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Koku Anyidoho, has beaten hasty retreat over his decision to sue the running mate of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Alhaji Dr Mahamadu Bawumia.

The deputy NDC scribe says he is no longer interested in locking horns with the former Deputy Governor of Bank of Ghana in court anymore, but will prefer to treat the matter in the public domain, since the former involves a long process.

Mr Koku Anyidoho, early this month, announced that he would file a suit against the NPP vice presidential candidate, whom he accused of being responsible for the fate that befell the Montie trio, Mugabe Masse and his colleagues, who are expected to be released on Friday, following granting of remission by the President.

The Deputy NDC General Secretary had accused Dr Bawumia of being the Genesis of all the effusion that resulted in the decision by Abu Ramadan, former National Youth Organizer of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) to file a suit against the Electoral Commission, a case which consequently landed the three in jail, after being found guilty of contempt.

Mr Anyidoho, who bragged about his resolve to haul the NPP running mate before court to answer questions bothering on his claims of irregularities in the voters register, now seems to have poured cold water on his own threats, insisting that he would prefer to discuss the matter in court of public opinion rather than resorting to the cumbersome legal processes.

If I will have to sue Dr Bawumia, then it means I first have to petition the Attorney General because it is a criminal matter but I dont have that time. Since Dr Bawumia chose to make his claims public, I will also do so, Mr Anyidoho told Host of Hello FM morning show, King Edward.

The NDC deputy scribe, however, noted that he still stands by his position that Dr Bawumia lied to Ghanaians when he said that the voters register contained names of Togolese nationals, since he could not prove it.
25.08.2016 LISTEN

It is gradually becoming a convention for supporters of suspects arrested by the police to either throng the courts or the police stations to sympathize with them (suspects). It started with Former President Rawlings when he was invited by the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to testify. For reasons known to himself, Mr Rawlings decided to walk from his residence at Ridge to the Old Parliament House, on the now Atta Mills High Street, where the commission was sitting.

That decision created heavy vehicular traffic in Accra, because thousands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters decided to follow him, amidst drumming and dancing.

After creating that long winding traffic in Accra, when the former president finally arrived at the Old Parliament House, it took the Justice Amuah-Sakyi led commission less than five minutes to finish questioning Mr. Rawlings.

When his wife, Nana Konadu was also charged before court, thousands of NDC sympathizers thronged the court anytime she appeared. The trend continued until President Kufuor instructed that the case be struck out. The case of Messrs Kwame Peprah, Dan Abodapi, Sipa Yankey followed the same trajectory.

When the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost power to NDC, their followers, including MPs, went to the BNI national headquarters and created mayhem, when Mr. Kojo Mpiani, a Former Chief of Staff was arrested by the security agency.

Similarly, when Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central was arrested by the CID, NPP supporters again massed up at the premises of the state security agency, demanding that their idol be released.

We cannot also gloss over what happened at the Supreme Court premises recently, when the Montie 3 were being tried for contempt of court.

Large crowds, mostly NDC supporters, thronged the venue and were making noise to the displeasure of the Supreme Court judges.

And just yesterday, supporters of Bishop Daniel Obinim, followed the footsteps of the politicians by massing up at the CID headquarters, demanding that he (Obinim) should be released to go home.

Clearly, this is a worrisome development that is gradually finding roots in our democratic process. Ghana is governed by laws and if someone falls foul to the law, it is the duty of the law enforcement agencies to deal with him or her.

If the person who has been arrested is being treated unfairly, his or her lawyers have the right to use the legal process to seek redress. The state has lost so many cases in court, as a result of the way suspects were handled by either the police or the BNI.

In all the cases we have mentioned, the people were not set free because of the crowd that massed up at the courts or the police headquarters.

Some of them gained their freedom because their lawyers mounted a strong defence to the charges that were brought against them. When the Montie 3 case was being heard, one of the Supreme Court Judges made it clear that the noise their supporters were making outside would not have any influence on them.

Indeed, the three contemnors were sentenced to four months imprisonment, despite all that their supporters came to do in court.

In the case of Bishop Obinim, The Chronicle does not have any evidence that he had defrauded a fellow Ghanaian, resulting in his arrest, but it is not the noise his church members went to make at the CID headquarters yesterday that would compel the police to set him free, if he had indeed defrauded the complainant.

If he is guilty, the law would deal with him without any influence from his church members. If he is also not guilty, the same law would free him.

The Chronicle does not have a problem with one or three people who accompany their idols to either the court or the police station, as that is normal and part of our culture.

We are only against the situation where people mass up in their large numbers at the courts and police stations to violently protest against a person who has been arrested or dragged to court. Whilst advising to the public over this dangerous development, we equally call on the security agencies to treat suspects with utmost respect.

It is trite knowledge that those who wield power sometimes use some of these security agencies to teach their opponents 'a lesson.' Under such a circumstance, one cannot blame those who throng the courts and the police stations. We must always allow the laws to work without any external manipulations.
Acting General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, John Boadu, has assured Ghanaians that they have nothing to fear about the prospects of his partys Presidential Candidate becoming the president of Ghana, from January 7, 2017, God willing.

Addressing his party supporters at Bimbilla in the Northern Region during a campaign tour, President Mahama sought to create the impression that Nana Akufo-Addo is a dictator and a divisive person who had been sacking from the NPP, people who disagree with him on issues. He therefore told the gathering it would be dangerous to elect him as the president of the country.

The president spoke as if he was not aware that the courts of the land had upheld the disciplinary action taken by the National Executive Committee of the NPP, on the recommendations of the partys Disciplinary Committee, to suspend three national officers for stated misbehaviour.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Statesman yesterday, John Boadu said law-abiding Ghanaians would have nothing to fear living under a government of Nana Akufo-Addo, who is determined to create a society of equal opportunities for all.

According to Mr Boadu, creating a society of equal opportunities for all requires a president who believes in the rule of law and is prepared to make a conscious effort to jealously guard the resources of the country, to ensure that they are fully utilized for the benefit of all and not his family members and friends.

Nana Addo is the safest pair of hands for our country at this moment that corruption and naked looting of the national coffers have been allowed to reach unassailable heights. He is a person who is not corrupt; he is not going to loot state resources and share for his brothers and sisters and wife. He is going to uphold the rule of law and make sure that separation of powers is allowed to operate. He is the one whose tenure Ghanaians will see prosperity and growth for this country, Mr Boadu stressed.

He assured the electorate that Ghana would be safer in all facets with incorruptible Nana Akufo-Addo as the president than President Mahama who once described corruption as mass murder but has failed to do anything to tackle the canker.

A president who comes from a very deprived society, and is given the opportunity to help change the living standards of his people, who ends up looting money meant for them through SADA project is rather the person who is dangerous for this country, the Acting NPP General Secretary stated.

Mr Boadu added: It is only those who have dirtied their hands by stealing the peoples money who see Akufo-Addo as a threat. Akufo-Addo has no business at all in even worrying about them. What he is looking for is to be given the opportunity to better the lot of the people of this country by continuing the sterling performance of Kufuor.

On President Mahamas new-found fixation of tagging his partys presidential candidate as a divisive person, John Boadu had this to say: He (President Mahama) is the one behind that fake memo; the fake memo that has the potential and intention to divide the party and create the impression that it is Akufo-Addo that is doing so. It is for that reason why they concocted that fake memo and leaked it out. We are well aware that they are behind most of the things that they say are happening in the NPP and that they have been exposed. No amount of the use of money can destroy the NPP.

Finally, Mr Boadu sought to find out, Now, I want to know: when Konadu Agyemang Rawlings was leaving his party, was his party divided? Where was he? When Obed Asamoah was detained voluntarily for 24 hours, where was John Mahama? When Frances Assiam was whipped as a woman, where was he?

Meanwhile, Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Spokesperson for the NPP flagbearer, yesterday said it was surprising that President Mahama was playing to the gallery without any shred of evidence to back his outrageous claims.

First, he said it was palpably false for the president to claim that Nana Akufo-Addo was leading one-half of the NPP whilst the other remained aloof.

He pointed out that about 96% of the grassroots of the NPP voted to elect Nana Akufo-Addo as the flagbearer, adding that those who competed with him for the flagbearership, including Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Alan Kyerematen, Francis Addai Nimo, Kofi Konadu Apraku and Joe Ghartey, were all on the same campaign trail with him.

So, where is the half of NPP supporters sitting with their arms folded which the president is talking about? Mr Hamid asked in a radio interview.

He said President Mahama had confirmed that he had intended to ride on divisions within the opposition party to win the elections, hence his abortive subtle attempts to fuel confusion in the party

Mr Hamid wondered why President Mahama decided to conveniently ignore the fact that impartial judges had affirmed the party's actions as legal and fair, insisting that was a testament to the failed attempt to fan the NPP's internal divisions and exploit same for political gain.

He described the NPP flagbearer as a consummate leader, who had proven to be a principled person and done well for himself in his personal life, adding: He, therefore, is best placed to lead the transformation that Ghana badly deserves.
The teenagers who were flogged during a church service by Bishop Daniel Obinim for engaging in pre-marital sex have expressed gratitude to the controversial pastor for the punishment that was meted out to them.

The teenagers, Eliasu Zakari,16, and Justina Nhyiraba Gyasiwaa, 14, in an interview with OBTV expressed remorse for the conduct that led to the punishment.

"We admit that what we did was wrong and our father Obinim was right in disciplining us in church...when we heard Ghanaians condemning the action of Bishop, we were very hurt because we came to the realization that we did the wrong thing and he was right in correcting me. We were happy he corrected us by punishing us and we will not engage in such acts again. Comments by people condemning bishop will rather prevent him from catering for us, Gyasiwaa stated.

Obinim is currently facing charges including, a charge of assault after the video of the flogging exercise went viral on social media. He has however been granted bail after he was arrested on Tuesday for assault. He spent two nights in cells.

Background

The Founder and General Overseer of the International God's Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, on Wednesday,August 17 caused an uproar after being seen in a video flogging a hapless pregnant girl and her boyfriend.

The controversial pastor who was angered by the couples amorous activity which has led to a pregnancy took the law into his hands and lashed the youngman on his bare back before turning to the girl flogging her mercilessly with a belt in the full glare of his congregation.

Throughout the brutal punishment, Obinim is heard questioning the jobless youngman 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 attempts 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.
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to extend its prisons registration exercise at Nsawam.

They argue the exercise which started Monday and ended Tuesday recorded low turnout due to restrictions placed on inmates by the Commission. An eligible registrant was either asked to produce a national identification card or two guarantors.

As a result, out of possible eligible registrant population of 3,000 inmates, only 500 of them were able to register at the end of the exercise.

NPP Member of Parliament (MP), Frank Annor-Dompreh, told Joy News the Commission has to be blamed for the poor attendance.

He said the Commission was supposed to know inmates have some of their rights restricted so the demand for a national identification card was misplaced.

The Commission treated inmates as normal Ghanaians instead of treating them as persons with restricted rights, he said, adding, most of them are not visited by their relatives making it difficult to raise guarantors too.

He believes if the Commission had given inmates enough notice, they would have duly notified their relatives.

On his part, the NDC Eastern Regional Secretary, Mark Oliver Kevor, was satisfied with the work of the Commission but believes it could have done better.

He said Nsawam prisons has a large inmate population so any exercise there has to take into consideration the rights of the prisoners.

The exercise, he said, was faced with slow capturing of data and the machine was slow resulting in the poor number of people who registered.

Despite the grievances of the two political parties, the Commission says it did a good work with the exercise.

It went well, the Prison officers gave us the list of eligible persons who would be registering and we started that registration on Monday and ended on Tuesday. Those who could provide the necessary documentation were accordingly registered, he said.

Deputy Head of Communications at the EC, Yussif Ayuba, said they duly notified Prison authorities to get their inmates prepared for the exercise, adding, they did their part.

According to him, if inmates had informed their relatives ahead of time they would have been duly registered.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected]
Captain Smart, a programme presenter at Adom FM, Accra, Ghana, in my estimation, has not been very fair with Ghanaians today, Thursday 25 August 2016.

While preparing to go to bed, I heard him interview a certain woman by name Hajia. I cant recollect her full name but it sounded northern. This woman said someone has sent out a WhatsApp or some social network video to sabotage her business.

The woman in the course of the interview said she has imported some lighting bulbs from a Company in India into Ghana. She said the bulbs have three main benefits which are, they last longer, thus, have long life (2 years), they are mosquito repellent -preventing anyone using it in their room from being bitten by mosquitos hence not catching malaria and it is value for money, only GHC25.

She claimed to have signed a contract with the Indian company to be the sole distributor of the bulbs in the whole of West Africa. Additionally, she had got the Ghana Food and Standards Board to approve of its safety and sale in Ghana, written to President Mahama to assist her launch the product. The President wrote to the Ministry of Health to check if there were no health implications to the public and in the absence of any such problems, assist her to launch it, she said.

The product has been launched and is on the market as we speak.

Sadly, Captain Smart who has not crosschecked the information supplied on air by the woman, started accusing Ghanaians of being too pull him down  skin pain, the Ghanaian terms for those who are jealous of successful persons and will also pray or do whatever they can to cause their downfall in life. He tried to politicise the situation by citing a posh hotel on the Accra  Kumasi road as allegedly claimed by the public to belong to NDC Ofosu Ampofo or Mrs Agyemang Konadu Rawlings whereas indeed it belongs to a completely different person he, Captain Smart, knows very well.

He said, those who falsely alleged it belongs to NDC government Minister Ofosu Ampofo did not want vehicles plying the Accra - Kumasi road to stop there to patronise the hotel since they are principally NPP sympathisers, he seemed to suggest.

Going to the Adom FM studio, I could hear the voice of a male in the background saying, even when you go to some hotels in Accra, they have installed some bulbs that dispel or attract to kill, insects including mosquitoes.

Yes, bulbs and electrical fittings tested to have the potency to repel or attract insects to kill, are installed in the hallways, lounges of hotels and commercial warehouses, kitchens etc., but not in bedrooms. Therefore, that background speaker should go and get his information right unless he is telling me about the typical-minded way Ghanaians go about doing things in Ghana hence the saying among Ghanaians back home, Ghana deE saa in their local Akan parlance.

Going back to Captain Smart, he advised the woman not to mind the video on the alleged social network intended for sabotaging her business. He promised to help her go about doing the business successfully. He asked her to bring some of the bulbs to him to sell and to advertise it on his radio station for her.

What a hasty conclusion bordering on irrationality on the part of Captain Smart. I would have expected him to find out from the Food and Standards Board if the womans product has been certified by them to be without health risks to the public if used and how they came by their conclusion.

Why did the woman go to see President Mahama about the products launch since its not her invention but simply a private business person going about her buy and sell, but not manufacturing, business? Is it not because she may be an NDC member if I did hear her very right when she said her business is not doing well in Kumasi because of some negative political connotations?

Any meaningful Ghanaian would expect Captain Smart to get the documentation on the product, contact the manufacturer to get more information. Again, malaria torments people in certain parts of India. If the efficacy of the bulb in fighting or killing mosquitoes is as alleged by the woman, why are they not used in all Indian homes in India to fight the mosquitoes in the country?

Why are Ghanaians so cheap to be fooled by every Tom, Dick and Harry?

This womans story reminds me of a case a friend of mine (name withheld), once confided to me. He joined a certain group in France as a would-be commercial products distributor and investor. They proposed to him to take tons of womens body- bleaching cream that had barely been banned and subsequently withdrawn from the European markets for containing some discovered chemicals that cause body cancer to its users, to Ghana for sale. He refused despite their persistent prodding and promise to pay him heavy dividends.

One of the bosses told him, African women are stupid. All they care about is having their skin bleached without questioning what they use to bleach. Just take them to Ghana and you will get a lot of money. They are not aware that the product has been withdrawn from sale. By the time they realise, you will have sold out all of them

What an insult to the intelligence of my friend who is a Ghanaian and on top, an African. He is a true Christian. I have known him since 1980. He refused, but rather used his money to purchase about three 40-feeter containers full of a type of medicated soap of high medical benefits to both adults and children called Savon de Marseilles, to take to Ghana to sell.

Although the soap has been tested and on the French and other European markets for several decades if not centuries, since they were new and unknown to Ghanaians, he ran at a loss.

If he had sent to Ghana the bleaching cream which although was cancer potential, he would have become a millionaire by now but he felt it was not only against his Christianity beliefs but how could he as a Ghanaian, sell a dangerous product to his countrymen.

Some Ghanaians do not care about the harm their products or actions will cause other fellow Ghanaians as long as they will get the money they intend to acquire and as long as their action or products have no direct adverse impact on their immediate family members.

There are no electric bulbs used in bed rooms that are 100% able to repel mosquitoes as the woman was alleging on the radio. She said you can even leave your windows open and no mosquito can enter to bite you because of the mosquito repelling power of the bulb. This is a complete lie. She is in to make her money so she will tell any story to get her money by fooling Ghanaians to patronise her product. Why has she chosen to enter into a monopoly contract with the manufacturer of the bulb not only for Ghana but the whole of West Africa?

Never in my number of years experience in the electrical industry have we installed bulbs in rooms en masse, alleging that they can repel all insects. Yes, in doorways in commercial buildings/hotels we do but they dont even kill all insects that come into the area but stay far away from such electrical fittings.

What I can do to help fellow Ghanaians in order that they are not conned by anyone, or to help the woman that her business does not suffer losses if truly the quality of her product is what she says it is, is to do a quick research on it.

I work with many Indians who come from India. I shall inquire from them if it does exist in India bulbs that are used nationwide in bedrooms to repel mosquitoes in particular or insects in general. These Indian friends go to India several times a year or when they are on annual leave.

I would not even mind going to the Brick Lane area of Tower Hamlets in London where the Indians abound to inquire about it.

I love the programmes hosted by Captain Smart but on this one, I totally disagree with his approach unless he wants to condone and connive with the woman to financially exploit the already suffering Ghanaians.

Lest I forget, the said video alleges that the bulb has some adverse health effects on its users. We need to find out if that is true or not by doing as I have suggested above.

We should not allow someone who is desirous to make quick wealth come to play on the intelligence of Ghanaians with their dodgy claims and Ghanaian connections if that is the intention of this woman.

In this day and age of globalisation with the attendant free trade, why should she go and sign a contract of monopoly with the manufacturer to become the sole distributor of the bulbs in the whole of West Africa as she said? Is she not with the intent to make quick buck like many of the modern day Ghanaians who do not want to wipe off a single sweat but would like to become rich overnight hence going for sikaduro?

For lack of knowledge, the bible says, my people perish. For lack of knowledge and the desire for quick buck by some rogues, my Ghanaian compatriots suffer.

Aaaa! Captain Smart, wasei me nna but I shall not charge you for that.

Lest I forget, have Ghanaian programme presenters sat back and mused over why there is currently many deaths among Ghanaians in Ghana? Could it not be down to the numerous advertisements they put out on their radio stations regarding medicines and other products they keep encouraging people to buy without certifying their medical authenticity and usefulness to the populace?

Finally, let no Indian company come to fool you. Go for better solutions to rid Ghana of mosquito bites. Use mosquito nets and other such useful products. I shall publish my findings when the research is conducted as promised.

Rockson Adofo
And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small chords, he drove them all out of the temple and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

John 2: 13  16

AUGUST COMPTE, born as Isidore Auguste Marie Francois Xavier Compte, in Montpeiller, France, in January 1798 was a Philosopher, who is credited with the founding of Sociology and the doctrine of positivism. Compte is said to have been influenced by the utopian socialist Henri Saint  Simon, and Compte's positive philosophy, in turn, influenced the work of social thinkers like Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill and George Elliot.

Compte proposed that society undergoes three phases, following a general law of three stages  the theological stage; the metaphysical stage; and the positive stage. The theological stage depicted man's place in society with impositions, restrictions on man referenced to God. There was absolute belief in whatever was taught by man's ancestors, with steadfast belief in supernatural powerfetishism, polytheism, monotheism prevailed. The second stage, the metaphysical, was the stage in which people started reasoning and questioning, including the questioning of authority and religion. The third stage was the positive (scientific) stage in which science started to answer questions comprehensively, by positivism or empiricism (empirical evidence based on verified data).

Philosophers generally think the world has moved from the first two stages: theological and metaphysical, to the third: positive stage. But can one not argue that some people still live in the first two stages of society?

Bishop Daniel Obinim a.k.a.' Double  Double', the flamboyant man of God, said to have been born as Kwadwo Edem, has achieved popularity or notoriety; he agrees that he is quick temper(ed). He admits to having had sex with his junior pastor's wife, justifying this on the altar of man's fallibility. He once stormed Hot FM studios in Accra and engaged the people there in fisticuffs, destroying property.

Bishop Daniel Obinim who claims to be a true man of God (and not a false prophet) once threw a challenge to Bishop Owusu Bempah who averred that Obinim is not from God. How can a real man of God say he can turn into a snake and bite a fellow man? He is getting mad. Obinim called into the programme on Happy FM: If I'm not a man of God, Owusu  Bempah should expose me, I'll strike him with my left angelic wing and he'll be paralysed forever. He also dared a fetish priest, Komfo Nana Appiah to a 'who is who' in Kumasiwho could lie in a coffin for thirty minutes.

Obinim is in the news again. This time round he publicly whipped a boy and a girl for having sex, ending in a pregnancy they tried to abort. In a video scene which had gone viral, the love birds were captured being whipped by Obinim with a belt; he invited his junior pastors to also give the couple blows. When the girl ran to Obinim's wife, Obinim shouted at Florence 'Twe wo ho firi ne ho' (Florence, stay away from her). A junior pastor was seen carrying the girl back to Obinim to continue with the whipping. How crude, insensitive! The mothers thought the action of their children was immoral, and God had used Obinim to teach them lessons.

This barbaric act by Bishop Obinim has received widespread criticism by social advocates who cite Constitutional provisions of 'liberty' and 'dignity' of the individual to condemn it. Lawyer Francis Xavier Kojo Sosu has taken the case to court. At the court, it is likely some of the issues to be raised will border on 'consent', and Comfort and another versus the Republic (1974)2 GLR will feature. Opinions may differ. But in this appeal case, Osei Hwere J noted: the first appeallant  had hit the head of Abena Frema several times with a stick in her effort to exorcise Abena Frema of her evil spirit. The defence is that thewitness voluntarily attended the first appellant's prayer meeting so that the evil spirit in her would be exorcised. She willingly submitted herself to stand in the nude before the crowd . By section 86(1) of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29), a person commits an assault and battery when, essentially, there does not exist the other person's consent.

Consent therefore, generally negates any offence of assault. I say 'generally' because I concede that the victim's consent cannot be a defence for an assault if the blows inflicted are in the opinion of the court likely to cause bodily harm Appeal allowed. Conviction and sentence set aside. This will be tested against Sir Michael Foster's proposition that when a man beats another in anger or from preconceived malice he can be held responsible if fatal consequences follow the act. Professor Henrietta Mensah Bonsu thinks if an act is 'malum in se' in the sense in which Sir Michael Foster used the words, that is to say, in itself, unlawful, we take it to be plain that consent cannot convert it into an innocent act.

Some commentators have used Jesus' whipping the money changers in the Temple as relevant in understanding Bishop Obinim's act. The boy and the girl whipped by Obinim were above 18; naturally they might not need any enhancers to rev up their libidos. What would have happened if Obinim had quietly blessed their union and encouraged them to stay as man and wife?

Pastor Lesego Daniel of the Rabboni Centre Ministry, Guateng Province, South Africa, made news when he got his congregation to eat grass to make them 'closer to God'; he made news again when he exhorted them to drink petrol which he had turned into pineapple juice, but warned: The level of anointing is not the same, if you cannot turn water into wine, don't try this.

Karl Marx wrote: Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. In the original German in 'A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right', Karl Marx noted: Die Religion ist das Opium des Volkes sometimes translated as: 'Religion is the Opiate of the masses'.

Vladimir Lenin in a speech in Novaya Zhizn in 1905 made allusions to Karl Marx's comments: Those who toil and live in want all their lives are taught by religion to be submissive and patient while here on earth, and to take comfort in the hope of a heavenly reward. But those who live by the labour of others are taught by religion to practice charity while on earth Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image.

Miracles can and do happen, but one may have to 'look sharp'. One has to look carefully at the proliferation of new churches whose modus is to attack the orthodox churches: they may insist on walking barefooted  just as Jesus did 2000  plus years ago; they may ask their congregation to step into the cash taken from their pockets and 'cast' it into a collection bowl! They may reveal to you those in your family who are 'doing' you, including your mother, father, husband, wife, child, et al. Let me shut up lest Obinim should turn into a snake and bite me.

[email protected]

Africanus Owusu-Ansah
Concerned Youth of Adeiso in the Upper West Akim constituency of the Eastern Region are up in arms against their District Chief Executive (DCE), Derrick Asifi Ohene Bekoe, calling on President John Mahama to remove him from office.

According to the group, Mr Bekoe, who doubles as the NDC parliamentary candidate in the constituency, allegedly withdrew an amount of GH20,000 from Disability Account to boost his campaign.

They accused him of engaging in financial malpractices and embezzling the assembly funds.

The irate youth threatened to lock his office if the president fails to address their grievances.

The Adeiso DCE last year was removed from office due to some corruption allegations leveled against him, but some party gurus pleaded on his behalf which led to his reinstatement.

President of Concerned Youth of Adeiso, Delawrence Ismaila, addressing a press conference on Tuesday, noted that the DCE had succeeded in planting informants among the assembly staff who misinform him about issues at sub-committee meetings which has created bad blood between him and those staff.

Delawerance Ismalia stated that the DCE had connived with the sand winners to degrade the environment which led to erosion at several areas in the district, adding that when the Environmental Health Officer and the area Police Commander confronted him, it virtually turned into bloodbath.

Our DCE recently incurred the wrath of some members who operate Chinese game and a taskforce was set up to seize those equipment since they don't have any permits governing their activities. The DCE allegedly went to collect GH500 from each of them and left them off the hook,'' he posited.

He further stated that the district has no hospital which forces people to carry patients to either Nsawam or Asamankese for treatment while some other die on their way.

The youth leader indicated that many of the projects earmarked by the assembly including the District Police command bungalow, re-surfacing of Adesio lorry station, renovation works on the assembly staff washrooms, Abamkrom Mechanical Water Project, among others, had been abandoned due to the misapplication of funds by the contractors.

The group revealed that the Derrick Assifo Bekoe has frosty relationship with some assembly staff, chiefs, police commander and some community members.

DAILY GUIDE's attempts to speak to the DCE for his reaction as at press time prove futile.

From Daniel Bampoe, Adeiso
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Information reaching The Chronicle indicates that barely two hours after news broke that President John Dramani Mahama had granted remission of the prison sentence imposed on the infamous Montie trio, they were relocated from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.

According to the paper's sources at the Nsawam Prison, Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, who were found guilty and sentenced to four months imprisonment each by the Supreme Court, have been taken to an unknown location.

The paper can, however, not confirm where they have been transferred to, at the time of going to press. The Chronicle gathered that the Montie 3 were moved out of the prison yard at about 8:00pm on Monday, a few hours after President Mahama had announced a reduction of their jail term.

Continuing, the paper's source pointed out that it is one of the normal routine security arrangements, saying many inmates within the yard have in one way or the other gone through similar ordeal.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Prisons Service, ASP Courage Atsem told Kasapafmonline.com that he cannot confirm or deny the story because they do that from time to time.

We don't disclose the location of our inmates so I am unable to answer that question, he noted. The three are due to return from the Nsawam Prisons on Friday, August 26, 2016. This is after President John Dramani Mahama, on Monday, announced a reduction of their jail sentence.
President John Mahamas concern about Nana Akufo-Addos divisive nature and his inability to unite the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is a pertinent issue worth looking at, Mr Kwesi Amakye, a political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has said.

One crucial trait that really is desirable especially in developing countries has got to do with the ability to unify the people to build a nation  and President Mahama is looking at this issue in the context of the NPP  so if he is accusing Nana Addo as not being a unifier, this is the issue he is looking at.

How has he [Nana Akufo-Addo] been able to build the NPP into one family? And is it a question worth asking at this material moment in time? It is an excellent question because African countries are multi-ethnic societies and from independence to date, in fact, the great Kwame Nkrumah failed in unifying Ghanaians. The British were accused of using politics of divide and rule. After independence  apart from our various ethnic groups and our ethnic identities, Ghana as a nation has not been built and this is a major challenge, so if someone is pointing to issues relating to this, I think Ghanaians should begin to clap because our politics is beginning to revolve around crucial issues and if you ask me, yes it is a desirable question to ask, a desirable issue to raise and I think Ghanaians should be interested in that and not look at it in one direction, Mr Amakye told Moro Awudu on Class91.3FMs Inside Politics on Wednesday, 24 August.

Mr Amakye was speaking in relation to Mr Mahamas urge to Ghanaians to vote for a leader who can unite Ghanaians rather than one like Mr Akufo-Addo, who he described as a divisive character.

While addressing supporters of the NDC in Bimbilla in the Northern Region on Tuesday, 23 August as part of his campaign, Mr Mahama said: What we need in Ghana is an understanding president. The era of dictatorship is gone: we are not looking for a dictator, somebody who cannot stand criticism in his own party. If you criticise him, he will sack youthat is not the kind of leader we are looking for. We are looking for a leader who can bring people together.

...It is a very dangerous experiment. Ghana is not at the stage where we are experimenting leadership, and so you cannot come and beg that we should try you. We are not in the era of experiments and trials; we are in the era of what is sure. We have seen this government; one of the major successes of this government is peace and stability.

We are looking for a leader who can unite Ghana and not a leader who will divide Ghana. If you cannot unite your own party, how do you unite a nation?"

Mr Amakye said Mr Mahamas concern is relevant because all those who are coming, can we place the destiny of this country in their hands for four whole years  so I think President Mahama is raising a very crucial question, a very significant one.
Accra, 25th August 2016 - Following her recent visit to Ghana, Cynthia Gordon, the CEO of Millicom Africa has emphasized the remarkable growth opportunities in data and Tigos commitment to giving customers access to superior high speed internet services.

We were the first to launch 4G in 3 operations in Africa including Tanzania, Chad and Rwanda and have seen exponential growth in our data revenues  close to 34% in Q2 2016. We are exploring options to giving customers 4G services in Ghana, she said.

While in Ghana, Cynthia Gordon, called on the Minister for Communications, Dr. Omane Boamah, who expressed his commitment to ensuring fairness among the players in the telecom industry and was optimistic that the early introduction of key enablers such as a technology neutral unified license will support universal usage of spectrum. He believed this would be a key factor to growing and supporting governments economic development efforts.

The Millicom Africa Chief also met with the executives of the National Communications Authority, the NCA to discuss further advancements in technology. She was very impressed with the vision to develop the market and the high levels of support and cooperation. We share a common passion to a working partnership for the benefits of mobile broadband to Ghanaians and this will accelerate GDP growth and socio-economic development, she explained.

With our technology developments and ongoing efforts, we will continue to grow our market share and complement our existing portfolio of services including Tigo Cash which currently has a registered base of 3.2 million customers. In addition to this, Tigo Business will continue to develop strong and viable mobile and fixed solutions to Ghanas underserved enterprise sector.
Controversial founder and leader of the International Gods Way Church Bishop Daniel Obinim has been granted bail.

The Bishop has been detained at the Nima Police Station since Tuesday after he was transferred from the Tema Police Command to the CID Headquarters in Accra.

He was being held for assaulting two church members before his congregants as well as facing defrauding by false pretense charges in a Gh11.6 million case.

Bishop Obinim after two days interrogations by the police was to face court Thursday morning for assault charges but according to Adom News correspondent, Komla Adom, there was no show in court.

Reporters at the court premises were told the police said they were called to return to the office. Further checks revealed that the Bishop had been granted bail.

However, it is not clear what the charges for which he granted bail is.

Komla Adom reports meeting many people jubilating at Bishop Obinim's residence.

Since his incarceration, many members of his church thronged the Nima Police Station demanding his immediate release.

This morning, some church members all bathed in powder were sighted by Joy News who said they were jubilating in anticipation of his release.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | Email: [email protected]
A young Vietnamese woman recently shocked police after admitting that she had paid someone to cut off her left hand and foot, so she could claim a health insurance payoff of roughly $180,000.

The extreme insurance scam reportedly began in May, when a 30-year-old woman named only as Ly Thi N convinced an acquaintance to cut of her left arm and foot in exchange for 50 million dong ($2,200). The plan was to make it look like she had been hit by a train, so the cold-blooded accomplice, named as Doan Van D, acted like a bystander who just happened to find her injured near a railroad in Hanoi. He was the one who called an ambulance and notified the police about the accident.

Ly Thi N was found lying in the ground with a severed hand and leg, and the woman told police that she had wandering near the railway track when a train passed by and dragged her under it. Doan Van D, who she described as a total stranger, just happened to pass by and ended up saving her life. At first, everyone thought that the victim was lucky to be alive, but policemen investigating the accident became suspicious after learning that the woman and the 21-year-old who allegedly found her by accident actually knew each other quite well.

Digging even deeper, investigators found that Ly Thi Ns business was struggling and she had bought a very large health insurance policy just before the terrible accident. Confronted with the facts, the desperate woman reportedly admitted to having paid Doan Van D 50 million dong to sever her limbs in order to claim the insurance payoff of $180,000.

Unfortunately for Ly Thi N, she has now lost both her limbs and 50 million dong, but will not be able to claim her insurance policy. On the bright side  if we can even call it that  police have decided to drop all criminal charges against the two scammers, having decided that the womans disability is punishment enough. However, according to Le Van Luan, of the Hanoi Bar Association, the reason for their leniency may be a little different. We need a new article for this kind of fraud, he told the BBC . Her self-harm is horrible and extremely rare.

Vietnamese news site Thanhnien News reports that doctors had tried to re-attach the womans severed limbs, but they had to be removed after just four days because gangrene had set in.
SECRETARY KERRY: Well, thank you, Cathy. First of all, let me thank you for your tremendous work and leadership. Were very proud of  Ambassador Russells really been at the forefront of leading efforts like this around the world, and Ive seen her in more places around the world than I see her in Washington at the State Department. (Laughter.)

This is a privilege for me. I am a father of two daughters, and theyve both been very lucky to have great opportunities in their lives. One is a doctor today and one is a filmmaker today. And I also had the privilege  we are in the Rosa Parks Room here. I dont know if you know that, but  or all of you know who Rosa Parks is, but Rosa Parks was a very, very famous civil rights activist in America who sat in a bus and refused to move when people told her she had to move, because as an African American, she wasnt allowed to sit where she was trying to sit. But she stayed where she was and she became a symbol of people standing up and fighting for their rights. So she sat down, but she stood up, if you know what I mean. And it was a symbol to people  it inspired a movement. All of you are inspirational, and I really appreciate your being here.

I know you face enormous challenge of  as Cathy said, there are millions of young women not in school, who dont even have the opportunity to go to school. There many, many too many young women who are pushed into a forced marriage at a young age. And so were working very hard on a program that is about womens choice, about women being able to make choices. And I started a program about young adolescent girls empowerment within the State Department, which Cathy is busy implementing all around the world. And what were trying to do is point out that  the famous Egyptian poet, Hafez Ibrahim, said that you educate a woman, you create a world, you create a community. Its how you, in fact, change things.

And so the work youre engaged in could not be more important. I know some of you are involved in technology and computers and writing code 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. 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 cant live to your full potential as a nation unless you have your whole society engaged. And so thats really what the poet meant when he talked about if you educate a woman, you create a nation. Youre creating something much more out of people being able to make their choices and be able to be involved. And of course, the third part of this is  youve got the forced marriage, youve got the education issue. You also have this issue of mutilation, which is something that obviously is cultural; we understand that. But again, it runs counter to the empowerment of an individual and to the rights of an individual person.

And so I salute you for your courage, I salute you for your vision and your commitment to try to help to change things, and we want to work with you. USAID has committed $100 million to this effort to be able to help people to make their own choices and to be educated about what those choices are. And its  it wont happen overnight, its long, hard work, but it takes the individual commitment of people like yourselves to be able to try to make it happen.

So I would be delighted to hear from you and I hope we can just open up and have a good conversation.
25.08.2016 LISTEN

By Richard Kofi Attenkah

Hundreds, if not thousands of supporters of the embattled head pastor of the International God's Way Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim yesterday morning congregated at the National Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to demand his release from police custody.

As early as 6am, members of the church had started arriving at the CID headquarters onboard buses belonging to the church and others in their privately owned vehicles.

As their numbers continued to swell, their handling became a herculean task for the police, who consequently, resorted to the use of water cans to disperse the crowd before they were able to create space at the Police Headquarters.

Obinim's followers started running helter-skelter for their dear lives, as the police continued to ensure their disappearance from the premises.

The irritated supporters, according to an eye witness account, were initially violent towards members of the press, who stormed the place to cover the breaking news for their respective media houses.

Sections of the supporters of Bishop Obinim, who is one of the most popular pastors in the country and undoubtedly the most controversial, issued warnings and threatened to deal ruthlessly with any journalist found taking pictures of their bishop.

Some media personnel, who came under attack from sections of the church members, who had well built bodies like macho men told The Chronicle that they were threatened by some of the supporters of the man, known as the 'Angel of God'.

The Chronicle learnt that the supporters i nitially converged at the Nima Divisional Police Station, where their ubiquitous leader spent the night of Tuesday, after he was whisked away from the Tema Regional Police Command, to engage in an intercessory prayer for Obinim.

The Police Public Relations Officers at the CID Headquarters refused to talk to the press, saying that investigation into the case was still ongoing.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Joseph Benefo Darkwah, head of the CID Public Relations Department, told reporters that the Service would hold a press conference after investigations have been completed to brief the media.

The Chronicle sources at the Police Headquarters debunked speculations in the media that the man of God was this morning sent to court to get a remand for him, to enable the police continue with their investigations.

Bishop Obinim on Tuesday afternoon responded to an invitation by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Tema Regional Police Command of over his alleged assault of two children who are staying with him.

This follows a complaint of assault filed by Mrs. Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender and Social Protection to the Tema DOVVSU, after video of Bishop Obinim, whipping teenage members of his church for fornicating went viral.

The Tema office of the DOVVSU gave the 'Angel of God' a 24-hour ultimatum to honour their invitation or they will be forced to take action against him.

Obinim, upon arriving at the Tema Regional Police Headquarters, visited the regional commander. He later went into the offices of DOVVSU and had a meeting with them.

But later, the man of God and the pastor in charge of his branch at Tema, described as an accomplice, were whisked away in a waiting Pick Up vehicle and transported to the CID headquarters in Accra where the case has been transferred to.
25.08.2016 LISTEN

A GNA feature by Elsie Appiah- Osei

Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Gripped by the spirit of humanitarian and philanthropism, the Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road Central (RCC) has partnered Rotary Club of Limay, Phillippines to reach out to needy school children.

This kind gesture benefitted 36 under nourished students from one-six grades, who were provided nutritional food package, during a 120 - Day nutritional programme.

At a cost of $8 per day the students were nourished back to sound health.

The initiative was captured under an International Service Project, which served as an opportunity for the RCC to partner with the international Club to expand humanitarian reach around the globe.

It gave exposure and a Public Relation (PR) platform that gave Rotarians free PR internationally, some social media presence and also allowed them to return the good that others would do when they seek help on Rotary ideas.

The partnership allowed RRC to achieve one of the 10 Service's Goal for the Rotary Year, with diverse exposure to service, interesting, stress free and cost effective way of exposing members to other avenues of service.

It also gave members the opportunity to undertake projects in areas of focus where they are currently lacking projects in basic education and literacy was achieved.

Sharing of RCC's values promoted the partnership between Limay and RCC.

The impact and cost effective project which was affordable and very easy to execute had the very vibrant Club - RC of Limay members partaking in the programme in spite of their low numbers.

About 17 members, half Charter Members who had been with the club for 15 to 20 years ranging from 21 to 35 years old youngsters participated.

At the session, interactors became Rotaractors then Rotarians with half of their Club coming from second and third generation Rotarians.

Although some members were not registered with Rotary International because of lack of funds to pay Semi-annual Report, they helped the club so that they could still do projects.

They planted 223,390 trees beating India with 18,000 Bataenos being participated in the event as one of best Clubs in the District.

GNA
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Bolgatanga, Aug. 25, GNA - Graphic Communications Group Limited has organised a town hall meeting in Bolgatanga to promote peace in the December general elections.

The meeting which attracted stakeholders including representatives of political parties, the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education, traditional rulers and media, provided a forum for representatives of various political parties to make commitments towards peaceful elections.

The party representatives after some deliberations jointly issued a communiquA where they pledged not to engage in actions that would trigger conflicts in the coming elections.

They also pledged to educate their supporters to desist from making inflammatory comments and statements meant to incite people to violence.

Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, the General Manager in charge of Newspaper of Graphic Communications Group, said business could not be conducted in an atmosphere of violence.

He said this is one of the factors that necessitated the organisation of the event which is going to be replicated in the Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Central Regions.

Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo called on political parties to ensure that they lived by their commitment towards peaceful election also called on the media and the Electoral Commission and the security agencies to live up to their mandate.

'If you want to change government you must do that through the ballot box and not of the gun', he said.

Mr Bala Sa-ad, the Zonal Manager of the Graphic Communications Group in charge of the Northern Zone, said 'good governance' is key to national development and added that his outfit chose the theme; 'Good governance key to development and growth of Ghana', because no business could thrive in an environment of chaos and uncertainty.

The Regional Chairman of the Peace Council, Naba Sigri Bewong, said Ghana has conducted successful elections since 1992 without major problems and had become a beacon of hope for African countries.

The Chairman of the Peace Council, who is also the President of the Regional House of Chiefs, said there is the need for all the major players to work hard to uphold the standards set in the past and respect the opinions of others.

GNA
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Winkongo (U/E), Aug. 25, GNA - The Convention People's Party (CPP) has elected its Parliamentary Candidate to contest for the Talensi Constituency of the Upper East Region in the forthcoming election.

Mr Clinton Nambuligyin Bukari, a 36-year-old Electrical Engineer and Tutor at the Zamse Secondary Technical School, was endorsed by all 130 delegates by popular acclamation.

Mr Bukari commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work hard to ensure that the party wins both the Parliamentary and Presidential elections in the area.

He said both the leaderships of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had failed Ghanaians and stressed that it was only the CPP that would alleviate the plight of Ghanaians.

'CPP as a socialist party believes in self-empowerment and will never kowtow to the IMF for loans, knowing the negative consequences it will bring to the economy. CPP will exploit other possible means such as the natural resources', he said.

The Parliamentary aspirant also appealed to Ghanaians to vote for the flag-bearer of the CPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, who he described as one endowed with the Nkrumahist vision and had the welfare of the people at heart.

On development of the Talensi Constituency, the aspirant expressed worry about the lack of support for brilliant but needy students saying he would establish a Community Development Fund to cater for the needs of such students.

'I will also lobby with other development partners and the Assembly to ensure that the youth are empowered and given the needed support to go into dry season farming', he said.

Alhaji Baba Hussaini Ibrahim, the Regional Chairman of the CPP, said the aspirant was a hardworking man and had contributed a lot to the development of the area and urged the delegates and supporters of the party to support him win the seat.

The election which was conducted by the Electoral Commission was attended by the Regional and Constituency Executives of the party including the party's delegates and supporters.

GNA
25.08.2016 LISTEN

By George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA

Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Government has secured funding from the World Bank to construct a bituminous double surface dressing road from Tatale to Zabzugu to Yendi in the Northern Region, President Mahama has said.

He said proposals had been approved and now going through the tendering process for work to begin on the 80-kilometre road up to Natchamba which shared boundary with the Republic of Togo.

President Mahama said this when he addressed party supporters at Tatale in the Tatale-Sangule District as part of his four-day campaign tour of the Northern Region.

On the third day of his campaign tour of the region, President Mahama addressed a similar rally at Zabzugu, called on the Regent of Dagbon at Yendi and slated to address other rallies at Yendi, Sambu and make whistle stops at Sang and Jimle.

President Mahama said the people of Tatale, Zabzugu and Yendi had suffered for so many years because of the bad nature of their roads and it was only fair to construct a highway that would serve them for many years.

"I will do everything possible to ensure that the people of this area enjoy their share of the national cake...but we can only achieve this if you live in peace and unity," he said.

The President said his Administration would continue to offer all the social amenities for Ghanaians as it was mandatory of every responsible government to serve its people.

The President called on the leaders of the National Democracy Congress to close their ranks and ensure a victory for the party and the NDC parliamentary candidate for Tatale-Sangule, Mr Acheampong Tampi.

Obore Gariba Yankosor II, the Bassare Paramount Chief of Tatale, commended President Mahama for providing the area with potable water and electricity.

He, however, appealed to the President to extend such facilities to Kandin, Sheini, Sangule, Tatindo, Kparibotabo and other adjoining communities to enable the inhabitants to fully engage in commercial activities.

Obore Yankosor denounced partisan activities that could undermine the peace and unity the area is enjoying and gave the assurance that, as a paramount chief, he would do everything under his purview to unite the people irrespective of their ethnic and political affiliation.

He appealed to President Mahama to explore the possibility of mining the iron ore deposits at Sheini to create jobs for the youth in the area and accelerate development.

The Paramount chief later enskinned President Mahama as the Development Chief of the Tatale-Sangule District.

GNA
By Sampson Adu-Poku, GNA

Kumasi, Aug 25, GNA - The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr. Jacob A. M. Kor, has called for credible data on NGOs that have flooded the schools with all sorts of programmes.

He said this had become necessary for close monitoring of their activities and to get feedback by way of reports.

That, he indicated, would help to identify those giving good support to the effort at raising the quality of education and smoke out the fake ones.

Mr. Kor was addressing a meeting of the Conference of Directors of Education in Kumasi.

The meeting was held under the theme 'Investing in quality education for positive transformation of the youth for national development' and in attendance were regional and district directors from across the country.

He used the occasion to express concern about the situation where head teachers had been registering unqualified candidates to write the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

'This state of affairs is unacceptable', he said, and urged the directors to take steps to stop the practice.

Mr. Kor told the meeting that 'in cases where these reports reach us before the examination, we nullify their registration. Unfortunately, most of these reports reach the GES long after the examination and we are unable to take action'.

He said the other source of embarrassment was examination malpractices which despite stringent measures had kept recurring.

He said 'we continue to have cases of malpractices by students and this time round with the involvement of teachers'.

'It is unimaginable to hear that some unscrupulous teachers are able to scan examination questions onto their websites and then pass them on to examination centres to help students to cheat.

The law must take its course. Such acts of indiscipline must not be allowed to derail our system.'

Mr. John Alexander Ackon, the Ashanti Regional Minister, asked the directors to do some introspection - to identify the causes of the poor performance of students in the West African Senior High School Examinations (WASSCE) and come out with workable solutions.

GNA
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Bolgatanga, Aug. 25, GNA - The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), Civil Society Organization has urged the Ghanaian electorate to vote for a political party that is committed to the socio-economic development of the country.

A press release signed by Mr Bismark Ayorogo Adongo, the Executive Director, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said there is the need for Ghanaians to properly interrogate the intended policies and programmes contained in the various political parties' manifestoes.

It expressed regret that one of the areas that had been neglected by past governments was northern Ghana which continues to lag behind the rest of the country in development.

'Successive governments of Ghana only paid lip service to pro-poor policies and programmes meant to accelerate socio-economic development of the northern half of the country. The continuous neglect of the north which has huge development potentials, untapped economic resources including mineral deposits, oil and unlimited opportunities in agriculture has serious implications on the overall development of Ghana', the release said.

'For Ghana to reduce inequalities, end poverty and hunger in the foreseeable future and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is the urgent need for all seeking power to strongly commit to making substantial investment in the northern savannah ecological zone', it said.

The release urged citizens of Ghana to critically examine the manifesto of each of the political parties to find out whether or not they had a clear vision and well-articulated plan for the total transformation of the of the country before casting their votes.

GNA
Mr. Maged Abdelaziz, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, (OSAA) is among the senior UN officials attending TICAD 6 scheduled from 27th -28th August 2016 in Nairobi. Also present are Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator and Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, UN Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) and Director-General of UN Office in Vienna (UNOV).

Thousands of delegates including Heads of State and Government, ministers, academic and economic experts, representatives of the private sector and members of nongovernmental organizations are also expected to attend.

The decision to host TICAD VI Summit for the first time in Africa was reached during the TICAD V Summit in 2013 when it was agreed that the venue of subsequent TICAD Summits be alternated between Japan and Africa. The interval of summit meetings was also shortened from every 5 years to three (3) years.
The Upper East Regional director of Health services Dr. Kofi Issah has called for investigations into the circumstances taht led to teh disappearance of five administrative vehicles for the Regional Health Directorate from the transport fleet.

According to Dr. Issah, when he took over from his predecessor Dr. Koku Awonoor Williams and took stock of assets, five vehicle; two pick-ups, one saloon car, one V8 and a Mitsubishi pajaro could not be accounted for.

Dr. Issah made this known to Citi News at the 2016 half year performance review in Bolgatanga on the theme: Harnessing human resources for effective service delivery focusing on neonatal health and sub-district health systems.

Dr. Issah said missing vehicles impact directly on service delivery and called on the relevant authorities to take urgent steps to retrieve the vehicles.

I did a stock taking and realized that five vehicles were not in the transport fleet and so definitely I have to take administrative measures. One of them was to seek advice from the Director General of the Ghana Health service, so I am still waiting for his advice, I have also informed the regional minister Albert Abongo on the matter. And so am waiting their next direction and if nothing is been done, then definitely the guidelines and policies of this country are there and so we will then know what next step to take.

Dr. Issah said the situation has compelled him to use the vehicle of his deputy director of clinicals, adding that, the missing vehicles could have been used for health delivery supervision in the Bawku west, Builsa North and Builsa South districts.

So now I am using my deputy director of clinicals car and have gone for a rapid response project car for him. so if there is a repayment response programme he has to release that car, so if he is traveling and his vehicle is not there, then I have to give out my vehicle but I am not worried, all I want is accountability, Dr. Issah noted.

He impressed on the relevant offices to emboss physical assets of the directorate to improve the management of assets of the service to avert future problems.



By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has given government a two-week ultimatum to reconsider its ban on the recruitment of lecturers.

In July, 2016, President John Mahama indicated that financial clearance had been granted for the recruitment of over one thousand lecturers for the tertiary education sector.

But speaking at a press conference in Accra today [Thursday], President of UTAG, Harry Agbanu said the number is woefully inadequate hence must be reviewed.

The vacancies that need to be filled by the University of Ghana, as regards all categories of staff stands at 1,200. Technical approval by Public Services Commission provided for 897 workers to be recruited. Surprisingly, financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance gives the university only 238 slots to be filled putting undue pressure on the few lecturers available.

Mr. Harry Agbanu lamented that although the new academic year starts in August, the recruitment under the financial clearance, takes effect from November.

The Association is thus calling on government to lift the ban with immediate effect and allow Universities to operate in accordance with the Acts under which they were established.

This is the standard practice all over the world. Why Ghana should be the only exception is difficult to comprehend. It is not proper to continue to stretch the capacities of the few dedicated staff of the universities without concern for their wellbeing.

The president of the Association also called on management of the various tertiary institutions to consider scaling down drastically the number of fresh students being considered for admission this year.



By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana
25.08.2016 LISTEN

 Visitors Asked To Pay Without Receipt  Baptist Church Expresses Concern

By Bernice Bessey

The President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi has appealed to the government through the Foreign Ministry to reduce the $150 charged for arrival visa at the Kotoka International Airport.

According to him, the arrival visa fee is three times higher than what visitors are asked to pay in other airports on the African continent.

Speaking at the opening of a four-day All Africa Baptist General Assembly, hosted by Ghana Baptist Convention, under theme Jesus Christ the door of hope, in Accra yesterday, Dr Adu-Gyamfi said in some of the African countries, they charge $50 as arrival visa fee and that Ghana's appears to be higher.

According to him, information given to him by some of the participants who came from various parts of Africa indicate that a visitor who pleads for reduction of the fee is asked to pay less, but he or she would not be given a receipt.

Where do those revenues go, he asked and pleaded with the government to address the situation. The second lady, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, who was the guest speaker promised to carry the visa fees complaint to the appropriate governmental quarters for redress.

She, however, noted that Ghana was lagging behind development because persons, especially Christians with the right and appropriate talents, wisdom and expertise are afraid to venture into active politics.

According to her, though the church has produced competent people who can effectively manage the affairs of the country, they feel threatened about the negative things other people might say about them.

I know that in Ghana, we have the people, but dear brothers and sisters, let me tell you the truth, I don't want to do politics. People of God hide because we say politics is dirty. Because we don't want to tarnish our name, we will be insulted, so we don't want to do politics, she lamented.

However, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur encouraged Christians to stay away from the shame associated with politics, so as to bring on board well intentioned persons to help shape the fortunes of the country and Africa as a whole.

She urged all Ghanaians to do their part to promote and project the image and development of the country.

Addressing the theme, which was drawn from Colossians 1:2: To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, she indicated that Christians' portrayed characters could help the unbeliever repent to accept the gospel.

The President of Baptist World Alliance (BWA), Dr Paul Msiza stated that Africa was facing leadership crises because those who colonialized various parts of the continent were greedy and left the demon of greediness hurt the people.

He said Africa leaders, instead of being agents of change, rather become power drunk and would seize power without considering the effect.

Dr Paul Msiza said bad leaders were produced out of colonial greediness, destroy monuments built by others and doesn't give credit to leaders who built those monuments.

He encouraged Africans to hail and embrace leaders that are willing to make history by leaving a good legacy behind.

The BWA president urged politicians not to look beyond the church when they want people with integrity, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to run the affairs of the nation, adding: Don't forget to look into the church for competent people, because they can make the change if they are given the opportunity.

On the other hand, he charged the church to shy away from preaching prosperity instead of salvation and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. The four-day assembly is made of 64 unions and conventions from 34 countries across the African continent.
I was in Nigeria recently for only one week to attend the burial ceremony of my father-in-law, late Mazi John Oleka of Umuariam Obowo in Imo State. Pa John died at the ripe age of 101 years.

Two incidents that happened during the week impacted so much on me that I thought I should share them with my family and friends.

First was my daughter, Ezinne and her dancing career. After she made a second class upper division in Accountancy from Britains Westminster University, I thought she would settle for the ACCA professional course and get a job in a reputable accounting firm. But no! Right from those university days, my daughter had made up her mind with two other young women, Nobile and Solia to form a tripartite dance troupe they later called CEO Dancers. The CEO Dancers made their international debut when they got to the semi-finals of Britain Got Talent shows in 2014. From then on, there was no going back for them.

For a while, I was very sad, and I made no pretensions about that. How could a young woman who made such a grade in the university dump her discipline and take to Dancing as a career? More so, when her father is a well known journalist! I didnt get it. I didnt because by our African standards, every parent would love his child become a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, an engineer, a journalist or to get into some profession that is hot cake in the employment industry.

When I asked some of my good and trusted friends what they felt about the situation I found myself in, they advised me to let go. Some said I should encourage her if the career she was getting into was what would make her happy. One of my siblings said specifically that she had raised the profile of our family to celebrity status. I wondered.

Just a few weeks ago, it was all over the place, in all the media from America through Europe to Africa and the Far East. The Black Life Matters Movement was all over the place. But I realized something was wrong. Black life matters. Yes. But then, what about white life? In other words, if the challenge of the movement was inclusiveness the organizers should have used the slogan LIFE MATTERS! But by segregating black life, even in the face of the frequency of black people being gunned down by the law enforcement agencies, there was an element of inferiority complex coupled with total exclusiveness in their slogan. And the question was: how do black people intend to achieve inclusiveness by applying exclusiveness? All life matters, whether it belongs to whites or blacks and I think that should have been the right approach, the right angle towards achieving inclusiveness.

It was while I was thinking of the social implications of all these events that I realized that perhaps the use of Black Life could be a ploy, a mask by youths across the globe who are frustrated by the inability of the leaders of their various countries to enable them make their lives more fulfilled and more meaningful. I thought, maybe it was like a keg of gun powder the society was sitting on, which could explode any time and when the opportunity presents itself, these young people could strike, as in a violent protest, to vent the frustration that has bottled inside them in a long while.

At that juncture I watched my daughter on Instagram and saw how happily the youths were dancing out their frustrations. I knew then that my daughter was playing a vital role in easing out the frustration and feeling of hopelessness among the youths of this world. Indeed, they have carried their message to many countries of Europe, America, and the Far East - that the youths of this world can still create happiness for themselves despite the seeming failure of the older generation to properly mentor them. Now, I have started seeing the CEO Dancers and other groups like them from a new and different perspective. Bless them.

Now, while I was in the commendation Church service of my father-in-law, the reverend gentleman who preached the sermon added one more feather to my cap of knowledge. He told a story of a king who had four wives. This king often neglected his first wife and spent so much time and money on his second, third and fourth wives. Then, he became sick at some point in time.

As he was dying, he called his favourite and last wife and said to her: I am dying and going to the Land Beyond to join my ancestors. Will you come with me? The fourth wife retorted: My Lord, I cant possibly come with you. Id rather stay behind while you go and see what is there for you.

The king called his third wife and asked if she would follow him to the Land Beyond. The third wife answered: Of course not, my Lord. This life is so sweet that I couldnt possibly leave it to follow you to a Land I know nothing about.

The king called his second wife, and put the same question across to her: will you go with me? The second wife said: My Lord, I am afraid you have to go on this journey alone. I dont think I will ever go to the Land Beyond with you...

But just as she was speaking, the king heard a voice shouting: I will go with you! The king turned and behold that was his first wife, the one he had neglected for so long. The king was overwhelmed with emotion. All these years, I have neglected you he said soberly, I am sorry. I will make it up to you.

Surprisingly, the reverend gentleman went on to tell us that each of us is that king and that each of us is married to those four wives.

Our fourth wife is our physical body. Our third wife is our wealth and achievements. Our second wife is our family and friends. And our first wife is our Soul.

After listening to this wonderful story, I confirmed to myself that indeed there is no age for a man to say I have known it all. There is just no age!
A white stationary vehicle parked in front of Legon Hall on the University of Ghana campus has been smashed when a tree fell on it out of the blue, Thursday.

Myjoyonline.coms Nathan Gadugah who was at the scene of the accident reported there was no casualty.

The tumbled tree, he said, is so huge that it has divided the road that stretches from the Commonwealth Hall to the main university entrance.

This has made it impossible for vehicles to use the road.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | AKABP
Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa Plc and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), has been invited to debate at the opening session of the MEDEF Summer University alongside two other global business shapers.

Currently in its 18th edition, this years event will be held on August 30th and 31st, 2016 in Paris, France.

For over 15 years of its existence, MEDEF has remained true to its objective of making France a winner by debating ways to position the country more favourably globally with the aim to create more employment opportunities, targeting of 1 million jobs in 5 years.

Positioned as one of Frances leading annual economic, social, cultural and political events, MEDEF Summer University hosts 7,500 business and opinion leaders comprising of Heads of State, government officials, political leaders, intellectuals, business leaders from all over the world, as well as 450 French and international journalists.

According to the organisers, This years theme, To believe and act will lead us to reflect on the major deadlines facing us. It is a positive theme, because as entrepreneurs, we remain convinced that our country has all the attributes to succeed in the future and to take advantage of all the current turmoil.

At the MEDEF Summer University, we want to show the reality and finally talk about vision and future.

One of the few delegates representing the African region at the event, Tony Elumelu, will participate in a debate with two international business leadersGary Coombe, President of P & G Europe and Oudet Souvannavong, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laosat the grand opening session, The World is Watching. The session will be moderated by Frederic Ferrer, journalist, consultant and professor at ESCP Europe. The participants will be discussing what they expect from France in a bid to increase bilateral business relationships.

According to Elumelu, this is the best time to establish stronger business ties between France and Africa, and not just francophone countries, but Anglophone African countries as well. While commending events like MEDEF Summer University and agencies such as Business Africa for establishing the mandate to establish stronger ties between France and Anglophone African countries, he expressed enthusiasm at shedding more light at the event what Africa expects from France. He posited that both economies need to foster stronger relationships between SMEs in Africa and France that will create more opportunities in the pipeline to achieve sustainable development.

On what will be his focus, Elumelu commented that he would be encouraging the French government and business stakeholders to look towards investing in Africa, as there are many opportunities for establishing manufacturing operations on ground and reaping the rewards of their investment. He said that this would result in the creation of more jobs in Africa, and ultimately, provide immeasurable value to the French that will translate to profits. According to him, it would be a win-win for everyone.

Past attendees at the MEDEF Summer University include Her Majesty, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, who opened the 2015 session.
Mr Ebrima Solo Krummah, a Gambian opposition member, has died after undergoing surgery whilst being held in custody.

He had been arrested on 9 May, together with other members of the UDP party, having participated in peaceful protests and reportedly being brought to court only in June.

After the death of Mr Solo Sandeng in April, this is the second time in a few months that a member of the opposition has died in custody.

The Government of The Gambia should shed full light on the circumstances of these deaths allowing for an independent investigation.

It is imperative to respect the right to physical integrity of individuals held in state custody. Human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Gambian Constitution and in the international treaties the country is party to need to be fully respected.
Obinim

25.08.2016 LISTEN

One word that amuses me most in my life is the word "God". My attention has moved from whether God exist or not, to how people interpret and relate with God.

I recall the War in Libya when both side of the war were calling on the same God to destroy the other, in their favour. So while the Gaddafi faction were appealing to God to kill all the opposition based in Benghazi, the opposition were equally invoking the same God to kill all the people siding with Gaddafi based in Tripoli. How amusing is this same God that both the good and evil side call on to act in their favours?One thing that became very clear to me, after travelling widely across West Africa and Europe, where I lived and work, is the difference on how people conceptualize God. The West African conception of the monotheistic God is totally different from the European conception of the same monotheistic God.

While the majority of Europeans have matured into understanding God in the expression of the existence of their state as a supreme sovereign being, than the existence of some supernatural body living somewhere beyond the clouds, the average West African still lives in the delusions of yester years with the conception of God in other things, than the supreme existence of their state as a sovereign being. The European therefore idiolises his or her state and worship the laws of this state, while the West African hide behind spirituality to idiolise petty items and does everything to flaunt the laws of his or her state, making all the laws of the West African countries worthless.

Most people would have preferred the title of this article to read as "The God of Obinim Versus the God of Ghana, if such choice was given. So instead of framing the question as, the God of Ghana and the God of Obinim, which one is practically in charge of the administration of Justice within the territorial jurisdiction of Ghanaian authority, I opted for the God of NDC (National Democratic Congress) against the God of Obinim. Which ever party we associate with God, the fact is both Obinim and NDC are actively in the News, making headlines on whose God is really in charge of Ghanaians.

It is fact a that God is abstract, and so manifest himself through living things and non living things. It is vrty intetesting that humans have lay right to the claim of 'the chosen ones of God', to interpret and carry out his wishes. It is also the case with God that every vagabond is free to lay claim of acting on God's behalf, by their self acclaim preferred will of God, to carry out action over something. Most people refer to this act of their 'self conceived' God as justice. Another thing about God is, he has laws that are subject to interpretation, which those who lay claim of being God's most favoured priests and therefore more godly, use to control the flocks of God.

"God Bless our Homeland Ghana" tells every Ghanaian that God indeed exist but the contention has been, which God and how? The contentions around the definition of 'which God and how' explains why every Dick and Hurry today base their neferious action on their version of the conception of God.

This ambiguities around which of the definitions of God the Ghana National Anthem, is commanding every Ghanaian to be obedient to, has made almost everyone of us vulnerable and prey on by all sorts of 'men of God'.

The role of being a 'Men of God' is now a big time business in Ghana. Being a man of God is now an alternative to those who hide behind political party powers, to get away with murder. Being a 'Man of God' in Ghana is just as good as being God himself. One can get away with anything in Ghana, if one is able to convince the vulnerable populace to accord him or her their passive mandate for such authority. This cheap approach to be above the laws of the state of Ghana, by coming up with a parallel law to the state's laws, is the reason why every rogue in Ghana is now a 'Man of God'.

The painful part is, eighty percent of those assuming this role are stark illiterate themselves, who assume unimaginable fame over night, by being 'Men of God'. It is a way out, for the low of the lowest of Ghanaians, to redeem themselves out of abject socio-eco-political entrapment, to start rubbing shoulders with the political elite Kings and queens of Ghana. The worse is, the use of Twi these days as the official lingua franca of Ghana, in place of the official English language, is making this so called men of God in Ghana more of ethno-tribal psychism.

The radio and the TV stations are now freely polluted with these ethno-tribal psychos, propagating all sorts of lies and laying false claim on power over all sorts of unimaginable things, without any sort of decency. All excused under the misinterpretation of the holy "Freedom of Expression" while the state turn blind eye to open psychological abuse of its vulnerable citizens. Of course no one suggest strict state censorship of freedom of expression, association or speech, but this is a joke gone too far!!

Now, regardless.to whatever anyone chooses as the definition of God, the entity must have the following characteristics. It must possess an overall authority of knowledge on everything. The entity must have his own laws that prevail over all other laws. The entity must have the final say on anything and must have the sole choice of being the grantor of all mercy. All the above must be certain about this God.

The test of which God is the most powerful, of all conceptions of Gods, depends on the enforcement of laws of such God. Since God do not enforce his own laws and authority but does this through his appointees, Obinim, John Dramani Mahama and Ghana, are having the laws of their Gods being put to test these few days.

In carrying out the laws of the God of Obinim, he was recently caught on camera carrying out justice on behalf of his God, after he has heard all the cases laid before him and arrived at a conclusion assume to be in accordance with will of God. The laws of the God of Obinim was clearly rivalry the laws of the God of Ghana by which Obinim arrogated unto itself the right over life and death.

The Constitution of Ghana eas clear on the thr authority over life and death of any Ghanaian by arrogating such power of intentionally killing any Ghanaian or sparing the life. This Constitutional power was clearly placed in the hand of the President of Ghana. This power of the law of the state of the God of Ghana justify the basis in allowing the president, on behalf of the Constitution to declare a war on anyone, within or outside Ghana.

It was however strange that Obinim was invited by the Ghana Police service, acting on behalf of the God of Ghana, to clarify himself on violating the laws of the God of Ghana. Strange enough, Obinim found himself being charged with offences against the laws of Ghana, than what was contained on the famous video clip, where he was caught flogging Ghanaians in public for adultery, by the instruction of and on behalf, of his God.

The interesting things about this development are; Obinim still think it is business as usual with the state authority turning blind eye to his hoax. He was caught on camera playing pranks gaining an act of calling on his petty self disslusioned misconceived god. It is also important to notice that the very victims that Obinim is administering the justice of his god unto, see nothing wrong with the form of justice and so, are blaming the God of Ghana's agents of law for arresting the arrogant pastor who is alsmot calling himself God.

There is also the case of the confused members of the media who are justifying Obinim action as righteous, if not for where the act was carried out. So some members of the media are saying, this would have been alright if Obinim had carried out his godly act secretly, without the laws of God of Ghana seeing that it's laws are being violated. Thus, the Domestic Voilence Department mandated by the Government of Ghana laws means nothing to the nation's media.

The most stupid ones are those who were brave to follow Obinim to the police station. These bunch of illiterates are not aware that you do not follow police invitee to the police station if you are not a lawyer, immediate family member or an accomplice. These individual blindly accompanied an allerge criminal to the police station and ended up as accomplices to the crime. I only hope the followers of Obinim are not following him blindly but reading the Bible with their minds open, as well. We clearly read in the same Bible that the Disciples of Jesus Christ understood the gospel enough to stand away, when the process of crucifixion started, which saved them from being accomplices. Sure these ones will hopefully be learning more about the bible well in prison, to know what they failed to learn before they ended up in the trap of the real law.

Well, we don't know whether President John Dramani Mahama will again use Article 72 of the Constitution of Ghana to grant Obinim clemency, after the Court of Law has sentence him to imprisonment, for violating the laws of the God of Ghana. Why should anyone be surprise, since the same president just ose his wisdom to grant the Muntie Trio a Presidential Pardon? Well, some might doubt Obinim will not be getting such favour because the Muntie Trio were openly fighting for the NDC course, on behalf of the NDC God and by NDC laws, while Obinim is fighting for a different God. The blame one will put on Obinim is, he was clearly not fighting for the course of the God of NDC or God of Ghana but instead, violating and disregarding the laws of the God of Ghana.

This then leave us with the question of whether the Muntie Trio were fighting for the course of the God of Ghana or for the God of the NDC? If the consensus is, the Muntie three are fighting for the course of the NDC, then the follow up question will be, is the course of the state of Ghana the same as the course of the NDC political party, for the President and the head of state to side with the course of the Muntie Trios?

Since most people will agree that the President sided with his political party who openly mounted pressure on him to act in their favour, at the expense of the intetrst of the state of Ghana, one can say the president acted by the laws of NDC than the laws of the God of Ghana. Again if almost 80% of the NDC active members were openly behind the pressure of getting the president to side with them against the position of the state, one will then start the question of whether the NDC as a political party to the president, comes first, before the state of Ghana' interest? Sure such question might sound stupid as the same person is the head of state of Ghana, just as he is the leader of the NDC Political party. This question even sound more stupid when the constitution somehow justify the president's action to act in favour of his party at the expense of the state.

Without bordering you with any further details on how and why the Muntie Three ended up with four months imperisonment by the order of the Supreme Court, the length and breath of it all is, the Supreme Court acted on behalf of the laws of the God of Ghana, as instructed by the Constitution.

There is a clear contention here. We have two powerful institutions of the state, with each claiming to be acting on behalf of the same God of Ghana and in accordance with the will of this God, in upholding the same justice. One gave a green light for something to happen and the other gave a red light for it to stop. Clearly there is.madness in the camp of the Ghanaian God! This is like Sunni and Shie-at in Irag.

But, God must be one and not two, so which is which? Surely whether you are of the conviction that the president acted on behalf of the NDC political Party than the state or not, the head of state acted by the instruction of the Constitution. We also know that those encouraging the president to act in favour of his party, premised their case that the Supreme Court acted on behalf of the opposition NPP (New Partriotic Party).

One thing that is very clear is, there are contentions around the position of the Laws of the God of Ghana, as contained in the Constitutional power, to its institutions. What the constitution ask the President to do is not to interpret the law but execute the law by carrying it out. This same constitution asked the Supreme Court to interpret the law and not to execute the law. The president is clearly wrong because he carried out his own version of the interpretation of the law, since it is one thing to state the position of the law and is another thing to interprat what the constitution said or meant. The Supreme Court's instruction by sentencing the Muntie Trios also contravane their role of interpretations that led the three into prison.

Probably the best option is for all to go back and do the right thing, than behaving like the self acclaimed pastor Obinim.

So if the president has acted and you and I feel the action contravanes our understanding of the constitution, everyone of us has a duty of going to the Supreme Court for interpretation of Article 74.

There are two possible outcome to this. The Suprreme Court will then play its traditional role of limiting itself to the interpretation of the law, by telling citizens whether the President as the head of state acted in the best interest of the state or acted in any other interest that might include his party's.

If, the first position is the case, then we all move on. If however, the Supreme Court interprtations state that the president acted wrongly, and come up with the right position of the state, then the option of the Executive president deciding when to act becomes his business, with constitutional crisis hanging around his neck.

The third possibility is the parliament stepping in by making a law that could strengthen the position of the president, since he has majority in parliament or make a law for impeachment. The impeachment of the president is again a remote case. What will be certain is the interpretation of the law by the Supreme Court awsiting the presidential action, which will then make the fate of the Muntie Trios pending.

If the President as the NDC candidate wins the next election, the pending case will continue as long as NDC continues to win. If however, the president loses the election, the Muntie Trios will be the first to be pick up by the law.

The citizens of Ghana, this is another great opportunity to test our great Constitution. The Supreme Court will never call for this case until decent Ghanaians take the action of the president to the Court for interpretation. Join the GPPP (Ghana Poor People's Party) to fulfil the National Anthem instruction of "Bold to defend forever, the course of freedom and of right" for God to Bless our homeland Ghana.

Kofi Ali Abdul-Yekin

Founder GPPP

Chairman ECRA (ECOWAS Citizens Right Advocate)

[email protected]

0447984445344 or 04477374787

Twit #NOECOWASVOTE
Bethlehem (South Africa) (AFP) - Three days after leaving behind a cramped and dingy cage at the Khan Yunis zoo in Gaza, Laziz the tiger arrived in South African.

The Gaza zoo's last tiger was one of 15 animals rescued this week from what has been dubbed the "worst zoo in the world".

"When we decided to step in, it was a critical situation not only for Laziz but also for the other 14 animals," said Ioana Dungler, wild animals director from non-profit Four Paws.

The animals faced death from starvation or could have been traded or transferred somewhere else.

When Khan Yunis zoo opened in 2007, it housed more than 100 animals.

But with repeated wars and few visitors, the owners struggled to afford food and many of the animals starved to death.
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Joy News has intercepted a letter which formed the basis for the arrest of the founder of the International Godsway Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim.

The letter was written by K-SAN Law Firm on behalf of the petitioner, Bismark Kusi.

According to the letter, the complainant, Bismark Kusi parted with an amount of GHE780,000.00 to one Okomfo Dzakpata, of Mampong-Nkwanta, near Koforidua, ostensibly to help him (Bismark Kusi) manage proceeds of some family gold.

"In our clients desperation to recover the said amount from Okomfo Dzakpata, he visited Bishop Daniel Kodwo Obinim, a popular charismatic preacher, for assistance."

But Bishop Obinim has failed to pay back the money, he alleged.

"We are by this letter humbly requesting your office to help Mr. Bismark Kusi recover the said amount from this man of God" the letter read.

Counsel for the bishop, Atta Akyea, described the letter as anaemic. He believes the governing National Democratic Congress it behind the letter which is aimed at disgracing his client and diverting attention from the remission President John Mahama granted the Montie 3.

Below is a copy of the letter



Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
25.08.2016 LISTEN

The CEO of Green Trek Tours has advised entrepreneurs who especially want to maximize profits and expand their businesses to invest more in customer service in Thursdays world of business.

According to Priscilla Wellington Asante, customer satisfaction is the key to customer loyalty which in turn boosts sales.

She was speaking with Joy Business at a TED-EX Accra Forum dubbed Customer Lifeline Business Survival.

As a business owner or start up, you should try to innovate to spice things up so the customer finds something new when they come to you; this is necessary as the business continues to see growth," she explained.

The event was to support and advice social enterprises on how to derive profits from their relatively small customer base.

Panelists who speared headed the practical discussion included Dr. George Kofi Amoako, Head of Marketing Department, of Central University, Israella Kafui Mansu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mansuki Ghana Limited, Mrs. Priscilla Wellington Asante, Assistant Director of Marketing  Africa and Nadia Takyiwaa-Mensah Head of Marketing Sixth Sense Manifesto

This event took place at the Impact Hub, Osu Ako Adjei in Accra and is the first of four quarterly Mini TEDxSocialEntrepriseTalk

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Sheila Tamakloe | Joy Business
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is blaming the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the recent skirmishes within its rank and file.

At a news conference held at the partys headquarters in Accra, acting General Secretary of NPP, John Boadu, said evidence gathered points to the NDC as the sponsor and orchestrator of the bad press the party received over the last two years.

Much of the problems in the New Patriotic Party were orchestrated, sponsored and fueled by the ruling party. Have you all noted that since 2016 the report of NPP on NPP have all stopped? This is so because the party took decisive measures to tackle those things, he said.

Political activities in the country have peaked as Ghanaians prepare for the December 7 polls.

Both the NDC and NPP have been at each other's throat in a bid to win the media war and also to win the hearts and minds of the electorate.

At a rally in the Northern Region, John Mahama, the flagbearer of the NDC who is also the president, told party supporters a vote for the NPP presidential candidate, is vote for a dictator and they must desist from that.

According to him, the NPP has become undemocratic under Mr Akufo-Addo with dissenting views silenced or shown the exit.

But the NPP said many of the chaos that happened in the party early last year were sponsored by the government.

Speaking to the issue on Joy FMs Top Story programme Thursday, Mr Boadu warned of possible "bloodbath" if the government continuously use the national security personnel to forment trouble within the NPP.

Mr Boadu said the glee with which the President talks about the NPP on his campaign trails is evident enough that he had a hand in what happened in the NPP.

Already he has started with the focus of his recent campaign speeches, these attacks on the NPP and a deliberate dragging of the partys image in the mud has followed a clear pattern in the last year, he complained. Our worry is that the plot is getting bigger and more deadly.

Mr Boadu said the democracy of the country stands to be severely damaged if focus is not brought to utterances of elements with the NDC.

Coordinator of NDC 2016 Campaign, Kofi Adams, has described the NPP claims as baseless. He said the NPP has kept the police busier than armed robbers have over the period.

The NPP has been quick to refer to the suspension of Kofi Adams by the NDC to justify why it had to suspend its own chairman and general secretary but Kofi Adams said the NPP cannot make such comparisons.

My car was never smashed at party headquarters, acid was never poured on anybody in NDC and machetes used on any member of the NDC, all these happened in the NPP, he said.

These he said are significantly different from what happened in the NDC which resulted in his suspension.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected]
Bethlehem (South Africa) (AFP) - Three days after leaving behind a cramped and dingy cage at the Khan Yunis zoo in Gaza, Laziz the tiger arrived in South Africa on Thursday.

Gaza zoo's last tiger was one of 15 animals rescued this week from what has been dubbed the "worst zoo in the world".

"When we decided to step in, it was a critical situation not only for Laziz but also for the other 14 animals," said Ioana Dungler, wild animals director at non-profit Four Paws.

The animals faced starvation or or the prospect of being traded or transferred somewhere else.

When Khan Yunis zoo opened in 2007, it housed more than 100 animals.

But with repeated wars and few visitors, the owners struggled to afford food and many of the animals starved to death.

"It was really a question of life and death. Not only because they would die of starvation, but they could also have been traded or transferred somewhere else and then nobody would find them again," Dungler said.

The nearly two million residents of Gaza also struggle to get permits to travel outside of the strip, which has maintained a blockade on the enclave for a decade.

Members of the international animal welfare charity "Four Paws" carry monkeys at a zoo in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on August 23, 2016 as they prepare to evacuate the animals out of the Palestinian enclave

"It's not very easy to provide proper food there because Gaza is under an embargo," said Dungler. "Even for people getting the right food, it's an effort."

While his monkey, emu and porcupine co-habitants were sent to sanctuaries in nearby Israel and Jordan, Laziz (Arabic for "cutey") was bound for more distant shores -- some 6,700 kilometres (4,160 miles) away.

After a severely delayed nine-hour flight from Israel, the tiger and the Four Paws team arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday, where Laziz was inspected before beginning the next stage of his journey to LionsRock.

LionsRock a sanctuary for big cats deep in South Africa's Free State province outside of Bethlehem, three hours away from Johannesburg.

"He's very calm," veterinarian Marina Strydom said after examining him at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

- 'Calm and doesn't seem stressed' -

"He's been in the crate since Monday, so it's a long trip for him this far. But he seems calm and doesn't seem stressed. He's not agitated."

For months, vets from Four Paws had been visiting the Khan Yunis zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out.

Laziz, a Bengal tiger from Gaza's Khan Yunis zoo, is released in an enclosed enviroment at the Lions Rock Big Cat Sanctuary on August 25, 2016 in Bethlehem

And after his long journey, Strydom was anxious to see how the nine-year-old tiger would behave once released.

As his crate was opened, Laziz raised his head, looked over his shoulder at the enclosure behind him, and stayed firmly put, his back to the open space.

It took another 10 minutes -- and a chunky bribe of meat -- before he turned suddenly and slunk out of the box onto solid, grassy land.

He moved slowly, his body low to the ground, his legs stiff from the long journey in the small crate. The team will now observe his behaviour for a few weeks before releasing him into a larger space.

But it won't be the wilderness -- that option no longer exists for Laziz.

"He doesn't know how to hunt. He doesn't know how to be a tiger," said Dungler.
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Regulus CFO Forum is set to host its maiden forum for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) aimed at bringing the work of the forum to the forefront and providing a networking platform for them.

The Regulus CFO Forum is a new series of interactions that seeks to highlight opportunities for partnerships, strategic insights and business networking for finance officers.

Founded and directed by Hitesh Makhija, Chief Financial Controller at Olam Ghana Limited, the forum aims to be the best CFO networking platform in Ghana with a membership of at least 20 per cent of Ghana's GDP contributing companies.

A statement issued to the GNA said the forum is the first of its kind in Ghana.

The maiden session of the one-day forum would come off in September, and would bring together CFO and Financial Directors of companies having businesses in Ghana across all sectors of the economy.

Mr Makhija explains that the Regulus CFO Forum would provide immense value to members through training of CFOs in the country on business strategies; create mentorship opportunities for new members; create a platform to share best practices; give CFOs advance information on valuable economic trends and activities; and provide high-value, in-touch events.

A 2015 survey report of CFOs published by KPMG, a leading audit firm, showed that CFOs faced a lot of challenges in their line of duty, including: exchange rate stability and the effect of these on prudent cost management, inability to predict changes in key macro-economic indicators, inadequate infrastructure and competence of available personnel.

'These are challenges, the Regulus CFO Forum seeks to address through meetings, forums, and conferences to enhance the works of CFOs' he said.

While providing leadership to the business in finding the right balance between costs, value and risk, CFOs are also required to manage both internal and external pressures including increasing competitions, globalisation, shortage of skilled staff and budget constraints, the statement said.

Members and participants of the Regulus CFO Forum would also include finance controllers, heads of accounts, chief operating officers, heads of acquisitions, heads of business strategies, heads of emerging markets, and venture capitalists.

Mr Makhija added that to ensure efficiency in its activities, the group's membership would be strictly by invitation, with current membership standing at 10 finance executives from top multinational companies in all sectors of the economy (except banking and financial institutions).

Mr Makhija added that the first 20 participating members would be pre-approved and recognised as founding members of the group.

'The maiden edition of Regulus CFO Forum is free for all members. Therefore, participants will be required to connect to the group's LinkedIn account as its current mode of registration.

He said the forum is designed to 'enhance businesses through the sharing of information, keep CFO actions on top of the mind of members, and create a network of financial experts and mentorship for beginners'.

As the Cluster Finance Controller, at Olam Ghana Limited, Hitesh Makhija, is finance professional with more than 12 years of diversified experience in manufacturing, supply chain, exports and imports and expertise in accounts, audit, finance, law and economics.

He gathered his experience from working in various countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore for six years and in Ghana for two years.

GNA
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Mozano, (C/R), Aug. 25, GNA - Prophet Moknajeeba Fiifi Jehu-Appiah, Akaboha IV, General Head of the Musama Disco Christo Church (MDCC), has dismissed the labelling of the church's hierarchy as sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party as the activity of miscreants.

He said the MDCC is purely a non- political entity, and those spreading such rumours, aim at achieving cheap political point to serve their parochial interests.

He made this known during an interaction with journalists after he delivered a welcoming address at the opening of a two-week Peace Festival Celebration at Mozano in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region.

The theme for the Festival is: 'Drinking Water from the Rain of Heaven.'

He said members of the Church have the liberty to join the political parties of their choice and the options are not compulsory as being peddled by the disgruntled people.

Prophet Jehu-Appiah cautioned people spreading such falsehood message to stop the practice, since it would not help them to achieve their aims and objectives.

He said: 'In our time leadership of the church has come up against fierce and hostile people who are doing all they can to distract us.'

Prophet Jehu-Appiah asked members not let this to consume their time, because there is much meaningful and significant work ahead of them if Musama is to reach the next level revealed to them in prophecies of Prophet Jemisimham Jehu-Appiah, Akaboha I and Founder of MDCC.

On 2016 elections, the Head Prophet of MDCC asked the members to desist from acts that could spark off violence before, during, and after the polls to ensure peace and stability.

He said Ghanaians are expecting peaceful and credible elections, adding that anything that would disturb the election would affect the development of the nation.

Reverend Isaac Kwesi Begyinah, General Secretary of the MDCC said this year's peace festival is unique in essence that the Church had gone through turbulence for more than 13 years through litigation but the Supreme Court finally gave a verdict in favour of the church.

He said the top hierarchy of the Church is not comfortable with the development with regard to the breakaway members who are using the premises of the church as their worshipping places.

The General Secretary said the doors of the MDCC is widely open for the breakaway members to come back but failure to comply the MDCC would be compelled to institute legal action to retrieve all properties being used by them.

GNA
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Gripped by the spirit of hmanitarian and philanthropism, the Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road Central (RCC) has partnered Rotary Club of Limay, Phillippines to reach out to needy school children.

This kind gesture benefitted 36 under nourished students from one-six grades, who were provided nutritional food package, during a 120 - Day nutritional programme.

At a cost of $8 per day the students were nourished back to sound health.

The initiative was captured under an International Service Project, which served as an opportunity for the RCC to partner with the international Club to expand humanitarian reach around the globe.

It gave exposure and a Public Relation (PR) platform that gave Rotarians free PR internationally, some social media presence and also allowed them to return the good that others would do when they seek help on Rotary ideas.

The partnership allowed RRC to achieve one of the 10 Service's Goal for the Rotary Year, with diverse exposure to service, interesting, stress free and cost effective way of exposing members to other avenues of service.

It also gave members the opportunity to undertake projects in areas of focus where they are currently lacking projects in basic education and literacy was achieved.

Sharing of RCC's values promoted the parnternship between Limay and RCC.

The impact and cost effective project which was affordable and very easy to execute had the very vibrant Club - RC of Limay members partaking in the programme in spite of their low numbers.

About 17 members, half Charter Members who had been with the club for 15 to 20 years ranging from 21 to 35 years old youngters participated.

At the session, interactors became Rotaractors then Rotarians with half of their Club coming from second and third generation Rotarians.

Although some members were not registered with Rotary International because of lack of funds to pay Semi-annual Report, they helped the club so that they could still do projects.

They planted 223,390 trees beating India with 18,000 Bataenos being participated in the event as one of best Clubs in the District.
25.08.2016 LISTEN

By GNA Reporter

Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Airtel, the Smartphone Network has announced a whopping 200 per cent discount on calls for Hajj Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and their families to enable them stay connected during the special period.

The offer, which is open to all new and existing customers, also comes with up to 100 minutes of free incoming calls to Ghana with subscribers roaming either on Zain or STC Saudi Arabia whilst in Mecca.

This was made known in a statement issued in Accra by Mr Richard Ahiagble, the Head, Corporate Communications and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

Theresa Adade, Senior Manager in charge of International Roaming said: 'We developed this special package for our customers on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

'We want to ensure that they stay connected with friends and family throughout the Hajj period. This package offers Pilgrims 200 per cent discount on all calls to Ghana as well as up to 10 free calls to Ghana over a 30 day period.

'In addition to this, family and friends of Pilgrims can make up to 10 free calls to Saudi Arabia and enjoy amazing discounts on voice, data and SMS over a 30 day period,' she said.

She said to subscribe, customers should simply recharge with GHa 50.00 or GHa 100.00, dial *151# and select the Hajj offer.

'A GHa100.00 recharge gives customers up to 100 free minutes' incoming calls valid for 30 days. To find out more, customers should contact our call centre on 100.

'Airtel has the best roaming services in Ghana at the most competitive rates offering customers the best value and unrivalled convenience as they travel.

'Our partnership with renowned partners across the world including with Thuraya, enables us to seamlessly take care of all your Communication, Collaborative and Connectivity worries so you can focus on maximizing your trips,' she said.

According to the Smartphone Network, customers who do not subscribe to the Hajj offer could still enjoy 200 per cent discounts on calls and SMS from Ghana to Saudi Arabia and vice versa throughout the Hajj period.

GNA
By George-Ramsey Benamba, GNA

Saboba, Aug. 25, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday said the government, through the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, would establish Farmer Service Centres in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and parts of Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.

Under the centres, he said, farmers would be offered quality seeds, machinery, improved farming practices, technical services and document the activities of all farmers at each catchment area.

President Mahama said this at Saboba when he addressed supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as part of his four-day campaign tour of the Northern Region.

The President, who had addressed similar rallies over the past three days in other districts, would also campaign at Wapuli, Chereponi, Ziong, Gushegu and Tampion on his fourth day of the regional tour.

He said the Government would also establish Micro Credit Centres to support the farmers to expand their activities from subsistence to commercial farming.

President Mahama said tractors would also be made available for both outright purchase or on hiring basis and called on farmers to form cooperatives that would enable them to acquire such services.

President Mahama gave the assurance that government would build an irrigation dam for the people to engage in all year farming activities.

He said the completion of the dam would engage more than one thousand farmers in the area which would prevent the rural-urban drift of people in search of non-existent jobs in the urban areas.

President Mahama said government would also asphalt the Saboba-Yendi roads giving the assurance that it was currently undergoing the procurement process.

He said 45 culverts would also be constructed while the Saboba-Chereponi road would be constructed to help them to cart foodstuff from the rural areas to marketing centres.

The President said government would also build a concrete bridge over the Oti River to facilitate commercial activities between Ghanaians and their Togolese counterparts since that place was closer to Togo.

He said eight communities would also receive electricity under the current extension programme throughout the country.

President Mahama hinted that the Ghana Commercial Bank had agreed to establish an agency in Saboba which would subsequently be upgraded into a full branch in the coming days.

He promised to also upgrade the Saboba Health Centre into a fully-fledged hospital to adequately cater for the health needs of the people.

Uchabobor Michael Binalibein Kambonja, the Paramount Chief of Saboba, commended President Mahama for the numerous development projects scattered all over the district.

He appealed for the upgrading of the Saboba Health Facility into a hospital.

GNA
By Iddi Yire, GNA

Winneba (C/R), Aug 25, GNA - Plan International Ghana, in partnership with Prudential Life Insurance, has launched a five-year scholarship scheme for senior high schools.

The541,080 dollar scholarship scheme, being implemented by Plan International Ghana with funding from the Prudential Life Insurance, aims at providing support to 555 brilliant but needy students in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Volta and Western regions.

The project seeks to safe-guard the future of the beneficiaries and to give them an opportunity to pursue their aspirations in life.

Ms Fadimata Alainchar, the Country Director of Plan International Ghana, said the scholarship scheme came to complement the efforts of Plan International over the years adding that 60 per cent of the beneficiaries would be girls.

She said the project intended to reduce the incidence of students dropping out of school as a result of financial difficulties of parents and guardians.

"We believe secondary education is a stepping stone to access tertiary education and improve chances of employment and livelihoods," she said.

"To date 400 students; 240 girls and 160 boys; between the ages of 14 and 15 years have been awarded a three-year scholarship package to complete their senior high education," she added.

Ms Alainchar said poverty was one of the basic reasons why many children in Ghana were unable to access secondary education.

She said many children who qualified for senior high education were not able to enroll due to high cost and the inability of parents/guardians and children to afford the education at that level.

She said: 'There is an even more worrying trend and there is enough evidence to the fact that when parents have limited resources for their children's education and have to make a choice, it is always the girl-child that is sacrificed in favour of the boy due to socio-cultural practices that give preference to boys' education over girls.'

Ms Alainchar said the partnership of Plan International Ghana with Prudential Life Insurance was very important as it promoted the private-public partnership concept and this should be encouraged.

'Many of such partnerships will help many more children in our communities and country to attain greater heights.

'To ensure that such initiatives are sustained, all agencies, organisations, traditional leaders and stakeholders also need to collaborate with one another to ensure that all children are given a chance in life and that girls are not left behind,' she said.

Mr Emmanuel Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Life Insurance, said aside academic work, the project also aimed at empowering the beneficiaries and increasing their confidence through financial literacy mentoring programme through the expertise of their staff.

He said modules under the mentorship sessions were income and budgeting, savings and investment, and banking and insurance.

Mr Joe Appiah, Business Development Manager of Plan International Ghana, said over the past two decades the organisation had supported education in the country at both the primary, junior and senior high levels.

He said Plan International currently works in over 600 communities in nine out of the 10 regions of Ghana in the education, health, child protection and economic empowerment programmes to reach over one million children.

Neenyi Ghartey VII, Omanhen of Efutu Traditional Area, commended Plan International and Prudential Life Insurance for coming to the aid of brilliant but needy students.

He said the scholarship package should be extended to cover three private senior high schools in the Efutu Municipality.

Mrs Rose Abbiw, the Public Relations Officer of the Efutu Municipal Education Office, said the project would go a long way to bring smiles to the otherwise frustrated families and restore hope to many senior high school students.

GNA
25.08.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Banks that would win in this era will be those that have partnerships with telcos and other technology companies and develop products and services around mobile and other new technology offerings.

The findings of the PwC 2016 Ghana Banking Survey: 'How to win in an era of mobile money', has stated. The report was launched in Accra, on Thursday.

The survey sought the perspective of Chief Executive Officers of Banks as to the extent to which mobile money is expected to affect their business and the importance bankers attach to critical success factors in the delivery of mobile money service.

While the bankers surveyed perceived mobile money as an opportunity to be explored, they also viewed it as a potential threat should non-banks be allowed to provide the service in competition with the traditional banking services.

The survey also identified favourable Regulations, Technology and partnerships as critical success factors.

'Rather than being viewed as taking part of a fixed pie, MNOs should be viewed as contributors to an expanding pie,' it says. 'With new solutions come new products, services and new revenue channels.'

Bank executives were unanimous in their view that Mobile Money has had some impact on the way the business of banking is conducted.

There were, however, differences in how bank executives perceive the scale of impact that mobile money has had on the business of banking.

More than half of respondents are of the view that mobile money has moderately impacted the way they conduct business, raising questions for banks with regard to whether the impact is going to get stronger or not and how they will respond to it.

'Overall, it became obvious from the discussions that bank executives are feeling the impact of mobile money on their business, either positively or negatively,' the survey states.

Despite the opportunities mobile money presents, a large percentage of respondents viewed it as a threat.

The major threat, according to the banks, emanates from the potential for telcos and other mobile money operators to enter into the banking space.

'To most respondents, mobile money is evolving into 'banking on your phone,' it says. 'This provides customers with alternatives to traditional banking and customers are taking advantage of these alternatives.'

'Mobile money is significantly threatening the payment solutions offered by banks. Executives believe both bill payment services and point of sale (POS) payment offerings are currently under threat.

'Bank executives believe that should current trends continue; banks will soon command a smaller portion of the payments market compared to mobile money operators'.

Dr Johnson Asiama, a Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana, encouraged the banking industry not to see the mobile money operators as competitors but rather complementary and a vital channel in achieving the financial inclusion agenda.

He said the BoG would continue to dialogue and to finetune the regulatory and supervisory framework to ensure that the risks and vulnerabilities in the system were dealt with.

Mr Vish Ashiagbor, the Country Senior Partner, PwC Ghana, said three critical factors - Regulation, Technology and Partnership - were critical.

He said regulation was critical to address and influence the Bank of Ghana towards any future changes to regulation, while technology would continue to be pivotal in the era.

Banks must continually evaluate the long-term benefits of their investment in technology and choose solutions that offer the best returns on investment, he said.

Mr Ashiagbor said banks could no longer operate in isolation but they needed to build partnerships with other banks and with other service providers to expand their reach and deliver services to the customer in a timely manner.

GNA
you are here:
5 reasons to invest in equities | Is it safe to invest in stocks?
When the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. This phrase is commonly used to emphasise the importance of the US economy. Put simply, if the US does anything, there will be implications for the rest of us.

This saying may even extend to China in the not too distant future.

To understand Chinas rise in power, you need to know the basics of the Cultural Revolution.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Communist Party of China, went about changing the Middle Kingdom. In 1966 he saw a different future for China. One that didnt embrace the values or culture of the past. And it was a future they could never achieve without his guiding hand.

However, the future Mao had mapped out led to around three million deaths. Instead of protecting the individual, Mao was set on protecting the state.

As a direct comparison, these views are opposite to those of the US.

In the US, the rights of the individual are more important than the collective. When someone gets in the way of the collective machine, the individual is not steamrolled. This might be the simple reason capitalism strides forward even as communism flounders.

After Maos death in 1976, his successor, Hua Guofeng, didnt stick to the plan. Instead he set about reversing the damage already done. And as Hua turned back the destructive wheel of communism, China started to grow. Instead of enforcing policy for the good of the state, Hua injected capitalism into Chinas veins.

China is now the second largest economy in the world, behind the US. But will they ever take the number one spot held by the US for so long?

Knocking US consumers off their mantle

One advantage China has over the US is their population. With a population of 1.06 billion people more than the US, it suggests China should be able to achieve far more. Thats why Chinas competitive advantage is labour. They have an abundance of people. So they can pump out more working hours than other nations.

But they cant rely on their cheap labour forever. Wages are rising in China. Factory wages have been boosted significantly. Its been mainly caused by labour shortages and multiple strikes.

Thats why regional governments across China were forced to increase the minimum wage. If they lost their workers, they feared their economic engine would come to a halt. But no longer can they throw labour at work and expect their economy to keep growing.

Instead China will have to move towards other means. What are these other means? In Chinas new five-year economic plan, they stated science and technology would be at the forefront of economic growth.

But, right now, its their ever growing consumer base that is creating growth. Not just for their own economy, but for other nations as well.

The US is still ranked the number one consumer nation in the world. Its largely because consumers in the US have higher disposable incomes. And they will therefore spend more money on discretionary items. Yet Chinese consumers are growing fast in number, and could knock the US from their number one spot.

Businesses like to see Chinas middle income class on the rise. It means more customers for them. But how is this middle income class defined?

Just like the phrase suggests, the middle income class includes those citizens with incomes classified as middle. Their disposable incomes range from around $6,000 to $15,999.

But alongside those in the middle income class are the upper-middle income class. Their disposable incomes range from $16,000 to $34,000. The proportion of the population that fits into the upper-middle bracket isnt overwhelming.

Yet more Chinese citizens are expected to funnel into this group by 2020. According to McKinsey & Company mainstream the upper-middle class income demographic  will grow by 26.6% from 201020.

Source: McKinsey & Company

What this will mean for businesses and the country as a whole is obvious. China will be a more prosperous nation, with their consumers influencing global trade more than ever.

And as the population of Chinas middle income class rises, more investment opportunities open up for Aussie investors.

Whats good for China is good for Australia

The US is the pre-eminent nation of the world. And it will probably remain that way for years to come. Even if China becomes the number one economy, the US will always be dominant.

But China is arguably more important to Australia. This is because they are our largest trading partner. We are a resource rich nation, and China buys a majority of our minerals.

And its not just minerals we can sell to China. We also sell agricultural and various consumer products  many of which are highly demanded by Chinese consumers. Products like honey, baby formula, wine, vitamins and many other products are sold in bulk to Chinese buyers.

Even Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz believes China to be the companys biggest market. Currently, Starbucks has 2,000 stores in 100 Chinese cities. They plan to open 500 stores a year for the next five years.

Its no secret why they choose Australia, either. Its because of our brand. They see Australian products as qualityand domestic products as crap.

The same is true for make up or personal hygiene products. Rather than buy cosmetics in their home country, many Chinese consumer prefer to buy from Europe. Again, they do so because of quality, status and doing the Western thing.

Demand for products like baby formula and vitamins have given many Aussie businesses a boost. Companies like Blackmores Ltd [ASX:BKL] and Bellamys Australia Ltd [ASX:BAL] were darlings of 2015. They rose to stardom on the back of Chinese consumers.

As you might imagine, theres plenty of money to be made off Chinese consumers. Not just for businesses, but for you, the investor, as well.

So where are you going to get the most out of your money amid the Chinese consumer boom?

Aussie businesses profiting off Chinese consumers

No one knows 100% what will happen in the future. But the industries expected to see growth from Chinese consumers are those Ive named above.

These could be businesses in medicine, foodstuff or cosmetics. Anything that consumers buy on a regular or semi-regular basis.

Let go back to our example of Blackmores.

The vitamins company recently doubled their net profit to more than $100 million for FY16. And as a sign of gratitude, the company gave a bonus to all employees. Employees received a bonus of more than 17% of their base wage. But rather than crediting their employees for the success, they should really be crediting the Chinese consumer.

Even wine could continue to enjoy demand from China. While the industry is cyclical, winemakers say Chinese demand continues.

The US is still the most valuable market for both Australia and the UK by total volume. But the fastest growing market for wine is China.

China is ranked the third most valuable at $313 million. This represented growth of 47% just last year. For a brief period in June, China became Australias most valuable wine consumer. One can only imagine this to be the norm not too long into the future.

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

PS: Investing in the stock market can be easy. Some may tell you that its hard, throwing complicated examples at you. But thats because theyre interested in your money sitting in their back pocket!

Money Mornings Publisher Kris Sayce has written a report all about how to make investing simple and easy. Instead of taking your money, Kris wants to help you invest for yourself.

In Kris report, The Ultimate Starters Guide for Buying and Selling Shares, hell show you all the ins and outs of investing. Whats more, Kris will reveal the one type of stockbroker you should never use. And theres also a secret you need to know about investing correctly.

To find out what that secret is, and more, pick up your free copy of Kris report by clicking here.
Like dominoes placed long ago in a haphazard, yet still kinetic array, the walls of one of downtown Morgan Hills longtime favorite shopping centers came crashing down this week.

The demolition of Depot Center, colloquially known as the BookSmart center, is scheduled to be complete this week, according to city officials. The razing of the building that used to house more than a dozen commercial tenants will make way for a new residential/commercial project to be developed by new property owner City Ventures.

They had to remove some asbestos before knocking down the structure on Depot Street between Second and Third streets, Assistant City Manager Leslie Little said. Their plans are completely approved. They can move right into construction.

The new project, known as Depot Station, will have up to 29 townhomes and four commercial units ranging in size from 516 to about 3,000 square feet, but the details are subject to change as construction gets closer, according to City Ventures Marketing Manager Petrise Switzer.

Current plans call for two-car private garage for 26 of the residences, and three one-car garages for the rest, Switzer added. The project will also deploy environmentally-friendly amenities, an aspect of residential construction that City Ventures prides itself on.

The homes at Solera Ranch are solar, Switzer said, referring to the single-family home City Ventures under way near the intersection of Monterey and Old Monterey roads in north Morgan Hill. She didnt know yet if the new homes downtown would use solar power, but added, We are a green builder.

About a block and a half away, on Monterey Road, hospitality entrepreneur Frank Leal and his crew are in the process of deconstruction of the Downtown Mall, which will make way for the new Granada Hotel. Little said the Downtown Mall is being gutted from the inside out, as Leal strives to reuse many of the materialssuch as lumber and decorative suppliesfrom the existing structure in his new project.

Environmentally, thats the smart thing to do, Little said.

The four-story Granada Hotel will house up to 60 rooms, conference space, a swimming pool and spa. The ground floor will contain a steakhouse and market hall, flower shop, and lobby with a wine bar.

Next door at the Granada Theater, Leals renovation project will transform the former movie house into a multi-purpose event center. Community Solutions annual Black, White & Bling fundraiser is scheduled there for Dec. 10, shortly after the expected completion of construction.

These projects and others are part of the citys longtime planfirst set into motion by the now defunct Redevelopment Agencyto revitalize the downtown neighborhood. Completed projects that work toward that end are the new four-story parking garage and various street and public infrastructure upgrades throughout the downtown.

Demolition is complete and grading is underway at the former Simple Beverages property at Third Street and Monterey Road. Developers Ken Rodrigues and Don Imwalle will build four new restaurants owned by The Opa! Group on the site by next summer.

The former Royal Clothier building at Second Street and Monterey Roadnow owned by developer Lone Starwill soon see exterior renovations, Little added. Royal Clothier mens clothing store has moved across the street on Monterey Road, and Tryst boutique is getting ready to move out to a new location downtown.

The city sold these sitesas well as the Granada Theater, Downtown Mall and Depot Center propertiesto their current owners last year for fractions of the cost that the RDA paid for them in 2008 and 2009.

Most of the former tenants of the properties have found new locations to make way for the new development, though most were unable to remain downtown.

Furthermore, the 4,000-square-foot retail shell on the ground floor of the Third Street side is fully leased, Little added. Orange Theory Fitness, a private gym, and Coffee Guys coffee shop will move into those spaces after tenant improvements are complete.

The design process for three new downtown parks is also moving along, Little said. One of the parks will be located on Second Street, one on the top of the hill at Third Street and Del Monte Avenue where a city water tank is, and other other in the Caltrain parking lot on Depot Street.

All of the projects are expected to be complete within the next 18 months, according to the developers and city staff.

When the downtown revitalization is complete, the city will have spent $25 million of former RDA funds on the public infrastructure improvements, parks and assistance to the private developers.
Amber left home at age 15 to escape physical abuse. After weeks in shelters and on the streets, she met John. He invited her to stay at his house and offered her food and clothing. But Johns generosity had a hidden cost as he demanded that she perform sex acts with him, and then with his friends.

Seventeen-year-old Omar left El Salvador to work in his cousin Mateos restaurant in Northern California. Mateo promised good pay and the opportunity to attend school. Instead, Omar found himself working 10 to 14 hour days at less than minimum wage with no overtime pay. Mateo took half his wages, supposedly to pay down Omars travel and living expenses. Mateo also took his passport for safekeeping and warned Omar if he tried to leave, harm would come to his family in El Salvador.

Aesha left India to join her new husband Bobby in America. Before their marriage, Bobby promised she could pursue college and career goals. Once in California, Aesha was forced to work as the familys cook, housekeeper, nanny, and caregiver for Bobbys parents. She knew no one else and was not free to come and go. Bobby and his parents beat her if she complained.

Amber, Omar and Aesha are all victims of human trafficking. Their stories occurred right here in Santa Clara County. (Pseudonyms are used to protect identities.)

Theres a misperception that human trafficking is just another name for prostitution, and that it only exists in distant countries. In reality, human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Traffickers profit by exploiting others through commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. They use violence, deception and coercion to control their victims, who are not free to leave the situation.

Human trafficking is the worlds second largest and fastest-growing criminal industry with nearly 21 million people being denied their freedoms. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center collects data on reports of trafficking across the U.S. and operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline. In 2015, California led the nation with over 3,600 calls to the Hotline.

Most cases reported in California involve sex trafficking, particularly the trafficking of minors in commercial sexual exploitation. Industries at high risk for labor trafficking include domestic work, health and beauty services, agriculture, janitorial services, hotels and construction. It can happen when employers unknowingly use subcontractors who are exploiting workers by confiscating their IDs, failing to pay them wages or denying them the freedom to leave.

Federal and state lawmakers have enacted theTrafficking Victims Protection Act and the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act to define and criminalize human traffickinga critical step to enable legal advocates, social services and law enforcement to protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

Santa Clara County is not immune to human trafficking. To prevent it from taking root and growing in our neighborhoods, the first step is awareness. Community members are invited to a Human Trafficking information session co-hosted by Community Solutions and South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, 7 to 8:45 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 West Main Ave.

Perla Flores is Director of Solutions To Violence at Community Solutions. Sharan Dhanoa is Coordinator for the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking.

<

Join Community Solutions and the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking at an information seminar 7 to 8:45 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 West Main Ave.
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.
Brokers are calling into question a report about one of their main partners, following an article alleging it sold off mortgages to improve its balance sheet.The practice of selling off defaulting mortgages to third parties is a very old (decades) very legal (read the mortgage contract) and very much a frequently exercised right of any mortgage holder whether it is Home Trust or any private lender, Ron Butler , a broker with Butler Mortgage wrote in the comments section of MortgageBrokerNews.ca. We have sold off our own mortgages to third parties and in all cases we sold them to companies and individuals associated with law firms who had the expertise to execute POS actions and spare that expense to ourselves and our investors.It is a well-established system that works, that is legal and helps holders of defaulted mortgages in their ongoing operations.Investment website Seeking Alpha alleged earlier this week that Home Trust has been transferring loans to a company called Re-Charge Corporation, which is allegedly partially controlled by one of Home Capitals board members.We hypothesize that the only logical reason a growth-starved lender would transfer loans off balance sheet is to hide non-performing loans, the author of the report, who goes by the pseudonym The Friendly Bear, wrote.Home Capital shares fell by 6.9% to $25.90 following the report, according to Baystreet.ca.The report had some in the industry calling foul on the anonymous author, alleging he  or she  wrote the it in an attempt to impact Home Capital's stock price.The person who wrote the report wants to hide behind a rather obvious pseudonym to protect him/her from potential lawsuits, commenter Tony Colalillo wrote. The 'bear' implies that the publisher may be in cahoots with other 'short side' traders in an attempt to start a bear raid on Home Trust's stock.For its part, Home Capital replied to the allegations and claimed selling loans to third parties is a normal business practice and that it has not sold any loans to third parties since September 2015.
The overheating in Torontos housing market is starting to manifest itself in aspects other than just cost, as demand for high-rises has mounted a comeback over the past 12 months.The latest report by the Altus Group report for the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) revealed that the average price for all homes in the GTA rose by 12 per cent year-over-year in July, up to $906,508. This accompanied a 25 per cent growth in Toronto high-rise sales (including condos) in the same period, according to the Toronto Star.In addition, GTA apartments saw markedly increased sales volume, surging by 52 per cent in July compared to the same time last year.There is a stronger demand for larger units. I suspect that is young people again choosing to raise their family in condominiums or possibly empty nesters who are moving into the condominium market and selling their ground-related home, BILD CEO Brian Tuckey said.Tuckey noted that another contributing factor is the proximity of these buildings to transit hubs, which allows dwellers to go to and from work effortlessly.Supply remains a paramount concern across all housing types, however. Available listings have declined by 41 per cent from a decade ago, with only 1,568 of these being low-rise homes. Also, only 905 low-rises were sold out of the 2,226 purchases in July.We do have high population growth but you cannot deny the fact that supply is a big part of the equation, Tuckey said. Serviced land is at a premium close to the city, applications are becoming more and more difficult to get through the system because of community resistance and, you need to have a good solid housing choice for the residents that are coming to this region to live.
In its August 22 statement, credit ratings agency Fitch sounded the alarm on the potential wave of unemployment that would stem from British Columbias new 15 per cent property transfer tax on foreign home buyers.Fitch analysts noted that the city is now more vulnerable to fluctuations in the national economy, taking into account that the market has shown indications of cooling down even before the implementation of the levy.In this light, the reduced consumer activity due to the tax is especially worrying, Fitch stated.We feel that the foreign investors have been propping up real estate in Vancouver, creating more demand, which is raising prices, Fitch Ratings director of U.S. structured finance Susan Hosterman explained.With them potentially out of the picture, Vancouver is more susceptible to Canadian supply and demand behavior, which is mainly driven by employment.MLS data covering the period prior to the introduction of the tax revealed that sales volume in the Greater Vancouver area dropped by 18.9 per cent year-over-year in July, despite the 32.6 per cent price growth in the same period.Meanwhile, recent numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association showed that monthly sales have declined by 21.5 per cent since Februarys record highs.A prevailing climate of cheap credit has aided and abetted the growth of the Canadian housing segment (especially in Vancouver and Toronto) over the past few years. Intensified demand from wealthy foreign nationals has also propelled Canadian real estate prices to unprecedented heights, with the benchmark price of a detached home in Vancouver rising by 38 per cent year-over-year in July, up to $1.58 million.
Metro area Median home price Salary needed Pittsburgh $140,500 $32,390.09 Cleveland $138,100 $34,433.95 Cincinnati $160,600 $37,179.18 St. Louis $170,300 $38,131.22 Detroit $164,200 $38,541.83 Atlanta $192,000 $40,092.12 Phoenix $234,700 $44,715.99 Tampa $199,900 $44,874.70 San Antonio $210,500 $48,752.98 Orlando $223,000 $49,382.26

Metro area Median home price Salary needed San Francisco $885,600 $161,947.60 San Diego $589,900 $109,440.97 Los Angeles $480,000 $92,091.89 Boston $435,800 $87,556.61 New York City $395,400 $86,215.44 Seattle $420,500 $82,670.73 Washington, D.C. $406,900 $81,940.22 Denver $394,400 $72,847.39 Portland, Oregon $356,700 $70,613.37 Sacramento $323,700 $65,362.63

How does your city rate in terms of home affordability? A recent report by HSH.com determined the salary families would need to make in 27 metro areas in order to afford the local median home price.The study assumed a down payment of 20% and operated under the standard that a monthly mortgage payment shouldnt exceed 28% of the borrowers income, according to the Huffington Post.San Francisco residents need the highest salary if they want to afford a home, according to HSH.com. In the San Francisco metro area, a buyer with a 20% down payment would need to make $162,000 a year to afford payments on a median-priced home.Pittsburgh, Penn., meanwhile, was most affordable; homebuyers there could meet their mortgage payments with only a $32,400 salary.HSH.com found that home prices have gone up since the first quarter in every metro area surveyed except for Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Nationally, the median home price was $240,700, about a 10% increase from the first quarter.
The Department of Agriculture plans to buy $20 million of stockpiled cheese to distribute to food banks and pantries nationwide in an attempt to stem farmer losses after dairy prices plummeted amid a global milk glut earlier this year.

The purchase of about 11 million pounds of cheese, which the USDA reported Tuesday in a statement, comes in addition to $11.2 million in subsidies for dairy producers announced earlier this month. A dairy lobbying group had asked for as much $150 million in cheese purchases.

"We understand that the nation's dairy producers are experiencing challenges due to market conditions and that food banks continue to see strong demand for assistance," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the statement.

A combination of plentiful supply and flagging global demand has put farmers on the back foot in recent years. Some American dairy cooperatives had so much milk this spring they were forced to dump tens of millions of pounds.

Yet more recently, producers in some parts of the country have seen premiums on the open market as food manufacturers struggle to purchase enough milk. Declining corn and soybean prices also mean lower feed costs for farmers.

Overall, 2016 dairy margins will shake out close to the five-year average and increase in 2017, encouraging modest expansion within the industry, said Bill Brooks, a Dearborn, Missouri-based dairy economist at INTL FCStone. Futures prices for Class III milk  a category of the commodity used to make cheese  has rebounded 45 percent since hitting at a six-year low in May in Chicago. That's reduced the need for federal aid, said Marin Bozic, a dairy economist at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.

"The USDA wants to demonstrate that it's there for dairy," said Bozic, who said the market recovery is probably why the USDA's planned purchase amounts to less than the $150 million asked for. "In an election season, they want to do something, even if the market seems to be rallying."

The latest aid has come too late for Kipp Hinz, 27, a dairyman in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, who watched a trailer haul away his herd of 60 cows last month after shuttering his farm. Hinz said he couldn't afford to buy feed for the animals.

"It's heartbreaking," Hinz said in an interview. "When prices tanked, that was the time I really needed something to happen to work out a plan with the bank, renew my contracts and get more feed."

The pain is also being felt on other continents. In the past year, the European Union has issued two aid packages totaling $1.1 billion (1 billion euros), including incentives to cut output. In New Zealand, farmers are culling herds due to depressed prices and annual production there is forecast by the USDA to drop 2 percent in 2016. That's prompted the New Zealand central bank to stress-test the main lenders in the country, where the dairy industry accounts for 10 percent of bank lending.

One reason for the dairy's recent difficulties was a slowdown in Chinese demand, but the country may now be back in the market, with milk imports up 87 percent this year through May, according to the USDA. The price of whole milk powder sold by GlobalDairyTrade, an international dairy sales platform owned by New Zealand's Fonterra Cooperative Group, jumped 19 percent to $2,695 a metric ton in the most recent auction held last week.

"The bear market is over," said Matt Gould, a Philadelphia-based analyst for the Dairy & Food Market Analyst newsletter, said by phone. "The industry does not appear to be in a crisis."
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.

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.
Photo for illustration

Vietnams major commodities shipped to the market were telephones and components; machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts; computer, telecom products and components; textiles; vehicles and spare parts; and agricultural products.

Among them, telephones and components gained the biggest export turnover at USD143.8 million, 11.4% of the countrys total or a year-on-year rise of 52.2%. It was followed by machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts at USD119.2 million, 9.4% of the countrys total or down 1.2%; and telecom products and components at USD107.4 million, 8.5% of the total or up 41.9%.

In the seven months, most commodities exported to the Philippines witnessed positive growth in comparison to the same period last year, such as clinker and cement (164.1%), animal feed and raw materials (134.5%), chemicals (106.8%) and cashew (105.6%). Especially, pepper export obtained a very sharp growth of 243% to USD45.61 million during the period.

Meanwhile, some commodities saw reductions in export value to the market, such as rice (66.4%), cameras and accessories (56.5%) and iron and steel of all kinds (43.8%)./.
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."
DALLAS (AP)  Dallas police say an officer has fatally shot an armed man who tried to run during a traffic stop and then pointed a gun at the officer.

Police say the traffic stop and shooting happened around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. Lt. Latoya Porter says the car appeared to have a license plate belonging to another vehicle.
The following social media comment appeared as a response to a discussion on higher tax rates.

Typical politics. Roads still full of potholes, schools overcrowded, big new hospital emergency room still overcrowded and slow, havent heard of any local government employees taking pay cuts like the majority of citizens. Plans for expensive new midland center, horseshoe addition sure is nice. What happened to fiscal responsability (sic), why were they not putting money into a rainy day fund when times were good? Dont even get me started on the neglected parks department. Im voting against every single incumbent in every contested position. Even if Ive got to vote for a dem for the first time in my life!

Its a sad statement when you consider this person might not have any contested races to choose from. Of the 15 total possible races from the city, school district, hospital district and college on Novembers ballot, only three will be contested. Those will be school board races, and if a voter doesnt live in districts 1, 4 or 7, he or she will be out of luck.

This newspaper brought attention to the filing period that ended Monday. We urged those who have always thought about running for office to afford themselves of the opportunity to do so now. We have no ill-will against those representing Midlanders on various boards. We are out of the endorsement game.

But lets examine what really happened. The school district has competition in three of four races, which isnt a surprise considering the attention brought to education in Midland.

Not one of the three city council positions up for election will be contested. This one is probably the greatest indictment on Midlanders apathy when it comes to participation in government, because come November, all seven council members will be serving without having faced opposition in their most recent election. And for those Midlanders who are curious, the next city election will not take place until 2018.

The college didnt have any contested races; neither did the hospital district. This is not a surprise because a vast majority of Midlanders probably cant tell you who their current representatives are on those boards and opposed elections rarely take place.

When it comes to elections, here is the truth. It costs nothing to run for office. So if you think a tax rate is too high or low, or the amount of money being spent is not right one way or another, all you have to do is sign on the dotted line, and you will have your platform. That is why competitive elections are necessary. Issues are brought to the forefront. A communitys electorate must at least acknowledge what a candidate is saying.

Again, we appreciate those who spend hours representing Midlanders on various boards. In the case of the city, while we have had disagreements with this council from time to time, this is as strong a leadership group as we have seen in some time.

Someone running against the incumbents from any of the taxing entities would have had their work cut out for them. But thats not the point. Having three of 15 positions on the ballot is a lost opportunity. Issues cant be talked about, and choice isnt out there for people such as that social media warrior, who come November is ready and willing to vote for anyone -- even a Democrat -- but likely will not be able..
The Vietnamese People Police Academy and the Royal Thai Police Academy co-organise a conference

on crime prevention. (Photo: VGP)

During the meeting the two sides focused on assessing the implementation of the results reached during the third Vietnam-Thailand Joint Cabinet meeting in August, 2015; the action plan on carrying out strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand in the 2014-2018 period; and the implementation of discussions during the 7th meeting of the JWG.

The working program to implement the Thailand -Vietnam Security Outlook (TVSO) in the 2014-2016 period, and the results in the implementation of the TVSO in the 2012-2016 period, were also debated.

The two sides also concentrated on discussing the dialogue mechanism at the high-ranking level between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Royal Thai Police (RTP); increasing use of the hotline between navy forces of the two countries to promptly deal with problems arising at sea, including those relating to fishermen and vessels. In addition, solutions were discussed for effective implementation of the JWG mechanism, as well as the operation of another hotline on restricting and preventing illegal fishing between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Thai partners.

Prompt implementation of labour cooperation and prompt signing of a judicial assistance agreement in terms of commercial and civil matters were also agreed on by the two sides.

They agreed to increase cooperation inside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to maintain the joint viewpoint about East Sea issues in accordance with obeying international law and contributing to ensuring peace, stability at the East Sea.

The two sides also reached a consensus on the development, management and effective and sustainable use of the Mekong river water resources in line with international practices, ensuring the interests of nations in the lower reaches of the Mekong river./.
State President Tran Dai Quang (Source: VNA)



He granted an interview to the French news agency AFP ahead of President Francois Hollandes State visit to Vietnam.

The two countries can support each other in the United Nations peacekeeping missions, ensuring maritime and over-flight security, safety and freedom, and addressing issues related to cyber security and non-traditional security, he said, stressing the need to build a common vision on defence cooperation to make it more effective.

The Vietnamese leader also shared with AFP correspondents about his meeting with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in June, who said France was interested in the maintenance of peace and stability in Asia-Pacific as well as the law-abiding principle in handling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law. These issues also caught Vietnams attention, he noted.

The President asserted that Vietnam supports France playing an active and constructive role in protecting the common interests of the international community, and reiterated the countrys willingness to cooperate in numerous fields with France, for peace, stability and mutually-beneficial cooperation.

President Quang also recalled historic milestones in the bilateral relations since the two established diplomatic ties.

He described the historic Vietnam visit by President Francois Mitterrand in 1993 an important milestone in the bilateral ties, which has reached new heights on the back of both sides high-ranking officials.

Notably, the two nations issued a joint statement on the establishment of their strategic partnership in 2013, which allowed the two countries to attain achievements across politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, science, technology, culture and education, over the past three years.

France is now Vietnams fifth biggest trade partner in the European Union with two-way trade hitting USD4.2 billion in 2015. It is also one of the leading ODA providers for Vietnam.

The two countries have also signed almost all necessary legal documents to expand cooperation, including a framework agreement on economic cooperation, an agreement on investment encouragement and protection, and another on double taxation avoidance, thus helping bring about practical benefits for both sides and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the world, he stated./.
18-year-old Max Verstappen is heading to Belgium for the first time since becoming the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner in the sport's history, and is hoping to make it a home race to remember.

With no Grand Prix currently being held in the Netherlands, and with Verstappen himself born in the Belgian city of Hasselt, the Red Bull driver will certainly be able to claim 'local hero' status this weekend.

"I think so," said Verstappen when asked whether he viewed this week's race as his home event. "Even though I haven't driven here a lot, definitely I think this is the closest I can get.

"I think there are also a lot of fans coming and I'm definitely looking forward to that."

And if Stoffel Vandoorne were also to be promoted to full time Formula One status in 2017, then the Belgian fans could end up with split loyalties deciding which of their native drivers to support next season.

"I think it would be very positive of course for Belgian motorsport and you'll see even more Belgian flags here - they'll have to compete with the Dutch flags. We'll see what happens.

"If it happens I think it would be great in general for Belgium."

More immediately, Verstappen acknowledged that the most important thing this weekend is to ensure that Ferrari doesn't manage to get back on an even footing with Red Bull following the summer break.

"The last few races have been very positive for us, so we got the jump on them and now the most important thing is to stay ahead of course and try to close on Mercedes even though I think that will be very hard.

"We keep pushing, we keep developing, and so far that's been very positive for us," he said. "First of all we have to get the car working really well in terms of set-up and then we'll see what happens."

Romain Grosjean column: More motivated than ever

Chris Medland's 2016 Belgian Grand Prix preview

How Eric Boullier keeps McLaren on its toes

F1i Classic - Mayhem, monsoon and the mother of all Belgian Grand Prix

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
It is in Ofori-Atta's own interest ...
California State Capitol View Photos

Sacramento, CA  California lawmakers have approved a decade extension of the states landmark climate change law SB 197.

The bill passed the state Senate by a 25-13 vote Wednesday. It now heads to Governor Jerry Browns desk, who is expected to sign it.

The move keeps alive the legal framework for the states wide-ranging efforts from a tax on pollution to zero-emission vehicle mandates and restrictions on the carbon content of gasoline and diesel fuel. Support of the bill, Assembly Democratic leader Anthony Rendon remarked, Assembly Bill 197 provides the mechanisms to make sure the goals we set in SB 32 are reached. Greater legislative oversight, as well as agency accountability and data transparency from the Air Resources Board will only make our climate change efforts benefit all Californians.

The bill sets a new goal to reduce emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Most Republicans and other critics argue the law has already led to higher energy prices.
Sacramento, CA  The California Senate has approved legislation that even requires law enforcement officers to lock up any guns left in a vehicle.

Democratic Senator Jerry Hill of San Mateo authored SB869, which was approved Wednesday in a 26-12 vote with no one speaking against it on the floor. It now heads to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature. If approved, the bill would require that handguns be locked in the trunk or in a locked container out of view if left in unattended vehicles. Violators would face a fine of up to $1,000.

The bill stems from several high-profile thefts from the vehicles of law enforcement officers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gun-control groups and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, which argues stolen guns can and have been used in crimes, support the measure.
Yosemite Main Entrance - Highway 120 View Photos

Yosemite, CA  The National Park Service has awarded a 10-year concessions contract to a group that will run the El Portal Market.

Since 2008, Kirstie Dunbar-Kari has been running the market. It has grown from an operation that annually grossed $600,000 to now grossing over $1-million. According to the NPS, prior to 1998, concession law provided broad rights granting preferential right of renewal to incumbent concessioners. Post 1998, however, with the passage of an act reforming concessions management, issuance of most concession contracts generally become subject to fair and open competition with no preferential right of renewal for the incumbent and bids evaluated and awarded via a competitive process.

The NPS reports that a new group, National and State Park Concessions El Portal, LLC, had the most competitive bid and won the contract. Beginning on November 1st the group will begin providing grocery and retail related services at the El Portal Market.

Referencing the outgoing concessionaire, Park Superintendent Don Neubacher says, Kirstie has been a great partner with the NPS, providing high quality services at the El Portal Market throughout her tenure. We truly appreciate her work and the pride she takes in operating the market.

The new concessionaire needs to formally sign the contract, but once thats done, it will be transmitted to the NPS Pacific West Regional Director for signature and award.
COLLEGE STATION - Good quality cuttings of hay could be in the future for hay producers across the state following widespread rains.

Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader, College Station, said spring and summer presented subprime conditions for hay production on both ends of the weather spectrum.

Redmon said spring rains made it difficult for hay producers to access meadows and delayed or prevented first cuttings. The delays resulted in good quantities of hay but diminished nutrient values and quality.

The spring deluge was followed by 70-75 days of summer heat, including multiple 100 degree days in much of the state, that decreased moisture levels rapidly, Redmon said.

The lack of moisture slowed growth and in some cases led to dormancy in hay meadows. But then the rains came.

Im looking at fields that looked burnt up a week ago, and now theyre green and growing, Redmon said. It looks like producers might get a good second or third harvest.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service May 1 hay stock report, Texas had its highest surplus of fall/winter hay since 2008, 2.5 million tons, or 9 percent above 2015.

Redmon said producers who fertilized hay meadows based on forecasts that delivered rain would likely benefit most and see good new growth over the next few weeks. He said the next cutting would likely produce good yields and quality as long as fields are accessible when grasses peak.

Rangeland and pasture conditions around the state also improved following the rains and should provide adequate grazing in many areas until forages go dormant, according to AgriLife Extension agent reports.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

SOUTH PLAINS: Scattered showers were received in some counties. Rain amounts ranged from 0.4-1 inch. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels remained very low in counties missed by the rain. Cooler weather helped grain fields recover slightly from extreme heat. However, the forecast was not favorable for cotton as warm temperatures were still needed to mature fields. Cotton and sorghum continued to mature. Peanuts were in decent condition, but corn was very dry. Corn silage harvest was underway in Bailey County. Pastures and rangelands needed moisture, but cattle were in good condition. Rains helped dryland cotton, but not enough fell to restore a healthy soil moisture profile. Forecasts indicated a chance for rain. Most cotton cut out and some natural boll shed was occurring. No open bolls were observed or reported but early bolls should open soon. Producers sprayed for stink bugs in some sorghum fields and adjacent cotton field margins.

PANHANDLE: There were near to slightly below normal temperatures for most of the district. Moisture was received throughout most of the district. Amounts ranged from a trace to 2.25 inches. Temperatures dipped below normal where rain fell. Dallam and Hartley counties received no precipitation and normal temperatures. There were reports of strong winds and some hail but not much damage. Corn was progressing well. Yield potential varied. Some estimates were for yields to be 20-30 percent below average. July heat hurt later-planted corn and corn planted with limited irrigation. Potato defoliation and harvest was underway. Yield potential on potatoes was also expected to vary greatly because of hot weather and high psyllid numbers. Producers were making third cuttings of alfalfa hay and were making field preparations for wheat planting. Sunflowers were in bloom and looked good. Rangeland in some areas were drying out. Horn fly numbers on cattle increased. Fall calving will start soon for some producers. Cattle were in good condition. Deaf Smith County producers started silage harvest with yields down 20 percent or more. Cotton was coming along with many fields in cutout. Some cotton progress was slowed by cooler temperatures. Grain sorghum fields in some areas were just now blooming. Sugarcane aphid numbers increased, and producers were applying insecticides. Cattle on pasture looked very good. Rangeland and pastures continued to vary in ratings from very poor to excellent with most reporting good to fair.
HART -- Dr. Gene Meacham of Plainview is the new pastor for First Baptist Church in Hart. He is considered a part-time pastor. He and his wife Lavonne will stay in the church parsonage on occasion.

A 1960 graduate of Hereford High School, Meacham earned a degree in Engineering Physics in 1965 from then Texas Tech College. Lavonne graduated from Hereford High School in 1962 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1966 from Baylor University.

The two attended church at Temple Baptist Church in Hereford as youth. Lavonne had come from home from Baylor for Christmas one year, and the two were in the same Sunday school class one Sunday morning. She offered Gene her address and when she returned to Baylor, a letter was awaiting her. A two-year courtship by correspondence followed and they married in 1965.

Gene said he had felt a call to the ministry as a 14-year old, but had pushed that aside. While at Tech, the Lord renewed the call. After he and Lavonne married, they felt the call to the mission field. Gene worked for General Dynamics and began attending Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth.

After graduating from Baylor, Lavonne worked at Baylor Medical Hospital in Dallas. Their first daughter, Sharon, was born in Fort Worth, and Lavonne began working part-time, teaching nursing and working some as a staff nurse. Gene graduated from Seminary in 1970 with a Master of Divinity degree.

In order to be a missionary for the Baptist Mission Board, one was required to have two years of experience in the ministry. So, Gene's first church was at First Baptist Church at Dawn, east of Hereford, where he pastored for three years and three months.

Then, it was off to Africa, where the couple spent five years in Malawi and five in Transkei, which is now a part of South Africa. While in Malawi, Gene did church planting, and Lavonne was a homemaker, and home-schooled their three daughters. She also taught religious education classes to Protestant children who attended a Catholic Girls School. She said their Malawi experience was good, adding that the Malawi people are a "gentle people." "A lot of people there speak English," she said.

While in Transkai, they lived in the capital, Umtata. They were the first Southern Baptist missionaries in the country. This came about after a request by the Umtata Baptist Church to have a missionary presence. The couple says this church had a multi-cultural environment, serving a multi-cultural congregation of 19 different nationalities. Gene served as pastor of the church.

They returned to America in December 1984. Gene became the pastor at First Baptist Church in Ropesville, near Lubbock. They were there four years, and their three girls graduated from Ropesville High School. Two of the girls met their husbands there.

Then, it was to Hale Center, where Gene pastored First Baptist Church from 1989 until 2001. He then became Director of Missions for the Caprock Plains Baptist Area, a position he held from 2001 until 2011. That office is in Plainview, and the couple bought a house, their first; they have lived there for 15 years. He then was interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Lorenzo for two years. He was a supply pastor at various churches after that.

Their daughter Sharon and her husband, Karl Race, live in Levelland. She teaches English at South Plains College, and he is principal at an elementary school. Their son, Matthew, 22, is attending Texas Tech University; daughter Danae, 18, is a student at South Plains College.

Daughter Lori Satterwhite is a high school English teacher at Shallowater High School. Her husband Robin is the new president of South Plains College. They have three daughters: Sheree is a sophomore at South Plains; daughters Meredith (senior) and Hallie (sophomore) attend Shallowater High School.

Cheryl Shaffer and husband Joe live in Shallowater. She works as Senior Administrative Assistant for the Graduate School of Biomedical Science of the Texas Tech Health Science Center. He works as director of the Internet Technology Services for a medical division of the Health Sciences Center. They have two sons; Luke is a senior at Shallowater High School and Mark is a sophomore.

The three daughters attended Baylor University; the older two graduated from the Baptist institution; the younger graduated from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview.

Gene enjoys writing; he has published four books in five years, and hopes to write two more. They can be purchased online from Amazon.com or at Barnes&Noble.com in print form and as e-books. He kept diaries while in Africa, relying on them as a source of information for his books. Two of the books are about the couple's mission experiences, and one is a Christmas devotional publication. The fourth book, "Little Trailer by the Road," is about a trip to California in a travel trailer by the family of five while Gene and Lavonne were on furlough from the missions field in Africa. His latest book will be about their experience in Transkei.
Nelda Laney, 71, of Hale Center, affectionately known as the first lady of West Texas in recognition of the decade her husband served as speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, died Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, 2016.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at First United Methodist Church in Lubbock.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at the Venue on Broadway, 2202 Broadway, in Lubbock. Interment will be Tuesday at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Combest Family Funeral Home, 2210 Broadway, in Lubbock.

Our hearts go out to Pete and the rest of the Laney family on the passing of Nelda Laney, a true treasure of West Texas, U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer said Thursday. She served Texas with honor and distinction. Neldas legacy of love will live on through her children and grandchildren, and she will be remembered for her many contributions to the Texas State Capitol, Texas Tech University, and Hale Center. Our state has lost a great Texan, and Dana and I lost a friend.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, added, Cecilia and I would like to offer our deepest condolences to former Texas House Speaker Pete Laney following the death of his wife, Nelda Laney. Nelda was a beloved educator, parent and grandparent who impacted the lives of many Texans and will be missed dearly. Neldas 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 states cherished history. I ask all Texas to join me in keeping the entire Laney family in their thoughts and prayers."

The former Nelda McQuien, she was a 1961 graduate of Plainview High School, and received her degree from Texas Tech in 1965. Following graduation, she served as a classroom teacher and later substitute teacher at Hale Center.

While a student at Texas Tech, she met her future husband, James E. Pete Laney, who laster served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1973-2007, and was speaker from 1993-2003.

During that time, Nelda Laney was co-chair of the Texas Capitol Fund Drive, which was charged with raising private funds for furnishing the newly restored and enlarged Texas Capitol, as well as vice-chair of the Texas Capitol Restoration Celebration. In connection with those efforts, in 1996 she created a series of collectible Texas Capitol Christmas ornaments. After designing the Texas Capitol ornaments for seven years, she in 2004 affiliated with Keep Texas Beautiful where she initiated that organizations tremendously popular commemorative ornament series. Recognizing her unsurpassed talents, more than a dozen entities from throughout Texas benefited from her artistry as she designed scores of different commemorative ornaments for a lengthy list of worthy causes.

The Texas House is a family, and Nelda Laney took great care of that family for many years, House Speaker Joe Straus said in offering is condolences. Nelda was a woman of incredible wit and spirit who was completely committed to the Texas Capitol and all who work there. It is largely because of her dedication that today the Capitol is more beautiful and welcoming than ever.

Through the years, Nelda Laney embraced a variety of causes. She served as national president of the Texas Tech Alumni Association and chaired the Merket Alumni Center expansion. She served on the boards of The Texas Book Festival, Friends of Texas Library and Archives, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Greater Texas Community Partners.

She was Woman of the Year for both Plainview and Hale Center. Among her many other honors include the Lauro F. Cavazo Award from the Texas Tech Alumni Association, Texas Tech College of Education Distinguished Alumni, inaugural honoree of the Texas Federation of Womens Clubs Women of Achievement Award, Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, Future Homemakers of America Texas Hall of Fame and Star of Texas Preservation Award for her work on the Texas Capitol restoration.

She died after battling an inoperable brain tumor.

Survivors include her husband of 53 years, her mother Helen of Plainview, children KaLyn Laney of Austin, Jamey and Ronald Phillips of Lubbock and J Pete and Melonie Laney of Austin, and six grandchildren.
In an online report posted Monday, Radio World says Plainview-based High Plains Radio Network has expanded into a fourth state with the recent acquisition in Mississippi.

The industry publication says HPRN acquired WDMS-FM, a 100 kW country station in Greenville, Miss., along with its sister station, WGVM-AM, a classic rock station. WDMS broadcasts on 100.7 MHz while WGVM broadcasts at 1260 kHz, and on a 97.3 MHz translator.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Qatar's sovereign wealth fund has made an iconic purchase in America  a stake in the company that owns New York's Empire State Building.

The $622-million purchase by the Qatar Investment Authority comes as the Doha fund increases its investments in the U.S. as the small country on the Arabian Peninsula tries to cope with low oil prices.

The Empire State Realty Trust Inc., which manages the 102-story, 1,454-foot-tall building, announced the Qatari purchase late Tuesday, saying the fund would gain a 9.9-percent stake in the company. The trust owns a total of 14 office properties and six retail properties around the New York area.

The Qatar Investment Authority did not respond to a request for comment.

The pointed top of the Art Deco-style Empire State Building, once the tallest structure in the world, still stands out in New York's skyline. It remains a tourist attraction and has been the centerpiece of major American films from "King Kong" to "Sleepless in Seattle."

Tiny Qatar, an OPEC member, is a strong regional ally for Washington and hosts American bombers and the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command at its vast al-Udeid air base.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

Its nothing new for the Mini Art Museum to hit the road. Making the fine art experience mobile is the whole point of the museum.

But its never gone so far before.

On Saturday, Mini Art Museum brings its first MAMx exhibit, Slanguage: Chicos Pero Locos, to Rumble, the bar at the Paper Tiger music venue on North St. Marys Street.

Mini Art Museum is a project of Spare Parts, a volunteer organization that provides art materials to San Antonio schools. It brings its exhibits  typically miniature works by local artists displayed on a tabletop setup

that looks something like a cool science fair project  by request to schools and other groups.

Mini Art Museums exhibitions are focused on San Antonio-based shows (whether the curator or majority of artists are local), museum co-founder Mary Elizabeth Cantu said via email. MAMx allows us to work with artists and/or curators elsewhere.

Slanguage: Chicos Pero Locos was organized by the Los Angeles artist group Slangauge Studio. It features 11 works by 11 artists that, according to a statement on the Slanguage website, touch upon issues of identity, the urban environment and personal histories.

After Slanguage: Chicos Pero Locos closed in California, Cantu and museum co-founder Gabriela Santiago picked it up and drove it to San Antonio to be exhibited, making stops to install it along the way. After Saturday, Slanguage will be exhibited in San Antonio wherever its wanted.

The museum counts on the community to direct its viewing, Cantu said.

Slanguage: Chicos Pero Locos will be at Rumble, 2410 N. St. Marys St., from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, for a reception and performance.
In setting out to write a novel about an ailing, overweight, retired and politically liberal English professor at a minor conservative college in Arizona  alienated from family and friends, who plans to kill himself on his 70th birthday  San Antonio author Tom Walker confronted a daunting challenge.

How do you get the reader to like such a man, to care whether he lives or dies?

How, also, do you tell the story of the manifold conflicts in his life after youve begun the book with a cliff-hanger first chapter that describes what appears to be the dramatic last minutes of his life?

At the heart of Georges desire to end it all lies Georges hopeless longing to be reunited with his ex-second-wife Prudence, happy in her new marriage with a professor who practices the art of literary deconstruction, a discipline George despises.

Surprisingly, Walker succeeds in A Day in the Life in making the self-hating George Bombazine likeable and occasionally intellectually dazzling, despite the many flaws in his character  of which he is acutely aware.

Walker will sign copies of the novel from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Twig Book Shop at the Pearl.

As he did in his previous work, Signed Confessions, Walker creates a colorful array of characters who in this story serve as foils for Georges wit and erudition.

More Information A Day in the Life: A Novel By Tom Walker Fomite Press, $15 See More Collapse

He does so through the often humorous, always trenchant dialogues he creates for George through encounters on his final day with his best friend, the ultra-conservative professor who goes by J.J.; Prudence, a brilliant musician; his sister Catherine, whose husband delivers newspapers for a living; his broke, manic-depressive son Miguel, who desires a sex-change operation; an admiring lesbian former student whom he unwisely desires; his publicist, agent and publisher; and even a police officer named Gabriel.

They are each meditations, in a way, on some of the ultimate questions in life we inevitably encounter as we age.

What have we done of value? For what will we be remembered? How can we forgive and be forgiven? How can we live with dignity in the face of disease and diminishment?

Only Georges dog, Argo, a blue-eyed Alaskan malamute, through his sullen silence, pricks Georges conscience, as he seems all too aware of what his master is planning on doing.

Walker also fleshes out Georges character and life story through his guilt-ridden recollections of life with his late, hot-tempered first wife, Trencha.

Verbally abusive, she burned two of his manuscripts in pre-computer days. Her wealthy Mexico City family never accepted either George or Miguel.

Miguel has never forgiven George for filing for divorce after Trencha bought a gun, and blames him for her death in a terrible auto accident in Mexico City. He makes a habit of sending his father hate mail on each of his birthdays, and this year is no exception.

Structured in 26 chapters from number one at 10:01 p.m. to number 26 at 10:39 p.m. the next day, this novels intervening 24 chapters relate, hour by hour, track the seemingly downward arc of progressively disappointing experiences, which would lend credence to the belief that there is no hope for George.

Will the possibility that Lionsgate Films seems to want to make a cinematic version of Robert Lee Masters Spoon River Anthology  a subject on which George is an expert  be enough to change his mind and heart?

Will the possibility of a tryst with his publicist, the archetype of the sexy, New York career woman, turn Georges head?

Or will something else help George find redemption from himself?

If you care about exploring some of the big questions we all confront with advancing years in the company of a very personable professor, I recommend joining George Bombazine for a day in his life.

Ed Conroy is a San Antonio writer and critic. Reach him at econroy53@gmail.com.
There is more than just a lone star in the Lone Star State; many celebrities call Texas home.

Some are Texas-born stars who decided not to leave the state for good, while others, like Sandra Bullock flock to the Lone Star State.
Albany

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an ethics reform package on Wednesday that would impose tight new restrictions on deep-pocketed outside spending groups in New York elections, but has also drawn criticism for sweeping new disclosure requirements it will place on nonprofit lobbying groups and donors.

Cuomo faced a midnight deadline to sign the bill, which was passed by the Legislature in the late-night hours of the final day of the legislative session in June. Many aspects of the measure received little or no public discussion before it was printed and voted upon.

The legislation does not rein in lawmakers' outside income or curb the so-called "LLC loophole" in election law, two of Cuomo's proposals offered in the wake of last year's trials of ex-Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

There were few public words of praise for the package outside legislative leaders and the Cuomo administration.

In a statement announcing the signing  which was done without a public event  the governor emphasized the passage of measures to combat the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, which has vastly expanded political spending by corporations, individuals and unions. The initiatives attempt to crack down on illegal coordination between outside spending groups in New York, which face no spending limits, and political campaigns that do face donation caps.

"Through enhanced enforcement and increased penalties for political consultants who flout the law, this new legislation will root out bad actors and shine a spotlight on the sordid influence of dark money in politics," Cuomo said. "With this legislation, New York is raising the bar once again  and now it's time for the rest of the nation to follow suit."

The legislation expressly identifies which activities constitute prohibited "coordination." For instance, an independent spending group could not be founded by a family member of a candidate. And an independent group could not distribute a candidate's campaign materials.

In recent years, outside groups, from unions to charter school supporters, have spent millions on New York elections. At the same time, between New York's high donation limits and the LLC loophole  which allows firms that control several limited liability companies to multiply the force of their giving  big donors also can simply give large sums of money directly to candidates, a matter not addressed in the ethics bill.

While Cuomo previewed those measures in a speech several days before the bill was passed, other parts were largely unknown before they were voted upon by the Legislature. Hours before its passage, Cuomo issued a "message of necessity" that waived the normal three-day aging period for bill review. Even so, he waited more than two months to sign it.

The measure will greatly increase the donor information some nonprofits will be forced to disclose to the government. It requires issue-oriented lobbying groups in New York  designated as 501(c)4 groups  that spend more than $15,000 in a year on lobbying to disclose donors who give more than $2,500. The previous limits had been $50,000 and $5,000, respectively.

If a charitable, tax-exempt nonprofit  which are designated as 501(c)3 organizations  gives more than $2,500 to a covered 501(c)4, the charity will have to disclose all of its donors during that six-month filing period to the state Attorney General's Office, which will review the donors' identities for privacy issues before disclosing them to the public.

Those charitable donations would include not just direct monetary gifts, but also "in-kind" contributions such as staff time or shared office space between nonprofit organizations. Many nonprofits  including those doing environmental advocacy, education reform and good-government work  have such overlapping structures.

Critics of the bill say it will hurt nonprofits' fundraising efforts, and chill the free speech of those that disagree with the government.

Government reform groups, who lobbied strongly against the bill in recent days, suggested that litigation may be coming in response. Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause of New York, said that her group "strongly believes that the new law will not stand up on appeal."

"This is a law in our opinion that is unconstitutional and we are looking at our own options," added Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union. "My organization's board was astonished by this piece of legislation."

The Cuomo administration has said that the bill is meant to ensure that charitable, tax-exempt dollars given to 501(c)3 nonprofits are not used for political purposes.

During the legislative session, when the good-government groups criticized Cuomo for a lack of ethics reform action, a Cuomo spokesman took a clear shot at them, saying "more disclosure by not-for-profits as to who actually funds them" and "whether they are shadow lobbyists" were topics under discussion.

Critics of good-government groups have questioned why they have not disclosed all their donors even as they call for transparency from lawmakers. And in some instances, the same groups have taken money from organizations with clear interests before the Legislature, such as labor unions, and supported their causes.

The New York Civil Liberties Union has also said the legislation is unconstitutional. A spokeswoman did not have a comment Wednesday about whether a lawsuit was in the works.

The package also includes a provision that allows subjects of investigations by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics to have their hearings before commissioners in secret, rather than in public. And the bill requires political consultants that do not engage in direct lobbying but represent clients with business before the state government to register those activities.

cbragg@timesunion.com  518-454-5303  @chrisbragg1
While working as a dental hygienist in New Canaan, Christine Zampedri was collecting nearly $18,000 in unemployment benefits, according to Chief States Attorneys office.

The 49-year-old West Haven woman faces at least a year and jail and thousands of dollars in fines.
Michigan is home to two National Lakeshores, and it is the perfect time to enjoy thundering waterfalls or climb towering sand dunes in celebration of 100 years of the National Park Service.

2016 is the time to explore two of Michigans nationally designated and celebrated lakeshores: Pictured Rocks near Munising in the Upper Peninsula, and Sleeping Bear Dunes near Empire in the northern Lower Peninsula. Both sites are worth a visit during the organizations centennial celebration of nature and wildlife, each offers breathtaking views and opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Margaret Mazer / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Margaret Mazer / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Margaret Mazer / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 5 of 5









Cockenoe Island is located off Seymour Point in Westport and is only accessible by boat. Cockenoe has a protected lagoon and a salt pond which is home to blue herons and snowy egrets. Proximity to shore has always made it popular for boating, fishing, and picnics.

The land originally belonged to the Pequot Indians and apparently a Montauk Indian ,Cockenoe De Long Island lived among them. He taught John Elliot, an early missionary to the Indians, the Algonquin language. The word,cockenoe meant interpreter and after he returned to Long Island around 1646 he used this word as his name. In 1702 the town of Norwalk took formal possession of the island. In the 1700s Gershom Burr Smith and his brother began farming the land for corn, beans, and potatoes, and they had some milking cows. Sometimes at low tide the cows would stray over to the smaller islands and when milking time came, Gershom would have to row over to the cows with his buckets.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Federation of Employers of Ukraine (FEU) and Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPSU) have signed a general agreement on regulating the key principles and standards for implementing the social and economic policy and labor relations in the country for 2016-2017.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Deputy FEU Head Oleksiy Miroshnychenko and FPSU Head Hryhoriy Osovy signed the document.

"We must create relevant labor conditions, produce competitive products and pay fair salaries to Ukrainian citizens. I said this before and today I will repeat this at a government [meeting]  labor of Ukrainian citizens is underestimated," Groysman said during the signing of the agreement.

The prime minister said that ministries must deepen cooperation with trade unions and employers.

The agreement will be implemented in 2016 and 2017. Osovy said that trade unions are waiting for an increase in minimum wages by 20% after the signing of the agreement.

Groysman said that the government first since 1993 has passed a resolution on the signing of this trilateral agreement. According to the FEU, this is the 11th similar agreement in the history of the country.

The government said that the document contains 191 provisions and three sections: increase of competitiveness of national producers and provision for a rise of employment; salaries, conditions, labor protection and social protection of employees; and social dialog. The document has seven attachments.

The economic section contains general agreements of the sides on taking joint measures aimed at development the domestic market, support of Ukrainian production and solving issues of concern. They include agreements to increase crediting of the real economic sector, pay the public debt to business in VAT refunds and overpaid profit tax.

The sides will hold consultation on setting prices/tariffs of natural monopolies at the economically justifiable level, their regulation and joint control, minimizing their negative impact on the public and producers, as well as targeting assistance to some categories of citizens.

The social section determine the pace of growth of average salaries for the non-budget-funded areas; the rate of remuneration for first labor grade workers and extra bonuses to the remuneration rates and salaries.

Attention should be paid to payment of wage arrears and preventing them. Also important are taking agreements on labor protection, social protection and humanitarian issues.

The parties of the agreement are 95 Ukrainian trade unions represented by five unions of trade unions, 93 organizations of employers and their associations (28 sector and 65 territorial organizations) represented by four Ukrainian unions of employers.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

City officials said Wednesday that San Antonio needs to add another EMS unit but cant because of an unresolved labor contract with the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association.

The city will instead continue to patch the need using overtime.

The unit, its 12 paramedics and the associated equipment and training would cost the city about $1.8 million a year  a cost the current budget cant absorb, City Manager Sheryl Sculley said, because of the $6 million extra its allocated to cover the cost of health care for firefighters and their families.

The contract those employees work under expired on Sept. 30, 2014 and has since remained in evergreen, which keeps most of the terms of the agreement intact while a new one is being negotiated. Those negotiations, however, have not yet begun.

In the near future we will need to add another unit, but we cannot do that and stay under the 66 percent, Sculley said, referencing a council policy to keep total spending on public safety to under 66 percent of the General Fund, which now exceeds $1 billion. If we were to add that now, we would have to cut something else We are not at dangerous proportions. We can handle it through overtime.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

SAN ANTONIO  Days before the University of the Incarnate Word placed President Louis Agnese on 90-day medical leave, an anonymous complaint from very concerned students at the school accused him of making offensive comments about African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Mormons at a luncheon for physical therapy students.

Weve known for a long time that Dr. Agnese has a reputation for being blunt, eccentric, colorful, even abrasive, stated the anonymous letter obtained by mySA.com, which offers the first detailed account of what might have prompted last weeks mandatory medical leave for UIWs longtime president. But the statements made by him today were so egregiously over the top that I became viscerally sickened by them.

Agnese confirmed Thursday that he said what he's accused of saying  but denied anything was wrong with his comments.

MORE: UIW puts president on 90-day medical leave after 'uncharacteristic' behavior, issues apology

"I haven't made an offensive comment in my life," said Agnese, who returned to San Antonio from Hawaii on Thursday.

Agnese vehemently disputed a statement emailed last week to the UIW community by board chairman Charles Lutz, who said Agnese has exhibited "sporadic uncharacteristic behavior and comments." Lutz did not offer details but apologized to anyone who was offended.

Incarnate Word spokeswoman Debra Del Toro declined to answer questions about the complaint, saying, Were not commenting on the situation. The Express-News verified that school officials received the letter last week before Agnese was placed on medical leave on Aug. 18.

The complaint said Agnese spoke to a group of students, faculty members and administrators at a luncheon last week where he launched into a series of inappropriate, off-color jokes.

RELATED: UIW president Agnese backs off legal threat against school, will return to campus Wednesday

It started with Agnese singling out an African American student who wasnt wearing the school colors of Cardinal red. Well, youre lucky youre black so you are in a way wearing Cardinal black, Agnese reportedly told her.

Agnese went on to ask if there were any Native American students in the group, according to the complaint, and he said their Indian-red skin color would also count as wearing Cardinal red.

Agnese also reportedly quipped how Mormons were taking over the computer graphics and design school. And when he asked another student where he was from and the student answered Dallas, Agnese was quoted as saying, No, where is your family originally from? Youre Indian, right?

According to the complaint, Agnese made another student stand up, said she wasnt good enough to get into any other program because of her poor test scores, and noted how lucky she was to be accepted to UIW.

Agnese told the Express-News he also praised the student for excelling at UIW. "Now she has the highest test score of anybody in the program," Agnese said Thursday.

RELATED: Highest paid college presidents in the country

At another point, Agnese reportedly addressed a Hispanic faculty member by calling him by the wrong name. When the man corrected Agnese and said his name was Jaime, Agnese responded, Well, close enough, you look like a Jose. That faculty member did not return a message Thursday.

The complaint goes on to say Agnese told the students off-color jokes about alcoholism, praised Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and denounced Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

MORE: Donors: Chancellor Bruce Leslie texting on stage during graduation cost Alamo Colleges $4,000

It is crystal clear that many of the faculty, staff, administrators and students in attendance were equally appalled, the complaint stated. But aside from a few people who shook their heads, no one did anything. A few faculty members left the luncheon early.

Signed very concerned students, the letter appears to be written by one author, a student who is now reconsidering the decision to attend UIW.

I am leaning strongly toward dis-enrolling from the program that I worked so very hard to join, the student wrote.

jtedesco@express-news.net

kparker@mysa.com

Twitter: @John_Tedesco

Twitter: @KoltenParker
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a bill amending the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding revision of some tax rates and sent it to parliament.

Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk said at a government meeting on August 23 that the excise, environmental tax rates and royalties will be revised, taking into account consumer price and industrial prices indexes.

"This would result in additional revenue of consolidated budget in 2017 of UAH 5.2 billion," Danyliuk said.

According to the draft amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine, excise duty rates will be increased by 12%, royalty and environmental tax  by 10.3%, the forecast growth of prices in industry.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

The latest crime statistics for universities across show the University of Texas at Austin had the highest number of rapes reported on campus in 2014 with 17, according U.S. Department of Education data.

Universities report criminal offenses that occur on campus, in student-housing and on non-campus property related to the university, to the federal agency. The most up-to-date data available is from the 2014 calendar year.

RELATED: Report: Texas public universities 'dropout factories'

According to the data, which focuses on the largest campuses in the state and then local campuses such as the University of Texas at San Antonio, Trinity University and the University of the Incarnate Word, there were 100 total reported rapes in 2014.

Click through the slideshow which targets 2014 statistics, the latest numbers, on murder and manslaughter, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault and arson. These crime statistics represent alleged offenses reported to campus security and do not reflect prosecutions or convictions.

UTSA was the only campus in San Antonio where a rape was reported in 2014, records show.

RELATED: Texas schools where taking out a loan pays off quickly

There was one murder at Texas Christian University, in February 2014, the only offense of its kind recorded that year. David Hidalgo was sentenced to 35 years in prison after his mother turned him in for stabbing TCU senior Stewart Trese to death, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported at the time.

Although not on the U.S. Department of Educations current data, there was an alleged murder at the University of Texas at Austin in April 2016. Haruka Weiser, an 18-year-old dance student finishing up her freshman year in Austin, was found dead along Waller Creek.

RELATED: 18 famous San Antonio college alumni

Meechaiel Khlalil Criner, a homeless 17-year-old, was indicted on capital murder charges for the death of Weiser in June, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Additional statistics show there were six arson incidents at Texas State University in San Marcos in 2014, the highest number of its kind across the 22 campuses.

The University of Houston had the most robberies with five and Texas A&M University, the largest campus in the state at the time, had the highest number of aggravated assaults with eight attacks reported.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

SAN ANTONIO  An officer and the driver of a pickup were sent to local hospitals after their vehicles collided Thursday afternoon on the South Side.

San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Trey Roussel said the officer was responding to a hold-up alarm just after 4 p.m., driving northbound on Pleasanton Road with lights and sirens on, approaching an intersection at Southwest Military Drive.

That's when the pickup, which police said was entering the intersection westbound on military with a green light, collided with the police SUV.

"He just didn't hear the siren and saw it at the last minute," Roussel said.

MORE: SAPD: Waiter at Little Red Barn Steakhouse opens fire after patron puts him in headlock

The officer's SUV spun around and stopped in the intersection, while the truck continued onto a sidewalk, police said.

The officer was stuck inside his vehicle and had to be removed by San Antonio firefighters.

Afterward, the officer was taken to University Hospital with injuries to his left side.

The pickup driver, a 25-year-old man, had minor injuries and was taken to Southwest General Hospital.

Traffic investigation detectives are waiting to examine surveillance video of the accident.

Police did not say if there would be any charges, but noted they are continuing their investigation.

Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA

jbeltran@express-news.net

Twitter: @JBfromSA
San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood said Thursday that six cadets dismissed for drinking on the job "made some poor choices in judgment."

"It's a very difficult decision to have to do this," Hood said, adding "what is in our DNA is to have a professional force."
Russian troops continue rotating and strengthening their forces in Donbas, where seven militants have been killed and another five injured in Donbas conflict zone in the past 24 hours, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defense Ministry has said.

"There were seven killed in action (KIA) and five wounded in action (WIA) among the Russian-backed militants during the day. These are soldiers of the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment (Makiyivka), the 1st (Komsomolske), the 3rd (Horlivka) and the 5th (Makiyivka) separate motorized rifle brigades of the 1st Army Corps (Donetsk) of the Russian Armed Forces," the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Defense Ministry wrote on Facebook.

Notably, the casualties in the 5th separate motorized infantry brigade of the 1st Army Corps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were a result of an explosion of ammunition of the self-propelled artillery system, which killed three and wounded one soldier.

In the report of Ukrainian intelligence there is also one of the cases of complaint of the local population by the actions of the Russian military men.

On August 21, a few servicemen of the sixth squadron of the second Rifle Battalion of the sixth separate motorized rifle regiment (Stakhaniv)  a driver, a grenade launcher and machine gunner deserted their advanced positions with arms and, being in a state of extreme intoxication, drove a car into a private house at high speed, resulting in destruction of almost half of the house.

"Outraged local residents injured the drunken "liberators" and tried to use the seized bazooka to destroy their vehicle," the statement says.
More than 2 1/2 years have gone by since Obamacare went fully into effect. Most of the news about health reform since then has been good, defying the dire predictions of right-wing doomsayers. But last week brought some genuine bad news: The giant insurer Aetna announced that it would be pulling out of many of the exchanges, the special insurance markets the law established.

This doesnt mean that the reform is about to collapse. But some real problems are cropping up. Theyre problems that would be relatively easy to fix in a normal political system, one in which parties can compromise to make government work. But they wont get resolved if we elect a clueless president (although hed turn to terrific people, the best people, for advice, believe me. Not.). And theyll be difficult to resolve even with a knowledgeable, competent president if she faces scorched-earth opposition from a hostile Congress.

The story so far: Since Obamacare took full effect in January 2014, two things have happened. First, the percentage of Americans who are uninsured has dropped sharply. Second, the growth of health costs has slowed sharply, so that the law is costing both consumers and taxpayers less than expected.

Meanwhile, the bad things that were supposed to happen didnt. Health reform didnt cause the budget deficit to soar; it didnt kill private-sector jobs, which have actually grown more rapidly since Obamacare went into effect than at any time since the 1990s. Evidence also is growing that the law has meant a significant improvement in both health and financial security for millions, probably tens of millions, of Americans.

So whats the problem?

Well, Obamacare is a system that relies on private insurance companies to provide much of its expanded coverage (not all, because expanded Medicaid is also a big part of the system). And many of these private insurers are now finding themselves losing money, because previously uninsured Americans who are signing up turn out to have been sicker and more in need of costly care than we realized.

Some insurers are responding by hiking premiums, which were initially set well below what the laws framers expected. And some insurers are simply pulling out of the system.

So how bad is the problem?

Much of the new system is doing pretty well  not just the Medicaid expansion, but also private insurer-based exchanges in big states that are trying to make the law work, California in particular. The bad news mainly hits states that have small populations and/or have governments hostile to reform, where the exit of insurers may leave markets without adequate competition. Thats not the whole country, but it would be a significant setback.

But it would be quite easy to fix the system. It seems clear that subsidies for purchasing insurance, and in some cases for insurers themselves, should be somewhat bigger  an affordable proposition given that the program so far has come in under budget, and easily justified now that we know just how badly many of our fellow citizens needed coverage. There should also be a reinforced effort to ensure that healthy Americans buy insurance, as the law requires, rather than them waiting until they get sick. Such measures would go a long way toward getting things back on track.

Beyond all that, what about the public option?

The idea of allowing the government to offer a health plan directly to families was blocked in 2010 because private insurers didnt want to face the competition. But if those insurers arent actually interested in providing insurance, why not let the government step in (as Hillary Clinton is in fact proposing)?

The trouble, of course, is Congress: If Republicans control one or both houses, its all too likely that theyll do what they do best  try to sabotage a Democratic president through lack of cooperation. Unless its such a wave election that Democrats take the House, or at least can claim an overwhelming mandate, the obvious fixes for health reform will be off the table.

That said, there may still be room for action at the executive level. And Im hearing suggestions that states may be able to offer their own public options; if these proved successful, they might gradually become the norm.

Its important to realize that as far as anyone can tell, theres nothing wrong with Obamacare that couldnt be fairly easily fixed with a bit of bipartisan cooperation. The only thing that makes this hard is the blocking power of politicians who want reform to fail.

Paul Krugman is a columnist for the New York Times.
A few years ago, I took a French friend to a crowded beach in Rhode Island. No sooner had we hit the soft sands than she ripped off the top of her two-piece, baring her breasts to the sun and to curious boys playing nearby.

You cant do that, I said. This is New England. People dont go topless here.

Not entirely true. There are secluded beaches where New Englanders strip to nothing, but I kept it simple.

She gave me her you-Americans-are-so-backward smirk. I chose not to respond, regarding the regions penchant for modesty as rather nice.

Which leads to the burkini ban in France. The burkini is a bathing suit favored by many Muslim women. It covers the entire body except for the hands, feet and face. Devout Muslims believe that womens bodies must be largely hidden from public view.

The issue in France is political, not fashion aesthetics. Many worry that their large Muslim population is not assimilating into the predominant culture. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called the burkini an emblem of a counter-society based on the enslavement of women.

Others in the West may see the body-covering bathing suit as merely eccentric. In the resort town of Blackpool, England, burkinis are sold and rented.

I could turn the tables on my friend and ask, Why are you French so darned scared of a bathing suit? But I wont. Just as American beaches may stop women from going topless  and Iran can demand that women cover their hair  France can say non to the burkini as an offensive demonstration of apartness.

Note Frances long-held aversion to displays of religious affiliation. In 2004, it banished Muslim headscarfs from public schools and also visible crosses, turbans and Jewish kippas.

Arguing, as one Muslim woman did to BBC News, that banning burkinis just hands ammunition to Islamic radicals is not going to work. This is an implied threat  that if French officials dont submit to their demands, violence could follow.

The French dont take such threats lightly. They remain traumatized by a string of terrorist attacks. Only last month, a Muslim extremist drove a 19-ton cargo truck through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the seaside city of Nice, killing 86.

If it were up to me, the French would allow more latitude in distinctive dress. But I do shudder at the sight of a burqa in Western settings. A burqa covers a womans entire identity in a sheet, with only a cutout or mesh for the eyes.

In Manhattan, I recently saw a young man in jeans, summer shirt hanging out, walking with a woman entirely encased in a burqa. Scarves and other religion-based headgear are one thing, but the burqa, with its proclamation of female inferiority, is simply jarring.

In the opposite direction  but on a less intense level  it irks me to walk into a surf shop and see racks of roomy long shorts for the boys and tiny bikinis for the girls. At swimming areas, you see the male teens romping comfy and covered while their female companions go highly exposed and often self-conscious in their narrow strips of cloth.

In the end, it should not matter whether I or other non-French people approve of the burkini. If the French want to ban it, thats their business. And regulating acceptable body exposure on their family beaches is Americans business.

Local authorities may set their own rules on dress in accordance with local sensibilities. One doesnt have to like them  and minds can be changed  but thats their right.

fharrop@gmail.com
Allowing cars to remain in Brackenridge Park is the right call.

A draft master plan for the park had proposed external garages, a circulating tram, a grand lawn and road closures that effectively would have prevented residents from using their cars to unload supplies for picnics and recreation.

Those advocating for the citys Mexican-American community noted the 343-acre parks popularity with that community for traditional Easter sleepovers and other recreational uses, and suggested that these changes would effectively oust such users from Brackenridge.

The City Councils Neighborhood and Livability Committee stripped those changes from the master plan this month.

There were fears early on that the citys parks department would not reach out actively enough to user communities  particularly the citys Mexican-American neighborhoods  to screen the proposals.

After that initial furor expressed by vocal members of the community, city officials scheduled six more public hearings, at which the proposed changes proved to be extremely unpopular. Before those six meetings, the city and the project team  Rialto Studio, Work5hop, Alamo Architects, Ford Powell & Carson and the nonprofit Brackenridge Park Conservancy  held two public meetings.

These actions are a testament to the power of proper public outreach  and also to the ability of a community to engage and express itself.

Many thanks to former Councilwoman Maria Berriozabal for initially raising awareness on the issue in April and, with others, keeping up the pressure.

Berriozabal argued that the issue was not just updating the citys plans for the park but inclusiveness.

We must work to protect our uniqueness. Thats how we include everybody, she said.

According to an Express-News article by Brendan Gibbons, 363 people from 59 different ZIP codes attended the six recent meetings, made aware by dual-language advertising across most of the local news media, a special webpage and interviews with outlets in English and Spanish.

Committee member District 4 Councilman Rey Saldana suggested that the city should learn from this experience.

Yes, it should. The parks master plan needed updating. But public outreach is only as good as how inclusive and truly public it is.
Weve long differed with U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith on the science around human impact of climate change. In our view, the science is settled and inaction will have global calamitous effects that our kids and grandkids will have to endure and navigate.

We encourage all of our readers to visit Texas A&Ms Atmospheric Sciences Departments home page to read facultys unanimous statement on climate change.

We suspect our difference with Smith will continue for the foreseeable future, particularly since the San Antonio Republican serves as chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

That said, we couldnt help but notice the irony in Smiths recent round of subpoenas, targeting attorneys general in New York and Massachusetts, as well as environmental groups, philanthropies and an attorney. Smiths concern is these state attorneys general are investigating Exxon Mobil due to allegations the company buried its global warming research in the 1970s. Exxon has denied these claims.

Smith has said he is protecting the rights of individuals who have different opinions on various subjects, in this case climate change.

Interesting. It was just last year Smith threatened Kathryn Sullivan, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with criminal charges if she didnt release data about a certain climate change study.

The NOAA study showed global warming didnt slow down between 1998 and 2012, countering a claim climate skeptics often make. Other studies have confirmed this.

At that time, Smith didnt seem particularly concerned with the rights of Sullivan or keeping NOAA scientists from doing climate research.

One more consideration: The attorneys general, who have refused to comply with the subpoenas, are investigating whether state laws were broken, not federal laws. We have no doubt Smith will press on, but at what cost?
Editors note: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly described methane leaks. When natural gas escapes from drilling operations unburned, its key ingredient, methane, traps heat in the atmosphere at a rate 25 times that of carbon dioxide, another key contributor to climate change. The editorial has been updated accordingly.

Lets talk about the costs of climate change.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has, predictably, sued the Environmental Protection Agency over its rule to limit methane emissions at new oil and gas wells.

In so doing, he has, predictably, cited cost to business as a key factor. From his statement: Not only is this a gross demonstration of federal overreach, but the EPA has failed to consider the steep cost of this rule on the existing industry.

And, of course, predictably, we are editorializing about his lawsuit. We look forward to the day when Texas officials accept the threats climate change pose to this great state and we can write a different opinion about their actions.

That day is not here.

To Paxtons concerns about industry, the cost of the rule is debatable. Yes, new technologies to identify natural gas leaks will be expensive. Industry burns hundreds of millions of dollars of natural gas a year in Texas. This lost revenue  its burned away rather than captured and sold  would help cover the expense of new infrared goggles and other technology to detect natural gas leaks.

But when Paxton talks costs, he does the public a disservice by solely focusing on the costs to businesses. Thats not to downplay those costs, which must be considered. But he ignores that not taking action to mitigate climate change will likely result in tremendous costs to taxpayers.

For example, the bipartisan group the Risky Business Project, which includes former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, released a study last year, based on science, that predicts a sea level rise of up to 2 feet in Galveston by 2050 and a $650 million annual increase to the state in storm-related losses across the coast. The number of extremely hot days will double, and heat deaths will surge.

It seems to follow reason that if a business has an impact on the state and surrounding communities, it should pay to mitigate that impact. In that sense, regulating emissions isnt any different from asking companies not to dump chemicals into a river.

Its worth noting that this rule applies to new oil and gas wells. The rule has an exception for new wells if its not technically possible to capture natural gas and hydrocarbons, which will likely benefit much of the Eagle Ford Shale.

There is a pending rule for existing infrastructure. Paxton can eventually fight that one, too, if he is still in office.

Why is limiting methane emissions important in the fight against human contribution to climate change? Its the second-most prevalent greenhouse gas, following carbon dioxide. It is only active for 12 years, while carbon dioxide will linger in the atmosphere for thousands of years, but methane can trap heat at 25 times the rate of carbon dioxide. Thats why stopping methane leaks is so important.

The stakes are real. As Texas A&Ms Atmospheric Sciences Department has made clear in a unanimous statement, It is extremely likely that humans are responsible for more than half of the global warming between 1951 and 2012.

These scientists unanimously expect the Earths temperature to increase between 2.5 and 7 degrees Fahrenheit and warn of serious challenges for human society and ecosystems. The bigger increase, the greater the magnitude, they say.

All we ask is that our esteemed attorney general also consider those costs when it comes to climate change.
STAMFORD  A Lord & Taylor sales clerk has been accused of a clothing refund scam worth about $30,000.

Sissy Mateo-Alvarado, who has worked at the store for nearly three years, learned from a co-worker how to get refunds on clothing returns without returning the merchandise, police said.

Mateo-Alvarado, 25, of Hoover Avenue, showed police how she used a receipt for clothing to get a refund without returning the items, according to police.

Police said there was video of Mateo-Alvarado walking to a clothing rack during business hours and taking the items to a register where she scanned the price tags as returns and credited those to either her own or her brothers Lord & Taylor debit card.

Mateo-Alvarado admitted to putting more than $24,0000 worth of merchandise on her brothers card, but insisted he had no idea what she was doing, according to police. She also admitted to putting more than $5,000 on her own, her arrest affidavit said.

Mateo-Alvarado was released after signing a written promise to appear in court on Sept. 7.

jnickerson@scni.com;
SACRAMENTO  The California Legislature passed two bills Wednesday that extend the states ambitious goals to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases and provide additional oversight on the agency charged with carrying out climate-change policies.

Gov. Jerry Brown praised lawmakers for passing SB32 and AB197, saying passage was an important milestone after similar efforts failed last year amid intense lobbying by the oil industry. Brown said he plans to sign the bills when they reach his desk.

Legislation is not like Twitter, Brown said. You dont do it in 140 characters or in a few seconds. It takes months and sometimes years. It takes trying, failing, amending and trying again; negotiation. There are 120 members in the Legislature, and not everyone sees things the same way.

SB32 calls for the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The bill expands on AB32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires the state to reduce greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020. The state is expected to reach that target.

We have discovered, with these policies, our economy continues to go up, but our emissions are going down, said termed-out state Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills (Los Angeles County). Its not a choice between a healthy environment and sound economy. In California, we can do it both ways.

AB197 directs the California Air Resources Board to prioritize disadvantaged communities in its climate-change regulations, and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the measures it considers. The bill also allows the Legislature to appoint two lawmakers as non-voting members of the board, a move supporters said will provide more transparency and oversight on the agency.

Lawmakers have criticized the lack of diversity on the board, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount (Los Angeles County) said the board has a credibility problem.

Any exercise of authority has to be reviewed, Brown said when asked about the criticism of the board that is largely appointed by him. Any time you have the power to say no or reduce your high-carbon fuel, reduce your pollutants, change the way a carbonized society works, it will be felt with some sting. Thats the reality, but we want to make sure we are doing it in a way that advances our goals of equity and inclusion.

Brown unsuccessfully lobbied to have the cap-and-trade program included in SB32, but lawmakers balked because the bill already faced an uncertain future in the Assembly. On Tuesday, the Assembly narrowly passed the bill with one vote to spare, although several Democratic lawmakers changed their votes to approve of the legislation after it passed.

The Senate passed SB32 on Wednesday in a 25-13 vote.

The future of cap-and-trade remains uncertain due to a legal challenge from the California Chamber of Commerce. That uncertainty, along with some fearing SB32 would not be signed into law, contributed to poor auction results this year.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez
At least two people are dead and dozens of others are injured following a enormous explosion that left a Silver Spring apartment complex in rubble late Wednesday.

Details of the Apartment Complex Explosion

According to the Washington Post, in addition to the two confirmed deaths, at least 34 people have been injured and roughly 100 people have been displaced due to the explosion. Authorities are also searching for several people who remain unaccounted for.

The explosion occurred along Arliss Street in Silver Spring, Maryland, but people reported feeling the massive explosion two miles away. Glass, clothing, and doors were found hundreds of feet away from the burning building.

It is believed that the explosion was causes by a natural gas leak; however, authorities are still investigating the incident.

About Gas Explosions

Gas explosions can occur when volatile gases mix with the air and reach a critical point between the Low Explosion Limit (LEL) and the High Explosion Limit (HEL). Once in this range, any sufficient heat source can ignite the mixture.

Once ignited, the gas expands rapidly until a portion of whatever is confining the gas gives. The result of the sudden release of pressure is a loud, violent explosion.

Among the leading causes of gas explosions are:

Faulty piping

Poorly maintained piping

Negligence

Damaged meters and regulators

Defective control valves and connectors

Digging or excavation near an existing pipeline

Contact an Experienced Premises Liability Attorney

Because of careless property owners, many people will suffer catastrophic injuries such as brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. The nature of many injuries which occur on dangerous property can be more than painful- they can be permanent.

Do not let your injuries overwhelm your life. If you have been seriously injured as a result of a condition or the use of real property, contact Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys. As your premises liability lawyer, we will secure proper medical care and fight to make sure you receive proper compensation. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends and we represent clients/victims all over the country.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
Last week I was pleased to announce that Manitoba will now join the ranks of Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia in automatically administering hearing tests to newborn infants. As of September 1st, this testing will be offered to all newborns and will be conducted in all Regional Health Authorities. Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach will be one of the locations that testing occurs.

Our government knows, and as Minister of Health it is my belief, that families in Manitoba will benefit from a universal program with consistent screening services across the province, so children with congenital hearing loss have the opportunity to develop strong cognitive, speech-processing and learning skills. It is a common misconception for parents that hearing loss in their children is easy to detect and many years often go by without properly discovering hearing loss in their child. Due to how varied our childrens language development is, early detection and diagnosis helps those with congenital hearing loss get the treatment they need as early as possible, as a childs first two years are the most important for language development.

The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Act was introduced and passed in 2013 as a Private Members bill by then Progressive Conservative MLA Leanne Rowat. Since that time, regulations and standard processes and procedures were developed and the necessary equipment was installed throughout the province to provide services.

There are between 16,000 and 17,000 births in Manitoba annually, and every year between 17 and 102 children are born with some hearing loss. The hearing screening program is now available at 13 health-care facilities across the province including: Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg, St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Portage District General Hospital, Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, Ste. Anne Hospital and Boundary Trails Health Centre in Morden-Winkler in the Southern Health  Sante Sud health region, Selkirk and District General Hospital in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, Brandon Regional Health Centre, Dauphin Health Centre and the Neepawa Health Centre in the Prairie Mountain Health region, and Thompson General Hospital, St. Anthonys General Hospital in The Pas and the Flin Flon General Hospital in the Northern Regional Health Authority.

Infants born at home or in facilities with fewer than 75 births per year will be referred to the nearest outpatient hearing centre for screening. A common database will ensure children born in one region and living in another will have co-ordinated care. It is our governments goal that all children will be tested soon after they are born with an early diagnosis leading to early intervention.

Our children deserve the best start in life that we can provide. This is an important step in ensuring that goal is achieved.
The Ukrainian authorities will cooperate with the newly appointed special representative of the Russian president for trade and economic relations with Ukraine, primarily for the purposes of lifting trade restrictions, Ukrainian Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister and Trade Representative Nataliya Mykolska said.

"We will be interacting with him in the first turn and, I would say, mostly for the purposes of lifting trade barriers imposed on Ukrainian goods in territory of the Russian Federation," she told reporters on Thursday.

Mykolska added that the appointment of the Russian presidential representative would not stop Ukraine's claim against trade restrictions imposed by Russia at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"As soon as Mr. Appointee contacts us, we will probably discuss those matters with him in the first turn," she said.

Former Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov was appointed the Russian president's special representative for trade and economic relations with Ukraine in August.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is waiting for the decision of Ukraine's Health Ministry regarding the use of $3.8 million saved during the vaccine procurement.

"Some $3.8 million of the budget funds transferred to UNICEF late 2015 to buy vaccines were saved. UNICEF is waiting for a decision of the Health Ministry on procurement of extra vaccine and medicines," the fund said on its website.

Its experts said that procurement of more vaccines using saved funds will help to vaccinate the larger number of children who were not vaccinated in the previous years.

UNICEF said that the volumes of vaccines requested by the government to buy through the fund are not enough to meet the real needs in the country.

A strategy for covering children with vaccines who missed vaccination due to the absence of vaccines in the country should be drawn up.

"Contracts under which UNICEF bought vaccines in the first half of 2016 are still valid. UNICEF is ready to continue work under them," the fund said.

As reported, the Ministry of Health in 2015 passed procurement of medicines on 12 government programs totaling more than UAH 2.197 billion to three international organizations - UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and British-based Crown Agents.
WASHINGTON  A five-minute walk in most Japanese cities might reveal just one convenience store, reports NPR. But c-stores arent just a place for snacks and beverages; nearly 27% of Japans population is age 65 or older, and c-stores are evolving to meet the needs of these customers.

Case in point is a Lawson convenience store in the city of Kawaguchi, north of Tokyo. It sells products that an American consumer would never find tucked between the aspirin and the candy bars. For example, there's a whole rack of ready-to-heat meals in colorful pouches. They're rated at levels from 1 to 5, based on how hard it is to chew what's inside, writes NPR.

Many elderly customers are also attracted to a fresh food section inside the store. This is unlike anything you'd see in most U.S. mini-marts, notes the news source, complete with fresh meats and vegetables already cut and portioned into single-serve amounts. Theres also products for caregivers of the elderly, such as strong, deodorizing laundry detergent or devices that are useful for giving bed baths.

Ming Li, who works in communications for Lawson, told NPR that older adults are a customer segment that cannot be ignored. We try to accommodate the changes in society, he says.

The Kawaguchi Lawson store is one of six stores that offers a special line called Care Lawson. The program also features special staff like Mika Kojima, a nursing care manager, who help by going to an older customers home and making sure its set up safely, or connect families with adult day care services. Her office at the Lawson store is next to a cafe area that gives older customers a place to meet, drink tea and watch TV.

"People in the neighborhood come in for tea and they start talking to me," Kojima told NPR. "And they come in four or five times a week."
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has advocated creating full-featured trade missions of Ukraine abroad.

"Finally, the time has come. We are to create full-featured Ukrainian trade missions abroad," he said at a meeting with heads of diplomatic offices of Ukraine abroad in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He said these trade missions would be effective.

He said that tight cooperation with the Economic Development and Trade Ministry will help create the missions.
If Andrew Ross Sorkin had the self awareness to realize that pretty much everyone with an operating brain cell sees him as a stenographer for Wall Street, he would want to grow up to be Matt Levine. Levine is an extremely clever and engaging writer who has the considerable advantage of being an attorney with expertise in derivatives. Thus when he adopts his usual posture of Oh, Ive looked at the details [and he really does] and theres nothing to see here, he can paper over any cracks in his argument with far greater success than Sorkin and his ilk.

Mind you, as much as I abhor Levines default posture of minimizing financial services industry misconduct as business as usual among consenting adults, what makes him so dangerous is that hes so damned good at it. Hes enormously entertaining and has the rare ability to give apt yet accurate 50,000 foot overviews of complex transactions, and regularly provides footnotes to satisfy the geeks.

So its noteworthy that Levines article earlier this week on SECs biggest private equity settlement to date, in which Apollo agreed to pay $52.8 million, including $12.5 million in fines, had an atypically critical undertone for a Levine piece. Is it because everyone knows that Apollos Leon Black makes Mike Milken look like a choirboy, and being too dismissive of Apollos wrongdoing would undermine Levines posture of being oh so knowing? Or is it that Levine has come to recognize that the sort of grifting that the private equity industry has engaged in so gross (for instance, how it taking unauthorized fees any different than stealing?), that he can only go so far in prettying it up?

Having said that, the SEC order (embedded at the end of this post) is, as usual, weak tea. The agency cites three types of misconduct: charging so-called accelerated monitoring fees, which was responsible for the overwhelming majority of the charges paid by Apollo, issuing fund financial statements that misrepresented a loans made by Apollo funds for the purpose of deferring capital gains taxes by Apollo principals, and roughly $200,000 of personal expenses charged to funds by an Apollo partner who was eventually fired, allegedly over these expenses.*

Before we get to what the SEC dinged Apollo over, whats striking is what the SEC chose to let Apollo get away with. As Gretchen Morgenson pointed out earlier this year, Apollo admitted in its Form ADV filing to having negotiated discounts for legal services while it charges investors a premium rate. This is particularly cheeky when you understand that the reason that Apollo can get hefty discounts is that the volume of legal work generated in the course of buying and companies on behalf of investors, as well as the related tax fancy footwork, is ginormous and dwarfs the legal work for Apollo proper. The very same abuse was part of a $39 million Blackstone settlement in late 2015. So this is yet another example of the SEC pattern of engaging in token enforcement actions, singling one firm out for an abuse, ostensibly to tell the others to shape up. But why should other investors whove lost money to which they were entitled be shortchanged by the SECs complacency? Moreover, the SECs open posture of very selective enforcement, combined with cost of doing business fines, is almost an invitation for firms to keep cheating.

As followers of private equity chicanery know, monitoring fees are already plenty dodgy. As weve discussed, they are foisted on companies that the general partners control, and they get the fees whether the general partner gets out of bed or not. That raises the issue that these are really disguised dividends, paid preferentially to the general partner, and should not be deductible to the portfolio companies. But tax issues are outside the SECs purviews. The SEC has made its enforcement actions about disclosure, and what the agency is targeting with accelerated monitoring fees is investors werent told that the portfolio companies would be charged large lump sum fees, accelerating the monitoring fees that were due to be paid over the remaining life of the monitoring agreements.

With that as background, lets look at how far Levine goes in trying to dress up the SEC order. His headline is a classic by virtue of failing to mention that Apollo paid a big settlement by the SECs lame standards:

Apollo Paid Itself Some Fees and Gave Itself Some Loans. Translation: Apollo engaged in some normal-sounding activity. Aiee.

Levine then starts out with the small-potatoes abuse of the partner expenses, but does ding the SEC for having been unduly protective of Apollo for not having described exactly what the expense abuses were about, when it normally makes a point of maximizing the embarrassment by presenting them in detail. As he writes:

Its almost like there are two genres of SEC enforcement action: The funny ones against two-bit Ponzi schemers, and the Very Serious ones against big firms.

But it would have been nice if Levine had also called out the SEC for that sort of behavior in more consequential part of order. Levine makes crystal clear that monitoring fees are an exercise in extraction (emphasis his):

The basic idea is that private-equity firms charge their portfolio companies a monitoring fee for  monitoring them? It seems silly to insist on a reason. They charge the monitoring fee to get more money. They could charge portfolio companies a Fee For Being Nice Guys, and the portfolio companies would cheerfully pay up. The way private-equity firms work is that they buy portfolio companies with money provided by their limited partners (pensions and other big institutional investors), and then run those companies on behalf of the limited partners. So the private-equity firms are the (effective) owners and managers of their portfolio companies. They can send a portfolio company a bill, and then send themselves back some money. The guy sending the bill is also the one paying it, but with the limited partners money. You can monitor, or you can not monitor, but either way you charge a monitoring fee, because the emphasis in monitoring fee is solidly on the word fee, not the word monitoring. This all sounds like a racket, and it is a racket, but to be fair it is a well-known racket of private-equity investing, which is that the private-equity firms keep dreaming up amusing fees to charge to their investors and portfolio companies, and the investors keep discovering those fees, and each time they chuckle appreciatively and say I tip my hat to you, Apollo, really well played old chap, charging those monitoring fees for not monitoring.

Now lets get real. If Matt Levine had ever bothered watching a CalPERS Investment Committee meeting, and had seen, say, the Chief Operating Investment Officer deny that CalPERS could find out what it was paying in carry fees, or the head of private equity, Real Desrochers, not understand that the effect of management fee offsets is not to reduce the management fee, but to shift some of it onto the portfolio companies, hes have a much harder time treating the hopelessly outmatched limited partners as amused by the way theyve been fleeced by the general partners. Hes telling his readers the falsehood that the power dynamics are balanced, that the general partners and limited partners are engaged a type of sport. In fact, the limited partners are much more akin to someone in denial that they are in a bad co-dependent relationship, or an abused spouse who doesnt want a divorce because shes afraid shell never live as well as she does now.

But he then does concede the point that the limited partners are unhappyhaving just told his readers that if they were savvy like him, theyd be impressed rather than resentful. This is a rhetorical device that Levine has mastered, of first treating bad actions as not a big deal, or proof of the overwhelming cleverness of the perp, as opposed to chicanery or an abuse, and then saying some people think there is an issue while even then gliding over it. The reader is thus set up to side with him, the obviously much smarter person, who based on his allegedly superior understanding, cant fathom what the fuss is about. Heres the next bit:

Actually the limited partners dont much like this sort of thing, which is why, for instance, Apollo rebates most of its monitoring fees back to the limited partners by reducing the management fees it charges them, though usually not by the full amount of the monitoring fees. (So if Apollo charges a portfolio company $100 in monitoring fees, it will reduce the management fees it charges the investors who own that company by, say, $65. )

Now having cleverly conceded that the monitoring fees are not defensible but the clueless limited partners have unwittingly allowed the general partners to effectively double charge them in all sorts of ways, Levine hand-waves about the acceleration: how is this so bad? Well, gee, as the SEC points out, this goes beyond anything the limited partners were told about in advance, and it reduces what the investors get when the company was sold. So how is that not stealing?

So Levine, taking the position that the accelerated monitoring fees are no biggie, lets the SEC off the hook for this priceless part in the order:

However, in some instances, Apollo accelerated monitoring fees beyond the period of time during which it held an investment in the publicly traded portfolio company. In other instances, Apollo provided services for periods longer than the period for which it received accelerated monitoring fee payments.

So the SEC apparently believes the monitoring fees are something other than grifting that the limited partners were dopey enough to authorize sometime in the distant history of private equity limited partnership agreements, and the general partners, having established that as a norm, are giving it up only by inches, via allowing the to be offset against management fees. Weve discussed some length why that is an unsatisfactory remedy, versus the more obvious solution of having told the general partners to cut it out entirely.

And here is where Levine is making stuff up:

And then their only recourse was to complain about it. Which honestly isnt nothing, as recourses go? This was a repeated game: The limited partners are big institutional investors, and Apollo kept raising new funds. And as the limited partners find silly new fees, they seem to be pretty successful at squashing them, or at pushing the private-equity firms to credit those fees against their management fees, reducing the overall cost to the limited partners. The SECs accelerated-monitoring-fee cases are basically just an acceleration of this process: The limited partners would eventually have cracked down on accelerated-monitoring-fee thing, but the SEC can shut it down faster and more completely.

No, Matt, there is absolutely no basis for believing the limited partners ever would have found out about these fees. They were unearthed by relentlessly comparing disclosures in limited partnership agreements and the other offering documents to the disclosures made in the IPOs of portfolio companies. Private equity investors never never never read those documents. It does not take place at the deeply staffed limited partners like CalPERS and CalSTRS (the general partners do a great job of keeping limited partners running around to various meetings they host, which the limited partners treat as real work, as opposed to going carefully over the information available to them). The only instance I have ever heard of a private equity investor even looking at portfolio company IPOs is one in Norway.and she didnt catch this abuse.

Levine similarly chooses to praise Apollo for its cleverness in the lending issue that the SEC was unhappy aboutand utterly fails to tell his readers that they had to issue false fund financial statements for the con to pass muster with IRS. How can you possibly dismiss phony fund records? And pray tell, why isnt the auditor being dinged for this too? Here is Levines brush-off (emphasis his):

The SEC is again concerned that this is a failure of disclosure, but I am more interested in it as a triumph of imagination. Apollos managers got paid in part with carried interest, a share in the appreciation of their portfolio companies. Carried interest is  notoriously  taxed at favorable rates, compared to other forms of compensation. But why pay yourself your carried interest, and incur a 15 percent tax rate, when you can instead lend yourself your carried interest, and put off paying taxes for five years? You get the money now, and can spend it now, but you dont have to pay taxes until later. Of course the downside is that you have to pay interest on the loan, but that isnt really so bad because you pay the interest to yourself. Its such a nice little trade that Im surprised that Apollo got in trouble for inadequately disclosing it. It almost seems like they should have bragged about it.

Contrast this with the SECs order:

Despite the terms of the loan agreement and the disclosures in the Lending Funds financial statements showing that the interest income was accruing, the Lending Funds financial statements did not disclose that the accrued interest on the loan would be allocated solely to the capital account of Advisors VI. AM VIs failure to disclose that the accrued interest would be allocated solely to the capital account of Advisors VI rendered the disclosures in the Lending Funds financial statements concerning the interest materially misleading.

So this is what happens to talent in America. Levine is open about his lack of a moral compass. All that matters is the deftness of the con and whether the victims are alert enough to make a fuss. It appears that Levine has failed to take into account Mark Blyths warning: The Hamptons is not a defensible position.

____

* As much as giving the most minor offense pride of place is another one of Levines rhetorical devices, hes right that there is something off about the incident. The New York Post ferreted out that the partner who was ousted was one Ali Rashid, apparently for flying his girlfriend around on a private jet at investor expense. While this is not kosher, the misuse of private jets is so endemic in the industry that one has to assume that this was a convenient way to drum Rashid out of the firm and minimize the severance cost. People whove tracked the tail numbers of jets owned by PE firms, where it is virtually certain that all of the costs are somehow borne by investors, show jets converging on the Super Bowl playoffs and flights to the Hamptons and the Caribbean and other weekend or holiday destinations at times that are clearly not for client meetings. As someone in private equity said via e-mail: Come on, which PE guy is not spending LP money to fly around girlfriends, lovers, wives, family, prostitutes, etc.

Apollo-August-23-SEC-Settlement

Apollo August 23 SEC Settlement
A look at the molecular quality assurance within cells

(Nanowerk News) Proteins fulfill vital functions in our body. They transport substances, combat pathogens, and function as catalysts. In order for these processes to function reliably, proteins must adopt a defined three-dimensional structure. Molecular "folding assistants", called chaperones, aid and scrutinize these structuring processes. With participation from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a team of researchers has now revealed how chaperones identify particularly harmful errors in this structuring process. The findings were published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell ("Members of the Hsp70 Family Recognize Distinct Types of Sequences to Execute ER Quality Control").

A look at the molecular quality assurance within cells. (Illustration: Joshua Stokes, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital)

Chaperones are a kind of Technical Inspection Authority for cells. They are proteins that inspect other proteins for quality defects before they are allowed to leave the cell.

If a car does not pass its technical inspection, it implies that it has severe defects that could lead to serious accidents. If a protein folds into a faulty structure, this may lead to serious diseases. Examples of these are neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, but also metabolic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and diabetes.

Matthias Feige, professor for cellular protein biochemistry at the TUM, worked within a team headed by Linda Hendershot at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis/TN, USA, to investigate how chaperones identify structurally flawed proteins. In the study, the scientists focused on proteins which are produced in a part of the cell called the endoplasmic reticulum. "We are mainly interested in cellular protein folding", explains Feige. "How the self-organization of proteins occurs at the molecular level  and how cells identify errors in this process  is a truly fascinating question."

Defective proteins need to be eliminated by the cell

The endoplasmic reticulum consists of a network of hollow spaces and tubules. It is specialized in protein folding and the quality control for this process, and a third of all human proteins are produced here. Just like in any production process, errors may occur: Proteins form a folding core mostly made up of hydrophobic (water-repellent) amino acids, around which the rest of the protein is able to structure itself. However, if errors occur in the folding process, these hydrophobic areas may not be buried in the core, but instead be exposed on the surface of a protein where they may result in proteins clumping together. This can become hazardous to the cell or the entire organism.

Into the cell via a shuttle

Thus far, scientists knew that chaperones were able to identify general hydrophobic amino acid sequences if they remained exposed on protein surfaces. However, not all proteins which present such sequences should necessarily be degraded. That is because not all proteins with hydrophobic amino acid sequences on the surface are defective. How exactly the cell decides if a protein is so dangerous that it needs to be eliminated remained a mystery.

The researchers developed a new method which made it possible to observe the behavior of chaperones in the living biological system of the cell. To do this, they inserted precisely defined sequences of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, into a shuttle system that transported them into the endoplasmic reticulum within the cell. Via this ingenious trick, they were able to observe, under biologically relevant conditions, which sequences the various chaperones recognized.

Two classes of chaperones

What they discovered was that there existed not only one, but two classes of chaperones in the endoplasmic reticulum, each of which identifies different types of hydrophobic amino acid sequences. Furthermore, the sequences identified by the chaperones of the second class, which are described in this journal article for the first time, form particularly dangerous clumps in the cell. Once they are identified, the proteins possessing them can be eliminated rapidly.

"This is an important piece in the puzzle of how molecular quality control functions", says Feige. "Follow-up studies will now be required to see how the chaperones recognize their target sequences on a structural level."
Green light: Biochemists describe light-driven conversion of greenhouse gas to fuel

(Nanowerk News) By way of a light-driven bacterium, Utah State University biochemists are a step closer to cleanly converting harmful carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion into usable fuels. Using the phototropic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris as a biocatalyst, the scientists generated methane from carbon dioxide in one enzymatic step.

"It's a baby step, but it's also a big step," says USU professor Lance Seefeldt. "Imagine the far-reaching benefits of large-scale capture of environmentally damaging byproducts from burning fossils fuels and converting them to alternative fuels using light, which is abundant and clean."

Seefeldt and USU doctoral students Derek Harris, Sudipta Shaw and Zhi-Yong Yang, along with colleagues Kathryn Fixen, Yanning Zheng and Caroline Harwood of the University of Washington, and Dennis Dean of Virginia Tech, published findings in the 22 August 2016, online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ("Light-driven carbon dioxide reduction to methane by nitrogenase in a photosynthetic bacterium").

From left, Utah State University biochemists Sudipta Shaw, Derek Harris and Lance Seefeldt are part of the seven-institution, US Department of Energy Office of Science's Energy Frontier Research Center program-funded Center for Biological and Electron Transfer and Catalysis (BETCy) collaboration. The multi-institution team generated methane from carbon dioxide in one enzymatic step.

The team's work is supported by a grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's Energy Frontier Research Center program to the Center for Biological and Electron Transfer and Catalysis or "BETCy." Based at Montana State University, BETCy is a seven-institution collaboration, of which USU is a partner.

"To our knowledge, no other organism can achieve what this bacterium has done with a single enzyme," says Seefeldt, professor in USU's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow.

"Reducing," or breaking apart, carbon dioxide molecules requires tremendous energy, he says, because carbon dioxide is very stable.
The Ukraine-EU Association Agreement has begun to compensate for losses from war and the breakup of economic relations with Russia, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"The agreement on association with the European Union is working and gradually compensating for colossal losses inflicted by war and economic aggression from Russia. Moscow is trying to smother us with the shock shutdown of its market and blocking of our transit to other countries," Poroshenko said at a military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of independent Ukraine in Kyiv on Wednesday.
A hospital consultant has expressed confidence that a new 40 bed modular unit will be in place at an overcrowded South Tipperary General Hospital before the surge in demand for beds during the winter months kicks in.

Professor Paud ORegan said a planning and procurement process for the new unit had started and he expected it to be in place for the winter months.

The modular unit proposal was supported by Professor ORegan and Consultant Surgeon Peter Murchan at a meeting with the Minister for Health Simon Harris in June.The meeting was arranged by Deputy Michael Lowry and took place in the wake of a Dail debate on the overcrowding at the hospital and the release of a critical HIQA report. The Dail was told that the hospital was bursting at the seams due to a chronic shortfall of resources, understaffing and years of underfunding.

Professor ORegan said that Minister Harris had given the modular forty bed unit his backing and in the period of six weeks he has witnessed a level of engagement from the HSE and the Department of Health that had not been seen for many,many years

He said the intervention of Deputy Lowry was instrumental in setting in train the progress made on providing a solution to the overcrowding problem at the hospital.

Over the summer months South Tipperary General Hospital has been regularly at the top of the national trolley watch figures highlighting the need for the new unit.

Minister Harris, who was due to visit the hospital in early August, according to hospital management, is now scheduled to visit the hospital on October Ist.

Opposition TDs Seamus Healy, chairman of the Hospital Action Committee and Deputy McGrath said the visit was a long time away and that action needed to be taken prior to then on providing the new forty bed unit to ensure it was delivered before winter.

Deputy Michael Lowry said he did not care if Minister Harris never visited the hospital as long as the project was delivered in time to accommodate the winter demand for beds and he was confident that Minister Harris and the HSE would deliver in time.

Professor ORegan said Minister Harris was enthusiastic about the project and establishing it as a pilot project.

There is a ten week planning process about to start as is the procurement process and we are expecting it to be in place by the end of October/early November before the winter demand peaks, said Professor ORegan.

Professor ORegan said the hospital had suffered appalling neglect over the years.Half of the hospital is twenty years behind where it should be .At last the Minister and the HSE are now engaged with the problem

Professor ORegan said it was almost impossible to sustain the delivery of quality services given the extent of the understaffing and underfunding that had built up over the years.

These relief beds will be put in place before the worst of the winter comes.At all staff levels it would have been extraordinarly difficult to go through another winter looking at the indignity and suffering of patients in such conditions. he said.

Deputy Michael Lowry said Minister Harris had agreed in principle to the modular unit and significant progress had been made on the project since the meeting he set up between the Health Minister and hospital consultants.

Deputy Lowry said the procurement process would commence immediately and that the HSE had already received expressions of interest. Meetings had taken place between the HSE and planners and while a ten week planning application process could be involved he was confident that the planning of the project could be expedited and HSE and planners were looking at such an option.

Deputy Lowry said the HSE had confirmed that the unit is on the way and he was confident it would be in place before the winter months.

He also welcomed a decision by the HSE to immediately recruit ten nurses and an additional twelve health care assistants at the hospital to alleviate pressure on staff at the hospital.

Deputy Lowry said those jobs were in addition to whatever jobs would be created by the arrival of the forty bed modular unit.

I welcome that this project has been cleared and that everybody is working towards ensuring this is in place for the winter months when demand for beds intensifies, he said.

Deputy Lowry said the situation at South Tipperary General Hospital had reached crisis point because the staffing and funding problems at the hospital had been ignored and evaded for years.

He said the modular unit represented the short term solution and he hoped that Minister Harris when he does visit in October would announce that the hospital would be included in the Capital Works Programme in the programme for government after a review had taken place to examine why it had been excluded from the programme.

Deputy Seamus Healy said he welcomed the decision of the Minister for Health to visit the hospital on October 1st.He was disappointed it was not at an earlier date.

""We have had between twenty and thirty people on trolleys in Clonmel every day of the summer which is very unusual in a normally quiet period and on some days we have had the highest numbers in the county on trolleys..The hospital just cannot cope with the demand at the moment.What will happen in the winter if this new modular unit is not in place is unthinkable," he said.

He insisted that work on the modular unit has to start before October Ist.He would be surprised if planning permission was not required.

Deputy Healy said the beds should be put in place before October Ist if possible to alleviate the strain on staff and ensure more beds were in place before the demand increases.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said he had brought the modular unit concept to the attention of the Taoiseach and the acting Minister for Health as part of discussions prior to the formation of government and raised the issue with Minister Harris on his appointment.

I am glad progress is being made on it. The winter is here. We should have those forty beds in place now .The staff are under enormous pressure.Patients, families and staff should have those beds in place by now he said.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said he was disappointed that the Minister for Health had not visited the hospital by now. He felt October 1st was too far away and he wanted work on the new modular unit to start immediately so that it would be in place before the winter months.

"The hospital is severely short staffed and underfunded.The staff, the patients and their families deserve to have this new modular unit in place before the winter otherwise it will be out of control" said Deputy McGrath.

Deputy McGrath said that the hospital , on three occasions recently had topped the national trolley watch figures in what was traditionally a quiet period of the year.

"It is bedlam at the moment, what is it going to be like in the winter unless this modular unit is in place by then." he said.He asked what progress had been made since the modular unit was proposed and it was his understanding that no planning application had been submitted to the county council for such a unit.

Deputy McGrath said he would prefer if Minister Harris made an unannounced visit to the hospital to witness the chaos at first hand.

"On October Ist all the trolleys will have been moved on , the place will have been painted and everything will look in order.When the last health minister visited the hospital prior to the general election there wasn't a trolley in sight.Minister Harris should arrive without his entourage, without telling anybody to get the real picture of the chaos" stated Deputy McGrath.
The militants conducted 85 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in the past 24 hours, including 38 attacks conducted in the Donetsk sector, 22 in the Mariupol sector, and 25 in the Luhansk sector, the press center of the anti terrorist operation staff said.

In the Donetsk sector, 122mm heavy artillery of the hostiles bombarded Troitske and Luhanske before dawn. The hostiles fired 120mm and 82mm mortars, various types of grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms throughout the contact line in that sector, between Nevelske, the Avdiyivka industrial zone, and the Svitlodarsk bulge; tanks fired on Avdiyivka, and an infantry combat vehicle was engaged in Luhanske. About 50 152mm artillery projectiles were fired on Semyhirya at around midnight, the report said.

In the Mariupol sector, the hostiles fired over 100 shots from 122mm self-propelled weapons in Shyrokyne. Ukrainian army positions came under attack from 120mm mortars in Novohryhorivka, Shyrokyne and Starohnativka; 82mm mortars were used in Maryinka and Krasnohorivka; grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns were fired in Vodiane, Shyrokyne and Pavlopil. The militants used an armored personnel carrier near Maryinka. Snipers were active near Maryinka and Novotroyitske.

In the Luhansk sector, 152mm heavy artillery bombarded Ukrainian army positions in Kalynove-Popasna, Novozvanivka, Zholobka and Novotoshkivske, and 122mm weapons fired on Krymske. The hostiles fired mortars, grenade launchers and machineguns on Krymske, Popasna and Stanitsa Luhanska, and grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns were used in Novooleksandrivka and Zolote. Tanks were engaged in attacks near Krymske, and an infantry combat vehicle was used in Stanitsa Luhanska. A sniper was active near Novooleksandrivka, the press center said.
The extension of EU sanctions against Russia does not depend on whether or not Russia complies with its obligations under the Minsk agreements, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski said in an interview with Radio EC - Evropeiska Stantsiya quoted by Evropeiska Pravda.

Failure to fulfill the Minsk agreements was not the reason for the anti-Russian sanctions, Tombinski said. The sanctions were imposed because of the "illegal annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and violation of Ukrainian sovereignty", he said, adding that everyone making a decision to extend the sanctions would analyze whether reasons for those sanctions remained. He added that the Minsk agreements were reached in a later period for the purposes of stabilization of the political conflict.

It is hard to say what may happen in six months' time, the ambassador said.

The EU understands that Russia is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements, he said.

As to mirror trade sanctions of Ukraine against Russia, Tombinski said such moves would not be a wise decision.

At the same time, the EU agrees that Russia's latest restrictions imposed on Ukrainian trade and transit to Central Asia, mostly Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, openly breached international trade rules.

Tombinski will end his ambassadorial mission to Kyiv in late August. He will be replaced by Hugues Mingarelli in September.
Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk has said that Ukraine and Canada start negotiations on the improvement of the visa regime, rather than on the introduction of visa-free travel for Ukrainian citizens.

"I would comment on the issue a little bit differently. We begin a dialogue on the essence of our visa regime. We are trying to improve the tools that we have at our disposal," Waschuk told NewsOne TV Channel while answering the question of holding Ukraine-Canada negotiations on visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens.

The ambassador noted that Canada issues visas to Ukrainians for a period of 10 years. At the same time, the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania still need visas to visit Canada. "The nature of our legislation, the nature of our emigrational legislation is such that this is about simplification, improvement, but not about transferring to some visa-free regime over the next year," the ambassador added.
'Maybe we should protect our kids by not having them'

The hidden agenda is no longer hidden
Yoga brought surprisingly quick results

Yoga breathing exercises have many benefits

(NaturalNews) Like many women her age, 85-year-old New Yorker Anna Pesce suffered from back pain. Hers was particularly severe, sometimes even preventing her from climbing up stairs. She recalls having to spend a trip to visit her children in South Carolina confined to a wheelchair because getting around was simply too difficult.An unlucky combination of scoliosis, a herniated disc and osteoporosis meant she had been dealing with a hunchback-like posture for the past few decades. She tried a number of remedies, including physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractor visits. Some of these treatments helped her feel good temporarily, but she says the pain would always return eventually.After the situation reached a low point on her visit to South Carolina, she decided to try yoga. She enlisted the help of a certified yoga instructor who also specializes in back care, Rachel Jesien, whom she met through her granddaughter, who is also a yoga instructor.Like Pesce, Jesien also suffers from scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine. During their weekly sessions Jesien showed her how to perform stretches and restorative poses, such as chair savasana and child's pose. After just a month of sessions she regained her ability to walk.Jesien feels that the real milestone for Pesce came when after just two months she instinctively knew which poses to do for the various types of pain that might pop up. For example, she knew an ankle-to-knee pose would be a great way to deal with her hip pain.After just four months, she shocked everyone by being able to perform a modified headstand, which she does with her back placed against the wall.Pesce is thrilled that she decided to take the plunge and give yoga a try. She says she's now able to do a lot of activities that were impossible before, including driving. Her daughter reports that she seems much happier now, and has regained much of her independence.Two years later, she still practices yoga poses every day, including a supported downward dog pose aided by a sling and pranayama. Pranayama is a type of yoga breathing exercise that helps people make use of the full capacity of their lungs while breathing. It has been shown to be helpful in easing muscle tension and in relieving stress , and it can also lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Learning how to breathe clean air deeply and use the full capacity of the lungs can be incredibly calming.The connection between yoga and flexibility is fairly well-known, but many people are surprised to learn that it can also help eliminate harmful toxins from the body, control cravings for unhealthy food, burn fat and lower cholesterol.Jesien praised yoga for its ability to strengthen muscles , boost bone density and relieve back pain associated with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. She should know; she wore a back brace and had to go to physical therapy once a week for five years before a massage therapist recommended back care yoga to her.Mount Sinai Hospital's director of integrative pain management, Dr. Houman Danesh, is also a believer. He says: "Doing weight-bearing exercises like squats and lunges can definitely increase bone density. Yoga poses can be easily extrapolated to have the same effect. Physical therapists have been incorporating yoga stretches into their sessions as well."By being open to alternative methods of treatment Pesce was able to find a solution that truly worked for her problem, gaining a new lease on life in the process.
Scores of jobs lost thanks to this onerous law

Even Hillary Clinton admits Obamacare kills full-time employment

(NaturalNews) The longer the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land, the more damage it does to the U.S. economy, and the more negative impact it has on the lives of Americans. That is especially true when it comes to Obamacare's impact on employment.In fact, entire industries are being hampered by the massive, overly bureaucratic law  in part because of its compliance costs, and in part because of the new taxes it imposes. Count the tanning industry among those.Around the country business owners are complaining about the 10 percent tax on tanning contained in the law, which has since forced the closure of 10,000 of the approximately 18,000 tanning salons in the United States,reports. This means that not only have scores of business owners lost money and employees jobs, but the law isn't bringing in the tax revenue anticipated to help offset some of the costs of subsidizing low-income Americans who have obtained insurance coverage through the various (and failing) Obamacare exchanges.Defenders of Obamacare say that owners and the industry are overstating the effects of the "tan tax," arguing that tanning salons  which have been panned by critics, but which are actually valued sources of vitamin D , necessary for the maintenance of bone density and health  are suffering from public health warnings about so-called dangers of tanning. Also, they claim the industry is being hurt by laws in dozens of states that restrict the use of salons by minors.While those may have contributed to the demise of the tanning salon, owners  who know better than "analysts" and "experts" because they get up every day and try to run their businesses  are increasingly blaming Obamacare because of its onerous taxing requirements. For their part, Republicans have again vowed to repeal the law if GOP nominee Donald J. Trump wins in November and his party holds both chambers of Congress."When I go to vote, I'm supporting candidates who are pro-business and who want less government involvement, less government regulation," Chris Sternberg, senior vice president of Sun Tan City, a Louisville, Kentucky-based chain with nearly 300 salons in 22 states, toldFor him, the election has come down to a matter of the economics of Obamacare , albeit in a different fashion.Obamacare advocates say that the tan tax was meant to discourage a practice that many say increases the risk of skin cancer, even though studies show the benefits of tanning on increased vitamin D levels and treatment of some medical conditions like Crohn's disease But the real reason the tax was included was to raise funds to help pay for the escalating costs of insuring more of the nation's previously uninsured. Congressional experts predicted the tax would raise some $2.7 billion annually for that purpose, but the industry says just a fraction of that amount has been raised, largely due to the fact that more than half of tanning salons have now closed. In all, industry experts say the Obamacare tax has been directly responsible for the loss of 81,000 tanning jobs.Kim Arnold, a salon owner in upstate New York, toldthat she and her husband were forced to close their third Tropical Tann location a year ago due to the tax "Customers would say, 'I'm not paying that,'" she said. "I'd have people walk right out the door."The tanning industry is not the only one shedding jobs, thanks to Obamacare. In June, an economist with Goldman Sachs who has been monitoring the law's effects on employment for years was adamant it has wreaked havoc on employment.The economist, Alec Philips, wrote in a research note that Obamacare is "at least moderately" responsible for a major boost in part-time employment, due to the law's requirements that companies with more than 50 employees provide them with health insurance. How pricey insurance has gotten under the law has led more than a few companies to trim full-time employment to remain under the 50-employee level. Even Obamacare backer Hillary Clinton admits it
Speech police are inventing genders and language out of thin air

Ignore reality and do what we say

(NaturalNews) Those who inhabit our country's highest academic institutions have completely lost their minds with political correctness , so much so that now they refuse to even acknowledge that there are two distinct genders within the human race (not three, four or seven).As reported by, a news site that tracks and reports on ridiculous, mind-blowing, hysterical Left-wing policies pursued on today's campuses, Princeton University, founded in 1746 in New Jersey, has recently implemented a policy forbidding the use of gender-specific language like "man" and "woman," "he" and "her."The policy appears aimed mostly at. And instead of "man," students and faculty are advised to use the words human beings, individuals or people.That's not all. Other guidelines contained in the four-page memo involve the use of the term "man and wife," which should be changed to spouses or partners. "Man made" should be replaced with artificial, handmade or manufactured. Use of the verb "to man," as in to work or staff something, is out; use of the term operator or to staff should be implemented instead. And there is no more "workmanlike," as it has to be replaced with skillful.And so on. As is the case with all Left-wing speech police recommendations, the term used to describe the changes  because the university wants to be "inclusive"  is actually the university being. Banning or barring the use of certain gender identifiers is not "inclusive," no matter how many times an Ivy League academic pretends that it is.But the new guidelines also venture into the language absurd.The memo also lists several occupations that have traditionally included the word "man" in them, offering replacements for each: businessperson instead of businessman; firefighter instead of fireman; ancestors instead of forefathers; and so on."Consistent with style guidelines issued by Princeton's Office of Human Resources and Office of Communications, and as endorsed by the Institutional Equity Planning Group as a preferred University practice, HR has developed these gender inclusive style guidelines, to be utilized by all HR staff members in HR communications, policies, job descriptions, and job postings," the memo states.In a statement, Princeton's director of media relations, John Cramer, toldthat the new guidelines are a reflection of the institution's effort to be ..."inclusive."Of course. Even the Left's pained explanation for its speech codes contain pre-approved verbiage and speech codes.But Princeton's school-wide effort to redefine speech and gender isn't enough. Extremists at the university's LGBT Center have published their own gender speech guide , complete with fabricated pronouns someone, somewhere, has created out of thin air. None of the pronouns are gender-specific, and in fact if most people heard them used they would either conclude that the user was daft or poking fun.The guide is aimed at those who identify as "transgender, genderqueer, and other gender-variant" classifications. It suggests using "ze, zie and hir," "they and theirs," and "Ey, em, eir, and emself."You can't make this stuff up  although, apparently someonePrinceton isn't the only university insisting on this speech and gender aberration.noted that last year the University of Tennessee's Office for Diversity and Included made similar suggestions, asking students to use the pronouns ze, xe, hir, hirs and zirs, along with others for the tiny minority of people who have difficulty identifying withsex.And the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Writing Center has also developed a lengthy list of words that purveyors of PC speech have concluded are potentially biased or offensive  to include "freshman"  so that students avoid using them when writing.Needless to say all of this has free speech advocates in an uproar , as should be the case. If someone voluntarily wants to use "gender-neutral speech," that is their prerogative. Forcing someone to do so is another matter.But there is this as well: Redefining what it means to identify and speak to specific genders is not a rational exercise because it requires us to ignore reality and surrender to authoritarianism  neither of which is good for a constitutional republic.
Does Hillary have Parkinson's?

Can we afford to elect a sick person as president?

(NaturalNews) In a high-stakes political contest such as the 2016 U.S. presidential election, one can expect lots of wild accusations and speculation about each candidate, but is there any truth to the rumors regarding the poor state of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's health A growing number of presumably objective observers  many of them physicians and health experts  are questioning whether Ms. Clinton is physically fit enough to hold office.And the average person viewing her speeches and public appearances might easily come to the same conclusion, based on her often bizarre movements and expressions in front of the camera  not to mention her apparent reliance on stools, handrails and other means of support (such as being helped by aides while walking or even standing still).So what do the experts say?One of the most plausible theories is that Ms. Clinton is suffering fromAn anonymous board-certified anesthesiologist has released a memo discussing Hillary's apparent symptoms, including her falls (one in 2009 when she broke her elbow, and another in 2012, in which she suffered a concussion), odd hand movements, blank wide-eyed stares, and (in her own words) "short-circuits"  all of which are consistent with the symptoms of Parkinson's.From the anesthesiologist's memo: Hillary Clinton (HRC) has suffered a variety of health issues. Unfortunately, she has declined to make her medical records public. In July of 2015 her personal physician released a letter asserting her 'excellent physical condition.' Unfortunately, multiple later episodes recorded on video strongly suggest that the content of the letter is incorrect ..."She has had clinical symptoms for a minimum of 4 years, and probably much longer, given that the fall leading to her head injury required a significant progression of the disease. All of her bizarre physical actions since that time fit nicely into the spectrum of signs that we expect in PD. And since PD explains all of them, we have a high probability of a correct diagnosis."Of course, that's just one opinion, and it could be questioned, since its author chose to remain anonymous  but maybe that's because he didn't want to end up on the Clintons' "hit list"?But to anyone who has been paying attention, there is something clearly odd about many of her mannerisms and expressions.In the video below, she is seen bobbing her head in an apparently uncontrollable fashion. Is this the behavior of a healthy person?As the above memo states, she has certainly had her share of health issues, and even more tellingly perhaps, she has refused to release her medical records.Of course, her political opponents can be expected to seize on anything that might call her competency into question, but you don't have to be a Trump supporter to begin wondering if something is truly amiss regarding Ms. Clinton's general health condition.Any potential leader of our nation must be in excellent physical condition to carry out the duties of office.And whatever you might think about Donald Trump, the manappear to be in reasonably. That could prove to be a crucial issue in the long run; the fate of our nation could very well depend on it.When you consider all the factors  including her health is clearly unfit to be POTUS.If she is truly suffering from Parkinson's  a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone, by the way  there is a sadly ironic twist. Hillary has been a staunch supporter of Monsanto and the GMO industry, and one of the illnesses caused by Monsanto's poisonous glyphosate-containing herbicide Roundup is  you guessed it  Parkinson's disease.A true cynic might be tempted to use the phrase: "Live by the sword, die by the sword."'Nuff said...
Thursday, August 25, 2016 by: J. D. Heyes Tags: Al Jazeera , Monsanto , propaganda

Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.

Receive Our Free Email Newsletter

Take Action: Support Natural News by linking to this article from your website

Permalink to this article:

https://www.naturalnews.com/055094_Al_Jazeera_Monsanto_propaganda.html

Embed article link: (copy HTML code below):

Failed news company Al Jazeera now peddling Monsanto propaganda

Reprinting this article:

Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.

Follow Natural News on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest
Scientists are puzzled over male termites' penchant for pairing with other males when left without a female mate. Now, a recent study presents an explanation for the behavior: male termites live longer together than alone.

According to a report from EurekAlert, Japanese researchers from Kyoto University confirmed that male termites tend to pair up when they are unable to find a female mate. They also found that given an opportunity, the male pair will kill a female's spouse so one of them can take its place.

The explanation for homosexual pairing first eluded lead scientist Nobuaki Mizumoto and his team, who initially believed the male-male couplings were due to each misrecognized each other as female. However, upon further observation, the termites showed no signs of mistaking males as females.

"Japanese termites usually make nests in monogamous, heterosexual pairs," says Mizumoto. "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."

It turned out that the benefit was survival. Getting together was an evolutionary tactic as males cannot survive on their own.

"Male termites aren't able to survive on their own, but those that make nests with another male survived for much longer," Mizumoto explained in a statement in Eurekalert. "This was especially beneficial in situations when searching for females raises the risk of being preyed upon. It's clear that male-male pairing is a strategy for survival."

He added, "Pairing with another male isn't the best option, but it gives mateless termites a chance to survive until they find a female, if that happens at all."

The study, entitled Male same-sex pairing as an adaptive strategy for future reproduction in termites, was published in Animal Behaviour.

It comes a few months after another breakthrough in the study of termites was achieved: the successful sequencing and analyzation of the genome of one termite species, according to Arizona State University. The research marked the first time this was done.
The death toll from the earthquake that devastated Italy on Aug. 24 has risen to more than 160 with hundreds more reportedly missing.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Norcia in Italy on Wednesday, affecting the towns of Amatrice, Pescara del Tronto and Accumoli, near the epicenter. The quake was so strong that it turned several towns into rubble killing more than 160 individuals. The numbers are still rising as rescuers strive to dig deep into the rubble in hopes of finding trapped survivors.

The effect deemed devastating as the earthquake occurred while most of the population was asleep. Italian authorities say that the disaster exposed the country's vulnerability to such events. Help started flooding after the quake occurred with U.S. President Barrack Obama expressing his grief and condolences towards his Italian counterpart. The U.S. also promised to provide help to Italy.

Residents of some towns were evacuated right after the earthquake, while rescuers combed through the rubble.

"We had one of the most beautiful places in Italy and now we have nothing," said Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi, in an interview. The Mayor was also quoted saying that almost three-quarters of the town were destroyed.

After the 6.2 magnitude earthquake, the Italian earthquake Institute (INGV) reported that there were 60 aftershocks recorded in a span of four hours after the first strike with the strongest magnitude of 5.5, according to a report by USA Today.

Currently, more than 4,000 rescuers are reportedly working to rescue potential survivors. There were 368 injured people rescued from the center of the earthquake, according to a report by BBC.

The tireless rescuers are continuously digging through the rubble as their hope ignited when a young girl was rescued 17 hours after being trapped.
Escalation of situation in eastern Ukraine and provocations in Crimea show Russian unwillingness for peaceful conflict solution

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas has said that the escalation of hostilities in the east of Ukraine and provocations in Crimea indicate at Russias unwillingness to peacefully resolve the conflict.

"The escalation of hostilities in eastern Ukraine and provocations in Crimea indicate that, unfortunately, Russia is not ready to resolve the conflict in a peaceful way," the press service of the Estonian government said, quoting the prime minister at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Estonian prime minister stressed that as long as Russia does not comply with the agreements reached in Minsk (Belarus), sanctions lifting is out of question.
Chinese and US cities have both been warming up, but the composition of their haze pollution and underlying reasons for the temperature increase differ.

A study from Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday provided some interesting insights into the phenomenon of cities experiencing hotter temperatures than surrounding areas, called the urban heat island effect (UHI). Not all pollution particles making up the city haze are responsible for the heat.

Fine particles actually help keep the city cool by blocking sunlight, though they're responsible for a host of health problems including asthma and increased risk of cancer and heart disease. Larger aerosol particles are the culprits in UHI because they absorb and radiate heat -- they are a health hazard as well.

"When people talk about aerosols, particle size matters a lot." senior author of the study and professor of meteorology at Yale School of F&ES Xuhui Lee said.

Large aerosol particles come from dust, coal, sand and cooking and are largely absent from city haze found in the US. East coast metropolises in China also have fewer large aerosol particles than cities in the middle and west of China.

This research compounds the fact that air pollution must be reduced for the sake of health, environment and comfort.

"Cleaning up has a co-benefit. It helps improve human health, but it also helps to cool the local climate," Lee continued.

Previous research indicated a lack of vegetation played a part in the rising temperatures of US cities. Scientists had thought insufficient vegetation was also to blame for UHI in China, but were unable to replicate the US results.

Comparisons between countries are helpful in identifying or ruling out the roles of different factors in climate change. Multi pronged city haze management plans of reducing both types of pollutant particles and increasing vegetation will provide a widespread benefit to the world's cities and their inhabitants.
Common house plants are surprisingly efficient at removing pollutants from indoor air, as well as providing a pop of color and life to interior decorations.

A chemist at the State University of New York at Oswego Vadoud Niri presented research supporting the effectiveness of house plants on removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society on Wednesday. Niri was inspired by a trip to a nail salon with his wife where the smell of VOCs overwhelmed him.

"Buildings, whether new or old, can have high levels of VOCs in them, sometimes so high that you can smell them," Niri said in a release.

"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. We must do something about VOCs in indoor air."

Sick building syndrome isn't well understood, but typically affects office workers. Unhealthy levels of VOCs can be a cause of sick building syndrome.

Niri tested five different plants in sealed containers containing eight VOCs. He measured the amount of VOCs at differing points of time.

Every plant tested was able to remove much of the acetone, making it the easiest VOC to remove. The troical, spiky leafed bromeliad performed the best and was was able to remove high levels six of the eight VOCs.

The scientific term for using plants to remove VOCs is biofiltration or phytoremediation. Plants are a cheaper and easier solyion to indoor pollution than installing ventilation systems.

To date, a paper or study has not been published. Further research is planned to study the effectiveness of the plants removal of VOCs in real life situations.

House plants are also credited with brighting up living spaces and improving people's psychological state. HGTV recommends bromeliads as their number one choice for house plants, incidentally the best plant at decreasing air pollution in your home.
RJ Mitte, known to legions of television fans as Walter White Jr. from "Breaking Bad," now wants to break barriers he feels are unfairly keeping disabled actors off the small screen.

Mitte, who has cerebral palsy, gave fans of the show a first hand look at what it was like for a person with that disability. But he says too often those roles go either unrepresented or portrayed by able-bodied actors.

"I wouldnt be in the position I am in today without my disability. I utilized everything I know about living with cerebral palsy for my role in 'Breaking Bad,'" Mitte told The Irish Examiner.

An analysis released in July found 95 percent of characters with disabilities on top 10 television shows were played by able-bodied actors, according to a study released by Ruderman White Paper.

The study on employment of actors with disabilities in television reveals the "unjust and troubling discrimination of actors with disabilities in Hollywood," the report noted.

"It was my acting ability that landed me the role, although my disability helped get me the part of Walt Junior  like everyone else I went through a grueling audition process," he said.

Mitte, 24, is co-hosting NBC's Rio 2016 Paralympics, and says he hopes increased visibility will inspire a tidal shift in the way disabilities are portrayed through the media and in Hollywood.

"Im really looking forward to co-presenting the Paralympics, and I truly hope Rio 2016 will open further opportunities for other disabled actors in TV," he said.
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.
Forget going for the gold, is Ryan Lochte going for the Mirrorball Trophy? E! News has learned the Olympic swimmer is the latest famous face in talks for 'Dancing With the Stars' season 23.

Lochte made headlines after his Olympics performances with his Rio robbery scandal. Is America ready to forgive the athlete and vote to keep him on the dance floor?

"Ryan is not planning on doing anything big at this moment. He is trying to let the dust settle for now," a source told E! News about his plans. "He is taking a break from swimming for a little bit, but will get back at training when he feels up to it. He is not giving up, he just is very overwhelmed what has happened."

But hey, plans change.

Here Is What's Next for Ryan Lochte Following His Rio Robbery Scandal

Lochte would join contestants Amber Rose, JoJo Fletcher and Jake T. Austin for the 23rd season of the ABC reality competition. The show wanted to land gymnastics star Simone Biles, and she is interested... just not now.

"I would love to do Dancing with the Stars, but so far we have a three month tour after this Olympics," Biles told E! News' Zuri Hall at the P&G Family Home in Rio. "I'm not sure if I'll have time."

ABC does not comment on casting reports and is set to announce the cast of season 23 on 'Good Morning America' on Tuesday, Aug. 30. But US Weekly is reporting Lochte to the show is already a done deal.

The new season premieres on Monday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.

Ryan Lochte Hanging with Celebrities
The three young children of a woman found dead in the Gorman area were located safe in New Mexico Wednesday, but the victim's half sister and her friend, who are both suspected of kidnapping the youngsters, remained at large.

The body of 26-year-old Kimberly Harvill was found Aug. 14 in some brush by a motorist traveling along Gorman Post Road, north of State Route 138 in an unincorporated area near Lebec. She had been shot in the upper body, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported.

The sheriff's department had earlier said she had suffered head trauma.

Detectives allege the woman's children -- Joslynn Watkins, 2, Brayden Watkins, 3, and Rylee Watkins, 5, were kidnapped by 22-year-old Brittany Humphrey and her friend, 27-year-old Joshua Robertson, who are both the subject of an arrest warrant for the alleged kidnapping and are also wanted for questioning in connection with Harvill's homicide.

The children were located in a motel on the outskirts of Albuquerque, where they were left in the care of a good Samaritan who notified local law enforcement, according to Deputy Kimberly Alexander of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.

The children's godmother, Michelle Elf, 40, said she is a mix of emotions.



"I'm amazingly relieved," she said. "They'd been gone for 10 days. I did fear the worst."

"To hear that they were safe, to know that they had been found, that's the best feeling in the world," the children's goffather, Tso Yanez, told NBC4.

Authorities were working with the Department of Children and Family Services to arrange for the safe return of the children to California, Alexander said.

Humphrey and Robertson "are still on the run and believed to be eastbound from Albuquerque toward neighboring states," she said. Investigators have also learned that Robertson has an infant in his care, the deputy said. At a news conference Wednesday morning, sheriff's homicide Lt. Joe Mendoza said the identification of the victim led detectives to conduct interviews in Fresno -- where Harvill lived -- and in Lebec.

"During that investigation, in the following days, we also learned that the victim was the mother of three children," Mendoza said. "Our investigators continued ... trying to inquire about the whereabouts of these children and who they were with."

The children's father committed suicide within the past year.

The suspects may have family in Nebraska, and have some ties to Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, Mendoza said. Investigators have yet to disclose a motive for the kidnappings. Robertson and Humphrey are believed to be traveling in Harvill's silver 1999 Ford Expedition, which may bear California license plate number 7BEK024, or paper plates.

Robertson has a criminal history, is on post-release community supervision, and has a previous arrest for possession of a firearm, authorities said. He should be considered armed and dangerous and the public is advised to not approach the suspects if they are spotted but to notify law enforcement, according to the sheriff's department.

Investigators said the couple is still on the run with an 18-month-old girl whose mother gave Robertson caretaker status before she went off to jail.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or access the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Doctors said a Brazilian baby with brain damage caused by the Zika virus stayed infected for more than two months after his birth, NBC News reported.

The baby already had brain damage from the virus, which can infect a growing fetus. But the virus continued to actively infect him after he was born, Danielle Oliveira of the University of Sao Paulo and colleagues wrote in a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine.

"When the infant was examined on day 54, he had no obvious illness or evidence of any immunocompromising condition," they wrote. An immune condition might explain a prolonged infection. The baby was developmentally delayed and had cerebral palsy.

This suggests that newborns may still be at risk from the virus while their brains are growing and developing  another unpleasant surprise about the virus.
Activists and relatives of a teenage woman at the center of a San Francisco Bay Area police sex scandal say they want to know if any of the more than two dozen law enforcement officials implicated earlier this year will face criminal charges.

The woman, who turned 19 on Thursday and says she works as a prostitute, told The Associated Press that she informed internal affairs investigators months ago that she had sex with three Oakland police officers and a Contra Costa County deputy before her 18th birthday.

In all, she said she has had sex with about 30 law enforcement officials, mostly during the past year. She said she received money during a few encounters and often traded sex for protection from arrest and tips on prostitution stings.

"The law is not being applied equally," said Leigh Davenport, a spokeswoman for the activist organization Anti Police-Terror Project. "If these guys weren't cops, they would have been charged."

The teen's grandmother and father also said they are frustrated that no charges have been filed.

The Associated Press generally doesn't identify people who say they are victims of sex crimes or their families.

The woman has retained text messages that appear to discuss sexual encounters with officers and has shared them with investigators and the media, including the AP.

Her allegations were widely reported more than three months ago.

The teen lives with her mother, an Oakland police dispatcher, who has not returned numerous phone and email inquiries seeking comment. The teen said she is enrolling Friday in an in-patient drug treatment program in Miami.

The Alameda County district attorney's office is leading the criminal investigation and spokeswoman Rebecca Richardson declined to comment.

District Attorney Nancy O'Malley has fired an investigator in her office who was implicated in the scandal and said she hoped to have the investigation wrapped up by the end of August.

"We are being very sensitive to the young woman who has been exploited and been hurt," O'Malley said on Aug. 9. "We are working diligently."

The activists want officers charged with statutory rape, human trafficking and pandering.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris said she is monitoring the investigation.

"The allegations of misconduct are extremely disturbing," said Kristin Ford, a spokeswoman for the attorney general. "There must be swift and clear accountability for any wrongdoing."

One of the three Oakland officers accused by the teen committed suicide in October, leaving behind a note discussing his relationship with her. The two other Oakland officers and the Contra Costa County deputy have resigned.

Most of the implicated officers work in Oakland, which has placed three other officers on leave. In June, the department cycled through three chiefs in 10 days when the teen's allegations were first reported in the media.

The woman also identified six Richmond police officers as participants in the misconduct.

Civic activist Ben Steinberg, a member of the Richmond Arts & Culture Commission, has launched a petition demanding that Harris take over the investigation of the officers who work for the Richmond Police Department, which has launched an internal inquiry.

"I do not have confidence in the RPD's investigation," Steinberg said. "There needs to be an independent investigation outside police and city control to determine if laws and policies were broken."

The teen told the AP in June that she didn't want anyone to get in trouble and regretted that the sexual encounters became public. She later declined to answer text messages asking if her position has changed.

She did say this week that the Richmond Police Department through the Contra Costa County Family Justice Center had arranged for her to enroll in the Miami drug treatment program.

She said the department told her the monthlong program was paid for through a fund for crime victims.

Steinberg and other police critics questioned the department's motivation for offering the help during its investigation. Police Lt. Felix Tan declined to comment, citing confidentiality laws.

Mayor Tom Butt said there's nothing nefarious about the assistance. The woman was sent out of state to get away from bad influences and "baggage" surrounding the scandal, he said.

This story has been corrected to note that Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley was speaking only about one woman who she said has been exploited and hurt.
A bill that would allow the San Francisco Unified School District to develop employee housing on district property passed the state Assembly on Wednesday and is headed to the governor's desk, officials said.

Senate Bill 1413, sponsored by state Sen. Mark Leno, authorizes school districts statewide to lease property owned by the school district for the development of employee housing.

San Francisco school officials and Mayor Ed Lee, a sponsor of Leno's legislation, last fall announced plans to jointly develop educator housing for at least 100 households as well as provide rental assistance for at least 100 educators, 200 down payment assistance loans and $250,000 in housing counseling services per year over the next five years.

The district has identified two parcels as good candidates for possible employee housing development and is now working with the mayor's office to develop financing plans, officials said Wednesday.

The city has $2 million in pre-development funds set aside for the 2016-2017 fiscal year and hopes to move forward with at least one project within the next two years.

"This is a major win for San Francisco's teachers who have struggled, like many, in the current housing climate," Lee said in a statement. "SB 1413 delivers on the promise that we are building housing for school district employees - teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators who are dedicated to our students, parents and schools."

Fifty percent of teachers in San Francisco leave their positions within five years, and the lack of affordable housing is a major factor.

"We have a huge challenge trying to keep our teachers in San Francisco and there have been studies showing that there aren't many rentals and places to buy that teachers can afford," SFUSD Board President Matt Haney said. "I think our teachers have been waiting and want to see this happen as soon as possible."

Haney said the district owns a number of properties around the city that are vacant or currently occupied by administrative buildings or other uses.

The Board of Supervisors earlier this year also approved sweeping eviction protections prohibiting most no-fault evictions against San Francisco school employees and families with children during the school year.
Ukraine's second president and Kyiv's representative to the Trilateral Contact Group Leonid Kuchma has met with OSCE Envoy, humanitarian subgroup coordinator of Trilateral Contact Group in Ukraine Toni Frisch.

"During their talk, the meeting participants discussed the progress of the Minsk process, as well as the preparation for the meeting of the Trilateral contact group, which will be held tomorrow, on August 26 in Minsk," the statement says published on the website of the Leonid Kuchmas presidential fund Ukraine on Thursday.

At the same time, the details of the conversation are not reported.

As reported, on August 22, Leonid Kuchma met with the new U.S. coordinator on the situation settlement in Donbas Eileen Malloy and discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
A Pittsburg police officer cut his hand while rescuing a blind man who was trapped inside his burning home on Wednesday evening, Contra Costa County firefighters said.

The officer suffered a severe cut on his forearm by falling glass and the man suffered serious smoke inhalation injuries, firefighters said.

The two-alarm fire, reported at 7:20 p.m. near West 11th and York streets, was extinguished and is estimated to have caused about $202,000 in damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In taking down a Vietnamese street gang, San Jose police say they arrested one of their own and nabbed nearly two dozen alleged gang members.

Officer Derrick Antonio's arrest came after a five-month-long investigation  dubbed "Operation Gang of Thrones" into a criminal gang. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on Tuesday.

The nine-year veteran is accused of slipping confidential information to gang members, and has been charged with five felony counts of unauthorized computer access and one felony count of accessory after the fact, according to an internal San Jose Police Department memo obtained by NBC Bay Area.

"His acts were deplorable, and in no way represent the character of the remaining members of this department, who protect and serve the city with great honor," San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference Wednesday.

Twenty-three suspected gang members are behind bars, and police say they are still looking for six additional suspects.

The gang is believed to be involved in numerous crimes, including assault, extortion, narcotics, bookmaking, public corruption, trafficking, and illegal gambling, according to Police Chief Eddie Garcia. Gang members frequently operated out of Vietnamese cafes and routinely extorted cafe owners through various means, the release said.

On Wednesday, Mayor Sam Liccardo didn't say much other than to stand by the department.

San Jose's Vietnamese-American councilmembers, Manh Nguyen and Tam Nguyen, attended the news conference.

"The fact that your police officers got one of your own tells everybody that nobody is above the law," Manh Nguyen said.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Police Officers Association said the accusations against Antonio, if found to be true, will be reflection of "disparaging our profession."

"Today is a sad day for all of us who proudly and honorably don our SJPD uniform each day to serve the residents of our city," the union said in a statement.

Police also conducted a similar raid last March. Called "Operation Omni," it was focused on gambling and violence at Vietnamese cafes.
This is Part III of an NBC Bay Area investigation into Californias workers compensation system. Click here to see Part I. Click here to see Part II.

Injured workers face an uphill, long-odds battle if they want to appeal the denial of medical care through Californias workers compensation system, state data shows.

Since reforms made in 2013 under Senate Bill 863, injured workers can no longer appeal treatment denials in front of a judge. Now, the state contracts with a private, for-profit corporation that reviews appeals under a process called Independent Medical Review. The company pays anonymous doctors, who have never examined the patient in person, to make those decisions based on a standard set of guidelines.

Patients dont stand much of a chance under the new system, the data shows. Between 2013 and 2015, injured workers contested almost 600,000 denials of medical treatment. Those denials were upheld nearly 90 percent of the time when reviewed on appeal by independent medical review doctors.

What that number means, though, depends on who you ask.

Critics of the system point to that figure as evidence the appeals process is one sided -- simply rubberstamping the denial of treatment for injured workers. But those who say the system is working as intended have a different take. The fact that only one in every ten cases is overturned under appeal, they say, proves that correct treatment decisions are being made at each previous step in the process.

For Joan Dismuke, though, the debate is far more personal. A workplace injury in 2003 would mark the beginning of a long descent into chronic pain and depression for her daughter Lorrie Mays.

Mays would end up taking her own life in February, the same week Independent Medical Review upheld the denial of the only treatment Dismuke said brought her daughter any relief.

I think everybody has a limit to what they can take, Dismuke said. [Workers comp] provided a lot of care for Lorrie. She just needed more.

Mays was working as a nurse for the Fresno County Health Department helping women with at-risk pregnancies when she slipped on a flight of stairs during a house call. She went through surgery, but continued to have chronic pain in her legs and lower back.

Chronic pain is day in and day out, Dismuke said. And at some point, someone who develops chronic pain, which is unrelenting, develops depression.

Workers compensation medical guidelines do in fact acknowledge a link between depression and chronic pain resulting from a work-related injury. Its why anti-depressants can be prescribed by workers comp doctors. But for Mays, whose fun-loving personality would disappear after the injury, anti-depressants were ineffective.

So in 2014, her doctor turned to a treatment called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a procedure used to treat depression in patients resistant to medication. Mays medical records show the treatment seemed to be effective.

But when her doctor requested another round of treatment in September, it was denied.

The denial stated the following: The new criteria for proceeding with this treatment includes failure of multiple medications and failure of a trial of electroconvulsive therapy. The records do not clearly establish that the patient has recently failed a trial of electroconvulsive therapy. Further, the guidelines advise that a standard course of treatment includes 30 treatments. The patient has far exceeded this quantity.

Mays appealed the denial, asking the state for an Independent Medical Review. In February, the doctor reviewing her appeal upheld the denial. Lorries family was at the beach when she received the decision letter.

When Dismuke returned home, she found a note on the front door written by her daughter. It said to call the police  and not to go in the backyard.

I knew instantly what it meant, Dismuke said.

Dismuke would find other letters written by her daughter that spoke to the pain and frustration she endured trying to get the medical care she hoped would make her better.

Its been 12-plus years of hell, Mays wrote. The past several days have been so exhausting. Im worn out, drained, depleted, gone.

We treat our employees while injured worse than we treat our veterans, Mays wrote in another letter.

Mays case is extreme. But critics of the workers comp system say the implementation of independent medical review stacked the deck against injured workers.

A company called Maximus Federal Holdings won the contract to provide independent medical review for the state in 2013. The corporation is paid anywhere between $345 and $515 to review a case. Its paid for by the injured workers employer or their employers insurance company.

The contract has been lucrative for Maximus. A study by the Workers Compensation Insurance Ratings Bureau found treatment denials are being appealed far more than expected.

The number of IMRs filed in 2014 and 2015 was three times higher than initial WCIRB projections, the report states.

Although Maximus received nearly 500,000 appeal requests over that time period, doctors employed by the company determined 90 percent of those requests were not medically necessary and upheld the original denials.

But who those doctors are is a controversy in itself. Their names are confidential and there is currently no requirement they have to be licensed to practice medicine in California. An analysis of state data found 39 percent of IMR doctors who reviewed cases in 2014 were licensed out of state. In 2015, 29 percent were out of state.

IMR doctors never actually examine the patient, either. Instead, theyre provided a slice of that workers medical history and make a determination using a standard set of guidelines.[[391233681, C]]

To have some anonymous person review your need for medical care and say you dont need it  theres zero transparency in that, said Diane Worley, policy director for the California Applicants Attorneys Association.

Worley, whose organization advocates for injured workers, says the move to IMR was made to help contain costs, but the pendulum has swung too far.

If the treatment the doctor is requesting isnt the right treatment, the goal should be, well, what is the right treatment? Worley said.

All that money going to Maximus, Worley said, means less money being spent on medical care for workers.

The money that was going to treatment is now going to this bureaucratic nightmare of paper and review, she said.

Maximus declined interview requests for this story, as did officials with the Department of Industrial Relations, the state agency that oversees workers comp.

But reports published by the insurance industry show the 2013 reforms have resulted in significant savings of nearly $800 million across the system. The WCIRB says those savings are beginning to translate into lower premiums for employers, which had been rising steadily for years.

And in July, a state report emphasized the continued need to make medical decisions based on evidence-based guidelines. By encouraging treatment thats proven to work and discouraging treatment thats ineffective, the report states fewer resources are wasted and injured workers get better care.

Dismuke, though, says those guidelines dont fit every patient. They didnt fit her daughter Lorrie, she said, and the consequences were devastating.

Its always bad to be the atypical patient, Dismuke said. I dont care what field youre in. If you present differently than the norm, you are liable to not get the treatment you need. I think here, she didnt fit the profile of what they expected treatment to have to be.
An Alameda County judge on Wednesday paid a visit to an Oakland building where dozens of tenants say they're living in deplorable conditions because the landlord wants them out.

Judge Brad Seligman, who is presiding over a lawsuit filed by tenants, spent about 20 minutes inside the low-rent Chinatown hotel where residents say 33 households are sharing three bathrooms and one kitchen, and they rarely have hot water.

Attorneys for the tenants say in the lawsuit that the new owners deliberately made living conditions bad so the current residents would move out, and the building could be converted into studios catering to students and tech workers.

According to court documents, for the past six months during renovations, cameras were installed in the kitchen and hallways, along with a microphone. Also four of the propertys seven bathrooms were shuttered, and hot water is only sometimes available, the documents said.

Seligman, who toured the facility along with attorneys, has the power to get the bathrooms back to working order and will decide if the surveillance cameras will be removed. Attorneys say a decision on urgent issues will be made soon.

The judge declined to comment on what he saw inside, saying it's an ongoing case.

The case is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday.
There are visions of a big party and major feting of the artist who created a handful of naked, fleshy statues of Donald Trump that popped up across the country in San Francisco over the Labor Day holiday.

But it's still unclear whether Joshua Ginger Monroe will get to go home with one of his masterpieces, a 80-inch tall likeness of the Republican presidential candidate that features a huge gut and a tiny you-know-what. That's because the statue is being held as evidence in a San Francisco police department property room.

Still, the 36-year-old Monroe is hoping to drive from Las Vegas to Lefty ODouls Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in San Francisco sometime before next weekend to retrieve the statue. It was confiscated from the Castro last week.

Lefty's owner, Nick Bovis, also plans to pay the city of San Francisco $4,000. That's how much it took the Department of Public Works to unstick the statues epoxy base from the sidewalk on Market Street  and turn it over to Monroe, who also created naked Trump statues in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and his former hometown of Cleveland.

San Francisco is just blowing me away with how awesome they are, Monroe said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Its amazing Nick would want to foot the bill. Theres been a lot of backlash about the exhibit, that its about fat shaming and trans phobia. Its none of that. Its about shaming Donald Trump.

The statues have held different fates around the country. In New York, police destroyed it  which is something Monroe had thought would  and wanted  to happen. I was kind of jealous, he said. I would have taken a bat to it myself. In Cleveland, police are holding the statue for 30 days, and may charge Monroe, or whomever put it there, with felony vandalism. In Los Angeles, a gallery owner swept it up before police could get to it.

According to Lefty ODouls spokesman Lee Houskeeper, San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener had spoken with the acting police chief and someone from the city attorneys office over the weekend, working to hammer out a deal where Monroe would not be arrested and the statue would be relinquished to the restaurant. Housekeeper said Bovis had first thought he would keep the statue in his establishment, but ultimately decided against it because some of his family members and co-workers were staunchly opposed to the naked Trump. Bovis wants to free the statue from police custody, Houskeeper said, to allow it to go home with Monroe, who could then sell it, perhaps for as much as $10,000.

Monroe wouldn't mind making the money. He was paid the cost of materials for the statues after hooking up with some people from an anarchist group identified as Indecline, but hasn't earned a penny more than that. Two guys from the group showed up in a U-Haul in Vegas, where Monroe dabbles in costumes for horror films, to take the statues away. San Francisco Police Officer Carlos Manfredi on Wednesday confirmed Monroe is not a suspect. Police are still seeking, however, the person or people who glued the statue to the sidewalk in the Castro last Thursday.

Now, its up to the city attorneys office whether to recommend charges be filed or fines levied in the case once Monroe is vetted by a investigator, Manfredi said. Monroe signed a document ceding the statue to Lefty ODouls this week. Calls to the city attorneys office werent immediately returned on Wednesday. Also, no one from Wiener's office was immediately available by phone or email either.

Monroe is floored by how much the statues definitely prompted fierce political debate - people are either sending him love letters, or hate mail.

On the one hand, many in liberal cities cheered on the unflattering display, officially called The Emperor Has No Balls. Political analyst Larry Gerston said San Francisco is the ultimate, progressive setting of flamboyant culture to display the statue. Gerston recalled a ballot measure in 2008, which was ultimately defeated, where residents wanted to renamed the sewage treatment plant after then-president George W. Bush.

But others, especially on the Right, feel the statues are politically inappropriate and juvenile. Harmeet Dhillon of San Jose, a business litigation lawyer in San Francisco and a Republican National Committeewoman, asked what if the statue had been made of Hillary Clinton?

I think body shaming and fat shaming is appalling when done to women of any political background, and same to men, she said. People should be treated with dignity and respect. I dont feel thats fair political discourse. Its not only vulgar and juvenile, its mean."

There are no current plans for a naked Clinton statue, at least created by Monroe. He said he's been asked to create a similar kind of statue for the Democratic presidential candidate.

His answer? "Absolutely, not."
Golden Gate National Recreation Area officials are offering suggestions to celebrate Founder's Day on Thursday, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

All park fees will be waived from Thursday through Sunday in honor of the anniversary, although user fees still apply for the Alcatraz Island ferry and the Muir Woods shuttle.

At www.findyourpark.com, Bay Area residents and visitors can find a park that fits their interests, park officials said.

There are more than 10 national park sites throughout the Bay Area such as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties, the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historic

Park in Richmond and the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site in Danville.

Other popular national park sites in the region include Muir Woods National Monument and Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, according to park officials.

A Golden Gate National Recreation Area iPhone app allows visitors to explore lesser-known parts of the recreation area such as the hiking trails of Rancho Corral de Tierra in San Mateo County and the historic WWII fortifications in the Marin Headlands.

Park officials suggest taking public transit to visit park sites.

Visitors to Muir Woods should plan ahead for crowds. The Muir Woods shuttle operates weekends and holidays through Oct. 30.

A program for fourth-graders allows them and their families to visit national parks for free for a year through the Every Kid in a Park program. The program provides a pass to all federal lands and waters. More information can be found at www.everykidinapark.gov.
The pressure is mounting to unseat a local judge.

A women's advocacy group is now joining the push against Judge Aaron Persky.

Members of UltraViolet rallied in front of the state building in San Francisco Wednesday, where the state's judicial commission was meeting. Persky has not provided justice for survivors of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence, protesters claimed.

Persky gave what many claim was a lenient six-month sentence to former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who sexually assaulted a fellow student near a dumpster outside a fraternity party in 2015.

The group delivered oversized pink slips to the commission that said Notice of termination for Judge Persky.

Their signs also accused Persky of protecting perpetrators, not survivors."

Demonstrators also gave formal complaints to members of the commission, calling on Perskys removal, and read part of a letter penned by the victim, who has been identified only as Jane Doe.

"If you think I was spared, came out unscathed, that today I ride off into sunset, while you suffer the greatest blow, you are mistaken. Nobody wins," Doe wrote in the letter, addressed to Turner. It was also read aloud in Congress.

As you know, its the letter from Jane Doe that galvanized the nation to stand up against sexual assault, and against normalizing and excusing that kind of behavior from a perpetrator like Brock Turner, said Adam Blink, the campaign director of UltraViolet. So reading that out loud will help draw attention to the case.

The commission, however, does not have the ability to take action against Persky.
A woman was viciously beaten for no apparent reason by a stranger she passed on the sidewalk in San Francisco last weekend, according to San Francisco police.

The victim, who was not identified, was taking a walk in Lafayette Park area, near the intersection of Washington and Gough streets about 7:45 p.m. Saturday when a man approached her and started punching her in the head and face.

A surveillance video provided by the San Francisco Police Department shows the man striking the woman and knocking her to the ground with the first punch then punching her about 20 more times as she lies on the ground. He then stands over her for a moment before walking off toward the street.

The man didn't take anything from the woman, and investigators believe the victim was random and did not know her attacker.

According to police, the man said something to the woman just as he attacked..

"I believe he asked her to say, 'Say you're sorry,' something along those lines, and she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about because she did not know him," police spokeswoman Giselle Talkoff said.

Talkoff said there was little the woman could do other than try to protect herself.

"I think she pretty much did what she could," Talkoff said. "It happened all of a sudden, he was larger than her, and she was knocked to the ground. So she had her arms up trying to defend herself, but there was nothing else in a sudden attack like that she could have done."

Police said the woman suffered a broken nose and still was in the hospital Wednesday. She told police she was scheduled to have surgery soon.

Police released the surveillance video Wednesday are asking for help from the public to try to identify the suspect. They believe the suspect is a white male in his 40s or 50s, with brown hair and wearing a green sweatshirt.
Donald Trump confronted head-on allegations that he is racist on Thursday, defending his hard-line approach to immigration while trying to make the case to minority voters that Democrats have abandoned them.

His general election opponent, Hillary Clinton, meanwhile hammered the point that Trump unleashed the "radical fringe" within the Republican Party, including anti-Semites and white supremacists, dubbing the billionaire businessman's campaign as one that will "make America hate again."

The ping-pong accusations come as the two candidates vie for minorities and any undecided voters with less than three months until Election Day. Weeks before the first early voting, Trump faces the urgent task of revamping his image to win over those skeptical of his candidacy.

In a tweet shortly after Clinton wrapped up her speech in the swing state of Nevada, Trump said she "is pandering to the worst instincts in our society. She should be ashamed of herself!"

Clinton is eager to capitalize on Trump's slipping poll numbers, particularly among moderate Republican women turned off by his controversial campaign. "Don't be fooled" by Trumps efforts to rebrand, she told voters at a speech in Reno, saying the country faced a "moment of reckoning."

"He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties," she said.

Trump tried to get ahead of the Democratic nominee, addressing a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire just minutes before Clinton.

"Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and the millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racists," Trump predicted.

"To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread her smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words," he said. "I want you to hear these words, and remember these words: Shame on you."

Trump tried to turn the tables on Clinton, suggesting she was trying to distract from questions swirling around donations to The Clinton Foundation and her use of her private email servers.

"She lies, she smears, she paints decent Americans as racists," said Trump, who then defended some of the core  and to some people, divisive  ideas of his candidacy.

Clinton did not address any of the accusations about her family foundation in her remarks. Instead, she offered a strident denouncement of Trump's campaign, charging him with fostering hate and pushing discriminatory policies, like his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Her speech focused on the so-called alt-right movement, which is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity," oppose multiculturalism and defend "Western values." Discussions about the alt-right movement became the subject of a Twitter war Thursday, with people on both sides of the debate tweeting under the hashtag #altrightmeans.

"#altrightmeans we don't want to kill you we just want you to go away," tweeted one person.

"#altrightmeans white supremacy. That's all Alt Right is. Another code word for white supremacy. Nothing more nothing less," another tweet said.

Clinton's campaign also released an online video that compiles footage of prominent white supremacist leaders praising Trump, who has been criticized for failing to immediately denounce the support he's garnered from white nationalists and supremacists, including former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

Also in New Hampshire on Thursday was Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson. He was scheduled to appear on the steps of the State House with running mate William Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts.

Johnson is trying to raise his polling profile to 15 percent so he can qualify for a spot in the presidential debates with Clinton and Trump.

Trump, who also met Thursday in New York with members of a new Republican Party initiative meant to train young  and largely minority  volunteers, has been working to win over blacks and Latinos in light of his past inflammatory comments and has been claiming that the Democrats have taken minority voters' support for granted. At rallies over the past week, the Republican presidential nominee cast Democratic policies as harmful to communities of color, and in Mississippi on Wednesday he went so far as to label Clinton "a bigot."

"They've been very disrespectful, as far as I'm concerned, to the African-American population in this country," Trump said.

Many black leaders and voters have dismissed Trump's message  delivered to predominantly white rally audiences  as condescending and intended more to reassure undecided white voters that he's not racist, than to actually help minority communities.

Cornell William Brooks, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" Thursday that Trump has not reached out to the organization for any reason. He added that Trump refused the group's invitation to speak at its convention.

"We're going to make it clear: You don't get to the White House unless you travel through the doors of the NAACP," Brooks said. "More importantly, you don't get to the White House without addressing the nation's civil rights agenda."

Before the meeting in New York, several protesters unfurled a banner over a railing in the lobby of Trump Tower that read, "Trump = Always Racist." They were quickly escorted out by security as they railed against Trump for "trying to pander to black and Latino leaders."

"Nothing will change," they yelled.
What to Know Google has created 360-degree guided tours of five parks to celebrate the birthday of the National Park Service

Guided tours are viewable on desktops, phones and in virtual reality with the VR headset Google Cardboard

All national parks and monuments that normally have an admission fee are free this weekend

Its a long trip from New York City to Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska  about 4,500 miles. But Kenai Fjords and four other national parks just got a little closer thanks to a series of virtual reality tours released by Google for the centennial of the national park system.

Google has created 360-degree guided tours of five parks to celebrate the birthday of the National Park Service, which was established 100 years ago Thursday. The service was founded on Aug. 25, 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson with the goal of preserving the nations natural and historic wonders for future generations.

In addition to Kenai Fjords, viewers can marvel at Hawaiis volcanoes, descend into the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, traverse Bryce Canyon in Utah, and dive into the waters of the Dry Tortugas in Florida.

Click here to explore the five parks. The guided tours are viewable on desktops, phones and in virtual reality with the VR headset Google Cardboard.

And if you're looking to get out in nature this weekend, all national parks and monuments that normally have an admission fee are free from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28 in honor of the centennial.

Head to the National Park Service website to search national parks by state.
Forty-three violations of the ceasefire were committed in Donbas on Wednesday, when Ukraine marked its Independence Day, the press center of the headquarters of Kyiv's army operation said.

"The adversary has been firing 122mm artillery systems on Troitske and Luhanske in the Donetsk region since midnight. Avdiyivka, Svetlodarsk and Nevelske came under mortar strikes, and banned 120mm weapons were also used. More than 30 strikes from tanks were recorded near Avdiyivka," the press center said in its 6:00 p.m. report, published on the press center's Facebook page.

Militant forces used heavy artillery and fired around 120 projectiles on Shyrokyne, located near the city of Mariupol, the press center said. Ukrainian military positions in Novohryhorivka, Shyrokyne and Starohnativka came under 120mm mortar fire. Militant units used 82mm mortars against Maryinka and Krasnohorivka and grenade launchers in Vodiane. A sniper was active in Novotroitske.

Militant forces also fired 50 152mm heavy artillery projectiles on the Ukrainian army's fortifications in Kalynova, Popasna, Novozvanivka, Zholobok and Novotoshkivske in the Luhansk region, and another 15 122mm projectiles were fired on Krymske, the headquarters said.

Militant units more than once used grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms, including sniper rifles, in Novooleksandrivka, it said. Large-caliber machineguns were fired in Zolote, and tanks were used against Ukrainian positions in Krymske.
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.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded to rumors Thursday that he could be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel.

Crains Chicago Business reporter Greg Hinz published a column Thursday speculating about the mayor potentially taking on the ambassador role.

I havent been offered, Emanuel said during a press conference Thursday. Its ridiculous.

Emanuel then joked about applying to be an intern at NBC and noted that he loves the challenges and opportunities of his current gig.

One cant say theyre not flattered, Emanuel added. Im absolutely not interested.

In his piece, Hinz noted that Emanuel is close with former President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. He served in both Democrats administrations.

The reporter also noted that the mayors mother is an Israeli immigrant. Additionally, Emanuel, who is Chicagos first Jewish mayor, served as a volunteer at an Israeli military base during the Gulf War.

A source close to the Clintons told Hinz that Emanuel would have to stand in line for the job because a lot of heavy hitters would also be interested.

Another experienced Washington hand reportedly told Hinz that the State Department would go apoplectic if Emanuel was chosen, noting that the mayor isnt a diplomat. The source, Hinz reported, also claimed Emanuel doesnt have the best relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, Hinz also wrote that the source said Emanuel "might be the best choice for Hillary Clinton if she feels obligated to give him a role in her administration if she's elected president in November.

The mayor, who is still reeling from the fallout of the 2014 Laquan McDonald shooting, will likely face a tough bid for reelection in 2019 if he chooses to run.
Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Tammy Duckworth participated in an agricultural roundtable Wednesday in Normal, taking the stage separately and trading barbs throughout the day.

During her time on stage, Duckworth addressed her plan to accept 200,000 refugees to America, 100,000 of which would come from Syria. The congresswoman warned that leaving children in refugee camps was tantamount to jeopardizing American security."

If we leave kids to grow up in those refugee camps and we turn our back and we create a religious litmus test for who can come to this country, we are feeding ISIS propaganda, Duckworth said. We are growing the next generation of kids who will grow up to be people who shoot down American helicopters like the kid who shot me down.

Shortly thereafter, Kirk questioned the refugee vetting process.

"She tried to tell you that the Syrians who are coming into the United States are somehow different, Kirk said. Shes asking you to suspend your common sense. Theyre all from Syria."

We cannot make the same mistake that Europe did, letting all of these people in, Kirk said.

The senator noted that 1,000 Syrian refugees would outnumber the number of FBI agents right here in Illinois.

I think its better to pause the program and leave those people out of the United States, Kirk said to a smattering of applause. Lets pick safety first."

Last week, Kirk likened President Barack Obama to the drug dealer in chief for making a $400 million cash payment to Iran that was tied to the release of American prisoners. Duckworth called Kirk unhinged for the comments Tuesday during a speech in front of the City Club of Chicago. The word means "mentally unbalanced." Duckworth ultimately backed off when reporters asked if voters should consider the aftereffects of Kirk's 2012 stroke, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The Republican responded during a press conference following the roundtable Wednesday.

"She is so desperate to run for office she would denigrate any stroke victim in America and make fun of them and that's awful," Kirk said. "You shouldn't do that. For people who have strokes, they can make tremendous comebacks mentally and physically."

Last week, the Obama administration claimed the $400 million payment was used as leverage to push for the release of four U.S. prisoners.

The payment was announced in January, a day after the Americans were freed and on the same weekend U.N. sanctions against Iran were lifted. The White House and State Department have denied Republicans claims that the transaction served as a ransom payment, claiming the timing was coincidental.

According to the State Department, the $400 million was used by Iran to purchase weapons and equipment from the U.S. while the shah was still in control, Prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Kirk refused to apologize for his controversial comments Wednesday, calling the $400 million cash transfer to Iran "unhinged."

"My opponent called me unhinged for referring to the drug dealer practice, but I would say its unhinged to send $400 million in cash to terrorists, Kirk said.

After being asked if he has a problem filtering some of his comments, Kirk responded, not at all.

I have a problem, definitely, with sending $400 million in 500 notes directly to the ayatollahs, Kirk said. Remember, the State Department has changed its story very much on this. At first they said it was not ransom, now they say it was leverage.

During Duckworths press conference, the congresswoman wasn't surprised when a reporter told her that Kirk refused to apologize to the president.

That fits a pattern, doesnt it, Duckworth asked reporters. He said a lot of really terrible things. Whether it was his bro with no ho comment, or, you know, now this, calling the president the equivalent of a dealer in chief.

"I just dont think thats language befitting of a United States senator and I think it diminishes the office and he should apologize and lets move on and lets focus on what we need for the people of Illinois," she added.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest also responded to Kirks comment Wednesday.

This is not the first time that weve heard that kind of rhetoric from Senator Kirk, Earnest said during a White House press conference. And I dont think that kind of rhetoric is consistent with the views of most people in Illinois about the efforts of President Obama to advance our interests around the would and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Earnest acknowledged that there was a temptation for politicians to say outrageous things to try to get attention during an election.

"But thats certainly no way to run a country and its certainly no way to confront issues that are as important as preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, securing the safe return of U.S. Americans that are detained unjustly overseas and settling a 35-year-old financial dispute with an adversary of the United States in a way that saves taxpayers potentially billions of dollars, Earnest said.

According to election ratings released Wednesday, the New York Times gives Duckworth an 80 percent chance of winning Kirk's seat in November.
A new poll conducted for the Illinois Economic Policy Institute shows that Chicago voters trust Mayor Rahm Emanuel to handle Chicago's budget over Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The survey, conducted by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, was comprised of 600 Chicagoans who voted in at least one of the last three Chicago mayoral elections. The poll was conducted via telephone between Aug. 8-11. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.

According to the poll, published Wednesday, 51 percent of voters said they trusted Emanuel with the citys budget, while 23 percent chose the governor.

The survey also found that 37 percent of respondents blamed past administrations for the citys budget woes, while 21 percent blamed Gov. Bruce Rauner and lawmakers in Springfield. Only 12 percent of voters blamed Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the current city government.

In terms of issues, 35 percent of voters said they were most concerned about education, while 34 percent listed crime and police issues and 15 percent answered taxes.

The poll also found that 29 percent of voters said they were willing to pay higher taxes for more services, while 20 percent favored lower taxes for fewer services. 44 percent of respondents said they would keep the current level of both.

However, a majority of Chicagoans said they were willing to pay more in taxes to pay for more police officers, school funding and neighborhood services.

Moreover, 53 percent of voters would prefer that Chicago raise taxes and other fees, rather than cutting services to schools and police to pay pensions to Chicago city workers. 25 percent preferred the alternative. Similarly, 53 percent of voters said they would raise taxes to balance the budget, while 24 percent preferred cutting services.

Additionally, the survey found that 61 percent of voters supported Emanuels municipal pension agreement. The mayors plan looks to protect the last of the four city pension funds by adding a tax to city water and sewer bills. 32 percent of respondents opposed the agreement.

The agreement was supported by a majority of surveyed Democrats, Independents and Republicans, as well as whites, African Americans and Latinos. The poll also showed a majority of support among union and non-union households, as well as with voters both under 35 years old and over 65 years old.

Voters who supported Emanuel in 2015 and voters who supported his opponent, Cook County Commissioner Jesus Chuy Garcia, backed the agreement in nearly equal measure, 65 percent and 63 percent, respectively.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest responded Wednesday to Sen. Mark Kirk likening President Barack Obama to the drug dealer in chief for making a $400 million cash payment to Iran that was tied to the release of American prisoners.

This is not the first time that weve heard that kind of rhetoric from Senator Kirk, Earnest said during a White House press conference. And I dont think that kind of rhetoric is consistent with the views of most people in Illinois about the efforts of President Obama to advance our interests around the would and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Kirk is currently locked in one of the nations most highly-contested Senate races with Rep. Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth urged Kirk to apologize to both the president and the people of Illinois for his comments Tuesday.

I know theres a temptation, particularly for those politicians that are on the ballot, to say outrageous things to try to get attention, Earnest added. "But thats certainly no way to run a country and its certainly no way to confront issues that are as important as preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, securing the safe return of U.S. Americans that are detained unjustly overseas and settling a 35-year-old financial dispute with an adversary of the United States in a way that saves taxpayers potentially billions of dollars.

Nevertheless, Kirk stood by his comments Wednesday, refusing to apologize at an agricultural roundtable in Normal.

President Obama and Senator Kirk have worked together in a bipartisan manner on key issues, including supporting marriage equality and blocking those on the terror watch list from buying guns, Kirk spokesman Kevin Artl said in a statement. President Obama even wrote Senator Kirk to thank him for his bipartisanship with Justice Garland. However, Senator Kirk simply believes the deal with Iran does not make our country safer."

During an interview with the State Journal-Register last week, Kirk claimed Obama was acting like the drug dealer in chief for making the $400 million cash payment to Iran. Last week, the Obama administration claimed the money was used as leverage to push for the release of four U.S. prisoners.

The payment was announced in January, a day after the Americans were freed and on the same weekend U.N. sanctions against Iran were lifted. The White House and State Department have denied Republicans claims that the transaction served as a ransom payment, claiming the timing was coincidental.

According to the State Department, the $400 million was used by Iran to purchase weapons and equipment from the U.S. while the shah was still in control, Prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
As the investigation into a fatal fire that killed three children in Chicago enters its third day, authorities say a person of interest has been released without charges.

The extra-alarm fire killed four people, including a man and three young sisters early Tuesday morning in a South Chicago apartment complex.

Police said Thursday no one is in custody but an investigation remains ongoing.

Family members said they've been left heartbroken and angry as fire officials believe the blaze 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 56-year-old Kirk Johnson, according to family members and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

The medical examiner ruled Wednesday that Johnson died of thermal injuries and carbon monoxide toxicity and declared his death a homicide.

Around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, 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.
Multiple individuals testified at a public hearing in Chicago Wednesday, explaining how insurance companies failed to alert them about death benefits that their families were owed.

"I am really upset about them because I think theyve been doing this practice for years," one woman said.

Nash was unaware that her grandmother had purchased a life insurance policy a decade ago, and only discovered the approximately $400 benefit during a life insurance audit.

Lynn Lucchese-Soto had a similar story, after discovering just weeks ago that her learning disabled sons had been entitled to more than $100,000 in life insurance benefits after a 2007 car accident.

"The children could have been well into their 50s before they actually would have had to notify the Treasurers office if it hadnt, through their own audit processes, determined that this insurance was available." Lucchese-Soto said.

For that reason, Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs put together a task force to push for legislation requiring insurance companies to use the federal death master file to identify deceased policy holders whose life insurance proceeds have not been paid.

"In the last 4 years, through the audits of 20 different life insurance companies, weve discovered over a half a billion dollars in benefits that were not paid to the loved one or heirs," Frerichs said at the hearing.

Frerichs invited Chicago-based insurance company Kemper Corp. to take part, an organization he has accused of committing this practice.

Kemper did not participate, saying they received an invitation, but that it came on the same day as the deadline to respond.

We pay insurance benefitswe are in the business of paying benefits," Kemper said in a statement. "Treasurer Frerichs accuses Kemper of being one of the companies that knowingly chose not to pay life insurance benefits after learning an insured had died. That accusation is not trueand the Treasurer knows it."

Pastor Mark Hinton testified about discovering that two of his parishioners left nearly $40,000 to his Southwest Side church. They should have received that money 15 years ago, he said, money that was used for improvements to the church.

"This money not getting into the hands of people who need it, it's just - its really sad," Hinton said.

The task force plans to hold more hearings on this topic across the state, according to Frerichs.
A Streamwood teen ran over his father three times with a car after an argument broke out at a relatives home in Chicagos North Austin neighborhood earlier this year, prosecutors said.

A lawyer for Tarrill Peters Jr. said the then-17-year-old was only trying to flee the neighborhood in his mothers rented Buick LaCrosse after some relatives started viciously beating his father, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Peters was trying to save his 39-year-old father, defense attorney David Peilet told Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr.

The teen may have accidentally struck his father, who spelled his name Terrell Peters, because he was trying to escape the violent mob, Peilet said after court on Wednesday.

Tarrill Peters mother was also hit by the car and suffered a broken leg in the incident Feb. 13, prosecutors said.

She was in court to show support for her son.

Peters cousin, then 37, also was treated for abrasions and bruises to his legs. The cousin stood in the street waving his arms in an effort to get Tarrill Peters to stop, Assistant States Attorney Liam Reardon said.

Bourgeois said the fact that Tarrill Peters ran over his father three times shows some impulse problems before ordering the 18-year-old held without bail for murder.

Peilet said it was a mystery as to why Tarrill was charged months later when he voluntarily went to police at the time of the incident and was released.

Peilet said the teen had never been in trouble with the law and said he had no reason to kill his father.

At the February gathering after a funeral, several family members started arguing with the elder Peters over his treatment of his common law wife, who is Tarrills mother Reardon said.

During the argument, Tarrill Peters mother drove up in the rental Buick so her family could leave.

She left the car running and went to tend to her husband after two relatives punched and kicked him and he fell to the ground, Reardon said.

Thats when the younger Peters got behind the wheel and drove over his dads head, prosecutors said.

The teen then made a U-turn at the end of the block and sped back toward his father, Reardon said.

The cousin was hit, then the woman was struck as she was with the elder Peters, Reardon said.

After the second strike, the teen circled the block at a high rate of speed to take another shot at his dad, Reardon said.

His mother and cousin were able to move out of the way. The elder Peters was hit a third time.

Terrell Peters died at Stroger Hospital. He suffered skull fractures, lacerations on both lungs, pelvic fractures and injuries to his aorta, Reardon said.

The Buick LaCrosse, which was found near the scene, had front-end damage on the passenger side and blood and DNA on the front bumper, Reardon said.

Surveillance video from a neighboring home recorded a portion of the incident and several relatives identified the younger Peters as the driver, Reardon said.
A Chicago universitys dean wants the class of 2020 to know they should be prepared to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Incoming freshman at the University of Chicago were sent a letter from Dean of Students John Ellison informing them the university does not support so-called trigger warnings.

Ellison said in the letter that freedom of inquiry and expression is one of the universitys defining characteristics, before reaffirming that freedom of expression does not mean freedom to harass or threaten others.

In a welcome letter to freshmen, the College made clear that it does not condone safe spaces or trigger warnings: pic.twitter.com/9ep3n0ZbgV  The Chicago Maroon (@ChicagoMaroon) August 24, 2016

The letter comes in the wake of DePaul Universitys rejection of hosting conservative writer and speaker Ben Shapiro, which itself came on the heels of controversial speaker and blogger Milo Yiannopouloss event being interrupted and shut down by protesters on DePauls campus.

Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called trigger-warnings, we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, Ellison wrote in the letter. And we do not condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.

At the University of Chicago  a private research university with more than 5,800 undergrads and nearly 10,000 graduate students  several high-profile speakers were interrupted or shut down by calls for space spaces earlier in 2016, according to The Chicago Maroon, the campus newspaper.

Three speakers at the University of Chicago were forced to leave or were interrupted by protesters between February and April of this year, according to The Chicago Maroon: Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, Palestinian human rights activist Bassem Eid and University of Louisville professor Justin McCarthy, who students said denies the Armenian genocide.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

Ellison also included in the letter a copy of Academic Freedom and the Modern University: The Experience of the University of Chicago which he says will articulate the universitys stance on academic freedom.

Fostering the exchange of ideas reinforces a related university prioritybuilding a campus that welcomes people of all background, the letter reads. Diversity of opinion and background is a fundamental strength of our community. The members of our community must have the freedom to espouse and explore a wide range of ideas.

Constitutional law experts praised the University of Chicago's move.

"It's about time that a university administration stood up to the bullies who are trying to repress free speech on campus," renowned civil liberties lawyer and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz told NBC News. "I'm ashamed that Harvard was not the first to do it."
A 50-year-old woman was robbed on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuels block Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The woman was unloading bags from a parked vehicle in the 4200 block of North Hermitage in the citys Ravenswood neighborhod when she told police a man exited an older model sedan, approached her from behind and demanded her property.

The man pushed the woman down and took her bag. Then got back in the sedan and fled northbound.

The woman told police at least three others were inside the car.

The victim refused treatment and no one was in custody for the robbery as of Thursday morning.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Head of the EU Delegation in Ukraine Jan Tombinski, who is finishing his diplomatic mission in the country, have discussed priorities of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, in particular the introduction of the visa-free regime.

The prime minister called the European side to the speedy completion of the relevant procedures for the liberalization of the EU visa regime for Ukrainians. Groysman also noted the need to finalize the process of ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as soon as possible, the government's press service reported.

The prime minister also pointed to the need to provide additional EU trade preferences to Ukraine, noting that "improving access of Ukrainian goods to the EU market will have a serious positive impact on Ukraine's economy and Ukrainian business."

Groysman also thanked the EU ambassador for cooperation and support in this difficult time for the country and wished him success in his new diplomatic post.

"I am convinced that the next ambassador will continue what was started and we will be able to deepen our cooperation," the prime minister said.

For his part, Tombinski assured Groysman of the EU support of Ukraine, in particular amidst the aggression and threats to its territorial integrity.

"I'm sure that the path - the European path that Ukraine has chosen - will strengthen the sovereignty of the Ukrainian state," he said.
Indiana's Department of Homeland Security says a tornado outbreak Wednesday produced at least 12 tornadoes.

Agency spokesman John Erickson says officials are still assessing the storm damage Thursday, but that the tally as of Wednesday night showed 12 tornadoes touched down in Adams, Allen, Blackford, Cass, Grant, Howard, Marion and Montgomery counties in northern and central Indiana.

Several of those tornadoes struck Howard County, where the south side of the city of Kokomo suffered extensive damage.

National Weather Service surveys Thursday should determine whether additional storm damage in other areas was caused by tornadoes or high winds in severe thunderstorms.

Authorities say between 15 and 20 people suffered injuries but none were severe.

Emergency officials and the Red Cross have set up shelters for victims of the tornadoes.

One shelter is at the Kokomo Event and Conference Center. The Indianapolis Star reports that about 200 people were being housed and fed at the center at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, hours after the storms moved through. Kokomo is about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.

Another shelter is at Walnut Elementary School in New Ross, northwest of Indianapolis.

The Indiana Red Cross regional headquarters in Indianapolis has a team of employees and volunteers working at an operations center.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he'll tour Howard and Montgomery counties and possibly other areas Thursday to assess storm damage after several tornadoes tore through central Indiana Wednesday.

The Republican vice presidential candidate returned to Indiana from the campaign trail Wednesday evening after the National Weather Service said at leat eight tornadoes struck the state. One that hit Kokomo has been determined to be an EF3 with 165 mph winds.

Pence says he'll remain in the state as long as necessary to ensure people affected by the storms have the support they need. He says 200 people have checked in to a Red Cross shelter in Kokomo.

Authorities say between 15 and 20 people suffered injuries but none were severe.

Emergency officials and the Red Cross have set up shelters for victims of the tornadoes.

One shelter is at the Kokomo Event and Conference Center. The Indianapolis Star reports that about 200 people were being housed and fed at the center at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, hours after the storms moved through. Kokomo is about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.

Another shelter is at Walnut Elementary School in New Ross, northwest of Indianapolis.

The Indiana Red Cross regional headquarters in Indianapolis has a team of employees and volunteers working at an operations center.
A member of the U.S. Navy and his girlfriend are accused of firing guns from their New London balcony.

Police responded to Shaw and Hamilton streets at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday and realized the shots were coming from a back porch on Hamilton Street, which led them to determine a man and woman were shooting what appeared to be a .22 caliber rifle and unknown caliber pellet gun from the back porch of 1 Hamilton Street, Unit #7.10, police said.

Robert Sanchez, 22, and his girlfriend Rachel Whittinghill, 22, were charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment in the second degree and breach of peace.

Sanchez, a three-year-member of the Navy, was released to the custody of the United States Navy on a $100,000 non-surety bond, police said.

Whittinghill was held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

No one was injured, but the siding of a barn behind the residence was damaged.

Police said they seized a Ruger .22 caliber rifle, refashioned and restocked to resemble an M-16 military-type rifle.
A man accused of sexually assaulting a minor turned himself into Windsor Locks Police on Thursday.

Jose Rosario, 42 of Hartford has been charged with three counts of sexual assault - two first-degree and one fourth-degree - and three counts of risk of injury to a minor, police said.

The arrest warrant stems from an investigation that began in late 2015.

Rosario's bond was set at $100,000 and he is expected to appear in court on Aug. 26.

Due to the nature of the crime and the victim's age, no other details were released by police.
A former Newtown, Connecticut police sergeant who pleaded guilty to his role in a steroid distribution ring has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Former Newtown police Sgt. Steven Santucci, of Waterbury, was sentenced in federal court in Hartford and will be on supervised release after serving his prison term.

Federal prosecutors said Santucci had been receiving illegal shipments of ingredients from China since 2011 and used the proceeds of the drug sales to fund a lavish lifestyle that included vacations and cruises to exotic locations.

Officials said he charged more than $300,000 on two personal credit cards from April 2011 to November 2014, including more than $100,000 to pay for the luxurious vacations.

About a dozen people were arrested in the case, which federal officials called Operation Juice Box.

Authorities said they found hundreds of vials of steroids, about 600 grams of raw testosterone powder, 350 grams of powder cocaine and four long guns as part of the investigation.

Santucci, who officials called the head of a steroid drug trafficiking organization" pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court, Santucci said his drug abuse began nearly a decade ago when his efforts at the gym failed to give him the body-building results he desired.

A judge also ordered Santucci to serve six months of home confinement, to perform 120 hours of community service while on supervised release and to pay a $5,000 fine.

He has been ordered to report to prison on Oct. 10.
A deadly earthquake in central Italy is impacting the Italian-American community across the state.

Many still have family and friends living in Italy. Images of death and destruction in Italy are hard to watch for those thousands of miles away.

I dont believe what I am looking at. The devastation is just unbelievable, says Bill Iovanne of New Haven.

Nowhere in the state might the connection to Italy be stronger than in East Haven. Nearly half the people in the town trace their heritage to the country now dealing with the aftermath of the major earthquake.

Some spent Wednesday working and waiting for updates from relatives and coworkers in Italy.

Its sad because Italy is always getting hit and everything there is really old, says Anthony Peluso, owner of Tollis Apizza.

A fella that works with us just left Italy this morning to go to Ireland. Hes on his honeymoon. But he, he was actually in Rome but he missed it, says Iovanne.

People are concerned about the horrible loss of life and the search for survivors. Theres also the destruction of historic buildings, which are more susceptible to the effects of a quake.

People here stand ready to help and say Italians are strong.

Those Italian proverbs. That means the Italian will get thin. Hell get skinny. But he wont die. So theyre very resilient people, dont give up, says Peluso.
A man was arrested and charged with nine counts of violating his sex offender registration requirements, Hartford Police said.

Trevor Austin was originally placed on the Connecticut Sex offender Registry in 2010 as a lifetime registrant after serving time for an offense in Oregon, police said.

Hartford Police said Austin never verified his address in the city and has had four arrests consisting of multiple violations of the registry requirements.

Austin, who has 43 previous arrests in Hartford alone, surrendered himself to police on Wednesday. His bond was set at $100,000.

He was charged with nine counts of failure to register as a sex offender.
A Bristol man suspected in a burglary of a Wolcott bowling alley in July 2015 has been arrested and police said he disabled the security system, cut a hole in the roof and broke into a safe.

Police said DNA led them to identify 29-year-old Luis Rivera, of Bristol, as the suspect in the burglary at Wolcott Bowling Lanes, at 955 Wolcott Road.

Rivera was able to break the safe open with tools he had found in the bowling alley and left with a large quantity of cash, police said.

Police obtained a warrant for him in January, but hed fled the state. In July, he was arrested on a driving under the influence charge in Colonial Heights, Virginia and police there later found that he was wanted on a felony arrest warrant in Wolcott.

After a five-day sentence in Virginia, he was detained at the Riverside Regional Jail in Price George, Virginia until members of the Wolcott Police Department went to get him.

Rivera has been charged with first-degree burglary and first-degree larceny and he is wanted on five other outstanding warrants for violation of probation and failure to appear stemming from other burglary charges that occurred in the past in other towns.

Rivera will be arraigned at Waterbury Superior Court on Aug. 25.
Fried chicken nuggets, chicken fingers, and patties are the thing of the past at Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Healthier options have been on the menu thanks to Michelle Obama's healthy school lunch initiative.

When Rodney K. Taylor, director of food and nutrition services at the schools, received a directive to make lunch food healthier, by adding fruits, veggies and whole grains, he decided to take it a step further and eliminate the fried options.

He begun serving grilled spice-rubbed chicken to students instead.

No-one made a peep, Taylor said of the reaction among students.

The new nutritional standards in schools were spurred by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, one of the central policies at the heart of Obamas effort to address childhood obesity. It was signed in 2010 and took effect in 2014. The legislation required schools to increase the servings of fruits and vegetables, increase the amount of whole grains, and reduce the amount of sodium and sugar in meals provided to students.

As Obama prepares to leave the White House at the end of 2016, it's not clear yet whether the changes are helping reduce childhood obesity. But supporters say the program is already a win because kids are eating whole grains and lower-sodium options.

It was revolutionary, it took away the focus from the bottom line and moved it to nutrition, said Taylor, who has over a decade of experience as food director. When I first started no-one was talking about nutrition so we really contributed to the obesity epidemic. Its a good thing the legislators stepped in.

The act encountered heavy pushback from conservatives who viewed it as executive overreach. Obama, however, has never relented, exerting pressure on the GOP, including in a 2014 New York Times op-ed piece.

Remember a few years ago when Congress declared that the sauce on a slice of pizza should count as a vegetable in school lunches? You dont have to be a nutritionist to know that this doesnt make much sense, she wrote.

Later that year, at a White House event, she said, Im going to fight until the bitter end to make sure that every kid in this country continues to have the best nutrition that they can have in our schools.

The first ladys strategy paid off because in late January the Senate Agriculture Committee released a statement in favor of reauthorizing the program.

Folks said we couldnt come to an agreement on child nutrition reauthorization  let alone a bipartisan agreement  but we did, chairman Pat Roberts said. This bipartisan legislation is a true compromise. Not everyone got everything they wanted, but a lot of folks have a lot to be happy about.

The School Nutrition Association, a nonprofit professional organization that advocates for healthful school meals, is one such party. The group previously criticized the new standards as financially prohibitive, too strict, and unfeasible for schools to adopt so quickly. HHFKA originally required 100 percent of all grains served at schools be whole grain rich and that sodium levels be cut in half by 2017. Those standards have been loosenedthe whole grain requirement to 80 percent of all grains served and the sodium deadline extended to 2019.

The SNA was pleased to work with the USDA and the White House to reach an agreement, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, director of media relations at the SNA. Kevin Concannon, USDA undersecretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, said we didnt want to punish schools who were struggling to meet the standards. Concannon went on to say, though, that more than 98 percent of schools are meeting the guidelines.

Sept. 30, 2015, marked the deadline for Congress to reauthorize the HHFKA but lawmakers blew past it. While the lack of reauthorization didn't impact existing programs, advocates pushing for reauthorization look at it as an opportunity to increase funding for school lunches.

HHFKA is relatively new and measurable public health outcomes will take years if not decades.

Margot Wootan, director of of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, though, expects a positive effect. Wootan called the act enormously important and explained that her expectations are not unreasonable because children get a third to half their daily calories from school meals. With the calories now coming from more nutritionally dense foods, positive outcomes are likely. Jessica Donze Black, director of Kids Safe and Healthful Foods at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said with all the sound science behind the policy she expects that HHFKA will "significantly impact the health outcomes of children."

Schools across the country have been reporting other positive outcomes. Since the widespread acceptance of the standards independent studies have shown that plate waste, where uneaten food ends up in the trash, is actually down while fruit and vegetable consumption has gone up.

Lynette Dodson, director of school nutrition of Carrolton City schools in Carrolton, Georgia, said that the children are eating the fruits and vegetables, going through three times as many bananas alone compared to before the act. Schools in Carrolton track the amount of fruit and vegetable consumption using production records. She also said that teachers in her district saw almost immediate positive impacts on student attentiveness and behavior.

Because of this Dodson said the district has adopted a new mantra. Whole food is good food.

Undersecretary Concannon, said he hears similar stories during his visits to schools all over the country. He called a lot of the early criticisms of the first ladys initiative more noise than anything else. Concannon said families are on board, given that the school lunch program now serves close to 31 million children and the school breakfast program serves almost 15 million children, about 5 million more than before HHFKA was enacted. Statistics from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation support Concannons claim, with the number of parents who support the new standards outnumbering parents who do not 3 to 1.

For kids, Michelle Obama has become a symbol," Concannon said. "They know she cares.

The first lady has vowed to continue to work on issues of childhood obesity even after her time in the White House is up.

It's not like I have a one-year or two-year time frame on this issue. For me, this issue is the rest-of-my-life kind of time frame," she said at the White House earlier this year. "Because I know that's what it's going to take to truly solve this problem."
Four firefighters were transported to hospitals while fighting a fire inside a Dallas-area apartment laundry room Thursday morning, authorities said. [[391276731,R]]

Firefighters were called to the two-story Residence at Midtown apartments at 11600 Dennis Road shortly after 5:14 a.m., according to a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson.

Firefighters said the apartment's laundry room and the leasing office were damaged in the fire.

Four firefighters were transported to a hospital for obvservation after being exposed to fumes from pool chemicals that were in a closet damaged in the fire. Authorities said they are expected to be OK.

No other injuries were reported and no residents were displaced.

Investigators said they think the fire started in the laundry room, but they have not yet determined the cause.
Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski has expressed his regret that Ukraine didn't get the visa-free regime with the EU during his tenure as the ambassador to Kyiv.

"Now it's up to the European Parliament. In early September there will be a report of the European Parliament's commission on Ukraine's progress, and again the issue of electronic declaration will be mentioned in this report. Then a discussion is scheduled for October and then the European Parliament will make its decision. I can see that at present all of the elements, except for the system of electronic declaration, have been fulfilled. I will not speculate on the dates here. Now Ukraine and the Ukrainian authorities are responsible for the execution of the remaining element required for a positive decision on Ukraine's progress," he told journalists in Kyiv on Thursday.

Tombinski added that the process of creating the National Agency for Corruption Prevention took more than eight months, and the system of electronic declaration of income for officials was launched with a five-month delay.
Eight people suffered minor injuries Thursday morning when a school bus carrying middle school students collided with a car outside Northwest High School in Justin Thursday morning, officials said. [[391286531,R]]

Northwest Independent School District officials confirmed the bus was heading to Gene Pike Middle School  just west of the high school  when it collided with a sedan along Farm-to-Market Road 156 shortly before 9 a.m.

MedStar Ambulance said there were 45 students on the bus at the time of the crash. The district said all were safely evacuated and have since returned to class.

"No major injuries occurred," the district stated in a news release. "All students and the bus driver are safe. Two students were transported for precautionary measures."

An accident involving a Pike bus occurred in front of Northwest High. No major injuries were reported, and students were safely evacuated.  Northwest ISD (@NorthwestISD) August 25, 2016

MedStar said six others, four students and the two drivers, were treated at the scene for minor injuries and released.

From Chopper 5, dozens of students were seen gathering under a nearby tree where they were evaluated by emergency medical personnel before being released.

Eight people were injured Thursday when a school bus and car collided outside Northwest High School in Justin.

The full statement from Northwest ISD:

A bus carrying Pike Middle School students was involved in an accident in front of Northwest High School on F.M. 156 this morning. No major injuries resulted from the crash, and all students in the bus were safely evacuated and loaded onto another bus to Pike.

Parents of students who were on the bus are being notified of the accident. Please be aware that traffic on F.M. 156 may be delayed as cleanup of the accident is occurring. We are extremely thankful all our students are safe.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Please check back for the latest on this developing story. As developments unfold, elements may change.
Texas' highest criminal court has rejected an appeal from a man on death row for suffocating a 2-year-old Utah girl on Christmas Day 1997.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused the appeal from 44-year-old Britt Allen Ripkowski, saying in a brief ruling Wednesday that it failed to meet legal standards and was being denied.

Ripkowski was convicted of abducting and killing 2-year-old Dominique Frome, folding her body into a suitcase and burying it northeast of Houston.

Days earlier in December 1997, authorities say he strangled the child's mother, his ex-girlfriend Monica Allen, in Salt Lake City and left her body in a field near the Utah-Colorado border.

A scheduled February 2013 execution was halted by a Texas judge and Ripkowski does not yet have a new death date.
The mother of the boy who was killed in a Dallas apartment last week has filed a lawsuit.

Mariela Pena is suing Solana Ridge Apartments and Atmos Energy Corporation after her 7-year-old son, Fabian, died.

The suit claims that gas leaks had been reported by residents of the apartment complex before the fire occurred on Aug. 17.

Fabian was inside his apartment with his mother and her infant son when the fire started. Pena and the baby escaped with minor injuries, but Fabian was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.

The apartment complex and Atmos have not commented on the lawsuit.

Gas Leak Letter Sent to Residents

Residents said the complex has had issues with its gas system.

A letter was sent to residents on Aug. 5 that said "Solana Ridge is currently in the process of having repairs done to the gas line in your section of the property.We are turning off your stove during this repair and will return once repairs are complete. We will return to turn your stove back on."

Lawsuit:

//

Solana-Ridge-Lawsuit (PDF)

Solana-Ridge-Lawsuit (Text)
A man is recovering after being shot multiple times just outside The Parks Mall at Arlington Wednesday evening, police say.[[391228611,R]]

It happened just before 7 p.m. in a mall parking garage, according to Arlington Police Spokesman Lt. Chris Cook.

Cook said the victim was with his wife near Macy's Department Store in the mall when he got into an altercation with the shooter.

The men eventually parted ways, but the victim and his wife were approached by the man again; this time, he was accompanied by two other men.

The man pulled out a gun and shot the victim multiple times in the legs, Cook said.

Lt. Chris Cook with Arlington police discusses the shooting that took place outside The Parks Mall at Arlington Wednesday night.

A witness told police they saw the three men running, with one of them tossing a gun onto the roof of a nearby store.

The men then made their get-away in an Uber car.

Soon after, witnesses led officers to the car.

Police pulled the vehicle over and arrested the shooter. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault.

The other two men were detained for questioning, but have been released pending further investigation.

The Uber driver is not facing any charges because he was unaware that the men in his car were wanted by police.

Working a shooting call at the mall with one victim struck in a parking garage. We have the shooter in custody. pic.twitter.com/lsZuvsBhsB  Will Johnson (@ArlingtonChief) August 25, 2016

The victim was transported to Medical Center of Arlington, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The identities of those involved have not been released.
The federal government is now investigating one of the most famous tours in the world because of an NBC4 investigation. The I-Team series documented potential safety hazards of Hollywood tour buses, including showing how some seatbelts have been modified or removed altogether. The series also looked at how the buses have been customized so that they are "topless," leading experts and officials to question their ability to protect passengers in the event of an accident.

The United States Department of Transportation has mailed certified letters to more than two dozen tour bus companies stating it believes the convertible tour buses lining Hollywood Boulevard are not safe and should not be taking passengers anywhere.

"It instantly became clear to us that this was a safety issue that we needed to take action," said Bryan Thomas, the communications director for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"We're advising the tour operators that we don't believe these vehicles are safe in their present condition and they shouldn't be transporting passengers," Thomas added.

NHTSA also issued a "special order" to each tour bus operator, demanding information about the customized tour vans, so that it can investigate potential violations. It is specifically asking about whether seatbelts were modified, and details about the roof removal. Thomas told NBC4, "We're very curious as to how the modifications were made, who made those modifications and we'll be collecting a lot more information about that in the coming weeks."

"Our main concern is making sure no crashes, no accidents happen in these vehicles; no one is injured," Thomas continued. "We're taking action to prevent any tragedy like that."

California Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian has told the I-Team he's taking action to better regulate the Hollywood tour industry as well. He plans to introduce at least one new piece of legislation on the first day of the Assembly's next session in January.

Dozens of the "open" tour vans transport thousands of tourists and residents every week into the hills above Hollywood and Beverly Hills to point out landmarks and celebrity homes.

The NBC4 I-Team interviewed one mechanic who cuts the tops off vans for several Hollywood tour companies. Pedro Rodriquez of "Rudy's Custom Tops" said he does reinforce the structure, but added that he cuts out the shoulder belts that are attached to the roof.

Many of the modified vehicles used for "open" Hollywood tours are Ford vans. When contacted by the I-Team, a Ford spokeswoman said it's the first the company has heard of its vehicles being customized in this way, and added that the mechanic or auto shop that did the modifications would be responsible for adhering to all safety standards.

Ford added that "Rudy's Custom Tops" is not one of the company's "approved [vehicle] upfitters," or modifiers.

The National Transportation Safety Administration has also sent a special order to "Rudy's Custom Tops," urging the owner "to discontinue making such modifications," and warning owner Rodriguez that by altering the vehicles, he could be violating federal safety standards.

Companies that don't respond to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration's special order by Sept. 19 could be subject to civil penalties of up to $21,000 per day.

The National Transportation Safety Administration is now urging tourists and residents to steer clear of the modified tour vans.

As the I-Team first revealed, many of the celebrity homes they point out are lies anyway.
Detectives and family members of a 4-year-old boy shot and killed in Altadena appealed for the public's help Thursday in identifying whoever is responsible for the child's death.

Salvador Esparza III of Monrovia was pronounced dead at a hospital after he was shot about 10:40 p.m. on July 5 at 384 W. Figueroa Drive. The kindergarten-bound boy had been visiting family friends when he was wounded, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A 27-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting, officials said.

"If anybody knows any information regarding this, please, please, please don't be scared to talk," the boy's mother, Coral Salvador, said. "Please just talk to the detectives, talk to somebody about it. I really want justice for my son."

At the time of the shooting, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said a person of interest had gotten into a heated alcohol-fueled argument in the street with the live-in boyfriend of the mother of the slain boy an hour or two before the shooting.

The boyfriend and his brother were the shooter's intended targets, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.

"It's never easy when you see a child lose his life and it's never easy for anybody and of course he's not the intended target, not the intended victim in this," Corina said. "You know a bullet has no name so it just ends up striking a child who just happened to be on the porch."

Both victims were visiting the home and several other young children were asleep inside when the gunfire broke out, Corina said.

A gunman walked up to the home, located just east of the Foothill (210) Freeway, and fired at least 13 rounds, striking the victims as they sat on a porch, according to the sheriff's department.

Both were taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, where the boy was pronounced dead, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

The man, who deputies described as a family friend not related to the child, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff's department.

The gunman, who Corina said is possibly a gang member who lives in the neighborhood, got into a dark car and fled the scene. The attack was initially described as a drive-by shooting but investigators later determined the gunman walked toward the victims from the direction of Olive Avenue.

The victim's mother and other family members are expected to join sheriff's investigators at Thursday's 11 a.m. news conference at the crime scene.

A $20,000 reward was offered for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the boy's death.

Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to contact the sheriff's department at (323) 890-5500 or, anonymously, Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park will be free for four days, starting Thursday in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

The usual $20 entrance fee will be waived for the National Park Service's birthday weekend, which will feature free admission at all 412 national parks through Sunday. The fee waiver will not cover campsite fees, tours of the historic Key's Ranch, or special use events, according to park officials.

However, entrance will be free to Joshua Tree Superintendent David Smith's 10 a.m. cutting of the NPS birthday cake at the park's Oasis Visitor Center.

As part of the centennial celebration, Google launched 360-degree tours of U.S. National Parks.
When word arrived at the start of 2016 that Trejo's Tacos, the new eatery from actor Danny Trejo, would soon be doing delicious business on La Brea Avenue, fans of the star got super-stoked.

Super-stoked over the notion of savory and authentic noshables created by Mr. Trejo, a performer known for pivotal roles in "Sons of Anarchy" and "Machete" and numerous other high-profile projects.

But if making it to the corner of La Brea and Sycamore hasn't yet been in the cards for you, or you can't go nearly enough to suit your horchata- and brisket-loving hankerings, prepare to get happy: Trejo's Tacos, the food truck, will make its take-to-the-streets debut on Monday, Aug. 29.

What will the wheeled restaurant serve, at least to begin with? Look for a selection of tacos including cauliflower, grilled chicken, pork, and brisket. That's the starter quartet of tortilla-wrapped goodness, but word is different tacos will go onto rotation, depending upon the week (stay tuned).

Every taco worth its fire needs a refreshing libation to complement its piquant awesomeness, and the Trejo's Tacos food truck will be stocked with drinks. There shall be agua fresca action to keep your palate cooled down, and, you got it, Trejo's Tacos creamy horchata will be in the house (er, truck).

And prepare to devour chips, guac, and salsa on whatever curb you happen to find the mobile taco-torium.

As for locating Mr. Trejo's truck and its next SoCal stop, best follow @trejostruck on Instagram and Twitter.

Could you do both the La Brea restaurant and the food truck in a single day? Absolutely.

What if you had a pork taco at 11 a.m. but need a brisket at 6 in the evening? There are essential matters to consider as you plan your day around the important pursuit of tasty tacos.
A jury found Thursday that members of Southern California school district food service staff were not negligent when they served an 11-year-old student food that triggered an allergic reaction.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated for about a half-day before rejecting the claims brought on behalf of the boy, who is now 16 years old, by his father. The boy testified that he believed he was going to die when he suffered the allergic reaction in February 2012 at his elementary school. He said he had looked forward to having a special Valentine's Day cookie that came with a chicken sandwich, but juice from green beans left on his plate seeped into his meal and caused the attack.

"My throat started closing up," he testified. "It felt tight. I started to panic."

He said he headed toward the school office, but collapsed twice along the way.

The boy testified that no nurse was there when he arrived. A school worker gave him an antihistamine, but he was unable to swallow it, he said, testifying that his throat continued to feel tight and his tongue itched. A nurse finally arrived and gave him an epinephrine injection for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis.

His father later took him to a hospital.

The boy's lawyer said outside the courtroom that he was disappointed with the verdict, but did not know if he will appeal, City News Service reported.

Dominic Quiller, representing Rowland Unified School District, told jurors that the case was about accountability. He said the boy's parents provided outdated information at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, saying their son was allergic only to shellfish and beans.

Quiller disputed the boy's claim that he told the food server he was allergic to green beans and that they should have been removed from his tray. Quiller also rejected the plaintiff's claim he suffered anaphylactic shock.

Quiller said the boy's parents knew at the beginning of February 2012 that green beans would be served on Valentine's Day because the monthly menu is published in advance. He said the parents could have given their son a lunch to take with him to school as they did most days, but he wanted to have the special cookie.

The boy also was allergic to other foods that were not listed to the school district by his parents at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, Quiller said.
A hearing was held Thursday for a Miami-Dade man accused of brutally assaulting his Craigslist roommate, as the case prepares to head to trial.

Byron Mitchell, 36, is charged with attempted felony murder in the February incident that left 23-year-old Danielle Jones in a coma.

Mitchell, who remains behind bars without bond, didn't appear in court Thursday, but Jones and her family were there, expecting to see him.

"Danielle was upset, she knew she was going to see him," mother Aimee Nikolov said.

Jones found Mitchell on a Craigslist ad for a roommate. He moved into her Miami apartment but two weeks later on Valentine's Day, Mitchell allegedly choked Jones and then beat her head into the floor.

"We get to see the consequences of what this man did to her, how different she is," Nikolov said.

Mitchell claims Jones came at him with a knife and he was defending himself. For now attorneys are still working on gathering all medical information and interviewing witnesses.

"At the end of the day we need to be patient so that justice can be served and he can stay in prison for life and that's what we want," said Jamie Peters, Jones' attorney.

Prosecutors said they're prepared for trial, which is scheduled to start on January 17. Both sides will come to court every 30 days or so to update the judge on their progress and the next hearing will be in mid October.
Venue for Eurovision 2017 may be announced in a week

General Director of National Television and Radio Company of Ukraine Zurab Alasania has said the announcement of the Ukrainian city chosen to host Eurovision-2017 could be made in a week.

"The city (and place) of holding the contest has not yet been selected. Two of the three cities applying have significant advantages. Kyiv and Odesa are running neck and neck," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Alasania said that each of the city applicants has shortcomings. The working group of the organizing committee continues to study proposal submitted by the cities.

"One more week? The intrigue is completely in the spirit of Eurovision competition," he said.

As reported, Kyiv, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk were qualified for the final of the contest to select a Eurovision 2017 host city.

The organizing committee of the contest was expected to announce the finalist on August 27, but the announcement was cancelled.
A Hollywood man is facing multiple charges after police say he posted child pornography to Twitter.

David Michael Pulju, 24, was arrested Wednesday at his workplace in Miramar on 11 counts of possession of obscene material, Hollywood Police said.

Pulju wasn't listed in Broward County jail records, and it was unknown if he's hired an attorney.

According to an arrest report, child pornography was posted to Twitter in February by Pulju. Hollywood Police and the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation in May.

Officers found more than 50 images on Pulju's computer of male children engaging in sexual acts, police said. Pulju admitted he had child pornography on his computer and said he acquired it from Twitter by typing in buzz words, the report said.
One of Miami Police's Finest used Thursday's Officer of the Month award ceremony to propose to his girlfriend.

Officer Henry Ortega was saying his thanks yous after receiving the award when he called his girlfriend up to the stage, got on one knee and popped the question.

She of course said yes.

Ortega said the couple has been together for five years and they have two daughters together.

Police said Ortega, who is assigned to the Overtown area, was nominated for the award after making multiple narcotics arrests, and for stepping in to stop a knife-wielding suspect back on June 9.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has been aggressively courting African-American voters in recent weeks, accused Hillary Clinton of being a "bigot" who panders to minorities.

"Hillary Clinton is a bigot who sees people of color only as votes, not as human beings worthy of a better future," Trump said Wednesday during a campaign rally in Jackson, Mississippi.

The remark appeared to catch many in the predominately white crowd by surprise, particularly a woman standing on stage behind Trump. Video of the woman grimacing at the comment as her eyes widened in shock was shared on social media. Her reaction seemed to encapsulate the audience's uncertain response: a delayed round of staggered cheers and applause.

"She doesn't care what her policies have done to your communities," the businessman continued. "She has no remorse. She's going to do nothing for Hispanics and African-Americans."

During an interview Wednesday night with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Clinton dismissed Trump's comments and accused him of "peddling" hate speech.

"He is taking a hate movement mainstream," the former secretary of state said, arguing Trump is "very much peddling bigotry and prejudice and paranoia."

Clinton is set to address Trump's recent attacks in a speech in Nevada on Thursday afternoon.

Critics have repeatedly accused Trump of pushing racist and bigoted views during his campaign, including calling for the U.S. to build a wall across its Mexican border to stem illegal immigration and to fight terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the U.S.

Trump also gave a vague preview of his new immigration policy, which is slated to be unveiled next week. Without offering any specifics, 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
What to Know Steven Rodriguez, 17, hasnt been seen since 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Chuck E. Cheeses in the Bronx Terminal Market

Rodriguez has autism and is not able to communicate verbally or travel independently

He enjoys riding subways and loves electronics stores that sell televisions; he may have been attracted to those places

A missing Bronx teen who has autism was found after an anxious search by family, friends and police.

Steven Rodriguez, 17, hadn't been seen since 2 p.m. Wednesday, when he was spotted sneaking under a security rope at the Chuck E. Cheeses in the Bronx Terminal Market.

Rodriguez was on a trip with his summer program group when he disappeared. Police, family, friends and members of the disability community had been searching for him ever since.

He was found sometime Thursday morning and returned home, police said.

He enjoys riding subways and loves electronics stores that sell televisions. It was believed that he may have wandered to one of those places, but police didn't say where he was ultimately located.
A couple walking on Route 22 near a diner in New Jersey were struck and killed by a minivan early Thursday, authorities say.



Bridgewater Township police say the minivan, driven by Xu Chengfei, hit 29-year-old Robert Gibbons and 23-year-old Magdalene Allen in the left lane of Route 22 near North Adamsville Road just before 3:15 a.m.

A motel across the highway said that Gibbons and Allen, both of East Brunswick, were staying there, but declined to give additional information about the pair.

Surveillance footage from across the street showed Allen and Gibbons walking to a closed diner when they were hit. A first vehicle just misses the pair before Chengfei's car hits both of them, the video shows.

"The first car saw them so the car slow down but the next car didn't see them was going full speed and they didn't run," said Mike Anastasi, the owner of the diner.

Chengfei, of Queens, was taken to a hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Chopper 4 showed an extensive emergency presence at the scene as detectives investigated.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone who saw Allen and Gibbons get hit should call the Bridgewater Township police at 908-722-4111.
What to Know SUNY Binghamton began offering a course for RAs titled "StopWhitePeople2K16"

The course description was posted online by a conservative student publication and earned the ire of social media users.

In a letter posted to the university's website on Wednesday, administrators said that the course didn't violate rules.

SUNY Binghamton is catching flak for offering a "StopWhitePeople2K16" seminar for its residential assistants.

Hundreds of Twitter and Facebook users began blasting the state university after the Binghamton Review, a conservative student publication at the university, posted the description for the training course titled "#StopWhitePeople2K16."

The course description states that "the premise of this session is to help others take the next steps in understanding diversity, privilege, and the society we function in."

It's move in week! Excited to meet your new RA? Good news! They've been properly trained to keep the dorms safe... https://t.co/MEoYTChJf9  Binghamton Review (@bingreview) August 22, 2016

In a letter posted to the university's website on Wednesday, Vice President of Student Affairs Brian Rose said that the course description was borrowed from a Twitter hashtag that is often used ironically.

He added that he had "no indication that this particular program was inconsistent with the respectful environment we hope to support and sustain."

A university spokesman said that the curriculum for the one-time course was developed for students by students. The spokesman said that while many at the university felt the name of the session was chosen poorly, the actual course was not "anti-white" and "represented a respectful open dialogue among participants."

Still, the title of the course quickly began circulating on social media and was picked up by several conservative news outlets. Social media users across the country, meanwhile, accused the university of racism.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

Some posting to the university's Facebook page to call out the course.

"Apparently "Don't Be White at This School" should be your #1 hack. This school is an F'in joke," wrote one Facebook user.

And on Twitter, hundreds of people from across the country used the course's description as a hashtag as they lambasted the course.
What to Know Chulo,a Shih Tzu, was stolen from outside a Bronx supermarket while his owner went in briefly

Surveillance video shows the suspect calmly taking the dog's leash and walking away

The dog was found tied up outside the supermarket where he was taken

A veteran's service dog has been returned to the New York City supermarket where it was snatched on Sunday, police say.

Chulo, a Shih Tzu belonging to Vietnam War veteran John Nevarez, was found tied to a pole outside the Associated supermarket in the Bronx at about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

That's where he was taken while Nevarez was buying dog food in the store.

"Two, three minutes -- and you'll see it on the tape -- I went in, tied him up, got some dog food, hit the counter and I was out," Nevarez told NBC 4 New York earlier. "When I looked, I said, 'Where is he?' The guy must have been crossing the street in that direction."

Surveillance video showed a man in a gray t-shirt and shorts grabbing the leash and calmly walking away with the dog.

Nevarez, a former U.S. Navy Seabee, is diabetic and Chulo is trained to save his life. He told NBC 4 he could not sleep without Chulo and that whoever took him could bring him back to the store.

After Chulo was returned, Nevarez told NBC 4 New York he was "thrilled" to have his dog back.

Police are still investigating who took the dog.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a telephone conversation discussed the situation in Donbas and the importance of the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"The head of state spoke about the escalation of the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the surge in the number of Russian provocations in Crimea and Donbas. Petro Poroshenko also called to keep the issue of Russia's aggression against Ukraine on the agenda of the North Atlantic Alliance," the Ukrainian president's press service reported.

In turn, Stoltenberg stressed the importance of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

In addition, the parties discussed the implementation of "NATO's comprehensive package of assistance to Ukraine", adopted at the Alliance's summit in Warsaw. The Ukrainian president expressed the hope that this package will help bring the Ukrainian army in compliance with NATO standards.

Stoltenberg also congratulated Poroshenko with the Independence Day of Ukraine.
A Georgia man was sentenced to 40 years in prison Wednesday for throwing scalding water on a gay couple spying in an apartment, NBC News reported.

Jurors deliberated for about 90 minutes before finding Martin Blackwell, 48, guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault in the February attack on Anthony Gooden and Marquez Tolbert.

Gooden spent about a month in the hospital  two weeks of that in a medically-induced coma. Both men suffered severe burns that required multiple surgeries and skin grafts.

According to prosecutors, it was a premeditated attack. Tolbert testified that after pouring the boiling water on them, Blackwell grabbed him as he jumped and screamed, telling him: Get out of my house with all that gay.
Nigel Farage, the former head of the UK Independence Party, will accompany Donald Trump when the Republican presidential candidate continues to court African-American voters Wednesday night in Mississippi, NBC News reported.

Farage confirmed a Sky News report that hell appear at the Trump event in Jackson, Mississippi, where he plans on telling the story of Brexit.

Even though hell appear with Trump, he wont be endorsing the candidate. Farage said in an interview that would be hypocritical, since he condemned President Barack Obama for wading into the Brexit campaign during his visit to London.

Trumps spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not respond to NBC News request for comment about Farages appearance.
The woman who died after a 35-foot fall from a zip line course in Bear Wednesday afternoon disconnected herself from safety measures, according to a statement from the company that runs the course, released as Delaware State Police investigators searched for more information Thursday.

Tina Werner of Felton, Del., was visiting the Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure Wednesday when she fell from a platform while waiting to descend on a zip line, state troopers said.

Go Ape employees administered first aid in an attempt to save Werner's life before paramedics rushed the 59-year-old woman to Christiana Hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

Ken Hedrich

Werner was trying out the zip line as part of her bucket list, NBC10's Tim Furlong reported. The company that runs the course says she appeared to disconnect herself from a safety system before falling.'

Police said in a news release late Thursday that an autopsy found Werner died from "multiple blunt force trauma by way of an accident."

Go Ape released a statement Thursday that said the company has safely served more than 6 million customers, is "deeply saddened" by Werner's death and is cooperating with external investigators.

The statement says Werner underwent safety training on staying attached to the safety system and had proceeded to the final platform in Site 4 in the 3,166-foot-long course before falling.

"Participant witnesses have stated that at the time of the accident the participant had unfortunately disconnected herself from the safety system," the statement said.

NBC10

"We confirm that a full inspection of the course, with particular focus on the last platform at Site 4, has been undertaken and all of the course and associated safety equipment was and remains in sound operational condition. Nothing was broken or unserviceable," Go Ape said.

Werner's daughter, Melissa Slater, described her mom as "super fun," and "adventurous." After traveling to Venice, Italy and taking a hot-air balloon ride, Werner had told her daughter Tuesday that riding the zip line was next.

"She was finishing her bucket list," said Werner's daughter, Melissa Slater.

The Lums Pond course remained closed Thursday out of respect.
A white producer at the Philadelphia sports talk station 97.5 The Fanatic has sparked controversy after he created a black persona based on stereotypes to call into the station.

"Dwayne from Swedesboro" was a regular caller for the Mike Missanelli Show. The character, who claimed to be an African American man, often talked about his love for white women as well as his fear of having illegitimate children. He even had a Twitter account with a black man in the profile picture.

A recent report from Crossing Broad however reveals that "Dwayne from Swedesboro," was actually Pat Egan, a white producer at 97.5.

I think the fact that it was a young white kid doing sort of like the stereotype of a black guy made it a lot worse and sort of just like piled on whatever that initial shock was, said Kyle Scott, a blogger for Crossing Broad who wrote the story.

In a series of tweets, Egan seemed to admit to creating the character as an "exact opposite" of himself.

News that the character was fake sparked a mixed reaction with some criticizing the characters stereotypical nature.

It just seems that there are so many racial issues going on in the country, said Tony Marchionne of Collingswood, New Jersey. Why do we continue to promote these stereotypes?

Some fans of the show didnt find the character offensive, however, and instead believed he was simply entertaining.

I didnt take it as being extremely racial at all, said Dave Whitman of Lansdale. I kind of saw it more as just kind of a crazy, funny guy creating a reason to talk.

Mike Missanelli directly addressed the controversy on his show Tuesday.

The only thing I can do is tell you that I wasnt in on it and I had no idea about it, he said. If you dont want to believe that, thats your choice. I could tell you first hand that had I known this was a fake I would have shut it down immediately because I wouldve been sensitive to the racial undertones of it.

Its unclear whether anyone at the radio station will be disciplined for the character. NBC10 reached out to 97.5 for comment but we have not yet heard back.

The Philadelphia Business Journal also reports Josh Innes, a radio host on Sportsradio 94 WIP, was fired for his comments on the controversy.
A tow truck driver chased down a suspected drunk driver who allegedly ran down a Philadelphia police sergeant making a traffic stop on Main Street in the citys popular Manayunk neighborhood Thursday morning, authorities said.

The crash around 12:30 a.m. along southbound Main Street near Shurs Lane knocked the officer, identified as 55-year-old Joseph Cain, Jr., out of his shoes, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Cain is a sergeant in the 5th District and a 26 year veteran of the force.

Surveillance video obtained from a nearby business shows the moment of impact. The officer is seen standing next to a police car talking to a fellow officer when suddenly he is knocked away by a passing vehicle.

WARNING: Some viewers my find the video disturbing. Surveillance images captured the moment that an accused hit-and-run driver slammed into a Philadelphia Police sergeant responding to a traffic stop early Thursday morning along Main Street in Manayunk.

Cain was knocked about 15 feet through the air. The impact left him bleeding from his legs and arms, with a broken collarbone and suffering from head and neck injuries, police said. He was upgraded to stable condition at the Albert Einstein Medical Center.

The police cruiser involved in the initial traffic stop near some of Manayunks popular bars had its emergency lights on at the time of the crash.

The driver of a blue Toyota RAV4 suspected of striking the officer fled the scene, investigators said. An alert tow truck driver gave chase for a about a mile and alerted police to the suspected hit-and-run driver around Ridge Avenue.

Colin Murphy, 21, from Schwenksville, Pa., was arrested.

Philadelphia Police

"He did appear to be under the influence of alcohol so he was taken into custody, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

Murphy is charged with aggravated assault while driving under the influence, criminal mischief, DUI and related offenses. He has yet to be arraigned on the charges and it's not clear if he has retained an attorney.
Police are searching for a burglar or burglars who they say stole cash and valuables from an elderly South Jersey womans house.

Heather Lau told NBC10 burglars trashed her mothers home in Bridgeton, New Jersey from the attic to the basement and even stole her underwear as well as more than $100,000 worth of items.

They took everything, Lau said. They took her life.

Laus mother Bonnie Kozlarski, 72, suffers from Alzheimers. More than a year ago she moved from her Bridgeton, New Jersey home to live with Lau in Millville. Over the weekend, a neighbor discovered that someone had broken into Kozlarskis home on Magnolia Avenue in Bridgeton. Officials believe the house was broken into numerous times over the past few months.

Kozlarskis loved ones told police $70,000 in cash, $50,000 in gold coins, electronics and even depression-era silverware and plates were among the items stolen from her Bridgeton home. Many other items were destroyed.

I didnt remove the stuff because I didnt want to close that chapter because I knew once I took the stuff out of there that would be the end, Lau said. For someone else to close the chapter for me, it just kills me. Just kills me.

Police are currently checking with a hospital across the street from Kozlarskis home to see if surveillance cameras captured anything on video. Theyre also touching base with area pawn shops.

Its time to be guarded and careful with what you do with your items, said Bridgeton Police Lieutenant Rick Pierce. If you have money in your house I would suggest putting it in the bank.

Kozlarskis home has been boarded up since Saturday as her family continues to deal with the loss of items that hold a significant sentimental value.

Its not the value of the money its the value of the memories, Lau said. If you want to steal from someone its bad enough but then to destroy every piece of property that she owns, I dont understand.




A South Jersey boy with big dreams of becoming a police officer showed just how big his heart was Wednesday.

William Evertz, Jr., 5, saved his allowance for seven months in order to earn enough cash to buy a Power Wheels police cruiser. But instead of treating himself at the toy store, he decided to spend his hard-earned chore money to show his appreciation to local law enforcement.

Williams mother Tara Evertz told NBC10 her son has loved police officers since he was 2 years old. The future officer decided he wanted to have a kindness day to treat officers to a healthy lunch after watching a YouTube video about a homeless person.

Next thing you know it was, I want to help the kids and I want to help the police, said Evertz.

William also told his mother he wanted police officers to get rest so that they could protect the community.

Wearing a blue police shirt, William walked into a Subway store Wednesday and bought lunch for the Winslow Township Police Department. Along with his mother and grandmother, William took the food and balloons to the department's headquarters where they were greeted outside by a police car, the police chief and keys to the station.

Winslow Township Police made William an honorary officer and presented the first grader with his own badges and police car stickers.

Williams acts of kindness won't end at the police station. He also plans on donating clothes, school supplies and toys to a local domestic violence shelter, food and supplies to a local animal shelter and $25 to a less fortunate family to help them with daycare expenses.

It just shows the type of parents he has raising him, said Winslow Township Police Chief George Smith. Teaching him the right things in life that normal parents should do with their children.

For his generosity William received a special ride home from a police car with the lights and sirens blaring.

I am so proud of him, Evertz said. I think all of us as a family are very proud of him and hes just inspiring.
At least 13 people were killed after militants armed with a car bomb, grenades and automatic weapons attacked the American University of Afghanistan on Wednesday, police said Thursday.

Most of staff and students fled but around 160 were forced to hole up in classrooms during Wednesday's brazen assault on Afghanistan's most prestigious college, according to the country's Interior Ministry. They were later rescued by special police units.

Six students, one professor, three police and two security officers were in the 10-hour assault at the university, according to the Interior Ministry.

The professor, Naquib Ahmad, was a Stanford Law School graduate, according to a doctor and a spokesman at Human Right Watch.

A caretaker at a nearby school for the blind also died in the attack. Around 35 students and police were wounded.

One attacker died in the initial car bomb blast and two gunmen were killed by police, according to police. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called on Ukrainian diplomats to assist the privatization process in Ukraine, promote trade and help attract investment.

"We are launching a large-scale privatization program that includes not only Odesa Port-Side Plant, but port infrastructure, power generating and power supplying companies," Poroshenko said at a meeting with Ukrainian diplomats with the participation of Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"The principal position of our diplomatic service is to communicate unbiased information to potential bidders. I stress that the tenders are transparent and we invite foreign advisors," Poroshenko said.

Moreover, the Ukrainian diplomacy should become a driver of foreign trade and investment, the president said. In his words, the curtailment of the trade relations with Russia and launching the free trade area with the EU are creating a game-changing foreign economic environment for Ukraine.
Donald Trump is meeting with participants in a new Republican Party initiative meant to train young and largely minority campaign volunteers.

More than a dozen members of the Republican Leadership Institute were meeting with Trump Thursday morning at Trump Tower in New York City.

The meeting comes as Trump tries to increase his outreach to black and Latino voters, saying his economic policies would help minorities.

"We have great relationships with the African-American community," he said.

The Republican presidential nominee has claimed that Democrats have been "very disrespectful" toward minorities and taken their support for granted. Polls show minorities overwhelmingly favor Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Ben Carson, a Trump ally, and Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee's communications director, were among the other prominent Republicans present.

Trump also promised to unveil his new immigration policy over "the next week or two." He had originally aimed to give his speech Thursday in Colorado but it was postponed and a makeup date has yet to be announced. Trump, in recent days, has signaled that he is backing away from one of his signature immigration policies, mass deportations of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

But speaking Thursday at a meeting with minority Republicans at Trump Tower, he emphasized that he's still "very strong on illegal immigration."

"Don't let the media fool the media, (I'm) very strong on illegal immigration  we have to be, we have no choice. We either have our country or we don't. We either have borders or we don't," he said, stressing that he plans to build a stronger border wall with Mexico.
San Diego immigration attorney Christopher Macaraeg has been disbarred after being accused of repeatedly missing court deadlines, prompting judges to dismiss his clients' cases, according to the State Bar of California.

Macaraeg has an office in San Diegos Gaslamp District.

A Notice of Disciplinary Charges was filed three weeks after NBC 7 Investigates revealed several of Macaraegs former clients sued him in small claims court for mishandling their immigration cases.

Click here to see the complete investigation.

The Notice of Disciplinary Charges lists 11 alleged victims. He was disbarred on August 14.

Macaraeg did not return phone calls or emails from NBC 7 Investigates. In his Sept. 21 response to the State Bars complaint, Macaraeg denied many of the allegations, saying he did meet court deadlines and tried to keep his clients informed, even though some owed him money.

Macaraeg also said he was not responsible for the alleged malpractice because he was " ... suffering from anxiety and family crisis due to severe financial problems."

In an email, Laura Ernde, Managing Director of Communications for the State Bar of California said anyone who may have lost money due to a lawyers dishonesty can apply for reimbursement through the Client Security Fund.

Click here to learn more about that fund.
Trinity Industries ET-Plus guardrail and end terminals, once a primary choice by the California Department of Transportation for use on many of the state's 396,000 miles of roadways, will no longer be purchased by the agency, according to a spokesman.

Matt Rocco, Media Relations Manager for Caltrans told NBC 7 Investigates, his agency will replace the ET-Plus guardrails currently on roadways throughout the state as needed.

If there is a section of roadway under construction or an incident, they will be replaced with another type of guardrail, he said.

Trinity manufactures guardrails lining highways across the country. Last year it was ordered to pay millions in damages and penalties under the federal False Claims Act for defrauding the federal government by making false statements about the changes it made to the ET-Plus.

The changes, according to lawsuits and complaints against the highway manufacturing heavyweight, based in Texas, cause the guardrail to perform improperly. Trinity is appealing the verdict in the False Claims Act case and has always maintained their guardrails meet federal standards.

Rocco told NBC 7 Investigates, Caltrans is moving towards more rigorous testing of its safety devices through its membership in American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). This quasi-government agency provides research and guidelines for testing of highway safety equipment.

Click here to see where Trinity ET-Plus guardrails are located in San Diego County.

In a recent settlement between the guardrail manufacturer and the Federal Highway Administration the FHWA agreed not to pursue legal action against Trinity.

According to the settlement, the agreement was made in the best interest of the Government, with Trinity not admitting any wrongdoing or liability. The agreement requires Trinity to hire a compliance officer to implement a compliance program in connection with Trinitys submitting requests to the FHWA for letters authorizing the eligibility of roadside safety hardware for Federal-aid reimbursement and an independent monitor for that compliance program for a period of three years. In addition, the company has to create a guardrail tracking program in at least one state that would include information on who made the guardrail, who installed it and what maintenance was performed.

Click here to read the complete settlement.
A veteran San Diego Police Officer who fired the fatal shot in a confrontation with an unarmed, mentally-ill man was not interviewed by internal affairs or the prosecutors investigating the officer-involved shooting according to a report by the VoiceofSanDiego.org.

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office released surveillance video of the April 30, 2015 shooting involving SDPD Officer Neal Browder.

Browder was responding to a 911 call reporting that a man was threatening people with a knife at the Highlight Bookstore on Hancock Street.

He encountered Fridoon Rawshan Nehad, 42, who was holding a metallic pen. Browder got out of his patrol car with his weapon drawn, yelled at Nehad to "drop it or "drop the knife.

When Nehad got within 10 or 15 feet of the officer, Browder fired his gun and shot him in the chest.

Nehad later died at UC San Diego Medical Center.

In December, DA Bonnie Dumanis told local reporters Browder had no doubt Nehad was going to stab him. In fact, the officer's interview was part of the report released by the DA's office after the shooting was determined to be justified.

According to the sworn deposition recorded in July 2016, Browder told attorneys he was interviewed by homicide investigators but never interviewed by the DA's office or SDPD's internal affairs department.

Browder was released from administrative duty and returned to patrol within a few weeks of the incident. He estimated the timing was June 2015, according to the report.

In the sworn deposition, he answers several questions about whether he received feedback from anyone within the San Diego Police Department regarding the investigation or the incident. Browder said he did not receive any information regarding his actions on April 30th - positive or negative - from the SDPD before returning to the field.

Nehad's family has filed a multi-million dollar claim against the city of San Diego. They claim the SDPD has a pattern of poorly investigating cases and covering up officer misconduct.

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation and cleared Browder of violating any federal criminal civial rights statutes in the shooting. The DOJ said it was closing its investigation after careful consideration of the evidence.

In February 2016, Browder accidentally fired his weapon during a foot chase and the stray bullet hit a babys crib in Oak Park.

No one was injured in the accidental discharge, which prompted a SDPD administrative investigation.

Read the entire VoiceofSanDiego article here.
Testimonies continued in federal court on Wednesday in a campaign finance scandal involving a Mexican businessman.

Jose Susumo Azano Matsura, 48, referred to as Mr. Lambo in the indictment, is facing federal charges for allegedly funneling $600,000 into San Diego campaigns.

According to the indictment, he is one of several individuals accused of hiding the source of campaign donations or concealing donations in records with the San Diego City Clerk, the Federal Election Commission, or the California Secretary of State.

Earlier this month, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis was subpoenaed to testify in federal court on Aug. 10 as a witnesses. She was called to the stand by Azano's legal team.

On Wednesday, Dumanis testified that she had two meetings with Azano. She described the first meeting as a meet-and-greet at the businessman's home in Coronado and the second meeting happened at San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore's house.

Azano is accused of making more than $600,000 in illegal contributions to former Mayor Bob Filner, failed mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis, and other candidates.

NBC 7 spoke to Azano's attorney on Wednesday who told us that his client called Dumanis to tell the truth and her part of the story.

I asked the questions that I thought that the jury and the community want answers to, Azano's attorney Michale Wynne said.

Wynn said Dumanis' testimony proved that former San Diego Police Detective Ernie Encinas wanted the meetings to happen to help further his own security businesses.

The concepts and ideas that are being raised in this trial by the government are almost preposterous, he said.

Encinas has already pleaded guilty, orchestrating his role in the donations.

As the trial unfolds, 61 witnesses are expected to testify, including several high-profile witnesses like Sheriff Bill Gore and former councilman and current radio host Carl DeMaio.

On Aug. 10, the day Azano's defense subpoenaed Dumanis, they also subpoenaed Congressman Juan Vargas and former Union-Tribune Publisher Doug Manchester to testify.

Prosecutors list 20 instances in which campaign finance records were falsified to send money from Azano to three candidates in local elections.

It is illegal for a foreign national to donate to a U.S. political campaign.

According to court documents, Azano's motive was to develop San Diego's waterfront into a Miami-of-the-West, with condos and a high-end hotel.

The businessman has also been charged with illegally possessing a firearm, a black Sig Sauer P225 semi-automatic pistol.

Three other defendants, including Azano's son, are on trial. They are accused of getting the money to where it needed to go.

Azano's attorney told NBC 7 that the donations to Dumanis and others will be explained on Thursday.
With miles of white sand and turquoise waters, San Diegos breathtaking La Jolla Shores has been named among the top 25 attractions to visit in the U.S., according to one well-known website.

The travel planning and booking website, TripAdvisor, has compiled a list of Americas most popular attractions based on the greatest increase in traveler interest over this past summer.

According to the companys Attractions Trends Index, La Jolla Shores is ranked No. 11 based on year-over-year search activity on TripAdvisor, which has increased by 88.8 percent between 2015 and 2016 for the period of May through July.

TripAdvisor says the scenic spot is beloved by travelers not only for its views, but for its beach area where one can try out a variety of water sports, including surf lessons, for a quintessential San Diego experience.

Other top-notch attractions across the U.S. that made the list include, in order:

1) One World Observatory: World Trade Center (New York City, New York)

2) The Magnificent Mile (Chicago, Illinois)

3) Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

4) The Pearl District (Portland, Oregon)

5) Mount Bonnell (Austin, Texas)

6) Newbury Street (Boston, Massachusetts)

7) Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)

8) The Grand Ole Opry (Nashville, Tennessee)

9) Watkins Glen State Park (Watkins Glen, New York)

10) Jackson Square (New Orleans, Louisiana)

For the full list of the 25 attractions included in the index, click here.

For tips on parking in La Jolla and at The Shores, visit this website.
A San Diego man, who had his car stolen last week, is asking for the person responsible to return his fathers ashes to him. The ashes had been inside the car, along with a cellphone that held a final message from his father.

Zachary Johnson, 22, moved into his new apartment on the 800 block of Date Street in downtown San Diego Friday night.

He told NBC 7 that he had parked his 2011 White Chevy Malibu in front of his apartment but the next morning, he couldnt locate it. He said at first he thought his car may have been towed and began making phone calls.

After a while, he realized it had been stolen.

Johnson said he doesnt care about getting his car backhe just wants his fathers ashes returned to him.

"Its like I lost him again. Its not as devastating but pretty close, he said. I thought I'd always have him, his ashes with menow it looks like I'm not going to.

Johnson told NBC 7 that he had listened to the message his father left on the cellphone from time to time for strength.

It was just telling me that he loved me and stuff, he said. I missed his call so he left me a voicemail. It was a week before he passed away.

Also in the car were mementos of Johnsons life, including his high school diploma.

Everything in there is replaceable except the stuff they gave me and my dad's ashes. They can keep it all. I would do anything to get that stuff back. Its very heartbreaking, he said.

Johnson said his fathers ashes are in a wooden box shaped like a cross with jewels on it. He's hoping the person who took will return it to him, along with the cellphone.
A man accused of driving drunk and killing a young man in a fiery head-on crash Saturday night was held on $2 million bail.

Roy Dunkin, 51, was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI causing great bodily injury. He pleaded not guilty through an attorney.

If convicted, he could face 15 years and four months in prison.

Dunkin is accused of hitting and killing Lucas Riley, 24, of San Diego, in a fiery three-car crash on State Route 67 over the weekend.

The crash happened at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday and prompted a Sig Alert for the northbound and southbound lanes of State Route 67 near Cloudy Moon Drive, where the crash happened, San Diego County Sheriff deputies said.

The impact set the Mini Cooper on fire; by the time crews arrived on scene, flames had fully engulfed the car and trapped the victim, later identified as Riley, inside, deputies said. He died at the scene.

After the crash, authorities could be seen pulling out beer cans from the Chevrolet. Dunkin suffered a broken wrist.

Shawna Wickwire, Riley's fiancee, told NBC 7 San Diego that Riley was a selfless man willing to help anyone.

He was the most caring and loving person I ever have known in my entire life. I have never felt more love for him, Wickwire said. The couple was planning on getting married this October.

Riley's family has set up a GoFundMe as a memorial fund. The money raised will cover funeral expenses. To donate, click here.

The crash that killed Riley was one of four deadly crashes over the weekend. In three of those crashes, alcohol is suspected to play a role.

Dunkin will next appear in court on Sept. 7 for a preliminary hearing.
The National Parks Service (NPS) is celebrating its 100th anniversary Thursday at national parks across the country and, in San Diego, Cabrillo National Monument is getting in on the milestone.

Located at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., Cabrillo National Monument will host a series of free events Thursday in honor of the NPS centennial. At 11 a.m., birthday cake will be served. At 1:30 p.m., visitors can enjoy a free guided tour of the park.

Through this weekend, people can visit any national park across the U.S. for free, including Cabrillo National Monument. Normally, admission to Cabrillo is $10 per car or $5 for those walking into the national monument on foot.

The local landmark reflects the history of 16th century exploration, when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo made his mark as the first European to set foot on the West Coast.

When visitors head to Cabrillo they can expect to enjoy several highlights, including low tide pools, the famous Old Point Loma Lighthouse  which is typically surrounded by vibrant wildflowers  and, of course, the Cabrillo statue set against the scenic, waterfront backdrop. Often times, re-enactors in authentic period costumes from the 1880s will stroll around the park, giving visitors a glimpse of what life was like back then.

In California, there are 27 national parks, along with national monuments and scenic trails. These national parks include Joshua Tree in Southern California, Redwood in Del Norte and Humboldt counties and Yosemite in Sierra Nevada. The NPS says there have been 38,366,824 visitors to Californias national parks.

In other parts of the country, NPS centennial celebrations Thursday included a party on the lawn at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., where more than 1,000 people assembled holding brown, green and white umbrellas to form the NPS arrowhead emblem.

If you can't make it to some national parks this year, Google has launched 360-degree virtual tours of five parks in honor of the big 100th anniversary.
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis appeared in federal court Wednesday to testify in a trial involving campaign finance.

Mexico businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura faces federal charges for allegedly funneling $600,000 into San Diego political campaigns. Dumanis was called to testify by Azano's defense team.

The morning after her testimony, when she appeared on a local television morning newscast, Dumanis commented that the sketch of her on the witness stand was "not very flattering."

Dumanis often visits television stations to discuss criminal matters. She has often been a guest on NBC 7.

On Thursday, she was talking with members of KUSI-TV when she joked about the courtroom sketch distributed following her testimony.

I want to know the name of the artist who did those pictures, she said.  Boy did he make me look old.

The artist, Krentz Johnson, earned her B.A. in Fine Arts from San Diego State University in 1978. She's been sketching courtroom testimony here in San Diego since 2003. NBC 7 has reached out to Johnson for comment.

In response to other questions about her testimony, Dumanis would not go into detail.

I wouldnt want to say anything that might impact that trial in any way, she said.

On Wednesday, Dumanis testified that she had two meetings with Azano. She described the first meeting as a meet-and-greet at the businessman's home in Coronado and the second meeting happened at San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore's house.

Azano is accused of making more than $600,000 in illegal contributions to former Mayor Bob Filner, failed mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis, and other candidates.

The District Attorney has been a longtime friend of former SDPD detective Ernesto Encinas who pleaded guilty, admitting that he funneled money into local campaigns on behalf of Azano.

In July 2014, Dumanis appeared on the same television station to say she regretted writing a letter of recommendation for Azano's son.
Ukrainian consuls have visited two Ukrainian citizens, Ivan Fedirko and Valeriy Makarov, who were convicted in Crimea and are serving their prison terms on Russian territory, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

On August 22, officers from the Ukrainian Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don visited the correctional facility No.3 in the Republic of Adygea where both men are being held, the ministry said.

At the meeting, the Ukrainian consuls were able to see that their fellow citizens are being held in proper and satisfactory conditions and that "there is no biased attitude or other unlawful action with respect to the Ukrainian citizens on the part of the prison administration," the ministry said.

"Furthermore, the consuls held a meeting with the penitentiary administration, during which they particularly emphasized the need to provide the Ukrainian citizens with due and timely medical assistance," the statement said.
A San Diego man wanted in connection with two violent sexual assaults has a lengthy criminal record, documents obtained by NBC 7 San Diego show.

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 said.

Court records show Williams has spent time in jail in San Diego and San Antonio for convictions for assault causing bodily injury and trying to dissuade a witness from testifying. He admitted to abusing his live-in girlfriend and was then charged with trying to keep her from testifying against him.

A District Attorney investigator wrote that he reportedly told his then-girlfriend that when she looks in the mirror, she would always remember him.

He also has minor citations in Houston.

Police had Williams in in handcuffs after the second attack but weren't aware of the allegations until days later when the victim came forward, in a strange twist.

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 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.
Jumping over the White House fence is not free speech, a Washington, D.C., judge has ruled.

The ruling came in the case of a Connecticut man who hurtled over the White House fence, draped in an American flag, on Thanksgiving Day 2015. Joseph Caputo had asked the judge to dismiss his case, arguing the fence jump was an exercise in free speech.

A federal judge ruled the case must proceed, and said some of Caputos claims are frivolous. In his formal opinion, reviewed by the News4 I-Team, the judge ruled, "There is, after all, no First Amendment right to express ones self in a nonpublic area like the White House."

Caputo is scheduled to go on trial in D.C. on Sept. 12, charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawfully entering restricted government grounds.

His jump triggered a lockdown at the complex in November 2015. Prosecutors said Caputo did so while the first family was inside the White House.

"It was a serious and dangerous act that put multiple lives at risk, including the defendants own," prosecutors said in a court filing.

According to court records, Caputo argued he breached the White House grounds with the "noble purpose" of "calling attention to various deficiencies in the Constitution."

The court records said Caputo was trying to call attention to a government failure "to pay attention to domestic issues."

The fence jump was the first of its kind after the 2015 installation of new spikes atop the White House fence.

Victoria Pena of Houston said at the time the man was standing with other people visiting the White House compound when he rushed toward the fence carrying what appeared to be a binder.

"I just heard him take a big, deep breath and whisper to himself, 'All right, let's do this,' and he took off," Pena said. "It was chaotic. Everyone around us was yelling, and kids were crying. It was pretty unexpected."

"Casually, I'm just there taking pictures and I see a ninja coming through, climbing," witness Amar Marwaha of London said.
One mother in Prince George's County, Maryland, experienced what is probably a parent's worst nightmare last fall when her 4-year-old son managed to wander from school and walk to a busy road. But it was what happened after her son was found safe that shocked her.

"There was no apology. There was no... there was just no answers," Davis said.

Chamanikia Davis said the Head Start program at Overlook Elementary in Temple Hills had no explanation and did not apologize after her son wandered away from the playground in September 2015 -- nearly reaching a Metro stop.

The boy was found standing near the edge of the road on Branch Avenue, Davis said.

"It was a little numbing that he would have been able to leave school - period," Davis said. "It should have been somebody watching him. Just really numbing and you don't know what to think. You don't know what happened."

Davis said she sent a letter to Prince George's County Public Schools after the incident.

"I did make a complaint. I did write a letter. I did notate the incident in the letter so someone knew," Davis said.

The incident happened during the same time the federal government was investigating other allegations of abuse and neglect at Prince George's County's Head Start classrooms.

A report of the investigation detailed another incident in which a 5-year-old managed to make it all the way home after wandering from school.

However, there is no mention of Davis' son in the report.

Davis said she questions whether school officials properly reported the incident.

The county's Head Start program lost a $6.5 million federal grant after the investigation by the Administration for Children and Families.

According to the review, the alleged abuse included a 3-year-old boy who was mocked and forced to clean up his own urine and teachers forcing two children to hold objects over their head for an extended period of time as a punishment for their behavior.

Parents had their first chance to address school officials about the investigation during a school board meeting Thursday night.

"You broke the law," one woman at the meeting told the board.

Some accused the board of criminal wrongdoing for allegedly failing to report cases of neglect and mistreatment in the county's federally funded Head Start program.

At the meeting, the school board announced it voted to relinquish the federal grant, but the county would continue to provide services to the approximately 900 students who depend on the Head Start program. School officials have not said how the county will continue to fund the program.
What to Know All charges against former Northern Virginia Community College instructor Youssef Taleb have been cleared.

Taleb's attorney said there were red flags with the case immediately.

Prosecutors could not vouch for the credibility of the witnesses, and there were inconsistencies in their statements, an official said.

One day he was teaching community college classes. The next, he was jailed, accused of sexually assaulting two students. But now all charges against Youssef Taleb have been cleared -- even before a preliminary hearing -- and he's hoping to put the nightmare behind him.

Taleb had once hoped for a full-time position at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). That dream was shattered when he was jailed in May, accused of sexually assaulting two of his female students.

"It was the worst time of my life," he told News4 on Thursday. "Yeah, I'd never faced anything like that before.... I always know that the truth is going to reveal itself as soon as the investigation would be over."

Taleb's attorney said there were red flags with the case immediately after two students said in early May that they'd been sexually assaulted.

A community college officer performed the original investigation, but when a Prince William County detective and the prosecutor began to dig into the details, concerns emerged. For example, one student alleged she was raped during a tutoring session inside a campus conference room.

"The most significant things seem to have occurred where the public either should have been able to see what was going on or could have stepped in at any point, and it just seemed to be very suspicious," said Taleb's attorney, Benjamin Griffitts.

Prosecutors quickly asked that Taleb be given bond.

The charges were dropped last month.

Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert said prosecutors could not vouch for the credibility of the witnesses, and there were inconsistencies in their statements.

Taleb got emotional when he received the phone call telling him he was cleared of the charges.

"As soon as she said that [charges were dropped], I started crying, actually, and I don't cry much," Taleb said. "Actually that was the most wonderful day of my life. It's like a new life for me."

Now he's hoping a new headline -- reporting he's clear of charges -- will show up in social media searches of his name. He had five job offers pending when he was arrested, so he hopes to return to teaching.

"I love teaching," he said. "I don't think I'm going to give up on teaching ever."
Your Notebook traveled to Fredericksburg, Va., on Saturday for the Donald Trump rally at its Expo Center.

Fortunately, NBC4 cameraman/editor Evan Carr did all the driving. And fortunately, we were in the free-flowing toll lanes going and returning. Even on a Saturday, regular lanes on I-395 and I-95 were horrific displays of Northern Virginias biggest problem: traffic jams.

And also fortunately, the rally site in Fredericksburg was next door to a Wegmans grocery. Before covering the rally crowd, we had lunch at Wegmans. It was my first-ever Wegmans experience. Wandering around part of the store (too big to see it all), I understood why neighbors of the old Walter Reed site in the District are upset Wegmans has essentially pulled out of the planned redevelopment there.

The grocer told the Washington Business Journal and NBC4 last week that it couldnt reach an agreement with developers of the site. But it also told NBC4 that the citys new $15 minimum wage law, proposed regulations of part-time worker scheduling and possible paid family leave were factors in its decision.

Mayor Muriel Bowser told us Friday on WAMUs Kojo Nnamdi Politics Hour that she wasnt giving up on Wegmans just yet. The Walter Reed site is about 66 acres of land where a whole new community is slated to be built. And now we are Wegmans supporters, too. Good luck, mayor!

Oh, wait. We were writing about the Trump rally.

It attracted several thousand people. The first person in line told us he arrived at 6:30 a.m. for the 6 p.m. rally.

While there have been many reports of angry Trump crowds cursing and yelling at the news media and its alleged bias, we had none of that on Saturday. Your Notebook, who was both outside and inside the rally and was wearing a media badge, encountered not one angry person. Not one.

We did meet many people who are concerned about the direction of their country and told us only Trump understands them. Whatever their political hopes and fears, it was nice to talk to politically involved people who seemed to appreciate being asked what they thought.

 Virginia is lost. Despite Trumps raucous rally, the polls show the Republican nominee more than 10 points behind Hillary Clinton in Virginia. She recently postponed her local television ads because she is ahead. Trump this weekend put up his first TV ads in four battleground states. Virginia was not one of them.

On Monday morning, conservative radio host and MSNBC political analyst Hugh Hewitt described the political playing field and said simply, Virginia is lost.

As we said on NBC4 Saturday, for this election Virginia may no longer be a battleground state.

 Presidential outcomes. Many Democrats are (unwisely) talking landslide on Nov. 8. Here is a cool New York Times electoral map looking back to 1964: tinyurl.com/NYT-electoral-history.

 Bonginos #%!%#* world. Maryland voters may be interested in an extraordinary telephone call involving former Republican candidate Dan Bongino.

The former Secret Service agent and author, who lost races for the Senate and the House in Maryland, is in a Naples-area congressional seat primary in Florida this Tuesday.

When Politico reporter Marc Caputo called Bongino on Sunday about Bonginos criticism of a newspaper story, the conversation quickly went downhill. Just know that The Current cant print any of the salty words Bongino used.

If you want to listen yourself, you can visit tinyurl.com/bongino-youtube  but again, you are forewarned of its extremely foul language.

 Progress at DCRA. Mayor Bowser spent much of last week hunkered down in what many see as the most frustrating agency in town, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

We dont know what improvements Bowser will come up with, but the agency itself has some good news this week for anyone applying for or renewing a basic business license. You can do it online.

The mayor is due to appear at The Coupe in Columbia Heights on Thursday to promote the online application process.

Agency director Melinda Bolling told the Notebook on Monday, The Portal is going to simplify the licensing process for businesses. By using the portal and skipping a trip to DCRA, business owners can spend the time saved to work with staff or customers  or just to take some time to recharge.

During Thursdays event, the restaurant/bar will renew its business license online.

The regulatory affairs department always draws a huge crowd at D.C. Council oversight hearings. The agency has supplanted the Department of Motor Vehicles and  almost  parking tickets as the major topic of scorn.

Anything that improves the experience there can mean only good things for individuals and businesses that provide services, jobs and tax revenue.

Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4.
The country's newest national monument is already getting ready to welcome its first visitors in Maine.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared a new national monument in northern Maine on 87,000 acres of scenic woodlands donated by Burt's Bees co-founder Roxanne Quimby. It's called Katahdin Woods and Waters and it features views of Mount Katahdin, the tallest mountain in Maine.

Quimby spokesman David Farmer says offices for the park are ready in Patten and Millinocket. A park superintendent is on the ground and will start the process of working with the community to develop a management plan.

The brochures for the monument are printed and signs are going up. The National Park Passport Stamp beloved by park visitors is available.

The National Park Service celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thursday.
Police are looking for the group of people who put an explosive device in a news box early Tuesday morning in Salem, Massachusetts.

Seven people were caught on surveillance video placing the unknown device inside the box belonging to The Rainbow Times in Salem Square at 1:19 a.m.

Authorities said the explosion rocked the downtown area and was heard up to a mile away.

At first it was very shocking to me, said Nicole Lashomb, editor of the paper. I literally gasped and covered my mouth.

Lashomb said over the last three months, her newspaper's boxes have been vandalized nearly a dozen times.

For example, the newspapers box had chicken carcasses and crab shells and it filled from the bottom all the way up to the top," she said. "So when you opened the door, a pile of trash fell on you.

Lashomb said police are now monitoring all of her newspaper's boxes.

Anyone with information on the identities of the suspects in the surveillance video are asked to call Salem Police Detective Kevin St. Pierre at 978-744-0171 ext.179.
Police say they've identified and interviewed a woman in connection to their investigation into an East Boston murder.

According to police, officers responded to a call for a woman down in the area of 54 Princeton Street around 9 a.m. on June 15.

Once on scene, officers found a woman in early late teens or early twenties inside a garage, suffering from undetermined traumatic injuries.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified as 18-year-old Blanca Lainez of East Boston.

On July 10, Boston police arrested Jose Alejandro Hernandez, age 16, of East Boston, in connection with the murder.

He will be arraigned on a murder charge on Friday in East Boston Municipal Court.

This incident leaves some South Boston residents feeling unsafe.

"We need to move...I can't live here with a 5 year old," Heather Hennessey said. "It's just not safe. Before this happened it felt like a good part of the town but it's not feeling so good anymore."

The woman, whose image was provided by police, was not publicly identified.

Police say the woman was allowed to go back home after she was interviewed.

The investigation is ongoing.
Brown University says it will comply with a federal decision to allow graduate students to unionize.

School officials tell The Providence Journal the Providence, Rhode Island university will support graduate students as they consider whether to form a union and bargain collectively.

The National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday ruled in favor of Columbia University students in New York who wanted to join the United Auto Workers union. The decision resulted in the extension of federal labor laws to cover grad students who work as teaching and research assistants.

That decision also reversed an earlier one against Brown University grad students in 2004 that said students shouldn't be treated like employees. The board says that decision "deprived" workers of federal protections without a "convincing justification."
Donald Trump confronted head-on allegations that he is racist on Thursday, defending his hard-line approach to immigration while trying to make the case to minority voters that Democrats have abandoned them.

His general election opponent, Hillary Clinton, meanwhile hammered the point that Trump unleashed the "radical fringe" within the Republican Party, including anti-Semites and white supremacists, dubbing the billionaire businessman's campaign as one that will "make America hate again."

The ping-pong accusations come as the two candidates vie for minorities and any undecided voters with less than three months until Election Day. Weeks before the first early voting, Trump faces the urgent task of revamping his image to win over those skeptical of his candidacy.

In a tweet shortly after Clinton wrapped up her speech in the swing state of Nevada, Trump said she "is pandering to the worst instincts in our society. She should be ashamed of herself!"

Clinton is eager to capitalize on Trump's slipping poll numbers, particularly among moderate Republican women turned off by his controversial campaign. "Don't be fooled" by Trumps efforts to rebrand, she told voters at a speech in Reno, saying the country faced a "moment of reckoning."

Hillary Clinton short speech is pandering to the worst instincts in our society. She should be ashamed of herself!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2016

Just watched recap of #CrookedHillary speech. Very short and lies. She is the only one fear-mongering!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2016

"He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of America's two major political parties," she said.

Trump tried to get ahead of the Democratic nominee, addressing a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire just minutes before Clinton.

"Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and the millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racists," Trump predicted.

"To Hillary Clinton, and to her donors and advisers, pushing her to spread her smears and her lies about decent people, I have three words," he said. "I want you to hear these words, and remember these words: Shame on you."

Trump tried to turn the tables on Clinton, suggesting she was trying to distract from questions swirling around donations to The Clinton Foundation and her use of her private email servers.

"She lies, she smears, she paints decent Americans as racists," said Trump, who then defended some of the core  and to some people, divisive  ideas of his candidacy.

Clinton did not address any of the accusations about her family foundation in her remarks. Instead, she offered a strident denouncement of Trump's campaign, charging him with fostering hate and pushing discriminatory policies, like his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Her speech focused on the so-called alt-right movement, which is often associated with efforts on the far right to preserve "white identity," oppose multiculturalism and defend "Western values." Discussions about the alt-right movement became the subject of a Twitter war Thursday, with people on both sides of the debate tweeting under the hashtag #altrightmeans.

"#altrightmeans we don't want to kill you we just want you to go away," tweeted one person.

"#altrightmeans white supremacy. That's all Alt Right is. Another code word for white supremacy. Nothing more nothing less," another tweet said.

Clinton's campaign also released an online video that compiles footage of prominent white supremacist leaders praising Trump, who has been criticized for failing to immediately denounce the support he's garnered from white nationalists and supremacists, including former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

Also in New Hampshire on Thursday was Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson. He was scheduled to appear on the steps of the State House with running mate William Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts.

Johnson is trying to raise his polling profile to 15 percent so he can qualify for a spot in the presidential debates with Clinton and Trump.

Trump, who also met Thursday in New York with members of a new Republican Party initiative meant to train young  and largely minority  volunteers, has been working to win over blacks and Latinos in light of his past inflammatory comments and has been claiming that the Democrats have taken minority voters' support for granted. At rallies over the past week, the Republican presidential nominee cast Democratic policies as harmful to communities of color, and in Mississippi on Wednesday he went so far as to label Clinton "a bigot."

"They've been very disrespectful, as far as I'm concerned, to the African-American population in this country," Trump said.

Many black leaders and voters have dismissed Trump's message  delivered to predominantly white rally audiences  as condescending and intended more to reassure undecided white voters that he's not racist, than to actually help minority communities.

Cornell William Brooks, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" Thursday that Trump has not reached out to the organization for any reason. He added that Trump refused the group's invitation to speak at its convention.

"We're going to make it clear: You don't get to the White House unless you travel through the doors of the NAACP," Brooks said. "More importantly, you don't get to the White House without addressing the nation's civil rights agenda."

Before the meeting in New York, several protesters unfurled a banner over a railing in the lobby of Trump Tower that read, "Trump = Always Racist." They were quickly escorted out by security as they railed against Trump for "trying to pander to black and Latino leaders."

"Nothing will change," they yelled.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has calls on Ukrainian diplomats to effectively counteract the Russian information war and improve Ukraine's image abroad.

"I want to emphasize the critical importance of strategic communication problems, the problem of a part of the Russian hybrid war - the information war, creation of the perverted image of our country abroad. I am sure that Ukraine and our partners now have to find and offer effective counteraction to this," Poroshenko said during a meeting with representatives of Ukrainian diplomatic institutions with the participation of Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Awareness activities of improving the image of Ukraine abroad should become everyday routine for Ukrainian diplomats, Poroshenko said.

According to him, the main task of a diplomat is to raise awareness about Ukraine.
A criminal complaint has been brought against a driver involved in a deadly crash with a pedestrian earlier this summer in Brockton, Massachusetts.

The Plymouth County district attorney's office says Valerie J. Semensi, 66, of Cohasset was charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation.

The DA says it appears Semensi was trying to back her Mercedes SUV into a parking spot in Brockton's courthouse parking lot on the morning of June 1 when the vehicle continued to go into reverse over a curb, grass, up a grassy hill, through bushes and onto a sidewalk, which is when she struck the victim, 66-year-old John Buckley of Bridgewater, knocking him to the ground.

The SUV finally stopped after crossing West Elm Street and hitting a building, according to the DA.

Buckley was taken to Brockton Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Semensi was distraught at the scene and spoke with police before she was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital to treat minor injuries.

Her license was suspended after the crash.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage is in hot water once again for comments about drug dealers arrested in the state, saying photos he's collected show more than 90 percent of them are black or Hispanic and from out of state.

The Portland Press Herald reports the Republican governor made the reference Wednesday at a town hall in North Berwick. A businessman asked how he could bring a company to Maine, "given the rhetoric you put out there about people of color."

LePage says he keeps a three-ringed binder of photos from drug busts and most "are black and Hispanic people from Waterbury, Connecticut; the Bronx; and Brooklyn."

Some called his comments racially charged. LePage, who's white, says he's not racist.

In January, LePage said drug dealers with names like "D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty" are getting Maine's white girls pregnant.

The ACLU of Maine tells WCSH that their data doesn't match LePage's, and that they "look forward to working with the governor to end any unconstitutional racial profiling that may be occurring."
New Hampshire State Police say a man was seriously injured after he was thrown from a vehicle in a rollover crash in Merrimack late Wednesday night.

The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. on the Everett Turnpike near exit 13 north.

Responding officers found the Ford Focus rolled on its side and the driver, Ryan Tracey, 26, ejected at the front.

He was taken to CMC Hospital in Manchester with serious injuries. He was then taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Initial investigation shows Tracey lost control and struck the sound barrier.

The crash remains under investigation.
There's a monkey on the loose in Vermont. At least that's what police in Bellows Falls are saying after they received a report of a monkey sighting from a resident on Monday.

According to NBC5, the man told police he saw the animal on Route 121 near Back Westminster Road. He said the monkey crossed the road in front of him. A second person reported seeing it but didn't report it until hearing about the other sighting.

The department first reported the sighting on its Facebook page Tuesday, but deleted the post on Thursday morning.

Police Chief Ron Lake told NBC5 things have "gotten too out of hand." He said he's been bombarded with media requests asking for comment, and he was not willing to talk about the investigation.

He said his unwillingness to discuss the investigation did not mean the monkey had been found. But he said he regrets the original Facebook post about the reported sighting.

Anyone with information about the monkey can contact the Bellows Falls Police Department at 802-463-1234.
Nearly 1,000 tips have now been received in the case of a jogger who was murdered in Princeton, Massachusetts earlier this month.

Twenty-seven-year-old Vanessa Marcotte was killed Aug. 7, but no arrests have been made in her case. Authorities have sent DNA for testing but are still believed to be waiting on the results.

The Worcester County District Attorney's Office said Thursday that there are no new updates. A total of 975 tips have been received so far.

Marcotte - who worked as a Google account manager in New York City - was found dead hours after she went for a run near her mother's home in Princeton, a rural town west of Boston. Her body was found naked and burned.

She was last spotted on Brooks Station Road around 1 p.m., and police have been looking for a male who may have been spotted driving or parked there between 1 and 3 p.m. that afternoon.

Last week, necn interviewed a man who said police had questioned him and taken his DNA in connection with the case. He has denied any involvement, and police have not said whether he is a suspect.

Police are still asking for tips, and anyone with information can call 508-453-7589.
One teenage boy was killed and two others were wounded on Wednesday in a stabbing in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said the stabbing happened at 6:22 p.m. in the area of Middle and Chancery Streets.

Authorities said a 15-year-old boy from New Bedford was found dead on the scene. Two other teens were taken to an area hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries.

The teen's death is being investigated as a homicide. His name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

No arrests have been made.

The District Attorney's Office is investigating.
Here's how you know

An official website of the United States government
We are all intimately familiar with the experience of googling a keyword(s) on a Web browser search engine to find related websites. For example, searching for best French restaurant in Google or Yahoo will return a list of many websites that are related to this topic. However, this key feature of the current Web will have to be fundamentally reworked for the new types of devices that are expected to join the Web as part of the Internet of Things (IoT). I mean, just how is it going to work when your fridge needs to do a search for something - and it will before too long?

Traditional web search engines

When thinking about any technology evolution, it is useful to first understand how the current generation of technology works before we try to predict what will happen in the future. So lets briefly review how search engines work today.

Search engines primarily utilize automated programs called Web crawlers to discover and visit every possible website in the Internet. At each visited website, the Web crawler makes a copy of the website content and records it back in a large database at the search engine. This database is then analyzed off line, and a fast lookup index is created so that a rapid search can be performed every time a human user sends a keyword search request. The result of the lookup will be a ranked list of website addresses (i.e. Uniform Resource Indicators - URIs) that corresponds to the keyword that was searched for. In the current Web all the information transferred between the Web browser, website and the search engine server uses the ubiquitous and well known HTTP protocol.

The search engine problem in IoT

The existing Pull model of information exchange where the search engines sends out web crawlers to discover webserver information will unfortunately not work for most IoT cases. There are several reasons for this.

First, many IoT devices will be battery or solar powered and thus will often be sleeping in a low power mode when not performing their intended function. For example, a high temperature sensor in a remote industrial application may only be physically activated when its hardware gets heated above a certain temperature. When this happens, the sensor will get activated and send an HTTP message to a central controller to report an alarm. Below this temperature the sensor will be inactive and in sleep mode. So in general this temperature sensor will not be discoverable by web crawlers sent out by a traditional search engine as it will be sleeping most of the time and will not respond.

Secondly, many IoT devices will be located in semi-closed networks that will block traditional search engine web crawlers from discovering them. For example, a fitness center may freely allow web crawlers to discover their treadmills and other exercise equipment. However, the fitness center will definitely block discovery, using a security firewall, of IoT devices like electronic door locks and video cameras for security and privacy reasons.

Emerging solutions

A key solution for the IoT search problem is currently being standardized in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Specifically, a new type of search engine called a Resource Directory (RD) is being defined. This will be a very distributed search engine, with multiple RDs expected for a given geographical area like a city. IoT devices are expected to register their web addresses (URIs) to their local RD in Push model. This will typically be done when the IoT device is first installed and powered up.

Then when a search request is sent to the RD, the RD will first do access control and other security checks to make sure that only authorized parties are allowed to discover the relevant information. For example, suppose the fridge in my house wants to discover my home electricity meter to check the current time-of-use charge rate. The fridge wants to use this information to adjust its internal temperature up or down, within a certain bound, to reduce my electricity costs. In this case, the RD that serves my neighborhood will allow my fridge to discover the electricity meter URI because it knows that they are both part of my home network and are trusted devices. However, if an IoT device from my neighbors house made a similar request, the neighborhood RD would return an error message as that foreign device is not authorized to make that search query.

In addition to the IETF, another important body contributing to solving the challenges of IoT web searches is the Hypercat consortium. They are developing specifications that will allow inter-exchange of data between data hubs in different domains. This will allow, for example, exchange of data between a neighborhood RD and Googles global search engine.

A bright future

A major reason for the success of the Web over the last 20 years has been the use of search engines to organize and make a huge amount of web information easily accessible to human users. If we wish to continue this success with the billions of IoT devices that are expected to join the Web over the coming years, then we will have to keep innovating. Fortunately, with next generation solutions like the IETFs Resource Directory concept, and the Hypercat meta-data specification under development, and very much more on the horizon, it looks like search engine evolution is definitely keeping good pace with all the other parallel innovation going on in the worlds of 5G and IoT.
Political action committees arent the only entities attempting to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Supposedly, Russia wants a say in who should lead the country. At least thats the opinion you could form after reading the many news stories that allege Russia is behind the recent hacks targeting the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Attack attribution aside (I shared my thoughts on that topic in last months blog), these data breaches raise the question of whether attackers could actually impact an elections outcome.

Not to scare you, but hacking the vote is pretty easy. Some possible ways of carrying this out, like hacking electronic voting machines, have been discussed extensively, while others, such as targeting organizations that poll voters, probably havent been considered. Im not trying to frighten people by bringing up these scenarios. As far as I know, none of the methods Im going to discuss have been used to sway an election. To me, this is an opportunity to present these possible situations to the security community and, by freely talking about them, ensure that voting goes as smoothly as possible on November 8.

Hack early, hack often

Tampering with electronic voting machines is the usual example thats presented when discussing how hackers could sway an election, and for good reason. Many electronic voting machines use legacy technology thats no longer supported by the vendor, according to a study from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Many electronic voting machines run Windows XP, which Microsoft stopped issuing security patches for in 2014. Even worse, some machines are running Windows 2000, which Microsoft hasnt supported since 2010.

Additionally, several states use electronic voting machines that dont print paper-trail backups of voting results, including presidential swing states like Florida and Pennsylvania. Without a printout, election officials dont have a way to audit election results and ensure that electronic voting machines properly captured a persons vote.

Spill campaign secrets

But hackers dont have to change or delete votes to influence an election. The computers and servers used by candidates, their staff and organizations tied to their political party contain troves of data that could have damaging results if publicly disclosed.

The Democratic National Committee found itself in this situation after it was hacked, resulting in the release of emails that showed the organization favored Hillary Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary. The public release of these emails didnt prevent the former secretary of state from becoming the Democratic nominee for president. However, the incident, which occurred right before the Democratic National Convention, did little to help unite the party around Clinton after a contentious, heated primary.

Hackers realize that politicians, and people linked to them, have sensitive information stored on laptops and servers and in cloud services. If this information were to find its way to the public, it could cause people to reconsider their vote, a point not lost on attackers. For example, hackers could break into a campaigns email server and look for messages that promise donors influence in the candidates administration if they write a large check. Naturally, a person running for office would rather keep these details private.

Classified campaign details dont even need to find their way to Wikileaks to impact an election. Attackers could sell this information to a rival candidate or political action committee, potentially providing them with documents on campaign and debate strategies.

Just stay home

Hackers might also sway election-day voting by breaking into the computers that operate traffic lighting systems and interfering with the ones around polling stations to create massive traffic jams. Voters, turned off by the thought of spending their afternoon stuck in traffic, could decide to skip voting.

Thats assuming hackers dont first convince you to stay home because your vote isnt needed.

They could pull that off by hacking polling companies and changing the poll results. With some quick keystrokes, a hacker could, for example, give candidates who have a slim lead over their opponents an instant 15-point advantage. If youre a voter and hear on the news that the person youre supporting has a commanding lead in opinion polls, you could assume that your vote wont really matter and be less likely to head to the polls. This type of attack would be especially detrimental in swing states where a few thousand votes can determine the outcome of an election.

Hackers could also initiate an attack targeting live election coverage on cable or network television stations. As polls close on the East Coast, a hack could be carried out that changes the exit poll numbers gathered by news organizations. Since polls close later in the Midwest and on the West Coast, voters may decide to skip voting if their candidate has what appears to be a big lead. Or hackers could lower some candidates exit poll numbers, giving the appearance that they wont win the election. Voters, dejected by this news, could decide not to vote.

Cybersecurity issues have become a reality in our technology-centered lives and could extend into areas we wouldnt associate them with, like how people pick their leaders. But nothing, not even the threat of hackers, should prevent you from exercising your right to vote.
The Ukrainian students, who will master the new curriculum for the 8th form, will be completely provided with textbooks by 1st September, stated Lilia Grinevich, the Minister of Education, in the conference that was held in the House of Government these days. The domestic publishers, that are working on the state order this year, have also confirmed their willingness to timely delivery of the textbooks to schools.

Kharkiv-based Publishing House RANOK was the first who coped with completing of the state order for the textbooks for the 8th form. They informed about that on their Facebook page.

32 items with total print run of 1 751 807 copies according to the new curriculum for the 8th form have been already published in full. The textbooks have been issued in the Russian and the Ukrainian languages. Bukrek and Mir partner publishers currently prepare the translations of Physics, History of Ukraine and World history textbooks into the Hungarian, the Moldavian, the Romanian, the Polish languages. 82 employees of Publishing House RANOK, 42 authors and 63 other experts: photographers, artists, illustrators and designers had been working on this project. 268 reviewers have sent their comments. All the editions have passed the gender expertise and expertise of MES, reported in Publishing House RANOK.

According to the information from the Ministry of Education, this year the issue of textbooks for the 8th forms for secondary schools of general education of Ukraine has been financed in full amount and on time. Thats why the money of the overall amount of 360 mln UAH, covering the issue of 220 items of the textbooks with print run of 7 760 164 copies have been credited to the accounts of publishers at the beginning of June, 2016.

As Ms Grinevich says, in contrast to the textbooks for the 4th and 7th forms, 50 per cent of which had to be issued under the financing from local budgets last year, the textbooks for the 8th forms have been financed centrally.

In view of a range of inconsistencies, the question of issuing the textbooks for the 4th and 7th forms has not been moved forward yet. The Ministry of Education looks for ways of the solution to the problem, which primarily is in financing. The point is about 42,9 millions which local budgets have to set aside for the textbooks issuing.

According to the forecast of Aleksey Poltoratskiy, the director of the department of education and science of Dnipropetrovsk RSA, not all Publishing Houses, being school textbooks suppliers, will manage to issue the textbooks before a new academic year starts. He expressed his concern during the above-mentioned press-conference. This is true, the textbooks for the 8th form started arriving to regional centres of education, but the process goes very slowly, not all publishers and printing houses can cope with the state order, Poltoratskiy pointed out.

Besides as Viktor Kruglov, the director of Publishing House RANOK concludes, at the moment all the textbooks by RANOK have been delivered to regional centres of Ukraine. But the problem with timely delivery to schools still can arise. The textbooks, delivered to the regions, have to wait for products from other publishers, and only then they will be sent together to area centres.

In any case lets be optimistic as for the future, because today Ukrainian publishers and printing houses work at the maximum capacity.
This vendor-written tech primer has been edited by Network World to eliminate product promotion, but readers should note it will likely favor the submitters approach.

Software-defined Wide Area Networking is red hot. It is safe to assume that, going forward, every multi-location business will rely on SD-WAN for a cost-effective, high-quality, unified network solution.

In fact, IDC recently released a report predicting SD-WAN revenue will reach $6 billion in 2020. Why? Because SD-WANs are secure, affordable and easy-to-use. Those three magic words are enough to turn any CEOs head, and the benefits go well beyond that. SD-WANs address a confluence of issues that multi-location businesses are facing right now.

Here are the top five reasons businesses need to consider an SD-WAN solution:

1. Bandwidth. As more businesses move towards public and private cloud models, bandwidth needs are increasing. SD-WANs allow businesses to support their cloud deployments across multiple locations without being gouged for the required bandwidth. The additional bandwidth also allows network managers to say Yes to more applications that are competing for access to the WAN.

2. Price flexibility. Businesses can deploy high bandwidth access at a fraction of the cost of legacy circuits and count on the Service Levels theyre used to on traditional networks. In most cases, multiple higher bandwidth links can be deployed at a cost savings.

3. Disaster recovery. Using the savings, multiple unique circuits can be installed and SD-WAN technology offers true disaster recovery solutions over varied diverse infrastructure (copper, coax, wireless, fiber, etc.).

4. Secure networks. At the base level, an SD-WAN is a point to point communication environment where VPN tunnels are built to transport payloads from a centralized orchestration platform. Those VPNs are encrypted and can overlay private networking and IP address schemes adding additional security to the WAN over public internet access circuits.

5. Analytics and Management. SD-WANs are managed via a central orchestrator that enables quick and easy management across thousands of devices. This orchestrator can be accessed via APIs for northbound integration with other management, reporting, provisioning and network aware applications. The Layer 7 application awareness gathers amazing amounts of data providing real-time and historical reporting at your fingertips, giving priority across the network to any application is a point and click process. Gone are the days of struggling with NetFlow and other massive and time consuming traffic monitors.

How businesses are deploying SD-WAN

More and more organizations are transitioning to a Hybrid WAN environment on their way to a full SD-WAN deployment. IDC predicts that this shift towards Hybrid WAN will see a significant boost in the next 12-18 months. By shifting to a Hybrid WAN environment, organizations can deploy SD-WAN technology at troubled or test locations and have them integrate into the existing WAN. Once they feel confident and comfortable with the technology they can roll it out to the rest of their location as contracts and staff allow. This strategy actually speeds up adoption by avoiding a deployment learning-curve across the organization.

Once the technology has been deployed, its easy to extend the SD-WAN to cloud providers and grant secure traffic offload as well as end-to-end Quality of Experience for those cloud applications (think AWS, O365, Azure etc.). The software defined nature of the technology makes the connection easy, offering organizations some unexpected benefits, including the ability to audit a cloud providers bandwidth usage invoice, managing remote access to cloud applications and allowing the CISO to sign off on moving an application to the cloud (as a result of the managed private network service extended to the cloud provider via SD-WAN).

There is also a fit for SD-WAN at those locations where big bandwidth is needed and T1s are not in the budget. Multiple low cost links can be aggregated for combined bandwidth and service levels can be achieved using the technology.

Where SD-WAN is headed

All of these business concerns and added benefits are driving SD-WAN deployments forward, but its important to look at the big picture. There is a significant leap coming as SD-WAN, SDN, NFV and vCPE all move quickly towards a unified management and deployment scheme. SD-WAN is the beginning of the movement as there are the most obvious gains available (bandwidth, price, business continuity, security and application layer management).

This shift will mean virtual network micro-segments being deployed in data centers today will be easily extended to office LAN environments and remote users providing application specific networks. Firewall and security schemes for applications will be supported by a unique network segment per application. As hyper-convergence continues, these virtual networks and applications can all live in the same infrastructure.

SD-WAN is a game changing technology in the network services world and is the first step towards fully unified cloud, WAN, LAN and remote access solutions.
Berkshire county youth music ensembles concert tour to China

A LARGE cohort of more than 150 young musicians from Berkshire Maestros county groups recently returned from a successful concert tour to China. Members of Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Youth Choir and Berkshire Youth Guitar Orchestra visited China for nine days at the end of last month, performing concerts to capacity audiences in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. The musicians, aged between 14 and 19, were accompanied by a team of teachers from Berkshire Maestros.

Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestras performances included seminal works such as Elgars Enigma Variations, Bernsteins Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and a selection of traditional English music, while Berkshire Youth Choir took an all-British programme, introducing the Chinese audiences to a wide range of traditional styles. Berkshire Youth Guitar Orchestra was an unusual feast for local music-lovers and they delighted audiences with their eclectic mix of traditional and modern guitar repertoire, leading to several standing ovations.

Choir member Adam West said: The China tour was incredible. It gave us all an amazing insight into a very different culture; the food, the language, the surroundings. We had an unparalleled opportunity to perform in some unbelievable venues and were also able to absorb the beauty of two massive cities by night. It was an amazing experience to perform in such impressive concert venues that are on a different scale that we just dont have here in the UK.

Sightseeing highlights for me included visiting the Great Wall of China and seeing Shanghai from above up the Jin Mao Tower. We also enjoyed a visit to the Forbidden City and our flashmob A Crazy Little Thing Called Love in the local markets was such fun.

This epic adventure was a truly special, one that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates gives women real teeth

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (15)

Running time 1hr 38min

Rating ***

MIKE and Dave Need Wedding Dates; on the face of it, another bro comedy relying on coarse humour and stereotypes. But this wolf in sheeps clothing actually has teeth  its far more subversive than the trailers suggest.

Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron) are brothers who keep each other tethered to their teenage mentalities, despite being some way into their 20s. Having wreaked havoc across a string of family occasions  weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and presumably funerals too  theyre oblivious to the fact their antics have been anything other than immense fun. But their long-suffering parents have had enough. With their sisters wedding around the corner, the family sits them down to insist that this time they stop hitting on girls and calm the heck down  by bringing dates to the Hawaii wedding.

Loosely based on something that actually happened, the brothers put out an ad calling out for girls interested in coming to the wedding, all expenses paid. When the ad goes viral and theyre invited to appear on a talk show, good-time girl friends Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) hatch a plan to get themselves picked. It works, but what ensues is something that rapidly shoots off the scale  could these two be even more troublesome than Mike and Dave?

The four combined are a recipe for disaster but it could also be the catalyst for a seismic shift in not just their thinking, but everyone elses too. Anna Kendrick continues to prove herself an important cog in the Hollywood machine, defying stereotypes and exercising her right to versatility. Smart and talented, she picks her roles wisely. As Alice, a waitress nursing a broken heart having been jilted at the altar, shes one half of a rudderless twosome enabling each other as they remain blissfully unaware theyre stuck in a rut. Alice is also funny and independent, and she and counterpart Tatiana are women allowed to act as men are. They enjoy sex on their own terms and will happily objectify men in the same way that women are. Crucially, though, theyre not punished for it or put in their place, or forced to surrender to a patriarchal ideal of womanhood  and thats a big step forward in Hollywood comedy in the wake of the groundbreaking Bridesmaids.

Whats more, these arent the only women in the film given free rein to behave how they like while remaining unpunished. Theres Terry (Alice Wetterlund), the cousin  another strong woman  and Jeanie (Sugar Lyn Beard), the sister who rejects the Hangover-style, sensible, little-woman-at-home role to embrace a more liberated side and be celebrated for it.

You might well read other reviews criticising the film for reducing women characters to the same level as the films idiotic men. But its important and refreshing to portray women in as many different ways as possible on screen  and not just as the moral centre. People love The Hangover and the puerile antics of those characters  why not give the women characters the same chance to be found hilarious, without chastising them for it?

Delightfully dissident, the film shines a light on the tendency of Hollywood to put women into categories; objectifying some while seeing others as pure and innocent wives, mothers and sisters. Both brothers at different times are grossed out by witnessing their sister in non-sisterly situations  fully naked at one stage, and at another in the throes of ecstasy on a massage table.

Easy to knock, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is better than you might think. Its not as good as Step Brothers but its better than Dude, Wheres My Car?, Wedding Crashers and Romy and Michelles High School Reunion. Done no favours by its marketing, if this sort of thing is normally your sort of thing, its worth 98 minutes of your time.
Cookies used for analytics help us improve our website by collecting the information on how you use it. This information is collected in a way that doesn't allow to directly identify anyone. For more information on how these cookies work, please see our
File photo: Spring of West Lake in Hangzhou

We have had great engagement and participation from taskforce members this year, said Hans-Paul Burkner, chairman of the Boston Consulting Group, when speaking about this years Business 20, or B20 summit.

We have seen encouraging signs through the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bankers' communique as well as on the sidelines of the July G20 Trade Ministers meeting and look forward to a successful Hangzhou Summit in September, he noted.

Hans-Paul said the infrastructure taskforce has been lucky to have the privilege of interacting more closely with G20 working groups and presenting at G20 ministers' meetings, which he said has helped the B20 become more closely aligned with the overall G20 agenda, get input on key emerging ideas from the B20 and ultimately better support its G20 counterparts.

Chinese companies and business leaders have been very active this year. We have received strong leadership from the taskforce chair, as well as support from dedicated Sinomach, Sinopec, SPIC and State Grid working teams, Burkner said, when speaking about the role of Chinese companies in developing the B20 Infrastructure taskforces policy recommendations.

As China plays an increasingly important role in the global economy, we believe the increasing involvement of Chinese companies is an important trend for the future in infrastructure and other topics, he added.

Burkner stressed the importance of five recommendations put forward by the taskforce, saying that the recommendations reinforce the fundamentally critical evergreen B20 actions from previous years, and identify new opportunities.

If implemented, these five recommendations could generate more than $2 trillion in economic activity every year and create more than 30 million additional jobs across the G20 economies, he noted.

Burkner particularly emphasized the first two recommendations  increasing and accelerating the pipeline for high-quality bankable projects; and the need to develop conducive regulations, deploy asset-monetization strategies and promote the creation of financial instruments necessary to unlock long-term investments in infrastructure. He said the first two recommendations represent the most important infrastructure challenges facing the business community today. He also said he is interested in seeing how the global community will start embracing the promise of a digital revolution in the infrastructure industry.

Governments need a comprehensive strategy owned by the highest decision makers, Burkner said.

In addition, Burkner explained that their policy paper also goes into details about the need to improve the way greenfield projects are identified, prioritized, and prepared. He noted that there are significant opportunities for the organizations that own, plan and operate infrastructure assets (such as transport agencies) to be more agile, identify and implement targeted IT systems, optimize procurement procedures, better manage asset life-cycles, accelerate the delivery of high-priority projects and leverage big data and analytics.

Only then can governments begin to efficiently and effectively accelerate and increase bankable project pipelines, create conducive regulatory requirements to de-risk infrastructure projects, reap the benefits from brownfield asset monetization and foster digital technology, Burkner said.
China outlines its position after the DPRK test-fires missile launched from submarine

The 8th trilateral foreign ministers' meeting is held in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 24, 2016. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

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 [email protected]
An undated photo shows the scene of North Korea firing a submarine-launched ballistic missile. [Photo: weibo.com]

PYONGYANG, Aug. 25 -- Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has recently guided a successful test-firing of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile "Pukguksong", the official news agency KCNA reported Thursday.

The test-firing, which was conducted at a high angle in the maximum launching depth, reconfirmed the stability of the SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) system, the starting character of the high-power solid fuel engine and phased flying kinetic feature, the state media said.

"The core technical indexes of the ballistic missile including the reliability of the phased heat separation and the control and guidance system and the working accuracy of the warhead in the re-entry section perfectly met all requirements for operation," it added.

Kim was satisfied with the result and expressed gratitude to the officials, scientists and technicians in national defense and munitions factories for their efforts to develop the SLBM technology.

Kim said the test-firing has proved the DPRK "joined the front rack of the military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capability" and that the U.S. mainland and military bases in the Asia Pacific are now within the striking range of the DPRK's military.

The supreme leader strongly slammed the ongoing military drills jointly carried out by South Korea and the Untied States and threatened to "deal merciless blows with nuclear hammers," once an opportunity is given.

He also stressed the need to speed up mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles and to focus efforts on the development of the delivery means.

The DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile at about 5:30 a.m. local time (2030 GMT Tuesday) off the eastern coastal town of Sinpo in South Hamgyeong province, according to South Korean defense ministry.

The ballistic missile flew about 500 km and fell into the waters inside Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, said South Korean local media. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the launch as a grave threat to security and said Japan has lodged strong protest through diplomatic channels.

Seoul believed the DPRK's SLBM technology has progressed compared with previous launches as the military has allegedly regarded the flight of more than 300 km as successful.

The launch came just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off their joint annual war games, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). Pyongyang has denounced the drills as a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, which the two allies claimed to be defensive in nature.

The previous SLBM test by the DPRK came just a day after Washington and Seoul announced on July 8 the decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in South Korea.

Experts are worried that the THAAD deployment may accelerate the DPRK's efforts to develop its SLBM technology as THAAD's X-band radar cannot detect and track ballistic missiles fired from a DPRK submarine that moves deep under the waters.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday that he expects bilateral talks with Beijing over the South China Sea issue within a year, according to the Philippine Star. He called on China to let Philippine fishermen enter the disputed waters of Huangyan Island, but added that when this possible dialogue occurs, "It's impossible [not to bring up the South China Sea arbitration award]  when we are face to face and we come up with hard facts."

The question is, however, what kind of negotiation with China does Duterte want? A functional and efficient one, or a useless, meaningless one? It seems that he might have neglected the bottom line that Beijing insists on - putting the arbitration award behind us.

China welcomes Manila to return to bilateral talks, but if the Philippines insists on the award as a precondition, the negotiations won't get off the ground.

After the curtain falls on the South China Sea arbitration farce, Manila has realized that now comes the hard part. Duterte's recent moves and remarks indicate he wants to ease the tension, including sending the country's former president Fidel Ramos as an ice-breaker in bilateral ties, as well as signaling he is open to shelving the arbitration award.

As a nation that is hungry for energy and lacks money and technology, Manila has limited cards to play. Repairing its relationship with Beijing is without doubt an optimal choice.

In the meantime, the South China Sea, which is home to over 3,000 species of fish, is always a focus of attention in the Philippines, one of the top fish producing nations in the world.

Unfortunately, given the illegal fishing, overfishing and clashes over sovereign disputes in the area, the worsening livelihoods of many of the coastal populations in the Philippines has become an urgent problem.

Huangyan Island has been a traditional fishing ground for both Chinese and Philippine fishermen. If both sides can jointly manage fisheries in the waters, setting aside controversies and collaborating on the fishing industry purely from an economic perspective, the process is bound to reduce hostile sentiment and create more opportunities for a wider range of cooperation, such as joint work on exploiting resources, maritime rescue, meteorological data exchange as well as disaster relief at sea.

All that is possible without necessarily involving a thorough solution to all the complexity in the waters.

An improved relationship between the two will be favorable for both sides. Otherwise, foreign forces will always have an excuse to keep stirring up troubles and driving a wedge between China and the Philippines. China welcomes bilateral dialogues with Manila, yet there must be no precondition attached to the talks, including the arbitration award.
The transit elevated bus TEB-1 is on road test in Qinhuangdao, North China's Hebei Province, Aug 2, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

It looks like there's trouble ahead for China's innovative straddling bus project. It's being reported that the test track could be torn up by the end of this month.

According to Xinhua news agency, Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) Technology Co. Ltd signed an agreement with Qinghuangdao's Beidaihe District government in April this year. The agreement, which expires on August 31, requires the company to solely manage investment and the construction of the project. It is also obliged to return the 300-meter section of road used for the test to its original state.

The high-profile test gained a huge amount of media coverage when it was conducted on August 2, and it was reported at the time that the first straddling bus would roll off the assembly line in 2017.

Although there have been no progress reports since then, there have been a huge number of media reports questioning the project's feasibility financially, commercially and in terms of technology.

Some reports revealed that the project was approved by local governments as a tourism project not as a transportation project. Others suggest that there are suspicions that it was a scam to raise money illegally. Despite a large amount of private funding it's still nowhere near becoming a reality. There are also questions over the project's technological feasibility.

A transport official with the National Development and Reform Commission said there was a real danger that the bus could tip over because of its weight and high center of gravity, and, as the space underneath is only two meters high, many vehicles would actually be unable to drive underneath it. As a result, many media outlets have taken the view that it was nothing but a publicity stunt!

The Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) was promoted as a way to help ease traffic congestion. Its design features an elevated passenger compartment that straddles the road below, allowing vehicles to pass underneath.
From the outside world, Tibet, the Chinese vast land symbolized by mountains and valleys is known for the Bhudist monks, especially the Potala Palace.

But there are other things that mark out Tibet you would not know until you get set for a visit.

One of them and the major factor is that Tibet is bereft of oxygen. Like someone said after a visit and coming down with what I joked as Lhasa Fever, Tibet takes your breath away.

As you arrive in Tibet, you are advised to walk slowly and never hurry because you need to make do with the little oxygen in the environment and your system.

While you take all these cautionary steps, the natives of Tibet dont. They dont get exhausted and carry on like super humans. That makes you wonder if Tibet doesnt like strangers and discriminates against them in preference for the natives. But its natures way of entraining the system over time to survive. Or you may say that the Tibetan environment already knows the natives and flows in tandem with them.

When the person taking you to Tibet requests that you see a doctor to confirm you are fit, the doubt and fear in you starts to swell and swirl. You ask again what is really peculiar about the place to the extent that you are required to sign anti-liability claim or indemnity that you willingly accepted to be in Tibet.

As you put pen to paper, you start to wonder what might be wrong or if the intent is just to cow and drive you nuts to take you out of the bargain. But on arrival at the distant land of China that is four flight hours and 10 minutes from Beijing to the western end of the country, you come to understand better the caution ahead of the trip.

Before you go to Tibet

Make up your mind to travel to Tibet by first resolving to gamble with your good health. While there, you will find out two major things  there is actually a place defined by amazing mountainous landscape, a place of lavish beauty where nature staked much resource but almost probably forgot one  oxygen that supports human life.

In Tibet, you will gasp for breath; you will palpitate with every move you make; you will learn the art of walking slowly like a 90-year-old. You need to do all these because Tibet has oxygen in very short supply and you need to conserve the one in your system if you dont want to die of exhaustion.

Dont forget that you would need to skip your personal hygiene of bathing until you adapt. You will learn the oft-overlooked lesson that taking your bathe is serious physical exercise that works your system so much that you may get exhausted and be thrown off balance when someone might not be there with you. Furthermore, Tibet will make your head feel like splitting in ache. You will feel nausea, throw up, some knot in your tummy, dizziness and momentary faint feat.

The reason for all these is that the quantity of oxygen your system needs to operate is inadequate and because there is not enough to supply to the brain, the neurons revolt and bombard you with aches. The joints feel weak like one that has acute malaria all because of poor oxygen supply.

Just a little after arrival in Lhasa, most of the African and Asian journalists that travelled there came down with symptoms. About four were almost permanently on oxygen while the foreign affairs office of Tibet arranged a mobile clinic with a nurse and doctor that accompanied the team everywhere. All hotel rooms in Lhasa have oxygen cylinders with emergency lines to call the hotel management in case of distress. Many during the four days trip were on drug all the time. Lhasa has a special kind of drug that boosts immunity and energy. The little sweet tasting liquid was a common companion. And every now and then, the travelers stuck out their fingers towards the nurse for blood pressure check. It was common to see one journalist quietly step aside and take a seat to catch some breathe or to throw up when the nausea mounts and the system could not take any more. The worst moments came with climbing stairs which sight made many hearts skip beats.

But after arriving Linzhi, the tension over oxygen shortage paled as the city is just 3100m high. Another travel through the old axis of the Tibet-Sichuan road through Lulang, a small mountain tourist town was a new experience. Oxygen in Lulang is ok, but the mountain route to the town is not.
Tian Rihui, vice president of Lenovo Group gives a speech at GIEC 2016 International IT Business Forum in Beijing, Aug 23. [Photo provided to People.cn]

The Lenovo Enterprise Analytics Platform (LEAP), originally a system developed for internal use at Lenovo, has evolved into a one-stop data integration shop that drive better decision-making for its clients, said Tian Rihui, vice president of Lenovo Group at the GIEC 2016 International IT Business Forum.

The data management platform includes an extract-transform-load tool, SQL queries, visual tools and learning modules, and also supports various analysis modules, according to Tian.

Lenovo has eight data centers across the world, each collecting extensive data from the supply chain, sales channel and consumers. From this data we have accumulated rich experience in optimizing our operations through processing data clouds. Now wed love to provide more open-source service to global companies, said Tian.

In a move to do just that, Lenovo Ecosystem & Cloud Service Business Group unveiled a plan on July 4 to develop integrated solutions for the telecommunications industry. These solutions will provide a backbone for rich mobile content, 5G networks and Internet of Things workloads. The new initiative, called Open [email protected], will be powered by Red Hats software stack for network function virtualization.

Lenovo looks forward to helping more telecommunications companies build next-generation data centers using our open source technologies, Tian added.

According to data released at the forum, it is estimated that Chinas big data technology and services market will grow at a compound annual rate of 50 percent during the 2016-2020 period. What's more, since additional users mean more data, it is projected that by 2020, China will own 20 percent of the worlds data, becoming the number one data-holder in the world.
What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer?
According to an insider at China COSCO Shipping Corporation, COSCO Shipping Port, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping, has shown interest in bidding for a tender to build and operate a third shipping container terminal at Spains largest port of Algeciras. This inquiry is a clear indicator of the company's ambitions to expand its European footprint.

The Algeciras Port Authority has set a Nov. 30 deadline for companies to submit bids for a 50-year concession for a public or dedicated terminal that must include automated solutions. The area, 37 hectares, has a total quay lane of 810 meters. It is located in southern Spain and faces to the northeast of the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

China COSCO Shipping has been expanding in Europe since merging with China Shipping in February. Two weeks ago, China COSCO Shipping sealed the acquisition of a 67 percent stake in the Greek port of Piraeus. This May, COSCO Shipping Port acquired a 35 percent stake in EUROMAX Terminal in Rotterdam at a cost of 125 million euros. Additionally, the Group is also running shipping container terminals in Antwerp at Zeebrugge Port.

The new conglomerate is currently operating all port businesses in China. COSCO Shipping Port changed its name from China COSCO Pacific on Aug. 22.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Major travel agencies in China have begun offering a new trial service: allowing tourists to book appointment with tour guides online.

Based on their itineraries and preferences, tourists will be able to make appointments with tour guides through an online appointment platform. They will also have a chance to review the tour guides' previous work. Tourist reviews will serve as an important reference for tour guides' future business and fee standards.

The National Tourism Administration has already launched an online pilot program for freelance tour guides in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and Guangdong. According to the program, tour guides provide services to tourists according to online appointments, and are then paid through a third-party payment platform.

Seventy-eight percent of the 2,170 tourists surveyed said they support the pilot program because it allows both tourists and tour guides to choose each other in a transparent manner, which could help to make tour package prices more reasonable.
Daily samples of baby poo taken throughout a full year will reveal how the bacterial community changes in the gut of infants.

The bacterial diversity of our stools changes dramatically in the course of our first year of life. Newborn babies have no bacteria in their gut. During birth, infants are exposed to the bacteria of their mothers' faeces. Only when children approach their first birthday will their bacterial diversity be as great as that in adults. The composition of bacteria can impact significantly on their health.

In order to gain a deeper insight into the ecosystem of the gut, researchers from Oslo University are investigating how the bacterial community changes in the gut of infants, from the day they are born to their first birthday.

"Generally speaking, the gut flora has a children's profile and an adults' profile. The basic idea of our work is to study the normal development of the bacterial diversity in the gut, and particularly how the gut flora changes when the child starts eating solids, receives medication such as antibiotics, is vaccinated or travels abroad" says researcher Pal Trosvik at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) at the University of Oslo in Norway.

Trosvik is part of the research centre - headed by professor Nils Chr. Stenseth - that recently analysed the genetic material of plague bacteria taken from several thousand victims of the great plague epidemics from the Iron Age to the Black Death. DNA analysis has made it possible to explain the evolution of plague bacteria and predict the next outbreak of plague.

"This time around we will be using DNA analysis to create a mathematical model designed to give us greater insight into the ecological balance of the gut," says Postdoc Eric de Muinck at CEES to the research magazine Apollon.

Daily poo samples

The work is of the yucky kind. The two researchers are receiving daily poo samples from thirteen babies for the duration of a whole year, from birth to their first birthday. In order to ensure sufficiently wide variation, they receive samples from children who live with pets as well as children without pets, from a pair of twins, and from children who were delivered vaginally as well as children who were delivered by caesarean section. The point is that babies who are delivered by C-section are not exposed to the same bacteria at birth as babies who are delivered vaginally.

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

The parents have been given the unenviable task of collecting the faeces from their baby's nappies.

This is the largest ever infant faeces study of its kind; almost a hundred times larger than earlier studies. In the course of a year, the researchers have been collecting daily faeces samples. We are talking about a total of almost 5000 poo samples.

Cumbersome analysis

The poo samples will be run through an enormous sequencing machine. The researchers have so far been working hard to develop the best possible procedure for extracting the DNA from the bacteria.

"Today, this is a messy and difficult procedure. There are no standardized ways of doing it."

If they were to use the original method, they would have spent a whole year on sequencing the stool samples, which is too long. They have therefore developed a new genetic sequencing method which is many times faster. From the University of Michigan in the US they obtained a sample containing more than thirty different types of bacteria, and they kept sequencing this sample over and over again in search of the optimal method.

The DNA analyses generate enormous amounts of data. We are talking about several hundred gigabytes of information.

In order to calculate the link between all the different genes, the researchers need to make use of the country's fastest calculator, the Abel high-performance computer cluster at the University of Oslo, which is ten thousand times faster than your average home computer.

Deep diving

Researchers are hopeful that they will learn a lot about the ecological balance in the gut. They also want to establish what bacterial groups have an influence on each other. Our understanding of this is still scant.

"Think of the entire bacterial community as a network. Some bacteria will affect each other positively, others negatively. Some bacteria sustain themselves from large molecules which they break down into smaller molecules that may benefit other bacteria. In other words, these bacteria produce food for other bacteria. Some bacteria are essential to the network and influence many different types of bacterial groups. We call them fundamental bacteria. It is possible to envisage that in future, we will be able to use these foundation bacteria in medical treatments." But Pal Trosvik points out that for now, this is mere science fiction.
New research has shown how a cell surface molecule, Lymphotoxin  receptor, controls entry of T-cells into the thymus; and as such presents an opportunity to understanding why cancer patients who undergo bone-marrow transplant are slow to recover their immune system.

The study, published in the Journal of Immunology, used mouse models to reveal an in vivo mechanism that researchers believe might also represent a novel pathway for immunotherapeutic targeting to support patients following transplantation.

The thymus, which sits in front of the heart and behind the sternum, imports T-cell precursors from the bone marrow and supports their development into mature T-cells that fight off dangerous diseases.

T-cells are often the last cells to recover in cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplants. Though the cancer is cured, patients are often left with an impaired immune system that can take years to recover.

The Birmingham team, supported by US-based collaborators at The Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute and The Trudeau Institute, found that Lymphotoxin  receptor was required to allow the entry of T-cell progenitors to the thymus both in a healthy state, and during immune recovery following bone-marrow transplantation.

Significantly, the team also found that antibody-mediated stimulation of Lymphotoxin  receptor in murine models enhanced initial thymus recovery and boosted the number of transplant derived T-cells.

Professor Graham Anderson, from the University of Birmingham, explained, "The thymus is often something of an ignored organ, but it plays a crucial role in maintain an effective immune system."

"Post-transplantation, T-cell progenitors derived from the bone marrow transplant can struggle to enter the thymus, as if the doorway to the thymus is closed. Identifying molecular regulators that can 'prop open' the door and allow these cells to enter and mature, could well be a means to help reboot the immune system."

Beth Lucas, also at the University of Birmingham, added, "This is just one piece of the puzzle. It may be that there are adverse effects to opening the door to the thymus, but identifying a pathway that regulates this process is a significant step."

Following these positive findings the team aim to move towards in-vitro samples of human thymus to examine the role that Lymphotoxin b receptor might play in regulation of thymus function in man.
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 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."

Source: University of California San Diego Health Sciences
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.

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

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."
Understanding how parents cope while their child is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) could lead to better support for the family and a more successful transition to home when the baby is healthy, according to Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Harrisburg researchers. Parental use of religious and secular coping strategies while their prematurely born baby receives intensive medical care may affect the family's interactions.

"The crisis of a baby that is born too early and requires intensive medical care to sustain life presents an enormous challenge to parents' ability to handle such stress," said Kim Doheny, associate professor of pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine. "The use of secular and spiritual and religious beliefs may foster effective coping and enhance the parents' ability to care for and bond with their baby."

Previous research has shown that the NICU can add a higher level of stress because of the unfamiliarity of the unit, and that it also can create barriers to parents being involved in the baby's care. Parents cope with this stress through positive and negative secular and religious strategies. Examples of positive secular coping techniques are asking for family and friend support and active problem solving; negative examples are choosing to not deal with the problem or denying the problem.

Positive religious/spiritual coping includes a belief that life has meaning, a sense of being connected to others on a spiritual level and feeling a secure relationship with God. Strategies include seeking forgiveness, exploring religious or spiritual support and prayer. Negative religious coping occurs when parents feel less secure in their relationship with God and have trouble finding meaning in life. These parents may feel abandoned or punished by God.

"We already know that how parents cope with their baby's hospitalization is vital to their effectiveness as parents after discharge, but we don't know how religious or spiritual coping plays into parents' lives while in the NICU and following discharge," said co-author Gina Brelsford, associate professor of psychology, Penn State Harrisburg. "Even though family-centered NICU care is the gold standard, many hospitals struggle to provide effective psychological supports to NICU families."

Researchers enrolled 52 adult parents of preterm infants born at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and admitted to the NICU during 2012-2014. Not all parents were religious. They then surveyed the parents about how they coped during the hospitalization and about their family characteristics. This is the first study of its kind exploring religious coping strategies in the NICU. Researchers reported their results in Advances in Neonatal Care.

In the study, parents who used negative religious coping strategies and felt abandoned or punished by God had higher levels of denial and lower levels of feeling connected to family. Findings suggest that the parents' spiritual lens is relevant when their baby is receiving nonpalliative care and that spirituality should not be forgotten when helping parents cope in the NICU.

"We need to address the whole person, or the whole family when it comes to medical care," Brelsford said. "This requires a focus on the family unit, in particular providing basic psychological supports for all families and more intensive psychological care for those in great need while in the NICU. Also, many parents have a religious or spiritual lens through which they are experiencing the NICU."

Added Doheny, "Parents who cope more effectively with stress during the time of hospitalization are more likely to successfully transition home with their babies after discharge. In addition to the use of family support groups and individual or group psychological counseling, health care practitioners should ask parents about their religious or spiritual worldviews to determine if support gained through this realm would be helpful to them."

Limitations in this study included a small sample size that included mostly white married couples, and that the self-reporting of the participants may not have captured the impact of specific coping strategies on family relationships.

Researchers will next use a larger group to look at parental stress levels and mental health and relationship functioning at six to nine months after their baby was discharged from the NICU and will determine if parents use secular and religious/spiritual coping to manage stress after discharge from the hospital.
New research from the University of British Columbia suggests there may be some truth to the belief that marijuana use causes laziness-- at least in rats.

The study, published today in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, makes rats less willing to try a cognitively demanding task.

"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."

For the study, researchers looked at the effects of both THC and cannabidiol (CBD) on rats' willingness to exert cognitive effort.

They trained 29 rats to perform a behavioural experiment in which the animals had to choose whether they wanted an easy or difficult challenge to earn sugary treats.

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.

When they looked at the effect of CBD, an ingredient in marijuana that does not result in a high, researchers found the chemical did not have any effect on 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.

Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

"This was surprising, as it had been suggested that high concentrations of CBD could modulate or reduce the negative effects of THC," said Catharine Winstanley, senior author of the study and an associate professor in UBC's department of psychology. "Unfortunately, that did not appear to be the case."

Given how essential willingness to exert cognitive effort is for people to achieve success, Winstanley said the findings underscore the importance of realizing the possible effect of cannabis use on impairing willingness to engage in harder tasks.

While some people view marijuana as a panacea that can cure all ailments, the findings also highlight a need for more research to determine what THC does to the human brain to alter decision-making. That could eventually allow scientists to block these effects of THC, allowing those who use medical marijuana to enjoy the possible benefits of cannabis without the less desirable cognitive effects.

METHOD

At the beginning of each behavioural experiment, rats chose between two levers to signal whether they wanted an easy or hard challenge.

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.
(Photo/readmeok.com)

Several thousand Chinese officials have been recalled from their posts and forced to undergo training after being declared incompetent at their jobs, a recent report explained.

According to Beijing Morning Post, the recall system for officials has been implemented in several provinces, including Guizhou, Hubei and Yunnan. Yunnan province has recalled 1,117 officials dispatched to villages to overlook poverty relief work after a local regulation on the recall system was issued in April.

Guizhou launched the recall system in 2014; in the city of Bijie alone, some 510 officials have since been recalled from office. In the city of Huangshi, Hubei Province, 56 officials have been recalled and enrolled in a week-long training course, the newspaper noted.

Most of the officials received their recall notices after being found to be unfamiliar with essential aspects of their job responsibilities, according to the report. As an example, the report offered Xiao Hua, Party chief in Bijie's Xinglong Village. Xiao was unable to answer even basic questions about the village's current farming situation.

I thought Id be fine so long as I did not break regulations on Party members activities, Xiao was quoted as saying. But the recall system is a new and good remedy, targeting acts of omission and lazy politics. It can help us to be more self-disciplined and get down to work in rural areas.
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."
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the petrol variant of its highest selling SUV GLE in the form of GLE 400 4MATIC. The car comes with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and is priced at Rs 74.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).



Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said With the launch of the GLE 400 4MATIC, our discerning customers will now have the option of choosing between the petrol and the diesel version of our highest selling SUV. This is the fourth SUV we have introduced this year and with this variant, we now offer our bestselling SUV in 4 different options, GLE 250 d, GLE 350 d, GLE 400 and the dynamic GLE 450 AMG Coupe.



The GLE 400 is the seventh product launched by Mercedes-Benz in India this year and will be initially available as a CBU, and the local production will follow later in the year. The company plans to complete the petrol product portfolio by September 2016.



The 2996 cc V6 engine on the GLE 400 produces 333 horsepower and 480 Nm of torque and comes mated to a 7-speed 7G TRONIC Plus transmission. The top speed claimed by the German automaker is 247 km/h. For those concerned, the fuel tank capacity of the GLE 400 is 94 litres and the reserve is 12 litres. It also gets Airmatic suspension with Adaptive Dampening System.



The car comes with Mercedes Dynamic Select system that means there are five driving modes on offer  Comfort, Sport, Slippery, Individual and Off-road. Inside the car, you get an 8-inch media display that comes with COMAND online interface and Harman Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system connected to 14 speakers placed inside the cabin.



In terms of safety, the 400 gets Crosswind Assist, Attention Assist, Active Parking Assist and Brake Assist and is equipped with six airbags for the driver.
New Delhi: Embattled Sahara group on Tuesday said there is a "devious attempt" to lower the price for its marquee hotels and disturb the sentiment of potential bidders, amid reports that a bidder has reduced the offer price for the properties.



UK-based family office 3 Associates, whose $1.3 billion offer for Sahara's three prized overseas hotels was rejected by the group in July, has reportedly reduced the offer amount.



"We have no information of any such bid or offer," a Sahara spokesperson said in a statement and termed them as baseless cases.



The earlier offer was made by a consortium of family office investors, comprising Jesdev Saggar-led 3 Associates and others from the Middle East, for acquiring Sahara's majority stake in three marquee hotel properties -- the famed Grosvenor House in London, as well as the Park Plaza and Dream Downtown in New York.



Queries sent to Saggar remained unanswered.



Noting that it is amusing to know from a news item that a due diligence was done without the group's knowledge and consultation, the spokesperson said, "these are baseless and speculative act of some wrong people".



"The interest of such people lies somewhere else rather than in the deal," he added.



On comments that New York Plaza Hotel might need more capital expenditure, the spokesperson said it "validates that it is a devious attempt to benchmark the price much lower than the actual market value of the properties in order to ruin the market and disturb the sentiment of the potential bidders".



Sahara group, whose chief Subrata Roy was in jail for over two years in connection with a long-running dispute with markets regulator Sebi and is now out on parole, has been trying hard to raise funds, including through refinancing of loans on its overseas hotels.
Chicago/ New Delhi: US 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 US retailers and has seen its shares plummet nearly 43% 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.



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.




Mumbai - After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the fear of Income Tax department in the mind of common people, the IT department is trying to get friendly with the tax payers.



In a communication the CBDT Chairperson Rani Singh Nair has asked all Principal Commissioners of Income Tax to expeditiously address the complaints received through grievance redressal system.



Speaking from the Red Fort on the day of Independence the Prime Minister had said  "We want to change the situation where people are scared of income tax authorities, particularly among middle class families. We have to change this situation and I will change it. I want to change the lives of common people, I am committed to it."



This communication by CBDT has come only after the Prime Minister highlighted the apathy a common man has to face from the Income Tax department. Interestingly, the CBDT letter to Principal Commissioners in itself shows that the department is not taking issues related to common man seriously.



3738 complaints sent through CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) related to Income Tax have jumped the stipulated time limit.



The letter dated 17th August 2016 shows 

 4 complaints pending beyond one year

 137 complaints pending beyond 6 months

 390 complaints pending between 3 to 6 months

 542 complaints pending between 2 to 3 months

 1073 complaints pending up to 60 days



The matter is now being directly monitored by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in all likelihood he would take up this issue of harassment by the Income Tax Department on the 24th of this month during the Pragati meeting.



In her letter the CBDT Chairperson says "A review of status of public grievances may come up in the next PRAGATI interaction to be held by the Hon. Prime Minister on the 24th August 2016. It may be ensured that all grievances pending beyond 60 days are disposed of expeditiously."



The CBDT Chairperson has asked all Principal Chief Commissioners and Director Generals of Income Tax Department to bring down complaints with pendency beyond 6 months to zero by 24th August.


A Newark-bound Air India flight, carrying around 300 passengers, from here was diverted to Kazakhstan due to technical issues. The Boeing 777-300 ER plane landed at an international airport in Kazakhstan at around 0800 hours after "some alarm went off".



Air India is dispatching a relief aircraft from New Delhi to ferry the stranded passengers from Kazakhstan to Newark. An airline spokesperson said the flight was diverted due to technical reasons. There was some alarm that went off and the engineers are inspecting the flight, he added.



In a tweet, the airline said the flight has been diverted on account of operational reasons and that all passengers are being taken care of.Generally, Boeing 777-300 ER has seating capacity for around 350 people.




As Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with political leaders in Kashmir, Congress pitched for dialogue with non-state political parties and all stakeholders, including students.



Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said no one from the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have appealed for peace in Kashmir which has been on boil for more than a month now.



"We hope that Home Minister not only talks with political parties, there are others as well, non-state political parties and other stakeholders. He should hold talks with students, trade unions and different communities. There should be peace.



"He should appeal for peace as well. I have never seen any minister or the Prime Minister appeal for peace, neither inside or outside Parliament nor in Kashmir. Least they can do is to appeal," Azad said. Meanwhile, JD(U) said the key question was how much effort would the Home Minister invest in taking forward what he talked about.



"I am happy that the Home Minister has finally understood that there is a need to begin a political engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. The key question here is how much effort will he invest in taking forward what he has said. "What is the kind of engagement that would be planned, so that the current impasse and sense of alienation, particularly among the youth, and the current involvement of Pakistan in Kashmir can be stemmed. We need to carefully watch the next step that this government takes," party leader Pawan Verma said.



As part of Centre's outreach, the Home Minister yesterday 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 rthe state. The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has now climbed to 66.
Srinagar: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to discuss the security situation in the Valley.



Mufti and Singh will also address the media and will talk about the ongoing unrest in the Valley since July 9.



Singh, who is on a two-day visit to review the security situation in the Valley, will meet members of the civil society on Thursday.



Amid tight security, Singh drove through the tense city roads dotted with para-military forces who ensured he did not have to face any protesters.



"Violence has not changed anything in Kashmir but only brought miseries and bloodshed to the state. Unfortunately, some sections of the youth resorting to violence are impeding the resolution process instead of facilitating it," Mufti said at an event.



She said violence has changed nothing on political spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir, but brought mayhem, miseries, economic disaster, academic breakdown and social disorder to the state.







Curfew is in force in five police station areas of downtown city and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in uptown, a police official said. In south Kashmir, curfew was imposed in Pulwama district while it continued in Anantnag town as well today to maintain law and order.



Curfew was imposed in Pulwama in view of killing of a youth in security forces action in the district on Wednesday during clashes.



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, have extended the strike call in the Valley till September 1.



(With inputs from PTI)
Mumbai: Multiple dahi handi groups in Dadar were seen side-stepping the 20-feet rule, where three separate pyramids showcasing the Govindas skills were formed, but a tall ladder was brought in to break the handi. Only three Govindas climbed up and broke the handi filled with curd. In other places handis were lowered at the time of breaking. But reports of human pyramids flouting the 20-feet rule have come in from Thane. Some MNS supporters wore t shirts saying' I will break the law'.



Some organisers have defied the Supreme Court order capping the height of dahi handi human pyramids at 20 feet from the ground. The huge dahi handi celebrations at Dadar and Dombivili were found to be flouting the SC order by using a ladder. Over one-third of 3,387 dahi handis in Mumbai are organised by the various political parties. To prevent violation of the SC order, the police are video-graphing the celebrations. At some places, the SC order was strictly complied with. They used a ladder to reach the handis. The SC has also instructed the festival organisers not to allow underage children to participate in human pyramids.



On Wednesday, the SC had rejected a review petition that argued that a height restriction would spoil one of Indias most-prominent colourful festivals. The Maharashtra government had also requested the Apex court to increase the maximum allowed height of the human pyramids from 20 to 25 feet.



The ruling alliance partner Shiv Sena has openly criticised the verdict saying that the judiciary was overstepping the laxman rekha that separates it from the executive functions of a democratically elected government.



A hard hitting editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana said, Lokmanya Tilak had asked British government if it had lost it sanity and was sent to the Mandalay prison on sedition charges for six years. But that was during the British government and its courts. But now a situation is emerging where we need to object to judicial activism in independent India because though there is a democratically elected government, the courts are handling the real governance.



The police are planning to take action against those who have violated the SC order once the celebrations are over.
United Nations: An exhibition showcasing the life and works of Mother Teresa, who spent most of her life in service of the destitute in India, will be organised at the UN's headquarters next month in celebration of the Nobel Laureate being declared a Saint on September 4.



The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN, together with non-profit legal organisation ADF International, will host the exhibition dedicated to her "words, witness, and works" from September 6 to September 9. The exhibition will open just days after Mother Teresa, who had founded the "Missionaries of Charity", is declared a Saint by Pope Francis at a ceremony in the Vatican on September 4.



The date chosen for her canonization is the eve of the 19th anniversary of her death. The Popehad cleared the way for her sainthood last year when he recognized a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa.



"Mother Teresa was a true advocate for the sanctity of life and the family," ADF International Executive Director Doug Napier said in astatement. "Sometimes she used words to present her ideas, but her actions and example spoke louder than her words. She acted faithfully and relentlessly. It is this passion that makes her a great role model for anyone working with or at the United Nations," Napier said.



Napier said the exhibit should remind the world of her wisdom, outstanding work and her "radical love for every human being, the poor, the sick, the unborn, and the dying." The exhibition would culminate with a conference on 87-year-old Mother Teresa's "enduring message to the international community."



The conference will also focus on aspects of her life and work, such as caring for the poorest of the poor, advocating for peace, and leaving no one behind, ADF said.



UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar had introduced the Catholic nun before her speech in front of the General Assembly in 1985 by saying "Mother Teresa is the United Nations" to illustrate that she embodied what the UN's mission is supposed to be.
On Aug. 19, 18-year-old Xu Yuyu, who was set to enroll at Nanjing Post and Communications University, became the victim of phone fraud, resulting in the loss of her carefully saved tuition fees. After discovering the scam, Xu suffered from a cardiac arrest and passed away in the hospital two days later. This sad story begs the question: how was Xu's personal information leaked?

The fact of the matter is, most students do not have significant income or capital. This ensures that they are not the worst-hit in phone frauds. However, students' personal information is extremely insecure.

On Aug. 25, six suspects working in educational organizations were given prison sentences by the people's court of Haidian in Beijing for illegally obtaining and trading over two million pieces of student information.

An insider declared that it's easy to get students' information from schools and colleges, saying, "I have the statistics on half the schools [in China]. For those I don't have in hand now, if you can provide the names of this student and school, I will get it."

According to some insiders, firsthand student information can be sold for 1 to 2 yuan per piece, and secondhand information is much cheaper. Both can be cheaper still if bought in bulk. In comparison, the price of firsthand personal information leaked from e-commerce sites can be sold for up to 30 yuan per piece. Information on e-commerce, banking and stock market and vehicle trading can all be found within this niche black market.

(File Photo)

A teacher in Beijing explained, "For the purposes of recruitment, some private colleges buy candidates' information from provinces every year after the college entrance examination. Information from hundreds of thousands of candidates has been given out.

"After receiving the information, colleges arrange for their telephone operators to phone the students. Within several days, anywhere from 50 to 69 students have been taken in." The teacher added, "After 2008, the executive departments tried to control the illegal trade, but failed. As the candidates decreased, even public academies were left with vacancies, to say nothing of private colleges. So business began to decline."

According to a specialist on data security, there are three ways for information to be leaked: through those experienced with databases, hackers and third-party service providers.

Another specialist explained that the information of primary and secondary students is kept in an online platform, while the information of college students is kept by their colleges. The diversified platforms for information storage increase the risk of information leakage by insiders.
Thane (Maharashtra): An MNS worker wearing a t-shirt which reads "I will break the law". #DahiHandi #Janmashtami pic.twitter.com/QG7USlGiGk  ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

14 'Govindas injured while attempting to break #DahiHandi in Mumbai #Janamashtami, taken to hospital; 10 discharged.  ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

: An FIR has been registered on Thursday against 16 mandals associated with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Thane for flouting the safety norms set by the Supreme Court with regards to the height of the human pyramid and the age limit of participants during the Janmashtami celebrations in Mumbai.The FIR filed against the district head of the MNS in Thane is under various sections of the Bombay police act and relates to the flouting of age limit of govindas which cannot be below 18 years and the height of the human pyramid which cannot be above 20 feet.Earlier in the day several dahi handi groups in Dadar were seen side-stepping the 20-feet rule, where three separate pyramids showcasing the Govinda's skills were formed, but a tall ladder was brought in to break the curd filled pot.Some MNS supporters were even spotted wearing t-shirts that said that "I will break the law".On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had rejected a review petition that argued that a height restriction would spoil one of India's most-prominent festivals.Earlier, the Maharashtra government had also requested the apex court to increase the maximum height that was allowed for the human pyramids from 20 to 25 feet.MNS Supremo Raj Thackeray too had criticized the court order on Tuesday and asked why only Hindu festivals were targeted even as there was no limit on festivals like Moharram which also led rallies.The ruling alliance partner Shiv Sena too openly criticised the verdict in a stinging editorial in the Saamna on Wednesday and said that the judiciary was overstepping the "laxman rekha" that separates it from the executive.Several reports through the day suggested that many Govindas suffered injuries while attempting to break the pots and were admitted to hospitals in different parts of the city.
At least one army jawan was injured on Thursday following a gunbattle between militants and the armed forces at the Karnah sector in Kupwara in J&K, an army official said.



The injured jawan belongs to the 26 Rajput regiment and has been shifted to the hospital, the official added.







Earlier, the army foiled an infiltration bid in Tangdhar area of J&K as troops fired at a group of terrorists and made them flee.
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, said SSP Babloo Kumar.



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 atentry and exit gates, 16 parking areas would be available for pilgrims' vehicles, the SSP added.
Srinagar: Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said that both the Central government and the state government are working towards the early resolution of the unrest in the state.



"95 per cent people want peaceful solution through dialogue, only five per cent derailing the process. I want a solution to the problem but this violence is not the way. There cannot be a solution to Kashmir through violence. The issue should be resolved with dialogue," Mehbooba Mufti said.



Amid criticism of the government and the security forces over the use of pellet guns, the Home Minister said "security personnel have been told to exercise maximum restraint. Within two-to-four days, an expert committee will submit report on pellet guns. We will give alternative to the pellet guns."



Singh said that an all-party delegation would visit violence-hit Kashmir soon. "Want to bring an all-party delegation to Kashmir. I have told CM Mehbooba Mufti to make arrangements for it," he said.







The two leaders addressed a joint press conference after they held discussions on the prevailing security situation in the state.



"Children are children. If they pick up stones, they must be counselled. I appeal to all Kashmiris not to play with the future of youth in the Valley," Singh said.



Singh was on a two-day visit to the state in the wake of violent protests triggered after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. He left for Delhi shortly after the press meet.



Taking stock of the situation in the state, Rajnath said he met over 300 people since he arrived in the state on Wednesday.



This is second visit of Singh in a month to the state.



The Home Minister's 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.


Mumbai: Actress Sonakshi Sinha says while the makers of Dabangg 3 have not approached her yet, she feels if the character of 'Rajjo' features in the film, it would only be played by her.



Sonakshi played village belle Rajjo, wife to superstar Salman Khan's Chulbul Pandey in the previous two parts of the hit action franchise.



There has been a lot of speculation around her casting in the third movie. While director Arbaaz Khan hasn't completely ruled out her involvement, he has said that "things depend on the script".



Sonakshi, on her part, had been dodging media's posers on the development, until today when she said, "The script is not in place as they (makers) are still working on it. My character didn't die in Dabangg 2. Rajjo will always be Rajjo irrespective of how they take the story forward. "If there is a character of Rajjo in Dabangg 3, it will always be played by me," the actress said in an interview here.



Sonakshi added she is even open for a guest appearance in the movie. "Even if they (makers) need me for guest appearance I will still do it."



The actress also asked the media to stop speculating about her casting as the film' script is not even ready yet. "There is a lot of speculation happening. One day media writes I am doing it, the other day it says I am not doing it. "There is no conversation about Dabangg 3 between us (Salman, Arbaaz and me) as the script is not ready. So I would request media to stop speculating when the time is right producer Arbaaz will say."



Dabangg marked 29-year-old Sonakshi's entry into Bollywood and hence, for the actress, the film series will always hold a special place.



"I am what I am today because of Dabangg and because of my role in the film. It's my first film and my character I will always be grateful and loyal to that film."



Sonakshi, meanwhile, will be next seen in A R Murugadoss' Akira alongside Anurag Kashyap and Konkana Sen Sharma.
BENGALURU: Some protestors on Thursday pelted eggs at Kannada film actress and former Congress MP Ramya in Mangalore for praising Pakistan.



They pelted eggs at her car outside Mangalore airport and shouted slogans against her demanding an apology. According to reports some Bajarang Dal and VHP workers were behind the attack.



Expecting trouble the police had elaborate security arrangements at the airport and prevented the activists from approaching her.



Speaking to CNN-News18 Ramya said I landed in Mangalore. There was a tight security. Some people pelted eggs at my car. I dont know who they are. The people will try all sorts of things. It is not going to affect me. I am not going to backtrack. I am not at all worried.



An advocate K Vittal Gowda who has filed a sedition case against Ramya said that what she did was wrong and he had nothing against her.



Karnataka BJP leader S Prakash said that attack was in connection with her alleged derogatory remarks against Mangalore people and it had nothing to do with her statement on Pakistan. He said Ramya is after free publicity. She had called Mangalore hell and Pakistan a good country.



The Congress leader and film actress Kushboo has attacked the BJP for the egg attack. Speaking to News18 she said there was nothing wrong in what Ramya has said. She did not praise Pakistan government.



On Tuesday she had refused to apologise for praising the people of Pakistan saying her statements did not amount to sedition as was argued by right-wing activists.







"These days being called anti-national is a compliment. But, I would like to clarify that I am not an anti-national," Ramya told CNN-News18 after an RSS-affiliated organisation demanded that she be booked under sedition charges.



Ramya had countered Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement that going to Pakistan is worse than going to hell. She said that when she went to Pakistan as part of a parliamentary delegation they were treated well.



"I found them warm and good-natured. They are just like us," she said. Slamming the BJP and affiliated organisations for criticising he, she said: "I feel very sorry for them. Many people are ignorant. It is very easy to brainwash them.



The media has a very crucial role. They should educate the masses. There is no rationale behind what they are doing."



Reacting to the demand of right-wing activists that the Karnataka Film Chambers should ban her, Ramya said: "Why are they involving film industry in this? This is nothing to do with what I had said".



Her lawyer Pramod Nair said the sedition case against her was untenable and that the law itself was a "remnant of our colonial past."




Kurseong (West Bengal): 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 on Wednesday.



Pradhan alias Bhupendra, a founding member of GJM, joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) at a programme in Kurseong 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.
Srinagar: Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was arrested on Thursday evening by the Police.



According to sources his arrest is a routine one and he has now been shifted to the Hazratbal police station.



The state of Jammu and Kashmir continues to be in turmoil and death toll has risen to 66.



Home Minister, Rajnath Singh is in Srinagar to discuss all the possible prospects of peace, including talks with all the stakeholders.






I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I saidhttps://t.co/bUWzTHrgHW

 Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 25, 2016

: A day after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi told the Supreme Court that he had never blamed the RSS as an organisation for the killing of Mahatma Gandhi, a fresh controversy erupted on Thursday as Rahul tweeted that he stands by his comments on the RSS and would never stop fighting its "hateful and divisive agenda".Rahul's counsel Kapil Sibal had clarified to the Supreme Court on Wednesday that he had not blamed the RSS as an organisation for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, but only the people linked to it."Rahul Gandhi has always denied making the statement that the RSS as an organisation was responsible for Gandhiji's assassination," Sibal 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, 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.Earlier, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had defended Rahul Gandhi saying that there has been no u-turn by the party Vice President on his remarks that RSS killed Mahatma Gandhi.Singh said Rahul stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.Reacting to the fresh tweet, BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, "This is a face saving exercise by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party as they say two different things. While they have meekly surrendered in the court yesterday, his credibility is at stake as the people of this country have realised what he is upto".Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi however defended the Rahul and said that BJP who is habitual of disowning their own people is doing the same now with Nathuram Godse.
New York: If the US presidential election were held today, Democrat Hillary Clinton would win the key swing states of Florida, Ohio and Virginia and have a 95% chance of beating Republican Donald Trump to become Americas first female president, according to the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project.



The project, which combines opinion polls with an analysis of voting patterns under different election scenarios, shows Clinton currently beating Trump in the popular vote by six percentage points and ahead in 19 states, including most of the larger-population ones that heavily influence the outcome of the election.



At the moment, Clinton would win at least 268 votes in the Electoral College, the body that ultimately chooses the next president, just two shy of what she needs to win the White House. On average, the former secretary of state would win by 108 electoral college votes.



Trump would win at least 21 states, many of them with smaller populations, giving him a minimum of 179 electoral votes.



The election is still 10 weeks away, and a great deal could change prior to November 8. The candidates are running about even in eight states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina, and the polling sample is too small to determine the winner in Alaska, Wyoming and Washington DC. But Trump would need to win the 21 states currently in his column and sweep all of the remaining "toss-up" states to win the presidency.



That is a steep challenge for Trump, whose bare-knuckled, anti-establishment campaign helped him win the Republican Party's nomination but has so far failed to build broad support with voters.



If Trump cannot draw in far greater numbers of women, moderate Republican voters and minorities, he will almost surely lose the White House race, according to the polling project.



Consider, for example, what would be an ideal scenario for Trump: white men with below-average incomes showing up in record numbers on Election Day. This group strongly favors the real-estate mogul, yet even if all of them vote it wouldn't hand Trump any of the states currently slated for Clinton or any of the toss-up states. Clinton would still win the election.



The Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project is driven by an online survey that gathers responses from about 16,000 people per week. Respondents answer questions about their demographic background, their party affiliation and their choice for president. Their responses are weighted according to the latest population estimates, and each respondent is ranked according to their likelihood to vote.



Once the poll is complete, the project tallies the levels of support and estimated error for both candidates, and then runs multiple election simulations given their respective support. A separate set of simulations is run for each state and Washington D.C. The project runs more than 25 million simulations to determine the chances that one candidate would win.



Representatives from the Clinton and Trump campaigns did not respond to requests for comment on the project.



OCTOBER SURPRISE?



A polarizing candidate, Trump has called for a more extensive border wall with Mexico, a ban on Muslim immigrants and a rejection of international trade agreements. His personal attacks, including his criticism of the parents of a Muslim-American soldier killed in action, have undermined his support within the Republican establishment.



Still, Clinton is far from guaranteed a victory in November.



A majority of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of both Trump and Clinton, and nearly one out of four likely voters says they do not support either of them for president, according to a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll.



The candidates are scheduled to square off in a series of televised debates, and a poor showing by either could quickly change the dynamic of the race. A strong showing by a third party candidate could also influence the outcome.



Democratic Party operatives also fear there may be more revelations about ties between wealthy foreign donors to the Clinton family charity, the Clinton Foundation, and the State Department under her stewardship. Clinton has denied any impropriety but Trump has seized on the disclosures as a new line of attack against his rival.



Theres always a chance of an October surprise  something definitive and striking about Clinton  that could change the race, said Tom Smith, who directs the Center for the Study of Politics and Society at the University of Chicago. But, short of any scandals by the Clintons, I just dont see any way that Trump catches up.



If Trump were to rely heavily on support from white voters, he would face an extremely narrow path to victory. Even if all male and female white voters showed up at the polls, and turnout among blacks and Hispanics was half of what it was in 2012, respectively, the project shows Clinton would still be favored to win.



It appears that Trumps best chance is to turn out Republican voters in huge numbers and hope that a lot of Democrats stay home.



Theres only one problem with this: Republicans appear to have turned out as strongly as Democrats only once in presidential elections since at least 1976. That was in 2004, when the electorate was made up of 37% of Republicans, 37% of Democrats and 26% of Independents, according to exit poll data collected by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at Cornell University.



"There's still a lot of this demolition derby of an election to go," said Donald Green, a political scientist at Columbia University. "A lot of people who support Trump don't have a very good record of voter turnout, and who knows if they show up this time.




(Xinhua) 13:03, August 25, 2016

KABUL, Aug. 25 -- Seven people were killed and 32 injured after a car bombing and ensuing gun shoots rocked a private college in western Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday evening, a senior police official said Thursday.

At least seven people were killed, including one student, three policemen and all the three attackers, and 32 injured including nine policemen, about 700 students have been rescued, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, Chief of Kabul police, told reporters on the site early Thursday.

The gunfire ended at around 06:30 a.m. local time on Tursday, lasting roughly 10 hours.

"The terrorists attacked American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), by a suicide car bombing followed by gunmen firing on security guards and students, " a security source told Xinhua anonymously.

"About three attackers were involved in the incident. One attacker destroyed the building's perimeter by a car bombing to open the way for the second squad of gunmen," the source said.

The targeted building is located along the four-line Dar-ul-Aman road which leads to the parliament building. At least three female students were among the injured, resident Mohammad Salim told Xinhua on Wednesday evening.

"The blast caused panic among the people. Several students were trapped inside safe-rooms at the building during the clashes. As we heard the AUAF was threaten by Taliban militants over the past couple of years. Two AUAF teachers were kidnapped a couple of weeks ago. They are still missing," Salim said.

The students mostly working in NGOs and government offices were arriving for evening classes before the attack took place, he said.

Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the attack Wednesday evening.

"I condemn this coward attack on AUAF. Attacking schools, universities and innocent people is a war crime. We cannot bear it," he tweeted.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

About 1,600 civilians were killed and more than 3,560 others wounded in conflict-related violence and Taliban-led attacks in first half of the year, according to UN mission officials in the country.
Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alleged that the eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed American safety and undermined its freedom and independence.



"Eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed our safety and undermined our freedom and independence," he said at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi.



"Our jobs have moved overseas, Islamic terrorism has spread within our shores and an open border has crushed low-income workers and threatened our security.



"The issues we face here in America are similar to the issues faced in Britain during their referendum on membership in the EU. This is the movement known as Brexit," Trump, 70, said as he continued to lash out at the policies of outgoing US President Barack Obama and his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, 68.



Trump alleged that Clinton has been on the wrong side of history in every major decision she has ever made and got this one wrong too.



"Now, Hillary wants to surrender America to globalism. She wants a country without borders. She wants trade deals written for the benefit of foreign corporations. She wants a government that ignores the will of the people.



"She wants to sell out American security to the Clinton Foundation for a pile of cash. It is hard to tell where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins.



According to the AP, more than half the meetings she took as Secretary of State from outside government were with Foundation Donors. Hillary Clinton doesn't believe in America First. She believes in Donors First," Trump alleged.



Trump said that Clinton would rather give a job to a refugee from overseas than to an unemployed American Veteran.



"The job of a public official is to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. Not illegal immigrants, not foreign nationals seeking entry, but the people living here lawfully today including millions of African-American and Hispanic citizens," he said.



Trump said his focus will always be on the well-being of the more than 300 million American citizens who call this country home.



"I will fight for their security, I will fight for their jobs, I will fight for their families. One American Nation. Hillary Clinton has betrayed her duty to the people. November 8th is our chance to re-declare American Independence," he

said.
A Wytheville man has been charged with first-degree murder after state police said he drove a pickup truck into two people  killing one and injuring the other  in Smyth County on Wednesday morning.

Spokeswoman Corinne Geller said John Randolph Lewis, 34, was driving a 2008 Ford diesel pickup truck with three passengers when he pulled over in the 500 block of Knight Road, just off Interstate 81 near the border of Wythe County. Two of the passengers  Samuel D. Lawson and Heather M. Clontz  got out of the truck about 8:50 a.m. Lewis then pulled forward, striking Lawson and running over Clontz, Geller said.

Clontz, 35, of Fries, died at the scene. Lawson, 28, of Ivanhoe, was flown to Bristol Regional Medical Center. He was treated and released Wednesday.

Lewis left the scene. State police found him and the pickup truck in Wythe County. State police took him into custody without incident.

Geller did not elaborate in a news release Wednesday night if police know what may have prompted Lewis to strike the two people.

State police also located the third passenger of the truck. The woman has not been charged in the incident.

Lewis is also charged with involuntary manslaughter, malicious wounding and two felony counts of hit-and-run. He is being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail.
Jet service has once again returned to Lynchburg Regional Airport.

After being served by only turboprop Bombardier Dash 8s for the last year, the airport has begun a daily departure of the 63-seat Canadair Regional Jet.

Its a good signal for us, Airport Director Mark Courtney said. Were seeing an increase in number of seats due to added frequencies along with larger aircraft.

Up until now, all flights out of the airport have been 50-seat planes.

The airlines have been gradually retiring the 50-seat airplanes, he said. The trend in the industry among smaller airports is to transition to larger aircraft as the industry has continued to be consolidated.

The new jet will be the first regular flight out of Lynchburg with a first-class flying option, according to Courtney.

In addition to the new daily CRJ 700 flight, which departs at 5:49 p.m., two more 50-seat jets will begin departing in September.

At the end of the day, it is typically easier to fill a jet than a turboprop, Courtney said. Just for personal preference reasons, some people prefer flying in a jet because its smoother and you get a little higher altitude.

Flying to Charlotte on a turboprop takes roughly 45 minutes, while jet service takes 35 minutes, Courtney said.

While the larger size mean higher seat capacity flying into the airport now, management is preparing for the possibility of fewer departures with higher seat capacities.

Im being told by American Airlines that their intent is to introduce more jets into the Lynchburg market, however we may end up seeing a decrease in the frequency of our departures but that will be with the 63-seat aircraft or maybe even the 76-seat jet.

Chairman of the Lynchburg Regional Airport Commission Stewart Hobbs said the return of regional jets is a vote of confidence in the Lynchburg market.

Its something weve been pushing for since they pulled the regional jet out of here, he said. Its a big plus for the Lynchburg airport and the passengers that use it. Over the last few years jet service has been available intermittently at the airport.

Courtney hopes strong flight numbers will keep seat capacity stable.

We are one of the strongest performing airports of our size, he said. I have communicated to American that we want to at the very least maintain our current seat capacity.

New jets replacing the current Dash 8s will mean fewer delays from maintenance, according to Courtney.

The Dash 8s are getting old and its time to replace them, he said. Were encouraged that some of our regular flyers will notice a decrease in delays caused by the older planes.

Assistant Director for Lynchburg Economic Development Anna Bentson said the addition of jet service is critical to business growth in the region.

The fact that the city will now have regional jet service is a great indicator of the strength of our market for air travel and  we hope  a good sign that the business community will have access to these types of resources in greater numbers in the future, Bentson said.
ALTAVISTA  At a legislative breakfast featuring elected representatives for three levels of government, Campbell County Supervisor Stan Goldsmith asked what he should talk about.

Jobs, called a voice from the back near eggs, biscuits and muffins.

Returning jobs to small towns like Altavista and improving economic prospects hampered by declining manufacturing jobs underlined each short speech by local, state and congressional officials representing overlapping districts Wednesday who spoke before the Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce.

While retiring Republican Rep. Robert Hurt said encouraging job growth in his Fifth Congressional District is one of his constituents main concerns, Goldsmith and Altavista Mayor Mike Mattox talked about balancing local budget priorities under economic constraints and building their local economies.

We all rely on each other to be able to do the things we intend to do or were committed to do. When the federal governments not able to make those requirements, the state begins to feel the pinch. When the state is not able to do it, the locality sees the pinch, Goldsmith said in his speech. Theres no place else to go, were the bottom line.

Mattox spoke hopefully about the town's prospects, referencing expected new businesses, plans for improving internet access, adding recreational river access and continuing low tax and water bills. He and Goldsmith hope the county and town can unite moving forward.

At the state level, the biennial budget passed in March is in question after Fiscal Year 2016s revenues fell $266.3 million below the forecast. Legislators expect raises planned for teachers not to come through because of the shortfall.

Well probably have to decrease some funding to some other issues, Del. Matt Fariss, R-Rustburg, told the chamber group.

Hurt, who made one of his last swings through the district hes represented for six years, said the government can best promote business by getting out of the way.

State Sen. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, who faces Albemarle County Supervisor Jane Dittmar to replace Hurt, wants to flip over how these layers interact to focus money and decisions locally.

I would advocate as a Republican for growing government at the local and state level and shrinking it at the federal level so we can get back to that period wherein government can be responsive to real needs of the community, Garrett said.

Hurt doesnt expect Congress to advance legislation or remove regulation in the months before his time there is up.

I think its outrageous. When you stop and think about the pressing issues. The idea that Congress works as little as it does has always been a source of tremendous frustration for me, Hurt said in an interview after the meeting.

Congress has two sessions left before a potentially reformed national legislature moves into Washington, D.C. under a new president.

The legislature meets Sept. 6 to 30 before breaking in the final lead-up to Nov. 8, when every congressional seat is up for re-election.

Congress convenes again under the lame duck session after the election, the last opportunity for the Republican-controlled Congress and Democratic President Barack Obama to cooperate.

With two polarized parties, one of which disagrees sharply with the outgoing president, and many members focused on their re-election campaigns, Hurt doesnt expect theyll get much done.

We havent done anything for a month, Hurt said in an interview after the event. Think about that for a second.

Hurt, who also visited Rustburg and Bedford on Wednesday, said his office welcomed his constituents to stop by or ask for help into December.

I think what we all know is Washington has gotten farther and farther from the people it represents, Hurt said in the interview.

The popularity of outsider Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who Hurt supports, and Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who lost the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton, represent an absolute rejection of business as usual in Washington, he said.

I think regardless of who wins the election, I dont think that sentiments going away, Hurt said in the interview. I think that [Trump] certainly will shake things up in Washington in a way I think things need to be shaken.
The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center will be closed Friday in observance of a shooting one year ago that killed two television journalists.

WDBJ-7 reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were fatally shot during a live broadcast at the lake Aug. 26, 2015. Vicki Gardner, the chambers director, was wounded.

Parker was interviewing Gardner when Vester Flanagan, a former WDBJ-7 employee, opened fire, authorities have said. Flanagan killed himself later that day.

"Adam and Alison, their families and friends, and the community continue to be in our thoughts and prayers," the chamber said in a statement.
Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016 shows an excavator working after the earthquake in Amatrice, central Italy. The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy has risen to 247, Italian authorities confirmed early on Thursday. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)

ROME, Aug. 25 -- The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy has risen to 247, Italian authorities confirmed early on Thursday.

A 6.0-magnitude tremor on Wednesday 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 places hardest hit were the towns Amatrice and Accumoli in Rieti province, and the villages of Arquata del Tronto and Peschiera del Tronto in the eastern Marche region.

At least 190 people were confirmed dead in the first two towns, and at least 57 in the villages, the Italian civil protection emergency chief Titti Postiglione told a press conference in Rome early on Thursday.

Some 274 injured people are currently in hospitals, she added.

The official toll is expected to rise further, however. Civil protection chief Fabrizio Curcio warned that figures were still fluid, as rescuers are still digging under the rubble and dozens of people remain unaccounted for.

The number of victims might in fact exceed 200 in the town of Amatrice alone, mayor Sergio Pirozzi told local media on Thursday morning.

Thousands of homeless spent the night in tents set up all around the quake-stricken villages and towns.

Meanwhile, central Italy continues to tremble. A 4.5-magnitude quake was registered in Rieti province at 3:17 a.m. local time (0317 GMT), and could be clearly felt across the Lazio and Marche regions, the INGV stated. No new casualties were reported yet.

Some 460 aftershocks overall have followed since Wednesday morning, Seismology experts said.

The quake swarm is increasing fears and unease among the displaced, and creating more risks to those who kept digging in a desperate search for last survivors.

Overall, some 4,000 officials are involved in the rescue mission, according to the civil protection authorities.

The Italian cabinet will hold an emergency meeting later on Thursday afternoon in order to deliver the provisions necessary to allocate a first tranche of 50 million euros (56 million U.S. dollars) as immediate aid to the stricken areas.

On Wednesday, the economy ministry pledged 234 million euros (263 million U.S. dollars) from the national emergency fund to assist those in the towns and villages destroyed by the quake.
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
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.
Home News Sports Social Obituaries Events Letters Looking Back Health Jewels Stitch in Time Help make Howloween magic August 24, 2016 By Dr. Marty Becker



To my friends in the Bonners Ferry community,



Can you join Second Chance Animal Adoption in making some Halloween magic for the children of Bonners Ferry while helping our communitys homeless pets at the same time?



Were blessed to live in the Crown Jewel of the Gem State, the Friendliest Town in Idaho. Its a small town where everybody knows your name, fundraisers punch above their weight, you cant walk for exercise because people keep wanting to pick you up and give you a lift, and new residents learn to wave hello to strangers. But there are limitations to living in a small town, and thats why we need your help.



Other than outdoor activities, theres not a lot for children, teens, and families to do here. The Rex Theater remains closed, we dont have a year-round pool, and theres no meeting place for junior high students or teens outside of school.



To help remedy that and provide a fun, exciting, safe annual event, Second Chance Animal Adoption is holding its fifth annual Halloween event at the Animal Shelter & Thrift Store grounds on Friday, October 28, Saturday, October 29, and Monday, October 31.



There are special times for younger children, featuring stories and games and extra-amped-up scary times for those teens and brave adults who like their skin to crawl. There is no charge for admission, but we do accept donations. All proceeds help us to give a second chance to the homeless pets of Bonners Ferry.



Would your business consider a donation to our 2016 Howloween Town event? Sponsors will be listed in all signage and promotional materials and recognized at the event and on any media where appropriate and possible.



Working together, we can make this event bigger and better, something that will even bring people into town from neighboring areas in Northern Idaho, Montana, and Creston, B.C. We promise the animals will be grateful!



Heres a list of sponsorship opportunities: $1,500  Diamond; $1,000- Emerald; $750  Ruby; $500- Sapphire; $250  Pearl; and Sustaining.



Meet the Rockey Burkholder Business Challenge with a Diamond Sponsorship!



You can double the impact of your donation, thanks to an anonymous business that pledged a $1,500 matching contribution for businesses that sponsor the event! He made the donation in honor of Teresas brother, Rockey Burkholder, saying Rockey had always been very good to him when he was a little boy growing up here in Bonners Ferry.



You can donate to the general fund or sponsor a specific area or activity such as: Games Area, Treats, Food for Volunteers, An eight foot booth on the Board Walk  Created and manned by you! (six available) and

Construction.



All of us in Boundary County know what an amazing region it is. Lets create memories for our children that theyll treasure long after their children have children! With your help, we can do it!



Please contact Mila Cousins at (208) 276-9427 or milasue62@gmail.com with any questions, and let her know youre on board the Howloween Town Express on behalf of our community, its children, and its pets in need! Questions or comments about this article? Click here to e-mail!
Home News Sports Social Obituaries Events Letters Looking Back Health Jewels Stitch in Time Zika virus shows up in North Idaho August 24, 2016 A north Idaho woman over the age of 60 who recently traveled to Mexico is confirmed to have been infected with Zika virus, which can cause severe birth defects if infection occurs in pregnant women. This is the first reported case of Zika virus infection in the state, with Idaho becoming the 47th state to report a travel-related Zika virus infection this year.



The woman reportedly had symptoms, but did not require hospitalization. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that is most commonly spread through the bite of the Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are not found in Idaho. Because of this, there is no danger to the general public of the virus circulating through casual contact.



Only one in five people exposed to the virus usually develop any symptoms, which are usually mild and last from a few days to a week after infection. The most common symptoms of infection are fever, rash, muscle and joint aches, and pinkeye. Zika is known to cause serious birth defects and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies whose mothers are infected during pregnancy. There is no preventive vaccine for Zika virus.



Zika virus is not spread from person to person through casual contact, but can be spread through sexual contact by both men and women. People who have recently traveled to an area with active Zika virus transmission should either use a condom or avoid sex to reduce their risk.



If a woman is pregnant, condoms should be used during all sexual contact and for the duration of the pregnancy if their partner recently traveled to an area with local Zika transmission.



Women wanting to become pregnant should not try to conceive for at least eight weeks after they or their partners return from an area where Zika virus is circulating if neither partner had symptoms of Zika virus infection, or six months if either had symptoms. Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant are strongly advised to avoid travel to areas of Zika virus transmission unless it is absolutely necessary.



Aedes mosquitoes are daytime biters that prefer temperate and tropical climates. Travelers are advised to take precautions when visiting areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. This includes a small area of north Miami in Florida, and many countries in Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean and Pacific Islands.



If you plan to travel to an area where Zika virus is circulating, public health officials recommend you protect yourself from mosquito bites by:

* Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants

* Using EPA-registered insect repellents

* Using permethrin-treated clothing and gear

* Staying and sleeping in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms



Since January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 1,658 Zika disease cases nationwide. Almost all of those cases are related to travel outside the United States. Idaho has had no confirmed cases of Zika virus infection reported prior to this case. Questions or comments about this article? Click here to e-mail!
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.

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.

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.

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.
A maintenance technician assigned to a PLA Army Aviation Brigade performs pre-flight check on a WZ-9 attack helicopter prior to a live-fire training exercise in the Kunlun Mountains of northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on August 23, 2016. (81.cn/Zhang Li)
Convention Bureau selling all aspects of TT

This was the point made by Connie Kinnard, vice-president, Multicultural Tourism and Development for the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) during an interview with Business Day following the TTCBs third Business Forum, held on August 19 at the Banquet and Conference Centre, MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain.

Getting convention business involves selling all of the community, from a national perspective.

Highlighting those things that you really just cant do any place else and for somebody coming in from out of town, thats what they want. For example, I was able to visit a steel pan factory yesterday where I got to see how you make steel pans and I was even able to play a little bit. Of course, the steel pan is showcased a lot but that hands-on trip was a whole different experience from just seeing somebody playing (pan). Another example was eating authentic roti. I was determined, Kinnard revealed, that I was going to wait until I got to Trinidad to have my first real roti.

These are the types of authentic experiences, dont take them for granted, that should be used when marketing TT as a convention business destination. Kinnard also spoke to Business Day about the importance of hotels having a mix of convention and leisure bookings, to help off-set slow periods in one segment.

Conventions are really a foundational piece. For instance, if you can get conventions in the pipeline; they are usually booked year-out, they can become the core foundation for hotels with leisures can fill in the gap. Thats why conventions are really important because they are a source of revenue...that you can count on in advance.

Youve got to have a dynamic mix because if one piece tanks, another piece can help fill in the gaps. Its also very key to helping to support the community, Kinnard added, because just like leisure travellers, when conventions come in, in groups, they want to find out things to do in the city and a lot of times, convention travellers have a little bit more money because theyre coming in on expense accounts. The TTCB was established in 2009, as a unit within the TDC, because the Government recognised the importance of business tourism as a revenue earner.

TDC director, Davlin Thomas, noted that MICE, the industry term for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, is a specialised field, dedicated to planning, booking and facilitating conferences, seminars, meetings and other events. It is considered the pearl in the tourism crown since, according to the International Congress and Convention Association, business tourists tend to spend more than the leisure traveller.

Here in TT, our local research shows that the average daily spend for a business visitor is US $161.50 and for a MICE visitor, it is US $146.20.

Compare this to our average leisure visitor spend of US $87.40 per day. Thomas said keeping these figures in mind, and given TTs reputation as the business capital of the Caribbean, with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the English-speaking Caribbean, MICE is a choice niche for us to pursue and develop. The TDC director also said the Business Forum is part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the TTCB, which exists to ensure our goal of increasing TTs share of the MICE market through effective and targeted marketing in collaboration with all key stakeholders. The TTCB offers a comprehensive suite of complimentary services to help persons/companies with the hosting of exhibitions, meetings and conferences, including assistance with international bidding, something which Thomas noted can be tedious, time-consuming and expensive. To date, the TTCB has been directly associated with 15 successful bids for TT. Each year, it assists with the facilitation of approximately 35 international conferences and events.
The hyacinth: beauty on water

These floating gems are water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes).

They are easily identified when in flower with their lilac petals.

If you look closer, the lips of their petals are further detailed with yellow. Multiple flowers are borne on short columns and the plants can bloom throughout the year.

Identifying the water hyacinth plants themselves can be tricky unless you are familiar with the species, as they can vary in appearance.

The plants have glossy oval shaped leaves which are constant enough but the stems of hyacinths can either be long and thin or rather fat and round  radically changing their appearance. These stems are filled with air pockets and it is this which allows hyacinths to float on the waters surface. Plants growing in thick clumps tend to have longer stems while solitary plants in the open water tend to have shorter, fatter stems. This is likely to be related to stability as plants growing in dense clumps support each other and are less likely to topple over.

Indeed, water hyacinths quite commonly form huge clumps that can cover entire lakes or waterways. Part of the reason for these large clumps is that water hyacinths have an incredible ability to multiply.

They are one of the fastest growing plants in the world, with some studies indicating that they are capable of a 12 percent increase in biomass every day in suitable conditions.

Populations can double in size anywhere from six to 15 days.

Plants can grow by seeds (which remain viable for many years) but such rapid growth is achieved principally by runners, similar to the underground rhizomes of ginger on land. These runners allow a new plant to be established at the end of a short branch which benefits from access to food from the parent and stability. In this manner, large sections of a water hyacinth raft can be attached to one another by these branches and all being genetic duplicates of each other.

This is a very useful ability for a plant to have. Open water can be a limited resource and water plants tend to have fast growth rates, which evolved as a response to competition in their native habitat  the rivers and waterways of South America.

So when these pretty flowering plants were dished out as tokens to participants in the New Orleans Cotton Exposition in the US state of Louisiana in 1884, it was only a matter of time before someone accidentally or deliberately released them into the wild.

Since then the population has exploded and has been a headache for water management authorities, not just in the US, but across the world save for the colder latitudes.

Outside of their native habitat, this species poses several problems.

By covering the water surface, water hyacinths can impede the movement of boats and other water craft and this has economic and safety implications. Dense growth will also prevent fishing, hydroelectric power generation and water harvesting for agriculture. By blocking sunlight, the food chain of a water body can be affected as other light dependent aquatic species are driven out. The long roots of the hyacinths slow down the flow of water, changing the dynamics of a waterway by increasing the rate of sediment deposition.

Nearly impossible to eradicate, biological control has proven to be the most effective means for large scale infestations.

There have been attempts to find alternative uses for these plants. The dense root mats readily absorb heavy metals and other pollutants so that the plants are used in water and sewerage treatment facilities. The sheer amount of available biomass has also encouraged interest in the use of water hyacinths for producing biofuels.

The plants can be eaten and are treated as a vegetable in some countries. However, the bioaccumulation of toxic compounds in wild plants necessitates cultivation in cleaner conditions. The plants themselves are food for some animals, including manatees and terrapins, and can be used as fodder for livestock (subject to the same bioaccumulation issues of course).

An article on water hyacinths would be incomplete without mention of their role in the dispersal of wildlife.

The Orinoco River and other drainages on the north-eastern coast of Venezuela is home to vast growths of water hyacinth plants and, during periods of heavy rainfall, these rafts become dislodged and will float out to sea.

The plants themselves cannot last for long in sea water and most will die. However, these floating mats often become life rafts for wildlife that were dislodged from the rivers.

Snakes, turtles and a host of invertebrates are frequent passengers and it is not uncommon to hear reports of anaconda being washed ashore the beaches of south Trinidad. There was even a tapir (a large South American mammal) which was said to have made landfall at one time.

So the next time you see these pretty lilac blooms and lush green leaves floating serenely on the surface of the water, consider the enormous impact this little plant has had the world over.

For more info on our natural environment contact the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists Club at admin@ ttfnc.org or visit our website at www.ttfnc.org and our Facebook or You- Tube pages. The clubs next monthly meeting will be held on September 8at St Marys College, Port-of-Spain.

Lecture:Marine ecology of Macqueripe Bay
GOD SAVED US

Ramnarine, 24, said she stared death in the face when the man, armed with the cutlass he had just sharpened, mercilessly planassed (beat with flat side of cutlass) her, even as she clutched her children Tenicia, five, Adrian, two, and three-month-old Amarion, pleading with him to spare their lives.

In an interview yesterday at the familys Pascall Road, Piparo home, Ramnarine said she never prayed so hard for police officers to arrive. But as time ticked away, with no officers yet on the scene, and scared for their lives, Ramnarine said they took their chances.

She, along with her children, her mother, Shairoon Baksh, 53, and common law husband, Akeem Awong, ran out the house with the relative chasing after them with the upraised cutlass. Luckily the children and Awong escaped unhurt, but Baksh, a grandmother of five, was also wounded in the melee. Mother and daughter sustained several cuts and bruises to their hands and feet when they attempted to wrestle the weapon from their attacker.

Solomon Rahiman, 81, who lives next door to Ramnarine and her family, and allowed them into his home when the victims came running for help, was chopped on the head and shoulder. Up to yesterday he remained warded in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Neighbours were able to subdue their attacker.

They took away the cutlass, tied him up and waited until police arrived. The 22-year old unemployed relative is expected to be charged with attempted murder.

Sporting bandages and marks of violence all over their bodies the women recounted their terrifying ordeal.

Ramarine explained that the relative had earlier in the day sharpened a cutlass telling them that he was going to cut grass.

Around midday, however, the story changed, because it was the same cutlass with which he confronted them, threatening to kill them all. It was like he tripped, said Ramnarine who further recalled the screams of her frightened children when the man cornered them and began beating them with the cutlass. She said when her relative began acting up, the family locked themselves in the bedroom but he broke down the door with a gas tank and entered. .

She continued: All the time we in the room, we calling police hoping they would come and save us. With the situation getting worse and no police yet, we decided to run for our lives. My husband pelt a fan behind him but that didnt stop him. He went after my mother and she fell on the bed and he started to planass her. He planass me too and the children were bawling. He then tell everybody to get out the house and that is when we grabbed the children and ran up the hill calling for help.  The neighbours opened their doors for them. Awong took baby Amarion to a neighbours house where they hid under a bed while Ramnarine and the rest of the family went over to Rahimans house. It was Rahimans kind gesture that almost cost him his life .

The man was trying to open the gate for us and we ran inside, Ramnarine said. He end up chopping the old man. He is such a nice man to the children. We pray for his full recovery. She said it was a relative that begged the suspect to stop chopping Rahiman. The man was subsequently held by neighbours and handed over to police.

A team of officers led by Sgt Ramlogan and including PCs Khan, Arjoonsingh and Clarence of the Princes Town Police Station visited the scene. Police were expected to take a statement from Rahiman yesterday evening. Once charged, the suspect will appear before a magistrate in the Princes Town Court.
Back pay for TRHA contract workers

When I spoke about this last, you would remember that I had indicated that we had received correspondence from the CPO (Chief Personnel Officer), which indicated that the arrears should not be paid based upon her evaluation of the situation, London said.

I did indicate, however, that we were going to seek the opinion of a legal counsel, which we did. We received the opinion of the senior counsel earlier this week and that opinion indicated or advised us that we should pay the money or the arrears to the contract officers. London said he then met with the Executive Council on the decision to confirm the payment
Birdsong not yet evicted

Richard Quarless, artistic director of the birdsong Academy, said yesterday activities must go on, especially as he has children about to take the ABRSM Music Theory exam. Quarless also urged the media to continue to shed light on their plight.

He said, The situation remains the same.

I didnt see anybody come. But we have things to do. I have children to do exams coming up in the next two months. There are about 50 of them going to do the ABRSM (Music) Theory, and we have to prepare them for exam. Plus we have registration for the September programme, because we have an after-school programme we do on Tuesdays with the primary school and a secondary school programme ... on Wednesday and Thursday. He added that they also have a catchment from right in the East.

We have to go ahead with our plan. What we go do? What will we do with the children? We cant put them out on the streets. So we dont know what will happen.

We leave everything up to God. I cant say whats taking place with the land ... But keep this thing alive ... The land that Quarless referred to is owned by a friendly society lower down Connell Street which birdsong is in the process of purchasing. However, it will take some time to construct a new pan theatre there.

birdsong has occupied its current location for the past 28 years.
Markesa and 13 others for NASA camp

The single parent beamed proudly at her 16-year-old daughter, telling Newsday she wanted to say thank you for the community effort in helping her raise the $15,368 needed for her daughter to attend the camp.

The camp is scheduled to run from August 29 to September 2.

Gadar, who works at Xtra Foods, Arima and who resides in Orange Flats, Arima, with Markesa and her two sons, said she began raising funds for her daughter in May when she was told Markesa was selected for the programme.

Markesa, who spoke softly, her shyness evident, said the criteria for selection included good behaviour and keeping up her grades. She is an above-average student.

The students were also encouraged, through their Form Four integrated science class taught by teacher Charlene Ramkissoon-Vidale.

When asked how she felt about the opportunity, Markesa shyly smiled and said good. Gadar said she felt really proud of not only her daughter but also the school since it was perceived by the public to be one of the difficult schools. Although Markesa has no immediate plans of becoming an astronaut, she relishes the opportunity since she plans to work in the medical profession.

Gadar thanked the customers, management and staff at Xtra Foods, her family, Patricia Holder and Gemma Baksh, among others, for the assistance given. School Principal Ann Marie Persadsingh, Gadar said, has made a big difference to the school.
Calypso gone in TT, says Rose

In the same breath, however, she lamented that authentic calypso in Trinidad and Tobago  the country that nurtured her talent and creativity  no longer existed.

Calypso gone, she declared during a celebration hosted by the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts in her honour at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Portof- Spain.

In attendance were Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Roses international manager Jean Michel Gibert, of Maturity Music, her local manager Lorraine OConnor, and Director of Culture Ingrid Reuben-Ryan. Rose, 76, regarded as the Calypso Queen of the World, lamented that many of the modern-day calypsonians do not tell stories in their offerings.

Where is the story? she asked. We have to change that. Rose also complained that calypsoes no longer left a lasting impression.

People used to sing a road march from seven, eight years before...Long ago, you knew the road march but not now, she said.

Observing that the art form now constituted a little laptop and a rhythm, Rose joked that a young man with whom she had a conversation described soca as the soul of calypso.

The veteran, Tobago-born calypsonian said it was for this reason she has redoubled her efforts of taking the art form to the world.

With the release of Far From Home, several months ago, Rose broke new ground, becoming the first international gold album artist to come from TT.

Co-produced by international star Manu Chao, who is featured on three tracks, the album was first released in France and was later the subject of a huge promotional campaign throughout Europe by way of television shows, media presentations and live shows. The album is expected to be released in the US, Canada, Japan and the Caribbean in February.

Rose, who was featured in a recent edition of ELLE magazine, is expected to receive the WOMEX 16 Artist Award in Spain in October.

The calypso icon urged the Ministry of Education to play a more pivotal role in bringing culture to the schools.

She said contrary to the views of some, calypso was not bad music. Listen to the lyrics of calypso.

It could build a government or pull them down. It could make you gyrate on the streets, she said, adding that calypso, through poignant lyrics, can also prevent people from taking illegal drugs.

So, the lyrics are important. Rose said she has performed in 25 shows within the past three months
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 25

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

If the members of the trans-Atlantic community (the United States and France) continue their muddle through approach toward unfrozen Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, another war in the Caucasus is inevitable, Alexander Murinson, senior fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center and Israeli Bar Ilan University, said in an article published in Washington Times.

Recently, Evgeniy Satanovsky, one of Kremlins foreign policy functionaries, made another outrageous statement on the status of the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the article said.

According to the article, Satanovsky, who is also the head of Russian Institute of the Near East, visited the separatist region (in contravention of international law) in mid-June.

As I understand it, the issue that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, in terms of military logic and from the standpoint of practical politics is completely closed, Satanovsky said.

This position expresses Russias persistent disregard for international law, Murinson said.

It is galling in the context of Russias membership in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, the group tasked with resolving the now not-so frozen conflict, Murinson said.

This should raise international concern and calls for a diplomatic response from Washington and the other members of the Minsk Group, the author added.

Given this caused a major destabilization in the South Caucasus, critical for Western Europes energy security, it is imperative to put Moscow on notice that the West is aware that the hostilities unleashed by Armenia could not have transpired without at least their tacit approval, he said.

Compounding this, a serious escalation of the military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in April prompted Armenian nationalists to raise the specter of recognition in an attempt to unilaterally change its international status, the article said. Armenian MPs initiated a bill to recognize independence, and the countrys president indicated he recognizes the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to the article, in the aftermath of hostilities, Yerevan set the stage for recognition of Karabakh as a possible scenario as a deterrent to further Azerbaijani military successes, but later seemingly in retreat and under international pressure, emphasized the negotiation process, and Armenias hope for a peaceful settlement.

Meanwhile, Baku responded that recognition of the separatist regime would cause a new war, the article said.

Azerbaijan will no longer hold any negotiations with Armenia over Karabakh if it dares to provide official recognition of its independence in defiance of the international community, he said. In addition, Turkeys government unequivocally supported Bakus position.

Let us look at the hard facts and clarify the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as an illegally occupied territory by the Armenia-backed military forces, the author said.

According to the article, the U.N. Security Council, U.N. General Assembly, the Council of Europe and other international organizations do not recognize the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

All these international bodies have repeatedly expressed support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the author said. This position is enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

According to the article, in addition, the U.N., NATO, EU, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Organization for Democracy and Economic Development do not consider election held in Nagorno-Karabakh to be legitimate.

In March 2008, the member states of the U.N. adopted a resolution recognizing the existence of the Azerbaijani occupied territories, the article said. The U.N. resolution demands an immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Russia, the United States and France voted against the resolution, the article said. These three countries serve as co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Boy Shows

Why 'Adventure'

Really Is His

Middle Name
(Newser)  Four Iranian boats harassed a US Navy warship near the Persian Gulf, ignoring orders to back off, Reuters reports. A defense official said two of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels came within 300 yards of the guided missile destroyer USS Nitze on Wednesday at a high rate of speedan "unsafe and unprofessional move, per the official. The Nitze made 12 efforts to contact the Iranian boats, got no reply, and fired 10 flares at them. The Nitze changed course to avoid the vessels, the AP reports. "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. "For four decades the Revolutionary Guard have been told that America is the greatest threat to the Islamic Revolution," an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace tells Reuters.

The incident in the Strait of Hormuz follows several other tense encounters between the two countries in recent months near Irans territorial waters. Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, confirmed the incident, telling the AP it is time to question what is the new normal in relations with Iran. "We have to be mindful that we don't become complacent as things get steadily busier, steadily more engaging and that we're thoughtful about how we approach those challenges, he said. In January, Iran detained 10 US Navy sailors who strayed into Iranian waters. The same month, Iran flew an unarmed drone over the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. In December, Revolutionary Guard vessels fired rockets near a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz. (Read more USS Nitze stories.)
(Newser)  More heartbreaking news from Syria: conjoined twins born a month ago in a beseiged hospital in rebel-held territory have died. The baby boys succumbed to heart failure on Wednesday before they could be moved abroad for life-saving treatment, the Wall Street Journal reports. Joined at the abdomen, with their hearts sharing the same sac, Moaz and Nawras al-Hishoysh weighed less than 12 pounds when they were born on July 23 in the Ghouta region outside Damascus. After repeated appeals and a social media campaign hashtagged #EvacuateTheTwins, the government allowed them to be moved to the capital on Aug. 12. But Damascus also lacks the medical facilities the babies needed, and with time running out, relief officials scrambled to get the boys out of Syria.

The Syrian American Medical Society accuses the government of failing to grant the twins permission to leave the country in time because of political reasons, reports the BBC. The charity says it obtained commitments from hospitals in the US and Saudi Arabia (both oppose President Bashar al-Assad) to treat the babies, but the government stalled in granting them passports, the babys father, Muneer al-Hishoysh, tells the Journal. But a spokeswoman for the government-sanctioned Syrian Arab Red Crescent denies that Syrian officials were uncooperative and says her agency had gotten the thumbs up to transfer the babies to an Italian hospital on Monday. But by that time, she said, the twins were too sick to travel. (Last week, the fate of two young Syrian brothers made headlines.)
(Newser)  They were fortunate enough to survive a gunmans rampage that killed 49 others at an Orlando nightclub. But in the weeks following the June 12 massacre at Pulse, many survivors who needed medical treatment found themselves living another nightmare. Besides haunting memories, they suffered debilitating injuries that required painful surgeries and ongoing care. Some were uninsured. Now, Orlando hospitals are offering relief. Orlando Health and Florida Hospital announced Wednesday they will forgive an estimated $5.5 million in unpaid medical bills, the Orlando Sentinel reports. "We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando," says Florida Hospital CEO Daryl Tol. NPR reported last month that when long-term care is factored in, medical bills of Pulse survivors could reach $390 million.

Blocks away from the nightclub, Orlando Regional Medical Center treated 44 shooting victims. One survivor remains hospitalized there. The hospital, run by Orlando Health, will bill insurance companies but cover any remaining costs, a spokeswoman said. The families of nine people who died there will not be sent a bill. Florida Hospital said it wont bill the insurance companies of the dozen club-goers treated there, and all future care will be covered as well. Survivors welcomed the news. "I was so worried because I can't afford any of that," Mario Lopez tells the Sentinel. Lopez, 34, was hit with bullet fragments on the left side and has no insurance to cover a $20,000 ER bill. "Its a huge relief." (Read more Orlando stories.)
(Newser)  If you don't assume that ordering an iced drink at Starbucks could include an ample amount of ice in that drink, and that said ice will count toward the stated liquid volume of that beveragewell, you're not smarter than a fifth-grader. That's basically the gist of the public lashing directed by a California judge toward Alexander Forouzesh, who sued the coffeehouse chain for misleading consumers about iced beverage sizes because the total ounce count includes the ice and the beverage, not just that of the drink itself, reports the Chicago Tribune. US District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed Forouzesh's case last week, writing in his decision that any "reasonable consumer" would understand that an iced drink would include ice and, therefore, affects its listed volume.

And not only any reasonable consumer, but also most kids who've paid attention in science class or ever poured themselves a cold beverage. "As young children learn, they can increase the amount of beverage they receive if they order 'no ice,'" Anderson wrote, adding that "if children have figured out that including ice in a cold beverage decreases the amount of liquid they will receive," Forouzesh and other adults should be able to do the same. Anderson also notes that Starbucks' iced drinks come in clear cups, so customers can see exactly how much ice is held within, per Grub Street. Starbucks isn't off the hook yet, though: There's one other case out of Illinois that's going after Starbucks for the same icy infraction, plus at least two plaintiffs who say the company rips customers off with its hot coffee drinks, too. (Read more Starbucks stories.)
(Newser)  There are "strange going-ons"in the words of the Archbishop of Dublinat Ireland's major seminary, where trainee priests are being accused of using Grindr, the Telegraph reports. "An app like that is something which would be fostering promiscuous sexuality, which is certainly not in any way the mature vision of sexuality one would expect a priest to understand," the BBC quotes Archbishop Diarmuid Martin as saying. But priests-to-be using a gay hookup app is just one of the accusations being leveled at St. Patrick's College. According to the Irish Times, there are also reports of students at the seminary using the straight hookup app Tinder, former seminarians allege bullying and harassment, and college trustees say there is an "unhealthy atmosphere there."

St. Patrick's has been tasked with reviewing its social media policies for trainee priests and figuring out ways to get its students to mingle with more women and families, something suggested by Pope Francis. In the meantime, Martin is sending prospective priests in Dublin to study in Rome instead of at St. Patrick's because of its alleged "atmosphere" and "gay culture." (Read more Grindr stories.)
(Newser)  A brazen, hourslong militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended early Thursday after at least 12 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabul's outskirts, a government spokesman says. The attackcalled "an attack on the future of Afghanistan" by the US State Departmentunderscored how, despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale attacks, including in the country's capital, Kabul, the AP notes. The dead included seven students, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the ministry says. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Taliban. The group's spokesman would only tell the media that the Taliban are "investigating."

"Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms," Sediqqi says. The ministry statement says 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers; Kabul's police chief says one foreign teacher was among the wounded. The assault began just before 7pm Wednesdaya time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious universitywith a suicide car bombing at the school's entrance. The blast breached security walls and allowed two other attackers to enter the campus, armed with grenades and automatic weapons, Sediqqi says. The siege lasted almost nine hours before police killed the two assailants around 3:30am, he adds. The attack came two weeks after two university staffers, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
Details added (first version posted on 19:23)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

Trend:

Armenia continues to carry out provocations, which are detrimental to the negotiation process conducted by the countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, increase tension and serve for propaganda of the separatist regime established in occupied Azerbaijani lands, said Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Aug. 25.

He made the remarks commenting on an international conference titled 25 years of separatist regime established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which Armenia is trying to organize in the Nagorno-Karabakh in late August  early September, through the Centre for Political and Foreign Affairs located in France.

Hajiyev said that official Yerevan sends invitations to a number of former officials of states, public figures, members of parliaments for their participation in this conference.

The Armenian side also plans under some pretext or other to organize a visit of the participants to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, he noted.

It is evident that Armenia is carrying out work secretly in connection with the event and does not provide any information to media, he added.

Hajiyev also noted that Armenias secret preparation for this event speaks about its filthy intentions.

Official Yerevan and lobbying circles are trying to ensure the participation of some persons in the event for a specific material interest, he said.

The spokesman added that Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry calls on the individuals, who was invited to the conference, to respect the rules and principles of international law, not to turn into an instrument of the Armenian propaganda machine and to refrain from participating in this conference, which serves for provocative purposes, and from an illegal visit to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

It is gratifying that public and political figures of some countries have already refused to participate in this event, said Hajiyev. Names of individuals, who will illegally visit Azerbaijans occupied territories, will be included in the list of undesirable persons, he added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
(Newser)  The public scolding of drugmaker Mylan over the soaring price of EpiPen seems to have worked: The company on Thursday didn't lower the price, but it made the allergy injections cheaper for many by expanding its assistance programs. Specifically, it doubled eligibility for relief to 400% of the poverty level, declaring on its website that a family of four that earns $97,200 would pay no out-of-pocket expenses, reports the Wall Street Journal. It also said it is offering a savings card that will cover up to $300 for a two-pack of the allergy injections, amounting to a savings of 50% for those who were otherwise paying the full price, reports the AP.

We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter, says CEO Heather Bresch. However, price is only one part of the problem that we are addressing with todays actions. On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton joined those calling for Mylan to lower the price, which has risen about 500% since 2008, notes Reuters. (Read more Mylan stories.)
(Newser)  The controversial concept of "safe spaces" on college campusesa place where members of a marginalized group can feel secure and able to express themselveshas grabbed the media's attention over the last year, spurred by such high-profile cases as the racial strife at the University of Missouri and a recent want ad posted by a black student at a California college seeking a non-white roommate. But those heading to the University of Chicago this fall shouldn't expect such accommodations, according to a letter sent to incoming freshmen, Inside Higher Ed reports. Although John Ellison, the school's dean of students, says in the letter that no one should be harassed, the university is committed to "freedom of inquiry and expression" and students should be prepared that in a collegial environment, they may sometimes feel challenged and be exposed to a certain level of "discomfort."

Toward that end, per Ellison: The university won't support safe spaces or "trigger warnings" on provocative topics (both terms that Quartz says have become "nebulous") and has no intention of turning away speakers from campus if their ideas are polarizing. The Chicago Maroon, the student newspaper, documents three incidents that happened during the 2016 spring semester in which speakers invited to the school had to end their speeches or endure protester disruptions during their appearances. The paper also notes that reaction to Ellison's letter has been mixed on social media, with some saying they applaud the college's support for academic freedom"It's about time that someone stood up against this PC nonsense!" reads one comment on the Maroon articlewhile others say the school's attitude toward supposedly "open" dialogue can serve as a cover for hate speech. (Read more colleges and universities stories.)
(Newser)  Now that Colombia has ended its 52-year war with rebel group FARC, what happens to Americans who like to party? The New York Times reports FARC controls most of Colombia's cocaine network and in 2006 was said to be responsible for 60% of the cocaine shipped to the US. It's been a very profitable business for FARC, which made between $200 million and $3.5 billion from the cocaine trade every year, according to the Atlantic. But Business Insider reports FARC, which controlled 70% of Colombia's coca-growing areas, agreed to pull out of the drug business and work with the government to transition farmers to legitimate crops as part of the peace agreement.

There are a number of possibilities for what happens to Colombia's coca fields now. The government promises to "fill the space immediately" to prevent organized crime from taking them over, Reuters reports. But a battle over coca production between criminal groups looks likely. "Even if peace is signed there won't be peace," a woman who packs marijuana for dealers says. "They will all come, all the gangs." Farmers themselves may also refuse to stop growing coca, despite subsidies from the government. Farmers who switch to growing fruit, beans, or coffee can make less than one-third what they did from growing coca. "Even if the FARC is demobilized, the problem of violence and crime and drug trafficking in Colombia is not going to go away," an expert told Business Insider back in July. (Read more Colombia stories.)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko on the occasion of Ukraines Independence Day.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and the people of your country on the occasion of the national holiday of Ukraine  Independence Day, said Aliyev in his letter.

Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations have good traditions, he noted. I believe that the traditionally friendly ties, bilateral cooperation that binds our countries and peoples will continue developing and expanding.

I recall with pleasure your recent visit to Azerbaijan, said the president. I am confident that the meetings and discussions that we held during the visit will open up new opportunities for the development of our bilateral relations.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health and success in your activities, and the friendly people of Ukraine peace and prosperity, added President Aliyev.
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.
United Nations:

The UN Security Council has agreed at an emergency meeting to consider issuing a statement on the latest North Korean missile launch.



Malaysias UN Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, the current council president, told reporters yesterday 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.



After North Koreas previous missile test, the US also proposed a press statement, but diplomats said China insisted on language linking it to US plans to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea. So the US dropped the statement, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.



The Security Council in March imposed the toughest sanctions on North Korea in two decades, reflecting growing anger at Pyongyangs latest nuclear test and rocket launch in defiance of a ban on all nuclear-related activity.



China, Russia and others expressed hope when it was adopted that the sanctions would lead to the immediate resumption of six-party talks aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

North Korea withdrew from the talks in 2008.



But the North has continued to launch ballistic missiles and tensions have mounted.



Yesterdays launch came two days after the US and South Korea began military exercises, prompting North Korean threats of retaliation for the military drills, which it views as an invasion rehearsal.



Russias deputy UN ambassador Petr Iliichev, asked about yesterdays meeting, said there was the usual condemnation for violation of resolutions.



But he said council members also stressed the responsibility of the regional actors for not implementing the March resolution and finding a way for stabilisation (and a) political, diplomatic, political solution to the problem.



The US and Japan called for the emergency meeting after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine earlier yesterday.



South Korean officials said the missile flew about 500 kilometres, the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Mathura:

Security has been stepped up in and around Mathura for Krishna Janmashtami festivities during which lakhs of pilgrims visit the city.Heavy police force is deployed at the two main shrinesLord Krishnas birth place and Dwarkadhish temple, besides 160 CCTV cameras are installed at strategic points during the festival on thursday, says SSP Babloo Kumar .

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 Krishnas 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 Krishnas 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.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 25

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

MRC Global company is considering an opportunity of entering the Azerbaijani market, said a message of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) published on its website.

According to the message, the issue has been recently discussed by AZPROMO and MRC Global representatives.

The representatives reviewed the business sphere, investment and transit opportunities of Azerbaijan, the message said.

At the end of the meeting AZPROMO and MRC Global signed a memorandum of understanding on further cooperation, the message said.

MRC Global headquartered in Houston, Texas is the largest distributor of pipe, valve and fitting products and services to the energy and industrial markets. Since 1921, MRC Global has built business to serve the customers. MRC Global serves the oil and gas industry across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors as well as the chemical and gas distribution market sectors worldwide. MRC Global includes such brands as MRC Transmark, MRC Solberg Andersen, MRC Energy Piping, MRC Teamtrade, MRC Flangefitt, MRC MSD Engineering.
Washington:

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has alleged that the eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed American safety and undermined its freedom and independence.

Eight years of Obama-Clinton policies have sacrificed our safety and undermined our freedom and independence, he said at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday.

Our jobs have moved overseas, Islamic terrorism has spread within our shores and an open border has crushed low-income workers and threatened our security.

The issues we face here in America are similar to the issues faced in Britain during their referendum on membership in the EU. This is the movement known as Brexit, Trump, 70, said as he continued to lash out at the policies of outgoing US President Barack Obama and his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, 68.

Trump alleged that Clinton has been on the wrong side of history in every major decision she has ever made and got this one wrong too.

Now, Hillary wants to surrender America to globalism. She wants a country without borders. She wants trade deals written for the benefit of foreign corporations. She wants a government that ignores the will of the people.

She wants to sell out American security to the Clinton Foundation for a pile of cash. It is hard to tell where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. According to the AP, more than half the meetings she took as Secretary of State from outside government were with Foundation Donors. Hillary Clinton doesnt believe in America First. She believes in Donors First, Trump alleged.

Trump said that Clinton would rather give a job to a refugee from overseas than to an unemployed American Veteran. The job of a public official is to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. Not illegal immigrants, not foreign nationals seeking entry, but the people living here lawfully today including millions of African-American and Hispanic citizens, he said.

Trump said his focus will always be on the well-being of the more than 300 million American citizens who call this country home.

I will fight for their security, I will fight for their jobs, I will fight for their families. One American Nation. Hillary Clinton has betrayed her duty to the people. November 8th is our chance to re-declare American Independence, he said. Trump introduced Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party on the state.

Its time for America to recapture its destiny. Our government, our leaders, and our media have lost touch with the people. You need no better evidence of that than the fact that the media ignores the plight of Americans who have lost their children to illegal immigrants, but spends day after day pushing for amnesty for those here in violation of the law, Trump said.

Trump alleged that the Obama-Clinton foreign policy has unleashed ISIS, destabilised the Middle East and put the nation of Iran which chants Death to America in a dominant position of regional power and, in fact, aspiring to be a dominant world power.

This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness. But Hillary Clintons legacy doesnt have to be Americas legacy.

We are going to end the era of nation-building and create a new foreign policy joined by our partners in the Middle East that is focused on destroying ISIS. We will extend the hand of friendship to any nation that will work with us in good faith on this vital mission, Trump said.

I have a message for the terrorists trying to kill our citizens: we will find you, we will destroy you, and we will win. This is not only a military fight, but we will also require cyberwarfare and financial warfare. It is also an ideological fight. We will confront directly the hateful ideology of Radical Islam and promote American values, and American culture, and Americas system of government, Trump added.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Washington:

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has roped in Brexit leader Nigel Farage to canvass for him, a rare occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed an election rally in the US for one of the presidential candidates.

I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election... I will say this. If I was an American citizen, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. In fact, I wouldnt vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me,Farage told Trump supporters at an election rally in Jackson, Mississippi on Wednesday.

In his speech, Farage from the UK Independence Party, who was responsible for the UK leaving the EU, drew comparisons between Brexit and the US presidential election. He urged people to defeat pollsters, the media and the Washington establishment.

I think you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign. I come to you from the UK with a message of hope and a message of optimism. Its a message that says if the little people, if the real people, if the ordinary, decent people are prepared to stand up and fight for what they believe in, we can overcome the big banks, Farage added.

This is one of the rarest occasion when a foreign political leader has addressed a public election rally in the US canvassing for one of the presidential candidates.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Washington:

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons 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 Trumps 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 tycoons hypocritical business record with Clintons 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 Trumps brand of shirts come from China, his suits from Mexico, his coats from India.



Donald Trump says hell make America great again while hes 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 Americas textile industry. It remains the oldest operating ready-to-wear shirt manufacturer in the US.



The new ad follows Clintons announcement yesterday of new plans to jumpstart small business start-ups 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 Trumps 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.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Los Angeles :

Pop star Justin Bieber reunited with his rumoured girlfriend Sofia Richie in Los Angeles ahead of her 18th birthday. The 18-year-old model was spotted visiting the Sorry hitmaker at his Los Angeles home on the eve of her birthday, reported Ace-Showbiz.

Richie was seen arriving at the Toluca Lake mansion wearing a black-and-white jumper with matching leggings and grey sandals.

Her visit came as a surprise for everyone as Bieber was recently spotted spending time with aspiring model Bronte Blampied in the UK after his fling with Richie.

Bieber and Richie were first rumoured dating after they were pictured holding hands in Hawaii. They were also caught kissing and holding hands during their trip in Tokyo.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Srinagar:

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar during which discussions on the prevailing security situation in the state took place. Both of them conducted a press conference after the meeting also on Thursday.

Excerpts from their joint press conference in Srinagar:

#A Centre to soon appoint a Nodal officer to help Kashmiris in distress living anywhere in the country: HM Rajnath Singh.

# Our youth are used by some elements as shields to attack Army camps, they want our children to suffer, says Mehbooba Mufti.



# We are ready to talk with anyone who believes in Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat aur Jamhooriat (Democracy), says Rajnath Singh on meeting separatists.



# Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India cannot exist: HM Rajnath Singh.



# Rest of India's future is incomplete without Kashmir: HM Rajnath Singh.



# We have to identify those elements who are trying to mislead some of our youth in Kashmir: HM Rajnath Singh.



# I have said it before also, youth in Kashmir should have pens, books and computers in their hands, not stones: HM Rajnath Singh.



# I have met about 300 people during my visit. I had said before coming I will meet anyone who wants to talk: HM Rajnath Singh.



# I had meetings with more than 20 delegations here,all want peace in Kashmir: Home Minister Rajnath Singh.



# 95% ppl of the state don't want violence, they want peace. We have to reach out to them: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti.

A

#WATCH: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti explains the difference between 2010 and 2016 violence in Kashmir.https://t.co/loGeLu2Uv0 a ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

A



Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the state in the wake of violent protests triggered after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8, took stock of security situation.

Earlier on the day, the home minister also met members of civil society who apprised him about the situation in the state. They also told him about the difficulties faced by the common citizen in the wake of protests and curfew.

This is second visit of Singh in a month to the state. The Home Ministeras 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.

aI shall interact will civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders,a he had said, before leaving for Srinagar, adding, athose who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat (Kashmirs pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy) are welcome.a

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Mumbai:

The Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), where the Scorpene submarines are being built, today said the data leak did not take place from its end and that it was assisting the Navy in the probe.

A day after the data leak on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company came to light, an MDL official said there were stringent norms at MDL on data security.

We are helping Navy in the probe. We are certain the data leak was not from our side, an MDL official told PTI here.

It needs to be verified if the leaked documents are authentic, the official said, reacting to reports of the massive data leak.

There are stringent norms at MDL on data security, the official said. MDL head Rear Admiral Rahul Shrawat was not available for comments. French shipbuilder DCNS has provided technology for the Rs 23,562-crore project.

MDL is scheduled to deliver the first of the six submarines to the Indian Navy early next year and the remaining are likely to be delivered by 2020.

According to media reports, the documents running into 22,400 pages detail the combat capabilities of French-designed Scorpene-class submarines.

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.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had yesterday ordered the Navy Chief 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 had said.

France says will cooperate with India

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.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that he will continue to his fight against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ruling party BJP's ideological mentor.A

aI will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I said,a tweeted the @OfficeofRG, Rahulas official handle, along with a video in which he blames aRSS mena for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi is facing criticism after he allegedly took a U-turn on his remark about RSSa role in Mahatma Gandhias assassination. He told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that he didnat blame the RSS as an institution but only some people associated with the Hindu group.

But earlier, Rahulas advocate had said he had reiterated a historical fact and refused to apologise, as advised by the court for indulging in acollective denunciationa of an institution.

aWhatever he (Rahul) said is in front of the entire world. He as well as the entire nation knows the motive and intent behind his statement. Now, if he is taking a U-turn then the court will decide whether he is correct or not,a Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Union minister of minority affairs, said.

In the video clip shared by Rahul, the Congress leader could be heard saying at a rally in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra: aRSS men shot Gandhiji. And today their people talk of Gandhiji.a





I will never stop fighting the hateful & divisive agenda of the RSS. I stand by every single word I saidhttps://t.co/bUWzTHrgHW a Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) August 25, 2016

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Cairo:

Six militants were killed on Thursday in Egypt after security forces foiled a terrorist attack thattargeted a security checkpoint in the restive North Sinairegion, officials said.

The terrorists opened fire on the checkpoint and clashedwith the forces in el-Masoura checkpoint in Rafah, theofficials said. Four security personnel were injured in the clashes.

Theinjured were transferred to hospital for treatment. Egypt's North Sinai witnessed many violent attacks bymilitants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled theex-president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks targeting police and military increased afterthe ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013following massive protests against his rule.

Over 700 security personnel have been reported killedsince then. The military has launched security campaigns in the area,arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong toterrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading tothe Gaza Strip.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Hare Krishna Hare Rama reverberated across the country on Thursday as millions celebrated Janmashtami, the birth festival of Lord Krishna, with gaiety and devotional fervour.

Thousands of people gathered on streets of Maharashtra to enact the Dahi Handi episode from Lord Krishnas childhood. 14 govindas were injured as some mandals in the state allegedly flouted the 20-foot ceiling for human pyramids mandated by the Supreme Court.

In North India, songs and dance marked the celebrations.

At night, the statue of Lord Krishna was bathed and placed in the cradle amid blowing of conch shells and beating of drums.

People sang bhajans throughout the night and worshippers offered prayers since early morning in adorned temples and took out colourful processions.

In the deitys birth place of Mathura and Vrindavan, lakhs of pilgrims paid obeisance in the main temples and performed circumambulation of hillock Goverdhan. The temples of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) too attracted large congregations.

Tight security arrangements were made for the festival and additional security personnel were deployed in sensitive places.

Devotees flocked the Iskcon temple in New Delhi, where the celebrations began with an aarti early in the morning. The Lakshmi Narayan temple, also known as Birla Mandir, and the Gouri Shankar temple in old Delhi were specially adorned for the occasion.

Children dressed in colourful attires as Krishna and Radha, while some people celebrated the day by flying kites on their rooftops in Jammu. Special shoba yatras were held to mark the occasion.

In Rajasthan, hundreds of devotees gathered at the famous Govind Devji temple in Jaipur.

Shri Sandhooran Devi Mandir, an all-women temple in Punjabs Phagwara district, opened its door to male devotees on the occasion. Mens entry is restricted into the temple throughout the year but allowed only on Janamashtami.

In Tamil Nadu, houses were decorated with Lord Krishnas portraits and the deity were offered delicacies such as seedai, made of milk, ghee and butter.

Also Read:

Janmashtami 2016: Auspicious time for celebrating the festival begins on August 24

Adhere to SC guidelines on 'dahi-handi' or face action: Mumbai Police to organisers

Organisers flout SC ruling as 'heightened' Dahi Handi revelry continues in Maharashtra

For more updates click on: JANMASHTAMI

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A UN investigation has established that President Bashar al-Assads forces carried out at least two chemical attacks in Syria and that Islamic State jihadists used mustard gas as a weapon, according to a report.



The panel was able to identify the perpetrators of three chemical attacks carried out in 2014 and 2015, but was unable to draw any conclusions in the other six cases that it has been investigating over the past year.



The report from the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that the Syrian regime dropped chemical weapons on two villages in northwestern Idlib province: 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.



The panel found that the Islamic State 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 province on August 21, 2015.



The Assad regime has repeatedly denied that it has used chemical weapons in Syria, but the report said that in the three cases it had sufficient information to reach a conclusion on the actors involved.



The JIM was set up by the Security Council a year ago to investigate the use of chemical weapons and for the first time to determine who is responsible for the attacks.



Most of the cases investigated pointed to the alleged use of chlorine gas in barrel bombs dropped from helicopters.



The United States, Britain and France had long maintainedthat only the regime has helicopters, but Russia, Damascus ally, insisted that there was no concrete proof that Assads forces carried out the attacks.



The report states clearly that the Syrian regime and Daesh have perpetrated chemical attacks in Syria, French Deputy Ambassador Alexis Lamek told reporters.



When it comes to proliferation, the use of chemical weapons, of such weapons of mass destruction, we cannot afford to be weak. The council will have to act, he said.



Based on the findings, the Security Council could decide to impose sanctions on Syria or ask the International Criminal Court to take up the matter as a war crime.



But many diplomats say Russia would be unlikely to back such a move, despite the JIMs strong findings of chemical weapons use in the three cases.



Syria agreed to get rid of its chemical stockpile and to refrain from making any use of chemical weapons when it joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, under pressure from Russia.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 22

By Ilaha Mammadli  Trend:

The next round of discussions on Azerbaijans joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be held no earlier than the end of the first half of 2017, the countrys Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev told Trend Aug. 22.

By late August, we expect to receive the questions of WTO member states voiced during the talks in the third decade of July 2016 in Geneva from the WTO working party, while some countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ecuador have already submitted their proposals, said Mammad-Guliyev.

He noted that the proposals are mainly related to the reduction in tariffs, the liberalization in the service sector and others.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan started negotiations with Russia and Saudi Arabia within the WTO in summer. They expressed interest in receiving the initial negotiating rights, if Azerbaijan changes tariffs on some commodity positions, in order to be the first to negotiate on this issue.

We need time for the next negotiation process preparation, thus, I think that the meeting with the WTO working party will be held no earlier than the first half of 2017, explained the deputy foreign minister.

During the latest meeting, the chair of working party on Azerbaijans access to the WTO Walter Werner urged Azerbaijan and WTO members to accelerate the pace of negotiations. He also called on the WTO members to intensify bilateral negotiations with Azerbaijan.

This was the first meeting in 2016. The previous meeting was held in March 2015 in Geneva (Switzerland).

Azerbaijan has had an observer status at the WTO since 1997. A working party on Azerbaijan was established on July 16, 1997, at the organization.

Azerbaijan began negotiations with WTO member states in 2004. Currently, the country negotiates with 19 countries.

As of today, Azerbaijan has completed the negotiations and has signed protocols with Turkey, Oman, the UAE, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The country is at the stage of signing protocols with China and Moldova.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) sold $50 million to 28 banks through an auction held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Aug. 25, SOFAZ said in a message.

The SOFAZ sold $344.5 million to banks during August 2016.

SOFAZ will continue to sell foreign currency through auctions in 2016.

The foreign currency is sold as part of SOFAZs transfers to the Azerbaijani state budget, which are envisaged to stand at 7.615 billion Azerbaijani manats in 2016.

SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million.

As of July 1, 2016, SOFAZs assets increased by 4.6 percent and amounted to $35.1 billion as compared to $33.57 billion in early 2016.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25



By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkey has ratified an agreement with China on use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, the Official Gazette (Resmi Gazete) reported Aug. 25.

The agreement signed in Beijing between Turkey and China in 2012, has been ratified by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Earlier, Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said that three nuclear power plants will be built in the country.

It was also earlier reported that China was interested in constructing the third nuclear power plant in Turkey, and China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) already started talks on constructing the third nuclear power plant.

Turkey plans to construct the first plant in Akkuyu province jointly with Russia.



The intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Turkey on cooperation in the fields of construction and operation of the country's first nuclear power plant Akkuyu near the city of Mersin in southern Turkey was signed in 2010.



The plant's construction is expected to be completed in 2020.



The second nuclear power plant in Turkey will be built in Sinop province on the Black Sea coast.



The agreement on constructing the plant in Sinop was signed between Turkey and Japan in 2013. It is planned to complete the project's implementation by 2023.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.25



By Aygun Badalova, Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend:



At the moment, there is no agreement on the gas export from Iran to Georgia, Irans Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen told Trend August 25.



He was commenting on the information which appeared in the Iranian media outlets regarding signing of a contract for the supply of Iranian gas to Georgia through Armenia.



Earlier, some of Iranian media outlets reported with reference to the countrys Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh that the test agreement on the export of Iranian gas to Georgia via Armenia has been concluded.



The ambassador said that any news in the media related to this issue are not based on official statements and are purely personal views of the authors.



Earlier Georgia's deputy energy minister Mariam Valishvili told Trend that Georgian Ministry has no information on the conclusion of contracts for the import of Iranian gas to the country.



Valishvili added that the Georgian government has not concluded the contracts for such gas supply.



"We have no idea about the volumes, companies which signed a contract and the area from which the gas will be supplied," she said.



At present, Azerbaijan is the main supplier of gas to Georgia. Small volumes are also supplied from Russia.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.25



By Aygun Badalova - Trend:



Azerbaijan is fully committed to invest in Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), including the Shah Deniz-2 project, and continues to meet its financial obligations on time, SGC Co CEO Afgan Isaev told Natural Gas Europe.

He said that Southern Gas Corridor Company had invested $5.212 billion, while in total, Azerbaijans share in financing SGC and Shah Deniz-2 project is estimated at $11.454 billion.

Therefore, Azerbaijan has already realized 45.5 percent of its financing obligations, Isaev said.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor project. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.

As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and TAP.

Isaev said the sources of funds which Azerbaijan has allocated to SGC are following: issue of bonds by SGC to the sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ, for a total amount of $2.5 billion; equity injections from the finance ministry and state oil concern SOCAR for a total amount of $1.7 billion; inaugural eurobond in the amount of one billion in March 2016.



SGC is willing to raise debt financing to fund its committed capital investments to the projects until 2019. The net funding need amounts to $6.2 billion, he said.

Isaev also added Azerbaijan is negotiating with World Bank to attract credits for SGC.

Our projects are attractive and financial entities are interested in Azerbaijans energy projects. It is hard to name any concrete figure which would be allocated by international finance sources, because both them and Azerbaijan should reach a common point in credit terms. However, we believe that the terms of credits must be soft and the payments period should be at least 10 years, because these projects are not only in favour of Azerbaijan, but a big region would benefit economically from these projects, Isaev said.

He said that Azerbaijan is expected to allocate $2.809 billion in 2016, of which 55.7 percent, or $1.566 billion would be spent on the TANAP. About 30.2 percent, or $847 million, would be allocated to the Shah Deniz-2 project, while TAP will take about $278 million and South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion (SCPX) will take $118 million.

Isaev added that the capex of these projects for Azerbaijan rose by $1.474 billion year-on-year, while the figure for 2014 was only $227 million.
Former Newtown police Sgt. Steven Santucci has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for his role in a steroid distribution ring.

U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny also gave Santucci two years of supervised release, for manufacturing and distributing steroids. Santucci, who is released on a $100,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on Oct. 10.

In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court this month, Santucci claims his abuse of the drug began nearly a decade ago when his efforts at the gym failed to give him the body-building results he desired.

Santucci, who resigned from the department shortly after his arrest in May 2015, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Federal prosecutors claim Santucci used the proceeds of the drug sales to fund a lavish lifestyle that included more than $300,000 he spent on first class trips to Europe, South America and Africa, including a $30,000 safari. Authorities said Santucci also spent more than $23,000 of the drug proceeds on Celebrity Cruises.

Police said the 40-year-old Santucci was at the center of a drug ring that received shipments of steroids ingredients from China since 2011 and manufactured and distributed large quantities of the substance to bodybuilders in local gyms. The federal probe also revealed certain members of the group were distributing cocaine and prescription pills, including oxycodone.

Around age 30, Santucci turned to steroids to get an edge so that he could develop the body image he desperately sought, the court document states. Santucci himself explained that he has always been a fitness guy and he wanted to be a weight lifter.

While prosecutors have called for a sentence of between 57 to 71 months in prison, Santuccis lawyer sought a sentence well below the recommendation, due to his exemplary life and a life characterized by a high degree of public service.

Santucci, a Waterbury resident, was honorably discharged from the Connecticut Army National Guard prior to joining the police force and was presented with the Chiefs Service Award two years ago.

Santucci, who earned about $82,000 a year, was frequently quoted in national media in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in December 2012, though he was not an official department spokesman.

Newtown civilian dispatcher Jason Chickos, of Bridgeport, was identified as Santucci's primary distributor. In a Feb. 6, 2014 exchange of text messages quoted in the affidavit, Santucci told Chickos to leave money for a steroids order on his desk. Chickos, 46, was sentenced in January in U.S. District Court in Hartford to two years probation ordered him to perform 120 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine.

The Bridgeport resident, who pleaded guilty in October, worked for the Newtown Police Department for more than 13 years before his arrest last April. He is one of 10 Connecticut men charged last year with conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids after a months-long federal investigation, dubbed  Operation Juice Box.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

DANBURY  A national education law passed by Congress last year gave states more authority over school policy, but as a new school year begins district leaders are adamant that more change is needed.

Nearly 20 educators from the Danbury school district met Wednesday afternoon with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, to discuss the law that replaced the unpopular No Child Left Behind act and to share their views on what could be done differently.

Murphy said he got the message.

Im from a family of teachers, he said. Everything Ive learned about education comes from parents and teachers, so this is an important sounding board for me.

The Every Student Succeeds Act, passed by Congress with rare bipartisan support in 2015, shifts power away from the federal government, allowing individual states to set criteria for measuring student achievement and to decide how to intervene in underachieving districts.

But on Wednesday, many attendees argued that the way the state holds districts accountable is unfair to many students, particularly those with special needs or who attend alternative schools. They argued that because students of varying abilities are measured by the same tests, some are in effect set up to fail because they arent as prepared for tests as other students, even if they are making progress.

It is often my concern that the students in these programs are under-serviced and sometimes forgotten, said Sandra Atanasoff, the principal of Danburys alternative school. Sometimes educating these youth and getting them to reach these measures that are so lofty in such a short period of time is very difficult.

Superintendent Sal Pascarella agreed, saying many Danbury students face hardships outside school that are not common in other districts, such as changing homes frequently during the school year, returning from incarceration and in some cases not having a home at all.

Trying to judge them with the same standard is very difficult and in some cases counterproductive, Pascarella said.

Other problems discussed include the need for more funding, the high percentage of students learning English as a second language and the increased cost of special education.

Meghan Martins, the high schools associate principal for instruction, also said the state should offer incentives to keep teachers trained in communities like Danbury from moving to other districts.

Theres a big discrepancy between what happens in an urban school and a suburban school, Martins said. (And) in the last month, we had almost six teachers resign to go to Ridgefield or Redding. Theres no incentive from the state perspective to do the very hard work. It is harder to work here than it is to work in Ridgefield.

While much of the discussion went beyond the scope of the new federal law, Murphy said, the freedom it provides makes it much easier to change state policies.

We need to make sure we have a measurement for kids that recognizes that everyone doesnt start from same place, Murphy said. The new legislation puts the states back in charge of setting standards of performance and interventions.

The good news is if you dont like new law, you can get it changed in Hartford instead of getting it changed in Washington, Murphy said.

awolff@newstimes.com; 203-731-3333; @awolffster
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 25

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmenistan plans to lay the foundation of three new gas and chemical complexes until late 2016, the Turkmen oil and gas complex said in a message Aug. 25.

The country is aimed at deep processing of natural gas and at production of finished products that are demanded widely in foreign markets.

Currently, two plants are being built with the participation of foreign partners: in Kiyanli  on polyethylene and polypropylene production and in Ovandepe  on the production of gasoline from gas.

The production volume of these products envisages not only the full provision of the domestic market, but also a large export.
TORONTO and DAKAR, Aug. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - Years of violence by Boko Haram in Africa's Lake Chad basin have led to a worsening humanitarian crisis that has displaced 1.4 million children and left at least one million still trapped in hard-to-reach areas, UNICEF said in a report released today.

"The Lake Chad crisis is a children's crisis that should rank high on the global migration and displacement agenda," said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa. "Humanitarian needs are outpacing the response, especially now that new areas previously unreachable in north-east Nigeria become accessible."

Released ahead of the United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants (September 19), Children on the Move, Children left Behind looks at the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on children in Nigeria, Cameroun, Chad and Niger and its devastating toll on children.

The report notes that:

In addition to the 2.6 million people currently displaced, an additional 2.2 million people  over half of them children  are feared to be trapped in areas under the control of Boko Haram and need humanitarian assistance.

An estimated 38 children have been used to carry out suicide attacks in Lake Chad basin so far this year, bringing to 86 the total number of children used as suicide bombers since 2014.

An estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year.

In north-east Nigeria alone, an estimated 20,000 children have been separated from their families.

The report also notes that most of the displaced population  more than eight in 10 people  are staying with families and neighbours, putting additional strain on some of the world's poorest communities.

"Local communities are sharing the little they have to help those in need in an act of humanity that is replicated in thousands of homes across the conflict-affect areas," said Fontaine.

UNICEF is working with partners to meet the basic needs of children and their families in the conflict-affected areas. So far this year, nearly 170,000 children received psychosocial support, almost 100,000 were treated for severe acute malnutrition and over 100,000 took part in learning programmes.

UNICEF has received only 13 per cent of the US $308 million it needs to provide assistance to the families affected by Boko Haram violence across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The children's agency is appealing to the donor community to step up its support for the affected communities. Additional resources will help UNICEF and its partners scale up the response  particularly as access to areas previously under Boko Haram control is revealing growing humanitarian needs.

The report and multimedia assets are available here: http://uni.cf/2bVEGu6



About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.

SOURCE UNICEF Canada

Image with caption: ""Thank God we're alive, but we've lost everything, our camels, our jewels, our savings. Everything," says Fatime Saleh, 10, who was displaced from Chad alongside her family due to Boko Haram violence. "This is not ok for children or for adults to live like this. We haven't done anything wrong." UNICEF/UN028722/Vincent (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160825_C1525_PHOTO_EN_758906.jpg

For further information: Media Contacts: Stefanie Carmichael, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8866, 647-500-4230 (mobile), [email protected]
TORONTO, Aug. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's insurance industry is ready to respond following a tornado that hit the Town of LaSalle and parts of the City of Windsor on the evening of August 24.

"Ontarians know that warm summer temperatures often bring severe storms and violent weather," said Kim Donaldson, Vice-President, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). "While no serious injuries have been reported, there does appear to be some property damage in the affected areas. Residents with property damage should contact their insurers as soon as possible to begin the claims process."

Wind damage is covered under basic insurance policies. Policyholders with questions can contact their insurance representative or phone the IBC Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC.

"IBC will continue to monitor the situation in Windsor," added Donaldson. "Tornadoes and other severe weather events can happen without warning. It's important that Canadians understand their insurance policies and put an emergency preparedness plan in place before bad weather strikes."

About Insurance Bureau of Canada

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties.

P&C insurance touches the lives of nearly every Canadian and plays a critical role in keeping businesses safe and the Canadian economy strong. It employs more than 120,000 Canadians, pays $8.2 billion in taxes and has a total premium base of $49 billion.

For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca. Follow IBC on Twitter @InsuranceBureau and @IBC_Ontario or like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC.

If you require more information, IBC spokespeople are available to discuss the details in this media release.

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada

For further information: To schedule an interview, please contact: Andrew McGrath, Manager, Media Relations, 416-362-2031 ext. 4312, [email protected]
CALGARY, Aug. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - Ikkuma Resources Corp. ("Ikkuma" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: IKM) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2016. Selected financial and operational information is set out below and should be read in conjunction with Ikkuma's interim condensed financial statements and the related management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three months ended June 30, 2016. Ikkuma's condensed interim financial statements and MD&A are available for review at www.sedar.com and on the Corporation's website at www.ikkumarescorp.com.

CREDIT FACILITY RENEWAL

On August 24, 2016, Ikkuma entered into an amendment to its credit facility agreement (the "Facility") following the completion of the banking syndicate's semi-annual borrowing base review. The revolving period has been extended to July 28, 2017 and the borrowing base has been re-determined at $40 million. The amendment also includes a requirement for the Corporation to hedge no less than 17,500 GJ/day of natural gas production for 2017 and 10,500 GJ/day of natural gas production for 2018.

The available lending limits under the Facility are reviewed semi-annually and are based on the bank syndicate's interpretation of the Corporation's reserves and future commodity prices. There can be no assurance that the amount of the available Facility will not be adjusted at the next borrowing base review to be done on or before November 30, 2016. As at June 30, 2016, the Corporation had $21.1 million drawn on the Facility.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Achieved funds flow from operations of $2.4 million or $0.03 /share despite 25% lower natural gas price and lower production volumes for scheduled facility maintenance.

or /share despite 25% lower natural gas price and lower production volumes for scheduled facility maintenance. Completed a strategic acquisition of certain Foothills natural gas assets for $2.7 million which increases the Corporation's working interest in existing producing wells and facilities, allows Ikkuma to farm-in on lands strategic to Ikkuma's development of its oil play and provides clear access to certain gas recompletions.

which increases the Corporation's working interest in existing producing wells and facilities, allows Ikkuma to farm-in on lands strategic to Ikkuma's development of its oil play and provides clear access to certain gas recompletions. Produced an average of 5,921 boe/d in Q2 2016, 75% of Ikkuma's production capability of 7,900 boe/d, due to shut in uneconomic sour gas and downtime due to scheduled plant turnaround. Ikkuma had approximately 1,000 boe/d of uneconomic gas shut in for most of Q2 2016. Approximately 350 BOE/d of this gas was back on production in early July and further volumes may be returned under more favorable gas prices.













(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except per boe and Share amounts; unaudited) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,







2016 2015 2016 2015 OPERATIONS















Average daily production















Natural gas (mcf/d)

35,361

39,552

39,790

40,585 Light Oil (bbls/d)

-

35

-

42 NGL's (bbl/d)

27

141

77

137 Total equivalent (boe/d)

5,921

6,769

6,709

6,944

















Average prices and operating netback















Natural gas ($/mcf) $ 1.37 $ 2.74 $ 1.63 $ 2.72 Light Oil ($/bbl)

-

47.76

-

42.61 NGL ($/bbl)

44.12

24.14

23.95

21.20 Revenue ($/boe)

8.49

17.45

10.21

17.14 Realized gain on commodity contracts ($/boe)

8.19

1.53

6.12

1.17 Royalties ($/boe)

0.73

(1.50)

(0.24)

(1.69) Operating expenses ($/boe)

(8.49)

(7.99)

(8.22)

(8.62) Transportation costs ($/boe)

(1.77)

(1.55)

(1.80)

(1.54) Operating netback (1) ($/boe) $ 7.15 $ 7.94 $ 6.07 $ 6.46



































FINANCIAL















Oil and natural gas sales $ 4,576 $ 10,748 $ 12,472 $ 21,541 Funds flow from operations (1) $ 2,397 $ 3,428 $ 4,591 $ 5,373

Per share  basic and diluted $ 0.03 $ 0.04 $ 0.05 $ 0.07 Loss $ (9,441) $ (3,670) $ (7,014) $ (8,523)

Per share  basic and diluted $ (0.11) $ (0.05) $ (0.08) $ (0.11) Capital expenditures $ 694 $ 3,852 $ 3,809 $ 22,593 Property acquisitions $ 2,713 $ - $ 25 $ - Net debt (1) $ 25,819 $ 27,325 $ 25,819 $ 27,325 Bank loan $ 21,141 $ 23,002 $ 21,141 $ 23,002 Shares outstanding (000) (2)

94,244

80,159

94,244

80,159 Weighted average shares outstanding

















Basic and diluted (000) (2)

87,743

80,159

83,951

80,159



















(1)Funds flow from operations, operating netback and net debt are non-IFRS measures. See "Non- IFRS Measures".

OUTLOOK

Ikkuma plans to complete the oil well drilled in the first quarter and also drill another horizontal oil well. These projects were planned for early August; however, they have been delayed by at least one month due to weather. The Corporation intends to complete these projects by early Q4. In addition, the Corporation will recomplete up to two gross gas wells before year-end. In aggregate the capital budget for 2016 is forecasted to be $15 - $17 million.

ABOUT IKKUMA

Ikkuma Resources Corp. is a diversified junior public oil and gas company listed on the TSXV under the symbol "IKM", with holdings in both conventional and unconventional projects in Western Canada. The technical team has worked together for over a decade in the Foothills Region of Western Canada, through two successful, publicly traded companies. The unique skills and repeat success at exploiting a complex, potentially prolific play type are fundamental ingredients for a successful growth-oriented company in Western Canada. Corporate information can be found at: www.ikkumarescorp.com .

Forward-Looking Statements and Information and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation, those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Forward-looking Statements" in Ikkuma's Annual Information Form and in its other filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forwardlooking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, Ikkuma's 2016 capital budget ranging from $15 million to $17 million and the timing and duration of completion and drilling projects. Although Ikkuma believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forwardlooking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forwardlooking statements and information because Ikkuma cannot give any assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forwardlooking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include but are not limited to the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses; failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for planned operations; health, safety and environmental risks; uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; volatility of commodity prices, currency exchange rate fluctuations; imprecision of reserve estimates; and competition from other explorers) as well as general economic conditions, stock market volatility, and the ability to access sufficient capital. We caution that the foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive.

In addition, the reader is cautioned that historical results are not necessarily indicative of future performance. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Ikkuma undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forwardlooking statement or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Certain information set out herein may be considered as "financial outlook" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The purpose of this financial outlook is to provide readers with disclosure regarding Ikkuma's reasonable expectations as to the anticipated results of its proposed business activities for the periods indicated. Readers are cautioned that the financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Non-IFRS Measures

This press release provides certain financial measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Funds flow from operations, operating netback and net debt are not recognized measures under IFRS. Management believes that in addition to net income (loss), funds flow from operations, operating netback and net debt are useful supplemental measures that demonstrate the Corporation's ability to generate the cash necessary to repay debt or fund future capital investment. Investors are cautioned, however, that these measures should not be construed as an alternative to net income (loss), determined in accordance with IFRS, as an indication of Ikkuma's performance. Funds flow from operations is calculated by adjusting net income (loss) for depletion and depreciation, exploration and evaluation expense, impairment, gain (loss) on sale of petroleum, natural gas and equipment, share-based payments, unrealized gain (loss) on financial instruments and accretion. Operating netback equals the total of petroleum and natural gas sales, realized gains or losses on commodity contracts, less royalties, transportation and operating expenses. Net debt is the total of cash and cash equivalents plus accounts receivable, plus prepaids and deposits, less accounts payable and accrued liabilities and bank debt.

Oil and Gas Advisory

In this press release, the abbreviation boe means a barrel of oil equivalent derived by converting gas to oil in the ratio of 6 Mcf of gas to 1 bbl of oil (6 Mcf:1 bbl). Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 Mcf:1 bbl, utilizing a conversion ratio on a 6 Mcf of gas to 1 bbl of oil basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE Ikkuma Resources Corp.

For further information: Tim de Freitas, President & CEO; Carrie Yuill, VP Finance & CFO; Ikkuma Resources Corp., 2700, 605-5th Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB, T2P 3H5, Phone: 403-261-5900, Fax: 403-261-5902
MONTREAL, Aug. 24, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a construction services contract for the Balama Graphite Project in Cabo Delgado, Northern Mozambique. The contract is valued at C$21.7 million and SNC-Lavalin's Kentz Field Operations team will provide structural mechanical and piping construction services for the processing plant, including piping supply and platework.

The award is with the Mozambiquan subsidiary of Australian Company, Syrah Resources Limited (ASX: SYR); Twigg Exploration & Mining Limitada. The Balama project involves the development of a greenfield graphite mine, of which the processing plant will have a production rate of over 350,000 tons per annum and a mine life of over 40 years. The graphite concentrate will be transported to the Port of Nacala for export to international markets.

"We are delighted with this contract award on the Balama Graphite Project in Mozambique, a country we have successfully operated in for 18 years," said Martin Adler, President, Oil & Gas, SNC-Lavalin. "We look forward to the safe and successful execution of the project and a long and fruitful relationship with Syrah Resources."

About SNC-Lavalin

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices in over 50 countries, SNC-Lavalin's employees are proud to build what matters. Our teams provide engineering, procurement, construction, completions and commissioning services together with a range of sustaining capital services to clients in four industry sectors, oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power. SNC-Lavalin can also combine these services with its financing and operations and maintenance capabilities to provide complete end-to-end project solutions. www.snclavalin.com

SOURCE SNC-Lavalin

For further information: Media: Louis-Antoine Paquin, Media Relations Manager, Corporate Communications, 514-393-8000, ext. 54772, [email protected]; Investors: Denis Jasmin, Vice President, Investor Relations, 514-393-8000, ext. 57553, [email protected]
The tremendous growth of the Chinese economy in the past 30 years was largely driven by the rise of the two super-city clusters  the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and the Pearl River Delta (PRD).

These country-sized regions, consisting of one or two mega metropolises surrounded by an assortment of satellite cities, together produce over 25 per cent of the countrys GDP. Not only that, for the past few decades they were the worlds greatest social and economic testing ground for wealth creation through urbanisation.

Beijing is the only first-tier city in northern China.

A few years ago Beijing introduced the Jing-Jin-Ji super-city cluster, which integrates Beijing (Jing), with nearby Tianjin (Jin) City and Hebei Province (Ji). It is now being given support by the central government and expanding in full swing, vying to be the third major super-city cluster in the country in addition to the YRD and PRD.

There is already a high-speed rail line linking landlocked Beijing and the port city of Tianjin, reducing the hour-long journey to just 20 minutes. There are also extensive motorway networks crisscrossing the region. Meanwhile, Beijing is planning to build a second major airport in the southern suburb of Daxing county by 2019. Once completed, the airport, serving the surrounding regions, will reach a capacity of 72 million passengers per year by 2025.

Jing-Jin-Ji already accounts for about 10 per cent of national GDP and 6 per cent of the total population, eclipsing PRD and threatening YRDs leading position. However, that is perhaps where the similarity ends. Lacking some of the economic and structural advantages enjoyed by their southern cousins, Jing-Jin-Ji is facing considerable challenges on the way to its goal.

Asia Monitor looked more closely at the jing jin ji economic integration

Source: NBS, BMI, Data in the graph are BMI forecasts

Over decades of development, a number of prosperous second-tier cities in the YRD and PRD flourished. These include Hangzhou and Suzhou near Shanghai, and Foshan and Dongguan near Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

The per capita GDP of these satellite cities is now on par with the core cities. In 2015, while Guangzhous per capita GDP was 134,000 yuan, Foshans was already 108,000 yuan. While Shanghais per capita GDP was 103,000 yuan in 2015, Hangzhou saw its number overtake Shanghais to reach 112,000 yuan. Throughout these two clusters there are dozens of cities that have produced that level of GDP.

In Jing-Jin-Ji, Beijing is by far the most dominating city in the landscape. Many smaller cities in northern China are either less well-known or economically insignificant nationally. As Beijing ploughs ahead, the gap between the capital and its neighbors widens. For example, Beijngs per capita GDP in 2015 reached 106,000 yuan, while neighboring Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, commanded only 50,800 yuan per head.

Beijing has to spend time and money on bridging the disparity among the surrounding cities of the Jin-Jin-Ji and in the rural areas.

The success of the Jing-Jin-Ji blueprint largely depends on the meticulous and systematic planning and execution of various government initiatives.
Google Fiber has lit up a fiber-optic network in and around downtown Salt Lake City and began seeking business and residential customers

This first phase of Google Fibers rollout of web access with speeds of up to one gigabit per second  with optional television and phone services  covers roughly 112 blocks from 100 South to 800 South between 400 West and 1300 East.

Nearly 200 government and business officials gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the occasion at Google Fibers newly opened facility, Fiber Space, a trendy customer-service center and internet cafe at Trolley Square mall.

As of 9 a.m., Google Fiber is live in Salt Lake City, Scott Tenney, head of Google Fiber business operations in Utah, told the crowd.

The company simultaneously emailed thousands of prospective customers, saying access to its broadband capacity had arrived.

Tenney said in an interview that other parts of the city would be turned on in a matter of months and not years. He declined to provide specifics.



SOURCE  Google, The Salt Lake Tribune
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25



By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:



Kazakh National Oil and Gas Company KazMunaiGas has no plans to buy the shares of its subsidiary KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (KMG EP), KazMunaiGas head Sauat Mynbayev told reporters on Aug. 25, Novosti-Kazakhstan news agency reported on Aug. 25.



"We already come out with a such proposal, now we have no proposals," Mynbayev said.



On Aug 3. KMG EPs independent shareholders voted against the amendments to the agreement on the mutual relations with KazMunaiGas and to the company's charter, proposed by KazMunaiGas which is its main shareholder.



KazMunaiGas also proposed to purchase the companys shares owned by independent minority shareholders in the case of alteration of KMG EPs Charter. Since KMG EP shareholders voted against the alteration of the companys Charter, the purchase offer did not enter into force.



KMG EP is among the top three Kazakh oil producers. The overall production in 2015 was 12.4 million tons of oil, including the companys share in joint ventures.

Edited by SI

Follow the author on Twitter:@E_Kosolapova
Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo says the African continent has no business being poor and can change her fortunes w...

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo says the African continent has no business being poor and can change her fortunes with education.Obasanjo, who spoke on Thursday at the launch of the Ethan and Harriet Map of Nigeria puzzles created by his daughter, Mrs Bunmi Williams, said that poverty was caused by the continents leaders.Poverty of Africa is a choice of African leaders. We dont need to be poor. I believe we can make a different choice and if we do we will be what God has created us to be  a land flowing with milk and honey.God hasnt created us to be poor. Ans the beginning of not being poor is education, he said.Obasanjo lamented the poor level of awareness of the Nigerian history and cultural heritage, likening it to suffering a memory loss.Not knowing your history is like losing your memory. How can you be inspired when you dont know your history; when you dont know your sense of identity? he asked.Obasanjo said he was proud that his daughter came up with a solution through the puzzle, which can help children and adults learn about all states of Nigeria, their capitals, and their locations on the map.I came from the Mambila Plateau some weeks ago. And when people called me and I told them I was at the Mabila Plateau, they asked what country it was in. Mambila Plateau is in Taraba State.What Bunmi has done, which I am that it is appreciated by you is that this important gap should be filled very early in preparatory education; our own adult lack of knowledge can be filled by this puzzle, he said.He thanked his daughters husband (Rotimi) and father, whom he called to the podium, for supporting her creativity by giving her peace of mind.For Bunmi to have the peace of mind to be creative is because the domestic environment is conducive and Rotimi partly makes it conducive; Baba Rotimi partly makes it conducive, he said.In her speech, Mrs Williams said she was inspired to create the puzzles to preserve Nigerias heritage.Our national and cultural heritage is our responsibility to preserve and promote. Only those that truly care can change Nigeria. But you cant change what you dont know about.We created this to bridge the gap  as a fun way to teach our values, she said.Mrs Williams said her firm has partnered with the Oando Foundation to distribute the puzzles (a wooden board kind and a floor puzzle measuring 3ft by 2ft) to public schools in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. She called for further collaborations with others to distribute up to 12,000 copies of the puzzles to pupils who cannot afford the price (N6,000 for the wooden, and N10,000 for the floor puzzle).Many dignitaries like Dr Donald Duke, former Cross River State Governor; Mrs Sarah Sosan, former Lagos Deputy Governor; Erelu Olusola Obadan, former Osun State Deputy Governor and Minister of Defense, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, Director-General, Office of Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education; and Dr Femi Ogunsanya, President, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN) endorsed the puzzles at the event.Product reviewer, Dr Duke, who also lamented the relegation of history in schools said the product was a good one.This is noble and really worthy of our entire support, he said.Dr Ogunsanya said she was glad it would expose children to learning about Nigeria early in life.The introduction and teaching of values must start from creche  with children under five. It gives me great excitement that it teaches children how to put together the Nigerian map early in life, she said.
Arsenal have agreed deals to sign Deportivo striker Lucas Perez and Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi and expect both players to underg...

Gunners officials have been working throughout the summer in a bid to strengthen an injury-ravaged defence and limited forward line and an agreement has finally been reached to bring in two of La Liga's top performers in 2015-16.Perez, 27, scored 17 league goals last season and was scouted several times by Arsenal, who originally opted to bid for Jamie Vardy insteadThe Leicester striker subsequently rejected a move to the Emirates Stadium, signing a new contract with the Foxes and leaving Arsene Wenger to work on other targets.An offer of 20 million (17m) was accepted by Deportivo on Friday, 6m of which will go to Perez's former club PAOK, and Arsenal have beaten both Everton and Valencia to the Spaniard's sought-after signature.Deportivo confirmed on Thursday night that Perez has been given permission to miss Friday's match against Real Betis.Mustafi will follow Perez to north London after Valencia accepted an offer of 35m for the Germany centre-back. Talks over a deal for Mustafi have been ongoing for almost three weeks, with the 24-year-old's considerable price tag the only sticking point.However, injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel have forced Arsenal's hand and Wenger will take his summer spending close to 100m following the signings of Granit Xhaka, Rob Holding, Takuma Asano and Kelechi Nwakali.
Disaster struck in Ekiti State Wednesday evening when four members of a World Bank assessment team on assignment drowned at Egbe Dam locat...

World Bank

Disaster struck in Ekiti State Wednesday evening when four members of a World Bank assessment team on assignment drowned at Egbe Dam located in Egbe Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government.Among the four who died in the incident was a son of a contractor to the World Bank whose father was one of the survivors. They were said to have commenced work at the site on Tuesday before tragedy struck on Wednesday.The incident which three other members of the team survived had thrown the serene community into mourning.Sources told our reporter on Thursday that the team members came from Development Dams and Irrigation Scheme in Kaduna State to carry out an assessment of the dam which had long been overdue for turnaround maintenance.Their boat was said to have capsized while they were sailing from one end of the dam to the other. Sources revealed that the small boat which could conveniently take four persons was overloaded with seven on board.According to the sources, the four victims who died in the incident did not wear life jackets while the three others who wore survived the disaster.The bodies of the victims were recovered by local fishermen mobilized to the scheme by Gbonyin Local Government Council Chairman, Mrs. Sade Akinrinmola.The council boss told reporters on telephone that he had contacted the communitys monarch, the Owa Egbe, Oba Ayodele Ige Olokesusi, on the tragic incident.Describing the incident as unfortunate, Mrs. Akinrinmola disclosed that the bodies of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital, Ode Ekiti, headquarters of the council area.She said: We immediately mobilised a rescue team and an ambulance and those wearing life jackets were rescued. The rescued people were the ones who told us that others were in the water. Their bodies were later retrieved by the local fishermen.We believe that they (the victims) were there based on some of the proposals we had written on the dam and how it could be put to use and we believe that the World Bank had started work on the river based on the calls.Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the incident which he said was still under investigation.Adeyemi said: They must have come from the Federal Ministry because dams are owned by the Federal Government. It is true that their boat capsized, four of them died while three survived.
David Bakare, a Bishop and zonal chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the north-west, says the federal government is ...

David Bakare, a Bishop and zonal chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the north-west, says the federal government is not doing enough to tackle the menace of religious killings in the country.Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, Bakare lamented that the northern part of the country in recent times had become killing fields where Christians are murdered without restraints.The CAN chairman said government only issues statements and then goes to sleep,while nothing concrete is done to stem the tide of attacks.He also said the inaction on governments part shows that the authorities at all levels have abdicated their responsibilities of securing lives, especially that of Christians in northern Nigeria.We want a stage-by-stage report of what government and security agencies are doing about these killings because what we have had were statements of condemnation. We have not heard whether anybody had been arrested, prosecuted and jail. We have not heard whether government is still searching for them, he said.When these killings happen, government will make statements and everybody goes to sleep! It doesnt give us assurance that anything is being done at all.Arrests must be made, the perpetrators must be made to face the full weight of the law so that justice will be seen to have been done.While recounting recent killings in different parts of the north, Bakare said it was unacceptable and could not be the Nigeria we long to see.There is the well-publicised hacking to death of a Redeemed pastors wife in Kubwa, Abuja, an ECWA pastor who was murdered in Nasarawa state; just last Friday, a Redeemed pastor was shot in his farm by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Kafanchan, Kaduna state, he said.Few days ago in Zamfara State, a boy was accused of blasphemy and attacked. The incident led to the killing and burning of eight Christians in the state.He said if arrests are made by the government as regards religious killings, it would give assurance to the Christians in northern Nigeria that they are safe.
A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday told Nigerian leaders and citizens...

A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday told Nigerian leaders and citizens not to allow themselves to be held hostage by the recklessness and maladministration of the past.Jega, who spoke on Broadcasting, Democratisation and the Challenge of the New Nigeria in a keynote address at the National Broadcasting Commissions Second Annual Lecture Series in Abuja, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reform the nations public broadcasting.The former INEC boss said although the country had passed through so much that could mar many African countries, there was no reason to be held up in the past. He urged Nigerians to look to a brighter future and work hard towards it.Jega said, The enormity of the challenges which Nigeria has faced and yet remained intact would have, arguably, dismembered and scattered any other African country. In spite of reckless misrule and profound centripetal tendencies, it still stands and ambles along.The persistence of many of these challenges provides some Nigerians with grounds for despondency and disillusionment, but provides many others with sufficient motivation to optimistically keep looking for opportunities to stabilise, consolidate and expand the gains.We must not be hostages to our reckless and unwholesome past. We must look to the future with determination and optimism. We should see the Nigerian federation as akin to a Catholic marriage  not necessarily a perfect union, but till death do us part  and strive to do anything humanly possible to find accommodation and live peacefully, and to prevent its annulment.Jega said the All Progressives Congress and Buhari which suffered acclaimed disadvantage, media wise, in the build up to the 2015 general elections had the opportunity to reform public broadcasting in Nigeria now that the table had turned around.He said, The Buhari government has a responsibility, under the mantra of change for a new Nigeria, to contribute to the reform and repositioning of broadcasting, so that it can play remarkably improved role in Nigerias democratic development.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Francis Ayade, a brother to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State over ...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Francis Ayade, a brother to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State over alleged N2.4billion contract scam.Francis, the Managing Director of Leophina Nigeria Limited and Hally Brown International Limited was arrested on Tuesday in connection with alleged shady deals involving diversion of public funds into his companies accounts.It was gathered that four different allocations from the Federation Accounts were allegedly diverted into Hally Brown International Limiteds account owned by him.EFCC operatives told The Will that the suspect 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 to finance a N2.4billion road construction contract awarded to Hally Brown International Limited in 2011.However, investigations by the anti-graft agency revealed that the loan was unused for the contract but transferred into the Mobility Project.Also, Francis, who was also implicated in suspicious transactions involving Obudu Micro Finance Bank, has been offered administrative bail but is still in the custody of the EFCC until he fulfils the bail conditions.
The convoy of the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, around Umutu, in Ukwuani Council Area of the state allegedly crushed an eld...





The convoy of the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, around Umutu, in Ukwuani Council Area of the state allegedly crushed an elderly farmer to death.It was gathered that the accident happened when one of the buses in the governors convoy was returning from the Niger Delta Stakeholders Meeting, held at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun.The event hosted by Chief Edwin Clark.A source within the convoy said that the bus carrying the pressmen ran into the man, who was said to be returning from his farm. He was said to have tried to dodge a pothole along the Agbor/Abraka expressway.Some of the pressmen in the vehicle also sustained varying degrees of injuries, prompting them to almost lynch the driver, until Okowa personally intervened.It was gathered that the victim who was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abraka was later said to have been referred to Asaba for medical treatment, where he died.the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, the governors spokesman, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, and the Nigeria police are yet to comment on the issue.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

The work on construction of the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) continues in line with the schedule.

It was noted during the meeting of the TANAP Consortiums management that was dedicated to the results of the first half of 2016 and the upcoming tasks, said a message from Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR posted on its website Aug. 25.

SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, who was on a visit to Turkey on Aug. 23-24, participated at the meeting.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018, and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipelines construction, the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

After the meeting, Rovnag Abdullayev met with Turkeys Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak. The minister spoke about the status of projects implemented in Turkey and planned activities.

Albayrak expressed satisfaction with the progress of construction works within the framework of SOCAR projects in Turkey, in particular, the TANAP, the STAR oil refinery, petrochemical complex Petkim and Petlim container port. He noted that SOCAR is one of the important investors in Turkey; the companys activities are supported by the countrys government and this support will be continued in the future.

SOCAR president also visited the Star refinery in Izmir, Petkim petrochemical complex and Petlim port. Abdullayev was told that all projects are being implemented in line with the schedule.

Star refinerys annual production of naphtha, which is used by the petrochemical complex Petkim (where SOCAR has a share) as the main raw material, will be 1.66 million tons. Apart from naphtha, the new refinery will produce diesel fuel with ultra-low sulfur content in the volume of 5.95 million tons, aviation kerosene  500,000 tons, reformate  500,000 tons, petroleum coke  630,000 tons, liquefied gas  240,000 tons, mixed xylene  415,000 tons, an olefin liquefied gas  75,000 tons and 145,000 tons of sulfur. The refinery wont produce gasoline and fuel oil. The plant is planned to process such oil sorts as Azeri Light, Kerkuk and Urals.

Total cost of Star refinerys construction project in Turkey exceeds $5 billion.

Petlim ports shareholders are: Petkim  70 percent and Goldman Sachs  30 percent. In 2013, a contract was signed with APM Terminals for the ports management for 28 years. Petlim ports capacity is 1.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
Kelechi Iheanacho has confirmed that he is not injured despite being hauled off during Manchester Citys 1-0 defeat of Steaua Bucuresti in Wednesdays Champions League second leg play-off.The forward looked to suffer a hamstring injury after going down in pains after attempting to chase a ball through  and was replaced by Fernandinho after he was stretchered off.And Iheanacho has insisted that he is fit to play again in light of assumptions from some quarters that he would be on the sidelines for weeks.Great result for the team today. Very pleased we've qualified for the Champions League group stages. Thank you everyone for your messages. I'm pleased to inform you all that Im okay, he wrote on Instagram.With this, he could be considered for selection when Pep Guardiolas men welcome West Ham United in Sundays English Premier League fixture.Also, the news comes as a relief for Nigeria national team handlers as the prodigy is expected to feature in next months inconsequential Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.
Internally displaced persons at the Gidan Taki camp yesterday protested while demanding the immediate removal of the camp chairman over ...





Internally displaced persons at the Gidan Taki camp yesterday protested while demanding the immediate removal of the camp chairman over allegations of diversion of foodstuff meant for IDPs.It was gathered that displaced persons took to the street of Maiduguri en masse and barricaded the Maiduguri - Gamboru Ngala road hindering movement of vehicles for over an hour.The demanded for the sack of Mohammed Sema, the camp chairman over allegations of diverting supplies until security personnel at the camp intervened.This is coming after some IDPs were reported to be feeding on wild plants while others took to begging.
The crisis rocking the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday, took a new twist with the emergence of a third faction claiming to ...

The crisis rocking the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday, took a new twist with the emergence of a third faction claiming to be the authentic group representing the organizationThe new group, which parades itself as the Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra; RE-IPOB, disclosed that it has sacked the IPOB led by the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and the new faction; The Rebranded Indigenous People of Biafra, TRIPOB, which have Chima Philip Effiong Osuji, as its spokesman, stressing that both groups no longer have the right to speak for Biafra.In a statement by its spokesman, Ikemba Biafra, the group who promised to disclose their leader on Monday 29th August, 2016, advised all pro-Biafran agitators to remain peaceful and warned security agents to stop molesting Biafran activists.It claimed that Kanu has lost touch with realities of Biafra while TRIPOB has nothing to offer as splinter group of IPOB.According to the statement, Both IPOB and TRIPOB have been sacked; they should no longer speak for the Biafran people. They are the same outfit and have nothing to offer Biafra.We warn that if Nnamdi Kanu , IPOB and the so-called TRIPOB continue their antics , RE-IPOB will be forced to make public the sponsors of the two groups.RE-IPOB will not accede to the burning of the Biafran flag as the sacked TRIPOB planned. The Biafran flag is sacred to Biafrans.The statement, however, added that RE-IPOB is open to dialogue if the Nigerian government is sincere in ending the protracted agitations for an independent state of Biafra, and warned that the group will not tolerate any insincerity from the government.If the federal government is sincere in its dialogue with RE-IPOB, then the Biafran flag can be exchanged with the Nigerian flag in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser, Director of State Security and the Elders of Biafra. If the dialogue is fruitful; then a peace treaty and a no victor no vanquished tree will be planted at Gakem where the first shot of the Nigerian Civil war started and at Amichi Nnewi where the formal cessation of hostilities of the war began.
Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to hear the suit filed by a former Chairman, Appropriation Commit...

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to hear the suit filed by a former Chairman, Appropriation Committee, House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, to stop an alleged plan by the House to suspend him.The development dashed the hope of the legislator who had expected that his suit would be heard and determined before the House resumes from recess.Justice Abang, who is currently sitting as the courts vacation judge, returned the file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment to another judge when the regular court resumes in September.The judge said since it would be impossible for him to conclude the case before he winds up as vacation judge next week, the option left to him was to return the case file to the Chief Judge for re-assignment.The plaintiffs lawyer, Abdulamid Mohammed, on Thursday informed the court that the defendants served him with their notice of preliminary objection on Wednesday and that he has filed a response.He sought a short stand down of the proceedings to enable him to retrieve a copy of his response from the courts registry so that the hearing could proceed.But defendants lawyer, Kalu Onuoha objected to Mohammeds request for a stand down.He sought an adjournment to enable him to study the plaintiffs response and decide whether or not to equally respond.In response, Justice Abang noted that it was unnecessary to commence hearing in the case during vacation since the he would not be able to conclude hearing and determination of the case before the end of the courts vacation on September 9.Defendants in the suit are the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Yusuf Lasun (Deputy Speaker), Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Leo Ogor, Herman Hembe, Umar Mohammed Bago, Zakari Mohammed, Chike Okafor, Dan Asuquo, Jagaba Adms, Haliru Jika and Uzoma Abonta.Jibrin disclosed on Thursday he attracted the wrath of the Houses leadership when, as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee he rejected alleged proposals by Dogara and others to corner about N90bn to themselves from the 2016 budget.He made this claim in an additional document he filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja with respect to his suit numbered, FHC/ABJ/CS:595/2016, seeking to among others, restrain the Houses leadership from suspending him from the House.In the document filed on Thursday, Jibrin, who is an All Progressives Congress legislator, representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, stated that he had some conflicts with the Houses leadership because he rejected their unlawful directives.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said Federal Government had obtained a 125-mil...



The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said Federal Government had obtained a 125-million-dollar loan from the World Bank to tackle fresh cases of polio and other health challenges in the country.The minister made this known while briefing the Senate Committee on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases on Thursday in Abuja. Adowole said that with approval of the National Assembly, 60 million dollars would be earmarked for polio, while the remaining 65 million dollars would be used for the procurement of vaccines.He also disclosed that N10 billion had been released by the Federal Government from the 2016 budget to tackle the epidemic.While decrying the fresh outbreak, the minister said that about N30 billion would be required to tackle the menace.He said that following the outbreak, no fewer than 800,000 children under the age of five years had been immunised in five local government areas in Borno. He said the local government areas, which had a population of about one million people were Jere, Gwoza, Mafa, Maiduguri Municipality and Bama. The resurgence of polio is an unusual development and a major setback considering the investment of the international community, and the whole world was looking forward to celebrate Nigeria next year.I wasnt expecting polio as a challenge; I was expecting teenage pregnancy and other health challenges, he said. Adewole said the ministry was working with relevant stakeholders to search for more cases, adding that we want to assume there could be many more of the cases, we are looking for more cases. He added that the ministry had flagged off response channels while the team monitoring and managing the disease was working to ensure that it was nipped in the bud.According to him, the ministry will embark on six-round response programmes to immunize children under five in the whole of the country and neighbouring countries, to ensure that every potential child is immunized. Adewole disclosed that 300 million doses of vaccine were required to be able to carry out immunization in the country to curtail the spread of the virus.He, however, said that only 100 million doses of vaccine were on ground, adding that measures would be put in place to make up the required doses. He stated that the ministry was toiling with the idea of administering injectable vaccines in view of its efficacy, particularly in Borno, rather than relying solely on oral vaccine. The minister however said that plans to curb the disease could change depending on subsequent developments. He also said that due to the security situation in the North-East, the medical team from the military had equally been deployed to assist experts from the ministry.On recent case of Lassa fever that claimed the life of a medical doctor in Delta, the minister said that measures were being put in place to curb further spread. He also disclosed that the ministry was working with relevant agencies to check Zika disease, which was already prominent in Brazil. Chairman of the committee, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, urged the ministry to embark on more sensitisation and advocacy. He expressed displeasure with the ministry for not involving the legislature before now. If we didnt initiate this meeting, we would not have been carried along. I expect that immediately you had this outbreak, you alert us and say areas we could collaborate with you to alert state assemblies for sensitisation, he said. He pledged the committees support to the ministry in tackling challenges in the health sector.
The third Global Slavery Index for 2016 has revealed that an estimated 45.8 million men, women and children around the world are today tra...

The third Global Slavery Index for 2016 has revealed that an estimated 45.8 million men, women and children around the world are today trapped in modern slavery  28% more than previously estimated.According to the findings conducted on 167 most populous countries and released on Tuesday, Nigeria ranks 23 in 2016,The flagship research report published by the Walk Free Foundation observed that the 45.8 population are enslaved through human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced or servile marriage or commercial sexual exploitation.The 2016 estimate is an increase on the estimate provided in the previous edition of the Index. As efforts to measure this hidden crime are relatively new, it is premature to assert that modern slavery has increased in the intervening period.Indeed, the results from Global Slavery Index website, quoting Walk Free Foundation, the national surveys reveal a mixed picture, with increases in some national estimates and decreases in others. For example, the national survey in Bangladesh resulted in an estimate of 1.5 million people in modern slavery, an increase from the previous estimate of 680,900 people. Similarly, the national survey in Myanmar led to an increase in the estimate-from 231,600 in 2014 to 500,000 in this edition.For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest chapters in human history.For the United Nations, every year on 25 March, the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade offers the opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The International Day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.North Korea is the country with the greatest prevalence of modern slavery, with 4.37% of its population estimated to be enslaved. It is also the country with the weakest government response in terms of actions taken to combat modern slavery. The next highest prevalence of slavery is found in Uzbekistan (3.97%), followed by Cambodia (1.65%).In terms of absolute numbers, India remains the highest with an estimated 18.35 million enslaved people, followed by China (3.39m), Pakistan (2.13m), Bangladesh (1.53m) and Uzbekistan (1.23m). Combined, these five countries account for almost 58% of the worlds enslaved, or 26.6 million people.The 2016 Global Slavery Index estimates that 28% more people are enslaved than reported in the 2014 edition. This significant increase is due to enhanced data collection and research methodology. Survey research for the 2016 Global Slavery Index included over 42,000 interviews conducted in 53 languages across 25 countries, including 15 state-level surveys in India. These representative surveys cover 44% of the global population.Meanwhile, since the index started, only a few countries have taken strong actions to address the menace. Among these countries are Netherlands ranking topmost, the United States of America ranking second, the United Kingdom third, Sweden ranks fourth, with Australia fifth on the table.Sadly, countries with the highest prevalence have taken even less actions to address the problem. It is assumed that governments of these countries have failed to pay attention to the general wellbeing of citizens.For instance, North Korea that leads the table of slavery index also ranks 161 in terms of action to reduce slavery. Meanwhile, at 160 is Iran that ranks 20; Eritrea is at 159, Equatorial Guinea at 158 and Hong Kong at 157. This is not good enough to reduce global slavery to the minimum.However, by the description of Walk Free Foundation of modern day slavery, most Nigerians living in places like Lagos, Kano and Calabar could be classified as modern day slaves.
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has insisted that he handed over a Nigeria that was economically viable to his successor, President M...

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has insisted that he handed over a Nigeria that was economically viable to his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari.Jonathans remark follows accusation that he left a bad economy for his successor to inherit.The Buhari-led Federal Government since assumption of power last year, has continued to accuse its predecessor of being responsible for the countrys current economic challenges.But the former President, in his response to these criticisms, maintained that he handed over the best Nigerian government with the largest economy in Africa to Buhari.In a statement he personally signed, Jonathan said, I took over a Nigeria that was the second largest economy in Africa with a GDP of $270.5 billion in 2009, I handed over a Nigeria that had grown to become the largest economy in Africa and the 24th largest economy in the World, with a GDP of $574 billion.Source: DailyPost
The Head of Olorisa worldwide, Jamiu Eletu, has said that politicians must be made to swear by deities such as the Yoruba god of thunder...

Do you agree?

The Head of Olorisa worldwide, Jamiu Eletu, has said that politicians must be made to swear by deities such as the Yoruba god of thunder, Ogun or its wife, the water goddess, Oya, or any other strong deities in various traditions in the country if corruption in the country must be brought to barest minimum.The traditionalist who maintained that traditionalists have a major role to play in the Buhari-led federal governments anti-corruption war also said that the federal governments fight against corruption might be in futility if traditional worshipers are not involved. According to him: Fighting corruption entails going back to our tradition. Corruption will be eliminated when the lawmakers swear under an oath of tradition. Traditionalists have been sidelined. Christians and Muslims are mainly rewarded. For Nigeria to progress and reduce corruption to the barest minimum, politicians should swear with the tradition like ogun and oya.When about ten of them dies they will know the implications of what they are swearing with and they will be cautious about stealing public fund. Most people will avoid corruption due to the fear of its repercussion. If we notify Nigerians about our forthcoming traditional carnival, it will enable our work more fortified and everyone will be looking forward to it. Eletu who is domiciled in Ajah, Lagos stated that traditionalist have been sidelined while Christians and Muslims are mainly rewarded in a secular country like Nigeria.He also noted that when the tradition is used to swear as an oath, the politician and public office holders will scared of the repercussion and will be more cautious about public fund and corruption will be reduced to the barest minimum.The ijo olorisa worldwide will be holding its carnival on the 28th of this month. We have our member in 28 states of the federation and also in 12 countries of the world. The Festival is for Nigerias progress. To stop the activities of the Boko Haram andother militants blowing-up the oil pipelines. Our leaves and roots can do a lot. The orisa worldwide want to make amendments and have their own input. Traditional practice also have a say. The body of orisha worldwide can make meaningful impact.It is very bad that our elites are transferring our money abroad. With this act, they are impoverishing the country and developing other countries. For the benefits of the states who own the resources. They also should be allowed to control their resources to take care of the people.
Troops of 33 Brigade deployed at Forward Operation Base Toro, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, have on Wednesday arrested thr...

Troops of 33 Brigade deployed at Forward Operation Base Toro, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, have on Wednesday arrested three suspected kidnappers in the state.This is contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.Usman said two of the suspects were arrested at Badiko village in Toro Local Government Area, following a tip-off by well-meaning Nigerians.Usman gave the names of the suspects as Dayibu Abdullahi and Nasiru Adamu.He said the soldiers had also recovered a bag containing N439,000 and some personal effects from the suspects.Preliminary investigation shows that the amount was their share from a paid ransom of a recent kidnap incident, the Army Spokesman said.He said the other suspect, Jibrin Dakam, was caught by the troops at Magama, also in Toro Local Government Area, on the same day.NAN
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, August 25

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qinghua, who is completing the diplomatic mission in Turkmenistan, the Turkmen government said on Aug. 25.

"China attaches great importance to the further intensification of cooperation with Turkmenistan," the diplomat said.

According to the message, President Berdimuhamedov emphasized the Turkmenistan-China strategic partnership, which is a positive factor in strengthening peace and stability in the regional and global scale.

The sides exchanged views on cooperation prospects between Turkmenistan and China, including those in trade and economic sphere, the message said.

According to the message, the fuel and energy complex is one of the priorities.
Tam David West President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated a former minister petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, ahead of his 80th...

Tam David West

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated a former minister petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, ahead of his 80th birthday on Friday.The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari recalled with fond memories, his long-term relationship with the elder statesman when he served as Minister of Petroleum between 1984 and 1985.Adesina quoted the President as commending David-Wests steadfastness and forthrightness on good governance, democracy, human rights and the unity of Nigeria.He observed that the elder statesman had remained steadfast especially when some seem to easily give up on the project of building one great nation.The statement read in part, President Buhari assures the octogenarian that his place in Nigerias history is guaranteed for the statesmanship, fearlessness, intellectual depth, resourcefulness and versatility that he brought into public discourse.The President prays that the almighty God will continue to grant the former minister good health and more fruitful years of service to his fatherland.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday be in Kenya to attend a two-day sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development ...

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday be in Kenya to attend a two-day sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI). This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. The statement said that the summit was being organised by the Government of Japan, United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, United Nations Development Programme, African Union and the World Bank. According to it, the summit will focus on promoting structural economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation, promoting resilient health system for quality life and promoting social stability for shared prosperity.The statement said that during the conference, Buhari would participate in plenary sessions on TICAD in alignment with African Development, the Dialogue with the Private Sector and Global Launch of the Second Africa Human Development Report. It stated that the president would also hold a bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. No fewer than 35 African leaders are expected at the two-day high level summit which will also be attended by leading private sector companies from Japan.This will be the first time TICAD is being held in Africa since its inception in 1993. Nigeria has played a prominent role at the forum aimed at forging international partnerships for Africas transformation and prosperity through economic growth, agriculture and social stability, the statement said.
Some Nigerian banks on Wednesday clarified their positions on the alleged suspension from the foreign exchange market transaction by the...

The affected banks expressed their stance in statements and e-mails to customers on Wednesday in Lagos.The banks include the FirstBank Ltd., Fidelity, Keystone and Heritage.FirstBank in a statement, said that the referenced NNPC dollar accounts were fully disclosed to the CBN.It said that accounts were being operated in line with the regulatory requirements.The bank also said that tripartite documented discussions had been ongoing between the CBN, NNPC and the bank on the need for domestic retention of those balances.It said that was as part of measures to ameliorate challenges posed by the lack of FX availability, and customers inability to source FX to fund their trade finance obligations to the bank.The bank reassured all its stakeholders that the issue was not a function of concealment or willful non-compliance by the bank.We are confident in our ability to meet and honour all our obligations as at when due and are currently in talks with the CBN and other relevant bodies and are positive of an amicable resolution soonest, said the bank.Also, Fidelity Bank said it had repaid over 288 million dollars of those funds in line with the advised repayment schedule.We will like to clarify that these deposits were duly reported to the CBN by Fidelity Bank in line with the extant TSA requirements contrary to the erroneous view in certain media reports that the funds were concealed from the regulators.At the commencement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in 2015, Fidelity bank advised NNPC and the regulators with a schedule of repayment for the NNPC/NLNG dividend dollar deposits.Please note that you can continue to operate your domiciliary account with Fidelity and this development will not affect your deposits/loans (local and foreign currency), remittances, transactional services and electronic banking services.Although the market condition remains quite challenging, we will continue to honour our obligations and operate with the highest level of corporate governance, the bank said.The bank said in the interim that it was engaging with the other eight banks involved, stakeholders and the regulators to resolve the issue quickly and ensure its return to the FX market.Keystone Bank, also in a statement signed by the management, said it had engaged in efforts that were geared towards very timely resolution.It said the bank understood the importance of sourcing foreign exchange for its customers needs to support economic growth.The bank said that the development did not adversely affect customers existing transactions with it except that there would be constraints in establishing new letters of credit until the issue was resolved.Meanwhile, Heritage Bank said that the CBNs announcement of temporary suspension was a systemic challenge to the banking industry that cut across most banks.It said that the bank would continue to treat forex transfer, remittance from domiciliary accounts, establishment of non-valid for FX form Ms and establishment of Letter of Credit (LoC) on the banks offshore lines.On August 23, the CBN barred the banks from the foreign exchange market.The banks were United Bank for Africa (UBA), 530 million dollars and First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), 469 million dollars.Others are Diamond Bank Plc, 287 million dollars; Sterling Bank Plc, 269 million dollars; Sky Bank Plc, 221 million dollars; Fidelity Bank 209 million dollars; Keystone Bank, 139 million dollars; First City Monument Bank (FCMB), 125 million dollars and Heritage Bank, 85 million dollars.
The agro-business scheme run by the Lagos State government in Kebbi State will put an end to the high cost of foodstuff in the Southwest...

The agro-business scheme run by the Lagos State government in Kebbi State will put an end to the high cost of foodstuff in the Southwest, Chairman, Alimosho Local Government in Lagos, Mr. Ganiyu Quadri, said on Tuesday.Specifically, the council boss said the price of a bag of rice, which is N18,500, will drop to N9,000 before December.Quadri gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of Rotary Club of Akowonjo 9110, led by its District-Governor, Patrick Ikheloa, and President, Shola Abidakun.According to the council chief, the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Lagos swung into agro-business to ensure food security for its people.By the end of this year, or first quarter next year, things will change in Lagos. Already, we are into agro-business in Kebbi State. We have massive land on which we planted grains, among which is rice, our peoples staple food. And it is expected that the truck-loads of rice will storm Lagos soon.So, I can assure you that before the end of this year, the price of a bag of rice, which is N18,000, will drop to N9,000.Quadri, who regretted the financial strains in which councils found themselves, said one of the mandates of sole administrators was to see how they could pay up debts owed by councils.Earlier, the Rotary Clubs President, Abidakun, who said the club was welcoming its governor, Ikheloa, to the district, stressed the need for partnership between the Rotary Club and government organs in alleviating the peoples suffering.The Rotary Club also visited the Akowonjo Health Care Centre and donated mosquito nets and other clinical facilities.It visited Little Saints Orphanage Home in Akowonjo, also donating foods, toiletries, beddings and others to the children.A baby girl was born during the clubs visit to the Akowonjo Health Centre. Abidakun named the baby, Sholape, meaning, the childs prosperity is complete.
PARAMUS - Thousands of alumni of Paramus Catholic High School and their friends and family have signed an impassioned open letter to school officials chastising the school for firing a female dean who married a woman.

The letter, written to President James P. Vail and school administrators, was issued days after a judge refused to throw out the suit brought against the school by former Dean Kate Drumgoole, who was terminated because she is in a same-sex marriage.

It demands the school apologize and enact policies against sex and gender discrimination following the firing of a gay woman who has filed a lawsuit. Nearly 4,000 people had signed the letter by Thursday morning.

The alumni say they are disappointed with the school's decision to terminate Drumgoole.

"By your decision, you perpetuate misinformed hate against individuals on the basis of their gender and sexuality," the letter states. "From your position of power and privilege, you deny lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students a psychologically safe learning environment."

A woman who answered the phone in Vail's office referred all questions about the letter to the Archdiocese of Newark. Jim Goodness, a spokesman for the Archdiocese, said officials there would have no comment because of the pending litigation.

Drumgoole filed suit in Superior Court in Hackensack alleging that Paramus Catholic, Vail and the Archdiocese of Newark violated discrimination laws and inflicted emotional distress.

In court, the school has conceded it fired Drumgoole because she married a woman, but said the school did not violate New Jersey Laws Against Discrimination because it is not unlawful for churches to require that employees subscribe to their beliefs.

The letter writers point to a passage written by Vail in the school's 2017 yearbook:

"Paramus Catholic's diversity enhances our standards as a college preparatory school. You can become a citizen of the world here, which will prepare you for the real world of college and career. You can only learn so much in a school where everyone is just like you."

"Mr. Vail, the real world is here. The real world is in the hallways just outside your office," states the letter. "The real world is made of human beings who find themselves at the intersection of complex social identities. The real world has heard your decision and bears the consequences of your decision."

The letter urges Vail to apologize to Drumgoole and to all students at Paramus Catholic and to enact policies against discrimination based on "biological sex, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, sexual attraction, romantic attraction, and marriage status."

The alumni also ask the school to develop diversity workshop training for administrators, teachers, and students "so as to empower them to become citizens of the real world."

"Empower them to create a world that accommodates and builds on our diversities," states the letter, which is signed "Concerned Alumni of Paramus Catholic High School."

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
IMG_0649.JPG

Addressing complaints about a subscription change for The Star-Ledger.

(The Star-Ledger)

We've said it time and time again. Everyone makes mistakes. It's how a company handles a mistake that's most important.

Advance Central Services, the company that handles circulation for The Star-Ledger, made a mistake that upset many consumers, and it's trying to make it right.

Earlier this week, Bamboozled received 10 complaints from subscribers to our newspapers. Editors fielded additional calls, and other readers called our call centers.

The complaint was about a new offering for subscribers who use ongoing auto-pay services.

They received letters and emails saying a 100-page investment and retirement guide would be delivered with the Sunday paper on Sept. 18. It would be the first of four supplements subscribers would receive over the course of the year.

The problem was the cost.

The letter said $2.99 would be applied to subscription accounts for the first supplement and for future supplements.

"This will not be an additional charge to your credit/debit card or checking account for these premium edition charges; however, since the charge is applied to your subscription account balance, it will shorten your paid-through date so that the next charge comes about sooner," the notice said.

It directed readers to contact the customer service line if they had questions, but it didn't specifically give instructions on whether someone could opt out.

Some subscribers weren't happy.

"While the drafting of the notice is (apparently intentionally) obscure, it appears that this is actually an extra charge for a publication I don't want," said subscriber Erik Lindauer of Short Hills in an email.

Lindauer and other readers complained about the lack of opt out information, and they challenged Bamboozled to shine light on the issue.

So we did.

Subscriber Sally Karpinski of Somerset questioned whether the action was legal.

"How is this allowed? We always thought unsolicited materials could not be charged without the recipient's permission," she wrote in an email.

We took the question to Tom Calcagni, a former head of the Division of Consumer Affairs and an attorney with Calcagni & Kanefsky in Newark.

He said the action could be a violation of the state's Consumer Fraud Act, which makes "any unconscionable commercial practice" unlawful.

"That the newspaper is unilaterally obligating customers to purchase supplements that they never ordered, and shortening the subscription term to cover the added cost, without a readily available means for the consumer to decline or opt out of the new offer, is in line with practices that the State has previously found problematic," Calcagni said.

The key here is the lack of an opt-out notice, he said.

Calcagni said the lack of a conspicuous opt-out in the notice would be a factor in determining whether the business practice is unconscionable or deceptive under the Consumer Fraud Act.

"If the notice said that consumers can opt out by calling -- then that would likely cut against any claim of fraud," he said.

MAKING IT RIGHT

We talked to Kevin Denny, a vice president and general manager for Advance Central Services, which provides circulation support for The Star-Ledger, The Times of Trenton and the company's other brands.

Denny said it was a mistake.

"We should have been more clear about how to opt out," Denny said. "We simply put in the letter for questions to call. We should have said, 'To opt out of this and future premium editions' to call."

The call center phone number is (877) 481-7015.

In all, notifications were sent to subscribers of the company's 22 newspapers. Three notices were updated to reflect how to opt out after consumer complaints started coming in, Denny said.

Denny said before the notices were sent, across all the newspapers, the company expected about 2.5 percent of subscribers, or 25,000 people, to opt out. About 15,000 people have called so far, he said. Figures specifically about New Jersey were not available.

In response to questions about the Consumer Fraud Act in New Jersey, Denny said the company does give readers the chance to opt out.

But that important item wasn't in writing this time around. It will be in the future, Denny said.

The new ad appearing in newspapers, explaining how to opt out of the new supplements.

"The letter we initially sent failed to clearly define that," he said. "For future editions, we will do things differently, in particular the communication piece with readers."

The Sunday newspapers ran a clarification ad last week, and the ads will run again for the next three Sundays to clarify the opt out policy. No additional letters or emails are planned, he said.

We also asked if the supplements are tied to advertising deals, and Denny said they are not.

The first supplement was produced by Morningstar, but Advance Central Services paid for the content and Morningstar didn't receive any advertising, Denny said. In fact, there are no ads at all in the supplement, he said.

The company will provide the content for future supplements, Denny said.

Subscriber Karpinski said she and her husband tried to get through to the call center several times in two days, but they failed. So we gave their number to Denny, who had someone reach out so they could opt out.

Lindauer said it took him four tries to get through to the call center, but he did get through.

He was quickly opted out, he said, but he's still not pleased.

"Still seems to me to be a pretty shabby business practice -- essentially sticking people with an extra charge which is very ambiguously described in the notice unless they make an effort to call and ask to avoid it," he said. "Moreover, I now feel as though I will need to monitor my account over the next year to make sure that I actually don't get charged despite what I heard from customer service."

Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
The National Park Service is celebrating its big birthday this week with a nationwide celebration.

One hundred years ago Thursday, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating a federal bureau to oversee the nation's growing number of parks and monuments.

A century later, there are more than 400 National Parks covering 84 million acres across the country. More than 300 million people visit the sites every year, according to federal statistics.

To celebrate its 100th birthday, the National Park Service is offering free admission and fee waivers at many of its parks from Thursday to Sunday. The New Jersey sites waiving fees this week include Thomas Edison National Historic Park in West Orange and Morristown National Historic Park, the park service said.

New Jersey is home to a dozen parks, trails and other sites that are either overseen by or considered part of the National Park Service. The New Jersey sites had more than 4.2 million visitors last year and contributed $135.8 million to the local economy, according to federal estimates.

The National Park Service sites in New Jersey are:

Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail

Part of the 2,180-mile trail passes through New Jersey. The 72-mile stretch begins at the Delaware Water Gap, continues along the Kittatinny Ridge to High Point and along the New York border. Visitor can take day hikes or walk the entire New Jersey portion.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The 70,000-acre park is along the Delaware River on both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania sides. Visitors can paddle on the river, fish in the trout streams or hike the ridges and valleys.

Ellis Island (Part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument)

Nearly 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island on their way to a new life in the United States. The island now serves as a museum and a monument to the immigrant experience.

Sandy Hook/ Gateway National Recreation Area

The Gateway National Recreation Area includes 27,000 acres along the ocean and bays in New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. New Jersey's portion is Sandy Hook, the popular swimming, hiking and biking park at the northern end of the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County.

Great Egg Harbor River

Designated a federal park site in 1992, the National Park Service helps oversee the 129-mile river system in the Pinelands National Reserve.

Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River

The lower part of the Delaware River became part of the National Park System in 2000.

Morristown National Historic Park

George Washington and the Continental Army spent the winter of 1779 and 1780 encamped in Morristown. The site includes a museum and library devoted to pre- and post-Revolutionary America.

New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail

The trail stretches 300 miles along the Jersey Shore and includes stops at lighthouses, historic villages and boardwalks. Designed for driving, the trail stretches from Raritan Bay in Perth Amboy, along the shore to Deepwater near the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve

The Pinelands includes over a million acres of forests, wetlands and farms in seven of New Jersey's southern counties.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

New Jersey's newest National Park site is the towering waterfall in one of the state's largest cities. The falls are surrounded by the remnants of mills and factories in the industrial city.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas Edison's home and laboratory in West Orange are preserved to mark the site where one of the nation's greatest inventors lived and worked.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

In 1781, the George Washington and the Continental Army joined forces with General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau and the French Army joined forces and marched from Rhode Island to Virginia to fight the British. Their route was designated a National Historic Trail in 2009. The New Jersey portions pass through most of the counties in North and Central Jersey before crossing into Pennsylvania.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
Quashawn J. Jackson, wanted for the murder of one man and the attempted murder of a second in a Jersey City park in May, turned himself in to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office today.

Jackson, 20, of Jersey City, is charged with fatally shooting Tyrell Franklin, 28, of Jersey City, in Audubon Park on May 26, 2016. His surrender comes less than 24 hours after his Jackson's picture was published in a Jersey Journal story on NJ.com.

Another man wanted for murder, Daequan Jackson, surrendered Monday night after his photo was published in a Jersey Journal story on NJ.com. It is believed that the two Jacksons are not related, a spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office said.

Quashawn Jackson was with his attorney, Darryl Smith, when he surrendered in the Hudson County Administration Building this morning.

Police responded at 11 p.m. on May 26 to the area of Stegman Street and Bergen Avenue on a report of a shooting and they found Franklin in Audubon Park with a gunshot wound to the upper part of his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Suarez said.

A second man was also wounded by gunfire in the incident but he survived, officials said. Jackson also faces several firearms related charges.
BAYONNE -- City school board trustee Barry Kushnir has postponed his resignation from the board to Sept. 6, disrupting a vacancy-filling process that was set into motion last month.

Kushnir previously said in a July 27 letter that he was resigning "effective immediately" due to "professional reasons." But in a letter received by the board secretary this week, Kushnir said he has postponed his resignation to Sept. 6.

The postponement appeared designed to give the board until after the upcoming Nov. 8 election to fill Kushnir's seat, which is up for grabs this fall.

The board has 65 days to fill a vacancy. Thus, Kushnir's July 27 resignation would've given the board until Sept. 30 to fill his spot; a Sept. 6 resignation, however, gives the board until Nov. 10 to make that decision.

Board vice president Denis Wilbeck told The Jersey Journal yesterday that the board intends to fill Kushnir's vacancy with whomever voters choose on Nov. 8. If that's the case, the board seat would remain vacant from Sept. 6 until then.

"The basic consensus of the trustees was to allow the people, the public to select who they want as a representative," Wilbeck said.

In the election, candidates John R. Cupo, Maria Valado and Charles Ryan are vying for Kushnir's seat, which is a two-year unexpired term.

Whoever is elected would usually take office in January, but Wilbeck said the board plans to exercise its vacancy-filling power to get that person on the board earlier, shortly after Nov. 8.

The board's new plan comes awkwardly after seven residents -- only one of whom is a candidate for Kushnir's seat -- already applied to fill his vacancy for an appointed term that would last until the end of this year.

They are Charles Ryan, Jack Butchko, Edith Ferrell, Gina Irizarry, Sharma Montgomery, John Milan Sebik and Robert L. Seit.

It remains unclear what will happen to those applicants. As in past vacancy fillings, they were expected to speak at last night's school board meeting about their qualifications, but that did not happen.

Wilbeck and board president Joseph Broderick couldn't immediately be reached to clarify whether the previous application process has been terminated.

Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 25

By Demir Azizov Trend:

A consortium of South Korean Daewoo and Hyundai companies has commissioned a new combined cycle generating unit at the Talimarjan thermal power plant in Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan, the plants director Abdusami Mormuminov told reporters.

The installation and commissioning regarding the new combined cycle generating unit with capacity of 450 MW have been completed, and transmission of electricity to the system has started, said Normuminov.

Completion of the second combined cycle generating unit with a similar capacity is planned for December 2016.

In March 2013, Daewoo and Hyundai companies - the winners of the tender announced by the Uzbekenergo JSC, signed a contract worth $861 million with the energy company to modernize the Talimarjan thermal power plant.

Conditions of the contract stipulate turnkey construction of two new combined cycle generating units of 450 MW each at the plant. The supplier for the new combined cycle generating unit is Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation. The project will reduce the cost of electricity produced at the plant by 30 percent.
jersey city city hall sign.jpg

A Jersey City worker is accusing the city in a new federal lawsuit of failing to protect him from the release of a 2010 memo that uses a racial epithet to describe him.

(Jersey Journal file photo)

A Jersey City worker at the heart of a scandal involving a police memo that contains racist language has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, saying he has been forced to work in a hostile work environment and is the victim of civil rights violations.

Floyd Harley, an African American messenger who has worked for the city for 12 years, says he suffers from post-traumatic stress as a result of the memo surfacing online. The memo, which uses a racial epithet to describe Harley, is also at the heart of a four-count whistleblower lawsuit filed in Hudson County Superior Court in January by a police officer who was later suspended after being accused of falsifying timesheets with three other cops.

Harley accuses the city of failing to properly investigate the origin of the memo, punish those behind it, prevent it from being published and protect Harley's identity. He is seeking compensatory damages for pain, suffering, future economic loss, back pay, wage increases and more. Harley's salary is $36,850, city payroll records show.

In the eight-count lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Newark, Harley names the city, police department, office of equal opportunity, Mayor Steve Fulop, Public Safety Director James Shea, Lt. Terrence Crowley and city officials Jeana Abuan and Amanda Khan as defendants.

"The mayor doesn't know who Floyd Harley is nor about any report, but nevertheless the policy for the city remains that we don't comment on litigation," city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said.

The memo at the center of Harley's allegations -- called a crash review evaluation -- describes a May 27, 2010 car accident on Sixth Street at Newark Avenue. Harley was being escorted in a marked police car with Officer Michael Maietti that day when Maietti rear-ended a green Chevrolet, according to a police report. No injuries were reported.

It appears that the memo, dated June 3, 2010, surfaced years later with a signature attributed to Crowley. It includes a racial epithet to describe Harley and alleged Maietti used two derogatory words to describe the woman who was driving the Chevrolet.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3034449-08-22-16-FINAL-COMPLAINT-FILED/annotations/315483.html">View note</a>

In a Nov. 14, 2014 written statement from Crowley to then-Capt. Joseph Ascolese, Crowley calls the memo a fake and said the real crash review evaluation was available at the headquarters for the city's police motorcycle squad (which was later disbanded). That memo, included as an exhibit in Harley's lawsuit, includes a less profane description of the May 2010 car accident, and the signature on it is different than the one on the inflammatory report Crowley says is phony.

Crowley could not be reached to comment.

Maietti's lawsuit -- filed against the city, police department and Crowley -- alleges that he was harassed, faced retaliatory conduct and was subjected to a hostile work environment when the inflammatory memo was seen by others.

Harley also alleges he has been subjected to a hostile work environment since the memo was published -- with the racial and sexist slurs unredacted -- on website Real Jersey City, saying he is required to interact with the people who created, generated, perpetuated, failed to conceal and helped to disseminate the "defamatory and racially discriminatory" memo.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- Growing up on Wade Street, Pamela Johnson remembers "the village" community that looked out for one another.

Even at a young age, Johnson -- known to many by her nickname Pebbles -- felt it was her responsibility to look out for the adults in the neighborhood because they looked out for the children living in the community.

A pair of violent incidents she experienced at 11 years old changed the way she looks at crime.

Johnson watched as a group of young men splashed around in an open fire hydrant. After one of the men jokingly splashed a woman with water as she got off the bus, the woman stabbed the man in the neck, killing him.

Later that year she watched as her mother came home from work one night crying, bruised and bloody after being robbed and assaulted while she stood on the corner waiting for her husband to pick her up, something she did every night.

"I think that right there was the ultimate, I had never seen anything like that before," Johnson recalls.

Now 31 years later, the 42-year-old "home girl from Jersey City" is pushing to combat violence in the city as the director of the Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition Movement.

In the beginning

Two summers ago, Johnson came across a post on Facebook calling for an end to violence following the slaying of Jersey City Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago. She gathered with a group of women and created the organization.

The group started working with residents some would classify as "undesirable," Johnson said. They began walking through Jersey City neighborhoods and talking to residents, later meeting with homeless men and women, prostitutes and youth.

Johnson can be seen walking through high crime neighborhoods in Jersey City talking with young people, who she calls "young kings and queens" in an effort to show children they do matter and because kings and queens don't engage in violence.

Earlier this year, Johnson said she was leaving a baby shower when she came across an ambulance pulling up to a shooting scene near Claremont Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive. She decided to stop at the non-fatal shooting scene, knowing family may arrive, and feeling it was "necessary for someone to intercept" a grieving family and police officers working an investigation.

Support for families

Johnson and other members of the coalition will now arrive to the scenes of shootings and homicides to help families and victims stay calm while the authorities perform their investigation. Johnson personally went to Holy Ghost Tabernacle Ministries church hall on Communipaw Avenue after a triple shooting that left a 17-year-old boy dead.

The coalition also sponsors weekly workshops that target issues that the organization believes could help curb violence.

For Johnson, who works full-time for a Secaucus based mechanical construction company, working with the Anti-Violence Coalition Movement is where she feels most at home and hopes to be able to commit 100 percent of her time to the organization.

"My heart is with the people always," she said.

Finding ways to curb violence across the city is the stepping stone to solving other major problems, including unemployment and homelessness, Johnson says.

"(Ending) violence is a cause everyone should be a part of," Johnson said, whether it's being a teacher, working in reentry, or simply volunteering to help with events. "However you do it is fine."

The organization's long-term goal is to "create safer streets" so "people can live their best life."

"I see it being a column in the community that is kind of like the center to holding things together."

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
A Bayonne man pleaded guilty yesterday to firing the single shotgun blast that killed a man in the Jersey City Heights last year in what he described as an argument about a woman.

"Guilty, your honor," said Peter Ruiz, 38, of Avenue A, when asked how he would plead to the charge of aggravated manslaughter of 34-year-old Orlando Flores by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Sheila Venable.

The aggravated manslaughter plea carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, with no chance of parole before 85 percent of the time is served. Ruiz was initially charged with murder in the July 5, 2015, shooting.

If Ruiz was convicted by a jury on the initial murder charged, he could have faced 30 years to life in prison. Venable will sentence him on Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. in the Hudson County Administration Building.

The victim was found in front of 22 Fleet St. with one gunshot wound and was taken to Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health, where he was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m. on July 6, officials said.

At yesterday's hearing, Ruiz said that he had an argument over the phone with Flores about a woman and as a result, he drove to an area where he knew Flores would be and killed him.

When Venable asked "Where on his body did you shoot him?" Ruiz gave a shrug and said "I just shot."

"Did you intend to kill him?" the judge asked.

"Yes," Ruiz responded.

According to the criminal complaint, Ruiz and Flores had texted back and forth just before midnight on July 5 and they agreed to meet at St. Pauls Avenue and Concord Street.

That night, Flores was found fatally wounded about a block away.

Under the state's previous plea offer, Ruiz would have pleaded guilty to murder and the state would have recommended a 30-year sentence with no chance of parole.

The complaint states that Flores was found with "shotgun wounds to the back and leg" and that a witness heard three gunshots and then saw a man enter a van carrying a shotgun.

Ray Greenman represented Ruiz at the plea hearing. The state was represented by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Zuppa.
UPPER FREEHOLD -- A Connecticut man was issued a ticket for careless driving following a July crash in which a motorcyclist from Jackson died, the New Jersey State Police said.

The State Police previously said Alfred Faragasso, 55, of Jackson was heading east on Route 524 when his motorcycle was struck by a car at the intersection with Sharon Station Road July 3.

Faragasso died a short time later at a Trenton trauma center.

The car's driver, Agar Kannamangala Singra Gowda, 26, of Trumbull, Ct., was driving south on Sharon Station Road. He was not injured.

Gowda was later issued a ticket for careless driving by the New Jersey State Police, the agency said Thursday.

The status of the traffic charge was unknown Thursday as Upper Freehold's municipal court was closed.

Southbound traffic on Sharon Station Road is controlled by a stop sign and Route 524 (New Canton - Stone Tavern Road) is a through road, without any traffic devices.

Faragasso was a quality control inspector at Valcor Engineering in Springfield and a member of the Jersey Shore Touring Society, his obituary said.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Janet T. Faragasso. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived in Old Bridge and Smithtown, N.Y. before moving to Jackson 28 years ago, the obituary said.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
PRINCETON - The insurance company for a well-known Princeton bar is suing a nearby cupcake shop for $76,000 over damage from a 2014 fire that originated in the bakery.

The Alchemist and Barrister's insurance company is seeking $76,167 from the House of Cupcakes, claiming negligence by the cupcake maker in a fire that damaged the bar too, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Mercer County.

Until 2014, both the Alchemist and Barrister and House of Cupcakes sat adjacent to each other on Witherspoon Street - in the heart of Princeton.

In March of that year, a fire that started in the basement of the bakery spread to six neighboring apartments, displacing 41 residents.

Authorities have said the fire was accidental and started when a co-owner of the bakery shut off the dryer mid-cycle - without the typical "cool down" period - and cotton towels in the dryer self-ignited.

The damage forced the bakery to shutter its doors for seven months and move down the street.

In its lawsuit, the insurance company for the Alchemist and Barrister claims the fire also had a devastating effect on the popular bar and restaurant.

"The fire caused significant burn damages to the interior and exterior of the building," the suit said, before going on to mention the smoke and water damage it created throughout the restaurant.

The restaurant's property also has an apartment on the second floor, where its owner lives part time, the suit said. It did not say whether the apartment was damaged as well.

The insurance company claims the bakery did not keep a safe environment and that its negligence is to blame for the neighboring restaurant's damages, according to the lawsuit.

A representative for the insurance company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Prior to the fire, House of Cupcakes rose to fame and became a sort-of tourist attraction after its owners competed on - and won - the popular reality cooking show, "Cupcake Wars."

The owners, husband and wife couple Ron and Ruth Bzdewka, who are not named in the lawsuit, won $10,000 in 2011 for competing on the show.

They decided to donate their winnings to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The Bzdewkas did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman.
EDISON -- Nilesh Dasondi, the felon running for township school board, said his criminal past, which includes a six-month stint in federal prison, is irrelevant to his ability to lead and create positive change in the community.

Instead, when voters head to the ballot box this November, he said they should consider his management skills and business experience, citing the multimillion-dollar company he had run before it was disbanded several years ago after the federal government charged him with money laundering in a more than $850,000 immigration document scheme.

Dasondi, who spent 6 months in federal prison for immigration fraud and money laundering conspiracy -- using his company, Cygate Software, to obtain fraudulent work visas and green cards for several people who were not his employees -- also said a lack of business prowess on the current school board has been holding back education in the township.

Describing himself as a "numbers guys," Dasondi said, if elected, he would know how to manage the more than $230 million school board budget.

"They are out of touch," he said of the current school board members. "The system is going down -- they are cutting after-school programs, they don't know how to get funding from the state. I am a numbers guy. I know the line items. I know how to get the votes. A lot of people are afraid. I think it is my turn to give back."

As for his past, he said he served his time and was confident people wouldn't be concerned about it come November.

Dasondi's name will be listed at the top of the ballot come November following a recent random ballot placement drawing by the county Clerk's Office.

"Everyone knows what has been done," he said. "I was totally open. People know about this."

Dasondi, a Democrat, said he was running an independent campaign, and did not say who in the community may be backing his run. He has not been endorsed by the county Democrats.

"No, we are not supporting or endorsing his candidacy in any way," said Keith Hahn, chair of the Edison Democratic Organization.

Hahn added that it was his understanding that even if Dasondi were to be elected, he would not be able to serve in the position.

"Which really isn't fair to the other four candidates running, and the residents who are going to be casting their ballots in November," Hahn said.

Dasondi, who works in medical billing for an adult day care, disputed those saying he wouldn't be able to serve on the board if elected, and he maintained that the state Department of Education's rules on the matter were "gray." He also said, if elected, he would challenge in court any attempt to disqualify him.

Because criminal background checks are conducted on winning candidates within 30 days after the election, a candidate can run for school board, but would only be disqualified after he or she had won the race.

To get on the ballot, however, candidates must sign and file a nominating petition that states a candidate must "not be disqualified ... for the conviction of certain crimes."

Though Dasondi maintains that the rules on his ability to serve were "gray," in New Jersey, a money laundering conviction involving more than $75,000 is a second-degree felony. And, according to the state Department of Education, anyone convicted of a first or second-degree felony, under which Dasondi's guilty plea falls, would be disqualified from serving on a school board.

Dasondi went to prison in 2009, and he was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and to repay $296,921.82 in restitution. He served two years probation after his release.

Peter Kothari, an Indian activist in Edison and Middlesex County who has known Dasondi for years, said though a criminal record should not necessarily condemn a person for the rest of his or her life, he nonetheless believes that it is premature for Dasondi to run for public office.

"You can have a second chance, but you should be helping people, you should be doing good things ... He should not rush right away. He is doing it too soon," Kothari said.

He sees his run for school board as part of his ambition rather than a desire to help the community.

"He is a good friend of mine; I wouldn't say anything bad about him. It doesn't mean you are a criminal for life. But you should make positive contributions to the community to help people instead of personal ambitions only."

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.
SANDY HOOK -- How does the National Park Service celebrate its centennial anniversary at Sandy Hook?

It throws a four-day bash and lets everyone in for free.

At Sandy Hook and many of the park service's other facilities across the country, visitors won't have to pay entrance fees Thursday through Sunday to commemorate the National Park Service's 100th anniversary.

And with beautiful weather predicted through the weekend, park rangers at Sandy Hook could find themselves turning away visitors for a time. Sandy Hook, which draws 2 million visitors annually, usually fills to parking capacity before noon on holidays and on gorgeous weekends.

Officially created in 1974, Sandy Hook is one of three units (including sites in Jamaica Bay and Staten Island in New York) making up the park service's Gateway National Recreation Area.

But the park actually dates back to Colonial times when an Army fort operated on the northern tip of its 7-mile peninsula. A public beach club operated on the southern portion for decades until the New Jersey took the property by eminent domain in 1962 for a state park.

The entire peninsula became a national park in 1974 when the fort, which was known as Sandy Hook Proving Ground and later Fort Hancock, was deactivated and the state park reverted to the federal government.

Thursday is the actual centennial marking the day in 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson signed an act creating the National Park Service to protect the 35 national parks and monuments in existence at the time.

The park service now oversees more than 400 areas covering more than 84 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan and the Virgin Islands.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 25

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov received Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Czech Republic Hynek Pejcha, who completed his diplomatic mission in the country, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a message Aug. 25.

During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the state and prospects of bilateral Uzbek-Czech cooperation and exchanged views on various regional issues.

The minister noted consistent efforts of the ambassador to strengthen relations between the two countries, intensification of contacts at various levels, primarily in trade and economic and investment spheres.

Pejcha expressed gratitude for the support to his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan during his 4-year work in Tashkent.

Hynek Pejcha was appointed the head of diplomatic mission of Czech Republic in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan with a residence in Tashkent in August 2012.

Currently, a regime of preferential treatment is established in accordance with the bilateral agreement "On economic, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation" between Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic established.

Fourteen companies with Czech capital operate in Uzbekistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25



By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Iran has arrested a citizen of Greece over the oil embezzlement case, national Iran newspaper reported on Aug. 25.

The report didn't reveal the name of the man, but said that Iranian government handed over 8 tankers with crude oil to the mentioned persoon without signing a legal agreement. The deal was done during the time of active sanctions on Iran.

The newspaper said that after Hassan Rouhani became Iran's president, the government started pursing the case, and managed to return five tankers.

"However, the mentioned businessman has already sold three tankers himself and misappropriated the money. The amount of damage for Iran from this embezzlement is estimated at $100 million," the report said.

Iran Newspaper added that Iranian government recently encouraged the mentioned businessman to travel to Iran and arrested him as soon as he arrived in the Imam Khomeini airport.

The report didn't explain how Iran managed to return five tankers.

Iran started selling oil through dealers to bypass the sanctions, imposed by US and EU on the country over its ambitious nuclear activities in 2012.
Killer at 17, Angola inmate from New Orleans gets chance at parole
The Islamic Republic has always supported the stability and independence of Latin American countries, says Irans foreign minister, Press TV reported.

Iran is proud of its cooperation with friendly countries in Latin America, and will continue its cooperation and companionship with them, said Mohammad Javad Zarif during the opening ceremony of an Iran-Ecuador trade forum attended by Ecuadorian Foreign Minster Guillaume Long in Ecuador's capital Quito on Wednesday.

Zarif stressed that the common grounds for further cooperation between the two sides would be based on mutual respect for the two nations' independence, and non-interference in the internal affairs of the two countries.

He also noted that Tehran would never forget its friends that stood by its side during the time of sanctions against Iran over its peaceful use of nuclear technology.

On January 16, Iran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany -- started implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which they reached on July 14, 2015. Under the nuclear agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Equator has always defended our rights, and we have supported the stability, independence and honor of Latin American countries, said Zarif.

Zarif also met with Ecuador's President Rafael Correa and discussed ways to strengthen oil prices.

"We have held conversations on strengthening our position in oil markets," said Zarif after the meeting, adding that the two countries also agreed to continue talks within the framework of OPEC.

Zarif has travelled to the region at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation comprising 120 businessmen and financial executives from government and private sectors. The tour started off in Cuba on Monday, when he met with Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez and the countrys President Raul Castro.

Earlier, Zarif met with Nicaraguan Foreign Minster Samuel Santos Lopez. He has now left Ecuador for Chile.
Two nuns killed in presumed robbery at their home, newspaper says
6 key facts about the New Orleans school unification plan (and 5 for geeks)
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.
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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25



By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Iran plans to finalize the deal with France's Airbus over airplane purchase after August.

"A delegation from Airbus would arrive to Tehran by the end of August to finalize the deal, sealed during President Hassan Rouhani's trip to Paris in January," said Iran's transport minister Abbas Akhoundi, Mehr reported.

According to an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and Airbus signed in January, Tehran is expected to acquire 118 civil aircraft from Airbus worth $25 billion.

Akhoundi said that Iran hopes to start importing aircraft from France by the end of 2016.

Iranian official added that "we were waiting for getting permission from the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and positive news came up."

He didn't elaborate on the "positive news", but the deal will depend on Airbus getting the US export licenses, because more than 10 percent of the parts for the planes are made in the US.

Iran has also signed a MoU with Boeing and both are waiting for OFAC's allowance to finalize the deal.
Today

Thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 62F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 75F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The German military is preparing for a possible withdrawal of six Tornado reconnaissance jets from Turkey's Incirlik Air Base given Ankara's continued refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit the facility, Der Spiegel magazine reported Thursday, Reuters reported.

The magazine said the German Bundeswehr was evaluating whether it could move the warplanes and refuelling aircraft, which are supporting the U.S.-led coalition's aerial attacks on Islamic State targets, to Jordan or Cyprus. It quoted unnamed military sources as saying such a move would interrupt the reconnaissance flights for at least two months.

The German Defense Ministry gave no details about its plans.

"We would like to continue the mission from Turkey, but there are alternatives to the base in Incirlik," the magazine quoted a ministry spokesman as saying.

The Social Democrats, junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government, are now insisting that Germany should withdraw its aircraft and troops from the base given Turkey's refusal to allow German lawmakers to visit the base, Reuters reported.

"The German government must immediately find other bases for the German soldiers," the magazine quoted Rainer Arnold, defense spokesman for the Social Democrats in parliament, as saying.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

Trend:

The US should do what it promised to do regarding separating the moderate Syrian opposition from terrorists instead of making claims regarding Damascus allegedly using chemical weapons, Sputnik reported Aug. 25 citing Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On Aug. 24, the US called on Russia and Iran to join efforts to seek accountability for those responsible for using chemical weapons in Syria, after the United Nations released the results of a probe into chemical weapons attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015 that implicated the Syrian government and the Islamic State terrorist organization (aka IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh).

They should look in the mirror and do what they have been promising to do since January  to separate the opposition which they consider loyal from terrorists. They cannot do this, they are either unable to do this or do not want to do it, Lavrov told reporters.



Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. On Feb. 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups, which maintain a heavy presence in Aleppo, are not part of the deal.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

Trend:

20:12 (GMT+4) The death toll from a devastating earthquake in central Italy climbed to at least 250 on Aug. 25 and could rise further with rescue teams working for a second day to try to find survivors under the rubble of flattened towns, Reuters reported.

08:38 (GMT+4) At least 247 people died in Italy as a result of earthquake, RIA Novosti reported.

01:50 (GMT+4) Italy's civil protection agency says death toll in earthquake rises to 159, Reuters reported.

21:29 (GMT+4) Italian Premier Matteo Renzi says the death toll from the quake that hit central Italy has risen to 120, AP reported.

20:33 (GMT+4) At least 84 people were killed in a powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit central Italy, and the death toll is expected to rise, local media report. Several cities and towns have been severely damaged or reduced to rubble, officials said.

17:15 (GMT+4) At least 63 people died after a strong earthquake struck central Italy, causing widespread devastation in local towns, ANSA agency reported.

13:55 (GMT+4) At least 37 people died in Italy as a result of earthquake, Reuters reported.

12:02 (GMT+4) At least 100 people are considered missing in the Italian town of Pescara del Tronto after the recent earthquake, RaiNews24 television reported.

11:39 (GMT+4) According to the latest information, at least 14 people died in Italy as a result of a powerful earthquake in the central part of the country on Aug. 23 night, the countrys media reported Aug. 24.

A strong earthquake struck central Italy in the early hours of Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse "with reports of victims" and sending panicked residents fleeing into the streets of numerous towns and cities, Reuters reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey said it was a 6.2 magnitude quake that hit near the town of Norcia, in the region of Umbria, at 3.36 a.m. (0136 GMT).

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... There's been a landslide and a bridge might collapse."

Italy's civil protection agency said the earthquake was "severe". Fire Department spokesman Luca Cari said: "There have been reports of victims in the quake zone, but he did not have any precise details.

The worst hit towns were believed to be Accumoli, Amatrice, Posta and Arquata del Tronto, Cari told Reuters, adding that helicopters would be sent up at first light to assess the damage.

"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.

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."

Residents of 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.

A 5.5 magnitude aftershock hit the same region an hour after the initial quake.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's spokesman said on Twitter that the government was in touch with the country's civil protection agency and following the situation closely.

The last major earthquake to hit Italy struck the central city of L'Aquila in 2009, killing more than 300 people.

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 Wednesday's quake.
Jarabulus in northern Syria must be cleared of the PYD and YPG groups, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday, Anadolu reported.

Turkey considers PYD as the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK group. The YPG is the militant wing of the PYD.

Speaking during a live television program on Haberturk late Wednesday, Yildirim said Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield aims to clear the PYD and the YPG as well as Daesh from a particular zone along the Turkish border in northern Syria.

"Syrian opposition [Free Syrian Army] are [now] settled in Jarabulus, and have started to control the villages and towns near the area. But the whole zone, including Jarabulus, needs to be cleared of the PYD and the YPG. There should be Syrians [living there]," he said.

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 Turkeys armed forces by the Turkish parliament in 2014, which was extended for another year in September 2015.

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.
These logs are the highlights of initial emergency calls and reports to the Douglas County Dispatch Center. They do not represent all of the incidents or their final outcomes.

POLICE LOG

Wednesday

Douglas County sheriff

12:48 a.m.  Two females knocked all of a transient woman's belongings out of her cart at the 5100 block of Old Highway 99 South in Roseburg. They took off running after police were called, got into a black Honda and left southbound on Roberts Creek Road.

10:33 a.m.  Trash cans stolen in the 4000 block of Stella Street in Roseburg.

10:58 a.m.  A male dragging an 11 or 12 year old girl by the hair from a horse stall back toward a house in the 100 block of Oar Lane, followed by sounds of someone being hit.

11:34 a.m.  Large statue of a dog stolen in the 100 block of Stella Court, Roseburg.

1:30 p.m.  Garbage cans stolen in the 2300 block of Castle Avenue.

3:11 p.m.  Welfare check requested for a disabled woman whose husband tried to drown her and took everything from the house in the 400 block of Hogum Creek Road in Azalea.

4 p.m.  A male came into a bank in the 100 block of Gilham Loop in Myrtle Creek with a note on his hand saying "help, someone is trying to get money from him."

5:52 p.m.  A male at a residence in the 100 block of Brewer Lane in Roseburg was in violation of restraining order, upset and threatening everyone with a pole. He left on foot toward Del Ray Cafe.

6:31 p.m.  Following a dispute over a road easement, parties to the dispute moved their equipment to block the road, preventing a woman from leaving her residence in the 200 block of Oak Way in Roseburg.

Roseburg police

10:45 a.m.  A transient was cited for sleeping with camping materials behind the Episcopal church at 1024 Southeast Cass Avenue in Roseburg.

9:45 p.m.  Two men cited and released for sleeping on the back stoop of Jasmine's Catering on 809 Main Street, Roseburg.

ACCIDENTS

10:47 a.m.  Hit and run in the 1200 block of Becker Road in Roseburg. Possible retaliation for posting tow notice of abandoned vehicle.

12:45 p.m.  No injury accident at milepost 141 northbound Interstate 5 north of Sutherlin.

5:11 p.m.  No injury accident in the 1700 block of Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard.

7:50 p.m.  No injury accident in the 2100 block of Northeast Vine Street in Roseburg.

9:01 p.m.  Injury accident on Milepost 124 on southbound Interstate 5 in Roseburg.

FIRES

3:49 a.m.  Natural cover fire reported in the 7000 block of Melqua Road, Roseburg.

8:18 a.m.  Light smoke coming from eaves of single wide mobile home in the 100 block of Timberlake Avenue, Roseburg.

7:45 p.m.  Structure fire reported in the 400 block of Lockwood Road in Tenmile.

ARRESTS

The News-Review publishes the names of individuals who have been arrested on suspicion of at least one felony charge or three misdemeanors or a combination of felony and misdemeanor charges.

Wednesday

Douglas County sheriff

Shaunty Marisa Weinhold, 25, on suspicion of two counts unlawful possession of heroin and unlawful delivery of heroin.

Myrtle Creek police

Steven Ray Largent, 21, on suspicion of second-degree assault, harassment and second-degree disorderly conduct.

Roseburg police

Mark Sherman Fleming, 51, on suspicion of unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

Tyler Michael Jordan, 22, on suspicion of two counts of second-degree criminal trespass, failure to appear on criminal citation, and three counts of second-degree failure to appear.

Richelle Sueanne Spearen, 28, on suspicion of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of heroin.
Joyce Russell Porter County Reporter Joyce has been a reporter for nearly 40 years, including 23 years with The Times. She's a native of Merrillville, but has lived in Portage for 39 years. She covers municipal and school government in Porter County. Follow Joyce Russell Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A question I hear a lot is how far back have you gone?

In other words, whos the earliest ancestor youve found.

Found is one thing. Found and verified is a whole other story.

Well, I respond, if I keep clicking the shaking leaves on Ancestry and downloading whatever other trees or hints as actual fact, Im back in 11th century England.

But, I quickly follow, Ive only been able to verify one branch of my family back to 1717 when the Broyles made their way from Germany to Virginia.

Thats a difference of a few centuries.

Then, of course, some of my branches have hit dead ends as soon as the 1850s.

I think all of us want to get as far back as possible on our family trees. I think, sometimes, its a friendly competition in the how far back can you go? game.

But, Ive learned, it isnt always how far back you can go, even though I am intrigued. Its a question of making sure those you claim as ancestors really are your ancestors. To do that, you cant depend on someone elses work, unless it too has been verified through a genealogical association.

No one told me when I started this hobby how hard  or frustrating  it could sometimes be.

Presently Im working on a couple of branches that take me back to who could be my 10th and 11th great-grandfathers, Walter Chiles and John Page, both of whom arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in the mid 1600s. From what Ive read about both, they were instrumental in early Colonial America with Page being credited as one of the founders of Williamsburg, Virginia.

I want to call both of them grandpa, but Im just not there yet. In fact, Im afraid, Im a long way off. Ive got about five generations to work through before I can claim Chiles and Page as my own.

It is a matter of trudging through, locating documents and verifying the links from one generation to the next. It will take time, I tell myself, and there are no shortcuts if you want to do it right.

In the end, I know, it will be worth it. I have learned too that its not always quantity (how far back did you go?), but it is the quality of the connections we make linking one generation to the next.

Any tips, advice, questions or stories you want to share? Drop me a line at joyce.russell@nwi.com.
MUNSTER  Brewers from across Northwest Indiana met up Wednesday morning at 3 Floyds Brewing Co. to watch the mashing of locally malted, locally grown corn for the inaugural IN Beer Brigade beer.

All 22 Northwest Indiana craft breweries collaborated to make Corn King IPA, a citrusy IPA brewed with Indiana corn, Simcoe and Citra hops and malt from Sugar Creek Malt Co. in Lebanon.

Were using an Indiana malt company, Sugar Creek. Were doing a pilsner malt with them, said brewer Adam Conway of 3 Floyds. The corn, well get a lot of sweetness out of it. However, we are making this kind of like a dryer, standard double IPA. This is the second time we used corn. We just brewed a malt liquor called Region Riot.

The limited-edition beer will only be brewed once, and will only be made available to members of the IN Beer Brigade, a new membership program that supports The Brewers of Indiana Guild. The nonprofit trade association promotes Indianas $1 billion craft brewing industry, such as by staging four craft beer festivals, operating the Drink Indiana Beer app and lobbying the Statehouse for reforms like letting craft breweries sell to-go growlers on Sunday.

This is going to help promote the state of Indianas brewing, said Barb Kehe, owner/brewer at Ironwood Brewing Co. in Valparaiso.

The Brewers of Indiana Guild, which represents more than 125 craft breweries around the state, is selling annual memberships for $40 and premium memberships for $75. Members get T-shirts, stickers, glassware, and the Corn King beer that will be released at private parties in October.

Though the events might not draw thousands of people from all over the world like 3 Floyds' popular Dark Lord Day every April, the special beer release should still bring people in, said Heather Becerra, chief marketing officer of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, which runs the South Shore Brewing App to draw craft beer lovers to Northwest Indiana.

All these breweries working together has been really great for us, and I think it will bring lots of people to the area, Becerra said.

Every year, brewers in a different region of the state will collaborate on a new, one-time-only brew.

Next year, Sun King and other Indianapolis breweries will get together to make the special one-off beer for IN Beer Brigadiers, Brewers of Indiana Guild Communications Director Tristan Schmid said.

Basically, the Indiana Beer Brigade is an exclusive enthusiast membership program for craft beer lovers to explore and celebrate Indianas craft beer culture, Schmid said. Its mainly a way for members to buy into guild membership, to show their support for the breweries they love and help them to continue to do the things theyre doing. Its a way to show support for the industry and get some really cool stuff.

The Brewers of Indiana Guild  which was founded by the owner the states oldest craft brewery, Broad Ripple Brewpub in Indianapolis, and other craft brewers  has been an important voice for a fast-growing industry thats often hampered by outdated laws, Schmid said. The trade association for instance helped successfully lobby state lawmakers to raise the limit of how much beer large brewers like 3 Floyds and Sun Kings can sell in Indiana.

All 50 states have craft brewery trade associations, but Indianas is the first in the nation to offer its own special craft beers.

Were pretty proud this is the first-ever collaboration beer for enthusiast members only, Schmid said.
A new hybrid drivetrain offers a major boost in city fuel economy. Its spacious, well-designed cabin and upgraded styling keep it competitive in this years hottest automotive segment.

The Toyota RAV4 was an early pioneer in crossover vehicles in the 1990s, helping spawn a segment that has exploded to become todays most popular form of family-friendly transportation.

If the RAV4s basic mission was to cross-breed the versatility of SUVs with the efficiency and polite driving manners of cars, this year its finally reaching its logical conclusion with the RAV4 Hybrid.

In fact, Im surprised its taken Toyota this long to create a hybrid-powered version of the RAV4, given how perfectly a gas-electric powertrain dovetails with its purpose. From the very beginning, efficiency was its raison detre.

In any case, the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid has arrived as Toyotas eighth hybrid vehicle in the lineup for 2016, making it both the most powerful and the most miserly of RAV4 offerings.

With a starting price around $28,000, it costs roughly $4,000 more than the base RAV4 but also comes with more content to justify it. It sends power to all four wheels and is only available in the upscale XLE and Limited trim grades.

And that all-wheel-drive traction is important because it shows just how dramatically the hybrid system improves fuel economy in city driving. The RAV4 Hybrid is rated for 34 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway, compared to the less-than-impressive 22 city rating for the ordinary AWD RAV4.

If you cant be bothered to do second-grade math, thats a whopping 12 mpg difference, something that could make a noticeable impact to the pocketbook of a family that does a lot of around-town driving.

On the highway, where the electric motors dont provide as much help, the improvement is just 2 mpg, according to FuelEconomy.gov.

In addition to the new hybrid drivetrain, it gets the same upgrades as other RAV4s for 2016, including new front-end styling that makes it look more like a truck and a rear end that looks more sophisticated.

Inside, theres a new instrument cluster and more soft-touch materials on the doors and the dash. Its a nice upgrade but still not the top fit and finish in its class, in my opinion, lacking the solidity and precision of Toyotas best work.

Its polished hybrid drivetrain, though, whoops most of the competition.

For example, when you press the gas pedal, most hybrids start out under electric power before the gasoline engine starts up. In less refined hybrids, you can hear and feel the engine fire up after youre rolling. Its very obvious.

In the RAV4 Hybrid, I could hardly tell when the gas engine kicked in. It was extremely subtle and almost imperceptible unless I stomped hard on the gas pedal.

Another example: Hybrid cars use what they call regenerative braking to charge the batteries every time you press the brakes. In the less refined hybrids, the brakes seem funky and jerky as you can feel them grabbing in an odd, uneven way. But in the RAV4 Hybrid, the braking was so nicely refined that it didnt feel all that different from a normal car.

Its still noticeable, just not as awkward as some of the other hybrids Ive driven lately.

In typical Toyota fashion, the interior is very roomy and functional, chock full of perfectly positioned cup holders and storage bins for keeping things tidy. Its a good space for Type-A personalities.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 24

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Syrian city of Jarabulus has been completely liberated from militants of the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the Kurdish political party), Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said, Anadolu Agency reported Aug. 25.

The villages surrounding Jarabulus city have also been liberated, Yildirim added.

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
Sales of existing homes in Northwest Indiana took a dip in July as prices continue to rise but despite the down month, 2016 remains a strong year for home sales.

A total of 1,038 homes were sold last month in the seven-county area represented by the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors, 50 fewer than in July 2015.

That 4.6 percent drop reduced 2016s growth year to date to a still-robust 8.6 percent, with a total of 6,113 sales as compared to 5,628 during the first seven months of 2015, according to GNIARs monthly report.

Home sales declined nationally, as well. The National Association of Realtors reported a 1.6 percent year-over-year decline in July, to 5.39 million. The associations chief economist said persistently low inventory has finally caught up with the market.

Severely restrained inventory and the tightening grip its putting on affordability is the primary culprit for the considerable sales slump throughout much of the country last month, NAR economist Lawrence Yun said.

GNIAR covers Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, Starke and Pulaski counties.

Median prices continue to rise, with a year-over-year increase of 8.8 percent to $161,000.

Sales results were uneven across the area. Lake County saw a decline of 6.1 percent to 587; Porter County saw an increase of 5.1 percent to 267. LaPorte County saw the largest decline, of 25.7 percent to 104.

Mortgage rates remain low: Freddie Mac reported an average commitment rate for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage at 3.44 percent. But the inventory issue blunts the impact of the relatively low rate, according to the NARs Yun.

The lack of supply is stifling the efforts of many prospective buyers attempting to purchase while mortgage rates hover at historical lows, he said.

Total housing inventory at the end of July was 5.8 percent lower than a year ago, according to the NAR. Inventory has declined year-over-year for 14 straight months.
The United Steelworkers union is planning a rally this afternoon in downtown Gary to protest the recent layoffs of maintenance workers at Gary Works.

The union says U.S. Steel did not have the right under the contract to lay off 38 maintenance workers two weeks ago. Steelworkers say the steelmaker has since laid off another 25 and displaced as many as 40 more workers into a labor gang, where they make $7 to $9 less per hour.

USW is appealing the layoffs to a third-party arbiter.

U.S. Steel has declined to comment on the layoffs or the rally.

The union blames the job losses on the Chicago-based consulting firm McKinsey & Co. for recommending U.S. Steel lay off maintenance workers and hire contractors to cut down on fixed costs. Mike Millsap, United Steelworkers District 7 director, said the move violated the steelmakers contract with USW and could make the mills less safe because there would be less preventative maintenance.

The troubled steelmaker lost $1.5 billion last year and has failed to turn a profit in five of the last six years. U.S. Steel laid off about a quarter of its salaried workforce  roughly 750 managers, supervisors and other white-collar workers  in April.

U.S. Steel laid off more than 1,000 workers in Northwest Indiana  both union and salaried  last year.

McKinsey/USS puts profits before safety, a union flier for the rally said. USW fights for safety first, profits second.

The rally will take place at 3 p.m. at the parking lot of the US Steel Yard at 1 Stadium Plaza in downtown Gary. Steelworkers will march from there to the Gary Works mill at the end of Broadway.

USW held similar rallies during contract negotiations last year, with thousands of workers gathering in Gary, East Chicago, Burns Harbor and the Crown Point courthouse square.
CROWN POINT  Due to him, I lost my son. Ill never be a grandmother  I hope he comes out of jail the same way my son came out  in a box!

Beverly Dove-Timmons voice rose to fill the courtroom Wednesday during her victim impact statement in the sentencing of Clarence Triplett by Lake Criminal Judge Diane Boswell.

Triplett, 51, of Hammond and East Chicago, pleaded guilty on June 28 to two counts of causing death while operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol-blood level of more than 0.15. He admitted that on Aug. 10, 2014, he was driving his 2004 Trailblazer at a speed of about 80 mph in a 55 mph zone on Cline Avenue near the Michigan Street exit.

Triplett crashed into the rear of a 2002 Ford Focus that was parked on the shoulder with its hazard lights on, according to the plea agreement. He fled the crash scene, but he left behind his car. Officers tracked him down by searching the registration information for the vehicle, court records state.

Dominique Timmons, 25, of Gary, was a passenger in the car and died at the scene of blunt force trauma. He was enrolled in college and working at a local grocery store, his mother told Boswell.

The driver, Devin Hunter, 22, was critically injured in the crash and died 60 days later in an Atlanta area hospice facility, his mother, Emiko Robinson-Hunter, of Atlanta, said Wednesday.

My heart is broken, Robinson-Hunter said during her victim impact statement. Devon was an extraordinary young man  I had to watch my son die.

Hunter was a native of Gary, but he had moved to the Atlanta area where he was studying to become a fashion designer. He was visiting friends in August 2014.

Boswell sentenced Triplett to a total of 18 years in the Department of Correction, nine years on each of the two counts to be served consecutively. She also ordered that Tripletts drivers license be suspended for six years.

Triplett was led away in handcuffs after his sentencing.
VALPARAISO  Police here are reporting a rash of thefts from vehicles on the city's north side.

Police said they have responded to six reports of thefts of items from residents on High Street, Summit Place, Fernhill Drive, John Glenn Drive and Sheffield Drive.

Police said in most cases the targeted vehicles were not locked and small items were reported taken late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Police are encouraging residents to lock their vehicles and not to leave anything of value in them.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call the Valparaiso Police Department at (219) 462-2135 or text a tip to TIP411 (847-411) enter Valpo as the first word in the message field prior to sending it.
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.
LAPORTE  Some of the badly deteriorated streets in LaPorte could be repaved as soon as next week after the city on Wednesday received $1 million in state matching dollars.

Other communities in the region like Valparaiso, Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Hobart and Lowell also received the maximum $1 million from the states Community Crossings matching grant fund.

Receiving more than $900,000 were Portage, East Chicago and Michigan City while next in line was Griffith at $800,000.

The fund created in March makes available $160 million this year to all Indiana cities, towns and counties that put up funds matched on a 50/50 basis.

The 121 Indiana communities announced as recipients Wednesday were given a combined $51 million.

Northern Indiana communities submitted more applications than any other region of the state and we are looking forward to seeing the projects that these matching grants will help complete, said Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, who was part of the check presentation ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the fire station on 18th Street.

LaPorte leveraged most of its dollars with $600,000 in proceeds from the county option income tax and close to $200,000 from a separate road maintenance fee added a few years ago to residents monthly trash collection bills, said Nick Minich, the city engineer.

The city will start collecting next year an expected $500,000 annually from the recently adopted local wheel tax to help with repairs.

Area communities that have implemented the new wheel tax for road funding include Valparaiso, LaPorte, Portage, Merrillville, Crown Point, Dyer, Munster and Gary. Schererville, Hammond, Hobart and Porter County decided not to pursue it.

Its going to take an estimated $17 million just to get all of LaPortes streets to an acceptable condition and $800,000 annually to properly maintain them once theyre improved.

Mayor Blair Milo said matching funds each year would be a pretty big step toward some of the levels that wed like to achieve.

Lake and Porter counties also received $1 million apiece, but LaPorte County received nothing since it didnt apply.

An asset management plan has to be in place to qualify and LaPorte County is currently in the process of developing one so it can seek matching dollars next year, said Mike Yacullo, the county highway engineer.

Yacullo noted only a 50 percent match is provided compared to the 80 and 90 percent matches from other grants the county has secured to bring in $7 million the past three years for projects.

No decision has been made on whether to keep the state matching fund program alive in future years.
LANSING  A man accused of retail theft at a Goodwill store Wednesday died after crashing his vehicle in the citys downtown area while fleeing the scene, police said.

Lansing police were called about 2:50 p.m. to the Goodwill Store, 3679 Ridge Road, for a report of a retail theft, according to a news release from the village of Lansing.

Police were advised that a suspect, later identified as Irfan Cumur, 64, of Hammond, was last seen headed west on Ridge Road driving a Ford minivan bearing Indiana registration plates.

Prior to officers arrival, the Lansing Police Department received a call of a Ford minivan, matching the description of the vehicle involved in the retail theft, had struck a light pole and building near the intersection of Ridge Road and Grant Street.

Cumur was transported to Community Hospital in Munster, where he was later pronounced dead.

The cause of death is unknown at this time and an autopsy will be conducted by the Lake County coroners office, according to the news release.

The intersection of Ridge Road and Grant Street was shut down for a period of time while Lansing police investigated. No other vehicles were involved nor was anyone else injured during the incident, the release states.
LAKE STATION  State police have confirmed at least one fatality after a four-vehicle crash Wednesday night on Interstate 80/94.

All eastbound lanes were shut down for hours as police investigated the crash, causing traffic to back up for miles. The crash occurred about 7 p.m. just east of the Central Avenue exit and the I-65 interchange.

It's unclear how many people were involved, or the extent or injuries, according to police. Indiana State Police expected to issue a press release later Wednesday night.

State police said the Lake Station Police Department and Gary EMS personnel responded.
MERRILLVILLE  Praise wasnt bottled up Wednesday as a Merrillville container manufacturer kicked off a $15 million expansion project that will bring about 100 new jobs to the community.

Business officials and government leaders were among those who gathered at Polycon Industries to celebrate the groundbreaking for the 150,000-square-foot addition at the Colorado Street facility.

Its really going to be an exciting time, said William Hansen, Polycon vice president of operations and chief financial officer.

Hansen said Polycon, which manufactures bottles and containers used by the chemical, food and health care industries, will install new equipment that will drastically increase productions there. Operations in the new wing could begin in February 2017.

Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb said Polycon, which moved from Chicago to Merrillville in 2000, became a pioneer of sorts by relocating from Illinois before it was cool.

He commended the company for not only expanding its operations but also nearly doubling its workforce.

Were just so glad you made that decision to come to Indiana, Holcomb said.

Berle Blitstein, Polycons president and chief executive officer, said Merrillville Councilman Shawn Pettit was instrumental in the company moving to the town.

Pettit said Polycon is Blitsteins baby, but Im probably the godfather of this baby.

Blitstein said when Polycon expressed interest in expanding, Pettit and Town Manager Bruce Spires immediately asked how many jobs would be created.

After explaining up to 100 jobs would come to the town, Pettit and Spires inquired how they could help the business with its plans to grow.

The Town Council later granted property tax abatement. Pettit asked Polycon to set a goal that at least 10 percent of the new jobs created go to Merrillville residents if they are qualified, and the company is making efforts to meet that request.

This business has been an outstanding neighbor, Pettit said.

Hansen said there will be a job fair from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 7 and 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 9 at Town Hall, 7820 Broadway.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Polycon up to $635,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $30,000 in training grants based on the companys job creation plans. The company can claim the incentives as it hires new workers.

The Lake County IN Economic Alliance helped facilitate deals to advance the companys expansion plans.

Although the current project was the focus of Wednesdays event, Polycon continues to look toward the future.

Hopefully we will be back here in another five years with a sister plant next door, Blitstein said.
PORTAGE  Just a few months ago, the Portage Rotary Club was in jeopardy of losing its charter after some three decades of service to the community.

The group was down to one member.

Instead of dissolving the club, said Dan Ryan, new club chairman for the local Rotary District 6540, the district governor wanted to give it one more shot.

With the help of Ryan and members of the Valparaiso and Chesterton Rotary clubs, the Portage group is getting back on its feet.

We put out a call and we had some interest, said Beth Ingram, president of the revitalized Portage chapter.

The group began to meet weekly, building its membership base.

No one was happier than Sandy Becker, who had been a member of the group for 28 years.

It is just my passion. We reach out, not only locally, but across the world, said Becker.

While Rotary Internationals mission is the eradication of polio around the world, said Ingram, local clubs can also choose causes or efforts to work toward in the community.

It is incumbent upon the club to decide what they want to do, she said, adding the newly revitalized group is still in its building and defining stage.

Ron Ranta, director of the South Haven Boys and Girls Club, said he joined because he said the group has an opportunity to network and be involved in leadership opportunities.

Ingram said the group will continue to meet weekly, each Tuesday at noon at the Rosewood restaurant in the Portage Mall.

The exception will be the second Tuesday of the month, during which they will meet at the new NEO facility on U.S. 6. Each meeting will feature a speaker, including Chris Krouse of the Shirley Heinz Foundation on Aug. 30 and Nichole Barker of NICTD on Sept. 6.

The group will also work with Portage High School and its student Interact club. Students will be invited once a month to meet with Rotary members.

Other board members are Walter Lenckos, president elect; Maria Galka, vice president; Rebecca Reiner, secretary; Nancy Mendez-Lopez, treasurer and Erin Leonhard, sergeant of arms.

Anyone seeking more information on the group can contact Ingram at portageadm@millersmerrymanor.com or calling (219) 242-3445.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

A second group of Turkish tanks has crossed the Syrian border, Hurriyet newspaper reported Aug. 25.

It is not excluded that military operations in Syria against the militants of the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) terrorist group also continue today, on Aug. 25.

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.

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
It was the largest piece of undeveloped city-owned land in Manhattan south of 96th Street, and for nearly fifty years, it sat empty. Now the six-acre site is finally being developed  one of the biggest projects in the Lower East Side in decades. Our Michael Scotto has the story.

As you look here, you can really see all that is coming.

What's coming is called Essex Crossing  nine buildings that eventually will house nearly two million square-feet of apartments, stores and community space.

We took a ride to the top floor of the first building to reach its maximum height  and checked out how construction is coming along.

"Topping off the first building for us and our team is a huge accomplishment," said Isaac Henderson with Delancey Street Associates. "We have a million square feet under construction but to get to the top is not an easy process."

The site has been vacant since the 1960s, when rundown buildings were demolished to make way for new housing.

But the local Assemblyman at the time, Sheldon Silver, is said to have thwarted several development proposals, allegedly to preserve the Jewish character of the neighborhood.

Essex Crossing came together in 2013 when the Bloomberg Administration struck a deal to finally develop the site, which had become a series of parking lots

When complete, the buildings will house a new Essex Street Market, a movie theater, and housing  lots of it. When it's finished, the development will include 1000 apartments, half of them affordable for low- and middle-income residents, including seniors.

Grand Street Settlement will be providing community services at the site.

"Seniors are put in a precarious position with limited incomes so they'll have the chance with this site to be able to reside here and receive social services through our senior center," said Robert Cordero with Grand Street Settlement.

There are concerns, though, that all the new residents will strain the area's infrastructure.

The project has room for a 75,000 square foot public school  but so far, the city hasn't budgeted money to build it.

As for parking, there won't be any. None of the 400 above ground spots being eliminated will be replaced.

The bulk of the work on this massive site is expected to be done by 2021, with the entire project wrapping up by 2024.
The NYPD has installed security cameras in the area where a Queens woman was found dead earlier this month

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz's office allocated more than $1 million to install 34 security cameras around the borough.

After 30-year old Karina Vetrano was found dead, Katz asked the NYPD to put cameras around the Howard Beach park where she was killed.



Vetrano disappeared after going for a run in Spring Creek Park on August 2. Her father found her body hours later in a marshy area. Investigators say she was beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled.

The NYPD and mayor's office's combined reward for the arrest and conviction of a suspect is now $35,000. A GoFundMe page created by Vetrano's family has raised more than $265,000 in reward money.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Italy killed more than 240 people and injured hundreds more. As the search continues for survivors, New Yorkers with ties to the country are already doing their part to help. NY1's Lori Chung filed the following report.



The town of Amatrice in Italy was a scene of devastation where rescue workers dug through the rubble to find survivors but all too often discovered the bodies of those killed after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake the struck the central part of the country.



"It's an area that affects at least three regions," said Italian General Consul Francesco Genuardi. "It's like a triangle between Lazio, the region of Rome, Marche and Abbruzzio."



More than 240 people are reported dead and more than 360 other injured after the early Wednesday morning quake flattened buildings and destroyed whole towns.

Worried New Yorkers with ties to the country reached out to the Italian consulate for information.



"For our government, for our authorities now, the priority is to rescue and save human lives," Genuardi said.



Back in New York, the priority is to help the victims at places like Ristorante Rafele in the Greenwich Village by raising money.



"Through this amazing dish that comes from Amatrice," said Rafaele Ronca, chef at Ristorante Rafele.



It's called Amatriciana, and at least eight restaurants in the city are donating $5 for every dish sold to the Italian Red Cross.

Ronca was inspired to act by memories of the 1981 quake that hit Naples and his native Campgangna.



"I remember it was so sad and I was so scared, and that's, when I heard last night, that's what came to my head," he said.



For its part, the Italian American Museum in Little Italy is setting an ambitious fundraising goal.



"We're hopefully going to raise a half a million dollars," said Dr. Joseph Scelsa of the Italian American Museum.



Keeping history alive here and hoping to help those small towns and villages nearly obliterated continue to carry on.



"I'm third-generation American, Italian American, and I still feel connected to Italy," Scelsa said. "And we all feel a sadness in our hearts for what's happened."

Italy's consul general is urging New Yorkers with loved ones in the affected regions to continue to reach out the consulate for the latest information on the recovery efforts, as more Italian American businesses and organizations do their part to raise money and provide relief.
With a booming real estate market in Williamsburg pricing them out of Brooklyn, members of the Orthodox Jewish community have set their sights on two new neighborhoods on Staten Island. NY1's Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.

There are only a few for sale signs outside homes in Willowbrook and Manor Heights. But the real estate market in the mid-island communities is more active than the signs indicate. Wanna-be buyers have been canvassing homeowners asking if they are willing to sell.

"They've been a little aggressively trying to get property around here," said one Staten Island resident.

"A guy came and knocked on her door and was asking to buy the house for like $800,000," another noted.

Flyers have also been circulating.

"My name is Noah. I am looking to buy a house in Manor Heights," one reads. "If you are interested in selling your house, please call."

Homeowners who declined to speak with NY1 on-camera told us Noah said he was from Williamsburg, and appeared to be part of the Hasidic Jewish community there.

Leaders of that community say a shortage of affordable housing with sufficient space is forcing Jewish families from Brooklyn - especially Hasidim from Williamsburg - to consider relocating to Willowbrook and Manor Heights, where there already is an established Orthodox Jewish community.

"More than one group of people that I have met and spoken to are desperately interested in rather than going as far away as New Jersey," said Isaac Abraham, a community activist.

Joshua Katz moved to Staten Island from Brooklyn four years ago. Now he's been selling homes to others like him, priced out of large Brooklyn homes that can accommodate their growing families.

"Slowly, it's built up, you know one, two, three, four, and it turned into over a hundred," Katz said.

"They're trying to find tracks of land to build three hundred homes," said Ron Molcho, a realtor.

Land for 300 homes is not available, so it would be impossible to create the type of communities seen in Rockland County and central New Jersey.

Still, the area is preparing for an influx of Orthodox Jewish residents.

Residents are taking the changes in stride. For years it has been a diverse community.

Meanwhile, a yeshiva is under construction and the borough's first kosher supermarket is to open in Willowbrook next year -signs that the Jewish community there will continue to grow.
The queens rule in a new season of RuPauls Drag Race All Stars. Wallace Shawn engages in table talk in Melinda and Melinda and My Dinner With Andre. And some servants at a British manor win the lottery in The Syndicate: All or Nothing.

Whats on TV

RUPAULS DRAG RACE ALL STARS 8 p.m. on Logo and VH1. RuPaul relinquishes some high-and-mightiness in this 90-minute Season 2 premiere, which changes the format by putting the power of elimination into the hands of the contestants. Each weeks top two queens will lip-sync for the legacy, with the winner given the advantage of sending a rival home. Now its not RuPaul they have to worry about impressing both onstage and off. Its one another.

ALFIE (2004) 4:40 p.m. on TMC. Whats it all about, anyway? Jude Law steps in for Michael Caine, and contemporary New York for swinging London, in Charles Shyers remake of the 1966 British film about a Lothario living for the conquest  in this case, of a neglected wife (Jane Krakowski), a lonely mother (Marisa Tomei), a cosmetics mogul (Susan Sarandon) and a party girl (Sienna Miller). The comedy in Alfie is plentiful but bittersweet, and Mr. Laws beauty and easy charm go a long way to softening the edges, Manohla Dargis wrote in The New York Times. Alas, the new Alfie doesnt chase social significance  it just wants us to have a good time.
What a difference a couple of years of weak economic growth have made.

When it first appeared at the annual Federal Reserve conference in 2014, the Fed Up campaign was just an amusing diversion. Now, it has a place at the table.

The group, which wants the Fed to extend its economic stimulus program, will meet with the policy-making committee at the Jackson Hole conference, which opens today.

Fed officials had applauded the protesters on their educational efforts but had not really engaged with their economic arguments. Now, they will hear from people struggling to make ends meet.

Whether Fed Up manages to persuade the Fed to change its decisions is still up for debate. They could, however, have more success pushing for diversity on the policy-making committee, which includes no black or Hispanic members.
A former chief executive of Comverse Technology who frustrated federal authorities by living comfortably in exile in southwest Africa for the last 10 years pleaded guilty to securities fraud charges on Wednesday.

The executive, Jacob Alexander, dropped his extradition fight in Namibia and pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn.

Before the hearing, Benjamin Brafman, a defense lawyer, said Mr. Alexander would plead guilty to one count relating solely to backdating and would seek release on a $25 million bond.

Mr. Alexander vanished in 2006 while under investigation for backdating stock options.

A criminal complaint states that from 1991 through 2005 he exercised options and sold stocks worth approximately $150 million, making a profit of $138 million.
Morton Schindel, who turned beloved childrens books into animated films narrated by actors like Meryl Streep and James Earl Jones while preserving the spirit of the original illustrations, died on Saturday at his home in Weston, Conn. He was 98.

His death was confirmed by Scholastic, which acquired his company, Weston Woods Studios, in 1996.

Animated childrens movies are often designed to entice them to buy toys, attend theme parks or watch sequels. Mr. Schindel approached his films with a different goal.

A film should bring kids back to the book, he told The New York Times in 1985.

Mr. Schindel founded Weston Woods in 1953, inspired by a trip to the childrens room of the New York Public Library, where he read classics like Robert McCloskeys Make Way for Ducklings and Ludwig Bemelmanss Madeline. But he did not want to sacrifice the books lush illustrations to animate them.

So he invented a camera technique he called iconographic, which involved mounting images from the original book on a movable stand in front of a camera. The images remained stationary, but the filmmaker could introduce cinematic elements by carefully moving the stand, manipulating the camera and adjusting the amount of light on the image being filmed.
WASHINGTON  A bipartisan group of senators pressing on Wednesday for an explanation of the skyrocketing cost of the EpiPen, a lifesaving injection device for those with severe allergies, found themselves directing their outrage toward an inconvenient target: the daughter of Senator Joe Manchin III.

Mr. Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, is the father of Heather Bresch, the chief executive of Mylan, a pharmaceutical company under fire over steep price increases as families and others who rely on its EpiPens stock up for a new school year.

That connection, reported this week by CQ HealthBeat, is a twist that could prove to be uncomfortable for Mr. Manchin and his Senate colleagues should Ms. Bresch be called to testify about a more than 400 percent increase in the products price since Mylan acquired it in 2007.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, is one of several lawmakers who have written to Ms. Bresch, calling for a congressional and federal investigation and demanding to know whether Mylan exploited its virtual monopoly on the device.
In 2012, the company behind the EpiPen settled a lawsuit by agreeing to allow a generic competitor into the market in 2015, potentially cutting into a big part of its business.

The company, Mylan, had already been steadily increasing the price of EpiPen, an injector containing a drug that can save people from life-threatening allergy attacks. After the settlement, it started to raise the price even faster.

Now, as Mylan faces growing public furor over its pricing of EpiPen, the companys history of pricing the product highlights a common tactic in the drug industry: sharply raising prices in the years just before a generic competitor reaches the market, as a sort of final attempt to milk big profits from the brand-name drug.

Whether the looming generic competition was a motive for the price increases is not entirely clear, because Mylan has declined to answer questions about its thinking. But while the company was once taking two 10 percent price increases a year, it has made two 15 percent increases annually starting in 2014, when the generic competition seemed imminent.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The Shield of the Euphrates operation of the Turkish Air Force and Armed Forces in Syria is not directed against the statehood or the territorial integrity of Syria, the Turkish presidential administration told Trend by phone Aug. 25.

According to the administration, the purpose of the Shield of the Euphrates operation is to cleanse the Syrian-Turkish border from terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh).

"Turkey takes actions for its safety," the administration said.

The administration also stressed that Turkey adheres to a clear policy towards Syria, that is, it is necessary to prevent any threat from terrorist organizations.

According to the administration, Turkey does not distinguish the IS terrorists or the militants of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

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.

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
On the night of MAY SEVENTH, JUST AS THEY STEPPED OUTSIDE THE VIEW OF WORKING SECURITY CAMERAS, ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ AND LAZARO MARTINEZ WER -E STABBED. OFFICERS ARRIVED ONE MINUTE LATER TO FIND MARTINEZ BLEEDING OUT ON THE SIDEWALK. RODRIGUEZ, WHO WENT BY THE NICKNAME GORDO, WAS STUMBLING AROUND SAYING HED BEEN ROBBED. MARTINEZ SURVIVED, MAKING HIM A MAJOR WITNESS to the murder of his friend Gordo, who DIED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. POLICE later arrested A TEEN-AGER NICKNAMED DIABLITO WHO HAS LINKS TO THE CHOLOS 152 GANG. 4 THE NEW YORK TIMES HAS BEEN TELLING THE STORY OF EVERY MURDER IN THIS PART OF THE BRONX THIS YEAR. IN THIS CASE, FOOTAGE FROM SEVERAL SECURITY CAMERAS HELPED US PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT. AT FIRST THE VIDEOS DID NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE TO US. WE WATCHED THE TAPES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THEY PROVIDED TANTALIZING LEADS: PEOPLE who must have seen the stabbing, or might know something more about what happened. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS MOMENT, GORDO ATTACKS AN UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE IN A CROSSWALK, IGNITING THE BRAWL. IT SEEMS RANDOM. THEN, REPUTED MEMBERS OF THE CHOLO GANG run up the street and JOIN THE FRAY. ONE OF THEM, WE LEARNED, IS DIABLITO  18-YEAR-OLD ALBERTO AQUINO SIMON. GORDO AND HIS FRIEND CHASE Diablito AND ANOTHER MAN. THEY FIGHT, THEN MOVE BEYOND THE REACH OF THE CAMERAS, INTO A HALO OF LIGHT. A MINUTE LATER MARTINEZ COLLAPSES AND GORDO REAPPEARS, CLUTCHING HIS SIDE. THE POLICE DID NOT KNOW IT, BUT HIS LIVER HAD BEEN PIERCED AND HE WAS BLEEDING internally. We wanted to figure out whether he MIGHT HAVE STILL HAD THE KNIFE IN HIS SIDE WHEN HE FIRST approached police. But this IS WHERE WE faced THE LIMITS OF SECURITY FOOTAGE IN CONFIRMING FACTS. DOES THIS MOMENT SHOW A PROTRUDING KNIFE? OR IS IT A TRICK OF THE LIGHT? GORDO still DID NOT SEEM TO KNOW HOW BADLY HE WAS HURT, and neither did police. They did not put him in an ambulance until 10 minutes after Martinez. He died a half-hour later in the hospital. THE MURDER WEAPON was never found.
An antidote for a heroin overdose is as easy to buy in New York City pharmacies as a bottle of aspirin.

New York State laws have made the antidote, naloxone, available over the counter, and it is sold at nearly 700 pharmacies across the city, where two doses cost around $50.

The laws also protect those who administer the antidote from liability, and the State Health Department provides funding for training and distribution of naloxone kits, which are also used to reverse prescription opioid overdoses. Police officers began carrying the medication in 2012.

But in one environment plagued by overdoses, the city is struggling to ensure enough employees are trained to administer naloxone.
A 76-year-old veteran committed suicide on Sunday in the parking lot of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Long Island, where he had been a patient, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Peter A. Kaisen, of Islip, was pronounced dead after he shot himself outside Building 92, the nursing home at the medical center.

The hospital is part of the Veterans Affairs medical system, the nations largest integrated health care organization, which has been under scrutiny since 2014, when the department confirmed that numerous patients had died awaiting treatment at a V.A. hospital in Phoenix. Officials there had tried to cover up long waiting times for 1,700 veterans seeking medical care. A study released by the Government Accountability Office in April indicated that the system had yet to fix its scheduling problems.

Why Mr. Kaisen decided to end his life was not immediately known, but two people connected to the hospital who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss his death said that he had been frustrated that he was unable to see an emergency-room physician for reasons related to his mental health. He went to the E.R. and was denied service, one of the people, who currently works at the hospital, said. And then he went to his car and shot himself.
2. Hillary Clinton delivered a blistering attack on Donald Trump during a speech in Nevada, accusing him of taking hate groups mainstream and giving radical fringe groups a national megaphone.

Mr. Trumps indication that he might retreat from his vow to deport all immigrants who are in the United States illegally drew criticism across the political spectrum, if for different reasons.

He appeared at a rally in Mississippi with Nigel Farage, the British politician credited with leading the Brexit movement, who compared voting for Mr. Trump to doing what we did for Brexit in Britain.
It is haunting, maddening even, to revisit the facts of Abu Zubaydahs time in American custody more than 14 years after he was detained in Pakistan in the frenzied period following the Sept. 11 attacks. Abu Zubaydah, the first prisoner known to have been waterboarded by the Central Intelligence Agency, loomed large in Americas imagination for years as the personification of evil.

On Tuesday, a small group of human rights advocates and journalists got a fleeting glimpse of Abu Zubaydah  the first since his detention  when he appeared before a panel of government officials to argue that he would not be a threat to the United States if he were released from the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. The hearing, which civilians were allowed to watch part of from a live video feed, is an opportunity to reflect on the shameful tactics employed during years of national panic about terrorism and to reinvigorate efforts to close the prison.

George W. Bushs administration believed that Abu Zubaydah, a bearded Saudi who wears a patch on his left eye, was the operations head of Al Qaeda. Mr. Bush singled him out in a 2006 speech, calling him a senior terrorist leader, and claiming that the security of our nation and the lives of our citizens depend on our ability to learn what these terrorists know. Abu Zubaydah and men like him, government officials argued, fully justified the facility at Guantanamo as well as a secret web of prisons run by the C.I.A. They also justified the enhanced interrogation techniques, otherwise known as torture, then eagerly embraced by some American intelligence officials.

Years later, it became clear that Abu Zubaydah wasnt a top figure in Al Qaeda after all. It also became clear that he had willingly provided insights into terrorist groups when he was interrogated by F.B.I. agents, who treated him cordially. By the time he was turned over to the C.I.A., his knowledge about threats to the United States appears to have been largely exhausted. Yet agency personnel insisted on the need for torture, waterboarding him at least 83 times and subjecting him to other cruelty.
AMSTERDAM  On April 30, 1941, a Jewish man here in Amsterdam wrote a desperate letter to an American friend, pleading for help emigrating to the United States.

U.S.A. is the only country we could go to, he wrote. It is for the sake of the children mainly.

A volunteer found that plea for help in 2005 when she was sorting old World War II refugee files in New York City. It looked like countless other files, until she saw the childrens names.

Oh my God, she said, this is the Anne Frank file. Along with the letter were many others by Otto Frank, frantically seeking help to flee Nazi persecution and obtain a visa to America, Britain or Cuba  but getting nowhere because of global indifference to Jewish refugees.

We all know that the Frank children were murdered by the Nazis, but what is less known is the way Annes fate was sealed by a callous fear of refugees, among the worlds most desperate people.
NATIONAL

An article on Sunday about migrant children who represent themselves in immigration proceedings misstated part of the name of the appeals court where the federal government is contesting the immigration courts authority. It is the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (not Ninth District).

BUSINESS DAY

The Common Sense column on Aug. 5, about the proposed merger of Tesla Motors and SolarCity, described SolarCitys product incorrectly. The company makes solar energy generating panels, not storage devices.

OBITUARIES

An obituary on Wednesday about the Soviet discus thrower Nina Ponomareva misstated the year of the Tokyo Olympics, in which she finished 11th. They were in 1964, not 1960. (As the obituary correctly noted elsewhere, the 1960 Games, in which she won a gold medal, were in Rome.) The obituary also misspelled the name of a city in Russia near the village where Ponomareva was born. It was Sverdlovsk, not Sverdlosk.



Because of an editing error, an obituary on Wednesday about the actor Steven Hill referred incorrectly to the 1981 movie Rich and Famous, in which he appeared. It was a remake of the 1943 movie Old Acquaintance  not of a movie also called Rich and Famous.
Few presidential candidates have indulged their impulses and spoken off-the-cuff as much as Mr. Trump, a political outsider who is used to playing the tough guy in boardrooms and business negotiations. Assuming the role of party standard-bearer has been a struggle for him, and even now, as he tries to follow a new script, he has not abandoned the caustic tone that has defined his candidacy.

His evolving language on immigration reflects his conflicting desires: In the space of a few hours on Tuesday, he said he was open to softening his hard-line policies toward some people who had entered the country illegally and then whipped up a rally in Austin, Tex., with promises to make Mexico pay for a border wall.

His new pleas for support from black voters have also carried a hard edge, including last week in Wisconsin, when he questioned why they would not vote for him. Describing blacks as besieged by crime and bereft of economic opportunity, he asked, What the hell do you have to lose? In Ohio on Monday, he described American cities as more dangerous than war zones, and in Mississippi on Wednesday night, he called Mrs. Clinton a bigot who courted minorities only for their votes.

And at a rally in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Mr. Trump still showed a penchant for going off script, reading the word premeditation as premedication during an attack on Mrs. Clinton  and then, after a pause, saying he preferred premedication, an apparent nod to conspiracy theories that his allies have spread about her health.

Several Republican leaders and strategists, including those critical of Mr. Trump, said they had noticed adjustments in his performance since Ms. Conway became his campaign manager last week. Where previous advisers have sought to recraft the basics of his message, the new team around him appears intent mainly on arranging his favorite themes in a more consistent, linear format.

Still, with early voting set to begin in many states in late September and October, and given Mr. Trumps history of popping off on Twitter, at rallies or in cable interviews at any moment, they said it was impossible to say whether his current message would endure and help turn the focus to Mrs. Clintons character.

Is what hes doing enough for him to win? Weve got to play the hand were dealt, so it will have to be enough, but its very hard to know, said Matt Borges, the head of the Ohio Republican Party, who has urged Mr. Trump to adopt a more positive tone. He just needs to focus on all of Hillary Clintons problems. But look, weve all been saying that for months.
JACKSON, Miss.  Thousands of miles away from home, in a solidly Republican state, a British populist politician came here on Wednesday to deliver a message of hope and a message of optimism.

You have a fantastic opportunity here, said Nigel Farage, the outgoing U.K. Independence Party leader in Britain who is credited with leading the Brexit movement months ago. You can go out, you can beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, you can beat Washington, and youll do it by doing what we did for Brexit in Britain.

In a campaign that has staked its reputation on America First, the presence of a foreign politician was as unexpected as a Republican presidential candidate campaigning in a deeply conservative state with 11 weeks left in the election, yet Mr. Farage delivered a rousing speech in support of Donald J. Trump, keeping in line with the candidates populist message and offering supporters a vision and an example that they can win.

He repeatedly referred to how the Brexit vote represented an upstart victory for the little people, how his political effort turned out people who have never voted in their lives and how anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up to the establishment.
AUSTIN, Tex.  On the first day of classes at the University of Texas in this city that revels in its own oddball creativity, students protested a law allowing concealed handguns on state college campuses by carrying something they thought was just as ridiculous and out of place: Thousands of sex toys.

These laws wont protect anyone. The campus doesnt want them, said an organizer of the protest, Jessica Jin. Its absurd. So, I thought, we have to fight absurdity with absurdity.

On Wednesday, Ms. Jin, a recent graduate who majored in violin, helped distribute brightly colored dildos to hundreds of students gathered to protest the law that took effect Aug. 1.

Their plan was to carry the toys openly to class, attached to their backpacks, to show that they think that guns have no place on campus and could stifle the open exchange of ideas.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Russia and the US have been informed about the beginning of Turkeys military operations in Syria, Fikri Isik, Turkish national defense minister, said, the Turkish Milliyet newspaper wrote Aug. 25 citing NTV channel.

According to the minister, later Iran was also informed about the military operations.

"Ankara failed to inform Damascus about the beginning of military operations because of the lack of relations with the Syrian government," Isik said.

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.

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
Colombias government and the largest rebel group in the country have reached a deal to end more than 50 years of conflict, the two sides announced Wednesday, paving the way for an end to the longest-running war in the Americas.

For four years, the Colombian government and the rebels have been locked in negotiations. Time and again, they have emerged from the negotiating table to assure a weary public that another impasse had been eliminated, another hurdle cleared.

This time, the two sides declared that a final deal had been clinched.

Today begins the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war, President Juan Manuel Santos said in a nationally televised address after the agreement was announced. Lets open the door together to a new stage in our history.

The agreement, reached in Havana where the talks took place, effectively signifies the end of the last major guerrilla struggle in Latin America.
The Pukguksong, or Polaris, missile flew 310 miles toward Japan on Wednesday. When the North first tested it in May last year, the projectile exploded midair shortly after being ejected from under the water.

Mr. Kim, who supervised the launching on Wednesday, appreciated the test-fire as the greatest success and victory, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday. It quoted Mr. Kim as saying that the U.S. mainland and the operational theater in the Pacific are now within the striking range of the Korean Peoples Army.

The news agency also said that North Korea launched its missile at a high angle from the maximum launching depth, indicating that it could have flown more than 310 miles if it had launched it at a normal angle. South Korean defense officials told reporters that the North appeared to have launched the missile at a sharp angle to keep it from landing too close to Japan.

Mr. Kim claimed that the test on Wednesday showed that his country now had all substantial means capable of standing up against the U.S. nuclear hegemony. He urged his engineers to step up efforts to mount nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles and develop the means of their delivery.
The panels findings further damaged the credibility of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who, under international pressure, signed a treaty banning chemical weapons nearly three years ago after a horrific attack in which the nerve agent sarin killed hundreds in a Damascus suburb.

The United States has accused Mr. Assads forces of responsibility for that attack. Mr. Assad and his subordinates have consistently denied government forces have used chemical weapons in the conflict.

Mr. Assads compliance with commitments made by signing the chemical weapons treaty have long been suspect. Although all of Syrias declared stockpile of dangerous ingredients to make chemical weapons was exported and destroyed, that operation took far longer than expected and raised questions about whether all had been accounted for. The director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has complained in an internal report about misleading statements from Syria and potentially undeclared chemical-weapons-related activities there, Foreign Policy magazine reported on Tuesday, citing what it described as a confidential two-page summary of the report.

The organizations public affairs office declined to comment.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government on the findings in the report submitted to the Security Council on Wednesday. But they could set up a new confrontation at the Security Council between Russia and the United States over whether to impose new penalties on Syria.

Image A civilian breathes through an oxygen mask after a hospital and a civil defense group said a gas, which they believed to have been chlorine, was dropped alongside barrel bombs on a neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, on Aug. 11. Credit... Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters

The Russians, Mr. Assads most important ally, have blocked previous moves by the Security Council to penalize Mr. Assad for brutalities committed since the conflict in Syria began more than five years ago.
WASHINGTON  It was a frenetic Monday afternoon at Abs Hospital in northern Yemen, with doctors and nurses busily shuttling among the patients and a maternity ward filled with 25 women expecting to give birth.

The bomb from the Saudi jet dropped into the middle of the hospital compound, a facility run by Doctors Without Borders, landing between the emergency room and a triage area for new patients. Nineteen people were killed, dozens were injured, and a humanitarian group that for decades has braved war zones across the globe decided it had had enough.

Doctors Without Borders announced in the days after the Aug. 15 strike that it was pulling out of six medical facilities in northern Yemen, the latest turn in a war that has further devastated one of the Arab worlds poorest countries and has bogged down a Saudi military ill-prepared for the conflict.

For the Obama administration, it was another public reminder of the spiraling violence of a war in which it has played a direct role. American officials have publicly condemned the hospital bombing  and the bombing of a school two days earlier  but the Pentagon has given steady support to the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, with targeting intelligence and fuel for the Saudi planes involved in the air campaign.
Evidence of some of the Revolutionary Wars bloodiest moments and atrocities, as well as the little-known roles of African-Americans in battle and on the home front, will go on view during the next few months.

On Friday, the Old Stone House in Park Slope, Brooklyn, will unveil The Old Stone House: Witness to War, an exhibition about the Battle of Brooklyn. A resounding defeat for American forces on Aug. 27, 1776, that battle resulted in imprisonment or death for about 1,400 colonists. Replicas of Revolutionary War cannonballs, which have been excavated around Brooklyn, will be displayed on the museums ground floor. A diorama and animated footage show American soldiers falling in hails of bullets and prisoners wasting away in dank cells.

The exhibition also explores the lives of 18th-century slaves who slept in Brooklyn farmhouse attics, accessible by rickety ladders. The slaves sometimes fled during wartime chaos. In 1777, Rem Cowenhoven, a Dutch-American farmer who had remained loyal to the British government, advertised in a local almanac to find his runaway slave Jaff, who had adopted the name Jeffrey Johnston. Mr. Cowenhoven reported that the escapee had last been seen wearing a claret coloured coat and breaches and a scarlet jacket.
Photography was the medium of choice for most art critics in the 1980s. Unlike painting, which thrived in a robust art market and came to symbolize the excesses of that era, photography could be used to critique mass media images, male-dominated art history  even photography itself. Despite the rise to prominence of so-called good postmodern artists like Nan Goldin and Cindy Sherman, however, there are still plenty of photographers being rediscovered today. One of them is Jimmy DeSana, who died in 1990 at the age of 40 from AIDS-related causes.

Mr. DeSana is best known for his neo-surreal, staged photographs, which he made by juxtaposing nude bodies and mundane objects  shoes, cardboard, cheap costumes  in eerily hued settings. With their downtown New York, David Lynchian aesthetic  and a bit of Pee-wees Playhouse (1986-90), Martin Scorseses After Hours (1985) and Frank Moore and Jim Selfs experimental video, Beehive (1985), thrown in  the Suburban photographs, as they were called, have been showing up in galleries and art fairs in the last few years, exhibited alone and alongside younger artists with whom Mr. DeSana has affinities.
Mr. Attia, a Parisian of Algerian descent, has done extremely sharp and subtle work, particularly with archival material, about colonialism and its consequences. But I have problems with this piece, which feels too much like an overproduced, audience-pleasing ethnic joke. To Ms. Razas credit, much of the rest of whats in the show doesnt have this effect, even things on a monumental scale like Nadia Kaabi-Linkes suspended, semi-abstract Flying Carpets, made from hundreds of vertically suspended steel rods.

The title refers to something the artist saw on a visit to Venice: Middle Eastern street peddlers, many of them illegal immigrants, selling goods spread on rugs that could quickly be bundled up in the event of police harassment. I made out an image of carpets from the shadows the piece cast on the gallery walls and floor, but saw other images, too: a punishing rain of needles, and prison cells descending from on high.

Most of the stronger work is multivalent this way. Thats true of Abbas Akhavans bronze casts of plant life from around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Laid out on a shroudlike white sheet, the plants look nuked or oil-drenched, and frozen like fossils. Paintings by Rokni Haerizadeh  an Iranian artist in exile in Dubai  yield a lot, too. Fantastic little Boschian things made from paint-doctored internet photographs, they make the news of the world look even scarier than it is. And they also give the show its title, which has origins in an essay by the German philosopher Walter Benjamin, who in 1940, to evade capture by the Nazis, tried to flee to the United States but committed suicide when he thought his escape would fail.

His text is essentially about the inseparable fragility and resilience of history, which is the subject of a two-part 2010 video by Zineb Sedira, a Paris-born artist of Algerian descent. Titled Gardiennes dimages (Image Keepers), the piece is an extended interview with Safia Kouaci, widow of Mohamed Kouaci (1929-1996), who was, Ms. Sedira believes, the only Algerian photographer to document thoroughly the war of independence from France.

Despite his vital role in his countrys history, Mr. Kouaci is now largely forgotten, and his widow has been the sole guardian of his thousands of negatives and prints. Ms. Sedira and the Algerian artist Amina Menia have been working to help her preserve the archive, and the videos are a byproduct of that effort: an attempt, you could say, to preserve the image of the preserver herself, as she revisits her husbands work and speaks of their life together.

She is a marvelous subject, and Image Keepers is the beating heart of a too often visually underpowered and conceptually opaque show. The video has another benefit: It lets us see Mr. Kouacis work. He photographed the political celebrities of his explosive time: Frantz Fanon; Patrice Lumumba; and Ahmed Ben Bella and Houari Boumediene, the first and second leaders of a free Algeria. But he also filmed everyday people: women in marketplaces, refugees, children, laborers building cities, all participants in a dream of a new world order.

Thanks to him, and to Ms. Kouaci, Ms. Sedira and Ms. Menia, the photographs of these people, many of whom probably never went inside a museum, have entered the collection of this one, and those images, and the spirits they represent, are as important as anything in it. The Guggenheim should pay attention to that fact. And we should pay attention to whether, and how, this museums global collecting continues, and to how its moral role as an institution on a global stage develops.
MARTIN R. ANDERSON, 65, squints to appreciate the geometry of paintings at the museum. Kate Davis, 24, says the sunlight that bounces off museum walls and onto the art cant be reproduced. Stan Kaplan, 65, flies across the country just to see a Leonardo da Vinci drawing more beautiful than the Mona Lisa. And an elderly woman posts to Facebook a selfie of herself beside a masterwork, presumably commencing an avalanche of social-media approval.

These were observations collected during a summer at New York Citys newest museum, the Met Breuer, an outpost of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that opened in March in the former home of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Theres not much theatrical about the scenes  unlike, say, the one that featured two teenagers in San Francisco who placed eyeglasses on the floor of an art museum so they could watch tourists gather around their installation with fascination. But taken together, they are a gauge  imperfect and impressionistic  of what draws people to museums and what they see when they get there. They are reflections of the times, too, reminders that art is digested in ways it wasnt. Art rewards internalization, but distractions surround us. Cultural critique is instant, impulsive, and travels virally.

We tried to find out what goes on in the mind of the modern museumgoer, unscientifically, by staking out the Met Breuer and interviewing nearly 50 art gazers over the course of two months, their pensive moments pierced by our questions as they peered at works. The setting was the Breuers big inaugural exhibition Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible, as provocative a springboard for opinions as any. It focuses on the notion of unfinished art and does so broadly, displaying works that were never finished, works that are intentionally incomplete (non finito), and art that prompts conceptual discussion about what is complete, like a Jackson Pollock drip painting. The two-floor exhibition  which ends its six-month run next weekend  spans the 1400s to today and features artists as varied as Titian, Andy Warhol and a teenage Pablo Picasso.

As for those interviewed, they included students who said museums were like eating your vegetables and romantics who cherish their lunch breaks, when they can hop in a cab to go steal a few quiet minutes in front of a beloved painting they have already gazed at dozens of times before.
Dis-Play/Re-Play

Austrian Cultural Forum

11 East 52nd Street

Manhattan

Through Sept. 5

Art exists in a kind of eternity of display, the critic and installation artist Brian ODoherty wrote in 1976 in his seminal series of essays Inside the White Cube. This eternity gives the gallery a limbolike status; one has to have died already to be there. Artists and curators are still grappling with this idea 40 years later. Dis-Play/Re-Play, organized by Prem Krishnamurthy and Walter Seidl at the Austrian Cultural Forum and featuring six artists, offers an updated response to the white-cube conundrum.

Image Hermes Payrhubers Ode to the Rope With a Knot With a Hole, for Thomas Bernhard (2016), in Dis-Play/Re-Play. Credit... Naho Kubota/Austrian Cultural Forum

Among the works is Mr. ODohertys Parallax City (Rope Drawing #125) (2016), a striking installation in which the walls and floor have been painted and the center of the room has been divided vertically by a rope. Judith Barry, another theorist of the art-exhibition space (her 1986 essay Dissenting Spaces is cited in a gallery handout) is represented by a retooled version of a two-channel video from 1978, while a third white-cube thinker, Martin Beck (his essay The Exhibition and the Display is in the shows handout), has a video with a Muzak-like soundtrack at the front entrance and framed text and images upstairs. Mika Tajimas playful wallpaper and colored plexiglass panels mix art with design; Hermes Payrhubers graffiti suggests a street vernacular; and Gerwald Rockenschaub deconstructs the Austrian flag with red and white plexiglass panels.

Dis-Play/Re-Play demonstrates how, as Mr. ODoherty wrote in the 70s, context becomes content, but also how everyone from artists to architects has revolted against the white cube. This might surprise its modern inventors, who saw it as ideal, universal and equalizing. Perhaps in another generation this view will return and artists will push back against the now-prevalent idea of the white cube as a prison or mausoleum.
When you were making Truth or Dare, did you feel like an employee of Madonnas or did you have real independence?

I technically had complete independence, insofar as she gave me final cut. But as Ive since realized, final cut means nothing if youre in disagreement with your financiers  they just wont promote or release your film. It was definitely a very specific relationship because she was funding it. There were times I needed more money. But in terms of the editorial, or seeing what I was shooting, she left me completely alone.

How did she react when you first showed her the film?

I remember sitting on the floor of her bedroom, sticking in the VHS with a three-hour cut. She just watched it  it was almost out-of-body. She was laughing at the right moments and was actually kind of thrilled with it the first time she saw it. One of the most surprising things was that she didnt ask me to lose anything. She only wanted to keep more. I think it captured the roller coaster that she had been on; that had been her goal. Weirdly, her vanity didnt come into it much.

Is that in line with what you know about her and how she views her fame?

No [laughs]. I think it was a unique time. She was what, 32? Shes at the peak of being considered this gorgeous sex symbol. There arent as many vulnerabilities in ones vanity at that point. Madonna had a very good sense of self-esteem. I have no idea whether shes still like that. God knows none of us likes to get older.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 25

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Five employees of the Constitutional Court of Turkey have been detained, the Anadolu Agency reported Aug. 25.

The detainees are suspected of having ties with the Fethullah Gulens movement. Gulen is accused of being involved in the organization of the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey. An Istanbul court ordered on Aug. 4 to arrest 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
California is preparing to create a mandatory state-run retirement plan for an estimated six million workers at companies that do not now offer any retirement benefits.

The move could make California the first state to require companies to take part in such a system. Colorado was considering the idea but decided against it in May, and New Jersey and Washington have opted instead for programs with very limited state involvement. But Connecticut, Oregon, Maryland and Illinois are moving forward with their own state-run retirement programs and are looking to California as an example.

Currently, Californias plan would require all companies in that state with five or more employees to take part in what is being called the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program. The biggest companies will start first, and the smallest companies will have three years to get ready.

Money is not expected to start flowing into the first Secure Choice accounts until sometime in 2017.
Mylan just injected some adrenaline into the American health care debate.

The company, which makes the EpiPen, a device used to treat life-threatening allergy attacks, on Thursday bowed to political pressure over the affordability of the treatment. A complex and opaque system may encourage high prices for drugs, but it does not force the likes of Mylan to jack them up. This episode does more to expose flaws than fix them.

Criticism of Mylan has mounted in recent weeks as children head back to school and parents buy the devices to protect against peanut and other life-threatening allergies. Multiple lawmakers and the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, spoke out against the fivefold increase in the cost of an EpiPen since 2008. The list price for two is about $600. Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Martin Shkrelis Turing Pharmaceuticals generated a broader controversy over drug prices last year.

In a bid to defuse the situation, Mylan is offering coupons to more customers. Other families will get additional help from the company so that they will have to pay nothing out of pocket.
WASHINGTON  President Obama on Thursday nominated Jim Yong Kim for a second five-year term as president of the World Bank despite persistent complaints among employees about his leadership at a time when the mission of the global development institution is in question.

The banks board announced two days earlier that it was beginning to consider who would be its next president, inviting nominations as it did for the first time in 2012. While many World Bank watchers expect Mr. Kim to be reappointed, given the seven-decade tradition of choosing an American picked by the United States, the banks largest contributor, they say he will have to work to solidify support.

His nomination was made shortly after midnight in a statement from Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew. Because Thursday was the first day for nominations, the administration was signaling its strong support for Mr. Kim by making its announcement just minutes into the day, according to a Treasury official.

And with the deadline for nominations just weeks away, Sept. 14, the quick action was also intended to discourage would-be rivals.
KFC describes its closely guarded original fried chicken recipe as one of the biggest trade secrets in the world. The company says the original handwritten recipe is housed in a 770-pound safe encased in two feet of concrete and guarded by video cameras and motion detectors.

It is the Fort Knox of fried chicken.

Despite all that, the recipe for the spice blend used to prepare the chicken may have been accidentally revealed to a reporter for The Chicago Tribune by Joe Ledington, a nephew of the man who made the recipe famous. The newspaper printed the article, along with what might be the recipe, last week.

The reporter, Jay Jones, was sent to Corbin, Ky., to write a story for The Tribunes travel section about the town where the colonel served his first fried chicken. While there, he arranged a meeting with Mr. Ledington, whose uncle, Col. Harland Sanders, founded Kentucky Fried Chicken and was its snowy-haired ambassador.

Mr. Ledington greeted the reporter with a family scrapbook that he said had belonged to Claudia Ledington, the second wife of Colonel Sanders, who died in 1996. Her last will and testament was stuffed in the back of the scrapbook, and its final pages contained a handwritten recipe for a blend of 11 spices, Mr. Jones said.
Sonia Rykiel, the Paris fashion designer who planted her contrarian flag on the Left Bank in the 1960s, flouted haute couture conventions and created chic ready-to-wear clothes that caught on around the world with generations of women on the go, died on Thursday at her home in Paris. She was 86.

The death was announced by the Elysee Palace, the office of the French president, and by Ms. Rykiels daughter, Nathalie, the vice chairman and former artistic director of the fashion house her mother began. The cause was complications of Parkinsons disease.

Often likened to Coco Chanel, the designer who liberated women from corsets in the flapper 1920s, the free-spirited Ms. Rykiel (pronounced ree-KYEL) made fashions for women who, like herself, were proud of their pregnancies, sophisticated about sex and too busy to fuss over the latest designer fads  women who wanted to look smart, but needed to get on with their lives.

She was best known for raising old-fashioned knitwear to flattering new and practical designs: figure-hugging skirts and sweaters, especially ribbed pullovers with high armholes that made the shoulders seem smaller, torsos narrower and legs longer.
If my daughter is a success, my happiness is complete, declares the title character of Fatima, a small miracle of a film from the French director Philippe Faucon.

Divorced from her husband, whom she followed to France and with whom she is still friendly, Fatima (Soria Zeroual) is a 44-year-old North African woman raising two teenage girls in Lyon. The oldest, Nesrine (Zita Hanrot), 18, is a first-year medical student, and the younger, Souad (Kenza-Noah Aiche), is a sullen, sexy 15-year-old rebel ashamed of her mother for working as a housecleaner.

Souad sneers that Fatima is a useless she-donkey and a living rag. But her mother, however stung, endures the abuse and chooses her words carefully when firing back. Fatima loves her daughter despite her insolence. Steeped in North African Muslim culture, Fatima has traditional notions of what she calls respectable female behavior that dont apply in France, and she is upset when Souad insists on baring her shoulders.
A cross between Dexter and Encyclopedia Brown, I Am Not a Serial Killer follows John Wayne Cleaver, a 16-year-old Midwesterner being treated for sociopathic tendencies who is trying to resist his worst urges. Maybe John shouldnt help out so much in the family business. His mother and aunt run a mortuary, and hes really into prepping the corpses. He may not be a serial killer, but he sure likes studying them.

John (Max Records) perks up when his little community hosts one grisly murder, then another, and he sets out to solve the case. Whether fending off a bully, chatting with his therapist or living by the rules hes set for himself to avoid his darkest impulses, John confounds his mother (Laura Fraser) but has a good relationship with a neighbor, Mr. Crowley (Christopher Lloyd). Incapable of emotional connections, John acts as if he has them.

Early in the movie, an adaptation of Dan Wellss young-adult novel of the same name, the director Billy OBrien nicely balances the tedium of small-town life  the film was shot in northern Minnesota  with an unnervingly creepy vibe. Unfortunately, the plot goes off the rails in the second half, as horror needlessly lurches into the supernatural.

Until then, though, Mr. Records (the child actor in Where the Wild Things Are) is nimble and unsentimental in playing a character who is playing at normal, supported by a solid cast in a well-filmed indie that doesnt let its low budget get in the way of some true chills.
Love, death, cinema  theyre all there in Mia Madre, bumping up against one another beautifully. Its the story of a movie director, Margherita (Margherita Buy), who, while shooting a difficult movie about labor strife, learns that her mother, Ada (Giulia Lazzarini), may be dying. Yet even as tragedy surges, flooding scenes and tear ducts, Margheritas featured performer, an outsize American star named Barry (John Turturro), enters laughing, bellowing, acting. The Italian director Nanni Moretti knows how to turn on the waterworks, but he also knows about that burlesque called life.

Mr. Moretti, whose films include Dear Diary and We Have a Pope, doesnt draw a line between laughter and sorrow. Instead, he moves between registers and layers of emotion, slipping heavy moments into playful encounters and revealing the tender humor in an otherwise melancholic scene. In Mia Madre, he complicates the picture further by taking you on the set with Margherita while shes shooting, and then mixing her production follies with her off-set experiences, memories and dreams. One moment, she is at a news conference, absent-mindedly gazing off; the next, shes moving her hand across a shelf of her mothers books only to shift abruptly back to the present.

Ada is already in the hospital when the story begins. (Movingly played by Ms. Lazzarini, the character is based on Mr. Morettis own mother.) Initially, Margherita seems more concerned about her movie than about Adas health  or so it seems. Mr. Moretti isnt a flashy visual stylist, but hes a canny storyteller. Mia Madre opens on a tense scene of a group of striking workers squaring off against the riot police outside a factory gate. At that point, it isnt clear that this is the movie Margherita is shooting, which serves Mr. Morettis meaning. Here, life and art blur, and, for better or worse, Margherita lives in that blur.
Too much happens too quickly in The Hollars for the story to be credible, but the film has some likable qualities, among them the fun of seeing actors in unexpected roles.

The movie is directed by John Krasinski of The Office, who also plays John Hollar, an unsuccessful illustrator in New York. John returns to his tiny Middle American hometown when his mother, Sally (Margo Martindale), falls ill.

The village is an epicenter of personal crises. Johns brother, Ron (Sharlto Copley), hasnt gotten over his divorce and is essentially stalking his ex-wife and their two daughters. The family patriarch (Richard Jenkins), whose wifes medical problems have made him an emotional wreck, is a financial wreck as well. Oh, and Johns girlfriend back in New York (Anna Kendrick) is exceedingly pregnant.
Were on defense, she said. So then you get called a rabble-rouser.

Dianne McMillan Brannen, a real estate agent who has lived in Ninevah for 25 years, said she worried about a domino effect: investors combining lots to build bigger houses, which drives up sales prices, which tempts more families to sell, until eventually a historically rare African-American haven looks like just another upscale beach resort. In the last year, she said, 13 houses have been sold to builders or investors, compared with the usual four or five.

An identity is the most important thing that could be lost, Ms. Brannen said. This area is not always going to be African-American. You could have 250 homes, and it would be an entirely different set of people here. And those sets of people are not going to regard it as we have regarded it. And theyre not going to have a story to tell about whats happened previously. And unless we tell that story, itll go away.

Mr. Pickens, whose grandfather was an early field secretary of the N.A.A.C.P., said he welcomed newcomers, whatever their race, but not investors or people with four or five houses and no commitment to the community.

This is sort of reverse integration, he said. Thats fine, thats the American way. But there are 5,000 miles of coastline in America, and five are commanded and owned by blacks. So we treasure what we own. That begins to disappear. Think about that. So thats what were dealing with. And once you leave here, you cant afford to come back.

Of the newcomers, he asked: Do they really want to be here or do they want to see us out of here? Im for integration, Im not for elimination.
Since Jan. 2015, the use of organs from executed prisoners for transplant surgery was banned by the government, making voluntary donors the only source of much-needed transplant organs. (Photo : Getty Images)

A team of doctors has surgically removed around 40 knives from the stomach of an Indian man. The 42-year-old father of two had been swallowing knives since last two months.



In one of its own kind of case, the surgeons spent almost five hours on August 19, Friday to remove 40 foldable knives from the stomach of the man, according to CNN. The operation took place in Amritsar, a holy north Indian city in the state of Punjab, famous for Sikh heritage Golden Temple.



Advertisement

The team spent almost two days to make a complete diagnosis of the man and to devise a plan for the surgery. According to the surgeons, the man had an unbeatable and wild urge to consume metal, which seemed a bit frightening to the doctors before they finally conducted the operation.



"He had a wild urge to consume metal. Even for us, the experienced surgeons, it was frightening," Dr. Jatinder Malhotra told the publication. "We were so nervous. A small mistake could have taken the patient's life. In my 20 years of practice, I have never seen anything like it."



According to Malhotra, the team recovered several foldable knives from the stomach of the patient. The knives were as much as seven inches long when fully extended. The patient swallowed both folded and unfolded knives during a course of two months. The team removed all sought of knives from the body of the patient - folded, open, rusted and broken.



The surgeons further revealed that the man is now out of danger and is recovering well. He is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon. Meanwhile, the man has apologized to his family for his behavior and is thankful to the doctors for saving his precious life.



Despite his improved condition, the man would not get a go ahead from the discharge team until he is examined and cleared by psychiatrists as well. The reasons why he started eating knives is not clear and that is exactly what the doctors want to figure out.



The man has already confessed that he found consuming knives "addicting." The doctors suspect that it could be a rare form of a mental illness that has not been described in any medical journal as yet.



So far, the doctors have ruled out the possibility of him having Pica disorder, according to to ABC News. It is a kind of a disorder in which patients feel an urge to eat non-edible things.



The following video talks about the miracle surgery:






To the Editor:

You say California will provide a state-run secure choice retirement plan for private-sector workers with fees that are both low and transparent (From California, a Better Way to Retire, editorial, Aug. 16).

The administrative fees of the plan, which will fall solely on workers, are capped at 1 percent of plan assets. Our analysis shows that the state has ignored many costs and probably cant operate under that cap.

But even if it could, 1 percent is substantially more than 401(k) participants or Individual Retirement Account owners pay on average  0.53 percent and 0.69 percent, respectively  for equity mutual funds.

Nor will the California plan be transparent to the low-wage workers who are automatically enrolled. Instead, Californias plan is premised on operating without crucial safeguards that have protected retirement savers for four decades.
The life of every Colombian alive today has been defined, to varying degrees, by violence. The government has been at war with Marxist-inspired guerrilla groups for more than five decades, a ruinous conflict rooted in earlier cycles of violence.

This week, the government of Colombia and the nations largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, reached a deal under which the militants promise to disarm and join the political system. If the peace accord is approved by voters in a plebiscite in October, Colombians will have a remarkable chance to realize the potential of a nation that has suffered from decades of violence, entrenched inequality and weak institutions.

It is an opportunity Colombians should embrace.

The pact calls for sweeping structural reforms and social investments that have the potential to transform the country into a more prosperous and equitable society. They include comprehensive agrarian reform, which would narrow the gap between Colombias booming urban centers and the historically impoverished and neglected countryside. The FARC has vowed to halt its involvement in the drug trade, which has been an accelerant of the conflict in recent decades. Restoring government control over regions where cocaine is grown and trafficked would make it easier to confront the scourge in an effective manner.

Under the pact, FARC members would surrender their arms to United Nations personnel and disclose the nature of their involvement in the conflict to a special tribunal that would include Colombian and international jurists. Those who admit to grave crimes  like kidnappings and executions  would be subject to periods of restricted mobility for five to eight years, during which they would be expected to perform community service. Those who have committed less serious crimes  like drug trafficking  would receive amnesty. This arrangement is not ideal, as it inevitably would leave many crimes unpunished. But if it is managed carefully, it could allow many victims to have their day in court while holding war criminals  including members of the military  accountable to some extent for the worst atrocities of the war.
To the Editor:

Re New York Ends Cabby Hurdle: English Is No Longer Required (front page, Aug. 20):

What the City Council is not taking into account is that the drivers of Uber, Lyft and other private car services, who are not required to speak English, do not need to communicate at all with their passengers. The destination, directions, prices and even driver rating are handled through an app.

Unfortunately for New York City taxi drivers, they need to understand that the Bronx is uptown and that the Henry Hudson Parkway is jammed, and if they dont, well just grab a car from Lyft or Uber instead. By allowing non-English speakers as taxi drivers, New York City is putting its taxi fleet at a disadvantage.

JESSICA HALLER

Bronx

To the Editor:

As the holder of a Taxi and Limousine Commission license to drive a for-hire vehicle in New York City, I am appalled to learn that knowing how to speak and understand the English language is no longer a requirement.

I can be as progressive as the next guy, and understand the prevailing winds of political correctness enough to say that all immigrants deserve their chance at the American dream. That said, it is utterly incomprehensible to me that taxi drivers are not only not required to know geography, but also no longer have to be conversant in the language that most of their passengers speak.
In one sense, Gawker is gone. In another, its all around you.

At least it is according to Farhad Manjoo, who memorializes this weeks death of the influential website that traded in news, gossip, ridicule, opinion, fast-moving insight and much else that seems to define the current phase of online publishing.

Gawker was destroyed by a lawsuit secretly paid for by a Silicon Valley billionaire, a matter that has led to some fear of a muzzled media. It was a plan that was executed over years, with a careful choice of case and venue that only someone of means could afford.

The billionaire was motivated by having his sexuality exposed, and the case he paid for involved the publication of a stolen adulterous sex tape. The trial included an editors deposition that included the statement that he would not publish a sex tape of a child, provided the child was under 4 years old. One might argue that what wealth purchased was really a jury of normal Americans judging such stuff.

Mr. Manjoo sets aside those issues to talk about how Gawkers sensibility and influence on the rest of the news business survive. In essence, he sees it as the first site to fully embrace the emotionally charged, frenetic quality of communication on the internet. As such, it took us to a place from which were unlikely to return.
Now its clearly a top-tier race, and its probably ahead of Ohio (Rob Portman) and perhaps Florida (Marco Rubio).

The heart of the issue is that Richard Burr is a weak incumbent who has never been especially well known in his own state. He hasnt started campaigning vigorously yet. I think its going to be tough for him to run far ahead of generic Republican, unlike Portman or even Rubio, who have distinct brands and are well known in their states. Even in a more neutral year, Im not sure we should have expected Burr to win this seat by a comfortable margin  given the polarization of the North Carolina electorate. And, of course, this isnt a neutral year.

Toni What are your thoughts on whether the Democrats can retake the Senate?

Nate This Senate situation feels very familiar to me. I feel like we saw this in 2014, when the Senate was a tossup in August and then the G.O.P. swept nearly all of the competitive races. We saw it in 2012, when the Senate was a tossup and then the Democrats swept nearly all the competitive races. We saw it in 2008, when 60 seats seemed tough for the Democrats and then they swept nearly all of the competitive races. We saw it in 2006, when it seemed really hard for the Democrats to take the Senate and then they swept nearly all of the competitive races. I could take this story line back to 2000, but Ill stop here.

So here we are in August. The Senate looks like a tossup on paper in a lot of ways. But it seems clear that if any party is going to have the wind at its back this year, its going to be the Democrats. If they do, its really hard for me to see how the G.O.P. holds on.
Swimming among the dolphins in the clear waters off the Hawaiian coast has long enticed island visitors. But federal officials say it is harmful to the creatures when they are supposed to be resting and socializing, and have proposed a ban on the activity.

The proposed rules, announced this week by the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, would prohibit swimming with or approaching within 50 yards of Hawaiian spinner dolphins. That would end many tour group practices, which involve approaching dolphins in a boat and snorkeling in the water with them.

Dolphins typically forage offshore in the night for fish, shrimp and squid, then return toward land during the day to relax. They swim even when they are sleeping. But officials say the presence of boats and swimmers is disrupting their habits, causing a departure from natural behavioral patterns that support the animals health and fitness, according to the proposed guidelines.

The tours are popular with visitors, and the excursions are promoted on the Hawaii Tourism Authoritys website.
Theyll be all right, he told investigators. It was just a little hot water on them.

Mr. Tolbert said he spent 10 days in the hospital, undergoing skin grafts for burns on his back, arms and neck. Mr. Gooden, who was also severely burned, received a month of treatment for his injuries, during which he had to be put into an induced coma.

Franklin Engram, the assistant district attorney, said in an interview that Mr. Blackwell had told officers just before his arrest that the two men were hollering and moaning and were stuck together like two hot dogs.

Georgia is one of the few states that do not have a specific law governing hate crimes, so Mr. Blackwell was not charged with such a crime. And an F.B.I. spokesman, Kevin Rowson, said on Thursday that the agency was not pursuing a hate-crime investigation.

We are aware of it, we have looked at it, but the bottom line is he is getting 40 years, Mr. Rowson said. At this point, we are not pursuing it.

But officials at the district attorneys office said on Thursday that they recognized the impact that the Blackwell case could have in setting a precedent in the handling of such crimes, where there was no provocation and the suspects motives for inflicting serious injury involved bias.

Clearly, a case like this does get a tag as a special case on a high-profile list, where it is such a heinous crime, Fani Willis, the Fulton County deputy district attorney, said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
Democrats have done a poor job, and I take my share of responsibility here, in not being as focused as Republicans have on building at the grass roots, Mr. Axelrod said. Look what the G.O.P. and their related agents have done with legislative and City Council and school board races. They are building capacity, and Democrats have paid the cost.

Many promising young Democrats in the House have been frustrated by the reluctance of Representative Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader, and her aging deputies to step aside and let new members ascend to leadership  one of the few rewards for a minority party in the House. I was on the recruitment committee, and a lot of candidates decided to take a pass, said Representative Karen Bass, Democrat of California. She added, There are people who are new to Congress and have a difficult situation because they are not going to be there for 20 years.

Some simply leave. I was one of the few Democrats not to support Nancy Pelosi for leader, said Representative Gwen Graham, Democrat of Florida, who is retiring after one term and planning to run for governor. We need new voices. Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, once considered a potential House speaker, is running for the Senate.

Democratic ranks have also been decimated in state governments across the nation, where new leaders tend to plant roots for future higher office.

After the 2008 elections, Democrats controlled 62 of the 99 state legislatures; today, Republicans control 68 chambers, according to Governing magazine. Over the same time period, the number of Democrats in governors mansions fell from 28 to 18. In both cases, Republican control is now at or near historic highs.

Democrats point out that they have strong leads in Senate races in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, and that most analysts believe the party is in a strong position to retake the chamber. They also note that many of their candidates are raising more money than their Republican rivals.
Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. Donald Trump started his presidential campaign with a warning: that undocumented immigrants were bringing mayhem, crime and drugs to the United States. I want to build a wall. And its a real wall. This is a wall thats a heck of a lot higher than the ceiling youre looking at. He even said that if necessary he would use a deportation force. There will be a deportation. But its going to be done in a very humane fashion. Last December, Mr. Trump also shook the political world with another provocative policy. Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Many Republicans thought those ideas were too harsh, unworkable or unconstitutional. And for what purpose? Muslim terrorists would only have to lie about their religion to enter the country. Mitt Romney Former Republican presidential nominee And it would take decades to do that, and gazillions of dollars. Bill OReilly Fox News host But Mr. Trump stuck with them, and they helped him win the Republican nomination. Now that hes facing more moderate general election voters, he appears to be changing his mind. The Muslim ban? Nobodys done it. This is just a suggestion. And Mr. Trump is changing his tune about who he wants to deport, saying these days that the focus should be on criminals  We have these killers in this country, theyre heading up gangs ...  not nice families who have been living in the country for years without causing problems. These were great people. These are highly respected people within the community. So you have somebody thats been in the country for 20 years  do we tell these people to get out, number one, or do we work with them and let them stay in some form. The shift puts Mr. Trump in an awkward position with less than three months until the election. He hasnt changed his position on immigration. Hes changed the words that he is saying. What he has always said from the beginning is that he does not  that he, no, that he does not ... Even Trumps biggest boosters in conservative media have been scratching their heads and expressing worry that the Republican nominee is now in favor of amnesty. The only thing that can cause Trump any trouble whatsoever is if he flip-flops on abortion or on immigration and goes amnesty  and it looks like hes getting close to it. Rush Limbaugh Radio host No, Im not flip-flopping. We want to come up with a really fair but firm answer  it has to be very firm. Trump supporters have stuck with him through pretty much everything in the last year. So its hard to say if going back on an issue thats been so central to his campaign will matter. The big question is whether his base will be turned off, or if a suddenly softer tone will help him attract new voters. [Crowd: Build the wall! Build the wall!]
Donald J. Trump says he is starting to win over skeptical Hispanic voters, but his opponents are investing in a new advertising campaign in Arizona, Florida and North Carolina to make sure that does not happen.

A blitz of radio ads funded by the progressive advocacy group People for the American Way is set to air in the three states Thursday morning and to run throughout the week. The bilingual ads will feature fearful children asking their parents about Mr. Trump, and they will target Republican lawmakers who are supporting the Republican presidential nominee.

Im scared of Donald Trump, Mom, a child says in English in one of the ads. Are you going to vote against him?

The conversation then switches to Spanish, with the child expressing concern about Mr. Trumps big rallies and the mother responding, We cant allow him to win.
A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is displayed during a launch event for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, August 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : GettyImages/Drew Angerer)

Samsung, South Korean tech giant has stepped in with the new smart phone release Galaxy Note 7 which is pulling the customers towards it. Galaxy Note 7, after hitting the world market has turned out to be Samsung's fortune to steal the customers from its rivalry companies in the smart phone world.



Advertisement

Galaxy Note 7 has a huge demand currently running. The phone went on sales on August 19, in Unites states and South Korea. According to Fortune, Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 demand has hit more than the expected estimates and causing supply chain constraints globally. The ultimate featured phone is forcing Samsung to increase its production of this premium device. Samsung should keep its step firm by increasing its production and keep the competitive companies away from stealing the smart phone profit world.



"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.



The world's best smart phone maker is all set to gain the momentum sales in the market and also ensuring its profit and expects to have better sales in the second half as the rival company Apple is prepared to launch its new device.



According to Reuters, production problems for the curved display of Galaxy S6 edge phone effected the sales last year. Samsung informs that the company will boost its production at the secret location where Notes are made, and aimed to meet the market demand.



Nomura analyst C.W. Chung said "The party got more visitors than Samsung expected, so they just need to put more food out," Also, said that supply situation was not a major risk as Samsung made key parts such as displays and chips in-house. Samsung is ready to sell as many as 15 million Galaxy Note 7 phones this year when compared to the 9 million Galaxy Note 5 phones last year, as informed by C.W. Chung.



IBK Asset Management fund manager Km Hyun-su said "There could be temporary issue but Samsung has almost never had prolonged production misses," he also added "It's a problem from selling well, so I don't think there is a need to worry too much."



As per Fortune, KTB Asset Management fund manager Lee Jin-woo said. "Whatever the company gets out of the Note 7 will be a bonus factor, since what the market has been betting on for the second half is a pickup in earnings from the display and semiconductor businesses."



"Considering Samsung's track record I think the supply problem will be resolved quickly," he added.



Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 stole world's smart phone market quickly. Watch the video below.






The deaths are part of a national crisis of heroin and opioid-related overdoses, which experts have compared to the H.I.V. crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Policy makers in several states, including New York, Maryland and California, are considering the kind of sites recommended by the task force in Seattle.

Kathy Lambert, a Republican councilwoman in King County, did not respond to a request for comment on the policy.

Patricia Sully, a lawyer at the Public Defender Association in Seattle and a member of the task force, said that such sites would be a natural next step for a city that has had a clean needle exchange program since 1989.

Once you have a city thats already adopted syringe exchange and is talking about these things, it makes sense at some point that people say, Hey, maybe if were going to give people syringes, maybe we dont send them out to a dirty alley to use them, she said.

The idea is not a new one. Similar facilities have operated for at least a decade in Australia, the Netherlands and Canada. In 2003, a safe-injection site called InSite opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, in response to an overdose epidemic in the citys Downtown Eastside neighborhood. It was the first such facility in North America.

The sites are typically associated with a broader slate of what are often called harm reduction policies, which focus on the mental and physical health of those addicted to drugs and present an alternative to the more punitive policies associated with the war on drugs.

Liz Evans, who was the executive director of the nonprofit that operated the InSite facility in Vancouver when it opened, said it was created in response to a citywide acknowledgment that a drug policy that was tougher on addicted people was failing the city.
HARDWICK, Vt.  Like most people who work for small newspapers, Vanessa Fournier wears many hats.

A photographer, she shoots pictures for The Hardwick Gazette, the weekly broadsheet that has been documenting life here in Vermonts hardscrabble Northeast Kingdom since 1889. On Wednesdays, she is the papers local distributor. With bundles of the freshly printed Gazette tucked into the trunk of her Honda Civic, Ms. Fournier, 61, makes her way through town, plunking down papers on countertops, slipping them into wire racks and keeping up a cheerful patter with shopkeepers.

Now, she worries that both jobs could end.

The Gazettes editor and publisher, Ross Connelly, announced in June that he was holding an essay contest to find a successor to take over the paper. He said that he still had the passion for newspapering, but that at 71, he lacked the energy.

Unfortunately for him, the contest has not generated the interest that he had hoped would make his plan financially viable. So he has extended the deadline to Sept. 20 from Aug. 11.

When asked if he had a Plan C if he had still not received enough entries in a month, he offered a blunt analogy: He could extend the deadline again, he said, but that would be like pounding your thumb with a hammer  its not going to stop hurting.
Gustavo Moncayo was a primary-school teacher when he got the news that every father feared: His son, an 18-year-old soldier in the Colombian Army, had been kidnapped by rebels.

It was 1997, and the government had been fighting the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for decades. Mr. Moncayo fought fervently for his sons release, eventually quitting his job to march across Colombia and Europe to apply pressure. Only after 12 long years was Pablo Emilio finally freed.

Now, the fate of a peace deal in which the rebels vow to lay down their arms, rejoin society and end more than 50 years of war is in the hands of Colombians like Mr. Moncayo, many of whom still nurse deep wounds and have ample reason to be suspicious of the rebels promises.

After four years of official talks, the Colombian government and the FARC finally emerged on Wednesday evening with an announcement that they had reached a deal to end the longest-running war in the Americas.
KABUL, Afghanistan  As cafes, restaurants, and performance centers in Kabul came under attack one after another in recent years, the campus of the American University of Afghanistan remained a rare oasis for some of the countrys brightest young men and women.

Beyond providing a quality education, the school offered a glimpse of a carefree life away from the unpredictable violence that afflicted the rest of the capital. Behind layers of security, students could play basketball at the gym, compete in debate tournaments or just have an uninterrupted conversation over coffee.

That sense of freedom, too, was violated Wednesday night.

Men with Kalashnikov rifles and grenades first gunned down a guard at the adjoining school for the blind. One drove a car packed with explosives into the American Universitys wall, blowing a gap through it. Two more militants dashed onto campus, where hundreds of students were taking evening classes. The attackers methodically stalked the men and women trapped inside, fighting off the Afghan security forces for nearly 10 hours in a terrifying overnight siege.

On Thursday morning, at least 13 lay dead: seven students, three police officers, two university guards and the night guard at the neighboring school for the blind. Abdul Baseer Mujahid, a spokesman for the Kabul police, said that more than 30 others were hurt in the attack; another estimate, from the Health Ministry, said 16 had been killed and 53 wounded.
HONG KONG  Days before North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, successfully tested a ballistic missile that he said could hit parts of the continental United States, his reclusive regime unveiled another technical triumph: a Netflix-like streaming service.

Called Manbang, the service delivers on-demand videos to televisions through a set-top box, Korean Central Television said in a report last week.

In the report, a narrator says that Manbang is further proof of North Koreas socialist cultural power, which will allow its people to watch their country make a leap forward every day, every hour.
Migrants helping in quake relief efforts in badly-hit Pescara del Tronto say they want to assist to ease the suffering of affected communities. SHOWS: PESCARA DEL TRONTO, ITALY (AUGUST 25, 2016) (DANIELE MORINI - ACCESS ALL) 1. COLLAPSED AND DAMAGED HOUSES ON HILLSIDE 2. RESCUERS IN RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDINGS 3. EMERGENCY VEHICLES BY BLUE TENTS SET UP FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS 4. EMERGENCY WORKERS, VOLUNTEERS AND LOCALS STANDING BY TENT 5. MIGRANT VOLUNTEERS BY EMERGENCY SHELTERS 6. VARIOUS OF GROUP OF MIGRANTS WEARING ORANGE HIGH VISIBILITY VESTS 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MIGRANT, ABDULLAH FROM BENIN, SAYING: We have seen people who have lost their lives. We are sad, we too, feel bad for what is happening here. 8. GROUP OF MIGRANTS STANDING NEAR CONTAINERS 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MIGRANT, ABDULLAH FROM BENIN, SAYING: It is the first time we are doing volunteer work here and giving a hand to the people here. We did some volunteering in other communes, we worked as volunteers in Acquaviva and helped the people there. We need to help the people here, we feel the need to help them because weve seen people losing their lives and we feel bad and want to help. Its to show respect to them and their dignity. 10. MIGRANTS LINED UP IN RESCUE TENT 11. PEOPLE WALKING PAST BLUE TENTS 12. VARIOUS OF MUSLIM MIGRANTS PRAYING OUTDOORS WITH BLUE TENTS IN BACKGROUND 13. CRANE AND CONTAINERS 14. EMERGENCY WORKERS WALKING NEAR TENTS 15. TENT VILLAGE IN FLAT AREA NEAR HILLS
Komsomolskaya Pravda, a Russian newspaper, described actions taken against the countrys athletes as the second phase of the Cold War that has been declared on Russia. Alexei Martynov, a columnist in the daily Izvestiya, said discrimination against Russian athletes recalled Nazi Germanys policies toward Slavs, Gypsies, Jews, the mentally handicapped, and the physically disabled.

Intent on blaming hostile foreign forces rather than their own well-documented misdeeds, the Russian authorities have turned with fury on Dr. Rodchenkov, who resigned as the director of Russias antidoping agency in November and, saying he feared for his life, fled to the United States.

His account of Russian doping, detailed to The New York Times in May, described an elaborate scheme by Russias intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., to tamper with urine samples in the middle of the night during the last Winter Olympics, held in Sochi, Russia. He also said he had created a special cocktail for Russian athletes that mixed banned drugs and hard liquor.

A two-month inquiry into allegations of Russian doping commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, confirmed Dr. Rodchenkovs claims. The head of the inquiry, Richard H. McLaren, a Canadian lawyer, called the Russian doctors account true beyond a reasonable doubt, citing forensic evidence, computer records and corroborating witnesses that backed it up. Those conclusions prompted antidoping authorities and some athletes to call for barring the Russian Federation from both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, which start on Sept. 7 in Rio.

The International Olympic Committee in the end rejected a blanket ban, reversing the presumption of innocence for Russian athletes and considering all of them tainted unless individuals proved to have a rigorous history of drug testing. More than 100 Russian athletes, nearly one-third of the squad, were ultimately barred from competing in Rio. The International Paralympic Committee went further, imposing a blanket ban.

Russias prime minister, Dmitri A. Medvedev, responded to the ban on his Facebook page this week, complaining that, the story of Russian doping investigations is a thick and disgusting cocktail made up of 20 percent doping and 80 percent politics.
A senior Turkish official, who spoke anonymously as a matter of protocol, said that many commanders had resisted an operation in Syria in recent years.

Many analysts who closely follow the Turkish military have said the same thing. One of the most prominent commanders opposed to a Syria operation, the official said, was the former head of the Turkish special forces, Brig. Gen. Semih Terzi, who was one of the most prominent plotters and was killed during the coup attempt.

The incursion seemed to support the opinion of many experts that the Turkish militarys combat capabilities had not been substantially diminished. This is the second largest military in NATO, said Ross Wilson, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington and ambassador to Turkey from 2005 to 2008. Yes, its been somewhat reduced in the last month, but it is still a very potent and well-trained fighting force. They are very capable in their own region.

On Thursday, an estimated 350 Turkish soldiers were in Syria taking part in the operation, called Euphrates Shield, including 150 members of the special forces, the local media reported. Two Syrian rebels interviewed in Karkamis, which lies just across the border from Jarabulus, said that Turkish soldiers were mainly helping to defuse and dismantle the numerous bombs and booby-traps that the Islamic State, which fled the city without much of a fight, had left behind. Witnesses reported loud explosions, followed by plumes of smoke, coming from Jarabulus on Thursday afternoon.

The question now, with the Turkish troops inside Syria, is how long they will remain there. Turkish officials have not given a timetable, but have indicated that the army would stay as long as it takes to neutralize security threats to Turkey  defined as the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and Syrian Kurdish militias.

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who arrived in Ankara, the capital, on Wednesday just as the operation began, seemed to suggest on Thursday that the Turkish military would stay in northern Syria indefinitely, and with the blessing of the United States.

I think the Turks are prepared to stay in an effort to take out ISIL as long as takes, Mr. Biden said during a visit to Sweden, according to Reuters. He added that the Turks have gradually come to the realization that ISIL is an existential threat to Turkey.
Iranian naval boats made dangerous maneuvers around United States warships in the Persian Gulf area on at least four occasions this week, Pentagon officials said Thursday, including one episode in which the Americans fired warning shots from a 50-caliber deck gun to prevent a collision.

It was unclear whether the confrontations  one near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday and three in the northern Persian Gulf on Wednesday  were deliberate efforts to send a hostile message about American naval activity.

Still, they underscored the risk of an armed clash between Iran and the United States in an area that has been a perennial source of tension for the two countries.

There was no immediate comment from Iran about Wednesdays encounters. But its defense minister denied that Iranian vessels had done anything wrong in the Tuesday episode and accused the Americans of trespassing to provoke a response.
And especially since 2003, when Qaeda attacks in the kingdom awoke the monarchy to the danger it faced from militancy, Saudi Arabia has acted more aggressively to curtail preachers who call for violence, cut off terrorist financing and cooperate with Western intelligence to foil terrorist plots. From 2004 to 2012, 3,500 imams were fired for refusing to renounce extremist views, and another 20,000 went through retraining, according to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs  though the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed skepticism that the training was really instilling tolerance.

An American scholar with long experience in Saudi Arabia  who spoke on condition of anonymity to preserve his ability to travel to the kingdom for research  said he believed that Saudi influence had often been exaggerated in American political discourse. But he compared it to climate change. Just as a one-degree increase in temperature can ultimately result in drastic effects around the globe, with glaciers melting and species dying off, so Saudi teaching is playing out in many countries in ways that are hard to predict and difficult to trace but often profound, the scholar said.

Saudi proselytizing can result in a recalibrating of the religious center of gravity for young people, the scholar said, which makes it easier for them to swallow or make sense of the ISIS religious narrative when it does arrive. It doesnt seem quite as foreign as it might have, had that Saudi religious influence not been there.

Centuries-Old Dilemma

Why does Saudi Arabia find it so difficult to let go of an ideology that much of the world finds repugnant? The key to the Saudi dilemma dates back nearly three centuries to the origin of the alliance that still undergirds the Saudi state. In 1744, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, a reformist cleric, sought the protection of Muhammad bin Saud, a powerful tribal leader in the harsh desert of the Arabian Peninsula. The alliance was mutually beneficial: Wahhab received military protection for his movement, which sought to return Muslims to what he believed were the values of the early years of Islam in the seventh century, when the Prophet Muhammad was alive. (His beliefs were a variant of Salafism, the conservative school of Islam that teaches that the salaf, or pious ancestors, had the correct ways and beliefs and should be emulated.) In return, the Saud family earned the endorsement of an Islamic cleric  a puritanical enforcer known for insisting on the death by stoning of a woman for adultery.

What we consider before using anonymous sources. Do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process.

Wahhabs particular version of Islam was the first of two historical accidents that would define Saudi religious influence centuries later. What came to be known as Wahhabism was a tribal, desert Islam, said Akbar Ahmed, the chairman of Islamic studies at American University in Washington. It was shaped by the austere environment  xenophobic, fiercely opposed to shrines and tombs, disapproving of art and music, and hugely different from the cosmopolitan Islam of diverse trading cities like Baghdad and Cairo.

The second historical accident came in 1938, when American prospectors discovered the largest oil reserves on earth in Saudi Arabia. Oil revenue generated by the Arabian-American Oil Company, or Aramco, created fabulous wealth. But it also froze in place a rigid social and economic system and gave the conservative religious establishment an extravagant budget for the export of its severe strain of Islam.
Children Receive Emergency Care At Pediatric Hospital (Photo : John Moore/Getty Images)

A 16-year old kid from South Florida survived a dangerous type of amoeba that eats the brains of its victims. The boy was saved by a drug that is not readily available at most hospitals.



Officials at the Florida Hospital in Orlando reported that, two weeks ago, a 16-year-old Sebastian DeLeon came to the hospital and complaining about headache and light sensitivity. Hospital staffers immediately look for amoeba since another boy had previously died from it, as reported by Fox News.



Advertisement

According to the officials, this type of amoeba kills 97 percent of its victims. It is often contracted through the nose while swimming in freshwater.



According to the report, the doctors decreased the boy's body temperature, put him on coma and gave him a new drug that is not yet available at most hospitals. Luckily, Profunda, the drug manufacturer is based in Orlando and they were able to ship the drug to the hospital quickly.



In just 12 minutes, miltefosine, the newly-approved life-saving drug arrived at the hospital. It was also the drug that saved a girl from Arkansas in 2013, CBS News reported.



Dr. Humberto Liriano, the one who treated DeLeon spoke in a press conference Tuesday morning and recounted how he helped treat the boy and gave an update on the patient's condition. "We are very optimistic," he said. "He's walking. He's speaking. I saw him this morning and he's ready to go home. However, the boy was not completely ready and needs rehabilitation, he added.



Liriano explained that the amoeba that infected DeLeon was Naegleria fowleri. DeLeon was in a theme park along with his family when he developed a severe headache. He was rushed to the hospital where the doctors confirmed his condition.



Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic, single cell amoeba which is found in the brackish waters of freshwater ponds, lakes and rivers. It is not dangerous if swallowed, however, it can attack the brains if it gets into the nasal cavity.



Initial signs of the infection include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck. The symptoms usually appear between one to 14 days after the infection.




GENEVA  The United Nations top human rights official called on Thursday for an international inquiry into possible war crimes and other accusations of abuses in Yemen, reviving a proposal that Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government it supports have fiercely resisted.

Other nations have a legal and moral duty to act, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement released with a report by investigators that will almost certainly anger the Saudi authorities.

The report documented attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure during 18 months of conflict between Saudi-led coalition forces supporting Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the ousted president, and forces aligned with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

Those responsible for violations and abuses against civilians enjoy impunity in Yemen, Mr. al-Hussein said, adding that such a manifestly, protractedly unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community.
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of Indians, barefoot and draped in orange clothing, make a 100-mile pilgrimage on foot to fetch water from the sacred Ganges River that they then offer at their local temples to Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction.

This year, they have a less arduous option: The postal service is using its 155,000 offices across India to deliver holy water from the Ganges  for far less than $1 a bottle. As one postal official put it, If Muhammad cannot go to the mountain, the mountain comes to him.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Indias union minister of communication and information technology, led the initiative. If the postman can deliver mobile phones, saris, jewelry and apparel, then why not Ganga water? he asked in announcing it last month, using the Hindu name for the river.

Image Sealed holy water from the Ganges River for sale at a post office in Kolkata, India, last month. Credit... Piyal Adhikary/European Pressphoto Agency

The water is drawn from two sources: Gangotri, a small town in the Greater Himalayan Range and the origin of the Ganges River; and Rishikesh, one of the holiest cities for Hindus.
Writing preserves only the thought of literate peoples, Trubek points out, quoting the scholar Barry Powell, attentively exposing the politics of access in her subject. In ancient Egypt, as in so many cultures, only well-born boys learned writing, and whether used as a branding tool of church and state or as a signifier of privilege, script is never neutral. Ambitious 17th- and 18th-century clerks changed their fortunes by mastering difficult new hands, while aristocrats wrote sloppily as if in open proclamation of scorn for the arts by which humbler people oftentimes got their bread, Thomas De Quincey noted.

Perfecting penmanship became a Christian ideal in 19th-century America, one occasionally credited with disciplining the mind, initiating an era of pseudo-psychological graphology that lingers today. Handwritings sketchy scientific past makes good reading, but Trubek errs in underplaying the contemporary research that shows handwritings role in cognitive development. Studies show that a child drawing a letter freehand activates the neurological centers that reading and writing do in adults, while using a keyboard produces little effect. Children composing text by hand generate more words more quickly, and also express more ideas. Students who take class notes by hand better retain that information, and, fascinatingly, not only does the brain process capital letters and lowercase letters differently, but block printing, cursive and typing each elicit distinctive neurological patterns. It all seems more tantalizing and tangible than the advantages unimaginable Trubek believes the future holds. She calls the science behind the new studies fuzzy and judges their findings unconvincing. But while American public education has abandoned cursive, France surveyed the evidence and began teaching connected script even earlier, at age 6.

A tension between style and substance pitted ornamentation against speed at the start. As Trubek tells it, the Sumerians first notations were solely bureaucratic, recording financial transactions in symbolic shorthand. By the medieval era, scribes went through 60 quills a day copying a single book for some three months, reaching perhaps the apogee of handwriting in the West, she writes. Though their work was neither creative nor original, occasionally a little ego spilled into the margins. Now Ive written the whole thing, one monk scribbled. For Christs sake, give me a drink.

How we write is delicately connected to what we write and why. Trubek suggests relegating cursive to art class, but removing it to the realm of the exceptional limits our expectations of experiencing beauty in the day-to-day. Todays second graders, including my own, will learn to type  one day, my daughter might even out-key Stella Willins, who banged out 264 words per minute in 1926. But we cant quantify the value in an ability to forge a rare harmony between utility and beauty, the handsomely scripted grocery list, the love letter, the diary I write just for myself.

We will lose something as we print and write in cursive less and less, but loss is inevitable, Trubek concludes. Though one technology often supplants another, that doesnt necessitate concession. Considering its rich significance, instead of hustling handwriting off to the graveyard, perhaps whats called for is resurrection.
Oh man, thats tough. Young people are so different from each other, and its hard to find one book thats going to appeal to a whole class  across lines of gender, race, economics, etc. Its also about the teachers comfort level, right? A teacher who is uncomfortable with queer issues isnt going to teach a book with gay characters. Someone who has never dealt with people of color and is teaching in an all-white classroom is probably not going to be able to really unpack a book that deals with race from the perspective of someone of color. So its not just finding a book that could work for the students but one that would work for the person leading the discussion, since teachers set the tone.

But its me, and Im pretty comfortable with young people, so I guess Id start with Each Kindness as the gateway book. Then they could have lots of discussions about kindness and tolerance and the meaning of a greater good. Once thats all done, Id go straight into One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams-Garcia, and let them unpack all the stuff Ritas bringing.

For the 10th graders, wed read Romeo and Juliet alongside my book If You Come Softly. I think once they read the two together, theyll not only understand why I assigned these books, but also have a deeper understanding of whats happening in this country right now.

What moves you most in a work of literature?

I love when writers work with something deeper than the story of self. I want a story in the context of the world so that as a reader Im bearing witness to how the characters are impacting and being impacted by all thats happening around them. And again, I love books that pay attention to language.

How do you organize your books?

My books are alphabetized. And then my kids go up to our library and mess things up. Then, when Im deep in the writing of a novel and needing a way to procrastinate, I re-alphabetize them. I have poetry in its own section. My kids have their own library on the floor with their bedrooms. Mainly, we have stacks of books on every floor. I remember doing the same thing when we were potty training  we put those little potties everywhere, hoping theyd remember to use them. Right now, Im sitting in the living room and see that a stack of Jarrett Krosoczkas Lunch Lady books have made their way to the table beside my chair. Ill take them back downstairs after this. When I want my teenage daughter to read a book, I usually leave it in her bathroom. Works every time.

What book might people be surprised to find on your shelves?

O.K., so not exactly a book: Mad magazine. Or maybe not. I think people who know me know I was a Mad magazine geek.
THE BRIDGE TO BRILLIANCE

How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World

By Nadia Lopez with Rebecca Paley

266 pp. Viking. $26.

Nadia Lopez is an unlikely star of the internet age  an urban-middle-school principal whose story went viral. It all began in January 2015 when the blog Humans of New York featured an eighth grader at her school named Vidal. Whos influenced you the most in your life? the young boy bundled in a hoodie and a black jacket was asked. My principal, he answered. A few days later, Brandon Stanton, the photographer responsible for the blog, visited Lopez and her school, Mott Hall Bridges Academy, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. There he found a young principal striving to turn a public school into a bulwark against the forces of urban distress. She became an overnight sensation.

Lopez and Vidal were guests on Ellen DeGeneress television show and Good Morning America, and President Obama met with them in the Oval Office. Target donated $100,000 worth of iPads and other electronics to Mott Hall Bridges and other schools in Brownsville. A crowdfunding campaign started by Stanton raised more than $1.4 million for Lopezs school of roughly 200 sixth-through-eighth graders, and Stantons post about Vidal garnered more than a million likes on Facebook. Lopez used some of the money to take her students on a tour of Harvard University in hopes of inspiring them to reach far beyond Brooklyn. Harvards president, Drew Gilpin Faust, personally addressed them, as did four undergraduates from poor communities and single-parent homes, and several professors delivered middle-school versions of their regular lectures.

And then the spotlight moved elsewhere, leaving Lopez, her teachers and her students to soldier on without the nations beneficence and attention. That day-in, day-out struggle is the subject of The Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World.
Time and memory were consistent concerns for the French director Alain Resnais, who died in 2014 at 91. Historical trauma was a preoccupation as well, at least during the first stage of Mr. Resnaiss long career.

For these reasons, among others, Muriel, or The Time of Return (1963) can be considered his quintessential film. As revisited in Criterions excellent new Blu-ray transfer, made from a 2015 digital restoration, it also appears to be his greatest.

Spectators may have been pleasurably confounded by Mr. Resnaiss Last Year at Marienbad (1961), an art-house hit when it opened in New York in March 1962, but the initial audience for Muriel appears to have been simply confounded.

More than 2,000 patrons of the New York Film Festival were mystified last night by an ambiguous, avant-garde French drama about the Algerian war, Eugene Archer wrote in The New York Times in 1963, adding that Muriel set its audience astir with heated discussions about its importance and possible interpretation. Almost everyone agreed that it was impossible to understand after a single viewing. Perhaps, but appreciation and understanding are not necessarily identical.
It was common practice to shoot multiple versions in the silent era, one for the domestic market and the rest for export. Talking pictures complicated matters, and, with subtitling and dubbing not yet a workable solution, companies shot multiple-language versions. In the case of The Front Page, the multiples may have been shot more for cultural and censorship reasons, which may be why the middle finger isnt in the American version. The best takes were reserved for the American version: Thats the one in which the camera crew keeps pace with a speed-walking Adolphe Menjou, as Burns; in another version, he slips out of frame. The other version is good, yes, but the American is the film at its greatest.

The academy archive restores 40 to 70 movies a year, which means that the staff is usually handling several titles at once. When Mr. Pogorzelski and Ms. Linville started on The Front Page, she was already several years into restoring Cock of the Air, another Hughes title. Directed by Tom Buckingham, this delightful 1932 sex comedy is largely a vehicle for its female star, Billie Dove, who was Hughess lover back in an especially frenetic time in his movie career. She plays a French actress partial to low-cut gowns, Champagne and conquests, and the film is one long teasing encounter between her and a pilot and Lothario (Chester Morris).

More frothy than scandalous, the film is best explained by the scene in which Dove runs around in a metal suit of armor while chased by Morris, whos holding a can opener. Hughes managed to get Cock of the Air into theaters for its initial release despite the objections of the Production Codes bluenoses (one deemed it obscene and immoral), but eventually it was heavily censored. The films history of censorship woes help explain how the academy preservationists ended up dealing with an uncensored yet silent master and a separate, censored audio source.
They closed earlier this summer. Its a big change to go from a 750-square-foot cottage to a 2,500-square-foot house, Ms. Reich said. I need to call him  Bobby, where are you? 

Mr. Reich has his eye on future renovations. I am even happier with the house now that Ive had time to realize the possibilities, he said. He is contemplating the addition of a garage and might redo the heating and cooling system.

Most of all, the Reichs are thrilled they didnt have to leave Montauk.

At her old job as a pediatric critical care nurse in Manhattan, Ms. Reich never ran into patients outside the hospital. But in Montauk, I see patients at the beach or the post office, she said. This is a small town. People look out for each other; people gossip about each other.

Buying a home here is kind of solidifying that we are really part of this community.
SOLICCHIATA, Sicily  When a writer comes calling, most winemakers would consider it in their best interest to offer their proudest efforts for sampling. But Frank Cornelissen has never been like most winemakers.

Instead Mr. Cornelissen, who has a reputation as the most unyielding of natural winemakers, thinks its more instructive to taste his failures. This explains how we came to drink his 2006 Magma Rosso, made from old nerello mascalese vines grown organically in the foothills of Mount Etna, as we sat in a restaurant in June outside this small town on the north face of Etna.

Magma is his top wine, made virtually by hand and aged in terra-cotta amphorae buried in volcanic rock. Its made without additives, filtering or sulfur dioxide, the preservative used in almost all conventional wines. New vintages sell for around $250.

The 2006 vintage was very warm on Etna, and the wine showed the effects of the heat. It was overpowering, above 17 percent alcohol, and though it was indisputably complex and concentrated, with the aromas and flavors of dried cherries and minerals, the heat of the alcohol made it hard to enjoy. It also showed quite a bit of volatile acidity. Not a failure, maybe, as the wine has received positive reviews in the past, but not a long-term success, either.
Chinese armor (Photo : Getty Images)

The ponderous People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) -- the largest standing army in the world -- is being reorganized into a leaner and meaner fighting force able to deploy and fight anywhere in the world at a moment's notice.



With over 1.6 million men in 18 Army Groups, the PLAGF accounts for some three-fourths of the total manpower in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), or the armed forces of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The PLA's primary role and that of the PLAGF is to protect the CPC first and the Chinese state second.



Advertisement

Some 40 percent of the ground force divisions and brigades are either armored or mechanized to fight in large scale conventional battles. The current structure of the PLAGF is patterned after that of the defunct Soviet Army that emphasizeed the primacy of tank divisions and mechanized divisions in fast paced mobile warfare.



China now plans to reorganize this massive ground army in a bid to make this force more agile and adaptable to modern military threats.



Analysts said a number of the existing 18 Army Groups, each of which consists of anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 men will be downsized into 25 to 30 smaller divisions.



"This is a main trend in modern warfare. Even the Russian army has tried to learn from the U.S. Army by reducing the size of their troops, making land forces become more nimble and quick-response," said a retired PLA senior colonel.



The Soviet model of organizing army corps still existent in the PLAGF isn't suited to the demands of modern warfare, noted the retired colonel.



A 2015 Chinese defense white paper emphasized the need to build smaller, multifunctional and modular units within the PLAGF to make it more nimble.



Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015 announced a series of measures to reorganize the PLA. Under the reforms, the four PLA general headquarters were disbanded and reorganized into 15 units directly controlled by the Central Military Commission reporting to Xi.



China has also reorganized its seven military regions into five combat zones.


TU-23M3 laden with two Kh-32 cruise missiles. (Photo : VKO)

The Russian Aerospace Defense Forces has ordered the new Raduga Kh-32 air-launched stand-off cruise missiles originally built to sink U.S. Navy carriers and warships to arm its Tupolev Tu-22M3 "Backfire" bomber fleet.



Advertisement

This long-range missile will become operational by 2018 on the supersonic Tu-22M3 with a range of 6,800 km and a speed of Mach 1.6 at altitude. The ancestor of the variable-winged Tu-22M3, the Tu-22M, was designed in the late 1960s as a long-range, anti-shipping attack bomber. The Tu-22M3 continues this tradition.



The Kh-32 (Complex 32) is also known as the X-32.



VKO reported successful operational evaluation trials of the Kh-32 a missile that uses a combination of GLONASS (the Russian satellite navigation system), GPS and radar terrain mapping to achieve high levels of accuracy.



The Kh-32, an upgraded version of the Kh-22, can be armed with either a conventional or nuclear warhead. It can deliver its 1,000 kg conventional warhead or 1,000 kiloton nuclear warhead out to 1,000 km compared to the 600 km for the Kh-22.



The Kh-32 also features an improved rocket motor and a new seeker head to increase accuracy. It can hit speeds of some 5,000 km/h.



Development of the missile continues, however, and tests have yet to be concluded, said sources at the Tactical Missiles Corporation, a major Russian weapons manufacturer and missile maker.



Sources here said the Kh-32 is designed to eliminate enemy ships and radar stations. They noted the combination of supersonic speed and a ballistic flight path makes the Kh-32 literally invulnerable to anti-aircraft systems and enemy fighters.



After launch, the Kh-32 gains claws upwards to 40 kilometers to reach the stratosphere before plunging downwards at a steep angle to smash into its target.



Russia is currently using the four-man Tu-22M3 to drop dumb bombs on enemies of Syrian President Bassar Al Assad. The bomber has been carrying out attacks since September 2015.


Julian Assange is projected onto a screen as he speaks via livestream at a video conference in Greece. (Photo : Getty Images/Angeliki Panagiotou)

The whistle-blower website WikiLeaks has recently made huge disclosures which reveal sensitive information of hundreds of ordinary individuals. Those include mental health patients, sick children, and rape victims.



The transparency group has in the past revealed confidential information that has worried the United States Security Agency, the American Democratic Party, and even the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry. The most recent disclosures have been found to disclose intimate personal details of ordinary citizens, the Associated Press (AP) reported.



Advertisement

During the previous year alone, the website has published details from personal medical files of citizens in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and America. In addition, sensitive details of financial and personal matters and even identity details have been published on the website.



"They published everything: my phone, address, name, details," a Saudi Arabian who chose to remain anonymous told the news agency in an interview. Further, the man said the website had shockingly revealed details of a paternity case he was involved in with a former spouse."Publishing personal stuff like that could destroy people," the man told AP.



It is reported that the website also published names of Saudi Arabian citizens who were arrested for being gay. The WikiLeaks website responded to these claims of Saudi citizens saying the data was made available by the Saudi Government. The website said it was not responsible for disclosing "gays" to the Saudi government.



.



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 (@wikileaks) 23 August 2016







The diplomatic cables concerning Saudi Arabia alone comprise of more than a 100 medical files, AP reported. Some of the files describe information surrounding psychiatric patients, terminally ill children, and even refugees. The disclosures have been shocking to ordinary citizens as the website has claimed to promote privacy while revealing the goings-on of international governments.



Meanwhile, founder and editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange revealed recently that "significant" information concerning Democratic Presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton will be disclosed before the elections, CNBC reported. In July the website revealed audio recordings pulled from correspondences of the Democratic National Committee.



Reports claim that while the WikiLeaks library is expanding with millions of top secret files, it is also filling up with spam and rogue data as well. In the meantime, Assange continues to seek refuge at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. He has lived there for five-years as he fears extradition to Sweden, where he reportedly faces allegations of sexual assault.





Watch the following video which reveals details about the next WikiLeaks revelations:




Informative Status

Parts of this site may be down for maintenance from 8:00 p.m. (EDT) on October 28 until 6:00 a.m. (EDT) on October 31.
KABUL, Afghanistan  A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended early Thursday after at least 13 people were killed and dozens wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabuls outskirts, a government spokesman said.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale and complex attacks, including in the capital.

The dead included seven students and one teacher, according to Afghan authorities. Three police officers and two security guards were also killed, the Interior Ministry said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault but suspicions are pointing to the Taliban. The groups spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, would only tell the media that the Taliban are investigating.

President Ashraf Ghani laid the blame on neighboring Pakistan, accusing it of supporting the Taliban in sanctuaries across the border, and saying the attack had been organized in Pakistan. Ghani spoke by telephone with Pakistans army chief, Raheel Sharif, and demanded serious action, his office said. Pakistans Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack.

Pakistans military also issued a statement on the conversation between Ghani and Sharif, saying Pakistani soil would not be allowed to be used for any type of terrorism in Afghanistan.

It said Kabul had provided three cellphone numbers allegedly used during the university attack. An investigation had traced them to an Afghan company whose spillover signal affects some areas along the Pak-Afghan border, it said, without further detail.

Ghanis statement also raised the death toll to 13, saying that a teacher, identified on social media by the as Naqib Khpolwak, a graduate of Stanford Law School and a doctoral candidate at Oxford University, was also among those killed.

Most of the dead were killed by gunshots near the windows of their classrooms, said Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior. The ministry said 36 people were wounded, including nine police officers.

The assault began just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university, with a suicide car bombing at the universitys entrance.

The blast breached the security walls and allowed two other militants, armed with grenades and automatic weapons, to enter the campus, Sediqqi said. The siege of the university lasted almost nine hours, before police killed the two assailants around 3:30 a.m., he added.

More than 200 people, mostly students who had been trapped in university buildings, were rescued by special police units.

Ghanis office earlier said he had visited some of the wounded in the hospital and extended condolences to the victims families. He condemned the assault as an attack on educational institutions and public places and said it would strengthen our goal to eliminate the roots of terrorism.

The university, located on the western edge of Kabul, was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

The university remained closed on Thursday and it wasnt clear when it would reopen. Faculty leaders could not immediately be reached for comment.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul called the attack a cruel and cowardly act and said it was ready to assist Afghan authorities with their continuing investigation in bringing those responsible to justice.

The U.N.s assistance mission in Afghanistan called the attack an atrocity. Pernille Kardel, UNAMAs acting head, said in a statement she hoped the attack would not discourage Afghan youth from continued learning and attaining the knowledge and skills critical to Afghanistans prosperity.

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 evacuated by Afghan security forces.

The Pentagon said U.S. 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 came two weeks after two university staffers, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen driving home from the campus after evening classes on a Sunday night. Their abductors were men dressed in Afghan military uniforms, officials said at the time. The whereabouts of the abductees remains unknown.

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.

Last month, Kabul was shaken by a massive suicide bombing that struck a peaceful rally by Afghanistans minority ethnic Hazara community, killing more than 80 people and wounding hundreds.

That attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, which emerged last year in Afghanistan as an affiliate of the militant group fighting in Iraq and Syria. It was the IS Afghan branchs first assault in Kabul and the deadliest attack in the Afghan capital since the U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban regime in 2001.

Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez and Amir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
This summer marks the sixth anniversary of the passage of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, the biggest regulation in the countrys history affecting nearly every aspect of the financial services industry. Coinciding with the occasion, the White House Council of Economic Advisors released a report this month analyzing the laws impact on community banks, which have been disappearing at a rate of one per day since the legislation passed.

In contrast to the conclusions of several high-profile studies, the White House claims Dodd-Frank has had no impact on the decline of community banks. Theres no evidence at all that Dodd-Frank has had a negative impact on this sector, said Jason Furman, chairman of the council.

The White House, which proposed and spearheaded the legislation in 2009, backed up its surprising conclusion by noting that lending at most community banks has increased since it passed in 2010. No doubt. In 2010 banks were in survival mode only months removed from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Picking 2010 as a starting point for a lending volume trend doesnt reveal anything meaningful.

But theres no denying the disappearance of community banks. By one count, only three new community banks have opened since the laws passage, compared to a historical figure of around 100 per year. There are 20 percent fewer community banks today than there were before this legislation took effect. The White House doesnt ignore this, but chalks it up to secular trends within the community banking industry and a generally weak economy.

While these explanations have merit, theres no question that Dodd-Frank regulations have also contributed to the struggles of community banks and the associated lack of access to credit that is holding back small businesses and the economic recovery. Its 22,000 pages of regulations are aimed at big investment banks in hopes of preventing another financial crisis, but have disproportionately fallen on small Main Street banks that resemble their Wall Street counterparts in name only.

The Minneapolis Federal Reserve finds that adding just two members to the compliance department, often too few to process Dodd-Frank regulations, makes a third of small banks unprofitable. According to recent studies by the Government Accountability Office and the Mercatus Center, Dodd-Frank has caused community banks to increase compliance staff, training and time-allocation, as well as reconsider what loans to offer.

Unlike investment banks, whose risky bets on the mortgage industry contributed to the financial crisis, community banks have relatively low profit margins, earning revenue largely through interest on loans in the community. But most of Dodd-Frank doesnt make a distinction. Its onerous capitalization requirements, for instance, arent necessary for community banks holding safe and simple assets.

The demise of small banks has big implications. Community banks are the lifeblood of towns across the country, providing the loans that big banks will not. These are the loans made on personal relationships, local knowledge and a handshake  something that no loan algorithm can match.

Small banks have only 10 percent of the industrys assets, but make one-quarter of the countrys commercial loans, two-thirds of its small business loans and three-quarters of its agricultural loans. Their disappearance has made it more difficult for small businesses to access the startup capital they need to succeed. A recent national poll of small business owners commissioned by the Job Creators Network finds that a lack of access to credit is one of the biggest hurdles facing small businesses today.

The White House should work with legislators, small businesses and bankers to reform Dodd-Frank so that it doesnt hit community banks so hard. But first it has to admit theres a problem. Unfortunately, it seems willing to deny economic reality in order to justify its political conclusion.

Alfredo Ortiz is president and CEO of the Job Creators Network.
The Tustin Police Department is set to be the latest in Orange County to equip officers with body cameras. Last Tuesday, the Tustin City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 100 body cameras along with related software and storage. This is a welcomed, positive development that will at least contribute to the greater accountability and transparency of law enforcement.

Ninety-nine percent of police officers do good work every day, Tustin Police Chief Charlie Celano told the council. Less than 1 percent are a problem but, unfortunately, we get painted with a broad brush.

To ameliorate the problems caused by a few police officers, law enforcement agencies have seen considerable potential in body cameras, which have been demonstrated in cities like Rialto, California, Mesa, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona, to reduce complaints against officers by the public.

The city has worked since last year to figure out which body camera systems are most durable, reliable and easy to use. In March 2015, the Mobile Audio Video, Mobile Data Computer and Body-Worn Camera Committee was created, receiving 10 proposals from vendors offering their services. The committee chose WatchGuard and Taser for testing. WatchGuard was ultimately chosen for its efficacy and lower cost.

With the approval of the council, purchasing of the cameras and implementation of the program is expected to take four to six weeks, with full implementation expected to take two months. Tustin follows the lead of Anaheim, Fullerton and Cal State Fullerton in adopting the use of the devices. We hope more do the same.
HONG KONG  U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter warned a few months back that China risked a great wall of self-isolation for its actions in the disputed South China Sea. That hasnt deterred Xi Jinping.

Beijing is boosting its military presence in the area unabated, in the face of stepped-up U.S. patrols and a recent arbitration court ruling that invalidated its claims to most of the waterway. After decades of U.S. dominance in the western Pacific, Xis behavior throws up an increasingly urgent dilemma for America in how to slow Chinas military and economic expansionism.

The risk now is that troubles afflicting a signature Barack Obama-backed trade deal embolden China to see how much further it can push the worlds biggest economy. Regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November, the mood among a vocal number of American voters is one of isolationism after more than a decade fighting wars thousands of miles away and amid concern about preserving U.S. jobs.

That domestic climate is threatening the U.S. ratification process for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pact that would cover 40 percent of world commerce and does not include China. Republican Party nominee Donald Trump says the TPP will cost U.S. jobs and Democrat Hillary Clinton has reversed her earlier support for it.

Right at the heart of Chinas conduct in the East China Sea and the South China Sea over the last few years has been a conviction that the U.S. doesnt have the resolve to push back hard against Chinas prodding, said Hugh White, a professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University in Canberra and author of The China Choice. If TPP fails, it will encourage them to think that America is not willing to pay the costs and risks required to push back against it and that will encourage China to test it.

Trump has raised the prospect of cutting military assistance to allies such as Japan and South Korea and starting a trade war with China. Whether he would or could make good on that is unclear  the checks and balances of Congress might rein him in. But he has found a strong populist rump in the electorate for his views. While Clinton would probably seek to preserve ties with the region, she would need to manage the political noise at home.

Under President Obama, the U.S. embarked on a military and economic rebalance to Asia, with the policy articulated by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011. Aimed at assuring Asia of Americas commitment to the region, China has painted it as a bid to contain it. The policy has had two main pillars  a military buildup in the western Pacific, and U.S. advocacy for the TPP.

While the arbitration courts July ruling in favor of the Philippines challenge to Chinas South China Sea claims was a diplomatic setback for Xi, it hasnt stopped China from militarizing reclaimed reefs, according to Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative photographs that show reinforced hangars that seem designed to house jet fighters. It has also flown bombers over the disputed waters, announced joint naval exercises with Russia and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan has called for preparation for a peoples war at sea.

Chinas expansionist claims in the South China Sea, reiterated in its angry rebuff of the recent arbitral (sic) decision, make it clear that the U.S. faces a crucial test of its reliability in Southeast Asia, according to a recent article co-authored by Patrick Cronin, director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. The president should offer assurances to allies and partners that coercive moves that undermine the historic legal ruling risk a confrontation with the U.S.

China is also seeking to displace U.S. economic influence amid questions over whether the second plank of the rebalance, the TPP, will get through the U.S. Congress. Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke on his recent visit to Washington of the need for TPP to be ratified: For Americas friends and partners, ratifying the TPP is a litmus test of your credibility and seriousness of purpose.

Failure to pass TPP will have an impact, said Catherine A. Novelli, undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment. China is actively working in Asia and has strong relationships with its neighbors and we expect this will continue. TPP provides balance in the region and sets a very high bar for transparent rules and open and fair trade.

China isnt a member of the TPP, which is being sold as a kind of super trade deal that would not only slash tariffs on goods and services among its 12 members, but would establish shared standards in areas such as labor and the environment. Participants include the U.S., Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Obama has vowed to keep pushing the TPP during the lame-duck session of Congress that follows the election. His efforts to get the deal ratified received recent support from a group of senior former Republican officials who, exasperated by Trump, said theyd back Clintons presidential bid and that they hoped shed reconsider her TPP position. Failure to approve it would cede to China the role of defining regional trade rules, they wrote in an open letter.

Beijing has established the $100 billion Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank to complement its One Belt One Road initiative of building ports and transport links across Asia to Europe. Xi has touted investment and trade in the region to offset concerns about Chinas military ambitions, and pushed an alternate Asia trade pact to the TPP.

Still, while China may be able to make short-term capital of any TPP collapse, strategists in Beijing fret any advantage may be frittered away.

It might make China more complacent, said Shi Yinhong, director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University in Beijing and a foreign policy adviser to the State Council. China would be under less external pressure to push through economic structural reform and the motivation to improve the relations with its neighbors would be somehow diminished.

Ting Shi contributed to this report.

Bloomberg News (TNS); 2016 Bloomberg News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An appeals court has revived a federal lawsuit tied to a controversial 2012 police shooting that led to unrest and riots in Anaheim, as a panel of judges threw out an earlier jury verdict that relied on irrelevant inflammatory evidence.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the lawsuit filed by the mother of Manuel Diaz should be retried at the Santa Ana federal courthouse without evidence of the 25-year-olds gang affiliation and drug use that was brought up during the earlier trial.

Dale Galipo, the lead attorney in the civil lawsuit, said he believed the appeals courts decision reflected a new national focus on shootings involving police officers.

I think the public and judges and court of appeals judges are getting tired of people being unarmed and shot, said Galipo, who has been involved in numerous police shooting and wrongful death cases. At a minimum they want to make sure that they get a fair trial.

Genevieve Huizar, Diazs mother, alleges that Anaheim police Officer Nick Bennallack used excessive force when he shot and killed her unarmed son in July 2012 at the end of a short foot chase.

Melanie Partow, another attorney involved in the lawsuit, spoke to Huizar on Wednesday morning after learning of the appeals court decision.

She was crying when she heard the news, Partow said of Huizar. She is so happy to get a second chance to get justice for her son.

Bennallack, who along with the city of Anaheim is named in the civil lawsuit, has said he shot Diaz because he believed Diaz had a gun that he was preparing to fire.

Anaheim Spokesman Mike Lyster said the city was unable to comment on the specifics of the appeals courts decision due to the ongoing litigation.

We are disappointed with this decision and will continue to see the case through the legal process, Lyster said.

During the initial federal trial in March of 2014, the jury was instructed to focus only on what the officer knew at the time he pulled the trigger.

The jurors rejected the excessive force claim.

After the verdict, one juror told reporters that police could reasonably expect that someone dressed like a gang member and running from officers in the area where the shooting took place could be armed. That neighborhood, which surrounds Anna Drive, was claimed by an Anaheim gang and at the time of the shooting was the focus of a multi-agency investigation.

The appeals court described the first trial as a runaway case in which the defendants and their witnesses repeatedly overstepped the judges rulings, particularly in discussing Diazs gang background and drug ties.

Police shootings are often the most difficult  and divisive  cases that our legal system and society encounter, Judge John B. Owens said in the appeals courts written opinion. Wrapped in strong emotion and often opaque case law, they can perplex even our most experienced trial judges, like the judge in this case.

The death of Diaz following a series of officer-involved shootings touched off days of protests that turned violent. The Orange County District Attorneys Office cleared Bennallack of any criminal wrongdoing, leading Huizar to seek damages in civil court.

Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com
The Great Food Truck Race on Food Network has always been smitten with Southern California competitors.

This season is no different. The show, which debuts Sunday night, features the owners of Bigmistas Barbecue & Sammich Shop and Bigmistas Morning Wood, both in Long Beach. The barbecue restaurants are run by husband-and-wife team Neil and Phyllis Strawder, best known for their signature wood-smoked brisket.

RELATED: Does Reality TV pay off? O.C. restaurant alumni spill the beans on their 15 minutes of fame

In the opening episode, the contestants are involved in a funnel-cake eating contest at a Los Angeles theme park.

I learned a really big lesson, and that was  I never want a food truck. It is really hard work, Neil Strawder said during a phone interview Tuesday.

Strawder, a familiar face in the competition barbecue circuit, said show producers contacted him earlier this year to be on the show. Due to confidentiality agreements, he couldnt talk about the challenges he and his wife faced.

But he did say the competition was a fun experience because he met a lot of great people, including show host and celebrity chef Tyler Florence.

Tyler was great. We built a rapport, Strawder said.

Local food concepts have done well after a stint on the Food Network reality show. Orange Countys Lime Truck won the Great Food Truck Race in 2011. At the time, it was operated by Daniel Shemtob and chef Jason Quinn.

Quinn left the truck soon after to open his first restaurant, The Playground, in downtown Santa Ana. It remains one of the most critically acclaimed dining spots in Orange County.

Shemtob eventually opened a brick and mortar version of the Lime Truck dubbed TLT Food, which serves gourmet street food. He has locations in Irvine, Newport Beach, Westwood Village and Pasadena.

Other food trucks that have competed in Great Food Truck Race include Orange Countys GD Bro (Season 6), Crepes Bonaparte (Season 1) and Seabirds (Season 2). GD Bro Burger has brick and mortar locations in Santa Ana and Signal Hill. Seabirds operates at The Lab in Costa Mesa and plans to open another location in Long Beach.

Strawder is hopeful for similar success as he builds his barbecue brand. He and his wife are looking at branching out and opening a new concept.

The fame comes more than 10 years after Strawder left the banking business to become a barbecue pitmaster. In 2004, he was inspired to smoke his own meats after watching Alton Brown smoke pork butt on Good Eats.

But his first batch was awful, he said.

He turned to various food websites for guidance  eventually learning much of what he needed through the site, The BBQ Brethren. Once he perfected his smoking techniques, he quit his job at Wells Fargo and began selling his meats full time at various farmers markets in the greater Los Angeles area. He also catered and competed in barbecue competitions.

In 2014, Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold praised Bigmistas meats at the Atwater Farmers Market, including his smoked pastrami, pig bacon and brisket. That same year, the Strawders made the plunge  opening Bigmistas Barbecue & Sammich Shop.

The restaurant, at 3444 N. Los Coyotes Diagonal, serves smoked turkey, ribs, chicken and pork. But the most popular is the smoked brisket, Strawder said. Bigmistas Morning Wood, which specializes in breakfast foods made with smoked meats, opened a year later in 2015.

Some of the dishes served on the food truck reflect signature items served in the Long Beach restaurants: sweet potato fatty hash, fatty pancakes with candied bacon and fatty grits.

Fans will have to tune in Sunday night to see how the dishes fared against the competition, which includes trucks serving Southern soul, Asian fusion and Italian classic foods.

Related Links:

 How did Little Sparrow fare on Bravos Best New Restaurant?

 Guy Fieri show spotlights O.C. food truck

 O.C. shop wins Cupcake Wars

Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com
SAN FRANCISCO  Warren Hinckle, a muckraking journalist who drew the wrath of mayors, police or anyone who got in his way, has died, his daughter said Thursday.

He was 77.

His daughter Pia Hinckle said her father had been in declining health and died of complications from pneumonia early Thursday at a hospital near his home in San Francisco.

Hinckle was a groundbreaking editor for the liberal magazines Ramparts and Scanlans Monthly in the 1960s and 70s and more recently wrote reliably irreverent columns for newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner, the Chronicle reported.

Pia Hinckle said her father had a long career with no regrets. She said he was a character who never looked back and was always looking for the next thing to do.

He was a total optimist, she said. Every problem was just an opportunity make a plan, to make a better plan.

He was also an effectively aggressive magazine editor, particularly as the U.S. was turned upside-down in the 1960s, the Chronicle reported.

While executive editor of Ramparts, Hinckle pioneered radical slick  publishing early denunciations of the Vietnam War and diaries by such leftist figures as Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara and Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver in a mass-marketed magazine.

His Rampart magazine took on every social issue of the late 60s, early 70s, said longtime friend Ron Turner. And when that failed, he had Scanlans, which went right to the throat of Richard Nixon, who called him out on the White House steps. One of Warrens great pleasures was having the last word and he was usually pretty correct in the end.

David Talbot, whose book Season of the Witch details the tumultuous history of San Francisco from the 1960s to the early 80s, called him the godfather of California and national progressive journalism.

As a newsman, he just loved the 60s as a story, with all its weirdness, from the Black Panthers to hippies in the Haight to the Kennedy assassination, Talbot told the Chronicle. No publication caught it better than Ramparts  it led directly to publications like Rolling Stone, Mother Jones and Salon, the web magazine Talbot co-founded in 1995.

He was a great showman, too, and he knew that putting out each issue was like putting out a show  like an album release, Talbot said.

Hinckles daughter said he loved nothing better than getting a good story.

And he did believe there was a right side to every story and you should be on it. He was a social justice journalist in many ways, she said.

Services are pending.
TOKYO  The missile that North Korea test-fired from a submarine off its east coast 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 U.S. and allied forces. The missile flew 310 miles toward Japan, much farther than previous tests.

Tensions between the three countries have intensified 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 claim. And China has vehemently criticized South Koreas agreement to host an American-built advanced missile defense system that the Chinese believe could be used against their countrys missiles.

But North Koreas missile launch briefly united the three other nations Wednesday, providing a kind of diplomatic camouflage as the foreign ministers gathered in Tokyo.

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.

At a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Japans foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, said North Koreas action is simply not tolerated. His South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, said the three countries confirmed our common view that we must deter North Koreas further provocative actions.

Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, said that China opposes the development of North Koreas nuclear program, and any words or deeds that create tensions in the peninsula. He reiterated, however, Chinas opposition to U.S. efforts to build the missile defense system in South Korea.

South Koreas president, Park Geun-hye, denounced the North Korean leader Wednesday.

Given the fact that North Korea has an irrational decision-making system under a one-man dictatorship, Park said, and that Kim Jong Un is an unpredictable character, there is a high possibility that this threat could become a reality.
Writer-director Richard Tannes 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 Tannes 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 Jacksons 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 Michelles 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 Lees 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.

They drive a little and walk a little through Chicagos Southside, but theyre also passing through a larger cultural atmosphere. Barack is reading Toni Morrisons 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 Sals 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. Im 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 (its a mere 84 minutes long) is an all the more a welcome change of pace in this election year.

Even most of the winks youd expect in an origin story like this arent heavy-handed. Some are actually quite good. As Michelle gets ready for her date, her father hollers, ominously, So whats this boys name?
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.

After lobbying the county commission and the mosquito control district for a say, Key Haven residents will get a chance to vote on whether they favor allowing Oxitec, a British company, to release its genetically modified mosquitoes in their community of 440 homes. Florida Keys residents will also vote on a referendum that asks whether they want the mosquitoes anywhere along the chain of islands in Monroe County. Both referendums will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Because the referendums are nonbinding, a no vote by residents would not preclude the five-person mosquito control board from moving forward, but it would certainly make it politically difficult.

Debate has intensified

The debate has swirled and intensified over four years, prompting small rallies, a large online petition campaign, sharp exchanges and the opposition of the Key West City Commission. It has even added a shot of adrenaline to the typically staid race for seats on the mosquito control board. But the controversy over the trial has taken on new urgency this month with widespread attention to the spread of Zika.

Florida now has 37 cases of active Zika transmission, all of them in Miami-Dade County. Another 494 Floridians have been infected abroad. The virus, while largely harmless, is a serious threat to pregnant women because it can damage a fetus brain, causing a condition called microcephaly. Zika can also be sexually transmitted.

Oxitec scientists said they had reduced the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carry the virus, by 90 percent or more in other areas where the companys modified mosquitoes have been released, including Brazil. The male mosquitoes carry synthetic DNA as larvae. They are hatched and then released as adults to mate with females (who do all the biting) in the wild. The DNA infuses their offspring with too much protein, causing them to die.

Pesticides in the Keys, which have one of the best mosquito-control programs in the world, have about a 50 percent success rate with Aedes aegypti, which are rapidly becoming immune to some products, officials in the Keys said.

Still, even the genetically modified mosquitoes would not be a quick fix. The trial would most likely last four to six months, but could go as long as 22 months if big storms or hurricanes interfered, said Hadyn Parry, the chief executive of Oxitec.

But in the lower Florida Keys, as is true in large areas of the United States, skepticism of corporate interests and scientific findings abounds. Many residents are dubious about studies showing that genetically modified mosquitoes are not harmful.

This is Jurassic science, said David Berthier, a Key West resident and one of the critics of the experiment. People distrust this because there is so much corporate spin.

Not interested in the truth

Phil Goodman, the chairman of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Board of Commissioners, said he opposed the referendum because the board was elected to make these kinds of hard choices from a position of knowledge, and not emotion.

The opponents have very little information, and they are led by a few people who are non-science-based, Goodman said. We have tried to explain the real answers to them. They are not interested in the truth.

Goodman said scientists and regulators  including the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  had concluded that there is no evidence that the mosquitoes are harmful to people, animals or the environment. For this reason, the FDA granted final approval to the trial this month.

It was the mosquito control district that recruited Oxitec as a result of Key Wests small dengue outbreak in 2010. The district chose Key Haven as the site because it had so many of the requirements needed to keep track of the mosquitoes, which normally fly a few blocks: It was small, it was a peninsula and it had plenty of other Aedes aegypti to serve as mates.

People portray us as some corporate company that has chosen the Keys, Parry said. We chose the Keys because the Keys chose us.

In Key Haven, where imposing houses mix with the original working-class variety and cars park next to boats in the driveways, most residents are not backing down. Jitka Olsak, who was at the small park in the neighborhood with her two children and her dog, said Zika did not scare her as much as scientists tinkering with animals. Like others, she fears that some of the genetically modified female mosquitoes  a small percentage are expected to slip through the cracks and be released, scientists said  will bite people and cause unexpected consequences.

Plus, Key Haven does not even have Zika.

We are not going to be laboratory mice, said Olsak, who moved to Key Haven 10 years ago from the Czech Republic. Nature takes care of its own things.
WASHINGTON  President Barack 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.

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 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.

Roxanne Quimby, a founder of Burts Bees, had been buying property in northeastern Maine for years and accelerated her purchases after selling the company in 2007. But she stoked the anger of Maine residents by closing off the land to hunting and snowmobiling. When she announced plans to turn it into a national park, the idea ran into fierce opposition.

Her son, Lucas St. Clair, took over the campaign, allowing hunters and snowmobilers to return to part of the area. He and Obama administration officials vowed that the land would remain open to recreation if it was given to the government.

The family donated $20 million for park development and maintenance, and pledged another $20 million. After it became clear that Congress would not approve a national park, conservation groups lobbied the administration for a national monument designation.
A trail of geese followed a family of four from its car to a picnic table, where the mom proceeded to open a package of hamburger buns, break the bread and toss pieces to the meandering crowd of waterfowl.

In clear sight were signs  telling visitors not to feed the birds  posted at the entrances of each side of Village Pond Park.

Lake Forest has had a problem with the birds at Village Pond Park for years. The feeding of the geese by park visitors has led to overcrowding, poor nutrition and disease, delayed migration and pollution, not to mention the abundance of droppings along ponds surrounding sidewalk, city officials say.

In 2014, the city hired Nuvis Landscape Architecture to help renovate the park in an effort to control the birds access to the pond, reduce the amount of grass turf for them to eat and add foliage and landscape to keep them away from the turf.

Nuvis had submitted design plans for the project after conducting community workshops, but work was stalled. The final design could change based on the negotiations.

Some are asking why. City Attorney Matt Richardson has warned City Council members not to discuss the park in too much detail because of ongoing legal issues between the city and the Lake Forest Homeowners Association.

In an Aug. 15 letter to residents who live near Village Pond Park, the city said the delay has been due to negotiations between the city and the association to determine details and costs to relieve the association of its contractual duties to maintain the ponds water quality, water level and to feed the birds.

In 1976, the association and the county agreed to jointly maintain the park. The city took over the countys responsibility when it incorporated in 1991.

The citys role is to maintain the landscape and ensure the park remains a bird sanctuary while also paying utility costs for the pond.

Stricter water quality regulations, clean water laws and water conservation mandates have made maintaining the pond more difficult and expensive for the association, which filed a request to be relieved of its duties, the letter said.

Subsequently, the association also filed a lawsuit against the city and two transportation agencies alleging damage caused by storm drain runoff to a different lake. The two sides are in negotiations for both matters.

Because of the 1976 agreement, any decision to make changes to Village Pond Park must be reviewed and approved by both parties.

Any change will require an amended contract and settlement agreement, the letter said. Until these issues are resolved, improvements to Village Pond Park have been on hold.

In the meantime, the city sends crews out three times a week to clean up the sidewalks, but keeping up with the abundance of birds has proven taxing.

Homeowners around the park continue to voice concerns about the condition of the park. Residents like Evelyn Joiner said they have seen the birds migrate toward their homes.

You wouldnt want them in your yard, Joiner told the council at a recent meeting. Theyre messy.

In March 2015, the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting visitors from feeding birds in places deemed by the Parks and Recreation Commission to be overpopulated with wildlife, specifically Village Pond Park.

The city added the signs to keep visitors from feeding the birds, but that hasnt stopped the feedings, residents said.

City Manager Robert Dunek said last month that in the approximately 16-month period following the passing of the ordinance, a total of three citations have been handed out.

Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com
The National Park Service, Americas playground of infinite beauty and wonder, turns 100 today.

Its a milestone we shouldnt ignore. If youre like me, you grew up with our Park Service. And, in your soul, you never left.

My first national park memory is of rain dripping through our green canvas tent. Mom confessed that the water was coming through holes in the fabric, the places where shed stuck baby pins while changing our diapers.

The second thing I remember about a national park is holding my dads hand on the Yosemite Valley Floor. We stood, stock still, and watched as several deer picked their way between towering pines, all while bathed in shafts of sunlight.

I believed then that deer were spiritual kin. I still believe that.

Call it deer kin superstition, or an ancient religion buried in the recesses of our DNA, but the natural world available in the national parks provides solace that is chicken soup for the brain. With 412 sites, and hundreds of millions of visitors a year, the park service seems to agree. In celebration of its 100th birthday, all national parks are free today through Sunday.

The biggest national park near us is Joshua Tree. Last year, more than 2 million people went there. But, please, this weekend, pick a different park. Temperatures at J-Tree are touching toward triple digits. Last week, a 56-year-old woman hiker died of heat stroke.

Instead, consider somewhere cooler, such as the Golden Gate Recreation Area in and around San Francisco. Of course, that area, which includes parts of Marin County and Alcatraz, comes with a price. Its often packed. Slightly less popular than the most popular park (Great Smoky Mountains), Golden Gate attracts nearly 15 million visitors a year.

For a true park experience, visit one far from a city.

NATURE

Despite Dads teachings, my big sister and I were never able to contain our excitement when we spotted wildlife. Depending on the species, we shouted, buffalo or moose or bear! (Heck, we hollered, chipmunk!)

When I was 6, my family piled into a Pontiac and drove from Topanga Canyon where we lived to Washington, D.C. Along the way, my parents went out of their way to camp at as many national parks as possible.

We watched burning embers spill from Glacier Point in Yosemite (something that stopped in the 1970s.), and counted the seconds between Old Faithfuls eruptions in Yellowstone. We sang songs around the campfire in Grand Teton; listened to ranger talks in Glacier.

The list went on. So did our dreams.

In high school, two buddies and I drove west from Michigan. We walked through the pine forests of Rocky Mountain National Park, hiked past yellow, orange and red sediment in the Grand Canyon, explored the verdant rainforest in Washingtons Olympic Peninsula and examined fossils in Dinosaur National Monument in Utah.

In some ways, I never stopped that trip. Sometimes solo, mostly with mentors, I joined hundreds of thousands of other Americans in learning to take the natural world to higher levels.

FEAR

Our four-person team edges toward the knife-like ridge at the summit of Denali, part of monstrous Denali National Park in Alaska. At 20,310 feet, its the highest mountain in North America and one of the most lethal.

Ice axes bite into frozen water. Yellow plastic mountaineering boots swing forward. Steel teeth on crampons prevent us from hurtling into space. Lungs work furiously to grab the little oxygen available at this altitude.

The ridge is about a boots width wide. The yawn of open space feels like a vacuum sucking me into the void. Drop-offs spill into white glaciers; the glaciers are slashed with blue crevasses thousands of feet below.

The final 100 yards of our climb require all our focus, all the rhythm our team developed over the past two weeks as we made our way up the mountain.

But doubt taunts me: Will I be too terrified to move? Will I slip and pull the team off the ridge? Although Ive trained for this moment for three years, I cant handle the fear.

I shut off everything except what I can touch, where I can step.

Finally and suddenly  I stand on the roof of North America.

PERSEVERANCE

As twilight slips into darkness over Mount Whitney  the highest mountain in the contiguous United States and part of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park  the temperature drops and the winds pick up.

My climbing partner, Dennis George, and I are struggling to make the summit and there is no room for error. We quietly agree that spending the night on the side of a 1,500-foot cliff, in late October, at 14,000 feet, is not an option.

George tries to climb straight up, over granite blocks the size of houses. He goes this way and that, but with snow in every cranny and darkness cloaking every solution, the Aliso Viejo resident cant find a route.

George disappears around a wall on our left. Minutes tick by. Finally, I hear in the wind, On belay.

The words mean George is secure, anchored to big rocks. Its time for me to follow. But something is very wrong.

With George on belay, the rope should be relatively taut to prevent a long fall. But there are coils. Somewhere, the rope is stuck.

My headlamp shines on a small platform the size of my climbing shoe, then an inky void about three feet across, then another small platform.

The maneuver requires whats called a step-across. Its a move a climber can only accomplish with total commitment, landing perfectly on the other side.

I have no choice but to succeed.

I gather the rope in my left hand. Shadows from my headlamp dance on granite. I spot a crack on the wall ahead.

I inhale, exhale and step. My shoe sticks. I slam fingers into the crack.

Another lesson learned. Get up earlier; live longer.

MEMORIES

Those and many other experiences are seared into my brain. Theyre part of who I am. I return to them repeatedly.

If you cant remember the last time you were in a national park, its time to celebrate the birthday with a free visit.

But be smart. Play safe.

TOP 5 CALIFORNIA PARKS

In California, the National Park Service lists 34 separate parks. That includes parks, recreation areas, monuments and seashores, as well as historic preserves, sites and trails. Here are my favorite five with edited quotes from the National Park Service:

Yosemite

What: National Park

Where: Sierra Nevada, 7 hours from Southern California.

Why: A shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. Best known for its waterfalls, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area.

My tip: Be sure to check out Tuolumne Meadows.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon

What: National Park

Where: Southern Sierra Nevada via the awesome eastern side, six hours.

Why: This dramatic landscape testifies to natures size, beauty, and diversity  huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the worlds largest trees.

My tip: You dont have to backpack. A day hike and picnic lunch will make the journey one youll never forget.

Joshua Tree

What: National Park

Where: Between I-10 and Highway 62; headquarters, Twentynine Palms, 2.5 hours.

Why: Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features.

My tip: October through April are best. Bring plenty of water.

Golden Gate

What: National Recreation Area

Where: In and around San Francisco, 7 hours.

Why: Alcatraz Island has the infamous federal penitentiary; the Presidio served as an army post for three nations; San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park offers history; Marin Headlands offers beaches, rugged coastline and outstanding vistas with an extensive trail system.

My tip: Include a walk or run across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Manzanar

What: National Historic Site

Where: Independence, 5 hours.

Why: In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of 10 camps.

My tip: Plan on a few hours.

BEST NATIONAL PARKS OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA

Ive camped, hiked, climbed or cycled in dozens of national parks including Mount Rainier in Washington, Isle Royale in Michigan, Crater Lake in Oregon, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, Saguaro in Arizona and Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Each was unique, memorable and worth the trip. With edited quotes from the National Park Service, here are my top five must-see parks not in California:

Denali

Where: Alaska

Why: Six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. See the taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North Americas tallest peak, 20,310-foot Denali. Wild animals large and small roam.

My tip: Its worth the money to hop a bush plane, fly the mountain and land on a glacier. Better, climb the beast.

Yellowstone

Where: Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Yes, its big.

Why: Experience the worlds first national park. Marvel at a volcanos hidden power rising up in colorful hot springs, mudpots, and geysers. Explore mountains, forests, and lakes to watch wildlife.

My tip: This sprawling park is worth a week. But if nothing else, be sure to visit Old Faithful and walk the guided trail.

Grand Canyon

Where: Arizona, eight hours from Southern California.

Why: Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep. Grand Canyon overwhelms.

My tip: Bring sturdy sneakers and hike down. But you need to hike back up, too.

Zion

Where: Southwestern Utah, seven hours from Southern California.

Why: Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Experience wilderness in a narrow slot canyon.

My tip: Park outside Zion and take the tram. Hike to Observation Point for the best view

Olympic

Where: Olympic Peninsula, Washington.

Why: The park protects a several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline.

My tip: Drive along the beautifully haunting beach on the southwest side of the park.

Contact the writer: dwhiting@scng.com
FULLERTON  A small plane crashed into a hangar on takeoff Wednesday evening at Fullerton Airport, slightly injuring two men aboard, authorities said.

Around 6 p.m., the plane, owned by fantasy flight school Air Combat USA, clipped two aircraft on the ground and plowed into the hangar on the south side of the airport, Fullerton Fire Department Deputy Chief Julie Kunze said.

The pilot of the single-engine SAIA Marchetti SF 260 lost control while taking off and crashed into a hangar, Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said Wednesday night.

The two men aboard the plane were able to escape with minor injuries and were not taken to a hospital, Kunze said.

The plane had a minor fuel leak when it clipped the other planes, but did not catch fire.

Both the hangar and the plane were heavily damaged, Kunze said. The airport was shut down briefly due to the crash.

Officials with Air Combat USA could not immediately be reached for comment. On its website, Air Combat says its takes fliers up for a two- to three-hour fantasy flight that simulates air-to-air combat in a SIAI Marchetti aircraft with an instructor.

The cause of the crash has not been determined and an investigation will be launched by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@ocregister.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
The insurance carrier for the now-defunct Marinello Schools of Beauty has paid the United States more than $8.6 million to resolve allegations the schools received federal student loan funding for ineligible students who received bogus high school diplomas.

Philadelphia Indemnity agreed to the civil settlement and paid it on Monday without admitting any wrongdoing by its insured, B&H Education Inc., which operated the schools in locations across Southern California, including in Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Lake Forest.

In a whistleblower lawsuit, B&H was accused of allegedly allowing students seeking the diplomas to take their tests without proctors, to use their phones and workbooks to look up answers during tests and to repeat the same tests until they passed. Under U.S. Department of Education regulations, a student must have a valid high school diploma or its equivalent to receive federal student loans.

The operator of this school manipulated the system in order to fraudulently secure student aid funds without which the school could not function, U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said in a statement. Todays settlement demonstrates my offices commitment to ensuring the integrity of federal programs, and the public monies used to support them.

The Department of Education cut off Marinellos participation in the federal student aid program in February after determining the schools were knowingly requesting federal aid for students based on invalid high school diplomas, under-awarding federal student aid to students, charging students for excessive overtime and engaging in other acts of misrepresentation.

Shortly after that action was taken, Marinello spokesman Joe Hixon said the claims were based on flawed information.

We had really good responses to the areas they addressed, he said.

They began withholding financial aid funding to us two months ago but wouldnt say what the allegations were. Thats kind of like being arrested and not being told what the charges are.

Hixon took issue with the Department of Educations claim that Marinello sought financial aid for students with invalid high school diplomas.

If they dont have a high school diploma or the equivalent, they are not eligible for financial aid, Hixon said in February. But we think its important for everyone to have at least that educational background, so we work with students through an accredited school to get their high school equivalency completed.

The entire Marinello school chain  with 56 campuses across the nation  received more than $87 million in Pell Grants and federal student loans for the 2014-15 school year. All of the schools closed shortly after the action was initiated.

The closures affected about 4,300 students and 800 employees.

The impact was felt in Ontario, Burbank, San Bernardino, Lomita, Whittier and Simi Valley, among other area communities.

Contact the writer: kvsmith@scng.com; @SGVNBiz on Twitter
NEWPORT BEACH  The first batch of sculptures shown in a rotating exhibit at Civic Center Park has been removed to make way for newer pieces that will debut next year.

The works, including Big Wet Dog by Matt Babcock of Seattle, Cub Triptych by Gerardo Hacer of Los Angeles and Sphere 108 by Ivan McLean of Portland, Ore., shared the 14-acre park with multiple oversize bunny sculptures. The 10 sculptures were installed in August 2014, with another 10 added last year.

There has been a lot of public support for the project, said Tim Hetherton, director of library services for the Newport Beach Public Library.

In 2013, the Arts Commission and City Council approved a temporary sculpture exhibit where selected works would be housed at the park for two-year increments before being replaced.

The proposal came shortly after city officials acknowledged they could not account for 33 works of public art due to a record-keeping error. In the wake of the error, officials said the works were likely discarded over time and were not worth fixing.

Last month, the council approved a third phase to add works of art that could be installed next summer.

The exhibition allows the city to have public art without the expense of ownership or liability, Hetherton said.

Each phase costs the city $125,000, including installation, project management, and a $5,000 honorarium for the artists for maintenance and repair of their work.

The sculptures being removed were chosen from over 250 entries after a six-week national search. Of the 10 artists selected, two are from California and the rest are from out of state. None are from Newport Beach or Orange County.

The Arts Commission will put out a call for artists for the next round of works.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com
I recently survived a cruise to Canada with 15 other adults and three children, and no one got hurt. No, really!

To add to the drama, two of them had food allergies and Im prone to motion sickness.

No, really!

I slapped on a ReliefBand ($89 on Amazon, and I swear by it) and we alerted the crew ahead of time to the possible food-related medical emergencies, then headed out.

The idea of spending five days in the middle of the Pacific with that many family members might sound  daunting. Possibly nightmarish. But I actually had a blast.

I kept one rule of thumb in mind the whole time, which is what really saved me. But here are a few tips before you call up all your cousins.

First, go for a one-way cruise. Sound crazy? Hear me out.

We departed Long Beach on the Ruby Princess on a Tuesday in May. We were at sea  meaning we saw no land  for two days. On Friday, we docked in Victoria, B.C. We spent the afternoon sightseeing and had enough time for a long lunch before getting back on the ship. By dinnertime, the ship departed; we arrived in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, where we disembarked and spent the weekend. On Monday morning, we took a flight back to Orange County.

It was like having three mini vacations in one, and we werent even gone a whole week.

PLAN AHEAD

Checking into a hotel on land is cake compared to cruise registrations, but the internet helps. Princess Cruises has 18 ships with multiple worldwide destinations, but once youve put in your personal info online, youre able to customize preferences like extra pillows and whether you want a robe (I, of course, did). This is also where you choose dinner table reservations, which means its your first chance to warn them that youre a picky eater  or like my cousin Barbara, allergic to gluten.

If youre an avid traveler, this might be a no-brainer, but for a large group vacation, you absolutely need an itinerary. It needs specific departing and arrival times as well as addresses, because one of you might try to lose the grumpy brother-in-law, and hell need to be able to find his way back to the hotel in time for dinner.

We rented vans to tour Victoria, but it took a small bus to cart all of us and our luggage from the ship to the hotel in Vancouver. For such a large group, trying to hail a taxi or car service on command isnt feasible  unless of course your Uber guy is really good at Tetris.

When youre on the ship, youll get detailed info about cruise activities. Let your group know which ones youll be at, so they can avoid you if you forget to pack deodorant. (Seriously though, they sell deodorant in the duty-free shops.)

Take heed: Kid center time is cruise-speak for grown-up drink time. You should absolutely take advantage of this amenity, which means you just drop off your offspring for a few hours. When you get them back, prepare to ooh and ahh over their paper-plate art projects.

COMMUNICATE

When youre out in the middle of the ocean, you lose cell service.

Let me repeat: You. Will. Not. Have. Cell. Service.

Princess Cruises offers a messaging app via its onboard website. It does not send your phone a notification when you have a message, but it can still be useful if everyone in your group knows to check it periodically. (Just dont expect Aunt Karen to ever get the hang of it.)

Otherwise, you just need prearranged meet-up spots.

Our ship had 19 decks and I could never remember which way to turn off the elevators to get to our cabin. The only reason I knew forward was because I quickly developed a habit of looking outside to see the direction of the waves. Its like wandering the halls of a hotel, except there are multiple lobbies and no exit doors. I logged an average of 12,000 steps on my Fitbit every day of the cruise, and Im certain half of them were because I got turned around trying to get from 12th deck port side to top deck starboard bow for more pizza. So make multiple meeting locations, and give yourself at least 10-15 minutes to get to and from places.

You should also develop a rapport with the servers and crew members. The servers were the same for every dinner we had on the ship, so they easily got to know us and were able to accommodate our requests for gluten-free, low-sodium or kid-friendly feasts.

RECREATE

A band was performing in a lounge one night, and we took up a large chunk of the seating area next to the dance floor. The kids were dancing, the adults were being goofy and eventually our party became the party. Strangers started joining in. We brought the crowd!

For bingo  a very serious and very necessary part of your cruise experience  we would show up early and stake out multiple tables. Youre supposed to be quiet during bingo, so be respectful, but theres really nothing better than wasting away an afternoon on a boat, sipping a Bloody Mary while hoping the Aussie bingo caller with the punny jokes will say G-14 so you can stand up and claim your prize before Uncle Mark wins again.

GET ALONE TIME

Within a few days (or maybe a few hours, depending on your tolerance level), youre going to need a break from your cousins whining and your aunts tendency to overshare details about the 70s, so make sure to plan a break from the group.

After 10 p.m., the ship goes pretty quiet, so my partner and I would explore. We strolled around outside when it wasnt too cold, and sat at a bar for a drink when we needed to warm up. Mostly it was just nice to feel alone on a ship you knew was actually packed with people.

My absolute favorite activity was movies under the stars. A huge movie screen loomed over one of the pools on the top deck. During the day they played family-friendly flicks, but on some nights they screened grown-up movies. We watched The Martian while cuddled up under soft, red blankets and being served warm popcorn and chocolate-chip cookies.

BE FLEXIBLE

If you take just one piece of advice from me, take this: Be willing to go with the flow (pun intended!). In large groups you might never have a say. But if you hate what youre doing, just excuse yourself. Being missing for an hour is better than sitting there being grumpy (Im looking at you, Uncle Chris).

Allow yourself some time to do absolutely nothing, and dont plan out every single meal together  that way you can opt for ice cream for lunch if you want.

My overall saving grace, though, was simple: I was on a ship! A massive, 960-foot-long vessel floating in the ocean. Anything I did, no matter how ordinary on land, just seemed infinitely more fun to do on a ship. Tipsy by 2 in the afternoon? Shrug. Im on a ship! Eating burgers by the pool? So fun. Im on a ship!

Laughing over dinner with a bunch of my favorite people? Wonderful. Im on a ship!

Contact the writer:
For many, California represents the ideal melding of natural beauty, liberal politics and a strong economy. Democrats control the levers of government in Sacramento, and theyd be happy to tell you that they preside over the worlds 6th largest economy. But instead of drawing workers from across the country with its pro-labor regulatory practices, California is in the midst of a low-skill labor exodus.

The non-partisan California think tank Next 10, in a study published earlier this year, reported that 625,000 more people left the state than moved to it between 2007 and 2014. Nearly 470,000 of those who left for greener (read: cheaper) pastures were over the age of 25 and did not possess four-year college degrees. A majority of the leavers earned less than $30,000 per year, and the reports authors note that middle-class families have also been priced out of the state.

The irony of a deep-blue state casting off the low and middle-income residents that its trying to help is apparently lost on Sacramento legislators.

The Next 10 report concludes that the states cost of living, coupled with property prices, make it difficult for workers to both pay rent and convert to home ownership. California, which is home to 12 percent of the nations population and only 8 percent of its residential permits, is in the midst of a decades-long housing shortage that has been exacerbated by environmental regulation, union meddling and long-term residents who prevent the construction of new units.

(Id encourage those interested in a comprehensive explanation of the causes and consequences of the states housing crisis to read the work of TechCrunch columnist Kim-Mai Cutler.)

As recently as this summer, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown tried to ameliorate the problem by loosening Californias often-abused environmental review law (known as CEQA) specifically for affordable housing projects. Hes thus far been thwarted by a coalition that includes labor unions, who prefer to misuse the law to extract prevailing wage guarantees out of private companies and developers. Thats good for the union bottom line, but not so good for working- and middle-class residents who need the housing.

The proposed fixes from labor unions and their allies only exacerbate these problems. In San Francisco, for instance, the citys Labor Council threw its endorsement behind a proposed moratorium on new market-rate housing  even though population growth in the City by the Bay already far outstrips housing growth. (The moratorium was fortunately defeated at the ballot box last fall.)

Earlier this year, unions used the threat of a ballot initiative to twist the arm of Gov. Jerry Brown and state legislators and win a $15 minimum wage statewide. As $15 phases in statewide, employers will be faced with a difficult choice: Either raise prices on their declining pool of low- and middle-income customers, or find other means to offset the cost by reducing staffing levels and eliminating jobs for less-educated workers. For those that cant make either option work, closure is inevitable. (Many businesses in the state have already closed as a consequence of local wage mandates. These stories are available at FacesOf15.com.)

The silver lining of the Next 10 report is that California is attracting better-educated new residents who have higher incomes. Even these domestic migrants may be out of luck if theyre planning to move to the Bay Area: One departing Palo Alto resident recently noted that the city had become unaffordable even for those in higher-income occupations. Regardless, the relatively small number of Americans attracted to Californias high-cost environment are vastly outnumbered by the working- and middle-class families leaving the state for Texas, Nevada, Arizona and other low-cost options.

This summer, while the state legislature took its recess, a long-established independent bookstore outside Sacramento was forced to close as a consequence of the states rising minimum wage floor. This business would be open were it not for the states hostile policy environment  just like thousands of former Californians might still be residents were it not for the high housing costs. These problems are fixable: The question is, does the political will exist in Sacramento to fix them?

Michael Saltsman is research director at the Employment Policies Institute.
Orange County, and California, students made strides in the second year of Common Core testing in math and English  with local students once again outperforming their peers across the state.

The number of Orange County districts that reached at least 50 percent proficiency in both math and English increased by more than half.

The state Department of Education released scores Wednesday from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress exams taken online by 3.2 million students in the spring.

The tests, implemented two years ago, are designed to be more rigorous than the long-used paper-based STAR testing; rather than multiple choice, students must use critical thinking skills to analyze and answer questions.

Related: See how your school did on the Common Core tests

Statewide, 49 percent of students met or exceeded English standards  a 5-percentage point improvement from last year. In math, 37 percent hit those marks  a 4-point gain.

In Orange County, 57 percent of students reached the top two tiers in English, a 4-percentage point rise from 2015  while the math proficiency inched up from 28 percent to 31 percent.

Irvine Unified School District again did exceptionally well, with 79 percent of students meeting or exceeding the English portion and 75 percent passing the math portion.

Centralia School District  which serves portions of Buena Park, La Palma and Anaheim  had one of the countys biggest improvements, with 62 percent of students meeting or exceeding state English standards in 2016 compared with 52 percent the year before; in math, the percent of students meeting the standard rose 7 points, to 53 percent.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said the scores show educators and parents are making progress toward upgrading our education system to prepare all students for careers and college in the 21st century.

Here are five thing to know about the test scores.

Q. Why are so many school districts statewide well-behind achievement standards?

A. Progress is slow in education, said Morgan Polikoff, associate professor at USCs Rossier School of Education.

Youre not going to dramatically turn around what kids know in a single year, he said. When 30 percent of kids are proficient in math, you shouldnt expect thats going to be 70 percent in one year.

The state has rolled out several policies in recent years to improve education, including a new accountability system and a funding formula that gives districts greater flexibility to address achievement gaps between groups.

Q. What does the data show about how Orange County students are improving in math and English?

A. The county was just shy of having at least 50 percent of its students reach proficiency in math  a goal already achieved in English.

And 20 of the countys 43 districts and charter schools were above 50 percent in both categories, up from 13 the previous year.

But there is still an achievement gap in the county.

Several challenges face lower-performing districts, local school officials said, such as trying to help students who are not familiar with the culture or language catch up, and students who come from unstable homes or go to school hungry.

We need to zoom in on those students and come up with interventions to narrow the gap, said Al Mijares, superintendent of the Orange County Board of Education. Our goal is to get them on grade level. Then they will have the wings to soar to the highest academic heights.

Q. Why are math scores so much lower than English?

English results are rising faster in part due to a big investment in early literacy and reading at the elementary level over the past decade, said Thomas Smith, dean of the graduate school of education at UC Riverside.

Many math teachers arent used to the Common Core skills and concepts the state test measures. They need time and training to develop strategies, he said.

Q. What can be done to raise scores?

A. Giving all students access to the same technology can help level the playing field for online testing, Smith said.

Some districts have computers for every student, others dont, he said.

In addition, teachers in many districts are using textbooks based on the previous academic standards. Until new textbooks and materials are in the classrooms, some teachers will have a hard time understanding and explaining the Common Core concepts, Smith said.

Q. How should families interpret the significance of these scores when it comes to educational success in Orange County?

A. As one piece  albeit an important one  within a larger framework.

Education is like a giant puzzle, said Norma Martinez, superintendent of Centralia School District. You cant discount scores. But beyond that, parents need to look at their own child and ask if the child is making progress. And if not, schedule a meeting with the teacher.

The Common Core testing, Martinez and Mijares said, is immune from teaching to the test because it adapts to individual student answers. That, they said, makes the test a good gauge for how well a county, district or school is educating students.

Its like a dipstick, Mijares said. Its a measure of a moment.

We, Mijares added, are on the right track.

Staff writer Jonathan Winslow contributed research.

Contact the writer: 714-796-6979 or chaire@scng.com
Lots of new taco joints have opened recently. Some offer classic street tacos while others aim to reinvent or modernize, or even take a step backward. To each his own, but here are my thoughts on a handful of newcomers.

Gonzos Tacos

The guys who used to own Hopscotch recently flipped the full-service Commonwealth Lounge & Grill into a really cute quick-serve taqueria.

It was just too hard to train and retrain the waitresses, one of the owners told me. So now they make tacos and burritos and such while customers order at the counter. They still have a full bar, which makes decent margaritas.

Verdict: Pretty darned good carnitas and carne asada, and for guilty-pleasures sake, the crisp taco with shredded yellow cheese is immensely satisfying. 112 E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton; 888-945-8226, gonzostacos.com.

Colonia Tacos Guisados

Chef Ricardo Diaz recently relocated his cult favorite Colonia Taco Lounge from La Puente to Whittier, close to where he also operates Colonia Publica and Bizarra Capital.

He tweaked the name slightly but the menu remains more or less the same: two dozen gourmet tacos ranging from beef tongue with Sriracha mayonnaise to braised duck with pickled vegetables and morita chilies. There are only a few stools at the counter indoors, but there is plenty of seating outside on the patio and at picnic tables on the grass beyond the parking lot.

Verdict: Everything is outstanding, especially the lamb barbacoa and choriqueso. Its definitely worth the journey. 11114 Whittier Blvd., Whittier; 562-699-2424, coloniagroupinc.com.

Shwack Cantina

The team behind Dana Points Shwack Beach Grill (a burger and sandwich joint) have parlayed that success into a Mexican-themed cantina in San Clemente. They still serve the burger here, but the focus is primarily tacos, burritos and enchiladas. And really strong margaritas.

Verdict: Although the flour tortillas arent properly heated, the blackened shrimp tacos are nonetheless very good. And the friendly, eager-to-please service is way above average. 1527 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente; 949-218-7182, theschwack.com.

Romans Mexi-Cali Grill

This new Romans that opened in July in Huntington Beach is in no way related to Romans Mexican Restaurants in Costa Mesa and Laguna Hills.

Its a quirky little shop with only about 16 seats. They guy who takes your money is sometimes the same guy who makes your food, which ranges from monster burritos to tiny street tacos.

Verdict: The carnitas are excellent, and the carne asada tastes like it came straight from a food truck. The fillings can be skimpy, though, with twice as much onion as meat. 5050 Heil Ave., Huntington Beach; 714-840-1515, romansmexicaligrill.com.

Naugles

When Naugles rebooted last year, fans drove for miles to relive their childhood guilty pleasure at the long-lost brands new corporate test kitchen in Fountain Valley. That location no longer serves the public, but this year they opened a window in one of the old beach kiosks, just across the highway from the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, a brisk stroll from the new Pacific City.

I never knew the original, but the fillings here taste remarkably similar to Taco Bells, if my faded memory of the latter still serves me well. I guess thats the point.

Verdict: Its an acquired taste, a nostalgia thing. 21351 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; nauglestacos.com.

Hectors on Broadway

This offshoot of Mariscos Hector  which has other locations in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa  recently opened in downtown Santa Ana. Its sort of a Mexican-Hooters-sports-bar-live-music sort of thing. The live music, at night only, can be heard several blocks away, literally.

Fortunately, at lunchtime they just play Latin radio: Enrique Iglesias, Prince Royce, Romeo Santos  plus all the annoying commercials in between. As the name suggests, the specialty here is seafood, but thats also the worst thing to order because the quality is extremely low and tastes like last weeks fish. That said, the carne asada is excellent. And the margaritas are strong and freshly squeezed.

Verdict: Yes on the carne asada; nope, nada, never on the seafood and live music. 409 N. Broadway, Santa Ana; 714-285-9896.

La Reyna

This gritty little hole in the wall specializes in authentic, Yucatan-style cochinita pibil  slow-cooked, chili-marinated pork topped with pickled onions. The pibil tacos are outstanding.

But fair warning: Im including this place merely as a footnote. While I seriously enjoyed the food here, the health department recently shut it down, twice in August alone  something to do with an uncorrected rodent infestation. Its already open again with a county-approved pass sign in the window, but I have serious reservations.

Verdict: Consider yourself warned. Go at your own risk. 1959 S. Main St., Santa Ana; 714-754-1989

Contact the writer: bajohnson@ocregister.com or Facebook @johnson.brad.a
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.

The treasure hunters, Piotr Koper and Andreas Richter, said in an interview that ground-penetrating radar images had seemed to show a regular rounded shape about 16 feet underground that looked like a tunnel ceiling.

It turned out to be of natural origin, according to Tomasz Siwiec, the coordinator of the project. It was an iceberg that formed this beautiful dome of loam that we thought, by looking at the radar images, to be the tunnel, Siwiec said. You may say that the iceberg played a joke on us.

Gaik said that the explorers were disappointed but not discouraged, and that they would try again in September, using drills rather than excavators and bulldozers, to see if they can find the tunnel they hope is nearby.

The intense speculation about the elusive train brought global attention to Walbrzych, a charming if slightly run-down town of 120,000 people that has struggled with high unemployment since five coal mines in the area closed in the 1990s.

Local officials expressed doubts about the excavation project from the beginning, and declined to contribute public funds to the search. But they allowed it to go ahead, and many hopeful local residents actively supported the explorers.

Richter said in an interview last week that most of the 64 people who were working on the project were volunteers, and that the heavy equipment was donated.

Arleta Adamska, 58, who runs an inn near the excavation site along with her husband, said she had been cooking free meals for the searchers.

I am 100 percent certain they will find something sooner or later, she said. If not here, then in another place. Walbrzych is full of mysteries. But we are already benefiting: We have been booked up all summer.

Arkadiusz Grudzien, the spokesman for the mayor of Walbrzych and head of the City Promotion Office, said in an interview that tourism in the town was up 44 percent from the previous year.

The publicity the town has gotten in the global media is worth roughly around $200 million, he said. Our annual budget for promotion is $380,000, so think about that. Whether the explorers find anything or not, that gold train has already arrived.

The mayor, Roman Szelemej, noted in an interview on Friday that before the hunt for the Nazi train began, Walbrzych was known mainly for illegal coal mining.

Im thinking of naming a roundabout after Koper and Richter, Szelemej said, in thanks for their services to our town.
When settlers spread across the continent to tame the land, Americans realized the importance of saving some of the wild landscape for future generations. The Organic Act, establishing the National Park Service, was signed into law 100 years ago today. More than 100 countries around the world now have national parks inspired by this model.

WONDER IN THE WILDERNESS

Yosemite was one of the first places to become renowned for its stunning landscape, trees and wildlife. Thanks largely to the writings of naturalist John Muir, public opinion began to shift toward protecting special places like Yosemite from development.

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, reserving land for public enjoyment. While the land was owned by the state of California, this act established the precedent for preservation.

THE ORGANIC ACT

Promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas  which purpose 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.

 National Park Service Organic Act of 1916

INFLUENTIAL EXPLORERS

Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt was a lifelong conservationist. His administration created five parks and placed dozens of monuments and wildlife sanctuaries under protection, including 100 million acres of forest. He signed the Antiquities Act of 1906, giving the president the authority to protect historic landmarks and prehistoric structures.

John Muir

Muir is called the Father of the Parks. He first came to Yosemite Valley working as a sheepherder and witnessed the destruction of the environment. He wrote about his love of nature and founded the Sierra Club to do something for wildness. In 1901, he published Our National Parks, but he died in 1914 before he could see his idea realized.

Ferdinand Hayden

Hayden was a geologist appointed to survey the territories of the West. He led expeditions to many sites that eventually became parks, including Yellowstone in 1871.

Thomas Moran and William Jackson

Artists Moran, a painter, and Jackson, a photographer, traveled with the Hayden expedition to Yellowstone. Their art inspired Congress to protect the land.

ESTABLISHING THE PARK SERVICE

Ferdinand Haydens work documenting the natural wonders of the Yellowstone area convinced Congress the land was worthy of protection. However, the boundaries of the park crossed state lines. Rather than preserving the land as state parks, Congress passed The Yellowstone Act in 1872, creating the first official national park.

Nathaniel Langford was appointed the parks superintendent, but he was not paid and had no resources with which to manage the park. Langford was forced to step down, and the new superintendent, Philetus Norris, finally got funding to build roads and structures.

More parks were designated around the country, and rail lines opened up these areas to visitors.

Many people took advantage of the poorly defended park lands to hunt wildlife and log trees. The U.S. Army stepped in to manage the parks in 1886. It enforced rules and patrolled the park for poachers.

Support for the parks from railroad developers and conservation groups grew. Stephen Mather was a wealthy industrialist who lobbied the government to create a park system. As a member of the Sierra Club, he believed parks should be protected from for-profit development and needed dedicated management.

With pressure mounting, Congress established the National Park Service in 1916.

Mather was named the first director, and Horace Albright was his assistant. Mather and Albright established much of the management structure and the goals of the Park Service as we know it today.

THE PARK SERVICE TODAY

The National Park Service today has grown to over 20,000 employees operating in all states and protecting 412 sites including parks, historic sites and wildlife preserves.
In 2014, Israeli artist Sigalit Landau submerged a 19th century-style gown into the lifeless waters of the Dead Sea, for a unique photo project. The dress was retrieved after three months, and as you can see in the photos below, the transformation is quite significant.

For her latest project, an eight-part photo series called Salt Bride, Landau checked in on the dress multiple times over the three month period, capturing its slow transformation into a magical salt crystal. As the salt in the water adhered to the fabric, the black dress gradually became stiffer and changed its color from charcoal black to pearly white. It looks like snow, like sugar, like deaths embrace, the artist poetically said in a statement.

Sigalit Landau has been fascinated by the Dead Sea for a very long time. Growing up on a hill in Jerusalem, she would often look out on the northern banks of its waters, and visit its shores on weekends. So its no wonder that the lifeless lowest place on Earth has also influenced her artistic career. It is like meeting with a different time system, a different logic, another planet, the artist says. She has been experimenting with the salt crystallization of objects in the Dead Sea for a while, and in her 2005 DeadSee artistic video, she floated naked in its waters with 500 watermelons.

Photo: Sigalit Landau/Marlborough Contemporary

The 19th century-style gown used by Laundau in the Salt Bride project is a replica of the one worn in the dramatic production of S. Anskys 1916 play Dybbuk, a classic play that inspired the artist. It tells the story of a young bride possessed by an evil spirit and subsequently exorcised. In her art, the salt symbolizes the supernatural force, invading the fabric and transforming it completely.

Photo: Sigalit Landau/Marlborough Contemporary

Sigalit Landaus Salt Bride is currently on display at Londons Marlborough Contemporary gallery, where art lovers will be able to admire photos of this magical Dead Sea transformation until September 3rd.

Photo: Sigalit Landau/Marlborough Contemporary

Photo: Sigalit Landau/Marlborough Contemporary

Photo: Matanya Tausig

Photo: Matanya Tausig

via My Modern Metropolis, CNN
25/08/2016  In a ceremony at OECD Headquarters in Paris today, Burkina Faso, Malaysia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Samoa signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, bringing the number of participating jurisdictions to 103.

Mr. Mamadou Sangare, Ministre Conseiller Charge daffaires at the Burkina Faso Embassy to France, H.E. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, H.E. Cenio E. Lewis, High Commissioner of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Kingdom, Ms. Theresa Penn, Counsellor at the Embassy of Samoa to Belgium, and H.E. Ibrahim Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to France, signed the Convention on behalf of their countries in the presence of the OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mari Kiviniemi.

In addition, Andorra, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Senegal deposited their instruments of ratification of the Convention today. As a result, the Convention will enter into force in each of these jurisdictions on 1 December 2016.

Grace Perez-Navarro, Deputy-Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (CTPA) congratulated the countries. "With over 100 countries and jurisdictions now participating in this multilateral tax information sharing agreement, national efforts to combat international tax evasion and avoidance have been substantially strengthened." She urged those countries that have not yet done so to sign and deposit their instrument of ratification of the Convention so that they too can benefit from the different types of cross-border tax co-operation afforded by the Convention.

The Convention was developed jointly by the OECD and the Council of Europe in 1988 and amended in 2010 to respond to the call by the G20 to align it to the international standard on exchange of information and to open it to all countries, thus ensuring that developing countries could benefit from the new more transparent environment. Today it is the world's leading instrument for boosting transparency and combating offshore tax evasion and avoidance.

The Convention's impact grows with each new signatory; it now also serves as the premier instrument for implementing the new Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters developed by the OECD and G20 countries. It can also be used to swiftly implement the transparency measures of the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project such as the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports under Action 13 as well as the sharing of rulings under Action 5 of the BEPS Project.

Media queries should be directed to Grace Perez-Navarro (+33 1 45 24 91 08), Deputy-Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (CTPA) or the CTPA Communications Office.
An estimated 3,799 civilians have died since March 2015 in the escalating conflict in Yemen. At least 7.6 million people, including three million women and children, are currently suffering from malnutrition and at least three million people have been forced to flee their homes.

Casualties have been documented by a UN Human Rights team deployed by the UN Human Rights Council to technically assist the national commission of inquiry in Yemen. The commission has been facing challenges in carrying out its investigations.

Used as a basis for a new report which covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 31 June 2016, testimonies of victims and witnesses received by the UN Human Rights Office describe allegations of recurrent attacks against civilians. The regions of Taizz, Am Al Asimah and Aden are said to be the worst affected by the use of cluster bombs and landmines; sniper and drone attacks against civilians; and the striking of public and private infrastructure such as residential buildings, medical and educational facilities, and marketplaces.

Other violations of international law include the deprivation of liberty; targeted killings; and forced evictions and displacement.

Most casualties are attributed to the main parties in the conflict - the Coalition Forces loyal to President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, which are fighting against the Popular Committees affiliated with the Houtis and army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Ground and air strikes have also caused damage to public and private infrastructure, and hindered the provision of vital humanitarian relief to the populations affected.

The report points out that the two-year conflict in Yemen has created security vacuums that are being exploited by armed groups affiliated with Al-Qaidas local branch, Ansar al-Sharia, and the so-called Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant. Both groups have carried out attacks on religious and cultural sites that benefit from special protection under international law.

Since August 2015, a blockade imposed by the Popular Committees in Taizz has caused the near collapse of the health system; all six public hospitals are no longer operational and private hospitals are overwhelmed with the needs of those injured during the fighting.

Further, restrictions on air and land travel continue, as well as a naval blockade imposed by the coalition forces. Limitations on the importation of vital goods have resulted in the lack of fuel for water-pumping stations, hospitals and homes, and a shortage of medicine. In areas controlled by Houthi and Saleh-aligned forces, humanitarian agencies are frequently denied access and aid flows to the populations have been halted.

The situation of children remains a major concern: information received by the UN Human rights Office indicates 559 cases of children recruited by parties to the conflict and used during hostilities. Most allegations attribute these violations to the Popular Committees in the Sanaa Governorate.

The conflict has also forced some 560,000 out of school, raising the total number of school-age children out of school in Yemen to 2.2 million. During the 2015/2016 school year, UNICEF reported 1,600 school closures across the country.

Internally displaced women report various forms of ill-treatment, including torture and rape. In February 2016, a UN Human Rights monitor visited the womens central prison in Sanaa currently under the control of the Popular Committees. Four victims said they had been blindfolded during their capture and taken to an unidentified location where they had allegedly been subjected to electric shocks and accused by the Popular Committees of being prostitutes. In July 2015, a visit to Thawra hospital in Sanaa revealed the case of a 10 year-old girl who was admitted for injuries sustained after being raped while going to the local grocery store.

Other groups of population are being targeted during military operations including journalists, human rights defenders, and individuals affiliated with political parties such as the Islah Party, the Socialist and the Nasserist Unionist Peoples Organization. Religious leaders including Sunni Imams and a Jewish Rabbi; as well as academics, students and civil society representatives affiliated with the Islah Party are also targets.

UN Human Rights Chief, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, called on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and reach a negotiated and durable solution to the conflict in the best interest of the Yemeni people. He also urged the international community to establish an international, independent body to carry out comprehensive investigations.

Civilians in Yemen have suffered unbearably over the years from the effects of a number of simultaneous and overlapping armed conflicts, Zeid said. And they continue to suffer, absent any form of accountability and justice, while those responsible for the violations and abuses against them enjoy impunity. Such a manifestly, protractedly unjust situation must no longer be tolerated by the international community.

25 August 2016
Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly...
A satirical cartoon depicting a celebrity in Ghana schooling a British diplomat on how to speak pidgin English won laughter and praise from the crowd at a street festival in Accra.

The cartoon lampoons British High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin who back in April sent a tweet criticising television star Nana Anamoah's grammar, sparking a heated debate on the West African country's colonial past.

Contemporary artist Bright Ackwerh immortalised the inane moment with his signature style that recalls Mad Magazine's portraits.

Ackwerh's cartoon was just one example of contemporary art on display at the Chale Wote street festival, a showcase for up-and-coming artists held in Ghana's capital at the weekend.

"A show like this is more for the avant-garde tastes," Ackwerh told AFP, explaining that art today in Ghana is so much more than gaudy sunset paintings and tribal masks.

"I feel like the space here has moved from that particular imagery and we are in a very modern space."

Along a historic street in Accra, crowds danced to the deep beats of local hip-hop and snapped selfies in front of colonial buildings decorated with elaborate, artistic graffiti.

Modern and contemporary African art has been on the upswing for years with a growing number of galleries -- chiefly in London -- selling art from the continent for millions of dollars.

Reflecting the bullish market for the continent's art, this year major art broker Sotheby's opened an African modern and contemporary art department with its first auction scheduled for 2017, said department head Hannah O'Leary.

"I think that West Africa is possibly the most interesting area of the continent at the moment," O'Leary said.

"What's happening in Ghana is very exciting," she said.

"It feels like there is a new movement of graduates... it's not just painting and pictures but a lot of sculpture and performance art, which is much less traditional."

But despite the international demand, public funding for art in Ghana remains scarce.

There is little government support and galleries are more likely to feature already famous artists than promote new ones.

Still, the artistic scene in Ghana is thriving. It has produced contemporary heavyweights El Anatsui, a sculptor famous for his metallic tapestries, and Ibrahim Mahama, who creates massive installations covering entire buildings with jute sacks.

The Chale Wote festival co-founder Sionne Neely, who runs an artist network in Accra, says she started the event in 2011 after spotting an opportunity to provide a platform for artists to show their work.

"We decided if we were going to change anything, it's going to be us to do it," said Neely. "We decided to combine our creative talents, energy and passion to do something."

Five years later, the festival sees more than 200 Ghana-based and international artists take part and thousands of people hitting the streets to take in the sights.

For artists like Ackwerh, the exposure can't come at a better time.

"The concept of art here in the mainstream is still very, very limiting, so not many forms of expressions are considered worthy of space," Ackwerh said.

In spite of their punk status, contemporary artists in Ghana are gradually carving out a space to call their own.

Gallery 1957, an internationally acclaimed contemporary art venue in Accra, opened in March, while in December the city will host a new fair called Art Accra.

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:


US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed Washingtons support of an economic reform programme Egypt is adopting that includes a $12 billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The IMF has agreed in principle to grant Egypt a three-year loan facility to support a government reform programme aimed at mending the country's ailing economy.

During a phone conversation with Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Kerry "welcomed the recently-signed [tentative] deal between the Egyptian government and the IMF, stressing that the US supports such an important step on the path of economic reform in Egypt," the ministry said in a statement.

The deal is still subject to final approval by the IMF executive committee, likely to be decided in the coming weeks, the IMF has said.

The senior officials discussed mutual ties between the two allies as well as recent developments in the region including efforts being made to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and the situation in the war-torn Syria and Libya.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


I keep going to the newest Omaha barbecue spots when they open, feeling measured excitement.

Will this be the one? I ask myself. Will this be the one to finally take our citys barbecue scene to a new level?

I arrive, I eat. I sigh. Yeah, were here again.

I have to give La Barbacoa  a new Latin barbecue place off 114th Street and West Dodge Road, and its owner, Clint Almaguer  credit for trying a new idea. Theres nowhere else in town doing barbecue topped with house-made salsa, or barbecue in wraps, both his concepts.

Heres the problem, though: the menu is small to begin with, and only a couple of dishes pleased. His smoked turkey, for one, and a few of the sides, including spicy pickles and agave jalapeno cornbread, were good.

Of the three wraps I sampled, I really liked only one, and it still had problems.

Brisket, a notoriously tricky meat, ended up dry in more dishes than not, and pulled pork suffered the same fate.

It raises the larger question  one Ive asked before  and thats Why? Omahans respond to barbecue, and I think they want great barbecue. I know I do. Aside from a couple of standout spots in the metro area, were still limping way behind our neighbors in Kansas City.

Almaguer has the chops to improve: His mother ran a barbecue restaurant in Ralston called CJs, and he worked there as a kid. Before he opened in May he spent time researching his concept of barbecue wraps to make sure that no one else was doing it already.

My main complaint about Omaha barbecue is that everything is the same as the place next to it, he said. So he set out to do something different.

His wraps, he said, aim to create the perfect bite, layering together all the components that one would usually see on a barbecue platter.

That idea worked best in the Santa Fe wrap. Pork, horseradish slaw  I could have used even more kick here  smoky beans, jalapeno pickles and tangy barbecue salsa are all wrapped in a wheat tortilla. I liked the temperature difference between the cool pickles and slaw and the warm meat and beans, and, texturally, it mostly worked.

The wrap had enough sauciness to wet my whistle; tasted alone, though, the pork was dry.

The Omaha wrap needed more sauciness; and, here, cold spiced apples, which I liked on their own, overwhelmed the pork, as did a sweeter version of Almaguers salsa. Brisket inside the Texas wrap was dry, too, though the rest of the wrap was more balanced by smoky beans and sweet salsa.

I had a hard time telling the difference between the sweet and the tangy salsas. Almaguer told me later that hes not a huge fan of spicy sauces, so that might explain why even the kickier of the two didnt bring much heat.

As for the brisket, which was dry every time I tried it save for a couple of bites on a platter at lunch one day, he confirmed its difficulty, and credited my experience to being served a blend of leaner and fattier parts of meat.

Brisket will dry out really fast if you arent careful, he said.

Hes smoking the meats on site, and hes using Nebraska mulberry wood, which he said brings a sweeter, less bitter flavor.

That smoky flavor stood out best in the turkey, which he recently added to the menu after removing chicken, which wasnt popular with customers. Turkey has proved more popular, and I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and flavor in bites of both white and dark meat.

The other success I encountered was a side of tangy, spicy refrigerator pickles, which Almaguer said he created off a family recipe. I loved their vintage-y flavor and Id eat them alongside just about anything.

Almaguer has plans to continue to work on his menu, so this might not be the last word on things. Hes adding spareribs, considering the idea of adding a turkey wrap and continuing daily lunch specials, including $5 wraps and free cornbread on select weekdays.

The meat is at the heart of any barbecue joint, and the meat at La Barbacoa needs work. Dry brisket, especially, needs perfecting to become the juicy, melt-in-your-mouth experience I know it can be.

Almaguer said hes working to refine the menu even more  Theres a method to my madness, he said  so well hold on, and wait.

We can get there someday, right, barbecue lovers?

Right?

La Barbacoa

Address: 360 N. 114th St.

Phone: 402-415-7126

Hours: Monday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.; closed Sunday

Hits: Smoked turkey was my favorite of the meats, and some sides, especially a family pickle recipe tweaked to be spicy, are good.

Misses: Brisket and pulled pork both had a dry finish, and cinnamon-y baked apples overpowered the flavor of both in one of the signature wraps.

Drinks: bottled pop, water and tea

Prices: Plates are around $11 and wraps are all about $6.

Other things to know: Meat is available by the pound; customers are urged to call ahead for availability.
Members of Gretna Venture Crew 363 recently spent five days exploring Cumberland State Park in Tennessee.

Ten teens and three adults from the group backpacked throughout the park during their annual high-adventure trip.

We were hoping for green forests and beautiful streams and waterfalls for the five-day backpacking trip, leader Cindy Mefford said. What we didnt know, until we got there, was that the rivers pretty much go underground during the summer.

With fresh drinking water being an issue, the group adjusted some of their hiking plans, Mefford said, but they still went on a series of hikes.

The group backpacked about five miles to the Sawmill campground as well as backpacking five miles through the Stone Door, which contained 117 steps.

The group also enjoyed lunch and some swimming time at Greeter Falls.

The trip ended on a stormy note, and the group spent the day in Chattanooga touring Ruby Falls Cave, which featured a 145-foot waterfall, and walking on the Riverfront.

Venture Crew is a co-ed Scouting organization for teens age 14 and older.

The members planned the trip themselves and coordinated fundraising the past year to cover the costs, Mefford said.
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.

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!"

"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.

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!"

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!"

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.
In the wake of growing concern about the nations opioid epidemic, four Nebraska entities have announced plans for a daylong summit to find a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to prevent and treat opioid abuse in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Attorney General, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the U.S. Attorney and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will sponsor the Oct. 14 conference, Charting the Road to Recovery: Nebraskas Response to Opioid Abuse.

Heroin and prescription drug abuse have devastating effect on the public health and safety of communities across Nebraska, Attorney General Doug Peterson said in a statement. Nebraska has an opportunity to join forces and construct preventative measures against the scourge occurring in so many other states.

Nationally, more people died from drug overdoses in 2014 than in any other year, with the majority of those overdose deaths involving an opioid. The rate of overdose deaths involving opioids  prescription opioid pain relievers and heroin  has nearly quadrupled since 1999.

The summit, to be held at the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education at UNMC, is intended for medical professionals, law enforcement, state officials and social service agents. There is no fee to attend, but pre-registration is required by Oct. 7 at www.unmc.edu/cce/opioid The website also includes the conference agenda.
Parents, you now have one less item to lug with you to the zoo.

The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has new dispensers offering sunblock for free at nine stations throughout the property. Theyre located at Alaskan Adventure, camel rides, Red Barn Park, both Skyfari stations, the playground and restrooms at the African Lodge, Silverback Cafe and sea lion exhibit.

A donation from Dr. Mary Finnegan of Braddock Finnegan Dermatology allowed the zoo to purchase the sunscreen and make it available to guests without costs for a three-year pilot program, a zoo spokeswoman said.

We are observing a rise in the incidence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, and the age at first diagnosis is decreasing, Finnegan said in a statement released by the zoo.

An estimated 23 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18, she said, adding that sunscreen should be reapplied every 80 to 90 minutes.
Backpack makers like to consider their products enablers, company executives say, especially of active lifestyles. No matter where you go or what you do, a reliable backpack can keep your stuff safe and sound right there with you.

Now, backpacks are enabling your smartphone addiction.

Traditionally, backpacks are toted along on activities where you need to store your phone while you disconnect. That could be an afternoon spent hiking or a day at the beach or an after-work gym session. But consumers simply love their phones and tablets so much that pack-makers are changing their products so devices can be used continuously.

Theres not a single one of us that probably hasnt had our phone die or come close to dying at least once a week, said Jeff Popp, co-founder and product director of CO.Alition backpacks. People do need this.

And what would this be? A battery-equipped backpack, of course.

In the past, bags filled the purpose of carrying physical objects around, but now we need a way to carry more than physical objects, like power and data, Popp said.

His bags, which were featured on ABCs Shark Tank, include both charging and data-storing features. They sell for $149, a price not quite fit for back-to-school shopping.

But the adult backpack is catching on, according to industry data. Backpacks are a $522 million business in the United States and sales are up almost 5 percent this year over last, according to market research firm NPD Group.

To vie for their share of the market, both entrenched market players like Osprey and entrepreneurs with Kickstarter pages have taken to claiming their bags are smarter or chicer or sportier than everyone elses.

STM bags, which cost $239, have a built-in battery that is good for 15 to 20 hours of power.

Technology is such an integral part of what we do, so we thought the merging of tech and a backpack would really complete the loop of our day, said Adina Jacobs, co-founder and product director of Australia-based STM bags.

California-based BirkSun designs its backpacks around a 7-by-5-inch solar panel that charges, you guessed it, a built-in battery. You could also plug your backpack into the wall to recharge. They cost $249.

With us moving to such a connected device society, I feel like we really have a differentiating factor in solar, said Carson Finkle, BirkSuns head of marketing and partnerships.
The shift from pensions to 401(k) plans is making retirement inequality much worse  and education is what separates the haves from the have-nots, a new study has found.

College graduates have always been able to get better jobs. Whats new in recent decades is that traditional pensions have all but vanished, replaced by 401(k)-style plans.

In 1980, 38 percent of private-sector workers had a pension and 19 percent a 401(k). By last year, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the numbers had more or less reversed  just 15 percent had a pension and 43 percent a 401(k).

That shift is creating double disadvantages for the less educated, wrote University of Kansas sociology professor ChangHwan Kim and Social Security Administration researcher Christopher Tamborini in a paper presented at the American Sociological Associations annual conference this week.

The authors analyzed surveys linked to W-2 tax data to figure out how much Americans with varying levels of education were saving in their retirement accounts.

Among workers who hold similar jobs with the same pay and who both contribute to 401(k) plans, a college graduate tends to save 26 percent more than a worker with just a high school diploma, the authors concluded.

Workers with college degrees arent only far more likely to hold jobs that offer retirement plans. When offered the plans, theyre also far more likely to sign up and to contribute enough to retire comfortably.

The median private-sector worker without a college degree is contributing nothing to a retirement plan, while the median college graduate pitches in more than $2,000 a year, the study found.

One reason is that less educated workers are likelier to hold lower-paying jobs that dont offer retirement plans. According to the study, 83 percent of workers with a bachelors degree have access to some kind of retirement plan, compared with 62 percent of high school graduates and 43 percent of high school dropouts.

Even when they are offered 401(k)s, less educated workers find it much more difficult to take full advantage of them.

One advantage of a traditional pension is that its automatic: A set amount is contributed for each worker  an amount thats supposed to guarantee a good income in retirement  and investments are managed by professionals.

The typical 401(k) is anything but automatic. Workers must decide whether to participate, how much to contribute and which investments to choose.

While more than 80 percent of college graduates sign up for the 401(k) offered to them, only 69 percent of high school graduates do the same. Less than 61 percent of those without a high school diploma fill out the 401(k) paperwork.

College graduates are also saving more, pitching in 7.3 percent of their salaries if theyre participating in a retirement plan, more than the 5.1 percent that workers with high school degrees contribute.

Thats not necessarily surprising: By earning more, the college-educated can afford to save more. Tamborini and Kim found that if workers earn an extra 1 percent in salary, they tend to contribute an extra 1.28 percent to their retirement plans.

But the researchers also wanted to know if factors other than income are influencing how workers save. When they controlled for these factors  income, occupation, industry, company size and years on the job  they found college graduates were still saving 26 percent more than similar high school graduates.

To explain this gap, the researchers looked at surveys that asked about savings habits and financial knowledge. Less educated workers tended to be less financially sophisticated, with less familiarity with investing and how to save for the future.

The advantage of college education goes beyond the monetary return during the work life, Tamborini and Kim write. College educated workers are taking steps to better prepare financially for retirement, even when the earnings levels are taken into account.

What might be done to narrow the gap?

Some employers have experimented with making the 401(k) more automatic  signing up all workers and setting default contribution rates and investments, while letting workers adjust them or decline to participate. (Few workers do.)

But the number of new companies introducing these automatic features is no longer rising. Vast swaths of the workforce arent covered by any retirement plan at all.

Legislators in a growing number of states are passing laws to force employers without 401(k)s to sign up workers for state plans, with the goal of ensuring that they can save for retirement without filling out confusing paperwork or picking their own investments.
WASHINGTON  Arden Tewksbury has been a dairy farmer in northeast Pennsylvania for most of his 83 years. Hes also an agricultural activist whos part of a movement to try to stop the loss of family-owned dairy farms due to record-low milk prices, a glut of milk on the world and U.S. markets, and reduced federal subsidies.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the price of milk in June was about $15 per 100 pounds  more than a 40 percent drop from 2014. Meanwhile, the USDA estimated that milk production costs were about $22 per 100 pounds.

Darrel Aubertine, a former commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, said many small family farms face a difficult decision: Sell their operations to larger dairy farms, borrow money to cover costs or diversify into other types of agriculture.

According to a USDA report, the number of family dairy farms decreased from 648,000 in 1970 to 46,005 in 2012, the most recent year for which a figure is available. During that time milk production increased twelvefold.

Tewksbury put part of the blame for the stark choices facing dairy farmers on the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, which allowed the USDA to set the price of milk using a formula that he said didnt take into account the cost of production.

He also blamed the law for cutting federal assistance to dairy farmers from the Commodity Credit Corp., which provides loans and buybacks of surplus milk.

About 60 members of Congress from dairy states took up the cause, sending a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in June pointing out what they called the troubling economic challenges facing U.S. dairy farmers and the entire U.S. dairy industry due to low milk prices.

This week, the Department of Agriculture reported that it plans to buy $20 million of stockpiled cheese to distribute to food banks and pantries nationwide in an attempt to stem farmers losses.

The purchase of about 11 million pounds of cheese comes in addition to $11.2 million in subsidies for dairy producers announced earlier this month. A dairy lobbying group had asked for as much $150 million in cheese purchases.

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, Vilsack said in a statement.

The letter from the members of Congress suggested that many factors have contributed to the record-low milk price, from a surplus of milk in the American and global markets to the 2014 farm bill, which replaced the previous dairy farmer assistance program, the Milk Income Loss Contract program, with a new one, the Dairy Margin Protection Program, which requires farmers to buy into it before they can receive assistance.

The USDAs semiannual Dairy: World Markets and Trade Report agrees with the list of reasons for low U.S. milk prices. And no significant recovery is likely until well into 2017, the USDA predicts.

Cindy Gallagher, a 54-year-old sixth-generation dairy farmer from Waterville, New York, said she and her husband relied on selling timber and on his part-time law business to make ends meet last year.

Where we live nobody is even breaking even. Everyones losing a lot per cow, and the stress is huge, Gallagher said. Theyre getting to the point where people are at the end of the availability of credit.

This report includes material from Bloomberg News.
In a phone call late Wednesday, the two top diplomats discussed France's initiative to revive Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on a two-state solution

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault discussed Wednesday efforts to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, and the crisis in war-torn Syria.

During a phone call late Wednesday, the two diplomats addressed France's initiative to revive a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and preparations for an international peace conference due to be held in the coming months, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Paris hosted in June an international ministerial gathering to work towards organising an international conference to reboot talks by the end of the year.

The Palestinians have welcomed the French initiative, but Israel strongly opposes it. The duo also talked about efforts towards reaching a ceasefire and announcing a truce in the Syrian city of Aleppo, where civilians are suffering some of the worst violence of the country's five-year-long civil war.

The conversation also tackled the results of Shoukry's recent visit to Lebanon that aimed at helping rival Lebanese political groups find common ground.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The Joe Bonnett investment scam appears to have been limited to a handful of victims who were outside the wealth advisers inner circle.

Omaha wealth adviser Bonnett killed himself in May after his Bonnett Wealth Management began unraveling, with allegations that he paid off old investors with proceeds garnered from new ones, borrowed money from clients and forged documents.

While that is all counter to investor protection laws, and while Bonnetts fraud might have approached $1.35 million, it never got far in terms of people.

Though that is a complex process, the state can now confirm that the number of potentially harmed (Bonnett Wealth Management) clients is limited, said Suzanne Gage, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office.

Clarence Mock, the Omaha attorney representing the deceased advisers estate in litigation over the fraud in Douglas County District Court, said he, too, believes the victim list to be sparse.

Many people originally jumped to the conclusion that there were a large number of people who lost money, Mock said. We now believe that is simply not the case.

In May, Bonnett was charged with two felonies  first-degree forgery and insurance fraud. He shot himself in the head on the street in late May in Omaha as he was approached by police who responded to a report of a man with a gun. State investigators say Bonnett managed $47.5 million in assets for about 83 clients.

Few of those clients appear to have been victims who sustained investment losses.

There just arent many out there, Mock said.

Mock said the victims fall into two categories: First are those in Bonnetts inner circle, such as family members who were bilked in the investment fraud. Eight of them are named as beneficiaries of a $3.2 million life insurance policy Bonnett took out more than two years before the suicide, meaning it will pay off regardless of the manner of death.

Then there are others not covered by the life insurance who appear to have sustained losses from the fraud; Mock says that there might be about a half-dozen of those but that he and state authorities are reluctant to settle on a final number pending additional investigation.

Details about one of Bonnetts life insurance policies were made public via court proceedings in Douglas County District Court after the State of Nebraska sued the Bonnett estate in an attempt to compensate fraud victims. The Ohio National Life Assurance Co. policy also named a University of Nebraska fraternity as a beneficiary.

The State Department of Banking and Finance is still working to determine who were the victims, said attorney general spokeswoman Gage.

The state and the court-appointed receiver continue to work diligently to respond to the harms stemming from the illegal conduct by the (Bonnett Wealth Management) companies, and is actively working to determine what, if any, assets are available to address this harm, Gage said.

The court-appointed receiver, an independent third-party attorney skilled in finance and sorting through claims for compensation, will be expected to meet its goals as quickly as possible and without need for protracted litigation, Gage said.

Division of the Bonnett life insurance proceeds is one sticking point. At one point, the receiver filed court papers asking for an order by Douglas County District Judge Duane Dougherty instructing the insurance company to fork over the $3.2 million of life insurance proceeds to settle victim claims. That attempt has been delayed pending further developments.

Those developments include legal protests from the policy beneficiaries  a group that includes inner-circle victims of Bonnetts fraud. The most recent protesters are represented by Omaha attorney David Domina. He filed court papers this week on behalf of Bonnetts sister, a niece and a nephew. Their filing said the life insurance proceeds belong solely to the named beneficiaries of the policies.

If life insurance beneficiary designations are not honored, life insurance becomes a very risky proposition, Domina told The World-Herald.

Contact the writer: 402-444-3133, russell.hubbard@owh.com
LINCOLN  Gov. Pete Ricketts has postponed a scheduled town hall in Lexington, Nebraska, on Thursday so he can talk with some of the nine corrections officers injured in a disturbance at the Lincoln Correctional Center.

The governor will also meet with Corrections Director Scott Frakes.

All nine of the officers assaulted in the Wednesday night disturbance were treated and released from Lincoln medical facilities, said Dawn-Renee Smith, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Six staff members were transported by ambulance to the hospital, while three others were taken via state vehicle.

One female staffer required staples to close off a cut to her head, said Tammy Kluver, the public information officer at the prison. Some staffers were exposed to pepper spray that was used to disperse the inmates.

Short of a serious medical emergency, inmates wont be leaving their cells today, she said.

Investigators from the Nebraska State Patrol were on site Thursday to probe the cause of the disturbance. The prison remained on lockdown status Thursday.

Smith said Thursday that the incident started about 6 p.m. Wednesday when one inmate struck a staff member, then other inmates immediately began assaulting other staff members in the area.

The Lincoln Correctional Center was fully staffed at the time of the incident, she said.

Frakes said, Staff safety is a priority for our team. We are doing everything we can to prevent these events. We are thankful the staff members were released from the hospital and able to go home last night.

This incident cannot be attributed to crowding or staffing levels. Inmates made the choice to harm staff.

Warden Fred Britten said the prisons administration would resume normal operations as soon as it is appropriate.

Violence against NDCS staff members is unacceptable. I am proud of the way staff responded to contain and resolve the situation, Britten said.

Meanwhile, two key state senators called for a meeting with state prison officials to get a handle on their plan to reduce assaults of corrections staffers.

How many more people need to get hurt before the administration realizes that this is more urgent than a budget next year or the labor negotiations that start later this year? asked State Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln, who has several prisons in his district. The timeline for action needs to be shorter. It needs to be immediate.

Hastings Sen. Les Seiler, who chairs a prison oversight committee and the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, said he wants to know what Frakes is doing to change the program and reduce recent incidents of prison violence.

I think weve got to have a sit-down soon, and see what the heck the administration has in mind, Seiler said. We cant let this continue to happen with these assaults.

Wednesdays disturbance at the Lincoln Correctional Center was the third in the last two weeks that sent officers to the hospital from the facility. In addition, another Lincoln prison, the State Penitentiary, was put on lockdown twice in recent weeks due to disturbances.

Coash said that there seems to be a vicious circle of staffing problems in the state prison system: Because of poor pay, turnover of staff is high; that causes more staff to be inexperienced and more staff to work overtime; inmates know that and test the officers, who arent as well equipped to deal with it; the result is more incidents.

The system as a whole is really struggling. Coash said. Incidents like this only make it worse. If I just spent two hours in a hospital, my wife would say youre resigning tomorrow.

A special legislative committee probing the problems at corrections had already scheduled a meeting on Wednesday to meet with Frakes about staffing issues. The recent assaults in the prison will likely be a part of that discussion.

9 correctional officers injured in confrontation with inmates at Lincoln Correctional Center

LINCOLN  Violence erupted again Wednesday evening at a state prison, sending nine correctional staff members from the Lincoln Correctional Center to a hospital.

The confrontation flared when several inmates refused to return to their housing units. A special detail in riot gear was eventually deployed to help end the disturbance.

All inmates are in their cells, the facility is locked down and there is no risk to the public, said Dawn-Renee Smith, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. The immediate priority is getting medical care for staff members.

Six staff members were taken to a hospital by Lincoln rescue personnel and three by private vehicle, she said.

All were expected to be treated and released Wednesday night, Smith said.

Lincoln Fire Department radio transmissions indicated that two of the staff members lost consciousness, including a 50-year-old woman. Both were found in the infirmary in the basement. Another injured employee, a 24-year-old man, had been struck by a homemade weapon, according to radio transmissions.

Some corrections officers suffered from the effects of pepper spray.

Rescue personnel were first called to the prison, on the west edge of Lincoln, about 6:30 p.m.

Access to the prison was blocked off, and a stream of state vehicles arrived, including one driven by Col. Brad Rice, the superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

The disturbance marked the third time in 12 days that corrections staff required medical treatment following assaults at the Lincoln Correctional Center, a medium-maximum security facility designed to hold 308 inmates. The facility held an average of 502 inmates during the second quarter of 2016, which is about 70 percent over capacity.

The correctional center was put on lockdown status Wednesday night, meaning that inmates are mostly restricted to the cells, even during meal time.

The Lincoln prison was the site of a daring escape in June in which two prisoners slipped out by hiding in a laundry cart. An investigation into that escape is nearly completed, and some changes in security are underway at the facility, but there was no indication, as of Wednesday night, that the changes contributed to Wednesdays disturbance.

Mario Peart, who was warden at the time of the escape, retired on July 1 and was replaced by veteran warden Fred Britten, who also oversees the adjacent Diagnostic and Evaluation Center.

Mike Marvin, the head of the state employees union that represents corrections officers, said that he had few details about Wednesdays prison disturbance, but that staffing shortages have contributed to the incidents.

Overtime is frequently required to fill shifts, leading to tired officers and less-than-ideal conditions for security, he said. Inmates get less yard time and fewer privileges with skeleton staff, leading to unrest, Marvin said.

Things have been tense everywhere, he said of the states 10 prisons.

Another facility in Lincoln, the Nebraska State Penitentiary, had been put in lockdown status twice in recent weeks because of disturbances.

Assaults on officers had increased nearly threefold from 2013 to 2015, according to state statistics obtained by The World-Herald in April.

The Department of Corrections has wrestled with multiple problems in recent years, including overcrowded prisons, miscalculation of hundreds of inmate release dates, and high staff turnover and mandatory overtime. That led to the hiring of Scott Frakes, a 30-year veteran of the Washington state prison system in February of 2015. Gov. Pete Ricketts gave Frakes the task of changing the culture of the agency.

Three months after the new director arrived, a riot erupted at the Tecumseh State Prison that resulted in the deaths of two inmates and more than $2 million in damage. It was the worst prison uprising in Nebraska in six decades.
Elkhorn Public Schools officials have emailed parents of students at Hillrise Elementary, alerting them of an incident in which an adult may have inappropriately touched a student outdoors as school was being let out for the day.

According to the statement sent to parents, a Hillrise student reported seeing another student be inappropriately touched by a man while parents were arriving to pick up their children. School authorities talked with the student in question, corroborated the account and contacted police, the district told parents.

The man was walking with a woman, the students said, and another child reported the couple got into a black van. It wasnt clear to the kids whether the couple was there to pick up a student, officials said.

The investigation is ongoing.
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.
An Iowa Western Community College student has been removed from campus after two students alleged that they were sexually assaulted by him this week.

Iowa Western spokesman Don Kohler said, however, that there has been no arrest and that campus officials are investigating.

The college informed students of the incidents with signs in campus housing and by email, Kohler said.

Kohler said the male student was told Tuesday evening to gather his belongings and then was escorted from campus. He has been temporarily removed from campus but not expelled.

A campus committee trained in these matters will work through the process, he said. Campus officials have interviewed the suspect. They also have spoken briefly with the two students who complained and plan to interview them more extensively, he said.

Kohler said it would be up to the victims to report the allegations to the Council Bluffs Police Department. The department said Thursday that neither woman had reported allegations to that agency.

Kohler said: We can encourage them to go to the police but we cant make that call on their behalf.

Under Title IX, he said, victims have the right not to report to the police. Title IX is the federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

The matter came to light when the two young women reported the allegations to student-support services at Iowa Western. Kohler said he believed that the incidents took place Monday and Tuesday.
Midland University has signed a 10-year lease in west Omaha for its MBA program and other offerings.

Raymond Sass, vice president for strategy, said the university agreed this month to the multimillion dollar lease for more than 10,000 square feet on the ground floor of the building at 11213 Davenport St.

Midland will pay more than $1 million to build out that space, he said, which the university expects to occupy next spring.

We are working with architects now for the design and buildout of the space, Sass said this week. Omaha is a critical part of our growth plan.

Midland President Jody Horner said the move represents no reduction of its main campus in Fremont, Nebraska. Classes at Midland start today.

Were just excited to be able to have enough interest in our programs in the Omaha area, especially our graduate programs, Horner said. This is the right timing for that.

Midland had planned to take over the defunct Dana College campus in Blair, but this year decided to focus on its Fremont campus and its Omaha programs.

Dale Scott, executive vice president of the CBRE Mega real estate company, said the Davenport Street space will give Midland good visibility from West Dodge Road. CBRE Mega leases and manages the building and occupies its third floor.

Sass declined to say exactly how much Midland will pay.

He said Midland hasnt determined which programs, besides the MBA, will go into the new spot. The MBA program in particular has grown, he said, and now has nearly 100 students. The program has used space at Childrens Hospital & Medical Center, he said, but it has outgrown it.

The site probably will serve other adult-focused programs, too, such as graduate programs, certificate courses and non-degree classes. Sass said Midland may continue to hold some programs and courses on-site at businesses to remain responsive to demand.

For example, Midland has used Omaha Public Schools space for its masters degree program in education, and that may continue, he said.

The university will use operating money and donor support to pay for the project.

Contact the writer: rick.ruggles@owh.com
After living in the United States for 13 years, Dr. Nada Skaf can officially call herself a U.S. citizen.

A rheumatologist at Creighton University Medical Center, Skaf was one of 40 people on Thursday to gain U.S. citizenship at a naturalization ceremony at the National Park Services Midwest office along the Missouri River. The ceremony was held on the same day as the park services 100th anniversary.

Skaf was born and raised in Damascus, the capital of Syria. She was a doctor there, but said she wanted to pursue her education and career in the best country in the world.

It took her four years to obtain a visa, and in 2003 she moved to the U.S.

Im very proud that I came to this country, Skaf said. I respect the political freedoms. I respect how there are opportunities for everybody, regardless of where they come from, what they believe, what they speak.

You cannot find something like this in many, many other countries, including, unfortunately, my country, Skaf said of Syria.

The National Park Service co-hosted the ceremony with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Nichole McHenry of the National Park Service opened the ceremony.

You are promising to be loyal to the flag, which is our nations symbol of freedom, bravery and camaraderie, McHenry said.

Judge Laurie Smith Camp, chief judge of the U.S. District Court of Nebraska, administered the oath of allegiance and delivered a keynote address.

Although you have renounced your citizenship (in other countries), you do not give up your own history and your own culture, the judge said. American citizens have much we can learn from you.

Rubi Franco came to the U.S. 12 years ago from Mexico. Shes married to a U.S. citizen, but she wanted citizenship for herself because she said her life will be more comfortable.

This is a new chapter for my life, Franco said, speaking Spanish to a woman she met at the ceremony, who translated for her.

The ceremony was one of 16 across the U.S. that granted 450 people citizenship. Other nationalities represented in Omaha included people from Vietnam, Togo, Hungary and Canada.

Skaf said she has made Omaha her home and has no plans to leave.

Except for the weather, I like Omaha, she said.

Contact the writer: reece.ristau@owh.com; 402-444-1151
The inside lane of the westbound West Dodge Expressway has temporarily been closed by the Omaha Police Department near 132nd Street because the carcasses of several hogs are blocking the roadway. The hogs fell out of a truck traveling down the roadway about 5 p.m.
The U.S. Navys most senior officer drew a chorus of cheers during a visit Wednesday with more than 200 Navy military and civilian personnel at landlocked Offutt Air Force Base.

During the hourlong all-hands call, Adm. John Richardson, the Chief of Naval Operations, updated the sailors  most of whom work at the Offutt-based U.S. Strategic Command  on the Navys worldwide mission and took a few questions about topics such as uniform changes and the federal budget sequester.

Richardson railed against the prospect of returning to the automatic spending cuts imposed in 2013. The cuts were intended to trim $454 billion from defense spending by 2021, though Congress later eased up on budget targets slightly.

It would be a catastrophe to try and meet our mission, going back to sequestration-level funding, Richardson said.

He said the Navys job of protecting the worlds sea lanes has become much bigger in the 25 years since the end of the Cold War, and its become much more challenging.

The vast majority of goods imported to the U.S. travel by sea, Richardson said, and global maritime traffic has quadrupled since 1990. The world economy has doubled.

Business is brisk out there, he said.

Much of that increase has been in major ports in the Far East and Indian Ocean, which he said is why the Navy is shifting its presence from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

At the same time, he said, Russia and China are boosting their navies. And China has provoked its neighbors by building naval facilities on reclaimed land in the South China Sea.

For the first time in probably 25 years, we are legitimately being contested for maritime superiority, Richardson said.

Alongside Russia and China, smaller powers continue to rattle their sabers.

Just this week, North Korea launched a ballistic missile from a submarine toward Japan. And four Iranian gunboats buzzed the Navy destroyer USS Nitze near the Strait of Hormuz.

The all-hands call followed several hours of meetings with Adm. Cecil Haney, StratComs commander. The two have been friends for decades.

Haney briefed Richardson on StratComs cutting-edge space and cyberwarfare.

They also discussed plans for the new Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, which is a top funding priority for both the Navy and StratCom. The 12 new subs will replace the current Ohio-class Trident submarines in carrying the militarys sea-based nuclear weapons. They are scheduled to be built between 2019 and 2042, at a cost that has been estimated at $97 billion.

The subs must be built, though, in an era of flat defense budgets, at a time when most of the nations nuclear infrastructure  including gravity bombs, strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles  also must be replaced.

The Navy also has a recent history of significant cost overruns on shipbuilding programs. Richardson said the Navy plans to control costs by limiting the mid-project technological upgrades that boosted costs on the littoral combat ship and the San Antonio-class amphibious ships.

Theres just going to be some complexity with starting up a new thing, he said. Were going to do the best we can.

Navy Cmdr. Hunter Haltom, a war-gaming and research specialist at StratCom, said he likes serving in Nebraska. But it was good to get a briefing from the Navys top-ranked officer.

It answers a lot of questions we have here, while were geographically separated, Haltom said.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1186, steve.liewer@owh.com
Egypt said the family of a 13-year-old boy who travelled to Italy by boat to seek medical care for his younger brother will go to Florence for treatment despite Cairo's offer to treat the boy at home.

Ahmed Mahmoud travelled to Italy last week aboard a migrant boat after paying smugglers in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria. He was carrying only his seven-year-old brothers medical records and asked authorities upon arrival to provide him a job so that he could pay for his brother's medical expenses, Italian media reported.

The foreign ministry said on Thursday that the Italian embassy in Cairo had contacted the boy's family to provide necessary medical help for the sick brother, Farid, after a number of Italian businessmen and families offered to cover expenses of his treatment.

It said in an earlier statement it had no access to the family's data. It added that Italian authorities are issuing visas for the family members, including the sick boy, who suffers from a serious blood disease.

"The Italian embassy in Rome, in cooperation with the International Organization of Migration, offered the family...to either receive treatment at an Egyptian hospital of their choice at Italy's expense or to travel to Italy to receive free treatment there," the ministry said in the first statement.

The family has decided to travel to Italy and receive treatment there, it said.

They are expected to leave for Italian city of Florence "within days," the ministry added.

The case, which has highlighted inadequacies in healthcare in Egypt, came to light last week after Italian media reported the youngster's story, with the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi saying a hospital in Florence was willing to treat Ahmed's brother free of charge.

This prompted Egypt's government to offer necessary care for the child. The health minister Ahmed Emad urged the family to contact him personally to arrange for free-of-charge treatment while suggesting the parents had not sought treatment at home before opting for Italy.

Many Egyptians travel to Italy via smugglers' boats that depart from the country's northern coast, with most hoping to find work. The majority of those travelling are minors, the IOM said in a recent report.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Hillary Clinton is doubling down on Omaha.

The Democratic presidential candidate opened a campaign office in the Omaha-based 2nd District this week and announced plans to continue her television blitz in the local media market into the fall election.

Clintons commitment to the district in terms of manpower and money has not been duplicated  so far  on the Republican side. GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump has yet to open a campaign office in Omaha for the general election, and he has yet to advertise in the congressional district since winning Nebraskas primary earlier this year.

Trump may be banking on the fact that Nebraska has long been a GOP presidential stronghold. The state has given electoral votes to a Democratic candidate only twice in the past 52 years.

It is also true that Trump has more pressing issues on his plate than winning a single electoral vote in Nebraska. The New York real estate developer has trailed in almost every national poll in recent weeks, as well as polls in several key states that will ultimately decide the race.

If Trump doesnt win Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, then Omahas 2nd District isnt going to matter, said Chris Peterson, a Republican political consultant who ran former U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns campaign in 2008.

Peterson said he sees echoes of the 2008 presidential race in this election. That year, then-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opened three campaign offices in Omaha and put more than a dozen paid staffers on the ground, while Republican John McCain turned what Peterson called a blind eye to the 2nd District.

Obama narrowly won, putting a single blue dot on the nations electoral maps and giving him and his staff bragging rights for winning an electoral vote in GOP-dominated Nebraska. McCain won the states four other electoral votes.

Only two states in the nation  Nebraska and Maine  split their electoral votes by congressional district. Every other state awards electoral votes based upon a winner-take-all system.

Peterson said he believes that this years presidential election will be close.

This is the most unpredictable election in my lifetime, Peterson said. Its tough to put your finger on where this will land.

In opening her office, Clinton gave notice that she plans to mount a get-out-the-vote campaign in the 2nd District. LeMia Jenkins recently moved into the state to run Clintons communication team in Nebraska. Other paid staffers have also moved into the state in recent weeks and are living with Nebraska families.

Jenkins declined to say exactly how many paid Clinton staff members are in Nebraska, but she said more than 200 people have volunteered to work the phones and walk the 2nd District on behalf of Clinton.

Donald Trump is dangerous and temperamentally unfit to be president, and our campaigns grass-roots organizing, state-of-the-art digital outreach campaign will make sure voters know the stakes in this election, Jenkins said.

The Clinton campaign also included Omaha in its recent announcement that it has booked $80 million in television ads this fall, to be aired in the 2nd District and seven swing states that Clinton sees as key battlegrounds: Iowa, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio, Nevada and North Carolina.

Clinton has already spent more than $320,000 on television ads in Omaha since June. It is not known how much she has dedicated to the district in the latest ad buy.

Clintons ad blitz in Omaha also helps her in western Iowa, where Omaha television ads can be seen. This is also about securing Iowa, Peterson said.

There is still time for Trump to set up an office and to mount an advertising campaign in Nebraska before the Nov. 8 general election. And he hasnt totally ignored the state this year. Trump opened a campaign office in Omaha before Nebraskas May primary, held a rally at Eppley Airfield and ran local television ads.

Trump wound up winning Nebraska easily after Republican Ted Cruz pulled out of the race shortly before the primary.

There has been talk among Republicans for several weeks that Trump plans to open an office in Nebraska soon, perhaps sharing space in Lincoln with the Nebraska Republican Party. What isnt clear is whether Trump plans to set up an Omaha office or relocate campaign staff members to the state.

State Sen. Beau McCoy, Nebraska co-chairman for the Trump campaign, sent a statement to The World-Herald from Trump campaign headquarters.

The statement read: Were campaigning hard in Nebraska and will have all the staff and resources we need to win. The voters we hear from understand that Hillary Clinton represents a third Obama term, while the Trump-Pence campaign of tougher law enforcement, stopping illegal immigration and bringing back jobs is resonating strong across the state.

Who, exactly, has been campaigning hard for Trump in Nebraska?

McCoy referred all questions to the national Trump campaign, which did not respond to a request to talk about its Nebraska operation.

One thing is clear, however: Trump does have some powerful supporters in Nebraska.

Former Gov. Dave Heineman is a key backer. Both Heineman and McCoy were recently named  along with 60 other people  to Trumps agricultural advisory committee. In addition, Charles W. Herbster, a former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate and wealthy businessman, was named chairman of that committee.

But Clinton also has powerful supporters in Nebraska, including Omaha investor Warren Buffett.

Buffett has launched a get-out-the-vote campaign in support of Clinton. He has promised to personally take 10 people to the polls and has urged other Omahans to make the same pledge.

In turn, Clinton has issued her own pledge. If the 2nd District has the highest voter turnout of any congressional district in the November election, and if Clinton wins, she will return to Omaha and dance in the streets with Buffett.

The primary vehicle for Buffetts get-out-the-vote effort is a website: drivetovote.org

However, the voter effort has been active on other fronts, said Joe Frost of the Frost Media Group, which is working on the project. The Buffett effort has acquired a Drive To Vote van that has been showing up at various community events. Last weekend, both the van and Buffett made a surprise appearance at the Maha Music Festival.

We had our van there. Warren showed up and took some pictures with people who were recently registered, said Frost.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1309, robynn.tysver@owh.com
Hovering steadily around the Earth is a set of geosynchronous satellites that enable GPS  the global positioning system vital for precision positioning and timing information.

These satellites provide minutely detailed navigation and location information crucial to airline flights and vehicle operation. The technology is part of everyday life as people find their way to a new restaurant, hotel or other unfamiliar locations.

An equally important role for the GPS system is providing globally synchronized time. That information enables proper coordination for everything from cell-tower phone call switching to financial market transactions to computer network synchronization.

Nearly everything we take for granted to move around and keep track of times relies upon those satellites, national security specialist Mackenzie Eaglen has written.

And what is the entity that operates and maintains the GPS system?

Its the U.S. Air Force.

GPS is a prime example of how our nations military provides impressive supplemental benefits to civilian life, in addition to the services warfight- ing capabilities.

Eaglen examined this notable aspect of our military in a series of articles for the American Enterprise Institute.

Air Force weather data is embedded in your weather app, she noted. Improved weather tracking by Air Force meteorologists, plus Reserve observational flights inside hurricanes, have brought major improvements in civilian weather forecasting and storm path prediction.

Air Force Reserve pilots carry out firefighting missions. Air Force research has developed advanced drone technologies with civilian applications. The services aircraft regularly protect the airspace at major public events.

The Army Corps of Engineers, meanwhile, maintains more than 25,000 miles of inland waterways, overseeing 2,500 levees. Stewardship of the Missouri River is among its most important responsibilities. Corps-managed facilities provide a quarter of Americas hydroelectric power.

The Corps of Engineers helps sustain U.S. wetlands and is involved in disaster prevention planning such as construction of a seawall on New Yorks Staten Island.

The Army National Guard provides laudable assistance in the wake of floods and hurricanes.

Research by the Army has brought benefits to civilian life in areas such as electric-battery life extension, prosthetics design and treatment of traumatic head injuries, burns and epidemics.

The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard help maintain free navigation of the sea vital to global trade. And the Navy devotes considerable resources to monitoring and protecting the undersea fiber-optic cables that enable global communications.

Keeping the peace is the central duty of our military. But the secondary benefits our service personnel make possible also deserve a salute.

Its something to appreciate the next time one uses GPS.
A horrible decision by state court

A majority of Nebraska Supreme Court judges decided not to apply common sense and ruled that convicted sex offenders can live in a home with minor children (Mom married to sex offender keeps custody, Aug. 20 World-Herald).

Its a simple question: Will leaving a sex offender in a home lead to more or less child abuse?

With this decision, these judges have failed to protect children, and, unfortunately, more may be abused. The judges pointed to a state law to justify this gross injustice. I will remember these heartless, incompetent judges the next time they stand for retention.

Thomas M. Rawley, Omaha

Stothert makes the right call

When debating whether to cut Omahas restaurant tax vs. its property tax, consider this: Eating out under a restaurant roof and paying the tax is an option. Living and eating in my home involves no taxation option.

Mayor Jean Stothert is doing the right thing cutting the property tax rate but leaving the personal choice of eating out or not in place.

Edwin Bullock, Omaha

Music doesnt belong to a political party

It would be nice if we could keep politics out of music festivals, like the Maha Music Festival.

Diane Nielsen, Omaha

We must defend our flag

My opinion of Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse continues to fall. The latest reason is his opposition to a constitutional amendment banning the burning of the U.S. flag.

Sasse fails to see the harmful precedent that flag burning sets. Our flag is more than a symbol. It is what we veterans pledged our lives for and what many lost their lives for  freedom of speech.

But speech is a verbal noise; the flag is property that depicts freedom of speech. To destroy it is no different than destroying a gravestone of a veteran or the star in the window of a home of parents who lost a son in World War II.

To burn our American flag is to burn deeply into the soul of every American veteran who felt the death of a comrade by his side while fighting so every human may have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Merlyn Braunsroth, Denton, Neb.

The truth about the death penalty

For years, judges, defense attorneys and prosecutors have known that the death penalty is not a deterrent. And now we have a reliable study by Creighton University professor Ernie Goss regarding the added costs of the death penalty (Economist tallies death penaltys price tag, Aug. 16 World-Herald). The research is solid and the findings are compelling.

For these reasons, I urge voters to keep the law that eliminates the death penalty.

Liz Rea, Omaha

Trump is just a smart businessman

Attacking Donald Trumps economic plan, Hillary Clinton said, Before he tweets about how he is really the one who is going to put America first in trade, lets remember where Trump makes many of his own products, because it sure is not America.

Trump is just like any other business owner. Because of high taxes, regulations and other government rules, he has moved some of his businesses overseas.

But as president, he says he will lower taxes, remove many of those regulations and get the government out of the way so that businesses will move back to the United States, including his own. He will renegotiate trade agreements.

Clinton has already proposed tax hikes and more regulations and plans on giving our money away for more free stuff. Trump wants the country to prosper.

B.L. Cork, Omaha

A once-in-a-lifetime educator

I want to give well-deserved congratulations to Omaha Centrals Greg Sand on receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

I had the good fortune to have Mr. Sand as a teacher. He manifests the idea of teacher in the highest sense of the word.

Not only does he have a unique capacity for inspiring enthusiasm for math, but he is also relentlessly committed to building programs so that even more students will reap the benefits of his vision.

Perhaps even more importantly, his brilliance extends beyond understanding complicated mathematics to understanding how to reach students on a personal level and inspire them to do better.

Whether its having a kind word, making his classroom perpetually available for playing cards or listening to problems and offering counsel, Mr. Sands endlessly inventive strategies for engaging with each student are what make him stand out in the lives of countless Central alumni.

The mathematician Paul Erdos once said, It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. You should also have an open mind at the right time. I was lucky to find myself in the right place at the right time. Greg Sands instruction and example showed me how to open my mind. I have him to thank as much as anyone for all the opportunities given to me ever since.

Mr. Sand is public education at its finest and exemplifies why our educators deserve more recognition and more resources.

Joe Delich, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ISIS returnee Majeed says India betrayed him

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Aug 25: Areeb Majeed the man who cleaned toilets in Syria before he was rescued by the Indian agencies and brought down to India, says that he has been betrayed. Majeed was one of the four youth who had left Maharashtra to join the ISIS in Syria.

Majeed who was promised the moon ended up carrying out menial jobs in the Hind camp of the ISIS. He was injured in cross fire and the ISIS had not bothered to give him medical help. He had managed to escape and later made contact with his family before whom he begged to be rescued.

However, after being rescued and brought back, he has a different song to sing in his bail plea. He says that his arrest is a betrayal by India. He says that it was the Indian consulate in Turkey and the government of India that facilitated his return.

He expressed concern that he had been arrested and termed this action as illegal.

He even says that he was in illegal detention for 48 hours upon his return. He further complains that he was handcuffed and tortured by the investigating agencies.

Officials however, say that they want to take no chances with ISIS returnees. It has been seen in various parts of the world that the returnees have proved to be most dangerous. Moreover joining an outfit that has been banned is an offence and mandates an arrest, the officer also noted.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 9:57 [IST]
Ramchandra Rao urges Centre to take over Polavaram project

Hyderabad

oi-PTI

New Delhi/Hyderabad, Aug 25: 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.

PTI

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 11:00 [IST]
Lack of development in J&K for decades was one of the reasons behind rise of terrorism: Rajnath Singh

Cong pitches for talks issue with all stakeholders on Kashmir

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Aug 25: As Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with political leaders in Kashmir, Congress today pitched for dialouge with non-state political parties and all stakeholders, including students.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said no one from the government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have appealed for peace in Kashmir which has been on boil for more than a month now.

"We hope that Home Minister not only talks with political parties, there are others as well, non-state political parties and other stakeholders. He should hold talks with students, trade unions and different communities.

There should be peace. "He should appeal for peace as well. I have never seen any minister or the Prime Minister appeal for peace, neither inside or outside Parliament nor in Kashmir. Least they can do is to appeal," Azad said. Meanwhile, JD(U) said the key question was how much effort would the Home Minister invest in taking forward what he talked about.

"I am happy that the Home Minister has finally understood that there is a need to begin a political engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. The key question here is how much effort will he invest in taking forward what he has said.

"What is the kind of engagement that would be planned, so that the current impasse and sense of alienation, particularly amongst the youth, and the current involvement of Pakistan in Kashmir can be stemmed.

All-party delegation to be sent to Kashmir for talks: Rajnath

We need to carefully watch the next step that this government takes," party leader Pawan Verma said. As part of Centre's outreach, the Home Minister yesterday 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 rthe state.

The death toll in the unrest in Kashmir Valley that broke out on July 8 after killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has now climbed to 66.

PTI
Convict in December 16 gangrape case attempts suicide

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Aug 25: Vinay Sharma, one of the four death row convicts in the sensational December 16 gangrape case of a paramedic, allegedly tried to commit suicide in Tihar Jail, prison officials said today.

Sharma tried to hang himself from an iron grill of his cell using a cloth at around 9.30 PM last night. He was caught in the act by a Tamil Nadu special police personnel on duty who stopped him.

He was later taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

Sharma had consumed a heavy dose of anti-depressants before trying to commit suicide, according to jail sources. Sharma was suffering from depression and was on medication, the sources said.

A 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and gangraped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012.

She later died in a Singapore Hospital. Four convicts - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta were sentenced to death in the case.

2012 Delhi gangrape: Boyfriend, politician planned it, Defence lawyer tells SC

Prime accused Ram Singh was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were subsequently abated.

The juvenile accused in the case was convicted and sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reformation home. He was released from the observation home in December last year.

PTI
The Church says it hopes the bill will prove a 'step forward'

Related New Egyptian church building law to provide permits faster

Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church says it has reached a concord with the government over a long-awaited draft law on the building and restoration of churches.

A statement by the church came days after it criticised what it called "unacceptable amendments" and "impractical additions" made by the government to the draft bill, which was jointly drafted by Egyptian churches.

But following an extensive meeting of 105 of its bishops Wednesday, and recent discussions with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Sherif Ismael, the church says it now sees eye to eye with the government on the matter.

"Following amendments introduced recently and answers provided to [our] questions and inquires ... the Holy Synod announces, in good faith, reaching a compromise formula [of the law] with government representatives," the church said in a statement early Thursday.

The 10-article law is now expected to be sent to the cabinet for approval, then referred to parliament for final ratification.

The Church says it hopes the bill will prove a "step forward," adding that it is looking forward to seeing the legislation made "effective and respecting of others" in the first years of its application.

Egyptian Christians, estimated to make up over 10 percent of the country's 90 million population, have long struggled to obtain the official permits required to build churches, with the process at times taking years.

Copts hope the new law will combat preceived discrimination in dealing with Muslim and Christian houses of worship.

Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II had said that successive governments have, since regulations introduced in 1934, adopted "crippling" conditions for church construction, but stated he hopes the new law will streamline the process and cut out bureaucracy.

According to official statistics from 2011, Egypt has 2,869 churches and over 108,000 mosques.

Dozens of churches were torched on the back of political turmoil unleashed by the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. The damaged churches are being renovated by the country's armed forces.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Delhi Assembly ratifies "big reform" GST bill

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Aug 25: 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.

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 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.

PTI

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 12:14 [IST]
Extortion in Nagaland: Not paying the NSCN(K) is not an option

India

oi-Vicky

Kohima, Aug 25: In Nagaland, no matter what you earn, you would need a little bit more to keep the cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) or NSCN(K) happy who undertake a major extortion racket. While in investigation circles the terminology is extortion, the NSCN(K) prefers to call it as tax.

Not paying is not an option and the people of Nagaland have given up hopes that this scenario would change anytime soon.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which has begun a probe into the extortion network of the NSCN(K) in Nagaland will start off by questioning Kheroshe Sumi, a cadre who played a big role in this extortion racket.

The NSCN (K) faction was banned for five years after it was declared a terrorist organisation by the Union Government in November 2015. The leader of this outfit, S S Khaplang is believed to be in Myanmar. He has entered into a truce with the government in 2001.

However, all attempts to broker peace failed with Khaplang sticking to his demand for an independent Northeast and the Naga-inhabited areas in Myanmar. Khaplang however, repealed the cease fire agreement on April 2015.

Not paying not an option

The people of Nagaland are pinning their hopes on the probe by the NIA. The NSCN(K) has been the most notorious when it comes to collecting tax. The tax amount ranges between Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 on an annual basis. However, there is no guarantee that if the sum is paid they would not come back the same year for more.

When the police in Nagaland arrested Sumi, they had learnt that the tax was being collected on an annual basis. He on the other hand, told the police that if the outfit was running out of funds, they would go back and collect more even if a person had paid the annual sum. Only children were exempted from the tax.

The people have complained very often that not paying was never an option. Apart from earning their livelihood they had to earn extra so that they had enough money when the NSCN(K) cadres came knocking on their doors.

Failure to pay the amount only resulted in death, the people have complained.

Police officers say that even when the ceasefire agreement was in place the Khaplang faction would collect tax. After the April 2015 repeal of the ceasefire violation the faction has only become more agressive.

OneIndia News
New IT rules will make sure no unlawful content is posted online: Minister

Government to transfer PMAY funds directly to beneficiaries

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Aug 25 The government will transfer about Rs 1.30 lakh crore directly into the accounts of beneficiaries under PMAY over a period of three years for construction of one crore houses, a top official today said.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), 60 per cent houses will be constructed for the homeless and those living in kachcha houses belonging to SC and ST communities, Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinha told PTI.

"The work for selection and validation of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has been completed. The scheme will be on DBT (direct benefit transfer) mode that means the funds will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries in installments over three years period," Sinha said.

The total outlay of the scheme, including central and state's share, is about Rs 1.30 lakh crore and the transfer of funds into the bank accounts of beneficiaries will start from next month and so do the construction, he added.

"To check diversion of funds and to ensure transparency, there will be geotagging of all houses which will be built under this scheme," Sinha said, adding that an online platform has also been created where all the required details of beneficiaries along with their pictures is being recorded.

The government is ensuring and taking all necessary steps that the funds are not misused or diverted to the people who are not in the list, he added.

"The aim is to provide homes to the homeless or those who are staying in kachcha houses," Sinha said.

He informed that the government has provided training to 30,000 masons for construction of the houses which are being designed as per the respective local geography. Under the Indira Awas Yojana, the government has constructed 7.7 lakh homes in last 4 months.

PTI

KIS
Rahul Gandhi will be seen in new avatar after Bharat Jodo Yatra: Digvijaya Singh

No U-turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS role: Digivjay

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Aug 25 Congress leader Digvijay Singh today dismissed suggestions that Rahul Gandhi has done a U turn in the Supreme Court on the RSS and said the party Vice President stands by his assertion that the person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi was from the organisation.

"No U Turn by Rahul Gandhi on RSS. He stands by what he said. Person who killed was from RSS. It is the Ideology of hate and violence which killed Mahatma Gandhi", the Congress General Secretary said in a series of tweets.

Rahul Gandhi yesterday told the 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 had 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.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Congress Vice President, had 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.

PTI
FIR against Divya Spandana for posting 'offensive photo' of Modi on Twitter

Not 'Bird Dropping', its Congress's values that are dropping: BJP hits back

What is the controversy surrounding Cong's former IT Cell head Ramya?

Pro-Hindu activists hurl eggs at actor-politician Ramyas convoy in Mangaluru

India

oi-Shreyas

By H S Shreyas

Mangaluru, Aug 25: Actor-cum-politician Ramya aka Divya Spandana's cavalcade comprising of six vehicles faced egg attack in the evening hours of Thursday in the coastal city, Mangaluru.

While convoy of former Member of Parliament of Mandya district was on its way from Mangalore International Airport to Kadri Manjunath Temple in the city, pro-Hindu activists flashed black flags and pelted eggs targeting the convoy at 5.10 pm.

Hindu activists who were waiting for Ramya to pass through airport road raised slogans in protest against her recent statement on Pakistan. Ramya had recently opined that Pakistan is not hell.

Also read: [Pakistan comment blown out of proportion, says actor-politician Ramya]

Ramya's statement came a few days after Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar said: "Going to Pakistan is like going to hell." However, Ramya expressed her opinion on Pakistan after she visited the neighbouring nation to participate in SAARC youth summit.

After this statement, Ramya has been facing severe flak and Vittal Gowda, an advocate filed a private complaint in JMFC court in Madikeri appealing to invoke section 124 A (sedition) against the 34-year-old actress.

Ramya is currently at Mangaluru attending Krishna Janmashtami program at Kadri temple. In a text message, Ramya told OneIndia that she is safe. "I am safe. All fine."

Watch video:

WATCH Congress leader Ramya's car attacked by protesters with eggs over her remark, in Mangaluru.Protesters detainedhttps://t.co/DlZ7TGDcAR  ANI (@ANI_news) August 25, 2016

She further said not a single car was damaged. "The convoy of mine had six vehicles," she informed.

However, Mangaluru police detained the protestors immediately after the egg attack. Protesters threw eggs in the presence of police personnel deployed as security cover for Ramya.

OneIndia News
Scorpene Submarine: $3.5 B, 11 years of hard work, all sunk by a data leak?

India

oi-Oneindia

By S. Raghotham

India woke up Wednesday to the news that documents related to one of the nation's most critical military projects -- to build six Scorpene attack submarines -- had been leaked. The news came from an Australian newspaper, The Australian. And the document -- all of 22,400 pages -- may have been out in the open for as long as five years now, before it reached the Australian journalist by ordinary mail!

Sensitive data on India's Scorpene submarines leaked

While the leaking of any data is worrisome, is the Scorpene data leak in particular something to be alarmed about? Can India afford to go ahead and build these submarines and put them to sea? Or, have $3.5 billion and 11 years of hard work and learning to build a submarine been sunk by a data leak?

Project P75: The Submarine Project

1. India currently has only 13 submarines, and even those mostly in indifferent health, being of the mid-80s vintage -- eight of Sindhughosh class, the first of which was inducted into service in 1986 and the last in 2000; and, five of the Shishumar class, inducted between 1986 and 1994.

2. In comparison, the Chinese Navy currently has 57 conventional attack submarines in active service, five under construction; it has 12 nuclear submarines, both ballistic missile as well as attack submarines, and is developing the next generation of these, most of them inducted in the last decade.

3. Pakistan has three Agosta 90B submarines in service, all of them inducted since 1999, and is building three more. It is buying eight S20-class Chinese submarines for $5 billion. And it is rumoured to be developing its own nuclear-powered submarine.

4. The Indian Navy has to begin retiring its current lot of submarines between now and 2025 and replace them with newer, quieter, more capable submarines.

5. With this in view, in October 2005, India placed an order for six Scorpene submarines.

The Scorpene Submarine

6. The Scorpene is a 1,600-tonne diesel-electric attack submarine, a scaled down version of the French Navy's 4,700-tonne Barracuda, jointly developed by the French DCNS and Spain's Novantia companies.

7. They are being built at Mazgaon Docks Limited, with technology transfer and assistance from DCNS.

8. The project is running four years behind schedule, as MDL had to learn submarine-building from scratch.

9. The first Scorpene-class sub, Kalvari, started sea trials in May 2016 and is expected to be inducted into service in September.

10. The remaining five subs under Project P75 are to be delivered at the rate of one a year.

The Scorpene's Subtics tactical combat system.

Who leaked the document?

The Australian journalist Cameron Stewart, who broke the story of the leak, says an Australian company received the document on a data disk that was sent to it by ordinary mail.

When he contacted DCNS officials, they implied that the leak might have happened from India.

Australia selected DCNS recently to supply it Barracuda submarines in a US$38 billion deal, and so DCNS was trying to assure the Australians that the Scorpene leak happened only because Indian parties were involved -- since India was building the subs under technology transfer and assistance, but it would not happen with the Australian deal because DCNS would run that project end-to-end and would be in full control of all data.

But Stewart writes that his own investigations had revealed that the leak had happened in France, possibly in 2011, where the company had prepared the document for the Indian Navy.

I'd worry if sea trial data leaked out, not factory data -- RN Ganesh, Ex-Navy

The culprit is possibly a former French Navy officer who started a private venture after retirement and took the document, marked 'Restricted Scorpene India', to a company in Southeast Asia with which he wanted to partner. Later, the document was sent to another company in Southeast Asia, and finally made its way to the unnamed Australian company.

The fact that the culprit also took away and leaked data not related to the Indian Scorpene deal, but related to other French defence deals, with countries such as Chile, seems to show that the leak did not happen out of India, but out of France, and perhaps out of the offices of DCNS itself.

What data has been leaked?

From the looks of it, what has been leaked is the 'operating manual' for the submarine, written by DCNS. In essence, whoever has got the document knows the 'factory data' of the submarine.

The Australian Journalist Cameron Stewart, who broke the story of the leak (See here for documents), writes that the secret information revealed include:

1. The stealth capabilities of the Indian Scorpene submarines.

2. The frequencies at which the submarines gather intelligence.

3. The submarine's noise levels at various speeds.

4. Diving depths, range and endurance.

5. Magnetic, electro-magnetic and infra-red data.

6. Specifications of the submarine's torpedo launch system and the combat system.

7. Speed and conditions needed for using the periscope.

8. Propeller's noise specifications.

9. Radiated noise levels when the submarine surfaces.

How the Scorpene would defend itself against threats from the sky.

"The data seen by the Australian 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 pages on its navigation systems," Stewart writes.

So, does it mean India's 'stealthy' new submarines are now "full monty" at sea? Will they become sitting ducks for the Chinese or Pakistani navies if they venture into the waters? Will India have to simply shelve the Scorpene submarine programme and write off $3.5 billion in costs and years of hard work learning to build a modern submarine?

Government and Navy officials say that while the fact that something did leak out is a matter of worry, there is no cause for alarm over the fact that so much about the submarine itself is out there in the open.

India's first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari undergoes sea trials. The submarine is expected to enter service in September.

Does India need to worry?

The whole point about a submarine is that, unlike surface ships, it is not visible to the enemy and therefore submarines can, as retired Vice Admiral R.N. Ganesh, a submariner himself, told OneIndia, "It can go in harm's way, into critical areas where other ships can't go, and carry out its mission," because it has the advantage of surprise. It's why the submarine service is also called the 'Silent Service', a description that perfectly fits nuclear submarines but works well even for modern diesel-electric submarines with air-independent propulsion systems, such as on the Scorpenes.

Ganesh says that if it is only the operator's manual as written by the manufacturer, which contains factory data about the product, that has been leaked, as the case looks to be, then "the damage is not grave. It does not imperil the system and render it useless".

"Knowing the parameters as mentioned in the manual does not help the enemy. The people who want to know are people who already have a good idea about the submarine. The leak does not detract from the efficacy of the Scorpenes", the retired submariner said.

"Every submarine has a 'signature' (that the enemy wants to detect), but that signature cannot be made out from emperical, factory data. Each signature is a combination of hundreds of parameters that one cannot calculate merely by looking at the manual. There are a lot of external factors affecting these parameters, such as the temperature of the air, salinity of water, etc," Ganesh explains.

Top 10 countries with the most submarines in the world in 2016

If the leak of the entire operator's manual doesn't compromise the system and cause alarm, what would worry a submariner and the Navy?

"If the data from the sea trials were to leak out, that would worry me. That is in our hands, it won't leak out", Ganesh said.

The first of the six Scorpenes, named INS Kalvari -- meaning a deep sea Tiger Shark -- began sea trials in May this year. It is expected to be inducted into service in September.

Bottomline: India's Scorpene submarine programme is not sunk, but France and DCNS have suffered a big dent in their reputation.
Are you awake?: EAM Jaishankar recalls when he got a call from PM Modi at midnight

Attack in American University in Kabul, 13 killed

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kabul, Aug 25: Thirteen people were killed in an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, a spokesman for the Chief of Kabul Police told CNN on Thursday (Aug 25). [2 attackers have been killed: Police]

Seven students, three policemen and two security guards were among the victims, Basir Mujahid, the spokesman said. [US strongly condemns attack]

Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC.

Police searched the American University of Afghanistan early Thursday about 10 hours after the assault began and killed two of the attackers who stormed the campus with guns and explosives.

The gunmen detonated explosives and fired guns, witnesses said, causing some students and faculty to flee. Others hid inside buildings, a senior State Department official told CNN.

No group has claimed responsibility.

Police described the attack, which began at about 7 p.m., as "complex". Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers, the BBC said.

One of those trapped inside the university for several hours was Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, who tweeted his experience and pleaded for help.

Student Ahmad Mukhtar told the BBC that he was 100m away from the university's main entrance on his way home when he heard "six or 10" shots and a "huge" blast.

The explosion created so much light that it momentarily lit up the surrounding area, he said.

"I climbed a six-metre wall to escape," Ahmad said.

Other trapped students and staff tweeted or posted on Facebook their desperate pleas for help.

The attack comes two weeks after two university staff - one American, one Australian - were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

The school opened in 2006. It's the only private, nonprofit coed university in the country and has about 1,700 full- and part-time students, CNN reported.

IANS
Italy quake death toll reaches 250

International

oi-PTI

Amatrice (Italy), Aug 25: The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy rose to 250 on Thursday (Aug 25) amid fears many more corpses would be found in the rubble of devastated mountain villages.

Rescuers sifted through collapsed masonry in the search for survivors, but their grim mission was clouded by uncertainty about exactly how many people had been staying in communities closest to the epicentre of Wednesday's quake.

Hundreds of people spent the night sleeping in their cars, in hastily-assembled tents or as guests of families in nearby areas less affected by the quake.

Monica, a survivor from the tourist town of Amatrice, told of her numbed response when a 4.5-magnitude aftershock rattled the area just after 5.00 a.m. (0300 GMT). "We are sleeping in the car and there were shocks all night.

When the biggest one came, the car started moving and shaking. "But what have we got to lose now? We have lost our house. So many friends and family are dead. We have lost everything, even our fear," she told AGI news agency.

The damage to smaller, more remote hamlets has left their very existence in doubt in an area that has suffered decades of depopulation and already has numerous "ghost" villages.

"If we don't get help, l'Arquata is finished," said Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata del Tronto, which accounted for 57 of the confirmed deaths to date. Petrucci said it was impossible to say exactly how many people were in the 13 hamlets comprising his community when the disaster struck.

"Here in the winter, the village is practically uninhabited but the population doubles or triples when people come back to their family houses in the summer," he said. In Pescara del Tronto, which was virtually razed by the quake, there only four permanently resident families.

But Petrucci said there could have been up to 300 people there yesterday. Some may have fled back to Rome, the mayor said, appealing for them to get in touch. "Otherwise we could be trying to dig out ruins where there is no-one," he said.

Measuring 6.0-6.2 magnitude, the quake's epicentre was near the towns of Accumoli and Amatrice, occurring at the shallow depth of four kilometres (2.5 miles), according to monitors.

But it was only the latest in a long string of killer quakes in the central Apennines, part of the mountainous "spine" that runs down Italy. Records dating back seven centuries attest to tens of thousands of deaths.

The Civil Protection agency which is coordinating the rescue effort said that in addition to the dead, 264 people had suffered injuries serious enough to be hospitalised. Several of them are in a critical state.

Although firemen and volunteers on the ground were pessimistic about the chance of finding any more survivors, several of them recalled that the last survivor of a 2009 in nearby L'Aquila was pulled from the rubble some 72 hours after it struck.

PTI
For the dark rule in Afghanistan, blame is on the US

Kabul attack pics: Pulitzer-winning photographer was among trapped

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Kabul, Aug 25: A Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer was also trapped among hundreds of students in the American University here where a terror attack took place on Wednesday (Aug 24). Massoud Hossaini, 34, said he was shot at by a person wearing 'normal clothes' while he tried to see what was going outside through a window.

Fifteen students were with Hossaini, the Associated Press photographer who studies political science at the university, when they first heard the explosion on the southern side of the institution's campus.

"I asked my classmates to lie on the ground, and I ran to the other side, to the south side, to see what is going on," ABC News quoted Hossaini as saying .

He remembered that moment when he and his colleagues understood they could not escape and tried to put up a defence by pushing chairs and desks against the door of the classroom where they were, ABC News said.

Hossaini, who won the Pulitzer Price in 2012 in Breaking News Photography for taking the image of a horrified 12-year-old girl in the wake of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, had tweeted about his ordeal, even saying it could be his last. Later, he deleted the tweets.

Thirty-four-year-old Hossaini had won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography for capturing the image of a terrified 12-year-old Tarana Akbari in an aftermath of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul.

On Wednesday, Hossaini was caught in an attack himself. He had tweeted out his ordeal saying that he was stuck at the University along with other students amid the explosion and gunfire. He also wrote that this might be his last tweet. Later, he deleted the tweets from his account.

Attack at American University 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 pm. AP/PTI Attack at American University Military vehicles guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. AP/PTI Attack at American University Afghan security forces inspect the site after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. AP/PTI Attack at American University 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, Aug. 24, 2016. AuWe are trying to assess the situation,Au President Mark English told The Associated Press. AP/PTI Attack at American University Military vehicles guard after an attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The attack has ended, a senior police officer said Thursday, after several people were killed. Kabul police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and that about 700 students had been rescued. AP/PTI

Oneindia News
Pak PM's offer to India was in consonance with SAARC initiative on COVID-19: Pak FO

SAARC must deal with terrorism, obstruction in trade and connectivity: Jaishankar

Full potential of SAARC can only be realised in atmosphere free of terror, says PM Modi

Shaktikanta Das attending Saarc FMs meet, instead of Jaitley: Official

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Aug 25 With Finance Minister Arun Jaitley opting out of the Saarc Finance Ministers' meet, it is Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das who has taken his place at the two-day conference, a top government official said on Thursday.

"Yes, that is correct. Instead of Mr Jaitley, Mr Shaktikanta Das is attending the two-day Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) meet of Finance Ministers at Islamabad," a senior Finance Ministry official told IANS.

The two-day FMs meet is being held at Islamabad from Thursday.

The possibility of Jaitley attending the meet was clouded with India-Pakistan relations touching a new low after Home Minister Rajnath Singh was given a cold shoulder by Pakistan authorities when he visited Pakistan earlier this month to attend the Saarc Home/Interior Ministers' conference.

"Ultimately, it is the government's decision whether the Finance Minister goes to Islamabad or not. I think this is one way to snub Pakistan," Bharatiya Janata Party National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh had told IANS earlier.

Apart from Jaitley, Bangladesh Finance Minister Abdul Maal Abdul Muhith is also missing from the Saarc meet, Pakistan's Daily Times reported.

While Das is leading the Indian delegation, M.A. Mannan, State Minister for Finance is representing Bangladesh, it reported.

India-Pakistan ties touched a low after a raging controversy emerged after Rajnath Singh's two-day visit to Pakistan earlier this month.

India had strongly objected to Pakistan"s "restrictive approach" in denying visas to Indian journalists to cover the Saarc Home/Interior Ministers' conference.

Media persons who accompanied the Home Minister were not allowed in the (meeting) room and a number of those who had applied for visas (to cover the event) did not get them, India's External Affairs Ministry had said.

"Naturally this restrictive approach by Pakistan even for a multilateral event is not helpful in promoting close ties between Saarc countries," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said.

Indian journalists accompanying the Home Minister to Islamabad were denied entry inside the venue hall where Rajnath Singh lashed out at Pakistan over its alleged support to terrorism.

Reports also said that the Pakistan government censored Rajnath Singh's speech and didn't allow it to be covered live.

IANS
The dead sharks that washed ashore on a Damietta beach on Thursday are from a species that doesn't attack humans, the chief of a governmental committee tasked to look into the incident has said.

Egyptian Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy had earlier ordered the beach where the incident occurred, in the northern town of New Damietta, to be closed until it was inspected by a specialised team, and swimming in the area was banned.

The committee--formed by the country's environment ministry and included members from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)--inspected the area on Thursday afternoon.

Committee chief Mohamed Salem Abdel-Rahman said that the beach was safe, and that there was no reason for the beach to remain closed.

The committee didn't reveal which shark species it had identified.

In June, Egypt imposed a temporary ban on sport fishing and offshore swimming near the popular Red Sea destination of Ain Sokhna, where a shark attack took place. Officials at the time said the attack was likely caused by a combination of fishing and swimming in the same spot.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats

US strongly condemns terror attack on American University in Kabul

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Aug 25: Condemning in the strongest terms the terror attack on the American University in Kabul, the US has reaffirmed its support to the Afghanistan government and people and saluted the quick response of Afghan forces. [12 killed in Kabul university terror attack]

"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. [2 attackers killed: Police]

"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.

State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said an attack on a university is an attack on the future of Afghanistan.

There were a small number of Resolute Support advisers who assisted their Afghan counterparts as Afghan forces responded to the attack. These advisers are not taking a combat role but advising Afghan counterparts, she said.

According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, the attack underscores the significant challenge facing the people of Afghanistan, particularly as it relates to their security situation.

"But we continue to see the skill and professionalism of Afghan security forces improve. That's not happening by accident. That's happening because of the commitment that the US and our NATO partners have made to enhancing the capacity and capability of Afghan security forces to provide for the security situation in their own country," he said in response to a question at his daily news conference.

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.

PTI

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 10:34 [IST]
Vietnam woman gets limbs cut off by friend to claim insurance money

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Hanoi, Aug 25: A woman in Vietnam has admitted to have paid for cutting off her foot and part of her arm so that she could claim insurance money,

The woman, identified as Ly Thin N, pretended to have been hit by a train in May, the People's Police Newspaper of Vietnam reported. The 30-year-old woman has now reportedly admitted to have committed the bizarre act of persuading a friend to cut off her limbs for 50 million Vietnamese Dong. She did so to claim more than $150,000 from her insurance policies.

In May, a 21-year-old man identified as Doan Van D had to the police that Ly was injured after being hit by a train while she was wandering near the railway tracks. At first, it looked as it Doan was an eyewitness to the 'tragedy' but later the woman confessed to the police that it was Doan who she had paid to sever her limbs and also remain a party to the deceiving act.

A supposed bystander, "Doan Van D", the same person who did the cutting, had called an ambulance after "finding" the injured woman on a Hanoi railroad.

Local media said the woman seemed to have been struggling in her business and feel short of cash.

The incident caused quite an impact among the social media users in Vietnam with one even calling it an "insurance fraud". Another expressed sympathy with her, asking how poor can one be to take such a step.

According to one BBC report, the police dropped the criminal investigation against the duo, Vietnam's Tuoi Tre newspaper said.

It also reported that Le Van Luan of the Hanoi Bar Association felt it would be difficult to legally charge the two under the country's existing laws and the authorities required a "new article for this kind of fraud".

Oneindia News
'Move out of PoK' India states in new letter to Islamabad

New Delhi

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Aug 25: India has written yet another letter to Pakistan reiterating that talks would only be on terrorism and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The letter written by foreign secretary S Jaishankar states that Islamabad needs to move out of Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

The letter is a reply to Pakistan's foreign secretary Aizaz Choudhary who had invited India to discuss the Kashmir issue. India has, however, maintained that if there are talks with Pakistan it shall be only regarding terrorism and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Modi's new mood: Time to expose Pakistan, liberate PoK

Pakistan had written to India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Independence Day that human rights violations need to stop at PoK and Balochistan.

Jaishankar had accepted the invite by Pakistan to hold talks but maintained that only Pakistan sponsored terrorism would be discussed and Kashmir will not be on the table.

India has maintained that the issue relating to Kashmir is an internal one. India has also stated that Pakistan has been stoking violence in the Valley apart from helping terrorists infiltrate.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 15:13 [IST]
AAP may soon ouster Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chotepur over ticket for cash scam. Chotepur was caught on video accepting cash for favouring tickets to his men. Sources said the clips were also shown to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was asked by party Supremo Arvind Kejriwal to probe the allegations a week ago.
There was much hype about his playing as a DJ in a high profile hotel in Delhi. 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. But as per the reports, people apparently were not happy with his music playing skills as he was constantly playing his film 'Gupt' song throughout the party.
As Rajnath looks to break the ice, Hurriyat issues fresh calendar of protests

Srinagar

oi-Vicky

Srinagar, Aug 25: The Union Home Minister is looking to widen his outreach in a bid to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Singh landed in the state on Wednesday and has been making attempts to restore peace even as the Hurriyat Conference upped the ante by issuing a fresh calendar of events.

So far there has been no breakthrough and Singh is expected to make certain policy announcements before he returns to Delhi on Thursday. Talks with the separatists are not on the schedule of the home minister.

The Hurriyat Conference continues to stick to its demands and the government is in no mood to accept them.

The Hurriyat has been demanding the repeal of AFSPA, release all detainees, acknowledge the disputed nature of the state and also book cases against police officials and the CRPF.

In its latest calendar events starting August 24 and ending September 1, the Hurriyat has decided to lead a march and tell the Indian army to vacate. On August 27, the Hurriyat plans to march to the army camp at Badami Bagh in Srinagar and ask them to vacate Jammu and Kashmir.

Breaking the ice

As part of his outreach Singh is expected to make a statement on the issue of pellet guns. However, he may not be able to announce a complete ban since the security forces are against it. Sources in the Home Ministry tell OneIndia that strict guidelines will be announced on the use of pellet guns.

In addition to this the Home Minster is also likely to announce a commission of inquiry to probe into alleged excesses committed by the security forces. It would be on the lines of the Justice Pandian commission of Inquiry, the official also noted.

Singh would also work out a solution with the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure that the 46 day curfew is lifted. Singh will also announce the arrival of civil society members on Saturday who will hold talks with the people so that they come on board for talks.

An announcement on incentives for teachers to take extra classes so as to compensate the students who have missed classes for over a month now is also expected to made.

Hurriyat adamant

The Hurriyat, however, continues to remain adamant. Apart from sticking to their demands, the Hurriyat Conference has once again issued a fresh calendar of events and this effectively means that peace is unlikely to return anytime soon.

The Hurriyat issues a weekly calendar in which it lists out activities. Many say that unless and until the Hurriyat stops issuing such calendars, peace is unlikely to return to the Valley. The separatists have control on over 10 per cent of the population in the state.

In its latest calendar events starting August 24 and ending September 1, the Hurriyat has decided to lead a march and tell the Indian Army to vacate. On August 27, the Hurriyat plans to march to the army camp at Badami Bagh in Srinagar and ask them to vacate Jammu and Kashmir.

Further the Hurriyat also has called for a shutdown in the entire state. This would effectively mean that normal life will continue to remain disrupted and the curfew is likely to continue.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will todayon Thursday meet with several officials in the state and find a way to ensure that peace returns. Singh during his discussions with various leaders on Wednesday had also emphasised on the need of providing employment opportunities so that the youth do not take to the streets and protest.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 12:03 [IST]
Burhwan Wani was an excuse, J&K unrest was planned 3 months back

Srinagar

oi-Vicky

Srinagar, Aug 25: The ongoing investigations that are being conducted by the National Investigation Agency suggest that the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir was planned three months back and the killing of Burhan Wani was only a trigger or excuse to kick start the riots.



OneIndia while speaking to several officials both in the police and the Intelligence Bureau, suggested that that the unrest was planned in the later half of May itself. If one looks at the money flow into the Valley it suggests that several bank accounts had been opened up in the month of May itself.

Funding J&K unrest: 8 member NIA team to probe the inflow of funds

The Valley witnessed protests on a large scale from July 9 onwards. The killing of Burhan Wani- the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist on July 8 became the trigger point for the violence in the state which has not died down till date.

Unrest planned three months back

A team of NIA which is in Jammu and Kashmir, is probing several cases of terrorism and also the flow of funds into the Valley. Recently the NIA questioned, Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, Bahadur Ali who spoke about a plan to add fuel to the fire.

He tells the NIA that he was launched into Kashmir by the Lashkar-e-Taiba. He was told to stand behind the stone pelters and hurl grenades at the security forces. He also said that they were trained several months back to stage such attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mirwaiz writes to Pope, Shankaracharya over Kashmir issue

Further proof about the unrest being planned three months back can be found in the pattern in which the bank accounts in the Valley were being operated.

The NIA has 17 such bank accounts under its radar and many of them were opened much before the death of Burhan Wani. The NIA has found that most of these accounts were opened three months back and after the money had been withdrawn they were closed.

Intelligence Bureau officials say it is quite clear that Pakistan along with the separatists had been planning a major uprising or unrest in the Valley several months back. The killing of Wani became a trigger point for the violence and the Valley has been on the boil since the past 46 days now.

OneIndia News
Funding J&K unrest: 8 member NIA team to probe the inflow of funds

Srinagar

oi-Vicky

Srinagar, Aug 24: An eight member team of the National Investigation Agency will be in Jammu and Kashmir to probe the inflow of funds that were allegedly used to fund the unrest in the Valley.

The NIA team had already sought details from the banks which had reported suspicious transactions over the past one month.

Any talks on Kashmir must include Pakistan: Mirwaiz

The NIA team in coordination with the local police and also the banks will probe into the inflow of funds. A careful scrutiny of the fund flow will be carried out and several people are also likely to be questioned in this regard, an officer informed.

The Intelligence Bureau had reported that around Rs 30 crore had been pumped into the Valley through various sources in a bid to fund the unrest. Following the intelligence bureau report regarding the inflow of money into the Valley, a probe has been initiated based on the directive given by the Ministry for Home Affairs.

According to the report of the intelligence bureau the money came in to fuel the unrest. The money had been spent on paying the stone pelters, organising meetings and also supporting infiltration bids. The probe by the NIA will help track the source of the funds and also reveal who had received the money in the Valley.

Sources tell OneIndia that it is the constant flow of money which has kept the unrest alive.

Stone pelters are paid by separatists amounts ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 800 per day. Further several secret meetings have been organised in the Valley to plan the violence. The money has been used to conduct such meetings as well, officials say.

There has also been a large number of infiltrations that have taken place in the past month taking advantage of the violence. Groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba have appointed guides along the border to help oversee the infiltrations. These guides too have been paid a large sum of money, officials also reveal.

Further the IB report also suggests that large sums of money was also paid to protestors who were told to target police posts and government buildings.

In the past month, the protestors have burnt down buses too. Such a huge sum of money which has been pumped in was done a the specific cause- to keep the unrest alive.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 15:20 [IST]
Kerala CM accuses Gov of 'acting as RSS tool' on his order to VCs to resign

Campaign against 'communalism' by CPI-M on Janmashtami

Thiruvananthapuram

oi-PTI

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 25: CPI-M, heading the ruling LDF in Kerala, today launched a campaign against "communalism and religious extremism", coinciding with the 'Shobha Yatras' of Sangh Parivar outfits to mark the Janmashtami celebrations.

Though the five-day CPI-M campaign, titled 'Namukku Jathi Illa' (We have no caste) featuring cultural processions and conventions, is officially to mark the birthday of social reformer Chattambi Swami, opposition Congress took a dig at the ruling party for organising celebrations on the occasion of Janmashtami (birthday of Hindu Lord Krishna).

In a Facebook post, CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishan said cultural processions and conventions would be held in more than 5,000 centres till August 28.

The campaign was to uphold and spread the rich renaissance ideas, he said. "I appeal all people who believe in secularism and democracy to participate in the programmes organised as part of the campaign," he added.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said, "Let the CPI-M evaluate their decision as a political party to organise celebrations on the occasion of Sreekrishna Jayanthi (Janamashtmi). It shows that they are facing ideological bankruptcy and lack of policies."

RSS-backed Balagokulam, a children's outfit, organised nearly 10,000 colourful processions, in different parts of the state. Children dressed up as Lord Krishna in glittering robes and ornate headgear depicting various stages of his life took part in the processions to the beats of 'chendamelam', a traditional Kerala percussion instrument.

Amid tight security and tension, the Janmashtami processions were held in different places in politically sensitive Kannur district. Participants in the CPI-M processions in Kannur waved placards with pictures of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Sree Narayana Guru and social reformer Ayyankali.

Heavy police force was deployed in the district as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, temples across the state witnessed heavy rush of devotees on the occasion of Janmashtami, celebrated here today. The famous Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayoor and Sree Krishna shrine at Ambalapuzha saw heavy rush of devotees right from early morning.

PTI

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, August 25, 2016, 11:22 [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.
An Egyptian military court on Thursday sentenced seven Muslim Brotherhood members to 15 years in jail for attacking police stations in Assiut in August 2013.

Eleven other members of the outlawed group were sentenced to 25 years in prison each in absentia in the same verdict.

The defendants were convicted of throwing a bomb at a police station, part of a wave of attacks on state and security targets in the aftermath of the deadly dispersal of the Rabaa El-Adawiya protest camp in Cairo in the same month.

According to Egyptian law, defendants sentenced in absentia automatically receive retrials when they turn themselves in.

The verdicts can still be appealed.

Egypt's government has banned the Muslim Brotherhood, declaring it a terrorist organisation in October 2013.

In October 2014, Egypt allowed military courts to try civilians accused of attacking state facilities or blocking roads for two years, following deadly assaults that killed dozens of security forces in the Sinai Peninsula.

Last week, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi extended this provision for five more years.



Search Keywords:

Short link:


Adly is to be released pending trial on a number of charges, including inciting protests

An Egyptian court ordered the release from detention of human rights lawyer Malek Adly on Thursday while being investigated on a number of charges, including inciting protests.

Later on Thursday, the prosecution appealed the court decision, his lawyer Khaled Ali said, blocking his release.

A criminal court will rule on the prosecution's appeal next Saturday.

The well-known lawyer, who was arrested on 6 May, is accused of inciting violations of the protest law by calling for demonstrations against the 8 April Egyptian-Saudi border demarcation agreement concerning the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir.

Adly is also accused of destabilising security, trying to destabilise the country and planning to overthrow the regime. He has denied all charges .

Last month, the Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate filed an official demand calling on authorities to allow the detained lawyer out of solitary confinement where he has been held since his arrest in May.

According to Adly's wife, Asmaa Ali, his health had deteriorated rapidly because of the conditions of his detention.

Protesting without a police permit is a crime in Egypt, and violators are often sentenced to jail terms.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will visit India next week to discuss bilateral relations and trade, a statement by the president's office read.

El-Sisi will hold talks with India's President Pranab Mukherjee, who invited him, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip from 1-3 September.

Presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said on Thursday that talks between El-Sisi and Indian leaders would focus on methods of boosting bilateral cooperation in different fields, including working on increasing the volume of trade between the two countries, which at present stands at $4 billion annually.

Youssef added that discussions would also include promoting the contribution of Indian companies in national projects currently being executed in Egypt.

In statements to state-owned MENA agency, India's ambassador to Egypt, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, said that the two sides would discuss issues of mutual concern including terrorism and extremism in the MENA region.

Bhattacharyya described El-Sisi's visit as "a landmark that will give further momentum to the already strong partnership between the two countries."

This will be El-Sisi's second visit to India; he first travelled to the country in October 2015 to attend the third India Africa Forum Summit, where presidents and representatives of 40 African countries discussed means of developing economic cooperation and mutual investments.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Eurasia Review 02 Dec 2020

In the wake of several suspected Islamist attacks in France this year, President Emmanuel Macron has asked the countrys Muslim..
Rumble 25 Oct 2022

Joe Pags writes and performs a parody of "Peaches" by The Presidents Of The United States about the congressional..
Wibbitz Top Stories 27 Oct 2022

New York Post Says , Employee Was Responsible for Website Hack.

Deadline reports that on the morning of Oct. 27,..
APUA New Guinea is expected to receive a huge boost of 7.2 million HIV/AIDS prescription drugs from India soon.



In a brief recently from Health Secretary Pascoe Kase, "the goods are being prepared and we should expect them anytime now."



That is the assurance from the health department. The department did not specify the date of the arrival of these medicines but soon is anytime from now.



The deputy secretary Pasion Dakulala has been tasked to give updates on the arrival of those medicines from the Indian embassy.



Officials from the Indian embassy have confirmed that the drugs will arrive next month and will be distributed through the health department.



This HIV/AIDS prescription is a gift from India that was announced by the Indian President Shri Pranab Mukherjee when he visited the country in April.



The arrival of this should be a boost to the shortage of antiretroviral drugs being experienced currently throughout the country for people living with HIV/AIDS.



The shortage of this important medication was also raised during Parliament session yesterday.



India will also send medical equipment to monitor and maintain chemicals and its operations on HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea. Post Courier
Optimove Integrates with Google's DoubleClick for Improved Customer Retention Marketing

Published August 25, 2016 by Ivan P

Israeli customer marketing specialist Optimove integrated with Google Ads with a goal of providing better customer targeting and retention.

Israeli company Optimove, one of the leading Customer Marketing Clouds, entered a partnership agreement with the internet tech giant Google. Integrating their technology with DoubleClick by Google, the company aims to achieve better customer engagement as well as much higher retention rates using highly personalized ads dispatched via various Google media platforms.

Individual Approach to Increase Advertising Effectiveness

In the PR announcing the integration, Pin Yakuel, CEO of Optimove, emphasized that the biggest challenge for those running paid advertising campaigns has been determining customer groups to include in specific ad campaigns. Furthermore, tracking and constantly updating lists of audiences is a comprehensive task which will be significantly facilitated using the Optimove's technology.

The information gathered using the platform will allow for granular marketing strategies, targeted at much smaller groups based on their online activities. The data is constantly updated in the Optimove's system, providing clients with the most recent and relevant info.

The Optimove's success comes largely due to their experimental approach to marketing. Every campaign is conducted as a sort of an experiment, where all gathered information and feedback is analyzed in detail and used to improve future campaigns. The company integrated with Facebook Custom Audiences in 2014 and that integration proved a great success.

Personalized Ads in Online Gambling?

This type of approach to marketing and customer retention is something online casinos would be particularly interested in as it would enable them to not only target their ads but to also measure their effectiveness.

At this point in time we can't say with certainty what the integration will look like but Optimove is on the rise and they will certainly not back away from a challenge.

The company already cooperates with some of the gaming giants like Caesars Entertainment, Amaya, and Zynga. There is no doubt that these Optimoves business partners will be finding ways to profit from this latest strategic deal with Google.
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia:

Singapore-based asset management firm APS Asset Management said that its APS China A Share (Cayman) Fund rose 1.46% gross in July and 1.59% in 2Q (-6.38% YTD), outperforming its benchmarks, the Shanghai A-Share Stock Price and the Shenzhen A-Share Stock Price Indexes, by 1.46 percentage points and 11.45 percentage points respectively.

In its monthly report to investors, APS said that the A-share market rose in early July as investors anticipated an acceleration of state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms. At an SOE reform forum, President Xi Jinping had called for SOEs to be strengthened and outdated capacity to be eliminated.

"As discussed in our earlier commentary, investors were previously disappointed with the progress of reforms and we would expect more detailed measures, especially on employee share incentives and hybrid ownership," APS said.

July saw first case of listed company to delist

The asset manager noted that July marked the first case of a listed company being delisted for IPO fraud since Chinas securities regulator unveiled stricter delisting rules in 2014 in an effort to restore investors' confidence and remove errant companies.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) initiated the process to compulsorily delist Dandong Xintai Electric Co for fabricating financial information in its IPO application. The delisting follows the exit of Zhuha......................

To view our full article Click here
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia:

A court in the Cayman Islands on Tuesday has appointed an outside liquidator to assist in unwinding Platinum Partners Cayman-based hedge fund Value Arbitrage Fund (International) Limited, the offshore version of Platinum's flagship hedge fund offering.

In an e-mail sent to Reuters, the court-appointed insolvency specialist RHSW Caribbean said it would be working with Bart M. Schwartz of Guidepost Solutions as "joint official liquidators" of the hedge fund.

The New York-based Platinum Partners, which is facing dual investigations by U.S. regulators, has hired Schwartz, the former Manhattan U.S. Attorneys criminal prosecution division, in July to oversee the liquidations of the firms main hedge funds. Schwartz was taken on board to "achieve an orderly liquidation and protect investors interests in the funds," Platinum said in its letter to investors.

The hedge fund firm was managing roughly $1.35bn in assets as of April this year before it was embroiled in a New York City municipal union kickback scandal. Platinum Partners portfolio manager Murray Huberfeld was arrested in Ju......................

To view our full article Click here
Let's succeed together in making this country a better place for humanity. Let's work together, and separately, to send out the best possible progressive mandate for our politicians to respond to in the Fall of 2016.

Electoral politics in America often bring out the worst in people. It is frustrating that activists, leftists, and progressives who work together some of the time, often get utterly torn apart in the excitement (and fear) surrounding who will be the next President.

For me, the world of Facebook has been the most frustrating experience of the 2016 presidential cycle. I have been shouted down by a friend who is a feminist, artist, and Hillary Clinton supporter. She posts Hellfire missives about why we must all vote for Hillary Clinton, because Trump is so bad. And, she sends out subtle, and not so subtle, messages that it is not okay to vote for Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate.

For a while, I tried to respond to these arguments with my own statements about my right to vote for a third party and my firmness to vote for a peace candidate. Though, I think the end result of the exchange was that my artist friend feels like I am attacking her, hurting the cause of women, and ruining the country. I feel like my friend's "We all must vote Democrat or else" message is helping Hillary Clinton and the powers-that-be to oppress me and stifle my voice.

I believe that my vote is my power. And, I cannot give my power to a candidate unless I truly believe they will enact my values in the world. For me, this means I cannot vote for any politician whom I know has voted for war.

Also, on Facebook, a conversation with an old school friend got to nearly the same level of vitriol. I had to end it by asserting that he was way more important to me than either Hillary Clinton or Jill Stein, and that we should just not talk politics until after the election. By giving up any hope of converting him or sharing my political insights, I think I left it in the best possible place. (Though, the mischievous and hopeful side of me may show him this essay.)

I just wish that I could make my friends -- and other reluctant Clinton supporters doing third-party rants -- see that by criticizing me and Jill Stein and the Green Party, they are not only hurting their friends, they are hurting the causes we all care about.

The most important goal of the reluctant Clinton supporters seems to be the outcome of the election. They don't truly believe in Hillary Clinton, but they feel they must vote for her in order to defeat Trump. And, the next level of their outcome strategy is that they believe that by defeating Trump, they will have saved America from a devastating turn towards intolerance and right-wing politics. Somehow, they believe that they will ultimately help protect the health, safety, and rights of themselves and humanity by voting for Hillary Clinton.

Though, it is easy to see by studying history, that the way to move the country towards more progressive solutions is to use one's vote in the most empowered manner possible. Often, that best voting strategy has been a third-party path.

Third parties do not often win elections. So, it isn't easy to argue that the Green Party or Libertarian Party candidates for President have a good chance of being elected. (Though, heck, Abraham Lincoln was a third-party candidate, and he managed.)

More likely, the outcome of a large third-party vote will be to move the country in the direction of the movement it represents. So, historically, having a big and adamant third-party vote has supported the great social justice causes of the day. The Liberty Party (the anti-slavery/abolitionists) gave momentum to end slavery. The Women's Suffrage Party existed from 1909 until 1919, when Congress voted to give women the right to vote. Eugene Debs ran for President on the Socialist Party line five times between 1900 and 1920. Some politicos say "The New Deal" was based on the Socialist Party platform.

In more recent times, the effects of third parties can be even more immediate. After Ross Perot's run for President, the US government was forced to decrease the national debt for awhile in the 1990s. With the success of Green Party candidates and the Green Party message, the culture -- and some state law -- has moved towards: legalizing medical marijuana; marriage equality (same-sex marriage); and a constant discourse on sustainable energy.

When major party supporters take their focus off the candidate they want to win, and put their focus on eroding the morale of third-party activists, they are creating two problems.

First, they are hindering the chance of their own candidate to win. They are wasting time that could have been used to lobby people who are close to their opinion. They are wasting energy that could have been used to plan a get-out-the-vote effort for other, already-won-over, major-party supporters.

Secondly, by hindering the work of third-party activists to make noise and to make bolder demands on the system, the stubborn major-party supporter winds up moving the political energy against the noble goals and message of the third party.

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
France's foreign minister said on Thursday the Security Council had to respond firmly after a U.N. probe found that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks.

"The use of chemical weapons, which the Syrian authorities agreed to ban in 2013 under international pressure ... is an abomination that highlights the damning role played by the Damascus regime in the worsening situation in Syria," Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said in a statement.

A joint investigation by the United Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog also found that Islamic State group militants had used sulphur mustard gas, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters.

"France calls for a response that measures the seriousness of this. The Security Council must not shirk its responsibilities and France is already working with its partners" on the matter, Ayrault said.

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.

French diplomatic sources said Paris wanted to use the chemical weapons report to push for a resolution at the Security Council that would force Russia, the key backer to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to accept that its ally had used banned weapons and as a result would use its influence to back a credible ceasefire across the country.

"We need to use this report to force Russia out of its ambiguity. If they were to veto such a resolution they would need to justify the use of chemical weapons," one senior diplomat said.

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.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall's book is amazing. He's created a real breakthrough, visionary how-to for a sustainable, quality future. Like Saul Alinski's Rules for Radicals, this book is destined to become a classic must-read for all those concerned with social, economic, and environmental justice in today's interconnected world. Story shapes the world and our world needs new stories if we are to survive and thrive. The story of the bottom-up evolution and revolution is one that can change individuals, groups, businesses, religions, and governments for the positive as it shows how bottom-up inclusiveness, connectedness, collaboration, empathy, innovation, and freeform creativity can help unleash the great potentials for good inherent in our very nature. If you want to improve things in your world and the world, first read this book, then apply the suggestions. Change is sure to come."



Pamela Jaye Smith, mythologist and author of InnerDrives, Power of the Dark Side, Symbols* Images* Codes* and award-winning writer-producer-director
Another Hillary Clinton shitstorm was kicked up when the Associated Press reported on Tuesday that during the Democratic presidential nominee's tenure as secretary of state, she met several dozen times with donors to the Clinton Foundation. Hot damn, the Trumpsters declared, here's evidence of the corrupt, pay-to-play ways of the Clinton mob. Donald Trump called for the foundation to be shut down. Rudy Giuliani could defend his accusation that the Clinton Foundation was "racketeering," a harsh legal term with which the former prosecutor must be familiar. And media commentators, including the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, proclaimed this revelation a blow to Clinton, fixating on the supposedly awful optics.

Most of the reaction was overreaction. The article contained no real allegations -- let alone evidence -- of any corruption or breach of ethics. Most of the meetings cited were the sort of one-on-ones a secretary of state could be expected to hold, whether or not the person in the room with Clinton was a donor to the foundation. The story dwelled on a meeting she had with Nobel Prize winner and foundation donor Muhammad Yunus, a pioneer in micro-lending Clinton has known for 30 years. In one instance, the article cited a meeting Clinton held with the head of an AIDS foundation, which was developing projects in Africa with the State Department. And OMG -- this foundation also gave to the Clinton Foundation, which has long been involved in the global fight against AIDS.

There may have been a need for a better firewall between Clinton and the foundation when Clinton was the nation's top diplomat, but the AP article focused on a small issue and skipped a bigger subject: assessing what the Clinton Foundation has accomplished. And there may be a good reason why much of the coverage of the foundation has zeroed in on side matters, because it's darn hard to evaluate what the mega-nonprofit has done.

Go to Mother Jones to read the rest of this article.
Reprinted from Consortium News



The Palestinian flag is waved as relief ships arrive in Gaza in August 2008.

(Image by Ann Wright) Details DMCA



For years, Israel has blocked international ships from reaching the isolated people of Gaza, thus denying the 1.8 million embattled Palestinians maritime contact with the rest of the world and the hope that comes from knowing that they have the support of many people across the globe.

With all of the tragedy that surrounds Gaza, including the 50 Israeli military strikes on the Palestinian territory last weekend, we need to remember the exhilaration of the people of Gaza one day in August 2008 when two small international boats arrived to show that the Gazans were not forgotten.

After that, four other shipments reached Gaza along with European land caravans, called "Viva Palestina" that traveled into Gaza through the border with Egypt. However, after Israel's December 2008-January 2009 war on Gaza, Israel forcefully intercepted ships headed for Gaza.

On May 31, 2010, Israel reacted to a flotilla of ships challenging the blockade by launching a military attack on the six boats that killed nine activists on the Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara. Since then, other challenges to the naval blockade have been prevented from taking to sea (Greece 2011) or stopped illegally in international waters, the passengers kidnapped and the boats taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod and the passengers to prison on charges of entering Israel illegally and eventually deported.

The latest challenge to the Israeli blockade of Gaza will be the Women's Boats to Gaza that will sail in mid-September to again demonstrate that we do care about the people of Gaza.

A Tale of Hope

Greta Berlin, co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement, reminds us of the joy of the people of Gaza when the first international boats in 40 years arrived in the Gaza City port in August 2008 by providing the words of Gamaal Al Attar, who wrote:

The sun was shining on August 23, 2008, and everyone in Gaza was waking up in order to get ready for the D Day. It is the day everyone in Gaza has been waiting for a long time; a day we will feel like there some people in the world who care for our suffering. A day we will feel that we belong to the human race, and our brothers and sisters in humanity care for our daily struggles. Scouts from different scout groups had signed up to be in the welcoming committee on the fishing boats. So, we headed directly to the main port of Gaza at 08:00, and, together with policemen who are there to secure the crowds, we boarded the boats and started the trip to the open sea.



The Palestinian flag is waved as relief ships arrive in Gaza in August 2008.

(Image by Ann Wright) Details DMCA



Hours of waiting in the boats made everyone seasick, and, by noon, most of our hope flew away with the wind. It looked like the two boats were not coming. We were screwed. All the dreams and feelings that there was someone who cared for us got smaller and smaller as time went on. Jamal El Khoudari (the coordinator for the campaign) spoke at a press conference that the boats had gotten lost and made some excuse. I and the other scouts in Gaza did not want to listen to excuses. The people of Gaza wanted them here now.

The smiles that were on every single face by the morning, the joyful people in the port waiting at sunrise, and the hope of seeing someone who would care for us changed to a huge disappointment. By noon, nearly everyone had left the port and gone back home.

On the way back home, I saw Gaza looking darker than ever, and a small tear escaped from my eye. "It looks like there is no one who cares for us," A boy scout told me. I opened my mouth to tell him that this wasn't true, but I could not find a word to say.

Just like all the scouts, I went home, took a shower, and tried to rest after a long day under heavy sun. All of us were seasick and sick in our hearts as well. I lay on my bed to sleep and forget about humankind. I set my head on my pillow and thought... "We are on our own, and nobody cares."

The Boats Arrive

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Laptop for Rent in Dubai

Laptop for Rent in Dubai

www.vrscomputers.com

Laptop for rent in Dubai has made many companies to proceed with their business process at cheap cost.Renting laptops have become the latest trend among large corporate companies and organizations in UAE. When the opportunity to get first class laptops for rental at cheapest cost, compared to owning is higher, then any company would certainly prefer laptop for rent in Dubai.There are many laptop rental companies in Dubai offering various models from top brands for both short term and long term needs. Their prices are also highly competitive. Besides, it is also possible to tailor the rental to specific individual or corporate requirements. The rental services are standing as the great support to large companies with huge numbers of employees who have need for laptop computers.Why choose laptop for rent?There are various reasons to favor this question. As we all know, the technology is advancing with the fast pace in recent years. This advancement is influencing the working nature and essentials of latest software and specifications in the computers to aid employees work according to the current needs. Perhaps, buying a new computer within a short timeline and very often would huge affect the overall investment and monetary plans of the corporate company. This in turn would lead to a massive budget constrain too. Rather, renting provides more flexibility to the company to easily hire their required laptops with latest specifications or as defined. This reduces a huge amount of cost compared to buying new laptops for the employees. It also brings the flexibility to return the laptops and rent a latest one according to current advancement, thereby all the expectations of the company are fulfilled at lower costs, without affecting their overall investments.Run a hassle free business by renting laptops:The above said scenario has brought renting laptops to be a perfect solution for all types of business. Rent any numbers of laptop any time as required. The rental companies will also provide the flexibility of renting various computer accessories to improve the usability. Besides the strong technical support team will also assist in every aspect of updating the laptop specifications and repair needs instantly, without the work is getting disturbed.Renting will create all choices of choosing the laptops according to your needs such as, comfortable size, long battery life, cheaper price and flexible package to choose. Laptop rentals are very beneficial for occasions like conferences, employee training, business meetings and other events. This service is very helpful for any company need bulk laptops for a short time. Unquestionably, the rental companies provide quality laptops with proper statements and rental agreement, which will enable you to get a secured and reliable service.We understand the importance of your hard earned money; hence we follow a purely competitive price thatwill let you avail our superior services at the least price possible in laptop rental service.If you aresomeone who works offshore and you are unable to carry camera or devices with camera, then set yourworries aside, we have devices with inbuilt camera just for your convenience on our all laptops that areprovided on rental bases in Dubai.+971-55-5182748Email:sales@vrscomputers.comaddress:Office No 5,3rd Floor, Suk Al Kabir Building, Dubai, U.A.E.
Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Trends with business strategies and analysis to 2025 explored in latest research-The Insight Partners

http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/photonic-ics-pic-market

http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000109

http://theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000109

The Photonic ICs (PIC) Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Components, Uses, Integration and Materials report provides a detailed overview of the major factors impacting the global market with the market share analysis and revenues of various sub segments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Photonic ICs (PIC) Market to 2025 @Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC), functions analogous to electronic ICs, utilizes photons instead of electrons to carry data. Photons, unit of light, travels comparably much faster than other data carriers, hence data transfer speed has increased dramatically. Global photonic ICs market is expected to rise at a remarkable rate as it offers substantial enhancements in system size, power intake, cost, and dependability.On the basis of uses, the global photonic IC market is segmented into biophotonics, optical communication, sensors, optical signal processing and nanophotonics. The global photonic IC market is further segmented on the basis of integration methods deployed into monolithic integration, hybrid integration, and module integration. In addition, the global photonic IC market is segmented on the basis of components, namely: modulators, lasers, multiplexers/demultiplexers, detectors, optical amplifiers and others (such as attenuators, wavelength converters, etc.). The market is segmented on the basis of materials, namely: lithium niobate (LiNbO3), indium phosphide (InP), silicon (Si), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and silicaonsilicon.Request for Sample Copy @Rising demands for high speed communication combined with developing application zones, specifically in the arena of sensing, optical communications, and biophotonics have powered the progress of the global photonic ICs market. In addition, high power efficiency, inexpensive fabrication, improved reliability, and high data transfer rates offered by photonic ICs are factors which are expected to propel this market. The use of photons for the drive of offering high-speed information processing, computation, and data transmission offers a sound prospect intended for the development of photonic ICs market.Optical sensors application is an emerging application in this marketplace, which is utilized in fields like aerospace, defense, transportation, energy, and medicine. Quantum computing, a technology soon to be commercialized, is another segment that promises significant utilization of photonic ICs. Photonic ICs are similarly used in biomedical arena, wherein InP-established use of definite photonic ICs are being utilized for the diagnostic examination of opaque skin tissues.Inquire about discount on this report @Optical communications is a leading application sector in the photonic IC market, whereas biophotonics and sensing are the other key application segments. Even though the present-day input from optical signal processing segment is the minimum, it is anticipated to witness strong progress post the commercialization of quantum computing.North America leads the global photonic IC market, trailed by Europe and Asia Pacific. While North America is the chief photonic IC market, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness strong growth, overtaking Europe and eventually North America. The development in Asia Pacific can be majorly credited to growing demand from optical communications and biophotonics applications. The worldwide photonic IC market is extremely disjointed and is branded by the presence of large number of players. Some of the top players in the marketplace comprise Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Infinera Corporation, JDS Uniphase Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Avago Technologies Ltd., Intel Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Ciena Corporation, Emcore Corporation and NeoPhotonics Corporation.Some of the key points covered in the report: Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Landscape Photonic ICs (PIC) Market  Key Industry Dynamics Photonic ICs (PIC) Market  Five Forces Analysis Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Analysis Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Components Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Applications Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Integration Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Materials Photonic ICs (PIC) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Geographical Analysis Photonic ICs (PIC) Market, Key Company ProfilesAbout The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Data Center Security Market Trends with business strategies and analysis to 2025 explored in latest research-The Insight Partners

http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/data-center-security-market

http://theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000121

http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000121

The Data Center Security Market to 2025 - Global Analysis and Forecasts by Solutions, Services, Data Center Size and End-user Verticals report provides a detailed overview of the major factors impacting the global market with the market share analysis and revenues of various sub segments.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Data Center Security Market to 2025 @The tremendous increase in data has led to a significant increase in the number of data centers. In addition, there has been a prodigious increase in data traffic and cyber-crime, thereby leading to the demand of advanced security for these data centers. The technology that supports data center could also be used to hack company data with the purpose of deleting, modifying, and using data for immoral reasons. Thus, organizations concerned on data security are looking forward to a viable security option.In order to grow, survive, compete, and increase productivity, organizations are extensively utilizing virtualization and cloud computing. Cloud-based facilities division has been the principal contributor to the managed services segment and hence to the general data center security market. Frequent attacks on data centers have fueled the growth of data center security market in the recent years. Hence, concerns related to the security of data has increased exponentially. However, lack of awareness among organizations about data center securities availability hinders the data center security market globally. In addition, high capex and opex involved with data center security solutions implementation further restricts the growth of this market particularly in case of small and medium data centers. However, the rapid growth in the developing countries in terms of IT is expected to create opportunities for market players. India and China, within Asia Pacific (APAC), are two biggest markets in terms of growth or economy and are expected to promise market players with a bankable income.Request for Sample Copy @Unpredictable weather has further been a major hindrance to data center security market. For instance, earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and storms, can damage infrastructure including computers and data. Also, there are spammers, phishing attacks, and viruses that can even break sound security systems. Therefore, updating the security measures on an ongoing basis has been a challenge to the global data center security market players. However, companies, established or emerging, have come up with multi-level solutions using artificial intelligence (AI) and automated identifiers to provide security to data centers globally, thereby taking care of unpredictable natural calamities and new types of logical security threat. Presently, North America leads the global data security market, followed by APAC.The global market for data center security solutions is mainly divided into physical security solutions and logical security solutions. The global data center security market can also be segmented on the basis of services into security consulting services, professional services, and managed security services. The global data center security market can be further segmented in terms of data center size into small-sized data centers, medium-sized data centers, large-sized data centers, and others (mega data centers, portable data centers). The global data center security market is also segmented on the basis of end-user verticals into BFSI, IT & telecom, government, energy & utility, healthcare, retail and others (research and education, etc.). One of the basic measures of data center security includes adding security at each level of data center access, and at the same time making sure that enabling these security measures does not hamper scalability of the data center. Other steps may include to separate networks physically and install security at each end of it, and making access strictly with controlled environment.Inquire about discount on this report @IBM Corporation, Cisco systems, Inc., MacAfee Pvt. Ltd., are among the key players in the global data center security market and have been continually involved in developing innovative solutions, strategies, and expanding their research and development competences to ensure solidity and safety to data centers Furthermore, the players are partnering with each other over their key strategies, in order to sustain and fight with anti-security agents,. Few other key players recognized globally within the data center security market include Schneider Electric Infrastructure Ltd., HP Development Company, L.P., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., IBM Corp., McAfee, Inc., Dell, Inc., Juniper Networks, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Fortinet, Inc., Symantec Corporation and Siemens AG.Some of the key points covered in the report: Data Center Security Market Landscape Data Center Security Market  Key Industry Dynamics Data Center Security Market  Five Forces Analysis Data Center Security Market Analysis Data Center Security Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Solutions Data Center Security Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Services Data Center Security Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Data Center Size Data Center Security Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  End-user Verticals Data Center Security Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025  Geographical Analysis Data Center Security Market, Key Company ProfilesAbout The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comThe Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Lanner Adds NCA-1210 into its Expanding Compact Network Appliance Lineup

For the wide spread adoptions of edge security gateways and virtual CPE, Lanner, a global leader in network appliance design and manufacturing, has added NCA-1210, a compact desktop network platform based on Intel Atom C2358/C2558 CPU (codenamed Rangeley), Intel QuickAssist Technology, four RJ-45 GbE LANs and four antenna holes.NCA-1210 is a value combination of form factor and computing processor. The compact desktop empowered by Intel Atom C2358/C2558 CPU proves to be the cost-effective network gateway for small and medium enterprises, retail, branch office and other edge security applications. The processor delivers ideal performance and power balance and is programmed with Intel QuickAssist Technology for accelerated cryptographic engine. Though in compact desktop form factor, NCA-1210 supports DDR3 1333 or 1600 MHz up to 16GB, offering high memory efficiency.Regarding the I/O interface, NCA-1210 comes with four RJ-45 GbE LAN ports, one RJ-45 console port, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports and four SMA antenna holes. The LAN ports are programmed with one pair of LAN bypass. Internally, the system integrates Marvell 88E1543 Quad PHY for improved networking capability. For wireless connectivity, NCA-1210 supports dual mini-PCIe slots.For cooling purpose, NCA-1210 supports one cooling fan.Lanner Electronics Inc. (TAIEX 6245) is a world-leading hardware provider in design, engineering, and manufacturing services for advanced network appliances and rugged industrial computers.With 30-year experiences, Lanner provides reliable and cost-effective computing platforms with high quality and performance. Today, Lanner has a large and dynamic manpower of over 800 well-experienced employees worldwide with the headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan and subsidiaries in the US, Canada, and China.Lanner Electronics Inc.7F, 173 Datong Road Section 2,Xizhi District,New Taipei City 22184,TaiwanTelephone: +886-2-8692-6060Fax: +886-2-8692-6101Email: contact@lannerinc.com
Global wind power market order intake up 15% since 2015

MAKEs 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 Americas 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 Polands 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 Egypts FIT program is still maturing and Iran continues to recover economically.MAKE keeps the outlook in China consistent with the Q2 analysis. Chinas 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.MAKE is a leading source of insight into the renewable energy industry, and a preferred partner for leading renewable companies and investors world wide.To make the right decisions for your renewable energy business and investments in todays environment of intensifying competition and shifting demand, you need access to reliable and timely industry insights. MAKE delivers research, forecasts, data and a multi-faceted view of the global wind power and solar industries with unrivaled depth and accuracy, offering you a competitive advantage in accelerating business results.Snder Alle 98000 Aarhus C
Information from Dennso AG: Wegener+Stapel Fordertechnik GmbH pursuing further growth - Internationalisation strategy

www.wortratundtat.de

Hamburg / Bergen, 24.08.2016. Wegener + Stapel, a premium supplier of conveying and picking systems, has recorded a significant increase in orders in the first half of 2016 and achieved strong growth in sales. Manfred W. Schleicher took over the company with a long tradition only in October 2015 together with the private equity investor Dennso AG and his partners by way of a Management Buy In (MBI). Now, Wegener + Stapel intends to grow further by acquiring companies in the field of automation and control technology. Dennso is supporting the management in implementing the growth-oriented corporate strategy.After a successful first half of 2016, both, Wegener + Stapel Fordertechnik GmbH and Dennso AG are looking for growth potentials in the field of technology companies that specialise in automation and control technology / software for conveying systems. By doing so, Wegener + Stapel wants to expand its technology portfolio and gain further access to international markets. At present, Wegener & Stapel and Dennso are considering further acquisitions in the automotive, production, distribution and logistics segments as well as complementary technologies.The private equity experts of Dennso AG had taken over the company only in October 2015 together with Manfred W. Schleicher and other funding partners by way of a management buy-in, and are now advising the company in the Structured Buy & Build strategy. The collaboration with DHL in Saudi Arabia is proof that the strategy of internationalisation is already bearing fruit. Wegener + Stapel has assumed responsibility for delivery and assembly monitoring of a sophisticated package conveyor system for their new parcel distribution centre in Jedda. Thus, Wegener + Stapel is representing itself as a competent and capable partner for German companies wanting to install conveying systems abroad.Also in Germany the company has recorded good orders from renowned customers such as the Volkswagen Group.Manfred W. Schleicher, Managing Director of Wegener + Stapel Fordertechnik GmbH: "With Dennso AG as a strong partner, we were able to achieve our corporate goals in just a few months after the takeover. The Dennso experts have optimally supported us in matters of financing and growth strategy." Gunther Hasselmann, Director of Dennso AG: "We are pleased that the investment is doing so well and the management buy-in has become a success story after such a brief period of time. The credit for this goes mainly to Mr. Schleicher and his comprehensive knowledge of the industry as well as his entrepreneurial spirit.Dennso AGAs an independent private equity investor, Dennso AG specialises in medium and large financial investments and the structuring of growth-oriented corporate and acquisition funding. Dennso is not satisfied with standard models but develops exceptional investment strategies for companies, management and investors using its know-how, creativity and equity capital.Dennso offers managers who want to become entrepreneurs, or management teams attractive options for Management Buy In (MBI) or Buyout (MBO). For private and institutional investors, Dennso offers highly profitable investments in interesting companies beyond the usual horizon of investment. Typical financing models for entrepreneurs prepared and executed by Dennso are, for example, recovering the majority for the founders and implementing growth strategies, corporate growth through acquisitions: Structured Buy & Build, recovery of capacity and succession planning for entrepreneurs.The private equity company Dennso AG with headquarters in Hamburg was established in 2005 and has been managed since then by the directors Gunther Hasselmann, Helmke Gerndt and Michael Zipser.Wegener + Stapel Fordertechnik GmbHWegener + Stapel Fordertechnik GmbH, established in Bergen in 1967, is one of the pioneers in the use of specially developed aluminium profiles in conveying systems. The company designs and provides complete material flow solutions using conveying systems starting from drive systems up to system visualisation for the internal material flow and interlinking systems for automated production. The product and service portfolio ranges from analysis and consulting to system optimisation via project engineering and project-related implementation management up to the manufacture of components, including control systems  everything from a single source. The individually tailored design of all the conveying system and control components of the "W+S Toolbox" ensures optimum flexibility and cost-efficiency for the users.wortratundtatMelanie Steidle / Sven GoeddelKaiserhofstrae 1660313 Frankfurt am MainGermanyTel.: +49 69 - 26 02 83 70Mail: dennso@wortratundtat.de
Germany's defense minister says her country wants to keep planes helping the campaign against the Islamic State group at Turkey's Incirlik base amid an argument over Ankara's refusal to let German lawmakers visit military personnel.

The announcement comes a day after Turkey sent in ground forces, assisted by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, into northern Syria to free a town of Islamic State group militants.

Turkey was angered by German lawmakers voting in June to label the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago genocide.

German military missions require annual parliamentary authorization. Government lawmaker Rainer Arnold told Der Spiegel magazine the mandate wouldn't be renewed if visits aren't allowed.

Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland newspaper group Wednesday the military would like to continue operating from Incirlik.

Asked whether it could pull out quickly if necessary, she replied: "Smart military planning always foresees alternatives."

Germany has Tornado reconnaissance jets and refueling planes at Incirlik.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Xstream FUSION network-ready web dust removal system

The latest development from Hildebrand Technology is the worlds first non-contact dust removal system which is network-ready and makes straightforward integration into all important field bus or industrial ethernet networks possible.It combines the latest technological development and is micro-processor controlled with local embedded intelligence. The dust removal efficiency, high-speed vacuum airflow, function of the upstream iONstream FUSION AUTODC dust removal system, its electrode soiling, condition of the emitter tips and neutralization efficiency are continually monitored in real time and visualized. The parameters and data can be accessed via a GateWay or a master touchscreen display. This means system data can be read out as easily as possible for the user and parameters can be changed by the process engineer. This way, intervention in the process is possible at any time, depending on the application, and maximum cleaning results can be achieved.Network / software featuresThe system can be integrated into all standard industrial networks e.g. Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet etc.. Alternatively, communication with suitable devices such as tablet PCs and smart devices can be established through iONlink via wireless Bluetooth transmission. The iONlink Bluetooth module is plugged into the network at any point and enables the system data of all system participants to be received wirelessly and in real time by android-compatible tablets or hand-helds. Visualization and operation are simple and intuitive via touchscreen using the iONpilot Hildebrand app.The following system-relevant data can be read out, processed or visualized. Cleaning efficiency Ionisation efficiency Vacuum Speed of air flow Filter condition Condition of filter trap container Condition of fan/frequency converter Cleaning module positions Maintenance information about the filter and ionization systemAccess of every individual system participant to detailed system data and possible parameter setting is possible through the process engineer.The graphical presentation of the values and storage to the log book can be used to document the quality of the production run. Measurement and verification for 100% process control / TQM can be carried out without any problem.Network overview for a typical application example with dual side cleaning:The operating principleThe Xstream FUSION surface cleaner is a non-contact dust removal system which uses a defined high speed vacuum air flow to free the substrate surface of loose particles. The specially developed ULTRA nozzle profile makes the particles remain in the air flow for longer. An upstream ionization unit neutralizes the surface in terms of electrostatic charge and thus prevents the particles bonding to it. The Xstream FUSION web dust removal system can be retrofitted to all machines, accommodates splices automatically and is available for use on web widths from 50 mm to 10,000 mm in either a single-side or dual-side version. The compact design minimizes the space required for installation.The cleaning technologyThe development of the Xstream FUSION system is based on aviation and aerospace technology, where the air is forced into a certain direction at an extremely high speed when it reaches certain profile shapes. Hildebrand Technology used this technology to develop the Xstream FUSION surface cleaner. The specially shaped profile, which is positioned very close to the surface of the substrate, generates an extremely high laminar air flow (>60 m/second) under specific vacuum conditions, which flows from the substrate surface via the aerodynamic profile edge to the cleaning head. This airflow breaks the laminar flow on the surface of the substrate and carries the dust particles along with it. After extraction, the dust particles are trapped in a filter. The BASEcontrol emits a signal as soon as the filter requires cleaning. The control also monitors the cleaning module position, the airflow and the vacuum of the cleaning modules.Hildebrand Technology has specialized itself in the field of extracting dust as well as electrostatic charging and discharging from all different types of moving substrates in web and sheet form. We offer as a competent partner custom made solutions. The collected know how over many years combined with our international experience in the printing industry has led to found an independent company. Custom specific solutions using revolutionary technology in connection with a full customer service package has set new standards since 1995.We offer custom-tailored system solutions with German engineering and in Swiss precision. We are certain, that for each individual problem, a system solution can be found which is optimized in terms of efficiency and cost. That is why we have a set priority when developing our products. We work very closely together with the people who know most about the application, our customer. For each development of a system the requirements of maximum efficiency, a minimum of maintenance and the use of wear free parts are our most important targets.Since December 2015 Hildebrand Technology belongs to Gema Switzerland GmbH, a company from St.Gallen / Switzerland. Gema has been a part of the global Graco Group, an internationally leading manufacturer of liquid conveyance systems and components.Hildebrand Technology Gema SwitzerlandMovenstrasse 179015 St.GallenSwitzerlandPhone +41 71 313 83 00Fax +41 71 313 83 83E-Mail info(at)hildebrand-technology.com
Largest Solar Farm In Southern Hemisphere Launches In De Aar

www.phelanenergygroup.com

www.solarcapital.co.za

March 17, 2016 NewsMarch 2016: Today, The Honourable Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Energy, inaugurated the 175MW Solar Capital facility based in De Aar, Northern Cape  making it the largest solar farm ever completed in the Southern Hemisphere, Africa and the Middle East region.This launch of the facility is the culmination of a two-phase project. The first phase has a capacity of 85MW and the second phase an even larger capacity of 90MW. In total the facility is 473ha, consists of 503 942 modules and took a mere 28 months to construct. The amount invested in the project totaled R2.2 billion and R2.6 billion for the first and second phase respectively  making an overall investment of R4.8 billion in the development of the facility.According to Joematt-Pettersson, sub-Saharan Africa has seen tremendous economic growth and its energy consumption has risen by 45% since 2000. Many governments are now intensifying their efforts to tackle the numerous regulatory and political barriers that are holding back investment in domestic energy supply, and inadequate energy infrastructure puts a brake on urgently needed improvements in living standards.The Department of Energy (DoE) has worked hard to solve the energy shortage in South Africa through its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement (REIPPP) Programme. This programme allows for foreign investment in renewable energy farms, and has enabled the establishment of various renewable energy facilities which assist in providing the grid with electricity, such as Solar Capital De Aars 175MW farm.Paschal Phelan, Chairman of Solar Capital, says that the launch of the facility is an important example of how solar power can assist in solving the current energy crisis in South Africa. The Northern Cape of South Africa has some of the highest irradiation levels in the world, with the location of this facility boasting 2168kWh/m. This allows the abundant sunlight in the region to be converted into green energy to be transferred to the national energy grid, says Paschal Phelan.Paschal Phelan explains that South Africa as a whole will benefit from the facility, as all power generated from the project will be exported into the national electricity grid. The electricity produced will be able to power approximately 75 000 South African homes every year, says Paschal Phelan.Paschal Phelan adds that, with the introduction of lithium batteries in the near future, power will not only be transferred during the day, but can also be provided at night when it is most needed.Solar Capital has also invested in long-term economic development in and around De Aar. Phelan points out that the De Aar project has had positive economic effects in the local area. The facility employed over 2,000 local people at peak and currently employs approximately 100 people for operations and maintenance.Paschal Phelan says that by the end of 2016 more than R24 million will be spent on economic development in projects, such asa community leaders development programme, free Wi-Fi for the town of De Aar, a large community training centre that houses a computer training laboratory, as well as an arts training and exhibition centre.The launch of the solar farm is not only a success in its own right, but also allows for the opportunity to spread the message of solar success. It has no mechanical parts, it has minimal operation costs, no emissions, no water usage and it is safe. It needs to be a priority in South Africa that we continue the investment in this source of abundantly free, green, sustainable energy, concludes Paschal Phelan.About Solar CapitalSolar Capital (Pty) Ltd is a subsidiary of Phelan Holdings (Pty) Ltd a prominent South African based International Investment and Development Company, with the vision to become a market leader in the production of solar energy in Southern Africa. Based in Cape Town, Solar Capital has built up a local and international proficiency in renewable energy, in order to realize its mission. With Southern Africa having some of the highest annual solar radiation levels in the world, Solar Capital has invested in real estate and technology with the potential to develop the continents most valuable energy source  the sun.Solar Capital - Phelan Energy Group47 Main RoadGreen PointCape Town8005T: +27 (0)21 433 0366
Solar power  green and clean energy we need in SA, says Paschal Phelan

www.phelanenergygroup.com

www.solarcapital.co.za

According to Paschal Phelan, Solar Capital Chairman, renewable energy in general and solar power specifically, allows for a reduction in the reliance on fossil fuels, while also providing a far superior option in terms of protecting the environment.The environmental change sweeping our world is happening at a rate far faster than previously imagined, concluded the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) study carried out by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) this year.With a focus on protecting the environment during World Environment Day, 01 June 2016, the move towards the provision of renewable energy through the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) Programme has been lauded for assisting in the reversion of the worst impacts of climate change, as recognised by the UNEP.Paschal Phelan explains that the production of solar energy has minimal CO emissions, little water usage, is inexhaustible, and it is safe. Global electricity produced by solar power has doubled seven times over since 2000.Part of the reason for this is that solar is not a fuel, but a technology. Owing to economies of scale and increasing efficiency, prices of solar technology and supply continue to fall, as does the price of batteries for energy storage. As a result, the need for fossil fuels is falling internationally. It is only developing countries like South Africa that are still adding coal to the energy mix, more as a result of a rapid demand for further energy supply.Paschal Phelan adds that not only is solar energy readily and freely available, but the cost of solar technology (internationally and locally) has come down substantially in the last few years. Internationally, the price has reduced as a result of technological innovation, the manufacturing learning rate, economies of scale and further competition.Paschal Phelan also points out that solar farms are commercially viable facilities funded by local banks and foreign direct investment and, unlike Eskom, do not need government funding and guarantees.It needs to be a priority in South Africa that we continue the investment in this source of abundantly free, green, sustainable energy.Investing in solar power makes sense. It is the way the world is moving and South Africa is fast becoming a leading force in renewable energy programmes, Paschal Phelan says.As the lead member of one of the preferred bidders in the REIPPP Programme, Solar Capital was given the opportunity to develop the largest solar farm in the Africa, the Middle East and the Southern Hemisphere which was launched in De Aar, Northern Cape in March 2016.Solar power not only needs to be a priority locally in South Africa, but also the world. With increased pressures to reverse the effects of climate change, it is imperative the we focus our efforts on developing and improving renewable energy sources, concludes Paschal Phelan.About Solar CapitalSolar Capital (Pty) Ltd is a subsidiary of Phelan Holdings (Pty) Ltd a prominent South African based International Investment and Development Company, with the vision to become a market leader in the production of solar energy in Southern Africa. Based in Cape Town, Solar Capital has built up a local and international proficiency in renewable energy, in order to realize its mission. With Southern Africa having some of the highest annual solar radiation levels in the world, Solar Capital has invested in real estate and technology with the potential to develop the continents most valuable energy source  the sun.47 Main RoadGreen PointCape Town8005T: +27 (0)21 433 0366
Corrosion Protective Coatings And Acid Proof Lining Market Forecast Analysis Report

Corrosion Protective Coatings And Acid Proof Lining Market

http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/9250-corrosion-protective-coatings-and-acid-proof-lining-market-report

http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-9250

http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-9250

www.decisiondatabases.com

DecisionDatabases.com offer Corrosion Protective Coatings And Acid Proof Lining Market Research Report. This Report covers the complete Industry Outlook, Growth, Size, Share and Forecast till 2022.Browse full Report with TOC at:The report on global corrosion protective coatings and acid proof lining market evaluates the growth trends of the industry through historical study and estimates future prospects based on comprehensive research. The report extensively provides the market share, growth, trends and forecasts for the period 2015-2022. The market size in terms of volume (KT) and revenue (USD MN) is calculated for the study period along with the details of the factors affecting the market growth (drivers and restraints).A. Drivers> Advancements in coating technologies> Strengthening of global economies and low competitive pressure due to fast-growing demands.> Increasing shift from solvent-borne technology to waterborne technology> Increasing investment by key players in developing countriesB. Restraints> Concerns on the environmental impact of coatings and acid proof lining materialsDownload Free Sample Report with Full TOC At:The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities.The report also covers the complete competitive landscape of the worldwide market with company profiles of key players such as BASF Coatings GmbH, PPG Industries Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, Ashland Inc., Axalta Coatings Inc., Hempel A/S, International Paint Limited, Jotun A/S, Steuler-KCH GmbH, TIP TOP Oberflachenschutz Elbe GmbH, and Koch Knight LLC. A detailed description of each has been included, with information in terms of H.Q, future capacities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial overview, partnerships, collaborations, new product launches, new product developments and other latest industrial developments.C. Major Table Of Contents:1. INTRODUCTION2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3. MARKET ANALYSIS4. CORROSION PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ACID PROOF LINING MARKET ANALYSIS BY PRODUCT TYPE5. CORROSION PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ACID PROOF LINING MARKET ANALYSIS BY TECHNOLOGY6. CORROSION PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ACID PROOF LINING MARKET ANALYSIS BY END-USER7. CORROSION PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ACID PROOF LINING MARKET ANALYSIS BY GEOGRAPHY8. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF THE CORROSION PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ACID PROOF LINING MARKET COMPANIES9. COMPANY PROFILES OF THE CORROSION PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND ACID PROOF LINING MARKET INDUSTRYOrder a complete Corrosion Protective Coatings And Acid Proof Lining Market Research Report @DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web:
Caption Hospitality completes integrations with eRevMax

eRevMax, the leading hotel online distribution technology provider has completed 2-way interface with Singapore based Caption Hospitalitys Crono PMS to offer automated channel management and reservation delivery to stand alone properties across the Asia Pacific region.The integration will allow accommodation providers connected with Caption Hospitalitys Crono PMS to distribute availability and pricing to the major third party booking sites directly from their property management system and receive reservations directly through RateTiger, RTConnect and LIVE OS. Rates and inventory will automatically be updated across all connected online sales channels including the Global Distribution Systems (GDS), Online Travel Agents (OTAs), meta search channels and other e-commerce sites.Caption Hospitalitys Crono is a single-hotel software providing scalable and reliable solution for all types and sizes of independent hotels, especially boutique properties. The strategic partnership between the two leading hospitality software specialists will help hotels streamline their sales by using only one application for revenue and distribution management.Lower tier travel accommodation providers in developing countries have been facing challenges trying to strive for business in the online world. Through this partnership, we are solving technology challenges for hotel owners through a solution that is simple and easy to operate. Using a single control panel on Caption Hospitalitys CRONO, they will be connected to multiple online travel agents globally with the help of eRevMax," said Larry Chua, Co-founder, Caption Hospitality.Our interface with Caption Hospitalitys Crono PMS provides independent hoteliers the best way to manage online channels cost effectively without worrying about maintaining online inventory manually across each booking website. A greater number of hotels can now leverage the benefits of our Channel Ecosystem while streamlining their distribution efforts. The secure XML connection ensures live rate and inventory updates as well as booking data retrieval, thereby keeping the hotel PMS updated at all times, said Ashis Saha, SVP  Project Management, eRevMax.eRevMax continues to develop it partner network to offer hotels real-time connected solutions for seamless distribution experience. This includes solutions for the independent market and scaling up through the Tier One enterprise hotel groups. eRevMax's Channel Ecosystem facilitates quality certified connectivity and relationship management services to support complex revenue generation strategies.About eRevMax: eRevMax is a travel technology company that helps hotels to maximise online revenue opportunities through real-time distribution, market intelligence and connectivity solutions. The company provides specifically tailored solutions within its core product brands  RateTiger, RTConnect and LIVE OS.RateTiger product suite offers the industrys leading ChannelManager for online distribution, Shopper for rate benchmarking and BookingForce to help drive direct bookings from the hotels brand.com. RTConnect provides seamless 2-way XML integration of channel management functionality with the hotels central systems. LIVE OS offers hotels a single sign-on platform to access multiple applications, while offering technology partners a chance to get in front of hotels allowing greater distribution of promotional opportunities.eRevMax is working closely with over 200 certified channel and technology partners as well as 9000 hotels worldwide helping them increase revenue opportunities and streamline business processes.eRevMax12th Floor, Tower 1, DLF IT ParkBlock - AF, 08 - Major Arterial RoadRajarhat, Kolkata - 700156Phone : +91 (0) 33 4021 4100Fax : +91 (0) 33 2324 2209
Partnership between ISO Software Systeme and Kronos Airline Solutions brings first customer

www.iso-gruppe.com

Nuremberg, 24 August 2016  The US-based scheduled and charter airline Tradewind Aviation has chosen the SKYfly Revenue solution by ISO Software Systeme. Kronos Airline Solutions will provide full BPO services, on-site support and consulting as part of its partnership with ISO.The first success for ISO Software Systeme and Kronos Airline Solutions as partners: Tradewind Aviation based in Oxford, Connecticut, has decided carry out its revenue accounting using ISOs SKYfly Revenue solution. Corresponding to the partnership between the two companies, Kronos Airline Solutions distributes the solutions made in Germany, offering the customers BPO services, extensive airline industry domain expertise, and specialized ad-hoc implementations.With the scheduled and charter airline Tradewind Aviation (30,000 passengers per year), ISOs SKYfly branch brings its Revenue Accounting solution to the US market. This is the first success of the partnership entered into in fall of 2015 with Kronos Airline Solutions based in Miami, Florida.ISO has been active in the US market for quite some time now with its customer Alaska Airlines in the field of Miscellaneous Billing.The combination of the ISO solutions and our extensive airline industry experience allow us to offer an outstanding overall portfolio of airline solutions for all airline models, from scheduled to hybrids and beyond. Our unique approach blends highly sophisticated and automated ISO software suites with Kronos personalized and highly specialized airline industry domain knowledge to configure robust and attractive business and commercial offerings, which seriously focuses on achieving high ROI and overall success for our customers, explains Hugo Cordova, Managing Director of Kronos Airline Solutions Inc.About ISO Software SystemeThe ISO Software Systeme GmbH has established a solid reputation as a major player in IT consultancy, software development and related services. Software development with a focus on Java, Microsoft and Oracle is our core competence  for our own products as well as on behalf of our customers. The core competencies of ISO Software Systeme for the aviation industry include: SAP consulting and development for airports, IT solutions for airport operators, Air Traffic Control and airlines as well as ground handlers.ISO has been active in the market since 1979 and has since become an international IT service provider. Targeting specific markets has resulted in several powerful and innovative companies under the umbrella of the ISO-Gruppe. Besides ISO Software Systems, the ISO-Gruppe today includes ISO Professional Services (a specialist for SAP and infrastructure services), ISO Travel Solutions (an IT expert for the tourism industry), and ISO Recruiting Consultants (a provider of IT personnel services).The ISO-Gruppe is a TOP 100 company. This award underscores the remarkably innovative capacity and exceptional inventive success of medium-sized enterprises in Germany.A total of 400 permanent employees work at several sites throughout Germany as well as in associate companies in Austria, Poland, Canada and the UAE. The companies ISO Software Systeme, ISO Travel Solutions and ISO Professional Services of the ISO-Gruppe, with their respective offices in Nuremberg, Munich and Offenbach, are certified to the requirements of the quality management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008.For further information, please visitPress contact:ISO Software Systeme GmbHEichendorffstrasse 3390491 Nuremberg, GermanyRalf Regner, Marketing/PRTel.: +49 (0) 911 / 9 95 94-0Fax: +49 (0) 911 / 9 95 94-129E-Mail: ralf.regner@iso-gruppe.com
Thats why Facebook is currently being swamped by fake profiles

www.edel-optics.co.uk

The scam is both insidious and dangerous: thousands of Facebook users are currently getting friend requests from friends whom they actually know. But the profiles are fake  the photo has been brazenly stolen from a friends profile and the name copied. Sometimes the name might differ in one letter from that of the real friend.So whats it all about? The hacked profiles are used to link their friends to photos of glasses which refer to supposed special offers. Behind these lurk a link to online shops which, at first glance, might appear to be professional, but, in reality, are actually phishing sites. The bait currently being dangled is for cheap Ray-Ban glasses.How to recognise fake offersIts becoming ever more routine to buy glasses on the Internet rather than from a local retailer, says Phil Thomas, vision specialist at the online optician Edel-Optics. But to make sure you dont wind up on such phishing sites, you should pay attention to a few things.The price shouldnt be too low. You cant get a pair of Ray-Ban glasses for less than 50, the seller would never make a profit on it, says Thomas with the confidence of a man who knows. Fake sites also often dont have a proper legal notice, and the texts are riddled with spelling and grammatical mistakes.In addition, the glasses in the shop should always come with a model number, a colour number, and size details. The model number begins with RB, followed by four numbers. The colour number is slightly more complex. This can consist of a combination of up to six numbers and letters. If you arent sure, you can compare it with the official Ray-Ban website, advises the Edel-Optics expert.Potential buyers should also be wary if they are offered only a limited number of models because the Ray-Ban product portfolio contains several hundred different models. Equally suspect is when payment in advance is the only payment method offered. In general, an online shop should offer at least four or five different payment methods.A common scenario with fraudulent sites is that you must first register in a portal to get the discount. Reputable retailers only ask for addresses or registrations when you actually buy from them.Ray-Ban is also one of the bestsellers of the online retailer Edel-Optics. Everyone knows them and everyone has a pair, from celebrities to everyday people. This is no doubt one of the reasons why there are so many fake Ray-Ban glasses around, explains Thomas.In 2009, Edel-Optics Ltd. started out as an online optician and retailer for brand glasses. By 2011, the company entered multichannel trading by opening its first local store in Hamburg. Due to great success, Edel-Optics set up a flagship store in Northern Germanys largest shopping centre (AEZ) in 2013. At the moment, Edel-Optics operates web shops in 53 countries from their headquarters in Germany, and has already dispatched glasses in over 120 countries. In total, Edel-Optics portfolio offers over 40,000 brand name glasses.Katharina KathEdel-Optics GmbHc/o Publiplikator GmbHKonigstrae 2, 14163 Berlin, GermanyTel.: +49 (0)30  200 898 28,Email: kath@publiplikator.de
Data Loggers for Harsh Industrial Environments

dataTaker Industrial Data Loggers

www.dataloggerinc.com

www.DataLoggerInc.com

www.dataloggerinc.com

Find Class 1 Division 2 Data Loggers and Custom EnclosuresExplosions, fires and corrosion pose ever-present dangers to electrical instrumentation operating in heavy industrial environments. OSHA and other organizations classify work areas according to the presence of flammable materials or gases. For data capture in Oil & Gas, Chemical, and other processing applications, users require specially-protected data loggersAt CAS DataLoggers we have provided a number of solutions for data logging in hazardous locations. We can help you to pick the ideal device for your applicationvisit us atCapturing Data in Hazardous Environments:Hazardous locations are standardized as Classes and Divisions based on their level of exposure to gases, liquids, dusts etc. which can potentially result in a fire or explosion. To record data in these areas, users need devices with special protection against flammable substances and explosions.If you need to capture data in these locations, first determine the Class/Division rating of the hazardous area and then source a datalogger rated for operation within it. Class I Hazardous locations contain flammable gases or vapors in the air in concentrations sufficient to produce explosions or other ignitions. Class I locations are then further classified as one of two Divisions and one of three Zones. Class II Hazardous locations contain combustible dust in hazardous concentrations. Class II locations are then further classified into two Divisions.Data Loggers for Use in Hazardous Areas:CAS DataLoggers offers Class 1, Division 2 data loggers designed to record data in areas where flammable liquids, gases, etc. are processed, often where ventilating equipment isnt functioning correctly.Our first preference is to locate the data logger outside of the hazardous area, trailing the appropriate sensors inside the area, and then to use safety barriers to route the signals from the sensors to the logger. This provides the advantage of easy access to the data logger for data retrieval, program changes, and other maintenance.However, due to distance or other considerations, this is not always practical. Therefore we offer a selection of data logging equipment suitable for direct use in hazardous areas to collect Temperature, Humidity, Pressure or other types of data.A popular example is the dataTaker DT80-Ex, an intelligent logger with an extensive array of features that allow it to be used in many applications. This robust, stand-alone, low-power data logger features USB memory stick support, 18-bit resolution, extensive communications capabilities and a built-in display. The dataTaker DT80s Dual Channel concept allows up to 10 isolated or 15 common referenced analog inputs to be used in many combinations.Custom Enclosures Available:We can also provide standard data logging systems housed in explosion-proof enclosures for use in hazardous areas, but because of their cost, size and weight we typically use these only if there are no other practical options.For more information on Class I Division II Dataloggers, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or visit our website atComputer Aided Solutions, LLC. dba CAS Data Loggers is a distributor of data loggers, paperless recorders and data acquisition equipment.Contact Information:CAS DataLoggers, Inc.8437 Mayfield Rd.Chesterland, Ohio 44026(440) 729-2570(800) 956-4437sales@dataloggerinc.com
Operating Room Equipment Market to Boost Demand for Advent of Newer Modes of Surgical Services

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1674

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/operating-room-equipment-market.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Technology has revolutionized healthcare in more ways than one. In particular, technology has been exceptionally beneficial for improving surgeries. The emergence of research platforms and operating room laboratories has been instrumental in developing new prototypes for operating room environments. The improvement in the design of operating rooms and paraphernalia is being carried out in close collaboration with clinicians, scientists, technologists, and clinicians. On account of these factors, the global operating room equipment market has remained dynamic and is expected to display a CAGR of 6.68% from 2015 to 2023, says Transparency Market Research.Download Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report:Q. What are the major forces driving the growth of the global operating room equipment market?A. In recent years, the advent of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) has augured well for the growth of the operating room equipment market. This new approach to provide surgical services for patients that do not require hospitalization has been exhibiting a substantially high demand for operating room equipment.For instance, as revealed by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2012, in the U.S., the number of Medicare-approved ASCs stood at 5,000. This establishes the growing importance of ASCs in developed economies for providing seamless medical services. This, in turn, will provide immense growth opportunities for vendors of operating room equipment.The advent of hybrid operating rooms has also been beneficial for the growth of the operating room equipment market. Not only do hybrid operating rooms extend more flexibility to both doctors and patients, but they also ensure an improved level of patient health safety and high operational efficiency.Q. How is the growth scenario of the global operating room equipment market in Asia Pacific?A. It can be described as lucrative. Whilst the sales of operating room equipment have been low in Asia Pacific previously, the scenario is expected to change in the coming years. Manufacturers of operating room equipment are likely to receive ample opportunities to expand their portfolio due to certain favorable factors. First and foremost, the emergence of Asia Pacific as a center for medical tourism has been instrumental in the growth of the operating room equipment market. Patients from developed countries are increasingly traveling to Asia Pacific for medical treatment due to the affordable cost without compromising on the quality of care.The modernization of medical services in Asia Pacific is also expected to bode well for the development of the global operating room equipment market. In particular, the growth of multispecialty hospitals in India is where global and regional players can look to for growth.Research Report:Q. Which product segment has been faring well in this market in recent years?A. Movable imaging systems contributed a significant 28% of the overall revenue in 2014. In the coming years, this product segment is expected to display the fastest growth in terms of revenue due to the high amount of funding provided by state healthcare departments to promote the use of movable imaging systems.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Biopreservation Market Increasing Utilization of Biological Samples to Spur the Demand

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1797

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/biopreservation-market.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Biological samples such as cells, plasma, saliva, tissues, and other body fluids are regarded to be of vital importance for the development of new drugs and therapies that can help in the treatment of chronic diseases. The rising demand for storing these samples has fueled the demand for efficient biopreservation facilities. Biopreservation is a method of preserving the biological samples using equipment such as refrigerators, liquid nitrogen, freezers, and consumables in order to store samples and maintain their properties.Download Free exclusive Sample of this report:According to a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the valuation of global biopreservation market is anticipated to reach US$5.7 bn by the end of 2019, from US$1.9 bn in 2012, growing at a considerable CAGR of 16.70% from 2013 to 2019.How have biomedical advancements fuelled the demand for biopreservation products and equipment?Researchers and scientists are developing new products and treatments made up of biological samples, thereby, increasing the utilization of plasma, stem cells, tissues, and DNA. The increased utilization has resulted in an augmented need for adequate storage facilities to preserve samples.A surge in stem cell, plasma, cord blood sample size has boosted the demand for freezers. Moreover, freezers offer capacity expansion in the pre-existing setups which can potentially bolster the growth of global biopreservation market in the era of rising emergence of biomedical research for new drugs and therapies. Another emerging equipment in the global biopreservation market is consumables. The consumables segment is estimated to grow at a high rate owing to the consistently growing demand for gloves, cryo bags, cryo tubes, cryogenic boxes, cryo vials, and other consumables from the existing biopreservation organizations.How are developed countries contributing to growth of global biopreservation market?Strengthening economic conditions in developed countries have increased consumer spending on sophisticated storage systems. With the rising adoption of automation, the demand for laboratory information management systems (LIMS) has increased in developed countries such as the U.S., the U.K., France, Canada, Japan, and Germany. These trends are likely to give a great push to the global biopreservation market.Demand for automated processes from developing economies is low due to the high purchase and installation cost. However, new biobanking projects in emerging economies such as Brazil, India, China, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, and African countries are expected to boost the demand for biopreservation systems.Which region is estimated to be the most conducive for vendors in the biopreservation market?Geographically, the global biopreservation market can be segmented into Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America leads the market due to the high adoption of automated processes and the presence of biopreservation organizations. However, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR, owing to the high prevalence of chronic diseases, the presence of unmet healthcare needs, and increase in funding capacity.Research Report:Developing nations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, and Brazil are anticipated to surpass the United States in terms of the demand for biopreservation equipment and media. In-house biopreservation facilities and new biobanking projects will boost the demand for LIMS, media, and equipment in these countries.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
US Secretary of State John Kerry was holding talks with his Gulf counterparts and a British minister in Saudi Arabia on Thursday on the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Libya.

The coordination with Washington's major Middle East allies came on the eve of Syria talks in Geneva between Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

After a 30-minute meeting with Saudi King Salman, Kerry was to focus on the conflict in Yemen with UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Britain's Middle East undersecretary Tobias Ellwood, and his Saudi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterparts.

On Yemen, a senior State Department official said, Kerry wants "to share ideas and initiatives for getting the political discussions back on track and trying to get a political solution".

The aim is also to put in place mechanisms for delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid to the impoverished country neighbouring Saudi Arabia, 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.

Riyadh heads an Arab coalition that began air raids in March 2015 and later sent in ground forces to support Yemen's internationally-recognised government after Iran-backed Shia Huthi rebels and their allies overran much of the country.

As the civilian death toll climbs following the suspension of UN-brokered peace talks, the kingdom has faced rising criticism from human rights groups.

The United Nations on Thursday called for the creation of an independent international body to investigate an array of serious violations in Yemen.

In a new report, it laid out a long line of allegations of grave human rights abuses by all sides in Yemen's war which has left nearly 4,000 civilians dead.

Saudi-led coalition air strikes were suspected of causing around half of all civilian deaths, while attacks by groups affiliated with the rebels were blamed for around a quarter of the deaths, the report said.

Kerry's encounter with Salman followed a three-hour meeting overnight with the king's powerful son, Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the Gulf belong to a US-led military alliance battling the Islamic State (IS) militant group which has seized large parts of Syria and Iraq.

The kingdom also backs armed rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Kerry was to update regional allies on efforts to end the heavy bloodshed in Syria "because they do have influence" over opposition groups, the State Department official said.

The secretary of state was due to head later Thursday for Geneva to meet Lavrov.

Moscow and Washington are on opposite sides of the five-year-old Syria conflict but have a common foe in IS, and they have been in contact on efforts to establish military cooperation against the militants.

Islamic State militant group has also claimed deadly bombing and shooting attacks against the Shia minority in Saudi Arabia and its security forces.

The State Department official said earlier that Kerry's talks with the Saudis would likewise cover Libya, where a UN-backed Government of National Accord is challenged by a rival adminstration.

Pro-GNA forces are battling IS in Libya's coastal city of Sirte.

"What we're trying to do is to continue to support the GNA, work towards political solutions and making sure we're putting pressure on Daesh (IS) inside Libya," the official said.

Kerry was to focus on the same conflicts at a working lunch with ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council which groups Saudi Arabia with its neighbours.

The talks came after their regional rival Iran sent four warships close to two US Navy guided missile destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to American defence officials.

The USS Nitze shot warning flares, sounded its whistles and attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with the Iranian boats during Tuesday's incident, the US Central Command said.

The encounter occurred in international waters of the strait, a vitally important chokepoint into the Gulf with Iran on one side and the UAE on the other.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Second Annual Flavors of Miami Culinary Gala Features Top Local Chefs

www.liverfoundation.org

WHAT: The American Liver Foundations second annual Flavors of Miami is a culinary experience that goes beyond the traditional gala, providing guests with the unique experience of having a top local chef prepare a multi-course dinner tableside. This sold out event showcases the signature dishes of Miamis culinary experts and takes guests beyond the usual restaurant fare. Unleash your inner foodie and experience a distinct evening of dining while helping fund the research, education and advocacy efforts of the American Liver Foundation. The 2016 Flavors of Miami Presenting Sponsor is Miami Transplant Institute, a unique affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth  University of Miami Health System. The National Silver Sponsor is Gilead Sciences; the National Bronze Sponsor is AbbVie Pharmaceuticals; among other local sponsors.Flavors was first stirred together in 1991, by James Beard Award winning chef Christopher Gross in Phoenix. Chef Gross and other area chefs were interested in supporting the mission of the American Liver Foundation. Today the event is hosted by the organization in more than 20 cities across the country and raises millions of dollars annually to support the work of The American Liver Foundation. This will be the second Flavors of Miami event, and the American Liver Foundation hopes by continuing to host this popular event in the lively city of Miami, it will garner great support for an even greater cause.Thomas Nealon III, American Liver Foundation CEO and National Board Chairman says, I am extremely excited that ALF will, once again, host Flavors of Miami. Flavors is a concept that certainly is well suited for Miami. More importantly, Miami is definitely a place where the American Liver Foundation needs to establish a greater presence and role  and a place that I call home. We are very optimistic that Flavors of Miami will support ALF's efforts to establish a permanent presence in Miami, so that the organization can work with the many incredible physicians and medical professionals in the Miami area to serve liver patients and their families in South Florida.WHO: Chefs confirmed to date include: *Honorary Chef Scott Linquist, COYO TacoChef Bryan Rojas, FooqsChef Patrick Kirchner, Cafe des ArtsChef Jimmy Carey, Jimmys KitchenChef Frederic Delair, Loews Miami Beach HotelChef Alex Paz, JW Marriott MiamiChef Riccardo Vincis, Riviera Focacceria ItalianaChef Frederic Joulin, Semilla Eatery & BarChef Sezer Deniz, The St. Regis Bal Harbour ResortChef Bryan Gorton, Corsair Kitchen & Bar at Turnberry Isle ResortChef Joshua Elliott, The Restaurant at The RaleighChef David Ortiz, The Financial ChefChef Nuno Grullon, Cafe RovalChef Gioacchino Sofia, Villa Castelli RistoranteChef Dustin Atogiue, Mondrian South BeachChef Javier Carballo, Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails*Additional chefs will be announced soon.WHEN: Thursday September 8, 20165:30pm  10:00pmWHERE: Loews Miami Beach Hotel1601 Collins Ave.Miami Beach, FL, 33139BENEFITS: The mission of American Liver Foundation (ALF) is to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.CONTACT: Lia Martino at (203) 234-2022 or lmartino@liverfoundation.orgThe American Liver Foundation is the nations largest non-profit organization focused solely on promoting liver health and disease prevention. The American Liver Foundation achieves its mission in the fight against liver disease by funding scientific research, education for medical professionals, advocacy, information and support programs for patients and their families as well as public awareness campaigns about liver wellness and disease prevention. The mission of the American Liver Foundation is to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease. Additional information can be found ator by calling 1 800 GO LIVER (800-465-4837)American Liver Foundation127 Washington AvenueNorth Haven, CT 06473
Advancing Malaysia as the leading Big Data Analytics Hub in South East Asia

In conjunction with the Big Data Week Asia 2016 (BDWA16), Olygen (under the brand BIGIT) and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) are jointly organising the BIGIT Technology Malaysia 2016 that will be held from 19th  20th September 2016 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.Acknowledged as the Anchor Event of BDWA16, BIGIT Technology Malaysia 2016 will feature concurrent conferences known as the 4th Big Data World Show and Data Security World Show, alongside the BIGIT Exhibition.With this event introduced by MDEC as one of the key initiatives to position Malaysia as the leading Big Data Analytics hub in South East Asia (SEA) region, participants will witness the convergence of business and technology as we drive conversations and promote Big Data adoption in SEA.Malaysias strategic geographical positioning at the heart of ASEAN and our countrys advantages in availability of capacity and infrastructure further promotes the potential for Malaysia said Alvin Yong, Managing Director of Olygen. This is essential as it serves as a great platform to pave the way for Malaysia to be integrated as the leading Big Data Analytics hubCreating niche and tailored events that addresses the latest technological trends and development such as Big Data, Data Security and E-Commerce, among others, are aligned to Olygens (under the brand BIGIT) expertise and experience, shares Alvin Yong. Thus, having the same vision with MDEC as we strive towards propelling Malaysia to the forefront of the Big Data race forms a strategic partnership for both parties as we progress this initiative for the nation.BIGIT Technology Malaysia 2016 welcomes 40 speakers and 70 exhibitors from around the world to be part of the two-day event. The event is proudly sponsored by: Titanium Sponsor - Fusionex Platinum Sponsors - Cloudera, Delphix, Informatica & Quandatics Gold Sponsors - Intel Security, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Microsoft Silver Sponsors - Halodata, Gemalto & Fortress, Moving Walls, DataProm, BIIT Consulting & Qlik Associate Sponsors - Brocade, Cradle FundJoining the sponsors at the Exhibition hall at Level 3 include exhibitors from Mellanox, Synology, Cyberview, Schneider Electric and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), UMobile and others.With an expected 3,000 delegates and trade visitors from the ICT community and experts in the field participating at the event, this serves as a great platform for exposure, building of recognition with direct market and business networking opportunities.In addition, our conferences forms the stage for industry experts and the community to share insights, case studies, expert presentations and participate in panel discussions on trending issues regarding Big Data and Data Security, among others.Some of our notable speakers include: Dato Yasmin Mahmood, MDEC, Malaysia Daniel Castro, Centre for Data Innovation, United States Mark Gallagher, CMS Motor Trading, United Kingdom Alex Twigg, Woolworths Limited, Australia Dr Emery Jou, Institute for Information Industry (III), Taiwan Younus Al Nasser, Smart Dubai Office, UAE Asad Kalimi, Spotify, Singapore Richard Benjamins, Telefonica, Spain Shanti Shamdasani, PT Johnson & Johnson, Indonesia And more!BIGIT Technology Malaysia 2016 is honoured to be endorsed by MATRADE and supported by MyCEB and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. This event is HRDF claimable.For those who are interested in being part of this regional event can contact Ms. Jin Woei at 03-2261 4227, or email to enquiry@bigittechnology.com. Registrations for the event will end by 16th September 2016.OLYGEN is a preferred provider of comprehensive Human Resource, Management and Finance training programmes dedicated in delivering high value resolutions to organisation needs. Extensively researched and ensuring only the most recognise practitioners deliver insight to the latest models is our core practice.2B-12-3, Block 2B, Plaza Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Humboldt Legends First Cannabis Company to Participate with Sale in County of Humboldt's Pilot Program to Track and Trace Origins of Cannabis Grown in County With the state of California on the verge of approving the recreational use of marijuana in November, at least one company is ahead of the curve when it comes to transparency



Humboldt County, CA, August 24, 2016  With the state of California on the verge of approving the recreational use of marijuana in November, at least one company is ahead of the curve when it comes to transparency, consumer confidence and environmental responsibility.



Humboldt Legends brings together a group of heritage cannabis farmers with some of the highest environmental standards in the industry. One of its farmers participated in the first transaction in the pilot program for the County of Humboldt to track the movement of marijuana through each step of the supply chain, from grower to distributor to consumer. The purchaser was KIVA Confections, a medical cannabis company that focuses on gourmet chocolate confections.



Called track and trace, the county utilizes the services of Switzerland-based security company SICPA Security LLC, which can track the origins of every batch of marijuana sold in the county using QR code stamps, much like they currently do for cigarettes.



After a cultivator harvests and packages their cannabis crop, they put the traceable, counterfeit-resistant stamp on the product. The QR code, which can be scanned by a smart phone, includes information about the product, including the name of the strain (Steelhead Sativa, for example), the date it was harvested, who grew it (name of cultivator and farm), strain type, and THC and CBD (primary ingredients in marijuana) yields.



This allows not only the government to track the origins of the product, but also distributors and especially consumers to do the same, so they know exactly what they're buying is from Humboldt County, that it is legal, who it was grown by and the strength of the strain of cannabis.



It's an incredibly exciting moment, for me personally and from an industry standpoint, said one of Humboldt Legends' farmers and co-founder, Scott Davies, who has been a grower for 20 years. Humboldt County is the first county in the state to adopt this under the MMRSA (Medical Marijuana Safety and Regulations Act) guidelines. It's been a long time coming, but this way we are able to tell our story, begin to add taxes to local and state coffers and get rid of the kinds of products that are bad for the environment. I've worked all my life for this moment.



Humboldt Legends, A California Benefit Corporation, was founded in 2015 by Davies, owner of Winterbourne Farms, together with other Humboldt County farmers, industry professionals, and community leaders. Its mission statement is simple yet profound: Give the plant back to the people, grow for good, and use business to inspire environmental responsibility.



Davies said the mission of Humboldt Legends is to apply the same level of confidence and concern consumers have for the lettuce they purchase to cannabis.



If consumers care about the wine they buy and the food they eat, they should also care about the cannabis they use, it's the most logical thing in the world, said Davies, who likened cannabis track and trace to how wine and cigarettes are also labeled and tracked. Track and trace increases consumer confidence, absolutely.



Humboldt County's Humboldt Cannabis Pilot Program, the first of its kind in the state, started Aug. 1 and concludes in November. The county's pilot program will be fully compliant with the so-called Adult Use Act  California Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Proposition 64  should it pass in November.



A local track and trace program is critical to demonstrate that the countys medical cannabis regulatory program incorporates enforcement principles important to local and federal law enforcement, including preventing distribution of cannabis to minors, preventing the diversion of cannabis to other states, preventing cannabis revenue from supporting criminal enterprises and preventing the growing of cannabis on public lands, said Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner Jeff Dolf.



For Davies, this collaborative effort between Humboldt County, SICPA (which worked with the county on a pro-bono basis to develop the program), and the cannabis industry, which includes cultivators, distributors and dispensaries, is truly historic.



There's a huge emotional impact in Humboldt County and we celebrate this partnership with local government in this endeavor, he said. Overall, it's a win-win for everybody.



Davies added that the program also helps to retain the branding and reputation of Humboldt County as producing some of the best, if not the best, cannabis in the country. What Napa County is to wine, Humboldt County is to cannabis, he said.



About Humboldt Legends

Humboldt Legends, A California Benefit Corporation, was founded in 2015 by a group of heritage cannabis farmers who have decades of experience growing marijuana by innovative and sustainable methods, together with other Humboldt County industry professionals and community leaders. Humboldt Legends farmers respect the land as well as your health, so they don't use any non-organic chemicals or watershed-damaging methods in their 100% sun-powered fields. Humboldt County's unique terroir serves as a foundation for Humboldt Legends farmers to grow and produce the highest quality cannabis. Humboldt Legends will be launching with the 2016 Fall Harvest.



About SICPA

Switzerland-based SICPA Product Security, LLC, performs track and trace services in about 160 countries, tracks 109 forms of currency, tracks over 77 billion products per year including soda, beer and tobacco and has contracted with the California Board of Equalization since 2005 to track all cigarette sales in the state.



About KIVA Confections

KIVA Confections provides consistently potent, great-tasting, gourmet chocolate confections that set a whole new standard for edible medical cannabis. Founded in 2010 by Scott Palmer and Kristi Knoblich, KIVA Confections is a California-based not-for-profit collective. KIVA makes high quality medical edibles for patients, crafted from all natural ingredients and skillfully combined with cannabis. Each batch is lab-tested to ensure consistent THC potency. The company currently offers more than a dozen varieties of chocolate edibles and is one of the most recognized medical cannabis companies in California.



Resources:

humboldtlegends.com

humboldtgov.org/TrackAndTrace

humboldtorigin.org

kivaconfections.com



Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.humboldtlegends.com



This release was published on openPR.



Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.
Cervical Cancer Diagnostics market: Increasing percentage of HPV infected people drives Cervical Cancer Diagnostics market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/cervical-cancer-diagnostics-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/cervical-cancer-diagnostics-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/cervical-cancer-diagnostics-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/cervical-cancer-diagnostics-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal growth of cells with the potential to spread to other parts of the body. There are various types of cancers affecting different parts of body. Cancer which develops in cervix is called cervical cancer. Two major types of cervical cancers diagnosed in women include adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Almost all types of cervical cancer are caused by human papiloma virus (HPV). Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death, accounting for almost 3,00,000 deaths annually. Diagnosis of cervical cancer is done by Pap Smear Tests, Colposcopy, HPV Testing, Endocervical Curettage (ECC). Cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease that can be prevented by early detection and vaccination.Request Sample Report:Cervical cancer diagnostics market is driven majorly by increasing percentage of HPV infected people across globe. HPV is an extremely common virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six million people in the United States acquire HPV each year. At least 20 million already have it, and more than half of all sexually-active adults are expected to be infected during their lifetime. Furthermore, rising awareness, literacy rate, government initiatives, government funding and various screening methods are expected to increase the growth of the market over the years. Moreover, many lifestyle-related factors, such as having multiple sex partners, smoking, obesity, unsafe sex and inherited HPV positive patients, are estimated to drive the cervical diagnostics market in the near future. However prevention of HPV by vaccination is major restraining factor in the growth of cervical cancer diagnostics market. In addition to this, the uncertain returning policy serves to be a major challenge impacting the growth of cervical cancer diagnostics market.The report covers forecast and analysis of the cervical cancer diagnostics 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 cervical cancer diagnostics 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 application 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 the cervical cancer diagnostics market based on application and region. The regional market segment held the largest market share in 2015.Geographically, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominated the global cervical cancer diagnostic market in 2015 on account of the rising incidence of HPV infection, rising number of women smokers, and growing aged population. North America was followed by Europe in 2015. The market is expected to witness the growth in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years due to the rising HPV infection in population, government initiative and availability of advance health care infrastructure.Browse report at:Some of the key players contributing to the cervical cancer diagnostics market are Abbott Laboratories, Qiagen N.V., Hologic Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Quest Diagnostics, Becton, Dickinson and CompanyThis report segments the cervical cancer diagnostics market are follows:-Cervical Cancer Diagnostics Market: Application AnalysisPap Smear TestsColposcopyHPV TestingDo Inquiry before buying:Cervical Cancer Diagnostics Market: Regional 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:
Worldwide Field Network Test Equipment Market Competitive landscape By 2015  2021

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7496

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7496

Field network test equipment are used to determine the signal strength, transmit and receive signal power, timeslot and many other network related details. Field network test equipment find application at the time of deployment or new implementation of a communication technology or service. Some of the major application areas of field network test equipment include data communication, optical fiber communication, mobile broadband services, cable testing and transport. In which commonly used field network test equipment are optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR), power meters, network analyzers and FTTx-oriented tools. OTDR and power meters are generally used for optical testing, i.e., for testing integrity of the fiber optic cables and at the time of setting up the fiber systems. Network analyzers are used in mobile broadband services for identifying network failures and improving service quality, whereas, FTTx-oriented tools are used in broadband networks for analyzing twisted pair cable.Due to rapid growth of mobile connectivity and the high growth in use of internet, the market for field network test equipment is expected to grow significantly during the coming years. With technologies such as 4G/LTE being increasingly implemented in mobile telephony, the field network test equipment are widely adopted as the complexity of network deployment grows. The detection of signal and bandwidth is important to offer seamless signal connectivity to the subscribers. Further, the integration of the services such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP), Internet protocol television (IPTV) and video on demand (VOD) into the television, the field network test equipment are experiencing enlargement in their array of application.Thinking about report: Please observe the beneath the hyperlinks to satisfy your necessities; Request for the Report sample:Also, the increasing data traffic and demand for higher bandwidth from Internet users through broadband services, Wi-Fi and mobile data services, the field network test equipments market is experiencing significant growth. Field network test equipment manufacturers are increasingly focusing on offering more versatile, accurate, compact, flexible and portable equipment that are integrated with multiple features.The rapidly growing LTE network infrastructure in Asia Pacific is anticipated to drive the growth of field network test equipment in the region.A key challenge impacting the field test equipment market is price sensitivity. The continuous developments in the field of communication are impelling the field test equipment manufacturers to upgrade their current product or launch new product regularly. This is a challenge for the manufacturers since it impacts the production and increases the investment required in research and development. Higher investments decrease the profit margin, especially since the manufactures often have to compete on the basis of pricing. .The opportunity in the field network test equipment market lies in providing inter-equipment compatibility. This compatibility will enable the testing equipment operators to use the same testing equipment over multiple applications. Key players in field network test equipment market are focusing on partnerships in order to enhance their competitive positioning.Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Some of the key manufacturers for field network test equipment are Keysight Technologies, Pennwell Corporation, EXFO, Inc., Fluke Corporation, IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., ANRITSU, Ixia, Spirent Communications, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Trilithic, Inc., Deviser Instruments, Inc., Acta Ltd., b2 electronic GmbH, TESSCO Technologies and ROHDE&SCHWARZ .About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Worldwide WebRTC Market Supply & Demand By 2015 2021

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7987

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7987

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is an internet browser interface which enables real-time communication between two internet browsers. WebRTC enables peer to peer audio, video and data communication between the browsers without plugins. This key functionality of WebRTC not only reduces the time required but also makes the process easy for a non-technical user since WebRTC requires no plugins, frameworks or applications. The browsers use Session Description Protocol (SDP) to establish a connection for data transfer. WebRTC is using JavaScript Application Programming Interface (APIs) and HTML5 for embedded communication within the browsers. However, WebRTC is an emerging platform that is anticipated to have significant impact on the communication between browsers in near future.WebRTC is available for free and is accessible worldwide which is the key growth driver of this market. Moreover, WebRTC is platform and device independent which would help to attract global audience. Further, it provides better video and voice quality with advanced security and other operational features. WebRTC can adapt to various network conditions and is interoperable with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Unified Communications (UC) solutions which is expected to help companies to easily integrate it with their existing infrastructure. WebRTC provides a bright solution for customer facing businesses. As this communication is real time, WebRTC provides audio visual solutions without any cost. Retail and healthcare are two industries with high demand for WebRTC as direct communication with end users or customers is of immense importance in these industries.Thinking about report: Please observe the beneath the hyperlinks to satisfy your necessities; Request for the Report sample:One key restraint associated with the use of WebRTC is that it uses internet platform which is a public domain and thus, the quality of service cannot be guaranteed all the time. Use of Internet could result in privacy issues as it is still not clear how WebRTC manages the security and privacy. Further, integration is another key challenge associated with WebRTC. Organizations could face problems in integrating and adapting the WebRTC to their current system. WebRTC is currently not supported on Microsoft Internet Explorer. Thus, there are a number of complexities linked with WebRTC however, technological advancements are anticipated to eliminate these challenges in near future.With WebRTC nearing its completion, organizations especially the consumer facing entities are expected to use this technology in near future across all platforms. WebRTC is an emerging industry standard for audio and video communication through a web browser. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) decided that browser makers should implement VP8 and H.264 video codecs. WebRTC is of huge importance for call centers and customer care centers, where direct communication is happening between a company representative and the end user or customer. WebRTC can simplify this communication further and increase the level of customer satisfaction. Companies are integrating WebRTC into their websites to enhance the overall user experience.Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Some of the major players in the global WebRTC market are Google Inc., Facebook, Inc., Citrix Systems, Inc., TokBox Inc., Sinch AB, Twilio, Inc., WIRE SWISS GmbH, Talko Inc., Screenhero, Inc., and Comcast Corporation etc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Excimer and Femtosecond Ophthalmic Lasers Market to Reach US$ 666 Mn in 2016

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1717

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1717

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/excimer-femtosecond-ophthalmic-lasers-market

www.futuremarketinsights.com

The global excimer and femtosecond ophthalmic lasers market is expected to increase at a rate of nearly 4% in 2016 and reach US$ 666 Mn in revenues. North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific (excluding China and Japan) will remain the lucrative markets for ophthalmic lasers globally.Increasing per capita income, especially in emerging countries, will continue to fuel adoption of excimer and femtosecond ophthalmic lasers. Growing health awareness and improving living standards will also play influencing roles in driving adoption. Technical advancements in development of ophthalmic lasers are also expected to play a key role in driving the growth of the market. However, high costs and concerns about post-LASIC complicationslongstanding challenges for manufacturerswill continue to pose challenges to widespread adoption.Request Free Report Sample@On the basis of product type, excimer lasers will continue to outsell femtosecond lasers, accounting for over 60% revenue share in 2016. However, femtosecond will continue to gain traction, witnessing higher year-over-year growth rate in 2016. While constant technological advancements in the functionality of femtosecond lasers is expected to drive adoption, high cost will negatively influence total sales.On the basis of application, refractive surgery will continue to dominate global revenues, accounting for nearly 70% share of the overall market in 2016. In addition to being the leading revenue contributor, refractive surgery will remain the fastest-growing segment as well.Ophthalmology clinics will remain the largest end-users in the global excimer and femtosecond ophthalmic lasers market. Revenues from this segment are expected to reach US$ 291 Mn in 2016, up from US$ 279 Mn in 2015.Request For TOC@North America will continue to be leading market, accounting for over 30% revenue share of the global market in 2016. Global revenues in North America are expected to reach US$ 217 Mn in 2016, up from US$ 209 Mn in 2015. Adoption of excimer and femtosecond ophthalmic lasers will also remain strong in Western Europe and Asia Pacific (excluding China and Japan). China is expected to emerge as a lucrative market and witness highest growth rates in the long-term.Key participants in the global excimer and femtosecond ophthalmic lasers market include Alcon Inc. (Novartis AG), NIDEK CO., LTD, ZEISS International, SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG,Abbott Medical Optics, Inc, Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, iVIS Technologies, Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, and LENSAR, LLC.Long-term Outlook: The global excimer and femtosecond ophthalmic lasers market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. North America will continue to be the largest market during the forecast period (2016-2026).Browse Full Report@ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Worldwide 1,4 Butanediol Market Competitive landscape By 2015 2021

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7559

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7559

1,4 Butanediol, also termed as Butane-1,4-diol or 1,4-Butylene glycol, is an organic chemical compound which finds a wide-scale industrial application in production of fibres, plastics, solvents etc. among other applications in the chemical industry. 1,4 butanediol is colourless and viscous chemical compound with a relatively high boiling point is derived from Butane. The organic chemical compound is one of the stable forms or isomers of butanediol. One of the most widely used process, the Reppe Process, for manufacture of 1,4 Butanediol involves reaction of acetylene with formaldehyde. Alternatively, it is also manufactured by means of a process termed as Davy process with maleic anhydride used as raw material. Other modes of manufacture involve use of biological routes or the use of propylene oxide as a raw material. Major areas of application for 1,4 Butanediol include manufacture of Poly Butylene Terephthalate (PBT), Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL), Tetrahydrofuran, Polyurethanes, among the others.Thinking about report: Please observe the beneath the hyperlinks to satisfy your necessities; Request for the Report sample:1,4 butanediol market is slated to register a steady year-on-year growth throughout the forecast period. The growth of end use industries is expected to emerge as the major growth driving factor for global 1,4 Butanediol market during the forecast period. A moderate single digit growth is projected to be registered by the market over the forecast period. The industrial growth in developing regions of the globe namely of countries in Asia Pacific region is expected to further drive the demand for Butanediol during the forecast period. The relatively volatile nature of prices of 1, 4 Butanediol raw materials is likely to act as an impediment to the growth of global 1,4 Butanediol market during the forecast period. China has emerged as a major producer of 1,4 Butanediol and houses the largest production capacity for the chemical. Thus, the growth in end use industries, the economic and industrial growth in developing regions of the globe, are expected to drive the growth of global 1,4 Butanediol market during the forecast period.Depending on the type of applications, global 1,4 butanediol market can be segmented into the following key market segments:PBTTHFGBLPolyurethaneOthersRequest TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:On the basis of geographic regions, global 1,4 butanediol market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a relatively faster CAGR as compared to that of other regions of the globe during the forecast period. The mature markets, namely those in Europe and North America are slated to exhibit relatively slower growth in demand for 1,4 Butanediol during the forecast period.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Protein A Resin Market Revenues to Grow by Over 7% in 2016

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1720

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1720

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/protein-a-resins-market

www.futuremarketinsights.com

The global protein A resin market is expected to increase at a y-o-y growth rate of over 7% and reach US$ 380.4 Mn in revenues in 2016. North America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), and Western Europe will collectively account for nearly 70% revenue share of the market in 2016. Increasing process efficiency, growing preference for e-distribution channels and strategic integration of supply chains are some of the major trends impacting the growth of the global protein A resin market.The wide range of therapeutic applications of monoclonal antibodies will lead to more research and improved focus on biotechnology sector, resulting into increasing demand for protein A resins. Favourable government policies  in terms of formulation of suitable policies for startups and administration of funding for development of next-gen medical products -- are expected to play an important role in driving growth. Development of cost-effective protein A resin is also expected to boost the growth of the market in 2016 and beyond. In contrast, efficacy of alternate purification methods of monoclonal antibodies and high cost (US$ 15,000  US$ 16,000 per litre) will continue to pose challenges for widespread adoption.Request Free Report Sample@On the basis of product-type, natural protein A resins are expected to outsell recombinant protein A resins. Demand for natural and recombinant protein A resins will be fuelled by the favourable results of the therapeutic uses of monoclonal antibodies. The recombinant protein A resins segment is expected to surpass US$ 135 Mn in revenues in 2016, up from nearly US$ 125 Mn in 2015.Agarose-based protein A resins will remain the largest segment by matrix type, accounting for over 85% revenue share of the market in 2016. Demand for glass/silica-based and organic polymer-based protein A resins will decline, owing to higher adoption of agarose-based protein A resins.The antibody purification applications of protein A resins will continue to hold leading market share in 2016, while the immunoprecipitation application segments market share is expected to reach 23.5%. Biopharmacuetical manufacturers will remain the prominent end-users of the global protein A resins, followed by clinical research labs and academic institutions.Request For TOC@Increasing number of clinical trials on biologics will continue to have a positive impact on protein A resins market in North America. The demand for protein A resins in APEJ region is expected to increase due to growing research on monoclonal antibodies in India and China.General Electric Company and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. are among the leading players in the global protein A resin market. Emerging players Merck Millipore and REPLIGEN CORP., are focusing on increasing market share by strategic collaborations, while expansion of product portfolio in life science and research catalogues remains a key business strategy for Novasep and GenScript.Long-term Outlook: The global protein A resin market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 8.2% in terms of revenues during the forecast period 2016-2026. North America and APEJ will continue to be the leading markets during the forecast period.Browse Full Report@ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Worldwide Cloud-Based Drug Discovery Platform Market Report 2016-2026

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1591

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1591

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/cloud-based-drug-discovery-platform-market

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Drug discovery platform is a place of research and development where medicines are identified for various diseases. Currently, the drug discovery platform is witnessing massive adoption of digital technologies. Cloud-based drug discovery platforms are gaining traction, as it gives key players the opportunity of storing huge data conveniently and in a cost-effective manner.The benefits of cloud-based drug discovery platforms are enormous, and this is one of the key factors why it is gaining traction among end-users. This platform helps customers overcome many challenges by leveraging a network of web and mobile-accessible applications. It provides secure and collaborative project management and the ability to share project information. Moreover, the cloud-based drug discovery platform is flexible to offer end-users to customise it according to their projects.Currently, cloud-based drug discovery platform is witnessing a period of technological advancement, as innovative features, such as publishing and sharing services are being offered to users. Cloud-based drug discovery platform is accessible through computers, notebook, and mobiles, and it is secure and can be maintained by a third party as well. Owing to all these factors, the cloud-based drug discovery platform market is anticipated to grow at a significant rate in terms of value.Request Free Report Sample@Cloud-Based Drug Discovery Platform Market SegmentationOn the basis of types of services, the cloud-based drug discovery platform market is segmented into infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). IaaS offers data-center space, and servers, network equipment such as software for businesses and routers/switches. PaaS offers full hardware architecture and software framework. In SaaS process providers allow access to software through online medium only.Geographically, global cloud-based drug discovery market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Western Europe are the leading players in the cloud-based drug discovery platform market. The growth of the market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness steady growth over the forecast period.Cloud-Based Drug Discovery Platform Market DynamicsData management is a critical issue for the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly restructuring its discovery business model to completely networked and integrated research and development in order to manage the huge data it generates. Storing this data on cloud not only offers cost savings, but also improved accessibility.Graphical representation, a dynamic and quick form of getting results, helps in decision-making at a management level. Keeping the needs of consumers in mind, key players in the cloud-based drug discovery platform are offering flexible, cost-effective, and highly secure cloud-based storage options to consumers. Cloud-based drug discover platform runs at zero lag time, saving time and giving real-time access to users. This is another reason for the growing adoption of cloud-based drug discovery platform globally.Request For TOC@Confidentiality and privacy issues continue to impede the growth of the cloud-based drug discovery platform market. Although many improvements have been made in the recent past, cyber hacks continue to create apprehension among many pharma players, leading to stifled adoption.North America, Japan and Western Europe regions are some of the key players in the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market. Many pharma companies based in these regions have already adopted cloud-based drug discovery platform, and it is anticipated that in the future, more companies will follow suit. The growth of the market in Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is expected to gain momentum during the forecast period 2016-2026.Cloud-Based Drug Discovery Platform Market Key Players:Some of the key players operating in the cloud-based drug discovery platform market IBM Corp, Accenture PLC, BioXcel Corporation, Cloud Pharmaceuticals, Inc., WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Dassault Systemes BIOVIA Ltd.Browse Full Report@ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Iraqi forces on Thursday pushed the Islamic State group from Qayyarah, a northern town considered strategic for any future offensive against the militants' last stronghold of Mosul.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the victory as a key step in the fight against IS but hours later suffered yet another political setback when lawmakers impeached his defence minister.

Special forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, wrapped up a three-day operation to retake Qayyarah, a town which lies on the banks of the Tigris river.

"We control all parts of the town and managed, in very limited time, to root out Daesh," Lieutenant General Riyadh Jalal Tawfik, who commands Iraq's ground forces, told an AFP reporter in Qayyarah, using an acronym for IS.

The commander said engineering units were now clearing the town, which lies about 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul, of unexploded ordnance and booby traps.

Residents greeted the security forces under skies blackened by huge fires IS fighters set to nearby oil wells in recent days.

The bodies of suspected IS fighters were strewn across some of the town's streets, especially around its southern entrance, which saw the worst fighting and significant destruction.

Abadi issued a statement hailing what he said was a key step towards reclaiming Mosul, IS's de facto Iraq capital and the country's second city.

"Our heroic forces achieved a big victory, an important step towards the liberation of Mosul," Abadi said.

"I present my congratulations to the Iraqi people for the liberation of the strategic town of Qayyarah and neighbouring areas," he said.

The prime minister's mood was unlikely to have remained upbeat very long however, with one of his key allies losing a no confidence vote by parliament moments later.

The house impeached Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi by 142 votes to 102 -- and 18 abstentions -- over corruption allegations.

Obeidi's downfall is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted earlier this month with rival Sunni politician Salim al-Juburi, who is the parliament speaker.

At a hearing in parliament, Obeidi answered graft accusations against him by saying they were trumped up because he had refused to be part of corrupt deals.

He fought back with his own allegations against Juburi and other lawmakers but the speaker escaped unscathed after an integrity committee dropped the case.

Unity in Iraq's Sunni camp is seen as key to preparing an offensive against Mosul.

The operation against Qayyarah was launched on Tuesday and led by Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS).

Iraqi forces had already recaptured a nearby air field and Qayyarah is expected to become one of the main launchpads for an assault on Mosul in the coming weeks or months.

Officers have said the push into Qayyarah was coordinated with small groups of armed residents opposed to IS inside the town.

"The people were very cooperative, that is why none of them fled, they did not attack our forces and our forces did not hurt them," General Tawfik said.

A CTS spokesman confirmed that pro-government sleeper cells were involved in the operation but would not provide further details.

IS has suffered a string of military setbacks over the past year and lost more than half of the territory it controlled two years ago, in a trend that looks irreversible.

The militants are vastly outnumbered and outgunned in the Mosul area but, besides the obstacles raised by a divided political class, Iraq also faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Around 3.4 million people have already been forced to flee their homes by conflict since the start of 2014.

The United Nations' refugee agency warned this week that an offensive on Mosul could displace another 1.2 million people and cause a major disaster.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Leak Detection Dyes Market To Increase at Steady Growth Rate

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1604

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1604

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Leak detection dyes are the fluids used to detect leaks in the refrigerant system, transmission, fuel and coolant circulation lines of vehicles. The leak detection dyes are capable of detecting minute, elusive leaks in these lines, which is otherwise difficult to trace, by the conventional methods for leak detection. The most commonly used dyes for detecting these leaks are UV dyes, the dye is injected to the lines to checked and circulated the UV dyes accumulates in each minute leaks and is then detected using a UV light. As per the EU regulations each HVAC systems needs to be checked for leaks in order to avoid the release of refrigerants containing greenhouse gases causing potential threat to the environment. Leak detection using dye injection being easy and effective method for leak detections in automotive and HVAC lines, it is widely adopted in these applications. Globally, the market for leak detection dyes market will register a considerable CAGR by the end of forecast period.The global leak detection dyes market is primarily driven by the demand for efficient leak detecting techniques in HVAC industries and automotive services, as it can be used for detecting very minute leaks, which is otherwise hard to detect, by naked eyes or other conventional methods like nitrogen purging, soap bubble tests among others. This in turn saves the time and labor for rework, which in turn saves the operation costs. Other than the aforementioned advantages, it also complies with the SAE standards for leak detections and fulfills the EU regulations for the yearly leak detection checks to be done in the HVAC systems. However, there are some drawbacks for using the leak detection; for instance, the detection of leaks using the dyes does not give instant result the process is time consuming as it takes time for the dyes to accumulate in the leaks among others. These might pose as a restraint to the global leak detection dyes market.Request Free Report Sample@The global leak detection dyes market is segmented based on types, applications and region. Based on the types of leak detection dyes, the leak detection dyes market is segmented into oil soluble leak detection dyes and water-soluble leak detection dyes. Based on the applications the leak detection dyes market is segmented into automotive, HVAC and other industrial applications.Based on the geographic regions, global leak detection dyes market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, the adoption of leak detection dyes in the Western European market is more due to the strict EU regulations in the region for which mandates compulsory leak detection in HVAC systems once in a year, this makes the preference for leak detection dyes in the region among the HVAC service companies. North American market for the leak detection dyes is followed by the Western Europe market. Growth in automotive industries and construction activities in the Asia-Pacific, MEA regions will also foster growth for global leak detection dyes market by the end of forecast period.Request For TOC@Some of the major players identified in the global leak detection dyes market includes, W.W. Grainger, Inc., Chromatech Incorporated, Highside Chemicals, Inc., Tracer Products, Abbey Color, Spectroline and Anderson Manufacturing Co., Inc among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Market Forecast Report on Pharma PLM, 2016-2026

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1606

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1606

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is basically used to maximise the revenue generating capacity of pharmaceuticals companies, especially at the maturity stage of the product and also at its early stage. Pharmaceutical companies are using various PLM strategies ranging from new combination of drugs, reformulations, expanded indication ranges, and it also includes the use of alliances, mergers and acquisitions and licensing. A PLM solutions also helps in increasing the productivity of a system by providing methodologies and various tools to reduce redundancies. Also nowadays the PLM vendors have started providing customized PLM solutions as per the requirements of the enterprises. Oracle is offering a tailored PLM package to pharmaceutical companies that can help their clients to shorten their time to market, simplify business networks and reduce their operating costs. This package simplifies analysis of materials, suppliers, and supports processes to scale up production volume. Previously PLM was used to manage equipment reservations, material allocations, and recipe variations at the time of clinical trials, use of PLM for these tasks shortens the time. The global pharma PLM market is anticipated to expand at a modest CAGR during the forecast period.Global Pharma PLM Market  Drivers and RestrainsThe increasing need for productivity enhancement, product innovation and reduction in operational cost are the key driving factors for the global pharma PLM market. The growing reduction in budget, global competition and rising commercial slowdown in pharmaceutical industries are expected to bolster the global pharma PLM market in the forecast period. The non-traditional sectors such as retail, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices have started using PLM solution to increase their production efficiency which has further contributed in the growth of global pharma PLM market.Request Free Report Sample@However, there are some challenges faced by PLM market such as different product versions are having low interoperability, data modes, competitive products, data formats and databases etc, these factors can act as a barrier in the growth of global pharma PLM market. Also the high initial cost and the technical manpower required to handle these solutions can prove to be a drawback for global pharma PLM market.Global Pharma PLM Market  SegmentationOn the basis of product type, the global pharma PLM market can be segmented as follows:SeroquelSeretidePlavixLipitorOn the basis of applications, the global pharma PLM market can be segmented as follows:MarketingSalesProductionGlobal Pharma PLM Market  Regional OutlookThe global pharma PLM market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to be the leader in the global pharma PLM market owing to the established and ever increasing pharmaceutical companies in this region. Mostly the growth is seen in US for the pharma PLM market due to the familiarity with this technology of the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the second largest contributor in the global pharma PLM market due to the flourishing pharmaceutical industry in the countries like India and China in this region. Europe is the next emerging market in the global pharma PLM market due to its low temperature conditions in most of its countries because of which pharma companies are setting up in this region. Latin America is also witnessing a healthy CAGR in the global pharma PLM market from the past few years. Middle East and Africa is at a nascent stage in the global pharma PLM market but is projected to have a considerable CAGR in the forecast period.Request For TOC@Global Pharma PLM Market  Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global pharma PLM market are as follows:Siemens AGSAP SEPTC, Inc.Hewlett-Packard CompanyDassault SystemsAutodesk, Inc.Atos SEAras CorporationAccenture PLCABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Bisphosphonates Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2016-2026

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1619

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1619

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Bone resorption and bone formation takes place continuously in the body and is a balanced process, but when there is imbalance in this process the bones get dissolved by the osteoclasts and start losing calcium. This eventually leads to osteoporosis and other conditions like hypercalcemia as the calcium mixed in the blood. Bisphosphonates prevent bone damage and are used for bone strengthening and hardening. Bisphosphonates are group of drugs having high affinity for the bone tissue and are widely used for treatment of bone related diseases like osteoporosis, myeloma and bone metastasis. With the rising incidence rate of myeloma and geriatric population the Bisphosphonates market is expected to show healthy growth during the forecast period.The Bisphosphonates market is mainly driven by the incidence and prevalence rate of bone diseases. The expansion in geriatric population is the major driver for the bisphosphonates market. Ageing people start losing bone density and may suffer from fractures therefore bisphosphonate treatment becomes necessary for such patients. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013 survey, nearly 14.1% of the U.S. population was aged above 65 years and is increasing rapidly. Another significant factor favorable for the growth of bisphosphonates market is the escalation in the number of women in the post-menopausal stage, who suffer from the weakening bones. The total number of women attaining menopause is estimated to cross 1 bn. by 2025, according to the International Menopause Society the number of menopausal women is higher in the developing. Incidence rate of cancers like myeloma which cause loss of bone density. Bisphosphonates are also used for therapy in the patients suffering from breast cancer and prostate cancer. However bisphosphonate treatment has some restraints, bisphosphonates cause some side-effects like upset stomach and inflammation, erosion of esophagus and arterial fibrillation among some women. This along with the presence of alternative therapies may hinder the growth of the bisphosphonates market.Request Free Report Sample@The Global bisphosphonates market is segmented on the basis of route of administration, therapeutic areas and regionSegmentation based on mode of deliveryOralIntravenousSegmentation based on therapeutic areasCancerMyelomaBreast CancerProstate CancerOthersDegenerative bone diseasesOsteoporosisHypercalcemiaOthersSegmentation by ApplicationOrthopedicsOncologyGynaecologySegmentation by Distribution ChannelHospitalsRetail PharmaciesOnline PharmaciesWith the increasing geriatric population and bone related injuries the overall market for bisphosphonates is increasing very rapidly. Moreover significant increase in the healthcare spending will boost the bisphosphonates market during the forecast period.Geographically the bisphosphonates market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA region.Request For TOC@North America and Europe are currently leading in the bisphosphonates market due to high per capita healthcare spending and high incidence of myeloma in this regions. APAC is expected to show the highest growth rate in the bisphosphonate market due to the high prevalence and incidence of osteoporosis cases and large number of post-menopausal women. APAC region will show tremendous growth in the bisphosphonates market during the forecast period followed by Latin America mainly due to the increased healthcare spending by the governments for the development of health of women. MEA will also follow up with Latin America owing to the suitable demographics required for the growth of the bisphosphonates market.Some major companies in the bisphosphonates market are Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, Roche, Novartis, Proctor & Gamble and PfizerABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
European Molecular Diagnostic Market for Group A Streptococcus (GAS) Nucleic Acid (NA) Test Products Expected to Reach US$ 22.3 Mn by 2023

http://bit.ly/2bXKjrG

http://bit.ly/2bjR0UU

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Rapid and accurate diagnosis is a key factor for effective disease treatment. Increasing incidence of Streptococcus pyogenes infection in Europe, advancement of technology, and rising demand for point-of-care testing act as a high impact drivers of the market. Advancements in techniques such as isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests is likely to propel the market during the forecast period. The molecular diagnostic market for group A streptococcus (GAS) nucleic acid (NA) test in Europe has been segmented based on type of test technique, end-user, and region.View Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report :A study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology concluded that incidence rate of Streptococcus pyogenes is high in countries in Northern Europe. The incidence of the disease has increased at a steady rate in most of these countries of the market. The automated detection system offers a faster, more flexible, and cost-effective solution to clinicians. Advancement of technology is bringing testing services to point-of-care.Due to its high sensitivity and accuracy the tests are backs up all negative rapid antigen assays. The Advancements in nucleic acid testing technologies and their adoption in Europe would result in high growth adoption of the technology will primarily occur in the developed countries. Ineffectiveness and slow adoption are the major restraints of the market.The polymerase chain reaction segment held the largest share of the market in 2014, followed by the non-amplified tests segment. PCR is a traditional technology used for nucleic acid tests. However, the new, efficient, and user-friendly methods, such as isothermal nucleic acid amplification and non-amplified tests, are likely to capture higher market share in the near future.Isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology has been identified as the fastest growing segment during the forecast period due to its accuracy and rapid identification. Nucleic acid amplification techniques take tiny amounts of DNA or RNA, replicate them many times, and thus can detect minute traces of an organism in a specimen, avoiding the need for culture. Non-amplified technology using hybridization probe would capture a decent share in the market during the forecast period.The hospitals end-user segment accounted for over 58.2% share of the nucleic acid (NA) test products market in Europe in terms of revenue in 2014, followed by the public health laboratories segment. Moreover, the segment is expected to gain market share and emerge as the fastest growing segment during the forecast period.Browse Research Report on Europe Molecular Diagnostic Market :Western Europe was the largest market for nucleic acid (NA) test products in 2014, accounting for around 48.9% share. Western Europe dominated the market due to highly developed health care infrastructure and favorable reimbursement scenario. On the other hand, Northern Europe is expected to gain high market share during the forecast period owing to increase in incidence of Streptococcus pyogenes infection and high adoption rate.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
RCNi supported by their technology partner, Impelsys, announce the launch of native mobile apps to aid their online learning resource, RCNi Learning.

www.rcni.com

www.rcnilearning.com

www.impelsys.com

August 25, 2016  New York: RCNi, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing, partnered with Impelsys, a leader in digital publishing and learning technology, to launch native mobile apps to support their online learning platform, RCNi Learning. The apps that are now live on iOS App Store and Google play Store will allow users to access the learning resources and sync their progress across all devices seamlessly.RCNi Learning is an online learning platform built on Impelsys flagship mobile responsive and easy to navigate online learning solution, iPublishCentral Learn. The site is designed to help nurses meet their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements and to help students bridge gap between theory and practice. RCNi Learning features 135 interactive learning modules on a wide variety of specialties, with more modules to be added in phases.With the much awaited launch, students can now access their learning modules anytime, at any place even without internet access. The progress made on the module will be automatically synced to the account once the device is connected to internet. This allows tracking students progress across devices at an account level to keep record of all learning activities and their CPD through certification of learning modules completed.At RCNi, we are always committed to provide up-to-date and quality educational content on nursing, said Rachel Armitage, Managing Director, RCNi; With the launch of our RCNi Learning apps for Android and iOS, our learning modules are available both online and offline across a range of devices. This means users can easily complete their learning modules whenever and wherever they are, making learning effective and convenient. We are thankful to the team at Impelsys for their vision and technical expertise.Talking on the occasion, Sameer Shariff, Founder & CEO, Impelsys conveyed, It is our constant endeavor to look at ways to leverage technology in the content and learning landscape, we are incredibly excited with this launch and we believe we are on the right path of making learning convenient by taking courses to students wherever they are.About RCNiRCNi is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal College of Nursing. RCNi produces eleven nursing publications including Nursing Standard, the UK's best-selling nursing journal, and a range of specialist journals. RCNi also hosts the annual Nurse Awards, celebrating excellence in nursing, and the RCN Bulletin Jobs Fairs, the largest recruitment events for nurses in the UK.To know more visit us atorAbout ImpelsysImpelsys is a leading provider of technology solutions and services for educational providers and publishers globally, managing content & learning delivery on their flagship platform  iPublishCentral Suite, the Worlds Most Comprehensive Read to Learn Solution. Impelsys provides content engineering services across the digital product development lifecycle helping clients build new digital products ranging from eBooks to simulations to online courseware.To learn more, please write to marketing@impelsys.com or visitImpelsys Inc.116 West 23rd Street,Suite 500, New York,NY 10011, USAMedia Contact: Roshan JayaramPh: 91 80 66167500
Skyguide has selected Schmid Telecom to modernise its existing VCS at Zurich Airport with a refresh of the TWR & APP VCS to the latest VoIP VCS solution.

Zurich, August 25, 2016. Skyguide has selected Schmid Telecom to modernise its existing Voice Communication Systems (VCS) for Zurich Airport. The Site Acceptance for both VCS systems with the latest ED-137B compliant Software has been passed successfully.The new VCS solution is fully redundant and distributed with integrated VoIP access via a fibre optic network to modern VoIP Radios as well as interconnection to existing VCS systems and legacy phone lines. Furthermore, a new design of the HMI offers the Air Traffic Controllers an intuitive, state of the art access with personalization capabilities to all available communication resources.We are very satisfied by the high availability of the Schmid Telecom system and the very good customer support. In combination with the advanced migration capabilities from digital to IP technology we are confident in having with Schmid Telecom and its next-generation ATM solutions a solid partner for the future, states Thomas Zahner, Voice COM Engineering CNS services.We are very pleased to have been selected by Skyguide to provide our latest VoIP VCS solution also to Zurich Airport, the largest international airport in Switzerland. It shows that Skyguide is entrusting Schmid Telecom and its solutions especially also on the way towards VoIP technology. We are looking forward to continue the long lasting great relationship with Skyguide, Jan-Patrik Kurmis, VP Sales & Marketing at Schmid Telecom said.About Schmid TelecomSchmid Telecom is one of the leading suppliers of highly reliable Voice Communication Systems with an installed base of more than 5000 Operator Positions and satisfied customers all over the world.Headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland. As a global company, with worldwide subsidiaries and reliable experienced business partners in all important markets, Schmid Telecom AG is close to the customer.The VCS solutions are especially designed for Air Traffic Management and are ready for todays and future needs in Air Traffic Control by using a decentralized architecture, being fully compliant to the VoIP standard ED-137B. The solution covers the full range of applications within ATM from largest centres to small and mobile towers.About SkyguideSkyguide provides air navigation services for Switzerland and certain adjacent parts of neighbouring countries. With its 1,500 employees at 14 locations in Switzerland, the company guides some 1.2 million civil and military flights a year safely and efficiently through Europes busiest airspace.Skyguide is well integrated into the international air navigation services community and contributes to Switzerlands appeal as a place to live, work and do business with its innovative and customer minded solutions. The company is majority owned by the Swiss Confederation, and is headquartered in Geneva.Schmid Telecom, is a global leader in Access Network solutions for digital voice and data transfer and voice communication systems used in air trafc control. The private and independent company was founded 1967 in Zurich and with its long tradition, Schmid Telecom relies on the innovative spirit of its own engineers and the legendary quality consciousness of the Swiss. Our focus on research and development as well as our lean, well-coordinated company structure enables us to adapt quickly to the continuously changing needs of the market and to implement a long-term vision.Schmid TelecomBinzstrasse 358045 ZurichSwitzerlandPhone: +41 44 456 11 11info@schmid-telecom.ch
Leading Chikungunya Vaccine in Clinical Trial Phase 2

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(15)70043-5

www.themisbio.com

http://www.themisbio.com

With the first patient vaccinated, a Phase 2 clinical trial of a promising prophylactic vaccine candidate against Chikungunya fever has now commenced. The product is the most advanced Chikungunya vaccine candidate globally and is developed by the Austrian biotech company Themis Bioscience GmbH. It is based on the company's proprietary Themaxyn platform, a standard measles vaccination vector developed in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur, that offers an excellent immunogenicity and safety profile. The vaccine candidate already showed high seroconversion rates in the preceding Phase 1 clinical trial: Up to 100 percent of all vaccinated subjects produced neutralizing antibodies against the Chikungunya virus. In total 320 volunteers will be enrolled for this Phase 2 dose confirmation study that is carried out in centers in Germany and Austria.The biotech company Themis Bioscience GmbH (Vienna, Austria) today announced the vaccination of the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial of a prophylactic vaccine candidate against Chikungunya fever. The study with 320 volunteers is a dose confirmation study and follows in the wake of a highly successful Phase 1 clinical study that was recently published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, DOI:). The ongoing Phase 2 trial will further confirm the immunogenicity of the vaccine and analyse indicators of efficacy such as functional antibodies and T-cell immune responses.Commenting on the trial, Dr. Erich Tauber, CEO and co-founder of Themis says: "With outbreaks in many regions of the world, the Chikungunya virus remains a growing risk in endemic areas. A prophylactic vaccine against Chikungunya is highly desirable and we are happy to be able to offer this important vaccine candidate that is now undergoing a Phase 2 clinical trial." The trial will be carried out in centers in Berlin and Rostock (Germany) as well as in Vienna and Graz (Austria). 320 volunteers will receive either mid or high doses with study groups receiving a single injection and others two, spaced one month apart.Erich Tauber adds: "This current study is aimed at the registration of our vaccine candidate on a world-wide basis. This study will be complimented by additional Phase 2 studies currently under preparation in the US and the Carribean."The prophylactic Chikungunya vaccine under development at Themis is based on the company's proprietary Themaxyn platform. It uses a standard measles virus vaccine as a vector that has been developed at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and constitutes the basis of the company's pipeline. Genes coding for selected antigens from the Chikungunya virus have been inserted into the genome of the well-established measles vaccine delivering those new antigens into the cells, thereby triggering a specific immune response against the Chikungunya virus. As measles vaccines have been successfully used in hundreds of millions of people globally, the Themaxyn platform offers an excellent safety profile and clear advantages in terms of a validated, low-cost production process.Chikungunya fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes. It originates in Asia and parts of Africa but the increase in global traveling and rising temperatures cause it to spread into more temperate zones. Within the last three years well over 1.5 million cases have been reported in the Americas and the Caribbean alone, highlighting the urgent need for an affordable and effective prophylactic vaccine.About Themis (August 2016):Themis Bioscience GmbH develops prophylactic vaccines from the preclinical to the early clinical phase, focusing on emerging and specialist indications, with initial vaccine candidates currently being developed against Chikungunya and Dengue. The company's highly innovative and fully patent-protected measles virus vaccine vector technology platform, licensed from the internationally respected Institut Pasteur in Paris, forms the basis for all current vaccine candidates of the Vienna-based company.About the vaccine technology:The core technology of the measles vector platform has been developed at the Institut Pasteur in Paris and is licensed to Themis. It relies on the use of the standard measles vaccine as a vaccination vector. Genes coding for selected antigens from the Chikungunya virus have been inserted into the genome of this well-established vaccine. The measles-chikungunya vaccine delivers the Chikungunya antigens directly to macrophages and dendritic cells  the most potent and effective antigen-presenting cells, thereby triggering a specific immune response to Chikungunya virus. This results in a powerful, antigen-focused immune response, which is most likely to confer long-term immunity as does the measles vaccine.Contact Themis Bioscience GmbH:Dr. Erich TauberCEOMuthgasse 11/21190 Vienna, AustriaT +43 / 1 / 236 7151E erich.tauber@themisbio.com
Cutting Costs with Employee Time Tracking Software

http://crocotime.com/en/

Time is the head way as it relates to money and software that saves and analyze time, growth up efficiency and cuts project costs. Whether a company is a little family bakery or a worldwide corporation, software that provides you with accurate time tracking, project tracking, and employee time tracking will eventually rise your profits.By reducing the time spent on timesheet information entry and project reporting, your company will see its costs falling and productivity growing, which amounts to money saved. Understanding how an employee's time is spent and realigning that time as necessary to the project at hand is a great step towards higher profitability. Another important signature to implementing remarkable time management is the opportunity to move employees and resources quickly between projects and tasks.It's in the NumbersThe opportunity to have a real time information on how any one or a group of your employees spends their work time will allow you to plan and make changes to reduce internal costs, rebuild project exchequer, and timeline. Time is money! Time management and rentability are in immediate accordance with how well time is managed and how well one can produce reports based on the actual data. This then reflects in the bottom line. Having such an easy way of time management lets your company to stop guessing and accurately estimate man hours and costs of every single project, human resources needed, pricing, and effectively invoice it based on similar past projects.The Time Tracker SoftwareProject time tracking and costing software applications should include timesheet, time and attendance, and time billing functionality in one easy to use graphic interface. The software designed for business intelligence reporting, providing more than 10 powerful reports and graphs in real time for timesheet management, productivity management, project time tracking, and project management will doubtless cut waste of work time and companys resources.The time tracker of CrocoTime provides a time tracking solution that delivers measurable results straight to the bottom line. The features of time tracking, project time costing, and project time management will provide you with real time data to help your team reach its full productivity. Intuitive and user friendly interface enables easy adoption of the time tracker by employees and inclusion of the software into daily work.Flexibility of the time trackers configuration makes it easy to install CrocoTime into your present system without unnecessary hassle and interference with your work process. The features of integration with Active Directory, business calendars, IP telephony, turngate, POS terminals already used in companies make the software truly "yours", providing you with instantly available statistics tailored to your needs.Using CrocoTime time tracker for tracking projects and employees readily rises a company's productivity and the bottom line. CrocoTime software will give your company better "control of time" and that is a statement of your power.Today CrocoTime is approved by more than 500 of customers ranging from small companies to enterprises of different spheres of business: production companies, project companies, trading, and service companies have been using CrocoTime to become more productive and efficient.3, Severo-Vostochnoy Ave., Saransk, Mordovia, Russia, 430000
New to Luxury

When it comes to luxury, people only think of luxury products or classy lifestyle. To get everything there is always a small bit to count.New to luxury is an online magazine dedicated to luxury approaching all the topics making life of luxury: health efforts, food style, art & design, high tech, shopping, simple tips and tricks to ease the life.Developing the spirit of the brand luxury in common mans life. The innovations and creations that interest people to reach towards luxury enthusiasts.Our magazine allows you to stay connected to trends in luxury and discover exceptional products offered by the most prestigious brands and contributes. It also guides you to have a fit life with different workout plans and energy rich food with simple and innovative recipes designed by the certified fitness trainers.An online magazine for A Luxury lifestyle, fitness, healthy recipes and awesome ways to stay wow, all at one place. This is our effort to help you transform.108/9A, Flat no. 3,Nirmal Corner 2, Senapati Bapat roadPune 411016Maharashtra, India
Tire & Wheel Cleaners Market To Make Great Impact In Near Future by 2026

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1689

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1689

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Tire & wheel cleaners are cleansing agents used for the cleaning of tires and wheels of the vehicles in order to retain the aesthetic of the vehicles. The trend of vehicle customization among the vehicle owners are increasing and customization of wheels and tires is one of the common trend in vehicle customization, a huge array of alloy wheels are available in the market that are popular among the vehicle owners. The wheels and tires are exposed to the outer conditions of roads due to which the mud and brake liner dust are accumulated inside the wheels and tire. The alloy wheels comes with coatings on it, which needs proper wheel cleaners for removing the dirt accumulated on its surface and retain the coating on alloy wheels to keep the finishing of alloy wheels intact. There are different varieties of cleaners available for different type of alloy wheels depending on the material used for the alloy wheels.Global Tire & Wheel Cleaners Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global tire and wheel cleaners market is primarily driven by the growth in car wash and car care industry globally along with the spending of vehicle owners on car care, DIY (Do It Yourself) car care products to enhance the looks of their vehicles are propelling the growth of tire, and wheel cleaners market globally. The increasing sales of two wheelers and cars can also be attributed to propel the demand for tires and wheel cleaners market to an extent. However, the compatibility of wheel & tires cleaners vary with materials of tires & wheels, if not used the appropriate cleaners for suitable materials it may hamper the wheels and tires which might partially affect the market growth.Request Free Report Sample@Global Tire & Wheel Cleaners Market: Market SegmentationBased on cleaner type, the global tire & wheel cleaners market can be segmented into:Alloy Wheel CleanersTire DressingsMetal polishWheel BrushesTire SwipesBased on the wheel types, the global tire & wheel cleaners market can be segmented into:Aluminium Alloy WheelsChrome Plated WheelsRough Cast Alloy WheelsOthers (Anodized Wheels, PVD Coated Wheels)Global Tire & Wheel Cleaners Market: Regional OutlookBased on the geographic regions, global tire & wheel cleaners market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, the North America market for tire and wheel cleaners is expected to hold the maximum market share by the end of forecast period due to with strong position of car wash industry in the region. The Western Europe market for tires & wheel cleaners market is followed by the North America, as these two markets represents the largest markets for car wash industry globally. The APEJ market for tires & wheel cleaners is expected to pace up by the second half of forecast period with penetrations of big car care companies such as 3M in different countries of the region. Overall, the global market for tires & wheel cleaners is expected to register single digit CAGR over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Tire & Wheel Cleaners Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players identified in the global tires & wheel cleaners market includes, Eagle One, The Armor All, Meguiar's Inc., MUC-OFF, BLACK MAGIC, Mothers Polishes?Waxes?Cleaners, Inc. and Autoglym among others.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:
Related Germany wants to keep planes at Turkish base

Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and demanded Kurdish militia fighters retreat within a week as it seeks to secure the border region and drive back Islamic State group with its first major incursion into its neighbour.

Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes on Wednesday entered Jarablus, one of Islamic State (IS) group's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border, in a U.S.-backed offensive. Gunfire and explosions echoed around hills in the region on Thursday.

President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made clear the aim of "Operation Euphrates Shield" is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG militia seizing territory and filling the void left by IS as about eliminating the radical Islamist group itself.

Turkey, which has NATO's second biggest armed forces, demanded that the YPG retreat to the east side of the Euphrates river within a week. The Kurdish militia had moved west of the river earlier this month as part of a U.S.-backed operation, now completed, to capture the city of Manbij from Islamic State militant group.

Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to Kurdish militants waging a three-decade-old insurgency on its own soil. It has been alarmed by the YPG's gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of its own Kurdish insurgents.

Turkey's stance has put it at odds with Washington, which sees the YPG as an ally against Islamic State group. It is one of the most powerful militias in Syria and regarded as the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-backed alliance formed last October to fight the militant group.

Defence Minister Fikri Isik said preventing the Kurdish PYD party - the political arm of the YPG - from uniting Kurdish cantons east of Jarablus with those further west was a priority.

"Islamic State should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must. But it's not enough for us ... The PYD and the YPG militia should not replace Islamic State there," Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV.

"The PYD's biggest dream is to unify the western and eastern cantons. We cannot let this happen," he said.

Euphrates

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu by phone on Thursday that YPG fighters were retreating to the east side of the Euphrates, as Turkey has demanded, foreign ministry sources in Ankara said.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against IS group also said the SDF had withdrawn across the Euphrates, but had done so "to prepare for the eventual liberation" of Raqqa, the radical group's stronghold in northern Syria.

Isik said the retreat was not yet complete and Washington had given assurances that this would happen in the next week.

"We are closely following this ... If the PYD does not retreat to east of the Euphrates, we have the right to do everything about it," he said.

Speaking during a visit on Wednesday to Turkey, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden also tried to soothe Turkish concerns about Kurdish territorial gains in Syria.

He said there should be no separate Kurdish entity in northern Syria and the country should remain united. Kurdish militia fighters would not receive U.S. support if they failed to pull back east of the Euphrates as promised, he said.

The offensive is Turkey's first major military operation since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in its ability to step up the fight against IS group. It came four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.

It comes at a testing time for Turkish-U.S. 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 and that it is a matter for the courts, a position that has sparked an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any role in the coup attempt.

Rebels advance

The sound of gunfire, audible from a hill on the Turkish side of the border overlooking Jarablus, rang out early on Thursday and a plume of black smoke rose over the town. War planes flew overhead.

A senior Turkish official said there were now more than 20 Turkish tanks inside Syria and that additional tanks and construction machinery would be sent in as required. A Reuters witness saw at least nine tanks enter on Thursday, and 10 more were waiting outside a military outpost on the Turkish side.

"We need construction machinery to open up roads ... and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armoured personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed," the official said.

Erdogan said on Wednesday that IS had been driven out of Jarablus and that it was now controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who are largely Arab and Turkmen.

"The myth that the YPG is the only effective force fighting Islamic State group has collapsed," Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter, reflecting Turkish frustration at how closely Washington has been working with the Kurdish militia.

Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, said on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like Islamic State. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the YPG, said the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs".

After seizing Jarablus, the Turkish-backed rebels have advanced up to 10 km (6 miles) south of the border town, rebel sources and a group monitoring the war said.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said Kurdish-backed forces opposed by Ankara had gained up to 8 km of ground northwards, apparently seeking to pre-empt advances by the rebels.Turkey sent more tanks into northern Syria on Thursday and demanded Kurdish militia fighters retreat within a week as it seeks to secure the border region and drive back IS group with its first major incursion into its neighbour.

Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes on Wednesday entered Jarablus, one of IS group's last strongholds on the Turkish-Syrian border, in a U.S.-backed offensive. Gunfire and explosions echoed around hills in the region on Thursday.

President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made clear the aim of "Operation Euphrates Shield" is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG militia seizing territory and filling the void left by Islamic State group as about eliminating the radical Islamist group itself.

Turkey, which has NATO's second biggest armed forces, demanded that the YPG retreat to the east side of the Euphrates river within a week. The Kurdish militia had moved west of the river earlier this month as part of a U.S.-backed operation, now completed, to capture the city of Manbij from IS militant group.

Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to Kurdish militants waging a three-decade-old insurgency on its own soil. It has been alarmed by the YPG's gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of its own Kurdish insurgents.

Turkey's stance has put it at odds with Washington, which sees the YPG as an ally against IS group. It is one of the most powerful militias in Syria and regarded as the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-backed alliance formed last October to fight the militant group.

Defence Minister Fikri Isik said preventing the Kurdish PYD party - the political arm of the YPG - from uniting Kurdish cantons east of Jarablus with those further west was a priority.

"Islamic State should be completely cleansed, this is an absolute must. But it's not enough for us ... The PYD and the YPG militia should not replace Islamic State there," Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV.

"The PYD's biggest dream is to unify the western and eastern cantons. We cannot let this happen," he said.

Euphrates

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu by phone on Thursday that YPG fighters were retreating to the east side of the Euphrates, as Turkey has demanded, foreign ministry sources in Ankara said.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against IS group also said the SDF had withdrawn across the Euphrates, but had done so "to prepare for the eventual liberation" of Raqqa, the radical group's stronghold in northern Syria.

Isik said the retreat was not yet complete and Washington had given assurances that this would happen in the next week.

"We are closely following this ... If the PYD does not retreat to east of the Euphrates, we have the right to do everything about it," he said.

Speaking during a visit on Wednesday to Turkey, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden also tried to soothe Turkish concerns about Kurdish territorial gains in Syria.

He said there should be no separate Kurdish entity in northern Syria and the country should remain united. Kurdish militia fighters would not receive U.S. support if they failed to pull back east of the Euphrates as promised, he said.

The offensive is Turkey's first major military operation since a failed July 15 coup shook confidence in its ability to step up the fight against IS group. It came four days after a suicide bomber suspected of links to the group killed 54 people at a wedding in the southeastern city of Gaziantep.

It comes at a testing time for Turkish-U.S. 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 and that it is a matter for the courts, a position that has sparked an outpouring of anti-Americanism from Turkey's pro-government media. Gulen denies any role in the coup attempt.

Rebels advance

The sound of gunfire, audible from a hill on the Turkish side of the border overlooking Jarablus, rang out early on Thursday and a plume of black smoke rose over the town. War planes flew overhead.

A senior Turkish official said there were now more than 20 Turkish tanks inside Syria and that additional tanks and construction machinery would be sent in as required. A Reuters witness saw at least nine tanks enter on Thursday, and 10 more were waiting outside a military outpost on the Turkish side.

"We need construction machinery to open up roads ... and we may need more in the days ahead. We also have armoured personnel carriers that could be used on the Syrian side. We may put them into service as needed," the official said.

Erdogan said on Wednesday that IS had been driven out of Jarablus and that it was now controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels, who are largely Arab and Turkmen.

"The myth that the YPG is the only effective force fighting Islamic State group has collapsed," Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter, reflecting Turkish frustration at how closely Washington has been working with the Kurdish militia.

Saleh Muslim, head of the Kurdish PYD, said on Wednesday that Turkey was entering a "quagmire" in Syria and faced defeat there like IS. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the YPG, said the intervention was a "blatant aggression in Syrian internal affairs".

After seizing Jarablus, the Turkish-backed rebels have advanced up to 10 km (6 miles) south of the border town, rebel sources and a group monitoring the war said.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said Kurdish-backed forces opposed by Ankara had gained up to 8 km of ground northwards, apparently seeking to pre-empt advances by the rebels.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Luxury Pens Market: Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Key Events 2016 - 2022

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9887

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9887

The growing e-communication among the corporates and other social class people around the world has become a threat for written communication. Due to the increasing brand awareness and high disposable income of people (especially among young adults), the luxury pens market is witnessing a decent growth. Likewise, luxury pens key players which are having brands such as Lamy, Aurora, Mont Blanc, Grayson and Parker are trying to encash the opportunities in this growing luxury pens market. The major players are opting to make their luxury pens more royal by making it diamond studded and gold plated, to grab the maximum market share. One of the key trend in the market is that the manufacturers are strategically investing in product development by modifying the luxury pen nib with platinum and other expensive metals. In spite of the sluggish market and curtailed discretionary spending, the luxury pens market is growing at a good rate. Hence, the global luxury pens market has got a great potential in the forecast period. The global luxury pens market is anticipated to witness a moderate single digit growth in the upcoming years.Use For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:The growing global luxury pens market can be attributed to the growing disposable income and brand awareness amongst people. Growing population coupled with the changing lifestyle of people in the developed countries is anticipated to drive the demand for global luxury pens market. Moreover, possessing a luxury pen has become a status symbol these days and hence, high class society people are opting for luxury pens. Likewise, the attractiveness of luxury pens again plays a great role for boosting its market.The luxury pens market is a niche market, and also there are not much retailers available in the market, which can hamper the luxury pens market. Likewise, the import duty of such luxury pens is high enough to impact its market. Due to its high range the inventory cost of the dealers increases, hence it requires more working capital management which can decline the luxury pens market. Moreover, there is an increase in e-communication among people which would further decline the luxury pens market.Global Luxury Pens Market: SegmentationThe global luxury pens market can be segmented on the basis on product type, raw material and application.Global Luxury Pens Market by Product TypeBall Point PensConverter PensFountain PensRoller Ball PensFine Liner PensStylus PensMultifunctional PensBrush PensDie PensGlobal Luxury Pens Market By Material Used:-Precious gold metalsPrecious resinRubberStainless SteelSterling SilverPorcelain/ CeramicCarbonLacquerGlobal Luxury Pens Market by Application:-CalligraphyScreen WritingDocument MarkingGlobal Luxury Pens Market by Region:Asia PacificEuropeNorth AmericaLatin AmericaThe Middle East & AfricaAsia Pacific is the fastest growing region in the global luxury pens market. Countries such as India and China are the upcoming countries where demand for such luxury items are at peak because of the increase in disposable income of people. Even, North America is a flourishing luxury pens market due to the improving brand awareness of luxury pens amongst people.Request Sample Report@Global Luxury Pens Market: - Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global luxury pens market are Paradise Pen Company, Montblanc International GmbH, C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Grayson Tighe, Parker Pen Company, A.T.Cross Company, Sanford L.P.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
Household Vacuum Cleaners Market size worth $17 billion by 2024

https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/709

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/household-vacuum-cleaners-market

Household Vacuum Cleaners Market size was valued at over USD 11.5 billion in 2015, and is anticipated to grow at 4.6% CAGR from 2016 to 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Global household vacuum cleaners market is anticipated to witness substantial growth owing to rising concerns towards hygiene & cleanliness. Increasing disposable income along with health & environment awareness is expected further impact industry demand.Various features such as superior ergonomics and eco-friendly nature is likely to fuel household vacuum cleaners market share over the forecast timeline. Furthermore, swift technological development and rising technologically advanced population may also drive demand. Social factors such as rising number of dual earning families and middle class population will provide a fillip to global consumption. Rising government initiatives in order to spread awareness regarding cleanliness and hygiene is likely to encourage adoption for household cleaning.Request for a sample of this research report @Various benefits offered by these devices such as high performance and superior quality are predicted to act as key factors affecting consumer buying decision through 2024. Price is anticipated to be a key parameter due to existence of large number of players across the industry.Favorable household vacuum cleaner market price trend will increase adoption across a larger population base. Increasing industry competition owing to presence of large number of players with less differentiated products is expected to further play a role in price erosion. Increasing energy cost across the globe may hinder growth in the coming years.Rising focus of various organizations such as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for creating new opportunities to enhance energy ratings of new product categories is anticipated to positively impact industry growth through 2024. Fierce initiatives for tumbling operational cost as well as GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions is expected to fuel revenue over the next few years.Browse key industry insights spread across 91 pages with 36 market data tables & 24 figures & charts from the report, Household Vacuum Cleaners Market Size By Product (Upright, Canister, Central, Drum, Wet/Dry, Robotic), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, Japan, India, China, Mexico, Brazil), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016  2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Key insights from the report include: Upright systems are forecast to continue its dominance owing to small size, high suction capability and large cleaning surface area. It is estimated to account for over 25% of the overall industry share by 2024, growing at 3.2% CAGR from 2016 to 2024. Robotic vacuum cleaners market share is predicted to record substantial growtn prospects owing to various state-of-the-art features such as automated mapping, acoustic sensors, mobile support, self-charging and sweeping brushes. The segment is forecast to be valued at over USD 3.5 billion by 2024. Asia Pacific household vacuum cleaners market share will grow at 5.2% CAGR estimations over the forecast timeframe. Regionl growth can be credited to existence of various emerging countries such as Japan, China and India. The North American industry will be benefitted by growing household cleaning time constraints and personal health as well as hygine concerns. Key competitors contributing to household vacuum cleaners market size are Electrolux, Dyson, Stanley, TTI Floor Care, Miele and Oreck. Other leading industry players include Black & Decker, Haier, Eureka Forbes, LG, Panasonic, iRobot, Bissell, Samsung, and Philips.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
Research report covers the Clamps Market Forecasts and Growth, 2016-2026

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1711

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1711

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/clamps-market

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Surgical and medical instruments are the key products of the medical device industry which has been the most compelling and significant area within the healthcare industry. Clamp is a surgical device used for compressing a part or a bodily structure. Technically, clamp is an instrument with serrated jaws and locking handles which is used for gripping, joining, holding or supporting an organ, tissue or a vessel. The major function of a clam in a surgery is hemostasis and clamping tissue. The surgical and medical instruments constitutes to be the second largest sub-group of the medical device industry revealed by a market study. Over the past few years the value of medical devices has gradually increased and remains the highly competitive industry. Medical equipment has witnessed growth, affordability and overcame accessibility barriers in the recent years which led to the increase in business of global clamps market.Globally the volume for surgeries is very large and the burden for surgical disease is spreading rapidly. There are approximately 600 million surgeries taking place and the number is exceeding annually owing to rise in demand for clamps and other surgical equipment market. Minimally invasive surgeries are becoming more and more common leading to use of advance surgical instruments. Use of surgical clamps is widely done in the areas of cardiovascular surgeries, suturing, Otorhinolaryngology, thoracic surgery, internal and rectal operations. The number of surgical procedures performed in the hospitals, medical and service providers have surged due to higher health insurance coverage and technological advances in medical equipment. The clamps market has been facing upturn as healthcare reform is driving the need for medical facilities and to improved features and functionality in medical operations to track productivity.Request Free Report Sample@The global market for Tumor marker is segmented on basis of type and end use:Segmentation by type for Clamps MarketAortic cross-clampBulldogs ForcepsNeedle HolderAortic cross-clampOthersSegmentation by end use for Clamps MarketHospitalsAmbulatory Surgical CentersResearch organizationsThe demand for clamps in the surgical and medical device industry has elevated by virtue of high healthcare expenditure, aging populations, increase in population with chronic disease owing to increase in the demand for advanced medical devices and therapies.Visit For TOC@On the basis of region presence, Clamps Market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.Currently, North America has the largest market share in the clamps market due to large volumes of surgeries conducted, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Data from the medical device companies revealed that U.S. and Europe are the largest markets for surgical and medical equipment due to improved economic situation and developed healthcare infrastructure. The emerging economies such as India and China are estimated to register a positive growth into the surgical and medical equipment market.Some of the key market players in the clamps market are Stryker, Aspen Surgical, Timesco Healthcare Ltd., Mercian Surgical Supply Co Ltd, Hilbro Group, Microline Surgical, Global Surgical Instruments, Sklar Surgical Instruments, Integra LifeSciences Corporation.Full Report Analysis@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:
Santander, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, ABN AMRO Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, NIBC Bank and many more will meet in London this November to discuss the future of project financing in oil and gas sector

www.projectfinance-oilgas.com

http://www.smi-online.co.uk

www.smi-online.co.uk

SMi Group reports: The 3rd annual Project Financing in Oil and Gas conference will be returning to London on 21  22 November 2016.The Project Financing in Oil and Gas conference will offer all parties involved in financing oil and gas projects the perfect platform to dissect key challenges and latest developments in the industry.Hear from and network with the top banks in project financing for oil and gas, learn about LNG projects in the Nordic countries, discuss challenges for export credit agencies and risk appetite in tumbling markets, and much more.Martin McAspurn-Lohmann, Managing Director, Head of Oil and Gas and Utilities, Santander Corporate and Investment Banking will be speaking about the role of capital markets for energy projects. Attendees will be able to hear about assessing debt and equity market access and long term alternatives to bank funding.Caroline Smith, Head of Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals Execution from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation will be presenting her case study: Downstream project financing in turbulent times. Caroline will focus on structuring a project in a low oil price environment, approach of ECAs to oil price risk and impact of sanction on multi-ECA projects.Furthermore, Brian Marcus, Director, Oil and Gas Project and Export Finance from Standard Chartered Bank will be speaking on bank considerations for project financing in Africa. He will discuss the corporate landscape and funding challenges, key risk considerations and more.Mitigating financial risk for LNG projects will be presented by Hugo Diogo, Head of ECT Europe, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. Hugo will answer questions: Similarities between traditional FPSO finance and FLNG? Is FLNG a more bankable option than onshore LNG? And much more.Sven de Veij, Head Oil and Gas Services, NIBC Bank and Charles Lesser, Managing Director, Macquire Group will participate in day 1 panel discussion: How does economic cycle give rise to new opportunities?For more information about the event please visit:Other speakers in 2016 include:- Tom Tildesley, Chief Finance Officer, Maersk Oil North Sea UK- Jelena Babajeva, Director in EMEA Infrastructure and Project Finance Group, Fitch Ratings- Lukasz Dziekonski, Chairman of the Management Board, Macquarie Fund- David Craig, Manager, Project and Structured Finance, UK Export Finance- Ian Cogswell, Managing Director, Head of Natural Resources, Global Infrastructure and Projects, Natixis- Laura Huomo , Energy and Capital Markets Counsel, Roschier Attorneys, and many moreSponsorship/Delegate enquiries: Contact Andrew Gibbons +44 (0) 207 827 6156 or email agibbons@smi-online.co.ukMedia enquiries: Contact Anna Serazetdinova on +44 20 7827 6180 or aserazetdinova@smi-online.co.ukAbout SMi Group:Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found atp: +44 (0) 207 827 6180e: aserazetdinova@smi-online.co.ukw:Ground & First Floor1 Westminster Bridge RoadLondon, SE1 7XW
Corn Based Ingredients Market: Value Chain, Dynamics and Key Players 2016 - 2026

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9944

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9944

Corn is one of the mostly used ingredient of global coarse-grain which accounts for about three-quarters of total volume in recent years. Most of the corn that is used in applications such as feed and also in industrial and food uses. Corn products are available in the processed form which includes flour, corn meal, sweeteners.Use For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Corn Based Ingredients SegmentationGlobal corn based ingredients market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. On the basis of type Corn Based Ingredients are segmented into vitamin C, baking Powder and brown sugar. Among all the sub-segments vitamin C is the leading segment followed by other types of Corn Based Ingredients. Vitamin C is anticipated to have maximum market share over the forecast period owing to the health benefits associated with the consumption of vitamin C. Based on the application global corn based ingredients segmentation includes popcorn, corn chips, corn flakes and corn meal. Among all the segments of the global corn based ingredients market, corn meal is anticipated to be the dominating segment, in terms of revenue contribution followed by the popcorn segment. Based on the region global corn based ingredients market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan. Of which, North America is the expected to contribute maximum market share owing to the U.S. being the largest producer of the corn in the global corn ingredients market.Corn Based Ingredients: Region-wise OutlookThe global corn based ingredients is expected to witness healthy growth over the forecast period owing to the health benefits associated with the consumption of corn based ingredients. Corn based ingredients contains various nutrients that are beneficial for the consumer health due to the presence of the protein, carbohydrates and also small amount of fat. Globally, among all regions, North America is expected to contribute highest market share due to the largest producer of corn is U.S., followed by Europe over the forecasted period owing the increasing demand for Corn Based Ingredients in the European countries. However, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness highest growth.However Asia Pacific is expected to witness highest growth owing to the rising number of health conscious consumers in the region coupled with the growing awareness among consumers related to the health benefits associated with the consumption of corn based ingredients.Corn Based Ingredients: DriversMajor factors that are expected to propel the market growth of the corn based ingredients are increasing population coupled with the rising consumer awareness regarding the health benefits of the consumption of the corn based ingredients. However, major restraining factor that hinders the market growth of the corn based ingredients is the rising prices of the corn based ingredients coupled with the emergence of the various cereal based ingredients.Corn Based Ingredients Market: Key PlayersKey players operating in the corn based ingredients are Tate & Lyle PLC, Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC. Cargill Incorporated and SunOpta Inc.. Companies manufacture corn based ingredients used in cereal and baking applications. For example Sunopta manufacture corn based ingredients specifically for baking, cereal and snack applications. These corn based ingredients are Non-GMO certified and superior quality ingredients that caters to rising need of food manufactures for high quality food products. Cargill Incorporated manufactures corn based ingredients named Maizewise. This Maizewise are available in various flavors that includes toasted and neutral corn.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Corn Based Ingredients Market SegmentsCorn Based Ingredients Market DynamicsHistorical Actual Market Size, 2012 - 2014Corn Based Ingredients Market Size & Forecast 2015 to 2026Supply & Demand Value ChainCorn Based Ingredients Current Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedTechnologyValue ChainCorn Based Ingredients Market Drivers and RestraintsRegional analysis for Corn Based Ingredients Market includesNorth AmericaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaBrazil, Argentina & OthersWestern EuropeEU5NordicsBeneluxEastern EuropeAsia PacificAustralia and New Zealand (ANZ)Greater ChinaIndiaASEANRest of Asia PacificJapanMiddle East and AfricaGCC CountriesOther Middle EastNorth AfricaSouth AfricaOther AfricaRequest Sample Report@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 in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.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
BDM International accepting fees through HDFC Bank

BDM International is a modern day, tech savvy school which is having higher standard for its students and parents. And keeping up with the modern day technologies, the school has now added another facility in their domain. In order to facilitate the parents/guardians, the management has decided to make the process of fees payment feasible and effortless.Thus it has been decided that from next month onwards the fees can be paid in Any Branch of HDFC BANK( Kolkata only) by 20th of each month. The fees is to be paid in CashDemand Draft (for the month of September and October only), after which, the parents/guardians will be able to pay online as well as through Demand Draft (DD) according to their suitability so that there is no hassle for them.Kindly note there is no option to pay at the school counter.For further information please contact the school office.Visit http://www.bdmi.org/school-fees-are-to-be-paid-in-hdfc-bank/Contact BDMI:-Address: BDM International, Pratapgarh, P.O. Narendrapur, Kolkata-700103, West Bengal (India).Phone: 033-2435-8402/2435-9955BDMI was incepted on 1st May, 1966 by Late Mrs Usha Mehta, our founder principal. Henceforth, there was no looking back and soon young minds were nurtured into responsible citizens of India. The school has traversed a long path in all these years and it has been a never-ending journey towards holistic educational excellence.Today BDMI is not just a school but a social, academic and personal excellence community to empower diverse learners to be global citizens. We offer them not just education and knowledge but an environment of mutual respect, trust and understanding. We are committed to achieve outstanding results in academics, extra and co-curricular activities but at the same time dedicated to produce happy citizens who are steeped in rich Indian traditions and core values while learning international standard edification.B.D.M InternationalPratapgarh,P.O  Narendrapur,Kolkata  700103West Bengal (India)PH  033-2435-8402 / 2435-9955 / 9874482788 / 9874026718EMAIL  admission@bdmi.orgprincipal@bdmi.orgdirectorofeducation@bdmi.orgPratapgarh  II (MILESTONES) (CLASS IV  VIII)PH  033-2435-7394EMAIL  headmistress@bdmi.orgStepping Stone (TODDLER  CLASS III)PH  033-2435-2274EMAIL  steppingstone@bdmi.org
Beauty Drinks Market: Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Key Events 2016 - 2022

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9950

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9950

Beauty drink market is expected to exhibit remarkable growth due to the rise in early aging. Other factors that promotes the beauty drinks market are increasing air pollution and busy lifestyle of the customers which leads to early ageing. Air pollutants includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that ultimately results in accelerated ageing. Consumers seek healthy options which eventually supports the beauty drinks market across the globe.Use For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Global beauty drinks market is expected to exhibit remarkable growth. Major factors that are expected to propel the demand for beauty drinks market globally are rising number of health conscious consumers across various countries coupled with increasing disposable income of consumers. Moreover, other factor that is expected to support the market growth of the beauty drinks across the globe is the easy availability of beauty drinks through online sales. Various other factors that are expected to fuel the overall market of beauty drinks market are increasing air pollution which eventually leads to early ageing and promotes the demand for beauty drinks market.Global Beauty Drinks market is segmented by: demographic, ingredient, type and regionBeauty Drinks by Demographic ConsumptionTeenagerYounger WomenMature womenBeauty Drinks by IngredientProtein or collagenVitaminsMineralsFruit ExtractsBeauty Drinks by TypeNatural DrinksChemical/artificial DrinksBeauty Drinks By RegionAsia PacificEuropeNorth AmericaLatin AmericaThe Middle East & AfricaThe global beauty drinks market is anticipated to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period. Globally among all regions, Europe is expected to contribute maximum market share followed by North America. Demand for beauty drinks is maximum in Europe due to the more awareness among consumers in comparison to other regions through educational marketing campaigns. However Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period. In Asia Pacific, Japan is expected to contribute maximum revenue due to the high consumer willingness to attain healthy skin.Key players that operates in the global beauty drinks market are SIPA spa, THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, Sappe Public Company Limited, Big Quark LLC, DyDo DRIN CO, INC. and Nestle S.A. Various companies operating in the global beauty drinks markets are continuously launching new types of beauty drinks used for different target customer and applications. For instance, Big Quark LLC launched beauty drink named BeautySleep that includes sleep and beauty inducing ingredients.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Beauty Drinks Market SegmentsBeauty Drinks Market DynamicsHistorical Actual Market Size, 2013 - 2015Beauty Drinks Market Size & Forecast 2016 to 2022Supply & Demand Value ChainBeauty Drinks Market Current Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedTechnologyValue ChainBeauty Drinks Market Drivers and RestraintsRegional analysis for Beauty Drinks Market includes:North AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia Pacific & JapanThe Middle East and AfricaRequest Sample Report@Report Highlights:Shifting Industry dynamicsIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected industry size Recent industry trendsKey Competition landscapeStrategies of key players and product offeringsPotential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective towards market performanceAbout 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
Honey Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016 - 2022

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9965

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9965

Honey is a natural product that is widely used for its healing effects and food preservative application. Honey consists of glucose and fructose and has similar sweetness as granulated sugar. It includes chemical properties, it is used for baking and cereal products applications. Honey possess distinctive flavor in comparison to sugar and regular sweeteners, which make consumers more inclined towards honey. There are various type of honey which includes raw honey, crystallized honey, pasteurized honey and dried honey. Honey is used in various applications such as wounds, burns and cough. Honey includes antioxidant that is used as preventive measure from various diseases. Antioxidant capacity of honey is important in many disease conditions. Honey is used to prevent various diseases such as gastrointestinal, inflammatory neoplastic state and cardiovascular. Global honey market is propelled by the growing awareness among consumers related to home remedies coupled with health benefits associated with its consumption. However major factor that hampers the growth of honey market across the globe is the presence of the price gap among different forms of honey.Use For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Major factor that are expected to drive the honey market is that it is used for direct consumption and as ingredients in a various range of food products. Various promotion and marketing activities are used as medium to reach food service sectors and consumers.in order to further enhance their awareness related to the uses and market opportunities. . However, major factors that are expected to hamper the growth of the global honey market across the globe are crystallization of the honey and increasing adulteration of the honey with sugar syrup.Global Honey market is segmented by: type, and by regionHoney by Type:Date HoneyAcacia HoneyBuckwheat HoneyLinden HoneyFlower HoneyOthersHoney By Region:Asia PacificEuropeNorth AmericaLatin AmericaThe Middle East & AfricaThe global honey market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to rising awareness among consumers related to the health benefits associated with the consumption of the honey. Globally, among all regions, North America is expected to contribute maximum revenue in the global honey market followed by Middle East. In North America, U.S. is expected to account maximum market share in terms of revenue owing to the high consumer awareness related to the health benefits associated with the consumption of honey. However Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit maximum market growth owing to the rising population coupled with growing health awareness among consumers.Request Sample Report@Major companies that operates in the global honey market are operating in honey market are Hi Tech Natural Products (India) Limited, LITTLE BEE IMPEX, Phondaghat Pharmacy, Honey Sugar Product and Lamex Foods UK Limited. Companies that manufacture honey are primarily launching wide range of honey products that are available in various packaging types that caters to the evolving needs of the customers. Various companies that operates in the global honey market are investing huge amount in advertising and branding in order to increase the market share to the overall honey market.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
Welding Consumables Market: Facts, Figures and Analytical Insights 2016 - 2022

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/9968

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/9968

Welding is typically a sculptural process of joining various metals and thermoplastics together by means of coalescence. It is an economical and effective process for creating strong joints between two or more parts. Filler metals melt during the course of welding and give a strong joint. Flux is commonly used to produce a shield of gas around the weld pool for preventing the oxidation of hot metals. Flux typically acts as a deoxidizer preventing the formation of porosity in the weld pool. Flux and filler metals together are known as welding consumables.Use For to: Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Welding finds application in various end-use industries such as building & construction, automobile & transportation, marine, power generation, and oil & gas etc. The welding industry growth is highly dependent on the global steel consumption in various end-use industries. Stick electrode, flux-cored wires, solid wires, SAW wires and fluxes, etc. are some of the welding consumables employed during the welding process. However, flux does not form the final part of welding and is wasted during the course of welding.The global welding consumables market is projected to register a healthy CAGR during the forecast period, particularly in the growing economies such as China & India.The global welding consumables market is forecast to witness high growth over the forecast period owing to the positive outlook in various end-use industries such as the automotive & transportation, marine, and construction industries.Slow adoption of advanced technologies, particularly in the developing countries poses a threat to the growth of the global welding consumables market.The principal trends that are positively impacting the growth of the market are the upcoming technologies that are being developed, and especially those technologies which are designed to weld thick metal parts.Also, the players in the global welding consumables market are inclined towards automation at different stages in the welding process, and it is predicted that the development of robots and automation software would be viable trends which would positively influence the growth of the global welding consumables market over the forecast period.The global welding consumables market is segmented on the basis of welding technique, welding consumable type, end-use industry, and region.On the basis of welding technique, the global welding consumables market is segmented into:Arc weldingResistance weldingOxyfuel weldingUltrasonic weldingOthers (laser beam welding, etc.)On the basis of welding consumables type, the global welding consumables market is segmented into:Stick electrodesSolid wiresFlux-cored wiresSAW wiresFluxesOthers (including gases, etc.)In 2014, the stick electrode segment witnessed dominance in the global welding consumables market, constituting for a major market share, closely trailed by the solid wires segment.However, the solid wires and stick electrodes segment are predicted to lose share in the global welding consumables market on account of the increasing popularity of SAW wires and flux-cored wires segment.On the basis of end-use industry, the global welding consumables market is segmented into:Automotive & transportationBuilding & constructionMarinePowerOil & gasOthers (including maintenance and repair, etc.)The global construction industry is booming and is anticipated to be one of the primary reasons driving the growth of the global welding consumables market. The rise in the construction activities globally is projected to lead high demands for welding consumables in the construction industry, fueling the growth of the global welding consumables market over the forecast period.The global welding consumables market is projected to witness a considerable growth in CAGR from 2015 to 2025. Currently, North America and Europe are the matured market for welding consumable providers. However, Asia-Pacific, and MEA are expected to become lucrative regional market for key players operating in the global welding consumables market. FMI forecasts, the market in Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at fastest CAGR over the forecast period.Request Sample Report@Some of the key players operating in the global welding consumables market are, Bohler Welding, ESAB, Hyundai, Lincoln Electric, Air Liquide, ARCON Welding, Denyo, Fronius International, Illinois Tool Work, ITW, Kemppi, Kobelco, OBARA, Panasonic, Tianjin Bridge Welding Materials GroupAbout 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
Wearable Medical Devices Market - Innovativeness Begets Market Penetration for Wearable Medical Devices Competitors, Says TMR

http://bit.ly/2biw1gT

http://bit.ly/2bQJcGN

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

The top five providers of wearable medical devices held over 47% of the market in 2014, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. Key companies  such as Medtronic Plc., OMRON Corporation, Fitbit, Inc., and Polar Electro  have helped strengthen this otherwise fragmented market. Through a strong presence in wearable medical devices meant for home healthcare, OMRON Corporation had held one of the largest revenue shares of close to 11% in 2014. Their product emphasis is particularly high on pedometers, blood pressure monitors, and similar home healthcare medical devices. Another key player, Fitbit, Inc., has made its mark in consumer electronics through its widely popular wearable fitness devices series.Get Free Sample Research Report:According to TMR, the large number of regional players makes for a highly competitive landscape. Smaller players are constantly pushing innovative boundaries in order to gain market share, while the larger names enjoy a greater amount of consumers trust and have a strong distribution chain.High Innovation Rate and Growing Patient Pool Drive Wearable Medical Devices SalesThe two key drivers that players in the wearable medical devices can latch on to are the giant scope of innovation and the growing number of people that need these devices, states a TMR expert. Market penetration is, however, easier said than done, due to the large number of players that already exist on regional and global scales. But despite these numbers, the right kind of innovative effort can bring about major success for new entrants in wearable medical devices.Companies are generally providing devices for two types of customers. The first is the wealthy, tech-savvy consumer who is highly conscious about his/her health, and the second type comes from a lower economic bracket and is looking for cheaper devices that provide basic utilities. Targeting both audiences can prove to be successful with the right kind of products and concepts, and will additionally depend on the region in which a player wishes to hold base.At the same time, the sales of wearable medical devices are consistently driven by a growing global population that comes with a higher percentage of the elderly and patient pool with chronic diseases. Those suffering from issues such as diabetes are showing a high demand for fitness trackers and other wearable medical devices that can help them keep track of their physical health.Asia Pacific Diabetics Count Rises, Results in Higher Demand for Wearable Medical DevicesAs mentioned before, the patients suffering from chronic diseases are the ones showing the highest demand for wearable medical devices. The World Journal of Diabetes has stated that over 60% of the total diabetics in the world were located in Asia Pacific. Studies have shown that Asians are prone to falling prey to Type II diabetes. Additionally, the OECD, over 90 mn people from China alone are suffering from diabetes, while over US$75 bn has already been spent on diabetic patient care throughout Asia Pacific in 2011, stated the TMR expert. It is expected that these high numbers are set to pose a growing demand for wearable medical devices in the near future.Browse Research Report on Wearable Medical Devices Market:The global wearable medical devices market is expected to reach about US$10 bn in 2023 owing to the above drivers and opportunities. This market was valued close to US$2.7 bn in 2014. The device type with the fastest growth rate is heart monitors, with a CAGR of 18.0% between 2015 and 2023. It is expected to help the market gain a greater revenue stream in the near future.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Russia will work with the United States on a response after a UN investigation found that the Syrian regime had carried out chemical attacks, Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Thursday.

"We have a joint interest in discouraging such things from happening, preventing such things from happening even in the fog of war," Churkin told reporters.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The Global Hearing Diagnostic Devices Consumption 2016 - Detailed In-depth Study Announcement by iData insights

http://www.omensol.wordpress.com/

The Global Hearing Diagnostic Devices Consumption 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Hearing Diagnostic Devices market.First, the report provides a basic overview of the Hearing Diagnostic Devices industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Secondly, the report states the global Hearing Diagnostic Devices market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also discussed.Third, the Hearing Diagnostic Devices market analysis is provided for major regions including USA, Europe, China and Japan, and other regions can be added. For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. Whats more, the Hearing Diagnostic Devices 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 individuals interested in the market.Related News:~ First Drug for Psychosis Linked to Parkinsons disease Approved in the U.S.~ What China Surpassing the US in Diabetic Population Means for the Insulin Market~ A Review of Two of the Leading Osteoporosis Drugs Undergoing Clinical Trial~ Rising Environmental Concerns to Promote Uptake of Aseptic Packaging~ Rising Spending on Hair Loss Treatment across Developed Regions to Fuel Demand for Prescription Hair Loss and Hair Removal Drugs~ Sale of Industrial Gloves Boosted by Growing Demand from Pharmaceutical and Food and Beverages IndustriesRelated Reports:~ Global Mobile Computing Devices Market Research Report 2021~ Europe Calcium Silicate Boards Sales 2016 Market Research Report~ Global Medical Animation Sales Market Report 2020In these special research materials, professionals will receive relevant material, which will be a great reference value for Business Needs and Solution for the Sector indeed.For more information, please visitor Contact:Sarah BrandelPA to MD1866-237-2965 | Indian Office: +91 9810 686 321mark@idatainsights.comiData InsightsiData Insights which operates under Precision Research and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. is a marketing research consulting firm. Its efforts help companies to create and improve products and services based on what the market desires. We conduct both primary and secondary research. Our work does not end with research. We provide actionable recommendations and provide our expertise for business success today and tomorrow. It is our goal to be a partner to our clients in the exploration and discovery, and then be their guide in the implementation of changes that will make a difference to their bottom line.The team of highly trained syndicated research analysts create research reports, newsletters, magazines, directories and online databases which provide customers with broad technical and market trends. Their research and competitive and market intelligence studies provides specific in-depth intelligence to ensure that customers succeed in their undertaking.iData InsightsNE Airport Way, 355991Portland, Oregon, 97230United StatesSarah Brandel1866-237-2965 | Indian Office: +91 9810 686 321mark@idatainsights.com
Telemedicine Market Make Asia Pacific Most Attractive Market and Increasing Health Awareness

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3032

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

The global telemedicine market is characterized by high competitive rivalry, with the established companies competing over pricing and promotion strategies. The presence of the vendors is limited to certain segments of the overall market and companies with the most market presence globally are considered key vendors, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. The two key companies in the global telemedicine market are AMD Global Telemedicine Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc.Download Free exclusive Sample of this report:The global telemedicine market was valued at US$18.4 bn in 2015 and is anticipated to reach US$36.3 bn in 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 14.3% from 2014 to 2020. To establish their presence in the market, new entrants require large capital, research-backed strategies, and rapid growth in market share, which is unlikely. These factors reduce the threat of new entrants significantly, states the author of the report. Also, maintaining loyalty in the telemedicine market among end users is difficult in the long term, thereby increasing the competition and entry barriers in the global telemedicine market.Growing Adoption of Telemedicine Services Owing to Time and Cost Efficiency OfferedThe telemedicine industry will boom in the wake of growing concerns about hospital acquired infections and the maintenance of privacy. Also, people prefer telemedicine to hospitals as the former provides better personal healthcare solutions and location convenience. These factors are therefore likely to give a significant push to the global telemedicine market.Telemedicine ensures the provision of better healthcare to remote areas, where there is a shortage of experienced manpower, says a TMR analyst. There is a growing popularity of telemedicine services amongst patients living rural as well as urban areas due to the cost and time efficiency offered by these services. This growing favorability is anticipated to augur well for the growth of the global telemedicine market.The growth of the global telemedicine market is also backed by the increasing number of favorable reimbursement policies and government policies that promote patients to use telemedicine services. Apart from this, the rising population of literate and tech-savvy patients is anticipated to result in the growing preference for telemedicine in the forthcoming years.Delayed Response Time to Reduce Adoption of Telemedicine ServicesA large section of the patient population has negative opinions about telemedicine owing to delayed response time. Delayed response time can create serious problems at the time of an emergency. Not addressing this problem may adversely affect the growth of the global telemedicine market. Moreover, existing technologies are mostly incapable of providing adequate or complete assessment, even if they are on time. These factors are anticipated to reduce the interest of patients in opting for telemedicine, thereby hampering the growth of the global market.Another factor restraining the global telemedicine market is the shortage of staff. Telemedicine services require all-time presence of a medical practitioner, which is not possible for many service providers and medical institutions. This, therefore, disrupts the services offered and leads to reduced adoption of telemedicine services.However, advancements in telemedicine technology and continuous upgradation of mobile telecommunication technology is likely to bring notable growth opportunities to the global telemedicine market.Increasing Health Awareness to Make Asia Pacific Most Attractive MarketIn terms of specialty, the dermatology segment led the market in 2015 and is expected to retain the leadership by the end of 2020, accounting for a share of 14.6% in the global telemedicine market. However, the neurology segment will exhibit the highest growth rate owing to the growing prevalence of neurological disorders.By service type, tele-consultation was the leading segment in 2015 and is estimated to maintain the position by the end of 2020. On the flip side, tele-monitoring will be the fastest growing segment.Based on geography, North America was the leader in the regional market in 2015 and is expected to maintain its position by 2020. The Asia Pacific region will exhibit the highest CAGR between 2014 and 2020.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Mold Inhibitors Market : Size, Share, competitive landscape, current industry trends by 2015 - 2021

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/mold-inhibitors-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/mold-inhibitors-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/mold-inhibitors-market

http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/mold-inhibitors-market

http://www.marketresearchstore.com

Mold is a ubiquitous type of fungus which commonly grows on the food products and when present in large quantity can be hazardous for human health. Molds are generally grown over the food with high water content and temperature produce aflatoxin. Mold inhibitors are the substance that inhibits or restrict the growth of molds.Request Sample Report:Rising demand from the consumers for the extended shelf life of food drives the mold inhibitors market. Moreover, increasing concern for health effects caused due to molds stimulates the growth of the market. In addition, animal feed market is growing rapidly owing to escalating demand for meat which is turns prompts the market demand. Growing demand for beverages and baked foods further adds to the mold inhibitors market growth. However, impact of some of the inhibitors on the human health is likely to hamper the growth of this market. Nevertheless, rising awareness along with high demand from the emerging economies is expected to offer ample opportunities for mold inhibitors market.In order to provide comprehensive view on the mold inhibitors market we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the mold inhibitors market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.Request TOC (Table of Contents) of this report:On the basis of type the mold inhibitors market can be segmented as benzoates, natamycin, propionates, sorbates and others. Natamycin is the most prominent segment and has usage in food industry, animal feed and pharma industry. Mold inhibitors have various applications in animal feed, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & personal care and other. Animal feed is the one of the leading segment due to high global demand for animal feedstock.North America dominated the mold inhibitors market owing to high usage of mold inhibitors in animal feed, food industry, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and others. U.S. is the leading consumer for mold inhibitors. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market due to rapidly growing food industry along with rising disposable income, particularly in China and India. Latin America, Middle East and Africa are expected to experience sustainable growth in the forecast period owing to rising awareness for mold inhibitors.Some of the key players in the mold inhibitors market are Pacific Coast Chemicals, Associated British Foods Plc, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Handary SA, Niacet Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, Kemin Industries Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Associated British Foods Plc and Hawkins Watts Limited among others.Do Inquiry before buying:The report segments of the mold inhibitors market into:Mold Inhibitors Market: Type Segment AnalysisBenzoatesNatamycinPropionatesSorbatesOthersMold Inhibitors Market: Application Segment AnalysisAnimal feedFood industryPharmaceuticalsCosmetics & personal careOthersMold Inhibitors Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaBrowse report at:Zion Research 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. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses 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.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
TouchZ is a bug tracking tool for iOS

Free open source iOS library facilitating mobile application testingThe library TouchZ was released on August 15 and its main aim is to help testers and software application developers to simplify the process of mobile app testing.This bug tracking library is developed by Scand Ltd. to be integrated into an iOS project and is ready to use. If the app is active and being tested, it evokes screenshots being taken automatically. This feature is activated by any activity on the sensor screen of the gadget. Thus, TouchZ developers prevented screenshots being taken non-stop.Its easy to get access to the archive or TouchZ settings. Simply draw Z on the screen.Any time during the app testing period it is possible to organize and send all or some of the screenshots to the developers of the tested app. It is possible through: email; cloud; sharing or export the archive with the shots to other programs. Pick the needed shots up and press Share.The two really strong sides of this mobile library are at the same time the main features of the project:- Screenshots have additional information on the date when they were taken.- Screenshots show your tap activity. There is an arrow showing the gesture performed in the picture.To integrate this iOS library into your project:1. Add line pod TouchZ to Podfile in your project.2. Run pod install from Terminal.3. Replace principalClassName argument (nil by default) with @TZApplication in main.m file of the project.This library is provided "AS IS" under the terms of the GPL. It requires iOS 8.0 or higher.Feel free to share your comments or ideas with us by dropping a line to touchz@scand.comAbout Scand Ltd.:The company was founded in 2000 (Belarus, Europe) and is primarily focused on software application development and products development using Java, C++, .NET, PHP, Mobile, Groovy on Grails technologies. During these 15 years of the history, more than 300 projects have been developed and successfully implemented for dozens of customers worldwide in such industries as energy, e-commerce, banking, advertising, printing, production management, architecture and engineering.Scand service offerings embrace custom application development, web application development, mobile software development, database design, development and management, graphic design, etc. Apart from being engaged in offshore software development projects we succeed in finding time and resources to develop our own products and take pleasure in making them highly competitive, valuable and innovative.Fabritsiusa 8b/1 520-1Minsk, Belarus220006
Global Nitinol Medical Devices Market to be Driven by Growing Demand for Minimally Invasive Endovascular Surgeries

http://bit.ly/2bJ7pQX

http://bit.ly/2bqDgVN

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

According to the study, in 2012, the global market for nitinol medical devices for semi-finished goods stood at US$1.5 bn and is estimated to reach a value of US$2.5 bn by 2019, registering a healthy 7.30% CAGR between 2013 and 2019. The global nitinol medical devices market for final medical components in 2012 was valued at US$8.2 bn and is projected to reach a value of US$17.3 bn by 2019, exhibiting an 11.10% CAGR between 2013 and 2019.Get Free Sample Research Report:Nitinol, also known by the name of nickel titanium, is an alloy of titanium and nickel. Nitinol comprises two elements that are present in almost equal atomic percentages. Some of the key properties of nitinol are corrosion resistance, high power ratio, high fatigue strength, heat resistance, and biocompatibility. The increasing use of this alloy for several medical devices is estimated to contribute substantially towards the growth of the global market for nitinol medical devices in the coming years.The rising number of medical appliances for minimally invasive endovascular surgeries and growing geriatric population are the key factors driving the global nitinol medical devices market. In addition, the potential opportunities in developing countries are projected to fuel the growth of the market in the next few years. However, several challenges and difficulties in the manufacturing process of nitinol medical devices and uncertainties concerning the use of nitinol are anticipated to curb the growth of the market in the near future.By type, the global nitinol medical devices market has been broadly categorized into final medical components and semi-finished raw material. The final medical components segment has been sub-segmented into guidewires, stents, and others, whereas the semi-finished raw material segment has been sub-segmented into wiring, tubes, and others (sheets and ribbons). Amongst these devices, the stents segment is projected to log a 13.20% CAGR between 2013 and 2019. On the other hand, the wiring segment is estimated to register an 8.20% CAGR between 2013 and 2019.The global nitinol medical devices market has been classified on the basis of geography into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. In 2012, North America accounted for the largest share in the global nitinol medical devices market. Nevertheless, as per the study, Asia Pacific is estimated to witness fast-paced growth throughout the forecast period. The rapid growth of this region can be attributed to the low treatment cost and rising patient population worldwide. Moreover, the developing medical tourism in several emerging economies of Asia Pacific and favorable government support are estimated to fuel the growth of the global nitinol medical devices market in the next few years.Browse Research Report on Nitinol Medical Devices Market :The research study further evaluates the major players operating in the global nitinol medical devices market, including the profiles, inception details, contact information, financial overview, business policies, and recent developments. Some of the key players mentioned in the research study are C.R. Bard, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Cook Medical, Inc., Custom Wire Technologies, Inc., and Nitinol Devices & Components, Inc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Microscopy Devices Market to rise at a healthy CAGR of 7.60% from 2020

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=226

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

The growing interest in research and development has lead to various innovations and product evolutions. Microscopes have been a requirement for any study as they provide details that cannot be simply assumed on the large scale. They form an intricate part of any exploratory research and have since the past made them indistinguishable from science. With the future heading towards smaller sizes of microprocessors and transistors to the scale of nanometers, microscopes shall be a requirement in all principles.Download Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report:Sections not involving scientific research are also proving to be a good market, e.g. art verification, customs check, etc. These at present, however only occupy the fraction of the overall application market. Microscopes have become more detailed and versatile in the past few years, with the integration of microscopy and software development, computers are able to render better quality images with the same data. In medical sciences, the implementations of HD and 3D technology has taken surgery to a whole new level, wherein doctors are able to clearly visualize and differentiate between infected cells and normal cells, besides enabling them to perform operations without direct visibility. All this has enabled the overall microscopy devices segment to grow a CAGR of 7.6% for the forecast period of 2014 - 2020.The microscopy devices market is broadly classified on the basis of product segments and application areas. Among the product segments, optical microscopes remain the most widely used segment with the largest share in the net sales across various companies, the global sales in 2013 being USD 2,235.1 million. This is probably because it is among the oldest segments of microscopy in sales. Besides optical microscopes, there are electron microscopes, scanning probe microscopes and other customized hybrids, arranged in decreasing order of their shares in global microscopes revenues. Among various applications of microscopy devices, life sciences industry was accounted for the largest market share of overall market in 2013, closely followed by semiconductors and material sciences segment. However, nanotechnology industry is forecast to grow at an impressive pace during the forecast period of 2014 to 2020.Geographically, Asia-Pacific was accounted for the largest share of global microscopy devices market in 2013 i.e. 40.9% followed by North America. This can be attributed to the growing investment in research and development in these regions by the respective governments of Asia. China for example, is at present the worlds second largest investor in research and development according to the World Bank data. This along with presence of numerous schools, universities and research institutions would translate to greater growth in the coming years for the Asia-Pacific region. The market for Asia-Pacific region is followed by the North American region.The major players of this market include Leica Microsystems, Olympus, JEOL Company, FEI Company, Danish Micro Engineering A/S, Hitachi High Tech, Cameca SAS, Bruker Corporation, Carl Zeiss, NT-MDT and Nikon to name a few.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Endoscopy Devices Market will be worth about US$36.9 bn in 2019

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=225

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

The minimally invasive characteristics of endoscopes and their use in many surgical and diagnostic procedures will play a pivotal role in the growth of the global endoscope devices market in the coming years, says Transparency Market Research. A report published by the market intelligence firm, titled, Endoscopy Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, states that the market will be worth about US$36.9 bn in 2019, rising considerably from its 2012 valuation of US$24.9 bn. This translates to a CAGR of 6.8% between 2013 and 2019.Download Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report:Endoscopes are used for monitoring the following systems: cardiovascular, ear nose and throat (ENT), neurological, gastrointestinal, and urological. Where endoscopes are used in diagnosing problems in the aforementioned systems or during surgical procedures, they provide the following advantages: Reduced hospital stay, less bleeding, and quicker recovery.For a granular approach to the endoscopy market, the market has been segmented by device type into: endoscope devices, visualization systems, and endoscopic operative devices. Similarly, based on application, the market has been segmented into: ENT surgeries, gastrointestinal surgeries, laparoscopy surgeries, neuro/spinal surgeries, urology/gynecology surgeries, cardiovascular surgeries, and arthroscopy surgeries.Each of these segments has been further sub-segmented to obtain an even more detailed analysis of the endoscope devices market. In the coming years, disruption in the market is expected from rapid advancements in robot assisted endoscopy and capsule endoscopy. Once inside the body, capsule endoscopes can relay high-quality images from the gastrointestinal tract. This has not only made diagnosis easier for medical practitioners but also more comfortable for patients. The indisputable accuracy of capsule endoscopes is expected to help them gain a higher share in the market in the coming years. Given Imaging, a company that is now a part of Covidien, holds a remarkable 85% of the worldwide market for capsule endoscopy. The market also features other large players such as Olympus, IntroMedic, and Jinshan Medical.Furthermore, the advent and enthusiastic adoption of 3D camera systems has helped advance the state of visualization systems in the endoscopy devices market. The new sophisticated generation of visualization systems has helped bring down errors in diagnosis.On the basis of geography, the market for endoscopy devices has been segmented thus: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Of these, the North America endoscopy devices market was the largest in the world as of 2012 thanks to the presence of advanced healthcare facilities, higher adoption of advanced diagnostic and surgical devices, well-trained endoscopy professionals, and heightened awareness among patients.The report also profiles the following companies: Boston Scientific Corporation, Arthrex, Inc., Cook Medical, Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Covidien PLC and others. Ethicon Endo-Surgery is the leader in the market for endoscopy devices, with Covidien the second-largest and Olympus being the third-largest players.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Wound Dressings Market to Reach a Valuation of US$10.16 bn by 2020

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=453

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

A detailed report on the global wound dressings market has been published by Transparency Market Research. The report, titled Wound Dressings Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020, states that the market is projected expand at a CAGR of 4.5% during the period between 2014 and 2020. The wound dressings market worldwide was worth US$7.53 bn in 2013 and is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$10.16 bn by 2020.Download Complete Healthcare Analytical Brochure:In the global wound dressings market, traditional wound dressings have been preferred by patients and health practitioners alike due to their low prices and favorable reimbursement policies. However, advanced wound dressings are increasingly accepted among the medical fraternity due to their faster healing time.The rapid growth of geriatric population, coupled with the growing prevalence of chronic diseases has fuelled the demand for wound dressings. The increased focus on faster healing time, increasing patient awareness, and rise in healthcare expenditure have supported the markets growth. Furthermore, the rise in the incidences of wound infections has promoted the sale of wound dressings. However, unfavorable reimbursement scenarios in some countries and the high cost of advanced wound dressings might restrain the growth of the market. The global wound dressings market has a significant opportunity to grow with the development of combination dressings.On the basis off type of wound dressing, the global wound dressings market has been segmented into advanced and traditional wound dressings. Traditional wound dressings have been further divided into wound closure products, basic wound care, and anti-infective dressings. The demand for basic wound care was the highest in 2013. During the forecast period, anti-infective dressings including iodine-based dressings and plant-based antiseptic dressings are expected to witness increased demand. The rise in geriatric population has boosted the demand for anti-infective dressings.On the other hand, advanced wound dressings have been sub-segmented into films, hydrofiber, hydrocolloids, collagen, alginates, and foams. The availability of a wide range of foams in terms of applications and healing has driven the demand from the advanced wound care dressings market. In the coming years, foams are expected to witness rapid growth owing to the development of their core design.The report projects the growth of the global wound dressings market across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific was the leading traditional wound dressings market in 2013. The market across the Rest of the World has registered the highest demand for the traditional wound dressings segment and is anticipated to dominate the overall market throughout the forecast horizon. Price sensitivity is a major factor governing the growth of the traditional wound dressing segment in Rest of the World. In terms of revenue, the U.S. was the leading market for advanced wound dressings across North America in 2013.The global wound dressings market is fragmented with smaller companies registering significant growth across particular product segments. Some of the prominent players in the global wound dressings market are ConvaTec, Inc., Molnlycke Health Care, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Kinetic Concepts Inc., Medline Industries Inc., Systagenix Wound Management Ltd., Derma Sciences Inc., 3M Health Care, Smith & Nephew plc, Coloplast A/S, and PAUL HARTMANN AG.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Urinary Catheters Market to Expand at 5.10% CAGR 2014 to 2020

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=6547

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/adhd-therapeutics-market.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also referred as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Hyperkinetic Disorder (HKD) is the most common psychiatric disorder among adolescents and children. The disorder is characterized by the presence of inappropriate levels of attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity, commencing in childhood and leading to impairment. Although these symptoms tend to cluster together, some people are majorly hyperactive and impulsive, while others are inattentive. ADHD was for long considered a childhood disorder but there is growing awareness that ADHD is also a significant source of impairment for many adults. The pathophysiology of ADHD is not clearly understood. Majority of scientific research states that ADHD is neurologically based but some experts claim that psychological factors are the major and primary cause of the disorder.Download Complete Healthcare Analytical Brochure:The available medications help to control the symptoms of ADHD but do not cure the disorder. However, medications assist a child to pay attention and complete their school tasks. It is still not clear whether medications are able to improve learning and academic skills among children. Combination of therapies such as behavioral therapy, medication, practical support and counseling can help children to survive normally with ADHD. According to a Research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) it has proved that medication gives good results when treatment is repeatedly monitored by the doctor and the dosage is modified according to the child's needs.Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder among children that continue through adolescence and adulthood. Some of the causes that may lead to ADHD are genetic disorders, environmental factors, brain injuries and food additives. The onset of ADHD starts at the age of 7 years. According to The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 4.1% of adults in the U.S. are affected by ADHD who are 18 years of age and above in a year. Also around 9.0% of children who are aged between 13 to 18 years in the U.S. are affected by ADHD. Boys have four times more risk than girls.Geographically, the global ADHD therapeutics market is segmented into four major regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). In terms of geography, North America accounts for the highest market in terms of revenue, followed by Europe due to highly developed healthcare industry, high disposable income, ongoing clinical trials, and early approval of drugs in the U.S market. However, Asia Pacific market is also witnessing a very positive growth due to high rate of development in healthcare industry, government initiatives for treatment of mental illness and increasing prevalence of mental disorders.The global ADHD therapeutics market is witnessing an admirable growth due to the medical advancements, high number of research activities in this segment and high awareness among people about mental illness. However there are many side effects associated with medication such as decreased appetite, sleep problem, headaches, dizziness, Irritability, mood changes and tics. The high cost of treatment and the number of side effects associated with medication are some of the factors that may hinder the growth of ADHD therapeutics market.Browse Research Report on Global ADHD Therapeutics Market:Some of the major players operating in ADHD therapeutic market are Amedra Pharmaceuticals LLC, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Noven Therapeutics, LLC, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Shire Plc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Hermes-Sojitz launches boutique hotel chain in Italy

hermes-sojitz, palazzo gallo

Hermes-Sojitz International Investment Fund in cooperation with Sothebys, one of the world oldest auction houses, launches a boutique hotel chain in the north of Italy by the end of 2017. The chain will include 12 exclusive hotels with 2024 rooms. Property units for construction have already been determined and will be commissioned on a step-by-step basis. An opening of a fully implemented chain is planned by the end of 2017.Boutique hotels are, as a rule, opposed to traditional chain hotels. Main conception of the boutique hotels is to create a unique decoration of each room as opposed to a typical design inherent to chain brands. The conception of a new boutique hotel chain by Hermes-Sojitz will combine an exclusive design and high standards of service provided by one of the best global hotel operators.Each building of the project implemented by Hermes-Sojitz has its distinctive past. A unique history of each object creates a main peculiarity of the future hotel chain. Leading French and Italian designers are involved in the project in order to keep the balance between legacy and modern trends as well as to implement a unique idea of the whole chain.At the present time, construction and design of Palazzo Gallo is almost finished. It is the first boutique hotel of the future chain that is located in Piedmont, the largest region of Italy. An architectural style of the building represents the best traditions of art nouveau, and the interior decoration combines wall paintings, mosaic floors, and works of pictorial art of different historical periods.As it turned out, several large operators of international hotel chains are interested in the project. Naoki Matsumura, Chairman of Hermes-Sojitzs Board of Directors, explains the attention paid to this project as follows: At this moment, there are many boutique hotels in Europe. However, only few of them meet high quality standards that are provided by leading hoteliers and that are sought by guests. That is why, we see promising opportunities for implementing this project that will combine distinctiveness, unique history and design with a high level of services and quality.According to Naoki Matsumura, close vicinity to such popular French and Swiss resorts as Courchevel, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, and St. Moritz, as well as close vicinity to Milan, the world fashion industry center, may attract tourists.Hermes-Sojitz is an alliance of Asian and European shareholders. The fund specializes in direct investments in projects in Asia, Africa and Europe. The main investment directions of the fund are mineral deposits development, property development and food industry. Value of the assets under the funds management reaches $42 bln.13A/F, South Tower, World Finance Centre, Harbour City, 17 Canton Road, Hong Kong. Kowloon, Hong Kong+85281925533
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday he had agreed in talks with Gulf Arab states and the United Nations in Saudi Arabia on a plan to restart peace talks Yemen with a goal of forming a unity government.

U.N.-sponsored negotiations to end 18 months of fighting in the impoverished country on Saudi Arabia's southern border collapsed this month and the dominant Iran-allied Houthi movement there resumed shelling attacks into the kingdom.

Speaking at a press conference with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Kerry said the conflict in which the kingdom has launched thousands of air strikes in favour of the exiled government had gone on too long and needed to end.

Kerry said the Houthis must cease shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, pull back from the capital Sanaa which they took control of two years ago, cede their weapons and enter into a unity government with their domestic foes.

Yemen's internationally recognised government, based in Saudi Arabia, has made similar demands but insisted that the Houthis fulfil all those measures before any new government was formed. However Kerry suggested they could move ahead in parallel.

"We agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations with both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement," Kerry said.

"The final agreement ... would include in the first phase a swift formation of a new national unity government, the withdrawal of forces from Sanaa and other areas and the transfer of all heavy weapons including ballistic missiles, from the Houthis and forces aligned to them to a third party."

The reference to handing weapons to a third party also appeared to be a departure from the government demands.

"This leaves nothing for future speculation," Kerry said. "This has a clarity to it about how confidence can be built, what the end game looks like, and how the parties get there."

Jubeir said Saudi Arabia and the United States had agreed a way forward for Yemen and said the U.N. envoy to Yemen would take it up with the parties.

"We managed to come out with a vision related to a roadmap for Yemen, which the U.N. envoy had discussed with us so there will be clarity on the final settlement which the U.N. envoy will discuss with the Yemeni parties," Jubeir told the news conference.

CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, has come under stiff criticism from rights groups for air strikes that have repeatedly killed civilians in Yemen.

The Yemen war has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced some 3 million.

The United Nations human rights office said in report on Thursday that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for 60 percent of the 3,799 civilians killed in the war.

During his 24-hour visit to Saudi Arabia, Kerry met representatives of the Gulf Arab countries who mostly back the kingdom's war effort.

Saudi Arabia and its allies view the Houthis, who hail from a branch of Shia Islam, as proxies of their archrival Iran.

The Houthis deny this and say the exiled government and the Saudis are imperialist pawns of the West bent on dominating Yemen and excluding them from power.

Jubeir denied this, saying the kingdom had "no interest, no claims in Yemen."

Kerry flew to Jeddah on Wednesday night from Nigeria. His talks with Saudi leaders and other Gulf Arab states were also due to cover possible U.S. military cooperation with Russia in Syria, a senior U.S. official said.

Backing by Gulf Arab states for the Syria plan is vital because they wield influence over Syrian opposition groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Russia and Iran support Assad.

In his 30-minute meeting with King Salman, Kerry exchanged words with the 80-year-old monarch about his health. Speaking through a translator in the first public comments on recent surgery in the United States, he complained about his back.

"We're happy to see you in good form," Kerry said, before reporters were ushered from the room.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


(Taipei, Taiwan - September 18, 2008) Lanner Electronics Inc., a leading supplier of customer-centric hardware platforms for network applications, today announced the release of two new appliances supporting dual Intel Xeon multi-core processors and the Intel 5100 chipset. "The addition of these two appliance platforms allows Lanner to offer a more comprehensive product line for the enterprise end of the market," said Will Chen, CTO. "They couple top of the line 
The timer is running  the IATA SIS project is about to become reality in a few months from now. Subject to the most significant changes is Miscellaneous Billing. SIS aims to renew a process which is not standardized, which is currently completely based on paper and which has to cater for a huge variation in invoices. The goal is to ban paper and to achieve a fully electronic billing process. This 
Oracle Acquisition

Oracle on Monday lost a key battle in its legal war with the state of Oregon when a judge threw out Oracle's claim that state officials violated the state's public records act. Oracle, one of the world's largest software companies, was paid $240 million for the troubled Cover Oregon technology project. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

(Paul Sakuma)

In a big win for Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Marion County judge on Wednesday indicated she was prepared to throw out Oracle's claims that the state violated the state's public records law when it withheld or delayed release of certain Cover Oregon-related emails from the software company.

"Oracle contends that the public records law permits it to litigate how a public agency searches for or maintains documents and that somehow the Governor's office's efforts fall short," Judge Mary Merten James wrote. "Oracle is wrong, both on the law and the facts."

Gov. Brown's office gushed over the victory. "It's a double win: Governor Brown is fully vindicated, and Oracle is foiled yet again in its repeated and desperate attempts to burden and harass the state and waste public resources," said Kristen Grainger, Brown's spokeswoman in an email.

Oregon sued Oracle in 2014 claiming the giant software operation defrauded the state when it billed Oregon $240 million for a Cover Oregon health insurance website that never worked. The state accused Oracle not only of fraud, but also of filing false claims and racketeering. It could collect $6 billion in damages.

Oracle has responded with a flurry of its own litigation, including the public records case. The dispute centered on whether Gov. Kate Brown Brown complied with state public records laws when her office and the Department of Justice delayed release and withheld some emails from her predecessor, John Kitzhaber.

Oracle had requested any and all Cover Oregon-related emails from the former Governor as part of the discovery process.

State officials said the Oracle litigation allows them to withhold some records.

Oracle claims it wasn't the only party pushing the state for broader disclosure.

In the main Cover Oregon lawsuit filed by the state against Oracle, the two sides have also scrapped over whether the state was improperly withholding some documents. Multnomah County Circuit Court Senior Judge Janice Wilson agreed to serve as a special master in the email dispute -- essentially acting as a referee to rule on which emails were private and which were legitimately subject to the public records law. Oracle claims the Governor's office and the justice department refused to hand over 42 different emails even after Wilson had ruled they should be disclosed.

In an Aug. 16 letter to Judge Courtland Geyer, Oracle lawyer Edward Siskel urged the judge to quickly force the state to hand over the emails. The company claimed six emails in particular were crucial as they involved Kitzhaber's top political consultants, Patricia McCaig, Tim Raphael and Kevin Looper. Oracle was scheduled to depose all three late this month.

Oracle maintains that it delivered a fully functional website but that Kitzhaber chose to abandon it for political reasons under the guidance of his political advisors.

"Unless expedited consideration is granted, the State will succeed in achieving its improper objective of delaying production of these critical documents until after Oracle has deposed the witnesses capable of providing testimony relevant to the documents," Siskel wrote.

How the battle plays out in the main case remains to be seen. But in the public records suit, Judge James enthusiastically sided with the state.

"The sheer mass of documents that required collection and review, the combination of personal and official emails, the need to conduct an individualized assessment of the content of each document all illustrate that the Office of the Governor and the Department of Justice responded as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay," she wrote in her Wednesday ruling.

The main lawsuit pitting the state against Oracle is set for trial in January.

-- Jeff Manning

503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com
Fairview police deal with more crimes and more calls

In this 2007 file photo, a police officer pulls over a driver on suspicion of speeding in a school zone.

(Dana E. Olsen/The Oregonian)

Thousands of students head back to school Aug. 29 in Portland, and many more will follow after Labor Day.

That means school zones that were dormant over the summer are back in effect. If children's safety isn't enough motivation to slow down, police will be patrolling for speeders.

Here are a few questions and answers about school zones and buses, pulled from Commuting Q&A greatest hits.

There seems to be no statewide regulations about how school zones must look. Why aren't the zones uniform?

It wasn't long ago that Oregon drivers turned to the state Legislature to bring uniformity and predictability to school zones. So lawmakers in 2004 they passed a solution: school speed zones would be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

That wasn't too popular, it turns out, and it was repealed when the Legislature next met in 2006.

Today, although there is some room for variation, school zones are generally supposed to strictly adhere to a standard. Usually that means a set of 20 mph school zone speed limit signs marked either:

"When flashing," if the sign is equipped with flashing lights, or;

"School days, 7 AM to 5 PM."

Which kind of sign is determined by weighing the cost and the benefit of increased visibility. You'll see flashing signs more on roads with higher speed limits.

Crosswalks away from school grounds can also be marked as school zones "when children are present." That means when children are crossing or waiting to cross the street, or when a crossing guard is present to assist children.

I've noticed small lights on the back side of school speed-zone lights. What the heck are those for? Shouldn't there be clearer, labeled indication at the end of a school speed zone?

Some school-zone signs indicate that a lower speed limit is in effect "when flashing." (Other signs just tell you the hours the lower speed is in effect.) But a police officer on the lookout for speeders would usually be stationed somewhere behind the flashing sign.

The lights are help law enforcement verify the beacon is active, and that drivers who fail to slow down are actually disobeying the sign.

School zone drop-off zones are a mess. Why?

Many schools, especially in Portland, weren't designed for the drop-off and pick-up traffic they get today.

But the number of kids arriving in a family car is slowly shrinking. In Portland, more kids in kindergarten through eighth grade walk or bike to school than arrive in a family vehicle, and that's been the case since about 2010.

About 30 percent arrive in a family vehicle, while 22 take a school bus.

About 32 percent of students walked to school in 2015, according to a survey administered by the Portland Bureau of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program, while 10 percent bike.

All the more reason to take it slow near schools.

Do both lanes need to stop for the bus or just the one that the bus is in?

When a school bus driver turns on is warning lights or stop sign, drivers approaching from the front and rear must stop, leaving at least 20 feet of room.

Divided highways are the exception. Oncoming traffic separated from the bus by an unpaved median or barrier may continue. That includes train tracks, like where MAX runs along the middle of East Burnside Street.

***

Have a commuting question? Contact Elliot Njus at enjus@oregonian.com or on Twitter @enjus
How to make homemade ice cream cones and cups

Langues De Chat, a recipe adapted from "Chez Panisse Desserts" by Lindsey Remolif Shere, for the thin cookies that can be used for homemade ice cream cones and cups. (Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive)

(Nathan Hostler, Special to The Oregonian/OregonLive)

By Jackie Varriano

You've done it all - waited in line, picked your flavor, voiced your desired scoop size - and then comes the question, "cup, or cone?" Sometimes it's not even that simple; for a cone could mean crisp sugar cone, a flat-bottomed wafer cone or a soft waffle cone.

If only we lived in the late 1800s, when ice cream was sold in thick, stubby glasses called "penny licks." Costing just a penny, your desired scoop was placed inside the shallow dish for you to lick out and return to the ice cream man. Unfortunately, the dark side of the penny lick came in the fact that sanitation wasn't exactly up to snuff in Victorian days, and vendors weren't known for washing the glasses between licks.

As the threat of tuberculosis loomed, the penny lick was banned and the first edible ice cream container made its way to the masses, thanks to a New York City street vendor named Italo Marchiony.

Marchiony wasn't the only ice cream man with the idea of scooping cold cream into an edible cup. References to little cookies paired with ice cream popped up in cookbooks in the early 1800s and along with Marchiony's 1903 patent for his edible bowl, an Englishman named Antonio Valvona filed a patent for a biscuit bowl the same year.

However, it wasn't until the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904 that the ice cream cone (more or less) as we know it really took off. It's a romantic story where the booth of one waffle maker named Ernest Hamwi was placed next to the booth of ice cream guy Arnold Fornachou. When Fornachou ran out of paper bowls Hamwi came to the rescue, whipping up waffles and rolling them into cones, creating the first waffle cone.

Recipe included with this story: Langues De Chat.

Langues De Chat can also be turned into a crunchy cup for ice cream.

Even better is Oregon's place in all this history, for it was in 1912 that Portland-based inventor Frederick Bruckman put together a machine that mechanized the making of cones, making America's quest for cones a quick and easy one. In fact, Bruckman's machine (which he later sold to Nabisco) works so well that when Shan Wickham, pastry chef and co-founder of Vancouver's forthcoming Rally Pizza looked into finding someone making small batch wafer cones, she realized it was a long shot.

"We don't buy prepared stuff; it's one of the things we're committed to doing. I looked into if anyone was making their own wafer cones or if it's just crazy pants, and apparently it's crazy pants," she says with a laugh.

Her solution for Rally Pizza is to forgo cones altogether. However, Wickham has a long history with cones, harkening back to her high school job at Baskin Robbins where she toasted and rolled thousands of waffle cones.

"I love them. I'll eat sugar cones and I'll even eat crappy cones because it's the contrast (with the ice cream), it's the crunch," she says.

And if you're looking to get that contrast and crunch in your own home (perhaps with a pint from one of Portland's delightful creameries) your cone quest isn't a fruitless one, even without a Bruckman machine or a waffle maker.

Wickham recommends using a recipe for delicate cookies called Langues de Chat, or cat's tongue. With a little practice, they bake up light and crisp, as perfect vessels for ice cream.

All you need is some parchment paper or silpat baking sheet and an oven. Cones can be formed by using aluminum foil-wrapped cardstock or a citrus reamer and bowls can be made by draping over ramekins or a glass.

It should be noted that baking cones takes a bit of time and patience when there isn't a waffle iron involved. However, even broken cones taste terrific when swirled in with cold ice cream and much better than a penny lick.

-- Jackie Varriano is a Seattle-based food writer and editor for Zagat. Varriano's work has appeared in Eating Well, The Boston Globe, Paste, Serious Eats and more. Keep up with her antics on Instagram at @jackievarriano.
It'd be easy for a Spanish restaurant dedicated to paella charred in a wood-fired oven and Spanish dishes with a flourish of Barcelona, to take it easy at the bar. We'd even welcome a brisk sangria or a simple glass of vermouth with a speared olive floating above the glass.

But naturally, that's not what you'd find at Chesa, the clamorous second act from Cristina Baez and Jose Chesa. Their chic Northwest Portland tapas bar Ataula gave us Spanish flavors that took us straight to the Iberian Peninsula. Here, Tetrised around 180, the duo's xurreria frying up the Spanish breakfast snack to be paired with sultry drinking chocolate, the drinks are as good as the food itself.

Along the long concrete bar, lit with lights shrouded in glistening porrons, the glass pitchers typically used to hold wine, there's a sherry- and vermouth-heavy menu with a few Spanish heavy hitters gracing the list. There's a beautifully brisk gin & tonic, crystal clear and infused with housemade quinine tonic and clarified lime before its chilled down and carbonated. And a sangria that goes down a little too easy, spiked with sous vide brandy and citrus that comes by the glass or liter, depending on your party.

But it was the assortment of creative new cocktails built in ornate glassware from roving barman Tony Gurdian that caught our eye. Though Gurdian has since left his post, replaced by Dani Frosh, the cocktails are still as good as ever. We loved the rebujito, a Fino sherry-based refresher with Ancho Reyes, the ancho chili liqueur, apricot and coconut water that felt like a spritz took a boozy island vacation. And who could turn down a porron of basque cider to pour straight into your mouth during dinner?

-- Samantha Bakall

sbakall@oregonian.com

Follow @sambakall
Portland State enters Wim Wiewel's last year, welcomes new foundation chief

William Boldt was hired in 2016 to take over Portland State University's foundation. The 68-year-old has deep connections to Oregon and says the PSU job is his final move in higher education.

(Andrew Theen/The Oregonian)

Portland State's foundation has a new leader, a 68-year-old grandfather of eight who says his final career stop is a chance to create "a culture of philanthropic support" at the traditionally sleepy commuter campus.

William Boldt, a veteran fundraiser who helped finish a $537 million capital campaign at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has deep roots in the state. He has three degrees from the University of Oregon and worked in the Portland metro area in the early 1980s. He sees untapped potential at PSU. The school's endowment is just $59 million. That's low, Boldt said, even for a young university such as PSU. "There's a lot of need for current cash," he said.

The new foundation chief executive said PSU has struggled to convey its importance to the region. As one of his first tasks, Boldt asked staff to create a glossy brochure highlighting the university's various research and academic successes. Boldt pointed out there are 100,000 alums in the metro area. "For some strange reason, people don't understand that," he said in a recent interview. "I don't think there are more places in the country that are more impacted by graduates of an institution."

Boldt arrived on the South Park Blocks roughly a year after a tumultuous time in the foundation's history. Two top staffers resigned last fall after a $100 million gift never materialized. The donation would've nearly doubled the university's meager endowment, bringing in tens of millions for scholarships, faculty and research.

Wim Wiewel, PSU's outgoing president, said donations fall through all the time, and added the situation only became a story because The Oregonian/OregonLive "ran with it." He called the gift a "nonevent" that was blown out of proportion. But PSU had arranged a special news conference to reveal the gift and invited Gov. Kate Brown and Mayor Charlie Hales to attend.

John Fitzpatrick, the PSU alum who was later revealed as the potential donor, has repeatedly said PSU refused his gift. The university later discovered red flags about Fitpatrick's finances. He'd filed for bankruptcy at least twice and listed a PSU mail drop inside the student center as the address for his obscure technology company.

Boldt watched the situation from afar. While he's not familiar with all the particulars, Boldt said foundations have a responsibility to vet the individual carefully so no one - the school or the donor -- gets embarrassed. "Sometimes donors can be very convincing," Boldt said. "Trust me. When someone is talking $100 million, I'll tell you what, it has my attention."

Boldt, a former nutritionist who has worked in the fundraising wings at Cornell University, California Polytechnic State University, University of California-Riverside and UNLV, said the saga is "behind us now."

Today, there's only one way for the foundation to go: Up.

He's started plans for a capital fundraising campaign to rally support among PSU donors and alums.

PSU hasn't settled on its fundraising goal, Boldt said, but the figure has to be realistic and attainable.

"I've got to make sure that our budget is in line with our ambition," he said.

The University of Oregon is in the midst of a $2 billion campaign, and in 2014 Oregon State finished a $1.14 billion fundraising effort. Boldt said PSU doesn't have as many "cultivated donors" as its two public university rivals. "We will. It's going to take a few more years," he said.

While Wiewel said giving to PSU has tripled during the past five years, Boldt said the school has a long way to go.

"You have to cast a wide net. You have to build relationships and it takes a while."

One relationship the university wants to cultivate is with former assistant professor and Nike co-founder Phil Knight.

Penny Knight also graduated from PSU, as did the couple's son, Travis.

Boldt said while he hasn't spoken with Knight, the famous Oregonian's connection to PSU is "something that we talk about all the time." He called the Knights' gifts to Oregon Health & Science University and the UO "phenomenal."

"Phil will make the final decision on where he gives his money," Boldt said.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen
To show the need for a huge corporate tax increase in the November ballot, which they both support, the state's teachers union and its largest parent lobbying group on Thursday unveiled a primer on Oregon school finances and staffing levels.

Its main points are familiar to anyone who has watched Oregon schools and state education rankings: Funding for the state's schools has fallen from above-average to below it in the wake of voter-enacted 1990s property tax limits, class sizes are some of the largest in the nation and extras that parents and teachers love, such as art classes, school counselors and summer school, are in short supply.

Not surprisingly, the report never mentions one big reason that Oregon schools are so short-staffed: Oregon school employees are treated to exceptionally rich benefits, including super-generous retirement plans for employees hired before 2004 and excellent health benefits with little of the cost paid by employees.

The report also focuses heavily on per-student funding in 2012-13, when Oregon schools were still in a recession-driven money crunch. Back then, Oregon's per-student spending was about $9,500, which was 11 percent lower than the national average.

The Oregon Legislature has since voted for substantial increases in school funding, but the federal government has yet to issue updated state-by-state figures.

The National Education Association, parent group of the Oregon Education Association, which co-issued the report with the Oregon Parent Teacher Association, has issued an official estimate for 2014-15 that puts Oregon's per-student spending at $11,100 and within 5 percent of the national average.

Measure 97 would raise $3 billion a year in corporate taxes from about 1,000 firms with in-state sales of more than $25 million a year. If voters approve it, a substantial amount of the money is expected to be plowed into education, from preschool through universities, and public employee unions, including the teachers union, are expected to fund most of the pro-97 campaign.

-- Betsy Hammond
University of Chicago

Gothic style buildings on the campus of the University of Chicago in Illinois,October 2, 1950. (AP Photo)

(AP)

Higher education in the United States has been roiled in recent years by "microaggressions," leading to demands for "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces."

The issue went viral last fall when a Yale University student concerned about offensive Halloween costumes confronted a school administrator. "These freshmen come here and they think this is what Yale is!" the outraged student yelled. You can watch video of the brouhaha below:

The resulting national debate revealed that many comedians now avoid college campuses because of the political atmosphere. "I don't play colleges," Jerry Seinfeld said, "but I hear a lot of people tell me, 'Don't go near colleges. They're so PC.' I'll give you an example: My daughter's 14. My wife says to her, 'Well, you know, in the next couple years, I think maybe you're going to want to be hanging around the city more on the weekends, so you can see boys.' You know what my daughter says? She says, 'That's sexist.' They just want to use these words: 'That's racist.' 'That's sexist.' 'That's prejudice.' They don't know what the f--k they're talking about."

The campaign against offensive speech on campus is the result of good intentions gone bad: the effort by universities in the 1980s and '90s to be inclusive led to the radicalization of hurt feelings.

But the University of Chicago, one of the country's premier schools, has had enough of it. The online journal Inside Higher Ed reports that John (Jay) Ellison, the dean of students, sent out a letter to all incoming freshmen that tells them that during their time at the U of C they can expect to be exposed to ideas that make them uncomfortable and that challenge some of their most preciously held views. The letter pointed out that the university expects civility and respect to rule the day. It then added:

"Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called trigger warnings, we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial and we do not condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own."

Such a statement from a liberal-arts college is so out of character these days that when Reason magazine's Robby Soave heard about it, he feared it was "a fake." Ellison's office confirmed the letter was real, to which Soave responded: "Bravo, Chicago. Bravo."

(A trigger warning, by the way, is a head's up on, say, a class syllabus that a certain text might be offensive or disturbing to some students, who then could be excused from reading it.)

The University of Chicago's commitment to free expression is not something new from the institution, whose alumni include author Saul Bellow, economist Milton Friedman and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Last year, the university put forward a report that reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to freedom of expression. The report quoted Hana Holborn Gray, president of the university from 1978 to 1993, as saying that "education should not be intended to make people comfortable, it is meant to make them think. Universities should be expected to provide the conditions within which hard thought, and therefore strong disagreement, independent judgment, and the questioning of stubborn assumptions, can flourish in an environment of the greatest freedom."

The university's student newspaper, The Maroon, tweeted out Ellison's letter last night.
China's military will provide training for Syrian armed forces, a spokesman for Beijing's defence ministry said Thursday, adding it would take place on Chinese soil.

Beijing is a longstanding backer of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which has engaged in a bloody war that has left more than 290,000 people dead and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations.

Last week senior Chinese military official Guan Youfei met with Syria's defence minister in Damascus and said he wanted closer military ties with the Syrian government, state media reported.

"The Chinese military will provide the Syrian side with medical and nursing professional training," defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing.

The training would take place in China, he added, and was intended "to ease the humanitarian crisis in Syria".

The Chinese military has already provided Syrian authorities with medical equipment and medicines "to help reduce the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people", Wu said.

"For a long period of time, China and Syria have helped each other. And China has been pushing for a political solution of the Syrian conflict and we have always supported the independence of Syria," he added.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


France's highest administrative court will decide Friday whether to overturn the ban on wearing the burkini which has sparked controversy at home and abroad.

The State Council began hearing arguments Thursday from the Human Rights League and an anti-Islamophobia group which are seeking to reverse a decision by the southern town of Villeneuve-Loubet, near Nice, to ban the Islamic swimsuit.

The ruling, due at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) Friday, is likely to set a precedent for around 30 French towns which have banned the burkini, mostly in the southeast.

A court in the Riviera city of Nice upheld the ban this week.

The burkini bans have triggered a fierce debate in France and elsewhere about the wearing of the full-body swimsuit, women's rights and secularism.

Anger over the issue was further inflamed on Wednesday when photographs were published in the British media of police surrounding a woman in a headscarf on a Nice beach removing a long-sleeved top.

But the office of Nice's mayor denied that the woman had been forced to remove clothing, telling AFP she was showing police the swimsuit she was wearing under her top, over a pair of leggings, when the picture was taken.

The police issued her with a fine and she left the beach, the officials added.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he condemned any "stigmatisation" of Muslims, but maintained that the burkini was "a political sign of religious proselytising".

"We are not at war with Islam... the French republic is welcoming (to Muslims), we are protecting them against discrimination," he told BFMTV.

But in a sign of the divisions within the Socialist government on the issue, Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said the "proliferation" of burkini bans "was not a welcome development".

Vallaud-Belkacem, who is of Moroccan origin, took issue with the wording of the ban in Nice which linked the measure to the jihadist attack in the resort last month in which 86 people were killed.

"In my opinion, there is nothing to prove that there is a link between the terrorism of Daesh and what a woman wears on a beach," she said, using another term for Islamic State.

But Valls contradicted his minister's claims, saying the bans were necessary to maintain "public order".

President Francois Hollande made his first comment on the issue Thursday, saying life in France "supposes that everyone sticks to the rules and that there is neither provocation nor stigmatisation".

The former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who this week launched his bid to regain the presidency, has described the burkini as a "provocation".

The administrative court in Nice ruled on Monday that the Villeneuve-Loubet ban was "necessary" to prevent public disorder after the truck attack in Nice and the murder of a Catholic priest by two jihadists in northern France.

The burkini was "liable to offend the religious convictions or (religious) non-convictions of other users of the beach," it added.

The so-called burkini bans never actually mention the word burkini, although they are aimed at the garment which covers the hair but leaves the face visible and stretches down to the ankles.

The vague wording of the prohibitions has caused confusion.

Apart from the incident featured in the photographs in Nice, a 34-year-old mother of two told AFP on Tuesday she had been fined on the beach in the resort of Cannes 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 woman, who gave only her first name, Siam.

Anouar Kbibech, the head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), said he was "concerned over the direction the public debate is taking."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, condemned the bans as he visited Paris Thursday.

"I don't think anyone should tell women what they can and can't wear. Full stop," he told the London Evening Standard newspaper.

Around 50 people held a protest outside the French embassy in London, recreating a beach and carrying placards saying "Burkini ban is racist".

France firmly separates religion and public life and was the first European country to ban the wearing of the Islamic face veil in public in 2010.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


After sealing a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, the Colombian government launched a campaign Thursday to persuade voters to adopt it in a referendum on October 2.

After four years of arduous negotiations in Cuba, the effort to end the civil war -- which has killed hundreds of thousands of people across more than half a century of fighting -- now comes down to a yes-or-no vote.

President Juan Manuel Santos, who has staked his legacy on the peace process, faces a tough political battle to win the referendum.

His top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading a campaign to vote "No" to the deal, arguing that his successor has given away too much to the Marxist guerrillas of FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Uribe told the newspaper El Heraldo he would give a speech on the deal Friday, once he has been able to read the final text -- which Santos was due to send to Congress on Thursday.

Santos wasted no time in launching the "Yes" campaign.

Speaking on national television Wednesday just after peace negotiators in Havana announced the deal, he told voters the referendum would be the most important election of their lives.

"This is a historic and unique opportunity... to leave behind this conflict and dedicate our efforts to building a more secure, safe, equitable, educated country, for all of us, for our children and grandchildren," he said.

Opinion polls are mixed on how Colombians will vote.

The accord will take effect only if the "Yes" camp wins a majority while gathering at least 4.4 million votes -- 13 percent of the electorate.

Other obstacles to peace remain.

The government is still fighting a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), whose ongoing kidnappings have derailed efforts to open peace negotiations.

And it will have to come up with the money to finance rural infrastructure projects and other carrots offered to the FARC, at a time of economic slowdown.

US President Barack Obama, who called Santos on Thursday to congratulate him on the "historic" news, acknowledged the tough road ahead.

"Even as we mark the end of an era of war, we recognize that the work of achieving a just and lasting peace is only beginning," he said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini also hailed the deal but warned of the challenges ahead.

Obama vowed continuing support for Colombia, a key ally in the US war on drugs.

Washington has spent more than $10 billion on a joint anti-narcotics strategy called "Plan Colombia" -- recently rebooted as "Peace Colombia" by Obama.

Colombians welcomed Wednesday's announcement with both skepticism and joy. Many took to the streets, waving the national flag and carrying balloons emblazoned with the word "Yes."

The conflict began with the founding of FARC in 1964, at a time when leftist guerrilla armies were fighting to sow revolution throughout Latin America.

Over the years, the conflict has killed an estimated 260,000 people, uprooted 6.8 million and left 45,000 missing.

Along the way, the fighting has drawn in several leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitaries. Drug cartels have also fueled the violence in the world's largest cocaine-producing country.

Now, 25 years after the Cold War, Colombia's civil war is the last major armed conflict in the Americas.

The peace accord comprises six separate deals, covering justice for victims of the conflict, land reform, political participation for ex-rebels, disarmament, a fight against drug trafficking, and the implementation and monitoring of the accord.

Under the deal, the FARC will begin moving its estimated 7,000 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament camps set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The FARC will then become a political party.

Special courts will be created to judge crimes committed during the conflict.

An amnesty will be granted for less serious offenses. But it will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape.

Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A 35-year-old male suspect was arrested Thursday in connection with an apparent crossbow attack outside Toronto, police said.

Police said officers responding to an emergency call Thursday found three deceased people on a residential street, on the east side of Canada's largest metropolis.

Nearby, police also found a crossbow. Authorities said however that it was not immediately clear that the weapon had been used in the attack.

Paramedics said the three victims, two men and a woman, appear to have died from "blunt force" trauma, a police official said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Egypts minister of supply and internal trade announced his resignation on Thursday amid criticism from MPs over recent wheat procurement, as well as the minister's residence at a five-star hotel in Cairo.

In July Egypt launched an inquiry into whether millions of dollars intended to subsidise farmers were used to purchase wheat that did not exist.

A corruption report, delivered late last week to the speaker of parliament, concluded some 200,000 tonnes of wheat was missing at ten private storage sites visited by a fact-finding commission.

Khaled Hanafy's resignation also comes a few days after he was criticised because it was revealed he had been staying at a five-star hotel in Cairo for the past two years.

The ministry denied in an official statement that Hanafy had used public funds to pay for his stay, adding that the ministers bill at the hotel was paid out of his personal funds.

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has appointed trade minister Tarek Kabil to act as a temporary supply minister until a new minister is selected.

According to state agency MENA, a "limited" cabinet reshuffle is set to take place soon according to informed sources.

Hanafy was appointed minister in February 2014 by then-premier Ibrahim Mahlab.

He introduced a new food subsidy smart system to eliminate smuggling of subsidised wheat, and made a wider variety of subsidised commodities available to the public.

In June, the ministry said that the government had purchased up to five million tons of local wheat and paid farmers EGP 14 billion (roughly $1.6 billion) for the harvest season, which started in mid-April.

Earlier this month, the Egyptian office of the prosecutor-general stated that its ongoing investigation into alleged corruption surrounding local wheat procurement revealed that some EGP 533 million ($60 million) had been stolen by officials within the agriculture ministry in collusion with silo owners.

The prosecution said that officials took government money earmarked to buy 222,000 tons of wheat from local farmers and pocketed the cash while claiming that the purchases were made.



Search Keywords:

Short link:


The Mount Pleasant man who pleaded guilty to using a knife to rob a Geneva Township convenience store in December has been sent to prison.

Peter John Stockero, 38, appeared before Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Beale to be sentenced on one count of armed robbery.

Beale levied between 10 and 20 years in prison, and set restitution at $440.

Stockero entered a guilty plea to armed robbery and habitual second offender enhancement earlier this summer. In exchange, a charge of carrying a weapon with unlawful intent as well as habitual fourth offender enhancement were dismissed.

Stockero and Blake Andrew Powaga, 20, Midland, were arrested after deputies were called to the Country Store II, 3054 W. Saginaw Road in Coleman, at 5:59 p.m. on Dec. 2. Powaga has already been sentenced.

The female clerk told deputies she was alone in the store when a man entered, demanded all of the $10 and $20 bills from the till, and brandished a knife.

After the robber left the store, the clerk walked into the parking lot and got the license plate number of the car involved, then called 911 with the information.

Deputies, with the help of Coleman Police and Midland Police, used the plate number to identify, locate and arrest the suspects within two hours of the crime. Money stolen during the robbery was recovered.
The U.S. National Park Service celebrates its centennial in 2016, commemorating 100 years of stewardship of America's natural and historic treasures. Many of those monuments, scenic rivers, parks, and historic sites are visible from space-where the views are just as compelling.
If you want to understand ethnicity and prejudice, you have to surround yourself with people who are different than you.

For our From the Front Lines series, we asked several pastors to share the stories of their church plants. These pastors will be checking in online with regular updates on their churches and experiences, allowing readers a front-row seat to the ins and outs of church planting.



New City Church: Update No. 3

Im a white guy from Kansas who spent the better part of my childhood as what many would qualify as poor. My parents were young when they had my two brothers and me. We lived in a trailer house while my dad and mom were putting my dad through veterinarian school. I have no doubt that people drove by my home and labeled my family as trash, of both the trailer and white variety.

Fortunately, for me, those labels didnt follow me out of that trailer park. Once my dad graduated and we were able to live a middle-class lifestyle, nobody looked down on me. Unlike others, I went to high school and never once thought about taking a different route home, whether the hood on my jacket was up, or where my hands were. I spoke with girls and never thought about what an animated conversation might look like to onlookers. I went on to college, then to grad school and to law school, and never worried that someone might think I was there simply because of the color of my skin. My professional life has involved career changes and several moves, but never once have I been reluctant to meet my new neighbors and wonder if my skin color would give someone pause.

The truth is, I dont know what it is like to be black or brown in our culture. I know what it is like to be poor, left out, disrespected and hurt, but I dont understand what its like to be a minority. Yet, Ive never felt very comfortable being in a crowd of people just like me. I remember researching an assignment when I was a corporate lawyer that required me to research the boards of directors for Fortune 100 companies. What I saw there made me uncomfortable. I was looking in the mirror, albeit 25 years into the future: middle-aged white men with thinning, gray hair, wire-rimmed glasses and a red or blue tie. Im not suggesting that these men did anything wrong to get to their positions of power, prestige and influencebut the lack of diversity was painfully obvious.

Today Im approaching middle age, although I still have more brown than grey and prefer plastic frames to wire ones. I serve and lead a church in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Our staff has nine full-time employees, including two Indian-American men, one African-American woman, one African-American man, two white women and three white men. In a word, we are diverse.

As great as it looks on the outside, being a diverse staff takes work. We disagree quite often around the conference table because we have such vastly different experiences. But I wouldnt want it any other way.

Because our staff is unique, I often get asked if we hired this way intentionally. The answer: No and yes. We didnt pass over certain candidates who were more qualified, but we did look out for diversity when hiring. I always want a staff that disagrees and sees things differently. I want to have my presuppositions challenged and my view of reality to be more closely aligned to actual reality. Perhaps most importantly, I want a staff that reflects our surrounding community. What were doing seems to be working, because the volunteer preaching collective that helps shape our weekend sermons is 50 percent nonwhite, and overall, more than one-third of our volunteers at New City are non-white.

One caution: Diversity should not become an idol. Diversity doesnt replace the gospel as the churchs central message. If you live in a predominately white area, it will be more challenging and in many ways less authentic to the community to have a dramatically diverse staff. No one should feel like they are failing as long as their staff and church reflect the demographics of the surrounding community. But if you want to deeply understand ethnicity, privilege and prejudice, you have to surround yourself with people who are different than you.

Will we ever get to the point where skin color wont matter? Id like to say yes, but my hunch is we wontnot on this earth and not until the implications of thousands of years of racial divides are behind us once and for all. Still, we are called to work toward that kind of world, especially in the church. As Christians we are called to be restorers and break down the walls that divide us. If each of us is humbly faithful to that goal in each of our contexts, imagine the kind of impact the church can have in societys journey toward racial reconciliation.

Read more from Brian Kruckenberg and New City Church 

Read more church plant stories From the Front Lines 
Saint Mark Baptist Church helps members improve their chances of securing jobs, housing and education.

When Saint Mark Baptist Church held a Saturday expungement seminar, some of the roughly 400 participants, many holding similar-looking manila folders, arrived almost two hours early.

At 7:30 a.m., people were lined up waiting to get into the church, says Glenn Hersey, outreach pastor at the Little Rock, Arkansas, church, average attendance of 3,500. People also called from two hours away in neighboring Tennessee for information.

We knew we were on to something special and unique, Hersey says.

Arkansas is one of many states that allows the sealing of certain criminal records, such as most misdemeanors and nonviolent first-time felonies. But violent crimesmurder, rape and aggravated robberyarent eligible, according to attorney Lott Rolfe, who is also a Saint Mark deacon.

It can be confusing to know what offenses are eligible with recurring law changes, he says. And many wrongly think records are sealed after successfully completing their sentence. Not so, according to Rolfe, who says a formal petition to the court begins the process.

With sealed records, people may legally write on applications that they have never been convicted of a crime. Then their chances improve for securing jobs, housing and education.

Its a pretty simple process, says Rolfe, mentioning many of the forms are online. He was among 16 attorneys volunteering at the inaugural 2016 seminar.

After an information session, participants grouped around each lawyer, asking questions. A follow-up session will give people legal advice to prepare necessary paperwork.

It was a bold move, a bold vision, Hersey says of the clinic. But Saint Marks pastor believes churches cant be spiritual if theyre not social. Leaders foresee the end result: Theyre helping free people to get jobs, provide for their families and be good citizens, according to Hersey.

We know the community is hurting, he says. There is a tremendous need.

Find more ways to serve your community 
The multinational team led by U.S. Pacific Command concluded their week-long assistance program Aug. 20 in Jaffna, providing general medical care for approximately 4000 people and renovating six schools that serve a total of 1100 students



I want to thank all the members of Operation Pacific Angel for not just improving lives of Jaffna-area residents through better schools and free access to health care, but also on strengthening U.S.-Sri Lanka ties, said U.S. Ambassador Atul Keshap.



Approximately 70 participants from the U.S. Pacific Command and military experts from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Maldives joined with the Sri Lanka Air Force during the project. Free medical assistance for dental procedures, physical therapy, general care, and optometry were held at Idaikkadu Maha Vidyalayam (August 15-17) and Punguduthivu Sri Subramaniya Vidyalayam (August 19-20).



The great thing about being here is our doctors get to help patients from different backgrounds, said Lt. Col. Edward Khim, the mission commander for Pacific Angel. Our engineers are also able to share knowledge while working with different countries forces to restore facilities in the area.



The week-long program continues the strong U.S. support for the people of Sri Lanka, especially in communities most affected by conflict. In the Northern Province, ongoing United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiatives give financial and technical assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses for families working in fishing, poultry and dairy sectors to help increase their incomes and provide food security. Many of these projects focus on helping those who need it most: war widows, female heads of households, resettled families, people with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence. Over the past three years, the Embassy has also invested approximately $3.5 million to build new facilities for schools and hospitals in the Northern Province.



Planning for the Jaffna program began in November 2015 to identify the specific needs of communities in the North. Operation Pacific Angel is a joint civil-military operation led by U.S. Pacific Air Forces to build relationships with other countries in the event of future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Together with host nation military and civilian personnel throughout the region, it has improved the lives of tens of thousands of people.



Participating in Pacific Angel has opened my eyes to the wonderful culture of Sri Lanka, said Tech. Sgt. Maybelle McKinney-Martin, 35th Medical Group physical therapy flight chief. Learning how to communicate has been a difficult but very rewarding challenge. Just being able to help the Sri Lankan community alongside other nations has been a wonderful experience.


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 at Mountain Home Air Force Base.



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."
Al-Beiout Asrar, houses have their own secrets, goes the Egyptian proverb, and one in particular has many tales to tell

Al-Beiout Asrar, houses have their own secrets, goes the Egyptian proverb, and this one has a lot to tell us.

Beit Al-Keritleya, or House of the Cretan Woman, is known today as the Gayer Anderson House and Museum. Next to the famous Ibn Tulun Mosque in Islamic Cairo, the house  or rather two houses joined  first belonged to Mohamed Haj Halim who built it in around 1631 CE. It is said that Halim was a coffee merchant, hence the connection with Crete from which some of his merchandise came. Amina bint Salem was the name of the woman who later owned the property.

In the 1940s, Gayer Anderson, a British army officer and great collector of antique objects, lived in Beit Al-Keritleya and published a book about it in English. The book documents the history of the house through 14 different local legends, and contains images of its decoration, including the objects that Anderson gathered himself and that are currently part of the decoration.

According to a new edition of the book, which contains a forward by Andersons grandson John, entitled The Cretan Womans House, Anderson was the last private resident of the house and managed to maintain it in its original condition, adding his own private collection to it and bequeathing it as a museum for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

But the true importance of Gayer Anderson lay in the fact that he was among the very few people who understood that its never about a house itself, but is always about the people who lived in it. He brought pen and paper and listened to those who had witnessed the houses development, writing down its oral history as recalled by its last Egyptian private owner, Soliman Al-Keretly, in 1935.

The houses historic significance is not only due to its architectural design and the fact that it is among the very few monuments that have stood the test of time, unlike many neighbouring houses that collapsed or have been demolished. The importance of the house remains in the legends affiliated to it, and these reflect a local collective memory, stitched into history and creating a rich melange of popular stories and historic events.

Anderson, who first came to Cairo as a doctor in the service of the British army in 1906, first saw the Mamluke-style house on a tour of the Ibn Tulun Mosque. A beautiful woman waved to me from one of the arabesque windows and invited me to take a look at the ancient house, his memoir reads. Little did he know then that he would be the last tenant of the house before it became a museum some 29 years later.

In 1935, Anderson revisited the house, then owned by the government, and managed to convince the authorities to let him stay in it until he died. When he died, he said, he would bequeath his rare collection of objects to the state. During his stay, he befriended Soliman Al-Keretly, the last owner of the house, who took care of the Tomb of Sheikh Haroun, a descendant of Al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohamed, who is buried at the far end of the courtyard.

The house is divided into two halves, the haramlik, or family residence, mainly used by women, and the salamlik, used as a reception area and to receive guests. The houses arabesque windows open onto a courtyard containing the famous bat well that is a main source of legends about the house. Anderson made each room a place of Middle Eastern traditions, whether Turkish or Mamluke, as he was a collector and used the house to exhibit the pieces he treasured.

Among the numerous rooms in the house is what is known as the secret chamber near to where the legendary well is tucked away. The well, according to legends, dates back to the time of the Prophet Noah and his Ark. One story explains that Noahs Ark rested on the highest hill in Egypt, Mount Yashkour, where the Ibn Tulun Mosque now stands.

It says that the well is what is left from the time of the Great Flood, hence its magical powers. Local stories also say that this hill was where Moses saw the famous burning bush, mentioned in scripture. It is also where the Prophet Ibrahim was ordered by God to slaughter his son Ismail, who God then saved, replacing him by a ram, from whence comes the name, the Tarikh Al-Kabsh, or road of the ram.

Set in an area replete with such vivid local legends, the house has its own share of stories attached to it, perhaps owing to the fact that there is said to be an underground passageway connecting it to the mosque. According to some, this is where ancient treasure is buried. A good jinn (genie) and his seven daughters live at the bottom of the well guarding the treasure, as does the great grandparent of one of the early owners of the house who hoarded money and never spent it. Eventually, the story says, his wife threw out his savings, mistaking them for the rubbish in which he had hid them.

Today, the house has long outlived its tenants, though it still has its own fair share of tales and legends. Urban legend explains that the water from the famous well of the house is holy and is a remedy for numerous illnesses. Many people have tried to go into the well to look for the treasure, but they never come back alive. According to legend, a generous jinni sometimes leaves a gold coin in the bottom of the bucket of the well, but only for those who deserve it.

Another story says that there was once a young man who lived in a house opposite who refused to marry except if he genuinely fell in love. In the opposite house there was a beautiful girl who had the same idea. One day she went down to bring water from the well, which she seldom did because she was afraid, given the stories of the jinn. The water welled up in reaction to her beauty, and, as she cried out for help, she was saved by her young neighbour.

It was love at first sight.

A version of this article was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Over the past few weeks the debate re-emerged over female genital mutilation, or female circumcision, has re-emerged in Egypt.

Several months ago, a 16-year-old girl died at a public hospital in Suez after heavy and unstoppable bleeding in the wake of a medically performed FGM operation.

The government has ordered a legal investigation into the incident on the basis of manslaughter, but not because it violates a law that was adopted some 20 years ago to criminalise the operation.

And a few weeks later, MP Ahmed El-Tahawy, a physician and professor at the Cairo University's medical school, stated publicly that it is not up to doctors to deny or stop FGM practices, because this is not a matter for doctors to decide but rather for clergy.

El-Tahawy, who is a member of the health committee in the Egyptian parliament, was not reprimanded by either the speaker of parliament, the health minister, the dean of Cairo University medical school, or the Doctors Syndicate.

This is probably the most telling reaction you could ever get  this is the kind of reaction that basically shows that what this MP said is not prompting, as it should have, an outcry, neither in the medical, especially gynaecological society nor in the official or legislative quarters; this is because FGM is so mainstream for everyone, most unfortunately, said Hussein Gohar, a prominent gynaecologist, womens rights activist and member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.

Listen, I think we should look facts in the eye: medical doctors are not a separate part of society; they are not just medical operators; they are members of society and they subscribe to ideas that formulate the predominant culture just like everybody else, Gohar said.

He added that he was not surprised by the findings shared by some anti-FGM activists that indicated an increased participation of medical doctors  not just nurses or midwives as the case has traditionally been  in performing FGM.

According to Gohar, there are two factors there: the first is that there are some who are convinced, whether we like it or not, that FGM is a religious duty and whatever they are told at the school of medicine they would opt first to follow clerics.

This is despite the suggestion by a small number of Muslim clerics that the saying supposedly attributed to the Prophet Mohamed approving of FGM is unfounded.

Second, Gohar added, the lukewarm on-and-off and poorly designed media campaign against FGM argues that girls who undergo FGM risk infection or un-intentional injury because poor hygiene and inefficient midwives or nurses do the job at home, so the parents decided to take their girls to the doctor.

According to Gohar, this is precisely the two points that we need to address if we are at all serious about abolishing this appalling violation of girls bodies and souls: the convictions of parents and doctors, and the discourse of the clergy on the matter.

What we need is really a proper nation-wide and very committed and long-term national campaign, he argued.

According to Gohar, this campaign should not be just about a few convoluted and vague awareness spots as the case has been traditionally, because what we have had so far has failed to introduce any significant reduction in what most informed gynaecologists and concerned feminists say is a violation to which around one of every four Egyptian girls is subjected.

Listen, there is no media campaign that is going to take the percentage down by 50 percent in a matter of five or ten years; I am sorry but this is not going to happen, unfortunately, he said.

Gohar is convinced, he said, that we are talking about a generation or two before we start seeing a serious reduction in the percentage of this practice.

He argued that those men and women in their twenties or thirties who are about to be the parents of young girls have not been brought up to believe that FGM is not a requirement either by religion  be it Islam or Christianity because the practice is shared across religions  or by traditionally accepted social norms.

Those parents, he argued, were brought up to believe that excising a girls clitoris is something that keeps her sexual desire in line and thus keeps her away from pursuing pre-marital sex.

Now this is the starting point that I think we need to openly and with no hesitation share at the widest scale; men and women need to realize that FGM does not control womens sexual desire but rather blocks womens sexual pleasure, he argues.

But this was never said because our society would not start to even admit, especially in a public forum, that there is such a thing as womens sexual pleasure, Gohar said.

This is the big taboo of all times  not just by women who undergo FGM but even by those who are lucky enough to escape it for one reason or another; womens sexual pleasure is deemed an act of immorality, he stated.

This is not just about the submission of women; but also about the overall ignorance about sexology  and I am not really excluding the schools of medicine here, Gohar suggested.

What Gohar is proposing is a campaign that tells girls and boys in school, in single-sex classes if necessary, that FGM is not the recipe for good behaviour because sexual desire is a function of the brain rather than the genitals, he said.

Moreover, he added, the schools of medicine should give more time to move future doctors away from this practice and I dont think that this should be impossible for a medical society.

The objective here is to get young men and women who will be parents or doctors in the next 25 years to relinquish this practice.

Of course this is not a job that will have a hundred percent success immediately but if we secure a decent percentage reduction then we are on the right track, he added.

However, Gohar acknowledged that the battle against FGM will not be won without the support of clerics who speak openly, repeatedly and firmly against this practice and who are willing to tell society that this is a Nile Basin practice that has no foundation either in either Islam or Christianity.

It would not be convincing for public opinion necessarily, or at all, if I, as a gynaecologist, go and tell a clergyman who is arguing that Muslim girls should undergo the partial or full elimination of the clitoris, that he is making it up and that this practice for example is present in Saudi Arabia; but if a prominent and decent clerical figure does this then it makes a big difference, he argued.

He added that this has to be a vocal and sustainable discourse whereby the clergy do not change what they say in public, in say a TV programme, when they meet privately with some followers.

Of course we have to have the media on board with this campaign, not simply with some promotional material but with substantive discussion, he stressed.

Short of this, no fundamental change is to be expected, he said.

Gohar, who has helped sporadic civil society efforts against the practice, is not convinced that the physical and psychological well-being of girls and women is a priority for the state at this point  no matter what international commitments and national legislations the country had implemented over the years and no matter the lip service that is paid by the state to womens rights and health.



Search Keywords:

Short link:


BLOOMINGTON  The Pantagraph building in downtown Bloomington has been sold, but the newspaper will not be moving in the near future.

Publisher Julie Bechtel announced Thursday the newspaper's longtime headquarters at 301 W. Washington St. has been sold to St. Louis-based Oak LLC/Raven Development for an undisclosed price.

The sale, which includes two parking lots north of The Pantagraph building, was effective Thursday.

The current building has been home to The Pantagraph since 1935; the newspaper has been in existence for more than 170 years.

Nothing changes immediately. We can stay here for at least another year, said Bechtel, adding, Weve been downtown for more than 80 years, so downtown is a part of us and we would prefer to stay downtown.

"We are actively looking for a new home that better meets our needs and our business model that relies on almost constant communication among our departments.

The new buyer came forward after previous plans involving Twin City developer David Bentley purchasing the building and renovating another downtown property as The Pantagraph's future home did not materialize.

Co-founded by brothers Robert and David Glarner, Raven specializes in developing and redeveloping retail centers, mixed use office projects, industrial properties and residential communities.

A call to Robert Glarner was returned by East Peoria commercial real estate broker Jeff Giebelhausen, who said he is a partner on The Pantagraph project.

"They are St. Louis developers. I've done multiple developments with them. We go back a decade or more," said Giebelhausen. "They were looking for opportunities in the Bloomington market and that led us to some discussions, and ultimately we focused on The Pantagraph property."

Because the newspaper will continue to occupy the building for some time, "there's not going to be anything immediately happening" with the property, said Giebelhausen.

"Instead, it's a strategic redevelopment of what we consider to be multiple properties in the downtown area."

Gielbelhausen has floated several proposals for the private development of a hotel and conference center on three nearby properties owned by Merle and Carol Huff of Peoria, but which Giebelhausen said he controls because he has an option to buy them.

"With (Raven) buying (The Pantagraph) property we're going to look at all of our options, ranging from office to multi-family to hospitality," said Giebelhausen.
PONTIAC  The recent altercation between inmates and staff at Pontiac Correctional Center that sent six correctional officers to the hospital is not linked to the 2013 closure of the state's super-maximum facility, a Chicago based prison watchdog group said Thursday.

Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association, took issue with comments from the union representing correctional officers, which claimed closure of Tamms Correctional Center has made the Pontiac facility more dangerous.

"To think that we need to reopen Tamm is a mistake, There's nothing about Tamms that was positive, humane or reform-minded," said Vollen-Katz, adding that a large number of human rights violations were alleged prior to Tamms' closure.

The Pontiac prison was locked down after an incident Sunday involving five inmates that sent officers to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

The Illinois Department of Corrections issued a statement Monday blaming the incident on a failure by staff to follow safety policies.

In response, the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees blamed the incident on the closure of Tamms, which housed inmates with a history of violence and/or severe mental illness.

AFSCME also argued that relaxed disciplinary measures implemented as part of reforms in mental health care in all the state's prisons has put staff at risk.

Joe Lewis, president of the AFSCME Local 494, accused Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration of putting mental health care above the safety of all inmates and staff.

Prison workers plan an informational picket from noon to 4 p.m. Friday at Lincoln and Vermillion streets in Pontiac.

"Many of the assaults are not being prosecuted as the inmates are considered SMI or seriously mentally ill so they are not held accountable for their actions, yet they will be on the streets soon," Lewis said in a lengthy statement.

The efforts to improve how the 11,000 inmates statewide who have some formed of mental illness are treated are spelled out in a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit resolved in January. The state agreed to sweeping changing that will provide counseling services and four residential treatment units for seriously mentally ill prisoners who have spent years in segregation, in some cases without proper care.

Alan Mills, one of the lawyers for the inmates in the lawsuit, took exception to Lewis' characterization of inmates as "the nightmares that are no longer on the streets."

"They're not nightmares, they're people," said Mills.

One of the recent violent encounters at the prison involved a mentally ill inmate transferred to Pontiac after the closure of Tamms in southern Illinois, said Mills. The prisoner fought with officers as he was being removed from his segregation cell.

"He needs mental health care, not being locked in his cell 24 hours a day," said Mills.

Mills, executive director of Uptown People's Law Center in Chicago, acknowledged that correctional officers have worked without a contract for more than year in prisons that are overcrowded and understaffed. But blaming mental health care for the recent problems is not the answer, said Mills.

"The idea that the state must choose between running a prison system that provides mental health treatment and medical care for seriously ill people behind bars, or paying employees an adequate salary is a false choice. We must do both," said Mills.

As part of the verbal back-and-forth with the state this week, AFSCME claimed that officers have been the target of increasing assaults  50 in the past three months  by inmates who spit, throw feces and urine and physically abuse staff.
NORMAL  Parents shed tears and raised voices while sharing concerns with the McLean County Unit 5 school board Wednesday night at a crowded Normal Community West High School.

More than 300 people showed up at the school board meeting to talk about how overcrowded and late buses and complicated routes are impacting families and students.

School has been in session for one week, and the year started with different start and dismissal times, fewer buses and new bus routes. Those changes are budgeted to save the district $1.2 million this fiscal year  applied to a transportation fund deficit of $1.4 million.

Superintendent Mark Daniel started the meeting with an apology.

I want to apologize to the entire community for the service weve provided to some of our students. The problems are unacceptable, said Daniel. It didnt quite materialize as we wouldve hoped. We are far from it.

The audience, largely made up of parents, students, bus drivers and teachers, applauded after that statement.

Jonathan and Eliyse Amaya of Normal explained to the board how their 4-year-old son Nathan has special needs and has been riding the bus for more than an hour to and from school each day. They said Nathan is nonverbal and cannot communicate if he is uncomfortable or if he misses his stop.

We recently moved to Illinois and chose this community specifically for the education, said Jonathan Amaya. To see all these problems is astounding. We know there are challenges, but no one should be on a bus for that long.

Our trust is vanishing, said Eliyse Amaya.

Josh Smith, the father of a fifth-grader at Parkside Elementary School, became emotional while telling the board how his daughter went missing Tuesday for nearly two hours after leaving band practice from Parkside Junior High. She was found with help from the Normal Police Department on a different bus, far from her regular stop.

This is unacceptable, said Smith of Normal. We should not be in fear that our students could go missing on their way home from school.

Daniel said the district has made plans with First Student, the district's busing contractor, to target specific overcrowded buses by utilizing buses with more room and reworking bus routes. Those changes would be implemented Thursday afternoon.

They think they have a solution, he said, adding that First Student replaced a manager on Tuesday.

Board member Mike Trask said he was embarrassed and disappointed with the current transportation situation.

We were assured by First Student that with the new changes, this was all manageable. Im extremely disappointed in the work done by First Student. I never want to see these situations occur again, said Trask.

Steven Dean, a driver and information-technology employee for First Student, spoke up to defend the bus provider.

I understand why you decided to execute this plan, but the execution of this plan has failed, said Dean. You set up a plan and you changed too much, too fast. The routes just dont make sense.

After more than 20 parents shared similar stories with the board, state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, addressed the room. He has a son who attends Normal Community High School.

I represent seven other school districts in McLean (County) and part of Livingston County. Those districts are not having the transportation issues that Unit 5 does, said Brady. I fully acknowledge the fact that the state of Illinois unfortunately put you in this situation to some degree (because of late state aid payments).

"You made adjustments and did what you thought was right for the school district. The reality is, we have to figure out how to resolve this for students and parents of this district.
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 in a challenge to the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates. The federal lawsuit argues 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 Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of 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 the state has no compelling reason to keep Gill off the ballot. He noted 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.
STREATOR  Streator-area residents facing life-threatening emergencies can again be treated locally now that OSF Center for Health-Streator has opened an emergency center.

The state's first emergency center not attached to a hospital is being staffed 24/7 to meet health emergencies of area residents, OSF HealthCare announced Thursday.

Streator Mayor Jimmie Lansford welcomed the news.

"Delivery of health care to rural areas is constantly changing...as Streator experienced when, after 125 years, the local hospital closed and our future health care was uncertain," Lansford said, referring to the controversial decision by Springfield-based Hospital Sisters Health Systems (HSHS) to close St. Mary's Hospital, 111 Spring St., on Jan 4.

HSHS gave the hospital building to Peoria-based OSF, which on the same day opened a 24/7 outpatient center  including an urgent care department  in place of the hospital.

OSF has been working to establish an emergency center there, but first needed a change in state law and needed regulatory approval. With those approvals, OSF Center for Health-Streator Emergency Center is Illinois' first free-standing emergency department.

Streator may never again see an inpatient facility but OSF agreed to provide something new and innovative, Lansford said. "I am happy that OSF chose the former hospital building as the site for the emergency clinic and I believe that the OSF health care model being introduced in Streator could become the rural health care model for the future," he said.

"OSF HealthCare delivered on its promise to open an emergency center in the Streator community," said Dr. David Gorenz, OSF HealthCare regional CEO.

"Our vision for Streator is to provide an innovative care model and this progress is one more step toward our goal of improving residents' overall health and wellness," Gorenz said.

In June, OSF HealthCare announced that the former hospital building will undergo a two-year, $13 million remodeling to continue its conversion from a hospital to an outpatient center. In addition to an emergency center, services include diagnostic imaging, cardiac care and rehabilitation and lab services.
NORMAL  Even without seeing each other face to face, Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth traded body blows Tuesday on a farm north of Normal.

Both spoke to an Illinois Farm Bureau gathering and fielded questions from reporters with about 10 weeks left until they face off for Kirk's Senate seat in the Nov. 8 election.

Duckworth, who spoke first, hit Kirk for referring to President Barack Obama as "drug dealer in chief" after the president's $400 million payment to Iran was linked to the release of U.S. prisoners.

"I just don't think that's language befitting a United States senator," she said. "He should apologize, and let's move on and focus on what we need for the people of Illinois."

Kirk doubled down on the remark.

"I have a problem with sending $400 million in 500-euro notes directly to the ayatollah," he said.

Republicans have criticized the Obama administration after it acknowledged that the repayment of the money from a 1970s Iranian account was connected to a U.S.-Iranian prisoner exchange in January. The administration denies the money was "ransom," saying it used the money, which the Islamic Republic would have soon recouped the money one way or another, as leverage to guarantee the prisoners' release.

Kirk also hit Duckworth for encouraging the federal government to accept 200,000 refugees, including many from Syria. Duckworth said Tuesday those refugees will go through a thorough screening process.

"She directly lied to this group by saying that the Syrian refugees are thoroughly vetted, even though the director of national intelligence and FBI say there's no screening that's meaningful," he said. "We can't lie to the American people about national security like that. It could lead to another 9/11."

Both also spoke about a variety of issues that affect farmers, including alternative fuels, immigration, infrastructure, taxation and trade.

Each spoke in favor of increasing usage of biofuels, including ethanol, which is frequently produced with corn grown in Illinois. Both said they'll push for high renewable fuel standards from the Environmental Protection Agency.

On immigration, both spoke in favor of making it easier for undocumented immigrants who serve in the military to become citizens. Kirk served in the U.S. Navy; Duckworth was in the U.S. Army.

On infrastructure, the candidates focused on the Mississippi River, a major agricultural trade artery. Duckworth said she'll fight for a $12 million U.S. Army Corp of Engineers project to improve locks and dams, while Kirk favors using private contractors for that work.

"They can go a lot faster than the slow Army Corp of Engineers," he said.

Both said they oppose the estate tax, which applies to inheritances including family farms, though Duckworth said she supports a similar measure for extremely wealthy earners.

"I don't think people that live in Manhattan making billions of dollars should get a break," she said, referring to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Both candidates also spoke in favor of opening up new markets for farmers to sell in, but they differed on the details: Duckworth spoke in favor of expanding trade with Cuba and against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and Kirk vice versa.
After a drastic drop in donations last year, United Way of McLean County is changing the way it runs its annual fall campaign.

Let's hope it works. Too many people rely on the agencies that receive United Way funding. With less money coming in, United Way already cut distributions to several programs, passing along the pain to recipients already familiar with trying to make ends meet.

This year's campaign plan doesn't have a dollar goal. That may ease the pressure of fundraising while bringing in donors who don't like to be hit over the head to write a check. It also could backfire, providing less money to be split among agencies next year.

Either way, United Way is at a crossroads.

The agency has a long history of bringing together community leaders to encourage employee and employer donations to fill a community pot from which money is doled out to a number of programs. Which agencies and which programs  and how much money  is determined by volunteer boards who work on a set funding cycle.

With large employers in McLean County that include State Farm, Country Financial, the universities and hospitals, bringing in money usually isn't a problem. But donations dropped as companies chipped away at their employee rosters and people continued to recover from the 2008 recession. Electrolux moved production to Mexico and offices to North Carolina; Mitsubishi Motors North America closed its local plant.

United Way also needs to step up its appeals to small and new businesses, retirees, professionals and the self-employed.

In-person and mail appeals common in past decades have given way to mobile apps and online giving. Donors  having seen national news stories about organizations' poor use of donor money  are more selective about their giving, often making sure their donations go to agencies whose financial books clearly show that a majority of their donation will help a recipient rather than pay for an administrative salary or out-of-town training.

Last year's McLean County campaign raised $3,533,444, compared with $4,261,683 in 2014. Its most successful campaign was in 2008, when donors gave $4,639,500.

United Way supports 64 programs operated by 32 organizations and last year helped 36,000 people. The need is obvious.

Historically, the local United Way has made sure agency programs serve the greatest needs in the community. But the umbrella agency is well aware that it, too, needs to trim its spending and will look at "cost-savings options."

United Way is taking a chance with its latest campaign plan and those in need are counting on the rest of us to make sure it succeeds.

To donate, volunteer or learn more about the campaign, visit www.uwaymc.org or talk to your employer's human resources manager. You also can call 309-828-7383 or email unitedway@uwaymc.org.
Spring has arrived, according to the calendar, if not the weather forecast. Along with that 
The burial chamber and sarcophagus of a 25th Dynasty Thebes Mayor has been discovered

During excavation and cleaning work carried out in the tomb of the 25th Dynasty Thebes Mayor Karabasken in south Asasif, on Luxor's west bank, the Egyptian American South Asasif Conservation Project discovered his burial chamber and sarcophagus.

The sarcophagus is a unique example of Kushite sarcophagi in an elite tomb, Mahmoud Affifi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities told Ahram Online, adding that the sarcophagus is carved in plain red granite and does not bear any engravings or paintings.

Elena Pischikova, director of the archaeological mission, explained that the burial chamber was found accidently during excavation work carried out in a room of the tomb. As an was found in its centre and it led to the burial chamber.

Pischikova said that the base and lid of the sarcophagus bore deliberate damage  evidence of two attempts to break into the sarcophagus at some time in antiquity.

The interior of the sarcophagus was flooded after the first attempt, but further cleaning work will show if any fragments of the wooden coffin or other burial equipment are still preserved inside, Pischikova said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Mac Papers Names John Mark Russell as New General Manager in Greenville, SC

August 25, 2016 - Mac Papers has named John Mark Russell as the new general manager for the Company's Greenville branch in South Carolina. Russell has relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he most recently served as a Mac Papers account manager.

In his new role, Russell now oversees all sales, operations and customer relations in Greenville. He is responsible for growing the company's business in this market and for the diversification of the branch's sales across the company's four lines of business: paper and print, packaging, facility supplies and office products. Russell also now has responsibility for All Square Digital Solutions, a Greenville-based wide-format equipment and supplies distribution company owned by Mac Papers.

Russell joined Mac Papers as an account manager in Charlotte in 2007. Since then, he has consistently been named to Mac Papers' annual sales club, an honor reserved for the company's highest-performing account managers.

Mac Papers also nominated Russell as salesperson of the year five consecutive times, a recognition Russell earned for successfully growing sales each year across all of the Company's lines of business.

Russell graduated from Western Carolina University, with a BSBA in marketing / professional sales in 2001.

Russell succeeds David McGehee, Jr., who is relocating to the company's headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, after serving three years in the role.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Mac Papers is one of the largest merchant distributors in the Southeast U.S. To learn more, please visit: macpapers.com

SOURCE: Mac Papers
"Teen Wolf" Season 6 is confirmed to be the series finale for the MTV drama, but fans are not exactly ready to say goodbye to the Pack from Beacon Hills. Several fans took the initiative of saving the show from cancellation and encouraging other networks to pick up the series. Can Season 7 happen in another network?

This article contains spoilers. Read on if you want to learn more about the details of this story.

Many fans were disappointed when the show's panel at the San Diego Comic Con 2016 announced that "Teen Wolf" Season 6 will be the series' last on air. The reason behind the cancellation remains unclear, but many fans believe that the show was canceled because of the network's decision to focus on other genres instead.

This is why several petitions are already making rounds online in hopes of saving "Teen Wolf" Season 6 from cancellation. However, as Teen Wolf News pointed out, the show is unlikely to get renewed on another network.

Even showrunner Jeff Davis told the publication that it is impossible to shop "Teen Wolf" Season 7 to another network. The reason behind this unlikelihood is the complicated ownership of the show's rights between MTV and MGM Television.

While fans could not help but remain optimistic that "Teen Wolf" Season 7 can still happen, the publication notes that Season 6 may still provide fans with the needed closure. Spoilers reveal that the upcoming season of the MTV drama will have a total of 20 episodes.

Spoiler TV also revealed the episode title for "Teen Wolf" Season 6 episode 6, which is named "Ghosted." It is believed that the said title has some connection to the villains of the upcoming season - the Ghost Riders.

Do you think "Teen Wolf" Season 7 should happen in another network or should it end with Season 6? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!


Kate Middleton and Prince William are once again in the middle of pregnancy rumors as the couple is said to be expecting their third child, who is set to come out this December, and Queen Elizabeth is not happy about it. Other reports are claiming, however, that despite the pregnancy news, they are set to divorce.

In a report by Celebrity Dirty Laundry, Queen Elizabeth thinks that the Duchess of Cambridge is using her pregnancy as a reason to not attend many events. She is also reportedly using her pregnancy to escape Royal responsibilities. The publication pointed out that as of current Queen Elizabeth and Middleton are feuding and are not in good terms.

Many reports are saying that Queen Elizabeth has set up some royal engagements for Middleton beforehand and due to her pregnancy, she might reason out so that she could stay at home. Accordingly, both Middleton and Prince William are dubbed as the laziest royal couple ever so the third pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge might make them lazier even more.

As for the divorce rumors, it was reported that Middleton and Prince William might no longer push through with that as they believe that having a third baby would save their failing marriage. Middleton's followers have also noticed that her belly seems to be growing in recent photos making them all the more believe that she is indeed pregnant.

These reports, however, have not been denied or confirmed.

More on Middleton, Variety reported that she recently debuted on Instagram Story. The official Instagram account of Kensington Royal posted a video showing Prince William and Middleton making an appearance in Luton. They attended the event that marks the re-opening of a building to house the national youth charity called Youthscape.

Prince William, Middleton, and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will be heading to Canada at the end of September.
A technology start-up that has created innovative new software to support families, educators and organisations working and living with autism has started a campaign enabling people to get access to the software while to raising 50,000 in funding to bring the product to launch.

Limejar founder Debbie Craig, a mother of four from Belfast, has combined her experience of raising her autistic son with her skills in software development to create the platform, called Boop.

Boop is designed to engage with every person important to the autistic child, including the child themselves, bridging the gap between home, health and education through an intelligent interface tailored to needs of each user.

Debbie's son Nicholas, was diagnosed with autism during her first year of a university degree in Computer Science. During this time Debbie worked hard to understand her son's autism and his actual day-to-day needs across essential relationships with carers, teachers or family members. She grew frustrated with the lack of effective tools available to aid her son's development and also felt in the dark regarding his education and health because the people delivering these services did not communicate effectively.

Within a year of graduating from Queens University, Debbie developed a beta version of Boop to tackle these inconsistencies and has been fine tuning the software with Nicholas. She has since raised grant funding and completed the Propel Programme, an incubator for start-ups with high growth potential.

Now, her company Limejar, is aiming to raise 50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to bring to market a product she believes could help autistic children and their families globally. The campaign is an opportunity for parents, educators and organisations to get Boop.

She commented: "Children with autism need a connected support system of carers, teachers and parents. Boop provides a link between all of the important people in a child's life, as well as children themselves. It will provide data that carers can use to support the child's development and provide autistic children with opportunities to develop of self-awareness, self-management and independent learning skills.

"There are growing numbers of Autism diagnoses in Northern Ireland, but awareness and support for families is growing too. Funding the next stage of development will allows us to complete Boop's development and make it available to families who are looking for new and better ways to support their child's development, with backers being the first get their hands on the finished product."

The team behind Boop believes that every child with Autism benefits when the important people in their lives connect and the software has been endorsed by a number of experts in the field.

Frank Quinn - Principle Lecturer at St Mary's Teacher Training College said: "Boop is exciting, it's imaginative, it's progressive, it allows for parents, teachers and pupils to enter a community of conversation. It reduces isolation, encourages interaction, and allows for targets to be set, achievement to be maintained, reached and developed. But more importantly allows for success to be celebrated." For more information on Boop, visit here.
Hugh Laurie has made a mark playing Dr. House for eight seasons on U.S. television. Now, the actor returns to the small screen to play yet another doctor in the Hulu series "Chance." How is this new character different from his former doctor role? What is the show all about?

In "Chance," Hugh Laurie plays the mild-mannered neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Eldon Chance, who treats patients suffering from multiple personality disorders. He's exposed to violence, power and corruption in his line of work, as he interacts with police and authorities. Chance is also a dad who is in the middle of a divorce and he lives in San Francisco.

Based on the character's description, it's already clear how Dr. Chance and Dr. House differ greatly in their fields of practice, personal backgrounds and characteristics. In terms of theme and story, "Chance" is a darker and bleaker show compared to "House," per USA Today.



[Yonomeaburro] Chance (Hulu): Hugh Laurie (House) vuelve a ser un doctor en este thriller ... https://t.co/mKATJH1pln pic.twitter.com/rjy8BcXVEf  TuitsDeTele (@TuitsDeTele) August 15, 2016

The series is based off a book written by Kem Nunn, who also serves as show's creator along with Alexandra Cunningham. Speaking with Moviefone, Hugh Laurie said that part of the reason why he agreed to "Chance" was because he loved Nunn's novel. In fact, the actor is recommending that viewers also read the book for the summer.

While an adaptation, Hugh Laurie acknowledges that "Chance" has perfectly stayed true to the book. "It's very rare that you find an adaptation that captures a novel, even to the point of possibly surpassing it," the actor said.

"Chance" will begin airing on the streaming site Hulu on Oct. 19. The show has already been marked for a two-season run so far, with about 20 episodes in total. The show also stars Diane Farr, who plays Chance's ex-wife, as well as Gretchen Mol, Paul Adelstein, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Ethan Suplee, Greta Lee, Clark Peters and Stefania Lavie Owen. Watch the teaser to "Chance" below.
(Beijing)  Beijing is mulling a new incentive scheme for electric vehicle (EV) production to replace existing subsidies that have encouraged the design and manufacture of mediocre products, as experts cautioned that stronger supervision is needed to discourage more unscrupulous activity.

Emerging Chinese industries often go through boom-bust cycles, as companies rush to make products in areas where they have little or no experience, often to help meet central government targets. Such cycles often result in massive oversupply, as the market gets flooded with mediocre products that nobody wants.

China's EV industry has experienced such a rapid build-up, and Beijing is now trying to put the sector on solid footing by creating more targeted incentives that will reward true innovators and designers of quality products.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner, is considering a new system that would award EV makers credits which they can trade between each other, according to a document carrying the department's stamp that has circulated online since the beginning of this month.

Cai Yu, a vice director of the NDRC's office in Shenzhen, confirmed the authenticity of the document on August 21.

The new scheme would require car manufacturers to produce a certain percentage of electric or hybrid cars each year among their total output. Manufacturers would receive credits once they completed their quotas, and can sell excess credits to other companies that don't meet the requirements.

The system is modeled after the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program used by the state government of California in the United States since 1990, analysts said.

However, a person close to the policymaker warned that the government should strengthen regulation to prevent carmakers from taking advantage of the system. Government investigations have discovered that some companies claimed to produce electric cars in order to get lucrative government incentives and other subsidies. But in some cases it was later discovered that no production was actually taking place.

The NDRC will need at least six months and up to a year to flesh out details for the new incentive plan, the government source said.

Contact reporter Chen Na (nachen@caixin.com); editor Doug Young (dougyoung@caixin.com)
The royal family's trip to Canada in September will be the first royal tour for Princess Charlotte. In preparing for this, Kate Middleton and Prince William are going to have a big entourage of nannies, personal assistants and security, including a hairdresser. Of course, Prince George will also be joining the family.

There will be over a dozen of staff members joining the Cambridges for their official royal visit to Canada beginning Sept. 24. Since Kate Middleton and Prince William will have the two little royals with them, and with the tour taking at least eight days, they will definitely need plenty of help to ensure that the family trip is smooth-sailing.

Joining the royals to Canada are Rebecca Deacon and Miguel Head, the duchess and duke's private secretaries. Because Kate Middleton and Prince William will be making official visits on their family trip, they will need someone to keep track of their calendars. But while mom and dad are going to be paying respects to leaders and other dignitaries, Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be cared for by nannies led by Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, People reports.

Our royal correspondent shares details on Prince George and Princess Charlotte upcoming trip to North America https://t.co/vHM8Ffiaf2  VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) August 16, 2016

The royals will also be assisted by Natasha Archer, who doubles as Kate Middleton's personal assistant, and Amanda Tucker. Archer is in charge of the wardrobe for both the duke and duchess, while Tucker is Kate Middleton's personal hairdresser. They have been accompanying the Cambridges for many of their official trips outside of the U.K.

According to the Independent, Kate Middleton and Prince William last made an official visit to Canada in 2011. It was actually the very first overseas tour that the Cambridges took after their marriage. Returning with the kids this time will be a different kind of family trip as their schedules will have accommodate lots of playtime with the Prince George and Princess Charlotte. "There will be a heavy focus on nature, the outdoors and there will be at least one private day factored into the trip," sources said, via Vanity Fair.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to welcome the royals. Himself a dad of three kids, Trudeau is said to be looking forward to the visit and has been keeping tabs of the royal's itinerary as it is being set.
During Emergency Room visits, poor children or publicly insured children have lesser chances to be admitted in the hospital compared to children with private health insurance, a latest study found out. The study on inequalities in health was conducted by Janet Currie and Diane Alexander, famous Princeton economists, and was published in the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The research used a unique data centered on all the health records of children aged 3-13 years who visited the Emergency Room of New Jersey hospital from year 2006 to 2012. Researchers discovered that nearly 10% of poor children who visited ER have less chance to be hospitalized at ordinary times.

According to the research, all similar (privately and publicly) children patients were actually treated by the hospital and no kids were rejected. However, what's only bothering is that, as shown by the research, hospitals favor the privately insured children over publicly insured children for hospitalization.

"When the hospital has the capacity, then it will take both private and public patients," the two Princeton economists noted. But when there's scarcity in bed supplies, hospitals, as reported by economists, have a clear reason to favor private insured children patients.

In the The Washington Post, Alexander said through an email that: "Our results suggest that hospitals are more likely to admit children with private insurance than with public insurance when beds are scarce." But we found no proof that this differential treatment decodes into differential health results, which increases the chance that overall admission tolls might be very high, she added.
Social media and internet use are one of the things that disconnect teenagers from their parents nowadays. A new study found that majority of moms and dads in America have no clue about what their children do online.

The National Cyber Security Alliance studied teen internet use and found that out of the 804 online teens and 810 parents with teens, only 13 percent of the youngsters believe that their parents understand how they use the internet and social media platforms. Moreover, 60 percent of teenagers involved in the study have parents who don't know that they have accounts on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.

Meanwhile, only 28 percent of parents surveyed believe their teenage sons or daughters have social media accounts that they are not aware of. The NCSA called this huge gap between American parents and teenagers as "digital disconnect," The Guardian reported. Rules about internet use don't seem to exist between parents and teenagers either.

According to the study, only 67 percent of parents require their children to disclose them frightening or uncomfortable online incidents to them. Only 32 percent of teenagers, however, have parents with rules on internet use.

Michael Kaiser, the NCSA's executive director, said the absence of rules is alarming, especially now that horrible things happen to young people through the internet. Parent Herald previously reported about children and teenagers being forced into "sextortion" by online predators. Some pedophiles also use the internet to sexually abuse children as young as one.

Many teenagers experience cyberbullying; others are vulnerable to app-enabled kidnappings. Teens who are cyberbullied were often harassed due to their sexual orientation, religion, gender, or race, The Guardian listed.

Kaiser believes that the solution for the digital disconnect between parents and teenagers isn't knowing every move youngsters make online. Parents should accept that they can't know everything there is about teenagers' online activity, and the least they could do is help young people make sound decisions about their online presence.

Kaiser advised parents to help their kids develop "resistance and resilience" to negative things on the internet and to encourage teens' problem-solving skills. This way, teenagers would know who to turn to when the going gets tough.

Social media is being blamed for the surge of psychological distress experienced by teenagers, BBC reported. These teens, who are mostly girls, are less likely to be involved in risky and dangerous activities, but they have an increased risk of poor mental health because of pressure, anxiety, and believing that they don't have control over their lives.
Remember that French burkini ban I wrote about last week? Its really happening. And now we have this fascinating (and horrifying) photo comparison:

The top picture, which dates from the early twentieth century, depicts a male official measuring womens swimsuits to make sure they cover enough skin. The bottom picture, from Nice, France, this week, depicts a group of male police officers forcing a woman on a beach to strip, because shes covering too much skin.

Because yes, French police have started enforcing burkini bans, making women to remove layers of clothing until theyre showing enough skin. How we went from forcing women to cover up to forcing them to strip is baffling, but the underlying reason is clear. These bans are born out of antipathy to Islam. From one incident:

A witness to the scene, Mathilde Cousin, confirmed the incident. The saddest thing was that people were shouting go home, some were applauding the police, she said. Her daughter was crying.

And then theres this:

In other words, the problem clearly isnt the amount of skin that is covered. The problem is that burkinis are associated with Islam. At issue is not discrimination against a specific clothing style, but discrimination against a religion.

Oh, and would you believe weve even heard from the woman who invented the burkina? According to Aheda Zanetti, the burkinis inventor, the garb symbolises leisure and happiness and fitness and health. As she explains:

When I invented the burkini in early 2004, it was to give women freedom, not to take it away. My niece wanted to play netball but it was a bit of a struggle to get her in the team  she was wearing a hijab. My sister had to fight for her daughter to play, had to debate the issue and ask, why is this girl prevented from playing netball because of her modesty? . . . So I sat down on my lounge room floor and designed something. . . . It was about integration and acceptance and being equal and about not being judged. It was difficult for us at the time, the Muslim community, they had a fear of stepping out. They had fear of going to public pools and beaches and so forth, and I wanted girls to have the confidence to continue a good life.

Click through to read the whole thing.
Andrew T. Walker of the Southern Baptist Convention made this comment in an exchange with Rod Dreher of the Benedict Option:

Are religious conservatives actually wrong and comparable to racists on this issue? I would answer, Absolutely not. Christians are holding to divine truths about human nature.

Both bloggers were responding to an article by David Gushee on the Religion News Service, addressing the future for churches that continue to take a hard line on homosexuality. There is fundamentally misleading in the way both Walker and Dreher frame their opposition to same-sex marriage and homosexual identities.

Walker finished his piece with the following questions:

Are Christians who hold to the historical position on sexual ethics engaging in invidious discrimination? Are Christians who hold to the historic position on sexual ethics holding the same type of beliefs and engaging in the same types of actions as avowed racists? Can there be actual disagreement on this issue that doesnt impute to the other side the worst possible motivations? Can there be a state of mutual respect that allows for different people to reach different conclusions about the purposes of human embodiment?

I have two problems with the narrative Walker is pushing here. First, the historical position on sexual ethics is not what Walker thinks it is. Second, Walker misunderstands comparisons between opposition to LGBT rights and racism, perhaps because he misunderstands racism (one does not have to have the worst possible motivations to be racist). And finally, I dont think either Dreher or Walker understand where the racism comparison leaves us.

There is no historical position on sexual ethics because there has not been only one historical position on sexual ethics. The Ancient Israelites practiced polygamy. The Ancient Greeks practiced pederasty, in which older men took adolescent youths as lovers. Prostitution was common and socially accepted in much of antiquity, and often connected with worship of various deities. Many early Christian leaders taught that celibacy, not marriage, was Gods ideal for his followers, and that those who married were taking a path that was second best. During the medieval period, young people could form legal marriages by simply declaringthemselves married. In the American colonies, as many as a third of all brides were already pregnant at the alter. What, pray, is the historical position on sexual ethics?

Walker could is talking about Christians who hold a historical position on sexual ethics, certainly (although even then, there is much about the way we view and practice marriage today that is thoroughly modern, both within and without the church). Walker is not, however, talking about Christians who hold the historical position on sexual ethics, because there is no one historical position on sexual ethics.

Interestingly, there have also been varying historical positions on race. During the nineteenth century and even before, many (white European and American) Christians believed that black people were the descendants of Ham, the cursed son of Noah. In fact, they taught that it was this historical reality that justified the enslavement of Africans. After all, the curse specifically involved slavery to his (white, the argument went) brothers. This wasnt about race hatred, believers in the Curse of Ham argued. It was simply realitya divine truth about the structure of humanity, if you will.

There are a lot of misunderstandings, today, about what opposition to the civil rights movement looked like. As late as the middle decades of the twentieth century, many southern pastors and religious leaders preached that the Bible taught the separation of the races. They argued that it was nothing against black people and that it wasnt about hatred. It was simply a divine realityGod had created the races to be separate, each in their own place. Check out this paragraph from George Wallaces 1963 Segregation Now, Segregation Forever speech:

We invite the negro citizens of Alabama to work with us from his separate racial station . . . as we will work with him . . . to develop, to grow in individual freedom and enrichment. We want jobs and a good future for BOTH races . . . the tubercular and the infirm. This is the basic heritage of my religion, if which I make full practice . . . . for we are all the handiwork of God.

There is actually a lot of similarity between this rhetoric and the rhetoric used by conservative churches today. Yes, there are some who still refer to homosexuals as perverts just as there were those in Wallaces following who used racial slurs to refer to African Americans. But when speaking to outsiders, when defending themselves against accusations of racism or homophobia, both southern churches in the 1960s and conservative churches today use similar rhetoricwe dont hate those others, we wish them well, over there. God has decreed separation of the races / a specific sexual order for marriage. Were not being mean when we say it and we dont hate anyone, its simply a divine reality laid down by God. This is how it has always been.

Lets go back to Walkers statements, already quoted above. First, this:

Are religious conservatives actually wrong and comparable to racists on this issue? I would answer, Absolutely not. Christians are holding to divine truths about human nature.

Again, note the similarity. Whether or not Walker is aware of it, this is the same exact logic used by many not most of those who opposed desegregation during the civil rights movement. God decreed that the races should be separate. Christian pastors preaching segregation were simply preaching divine truths about human kindeach race was best off with its own kind, race mixing was against Gods divine order.

And then theres also this bit:

Are Christians who hold to the historic position on sexual ethics holding the same type of beliefs and engaging in the same types of actions as avowed racists? Can there be actual disagreement on this issue that doesnt impute to the other side the worst possible motivations?

Walker makes the mistake of buying into a caricature of the white racist. If Im not like that person shouting racial epithets, I cant be racist, or so goes this logic. But while there were absolutely white southerners who shouted racial epithets and worse (just as there are conservative Christians who call gay people perverts or abominations and worse), most white southerners (and northerners) who opposed desegregation did not see themselves as hating black people. They believed that black people and white people were best off separate, that this was best for both races. And they believed God wanted it that waythat this order was decreed by God.

If youre still not convinced, look up pro-segregation speeches and sermons. Youll see what Im talking about. Heres another example:

You talk about a superior race and an inferior race and all that kind of situation. Wait a minute. No race is inferior in the will of God. Get that clear. If a race is in the will of God, it is not inferior. It is a superior race. You cannot be superior to another race if your race is in the will of God and the other race is in the Will of God. But the purposes of these races were established by Almighty God; and when man attempts to run contrary to the directive will of God for this world, there is always trouble. Now, that is the trouble. . . . Now, what is the matter? There is an effort today to disturb the established order. Wait a minute. Listen, I am talking straight to you. White folks and colored folks, you listen to me. You cannot run over Gods plan and Gods established order without having trouble. God never meant to have one race. It was not His purpose at all. God has a purpose for each race. That was from a 1960 sermon by Bob Jones Sr. titled Is Segregation Scriptural? His answer was a very clear and direct yes. Not only that, he accused civil rights leaders of being outside agitators who had come in to create problems and claimed that the South had seen harmony between the races before their arrival. And yet, look at the language he uses. Look at how he frames his argument. Look at how similar his language is to that arguing for traditional marriage.

Many conservative Christians are upset with being compared with racists who opposed desegregation in the 1960s because we as a society have done a terrible job of educating our young people about what racism involves. It does not have to involve malice or hatred. In fact, I would argue that it usually doesnt. Most of those who opposed desegregation would have argued adamantly that they felt no malice or hatred toward black people at all; segregation was just how things were supposed to be, race separation was simply the natural order of humankind.

With this background, let me address both Walker and Drehers concern about what the future holds for conservative churches that continue to teach that homosexuality is against Gods divine order for marriage and sexuality. Dreher predicts that these churches will be stripped of their tax exempt status if they refuse to change their position. Is this realistic? In a word, no. Im not sure either Dreher or Walker realize this, but no church has ever its tax exempt status for being racist. In fact, I lived for years in a town just south of a community that was home to several openly white supremacist churches. And yes, they still had their tax exempt status.

But what about all the IRS stuff with racist Christian schools? Didnt the IRS step in and revoke groups tax exempt status? ts true that in 1979, the IRS moved against a number of Christian schools that they believed were being racially discriminatory in their admissions process. But this was never about what the schools taught. It was about whether they barred admission to black students. Similarly, Bob Jones University lost its tax exempt status in 1983 because it banned interracial dating (it had originally barred African American applicants entirely). Even then, the court was very clear that its ruling only applied to religious schools, and not to churches.

Christian schools or universities that bar LGBT students from attending or ban same-sex dating (or refuse admissions to individuals in same-sex marriages) could potentially lose their tax exempt status, yes. But this is purely about discriminatory practice, and not about teaching, andrememberthis only applies to schools and universities. And thats it. The end. That is as far as any comparison to racism lets us go, because that is as far as the government has ever gone in dealing with racist churches or racially discriminatory religious schools or universities.

Honestly? A little bit of history goes a long way.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
(Beijing)  Xuan Changneng, head of the Financial Stability Bureau at the People's Bank of China (PBOC), is to join the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) as an assistant to the chairman, people with knowledge of the matter said.

His position at the central bank will be filled by Lu Lei, who leads the bank's research bureau, according to those sources.

The appointments are expected to be announced as soon as necessary personnel change procedures are completed.

Xuan, 50, has diverse experience at foreign financial institutions and Chinese financial regulatory departments. He previously worked at the CSRC during 2000-2004.

Before joining the PBOC, he was the managing director at JC Flowers & Co., LLC. Earlier he was a senior consultant and the secretary of the board of directors at China Construction Bank, and before that a senior research analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Xuan holds a Ph.D. degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. degree from University of Pennsylvania.

Lu Lei, 45, has been involved in various financial reform work groups under the PBOC, the State Council and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Before becoming the central bank's chief of research in 2014, he had worked as a researcher at China Merchants Bank and Huatai United Securities and Sun Yat-Sen University.

Lu holds a Ph.D. in Economics from PBOC's School of Finance.

Contact reporter Wang Yuqian at yuqianwang@caixin.com; editor Ken Howe at kennethhowe@caixin.com
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.
Afghan Girl's Death Has Iranians Questioning Ban On Organ Transplants For Foreigners

08/25/16

By Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL

The death of a 12-year-old Afghan girl in Iran has prompted that country's health minister to publicly defend a national ban on organ transplants for foreigners that some were initially blaming for the tragedy.



Iranian Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi has defended his country's ban on organ transplants for foreigners.

(file photo) (file photo)

Latifeh Rahmani died last week at a hospital in Shiraz, where she had reportedly been hospitalized for liver problems resulting from a genetic disorder, Wilson's disease, which causes dangerous accumulations of copper in the liver and other vital organs.

Latifeh's father was quoted by a hard-line website on August 19 as saying the girl died because doctors at a local hospital denied her organ transplant because she was an illegal immigrant.

In an interview a few days later with the semiofficial ISNA news agency, Latifeh's father said that doctors at the hospital had first asked whether the family could afford the surgery.

"I told the doctors, 'Do the surgery, we will manage [the payment],'" he was quoted by ISNA as saying. "They said Tuesday. But on Tuesday they didn't operate on her, they said Saturday. But my daughter died on Thursday, August 19."

Iranian authorities in September 2014 announced a ban on foreigners receiving Iranian organs via transplants in the country, citing long waiting lists for would-be recipients.

But doctors at the hospital in question, Namazi, and Iran's health minister rejected the idea that her nationality played a part, and said instead that Latifeh's quickly deteriorating health prevented her from receiving a liver transplant.

"Latifeh was hospitalized at the children's intensive-care unit, where she received medication and was examined for liver transplant. But because of the quick progression of her disease, organ transplant was not possible at all. She died because of a drop in her blood pressure and a heart attack," Saman Nikeghbalian, who works in the liver-transplant unit of Namazi, told local media.

"It is possible to transplant a part of the father or the mother's liver to the child," Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi said on August 22, "but because of the disease's progress, surgery was not possible."

'Careless' Reporting

Ghazizadeh Hashemi said Latifeh had received the best care and had been examined and treated by "the world's greatest surgeons."

"The death of Latifeh Rahmani was not at all because of a lack of an organ," he said, accusing the media of "carelessness" in reporting on her death in part because unnamed individuals are seeking to create tension between Iranians and Afghans, whom he called "our brothers and sisters."

He also defended the ban on foreign recipients, which was announced in September 2014.

"Regarding the organ transplant, we still believe the law banning organ transplant from Iranians to foreigners is for the preservation of the dignity of the people of our country, [so] we defend it," the health minister said.

In the past 10 years, he said, 608 foreigners have undergone organ transplants in Iran, where the sale of kidneys is legal.

Ghazizadeh Hashemi suggested that the real number could be higher because "many foreigners have received organs through illegal and other paths."

He condemned what is sometimes dubbed "transplant tourism," long condemned by the World Health Organization and other international forums, in which frequently wealthy purchasers abroad bypass a country's laws on organ donation at the expense of the donors' home country.

"It is a disgrace for foreign nationals to be allowed to visit Iran and buy the organs of poor Iranians and transplant them," Ghazizadeh Hashemi told domestic media earlier this week, citing similar bans in other countries.

He also noted that he had himself issued "exceptions" in the past, but said, "We can't expand it, because it is not in the interests of our country."

A deputy chairman of the parliament's health commission, Mohammad Hossein Ghorbani, said that body will look into Rahmani's death and suggested a revision of the ban could be in order.

"If necessary, then there should be a revision of the law and hospitals should be given permission to address exceptions," Ghorbani said. "What matters to the medical staff is to save people's lives and exceptions should be taken into account."

Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Lecture in London - Iran's Water Myths: should Iran focus on the problem's root causes or its solutions?

08/25/16

Source: Iran Heritage Foundation

Lecture by Dr Kaveh Madani



DRY RIVER BED AT SIOSEPOL BRIDGE, ISFAHAN

(July 2013)



Organised by: Iran Heritage Foundation

Date: Wednesday 14th September, 6.30pm

Venue: Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP

Description

Despite having a more advanced water management system than most Middle Eastern countries, similar to the other countries in the region, Iran is experiencing serious water issues. The country is faced with major challenges in the water sector, including, but not limited to: rising water demand and shortage; declining groundwater levels; deteriorating water quality; and increasing ecosystem losses. The government blames the current situation on the changing climate, frequent droughts, and international sanctions, believing that water shortages are periodic. However, if immediate actions are not taken to address these issues, the situation could become more tragic in the near future.

This presentation reviews some of the frequent myths and wrong beliefs that shape the public knowledge about Iran's water resource problems. It is argued that developing a common narrative about the problem and its root causes is essential to solving this issue. Thus, in the absence of accurate information and better understanding of the complexities of Iran's water management system any move to develop solutions would be subject to failure or would be associated with unintended consequences.

Biography

Dr Kaveh Madani is a Reader in Systems Analysis and Policy at the Centre for Environmental Policy of Imperial College, London. His core research interests and experiences include integrated water, environmental, and energy resources engineering and management. He has more than 150 publications, including applications of systems engineering, conflict resolution, system dynamics, economics, optimization as well as simulation and modelling methods to water, environmental, and energy resource problems at different scales to derive policy and management insights.

Tickets

Tickets : 10 book now



If you would prefer to pay by cheque, please make it payable to IHF and send this along with your contact details to: IHF, 63 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LP

For any inquiries please contact astrid@iranheritage.org, Tel: 020 3651 2121

The lecture will start promptly at 6.30pm so please ensure you arrive on time

Followed by a drinks reception

Please support Iran Heritage Foundation

IHF receives its funding from individuals, businesses and philanthropic institutions. We accept no funds from any government or political organisation. Please support IHF by clicking on the link below. For other ways of giving, and for US donors please visit our Giving page.
BOOK: The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran

08/25/16



The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran

(buy from amazon)



Publisher's Note:

An immersive, gripping account of the rise and fall of Iran's glamorous Pahlavi dynasty, written with the cooperation of the late Shah's widow, Empress Farah, Iranian revolutionaries and US officials from the Carter administration

In this remarkably human portrait of one of the twentieth century's most complicated personalities, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Andrew Scott Cooper traces the Shah's life from childhood through his ascension to the throne in 1941. He draws the turbulence of the post-war era during which the Shah survived assassination attempts and coup plots to build a modern, pro-Western state and launch Iran onto the world stage as one of the world's top five powers. Readers get the story of the Shah's political career alongside the story of his courtship and marriage to Farah Diba, who became a power in her own right, the beloved family they created, and an exclusive look at life inside the palace during the Iranian Revolution. Cooper's investigative account ultimately delivers the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty through the eyes of those who were there: leading Iranian revolutionaries; President Jimmy Carter and White House officials; US Ambassador William Sullivan and his staff in the American embassy in Tehran; American families caught up in the drama; even Empress Farah herself, and the rest of the Iranian Imperial family. Intimate and sweeping at once, The Fall of Heaven recreates in stunning detail the dramatic and final days of one of the world's most legendary ruling families, the unseating of which helped set the stage for the current state of the Middle East.

Hardcover: 608 pages

608 pages Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (August 2, 2016)

Henry Holt and Co. (August 2, 2016) Language: English

English ISBN-10: 0805098976

0805098976 ISBN-13: 978-0805098976

978-0805098976 Book Excerpt

About the author:

Andrew Scott Cooper is the author of The Oil Kings: How the U.S., Iran and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East, and an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University. He is a regular commentator on US-Iran relations and the oil markets, and his research has appeared in many news outlets including The New York Times and The Guardian. He holds a PhD in the history of US-Iran relations and lives in New York City.



Related article published by Town & Country Magazine, August 2016





Kirkus Reviews

A sympathetic account of the imperial couple of the Peacock Throne portrayed as so blindly benevolent that they did not see the Iranian Revolution coming. Cooper (The Oil Kings: How the U.S., Iran, and Saudi Arabia Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East, 2011), an American scholar of Iranian history, presents the drama of the Pahlavi dynasty in nearly tender terms, and the last shah, Mohammad Reza (1919-1980), as a sentimental yet savvy ruler who desired the well-being of his Persian empire above all. Inheriting the enormous task of modernizing his impoverished, largely illiterate people after the rule of his father, Reza Shah, the formidable general who abdicated in favor of his son in 1941, the young shah had to juggle the interests of the colonial powers intent on the country's oil wealth and foil the pointed criticism that he was their lackey. (read more)

New York Times review by Azadeh Moaveni: A New Book Defends Iran's Last Shah



The former shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, staked his modernization project on the secularization of Iranian life, and the emancipation of traditionally religious women. He urged them to come out from under their veils, attend university and show up as citizens in the public sphere. He passed sweeping secular laws that gave women greater rights in the family, appointed women to high office and encouraged a Western liberality that involved Dior swimsuit shows and broadcasts of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. His efforts empowered a small elite of secular feminists, and led to women making up one-third of all university students by 1978. (read more)
The best 2-in-1 laptop 2022: our picks of the best convertible laptops

These are the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now
If youre the unofficial tech support for your family, a new feature hidden deep within Windows 10s Anniversary Update should be welcome news. Its called Quick Assist.

Anyone who works in the computer industry, or has a reputation for being technologically savvy, knows the sinking feeling that accompanies these words: So I bought a new computer. Those six words inevitably mean youre going to end up on a long telephone call trying to explain something like how to save a web document as a PDF, with each participant becoming more frustrated by the minute. Wouldnt you just like to perform the task for them and be done with it?

Quick Assist makes that possibleand without the car ride.

For years, Microsoft added a feature called Remote Desktop to the Professional versions of Windows, and you could use either it, or a number of other third-party apps, to remotely control your PC. (Remote Desktop Connection is still part of Windows 10 Professional.) Windows Remote Assistance, which is what Quick Assist is based upon, has also appeared in previous versions of Windows.

Mark Hachman Quick Assist can be slightly hard to find.

With Quick Assist, youre not controlling your own PC from afar, but asking permission from another person to control their PC (or vice versa), and with the understanding that either party can disconnect the connection at any time. It cant solve any hardware problems, like a mouse thats out of batteries; however, it does allow a remote user to check if the mouses Bluetooth settings are properly configured and the drivers are up to date.

Basically, Quick Assist lets you use your mouse and keyboard to remotely control a friends PC, doing everything that you could otherwise do on your own machine.

Get started with Quick Assist

One of the most challenging aspects of Quick Assist is just finding the darn thing. You can quickly launch Quick Assist by typing the apps name in the Cortana search box, or by scrolling to Apps > Windows Accessories. (When my father bought his new PC, I simply pinned the app to his Start menu where it would be easy to find.)

From there, Quick Assist makes it simple. Launching the app presents you with one of two choices: give assistance or get it. I chose the former, as I tested it remotely with my fathers new PC, an hours drive away.

Mark Hachman This is your first choice: Do you need help, or are you providing it?

Its important to note that Quick Assist requires two people to initiate the connection; you wont be able to remotely tweak your aunts PC while shes out jogging. If you choose to give assistance, youre first asked to log in with your Microsoft account. Youre then provided with a six-digit security PIN code that you must provide to the person youre assisting within 10 minutes. (Both parties must enter the same code.) Again, Microsoft bends over backwards to help you, offering to email the PIN to your friend or family member, or save it to your clipboard to paste into a chat app.

Mark Hachman The security code is active for 10 minutes, after which it will simply be replaced with another.

(Note: The care that Microsoft takes to ensure both parties have the correct PIN made me suspect that entering an incorrect code might open up the remote PC to an unauthorized takeover by a stranger. Microsofts support staff says thats not true. Instead, mistyping the PIN will simply cause the connection to fail.)

Mark Hachman If youre receiving assistance, youll be asked to input a code as well.

Working within Quick Assist

Lets assume youre the one giving assistance. Once Quick Assist is active, youll see a window displaying the other persons desktop, which is surrounded by a border containing several icons. Youll need to click inside that window to allow your cursor to take control of the other PC.

Mark Hachman Quick Assist doesnt come with any limitations; you can see someones entire desktop on your screen and run apps.

The icons in the border allow you to annotate the window with digital ink, expand the Quick Assist window into full-screen mode, reboot the remote computer, or bring up the Task Manager. A pause and stop button also allows you to pause or disconnect from the remote PC as well.

According to Microsofts support staff, navigating the remote computer gives you all the rights and privileges as that computers owner: You can change settings, personalization options, and so on, provided that the remote user already has the appropriate permissions. (One thing you cant do, however, is right-click a file and download it to your PC, though you could certainly open the remote PCs email or chat app and send it that way.) Still, its another reason that the person receiving assistance should implicitly trust the person giving assistancebeware of phone scammers warning that your Windows system has bad data or a possible virus, and offering to help fix it!

Mark Hachman Theres an annotation tool, though its slightly awkward to use with a mouse.

Because Quick Assist allows the user receiving assistance to look over your shoulder, so to speak, he or she can follow along. When explaining what I was doing on my dads PC, I found that merely pointing to a menu item or setting with the mouse cursor did the trick. The annotation feature is there if you want to draw special attention to something, however. Unfortunately, the annotating feature in Quick Assist does not allow inking via the Surface Pen stylus, so youll have to use a mouse.

Remember, Quick Assist uses a network connection, so tweaking the network settings may accidentally disconnect Quick Assist. The remote reboot option will also require some hand-holding, as the reboot still requires the remote user to type his or her password to log in. After the user logs in, though, Quick Assist will automatically reconnect. Remember, either party can also choose to disconnect from the Quick Assist connection, which should be as easy as closing the application.

Mark Hachman Youll receive a message when you reboot the remote PC.

(Note: After I remotely rebooted my fathers PC, his login password didnt work, he reported. I manually guided him into rebooting his PC once more, though, and that seemed to solve the problem.)

Both my father and I concluded our test impressed with the Quick Assist tool. My father had never seen remote desktop software before, so he was fairly tickled by the notion of his cursor moving on its own. And for me, the freedom of being able to launch a quick session to show him how to use a feature was extremely convenient.

Keep in mind, though, that Quick Assist opens the front door to your digital world. If youre asking for help, remember that anything on your desktop or in your foldersbe it Christmas list 2016, Bankruptcy plans, or Honeymoon picscan be seen by your friend or family member, even if youre watching them the whole time. Quick Assist is a powerful, convenient tool for remote assistance, but it requires trust on both sides.

This story was updated at 10:12 AM to note the relationship between Quick Assist and Windows Remote Assistance.
Linux is now a quarter-century old. August 25, 2016 marks 25 years since the day Linus Torvalds posted a message announcing Linux to the world. Im doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, wont be big and professional like gnu), he wrote.

Since then, Linux has taken the world by storm, powering millions of servers, a countless number of embedded devices, and most of the smartphones in the worldby way of Android.

Getting started with Linux

I spoke to Matthew Miller, project leader of popular Linux distribution Fedora, to get his thoughts on this momentous occasion. Hes been a Linux user since 1995, just four years after Torvalds started his hobby project.

Miller didnt actually become involved with the Linux community until a few years later, when he was at Boston Universitys Office of Information Technology. His experience mirrors that of a lot of Linux users, who discovered how easy it is to get involved and to make a difference:

We had a real problem with Linux installations popping up everywhere and then getting hacked into almost immediately. Security just wasnt a big priority at the time. I started a project to make a tailored distribution which would be secure out of the box, and better integrated with campus services. I based that on Red Hat Linux, and got involved with the community around that, which lead directly into the Fedora Project when that got started. Fedora has a strong and vibrant community, and I found that its pretty easy to have your work and ideas make a big positive impact.

World domination in a quarter-century

Today, Linux is huge. In many ways, weve actually reached the fabled world domination everyone joked about 20 years ago, says Miller. Linux is the default operating system for most things Android puts Linux at the heart of the most common consumer operating system in the world. Open source, to some degree or another, is now the default licensing model.

But not everything is perfect. Miller is critical of Android increasingly relying on closed Google services. Its not an open-source project in the same way Linux is. Software patents are an ongoing problem that loom over open innovation, too.

But more companies are investing in true open-source projectsnot just releasing some code under an open-source license, and then forgetting about it, but building a real community and engaging with it. Even Microsoft is embracing Linux and open-source software more than ever, and thats huge.

Indeed, the biggest surprise to Miller is Microsofts embrace of Linux, and open source in general, which would have been April Fools Day material only a few years ago. But hes not completely convinced about Microsofts change of heart until we see an open-source Minecraft.

The Internet of Things and year of the Linux desktop

Going into the next quarter-century, Fedoras project leader is interested to see how the Internet of Things plays out. Many of these devices are based on the Linux kernel and various open-source projects, but theres still a huge security problem. Hes critical of the culture and lack of community around these projects:

The situation now reminds me of the situation I described with Linux on university networks at the turn of the centurya big security mess, no sensible standardized management tools and uncertain updates and lifecycles. Thats not sustainable. Open source and open standards can be the solution, but itll require those genuine communities I was talking aboutif a device requires some central service and only the original device manufacturer can effectively make fixes and updates, it doesnt matter what the license is.

Miller doesnt expect to see a landmark Year of Linux on the Desktop, but he does expect Linux to increase its market share among people who care about having an actual general-purpose computer. He sees the mass market moving to tablets, phones, and simpler interfaces, leaving Linux as an increasingly appealing option for people who need a traditional, general-purpose PC. He points out Stack Overflows survey which found that 22 percent of developers use Linux on their primary desktop, and he expects to see that number growwith maybe even the majority of developers using desktop Linux in five years. The same pattern will play out for power users and all kinds of content creators, he says.

But dont despair, Linux fans. Linus Torvalds himself is still hopeful about the year of Linux on the desktop. Im still working on it. Its been 25 years. I can do this for another 25. Ill wear them down, he said at the Embedded Linux Conference earlier this year.
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.
A panel of U.K. lawmakers has described as alarming that social networking companies like Facebook, Twitter and Googles YouTube have teams of only a few hundred employees to monitor billions of accounts for extremist content.

These companies are hiding behind their supranational legal status to pass the parcel of responsibility and refusing to act responsibly in case they damage their brands, said a report released early Thursday in the U.K. by the Home Affairs Committee appointed by the House of Commons.

If these companies do not tackle the issue and allow their services to become the Wild West of the internet, their reputation as responsible operators will be eroded, it added.

The report, which said the use of the internet to promote radicalization and terror was one of the biggest threats faced by countries including the U.K., singled out Twitter for mention for not proactively reporting extremist content to law enforcement agencies.

The committee described as a drop in the ocean the suspension by Twitter of 125,000 accounts worldwide linked to terrorists between mid-2015 and February 2016, and Googles removal in 2014 of over 14 million videos worldwide that related to all kinds of abuse.

In evidence to the panel, the companies said that they had staff who manually search for potentially extremist content online and decide on whether to take the content down and suspend accounts. Twitter said it had more than a hundred staff working on this job, while Facebook and Google did not provide a number.

The report reflects growing concern about the use of social networks by terror groups like the Islamic State group, also referred to as ISIS, for propaganda, communications and recruitment. We are engaged in a war for hearts and minds in the fight against terrorism. The modern front line is the internet, said Keith Vaz, member of Parliament and chairman of the committee in a statement. Its forums, message boards and social media platforms are the lifeblood of Daesh and other terrorist groups for their recruitment and financing and the spread of ideology.

The lawmakers have recommended that social networking companies should have their staff co-located at the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU), a special unit hosted by the Metropolitan Police.

The UK Government should now enforce its own measures to ensure that the large technology companies operating in this country are required to cooperate with CTIRU promptly and fully, by investigating sites and accounts propagating hate speech, and then either shutting them down immediately, or providing an explanation to CTIRU of why this has not been done, according to the report.

CTIRU should also be upgraded into a high-tech, central operational hub, working around the clock to locate threats early, move quickly to block them and instantly share relevant information with other security agencies, it added.

As I made clear in my evidence session, terrorists and the support of terrorist activity are not allowed on Facebook and we deal swiftly and robustly with reports of terrorism-related content, said Simon Milner, director of policy at Facebook UK, in an emailed statement. In the rare instances that we identify accounts or material as terrorist, well also look for and remove relevant associated accounts and content.

YouTube said it removes content that incites violence, terminates accounts run by terrorist groups and responds to legal requests for removal of content that breaks U.K. law.

A Twitter spokesman referred to a company blog post this month that said it had suspended 360,000 accounts for violating its policies related to promotion of terrorism since the middle of 2015. The company said in February that as other companies and experts have also noted, there isnt a magic algorithm for identifying terrorist content on the Internet.

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter agreed in May to a process for receiving and reviewing notifications about online hate speech from European Union users on their platforms, which could see most valid notifications reviewed within 24 hours, and the content even brought down or access to it disabled.

Social networking companies are also facing lawsuits in the U.S for the terrorist content found on their sites. One such lawsuit filed in a federal court in California by the father of a victim of the Paris terror attack in November charges that Twitter, Facebook and Google knowingly permitted ISIS to use their social networks as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds and attracting new recruits.

The U.K. MPs also made other proposals, including a recommendation that communities must take on a leadership role, and organizations like the Muslim Council of Britain could do more to expose and remove those who preach or advocate race hate and intolerance.
To spy on a human rights activist, hackers allegedly connected to a Middle Eastern government used three previously unknown vulnerabilities in Apples iOS.

The claims  from research at Toronto-based Citizen Lab and mobile security firm Lookout  focus on spyware that targeted Ahmed Mansoor, an activist in the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier this month, Mansoor received an SMS text message on his iPhone claiming to offer new secrets about tortured detainees in his country. However, inside the message was a link that, once clicked, can infect an iPhone with spyware, using three zero-day exploits of iOS, the research found.

The exploits work by remotely jailbreaking the device to secretly download the spyware  which can then access the iPhones camera, microphone, and messages.

Lookout called the attack the most sophisticated its ever seen on a device. The researchers have already informed Apple about the exploits, and iOS version 9.3.5  which was released on Thursday  fixes the issues.

The attack is rare because it used three previously unknown vulnerabilities, suggesting the hackers were well-funded. Just one of these exploits can be worth US$1 million.

Citizen Lab, however, is pointing fingers at an Israeli security firm called NSO Group, which reportedly specializes in monitoring smartphones of government targets.

NSO Group doesnt maintain a website, and an email to the company went unanswered. But Citizen Lab said leaked documents appear to show the Israeli company selling a spyware product called Pegasus, which matches with the three zero-day exploits found.

Citizen Lab also analyzed the domain name in the link Mansoor received via SMS text message. Following a long internet trail, it found an NSO Group registered email as part of evidence tying the Israeli company to the attack.

The UAE likely hired NSO Group to spy on Mansoor, Citizen Lab added. Mansoor has previously been the target of commercial spyware back in 2011 and 2012.

While these spyware tools are developed in democracies, they continue to be sold to countries with notorious records of abusive targeting of human rights defenders, said Citizen Lab, which is based out of the University of Toronto.

The UAEs embassy didnt immediately respond for comment.
Jurors in a U.S. federal court have convicted a Russian hacker of stealing and selling more than 2 million credit card numbers.

On Thursday, the jury in Seattle found Roman Valerevich Seleznev guilty of charges related to his hacking of point-of-sale systems.

Seleznev was arrested in 2014 after U.S. authorities accused him of installing malicious software on point-of-sale systems in U.S. restaurants .

From 2009 to 2013, Seleznev used this scheme to steal credit card data from businesses and send it back to his servers in Ukraine and McLean, Virginia. The stolen data was then sold on the black market, with Seleznev promising that buyers could make fraudulent purchases with them.

Testimony at his trial revealed that Seleznevs scheme defrauded US$169 million from 3,700 financial institutions, the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement.

The U.S. Secret Service began tracking Seleznev in 2005. At the time of his arrest in the Maldives, he was found carrying 1.7 million stolen credit card numbers on his laptop. Seleznev reportedly is the son of a Russian lawmaker, Valery Seleznev, and also a senior member of several organized online crime networks..

Seleznev was convicted on 38 counts, including wire fraud, intentional damage to a computer and identify theft. He will be sentenced in December and could face decades in prison and millions of dollars in fines.

Seleznev has also been charged in separate cases in Neveda and Georgia involving racketeering and bank fraud.
Wildomar Mayor Bridgette Moore will serve a third term as a city councilwoman without having to campaign for the Nov. 8 election.

Moore was the only candidate who filed and qualified to run as the candidate for the citys newly created District 4. The states election code allows the city to cancel a council election if only one candidate qualifies.

Thats what the City Council did in a special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 24. Councilmen Ben Benoit, Bob Cashman and Tim Walker voted to affirm Moore as the districts representative for the next four years.

If I look back at her last election, she not only won, she overwhelmingly won, Benoit said. Bridgette has always done a stellar job for our city and I think the residents of our city recognize that.

Moore abstained from the vote because of a financial conflict, since she receives a $300 stipend for council meetings. Councilwoman Marsha Swanson is on vacation and was absent.

While the councils decision gives voters on the west side in District 4 a break from a council campaign, the electorate on the east side in District 2 will cast ballots for one of two candidates who qualified  Justin Nigg or Linda Gonzales.

Benoit said a factor in the decision to forgo the District 4 election was to save money in a municipal budget that has been constrained by the states decision to take vehicle license fee revenue. The city will save about $5,000 to $7,000, according to City Clerk Debbie Lee.

Its the same rationale thats been driving us since we lost our VLF funding, Benoit said. Every penny we can save is a penny we can put to public safety.

Moore, along with Swanson and Cashman, is one of the citys original council members. They won their seats during the 2008 election in which voters approved Wildomars incorporation.

Before this year, Wildomar council elections were conducted at large, in which voters citywide could cast ballots for any candidate.

The upcoming election will be the first conducted under the district system, in which residents in a district can vote only for candidates from that district. The shift stems from a legal challenge contending the at-large system violated the the California Voting Rights Act based on the contention it discriminated against Latino candidates.

Contact the writer: 951-368-09690 or michaelwilliams@pressenterprise.com
The California Highway Patrol Temecula Office in August welcomed a new captain who says she is eager to work with members of the public as well as other agencies.

Captain Karyn Mentink is a 26-year member of the California Highway Patrol. She has worked in such areas as Los Angeles, Truckee and San Diego. Most recently she worked as the commander of the El Centro office in the Imperial Valley.

Mentik will not just be overseeing the officers who patrol the CHP Temecula Offices 900 square mile service area.

Ill be working with allied agencies, attending community meetings and getting out there in the public and being there to hear what their concerns are, she said.

The California Department of Transportation is one of those agencies. Mentink will work with them to deal with traffic issues during highway construction projects.

Mentink said shes excited by the prospect of being able to make an impact in the communities she will be serving. For the Temecula office that will be from the San Diego County line in the south to Highway 74 in the Lake Elsinore and Perris areas to the north.

I enjoy the smaller command and being able to feel like you can impact the communities more and work a little more closely with the communities, she said. In a big area, sometimes, theyre so large that it doesnt feel like you have as much of a connection.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@scng.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter
The trial of Syed Raheel Farook, the older brother of one of the masterminds behind the San Bernardino Dec. 2 attack at the Inland Regional Center, is set for November at the federal courthouse in Riverside.

Farook, 31, and his wife, Tatiana, 31, both of Corona, along with her sister, Mariya Chernykh, 26, of Ontario were arrested during two raids carried out by FBI agents and U.S. marshals in April.

The trio was indicted on multiple felony charges. Theyre all free on bonds ranging from $25,000 to $50,000.

During Farooks initial court appearance April 28, defense attorney Ron Cordova said his clients case was about misrepresentation in an act of marriage  not an act of terror.

Farook is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud. His wife is also charged with conspiracy, while her sister was indicted on charges of misuse of work visas and permits, conspiracy, perjury and making materially false statements to the government.

The indictment alleges that the trio carried out a marriage fraud conspiracy to obtain immigration benefits for Chernykh, a Russian citizen who allegedly entered into a sham marriage with Enrique Marquez Jr., a friend of terrorist Syed RizwanFarook.

On Dec. 2, San Bernardino became synonymous with many other cities facing terrorism around the world. That fateful day, terrorists Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, abandoned their infant daughter and made their way through the Inland Regional Center, firing numerous rounds from assault rifles.

When the gunfire subsided, 14 people were dead, 22 wounded and an entire community ripped apart in fear.

Later that day on a small stretch of one San Bernardino street, a gun battle ended with the terrorists deaths.

Immediately following, several law enforcement agencies  both local and federal  began multiple investigations. The charges against the terrorists family members are a direct result of those investigations.

The defendants case had been transferred to U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for adjudication but has since been re-assigned to the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal in Riverside.

Bernal recently scheduled a pretrial conference for Oct. 31 and a tentative trial date of Nov. 8.

Marquez was indicted in January for allegedly supplying the terrorists with the rifles used in the massacre. He is slated to be tried in June on charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, as well as marriage fraud and misuse of travel visas and other certified documents.

According to authorities, Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook allegedly conspired to validate a sham marriage by standing as witnesses at Marquez and Chernykhs wedding, taking staged family pictures of the couple, creating a joint checking account for Marquez and Chernykh, as well as providing a back-dated lease that implied they shared a marital residence with the Farooks.

Marquez and Chernykh allegedly signed immigration documents, under penalty of perjury, falsely stating that they both lived at the same address. The indictment alleges that Marquez received money from Chernykh as part of the arrangement.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: dsaunders@scng.com, @crimeshutterbug on Twitter
Three years after launching the Responsible Redlands initiative, the Police Department continues to fight alcohol-related crime in the city.

We believe that its been very successful and are happy with the results, happy with the partnerships with the business community and the community at large to help drive down this negative activity associated with binge and underage drinking, said Redlands police Cmdr. Chris Catren.

The department launched the initiative in 2013 to curb drunken driving and the sale of alcohol to minors, and to hold irresponsible alcohol retailers accountable.

Through the initiative, Redlands police officers enforce the citys social host ordinance, which authorizes police to cite adults who host parties where minors consume alcohol, and the deemed approved ordinance, which set performance standards for alcohol establishments to meet or risk losing their licenses.

The big thing with the Responsible Redlands Initiative was getting the ordinances in place, Catren said, those things really seem to make a big difference.

Since January 2015, the department has responded to 1,305 calls for parties or loud music. Catren said these are the types of calls impacted by the social host ordinance, which the department rarely has to enforce because community members have changed their behavior regarding allowing minors to drink at parties in their homes.

Mario Saucedo, chairman of the Common Vision Coalition, said since the citys adoption of the social host, deemed approved and synthetic drug ordinances, his group has seen a downward trend in all areas of concern.

Thats great news that our informational and educational campaigns have been working, Saucedo said.

The coalition, a community group that assisted in the passage of the ordinances and supports the initiative, continues to lead discussions with Redlands Unified School District and University of Redlands officials on the concerns as well as letting residents know about the ordinances and resources in place.

Each year, its just a reiteration of those kinds of safeguards and the positive downward trend that we see really shows that were being successful, Saucedo said.

Also under the Responsible Redlands Initiative umbrella, the Police Department conducts DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols  funded by the state Office of Traffic and Safety  to target drunken drivers. The department conducts minor decoy shoulder-tap operations  funded by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control  to target the sale of alcohol to minors.

Responsible Redlands was supported with funding from the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

The grant funding ran out in May, Catren said.

The grant we were working under through the county ended, Catren said, but it didnt end our efforts under the program.

The Police Department has kept the initiative going with the support of other grant funding, he said.

The department recently received a $24,491 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control to fund its minor decoy operations and provide training for bar owners and employees.

The grant from the Office of Traffic Safety still funds DUI checkpoints and operations downtown, Catren said.

In March, Redlands police and students from Citrus Valley High Schools Friday Night Live, with support from the Community Vision Coalition, gave free movie tickets to 20 sober motorists passing through a DUI/drivers license checkpoint.

It was a way to do something positive for motorists following the law, Saucedo said.

The response we got from the motorists were like Oh, wow, this is cool, thank you so much,  he added.

Contact the writer: semerson@scng.com; @TheFactsSandra on Twitter
A college intern working at the San Bernardino City Unified School District denies she had sex with a young boy and is scheduled to be back in court Friday for a hearing, records show.

Paola Guijarro, 19, of Highland pleaded not guilty Aug. 18 to unlawful intercourse with a minor more than three years younger than the defendant and annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18 in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Paola Guijarro has been a college intern working at the high school level from October 2014 to present, district spokeswoman Maria Garcia said. However, it was unclear if the victim was a student at any of the high schools.

According to the criminal complaint, Guijarro and the boy had been involved in a sexual relationship for a month between April and May of this year. Guijarro had been molesting the boy since the beginning of the year, the complaint alleges.

San Bernardino School Police arrested Guijarro at her Highland home Aug. 15, San Bernardino County Sheriffs booking records show. She is currently being held at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga in lieu of $75,000 bail.
The insurance carrier for the now defunct Marinello Schools of Beauty has paid the U.S. more than $8.6 million to resolve allegations the schools received federal student loan funding for ineligible students who received bogus high school diplomas.

Philadelphia Indemnity agreed to the civil settlement and paid it on Monday without admitting any wrongdoing by its insured, B&H Education Inc., which operated the schools in locations across Southern California including Moreno Valley, Hemet, Temecula, San Bernardino and Ontario.

In a whistle-blower lawsuit, B&H was accused of allegedly allowing students seeking the diplomas to take their tests without proctors, to use their phones and workbooks to look up answers during tests and to repeat the same tests until they passed. Under U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulations, a student must have a valid high school diploma or its equivalent in order to receive federal student loans.

The operator of this school manipulated the system in order to fraudulently secure student aid funds without which the school could not function, U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said in a statement. Todays settlement demonstrates my offices commitment to ensuring the integrity of federal programs, and the public monies used to support them.

The ED cut off Marinellos participation in the federal student aid program in February after determining the schools were knowingly requesting federal aid for students based on invalid high school diplomas, underawarding federal student aid to students, charging students for excessive overtime and engaging in other acts of misrepresentation.

Shortly after that action was taken, Marinello spokesman Joe Hixon said the claims were based on flawed information.

We had really good responses to the areas they addressed, he said. They began withholding financial aid funding to us two months ago but wouldnt say what the allegations were. Thats kind of like being arrested and not being told what the charges are.

Hixon took issue with the DOEs claim that Marinello sought financial aid for students with invalid high school diplomas.

If they dont have a high school diploma or the equivalent, they are not eligible for financial aid, Hixon said in February. But we think its important for everyone to have at least that educational background, so we work with students through an accredited school to get their high school equivalency completed.

The entire Marinello school chain  with 56 campuses across the nation  received more than $87 million in Pell Grants and federal student loans for the 2014-15 school year. All of the schools closed shortly after the action was initiated.

The closures affected about 4,300 students and 800 employees. Locally, the impact was felt in such communities as Ontario, Huntington Beach, Burbank, San Bernardino, Lomita, Whittier and Simi Valley, among others.

Contact the writer: kvsmith@scng.com, @SGVNBiz on Twitter
Sharply declining growth rates for fixed-asset and private business investment in the second quarter and July cast a shadow over otherwise successful efforts to buffer the pain inflicted by China's economic slowdown.

The Caixin China Purchasing Managers' Index in July pointed to the first, month-to-month manufacturing expansion since February 2015, underscoring strong growth overall for the service and manufacturing sectors. Zhong Zhengsheng, director of Macroeconomic Analysis at CEBM Group, a subsidiary of Caixin Insight Group, said the index pointed to a "weak recovery" for the economy.

Also in July, retail sales of consumer goods nationwide and the average new-home price in 100 cities surveyed jumped 10.2 percent and 12 percent, respectively, from the same period last year.

And the ratings agency Moody's accented the cheer by revising its 2016 GDP growth projection upward to 6.6 percent, from an earlier prediction of 6.3 percent.

Nevertheless, private companies tightened their purse strings in the second quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Private business investment grew 4.2 percent in April, year-on-year, but slid every month until flat-lining in June, the bureau, and spiraling downward to negative territory in July.

Meanwhile, NBS said, year-on-year growth in total fixed-asset investment, which includes private investment, fell to 3.9 percent in July from 10.1 percent in April.

Private investment has been blamed on tightened lending by banks and high financing costs. Several bank sources who asked to remain anonymous told Caixin that their banks have been refusing loan applications from all private, unlisted companies, citing credit risks.

Corporate loans declined by 2.6 billion yuan in July, the first decline in 11 years, according to the People's Bank of China.

"Private companies can't raise enough funds to support investments," said Zhou Dewen, chairman of the Wenzhou Council for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Zhengzhou Province city of Wenzhou.

Huang Fajing, chairman of a Wenzhou-based manufacturer of cigarette lighters, said state-owned companies are getting loans while private businesses like his are being turned away. Hundreds of private lighter makers in Wenzhou have closed in recent years, he said.

Shen Jianguang, chief economist at Mizuho Securities, and Liang Hong, chief economist at the investment bank China International Capital Corp., recommended the government consider tax cuts as a way to support strained businesses. But Shen said what's really needed are economic reforms.

Meanwhile, Liang said, the central bank has been more cautious about monetary policy easing over concerns about yuan depreciation and asset bubble risks. "The core issue of current monetary policy is to effectively transfer liquidity into real economy. But this can't be resolved solely by the central bank," he said.

"The key to a successful transfer of monetary policy impact (to the real economy) involves boosting private investment and consumption, which means reducing tax burdens on businesses and households," said Liang.

Economists are also watching a widening gap between the growth of M1, which includes cash and short-term bank deposits, and M2, a broader measure of M1 that includes long-term deposits.

In July, M1 growth exceeded M2 growth by a record 15.2 percentage points , suggesting central bank efforts to stimulate growth by pumping liquidity into the market may be falling short.

Hu Yifan, chief China economist at UBS Wealth Management, said companies have been hoarding cash rather than investing in new plants, equipment and personnel. And Wu Ge, chief economist at Huarong Securities, said the M1 surge reflected an emerging asset bubble.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com); Contact editor Eric Johnson (ericjohnson@caixin.com)
An Inland state senators name is being used in an unflattering context following her endorsement of an incumbent assemblywomans rival.

The Sacramento Bee this week ran a story about the ongoing and deep-rooted tensions between the Assembly and state Senate. The story led off with how bills sponsored by Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino, were either stripped of her authorship, held or passed with a new co-author added, namely Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown, D-San Bernardino.

Leyva, a former California Labor Federation president elected to the Senate in 2014, has endorsed Eloise Reyes, Browns Democratic opponent in the November election for the 47th Assembly District.

From the Bee:

Perhaps it was to be expected. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon warned as much at the California Roast in June, when he joked that the new term for when a legislator sticks their nose into someone elses business would be pulling a Leyva.

And thats kind of funny, because thats also the new expression that were gonna use for when a bill dies in the next house immediately: It got Leyva-ed,  he added, to roars from the audience. You think thats funny? Its not a joke. Just wait. Its coming, its coming.

Leyva told the Bee that she was excited her bill to reimburse local agencies for costs associated with the Dec. 2 terror attack in San Bernardino had survived the culling.

Its all good, she was quoted as saying. I can only control my own behavior. I cant control anyone elses.

It hasnt been all bad this session for Leyva, whose district includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace and Rialto. Her bill ending the statute of limitations for rape cases passed both chambers of the legislature.
The man inside a vehicle that went off the westbound 60 in Jurupa Valley on Tuesday morning and hit a tree, killing the driver, has been identified as a 28-year-old from Ontario.

Christopher Wright was driving at high speeds between Pacific Avenue and Valley Way at 10:10 a.m. when he made an abrupt steering movement and the black Kia Optima veered off the road, according to a news release from the California Highway Patrol.

The car went down the embankment to the right-hand side of the road and struck several trees before it came to rest.

Wright was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 10:50 a.m., according to a news release from the Riverside County Coroners Office.

CHP Officer Dan Olivas said in an email that though witnesses had told officers that another vehicle was going just as fast  possibly racing  alongside Wright, investigators were unable to substantiate those reports.

The report will likely remain as is, with just the one vehicle involved, his email said.
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.
The Tamale Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted 4,000 kilogrammes of fungicides at Sanguli close to the Ghana-Togo border in the Tatale-Sanguli District in the Northern Region.



The fungicides, which were meant for distribution to cocoa farmers - mostly in the southern sector, were concealed in sacks and kept in the bush.



No arrests had been made as at the time of filing this report.



The Northern Regional Sector Commander of the Customs Division of the GRA, Assistant Commissioner Seth Dwira, told the Daily Graphic in Tamale yesterday that the fungicides were kept in the bush to be smuggled to nearby Togo.



He said the fungicides, which had bold inscriptions of Not for Sale on them, had since been handed over to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).



Patrols



Mr Dwira said the fungicides were found by personnel of the division who had gone on a routine patrol of the area.



He noted that the command had stepped up its patrols at the various frontiers and customs checkpoints to arrest smugglers whom he described as economic saboteurs.



We will not allow these economic saboteurs to rip the country off revenue needed for development, Mr Dwira said.



Ho interception



In a related development, Tim Dzamboe reports that the Ho Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has intercepted 2,172 slabs of a substnace suspected to be Indian hemp at the Honuta border post in the Ho West District in the Volta Region.



Four suspects have been arrested.



The suspects are: the owner of the vehicle, Wahab Abdulai; the driver, Mohammed Umaru; Stephen Avega and Evans Isahaku.



The illegal consignment was being conveyed in a KIA truck with registration number GE 1782-11 from Kpeve towards the Republic of Togo.



Wrong declaration



The Assistant Commissioner of Customs in charge of the Ho sector, Mr Frank Cudjoe Ashong, told journalists in Ho last Monday that the vehicle pulled up at the border post at 8.15 a.m. last Sunday with the items declared as local rice.



He said upon a thorough check by customs officers, it was discovered that the consignment was the 2,172 slabs of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp concealed in 85 bags.



Mr Ashong said the four suspects, who were on board the vehicle were arrested and handed over to the Narcotics Control Board together with the intercepted substance for further investigation in Accra.

Source: Daily Graphic









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 leadership of the International Gods Way Church has served notice the entire church will vote against President John Mahama for humiliating their founder Bishop Daniel Obinim.



The controversial religious leader is spending his second night in cells for allegedly defrauding a business man of a whopping Gh11.6 million. The development has irked his followers who kept vigil at the Nima Police Station  where he spent his first night in cells.



According to the Church, it boasts of a population of over 50,000 members and they have resolved to give their votes to other political parties come December 7.



We want president Mahama and the government to know that, International Gods Way Church is a religious ministry hence we do not engage in politics. We found it disgraceful how the government has decided to score cheap political points and cover by lying and humiliating an ordained man of God in police custody, a statement signed by the national president of the Youth Ministry of the church Solomon Adeyia said.



It added: The entire congregation of about 50,000 International Gods Way Church members shall vote against the government for tarnishing the name of Gods servant and international Gods Way Church. We are demanding an immediate release of our Bishop within 24 hours else we shall embark on a nationwide demonstration against the government.



Mr. Adeyia in the statement said the government is deliberately disgracing their spiritual leader to put a veil on the embarrassing release of the Montie 3.



We want to unveil the veil shrouding the matter, by empirically stating that what is going on is a well-planned concocted case by the NDC and the government to shift attention of the general public from the shameful release of the Montie three who were jailed for threatening the lives of judges. Many people in the country and internationally have described the decision of the president as a spit in the face of the judicial system of the country and an attempt to intimidate the judiciary, the statement noted.



Obinims lawyer Atta Akyea also believes his client is being used by the Police to shift attention from the pardon granted to the Montie three by the President. Efforts to secure his release Wednesday failed after several attempts.



According to Starr News' Wilbeforce Asare, the controversial pastor will be sent to court tomorrow, Thursday August 25, as the two people he flogged in his church have gone to write their statements at the police station.



The founder of the International Gods Way Church has been in Police custody since Tuesday when he was arrested for fraud.

Source: kasapafmonline.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
Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West Constituency on the ticket of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ursula Owusu says she is not surprised by the action taken by President John Dramani Mahama to free the Montie trio.



According to her, there was clear manifestation by the behaviour of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials and government appointees when they signed the petition book that the Montie trio would be set free.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Ursula Owusu asserted that the action of President Mahama was well planned and so there was only one conclusion which was expected to happen when the judges sentenced the Montie trio to 4 months imprisonment.



I am not shocked that President Mahama released the Montie trio from prison, because when the people were arrested and sentenced, the way the NDC members and the ministers started to behave, I realized that it has been well planned out and there was only one conclusion which was expected to happen that the President will use his constitutional power under Article 72 to free the Montie trio, she averred.



The NPP MP affirmed that the purpose for which Montie FM was established and the host Mugabe Maase employed to the station was to disgrace and insult anyone who disagrees with President John Mahama.



They sat on the radio station to disgrace any personality that spoke against President Mahama, and the President didnt say anything about it because he didnt realize the insult was not good at that time as they were working for him and the NDC. And so, if there is a problem about their work to support the President and the NDC, the President cannot allow them to suffer the punishment for his [Presidents] sake without doing something about it, she said.



 . .the remission shows that if you work like this for us, we will use our power to set you free from prison and so I am not surprised to see this happening. But we should remember that as the President is fighting for the NDC, the rest of Ghanaians are watching him, she added.



She reiterated that the meaning in what President Mahama has done is that someone can threaten to kill the judges and threaten to rape the Chief Justice; the President and the NDC dont care.



Some judges were killed 30 years ago under PNDC government and nothing happened and now under NDC government, some people have threatened the lives of the judges again and the government has freed them. President Mahama is saying that he does not care if the lives of the judges are threatened so long as those people work in his interest, she chided.

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 Member of Parliament (MP) for the Navrongo Central Constituency, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, has urged political parties to educate their supporters about the negative effects of violence in order to maintain peaceful conditions in the country.



According to Mr Woyongo, this can be achieved if politicians take it upon themselves to educate the rank and file of their parties against violent acts which have the potential to mar the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections in December.



The former interior and defence minister made this known last Tuesday when he interacted with officials of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in Bolgatanga.



The five-member GCGL delegation was led by the Director of Newspapers, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh and the Political Editor, Mr Kobby Asmah.



The GCGL team was in the Upper East Region to hold a Town Hall Meeting for residents at the Ghana In-Service Training Centre at Bolgatanga last Wednesday.



Importance of Peace



On the important role of peace in national development, Mr Woyongo stated that it was vital that no human lives were lost just because of political power.



Ghana is the only country we have and we don't want to lose human lives just because of political power. Look at the hundreds of lives that we have lost in other countries," Mr Woyongo stated.



I believe in the saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Two days ago they showed on CNN a picture of a boy who was sitting there innocently while blood was being wiped from his forehead, and I don't want this for Ghana



I think that for the elections we need peace because when there is violence nobody will be safe, whether you are NPP or NDC, everybody will be shooting so we should just avoid it.



The parties have a role to play by educating the rank and file, he added.



Commendation for Graphic Town Hall Meeting



After a briefing from Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh on the purpose of the Graphic delegation's visit to the region, the Navrongo Central MP lauded the initiative and described it as a "good venture.



It is a good programme and a good venture. The way everybody is preaching peace, if we dont have a peaceful election, I will be very sad.



"When I was at the Interior Ministry I used to ask people where will we run to because we are surrounded by francophone countries everywhere. Ghanaians are a peaceful people and we fear bloodshed.



I saw it in Bawku in 2010 and it was terrible. When it gets to that stage no one values human life. Even though we imposed curfew during the disturbances, it was still very difficult for everyone," Mr Woyongo said.

Source: Daily Graphic









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
Friends of John Dramani Mahama, USA Chapter, today, donated over 5000 T-shirts and party paraphernalias to his excellence John Dramani ahead of the December polls.



The group which was formed in 2015 in the United States with the aim of seeing to it that candidate Mahama wins 2016 elections, made the donations through the Chief of Staff and deputy General Secretary of NDC, Mr. George Lawson.



The founder of the group, Dr. Lawrence Appiah, led a delegation which included Jacqueline Akweley of Ghanas Most Beautiful fame, promised to give more support to the party before and after the elections.







Source: ghanapoliticsonline.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
A terminally ill Star Wars fan was able to see the unreleased Rogue One: A Star Wars Story film just days before his death, after a social media campaign caught the attention of Disney and Lucasfilm.

Neil Hanvey, 36, from Hereford, UK, was told in April this year that he had just six to eight months left to live, meaning he likely wouldnt live long enough Rogue One when it hit cinemas in December.

After learning that his dying wish was to live long enough to see the film, his wife Andrea and a healthcare assistant at his hospice Amy Duncan organised a campaign to give Neil the chance to see the film.

The #RogueOneWish went viral  even earning a retweet from Luke Skywalker / Mark Hamill himself  and the staff at St Michaels Hospice shared their support by reworking the lyrics to the Star Wars theme and being extremely cute about it. The video was viewed over 50,000 times.

Neils wish was granted a few days ago, with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards ensuring Neil could see the film last Saturday. St Michaels Hospice thanked him and everyone who supported the campaign via their Facebook page, saying Edwards did all he could to make Saturday a very special day for Neil.



Neil died a few days later. On behalf of all our family we would like to thank everyone who has passed on their condolences following Neils death last night, his wife Andrea said in a statement posted to Facebook. We would also like to thank the tens of thousands of people who supported the #RogueOneWish campaign. All the messages of love during the past week have given us a great deal of comfort during a very difficult time.

We would also like to thank everyone at St Michaels Hospice, especially Amy Duncan, without who #RogueOneWish would not have happened.

A fundraising page has been set up for St Michaels Hospice for anyone who would like to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Andrea-Hanvey

This is not the first time Disney and Lucasfilm have granted the wish of a dying Star Wars fan. In November last year, an American with spindle cell carcinoma by the name of Daniel Fleetwood was granted a viewing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens before its December release, after a social media campaign reached even the films stars. He passed away the following day.

Photo: Facebook / St. Michaels Hospice.
The mother of the 21-year-old British backpacker stabbed to death in a Queensland hostel has described her daughter as an amazing young women with an adventurous spirit that was full of the kind of open-minded compassion for life that you dont see that often.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, was fatally injured when fellow hostel occupant, 29-year-old French citizen Smail Ayad, stabbed her in front of a crowd of 30 people. Fellow Briton Tom Jackson, 30, was severely injured in the attack, and is currently in a critical condition in a Townsville hospital. He received wounds to the eye, head and torso.

Home Hill backpackers hostel where the attack occurred.

Police are investigating claims from onlookers that Ayad shouted Allahu Akbar during the attack. Fellow French nationals claim that he shouted constantly throughout the attack and what he was saying was largely nonsensical.

It is alleged that Ayad was obsessed with Ayliffe-Chung, and told fellow hostel guests that he planned to marry her. Ayliffe-Chung was staying at the hostel while working on a Queensland farm. She had been travelling the world prior to her arrival in Australia, where she worked briefly as a waitress on the Gold Coast.

Her mother, Rosie Ayliffe, issued a statement after her daughters death:

My beloved daughter Mia was an amazing young women 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 dont 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.

Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the investigation will continue, with potential probes into Ayads links to extremism.

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.

Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse factors are involved in this incident.

Source: ABC News / The Guardian.

Photo: Facebook.
As the future comes barreling towards us with the untamed ferocity of Donald Trumps hair, the need for little things like human interaction seem to be diminishing at an alarming rate.

And while we know that many process-driven jobs are already on the chopping block, if youre an Uber driver, the reality of a robot snaking your job is probably a lot closer than ya reckon.

In their relentless pursuit of a full-blown robotic workforce, Uber have already started offering free financial planning to its drivers in selected US cities, which is a really great idea if youre planning to replace them with cars that drive them-bloody-selves.

While that little factoid is somewhat missing from their statement announcing the partnership with robo-advisers, Betterment, its pretty hard not to draw the conclusion when the replacement process is already well and truly underway.

Drivers can now access the Betterment service through the Uber app, where a team of advisers will give them a hand in setting up a retirement fund. In other words, drivers are being groomed for the firing of a lifetime.

Meanwhile, the ride sharing innovators are continuing their legal battle over the classification of its drivers. They argue that workers should remain contracted, as they are a tech company that connects drivers to riders, rather than a normal employer. A US judge recently rejected a $100 million settlement on the grounds that its unfair and inadequate.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick stressed in a tweet that the process would be a multi-decade transition, but seeing as they expect 100 driverless vehicles to start servicing riders in Pittsburgh over the coming weeks, were not really buying it, aye.

Source: The Verge.

Photo: Getty.